Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the urgent meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered all people living and working in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh not to travel to other localities, to contain the spread of the coronavirus following the confirmation of over 80 cases of community transmitted cases of COVID-19 in the two provinces over the past 24 hours. The PM convened an urgent meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control work on January 28 morning at the National Convention Hall where the 13th National Party Congress is taking place. Phuc spoke highly of the drastic and prompt actions taken by the Health Ministry, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and Hai Duong and Quang Ninh to trace people having possible contact with patients and to zone off newly-detected outbreaks. He asked ministries, sectors, and localities to carry out stricter measures, continue screening, and identify the reason and the root for the outbreaks. Publicizing information is essential but should not make people overly concerned, PM Phuc stressed, highlighting the need to promote prevention and control measures. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the steering committee, asked for the activation of the pandemic prevention and control mechanism and system in a hypothetical situation of there being tens of thousands of infections. He requested that all localities review their prevention measures, especially on the threshold of the Lunar New Year holiday, with a focus on airports, public transport, medical facilities, schools, offices, and markets. Vietnam has reported 84 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, including 73 in Hai Duong and 11 in Quang Ninh. Of the total, two were confirmed late on January 27 and the remainder on the morning of January 28. Of the two cases on January 27, a female patient in Hai Duong is related to a woman patient who tested positive for a new variant of the coronavirus upon arrival in Osaka, Japan. The other is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward in Quang Ninhs Ha Long city, who works at the provinces Van Don International Airport. The latest Indian web series on Amazon Prime Tandav is embroiled in one controversy after another. Multiple FIRs filed for, among others, hurting religious sentiments. The accused an actor, the Amazon India creative head and the shows makers approached the Supreme Court to obtain interim protection from arrest. The SC refused to indulge them, effectively forcing them to seek remedies from courts in States where such FIRs are filed and leaving them susceptible, theoretically at least, to arrest. Speaking purely from a legal point of view, there isnt a wrong foot placed so far. There are actual overbroad provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153A and 295A which criminalize promotion of enmity between different groups as well as deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious beliefs. When a complaint is filed, the police is typically required to register an FIR. Investigation commences, and an arrest may follow, if needed, to enforce a cooperated questioning. The SC, too, is also on sound legal footing to deny interim protections to those who approached it while it adjudicates the rest of the legal issues before it clubbing of FIRs, for example. Beyond the legal soundness, however, there is something erosive about this entire development. The erosion isnt to freedom of speech Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India permits overbroad and vague restrictions to be placed on the exercise of that right. It isnt about Tandav or its makers/actors either. They are going through the procedural churn, hiring the top lawyers in the country, and probably gaining an unforeseen amount of publicity. Its about us. Its about our feelings, our responses and our expectations from the State. Implicit in free speech is the right to offend (assuming that Tandav does offend) as well as the right of those offended to express themselves. Lambast the show on the internet, dissuading others from watching it. Engage in calls for an economic boycott. In fact, ask elected politicians to voice their criticism. That same freedom of speech allows us all of this. Should, however, the State take care of our feelings? Psychologists, while differing on many aspects, do broadly agree on the following fundamental concept what causes us hurt isnt the offensive content, but our reaction to it something we can control and are responsible for. The SC recently stayed three crucial farm laws aimed at significantly revamping the agricultural trade sector to, in the SCs own words, assuage the hurt feelings of the farmers. Asking the State to coddle us and our hurt feelings with the help of the IPC is, frankly, not dissimilar. And, oddly, the origin of those legal provisions in the IPC date back to the time the British ruled us. Were the British touchy and sensitive? Perhaps. Ironically, however, they presided over and, as many historians assert, fueled enmity between two major religious groups Hindus and Muslims and no one filed a case against them under either of those two provisions! But why, as a passionate argument goes, should one section introspect while another section of our society indulges in violence and killings when offended? There are two major problems with this line of thought. Firstly, what really is there a comparison about? That one section gets away with death/violence and the other wont? What, pray, is the strength in seeking parity with the worst possible response to offence? This isnt to say one should turn a blind eye, which leads to the second problem. The problem is being entirely mischaracterized. Undoubtedly, what is done by those who are offended is horrific, but the end of the stick that needs significantly more examination is what is being done to deter that. This, at its heart, becomes a law and order problem entailing police and criminal justice reforms. Any effort on that is tough, prolonged and electorally unrewarding, at least in the short term. And, may be, in this age of instant gratification, it does not satiate our need for instant justice. Or, is it that, perhaps, we, as a society, dont want uniformly applicable law and order systems or harmonized procedures? Lets explore an analogy closer to home that of a large family. Often, competing desires, insecurities and identity crises among children or adult sons/daughters are dealt with by elders in charge falling prey to the easy way out playing favorites with some and pretend, rather effectively, to coddle the others in varying degrees. The harder way is a neutral, equal treatment, placing a greater onus of responsibility on the progeny. What happens over time is that the structure becomes as strong as its weakest link because grounds for resentment are not only potentially limitless, but contagious across the board. For politicians, the easy way out at a societal scale is playing favorites to a few and pretending to coddle the rest, again, in varying degrees. This isnt hopeless cynicism about politics. In fact, it is immensely useful to empathize with politicians. At the end of the day, they have a job to get elected. They know the limitless resentment too well. And they know its contagious nature. If they dont play favorites with some of us who, in their calculation, can get them over first to the finish line, their rivals will. The cleverest among them identify what resentment they can tap into to preserve their jobs. Today, one section is happy at how those associated with a web series are seemingly being made to run from pillar to post (they arent). The problem with that is that, just as politics is cyclical, the favorites are easily cyclical. Todays favorites can be tomorrows discards unless the latter gather enough might to redirect favoritism to them. Pretty much what a disgruntled son shunned away in a corner office, however large and spacious, would plot to do in a family-run business. And, as we bask in the glory of being favorites again, beneath it is a continual erosion of strength within us. Because it is, frankly, our skill at creating nuisance and the States choice to grant us that largesse which ultimately causes that redirection. Its time to give our politicians much more critical grounds to be electable. For that, its time to stop outsourcing our reaction to the State so that it can assuage our hurt feelings. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 28 : Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja has said that her department will increase the number of daily tests conducted to detect coronavirus cases in the state to one lakh compared with an average 50,000-55,000 now. "Since there is a surge in corona cases, we will increase the number of tests to around 1,00,000 per day. We will also increase RT-PCR tests instead of the antigen tests and undertake strict monitoring to prevent a surge in corona cases. As I said earlier too, we have controlled the fatality rate -- one of the lowest in the country. We expect to bring down the cases also soon," she told IANS. With a surge in corona cases in the past few days, several health experts have warned the state government to act immediately or else the situation could get out of hand. Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Scientific Adviser, Indian Medical Association (IMA), had told the media that Kerala was "a victim of its own success", pointing out that people had lowered the guard after the euphoria over containment of the virus in the initial phases. The Chief Minister and Health Minister must immediately act and bring the situation under control, Dr Jayadevan said in a note to the government. He pointed out that Intensive Care Units in the state were "fast filling up". In a related development, a study conducted by the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College said that 56 per cent of the patients it surveyed contracted corona infections from own homes, about 20 per cent from markets, shopping malls and restaurants, and another 20 per cent from workplaces. As many as 65 per cent of the patients included in its study did not follow social distancing while 45 per cent did not wear masks. Five per cent children got infected in schools and 47 per cent at home, the study added. The state will take strong action against those not following social distancing norm at public places and not wearing masks. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Delhi Police on Thursday detained 15 more people for their suspected involvement in the violence during the farmers' tractor parade in the capital on January 26, officials said. Nearly 30 farmers who were camping at DDA Ground in Burari were moved towards Singhu border to clear the site, they said. Thousands of farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for the repeal of the legislations. Nearly 400 police personnel were injured in the clashes with the protesters, according to officials. "Around 15 people have been detained for their suspected involvement in the violence on and for violating laws," Additional Delhi Police PRO Anil Mittal said. Nearly 30 farmers who were protesting at DDA Ground in Burari have been moved towards Singhu border, he said. The ground will be cleared soon, the police said. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said its Special Cell will investigate the "conspiracy" and "criminal designs" behind the violence on As of Thursday, the Delhi Police had filed 25 criminal cases, arrested 19 people and detained 200 in connection with the violence. Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort on January 26 and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts. (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 Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. The Supreme Court has refused to grant protection to actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Amazon Prime Video (India) & makers of the web series Tandav from arrest in several FIRs against them and asked them to approach High Court for anticipatory bail or quashing of FIRs. Criminal cases have been lodged against them in multiple states for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Actress Gauahar Khan, who is part of the ensemble cast of the political drama, has reacted to the top court's refusal to grant protection from arrest. When Mohd Zeeshan Ayyubs lawyer argued that he was just an actor under contract and that the views expressed by his character could not be attributed to him, Justice MR Shah said, "You accepted the contract after reading the script. You cannot hurt religious sentiments." Responding to this comment, a Twitter user remarked, "Excellent. Next people playing murderers on screen might be tried for the same. After all, they read the script..." Gauahar retweeted the post along with emojis. Ayyub's lawyer Siddharth Agarwal argued that it was a fictional character and there should not be multifarious investigation on the same issue. The bench said it is not inclined to entertain this aspect in an Article 32 petition. The bench also remarked during the hearing that freedom of speech is not absolute. Read: Tandav FIRs: Supreme Court Says Freedom of Speech Not Absolute Washington has become the octagon, where trophies for political one-upmanship are handed out like candy, and scandals (real or imagined) are packaged as the top news of the day. Yet in a nation yearning for character, and with a new president committing to unity , theres a real opening for Washingtons elected officials to do something wholly unexpected but desperately needed: compromise. While that word sounds like an expletive to many in the political trenches who habitually counsel against vacillation and temerity, these hyper-partisan political warriors are mistaken. History teaches us that compromise is often the only way to break political gridlock. Right now, it is the only way America can dream big and go big. The only way to overcome a pandemic that refuses to relent and save small businesses that refuse to quit; to re-imagine a future where protecting a warming planet doesnt leave American workers out in the cold; to stop the growing incivility that fuels hatred instead of harnessing hope. The good news: Weve done this before. In a nation forged by diversity and common interest, compromise yielded some of Americas biggest breakthroughs and boldest statements of humanity. In 1787 Roger Sherman , a Connecticut farmer, shoemaker and justice, helped craft the Great Compromise . With the nations Founders worried the will of the people would not prevail over the landed and powerful ([people] want information and are constantly liable to be misled ), Sherman fashioned a remedy: equal representation of states in the Senate but proportional representation in the House. Nearly a century later, Abraham Lincoln recruited a team of rivals ( William Seward , Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates ) to put aside their differences, their animosities, their personal ambitions, to save a nation tearing itself apart from within. As historian Doris Kearns Goodwin observed, [Lincolns] philosophy was not to waste precious energies on recriminations about the past. Its a philosophy that presidents and lawmakers on Capitol Hill have employed many time since, at crucial pivot points in Americas long evolution, in search of a more perfect union. Consider: -- In the 1940s, the Marshall Plan and NATO were all made possible when influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican and a onetime isolationist, took it upon himself to forge bipartisan support for the Truman Doctrine. Partisan politics, Vandenberg said at the beginning of the 80th Congress, should stop at the waters edge. -- In the 1960s, major civil rights legislation became law in this country because a venerable Republican Senate leader (Everett Dirksen) and dedicated young Democratic reformer (Sen. Hubert Humphrey) hammered out a meticulous compromise with the shared aim of breaking a filibuster by Southern Democrats. Stronger than all the armies, Dirksen said on the Senate floor, quoting Victor Hugo, is an idea whose time has come. Needing 67 votes, Dirksen and Humphrey got 71. The result was The Civil Rights Act of 1964. -- In the 1990s, after sweeping Clinton administration health care legislation floundered on Capitol Hill, Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy and Utah Republican Orrin Hatch decided to solve a huge and growing national humanitarian crisis: the children of the working poor whose parents couldnt afford medical insurance but made too much to qualify for Medicaid. Their solution was the federal Childrens Health Insurance Program. Senator Kennedy and I designed our bill to fill this gap and meet those needs, Hatch said three years ago when CHIP was reauthorized for six more years. Today, its hard to find anyone who opposes it. Thats what the best political compromises do: They help form a new consensus. Compromise-turned-consensus also created Medicare, funded Americans journey to the moon, saved Social Security from insolvency, and more recently saved lives by streamlining the approval process for getting life-saving drugs to market. We need such greatness now from those weve chosen to lead the way. It begins by recognizing no party has a monopoly on virtue or a claim to omniscience, that there are different ways to blaze a common path without setting each other on rhetorical fire. It begins by tabling the rancor of now (an impeachment trial, calls for de-programming non-believers, venom from outside groups profiting from COVID-fueled distress) in favor of addressing the crises of now. It also means embracing the publics message from last November. More than 155 million Americans voted for a virtually split House and Senate -- voters whose ideological bent is neither left nor right but forward. To succeed, we again need the kind of unity only compromise can encourage and sustain. That means listening, adapting, considering, and melding, while vowing to move not as combatants but as patriots. All eyes in Washington are on the Senate these days, to see if a group of relatively moderate members (Joe Manchin , Michael Bennet , Mark Warner and Jon Tester among the Democrats; Susan Collins , Lisa Murkowski , Mitt Romney and Richard Shelby among the Republicans) can prove compromise is not a dirty word but rather a path to national salvation. Pull for them, because greatness is not achieved through righteousness but secured by selflessness. New Delhi: A consignment containing over 5 lakh doses of 'Made in India' coronavirus vaccine reached Colombo today."Received 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines provided by people of India today. Thank you, PM Narendra Modi & people, of India for the generosity shown towards people of SriLanka at this time in need," Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka said. Received 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines provided by people of India today. Thank you, PM Narendra Modi & people, of India for the generosity shown towards people of SriLanka at this time in need: Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka https://t.co/mwfXAIt17I pic.twitter.com/Bz8SvS2J6m ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said: "A dependable partner, a reliable friend. Made in India vaccines reach Sri Lanka now." A dependable partner, a reliable friend. Made in India vaccines reach Sri Lanka now.#VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/7lUEqUPbNs Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 28, 2021 Earlier, India supplied coronavirus vaccines to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh under the Neighbourhood First policy. The delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka is a fulfilment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment made to his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa during the virtual bilateral summit held in September 2020 for all possible support to Sri Lanka for minimizing the health and economic impact of the pandemic. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Vehicle, Foot Pursuit Leads to Murray Man's Arrest By West Kentucky Star Staff CALLOWAY COUNTY - A Murray man faces numerous charges following a vehicle and foot pursuit Wednesday night.According to the Calloway County Sheriff's Office, on Wednesday at approximately 10:30 pm a deputy tried to stop a vehicle on Highway 121 South in New Concord for traffic violations. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Stephen Pace of Murray, attempted to flee in the vehicle on various secondary roads.While on Eldridge Road, deputies said Pace's vehicle left the road and crashed into a creek. Pace then tried to flee on foot, but he was apprehended a short time later.Pace was arrested and lodged in the Calloway County Jail. He's charged with fleeing or evading, two counts of wanton endangerment and various traffic related violations.Pace was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to pay on a previous Calloway County District Court case. He was also charged with being a fugitive from justice in reference to an outstanding Tennessee warrant where the original charge was felony theft of property. Biden's trans military policy reversal will have catastrophic consequences, opponents warn Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Joe Biden has reversed a Trump executive order that banned trans-identified individuals from serving in the U.S. military, drawing criticism from military veterans who warn that the policy change will have catastrophic consequences. The White House announced the reversal Monday, stating that Biden had signed an executive order "... that sets the policy that all Americans who are qualified to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States should be able to serve. In July 2017, then-President Donald Trump announced in a series of tweets that individuals who identify as transgender would be prohibited from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Among the issues Trump cited at the time included the cost of paying for elective cosmetic surgeries and cross-sex hormones estimated between $2.4 million and $8.4 million each year. Trans-identified soldiers would also be taking an extensive amount of time off to recover from elective cosmetic procedures. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail, Trump wrote in one Twitter post when he reversed the Obama administration's policies on trans-identified people serving in the military. Biden's reversal came as incoming Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gave testimony during his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 indicating that the restrictions would be lifted. I truly believe that if youre fit and youre qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve, Austin said in response to a question from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. "And you can expect that I will support that throughout. Opponents of the reversal of the restrictions say that the move will impair military readiness and fuels further division in an already divided society. Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.,-based Family Research Council and a U.S. Marine veteran, said in a statement Monday that the move betrays Biden's promise to bring unity to a divided country. "Providing our service members with the resources to keep our country safe would help move our country in this direction. Instead, President Biden is diverting precious dollars from mission-critical training to something as controversial as gender reassignment surgery. The military cannot focus its efforts on preparing to fight and win wars when it is being used as a vehicle to advance the far-left's social agenda," Perkins said. Lt. Gen. Tom Spoehr, director of The Heritage Foundation think-tank's Center for National Defense, said in a statement shared with The Christian Post Monday that "political correctness" was being prioritized over military readiness. "By overturning the current policy regarding individuals suffering from gender dysphoria, the commander in chief is signaling that he is more interested in social engineering than safeguarding the health and well-being of American service members, Spoehr said. "After considerable study, the previous administration found gender dysphoric people attempt suicide at about nine times the rate of the general population. Service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria are also nine times more likely to have mental health encounters with a professional." Given that military service is inherently stressful, he continued, the rate of suicide among military personnel is already higher than that of the general population. "It would be immoral to place individuals at higher risk from mental injury such as those suffering from gender dysphoria in a situation where they are likely to experience extraordinary stress, he said. The Pentagon has said that approximately 9,000 service members identify as transgender, though independent estimates have put the number at around 16,000, according to The Wall Street Journal. Fewer than 1,000 have received a formal diagnosis of gender dysphoria. In 2016, the RAND Corporation published a study on Pentagon medical expenditures and found that the costs incurred by U.S. taxpayers to pay for trans-identifying service members' medical costs fell somewhere between $2.4 million and $8.4 million each year. Dr Jennie Bailey fills a syringe with a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine at the Lady Forester Community nursing home in Wenlock, Shropshire (Nick Potts/PA) Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said there will be no interruption to UK vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca after the European Union demanded doses from British plants during a row over supply shortages. Mr Gove said on Thursday the first and most important thing is that the supply schedule agreed with the UK-based pharmaceuticals giant is honoured so the domestic vaccine rollout can be delivered before neighbouring nations are aided. But Downing Street declined to rule vaccines being sent to the EU before everyone in the UK is vaccinated to help address supply shortages being faced by the bloc. EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said there have been constructive talks with AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot after telling the firm it is contractually obliged to send jabs produced in the UK to 27 EU member states. Constructive tone in our exchange with @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, in our Vaccine Steering Board, on deliveries of their vaccine following approval. The EU remains united & firm ai Contractual obligations must be met, vaccines must be delivered to EU citizens. Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) January 27, 2021 Mr Gove told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: First thing, we must make sure that we continue with the effective acceleration of our vaccination programme. That relies on the supply schedule that has been agreed to be honoured. Thats the first and most important thing. Secondarily, he said, the desire is to ensure allies receive vaccines but he added that I think we best achieve that through dialogue and cooperation and friendship. Pressed on whether the Government would allow vaccines to go to the EU, he said: No, the critical thing is we must make sure that the schedule that has been agreed and on which our vaccination programme has been based and planned goes ahead. It is the case that the supplies that have been planned, paid for and scheduled should continue, absolutely. There will be no interruption to that. The Prime Ministers official spokesman failed to give a definitive answer when repeatedly pressed on whether jabs could be sent to Europe before everyone in the UK receives a dose. Instead, he said: We will offer doses to the priority groups and all adults by September that continues to be the case. The European Commission remained resolute, with spokesman Eric Mamer saying we can and will get doses from plants, including those in the UK. Meanwhile, Belgian authorities carried out an inspection at an AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine plant in Seneffe, near Brussels, on Wednesday. A statement from Belgiums health ministry was reported to say the spot check was carried out to make sure that the delivery delay is indeed due to a production problem. Mr Soriot has argued supply chain teething issues were fixed in the UK ahead of the bloc because Britain signed a contract three months earlier. But Ms Kyriakides said: We reject the logic of first come first served. That may work at the neighbourhood butchers but not in contracts. The EU is united ai @AstraZeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreement. pic.twitter.com/t6dbVxwGHG Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) January 27, 2021 She denied the bloc would impose an export ban on vaccines leaving the EU but said the contract signed with AstraZeneca, which worked with Oxford University on its vaccine, contains two factories in the UK. The UK factories are part of our advance purchase agreements and that is why they have to deliver, she added. Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said vaccine nationalism, where nations prioritise their own access to the detriment of others, must be avoided. He warned on BBC Radio 4s Today programme that new strains that at some point in the future may escape vaccines will develop unless transmission is driven down and vaccines are made available globally. In an interview with Italys La Repubblica newspaper, Mr Soriot said we are basically two months behind where we want to be in supplies due to manufacturing issues in Europe, citing problems in a Belgian plant. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) He said there had been teething issues in the UK supply chain as well but that the deal with Britain was signed three months ahead of the EUs. So with the UK we have had an extra three months to fix all the glitches we experienced, he said. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the issue should be resolved through increased production rather than UK doses being diverted to the EU. I dont want to interrupt the supply of vaccines into the United Kingdom, he told LBC Radio. Over the past day, Russia-led forces in Donbas have opened fire ten times on Ukrainian positions, Ukrainian military personnel have not been injured, the press center of the Joint Forces operation said. "Over the past day, January 27, in the area of the Joint Forces operation, ten ceasefire violations were recorded. There are no combat casualties among our defenders," the morning report on the headquarters Facebook page said on Thursday. In the area of responsibility of the Skhid (East) task force, near Pavlopil, Russia-led forces opened fire from 120-caliber mortars, grenade launchers of various systems, a large-caliber machine gun and small arms. Near the settlement of Bohdanivka, the enemy used anti-tank grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms against Ukrainian soldiers. Several shots from a sniper weapon were also recorded. The enemy opened fire from small arms in the suburbs of Maryinka and Avdiyivka and from a grenade launcher at Vodiane (Azov region). In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) task force not far from the village of Zaitseve, the mercenaries fired from an automatic heavy grenade launcher, and at Luhanske - from an anti-tank grenade launcher. "Since the beginning of this day, January 28, no ceasefire violations have been recorded along the entire line of disengagement," the headquarters said. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A city man already facing state charges for two Bridgeport shootings and one in Waterbury has been sentenced to four years in federal prison on an illegal gun possession offense, according to federal prosecutors. Marques Biz Milton, 36, was sentenced by Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven on Tuesday to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, together with his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis and his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau, will hold the first online meeting of the Lublin Triangle on Friday, January 29, according to the website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Thursday. "The heads of the foreign affairs agencies will discuss joint steps to counter challenges and threats in Central Europe, outline the priority areas of cooperation in the Lublin Triangle in 2021. At the initiative of Ukrainian side, an invited guest, the leader of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, will take part in the meeting," the statement says. At 12.15, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will hold an online briefing, where he will talk about results of the first meeting of the Lublin Triangle and other topical issues of Ukraine's foreign policy. The Lublin Triangle is a format of interaction between Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland, created by the Foreign Ministers of the three countries in July 2020 to coordinate activities at the level of trilateral cooperation and within international organizations in order to ensure compliance with international law. On September 17, 2020, the first video conference of the national coordinators - deputy foreign ministers of the three countries was held. VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state operator focused on limited license markets, is pleased to provide an update on the financial statements, San Diego ShowGrow operations, the Arkansas Body and Mind branded dispensary and construction at NMG Ohio's production facility. The Company is working to complete the October 31, 2020 interim financial statements, including the related management discussion and analysis, and anticipates the October 31, 2020 interim financials statements will be filed on or before February 3rd, 2021. In San Diego, the Company has increased customer access through a proprietary delivery platform at the ShowGrow San Diego dispensary. Customers can order on-line for pickup in store, curbside and now through our delivery platform. "We've seen a significant uptick in on-line and curbside orders across all our dispensary operations as customers increasingly choose low contact purchasing options," stated Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind. "Our convenient ordering platform through www.buybamonline.com or www.bodyandmind.com allows customers to view real time menus and pricing as well as participate in our popular rewards programs." The Body and Mind branded dispensary in Arkansas has also commenced a delivery option and offers customers convenient contact free choices including online ordering in advance. The Arkansas facility completed construction last year and is progressing with preparation for cultivation operations. The cultivation team is engaged in the final stages of set up in advance of inspection and permitting by local and state authorities. In Elyria, Ohio, the Company continues to make progress at NMG Ohio's new production operation project. The fundamental HVAC, plumbing and electrical work has been completed with only security systems and finishing work remaining. Construction is expected to be completed around March 2021, with equipment setup and inspections planned soon thereafter. About Body and Mind Inc. BaM is an operations focused multi-state operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas and Ohio and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions. Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information. Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. SOURCE Body and Mind Inc. Related Links https://bamcannabis.com/ The 1,000 richest people on the planet recouped their Covid-19 losses within just nine months, while it could take more than a decade for the worlds poorest to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, a new report from Oxfam revealed today. Mirroring this global inequality trend, Irelands own nine billionaires saw their fortunes increase by 3.28 billion since March a tenth of which would pay for a Covid-19 vaccine for every person in the Republic of Ireland. Meanwhile, essential workers - such as our carers and supermarket and factory workers cared for our vulnerable and kept our food supplies running throughout the pandemic - quite often on minimum or low-paid wages. Oxfams The Inequality Virus report, published to coincide with the opening day of the World Economic Forums Davos Agenda, highlights how Covid-19 has the potential to increase economic inequality in almost every country at once, the first time this has happened since records began over a century ago. A new global survey commissioned by Oxfam of 295 economists from 79 countries, including Ireland, reveals that 87 percent of respondents, including Jeffrey Sachs, Jayati Ghosh and Gabriel Zucman, expect an increase or a major increase in income inequality in their country as a result of the pandemic. This thinking was shared by 85 percent of Irish economists who participated, with most estimating it would be the worst increase in inequality in Ireland since the financial crash of 2008. Rising inequality means it could take at least 14 times longer for the number of people living in poverty to return to pre-pandemic levels than it took for the fortunes of the top 1,000, mostly White male billionaires, to bounce back. Jim Clarken, Chief Executive of Oxfam Ireland, said: We stand to witness the greatest rise in inequality since records began, with the deep divide between the rich and poor proving as deadly as the virus itself. Around the world the impact of Covid-19 is magnifying and exacerbating existing inequalities as well as racial and gender divides. One of the most extreme and unjust indicators of inequality we are seeing around the world right now is between those who have access to life-saving vaccine and those who dont. Rigged economies are funnelling wealth to a rich elite who are riding out the pandemic in safety, while those on the frontline our shop assistants, healthcare workers, and factory workers are struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table, and often do not have benefits such as paid sick leave. The worlds ten richest men have seen their combined wealth increase by half a trillion dollars since the pandemic began more than enough to pay for a Covid-19 vaccine for everyone and to ensure no one is pushed into poverty by the pandemic. At the same time, the pandemic has ushered in the worst job crisis in over 90 years with hundreds of millions of people now underemployed or out of work. In Ireland, the fallout of the pandemic on employment has disproportionately hit young adults as well as people in low-paid occupations, all of whom are more likely to be paying rent. Without significant government intervention, we are looking at a return to long-term unemployment, increasing risks of homelessness and economic insecurity for younger generations in Ireland. In addition, women and marginalised racial and ethnic groups are yet again bearing the brunt. They are more likely to be pushed into poverty, more likely to go hungry, and more likely to be excluded from healthcare. Long before Covid-19 disrupted our lives, in Ireland and across the world, women sustained our societies through their paid and unpaid care work. They continue to do so as we manage this public health crisis and as the social and economic consequences unfold. However, there is a lack of attention to gender equality in much of the economic decision making that has taken place since the onset of the pandemic. Oxfam said the road to recovery will be much longer for people who were already struggling pre-Covid. When the virus took hold, over half of workers in poor countries were living in poverty, and three-quarters of workers globally had no access to social protections like sick pay or unemployment benefits. Clarken concluded: Extreme inequality is not inevitable, but a policy choice. Governments around the world must seize this opportunity to build more equal, more inclusive economies that end poverty and protect the planet. The fight against inequality must be at the heart of economic rescue and recovery efforts. Governments must ensure everyone has access to a Covid-19 vaccine and financial support if they lose their job. They must invest in public services and low carbon sectors to create millions of new jobs and ensure everyone has access to a decent education, health, and social care, and they must ensure the richest individuals and corporations contribute their fair share of tax to pay for it. These measures must not be band-aid solutions for desperate times but a new normal in economies that work for the benefit of all people, not just the privileged few. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Toyota South Africa will start manufacturing a new model, the Corolla Cross, in the country this year, creating 500 jobs at its production plant in the east coast town of Durban, CEO and president Andrew Kirby said on Thursday. The announcement comes after a rough year for the country's car makers, with both local sales and exports down by around 30% amid extended lockdowns at home and in key markets abroad to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But Toyota South Africa executives said they had seen a recovery in sales during the final quarter of 2020 ... [January 28, 2021] New Version of AccessData's AD Enterprise Expands Data Collection Capabilities from Off-Network Endpoints and Cloud Data Sources Orem, Utah, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AccessData Group, an Exterro Company and a leading provider of integrated digital forensics and e-discovery software, today announced the release of AD Enterprise 7.4.2, a new version of its software for managing internal forensic investigations and post-breach analysis that introduces remote data collection for endpoints outside of the corporate network, as well as the ability to collect data from sources in the cloud. COVID-19 has presented new challenges globally, but companies still need to be able to respond to a data breach or perform an internal data collection, even from employees who are now working from home. With AD Enterprise 7.4.2, users can collect and analyze data from remote Windows endpoints that are outside the corporate network with no VPN connectivity by using Site Server Integration. We want organizations to stay in control of their data whether their employees are working from home or at the office, said Harsh Behl, director of product management at AccessData. AD Enterprise not only allows for data collection from off-network endpoints, but it also provides industry-leading technology to collect the data faster, helping organizations to maintain business continuity and perform investigations no matter where their employees are. As employees continue to work remotely, organizations are also quickly adopting and relying on cloud tools like Google Drive and Microsoft Teams to stay collaborative, yet they must also be able to collect from these cloud data sources. AD Enterprise is the first forensic collection tool in the industry to offer a suite of data connectors, including from network shares, Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, OneDrive, Google Drive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams. Furthermore, as Mac adoption continues to rise across the globe, the new version of AD Enterprise also expands remote data collection capabilities to Mac devces that run on the macOS Big Sur operating system, in addition to macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave. And we are proud to announce that AD Enterprise can now perform a live preview and remote collection from M1 chip Mac endpoints, said Behl. With AD Enterprise 7.4.2, we offer the most types of data source connectors than any other forensic company. AD Enterprise is now the first forensic solution to offer in-network collection, superior Mac collection, off-network collection and cloud data source collectionall in one product. This offers our users a single solution for all their collection needs, allowing them to conduct faster and more comprehensive digital forensics investigations, said Behl. For more information about the AD Enterprise 7.4.2 enhancements, please click here. In addition, AccessData has also launched enhanced versions of its FTK and AD Lab products for digital forensics professionals. The release delivers parsing support for Windows OS data and presents it in an easy-to-read, reportable format in the new Enhanced Windows System Information Tab. Users can easily examine data from AmCache registry files, SRUM artifacts, and Windows timeline events to develop a clear picture of an endpoint users actions and geolocations, helping to speed investigative work by eliminating the manual translation of Windows OS registry files. FTK and AD Lab 7.4.2 also feature parsing support for Microsoft Edge browser data. This release comes on the heels of Exterro announcing their acquisition of AccessData, which furthers Exterros vision of empowering customers to proactively and defensibly manage their legal governance, risk and compliance (GRC) obligations while maintaining and ensuring the highest levels of data integrity. By combining forces with AccessData, Exterro can now provide companies, government agencies, law enforcement, law firms and legal service providers with the only solution available to address all Legal GRC and digital investigation needs in one integrated platform. ### About Exterro Exterro was founded with the simple vision that applying the concepts of process optimization and data science to how companies manage digital information and respond to litigation would drive more successful outcomes at a lower cost. We remain committed to this vision today as we deliver a fully integrated Legal GRC platform that enables our clients to address their privacy, regulatory, compliance and litigation risks more effectively and at lower costs. With software solutions that span privacy, legal operations, compliance, cybersecurity and information governance, Exterro helps some of the worlds largest organizations work smarter and more efficiently. For more information, visit exterro.com. About Access Data Whether its for investigation, litigation or compliance, AccessData offers industry-leading solutions that put the power of forensics in your hands. For more than 30 years, AccessData has worked with more than 130,000 customers in law enforcement, government agencies, corporations and law firms around the world, providing both stand-alone and enterprise-class solutions that can synergistically work together. For more information on AccessData, please go to www.accessdata.com. Media Contact: Lori Tyler Vice President, Marketing info@accessdata.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Summerville, SC (29483) Today Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque defended Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong from criticisms after he attended Tim Yap's birthday bash despite mass gathering restrictions. In his briefing on Thursday, Roque noted that mere attendance is "not actionable," and that Magalong's liability would depend on whether he really breached quarantine protocols. "The personal liability depends kung meron siyang ginawa [on whether he did anything]. Mere attendance is not actionable," Roque said. "Siya ba ay nag-observe ng social distancing, siya ba ay naka-mask? Kung ganoon naman wala siyang liability [Did he observe social distancing? Was he wearing a mask? If that is so, then he has no liability]... I have not seen him in any photo indicating that he did not observe any social distancing or he was not wearing a mask," he added. Roque said what mattered was Magalong admitting to his lapses and his participation in ongoing investigations. He also noted that President Rodrigo Duterte still trusts that the mayor, who also serves as Contact Tracing czar, will continue to implement the law. "Hayaan na po natin na umusad ang proseso. Buo po ang tiwala ng Presidente kay Mayor Magalong [Let us wait for the process to advance. The President fully trusts Mayor Magalong]... and when he says that the law will be implemented, trust that Mayor Magalong will implement the law, he added. Roque also stressed that neither social status nor gender will spare anyone from the implementation of COVID-19 protocols. In his interview with CNN Philippines' The Source, Magalong himself assured the public that his local government will not absolve anyone from the January 17 event, which has drawn widespread backlash from netizens for so-called "double standards" on health protocols. Even Magalong's wife was seen without any protective gear as she posed with celebrities. READ: No entitlement here: Baguio City mayor assures no one absolved after Tim Yaps viral birthday bash Photos and video clips showed Yap and other personalities not wearing face masks and face shields a violation of the city ordinance that requires fines of at least 1,000. Magalong said he told his wife to also pay up. New Delhi: Italian two-wheeler maker Piaggio on Thursday said it aims to launch 'Made in India' Vespa and Aprilia SR models in Sri Lanka. The company aims to replicate the Indian success story in the Sri Lankan market serving the emerging need of the aspiring youth of Lanka catering to the desires of the biking enthusiasts, Piaggio said in a statement. "Both Aprilia and Vespa have created a benchmark in the two-wheeler segment in India and now the bikes are set to make their debut in Sri Lanka," Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL)Managing Director and CEO Diego Graffi said. The company hopes to further enhance its positioning in the Indian Sub-Continent with this launch, he added. "The accolades that the bikes have received in India and other international markets, are an inspiration for introducing more innovative products in the future," Graffi said. The company has a manufacturing plant in Baramati, Maharashtra, where it manufactures the iconic Vespa alongside the newly launched Aprilia SR 150. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. SHL Wins Seven Awards From HR Leaders, Acknowledging Excellence in Providing The Best Talent Solutions On The Market SHANGHAI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SHL, the global leader in people science and people answers, swept the award circuit in Greater China and Singapore in 2020 as the company was acknowledged for its excellence in providing the best talent solutions available on the market. SHL has a suite of award-winning Talent Solutions that maximize workforce potential through data-driven people insights, an unmatched portfolio of products, engaging experiences built on science and a team of global experts. Learn more about SHL's Talent Solutions on shl.com. "We are overwhelmed and proud to be recognized by industry leaders across Greater China and Singapore during one of the most difficult years the world has experienced in recent history," said Anthony Liu, SHL's Managing Director for Asia. "These awards reflect SHL's continued commitment to our customers in Greater China and Singapore." Top HR recognized SHL with two awards in 2020. The first, awarded in May, was Top 100 Human Resource Service Providers in China as recognition for the company's brand, revenue, quality of service, development potential, operation efficiency, and scale of business. The second, awarded in December, was the Best Talent Assessment Provider of the Year for the innovative products, services and contributions to the progress of the HR services industry in China. HREC also gave two awards to SHL in 2020. The first, presented in September, was for the top 2020 China Recruitment Assessment Solution Provider. This award is granted based on the survey responses of HR leaders from 616 companies across China, who chose SHL for the company's professional services, the credibility of its people science, and its influence on the HR industry overall. The second award, presented in December, was the 2020 China Leadership Development Solution Providers. Winners of this award are chosen by HR leaders from 368 companies across China. They recognized SHL for its brand awareness, market share, and Net Promoter Score. HROOT acknowledged SHL in April for its performance in executive capability, executive efficiency, business strategy and customer dimension by awarding the company with the Best Talent Testing Service Provider in Greater China (Foreign Company). Human Resources Online in Singapore awarded SHL as the Best Psychometric Testing Provider (bronze winner) in November. The magazine noted that "SHL successfully provides insights into a candidate's personality and future behavior on a consistent basis and helps match the candidate with the employer's culture and environment." Finally, HRflag presented SHL with the NewFlag Award in December for its new RemoteWorkQ product, acknowledging SHL for its originality and creativity of concept, quality, experience, and customer value. To learn more about SHL's recent awards, visit www.shl.com. About SHL SHL's science and technology maximizes the potential of your company's greatest asset your people. From Talent Acquisition to Talent Management, we help you create the diverse, agile, and innovative workforce you need to succeed in an unpredictable environment. SHL's data driven people insights allow businesses to accurately and objectively identify potential and fit. Its unmatched portfolio of products, driven by a team of over 300 people scientists, helps measure skill, personality, motivation, job fit, and behavior. SHL delivers engaging experiences built on science, which are all delivered through global expert services. One platform for all your people answers. www.shl.com Contact Kristina Iniguez [email protected] SOURCE SHL Related Links www.shl.com UPDATE: This story has been changed to reflect that the zoning change approved Tuesday does impact some areas of downtown. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- In an effort to increase the citys housing stock, Grand Rapids elected leaders are allowing ground-floor residential units in business districts around the city, including downtown. The zoning ordinance change goes into effect March 1 and will allow first-floor residential units like apartments in nearly half of the citys 6,000 commercially-zoned properties, according to Grand Rapids planning officials. The move, officially approved this week, is expected to create not only more opportunities to address the citys housing shortage but also different avenues for property owners struggling to find commercial and office renters to fill their first-floor spaces. The impact of the public health crisis has exacerbated an already challenged commercial market, said Grand Rapids Planning Director Kristin Turkelson, and, although the demand for commercial space has lessened, the amount of available space has not changed. Additionally, the need for housing units, generally, and affordable units, specifically, is well documented. These changes were necessary and critical to the continued vitality of our neighborhood business areas. The zoning change was a recommendation by Housing Next, which was commissioned by the city to conduct a housing assessment. In its report released summer 2020, Housing Next found the city needs an additional 5,340 rental units and 3,548 for-sale units by 2025 to meet demand and ensure low-income residents arent displaced. The change applies to sections of the city zoned traditional business area and commercial, including portions of downtown. Areas that fall within those classifications include stretches of Leonard, Bridge and Fulton streets on the citys West Side, as well as most of 28th Street and portions of Division Avenue, Wealthy Street, Plainfield Avenue, Michigan Street east of Medical Mile and more. In downtown, stretches of Pearl Street, Monroe Center, Ionia Avenue, South Division Avenue and Bridge Street are included in the change. Many of the major intersections throughout the city are included in these two zoning districts, as well. A full map of the districts can be found here. Related: Proposal would allow ground-floor apartments in nearly half of Grand Rapids commercial spaces Vibrant business districts are critical in creating a livable city and strong local economy, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said. Great neighborhoods and vital business districts go hand-in-hand. Permitting first floor residential will support reinvestment in our traditional business corridors while creating much needed additional housing in our city. Turkelson said allowing first-floor residential units in these areas will increase the amount of floor space available for housing in the city by 50%. She previously said about 46%, or 2,770, of the citys 6,000 commercially zoned parcels are located within these two districts. Commissioners received letters of support for the zoning change from some in the business community. The proposed changes will have a swift, positive impact in supporting shared community goals of increasing housing supply, supporting commercial corridors and existing retailers, and returning vacant spaces to active use, Joshua Lunger, senior director of government affairs at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, wrote. The change to allow these uses provides an opportunity to add in-demand units throughout the city without necessarily needing to construct new housing that comes with historically high construction, materials and land costs. In addition to allowing residential units on the ground floor in these districts, the approved zoning change will allow the construction of four-story buildings in traditional business districts without previous stipulations requiring urban open space or affordable or mixed-income housing as part of the development. Turkelson previously said very few developers were able to meet the former requirements for a four-story building because including those conditions into a development was practically infeasible. Read more: Michigan Senate rejects 13 Whitmer appointments in show of disapproval over coronavirus response Michigan man says he surveilled Gov. Whitmers home in kidnap plot House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Snickers aside, the policy is a real one in China at least. The Communist superpower is rolling out an expanded COVID-19 testing program to include anal swabs for high-risk patients, calling it a more accurate method than nasal and throat testing, according to a report by The Washington Post. The myriad puns aside, China health experts believe the science is solid and the method should be applied to some of their at-risk citizens. The tests, however, are not as easy to administer or pleasant to endure for obvious reasons compared to more conventional testing methods. Therefore, they are mainly being conducted on high-risk patients and those in quarantine, The Guardian reported. Young students in Beijing have been tested for the virus using a variety of methods, including nasal, throat and anal swabs, according to a report earlier this month in The Global Times. I believe anal swabs for COVID-19 PCR is being advanced as a test because the viral loads in the rectum can be higher than the nasopharynx, said Dr. David Cennimo, an infectious disease expert at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, in an email. In theory, the test should be more sensitive because the virus would be easier to detect at a higher copy number. However, dont expect to see coronavirus anal swabs in New Jersey any time soon, he added. But the virus also is found in stool/rectal samples after it has cleared from the nasopharynx, he said. This may lead to overdiagnosis of people who have recovered and just have persistent PCR positive [results]. Regardless, I do not see this as a strategy conducive to real world testing of large numbers of people as I would expect significant numbers to refuse. If that happened, we may worsen the epidemic because people will actively avoid testing and continue to spread the virus while going undiagnosed. Health officials in China recently took anal swab testing more seriously, citing studies that found the virus survives longer in the lower digestive tract and in excrement than in the respiratory tract, the Global Times reported. China rolled out the new testing protocols and pointed to some COVID-19 patients still recovering in the hospital who had tested negative via nose and throat tests but positive with anal swabs, according to the Washington Post. In August, Chinese researchers published a report on anal swab tests, proposing they are the potentially optimal specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection for evaluation of hospital discharge of COVID-19 patients. Its unclear whether anything like it could ever be rolled out in the U.S. According to the Washington Post, even Chinese residents believe the new protocols would leave patients too embarrassed. The report cited a poll conducted on a Chinese social media platform that found 80% of respondents could not accept such a method. Draconian measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 are nothing new in China. It did lock down Wuhan a city of 11 million residents for months. Millions have been rounded up for mandatory testing, including overnight flash-testing, with people herded into lines on the street in the dark, the Washington Post reports. And health officials sometimes have sealed apartment buildings to keep people from leaving. Tell us your COVID-19 vaccination stories, send us a news tip or questions about the vaccination process on our tip form. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Michigans state health department reported an addition of 1,681 new coronavirus cases and six new deaths during the COVID-19 afternoon update Wednesday, Jan. 27. Both additions represented continued improving trends for the state, which is averaging 1,727 cases and 72 deaths per day over the last week. Two weeks ago, it averaged 2,461 cases and 91 deaths per day. Positive test rates and hospitalizations remain on the decline as Michigan has separated itself as one of the leading states in reducing COVID-19 transmission. Over the last seven days, Michigan has ranked 47th out of 50 in new cases per day per capita. Its also ranked well in positive test rates and hospitalizations. (The above chart shows Michigans 7-day rolling average of new confirmed coronavirus cases. You can put your cursor over a bar to see the number. You also can click on the option just below the headline to see the actual number of new cases reported by day.) Seventy-one counties reported new cases Wednesday, led by Wayne with 262, Kent with 157, Oakland with 138, Macomb with 128 and Washtenaw with 107. A total of 12 counties reported at least one new death, including four counties -- Kent, Oakland, Ingham and Genesee -- with two deaths each. However, eight counties removed deaths from their cumulative totals, which typically means there was a correction. Those counties were Ottawa, Calhoun, Lenawee, Bay, Ogemaw, Iosco, Oscoda and Wayne. Since the start of the pandemic, Michigan has reported 554,237 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 14,411 confirmed deaths. Health departments have also noted 49,996 probable cases and 903 probable deaths, in which a physician and/or antigen test determined it was likely COVID-19 but without a confirmatory PCR test. (The above chart shows Michigans 7-day rolling average of deaths involving confirmed coronavirus cases. You can put your cursor over a bar to see the number. You also can click on the option just below the headline to see the actual number of new deaths reported by day.) As of Wednesday, Hospitals across the state were treating 1,594 patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, including 377 in the ICU. Thats a significant improvement from 2,758 such patients nearly a month ago. With testing returning to normal Tuesday, Michigan had about 4.9% of its 48,301 diagnostic tests come back positive for COVID-19. It was the third time in the last seven days that the daily rate was below 5%. More than 760,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Michigan since Dec. 14, including about 30,000 per day over the last week. The state has received more than 1.47 million doses, though about 430,200 doses went straight to pharmacies to be used in long-term care facilities as part of a federal program. Case reporting First is a chart showing new cases reported to the state each day for the past 30 days. This is based on when a confirmed coronavirus test is reported to the state, which means the patient first became sick days before. You can call up a chart for any county, and you can put your cursor over a bar to see the date and number of cases. (In a few instances, a county reported a negative number (decline) in daily new cases, following a retroactive reclassification by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In those instances, we subtracted cases from the prior date and put 0 in the reported date.) The next chart below shows new cases for the past 30 days based on onset of symptoms. In this chart, numbers for the most recent days are incomplete because of the lag time between people getting sick and getting a confirmed coronavirus test result, which can take up to a week or more. You can call up a chart for any county, and you can put your cursor over a bar to see the date and number of cases. For more statewide data, visit MLives coronavirus data page, here. To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Read more on MLive: From bars to basketball, experts re-rank 32 activities by coronavirus risk level with latest science Wednesday, Jan. 27, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Michigans six largest counties below 7% positivity Michigan sending $500 hazard pay checks to teachers, $250 to school staff by Feb. 25 House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal [January 28, 2021] TEGNA Named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality for Fifth Consecutive Year TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that it has received a perfect score on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and has been designated a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality for the fifth consecutive year. The CEI is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is the premier benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005674/en/ "It's a great honor to be recognized once again as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality," said Dave Lougee, president and CEO, TEGNA. "TEGNA is proud of our diverse and inclusive culture, where all employees are encouraged to be their authentic selves and where diversity of people and perspectives are highly valued. We remain committed to equality and supporting equal rights for all in our work and in our workplace." The 2021 CEI evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. TEGA received the highest marks in all categories, resulting in a perfect score of 100. In addition to striving for equality in the workplace, TEGNA and the TEGNA Foundation are proud to support LGBTQ causes and charitable organizations. In 2020, the TEGNA Foundation provided a Media Grant to the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists to support student scholarships at the NLGJA's virtual conference. TEGNA stations also partner with the TEGNA Foundation to support diverse LGBTQ-related nonprofits in the communities we serve through the Foundation's Community Grants program. WTSP (Tampa, FL) partnered with St. Pete Pride to support services for the local LGBTQ community including shelter, mental health resources and HIV services. WFAA (Dallas, TX) provided a Community Grant in general support for Black Tie Dinner, one of the largest LGBTQ fundraising dinners in the nation which serves the North Texas LGBTQ community. In Washington, D.C., WUSA continued its longstanding partnership with the Washington AIDS Partnership, as well as grantmaking to support the Latin American Youth Center's STRIPES program, an after-school program focused on LGBTQ ally, advocacy and leadership training. About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA's OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005674/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The New York Times freelance editor who was fired after tweeting she had 'chills' ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration has launched a newsletter to defend herself. Lauren Wolfe lost her gig with the paper, where she had started working last May, after tweeting: 'Biden landing at Joint Base Andrews now. I have chills,' on the day before the inauguration. Wolfe also tweeted that Trump was 'mortifying' and 'childish' for having refused to send Biden a military place to bring him to D.C. She later deleted that tweet after acknowledging Biden had made the choice not to take a military plane. On Tuesday Wolfe launched her own site to defend her post, asking 'is it cold in here?' and arguing that working at the paper was like 'being in a shoe that was a bit too tight'. She added: 'I was fired from my only straight news job Ive ever had last week because I expressed emotion publicly on something I should not have, according to the publication.' The Times had said Wolfe's dismissal was not on the basis of the tweet alone. But Wolfe argues the tweet was 'the only reason they fired me', calling their statement on the matter 'a shot at my reputation'. Lauren Wolfe lost her gig as a New York Times freelance editor last week On Tuesday Wolfe launched her own site to defend her post, asking 'is it cold in here?' and arguing that working at the paper was like 'being in a shoe that was a bit too tight' The Times had said Wolfe's dismissal was not on the basis of the tweet alone. But Wolfe argues the tweet was 'the only reason they fired me', calling their statement on the matter 'a shot at my reputation' Wolfe continues to tweet in the wake of her firing, tweeting about her work Wednesday In her new blog Wolfe says she has 'spent two decades in journalism or press freedom advocacy'. She detailed covering rape in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, adding: 'People would always ask me: How can you do these stories and not fall apart? I didnt know. I just held it together.' And in defending her tweet Wolfe said reporters at the Times 'are not robots'. She adds: 'I needed to feel what I feel during these crazy, awful times, and I needed to express those feelings, sometimes in writing, because thats what I do. 'When I feel, I write. When I am angry, I write. When I see injustice, I write.' In her new blog Wolfe says she has 'spent two decades in journalism or press freedom advocacy'. She detailed covering rape in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo Lauren Wolfe lost her gig with the paper, where she had started working last May, after tweeting: 'Biden landing at Joint Base Andrews now. I have chills' She also tweeted that Trump was 'mortifying' and 'childish' for having refused to send Biden a military place to bring him to D.C. She later deleted that tweet after acknowledging that it was inaccurate, and Biden had made the choice not to take a military plane Wolfe added that her website will be a place where she will 'tell stories' that 'possibly chill you to the bone' after describing a prank call she received in the wake of the controversy and the 'lashing I got from the right'. The Times had said Wolfe's dismissal was not on the basis of the tweet alone, but did not comment any further on the reasons for letting her go. Wolfe said that her news website will be a place where she will 'tell stories' that 'possibly chill you to the bone' 'There's a lot of inaccurate information circulating on Twitter,' the statement said. 'For privacy reasons we don't get into the details of personnel matters, but we can say that we didn't end someone's employment over a single tweet. 'Out of respect for the individuals involved we don't plan to comment further. (To clarify something that has been incorrectly reported, Ms. Wolfe was not a full-time employee, nor did she have a contract.)' Speaking to The Washington Post, Wolfe said that it was hard to see the statement, which appeared to imply that her job performance had played a part in the dismissal when she had received praise from colleagues and was hoping to join the paper's 'live' team on a full-time basis. She said that the stint on the team as part of the flexible editing desk was a 'dream job'. 'Every day, I was scared I was going to do something wrong,' Wolfe said of the statement. 'So, whatever they're implying, it's a shot at my reputation, which I worked very carefully to build.' Wolfe herself has defended her colleagues, saying her disappointment is directed only at those who made the statement from the New York Times, pictured above The New York Times has a social media policy for its journalism and editorial staff that requires them to remain impartial in their posting online. 'If our journalists are perceived as biased or if they engage in editorializing on social media, that can undercut the credibility of the entire newsroom,' its policy states. 'We've always made clear that newsroom employees should avoid posting anything on social media that damages our reputation for neutrality and fairness.' Scandals that rocked the New York Times in 2020 June 7: New York Times' opinion editor, James Bennet, resigned following a controversial op-ed from Senator Tom Cotton. The opinion piece, entitled Send in the Troops, advocated using federal troops to quell unrest across the US caused by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Bennet, who had revealed in a meeting that he had not read Cotton's piece before it was posted online, had defended it following the initial protests, saying it was important to hear from all points of view. Yet more than 800 staff members signed a letter protesting its publication. Bennet then resigned from his position after the Times disowned the incendiary opinion piece. Following a review, the newspaper said Cotton's piece should not have been published, at least not without substantial revisions. July 14: One of Bennett's hires, conservative opinion editor writer Bari Weiss, announced she had quit in a scathing letter that slammed the newspaper for fostering an 'illiberal environment' that allowed her to be bullied by coworkers. Weiss, who joined the Times in 2017, said the paper of record was among the media institutions now betraying their standards and losing sight of their principles as she accused them of only publishing stories that 'satisfy the narrowest of audiences'. In her lengthy resignation letter addressed to publisher A.G. Sulzberger, Weiss claimed that intellectual curiosity and risk-taking was now a 'liability' at the Times. The controversial editor and writer said the opinions of those on Twitter had become the newspaper's 'ultimate editor'. Weiss also accused the outlet of creating a 'hostile work environment' for employees that essentially had anything other than left-of-center views. She says this mentality resulted in her being constantly bullied by coworkers who have called her a 'Nazi and a racist' because of her 'own forays into wrongthink'. Staffers had previously called for Weiss to be fired after her tweets regarding the Tom Cotton scandal. September: Trump repeatedly criticized the New York Times 1619 Project claiming it seeks to 'change our history'. Trump was asked about instructors using the project, named after the year the first ship with African slaves arrived in the U.S., to teach slavery in America and whether he wanted the subject to be taught. 'We grew up with a certain history and now they're trying to change our history. Revisionist history,' Trump claimed. Senator Cotton was also caught up in this incident, introducing legislation that would ban schools from teaching the curriculum through the Saving American History Act of 2020. December: The Times admitted to 'an institutional failure' in the production of its podcast 'Caliphate' by giving 'too much credence' to the story of a man now revealed as a fantasist pretending to be a terrorist. In a devastating internal review, it was found that the paper had failed to corroborate the sensationalist claims made by Canadian Shehroze Chaudhry, 25, and that the podcast team was duped by his fake story of working as an ISIS executioner. The review began after Chaudhry was arrested by Canadian authorities in September and charged with 'a hoax regarding terrorist activity' as his lies fell apart. Advertisement Wolfe told the Post that this is not the first time the Times had spoken to her about her social media posts. The same manager had contacted her about a tweet in which she connected the refusal by some conservative men to wear masks to 'toxic masculinity'. According to Vanity Fair, other staffers had expressed discomfort that some of Wolfe's tweets verged on political. The manager said that her tweets were 'borderline', and that other Times staff were guilty of 'worse'. After the tweet last week, Vanity Fair reports that Wolfe had resulted in the Times being in the headlines and she was told 'we can't have that'. After news of her dismissal spread, many rushed to her defense, calling out the paper for making such a harsh decision, apparently over one tweet. They accused its leaders of giving into pressure from conservatives. 'Tweet at the @nytimes and tell them to #rehireLauren,' wrote actress and activist Alyssa Milano. However, Wolfe herself has defended her colleagues, saying her disappointment is directed only at those who made the statement. 'The people I'm mad at are the people who put out the statement,' Wolfe said. 'I respected tremendously the people I worked with. I respected them to the end of the earth and still do. They were the end-all, the be-all.' She has followed this with similar statements on Twitter in which she has urged people not to end their Times subscriptions. 'Please don't cancel your subscriptions to @nytimes! It is an incredible paper filled with talented journalists. We need them and we need a thriving free press. Thank you!' she wrote on Monday. She followed it with a second tweet again urging readers to remain with the paper. 'Hi all. I truly appreciate everyone's support, but I need to ask you a favor: PLEASE don't unsubscribe from @nytimes,' she wrote. 'I have loved this paper and its mission my whole life. Their journalism is some of the most important & best in the world, & they need to be read widely.' 'All I ever wanted to do was write. Not be written about,' she added Tuesday. It comes after a string of scandals for the Times in the past year, including its admission that it was duped by a fake terrorist in the creation of its hit podcast Caliphate. The Times acknowledged in December that it had been misled in the production of the series by Canadian-Pakistani man Shehroze Chaudhry, 25, who had fabricated his story of working as an ISIS executioner. Yet it was in further hot water earlier this month after a group of 20 influential public radio stations condemned the Times for a 'lack of transparency' after personal ties between the star host of 'The Daily' Michael Barbaro and its discredited series 'Caliphate' emerged. Barbaro was in December tasked with speaking to the Times' executive editor Dean Baquet in an episode of The Daily - which is also broadcast on public radio - in which the paper retracted much of the story on which popular series Caliphate had been built. Yet in hosting the episode, Barbaro failed to disclose that much of the production team involved in 'Caliphate' had come from 'The Daily' - and that he is engaged to the series' executive producer Lisa Tobin. According to NPR, Barbaro also pressured at least five journalists via social media to play down the errors in Caliphate and to get them to pull back their public criticism of the series. And it follows on from the scandal after New York Times' opinion editor, James Bennet, resigned after a controversial op-ed from Senator Tom Cotton in June. The opinion piece, entitled Send in the Troops, advocated using federal troops to quell unrest across the US caused by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. English French Rueil Malmaison, 28 January 2021 VINCI wins the construction contract of a liquefied natural gas tank in the UK Construction of a 190,000 cubic meters liquefied natural gas tank A 200 million contract Entrepose Contracting, VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Taylor Woodrow, all VINCI Construction subsidiaries, have been awarded an EPC* contract by National Grid to construct a 190,000 m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank in the United Kingdom. This project is part of the programme to expand the capacity of the largest LNG terminal in Europe, located on the Isle of Grain - east coast of England, 60 km from London. This full containment tank has a 9% nickel steel inner tank with a pre-stressed concrete outer shell, poured in-situ using slipforming. The works, for a budget of 200 million, are set to continue until June 2025. VINCI has already built about 20 LNG tanks worldwide over the past 15 years, including three which are still under construction: two in Russia (160,000 m3 each) and one in Canada (225,000 m3). The Group is recognised for its capacity to meet the expectations of major players in the sector and confirms its leading position in the design-build of large-scale cryogenic storage tanks in any type of environment. * Engineering, Procurement and Construction About VINCI VINCI is a global player in concessions and contracting, employing 222,000 people in some 100 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, above and beyond economic and financial results, we are committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. VINCIs goal is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, and partners and for society at large. www.vinci.com This press release is an official information document of the VINCI Group. PRESS CONTACT VINCI Press Department Tel: +33 (0)1 47 16 31 82 media.relations@vinci.com Attachment Arnisha Collins, senior financial support counselor in UNO's Office of Financial Support and Scholarships, has been named UNO's Employee of the Month for January 2021. Collins was surprised by UNO's virtual prize patrol on Friday, Jan. 22. In support of her nomination, Collins was highlighted for going above and beyond her duties during a challenging year for both the department and the students and families they serve. "With COVID and the transition to working remotely, the announcement of Nebraska Promise, and two staff members on the team retiring, we were short staffed with an increase in customer service contact volume. Arnisha provided excellent leadership ... handling the most complex financial aid situations." Collins was also praised for her leadership and collegiality. She is regarded as the "go-to person for staff on the Outreach team" due to her knowledge of federal, state, and university-level policies, recently providing training to three new staff members in addition to handling customer service calls. She also goes above and beyond in the form of campus service, serving on the Hardship Scholarship committee and on the MavTRACK advisory committee. "Arnisha defines the word 'adaptability'," her nomination states. "I have full knowledge that [a] student is in good hands and that Arnisha will create a connection and develop a relationship with the student that promotes retention at UNO." For being nominated as Employee of the Month, Collins will receive a certificate, hot/cold tumbler, monetary award, two tickets to a UNO sporting event and use of a designated parking space. To nominate an employee, complete the nomination form and send it to Kristina Hoffmann at kristinahoffmann@unomaha.edu. Mumbai Police have arrested two men in connection with the abduction of two children earlier this week. According to the police, the main accused in the case, with the help of a relative staged the abduction of the children of his employer. The incident came to light on Monday, when the father of the twins, a builder approached the cops claiming that his twin children were abducted. File Image "The incident came to light when the father of the children, a real estate developer, approached the police on Monday evening with the complaint that his two kids had been kidnapped," an official told PTI. "The father said the kidnappers had beaten up the driver before taking the children away when they were on their way back home from Juhu," the official said. Sedatives given to children A kidnapper allegedly forcibly opened the car door and threatened the children and the driver and took their car near the Juhu PVR area, the complaint said. "During the journey, the kidnapper gave sedatives to the children and the driver. It said the kidnapper got down with one child and the driver and put them in a school bus, while the other child was kept in the car near Juhu PVR," he added. Unsplsh After that, six more came on three bikes and took the car driver out of the bus and took him on Juhu-Versova Road and allegedly thrashed him, the complaint said. By that time, a police team reached the Juhu PVR area and rescued one child, while the second child escaped with the help of people and alerted his family members about the incident. Ransom call for Rs 1 crore "Meanwhile, the twins' mother received a call asking for Rs 1 crore," the police official said. "But as there were loose ends in the complaint, the police started interrogating the car driver. After questioning him for 18 hours, he told the police that he had staged the kidnapping drama to get Rs 1 crore from his employer for his daughter's marriage," he said. Pexels The accused driver had also called one of his relatives from Delhi to be a part of the conspiracy and had promised him half the extortion money, he said. The police have arrested both the accused and claimed to have cracked the case. Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. Events take place online unless otherwise noted: THURSDAY 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. FRIDAY Rep. Jared Huffman: North Bay Democrat hosts town hall meeting on COVID-19 vaccinations, with Dr. Robert Rodriguez, a member of the Biden transition COVID-19 advisory board; Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County public health officer; and Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County public health officer. 4 p.m. Submit a question in advance here; join meeting here. MONDAY Angela Davis documentary: Screening of 2012 film Free Angela and All the Political Prisoners, followed by a question-and-answer session with feminist activist Bettina Aptheker. Sponsored by San Jose State University Human Rights Institute. 3:30 p.m. More information is here. WEDNESDAY 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. Rep. Jared Huffman: North Bay Democrat hosts town hall meeting on COVID-19 vaccinations, with Dr. Ian Hoffman, Humboldt County public health officer; Dr. Andy Coren, Mendocino County public health officer; and Dr. Heather Nye, associate chief of medicine at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. 4 p.m. Submit a question in advance here; join meeting here. The Purpose of Power book club: San Francisco Mayor London Breed discusses Alicia Garzas The Purpose of Power. Hosted by Mannys. 5 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. 6 Racism and policing: A look at law enforcements disproportionate use of force against people of color. Speakers include social justice activist Signe Waller Foxworth, Gerald Smith of the Oscar Grant Committee against Police Brutality and State Repression, and Vallejo civil rights attorney Melissa Nold. Hosted by the Oakland Greens, Bay Area System Change Not Climate Change, and the Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party. 2:30 p.m. More information is here. FEB. 7 Strange Fruit: History of the anti-lynching song, written by Abel Meeropol and made famous by Billie Holiday. Hosted by the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco. 10 a.m. More information is here. FEB. 9 Electoral reform: Hoover Institution fellow Larry Diamond on institutional changes that may be needed to preserve U.S. democracy. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. Noon. More information is here. Black feminism: A teach-in on Black feminism, socialism and the work of Angela Davis. Panelists include Barbara Ransby, history professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago; Neferti X.M. Tadiar, professor of womens, gender and sexuality studies at Barnard College; and feminist activist Bettina Aptheker. Sponsored by San Jose State University Human Rights Institute. 3 p.m. More information is here. FEB. 10 Life after Trump: Steve Kettmann, editor of the new collection of essays Now What? The Voters Have SpokenEssays on Life After Trump, in discussion with two of the books contributors, journalist Cynthia Tucker and former Donald Trump ally Anthony Scaramucci. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 10 a.m. More information is here. The Purpose of Power book club: Akonadi Foundation president and civil rights advocate Lateefah Simon discusses Alicia Garzas The Purpose of Power. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here. 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. 11 Angela Davis: Longtime activist and professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz gives keynote address in the human rights lecture series hosted by the San Jose State University Human Rights Institute. 5 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. FEB. 17 The Purpose of Power book club: Oakland Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee discusses Alicia Garzas The Purpose of Power. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here. FEB. 23 Erin Brockovich: Environmental activist delivers the Wallace Stegner Lecture on environmental issues can have an impact. Hosted by the Peninsula Open Space Trust. 7 p.m. More information is here. FEB. 25 The Purpose of Power book club: Alicia Garza discusses her book The Purpose of Power. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here. To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com [January 28, 2021] GCGC Launches Global Crypto Mining Initiative SINGAPORE, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GCGC Investments Ltd is pleased to announce the launch of its global mining initiative which utilizes blockchain technology and DeFi (decentralized finance) architecture. This combines the centuries-old mining industry with emerging technology to form a decentralized financial ecosystem geared towards disrupting financial intermediaries. The global system of commodities and mineral resources is the foundation for production around the world, states Jonathan Shek, CEO of GCGC. Advances in technology have now created an urgent need to transform the very fabric of the trading and financial services systems linked to our systems of production. At GCGC, we combine the best in economic fundamentals with the latest technology to create a better way to trade, get access to financial services, and transform the mining industry. Revolutionizing a $600 Billion Mining Industry with Blockchain Technology and Green Mining Initiatives GCGC unlocks the latent value from gold and mineral deposits by fractionalizing participation, powered by blockchain networks that tokenize gold, other resources and transaction settlements. Partnering Trident Mining , of which GCGC is a shareholder, GCGC Mining identifies and develops mines in Chile and Argentina, with plans to expand mining over to Zimbabwe and Indonesia. GCGC Mining is also spearheading green mining, using bio-leaching reagents to recover gold from tailings. Compared with leaching toxic substances such as cyanide and mercury, the plant will be able to reduce its environmental impact while continuing to extract value from the mines. The GCGC Global Mining Initiative has further expansion plans to acquire other mining companies and concession rights, initiate joint ventures with large mining companies, and invest in sustainable development technologies, in order to move upstream in the value chain. According to the GCGC white paper, its goal is to become one of the largest mining companies in the world. DeFi at the Core of GCGC Mining, FinTech and E-Commerce Solutions Underpinned by blockchain technology, GCGC will implement DeFi architecture as the core of its financial ecosystem. Together with GCGC Mining, the other two businesses in the ecosystem are Pillar Finance, its fintech group and Ethical Culture E-commerce (ECC), its e-commerce arm. GCGC tokenizes assets by developing mining assets all around the world, extracting profits to convert into gold. This powers a worldwide marketplace, creating a new financial and trading ecosystem based on a token that, when regulations permit, will be backed by vaulted gold. Trading is supported by a wide range of decentralized financial services from Pillar Finance, to facilitate and drive international trade. The token-based currency can be adopted across a wide range of trading and e-commerce platforms, which will give it value, measured by its exchangeability with real world goods and services. ECEC creates an entire e-commerce and trading ecosystem around Utilization Marketplaces powered by blockchain technology, with the GC$ token as the currency of choice for trade and settlements. GCT and GC$ Drive the GCGC Token Economy GCT tokens are the main utility tokens in the GCGC ecosystem and users can use GCT tokens to participate in mining, financial technology or E-commerce activities. GC$ tokens are the reward tokens of the GCGC ecosystem and are used as currency settlement tools in the market. They can be used to exchange goods and services in the markets. Currently one GC$ token can be minted for every 100 mg of confirmed resources, or for every 10 mg of treasury gold purchased or for every dollar deposited into an escrow account. Backed by a World-Class Team The team of GCGC consists of world-class professionals who specialize in industries such as finance, investment banking, mining and technology amongst others. CEO Jonathan Shek, BPM, leads the GCGC Global Initiative and has extensive experience in project finance, development and management, civil engineering and venture capital in China and Southeast Asia. Mr. Shek has advised more than $10 billion worth of investment transactions in Southeast Asia and managed construction of projects with a value in excess of $5 billion. Founder Wee Tiong Howe is widely considered the father of financial planning, having achieved national and regional recognition and success in the financial planning industry and insurance profession for over 40 years. As Chairman of IPPFA , he has recorded many firsts and overseen many changes for the betterment of the industry. Chief Financial Officer Merlina Hiu has extensive experience working in global investment banking across various industry groups including leveraged finance, telecoms, media, technology and corporate finance groups. She has actively participated in Initial Public Offerings of businesses, mergers and acquisitions and also assisted the Republic of Philippines' US$1 billion sovereign bond issuance. CEO of Trident Mining Leon Aleksander has over twenty years of experience in precious metals, arbitrage/mining, manufacturing, and import/export in Latin America, Asia and the United States. Founder and CEO of Tridents gold trading company in Chile with over US$50 million worth of gold bullion exports to date. CTA (Chief Technology Advisor) Lim Hui Jie is the Founder and Executive Director of Vision Group, an Innovation-as-a-Service technology group that implements blockchain, AI and cybersecurity technologies. He has sat on the Board of 3 listed companies and successfully listed his company onto the Australia Stock Exchange in 2015, achieving a market valuation of over USD 230 Million. For more details about the GCGC project, please visit the Official Website: https://www.gcgc.one GCGC Officials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/GCGCcommunity Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GCGCcommunity LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gcgc-investments-limited Telegram: https://t.me/gcgccommunity Medium: https://gcgccommunity.medium.com Media Contact Cecilia Wong, yourPRstrategist.com pr@yourPRstrategist.com +65-91826605 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Management, union should avoid catastrophe with dialogue The trilateral agreement on preventing delivery workers' deaths from overwork is facing a crisis after just six days. The Parcel Delivery Workers' Solidarity Union said Wednesday that it would enter into an indefinite strike from Friday because the logistics companies have already abrogated the accord. Suppose the strike at major logistics firms, such as CJ Logistics, Lotte Global and Hanjin Transportation becomes a reality in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday on Feb. 12. In that case, it will inevitably cause a huge amount of chaos and consumer damage. The union says that employers are unlikely to add more workers than what they agreed to last October or respond to workers' requests for talks, virtually breaking the agreement. Even if CJ hires 4,000 more workers as promised, 15 percent of its existing employees will still have to continue sorting parcels. Lotte and Hanjin, both of which plan to add only 1,000 workers each, will see their share of employees sorting packages exceed 70 percent. However, these companies respond that they will hire workers exclusively responsible for sorting until they automate the process, and in the meantime offer reasonable payments to existing workers doing the job. It is regrettable to see the labor conflict reignite less than a week after reaching an agreement of great social significance. They should use all ways and means to prevent a distribution catastrophe and keep the spirit of coexistence and compromise alive. Above all, management should not neglect implementing the agreement citing its lack of binding power. The union, for its part, needs to reflect on the fact that it is demanding too much all at once. If the sides need additional talks, they should meet again to eliminate the embers of future conflict. We hope both sides will meet halfway by walking in each other's shoes to head off the worst-case scenario. Residents of Sheikh Saad have queued for hours to try and secure heating fuel, although there was not enough to go around reports Al-Watan. Over the course of eight hours, a long line formed today in the town of Sheikh Saad, which is adjacent to the city of Tartous, as citizens tried to obtain the 50 liters of diesel oil allowed for each family. People stood for several hours on the main road in the bitter cold, until some of them managed to acquire the diesel and take it home using their own cars or rental cars, while some left on foot or with the help of their children. Al-Watan received several calls from citizens complaining about the wait, the lack of diesel, and their inability to transport it back to their homes, noting that tender vehicles blocked the lanes along the towns square. They demanded that the town be supplied with large quantities of diesel on a daily basis, so that the townspeople, who collectively have about 10,000 e-cards can obtain the quantity of diesel allocated to them over the next few days, knowing they have been deprived of it since the beginning of the winter season. The head of the town council, Mohammad Suleiman, told Al-Watan that the residents need about half a million liters, as there are about 10,000 active e-cards. On Wednesday, the fuel branchs diesel tanker truck came into town for the first time, after it had been distributing diesel to the families of the martyrs and the wounded, but carrying only 10,000 liters. As soon as people heard of its arrival, they flocked to the municipality building with gallon containers, in the hope of getting their 50 liters of diesel allocation. About 200 people managed to get diesel, while the rest will be receiving their allocation in a phased distribution. Suleiman hoped that the fuel branch would continue to send diesel on a daily basis, and in greater quantities, until it is distributed to all families. He also said that citizens should stay in their respective neighborhoods and wait for the tanker truck to arrive instead of heading to wherever the tanker is, which causes congestion, longer waits, and chaos. 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. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on January 28, 2021 2021/01/28 CCTV: On January 27, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said on multiple occasions that the United States wants to cooperate with China on climate change. However, Kerry also said, "Obviously we have serious differences with China...We all know none of those issues will be traded for anything that has to do with climate." I wonder if you could respond to that? Zhao Lijian: Climate change is a common challenge faced by humanity. As it concerns the future of all humankind, to tackle it requires global actions, global response and global cooperation instead of any solution by a single country. China and the United States share broad common interests andabundant room for cooperation. We had fruitful cooperation on addressing climate change, and played a constructive role on the conclusion, signing and entry into force of the Paris Agreement. China is ready to cooperate with the United States and the international community on climate change. That said, I'd like to stress that China-U.S. cooperation in specific areas, unlike flowers that can bloom in a greenhouse despite winter chill, is closely linked with bilateral relations as a whole. China has emphasized time and again that no one should imagine they could ask China to understand and support them in bilateral and global affairs when they blatantly interfere in China's domestic affairs and undermine China's interests. We hope the United States can create favorable conditions for coordination and cooperation with China in major areas. NPR: Secretary of State Blinken said he considers the mass detention of certain ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region and sterilization programs there to be "genocide". Does the foreign ministry have a comment? Zhao Lijian: There's never ever such thing as genocide in China. Period. Pompeo and his likes have concocted lies of the century about Xinjiang and slung mud at China's Xinjiang policy. We never accept that. We have repeatedly refuted those rumors and stated the facts. Xinjiang has never been more prosperous than it is now, with unprecedented achievements in socio-economic development and improvement of people's life. Residents in Xinjiang live a happy life in a stable environment. These facts are the best refutation of certain U.S. politicians' anti-China remarks. No matter how hard those ill-intentioned individuals try to sow discord, they will not succeed in destabilizing Xinjiang or stopping Xinjiang's endeavor for progress. Pompeo's slandering comments against China are already discarded in the dustbin of history. We hope certain people in the Biden administration can acknowledge the facts, heed the voice of all 1.4 billion Chinese people including 25 million Xinjiang residents of various ethnic groups, and deal with the relevant issues in a prudent, fact-based and responsible manner. We are firmly opposed to any external interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues and will continue to firmly safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests. Xinhua News Agency: US President Biden signed an executive memorandum on January 26. It says the Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin. It also orders the Federal Government to condemn and combat racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: China's position on issues related to COVID-19 is consistent and clear. I would like to stress three points here. First, the novel coronavirus is the common enemy of all mankind. It respects no races or nationalities. The WHO and the international community have explicitly expressed their opposition to linking the virus with any specific country or region. Second, origin-tracing is a matter that must be approached with the utmost prudence and must be studied by scientists worldwide. China also firmly opposes the wrong acts of pinning labels on the virus and politicizing the pandemic. Third, China hopes the US will succeed in containing the virus at an early date, and stands ready to work with the US and the rest of the international community to advance global anti-epidemic cooperation. Bloomberg: The U.K. will begin accepting citizenship applications from BNO-eligible Hong Kong residents beginning January 31. Does China plan to do anything to discourage people from seeking the visa? Zhao Lijian: China has repeatedly stated its position on this issue. The British side, in breach of its promise, has chosen to obstinately and repeatedly hype up the BNO passport issue to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. This will only end up hurting its own interests. I would like to reiterate our confidence in the promising future of Hong Kong. No forces under whatever circumstances can erode the determination of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to uphold national sovereignty and security, safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and oppose external intervention. AFP: First question, can you share any more details about the WHO mission in Wuhan? Where will the team visit after their quarantine is finished and what's on the agenda? Secondly, the US said it wants a robust and clear international probe into the origins of COVID-19 and highlighted great concerns over misinformation from some sources in China. What's your response to this? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, after the WHO experts came to China, they were under a 14-day quarantine following international customary practices, which will end today. In the coming days in China, while observing China's COVID-19 prevention procedures, they will continue carrying out exchanges and cooperation on origin-tracing, including having discussions and field trips. All their activities will need to be science-based with the utmost priority of preventing future risks and protecting people's safety and health. As for the places they will visit and their detailed work agenda, I'd refer you to the competent authorities. On your second question, it is inappropriate to make any negative conjecture with preconception or even attempt to make politicized interpretation. They will cause undue disruption to the expert panel's scientific cooperation in China and is not conducive to drawing a serious, science-based conclusion. Regarding origin-tracing, I believe you've noted it is found by more studies and recognized by WHO that origin-tracing is an ongoing process that may involve many countries and places where the epidemics broke out. Origin-tracing is a complex scientific matter that requires international research and cooperation by scientists across the globe. I want to stress that the purpose of international research and cooperation on origin-tracing is to get a deeper understanding of its animal hosts and transmission routes, so that we will better guard against future risks and handle similar public health crises. On this major issue concerning the safety and health of all people, we hope the U.S. side will work with China, take on a responsible attitude and respect facts, science and the diligent work of WHO experts, so that they can conduct research on origin-tracing free from any political disturbance. NHK: I have two questions. First, the United States rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea beyond what it is permitted under international law and stands with Southeast Asian nations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a call with Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin. What is your comment? Second, the US and Japanese leaders talked over the phone in which they affirmed the importance of jointly ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed in the course of a long history, and are in line with international law and practice. China unswervingly upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We are also committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiation and consultation with other countries directly concerned, and to jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea with ASEAN countries. We hope countries outside the region will duly respect the efforts of China and other regional countries to properly handle maritime disputes and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. On your second question, we maintain that peace, development and win-win cooperation is the trend of the times and the aspiration shared by regional countries. Interactions between relevant countries should be conducive to mutual trust between regional countries, as well as peace, stability and prosperity in the region. AFP: First question, President Biden called Japanese Prime Minister Suga and discussed the U.S. unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan under their security treaty, which includes the "Senkaku Islands". What's your comment? Secondly, are there any plans in the future for a call between Chinese and American presidents? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, born out of the Cold War, shall not be used to undermine the interests of any third party, let alone regional peace and stability. As for your second question, China's position on China-U.S. relations is consistent and clear. I have no information to offer on the specific question you raised. Bloomberg: Can I ask you to provide an update on your embassy's Twitter account in Washington? Are you in touch with the company and when will you start tweeting again? Zhao Lijian: We have talked about China's position on this matter. We hope the party concerned will be objective and unbiased to address the issue properly. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a striking message on Tuesday: Children should return to classrooms because its safe for them to do so. The agency said the preponderance of available evidence indicated that in-person instruction could be carried out safely as long as mask-wearing and social distancing were maintained. Its researchers found little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission when proper safety precautions were followed. One important caveat: Local officials also must be willing to impose limits on other settings like indoor dining, bars or poorly ventilated gyms in order to keep infection rates low in the community at large. In one example, researchers looked at 17 elementary and secondary schools in rural Wisconsin where mask-wearing was routine, and the incidence of infection was lower in schools than in the community at large. During 13 weeks in the fall of 2020, there were 191 infections among staff and students and only seven came from in-school transmission. 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. LOS ANGELE, CA Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, his office announced Thursday. The news prompted an immediate backlash. Critics accused the forty-nine-year-old of cutting in line for the vaccine ahead of millions of vulnerable seniors, who can't get inoculated because of the vaccine shortage. His supporters contend he needs protection while playing a vital role in getting the city through the pandemic. It's a controversy mirrored on the national level as lawmakers are vaccinated ahead of their more vulnerable constituents. Though Garcetti does not meet California's COVID-19 vaccination eligibility guidelines because of his age, he received the vaccine on Jan. 21 after he spent five days assisting efforts at the Dodger Stadium mass vaccination center. "Mayor Garcetti has spent many days, as he is today, at Dodger Stadium, assisting on the frontline of the vaccination effort -- directly interacting with hundreds of Angelenos each day," Garcetti's Deputy Communications Director Alex Comisar said. "The medical personnel strongly recommended that he receive the vaccine as they have recommended and provided for other field staff and volunteers at the site who have close contact with clients." Currently, California's COVID-19 vaccination guidelines allow jurisdictions to offer vaccines to people 65 and older. In Los Angeles, health officials have warned it could take months to get all seniors vaccinated at the current rate. The holdup stems from the vaccine shortage. Some seniors have found it impossible to obtain an appointment to get vaccinated in Los Angeles, a frustration breeding resentment among those left out. To see powerful politicians getting the vaccine denied them frustrated many. "Isnt that humorous!! On the front line!! Those of us 75 and up ARE in real danger," tweeted Stuart Charter. "I now know which Mayor I wont be voting for. Utterly selfish!!" Story continues "Wow, a whole 5 days of volunteering.. isn't he supposed to be doing mayoral things? Like homelessness and cutting ribbons?" tweeted Jeff Simpson Sr. Still, others were glad to see their mayor getting the vaccine. They pushed back against the idea that the mayor isn't among the front line workers. "Youre wrong, of course, government officials are front line," wrote Ana Perez. "Theyre interacting with a lot of people on a daily basis. They dont have the luxury of working from home." City News Service contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque revealed on Thursday that he was meeting with some officials of the National Bureau of Investigation in Malacanang, as he may have been a recent "victim of crime." In his briefing, Roque bared that investigation is ongoing about an incident which he has consulted with the NBI. He, however, repeatedly refused to disclose what it was about and whether he has filed a complaint against someone. "If I feel that I have been a victim of a crime, then I will consult with them," Roque said. Pressed for further information, Roque did not give other details, claiming that it does not need to be part of the public's interest. "Because there will be an investigation, no, that is not covered by the [public's] right to information," he said, asking the public to let the probe take its course. Roque added: "The NBI is here because the NBI is tasked by law to investigate possible offenses of existing criminal laws. Tignan muna natin, baka walang complaint talaga. (Let's see first, maybe it's not worth filing a complaint after all.) AS the white pirogue drifted in the waters just off Belle Garden in Tobago early yesterday morning, fishermen working nearby knew something was wrong. What they saw in the small vessel stunned them. Fourteen bodies, all of them male, along with a skull and other skeletal remains, were piled inside the vessel as it floated four miles off Belle Garden, police confirmed. The bodies were all clad in tracksuits and green rain jackets and were severely decomposed, police investigators said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. DALLAS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crossroads Systems, Inc. (OTCQX: CRSS) ("Crossroads" or the "Company"), a holding company focused on investing in businesses that promote economic vitality and community development, today announced that it has officially joined the OTCQX Best Market (the "OTCQX"). In a press release announced earlier today, OTC Markets Group, Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, welcomed Crossroads and announced that the Company has qualified to trade on the OTCQX, an upgrade from OTCQB Venture Market, where the Company has been trading since February 2020. Effective today, Crossroads now trades on the OTCQX under the symbol "CRSS." Investors can find current financial disclosures and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. "Trading on OTCQX will allow Crossroads to efficiently expand access to its news and financial disclosures while demonstrating to investors that the company meets high financial standards and follows corporate governance best practices," said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. "We look forward to supporting Crossroads and its shareholders in the public markets." "Our graduation to the OTCQX Market is thanks to the collective efforts of our employees, customers, investors, partners and many other stakeholders who have supported our mission of promoting economic vitality and community development where it is needed," said Crossroads CEO Eric Donnelly. "With our elevated standing on the OTCQX, we hope to drive greater awareness for our organization and its mission and will keep investing in meaningful growth initiatives that will propel us forward. As we continue to make strategic investments in the communities we serve, we are looking for additional opportunities to provide the increased liquidity and transparency that our shareholders appreciate." About Crossroads Systems Crossroads Systems, Inc. (OTCQX: CRSS) is a holding company focused on investing in businesses that promote economic vitality and community development. Crossroads' subsidiary, Capital Plus Financial (CPF), is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and certified B- Corp, which supports Hispanic homeownership with a long term, fixed-rate single-family mortgage product. Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that relate to the business and expected future events or future performance of Crossroads Systems, Inc. and Capital Plus Financial and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause its actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "likely," "will," "would," "could," and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Crossroads Systems' and Capital Plus Financial's ability to implement their business strategy, and their ability to achieve or maintain profitability. The future performance of Crossroads Systems and Capital Plus Financial may be adversely affected by the following risks and uncertainties: economic changes affecting homeownership in the geographies where Capital Plus Financial conducts business, developments in lending markets that may not align with Capital Plus Financial's expectations and that may affect Capital Plus Financial's plans to grow its portfolio, variations in quarterly results, developments in litigation to which we may be a party, technological change in the industry, future capital requirements, regulatory actions or delays and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described or anticipated by these forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of these factors and risks, investors should review Crossroads Systems' annual and quarterly reports. Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's beliefs and opinions at the time the statements are made. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Crossroads Systems undertakes no duty to update this information to reflect future events, information or circumstances. 2020 Crossroads Systems, Inc., Crossroads and Crossroads Systems are registered trademarks of Crossroads Systems, Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Company Contact: Crossroads Systems [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Gateway Investor Relations Matt Glover and Tom Colton [email protected] (949) 574-3860 SOURCE Crossroads Systems; Capital Plus Financial Related Links http://www.crossroads.com Ann McDonnell with her award from the Lord Mayor of Dublin A woman working in north Dublin was this month's winner of the Lord Mayor's Award for her mask fundraiser. Ann McDonnell, who works in the Spar store on Glasnevin Avenue in Finglas, was chosen by Lord Mayor Hazel Chu after being nominated by a local customer, Colette Finnegan. Ann started to sew her masks once the pandemic began and sold them in the Spar, sending all the proceeds to St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown. Delighted She was overwhelmed to have won the award and said she could not believe it. "People are saying I'm great, but it's the customers, really," she said. "We've raised 8,000 for the hospice so far and we're still selling the masks. We have a great community. "Before I worked in the shop I was a machinist at home when the kids were younger, so it's like I've gone back to my roots. "I'll be bringing the award to bed with me tonight, I'm absolutely delighted." The Lord Mayor had kind words to say about Ann, and also noted that many worthy people were nominated again this month. "We really do have so many good people in this city," she said. "I went with Ann as this month's winner because not only does she sound like a ray of sunshine for customers coming into the shop, she has also put another of her talents to great use making masks and raising money for a super cause. Well done." Lovely Customer Colette also commended her on her initiative, saying: "I think Ann is a great woman, and she always has a lovely greeting for everyone who enters the shop. "Well done Ann for raising all that money for such a great cause and for thinking of everyone and keeping them safe with your lovely masks." Tamara Ecclestone took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a sweet family snap with her husband Jay Rutland and their two daughters - Sophia, six, and baby Serena, four months, during their Dubai getaway. In the photo, the heiress, 36, looked radiant as she wore a black floral patterned top teamed with a pair of grey shorts. Tamara styled her brunette locks into a sleek sweptback ponytail, she added just a slick of make-up. Sweet: Tamara Ecclestone took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a sweet family snap with her husband Jay Rutland and their two daughters - Sophia, six, and baby Serena, four months, during their Dubai getaway Jay, 39, looked dapper in a stylish blue shirt and beige trousers as he proudly posed for the family snap. Tamara sweetly captioned the photo with: 'My whole world' followed by a red heart emoji. Earlier this week, Tamara uploaded a candid image of herself breastfeeding her baby Serena, during her break in Dubai on Sunday. Candid: Earlier this week, Tamara uploaded a candid image of herself breastfeeding her baby Serena, during her break in Dubai on Sunday She also posted pictures of her eldest daughter Sophia, cradling her younger sister as she treated her followers to a glimpse of their fun-filled holiday. Tamara is an advocate of the practice and has previously shared pictures on social media of herself breastfeeding elder child Sophia, while fending off online criticism for continuing to do so beyond her fourth birthday. Despite the division, the mother-of two previously told HELLO! that breastfeeding helped her 'reconnect' with Sophia and settled her down at the end of the day. Tamara told the publication in 2018: 'It's only at bedtime. It's her bedtime routine. We do bath time, then we read four stories every night, then she has the boob. No plans: On Thursday, Tamara's husband Jay revealed to MailOnline that the family have no plans to return to London following the dramatic security lapse that led to a multi-million pound jewel heist at her West London home 'She falls asleep. That's her way, she doesn't have a dummy or a bottle to comfort her.' On Thursday, Tamara's husband Jay revealed to MailOnline that the family have no plans to return to London following the dramatic security lapse that led to a multi-million pound jewel heist at her West London home. The Formula One heiress has barely been back to the UK since June and her husband Jay Rutland admitted concerns over his family's safety was one reason they had not been back more. Jurors at a recent trial related to the burglary heard the home was so huge that security staff did not notice the thieves breaking in through the back garden or plundering several rooms of the house during the hour-long raid. One guard was not on duty at the property in exclusive Kensington because he had gone to Tesco to buy groceries including vegetables for a roast dinner, the court was told. Speaking from Dubai about their plans, 39-year-old businessman Mr Rutland told MailOnline today: 'We do not intend to return to the UK from Dubai. 'There are a host of reasons why we are not going back to London any time soon and security is one of them. The truth is we are playing it month by month and watching how the situation develops.' Mr Rutland denied that he and Miss Ecclestone, 36, had broken travel restrictions as they had not returned to the UK since leaving the country in June 2020. Barely back: The Formula One heiress has barely been back to the UK since June and her husband Jay Rutland admitted concerns over his family's safety was one reason they had not been back more 'We have not broken the lockdown rules to come Dubai, that is not what we have done,' he told MailOnline. 'At the beginning of the outbreak last year we really stuck to the rules. 'From March to May we locked down and did not leave the house [in London]. We went to Croatia in [June] the summer, but that was only after the rules changed and everyone was allowed to travel. 'From there we went to Switzerland and we stayed there until Christmas when we came here to Dubai. There are a host of reasons why are not planning to return to London any time soon. 'Security is one of them but certainly not the only reason. There is not a strict plan about when we are going to return to the UK or to Switzerland. Switzerland is in lockdown as well. 'Therefore, my gallery is closed and I can do any work I need to do remotely. We are here on an extended holiday while all this stuff is going on.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their strong ties during a phone call between the two countries' top diplomats. Recently installed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed he spoke with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. via a tweet Thursday, calling what transpired a "great conversation." "We'll continue to build upon the strong U.S.-Philippine Alliance with our shared interests, history, values, and strong people-to-people ties," he said. Locsin responded to the tweet with one of his own, adding, "We'll get a lot done soon." No other details of the conversation have been disclosed. A statement from U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price also confirmed the conversation between the two Secretaries, saying they "reaffirmed that a strong U.S.-Philippine Alliance is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region." "Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea. Secretary Blinken also underscored that the United States rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea to the extent they exceed the maritime zones that China is permitted to claim under international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention," he said. Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez expressed confidence that relations between Manila and Washington will still run smoothly after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. "First and foremost is the policy on the West Philippine Sea for instance. The policy shifted during the time of President Trump, they recognized our arbitral award will be continued by the Biden administration," he added. Tonight looks frosty with some light freezing fog & lows -1 to 12 (coldest in the far west & southwest) with light to calm wind. With a southeast to south-southwest breeze & sunshine, highs Friday should run 31-37, followed by 20s Friday night with light freezing fog & frost & increasing high clouds. We should completely cloud up Saturday with strong southeast wind at 15-30 mph. By 6 p.m., highs should reach 35-38. However, as precipitation moves in & falls through the dry air, we should see evaporative cooling drop temperatures back to 31-33. Between 4 & 7 p.m., a band of precipitation should develop in our southwestern counties & rapidly spread northeastward. It may begin as a few rain drops, then go to sleet & wet snow. Models seem to not know what to make of the deep snow pack in Iowa & northern Illinois & then the snow pack from Kansas to North Carolina, which is leading to a hodge-podge of snowfall total projections. To add further complication is the fact of any deviation in track or degree of evaporative cooling or push of warmer air will lead to rapid forecast tweaks right up to timing of event. So............hereare the current thoughts & projections......... Sleet & snow may go to brief freezing rain in a complicated set-up of evaporative cooling & warm air trying to overcome that cooling aloft by riding over the colder air nearer to the surface. Increasing rain is the trend Saturday night-Sunday. Rain may end as some snow Sunday. If the system tracks farther south, there will be a much longer duration of snow or all snow. This would mean less recovery from the evaporative cooling as the wind will be more easterly than southeasterly or south-southeasterly. With the current track snow to some ice to rain ending as snow seems reasonable as temperatures rise from 31-32 to 36-41 by Sunday with strong south to southeast wind gusting 30-40 mph at times before turning to the northeast, then north to northwest. Temperatures should fall to 30-33 in the afternoon. Stay weather aware & watch for frequent updates as even a 40 mile difference in track will result in different duration of precipitation types. A 100-mile track difference to the south would put much of the area in all snow with +6" amounts. My current thinking is that the heaviest band should still occur from near Davenport, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois to South Bend, Indiana to near Cleveland, Ohio with +6" amounts. Note the sharp cut-off in totals expected here. This is what is currently expected (but again, be weather-aware for possible tweaks & shifting higher or lower): Fountain County: Less than 1" Warren County: 1" or less Montgomery County: 1.5" or less Tippecanoe County: 1-2" Benton County: 1-2.5" White County: 1.5-3.5" Carroll County: 1.5-3.5" Clinton County: 1-3" Howard County: 2.5-5" Cass County: 3-5.5" Miami County: 3-6" Fulton County: 4-6" Pulaski County: 3.5-5.5" Jasper County: 2.5-6" Newton County: 2.5-4.5" Monday looks partly cloudy with highs 30-36 with lows 17-22, followed by mostly sunny to sunny skies & 30-36 Tuesday with light to calm winds. Lows will run the 18-25 range with south wind commencing Tuesday night.. With 37-46 Wednesday with strong southerly wind, 40s to 50s are possible by Thursday with rain & strong south-southwest wind gusting to 35 mph. Once again, The Advocate proves that it is no friend of the First Amendment nor of the law but is invariably on the side of totalitarianism an SINGAPORE/MELBOURNE: Oil fell on Thursday on fresh fuel demand worries because of travel curbs to prevent new coronavirus outbreaks and delays with vaccines and a stronger U.S. dollar weighed on prices. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.7%, to $52.49 a barrel at 0738 GMT, erasing Wednesdays gain. Brent crude futures fell 46 cents, or 0.8%, to $55.35 a barrel, after losing 10 cents on Wednesday. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against other major currencies, rose to 90.753 from a January low of 89.206. Buyers using other currencies must pay more for dollar-denominated oil when the greenback rises. The oil market had been supported earlier this week by a surprisingly large decline in U.S. crude stockpiles in the week to Jan. 22, which analysts said was due to a pick up in U.S. crude exports and a drop in imports. But attention is now turning back to demand concerns amid a rise in COVID-19 infections with contagious new variants, a slower rollout of vaccines in Europe, and travel curbs in countries such as China. We are moving from just a Q1 demand write off to now pricing in more demand pain in Q2 due to the slow vaccine rollout," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi. Particularly from Europe where the slow vaccine roll-out and the extended lockdowns point to a double-dip recession." Stricter vaccine checks by the European Union and delivery hold ups from AstraZeneca and Pfizer have slowed the rollout of shots in the bloc. Adding to the demand worries, China, the worlds second-largest oil consumer, is now facing a surge in coronavirus cases and seeking to limit travel as it heads into what is normally the busiest travel season of the year, the Lunar New Year holiday. China - they were the ones supporting the market. If you have issues forming in China, that really puts a brake on the demand story for now," said Commonwealth Bank Commodities Analyst Vivek Dhar. The Chinese Ministry of Transport has forecast the number of trips that will be taken will be up 15% from last year, when the virus was raging, but down 40% from 2019. Britain, in lockdown since Jan. 4, on Wednesday clamped down on travel, requiring people arriving from high-risk COVID-19 countries to quarantine for 10 days and barring outbound trips for all but exceptional reasons. Australia on Thursday extended its suspension of quarantine-free travel with New Zealand, as it investigated two new positive cases of the South African COVID-19 variant. Data out later on Thursday will likely show the economy of the United States, the worlds biggest oil user, contracted in 2020 at its sharpest pace since 1946 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The economic backdrop remains uncertain as governments struggle to fight off the spread of COVID-19," ANZ Research said in a note. 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 sister of a man killed by Michael Stone said she fears the newly-released loyalist killer will come after her family. Lawyers acting for Deborah McGuinness are on Thursday set to challenge the decision to release him on parole. An emergency judicial review has been issued over the legality of the Parole Commissioners' decision to free Stone from Maghaberry this week. Mrs McGuinness told the Belfast Telegraph that she still lives in fear of Stone. One of Northern Ireland's most notorious terrorists, he killed three people including Mrs McGuinness' brother Thomas McErlean at Milltown Cemetery in 1988. Read More He was also responsible for the earlier murders of three Catholic men in separate attacks. He was not due for release until 2024, having failed in an earlier parole bid, but it emerged on Tuesday night that he was out. According to her solicitor, the challenge, to be heard in Belfast's High Court on Thursday morning, will also address the decision of the commissioners not to provide reasons for their decision to release Stone, their refusal to provide documents or information about the proceedings, or allow the relatives of his victims to participate. Paul Farrell, who is acting for Mrs McGuinness, said: "This case is of huge importance, not only to the victims of Michael Stone and their families, but also it will have huge ramifications with regard to the future of parole hearings in Northern Ireland." Mr McErlean (20), a Catholic from west Belfast, was among three people killed by Stone in the gun and grenade attack at Milltown. Another civilian, John Murray (26), and IRA member Kevin Brady (30) also died. Mrs McGuinness said news of the freedom brought her back to his first release in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Read More Stone was returned to prison after entering Stormont in 2006 armed with explosives and an axe in an attempt to murder Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Mrs McGuinness said the families of Stone's victims want inquiries into their murders to examine suspicions of security force collusion. "We want our truth. He's been out twice and we're still fighting for an inquest," she said. "We're getting the information like ordinary people and reading it in the papers." She said she is afraid Stone will approach her family, adding: "He's a serial killer. Nobody knew what he was capable of the last time, so who is to say he wouldn't come to my door?" She received a phone call from police on Tuesday to tell her Stone would be released within seven days. Read More He was freed that same night and Mrs McGuinness found out while watching the news. She added: "My brother was an innocent victim. He was only 20 and he was married with two sons. He had a daughter he never met. His children are in their 30s now. "My mother went to her deathbed really still wanting the inquiries to go on. "We were told the day he died that we wouldn't get an inquest. That's why it's so important to us and his children. "It will go on until the next generation, so it needs to be sorted and not carried on. We don't want it to go on to a third generation. Like most victims, we're just waiting and it's like being on a roller-coaster. When it was confirmed in 2019 that Stone would not be released until 2024, Mrs McGuinness said it was "a real relief". "If you do the crime you should go and do the full amount of time," she said. The memory of her brother still lives on in his family's minds, she said, and they talk about him "at special moments - at Christmas, at sad times or when his grandchildren are born". She added: "(My brother) hasn't been there in a long time. It's the families that suffer, let's be honest. We're not going to stop until we get the truth." Ms McGuinness' solicitor welcomed the ruling as a step towards greater openness in the parole process. Paul Farrell, of McIvor Farrell law firm, said: "This case is not a persecution of Michael Stone, it was taken by my client to address the potential risks to the public that may arise upon his release. "However, the issues that arise are common across the whole parole process, where victims have ongoing concerns regarding offenders who are to be resettled in the community." We believe that while testing may have made it appear we were being proactive, testing is not a substitute for taking actual, immediate and continued action to keep inmates safe, he said. We believe that the available data nearly a year into the pandemic shows that our decision was the right one. Mississippis Covid-related inmate hospitalizations and deaths are among the lowest in prisons across the Southeast United States. But inmates say they fear for their lives. In one facility, the George-Greene County/Regional Correctional Facility in Lucedale, three in four inmates have been infected. Elsewhere, cases have spread inside buildings that are in disrepair and that defy even rudimentary coronavirus prevention measures, according to state documents and inmates interviewed by The Times. A lack of dependable running water has prevented handwashing and showers in some prisons, inmates said. In one prison, crowding has meant that as many as four inmates share cells designed for one person. And in another facility, dormitories are so packed that people say when they roll over in bed, their arms sometimes inadvertently strike a neighboring bunk. At Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl, nine inmates have died from the coronavirus, but the prison has tested only 195 of its 3,000 inmates. Of those tested, 102 were found to be infected, according to state data. Paloma Wu, a lawyer at the Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that is among several groups suing the state over its prison coronavirus protocols, said negligence had aggravated an already dire situation. They havent been able to keep people in prison safe, she said. The patchy health care the system provides to inmates was underscored last year by the abrupt departure of its health care provider, which accused the state of refusing to spend an adequate amount of money on inmate care. 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. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 The other incidents he allegedly is connected to, many of which police said he was identified as taking part in through photo arrays by victims, occurred in the 8800 block of South Luella Avenue, the 1600 block of East 92nd Place, the 8900 block of South Constance Avenue, the 600 block of East Bowen Avenue, the 2600 block of East 91st Street, the 7900 block of South State Street, the 8800 block of South East End Avenue and the 8600 block of South University Avenue, police said. (Natural News) Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed the coronavirus vaccine safe for use, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chooses to err on the side of caution. The FAA authorized the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for pilots and air traffic controllers last Dec. 19. However, the FAA required a 48-hour wait period before pilots and controllers could begin conducting safety-sensitive aviation duties, similar to what the agency did with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The policy was released a day after the FDA granted emergency use authorization for mRNA-1273 or the Moderna vaccine. Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine received FDA authorization on Dec. 11 and the FAA permitted its use on Dec. 12. The FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine said: Holders of FAA-issued Airman Medical Certificates or Medical Clearances may receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. However, a 48-hour no fly/no [safety-related] duty interval must be observed after each dose. The FAA advised inoculated pilots and air traffic controllers that they are forbidden from performing flight crewmember duties or air traffic control duties if they dont meet medical certification requirements, including those related to adverse events from medications that render them unable to perform such duties. While the FDA authorizes additional vaccines, the FAA evaluates and releases policies. The FAA emphasized that it will strictly observe the patient response to both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The agency added that it may adjust the policy as needed to ensure aviation safety. Air traffic controllers and pilots helped ship the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last Dec. 13. Both Houston Mills, who is an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) member and UPS Inc. Vice President of Flight Operations and Safety, and first officer Neal Newell safely flew the cargo from Lansing, Michigan, to Louisville, Kentucky. AOPA President Mark Baker praised pilots and air traffic controllers who are at the forefront of the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as they delivered personal protective equipment and the vaccines. I am pleased the FAA is acting quickly to evaluate and allow pilots and controllers to take either of the FDA-approved vaccines and return to work and flying after a short period, concluded Baker. Back in December, the FAA sent guidance to airports to prepare for vaccine distribution. The agency also advised other facilities that may serve as alternate or diversion airports. Additionally, the FAA announced that some aircraft used for vaccine shipments may be larger than the aircraft used for passenger-carrying flights that usually serve that airport. Operators were advised to have extra aircraft rescue and fire-fighting services. Are experimental vaccines really safe? Many believe the coronavirus vaccines are still experimental and, like other experimental drugs, are linked to negative side effects. For example, a CBS 60 Minutes segment called The Swine Flu Fraud of 76 revealed shocking details about a vaccine that injured thousands of Americans. Those who received the vaccine even sued the U.S. government. (Related: Woman suffers whole body convulsions after taking experimental Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.) The FDA reported that Modernas Covid-19 vaccine causes common side effects such as fatigue, headaches and muscle pain. Other rare symptoms of the vaccine include intractable nausea (vomiting that is difficult to control) and facial swelling potentially triggered by the shots. Additionally, over nine in 10 participants who were vaccinated felt pain at the injection site. At least seven volunteers in 10 felt fatigued and at least six out of 10 had headaches or muscle pain. Over 44 percent of people who were vaccinated experienced joint pain and more than 43 percent experienced chills. The agency also found that more severe side effects were recorded in 0.2 percent to 9.7 percent of volunteers. These serious symptoms were more common after they received the second dose. Modernas vaccine requires two shots that are given within several weeks. The FDA reported that at least 15 percent of vaccinated participants got a fever after receiving either the first or second dose. Less than six percent reported symptoms that lasted for a week or so after vaccination. According to the agency, some of the trial participants had a fever that lasted more than a week. While there were seven serious adverse events in the COVID-19 vaccine trial, the FDA insisted that none of them was fatal. Four were attributed to the vaccine by trial investigators and Moderna, with side effects including intractable nausea and vomiting, facial swelling and rheumatoid arthritis. While the Moderna coronavirus vaccine is supposedly safe to use, the FDA recommends monitoring those who were vaccinated to see if anyone develops Bells palsy. Out of the trials 30,000 participants, four individuals experienced the condition that causes half of the face to droop. Visit VaccineInjurynews.com to read more articles about the potential side effects of the coronavirus vaccine. Sources include: HumansAreFree.com AOPA.org News.Yahoo.com CNBC.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company" or "Aires") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement for electronic media and webcast services, design, development and dissemination services (the "EMC Agreement") with Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC ("EMC") with respect to EMC providing investor relations services to the Company. Effective February 1, 2021, the EMC Agreement has an initial term of 90 days, wherein the Company will pay EMC a non-refundable fee of $150,000. EMC is a syndicate of investor relations consultants consisting of stock brokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets. Neither EMC nor any of its principals currently own any securities, directly or indirectly, of the Company, or have any intention to acquire any securities of the Company. The Company also announces that it has entered into an agreement for strategic digital media services, marketing, and data analytics services (the "WM Agreement") with Winning Media LLC ("WM") with respect to WM providing investor relations services to the Company. Effective February 1, 2021, the Company has the ability to terminate the WM Agreement at any time upon 30 days' notice. Neither WM nor any of its principals currently own any securities, directly or indirectly, of the Company or have any intention to acquire any securities of the Company. The Company will pay WM a non-refundable fee of $100,000. The Company is pleased to announce that it has retained Hybrid Financial Ltd. ("Hybrid") to provide marketing services for the Company. Hybrid has been engaged to heighten market and brand awareness for Aires and to broaden the Company's reach within the investment community. Hybrid has agreed to comply with all applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange") in providing the Services. Hybrid has been engaged by the Company for an initial period of 6 months starting February 1, 2021 (the "Initial Term") and then shall be renewed automatically for successive three (3) month periods thereafter, unless terminated by the Company in accordance with the Agreement. Hybrid will be paid a monthly fee of $38,333.34, plus applicable taxes, during the Initial Term. About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. is a nanotechnology company which has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The technology was developed by a team of highly credited scientists and confirmed by independent third-party validation including peer reviewed studies and publications in scientific journals. The technology specifically targets cellphones, computers, baby monitors, Wi-Fi radiation and general EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices. Aires has launched a full suite of consumer products under the brand name "Airestech" for use on almost all consumer electronic devices. The Company has adopted a global ecommerce and distribution platform that scales easily as sales grow. Since launching in 2019, Aires has enjoyed exuberant growth. The company has been aggressively building out their ecommerce platform which is now capable of delivering up to 10,000 shipments a day along with recent customer service center agreements. Strategically placed fulfillment centers have been secured to ensure prompt delivery around the globe (see PR Jan. 31, 2020). With the launch of 5G networks around the world, this year, we are seeing an increase of news, reports and leading health organizations discussing the potential harm of EMR and the importance of identifying solutions to reduce these harmful rays. Aires products are the solution. www.airestech.com. On behalf of the board of directors Company Contact Dimitry Serov, CEO Email: dimitry@airestech.com Telephone: (905) 482-4667 Website: www.airestech.com For further information please contact: Investor Cubed Inc.: Neil Simon, CEO Email: wifi@airestech.com Telephone: (647) 258-3310 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are 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 and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. 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 statements. The Company 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 as required by securities laws. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73009 Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (881) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (897) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (851) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (852) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (942) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (732) Earlier this week, police had to intervene at the Arima to Port of Spain taxi stand on Henry Street, as some drivers were reported to be flouting the regulations. Every winter, Pang Qingguo, a fruit seller in northern China, makes the 800-mile trip to his ancestral home to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the biggest holiday of the year in China, with his family. The coronavirus ruined the festivities last year, stranding Mr. Pang in the northern city of Tangshan, as many Chinese cities imposed lockdowns. Now, as China confronts a resurgence of the virus, the pandemic is set to spoil the holiday again, with the authorities announcing onerous quarantine and testing rules to dissuade migrant workers like Mr. Pang from traveling for the new year, which begins this year on Feb. 12. Mr. Pang, who describes his home in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang as the happiest place, is anguished by the rules. He has taken to social media in recent days to express frustration about his situation and post photos of his 7-year-old daughter, whom he has not seen in more than a year. Society is so cruel, he wrote in one post. I really miss my daughter, Mr. Pang, 31, said in an interview. But theres nothing I can do. Many of Chinas roughly 300 million migrant workers face a similar reality as the government tries to avoid a surge in cases during what is typically the busiest travel season of the year. All New Havis Solutions for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle "Chevrolet's commitment to public safety is evident in the 2021 Tahoe PPV and SSV offerings," said Chris Bernert, Havis Director of Sales. "Havis has worked diligently to meet their vehicle innovations with a worthy collection of aftermarket solutions." Havis, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of in-vehicle mobile working solutions for the public safety sector, is pleased to introduce a new suite of products to support the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) and Special Service Vehicle (SSV). Our updated collection of rugged solutions presents law-enforcement professionals with a "Dash to Trunk" line of purpose-built and innovative solutions that provide best-in-class comfort and ease of use. "Chevrolet's commitment to public safety is evident in the 2021 Tahoe PPV and SSV offerings," said Chris Bernert, Havis Director of Sales. "Havis has worked diligently to meet their vehicle innovations with a worthy collection of aftermarket solutions." Various console heights, lengths, and widths are offered for the 2021 Tahoe PPV and SSV to meet diverse equipment and comfort requirements. An assortment of vehicle-specific, heavy-duty device mounts provides secure stowage for laptops, tablets, and other mission-critical equipment. Standard accessories such as motion devices, printer mounts, armrests, and cup holders, are offered to complete any vehicle upfit. "Havis appreciates that the needs of public safety officers in North America vary by application and location," said Brett Young, Havis National Sales Manager for Public Safety. "We are proud to offer American-made products supporting one of America's leading public safety SUVs and providing for the different needs of officers across the country." Havis K9 inserts are available in standard or extended lengths, and a combination K9/Prisoner Transport is offered as well. Featuring black or white durable powder coat finishes, these K9 solutions reduce rattle, maximize visibility, improve operability, and increase versatility. These products are constructed to meet the safety and comfort needs of officers and their companions. Vehicle specific rear storage mounts are available to support Havis's modular storage line, consisting of easily stackable drawers with various size and lock options. Cargo plates and a cargo barrier for mounting and protecting valuable items in the trunk of the vehicle are also in development. For more information and to see the complete suite of Havis products for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV and SSV vehicles, contact media@havis.com, or visit http://www.havis.com. ABOUT HAVIS Havis, Inc., is a privately held, ISO 9001:2015 certified company that manufactures in-vehicle mobile office solutions for public safety, public works, government agencies, and mobile professionals. For more than 80 years, the Havis mission has been to increase mobile worker productivity with industry-leading products that are built to the highest safety and quality standards and are designed with comfort in mind. Havis is dedicated to responsible intellectual property management, and fosters ongoing innovation. Havis's patent and trademark portfolio demonstrate a commitment to consistently researching and developing unique products and solutions for mobile industries around the world. With headquarters in Warminster, PA, and an additional location in Plymouth, MI, Havis currently employs more than 300 people. For more information on Havis, please call 1-800-524-9900 or visit http://www.havis.com. Whats new: Zhang Anshun, a former head of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commissions (CBIRC) Shanxi provincial branch, was expelled from the Communist Party for corruption, the countrys top graft buster said. Zhang now faces criminal charges. An investigation of Zhang found severe violations of party discipline and law, including bribery and power abuse, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said Thursday. Zhang engaged in superstitious activities, accepted gifts and attended banquets that allegedly affected his ability to carry out official duties, the anti-graft agency said. He is also accused of using his power to benefit certain individuals and undermine financial market supervision. The background: The investigation of Zhang was announced in July 2020, about a year after his retirement. He was among a string of financial officials in Shanxi probed since last summer amid a major crackdown on the provinces scandal-plagued rural banking sector. Many of the suspected officials were linked to the Shanxi Rural Credit Union, the nexus of a vast financial network covering financial institutions focusing on rural borrowers and depositors in Shanxi. Caixin learned that the Shanxi Rural Credit Union was caught up in a major scandal as tens of billions of yuan were lost because of embezzlement of loans and other illegal activities. Zhang is a veteran financial regulatory official with an early career in the central bank system. He was the head of the CBIRCs Shanxi branch between 2015 and 2018. Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. To read the full Caixin article in Chinese, click here. Related: Restructuring Looms in Shanxis Scandal-Hit Banking Sector Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com). Support quality journalism in China. Subscribe to Caixin Global starting at $0.99. SEATTLE, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As President Joe Biden's COVID-19 plan prioritizes school reopening and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Tuesday there appears to be limited COVID-19 spread within schools when safety precautions are implemented, there is renewed focus on quickly implementing proven mitigation efforts, such as UVC lighting, to combat the pandemic. Safeology (www.safeology.com) UVC products use research-proven technology to remove 99.9 percent of COVID-19 from the air and surfaces. Safeology UVC products quickly and safely remove 99.9% of airborne and surface viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Pictured here: Upper Room Fixtures and Mobile Air Purifiers continually clean the air even when people are present, eliminating 99.9% of airborne viruses. The Mobile UVC Tower focuses on eliminating viruses on surfaces. For less than a dollar a day, Safeology products can create clean, safe classrooms, lunchrooms and locker rooms, and help schools quickly and safely reopen. Safeology is a division of Electric Mirror, the global leader in mirror technology. Safeology focuses Electric Mirror's decades of experience and expertise in lighting technology on the science of UVC-light disinfection. Designing and manufacturing UVC products and related IoT technology, Safeology employs research, engineering and R&D teams to provide solutions that reduce the airborne and surface spread of viruses and other pathogens. The results of Safeology's recently completed Level-3 Biosafety Laboratory research show the company's UVC technology to be an important scientific breakthrough that offers a clear path to making public spaces safer and significantly reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Based in Everett, WA, Safeology was founded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their UVC devices qualify under the Buy American Act and address the mitigation measures outlined by President Biden in his Executive Order supporting the reopening and continuing operation of schools and early childhood education providers. "The science is there to support safely opening our schools, provided mask mandates and other mitigation measures are followed," says Dr. George Diaz, Section Chief, Infectious Diseases, for Providence Regional Medical Center and Safeology Scientific Advisory Board Member. He also treated the first known patient with COVID-19 in the United States in January of 2020. "The use of UVC is a practical and proven solution whose time has come. We can use UVC lighting to safely clean schools and other public areas," Dr. Diaz adds. "We're pleased that President Biden is focused on reopening schools as quickly as possible, and we have the UVC products that make this possible," adds Jim Mischel, Safeology CEO. "For less than a dollar a day, our UVC Fixtures can quickly and safely remove 99.9 percent of SARS-CoV-2 virus from the air, virtually eliminating the airborne transmission of COVID-19." The recommended products for schools to safely and quickly inactivate coronavirus in the air include Upper Room UVC Linear Wall and Linear Recessed Fixtures and Mobile Air Purifiers, all of which can be safely used when people are present, making them ideal for continual use in occupied spaces such as classrooms, lunchrooms and locker rooms. Safeology also manufactures UVC Towers that focus on inactivating surface viruses. Businesses and individuals interested in learning more about Safeology, the research study, and Safeology products can contact the company at 1.844.Safeology, or [email protected]. About Safeology Safeology is a division of Electric Mirror, the global leader in mirror technology. Safeology focuses Electric Mirror's decades of experience and expertise in lighting technology on the science of UVC-light disinfection. Designing and manufacturing UVC products and related IoT technology, Safeology employs research, engineering and R&D teams to provide solutions that reduce the airborne and surface spread of viruses and other pathogens. Guided by a Scientific Advisory Board with world-class experts in infectious disease, microbiology, bioengineering, and electrical engineering, Safeology is leading the 21st century vanguard in the battle against pathogenic illness. Learn more about the future of disinfection at www.safeology.com. Media Contact: Teresa Wenta, Executive Director of Global Marketing 425-350-7407 [email protected] SOURCE Safeology 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. Jharkhand HC defers to March 5 hearing on plea over alleged violation of jail manual by Lalu Prasad Yadav Dumka Treasury case: Lalu Yadav granted bail, may be out of jail soon Jail release likely on Monday but Lalu to return home from Delhi hospital after recovery Lalu bail petition in Dumka case to come up on today India pti-Madhuri Adnal Ranchi, Jan 28: The hearing in the bail petition of jailed RJD president Lalu Prasad in connection with a case of fodder scam is listed in the Jharkhand High Court for Friday, his lawyer said Thursday. The bench of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh will hear his bail plea in the Dumka treasury embezzlement case of the fodder scam on January 29. This is why Nitish Kumar did not call Lalu Yadav to inquire about his health Prasad's lawyer Devarshi Mandal said that the RJD leader has already acquired bail in the three cases of the multi- crore rupees fodder scam and if his bail plea is allowed Friday he would be released from jail. Earlier on January 25, a report was submitted to the High Court on behalf of Prasad giving details that he has already completed more than half of the jail term awarded by a CBI court in the case and made a request for early hearing in the Dumka treasury matter. The court accepted the plea and fixed January 29 for taking up the matter. The septuagenarianleader was air-lifted to the Delhi AIIMS last week following reports of deterioration in his health. What would it take to get you to vote in the next election? How about a $20 fine if you neglected the civic duty? Mandatory voting with a potential monetary penalty is just one of about 30 election-related bills that have been submitted to the General Assembly this session. Another bill, proposed by conservative lawmakers, could end the states Election Day registration law. Another would apportion the states electoral votes by counties like Iowa, although Connecticut has eight counties and only seven electoral votes. Still another Republican bill, apparently inspired by the unfounded claims of fraud in the recent presidential race, would require further authentication of voter signatures on absentee ballots. The vast majority of these proposals will fall by the wayside as the Government Administration & Elections Committee decides first what bills will make the cut for public hearings next month, then which will be approved by the committee and head to the floors of the Democratic-dominated House and Senate. Second-term Sen. Will Haskell, D-Westport, doesnt expect his compulsory-voting bill to get very far, but he thinks its a good place to start a conversation on how to encourage voting. This bill isnt going to pass, but it ought to be discussed in the United States and I want to have a positive impact on the debate on elections and voter accessibility, said Haskell, vice chairman of the committee. Voting laws are inconvenient in Connecticut for commuters, senior citizens and working parents. He believes that if the mandatory voting became law, political campaigns would change drastically, fostering a wider debate among voters on what they want in their government, rather than energizing party faithful and suppressing opposition turnout. In particular, Haskell and Democratic majority leaders support two proposed amendments to the state Constitution. An early voting bill that was approved in 2019, needs passage this year by simple majorities in the House and Senate to get on the statewide ballot in 2022. A related bill expanding mail-in voting opportunities needs 75-percent support in the legislature to make the 2022 ballot, otherwise it would have to pass by simple majority in the current two-year General Assembly and the next legislature as well, putting it on the 2024 ballot. When it comes to election law the committee is focused on what needs to happen right now, as the pandemic is still raging, said Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, co-chairwoman of the GAE Committee. What weve learned over the last year is that people want to be be able to vote when they can. The state Constitution limits absentee, or mail-in ballots, to people in the military, are ill, or out of town on Election Day, although Gov. Ned Lamonts executive action and the General Assemblys vote in special session last year allowed all eligible voters to vote by absentee. The percentage turnout was 79.7 percent. At least 68 bills were listed on the Government Administration & Elections Committees website Wednesday, including one promoting the Siberian husky as the state dog.. Another piece of legislation, defeated in recent years but which will be a focus this year, is a bill that would change the way prison populations affect the drawing of state House and Senate districts. Democrats want those prison inmates to be counted as residents of their hometowns, which in the case of some General Assembly districts, could reshape the states political map as so-called prison gerrymandering ends, particularly in the Somers and Enfield region. Flexer said its crucial that the legislature end prison gerrymandering this year, because next year will be the once-a-decade statewide redrawing of House and Senate districts. Its not right to count people where they are clearly not from, Flexer said. Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said Wednesday that the amendments to the state Constitution are clearly the priorities of Democrats who have a 97-54 margin in the House and a 24-12 edge in the Senate. Early voting is obviously most-ripe because we can put it on the ballot with a majority in November, 2022, Ritter said. Id like to think we could get the 75 percent on no-excuse absentee balloting, but I wont hold my breath. That may wait until 2024. Our system worked really well. The reality was there was no fraud in Connecticut. I think people enjoyed having different options. At the end of the day, Connecticut continues to be well behind the times in diversifying voting options. Cheri Quickmire, executive director of the election watchdog Common Cause in Connecticut, said Wednesday that the organization hasnt yet come up with a position on Haskells compulsory voting bill, and many of the others filed with the committee. But it does support the two constitutional amendments. No-excuse absentee balloting the way it was permitted in the last election was an absolute success, Quickmire said Wednesday. And when they received their absentee ballots, many voters the ballot boxes that the secretary of the state installed throughout the state. Quickmire said that 44 states have early voting. We should definitely be offering that opportunity for folks who cant take a full day off or a half day to vote, she said. Id also like to see early voting over two weekends, not just one. Quickmire said that the bill to end prison gerrymandering, is an essential reform that the state is behind many other states in adopting. The fact that we count people as residents of a correctional institution is unacceptable, she said. The prisons have this information. The most important issue right now is that we ensure that we provide adequate access to the ballot for every Connecticut citizen, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said Wednesday. Connecticut voters want the choice of being able to vote early in-person, in-person in a polling place on Election Day, or by absentee ballot without needing an excuse. She said that only Connecticut, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, and South Carolina do not allow voters to cast ballots before Election Day. It is long past time to remove these artificial barriers that make voting more difficult in todays modern world, Merrill said. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, called Haskells $20-fine legislation a tone-deaf absurdity at a time when people throughout the state are filled with anxiety over COVID and its effects on the economy. I will be flabbergasted if this issue is put on the table, Candelora said Wednesday night. Its a reverse poll tax. Candelora agreed that voting flexibility will be part of a bipartisan conversation, however. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Ten years after joining an uprising in Yemen against autocratic rule and an economy in shambles, the same activists find themselves on opposite sides of a war that has pushed the country to the brink of famine with dim prospects for peace. Ahmed Abdo Hezam, 35, a fighter with government forces known by his nom de guerre Ahmed Abu Al-Nasr, had been a university graduate in the agro-industrial city of Taiz when he first joined youth-led protests that ended Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule. Even back then some 40% of Yemen's population lived on less than $2 a day and a third suffered chronic hunger. Jobs were scarce and corruption rife. The state was facing a resurgent Al Qaeda wing and rebellions by the Houthis in the north and separatists in the south. "When we joined the uprising it was like a breath of air. They tried to drag us into violence ... but we remained peaceful," said al-Nasr who like many resented jobs cronyism in the public sector, the biggest employer. More than 2,000 people died in the uprising before Saleh in 2012 yielded to pressure from the United States and Gulf Arab states to step down. He was the fourth autocrat to be toppled in the "Arab Spring" unrest that first began in Tunisia. Riyadh and Washington hoped former Saleh deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi would improve the government's legitimacy and oversee a transition to democracy. Instead it disintegrated. The Houthis, enemies of Saudi Arabia and friends of Iran, partnered with erstwhile foe Saleh to seize the capital, Sanaa, and ousted Hadi's government in late 2014, triggering a Saudi-led military coalition backed by the West to intervene. Al-Nasr, a poet with four children, joined government forces when the Houthis, who later killed Saleh when he turned on them, entered Taiz, which is still effectively under siege. "We did not think the uprising would lead to this," said al-Nasr, who has seen comrades die, his home destroyed and family scatter. "We were forced to take up arms to defend ourselves." "I hope with all my heart the war ends...that weapons are laid down and all factions sit at the table." SELF-DETERMINATION The war has killed more than 100,000 people and pushed millions to the verge of starvation. Now 80% of the population, or some 24 million, need help and are vulnerable to disease, first cholera and now COVID-19. Ali al-Dailami, a rights defender briefly detained under Saleh's rule who is now Houthi deputy minister of human rights, joined the uprising in "Change Square" in Sanaa in the hopes it would lead to a state representing all. Speaking to Reuters in the square, al-Dailami recalled the early days of the revolution, and lamented its results. "At times we thought we would not live to see the sun rise because of the threats and (pro-Saleh) soldiers and hoodlums," he said. "We wanted to move from a failed state, we wanted to break the impasse." He saw the Gulf initiative that ushered in Hadi as interference that "killed the revolution's principles". "We wanted real change, not to repackage the old system as democracy." Dejected, Dailami left Sanaa for Cairo but returned as the Saudi-led coalition bombarded and blockaded Yemen, killing thousands of civilians and exacerbating hunger. Once rebels largely kept at bay, the Houthis now hold northern Yemen, from where they have repeatedly attacked Saudi cities with missiles and drones. The government is based in the south where separatist seek more power. WEST MUST ACT Rights advocate Tawakkol Karman, a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner for her role in Arab Spring protests, was abroad when the Houthis seized Sanaa and has not returned. She is a vocal critic of the group and of the Saudi-led coalition, accusing them of repressing democratic change in the region. "After the revolution we lived three of the most beautiful years ever...we were days away from the referendum of the constitution and holding multiple elections," she said, blaming the Houthi coup, the war and Western inaction for what followed. Karman urged new U.S. President Joe Biden to "fulfil his commitment and his promises to end this war in Yemen" and to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia and its ally the United Arab Emirates. In the southern port of Aden, civil engineer Waddah al-Hariri, 49, hopes the United Nations can revive stalled peace talks. He has moved his family to Hodeidah, then Sanaa and back to Aden to escape fighting. A member of the Socialist Party that ruled South Yemen before unification with the North under Saleh in 1990, he believes the aims of the uprising he joined are still possible. "Building peace is the priority now, and then a new constitution," he said. Short link: WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) held a joint press conference today, calling on Congress to pass the direct fiscal assistance to cities and counties included in the Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan. After the press conference, they released the following joint statement: "Every day that goes by without passage of a COVID-19 relief package with direct aid to cities and counties pushes the American people and the cities and counties they live in deeper into crisis. With COVID-19 still ravaging communities throughout the country, cities and counties are approaching one year on the frontlines of this virus. Congress has almost entirely left behind local governments, forcing painful fiscal choices that are not only hindering efforts to contain the virus, but will continue to hamper vaccine distribution and will have a lasting impact on economic recovery. "The Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in direct flexible assistance to state and local governments. If Congress fails to deliver on this critical aid, the American people will feel it for years. Failure means more jobs lost, continued disruption to essential services and cities and counties unable to support the economic recovery we all need. Congress must pass the Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan with direct, flexible fiscal assistance to cities and counties." About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors , or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors . The National Association of Counties (NACo) strengthens America's counties, including nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public's understanding of county government. www.naco.org The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America's cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn and Instagram . SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors Related Links www.usmayors.org THE SECRET LIFE OF DOROTHY SOAMES: A Memoir, by Justine Cowan. (Harper/HarperCollins, $27.99.) I didnt love my mother, Cowan declares. But this investigation into her mothers life is equal parts memoir and love letter to the difficult, occasionally cruel woman who was not the person she claimed to be: Far from growing up in the wealthy, fox-hunting circles she had always suggested, her mother had in fact been raised in a foundling hospital for the children of unwed women. Cowan is a public interest lawyer accustomed, when taking on a new case, to plunging into a heap of documents and piecing together a narrative, Ellen Barry writes in her review. The propulsive parts of the book come as Cowan uncovers the past that her mother was so intent on hiding. THE CROOKED PATH TO ABOLITION: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution, by James Oakes. (Norton, $26.95.) In this carefully and rigorously argued book, Oakes describes how the antislavery movement used the federal Constitution to buttress its cause, emphasizing every provision and every clause that could be used on behalf of abolition. Gradually the antislavery advocates accumulated a variety of textual protections for freedom and limitations on slavery, Gordon S. Wood writes in his review. Then they began moving beyond the text of the Constitution to invoke its spirit. In his final and perhaps most original chapter Oakes traces the winding route Lincoln followed in order to get to the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States once and for all. TROUBLED: The Failed Promise of Americas Behavioral Treatment Programs, by Kenneth R. Rosen. (Little A, $24.95.) Rosen experienced a few of the tough-love institutes that he writes about in this searing expose: wilderness camps and therapeutic programs that treat young substance abusers and troublemakers, largely unregulated. Often, he claims, the programs do more harm than good. Rosen approached dozens of former participants before finding people who were willing to open up, and he spent a number of years with each of them to understand them better, Robert Kolker says in his review. This alone turns Troubled into not just a work of extended empathy but a public service; these life stories, taken together, shine a light on an industry that has been able to thrive in darkness. AMERICA AND IRAN: A History, 1720 to the Present, by John Ghazvinian. (Knopf, $37.50.) This book presents the long, troubled relationship between the United States and Iran in a breezy and supple narrative, replete with poignant anecdotes, to posit convincingly that antagonism between Iran and America is wholly unnecessary. Abbas Milani, reviewing it, applauds Ghazvinian for detailing how there is in the United States a powerful chorus that wants nothing to do with Iran, along with elements in Israel and Saudi Arabia working against normalized relations between the two countries. Milani adds: The book is commendably exhaustive in its effort to expose the machinations of these forces. Even when we disagree with Ghazvinian, the story he offers is delightfully readable, genuinely informative and impressively literate. CRAFT: An American History, by Glenn Adamson. (Bloomsbury, $30.) Adamson, the former director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, has assembled a startlingly original history by examining the mostly unsung artisans who built the country literally by hand from Indigenous and enslaved populations to todays maker movement. That no one has ever previously attempted this may be because when we bother to think about craft at all, it is usually through a gauzy haze, Deborah Needleman writes in her review. Yet Adamson manages to discover making in every aspect of our history, framing it as integral to Americas idea of itself as a nation of self-sufficient individualists. There may be no one better suited to this task. The Centres outlay for agricultural research and education last year was a little over $1 billion or Rs 8,000 cr compared to the $2.8 billion R and D investment of Bayer Crop Science. Among the priority areas in agriculture that the Budget should focus on is research and development. The outlay should be substantial and dedicated to raising the production of those commodities India is short of. This can be done by breeding varieties that are high-yielding or resistant to pests, pathogens and weather stress so that yield losses can be reduced. The Centres outlay for agricultural research and education last year was a little over $1 billion or Rs 8,000 cr compared to the $2.8 billion R and D investment of Bayer Crop Science. The crops whose output we need to increase are pulses and oilseeds. We also need to produce more of maize, a feed crop, as the consumption of animal proteins tends to increase with prosperity. Grown in the place of rice, it can save groundwater which is getting depleted in states like Punjab. Spotlight on cropping patterns The protracted farmers agitation on the borders of Delhi has put the spotlight on cropping patterns that can profit farmers, satisfy consumer demand and not harm the environment. The farmers want the government to legally undertake to buy the wheat and rice they produce at pre-fixed prices. The government is hesitant because we produce more wheat and rice than needed. If these cannot be sold internationally, stocks will accumulate and will have to be disposed of at a loss. At the price which the government pays farmers, Indian wheat is costlier by about $10-15 per tonne compared to that of Australia, Russia and the United States. The alternative is for farmers to diversify. India imports about 15 million tonnes of edible oil annually and spends about $10 billion on it. About 45 percent of this is palm oil. Oil palm has the highest oil productivity -- about four tonnes per hectare. India has been trying to promote its cultivation on the east coast and in the northeast but has not made much headway. Mustard comes a distant second in oil yield. With an oil content of about 40 percent and average mustard seed yield of 1,200 kg, a hectare of mustard could yield about 500 kg of oil. Unlike palm oil which is used by institutions, mustard is preferred in most Indian homes. Punjab and Haryana farmers, however, will not shift from a no-worry crop like wheat with stable high yields and assured purchases at pre-fixed prices unless mustard becomes as profitable. For that, yields must improve. Mustard is a largely self-pollinated plant and creating hybrids through conventional breeding is difficult. The mustard (or rapeseed) oil-exporting nations grow genetically-modified (GM) hybrids. Canadas rapeseed productivity is 2.39 tonnes per hectare. A Delhi University team led by its former vice-chancellor Deepak Pental has developed a GM mustard hybrid called DMH-11. The regulator recommended it for commercial release in May 2017 but the government has ignored the advice for ideological reasons. Pental says DMH-11 is about 20-30 percent higher yielding than conventional best varieties. His technique can be used to create other hybrids with higher yields or resistant to pests and pathogens using parental lines with appropriate traits. Farmers need buyback assurance In 2017, the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), which represents oil producers, launched Mission Mustard. It wanted a quarter of Punjab and Haryanas wheat area to shift to mustard. It did not meet with success. Farmers will shift out of wheat if they get a variety like DMH-11. They will need buyback assurance as well. The government can procure the mustard at prices declared in advance. The oil produced from the procured mustard can be distributed through ration shops. As for pulses, the output has vastly increased during the last decade but is still short of demand. Unlike chickpea or chana, not many countries produce the pulses we prefer like pigeon pea or tur, mung bean and black gram. Chickpea was a winter crop grown in northwest India but Green Revolution crops wheat and rice displaced it. Through intensive research, it was adapted to the warm climate of central and south India where winters are short and not as cold. Madhya Pradesh is now the largest producer, while it is hardly grown in Punjab. Last year, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropic ICRISAT-the Hyderabad-based international research institute for dryland crops and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) released a variety of chickpea which is not only high-yielding but also resistant to a fungal disease. The sequencing of the chickpea genome allowed the scientists to home in on genes with the traits of interest from the legumes 28,000 genes. They chose plants from their collections that best expressed those traits and produced crosses in half the time it would have otherwise taken. Genomics-assisted breeding is fast-forwarded conventional breeding made possible by detailed genetic information of a crop and access to a bank of plant varieties with various traits. Finalise regulations for genome editing Conventional or genomics-assisted breeding cannot make pigeon pea, chickpea or soybean resistant to borers. These need GM technology. This has been used in cotton to make it resistant to worms that bore into bolls. More than 90 percent of Indias cotton has this technology. In October 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration approved gossypol-free cottonseed produced with gene-silencing RNAi technology. Gossypol is a toxic chemical that makes cottonseed inedible for humans and animals but helps the cotton plant ward off insects. The genome-edited cottonseed, developed by Texas A&M University scientists, tastes like chickpea or chana, Reuters reported quoting Keerti Rathore, a plant biotechnologist at the university. The public is squeamish about GM technology because it involves the transfer of genetic traits from other species. It should have no qualms about genome editing which can be used to create plants with traits akin to those derived from conventional breeding but with the undesirable traits excised out or silenced. The environment ministry published the draft regulations for genome editing in January 2020. They have not yet been finalised. With a properly funded research programme, India should map the genomes of crops that are of interest to it. It should train scientists in the new techniques. Above all, it should be agnostic about technology. Where conventional or genomics-assisted breeding cannot solve problems, genome editing or genetic modification technology should be permitted. Polices should be based on evidence and not prejudice. And scientists should be accountable for time-bound outcomes. The author is a senior journalist President Ho Chi Minh at the 2nd Ntioanl Party Congress in 1951 (Source: nhandan.com.vn) According to the studio, together with the two documentaries Viet Nam Thoi dai Ho Chi Minh - Bien nien su truyen hinh (Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh Era - A Television History) and Nhiem ky Dai hoi XII: Doi moi - Phat trien (the 12th Party Congress: Innovation - Development) that are being broadcast, Nhan Dan Documentary and Cinema Studio have produced six documentary episodes of the "Uncle Ho with the Party Congresses" with a running time of 30 minutes each, reported Nhan Dan Online. The film aims to contribute to clarifying the meaning, ideology, style and methods of Uncle Ho, from the inaugural National Party Congress on the establishment of the CPV to each Congress and each term of the Party Congress that the great leader directly commanded. The film leads viewers back to the historical moment on February 3, 1930, when leader Nguyen Ai Quoc (later Ho Chi Minh), on behalf of the Communist International, convened and chaired a conference to establish the CPV. The conference adopted a range of documents and regulations regarding the Party establishment and operation drafted by him. Uncle Ho (second from left) meets with delegates to the second National Party Congress in 1951. (Photo provided by the studio) From 1930, when the CPV was born, to 1976, (apart from the Party Establishment Conference on February 3, 1930), the CPV with different names hosted three congresses. Since returning to Vietnam to direct the revolution movement in 1941 until his death in 1969, President Ho Chi Minh presided over two National Party Congresses (the second Congress in 1951 and third Congress in 1960). They are of historical significance, imprinted with marks of President Ho Chi Minh, in which he shaped a clear standard style of organising the preparation and hosting of the events in a scientific, democratic and creative manner. President Ho Chi Minh also attended and directed the lower Party Congresses at a number of sectors and localities, which were also of special significance to the Vietnamese Party and revolution, leaving valuable lessons learned in organising and operating the congresses through his thoughts, styles and instructions that have been passed to these days and considered precious heritages, especially in the context that the Party cells at all levels have conducted their correlative Party congresses to progress to the ongoing 13th National Party Congress. The documentary series is made with precious historical documents by a team of skilled filmmakers and experienced collaborators and experts. Currently, the six documentary episodes are being featured at the ongoing National Party Congress while also being introduced at various events and exhibitions on the occasion as well as on many television channels across the country./. The integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint capabilities enables organizations to assess and optimize its protection and detection capabilities against evolving threats. Cymulate correlates EDR findings with hacking techniques, behavior-based attacks and malware launched from the Cymulate platform to validate endpoint protection efficacy against new threats and accurate detection and alerts of possible attacks. Cymulate also integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint's threat and vulnerability management capabilities and correlates threat intelligence-led attack simulations launched from the Cymulate platform to vulnerabilities identified by the vulnerability management module. It also provides attack-path visualization of vulnerable machines within the customer's network. The integration enables Microsoft and Cymulate customers to prioritize remediation and patching efforts based on the actual risk that vulnerabilities and vulnerable machines create within their environment. Defender for Endpoint is a holistic, cloud-delivered endpoint security solution that includes risk-based vulnerability management and assessment, attack surface reduction, behavioral-based and cloud-powered next generation protection. The solution also offers endpoint detection and response (EDR), automatic investigation and remediation, managed hunting services, rich APIs, and unified security management. "The integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint will allow our customers to confront the dynamic threat landscape by correlating EDR findings with various attacks and malware, and prioritizing remediation and patching efforts. We are very excited to be part of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association and appreciate their support," said Avihai Ben-Yossef, Co-founder and CTO at Cymulate. "As the attack landscape continues to evolve, there is increased pressure on CISOs to protect their businesses," said Rani Lofstrom, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Security. "Cymulate's API integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to provide customers with additional, continuous security validation. Cymulate's BAS platform, together with Microsoft Defender, provides additional security efficiencies for end-point protection, enabling CISOs to better detect, manage and respond to threats." About Cymulate Cymulate Continuous Security Validation enables companies to challenge, assess and optimize their cyber-security posture against the evolving threat landscape, simply and continuously. The platform provides out-of-the-box, expert and threat intelligence-led risk assessments that are simple to use for all skill levels, and constantly updated. It also provides an open framework for ethical hackers to create and automate red and purple team exercises and security assurance programs tailored to their unique environment and security policies. Cymulate, for security professionals that want to know and control their dynamic environment. For more information, visit www.cymulate.com. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOEsLiAvJgI Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1336659/Cymulate_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.cymulate.com SOURCE Cymulate 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. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday received 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine donated by India under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.India last week announced that it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Sri Lanka and seven other countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, Afghanistan and Mauritius. Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have already received Indias COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy.President Rajapaksa was at the Colombo international airport to receive the consignment of free Indian COVID-19 vaccines which arrived on a special Air India flight. The consignment was packed in 42 boxes.Rajapaksa was joined at the airport by the Indian envoy in Colombo Gopal Baglay. Arrival of 500,000 doses of COVISHIELD vaccines happens on blessed Poya Day, which marks the 1st visit of The Buddha to #lka .High Commissioner offered prayers at the sacred Gangaramaya Temple for the health and well being of the people of #lka on auspicious Duruthu Poya Day.1/2 pic.twitter.com/Jdxk6psL2T India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) January 28, 2021 The consignment came after the country approved emergency use of Oxford AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine. The vaccination programme is to be launched in the country on Friday at six hospitals around the capital Colombo, health officials said. A total of 250,000 people, mostly health frontline workers, members of the security forces and police and the vulnerable aged, will get the vaccine on a priority basis.The government said the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation would be this week ordering 3 million doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine from Indias Serum Institute. Sri Lanka has recorded more than 60,000 coronavirus cases so far with 288 deaths.India is one of the world's biggest drug-makers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low around 40F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Two associate directors of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have been suspended for initiating investigations against Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES have shown. The two NFIU officials, Mohammed Mustapha, the associate director, Intelligence and Investigation, and Fehintola Salisu, associate director, Compliance and Analysis, were suspended in August, about five months ago, for writing memos to local and foreign authorities after initiating probes against the two top political figures. The Director of NFIU, Modibbo Tukur, appointed in January 2019 to head the unit for a five-year tenure, stated in a January 13, 2021 letter that the two officials bypassed his authorisation to initiate probes against the two men who are believed to be planning to run for the presidency in 2023. Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu are the remaining legacy staff members of the NFIU in the directorate cadre of the countrys foremost financial intelligence body. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the other four associate directors only joined the unit after the re-establishment of the unit through the new NFIU Act which came into force in 2018. But Mr Tukur said their suspension was to protect the new FIU from series of abuses they have been committing. The two staff (members) were involved in acts inimical to the interest of the unit as they indulged in insubordination and disobedience of lawful authority, he stated in the letter responding to a petition sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). Petition against Tukur A law firm, C. Chris Ekemezie & Associate, had last year sent a petition to ICPC accusing Mr Tukur of various infractions including alleged unexplainable suspension of two of the agencys staff members. The petitioner alleged that the two staff members were suspended for trying to profile a politically exposed person from his (Mr Tukurs) state. Mr Abubakar, a former Nigerian Vice-President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, hails from Adamawa State as Mr Tukur. In the build-up to the 2019 elections, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, threatened him with investigations for his alleged roles in the collapse of Bank PHB. Although the touted investigations appeared to be later jettisoned, it is not clear if it was the same case the NFIU officials attempted to reopen in 2020. Atikus case and the NFIU Mr Tukur levelled other allegations against the two senior officials, but initiating investigations against Mr Abubakar appears to be the driving force for the suspension of the top NFIU operatives. It is important to state that his causing an investigation of Atiku Abubakar has absolutely nothing to do with his departmental briefings, Mr Tukur stated. According to him, Mr Mustapha wrote to the Inspector-General of Police and the Chair of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Mr Abubakar without authorisation in violation of his standing directive. Prior to this incident, I had issued memos and emails to staff and also issue (sic) several repeated verbal warnings that staff should desist from writing Heads of MDAs without formal approval of the Director/CEO, Mr Tukur stated. He added, He was suspended because he independently wrote a request to both Inspector General of Police and the Chairman EFCC on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar without any form of approval or authorisation from the CEO NFIU who was on duty too. Herein attached as Annexure 3 are copies of the letters he sent without approval to these organisations. ADVERTISEMENT Ex-VP visits Buhari Mr Tukur claimed he did not know of the investigations until he was alerted from the Presidential Villa when Mr Abubakar was trying to book an appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter. Sir, Mr Tukur wrote to the ICPC Chair, Bolaji Owasanoye, I only got to know of Mohammeds action when I was informed at the Villa that Atiku Abubakar is seeking for an appointment with the President to report me for causing his investigation without reason. On Ms Salisus role in the former Vice-Presidents case, the NFIU Director said: she claimed to have minuted the request on the investigation of Atiku Abubakar to Mustapha AbdulRahman (Mr Mustapha) who went ahead to write IGP and the EFCC Chairman directly, all without approval while I was actively on duty as the Head of Agency. Tinubus case and the NFIU officials Mr Tukur also alleged that Mr Mustapha sent a request to the United States of America based on an old Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) case against Mr Tinubu. In 2011, the CCB, under the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led government, accused Mr Tinubu of breaching Nigerias code of conduct law by operating foreign accounts while serving as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007. The case was eventually dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Accusing Mr Mustapha of violating procedure, the NFIU Director said his approval as the CEO of the agency was not sought before the move to initiate a probe against Mr Tinubu was initiated. He stated, Significantly, after his suspension, it was discovered that he initiated a request to the U.S on Bola Ahmed Tinubu which he extracted from an old case of CCB. Again, he did this without my approval and authorisation. The problem here Sir is that as the CEO, he is supposed to formally seek my approval before sending out any requests for investigation as doing otherwise after my circulars and instructions to staff amount to insubordination. Disclosure of Onnoghens case Mr Tukur also justified Mr Mustaphas suspension on the grounds that he was being investigated by both the State Security Service (commonly called the Department of State Service, DSS) and the EFCC for different alleged offences. According to him, while the SSS is investigating the suspended official for allegedly leaking the details of the case against then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, to the public, the EFCC is questioning him for opening an account for the FIU without approval. Mr Onnoghen was suspended from office in January 2019 following the charges instituted against him at the CCT. He did not return to the top judicial office until he finally exited in April 2019. Mr Tukur said, Secondly, Mohammed (Mr Mustapha) is officially under investigation by EFCC for opening a bank account in the name of THE FIU without approval. I did not know about this case until the EFCC wrote a request for his release for investigation signed by Mr Ibrahim Magu. I was not the person that reported him to the EFCC because I didnt know about it. Furthermore, Mohammed (Mr Mustapha) is officially under investigation by DSS for alleged leakage of Justice Onnoghens case details to the public when the Attorney General formally gave an order on the case. I was not the Director when the issue took place. Herewith attached is a list from DSS including his name, requesting to release him for investigation. Both the EFCC and DSS investigations were still ongoing when the present case that led to his suspension happened. It is important to state that his causing an investigation of Atiku Abubakar has absolutely nothing to do with his departmental briefings. The probe of judges, federal lawmakers Aside from Ms Salisus alleged involvement in Mr Abubakars case, Mr Tukur also accused her of bypassing his approval in initiating investigations into the personal bank account of judges and National Assembly members without any tangible or justifiable reasons in 2019. He stated that the letter was written by Ms Salisu to banks requesting the personal details of the public officers created serious problems for the Presidency, the CJN and the Senate President. He added, It took the personal intervention and guidance by the Vice President, the Senate President, the CJN and the AGF to resolve the issue. The politicians were particularly furious because they had their cases then pending at the various Election Petition tribunals. The conclusion then was that we were inciting disaffection from the judiciary to get back at the entire government. I queried Fehintola after which she was warned. Suspended NFIU Officials decline to speak Our correspondent reached out to Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu via their separate telephone lines on Thursday, but they declined to speak on the matter. I cant speak on the matter, it will not be fair for me to do so, Mr Mustapha said. On her part, Ms Salisu said, It is an official matter and the process is still going on, adding, I cannot speak on the matter because I have no authority to do so. NFIU Director, Tukur, denies other allegations Aside from the alleged arbitrary suspension of the two officials, the petitioner also accused the NFIU Director of acting outside the purview of the powers given to the NFIU, violation of federal character principle in appointments and placements in the unit, blackmailing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) for financial support, and breach of code of conduct for public officers. But Mr Tukur denied all the allegations with explanations, saying they were false, maliciously formulated to achieve a mischievous end. He added that the allegations are borne out of mischief, fabrication, unfounded and a product of a fertile imagination. Petition dismissed Chris Ekemezie, whose law firm, C. Chris Ekemezie & Associate, sent the petition against Mr Tukur, told our reporter the ICPC had dismissed its complaints. They wrote to us this January, saying our petition is unmeritorious. But we are considering what our next line of action we will take, Mr Ekemezie said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 02:05:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AMMAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Stakeholders of the Chinese and Jordanian olive oil industry on Thursday expressed strong willingness to boost business cooperation, during a virtual meeting held by the Chinese Embassy in Jordan. During the meeting with the aim of advancing bilateral olive oil trade activities, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong said that Jordanian-Chinese economic ties have been developing steadily in recent years, highlighting the fruitful results of the bilateral cooperation. China is Jordan's third largest trading partner and the second largest importing nation, with trade between the two countries totaling 4.112 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, marking a record annual growth of 29.17 percent, the ambassador said. The Chinese diplomat said that olive oil is one of the kingdom's most important agricultural products with a distinguished reputation in global markets, while Chinese customers' demand for high-quality olive oil is increasing recently. He said that the Chinese market is the most promising market, whose continued opening up would inject a high momentum into the growth of the global economy. Rong Weidong, vice president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce, and Animal By-Products expressed the hope to build long-term access between the two countries in the olive oil industry and accelerate relevant trade activities. Fayyad Zyoud, president of the Jordan Olive Products Exporters Association said that the Jordanian olive sector plays a vital role in kingdom's agriculture as well as in sustainable development and combating poverty. Jordan yearly produces around 180,000 tonnes of olive fruit, with some 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes allocated for oil production and some 40,000 tonnes for pickling, according to the Jordanian official figures. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 23:52:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHONGQING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Belarus on Thursday officially opened a consulate general in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. At the opening ceremony, Li Bo, vice mayor of Chongqing, said the two sides should work together to jointly promote the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. Li said that, in recent years, the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership, featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation, has been constantly strengthened and fruitful results have been achieved in jointly building the Belt and Road. Yuri Senko, Belarus Ambassador to China, said he hoped the official opening of the third Consulate General in China would add some motion and content to the commercial, economic, investment, and humanitarian cooperation between Belarus and Chongqing. "China is one of the key partners of Belarus in the world," he said. "Today we are actively moving towards bringing Belarus-China relations to a new level of iron brotherhood and all-weather partnership. I am sure that it will meet today's realities and open a new page in the history of our countries." The jurisdiction of the new consulate general includes Chongqing and the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei and Yunnan. Enditem Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers says it is too early to say September's scheduled event at Zandvoort will have to proceed without spectators. Last year, Zandvoort opted out of the 'ghost race' scenario amid the pandemic because the structure of the event was always planned for the mass attendance of Dutch fans. Medical experts are now warning that the situation may be no different in 2021. "Even if most of the Netherlands will have been vaccinated by September, it is still a very big risk if you are all sitting on top of each other with so many other people," said Ger Rijkers, who according to Algemeen Dagblad newspaper is an immunologist. He said even rapid covid testing of spectators at the gate will not be sufficient. "Even if it takes 5 minutes per person, you'd still be doing it all day," said Rijkers. "I can only foresee problems." However, he said the 'ghost race' scenario may be viable for Zandvoort, especially after Formula 1 "proved itself as a TV sport" in 2020. Dutch GP boss Lammers, however, is not ready to concede that if the race takes place, it will be behind closed doors. "We cannot afford to cry before we are in pain," the former F1 driver said. "We are still happy with our date of September 5. And we hope that the good news will replace the bad news in the near future." Therefore, any talk of a 'ghost race' is premature, Lammers added. "When there is a specific question in that direction, then we would have something to think about," he said. (GMM) [January 28, 2021] RBC and Alliance Data's Bread form strategic alliance to provide Canadians with more ways to pay with PayPlan powered by RBC Pay-over-time solution provides options for consumers making big-ticket purchases online TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ - As more Canadians turn to online shopping, RBC has launched a new way for Canadians to pay for their purchases. PayPlan by RBC offers consumers a transparent and convenient pay-over-time solution for big-ticket purchases at participating retailers and merchants throughout Canada. This new payment option is made possible through a market-leading digital payment platform provided by Bread, a division of Alliance Data. This innovative solution is yet another example of how RBC is working with fintechs to meet the unique needs of Canadians. Launched last fall, PayPlan by RBC offers a simple way to "buy now and pay later", with a wide range of transparent terms, no late fees and greater payment flexibility, giving consumers more choice in how they manage their cash flow. "As Canadians increasingly shop online, we're helping retailers provide greater convenience to consumers through this simple pay-over-time option," said Amit Sadhu, Vice-President of Personal Lending, RBC. "Our alliance with Bread ensures PayPlan by RBC seamlessly integrates into a consumer's existing online checkout experience as a secure and convenient e-commerce payment option. This is one of the ways we're reimagining experiences to meet the evolving expectations of Canadians, and offering them more options to pay for larger purchases at competitive rates." Consumers can apply at participating Canadian merchants by clicking on the PayPlan by RBC button before completing checkout. The process is fast and simple, and once approved, competitive rates, terms and monthly payment amounts are provided within seconds. Shoppers select their payment term, check out and pay in simple monthly installments with no late fees, no administrative fees and no deferred interest. "We're thrilled to work with RBC, the largest bank in Canada, to expand our reach and provide a robust digital payment solution at the point-of-sale, giving shoppers convenient payment options and more choices at checkout," said Derek Joyce, President, Bread. "We know that through this strategic alliance, we can help thousands of RBC's merchant partners increase their e-commerce sales and profits. Together with RBC, we'll work toward fulfilling our mission of offering more ways for people to pay globally." PayPlan by RBC Fast Facts: 0: The number of hidden fees for customers to use PayPlan by RBC The number of hidden fees for customers to use by RBC 0: Penalties for prepaying a loan atany time Penalties for prepaying a loan atany time 3: The number of steps required for a customer to complete the online application, with approvals provided within seconds The number of steps required for a customer to complete the online application, with approvals provided within seconds 30: The number of days before customers are required to make their first payments. Customers can also choose to pay down their loan at any time, penalty-free www.RBCPayPlan.com or www.breadpayments.com. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.? We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. About Alliance Data Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) is a leading provider of data-driven marketing, loyalty and payment solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions that measurably change consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its partners create and increase customer loyalty across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. A FORTUNE 500 and S&P MidCap 400 company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Alliance Data consists of businesses that together employ over 8,500 associates at more than 50 locations worldwide. Alliance Data's Card Services business is a comprehensive provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, general purpose and business credit card programs, digital payments, including Bread, and Comenity-branded financial services. LoyaltyOne owns and operates the AIR MILES Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. More information about Alliance Data can be found at www.AllianceData.com. Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. About Bread Bread, a division of Alliance Data, is a leading digital payments company that partners with merchants and partners to personalize payment options for their customers. Bread's flexible platform and robust suite of APIs allow merchants and partners to integrate point-of-sale financing and other digital payment products anywhere in their customers' shopping journey. Bread's full-funnel recommendation engine serves up the right options at the right time, empowering merchants to sell more, improve conversion, and lift average-order-value. To learn more, please visit breadpayments.com . SOURCE RBC Royal Bank [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Natural News) Amid stunning revelations that the gain-of-function virus research facility in Wuhan China deleted at least 300 research papersmany related to Covid19, Joe Biden has now created an executive order barring the use of the term China Virus. (Article by Ulysses S. Tennyson republished from 100PercentFedUp.com) In 2020, the world was hit with revelations of a new strain of virus, Covid19. It was found to have almost certainly originated in Wuhan China where a very unique and highly dangerous virology lab happened to be located. It is one of very few in the world capable of producing the gain of function research that results in existing viruses being manipulated to gain functions (usually bad functions) they otherwise wouldnt do through normal evolution in a short period of time, if at all. There were also reports of poor security measures and practices at this lab (and others) that resulted in reports years ago that said the Wuhan lab could easily result in a SARS-like pandemic. Whistleblower reports from people at the lab also existed. Combined with the fact that videos first emerged from China showing what appeared to be dramatic efforts being taken to contain the virus in Wuhan when no one else had experienced any novel viral outbreaks has led many people to believe the virus almost certainly originated at the lab. This is why so many people call Covid19 the China Virus. People speculate about whether it was an intentional viral release or an accident of some kind. But, most do now accept that the virus originated in China, despite Chinas global obfuscation propaganda campaigns to the contrary. Since the release of the China Virus occurred, whistleblower scientists from the lab have been disappeared, as is common in totalitarian regimes, like China. In addition, censorship became rampant surrounding the outbreak and research information also disappeared. And, it has not gotten any better. Just recently, China scrubbed at least 300 scientific research papers, many related to Covid19. But, that is not all. China also barred World Health Organization (WHO) researchers from entry into Wuhan to investigate the very likely claims that the virus originated there. Revelations in 2020 suggested that the Obama Administration and Dr. Fauci gave $3.7 million to the Wuhan virology lab in 2014 against the wishes of the State Department: Back in 2014, the Obama administration prohibited the U.S. from giving money to any laboratory, including in the U.S., that was fooling around with these viruses. Prohibited! Despite that, Dr. Fauci gave $3.7 million to the Wuhan laboratory even after the State Department issued reports about how unsafe that laboratory was, and how suspicious they were in the way they were developing a virus that could be transmitted to humans, he claimed. Perhaps this is why Fauci and many democrats have been so shifty on how to deal with this issue over the past year. Now, amid all these authoritarian secrecy tactics and evidence, Beijing Biden believes it is important that Americans ignore the truth about the origins of the virus. Viruses are often historically named after their originating location and the fact that the press has no problem still labeling viruses by the originating location when it isnt China: Wait a minuteAfter months of being told it was racist to refer to COVID as a Chinese virus the WP refers to its new strains as British and South African variants. So you can use the name of the nation where it comes from, so long as that nation is not China. Got it. pic.twitter.com/IlXLNbRPvx Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 25, 2021 But, Beijing Biden believes that Chinese viruses that originate in China should not be accurately described as China Viruses. As such, he has used his first moments in office to sign an executive order barring the term China Virus when describing the China Virus. Biden signed executive order today that contained a ban on the term 'China virus'. Glen Keys (@glen_keys) January 27, 2021 This is despite the fact that everyone was calling it the Wuhan Virus before the global propaganda machine solidified around a unifying campaign on precisely how to wholly support China amid this turmoil and push for the Great Reset. That campaign, predictably revolves around being called a racist, becausefor leftistseverything revolves around everyone who disagrees with them being racist. Whose side is Beijing Biden on? Perhaps there is a reason we call him Beijing Biden. When do you suppose he will use the office of the president to create an executive order barring anyone from accurately calling him Beijing Biden? Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com and JoeBiden.news JACKSON, MI -- Jessa Pettry understands mental health struggles as a result of her own anxieties and depression and wants to use her reign as Jackson Countys new RoseQueen to help others facing the same situations. Pettrys mental health struggles began at age 11, she said, adding she found it difficult to take care of herself as well as her responsibilities. My depression changed everything, said Pettry, whos now 19. I was struggling in school, I had a hard time maintaining my friendships and relationships, everything felt too overwhelming at the time. It wasnt until high school that Pettry decided to open up to her mother about her struggles, she said. I began seeing a therapist who was able to help me open up to others about my mental health, and even just talking about what I was going through made me feel happier and prompted me to find great ways to handle my mental illness, Pettry said. As RoseQueen, Pettry said she wants to be open about her own mental health struggles in hopes she can be a role model to help others in her community. I had a huge support system that I wasnt using and the minute I talked to someone about how I was feeling, I realized how many people cared about me and could understand, Pettry said. I want to be that person for others that lets them know they arent alone. Its important to create a community-based support system within Jackson that can help younger people find mental health resources, Pettry said, adding she believes that eliminating the stigma around mental health will give people more confidence to reach out for help. Letting people know there are others around them who are willing to help, can save lives, Pettry said. Mental illness is something I will always struggle with, but I have been able to learn how to care for my needs and my health so that I am safe and happy, and I will always prioritize mental health in myself and others because it never really goes away, Pettry said. Pettry was crowned Miss Jackson County RoseQueen 2021 during a Jan. 9 virtual pageant at the Jackson Symphony Orchestras Wax Auditorium. She was awarded $1,000 from Jackson College and $120,000 from Albion College. Pettry currently attends Jackson College and is studying political science. She is transferring to Albion College in the fall to continue her education and obtain a bachelors degree in political science. From there, she said she hopes to go to law school at Michigan State University and become a prosecuting attorney. Pettry advises girls who are contemplating competing in the pageant to rely on the other girls who are competing with them. Its really a sisterhood, its just the biggest support that you have, Pettry said. Feel confident in yourself even if youre not. Everybody thats doing it with you will be there to pick you up. Caitlin Brys and Celia Napoletano were this years first and second runners up, respectively. Other contestants in this years scholarship pageant were Lindy Kelso, Miranda Kinstle, Morgann Brafford, Savannah Foster, and Sierra Brown. The virtual pageant was livestreamed on YouTube. The link to the video can be found here on the Miss Jackson County RoseQueen Scholarship Pageant USA Facebook page. [January 28, 2021] Social fintech AssetOwner.CO signs up global investors managing more than US$ 5.5 trillion in its first six months SINGAPORE, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AssetOwner.CO, the social collaboration platform for asset owners, announced that it has signed up global investors managing more than US$ 5.5 trillion on the platform, as of January 2021. This is 1000% growth since August 2020, when AssetOwner.CO had investors representing AUM of US$ 500 billion. The platform's proprietary recommendation engine enables investment professionals in pension funds, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and other asset owners to build their own global peer community(s), based on their pre-defined choices, in a matter of minutes. The users can then securely continue to engage, network and share investment intelligence with an ever-growing community of peers. Since its launch last year, the platform has seen an average of 70% monthly active users. AssetOwner.CO CEO Pravin Raveendran points out that all interactions on the platform are user-driven. "So, you can be sure there will be no sales agendas or unsolicited messaging and thus the quality and relevance of the information shared will be maintained, no matter how big the userbase becomes." Access to the core AssetOwner.CO platform functionalities are complimentary and will always be. In future, says Pravin, AssetOwner.CO will add premium features that would further solve users' pain points and meet their evolving needs for optimum peer collaboration. To gain access to the platform, users just need to meet the asset owner qualification requirements. Once approved, they are free to post questions, create discussion rooms, engage in 1:1 conversations, and set up roundtables with their peers. Current users of the patform have already started to benefit from the competitive edge and convenience the platform gives them. Here are some comments from investment professionals about why they think collaboration is so important: Shinya Deguchi, a Managing Partner at a Hong Kong-based multi-billion-dollar family office, Star Magnolia Capital, says connecting with like-minded asset owners has always been a top priority, but finding the time to do so has been a challenge. "AssetOwner.CO's platform is perhaps the only place where we can meet and exchange ideas with like-minded investors facing similar situations. It is important that they are not the same because we always want to learn from differences. We found the solution and opportunities brought by AssetOwner.CO extremely valuable." Canadian-based investment professional Christophe L'Ahelec, who oversaw the External Managers portfolio of the Ontario Pension Fund for more than a decade, says, "I think the asset owner community could benefit from more collaboration. I have observed an element of competition between market participants. But that doesn't really make sense to me because they are all working towards the same commendable objective. "It is about building future wealth for governments, pension fund members, foundations, or endowments. By having more collaboration, they could serve their customers better." Alex Lee, an Australian-based director at Bennett Wilkie and outsourced CIO, believes the platform can definitely help solve some of the issues that face asset allocators. He points to the difficulties that stand in the way of verifying the trustworthiness of a potential investment manager or partner, how to perform due diligence, particularly with travel restrictions, how to find new investment opportunities, and how to find investment experts. It's clear there is an appetite and need for collaboration because it would give asset owners a much more objective picture of the opportunities available to them and where the unforeseen risks may lie - in real-time and when needed. Asset allocators who are interested in being a part of the AssetOwner.CO community can visit www.assetowner.co to register. About AssetOwner.CO AssetOwner.CO is a Singapore-based company that owns and manages a social fintech platform that offers asset owners complimentary access to a global, virtual intelligence-sharing hub. The firm was founded by Pravin Raveendran, who has held various senior positions in the investment industry, including that of Chief Strategy Officer at the Mizuho Bank hedge fund data and research subsidiary, Eurekahedge. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/social-fintech-assetownerco-signs-up-global-investors-managing-more-than-us-5-5-trillion-in-its-first-six-months-301217501.html SOURCE AssetOwner.CO [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The globalsize is projected to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020. The growth of the agricultural adjuvants market is driven by factors such as the growing demand for agrochemicals and the adoption of protected agriculture technologies. Key players in the agricultural adjuvants market include Solvay (Belgium), Evonik Industries (Germany), Nufarm (Australia), and Croda International (UK), Corteva Inc. (US), and BASF (Germany). Product innovation, expansions & investments, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and agreements, collaborations, joint ventures, disinvestments, and partnerships were some of the core strengths of the leading players in the agricultural adjuvants market. These strategies were adopted by the key players to increase their market presence. It also helped them diversify their businesses geographically, strengthen their distribution networks, and enhance their product portfolios. Some of the other leading players in the agricultural adjuvants include Miller Chemical and Fertilizer, LLC (US), Precision Laboratories (US), CHS Inc (US), Winfield United (US), Kalo Inc. (US), Nouryon (Netherlands), Huntsman Corporation (US), Clariant (US), Helena Agri-Enterprises (US), Stepan Company (US), Wilbur-Ellis Company (US), Brandt (US), Plant Health Technologies (US), and Innvictis Crop Care (US). Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1240 Evonik Industries (Germany) is one of the leading specialty chemical companies. The company operates through business segments that include nutrition & care, performance materials, resource efficiency, services (technology and infrastructure), and corporate. The nutrition & care segment offers specialty chemicals that include amphoteric surfactants, ceramides, phytosphingosine, oleochemical quaternary derivatives, organically modified silicones, superabsorbents, amino acids and amino acid derivatives, synthesis products, pharmaceutical polymers, and DL-methionine. The company has a major presence in Europe, especially Germany, and other regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, and Central & South America. Solvay (Belgium) is a chemical and advanced materials company and is involved in delivering innovative sustainable products and solutions. The company offers its products & services to diversified markets, which include agro, feed & food, automotive & aerospace, building & construction, consumer goods & healthcare, electrical & electronics, resources & environment, and industrial applications. It offers surfactants under its agro, feed, and food segment. The company has offices across 58 countries at 139 locations, along with 21 major research and innovation centers across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America; this enables it to have a significant global market presence. Corteva Agriscience operates as a standalone agriculture company with industry expertise in seed technologies, crop protection, and digital agriculture. Globally, the company operates through eight segmentsagriculture, performance materials & coatings, industrial intermediate & infrastructure, packaging & specialty plastics, electronics & imaging, nutrition & biosciences, transportation & advanced polymers, and safety & construction. The agriculture segment has a diverse network worldwide, which markets the brands of the company and distributes its products to customers globally. The company ranks fourth in terms of market revenues in the agricultural adjuvants market in 2018, as per the MarketsandMarkets analysis. Adjuvants, particularly surfactants, are offered by the company under its industrial intermediates and infrastructure business segment, in its crop defense chemicals line. Being one of the leaders in crop protection chemicals, the company has a large consumer base for agricultural adjuvant products, and is hence, one of the global market leaders. Make an Inquiry: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1240 Asia Pacific comprises of developing countries with vast agricultural lands; the per capita income of the region depends on agricultural activities. Agricultural technologies are widely accepted and practiced in this region. In Asia Pacific, the total area under agriculture is shrinking due to the high rate of industrialization and urbanization. As a result, farmers opt for practices such as the use of chemical pesticides, which help to increase the yield or productivity of crops. Recent Developments: Just one month into 2021 and approaching one year into the pandemic, focaccia is having a moment in San Francisco, where professional cooks and bakers are putting their personal spins on the classic carb from Italy. The soft and simultaneously crispy bread is, of course, not new to the city North Beach institution Liguria Bakery has been doling out hundreds of slabs on the daily for over 100 years. But in January alone, three chefs from hotspots including Mister Jius debuted focaccia-specific pop-ups, and next month, Sunset Squares plans to open a SoMa slice shop that will also sell seasonally topped sourdough focaccia. But why focaccia, and why now? Its a rich, fluffy foil to the crunchy-crusted, chewy country-style loaves popularized by Tartine over the last two decades. It doesnt need to be warm or slathered with butter to be enjoyed its good on its own yet also a canvas for cooks who want to make use of the Bay Areas pristine produce for toppings. Inventive options range from ones with trout roe to one inspired by the stuffed chicken bake snack from Costco food courts, with bacon, chicken and Caesar dressing. It also stays good for days after baking, making it a product fit for the pandemic, which is also a time people are actively scratching the itch of entrepreneurship. I love my job but Ive been wondering if theres something more for me, said Laura Meyer, head chef at Capos in North Beach. Theres really no way to find out without putting myself out there first and just going for it. Omar Mamoon Meyer debuted her pop-up, Focaccia Da Laura, earlier this month at Nanas Pop Up Market, a weekly event on Sundays in North Beach featuring different Bay Area artisans. Shes been making pizza since 2006, and won a pan pizza competition in Italy in 2014, which is when she got into focaccia. Mine is definitely crispier than most Ive got more of a textural contrast, said Meyer, who uses a brick oven and rectangular steel pizza pans lined with oil to create deeply caramelized bottoms. But because of her work schedule, she bakes her dough on Saturday for Sunday, so she recommends her customers reheat the focaccia to crisp the bottom. Meyers suggestion provides an insight as to why focaccia is a food taking off during the pandemic: Focaccia eats well both warm and crispy right out of the oven as well as soft and at room temperature the next day. The oil in the dough and in the pan helps preserve the final product so it doesnt go stale as fast, said Meyer. For Armin Chan, a cook and baker in San Francisco who debuted a focaccia pop-up the same weekend as Meyer, the bread is versatile. Its great on its own, with olive oil or any kind of dipping sauce, Chan said. You can make sandwiches with it or add toppings like you would a pizza. Omar Mamoon Chans pop-up, which he calls Weirdough Focaccia, specializes in naturally leavened sourdough focaccia and is an informal operation run out of his home in the Sunset District. He offers an intensely flavorful and sour focaccia thats bubbly and brown on the outside with a complex open crumb network on the inside he achieves the effect from the natural yeast in his sourdough starter and a higher hydration dough, which turns into steam and expands the cell walls of the bubbles, Chan said. While Meyer is considering making her project a long-term business, Chans pop-up is likely to stay a passion project, a way to pass the time before he goes back to work at his current employer, Chinatowns Mister Jius, which is closed during January. Im just having fun, but you never know what will happen, Chan said. Another reason focaccia is compelling is because it allows for interesting ingredient combinations. Both Chan and Meyer offer classic flavors such as rosemary- and tomato-topped versions, but the two have more in development. Chan, who loves the handheld chicken snack from Costco, is turning the chicken, bacon and Caesar flavors into a focaccia, and Meyer is debuting a seasonal sweet and savory option featuring caramelized pear, funky gorgonzola and a honey drizzle. Omar Mamoon Dario Barbone of Alimentari Aurora, a 250-square-foot deli and larder in Potrero Hill, also sees focaccia creatively. He slathers his house-made semolina focaccia with ricotta and tops it with whatever eclectic international offering hes excited about at the moment. It could be chili crisp one day, trout roe the next, and anchovies with black truffle another day. I think of focaccia as a canvas like tacos de guisado. Im pretty open to what can go on a slice, Barbone wrote on Instagram. Barbone, who co-founded and ran Oaklands now-closed Baia Pasta, spent 2019 and much of 2020 working in wine shops and doing pop-ups before he took over the old Provender Coffee space. When he learned the space came with an oven, focaccia was the first thing that came to mind, said Barbone, who grew up eating copious quantities of it in Italy. He bakes focaccia fresh on Thursdays and Saturdays and uses any leftovers to make sandwiches throughout the week, which he stuffs with mortadella and pistachio cream or lamb prosciutto with smoked cheddar, vadouvan mayo and pickled fennel. Its always changing. Its a bit of a surprise; you dont go to your grandma (and) expect to eat the same way all the time, said Barbone, who named his shop after his grandmother. Omar Mamoon There are plenty of other recent additions to the local focaccia scene: Former Lazy Bear sous chef Matthew Kirk of the Automat pop-up has been doing a massive 3-pound pretzel focaccia topped with confit garlic butter and pretzel salt, and he will be opening a brick-and-mortar later this year. Joe Sasto of Top Chef fame, and also a former Lazy Bear sous chef, recently debuted his hand-mixed, three-day-fermented heirloom grain focaccia pop-up, Luna Focacceria. Elsewhere, Michelle Hernandez has been serving up savory pesto artichoke focaccia toasts at her bakery, Le Dix-Sept Patisserie, which opened in the Mission District in October. Verjus and Cotogna head baker Estevan Silva does a round, subtly sweet and aromatic caramelized red onion and fennel pollen version, and Sunset Squares, the new pizzeria from Dennis Lee of the Namu Restaurant Group, just unleashed a melty, cheesy, meaty burger on a square of onion sesame sourdough focaccia, available Sundays only. Omar Mamoon Everyones got sourdough these days, but not everyones got focaccia, said Lee. I dont think focaccia has had its moment yet as a staple in most peoples kitchens. Not yet, anyway. Starting next month, Lee has plans to turn the Paramo coffee outlet adjacent to Sunset Squares into a slice shop, where hell offer pizza slices and seasonally topped sourdough focaccia squares to go. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The focaccia-trend train is just starting, and it aint stopping anytime soon. Where to find the new focaccia Alimentari Aurora: $5-$13.50 per slice, depending on topping, $12-$13.50 for sandwiches, and $26 for a plain slab. Walk-ins welcome, pre-order on website suggested. https://www.alimentariaurora.com/ Automat: $14 for a whole slab. Order on website, https://www.automatsf.com/ Focaccia Da Laura: $10-$14 per slab, depending on flavor. Pre-order on https://www.instagram.com/laurameyercreations/ Omar Mamoon Le Dix-Sept Patisserie: $14 per slice, $25 for a half slab, $35 for a full slab. https://ledixsept.com/ Luna Focacceria: $19 for a round. www.instagram.com/luna.focacceria Sunset Squares: $15 per burger, $16 for focaccia squares. www.exploretock.com/sunsetsquarespizza Verjus: $5 for a round. https://www.shopverjus.com/s/shop Weirdough: $15 for a slab. Pre-order on Instagram, www.instagram.com/weirdough_focaccia Omar Mamoon is a San Francisco writer and cookie guy. Instagram: @ommmar Email: food@sfchronicle.com FP Trending Apple plans on shifting production of its iPhones, iPads and MacBooks to India and Vietnam. This means that the iPhone 12 series could be next in line to sport a Made in India tag. The report was listed on the Asia Nikkei website. According to the sources, Apple is likely to start iPad production in Vietnam as early as 2021 and will commence production of its first iPhone 12 series 5G smartphones in India, within this quarter. Other Apple products that could see a shift in production out of China includes Apple computers, earphones and smart speakers, which would be the part of the diversification strategy. Apple so far hasn't responded to queries. Reports suggest that Apple could shift the production capacity of its voice-activated smart HomePod mini speakers to Vietnam, while the local production of other audio devices and AirPods have already been increased in the Southeast Asian region. Apart from this, Apple could shift MacBooks part production to Vietnam this year. According to sources, Apple could shift the production of the Mac mini to Malaysia. A supply chain manager told Nikkei Asia that not just Apple, but other major tech companies would also look for an out-of-China production route, even for their core products, something that wasn't possible two years back. The report further added that Apple suppliers would also be shifting to Vietnam. Foxconn went on to invest $270 million for a subsidiary in the region, whereas Luxshare Precision Industry would also be looking to pace up the production of AirPods and HomePod mini in the country. Apple started the shift in 2020 and is likely to do so in 2021 as well, despite the hopes of ease in trade tension between the two countries. With the shift in production of significant Apple devices outside China, India remains the companys second-largest production base. Nigeria recorded its second highest daily death toll from COVID-19, on Wednesday, suggesting the country has yet to reach the peak of the second wave, as infections continue to spread rapidly. A total of 22 people died from COVID-19 on Wednesday to bring to 1,544, the total number of people who have now died from the disease in the country. Nigeria also recorded its second highest daily infection tally with 1,861 new cases reported on Wednesday, according to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. The 1,861 new cases, a sharp increase from the 1,303 infections recorded on Tuesday, raised the total number of infections in the country to 126,160. Exactly a week ago, Nigeria recorded 1,964 new cases, the countys highest daily figure ever. Last week was one of the worst in Nigerias COVID-19 pandemic era. According to a PREMIUM TIMES review of data provided by the NCDC, 11,659 persons tested positive for the virus last week (January 17- 23), which is 18 per cent higher than the previous weeks record of 9,880. Deaths The direct adverse effect of the spike in infections has been more deaths. In the previous 24 hours, before the latest update 15 people died from the disease. Nigeria, about two weeks ago, recorded the deadliest day thus far in the global coronavirus pandemic, with 23 deaths under 24 hours. Last week, Nigeria reported 82 deaths, which represents a 14 per cent increase from the previous weeks record. Health authorities attributed the rising death toll to late referrals of COVID-19 patients to treatment centres. Of the over 126,000 new cases, a total of 100,365 patients have recovered across the country. Meanwhile, there are over 20,000 patients still receiving treatments in isolation centres. Specifics The 1,861 new cases were reported from 22 states Lagos (773), FCT (285), Oyo (138), Rivers (111), Plateau (92), Nasarawa (83), Kaduna (59), Enugu (57), Imo (57), Edo (43), Kano (27), Kwara (20), Ebonyi (19), Abia (17), Ogun (12), Osun (12), Katsina (8), Bayelsa (6), Bauchi (5), Delta (5), Borno (4), Jigawa (4), and Zamfara (1). Lagos, Nigerias COVID-19 epicentre, led with 773 new cases followed by Abuja, the second most impacted city, with 285 new infections. Nigerian authorities a few days ago said the COVID-19 vaccines expected this month will no longer arrive until February. Nigeria, a country of about 200 million people, has conducted just over 1.2 million tests for the virus. ADVERTISEMENT One of the most popular checkouts at the library this past year is a book titled "We Cast a Shadow" by local author Maurice Carlos Ruffin. It was published in 2019. The story is set in a near-future Southern city plagued by fenced-in ghettos and police violence, and it focuses on the clinic of Dr. Nzinga, where anyone can get their lips thinned, their skin bleached and their nose narrowed. A complete demelanization will liberate one from the confines of being born in a Black body if you can afford it. The narrator, a father, wants the best for his son, Nigel, a biracial boy whose Black birthmark is getting bigger by the day. The darker Nigel becomes, the more frightened his father feels. How far will he go to protect his son? And will he destroy his family in the process? Ruffin has been a recipient of an Iowa Review Award in fiction and a winner of the William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition for Novel-in-Progress. A native of New Orleans, Ruffin is a graduate of the University of New Orleans Creative Writing Workshop and a member of the Peauxdunque Writers Alliance. "We Cast a Shadow" is available in novel, eBook and audiobook formats at the library. The following works of fiction, all considered classics, are available at the library during its Black History Month and beyond. There are many more as well. "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Zora Neale Hurston. "The Color Purple," Alice Walker. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Maya Angelou. "The Hate You Give," Angie Thomas. "The Underground Railroad," Colson Whitehead. "An American Marriage," Tayari Jones. "Invisible Man," Ralph Ellison. "Native Son," Richard Wright. "Beloved," and "The Bluest Eye," Toni Morrison. "Things Fall Apart," Chinua Achebe STATUESQUE: Has all the attention given to the coronavirus pandemic and the political landscape taken news of the silver monoliths that popped up around the country recently out of public scrutiny? Not to worry. Anyone who needs to view a tall silver sculpture need only come to the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. It stands on the island in front of the main doors. Legibility is a 20-foot-tall sculpture made from marine-grade aluminum that's resistant to corrosion. It sits on a 5-foot by 7 foot base. It was installed in 1998, one year after the building was opened to the public. It was donated by Sheriff Harry Lee, Walter Morton, John J. Gelpi Jr. and the Broadmoor Construction Co. The sculpture was created by Arthur Silverman, a prolific artist who created dozens of pieces of art for public locations throughout New Orleans. Silverman began creating sculptures in the 1970s after working for three decades as a physician. He created more than 400 metal sculptures, many based on the tetrahedron, a shape with four triangular faces. Silverman died in September 2018 at age 95. COMPUTER CLASSES: A new computer class titled MINDS will be offered at 2 p.m. Feb. 4 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. MINDS stands for mouse, internet, navigation and digital self-sufficiency. Its the first level in basic computer skills courses in JPLs computer training program. It moves at a slower pace than the Next Steps in Basic Computer Skills course. MINDS is ideally suited for senior citizens who have not used a computer before or for job seekers who need the basics to moving forward. The first 45 minutes of class concentrate on mousing exercises. Participants will learn how to left click, right click, scroll, drag digital objects from one place to another, and how to visit a website. Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training/ComputerClasses.htm and click East Bank Regional Schedule. KIDS' CRAFTS TO GO: The childrens librarians at the Jefferson Parish Library prepare Grab N Go Craft bags for kids. On the second Thursday of each month, a new bag will be available upon request. Each bag contains materials to create a specific craft. For example, the February craft is a Mardi Gras mask and the March craft involves St. Patricks Day. Patrons can request a bag and have it sent to any JPLibrary branch. Bags are available while supplies last. To reserve a bag, and check out all of the other virtual childrens content including story times, go to linktr.ee/jplkids. LOCAL AUTHOR: Leah Erskine has published her first book, "CCs Road Home." The novel focuses on 16-year-old CC, who arrives on her grandparents north Louisiana farm, desperate to forget her past. She brushes aside her familys attempts to break through her isolation, and even CCs new friend Addy and a summer romance with Eric cant persuade her to reveal what happened to her the previous winter in New Orleans. Erskine grew up in small Southern towns in Texas and Louisiana and moved to New Orleans in her 20s, where shes been ever since. "CCs Road Home" is in our book collection and is waiting to be checked out. SANJAY KUMARUS Vice President Kamala Harris has been critical of the Indian governments annexation of Kashmir in 2019Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party says it does not expect much pressure from the USNEW DELHI: Some hope has sprung in Kashmir, residents of the valley say, as Kamala Harris, the new American vice president and critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken office. Harris, who was inaugurated as US President Joe Bidens deputy last week, has been critical of the Indian governments discriminatory policies toward the countrys Muslim minority and its annexation of Kashmir in 2019. Herself of Indian descent, she called for international intervention to remind Kashmiris that they are not alone in the world soon after New Delhi revoked Kashmirs special autonomous status and split it into two Union Territories in August 2019. Her role in the US administration as well as the recent appointment into Bidens team of Sameera Fazil and Aisha Shah both of Kashmiri descent have raised some cautious hope for change in the region. Kamala Harris has spoken openly on Kashmir. On that front, there is hope, Srinagar-based political analyst and author of Kashmir: Rage and Reason, Gowhar Geelani, told Arab News on Sunday. He added, however, that hope is not equivalent to expectation. The analyst said that while the people are upbeat that Modis friend Trump has lost, as a symbolic victory, they also realize the new US administration will only speak about the restoration of civil liberties and put pressure on New Delhi to improve the situation of human rights in Kashmir, adding: But there wont be much movement vis-a-vis political resolution of the dispute. Srinagar-based lawyer Deeba Ashraf also sees some hope, especially with regard to solving the Kashmiri issue between Pakistan and India, which both claim the territory in full but rule it in part. We have a bit of hope now. Biden has a positive approach towards everyone and he, being from a law background, can introspect in a better manner. He may pressure both countries for normalizing the situation in Kashmir, she said. Yet others, like Srinagar-based political analyst Prof. Siddiq Wahid, are more optimistic. The Biden administration will be much more assertive on Kashmir. This is because conventionally the Democratic Party has a more value-based understanding of democracy than the Republican Party or Trump, he told Arab News There is no doubt that the Biden administration will be much more assertive on minority rights, particularly the present governments heinous neglect of the systematic exclusion of minorities and even numerous lynching which are all for the record to see, Wahid said. Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, does not expect much pressure from the US, like it did not experience any from the previous Donald Trump administration, with which Modi shared a special bond and was endorsing Trumps reelection during the US presidential campaign last year. It does not make any difference whether Biden is here, or Trump was here, BJP spokesman Sudesh Verma told Arab News on Saturday. India-US relations are built on the past experiences of two democracies functioning smoothly and for the benefit of the people of both the countries, he said, adding the Biden administration should not become the victim of the false propaganda which is unleashed by the NGOs and other such organizations which have vested interests. Verma added: The Biden administration would understand India does not like to be lectured as the US would not like to be lectured. We have our strongest institutions of democracy that function perfectly well, and we should be careful about the sensitivities of both the nations. Experts also see little room for change as they cite strong and strategic ties between Washington and New Delhi. Dr. G. Balachandran, Delhi-based foreign policy expert and Harris maternal uncle, told Arab News that rights issues are not going to affect the trajectory of the relationship. He added: No doubt Biden and Harris have strong opinions about some of the issues like minority rights and human rights violations in Kashmir, but these issues will not be defining features of the relationship between the two nations. Manoj Joshi of New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation shares the same sentiment. A country like the US is very clear when it comes to its national interests, he said. They dont bother about human rights and all. If they think that India is important for their own welfare, they will ignore minority and human rights concerns. Arab News Seniors may now apply for vaccinations but many dates are booked out Especially in western Slovakia it would be hard to find vacant date. Font size: A - | A + Health Minister Marek Krajci announced on January 26 that the reservation system for vaccinations is now open for people aged 75 and older. Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope. People interested in getting a vaccination must fill in the registration form online and book a specific date at a specific vaccination centre. The reservation system can be accessed here. However, it appears most seniors in western Slovakia will have a hard time finding a free date. Most are already booked for the last week in January and the first weeks of February and the registration system does not yet extend to the weeks beyond that. The areas where appointments are scarce include Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra and Piestany. Seniors in other parts of Slovakia may be luckier when searching for empty days for vaccination. There are still hundreds of appointments available in Kosice, Michalovce, Roznava, Stara Lubovna and Svidnik. The ministry has also established a telephone line for those people who do not have, or cannot use the internet and want to make an appointment. People can call on 0800 174 174 (or +421 270 074 174 from abroad) but the ministry is reporting that the line is also overloaded. Ministry asks for patience The ministry said that it is delighted by the interest in the vaccination and are sorry if people are having problems finding a free appointment. They ask for patience. Slovakia has more and more vaccines available. State lacks courage Read more Hospitals are gradually adding new dates but overall capacities are linked to the pace of the delivery of the vaccines, said Zuzana Eliasova, spokesperson for the ministry. The ministry recommends that people wait. We will inform the public of any changes and of the opening of new vaccination centres. Eliasova also warned that some vaccination centres will be closed from February. The reason for a closed centre may rest on the availability of vaccine and staff or because they are being used to dispense the second dose of vaccine to those already vaccinated, she said. Read more about coronavirus in Slovakia: 28. Jan 2021 at 18:05 | Compiled by Spectator staff An Apple spokesman declined to comment. The Information earlier reported the possibility of a suit. Tensions between Apple and Facebook have been growing for months, rooted in how the companies are diametrically opposed on how they make money. Apple, which has made privacy a key tenet, prefers that consumers pay for their internet experience, leaving less need for advertisers. In contrast, Facebook relies on data about its users to fuel its digital advertising business. Over time, the Apple chief executive, Timothy D. Cook, and the Facebook chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, have increasingly taken thinly veiled shots at each other to underline their distaste for the others philosophies on advertising, targeting and privacy. The friction ratcheted up after Apple announced changes last year to its upcoming software for iPhones that could harm Facebooks business. Apple said that it would clamp down on some data collection practices by developers and that it would allow iPhone owners to choose whether to allow companies to track them across different apps. That would likely hurt Facebooks ability to collect user data to target ads. Apple also recently began requiring developers to include privacy labels for their apps in the App Store, which detail an apps information collection practices. In a recent analysis, The New York Times found that the privacy label for Facebooks WhatsApp messaging app showed that it gathered far more information from people than another messaging app, Signal. In response, Facebook has publicly pushed back against Apple. In December, Facebook created a website that slammed Apples moves as potentially harmful to small businesses. (It did not mention that the changes could hurt itself.) Facebook also took out full-page print ads in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times to declare that it was standing up to Apple. Increasing push to get kids back in school The Yakima Health District recently urged high school officials to discuss ways to increase in-person learning, said Ryan Ibach, chief operating officer for the district. He said the health district is working with all Yakima County superintendents collectively to come up with a plan to bring students back for in-person learning. During the health board meeting Wednesday, officials listened as a letter from Kevin Chase was read. Chase is superintendent of Educational Service District 105, which provides support for regional school districts. School leaders in the region "are very concerned with the impact of delaying the return of students," Chase wrote, and have been working on a presentation. County commissioner and health board member LaDon Linde said officials hear from many parents and kids on the issue. He mentioned guidance issued by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers on Tuesday in the journal JAMA that calls for returning kids to classrooms. The CDC researchers said the "preponderance of available evidence" indicates in-person learning can take place if everyone wears masks and maintains social distancing. The researchers also said local officials must be willing to impose limits on other settings, like indoor dining, bars and gyms, to keep community infection rates low. School administrators should restrict risky activities like indoor sports, they added. Health board members passed a motion Wednesday supporting the efforts of Yakima County health authorities to work with school districts to get schools back open and functioning. Andre Fresco, executive director of the health district, said the effort isn't just about getting kids back in school, but also helping overcome the long-term effects of the pandemic. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC (CCM), a top 10 retail mortgage lender in America with headquarters in Brecksville, Ohio, is excited to announce the opening of new Philadelphia and New York branches, dramatically expanding the company's reach in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut markets. Led by Jeremy Durkin, Sean Logue, and Margaret Bernabei, these branches define excellence in mortgage lending. Fourteen loan originators will join the branch leaders at the outset. Durkin and his team are the top residential mortgage lending group in Philadelphia, financing more home purchase transactions than anyone else in the city. From 2016-2019, Scotsman Guide's Top Originators list ranked Durkin #1 in Pennsylvania, while in 2019 he ranked #25 on the Mortgage Executive magazine list of Top 200 Mortgage Originators in America. "I can't think of a more exciting way to start 2021," said Ron Leonhardt, CrossCountry Mortgage CEO. "We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group to CCM. Their production numbers speak for themselves, and their dedication to service is unsurpassed. I look forward to a long, dynamic collaboration with Jeremy, Sean and Margaret." "I'm excited to announce that my team and I joined CrossCountry Mortgage, the fastest-growing lender in the country," Durkin said. "CCM is committed to providing excellent customer service through the latest technology, offering a broad range of loan products that allow us to assist more consumers, giving us access to lower rates, and sharing some really cool marketing toys to play with. As someone who is ambitious, forward-thinking, dedicated to excellence, and eager to grow, I chose CCM as the local, like-minded lender that shares my goals. The sky's the limit for us in 2021." "With an eye on the future, I could not be happier to start a new chapter with CrossCountry Mortgage," added Logue. "It's been said that Pricing, Product, and Performance are the three Ps of the mortgage industry. CCM has all three, and more. The entrepreneurial spirit that courses through the veins of this company is electrifying, and I could not be more excited to pursue excellence and reunite with some of my favorite people in the industry." "Reputation is everything in this business," said Bernabei, "and CrossCountry Mortgage's reputation for superior customer service and competitive rates is the perfect fit for our clients and referral partners. The blend of innovation, professionalism, and industry knowledge within the CCM organization is unmatched, and I am thrilled to be part of it." ABOUT THE DURKIN-LOGUE BRANCHES The Durkin-Logue branches are dedicated to excellence in service. Their consistent success is fueled by each team member's awareness of their responsibility to keep business flowing smoothly for their clients and referral partners. ABOUT CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE Founded in 2003 by CEO Ronald J. Leonhardt, Jr., CrossCountry Mortgage LLC is a top 10 retail mortgage lender nationwide with licenses in all 50 states. The company offers a broad portfolio of home purchase and refinance programs ranging from conventional and jumbo mortgages to government-insured programs for Veterans and rural homebuyers. Additional options include down payment assistance, home equity products, and expedited closing programs. CrossCountry Mortgage is on the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies and was a recipient of the 2019 Weatherhead Centurion Award for sales and growth. For more information, please visit crosscountrymortgage.com. SOURCE CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC Related Links http://www.crosscountrymortgage.com WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Annies Project, a six-week course offered by Purdue Extension to women farmers in Indiana, brings women together to interact with experts from a variety of fields including production, financial management, human resources, marketing and legal. The course empowers women to become business partners and sole operators. Annies Project courses have reached more than 9,000 farm and ranch women in 33 states. Purdue Extension will offer classes beginning Feb. 23 and ending March 30. Participants can choose from two virtual offerings: 9 a.m. to noon ET Tuesday mornings, or 1-4 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoons. Farm women really love Annies Project classes as they learn from experts and develop a camaraderie with other agribusiness women, said Phil Cox, Vermillion County Extension educator. The cost for the virtual course is $65 per person, which includes a workbook and support materials for all sessions. Cox recommends registering early. Registration ends Feb. 9. Online registration is available here. For more information, contact Jenna Nees at 765-653-8411 or at smith535@purdue.edu, or Bryan Overstreet at 219-866-5741 or at boverstr@purdue.edu. More information can be found on the Annies Project website. Source: Phil Cox, 765-492-5335, cox119@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page January 27, 2021 A Windows VPS (Virtual Private Server) can be an excellent tool for keeping your company data private, using reliable Windows servers to host a website. Not only does this make them perfect for security reasons, but they are also quite flexible and can fit into nearly any business or industry. But why should you use them over other options, and what makes them such a good choice? VPS hosting is balanced When it comes to using shared and dedicated hosting, you are often putting limits on yourself that you can't break away from. Shared hosting places your site in a space where resources are limited, and downtime is not always predictable, which can become a major problem for websites that need to be up and running 24/7. Dedicated Windows hosting is far more reliable, but it comes with a very high cost and can quickly eat into your budget. Using a Windows 10 VPS option skips either of these problems by giving you the best of both worlds: you get a partition of a normal server like you would with shared hosting, but you have the same level of control and security as a dedicated server. There is no mixing between sites on the same server, and one can make a change to their operating system without impacting the rest of the sites as well. VPS hosting is private Security can be a major concern when building a website for a business, and not all hosting options are safe enough to provide the level of protection you will need. Since everything is isolated, a Windows VPS keeps every website away from one another, with no direct connections between them: if one happens to get infected with a virus, it wont carry on to other sites on the server. The same can be said with hacking: somebody who gets into one website has no route into the others. As long as the physical server is kept safe and secure, there is really no reason to worry about your site when using VPS hosting. Using normal security measures on top of the existing safety offered by a VPS host means that you are easily more protected than shared hosting. In some cases, you might even end up having 'strength in numbers' due to the number of sites on the server: there is no guarantee that a hacker will end up targeting yours specifically. You get more control A big problem with shared hosting is that the site owners dont get much control over how their sites are hosted. While they can still redesign the site as much as they want and use it for almost any purpose, there are still a lot of limits: for example, the operating system of the server is set and cant be changed, and there are various commands that are restricted because they would impact other sites using the same space. Dedicated servers offer plenty of flexibility, but at an added cost that not all businesses are willing to pay for just one or two tweaks. With a Windows 10 VPS, you can skip this issue entirely and get partitioned Windows hosting, allowing you to alter your own space without touching the other sites using the same server. If you are only interested in dedicated servers for the unrestricted customization and control options, then VPS hosting is a cheaper way to achieve the same thing. Resources are managed well Another serious concern with shared hosting is the fact that resources are shared between all sites on the same space: if one site suddenly has a spike in traffic and has to hog more resources, your own site suffers as a result, and you can never truly get consistent speeds or loading times. This may not be a problem for a personal website where nobody really needs to have it load quickly, but for businesses, slow loading times can turn away a huge number of customers before they even look at your front page. With VPS hosting, you dont have this problem: everybody gets their own pool of resources, and they can't dip into another site's, so there shouldn't be any issues with one site stopping another from reaching full potential. It may not be the same amount of resources as dedicated hosting, which offers your site a full server, but it is a good middle ground that can work well for most businesses. It costs less Most hosting decisions are made because of the cost, especially business ones. The ability to find affordable hosting without compromising your sites security and performance is an excellent thing, and making full use of a Windows VPS option can make it much easier to run the site in the long-term. This applies to both personal sites and business sites: lower running costs are never a bad thing. The prices and benefits involved differ depending on who is providing the Windows hosting, which means that there can be multiple services that you will end up comparing. While one service might be focused on storage space, another could offer improved security or faster load speeds: whatever you are looking for, there will be a hosting service that can provide it. They are perfect for smaller bands One of the problems with dedicated hosting is that it usually scales up for larger businesses: you are getting a huge amount of storage space and your own dedicated server, with prices to match. This can be ideal for a bigger company that might be making hundreds of small transactions in a day, but for a mid-sized company that isnt running into speed or storage problems, this wont have as much value. Unfortunately, shared hosting is also sometimes too weak for these companies since there is a lot of limitations. Because of this, VPS hosting can end up being one of your most effective choices: you are paying a balanced price for a balanced type of hosting that isn't too extreme in either direction, meaning that smaller businesses can use it as a stepping stone to expand. This might seem like a strange thing to mention at first, but it makes a lot of sense. Small businesses have shared hosting, and large businesses have dedicated hosting. VPS hosting falls somewhere in-between and can be a great long-term option for any company that is too big for shared servers but not big enough for dedicated servers. There are a lot of them There are countless reasons to upgrade to a Windows VPS, even for a personal site, and you have a wealth of options to choose from. Whether it is an IO Zoom Windows VPS or something else entirely, you can compare and contrast a huge list of options that are each able to offer slightly different things. Some companies focus on storage while others focus on downtime, and each VPS hosting plan can have a particular quirk or list of benefits that sets it apart from the others. If Windows VPS hosting is something you might want, then it is not hard to track down some options. Remember that a VPS-hosted website is one of the most reliable places to be when growing your business and that there are a lot of ways to customize your hosting to suit the site that you are creating. Israeli army chief of staff Aviv Kohavi delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the arrival of the first of four new German-built Saar 6 naval vessels (unseen) purchased by the navy, in the northern Haifa city naval base, on Dec. 2, 2020. (Heidi Levine/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Israel Says It Will Have Plans in Place for Iran Strike As Biden Mulls Rejoining Nuclear Deal Israels military chief has warned that the country is working on possible options for a strike on Iran if required as it urges President Joe Biden against rejoining the multinational 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi issued the warning in an address to the Institute for National Security Studies on Tuesday, as Israel and Iran both seek to put pressure on the new U.S. president ahead of an expected announcement on his approach for dealing with Irans nuclear program, which the U.N.s atomic watchdog agency said in September last year was suspected to have stockpiled low-enriched uranium 10 times over the limit set in 2015 deal. I instructed the army to prepare a number of operational plans in addition to the existing ones, Kohavi said in a statement. We are taking care of these plans and will develop them during the coming year. Those who decide on carrying them out, of course, are the political leaders. But these plans have to be on the table. He added that given the nuclear threat now posed by the Iranian regime, Israels military needs to stand prepared to strike as needed. The controversial Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal put curbs on Irans nuclear program in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions. Israel strongly opposed the deal, saying it did not include sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, which was believed to be the case by former President Donald Trump and some of his advisors. It welcomed the Trump administrations withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. Biden, in contrast to Trump, has expressed a willingness to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal if certain conditions are met. In September 2020, Biden wrote in an essay for CNN that if Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow-on negotiations. Newly appointed Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a longtime aide to Biden, said Tuesday that the president believes if Iran comes back into compliance, we would too. But, we would use that as a platform with our allies and partners who would once again be on the same side with us, to seek a longer and stronger agreement. And also, as you and the chairman have rightly pointed out, to capture these other issues, particularly with regard to missiles and Irans destabilizing activities. That would be the objective, Blinked added. Blinken has noted, however, that the United States is a long way from deciding whether to rejoin the nuclear deal, and that he would have to consult with Israel and the Gulf regarding how to move forward. Rejoining the nuclear deal, even with some changes, is bad operationally and it is bad strategically, Kohavi added on Tuesday. Allowing Iran to proceed with a nuclear program would be an unacceptable threat and will lead to nuclear proliferation across the region, he said. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, a claim disputed by its rivals in the Middle East. Read More Iran Threatens Western Troops after European Nations Question Compliance With Nuclear Deal Tensions around Iran have been more apparent recently as the regime continues to struggle economically under U.S. sanctions. During Trumps final days in office, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards intercepted and captured a South Korean-flagged oil tanker, and detained its 20-member crew, alleging that the vessel has been polluting the Gulf waters. Tehran also denied that the seizure has anything to do with the fact that South Korea, in accordance with sanctions reimposed by the United States in 2018 after it withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear agreement, refuses to release $7 billion from Irans oil exports in two Korean banks. GQ Pan and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The court concluded that there was prima facie evidence to suggest that Faruqui had intended to outrage religious feelings 'under the garb of stand-up comedy' The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday rejected the bail application of comedian Munawar Faruqui and Indore resident Nalin Yadav. Faruqui and Yadav were arrested on 2 January for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their a comedy show in Indore on 1 January. As per Bar and Bench, the court concluded that there was prima facie evidence to suggest that Faruqui had intended to outrage religious feelings under the garb of stand-up comedy. The 32-year-old comedian is in judicial custody and lodged at Indore Central Jail since he was arrested on 1 January for allegedly making objectionable comments against Hindu deities at a comedy show in Indore. Justice Rohit Arya, who pronounced the judgement after reserving orders on 25 January, concluded that regard being had to the material seized and the statements of the witnesses and that the investigation is in progress, no case is made out for grant of bail. "The evidence/material collected so far, suggest that in an organized public show under the garb of standup comedy on commercial lines, prima facie scurrilous, disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India were made"- HC said#MunawarFaruqi Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 28, 2021 The Indore bench of the court said the evidence collected till now shows that outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India with deliberate intendment were made by the applicants. The evidence/material collected so far, suggest that in an organised public show under the garb of standup comedy at a public place on commercial lines, prima facie; scurrilous, disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India with deliberate intendment, were made by the applicant, the judgement read. The bench also added that there was a Constitutional duty on every citizen and the State to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood irrespective of their religious, linguistic, sectional and regional diversities. Every [Fundamental] right is coupled with duty, it said. Liberty of an individual has to be balanced with his duties and obligations towards his fellow citizens. As per Scroll,the court further rejected the submissions made on behalf of Faruqui that he did not even make the derogatory joke he was being accused of. The judge said that in view of the complaint, the witnesses in the case and video footage seized of the show, Farquis submissions cannot be accepted. However, News18 quoted Indore Town Inspector (Tukaganj Police Station) Kamlesh Sharma as saying, Theres no evidence against him for insulting Hindu deities or Union minister Amit Shah, and added that Faruqui has been booked as an organiser. At this stage, it is difficult to countenance to the submissions of the learned counsel for the applicant as the complacency of the applicant cannot be ruled out, besides vulnerability of his acts in the public domain. It is not a case of no evidence, the bench said on Thursday. Arya then dismissed the bail application after observing that the investigation was still in progress, and the possibility that more incriminating material may be collected regarding the involvement of others cannot be ruled out. On Monday, the court had reserved its order on Faruquis bail plea. During the hearing, Arya had asked Faruqui, But why you take undue advantage of others religious sentiments and emotions. What is wrong with your mindset? How can you do this for the purpose of business? The bench then asked Faruquis lawyer Vivek Tankha if he wanted to withdraw the bail application. He has committed no offence in the matter your lordships. Bail should be granted, Tankha submitted. Munawars bail plea was rejected on 5 January by a sessions court while Munawars judicial custody was extended by another two weeks on 13 January. Besides Faruqui, four other persons associated with organising the show were booked under IPC section 295A (outraging religious feelings) and other counts. According to the complainant, indecent remarks were made at the show about Hindu deities, Amit Shah and the 2002 Godhra incident. All the accused were booked under IPC sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), section 269 (unlawful or negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and other relevant provisions. With inputs from agencies Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Rob Okun, syndicated by PeaceVoice, writes about culture and politics. He is editor-publisher of Voice Male magazine. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer. 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. State health officials confirmed another 3,022 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the number of active cases statewide to 80,909. Thats based on 96,203 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 83 COVID-related fatalities, for a total of 14,013 virus-related deaths since the pandemic began. There are currently 1,930 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 418 people in intensive care, 270 of whom are intubated. The seven-day average of positive tests is now 4.67%. The latest numbers come as members of the White House COVID response team told state officials that the supply of vaccines to Massachusetts will increase in the coming weeks. President Joe Biden on Tuesday promised to up allocations to states by roughly 15% next week, adding that federal officials have ordered 200 million more doses of the vaccines. It was also announced that residents age 75 and older were allowed to book appointments to get the COVID vaccine. At Springfields Eastfield Mall, one of a handful of vaccinations sites the state planned to bring online, appointment slots were filled up through early next week. Fenway Park is set to become the states second mass vaccination site, joining Gillette Stadium, beginning Feb. 1. State officials are also looking to make shots available for eligible residents at dozens of locations across the state as part of its COVID-19 CDC Pharmacy Partnership program. Officials hope to administer between 500 and 5,000 shots at each of these locations, depending on capability and supply, each day. Nationwide, reports of new COVID cases have declined more than 30%, but deaths remain close to peak levels, according to the New York Times. Total COVID cases by county: Barnstable County: 8,374 Berkshire County: 4,394 Bristol County: 48,775 Dukes County: 473 Essex County: 75,810 Franklin County: 1,719 Hampden County: 35,926 Hampshire County: 5,435 Middlesex County: 99,560 Nantucket County: 1,062 Norfolk County: 38,987 Plymouth County: 34,797 Suffolk County: 69,882 Worcester County: 57,742 Related Content: Nepal SC summons PM KP Sharma Oli in contempt cases International oi-Madhuri Adnal Kathmandu, Jan 28: The Nepal Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to appear before it within the next seven days with a written response to the cases of contempt of court filed against him. Two separate cases of contempt of court were filed against Oli at the Apex court on Tuesday, for his alleged remarks on 95-year-old senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, calling him "a grandpa lawyer". Hearing the writ petitions filed against Oli on Thursday, the single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma asked the prime minister to be present in person to explain in written "why should he not face action under contempt of court". Advocates Kumar Sharma Acharya and Kanchan Krishna Neupane had filed the two contempt of court cases. Prime Minister Oli, 68, had dissolved the Nepal Parliament on December 20, amidst a political tussle with Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ''Prachanda''. Last week, Oli was expelled from the general membership of the NCP led by Prachanda. A petition was filed at the Supreme Court on Sunday last to verify the authenticity of the gazette dissolving the House of Representatives. Nonagenarian lawyer Bhandari was set to participate in the hearing. At a public event on Friday last, Oli had allegedly described the hearing at the apex court as "a drama". On Bhandari''s participation in it, Oli had allegedly derided him as "a grandpa lawyer". COVID-19 vaccine, border issue discussed during India, Nepal talks Advocates Acharya and Neupane have condemned Oli''s remarks and filed for contempt of court proceedings. Bhandari, participating at the Supreme Court hearing on Sunday, had termed Oli''s move to dissolve the House of Representatives as "coup against the Constitution". He had said the prime minister does not have the right to dissolve the House in the present circumstances. Meanwhile, the apex court has also ordered four former chief justices and one former speaker of Parliament to be present in court on separate cases of contempt of court. The former chief justices facing the contempt charges are Anup Raj Sharma, Meen Bahadur Rayamajhi, Sushila Karki and Kalyan Shrestha. Former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana faces the same charge. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 20:55 [IST] Such an approach could be a lifesaver for local news and help improve coverage of COVID-19. In 2013, New York City was spending $18 million on advertising, but only 18% went to community media. So the Center for Community Media at the CUNYs Craig Newmark School of Journalism led an effort to change that. In 2019 the mayor signed an executive order requiring that half of digital and print ads go through local media. In 2020 nearly $10 million, or 84%, went to local media most small newspapers and websites whose revenue had sharply declined because businesses could no longer afford to advertise, according to a study by the center. The ads not only helped keep the lights on at local news organizations, it triggered better reporting about the pandemic. For instance, the Haitian Times, which covers Brooklyn communities devastated by COVID, went from receiving barely $200 in city advertising to getting more than $73,000 in 2020. It used the funds in part to add reporters to cover public health and other issues. Public health campaigns can be effective if the messaging is ubiquitous, consistent and credible. It is especially likely to succeed if such a campaign has consistent national messages plus customized information for specific communities. Most famously, public health campaigns saved hundreds of thousands of lives by changing attitudes about smoking and seat belt wearing. Tehran, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2021 ) :Iran dismissed Thursday a call by the US for it to return to full compliance of a nuclear deal first, insisting it had only taken "remedial measures" since America's withdrawal. The administration of new US President Joe Biden on Wednesday confirmed its willingness to return to the deal, which has been hanging by a thread since his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from it in 2018. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who made the announcement, said the US would only return to the deal agreed with major powers in 2015 once Iran resumes its commitments. Iran's top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Thursday dismissed the demand. "Reality check for @SecBlinken: The US violated (the) JCPOA," Zarif tweeted, referring to the accord by its formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Zarif said that as well as its unilateral withdrawal, the US had also imposed sanctions that "blocked food/medicine to Iranians" and "punished adherence" to a UN resolution. "Now, who should take 1st step? Never forget Trump's maximum failure," the foreign minister added, stressing Iran had "abided by the JCPOA" and had only taken "foreseen remedial measures". Trump withdrew the US from JCPOA and imposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018, maintaining a policy of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic. 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. Keolis has started testing autonomous electric vehicles in the city of Gothenburg on behalf of local public transport authority, Vasttrafik. The service, which is integrated in the public transport network, will serve industrial and residential sites for a four to five month period. The latest trial showcases Keolis' work in operating autonomous electric vehicles, which it first rolled out in 2016 in Lyon, France and then deployed in Europe, the UK, North America and Australia. Two autonomous electric shuttles made by Navya will operate during office hours from Monday to Friday. They will travel on a fixed 1.8km route serving the Lindholmen Industrial and Science park, a 4km former shipyard, which now features offices, residential and university buildings, as well as car parks. Bus passengers can use the service to connect with existing bus lines and track shuttle schedules in their travel app or on the city website. As the legislation requires, a safety operator will be present in the vehicle at all times. The shuttles have a maximum speed of 20km/h and can carry up to eight passengers. Charging takes five hours and vehicles can run for up to seven hours on one charge, depending on weather conditions. Designed to operate in conditions including sub-zero temperatures and snow, this new autonomous electric shuttle service is the city's most advanced to date and is integrated into Sweden's public transport network. It is also part of Next Generation Travel and Transport, a government-funded initiative that includes S3 (Shared Shuttle Services) a shuttle trial programme backed by a coalition including RISE, Vasttrafik and Keolis. Keolis began testing autonomous electric shuttles in 2016 in Lyon, France. Since then, it has introduced services in more French cities including Paris, Rennes and Lille, as well as in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Monaco, Belgium and Sweden. To date, Keolis-operated autonomous vehicles have carried more than 200,000 passengers some 100,000 km. The company is currently trialling three autonomous vehicle brands on a closed 80 hectare test site in Chateauroux, France to fine-tune full vehicle autonomy with no operators on board. In 2020, the company teamed with partners in Sweden to put Stockholm's first autonomous electric vehicle through its paces, using 5G technology for remote control and supervision. Keolis also partnered with Volvo in 2019 to develop and demonstrate a 12 metre long electric bus, which was parked, washed and recharged autonomously at the Keolis depot in Gothenburg. Show the press release 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. Tourists enjoy their winter holiday around a campfire in Rovaniemi, Finland. / Courtesy of Visit Rovaniemi By Jun Ji-hye Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland in northern Finland, provides travelers with quality time with their loved ones, delicious Lapland food and magical nights under the auroras. Visit Rovaniemi said the city offers a "true" winter holiday as visitors can celebrate Christmas all year round, with snowy landscapes surrounding them all the way until April. Surrounded by a winter wonderland, Rovaniemi is close to Santa Claus Village, where people can meet Santa Claus. Visitors can take part in an "elf school," helping elves make Christmas preparations in the Santa Claus Secret Forest. Marveling at the beauty of the northern lights can be another new experience. Tourists marvel at the northern lights in Rovaniemi, Finland. / Courtesy of Visit Rovaniemi In the most recent Closing Quote in Insurance Journal, I wrote about why I believe this is the best time in history for entrepreneurial agents to create a new independent insurance agency. My reasons include lower costs, the increased need for insurance companies to appoint new agencies, newly adopted technologies like Zoom that are expanding agencys geographical boundaries and the current economic situation, which is putting unprecedented amounts of business on the streets. The last decade has seen more new independent insurance agencies created than any other time in history, and those start-ups will continue to grow. Some estimate that newly created agencies represent as much as 20% to 25% of all independent insurance agencies now in business. In this article, Id like to explore some of the questions that agents ought to ask themselves when considering whether they should be an agency founder. To begin with, I believe the most useful question is why you would want to take the risk and commit to the hard work of starting an agency from scratch when youre already making a good living, perhaps have equity in your book of business and might potentially have the opportunity to buy the agency you already work for? Accepting the Risks It is important to recognize that starting a business entails risk. You might fail. And even if you do not, its possible that the investment required will be greater than you imagine or that the returns of ownership are less. When I started in the agency business, seven years before my partners, I took any profit out of the business. During those years, I paid taxes on the profits that we did make out of commissions. Your experience will likely be better than mine, but recognizing and accepting the risks based on a gimlet-eyed analysis is more useful than wishful thinking. The risks include whether you will be able to attract the insurance companies you need, whether your marketing and sales plans will work well enough to generate the income you need, and whether your savings will last long enough to carry you to success. In addition to those risks, you need to ask yourself other questions, such as whether you will be able to become a skilled manager of people in order to grow the business and whether you can manage books of business effectively. Founders need to recognize that while they may have many strengths to contribute to their new enterprise, they will have much to learn. If youve never run a business before, youll not only have to learn in real-time, but youll likely have to pay for that education with some costly mistakes. This isnt unsurmountable by any means, but it is a risk that should be acknowledged, and your business plan should be built to mitigate. Many of the risks faced by successful entrepreneurs are above and beyond the normal risks of just being in business. You will not have all of the capabilities you need to be successful at the start. You will lack many things. The challenge is daunting, and it requires courage to overcome. Courage and Commitment Many people have the dream of owning their own business but have not been able to garner the courage to start. The starting point of courage is commitment. Many people make light of commitment or dont really understand what it means. Commitment means to decide upon a course of action, and the word decide comes from the same Latin root as homicide, fratricide and so forth. Deciding is literally to kill the options. It means to burn the boats. In 1519, Fernando Cortez, determined to conquer the Aztecs, literally burned the 11 ships he and his men had arrived in so they had no option but to succeed in their quest. This rather dramatic example is the kind of commitment that leads to success as a business founder. So the next question to ask yourself is: Do you have that kind of commitment? Commitment is scary and takes courage, but it is strengthened by having a clear sense of why you want to (or must) start your own agency. What are you trying to accomplish? Is it personal or business freedom? Or is creating a new and better way to build an agency driving your desire? Perhaps you want to improve the quality of people you work with every day or maybe you just want to create unlimited financial opportunity for yourself and your family. Whatever your reasons for starting your own agency, they must be explored, acknowledged and factored into your decision making or you will be taking the biggest business risk of all not having Cortez-like commitment. Support and Strengths Another question founders should ask themselves is whether they have an adequate support system to make the effort. As a founder, you will work longer hours to become successful than you ever have before. Perhaps you will miss family events. Maybe vacations will become a distant memory for a few years. Its possible that the stresses of developing a new business will impact personal relationships. So ask: Are the people in your life, including friends, family and work colleagues, committed to helping you not only start but persevere? Do you have enough capital to see you and the business through to the point of adequate cash flow that supports the business and you? Having worked with hundreds of agency founders, my experience is that most dont think this question through as carefully and clearly as they should. Not doing so isnt necessarily fatal, but it can result in broken plans, slower growth, limited opportunity and certainly unnecessary stress. Independent agencies are low capital businesses in general terms, but they do take money to start. Finally, ask: What are your unique strengths that your business should be founded on? Having a very clear idea about this will be of enormous value if you stay focused here. For example, Ive seen wildly successful agencies started by gifted salespeople who never hired another producer but backfilled their agency with a strong support team. Ive also seen gifted salespeople fail because they allowed themselves to be hopelessly distracted with service and administrative tasks while wasting time and resources hiring producers who couldnt produce. Whatever your strengths are, making them the core of your business with plans to supplement in other areas will help guarantee your success. In my book, UnCaptive Agent, I describe all of these questions as a gut check for founders. My experience is that entrepreneurs are driven and will start their own agency. They cannot be stopped. They will find a way over, around or through every obstacle in their paths. But well-considered answers to these questions will help you deal with the obstacles cheaper, faster, better and more successfully. Milind Soman often takes the internet by storm with his Thursday throwback pictures. This time, the supermodel has shared a picture of himself from the DD national television soap, Captain Vyom. Milind looks dashing in a maroon leather jacket as he flashes a wide smile. Sharing the picture, he also put a long cryptic caption where he mentioned that the image was taken somewhere between the 4th and 5th moons of the planet Zuwar. The picture took his fans on a nostalgic ride, who relived their childhood memories in the comments section. Many of the users said that Captain Vyom was their favourite childhood superhero. A user even called Milinds suit the best designed fictional suit of Indian shows and added that the series was lightyears ahead of its time. A second user commented that she was madly in love with him at the time of the show. Others have also dropped heart emoji. Earlier, the actor has raised the temperature on social media as he posted an exotic picture of himself where he can be seen having a geothermal seawater spa. The picture was from his 2019 trip to Blue Lagoon Iceland. Milind was last seen in Alt Balaji web-series Paurashpur in a whole new avatar where he played the role of Boris, a transgender. His character in the series was quite strong and bold. He has also been part of many Bollywood films including Bajirao Mastani and Chef. The social media heartthrob also keeps posting fitness videos and is a well-known running enthusiast, along with wife Ankita Konwar. He recently participated in a 56 km running event at the Bangalore stadium. While sharing the update in a post, he said that he hopes more such events will soon be organised. Outdoor events have been on a back burner since the pandemic. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. 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. CNI College students and instructors are volunteering to help roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers at several Orange County and Los Angeles-area hospitals amid the holiday surge in cases. To date, over 60 students and faculty members have volunteered, exemplifying earnest commitment, passion, and determination to the field they have chosen. In a historic effort to distribute the emergency vaccine, CNI College students and faculty are actively demonstrating the values and principals upon which the school was founded. The impact the pandemic has had on the nations healthcare workers is severe. To see our students and faculty embrace their duties and offer a spirit of volunteerism and solidarity to those on the frontlines is heartwarming, and it is exactly the culture we envisioned when we opened CNI College in 1994, said Colleen Buffington, owner of CNI College. During this dismal time, when so many people are sick and suffering, healthcare workers are overwhelmed, tired, and strained. We are doing our part to help offer some relief. It is our duty to keep communities safe and we are grateful to assist. I am proud to be part of this extraordinary effort, said CNI College student and member of the U.S. National Guard, Deja Duffy. Over the coming weeks and months, CNI College representatives will continue to work with local hospitals and agencies on vaccine distribution and pandemic relief. Abraham Lincoln. Dianne Feinstein. George Washington. Paul Revere. These names are among ones that must be removed from public schools because of their ties to slavery, oppression, or racism, San Francisco school board officials decided by a 6-1 vote on Tuesday night. More than a third of the districts 125 schools made the list of objectionable names, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Schools will have until April to offer new names, which will then be voted on by board members. The new namesakes must adhere to a set of guidelines, including that individuals proposed must not have been slave owners or abetted in slavery or genocide, violated human rights violations, or be "known racists and/or white supremacists." Feinstein, a U.S. senator from California since 1992, was added to the list because she replaced a vandalized Confederate flag as the city's mayor. 'Designed to denigrate, exclude and oppress': More than 240 US schools are named after Confederate leaders and about half serve majority non-white students Critics had argued that the process was rushed, citing little to no input from historians and a lack of information on the basis for each recommendation. And even before the board's decision, there was opposition of the renaming effort, both within San Francisco and at the national level. San Francisco Mayor London Breed in December called it "offensive" for SFUSD to be focused on renaming schools in the midst of a global health pandemic. The San Francisco School Board has voted to rename 44 school sites new names with no connection to slavery, oppression, racism or similar criteria, including Abraham Lincoln High School. On Wednesday, Breed said in a statement: "This is an important conversation to have, and one that we should involve our communities, our families, and our students. What I cannot understand is why the School Board is advancing a plan to have all these schools renamed by April, when there isnt a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then." School board members argued that the district is capable of pursuing multiple priorities at the same time, and that the push for renaming schools is timely and important given the countrys racial reckoning. Story continues Its a message to our families, our students and our community, school board member Mark Sanchez said during the meeting. Its not just symbolic. Its a moral message. Fact check: Fact check: Why Abraham Lincoln High School is on San Francisco's renaming list Some families have argued for school name changes for years, including those at James Denman Middle School, named for the first district superintendent, who denied Chinese students a public education. Others have argued students are wearing school sweatshirts labeled with the names of slave owners, including Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. A sign for Dianne Feinstein Elementary School in San Francisco. San Francisco School Board has voted to rename 44 school sites new names with no connection to slavery, oppression, racism or similar criteria. More than 240 schools in 17 states are named after Confederate leaders, according to a September report from the Equal Justice Initiative. About half of those schools have student populations that are predominantly Black or nonwhite. Most of the schools are concentrated in Southern states, including Virginia, Georgia and Alabama. Since 2014, more than 30 schools in the country have been renamed to remove Confederate references. There's been an uptick of removals, including in Montgomery, Alabama, and Fairfax, Virginia, fueled by widespread protests against systemic racism and police brutality, with more people linking Confederate monuments with white supremacy. Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Francisco to rename 44 schools because of ties to racism, slavery Thatll be the end of a show that has been supremely successful for the park. It was a key factor in Mortons two best attendance years in its almost 100-year history, 2018 (No. 1) and 2019 (No. 2). And it has coaxed visitors out of their cars and onto some of the parks many trails in order to get better looks at the trolls, one of which dangles a net trap from a tree branch; one holds a boulder airborne over an old car; and one, some 60 feet long, just chills, flat on his back in the middle of a field. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. To read this article and more, including our archive of drinks industry news, analysis & comment pieces from the last 20 years, try just-drinks for 30 days for just 1* First Name Last Name Job Title Email Take a trial *plus VAT if applicable Already a member? Log in here The original columns that supported the old East Portico of the U.S. Capitol are now at the National Arboretum. (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Making Americas Civic Architecture Great Again An interview with National Civic Art Society President Justin Shubow Whenever it is proposed to prepare plans for the Capitol, I should prefer the adoption of some one of the models of antiquity which have had the approbation of thousands of years, Thomas Jefferson wrote to French engineer Pierre Charles LEnfant on April 10, 1791. But why did Jefferson and Americas Founding Fathers admire classical architecture so much as to emulate it in federal buildings and U.S. courthouses? And why is classical and traditional architecture still relevant to Americans today? National Civic Art Society (NCAS) President Justin Shubow helps answer these questions, and more. Shubow is also the chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency of seven presidential appointees who are the aesthetic guardians of Washington. Shubows architectural critical essays have been published widely in top national publications, and hes a noted speaker at academic institutions and the U.S. State Department. Justin Shubow, president of the National Civic Art Society, in New York. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Shubow explained by phone the importance of honoring Americas historic architecture, and the significance of President Trumps recently signed executive order Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture, which the NCAS (a nonprofit organization promoting public art and architecture worthy of the American Republic) championed. The Epoch Times: How do people recognize good architecture? Justin Shubow: I believe there is some kind of human nature underlying our evaluation of architecture. This is one reason why there are masterpieces around the world that are universally recognized across cultures, whether its the U.S. Capitol Building or the Taj Mahal. There is a human nature involved in our appreciation. At the same time in the U.S., certain building types are often associated with democracy in the minds of ordinary people. You dont have to have attended architecture school to have a sense of what a courthouse looks like or what a church looks like. There are particular building forms that have come down to us from history, and it makes sense to keep building in a way that is legible to ordinary people. Recently, the National Civic Art Society hired The Harris Poll to conduct a survey of Americans preferences in federal architecture, and the survey found that 72 percent of Americans favored traditional architecture for federal office buildings and U.S. courthouses. These were wide majorities over all demographic groups, including socio-economic status, political party, race, and ethnicity. This is not a partisan issue. Its clear what the American people want, and thats also why the executive order is so important: Its fundamentally democratic by giving Americans the sorts of federal buildings that they want. The Epoch Times: Why did Americas forefathers favor classical designs? Mr. Shubow: Thomas Jefferson and George Washington consciously chose the classical style of the core buildings for the American government and the design of Washington, D.C. They wished to harken back to republican Rome and democratic Greece, those great political traditions. They, particularly Jefferson, also saw the classical tradition as being time-honored and timeless. The design for the original U.S. Capitol Building, circa, 1796, by amateur architect Dr. William Thornton. (Library of Congress) The Capitol Building of Washington, around 1800, which housed the U.S. Senate. (Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division) Jefferson sought classic architecture to improve the respect for America around the world. And the classical tradition largely set the pattern for American federal architecture up until World War II. The Epoch Times: How did American architecture move away from the forefathers ideals? Mr. Shubow: In 1949, a new federal agency called the General Services Administration (GSA) was created to oversee all federal buildings. Although there had been official classicism for federal architecture, the GSA started to build in a modernist style, in a style imported from Europe, based on ideas of functionalism, the metaphor of the machine, and a stripped-down aesthetic. And in 1962, there was a report on federal office space, and in that report there was a single page called the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture. And those principles rejected official classicism and implicitly favored modernism in federal design. At the same time, those principles said that architectural design must flow from the architectural profession to the Government and not vice versa. And who did this abdicate control to? The modernists who had come to dominate architecture. And from that time on, federal architecture has almost entirely been modernist and post-modernist. Empirical academic studies have repeatedly found that architects evaluation of buildings diverges greatly from that of ordinary people. I would say that theres something about architectural education that corrupts or deforms architecture preferences away from human nature towards some kind of artificial good that only the indoctrinated can support. Not only are there differences in aesthetic interpretation, you will even find some architects saying you should admire certain buildings because they are ugly. Theyre not even denying that such buildings are ugly. They have a different value system. The Epoch Times: Is modernism the same for architecture as it is for modern art? Mr. Shubow: Modernism means different things in art and architecture. But very much in architecture, modernism completely rejected the prior tradition of architecture. Modernists wanted to start anew, and in its early phases, modernism had this utopian ethos seeking to build a new man in a new era, in a technologically and economically charged society. I would note there is one key difference between modern art and architecture in that architecture is public. Its forced on us in a way that art is not. If you dont like a painting, you dont have to go to a museum. If you dont like a novel, you dont have to read it. But architecture builds the world in which we live, and so it necessarily has a small political component. The Epoch Times: In December 2020, President Trump signed an executive order Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture that favors classical and traditional design for federal buildings. What does this actually mean for civic architecture? Mr. Shubow: The executive order reorients federal architecture in a classical and traditional direction. It requires that new federal buildings and U.S. courthouses be beautiful and command the admiration of the general public. The order states that the general publics preferences should matter mostnot those of the architectural establishmentbecause what ordinary people want diverges greatly from what architectural elites want. I say architectural elites because were talking about some of the largest and most powerful architecture firms in the country, which are largely modernist in orientation. At the same time, the order, although not mandating classical or traditional architecture for the country, does state that there should be a particular regard for classical or traditional architecture. It defines traditional architecture to include various styles that are not classical, such as Gothic, Romanesque, and Pueblo Revival, and shows that there are regional styles in America that are appropriate for federal buildings that are not strictly speaking classical. However, for new federal buildings in Washington, D.C., the executive order does require that those buildings be classical in part because Washington, D.C., was intended to be a stately classical city by the Founding Fathers. That tradition, and its iconic symbolism, was continued through the 19011902 Senate Park Commission Plan, commonly known as the McMillan Plan, which created the National Mall and monumental core as we know them. And classical architecture is what Americans think of when they think of our government at its best. They dont think of Washington as being a Brutalist or modernist city. Its the classical architecture that gives it its particular beloved character. The National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument in Washington. (Carol M. Highsmith Archive/Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division) Aerial view from above the U.S. Capitol, looking west along the National Mall, in Washington. (Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division) The Epoch Times: Why is this executive order so important? Mr. Shubow: As Thomas Jefferson said, public architecture cannot be separated from political activity. These federal buildings speak to who we are as Americans. They should have legible symbols; they should inspire civic virtue. They should not demoralize. They should beautify and uplift our world, and should remind us of the ideals of our democracy. The west facade of the Thomas Jefferson Building faces the Capitol Building. (Public domain) The ceiling of the Thomas Jefferson Building says: That this nation under God should have a new birth of freedom. Have government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth. (Public Domain) Stained glass window in an alcove of the reading rooms at the Thomas Jefferson Building. (Public Domain) The Epoch Times: Please give an example of a federal building that aspires to the virtuous characteristics that you just mentioned, and another that doesnt. Mr. Shubow: The most famous case is that of the U.S. Capitol, which is built in a design inspired by a Roman temple. And as a result, it has a sense of sacredness, which can be seen from the fact that after the recent attacks on the Capitol, numerous legislatorsboth Republicans and Democratstalked about the desecration of the temple to democracy. And I think that language is telling. If the U.S. Capitol had been a Brutalist building or a steel and glass box, no one would describe it as a temple, and no one wouldve said it was desecrated because there is nothing sacred about that kind of modernist design. The Capitol building became the model for many state capitol buildings across the country. It created a recognizable building type in the United States. Now, as for a building that totally fails, there is the San Francisco federal building that looks like an alien spacecraft, which is about to kill you with laser beams. Its deconstructivist. Its ugly. Its widely hated by people in San Francisco, and its unrecognizable as a civic building. Its not identifiably American, or regional in any way. The Epoch Times: How do these contrasting architectural designs affect us? Mr. Shubow: I know that one federal judge, the late Jeffry Gallet, wrote an essay in which he claimed that he has overseen trials in both a modernist courthouse and a classical courthouse and that the people in the courtroom were better behaved in the classical building. The Epoch Times: There have been some comments from architects and architectural bodies that say the executive order goes too far and stifles creativity. What is your response to that? Mr. Shubow: First, I would note that many of the criticisms were from the leaked draft of the executive order as opposed to the final version. The version that was signed by President Trump does not mandate classical architecture for federal buildings across the country. Modernist buildings are completely allowed so long as they are beautiful and command the respect of the general public. So there is room for creativity and innovation. And of course there is room for creativity and innovation within the classical tradition itself. The executive order defines classical architecture quite broadly to include everything from neoclassical designs to Beaux Arts to Art Deco. The Epoch Times: What would you say to people who would love to see more classical and traditional federal buildings built in America? What can they do? Mr. Shubow: They can reach out to their political leaders and tell their preferences as to what they would like to see. Ultimately, the client for federal buildings is the American people, and their tax dollars have been used in the billions to construct these buildings. And yet for too long, architects have been forcing their preferences on the people, when it should be the peoples preferences that matter most. I want to make clear that throughout American history, people of all political orientations have seen the greatness of the classical tradition. That includes Franklin Delano Roosevelt who, as president, promoted classical architecture for Washington, D.C., and fought the modernists who sought to build in a different style. It was F.D.R. who fought for the building of the Jefferson Memorial, which is in the form of the Roman temple, even though the entire modernist architectural establishment opposed it for supposedly being out-of-date. Theodore Roosevelt fought to get the Jefferson Memorial built in a classical design. (Carol M. Highsmith Archive/Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division) Likewise, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has talked about how classical forms help convey a sense of fairness and dignity. What he had in mind is the association Americans have, that certain building types are associated with democracy. Now, there is a sense, maybe you might say an inherent sense, of harmony and order and stability that comes from the architecture so that you dont even need any association to appreciate it. It gets to our human nature, about the sorts of architecture that are universally admired. And I think when you just see well-designed classical buildings, you get a sense of eternity and of timelessness and even of the metaphysical level. You sense the existence of the good, the beautiful, and the true. To find out more about the National Civic Art Society, visit CivicArt.org This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Holding the hand of a small girl with the zip of your trouser undone is not sexual assault, an Indian court has ruled, in the second such ruling disclosed this week. Libnus Kujur, 50, from the city of Nagpur, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault in October last year after a mother found him in her house, holding the hand of her young daughter with his zip undone while trying to lead her to bed. But Kujur appealed the sentence and on January 20 Justice Pushpa Ganediwala agreed, ordering that he should be released from jail after just five months. A judge at the Bombay High Court (pictured) has ruled that groping a child through their clothes cannot be defined as sexual assault, sparking outcry The ruling was revealed just days after another order by the same judge came to light, staying that groping a 12-year-old girl through her clothes was not sex assault. The first order has been halted while it is reviewed by the Attorney General. It is not immediately clear whether the second order will also be reviewed. Kujur was initially convicted after a district court heard that the mother had returned home on February 11, 2018, to find that he had broken into her house where her two young daughters were staying while she was at work. Court documents do not give either girls' age, but say that both of them were under 12 years old. The mother said Kujur 'had caught hold of the hands of my elder daughter and was taking [her] inside a room' and that he had opened the zip of his trousers. The court found the mother's evidence, along with the evidence of seven other witnesses, to be credible and convicted Kujur of outraging modesty, home invasion, sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault, due to the girl's age. Kujur then appealed to the Bombay High Court, where Judge Ganediwala handed down her ruling on January 20. She wrote: 'The acts of "holding the hands of the victim", or "opening zip of the pant"... in the opinion of this Court, does not fit in the definition of "sexual assault".' The ruling over Kujur's case came in the same week that Judge Ganediwala concluded groping children through their clothes is also not sexual assault. In that case, a 39-year-old named Satish had been sentenced to three years in 2016 for groping a 12-year-old girl's breast and trying to remove her dress. Judge Ganediwala ruled that there must be 'skin-on-skin' contact to prove that a sexual assault had taken place, and shot down the sentence. The decision sparked outrage among campaigners and a backlash online, with people attacking the judge over her logic. 'This ruling was given by a female judge. That's all we need to know about India and the plight of its female victims,' one wrote. 'They say it's not under sexual assault but... it is a minor act. I have been a victim of this "minor act" when I was 13, it feels horrible,' another added. 'Disgusting to hear what a female judge said about an adult male groping a minor girl in India. No doubt India is one of the worst countries for women,' a third added. (TNS) SpaceX has successfully sent a record-breaking 143 satellites soaring into space as part of its commercial satellite "rideshare" service.One of the most ambitious missions for SpaceX, its Falcon 9 rocket launched into orbit Sunday morning (Jan. 24) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to Amy Thompson with Space.com."The flight allowed SpaceX to flex its ridesharing muscles in a carefully choreographed orbital ballet as its flagship rocket ferried its largest number of payloads yet," Thompson wrote.The mission called Transporter-1 carried a troupe of satellites including 10 of SpaceX's Starlink broadband units.The flat-paneled Starlink satellites will serve to provide coverage to customers in Alaska and other polar regions, Thompson wrote. "A first for its broadband fleet."In addition, Transporter-1 also carried over 130 satellites for paying customers such as Planet, "which operates a constellation of Earth-imaging satellites, according to Jackie Wattles with CNN Business.In 2019, SpaceX announced it would offer rideshares on its Falcon 9 rockets throughout the year for the price of $1 million per launch, Thompson said.Cosmic rideshares aren't new, as SpaceX has sent payload missions for various companies since SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced the company's StarLink initiative in 2015. In 2018, a rocket dubbed SSO-A sent 64 satellites into low-Earth orbit, Thompson noted.While this is exciting news for SpaceX, experts fear the large number of satellites being sent into Earth's orbit could cause interference for existing research being conducted.Adam Mann with Space.com shared a statement from The International Astronomical Union voicing their concerns with the satellite missions."Satellite constellations can pose a significant or debilitating threat to important existing and future astronomical infrastructures, and we urge their designers and deployers as well as policy-makers to work with the astronomical community in a concerted effort to analyse and understand the impact of satellite constellations."These criticisms have been met with promises of good faith and cooperation by SpaceX officials."SpaceX is absolutely committed to finding a way forward so our Starlink project doesn't impede the value of the research you all are undertaking," said Patricia Cooper, vice president of SpaceX's satellite government affairs division. 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. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Popular television actor Nakuul Mehta has pledged his support to a campaign that encourages men not to be "silent spectators to violations of women safety and be an ally in this demand for safety". Mehta recently featured in a video promoting the importance of a woman's consent, and was also seen in a Instagram Live session, offering his support to #AllyUpForHer, a campaign jointly run by child rights NGO Save the Children and Yuvaa on Change.org. "Standing up for respect and safety of women is something that must come naturally to any man. For years, we have been speaking about treating women as equals, but unfortunately the balance has been tilted for far too long and the struggle to stand up for fundamental rights such as safety has been a single-handed battle fought only by women. It is time that we as men are at the forefront of this conversation and shoulder this responsibility to ensure that women don't feel insecure in the presence or absence of a man. As men, we need to give a fillip to this movement and lead by example." According to Nikhil Taneja, Co-Founder and CEO of Yuvaa, allyship comes out of compassion and this allyship is about listening to and understanding women. "If women feel consent is a concept that is poorly understood by men, then it is our responsibility to ensure that behaviour change happens within us." "When we speak about safe spaces, it cannot be made safe if we don't talk about the role of everyone. That's why men need to see that their participation and allyship is extremely important. It is time, men must stop being mute spectators when women are being abused and assaulted - be it online or offline as this only slows down our fight for justice. It is a reality that our behaviours are ultimately influenced by the popular culture and content we consume. And when we speak of men's allyship, the role of influencers and public figure plays a huge role in modeling public behavior and action," adds Pragya Vats, Head of Campaigns, Save the Children. The petition also saw support from Badrinath Singh, Nirbhaya's father, earlier who said a permanent change will only come when the collective mindset changes. "Men must stop being mute spectators while women face abuse online and on the ground," says the campaign. Recently, on National Day of the Girl on January 24, the partner organisations, in collaboration with a range of other cohorts who joined in this initiative, released a video 'Tum Akeli Nahi' featuring male content creators in a spoken word video. The petition urges popular OTT (over-the-top) platforms like to create content that promotes and encourages ally ship and bystander intervention. It aims to catalyse change in mindset and mass media on representation of men and boys, and strives to engage men to partake in voice and action as equal stakeholders. The petition has garnered about 90,000 signatures so far. #AllyUpForHer is urging your support in ensuring no girl anywhere must live in fear or pay with her life, said the organisations. (Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) [January 28, 2021] Document Security Systems, Inc. Announces Exercise of Full Over-Allotment Option ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 28, 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 underwriter of its previously announced public offering of 6,666,666 common shares, has exercised its full over-allotment option to purchase an additional 1,000,000 common shares of the Company. The price to the public in the offering was $3.60 per share and the gross proceeds to the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option were $3,600,000 before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses. The total gross proceeds, including the full exercise of the over-allotment option, will be approximately $27.6 million from the public offering. Aegis Capital Corp. acted 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 was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained 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 constitute 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 ould 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 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: 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. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Resolvly, a consumer protection legal referral service, has prevailed in a recent class action lawsuit that was originally filed in January, 2018. In the aforementioned lawsuit, all parties have stipulated to the voluntary dismissal of the entire action with prejudice against all defendants including Resolvly LLC. Throughout the process and looking ahead to the future, Resolvly continues to help consumers find the top legal firms that will come to the aid of consumers battling credit card, medical, personal loan, or private student loan debt. "We are extremely pleased to have prevailed in the meritless lawsuit that was pending against our company," explained Gregory Fishman, the President and CEO of Resolvly. "We are moving forward as we have always done to help those people who are struggling with personal debt find the most professional and expert legal team to help in their debt defense." Working Hard To Help Debtors Find Legal Counsel A recent report showed that U.S. citizens owe nearly $1 trillion in credit card debt alone. In fact, it's estimated that nearly 80% of all Americans are battling some form of debt. Many of those who endure a debt crisis also encounter the debilitating and often bullying tactics of debt collectors or, worse, face debt lawsuits. In the extreme cases, it's often necessary to retain the right legal representation. Resolvly is an expert referral service connecting consumers with the proper legal firm for their needs. A legal resource can offer insights and help build a strong defense to combat the often-underhanded debt collection services. Resolvly has successfully found the finest legal counsel for those experiencing the financial burdens of debt. These legal defense teams often invoke several Federal Laws written to protect consumers against harassing creditors and have often helped fully resolve their client's debt. Especially now during the pandemic times of COVID-19, both personal debt and medical debt are on the rise. When an individual's debt becomes overwhelming, it's helpful and advised to turn to a legal professional to navigate the murky waters of debt resolution. Resolvly urges those mired in debt to reach out for an initial consultation to help find the most strategically sound legal team to combat each individual's debt scenario. About Resolvly LLC Resolvly is a Lawyer Referral Service based in Boca Raton, Florida, that helps those enmeshed in credit card, private student loans or medical debt find professional attorneys who specialize in their defense. Resolvly refers consumers to law firms that protect and enforce their legal rights when dealing with creditors and help secure financial freedom. Learn more by visiting Resolvly (https://resolvly.com) today. Press Contact: The Avita Group 747-225-2777 SOURCE Resolvly LLC 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. Spouses of Indian professionals on H-1B visas, are the biggest beneficiary of the Obama-era rule that gave employment authorisation cards. Washington: A week after his inauguration, US President Joe Biden has withdrawn a Trump-era rule rescinding work authorisation for H4 visa holders, who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas, with majority being highly-skilled Indian women. An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The H4 visa is normally issued to those who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status in the US. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on Monday said the proposed rule titled, "Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation," was being withdrawn. Spouses of Indian professionals on H-1B visas, mostly women, are the biggest beneficiary of the Obama-era rule that gave employment authorisation cards. Soon after coming to power, the Trump administration in 2017 announced that it would rescind that rule. However, the Republican Party-led Trump administration was not able to complete the process in the four year of its rule. During the presidential election, the Biden campaign had promised to withdraw the Trump administration's move. Soon after his electoral victory, a group of 60 members of the US House of Representatives in a letter urged Biden, a Democrat, to unilaterally extend the expiration work authorisation documents for holders of H4 visas. We respectfully request that the Department of Homeland Security publish a Federal Register notice on day one of your administration that would extend the validity period of all expired H4 EADs (Employment Authorisation Document), the members of Congress wrote to Biden in a letter on December 16. In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a rule allowing certain H4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders to legally seek employment in the US, the letter said. This rule presented an important step towards rectifying gender disparities in our immigration system, as around 95 per cent of H4 visa holders who have secured work authorisations are women. As of December 2017, USCIS had approved 1,26,853 applications for employment authorisation for H-4 visa holders. According to a 2018 report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) 93 per cent of approved applications for H-4 employment authorisation were issued to individuals born in India, and five per cent were issued to individuals born in China. ADVERTISEMENT Zamfara State governor, Bello Mohammed, has expressed hope for more accomplishments in the fight against banditry following the change of leadership in the armed forces. The governor stated this in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. The statement was signed by his spokesperson, Zailani Bappa. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday announced the appointment of new service chiefs. In a statement by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, the president appointed Lucky Irabor, a major general , as the Chief of Defence Staff. Others are Ibrahim Attahiru, a major general as Chief of Army Staff, Auwal Gambo, a rear admiral as Chief of Naval Staff and Isiaka Amao, an air vice marshal as chief of air staff. The president also accepted the resignation of the last set of service chiefs headed by Gabriel Olonisakin,, a general. Reacting to the appointment, Mr Mohammed said the last set of service chiefs had done the country proud and wished them well in their retirement. When I came up with the idea of introducing a genuine dialogue with the bandits, all the service chiefs fully cooperated with me by suspending military action on the bandits to pave way for the talks which yielded tremendously positive results, the governor said. Similarly, when we encounter recalcitrant bandits in our journey to peace, the military chiefs also keyed into our remodeled peace accord of carrot and stick approach by employing both Kinetic and non-kinetic approach to peace process in tue etate whch is also recording a lot of success in tue state. He also expressed his enthusiasm in working with the new service chiefs whom he said were carefully chosen to replace the former. I am confident that the new service chiefs are going to record even more successes as they are adjudged as very excellent officers with non-blemish records of service. We, in Zamfara State, wish to endorse this gallant decision of Mr President for ensuring that only the best are now tasked with replacing the former, the governor added. He said the situation in Zamfara State today calls for total support and cooperation and urged all and sundry to desist from demoralising soldiers through the bad habit of dwarfing their efforts and hammering on their mistakes. The fight against banditry and restoration of peace and harmony is a responsibility for all. The state government wishes to assure the new service chiefs of its ever readiness to support them in the task of liberating the people from the shackles of banditry and associated crimes in the state and indeed, the region, he promised. Coyne Public Relations lands MDLIVE, a national telehealth provider. Coyne PR will support MDLIVE with consumer awareness, media relations, thought leadership, corporate communications and social media. The collaboration kicked off in November 2020. MDLIVE serves over 60 million members nationwide through major health plans, hospitals and employers. Coyne PR brought fantastic energy, strategic thinking and creative ideas to the table, said MDLIVE chief growth officer Mindy Heintskill. MDLIVE joins a growing portfolio in digital health for Coyne PR, which includes digital therapeutics, digital medicines and digital health services. Xhibition signs up Penderyn Distillery in Wales, UK. Xhibition will oversee Penderyns releases of single malt whiskies in the USA, launch a new distillery in Llandudno this spring, and publicize the companys coming of age 21st anniversary in the American market. Production at Penderyn Distillery commenced in September of 2000, launching the rebirth of the whisky industry in Wales, which had been dormant for more than 100 years. Its products are exported to over 40 countries, including Canada, the USA, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Australia, and China. Pazanga Healthcare Communications adds Cytovale, Epica Human Health, Eyenovia and Viz.ai to its client roster. The agency will support the new clients with customized programming elements ranging from brand positioning and messaging and brand design to content development, digital marketing, and traditional and social media. The clients market focus areas include life sciences for early Sepsis detection (Cytovale), high-definition multi-modality mobile imaging (Epica Human Health), ophthalmic biopharmaceuticals (Eyenovia) and AI-driven synchronized stroke detection and care coordination (Viz.ai). While 2020 was a challenging year for people and businesses everywhere, its clear that the need for continued innovation in healthcare has never been more important, said Pazanga Health CEO Laura Nobles. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Mumbai, Jan 28 : Actor Amit Sadh on Thursday declared that he is happy with the audience reception to his new web series Jeet Ki Zid. "My heart is filled up with gratitude and eyes with tears watching all the love and appreciation 'Jeet Ki Zid' has been receiving. The team has worked so hard in making this project what it is today. People have continuously been sending me their thoughts and reactions, and it makes me so happy. I'll forever keep all that I've learned and experienced here in my heart. I hope the Zid to never give up and determination to triumph forever persists in your hearts," said the actor. Earlier in the day, the actor posted a thank-you note on Instagram, Jeet Ki Zid is based on the true story of Major Deep Sengar of the Special Task Force, who returned from Kargil War in a wheelchair. While doctors gave up hope, Deep fought against all odds to bounce back in life. The Zee5 series is directed by Vishal Mangalorkar, and also features Amrita Puri and Sushant Singh. After seven years of implementing Resolution 29 on reforming the education and training sector, Vietnam has gained several outstanding achievements. Vietnam aims to become a developing country with industry marching towards modernity and income surpassing the lower average level by 2025; a developing country with modern industry and higher average income by 2030; and a developed country with high income by 2045. With such important changes, VietNamNet introduces readers to a number of articles on the topic. Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha, presenting his report at the ongoing 13th National Party Congress, spoke about the the Party Central Committees resolution on reforming education and training in the 2021-2025 period. Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha Achievements Policies have been basically completed The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) proposed to the Government and National Assembly to set up policies to solve problems of many years. The ministry advised the Government to ask the National Assembly to ratify the Law on amending and supplementing some articles of the 2018 Law on Higher Education and the 2019 Education Law (amended) and create a legal framework for activities to comprehensively reform education and training. In 2016, the Prime Minister issued the structural frame of the national educational system. To date, the guidelines in Resolution 29 have been institutionalized and specified in legal documents. Completing universalization of preschool education, improving quality of primary, secondary education universalization The standards on preschool education universalization for 5-year-old children nationwide were met by early 2017 with 99.98 percent of children at this age going to preschools. The country has achieved the second-level primary education universalization standards, and first-level in secondary education universalization. Setting up new general education program According to Nha, the one program, many sets of textbooks policy which aims to encourage creativity in teaching and learning has brought initial success. By the end of 2019, MOET Minister had approved five sets of textbooks for first graders (46 textbooks for 9 subjects) and education activities for the 2020-2021 academic year. The choosing of textbooks at schools has been implemented in a strict and transparent way. This is the first time in the history of the educational sector that Vietnam has implemented the policy and it has gained encouraging results. Exam organization, education assessment is more effective Vietnam has reformed the way of examining and assessing the quality for primary, secondary and high education by focusing on assessing students abilities, considering both the results of students learning process and the results of year-end exams. Higher education establishments have shifted from yearly training scheme to credit-based training. The assessment and examination of master's and doctoral training quality has been implemented more strictly. The quality of dissertations and theses is closer to international standards. Higher education establishments have shifted from yearly training scheme to credit-based training. The assessment and examination of master's and doctoral training quality has been implemented more strictly. The quality of dissertations and theses is closer to international standards. The way of organizing high school finals and admitting students for universities and junior colleges has also been reformed. Schools organize aptitude tests and consider students learning records at high school. General education quality improves, recognized internationally A new report by the World Bank Group pointed out that between 2010 and 2020, Vietnams Human Capital Index increased from 0.66 to 0.69. Vietnam was praised in some indexes, including the proportion of students going to school and fulfilling primary education (92.08 percent). SEA PLM (The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics) in 2019 showed that Vietnam is among the top ASEAN countries in primary education quality. During PISA tests, Vietnamese students outperformed results compared with the average level of OECD countries, even though its investment in education is far lower. The results gained by Vietnamese students at Olympiads show great stride in recent years with 49 gold medals won in 2016-2020 (27 gold medals in 2011-2015). Many students got the maximum scores. Autonomy at universities, higher education quality improves Since 2014, 23 higher education establishments have applied comprehensive autonomy in accordance with the governments Resolution 77. In 2019, Vietnams higher education system ranked 68th out of 196 countries in the world, a promotion of 12 grades compared with 2018. Vietnam, for the first time, had four higher education establishments listed among the 1,000 best universities in the world. Eleven universities in Vietnam have been listed among Asias top 500 universities. Politics, morality, life skills education improves The new general education program continues to attach much importance to education in morality and life skills, which can be seen in the design of all learning subjects and education activities. Applying IT, accelerating digital transformation The entire educational sector has been strengthening the application of information technology in management and teaching. It has built a database on preschool and general education. IT has been applied on a large scale in teaching and learning activities. Schools give lessons via internet, on the TV, especially during lockdown. International integration, cooperation improves Vietnam has established relationships with over 100 countries and territories. Ongoing problems First, the state management and school administration are still inadequate. The role of the school council still cannot be promoted well. Second, the shortage and redundancy of teachers in localities has not been solved. Third, school development planning is unreasonable. Schools are lacking in some urban areas and in Industrial Zones. Fourth, the connection and database exploitation for management and teaching are still not in sync. Fifth, there are still problems in communications. Ngan Anh UNESCO expert: Vietnam education reform on right path, recommends better allocation of funds Dominique Altner, Senior Program Specialist at IIEP (International Institute for Educational Planning), spoke to VietnamNet about the development of Vietnams education system in the last five years. 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. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Ndjamena, Chad (PANA) International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff have completed policy discussions with the authorities in Chad on a new medium-term programme that could be supported by IMF resources of about $560 million under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), it was announced on Thursday COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Liquor Control Commission has revoked the alcohol permit of Barley House, effective March 24, it announced Wednesday in a summary of recent bar and restaurant decisions. Barley House is accused of violating state laws and public health orders four times, including one going back to December 2019. Last week, the liquor commission held hearings on the allegations against the West 6th Street bar and other establishments from across Ohio. For Barley House, the fines and sanctions got more harsh with each incident before the commission, culminating with an incident that took place Nov. 14 that resulted in the loss of the permit. The bar is accused of disorderly activities Nov. 14, which is what many bars and restaurants have been accused of when they dont follow public health orders -- such as ensuring customers remain seated, socially distance and wear masks when they are not eating or drinking. Officers had said at the time they saw more than 100 patrons dancing and congregating without maintaining any social distancing measures. A Barley House employee said Wednesday night that the business had no comment at this time. The Barley House has objected to the states restrictions, having filed a suit in October accusing Gov. Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Liquor Control Commission of usurping the powers of the legislature and imposing restrictions that deprived the bars of their rights to property and due process. The suit was filed in Erie County Common Pleas Court, where a judge last year ruled in favor of Kalahari Indoor Waterpark and ordered the state to lift restrictions. Violations heard last week The Ohio liquor commission heard four allegations of wrongdoing last week: -Dec. 7, 2019. Allegations: The premises were not in sanitary conditions. Fixtures, equipment, tables, counters, coolers/ refrigerators and/or utensils were not clean or sanitary, in violation of the liquor commissions rules for permit holders. Outcome: At the hearing, the bar owner entered a denial as to the violation, but stipulated to the facts. Based on the evidence presented, the commission found the permit holder in violation of the rules, issued a three-day suspension beginning at noon Feb. 24, but gave Barley House the option to pay $300 in lieu of the suspension. -Sept. 27, 2020. Allegations: The bar and/or its employees knowingly or willfully allowed or engaged in disorderly activities. Outcome: At the hearing, the owner denied the violation, but based on the evidence presented, the commission found the permit holder in violation and issued a five-day suspension beginning at noon, Feb. 27. But it gave Barley House the option to pay a financial forfeiture in the amount of $1,000 in lieu of the suspension. -Oct 3, 2020. Allegations: First, disorderly activities. Second, allowing people to consume beer, wine, mixed beverages between 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. A public health order requires last call to be 10 p.m. and drinks to be finished by 11 p.m. Third, selling beer, wine, mixed drinks or liquor between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Outcome: The bar denied the violations, but based on the evidence presented, the commission found the permit holder in violation. It issued a 20-day suspension beginning at noon, March 4, but offered a $6,000 fine in lieu of the suspension. -Nov. 14, 2020. Allegation: Disorderly activities. Outcome: The bar denied the violation. But based on evidence, the commission found Barley House in violation and revoked the permit effective March 24. Visits at bars, restaurants Agents in the Ohio Investigative Unit, which is under the Ohio Department of Public Safety, visit liquor permit holders throughout the state to make sure theyre upholding the law. Most of the time, there are no issues. However, since the pandemic, there have been an increasing number of problems with establishments not following the states rules that attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The agents cite the businesses, which then usually appear before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, where the business owners can make their case against the allegations, deny the allegations but stipulate to the facts or admit to the allegation. Sometimes allegations are dropped by the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, which represents the agents. Barley House is not the first business to get its liquor permit yanked. Akrons Highland Taverns violations were severe enough that the liquor commission revoked its license effective Oct. 2. More coverage: Ohio liquor commission has punished bars and restaurants for COVID-19 violations. Heres a list of decided cases since the pandemic began. Ohio records 7th straight day with coronavirus hospitalizations under 3,500, which will shorten curfew: Wednesday update Ohio Supreme Court to decide limits of Marsys Law in kidnapping, rape trial Gov. Mike DeWine announces tens of thousands of leftover vaccines will go to older Ohioans With Ohio giving lowest vaccine doses per capita among neighbors, Gov. Mike DeWine to give a coronavirus update: Watch live Read the latest Ohio coronavirus public health order, extending the overnight curfew 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 Ministry of Health (MS) will initiate a process to draft reference standards for the use of protective equipment for staff working in areas serving patients with COVID-19 and to also establish staff regulations in these areas. The Minister of Health, Vlad Voiculescu, on Thursday met with the representatives of the "Solidaritatea Sanitara" Trade Union Federation, among the topics addressed during the meeting being the improvement of the vaccination campaign and the increase of the immunization level among the medical staff, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES by MS. "The Minister of Health assured the unionists that he supports the regulation of additional medical guards to ensure the continuity of the medical activity and also new jobs will be made available in the health units. The authorities will also implement measures to streamline spending in health units and professionalize health unit management," reads the press release.According to the same source, at the proposal of the trade unions' representatives, and the authorities will also collaborate with the unions in carrying out a common vaccination campaign for the medical staff, targeted on certain areas. Before the availability of artificial light, moonlight was the only source of light sufficient to stimulate nighttime activity; still, evidence for the modulation of sleep timing by lunar phases is controversial. A new study, led by the University of Washington, shows a clear synchronization of nocturnal sleep timing with the lunar cycle in participants living in environments that range from a rural setting with and without access to electricity in indigenous communities in northern Argentina to Seattle, a highly urbanized postindustrial setting in the United States. The results, published in the journal Science Advances, show that sleep starts later and is shorter on the nights before the full moon when moonlight is available during the hours following dusk. We see a clear lunar modulation of sleep, with sleep decreasing and a later onset of sleep in the days preceding a full moon, said lead author Professor Horacio de la Iglesia, a researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington, Seattle. And although the effect is more robust in communities without access to electricity, the effect is present in communities with electricity. Using wrist monitors, Professor de la Iglesia and colleagues tracked sleep patterns among 98 individuals living in three Toba/Qom indigenous communities in the Argentine province of Formosa. The communities differed in their access to electricity during the study period: one rural community had no electricity access, a second rural community had only limited access to electricity, while a third community was located in an urban setting and had full access to electricity. For nearly three-quarters of the Toba/Qom participants, researchers collected sleep data for one to two whole lunar cycles. Toba/Qom in the urban community went to bed later and slept less than rural participants with limited or no access to electricity. But study participants in all three communities also showed the same sleep oscillations as the moon progressed through its 29.5-day cycle. Depending on the community, the total amount of sleep varied across the lunar cycle by an average of 46 to 58 minutes, and bedtimes seesawed by around 30 minutes. For all three communities, on average, people had the latest bedtimes and the shortest amount of sleep in the nights three to five days leading up to a full moon. When they discovered this pattern among the Toba/Qom participants, the researchers analyzed sleep-monitor data from 464 Seattle-area college students that had been collected for a separate study. They found the same oscillations. We hypothesize that the patterns we observed are an innate adaptation that allowed our ancestors to take advantage of this natural source of evening light that occurred at a specific time during the lunar cycle, said first author Dr. Leandro Casiraghi, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington, Seattle. The team also found a second, semilunar oscillation of sleep patterns in the Toba/Qom communities, which seemed to modulate the main lunar rhythm with a 15-day cycle around the new and full moon phases. This semilunar effect was smaller and only noticeable in the two rural communities. Future studies would have to confirm this semilunar effect, which may suggest that these lunar rhythms are due to effects other than from light, such as the moons maximal gravitational tug on the Earth at the new and full moons, Dr. Casiraghi said. _____ Leandro Casiraghi et al. 2021. Moonstruck sleep: Synchronization of human sleep with the moon cycle under field conditions. Science Advances 7 (5): eabe0465; doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0465 Black Clergy Leader, Rev. Dr. Sylvester Beaman, Delivers Historic Inaugural Benediction The African American community at large can trust President Joe Biden to fulfill his campaign commitments of ensuring that Black people would be better positioned to prosper in the U.S., according to the man chosen to give the benediction at the Jan. 20 inauguration. We need a president who is after the heart of God, Rev. Dr. Sylvester Beaman, of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, told NBC News. 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, Rev. Beaman continued. ADVERTISEMENT Born in Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital in upper New York and raised by a single mother in a family of nine children, Rev. Beaman rose through the African Methodist Episcopal Church ranks. His Bethel AME Church in inner-city Wilmington counts as an intergenerational congregation with 50 ministries. Rev. Beaman arrived at Bethel AME in 1993 after serving at St. Paul AME Church in Hamilton, Bermuda. Shortly after he arrived in Delaware, Rev. Beaman and then Sen. Joe Biden became friends.According to the Royal Gazette in Bermuda, Rev. Beaman said President Biden telephoned him on a late Sunday evening to ask whether he would pronounce the benediction at the inaugural. If I werent [available], I would have changed everything to be able to deliver that benediction, declared Rev. Beaman, who rode in the presidential motorcade during the second inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2013. I was immediately humbled, surprised.He added that he supported President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris from the very beginning. I knew his temperament, his experience, his commitment to family, to his faith, Rev. Beaman noted. I felt that he would be right for this time. President Bidens choice of the Black clergyman to wrap an inspirational bow around the event speaks to the incoming commander-in-chiefs connection to Black Americans and his trust in Beaman, NBC News reported. The news outlet noted that in President Bidens November victory speech, he acknowledged that Black people have my back, both during the campaign and throughout his career and that as president, he will have theirs. In a February 2020 interview with National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President Biden reiterated his commitment to Black America. ADVERTISEMENT I got started in the African American community. I got involved in the Civil Rights Movement when I was a kid. I helped de-segregate a movie theater, that kind of thing, President Biden told Dr. Chavis. I was the only guy who worked in the projects on the East Side who was White. That is how I got started, and the Black community is the community that, as we say, brung me to the dance. Thats how I got elected. Rev. Beaman said the Black community could trust President Biden. As an example, when George Floyd protests occurred, Rev. Beaman said, Joe Biden called and asked: Can I come to your church and hold a meeting with community leaders and clergy? I just want to hear what people think. Contrast that with President Trump bypassing protesters and having them cleared out to go stand in front of a church to pose for photos with a Bible. KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2021 - 15:51 | All, Japan, Coronavirus AstraZeneca Plc plans to produce over 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in Japan, or about 75 percent of what the country is set to receive from the British pharmaceutical firm, the top government spokesman said Thursday. JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, is expected to be in charge of producing AstraZeneca's vaccine doses, according to sources familiar with the matter. AstraZeneca is set to provide 120 million shots, or enough for about 60 million people, to Japan. "It's very important to have vaccine production systems in place in our country," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference. AstraZeneca on Wednesday notified Japan's health ministry of its plans for domestic production, Kato said. The government provides subsidies to companies preparing to produce vaccines domestically. Of the 120 million doses to be provided by AstraZeneca, the remaining 30 million are expected to be imported to Japan by March. A clinical study of the AstraZeneca vaccine developed with the University of Oxford began in Japan last August. Tokyo plans to start coronavirus vaccinations by late February with priority given first to medical staff. The government is set to receive a combined 310 million doses from AstraZeneca as well as U.S. pharmaceutical firms Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. The total will be enough for 157 million people in a country with a population of about 126 million. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines need to be stored and transported at subzero temperatures while AstraZeneca's is easier to handle. Still, the British drugmaker has faced production problems overseas, falling behind on its expected supply to the European Union. Stephen Bear was spotted heading to the police station in Essex on Wednesday following his arrest for alleged revenge porn claims earlier this month. The Celebrity Big Brother star, 31, strolled out of the station with his father Stephen Snr and his brother Robert, before briefly speaking to two officers outside. Earlier this month Stephen was arrested at Heathrow Airport after being accused of recording himself having sex with ex Georgia Harrison without her knowledge and sharing the content online, but is yet to be charged. Emerging: Stephen Bear was spotted heading to the police station in Essex on Wednesday following his arrest for alleged revenge porn claims earlier this month Stephen strolled out of the police station after allegedly filming himself inside for his online YouTube series. The reality star was supported by his family as they headed back to the car, and on the way stopped to chat to two officers and fist bump them. Since returning from Dubai - and failing to adhere to COVID-19 quarantine rules - Stephen has been documenting his life in the wake of his arrest for his YouTube series Life Of Bear. Good spirits: The Celebrity Big Brother star strolled out of the station before briefly speaking to two officers outside and fist bumping them Questions: Stephen was joined by his brother and father as he travelled to the police station in the wake of his arrest Relaxed: Stephen cut a casual figure in baggy black trousers and a padded jacket as he headed to the petrol garage after leaving the police station Arriving: He strolled out of the police station after allegedly filming himself inside for his online YouTube series The star revealed earlier this week he'd been receiving death threats in the wake of his arrest, and in one YouTube video appeared to flee his home. In the video, Stephen was discussing the damage that had been done to his door when someone had previously tried to break in, when he found the note on the front mat. The message, which was made from letters cut out of newspapers and magazine, simply said: 'Die you c**t.' Distress: Bear was arrested after allegedly filming himself having sex with ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison (pictured) and sharing the footage online More questions: The reality star was supported by his family as they waited outside for him Life of Bear: Since returning from Dubai - and failing to adhere to COVID-19 quarantine rules - Stephen has been documenting his life in the wake of his arrest Worrying: The star revealed earlier this week he'd been receiving death threats in the wake of his arrest, and in one YouTube video appeared to flee his home Stephen told his camera man to run back to the car, saying: 'Let's go, quick, quick. Get in the car. Some f*****g nutter. That's a death threat.' The star revealed it wasn't the first such message he'd received after finding a similar message stuck to the windscreen of the car in a previous video. Police apprehended Bear after he returned from Dubai for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia without her knowledge and sharing the explicit content online. Scary: In the video, Stephen was discussing the damage that had been done to his door when someone had previously tried to break in, when he found the note on the front mat Scared: Stephen told his camera man to run back to the car, saying: 'Let's go, quick, quick. Get in the car. Some f*****g nutter. That's a death threat' Worrying: The star revealed it wasn't the first such message he'd received after finding a similar message stuck to the windscreen of the car in a previous video Police: Bear was arrested for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia without her knowledge and sharing the 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 10. In a 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.' 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. Soon: 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 10 Worrying: Georgia believes Stephen showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp Hitting back: 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 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. He defended his actions in a video, saying: 'I'm sure you are allowed to go out for an hour a day or to get some food. Ignoring: While Bear may well have chosen to be tested following his return, he appeared to show a complete disregard for guidelines by venturing out shortly after his release Really: He defended his actions in a video, saying: 'What am I meant to do? Starve? If I stayed in and starved, people would call me thick and say why didn't he go out and get some food' 'What am I meant to do? Starve? If I stayed in and starved, people would call me thick and say why didn't he go out and get some food.' Guidelines state people can get food if there is no one else who can get it for them. While talking to his father, who was joining him in the car on the way to the police station, when he was looking for his face mask, Bear told him to hurry up and 'f*** the mask.' Elsewhere in a video, Stephen claimed he had lost his friends, discussed feeling suicidal and vowed to clear his name, after showing a clip of himself touching his manhood. The reality star said on the 18 minute video, called Life Of Bear, episode 2: 'Since things have been said about me, a lot of people have changed. Determined: Elsewhere in a video, Stephen claimed he had lost his friends, discussed feeling suicidal and vowed to clear his name, after showing a clip of himself touching his manhood Changes: The reality star said on the 18 minute video, called Life Of Bear, episode 2: 'Since things have been said about me, a lot of people have changed 'I had no one. The only people who stuck by me are my family and one of my other mates who is over in Spain 'Apart from that, people who I thought were mates are clearly not. No one has really messaged asking if I'm OK. It's quite a lonely road. 'It's funny because when I go out or I am round people, I always think, I am the nice guy, the funny guy, you wanna be round me. I buy everything. 'I treat them, I am nice to them. I always thought they would be like, "Ah Bear's a nice guy. He's cool. But I'm the one getting slagged off and it's quite sad actually if you really think about it. 'When s*** hits the fan, there is no one really. apart my family.' It's been tough: 'I had no one. The only people who stuck by me are my family and one of my other mates who is over in Spain,' he continued Angry: Stephen continued: 'Apart from that, people who I thought were mates are clearly not. No one has really messaged asking if I'm OK. It's quite a lonely road' In another video, which Bear said was his only way for him to have a voice, he showed off his Louis Vuitton jacket, poked fun at his father's OCD and lack of sight and said he would be back on another holiday soon, despite the national lockdown. Bear moaned about having to travel to Harlow police station to sign a form while on bail each week until February 10, saying: 'It's so long.' He added: 'Hopefully I'll be in Dubai again soon. I can't go nowhere yet though. Got my passport, ain't they. 'I was in there for 13-14 hours the other day, [police station]. Why have I got to sign a sheet for. Can't you just wait til the 10th?' Bear continued: 'When I do get proven innocent, because I will be, all those people who are saying horrible things about me, which nearly lead me to kill myself... 'I nearly attempted to take my own life because of every single person's comment on the situation.' Talking about the allegations made upon him, he said: 'A lot of people are talking about revenge porn. It's quite a strong allegation. 'It's one of the worst things anyone could possibly say. I just want to get my side across because then I feel like I've got a voice again.' In early October 2019, when an unknown caller rang EPFL professor Johan Gaume's cell phone, he could hardly have imagined that he was about to confront one of the greatest mysteries in Soviet history. At the other end of the line, a journalist from The New York Times asked for his expert insight into a tragedy that had occurred 60 years earlier in Russia's northern Ural Mountains - one that has since come to be known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Gaume, head of EPFL's Snow and Avalanche Simulation Laboratory (SLAB) and visiting fellow at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, had never heard of the case, which the Russian Public Prosecutor's Office had recently resurrected from Soviet-era archives. "I asked the journalist to call me back the following day so that I could gather more information. What I learned intrigued me." A sporting challenge that ended in tragedy On 27 January 1959, a ten-member group consisting mostly of students from the Ural Polytechnic Institute, led by 23-year-old Igor Dyatlov - all seasoned cross-country and downhill skiers - set off on a 14-day expedition to the Gora Otorten mountain, in the northern part of the Soviet Sverdlovsk Oblast. At that time of the year, a route of this kind was classified Category III - the riskiest category - with temperatures falling as low as -30C. On January 28, one member of the expedition, Yuri Yudin, decided to turn back. He never saw his classmates again. When the group's expected return date to the departure point, the village of Vizhay, came and went, a rescue team set out to search for them. On 26 February, they found the group's tent, badly damaged, on the slopes of Kholat Syakhl - translated as "Death Mountain" - some 20 km south of the group's destination. The group's belongings had been left behind. Further down the mountain, beneath an old Siberian cedar tree, they found two bodies clad only in socks and underwear. Three other bodies, including that of Dyatlov, were subsequently found between the tree and the tent site; presumably, they had succumbed to hypothermia while attempting to return to the camp. Two months later, the remaining four bodies were discovered in a ravine beneath a thick layer of snow. Several of the deceased had serious injuries, such as fractures to the chest and skull. What exactly happened? The Soviet authorities investigated to determine the causes of this strange drama, but closed it after three months, concluding that a "compelling natural force" had caused the death of the hikers. In the absence of survivors, the sequence of events on the night of 1 to 2 February is unclear to this day, and has led to countless more or less fanciful theories, from murderous Yeti to secret military experiments. This is the mystery that Gaume was confronted with. "After the call from the New York Times reporter, I began writing equations and figures on my blackboard, trying to understand what might have happened in purely mechanical terms," he says. "When the reporter rang back, I told her it was likely that an avalanche had taken the group by surprise as they lay sleeping in the tent." This theory, which is the most plausible, was also put forward by the Russian Public Prosecutor's Office after the investigation was reopened in 2019 at the request of the victims' relatives. But the lack of evidence and the existence of odd elements has failed to convince a large portion of Russian society. "I was so intrigued that I began researching this theory more deeply. I then contacted Professor Alexander Puzrin, chair of Geotechnical Engineering at ETH Zurich, whom I had met a month earlier at a conference in France." Gaume, originally from France, and Russian-born Puzrin worked together to comb through the archives, which had been opened to the public after the fall of the Soviet Union. They also spoke with other scientists and experts in the incident, and developed analytical and numerical models to reconstruct the avalanche that may have caught the nine victims unaware. "The Dyatlov Pass mystery has become part of Russia's national folklore. When I told my wife that I was going to work on it, she looked at me with deep respect!" says Puzrin. "I was quite keen to do it, especially because I had started working on slab avalanches two years earlier. My primary research is in the field of landslides; I study what happens when a certain amount of time elapses between when a landslide is triggered and when it actually occurs." According to Gaume and Puzrin, this is what happened in 1959: the hikers had made a cut in the mountain's snow-covered slope to set up their tent, but the avalanche didn't occur until several hours later. Bridging the gaps in the investigation "One of the main reasons why the avalanche theory is still not fully accepted is that the authorities have not provided an explanation of how it happened," says Gaume. In fact, there are a number of points that contradict that theory: first, the rescue team did not find any obvious evidence of an avalanche or its deposition. Then the average angle of the slope above the tent site - less than 30 - was not steep enough for an avalanche. Also, if an avalanche occurred, it was triggered at least nine hours after the cut was made in the slope. And finally, the chest and skull injuries observed on some victims were not typical of avalanche victims. In their investigation, published in Communications Earth & Environment - a journal by Nature Research - on January 28, Gaume and Puzrin attempt to address these points. "We use data on snow friction and local topography to prove that a small slab avalanche could occur on a gentle slope, leaving few traces behind. With the help of computer simulations, we show that the impact of a snow slab can lead to injuries similar to those observed. And then, of course, there's the time lag between the team cutting into the slope and the triggering of the event. That's the main focus of our article. Previous investigators have been unable to explain how, in the absence of any snowfall that evening, an avalanche could have been triggered in the middle of the night. We had to come up with a new theory to explain it," says Gaume. On the night of the tragedy, one of the most important contributing factors was the presence of katabatic winds - i.e., winds that carry air down a slope under the force of gravity. These winds could have transported the snow, which would have then accumulated uphill from the tent due to a specific feature of the terrain that the team members were unaware of. "If they hadn't made a cut in the slope, nothing would have happened. That was the initial trigger, but that alone wouldn't have been enough. The katabatic wind probably drifted the snow and allowed an extra load to build up slowly. At a certain point, a crack could have formed and propagated, causing the snow slab to release," says Puzrin. Both scientists are nevertheless cautious about their findings, and make it clear that much about the incident remains a mystery. "The truth, of course, is that no one really knows what happened that night. But we do provide strong quantitative evidence that the avalanche theory is plausible," Puzrin continues. The two models developed for this study - an analytical one for estimating the time required to trigger an avalanche, created by ETH Zurich, and SLAB's numerical one for estimating the effect of avalanches on the human body - will be used to better understand natural avalanches and the associated risks. Gaume and Puzrin's work stands as a tribute to Dyatlov's team, who were confronted with a "compelling force" of nature. And, although they were unable to complete their treacherous expedition, they have given generations of scientists a perplexing enigma to solve. ### Of all the executive orders that newly elected Joe Biden swiftly enacted, nothing is more indicative of his anti-American animus and radical left-wing influence than his revoking Trump's "1776 Commission" to promote "patriotic education." The 1776 Commission to Create a Patriotic History Curriculum is in direct contrast to the "1619 Project," which reflects a decidedly anti-American, factually incorrect, and blatantly biased program currently being pushed through the U.S. education system. The mission of the 1776 Commission is "to defend the legacy of America's founding, the virtue of America's heroes, and the nobility of the American character." But the left continues the mendacious onslaught of falsehoods about America. Considering the people Biden is choosing to assist him, this move should come as no surprise. After all, Susan Rice, his incoming domestic policy adviser, views America as a racist nation. In fact: [I]n 1986 she wrote an 86-page book titled A History Deferred, which claimed that because most U.S. students were 'taught American history, literature, art, drama, and music largely from a white, western European perspective, their grasp of the truth, of reality, is tainted by a myopia of sorts.' Hence, '[t]he greatest evil in omitting or misrepresenting Black history, literature, and culture in elementary or secondary education is the unmistakable message it sends to the black child,' Rice elaborated. 'The message is 'your history, your culture, your language and your literature are insignificant. And so are you.' Susan Rice's presence indicates that we are headed for Obama's third term with Biden as a mere figurehead. In truth, the "1619 Project rewrites American history to teach our children that we were founded on the principle of oppression, not freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth. America's founding set in motion the unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism, and built the most fair, equal and prosperous nation in human history." That an American president would find it palatable to replace American history with a blatantly "leftist warped, distorted and deceptive one" is a frightening portent. Other radical left-wingers include secretary of defense nominee Lloyd Austin, who said that if he is confirmed, he will "rid our ranks of racists and extremists." By "racists and extremists," he is referring to white male Trump supporters. And for the first time in our lives, free speech is about to be criminalized the ultimate leftist dream come true. All of Biden's edicts flow from this abhorrence of American ideas. Clearly, his actions are meant to efface every MAGA achievement by President Trump. Biden is quite willing and eager to rob Americans of their birthright. In his final speech, President Trump asserted that 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. 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. These ideas stand in utter contrast to the left/Marxist/communist ideology, which is all about identity politics, not liberty and justice. Government by consent is an anathema to the totalitarian left. Indeed, "[f]or far too long American students ... have been taught to consider America to be a hateful, racist country instead of a republic [which is] a government ... designed to be directed by the will of the people rather than the wishes of a single individual or a narrow class of elites." Elites like these, perhaps? Moreover, Biden is on board for the diversity and equity theories of the left. But the 1776 Report clearly states that "by dividing Americans into oppressed and oppressor groups, activists of identity politics propose to punish some citizens ... while rewarding others. This new system denies that human beings are endowed with the same rights and creates new hierarchies with destructive assumptions and practices. Members of oppressed groups are told to abandon their shared civic identity as Americans and think of themselves in terms of their sexual or racial status." Such "diversity training programs which are based on identity politics often use a person's race to degrade or ostracize him or her." Nonetheless, Biden's "cabinet nominees, whether in health, finance, environmental policy, or education, have declared that eradicating systemic racism is their top priority. How this agenda will play out has already been adumbrated in the CDC's initial priority list for Covid vaccinations: hold off on vaccinating the elderly, despite their higher risk levels, because the elderly are disproportionately white. Racial quotas will become even more the order of the day than now. The diversity obsessives in the federal science bureaucracies ... will now redouble their efforts to treat a researcher's race and sex as scientific qualifications in the awarding of federal research grants. Expect to see any mention of merit or excellence denounced as a form of bigotry[.]" The charge about systemic racism is standard leftist offal. It flies in the face of the fact that "Kamala Harris is not only our first female vice president but also the first Democratic vice president who is a person of color." Thus, "her charge of 'systemic racism' would make it impossible for her to discharge the duties of her office because she would not be eligible to vote or serve in public office if it were true." Moreover, "systemic racism would require the interposition and nullification of the 15th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution [but] these facts do not matter." Because so many Americans are unschooled concerning the major foundational American ideas, they fail to see that "the degradations of individuals on the basis of race expose the lie that identity politics promotes the equal protection of rights." In essence, "identity politics denies the fundamental tenet of the Declaration of Independence, that human beings are equal by nature." So what exactly would newly elected President Biden find problematic or offensive with the 1776 Project? It does not align with his values or the beliefs of his radical leftist allies. In the past 50 years, leftists have taken over the schools, and the endgame is a total transformation of this country. The puppet-master Obama said as much. Never forget that the left is hell-bent on destroying the nuclear family and making government the "parent." We are about to see "a great socialist/Marxist reset in America in which these things will be brought to bear upon us by a radicalized leftist Democrat party. Globalism will be implemented by almost imperceptible increments." If we continue "to fail to educate American youth about effective, representative, and limited government, the rule of law and the security of civil rights and private property" as well as a "love of the natural world and the arts, good character and religious faith" we will no longer be the "shining city on the hill" and that will be a tragedy of epic proportions. If we do not "instill the beauty and glory of American identity," as President Trump explained, we are, indeed, in dire danger of losing who we are to the poisonous ideology that rules the leftist mind. Clearly, Biden is delighted with that possibility. Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Duke Energy, North Carolina officials and a conservation group announced Monday an agreement on how the utility pays to get rid of coal ash stored in the state. The proposed settlement would shift an estimated $1.1 billion in expenses away from customers over the next decade to the nations largest electric utility and its shareholders. The agreement was announced a month after the state Supreme Court ruled regulators should revisit an order that would have placed nearly all of the expense upon Dukes 3.4 million electric customers in the state. Under the settlement, which still must be approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the amounts covered by those customers would be reduced from roughly $4 billion through 2030 to $3 billion, Duke Energy spokeswoman Meredith Archie said. Its wrong for North Carolinians to bear the full cost of cleanup. Dukes shareholders should pay its fair share, Attorney General Josh Stein said at an online news conference. His office was involved in the negotiations with the commissions Public Staff, which represents consumers, and the Sierra Club. Stein and these groups had challenged Utilities Commission orders over cleanup costs ultimately issued in 2018. The settlement is a win for every single Duke Energy customer, Stein said. Charlotte-based Duke Energy, which operates two electric subsidiaries in the state, is working on closing all 31 of its pits or ponds in the state in part by excavating over 120 million tons of coal ash residue from operating coal-fired power plants for generations. The ash landfills often are near waterways, raising the threat for toxins to seep into rivers and groundwater. In early 2020, Duke and state environmental regulators reached an agreement on the final nine basins containing two-thirds of the ash tonnage being excavated by largely removing the ash to lined landfills. The excavations are continuing. Duke Energy called Mondays agreement a milestone settlement that resolves the last remaining major issues on coal ash management in North Carolina. This agreement addresses a shared interest in putting the coal ash debate to rest as we work toward building the cleaner energy future North Carolinians want and deserve, Stephen De May, Duke Energys North Carolina president, said in a news release. Coal ash costs baked into pending customer rate proposals by Duke Energy will be reduced by 60% if the settlement is finalized, which would diminish any proposed increase. In an email, Archie said Duke Energy was still calculating how the rate alterations would translate into average customer savings. The agreement covers cleanup costs from 2015 through 2030 and applies to two previous efforts by Duke Energy to seek rate increases from the Utilities Commission and future requests, according to Steins office. The settlement would force Duke Energy to write off $755 million in cleanup expenses and seek a lower rate of return something similar to profit as it relates to incurring these costs. The parties in the settlement also asked the commission to keep in place a $100 million penalty against Duke Energy for mismanaging its ash cleanup, Steins news release said. Duke Energy has said it would cost $8 billion to $9 billion to permanently close all ash basins in the Carolinas. Within that total, $1 billion to $1.5 billion in expenses for North Carolina basins incurred after 2030 arent addressed in Mondays settlement, Archie said. A 2014 coal ash leak at a Duke Energy site into the Dan River prompted state officials to make the cleanup of these sites a priority. Duke Energy pleaded guilty in 2015 to federal environmental crimes after an investigation found the company allowed coal ash dumps to leak into water supplies. The company agreed to pay $102 million in fines and restitution. The utility has 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states and 1.6 million natural gas customers in five states. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics North Carolina Buyers are coming back in, and new money is being raised In a research note designed to put the spotlight on ( ), one of its clients, UK broker Liberum recently gave a succinct summary of the dynamics behind the recent recoverin in the lithium market. Market wastes no time on upcycle, ran the header. The last tough couple of years in lithium have been quickly forgotten and share prices across the space are running hard once again, the broker continued. The broker highlighted in particular strong moves from Millennial, Lithium Americas ( ), ( ), Galaxy ( ), Bacanora ( ), Albermale (NYSE:ALB), Livent (NYSE:LTHM), SQM (NYSE:SQM), and Orocobre (TSE:ORL)( ). Lithium prices hit a cyclical low in 2020, driven by low capital intensity hard rock projects in Australia springing up and overwhelming the market, said Liberum. However, in recent months, lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide prices have been surging higher. Battery grade and technical grade lithium carbonate prices began to rally strongly as Chinese producers paid up, given a difficulty in sourcing materials. Currently, battery and technical grade carbonate prices sit at just over US$10,000 per tonne, whilst hydroxide prices are somewhat lower at US$8,811 per tonne. Spodumene concentrate remains the laggard, with prices down at $430 per tonne. At these prices, most high cost Australian producers will be making minimal profits or be loss making. In response to the overall recovery, there have been a large number of equity raises since mid-2020, including US$188mln raised for Ganfeng Lithium (SHE:002460), two raises totalling US$500mln for Lithium Americas, and US$124mln for Galaxy Resources. Much of this money is being used to progress development projects, and interest is now percolating down into the more junior end of the market too. recently put together a 5mln raise for its brine project in the UK, and projects across Europe, from European Metals Holdings (LON:EMH) Cinovec project in Czech Republic to s ( ) Minas dos Barros project in Spain also attracting attention. One other new project that has been making waves in more ways than one is the Ltd ( ) project in Germany. Vulcans shares have also been on a stellar run, fuelled in part by the additional attraction of the companys green credentials. Like , Vulcan plans to extract lithium from brines using geothermal energy, making it an overall net-zero carbon emitter. Thats a plus in itself, of course, but one that looks all the more startling when set against data provided by Vulcan on the likely carbon emissions of a fully-firing industry producing lithium from hard-rock spodumene. According to Vulcan, the approximate carbon emissions resulting from producing and refining lithium from hard rock mines amounts to around 1.05bn tonnes, equivalent to the combined annual emissions of the UK, France and Italy combined. Is that one reason why the spodumene price hasnt quite kept up with other types of lithium? It might not be a major factor at this stage, but with Europe set to become the worlds biggest market for lithium, and European automakers extremely sensitive to carbon in the supply chain, companies like and Vulcan look set to be able to jump ride to the head of the queue. So, like men, not all lithium projects are created equal. Having said that, though, at the moment all boats seem to be rising, and even the least profitable of the Australian producers look like theyll be able to wash their faces in the current environment. Whats more, many commentators noted in the wake of Teslas ( ) recent results that the real constraints for growth in the electric vehicle market lay on the supply rather than the demand side. Electric vehicles, powered by lithium batteries, are now getting to be as cheap as their old-fashioned gasoline-powered forebears. People want them its now up to companies like Tesla and the European carmakers to supply them, and for the miners to supply the required lithium. Advertisement Advertise With Us When the government released its COVID-19 vaccine prioritization list Wednesday, Manitoba Metis were notably absent. "Both Dr. Reimer and (Health) Minister (Heather) Stefanson again did not say Metis or set aside vaccines for Metis. Even though theres a shortfall thats occurring, it should not prohibit them from saying the Metis will be in the second phase, when all the abundance of vaccines will be coming," said David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF). The Brandon Sun asked Stefanson Wednesday if Metis would soon be enjoying a similar relationship with the government as First Nations have regarding data sharing and the opportunity for a meaningful planning voice in the vaccine rollout to its vulnerable populations. "I did have the opportunity, actually, last week, to meet with (Health) Minister (Frances) Chartrand. I think we had a very productive discussion, and I know that our officials are having discussions behind the scenes to see where we can work together in a collaborative approach. Thats very important to me. It was very important to us at that meeting. Were certainly committed to working with the Manitoba Metis Federation on this," Stefanson said. In a letter from Stefanson to Frances, received Tuesday, Stefanson outlines the two First Nation tables: the tripartate prioritization table and the logistics table, along with the Indigenous vaccine communication working group. "While I recognize that currently two of these tables are specifically related to First Nations, I wanted to provide the information to you for consideration of future planning or tables, should MMF wish to engage with us further," Stefanson stated in the letter. She concluded the letter stating, "Should the Manitoba Metis Federation wish to identify representatives to participate with the province on tables, or even have further introductory discussions at officials levels, please do not hesitate to let me know." While Chartrand said its a first step, he also said there has been no data collection specific to Metis since the pandemic began, unlike First Nations who have a handle on their data, via the province and their agreement with it. The new development is "very, very late," he said. "It took how many ministers and, finally, this minister is willing to explore or invite us to participate on something we should have been invited to in April? The challenge they face now, given that were invited in such a late stage, are they going to use that they dont have the data that they should have been collecting since April, as an excuse to say, well, we cant even determine how many Metis should get vaccines because we dont have data on them?" Chartrand said the federation will ask the question: Why hasnt a data agreement been signed? mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. (TNS) Gov. Ned Lamont Tuesday announced a proposed bill aimed at providing all Connecticut residents with access to high-speed, broadband Internet by September 2022.If passed into law, the bill will allow the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to require Internet service providers to provide access to all residents where they have video licenses a measure that is currently prohibited.Citing the importance of high-speed Internet for education and telehealth, Lamont called broadband access an essential service you need to survive in the 21st-century.Referring to his Everybody Learns initiative, Lamont said, I can get 140,000 Chromebooks out to people, but ... its like a brick unless you have Internet connectivity.A 2018 survey found that 23% of Connecticut residents did not have Internet access at home, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said during a Tuesday morning news conference. It showed that 21% of those without Internet access are white households, 35% are Hispanic households and 34% are African American households, she said.We can close that divide by making sure all families can afford and access broadband Internet in their homes, particularly those in undeserved communities, improving service and establishing stronger consumer protections, she said. These steps will help us ensure no one is left at a disadvantage.To reduce the costs of building broadband Internet access, state officials said the bill would streamline the permit process that allows providers to install broadband on utility poles. Telecom companies will be required to report annual metrics on availability, download and upload speeds and outage information.The proposal also aims to make sure government agencies have enough staff and resources to partner with providers and municipalities, so they can map out exactly where access is needed.To increase consumer protections, the bill will give PURA the ability to oversee user complaints so they can better manage penalties for provider noncompliance. Additionally, it would prevent providers from refusing service to customers due to race, religion, sexual orientation or financial standing, including credit score.When asked about whether he expects service providers to cooperate with the states plan, Lamont said telecom companies want to have more customers, and we want them to have more customers. We all want more wide availability for this so, were not necessarily on different sides of the aisle.In addition to state regulations that would incentivize companies to build out access, Lamont said he expects the federal government to come forward with an infrastructure bill that includes competitive grants to get more people wired up faster so, I think well be rolling in the same direction.When President Biden comes forward with their infrastructure bill, high-speed, broadband access is one of the things theyre going to make available, he said. Its a grant, and youve got to compete for it. Well be the first ones able to say, Were ready to go. Lamont added: Frankly, Ive got to take a look at PURA. Weve got 100 people doing water and electricity, [and] Ive got a handful doing broadband. Broadband is a big piece of our future. Weve got to look at that balance.While the governor said hed like to get started on the project as soon as possible, he said its really up to the legislative leadership, where that is on the list of the priorities.Rep. Robert Sanchez, a New Britain Democrat and House chair of the legislatures education committee, called the bill proposal great news and something we desperately need.Im very eager to get this on the House floor and move it along, he said. Weve been having these discussions but absolutely moreso today because [Internet access] is so critical due to the pandemic.At the start of the pandemic, Sanchez said more than 75% of New Britain students did not have Internet service.Were doing better now of course, but we have to do a lot more, he said. We have so many kids throughout the state of Connecticut that still cannot connect.Rep. Maria Horn, a Salisbury Democrat whose district covers nine towns in the states northwest corner in Litchfield County, called Internet access the roads of the 21st-century.It affects us in every possible way. .... Its critical during the pandemic but to be clear, this is of long-term importance to us, she said, noting that telehealth is the only way to deliver special medical services to people in Connecticuts rural areas.Same goes for education, same goes for economic development, she said. We have had the great privilege of having an influx of new families moving into our area and enrolling their children in our schools. ... They need high-speed Internet access in order to stay here. Fred Space was born in 1928, one year after his parents opened Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Wantage. The family-owned zoo became his forever home. Space, 92, died on Monday, the zoo announced in a Facebook post that prompted an outpouring of sympathy and reminiscences. The cause of death was not disclosed. Space was a lifelong resident of Wantage and, according to his obituary, was working at the 100-acre zoo until the end. His son, Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, is among the family members carrying on the tradition at the zoo. The Space Family regrets to announce the passing of our Father/Grandfather, Fred Space aged 92. We are all blessed for... Posted by Space Farms Zoo & Museum on Monday, January 25, 2021 Wantage Mayor Bill Gaechter spoke of Spaces legacy at the zoo and his extensive community involvement, including his 77 years on the Beemerville Fire Department. He was a very interesting man. He lived a humble, yet magnificent, life, Gaechter told NJ Advance Media. Spaces long life was entwined both with the zoo and Wantage, an especially rural municipality that stretches across 66 square miles. A friend in Wantage, Fred Hough, told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday that Fred Space was 5 years old when he first met him. He was digging for arrowheads, recalled Hough, 95, who was two grades ahead of Space at the one-room school. Hough visited Space at the zoo last summer. Hes certainly going to be missed by everybody, Hough said. The zoo posted a Facebook Live video last April in which Space, then 91, recounted attending a one-room elementary school, across the street from his house, that enrolled 22 students from first through eight grade. The school lacked running water, so every morning students would bring back a pail from a neighbor with a well. In addition to noting his first car, a 1949 Ford, Space also discussed the zoos signature attraction a stuffed, 12-foot tall Kodiak bear in the lobby who lived in captivity at the farm from 1967 until 1991. The bear was orphaned as a cub after a rancher shot its mother and weighed only 30 pounds upon arrival at the airport in Newark, he explained. Fred Space in 1995 with "Goliath," a Kodiak bear that lived in captivity at the zoo and was put on display in the lobby following its deathDorab Khandalavala / The Star-Ledger The zoo has drawn some criticism over the decades from animal rights activists. Workers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected the zoo in the fall of 2019, but did not take any action, in response to a complaint from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) over the handling of a captive baby cougar named Juniper. Fred Space demonstrated many skills at the zoo over the decades, including his ability to handle poisonous snakes. He built a snake den at the zoo in his early 20s and, for more than a half-century, enthralled visitors by climbing over a three-foot wall and moving among rattlesnakes and copperheads. When I go in there, they dont want to see snakes. I say they want to see me get bit, Space playfully told the Star-Ledger in 2002. Many had their first introduction to Space Farms on school field trips. Gaechter, who grew up in Bergen County, recalled visiting Space Farms with his classmates in the early 1970s. He will be greatly missed. He was a big figure in this community for many, many years, the mayor said of Space. Following his death, Spaces grandson, Hunter, reposted to Facebook the video of his grandfather from last spring. On it, Fred Space concluded by noting his satisfaction at knowing the zoo would endure. Its very satisfying to think the thing you worked so hard on in your lifetime is gong to be carried on by your family, Space said. Space Farms is hosting a walk-through visitation for Space on Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Due to coronavirus restrictions, no more than 75 will be allowed in the building at a time, and all must wear masks. A 2 p.m. service will follow at the Beemerville Cemetery. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. On Friday, 29 January, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he will have successive meetings in Sarajevo with: - His counterpart, Dr. Bisera Turkovic, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina - The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zoran Tegeltija - The Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik (Chairman), Zeljko Komsic and Sefik Dzaferovic - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Josip Brkic The talks will focus on, among other things, strengthening of bilateral cooperation, the European perspective of the Western Balkans, regional security and stability, and wider regional developments. ROME, JAN 28 - An Italian national, Giuseppe Serena, was found guilty by Nice court on Thursday of organizing the 2016 kidnapping of French millionaire hotel owner Jacqueline Veyrac and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Veyrac, the 80-year-old owner of the Grand Hotel of Cannes, was taken captive outside her home in October 2016. She was found tied up and gagged in a vehicle two days later. Serena, a 67-year-old who had run a restaurant for Veyrac, was found guilty of plotting the kidnapping to obtain a huge ransom. Seven other people were convicted in relation to the case, with sentences of up to 15 years. (ANSA). Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador continued isolating on Tuesday, two days after announcing that he tested positive for COVID-19. He was absent from his daily news conference for the first time in his two years in office. On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero said Lopez Obrador was strong and involved in important matters. "He spent an hour and a half with UNOPS on the purchase of medicines. He was with President Putin on this call. Anyway, he has been in confinement but I think very strong and recovering very well", she said. The president, who has rarely been seen wearing a mask, stayed out of sight as his country topped 150,000 deaths, the fourth-highest level in the world. He has been criticised for his handling of Mexico's pandemic and for not setting an example of prevention in public. Despite his age and high blood pressure, Lopez Obrador has not received a vaccine, though Mexico has received batches of Pfizer-BioNTech doses. The doubts about whether the president was vaccinated were clarified by Sanchez Cordero, who said that the president had not received the vaccine since the first to receive it will be health workers. Under the government plan, people over 60 will start being vaccinated in February and at that time both the president and the secretary of the interior would be vaccinated. Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell said that in order to protect the president's privacy, they will not give details of his health, but he presents a mild case of COVID with febrile fever. Other Latin American leaders who have tested positive for the coronavirus include Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, Guatemala's Alejandro Giammattei, Honduras' Juan Orlando Hernandez and Bolivia's then-interim President Jeanine Anez. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) A 59-year-old Italian from Sarzana, in the Spezzino area, was arrested by the Guardia di Finanza of Genoa in Ecuador. He must serve a final sentence of 10 years in prison. The man, according to the investigations, was the Italian referent of a "cartel" of Colombian drug traffickers. On one occasion, in particular, he was responsible for detaining 25 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Already in 2003 he had ended up in handcuffs: he had imported 100 kilos of the same substance. The drug was found in a container in the port of Genoa and seized. (Unioneonline / ss) [January 28, 2021] The MolinaCares Accord Provides Behavioral Health Resources for Primary Care Physicians to Support Molina Members Amid COVID-19 The MolinaCares Accord ("MolinaCares") today announced a new collaboration with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) focused on evidence-based continuing medical education resources to help primary care clinicians address the mental health needs of their patients. "This year has put immense pressure on the health care system, communities, and families, and with COVID-19 making it more difficult to perform regular check-ups, those with behavioral health issues are most at risk," said Dr. Jason Dees, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Molina Healthcare. "Our collaboration with the AAFP acknowledges this difficult reality and equips family physicians and other primary care clinicians with accredited education and best practices on depression, anxiety, and ADHD, empowering health care professionals to identify and support those who may be suffering silently." Primary care professionals, including family physicians and their teams, provide up to 60 percent of the care for patientswith depression and anxiety disorders in the U.S. Both depression and anxiety disorders tend to be undertreated, with one estimate suggesting that, of the patients with an anxiety disorder, fewer than half are receiving appropriate care. The AAFP, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare, will develop a comprehensive physician and patient education initiative on depression, anxiety and ADHD. The AAFP will leverage its diverse expertise and resources to deliver diagnostic tools and best practices for use by primary care physicians and other clinicians who care for patients struggling with mental health issues. The AAFP also will develop a series of educational materials for patients, including videos, that will be made available on the AAFP's consumer-facing website, familydoctor.org. "The AAFP is excited to collaborate with Molina Healthcare to extend our educational offerings beyond family medicine to all primary care clinicians who provide mental and behavioral health care to their patients," said Shawn Martin, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the AAFP. "Collaborations such as this allow us to broaden and strengthen primary care in the communities we serve." About MolinaCares Accord Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. About Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare served approximately 4.0 million members as of September 30, 2020. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit molinahealthcare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005415/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of Army Day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Ministry of Defense headquarters to meet with the military top brass. At the beginning of the meeting, the government and military officials held a moment of silence in honor of the servicemen who sacrificed their lives for the country. The Armenian Army, Armenia and Artsakh and the Armenian people are going through a difficult trial related to the 44-day war, the Prime Minister said in his remarks referring to the 2020 Artsakh War. In this environment of bitterness we should not forget the heroism that numerous soldiers, officers, generals and volunteers did for their homeland. Today we must worthily appreciate the sacrifices made by our soldiers, officers, generals and volunteers during this war, and we must be able to look into the future. We must be able to look into the future optimistically. We must be able to ask ourselves what it is that we didnt do right during this period so that our armys resistibility was higher. These questions must be faced, Pashinyan said. He said the military is already looking into the matter to provide answers. Pashinyan said that the security of Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian people continues to be absolute priority just like in the past and the number one tool of ensuring this security is the Armenian Armed Forces. Pashinyan went on to speak about the economic impacts on the army and the development of the military. He said the military bears all the traces of positive and negative occurrences that a country goes through, starting from economic activities up to the culture of paying taxes. After all, what is our army based on, [it is based on] the means which are collected by the economy, society and citizens and are allocated to ensure the needs of the army through the budget. We must assess this agenda in a new way, we must develop new perceptions and understandings. The modern world doesnt have a structure where countries have the chance to ensure their security individually. Even the most powerful countries are seeking alliances, forming alliances and are placing their security in the logic of mutual-aid. In this regard Armenia is no exception, and we must continue developing our allied relations with our main security partner Russia. We must continue developing it as part of the CSTO and we must ensure the security of our country and people also through international mechanisms. Id like to say for the record that in the context of our countrys security what needs to be done is first and foremost up to us, he said, calling for optimism in building the future security environment of the country. Pashinyan also felicitated soldiers and officers, veterans, generals and military volunteers whose actions were placed at the foundation of the development of the Armenian Armed Forces. He thanked the troops for their service. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. SYDNEY, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian global data analytics software business Phocas Software announces a AU$45 million (US$34 million) capital raise to accelerate its growth in America and the United Kingdom, expand into new industries and develop its core products. Ellerston Capital led the capital raise with a AU$35 million (US$27 million) equity investment. OneVentures, an existing shareholder who first invested in the company in 2018, provided an additional AU$10 million (US$7 million) equity financing, reinforcing the venture capital firm's confidence in the company. Phocas is a cloud-based data analytics Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company with operations in the US, Australia and the UK. It is a growing, profitable company which should reach circa AU$50million in revenue by July 1, 2021. The business employs 200 people and has more than 1,900 mid-market customers, including Karcher, Burson Automotive, Repco, Henry Schein, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Fiskars Royal Doulton in Australia. Litex Industries, American Metals Supply, Dixie Plywood and Equipment Controls Company in the U.S. And Ruroc, Bayliss and Harding, Savona, Midfix and Wessex Packaging in the UK. The company will use the funding to substantially invest in its core data analytics and new financial products, which are in high demand by midmarket manufacturing, wholesale and retail businesses globally and expand into new industries. The funding will enable the company to supercharge its sales and marketing capacity in the U.S. and the UK, to support expansion into new verticals and grow out its AI capabilities, positioning Phocas as a global leader in data analytics solutions for mid-market customers. Phocas' cloud data analytics application plugs into enterprise ERP systems and multiple other data sources and has over 20 global ERP partners, including U.S. giant Epicor. The technology allows people across a company to collate and understand the key numbers critical to their work. Phocas has a low barrier to entry, reduces layers of data, decreases administration costs, and allows everyone within an organisation to understand financial performance better and act on it. Toni Korsanos, an Investment Director of Ellerston JAADE, joins the board of Phocas. "Phocas is Ellerston JAADE's 6th investment, and we are excited to be joining Myles and the entire Phocas team in supporting its growth objectives. We see great strength in the products that Phocas offers, leading cloud-based SaaS BI software specializing in Data and Financial Analytics. Its products drive a high affinity with customers, assisting in decision support through the ease of data access, analysis and reporting. Phocas has global reach and strong potential for growth especially in the U.S. We look forward to a great partnership with the Phocas team and stakeholders," said Toni. OneVentures has been an institutional investor in Phocas for the last four years and has worked alongside the management team to support them in restructuring their business, enhancing the global management team and successfully positioning the business' growth to unlock the future value, with the company releasing two new products in 2020. "Phocas has a significant market opportunity and is poised now to accelerate its growth in 2021 and beyond. With many listed SaaS companies like Nuix and Wisetech demonstrating value in these types of businesses, Phocas will be a company to watch for the future," said Dr Michelle Deaker, Managing Partner at OneVentures who joined the Phocas board in 2017. Phocas was co-founded by Myles Glashier in 2001 who continues as the global CEO. "Phocas always has a razor-sharp focus on the customer. As an agile organisation, we continue to respond to their needs. Customers will benefit from this new investment as we expand the features and functionality of the core product for our clients' sales, purchasing and executive teams. We also continue to bring business intelligence to the finance function, making financial performance analysis a daily not a monthly activity," said Myles. "Phocas has only really touched the surface of its growth potential. We could continue to bootstrap the company but taking on this capital injection will accelerate new vertical market entry and our new product rollout. The reality is mid-market business can't run operations on spreadsheets anymore. They need an effective tool to manage all the data and make fast and accurate decisions from workplaces at home or across divisions. It's a large addressable market and unmet need, and Phocas plans to capture and dominate our core mid-market segment globally," adds Myles. Phocas was advised by Blackpeak Capital during the capital raise. About Phocas Software Phocas is a cloud-based, SaaS company specializing in data analytics for the manufacturing, distribution, retail industries. We use sector knowledge to consolidate essential business data from common ERP, CRM, and AP/AR systems to make it simple to access companywide insights and financial performance through historical and predictive analysis. A core philosophy at Phocas is to make our software intuitive so the everyday user can track and report on essential KPIs and metrics that are specific to role and industry. People can also customize to meet the unique reporting needs of their business. phocassoftware.com About Ellerston JAADE The Ellerston JAADE Australian Private Assets Fund is a collaboration between the Ellerston Ventures investment team of David Leslie and Anthony Klok, and Aristocrat's ex-CEO, Jamie Odell and ex-CFO Toni Korsanos. The founding partners are uniquely positioned and have complementary skill sets, providing proven operational and management expertise as well as a consistent investment track record. The Ellerston JAADE Australian Private Assets Fund is an Australian Expansion / Growth stage and Pre IPO investment fund operated as an open-ended unit trust. ellerstoncapital.com About OneVentures OneVentures is one of Australia's leading venture capital firms, with over $500M in funds under management. But we do more than invest. We take companies to that all-important next stage, by actively shaping their future. We apply our years of international experience, operational and executional expertise to accelerate the growth of our portfolio companies. A global growth focus drives our investment selection with our current portfolio including companies with truly innovative products tackling multi-billion-dollar problems, from needle-free vaccinations to virtual communications to adaptive e-learning. Game changers, that deliver lasting gains. One-ventures.com.au SOURCE Phocas Software Related Links https://www.phocassoftware.com/ BAY CITY, MI - What began as a short closure of city offices last fall has evolved into a multi-month closure extending into 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting state health orders. The city of Bay City announced that it is extending its closure of all municipal government offices until Feb. 21 in keeping with the recently extended Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Epidemic Order, with a scheduled reopening now set for Feb. 22. Municipal Bay City offices were first closed to the public in November 2020 and then were set to reopen in December. However, multiple extensions to the states epidemic order prompted the city to keep the offices closed to the public. City services will continue to be available online and by phone, with city employees working remotely. Online bill payment fees are waived during this period. Click here for information about paying city bills online. All Bay City Commission meetings will continue to be held virtually through Zoom until further notice due to the pandemic. In addition to online services, the City of Bay City announced on Thursday, Jan. 21 that it launched a new service through an app called SeeClickFix that allows residents to report quality-of-life issues and request city services. The app allows residents to provide city staff with pictures, videos, descriptions and more when reporting an issue remotely. The SeeClickFix mobile app is available for download on Android and iPhone. More from MLive Bay City residents can now request services and report, vote and comment on issues in new mobile app Bay County begins vaccinating critical infrastructure workers and seniors Salt mine and marijuana growers cause Bay City to consider utility deposits for large businesses Bay City approves the purchase of Chevrolet pickups for sanitation and parks divisions Bay City discusses throwing away sticker system for bulk and oversized garbage A helpful gadget has caught the attention of shoppers on social media due to the fact that it organises all of your keys. The Orbitkey organiser neatly arranges your keys into a silent stack that doesn't allow the keys to move, scratch or jangle like a regular key chain. It also connects to your phone so you can find the organiser when you misplace your keys. Scroll down for video The Orbitkey organiser neatly arranges your keys into a silent stack that doesn't allow the keys to move compared to a regular keychain The $49.90 buy has a fob that connects to your phone to ensure the set of keys is never lost, as it beeps when the app is used The $49.90 buy can carry up to seven keys as well as car keys and an electrical fob. Former Bachelor Australia contestant Bec Cvilikas praised the product on her Instagram page for its inbuilt technology and chic look. The fob acts as a tracker that connects to your phone to ensure the keys are never misplaced. Once activated, the user can find the keys with the touch of a button as the fob beeps until it is found. The product is available in a variety of colours including juniper green, navy, tan, stone grey and brown and blush. The innovative gadget is made from plant-based and vegan-friendly material derived from cactus, making it a sustainable alternative to leather. The product also prevents scratches on your belongings, such as your phone, wallet and purse. For a personal touch, customers can also have the product monogrammed for an additional $14.90 - which is ideal for gifting. The innovative gadget is made from plant-based and vegan-friendly material derived from cactus, making it a sustainable alternative to leather For a personal touch, customers can also have the product monogrammed for an additional $14.90 - which is ideal for gifting On the business website, the product has received an average star rating of 4.8 out of five with positive reviews from happy customers. 'I bought this as a gift for my husband and will definitely be purchasing one for myself! He loves how neat and compact it is especially in his pocket. No more annoying jangling sound of keys. Fantastic gift!' one woman wrote. 'Product is good quality so far, was sent a wrong item in my order but the customer service team sorted it out very quickly and sent me the correct item without any hassle or delay,' another said. A third added: 'One of my biggest pet-peeves is a messy keyring. This is such a classic and elegant design, and I feel super organized and classy now, when it comes to my keys.' Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance responds to a question during a news conference on June 26, 2020 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Military Justice System at Crossroads as Court Hears Case on Judges Independence OTTAWACanadas military justice system will be on trial again Friday, when an appeal court weighs whether the handful of judges responsible for overseeing courts martial are truly independent. The Court Martial Appeal Court hearing revolves around then-defence chief Jonathan Vances decision last year to place responsibility for the disciplining of Canadas four military judges with an officer under his own command. The move followed the unprecedented court martial of chief military judge Mario Dutil, who was accused of fraud and misconduct. The case collapsed last year owing to questions about whether he could receive a fair trial in the military system. Three of the other four military judges have since stayed several cases, saying Vances order impinged upon their independence and thus robbed service members accused of wrongdoing of their right to fair trials. The fate of those cases now hangs in the balance as three of the military appeal courts civilian judges prepare to hear the matter, including one court martial involving three counts of sexual assault against an officer in British Columbia, Capt. Mark Iredale. A decision is not expected Friday. The appeal court hearing has focused attention on a long-standing complaint from experts and lawyers who say the military judges are not truly independent because they are first and foremost members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The case also comes as the military justice system finds itself at a crossroads, with an independent review underway to ensure it is meeting Canadas needs even as the Liberal government drags its feet on appointing a new chief military judge. There have also been concerns about the slow implementation of reforms approved by Parliament nearly two years ago, which included numerous measures such as a declaration on victims rights designed to close gaps in the military justice system. All of which comes amid ongoing questions over the militarys handling of sexual and hateful misconduct casesand calls from some corners for civilian courts or judges to handle criminal cases involving the military. I would be much more comfortable if they follow the British example and had civilian lawyers who do military issues and military justice, said retired major Tim Dunne, who is now a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. My view is that the military justice system should not even exist as a forum for criminal offences, it should be done by criminal justice. Canada has been without a full-time chief military judge since Dutil retired in March, nine days after prosecutors withdrew their charges against him. The federal cabinet is responsible for naming a replacement, but hasnt done so. Retired lieutenant-colonel Rory Fowler, now a lawyer specializing in military law in Kingston, Ont., contrasts that with the Trudeau governments recent appointment of a new chief of the defence staff. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed Admiral Art McDonalds appointment as the militarys top commander in December, five months after general Jonathan Vance announced that he would be retiring. Jon Vance didnt leave in July 2020, leaving a six-month gap ? until the appointment of Admiral McDonald, Fowler said. There was a seamless transfer between the two. How come there wasnt a seamless transfer with the chief military judge? Not everyone is concerned that Dutil has not yet been replaced. Retired colonel Michel Drapeau, a lawyer specializing in military cases, says it makes sense for the government to wait given the different moving pieces. Those include Fridays appeals court hearing as well as a study set to be launched by the House of Commons defence committee and the independent review being conducted by retired Supreme Court justice Morris Fish that is already underway. Fish has until June to table a report in Parliament on how the military justice system should be improved. He is interviewing service members across the country, including through virtual town hall meetings. Drapeau has repeatedly raised concerns about what he believes is a lack of independence among military judges, alongside numerous other weaknesses and problems in the military justice system, which he hopes Fish will highlight. All in all, our soldiers are badly served, Drapeau said in an email. First, by a military justice system begging for reform. Second, by a CAF grievance system that is in shambles. The Judge Advocate Generals office, which is responsible for managing the military justice system, has played down any impact from the lack of a permanent chief military judge. Since the office of chief military judge has been vacant, Lt.-Col. Louis-Vincent dAuteuil, deputy chief military judge, has exercised all the powers, duties and function of the chief military judge, said JAG spokeswoman Wendy Wharton. The government of Canada continues to look to permanently fill the chief military judge role. But Fowler worries about a possible connection between the delay in appointing a chief military judge and Fridays appeal court hearing, suggesting the case has devolved into a battle between senior military commanders and military judges. Until and unless (cabinet) appoints a new chief military judge, there continues to be this question mark about whether or not theyre using the appointment as a carrot in order to try and get one of the military judges to break ranks, he said. It at least is unpalatable that the (cabinet) has not appointed a new chief military judge. Particularly right now. HARRISBURG Pennsylvania voters will likely soon get the final say about whether to limit the governors powers during a disaster emergency after a divided state House of Representatives endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday. House members voted 116 to 86 in the latest legislative approval vote. One more vote in either the House or Senate is needed before the constitutional amendment can be considered in a statewide referendum, as early as the May 18 primary election. The amendment would cap disaster declarations at 21 days unless lawmakers extend them. It would also give lawmakers the ability to end a disaster declaration with a two-thirds vote. House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, said the amendment was a case of politricks. There are people who are hurting, theyre depending on us to stand up and be leaders, she said. But all we want to do is strip away the powers of another institution. Republican lawmakers have repeatedly tried to overturn pandemic response policies undertaken by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf over the past year. Lives have been destroyed, said Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, either through the virus itself or through the actions of the government, eviscerating entire industries. Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp., is among those who have been critical of Wolf throughout the pandemic, and supports the amendment. As of today, Pennsylvania has had an active COVID-19 emergency declaration for 326 days and one to combat the opioid crisis for three years, Argall was quoted in a news release. There should be no scenario in our democracy where one person can wield this kind of power indefinitely. Wolfs actions have saved lives, said Minority Whip Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia. Lets call a spade, a spade, today. This is highly political. Its very political, Harris said, noting the national death toll from COVID-19. I wonder what would have happened had our governor not had those emergency powers, Harris said. The people of Pennsylvania will decide if the amendment is warranted, said Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon. This is not political at all. You can laugh all you want, but this is practical, Diamond said. This is in response to the businesses weve heard from all year who are now bankrupt and closed. The House vote came less than 24 hours after the Senate, by a 28-20 count, approved an identical measure with just one Democrat crossing party lines. A House Republican spokesman said its likely that the House will vote on the Senate bill as the final OK, possibly as early as next week. Voting in favor during Tuesdays Senate session were all state senators serving the area Argall; John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville; Lisa Baker, R-20, Dallas; and John Gordner, R-27, Berwick. During Wednesdays House session, local Reps. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp.; Doyle Heffley, R-122, Lower Towamensing Twp.; Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp. (Schuylkill County); and Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Twp.; all voted in favor of the resolution as Republicans were solid in their support. Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-119, Newport Twp., was one of five Democrats to join the GOP block in favor. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre, votes against the measure. The Wolf administration argues that lifting the emergency disaster declaration will not affect powers the governor has exercised under Pennsylvanias Disease Prevention and Control Act. Wolfs first pandemic emergency order was issued in March for 90 days and has since been repeatedly extended. Under state law, an emergency disaster declaration gives governors the authority to issue or rescind executive orders and regulations, access stockpiles of emergency supplies and equipment and suspend laws or regulations that govern state agencies. Executive orders have the force of law, under emergency disaster law. Africas primordial role in the inception and sophistication of the human race has been superbly documented for so many decades; sometimes out of genuine anthropological and biological curiosity and other times, because of racism. We have been told that the first ancestors of the human race were formed on the continent. So were the earliest attempts at human self-preservation and community made in the east and south of the continent more than one million years ago. The cradle of human civilization as it is called, Africas meaning to the general human story is not in debate, largely. On the other hand, however, what the name of the continent means and how we came to call it Africa are two of the least-raised and answered questions about the mother continent. Frankly, toponomastics, the research into the meaning of place-names, is not the most popular branch of the historical sciences except when a place-name is so out of the common that it begs our curiosity. The names of countries and continents themselves do not beg the curiosity of most, even the avowed well-wishers of said places. Perhaps, it is very human to not have to wonder about the meaning of a place-name. We tend to find meaning and our connection to these places after we are thrust into that space by fate. This may well be a forgivable existential deficiency but in a related discourse, the etymology and etiology of continents such as Europe and America are not as discreet and controversial as Africas. Africa is spelled as such or with a k instead of a c. This even reveals a disparity in how the continent is appreciated. Those who cling to the k, often Rastafarians and others of extremely Afrocentric persuasion (sometimes called hoteps), claim that Afrika was the spelling endorsed by the continents natives prior to colonization by the Europeans. The globally-acclaimed Africa is therefore usurpation. But this claim is problematic for two reasons. First, spoken language, which precedes writing, is phonetic and not alphabetic. Writing is an attempt to formally render sound discernible in other ways other than through the ears. Alphabets are characters written to capture the qualities of speech sounds. To that effect, spelling the continents name with c or k can honorably be dismissed as a matter of style and not substance. Substantially, the way in which the name is mentioned can be seen as more important. Second, if we are to believe that Afrika is how the continent was spelled before 15th-century Europeans invaded and changed it, we would be making a claim that is anachronistic as it is embarrassing. It is embarrassing simply because we would imply by such belief, to not know much about the history of the internationalization of the phonetic alphabet. It would be anachronistic because the international phonetic alphabets are not based on African history and culture. They are based in Latin. Neither k nor c was originally African until Europeans started verbalizing African languages for their own benefit as well as for the sake of standardization. Unless of course we would like to claim the Latin alphabets were borne out of the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Technically, that is true since the very ancient Mediterranean civilizations learned from one another, as humans usually do, and the Egyptians preceded the Romans. But between ancient Egypt and the Romans were tens of thousands of years, so much so that the final form of the Latin alphabets looks nothing like the pictorial Egyptian hieroglyphics. Arguing that the k spelling is a moral rebellion against Eurocentrism leaves so much to be desired if we aim to be intellectually honest. Then again, that is not the most critical problem. How did we come by the name of the continent? Theories abound in this regard. According to the first-century common era Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, Africa is named for Epher, that biblical grandson of Abraham mentioned in Genesis 25:4. The medieval Iberian author Isidore of Seville claimed Africa comes from the Latin aprica, or sunny. Out of the culture of the Dogon of West Africa, there comes a theory that Africa is the corruption of Afraka which means soul of the first-sun. The Afrocentric author Ivan Van Sertima took after the English poet and Egyptologist Gerald Massey who alleged that Africa comes from afru-ika, which meant toward the opening of Ka (the eternal universal energy in ancient Egyptian culture). Massey, and thus Sertima, conclude that this translation means the phrase was used to denote the continent that is thought to have given life to all the birthplace or motherland. The difficulty with informing ourselves on this topic is that it is deeply polarizing as Africa exists in unavoidable tension with Europe, the place from which Africas plunderers came. As Frantz Fanon would have it, African or Black from Africa is defined in opposition to whiteness from Europe that has for centuries destroyed the former. But the tension is not entirely between Africa and Europe but also among Africans and Africans in the diaspora. The Hegelian task of self-determination for those who have been suppressed and enslaved has historically motivated factionalism. Two hundred or so years ago in the New World, we learned of the tension between the house negro and field negro. These days, we learn of the tension between those who are passionately Afrocentric and those who are accused of not being enough. The seemingly simple problem of charting the historical path of the etymology of Africa suffers from the ginormous political problem of Afrocentrism and how much of it is permissible. While the likes of Sertima are accused of motivated reasoning, those who are on the other side of the debate are accused of having been brainwashed by westerners. The most-embraced theory of Africas etymology is actually a mixture of inland and outland influences. The 19th-century German philologist Karl Ernst Georges, as well as an American lexicographer of the same century, Charlton Thomas Lewis, agree that the name of the continent was taken from afri, adjective after, the name used by Latin speakers to describe the north coast of the continent after the Third Punic War in the second century before the common era. What the name originally goes to refer to is, however, a modern problem. In 1981, Michel Desfayes, a French philologist, theorized that the root word of afri was the Berber speech denotation (word) for cave ifri, mentioned i-fri. Desfayes further argued that name ifri is demonstrative of the cave-dwelling social existence of the ancients. But before Desfayes theory, it was thought the Latin name came from the Phoenician afar, which meant dust. Many contemporary philologists agree that the Latin afri was not of Roman creation in the way that Berber is linguistically Greek and later Roman. Afri was informed by a phenomenon alien to the Romans. That phenomenon could very well be found on the African continent. What is of complete Roman ingenuity is the addition of the suffix ica. The ancient Romans added ica to nouns to adjectivize lands and people. The suffix was the plural of icus. The Celtae owned Celtica; Britannica is of Britannia; Germanica is of Germania. And Africa is of the Afri. Even still, after the Third Punic War gave the Romans a foothold in the north coast of Africa, the term Africa was not used in reference to the entire continent of darker-skinned people or even in reference to the entirety of the whole north of the continent. It would take centuries before Africa referred to the whole continent immediately south of Europe. Where the forebears of the Europeans called Africa or Proconsularis Africa, is todays Tunisia and parts of Libya and Algeria. On this matter, one can refer to cartographers from the distant past. The German professor, Sebastian Munster and his map of 1554 show what would be unfamiliar to us in the present day. Munster clearly indicated in his map of the Extended Descriptive Map of the Whole of Africa that Africa was on the north coast of the continent. Egypt and Ethiopia, two ancient kingdoms, were not seen as African in the 15th century. In fact, before the Romans would rise as the power in the northern hemisphere, it was the Greek term Libya that popularly described all the lands west of the Nile and Egypt. Where the Greeks and Romans called Libya, the Arabs called Ifriqiya or El-Maghrib el-Adna during the MiddlesAges. Those who were to the south of the Egyptians were the people of the land of Aethiopia, also a Greek invention. But by the middle of the 16th century, Africa as the name of the whole landmass now called home by Africans, was in vogue. Intriguingly, the continent called Africa has been known as such for not more than 500 years. Source: face2faceafrica.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. Representatives of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe met with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric. The meeting took place during the PACE winter session in Strasbourg, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "During the meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the PACE raised important issues for the Ukrainian side, including the expansion of the Crimean Platform and its support by the Council of Europe, execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, activity of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine," the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe posted on Facebook. In addition, the parties discussed the human rights situation in Belarus. The PACE winter session is being held in Strasbourg on January 25-28. As reported, the Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine. The Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network. ol 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. ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- A U.S. Army researcher won the Army's top award for innovation, using a futuristic approach to more quickly identify the best protective materials for Soldiers. Using robotics and machine learning, Michael Golt, a scientist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, developed a method to quickly assess the best ceramic materials for hard armor. For this work, Golt received the Army's Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene Award for Innovation during a virtual ceremony Jan. 28. Hard armors use ceramic materials that are lightweight but also strong, and therefore an ideal material to defeat ballistic threats; however, ceramics are among the most challenging to develop and manufacture, and can be prone to variability in performance. Golt used a combination of research automation and artificial intelligence to reimagine the traditional but slow process of experimental data collection of materials, which typically includes a lengthy process to manually characterize, analyze, adjust and repeat. "By disrupting the traditional R&D models of the past, tangible and high-impact products are being developed at an increased pace by Army scientists and quickly transitioned to today's Soldier," Golt said. Golt developed a system that uses robotics to automate the characterization of the structure of each specimen to be tested. A researcher can load hundreds of ceramic specimens at one time onto a testing surface. The robot selects an individual specimen, collects electrical measurements across the surface--which captures key characteristics and variations in the internal structure of the specimen--and non-destructively characterizes the materials without human intervention. To guide the ballistic testing, the laboratory developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that uses the characterization dataset and real-time learning algorithms. This algorithm accompanies the researchers at the ballistic testing range and literally calls the shots, specifying for the range operator the next best specimen and projectile velocity that will maximize researchers' understanding of the processing-structure-performance relationships. The result is rapid discovery using far fewer ballistic tests and decreased uncertainty. The Lab has worked with an industrial manufacturing partner to design an optimal process, discover high-performing armor ceramics, and validate through testing that the ceramics substantially increase the protection level for Soldiers. Best of all, because these rapid discoveries were obtained on a production-level industrial process, the material is ready to be manufactured in high volumes for immediate use. ### DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL is operationalizing science to achieve transformational overmatch. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more successful at winning the nation's wars and come home safely. DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of the Army Futures Command. With the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine last month, questions still abound about the pandemic, Michigans distribution plan for the vaccine and what comes next. On Wednesday, Michigan State Universitys Institute for Public Policy and Social Research hosted three healthcare authorities in a virtual panel to provide updates on vaccine guidelines and distribution efforts. Arnold Weinfeld, associate director of MSUs Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, hosted the event. The panel included Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president of public affairs and communications at Michigan Health & Hospital Association; Dr. Debra Furr-Holden, C.S. Mott endowed professor of public health, associate dean for public health integration and director of the Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions and co-director of Healthy Flint Research Coordinating Center at Michigan State University; and Linda Vail, MPA, health officer at Ingham County Health Department. How is vaccine distribution going? According to Sudderth, 1.47 million vaccines have been allocated to the State of Michigan as of Tuesday, with over 760,000 of those already administered. The states aim is to dispense 50,000 or more doses per day, an ambitious goal, according to Sudderth. Michigan is ranked 15th in the nation in terms of the number of vaccines administered per 100,000 people. The providers that received those vaccines are scheduling those as aggressively as possible. There are not vaccines simply sitting in freezers without a plan. Every provider is giving those out as quickly as possible, Sudderth said. Fifty-seven percent of administered vaccines have been given by hospitals and health systems, according to Sudderth. In addition, hospitals are uniquely situated to use their available data to identify the most vulnerable populations in need of the COVID-19 vaccine; with the help of local health departments, hospitals can reach out to such groups and make sure they receive inoculations. Hospitals have been in a leadership role throughout the pandemic, Sudderth stated. That role continues in the vaccine process. We know that most hospitals are a trusted place for healthcare, for patients and for the community and were trying to take advantage of that and make sure that they continue to play that important role in their communities by providing vaccinations. The panelists agreed that one of the biggest challenges the state faces is the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, the state is giving vaccines to the 1B category, mainly individuals ages 75 and prioritized frontline workers. The reason some of these people are not getting vaccinated yet is because we have been told I was in a meeting by the state yesterday that we are not ready as a state to move on to Group C of 1B, Vail said. We simply dont have enough vaccines in Michigan to get to everybody yet. The demand is outpacing the supply, Sudderth said. Vail explained that the Ingham County Health Department is planning distribution based on the amount of vaccines they currently have available rather than planning for future shipments. Another component is equitable distribution, keeping in mind those who might not have access to a primary care physician. It is an ever-complicated process and a giant mathematical puzzle to make sure we keep scheduling appointments every week, Vail said. Vail also was quick to debunk the myth that the state was unprepared to administer vaccines. Were ready, were prepared, were doing it, we could do more. We would have this all done with an abundance of vaccines in a very short period of time, relatively speaking, Vail said. How do we overcome hesitancy in the community? Addressing the issue of hesitation, Furr-Holden offered three solutions: time, transparency and trust. Some individuals she has spoken with are only hesitant because they would like to have time to see how the vaccine works on others. She explained that the vaccine is a very important, albeit imperfect, layer of protection. With additional protection including wearing masks, social distancing and staying home if you feel ill, people have a chance to move forward. In terms of trust, Furr-Holden encouraged trusted sources like local health departments to work with trusted messengers including churches and organizations to get information to the community. Sometimes the people who have the mic need to pass the mic, Furr-Holden said. We need to continue to provide education about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine to our healthcare workers and community members to make sure they feel confident getting their shot. Sudderth said. How has the pandemic changed healthcare? The COVID-19 pandemic has changed much, especially healthcare infrastructure and the approach to equitable care. Sudderth stated there has been a large uptick in mental health and addiction services. The biggest issue is how the national, state and local healthcare systems are prepared for the next pandemic. The pandemic really has left us with a lot of questions, Sudderth said. When asked whether the vaccine will bring the nation completely out of the pandemic, especially with the new variants, Vail who is a former molecular biologist explained COVID-19 is an RNA virus and mutations are to be expected. She expected that the virus could become endemic: still present in the world, yet less severe as it is now. Its yet to be seen whether the COVID vaccine is going to be an every-year vaccine or 3- or 10-year vaccine, Vail said. Even with the presence of the vaccine, there are other ways to mitigate the virus this year and years to come, Vail explained. There will continue to be the common messages of washing hands, staying home if you feel ill, covering your face when you cough and even wearing a mask. Popular Energy Drink Brand in Kinshasa, DR Congo, Africa Healthy energy drink: Festa, Africas largest drinks manufacturer company/brand that offers the best natural energy drinks with amazing flavor in Kinshasa, DRC (the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa). View more at festa.cd/en/energy-drink-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo Get in Touch +243 818899000 / +243 858899000 / +243 903899000 Email: adminfesta@swissta.com, salesfesta@swissta.com https://www.mediacongo.net/pics/mediacongo.png https://www.mediacongo.net/annonce-mediacongo-106502_Vivres frais et Alimentation_popular_energy_drink_brand_in_kinshasa_dr_congo_africa.html Iceboating skimming the frozen surface of a lake on 3 metal runners, propelled by the wind in your sails at speeds topping 60 miles per hour enjoys a relatively short season in Pennsylvania. In some years many of our lakes dont even see the six inches of solid ice that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recommends as a bare minimum for safe iceboating, which is known as ice sailing and ice yachting. But there is still enough of the winter deep freeze on some waters for groups like the Erie Yacht Club to host an Iceboat Fleet in Presque Isle Bay at Lake Erie and for waters like 5,300-acre Lake Wallenpaupack, which annually attracts iceboaters from New Jersey and New York to Pennsylvanias Pocono Mountains. (Wallenpaupack once held the speed record of 84 miles per hour for the small, sleek Skeeter class of iceboat.) When theres enough ice, waters from relatively small county-owned lakes to the largest waters in the state, like Wallenpaupack and 21,000-acre Allegheny Reservoir in northwestern Pennsylvania will see the low, light, sailing crafts skimming their surfaces. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources maintains a list of state parks that offer iceboating on their lakes. The list includes: Bald Eagle State Park at Howard, Foster Joseph Sayers Lake, 1,730 acres. Beltzville State Park near Lehighton, Beltzville Lake, 949 acres. Black Moshannon State Park near Philipsburg, Black Moshannon Lake, 250 acres. Canoe Creek State Park near Hollidaysburg, Canoe Lake, 155 acres. Chapman State Park at Clarendon, Chapman Lake, 68 acres. Codorus State Park at Hanover, Lake Marburg, 1,275 acres. Elk State Park at Wilcox, East Branch Clarion Reservoir, 1,160 acres. Erie Bluffs State Park at Erie, access to Lake Erie. Gifford Pinchot State Park near Lewisberry, Pinchot Lake, 340 acres. Laurel Hill State Park near Somerset, Laurel Hill Lake, 63 acres. Maurice K. Goddard State Park at Sandy Lake, Lake Wilhelm, 1,680 acres . Moraine State Park at Portersville, Lake Arthur, 3,225 acres. Presque Isle State Park at Erie, access to Lake Erie. Prince Gallitzin State Park at Patton, Glendale Lake, 1,635 acres. Promised Land State Park near Canadensis, Promised Land Lake, 422 acres, and Lower Lake, 173 acres. Pymatuning State Park at Jamestown, Pymatuning Reservoir, 17,088 acres. Shawnee State Park at Schellsburg, Shawnee Lake, 451 acres. DCNR also maintains a regularly update Winter Report of snow and ice conditions in its parks that can provide a guide to those times when iceboating is likely happening. KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124) (NSE: DRREDDY) (NYSE: RDY) (NSEIFSC: DRREDDY along with its subsidiaries together referred to as "Dr. Reddy's") and Global Response Aid FZCO (GRA) today announced results from an Avigan study on moderate-severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Kuwait. A sub-group analysis of the low-risk (low NEWS Score at admission) study cohort (n=181) demonstrated a 3 day earlier discharge in Avigan group compared to placebo group (8 days vs 11 days; p=0.0063) for time to hospital discharge secondary endpoint. This endpoint was predefined and showed statistical significance in a large portion of subjects in this study. Time to hospital discharge is the best endpoint to determine if Avigan has a pragmatic effect on patients' duration of hospitalization, a factor that is relevant to global shortages in clinical resources and hospital beds induced by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The findings point favorably towards the hypothesis that an antiviral drug like Avigan (or similar oral or injectable RNA polymerases inhibitor) may be effective as part of early treatment initiation in COVID-19 patients. As a result of the favorable sub-group data, which are supported by similar results in Japan-based clinical trials and real-world studies, Dr.Reddy's and Global Response Aid have agreed to expedite ongoing Phase 3 pivotal studies aimed at determining the efficacy of Avigan as an early treatment for COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms. Additional studies to evaluate the efficacy of Avigan as part of early treatment in COVID-19 patients have also been initiated, with the goal of alleviating symptoms and preventing disease progression before the infection requires hospitalization or other intensive interventions. Other findings from the study of hospitalized patients with moderate-severe COVID 19 patients showed a one-day reduction in time to sustained hypoxia resolution for Avigan vs. placebo. Resolution occurred in seven days vs. eight days. However, the study did not achieve statistical significance thresholds, and was terminated. The full final data analysis of the 353 subjects who were part of the study of hospitalized patients will be available by end of February 2021. The study of hospitalized patients was part of an overall clinical program for Avigan in Kuwait, which covered a spectrum of COVID-19 cases ranging from asymptomatic to severe, in both outpatient and in-patient settings. About Global Response Aid (GRA) Agility (KSE/DFM: AGLTY), one of the world's leading logistics companies, established Global Response Aid (GRA) to address the market challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and other threats to public health. GRA delivers innovative, effective healthcare solutions through a range of pharmaceutical products and technology platforms. It works closely with governments, regulatory authorities, hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers, life sciences companies, NGOs and public institutions to develop strategies that allow them to tackle public health challenges. For more information: www.globalresponseaid.com About Dr. Reddy's About Dr. Reddy's: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY) is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses - Pharmaceutical Services & Active Ingredients, Global Generics and Proprietary Products Dr. Reddy's offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars and differentiated formulations. Our major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr. Reddy's operates in markets across the globe. Our major markets include USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, and Europe. For more information: www.drreddys.com SOURCE GRA; Agility Posted Thursday, January 28, 2021 10:39 am A 23-year-old Chehalis man has been taken to the hospital and faces pending criminal charges after he crashed into Penny Playground last night. At approximately 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the driver reportedly left the roadway at the intersection of Southwest Parkland Drive and Northwest Interstate Avenue and broke through a fenceway and some playground equipment before coming to rest, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The driver fled the vehicle but was later located and transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Chehalis Police have classified the incident as a hit-and-run, and there are pending criminal charges for the driver. The story will be updated. National Communications Officer and Spokesperson of the NDCs Legal Team, Sammy Gyamfi says it is misleading for the Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to state that Mahama has filed a fresh application seeking to further amend earlier processes. According to him, the story which has been published by Graphiconline relied on a tweet from Kojo Oppong Nkrumah which deceptively states that the recent motion on notice filed by the Petitioner is an attempt to further delay the hearing of the petition. In a press statement signed and copied to Peacefmonline.com, Sammy Gyamfi said that the Ofoase-Ayirebi lawmaker who is the Spokesperson for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is deliberately misleading the public. What was filed in court yesterday was simply an application to the court for leave to file an additional ground of review and a supplement to the Petitioners Statement of Case in respect of the Courts ruling of 19th January 2021 on the issue of interrogatories, the statement read. Below Is The Full Statement Of Sammy Gyamfi: IGNORE KOJO OPPONG NKRUMAHS MISCHIEF; PETITIONER IS SEEKING TO FACILITATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND NOT TO DELAY TRIAL. We have seen a Graphiconline story dated January 25, 2021, with the misleading title Mahama files a fresh application seeking to further amend earlier processes. The story also relies on a tweet from Kojo Oppong Nkrumah which deceptively states that the recent motion on notice filed by the Petitioner is an attempt to further delay the hearing of the Petition. The attempts by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, as a spokesperson for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to mislead the public are very obvious. What was filed in court yesterday was simply an application to the court for leave to file an additional ground of review and a supplement to the Petitioners Statement of Case in respect of the Courts ruling of 19th January 2021 on the issue of interrogatories. A number of authoritative pronouncements of the Supreme Court in earlier cases are brought to the attention of the court in this application. These are all normal processes of law in the Supreme Court and other courts in Ghana which are not intended to delay the trial but rather facilitate the administration of justice by the Court. We encourage all Ghanaians to endeavour to understand the real merits of this Petition as they touch on some of the fundamentals of our constitutional rights as Ghanaians. We have no doubt that the people of Ghana are seeing through the mischievous and diversionary tactics of Oppong Nkrumah and other spokespersons of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. We remain focused on assisting the court to achieve justice in this case. Signed, Sammy Gyamfi Esq. (National Communications Officer and Spokesperson of the NDCs Legal Team) Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 17:06:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The government of Australia's Northern Territory (NT) signed on Thursday an agreement to advance the development of the world's largest solar farm. The NT government and Singapore's Sun Cable signed a Project Development Agreement (PDA) for the 22 billion Australian dollar (16.7 billion U.S. dollar) Australia-ASEAN Power Link (AAPL). The 10 gigawatt (GW), 12,000 hectare solar farm in the Barkly region of the NT Outback will export an estimated 1 billion AUD worth of renewable electricity every year to Singapore via a 3,800 km high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable. By 2027, it will provide up to 20 percent of Singapore's electricity supply and a significant amount of the NT's. Michael Gunner, the chief minister of the NT, said the signing of the PDA was a big step forward for the NT's energy and job security. "This project will put the NT on the international map when it comes to renewables," he said. "It will also see hundreds of Territorians find work in the Barkly and Darwin regions during the construction and operational phases." "This project will transform the Territory into a renewable energy powerhouse, and cement our position as Australia's comeback capital," he added. The project is expected to create more than 1,500 jobs in the NT during construction and 350 long-term operational positions. Enditem Not every film can be as cerebral as Jeo Babys most celebrated work, but Kilometers and Kilometers does not even try much. Language: Malayalam with English In a conversation I had with him this week, writer-director Jeo Baby said that his film The Great Indian Kitchen, which has been making waves across India this fortnight, was rejected by Netflix and Amazon Prime Video without any reason being offered this is why it is on the currently little-known, new Malayalam-only streaming platform, Neestream. This immediately brought to mind an unnamed filmmaker who told The Hindus Athira M earlier this month that the reason why a bunch of new Malayalam-focused OTT platforms have come up during the pandemic is that big stars and big banners have become the criteria for some of these (multi-language platforms) to purchase a Malayalam movie. Such yardsticks for selection will deprive non-Malayalam speakers of the best of Mollywood because they entirely miss the point of the Malayalam New New Wave, which is that it is determinedly not star-driven. For proof, note how Jeo Babys Kilometers and Kilometers (K&K) readied before the pandemic, before The Great Indian Kitchen (TGIK) was made has dropped this week on a platform that turned down the utterly stupendous TGIK. The latter features Nimisha Sajayan, a gifted rising star, and Suraj Venjaramoodu who, till recent years, was known primarily as a character actor. K&K is comparatively flimsy, but in Tovino Thomas (who is also one of the producers) it does have a marquee name attached to it. Kilometers and Kilometers is written and directed by Jeo Baby. Tovino here plays Josemon, a handyman and motorbike enthusiast in Kottayam who is struggling to pay his familys bills and loans. It never ceases to be amazing that so many men across the globe fight so hard to preserve patriarchy, a system that, while aiming to subjugate women and retain control of wealth in mens hands, also ends up burdening men in ways that gender equity would not. This is Josemons life: his mother (Maala Parvathi) manages their home, his sister is a student, he earns money, and the fact that Mom does not step out for employment despite their massive financial struggles is deemed completely normal by all those involved. Though Josemon describes himself in a later conversation as the Daddy figure of the family, the provider, in the mould of Mammoottys character in the 1990s blockbuster Vatsalyam, the film avoids an all-out glorification of the patriarchal family set-up through an early scene in which the hero tells his sister that he is waiting for her to complete her education and get a job in the US so that she can ease his load. When Josemon finds himself in a particularly dire situation, hope shines in the form of an American tourist called Catherine Stevens (American actor India Jarvis) who is spending a recent windfall on a global tour. Cathy hires Josemon to take her across India on his Bullet motorbike. A clash of personalities and cultures follows, exacerbated by a language barrier. The thing about Kilometers and Kilometers is that it is not bad, but it is too insubstantial to be good either. Among other things, a pan-India road film would be expected to yield a wealth of insights, sights and sounds from the vast landscape it covers, but the script fails to explore India in the way Cathy seems intent on doing. DoP Sinu Sidharth does serve up some exquisite shots of the countryside, but as they cross state borders, few cultural specifics are to be found either visually or in the situations in which the two leads land themselves. I enjoyed the natural progression of the relationship between Josemon and Cathy, but the fortuitously named India, whose acting is decent enough, does not have the charisma to match the sweetheart that Tovino is. Playing a golden-hearted scamp who can barely speak English and is not above deceiving a trusting fellow human to make some money off them, Tovino rules the film from start to finish and is its primary saving grace. For K&K to be anything more than that, it needed two actors with a stronger, more urgent chemistry between them, and more depth in its writing. Of course not every film can be as cerebral as Jeo Babys most celebrated work, but K&K does not even try much. Sure, it has some charming little touches. Like the fact that Josemon is a devout Christian but does not bat an eyelid before wearing clothes covered in Hindu iconography (such a pleasure to spot as politicians in the real world try their utmost to divide India along religious lines). Or the irony in her disdain for Indian street food due to the unhygienic practices of those preparing them while she chugs down litres of a cola that true health freaks consider poison. Or the camera panning from a signboard prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on church property to a cross and then to a group of friends boozing, a scene that assumes great significance in an India where the majoritarian mob recently went ballistic over the series based on A Suitable Boy because a couple kissed on screen in a temple premises. (Note: the subtitles here erroneously translate the sign as saying, this property belongs to the mosque I assume the mistake arose because the word palli is used in Malayalam for both church and mosque.) And then theres the fact that the script is not condescending towards the foreigner in the story she is a jerk and a snob who is herself condescending towards Josemon at the start, but he is no saint either, and neither is written in a patronising tone. That said, a pivotal conversation between Cathy and Josemon about individualism versus family fails to live up to its potential. Without giving anything away, lets just say that this superficial thread in K&K ultimately quietly plays to the gallery of traditionalist Indian viewers. Thankfully, it does not go the way of Aparna Sens The Japanese Wife (English, Bengali and Japanese, 2010), which romanticised a deeply regressive Indian cultural practice in its denouement. From the man behind The Great Indian Kitchen though, one would expect better than such small mercies. At one point, when it looks like K&K is headed into problematic Taming of the Shrew territory, Jeo Baby fortunately pulls back before Josemon goes too far. Again, when Sidhartha Siva turns up, the film looks set to get tacky, but his character throws up an amusing surprise. However, a fleeting mention of a false rape charge by one character is further evidence of K&Ks casual superficiality, considering that men and sadly, women worldwide tend to malign rape survivors by questioning their integrity. While listening to a passing conversation between Josemon and his friends (played by Joju George and Basil Joseph) about a possible sexual relationship between Josemon and Cathy, I could not help thinking that this chat is highly sanitised in comparison with the far filthier exchanges that are to be heard in the real Kerala. And I could not help but wonder if this sanitisation was done because to show the reality and yet ensure that Josemon is not repulsive would have required some complex writing. Thats the thing about Kilometers and Kilometers Jeo Baby here is clearly not stretching himself to be the best that we now know he can be. At the end of the day, what lingers is Tovinos darlingness and the attempts at communication between this Malayali with sketchy English skills and an American who knows no Malayalam, that are equal parts hilarious and endearing. To hear Josemon tell Cathy, Relationship is very very big sambhavam, kind of compensates for the sneaking feeling that Jeo Baby took a half-day while writing K&K. Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (All images from film's trailer) Kilometers and Kilometers is now streaming on Netflix. * RELATED LINKS: The Great Indian Kitchen movie review: Startling, scathing, stunning take-down of patriarchy and its eternal sidekick, religion Fahadh Faasil 2.0, Women In Cinema Collective and other markers of the decade gone by for Mollywood (Newser) A World Health Organization team emerged from quarantine in the Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday to start field work in a fact-finding mission on the origins of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers, who were required to isolate for 14 days after arriving in China, left their quarantine hotel with their luggageincluding at least four yoga matsin the midafternoon and headed to a lakeside Hilton resort-like hotel about 30 minutes away, per the AP. The mission has become politically charged, as China seeks to avoid blame for alleged missteps in its early response to the outbreak. A major question is where the Chinese side will allow the researchers to go and whom they'll be able to talk to. Among the places the team might visit are the Huanan seafood market, tied to many of the first cases, as well as research institutes and hospitals that treated patients at the height of the outbreak. It hasn't been disclosed whether the team will leave Wuhan. story continues below One possible source of the virus is bats in caves in rural Yunnan province, about 1,000 miles southwest of Wuhan. Former WHO official Keiji Fukuda, who isn't part of the Wuhan team, has cautioned against expecting any breakthroughs, saying it may take years before any firm conclusions can be made about the virus' origin. While the WHO was criticized early on, especially by the US, for not being critical enough of the Chinese response, it recently accused China and other nations of moving too slowly at the start of the outbreak. In a rare move, China admitted it could have done better. The mission came about only after considerable wrangling between the two sides. Chinese officials and state media have also voiced doubt on whether the virus even started in China. The origins search will try to determine where and exactly how that happened. (Read more World Health Organization stories.) Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The government is rolling out a new public information campaign this week to reassure the public about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, which one expert has said "couldn't be more crucial" to people actually getting the jabs when they are available. Access to vaccines is the most important barrier to widespread immunisations, so this campaign should go a long way toward getting the right people vaccinated at the right time. But it also comes as government ministersand even the prime ministerhave refused to address the COVID-19 misinformation coming from those within their own ranks. Despite advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration explaining that hydroxychloroquine is not an effective treatment for COVID-19, MP Craig Kelly has continued to promote the opposite on Facebook. A letter he wrote on the same topic, bearing the Commonwealth coat of arms was also widely distributed. He has also incorrectly advocated the use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19, and encouraged people to protest against what he called "health bureaucrats in an ivory tower." Compared to health experts, politicians and celebrities tend to have access to larger and more diverse audiences, particularly on social media. But politicians and celebrities may not always have the appraisal skills they need to assess clinical evidence. I spend much of my time examining how researchers introduce biases into the design and reporting of trials and systematic reviews. Kelly probably has less experience in critically appraising trial design and reporting. But if he and I were competing for attention among Australians, his opinions would certainly reach a much larger and varied segment of the population. Does misinformation really cause harm? According to a recent Quantum Market Research survey of 1,000 people commissioned by the Department of Health, four in five respondents said they were likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it's made available. Australia generally has high levels of vaccine confidence compared to other wealthy countries72% strongly agree that vaccines are safe and less than 2% strongly disagree. But there does appear to be some hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine. In the Quantum survey, 27% of respondents overall, and 42% of women in their 30s, had concerns about vaccine safety. According to the report, this showed "a need to dispel some specific fears held by certain cohorts of the community in relation to potential adverse side effects." For other types of COVID misinformation, a University of Sydney study found that younger men had stronger agreement with misconceptions and myths, such as the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, that 5G networks spread the virus or that the virus was engineered in a lab. Surveys showing how attitudes and beliefs vary by demographics are useful, but it is difficult to know how exposure to misinformation affects the decisions people make about their health in the real world. Studies measuring what happens to people's behaviors after misinformation reaches a mainstream audience are rare. One study from 2015 looked at the effect of an ABC Catalyst episode that misrepresented evidence about cholesterol-lowering drugsit found fewer people filled their statin prescriptions after the show. When it comes to COVID-19, researchers are only starting to understand the influence of misinformation on people's behaviors. After public discussion about using bleach to potentially treat COVID-19, for instance, the number of internet searches about injecting and drinking disinfectants increased. This was followed by a spike in the number of calls to poison control phone lines for disinfectant-related injuries. Does countering misinformation online work? The aim of countering misinformation is not to change the opinions of the people posting it, but to reduce misperceptions among the often silent audience. Public health organizations promoting the benefits of vaccinations on social media consider this when they decide to engage with anti-vaccine posts. A study published this month by two American researchers, Emily Vraga and Leticia Bode, tested the effect of posting an infographic correction in response to misinformation about the science of a false COVID-19 prevention method. They found a bot developed with the World Health Organization and Facebook was able to reduce misperceptions by posting factual responses to misinformation when it appeared. A common concern about correcting misinformation in this way is that it might cause a backfire effect, leading people to become more entrenched in misinformed beliefs. But research shows the backfire effect appears to be much rarer than first thought. Vraga and Bode found no evidence of a backfire effect in their study. Their results suggest that responding to COVID-19 misinformation with factual information is likely to do more good than harm. So, what's the best strategy? Social media platforms can address COVID-19 misinformation by simply removing or labeling posts and deplatforming users who post it. This is probably most effective in situations where the user posting the misinformation has a small audience. In these cases, responding to misinformation with facts in a more direct way may be a waste of time and could unintentionally amplify the post. When misinformation is shared by people like Kelly who are in positions of power and influence, removing those posts is like cutting a head off a hydra. It doesn't stop the spread of misinformation at the source and more of the same will likely fill the void left behind. In these instances, governments and organizations should consider directly countering misinformation where it occurs. To do this effectively, they need to consider the size of the audience, respond to the misinformation and not the person, and present evidence in simple and engaging ways. COVID-19 vaccines are rigorously assessed by the @TGAgovau before they can be used in Australia. Visit https://t.co/g4IbPPSzQn to learn more about the rollout of the #COVID19 vaccines. pic.twitter.com/J3GY6gyueZ Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) January 27, 2021 The government's current campaign fills an important gap in providing simple and clear information about who should get vaccinated and how. It doesn't directly address the misinformation problem, but I think this would be the wrong place for that kind of effort, anyway. Instead, research suggests it might be better to directly challenge misinformation where it appears. Rather than demanding the deplatforming of the people who post misinformation, we might instead think of it as an opportunity to correct misperceptions in front of the audiences that really need it. 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. 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. New Delhi, Jan 28 : With Anti Leprosy Day on 30th January 2021, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa (Recipient Gandhi Peace Prize 2018), Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansens Disease) Initiative, National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India (MoHFW), and WHO India today jointly launched a pictorial flipchart on leprosy for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). Produced jointly by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative, NLEP and WHO India, the flipchart printed in Hindi, Gujarati, Oriya, and Bengali languages is being delivered to 300,000 ASHAs in 6 leprosy-endemic states: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. In conjunction with this launch, WHO India will be releasing short online animation films in regional languages for ASHAs to learn how to use this flipchart effectively. This training package will strengthen ASHA's skills in facilitating early case detection and treatment which is key for further reducing disease burden. ASHA workers are the backbone of primary healthcare in India. Working quietly but resolutely at the grassroots level to make basic healthcare facilities accessible to those who live on the margins of the society. ASHA workers have been contributing to early leprosy case detection across India. They visit house to house to identify people with signs and symptoms of leprosy and refer them to the nearest government health facility for confirmation. Lack of public awareness about leprosy is one of the major problems that India is facing in its efforts against the disease. These pictorial learning materials will assist ASHAs to develop a correct understanding of the disease and encourage community members to support their activities. It will promote self-examination and encourage people to consult an ASHA or visit a government health facility if leprosy signs and symptoms are detected. "The activities done by ASHAs are a key to achieve leprosy-free India, a dream of Mahatma Gandhi, and I hope this flipchart can be of help for their activities," said Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman Nippon Foundation & WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. Sharing her thoughts on the Flipchart and how it will aid ASHA workers, Rekha Shukla, Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare said "Government of India is committed to making India leprosy free. National Leprosy Eradication Programme is focusing on early and active detection of leprosy cases in order to ensure complete treatment, prevention of physical disabilities and to stop the community transmission. ASHAs are the main front line workers in case detection activities, and incentives have been provided for ASHAs to even carry out the regular screening rounds in the endemic areas. ASHA flipbooks are an important IEC tool not only for ASHAs, but also for the community." Thursday, January 28, 2021 Once Raymond Broshears returned to Long Beach, he wrote up his New Orleans' experiences in his newsletter. On the last page, Broshears repeats his allegation that Kerry Thornley's body is in the Oswald backyard photos. But, have a look at how Harold Weisberg described Broshears in a letter to fellow researcher Hal Verb: Sounds like Broshears was having some fun in New Orleans. I'd like to know more about his arrest. And, a few months later, Broshears turned up again - this time being threatened by a CIA agent. Here he is in the Berkeley Barb: If you can believe it, the HSCA actually interviewed Broshears. We'll be posting highlights tomorrow. It's Thursday, January 28. Here's what you should know this afternoon: Gov. Charlie Baker acknowledged a "very frustrating day" for those 75 years old and older who registered for a coronavirus vaccination appointment. School districts can expect more in state aid as Bakers proposed budget included full funding for the once-delayed Student Opportunity Act. Bostons mayoral race got another entrant, while questions surround another potential candidate who is retiring as the head of the police department. Scroll down for those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today. Thursday's Top Story Gov. Charlie Baker acknowledged a "very frustrating day" on the first day that those 75 and older were able to register for a coronavirus vaccination appointment in Phase Two of the state's vaccine rollout on Wednesday. Baker said that 10,000 appointment spots at the mass vaccination sites in Danvers and Springfield were "booked within hours" and 40,000 openings for the Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium sites released Thursday morning were booked by noon. He said 15,000 additional spots in Danvers and Springfield were "being booked" as of midday Thursday. The 100,000 openings for next week represent a 20,000 increase in the federal allotment expected for next week and are in addition to the 8,000 appointments available through eight CVS sites statewide. Todays Other Top Stories In Massachusetts This race is just getting started: Hours after another city councilor declared her candidacy to become Bostons next mayor, the citys police commissioner retired amid speculation that hell be running as well. City Councilor At-Large Annissa Essaibi George celebrated her kickoff event at East Boston High School Thursday morning, right before Mayor Marty Walshs administration announced Commissioner William Gross would be retiring Friday. If you gotta go, you gotta go: Worcester City Councilors at Tuesday's meeting asked city leaders to explore ways to increase public restroom options in the downtown area after several reliable bathrooms closed in the pandemic. The effort is backed by a key business group because people are using doorways and other outdoor spaces as a substitute, creating a health hazard. Story continues No you cant, yes we can: The Melrose School Committee has asked a state agency to dismiss the teachers' union's motion to suspend in-person learning. The Melrose Education Association argues certain coronavirus metrics the city has already surpassed should trigger full remote learnings, but the district says an agreement between the two sides clearly states its the superintendents call. By The Numbers $197.7 million: Thats how much Chapter 70 state aid would increase to local school districts in Bakers proposed FY22 budget. That money is meant to help with costs associated with low-income students, special education services, English language learners, guidance and psychological services and employee health benefits. In Case You Missed It This article originally appeared on the Across Massachusetts Patch 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. As COVID-19 Positivity Lowers, New Variants Are Rising Up in Los Angeles County Last week saw a decline in COVID-19 positivity but new variants are being detected in L.A. At the end of the MLK holiday and Presidential Inauguration, some good news was waiting as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has seen a decrease in COVID-19 positivity. At the end of last week, there was a decrease by 30 percent in a seven-day average of daily cases. Despite this, public health officials are still urging the public to continue with proactive measures: wear a face covering and maintain physical distance when venturing outside the house. It is clear that careful actions many have been taking this month are making a difference, said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. It is also apparent that the road ahead remains difficult. Knowing that it will take months to complete vaccinations, and that there is a more infectious variant, means we need everyone to adhere to the rules that allow us to protect each other. As of last week, more than 441,000 doses of vaccine have been administered, including more than 352,000 first doses and more than 88,000 second doses. According to the State, the Southern California Region continues to have 0% available ICU capacity and is still under a regional Stay at Home Order. ADVERTISEMENT Also, L.A. Dept. of Public Health has seen eight additional cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) bringing the total to 62 children with one child death. MIS-C is an inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 and symptoms include fever that does not go away and inflamed body parts, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Health officials are urging the public to seek emergency care if these symptoms are indicated. As of Sunday, January 24, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 98 new deaths and 8,243 new cases of COVID-19. There were 6,697 people with COVID-19 hospitalized with 24% of these people in the ICU. Public Health identified 1,073,111 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 15,260 deaths. Across the Southland: within Los Angeles County shows 1,017,099 cases, within Long Beach with 46,281 cases and within Pasadena with 9,731. According to race and ethnicity, COVID-19 statistics show: American Indian/Alaska Native with 1,761; Asian with 42,924; Black with 34,809; Hispanic/Latino with 477,338; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander with 3,917; White with 99,227; those of other race and ethnicity with 105,077and 252,046 under investigation. As its been reported by multiple sources, the U.K. COVID-19 variant has been reported in Los Angeles County. Health officials have stated that mutations and variants are common place when it comes to viruses. The U.K. variant, as well as other emerging variants, have been stated to be more contagious than the first wave of COVID-19 but does not cause more severe illness, increase risk of death or negate the effectiveness of taking a vaccine. Experts have also stated this variant could be dominant in the U.S. by March. For more information and statistics on COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, please visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ For more detailed information on COVID-19 vaccination plans in L.A. County and to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com. Robert J. Key, one of the Standardbred sports most influential breeders, most notably through his horse American Winner, passed Wednesday morning (Jan. 27), in Pennsylvania. Key bred American Winner in partnership with the late John Glesmann and the colt won the 1993 Hambletonian. As a sire, American Winner leaves a legacy through his daughter Yankee Blondie, the dam of Muscle Hill. American Winner was a son of Super Bowl and the Speedy Somolli mare BJs Pleasure. Key and Glesmann purchased BJs Pleasure as a yearling from breeder Lana Lobell Farms. The following year Lana Lobell sold her half-brother, Mack Lobell. BJs Pleasure was a success on the track, showing speed and earning $244,023, but her broodmare career eclipsed her racing exploits. She immediately produced, with her first foal the $827,238 winner Super Pleasure; then came BJs Mac, a winner of $376,210. American Winner was her third foal. In 1993, Key had two strong contenders in the Hambletonian: American Winner and Hi Noon Star, although Pine Chip was favoured on race day. American Winner and Hi Noon Star each won their elimination heats and then American Winner, driven by Ron Pierce, captured the final. The colts victory also put his trainer, Milton Smith, an African-American, in the spotlight. In a 2010 interview, Key said of winning the Hambo, That day was the greatest day of our lives, referring to himself and his wife, Patty. Key first became involved in harness racing in 1983. He was a practicing attorney and did personal injury work, and a meeting with a doctor included the doctor talking about his harness horses. When Key heard that you could buy a yearling colt who raced and then stood at stud, breeding more than 100 mares for thousands of dollars for each service, Key said he did the math and thought, Hey, this could be my retirement! That fall, he bought an interest in four yearling fillies. The next year he bought half of a filly named Amneris, who cost just $19,000. She set world records, won the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, and concluded her career with earnings of $974,141. I was hooked! said Key in the 2010 interview. Before her passing in 2016, BJs Pleasure had produced 20 foals, the winners of $3,378,905. While BJs Pleasure was acquired as a yearling purchase, she was the impetus for Key to become a breeder. After boarding a few broodmares, he decided to buy a farm, and his Winning Key Farm in western Pennsylvania has been the home to as many as 300-plus mares. Billy Haughton told me a couple of things. Number one, breeding and racing horses is a numbers game. Number two, its breeding, breeding, breeding, said Key of his operation. For the past five years, Keys horses have routinely earned more than $3.4 million, ranking him among the top 15 money-winning breeders and ahead of many commercial breeders. During the past decade, Keys horses have won many stakes races, in part a testament to his philosophy on staking many of his horses to many, many stakes: You have to be in it to win it, he often said. His more recent stakes winners have included world champion Break The Bank K (3, 1:51.1, $1,104,630), a 12-race winner who captured the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Trot and finished third in the Kentucky Futurity final and Canadian Trotting Classic; Twilight Bonfire, runner-up to Captaintreacherous in the 2013 North America Cup final; Win Missy B (3, 1;52, $1,599,436), winner of the Peaceful Way and Goldsmith Maid at age two and, at three, the Kentucky Filly Futurity, and second in the Hambletonian Oaks and Breeders Crown; and in 2017-2018, Looking For Zelda (3, 1:54, $439,234), a 100 per cent Robert J. Key production as a daughter of Break The Bank K and My Winning Way K. She won the International Stallion Stakes at Lexington at age two and the Buckette at three, in addition to numerous Ohio Sires Stakes. In addition to breeding and racing Standardbreds, Key founded and served as president of Key Bellevilles Inc. in Leechburg, Pa. Established in 1967, Key Bellevilles Inc. stretches over 200 acres and operates an 88,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, specializing in the design, manufacture, and worldwide distribution of high quality belleville disc springs. Key was a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pa., and worked as a practicing attorney before devoting his time entirely to the Key Bellevilles operation. Key also held a pilots license and in interviews shared that he often flew his trainer, Billy Haughton, to the racetrack or to look at yearlings. Not many have been involved with greater dedication, or with as much success, said Rob Key of his fathers legacy in harness racing. I dont think many realize the impact he has had through racing, breeding and supporting the sport, sometimes quietly but strongly. Rob Key said there are presently about 80 mares at Winning Key Farm and many horses in training and Winning Key Farms will continue. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Robert Key. (harnessracing.com) SEVEN HILLS, Ohio -- Orange barrels galore is how Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta describes the $2.7 million road program coming to the city this summer. Im really excited to be able to do this, because its certainly what our residents want, Biasiotta said. Having high-quality streets was definitely one of the top priorities made to me by our residents. As such, its been one of our highest priorities. Asphalt repaving and full-depth repairs as needed are anticipated to begin this spring on Elmhurst Drive (East Pleasant Valley Road to Evelyn Avenue), Summitview Drive, East Clearview Avenue, East Decker Drive (Northview Drive to East Dartmoor Avenue), East Hillsdale Avenue (West 9th Street to Northview Drive), Glenella Drive, Jasmine Drive, Karen Drive, South Main Hill Drive and Tanglewood Lane. The upcoming slate of street repairs is tied to a 2019 engineering study that ranked roads from best to worst. While we planned for a 10-street program this year, we applied for and won a 50/50 Cuyahoga County grant for Chestnut Road, Biasiotta said. The city will receive the max amount allowed of $250,000, so Chestnut Road will become the 11th street in our road program this year. In addition, we identified the northernmost section of Seven Hills Boulevard that needed work. As part of the Hemlock Creek Watershed Utility Improvement project, the majority of Seven Hills Boulevard was already completed, so we decided that (it) made sense to finish the rest of the street. Also on the citys schedule is the repaving of the parking lot located on the northeast corner of the Hillside and Broadview roads intersection. The mayor noted that over the last six years, the city has invested $7.5 million in its streets. While we do maintenance such as crack sealing and pothole filling annually, the last handful of years Seven Hills has embarked upon doing resurfacing every other year, Biasiotta said. Weve found that instead of two small programs, one medium or large program, were getting better pricing through the bidding process. Thats due to economies of scale. Looking ahead, the mayor said the city is in a good groove with its one-year-on, one-year-off road-repaving program. The number one thing is were very grateful were in a position we can do such a large program, Biasiotta said. The residents will be pleased that were responsibly taking care of their tax dollars and investing it in street resurfacing. Read more news from the Parma Sun Post. Years ago, when it looked like the fight for marriage equality was winding down, there was some concern among LGBTQ activists that victory on that one issue as deeply important as it is would obscure the myriad ways in which LGBTQ people continue to face discrimination. They were right. In the years since the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land, polling has suggested that the wider American public assumes the federal government equally protects LGBTQ people from discrimination. In fact, its not even most. Other than marriage equality and employment rights (ruled on by the Supreme Court only this past June), there are no nationwide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. As a proud transgender woman and military veteran, I am certainly grateful that President Joe Biden has acted quickly, as promised, with executive orders this week that banned discrimination in the federal government on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation and overturned former President Donald Trumps trans military ban. However, these critical victories must not allow us to lose sight of all the work left to be done, particularly for transgender Americans. This past summer, the Supreme Court handed down a surprise 6-3 majority ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, holding that both gender identity and sexual orientation fall under sex as a protected class in regard to employment rights for LGBTQ people. The executive order issued by Biden on his first day in office simply expands this legal reasoning to include all areas of public policy within the jurisdiction of the federal government. But while its a landmark moment for trans rights, even Bidens order does not cover state and local jurisdictions. In most of the United States, LGBTQ people particularly trans people are still vulnerable to discrimination in housing, credit, public accommodations, jury selection and other aspects of the public square. For example, there are trans people who live in states in which they cannot be fired for their gender identity but lack even basic protections against discrimination for things such as using a public restroom that aligns with their gender identity or renting an apartment. Story continues The solution to this problem lies in the Equality Act, proposed legislation that would ban all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation throughout the United States. Although highly popular nearly 70 percent of Americans consistently support it in polling the legislation failed in the last congressional session because then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to bring it to the floor for consideration. This was despite bipartisan passage in the House and widespread support from clergy, business leaders and other constituency groups. The Equality Act is expected to pass the House again, and we need to ensure that when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer brings it to the Senate floor, were putting pressure on our senators to finally do the right thing. And there are areas of policy, particularly for trans and nonbinary people, that can be addressed even without congressional action. Biden needs to ensure that the federal government immediately reinstates policies that allow incarcerated trans individuals to be housed in facilities that align with their gender identity. This was the policy under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. He can order that transgender asylum-seekers and people living with HIV and AIDS, among other groups, are immediately released from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He should announce an aggressive plan to finally end the HIV and AIDS epidemic. He should also create an LGBTQ equity advisory council to lead his administrations efforts to address the broad obstacles faced by LGBTQ people. Perhaps, most urgently, Biden needs to implement a comprehensive plan to address the ongoing epidemic of violence against trans and nonbinary people. Last year, at least 44 trans and nonbinary were killed in the United States, the deadliest year on record. Overwhelmingly, the victims were Black and brown trans women. Only four weeks into the new year, two trans people have already been slain: Tyianna Alexander, a 28-year-old Black trans woman in Chicago, and Samuel Edmund Damian Valentin, a trans man in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, a state of emergency was declared this week in response to recent, horrific violence against women and trans people. The movement for equality is an ongoing effort. LGBTQ inequality did not end when homosexuality was decriminalized in the United States nearly two decades ago or when same-same marriage was declared the law of the land by the Supreme Court nearly six years ago. Despite an amazing first week for LGBTQ rights in the Biden administration, there is still so much work left to ensure all people are able to live, work and love in our country. I am confident that this new administration is committed to that fight, but the clock starts now. Lets get to work. [January 28, 2021] Nippon Express' East Asia Regional General Manager Receives Award at Ceremony Celebrating Shanghai Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone's 30th Anniversary TOKYO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Managing Executive Officer Tatsuo Sugiyama, Regional General Manager for the East Asia Region of Nippon Express Co., Ltd., was honored with the Greatest Contributing Entrepreneur Award at a ceremony hosted on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, in Shanghai by the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee to commemorate the 30th anniversary of establishment of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone. Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202101250135-O3-91152beC Photo1: Scene from ceremony https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202101250135/_prw_PI1fl_whT1Ut8C.jpg Photo2: Managing Executive Officer Sugiyama https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202101250135/_prw_PI2fl_OJ548YMU.jpg The ceremony looked back at the Bonded Zone's accomplishments over the past 30 years and, ahead to its future aspirations, companies and entrepreneurs who had made outstanding contributions to the Bonded Zone's development were presented with awards. These awards recognized those who had contributed in multifaceted ways to the development of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone over many years through logistics operations, and six of the 30 recipients were Japanese. Nippon Express remains committed to expanding its logistics operations in China and contributing to society through logistics. Nippon Express website: http://www.nipponexpress.com/ Official LinkedIn Account: NIPPON EXPRESS GROUP https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ SOURCE Nippon Express Co., Ltd. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-27 22:25:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hears a work report delivered via video link by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on the HKSAR government's work in 2020, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2021. Vice Premier Han Zheng also attended the event. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday heard a work report delivered via video link by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on the HKSAR government's work in 2020. Vice Premier Han Zheng also attended the event. Noting that 2020 was a challenging year for Hong Kong, Li said Lam has led the HKSAR government in fighting COVID-19, reviving the economy, addressing people's difficulties, stabilizing society, and actively seeking policy support from the central authorities to help Hong Kong better integrate its development into the overall development of the country. "The central authorities fully acknowledge your performance and the performance of the HKSAR government in fulfilling duties," Li said. An elderly woman was found dead in her home in Brooklyn with a phone cord around her neck, cops said Monday. The 78-year-old victim, identified as Juanita Caballero, was found by her son lying on the floor with the phone cord wrapped around her neck on Jan. 15. Juanita Caballero was living in Woodson Houses apartment on Powell Street near Dumont Avenue, according to authorities. Police said Juanita Caballero was already unconscious and unresponsive when authorities arrived. Thus, she was pronounced dead on the scene, according to a New York Post report. Police confirmed that her death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. Read also: The War on Guatemalan Women: Gangs Murder with Impunity Suspect on Juanita Caballero's Death Caballero's death did not seem like a coincidence to the Carter G. Woodson senior housing project's residents. It was not the first death that occurred in the complex since 2015. According to a We Are Mitu report, Caballero's death was the third suspicious death to be reported in the area. An 82-year-old woman named Myrtle McKinney was found dead in her apartment at the housing complex in 2015. Authorities initially thought that she died of natural causes. However, it was shown in her autopsy report that there was a stab wound in her neck, which led law enforcement officials to believe that there might be foul play. In 2019, 83-year-old Jacolia James' body was found in her apartment by her grandson. It was apparent that James did not die of natural causes as authorities showed that she had injuries to her face and neck, which they deemed suspicious. Officials eventually determined that the elderly woman was strangled and stomped to death. Evidence and witness accounts then led police to identify 66-year-old Kevin Gavin, the person allegedly responsible for the three murders of the elderlies that lived in the complex. Gavin was a fellow resident of the housing project. Other residents described Gavin as someone you could depend on to do you a favor. "I am confident the defendant took advantage of his relationship with these women, was allowed into their homes, and did unspeakable acts of violence against them," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a report. NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said that Gavin managed to gain the trust of these three elderly women by being a friendly neighbor who helped them out around their homes and ran errands for them Harrison believed that disputes over money were the motive for his killings, ABC 7 reported. Meanwhile, the families of the victims are still distraught. Some elected officials, including the victims' relatives, are accusing the NYPD of negligence and racism, claiming that the investigation was not taken as seriously as it should have been after the first murder. Juanita Caballero's son said that he was heartbroken as he saw his mother brutally murdered. McKinney's son, Mark Lewis, said that he was relieved that there was an arrest, and "it's over five years later." Detectives reportedly have been eyeing Gavin for a long time, but he was never charged due to lack of evidence. Gavin is now facing three counts of second-degree murder. Read more: Brazilian Man Confesses to Rape, Murder of Japanese Woman MDHHS continues Flint mobile food pantries during February; Department and Food Bank to take extra precautions due to COVID-19 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 28, 2021 CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112 LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will continue to provide nutritious food by the truckload to Flint residents throughout February. MDHHS has provided the Flint mobile food pantries since February 2016 in partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Michigan, food pantry distributors are taking extra precautions to keep customers and volunteers protected. Each site is requiring volunteers to wear gloves and masks, clean their hands with hand sanitizer often, and take steps to sanitize distribution buildings throughout the day. Customers do not have to step out of their vehicle to receive food volunteers are asking the customer to simply open their trunk and they will load up the vehicle with food to reduce contact. This months mobile food pantry distribution will have plenty of delicious, vitamin-rich produce and proteins, including potatoes, apples, ground turkey and cheese. February dates for distributions are: Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 Ballenger Hwy. Monday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m. Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road. Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m. Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N. Dort Hwy. Thursday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. St. Lukes NEW Life Center, 3115 Lawndale Ave. Friday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. Flint residents can also pick up free nutritional food at the three Flint Help Center locations: Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Highway, open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays; Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road, open Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N. Dort Highway, open Thursdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Information about additional food distributions will be announced as they are scheduled. To check food distribution schedules, visit the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan website at FBEM.org and find the updated schedule on the Mobile Pantry Distribution page, or call 810-239-4441. # # # 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. Janet Yellen, who was later confirmed as Treasury secretary, is seen during President Joe Biden's inauguration outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images) Senate to Hold Hearing on Stock Market as White House Defends Yellen Over Wall Street Ties A Senate panel will hold a hearing on the stock market amid an unprecedented wave of actions taken against investors, an incoming chairman said Thursday, as the White House defended Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over her ties to Wall Street. Stocks like GameStop and AMC have exploded in growth in recent days, bolstered by a drove of investors talking them up on a Reddit subgroup. The investors saw Robinhood, an investment trading app, and other companies cutting them off from buying and selling some stocks, prompting fury and a class action lawsuit. As Republicans and Democrats united in condemning Robinhoods action, incoming Senate Banking Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) lambasted Wall Street and said the panel would hold a hearing. People on Wall Street only care about the rules when theyre the ones getting hurt. Its time for SEC and Congress to make the economy work for everyone, he said in a statement. The hearing will deal with the current state of the stock market. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) walks near the Senate Chamber in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images) The Biden administration has said little about whats happening. Three Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officials on Wednesday said in a brief statement they were aware of and monitoring the market volatility and the White House said both the administration and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen are also monitoring the situation. Yellen received hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees from Wall Street, including some $800,000 from Citadel, according to filings with the Office of Government Ethics. Citadel has poured money into the hedge fund Melvin Capital, which took a strong short position against GameStop, the primary stock thats drawn investors through interest on Reddit and elsewhere. Yellen said in her ethics pledge that she wouldnt participate personally and substantially in any matter that involves Citadel or other entities that paid her to speak unless she receives written authorization. Asked during a briefing Thursday about Yellens ties to Citadel and whether she should recuse herself from advising President Joe Biden, White House press secretary Jen Psaki declined to answer directly. To be clear what I said [yesterday] is that the treasury secretary now confirmed. We have a broader economic team. The SEC put out a statement yesterday that I referred to. I dont have anything more for you on it, except for to say, separate from this GameStop issue, the secretary of treasury is one of the world-renowned experts on markets, on the economy. It shouldnt be a surprise to anyone that she was paid to give her perspective and advice before she came in office, Psaki said. The SEC declined to comment beyond its Wednesday statement. The Treasury Department didnt respond to a request for comment. Johannesburg Property database online V ALUABLE Johannesburg property and economic information is available online to the public, in two map-based databases. Much of the information is available free of charge; the rest requires a subscription. The databases were set up by the City of Johannesburg's Economic Development Unit and the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA). The Economic Nodes database deals with business property in 25 business nodes; the Inner City database deals with residential property in the inner city. THE BUSINESS NODES DATABASE will interest the property sector as it provides an economic evaluation of 25 business nodes to assess their economic potential. It also contains a brief overview of each node, including its history, node description and catchment area. THE INNER CITY DATABASE provides an estimate of property values across the inner city, from the most expensive skyscrapers to more humble dwellings. The database will be continuously extended to cover more parts of the city as information becomes available. How to access the two databases To access the databases, go to http://eservices.joburg.org.za/joburg/eservices, click on 'Online Maps (GIS)', select the 'Free Access' box, then click on the city map. Services available for free Interactive maps that zoom in from a regional overview to street level. Added services for subscribers The Alabama Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that three cases of the coronavirus variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom last year have been detected in the state. In a release, ADPH said two of the cases are in Montgomery County and the other is in Jefferson. Two of the cases are children and one is an adult. The variant, known as B.1.1.7, is believed to be more easily transmitted than the main strain. As this variant and others spread throughout the nation, some doctors are saying the precautions we've been told to follow since the start of the pandemic should keep us safe. Dr. Ali Hassoun, Huntsville Hospitals infectious disease specialist, said its unlikely that wearing two or three masks would make a significant difference in stopping the spread of these variant strains. Instead, he says the traditional prevention methods -- masking, distancing and sanitizing -- are the most important. "We really don't need to change what we've done before and recommended before," he said. He said people who have been following the recommended guidelines shouldnt have much to worry about. "Is there a chance? There is always a chance in everything, but if they've done a good job with the rules, I think they should be OK, Hassoun said. While no variant cases have been recorded in Huntsville or North Alabama as of Wednesday night, Hassoun said they are likely already here. [Were] gonna need to be always cautious and on guard on this and we need to follow the rules because it's going to help reduce all different kinds of these mutants or variants from transmission." So far, the UK variant doesn't appear to be more dangerous, but with the easier spread, its likely that more cases will lead to more deaths. "The more transmission, the more cases, the more hospitalization, and there is more chances of death associated with that, Hassoun explained. While it is still too early for most Alabamians to get the vaccine, it is believed that the current vaccines will protect against variant strains, such as B.1.1.7, though research is ongoing. Peterhead fish market, Europes biggest, has been called a ghost town since Brexit but Boris Johnson said the sectors fortunes would improve (Will Clark/PA) Boris Johnson has said his Brexit trade deal will be very beneficial in the medium to long term for fishermen but admitted that initial problems were inevitable. MPs have warned the Government that the entire fishing industry could be destroyed if ministers do not fix customs clearance technology at the border which has hampered fish and seafood trade since Britain started operating on fresh terms with the European Union at the start of the year. Industry officials said Peterhead in Scotland, Europes biggest fish market, has been turned into a ghost town by Brexit due to boats being tied up and exporters crippled. The Prime Minister, during his visit to Scotland on Thursday, said he would be happy to meet with the fishing sector to explain why I think weve done the right thing with Brexit. He told broadcasters: Of course, there are teething problems in lots of areas thats inevitable because there is a big change. We told people there was a big change coming and where people have had problems through no fault of their own, there is a 23 million fund to help them through it. But the Conservative Party leader said the new relationship he had negotiated with Brussels would bring benefits to coastal communities that the UK Government would help trawlermen to exploit. Expand Close Boris Johnson said he would be happy to meet with the fishing sector (Wattie Cheung/Daily Mail/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Boris Johnson said he would be happy to meet with the fishing sector (Wattie Cheung/Daily Mail/PA) Be in no doubt that over the medium term, and much more over the long term, the changes are very beneficial for Scottish fishing a big increase in North Sea cod, in North Sea haddock, in just the next few years, a 25% increase in overall quota in just the next few years, he added. Then, moving to a world in which we really are able as a country to fish the entire stocks in the whole of Britains territorial waters and were going to help Scottish fishing communities get ready for that moment, progressively improve their ability to take advantage of the position with a 100 million investment in fishing and helping improve their equipment, and so on. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured during his visit to Scotland (Wattie Cheung/Daily Mail)As youve heard this morning, were setting up a taskforce to make sure we work with Scottish fishing industry to make sure they are in a position to take advantage of this increase in stocks. The SNP accused the Prime Minister of being untruthful with the catching sector. Expand Close Fishing boats moored in Dunbar Harbour, East Lothian (Jane Barlow/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fishing boats moored in Dunbar Harbour, East Lothian (Jane Barlow/PA) Karen Adam, the partys candidate for Banffshire & Buchan Coast constituency at the May Holyrood election, said: Boris Johnson has been caught hook, line and sinker repeating total lies to Scotlands fishermen. Anywhere this Tory Prime Minister goes, he leaves behind him a trail of lies, bluster and broken promises. He must set the record straight and apologise to the industry for repeating this false narrative. The Scottish Fishermens Federation, asked for its view on the Prime Ministers comments, said the organisations position had not changed since chief executive Elspeth Macdonald wrote to Mr Johnson on January 15. In her letter she said the industry found itself in the worst of both worlds since the enactment of the Brexit agreement. Ms Macdonald said: Your deal leaves us with shares that not only fall very far short of zonal attachment, but in many cases fail to bridge the gap compared to historic catches, and with no ability to leverage more fish from the EU, as they have full access to our waters. This, coupled with the chaos experienced since January 1 in getting fish to market means that many in our industry now fear for their future, rather than look forward to it with optimism and ambition. Operations at Bahrain International Airports (BIA) new passenger terminal has begun, in line with the directive of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, said a report. The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) announced that all the airports facilities are ready, and preparations to welcome passengers are complete. The transfer to the new facility marks the dawn of a new era for the Kingdom of Bahrains aviation sector, news agency BNA reported. The $1.1 billion new terminal is four times the size of the old one and designed to deliver a more personal, Bahraini feel. Equipped with the latest technologies in the market and supported by new infrastructure, it will increase the airports capacity to 14 million passengers per year, delivering a hassle-free airport experience and the highest standards of luxury, the report said. The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and BAC Chairman, Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed noted that the transfer marks a major step for the Ministry and BAC under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The Minister praised the Crown Princes contributions to the project and thanked him for his guidance, highlighting his contributions towards the kingdoms many outstanding achievements in pursuit of its Economic Vision 2030, and bringing the Airport Modernization Program (AMP) closer to completion. Launched in February 2016, the AMP is the largest investment in Bahrains aviation sector to date and one of the most important national projects in the kingdoms history. The Minister also expressed his satisfaction with the progress made during the first phase of the new terminals development, and the Team Bahrain spirit that has characterised everyone involved in this project since its inception. The Minister said: "I would like to thank our strategic partners, contractors, all companies working in Bahrain International Airport, and all parties involved for their strong support for this national project." "We are very grateful for their assistance and contributions throughout, which were vital to the smooth and successful launch of the airport's new infrastructure. Their contributions helped to ensure the project was on schedule and on budget completion, without disrupting operations at the legacy airport, which has served the Kingdom efficiently for decades." BAC Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: This milestone is the culmination of years of careful planning and hard work. It marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the Kingdoms rich aviation history and positions BIA as the most modern boutique airport in the region." "Delivered by a Bahraini majority airport leadership team with the support of hundreds of young Bahrainis working in the aviation sector, the new terminal reflects the world-class capabilities of our local talent." "With a strong focus on innovation, efficiency, and culture, BACs goal is to ensure that BIA stands out as a best-in-class airport that reflects the kingdoms distinct character and cements its reputation as a regional financial, cultural, and aviation center. The transfer of operations represents a major shift for Bahrains aviation sector and comes after the completion of the Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) program, one of the kingdoms most ambitious national projects, which paved the way for a smooth transition to the airports new Passenger Terminal. The launch of the new facility is a major contributor to trade, supporting the growth of tourism and travel in Bahrain. The investment in the airport expansion also reflects the government's commitment to supporting sustainable economic growth by strengthening the kingdom's logistics sector. The AMP is one of the most important development projects in recent memory and extends across a range of economic sectors with a total value of more than $32 billion. The new terminal is four times the size of the old one and designed to deliver a more personal, Bahraini feel. Equipped with the latest technologies in the market and supported by new infrastructure, it will increase the airports capacity to 14 million passengers per year, delivering a hassle-free airport experience and the highest standards of luxury, the report said. An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday discharged General Lance Corporal Bright Akosah who allegedly shot and killed a taxi driver at Adjin Kotoku near Accra after robbing him of his vehicle. The court also discharged Ebenezer Tetteh, a trader and Francis Aidoo, a tailor, alleged accomplices of Corporal Akosah. The accused were facing charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery. They however denied the offence. The accused persons were discharged after Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fuseini Yakubu had told the court that the Police had completed investigations and they had consolidated the case dockets of the accused. ASP Yakubu further stated that the Police is forwarding a duplicate docket to the Attorney-Generals office for the preparation of the bill of indictment on the charges of murder of the 40 year old Samuel Tawiah, conspiracy and robbery. According to him, the charge of murder constituted an indictable offence. He said the accused have already been put before a District Court following the murder charge. ASP Yakubu therefore prayed the Circuit Court to discharge the accused persons. The court presided over by Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah granted Prosecutions prayers and discharged them accordingly. The facts, as narrated earlier by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fuseine Yakubu, was that the deceased, Samuel Tawiah, is a resident of Afuaman, near Pokuase in Accra. ASP Yakubu said Akosah is a Police officer with the Police SWAT Unit at the Regional Police Headquarters in Accra. Tetteh also resides at Agbogboloshie and Aidoo, a tailor, lives at Cape Coast. He said on September 12, last year, Akosah and Tetteh went to Adjin Kotoku and its environs to survey areas where their victims could easily be robbed. He said the following day Akosah, dressed in his Police uniform, and armed with his pistol, instructed Tetteh to proceed to Adjin Kotoku to lay ambush at a spot they had agreed on. He said based on that Akosah went to Pokuase Junction to stop a Nissan Versa Taxi with registration; GW 6818-20 and lured the driver, Samuel Tawiah, to drive him to his site at Adjin Kotoku. Prosecution said Akosah, who sat at the back seat, directed Tawiah to Tetteh's hideout and gave Tetteh a signal to come out. The prosecution said sensing danger, Tawiah tried to escape but Akosah pulled his pistol and shot him twice at the back. He said the two pulled Tawiah out and dumped him in the bush, where Akosah shot him for the third time in the left ear. ASP Yakubu said Akosah and Tetteh abandoned the deceased in the bush and informed Aidoo that they had succeeded in robbing a taxi cab and asked him to look for buyers for the vehicle, which they drove to Biriwa and parked it there. He said on September 14, last year, at about 8am, the Anti-armed robbery Unit of the CID, acting on intelligence, feigned interest in the car and therefore negotiated the price with Aidoo for GH8,000.00. Prosecution said Aidoo informed Akosah who agreed on the amount and subsequently asked him to bring the buyers, but Aidoo was arrested in the process and took the Police to Elmina where Akosah was arrested with the Nissan Versa vehicle. He said the Police also found on him were NP 22 Pistol, one magazine loaded with eight rounds of 9 MM ammunition, one wrap of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drug, one lighter, iPhone Seven plus, One Itel phone, and a spanner. A Police ID card, a Voter ID card, and a GCB Visa Card all bearing the name of Bright Akosah were also retrieved. Prosecution said Akosah admitted the offence of robbery and mentioned Tetteh as his accomplice. He said on September 16, last year, Akosah led the Police to arrest Tetteh near the Awudome Cemetery who confessed that it was Akosah who shot and killed Tawiah when he tried to snatch his vehicle. Akosah confessed killing Tawiah, prosecution said. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-27 19:40:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson Wednesday said Taiwan authorities created political obstacles to the use of mainland vaccines by the people on the island. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said some people in Taiwan continued to fabricate various excuses and lies for refusing to accept vaccines from the mainland. In pursuit of selfish political gains, they are endangering the lives and health of local people. Zhu made the remarks at a press conference when asked about the possibility of donating vaccines to Taiwan through the Red Cross. "The head of Taiwan's epidemic response agency has repeatedly said that mainland vaccines will not be used, so there are obstacles to this issue indeed, mainly political ones," she said. The vaccination work has been carried out in an orderly manner across the mainland, Zhu said, adding that appropriate arrangements will be made for the eligible population, including Taiwan compatriots, on the mainland. She also underlined that the mainland's vaccination push is conducted on the premise that vaccine recipients apply on a voluntary basis and be well-informed. The free vaccination drive on the mainland has been carried out in an orderly manner to gradually establish an immunity barrier and curb the spread of the virus, Zhu said. Enditem Page Content Overview Shifts since 1994 With the advent of democracy, the city has undergone significant restructuring, leading up to the adoption of Joburg 2030 , a visionary strategy aimed at boosting investment and economic growth. In 1994 - the first democratic local government elections - local authorities were highly fragmented: white local authorities spent R600 per capita per annum and were 90 percent self-sufficient while their black counterparts spent R100 per capita per annum and were 10 percent self-sufficient. In 1995 various local authorities were amalgamated to form four councils co-ordinated by a central metropolitan council under a single tax base. To support this tax base, the municipal boundaries of Johannesburg were extended to include Sandton, Randburg, Soweto, Alexandra and Orange Farm. However, this system was still highly fragmented and much duplication took place. By the 1997/1998 financial year, the effects of this fragmentation were being keenly felt, with the City experiencing a R300-million deficit, a R405-million overdraft and a negligible capital expenditure budget. A new approach was required and, in 1999, a city manager was appointed and Igoli 2002, a three-year plan to turn the City's finances around, was devised. In 2000, Johannesburg was restructured to become a single metropolitan authority and elections were held for an executive mayor and unified local government. Again the local municipal boundaries were expanded, this time to include Modderfontein and Midrand. Since then, the City has enjoyed a financial turnaround, with the creation of credible and stable operating environment. This stability, strong centralised co-ordination and oversight has allowed the City to play a crucial role in building the economy, and implementing policies and structures to support economic growth and poverty alleviation. This success was brought about by: The adoption of Igoli 2002 in 1999, aimed at rectifying pressing financial problems. One outcome was to create the organisational space and budget for the council to adopt a more hands-on role for the City in the sphere of economic development. The creation of the office of executive mayor, and the outlining of a list of mayoral priorities to "stimulate economic growth and address the problems of unemployment and inequality between the rich and poor". This required the City to be an agent for economic growth. The adoption of Joburg 2030 , an economic development plan aimed at achieving a better quality of life for all the city's residents. This long-term strategy focuses on getting fundamentals in the economic and investment chain right. It identified the three core mechanisms to achieve this: creating a conducive environment; improving the efficiency of investment; and accelerating business activities. Russia hopes the extension of the last remaining U.S.-Russian arms-control treaty will give a new boost to restarting a strategic dialogue between Moscow and Washington, Russia's deputy UN ambassador has said. "I would say that currently there are more reasons for optimism because yesterday our presidents held a telephone conversation and agreed to extend New START by five years," said Dmitry Polyansky, according to TASS. "But does this prevent problems in US-Russian relations? I would not say so." Polyansky told a press briefing at the United Nations in New York that Moscow recognized some people in the new U.S. administration's foreign-policy team who bring a "certain legacy with them," and this "explains why we are somewhat cautious." Polyansky did not name the people he referred to, but President Joe Biden's choice to serve as undersecretary for political affairs, Victoria Nuland, is known as a Russia hawk. She irritated the Kremlin when she expressed solidarity with demonstrators in Ukraine in the early days of a pro-Western uprising. Nuland was assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs at the time. In her new position, she will hold the third-highest spot in the State Department. But Nuland wrote an opinion piece last summer in which she said the next U.S. president should "try again" with Russian President Vladimir Putin to improve bilateral relations. Polyansky said if the approach of the Biden administration is about "featuring Russia as kind of a rogue state...that deserves isolation, sanctions" and if there is no dialogue and understanding about what is behind the current world political situation, "I dont think that there will be much of a breakthrough." "So we're not too pessimistic," Polyansky said. "We're realists." Polyansky said Russia will shape its opinion of the new administration and its attitude toward Russia "on the basis of concrete actions." The diplomat said there were a lot of security and strategic issues on the table, including arms control, which required "a serious, in-depth dialogue, on equal footing." But the first phone call between Putin and Biden underscored the troubled relations between the United States and Russia. While the Kremlin focused on the New START treaty, the White House said Biden raised concerns about the arrest of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, Moscow's alleged involvement in a massive cyber-espionage campaign, and unverified reports of Russian bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan. On each of these issues, Polyansky said, "there are a lot of allegations but there are no proofs, and there are no facts." Polyansky expressed hope that the agreement to extend the New START will spur a dialogue. The lower house of parliament, or State Duma, voted unanimously on January 27 to extend the New START for five years. It was then approved quickly in the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council. The extension was "a step in the right direction," Putin said in an address to the Davos Economic Summit on January 27, adding that "challenges remain" that could cause "a real setback in global development, which is fraught with a fight of all against all and attempts to resolve looming controversies through a search for internal and external enemies." "The situation can develop unpredictably and spin out of control if nothing is done to prevent it," he said, while expressing "hope" that global conflicts are a thing of the past since they could mean "the end of civilization." New START, the last remaining arms-control pact between Washington and Moscow, limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550, deployed strategic delivery systems at 700, and provides for a verification regime. With reporting by AP and TASS Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Imperial Valley News Center On the Death of Colombian Defense Minister Trujillo Washington, DC - Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State: "On behalf of the Department of State, I offer my condolences to the people and government of Colombia on the death of Minister of Defense and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Holmes Trujillo Garcia. With his passing, Colombia has lost a great patriot, leader, and statesman. "The United States has lost a close friend and ally. Minister Trujillos dedication to a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive Colombia was apparent to all who worked with him over his more than four decades of public service. He will be remembered for his tireless efforts to strengthen Colombias partnership with the United States in the service of a stable and democratic hemisphere. The United States joins with Colombia in mourning his passing, and in recognizing the grief that so many families in both our countries have endured during the COVID-19 pandemic. We pledge to continue our cooperation with our close ally Colombia in the service of our common democratic ideals." CEDARVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than a year after graduating from the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, Dr. Kofi Amoah joined the Pfizer team developing a vaccine to fight COVID-19. It's been a whirlwind year and a half for Amoah, who graduated in May 2019. After completing an internship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, he joined Pfizer in August 2019. When the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping the United States in March 2020, he joined the team tasked with creating a vaccine. "It was a huge responsibility, but it wasn't scary," said Amoah. "I learned at Cedarville how to collaborate with a team of people from different types of backgrounds. I knew from my education how to seek out information and how to learn from others in a collaborative setting. I had those opportunities at Cedarville." Amoah serves as a medical outcome specialist at Pfizer, serving as a go-between for three different Pfizer clinical sites. He was responsible for collecting and collating data on side effects of the vaccine ranging from serious to mild, passed along questions from one test site to another and ensured that Pfizer senior researchers were following proper protocols when recruiting test subjects. He continues to work with Pfizer on testing. His new business, Sterling Rapid Response, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a vaccine provider for 500,000 patients. This allows Sterling to set up a mobile clinic and collaborate with Hamilton County Public Health and the Springdale (OH) Health Department to help administer and distribute the vaccine. Amoah has reached out to the Cedarville school of pharmacy for students, interns and professors to help administer the vaccine. "I'm able to hire pharmacists, pharmacist interns, pharmacy technicians, nurses and doctors to work with public health departments, hospitals and the community to get the vaccine out," he said. For instance, Amoah explained, the public health department will schedule patients, but his business will supply the labor for administering the vaccine. "I am encouraged by the innovative mindset Kofi and others have portrayed since graduating," said Dr. Thad Franz, assistant professor pharmacy practice. It is what our profession needs as we continue to face the pandemic and care well for the patients we love." Cedarville University is an accredited, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 students in more than 150 areas of study. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu. SOURCE Cedarville University Related Links http://www.cedarville.edu CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kelly Cloonan, a North Ridgeville resident and nurse, is joining in the fight against human trafficking, aiming to train healthcare providers to recognize trafficking signs and help rescue victims. Human trafficking can affect adults and children, men and women, and people from all walks of life. A big misconception is that people think that if it happens in the U.S. its people from other countries, and its crazy, but its completely not true, Cloonan said. Cloonan says about 80% of victims of human trafficking see a healthcare provider while they are in captivity. Cosmetologists are required to take a human trafficking education module, but nurses arent, at least in Ohio, Cloonan said. Cloonan, assistant dean for Chamberlain Universitys Master of Science in Nursing Specialty Tracks, began her work with Hope For Justice, a global anti-human trafficking charity, last summer. Currently, she and a Chamberlain colleague, Jodie Flynn, a sexual assault nurse examiner, are creating training about the ties between nursing and human trafficking for the U.S. State Department. Ohio ranked 14th among 50 states for the number of active criminal human trafficking cases making their way through federal courts, according to a 2019 report by the Human Trafficking Institute. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, human trafficking calls to hotlines are increasing, due to online predators trying to target potential victims, according to data from the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. Its insane, Cloonan said. Because everyone is at home, and kids are online more, and the more they are online, the more risk they have of a predator reaching out to them. Trafficking is happening a ton in the U.S. via online platforms. Its a $150 billion business, its actually the second-fastest growing crime after drug dealing. During her time as a hospital nurse, Cloonan encountered a teenage patient, who in hindsight, showed several signs of being a victim of human trafficking including avoiding eye contact and showing no emotion while being seen by Cloonan and the medical team. Cloonan said she hopes the training fill the gaps and offer information about important signs to look for, including patients not having control of their own documents and strange tattoos. Its really for anyone to notice that to pay attention to strange behaviors, Cloonan said. I want people to get involved, even if it scares you. Even if you feel like its too hard, make sure at least to protect your family and to pay attention. Samsung boosted profits by 26.4 percent for its fourth-quarter despite an 11 percent drop in smartphone sales over last year, the company announced. For the entire 2020 fiscal year, in the midst of a pandemic, it saw revenue and profits both rise to 236.81 trillion won ($211.5 billion) and 35.99 trillion won ($32.1 billion), increases of 29.6 and 2.78 percent, respectively. Fourth-quarter results were powered mainly by its memory and display businesses, with the latter marking a record quarter in terms of revenue. Samsung chalked that up to high demand from smartphone manufacturers, likely due in part to OLED panels supplied to Apple for its iPhone 12 lineup. Apple itself booked a record $111.4 billion in revenue this quarter on the strength of iPhone 12 sales, effectively doubling the 61.55 trillion won ($54.98 billion) in revenue that Samsung made in Q4. Samsung fared less well with its own smartphones, as sales were down 11 percent over Q4 2019. However, the company expects its mobile divisions revenue to rise next quarter powered by the recently-launched Galaxy S21. Samsung pushed the S21 sales launch window up a month, giving consumers a chance to buy them earlier than usual. On top of that, where the Galaxy S20 had become quite expensive, the S21 lineup is cheaper across the board. As such, we called the S21 the best Android phone for the money. New Delhi, Jan 28 : With a massive decrease in the coronavirus cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said India has successfully contained the pandemic. "With the 'Whole of Government' and 'Whole-of-society' approach envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has successfully contained the pandemic," Dr. Vardhan said at the 23rd meeting of Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19. For the past 21 days, the country has been recording less than 20,000 daily new infections. Also, the death toll remained below 300-mark for the past 31 days. This number has been on a steady decline for more than four months now. The peak was reached on September 17 when 97,894 infections were detected in a single-day. Detailing the achievements, he said, "146 districts have no new cases since the last 7 days, 18 districts since the last 14 days, 6 districts since 21 days and 21 districts since the last 28 days." This has been achieved with pro-active testing of which more than 19.5 crore have been conducted so far. The current testing capacity rests at 12 lakh per day, he emphasised. He added that out of the total active cases, a meagre 0.46 per cent are on ventilators, 2.20 per cent are in ICU and just 3.02 per cent are on oxygen support. Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that 165 cases of the mutant variant of cronovirus that originated in the UK have been reported so far. The patients have been kept under supervised quarantine and surveillance. He said that India has supported other countries with supply of the vaccine during such global public health crises, and trained the personnel of several countries in the vaccine administration. "By being a mitra (friend) to the global community, India has earned global trust by supplying indigenously made vaccines at this crucial hour", Vardhan said. The GoM discussed issues regarding balancing domestic requirements vis-a-vis requests from other countries for Indian vaccines. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Afreximbank has disbursed a $250 million credit to Trans Niger Oil and Gas Ltd (TNOG) to enable the company acquire 45 per cent stake in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 onshore oilfield. The NNPC holds 55 per cent equity in OML 17. The disbursement is about a quarter of the financing required to enable TNOG to buy stakes in the lease from Shell Petroleum Development Company, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. and ENI (AGIP). The total support package from Afreximbank Africa Export Import Bank is $1.1 billion, the bank said in a statement on Thursday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. The bank noted that with the $250 million dollar Reserve Based Lending (RBL) facility, Afreximbank was the largest lender in the acquisition process. Other participating lenders are Africa Finance Corporation, Union Bank, Shell, Hybrid Capital and Schlumberger, with United Capital Plc. advising TNOG. The five-year 1.1 billion dollar facility, which was signed in December 2020, in spite of the economic headwinds caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, was led by Afreximbank as Mandated Lead Arrangers. Others are Standard Chartered Bank and Amalgamated Banks of South Africa. Following this acquisition, TNOG will now operate the OML 17 onshore oilfield on behalf of the NNPC, it stated. Benedict Oramah, Afreximbank president, said in the statement that: The transaction further underscores the banks commitment to ensuring that indigenous African companies were able to play a more dominant role in the operations of specialised oil and gas assets in an industry dominated by international oil companies. TNOG as the Operator of OML 17 will invest in an accelerated production ramp up thereby boosting foreign exchange earnings and employing more Africans. This resonates with our mandate and we congratulate Heirs Holdings for keeping the African flag flying, he said. The statement quoted Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, to have said that the transaction was a testament to the opportunities that abound in Nigeria. TNOG is a sister company of Heirs Holdings Ltd. and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. Mr Elumelu added that the acquisition of OML 17 significantly advanced Heirs Holdings strategic vision of creating Africas leading integrated energy company. We are building a business that will ensure that African natural resources drive African power networks and ensure that value creation occurs in Africa. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Afreximbank, and President Oramah for their strong support and shared vision of the transaction, Mr Elumelu was also quoted to have said. The statement added that Afreximbank remained a key financier of the African oil and gas industry through RBLs and Pre-Export Finance structures in Nigeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, Republic of Congo, Angola and South Sudan. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Advertisement Coronavirus cases are still rising in parts of England and are falling too slowly in others to relieve the pressure on hospitals, scientists warn - but they say the brutal national lockdown is still working. Professor Paul Elliot, the director of the Imperial College London study, said infections rose slightly in the East Midlands over the first three weeks of the national shutdown and flattened in the West Midlands and the North. 'I think its difficult to know (why this is happening),' he said. 'Certainly compared to the first lockdown, we know from mobility data that there is more activity happening generally, more people are going to work, the rules around the schools are slightly different to last time. 'But also, you know, it really behoves us all to pay attention to the public health message. We know how the virus is transmitted through social contact, so the social distancing, face coverings and hand washing are extremely important.' Separate data from the Department of Health indicates a flattening in Covid-19 cases in Yorkshire up to January 20 and a marked slowing in the pace of falling infections in the East Midlands and the North East. Newer data since then, however, shows the number of people testing positive for the virus is falling in all regions of England. The Government-commissioned REACT study used random swabbing of 167,000 people in England to indicate about 1.57 per cent had the virus over the first three weeks of lockdown - the equivalent of almost 880,000 residents. They also estimated the national R rate is 0.98, below the critical threshold of one, suggesting the second wave is receding as fewer people are catching the virus each week, but the decline is moving slowly. The scientists sparked widespread concern last week when their paper seen as a key measure of Britain's outbreak suggested there was no drop in cases over the first ten days of the national shutdown, contradicting data showing the second wave had already begun to fade. But the team have now conceded their latest round of swabs on 25,000 people taken between January 15 and 22 show infections are dipping, although they say the fall is 'shallow' - and not uniform across all regions. Professor Elliot repeated the warning cases were not falling in a uniform fashion across England to Times Radio this morning despite the lockdown, after his study was published. Results from the REACT-1 study show the prevalence of the virus in the population in England dropped by 0.3 per cent from 1.4 to 1.1 per cent over the third week of lockdown, meaning over 720,000 people were carrying the virus at any given time. But they argued the drop 'masked' trends in the East Midlands, where infections continued to climb despite the lockdown. Professor Elliot told a press conference last night that they were now beginning to see a 'quite shallow decline'. But he added: 'We really need to keep an eye on what's happening. Even though we're seeing a down tick now it is by no means as good and so without getting a more rapid decline from these very high prevalence levels there will continue to be pressure on the NHS services.' He warned they were not seeing the 'very sharp reduction in prevalence' that was recorded in May, after the first lockdown. He also said their results showed lockdown was now working, after sparking concern last week: 'I think the suggestion now that there is a decline happening, particularly in some regions, may reflect that the restrictions in lockdown are beginning to have some effect on the prevalence [of the virus].' Professor Steven Riley, an infectious disease expert who co-leads the study, said there was 'some good news' in the most recent data as they 'do see a decline'. But he added: 'There's more uncertainty and regional heterogeneity so it doesn't seem to be consistent across the country and we can't immediately say why this is happening. 'It is possible lockdown is having more of an effect in some regions than others.' Regional prevalence of the disease was highest in London at 2.83 per cent, the East of England at 1.78 per cent and West Midlands at 1.66 per cent. HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FALLING IN ALL REGIONS OF ENGLAND The number of coronavirus patients being admitted to hospital appears to have peaked in every region of England, official figures show as the third national lockdown continues to drive down infections. NHS England data showed hospitalisations had fallen 13 per cent across England from their peak, and a regional breakdown shows a falling trend in all regions with the biggest drops in London, the South East and East of England, which have been in lockdown since before Christmas. But despite the flattening off the total number of patients rushed to hospitals every day remains 'incredibly high' and 'substantially' above the peak of the first wave, the chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said at a Downing Street press conference yesterday. The daily number of Covid-19 hospitalisations in England has peaked but remains 'incredibly high'. Above it is broken down by regions of England NHS England data shows weekly Covid-19 hospitalisations across England peaked in the week to January 12, when they hit an average of 26,700 patients, before dropping to 23,000 by January 24, the latest date figures are available. London, the South East and the East of England were first to see their daily coronavirus admissions peak, NHS England data shows, with each seeing their highest number over the seven days to January 9. In the capital admissions hit 6,000 patients, before dropping 28 per cent to 4,300 by January 24. In the East of England they hit 3,351, but then fell 17 per cent to 2,800, and in the South East they dropped by 28 per cent from 4,600 to 3,400. Admissions passed their peak in the South West - which has escaped the full force of both waves - in the week to January 15, and have now dropped by 15 per cent from 2,100 to 1,750. And in the North West - forced to endure months of severe restrictions under the old and new tier systems - they peaked in the same week, but have since only dropped five per cent from 3,100 to 2,900. The daily number of hospitalisations in the Midlands hit a height of 5,300 in the week to January 20. It has now dropped by 10 per cent to 4,800. And in the North East and Yorkshire NHS data suggests admissions peaked in the week to January 21 at 3,200 before falling by six per cent to 3,000. Advertisement The percentage of people with the disease over the study period in the South East was 1.61 per cent, followed by the North West at 1.38 per cent, North East at 1.22 per cent and East Midlands at 1.16 per cent. Prevalence was lowest in Yorkshire and The Humber at 0.8 per cent and the South West at 0.87 per cent. The study also estimated the proportion of infections suffered in age groups. Prevalence was lowest in those over 65 - who are most at risk of being hospitalised and dying if they catch the virus - at 0.93 per cent. But the experts warned the levels were 'too high'. Infections were highest among those aged 18 to 24, the results showed, at 2.44 per cent. The results were published as an online pre-print, meaning they are yet to be scrutinised by other scientists. The next study will start in February, and will seek to measure the impact of lockdown on the population. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the findings were a stark reminder of the 'need to remain vigilant'. 'Infection rates this high will continue to put a strain on our NHS and add to the significant pressures dedicated health and care staff are already facing,' he added. 'We must bring infections right down so I urge everyone to play their part to help save lives. You must stay at home unless absolutely necessary, follow social distancing rules and minimise contact with others.' Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University who was not involved in the study, said it was 'reasonable' to suggest the latest figures indicate that the prevalence of the virus has begun to fall. 'A fall of any kind in the number of infected people is good news, and a fall would match what we've seen recently in numbers of confirmed cases, but I'd want to see more data to be surer of this trend,' he added. Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said: 'The latest REACT-1 survey brings news of broadly sustained numbers of infections across England between 6th to 22nd January. 'Intriguingly, during this time, hospital admissions began to fall around the 14th January, which would normally indicate an overall decrease in infections. 'This apparent contradiction might be because infections were highest in the age groups from 13-24 years, who are least likely to be hospitalised. 'With that in mind, merely looking at hospital admission numbers will not be a reliable way of gauging the risk to society of lifting restrictions and opening schools. 'While there is still so much virus circulating in the population, there will be a significant risk of filling intensive care units with unvaccinated members of the working age population and those for whom the vaccine fails to give any protection against Covid-19.' Scientists challenged the REACT-1 study's suggestion that cases weren't falling over lockdown last week, saying they didn't have enough raw data to draw conclusions about whether the measures were working. Professor Tim Spector, who heads up the ZOE Symptom app which also estimates infections throughout the country, told MailOnline they 'can't really judge the effects of lockdown with their survey' because they didn't collect any data over the Christmas period. Experts say it can take up to two weeks for someone infected with the virus to develop symptoms, get a test, and then receive a positive result. This means there is a lag between becoming infected and having the case identified, meaning the impact of draconian measures may not become clear for 14 days. As the original study only looked at the first ten days after lockdown, it may have mostly picked up those that got infected before the draconian measures came in - impacting their estimates. NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The BlocPartners, the leading global network of independent health creative agencies, has two executive jurors at this year's Clio Health Awards: Bernardo Romero, CCO at The Bloc, and Xavier Sanchez, CEO at Umbilical and CCO at The BlocPartners. Bernardo Romero is one of the jury chairs and Xavier Sanchez is on the Digital/Mobile, Direct, Experience/Activation, Public Relations, Social Media & Creative Use of Data Jury. The Clio Health Awards recognizes the best in marketing and communications related to the healthcare industry. Winners are set to be announced at a ceremony this April. "It's an honor to be asked to be a jury chair at the Clio Health Awards, especially for such a pivotal year for the entire healthcare industry," said Bernardo Romero, CCO at The Bloc, a leading New York-based independent health creative agency. "These past twelve months have left us all with a deeper understanding of the significance of health creative, so I'll be taking very seriously my responsibility as a juror." Bernardo Romero has overseen some of the agency's most ambitious and acclaimed projects. One was "Instant Doctor," the short film about a world without human doctors which has received over fifty international film awards, including Best Short Film at the New York International Film Awards. Another was "The Call," where The Bloc teamed up with Ingrid Silva's EmpowHer NY to expose unconscious racial bias in healthcare - a project which won a D&AD Wood Pencil. "I'm very interested in new methods and big ideas in the advertising and communications worlds, so I'm excited for this opportunity to assess the most ambitious and groundbreaking health creative campaigns of last year," said Xavier Sanchez, the founder and CEO of the Barcelona-based independent healthcare advertising agency Umbilical. Xavier Sanchez has been working in healthcare communications over the last 25 years for prestigious clients such as Novartis, Sanofi, Astra Zeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, Leo Pharma, Merck, UCB, Ferrer, Alcon, Bayer, Chiesi, Almirall and Nestle. During his career, Xavier Sanchez's work has won more than 60 creative awards including print, film, audiovisual, direct marketing, digital and effectiveness categories. His work has been honored at both national and international competitions such as The Global Awards, Rx Club Awards, Best of Health Awards, Indigenius Awards, Lisbon Health Awards and Aspid Awards. View headshots of Bernardo and Xavier in this media kit. About The BlocPartners The BlocPartners is the global network of independent health creative and medical communications agencies. Through our multilocal model, The BlocPartners flexes and seamlessly collaborates across international boundaries to overcome every kind of barrier and deliver evidence-based, locally sourced, and globally effective solutions. We are a network of shared values and common purpose: to be greater together in our mission to do good. Contact: Joseph Milholland [email protected] SOURCE The Bloc Related Links https://www.theblocpartners.com/ The earth is what we all have in common and there's no planet B. Let's enter this new year and decade with this much-needed realisation and strive for a cleaner, better world. In these times, sustainability, going green and #sustainableliving are not merely some snappy catch phrases for the 'gram, nor are these lifestyle choices anymore, but a dire necessity. Taking the lead in representing the need of the hour, whilst making a strong case for going #vocalforlocal, Etsy India has emerged as the global marketplace for homegrown eco-warriors, who are striving hard to be the change we want to see in the world. With the Make in India drive and the need for sustainability in full swing more than ever, the reach of the homegrown sellers has multiplied manifold. Now more than ever, people want to invest in brands and sellers who contribute towards the well-being of the planet. Etsy is surely taking the lead in supporting homegrown sellers and consumers alike to partake in this little but impactful revolution. In February 2019, Etsy became the first global e-commerce platform to offset 100 per cent of carbon emissions from its shipping services. This effort has garnered widespread attention from the business community and were encouraged to see several global companies follow suit. Ninety per cent of Etsy buyers say that environmental sustainability is important to them. For every item shipped on Etsy , it automatically invests in environmental projects to offset the emissions. Since their step towards investing in green initiatives, they have offset over 173,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 20,000 homes energy use for a year or charging 22 billion smartphones.The global leader hosts multiple sellers selling myriad products ranging from home and decor to fashion and party and art collectibles, offering a community space for homegrown business owners as well. To give you a peek into the world of Etsy India and the amazing stuff you can find on it, we have hand-picked six sellers who are offering top-of-the-line quality products without compromising on our planet's health Jakarta, Jan 28 : Indonesian President Joko Widodo has received his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. "Like two weeks ago, it is no pain," Xinhua news agency quoted Widodo as saying on Wednesday after he was vaccinated. The President received his first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine on January 13. The Indonesian Covid-19 Task Force's spokesperson Reisa Broto Asmoro said the first dose is aimed at introducing the vaccine to the immune system, while the second is to strengthen the immune response that has been formed beforehand. "These antibodies will be optimal in 14-28 days after the second injection," Brotoasmoro added. Indonesia has set a target of vaccinating 181.5 million people until next year to create a herd immunity and end the pandemic. The first period of vaccination from January to April is aimed at inoculating 1.3 million medical workers, 17.4 million public workers, and 21.5 million elderly people. The second period from April 2021 to March 2022 will administer the vaccine to 63.9 million vulnerable people and 77.4 million others. As of Thursday morning, Indonesia has registered a total of 1,024,298 coronavirus cases and 28,855 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The following statement was unanimously adopted by the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education at its meeting on Monday. The refusal of the ruling class to consistently close businesses, schools and day-care centres has led to an unprecedented disaster. While new coronavirus strains are spreading throughout Europe and health systems are on the verge of collapse, Germany now has more fatalities in percentage terms than the USA. In several German states, crematoria are completely overwhelmed by the large number of corpses. Meanwhile, stock prices, which are feasting on the mass deaths, keep climbing to new highs. Since the beginning of the year, there have officially been almost 20,000 COVID deaths in Germany alone. Scientifically, there is no question that it is necessary to reduce economic activity to essential areas and keep schools and day-care centres closed to bring the virus and the dangerous mutations under control. Yet governments of all stripes are keeping businesses open and turning schools and day-care centres into holding pens so that parents can work in unsafe workplaces. In many federal states, schools are to be largely reopened as early as 1 February. We strongly oppose this policy, which places the interests of the rich before the health of the people and call on students, teachers, educators and parents to take their safety into their own hands. Safe Education Action Committees, independent of the establishment parties and trade unions, must be established at all schools and day-care centres to organise strikes as soon as the facilities are to be opened. The pandemic is an international phenomenon and requires an international response. We stand in solidarity with the school strikes and protests in Greece, Poland and France and welcome the formation of action committees in many cities in Britain and the United States. The action committees must work closely together and prepare for a European-wide school strike. The dangerous situation in schools and nurseries cannot be separated from the problems in public transport and workplaces. While nurses, bus drivers and meat-processing workers are putting their lives on the line every day under the most adverse conditions, the biggest mass layoffs in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany are being carried out and wages are being cut. The government and corporations are using the pandemic for an unprecedented redistribution of wealth from the bottom of society to the top. Therefore, resistance in schools must be linked to workers struggles for safe workplaces and to defend their jobs. It must be part of a broad mobilisation for a general strike that protects peoples needs and health against the profit logic of capitalism. Instead of transferring billions to the corporations, the large fortunes must be expropriated and the following demands must be implemented: No opening of schools and day-care centres before the pandemic is under control! At the earliest, when the incidence value is below 25, face-to-face teaching in small, fixed learning groups should be considered, provided pupils, teachers, and parents, based on scientific evidence, consider this to be safe. At-risk groups must be specially protected and exempted from face-to-face teaching for a longer period. Invest billions in safe and good education! To ensure safe conditions in the face of reducing infection rates, billions must be invested in schools and day-care centres and especially in the recruitment of thousands of new teachers and educators. Their wages must be increased significantly. Full compensation for parents who must care for their children! Parents must receive full compensation for caring for their children. Workers, the self-employed and small businesses must also be compensated for any loss of income. Poorer families must be given special support and high-quality equipment for digital learning. No exam pressure and learning stress during the pandemic! While the pandemic rages in Europe and worldwide, regular exams are not possible. Deaths, financial hardship and the risk of infection have hit hundreds of thousands of families hard. Despite the best efforts of teachers and many students, adequate learning conditions are not achievable. The decision on alternative grading and final examinations must be made by the students as a whole. Credit: Kaboompics via Pexels Impending financial ruin Report warns govts against using alcohol prohibition laws as emergency response Research conducted by Tracit analysed the economic and social impacts of strict restrictions on the production and/or consumption of alcohol during the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak... Call for collective action #BizTrends2021: Franchising post-Covid - 5 trends to watch The franchise industry has proven itself to be resilient, innovative and collaborative, which is why it still survives. But it will need all these qualities, and more, to weather and adapt to what will continue to be a testing time... Whilst Fasa is the voluntary representative body of the broader franchise sector in South Africa representing franchise brands across 14 different business sectors, the largest of its franchise sectors is fast foods and restaurants which make up 26% of the franchise pie.According to Akhona Qengqe, Fasas chairperson and chief people & transformation manager at KFC, whilst Fasa only represents the franchised food brands, it is the one business sector that is the most synonymous with well-known food brands both franchised and independents.Many franchise brands, thanks to their strong tried-and-tested business formats and network supports, have somewhat managed to weather the pandemic, and most are in recovery mode, but together with thousands more restaurants, bars and QSRs will face financial ruin should the proposed measures be adopted.The franchise sector as a whole, which in 2019 contributed almost 14% to the countrys GDP, through its over 800 franchise systems, its 48,000 outlets and a workforce of close to half a million, is too valuable to crash. And that includes the broader QSR and restaurant sector that is at the heart of South Africas hospitality - for both locals and international visitors," says Qengqe.She adds, "Our food franchise members, many of whom are also members of Rasa and Fedhasa, have been hard hit by the continuing restrictions and must get the acknowledgement and necessary support from government. They are the ones that take the biggest risks, trade under very tight margins and employ the highest number of people."They set the trends and are the social soul of the country yet have been amongst the hardest hit by the lockdown and continue to suffer irreparable damage despite being fully prepared to act within the confines of the health parameters.Tony da Fonseca, immediate past chairman of Fasa and CEO of the OBC Group, comments The longer the lockdown measures are applied across the board, the deeper the losses will be, especially for those sectors that have added restrictions like the restaurant sector. At the time of the strict lockdown, around 80% of members canvassed in the first half of 2020, believed that they would not be able to continue to maintain their businesses beyond the end of the year, unless they were allowed to trade normally."These added punitive regulations for the food sector come at a time when many businesses are hanging by a thread this is a travesty and urgent interventions are required for the sake of those entrepreneurs and small businesses that have spent a lifetime building their businesses, contributing to the countrys economy and providing much-needed jobs.Fasas role since 1979 has been that of steering the franchising sector to become a force in the economy of South Africa, through instilling global ethical franchise standards and business practices and providing education, information, representation and professional support essential to maintaining a successful franchising sector.The association believes that it is now time to tap into the power of the collective, forge meaningful collaborations and unite in solidarity with affiliated associations that have been involved with bargaining councils, government regulations, lobby groups and other important groups.The selfless efforts of our fellow associations and representative bodies has prompted the board of Fasa to take a new direction to proactively support and collaborate with representatives of those industry sectors and add our voice to their concerns, support their initiatives but above all to call for collective action," says incoming chair of Fasa for 2021/2022, Pertunia Sibanyoni, CEO of InspectaCar.Qengqe concludes, "A number of food brands that have been affected by these changes, have formed an industry collective to also challenge governments new regulations in court. Any franchise brand that would like to give input should get in touch with Fasa with information to support the court application and Fasa will make sure members are kept up to date with all developments. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Spain's left-wing government is set to pilot a four-day work week as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. Under plans backed by the countrys finance ministry, financial aid would be provided to companies that cut the working week to 32 hours with no loss of pay. The pilot, which has a price tag of around 50 million euros, is relatively limited in scope but could pave the way to the adopt of the policy on a wider basis. It was proposed by small left-wing party Mas Pais, whose support the socialist-led government needed in congress to pass a deal on EU recovery funds. Inigo Errejon, the leader of, Mas Pais, confirmed on Thursday that the country's finance ministry had accepted the plan. Challenged that the idea was unrealistic, Mr Errejon replied: "The eight hour working day was unrealistic a century ago." Maria Alvarez, a businesswoman and founder of the 4 Day Week Campaign in Spain, said the pilot represented "a sensible idea that should be in every government's toolbox coming out of this crisis". What this pilot reveals is that the four- day week has never been a moonshot. Quite the opposite," she said. The programme is similar one being pursued by the regional government of Valencia,w hich announced last year. UK based think-tank Autonomy drew up a roadmap for the region on how to shift to a shorter working week. Having worked with Spanish public authorities on this issue in the past, it is exciting to see such ambition now turned into action," said Will Stronge, Autonomy's director. "Other governments and political parties, including those here in the UK, should take note. Joe Ryle, a campaigner with the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, said: This could pave the way for Spain to become the first country in the world to move towards a four-day working week. We know from history that shorter working hours are the best way of spreading existing work more equally across the economy in times of economic recession and crisis. The UK government and the rest of the world should learn from the Spanish example and embrace shorter working hours in response to the Covid pandemic. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 7 April 2021 Protesters laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases AFP/Getty World news in pictures 6 April 2021 Voters stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during third phase of West Bengal state elections in Baruipur, South 24 Pargana district, India AP World news in pictures 5 April 2021 The Statue of Christ appears behind clouds from the Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon as the Portuguese government eased coronavirus restrictions AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 April 2021 Christian worshippers light candles during an Easter service in Yerevan, the Armenian capital AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 April 2021 Anti-coup protesters hold improvised weapons during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmars military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition Getty World news in pictures 2 April 2021 A rescue works at the site after a train derailed in a tunnel north of Hualien, Taiwan Reuters World news in pictures 1 April 2021 Man flashes three-finger salute next to burning tires during a protest against the military c Reuters World news in pictures 31 March 2021 Mannequins wrapped in barrier tape stand in front of Berlins landmark Brandenburg Gate as part of German artist Dennis Josef Mesegs Corona Memorial called It is Like it is AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 March 2021 A ship heads down the Suez Canal, in Ismalia, Egypt EPA World news in pictures 29 March 2021 Flocks of flamingos are pictured in a pond in Navi Mumbai AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 March 2021 Anti-coup protesters use slingshots and pelt stones towards approaching security forces on March 28, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmar's military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition. Getty World news in pictures 27 March 2021 The mother of Aung Zay Min, 20, who was shot and killed in the night by security forces, mourns over his body at his funeral in Dala township in Yangon, Myanmar Getty World news in pictures 26 March 2021 Farmers play cricket on a deserted highway road during a 12-hour strike, as part of protests against farm laws, at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghaziabad, India Reuters World news in pictures 25 March 2021 China Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021 collection show in Beijing Reuters World news in pictures 24 March 2021 A man rows a boat against the setting sun at the Dal Lake after a downpour in Srinagar AFP/Getty World news in pictures 23 March 2021 Hindu devotees dance as colored powder is thrown at them at Ladali, or Radha temple, at the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, during Lathmar holi, in Barsana, India AP Spain is governed by a coalition of the centre-left PSOE party and the smaller left-wing parties Podemos and United Left, with ad hoc support from other smaller parties, including Mas Pais. The idea of a four day week is gaining currency in Europe, with the policy backed by left-leaning politicians and trade unionists in a letter released in November. As the continent looks to the future after the Covid pandemic, it is among a number of radical ideas being piloted in various countries, ranging from a job guarantee in Austria to a universal basic income in Finland. French company Valneva has started manufacturing its Covid vaccine at its Scottish facility with UK supplies expected to be available by the end of 2021 if successful. The French biotech firm is still mid-way through clinical trials for its vaccine candidate but it has started producing the jab doses already at the site in Livingston, West Lothian. Successful trials and the approval of the vaccine, of which Britain has already ordered 60million doses, could see the first batches delivered by the end of 2021. The jab is an 'inactivated whole virus vaccine' which uses a damaged version of the real coronavirus to stimulate the immune system and can be kept in a normal fridge, similarly to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which makes it easy to roll out. No other whole virus vaccines have yet been approved for use in Britain, Europe or the US, with the others using only fragments of the virus or genetic material called mRNA. The Valneva manufacturing plant in Livingston, Scotland, has this week started manufacturing the company's Covid vaccine before clinical trials have finished The French biotech firm is still mid-way through clinical trials for its vaccine candidate but it has started producing the jab doses already at the site in Livingston, West Lothian Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted today: 'The Valneva vaccine will be another vital tool in our fight against the virus if approved. 'The start of manufacturing in Livingston today is another fantastic example of the strength of our Union, as we work together as one United Kingdom to tackle the virus.' The announcement comes amid Boris Johnson's visit to Scotland, which he will use to argue that the Union has been integral in supporting people north of the border during the pandemic. The candidate is currently in phase one/two trials and will need approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it is rolled out. How many first doses of a Covid vaccine have been given out in each UK country as of January 26 According to Department of Health Data, a total of 7.2 million people across the UK have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Here is a breakdown of each country: England First dose: 6,221,850 Second dose: 444,011 Scotland First dose: 462,092 Second dose: 6,596 Wales First dose: 312,305 Second dose: 639 Northern Ireland First dose: 168,144 Second dose: 22,910 UK total First dose: 7,164,387 Second dose: 474,156 Advertisement This type of jab contain viruses in which the genetic material has been destroyed by heat, chemicals or radiation so they cannot infect cells and replicate but can still trigger an immune response. The technology has been used in vaccines to treat seasonal flu, hepatitis A, polio and rabies. None of this type have yet been given the green light in Europe but vaccines developed by Chinese companies Sinovac and Sinopharm, and India's Bharat Biotech, which have all been approved for emergency use in their countries, are also inactivated vaccines. The virus that causes Covid-19, Sars-Cov-2, is studded with spike proteins which it uses to enter human cells. While the genetic material virus in the Valneva vaccine candidate has been destroyed, the inactivation process preserves the structure of the spike protein, which helps the body identify the substance as a 'foreign invader' and induces an immune response. So later, when a vaccinated person comes into contact with the virus, the immune system is primed for attack. Initial results from the ongoing clinical study, involving 150 participants at testing sites in Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham and Newcastle, are expected in April. These tests will show whether the vaccine produces a safe and effective immune response against Covid-19. If successful, larger tests will be planned for April, with more than 4,000 UK volunteers taking two doses and will include those aged 18-65 as well as over-65s. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said that manufacturing the vaccine now means it can be rolled out quicker if it receives regulatory approval. It follows a joint investment in the Livingston facility by the Government as part of an agreement to secure early access to the jab, according to the Government. The Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are currently being rolled out across the UK, with Government data showing more than 7.1 million people have received their first vaccine dose. Valneva will potentially have the capacity to supply up to 250 million doses of the inactivated whole virus vaccine containing whole bacteria or viruses which have been killed to the UK and internationally if successful. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: 'By starting manufacturing, we will have a running start at rolling these out as quickly as possible to protect the British public if it receives regulatory approval. 'This facility in Scotland, backed by millions from the Government, will help us beat coronavirus and boost our resilience against future pandemics.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted today: 'The Valneva vaccine will be another vital tool in our fight against the virus if approved' These set of graphs show the number of vaccines ordered by the UK and the EU. The EU has also ordered a number of other vaccines, including 300million Sanofi-GSK doses and 405million CureVac doses The facility will establish a permanent UK ability to manufacture inactivated viral vaccines, a type which is also used for flu, polio and rabies jabs, according to the BEIS. Valneva chief executive Thomas Lingelbach said: 'Our team in Scotland have done an amazing job to get manufacturing started so quickly. 'We believe that our vaccine, assuming successful development, can make a major contribution in the UK and beyond.' It comes after EU chiefs want more of the Oxford jabs - made in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire - be handed over to make up for a 75million shortfall on the continent. The European Commission said the Anglo-Swedish firm was obliged to meet its contractual obligations despite production issues at its Belgian site. However, so far both AstraZeneca and Pfizer look to be holding firm against the sabre-rattling from Brussels. It comes after MEPs warned that the UK would 'suffer' for denying the EU, and the bloc's health commissioner insisted Britain should not receive priority even though it signed a contract with AstraZeneca three months before Brussels did. "King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon. Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love." (Song of Songs 3:9-10) For the first time, rare evidence has been found of fabric dyed with royal purple dating from the time of King David and King Solomon. While examining the colored textiles from Timna Valley - an ancient copper production district in southern Israel - in a study that has lasted several years, the researchers were surprised to find remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and fibers of wool dyed with royal purple. Direct radiocarbon dating confirms that the finds date from approximately 1000 BCE, corresponding to the biblical monarchies of David and Solomon in Jerusalem. The dye, which is produced from species of mollusk found in the Mediterranean, over 300 km from Timna, is often mentioned in the Bible and appears in various Jewish and Christian contexts. This is the first time that purple-dyed Iron Age textiles have been found in Israel, or indeed throughout the Southern Levant. The research was carried out by Dr. Naama Sukenik from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef, from the Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures at Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with Prof. Zohar Amar, Dr. David Iluz and Dr. Alexander Varvak from Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Orit Shamir from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The unexpected finds are being published today in the prestigious PLOS ONE journal. "This is a very exciting and important discovery," explains Dr. Naama Sukenik, curator of organic finds at the Israel Antiquities Authority. "This is the first piece of textile ever found from the time of David and Solomon that is dyed with the prestigious purple dye. In antiquity, purple attire was associated with the nobility, with priests, and of course with royalty. The gorgeous shade of the purple, the fact that it does not fade, and the difficulty in producing the dye, which is found in minute quantities in the body of mollusks, all made it the most highly valued of the dyes, which often cost more than gold. Until the current discovery, we had only encountered mollusk-shell waste and potsherds with patches of dye, which provided evidence of the purple industry in the Iron Age. Now, for the first time, we have direct evidence of the dyed fabrics themselves, preserved for some 3000 years". Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef from Tel Aviv University's Archaeology Department says, "Our archaeological expedition has been excavating continuously at Timna since 2013. As a result of the region's extremely dry climate, we are also able to recover organic materials such as textile, cords and leather from the Iron Age, from the time of David and Solomon, providing us with a unique glimpse into life in biblical times. If we excavated for another hundred years in Jerusalem, we would not discover textiles from 3000 years ago. The state of preservation at Timna is exceptional and it is paralleled only by that at much later sites such as Masada and the Judean Desert Caves. In recent years, we have been excavating a new site inside Timna known as 'Slaves' Hill'. The name may be misleading, since far from being slaves, the laborers were highly skilled metalworkers. Timna was a production center for copper, the Iron Age equivalent of modern-day oil. Copper smelting required advanced metallurgical understanding that was a guarded secret, and those who held this knowledge were the 'Hi-Tech' experts of the time. Slaves' Hill is the largest copper-smelting site in the valley and it is filled with piles of industrial waste such as slag from the smelting furnaces. One of these heaps yielded three scraps of colored cloth. The color immediately attracted our attention, but we found it hard to believe that we had found true purple from such an ancient period". According to the researchers, true purple [argaman] was produced from three species of mollusk indigenous to the Mediterranean Sea: The Banded Dye-Murex (Hexaplex trunculus), the Spiny Dye-Murex (Bolinus brandaris) and the Red-Mouthed Rock-Shell (Stramonita haemastoma). The dye was produced from a gland located within the body of the mollusk by means of a complex chemical process that lasted several days. Today, most scholars agree that the two precious dyes, purple [argaman] and light blue, or azure [tekhelet] were produced from the purple dye mollusk under different conditions of exposure to light. When exposed to light, azure is obtained whereas without light exposure, a purple hue is obtained. These colors are often mentioned together in the ancient sources, and both have symbolic and religious significance to this day. The Temple priests, David and Solomon, and Jesus of Nazareth are all described as having worn clothing colored with purple. The analytical tests conducted at Bar Ilan University's laboratories, together with dyes that were reconstructed by Prof. Zohar Amar and Dr. Naama Sukenik, can identify the species used to dye the Timna textiles and the desired hues. In order to reconstruct the mollusk dyeing process, Prof. Amar traveled to Italy where he cracked thousands of mollusks (which the Italians eat) and produced raw material from their dye glands that was used in hundreds of attempts to reconstruct ancient dyeing. "The practical work took us back thousands of years," says Prof. Amar, "and it has allowed us to better understand obscure historical sources associated with the precious colors of azure and purple." The dye was identified with an advanced analytical instrument (HPLC) that indicated the presence of unique dye molecules, originating only in certain species of mollusk. According to Dr. Naama Sukenik, "Most of the colored textiles found at Timna, and in archaeological research in general, were dyed using various plant-based dyes that were readily available and easier to dye with. The use of animal-based dyes is regarded as much more prestigious, and served as an important indicator for the wearer's high economic and social status. The remnants of the purple-dyed cloth that we found are not only the most ancient in Israel, but in the Southern Levant in general. We also believe that we have succeeded in identifying the double-dyeing method in one of the fragments, in which two species of mollusk were used in a sophisticated way, to enrich the dye. This technology is described by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder, from the first century CE, and the dye it produced was considered the most prestigious." Prof. Ben-Yosef identifies the copper-production center at Timna as part of the biblical Kingdom of Edom, which bordered the kingdom of Israel to the south. According to him, the dramatic finds should revolutionize our concepts of nomadic societies in the Iron Age. "The new finds reinforce our assumption that there was an elite at Timna, attesting to a stratified society. In addition, since the mollusks are indigenous to the Mediterranean, this society obviously maintained trade relations with other peoples who lived on the coastal plain. However, we do not have evidence of any permanent settlements in the Edomite territory. The Edomite Kingdom was a kingdom of nomads in the early Iron Age. When we think of nomads, it is difficult for us to free ourselves from comparisons with contemporary Bedouins, and we therefore find it hard to imagine kings without magnificent stone palaces and walled cities. Yet in certain circumstances, nomads can also create a complex socio-political structure, one that the biblical writers could identify as a kingdom. Of course, this whole debate has repercussions for our understanding of Jerusalem in the same period. We know that the Tribes of Israel were originally nomadic and that the process of settlement was gradual and prolonged. Archaeologists are looking for King David's palace. However, David may not have expressed his wealth in splendid buildings, but with objects more suited to a nomadic heritage such as textiles and artifacts." According to Ben-Yosef, "It is wrong to assume that if no grand buildings and fortresses have been found, then biblical descriptions of the United Monarchy in Jerusalem must be literary fiction. Our new research at Timna has showed us that even without such buildings, there were kings in our region who ruled over complex societies, formed alliances and trade relations, and waged war on each other. The wealth of a nomadic society was not measured in palaces and monuments made of stone, but in things that were no less valued in the ancient world - such as the copper produced at Timna and the purple dye that was traded with its copper smelters." ### November's election provided another state with something many technology officials would give their eyeteeth for: a chief executive with technology acumen and enthusiasm bred in the private sector. Craig Benson, the newly elected governor of New Hampshire, co-founded Cabletron Systems, a computer networking company. He's one in a short line of governors who come from the business sector with technology expertise. Two years ago, Mark Warner, a founding partner of a technology venture capital fund, became governor of Virginia. On the local level, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a former Wall Street executive, developed a specialized computer system that delivers financial news and analysis, before he turned to politics. Can there be any way these guys don't get it when it comes to the merits of technology?Clearly, tech-business governors come into office highly attuned to the wired world. The technology shortfalls they see in government are like red capes to a bull: They need to be attacked.If Warner is any example, an "IT governor" will tackle head on the task of wresting technology processes from the hands of those in state government who have been loathe to make changes. Warner has a strategic plan to improve technology, attract investments to a technology-based economy, consolidate all IT functions into one new agency and transform service delivery to citizens.While many governors in surrounding states campaigned on traditional issues such as education and health care, Warner ran on a new-economy platform with technology at its heart. So, while many governors now faced with enormous budget deficits are scrimping on technology expenditures, Warner plans to keep putting money into state technology to reap the savings that technological efficiencies bring.A recent assessment shows that the state is not in good shape on technology, says CIO George Newstrom. Virginia doesn't leverage its buying power. There's a stovepipe approach to technology. Agencies don't talk to each other. Systems are redundant. But that report has only energized Warner to turn that situation around--and to save the state millions by using technology more efficiently."The role IT is going to play in how we deliver government services is more important than ever," Newstrom says, a year into the job. "We've got to transform state government." That makes Newstrom's job unlike many other state or local CIO's. He does not spend a lot of time educating the governor on the need for embracing technology. "The good news and the bad news is that on any given day he understands my job better than I do," Newstrom says.Benson in New Hampshire has yet to settle into the governor's office, but he campaigned on the idea of putting state services online for citizens and businesses. He is astounded that although New Hampshire has a high concentration of high-tech businesses, it ranks near the bottom in providing government services online.As a businessman, he used to tell his company's employees, "You've got to sell them, not tell them." The same, he says, is true for government employees. "You've got to get them excited about participating and getting their ideas out there." He realizes he's got a big job ahead of him in a state that hasn't tackled much in the way of technology and that it will take a while to turn a big ship around. But as an outsider, he says, he "brings energy and new ideas" to the governorship.New York Mayor Bloomberg has spent a career as the quintessential successful techie businessman. He told the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council recently that his administration wants to use technology to make people who work in his city do their jobs more effectively and that his administration will focus on the end results--the improvements--technology can bring. "The key to technology is not the purchase of it or the implementation. It's doing something with it," he says.Clearly, the desire is there to harness technology to improve government efficiency. Whether these tech-business officials have the political savvy to push their ideas through and make them an accepted part of the way governments do business will play out over time. For the latest news about the business and management of information technology in state and local government, go to Tech Talk Online on Governing's Web site at Governing.com. SHENANDOAH A man was jailed Sunday after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriends house and assaulting her the day before. Shenandoah police said officers were called to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill, East Norwegian Street, Pottsville, to speak to a woman who was a victim of a domestic assault. The woman said that Kyree Harris-Seabury, 20, who lives at 2055 Alsace Road, Apt. 1B, Reading, forced his way into her home at 183 Pioneer Road on Saturday and assaulted her by choking her until she could not breathe and punching her in the face. The woman reported that Harris-Seabury took her cellphone and would not allow her to leave. Police said the woman reported that Sunday morning she tried to flee but Harris-Seabury again grabbed her by the throat and punched her in the stomach before leaving the area in a vehicle. The woman, who suffered injuries to her neck, arm, lip and nose, told officers that Harris-Seabury is currently free on bail from a previous domestic assault in which she was the victim. Police said they obtained an arrest warrant for Harris-Seabury, charging him with strangulation, criminal trespass, aggravated assault, simple assault, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person and intimidation of a witness or victim. With the help of Reading police and Berks County Sherriffs Office, Harris-Seabury was taken into custody in Reading and returned to Schuylkill County. He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $100,000 straight cash bail. Harris-Seabury will now have to answer to the charges against him at a preliminary hearing at a later date before Kilker in his Shenandoah courtroom. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Supreme Court on Thursday asked a Congress MP from Thrissur, T.N. Prathapan, who challenged the constitutional validity of the three farm laws, to establish which provisions of the new enactments take away the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde asked the counsel representing the MP, "You want the existing system to continue? Show us the provision which withdraws MSP." The counsel argued that his client is a farmer and an MP too, and insisted that he wants the MSP scheme to continue. The top court had already stayed the implementation of the three farm laws and set up a committee of agriculture experts to hear the farmers' grievances. As the petitioner's counsel was shuffling through the documents during the hearing through video conferencing, the bench decided to issue a notice in the matter to the Centre. The bench also tagged his plea with the pending petitions, which have challenged the validity of the farm laws. Prathapan, in his plea filed through lawyer James P. Thomas, said: "Indian agriculture is characterised by fragmentation due to small holdings and has certain inherent weaknesses beyond control such as dependence on weather, uncertainties in production and an unpredictable market. This makes agriculture risky and inefficient in respect of both input and output management." The Congress MP emphasised that the laws are liable to be struck down, as they are unconstitutional. In his plea, he urged the top court to strike down the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, which allowed contract farming, terming it as "unconstitutional, illegal and void". The plea argued that the farm laws would spell disaster for 14.5 crore farmers, as they will become vulnerable to exploitation by opening parallel and unregulated markets for a few corporates. The petitioner claimed that it is important to strengthen the existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) system by infusing more capital while it is also essential to effectively manage the MSP system. FORT DOGE, Iowa A fifth not guilty plea has been entered in a Webster County double homicide. Michael James Wells, 33 of Fort Dodge, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of 2nd degree murder. Not guilty pleas to the same charges were previously entered by Michael J. Shivers of Eagle Grove, James C. Davis Jr. of Fort Dodge, Darrell L Jones of Fort Dodge, and Jeremiha R. Hatten of Fort Dodge. Theyre accused of shooting to death Jamael Cox and Tyrone Cunningham, whose bodies were found on June 16, 2020, in the 900 block of 10th Avenue SW in Fort Dodge. Shivers, Davis, Wells, and Jones have also been charged with felons in possession of firearms. Their trials are all scheduled to start on March 23. Sample of a classroom scene. Three synchronous cameras recorded lessons simultaneously. Credit: Sumer et al. Past research has identified student engagement, or the extent to which students participate and are involved in classroom activities, as a crucial factor determining both the quality of education programs and the academic performance of individual students. As a result, many educators worldwide are actively trying to devise courses that maximize student engagement. Assessing student engagement effectively and reliably, however, can be fairly challenging. Techniques to monitor the engagement and participation of students in the classroom over time, and without intruding or adversely impacting their learning experience, would thus be of great value, as they could be used to investigate the effectiveness of courses and education strategies. Researchers at University of Tubingen and Leibniz Institute fur Wissensmedien in Germany, as well as University of Colorado Boulder, have recently investigated the potential of machine-learning techniques for assessing student engagement in the context of classroom research. More specifically, they devised a deep-neural-network-based architecture that can estimate student engagement by analyzing video footage collected in classroom environments. "We used camera data collected during lessons to teach a deep-neural-network-based model to predict student engagement levels," Enkelejda Kasneci the leading HCI researcher in the multidisciplinary team that carried out the study, told TechXplore. "We trained our model on ground-truth data (e.g., expert ratings of students' level of engagement based on the videos recorded in the classroom). After this training, the model was able to predict, for instance, whether data obtained from a particular student at a particular point in time indicates high or low levels of engagement." The model devised by Kasneci and her colleagues can scan large datasets of videos shot in classroom environments and identify instances where student engagement was either high or low. According to Peter Gerjets, the leading cognitive psychologist in the team, such a method could help to identify classroom instruction strategies that are associated with high student attention and could also be used in teacher training programs. "For us as a research team, it is very important to stress that the goal is not to closely monitor specific students, but rather to develop intelligent engagement strategies for more effective instruction," Gerjets explained. "It can be used to improve teaching effectiveness, but never for teacher evaluation. In fact, when it comes to objectives regarding the application of these technologies, using machine learning to support instructional scenarios is not only a question of what can, but also of what should be done with these technologies. In all steps of our research, we closely attend to ethical issues that need to be discussed concerning topics of privacy, transparency, fairness, accountability and intended use." Videos filmed in classroom environments have been used to conduct education-related research for several years now. So far, however, these videos were typically analyzed manually and annotated by human raters, who were asked to identify patterns or details relevant to the specific project they were being used for. Recent advancements in the field of computer vision and machine learning, however, have enabled the development of techniques that can automatically analyze large amounts of videos and identify specific patterns in them, including the one developed by the researchers in Tubingen and UC Boulder. Two ResNet-50 backbones were trained separately to recognize facial expressions and estimate head poses, respectively. The features they learned are used to estimate the engagement of students in a classroom environment. Credit: Sumer et al. "Most previous works based on face analysis were on small-scale video data and depended on good face alignment and handcrafted features," Enkelejda Kasneci and Sidney D'Mello told TechXplore. "Deep learning, however, offers us the opportunity to learn useful representations from big data and improves the performance of engagement classifiers. Our study was aimed at enabling the automated estimation of engagement as seamlessly as possible without requiring any expensive manual ratings or intrusive sensors." The deep neural model was primarily trained on visual data. Levels of student engagement can be gauged primarily by looking at a student's attention and at his/her emotional responses (i.e., attentional and affective cues). The researchers thus trained two residual neural networks, the first (Attention-Net) was trained to estimate the direction that the heads of student pointed towards and the second (Affect-Net) to determine their emotions by analyzing their facial expressions. "Subsequently, we trained readout classifiers based on both of these features to classify engagement in three categories: low, medium and high," Kasneci said. "These classifiers are based on support vector machines, random forest, multilayer perceptron, and long- and short-term memory approaches." Instead of training their algorithms on raw images, the researchers trained them on deep embeddings (i.e., low-dimensional representations of these images). This allows them to be easily re-trained or personalized using very limited new data (a short video sequence of 60-seconds). "To summarize, our study showed that deep learning can efficiently capture engagement in classroom research. The generalized engagement patterns, together with the corresponding teaching content, can be used to devise more effective educational strategies," Kasneci said. "This way, classroom research studies can be conducted more efficiently, consequently helping to improve teaching effectiveness. However, alongside the ethical considerations, there are also open research questions regarding deep learning, for instance those related to dataset and algorithmic fairness, interpretability and robustness." In their next studies, the researchers plan to test the validity and effectiveness of their technique to assess student engagement on different groups of students. They will also develop their approach further, to ensure its reliability, fairness and interpretability. As it was designed specifically for research purposes, the model ensures the anonymity of students captured in video recordings. Moreover, the system deletes raw video footage immediately after it is used to extract deep embeddings and only stores data related to an overall group of students (as opposed to individual students). While theoretically it can map an individual student's engagement over time, this can be easily avoided. "There are a number of intriguing questions that we plan to address in our next studies, and they cover both the more computational and the more content-related aspects of our research," Ulrich Trautwein, an educational psychologist involved in the study, told TechXplore. "Our goal is to better understand the antecedents of different levels of engagement in classrooms and how they can be positively influenced by high teaching quality. At this point, we also emphasize that engagement is complex and that the present technology mainly focuses on overt behavioral engagement based on visible behaviors. There is still a lot to be done to measure more covert engagement states like elaborative processing and mind wandering, but let me reiterate: We strongly oppose any use of such solutions for real-world classroom monitoring of students and teachers, both for ethical reasons and because of possible negative side effects of such arrangements on student motivation and learning and for teacher rights." Explore further Measuring student engagement could help teachers, administrators adapt strategies More information: Multimodal engagement analysis from facial videos in the classroom. arXiv:2101.04215 [cs.CV]. Multimodal engagement analysis from facial videos in the classroom. arXiv:2101.04215 [cs.CV]. arxiv.org/abs/2101.04215 2021 Science X Network His whereabouts are not known. Security forces in Moscow have searched Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny's flat and detained his brother, Oleg Navalny, who was there during the raid. This was reported by the Meduza media project with reference to the Russian media. Read alsoReuters: EU to hold off on new Russia sanctions if Navalny released Oleg Navalny was taken away to an unknown place. While he was leaving the flat, the journalists who had gathered at the doorway were pushed aside by the security forces. Later, Ilya Pakhomov, an employee of FBK, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, a Moscow-based nonprofit organization founded by Alexei Navalny, was detained near the politician's flat. Security forces on Wednesday conducted raids on the flats of Alexei Navalny, his wife Yulia, his associates, as well as searches in the office of FBK and the Navalny Live studio. The operation was allegedly connected with a criminal case on the violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules during a protest rally in Moscow on January 23, which was held in support of Alexei Navalny. Also, investigative actions were carried in relation of a number of activists and the editor-in-chief of Mediazona, Sergei Smirnov. Rallies against Alexei Navalny's detention On January 17, Alexei Navalny returned to Russia from Germany, where he received treatment after being poisoned last summer. His plane was supposed to land at Vnukovo Airport, but was redirected to Sheremetyevo Airport. He was detained by police officers at the airport's border control. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service in Moscow said that Navalny had been detained for the failure to visit the criminal executive inspectorate as a probationer. Navalny's detention is to last until February 15. The politician called on supporters to take to the streets. On January 23, rallies were held in Russia in support of the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Almost 3,300 people were detained across Russia during the rallies. This was a record high number in modern Russian history. Reporting by UNIAN Several attorneys general sent a letter to the White House to avoid any unconstitutional actions deemed illegal. Barely a week old, the new administration has hit several snags that have earned several Attorney Generals' attention from several states. Orders might be unconstitutional These state attorneys formed a group to address the concerns. Addressing a letter to the White House reminded the new president that should any presidential order be unconstitutional, there are ways to deal with it, reported the Epoch Times. It came as a warning last Wednesday; the letter says there are limits to what the Oval office can do. Concerns of unconstitutional executive actions or federal overreach from the president will not be trifled with. Contents of the letter The letter, co-signed by six state attorneys (AGs), cites several instances that Joe Biden cannot break. One of them is the statutory authority that should tie in with the U.S. Constitution. Another is to intentionally jeopardize civil liberties that will have legal action as the answer. According to West Virginia AG Patrick Morrisey, the group's leader, contents are as follows: They are willing to meet with the new administration to discuss further the relevant issues affecting the states concerned. Arguing in court is not a priority. Instead, working with the government based on the U.S. constitution should be practiced. Everything will be done under the rule of law. Warning to the Biden administration The six state attorneys added if the new administration will make laws that aren't based on the U.S. Constitution, they will challenge such bills in the courts. Also read: Biden Reportedly Got Funds from Unknown Sources Alleged to Be Dark Money Should the government officials from the cabinet, executive officers, and agencies intentionally go further than what they can do, all the legal processes and rules not followed will be challenged as well. The bedrock Administrative Procedure Act obligation should have reasonable decisions behind them. Morrisey cited the Administrative Procedure Act, or all agencies should follow APA for proper rulemaking. If the process has been shortened, the rules will be challenged via APA if it is incorrect. He is, and other A.G.s from Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Texas are part of the group. Slew of Biden orders necessitates this approach In just a week in the White House, Biden issued a slew of executive orders. Some orders have canceled policies that were popular with Americans. Many Trump policies that were about climate change, racial equity, and CCP virus pandemic were overhauled. Biden said he would sustain the American oil industry during the debate, but he shut down the Keystone XL Pipeline. This places the oil industry at risk and a possible spat with Canada, but losing oil-related jobs is a backlash. The new administration wants to join the Paris Climate agreement, even if it goes against America's first principles. One of many Americans' objections is how the government is moving to the far left, which is of no concern to the officials of the Biden administration. All the six State attorneys general urged the White House to honor and follow the U.S. constitution, allow freedom of worship, and to keep arms as well. Related article: Republican Senator Moore Reintroduces Constitutional Amendment to Stop Court Packing by Biden Administration @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Broken pipes have caused 'dirty' yellow and brown water to run from taps in thousands of South London homes. Horrified Londoners from at least six different postcodes noticed the water this morning - with some sharing pictures of yellow-tinged sinks, baths and glasses online. Thames Water said the discolouration was caused by iron sediment entering the water supply during maintenance work - and insisted it is 'not contaminated' and 'harmless'. The firm apologised for causing concern and said their engineers are urgently battling to fix the problem. Complaints have been reported by residents in Croydon, Mitcham, Morden, Tooting, Wimbledon and Raynes Park. Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tweeted a picture of a murky glass she poured this morning - and urged others to share their postcodes with Thames Water. Broken pipes have caused 'dirty' yellow and brown water (some pictured) to run from taps in thousands of South London homes Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tweeted a picture of a discoloured glass she poured this morning - and urged others to share their postcodes with Thames Water Issues were reported from as early as 8.30am, with some sharing pictures of brown water in their kettles and discoloured sinks. Labour MP Dr Allin-Khan said: 'Local people in SW17 are reporting dirty water coming out of their taps this morning. I have contacted Thames Water and asked them to investigate.' Thames Water said customers from the postcode areas SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20, CR0, CR4 complained about discoloured water. A spokesman said: 'The odourless discolouration was caused by maintenance work. Thames Water said the discolouration (pictured) was caused by iron sediment entering the water supply during maintenance work - and insisted it is 'not contaminated' Thames Water said customers from the postcode areas SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20, CR0, CR4 complained about discoloured water (a bath, pictured) 'To be clear it is not contaminated water. 'We're really sorry for the inconvenience and worry. 'We have a team of engineers in the SW17 area, who've identified the cause of the discoloured water this morning. 'They're currently flushing this water from our pipe system, and we're already seeing the water returning to normal. Thames Water apologised and confirmed their engineers are urgently battling to fix the problem. Complaints (some dirty water, pictured) have been reported by residents in Croydon, Mitcham, Morden, Tooting, Wimbledon and Raynes Park 'The odourless discolouration was caused by maintenance work, which disturbed some naturally occurring sediments within the pipes and although drinking the water would be harmless, we know it looks unpleasant and wouldn't expect people to drink it until supplies are clear again. 'Many customers are already reporting clear water and we expect all supplies to be clear within the next few hours. 'To be clear the water is not contaminated or harmful to health and it's certainly not sewage. 'The sewage and drinking water systems are completely separate.' Karnataka Governor lauds State government for its 'achievements' amid COVID-19, Congress stages protest India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bengaluru, Jan 28: Opposition Congress on Thursday staged a symbolic protest during the joint sitting of Karnataka legislature, accusing the BJP government of 'neglecting' the northern districts, even as Governor Vajubhai Vala lauded the state administration over its "achievements" amid COVID pandemic. As Governor Vala began his customary address to the joint sitting of the state legislature, Congress legislators led by their leader Siddaramaiah rose up holding placards for a couple of minutes, before they sat down and listened to the speech peacefully until completion. BJP MLA slams Congress, blames Sonia Gandhi, Rahul for tractor parade violence In the placards, Congress MLAs charged the government with 'neglecting North Karnataka by not holding a legislature session in the border district of Belagavi. Legislature session is held once a year at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, modeled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru. The Governor in his address said his government has tried its best to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19. "We have used the crisis as an opportunity, to build on our strengths, to create additional health infrastructure and enhance production capacity (of medical equipment)." Vaccine diplomacy: India to gift 5 lakh doses of Covishield to Sri-Lanka Despite the challenges and the hardships imposed by the pandemic, the achievements of my government are noteworthy, he added. Listing out the various achievements and reform measures undertaken by the state government, the Governor said "my government has declared a war on drugs, considering its adverse impact on the society, especially youngsters." Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News Highlighting the government's handling of the flood situation in the state, he said, in total Rs 1,345 crore has been released for flood relief. He further said despite the current challenges, the government has collected Rs 30,467 crore through commercial taxes and Rs 16,788 crores through excise department to ensure smooth funding of development programmes of the state. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 14:21 [IST] The New Mexico Tourism Dept. is looking for an agency that can raise destination brand awareness and strategically position the Land of Enchantment as the primary destination for the venturesome traveler. Our goal is to make patients feel like they are part of our family and provide them with excellence in dentistry and compassionate care, says Dr. Brian Mitchell of Dental Care Acworth For over 20 years, Dental Care Acworth, located at 5552 Robin Road, Suite A in Acworth, GA, has been serving residents with exceptional, efficient dental care in a comfortable environment. This well-respected clinic is among an elite group of dental practices that have been selected as a 2021 Top Patient Rated Dentist as a result of excellent ratings and reviews from patients. Find Local Doctors is a trusted online directory helping consumers easily locate qualified and reputable physicians and dentists in their area. When it comes to your smile, Dr. Brian Mitchell and his skilled dental team can do it all. Dental Care Acworth offers the unique ability to address all aspects of your dental health in one convenient place. Their extensive menu of modern dental care services includes general and restorative dentistry, as well as cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics and more. Regardless of whether they are protecting, repairing or enhancing your smile, you can trust their team for superior, patient-centered care at every step. Dental Care Acworth uses advanced dental technology to ensure patients get the highest level of treatment for their smiles. Patient reviews of the practice mention the high level of personalized care, knowledge and expertise provided by Dr. Mitchell and his team. They make it simple for their patients to have a stress-free experience with flexible scheduling and affordable care to make it convenient for patients to come in for dental services. Our goal is to make patients feel like they are part of our family and provide them with excellence in dentistry and compassionate care, says Dr. Brian Mitchell of Dental Care Acworth More about Dr. Brian Mitchell: Dr. Brian Mitchell leads the practice as an esteemed dentist who is trained in multiple facets of dentistry. This allows Dental Care Acworth to address the specific oral health concerns that patients face at each stage of life, ranging from gum disease and TMJ therapy to dentures and dental implants. Dr. Brian Mitchell grew up in Marietta, Georgia, and has remained in the state for the entirety of his education and career. He completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Georgia and then attended the Medical College of Georgias School of Dentistry, earning his dental degree. For more information about Dental Care Acworth or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://www.dentistinacworth.com or call (678) 888-1554. TOKYO, Jan 28, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Orange Egypt has deployed NECs iPASOLINK EX Advanced in Egypt since 2016, and maintained a leading position for 14 consecutive months as the fastest network in Egypt in terms of data transmission. This broke all domestic records, and represents a significant lead over the competition, according to a report from Egypts National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) released on October 1, 2020.NEC is one of just two vendors providing Orange Egypt with microwave radios, giving it a 40% share of the microwave radios deployed by the carrier. These new units of iPASOLINK EX Advanced feature cross-polarization interference cancelling technology (XPIC) and E-Band spectrum of up to 6.4Gbps throughput per link."NEC has proven its reliability in the microwave radio market and we are confident in the ability of both NECs traditional links and its E-Band technology to support data growth and evolution and maintaining our leadership position," said Ayman Amiri, Chief Technology Officer of Orange Egypt."NECs iPASOLINK EX Advanced is heralding a new era in LTE backhaul technology, and we are delighted that Orange Egypt is expanding its system with us," said Hassan Abou Khatwa, General Manager, NEC Cairo. "We look forward to continuing our support for Orange Egypt and their commitment to delivering a superior mobile-broadband experience to their subscribers."NEC has an accomplished history of providing highly reliable wireless transmission radio systems, and the PASOLINK series features a wide variety of advanced wireless technologies cultivated under challenging environmental conditions.Moreover, iPASOLINK EX Advanced is easily compatible with the recently released iPASOLINK EX Advanced Dual, featuring wireless transmission capacity over 20Gbps and helping to lay the foundation for the introduction of 5G.About OrangeOrange is one of the worlds leading telecommunications operators with sales of 42 billion euros in 2019 and 143,000 employees worldwide at 30 June 2020, including 84,000 employees in France. Present in 26 countries, the Group has a total customer base of 253 million customers worldwide at 30 June 2020, including 208 million mobile customers and 21 million fixed broadband customers. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services.In December 2019, the Group presented its new "Engage 2025" strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions.Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com, or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr and @OrangeAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. A French father-of-two who threatened his partner with a knife in their home was apprehended by an off-duty garda who happened to be passing, a court has heard. Franck Lamour (53) was diagnosed with bipolar depression approximately 15 years ago and was unable to access the medication he had been taking during the Covid-19 lockdown last April. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that this was an isolated incident which stemmed from Lamour's mental disorder and the restrictions on his life caused by the global pandemic. Lamour of Bird Avenue, Clonskeagh, pleaded guilty to production of a knife and threat to kill or cause serious harm at his address on April 7, 2020. He has no previous convictions. Detective Garda Alan Conlon told Diana Stuart BL, prosecuting, that Lamour and his partner of 25 years Cecille Doussinault and their two sons moved here from France in September 2019. Det Gda Conlon said Lamour does not speak English and that after two months in the country he began self-medicating with alcohol, though he stopped drinking after seeing a doctor. He began drinking again a week prior to the offence. On the day of the incident he had being drinking for approximately 12 hours. Ms Doussinault woke up to find him in the living room still under the influence of alcohol. He told Ms Doussinault that it was her fault for bringing him here, took her phone away from her and told her not to leave the room. He asked her to buy him vodka, but when she declined he said they would go together. Lamour got a knife from the kitchen and told her not to shout for help. Ms Doussinault attempted to wake one of her sons by opening his bedroom door, but Lamour brought the knife close and told her not to wake him up or it would not be good for you. The accused effectively walked her down to the shops with the knife in his jacket pocket, the court heard. When Ms Doussinault refused to go into the shop, Lamour began running back to their home, followed quickly by Ms Doussinault who was fearful for her sons. Garda Martin O'Rourke was in the area off-duty and noticed the two running back to their home. He decided to follow them, went to the back of the house and saw through the window the accused with a knife in his hand. Gda O'Rourke entered the house, told Lamour to drop the knife and restrained him. He then contacted gardai who soon arrived and arrested the accused. Det Gda Conlon agreed with Barry Ward BL, defending, that while this was obviously terrifying for the victim, it was an isolated incident. He agreed that Lamour has followed all conditions of his bail and not had any contact with his former partner. The garda agreed that Lamour is not a domestic abuser in the traditional sense, saying the offences appear to have stemmed from the circumstances of his mental disorder and the "restrictions on his life" caused by the global pandemic. Mr Ward said that the medication his client used to treat his Type-2 bipolar disorder is not prescribed in Ireland and his client would travel to France to collect it. He said his client was prevented from travelling to France by the lockdown that came into effect in March 2020. Counsel said a psychiatrist has stated in a report before the court that his client has 79% disability as a result of his condition. He said his client is now managing his condition and it is extremely unlikely an incident such as this will recur. Judge Pauline Codd said she would like some assurance that Lamour is under appropriate medical care. She adjourned the case for finalisation to March 16, next. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American By Baek Byung-yeul Lee Sang-yup, senior vice president and head of Hyundai Motor's Global Design Center / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Lee Sang-yup, head of Hyundai Motor's Global Design Center, has received the grand prize at a renowned vehicle design award festival in France, being recognized for his contribution to advance the Korean carmaker's design capability. Hyundai Motor said Wednesday that Lee, who serves as senior vice president, received the Grand Prize of Design at the 36th Festival Automobile International (FAI). "It is a great honor to receive this Grand Prize," the chief designer said. "I believe that our duty is to work for a better future and help Hyundai to be recognized through design that is tailored to the needs of our customers' lifestyles and their valuable time." Based in Paris, FAI is known as one of the most prestigious awards in car design. The Grand Prize of Design is given to a designer or company for its global strategy of innovation or pursuit of beauty, Hyundai Motor said. Previous winners include acclaimed designers in the automotive industry, such as Jaguar's former head of design Ian Callum, and Hyundai Motor Group's President of Design Management Peter Schreyer. Since joining Hyundai Motor in 2016, Lee has successfully shaped the company's design strategies and direction, leveraging over 20 years of extensive experience with world-renowned luxury car brands. Concept model of Hyundai Motor's electric vehicle Prophecy / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The leader of the Proud Boys, who was arrested in Washington shortly before the Capitol riot, previously worked undercover and cooperated with investigators after he was accused of fraud in 2012, court documents show. Henry Enrique Tarrio helped law enforcement in a variety of investigations nearly a decade ago by providing information and going undercover, the records show. The Proud Boys is a far-right, male chauvinist extremist group that seized on the Trump administrations policies and was a major agitator during earlier protests and the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. The Proud Boys have railed against a deep state and work to break down the current government system, and so the revelations of Tarrio as a federal informant came as quite a surprise. The details of Tarrios cooperation, which was first reported Wednesday by Reuters, were found in a transcript of a 2014 hearing in federal court in Florida regarding his sentence for participating in a scheme involving the resale of diabetic test strips. The prosecutor and Tarrios defense attorney both cited Tarrios extensive cooperation in arguing that his sentence of 30 months should be cut. The judge agreed to reduce his sentence to 16 months, the records show. Your Honor, frankly, in all the years, which is now more than 30 that Ive been doing this, Ive never had a client as prolific in terms of cooperating in any respect, said Tarrios lawyer at the time, Jeffrey Feiler, according to the transcript. An email seeking comment was not immediately returned from a lawyer representing Tarrio in his current case. In an interview with Reuters, Tarrio denied ever cooperating with authorities. After Tarrios 2012 indictment, he helped the government prosecute more than a dozen other people, the federal prosecutor told the judge, according to the transcript. Tarrios lawyer said he was the first defendant to cooperate in the case and was also involved in a variety of police undercover operations involving things like anabolic steroids and prescription narcotics. From day one, he was the one who wanted to talk to law enforcement, wanted to clear his name, wanted to straighten this out so that he could move on with his life. And he has in fact cooperated in a significant way, the prosecutor said, according to the transcript. Tarrio was arrested in Washington on Jan. 4, two days before the pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in a bid to overturn President Joe Bidens victory. He was accused of vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during an earlier protest in the nations capital. The banner was ripped from Asbury United Methodist Church property, torn and set aflame in December. Tarrio was seen with the sign in video of the incident posted on YouTube, according to a police report. When police pulled Tarrio over, officers found two unloaded magazines emblazoned with the Proud Boys logo in his bag that had a capacity of 30 rounds each, authorities said. --Alanna Durkin Richer/The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FMIThe Food Industry Association, and Saint Joseph's University today releases Workforce Attractiveness in the Food Industry: How to Recruit Gen Z, the first in a three-part Gerald E. Peck Fellowship research series that explores workforce attractiveness in the food retail industry. Presented at FMI's Midwinter Executive Conference by Ernest Baskin, Ph.D., Gerald E. Peck Fellow and assistant professor of food marketing in the Erivan K. Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University, this report demonstrates that the food industry, particularly the food retail segment, has an opportunity to showcase the variety of career options available to Gen Z. "Gen Z, including anyone born after 1997, makes up about 23% of the U.S. population," Baskin said. "As a generation, Gen Z is starting to contribute to the economy by becoming a bigger share of the workforce and it is important to understand their unique characteristics so the food industry can better attract talent to all business areas." Through qualitative interviews with both food industry executives and Gen Zers, the report finds an opportunity for the food industry to better showcase the diverse career opportunities offered in food retail. With a focus on making a difference, an integration with technology, and a desire for workplace diversity, Gen Z individuals are poised to strengthen the food industry with their unique characteristics. "Our industry is rich with stories of individuals who began their careers as grocery baggers and worked their way up the ranks to the C-suite, but when we ask Gen Z about the prospect of working in the food retail industry, many are either unaware or have an incomplete picture of the varied career paths available in this essential sector of the economy," shared Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI. "The supermarket workers who feed families and enrich lives in our nation possess a wide variety of skills and Gen Zers can choose among multiple career paths; from technology innovation to data analysis; from supply chain expertise to customer service excellence. This report offers the food industry an opportunity to showcase the variety of career options available to Gen Z." The report outlines key recommendations for food retailers to more successfully recruit Gen Z including by offering development programs; presenting high salaries and quick promotions; showcasing the variety of career options available; highlighting company culture; and identifying the myriad ways food retailers contribute to communities. Download a copy of the report at www.FMI.org/GenZ. Funding for the Peck Fellowship and this project is made possible by the Academy of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph's University. The fellowship is awarded in three-year increments, alternating between the International Foodservice Distributor Association (IFDA) and FMI. The association and institute partner with a Saint Joseph's food marketing faculty member to conduct timely research on the food and retail industry. The Academy of Food Marketing supports and maintains critical links between the food and retail industry, the University's food marketing department and the program's students, offering scholarships, industry-focused events and cooperative education opportunities. SOURCE Saint Joseph's University Related Links http://www.sju.edu Bangladesh on Wednesday started its COVID-19 vaccination drive in the capital city Dhaka, with plans to administer more than 30 million doses over the next few months.The first batch of people received the first shot of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at Dhaka's Kurmitola General Hospital. The group included a nurse, a doctor, a military official, a traffic policeman and a senior official of the government's health department.Their vaccinations were broadcast live as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the process virtually from her official residence. Bangladesh has received 7 million doses from India, including two million doses as gifts from the Indian government and the rest purchased from the Serum Institute of India.The AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccines, manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, will primarily be given to frontline workers including doctors and nurses. Bangladesh has recorded 532,916 positive cases including 8,055 fatalities since March last year . (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 00:24:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Commissioner of Police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Chris Tang Ping-keung receives an interview with Xinhua in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Gang) HONG KONG, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Political figures sanctioned by the United States for the national security legislation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have vowed all-out efforts to safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his regards to the officials of the HKSAR government who were unreasonably sanctioned when hearing the work report delivered via video link by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Wednesday. "I would like to express my gratitude to President Xi. We will be more steadfast in safeguarding national security in our work," John Lee Ka-chiu, the HKSAR government's Secretary for Security, said. The implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong has dealt a major blow to those colluding with foreign forces to undermine Hong Kong's stability and endanger national security, Lee said, stressing that any plot to obstruct the national security law by the so-called sanctions is doomed to fail. Commissioner of Police of the HKSAR government Chris Tang Ping-keung said that he and other police officers are proud to shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding national security and his determination to safeguard national security will not waver in spite of the "sanctions." "Any country that uses the national security law in Hong Kong as an excuse to impose so-called sanctions is obviously of double standards and bullying," he said. "The work of the Hong Kong police is entirely legal, constitutional, just and reasonable." Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also said it is his duty to safeguard national security and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and he is still committed to the cause. The political figures highly recognized the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" in Xi's speech. As a member of the Drafting Committee for the HKSAR Basic Law, Tam said the principle was highlighted during the drafting process. "If Hong Kong is not governed by patriots, is it by destroyers?" Tam said only by upholding the principle, will the cause of "one country, two systems" continue to make progress in Hong Kong. The well-being of Hong Kong residents has been severely jeopardized as some local opposition politicians have begged foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong since the social unrest, Lee said, adding that the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" is in line with the public expectations and the overall interests of Hong Kong society. Thanks to the national security law, social order has gradually resumed and people's lives have shown new vitality in Hong Kong. With violence and activities advocating "Hong Kong independence" being contained, residents no longer worry about blocked traffic and trashed subway stations, and have regained their peaceful lives, Lee said. "The police will continue to crack down on all criminal activities that endanger national security and protect the safety of Hong Kong residents and their property," Tang said, also pledging continued efforts to support the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. Enditem Germany has recommended the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine should only be given to people under the age of 65. The countrys vaccine committee said a lack of sufficient data on the effectiveness of the inoculation in older people was the reason for the decision in a draft recommendation. The European Medicines Agency is expected to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed alongside the University of Oxford, for use in the 27-nation European Union on Friday. It would be the third cleared for use in the EU after the BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Germany and AstraZeneca were both forced to deny German media reports that the vaccine was substantially less effective among the over-65s on Wednesday. The pharmaceutical giant strongly refuted the claims in a written statement, saying reports that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine efficacy is as low as 8 per cent in adults over 65 years are completely incorrect. It also recently became embroiled in a row with the EU after it told the bloc the volume of its vaccine deliveries would be 60 per cent lower than initially promised for the first quarter of this year. The German health minister, Jens Spahn, stressed that the committees recommendation was not its final decision, and that this would only be made once the vaccine is cleared for use. But he said there had been a discussion since autumn about there being a lack of data in studies on the AstraZeneca vaccines effectiveness in older groups. It was to be expected that this would have an influence on the decision of the regulatory authorities and then the permanent vaccine commission, Mr Spahn said. We just dont know yet how concretely so lets wait for the decision tomorrow on clearance and then the final recommendation from the permanent vaccine commission. Boris Johnson joined Public Health England (PHE) in defending the use of the jab after Germanys draft recommendation. Asked if he is concerned about the verdict, the prime minister told reporters: No, because I think the MHRA, our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious, gives a high degree of protection after just one dose and even more after two doses. And the evidence theyve supplied is they think its effective across all age groups and provides a good immune response across all age groups. He added: I dont agree with that. Additional reporting by AP and PA KARACHI: A Malaysian court has ordered the release of a Pakistani passenger plane, which was held back in Kuala Lumpur over a lease dispute two weeks ago. The plane was detained by the Malaysian authorities after a local court allowed the plane's Dublin-based lessor, Peregrine Aviation Charlie Limited, to keep it grounded, following the non-payment of USD14 million dues by state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to an official statement here on Wednesday, the aircraft, with 170 passengers on board, was held back in Kuala Lumpur on January 15 over a lease dispute case between the national flag carrier and an Irish company. The PIA, which had termed the Malaysian courts judgment one-sided said it could not pay the dues on time because of a growing financial crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The airline, however, paid the dues last week, capping a legal battle with the lessor. The two sides informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that they have reached an amicable settlement to the dispute, the Edge Markets publication quoted airlines counsel Kwan Will Sen as saying. With this, the two Boeing aircraft operated by Pakistan International Airlines would be released with immediate effect, Kwan told the publication. Abdullah Hafeez, the airline's spokesman, also confirmed the development. Tensions Mounts: China Warning Against Taiwan Military Triggers Planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 may be composed similarly Ukraine mulls restarting An-74 light cargo plane production Dr. Anthony Fauci said that former President Trump was a 'pretty macho guy' when it came to him not wanting to be seen wearing a mask, adding that it was 'unfortunate' that so many Americans were inspired by that position. Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease official, was commenting on how difficult it was to convey the importance of masks to the at-the-time president. 'It's really tough to get into his head, but I think what was going on with him is he was not interested in the outbreak,' he explained to The Atlantic. 'The outbreak to him was an inconvenient truth that he didn't accept as a truth. It's something that got in the way of what he really wanted to do.' Dr. Anthony Fauci described Trump as being a 'pretty macho guy' for his reasoning as to why the former president was hardly seen in a mask 'He's a pretty macho guy. It's almost like it diminishes one's manhood to wear a mask. To him, a mask was a sign of weakness,' Fauci said. 'The unfortunate aspect of this is that a lot of people in the country took that on as a mantra. That's the problem' He continued: 'He's a pretty macho guy. It's almost like it diminishes one's manhood to wear a mask. To him, a mask was a sign of weakness. The unfortunate aspect of this is that a lot of people in the country took that on as a mantra. That's the problem.' Fauci's comments come as he shot back at sentiments he was moving the goalpost after he expressed that it was 'common sense' to wear two masks in hopes of better preventing the virus instead of one. 'So if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective. That's the reason why you see people either double masking or doing a version of an N95,' Fauci said last week, the Daily Beast reported. Fauci's comments come as he shot back at sentiments he was moving the goalpost after he expressed that it was 'common sense' to wear two masks i But during a Tuesday appearance with Fox News, host Sandra Smith told Fauci that it appeared that the 'goalposts' for masks 'keep moving.' 'Dr. Fauci, seems like the goalposts keep moving,' Smith stated. She continued: 'All of us are trying to do what it takes to stay safe. We're all wearing our masks and hope that most people are. Now we're hearing we should wear two? If I go to the grocery store, do I wear two, do I wear three? Is it safer to wear eight? Where does it stop?!' Fauci retorted: 'Discussion is changing, not the goalposts.' He added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was not officially telling people to wear two masks. 'Discussion is changing, not the goalposts,' Fauci said to Fox News host Sandra Smith after she claimed the goalpost keeps moving' in relation to masks Outgoing US President Donald Trump waves after landing at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on January 20 'What they're saying is, "You know what would be a good start? If everybody wears at least one mask,"' he added. 'I think that would be important. So the CDC recommendations have not changed. What we're trying to do is to get individuals that are not wearing masks to wear masks.' Just yesterday, Fauci said he was he's ready to put his rocky relationship with Donald Trump 'behind' him, admitting he's no longer interested in 're-examining' what happened in the past. During an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday, Fauci was asked about the media's fixation with his clashes with Trump and whether he felt compelled to continue addressing such matters as the pandemic continues to grip the country. Host Dana Perino referenced Fauci's recent interview with New York Times podcast The Daily in particular, which she noted was mostly focused on his turbulent relationship with the president rather than the pandemic. 'You are very willing to answer a lot of those questions and I know those questions are irresistible for reporters to ask, but is there a law of diminishing returns to continue to answer questions about that relationship if the crisis is as acute as you say?' Perino asked. 'I agree with you, Dana,' Fauci replied candidly. 'After that interview, I said to myself we really got to look forward and ahead and just put that behind us. I totally agree with you.' 'Looking forward I'm really not enthusiastic at all about re-examining what happened back then rather than looking forward to what we need to do now.' ALBANY A comedian and actor from Colonie is the fourth candidate to express an interest in the citys mayoral race. Greg Aidala, whose family owns Quail Auto Sales in the citys West End, launched his campaign Wednesday. Aidala said he is running for mayor because he wants to create a place that residents are proud of and that is inviting to businesses. Im saddened to see how the city is losing the battle to blight and also resident exodus to the suburbs, he said in a campaign video. The pride and morale in the city is low. Aidala did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday. According to his website, he appears to be running as an independent. My campaign is not focused on party politics, he said. The goal is to work for and by the people with clear communication, collaboration and non-partisanship. Aidalas website features a five-point plan that his campaign will be based on. He moved to West Hill in October. Adiala is the third challenger to Mayor Kathy Sheehan, a Democrat, who is seeking a third term. Local activist Lukee Forbes and Rev. Valerie Faust said they are also running. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without Freedom of Speech Benjamin Franklin During a recent interview of Senator Rand Paul by George Stephanopoulos, the American people became privy to a public struggle session. During the interview, Rand Paul voiced concerns about irregularities during the 2020 election of which he offered specific examples. Stephanopoulos, not satisfied with Paul having voted to certify the election, continuously badgered him to admit the election was fair. After Paul reminded George that three quarters of Republicans believed the same issues as Paul spoke, Stephanopoulos fired back: "Well, 75 percent of Republicans agree with you because they were fed a big lie by President Trump and his supporters to say that the election was stolen." Paul responded: "George, where you make the mistake is that people coming from the liberal side like you, you immediately say everything's a lie Historically what would happen is if I said that I thought there was fraud, you would interview someone who said there wasn't, but now you insert yourself in the middle and say that the absolute fact is that everything I'm saying is a lie without examining the facts." Though media bias is not new, the demands to accept and parrot the medias truth has taken a dangerous turn. Let me explain. First, about the history of struggle sessions. Jeff Sanders of the American Policy Roundtable described struggle sessions in China during the cultural revolution this way: They (red guard) came up with these charges because someone heard you complain that the government made mistakes.. Or maybe you just ticked off the wrong person. No matter; the charge was laid and you were automatically guilty. The solution? Confess. Confess to all accusations. Make sure you cry a lot. Make sure you curse yourself and beg and please for forgiveness from the 'proletariat and the infallible communist party. Make sure you swear that you will never ever entertain a thought that is counter to the prevailing thoughts. You have gotten your mind right. The justification of the struggle session this was not actions, but evidence of a persons thoughts. Thats where the similarities arise with the new struggle sessions. In the new struggle sessions, which go well beyond the exchange between Stephanopoulos and Paul to many such interviews, incorrect thought continues as the target. During the cultural revolution, the Red Guards initially humiliated those holding to the four olds (belief in pre-Communist Chinese ideals). They would parade reactionaries around and force them to recant. This quickly led to a killing spree, in which even those who confessed were thrown in Gulags to die, or sent off to starve to death in the countryside. Tens of millions died during this period. With the new Left, the consequences of wrong thinking about the election are still humiliation, as Rand Paul discovered (after the interview in which he was pilloried in the media). However, many are discovering it goes beyond humiliation. People become de-platformed, fired, or cancelled by those associated. The Daily Signal published the following about the level of control maintained by the Left in leverage to force confessions of wrong belief: The left controls universities. There is little or no dissent allowed at universities. The left controls nearly every news medium. There is little or no dissent in the mainstream media not in the news sections and not in the opinion sections. The left controls Hollywood. No dissent is allowed in Hollywood... The leverage over peoples lives in America goes beyond the big influencers into the ability to earn a living. The National Association of Realtors has just announced that if you express dissenting views (on race, especially) in private, you may be fined and lose your membership in the organization which effectively ends your career as a realtor. Going back to the 1960s, in dynamics like the Berkeley Free Speech movement, Liberals staunchly held to Voltaires famous quote: I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Unfortunately, the modern left has taken the Socialist views on free speech. To Karl Marx and later socialist/communist leaders, free speech was always to be subordinated to the good of the people. The Soviet Union had their own version of the Cultural Revolution struggle sessions to root out counter-revolutionaries. This dynamic can be seen in virtually all socialist regimes. The modern Left has become heavily influenced by the socialist understanding of speech as a subordinated right. America is at a crossroads in which there is no coming back. From the founding of the nation, free speech has been the cornerstone of all freedoms, as our founders made clear in the First Amendment. We can either continue as free people, or take the dark turn toward the control of speech and even wrong thoughts. As Joshua said in Judges: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, and I will add to that me and my house will also defend freedom. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Coronavirus infections in Passi, Iloilo have breached 100, prompting local officials to place the city under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ until February 11. In a social media post, the local government of Passi said Mayor Stephen Palmares announced the decision Wednesday evening after a meeting with the local task force against COVID-19. "Initially, we have received information that the confirmed COVID-19 positive as of 2:30 in the afternoon today is 84 and just this evening it reached more than 100," Palmares said. "This is the highest recorded confirmed COVID-19 case in the city in a single day." The local chief executive explained the surge was due to the continuous mass testing being conducted in the city. On January 26 alone, more than 600 public market vendors underwent swab testing. Establishments and services that are only allowed to operate are those that provide food, water, transportation, power, energy, and other necessities. However, restaurants, fast food chains, and food stalls cannot operate for the meantime. Markets are also allowed to open every day, but scheduled market day on Mondays is suspended. Medical facilities like hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and laboratories, pharmacies, and drug stores may also operate. Also permitted to continue operations are factories engaged in manufacturing, processing, and storage of basic food and health needs, banks, pawnshop, money transfer services, and payment and remittance centers. Curfew hours from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. and a liquor ban will be implemented The city will also allow people to only pass through, specifically those coming from Iloilo City, and the provinces of Guimaras, Antique, Aklan and Capiz. Checkpoints are also deployed across the area, and only city residents will be allowed to enter as long as they are able to present an ID. Based on latest data from the Department of Health, total COVID-19 cases in Iloilo province are now at 3,850, with 297 active cases, 3,451 recoveries, and 102 deaths. Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp will commence its operations in Mexico. Accordingly, the company has entered into a distribution agreement with 'Grupo Salinas'. The two-wheeler major said following the agreement, both the companies have come together to form one of the largest distribution networks globally to 'sell competitive, high-quality products in the large Mexican market'. "With the global expertise and technology prowess of Hero and the local market knowledge of Grupo Salinas, we are aiming for rapid expansion of the Hero brand here over the next three years," said Hero MotoCorp's Chairman & CEO Pawan Munjal. "We will be bringing products that cater to all segments of the market, thereby offering a wide range of choices for the customers in Mexico." As per a company statement, in the first phase of operations, Hero MotoCorp will launch nine products, including motorcycles - for work (100cc), street (125cc), premium (150cc, 160cc) and on-off segments - and scooters. "All these products are being designed and developed at Hero's state-of-the-art R&D hubs in India and Germany," the statement said. "Hero MotoCorp now has extensive presence across Asia, Africa, South and Central America and the Middle East. In Latin America, the Company is now present in more than 10 countries." At present, the company has eight world-class manufacturing facilities, including six in India and one each in Bangladesh and Colombia. EDWARDSVILLE State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, on Thursday joined other Republicans in a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker asking the administration to answer for failures with the ongoing rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, Illinois ranks 47th in overall vaccine distribution, Plummer said. He was joined in the letter by state Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield. I call on our state and federal governments to lead the fight against the growing problem of racially based extremism by candidly characterising it and advocating that these groups be added to the terror list. However, extremist expert Lydia Khalil, of the Lowy Institute, cautioned that, while the proscription debate was important, it faced several legal and political hurdles and should not be viewed as a catch-all solution. Alleged members of a far-right extremist group seen at Halls Gap and the Grampians. She said early prevention was critical and that government agencies having belatedly expanded their focus from programs targeting would-be jihadists to right-wing extremists must concentrate on tailoring interventions to far-right groups. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday that there was no place for bigotry and hatred in the state. I wont comment on individual circumstances because they may well be the subject of Victoria Police work. But I will just say there is no place for that kind of anti-Semitism in our state, there is no place for that sort of bigotry and hatred. There is no place for violence, he said. I would make the point as well, that many would argue, and the international evidence is very clear, and indeed the local evidence, that anti-Semitism is on the rise. Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday. Credit:Penny Stephens Its an evil thing, its a wicked thing, and I just take this opportunity to send a message to the Jewish community across Melbourne and Victoria, you have and continue to make a profound contribution to our state. Its hard to imagine so many things we cherish and value, they just wouldnt be in the position they are in, they would not have emerged, they wouldnt be as strong as they are without the contribution the Jewish community has made and no community should be treated that way. I know it affects the Jewish community deeply and it offends all of us and there is just no place for that. Mr Sewell has previously sought to distance his group from those who espouse violent action and there is no suggestion that the groups members engaged in any violent acts. Tom Sewell of the Lads Society. Credit:YouTube Victoria Police has been contacted for comment about the Grampians visit by the far-right group. When Halls Gap resident James passed the group on his mountain bike on Sunday afternoon in town, he was addressed with a Sieg Heil. There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting white power. That is intimidating for anyone, let alone the young Asian families sharing the barbecue space, he said. James, who declined to use his full name for fear of repercussions, was one of several residents who called the local police only to be promptly called back by detectives working with Victoria Polices Counter-Terrorism Command intelligence-gathering division. The division is monitoring right-wing extremist groups in Australia, alongside intelligence agency ASIO, which was also notified about the gathering. There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting white power. That is intimidating for anyone. Halls Gap resident James The detective asked James to take photos, which he did using his helmet camera. It sparked a confrontation with two big, burly guys. It was pretty terrifying at that point. I told them I was a tourist and wasnt filming them, he said. According to extremist experts, two right-wing groups, the Lads Society and Antipodean Resistance, recently helped form a new Australian extremist outfit, the National Socialist Network, which in turn helped organise the 38 young, white men to assemble in the Grampians over the Australia Day weekend. Photos show some wearing army-issued boots and packs. The Age and the Herald have identified some of the key organisers and participants of the Grampians gathering. Some show the faces of young men who would prefer to stay in the shadows posing in their own online posts with faces covered. Alleged members of the group were seen visiting a general store, meeting and camping at Halls Gap. The organisers include the Lads leader, Mr Sewell, raised in the middle-class suburb of Balwyn in Melbourne. The Lads have also been accused of a failed attempt to branch-stack the NSW Young Nationals in 2018. Mr Sewell has claimed in a social media post that the Grampians event was aimed at providing content for a new neo-Nazi group, the European Australian Movement. Loading He has the hallmarks of some far-right activists in the US, including those who stormed the Capitol in Washington three weeks ago, a move that Mr Sewell said in one online message had lessons for Australian extremists. His posts indicate that he is a racist conspiracy theorist appealing to marginalised, underemployed young Australians on the fringes of society. The 2019 terrorist attack by an Australian on a mosque in New Zealand that left 51 dead served as an ideological rallying point for some far-right groups, and a reminder of the potential consequences of underplaying the potential threat. ASIO has revealed that up to 40 per cent of its prioty caseload involve right-wing extremist groups. ASIOs deputy director-general, Heather Cook, told a parliamentary committee last year the COVID-19 pandemic was fuelling a surge in radicalisation because of the amount of time individuals are spending in isolation, working from home or not in school. The Canadian Parliament is now debating a move to declare the far-right group, the Proud Boys, a terrorism entity. In Melbourne last November, a lone-wolf extremist on the fringe of local far-right groups, Philip Galea, was jailed for 12 years for planning a terrorist attack on Trades Hall, the Socialist Alliances Melbourne headquarters and the Melbourne Anarchist Club. With Simone Fox Koob Know more about the Grampians trip participants, the National Socialist Network or any other far-right groups? Contact (anonymously if preferred) nickmckenzie@protonmail.com tech2 News Staff Months after Carl Pei announced his exit from OnePlus, he has announced a new venture called Nothing. This is Pei's second venture after he left OnePlus. Currently, a lot isn't known about the new venture, however, the company announced that its first smart devices will release in the first half of this year. The company has also been teasing that it "rethought everything and came up with Nothing". While we don't officially know what the company or its first smart device will be about, a few hours ago Carl Pei held a poll on Twitter asking about people's most preferred streaming service. We wonder if there's a connection! Its been a while since anything interesting happened in tech. It is time for a fresh breeze of change, Carl Pei said. Nothings mission is to remove barriers between people and technology to create a seamless digital future. Last month, Peis new venture received $7 million in seed funding from investors including iPod inventor Tony Fadell, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, YouTuber Casey Neistat, Product Hunt CEO Josh Buckley, Reddit co-founder Steve Huffman, Creds Kunal Shah, among others. The seed investment was aimed at supporting the creation of a head office in London, hiring of the team, and financing ongoing product research and development efforts for Nothing. Women have been integrated as soldiers into the YPG the Peoples Protection Units, fighting against IS in Syria. Credit: Kurdish Struggle/Flickr.com New research explains why the Kurds in Syria and Hamas in Gaza have stayed in power, while ISIS lost their legitimacy and rule in Iraq. Since the 2010s, IS soldiers have swept into the Arab world brandishing Sharia law in one hand and a Kalashnikov in the other. The vision of establishing a large and long-lasting Islamic regime did not succeed in either Iraq or Syria, and the jihadists were chased from most areas during 2017. According to results from a research project conducted at the University of Oslo, the failure of IS to hold on to power relates to the traditional mechanisms of legitimacy and security in the Middle East. "The relationship with local kinship groups determines the success of rebel governance in the Middle East. There are big differences between the global jihadist groups and the areas controlled by national rebels, such as in Gaza in Palestine and Rojava in Syria," says Dag Tuastad, senior lecturer in Middle East studies at the University of Oslo. Together with his research colleagues Brynjar Lia, Pinar Tank and Erling Lorentzen Sogge in the project Rebel Governance, he has studied the link between rebel rule and kinship groups in three areas of the Middle East: IS-controlled areas in Iraq, Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria and Hamas-controlled Gaza. Weak statesstrong kinship groups The areas the researchers are studying have one particular thing in common: A weak state. However, just because a weak state can allow rebel groups to take power does not mean that society is not already organized. "The alternative to the state is that tribal groups control the areas," says Dag Tuastad. The word 'tribe' is a common term for extended family groups, which may include 30 to 40 members, but also up to 10,000 in Gaza, or 3 million in Iraq. In Palestine, the traditional tribal groups are called Bedouins. "Tribal groups do not necessarily have services that can replace a state, such as health or education. However, they tend to provide security for their members and administer traditional law. This becomes very important in areas without a state because local populations have great confidence in it," says Tuastad. Hamas and YPG are less brutal than IS Understanding how the kinship groups are organized and which tribes hold power is crucial to whether a rebel group succeeds in its project. According to Tuastad, violence alone is not the path to legitimacy. "IS has, in the same manner as al-Qaeda, been very brutal. Their project is global and ideological, and they have viewed local kinship groups as being less religious and as competitors," he says. "While Hamas, who has governed Gaza since 2007, and the Kurdish forces that established Rojava after the war in Syria, are more pragmatic in their approaches. That may explain why they have been successful in holding on to the areas over longer periods of time." When IS first arrived in Iraq in 2013, the people supported them. There was great dissatisfaction with the Shia-dominated government that was established after the US-led invasion in 2003. IS also provided engineers to secure access to water and other necessary services. This earned them support among tribal groups. "However, they lost their legitimacy when they began to employ harsh punishments." IS gained a particular foothold in the major cities, where tribal groups are not so well organized. Tuastad points out that dissatisfaction quickly began to spread throughout rural areas and in the cities, and that IS had only secured power through their violent behavior. "There was no alternative military force in the cities that could threaten them. And just as al-Qaeda did in 2005-2006, they massacred the tribal groups that opposed them. Kinship groups hold great importance and a lot of power in many areas of the Middle East. Nevertheless, the arrival of outsiders affecting a region's balance of power may be welcomed. "Historically, there are oppositions between the young and the elderly. Young people want more influence, and may feel that the older men are outdated. This is what rebel forces can offer." "Divide and conquer is also a well-known strategy. When several kinship groups live in one area, a hierarchy of power exists between them. If a group such as IS or al-Qaeda arrives and allies itself with the second largest tribe, they change the dynamics and the balance of power." The women's role become an important symbol The researchers have looked at several similarities and differences between the global jihadist groups and the national rebel governments. The relationship between women and men is important, but in very different ways. "It is interesting to see how women become trophies for the different ideological projects," says Tuastad. In the IS-controlled areas, the group introduced strict gender segregation. "An important part of their propaganda was to introduce Sharia law. Organizing the relationship between the sexes in a respectable manner became a symbol that one knows the Quran. Therefore, for example, men and women working together in the fields was no longer permitted." In the Kurdish Liberation Movement, however, the equality of women has been an important element, and women have been integrated into Kurdish security forces and as soldiers of the YPGthe People's Protection Units. The female soldiers of Rojava, known as the YPJthe Women's Protection Units, have become something like feminist symbols in the West. It attracts attention when women in the Middle East play an active role, and according to Tuastad, YPJ represents a paradox. "There have been strong tribal groups that are very patriarchal. At the same time, Abdullah Ocalan, the now imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party PKK, has promoted a strong ideology of equality. He is the hero among the patriarchal groups, which shows that the view on gender is a complex one." Conflict resolution in traditional law To investigate the views on security and the justice sector, the researchers have, among other things, conducted a representative survey in Palestine. Here, it became apparent how important traditional law is to people. "Without compare, the Bedouin houses are the actors people have most confidence in," says Tuastad. The Palestinian legal system is perceived as being ineffective, and most people turn to Bedouin judges for help. The most important thing is to achieve social harmony through reconciliation, and the Bedouin judges are able to resolve cases including everything from disputes between neighbors regarding a fence or a traffic accident, to murder or bitter settlements after the conflict between Hamas and Fatah. "The principle of traditional law is that when someone in one kinship group is in conflict with someone from another, there is a collective responsibility. Together with the Bedouin judges, respected members of the families participate in negotiations, and solutions regarding the question of guilt and compensation are found," explains Tuastad. Although attempts have been made to build a Palestinian rule of law over time, Hamas has not chosen to replace the traditional system, but rather incorporated it into its way of governing. The family trumps everything The political situation is different in the areas the researchers have focused on. Gaza has been characterized by polarization since Hamas drove Fatah out in 2007. "No conciliatory development has been achieved, and the political divide is deep and pervasive. Family becomes a mechanism for operating across political divides, where brothers may stand on opposite sides." Although politicians have attempted to use the families for political means, as Yasir Arafat did when he gave families different roles in the security apparatus, Tuastad believes the loyalty to one's own family will always trump that to political leaders. It applies whether it is in Gaza, Iraq or Kurdistan. "Family means security. Political groups come and go, but the families remain and provide a foundation of assurance. When there is armed conflict and uncertainty, their role will immediately become more important." Tuastad believes that if the political situation changes and governance in the areas becomes more stable, tribal groups are unlikely to lose their position. "It is also has to do with values, about appreciating relatives more than non-relatives. The social and cultural aspect will be able to continue, even if the political need for kinship groups becomes less." Explore further ISIS and the Taliban use different strategies to appeal to women in English-language magazines Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to the latest report by IMARC Group, titled Respiratory Protective Equipment Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025, the global respiratory protection equipment market size experienced healthy growth during 2014-2019. Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is used to protect wearers from hazardous substances present in the air in the form of gas, mist, or dust particles. It consists of respirators (filtering devices) and breathing apparatus, which are available in different designs, ranging from half / full facemasks to hoods helmets, visors and suits. Request for a free sample copy of this report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/respiratory-protective-equipment-market/requestsample Market Trends The growing cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), occupational asthma, pneumoconiosis, and other non-cancerous diseases have increased the demand for respiratory protective equipment. This, coupled with the growing awareness about workplace safety, has encouraged industrial workers in the oil and gas, chemicals, mining and construction industries to opt for RPE, which are designed to protect them against toxic solvents, gases, and radiological and nuclear hazards. Moreover, with the advancements in technology, manufacturers have launched advanced multi-functional RPE that are equipped with auto-darkening filters (ADF) and sensors to minimize eye damage and provide protection from fumes. These innovative product variants are expected to create a positive thrust on the market growth in the coming years. Explore full report with table of contents: https://www.imarcgroup.com/respiratory-protective-equipment-market Breakup by Product Type: Air Purifier Respirator Unpowered Respirators Powered Respirators Escape Respirators Supplied Air Respirator Self-contained Breathing Apparatus Airline Respirators Loose Fitting Hoods Breakup by Filter Type: Particle Filter Gas / Vapor Filter Combined Filter Breakup by End-Use Industry: Healthcare Oil and gas Chemical Construction Law Enforcement Others Breakup by Region: North America Asia Pacific Europe Latin America Middle East and Africa Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being 3M, Alpha Pro Tech Limited, Bullard, Delta Plus, Honeywell International Inc., ILC Dover, Intech Safety Pvt. Ltd., Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) Company, RSG Safety, Uvex Safety Group, etc. Browse Related Report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/data-center-cooling-market https://www.imarcgroup.com/next-generation-firewall-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. IMARC's 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 company's expertise. Contact US: IMARC Group 30 N Gould St, Ste R Sheridan, WY 82801, USA Website: https://www.imarcgroup.com/ Email: sales@imarcgroup.com USA: + 1-631-791-1145 Follow us on twitter: @imarcglobal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imarc-group Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Now that a COVID-19 vaccine has arrived, many of us are eagerly awaiting the day we get our first shot. However, figuring out when you're eligible, and where to get vaccinated once you are, is challenging. The rules and registration processes vary between states, and sometimes counties, too, and vaccine supplies are limited, making appointments hard to get. Naturally, many people are feeling confused. And unfortunately, scammers are capitalizing on this. In December, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a warning about scams related to COVID-19 vaccines. Shortly after, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General also issued an alert. Often advertising false shortcuts to getting the vaccine, scammers are using platforms like phone calls, text messages, and social media in an attempt to steal personal and insurance information, money, or both. So how can you know if you're getting scammed? For starters, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. "Any call claiming that you can cut in line to get the vaccine by paying out of pocket is a scam," says the PA Office of Attorney General. Here are red flags to watch out for Government officials won't call or email you to tell you that you're required to get the vaccine, nor will they call or email you to ask for personal information or money to get you signed up. Be suspicious of door-to-door solicitations about the vaccine, too. The coronavirus vaccine is free. You will not be asked to pay in advance or to pay out of pocket for the vaccine. (Vaccination providers can charge an administration fee for giving the shot, says the CDC. Providers are instructed to submit administration fees to your insurance, or if you're uninsured, to a Provider Relief Fund.) There's no way to pay your way to an earlier spot in line. Visit your state's health department website for up-to-date information on who's currently eligible in your area. Pennsylvania's site is here; New Jersey's is here. (Philadelphia has its own phased vaccine schedule that differs from the rest of Pennsylvania. Visit the city's Department of Public Health website to see who's currently eligible.) Ignore unsolicited emails and calls from people asking for personal or medical information to determine if you're eligible for the vaccine, even if the caller claims they're from your insurance company or a medical center. Your insurance company will not call to ask for this information. If you have COVID-19 related questions for your insurance company, connect directly by calling the number on the back of your medical insurance or prescription card. Keep vaccine conversation over text messaging between family and friends. The HHS warns against responding to, or opening, links in text messages from people you don't know. You should also ignore ads or offers on social media platforms related to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment. As much as we'd all dream of having a vaccine shipped straight to us, it's not an option. Be aware that many fraud attempts requesting personal information or payment may appear to be legitimate. If you think you've been the victim of a COVID-19 scam, you can report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud or call 1-800-HHS-TIPS . Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi has said that 1000 IR2M centrifuges will be installed at Natanz nuclear facility within three months. Speaking on the sidelines of Parliament Speaker Ghalibafs visit to Fordow plant, Kamalvandi said that the AEOI is making great achievements in line with the guidelines of the Leader of the Islamic Republic, stressing that Iran is enriching uranium using 100% indigenous technology. He also said that 1000 IR2M centrifuges will be installed at Natanz nuclear facility within three months, the Mehr News agency reported. The Iranian parliament passed a bill, dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions in early last December, giving Washington two months to lift the sanctions. It became a law after the Guardian Council approved the parliaments decision. Iran has so far resumed 20% uranium enrichment at Fordow plant in accordance with the Parliaments legislation and has warned that in the case Washington does not remove all the anti-Iran sanctions, it will also stop voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol, which gives IAEA inspectors unannounced visits to Iranian facilities. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. As part of an effort to revamp its IT infrastructure, Berkeley, Calif. , in partnership with Nutanix , has implemented new software to increase scalability, opening up new doors for remote work and telehealth options.Prior to implementing the new technology, the citys infrastructure consisted of a three-tier platform that was unreliable and unscalable, according to Savita Chaudhary, the citys IT director.The legacy infrastructure was complex to troubleshoot, sometimes resulting in long-lasting outages, Chaudhary said.Those outages would then impact various departments, including police, fire, public works, planning, health services and housing and community services.To prevent this from happening, the city implemented a new system last year, not long before the pandemic hit the U.S.Before implementing the system, the city had zero remote workers, according to Chaudhary. Since its implementation, that number has grown to approximately 700 employees.This project indirectly impacted the remote working problem for us, she said. Our servers and storage were more than seven to eight years old, and we were due for a replacement.Not long after deciding to replace these systems, she said, the city found and started working with Nutanix.We had just completed this project right before the pandemic hit, Chaudhary said. When COVID happened, our infrastructure was stable, so we were able to just focus on implementing remote work options for employees.After that, the process of going remote happened fairly quickly.We activated our emergency operations center, which was given funding pretty quickly, she said. We then focused on purchasing equipment and software for Microsoft Teams, as well as deploying Citrix to make cybersecurity changes to allow our employees to work remotely.Tapan Mehta, the company's director of industry solution marketing, said Nutanix's role was in simplifying the city's old three-tier infrastructure so it could work in a single appliance.The analogy I use a lot of the time, Mehta said, is just like you have iOS for Apple users or Android for Google users as an app developer, you have the beauty of developing apps that can run on any Apple or Google devices.Nutanix, he said, tries to follow the same line of thought in terms of providing consumers with the ability to run their applications or workloads in an environment of their choice, whether that includes a private cloud, public cloud or a combination of the two.The city found other benefits in the partnership as well."We have been able to significantly reduce the amount of physical hardware we were using by switching to a single system, resulting in energy savings of up to 50 percent, Chaudhary said.The city also set up an off-site disaster recovery system for events such as earthquakes."As we continue to go through major system transitions and adapt to this changing world, we now have the capability to scale up our infrastructure and support the new initiatives and solutions for our growing needs and services," Chaudhary said. Lifeway moves to sell new headquarters 3 years after moving in Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Southern Baptist Conventions publishing arm, Lifeway Christian Resources, announced Tuesday that it has entered into a contract to sell the new building that houses its corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, just over three years after moving in as employees embrace remote work. Lifeway is moving forward, building fresh vision, and getting prepared for a new season of ministry to churches, President and CEO Ben Mandrell said in a statement. This has led us to think strategically about selling our large building downtown, fully embracing remote work as the norm, and moving into a new era of creative and collaborative work. Lifeways announcement comes just over three years after the organization moved into its North Gulch building in November 2017 after selling its former campus in downtown Nashville for $125 million, according to the Nashville Post. At the time, about 900 employees worked from the downtown office. Details of the sale, which comes months after a legal dispute with former Lifeway President Thom Rainer, were not disclosed in the statement from the organization. Founded in downtown Nashville in 1891, Lifeway has been described as the largest Christian resource provider in the world. The ministry publishes tens of millions of Bible studies, books and Bibles each year. It also operated a nationwide chain of Christian stores until March 2019 when leaders announced the closure of all remaining 170 stores to focus on online sales. In 2015, Lifeway reportedly employed more than 5,000 staff and generated half a billion dollars in revenue annually. As the coronavirus pandemic unfolded last year, however, Mandrell announced budget cuts and staff reductions due to significant losses. Lifeway stands to lose tens of millions of dollars of revenue that the organization would normally generate over the summer months from camps, events, VBS and ongoing curriculum sales, Mandrell said in a statement on the cuts last April. Lifeway is mitigating these losses as much as possible through various expense reduction plans, including staff reductions and cuts in non-employee expenses. Additionally, Lifeway will likely have to use money from its reserves to cover a portion of the lost revenue. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many business operations into remote work, Mandrell, who took over as president in the summer of 2019, said he and Lifeway leaders had been looking to revise their approach to work since he came on. One of the first questions I asked when I took this role was, What should we do with this building? A study completed last year showed we were using the building at only 60% occupancy on a daily basis, Mandrell said about the headquarters. Were definitely moving to a new work environment. Our new space will be designed specifically around a healthy blend of strategic meetings and team collaboration, as well as the flexibility of working from home. Like other companies are doing as a result of COVID, were re-imagining the corporate office for the future of work. We are moving away from the idea of a headquarters to a fully mobile and agile workforce that intentionally gathers to build strong relationships, celebrate what God is doing and share ideas. Despite the sale of the building, Lifeway is expected to continue using a portion of its office space until a decision is made on where the site of their new permanent headquarters will be. Connia Nelson, Lifeways chief human resources officer, said the organization had been shifting toward a remote work culture for some time and thus was well-prepared when the city implemented a number of restrictions due to COVID-19. Before Lifeway moved to Capitol View, we saw the need to support an increasingly mobile workforce, Nelson said. Weve had a robust work-from-anywhere strategy for the last few years, which positioned us well for Nashville's safer at home orders put in place in March. Our employees have told us they have a better work-life balance and are still highly productive in this new work environment. We have a number of employees juggling work with caring for family members and helping their kids with distance learning. We want to make sure they have the flexibility to still perform at their best while juggling these responsibilities. Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. The threat will persist until late April, security analysts predict. Information available to the Department of Homeland Security suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists in the United States with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence. In this regard, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the country, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration. Read alsoStorming of U.S. Capitol: Arrested rioter needs Russian interpreter mediaThroughout 2020, Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) targeted individuals with opposing views engaged in First Amendment-protected, non-violent protest activity. DVEs motivated by a range of issues, including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force have plotted and on occasion carried out attacks against government facilities. Long-standing racial and ethnic tension including opposition to immigration has driven DVE attacks, including a 2019 shooting in El Paso, Texas, that killed 23 people, the bulletin notes. "DHS is concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some DVEs may be emboldened by the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. to target elected officials and government facilities," the agency reports. Also, DHS remains concerned that Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs) inspired by foreign terrorist groups, who committed three attacks targeting government officials in 2020, remain a threat. Read alsoU.S. Senate refuses to declare Trump's impeachment unconstitutional mediaThreats of violence against critical infrastructure, including the electric, telecommunications and healthcare sectors, increased in 2020 with "violent extremists citing misinformation and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 for their actions." The authorities have asked the public to report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online activity, to local law enforcement and the FBI, and to choose "non-violent ways to make your voice heard and support friends and family in doing the same." Reporting by UNIAN The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Monday, Jan. 25 10:27 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence in reference to an unknown man knocking at the homeowner's door. The complainant, a 26-year-old woman, said she told the man to leave but he came back and continued knocking on her door. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the man, identified as a 52-year-old Homer Township resident, who said he was looking for a girl that he met online. He said the girl was asking him for money and told him she lived there. He was told he was being scammed, and the male was told to leave. 7:39 p.m. Deputies assisted the Michigan State Police with a possible breaking-and-entering in Larkin Township. 5:08 p.m. Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Homer Township. 4:13 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Dartmouth Drive and South Saginaw Road. 3:40 p.m. A deputy assisted the Michigan State Police with traffic control on a property damage accident in Lincoln Township. 2:58 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of East Patrick Road and Jefferson Avenue. 11:13 a.m. Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 2200 block of Eastlawn Drive. 10:31 a.m. A 37-year-old man wished to file a fraud report. The incident occurred in the City of Midland, and the complainant was referred to the Midland Police. 9:56 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to the area of East Shaffer Road near North Hope Road for the report of a two-vehicle crash. 8:04 a.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Lincoln Township. 7 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street. 6:53 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in area of west U.S.-10 and Stark Road. 2:22 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township location in reference to an unknown traffic crash. The vehicle fled the scene prior their arrival. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle, and a traffic stop was conducted. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the 29-year-old male driver was intoxicated, and had a warrant for his arrest. He was subsequently arrested. Good wine has the power to transport. As we now approach a full year locked in pandemic freeze-frame, with many people largely confined within their national borders, wine still provides an opportunity to taste the world. In January, shopping digitally at Manhattan wine shops, I selected 20 bottles priced at less than $20, wines that not only offer great value but also convey the flavor of the places that produced them. These 20 bottles come from 11 countries. Each of the wine regions does things its own way, using different sets of grapes, say, or techniques and sensibilities that have been traditional in its part of the world. Natural conditions climates and soils, for example vary as well. The world is far more homogenized than it used to be. Television, the internet and easy international travel have all seen to that. But some things remain local, even under the pressures of globalization. Good wine is one of them. Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon took a 7.3million pay cut as the bank finally tried to move on from a corruption scandal in Malaysia. Solomon, a part-time DJ who performs as 'D-Sol', was not 'involved in or aware of the firm's participation in any illicit activity at the time' when Goldman helped to milk billions from the 1MDB fund meant for Malaysia's development. It said the scandal was an 'institutional failure, inconsistent with the high expectations it has for the firm'. Solomon still took home 12.8million last year. Goldman Sachs chief exec David Solomon, a part-time DJ who performs as 'D-Sol', took a 7.3m pay cut as the bank finally tried to move on from a corruption scandal in Malaysia The board said his performance last year was 'outstanding', as it generated its highest revenues in more than a decade. Goldman bankers were accused of helping Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who is still on the run, funnel billions of dollars out of the 1MDB fund. It pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to bribe officials with 1.2billion from the fund between 2009 and 2014. It was fined 2.2billion by regulators in the US, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, and had already agreed to stump up 2.9billion to make amends in Malaysia. Construction of the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station has been delayed amid spiraling costs. The cost of getting the nuclear power station built in Bridgwater, Somerset, has been hiked by 500million and the site now looks set to open in June 2026, instead of the end of 2025. Developer EDF Energy, which is owned by the French state, said 'significant progress' had been made on the construction site, but admitted costs looked set to reach up to 23billion, rather than previous estimates of 22.5billion. Delays: Construction of the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station has been delayed To date, the estimated costs involved in getting Hinkley Point C up and running are 5billion higher than five years ago, and the site will only start producing electricity nearly a decade after the originally planned launch date of December 2017. Back in 2007, Vincent de Rivaz, the then boss of EDF, said: 'EDF will turn on its first nuclear plant in Britain before Christmas 2017 because it will be the right time.' He added: 'It is the moment of the power crunch. Without it the lights will go out.' Today, EDF said the latest delay and costs hike meant the expected rate of return from its investment would drop from between 7.6 per cent and 7.8 per cent to between 7.1 per cent and 7.2 per cent. It added that a delay of nine to 15 months for Units 1 and 2 would cost around 700million and knock the rate of return by a further 0.3 per cent. The group said the pandemic and sporadic lockdowns had pushed construction at the site back by three months, with the same period of delays expected this year. The pandemic led to a number of changes on the Hinkley site, including reducing the number of workers to enable social distancing, and concentrating on the most critical areas of construction. Where social distancing is not possible, workers have been using extra protective equipment. In a video message to staff, Stuart Crooks, managing director of Hinkley Point C, said: 'Ten months after it began, we are still facing the full force of the pandemic.' The 400-acre site, which had around 5,000 workers on it before the pandemic struck, remains constrained by social distancing requirements. Mr Crooks said he still had to 'limit the number of people we can safely have on site at any one time.' He added that none of the higher costs involved in getting the site built would end up being passed on to consumers. EDF said in a statement: 'Despite being affected by the COVID-19 health crisis, Hinkley Point C has made significant progress in 2020 on site, in the design execution plans and on the manufacturing of equipment.' The project has been marred by rows over the cost to energy bill-payers and whether new nuclear should even be part of the country's green energy network in future. But, some business groups, like the Confederation of British Industry, have argued that sites like Hinkley Point C are essential as Britain cannot realistically look to solely rely on renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The CBI has also thrown its weight behind EDF's ambition to build the planned Sizewell C site in Suffolk, which is a replica of Hinkley Point C aimed at keeping costs down while other projects fall by the wayside. The Government sees new nuclear as crucial to Britain's mix of energy production. Once completed, Hinkley Point C will generate electricity for around six million, or 7 per cent, of the country's homes. The Hinkley site reached a major milestone last summer, with EDF completing the 49,000-tonne base for the second reactor on schedule. This came less than a year after completion of the first reactor's base in June 2019. Recent figures show Hinkley Point C beat its plan to spend 1.5billion with regional businesses five years ahead of target. HANAHAN A road project two decades in the making is one step closer to finally breaking ground. Construction to extend Railroad Avenue about a mile from Mabeline Road to Eagle Landing Boulevard is expected to begin in March after the S.C. Department of Transportation awarded the contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South earlier this month. The $15.6 million project will be funded with a $1.3 million federal earmark and $13.3 million from the Berkeley County one-cent sales tax program. The project is expected to take about 18 months and is scheduled to be completed by November 2022. Also included are improvements at the Railroad Avenue and Mabeline Road intersection, and a pedestrian walkway. For residents who live in the Eagle Landing and Otranto areas, the news of the 1-mile extension couldnt be better received. Drivers in the two subdivisions are routinely trapped between the Goose Creek Reservoir and the CSX railroad tracks with no exits out of the neighborhoods when trains stop along the route that runs parallel to Rivers Avenue There are just two exits out of Eagle Landing and Otranto one on Eagle Landing Boulevard and the other on Otranto Boulevard. The 1-mile extension of Railroad Avenue would connect Eagle Landing and Otranto residents with the rest of Hanahan without forcing them to travel on the heavily congested Rivers Avenue. Teresa Rausch, who has lived in Eagle Landing for more than a decade, said getting her two children to class at Hanahan Elementary School, or getting stuck on the other side of the tracks, is a daily battle. I cant tell you how frustrating it is to see one of those trains come to a complete stop and know it might be half an hour before you get going again, Rausch said. This is a road project that I know a lot of my neighbors have been keeping up with because it will definitely be a huge benefit for us. The project was the brainchild of former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, a Republican who represented the 1st District from 2001-11. Brown said the idea to extend Railroad Avenue came in the mid-1990s when he was serving in the S.C. Statehouse. Its been a long time coming, Brown said. Thats one of those road projects that the community has needed for a long, long time, but something always seemed to come up to slow things down. When Brown was elected to Congress in 2001, he was able to secure some federal funding for the improvement. I think back then we estimated that the project was going to cost around $7 million, Brown said. Its frustrating to think about how much taxpayer money has been wasted since then trying to get this project off the ground. Mayor Christie Rainwater has been following the evolution of the effort closely. She said conflicts with CSX railroad and residents along the route have contributed to the delay. It just seemed like every time we would get close to getting this thing to the finish line another roadblock would come up, said Rainwater, the towns mayor since 2018. This isnt just a project that will help traffic flow, itll help with safety issues," she added. "There were some real concerns about a fire or a medical emergency occurring in Eagle Landing or Otranto, and had a train been stopped on the tracks, how would our first responders been able to do to help. The Railroad Avenue plan is the latest in Berkeley Countys efforts to keep up with their exploding population and traffic issues. Construction is already underway to widen Clements Ferry Road from two to four lanes, and Phase 1 to widen U.S. Highway 176 from U.S. Highway 17A to Nexton Parkway is set to start this summer. Railroad Avenue is a long overdue project that is finally moving forward, said County Supervisor Johnny Cribb. It will serve as a valuable project for overall traffic flow in the region. The migration of all the customers of the Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank has been successfully completed to the core banking solution (CBS) of Union Bank of India (UBI). The Union Bank on January 25 informed that it has completed IT integration of all branches of erstwhile Andhra Bank with itself. The bank completed its IT integration with erstwhile Corporation Bank in the month of November last year. Internet banking, mobile banking, UPI, IMPS, treasury and swift have also been rolled out by UBI for Andhra and Corporation Bank customers. Here is all you need to know: 1. No changes have been made to the account number and customer identification number for the customers having an account with Corporation Bank or Andhra Bank after data migration to Union Bank of India. 2. The current IFSC code and MICR codes of the Corporation Bank or Andhra Bank will change and all the transactions through NEFT, RTGS, ECS, NACH, etc done with the current IFSC and MICR Codes can be used only till March 31, 2021. Customers will have to update their IFSC and MICR codes before this date. 3. There will be no changes made in the PIN number or expiry date of the customers current debit and credit card. The cards will continue to remain valid until their expiry and can be used without any worry. 4. The customers will witness changes in the internet and mobile banking facilities as well. For example, a person having an account with Corporation Bank will not be able to use its internet banking platform. Instead, he/she will have to use Union Bank of Indias internet banking portal. However, the login credential of the user will remain the same. 5. The customer will have to download Union Bank of Indias UMobile Application and re-register there for the mobile banking facility with the existing debit card. Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank's amalgamation with Union Bank came into effect from April 1, 2020. The bank claimed in its statement that the entire migration has been completed at record time with least inconvenience to customers. That is without making any change in their account numbers, debit cards or net banking credentials. A 33-year-old man was fatally shot Wednesday night in the St. Roch neighborhood, in New Orleans' second homicide in less than six hours. Authorities said the man was shot multiple times in the 2200 block of North Galvez Street at about 7:10 p.m. He was taken to a hospital where he died of his injuries. Police did not immediately release information on suspects or motive. It will fall to the coroner's office to identify the victim. Across the Mississippi River in Algiers, a man was mortally wounded in a parking lot shooting at Gen. DeGaulle and Kabel drives at about 1:45 p.m. An infant girl and another man were wounded. Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information from authorities. Tech & Science, Business & Finance By Ls Cohen Published: January 28 2021 North Atlantic Industries acquires a 90K square foot facility in Bohemia to consolidate departments in global headquarters. An aerospace tech company will be expanding its presence on Long Island with the acquisition of a 90,000 sq. ft. facility in Bohemia. North Atlantic Industries (NAI) plans to occupy the space by June 2021. The recently acquired facility will increase the companys presence by 80% in New York State. According to a press release, the new facility allows NAI to expand engineering, production, test and quality and assembly and manufacturing operations. It will also permit these functions to be housed under one roof, with sales and marketing, HR, IT and the leadership team. A partnership with the Islip Industrial Development Agency and Empire State Development has enabled NAI to double down on its commitment to growth in the region, according to NAI representatives. Islip Supervisor, Angie Carpenter touted the role that the Town of Islip IDA plays in helping businesses remain and grow in Islip. The NAI expansion is a shining example of that, she said. NAI supplies embedded computing solutions and power supplies to the worlds most demanding defense, commercial aerospace and industrial applications. Our uniquely modular approach has caught the attention of industry leaders, said Lino Massafra, VP of Sales and Marketing. Now with the space to add resources, our customers will be amazed at the breadth and scale of problems that can be solved with our versatile COSA [Configurable Open Systems Architecture] approach. NAI also plans to hire qualified undergraduate and graduate student interns to join their team, contribute new ideas and thrive in a fast-paced, tech-focused environment. A final-year medical student who volunteered to help out at the emergency department of one of Irelands busiest acute hospitals at the peak of the pandemic has won a prestigious award. Amy Brennan (22), a final-year medical student at University College Cork (UCC), has been awarded a Quercus Scholarship. The undergraduate scholarships are aimed at recognising remarkable academic and student achievement and are largely based on outstanding examination results. Amy, from Ballincollig in Cork, said she was thrilled with the award after her initial two-week stint of volunteering in Cork University Hospital (CUH) turned into a six-month stay. Read More Volunteers from Irish medical and nursing schools critically helped to ease the pressure on staff who were stretched to the limit by the sheer volume of Covid-19 cases. Such volunteers are now being singled out as the unsung heroes of Irelands pandemic response. Last March, when everyone realised the scale of the pandemic, I volunteered to help out at the emergency department at CUH, Amy said. After thinking she would be there as a support volunteer for just two days a week over less than a month, Amy ended up staying for six months. While hugely demanding, she said it was an incredible experience. It convinced me that emergency medicine is where I would eventually like to work, she said. Amy paid tribute to Professor Conor Deasy and the emergency department team at CUH for the incredible work they did throughout the pandemic and for helping the volunteers settle in and feel part of the team. Her role initially involved preparing an equipment hub in the Covid-19 section of the department, where she was responsible for introducing multiple quality improvement projects. These included the design of a Covid-specific resuscitation trolley and grab bags for the management of critically ill virus patients. The projects improved both treatment efficiency and staff safety throughout the first surge and subsequently are still in use today. Amy was also awarded the Archer Gold Medal in Psychiatry earlier this year. UCC Deputy President Professor John OHalloran said he was delighted to be able to award Quercus scholarships to the College of Medicine and Health in such a challenging year. I would like to congratulate the 38 recipients in what has been a hugely challenging year for them in the fight against Covid-19 and they are to be commended on this remarkable academic achievement, he said. ISTANBUL, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Pirates who kidnapped 15 sailors from a Turkish-crewed container ship in the Gulf of Guinea on Saturday have made their first contact with the shipping company to discuss a ransom, Turkish state media reported on Thursday. "Communication has been established with crew members of the Mozart container ship," Istanbul-based Boden Shipping, which provides technical management services for the vessel, was quoted as saying by state-owned Anadolu news agency. "Information has been obtained that all 15 crew members are in good health, not wounded and together," it said. One sailor, an Azerbaijani citizen, was killed in the raid while those kidnapped are from Turkey, according to the respective governments and a crew list seen by Reuters. Accounts from crew, family members and security sources described a sophisticated and well-orchestrated attack on Saturday in which armed pirates boarded the ship and breached its protective citadel, possibly with explosives. The Liberian-flagged vessel was headed to Cape Town from Lagos when it was attacked 160 km (100 miles) off Sao Tome island on Saturday, maritime reports showed. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer) Planning for Bidens Supreme Court Commission Begins Under pressure from his partys base to pack the high court with additional justices, President Joe Biden is following through on his campaign promise to create a commission to examine possible reforms to the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, tried to pack the Supreme Court in the 1930s after it struck down a series of his legislative initiatives as unconstitutional, but lawmakers from his own party viewed the move as a political bridge too far when the public expressed its disapproval of court-packing. While court-packing legislation died, the justices later dropped much of their opposition to Roosevelts government-enlarging New Deal legislation and upheld the various laws constitutionality. News that planning for the commission is underway comes after Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced legislation Jan. 22 to amend the U.S. Constitution to limit the Supreme Court to nine justices, the numerical cap that has been in place for well over a century, in order to prevent Democrats from enlarging the courts membership. In October 2020, Biden, who has so far refused to commit to expanding the number of Supreme Court justices, referred to the federal judicial system as out of whack on the CBS program 60 Minutes, as the U.S. Senate moved forward with the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett, a conservative constitutionalist who was confirmed shortly before Election Day, replaced the liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September. Democrats accused Republicans of a double-standard for moving expeditiously on Barretts nomination and vowed to pack the Supreme Court with additional justices in order to dilute the power of the courts conservative-majority bloc, a move they argued would make it easier for big-government legislation favored by the political left to survive court scrutiny. Then-President Donald Trumps move to fill the seat quickly in an election year enraged many Democrats, given the precedent of Merrick Garland. Following the election-year death in 2016 of Justice Antonin Scalia, the then-Republican-majority Senate refused to take up then-President Barack Obamas nomination of Garland to the Supreme Court. He has since been nominated by Biden to be attorney general. Biden said in the fall he would create a bipartisan commission that would include Democrats, Republicans, liberals, and conservatives to review the judiciary. I will ask them to, over 180 days, come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system because it is getting out of whack, the way in which its being handled, and its not about court-packing, he said at the time. Theres a number of alternatives that go well beyond packing, Biden said. The commissions specific mandate has yet to be agreed upon, but some commission members have already been chosen to serve, Politico reports, citing unnamed sources. According to the media outlet, the commission will operate under the auspices of the White House Counsels office. It will be staffed with the assistance of Biden campaign lawyer Bob Bauer, who will become one of its co-chairs. Another co-chair will be Cristina Rodriguez, a professor at Yale Law School and a former deputy assistant attorney general in the Obama administration. Other appointees reportedly include Caroline Fredrickson, a former president of the left-leaning American Constitution Society, and Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor and former assistant attorney general in George W. Bushs administration. Frederickson supports court-packing. In 2019, she said, I often point out to people who arent lawyers that the Supreme Court is not defined as nine-person body in the Constitution, and it has changed size many times. Curt Levey, president of the Committee for Justice, told The Epoch Times the jury is still out on what Bidens move to create the commission means. There are two possibilities, Levey said in an interview. One is that he really does support court-packing and this is just his way of seeming reasonable and its just a cover for eventually supporting court-packing. The other possibility is that he really doesnt want to give in to the base on this and this is just a way to get the base off his back, and I honestly do not know which is the case here. New Jan 28 : After 16 political parties, led by the Congress, on Thursday decided to boycott President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint session of Parliament on January 29 over the issue of farm laws, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is running a coalition government with the Congress in the state, has decided not to boycott the presidential address. While the Congress leaders are unable to justify the stand of the JMM, its ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, has announced its decision to boycott the presidential address. The JMM has one member each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Recently, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had met Rahul Gandhi, a year after forming the government in the state. The Congress on Thursday managed to get the support of 16 opposition parties to boycott the President's address. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Akali Dal, which are opposing the farm laws, were not part of the joint statement issued to boycott the presidential address. The BJD and the TRS, which opposed the farm laws in the Parliament, are also not part of the joint opposition statement, so are the BSP and the JD(S). The joint statement said, "India's farmers have been collectively fighting against the three farm laws, arbitrarily imposed by the BJP government that threatens the future of the Indian agriculture which sustains over 60 per cent of India's population and the livelihoods of crores of farmers, sharecroppers and farm labourers. "Lakhs of farmers have been agitating at the gates of the national capital braving biting cold and heavy rain for the last 64 days for their rights and justice. Over 155 farmers have lost their lives. The government remains unmoved and has responded with water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charges." Updated story: Under fire, NY releases full nursing home death count: 43% more than previously reported Syracuse, N.Y. Covid-19 is sweeping through nursing homes, killing ferociously. Yet 10 months after the pandemic began, New York state still had not reported an accurate count of the thousands of nursing home residents who have died of the virus. Until today. Late this afternoon, under fire after a critical report from the state attorney general, state officials released new numbers that increased total nursing home deaths from Covid-19 by 43%. Officials had collected the fatality data all along; they just wouldnt release it until now, despite repeated requests over the past six months. Heres the problem that existed until now: State officials reported how many nursing home residents died of Covid-19 inside the facilities. They did not disclose how many died after being sent to hospitals, which could increase the total significantly. A syracuse.com analysis of Onondaga County records, including nursing home residents who died in hospitals as well as nursing homes, found that the number who died of Covid-19 was about 50% higher than what the state reported. Separately, state Attorney General Letitia James today released a report that also estimated nursing home deaths statewide to be 50% higher than what the health department has reported. Since March 9, the health department has received daily reports from nursing homes on coronavirus patients who died in hospitals. But officials still refused to disclose those numbers. They said the data may double-count deaths recorded in other ways. The release of James report today stoked new attacks on Gov. Andrew Cuomo from his enemies. Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, whose tweets refer to Cuomo as The Worst Governor in America,' today issued a statement calling the underreporting of nursing home deaths a massive corruption and coverup scandal. State Sen. Rob Ortt, the minority leader, called for Cuomos health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, to resign. Even before the attorney generals report, state legislators were increasingly frustrated they could not get the full numbers, which they asked for in early August. Zucker promised at the time to deliver the data as soon as he could be sure they were accurate. Today, in response to the attorney generals report, Zucker released provisional data but said the health department is still auditing the numbers. The department does not disagree that the number of people transferred from a nursing home to a hospital is an important data point, and is in the midst of auditing this data from nursing homes,' Zucker said in a prepared statement. As the AG report states, reporting from nursing homes is inconsistent and often inaccurate.' Tired of waiting, a bipartisan pair of Assembly members appealed to President Biden last week, asking him to force Gov. Andrew Cuomo to release the data. And Cuomos fellow Democrat, state Sen. James Skoufis, has threatened that the legislature might subpoena the records. It is downright insulting to the co-equal state Legislature that, six months later, DOH is continuing to stonewall us,' Skoufis said in a prepared statement. Zucker said the state has consistently reported an accurate number of total deaths from Covid-19. But he acknowledged that the health department is still trying to quantify the proportion of deaths that involved nursing home residents. That does not in any way change the total count of deaths but is instead a question of allocating the number of deaths between hospitals and nursing homes,' Zucker said. The health department has consistently made clear that our numbers are reported based on the place of death.' From the onset of the coronavirus pandemic last March, the state health department has required every nursing home to answer this question: As of today, how many residents of your nursing home facility have been removed from your census due to death from COVID-19 in a hospital? That question is part of a daily survey that nursing homes are required to fill out during the Covid health emergency. State health regulators have refused to share the results. On the same daily survey, nursing homes also report how many residents die of Covid-19 inside their facilities. (The state started asking for those deaths in mid-April.) Those numbers the state reports publicly. Cuomo routinely professes his devotion to data. But until now his team provided a partial and likely misleading assessment of the virus most targeted impact the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents. Before today, New York reported that Covid has killed about 8,900 nursing home residents. The real number could as much as 50% higher, if Onondaga Countys experience is telling. That would be more than 13,000 deaths. (Late today, Zucker said the total number is 12,743 through Jan. 19.) For comparison, there are roughly 84,000 nursing home residents currently in the state. In an analysis of Onondaga County deaths by syracuse.com, the death toll grew from 231 to 347 after including nursing home residents who died after being transported to hospitals. Would that apply statewide? It was hard to know, but the attorney generals report suggested that it would. The AGs office analyzed data from 62 nursing homes, about 10% of the total, and found that deaths related to Covid-19 exceeded what the health department reported by nearly 56%. Whatever the true number is, the state health department has it. The refusal to make it public was one of the most baffling secrets of Cuomos handling of the pandemic. You have to be able to measure what youre trying to improve,' said Dr. Elaine Healy, vice president of the New York Medical Directors Association, a group representing nursing home doctors. If you cant measure it, youre done. Epidemiologist David Larsen of Syracuse University said its hard to predict what new insights, if any, would result from releasing better data on nursing home deaths. Nevertheless, Larsen said, the information should be public. It belongs to the people,' he said. Giving the public the true number could reveal how heavily this virus has ravaged the vulnerable people living together in nursing homes. In Onondaga County, the accurate number shows 60% of the deaths come from nursing homes. With its incomplete statistic, New York could claim that only about 26% of its deaths come from nursing homes. Zucker said the new numbers imply that nursing homes account for about 30% of all confirmed and presumed deaths. Unlike New York, many states include hospital deaths when they count nursing home residents who succumbed to the coronavirus. Excluding that number suppresses the real count and makes the state look good in national comparisons. Cuomo has pointed to those comparisons as proof that his policies are working. New York also does not report the number of coronavirus infections in nursing homes, as most states do. Cuomo has faced criticism from some quarters over a March 25 state order, early in the pandemic, directing nursing homes to accept Covid-positive patients discharged from hospitals. That directive, which critics blamed for spreading the virus to nursing homes, was later reversed. Now nursing home residents must test negative before they can return to their facility. The governors political foes have accused him of undercounting deaths to make the state look better. But they arent the only ones demanding better numbers. State Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, who has been among those asking for the nursing home data, said it isnt the fault of the state' that Covid spread through nursing homes. But she said the roiling controversy may be part of the reason the data had not been made public. The Cuomo administration has been circling the wagons a little bit,' she said. They havent been giving a lot of information about whats going on in nursing homes. I understand it, but Im very frustrated by it. The continuing surge of nursing home deaths in recent months, long after that March 25 order was reversed, would seem to support Cuomos contention that community spread not hospital discharges is the primary way the virus gets into nursing homes. Congregate care settings are a microcosm of a community,' said Gary Holmes, a health department spokesman. When the virus spreads in a community it can easily, and often unknowingly, enter a facility.' Holmes said an aggressive vaccination program in nursing homes will help this community through the unimaginable hardship brought on by this horrible virus.' The Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, sued to get the nursing home death data in September. The lawsuit was filed after the state health department repeatedly put off answering the groups open records request. State officials are contesting the lawsuit. The health department recently said it will be at least late March before it completes its review of the Empire Centers request. Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center, said keeping the data secret breeds distrust. It just sends the wrong message about the level of faith we should put in our public officials, Hammond said. Beyond whatever that data says about their performance, the fact that theyre hiding it says something about their trustworthiness.' 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 China has increased tensions with Taiwan by stepping up military activities and declaring that 'independence means war' in spite of US pledges to support Southeast Asian countries. Taiwan has been claimed by China as one of its territories, with Beijing having deployed fighter jets and bombers into the island's airspace as recently as the weekend. China believes Taiwan's democratically-elected government is moving the island towards formal declaration of independence, but Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that the island is already an independent nation. Additionally, the new Biden administration has made it clear it will not deviate from the firm security stance towards China that it inherited from ex-president Donald Trump. In multiple calls and statements, Biden and his top officials have made clear their support for their Asian allies, with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines all receiving assurances the US will reject China's disputed territorial claims. Despite this, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said during a monthly news briefing that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. As tensions continue to grow between Taiwan and China, Beijing has warned the island's government that 'independence means war' amid increased number of military drills. Pictured: A detonation set off during a Taiwan naval drill on January 27, 2021, demonstrating their preparedness to protect their territory from invasion Over the weekend, China deployed fighter jets into Taiwan airspace twice in two days in response to the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier sailing into the disputed South China Sea. Pictured: Taiwan Navy special forces take part in counter-infiltration operations during a drill on January 27, 2021 He said: 'The military activities carried out by the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty and security. 'They are a solemn response to external interference and provocations by 'Taiwan independence' forces.' Wu Qian also said that there are only a 'handful' of people in Taiwan that are seeking independence from China for the island. To those people, he warned: 'Those who play with fire will burn themselves, and 'Taiwan independence' means war.' Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said China should think carefully and not underestimate the island's determination to defend its sovereignty and uphold freedom and democracy. Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that there are only a 'handful' of people in Taiwan that are seeking independence from China for the island. Pictured: One of Taiwan's IDF fighter jets takes to the sky during an air force drill over Tainan city on January 26, 2021, two days after China flew their own fighter jets into Taiwan air space China believes Taiwan's democratically-elected government is moving the island towards formal declaration of independence, but Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that the island is already an independent nation. Pictured: Taiwan's pro-independence signs hang on the wall of a shop in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 2, 2020 It comes after China deployed 15 fighter jets into Taiwan airspace for the second time in two days. According to Taiwan's Defense Ministry, the Chinese air force flew 15 military aircraft into Taiwan on Sunday. The day before, a number of fighter jets and bombers had also been sent into Taiwan airspace. In response to the Chinese aircraft, Taiwan deployed fighters and air defense systems as well as broadcasting warning messages over the radio. It is believed the movements of the Chinese aircraft was a chilling message directed at Joe Biden, with the new President only having been in office a few days and the de-facto Taiwan ambassador being invited to Biden's inauguration. China has not commented on what its air force has been doing over the weekend. A spokesperson for the State Department said: 'We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected representatives.' For years, China refrained from deploying aircraft in Taiwan's south-west air defense identification zone, despite having the right to do so as the areas are not recognized by international law. After only one week in office, US President Joe Biden has sent clear warnings to Beijing against any expansionist intentions in East and Southeast Asia. In multiple calls and statements, he and his top security officials have underscored support for allies Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, signalling Washington's rejection of China's disputed territorial claims in those areas. China deployed 15 fighter jets into Taiwan airspace for the second time in two days over the weekend, in what could be one of the earliest tests for Joe Biden's administration. Pictured: File image of Chinese J15 on April 23, 2018 On Wednesday, Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that his administration is committed to defending Japan, including the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed both by Japan and China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands. That stance was echoed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who told Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi on Saturday that the contested islands were covered by the US-Japan Security Treaty. On Saturday, a US aircraft carrier entered the South China Sea in what the Pentagon called a voyage to 'ensure freedom of the seas' but Beijing said was an effort by Washington to 'flex its muscles' in the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt sailed into the disputed waters with its carrier strike group on Saturday, with US military saying the warships would be carrying out 'routine operations' to ensure freedom of navigation and reassure US allies. But China's foreign ministry today bemoaned the deployment and said it was 'not conducive to peace and stability in the region'. The USS Theodore Roosevelt (pictured) sailed into the disputed waters of the South China Sea with its carrier strike group on Saturday to carry out 'routine operations' and reassure its allies in the region, the US military said The US has accused China of trying to build a 'maritime empire' with militarized artificial islands in the region, with one analyst saying that the patrol was a sign that the new Biden administration 'cannot show weakness in foreign policy'. It also comes amid US concerns over tensions between China and Taiwan, which both claim parts of the waterway along with Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei. The strike group entered the waters on the same day that Taiwan reported an incursion of Chinese bombers and fighter jets into its air defense zone. The Theodore Roosevelt was accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell and USS John Finn. The Pentagon said the strike group was carrying out routine operations 'to ensure freedom of the seas, build partnerships that foster maritime security'. The South China Sea has a number of disputed claims, including those made by China Rear-admiral Doug Verissimo lauded the mission as an effort to 'reassure allies and partners' and promote freedom of navigation in the region. 'After sailing through these waters throughout my 30-year career, it's great to be in the South China Sea again,' he said. 'With two-thirds of the world's trade travelling through this very important region, it is vital that we maintain our presence and continue to promote the rules-based order which has allowed us all to prosper.' 'It's business as usual for strategic competition,' said Renato de Castro, a defence expert at Manila's De La Salle University, adding the patrol was 'both reassuring and concerning'. 'The Biden administration cannot show weakness in foreign policy,' he added. This map shows China's territorial claim in the South China Sea (in red), which the US rejects. Marked in blue are US bases in Okinawa off Japan and in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, and Sembawang wharf in Singapore where Britain's Royal Navy maintains a small presence. Marked in red are three naval bases in South China belonging to the People's Liberation Army The Trump and Obama administrations also carried out regular patrols to challenge China's 'nine-dash line' claim to jurisdiction over almost the entire South China Sea. Beijing has complained about US vessels in the South China Sea close to islands it controls, claims, or constructed and turned into military installations. Chinese coastguard and survey vessels were repeatedly tracked in 2020 near energy exploration in offshore plots operated by Malaysia and Vietnam. But Southeast Asian countries, while largely welcoming the US presence, fear that escalating tensions could lead to military confrontation, with potential for trade disruptions that would wreck their economies. Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told a confirmation hearing last week there was 'no doubt' China posed the most significant challenge to the US. US President Joe Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (pictured) that his administration is committed to defending Japan, including the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed both by Japan and China China has repeatedly complained about US Navy ships getting close to Chinese-occupied islands in the sea, which sees trillions of dollars worth of trade every year. China has not commented on what its air force was doing in Taiwan's airspace, and foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian referred questions to the defense ministry. He reiterated China's position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the United States should abide by the 'one China' principle. Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen visited a radar base in the north of the island on Monday, and praised its ability to track Chinese forces, her office said. 'From last year until now, our radar station has detected nearly 2,000 communist aircraft and more than 400 communist ships, allowing us to quickly monitor and drive them away, and fully guard the sea and airspace,' she told officers. In his first overseas contacts after taking office, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (pictured) included not only Japan but also counterparts in Australia, South Korea and India Biden's new administration says the US commitment to Taiwan is 'rock-solid'. The US, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is the island's most important international backer and main arms supplier. And Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday that a mutual defense treaty obliging the US to defend the Philippines against attack in the Pacific also applied to the disputed South China Sea, something the Obama administration did not specify. Those comments and others sought to emphasize that the new Biden administration will not deviate from the firm security stance towards China that it inherited from ex-president Donald Trump. The Trump administration previously raised the tone when then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo declared last July that most of Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea were 'completely unlawful.' Just a few days into the job, US President Joe Biden (pictured) and his top security officials have underscored support for allies Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and signaled Washington's rejection of China's disputed territorial claims in those areas In his first overseas contacts after taking office, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin included not only Japan but also counterparts in Australia, South Korea and India. In a call with Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, Austin observed that the two countries' defense partnership 'is built upon shared values and a common interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open,' said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. A similar China-directed refrain echoed through Austin's call with Australian defense minister Linda Reynolds on Tuesday. Austin 'emphasized the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, founded on existing international law and norms in a region free of malign behavior,' Kirby said. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Residents of Suweida have expressed their anger at the regime following the arrest of the head of the Druze community reports Baladi News. On Tuesday night, the city of Suweida witnessed angry protests. Photos of the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, were torn up in response to how a regime forces officer treated the spiritual head of the Druze community. This comes after the head of the Military Security Branch in Suweida, Luay al-Ali, insulted and offended the head of the Sheikhdom of the Unitarian Druze Community, Hikmat al-Hajri. During his meeting with the people of Suweida in the town of Qanawat, Hajri asked that calm be maintained and to stay away from escalation, indicating that, high-ranking figures in the state offered an apology and ensured that the appropriate measures were taken against he who made a mistake, according to the Suweida 24 website. The regimes intelligence had arrested Siraj al-Sahnawi at one of its checkpoints in the city of Homs, which prompted the local factions in Suweida to detain an officer and other members of the regime forces, as a means to pressure the regime to release the civilian. Alsouria Net attacked the presidency of the Monotheistic Muslims in Suweida as well as regime officials for Alis behavior, which led to anger in Suweida and brought about the escalation in a show of support for Hijri. The presidency of the Monotheistic Muslims issued a statement in which it said, We will not accept such people among the officials, as they do nothing but harbor hatred for the state and the law because of their unjust, wrongful, and irresponsible behavior. 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. We are delighted to welcome Lowers Forensics as a sponsor of Insuralex. Their support grows Insuralexs reach and offers a unique knowledge and valuable experience from the financial forensic, risk mitigation and loss prevention point of view. Lowers Forensics International, a globally trusted financial forensics and risk mitigation firm, has joined Insuralex Global Insurance Lawyers Group as a key sponsor. Together, Lowers Forensics and Insuralex are working to create a world-wide referral network of the highest quality in the fields of insurance, reinsurance, coverage, defense, and litigation. Insuralex is a worldwide network of independent insurance and reinsurance law firms, dedicated to the insurance and risk management communities. Insuralex lawyers are specialists in insurance and reinsurance coverage, defense and litigation, and all other related services. Insuralex firms are located in more than 50 jurisdictions, covering Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and Australia/Pacific Rim. Clients from around the world benefit from the international experience in claims and the combination of Insuralexs global and local knowledge. Lowers Forensics International is recognized for work across a broad range of issues, including insurance claims accounting, international investigations, litigation and disputes, intelligence and security, and anti-fraud. With the expertise of its people at the forefront, the firm applies leading-edge technology to deliver precise insight and value to clients. David Rheney, current president of Insuralex, states, We are delighted to welcome Lowers Forensics as a sponsor of Insuralex. Their support grows Insuralexs reach and offers a unique knowledge and valuable experience from the financial forensic, risk mitigation and loss prevention point of view. The Insuralex group is particularly recognized in complex claims that require a high specialization and that have an international component that requires specialized knowledge in diverse jurisdictions. Lowers Forensics International is uniquely positioned to assist in these matters. Marc Johnson, president of Lowers Forensics International, remarks, This partnership will amplify our ability to assist experts in the fields of insurance, reinsurance, and defense litigation on an international level as the global reach and footprint of both organizations so favorably mirror each other. We look forward to communicating and collaborating with the Insuralex membership base to support their work across the globe. To learn more about Insuralex, visit insuralex.com. To learn more about Lowers Forensics International, visit lowersforensics.com. About Lowers Forensics International Lowers Forensics International is a globally trusted financial forensics and risk mitigation firm that proudly operates under the Lowers Risk Group family of companies. The firm is internationally recognized for work across a broad range of issues, including insurance claims accounting, international investigations, litigation and disputes, intelligence and security, and anti-fraud. With the expertise of its people at the forefront, Lowers Forensics applies leading-edge technology to deliver precise insight and value to clients. When it really matters, organizations put Lowers Forensics on their side. Learn more at lowersforensics.com. ChenMed logo Our report helps readers feel the LOVE we have for each other and our patients. ChenMed, a leading senior-focused primary care practice operating more than 75 medical centers in 10 states, today announced publication of A Year Measured in Love, its 2020 Impact Report. Transforming healthcare is one of societys most pressing social issues and it is at the core of what we do, says Christopher Chen, M.D., ChenMed CEO. So, our Impact Report celebrates best-in-class primary care, along with the extra efforts our company and employees make to help communities better address both economic and social conditions. The proven ChenMed approach to high-touch primary care available at all Chen, Dedicated, and JenCare Senior Medical Centers is highly personalized and focused on delivering VIP service; detecting and managing high-risk diseases; and reducing hospital sick days. Our physician-led teams understand how social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between populations and we do whatever it takes to help our patients enjoy better health, Dr. Chen adds. The 2020 ChenMed Impact Report shows why Fortune Magazine named the hyper-growth medical practice as a 2020 Change the World company. The multi-media document spotlights mission-critical patient care improvements, along with nimble pivots to protect at-risk populations during the coronavirus pandemic. It shows how both dramatic growth and ludicrous safety can be achieved when core values are embraced throughout an organization. Plus, the informative review celebrates community service, helping fuel the work of worthy charitable causes, and strategic investments to empower employees at every level. We wanted our Impact Report to look and feel different from a typical publicly traded companys report. We wanted the LOVE for our teams to shine through, explains Stephanie Chen, J.D., ChenMed chief legal officer and chief culture officer. Our report helps readers feel the LOVE we have for each other and our patients. Gianni Neil, M.D., ChenMed market chief medical officer, is one of the leaders featured in the A Year Measured in Love ChenMed 2020 Impact Report. Our primary care doctors serve an average of just 400 patients each, Neil notes. We are able to deliver better quality of care because were able to invest 10 times more face-to-face time with our patients than a typical primary care doctor can. Plus, as global-risk medical providers, ChenMed doctors are rewarded only when patients enjoy better health outcomes. This alignment on whats most important every patients health and well-being is the secret of our success. Its also why we are so passionate about helping our communities. About ChenMed For seniors most in need of care, high-quality health care often is beyond reach. ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. ChenMed is a privately owned medical, management, and technology company. A provider of choice for some 20 Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, ChenMed is one of Fortune Magazines 2020 Change the World companies taking on societys unsolved problems - and boosting their business as a result. ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, and JenCare Senior Medical Center. The channel will air the best shows from its comprehensive archive of 3,400 automotive videos in a new on-demand format to engage the next generation of car enthusiasts PLC ( ), the digital music rights specialist, has said it is to launch a new Men & Motors TV channel, augmenting the YouTube offering. The channel will be hosted by Shane Lynch, the Boyzone member, and Torie Campbell, best known for fronting One Second in F1 Racing, and will open up a new revenue stream for One Media, which acquired the rights to Men & Motors from Granada Television Products and ITV Digital Channels in 2012. Since then, the channel has been thriving as a YouTube offering and in 2020 the channel clocked up 134mln minutes of viewing, which is equivalent to 2.5mln viewing minutes per week. The new channel will go live at 7.00pm on February 1, 2021, and will air the best shows from the comprehensive archives in a new on-demand format. It will initially air in the UK, after which it will be rolled out to North American and Australia as an advertising-funded free-to-view, catch-up and on-demand channel. Men and Motors was and still is an iconic brand. Like many other niche content broadcasters, the audience loves the content, but the channels have been unable to monetise the content to the level it deserves. Viewers now choose to consume content digitally across multiple devices and Men and Motors is being reincarnated by adopting a hybrid of proven businesses models demonstrated by Amazon, and Samsung, said Jamie Branson, the chief executive officer (CEO) of View TV Group, One Media's partner in the relaunch in a statement. Michael Infante, the CEO of One Media, said the group is excited to be giving the iconic Men & Motors channel a new lease of life. Over time, we hope to broaden our offering and add more third-party content to the channel, broadcasting a host of different automotive programmes, Infante said. District scale opportunity at Dixie with initial resource estimate awaited Two types of gold discoveries on the same property Very well-financed What does: Ltd ( ) (OTCMKTS:GTBDF) struck a deal five years ago to acquire the Dixie mining claims in Ontarios prolific Red Lake gold mining district and has been successfully advancing the project since. Dixie consists of 9,140 hectares of contiguous claims that extend over 22 kilometers (km). The project lies around 25km southeast of the mining town of Red Lake and is accessible by a highway. The property has played host to some eye-catching drill assays and multiple high-grade gold discoveries, namely at the Dixie Limb, Hinge, Bear-Rimini, Yuma, Auro, Yauro, Viggo and Gap zones. Six of these are now considered one zone that is hosted by the LP Fault zone, which is basically an 18 km long target that is being continuously explored by the company. Great Bear now controls over 300 square km of highly prospective ground across four projects in the district - they are the Pakwash property, the Dedee property, and the Sobel property. As well as Dixie, these are all properties in which the firm is earning 100% interest. The renowned Red Lake gold district has historically produced around a whopping 30 million ounces of the yellow metal from 29 mines. How is it doing: has continued its run of positive exploration results throughout 2020 and into 2021. Beginning in January this year, Great Bear reported more drill results from the LP Fault, which continue to demonstrate the zone's credentials, including high grade and bulk tonnage gold mineralization. Highlight results have included 38.4 g/t gold over 5.5m from 36.5 to 42m depth in one hole and 29.17 g/t gold over 15.50 m from a depth of 41.80 to 57.30m. A deeper hole intersected 5.29 g/t gold over 29m from a depth of 397.50 to 426.50m, including high-grade core of 62.13 g/t gold over 1.60m from 405m to 406.60m. In March, Great Bear noted that deep holes had doubled the drill-confirmed vertical extent of the significant LP Fault target. And on April 22, the company posted assays from 13 holes at the LP Fault, which, it noted, remains open in all directions, and where the area of continuous gold mineralization has been extended by about 25% by drilling this year alone. Two 'step-down' holes extended mineralization by over 100m below previous drilling, with assays showing 11.18 grams per ton (g/t) gold over 6.75m from 524.2m to 530.95m depth in one hole, while infill drilling within 75m and 100m in previously undrilled gaps in the zone also continued to deliver high-grade and bulk-tonnage gold intercepts, the firm said. In May, the company reported results from its ongoing $45 million exploration program at the Dixie project. Highlights include new drill holes intersecting the LP Fault zone from around 20 to 500m vertical depth along 2.2 kilometers of strike length. The drill holes were also located above previous drilling, to extend gold mineralization towards surface, and within 75 to 100m of previously undrilled gaps in the zone. Two drill holes are step-ups that extend gold mineralization by more than 75m above previous drilling to the near-surface, while the company also highlighted new bulk-tonnage intercepts that included 3.07 g/t of gold over 35.6m from 117 to 152.6m downhole in drill hole BR-320, 1.11 g/t gold over 91.6m from 349.5 to 441.1m downhole in drill hole BR-285, and 1.00 g/t gold over 91.4m from 473.6 to 565m downhole in drill hole BR-286. Great Bear has released nearly 300 drill hole results from the LP Fault and anticipates at least 117 more will be completed by the end of 2021, for a total of at least 400 holes. Great Bear said a sixth rig is being added to the Dixie project to accelerate the 2021 drill program and will continue to infill as well as expand on the three main gold zones, including the Hinge, Dixie Limb and LP Fault zones. The company is fully financed through 2022 after closing a 'bought-deal' private placement launched in July 2020, raising total gross proceeds of nearly C$70 million. The offering was oversubscribed, with 14 institutional investors from across North America, Australia and Europe participating. The explorer also increased the exploration budget at Dixie to C$45 million from C$20 million previously. In all, the company aims to have drilled 600 holes at the site in total by the end of 2021, for around 400,000 meters (m) with 175,000m sunk in 2021. About 80% of the planned drilling will target the LP Fault, while 15% will target the Hinge and Dixie Limb zones. What the broker says: On May 19, Research Capital reiterated its Speculative Buy rating on Great Bear with a $36 price target soon after the company announced the results of the 17 drill holes from the LP Fault zone. The firm cited the fact that the holes were drilled both above previous intercepts and within 75m to 100m gaps in previous drilling, providing for the first time publicly detailed information on the first high-grade domain. We think investors will be able to better understand the potential of the deposit which we believe the market is undervaluing, Research Capital wrote. Inflection points: More exploration results A maiden resource estimate Gold price moves What the boss says: "We are now entering the final months of near-surface maiden mineral resource estimation drilling of the central LP Fault zone, and are modeling 17 distinct high-grade gold domains within the broader LP Fault gold mineralized system, CEO Chris Taylor said in a statement. Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham Iran's parliament speaker says the country has produced 17 kilograms of 20 percent-enriched uranium within a month, as Iranian officials continue to dismiss international calls for Tehran to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the announcement during a visit to the Fordow nuclear plant on January 28. In separate comments, the spokesman of Irans Atomic Energy Organization, Behruz Kalamvandi, confirmed Qalibafs estimate, saying there are currently 17 kilograms of enriched uranium stockpiles with a 20 percent purity in the country. Iran, which denies pursuing nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes, has vowed to produce 120 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent per year, or 10 kilograms per month on average. About 250 kilograms of 20 percent-enriched uranium are needed to convert it into 25 kilograms of the 90 percent-enriched needed for a nuclear weapon. Western countries have called on Tehran to adhere to the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, from which the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018. In response to the U.S. pullout and crippling sanctions, Iran has gradually breached parts of the pact, which eased international sanctions in exchange for curbs on its disputed nuclear program, saying it is no longer bound by it. On January 27, newly installed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the administration of President Joe Biden was willing to return to commitments under the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but only if Iran returned to full compliance. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Tehran's view that the United States should first lift its sanctions. "Reality check for @SecBlinken," Zarif tweeted, saying the United States "violated" the accord by imposing sanctions on Iran that "blocked food/medicine to Iranians," among other grievances. Zarif argued that Iran had "abided by the JCPOA" and only took "foreseen remedial measures to the U.S. moves. "Now, who should take 1st step? he asked. With reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP Pastor who coerced teen into having sex to cleanse her of childhood abuse gets 10 years in prison Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Editor's note: This article contains graphic details of an explicit nature A former pastor who confessed to coercing and enticing a teenage girl into engaging in sexual acts with him at his church so she could be cleansed and freed from a dark place of childhood sexual trauma will now spend 10 years behind bars, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. Cesar Agusto Guerrero Jr., 42, of Liberty Township, Ohio, admitted in June 2020 that he engaged in sexual acts with his 17-year-old victim on July 20, 2019, and again on Aug. 5, 2019, at his office at the Mision Cristiana el Calvario Church. He was sentenced via video conference in U.S. District Court. Officials noted in an earlier report that on Aug. 7, 2019, several female members of Guerreros church at the time, including the 17-year-old, had made complaints about him. Court documents say the pastor contacted her in July through Facebook Messenger and informed her that he dreamt she was dressed in white, while walking in a dark place. He then told her that this dream made him concerned for her and that God was speaking to him, and the only way to get out of the dark place was for her to have sexual relations with (him) in what would be a cleansing process. Guerrero further asked the teenager to record herself naked and send him sexually explicit photos while citing the Bible. She later met with the pastor on July 30 at his church office where he allegedly had her perform oral sex in order to free her mouth, and forced her to have sexual intercourse, court documents noted. At a hearing in 2019, a judge overseeing the case cut the prosecutor short as he tried to describe the details of the case. Guerrero, according to court documents, wielded immense power over his congregants who at the time of his arrest considered him a prophet of God. His 17-year-old victims father, who thought his daughter would be safe in the church, was left in a crisis of faith. "He's been using God's word to tell the girls to do sexual things and the girls really thought that was coming from God," the father, who asked not to be identified at the time, said. "He was doing horrible things inside the room. That makes you think, if God exists, God wouldn't let this person do things like that. When asked how he felt about the situation, the father said: "Angry, frustrated, can't believe. You don't believe in God no more." A second girl also alleged that when she was 14 several years ago, she was sexually abused by the pastor at a conference in New York where she had traveled with his family and other church members. Guerrero, who was born in Honduras, is a legal resident of the United States. He will be a registered sex offender and could be deported after he's released from prison. Scientific community must reach out to African Americans to bolster confidence in vaccine On Friday, I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I was honored to be accompanied by Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the brilliant African-American viral immunologist who is a rock star in the field of immunology science. From Dr. Corbetts post at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, she led the team that performed the scientific miracle of developing and testing the Moderna vaccine in record time. Now she is working to overcome the widespread hesitancy in the black community about vaccination. Vaccination is imperative to save lives, particularly for African Americans, disproportionately the greatest victims of the virus. COVID-19 cases and deaths now numbering over a staggering 375,000 in the U.S. alone continue to shatter records on a daily basis. The rampaging pandemic has exposed once more the extreme disparities in our nation. ADVERTISEMENT The black community has suffered a hospitalization rate 3.7 times greater and a death rate 2.8 times greater than the white community. This reflects the harsh reality of inadequate health care in African-American communities. Many impoverished urban communities are health care deserts with hospitals and clinics unavailable. African Americans disproportionately work for employers that do not provide health care. Those who make too much for Medicaid eligibility are particularly at risk. African Americans are also disproportionately essential workers the nurses, bus drivers, transit workers, grocery store clerks and others who must go to work and are at far greater risk. The mass incarceration of African Americans, which continues to this day, also creates far greater risk, since prisoners like those in nursing homes are at far greater risk. Now the vaccines offer the potential of staunching the march of the pandemic and saving millions of lives. For understandable reasons remember the infamous Tuskegee experiments? African Americans harbor suspicions about scientists and vaccines. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly one-half (48%) of Blacks and over one-third (38%) of Latinos were not confident that their needs had been taken into account in the development of the vaccines. We know our history, and we understand from where this hesitancy comes, Dr. Corbett told the Chicago Sun-Times. On the one hand, we are the communities most plagued by the pandemic. On the other hand, we are communities least likely to get vaccinated. Corbetts role in leading the development of the Moderna vaccine in itself should calm some of the fears. Both of the vaccines currently approved for emergency use the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have proven to be greater than 94% effective at preventing COVID-19 and even more effective at preventing severe cases. The clinical trials involved tens of thousands of participants, including people of diverse backgrounds, races, ages, gender and those with other ailments like diabetes. One in 10 of those tested were Black, numbering in the thousands. That reality enables scientists like Corbett to have confidence in treating African Americans with the vaccine. ADVERTISEMENT Racial violence plagues this country to this day. For the country to reach herd immunity, more than three in every four persons must be vaccinated. If African Americans or Latinos decline to be vaccinated, all will remain at risk. The past cannot be erased. But the present offers hope with Dr. Corbetts leadership providing reassurance. To help provide education on the need for vaccination, Rainbow Push has partnered with the National Medical Association, led by its president Leon McDougle. NAM is the largest national organization representing African-American physicians and their patients. Whats clear is that the scientific community and community leaders must reach out and work hard to ensure that African Americans gain the confidence to get vaccinated. This wont be easy. But with the leadership of Dr. Corbett and others, and with a new administration getting serious about providing the resources for mass vaccination and for outreach into the communities most impacted, lives can be saved. I was honored to receive my first dose, and I strongly urge others to join me. The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of Americas foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Over the past forty years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. On August 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Reverend Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. COLUMBIA Shoppers who have gotten used to picking up some beer or wine with their curbside orders during the pandemic will lose that privilege without a new law. Right now, consumers pick up beer and wine curbside thanks to an emergency order from Gov. Henry McMaster intended to help with online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic and retailers and restaurants want to keep that going once the COVID-19 emergency ends. An S.C. House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday heard from backers who want that change made permanent and also from supporters of a separate measure that would allow counties to hold referendums to permit Sunday alcohol sales. Retailers have more customers now who are using the convenience of curbside delivery and want to cater to their expectations, said Rebecca Leach, director of the S.C. Retailers Association. "It is simply moving the cash register to the curb," Leach told lawmakers. The pandemic has served as a pilot program for allowing beer and wine purchases curbside, and consumers like it, she said. Such sales are legal in more than 30 states, including all of the Southeast except Alabama, which also is debating the idea, Leach said. Justin Coleman, owner of Monarch Wine Merchants in downtown Charleston, applauds the effort to permanently legalize curbside delivery of beer and wine. Coleman said the option has been a lifeline for his small business. "Were all about making people feel as comfortable as possible shopping with us, and curbside pickup has added another layer of comfort for our customers," he told The Post and Courier. At Wednesday's Statehouse hearing, several speakers advocated that liquor also be eligible for curbside sales at stores that offer it. Curbside liquor sales are not included in the bill. Consumers who come to a liquor store don't understand why they can buy beer and wine for curbside pickup but not other forms of alcohol, said Lock Reddic, owner of the Green's chain of liquor stores in Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Greenville and Atlanta. "It causes a lot of confusion, a lot of frustration," Reddic told lawmakers. Sign up for our Columbia business and real estate newsletter. Get all the latest industry happenings from the Midlands, plus exclusive development news and more in your inbox each week. Email Sign Up! The Green's location in Atlanta has been selling all its alcoholic products via curbside since the pandemic began, Reddic said, and it has been popular with shoppers and helpful in reducing traffic inside the store during the pandemic. Laura Hudson, one of the co-founders of Mothers Against Drunk Driving SC, argued curbside sales deserve added precautions beyond in-store service. Hudson said that only employees age 21 or older with added training in spotting underage shoppers and those who are inebriated should make such sales. Under current rules, any shop clerk age 18 or older could complete the sales. Other restrictions Hudson called for include sales during daylight hours only and no curbside sales of chilled drinks. The other bill discussed Wednesday would allow counties or cities to launch a binding referendum on allowing Sunday sales of liquor. Ending the restriction on Sunday sales would end an unnecessary restriction on local businesses, the bill's primary sponsor, House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, told the subcommittee. "I don't believe a small business owner should be told when to be open," the Columbia Democrat said. It makes no sense for bars and restaurants to be able to sell drinks on Sundays but sales for home consumption to be illegal, he said: "I don't know what evil we are killing." Tourists are confused they cannot shop for liquor on Sundays, and his measure would allow counties with major hospitality industries to vote on changing that, he said. No votes were taken on the bills. A vote could come at the subcommittee's next meeting, said state Rep. Micah Caskey, a West Columbia Republican who leads the House panel reviewing the bills Wednesday. Hanna Raskin contributed to this report. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Putting frictions aside for now, China says relations between the Chinese and US militaries are at a new historical starting point and should focus on cooperation and avoiding confrontations. Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian said Thursday that under former President Donald Trump, military-to-military relations "faced many risks and challenges but the sides now have an opportunity to reset ties. Wu said the two sides held a teleconference on Tuesday and Wednesday on the tracing of US prisoners of war and those missing in action from previous Asian conflicts, and exchanged in-depth views on cases of concern to the US side and cooperation between the two militaries, reflecting the importance China attaches to US concerns in the humanitarian field. At present, China-US military relations stand at a new historical starting point," Wu told reporters at a monthly briefing. Such positive-sounding language fuels perceptions that China's leaders are hoping for a fresh start in relations and a more civil discourse with Washington after years of rancor, even while deep divisions remain. China resents US support for Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy it claims as its own territory to be conquered by force if necessary, along with the US military presence in the South China Sea and what it sees as a broad-based US campaign to restrain its growth. The US says it does not recognize China's claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, accuses China of bullying its neighbors and maintains strong alliances or other relationships with Chinese regional rivals such as India, Australia, South Korea and Japan. The two sides have sought to reduce the chance of conflicts through agreements on unexpected encounters at sea and in the air, but risky incidents continue to occur. While the US disinvited China from its multinational RIMPAC naval drills in 2018, the two sides have had a limited amount of cooperation in non-traditional military fields such as search and rescue and anti-terrorism. It is hoped that the US side, in the same spirit of professionalism, will meet China halfway, properly handle Chinas concerns in the field of military-to-military relations, strengthen communication, control risks, avoid crises and push forward bilateral military-to-military relations on the right track," Wu said. Oregons House Republicans on Wednesday disavowed the state Republican Partys resolution issued last week that called the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol a false flag operation initiated by left-wing groups. A statement signed by all 23 House Republicans said there is no credible evidence to support false flag claims. It also said the election is over and that it was time to deal with the many crises facing the state. Our focus must remain on urgently helping hurting Oregonians, the House Republican statement said. Far too many Oregonians have been impacted by lost wages or a lost family memberwe are in a crisis and that crisis requires steady leadership and action, not partisan rhetoric. The election is over. It is time to govern. The false flag conspiracy theory circulated widely after the riot and was promoted by several Republican members of Congress in the immediate aftermath. But it has been debunked by law enforcement officials, video and social media posts and facts on the ground. Nevertheless, The Oregon Republican Partys executive committee issued a resolution on Jan. 19 condemning President Trumps impeachment as a profound betrayal and sham process, and comparing the 10 Republicans who voted for it to Benedict Arnold, the Revolutionary War traitor. It went on to say that the riot was a false flag operation designed to advance the Democrat goal of seizing total power, in a frightening parallel to the February 1933 burning of the German Reichstag. The fringe statement has attracted national attention and become a distraction for lawmakers just as the new legislative session is getting started. Political observers were also puzzled by the strategy for a party that is deeply in the minority in Oregon and shows no sign of recovery. As the controversy around it continued this week, with the Anti-Defamation League of the Pacific Northwest issuing a statement asking the Oregon GOP to rescind the baseless accusation, lawmakers apparently felt the need to distance themselves from the partys executive committee. The signatories to the House Republican statement included Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, who was stripped of his committee assignments after he helped violent right-wing protesters enter the state Capitol building on Dec. 21, when it was closed to the public. While the partys executive committee includes no current lawmakers, it does include Nearmans chief of staff, Becky Mitts, as well as Chris Barreto, the wife of former Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove. Senate Republicans did not respond to a request for comment on whether they planned a similar response. But Sen. Tim Knopp. R-Bend, issued his own statement condemning political violence on both sides and saying he had seen no credible evidence that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was a false flag operation. I do not support the Oregon Republican Partys resolution, he said. I find it disheartening that while Oregonians are struggling, these political distractions get in the way of helping them recover. -- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Advertisement One in eight NHS trusts in England did not have a single spare intensive care bed last week, official figures show as hospitals continued to grapple with the winter wave of critically ill coronavirus patients. NHS England figures published today reveal 18 out of 140 major trusts had 100 per cent occupancy in their ICUs on every day in the week ending January 24, up slightly on the 15 that were full to the brim the previous week. These included University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest trusts in England, along with Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, which are also in the West Midlands. But the problem was not confined to the Midlands, as major trusts in the North and in Yorkshire including St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital also reported having no spare critical care capacity. Even hospitals in the South West, which had managed to avoid the worst of the pandemic throughout 2020, were seeing their ICUs pushed to the brink, with Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust recording 100 per cent occupancy. There are still more than 3,600 critically-ill coronavirus patients in English hospitals as a result of the devastating second wave that took off in December thanks to the emergence of the super-infectious Kent variant. Last year, when the country was dealing with the older Covid strain, there were huge regional disparities across the country. But the new variant, which is also thought to be 30 per cent more deadly, has stretched NHS intensive care capacity in every region to its limit, with hospitals having to open emergency ICU beds and scrap thousands of operations to free up space for incoming Covid sufferers. Today's figures also show that ICUs are more than 70 per cent busier than they have been at any time over the past five years with 5,446 critical care beds occupied on January 24, the most recent day statistics are available for. For comparison, there were 3,034 critically-ill patients at the same time last winter, and the average over the last four years stood at 3,183. Even though the number of people in intensive care in England has risen by about 5 per cent in the last seven days, there is reason to believe the numbers will start to fall in the coming weeks. Hospital admissions of people with Covid-19 have plummeted by a third in the last week and the number of patients in hospital with the virus is starting to fall in all regions of England. WHICH NHS TRUSTS' INTENSIVE CARE UNITS WERE COMPLETELY FULL LAST WEEK? North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Whittingdon Health NHS Trust Chesterfield Royal Hospital George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Advertisement Separate promising data shows the number of patients waiting more than an hour to be handed over from ambulance teams to A&E staff has dropped to its lowest level since the start of the year. The figures suggest tighter restrictions on peoples movements and activities introduced across England after Christmas, culminating in the nationwide lockdown from January 5, are starting to have an impact. A total of 2,648 hospital admissions of people with Covid-19 in England were reported for January 25, according to figures from NHS England. This is down 29 per cent on the equivalent figure for a week earlier, and is the lowest since December 31. Coronavirus cases caught in hospital have fallen by a THIRD since the start of January Cases of coronavirus caught on hospital wards have fallen by a third since the start of January despite a record number of inpatients, NHS figures show. The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards in England has dropped from 553 on January 10 to 369 on January 25, a fall of 33 per cent. This has happened despite the number of patients in hospitals rising throughout the month, with a now record 3,600 people in intensive care and 32,000 inpatients. The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards has dropped from 553 on January 10 to an average low of 369 on January 25 across England Falling in-hospital infections, also known as nosocomial infections, come alongside a decline in daily hospital admissions in all regions of England. The number of Covid cases caught in hospital on any single day this month was highest on January 4 with 635 cases, a day before the third national lockdown came into force. This then halved to a low of 304 on January 22, while the daily average, calculated over seven days, has declined more slowly. Advertisement All regions are now recording week-on-week decreases in daily admissions, including a drop of 35 per cent in the Midlands and 32 per cent in London. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has also fallen week-on-week in all regions. London has seen the biggest drop, with 6,272 patients at 8am on January 27, down 17 pe cent on the previous week. South-east and south-west England have both seen an 11 per cent week-on-week fall, to 4,811 and 2,094 patients respectively. The Midlands and eastern England are both down 6 per cent, with 5,940 and 3,811 respectively. In north-east England/Yorkshire the number is down 4 per cent to 3,654, and in north-west England it is down 1% to 4,264. For England as a whole, the number of Covid-19 patients stood at 30,846 on January 27, down 9 per cent on the previous week and the lowest number since January 10. Separate figures from NHS England show the number of patients waiting longer than an hour to be handed over from ambulance teams to A&E staff at hospitals in England fell last week to its lowest level since the start of the year. A total of 3,283 delays of more than 60 minutes were recorded across all acute trusts in the seven days to January 24. This compares with 3,333 in the previous week, and 5,513 in the seven days to January 10, which was the highest weekly figure so far this winter. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust reported the highest number last week for an individual trust (289 delays of more than 60 minutes), followed by Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (155) and University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust (132). A handover delay does not always mean a patient has waited in the ambulance. They may have been moved into an A&E department, but staff were not available to complete the handover. Meanwhile, cases of coronavirus caught on hospital wards have fallen by a third since the start of January despite a record number of inpatients, separate NHS figures show. The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards in England has dropped from 553 on January 10 to 369 on January 25, a fall of 33 per cent. This has happened despite the number of patients in hospitals rising throughout the month, with a now record 3,600 people in intensive care and 32,000 inpatients. Falling in-hospital infections, also known as nosocomial infections, come alongside a decline in daily hospital admissions in all regions of England. The number of Covid cases caught in hospital on any single day this month was highest on January 4 with 635 cases, a day before the third national lockdown came into force. This then halved to a low of 304 on January 22, while the daily average, calculated over seven days, has declined more slowly. The total number of Covid-19 patients on wards remains 'incredibly high', Professor Chris Whitty warned this week, and is 80 per cent above the peak of the first wave. And the numbers on mechanical ventilators are at their highest level since the pandemic began at 30 per cent above the levels in April, although in the most recent days this has started to dip on a national level. Preventing the spread of coronavirus in hospital is being achieved by all patient-facing staff wearing large amounts of protective equipment. All are required to wear gloves, masks and aprons whether they are meeting Covid patients or not. And wards have been segregated to keep Covid-positive patients away from others who are there for treatment for other serious illnesses. The risk of transmission in hospitals is high because patients generally have large amounts of the virus in their body, which is what makes them sicker, and medical staff regularly have to touch them and get extremely close. Testing surveys have found that staff working in patient-facing medical roles are more likely to contract coronavirus than the general population. But hospitals are now warning that keeping Covid and non-Covid patients separate is becoming increasingly difficult as wards get ever busier. Increasing the volume of container traffic is one of the key priorities of cooperation with Lithuania, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Krykliy has said. According to a report of the Ministry of Infrastructure on its website on Thursday, during the video meeting of Krykliy with Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania Marius Skuodis the prospects of Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in the field of infrastructure, participation in international logistics projects, as well as attracting additional cargo flows were discussed. The ministers stressed the importance of continuing work together to attract additional freight traffic on the railway and create favorable and competitive conditions for this. Among positive examples, Krykliy took the Viking combined transport train, which connects the infrastructure of the sea lines of the Baltic region with the similar infrastructure of the Black Sea, as an example. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, by the end of 2020, the volume of container traffic between the two countries by this train increased by 21% compared to the pre-crisis 2019. "Increasing the volume of container traffic is one of the key priorities of cooperation with Lithuania," Krykliy said. He also said that the current quota of permits for international trucking with Lithuania meets the needs of Ukrainian haulers. At the same time, the minister welcomed the decision of both sides to work out a draft protocol on amendments to the agreement between the governments of both countries on the liberalization of bilateral and transit traffic in the future. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A miracle baby was 15 weeks premature, weighing just 1lb 11 oz when born, conquered E.coli, sepsis, and COVID-19 despite the odds. A miracle baby born prematurely beat E.coli, sepsis, and COVID-19 On December 1, a baby named Archie Edwards left his parents, Robert Edwards and Sheree Murray, in fear after he was born at Burnley General Hospital, without a heartbeat. The stillborn miracle baby was resuscitated. After 40 minutes of chest compressions, he was placed on a ventilator, which his father "felt like an eternity." At just five weeks, the premature baby scared his family again when he suddenly caught a bacterial infection, E.coli, that led to sepsis, Daily Mail reported. Upon further test, it was discovered that the miracle baby also contracted COVID-19. The baby was thought to be one of the youngest to contract the coronavirus in Britain at just 25 weeks of gestation. Archie's parents said they feared they would lose their first child, leaving them hoping and praying that he could pull through. Sheree said she had always dreamed of having a baby and feared the worst. Read also: New York's 'Miracle Baby' Bravely Survives COVID-19, Liver Transplant However, the brave infant fought both sepsis and COVID-19. Archie is now recovering at Burnley General Hospital's NICU unit and hopes for his return home in March. The miracle baby's mother explained that she was shocked as she had no complications during her pregnancy. The mother from Colne, Lancashire, said they were terrified when doctors told them about the baby's heartbeat, sepsis, and COVID-19. Sheree was amazed by her son saying that he was a fighter and proud of the miracle baby made. "Holding him for the first time felt completely surreal. He was very light, I had him on my chest, the only thing I felt was his head," she added. On November 30, Sheree did not show any complications that Archie would be a premature baby as she had no symptoms, but they were totally shocked when she started to feel crippling pain, Robert Edwards said. Read also: Baby Accidentally Shoots, Kills 5-Years-Old Cousin After Playing with Gun at Uncle's Home The miracle baby's parents thought they would lose their son Sheree was in so much pain, and the couple thought she would have a miscarriage at the time. Her water broke at her sister's home, so she was rushed to the hospital, where Archie was born after 55 minutes. Even if the miracle baby has yet to recover from being premature, he already suffered from various diseases. At five weeks, Archie's fight was far from over as he fell sick again, getting E.coli that developed to sepsis. Doctors discovered that he also contacted COVID-19. The brave infant was rushed to the ICU and placed on a ventilator for two weeks to save his life. The miracle baby's father said it breaks his heart being not able to be with his son as he was placed in self-isolation for two weeks. Archie is expected to return home on March 14, 2021, as per LadBible. According to Mirror, the miracle baby's parents tested negative for the coronavirus, but they could not see him for ten days. Despite the odds, the baby fought back to health, and after that, his mother was able to hold him for the first time in weeks. Archie now weighs over 3lb, and his mother hopes her son will leave the ISU soon. Read also: Amazon Delivery Driver Discovers a Five-Month-Old Baby Abandoned on Texas Street @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nearly every rider of New York Citys mass transit system has been compliant in required mask usage, according to the most recent survey conducted by the MTA. On Wednesday, the MTA held its first Mask Force event of 2021, with the agencys top decision makers joining elected officials and volunteers to distribute free masks and encourage compliance on the citys buses and subways. The MTA Mask Force is comprised of hundreds of MTA employees and volunteers, dressed in bright yellow shirts, who distribute masks directly to customers at popular subway stations and bus stops throughout the system. The initiative was expanded in November, when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ TRANSIT, Amtrak and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) all agreed to join the MTA in its efforts, creating a new Regional Mask Force. Masks continue to be an effective and vital piece of the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and were glad to be here to help customers mask up, said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye. Vaccines and expanded testing bring new hope this year as we continue to battle this public health crisis, and continued widespread mask compliance throughout our system helps keep our customers, employees and each other safe. On Wednesday, the MTA shared the results of its most recent survey, indicating that mask usage in the New York City transit system has reached an all-time high of over 97% across buses and subways. MTA observers found a mask usage rate of 97% on city subways in a survey of over 110,000 subway riders between Jan. 11 and 22. On buses, MTA observers found a mask usage rate of 99% in a survey of over 64,000 bus riders between Jan. 4 and 8. We all want to continue moving customers safely to wherever they need to go, and we need to get to 100% mask compliance, said MTA COO Mario Peloquin. We are nearly there, and our Mask Force campaign coupled with other extraordinary employee efforts are what truly brings us closer to the day when we will be able to stop the spread of COVID. MTA LIRR President Phil Eng passing out masks at LIRR Jamaica Station. Photo: Glen Sager / MTA LIRR In New York, all mass transit riders are required by law to wear a mask at all times. Customers who refuse to wear a mask on public transit are subject to a $50 fine. So far, the MTA has acquired over 21 million masks for customers and employees and has launched various programs and initiatives, outside of the aforementioned Mask Force, in an effort to boost compliance. The agency has continued its rollout of personal protective equipment (PPE) vending machines throughout the citys subway system and Metro-North Railroad, allowing customers to quickly and conveniently purchase a mask should they forget one. And for bus riders, the MTA has launched a pilot in which the agency installs surgical mask dispensers on buses to provide free facial coverings for riders. The agency has also partnered with New York-based celebrities, like actress and activist Rosie Perez and former New York Mets pitcher John Franco, for a series of public service announcements to encourage mask usage on the citys trains and buses. A man accused of stealing Sh711,000 from his employer at a Microfinance company in Nairobi has been charged at Kibera law courts. Dickson Tongi is accused of stealing the amount between August 1, 2020, and December 1, 2020. He allegedly conspired to steal together with his two friends who were not in court. The court heard that they fraudulently convinced clients of the company, ESO Credit and Investments, to divert loan repayment to different pay-bill account numbers. Kibera senior principal magistrate Esther Boke released the suspect on Sh300,000 cash bail with a bond of a similar amount. The case will be mentioned on February 9, 2021 Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners rolled out an updated mission statement at their first meeting of 2021 that states, Provide quality services at a cost our citizens can afford. Jevin Jensen, newly installed board chairman, says over the past few weeks, the board which also includes new for 2021 Robby Staten and returnees Greg Jones and Barry Robbins from last year agreed on five strategic objectives aimed at making county government more effective and moving our community forward. These objectives were developed primarily via listening sessions with citizens, department heads and county employees. The Board then collaborated to further refine what they had heard into the following key objectives: 1. Upgrade Commissioner meetings to grow citizen involvement through better communication. Chairman Jensen said everything is about making it easier for citizens to participate, to attend and to hear commission meetings. The January meeting was livestreamed on Facebook and garnered more than 5,000 views over eight days. 2. Modernize government operations and increase employee engagement. The most important asset of our county government isnt our trucks or building, but our people. To execute on our objectives, we need actively engaged employees. They should have clear goals and a career where excellence is rewarded. These are the hallmarks of modern organization and the keys to achieving our other objectives. 3. Renew focus on better paying jobs for citizens and continued community development. This objective is focused on job quality, not just more jobs. We know the formula to boost the number of $14 or $15 per hour jobs, Chairman Jensen said. Our new goal is to grow higher paying jobs and boost jobs that allow a worker to grow into a higher paying career so they can support their families. Investing in small business and start-ups will be a focus. 4. Lower residential property taxes. Everybody likes lower taxes, and Chairman Jensen believes this is a challenging but doable goal. Lowering taxes was a campaign commitment and requires all of us in county government to maintain a focus week in and week out on budget and finances, he said. The Commissioners agreed that this approach will make the annual budget setting process easier and optimize the opportunity to lower taxes without sacrificing service quality. 5. Improve city-county teamwork to benefit all Whitfield County citizens. Just one year ago - - we were in front of a judge because we couldnt reach agreement on the provisions of the Service Delivery Agreement, Chairman Jensen said. We have committed to breaking down those barriers between the city and the county by building up trust and finding areas of cooperation. We want to rebuild those relationships starting with our fire departments and recreation departments, where we can save each other money and more effectively provide services to everyone in Whitfield County. Another sign of that cooperation was showcased last week with the county and city joining forces with the North Georgia Health Department to expand COVID vaccinations via a drive-through process at the Trade Center. It was widely hailed as a success with many hundreds of citizens getting their first COVID vaccine dose without leaving their cars. The commissioners are asking the citizens to help achieve our 2021 strategic objectives by coming to meetings and giving their valuable feedback. They, department heads and all county employees are in the process of setting goals now which are aligned with these key objectives and determining metrics. Chairman Jensen emphasizes, It will take teamwork and focus to achieve our objectives to move our community forward. I am confident in our success when the efforts of the commissioners, citizens, and county employees are all so aligned. [January 28, 2021] AJMC Health IT Issue Highlights Telehealth's Expansion Due to COVID-19 For years, telehealth held promise but always seemed just around the corner. It made sense in theory-if payers and providers could overcome regulatory and reimbursement hurdles that kept it from taking flight. In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic proved just the disruption that telehealth needed. Telehealth takes center stage in this health information technology (IT) issue from The American Journal of Managed Care, which launched the annual special issue a decade ago when financial incentives and requirements in the Affordable Care Act meant health IT would expand. Prior issues have focused on the role of electronic health records and the rise of data in health care decision-making. But as 2020 gives way to 2021, telehealth is the story. In the face of a pandemic, both CMS and commercial payers let the reimbursement walls come tumbling down, and the consensus is there's no turning back. "Telehealth has been rapidly adopted as a means to achieve the goal of continuing care provision yet maintaining social distancing and preserving personal protective equipment," guest editor Daniel M. Walker, Ph.D., MPH, of the College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, writes in an opening letter. "COVID-19 has cast a bright light on opportunities for health IT to help the delivery system better support patient needs, and the research included in this issue advances the science in three domains that are particularly important and feasible to address to improve patient-centeredness: data analytics, connecting providers across specialties and implementing telehealth," says Walker. As Walker notes, the rise of telehealth has created "unintended consequences," exposing disparities and raising new questions. Among the findings: COVID-19 telehealth expansion offered a short-term opportunity to expand "the fundamental gap in health care underutilization," Chip A. Bowman, MD, and colleagues argued. /li> Jorge A. Rodriguez, MD, and coauthors found lower use of video vs telephone visits among lower-income, Black and Hispanic, older, and Spanish-speaking patients during COVID-19, driven largely by clinic and practice factors. Even before the pandemic, electronic consults were expanding across the Veterans Health Administration, according to a study covering a seven-year period. Sachin H. Jain, M.D., MBA, an AJMC editorial board member who is president and CEO of the SCAN Group and Health Plan, writes in the issue's Letter From the Editorial Board about an innovative program that could help bridge the technology gap. Citing a Michigan study that suggests a third of older adults may lack the technology skills to access care, Jain writes how SCAN tested a service to offer zero-cost tech support to help members set up email accounts or send photos of foot infections. "Telehealth and other forms of virtual care are finally here to stay," Jain writes. "We spent years waiting for these technologies to go mainstream. Now that they have, let's make sure we meet our patients where they are and support them as they adapt to these new ways of accessing care." To read the special issue, click here. About The American Journal of Managed Care The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) is a multimedia, peer-reviewed, MEDLINE-indexed journal that keeps industry leaders on the forefront of health policy by sharing digital research relevant to industry decision makers. Other brands in the AJMC family include The American Journal of Accountable Care, Evidence-Based Oncology and Evidence-Based Diabetes Management. These comprehensive multimedia brands bring together stakeholder views from payers, providers, policymakers and other industry leaders in managed care. AJMC 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/20210128005941/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Short link: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday he is "particularly worried" about the power of social media companies and that a regulatory framework should be created so decisions such as banning former US President Donald Trump from Twitter can be done "in line with law." 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. WASHINGTON Congresswoman Lisa McClain, who represents Michigans 10th Congressional District, has expressed concerns over the states handling of personal protection equipment funds after a report from the Michigan auditor general was recently released. The report details a lack of emergency procurement policies and procedures on the states part prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the use of shared procurement cards to make purchases. As elected officials, we are entrusted by the public to protect their hard-earned tax dollars from waste and abuse, McClain said in a statement. This report raises serious red flags over Michigans preparedness and I look forward to Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmer explaining the action her administration is taking to ensure any wrongdoing is uncovered. The report highlights that the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, according to auditor general Doug Ringer, was at an increased risk for fraud, waste, and loss of funds. A procurement purchasing card, which was used to make $35.2 million in emergency purchases, was shared among the staff of the department rather than controlled by one individual. The State of Michigan Administrative Guide to State Government procedure authorizes only the employee whose name appears on the procurement card to initiate a transaction with the card. McClain is expecting a response from Whitmer to the following questions by March 1: Who at DTMB gave the authorization for multiple employees to make purchases with the procurement card? How will you and your administration increase oversight and protections from fraudulent spending in the Michigan procurement program? Has your administration begun an investigation into DTMBs lack of emergency procurement procedures? Has your administration taken any employment action against anyone due to their inappropriate handling of Michigan taxpayer dollars? In its response to this audit, the DTMB said that at the height of this pandemic, there was a demand for personal protective equipment that far exceeded the supply, with many vendors requiring pre-payment. The department obtained procurement cards for three additional central procurement staff, but since the timing was critical in obtaining PPE, the department needed to have additional buyers available to make purchases at a moments notice. The DTMB central procurement did not have the resource bandwidth to dedicate specific individuals to this task while ensuring others were completed, so there needed to be some shared procurement cards. To mitigate the risk associated with the shared procurement cards, there were three levels of review completed for each purchase, the DTMB response reads. One person was assigned as the owner of each card and was appropriate and that all supporting documentation was collected and reviewed. In addition, the supervisor of each assigned owner of a procurement card and the statewide procurement administrator both reviewed each purchase and supporting documentation. The auditor, while acknowledging the critical circumstances of the pandemic, said the DTMB had not taken action to ensure that all emergency procurement cards had either been destroyed or that remaining cards are assigned to one specific individual. There is still a need for an Office of Internal Audit Services review of the shared procurement card transactions. 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. A former Birmingham psychologist has been sentenced after defrauding the Alabama Medicaid Agency of at least $1.5 million by filing false claims for counseling services that were not provided. Sharon D. Waltz, 51, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday to three years in federal prison. She was also ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution, according to a joint statement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and Department of Health and Human Services -Office of Inspector General Special Agent Derrick L. Jackson. Waltz operated Capstone Medical Resources in a number of locations around the state, with its primary officer in Birmingham. Among other services, Waltz provided individual and group counseling sessions for at-risk youth. The charge against her states that many of the services billed to the Alabama Medicaid Agency were never performed. She is the former mistress of Jonathan Dunning, the former Birmingham Health Care CEO who was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for siphoning $13.5 million intended for health care for the poor. Waltz, who worked with Dunning at the BHC clinics, was not charged in that case but did testify against Dunning in the 2016 trial. Waltz has two children by Dunning, who was her married boss at the time. She filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in 2013, but the case was tossed out in 2015. Birmingham Health Care was one of a nationwide network of federally funded clinics to treat the poor. It is now called Alabama Regional Medical Center (ARMS). Dunnings release date from a Louisiana prison is Aug. 9, 2032. Jonathan Dunning In the case against Waltz, the Program Integrity Division of the Alabama Medicaid Agency launched an investigation after an audit showed that Waltzs billings to the Medicaid Agency had increased from $99,000 in 2015 to more than $2.2 million in 2017. The findings of that audit were turned over to the Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit after Waltz submitted falsified records during the audit. A subsequent investigation was conducted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Office of Investigations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. That investigation determined that the majority of claims submitted by Capstone from 2016 through 2018 were fraudulent and that Waltz submitted and directed her employees to submit claims for counseling services that never occurred, and in some instances for individualsincluding family members and friends of employeeswho never received services at all. A second woman in July 2020 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud involving a former Birmingham-area psychology clinic that defrauded the Alabama Medicaid Agency of at least $1.5 million. Heidi Elizabeth Robertson, 35, entered her plea in the case that centered on counseling services that were never provided. Authorities say Robertson was the primary biller for Capstone Medical Resources LLC which filed false claims for individual and group counseling services for at-risk youth. She was sentenced to 18 months in November and ordered to share the restitution with Waltz. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OIG, the Alabama Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Program Integrity Division of the Alabama Medicaid Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward and Assistant Attorney General Bruce Lieberman, working as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuted. Waltzs actions demonstrated reckless disregard for at-risk youth, and she will now face the consequences of those actions, Escalona said. Todays sentence represents the relentless commitment by the U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners to protect the resources dedicated to the members of our community that are the most vulnerable, our children. Marshall said, It is important that Sharon Waltz be fully held to account for engaging in her illegal and immoral scheme to steal from hard-working taxpayers and profit off at-risk children. As Attorney General, I stand committed with our friends in federal law enforcement to seek out and punish anyone who plunders the public treasury and harms those whom they were entrusted to serve. Todays sentencing should serve as a reminder to everyone who transacts business with federal health care programs, including Medicaid, that those programs are protected by a dedicated team of investigators and prosecutors, said Jackson. We will not tolerate fraudulent actors who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of patients and the American people. Carrie Coon headlines Rajiv Joseph's new play Red Folder, presented as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's virtual Steppenwolf Now initiative. It streams beginning January 27. Coon narrates the 10-minute work, which is described as an "illustrated short." The plot is described cryptically as follows: "The red folder belongs to a first grader. It is the source of all his woes. Years later, he seeks vengeance." For more information, watch the video above and click here. Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, and Matthew Morrison in The Light in the Piazza ( Joan Marcus) Lincoln Center Theater will host a free online cast reunion of The Light in the Piazza on January 28 at 7pm ET. Stars Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, and Matthew Morrison will take part in the event, which will be introduced by director Bartlett Sher and moderated by Ira Weitzman. The Adam Guettel-Craig Lucas musical premiered in 2005 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, and earned seven Tony Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Actress in a Musical for Clark. For tickets, click here. The 2021 Origin 1st Irish Festival, a three-week celebration of contemporary Irish culture, will take place virtually January 11-31. The festival presents work by theater companies from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and New York. Highlights of this year's festival include Under the Albert Clock, a collection of short plays by five of Northern Ireland's most inventive female playwrights, Transatlantic Tales, a series of eight original plays, and Irish Rep's production of Darren Murphy's The Gifts You Gave to the Dark, the story of a man in Belfast on his last call with his mother in Dublin. For festival calendar and tickets, click here. Hershey Felder stars as Sholem Aleichem in Before Fiddler Live From Florence, running for one night only on February 7. Before the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof, there was Sholem Aleichem and his beloved character of "Tevye the Milkman." Before the beloved songs "Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Matchmaker," and more, there was music of the Old World ... a music that imitated talking, laughing, weeping, and singing, where musicians didn't just make music, they spoke to you in song Klezmer. In Florence, Italy, one of the oldest artistic centers in the world, a group of such musicians have been, by day, virtuosos in Florence's world famous Maggio Musicale symphony orchestra; by night, they are the Klezmerata Forientina ... with their ancient European roots, and Hershey Felder as their storyteller, playing an array of characters and music from the "Old World," from a Tevyeh, to a Yenteh, to a Rabbi, to a newlywed daughter, to many many more ... Purchase includes the live stream and a week of ON DEMAND viewing access to the recording of the live stream (through 2/14). For tickets, click here. John Lloyd Young's Vegas Valentine will stream live from the Space in Las Vegas on February 12 at 9pm ET. The pay-per-view concert is $30 and the concert with VIP virtual after-party is $100 beginning at 10:45pm ET. The concert will be available OnDemand for one week following the live performance. For tickets and more information, click here. Josh Groban ( David Gordon) Josh Groban's latest live-streamed concert will be a romantic one, taking place on Valentine's Day, February 14, at 8pm ET. On Instagram, Groban teased that the "rip roarin'" concert will feature "tons of songs I've rarely (or never!) done." The new show will air in multiple timezones, with on-demand playback for up to 48 hours from the start time. For tickets and more information, click here. Michael Urie in Smithtown (image provided by the production) Michael Urie, Ann Harada, Colby Lewis, and Constance Shulman will star in a virtual production of the new play Smithtown, written by Drew Larimore and directed by Stephen Kitsakos. Smithtown follows four residents of a fictional Midwestern university town who unwittingly become victims of technology gone awry. The 65-minute play is presented by the Studios of Key West. The play will stream online February 13-27. For tickets, click here. Sam Tutty, Emily Redpath, and Sir Derek Jacobi will star in a new film version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, shot under Covid-19 regulations and to be released online in time for Valentine's Day. It will stream February 13-20, with a portion of the proceeds going to Acting for Others. For tickets and more information, click here. Marsha Mason (handout image) Keen Company has announced casting for its upcoming benefit presentation of Lucille Fletcher's audio thriller Sorry, Wrong Number, taking place February 15 at 7pm ET. The production will be led by Marsha Mason, Heidi Armbruster, Chuck Cooper, Jasminn Johnson, and Matt Saldivar. The evening will also include a "surprise pre-show" and a talkback following the performance. For tickets and more information, click here. Derek DelGaudio in his show In & Of Itself at the Daryl Roth Theatre. ( Matthew Murphy) Hulu will release the film version of Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself on January 22. The production ran for more than a year at the Daryl Roth Theatre during 2017 and 2018. In & Of Itself is an intimate and powerful exploration of what it means to be and be seen. The film chronicles DelGaudio's attempt to understand the illusory nature of identity. His personal journey expands to a collective experience that forces us to confront the boundaries of our own identities. To subscribe to Hulu and Disney Plus, click here. Read our critic's review here. MasterVoices is presented a new digital film series inspired by Adam Guettel's song cycle Myths and Hymns. Conceived by artistic director Ted Sperling, Myths and Hymns is divided into four chapters. The first edition of the digital series, titled "Flight," premieres January 13 at 6:30pm ET on the MasterVoices YouTube channel and will be available through June 30. It will include the songs "Prometheus," performed by Anderson & Roe; "Saturn Returns: The Flight," performed by Joshua Henry; "Icarus," performed by Mykal Kilgore and Norm Lewis; "Migratory V," performed by Julia Bullock, Renee Fleming, and Kelli O'Hara; "Pegasus," performed by Jose Llana, Capathia Jenkins, and Elizabeth Stanley; and "Jesus, the Mighty Conqueror," performed by Take 6. Watch the video above. John Lithgow, Shoshana Bean, and Daniel Breaker ( David Gordon) John Lithgow, Shoshana Bean, and Daniel Breaker are among the artists to be featured in the second part of Myths and Hymns, a new digital adaptation of Adam Guettel's theatrical song cycle presented by MasterVoices. The free production, conceived and supervised by artistic director Ted Sperling, will premiere on February 24 at 6:30pm ET. More information can be found here. The cast and creative team of While I Yet Live, with Billy Porter and his family ( David Gordon) Play-PerView will present a reunion reading of Billy Porter's play While I Yet Live, available February 6-10. Directed by Sheryl Kaller, the reading will reunite the original off-Broadway cast of the drama, made up of Elain Graham, Sheria Irving, Emmy winner S. Epatha Merkerson, Kevyn Morrow, Larry Powell, Sharon Washington, and Tony winner Lillias White. The work premiered at Primary Stages in 2014, and proceeds from the reading will benefit the Actors Fund Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Click here for tickets. Emily Skinner and Solea Pfeiffer in Simply Sondheim ( Christopher Mueller) Signature Theatre's streaming production of Simply Sondheim will be available February 2-March 26. Created for Signature Theatre in 2015 by Eric Schaeffer and David Loud, the musical revue features 30 Sondheim songs, including "Finishing the Hat," "Losing My Mind," "Another Hundred People," and more, with new orchestrations for 16 instruments by Jonathan Tunick. The 12-member cast includes Norm Lewis, Solea Pfeiffer, Conrad Ricamora, Emily Skinner, Nicholas McDonough, Donna Migliaccio, Christopher Mueller, Katie Mariko Murray, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Paul Scanlan, Awa Sal Secka, and Bobby Smith. The production was filmed over the course of three days at Signature's MAX Theatre with multiple safety protocols in place. For tickets and more information, click here. Maulik Pancholy ( Tricia Baron) Maulik Pancholy will star in a streaming production of Becky Mode's solo show Fully Committed, available March 23-April 11. Fully Committed is based on characters created by Mode and original star Mark Setlock. Pancholy will play more than 40 characters in the work, which follows a day in the life of Sam, a reservation-line receptionist at one of New York's trendiest restaurants. Ticketing information to come. Budget 2021: It may be the third time Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the Union Budget but it won't be a clinch this year for her. With economic growth currently at a 10-year low, widening fiscal deficit, and inflation at its highest, FM Sitharaman has a difficult task to manage to steer the economy back on the growth track that has been marred by the coronavirus pandemic. The FM has already hinted that Budget 2021 will the one that will be hailed as "never before". As a result, there are all eyes on Sitharaman that how she will prioritise spendings to get the coronavirus-ravaged economy back to one of the fastest-growing major economies. Although the pandemic-induced economic shock has had a knock-on effect on almost all sectors of the economy, indicators show that some of them are recovering quickly, while others aren't that lucky yet. Also read: Budget 2021 Live Updates: Budget will be in accordance with people's expectations, says Anurag Thakur; Sitharaman reaches finance ministry Also Read: Budget 2021: Key expectations from FM for direct taxes MSMEs across several sectors are still grappling financially, resulting in little or no job creation. The auto and real estate sectors, which are still struggling, have urged the government to give more tax breaks to citizens, leaving them with higher disposable incomes. The healthcare sector too has pinned big hopes on Budget 2021 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Citizens and individual taxpayers alike are expecting tax concessions in this year's budget. Here's all you need to know about Budget 2021: What is the budget? The Union Budget is an annual financial statement comprising the estimated earnings and approximate expenditures of the government during a particular financial year. Who will present Budget 2021? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her third budget under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Budget is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, which is then presented by the finance minister. Budget 2021 date Union Budget 2021 will be presented in the Lok Sabha of the parliament on February 1. Although the budget session will begin on January 29, 2021, the Budget will be presented on February 1, 2021. President Ram Nath Kovind will address a joint sitting of both the houses of parliament on January 29, following which the Economic Survey would be presented in the Lok Sabha. Also Read: Budget 2021: 3 key areas govt needs to focus on Budget 2021 time Budget 2021 proceedings will begin at 11 am on February 1. FM Sitharaman delivered the longest ever budget speech last year, on February 1, 2020. She spoke for 2 hours and 41 minutes. Where to watch the Union Budget 2021? The Budget 2021 will be telecast LIVE on national television channels such as Lok Sabha TV, Rajya Sabha TV, and Doordarshan. One can also visit their respective Twitter accounts and YouTube channels to watch the budget LIVE in action. Viewers can also tune in to BusinessToday.In, India Today TV and Aaj Tak to catch the live proceedings of this year's budget. One can also follow the LIVE blog by BusinessToday.In to track the latest updates on the important announcements made by FM Sitharaman. The budget 2021 speech can also be downloaded from the government's official website indiabudget.gov.in. Budget 2021 to be paperless? Union Budget 2021 is going to be completely paperless in the view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This will be the first time in independent India that the budget papers will not be printed. The government has also received permission for it from both houses of parliament. The Centre took the decision as several people, around 100, were required to stay at the printing press for nearly a fortnight, which could have been risky amid the coronavirus fear. They were also needed to stay on till the budget documents were printed, sealed and delivered on the day of the budget. Thus, the finance ministry has decided not to keep the workers in the printing press and instead ensure that soft copies are available to all members of the parliament. Also Read: Budget 2021: 74% industry respondents expect hike in salary deduction limit, says KPMG survey Budget 2021 Expectations Defence expectations in Budget 2021 The Centre's defence spending which got a higher allocation boost last year in view of the India-China conflict at the Ladakh border, is likely to get more budgetary apportionment this year too. Besides this, the government may also focus on R&D and indigenous procurement for the defence sector. Sin Goods (Tobacco/Alcohol) in Budget 2021 As the revenue collection is highly constrained, the government may further increase levies on 'sin goods', such as alcohol and tobacco, in the Union Budget 2021. Household Savings in Budget 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the savings sector hard. Household savings, which dropped last year, meant people were hesitant to invest in long-term savings. The government is expected to address this in the Union Budget 2021 by incentivising savings/investments. Also Watch: Experts discuss ways by which govt could spur growth of teh economy Real estate expectations from Budget 2021 Although several policy measures have been taken to boost real estate in pandemic-hit 2020, the sector expects the government to widen the scope of its affordable housing scheme and provide more tax benefits to potential homebuyers. The sector wants stimulus in the form of sops in the Union Budget 2021 to boost housing demand. The key demands of the real estate sector comprise tax rebate on housing, GST waiver, personal tax relief, extension of interest subvention, easing liquidity for the sector, and infrastructure status for realty. Consumer durables/Electronics expectations from Budget 2021 Businesses selling consumer durables did not get any particular benefits in last year's Budget, thus the sector is expecting a reduction in component prices in addition to a demand push to push sales. Income tax expectations in Budget 2021 The salaried individuals are pinning high hopes on the government to increase the basic exemption limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in order to leave them with more disposable income in their hands thereby boosting personal demand. It is also highly likely that the government may increase the income tax exemption limit under Section 80C to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh in the Union Budget 2021. Also Read: Taxpayers' Budget 2021 wishlist: COVID exemptions, standard capital gains rates and more Healthcare expectations from Budget 2021 Following the pandemic-hit year (2020), the sector expects the government to increase healthcare spend in Budget 2021 for ramping up infrastructure in the sector. As the coronavirus crisis has highlighted the need for the Centre to make healthcare a priority, the sector is eyeing holistic reforms such as higher budgetary allocation to it, and reduction in taxes on healthcare and treatment. It also expects the government to strengthen the provisioning of healthcare services via public-private partnerships. Women's expectations from Budget 2021 The Centre is expected to announce steps to push women labour participation rate by widening the scope of skill development and entrepreneurship programmes. Working women are also pinning hopes on the government for tax concessions in Budget 2021. Banking sector hopes from Budget 2021 The government is expected to disinvest and privatise some public sector banks (PSBs) which may be a part of the budget proposal, besides earmarking allocation for recapitalisation and privatisation of PSU banks. The banking sector's other key expectations from the Union Budget 2021 include setting up of multiple bad banks, slashing stakes in PSBs, and establishing a specialised agency to investigate financial frauds. Also Read: Budget 2021: 5 big challenges in Indian banking Auto sector's expectations from Budget 2021 Although the sector has bounced back from the pandemic-induced economic shock, auto manufacturers in the country expect the government to announce more demand-creating measures in the Budget 2021 for faster sales recovery. Railway's expectations from Budget 2021 Infrastructure development and privatisation of trains continues to be foremost priorities for the Indian Railways. Although the budgetary allocation may see only a marginal increase, the government may announce measures for better public-private partnership (PPP) in passenger train operations. Jobs/Employment expectations from Budget 2021 The government is expected to spend more on some important project-oriented sectors in order to generate higher employment opportunities. Key schemes such as MNREGA may be further widened. Agriculture expectations from Budget 2021 The government may boost its overall agriculture expenditure to placate farmers protesting against its farm laws, besides taking steps to expand storage and warehousing capacities. Also Read: Budget 2021: GST waiver, level-playing field; what agri sector expects from FM Nirmala Sitharaman? Aviation sector's expectations The aviation sector, which is one of the worst affected by the pandemic-induced restrictions, expects near-term fiscal support from the government. The sector also hopes for a reduction in high levies and taxes as airlines try to find their feet again after the coronavirus pandemic crippled their operations in 2020. Education sector's hopes from Budget 2021 The education sector, which saw a paradigm shift last year as teaching shifted from classrooms to online in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, is pinning hopes on the government to allocate more funds towards reinforcing technological capacities to boost e-learning in smaller towns, cities and rural areas. It is quite a possibility that the government may allocate higher investment to strengthen the ed-tech sector. Also Read: Budget 2021: Will govt allow FDI in school education? JACKSON, MI -- Michael Thompson walked out of the Charles Egeler Reception And Guidance Center at 4 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 a free man. After serving 25 years behind bars, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer granted Thompsons request for clemency in December. Two daughters and a granddaughter were there to greet him as he left the prison. Related: Im happy that Im free: Michigan man released from prison after serving 25 years for marijuana case Thompson, 69, was serving a 42- to 62-year sentence after he was convicted of selling three pounds of marijuana to an undercover informant in December 1994. Check out the video above to see him walk out of the prison and hear what he had to say. Read more on MLive: Man who served 20 years in marijuana case has sentenced commuted by governor I feel like a million bucks: Daughter of Michigan prisoner granted clemency rejoices Michigan AG horrified by Michael Thompsons 42-to-62 year sentence for 1994 marijuana case RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- X Display Company (XDC), a leader in MicroLED displays, announced the installation of the world's first 300mm Elastomer Stamp based Micro Transfer Printing (MTP) equipment in 2020. XDC's team has been pioneering Micro Transfer Printing (commonly referred to as Mass Transfer) for the past 15 years, and has created a novel way to build MicroLED displays. In addition to being the inventors of the technology and related processes, XDC has also been designing and manufacturing tools and equipment for MTP. XDC's tabletop, 200mm, 300mm and custom panel tools are reliable, cost effective and support a number of applications and different phases of development from lab to mass production. Justin Brown, VP of Operations at X Display Company said, "15 years ago, we had to build our own equipment to support a brand new Micro Transfer Printing technology. Today, customers that license our technology prefer to buy equipment and tools from us that are guaranteed to deliver exceptional performance." XDC, a pioneer in the MicroLED space, has been designing MTP equipment since 2005. The company has already signed licensing agreements with global players in the display industry that will mass produce MicroLED displays using XDC's elastomer stamp based micro transfer technology and its foundational IP that includes over 500 patents. Further, XDC expects to install several more MTP tools at various locations in 2021. About X Display Company X Display Company (XDC), a Cork, Ireland and RTP, North Carolina-based technology developer, licenses intellectual property for manufacturing MicroLED displays, sells MicrolC & PixelEngine components and Micro Transfer Printing Equipment that will power next-generation displays. XDC is poised to capture share in the display market, delivering solutions that will make peoples' lives better. www.xdisplay.com Media Inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE X Display Related Links https://www.xdisplay.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Betamethasone Acetate API Market report offers a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future opportunities. This report is responsible for quantitative estimation and foreseen future for upcoming years based on the recent companies strategic moves and historical data. Further, the market report is categorized into different segments, regions, and countries level. This report also provides competitor analysis with its market share and developments. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Betamethasone Acetate API market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Betamethasone Acetate API Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-31427 According to this study, over the next five years, the Betamethasone Acetate API market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Betamethasone Acetate API business, shared in Chapter 3. This Betamethasone Acetate API market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Betamethasone Acetate API market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Anuh Pharma Hovione Jinan Boss Chemical Industry Pharmaffiliates Zhejiang Xianju Xianle Pharmaceutical Fengchen Group Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-31427 This study considers the Betamethasone Acetate API value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Min Purity Less Than 98% Min Purity 98%-99% Min Purity More Than 99% Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Treatment Of Asthma Treatment Of Itching In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Betamethasone Acetate API Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-31427 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Betamethasone Acetate API consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Betamethasone Acetate API market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Betamethasone Acetate API manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Betamethasone Acetate API with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Betamethasone Acetate API submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/betamethasone-acetate-api-market-size-share-growth-outlook-forecast-research-report-till-2025/ A bill has been delivered to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to change the petition schedule and lower the signature requirement for candidates running in local elections this year. The state Assembly and Senate passed the measure on Tuesday. It was sponsored by Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and state Sen. Rachel May. The Assembly approved it by a 147-3 vote. The legislation received unanimous support in the 63-member state Senate. If Cuomo signs the bill, it will reduce the number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot by 70%. The petition requirement varies by office, but tends to be lower for local races. The legislation would also adjust the political calendar to allow candidates to pass petitions beginning March 2. Petitions would be filed from March 22 to March 25. The existing calendar calls for petitioning to begin on Feb. 23, with the filing dates set for March 29 to April 1. May thinks the legislation will allow candidates to qualify for the ballot while adhering to public health guidelines. The haunting choral harmony that breaks the dark night, ethereal and resonant, wields the power to silence the audience and, seemingly, to transcend time and place. From the Sydney Opera House stage, 18 Indigenous girls holding microphones look assuredly to the audience. Since the dreaming began, our ancestors have taken care of country, and we continue their caretaking of the land and sea. We thank you for inviting us on to your country to share our stories, share our songs, sings the Marliya Choir. The young, Indigenous women have travelled from their homes in far north Queensland and the Torres Strait to share stories of the men, women, children and land of the Yindjibarndi in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This January night, they are the heart of Spinifex Gum a collaboration between the Marliya Choir and renowned Melbourne musicians Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill of the Cat Empire. Their agile gestures and synchronised movements are choreographed by Deborah Brown of Australias most well-known Indigenous dance company, Bangarra Dance Theatre. The Marliya choir share the stories of the Yindjibarndi people in the Pilbara. Credit: Spinifex Gum is not traditional musical theatre. It is entertaining, it is compelling, and the music carries its own cosmic energy. There are a narrative, characters and wonderful staging, but thats where the comparison ends. Spinifex Gum is, as Riebl aptly describes, both a celebration and a protest, with roots in a trip Riebl was invited to take in 2014. Lyn Williams, founder and artistic director of Gondwana Choirs, invited him to accompany her and the Gondwana Childrens Choir on a trip to the Pilbara. A meeting with Michael Woodley, leader and chief executive of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, and members of the Yindjibarndi community, kindled both a creative spark and the beginning of profound friendships. BeyondTrust surpassed 20% YoY growth in new bookings, adding new customers and expanding solutions with existing customers Company continued product innovation, introducing new and expanded cloud solutions ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BeyondTrust, the worldwide leader in Privileged Access Management (PAM), demonstrated continued momentum in 2020 through new customer acquisition, growth of its cloud portfolio, and product innovation. In 2020, BeyondTrust grew new bookings by greater than 20%, adding more than 1,550 new customers and expanding implementations with more than 4,400 existing customers. Key 2020 highlights for BeyondTrust include: Growing more than 20% YoY in new bookings Acquiring more than 1,550 new customers and expanded BeyondTrust solutions with more than 4,400 customers Increasing new Cloud bookings by approximately 279% YoY, and introducing new cloud solutions for securing privileged passwords and removing excessive privileges Renewing more than 90% of customers, and achieving an industry-leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 44 and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) score of more than 94% Being named a PAM Market leader by Gartner, Forrester, and KuppingerCole BeyondTrust also continued its innovation leadership in 2020, introducing new cloud solutions and advanced capabilities across its portfolio: In 2020, BeyondTrust was proud to be recognized for its product and market leadership: Throughout the year, BeyondTrust continued to grow its talented team, adding approximately 225 new employees globally. Despite the challenges of 2020, BeyondTrust remained committed to creating an exceptional employee experience. In addition to the company receiving the WomenTech Diversity in Tech Employer Award, a number of individuals received recognition, including: In addition, Morey Haber, BeyondTrust CIO and CTO, released the second edition of Privileged Attack Vectors: Building Effective Cyber-Defense Strategies to Protect Organizations as well as the final book in the attack vectors series , Identity Attack Vectors: Implementing an Effective Identity and Access Management Solution . In December, Morey was elected to the Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA) Executive Advisory Board. In Q1 2020, the global pandemic saw many organizations scrambling to enable remote access for the vastly expanded group of remote employees and vendors without sacrificing security. BeyondTrust offered free Secure Remote Access solutions to help companies support expanded remote workforce , and was proud that our solutions helped organizations such as Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital manage the transition. According to Susan Flanagan, Senior Manager of IT Service Delivery, We have been able to meet the demands of supporting home equipment and getting people ready to work so they can continue essential operations for a health care system while building out capacity for surge patients, all while keeping our backbone operational staff safe at home. We would not have been able to accomplish this without BeyondTrust. We further appreciate the recognition by Germanys F.A.Z. Institute and Institute for Management and Economic Research as Heroes in the Crisis Initiative . BeyondTrust had a year of phenomenal success, despite the uncertainties and challenges of 2020. We added a substantial number of new customers, while expanding solutions with existing customers, and made significant strides in our acceleration to cloud. Our proven ability to innovate and grow at scale positions us well as we look forward to navigating continued global challenges in the coming year, says Matt Dircks, CEO. Our Universal Privilege Management approach continues to resonate with both the market and our customers, who are at the center of everything we do. I am especially proud of the continued commitment at all levels of the company to driving an exceptional employee culture based on teamwork, humility, and passion. About BeyondTrust BeyondTrust is the worldwide leader in Privileged Access Management (PAM), empowering organizations to secure and manage their entire universe of privileges. Our integrated products and platform offer the industry's most advanced PAM solution, enabling organizations to quickly shrink their attack surface across traditional, cloud and hybrid environments. The BeyondTrust Universal Privilege Management approach secures and protects privileges across passwords, endpoints, and access, giving organizations the visibility and control they need to reduce risk, achieve compliance, and boost operational performance. We are trusted by 20,000 customers, including 70 percent of the Fortune 500, and a global partner network. Learn more at www.beyondtrust.com . Follow BeyondTrust: Twitter: http://twitter.com/beyondtrust Blog: https://www.beyondtrust.com/blog LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/beyondtrust Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beyondtrust Additional References: 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for PAM Report The Forrester Wave : Privileged Identity Management, Q4 2020 KuppingerColes 2020 Leadership Compass for Privileged Access Management (PAM) For BeyondTrust: Mike Bradshaw Connect Marketing for BeyondTrust P: (801) 373-7888 E: mikeb@connectmarketing.com San Francisco, Jan 28 : Apple's much contested privacy feature that will require app developers to seek permission from users to track them for ad targeting will be launched with the next iOS 14 beta, the company has said. The iPhone maker is planning to release the feature to all some time this spring, The Verge reported on Thursday. While Apple has positioned the feature as a safeguard for user privacy, it has also faced criticism from others including Facebook which runs ad networks. Besides those that run ad networks, the new policy is also expected to hurt the bottom lines of those companies paying for the ads. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has argued that the iOS 14 privacy changes will impact the growth of millions of businesses around the world. "Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own," Zuckerberg said on an earnings call on Wednesday. "This impacts the growth of millions of businesses around the world, including with the upcoming iOS 14 changes." Facebook earlier published full-page newspaper ads to criticise Apple's upcoming privacy measure. Google on Wednesday also warned that Apple's App Tracking Transparency changes will reduce visibility into key metrics that show how ads drive conversions - like app installs and sales - and will affect how advertisers value and bid on ad impressions. "As such, app publishers may see a significant impact to their Google ad revenue on iOS after Apple's ATT policies take effect," Christophe Combette, Group Product Manager, Google Ads, said in a blog post. Apple has defended the new privacy measure as a way to provide iOS users more choices over their privacy. Reacting to full-page newspaper ads by Facebook, Apple said that users should know when their data is being collected. "We believe that this is a simple matter of standing up for our users. Users should know when their data is being collected and shared across other apps and websites -- and they should have the choice to allow that or not," Apple said in a statement last month. "App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 does not require Facebook to change its approach to tracking users and creating targeted advertising, it simply requires they give users a choice". Apple has brought out a new online guide called "A Day in the Life of Your Data" to further bolster its push for the new measures. Apple says the average mobile app has six trackers that share your data with other apps, and that data brokers regularly collect and sell, license, or otherwise disclose to third parties the personal information of particular individuals with whom they do not have a direct relationship. "Over the past decade, a large and opaque industry has been amassing increasing amounts of personal data," the guide reads. "A complex ecosystem of websites, apps, social media companies, data brokers, and ad tech firms track users online and offline, harvesting their personal data. This data is pieced together, shared, aggregated, and monetized, fuelling a $227 billion-a-year industry, "This occurs every day, as people go about their daily lives, often without their knowledge or permission." The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. We all saw it coming. Despite a global pandemic and economic and political unrest, the indefatigable Apple money machine would continue to chug away. Traditionally, the last three months of the calendar year are Apples best, and Apples been on an upswing in recent quarters. If you placed a bet that the companys first financial quarter of 2021 (covering the holiday season of 2020) would be an all-time recordwell, you wouldve won, but only a sucker wouldve taken the bet. All product categories and regions were up. It was a veritable downpour of up arrows. And yet, amid Apple CEO Tim Cooks continued embarrassment that Apple continues to generate enormous sales and profits at a time when so much of the world is in turmoil, there were (as there almost always are!) also some interesting things we can glean about Apples business left amid the financial disclosures and coy asides to financial analysts. Here are a few of them. iPhone Pro is a hit Jason Snell Apple executives singled out the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max for praise, saying it had a very high level of interest from consumers that led to supply constraints on those models and helped drive up the average selling price of the iPhone. (By how much? We dont know, because Apple doesnt disclose exact unit sales anymore, but CFO Luca Maestri said that both unit sales and ASPs were up during the quarter.) Recently, fans of the iPhone 12 mini (and Im one of them!) were disturbed by a report that said Apple was reducing its sales expectations for that smaller model. The assumption at the time was that the iPhone 12 was probably doing as well as the Pro and Pro Max models, but Apple most definitely did not include the iPhone 12 in its praise on Wednesday. Its interesting, but lets all get a grip: The very first people to rush out and buy a new iPhone are likely to be the most motivated iPhone buyers around, and those buyers are probably more likely to spend a lot of money on high-end models. Its entirely possible that the 12 and 12 mini will become a bigger part of the iPhone product mix as the year goes along. Regular people actually buy iPhones in the spring and summer, you know. Revenge of the tough compare Last quarter, Apple cautioned that iPhone sales looked softer than they actually were, because the 2020 iPhone models went on sale a lot later than the 2019 models. As a result, Apples quarterly results for 2019 included early iPhone sales, and the 2020 results didnt. Thats what they call a tough compare in the financial expectation-management game. But a tough compare often turns into an easy one. The results released on Wednesday get to include the initial iPhone sales surge that had already come and gone in 2019, giving iPhone sales growth a bit of a bounce. Still, dont worrymore tough compares are on the way. Maestri warned that while the company expects a return to typical seasonal patterns in its sales in 2021, there are still a few areas that will probably take a hit. Theyre Apples two biggest growth engines for the last few years, the Services and Wearables lines. To hear Maestri tell it, Services got a massive benefit from much of the world going into lockdown in the early days of COVID last yearand that wont be the case this year, presumably. Also, the Wearables line benefited from pent-up demand for AirPods at this time last year, while this year Apple expects to be more normal. File this away for late April, when well probably be right back here explaining why Services and Wearables looked soft. Its all about the compare. Apple bounced back in China Jason Snell Apples business in China has been lackluster for the last couple of years, but this latest quarter saw a huge 57 percent growth in revenue versus the same quarter the previous year. Thats the largest year-over-year growth quarter in China in five years. Apple executives say that Chinas broad re-opening, including Apple retail stores, helped a lotthough some Chinese markets have backslid, with virus re-emergences leading to some closures. When Apple does well in China, the most common reaction seems to be to assume its driven by the iPhone. And, yes, the iPhone did do very well in China. Cook said that both switchers and upgraders drove iPhone sales, helped in part by the countrys well-established 5G network, which led to pent-up demand for 5G-capable iPhones. (Cook didnt mention the fact that the iPhone 12 was visually different from its predecessors, but in the past every time Apple has changed the look of the iPhone, Chinese iPhone sales have done well.) But it wasnt just the iPhone! We could not have turned in a performance like we did [in China] with only iPhone, Cook said, pointing at iPad sales that were far beyond the company average in other markets, and above-average performance from Mac and Wearables categories, too. If you really look at it, we did really well across the board there, Cook said. Plenty of room to grow Apple has become so big, so profitable, that it would be easy to look at the companys results and assume that its running out of room to grow. But that would be wrong, as Cook and Maestri repeatedly pointed out. (This is catnip to the investment world, which prizes growth over all else.) I still think that were in the early stages of [wearables], Cook said. If you look at our share in some of the other products you find that the share numbers leave a fair amount of headroom for market-share expansion. And this is particularly the case in some of the emerging markets, where were proud of how weve done, but theres a lot more headroom in those markets. Cook provided India as a specific example. Last quarter, Apple doubled its business in India versus the year-ago quarter. But our absolute level of business there is still quite low relative to the size of the opportunity, he said. And you can take that and go around the world and find other markets that are like that as well. He wouldnt name those markets, but did admit that there are several other regions where Apples market share is lower than wed like. Cook also cited growth in enterprise markets, which has been a multi-year effort that has gained quite a bit of traction. Theres one market where Apples market share is quite low and theres plenty of room to grow, thanks to the transition to Apple silicon. The M1 chip gives us a new growth trajectory that we havent had in the past, Cook said. Of course, our share on the Mac is quite low for the total personal computer market. And so theres lots of headroom there. Growing a business thats already as hot as Apples? That will be what you might call a tough compare. But Apples shown few signs of backing away from the challenge of besting its own records. WILTON Three teen gatherings in a span of two days have led to at least 25 COVID cases and the high school remaining closed, town officials said Wednesday. Two gatherings held on Jan. 15 and another one on Jan. 16 were the source of the outbreak that resulted in Wilton High School switching to remote learning, according to Barry Bogle, the towns health director who has compiled a report about the incidents. In the report, Bogle said COVID-19 safety protocols regarding gathering size, mask wearing and social distancing were not followed at the first event held on Jan. 15. Bogle said the protocols were also not followed at the other gatherings, which included some of the same students as the first event. The number of attendees at the second and third gatherings was unknown, Bogle said. The scope of the cross-over of attendees between the three gatherings was also unknown, Bogle said. One of the attendees, who was in school on Jan. 20, has not participated in contact tracing, Bogle said. The students health status, symptoms, and direct contacts while in school that day are unknown, Bogle said. In the absence of that knowledge and with daily new cases among WHS students, who were direct contacts of attendees, Wilton High School remains closed, the report states. The Wilton High School calendar indicates students will remain in remote learning through at least Feb. 3. According to Bogles report, 16 Wilton High students tested positive after attending the first gathering. Another attendee is awaiting results. Three more high school students, who did not attend, also tested positive after having direct contact with the attendees, the report stated. All WHS students were asked to stay home and monitor for symptoms after the initial outbreak due to the potential for spread throughout the entire Wilton community. On Jan. 25, 10 days after the gathering, town officials said the risk of widespread exposure had become minimal and the request for those students to remain home was lifted. But the outbreak has affected more than just the group of high school students. One Middlebrook Middle School student, who did not attend but was in direct contact with someone who did, tested positive, as did one Cider Mill student. Bogles report also claims that four non school-aged people contracted the virus due to direct contact with an attendee. The outbreak delayed a plan to bring Middlebrook Middle School back to full in-person (with the district-wide half-day remote Wednesdays.) The decision caused members of the Board of Education to express frustration at its last meeting. Twenty two individuals who attended the gathering have participated in contact tracing efforts and have been self-isolating. In a video released on the Wilton High School TV YouTube channel on Wednesday, Principal Robert ODonnell told the school community that these recent developments are a reminder that student health is paramount and adhering to social distancing guidelines is still important. I think we all need to consider the consequences of decisions that we make, ODonnell said. Unfortunately, the implications of this go well beyond some of these decisions. Prominent black seminary dean Lee Brand nominated to be first vice president of SBC Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An African-American seminary dean has been nominated as a candidate for first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a denomination founded by slave-owners. According to a statement shared with The Christian Post on Tuesday evening, Lee Brand, Jr., vice president and dean of the Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary of Memphis, Tennessee, was nominated for the position. According to Article V of the Southern Baptist Convention's Constitution, the denomination officers include a first vice president and a second vice president. In case of death or disability of the president, the vice presidents shall automatically succeed to the office of president in the order of their election,explains the SBC Constitution. In an interview with CP on Wednesday, Brand said it was a great honor to be nominated to serve in any national leadership capacity within an organization like the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. I believe the Bible and am convinced that Baptist distinctives align with it. This role will allow me to be an advocate for both the Bible and Baptist distinctives, said Brand. If elected, I want to tap into my pastoral and leadership experience to improve the relationships and trust among pastors, church planters and the SBC. Brand was nominated by James Lewis, pastor of DeSoto Hills Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi. The formal nomination process for officers will occur in June when the SBC gathers in Nashville, Tennessee. According to his biography on the seminary website, Brand earned a bachelor of science from Mississippi State University and then earned a master of divinity at the seminary he now serves. He served as senior pastor of Beth-el Missionary Baptist Church in Starkville from 2002 to 2019 and held other roles with the Northeast Mississippi Baptist Congress and the Whitefield District Association. The first vice president is involved in assorted decision-making matters and usually presides over part of the SBC annual meeting, giving what Brand calls a strategic voice to speak into matters facing our convention. I want to continue efforts to plant the convention firmly on the sufficiency of Scripture and ensure it maintains a premier focus on evangelism, continued Brand. The SBC is rightly pursuing people of every ethnicity to join its efforts. My aim is for the SBC to champion a biblical approach to diversity, not diversity at any cost. The nomination of Brand for first vice president comes as a new nomination for SBC president was announced earlier this week. SBCs first African-American president, Fred Luter, nominated Alabama Pastor Ed Litton. 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, explained Luter, who served as SBC president from 2012-2014, to the 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." New Delhi, Jan 28 : A Delhi sessions court on Thursday suspended a magistrate court's order convicting and sentencing Aam Aadmi legislator MLA Somnath Bharti to jail in connection with an assault case of AIIMS security guards. On January 23, the court had sentenced Bharti to two years of imprisonment, a day after convicting him in the case. A fine of Rs 1 lakh was also imposed on the leader. He then moved the court challenging both his conviction and sentencing order in the sessions court. "The application filed by the convict is allowed and conviction order...suspended during the pendency of this appeal, subject to the appellant furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 20,000 with one surety in the like amount," Special Judge Vikas Dhull said. The matter will now be taken up on February 15. On September 9, 2016, Bharti, along with nearly 300 others, demolished the fence of a boundary wall at AIIMS here with a JCB operator. The magistrate had earlier noted that key witnesses specifically stated that Bharti was leading the mob, which broke the fence at the boundary wall of the AIIMS with the JCB machine as well as manually. The case was lodged on the basis of a complaint of Chief Security Officer, AIIMS. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A 14-year-old has been charged in the killing of an 84-year-old woman who was found stabbed and beaten to death in her Syracuse apartment. Eva Fuld was found dead Monday afternoon, four days after authorities believe she was killed during a home invasion at her Syracuse apartment. Fuld was a former Spanish and French teacher in the Westmoreland Central School District, according to the Westmoreland Alumni Facebook Page. She retired in 1991. Jahkim Robinson was arraigned Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. It could not be immediately determined if the teen had an attorney. According to CNYCentral, court documents show Robinson and Fuld were neighbors. Robinson and a group of others are accused of knocking on Fuld's door, and forcing their way in when she opened it. They allegedly stole credit cards, wallets, keys and other items. Police say Robinson was later found to be in possession of Fulds car and several of her belongings. Robinson is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center. Police are testing evidence to determine how many people were involved, but court documents list at least three offenders. WASHINGTON The Biden administration said Wednesday that it is canceling a last-minute plan by the Trump administration to let more physicians prescribe an opioid-treatment drug, despite exhortations from lawmakers and physician groups to keep it. On January 14, 2021, HHS announced forthcoming Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder, the White Houses drug policy office said in a message obtained by The Washington Post. Unfortunately, the announcement was made prematurely. Therefore, the Guidelines previously announced cannot be issued at this time. The Biden administration also vowed to continue working to increase access to buprenorphine, reduce overdose rates and save lives in the announcement, which was also posted on the website of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. The Trump administrations plan was plagued by legal and operational problems, including a failure to get necessary clearance from the White House budget office, said two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. READ MORE: As overdoses soar, feds make it easier for doctors to prescribe addiction medication The Biden-Harris administration absolutely supports broader access to medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder, and is working to find ways to lift burdensome restrictions on medications for opioid use disorder treatment, said a spokesperson for the White Houses drug policy office. The Washington Post on Monday reported that Biden was moving to halt Trumps last-minute plan, which would have exempted many physicians from the X waiver a two-decade-old requirement, first mandated by Congress, to undergo a days training before they could prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The Trump administration sought to go around Congresss requirements by issuing new clinical guidelines that would have enabled doctors with a Drug Enforcement Administration narcotics prescribing license to avoid the training. Trumps move was widely hailed by physicians, with the head of the American College for Emergency Physicians deeming it a great day for our patients. The X-waiver was an outdated and cumbersome barrier to treatment, and it exacerbated stigma for those struggling with opioid use disorder, Mark Rosenberg, the head of the emergency-physician group, said in a statement at the time. The Biden administration has been criticized by physicians and lawmakers since reports that the new president would halt Trumps plan particularly because as a candidate, Biden had criticized the prescribing rules and vowed to lift them if elected. READ MORE: Philly health officials warn about pressed pills fake painkillers laced with fentanyl as overdoses rise Medication-assisted treatment can save lives, and the buprenorphine waiver requirement should be eliminated so that physicians can more easily prescribe it to those who need it, Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., wrote on Twitter. Hassan, who has pushed bipartisan legislation with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to eliminate the waiver requirement, will soon reintroduce her bill, an aide said. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., has led a similar effort in the House. Trump administration officials who worked on the plan also defended it this week, saying they had developed the guidelines in consultation with public health organizations. Bidens decision to halt the plan will deny lifesaving treatment to those suffering from [opioid] use disorder and cause the loss of thousands of lives, Brett Giroir, who served as the Trump administrations assistant secretary for health, posted on Twitter on Monday. 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. A Scottish woman who spent four months living in the US is sharing her questions and complains about what Americans do differently. In a viral TikTok video that has been viewed 3.9 million times, Kirsty quizzes Americans about why they say 'gas' instead of 'petrol,' why they don't use kettles, and why they're so proud of their Scottish heritage. Her video has been met with impassioned responses, some from other Brits who are equally confused, and others from Americans explaining why things are done differently across the pond. Viral: Kirsty, from Scotland, spent four months living in America. She has shared a TikTok video in which she asks questions about things she doesn't understand about the US Boiling! She doesn't understand why Americans don't own kettles. Tea is much less popular in the US than it is in the UK, and Americans most frequently drink it iced 'As a Scottish person who worked in America for four months, I have a lot of questions for Americans,' she asks at the beginning of the video. 'Firstly, why do you not own kettles? Why do you boil water on the stove and not just get a kettle?' she asks disdainfully, wrinkling her brow. Hot tea is hardly as popular in the US as it is in the Scotland or the rest of the UK. According to Quartz, Brits drink 4.281 pounds of tea per person annually, compared to just. 503 pounds per person in the US meaning Brits drink over eight times as much tea as Americans. And according to the Washington Post, 80 per cent of tea consumed in the US is iced tea. Coffee is a much more popular beverage so most US homes have coffee makers, while kettles are rendered an unnecessary appliance. Where it comes from: The term 'gas' confuses her, but it doesn't refer to its state; rather, it's short for 'gasoline' An odd one: She says she was met with confusion when she said the time was 'half past two,' though that's not an uncommon way to say the time in the US Scottish pride: She also doesn't understand why Americans wanted to tell her about their Scottish heritage Next, Kirsty asked: 'Why do you call petrol diesel for your car "gas" when it's a liquid, not a gas?' Gas is short for gasoline, another word for petrol. The term gasoline, or gas, is more widely used in the US. Kirsty went on: 'Why do people look at me as if I've grown three heads when they asked what the time was, and I said half past two? Like, how do you not understand that?' This experience was likely an isolated one, or perhaps due to regional differences. Saying 'half past' the hour or 'a quarter to' the hour is not uncommon in the US. 'This one winds me up,' Kirsty continued. 'Why is it when you tell an American you're Scottish, they're like, "Oh my god, I'm a ninth Scottish on my grandad's side." What?' As commenters have explained to her, US history doesn't go back nearly as far as many other countries, and many Americans are made up of a lot of immigrant backgrounds. Many are interested in their heritage, and if they're telling Kirsty about their Scottish heritage, they are likely just trying to relate to her. Joining in: The abundance of high school clubs had Kirsty scratching her head 'Why does America write the date, like, month/day/year? Surely, the right way and the obvious way is day/month year. It just makes more sense,' Kirsty insisted 'Why do American schools have clubs for everything?' she asked. This one appears to merely be a cultural difference in how socialization is promoted among adolescents. Acceptance to top colleges and universities in the US can also be quite competitive, and commitment to extracurricular activities is often considered a plus for an application. 'Why does America write the date, like, month/day/year? Surely, the right way and the obvious way is day/month year. It just makes more sense,' Kirsty insisted. While American commenters on the video disagree that one way is necessarily 'right' or more 'obvious,' the exact reason why people in the US list month before day is a bit cloudy. In fact, several people have tried to get to the bottom of this mystery, without much success. Next, Kirsty asked: 'Why do your price tags not include tax? Why do you then have to add tax on at the counter? Like, why is not the tax included in the price?' Up to the states: Sales tax left her baffled, but since the 50 states all have their own sales tax, posting prices that include tax becomes tricky 'Also why is the gap [underneath] the bathroom stall so high up from the floor? Like, why? What is the need for that? I don't get it,' she said Sales tax is different in each US state. For businesses with multiple locations across the country, that can mean that the same $10 T-shirt ends up costing $10.18 in one state (Alaska) but $10.95 in another (Tennessee) hence, it wouldn't be practical to print different price tags for items in different states. Businesses with locations in one state, then, also don't post post-tax prices, since that might lead to confusion. Finally, Kirsty asked about public toilets. 'Also why is the gap [underneath] the bathroom stall so high up from the floor? Like, why? What is the need for that? I don't get it,' she said. While completely-enclosed bathroom stalls certainly offer more privacy and might be considered preferable by many Americans there are several reasons why there is often a large gap at the bottom of a stall. Most importantly, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, in a stall less than 60 inches deep, the front partition and at least one side partition must have toe clearance of at least 9 inches above the floor. The video is part of a larger trend of TikTokers sharing the things they find confusing about other countries. Kelsey Quinones was clearly the youngest person in the vaccine line Tuesday at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township. The line moved steadily, and the 16-year-old was happy to wait her turn. The high school junior and volunteer with the Cranford First Aid Squad received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine after an entire month of searching, an effort spearheaded by her mother, Carole Quinones. Im relieved, Carole Quinones said after her daughter emerged from the required 15-minute waiting period after the first dose was administered. Im really happy for her, that shes safer at the first aid squad. It gives me a peace of mind knowing that I have the vaccine, Kesey said after the shot. I am safer than before. She already has an appointment for the second dose, on Feb. 16. Some of the CentraState staffers clapped for her right after the shot, Carole said. Kelsey Quinones, 16, left, who volunteers with the Cranford First Aid Squad, gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold by Nurse Manager Lisa Kaiser on Jan. 26, 2021. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one currently approved for her age.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Kelsey Quinones qualified for the vaccine in the first wave, as a first responder, but finding a facility with Pfizer was a challenge. She can only receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is cleared for people as young as 16. The Moderna vaccine is only for people 18 and older. And Pfizer doses have mainly been reserved and sent to organizations with cold chain capabilities, like hospitals, who can keep it at the required sub-freezing storage temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius. Her mother spent a good portion of the past month on the phone and sending emails, trying to nail down a vaccination site that had Pfizer and could commit to an appointment for Kelsey. The Quinones believe other teens who work in volunteer EMS squads are a population, albeit maybe small, that the state was overlooked when it rolled out its COVID-19 vaccine program for first responders, who qualified in Phase 1A. After NJ Advance Media wrote about the Quinones vaccination search on Jan, 15, several companies reached out to the family, and CentraState was first to confirm an appointment, for Tuesday. It was a long, hard battle to get her here, and I dont see any other 16-year-olds here, Carole said outside of the hospitals vaccination area. Im happy that they gave us the opportunity to get a vaccine. On Tuesday, the states COVID dashboard showed that of the over 600,000 vaccine doses already administered in New Jersey, only 354 were for people ages 16 or 17. On Jan. 15, none had started the two-shot vaccination process. A CentraState spokesperson said the organization saw the Quinones story and reached out to the family. The hospital has both Pfizer and Moderna, and administers them in separate locations in the hospital. They also have a dedicated site, centrastate.com/vaccine, for information and registering. On Tuesday, the site said appointments were currently halted, but would open up when it receives more doses. Kelsey Quinones waits to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold on Jan. 26, 2021.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Kelsey, who plans to be a nurse, is not an EMT yet, but is currently enrolled in a course to receive that certification. Still, she and her mother say shes at risk for the virus, due to the 12-hour weekend shifts with the squad, responding to a variety of emergency calls and spending significant time in emergency rooms during and after transporting patients, then restocking and cleaning the ambulance. The Cranford First Aid Squad says its policy is to not send cadet members, like Kelsey, on emergency calls of known or suspect cases of COVID-19. As for the shot itself, Kelsey said it was no sweat. I think the flu shot was worse, she said. Kelsey Quinones, 16, left, who volunteers with the Cranford First Aid Squad, waits in line with her mom, Carole Quinones, to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold on Jan. 26, 2021.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com Weve got to intervene with these kids, theres no question, and weve got to get them back in school, Lightfoot said. Ive spent a lot of time talking to folks who are directly involved, particularly in the juvenile courts, and its very clear to me weve got to do much more. Weve got to bring in the entire ecosystem of folks from the courts to the prosecutors, also the social service organizations that do work supporting these young people. But weve got to bring the message right to the young people, meet them where they are, and let them know that if they decide to go in this direction, to rob someone at gunpoint no less, that we have to and we will hold them accountable. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High near 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain diminishing to a few showers by morning. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. The news that Kristen Stewart will play Princess Diana in a new biopic for acclaimed Chilean director Pablo Larrain (Gloria, Jackie, No) proves the peoples princess has found new life in the public imagination almost 25 years after her death in a car accident in Paris. The first image from the movie Spencer, in which the former Twilight star turned indie darling will play the Princess, was released on Thursday. It shows the 30-year-old actor, who has in the past been mocked for her emo-goth tendencies, transformed into a passable facsimile of the one-time Princess of Wales, who was 36 when she died in August 1997. First look at Kristen Stewart in the new Princess Diana drama Spencer. Written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and due for release towards the end of the year, Spencer is set over a single weekend in the early 1990s when Diana came to the realisation that her marriage to Prince Charles was over. The title refers to the notion of her reclaiming her pre-marriage identity. But Juliet Rieden, editor at large at The Australian Womens Weekly and a long-time Royal watcher, is a little sceptical at the prospect of an American playing Diana, no matter how convincing the physical transformation. WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The primary mechanism for reporting adverse vaccine reactions in the U.S., the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), reported 181 deaths a subset of 7,844 total adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination as of January 15, 2021. The VAERS reports describe outcomes ranging from "foaming at the mouth" to "massive heart attacks." According to Reuters, 10,595,866 individuals have received one or more COVID-19 vaccines as of January 15. Miami obstetrician Dr. Gregory Michael suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke after receiving Pfizer/BioNtech's COVID vaccine. He died two weeks later. Pfizer stated that it didn't think there was any direct connection to the vaccine. The New York Times quoted Dr. Jerry Spivak, a blood disorder expert at Johns Hopkins University, saying "I think it's a medical certainty that the vaccine was related." Data about deaths following receipt of the experimental Pfizer/BioNTech shot are also emerging from Israel , Norway , Portugal , Sweden , and Switzerland . Norway launched an investigation into the vaccines after reports of 33 suspected adverse drug reactions with fatal outcomes after administration of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine were received by the Norwegian Medicines Agency. Pharma and Federal agencies are attributing the majority of these cases to "coincidence." "Coincidence is turning out to be quite lethal to COVID vaccine recipients," said Children's Health Defense (CHD) board chairman Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "If the clinical trials are good predictors, the rate of coincidence is likely to increase dramatically after the second shot." The clinical trials suggested that almost all the benefits of COVID vaccination and the vast majority of injuries were associated with the second dose . While the VAERS database numbers are sobering, according to an U.S. Health and Human Services study , the actual number of adverse events is likely significantly higher. VAERS is a passive surveillance system that relies on the willingness of individuals and professionals to submit reports voluntarily. In December, CHD and Kennedy wrote to former FDA Director, David Kessler , MD who currently serves as co-chair of the COVID-19 Advisory Board and President Biden's version of Operation Warp Speed, that VAERS has been an abject failure , with fewer than 1% of adverse events ever reported according to a 2010 federal study. A critic familiar with VAERS' shortcomings bluntly condemns VAERS in the British Medical Journal as "nothing more than window dressing , and a part of US authorities' systematic effort to reassure/deceive us about vaccine safety." Last week, California health officials temporarily paused a large batch of Moderna vaccines due to a high number of allergic reactions, but reversed that decision a few days later. Anyone suffering from a serious injury will have little legal recourse because they will be directed to the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program which has rejected 90% of vaccine-injury claims over the past decade. CHD calls for complete transparency, asking Dr. Kessler and the federal government to release ALL of the data from the clinical trials and suspend COVID-19 vaccine use in any group not adequately represented in the clinical trials, i.e. elderly, frail, comorbid conditions, etc. CHD also asks for full transparency in post-marketing data that reports all health outcomes (including new diagnoses of autoimmune disorders), adverse events and deaths from COVID-19 vaccine. Contact: Rita Shreffler 202-599-1461 SOURCE Children's Health Defense Related Links http://www.childrenshealthdefense.org Two associate directors of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have been suspended for initiating investigations against Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES have shown. The two NFIU officials, Mohammed Mustapha, the associate director, Intelligence and Investigation, and Fehintola Salisu, associate director, Compliance and Analysis, were suspended in August, about five months ago, for writing memos to local and foreign authorities after initiating probes against the two top political figures. The Director of NFIU, Modibbo Tukur, appointed in January 2019 to head the unit for a five-year tenure, stated in a January 13, 2021 letter that the two officials bypassed his authorisation to initiate probes against the two men who are believed to be planning to run for the presidency in 2023. Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu are the remaining legacy staff members of the NFIU in the directorate cadre of the countrys foremost financial intelligence body. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the other four associate directors only joined the unit after the re-establishment of the unit through the new NFIU Act which came into force in 2018. But Mr Tukur said their suspension was to protect the new FIU from series of abuses they have been committing. The two staff (members) were involved in acts inimical to the interest of the unit as they indulged in insubordination and disobedience of lawful authority, he stated in the letter responding to a petition sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). Petition against Tukur A law firm, C. Chris Ekemezie & Associate, had last year sent a petition to ICPC accusing Mr Tukur of various infractions including alleged unexplainable suspension of two of the agencys staff members. The petitioner alleged that the two staff members were suspended for trying to profile a politically exposed person from his (Mr Tukurs) state. Mr Abubakar, a former Nigerian Vice-President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, hails from Adamawa State as Mr Tukur. In the build-up to the 2019 elections, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, threatened him with investigations for his alleged roles in the collapse of Bank PHB. Although the touted investigations appeared to be later jettisoned, it is not clear if it was the same case the NFIU officials attempted to reopen in 2020. Atikus case and the NFIU Mr Tukur levelled other allegations against the two senior officials, but initiating investigations against Mr Abubakar appears to be the driving force for the suspension of the top NFIU operatives. It is important to state that his causing an investigation of Atiku Abubakar has absolutely nothing to do with his departmental briefings, Mr Tukur stated. According to him, Mr Mustapha wrote to the Inspector-General of Police and the Chair of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Mr Abubakar without authorisation in violation of his standing directive. Prior to this incident, I had issued memos and emails to staff and also issue (sic) several repeated verbal warnings that staff should desist from writing Heads of MDAs without formal approval of the Director/CEO, Mr Tukur stated. He added, He was suspended because he independently wrote a request to both Inspector General of Police and the Chairman EFCC on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar without any form of approval or authorisation from the CEO NFIU who was on duty too. Herein attached as Annexure 3 are copies of the letters he sent without approval to these organisations. ADVERTISEMENT Ex-VP visits Buhari Mr Tukur claimed he did not know of the investigations until he was alerted from the Presidential Villa when Mr Abubakar was trying to book an appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter. Sir, Mr Tukur wrote to the ICPC Chair, Bolaji Owasanoye, I only got to know of Mohammeds action when I was informed at the Villa that Atiku Abubakar is seeking for an appointment with the President to report me for causing his investigation without reason. On Ms Salisus role in the former Vice-Presidents case, the NFIU Director said: she claimed to have minuted the request on the investigation of Atiku Abubakar to Mustapha AbdulRahman (Mr Mustapha) who went ahead to write IGP and the EFCC Chairman directly, all without approval while I was actively on duty as the Head of Agency. Tinubus case and the NFIU officials Mr Tukur also alleged that Mr Mustapha sent a request to the United States of America based on an old Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) case against Mr Tinubu. In 2011, the CCB, under the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led government, accused Mr Tinubu of breaching Nigerias code of conduct law by operating foreign accounts while serving as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007. The case was eventually dismissed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Accusing Mr Mustapha of violating procedure, the NFIU Director said his approval as the CEO of the agency was not sought before the move to initiate a probe against Mr Tinubu was initiated. He stated, Significantly, after his suspension, it was discovered that he initiated a request to the U.S on Bola Ahmed Tinubu which he extracted from an old case of CCB. Again, he did this without my approval and authorisation. The problem here Sir is that as the CEO, he is supposed to formally seek my approval before sending out any requests for investigation as doing otherwise after my circulars and instructions to staff amount to insubordination. Disclosure of Onnoghens case Mr Tukur also justified Mr Mustaphas suspension on the grounds that he was being investigated by both the State Security Service (commonly called the Department of State Service, DSS) and the EFCC for different alleged offences. According to him, while the SSS is investigating the suspended official for allegedly leaking the details of the case against then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, to the public, the EFCC is questioning him for opening an account for the FIU without approval. Mr Onnoghen was suspended from office in January 2019 following the charges instituted against him at the CCT. He did not return to the top judicial office until he finally exited in April 2019. Mr Tukur said, Secondly, Mohammed (Mr Mustapha) is officially under investigation by EFCC for opening a bank account in the name of THE FIU without approval. I did not know about this case until the EFCC wrote a request for his release for investigation signed by Mr Ibrahim Magu. I was not the person that reported him to the EFCC because I didnt know about it. Furthermore, Mohammed (Mr Mustapha) is officially under investigation by DSS for alleged leakage of Justice Onnoghens case details to the public when the Attorney General formally gave an order on the case. I was not the Director when the issue took place. Herewith attached is a list from DSS including his name, requesting to release him for investigation. Both the EFCC and DSS investigations were still ongoing when the present case that led to his suspension happened. It is important to state that his causing an investigation of Atiku Abubakar has absolutely nothing to do with his departmental briefings. The probe of judges, federal lawmakers Aside from Ms Salisus alleged involvement in Mr Abubakars case, Mr Tukur also accused her of bypassing his approval in initiating investigations into the personal bank account of judges and National Assembly members without any tangible or justifiable reasons in 2019. He stated that the letter was written by Ms Salisu to banks requesting the personal details of the public officers created serious problems for the Presidency, the CJN and the Senate President. He added, It took the personal intervention and guidance by the Vice President, the Senate President, the CJN and the AGF to resolve the issue. The politicians were particularly furious because they had their cases then pending at the various Election Petition tribunals. The conclusion then was that we were inciting disaffection from the judiciary to get back at the entire government. I queried Fehintola after which she was warned. Suspended NFIU Officials decline to speak Our correspondent reached out to Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu via their separate telephone lines on Thursday, but they declined to speak on the matter. I cant speak on the matter, it will not be fair for me to do so, Mr Mustapha said. On her part, Ms Salisu said, It is an official matter and the process is still going on, adding, I cannot speak on the matter because I have no authority to do so. NFIU Director, Tukur, denies other allegations Aside from the alleged arbitrary suspension of the two officials, the petitioner also accused the NFIU Director of acting outside the purview of the powers given to the NFIU, violation of federal character principle in appointments and placements in the unit, blackmailing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) for financial support, and breach of code of conduct for public officers. But Mr Tukur denied all the allegations with explanations, saying they were false, maliciously formulated to achieve a mischievous end. He added that the allegations are borne out of mischief, fabrication, unfounded and a product of a fertile imagination. Petition dismissed Chris Ekemezie, whose law firm, C. Chris Ekemezie & Associate, sent the petition against Mr Tukur, told our reporter the ICPC had dismissed its complaints. They wrote to us this January, saying our petition is unmeritorious. But we are considering what our next line of action we will take, Mr Ekemezie said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... LAS CRUCES The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission decided Wednesday to consider a possible external audit of El Paso Electrics fuel and purchase power cost adjustment clause a provision that allows electric companies to change rates due to fluctuations in cost of fuel. From December 2020 to January 2021, the cost increased about eightfold and significantly increased customer bills. George De La Torre, manager of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement for EPE, explained that the cost fluctuates month-to-month and is market-related and unpredictable. Consideration of an audit was brought up by Stephen Fischmann, democratic commissioner for PRC District 5 which encompasses the southwestern portion of the state, including Las Cruces. He said he has received several complaints or inquiries from constituents questioning the fluctuation in billing. EPEs fuel cost is based on used kilowatts per hour and totals about 25 percent to 30 percent of a customers bill over the course of a year, he said. The differences in cost each month brought up the question of possible miscalculations, but we never got any clear answers about what was going on. And never got any specific answers about what was going on and why there was this huge change from month to month, Fischmann said. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ More: El Paso Electric building power lines on East Mesa: What we know During the PRC meeting Wednesday, Fischmann explained that EPE had not been audited on this issue since 2010. He said he thought an audit would be helpful to check the accuracy and procedure in calculating the cost. Just as a personal comment, I would say that 10 years for such a huge portion of the bill without a formal review or audit seems a little bit negligent on our part. A big part of the customers bill is not getting looked at, Fischmann said. Commissioners Cynthia Hall and Joseph Maestas, both Democrats, were in favor of considering an external audit, citing customer inquiries as a red flag. Its our job to balance consumer against utility companies interests and this seems like a real anomaly, Hall said. Commissioner Jefferson Byrd, a Republican, said he did not think the six complaints commissioners had received were enough to constitute requiring an audit. He also mentioned that the fluctuations in fuel purchase cost seem to match the fluctuations in gas prices in the past few years. The commissioners decided to allow their staff to look into the issue further, as well as the fuel cost calculated by other utility companies serving New Mexicans. The issue will be brought before the commission in about a month with a recommendation from staff. De La Torre said EPE abides by all regulatory proceedings and will be happy to work with the PRC on any information they request. Leah Romero is a fellow with the New Mexico Local News Fund and can be reached at lromero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Public Regulation Commission to consider audit of El Paso Electric fuel cost ___ (c)2021 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American (TNS) California's election finance watchdog agency issued a record amount of penalties last year and also received the highest number of allegations during a single election cycle.The Fair Political Practices Commission, according to a report it published this month, approved 271 settlements, with a record $1,940,107 in penalties. That followed 2019, which saw a record number of settlements 343 for the year but which totaled less money in fines, at $797,384.The commission is a five-member, non-partisan body tasked with enforcing the Political Reform Act, which regulates issues of campaign finance, conflicts of interest and lobbying.Common allegations range from failing to disclose campaign spending or contributions on time, improperly using campaign funds or violating campaign advertising rules. The commission's enforcement staff in 2020 received nearly 3,000 complaints alleging violations of the Political Reform Act and opened more than 1,000 new cases related to the 2020 election cycle a record high number of allegations during an election cycle."There is a great amount of skepticism about politics these days, and this should help assure the public we work diligently to make sure there's a level playing field for campaigns and there's a price to pay for not following the law," said FPPC Chair Richard Miadich in a written statement.Miadich wrote in the report that while it is usual for the commission staff to see an increased number of complaints during an election, he attributes the record highs to increased outreach to encourage the public to alert commission staff to campaign violations.Part of the increase in penalty money is also the result of a large settlement the commission settled with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The commission approved a $1.35 million settlement one of its largest ever with the county over using public funds in support of two tax measures and did not comply with the state's filing, disclosure and advertisement disclaimer requirements.Other penalties levied by the commission are typically much smaller.For instance, local committee Jumpstart Vallejo was fined a total of $14,500 for failing to file multiple campaign contribution and expenditure statements from 2016 to 2019, and a state general-purpose committee, Transparent Silicon Valley, was fined $9,000 for not filing multiple pre-election campaign statementsOthers penalized in the Bay Area this year included San Francisco Bay Area Renters Political Action Committee, a state general-purpose committee, which was fined $9,500 for failing to maintain adequate records for expenditures, not disclosing correct expenditures and commingling contributions to the committee with the personal funds of its treasurer.In 2019, a major FPPC enforcement case made waves locally in Contra Costa County when the commission fined former Contra Costa County elections chief Joe Canciamilla $150,000 one of its largest penalties of that year for illegally spending more than $130,000 of campaign funds on a vacation in Asia, a remodel of his Hawaii home and other personal expenses in the past several years.The case was referred to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office, which charged Canciamilla with 30 counts of perjury involving campaign disclosure statements and four counts of personal grand theft of campaign funds. That criminal case is still ongoing. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 11:17:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Passengers place their luggage on the overhead rack on the train 3603 from Beijing to Chongqing, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2021. The Spring Festival travel rush, known as the world's largest annual human migration, lasts 40 days from Jan. 28 to March 8 this year. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important festival for Chinese people and a significant occasion for family reunions. Yet with the start of this year's Spring Festival travel rush on Thursday, many are choosing to stay where they are. It is their active response to the government's advice to stay put for the holiday and cancel "unnecessary" trips back home amid the winter COVID-19 resurgence. Such advice is not only a scientific decision, but also a rational policy-making move, on the grounds of epidemic prevention and control. The advice sends a clear message that China aims to strike a balance between effective epidemic control and maintaining economic and social order. Although the country is likely to be the only major economy achieving positive growth in 2020, there is little room for a second hit. The potential damage to the economy could be even more disruptive, given that many sectors are still in the process of recovering, making them vulnerable to massive lockdowns or even just weakened confidence. Striking such a balance entails effort, especially the cooperation and participation of the Chinese people. People are taking responsibility for their own health, and at the same time involving themselves in the nation's anti-epidemic fight. The Chinese practice of collectivism makes this strategy feasible, even in a country with a population of 1.4 billion. The timely, non-mandatory call on Spring Festival travel has elicited a great many real-life actions, showing the mutual trust and tacit understanding between the government and the people. The 40-day travel season, or "chunyun" in Chinese, is known as the world's largest annual human migration. Although down over 40 percent from the 2019 level, official data shows that China will likely see around 1.7 billion passenger trips during this year's chunyun, which lasts until March 8, up by more than 10 percent from 2020. Reducing mass population mobility and gatherings proved to be one of the most effective ways to halt cross-infections and stop the virus from spreading. China's "stay put, travel less" drive is endorsed by renowned experts. Zhang Boli, an expert in traditional Chinese medicine, suggested that people should maintain sharp vigilance on epidemic prevention and control, and avoid gatherings and unnecessary journeys during the holiday. This year's "stay put" advice is accompanied by a differentiated strategy that applies different travel restrictions in areas with different risk levels. It gives people freedom of choice and respects their rights to go home for family reunions. Many provincial-level regions across China have taken such steps so far, with both a firm determination to avert the risks of the virus spreading, and "soft, considerate and reassuring" measures. For example, those who choose to stay are expected to receive monetary incentives such as cash bonuses, free mobile data, shop vouchers, free movie tickets and free entry to tourist attractions. Targeted measures have also been adopted to ensure the well-being of left-behind children and elderly people who will not be able to reunite with their families during the Spring Festival. A few local governments that adopted a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach when implementing the "stay put" policy have drawn media criticism for the lack of capability and responsibility in their governance. The unreasonably restrictive measures, contrary to the requirements of the central government, are being corrected. The protracted war against coronavirus is not just about what the government will do during one single travel-rush season. It is also about creating a people-centered society where every single life is safeguarded and every single person is respected. China is striving for this goal. China has paid a heavy price for its hard-won, major strategic achievements in the battle against COVID-19, and it is facing arduous development goals and tasks in 2021, which is the first year of its 14th Five-Year Plan. At this crucial point, the country will make every endeavor to prevent the virus from a massive comeback. Enditem 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 new layer of review and approval for certain property changes in Eastons West Ward is on hold. City council on Wednesday night canceled a vote on approving a new West Ward Historic Conservation District, based on numerous concerns from council members. Instead, council set up a meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, via Zoom to further discuss the idea. The district would create a commission to consider recommendations to council on certificates of appropriateness for the property changes, similar to the Easton Historic District Commission set up for the citys Downtown neighborhood. Reviewed under the West Ward commission would be only those matters that are pertinent to the preservation of the historical and/or architectural aspect and nature of the building, site, area, or district, certified to have historical significance , according to the proposal. West Ward resident and historic preservation expert Tom Jones helped develop the proposal and said its been in the works about two years, though the timelines been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic. Work in getting the proposal to council has included community meetings and reviews by the Easton Planning Commission. Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said he is concerned the districts requirements would place too great a burden on the primarily low-to-moderate-income residents of the West Ward, including homeowners and tenants who may see rents increased by landlords who are forced to comply. I see this as gentrification of the West Ward, Panto said. He criticized the mechanism for residents to apply for exceptions by coming before commission members to claim financial hardships. That can be done by city staff reviewing income tax returns, the mayor said: I just think that youre putting down poor people. He also aired practical questions around creating the district, including the question of whether the city needs a separate historic commission for the West Ward in addition to the one for Downtown. Jones said he appreciated the feedback and looks forward to further collaboration on the proposal. Feedback from members of the public who spoke at Wednesdays meeting was mixed. Several investors spoke up, including Julie Zando-Dennis who lives in the West Ward and said incentivizing landlords to invest in their homes would benefit the city. This neighborhood is very, very, very far from gentrification, the 13-year West Ward resident said. Property owner Richard Groff, who lives in Wilson Borough, said he shares some of Pantos concerns. Nick Alfiero, another property owner who lives in the Slate Belt, said he thinks more outreach is needed, after personally visiting 25 properties Wednesday and learning no one he spoke with knew about Wednesdays vote. My concern is using a stick instead of a carrot, said property owner Mark Calafatello, who lives in Williams Township like West Ward landlord Terry Briggs who also spoke out against the proposal. My people are low income, they deserve the right to be there, they deserve the right to have good housing, quality housing without the higher rents being charged elsewhere in Easton, Briggs said. Council on Wednesday also gave approval 6-0, with Councilman Peter Melan absent, on Henry Hennings as Pantos pick for fire chief, succeeding retired Chief Mike Krill. Panto said hell swear-in Hennings on Thursday. Council additionally approved changing the title of both the citys police chief and fire chief to director/chief. The 2021 salary for police Director/Chief Carl Scalzo is $108,953, and the salary for Hennings is $105,261. With the fire department position now filled, the city will be forced to find a new information technology director, with the announced retirement of Frank Caruso, city Administrator Lewis Campos said. His last day is set for early May, and the city is looking at keeping him on as a consultant to complete several IT projects in the works and to help with the transition to his successor, Campos said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The OCTA research team sounded the alarm over the upward trend of COVID-19 cases in Cebu province the past week which rose by about 67%. The report dated Jan. 28 called Cebu a "serious concern" after the province averaged 147 new daily infections in the past seven days, when it only had 11 cases per day from the week before. The province's reproduction number of 1.57 even surpassed the nationwide rate of 0.96 in that period. Its positivity rate was also at 6%, which if uncontrolled, could prompt the need to revert to tighter quarantine restrictions. "While the attack rate of Cebu was still below the high risk cutoff, the significant increase in new cases, if unmitigated, could pose challenges to the healthcare system of the province," the report said. The last time Cebu was under enhanced community quarantine, the province tallied 400 infections per day, OCTA reminded. It said this number could be reached again in just two weeks. Researchers also fear that the new COVID-19 variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom and has been found in northern provinces, may have reached Cebu as well. The report also noted that the growth in cases in provinces where the UK variant has been identified has slowed down. However, Cebu officials are reluctant in shifting to stricter quarantine measures despite the post-holiday surge. "I dont see any compelling reason why we should go back to [general community quarantine]," Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella told reporters. "After all, our [modified general community quarantine] is controlled and we still have our quarantine passes. We still prevent crowding. We are not totally complacent and we are very vigilant." Cebu City has been under MGCQ since September after it allegedly "flattened the curve." There were only 81 active (or sick) COVID-19 cases in Cebu City on Dec. 27. On Jan. 26, nearly a month later, the Department of Health in Central Visayas recorded a total of 986 active cases. Labella said he is still studying if it is necessary to augment police personnel in enforcing health protocols in the city. He added that he needs to consult with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry if they need to expand the curfew hours to prevent the spread of the virus. The mayor reiterated that there will be no city-wide lockdowns but only lockdowns in small areas or pocket areas within a barangay. He stressed that he does not want an entire barangay to be locked down. Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Lucknow: The BJP on Wednesday attacked Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav for defending his close aide Gayatri Prajapati and advised the SP patriarch to chant Gayatri Mantra instead of supporting the jailed rape accused. Mulayams defence of Gayatri reflected his anti-woman stance, the BJP said. Giving certificate of innocence to Gayatri is condemnable. He (Mulayam) is a senior and mature leader, but his anti-woman face was seen earlier also when he made controversial comments. Defending Gayatri, corroborates his anti-woman stance and mentality of giving patronage to criminals, BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi said. No action could be taken against Gayatri in the previous Akhilesh Yadav regime and FIR was registered against him only after the Supreme Court directed the erstwhile SP government to do so, he said. ALSO READ: Prajapati is being targeted as if he is a terrorist, says Mulayam He advised Mulayam to chant Gayatri mantra instead of defending the tainted Gayatri. Mulayam had yesterday visited the district jail here to meet the rape accused and termed him innocent. He (Prajapati) is innocent and is being treated like a terrorist. BJP government is following political vendetta. I will meet the prime minister and if needed the president to apprise them of the matter, he had said. There is no proof with police against Prajapati. A conspiracy is being hatched against him, he had said. Prajapati was arrested after an FIR was registered with the Gautampalli police station here on February 18, 2017 on Supreme Court directive. The complainant had alleged that she was repeatedly raped by the accused. She had alleged that Prajapati had also tried to molest her daughter. A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court will frame charges on July 3 against Prajapati and six others in the case. The matter had rapidly acquired a political hue as it came at a time when electioneering was at its peak in Uttar Pradesh for the Assembly polls. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to the case during an election meeting in Jaunpur when he said, In this country, when we do something good, we chant the Gayatri Mantra. But, the SP-Congress alliance is chanting the Gayatri Prajapati Mantra. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The airline industry has called on the World Health Organization to rule its safe for people to fly without quarantining once theyve had a coronavirus vaccine. Acknowledgement of that principle from the United Nations agency is vital to the development of a digital-travel pass aimed at getting people moving again once infection rates ease, the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday. We can say whatever we want, what we do need is for the WHO to come out and say the same thing, so that it becomes a universal acceptance that once youre vaccinated you should not have to go through any of these hoops, Nick Careen, IATAs senior vice president for passenger matters, said in a briefing. The development of common standards for vaccine certificates, a key aspect of IATAs proposed Travel Pass smartphone app, needs to move much faster, Careen said. Paper-based accreditation is more open to fraud, with several cases having already emerged, he said. The IATA app, which can also be used to store a negative test result, is due to be launched in March. We have been suggesting this for months, he said. The WHO needs a fire lit underneath it to get this done sooner rather than later. Even then, theres no guarantee that every government will adopt the standard right away. The WHOS Emergency Committee on COVID-19 doesnt recommend countries demand proof of vaccination from incoming travelers, as the impact of inoculations in reducing transmission is unknown, the agency said on Jan. 15. Nations should instead implement coordinated, evidence-based measures for safe travel, it said. The aviation and travel industries have been appealing to governments and global institutions to work together on a unified way to ease passage across borders since the early months of the pandemic. A lack of consistency and number of abrupt changes in policy have put off most people from making journeys, leaving many companies with bleak prospects. Grecian Cheer IATA has been cheered by Greece saying that vaccinated people shouldnt be subject to travel restrictions, Careen said, adding that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recognized that jabs should be an enabler and that people who have had the virus should be exempt from quarantines and testing. Talks are continuing with the European Union and nation states in the bloc, as well as the air-safety regulator EASA, Careen said. He added that while a harmonized approach is preferable, IATA understands that the introduction of Covid passports will be complicated but intends to make the app work even if information has to be inputted manually. IATA held the first meeting of close to 20 companies comprising its advisory group on the Travel Pass last week. Pilot programs have begun or are planned with carriers including British Airways, Singapore Airline Ltd. and Qatar Airways. It has also been approached by non-airline parties interested in the app, including Airbnb Inc. and concert organizers. With assistance from Corinne Gretler. Top Photo: A traveler wearing a protective mask walks in San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Airline passenger numbers in the U.S. totaled 1.06 million on Dec. 20, compared with 2.52 million the same weekday a year earlier, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Aviation Samantha Cameron has said it is 'demeaning' for Boris Johnson to suggest his fiancee Carrie Symonds has more influence than his own advisors. The 49-year-old wife of former-Prime Minister David Cameron blasted the 'flagrantly sexist' 'Princess Nut Nut' nickname, adding that criticism the PM's fiancee received last year was 'harsh'. Mrs Cameron said the criticism she received was wrong, and claimed Prime Ministers are 'quite able to take decisions themselves'. She said believing Mr Johnson's partner has more influence than his advisors is 'demeaning' for the PM. Miss Symonds was reportedly nicknamed 'Princess Nut Nut' by opponents in No 10 during an extraordinary power struggle with Dominic Cummings - which resulted in the latter leaving Downing Street in November. She told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour: 'In my view your husband or partner is the Prime Minister, they're quite able to take decisions themselves. 'The idea that its the wife, you're somehow, you know, influencing them over and above what they think or what advice they're getting from their team, I think its kind of demeaning, really, for the Prime Minister. 'And I don't think any partner of the Prime Minister would ever feel that that's the sort of position that they're allowed to be in and I think you're just trying to do your best, thrust into a position that he may not have been expecting. 'In my case when I married my husband, it wasn't a role I was expecting to be in and, and you're not trained for it.' Samantha Cameron (pictured speaking on Radio 4 today) has blasted 'sexist' abuse leveled at Carrie Symonds over her 'Princess Nut Nut' nickname The 49-year-old wife of former-Prime Minister David Cameron (left) said the criticism the PM's fiancee (right) received last year was 'harsh' and agreed it was 'flagrantly sexist' Miss Symonds - herself a former Government special adviser and Conservative Party head of media - was reportedly labelled a 'princess' for what her foes claimed was regal behaviour while the 'nut' is believed to be a poor-taste joke about her being 'crazy'. Pictured: Boris Johnson Who is 'Princess Nut Nut' - and what does the cruel nickname mean? Allies of the PM's former-advisor Dominic Cummings reportedly called Carrie Symonds 'Princess Nut Nut'. The slur went viral in November last year as the extraordinary power struggle between the PM's fiancee and the Vote Leave cabal emerged in public. There has long been frustration that Ms Symonds was running a shadow PR operation, while she is said to have been incensed at the aggressive behaviour of Mr Cummings and his cadre. Ms Symonds, herself a former Government special adviser and Conservative Party head of media, emerged triumphant when Mr Cummings sensationally left Downing Street with his belongings in a cardboard box in November. In his final meeting, Mr Johnson is said to have rebuked the two aides for describing Ms Symonds as 'Princess Nut Nut' although this has been denied by No 10. Other tags for Ms Symonds previously circulating among the Brexit clique include 'Cersei', a reference to the scheming Game of Thrones character. A source told the Mail on Sunday that the nickname had been wrongly reported as 'Princess Nut Nuts'. 'It's Princess Nut Nut,' they said, before revealing that Ms Symonds' adversaries used the phrase so often during the general election that they started using an emoji of a princess followed by two peanuts instead of words in text messages. Ms Symonds' adversaries are said to have used the 'Princess Nut Nut' name so much that they started using an emoji of a princess followed by two peanuts instead of words in text messages Ms Symonds was reportedly labelled a 'princess' for what her foes claimed was regal behaviour while the 'nut' is believed to be a poor-taste joke about her being 'crazy'. Advertisement The businesswoman, who owns clothing brand Cefinn, also said it was 'frustrating' to deal with Brexit 'teething issues' as companies adopt new trading regulations. Miss Symonds - herself a former Government special adviser and Conservative Party head of media - was reportedly labelled a 'princess' for what her foes claimed was regal behaviour while the 'nut' is believed to be a poor-taste joke about her being 'crazy'. Mrs Cameron said the criticism was 'very harsh'. She urged Miss Symonds to 'find your own way' and 'do the things that you enjoy, do the things that you feel that you're good at and be supportive as you can to Boris'. Addressing Brexit and the impact its having on her business, Mrs Cameron said: 'Until they sort out some of the, I hope, teething issues, definitely trading with the EU if you're bringing if you're bringing goods into the country from outside the UK, and then trying to sell them back into Europe that currently is challenging and difficult.' David Cameron called the Brexit referendum - before campaigning against Boris Johnson's vote leave camp. Mr Cameron quit as PM after the remain campaign lost, forcing him and his family to leave Downing Street after six years. Mrs Cameron urged Mr Johnson to 'talk to all the businesses out there who are in a similar position to me, of which there are lots and it is the smaller businesses because we can't afford to have warehouses in Europe and that sort of thing'. She said her business may struggle to grow due to Brexit deals, and said: 'If we can grow our business it is frustrating, the majority of our business is in the UK and we do a bit of business in America, but we did have a bit of EU business. 'And obviously you'd like to grow it because it's easy, it's on your doorstep. But unless some of the expense and cost of doing that is looked at it will be challenging.' In 2018, Mrs Cameron's Cefinn raised 2.5million to expand with a major helping hand from a prominent Conservative donor. David Brownlow, one of the Tory partys biggest financial backers, was appointed a director of Mrs Cameron's Cefinn, which lost 560,000 in its first year. The label - founded in 2016 - was being bankrolled by Mr Brownlow's business Havisham Investments. The money was earmarked to help the business grow internationally and improve logistics. Mr Brownlow told The Times: 'I am joining the company in part because I like the management team. I thought they were very energetic and enthusiastic. I like the creative direction of the business. I am joining because its a business I like and I want to help it grow'. The 49-year-old wife of former-Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured with their children in 2016) agreed that the criticism levied at the PM's fiancee last year was 'flagrantly sexist' But he denied his financial support was anything to do with the Tories or his links to the Camerons and said: 'No, I am a businessman'. Other new backers included Wendy Yu, of Hong-Kong based Yu Holdings and Philip Bassett, founder of investment firm Brightwell Partners while its original investor Venrex has also found more money to put in. Mrs Cameron has been open on social media since she and her family left No. 10 in 2016. Last year, she revealed how she and Mr Cameron went through a rough patch while in Downing Street. The couple now live with their three children Nancy, 16, Arthur, 14, and Florence, 10, in their 1.5 million home near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The businesswoman (pictured with Mr Cameron), who owns clothing brand Cefinn, also said it was 'frustrating' to deal with Brexit 'teething issues' as companies adopt new trading regulations Allies of Dominic Cummings are said to have been using a cruel 'Princess Nut Nut' nickname for Carrie Symonds (pictured with the PM last year) Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast she revealed: 'There was a couple of years ago when [David] was travelling a lot about a year after he left Downing Street and I was working really hard on my business and it was one of the few times in our marriage when I just thought "I'm just not sure we are getting on very well, this is really weird".' In a rare interview she revealed the couple 'never' go out at night anymore because she feels she has to be at home 'all the time' to look after her teenage children. 'I'm not very good at ever spending time away from the children with [David] on my own,' she added. Concerns have long been raised over the 'laddish' culture in Downing Street under Mr Cummings (pictured) Mr Cummings carried his belongings out of No10's famous front door in a cardboard box in November Last year, she also admitted she 'didn't expect' her husband would be 'overly involved' with their newborn daughter Florence when he was Prime Minister. She gave birth to daughter Florence shortly before Mr Cameron first took office in 2010. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, she revealed the former PM had always been a 'brilliant dad' and would 'always' give his children Florence, Nancy and Arthur, now 14, an evening bath when they were 'tiny'. David Cameron called the Brexit referendum - before campaigning against Boris Johnson's vote leave camp. Mr Cameron quit as PM after the remain campaign lost, forcing him and his family to leave Downing Street after six years (pictured during his resignation speech) She said: 'I think I was on my fourth by then, so I think it seemed fairly seamless. I have to say, I wasn't expecting him [David] to get overly involved. 'He's always been a brilliant Dad, so I think one of the things we always did with the children when they were really tiny is he would have a bath with them and that was quite bonding. 'It was also much easier than for me to bath in one of those tiny plastic things where you're always terrified you're going to drop them and they're going to slip out of your hands, so he always did that when he could and we sort of muddled through somehow.' Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 16:33:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in India's national capital New Delhi announced on Thursday that in the next two years it will run for local elections in six states. The announcement was made by the AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal when he addressed the party's 9th national council meeting held in the capital. "People across the country are talking about the good governance of the AAP in Delhi. Everywhere in the country, people want power and water subsidies, and welfare schemes like Delhi. We need to bridge the gaps," said Kejriwal. "In the next two years, our party will contest elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat," he said. The move is seen as the AAP's effort to increase its footprints at the national level after consolidating its position in Delhi. "People are ready and now we just have to reach out to them," said Kejriwal, who highlighted the work done by the Delhi government so far into his tenure and in COVID-19 management. Enditem The leaders of 16 opposition parties led by the Congress will boycott President Ram Nath Kovinds address to the Parliament on January 29 over farm laws. The address by the President to both houses of Parliament marks the beginning of the Budget Session. In the joint statement issued on January 28 the parties announced that they have decided to stay away from the Presidents address in both the Houses of the Parliament while reaffirming the collective demand for repeal of the farm laws and in solidarity with the agitating farmers. The statement says that the farm laws were brought 'without any consultations with states and farmer unions and lacked national consensus'. The parliamentary scrutiny was bypassed and the laws were pushed through muzzling the Opposition," it said. The budget session of Parliament is being conducted in two parts. The first phase of the session will begin on January 29 with Presidents address and end on February 15. The second phase will be held between March 8 and April 8. The Union budget will be presented in parliament on February 1 "The farm laws are an assault on the rights of the states and violate the federal spirit of the constitution. If not repealed, these laws will dismantle the edifice of National Food Security that rests upon MSP, government procurement and PDS," the statement said accusing the Prime Minister and the BJP government remain arrogant, adamant and undemocratic in their response. "Shocked by this insensitivity, we, the following Opposition parties, reaffirming the collective demand for the repeal of agri-laws and in solidarity with Indian farmers have decided to boycott the President's address in both houses of the Parliament on January 29," the statement reads. Among the parties who are signatories of the statement are Congress, NCP, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, SP, RJD, DMK, CPI, CPI (M), among others. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is not a signatory of the joint statement, has also announced that its members in the House will boycott the President's address. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has also announced that it will boycott the President's address over farm laws. This will be second time in a row when the Opposition will stay away from the Presidents address a constitutional requirement before any session of the Parliament to begin. Last year, the Opposition parties had staged a protest in front of Ambedkar statue in support of those opposing the citizenship amendment law. Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points for over two months, demanding the repeal of the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops. Enacted in September 2020, 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. The protesting farmers, however, have expressed their apprehension that these laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of minimum support price and do away with the 'mandi' (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. Eleven rounds of talks between farmers unions and centre have so far failed to end the impasse. A tractor's march by farmers held on January 26 turned violent injuring many police personnel and farmers. A group of farmers broke away from the designated route and entered the Red Fort while a religious flag was hoisted next to the national flag. The farmers' unions have, however, distanced themselves from the violence and the Red Fort incident. 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. Delays in Covid-19 vaccine deliveries are complicating the inoculation drive in Spain. After Pfizer last week announced a temporary reduction in shipments, another major vaccine supplier, Moderna, on Wednesday said deliveries would be pushed back a few days. And supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is slated for approval by European authorities tomorrow, will also take longer than expected. These delays are affecting regional governments inoculation plans in different ways. Officials from a majority of Spanish regions told this newspaper that they are being forced to make small adjustments to their original plans. Catalonia and Andalusia have also reported problems due to shipment delays But Madrid on Wednesday announced that it was putting a two-week freeze on first-dose administration to make sure that everyone who has had their first shot receives the second jab within the required deadline. This will delay the vaccination of some healthcare workers. This change of plan is not justified by the reduction in shipments. Deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine, which represents most of the shots being administered in Spain right now (Moderna accounts for 1%) suffered a delay last week that held back 44% of expected doses. In other words, regional governments received only 196,000 doses instead of the 350,000 they had been expecting. This calculation is based on five doses out of every vial, even though the EU has already approved the practice of extracting six doses, which many vaccination teams are already doing. The agreed number of doses arrived this week, and the company has pledged to up its production by mid-February to make up for the delay. Madrids vaccination drive got to one of the slowest starts in Spain, and the Health Ministry made readjustments so that the fastest regions could start administering the second doses 21 days after the first. According to the drugmakers indications, however, it is possible to wait up to 42 days without losing effectiveness. Political battle Madrid deputy premier Ignacio Aguado at a news conference on Wednesday. Europa Press Madrid alleges that it has been forced to stop administering first doses for the next two weeks due to a shortage of vaccines. The announcement was made on Wednesday by regional deputy premier Ignacio Aguado, who accused the central government of not delivering enough vaccines to meet the agreed schedule. According to Health Ministry records, the region has to administer 162,880 second doses in the coming days. This week and the next we are being forced to halt first-dose administration and focus on second doses, which are so necessary, said Aguado. We urgently need more doses. In the Madrid region, only 4,073 people have already had both doses, representing 2% of all received doses. In Andalusia, this figure rises to 37,978 (15%), in Galicia it is 12,042 Galicia (18%) and it Asturias it is 10,694 (24%). Catalonia has also reported problems. Around 10,000 people will receive their second shots more than 21 days after the first one, and the regional government on Wednesday said there was a serious supply problem. The Catalan public health secretary, Josep Maria Argimon, said that the current pace of vaccination is limiting original plans to immunize 70% of the population by the summer. Similarly, Andalusian premier Juan Manuel Moreno has warned that if shipments are not increased, only 15% of the population will be vaccinated by the summer. EFFECTS WITHIN 10 DAYS Early data reported by the Catalan government suggests that the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine reduces the risk of contracting Covid-19 by more than half after just 10 days of administration, compared to unvaccinated individuals. We are starting to notice the effect in care homes. This is very important because it will help us control the situation, said Carmen Cabezas, the deputy director general of health promotion. With reporting by Pablo Linde, Isabel Valdes, Juan Jose Mateo, B. Coll, C. Bermeo, E. Saiz and M. Ormazabal. English version by Susana Urra. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Across most of America, GameStop is just a place to buy a video game. On Wall Street, though, its become a battleground where swarms of smaller investors see themselves making an epic stand against the 1%. The funds serving the financial elite are starting to walk away in defeat. Big bets they made that GameStops stock would fall went wrong, leaving them facing billions of dollars in collective losses. Heres how it happened. Danny Westneat/The Seattle Times Westneat is a columnist for The Seattle Times. SEATTLE - Theres a real-time experiment in medical ethics and triage playing out right now between us and our sister state to the south, Oregon. At its core is an uncomfortable question that nobody wants to fall on the wrong side of: Who really is essential in a society? So whos up next? When deciding whos next in line for the coronavirus vaccines, Washington state, as you probably could have guessed, is like Dr. Science. The people prioritized here for the next round of shots, seniors age 65 and over, are the ones who are mathematically the most at risk of death. So Washington state is following pretty much the broad guidelines as laid out by medical ethicists for the federal government. Oregon went more with its gut. Oregons governor, Kate Brown, decided to put K-12 teachers ahead of 65-and-over seniors in the queue and also ahead of most other essential workers, such as grocery clerks or farmworkers. The reason, she said, is that the learning loss from closed schools is crippling a generation of students, especially the ones who were already behind, which makes getting teachers vaccinated of paramount societal importance. She tearfully cited families where 12- and 13-year-olds are attempting suicide due to social isolation. If we were to vaccinate every Oregon senior first, the unfortunate and harsh reality is that many of our educators would not get vaccinated this school year and Oregon kids would continue to suffer, she said after coming under withering attack last week. If we flip that, and prioritize the needs of Oregon kids, it puts a two-week delay on beginning vaccinations for seniors who live independently. Medical ethicists are slamming Oregon for this, arguing, bluntly, that it will kill people. About 80% of COVID-19s 425,000 U.S. deaths were among people 65 and older. Also not thrilled: some of the states seniors. The thing that is so upsetting to me is that seniors dont matter, the elderly dont matter, one 75-year-old in Hood River told The Associated Press. Its painful to hear that implication. Our governor, Jay Inslee, echoed that on Tuesday, when he emphatically rejected moving teachers up the line here in Washington. I just do not believe that 25-year-old teachers think they should get in line ahead of their 80-year-old grandparents, Inslee said. I think if you ask teachers, theyll tell you they agree. Its an intense debate, with one governor tearing up and another pounding his points. But who, if either, is right? Inslees definitely got the life and death statistics on his side. The problem is that Washington is currently set to receive only about 116,000 doses of the vaccines per week. There are 1.7 million people ahead of teachers in the line, Inslee said. So that comes out to 15 weeks of vaccinating, just for the first shots of the people ahead of teachers in the line. If that rate holds, it means we wont get around to teachers until school is gone for the year. Oregon argues that teachers are a pretty small group, comparatively, even as they are vital to a million kids. In Washington state, we have 55,000 public K-12 teachers, with about 150,000 school employees total (including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff and the rest). So we could theoretically give all the teachers their first shots in only a couple of days, and cover all the school employees in about a week and half. Thats what Oregon aims to do, and then it plans to reopen its schools in about a month. The debate is complicated by the conflicting findings around the danger of coronavirus in schools. Example: In America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just came out with a study finding there is relatively little coronavirus spread in schools, if precautions are in place. While in Europe, scientists have begun finding the opposite, and schools have been forced to shutter again in the U.K., Germany, Austria and elsewhere, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bottom line: Conflicts like what happened in Bellevue schools this past week, with some schools reopening but teachers balking and even walking out, are going to happen again in other districts. Plus that was just for grades K-2; we also need to get the other 10 grades open, too. It would sure be nice to have the vaccine in the mix to try to help save a lost school year. When I wrote about this in December, I suggested we hold a teacher vaccination day, but I hadnt thought of the line-cutting problem. I was surprised how many seniors wrote in not to protest, but to say theyd gladly give up their spots in line, especially if its only for a week or two. They are front line workers and need to be protected, wrote one. I am 71 and havent had a proper hug in a very long time, but would definitely step aside for teachers to get vaccinated! So maybe thats a possible answer to this medical triage dilemma: Let people donate their vaccinations. Itd be kind of like giving a kidney. When you register, you could donate your appointment to the schools, or to the farmworkers or to someone else who is a looong way back in line but is nevertheless essential. Thats a system that would answer the whos important question too. Only it would be more people-powered, and somewhere between Washingtons strict science and Oregons going with its gut which is probably about where we want to be. (c)2021 The Seattle Times The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Photo: The Canadian Press Cattle graze winter pasture in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies near Longview, Alta. on Jan. 8, 2004. Concern over the provincial government's decision to drop a coal policy that has protected the eastern slopes of the Rockies for decades is growing among area communities. At least six cities, towns and municipal districts in southwest Alberta have now expressed concern about the decision and the fact it was made with no consultation. The latest is Longview, where mayor Kathie Wight is drafting a letter to the government opposing the move. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Concern over the Alberta government's decision to drop a coal policy that has protected the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains for decades is growing among area communities. "We are definitely not in favour of it," said Kathie Wight, mayor of Longview, a community of 334 that looks out on the rangelands and mountains of the province's southwest. "More public consultation needs to be taken into consideration." Wight, at council's direction, is drafting a letter to the United Conservative government asking it to rethink its decision to revoke the 1976 policy that prevented open-pit coal mines in a large stretch of the Rockies where rivers that serve all of southern Alberta have their headwaters. After the unexpected cancellation of the policy last May, the province has sold 1.4 million hectares of coal exploration leases along the foothills and mountaintops of the eastern slopes. Some municipal officials, along with many environmental groups, say they are worried about selenium from any mines that may be developed, as well as the permanent loss of some of the province's best-loved wild landscapes. "Once you start digging out a mountain, you can't replace it," Wight said. "Polluting the water, that's not ever good." Wight and her council represent the latest community to voice opposition to the provincial government's plan. At least six cities, towns and municipal districts in southwest Alberta have expressed concern about the decision and the lack of consultation. Lethbridge a city of 128,000 did so last week. "Economic benefits must be considered together with risks to the environment (and) risks to the health of those living downstream," said a Jan. 14 letter from city council to Environment Minister Jason Nixon. Craig Snodgrass, mayor of High River, has also sent a letter of concern to the province. A second letter expressing the same sentiments will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting. Nearby Nanton has also done so. So has Foothills County. Ranchlands County has joined a legal action trying to convince a judge to force the government to rethink its decision. Others, such as Black Diamond and Clearwater County, plan to discuss the issue at upcoming meetings after hearing concerns from residents. "We're in the gathering information stage," said Jim Duncan of Clearwater County, where the local member of the legislature is Nixon. "Our inboxes are lit up, that's for sure. There are residents voicing concern." The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, which sits in the southwest corner of the province where coal has been mined for generations, is a strong supporter of the one mine now before an environmental review. The Grassy Mountain project by Benga Mining is planned for a site that has seen previous mines and is considered crucial to the town's economic future. Mayor Blair Painter said council hasn't considered larger issues around coal. "Council has not discussed the coal policy changes," he said. The communities now protesting Alberta's right-of-centre government are considered conservative bedrock. With one exception, every seat south and west of Calgary went to the United Conservatives in the 2019 election. Even when the New Democrats formed government from 2015-19, they only managed to win three seats south of Edmonton and outside Calgary. Still, Wight warned that her council and the residents they represent aren't happy with the way the UCP has handled the issue. "They need to do things differently," she 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. BUSINESS enterprises that were destroyed during violent protests in January 2019 are set to reopen after Government availed affordable loans to business owners, with security forces already on the ground reconstructing destroyed buildings. A team of Zimbabwes security forces comprising members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) started refurbishing the buildings three weeks ago. This is a countrywide exercise and in Bulawayo the project started at Nyandeni Shopping Centre in New Magwegwe and will move to Mountain View shops in Lobengula West followed by Pumula East shops, among others being restored to their state before January 14, 2019. During the destructive protests targeting cities, Bulawayo suffered the most damages. Businesses in the city lost goods and property worth millions of dollars after violent protesters went on a looting spree and in some cases torched the buildings after looting. Supermarkets, service stations, butcheries, pharmacies, bottle stores and bars were targeted. Some motorists had their vehicles set on fire. Hooligans, mostly marauding youths, barricaded streets using drums, trolleys, burning tyres and stones during a three-day nationwide stay away called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and other civil society organisations aligned to the opposition MDC-Alliance. In an interview yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Cde Raj Modi said Government was just fulfilling what it had promised, but could not immediately provide the amounts of money involved. As was promised by the Government, people were given money to restore their businesses. Those who approached the responsible offices were assisted and for those who have not yet been assisted, they will definitely be assisted. This is a process. On the refurbishment part, its a part of the process where we as Government are helping our people whose shops where vandalised during the January 14, 2019 demonstrations, he said. The Deputy Minister could not say how much the businesses were being given as that depends on the scale of damage suffered during the looting. He said the loans are to be repaid at an affordable rate. How much one gets depends on how much they lost during the destruction, and the loans are affordable to all depending on the size of the business damaged. The programme is open for all and no one is forced to bounce back to business through the Governments initiative, some of the people used their own money and right now they are established and for some they approached me and I am definitely going to help them, said the deputy minister. Works at a damaged supermarket belonging to Mrs Nomsa Sobantus family are nearing completion in New Magwegwe. A Chronicle news crew which visited the site saw builders under the supervision of Warrant Officer Class Two (W02) Tawanda Happymore Chadho from 1 Engineers squadron busy carrying out final touches on the building. Mrs Sobantu said she was relieved that the Government has chipped in to rehabilitate her familys Hozani Supermarket which was burnt down during the 2019 January violent protests. Mrs Sobantu said Government did not provide her with hard cash to initiate the rehabilitation works but brought materials and soldiers who are reconstructing the building. Im so, so grateful for what the Government has done because every time I visited that shop after it was burnt down, I would break down. I had no means of fixing the shop and we didnt know where we would have got the money to reconstruct it, she said. These days Im overjoyed just seeing the work that has been done. We are not paying the soldiers anything and they have promised to complete the building by the end of February. We hope when its finished, we will manage to get a client who will rent the shop so that we also manage to pay back the Government loan which has a 10-year tenure. Mrs Sobantu said the destruction of the shop brought financial challenges to her family as they were no longer getting monthly rentals. Locals who spoke to the news crew bemoaned the destruction of the shops saying unscrupulous tuck shop owners are now charging them exorbitantly for goods they used to get from Hozani Supermarket at affordable prices. One resident, Mr Theophilus Mabandla, said the hardships that they have faced have taught them not to turn a blind eye again when shops are being destroyed during protests. My friend, now if we see someone trying to destroy our shops, we will deal with that person. We have learnt a lesson of our life. Just imagine going to town to buy salt, sugar, matches in this lockdown. No, it is not good at all. We thank the Government for giving us another chance. I dont think we will do it again as a community, said Mr Mabandla. Chronicle A Harding woman faces charges after police said she was driving under the influence when she struck and killed a man in a 2019 crash in Eaton Twp. Bianca Marie Rubino, 31, 16 Gashi Road, was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and several related counts. The victim, Leland James Cook, 66, Tunkhannock, was traveling south on Route 29 on Oct. 11, 2019. Near Church Road, Rubinos 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe crossed the center double lines into Cooks path. A witness behind the Santa Fe told authorities the car abruptly crossed over the double yellow lines and struck Cooks vehicle head on. The victim was dead by the time police arrived, according to a criminal complaint filed by Trooper Jordan Chiochio. Rubino told Chiochio she fell asleep and crossed the opposing lane of travel. She was taken to Tyler Memorial Hospital for a blood test. On Oct. 29, 2019, blood test results came back with positive findings of methamphetamine and Clonazepam, according to the complaint. Almost a month later, the trooper received the Wyoming County coroners report, which noted that Cook died from multiple traumatic injuries resulting from the crash. Rubino remains free on $15,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 11. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The number of coronavirus infections worldwide hit 100 million on Wednesday and as of Thursday morning, another 100,000 new cases had been added, according to worldometer.info. The grim milestone which seemed almost unimaginable about a year ago when the disease began spreading was reached as countries around the world struggle with shortfalls in the supply and distribution of vaccines. It took about 11 months for worldwide infections to reach 50 million but in just three more months, the figure hit 100 million to indicate how fast the disease is currently spreading. Around 668,250 cases have been reported each day since the beginning of 2021, a Reuters analysis showed. COVID-19, the potentially dangerous pneumonia-like disease caused by the coronavirus and said to have emanated from a local Chinese market to spread to over 200 countries, has claimed more than 2.1 million lives, according to data from worldometer.info. Worst still, health experts say the real death toll is likely much higher. Only confirmed COVID-19 deaths are included in the tally, which means that people who die without a firm diagnosis may not be included. Similarly, many people will have been infected with the coronavirus without having a positive test to confirm it. In the early stages of the pandemic, fewer tests were available, and testing remains inadequate in many countries. Statistics As of the time of filing this report, there were 101,482,659 confirmed cases across the globe, data from worldometers.info, an online dashboard that tracks the global number of confirmed coronavirus cases showed. The official number of global cases is now at least five times the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). The five worst-hit countries: The U.S., India, Brazil, Russia and the U.K, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Germany have a combined figure of nearly 70 million infections, about two-thirds of the global total. There are 25,913,493 active cases as of the time of reporting. Of that number, about 25,806,161 (99.6 per cent) are in mild conditions while only 110,300 (0.4 per cent) cases are in serious or critical conditions. Death Toll As of the time of reporting, about 2,185,389 people have succumbed to the coronavirus, data from worldometers.info showed. That has exceeded the upper range of 290,000 to 650,000 annual deaths linked to influenza. On January 15, the official global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surpassed 2 million. The United States, which already has the highest number of reported infections in the world, is also the country with the highest death toll accounting for one in every five deaths reported worldwide each day. With a total of 439,521 fatalities as of Thursday morning, the United States has reported almost twice as many deaths as Brazil, which has the second-highest death toll in the world. Recoveries More than two-thirds of the over 100 million people infected by COVID-19 across the world have recovered after treatment. The figure indicates the level of success countries and health professionals have recorded in containing the virus. As of Sunday morning, over 73 million recoveries have been recorded by worldometer.info. ADVERTISEMENT According to the data, 73,380,809 patients won their battle against the disease. READ ALSO: Over 40 million people recover from coronavirus worldwide Although people who recover from a viral infection often develop immunity against the same disease, it remains unclear whether this is the case with COVID-19 infection. Lockdowns and vaccine roll-out As nations continue to struggle to get enough vaccines to keep their populations safe, governments are returning several levels of restrictions and lockdowns to curb the spread of the disease. Public health officials have urged people to take steps such as wearing masks, keeping a distance from others, and avoiding large gatherings in order to stop the spread of the virus. Around 56 countries have begun vaccinating people for the coronavirus, administering at least 64 million doses. Israel leads the world on per capita vaccinations, innoculating 29 per cent of its population with at least one dose. Meanwhile, none of the main western vaccines has yet been administered in Africa so far, almost two months after the first doses were rolled out in Europe. Africa will have to wait weeks if not months before receiving COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, according to various officials working towards getting doses for the continent, the BBC reported. The Nigerian government said it will receive at least 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech approved COVID-19 vaccines by early February through the COVAX co-financing public-private facility. The vice-president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juan Marin, has demanded "a national agreement for an intelligent lockdown", given the serious situation that the region is experiencing from the continued spread of the coronavirus. The politician has warned that there is little time left before the authorities will be forced to decree a new harsh, strict and long confinement like last spring. He said that, in his opinion, an intelligent home lockdown is the only way to stop the spread of the disease but it would requires direct aid to small and medium-sized businesses, the self-employed and the rest of the affected sectors. This plan, he said, should also include more homeworking, along with a massive testing target, as well as speeding up the vaccination process, which has been hampered by a slowdown in the arrival of doses from the manufacturers. According to the vice-president of the Junta, Andalucia has the capacity to vaccinate 400,000 people a week and only 70,000 doses are being received. "We need the tools" Marin emphasised that it is time "to reach out and save lives" and rise to the occasion. He also stressed the need to listen to healthworkers and scientists and pay attention to the solutions that have been used in other countries and apply those that have worked. The vice president of the regional government reiterated that, in recent days, there has been a worrying increase in cases in Andalucia and said that the current the state of alarm measures "leave very little margin to take the necessary actions before a worsening of the health situation". He said that, in his opinion, former Health Minister Salvador Illa "has been thinking more about his political future than about the pandemic", so the Andalusian government can only limit itself to asking the public for voluntary self-isolationt. "We need to have the legal tools that allow us to tighten the measures in this regard," he said. "We urgently ask the Government of Spain to reconsider the request we make from the autonomous regions." NIA takes over probe into assassination of Shaurya Chakra awardee by Khalistan terrorists India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: Taking into consideration the gravity and ramification of a case involving the killing a Shaurya Chakra awardee by Khalistan terrorists, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken up the probe into the matter. Shaurya Chakra awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu was shot dead by two unidentified men in the early hours of October 10, 2020, at the residence-cum-school run by him in Bhikiwind, District TarnTaran, Punjab. The assailants then escaped on a bike, following which a case was registered by the Punjab police. The Khalistan infiltration: What we are witnessing in Delhi is exactly what SJF planned During the peak of terrorism in Punjab, Comrade Singh and his family had fearlessly fought the terrorists. Taking into account his contribution in the war against terror, the government had in 1993 awarded him the Shaurya Chakra. His wife Jagdish Kaur and elder brother, Ranjit Singh and his wife, Balraj Kaur also received the Shaurya Chakra. During the initial investigation by Punjab Police, it was revealed that the killing was executed under a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan-based Khalistani Terrorist Lakvir Singh Rode and his handlers in Pakistani intelligence agency. The assassination was executed through Sukhmeet Pal Singh a resident of Gurdaspur. In December, the Delhi Police had arrested a five-member group of terrorists. Two of them are from Punjab while the remaining were from Kashmir. The two accused from Punjab are associates of Sukhmeet Singh alias Sukh Bhikariwal. They were allegedly involved in the killing of Comrade Sadhu. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News The police said that these persons were planning targeted killings in various North Indian states. The police had recovered drugs, weapons and other incriminating material from them. Vibhu Norby was used to the occasional break-in at his retail stores, especially the one in Hayes Valley he opened five years ago. The products b8ta sells, mainly electronics and high-end home goods, likely resell well on the black market, he said. But the break-ins have been getting worse, and hes starting to fear for the safety of his employees. Just this year, the Hayes Valley store already saw multiple robberies and an overnight break-in. On the same block as the store in Union Square, there have been three muggings this year. He has decided to close that store indefinitely, even though hell have to continue to pay the rent. It doesnt matter how expensive it is, Norby, CEO and founder of b8ta, said. We cant send our employees into a store where theres even a 2% chance they get mugged. Norby has taken to Twitter to express his frustration, he said, as well as attract the attention of the city. He said since media outlets have begun to pick up his story, the police have been stopping by more. Hes using a single thread to detail each incident, which has included both a video of a man breaking the glass at the Hayes Valley store to steal items as well as a man entering the store on Jan. 5 in broad daylight to run out with a $2,200 Devialet speaker. In a tweet on Jan. 19, Norby said, Have never mentioned this publicly, but we have stores all over the country and crime/employee harassment in our San Francisco stores (mostly Hayes Valley but now Chase Center as well) is 10x the rest of our stores combined. But when he spoke with SFGATE he mentioned the tweet and said he feels that statement wasnt even strong enough. This actually doesnt happen anywhere else in the country, he said. We have 17 other stores, including three internationally. This just doesnt happen anywhere else. Its only here. Their stores are being watched constantly, Norby said, as he says the criminals know when items arent secured with security cords and when security guards arrive at stores and even when they take lunch breaks. After the most recent string of events, hes decided to hire full-time overnight security at the Hayes Valley store, which he said will cost 30% more than his monthly rent. He said thats not sustainable for his business, nor can most retail businesses afford something like that. Hes hoping the city is taking notice. There has to be some effort made, I dont care what it is. I feel like they dont even talk about it. It doesnt seem like its a major issue. There are ways to solve this. [City officials] can come talk to me. Im happy to discuss what weve seen and the cost of this. Hes also reduced store hours and added more employees to staff stores. In the meantime, he plans to continue documenting incidents on Twitter, hoping for change. I just want my stores to be safer for employees when they go to work, he said. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Southern Show to go ahead The Southern District Agricultural Show will be go ahead this summer. Organisers have confirmed the event will be held on Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August at the Great Meadow Estate in Castletown. The Society will not be inviting UK judges to this year's event due to the pandemic. They will instead use local experts to judge all sections. When is a kid's show not just a kid's show? Recently, Ive been reading I Like To Watch, the collected essays of The New Yorker television critic Emily Nussbaum (a definite recommend for anyone as devoted to TV analysis as I am), and have been particularly struck by the way she deconstructs genre. In one piece, Nussbaum decodes why Sex in the City is still considered a guilty pleasure show, despite its relative depth of storytelling - and before you think it, I know; who thought youd click on this article about a mid-00s Nickelodeon show and hear about Sex and the City? Its a classic misunderstanding, Nussbaum writes, I think, stemming from an unexamined hierarchy: the assumption that anything stylized...must be inferior. I think much the same can be said of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and of any other kids show that stretches its fingers past the confines of half-hearted slapstick and attempts to sell McDonalds toys. The social taboo surrounding acting your age, that extends inexplicably to what kind of media youre allowed to consume, has prohibited many from looking beyond Avatars silly bits and dopey sound effects and allowing themselves to immerse themselves in the rich environs of its writing. Let me be clear: Im not saying this show is covertly a sophisticated drama with a Nickelodeon sticker slapped on it. It is childish, but not in the way an adult is childish - brazen and immature and shallow - but the way that a child is childish: full of life and love for the little things. And in many ways, Avatar is a kids show, but its also something more than that - its a saga bursting with lore and mysticism, and a heroes journey so classically and joyfully told. Its a kids show in the way that Pixar movies are kids movies: technically, but not in practice. Specifically, this show meant something special to the kids of my generation. I still remember the hype among my peers; a media put on a pedestal by all those kids whose first phone was a Razr and their second was an IPhone; who grew up voraciously consuming Harry Potter books in elementary school and watching David Dobrik videos in high school; the lost mini-generation that lies in secret between the last millennials and the first wave of true Gen Z culture. It was these now-young adults, aided by pop culture havens like Twitter and TikTok, who captained the A:TLA renaissance we are now living in, where Azula reading post-election Trump Tweets goes massively viral and popular influencers dress up as Cabbage Man and Sexy Cabbage for Halloween. Although I am infused with the culture partially shaped by it, I had never seen the show myself (I was a Disney Channel kid, hardcore). The siren song of online fervor first drew me to The Last Airbender as a source of comfort in the most uncertain of times; In November going into December, when papers are due, my job was overwhelmed with holiday shoppers and patrons fearing lockdown #2, and not to mention the shambles of a political system we Americans are clinging so hopelessly to, I settled down to watch The Boy in the Iceberg (And down a rabbit hole I went, one that ended up with a Princess Yue sticker on my laptop and a shipment of Jasmine Dragon tea burning a hole in my Etsy shopping cart). While the first season of The Last Airbender is full of great episodes that only get better on rewatch, The Siege of the North is the first time I really recognized what exactly this show is: and what turned it from a hobby (a fresh eye into a gentler past) to an obsession. At the beginning of the two-parter, Kataras waterbending training with Master Pakku has turned her into a talented waterbender. Aang is somewhat still lacking in his training, but hey - at least hes having fun. Meanwhile, Sokka is taking Princess Yue on a ride on Appa, when the snowy Northern Water Tribe landscape turns dark and gray; the Fire Nation has arrived. After being rejected by Yue (she's engaged!), Sokka volunteers to take on a dangerous mission to defend against the Fire Nation, only to get in a fight with Yue's fiance and get assigned as Yue's guard instead. Aang boards the Fire Nation fleet in an attempt to disable it, only to discover that the fleet is too large. As the Fire Nation pauses its assault for the night (waterbenders get their power from the moon), many of Team Avatar are feeling conflicted on what to do next. When Yue explains that waterbenders traditionally got their strength from Tui, the Moon Spirit and life from La, the Ocean Spirit, Aang goes to seek them out for wisdom on how to win the battle. Yue takes him and Katara to a gateway to the Spirit World in the heart of the Northern Water Tribe known as the Spirit Oasis. Just as Aang crosses into the Spirit World, however, Zuko arrives. After a brief (but mostly evenly matched, to be fair) battle with Katara, he manages to get the upper hand and make off with Aangs body. In the Spirit World, Avatar Roku tells Aang that the only spirit old enough to know the real-world identity of Tui and La is Koh The Face Stealer, a buglike spirit known for (surprise!) stealing the faces of anyone who shows emotion in his presence. In an upsettingly tense scene for a still rather nascent subgenre of childrens programming, Aang, completely stoic, faces off (haha) with the creepy-crawly, who tells him that Tui and Las physical forms are the Koi fish in the lake in the Spirit Oasis, and - what's more - that theyre in danger. Sokka, Katara and Yue take off on Appa to search through the blizzard for Aang and Zuko. They find him as Aangs spirit returns to his body, and this time, Katara defeats Zuko easily, and they make their way back to the Spirit Oasis. As the sun rises, the Fire Nation resumes their attacks. Admiral Zhao has a plan to find the corporeal forms of Tui and La and destroy them, thereby cutting off the Waterbenders main source of power and preventing them from being able to defend themselves. Iroh warns against tampering with the Spirit World, but Zhao doesnt listen. Before Team Avatar can stop them, Zhao kills the Moon Spirit, and the world goes dark (represented in the show in a Black and White/spot coloring, with only firebending and the bright blue of Yues eyes remaining in color). Furious, Aang allows himself to get possessed by La, the Water Spirit, and go into the Avatar State, washing the tribe in blue radiance as he obliterates the firebenders. Zuko and Zhao also fight, although the match comes to an early close when the Ocean Spirit drowns Zhao in recompense for killing Tui. Meanwhile, Iroh notices that Yue has been touched by the Moon Spirit. Earlier, she had explained that when she was a baby, she was very sick, and so her parents offered her to Tui, who gave her life. In this moment, Yue realizes that she can give her life back to Tui, and that might be able to restore the moon. She does so, dies, and disappears. However, it does work, and just before the light of the moon returns, Yue appears to Sokka one last time as the new Moon Spirit. The last of the episode focuses more on teasing the next season, including Zuko leaving without trying to capture Aang, and Fire Lord Ozai tasking his daughter Azula with Zukos failed mission. Gorgeously animated and dripping with mythos, The Siege of the North was possibly one of the first-ever proofs for the artistic relevance of American television animation. With cartoons mainly seen in America as either empty noise or marketing opportunities, the whimsy and structural beauty found in Japanese TV Manga was once reserved in the States for Disney movies and live action fare. Avatar, unsurprisingly created by anime fans, found a way to combine the three, and did its part in ushering in a new era of American animation made for kids and adults, with both family-friendly humor and admirable depth of storytelling. This episode specifically is simply one of the most beautiful TV episodes Ive ever seen. Maybe its my own personal preferences speaking, but the Yue storyline is hauntingly gorgeous. Its the kind of thing you hear about in folklore; falling in love with the Moon Spirit. In fact, much of A:TLA plays out like an old folktale (or a TV Western, no doubt one of the shows American influences), with Aang, Sokka and Katara entering a new town full of suffering people and fixing their problems, while also learning about themselves. I feel like an old-fashioned Tumblr girl, standing on a soapbox and telling you all about how Avatar on Nickelodeon is one of the most uniquely beautiful shows of the 21st century. But truly, I think - adult blinders off - Its blend of Asian and American traditional aesthetics, its epic, lore-rich story and its pure joy for life and goodness (the lack of which, by the way, keeps me from enjoying the sequel series The Legend of Korra nearly as much) makes it a one-of-a-kind sort of media experience. So, when is a kids show not just a kids show? I guess, when its Avatar: The Last Airbender. 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Laverne Cox made a remote appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for an episode airing Thursday, January 28. And the 48-year-old actress opened up to the 62-year-old talk show host about finding love in 2020 and navigating the dating scene as a trans woman despite the pandemic. '[Found love in 2020] almost sounds like a punchline, but, yeah, Laverne is in love again and it feels amazing,' gushed the Orange Is The New Black star during her interview. Beaming in: Laverne Cox made a remote appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for an episode airing Thursday, January 28 'Love is an incredible thing. It's literally this chemical thing that's awesome and he is a really great guy and I didn't expect it,' admitted Cox, who did not name her current flame. She continued: 'I thought he was going to be this hot dude I was hanging out with and then it just kind of happened.' While congratulating the star on finding love, Ellen asked Laverne 'how long' the relationship has been going on. 'We have been hanging out for six months and we went really slowly. So, the world "love" sort of happened around November/December. 'So, yeah, it's been six months, I guess,' Cox concluded. Opening up: And the 48-year-old actress opened up to the 62-year-old talk show host about finding love in 2020 and navigating the dating scene as a trans woman despite the pandemic 'That's a nice Christmas present to have love,' remarked DeGeneres, who added a sincere 'Congratulations.' Referring to Laverne's podcast, Ellen noted one episode where there was a discussion about 'men dating trans people [and] wanting to stay in the closet about it.' 'So, I assume this guy [you are dating] is not like that,' said Ellen, to which Laverne replied: 'This guy [that I am dating] has never dated a trans woman before.' 'My last two boyfriends had also never dated a trans woman before. And the interesting thing is that when you are famous, you want [your partner] to be really discreet,' she explained. Cox joked that for so long men who were seeing her romantically 'would be like "don't tell anybody,"' while now she is the one telling her suitors 'not to tell anybody.' Podcast queen: She went on to promote her upcoming podcast The Laverne Cox Show which will feature conversations such as trans visibility and celebrity guests. Stunning: Laverne's candid appearance on Ellen comes after the star previously shared unseen bikini videos of herself to Instagram to celebrate the release of her new film Promising Young Woman with Carey Mulligan 'But the issue over the years for me as a trans woman and other trans women is that the womanhood of trans women is often disavowed. A lot of people don't see trans women as women. 'So, the men that are attracted to women, people think they are gay. And if you are a straight man, you don't want people to think you're gay. 'So, a lot of the times they don't want to disclose or want to let anyone know,' she explained. Laverne, after recalling a personal anecdote, said that the complexity of the situation is 'really sad' because 'people don't get it and they just don't understand it.' 'I wish we were in a different place, but we are just not here yet. We need a guy who is probably famous and articulate to be able to talk about this,' she emphasized. Baring it all: The proud Trans actress wrote, 'These kinds of videos have been private for a while but here ya go' Unfortunately, Cox noted that 'very few guys are actually articulate' about the situation and, instead, stay silent on the matter. She went on to promote her upcoming podcast The Laverne Cox Show which will feature conversations such as trans visibility and celebrity guests. Laverne's candid appearance on Ellen comes after the star previously shared unseen bikini videos of herself to Instagram to celebrate the release of her new film Promising Young Woman with Carey Mulligan. The LGBTQ+ advocate opted to bare her curves, despite sharing that usually these types of videos 'have been private,' as she stunned in a black two piece. Cox was unafraid to proudly display her figure as she told her followers, 'here ya go.' Work it: The black string bikini was adorned with gold rings on the bust and hips as she posed in her bedroom while wearing a pair of black heels Standing in her bedroom, she showed off her incredible body in the stringy black bikini with gold rings on the hips and bust. She elongated her stature in a pair of black heels that could be seen in the mirror, as she posed makeup free. Her golden tresses down, she worked her facial angles in the smoldering video. The Orange Is the New Black star wrote, 'These kinds of videos have been private for a while but here ya go.' She continued to post the videos to her Instagram grid after storying them as she added, 'I figured I'd share. @promisingyoungwoman is now on Demand. Right now! Watch it!,' while adding her signature hashtag '#TransIsBeautiful.' Goddess behavior: Fans were quick to comment that she was a Goddess and Ellis Ross wrote, 'gorgeous' The videos received many comments from fans calling her a goddess and good pal Tracee Ellis Ross simply wrote, 'gorgeous.' A multi-faceted actress who recently executive produced the Netflix documentary, Disclosure, about Hollywood's depiction of the trans community, Cox released an op-ed on Monday about the importance of making the film. Speaking about her tough upbringing in Alabama, she shared the bullying she endured and revealed she contemplated suicide at the age of 11 before she moved to New York City and met real trans people. 'The disparity between the trans people I knew and how we were portrayed on screen inspired me to look critically at images in the media. I longed for a film about trans representation.' Disclosure: 'The disparity between the trans people I knew and how we were portrayed on screen inspired me to look critically at images in the media,' she shared in the Shondaland piece; pictured February 2020 She signed on to the project in 2017 and made it a point to hire trans crewmembers to make a safe space for the all-trans cast who were interviewed, fostering an 'environment of comfort and trust which inspired them to share very personal experiences.' Continuing to spread her wings on other types of projects, the Emmy nominated actress recently landed a podcasting series through Shonda Rhimes' Shondaland Audio and iHeartRadio. With a current working title of The Laverne Cox Show, which is set to debut in February 2021, Cox will conduct guest interviews that 'provoke thought and potentially new outlooks.' 'I can't wait for everyone to hear the incredibly interesting conversations I have had with my guests,' she shared. Blue Moon Country Bar & Patio will be forced remain closed for at least the next few weeks after 341st District Court Judge Beckie Palomo ruled to uphold the citys temporary restraining order against the bar on Thursday. Palomo, after hearing testimony from Laredos health authority, health director, emergency management coordinator and several officers who patrolled the business, said revoking the temporary restraining order would likely contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the community. On Wednesday, Sergio Lozano the attorney representing Blue Moon owner Reymundo Moreno filed a motion to dissolve the citys restraining order against the business. The judge said she understands that local businesses are hurting right now and that this decision to keep them closed will keep people from their work. But Laredos hospitals are overwhelmed and understaffed due to the rapid spread of the virus in the community, and bars can be a major contributor to that, she noted. People need to work, but people are dying. Theres no comparison between the two, Palomo said. She found Blue Moon to be in violation of the law and denied the motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order. If Blue Moon does not cease operations, the city has permission to enter, vacate and lock the doors, the judge said. Palomo also granted the citys request to fine Blue Moon $1,000 per violation per day the business was found to be in violation. The city will allocate these funds to a COVID-19 relief fund to help victims in need of burial expenses, according to a city news release. A status hearing is set for this case on Feb. 19, where the court would rule on issuing a permanent injunction against the bar. Assistant City Manager Kristina Hale noted that per city ordinance, if a business is issued a permanent injunction, they would have to wait for a year to apply for another certificate of occupancy. But thats not what we want, were not trying to close businesses, Hale said. Palomo recommended the city and Lozano meet and reach an agreement for an appropriate period of time to remain closed. Hale said they will confer with City Council to give their input. Last week, Laredo Police Chief Claudio Trevino announced that the city had been granted temporary restraining orders to close Blue Moon, Social Bar & Grill, Vibe and La Patrona Disco Bar for violating the states COVID-19 emergency orders. Blue Moon was accused of exceeding occupancy limits, allowing customers to sit at the bar and not serving food. Under the governors orders, bars can reopen as restaurants but must serve food accounting for at least 51% of their profits in order to operate and they may not exceed 50% of their indoor occupancy. On Jan. 16, Laredo police officer Duncan Jalomo was notified that the parking lot at Blue Moon was full and expanded to overflow parking, which could indicate that they were above capacity. He parked outside the bar and counted patrons as they left. Blue Moons indoor capacity is 98 and patio capacity is 40, Jalomo said. But under the governors order, the indoor capacity is capped at 50%, or 49 people. Combined with outdoor capacity, only 89 people would be allowed to enter Blue Moon. However, Jalomo counted 189 people exiting the bar between 1:35 a.m. and 2:10 a.m. that night. Two days earlier, Officer Juan Valadez entered the bar at 11:45 p.m. and counted 45 people inside, which is within the 50% occupancy limit, but 59 people on the patio. And officer Miguel Sanchez, who was with him, testified that there was no food in Blue Moons kitchen, and that they were operating purely as a bar. Mike Ortiz, an owner and manager at Blue Moon, said they serve food every night and that his staff ensures they remain within the capacity limits. If they reach capacity indoors, they send customers to the patio, he said. They are still trying to recover from the citys closure of bars in March and April of last year, Ortiz said. Another closure would pretty much destroy the business, he said. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com The situation in Iraq has been highly unstable for years due to the activities of the terrorist group. A week after two suicide attackers staged explosions the Bab Al Sharqi area in the Iraqi capital, many people suspected of organising the recent twin terrorist attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad have been detained. A member of the Iraqi parliament's defence and security committee said that many people suspected of organising the twin terrorist attacks arrested. the INA news agency quoted Badr Ziyadi as saying, "One of the perpetrators [of the attack] is a foreigner." Earlier, two suicide attackers staged explosions the Bab Al Sharqi area in the Iraqi capital. According to the data, 32 people died and some 110 more were left injured. The Islamic State terrorist group (IS, outlawed in Russia) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.ISI which lost all the territories previously seized in the country but continues to stage attacks across the Arab nation. Also Read: Shillong Teer Lottery Result to Be Out Today at 4:30 PM Hamid Ansari's book 'By Many A Happy Accident' reveals Modi's work for Muslims Yogi government order to remove 'government wine shop' from boards Concerns have been raised about play pods at the Leagues Club Field development at Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast, because of a large metal slide A hulking new piece of play equipment with a metal slide that dives underground has been slammed by parents concerned children will be burnt during hot weather. The structure forms part of the Leagues Club Field in Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast, which is being transformed into a $10million nature-inspired regional play space. Play pods were installed at the site this month, which are connected by a rope tunnel and with a large, twisting metal slide jutting out from the tallest pod. Images of the play equipment being pieced together were posted to social media recently, where many parents reacted with shock at the design. 'All I can think about is how hot that is going to get both on the inside and outside in summer,' one person posted. Another comment read: 'It will be scolding hot in summer with no air ventilation either - not very safe for kids I think'. The play pods are connected by a rope tunnel, with the twisting metal slide jutting out from the tallest pod Parents took to social media to share their concerns about the metal slide and children using it during hot weather 'And how do you check for dangerous objects before you send your precious babies down it?' 'Please, please don't tell me somebody has been paid a lot of money to design this and not thought of the heat and glare,' another person posted. The League Club Field development is being delivered by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation. In a Facebook post, the HCCDC said the play pods 'sit atop a play mound that will include climbing nets, ropes, sandstone and other natural obstacles'. The play equipment forms part of the $10million Leagues Club Field development at Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast While many were concerned about the play equipment, some shared their own childhood memories of using metal slides Responding to one concerned parent on Facebook, the HCCDC confirmed the slide was metal but noted measures were being put in place 'to keep things cool'. 'We're installing shade sails over the play equipment to keep it cool. Once the trees mature, they will also provide shade,' the HCCDC said. Work on the Leagues Club Field is scheduled to be completed in the next few months. Daily Mail Australia contacted the HCCDC for comment. [January 28, 2021] Spectacular at Work Welcomes Trish Kendall as Partner With New Service Line: Sales + Client Relationship Consulting Spectacular at Work is proud to welcome Trish Kendall to its leadership team. Kendall, based outside of Boston, will lead Spectacular at Work's new sales consulting service line along with the firm's east-coast hub operations. Kendall has 25 years of sales leadership experience for industry-leading companies like Hewitt Associates, Towers Watson, and CIGNA. She helps companies grow and achieve business success by helping their sales and client relationship teams acquire new clients and grow their existing clients. "No one understands business development and client management like Trish Kendall, and I've never met anyone who can bring this expertise to life like her," said John Philbin, Managing Partner of Spectacular at Work. "She helps client relationship professionals develop the skills and motivations to succeed at the highest levels in their roles. We're very lucky to have her joining our leadership team, and I am proud to call her my partner." Kendall's inaugural service offering is the More + Forever program. The program is an instructor-led, interactive group workshop series combined with one-on-one coacing to help sales and client relationship teams develop the right mindset and necessary skills to win new clients, get more from their clients, and keep those clients forever. The program is available now. To learn if it is right for your team, please visit https://www.spectacularatwork.com/sales-client-relationship-consulting "I am thrilled to join John and the Spectacular at Work team, to help lead the firm's growth, and I am excited to do what I love most-helping our clients' sales and client relationship teams enhance their success and their enjoyment at work," said Kendall. About Spectacular at Work: S@W is a Chicago-based management consulting firm from globally-recognized leadership expert John Philbin. We help companies be great at people, and people be great at leadership. We know that creating a spectacular corporate culture and work environment provides a powerful competitive advantage for companies that want to achieve astonishing things. We work with companies all over the country from industry leaders to start-ups. Learn more at https://www.spectacularatwork.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005952/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Joe Biden laid out a bill of complaint against Russian leader Vladimir Putin, airing allegations of human rights abuses, cyberspying and more while making a hard pivot away from the deference that Donald Trump often displayed toward Russia. The phone call less than a week into Mr Bidens term was his first known contact with an adversarial foreign leader. It came as the United States has joined European nations and others in condemning the detention of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and after a crackdown on street protests. Mr Bidens agenda for the call included protest of ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, and he confronted Mr Putin over the Solar Winds espionage case, alleged interference in US elections and the alleged offer to pay bounties for the deaths of US troops serving in Afghanistan. His intention was also to make clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of our national interests in response to malign actions by Russia, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Read More Throughout his presidency, Mr Trump refused to pin blame on Russia for actions ranging from 2016 election interference to the attempted assassination of a British former spy, the poisoning of Navalny last year, the bounties and the extensive cyberhack that hit US federal agencies and corporations. In each of those cases, other elements of the US government blamed Russia. Alongside the return to official scepticism from the top about Russian actions and motives, Mr Biden made an expected offer to Mr Putin to extend a key arms control agreement. The pact, known as New Start, is the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the former Cold War enemies, and the timing of Mr Bidens call was partly driven by the clock. It would expire next week unless extended by both nations, something the US can do without congressional approval. Russia and the US traded documents this week to extend the pact for five years. The Kremlin took an optimistic tone about cooperation under Mr Bidens presidency. The presidents expressed their satisfaction with todays exchange of the diplomatic notes of having reached an agreement to extend the New Start, it said. Over the next few days the two sides will finalise all procedures necessary for further functioning of this important mechanism of international law on the mutual limitation of nuclear missile arsenals. Mr Biden also spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and conveyed his intention to consult and work with allies on the full range of shared security concerns Lt Col Alexander Vindman, the former National Security Council aide fired by Mr Trump after testifying during Mr Trumps 2019 impeachment trial, tweeted in support of the shift that the conversation represented. An enormous departure from the last four years, he wrote. Mr Trump repeatedly declined to challenge Mr Putin in public or in private. He took Mr Putins word, over that of US intelligence services, that Russia was not involved in undermining the 2016 US presidential election and equivocated about Russian culpability in numerous other areas. ( Washington Post) Read More Washington Post Associated Press Louis Peoples, a Stockton man sentenced to death for killing four people in 1997 with a gun he had stolen from the van of an Alameda County sheriffs deputy, was found hanging in his cell at San Quentin State Prison, officials said. He was 58. Peoples had worked as a tow truck driver in Stockton for seven months before being suspended in October 1997 for testing positive for methamphetamine. Later that month, prosecutors said, he called the company for a tow late one night, using an alias, and fatally shot the driver, James Loper, 29. He phoned the company the next day, using his real name, and asked to return to work but was turned down. 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. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited wounded troops of the 2020 Artsakh War who were missing in action for nearly 70 days and are now being treated at a Yerevan hospital after being safely retrieved on December 20. The doctors at the National Burns Center briefed the Prime Minister on the health condition and treatment process of the servicemen. Pashinyan talked with the soldiers, thanked them for their service and wished speedy recovery. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan New Delhi, Jan 28 : The health insurance sector has sought favourable tax treatment from the government to help penetrate this important security to the masses especially on account of rising hospitalisation bills during the pandemic. In a set of recommendations involving tax treatment for health insurance policies, the industry had urged the government to immediately increase the 80 D tax deduction benefit for individuals on their premium payment for health insurance policies. The limit currently stands at around d Rs 25,000 for health insurance cover for self and family and additional amount of Rs 25,000 for premium payment towards health policies taken for dependent parents upto 60 years of age and Rs 50,000 deduction for cover to patents above 60 years. The industry has also sought tax treatment for health policies at par with life insurance cover that attracts lower GST rate of 5 per cent against 18 per cent payable on health insurance. "The health insurance has become an essential commodity and needs to be slotted in the 5% GST tax slab along with commodities such as food items to make it more affordable for people to get access to quality healthcare care. Also, the increase in the limit of tax deduction in Section 80D of the Income Tax Act can help better penetration of health insurance," said Prasun Sikdar MD & CEO ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the consumer mind set has undergone a tectonic shift from looking at health insurance as a priority to seeing it as a necessity. Whether it is the government, bureaucracy, industry, media or common man, all now discussing protecting lives and financing for the same in the form of health insurance. In this regard greater support from the government could help to improve penetration of these life saving insurance policies. "The healthcare sector must be supported and encouraged to expand and thrive so that it can make a real difference to the country's economy and employment," Sikdar said. The One and Only Significant Story About WHATSAPPs Privacy Debate by Amir Nour Its only hubris if I fail ~ (Gaius Julius Caesar) Two years ago, almost to the day, I wrote a piece[2] in these same columns. What I thought was an important topic, namely the close and dangerous relationship between the GAFAs and transhumanism, went somewhat unnoticed, compared to other more pressing issues on the international agenda at that time. However, recent momentous world and American events brought the topic to the forefront in spades while, unfortunately, TESLA CEO Elon Musk proved my predictions right twice. Firstly, when he unveiled, in August 2020 a pig called Gertrude with a coin-sized computer chip in her brain to demonstrate his ambitious plans to create a working brain-to-machine interface.[3] His start-up Neuralink applied to launch human trials in 2019 with a view to allowing people with neurological conditions to control phones or computers with their mind. Mr. Musk argues such chips could eventually be used to help cure conditions such as dementia, Parkinsons disease and spinal cord injuries, with the long-term ambition being to usher in an age of what he calls superhuman cognition, in part, purportedly, to combat Artificial Intelligence so powerful it could destroy the human race. Secondly, on the occasion of the current WhatsApp privacy terms debate. Indeed, amid mounting outcry and protests from its hundreds of millions of users around the world, WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messaging service, has just decided to delay the rollout of its controversial planned privacy in an attempt to stem a serious backlash entailing looming big money losses. WhatsApp said it would push back the changes, to May 15 from February 8, to give users three extra months to review and agree to its new policies in the hope of dispelling what it says is confusion and misinformation. Users had originally been informed that they had to agree to the new rules by 8 February, or face having their accounts suspended or deleted. One of the GAFA billionaire entrepreneurs, Elon Musk who is now the worlds richest person after surpassing Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in net worth recently tweeted a meme criticizing Facebook and suggesting to his 41.5 million followers to download Signal, a competitor encrypted messaging App. Following this boost from Musk an increasing number of WhatsApp users have rushed to competing apps such as Signal and Telegram, in pursuit of what they perceive to be better security and privacy. Signal, in particular, saw a remarkable surge in new signups; so much so that the company is seeing delays in phone number verifications of new accounts across multiple cell providers. [4] These are some of the most deceptive and distractive features of the ongoing controversy characterized by a flurry of concerns related only to the collateral damage of an unprecedented war being waged against the biological nature of Man by the billionaire owners of the GAFAs. In their feverish quest to achieve the unattainable objective of immortality they are steering humanity, at a forced march, into great depths of immorality. As for the real and truly destructive consequences of this war, an aspect of the debate almost completely obliterated by those very GAFAs and their zealous advocates, they have been paradoxically enough very well analyzed and explained by Yuval Noah Harari during a presentation[5] of his best-selling and acclaimed book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, at The SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California. The Santa Barbara-based Center is said to be a catalyst for interdisciplinary study of the relationship of brain and mind. It integrates a wide range of scholarly endeavors and technologies in the humanities, social sciences and the sciences, including the metaphysics and the philosophy of the mind; methodologies in the social and behavioral sciences; and the relatively recent tools that have been developed in the sciences such as functional neuro-imaging, genetic techniques, computational modeling and immersive virtual environment technology. Brought to the firmament of world fame, with much hype and in an astonishingly short period of time rarely recorded in recent history, this 44-year-old professor in the Department of History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has had a very singular journey, first spiritual in his own words and then scientific. Indeed, just a few years ago Harari was an obscure Israeli historian specialized in a no less obscure discipline called medieval military history. Shifting from this inadequately remunerative area of intellectual activity to the highly valued and gainful domain of big ideas, he wrote Sapiens in his native country in 2011, but only reaped the benefit of his work in 2014 when the book was published in the United Kingdom. The book, a really sweeping cross-disciplinary synthesis of human history, was translated into many world languages, went on to sell millions of copies, and also won him a large number of high-profile public admirers, like Barack Obama and Bill Gates, as well as Mark Zuckerberg, one of the GAFA billionaire Chief Executive Officers. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerbergs 2015 New Years resolution was to read an important book every two weeks and discuss it with the Facebook community. Zuckerbergs book club has focused on big ideas that influence society and business. For his 12th pick, he explained on his personal Facebook page: This book is a big history narrative of human civilization from how we developed from hunter-gatherers early on to how we organize our society and economy today. Following the Muqaddimah, which was a history from the perspective of an intellectual in the 1300s, Sapiens is a contemporary exploration of many similar questions. Im looking forward to reading these different perspectives. With such a boost from such a worldwide celebrity, Harari didnt need any further encouragement to march triumphantly on to the top step of the best-sellers podium in the United States. In this book Harari looks to the future, exploring how godlike technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering will define what we become. And in an interview with Steve Paulson, on December 27, 2018, in NAUTILUS, a New York-based online and print science quarterly, Harari stated that he feels worried about our souls because the ongoing big-data makeover of humanity could be a recipe for disaster. He agreed with his interviewer that something feels very different about this moment in history. They thought we are on the precipice of a revolution that will change humanity for either our everlasting benefit or destructionits not clear which. For the first time in history, Harari said, we have absolutely no idea how the world will look in 30 years. Asked about whats different regarding this moment in history, the Israeli historian answers that the difference lies in the pace of technological change, especially the twin revolutions of artificial intelligence and bioengineering. They make it possible to hack human beings and other organisms, and then re-engineer them and create new life forms. We are no longer afraid of the machine, Harari points out, we have become it: We no longer search for information. We Google. We trust the Google algorithm and we lose the ability to search for information independently. Towards the end of the interview Harari was asked whether he was an optimist or pessimist about where were headed. He answered by stating that there are things we can do to improve the situation, although there is nothing inevitable about it. Expressing doubts about the belief that science and technology will inevitably create a better world, Harari affirms that the science and technology guarantee only one thing. And this thing is power: Humankind is going to become more powerful. But what to do with this power? Here we have all kinds of options. If you look back in history, sometimes people use power very wisely, and very often they misuse their power. One of the most important forces in human history is human stupidity. We should never underestimate human stupidity. When you combine the limitless resource of human stupidity with amazing new powers that humankind will gain in the 21st century, this can be a recipe for disaster. In the excellent book[6] they published in 2016, Marc Dugain and Christophe Labbe claim that the digital giants, the GAFAs, aspire to control individuals through the collection of data about our lives. Behind this espionage, the scale of which we can appreciate every day, we discover, they say, that there is a secret pact, sealed by Big Data with the most powerful intelligence apparatus on the planet. This coupling between U.S. agencies and digital conglomerates is giving birth to a new kind of entity. A mutant power, seeded by globalization, which aspires to re-format humanity. The takeover of our lives is being operated in favor of a new global oligarchy. For Big Data, democracy is obsolete, as are its universal values. Its a new dictatorship that threatens us: A Big Mother even more terrifying than Big Brother. If we let it go, tomorrow we will be naked men with no memory, programmed, under surveillance. The authors warn that it is time to take action. Amen ! * * References; The union that represents teachers of the Montclair School District recently informed its members that the district is planning on taking them to court over their decision last week to not return to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, we have been informed that it is the districts plan to take the association to court over our advocacy for the health and safety of students and staff, a memo from the Montclair Education Association, which was obtained by NJ Advance Media, stated. We always have been, and still are, committed to a mediation process. We will provide additional details when we are permitted to do so. It was unclear Wednesday night exactly what, if any, action the school district was going to take against the union. When asked if the school district was considering any legal steps to deal with the reluctance by the union to return to school, Montclair School District Superintendent Jonathan Ponds told NJ Advance Media, We are in consultation with the districts attorney. Other members of the school board either did not return emails or calls seeking comment or would not comment on the matter. The memo comes after talks between the union and the district continued over the weekend after schools did not reopen last week for in-person learning as scheduled on Jan. 18 due to a shortage of staff. It was our hope that going into mediation would help us bring our issues to a resolution, ensuring safe buildings and safe conditions for students and staff, as well as making sure our community is in a position where the spread of COVID-19 is more contained, according to a press statement from the union last week. Unfortunately, the district has not been able to agree to our reasonable requests for information nor our request to remain remote until the surge in transmission rates and positive cases has decreased to safer levels. In the meantime, we have been, and still are, committed to a mediation process and are willing to collaborate with the district. Early last week, the Montclair Education Association called for elementary teachers to continue with remote instruction after the teachers union said it had not received proof of building updates, including fixes to ventilation systems. ...Our elementary staff is being mandated to return to their buildings without sufficient training, communication of an effective academic plan for all learners, and any evidence that the building is able to support the healthy learning environments needed to teach all of our students safely, the union said in a release at the time. Union representatives said last Friday that it met with Ponds via Zoom and requested documentation regarding classroom readiness that they said was not provided by the administration. The union said the meeting was also cut short by the superintendent with many of their questions and concerns left unanswered and unaddressed. Ponds said he and other administrators had planned on meeting with teachers union along with a third-party mediator and the schools legal counsel last weekend to hammer out an agreement between the two sides. However, that agreement did not come to fruition, the union said in its statement. The union has maintained that the school is no safer now than it was when the decision to keep schools remote through Jan. 18 was made on Nov. 11. Their press statement said the rate of infection on Wednesday was 1.15 and the cases were per 100,000 people was 65.4 compared to 1.14 and an average of 42.8 cases per 100,000 on Nov. 11. These numbers have been trending up since the holidays, as expected, the union said. With limited people in our school buildings, our schools have been shut down nine different times, making it difficult to feel safe when increasing the buildings population. At least 629 students and staff in 131 school districts in New Jersey have caught COVID-19 through in-school outbreaks, according to the latest update from state health officials. Thats an increase of 10 districts from the previous weekly report. There are now confirmed in-school outbreaks in all 21 counties, though the state does not identify the individual school districts. Despite this, health officials said this week that evidence continues to mount that its generally safe to have in-person schooling if schools require mask-wearing and other precautions. The latest study to that effect looked at schools in rural Wisconsin and found cases linked to in-school transmission were very low even while infections were common in the same communities. This article contains material from the Associated Press. Reporter Avalon Zoppo contributed to this story. 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. Pope Francis will meet with Iraq's leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, during his upcoming visit to the Middle East country the first ever by a pope, an Iraqi Catholic official told AFP. Louis Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, told the agency that the pope and Sistani are expected to have a private visit ... without formalities in the southern city of Najaf. The 90-year-old Sistani is the spiritual leader of Iraqs Shiite majority and is a highly revered figure for millions of Muslims around the world. Sako said he hoped the two men would sign the Document on Human Fraternity, a text calling for an end to religious-based hatred and extremism. Francis signed the document with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Egypts Al-Azhar mosque, during a visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019. Francis historic visit to Iraq will mark his first international trip since before the pandemic. His itinerary for March 5-8 includes visits to the capital, Baghdad, the second-largest Iraqi city, Mosul, and Ur, the southern city named in the Bible as the birthplace of Abraham. The pope will also hold mass in Baghdad and the northern Kurdish city of Erbil, Sako said Iraqs ancient Christian population has dwindled since the US-led invasion of the country in 2003 and the sectarian violence that followed. Sunni militant groups, including the Islamic State (IS), have vandalized churches and emptied out Christian settlements across the Ninevah Plains. Fewer than 400,000 Christians remain in the country today, down from roughly 1.5 million two decades ago. In addition to the Chaldean Catholic Church, which is Iraqs largest Christian denomination, the country is also home to the Syriac Catholic Church and other Eastern Rite churches. Francis, who has previously condemned the murderous indifference toward Christians in the Middle East, has also visited several Muslim-majority countries since becoming pope, including Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has described the upcoming papal visit as a message of peace to Iraq and the whole region. Although victory was declared over IS three years ago, remnants of the terrorist group still pose a threat in parts of Iraq. Last week, Francis denounced the IS-claimed Jan. 21 suicide bombings that killed dozens in Baghdad as a senseless act of brutality and urged the country to work to overcome violence with fraternity, solidarity and peace. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-26 12:29:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The green light for New Zealand's first COVID-19 vaccine could be granted in just over a week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday. "We're making swift progress towards vaccinating New Zealanders against the virus, but we're also absolutely committed to ensuring the vaccines are safe and effective," Ardern told a press conference. Medicines regulator Medsafe will seek advice and recommendations from the Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee (MAAC) next Tuesday, about the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, Ardern said. "The ministerial expert advisory committee will review Medsafe's benefit-risk assessment of the pharmaceutical company's data, and depending on feedback, Medsafe may be able to grant provisional approval as soon as the following day," she said. "Medsafe's process not only ensures New Zealanders can feel confident in the vaccines we receive, it's also been timely and means we will be ready to receive and administer vaccines as soon as Pfizer is in a position to send them," said the prime minister. COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said COVID-19 vaccines will play a critical role in protecting New Zealanders' health and wellbeing and, over time, will be a big step back to normality. The first focus will be vaccinating the border and managed isolation and quarantine workforce and their close contacts, Hipkins said, adding, "Once the vaccine arrives in New Zealand, we expect to be able to complete vaccinating this group within two to three weeks." He said the government hopes to start vaccinating the wider population mid-year. "However, if Medsafe decides next week that some additional assurances are required before it grants approval, I accept their decision and am satisfied that it's the right decision on behalf of all of us," Hipkins said. "It streamlined its approval processes for faster access, but it hasn't cut any corners along the way," he said. Enditem Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Maffuccio Motions to File His Own Petition Against President Marchetti PITTSFIELD, Mass. After submitting a petition for Council President Peter Marchetti to relinquish his leadership and step down, Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio motioned to file his own petition for the sake of unity. This motion resulted in unanimous approval and may be a step forward for council that has had members publicly reproving each other. "I submitted this petition on two key factors: Councilor Marchetti has taken it upon himself to filter through my petitions not once but twice when supporting documents to this petition were presented and new information developed I tried resubmitting them," Maffuccio said. "This is freedom of speech to me, we have a job to do. I am very frustrated with the way things were handled inappropriately because it was a colleague." Maffuccio, who has filed numerous petitions including a few calling out council colleagues, felt that Marchetti was censoring City Council content after rejecting two of his petitions for the last meeting. When requesting a motion to file, he stated that he respects all of his colleagues, including Marchetti. The first petition called for a vote of no confidence in Councilor at Large Yuki Cohen and her resignation, and the second requesting Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi resign from the Licensing Board, alleging she partook in a COVID-19 health violation at Cohen's Methuselah Bar & Lounge on or around Dec. 14, 2020. Marchetti said the petition regarding Guiel Lampiasi and the Licensing Board was not put on the agenda because the council had already voted on this topic when a citizen's petition was submitted by Mark Tully in September 2020 asking for her resignation from the board. That petition, introduced by Maffuccio, was voted down 6-3 by the council. Marchetti said he doesn't generally put repeat petitions on the agenda. In regard to the vote of no-confidence petition, Marchetti said he is following the recommendations of the City Solicitor Stephen N. Pagnotta by not putting the petition on the agenda. Marchetti said he asked Pagnotta about the validity of such a petition and that Pagnotta informed him that there are no provisions within the city charter for the council to take votes of no confidence. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said the first petition asking to remove Cohen from the board was out of the council's jurisdiction. In regard to the second petition, he said it was based on a blurry photo that did not depict Guiel Lampiasi violating a guideline. The alleged violation in the photo was of Cohen, who appeared to not be wearing a mask while serving behind the bar. "The second petition had no legal standing," Kavey said. "And regardless of how the council voted it would have no effect on whether or not our colleague stayed in her seat." Kavey said said continuously submitting petitions with no legal standing is not an appropriate way to conduct council business. He said he understands Maffuccio's concerns of censorship, which he does not support, but it isn't appropriate to continue sending petitions that have no legal standing to the council. "The only petitions that I will support moving forward with the removal of anyone from our body need to meet the legal requirements," he concluded. "it needs to meet our legal jurisdiction, and needs to back backup documentation available to basically support the claims being made." Vietnam logged a record daily count of 100 local COVID-19 cases on Thursday, most recorded in Hai Duong Province in the north, according to data compiled by Tuoi Tre News. Eighty-four patients were registered in Hai Duong, 13 in northern Quang Ninh Province, one in northern Hai Phong City, one in northern Bac Giang Province, and one in Hanoi. This is the largest daily spike in local coronavirus infections to have been recorded since the pathogen first hit Vietnam on January 23, 2020. The Ministry of Health confirmed seven imported cases on Thursday, all having been quarantined upon arrival by plane from abroad. Health officials have pushed for fast contact tracing to suppress the new wave while warning of far worse scenarios. But they are still not sure about the primary source of the new local infections although at least 82 of the locally-infected patients in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh were already linked to two cases patients No. 1,552 and 1,553. Patient No. 1,552 is a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Hai Duong, the Ministry of Health said in a report. She had come into contact with a woman who left Vietnam for Japan on January 17. That woman had tested negative for the virus on January 14 and 15 prior to her departure from Vietnam. The woman retested positive in Japan on Tuesday for the new variant, 70 percent more transmissible, that has raged in the UK recently. Patient 1,552 was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday evening. Patient No. 1,553 is a 31-year-old Vietnamese security guard at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh. He had a fever, dry cough, and sore throat so he went to the hospital for a check-up. The man was tested for the novel coronavirus and the result returned positive at the Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control on Wednesday evening. Vietnam has documented 1,658 coronavirus patients as of Thursday evening, with 1,430 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to a Tuoi Tre News tally. The country had spent nearly two months detecting no local transmission before the new clusters were uncovered. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. BBC Persian, January 19, 2021 By Sahar Rahimi What does the dead of mother, father, three children, seven sisters, one brother and four sisters children do to a person? Noor Ali, lost 18 members of his family all at once in bombing raid by government forces in Khashrud district of Nimroz province. Among the victims there were children aged three months to then years old.On Saturday midnight (January 9, 2021), to target Taliban, Afghan security forces bombed two houses at the village of Manzari but 18 civilians, all members of one family were killed. After the incident government announced that 13 members of the Taliban Red Unit were killed in the airstrike, two were wounded and two members of Taliban were arrested for extortion. Two days later, President Ghani issued a statement regretting the killing of civilians in the incident, saying that Taliban are using people as human shields. But what is the fate of the survivors of the attack? Two-month old baby among the victims Around twelve oclock, the villagers are asleep. Noor Alis family of 20 also went to bed and fell asleep with the hope of a brighter tomorrow. Who knows what the children were dreaming about when the nightmare of the bombing landed them in eternal sleep. They never woke up again. Noor Ali 30 years old and his brother Matiullah 20 years old are the only survivals of the attack on their house in Khashrud district.Noor Ali with his wife and children lived in a small house in Manzari village of Khashrud district. His mother, father, five sisters and one brother also lived next to their house. On the night of the incident, two married sisters of Noor Ali with their children including a two months old niece came to a party at their fathers house. All 20 people gathered at night, laughed and fall asleep a few moments before the bombing. What Noor Ali remember from that dark night is the voices of drone twice the planes flew over our house and in third time they fired. Everything is lost we need help The bombing does not allow, an opportunity to escape, time to save yourself, time to shout or chance to say goodbye, the house collapsed in the blink of an eye on the family. After the bombardment the whole village was covered with darkness and absolute silence. The fear of the next attack made the other neighbors silent: for the fear of bombing again, all the people in their homes were silent even the oil lamps were turned off.40 minutes after the bombing of Noor Alis house, the neighbors came to save him and his family, but what they faced there was no home but rubble. Despite the wounds sustained by Noor Ali and his brother, no one was able to transport them to the hospital for fear of being bombed.One of the neighbors took me and my brother to their home, the weather was cold and there was no facilities. We waited all night and we were taken to the hospital in the morning.Noor Alis arms and legs remind motionless till morning and Matiullah obeyed hardly. The face of the victims were difficult to recognize. Noor Ail, he still remembers his two young sons and daughter who were suffocated under the rubble.Noor Ali is an ordinary farmer. With great difficulty he was able to build a small house in the village for himself and family. It was very difficult for us to build a house it took a long time for us to be able to build this poor life.The grief of losing a family on the one hand, the pain of helplessness on the other hand Everything is lost, we need help Three child in one grave The victims were buried in a ceremony 5km from the village; but three children in one grave.Noor Ali says that his three nieces were so injured that their limbs were stuck together and could not be separated: Mullah said to be buried together The thought that he did not see the image of horror and fear in the eyes of his children before death calms Noor Alis heart. Their deaths are summed up in the same way that they fell asleep and never woke up.Words cannot describe Noor Alis grief when its bombed and you lose your family. Its very hardNoor Ali says this was the first time their small village had witnessed such an attack. I will never forget the fear in my childrens eyesMohamad Awaz, Noor Alis cousin also lives in Khashrud district, 4km from Noor Alis house.He remembered the horror of that night, the sound of bombs shaking their little house.He says the planes were flying in the village sky for hours and people were frightened.Mohamad Awaz and his family stayed up until dawn. He says he will never forget the fear he saw in his childrens eyes that night.I went to my uncles house after the morning prayer. Everyone was dead. Noor Ali and Matiullah were injured, we took them to the hospital. Increased government airstrikes and civilian deathsA recent study by Brown University in the United States on civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes in Afghanistan showed that the number of Afghan civilian casualties in the past three years has more than tripled compared to previous years. The results of a recent study show that in 2019 alone, 700 civilians were killed in airstrikes by US and Afghan forces. This is said to be the highest number of civilian casualties since the US invasion of Afghanistan. According to the study, the Afghan army has recently increased its airstrikes several times, resulting in more civilian casualties than ever before. The study found that in the first six months of this year (2020), at least 86 civilians were killed in airstrikes by the Afghan Air Force and 103 others were wounded, but in the third quarter of this year, at the same time as peace talks continued, 70 civilians were killed in airstrikes. Another 90 people were injured. A man set to be executed next month is asking the states highest court to put off his execution date because of coronavirus. Willie B. Smith III, 52, is set to die by lethal injection on Feb. 11 at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Mr. Smiths execution has all the makings of a super-spreader event, threatening not just the lives of those who attend the execution, but also the lives of the people in the communities from which they came, his attorneys from the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama wrote in the motion filed to the Alabama Supreme Court on Wednesday. Additionally, Mr. Smiths counsel cannot adequately prepare his clemency petition due to clear directives in the Safer at Home Order, which Governor Ivey announced last week would be extended until at least March 5, 2021. Smith III was sentenced to death for the October 1991 abduction, robbery, and murder of Sharma Ruth Johnson. Johnson, 22, was shot execution style with a sawed-off shotgun at Zion Memorial Cemetery and her body was later found in the trunk of her burned car. Smith stole Johnsons bank card, records state, and used it to withdraw $80 from an ATM on Parkway East in Birmingham. Smiths attorneys state in the motion, Given the worsening public health crisis arising from COVID-19 and its impact on Mr. Smiths access to counsel during this critical period leading up to his execution, this Court should exercise its authority under (law) to reset Mr. Smiths execution date. The motion also cites several federal prisons across the country who have conducted executions during the pandemic. Despite (Bureau of Prison) measures to prevent transmission of the virus during the executions, such as required masks and temperature checks, confirmed COVID-19 infections among attorneys, BOP staff, and the religious advisor of a death row prisoner have all been directly linked to preparing for and attending the federal executions. The Alabama Attorney Generals Office has yet to respond to the motion. Smith has two other federal court cases pending, both in the Middle District of Alabama. One case is about his religious freedoms; another about wanting to opt-in to the states newly approved, but not yet tried, execution method of nitrogen hypoxide. Smiths co-defendant, Angelica Willis, pleaded guilty to murder in Johnsons death and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Smith has had several appeals over the years, including a 2013 case claiming that state prosecutors involuntarily used an antipsychotic drug on Smith throughout his 1992 trial, which caused Smith a severe allergic reaction and rendered him unable to show any emotion on his face throughout the trial. A 2019 appeal stated Smith was intellectually disabled and cannot be executed; but, after oral arguments, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed. According to Smiths lawyers, the intellectual disability loss was despite his having a 64 and 72 IQ according to the experts (70, when adjusted, is now the cut-off for being too intellectually disabled to be executed). As the WHO team on Thursday began their on-the-spot probe into the origins of the coronavirus in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a local resident, who believed that the authorities had covered up the outbreak, said he wanted to meet the experts to share his experience with the disease. The COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan in 2019. The 14-member World Health Organisation team of international scientists, who had been confined to their hotel due to the quarantine rules, kicked off the field part of their month-long mission to explore how the coronavirus transmitted presumably from bats or pangolins to humans. One resident named Zhang Hai said he believes delayed reporting about the virus by Wuhan city officials in the initial days of the outbreak has cost the life of his father, the BBC reported. "I think it's necessary that the experts meet me and other people who have lost family members to the virus, and hear from our experiences. I hope the WHO will not be used as a tool to spread lies," the report quoted the 51-year-old as saying. Zhang's family had travelled to Wuhan in January last year from Shenzhen city so that his father could receive subsidised surgery for a leg fracture. The surgery was successful, but he contracted COVID-19 and subsequently died. "If it was made known that there was a virus outbreak in the city, we wouldn't have gone there," the BBC quoted him as saying. "that fact at the time, many lives were lost, so the Wuhan government has knowingly committed murder. They need to be held accountable for that. Until I get an official apology from the local authorities over what happened to my father, I will not give up," Zhang said. Local government officials in Wuhan and its surrounding Hubei province have been accused of downplaying the virus in the early days of the pandemic and several were fired last year. Zhang claimed Chinese authorities have blocked his online calls for accountability as well as efforts to organise other families of COVID-19 victims. He said a WeChat group formed by COVID-19 victims' families that had at least 80 members was deleted recently without explanation. Six separate accounts which Zhang had set up on microblogging platform Weibo to share his story have also been blocked. "Every time I write something, it'll just get blocked," he said. Zhang said police have paid visits to his home in Shenzhen as well, and in November last year he was summoned to a police station for questioning. But he remains unafraid about potential repercussions. "I know I have done nothing wrong," he said. KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2021 - 18:18 | All, Japan, World Toyota Motor Corp. group ranked top in global auto sales in 2020 for the first time in five years on a robust pickup in sales in China and the United States, overtaking Volkswagen AG of Germany, data showed Thursday. Toyota said it sold 9.53 million vehicles globally last year, including those sold by its group's minivehicle maker Daihatsu Motor Co. and truck manufacturer Hino Motors Ltd., down 11.3 percent from a year earlier. The Japanese auto giant, however, suffered less of an impact from the coronavirus pandemic than other carmakers. Toyota's global annual sales logged their first decline in five years, after they fell sharply in the April-June quarter due to the worldwide economic fallout from the pandemic. However, sales recovered in its main markets such as China and the United States from the fall, posting three consecutive months of increase from October, Toyota said. A Toyota official said the company's aggressive sales strategy, which saw it roll out a series of new models, contributed to relatively solid sales in 2020 compared with other automakers. "Our sales dropped from a year earlier amid the pandemic, but the decline was limited to around 10 percent level," the official said. In 2020, the Toyota group sold 2.16 million vehicles including minicars in Japan and 7.37 million in overseas markets, while producing a total of 9.21 million units worldwide, down 14.1 percent from the previous year. Toyota alone sold 8.69 million cars, down 10.5 percent, while production decreased 12.6 percent to 7.91 million vehicles. Meanwhile, Volkswagen's global sales last year fell 15.2 percent to 9.31 million vehicles. The total sales of the three-way alliance of Nissan Motor Co., Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. stood at 7.8 million vehicles, down 23.2 percent, due to its slower sales recovery in its main auto markets including the United States and Europe. Nissan's sales plunged 22.2 percent to 4.03 million vehicles after it abandoned the expansionary production strategy of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn. Renault's sales fell 21.3 percent to 2.95 million units, while Mitsubishi logged a 33.1 percent decline to 819,904 vehicles. The combined auto sales of Japan's eight major automakers sank 15.9 percent to 23.49 million vehicles, with all manufacturers posting declines amid the pandemic. Related coverage: Toyota group beefs up development of fuel cell vehicle parts Japan 2020 auto sales down 11.5% amid pandemic, biggest drop in 9 yrs Toyota to pause plants in Britain, France amid new virus strain fears Nine hours after an early morning fire that swept through a Lower Allen Township business, the smell of smoke was still in the air and the middle of the property was still smoldering. The first calls came in around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday for a fire the Kreamer Brothers Glass Inc. property, located on the 1700 block of Hummel Avenue. By that time it was already too late. When the first units arrived on the scene it was pretty well involved, Dave Hull, public safety director for Lower Allen Township said. Hull said that it was too dangerous to enter the building and the fire department quickly moved into defensive operations to protect the surrounding buildings. They did a pretty good job of containment, he said. It looked like there was a small amount of fire damage on the outside of the White Hill Cafe, which is next door. But Hull said that there was no damage on the inside of the cafe. A sign on the door of the cafe said it would be closed today and would hopefully open tomorrow. Its not clear what caused the fire. Its one of those fires that going to be difficult to determine origin, Hull said. On Wednesday morning the building, just a shell of what was there, was destroyed. There was no front wall left, and police caution tape was placed around the structure. Overhead photos taken by PennLive show the roof heavily damaged in the back area and mostly destroyed in the front of the building. The companys sign, bricks and cinderblock laid scattered on the ground and the windows were blown out on the side of the building. In the back of the property, a damaged company truck was parked inside next to water coming down off of what was left of the roof. Late Wednesday morning, some onlookers were present but declined to be interviewed. The firefighters left the scene around 6:30 a.m. and had to return about an hour later, according to Lower Allen Township Fire Department Captain Frank Wirth Jr. He said that at around 4 p.m. the fire department had been keeping an eye on periodic hot spots all day and that it was still smoking at about that time. Weve been keeping an eye on it all day, he said. Wirth said the fire was a one-alarm fire, that the fire department also pushed the chimney over and that the fire is under investigation. The building is a total loss, he said. The Lower Allen Township Police Department is handling the investigation. Hull said that there is nothing suspicious about the fire but that it is standard procedure for the townships police department to handle investigations afterward. Kreamer Brothers Glass Inc. has been in business since 1962 and also has another location on Devonshire Road in Lower Paxton Township. The company provides commercial and residential glass replacement. No one at Kreamer Brothers Glass could be reached for comment. The company posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon that it would be temporarily closed but that its Devonshire Road location would be able to help customers in the meantime. The death of a man several days after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is under investigation by the Orange County Coroner. "After receiving all additional test results, we will use those findings along with autopsy findings to make a final determination into the cause and manner of death," the coroner's office said in a statement. "If it's determined there may be a correlation to the vaccine we will immediately notify the OC Health Care Agency." Sgt. Dennis T. Breckner, a public information officer for the sheriff's department, said the investigation could take months. The Orange County Register reported the deceased was 60-year-old Tim Zook, who experienced an adverse reaction hours after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine Jan. 5. Zook, an X-ray technologist at South Coast Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, died shortly after midnight Jan. 7, the paper said. Zook's wife, Rochelle, shared the story with the Register to get out the word that while a complete investigation into her husband's death is crucial, people should still get inoculated. We are not blaming any pharmaceutical company, said Rochelle. My husband loved what he did. He worked in hospitals for 36 years. He believed in vaccines. Im sure he would take that vaccine again, and hed want the public to take it. But when someone gets symptoms 2 hours after a vaccine, thats a reaction. What else could have happened? We would like the public to know what happened to Tim, so he didnt die in vain. Severe reactions are rare. In reality, COVID is a much more deadly force than reactions from the potential vaccine itself. The message is, be safe, take the vaccine but the officials need to do more research. We need to know the cause. The vaccines need to be as safe as possible. Every life matters. The news of Zook's death comes after Placer County Public Health said last week a man in the county died Jan. 21, several hours after receiving a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The unnamed man previously tested positive for the coronavirus in late December. "There are multiple local, state, and federal agencies actively investigating this case; any reports surrounding the cause of death are premature, pending the outcome of the investigation," a statement from the sheriff's office said. "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased." Placer County Public Health and Human Services did not administer the vaccine in that case and could not comment on whether the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was given. Dr. John Swartzberg, a UC Berkeley professor and infectious disease doctor, cautioned against jumping to conclusions until the investigations into these two deaths are complete. "We can't give people a real answer until we have the autopsy data and find out why they died," Swartzberg said. "Everything prior to that is speculation. Both the events are true, the question is are they related? Is it true true and related or true true and unrelated?" Swartzberg said that in the vaccine trials there were no instances where the vaccine was found to cause death, and even if there were a connection between the vaccine and the death in these two recent situations, it's something we know occurs "only once in many, many millions, not even once in a million." "As has been said from the beginning about vaccines in general, this is something that once we start immunizing hundreds of millions of people, when youre talking about those numbers, there are going to be events like this that are going to happen," he said. "The risks are overwhelmingly in your favor to get vaccinated." UCSF infectious disease doctor Dr. Peter Chin-Hong echoed this sentiment. "We always think about a risk benefit calculus. Your risk of dying is so much more if you don't get the vaccine," Chin-Hong said. Boris Johnsons visit to Scotland to promote the Union is absolutely essential, UK Cabinet member Michael Gove has insisted after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon questioned whether the trip is necessary during the pandemic. Amid signs of rising support for Scottish independence, the British Prime Minister is visiting Scotland on Thursday to argue that the Union has been integral in administering the Covid-19 vaccine, providing coronavirus testing and giving economic support. Ms Sturgeon said Mr Johnsons visit to Scotland is not essential during the current lockdowns, arguing that politicians have a duty to lead by example as the public live under strict restrictions. There are growing concerns in Westminster about support for Scottish independence, as Ms Sturgeon argues there would be grounds for a new referendum if her SNP party wins a majority in the Holyrood elections scheduled for May. Ahead of the visit, UK Cabinet Office minister Mr Gove told BBC Radio Scotland: Hes the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, its absolutely essential that the Prime Minister is there to see how on the front line we are progressing in our vaccine delivery and rollout programme. Its critically important that the Scottish Government and the UK Government are working together to do everything we can to support the rollout and see what we can do to improve it. Read More UK nurse who gave birth while ill with Covid-19 meets her daughter for first time Mr Gove insisted there is no substitute for a leader better than being there, when questioned why he did not speak to people remotely. He said the visit will present no danger to anyones health, adding the Prime Minister will be operating in a Covid-secure way. But concerns have been raised that Mr Johnson may not be the best figure to champion the Union, with polls suggesting support has risen amid a backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and of Brexit, a campaign the Prime Minister fronted, while Scotland backed remaining in the EU. Mr Gove insisted on BBC Breakfast that that Mr Johnson is a huge asset for the Union, when challenged over his handling of Brexit and Covid-19. Downing Street, which has insisted it is key for Mr Johnson to remain visible as the physical representative of the UK Government, plans to stress the benefits for Scotland of being in the UK. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Boris Johnsons visit to Scotland is not essential (Jane Barlow/PA) Officials said Westminster has delivered more than one million rapid lateral flow test kits to Scotland so far and is funding testing sites across the country including seven drive-through centres, 27 walk-in sites and 21 mobile testing units, along with the Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow. Westminster cash has provided 62% of testing kits in Scotland, No 10 added. But SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said the Prime Ministers trip is evidence that he is in a panic about the prospect of another referendum. The MSP said: Clearly, Boris Johnson is rattled. By branding this campaign trip as essential, this is clearly a Prime Minister in panic, who knows the Tories are losing the argument on independence. Twenty polls in a row have shown that a majority of voters believe Scotlands future should be in Scotlands hands not Boris Johnsons. 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. Chevron Corp. and Reliance Industries Ltd. are meeting with U.S. State Department officials to request a rollback of some of the previous administrations restrictions against Venezuelas oil industry. Representatives from the two companies are holding virtual discussions with officials this week, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public. High on the agenda: reinstating transactions known as oil swaps that would allow companies to receive Venezuelan crude in exchange for supplying diesel, one person said. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela SA in early 2019, in an effort to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro from power by depriving his government of oil revenue. While some companies were still allowed to engage in limited dealings with the South American country, the swaps were nixed last October, said one of the people. Indian refiner Reliance is seeking to revive those swaps. Meanwhile, Chevron, for now, wants to build goodwill and remind officials of its commitment to remain in Venezuela, another person said. The oil giant currently has until June to wind down operations, unless it gets another extended waiver. The U.S. cant ban international companies from buying Venezuelan oil. It can, however, financially squeeze them by prohibiting them from doing business with American companies if they ignore sanctions. Reliance and Chevron requested meetings with the State Department even though some of the key decisionmakers, including assistant secretaries to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ray Fohr, a spokesperson for Chevron, said the company is in regular conversations with multiple agencies within the U.S. government to make sure laws are understood. STILL HELD: Houston's 'Citgo 6' sentenced to prison in Venezuela We remain committed to the integrity of our joint venture assets, the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families, and the companys social and humanitarian programs during these challenging times, The San Ramon, California-based oil producer said of its Venezuela operations in an emailed statement. Reliance and the State Department did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Venezuela is barely able to produce its own refined products because of widespread mechanical failures at refineries. Reliance is basing its request to resume oil swaps on the argument that the operations do not provide cash to the Venezuelan government but rather help lessen the humanitarian crisis there, one person said. Diesel is used in power generation, public transportation, agriculture and to deliver food and medicine. The resumption of oil swaps could allow Venezuela to boost oil production, said Scott Modell, managing director at Rapidan Energy Advisors LLC. Output, which is currently at between 400,000 and 500,000 barrels a day, could hit 750,000 barrels day if the Biden administration eases some of the sanctions, he said. President Muhammadu Buhari violated the Nigerian Constitution and the Armed Forces Act by appointing new service chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly, lawyers have said. Mr Buhari, on Tuesday, appointed Lucky Irabor, a major general, as the new chief of defence staff. He also appointed Ibrahim Attahiru, a major general, as the chief of army staff; Auwal Gambo, a rear admiral, as the chief of naval staff, and Isiaka Amao, an air vice marshal, as the chief of air staff. The appointment was announced by the presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina. Mr Adesina said the former occupants of the position had resigned and that the president had accepted their immediate resignation. Appointment is Illegal, Unconstitutional However, lawyers, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, have faulted the appointment, saying the president did not follow the procedures laid down by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Armed Forces Act. Human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, said going by the provision of the two documents and as far as the law is concerned, the service chiefs were merely nominated, not appointed yet. He argued that the new heads of the armed forces should have been screened by the National Assembly, the highest legislative body in the country. Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the appointments remained inchoate since the president has yet to forward the names of the proposed service chiefs to the legislature for approval in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act. The appointments of service chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly which had been the practice since 1999 was challenged in the Federal High Court sometime in 2008 by Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN (the current Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity) in the case of Keyamo v President Goodluck Jonathan (unreported Suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/611/2008), he said in a statement on Wednesday. In his landmark judgment delivered on July 2, 2013, Adamu Bello J. (as he then was) held that it was illegal and unconstitutional, null and void for the President to single handedly appointed Service Chiefs without the approval of the national assembly having regards to the combined effect of section 218 of the Constitution and section 18 (1) & (3) of the Armed Forces Act. Mr Falana said it was because the judgment was sound and unimpeachable the federal government did not challenge any aspect of it at the Court of Appeal. To that extent, the judgment is binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of section 287of the Constitution, he said. He urged the president to forward the names of the proposed service chiefs to both chambers of the National Assembly for confirmation, otherwise, the said appointments could be set aside on the basis of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court. Also speaking on the issue, an Abuja-based lawyer, Abduljalil Musa, said there was no alternative to laid down procedure. The Armed Forces Act is clear on the procedure, and once the law provides a method of doing certain things, no other method can be valid other than the prescribed method, Mr Musa told this newspaper in a telephone interview. The position is further strengthened by the valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court on the issue which same has not been appealed against. Another lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, had argued in an opinion published by PREMIUM TIMES in 2014 that under relevant sections of the law, the president alone cannot appoint new service chiefs without the prior approval of the legislature. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Ogunye wrote the article in response to the appointment of service chiefs by the Goodluck Jonathan administration when the late Alex Badeh was appointed as Chief of Defence Staff. Since this is what the President has done, the President has acted illegally and unconstitutionally. Unfortunately, the dubious promise of seeking ex-post factolegislative approval has duped the unwary into lauding prematurely and spontaneously this exercise of executive duplicity., he said. True, under Section 130 (2) of the Constitution, the President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation. But the exercise of the executive powers vested in the President is not at large. It is circumscribed by the provisions of the Constitution and other laws. He quoted a section of the armed forces act that specifically talks about the confirmation by the National Assembly. Part VII of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Vol. 1, LFN, 2004 provides for administration, government and command of the armed forces. S.18 (1&2) of the Armed Forces Act governs the appointment of the service chiefs. It states that the President, may , after consultation with the Chief of Defence Staff and subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, appoint such officers ( in this Act referred to as the Service Chiefs) as he thinks fit, in whom the command of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as the case may be, and their reserves shall be vested; (2) The Service Chiefs shall be known (a) in the case of the Army, as the Chief of Army Staff; (b) in the case of the Navy, as the Chief of Naval Staff; and ( c) in the case of the Air Force, as the Chief of Air Staff, he quoted. When the provisions of Constitution and the Armed Forces Act, cited above, are read together, there can be no doubt that the appointment of the services chiefs are subject to confirmation by the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), he said. When contacted, he re-affirmed his stand on that opinion via SMS, adding that the law has not changed since then. It is not clear if the president formally notified the National Assembly of the appointments before they were made. The spokesperson to the Senate President, Ola Awoniyi, said he had no knowledge of any letter from the presidency on the matter. I have no such idea at all, he said. The Court Judgement The Federal High Court in July 2013 had declared the appointment of service chiefs of the federation by the then President Goodluck Jonathan unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. The judge, Adamu Bello, also restrained the president from further appointing them without the approval of the Senate. The decision was a sequel to a case instituted in 2008 by Festus Keyamo, a lawyer, against the president. When contacted, Mr Keyamo, who is currently a minister in Mr Buharis government, said he stood by the judgement which he said was not appealed by the then federal government. The court in its ruling further restrained the president from appointing service chiefs for the federation without first obtaining the confirmation of the National Assembly. Even as San Francisco resumed outdoor dining, some gym activities and indoor haircuts on Thursday the last of the Bay Area counties to reopen after the state lockdown concerns lingered over Californias vaccination rollout. The states new vaccination plan will prioritize people by age rather than by risk of infection beginning in mid-February, and people with disabilities and other groups said that is not only unfair but puts their lives at risk. How dare you! said Sage Doshay of Saratoga, expressing fury at the states plan. Doshay is 29. She has a medical condition that requires her to take immunosuppressive medications and leaves her at a high risk of complications if she contracts COVID-19. Shes put off medical care she needs because she would have to see the doctor in person. She isnt comfortable visiting the doctor because she lives with her parents, who she said also have compromised immune systems. Our lives have value, Doshay told The Chronicle. Our experiences have value. Our suffering is a black mark on society. And if youre pretending that this is just about waiting, it should be a stain on your conscience as a medical professional for the rest of your career. The new eligibility criteria, which Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Jan. 22, prioritizes age over risk of infection. The idea was to add efficiency to a bungling, confusing rollout because it is easier for officials to determine age than medical condition, or job title. The new system will allow us to scale up much more quickly to get vaccines to impacted communities much more expeditiously, he said Monday. Currently, Californians eligible to be vaccinated are those at least 65 years old, as well as health care and nursing home workers, and those working in education, child care, emergency services, agriculture, restaurants and other food services. But once those groups are mostly vaccinated, the criteria will change and become largely based on age. Originally, the next group was to have included workers in transportation and manufacturing, as well as prison inmates and people with health issues or disabilities were part of the group after that. Those groups will no longer be prioritized. The state has not given a timeline for when the next age groups will become eligible. That will depend on the supply of vaccine, which has been short. The problem right now is supply, supply, supply, said Susan Philip, acting health officer for the Department of Public Health in San Francisco, speaking at a UCSF forum on Thursday. She said the distribution bottleneck is preventing the city from opening high-volume vaccination sites at Moscone Center and the Wholesale Produce Market, both located in neighborhoods hard hit by the pandemic. Dr. Mark Ghaly, the states health and human services secretary, said that younger individuals in professions or in situations where they arent nearly as exposed as some of the high-exposure industries will end up waiting a little longer than others who have either high risk or high exposure to COVID risk factors. There of course is going to be some sectors of our population who dont come to the front of the line as quickly as others. Were working to make sure that communication is simple and well understood, he added. People at high risk for COVID-19 but not yet 65 say forcing them to wait for the vaccine puts them in danger. It scares us, said Andrew Imparato, who serves on a state vaccine advisory committee and is executive director of Disability Rights California. We dont feel that disability community is being taken seriously, Imparato said, adding that he and other advocates for the disabled agree that older people should be prioritized for getting the vaccine but that younger people who are at high risk because of underlying health conditions or who live in group settings should have access at the time as people over 65. The California Department of Public Health did not respond to a request for comment on these concerns. Essential workers, such as bus drivers and train conductors, said they, too, should be prioritized. On Thursday, BART Board Vice Chair Rebecca Saltzman said during a meeting Thursday she was so disappointed that the governor went to an age-based vaccination system, which bumps transit operators down the list. Its appalling, she said. These are workers who have put themselves on the line every day since the start of the pandemic. Saltzman said that getting shots for workers is her priority No. 1. right now. Ethicists say they understand why a one size fits all approach feels flawed to people who are left out of it. In an ideal system, wed create a prognostic system that would estimate each persons risk of dying of COVID first, and of transmitting it second. But we cant do that, said Dr. Alexander Smith, a bioethicist and professor of medicine at UCSFs division of geriatrics who has studied the allocation of scarce resources during the pandemic. We dont have the time, and we dont have the data, he said. And explaining such a complex system to the public would be a monumental path doomed to failure. Smith noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people aged 65 to 74 are 90 times more at risk of dying from COVID-19 than are people in their 20s, and are eight times more at risk of being hospitalized for the disease. In short, Smith said, theres a difference between the way a doctor can tailor individual treatments to patients, versus what a state can do during a pandemic. The public health measure aims to do the most good for the most people, he said. And in a pandemic were invoking public health ethics. Its an argument that doesnt sit well with Charis Hill, 33. Its as if the governor does not want me to live anymore, to be honest, Hill said. Hill, who uses the pronoun they, has a condition called axial spondyloarthritis, which causes inflammation in the spine, leads to pain and fatigue, and puts them at a higher risk of complications from the coronavirus. Ive been systemically prevented from full access to life even before the pandemic, Hill said. And the pandemic has just heightened that experience. Hill has long been bothered by the idea that only older people face serious complications from the virus. Thats now been turned into policy, they said. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Mallory Moench and Aidin Vaziri contributed to this story. Nanette Asimov and Michael Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com, michael.williams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov, @MichaelWilliams 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 Middle East is at the cusp of digital transformation and the region is very critical to the growth of Tech Mahindra, an Indian multinational technology company, which aims to bring in its global capabilities across both enterprise and telecom sectors to the region, says CP Gurnani, Managing Director and CEO, Tech Mahindra. In an exclusive interview with TradeArabia's Sree Bhat, Gurnani says the IT giant already has a major presence in the region with over 2,500 employees in the GCC states providing services to more than 80 customers across telecom, banking, government, travel and logistics, healthcare. The region is growing, and we do have a defined plan to increase local staff strength. In fact, there is a huge focus on localisation across all the countries, he says. A business leader deeply involved in sustainability issues, Gurnani says in this age of digital transformation, there has been a clear shift in business priorities from being just profitable to driving a positive social impact. The focus now is on Triple Bottom Line (TBL): profit, people, and the planet. Speaking on the changes brought about by Covid-19 in the work environment, he says we are entering the era of gig workers, enabling us to work from anywhere in the world. The new normal will see location agnostic workforce with hybrid working models enabled by technologies. Gurnani urges the youth to upgrade themselves with next generation technologies through continual skilling, reskilling and upskilling. "This should be nurtured with the eagerness to learn, unlearn and re-learn," he says. Gurnani is an accomplished business leader with extensive experience in international business development, start-ups and turnarounds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, CP (as he is fondly called) led Tech Mahindra's transformation journey, and one of the biggest turnarounds of Indian corporate history - the acquisition and merger of Satyam. His inimitable style of leadership, combined with his sharp focus on customer experience has helped Tech Mahindra emerge as one of the leading digital IT solution providers across the world. Excerpts from the interview: Tech Mahindra has a large presence in the Middle East. How important is this region for the company? This region is very critical to our growth. It has doubled in size over the last three years. Today we have operations in 6 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, with over 2,500 employees in UAE, Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain and we provide services to more than 80 customers across telecom, banking, government, travel and logistics, healthcare. We believe the region is at the cusp of digital transformation and we want to bring in our global capabilities across both enterprise and telecom sectors. We are focusing heavily on NexGen Managed Services leveraging AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), Cloud, Process Transformation, 5G, among others. We are also introducing local talent development programs in Saudi and Oman this year towards building digital and technology skills locally. What are the main industries Tech Mahindra is involved in the Middle East? Tech Mahindra has clients across verticals such as Telecom, Public Services, Banking and Financial Services, Energy and Utilities and conglomerates. Some of the leading organisations in this region are our clients. With increased focus on Industry 4.0 and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) in the region, how Tech Mahindra can help the manufacturing sector in the region - the big ones as well as the SMEs ? Tech Mahindra is working with 150+ manufacturing clients globally across Automotive, Aerospace & Defence, discrete and process manufacturing. Our deep knowledge in mechanical and electrical engineering, experience in sales and service businesses and hands-on exposure to the factory shop floor have helped us to build digital offerings in this domain. Manufacturing in Tech Mahindra is aligned to the 3-4-3 strategy, which is the alignment of 3 mega trends + 4 big bets addressing 3 objectives. The 3 mega trends are: Growing demand for mass customization Human-Robot collaboration on the rise Rapid IT-OT (Information Technology Operational Technology) convergence Our 4 big bets solution is summarised by the term FIRM Factory. We build Factory of Future to digitise lean manufacturing and lessen carbon footprint IoT (Internet of Things) - we create IoT-SW (software)-electronics enabled smart product Reliability. We improve reliability by integrating field warranty with product design and production quality Mobility. We support mobility & sharing economy with a focus on differentiating experience. Our 3 objectives are: Run Better, change Faster, Grow Greater Energy/Oil and Gas is the major industry in the region. What technologies and services you offer to this industry? Tech Mahindras oil and gas vertical has rich experience of serving the oil and gas industry for more than 15 years and is working with 30+ clients in this vertical globally across upstream, midstream, downstream & oil field services. We help the industry leaders to optimise their processes, increase production and minimise cost, enabling them to power the world towards a positive change. We optimise assets through system wide sensors on an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform. We also leverage our expertise in E&P (Exploration and Production) data management, DQM (Data Quality Management) and analytics practice to deliver end-to-end data solution. In addition to all these, we ensure secure environment through safety in workplace wearables and mobile technologies to track location and vital signs. What are your plans for expansion in the region? Do you plan to increase your local staff strength? The region is growing, and we do have a defined plan to increase local staff strength. In fact, there is a huge focus on localization across all the countries. Our 3-point agenda for the future is focusing on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives, increasing local talent hiring and ramping up local investments. As an expert, what are the new skills youngsters need to learn to face the new world? The question that we should keep in mind is what makes us relevant. With this in mind, we should upgrade ourselves with next generation technologies through continual skilling, reskilling and upskilling. This should be nurtured with the eagerness to learn, unlearn and re-learn. Youngsters will need to be more agile. While data management, digital skills, AI, blockchain and other technical skills are a pre-requisite for future jobs already, soft skills are equally important. Soft skills, such as communication skills, emotional quotient, and cognitive control are the differentiators today. These skills can come to fruition if we practice human engineering the art of understanding the aspirations and needs of people around us and connecting with them. This results in technocrats who are also artists. We understand sustainability is an issue dear to your heart. You have advised businesses to look beyond the bottom line in this effort. How can businesses achieve success responsibly? In this age of digital transformation, there has been a clear shift in business priorities from being just profitable to driving a positive social impact. The age of social media and heightened public scrutiny has added further steam to this. The focus now is on Triple Bottom Line (TBL): profit, people, and the planet. The global SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) goals of 2030 are a collection of 17 interlinked goals to drive a blueprint to achieve a sustainable future, and we at Tech Mahindra believe that technology and innovation would play a pivotal role in unifying and inclusively achieving them. Sustainability is a long-term issue that will require decades of persistence. How Tech Mahindra can help in this journey for businesses? At Tech Mahindra, we are committed to pursue plans that will have long-term impacts on the communities and will lead to a balance between sustainability and overall business profitability. As a responsible business entity, Tech Mahindra concentrates on integrating sustainability into all aspects of the business and develops strategies for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Governance. The company has undertaken a thoughtful and comprehensive program to reduce its absolute scopes 1 and 2 GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions 22% by 2030 and 50% by 2050, from a 2016 base-year. Tech Mahindra aims to leverage technology-enabled green solutions to tread on the path of responsible growth and is actively engaged in various Smart cities projects to undertake a modernisation drive. We have taken ambitious emission targets, which have been approved by the SBTi (Science based Targets Initiative). Some of the other sustainability initiatives include reducing water and energy consumption across buildings, waste reduction, using renewable sources of energy for power generation, achieving carbon neutrality, making supply chains sustainable, and employee and customer engagement. With a structured stakeholder programme, Tech Mahindra has been able to design strategies and initiatives to build solutions, which not just improve its sustainability credentials but reinforce the overall business philosophy too. With a raging pandemic, technology has greatly helped individuals and businesses to weather the storm to an extent. What are the major changes you see once the pandemic is gone? How normal will be normal? 2020 was a wakeup call for industry, as we saw organizations, which had not adopted digital, were forced to adopt digital. The new normal will see location agnostic workforce with hybrid working models enabled by technologies such as cloud, cybersecurity and the technology right tools. This will make it easier for senior citizens, differently-abled citizens and more number of women to join workforce. We are globally entering the era of gig workers, enabling us to work from anywhere in the world. The world is looking into a future of digital marketplaces where producer and ultimate consumer will be connected in the most efficient manner, enabled by technologies such as 5G and its next generations, blockchain, and automation, among others. -TradeArabia News Service MEMBERS of Limerick City and County Council have backed a motion calling for a national day of recognition for the survivors and victims of Mother and Baby Homes. The motion was proposed by Cllr Elisa O'Donovan at the first full meeting of the local authority since the publication, earlier this month, of the Commission of Investigation's final report. "Throughout this report there are many examples of the treatment of unmarried women and their children across Limerick city and and county. Although the treatment of these women and their children is almost unspeakable, we owe it to them to find the words to articulate the terrible wrong that was done to them," she said at the meeting which took place virtually. "We now need to look at every level of the system - starting in Limerick and with the historical role that Limerick Corporation and Limerick County Council played so that we can make sure that this part of our history is known, that it is spoken about and what happened is understood so that we can bear witness to the experiences and the trauma that was experienced by these women and their children," added Cllr O'Donovan. At the beginning of Monday's meeting, the Mayor of the city and county council of Limerick read a pre-prepared statement regarding Mother and Baby Homes and Commission's Report. "The report is a grim picture of a cold and callous Ireland that damaged the lives of of tens of thousands of people by consigning them in institutions across the country. Unfortunately, mothers and babies suffered material and emotional deprivation in these institutions where we have seen that infant mortality was rampant and women felt they had no choice but to give up their children for adoption," said Cllr Michael Collins. The Mayor noted that around 56,000 unmarried mothers and 57,000 children passed through Mother and Baby Homes during the period which was examined by the Commission. "The report also stated that a further 25,000 women and a large number of children were likely to have been residents in the County Homes that were not examined by the Commission and we had those homes in County Limerick," he said he personally knows several people who born to unmarried mothers in a Mother and Baby Home. "Take the high profile case - in my own town of Newcastle West - of Philomena Lee and the suffering and pain she and her late son Michael Hess endured by actions taken by others in having Michael taken from his mother and sent to the USA for adoption. How cruel and callous these actions have been on our people right across the country," he said adding that what happened was "a damning failure by the Church and State on society." Mayor Collins went on to add that he believes the survivors of Mother and Baby Homes should have a right to information about their birth mother and their full identity. He said he also hopes that a proper redress scheme will be established by the Government. Council members endorsed the Mayor's comments and there was widespread support for Cllr O'Donovan's motion with several councillors describing it as 'admirable". SUV Renault directly labels the Kiger as a brand-new compact SUV designed and destined for India. It also promises the model will be sold across other international markets during an as yet to be detailed second phase of expansion.By the way, dont get fooled by the company calling the Kiger a compactbecause were dealing with a car that actually fits into the European classification of a subcompact.Its just 3,991-mm (157.1-inches) long, and with its 2,500 mm wheelbase (98.42 in), it will easily nestle into the companys Indian range between the Kwid and Duster (the Dacia model is sold with a Renault logo in the region).Still, its large enough to come with a 405-liter (14.3-cu ft) trunk, and the generous 205-mm (8-in) ground clearance along with its five-seat capacity make the Renault Kwid a great all-rounder . It needs to be so, because it will have ample competition including from within the Alliance, after Nissan recently unveiled the Magnite The design blends several styling cues from different models of the French house . For example, the front end reinterprets the Kwid theme, while the rear mirrors the C-shaped ethos of the second generation Captur.Moving inside, the Kiger looks decidedly modern thanks to the seven-inch digital instrument cluster, and the floating eight-inch touchscreen positioned up high in central area of the dashboard.As far as powertrains are concerned, Renault is giving Indian customers a choice between a naturally aspirated 1.0-liter and a turbocharged variant of the same engine; they are rated at 72 PS (71 hp) and 100 PS (99 hp), respectively.The two mills can be hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission, an Easy-R AMT (automated manual transmission), and an X-Tronic automatic continuously variable transmission, which is going to become available shortly after the commercial introduction. A third of San Francisco schools will get a new name in the coming months, ending a years-long process to reconsider the countrys racist past and eliminate the name of slave owners and colonizers on band uniforms and high school diplomas. The controversial decision by the board Tuesday night to rename 44 school sites garnered national attention and split the city, with some criticizing the timing and process during a pandemic and others arguing change needs to happen now to recognize the ongoing racism and trauma affecting students of color. Students and school board members said it was time that children stopped walking into elementary schools named after former President Thomas Jefferson, a slave owner, or former Mayor Adolph Sutro, who denied Black people access to his Sutro Baths, the saltwater pool facility near Ocean Beach built in 1896, which burned down in 1966. They have suggested Barack Obama, poet Maya Angelou or musician Jerry Garcia, among others, instead. Yet the vote has not ended the controversy, but rather stoked concerns that the effort will create new conflicts. Debates that could grow heated over new names began the day after the vote and some parents said they plan to try to delay or reverse the renaming decision while a few families expressed an interest Wednesday in starting a recall of board members over the renaming and other issues. There is also a growing concern that some frustrated families, feeling the board isnt prioritizing reopening, will leave the district for good. This isnt the first social justice issue the board has tackled in the past few years, with a debate over obscuring an offensive mural at Washington High, as well as an effort to rethink the competitive admission policy at Lowell High School. Such activism is important, said UCLA education Professor Tyrone Howard, associate head for equity, diversity and inclusion, but it requires a balancing act. Howard said political support exists for symbolic and real change around racial justice, given the spring protests, but these discussions are happening amid a pandemic, which must be addressed. Its not either or, its both, he added. The optics arent good when youve got learning loss and kids need to be back in schools, he said. The COVID concerns need to be prioritized and it should not mean the other issues cant happen. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle On Tuesday night, the school board did not address reopening or the pandemic until seven hours into the meeting, which is a bad look, Howard said. Seven hours before you mention the pandemic? he asked. If thats not the top priority on the agenda, I dont know what is. Board President Gabriela Lopez stood by the decision and the timing. This is an opportunity for our students to learn about the history of our schools names, including the potential new ones, said Lopez who voted for the resolution in a statement. This resolution came to the school board in the wake of the attacks in Charlottesville, and we are working alongside the rest of the country to dismantle symbols of racism and white supremacy culture. I am excited about the ideas schools will come up with. Many residents across the district supported the idea, but not the timing. It just seems to me to be the wrong thing to be focusing energy, resources and time on something like this, said Tita Bell, who described herself as a concerned taxpayer who supports the recall effort, but doesnt have children in the district. So many kids in the city are suffering right now. These are elected officials. They are not serving the people who have put them in that position. Mom Kate Stoia said she has watched her A-student daughter lose interest in school as the pandemic wears on. Shes backing a recall effort too. This is emblematic of a bigger issue in San Francisco politics, she said, describing performative politics rather than real work to make change. I am so angry at even the idea that equity is served by last nights meeting. Many families across the city, however, applauded the renaming vote, including Alida Fisher, whose son attends Denman Middle School, namesake of a former district superintendent who denied education to Chinese students. She said she was thrilled her son would no longer have to walk into a building named after a man who was such a racist. Having said that, Fisher, who ran unsuccessfully for the school board in November, lamented the controversy. I wish the conversation were a lot more civil, said Fisher. Im just done with divisiveness. There appeared to be no reconciliation on the horizon, even among public officials. Mayor London Breed acknowledged the significance of a school name, but criticized the board for the timing. What I cannot understand is why the school board is advancing a plan to have all these schools renamed by April, when there isnt a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then, she said in a statement. Our students are suffering, and we should be talking about getting them in classrooms, getting them mental health support, and getting them the resources they need in this challenging time. The 44 school communities now have until mid-April to come up with a new suggested name. The districts renaming committee will then review them and bring a final name recommendation to the school board for a final vote. At Denman, the top pick among students is currently Barack Obama Middle School the first Black U.S. president. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. The question is whether he will stand up to history when his 18th- and 19th-century counterparts failed. President Obama wasnt perfect either, Fisher said, citing questions about his immigration policies as an example. There are parts of his legacy that arent perfect either. Sandy Tate, an 86-year-old feminist, called on the board to name at least half the schools for women, abolitionist Harriet Tubman, perhaps, or Hedy Lamarr, an actress who also co-invented a device to prevent World War II enemies from detecting radio-controlled missiles the basis for WiFi and GPS systems. There were hundreds of women who stood out in our history and made important contributions to our country, said Tate, of Sebastopol. Why not name schools after peaceful women instead of racist, warmongering males? Fisher said she is using the renaming as a teachable moment with her sixth-grade son, having him research possible names. Were learning a lot of what we didnt learn in school, she said. Residents can also submit suggestions to the renaming committee. So far, those include naming Roosevelt Middle School, well, Roosevelt Middle School, but after Eleanor rather than Theodore. Other suggestions include Garcia, Angelou, writer W.E.B. Du Bois, Vice President Kamala Harris, or Ohlone, to honor the indigenous people of the Northern California coast. Some suggested using a numbering system like New York City, Public School 1, Public School 2, and so on. Others mocked the effort by suggesting the names Josef Stalin, Mickey Mouse or Politically Correct High. Parent Benjamin Holl said he too supports the idea of renaming, but the timing is tone deaf. He pulled his children from San Francisco public schools over the winter break after nine months of distance-learning. They are now attending in-person public school in Marin County. He wants to come back when schools reopen, but is not sure they will, given the ongoing conflict. We didnt leave the district because of this name-changing process, but it did factor in our decision, said Holl. I really worry about the district. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker A team of experts from the World Health Organization left quarantine in Wuhan on Thursday to begin a heavily scrutinised probe into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, after Washington urged a "robust and clear" investigation. The group started a two-week quarantine on arrival on January 14 in the central Chinese city where the first known cluster of virus cases emerged in late 2019. Wearing masks, they peered at the ranks of waiting media from the window of a bus which whisked them from the quarantine to another hotel on Thursday -- although it was not immediately clear when and where their investigation will start. "So proud to graduate from our 14 days... no-one went stir crazy & we've been v productive," tweeted team member Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, a global NGO focused on infectious disease prevention. The virus is believed to have come from bats and to have initially spread from a wet market in Wuhan where wild animals were sold as food. The WHO insists the visit will be tightly tethered to the science of how the virus -- which has killed more than two million people -- jumped from animals to humans. But in a sign of the political baggage attached to their mission, US President Joe Biden's new administration weighed in before the experts had even finished quarantine. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, new White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said it was "imperative we get to the bottom" of how the virus appeared and spread worldwide. Psaki voiced concern over "misinformation" from "some sources in China" and urged a "robust and clear" probe. Beijing snapped back on Thursday, warning the United States to "respect facts and science, respect the hard work" of the WHO experts. They must be allowed to work "free from political interference", Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted Thursday that he held a "frank discussion" with Chinese health minister Ma Xiaowei, and requested that the expert team "get the support, access & data needed, and the chance to engage fully with their Chinese counterparts." Story continues But in a mission dogged by delays and obfuscation from their Chinese hosts, it remained unclear what the expert team will be allowed to see in Wuhan -- or what useful evidence remains a year after the outbreak in a country which has vigorously controlled the narrative of how the pandemic began. The early days of the outbreak remain among the most sensitive topics in China today, with the Communist leadership seeking to stamp out any discussion that shows its governance in a poor light. Beijing has also sought to seed doubt into the origin story, floating the unsubstantiated theory that the virus emerged elsewhere. Another theory, amplified by former US president Donald Trump, is that it leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan where researchers were studying coronaviruses. Relatives of Wuhan's coronavirus dead have called for a meeting with the team from the UN health agency, saying they have been facing new levels of official obstruction since the WHO team arrived. According to official Chinese figures the virus killed nearly 3,900 in Wuhan, accounting for the vast majority of the 4,636 dead China has reported. China is taking no risks in bringing a resurgence of the virus to heel, conducting anal swabs, localised lockdowns and cancelling flights as it makes travel before the Lunar New Year difficult. bur-rox/apj/fox/axn/reb A woman who allowed her home to be used to store drugs has had her children taken away from her and placed into care since her arrest, a court has heard. Veronica O'Connor (41) was not present in her home when it was raided by gardai, although two individuals who did not live in the house were present along with her two children. O'Connor of Bunratty Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to permitting the sale of controlled drugs from her address on February 22, 2017. She has two previous convictions for road traffic offences. Sergeant Janice Gray told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, gardai obtained a search warrant for O'Connor's address on foot of confidential information. The door to the house was barred when gardai arrived and was not immediately opened when they knocked. Sgt Gray said that when the door was opened, gardai found two people in the house who did not reside there, as well two children. O'Connor was found in a car outside the house and had been talking with her brother having received bags of clothing from him. Gardai discovered heroin with a value of 2,412 in the kitchen inside a container that would normally contain tea. They also discovered 48 Diazepam tablets for which the accused took responsibility. Mr Berry told the court that the State's case was that O'Connor was knowingly allowing people to use her home for the supply of heroin. He said that she gave no names as to who these people were and the State is not going so far to say that it was the two people who were in the house when gardai arrived. Sgt Gray agreed with Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, that at least one of those two people would be known to gardai and is now serving a fairly lengthy sentence for a drugs offence. She agreed there were no trapping of wealth in the house. The sergeant agreed that his client was on methadone, had relapsed back into taking heroin and was trying to detox so she could get treatment. She agreed his client has had a long addiction, but has gotten clean on several occasions. Mr Le Vert told the court that the two children have been taken away from his client and are now in care. Judge Martin Nolan said the accused was a lady of a certain age who should have known better, but had little record of conviction. He said that while the amount of drugs was serious enough, it was not too serious in relation to the amounts that come before the court. Judge Nolan said he did not think she deserved a custodial sentence. He sentenced O'Connor to two years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence on condition that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. FRANKFURT am MAIN. Two American scientists, Bonnie L. Bassler and Michael R. Silverman, receive the 2021 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, which is endowed with 120,000 . Bassler is Professor at Princeton University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Michael R. Silverman is Emeritus Professor of the Agouron Institute in La Jolla. The two researchers are honoured for their ground-breaking discoveries concerning bacterial "quorum sensing", which refers to sophisticated systems of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to coordinate group behaviors. The award ceremony in St. Paul's Church, which is traditionally held on March 14, Paul Ehrlich's birthday, has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Instead, Bassler and Silverman will receive the award at the ceremony in 2022. "Silverman and Bassler have shown that, as for multicellular organisms, collective behavior is the rule among bacteria, rather than the exception," wrote the Scientific Council in substantiating its decision. "Bacteria talk to each other, they eavesdrop on other bacteria, and they may even join forces. But: This ubiquitous chitchat, whose molecular underpinnings were discovered by Bassler and Silverman, also represents a previously unappreciated Achilles' heel in combating harmful microbes. Instead of killing bacteria with antibiotics, substances may be developed that interfere with bacterial communication effectively reducing their collective fitness. The prize-winners' research thus has considerable relevance for medicine". Bacteria are extremely communicative. They send and receive chemical messages to find out whether they are alone or if additional members of their or other species are present in the vicinal community. To take a census of cell numbers, bacteria produce and release chemical signal molecules that accumulate in step with increasing cell numbers. When a threshold level of the chemical signal is achieved, the bacteria detect its presence. In response to it, in unison, bacteria undertake behaviors that are only productive when carried out in synchrony by the group, but not when enacted by a single bacterium acting in isolation. This chemical communication process is called quorum sensing and it controls hundreds of collective activities across the bacterial kingdom. In the 1980s, Silverman discovered the first quorum-sensing circuit in the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. He identified the genes and proteins enabling production and detection of the extracellular signal molecule. He defined how the components functioned to promote collective behavior. In the case of Vibrio fischeri, group-wide behavior is the production of blue-green bioluminescence. Today, we know that quorum sensing is the norm in the bacterial world. Indeed, there are thousands of bacterial species that possess genes nearly identical to those discovered by Silverman. In all of these cases, these components allow bacteria to engage in group behaviors. In the early 1990s, Bonnie Bassler proved that bacteria were "multilingual" and that they conversed with multiple chemical signal molecules. One communication molecule that Bassler discovered and named autoinducer- 2 enables bacteria to communicate across species boundaries. She went on to demonstrate that bacteria use quorum-sensing-mediated communication to differentiate self from other, showing that a sophisticated trait thought to be the purview of higher organisms, in fact, evolved in bacteria billions of years ago. In recent years, Bassler has shown that quorum sensing transcends kingdom boundaries as viruses and host cells, including human cells, engage in this ubiquitous chit-chat. She and other researchers also demonstrated that pathogenic bacteria rely on quorum sensing to be virulent. Bassler developed anti-quorum-sensing strategies that, in animal models, halt infection from bacterial pathogens of global significance. The full significance of the discoveries of the two laureates for microbiology and medicine has only recently been recognized. Decades of meticulous and painstaking work, showed that essentially all bacteria master the art of cell-to-cell communication. What began with work on Vibrio fischeri and Vibro harveyi led to a fundamental change in perspective in bacteriology, and now opens up new and unprecedented opportunities in dealing with antibiotic resistance". Thomas Boehm, Professor and Director, Chairman of the Scientific Council, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetic Short biography Professor Dr. Bonnie L. Bassler Ph.D. (58). Bonnie Bassler is a microbiologist. She studied biochemistry at the University of California at Davis and received her Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She joined the laboratory of Michael Silverman at the Agouron Institute in La Jolla as a postdoctoral fellow in 1990. She has been at Princeton University since 1994. Bonnie Bassler is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the Royal Society. She is a researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Squibb Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. President Obama appointed her to a six-year term on the United States National Science Board. She has received more than twenty prestigious national and international awards. Short biography Professor Michael R. Silverman, Ph.D. (77). Michael Silverman is a microbiologist. He studied chemistry and bacteriology at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University of California at San Diego. During the period from 1972-1982, Silverman made seminal contributions to the understanding of bacterial motility and chemotaxis. From 1982 until his retirement, he worked at the Agouron Institute in La Jolla, of which he is a co-founder. The Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter prize The Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize is traditionally awarded on Paul Ehrlich's birthday, March 14, in the Paulskirche, Frankfurt. It honors scientists who have made significant contributions in Paul Ehrlich's field of research, in particular immunology, cancer research, microbiology, and chemotherapy. The Prize, which has been awarded since 1952, is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Health, the State of Hesse, the German association of research-based pharmaceutical company vfa e.V. and specially earmarked donations from the following companies, foundations and organizations: Else Kroner-Fresenius-Stiftung, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, C.H. Boehringer Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biotest AG, Hans und Wolfgang Schleussner-Stiftung, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd., Grunenthal GmbH, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Merck KGaA, Bayer AG, Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, die Baden-Wurttembergische Bank, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. and Goethe-Universitat. The prizewinners are selected by the Scientific Council of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation. The Paul Ehrlich foundation The Paul Ehrlich Foundation is a legally dependent foundation which is managed in a fiduciary capacity by the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Goethe University, Frankfurt. The Honorary Chairman of the Foundation, which was established by Hedwig Ehrlich in 1929, is Professor Dr. Katja Becker, president of the German Research Foundation, who also appoints the elected members of the Scientific Council and the Board of Trustees. The Chairman of the Scientific Council is Professor Thomas Boehm, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg, the Chair of the Board of Trustees is Professor Dr. Jochen Maas, Head of Research and Development and Member of the Management Board, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. Professor Wilhelm Bender, in his function as Chair of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Goethe University, is Member of the Scientific Council. The President of the Goethe University is at the same time a member of the Board of Trustees. Bacterial chit-chat Bacteria communicate with each other and coordinate behavior to achieve feats that could not be accomplished by a single bacterium acting alone. Even viruses infecting bacterial cells and cells of higher organisms, including human cells, tune into this ubiquitous bacterial chit-chat. Manipulating this polyphony offers new opportunities to defend ourselves against bacterial pathogens by disrupting their cell-to-cell communication capabilities. How does an individual bacterium inform itself and respond appropriately to a crowded and diverse community? Are there other bacterial species around? If so, are they friend or foe? What about organisms from other domains like viruses and humans? Bacteria, earth's most ancient living organisms, gather information about the neighbourhood to work out whether or not it makes sense to participate in collective activities. In so doing, groups of bacteria reap benefits that are not possible for a single bacterium acting in isolation. To achieve this feat, bacteria use chemical communication, a process called quorum sensing, which informs them about the numbers and identities of other organisms in the vicinity. This year's Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize honours two American scientists for their discovery of the molecular basis of bacterial cell-to-cell communication: Professor Michael R. Silverman Ph.D., Emeritus of the Agouron Institute in La Jolla CA, and Professor Bonnie L. Bassler Ph.D. of Princeton University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Bacteria act collectively Prior to the discovery of cell-to-cell communication in bacteria, these ancient single cell organisms were viewed as loners, whose primitive lifestyles consisted primarily of dividing and dispersing their progeny. The ability to communicate with their own kind, other bacterial species, viruses, and host organisms was unimaginable. Today, thanks to the groundbreaking research of Silverman and Bassler, we know that such sophisticated communication abilities are the norm in the bacterial world. The discoveries began in the 1970s with an observation made by the late American scientist Woody Hastings. He showed that the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri glows in the dark only when it has grown to a particular cell density. But how did Vibrio fischeri "know" when to produce light and when to remain dark? Hastings and his mentees showed that Vibrio fischeri produces and releases a molecule, that the team termed an "autoinducer", that accumulates in the environment as the bacteria increase in cell number. When the autoinducer reaches a threshold level, it alerts the Vibrio fischeri bacteria that they have neighbours around, and in unison, all of the bacteria turn on light. The molecular mechanism underlying the synchronous production of light by Vibrio fischeri remained mysterious until Michael Silverman, together with his graduate student JoAnne Engebrecht, became fascinated by the possibility of collective behaviors in bacteria. They reasoned that by using molecular genetic techniques, they could reconstruct the Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence system in laboratory Escherichia coli and identify the genes and proteins controlling light production. Crucially, this strategy revealed the enzyme required to make the autoinducer molecule and the receptor protein whose job is to monitor the autoinducer buildup, and in response, initiate the population-wide production of blue-green light. Silverman's experiment delivered the first molecular mechanism underlying a bacterial group behavior. Today, there are thousands of bacterial species known to possess genes nearly identical to those discovered by Silverman. In all of these cases, these components allow the bacteria to engage in group behaviors. This chemical communication process is now called quorum sensing. Friend or foe? Bonnie Bassler joined Silverman's laboratory in 1990 after completing her doctoral research. She was curious whether there could be more to cell-cell communication than the components discovered by Silverman in Vibrio fischeri. Bassler launched her investigations in Silverman's lab with a close relative of Vibrio fischeri, a light-producing bacterium named Vibrio harveyi that was known to have a more varied and exotic lifestyle than Vibrio fischeri. Bassler and Silverman discovered that Vibrio harveyi possessed multiple quorum-sensing systems, and that more than one autoinducer is used for communication. In her independent career, Bassler identified the new Vibrio harveyi molecule and she named it autoinducer-2. She found that autoinducer-2 is broadly made in the bacterial world. Remarkably, rather than inform bacteria of their own cell numbers, autoinducer-2 informs them about the cell count of other bacterial species in the vicinity. Thus, Bassler showed that bacteria can converse across species boundaries using a universal language akin to Esperanto. This discovery revealed that, similar to cells in higher organisms, bacteria differentiate self from other. Bassler went on to demonstrate that it is the norm for bacteria to be "multilingual" and they commonly use combinations of several autoinducers to take a census of self, related kin, and non kin. Based on the information they garner from these chemical blends, and whether neighbouring bacteria are allies or enemies, bacteria appropriately enact a wide variety of offensive or defensive collective behaviors. More recently, Bassler discovered that viruses eavesdrop on bacterial quorum sensing and human gut cells team up with microbiome bacteria, the community of bacteria that naturally resides in the intestine, to synthesise yet another new quorum-sensing molecule which is used to defend both the human and the microbiome community against invading pathogens. Thus, Bassler's work has shown that quorum sensing transcends kingdom boundaries as viruses and higher organisms, including human hosts, participate in these chemical conversations. High medical relevance Silverman and Bassler's work revolutionized the understanding of microbial communities, a ground-breaking achievement whose fundamental relevance is now accepted after decades of persistent work combined with excellent publications. For decades after the initial discoveries, it was thought that quorum sensing was simply an idiosyncratic phenomenon restricted to obscure bioluminescent bacteria. However, what appeared to be an isolated curiosity turned out to be universal in the bacterial world. The medical importance of these findings is now obvious. Bassler and other researchers showed that quorum sensing controls virulence in disease-causing bacteria. Bassler was the first to make anti-quorum-sensing strategies and successfully use them in animal models to halt infection by pathogens of global relevance. Such findings suggest that it may be possible to develop wholly-new and urgently needed anti-microbial therapies that interfere with quorum sensing rather than kill bacteria as do traditional antibiotics. Therefore, the laureates are not only honoured for their fundamental discoveries with respect to the molecular nature of cell-to-cell communication of bacteria, but they are also recognized for the enormous potential of their research in treating infections caused by bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics. Considerable efforts are now being invested to turn these concepts into practice. Lastly, quorum-sensing modulation strategies could also be deployed to harness beneficial bacterial processes, for example, to enhance the healthful effects of microbiome bacteria that reside in the human gut or on the skin. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Leitrim Tourism Ltd in collaboration with Leitrim County Council has recently been successful in securing a fund of 150,000 which will deliver a countrywide destination marketing campaign for the promotion of County Leitrim The marketing campaign will be aimed at attracting visitors to Leitrim in challenging times for tourism and will consist of a national campaign targeting domestic and Northern Ireland markets on which the county is highly dependent. The campaign will be delivered through digital media, social media and radio advertising elements and delivered in accordance with the government guidelines and restrictions. The core objectives of the proposed destination marketing campaign for County Leitrim are to: Respond proactively to the impact on the tourism market of Covid-19, maximising on opportunities within the domestic and Northern Ireland market Create brand awareness of the Leitrim offering nationally and promote the county brand attributes in terms of image, culture and heritage. Increase enquiries and visitor numbers, spend and duration of stay in the county which will be measured through various metrics throughout the campaign Add value to the existing offering by creating saleable visitor experiences and special offers which will be available on www.enjoyleitrim.com Promote the strong attributes of County Leitrim in terms of its immersive tourism experiences and recognised themes including family, food and slow adventure tourism. Drive social media post reach and engagement Extend the tourism season through all year-round experiences The destination marketing campaign will have consistent messaging across several media channels, with the same call to action to the newly upgraded website - www.enjoyleitrim.com Tourism businesses can benefit from these promotions by sending in their competitive special offers. This additional exposure will benefit all businesses, especially the small and medium sized enterprises who would not have the budget to promote themselves on a national scale. Imagery from across the county will be used, and it will focus on the main selling points of County Leitrim, its rural location, accessibility from the main cities, unspoilt landscapes and the strong product offering that is available for all sectors. Leitrim, particularly in this time of social distancing, has an abundance of outdoor activities to explore, wide open spaces, accommodation and dining experiences, and provides enjoyment to all who visit, from families, adventurers, historians, activity seekers and boating enthusiasts. Sinead McDermott, Tourism Officer for the county has welcomed the funding saying, This is great news for the tourism industry in Leitrim and I would like to thank the LEADER Programme for its hugely valuable support for the county. This essential financial support will enable us to promote the Leitrim offering as a strong destination for those seeking a staycation or short break in Ireland. The fund has been 50% grant aided under the Rural Development Leader Programme which is financed by the Irish Government under the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2014-2020 and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in Rural Areas. An application was made to the leader programme in 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that Leitrim is visible in the staycation market that has developed and to showcase all the unique selling points that Leitrim offers. 2021 will be a challenging year for tourism as businesses rebuild after a year of significantly reduced income and financial loss. The campaign will promote the Leitrim offering and aim to attract new and existing visitors to visit Leitrim in 2021. The good news is that all three vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States so far appear to be highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death from Covid-19. Because the studies of these vaccines were conducted at different times, its tough to compare efficacy rates. Not only were the trials designed differently, but the virus itself has changed since the first studies were conducted. Here are the numbers that matter. All of the vaccines protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death from Covid-19. In studies, people who got the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were about 95 percent less likely to get infected than those who werent vaccinated. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was studied when new, more-contagious variants were circulating. It was 72 percent effective in the United States and 66.3 percent effective globally. Most important, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 86 percent effective against severe disease. For some perspective, its important to remember that these numbers far exceed early expectations for a Covid vaccine. Early on, the F.D.A. set a goal to develop a Covid-19 vaccine that would prevent disease or decrease its severity in at least 50 percent of people who are vaccinated. One important difference between the vaccines is that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines need to be stored at very cold temperatures and require two doses, three to four weeks apart. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is more durable, can be stored in normal refrigerators, and requires only one dose. Even if you have a preference for which vaccine you want, public health experts encourage you to take the shot that is first available to you. Tara Parker-Pope Read More What Do Vaccine Efficacy Numbers Really Mean? John B. Alexander High school proudly announced that four students earned chairs in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Band, the highest honor a Texas music student can achieve, UISD stated. Band director Joshua Martinez was proud of the students accomplishments this school year as the chairs were competed for by over 50,000 musicians across the state. This year, 1,860 students were selected after competing through regionals and TMEA areas. UISD stated that only the highest-ranking musicians qualify for the All-State music group. The accomplishments that our students were able to make to this all-state band is a tremendous accomplishment and we are extremely proud of them given the circumstances were in, Martinez said. The students were Lily Moreno, Jacob Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez and Adrian Perez. Their dedication and talent in their respective ensembles earned them multiple accolades through UIL competitions including solo and ensemble competitions. The path to the All-State Band was a yearlong, multi-tiered competition that had the band students of Laredo competing among themselves to the rest of Texas, Martinez said. Each student was assigned by the TMEA etudes that corresponded with their instrument and were tasked to perform for a panel of judges virtually. The process of All-State was very invigorating from the first time I read the etudes to the last recording I submitted, Moreno said. It gave me a rush of excitement every time the results came out and it gave me something to look forward to which is hard to find during this pandemic. According to Martinez, under normal circumstances, students would be focused on marching band around the same time as the All-State comes around. He said that he and the AHS band staff agreed to focus more on All-State as students would attend virtually. However, he and the rest of the staff understood the disappointment of freshman students who have been unable to take part in marching band, a staple for band members, and how the schools seniors year was changed by the pandemic. Despite this, Rodriguez said that he hopes to continue to inspire his younger peers throughout his remaining time in high school. As a freshman, Im fairly inexperienced in the TMEA audition process, so I was severely worried at the beginning of my journey, Perez said. Nonetheless, I persevered and managed to push myself beyond what I believed I could personally achieve. This grand achievement has taught me the valuable lesson of hard work and optimism during my voyage through the musical world. To address the issue, AHS band members focused a majority of their time for the All-State and fundamentals for all students. Martinez was happy to boast that over 100 students made district and over 80 made it to regionals, new records at AHS. To me, the whole TMEA virtual audition process was one giant roller coaster ride. From slowly learning my all-state music in July to recording for the area audition in January, it was extremely stressful, Gonzalez said. However, I took the time that I had during quarantine and used it as an advantage to learn and grow as a musician. Currently I'm extremely proud of myself that I was able to achieve my goal, especially during these times, and I hope that I continue to improve not just as a musician but as an individual. Success breeds success, Martinez said. Martinez added that he believes that the success that these students and many others found will lead to many more achievements by the students they inspired. Following the results, we discussed with the band members how success breeds success and even more so how success is infectious, therefore throughout this journey every members accomplishments, no matter how small or large, helped motivate their peers, including these All-State musicians, and ultimately contributed to their growth and award-winning performance, Martinez said. Together, John B. Alexander High School Band continues to push forward with the ideal that We Shall Overcome. cocampo@lmtonline.com ADVERTISEMENT Thailand on Wednesday said that from next week, it will reopen most schools, excluding those in Samut Sakhon province, the epicentre of the countrys latest COVID-19 outbreak. The Ministry of Education ordered schools to close in 28 provinces and regions, which were declared as areas under maximum control, at the beginning of January. All public and private schools as well as educational institutions in the 27 provinces, including the capital Bangkok, are allowed to resume onsite classes from February 1, according to a directive issued by Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan. Schools would remain closed in Samut Sakhon, where the latest outbreak erupted after a seafood market vendor was confirmed of being infected in mid-December. The announcement came after the countrys reporting of its second-highest number of new daily caseload Wednesday, with a majority of which detected following mass testing in Samut Sakhon. The directive said the number of students per classroom must not exceed 25, while anti-pandemic measures must be strictly followed, such as the wearing of face masks and the washing of their hands with alcohol gel. As of Wednesday, Thailands total COVID-19 caseload rose to 15,465, with more than 10,000 of the infections reported since mid-December. (NAN) Rates are payable monthly. As a property owner, you should make sure that the City has your current postal address so that you receive your account on time. Even if you do not receive a statement, you are still liable to pay your rates. Metro Centre Payments We have arranged a variety of quick and easy options for you to pay your rates and municipal services accounts. Pay points Remember to take your statement with you when paying your account. It can take up to five working days for your payments to reflect on your statement when you pay via a third party. Please retain your payment slip or receipt as proof of payment. Electronic payments Electronic payments make paying your account easier, quicker and safer. Payments can be made at any of the following pay points: Your nearest branch of any major bank; All Standard Bank service centres; Frequently Asked Questions Via internet, telephone and ATM banking; Post Offices, EasyPay outlets (including Pick n Pay, Shoprite Checkers, Spar, Best Electric, Lifestyle Living, Score, Lewis); or Through EFT (electronic financial transfer). You can register on the City of Johannesburg eServices to get your statement via email. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 "We are honored to have received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for the second year in a row," said Lisa Walker, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at NWNA. "Our company is built in part on the principle that the diversity of our people and inclusivity of our culture are the foundation of our strength. This rating affirms our accomplishments with regard to our LGBTQ+ employees and reinforces our dedication to continuous improvement." The results of the 2021 CEI showcase how 1,142 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 57 percent of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad. Through its ongoing efforts, NWNA met all of the CEI's criteria, earning a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality. "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." NWNA supports an equitable culture through progressive workplace policies and practices aimed to eliminate bias and discrimination. The company's commitment to diversity and inclusion starts with a culture of support from senior leadership and employee empowerment, inclusive hiring approaches, and company-wide learning and development opportunities to ensure employees feel they work in an environment where they experience a true sense of respect and belonging. As part of the resources and benefits available to create an inclusive work environment, NWNA offers transgender-inclusive health care coverage, parity between same- and different-sex couple benefits, unconscious bias and micro-aggression training, and new hire on-boarding that addresses diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The company also encourages passionate employees to participate in its employee-run and leader-sponsored engagement groups, such as Pride Business Resources Group, Nestle Black Employee Association and Women of Waters, for support, learning and career growth opportunities, and to help cultivate an inclusive workplace culture that values the diverse contributions of all employees. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. About Nestle Waters North America Nestle Waters North America offers an unrivaled portfolio of bottled water brands for healthy hydration, including Poland Spring Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Nestle Splash and Nestle Pure Life. The company also owns and operates ReadyRefresh, a customizable water and beverage delivery service. Based in Stamford, Connecticut with approximately 7,000 associates in the United States, we manage natural resources for long-term sustainability, and we conserve more than 18,000 acres of natural watershed area. We currently source water for our six regional spring water brands from 38 active springs throughout the United States. We are also committed to creating shared value and being a good neighbor in the more than 120 communities where we operate in the U.S. For more information, visit us at https://www.nestle-watersna.com/en and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @NestleWatersNA. SOURCE Nestle Waters North America YEREVAN -- Former Armenian President Robert Kocharian, currently on trial on charges stemming from his alleged role in a 2008 crackdown on the opposition, says he will participate in early parliamentary elections if they are called. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has come under heavy public criticism and pressure to step down after signing a cease-fire accord with Azerbaijan that ceded control over parts of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts after a 44-day war. In a half-hour interview with Armenia's leading media outlets on January 27, Kocharian said Pashinian and his government should resign to allow a provisional government to take over the country until early elections can be held. "I will take part in the early elections with my team and we will win.... Otherwise we will allow [Pashinian's government] to remain in power," Kocharian said. Opposition politicians have demanded Pashinian's resignation over his signing of the Moscow-brokered truce agreement with Azerbaijan to stop the war in November that ended with Baku regaining control over land that had been under ethnic Armenian control since the early 1990s. Kocharian, who served as the South Caucasus country's president from 1998 to 2008, is currently on trial on charges stemming from his alleged role in a 2008 postelection crackdown on the opposition, as well as on suspicion of taking bribes. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which he rejects as politically motivated. Kocharian was released from pretrial detention on bail in June 2020. Before that, since being arrested in July 2018, Kocharian was released twice by court decisions, but in both cases he was rearrested following appeals by the prosecutors. The 66-year-old native of the Nagorno-Karabakh region was one of the leaders of separatist forces and became its first de facto president between December 1994 and March 1997. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday said he plans a thorough review of a criminal justice reform bill passed in the final hours of the General Assemblys January session. The 700-page bill was an initiative of the Legislative Black Caucus. It is no secret that there is a significant problem with the incarceration and criminalization of Black Americans, and this reckoning is long overdue, said state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago. This legislation is about confronting, addressing and dismantling the systemic racism that our criminal justice system is rooted in, and is inherent in our society. These critical reforms cannot wait. The time is now to create a criminal justice system that works for everyone. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said theres a place for reform, but not with language that didnt get properly vetted. He urged Pritzker to veto the bill. Durkin and others including coalitions of Madison County mayores and Madison County law enforcement officials decried several provisions of the bill, from limiting certain nonlethal police tactics to efforts to end cash bail. Enactment of these reforms will go a long way to improving public safety, said Sharone Mitchell Jr., Director of the Illinois Justice Project. No longer will anyone arrested innocent pending trial be required to pay for their freedom, but at the same time, judges will not be required to release anyone determined to be a threat to the community or unlikely to return for a court date. Illinois Troopers Lodge #41 President Joe Moon said if the measure is enacted, he worries the morale of police will drop and good officers may leave the state, or the profession. Ive already had a handful of calls from young officers, one and two years on, that are very concerned about this legislation and its impact on their ability to do their job, he said. He said law enforcement groups werent given a chance to fully review the measures final language before it passed. Others criticized annual reports or body camera requirements as unfunded mandates on smaller police organizations throughout the state. Pritzker on Wednesday said he supports many of the concepts of the measure. There are some of them that are hundreds of pages, he said. Were reviewing all the provisions in those pieces of legislation and Ill be announcing decisions about them over the coming month or two. As of Wednesday, the measure had not yet been sent to Pritzkers desk. Once it is, hell have up to two months to act. SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- USAA, the country's fifth largest property-casualty insurer today announces their entry into the small business insurance market based on increasing demand from its members. While the USAA Insurance Agency has offered small business insurance for the last 30 years through unaffiliated insurance companies, USAA will now offer their own small business insurance product. "For small business owners, their business is their life and livelihood," said Jim Syring, Retired Vice Admiral, United States Navy, and USAA's Property and Casualty President. "They put their heart into building their business and work around the clock to make it a success. We believe we understand veterans better than anyone and want to be there to support them and their business every step of the way." USAA's small business insurance product will immediately be available in five states Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, South Carolina and Tennessee. A roll-out is planned through 2021 and this launch comes on the heels of an industry-leading modernization effort by the company. Through its suite of product offerings, USAA can help protect small business owners of virtually any size, in any industry and virtually every state. Members are encouraged to visit usaa.com/smallbusiness to learn more about USAA's small business insurance and to quote a policy. USAA Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, Tex., USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 35,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com. USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. Membership eligibility and product restrictions apply and are subject to change. Small Business Insurance is underwritten by Garrison Property & Casualty Insurance Company, San Antonio, Texas ("Garrison"), or is underwritten by insurance companies that are not affiliated with USAA ("third-party insurance companies"). Each company is solely responsible for its insurance products. Any product or coverage descriptions are brief and are informational only. Products, availability, coverages, and terms vary by state and exclusions apply. Applications for insurance are subject to underwriting by and terms vary by state and exclusions apply. Applications for insurance are subject to underwriting by the applicable insurance company. All coverages are subject to the terms and conditions of your policy. Read your policy for details. Products underwritten by third-party insurance companies are offered through a relationship between the USAA Insurance Agency (the "Agency") and the third-party insurance company. The Agency contracts with third-party insurance companies to offer products and services ("third-party insurance products") on their behalf. Third-party insurance products are not underwritten by USAA or its affiliates. The Agency receives a commission on the sale or renewal of third-party insurance products and may receive other performance-based compensation from them. When you purchase an insurance product from one of these third-party insurance companies, that company is responsible for protecting your data, and its processes and procedures may differ from those of USAA. USAA Insurance Agency means USAA Insurance Agency, Inc., or USAA of Texas Insurance Agency (collectively the "Agency"). CA Lic #0D78305, TX Lic. #7096. 9800 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78288 Contact: USAA Media Relations [email protected] 210-498-0940 USAA on Twitter: @usaa SOURCE USAA Related Links http://www.usaa.com ABC NewsBy IGNACIO TORRES, CHO PARK, ZOE LAKE, and ANTHONY RIVAS, ABC News (NEW YORK) -- Shayna Zweiback is a survivor of the coronavirus. After contracting the viral infection in March last year, she was sick for weeks. Then, just as she thought she was starting to feel better in May, she says she began experiencing new symptoms. All of a sudden, later into June, early July, I just had a slew of new symptoms namely severe muscle pain, Zweiback told Nightline. I had body aches during COVID, but [this was] just severe muscle pain to the point that some days I didnt feel like I could walk. My legs hurt so bad, back pain that was so bad I couldnt get out of bed. Months after Zweibacks initial diagnosis, the 26-year-old found herself at the Mount Sinai Center for post-COVID Care, where she underwent tests and treatments for symptoms that persisted after the infection had gone away. Zweiback said the center for so-called COVID-19 long haulers has been life-changing. I felt like no one was taking me seriously before, and because there was no historical medical evidence of COVID long haul, I just didnt feel like I ever had a voice that people would listen to, Zweiback said. For Zweiback, who still experiences these symptoms, a good day now comprises being able to walk down the block without having to recover afterward and not having to nap midday. Its tiny victories for me at this point, she said. In the United States, there have been over 25 million COVID-19 cases since it first reached the country last year. Zweiback is one of the estimated 10% of COVID-19 patients who experience long-term symptoms after contracting the virus. Dr. Dayna McCarthy, a rehab physician at Mount Sinais Center for post-COVID Care, says its impossible to name all of the body systems affected by the virus that go on to have long-term symptoms. She said the medical term for these patients condition is post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and that symptoms can include fatigue, headaches, cognitive dysfunction, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath on exertion and feelings of temperature irregularity. Shaun Evans is another long-hauler. The 40-year-old father of two from Cartersville, Georgia, who had high blood pressure and diabetes before his COVID-19 diagnosis last March, said the virus attacked his lungs and kidneys. It got so bad that I couldnt even walk. I had all kinds of coughing. I would try to lay down at night; it just got to where I couldnt breathe, [Id] have coughing spells. I lost my taste of smell, Evans said, adding that when he went to the hospital, the main issue was that his lungs had shut down. Today, nearly a year after getting the virus, he must undergo dialysis three times a week -- an exhausting four-hour-long process each time -- and is waiting for a kidney transplant. Dialysis is really hard on your body, Evans told Nightline. Sometimes, if they take too much fluid out of you, it can cause you to feel dizzy like youre going to pass out -- nausea -- and one of the worst things is muscle cramps. Its something Ive never felt before until dialysis. Some of them have brought me to tears. I will never be the same, Evans went on to say. Even once I get a kidney, even with a transplant, they only last about 15 or 20 years if someone were to donate a live kidney. As researchers continue to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 and build data, one study from October 2020 found that approximately 40% of COVID-19 patients reported acute kidney injury. While the data varies widely, another study reported a high recovery rate, finding that 84% of survivors fully regained kidney function. The full scope of the virus long-term effects still remains unknown. Because of this, some people, like former COVID-19 patient Diana Berrent, are working to ensure there is accurate, up-to-date data on the virus available. Like Evans and Zweiback, Berrent also came down with COVID-19 last March, when she says she experienced pressure in her chest, high fever and other symptoms. I just knew it. Even though the first person in all of New York City had only been diagnosed 12 days earlier, I knew that this was it, she told Nightline. As she quarantined, Berrent realized the lack of available information about the virus and began recording video diaries of her experience in an effort to educate others. As her following grew, she was inspired to launch Survivor Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to crowdsourcing information from its members about the virus. Berrent said the nonprofits goal was to collect data on what she called the Tylenol and Gatorade variety of COVID-19 patients -- those whose symptoms were not severe enough to be hospitalized, who recovered from their home. As a result, we ended up sitting on the largest data set of non-hospitalized patients in the world, she said. Berrent hopes the data her organization collects will help other COVID-19 long-haulers. We are designing what we think is a template for best practices to create a foundation for a pathway to recovery for what a post-COVID care center should look like -- what works, what doesnt, she said. Despite a growing number of COVID-19 patients struggling with the virus long-term effects, there are still 19 states without centers for post-COVID-19 care, according to Survivor Corps. McCarthy, who works at Mount Sinais center in New York City, says that the health burden that were going to face because of individuals that are requiring so much care with this condition is enormous. McCarthy herself was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March last year, and still experiences residual symptoms of the virus. Every time I try to exercise, I get crushing fatigue and very severe headaches. I do feel fortunate because I am treating so many patients and the symptomology is so vast and the spectrum of severity so bad, she said. Post-COVID-19 care centers like Mount Sinais have been tremendously helpful for long-haulers, McCarthy said, some of whom werent sure what to think about their persistent symptoms, like Zweiback. At the beginning, we were still in the height of the pandemic in New York and so many [were] still being hospitalized, she said. But the people who werent were kind of left to their own devices, and normally where they would have gotten care or may even have been hospitalized in other circumstances, [they] had to stay home and self-isolate. So, from the outset, they were not having access to care, and when these symptoms kind of were prolonged and they would go in and they would have workups and things were coming back negative, they were getting sent home from the emergency department, their primary care [provider] didnt know what to do with them. and it became this rhetoric of its all in your head, unfortunately. At Mount Sinai, McCarthy said shes seen patients getting better, even if it is happening extremely slowly. The problem is the educational component of this, and people trying to understand what it takes for them to get better, she said. Its one [thing] hearing it, two, processing [it], and then committing to actually having to change your lifestyle, she said. Making those changes helps, though. Evans, who has been working hard to get back to life before COVID-19, had been planning to marry his fiancee Sarah when he fell ill last year. After his recovery, he married her over the summer. He said his experience with the virus has made being with those he loves that much more special. Every second counts with them. Even with her, she has to put up with me every day, he said of Sarah Evans. But it means a lot more of getting to be with the people you love because youre not promised tomorrow. When something like that does happen to you, you realize what that means to you. You dont want them to doubt how much you truly cared for them. Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 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. In the past week, one out of eight of New Jerseys nursing homes had at least one resident die of COVID-19. Nine of the states 71 hospitals experienced staffing problems, and nearly a quarter reported shortages of supplies. Those are some of the new bullet points from a weekly coronavirus roundup prepared by the federal government that is now available in the public eye. Previously the reports circulated among federal and state officials but were not published, with the new White Houses COVID-19 team calling the change an effort to improve transparency and the collective understanding of the disease. The Biden Administration just released all the data that was previously only being shared secretly with states on the pandemic, Andy Slavitt, Bidens senior adviser for COVID response, wrote Thursday on Twitter. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage New Jerseys 14-page profile was dated Sunday and offered a seven-day look at coronavirus trends in the state and nationally. It placed New Jersey 20th in the United States in new cases per capita. The report included data on hospitalizations, showing their precipitous rise since early November. In most weeks, those admissions appeared to be split fairly evenly between the 40-69 age bracket and those ages 70 and up. Data from the federal government show the increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in recent months. Much of the reports contents are similar to what residents see day to day on news websites or the states COVID-19 dashboard, including trend lines tracking new infections, positivity rates and total daily tests. Under the federal governments color-code risk management system, 12 of New Jerseys 21 counties are currently among those where the coronavirus pandemic is most active. The findings are based on a combination of new cases and test positivity over the last week. Within each category, the counties are sorted by the number of new cases in the last three weeks from high to low. Data from the federal government show the New Jersey counties where the coronavirus pandemic is currently most active. But the report includes other statistics that New Jersey has not made readily available. Some of these numbers existed, but the amount of work youd have to go through to pull it out of several different files made it very difficult, said Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University. The report said that 28% of nursing facilities had recorded at least one new COVID-19 infection among residents, and 46% recorded at least one among staff, both slight declines from the week before. Thirteen percent of facilities recorded at least one coronavirus death, also a slight decline. Eighteen hospitals had supply shortages and nine had staffing shortages. Personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and gowns were short in some hospitals, with about 15% reporting stockpiles of three days or less of those supplies. Silvera said that information offers new insight into already known potential areas of concern, but fits within the general understanding of where the disease stands. Theres no smoking gun here that I notice, so I cant imagine why it was a secret report, Silvera said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nick Devlin and Riley Yates are reporters on the data & investigations team. OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) announced today that Benno Dorer has decided to step down from his role as executive chair of the Clorox board of directors. The company and board have accepted his resignation to step down from his role and the board, effective Feb. 15, 2021. Consistent with the board's long-term succession planning, Matthew J. Shattock, a Clorox director since 2018 and veteran consumer packaged goods executive, has been appointed to the role of independent chair. Dorer, 56, was appointed executive chair of the board in September 2020, upon stepping down as chief executive officer of the company, a role he held since 2014. He served as chair of the board since 2016. As CEO, Dorer guided Clorox through its 2020 Strategy, which emphasized profitable, sustainable and responsible growth. This led to advancements in innovation, superior consumer value, digital consumer engagement, company culture and a strategic focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance). During his tenure, the company more than doubled total shareholder return. "Benno was an outstanding CEO for Clorox and a strategic force as our chair and later, executive chair," said Lead Independent Director Pamela Thomas-Graham. "We're grateful for his leadership and enabling such a smooth transition since Linda Rendle was promoted to CEO last September." In addition to serving on Clorox's board, Matthew Shattock, 58, is the chairman of Domino's Pizza Group plc and a director of VF Corporation. He was the non-executive chairman of the board for Beam Suntory the world's third-largest premium spirits company until December 2020, where he served as chairman and CEO, after joining the company as president and CEO in 2009. Prior to joining Beam, he spent six years at Cadbury plc, where he led its businesses first in The Americas and then in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to Cadbury, he spent 16 years at Unilever in various leadership roles, culminating in his role as chief operating officer of Unilever Best Foods North America. "We're fortunate to have someone with the caliber of Matt's global experience at some of the world's most admired companies as our independent chair," said CEO Linda Rendle. "Since he joined the Clorox board, he has been providing valuable strategic perspective, and we look forward to working with him in his new role." Separately, Esther Lee, 62, executive vice president and global chief marketing officer for MetLife Inc., and a Clorox director since 2013, was named chair of the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee, effective Feb. 15. Dr. Richard Carmona, 70, a Clorox director since 2007, will step down as chair of the NGCRC and remain on the board. Additionally, after 16 years of distinguished service as a Clorox director, Pamela Thomas-Graham, 57, has decided not to stand for re-election to the board at the end of her current term, which ends in November 2021. She has served as lead independent director since 2016 and will step down from this role in connection with Matthew Shattock's appointment to independent chair. "Serving on the Clorox board since 2005 has been a great privilege. Given the strength of leadership of the board and executive team, I'm confident in Clorox's future. I look forward to continuing my board service with several young and fast-growing companies as well as growing my digital media enterprise, Dandelion Chandelier," said Thomas-Graham. "I'm proud to have been part of a company that has been leading edge in many areas, including the integration of ESG into its business strategy. From its strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, its focus on product stewardship and its critical role in public health, Clorox has been deliberate about connecting its impact on the world to long-term value creation for shareholders." Additional information about The Clorox Company board of directors can be found on the company's website. The Clorox Company The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 8,800 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2020 sales of $6.7 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol cleaners; Liquid-Plumr clog removers; Poett home care products; Fresh Step cat litter; Glad bags and wraps; Kingsford charcoal; Hidden Valley dressings and sauces; Brita water-filtration products; Burt's Bees natural personal care products; and RenewLife, Rainbow Light, Natural Vitality Calm, NeoCell and Stop Aging Now vitamins, minerals and supplements. The company also markets industry-leading products and technologies for professional customers, including those sold under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brand names. More than 80% of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, listed No. 1 on the 2020 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings and included on the Barron's 2020 100 Most Sustainable Companies list and the Human Rights Campaign's 2020 Corporate Equality Index, among others. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company and its foundations contributed more than $25 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2020. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com, including the Good Growth blog, and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo. CLX-C SOURCE The Clorox Company Related Links https://www.thecloroxcompany.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. Q: Your last few Saturday columns in The Berkshire Eagle have been of particular interest, as we have restocked our Absolute feeder and also r [January 28, 2021] American Financial Group Management to Participate in the Bank of America Securities 2021 Virtual Insurance Conference American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: AFG) announced today that Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner, Co-Chief Executive Officers and Brian S. Hertzman, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the Bank of America Securities 2021 Virtual Insurance Conference on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. While there will be no Company presentation, AFG will host several investor meetings in this virtual setting. The investor material to be used in the meetings will be posted via a link under Events on the Investor Relations page of AFG's website, www.AFGinc.com, just prior to the conference. About American Financial Group, Inc. American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed and indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, broker-dealer, and registered investment advisor markets. Great American Insurance Group's roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005666/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) stars in a new audio edition of the solo show Playing Burton, available starting today via Audible. Written by Mark Jenkins, Playing Burton explores the life and career of legendary actor Richard Burton, from his impoverished youth in South Wales to his love affair with Elizabeth Taylor to his public battle with alcoholism. Rhys first saw the show while studying at the Royal Academy in London and pitched Audible the project during the initial Covid-19 lockdown. Rhys is known for his performances in Brothers and Sisters and The Americans, as well as the recent HBO series Perry Mason. Onstage, he's been seen in The Graduate and Look Back in Anger, playing the same role that Burton essayed on screen in 1959. A man who brutally murdered an 18-year-old mother was finally convicted of the crime 27 years later after the exhumation of her body scared him into a plot to fake his own death. A recent episode of the Oxygen network's new true-crime series Exhumed revisited the death of Marilyn McIntyre, who was slaughtered by Curtis Forbes in her home in Columbus, Wisconsin. Marilyn's innocent husband, Lane McIntyre, was suspected of her murder for years after he came home from his shift at a local paper plant and found her with a steak knife sticking out of her chest on the morning of March 11, 1980. Scroll down for video Tragedy: Marilyn McIntyre, 18, was found brutally murdered in her in Columbus, Wisconsin, on March 11, 1980 Crime of passion: The mother (left) was killed by her husband Lane McIntyre's friend Curtis Forbes (right), who was said to be furious with her for telling his girlfriend to break up with him 'When I approached the front door, the dog was outside on a chain barking. I thought, "Well, thats unusual." I stepped inside the door and stopped there for a while not believing what my eyes were seeing. I saw my wife laying on the floor dead and it was like I was in a tunnel,' Lane told producers. The father, then 23, ran to his three-month-old son Christopher's bedroom to make sure he was safe. After seeing the infant was untouched in his crib, Lane managed to call his parents, who called the police. Investigators at the scene found Lane cradling his baby when they arrived. They noticed that there were no signs of forced entry, suggesting her killer was someone Marilyn knew and willingly let inside her house. 'When you see this level of violence, typically it's a crime committed by somebody that knows the victim and has anger toward them for some reason,' explained Wayne Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department. In addition to the knife in her chest, she had been also been beaten with blunt force trauma to her head and strangled. An autopsy later determined that she was stabbed after she was killed. Awful: Lane found Marilyn with a steak knife sticking out of her chest when he returned home from work at a local paper plant Crime scene: Police noticed that there were no signs of forced entry, suggesting her killer was someone Marilyn knew and willingly let inside her house Lane had an alibi, but it wasn't airtight. While his time card showed he was at the paper plant the night of Marilyn's murder, he often worked alone and was allowed to take breaks. Most suspiciously, he had taken out a life insurance policy on Marilyn just days before the young mother was murdered. Lane was an obvious suspect, but there was no evidence linking him to the crime. At the crime scene, investigators collected fingerprint evidence and found bloodstains as well as hair from an unknown source. A neighbor told police that she woke up around 3 a.m. after McIntyres' barking dog was let out, giving them a time frame in which the murder likely occurred. Lane wasn't the only suspect, however. During interviews with Marilyn's family and friends, investigators were told that Forbes was furious with her for advising his girlfriend at the time, Debra Attleson, to break up with him. Miracle: The couple's three-month-old son, Christopher, was left untouched in his crib Evidence: At the crime scene, investigators collected fingerprint evidence and found bloodstains as well as hair from an unknown source Forbes, who was a high school friend of Lane's, had an alibi, but it was shaky at best, with periods of times he couldn't account for. He told the police that on the night of Marilyn's murder he was out drinking at a bar and later went to see his friend Lori Beattie and her boyfriend at around 1 a.m. Suspicious: Lane had a shaky alibi and had just taken out a life insurance policy on Marilyn just days before her murder While Lori confirmed his story, she noted that he left to go more beer and never returned. Forbes said he had gone back to see Debra, and while she said he had spent the night with her, he didn't arrive at her place until 4 a.m. Forbes was unable to account for the time between when he left Lori's and went to Debra's to sleep. Even stranger, he fled town after his interview with the police, which prompted more suspicion. However, because there still wasn't any hard evidence to link him to the crime, an arrest could not be made. Marilyn's family was left without any closure as her case went cold for 27 years without any new evidence. 'A loved one was taken from them. There's just no answer for it. It's tragic,' Wayne said, recalling how Marilyn's twin sister Caroline called the police department every year asking if there were any new leads, trying to keep the case alive. The small town speculation that Lane had killed his wife ruined his life and led to him being estranged from their son, Christopher the San Diego Tribune reported in 2009. 'They all said because he had an insurance policy on her, and they think he did it for the money,' his sister Wendy McIntyre Duren told producers. Life-changing: Even though Lane was innocent, his reputation in the community was ruined because people assumed he had killed his wife for insurance money Horrible: The wide-spread speculation of his guilt led to Lane becoming estranged from his son, Christopher Nearly three decades had gone by when Marilyn's niece accidentally called Columbia County Sheriff's office instead of Columbus Police in 2007. The detectives were previously unaware of the case and decided to reinvestigate, thinking new DNA techniques could possibly solve the case. They had the blood sample found in the bathroom sink at the time sent to a lab for analysis, which revealed it was a mixture of Marilyn's and someone else's. Lane was finally exonerated of the crime after he voluntarily offered a DNA sample to investigators, who concluded it wasn't his DNA found at the scene. 'Nine times out 10, I, too, believe the husband did it. But I know what its like to be the one out of 10,' he said. 'It was torture.' Police shifted their focus to Forbes and were reinterviewing witnesses who were with him that night when they learned a damning new piece of information. Too late? In 2007, Lane was finally exonerated of the crime after he voluntarily offered a DNA sample to investigators, who concluded it wasn't his DNA found at the scene Haard to handle: 'Nine times out 10, I, too, believe the husband did it. But I know what its like to be the one out of 10,' Lane said. 'It was torture' Lori recalled how Debra told her that Forbes had asked her to wash his shirt that night because it had blood on it. 'I remember being shocked and uncomfortable with the conversation but I assumed Debbie had told the police,' she explained. Still, there wasn't enough evidence to arrest Forbes, so they made the decision to exhume Marilyn's body to see if there was any DNA under her fingernails. Investigators also heavily publicized the exhumation to try and spook the killer into giving himself away, a wise play that ended up solving the case. Marilyn's body was too decomposed at that point, making any DNA evidence found under her artificial nails unusable, but Forbes didn't know that. 'We wanted our suspect to know, you may have escaped for many years, but DNA evidence exists and were looking for it,' Wayne said. 'Even though our exhumation didn't yield evidence, we didn't release that to the public. The suspect doesnt know that evidence isnt going to be used.' Running scared: The exhumation of Marilyn's body in 2007 prompted Forbes to make a plan to fake his own death, but he was arrested for the crime before he could attempt it Justice: Forbes was found guilty of first-degree murder in November 2010 and sentenced to life in prison Forbes was kept on surveillance in the months following the exhumation and it was revealed he was contacting a carpenter's union in Hawaii. 'Because of the exhumation, Curtis began hatching a plan to fake his disappearance,' prosecutor David Wambach told producers. Forbes planned on taking a boat along with an inflatable raft out onto Lake Michigan and sink it to make it seem like he died in the accident. He would use the raft to get to shore and flee the state. When police spoke with Debra again, she confirmed that she had seen blood on Forbes's shirt the night of the murder, giving police enough grounds to arrest him. Forbes also failed to deny the blood on his shirt that night during a recorded jail phone call between him and Debra. He was charged with first-degree murder and found guilty after just three hours of deliberation in November 2010. He was sentenced to life in prison for Marilyn's murder. COMPTON MAYOR AJA BROWN SPEAKS ABOUT NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION The Los Angeles Sentinel has confirmed that Mayor Aja Brown did not file papers to run for reelection. With no incumbent running the filing date is extended for 5 more days. I look forward to providing a smooth and comprehensive transition, including welcoming the next mayor this summer, and sharing the infrastructure we built to aid in their success, Brown wrote in a statement to the press regarding her decision. My hope is that Compton will serve as a modeldemonstrating that the transition of elected leadership does not have to be contentious or a result of defeat. ADVERTISEMENT I am going to be transitioning from serving as mayor to continue serving our city in what I believe will be an even greater way. Ive endeavored to spearhead an impact vehicle designed to empower our community. To leverage direct investment, democratize access to capital, and drive local economic growth in our city. Government was never designed to meet every need in a community. Its designed to deliver basic services, Brown stated. I recognize that in order for our community to reach our full potential, we must cultivate institutions that currently do not exist in our community; and quite frankly, they will not launch themselves. This journey began with a bold step of faith, a clear vision and with a firm personal conviction that elected positions dont belong to the official, they belong to the people. Were here to serve, not to be served. Now, its time for the next generation to take the reins and continue our mission of lifting and building our city, a Compton united, strong and abounding with opportunities. A viral video shows a Virginia father fed up with remote learning unleashing an explosive tirade at school board members and calling for their ouster, unless they agree to resume in-person classes. The dad's meltdown, reminiscent of fictional news anchor Howard Beale's epic temper tantrum from the 1975 classic Network, took place on Tuesday during the public comment section of a meeting organized by Loudon County School Board. In the video, which was made public on Twitter on Tuesday, the unnamed parent, wearing a blue surgical mask and a winter hat, steps up to the microphone to weigh in on the debate concerning the reopening to local schools. Tantrum: A frustrated father exploded in rage during a meeting organized by Loudon County School Board in Virginia on Tuesday The father ranted that members of the board deserved to be fired for being 'more inefficient than the DMV' 'You should all be fired from your day jobs because if your employers knew that you were more inefficient than the DMV, you would be replaced in a heartbeat,' he says in a calm tone of voice. 'I literally just finished a conference call because I'm having to multitask to be here to address you guys. You're a bunch of cowards hiding behind our children as an excuse for keeping schools closed.' As the father continues to make his argument, he becomes visibly agitated, with his voice rising to a scream. 'The garbage workers who pick up my freaking trash risk their lives every day more than anyone in this school system,' he shouts. 'Figure it out, or get off the podium! Because you know what? There are people like me and a lot of other people out there who will gladly take your seat and figure it out. Its not a high bar. Raise the freaking bar!' 'The garbage workers who pick up my freaking trash risk their lives every day more than anyone in this school system,' he shouts. 'Figure it out, or get off the podium!' The father was asked to leave after sharing hew viewed and had a deputy escort him out Video of the tense exchange was posted by Aliscia Andrews, a Marine Corps veteran and a former Republican candidate for Congress On his way out of the board room, as a member of the board instructs staff to sanitize the podium, the dad yells out: 'I'll be back next time. And the next time - till you open the freaking schools!' A deputy is then summoned to escort the incensed parent out of the building. Video of the tense exchange was posted by Aliscia Andrews, a Marine Corps veteran and a former Republican candidate for Congress. As of Thursday afternoon, it has been viewed more than 447,000 times. 'As a parent, this pandemic has brought forth some incredible challenges,' Andrews wrote in a caption. 'This dad has had enough, we all have. No real metrics to safely open the schools, while the SB continues to kick the can further down the road. Many parents feel just as he does.' The school district switched from a hybrid model combining in-person and remote learning to fully remote learning last month as coronavirus rates spiked in Loudon County. The furious dad was not the only parent to express frustration with that arrangement on Tuesday. 'How do you expect a five-year-old to handle this situation?' one mother told the school board. 'She should be excited to go to school, to grow, to learn, to thrive. We are failing our children,' reported WJLA. Another parent urged the board to return to the hybrid model of learning as a first step toward normalcy. 'You have got to get these kids back in the hybrid learning model so there's a chance of school next year,' said the parent. 'If we don't do this, we're going to be in the same position next year!' School Superintendent Dr. Scott Ziegler asked parents to be patient as the school system follows updated guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, reported KPTV. 'I just like to remind folks in all of my discussions surrounding COVID-19, whether it be with teachers or principals or board members or parents, that we really need to come at this from a place where we are operating with patience, with flexibility, with comfort of the not yet known, and with grace,' said Ziegler. 'We can have a differing of opinions, but we can express those opinions and express our thoughts on what the plan is moving forward.' The Loudoun County School Board is scheduled to vote next Tuesday on a plan to resume in-person school for students whose parents opt for hybrid learning. The plan would put a limited number of students in pre-K through fifth grade back in classes by February 16, while higher grade levels would return to schools by March 3. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on January 28, 2021. (Photo: mod.gov.cn) BEIJING, Jan, 28 -- "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, which allows no interference from the outside," Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND), said in a monthly regular press conference on Thursday. According to recent media reports, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority recently claimed to deepen ties with the US. At the same time, Taiwan's department for defense affairs has been repeatedly hyping up the so-called military aircraft from the mainland entering Taiwan's "southwest air defense identification zone". In response, Wu reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, which allows no interference from the outside. "The military activities carried out by the Chinese PLA in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions in response to the current security situation across the Taiwan Strait," Wu said, adding that "it is also a solemn response to the interference of external forces and the provocations by 'Taiwan independence' forces." He pointed out that in the long history of the Chinese nation, a handful of "Taiwan independence" separatists' activities are just like a bubble, which will not make any wave. The Chinese PLA will take all necessary measures to resolutely defeat any form of attempts by the "Taiwan independence" separatists, and firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he noted. 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. By Brian Mier On July 4, 2015, Brazil learned, through Edward Snowden, that President Dilma Rousseff and 29 members of her government were being spied on by the NSA. At that time, FBI agents were already working inside the Lava Jato investigation. January 27, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - Bob Fernandes is a veteran journalist from Bahia. During his 43 year career he has worked at some of the most important newspapers and magazines in Brazil, including Folha de Sao Paulo and Istoe, covering issues such as the election of Bill Clinton and wars in Angola and Somalia. In 1994 he helped found the weekly news magazine Carta Capital and served as its Editor in Chief until 2004. During this period, he wrote over 100 cover stories, including an award-winning series of 8 investigative reports about CIA, FBI, and DEA operations in Brazil and another cover story which led to the resignation of Brazilian Federal Police Director Vicente Chelotti. For the last 15 years he worked extensively in TV as a news anchor for GNT and TV Cultura. Currently he hosts a show on Bahia State Public Television and maintains a youtube channel which has over 200,000 subscribers. In September, 2020, I interviewed him briefly about FBI and DOJ involvement in the Lava Jato investigation for the Redfish Documentary, Dismantling Brazil: Bolsonaros Neoliberal Agenda. The following is the full interview transcript. How did the US get involved in the coup against Dilma Rousseff and the election season political imprisonment of Lula? On July 4, 2015, Brazil learned, through Edward Snowden, that President Dilma Rousseff and 29 members of her government were being spied on by the NSA. At that time, FBI agents were already working inside the Lava Jato investigation. They were working far beyond the agreement that exists. There was a legal agreement, but their involvement went far beyond that. There were 18 agents, apparently, including the FBI Anti-corruption director for Latin America, Leslie Backschies just to give you an idea of the size of this. So at the same time that Brazil learned about the NSA espionage that was being done on Petrobras, the president of the republic and 29 members of her government, 18 FBI agents were regularly meeting with the Lava Jato task force and carrying out activities far beyond what was authorized in the partnership agreement. There is a leaked conversation between Prosecutor Vlademir Aras from the Federal Public Prosecutors Office with Deltan Dallagnol, who was the Lava Jato task force leader, in which he says, look, we have to respect the agreement, we cant go beyond it. And Dallagnol says, no, lets go ahead because it will take so long the government cant know about this, the Executive cant know what we are doing. It is impossible to be any more clear than this. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter This information was leaked by the Intercept during its so-called Vaza Jato investigation. It leaked all the documentation that shows this. More recently, the investigative journalism site Apublica also published information about the presence and the amplification of the of the FBI in Brazil. In 2017 there was a meeting in Sao Paulo that Leslie was in, along with other FBI agents and Brazilian businessmen, with Brazilian government representatives to discuss corruption in Brazil and the press were barred from attending. Imagine if this had happened in the United States or in Germany or anywhere else. So this is the current scenario, remembering that in 2014 there was already US wire tapping in Brazil and that Leslie Backschies started working in Brazil in 2012. How long has the FBI been active in Brazil? Can you talk a bit about your investigative work in the 1990s for Carta Capital? During the end of the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, during the last few years of his government until the time Lula took power, the Brazilian Federal Police did not have enough funding to properly operate. At this time, we published and leaked documents that proved that the DEA, the American anti-drug agency, paid for individual Federal Police agents to conduct drug trafficking investigations through direct deposits into their personal bank accounts. We published documents proving this legal receipts. I also published articles, with backing documentation, that showed that the CIA was working out of the main Federal Police stations anti-terrorism unit. In order to work in this unit for the Federal Police at the time, you had to go to Washington and take lie detector tests in hotels -not in Langley during which they would ask things like, are you corrupt? Are you a homosexual? At the time we published the names of many of the agents who went there and years later we published an internal document from the Federal Police that proved all of this. So for you to act inside the main interception base of the Federal Police, you had to take a lie detector test administered by the CIA. It was part of a shared information partnership between the Federal Police and the CIA. This unit was built inside the Federal Police during the Sarney government with money from the US State Department, and its first 20 automobiles came from the CIA in Paraguay. This was all published and nobody ever denied it there is documentation proving it. So this story about US collaboration didnt start with Lava Jato it goes back decades. What we have now is a deepening, a widening, its a free for all now. Now, with Brazil delivering the Alcantara rocket launching base to the United States, with Embraer sold off and then given back by the Americans, it is now something that is much more in the open. Unfortunately, as Brazil is continental in size and focused in on itself, there is no habit of looking at the outside world, not even at its neighbors. Brazilians dont think this is important, they dont pay attention to or understand the meaning of this. Brazilians, in their great majority, do not care or understand what this means. They dont understand what it means for the Federal Police to have an operation Brazil had 15 Federal Police bases which operated within the shared information regime with the CIA. Imagine this in any other country.. But here, nobody gave it a second thought. Dismantling Brazil: Bolsonaro's Neoliberal Agenda [January 28, 2021] Nagamasa Global and CLT Margin Transaction Collaborate to Deliver an Integrated Collateral Service TOKYO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nagamasa Global, a commodity broker that aims to offer the highest level of customer service and transaction capability required by today's sophisticated financial market participants, together with CLT Margin Transaction, the award-winning collateral management provider, today announced they have collaborated to offer Nagamasa Global Clearing customers a revolutionary cloud-based software service that integrates and automates the management of collateral in one place. This allows market participants access to a consolidated view across their complete collateral inventory that they can utilize for both cleared and non-cleared derivatives transactions at any given time. "We are excited to announce Nagamasa Global's collaboration with CLT Margin Transaction. The cloud-based collateral management service will be of particular relevance for market participants who want to fulfill all of their operational and regulatory requirements efficiently," said Kenki Yuki, President, Nagamasa Global Clearing. "Our collaboration with CLT Margin Transaction will ensure that collateral management becomes even more accessible and robust." The tool handles complex collateral requirements with multiple counterparties. It also provides automated connectivity to global custodians, banks, clearing brokers and clearing houses in order to manage ollateral across all asset types and instruments. "Our relationship with Nagamasa Global will immediately benefit all current and future members of the CLT Margin Transaction community," said the CEO of CLT Margin Transaction. "Where, through regulation, activity is migrating away from non-cleared transactions to central clearing, our expanded functionality in both areas ensures we remain able to support all our clients' end- to-end collateral management requirements in our fully automated, light touch cloud-based model." About Nagamasa Global Nagamasa Global provides insights in the commodities markets to all market participants to allow them to make better business decisions with confidence. The firm includes a team of experienced financial and market advisors offering a vast list of services for small-scale businesses, individuals, corporate and governmental entities. The company is emerging as a trusted commodity broker with customers from different sectors looking for expertise in pricing, news, and analytics. The company focuses on feasibility more than anything else, and this is the reason it provides a wide array of products and services to its clients that allow them to better sustain their investments. Disclaimer: The news site hosting this press release is not associated with Nagamasa Global, CLT Margin Transaction, or Kenki Yuki. It is merely publishing a paid press release announcement submitted by a company, without any stated or implied endorsement of the person, product, service or information above. Please consult a registered investment advisor before making any investment. This press release is not a solicitation. Press Contact: Haruto Subaru 0556-959395 http://nagamasa-global.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nagamasa-global-and-clt-margin-transaction-collaborate-to-deliver-an-integrated-collateral-service-301216871.html SOURCE Nagamasa Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Dogs are like family to many of us, but for this dog in China, his owner means the world to him. The three-year-old golden retriever named Mao Mao is seen refusing to leave his owners bedside while the man wears a ventilator to sleep. Mr Shao from central Chinas Henan province, who suffers from high blood pressure and heart disease, said his loyal canine would stand by and watch over him whenever he put on the device. The three-year-old golden retriever named Mao Mao in central China's Henan province is seen refusing to leave his owners bedside while the man wears a ventilator to sleep Mr Shao, 56, was advised by his doctor to wear a ventilator while sleeping to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. When the man put on the device for the first time, he was surprised to see his golden retriever running towards his bedside to stay close by, seemingly guarding him in case of emergency. In the footage filmed by the owner, the canine is seen laying his head on Mr Shao's chest, refusing to leave the man. 'Mao Mao, don't worry. I'm alright. You can go,' the owner said, trying to pushing away the golden retriever who remained still. 'Whenever I put on the ventilator, the dog seems to have sensed something, like he knows I'm sick,' Mr Shao told reporters. 'He would only get up when I wake up,' the owner added. 'I've never seen such a smart dog. He's not my real family but he is like one.' When the man put on the device for the first time, he was surprised to see his golden retriever running towards his bedside to stay close by, seemingly guarding him in case of emergency The clip, filmed in the city of Xinxiang in Henan last April, became trending on Chinese social media this week and touched the hearts of millions. One commenter gasped: 'Dogs know everything like humans! They are truly our family.' Another dog owner shared their similar experience: 'When I get sick, my dog would always stay next to me. It refuses to eat and looks so worried, really heart-warming!' Last week, a devoted dog in Turkey shot to fame after she followed an ambulance carrying her sick owner to hospital and waited outside for six days until they were finally reunited. Loyal pet Boncuk, which means bead, bounded after the ambulance that took her owner Cemal Senturk to hospital in the Black Sea city of Trabzon when he became unwell on January 14. Cheyenne, Wyoming--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - AAP, Inc. (OTC PINK: AAPJ) is excited to announce that we have a signed an agreement to acquire $18.8 million in delinquent debt from one of our vendors. Our cost will be 2.67 % of the total purchase and we hope to recover 10% of the total amount on average, making AAP Inc. making this a very successful transaction in the debt collection industry. Furthermore, we would like to update our shareholders on a very exciting acquisition we have been working on this month which would allow the company to benefit from multiple revenue streams thereby enhancing the company's value and providing our shareholders with a strong company with excellent growth. We are hoping to announce the details on this new acquisition by the middle of February. Mr. Bakajin stated, "We are moving The Company in the right direction. We are moving the company in the right direction and I am pleased to announce this debt agreement which will bring excellent growth for the company. Also, I am very excited about the progress we have made on a new acquisition which we hope to be able to announce next month. I am pleased to be taking these steps to benefit the company moving forward." Currently the only media outlet is the Company's twitter account @TheRealAAPJ. To better communicate with our shareholders, please email us at info@aap-inc.com. The Company's website is http://www.aap-inc.com/ All information can be verified at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AAPJ/profile. A company press release will announce any new social media outlets. We will be providing many more updates for our shareholders as the company moves forward in this new direction. Disclaimer: The Company relies upon the Safe Harbor Laws of 1933, 1934 and 1995 for all public news releases. The company may make forward-looking public statements concerning its expected future operations, performance and other developments. Such forward-looking statements are estimates that reflect the company's best judgment based upon current information. All investments involve risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements. It is impossible to identify all such factors. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the company include, but are not limited to, government regulation; managing and maintaining growth; the effect of adverse publicity; litigation; competition; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the company's public announcements. Contact: AAP, Inc. info@aap-inc.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73050 ISLAMABAD After 18 years of denial, the Pakistani suspect convicted and later acquitted in the 2002 beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl has told a court he played a minor role in the killing, the Pearl family lawyer said Wednesday. A letter handwritten by Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh in 2019, in which he admits limited involvement in the killing of the Wall Street Journal reporter, was submitted to Pakistan's Supreme Court nearly two weeks ago. It wasn't until Wednesday that Sheikh's lawyers confirmed their client wrote it. The stunning turn of events came as a Pakistani high court is hearing an appeal of a lower courts acquittal of Sheikh, who was initially charged with murder in the beheading of Pearl. The appeal was filed by Pearl's family and the Pakistan government. Nowhere in the three-page letter addressed to the Sindh High Court did the British-born Sheikh elaborate or say exactly what his allegedly minor role in Pearl's slaying involved. The 38-year-old reporter from Encino, California was abducted Jan. 23, 2002. A gruesome video of his beheading was later sent to the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, after which Pearl's body was found in a shallow grave in a southern neighborhood of the city. Pearl family attorney Faisal Siddiqi called Sheikh's confirmation that he wrote the letter a dramatic development and demanded the conviction and the death sentence for Sheikh be reinstated. This is very, very important because for the last 18 years the position of Omar Saeed Sheikh was that he did not know Danny Pearl, he never met Danny Pearl," Siddiqi told The Associated Press. He had taken a position of complete ignorance regarding this case, but now in a hand-written letter he has admitted to at least a limited role." He has not asked that he be acquitted. He accepts his guilt but asks that his sentence may be reduced, he added. In the letter, Sheikh writes that my role in this matter was a relatively minor one, which does not warrant the death sentence. A copy of the letter was obtained by the AP. Sheikh also admits to knowing who killed Pearl and alleges it was Pakistani militant Atta-ur-Rahman, alias Naeem Bokhari, who has since been executed in connection with an attack on a paramilitary base in southern Karachi. In the letter, dated July 25, 2019 and stamped with the seal of the High Court of Sindh, Sheikh asks that he be given an opportunity to clarify my actual role in this matter so that my sentence may be reduced accordingly to one which is consistent with the requirement of justice. However, Sheikh's lawyer, Mehmood A. Sheikh, insisted that his client wrote the letter under duress and that he did not know or have any connection to Pearl. The lawyer, who is not related to Sheikh, said his client described the conditions in his prison as worse than the life of an animal and wrote the letter in an attempt to get a hearing not make an admission of guilt. He wanted to be able to be heard, the lawyer said. The appeal is expected to wrap up this week, said Siddiqi, the Pearl family attorney. He said he expects a quick decision after Sheikh's admission of involvement, even in a minor capacity, in Pearl's death. "This changes everything," he said of the letter. Sheikh was convicted of helping lure Pearl to a meeting in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, during which he was kidnapped. Pearl was investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard C. Reid, dubbed the Shoe Bomber after trying to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes. Sheikh was sentenced to death and three other suspects were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the plot. The acquittal last April stunned the U.S. government, Pearls family and journalism advocacy groups. Last month, acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffery Rosen warned that the U.S. would not let Sheikh go free, saying if those efforts do not succeed, the United States stands ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial in America. By Jiraporn Kuhakan BANGKOK (Reuters) - In a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok, participants at a daily ritual clutch a bunch of flowers and lie down in a coffin with a sheet pulled over them as monks chant. The Wat Bangna Nai temple in the Thai capital draws more than 100 people a day who choose to perform the ceremony in the hope it can improve their fortunes or give them a fresh start. And for some at least, the pressures of life during the pandemic have made the ritual take on more importance. "I have to admit that I'm stressed these days because I am earning less income because of the pandemic and I'm sure everyone here is feeling the same," said Nutsarang Sihard, a 52-year-old food stall owner, who took part in the ceremony. Participants pay 100 baht ($3.30) for the flowers, candles, and clothing that are part of the ceremony. They follow the instructions of the monks, by at first lying in a coffin with their heads facing to the west, the direction bodies may be buried, before switching sides to symbolise rebirth. "I felt like I was reborn, came back to life again and became a new person," said Nutsarang. Another participant at the ceremony, Chonlathit Nimimenwai, 23, said she attended because a fortune teller told her that her life was in danger. "It made me feel stressed. That's why I'm here today because I want to feel better." Many temples in Thailand hold similar ceremonies and Prakru Prapath Waranukij, a monk who performed this ceremony, said that while the ritual had received some criticism online he felt it was important to ponder death. "It reminds people that one day we will die, so we must be careful about the way we live our lives," said Prakru. (Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Giles Elgood) Panasonic India has launched its new range of Air Conditioners (ACs) under the HU series enabled with recently announced nanoeX technology. nanoeX technology releases hydroxyl radicals contained in water. Hydroxyl radicals are also known as natures detergent that are capable of inhibiting bacteria and viruses, including 99.99% of the adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Panasonic has successfully tested the nanoeX device as well as nanoeX ACs for the inhibitory effect on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) at Texcell Laboratory, France. The new line-up of the five-star inverter nanoeX ACs will be available in 1-ton and 1.5-ton. The (CS/CU-HU18XKYF) will be priced at INR 66, 000. Indian consumers can experience the new range of Panasonic ACs, across major retail outlets, online portals and Panasonic brand stores soon. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Manish Sharma, President and CEO, Panasonic India & South Asia, said, Panasonic has been a frontrunner when it comes to developing pathbreaking technologies over the years to cater to the ever-evolving needs of the consumers. Our new range of Air Conditioners come with the nanoeX technology demonstrating our commitment of making products that are relevant and in line with consumer requirement. Panasonic first tested the nanoeX device at Texcell Laboratory, France where we did see success in inhibiting novel coronavirus. We challenged Texcell Laboratory further to test the nanoeX device with Panasonic AC and this was also successful in inhibiting novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Mr. Suguru Takamatsu, Divisional Head Consumers Sales Division, Panasonic India said, India has one of the lowest penetrations of ACs in the world at 5% that holds immense growth prospects in the segment. Further, with deteriorating air quality and the spread of new diseases, consumers have become more health-conscious. Therefore, our new range of Panasonic nanoeX ACs are capable of eliminating the growth of certain pollutants such as allergens, bacteria, viruses, moulds, odours, and certain hazardous substances to enable a healthier lifestyle for our consumers. The new range of Panasonic nanoeX ACs i.e., HU series features Miraie Panasonics Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT platform to ensure connected living. Comfort factor is ensured through superior cooling via Twin Cool INV, ECONAVI and Jetstream. The promise of durability is assured through Shield-Blu and ecoTOUGH technology. The HU series have been designed aesthetically and will be available in Advance facia. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The promoters of NDTV Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the news channel is facing financial hardship with limited resources. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian asked the Roys to inform about the shares they hold in the company and their value by Friday. The submissions were made during the hearing of an appeal challenging the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) order directing Roys to deposit 50 per cent of the alleged unlawful gains, which market regulator SEBI said they made. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Roys, emphasized before the bench they were willing to provide a statement of shares which will not be transferred by them to any other person. The Roys counsel informed the top court that the affidavit can be filed by Friday. Rohatgi submitted that a show-cause notice was issued 10 years after the transaction, and it is barred by limitation. The bench replied, "How much security you are willing to give?" Rohatgi said the shares which they hold in NDTV, they will not transfer or encumber, and these shares are much more valuable than Rs 15 crore. The Chief Justice queried: Can you give a guarantee? Rohatgi replied: "We have no resource. We are a struggling news channel. We cannot offer any other guarantee or security." The bench said: "You have to give some security, what is the value of these shares?" Rohatgi said the value of each share is Rs 37 as of the day. Another advocate, representing Roys, added that it comes to roughly around Rs 18.5 crores for the 50 lakh shares. The SAT had directed the NDTV promoters to deposit 50 per cent of the disgorged amount before SEBI. The market regulator had imposed this penalty in the view of alleged violation of various securities norms, where information was concealed from shareholders in connection with certain loan agreements. The SAT had also noted that if NDTV were to deposit the amount, the balance would not be recovered during the pendency of the appeal before the tribunal. The tribunal in two separate order passed on January 4, agreed to examine the appeals filed by Roys and scheduled the hearing in the matter on February 21. The couple had filed appeals against the SEBI November order, which barred them from the securities market for two years and also directed them to disgorge illegal gains of Rs 16.97 crore for indulging in insider trading more than 12 years ago. The news channel has denied these charges. The bench scheduled the matter for further hearing on Monday. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York City education panel rejected a testing contract for the administration of the controversial Gifted & Talented exam this spring an exam offered to students as young as 4 years old for entry into the gifted program, according to a recent report. Chalkbeat reported that Gifted & Talented testing was initially scheduled for the spring, after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this month that this year will be the final year the test would be administered to students. Now its unclear how admissions to the citys Gifted & Talented program will move ahead after the citys Panel for Education Policy rejected the test contract for the program ultimately halting the administration of the exam, according to the media outlet. Chalkbeat called the rejection an unusual flex for a panel that has little formal authority and is mostly appointed by the mayor typically approving de Blasios education policies. Approval of the testing contract was expected by the panel after de Blasio said the test would continue for one more year, according to Chalkbeat. It would have required the panel to approve an extension of the citys testing contract with the company that provides the Gifted & Talented admissions exams, which cost $1.7 million, Chalkbeat reported. Instead, the panel rejected the test contract during its Wednesday meeting, with the vote failing 8-7, according to the media outlet. The decision leaves City Hall scrambling to determine how students will be admitted to gifted programs for incoming students in the 2021-2022 school year, Chalkbeat reported. EXAM FACED CRITICISM FROM MAYOR, CHANCELLOR De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza have criticized using the exam to determine admissions to the program, especially for its youngest students. The mayor said earlier this month that the high-stakes exam would end after this year, as parents have already begun preparing for their children to take the exam this spring. The Gifted & Talented test is the definition of a high-stakes test, a single test that determines so much, de Blasio said during a press conference earlier this month. This approach to testing is not something I believe in, its not something the chancellor believes in...We will not be providing that test in the future. The pair announced they were working toward a more individualized education approach for students, including new digital opportunities for teaching. An intense public engagement process was expected to be held through the spring and summer to think through whats the right approach for the future, the mayor said. That approach wont be defined by a single test to ensure the city reaches more students, de Blasio continued. There is no question what good instruction, good pedagogy looks like for enriching students and serving students that are academically exceptional, Carranza said during the mayors press conference this month. The jurys not out. But this is a public school system, so as a public school system, we must engage the public in the decisions that will impact children in the public school system, and what the mayor and I are talking about is engaging the process to do just that. The new approach is expected to be announced by September. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. BOGOTA, Colombia, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW/ -- The second phase of the Los Llanos photovoltaic power plant project developed and managed by Trina Solar in Colombia has been connected to the grid and the start of its commercial operations officially declared. The President of Colombia, Ivan Duque Marquez, cut the ribbon at the delivery ceremony on Jan 22. He expressed his gratitude to Trina Solar for its important contribution to the smooth grid connection of the project and said it will enable thousands of Colombian families to have safe, reliable and permanent energy. Colombia has made great strides in renewable energy, he said, and by next year the installed capacity of solar and wind energy in the country will have increased more than seven-fold. Phases one, two and three of the Los Llanos project, with total installed capacity of 82 MWp, have been developed by Trina Solar's International System Business Unit (ISBU). Trina Solar (Colombia), a wholly owned subsidiary of Trina Solar, provided EPC management services for this project. The first phase of the 27MWp megawatt project was completed and delivered to the grid in October. The second phase, involving grid connection, installed capacity of 27MWp megawatts and will generate 51 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, equivalent to the consumption of 23,800 households. It will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 19,450 tons a year. The President of Trina Solar International System Business, Mr. You Hongming, said that having President Duque cut the ribbon was a great honor for the company. "The President's recognition of Trina Solar's contribution to Colombia's renewable energy business encourages us greatly. Trina Solar International System Business has worked on cultivating its activities in Latin America over many years, has accumulated a fantastic pipeline and built up a strong and experienced project execution team. Our team completed the second phase of the Los Llanos project and achieved grid connection in just four months, this is a remarkable achievement given the difficult circumstances resulted from COVID-19." The head of the Latin American North Region of Trina Solar International System Business, Ruben Borja, said: "President Duque's attendance at the ceremony adds to our confidence in the Colombian solar market. Our team is now giving its all to complete the fourth and fifth stages of the Los Llanos project, which will have installed capacity of about 52 MWp." The overall project will install more than 200,000 high-reliability, high-power dual-glass modules, coupled with Vanguard Tracker Solutions. The perfect adaptation of Trina Solar's dual-glass modules and the tracker system can reduce the levelized cost of energy and provide customers with high reliability, high-power generation and higher returns. As the leading global PV and smart energy total solution provider, Trina Solar provides customers worldwide with a package of integrated solar energy solutions including products, power plants development, design, procurement and EPC management services. About Trina Solar Founded in 1997, Trina Solar is the world leading PV and smart energy total solution provider. The company engages in PV products R&D, manufacture and sales; PV projects development, EPC, O&M; smart micro-grid and multi-energy complementary systems development and sales, as well as energy cloud-platform operation. In 2018, Trina Solar launched the Energy IoT brand, established the Trina Energy IoT Industrial Development Alliance together with leading enterprises and research institutes in China and around the world, and founded the New Energy IoT Industrial Innovation Center. With these actions, Trina Solar is committed to working with its partners to build the energy IoT ecosystem and develop an innovation platform to explore New Energy IoT, as it strives to be a leader in global intelligent energy. In June 2020, Trina Solar listed on the STAR Market of Shanghai Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.trinasolar.com. SOURCE Trina Solar For further information: Katherine GE, +86-21-6057-5302, [email protected], http://www.trinasolar.com Related Links http://www.trinasolar.com San Franciscos Board of Education has an uncanny knack for veering into distractions and diving into controversy. In 2020 it was its move to undermine Lowell High Schools prized status as a nationally known academic institution by basing admissions on a lottery instead of merit-weighted system. Could they think of anything dumber to make the district a national laughingstock? Oh sure, they could. And they did. The board voted 6-1 this week to proceed with the renaming of 44 schools: including those honoring Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The lack of proportionality and perspective was truly breathtaking. These were all human beings, of course, with imperfections of varying consequence. But they also made significant contributions to American history. Hey board members, remember that subject: history? These so-called educators should have done some homework, starting with a thoughtful and thorough piece by UC Davis historian Gregory Downs that ran in The Chronicle earlier this month: We wont get to deeper understanding by prevailing in a political process. But we might get there if we follow the guidance of many of my fellow scholars of the Civil War era. Oh, but the amateur historians and tone-deaf politicians on the school board had no time for genuine due diligence. Nor did they have time on Tuesdays agenda to deal with those pressing issues that are their responsibility: namely, reopening schools and dealing with a daunting budget deficit. As our editorial put it, those shuttered schools are doing far more harm to historically disadvantaged students and families than Paul Reveres misadventures in Maine. Here are six names that must never be considered for placement on San Francisco schools: board members Mark Sanchez, Jenny Lam, Faauuga Moliga, Gabriela Lopez, Alison Collins and Matt Alexander. Each voted yes on the renamings. Remember them next election. What else were saying in editorials What was Newsom thinking? California has ample experience with ill-timed and poorly executed reopenings over the past year, but the one unfolding now looks to be the worst. After a year of pandemic policy shifts that transformed the state from national model to epidemiological basket case, Gov. Gavin Newsoms lifting of stay-at-home orders affecting most of the state Monday was his most inexplicable yet. Read our editorial State of dysfunction: California Labor Secretary Julie Su reportedly is President Bidens choice for the U.S. Labor Departments No. 2 position, but that isnt all her agency is losing. Before she heads to Washington for an impressive promotion, Su had an awkward announcement to make: The state Employment Development Department paid $11 billion in fraudulent joblessness claims over the past year and possibly much more. Read our editorial Guest commentary News Literacy Week: Its no exaggeration to say that being news-literate can be a matter of life or death. If a student doesnt understand the difference between a news story and an opinion column or how to spot dangerously misleading disinformation, the consequences can be dire. Read the piece City vs. salmon on the Tuolumne: San Francisco rightly prides itself on being an environmental leader. Given this deep commitment to protecting the environment, the citys water agency the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission should be a leader in smart, sustainable water policy. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Read the piece Letter of the Week Not surprisingly, the San Francisco school boards decision to rename 44 schools generated a cascade of mail. Some suggested the city should simply replace names with numbers. But Raphael Stricker of San Francisco cautions that may not necessarily be a panacea: Regarding renaming San Francisco schools like Alamo and El Dorado to eliminate their racist connections, we should definitely switch to the old Soviet system of using numbers. Just be careful: Rumor has it that number 5 has racist roots, number 11 uses drugs and number 22 is an alcoholic. And please check out our other letters of the day responding to this and other matters. You can send us a letter via this form. In case you missed it New tone in White House briefing room: The new president is not likely to avoid conflict or agree with his treatment by the media. What will be healthy for America is if that inevitable conflict at long last is focused on ideology and policy instead of between truth and lies, authoritarian rule and respect for election outcomes, rule of law and the value of a free press. My Sunday column Where to follow us We have a Twitter channel, Opinion Central (@sfc_opinions). Please add it to your stream. Youll catch our editorials and opinion pieces, as well as our drive-by comments on assorted subjects in the news. Follow me on Twitter: @JohnDiazChron Just a reminder The Chronicles editorials represent the collective judgment of our Editorial Board, which includes the publisher as well as the writers and editors from the opinion team. Our editors and reporters on the news side are not involved in those decisions (including election endorsements). They are charged with reporting fairly and objectively without regard to our editorial positions. It is one of the core values here at Fifth and Mission streets. Opinion Central is a thrice-weekly newsletter from John Diaz, The Chronicles editorial page editor, and the rest of the Editorial Board. Follow along on Twitter: @sfc_opinions The European Commission has told Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft to continue monthly reports on their efforts to tackle fake news, especially on COVID-19, for another six months. Social media and online platforms have come under fire globally over the spread of fake news, leading to calls for regulators to force them to do more or face cumbersome rules. The companies, together with TikTok and advertisers, have signed the European Union's code of practice to tackle the spread of disinformation on their platforms, and had to submit reports on their efforts during an initial six-month period. The reports will continue for another six months because of their relevance during the virus pandemic, the EU executive said. The companies have been told to provide more data on how disinformation spreads during the coronavirus crisis and on the granular impact of their actions in EU countries. 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 pandemic has become a breeding ground for false claims and conspiracy theories and platforms are important amplifiers of this type of messages," Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova said in a statement. "We must continue working together to improve our fight with disinformation, but we need more transparency and better effort from the online platforms," she said. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. Deciding its first-ever cases, Facebook Inc's oversight board ruled on Thursday that the social media company was wrong to remove four of five pieces of content the board reviewed, including posts Facebook took down for violating rules on hate speech and harmful Covid-19 misinformation. The first rulings will be scrutinized to see how independent the board appears from the world's largest social media platform, particularly ahead of its high-profile decision on whether Facebook was right to suspend former US President Donald Trump. Facebook blocked Trump's access to ... The Mena regions eCommerce sector accomplished almost six years of digital advancement in just six months as consumers shifted to online almost overnight with the pandemic accelerating that growth, said industry experts. Delegates at the eCommerce Summit for the Mena region shared their predictions for future eCommerce trends in the Mena region and its fundamental role in business recovery and future growth of national economies. Hosted by Visa and held virtually under the theme, Thriving In The New Normal, the event brought together government representatives from Dubai Economy (Dubai DED) and Saudi Ministry of Finance, local banks such as Commercial Bank of Qatar, businesses including Noon, Daraz (Alibaba Group), Azadea Group and Kidzapp, and payment platform providers to explore opportunities to further drive digital commerce and help businesses thrive in the new normal. A survey published by the Dubai Economy, Dubai Police and Visa in June 2020, showed that since the outbreak, the majority (61%) of UAE consumers preferred online payments with cards or digital wallets over cash on delivery (COD). A similar survey by Saudi Payment and Visa found that 62% of Saudi consumers opted for cards and digital wallets to pay instead of COD. The Kuwait Banking Association and Visa survey revealed 51% of Kuwait consumers used cards and digital wallets over COD. The panel discussions highlighted the mainstream emergence of integrated commerce and the critical balance retailers will need to find between eCommerce and commerce IRL (in real life) to deliver the ultimate customer experience. Visa's Back to Business Holiday Study in 2020 found that 45% of consumers polled in the UAE plan to do more than half of their shopping online while 34% plan to shop mostly in store or IRL . Panelists shared their experiences on new frictionless integrations merchants can introduce as part of their offerings such as curbside pickup and alternate contactless delivery options. Point-of-sale payments and financing platforms are expected to undergo major transformation to ensure digital-first options become a preferred option, and use of digital wallets is also a rising trend for 2021, with the different modes representing tremendous potential across sectors that typically relied on in-person transactions. Madhur Mehra, Mena Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring at Visa, said: While most of 2020 was spent in reactive mode, the resulting preference for eCommerce is lasting. eCommerce leaders from the merchant community and financial institutions are in the driving seat in 2021 to capitalize on the momentum and continue to explore new technologies and innovations to support their customers. Small businesses in particular now have the chance to expand digital presence of their business and expand the reach and sales not just to recover sooner but also capture future growth by investing in new digital technologies. Our studies show that merchants who adopted eCommerce in 2020 or invested in digital payment solutions were able to better survive the impact of the crisis than those that did not. We work closely with the industry, leveraging Visas expertise, innovative digital solutions and analytics, to support them in understanding consumer behaviours and expectations. By collaborating with our panel of experts we continue to foster a supportive ecosystem for businesses to unlock new commerce opportunities and develop low-touch commerce solutions, he added. Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO of Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector, Dubai Economy, said: A significant component of the shift in consumer behaviour we have been witnessing in Dubai over the past few months is a growing trust in cashless payments and buying online. Though driven largely by Covid-19 this shift has also proven to be one of the infinite and innovative opportunities Dubai estimated its transition to a Smart City to bring forth. As the pandemic struck Dubai Economy spared no effort in encouraging consumers to shop safe, and in enhancing their confidence in the purchasing process, while also protecting businesses and enabling them to stay connected with their customers. In fact, everyone in Dubai and across the UAE, including the government and the local as well as global private sector, collaborated to present a successful and evolving digital solution to an unprecedented crisis, and the outcome is an accelerated transition towards a digital economy. Dubai Economy is delighted to have Visa as our partners in promoting eCommerce as a competitive and convenient alternative, and we look forward to co-creating solutions that would empower Dubai and its community of residents and shoppers to thrive in the new normal, he added. TradeArabia News Service As the pandemic forced Philadelphias criminal courts to shut down for much of 2020, and some defendants approached a year in jail without a hearing, lawyers began noticing a strange phenomenon. Thousands of cases were all being listed for December status hearings in Room 200 of the Stout Criminal Justice Center. The problem? There is no such courtroom. The process of rescheduling those cases is ongoing court dates are now being scheduled into July, lawyers said. It has become one striking example of the courts struggle to adapt, as an escalating backlog has now exceeded 13,000 cases, according to the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Ten months into the pandemic, the rule guaranteeing a speedy trial remains suspended. Last week, the Defender Association took the unusual step of petitioning the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to intervene. The filing sought release for six people who had been jailed more than 200 days without a preliminary hearing, at which prosecutors must show probable cause that a crime occurred. Because nearly all court hearings and trials have either stopped or slowed to a trickle, each petitioner, and hundreds of others like them, have been unable to contest the basis of their confinement, the Defender Association wrote. READ MORE: Pa.s court elections in 2021 are crucial for racial justice | Opinion The president judge of Philadelphias Municipal Court, Patrick F. Dugan, said in an interview that the courts are navigating a complicated and imperfect process amid unprecedented challenges. I have two jobs. One is our mission, which is to do these cases in a fair and expeditious manner for everyone involved, he said. But in COVID, the welfare of the people has to be a parallel [concern]. We have to take into consideration the health of our people: the attorneys on all sides, the sheriffs, witnesses, victims, police, anyone involved in our court system. Courtrooms where judges once heard more than 50 cases per day are now limited to a few per hour, he said. And even when the court is ready, other justice system actors may not be. Last fall, he instituted status calls before preliminary hearings to ensure that all sides would be ready. But of 4,300 hearings scheduled that way, 61% still ended up getting delayed. The court also, for the first time, began allowing attorneys to file motions electronically to argue for bail reduction and other considerations. We have expressed to all the attorneys on all sides they can file as many motions as theyd like, Dugan said. That hasnt really happened. Dugan said the Room 200 list reflected another attempt to expedite cases. Judges throughout the fall sent cases to that room as a placeholder, hoping COVID rates might take a turn in the right direction and allow judges to reschedule those cases promptly. The citys rising case count, and an outbreak in the city jails, dashed that hope. On Dec. 5, the jails locked down for a month and stopped transporting defendants to court. The jail population, now at 4,500, has crept up toward pre-pandemic levels, even as community groups spent more than $5 million to bail out around 700 people in the last year. But close to half of prisoners have detainers, meaning an arrest put them in violation of parole or probation and they are not eligible for bail. In its petition, the Defender Association asked the Supreme Court to institute new procedures to limit pretrial jail stays. The proposed measures included requiring prosecutors to certify that they have the witnesses available to put on a case in some cases, the Defender Association said, prosecutors said they were ready but did not have witnesses available. The petition also asked to lift detainers for anyone jailed more than nine months. That would be a relief for defendants like Philip Ingram, 31, who joined protesters marching through Center City on May 30 chanting the name George Floyd and was one of a dozen people arrested that night, accused of burglarizing Macys. Ingram says he didnt enter the store or take anything. But nearly eight months later, he has not had a preliminary hearing. Theres no court date scheduled, either. He remains imprisoned on a parole detainer, related to a 2013 conviction for shooting at a man from Northwest Philadelphia twice in two years. Ingram said hed served his time for that, and was getting his life on track before his arrest. In jail, he lost his apartment and job, and lost parental rights to his 8-year-old son. The Collingdale resident contracted COVID-19 while incarcerated, he said. I cant get an answer. Im not hearing anything, Ingram said. Im just here held captive. Keir Bradford-Grey, chief of the Defender Association, worries clients are feeling pressure to take unfavorable plea agreements to get out of jail, often without regard to the lasting consequences of a conviction. Right now, people are going to be faced with really tough choices: If they want their constitutional right to have their day in court, its going to take a lot longer. The District Attorneys Office generated 378 plea offers in 30 days as part of an effort to resolve the backlog but acknowledged many of those cases remain pending. One defense lawyer said delays in scheduling court dates particularly in cases that involved probation or parole detainees had caused some defendants to remain in jail for months after prosecutors had offered deals for immediate parole or drug treatment. DA Larry Krasner said at this point hes looking to widespread vaccination as the ultimate solution to the court backlog. But there is more that we have been able to do since March that is not getting done, he said, citing the Supreme Courts emergency order last year that encouraged the use of videoconferencing and other technology. Simply put, we can do more. And we look forward to our justice system partners, by which I mean the courts, probation, public defenders and other defense counsel, working together so there is greater creativity and flexibility. Although video preliminary hearings are now available, theyre by request only. Dugan said Municipal Court now has the capacity to do quasi-virtual hearings, with lawyers and the judge in a courtroom, a defendant on video from the jail, and witnesses and police on video from other locations. The court only recently added the ability for witnesses to testify remotely, said court spokesperson Gabriel Roberts. Dugan said he was not happy with how many virtual hearings had taken place, but declined to say why they had not been more widely adopted. Judges, we have to follow a code, and its not within us to be able to point fingers in public at criminal justice partners, he said. Courts around the country grappling with similar backlogs are turning to solutions that Bradford-Grey and others find problematic, like rocket dockets in which hundreds of defendants accept plea deals. Shed like to see sentencing alternatives, particularly for those who were arrested on misdemeanors and have stayed out of trouble while awaiting trial. She said her office was also seeking a way to address the cases of those like Ingram, arrested during protests, with restitution and diversion out of criminal court. We are just not getting the agreements we were hoping to get right now, she said. She also noted the racial disparities 75% of her clients arrested at protests were Black and what she expected to be scant evidence of wrongdoing. Ingram said that, though hed like to be cleared, hes contemplated taking a plea deal if one is offered. At this point, they kind of broke me, he said. I just want to get out of here. Denmark, Norway lock horns over fisheries in post-Brexit feud by Igor Kuznetsov January 28,2021 | Source: Sputnik The reason for this animosity between the two Scandinavian neighbours is that Norway has barred EU fishing vessels from its waters in the aftermath of a last-minute Brexit deal reached between London and Brussels, leading to losses for Danish fishermen. Danish fishermen have called on their government in Copenhagen to block Norways access to the EU fish market through Denmark to stop the current one-lane traffic, in which Danish vessels are banned from Norwegian waters, yet Norwegian fish continues to be offloaded at Danish harbours. They hope this move will persuade Norway to allow access to its waters. Danish fishing is currently paralysed, with only 17 vessels in the Norwegian zone in the Skagerrak, down from 130 vessels in normal times, according to fisheries trade newspaper FiskerForum. According to the Danish Fisheries Association, Denmark has lost fishing quotas worth up to DKK 1.5 billion ($240 million). While the UK and the EU eventually came to terms on fisheries after Brexit, both British and EU vessels have been barred from Norwegian waters. Olso withheld permits to EU and British fishing vessels since the new Brexit agreement came into force on 1 January, and seeks a new deal with the EU and Britain outlining a framework for sustainable management of the shared fish stock in the North Sea, before making separate agreements on specific quotas. And while protracted three-way talks are taking place between Norway, the EU and the UK, Danish fishing vessels have been stuck at port. Norwegian ships, meanwhile, continue to frequent Danish harbours in a business-as-usual manner. The Norwegian government, for its part, warned about the potential outcome already in December. If we don't have a deal in place by 1 January, we won't open Norways Economic Zone for fishing vessels from the EU and the UK. Nor do we expect Norwegian fishermen to be granted access to their zones, Norways Fisheries and Seafood Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen said in a press release, urging the EU and the UK to launch negotiations. Danish Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Rasmus Prehn has ruled out drastic measures such as intervening in Norwegian fish exports. Fishing quotas were one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the Brexit talks. The UK demanded the value of the EU catch in UK waters to be drastically curtailed in a move that London saw as an issue of sovereignty, while Brussels deemed it completely unacceptable. In the end, in what Downing Street described as a prodigious increase, 25 percent of the value of the EU catch UK waters will be repatriated. 2021 Sputnik Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 A World Health Organization team of researchers emerged from their hotel Thursday for the first time since their arrival in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to start searching for clues into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The visit has been shrouded in secrecy: Details of their itinerary have not been released, and it's unknown how much access China will give the researchers to the sites they want to visit and the people they want to talk to. Why is the team in China? Scientists hope that information on the earliest known cases of the new coronavirus which was first identified in Wuhan will help them better understand where it came from and prevent similar pandemics in the future. Researchers around the world are eager for access to samples taken from the Huanan Seafood Market, which had an early outbreak, and Wuhan hospital records. The team may visit the market itself as well as the locations of other early cases. It could also go to a laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that was built after the 2003 SARS pandemic and maintains an extensive archive of genetic sequences of bat coronaviruses. US officials in the previous Trump administration suggested without offering evidence that the virus could have escaped from the institute. Experts say its unlikely that the new coronavirus emerged from the lab in Wuhan and overwhelmingly say analysis of the new coronaviruss genome rules out the possibility that it was engineered by humans. The researchers might also visit the hospitals that were overwhelmed at the height of the pandemic in China and the local branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The seafood market and other places where early cases emerged remain important because the virus is constantly changing, as the new strain found in the United Kingdom shows. What do researchers hope to learn? Wuhan is where Covid-19 cases were first detected, but it is highly possible that the virus came to the industrial city of 11 million people from elsewhere. Genetic sequencing shows that the coronavirus started in bats and likely jumped to another animal before infecting humans. The virus that is the closet known relative of the one that causes COVID-19 has been found in bats in a mine shaft nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) southwest of Wuhan, near Chinas border with Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The Associated Press was blocked from visiting the mine. People began falling ill in Wuhan in December 2019, and many had links to the seafood market. Scientists initially suspected the virus came from wild animals sold at the market, prompting China to crackdown on the wildlife trade. But the subsequent discovery of earlier cases challenged that theory. China's CDC said that samples taken from the market indicate it was likely a place where the virus spread, not where it started. The WHO teams ability to further our understanding of the virus and its credibility could hinge in part on getting access to those samples. Studying the genes of the earliest known cases in Wuhan could provide clues to how it got from bats to people and whether it was through a mammal such as a bamboo rat or a civet. What obstacles does the team face? The big question is what China will allow the researchers see and do. The ruling Communist Party is concerned the research could shed light on its handling of the virus that could open it up to international criticism and even demands for financial compensation if it is found to have been negligent. China has stifled independent reports about the outbreak at home and published little information on its research into the origins of the virus. An AP investigation found that the government has strictly controlled all COVID-19-related research and forbids researchers from speaking to the media. Another AP investigation found WHO officials privately complained that China had dragged its feet on sharing critical information about the outbreak, including the new viruss genetic sequence, even as the U.N. health agency publicly praised China for what it called a speedy response. China, stung by complaints it allowed the disease to spread, has suggested the virus could have come from abroad. A government spokesperson has said the origins hunt will require work beyond Chinas borders, including in bat habitats in neighbouring Southeast Asia. An expert on the WHO team has suggested the same thing, and this is a possibility researchers are exploring. When will we know the answers? The search for the origins of Covid-19 is likely to take years. It took more than a decade to find the origins of SARS, and the origins of Ebola, first identified in the 1970s, remain elusive. But knowing where the virus came from could help prevent future outbreaks of viruses from wild animals. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Ambassador of Ukraine to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Vasyl Kyrylych discussed with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bisera Turkovic the access of Ukrainian experts to the Orthodox icon, around which the scandal arose, and its return to Ukraine. "I and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bisera Turkovic discussed the return of the icon to Ukraine. I hope for prompt determination of the date of arrival of Ukrainian experts in Sarajevo and assistance in the access to the Ukrainian icon for them," Kyrylych posted on Twitter. The ambassador also said that he had discussed with the Prosecutor General of Bosnia and Herzegovina the issues of cooperation between the two sides in the case of the icon. "The Prosecutor General assured that a large number of investigative actions had been carried out in this case," Kyrylych informed. As reported, a scandal over an Orthodox icon of Ukrainian origin arose when Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik presented it to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on December 14, 2020. On December 17, the Embassy of Ukraine in Bosnia and Herzegovina sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request to provide information on the origin of the gilded ancient icon donated to Lavrov. On December 21, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine analyzed the image of a mark on the icon published in the media and found out its origin. The mark turned out to be a seal of the Odesa Regional Commission for the Protection of Monuments of Material Culture and Nature, established at the Odesa Historical and Archaeological Museum in 1926. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia later said it had returned the icon to the BiH embassy to investigate its origin with the participation of Interpol. The Bosnian ambassador to Moscow said he had personally brought the icon from Moscow and handed it over to Milorad Dodiks office. ol Maryland Episcopal church to give $500,000 in reparations for social justice causes Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An Episcopal church in Maryland has announced that it will be donating $500,000 to reparations and social justice organizations over the next five years. Memorial Episcopal Church of Baltimore released a statement on Monday announcing that the funds would go into the Guy T. Hollyday Memorial Justice and Reparations Initiative. The initiatives namesake, Hollyday, was an activist who campaigned on behalf of issues including civil rights, environmentalism, and the LGBT movement. The funds will go to various organizations that focus on housing inequality, education, civic involvement, and environmental issues. According to the statement, the decision to fund these organizations as reparations derived from the knowledge that the church had a history of being supported by slave-owners. Since 2017 this parish community has focused on uncovering the truth of our past and studying the true impact that Memorial inflicted on our neighbors through housing segregation and redlining, disenfranchisement of black voters, and inequity in school and youth programs here in Baltimore, stated the Rev. Grey Maggiano, rector at Memorial Episcopal. As a faith community dedicated to social justice, we acknowledge how our history has shaped our present reality. This initiative is one more step toward repairing that harm. Memorial Episcopal has also removed plaques dedicated to its slave-owning founders and has commissioned an artist to create an art piece to honor the founding rectors slaves. In recent years, many churches and Christian schools in the United States have grappled with how to handle having histories that included supporting slavery and racial segregation. Last October, the Minnesota Council of Churches announced that it was creating a 10-year plan to educate residents about racism and offer reparations to minority communities. The Rev. Stacey Smith, the presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Minnesota and MCC board member, told the Star Tribune that we have a responsibility to respond as a church and talk about these things. There has been such a vacuum of missing stories, not only from black and brown people, but indigenous people and others, Smith said last year. When it comes to the general debate over reparations for slavery, many, including John Carpenter of Covenant Reformed Baptist Church in Yanceyville, North Carolina, have denounced the idea. Calling for reparations ignores the enormous sacrifice already given to end slavery and the (failed) attempt to re-organize the South (i.e. reconstruction), like the 300,000 lives lost, Carpenter posted to Twitter in 2019. I dont know if those calling for reparations are intentionally race baiting but I dont see how they cannot see that their campaign is certain to inflame racial animosity. Its irresponsible. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 10:41:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's biggest goods export, dairy products, fell 377 million NZ dollars (270 million U.S. dollars), or 19 percent, in December 2020, compared with the same month in 2019, the statistics department Stats NZ said on Thursday. The drop in dairy exports was mainly due to a fall in sales to New Zealand's biggest export market, China, according to Stats NZ. Total dairy exports to China fell 21 percent to 740 million NZ dollars in December 2020. This was led by falls in milk powder, it said. "This is also the first time in six years that there has been a fall in dairy product exports to China in the December month," international trade manager Alasdair Allen said in a statement. The large fall in dairy exports was a key factor in total exports falling 149 million NZ dollars in December 2020 compared with December 2019, Allen said, adding dairy export values and volumes both fell in December, compared with the same month a year before. Typically, monthly dairy exports rise towards the end of the year, with a peak in December, Allen said, adding, "For the first time since 2008, dairy exports fell between November and December." Dairy exports fell in the month despite a slight rise in milk production in the 2019-2020 season, with dairy cow herd numbers relatively steady, he said. Leading the total falls in December 2020 were milk powder, butter and milk fats, he added. Enditem Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 5:12 pm Riverside Fire Authority is running an Emergency Medical Services levy renewal on Feb. 9, and I encourage your voting in favor of this request. I have had an optometric practice in Centralia for 40 years now and have utilized the fire districts EMS teams multiple times with very successful results. I was most impressed with their speed of response and the manner in which they interplayed with American Medical Response units to quickly determine who needed timely life support actions or required transport to Providence Centralia Hospital, leaving the other unit available for service. I became the newest member of the RFA Board of Commissioners a year ago and have witnessed the high level of fiscal responsibility that the administration has used over the last year to provide 3,081 EMS calls with a seven-minute response time to a 184 square-mile service area containing over 24,000 residents. This levy is a six-year replacement for one approved in 2015 that is now expiring. It continues the funding for EMS personnel, their vehicles with maintenance costs, their medical equipment, ongoing training and dispatch fees. This is not a new tax but rather a continuation of funding for emergency medical services that I have seen firsthand aid local residents in periods of medical crisis when prompt professional actions were crucial. As a healthcare provider, I appreciate the quality of EMS professionalism RFA personnel provide, and as a commissioner, I am impressed with the manner in which their funding is managed. As a voter, I am not only supporting this levy but will make sure to return my ballot to pass it. I urge you to do the same. Dr. Joseph Dolezal Commissioner, Riverside Fire Authority Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 A team of experts from the World Health Organisation left quarantine in Wuhan on Thursday to begin a heavily scrutinised probe into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, after Washington urged a robust and clear investigation. The group started a two-week quarantine on arrival on January 14 in the central Chinese city where the first known cluster of virus cases emerged in late 2019. Wearing masks, they peered at the ranks of waiting media from the window of a bus which whisked them from the quarantine to another hotel on Thursday although it was not immediately clear when and where their investigation will start. So proud to graduate from our 14 days no-one went stir crazy & weve been v productive, tweeted team member Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, a global NGO focused on infectious disease prevention. The virus is believed to have come from bats and to have initially spread from a wet market in Wuhan where wild animals were sold as food. The WHO insists the visit will be tightly tethered to the science of how the virus which has killed more than two million people jumped from animals to humans. Political But in a sign of the political baggage attached to their mission, U.S. President Joe Bidens new administration weighed in before the experts had even finished quarantine. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, new White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said it was imperative we get to the bottom of how the virus appeared and spread worldwide. Psaki voiced concern over misinformation from some sources in China and urged a robust and clear probe. Beijing snapped back on Thursday, warning the United States to respect facts and science, respect the hard work of the WHO experts. They must be allowed to work free from political interference, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. But in a mission dogged by delays and obfuscation from their Chinese hosts, it was not clear what the expert team will be allowed to see in Wuhan or what useful evidence remains a year after the outbreak in a country which has vigorously controlled the narrative of how the pandemic began. The early days of the outbreak remain among the most sensitive topics in China today, with the Communist leadership seeking to stamp out any discussion that shows its governance in a poor light. Beijing has also sought to seed doubt into the origin story, floating the unsubstantiated theory that the virus emerged elsewhere. Theories Another theory, amplified by former U.S. president Donald Trump, is that it leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan where researchers were studying coronaviruses. Relatives of Wuhans coronavirus dead have called for a meeting with the team from the UN health agency, saying they have been facing new levels of official obstruction since the WHO team arrived. According to official Chinese figures the virus killed nearly 3,900 in Wuhan, accounting for the vast majority of the 4,636 dead China has reported. China is taking no risks in bringing a resurgence of the virus to heel, conducting anal swabs, localised lockdowns and cancelling flights as it makes travel before the Lunar New Year difficult. ADVERTISEMENT France 24 is PREMIUM TIMES syndication partner. We have permission to republish. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 21:05:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- It is an impossible task to contain China, a Chinese military spokesperson said Thursday. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query on the military relations between China and the United States during and after the Trump administration. China-U.S. relations experienced severe difficulties during the Trump administration, with the military ties between the two sides facing numerous risks and challenges, Wu noted. "Facts have proven that to contain China is a mission impossible and will only end up shooting oneself in the foot," Wu said. Wu called on the new U.S. administration to work with the Chinese side, in the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, to strengthen dialogue, focus on cooperation, and manage and control divergences, so as to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral ties. At the beginning of the year, the two militaries carried out practical exchanges on several occasions, Wu said, noting that the two sides held a video-based work meeting on searching for the remains of American war captives and missing persons on Jan. 26 and 27, which demonstrated the importance China attaches to the humanitarian concerns of the U.S. side. Wu called on the United States to work with China toward the same goal, properly address China's concerns related to bilateral military ties, and push their military relations forward along the right track. Enditem Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumour beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia A team of researchers with members from institutions in the U.S., Sweden and Taiwan has developed an artificial intelligence system for predicting breast cancer years before tumors appear. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes how they developed and trained their system and how well it worked when tested. Artificial intelligence applications have made inroads to medical diagnostics in recent yearsthey can be trained to look for cancer or other conditions by training them on thousands of examples. Once trained, many have demonstrated good performance in real-world applications. In this new effort, the researchers have taken the science further by building an AI application to detect conditions in tissue that may lead to cancer in the future. For many years, medical scientists have been looking for ways to determine breast cancer risk. Some DNA studies have led to the discovery of variants that increase the risk of developing the disease. Other studies have used a variety of factors along with analytics to predict risk, but thus far, they have not proven to be accurate enough. In this new effort, the researchers used mammogram data for women who had been screened multiple times over several years. They trained the system to study the mammogram histories of women that had eventually developed breast cancer and then used the system to predict breast cancer risk of women in the future based on their own mammogram historical data. Testing of the system, which the team named Miria, occurred over five yearsenough time to determine if women tested at the beginning of the study developed breast cancer or not. The researchers found that Mirai had correctly predicted the development of cancer in 41.5% of those women who had gone on to develop tumors within five years. They note that other prediction methods have tested closer to 36%. Testing included women from several races and the team found that Mirai worked equally well on all of them, suggesting that the system could be used on a diverse population. Explore further Risk assessment and prevention of breast cancer More information: Adam Yala et al. Toward robust mammography-based models for breast cancer risk, Science Translational Medicine (2021). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Adam Yala et al. Toward robust mammography-based models for breast cancer risk,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba4373 2021 Science X Network Credit: CC0 Public Domain Researchers from Western University, Indiana University, and Washington State University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that uses the idea of psychological distance as a way to leverage qualities of existing consumer-brand relationships. The study, forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing, is titled "They're Just Not That Into You: How to Leverage Existing Consumer-Brand Relationships through Social Psychological Distance" and is authored by Scott Connors, Mansur Khamitov, Matthew Thomson, and Andrew Perkins. Marketing managers want consumers to form strong connections with their brands. This is reflected in the prevailing brand-management approaches that seek to continually move consumers from weak relationships to stronger ones where the consumer is more attached, connected to, or in love with a brand. But a scan of the marketplace and the branding literature makes it clear that such relationships are rare and that many consumers are relationship-averse or content with the status quo. That is, many consumers likely are unreceptive to marketers' relationship-strengthening tactics. The implication is that marketers are often fixated on building the types of relationships that countless consumers simply do not want, in essence choosing a potentially wasteful relationship-upgrading strategy unaligned with consumer preferences. This study highlights the value for marketers to embrace the relationship status quo. As Connors explains, "We are the first to show advantages, like increased consumer spending, by employing communication tactics tailored to consumers' existing relationships with the brand. We focus on the idea of psychological distance as a way of conceptualizing how close to or far from a brand that consumers themselves feel. We build on the idea that nearly all current approaches to assessing the strength of consumer-brand relationships are tied to this psychological distance." Because it is such a pervasive idea, and because it can be measured robustly with a single, theoretically-informed item, psychological distance has exceptional practical power. For example, the research shows that if managers understand the psychological distance between consumers and brands, they can match that distance with different kinds of language in their marketing communications to form a mindset congruency. When the psychological distance to a brand and choice of language are congruent, information about that brand is more easily processed, which improves outcomes like brand spending and charitable donations. Khamitov adds, "Specifically, if consumers feel psychologically distant to a brand, we find they respond better to abstract, high-level language, whereas we find that concrete language is preferred among consumers who feel very close to a brand." As an example, one of the studies finds that for more distant brands, donations were 67% higher when an advertisement featured high-level, abstract (compared to low-level, concrete) language, whereas for closer brands, donations were 88% higher when the ad featured low-level, concrete (as compared to high-level, abstract) language. Another study documents that for more distant brands, consumers paid 35% more for a product when they saw an ad featuring abstract (versus concrete) language, but for close brands, consumers paid 28% more when the ad featured concrete (versus abstract) language. The research also identifies conditions that make these mindset-congruency effects more or less likely to emerge. For example, the mindset congruency effect operates only in conditions where consumers are at least modestly involved with a particular product category. "We surmise that consumers who are very uninvolved with a category simply do not care enough to pay attention to marketing communications about associated products. Similarly, if a brand already has a deeply entrenched position in the marketplace, such as where the brand is thought of as extremely competent or extremely warm, we find that consumers' perception of the brand resists updating. In those instances, no strategic alteration of marketing communications is likely to break through consumers' robust prior beliefs about the brand," says Thomson. Perhaps most interesting, for brands characterized predominantly by search attributesthose where qualities of the brand can be determined prior to purchase (versus experience attributes that require a consumer to use a brand to properly evaluate it)the mindset congruency effect is reversed. In those instances, marketers should focus on abstract (concrete) language for close (distant) search brands. Overall, the study's combination of field and lab studies presents a simple, yet powerful, theoretical and empirical account that allows marketers to leverage qualities of existing consumer-brand relationships rather than attempting the expensive and often ineffective strategy of 'upgrading' consumers into new and ever more committed relationships. Explore further Why consumers hide and unlike brands on Facebook More information: Scott Connors et al, EXPRESS: They're Just Not that into You: How to Leverage Existing Consumer-Brand Relationships through Social Psychological Distance, Journal of Marketing (2020). Journal information: Journal of Marketing Scott Connors et al, EXPRESS: They're Just Not that into You: How to Leverage Existing Consumer-Brand Relationships through Social Psychological Distance,(2020). DOI: 10.1177/0022242920984492 WEST BRANCH, MI Funeral arrangements have been announced for three members of a Bay City family who were found deceased in rural Ogemaw County, while police continue looking for answers in their deaths. Autopsies on the bodies of Douglas M. Dougherty, Amanda N. Pomeroy, and their 8-month-old son Jacob Dougherty are scheduled to take place Wednesday, Jan. 27, said Ogemaw County Sheriff Brian Gilbert. Were hoping to get something today, Gilbert said. Were just basing our investigation off of that right now. We dont want to assume anything. (The autopsies) are going to enlighten us. The family was last seen Jan. 12, visiting family in Rose City and were reported missing on Jan. 16. Deputies had been following leads on the missing family when, on the afternoon of Jan. 23, a snowmobiler going through some woods came across the familys pickup truck, Gilbert said. The snowmobiler stopped and found all three deceased outside the vehicle. It appeared the truck had been stuck on a large rock and Dougherty was trying to get it unstuck, Gilbert said. The sheriff said there were no obvious signs of foul play. He could not say how long the bodies had been where they were found. There are a lot of unanswered questions, he said. Gilbert confirmed that Dougherty and Pomeroy had 9-year-old daughter, Michelle, dropped off by her parents at a friends house on Jan. 11. Thank goodness she wasnt with them, the sheriff said. According to a joint obituary for all three, the family had lived in Bay City for the past year and a half. Both Dougherty, 35, and Pomeroy, 32, had attended Ogemaw Heights High School. Dougherty enjoyed camping, fishing and loved his children, the obituary states. Pomeroy worked as a waitress at two restaurants and at a West Branch fruit and meat market. She enjoyed camping, being a mother and raising her two children, the obituary states. Jacob Dougherty, described in the obituary as a happy and joyful baby, had been born in Bay City on May 21. A memorial visitation is to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home, 109 E. Houghton Ave. in West Branch. A GoFundMe campaign has also been started to cover funeral costs, with any remaining funds going toward Dougherty and Pomeroys surviving daughter. The campaign has received $2,652 from 72 donors as of 10:23 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Read more: Missing Bay City family found dead in northern Michigan Police looking for missing Bay City couple and infant son Police still looking for person who killed Saginaw father of two The state's COVID-19 tracker acknowledges that the data does not include deaths that occurred outside of the facility. There have been more than 8,700 confirmed or presumed COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, but it's believed that the death toll would be much higher if it included residents who were transferred to hospitals before they died. Ortt, a western New York Republican, thinks Zucker should resign because the state Department of Health betrayed the public's trust by not releasing the data. Helming, a Republican who represents a portion of Auburn and several towns in Cayuga County, agrees. "I have lost faith in (Zucker's) ability to lead this critical agency and provide information that can be trusted," she said. Oberacker, R-Schenevus, also supports calls for Zucker's resignation. But he also believes that subpoenas should be issued and wants an independent investigation. "The report from the attorney general proves what we already knew bad policies emanating from the governor's administration greatly jeopardized the health and well-being of our most vulnerable," he said. "Both Governor Cuomo and his health commissioner have dodged questions relating to COVID-related deaths in our nursing homes, hidden the true statistics and advanced policies that contributed to increased casualties." Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP. (CSE: CCC) (FSE: 1OZA) (OTC Pink: DLRYF) ("Carlyle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of its first drilling program at the Cecilia Project has been slated for early February 2021. The work program will test the un-drilled San Jose structure on the Cerro Magallanes target where recent sampling returned values up to 48.3 g/t gold over 0.75 m at surface (out of 21 samples; see press release of November 18, 2020 and website shows video of the project). As project operator, Riverside Resources has planned a total of 6 drill holes designed to test down to roughly 250 m in depth between 2,200 m and 1,900 m elevation over the Cerro Magallanes rhyolitic dome. This target is one out of five major targets on the 7,000 hectares (70 sq. km) claim block in the prolific gold and copper mining region of northern Sonora, Mexico. Carlyle's President and CEO, Morgan Good, commented, "Carlyle is excited to report the 2021 kick-off of its initial drill campaign with its partner Riverside at the gold-silver Cecilia Project for early February. After several months of phase one exploration work, which returned excellent high-grade gold values from channel sampling not only confirming historical results, but it has given the Company the confidence it's been seeking to maximize success while drilling the highest priority targets possible." Riverside's President and CEO, John-Mark Staude, stated, "We are starting 2021 strong with an exciting drill program at the Cecilia Project. Recent exploration work has demonstrated the potential for high-grade gold mineralization at structural intersections namely the San Jose fault and the Agua Prieta structural corridor. Further work on the other target areas later this year can continue as well as progressing the Cerro Magallanes area." Recent underground sampling has returned positive results, which demonstrate the value of drill testing the area of Cerro Magallanes. Additionally, geophysical survey work, primarily Induced Polarization (IP) and magnetics have highlighted the targets already identified by the field crews (see press releases dated September 21, 2020 and November 18, 2020). This work shows the significance of the northwestern and northeastern structures as fluid migration paths. The intersection of structures is often where gold bearing fluids are concentrated and could lead to discoveries of high-grade zones. Carlyle and Riverside have planned the drilling program to target, at depth, the high-grade gold system that was identified at surface during its first-phase exploration program (see press release of June 6, 2017). These drill results are expected to increase our knowledge on potentially larger targets related to the dome margin complex, a deposit type known for hosting multi-million ounces of gold and silver. Analogs include projects such as La Pitarrilla Deposit in Durango held by SSR Mining and San Julian Mine of Fresnillo. While the mineralization at Cecilia is predominantly gold-rich, the flow-dome related Ag-Pb-Zn(-Au) deposits of north-central Mexico represent important geological models for exploration at Cecilia. Drilling of these potential targets will be tested in subsequent drill programs. Figure 1: 3D block diagram of the Cerro Magallanes rhyolite dome target, showing vertical magnetic processing and a long-section along the San Jose Target which is intersected by the La Cueva/Agua Prieta northeast trending fault zone. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6130/73001_a385e8f56453ea83_001full.jpg Qualified Person & QA/QC Harrison Cookenboo Ph.D., P.Geo., and a QP by the standards of Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Rock samples from the previous exploration programs discussed above at Cecilia were taken to the Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Hermosillo, Mexico for fire assaying for gold. The rejects remained with Bureau Veritas in Mexico while the pulps were transported to Bureau Veritas laboratory in Vancouver, BC, Canada for 45 element ICP/ES-MS analysis. A QA/QC program was implemented as part of the sampling procedures for the exploration program. Standard samples were randomly inserted into the sample stream prior to being sent to the laboratory. About Carlyle Carlyle is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resource properties. The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Cecilia Gold-Silver Project located in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Carlyle formed a strategic partnership with HDI and has formed a 50-50 joint venture with HDI affiliate United Mineral Services Ltd. on the Mack Project and has an option to earn a 50% interest in the Jake project, both located in B.C., as well owns 100% of The Newton Gold Project in the Clinton Mining Division of B.C. The Company also wholly owns the Star, Porcher, Peneece and Blackie Fe-Ti-V properties located along tidewater in western B.C. and holds an option to earn a 100% interest in the promising Sunset property located in the Vancouver Mining Division near Pemberton, B.C. Carlyle is based in Vancouver, B.C., and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CCC". ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CARLYLE COMMODITIES CORP. "Morgan Good" Morgan Good Chief Executive Officer For more information regarding this news release, please contact: Morgan Good, CEO and Director T: 604-715-4751 E: morgan@carlylecommodities.com W: www.carlylecommodities.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, the exercise of the Company's option on Cecilia Project, the expected results of the Program, and any plans for further exploration of the Cecilia Project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will exercise its option on the Mack Project and form the joint venture with UMS (or its assigns), that the results of the work to be conducted on the Cecilia Project will be satisfactory to warrant further exploration, that market fundamentals will support the viability of gold and other precious mineral exploration of the Cecilia Project, the availability of the financing required for the Company to carry out its planned future activities, and the Company's ability to retain and attract qualified personnel. 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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include the inability of the Company to exercise its option on the Cecilia Project, execute its proposed business plans, and carry out planned future activities. The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, also poses new risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. Other factors may also adversely affect the future results or performance of the Company, including general economic, market or business conditions, future prices of gold or other precious metals, changes in the financial markets and in the demand for gold or other precious metals, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the mineral exploration industry, and risks related to the Company's investments and operations in the mineral exploration sector, as well as the risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the Company's Qualified Person, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE 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/73001 A man has been charged with manslaughter more than a year after a woman was shot in the stomach at a Gold Coast home and later died in hospital. One hour before she was shot, the 27-year-old victim, Ivona Jovanovic, had been playing with her dog and watching the sunlight fade over the ocean at Burleigh Beach. Ivona Jovanovic died in hospital on Sunday after being shot at a Gold Coast home. Credit:Instagram She also uploaded a photo and videos of her and her dog to her Instagram page at the time. Emergency services were called to the residence on Renfrew Drive at Highland Park about 8.30pm on Sunday, September 9, 2019, in response to reports of a woman with a gunshot wound. Singaporean youth intending to mirror Christchurch attacks in Woodlands Mosques detained A 16-year-old male Singaporean secondary school student was detained in December 2020 under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for planning and preparing to conduct a terrorist attack using a machete against Muslims at two mosques in Woodlands in Singapore. The Protestant Christian youth of Indian ethnicity, is the first detainee to be inspired by far-right extremist ideology and the youngest individual to-date dealt with under the ISA for terrorism-related activities in Singapore. Acting on intelligence, the authorities arrested the boy last year, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said. Self Radicalisation Self-radicalised, he was motivated by a strong antipathy towards Islam and a fascination with violence said the press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Singapore. He watched the live-streamed video of the terrorist attack on the two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand; read the manifesto of the Christchurch attacker, Brenton Harrison Tarrant (Tarrant); watched Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) propaganda videos, and came to the erroneous conclusion that ISIS represented Islam, and that Islam called on its followers to kill non-believers. This is a dangerous new development.Far-right extremism is growing in many parts of the world, and seeping into Singapore as well said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam Influenced by far-right extremism From the attack plans and preparations it was evident that he was influenced by Tarrants actions and manifesto. He planned to conduct the attack exactly two years after far-right extremist Tarrant live streamed the massacre of more than 50 Muslims at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019. Before deciding on the machete as his attack weapon, the youth had explored various other options including an original plan to use a rifle similar to that used by Tarrant. Despite finding a prospective seller via a private chat platform he did not follow through with the purchase when he suspected it was a scam. He persistently searched for firearms online, and only gave up the idea when he realised that it would be difficult to get his hands on one given Singapores strict gun-control laws. He also explored making a Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) bomb, and mimicking Tarrants plan of setting fire to the mosques with gasoline. He eventually dropped both ideas due to logistical and personal safety concerns. To prepare himself for the knife attack, the youth had watched YouTube videos in order to be able to hit the arteries of his targets and had found his choice machete online but had not purchased it yet. Although he was underage and did not know how to drive, he planned to steal his fathers credit card to rent a BlueSG electric car to travel between the two mosques. Investigations showed that he had watched videos on how to drive and how to rent a BlueSG car. He then researched legal means of gaining access to firearms in Singapore and even considered joining the Singapore Rifle Association, but abandoned the idea given the difficulty of getting a firearm here. Planning a Copycat attack Firstly he planned to carry out his attacks on 15 March 2021, the anniversary of the Christchurch attacks. He chose Assyafaah Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque as his targets, because they were near his home. He conducted online reconnaissance and research on both mosques to prepare for the attack. Secondly, like Tarrant, the youth intended to drive between the two attack sites, and therefore devised a plan to procure a vehicle to use during the attack. Thirdly, he bought a tactical vest from an online platform, and intended to adorn the vest with right-wing extremist symbols, and modify it so that he could strap on his mobile device to live stream the attack, just like Tarrant. In further imitation of Tarrant, the youth had prepared two documents that he intended to disseminate prior to his attacks. The first was a message to the people of France, which he drafted after the attack against Christians in a church in Nice, France, on 29 Oct 2020. In the message, he called on the French people to stand up for what is right, claiming that we cannot let them [i.e. Muslims] lurk in our bushes and wait for them to attack. He referred to his intended attacks as a massacre, an act of vengeance and a call for war against Islam. He also referred to readers as a great audience, in reference to his intention to live stream his attacks. The second document, which was still unfinished when the youth was arrested, was a manifesto detailing his hatred for Islam and his belief that violence should never be solved with peace, because peace, while moral, is nowhere near effective as violence. He also expressed hope that my act of extremism or some would call a justifiable act of violence would cause a change in those who believe that Islamic extremism is right. The draft borrowed heavily from Tarrants manifesto and referred to Tarrant as a saint and the Christchurch attacks as a justifiable killing of Muslims. Intelligence Gathering The detailed planning and preparation attests to the youths determination to follow through with his attack plan the press release said. The youth admitted during the investigation that he could only foresee two outcomes to his plan that he is arrested before he is able to carry out the attacks, or he executes the plan and is thereafter killed by the Police. ISDs investigation to-date indicates that the youth had acted alone. There was also no indication that he had tried to influence anyone with his extreme outlook or involve others in his attack plans. His immediate family and others in his social circles were not aware of his attack plans and the depth of his hatred for Islam. Rehabilitation ISD said that the boys mother and an appropriate adult were present during the investigation before his arrest given his young age. He was granted family visits, even though such visits are not typically allowed in the first 30 days of such probes. The boy will undergo a rehabilitation process that will involve religious, psychological and social counselling. Mentoring will also be provided to guide him on pro-social behaviour and arrangements made for him to continue his education while in detention. Vigilance is key This case demonstrates yet again that extreme ideas can find resonance among and radicalise Singaporeans, regardless of race or religion. It is a threat to all of us and our way of life. We must remain vigilant to signs that someone around us may have become radicalised, so that we can intervene early to avert a tragedy, ISD said. Anyone with information in this regard should promptly contact the ISD Counter-Terrorism Centre hotline 1800-2626-473 (1800-2626-ISD). MHA urged the public to stay alert to suspicious items and individuals and to inform the authorities by calling 999, sending an SMS to 71999 or using the Report function in the SGSecure application. Members of the public are also encouraged to familiarise themselves with SGSecure advisories such as Run, Hide, Tell and Press, Tie, Tell. These advisories provide important information on what to do in the event of a terror attack, and how to render first aid to those around you says MHA. Dean Wells has jumped to the defence of Bachelorette star Elly Miles after she received backlash for attending an Australia Day pool party just hours after going to a change the date protest. Commenting on Instagram, the Married At First Sight bad boy said that Elly didn't need to say sorry for anything after she issued an apology for the incident. 'Nothing to apologise for, Elly,' the 43-year-old wrote. Knight in shining armour! Dean Wells (left) has jumped to the defence of Elly Miles (right) after she received backlash for attending an Australia Day pool party just hours after going to a change the date protest 'You can be supportive of indigenous Australia and still have fun on your day off. What is she supposed to do? Sit in a corner moping all day? This Australia Day shaming is absurd,' he added. The comment received almost 170 likes and sparked a fierce debate in the replies section, with some agreeing with Dean while others said he was being ignorant. 'You can't sit on two sides of the fence with this,' one person argued. 'You can't condemn a date and then celebrate it. You're a smart guy, Dean. You know exactly why influencers are being called out.' Speaking out: His comment (pictured) received almost 170 likes and sparked a fierce debate in the replies section, with some agreeing with Dean while others said he was being ignorant Dean is known for his politically incorrect opinions, which he regularly shares on his YouTube show Dangerous Ideas with Deano. Elly received backlash after delivering a sombre speech about how painful Australia Day can be for Indigenous people, shortly before downing shots at a boozy backyard bash. Addressing the furore in an Instagram post on Wednesday, the 26-year-old nurse wrote: 'To answer people's comments from yesterday, there is nothing else I can say in this situation other than "I am sorry". Remorseful: Addressing the furore in an Instagram post on Wednesday, the 26-year-old nurse issued an emotional apology 'I had a complete lapse of judgment and have a lot of regret for my actions. I sincerely apologise for upsetting anyone,' she added. 'I stand by my attendance at the Change the Date protest and feel that it is an incredibly important issue. I truly wasn't being insincere with my attendance. 'I know how it looks, we all make mistakes - I made one yesterday and all I can say once again, from the bottom of my heart, is that I truly am sorry.' Regrets: 'I had a complete lapse of judgment and have a lot of regret for my actions. I sincerely apologise for upsetting anyone,' she wrote The Bondi influencer had uploaded a video of herself on Tuesday morning delivering a sombre speech about how painful Australia Day can be for Indigenous people, before sharing a photo from an 'Invasion Day' protest in Sydney. Just hours later, however, she raised eyebrows by documenting herself attending a wild Australia Day pool party. The rather tone-deaf sequence of events wasn't lost on Elly's Instagram followers, many of whom accused her of being a hypocrite. 'Beyond tone deaf': Elly was slammed for sharing an 'Invasion Day' message on Instagram (left) - just hours before attending a wild Australia Day pool party (right) One fan wrote: 'Just a little contradicting and confusing to be posting about your support with changing the date and then heading to what one can assume would be an Australia Day party... as it's a party on Australia Day? 'I hope you acknowledge this. I'll be eager to see your reasoning.' Another commented on Elly's Instagram page: 'It is very upsetting to see you post a change the date post on this day of mourning, yet you go to an Australia Day party the same day. This is so disappointing and beyond tone deaf.' 'Be the change': On Tuesday morning, the Bondi influencer, 26, uploaded a video of herself delivering a sombre speech about how painful Australia Day can be for Indigenous people, before attending an 'Invasion Day' protest in Sydney (pictured) Other followers accused Elly of feigning empathy for Indigenous people to improve her public image as an influencer. 'Your manager must have reminded you to give some lip service and a quick pic and then off to get blind and party. Performative influencers,' one fan grumbled. Another agreed: 'I feel like these influencers say something about it just to say they did. Maybe because they'll cop s**t if they don't?' In her speech on Tuesday morning, Elly told fans 'it would just be so good if we could change the date' and insisted she would love 'everybody in Australia to celebrate Australia on a day that isn't severely traumatic and awful for our Indigenous cultures'. Not a care in the world! That afternoon, Elly shared a far more upbeat video of herself attending a backyard pool party She even said she had gone out of her way to start 'conversations' with her 'Indigenous friends' about what Invasion Day means to them. 'If you feel like you don't know enough, have a conversation. Like start a conversation, that's how my view has changed,' she said. 'Because growing up I had celebrated Australia Day but I just didn't know any better. And it took me to have conversations with some Indigenous friends and work colleagues for me to truly understand the meaning of the day for Indigenous culture, and it's not good,' she added. 'Just a little contradicting and confusing': The rather tone-deaf sequence of events wasn't lost on Elly's Instagram followers, many of whom accused her of being a hypocrite A few hours after this thoughtful speech, Elly shared a far more upbeat video of herself attending a backyard pool party. 'Get me to the pool,' Elly wrote as she posed in a bathrobe and snakeskin bikini. Throughout the festivities, Elly was seen drinking with pals, taking shots of tequila and posing for busty mirror selfies. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested three Africans and a man from Kerala in two separate cases of drug peddling under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on Wednesday. The CCB said it had seized around 500 grams of MDMA from Diomande, 34, a native of Ivory Coast, and Nissan alias Nizam, 35, of Kannur, Kerala. Three mobile phones, a weighing machine and a motorbike were also seized. The seized contraband is worth Rs 25 lakh. The CCB said it made the arrests following a tip and that it believed the duo had been peddling drugs for more than a year now. Diomande became friends with Nissan at the latter's tea stall in Yelahanka. Nissan learnt Diomande was into drug peddling and showed interest in joining the business. According to the CCB, Nissan's brother is also a suspected drug peddler who was arrested in Yelahanka a month ago. He is currently lodged in the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara. The brothers allegedly sourced drugs from Africans and sold them to trusted customers in the city. Diomande had arrived in Bengaluru on a tourist visa but overstayed it. The CCB has taken both of them into custody for further investigation. The CCB arrested Nigerians Denis Kalu, 35, and Ude Isaiah, 57, in Kattigenahalli on January 23 and seized 100 grams of MDMA, besides four mobile phones and a weighing machine from them. According to the CCB, the Nigerians had come to India on a medical visa but overstayed it. They had been allegedly peddling drugs since 2017. They were previously arrested by Kothanur police and released on bail. Two years after police officers stormed into a home in southeast Houston, the relatives of the couple killed in the raid filed long-anticipated lawsuits against the city and police officers involved. Lawyers argued that more than a dozen current and former officers violated the civil rights of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas by using excessive, deadly force in a fraudulent police action. And they accused city officials of continuing to stonewall efforts to obtain information. After two years of fighting, there's still some very basic questions that can and should be answered, said attorney Mike Doyle, who is representing Nicholas relatives. The suits detailed accusations of police misconduct before, during and after the raid, but the facts about what happened in the moments in which two people were killed and four wounded remain murky. Most of the allegations repeat information in criminal charges filed by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and Houston Chronicle stories that first detailed reports of police misconduct. The federal lawsuits come on the second anniversary of the Jan. 28, 2019 drug raid, in which officers from HPDs Squad 15, a group of street level drug cops, executed a no-knock warrant on Tuttles home at 7815 Harding St. Gunfire ensued, leading to the deaths of Tuttle and Nicholas and injuries to four officers. In the aftermath of the operation, police investigators determined that Gerald Goines, the officer who led the raid, lied about buying drugs from a man at Tuttles home. So far, 12 current and former officers have been indicted with crimes stemming from the investigation into the raid. Two men, Gerald Goines and Felipe Gallegos, are charged with murder. Eleven current and former officers have been charged with crimes such as tampering with government records or lying to pad their overtime earnings. Prosecutors said they believed as many as 150 of Goines cases might need to be overturned and three people have seen their convictions reversed. After Gallegos was indicted earlier this week, his attorney described him as a hero and said the squad of officers had not known Goines had lied to obtain the warrant they were executing. Doyle argued that the city of Houston and Houston police officers used excessive, deadly force, violating Tuttle and Nicholas constitutional rights, in a pattern of misconduct that plays out like a scene from Training Day. Mayor Sylvester Turner defended the citys police, saying the majority of HPDs 5,300 officers do an outstanding job, and said the lawsuit would have to run its course. You cannot tarnish, you cannot stain the entire force of any organization because of the acts of the few, he said. Im very proud of the men and women of HPD. Courtesty Acevedo declined to comment, citing the pending court fight. Houston Police Officers Union President Douglas Griffith questioned the timing of the lawsuit, which came days after Ogg announced indictments against several of the officers tied to the raid. It seems almost like it was planned, he said. At a Thursday morning newsconference just east of downtown at the Talento Bilingue De Houston, Nicholas brother said the ordeal has taken a toll on his aging mother. Chief Acevedo keeps saying we had a reason to be there. It's taken you two years to find that reason? My mother would like to know, he said. We won't quit til we get answers. If we get an answer in one day, or 10 years from now, my mother said she will live til she gets the answers. Doyle said the litigation came after two years of efforts from the family to get information about the raid, but police officials didnt answer basic questions, blocked records requests, and fought other efforts (such as hearings in probate court) to obtain additional details. I don't think anybody feels uncomfortable calling at this point a cover-up, he said, Chief Art Acevedo today could release this ballistics information. He could release the facts, the physical evidence. He can do it today. And if he won't do it, the mayor could do it. WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the nation's key non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue, announced Ambassador Mark Green will take the helm as President, Director and CEO. Green joins Wilson after serving as executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, and before that, as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). "Mark's experience and accomplishments have prepared him well to be the next leader of the Wilson Center," said Wilson Board Chair Governor Bill Haslam. "He understands Washington, has had deep involvement in representing the United States around the world, and grasps the challenge in translating policy into action. The board is excited to introduce Mark Green as our new leader." "While it is difficult to leave the great team at the McCain Institute and the work it's doing to apply 'character-driven leadership' to a range of important challenges, I am excited about the opportunity to join the Wilson Center and to build on the great work of Jane Harman and its world-renowned scholars," said Green. Green also served in top roles at the International Republican Institute, the Initiative for Global Development, and at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. He was the U.S. ambassador to Tanzania from 2007 to 2009. Green served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 8th District. "I'm pleased to learn the Wilson Center's board of directors has recommended Ambassador Mark Green to serve as the next president and CEO. Ambassador Green brings a wealth of diverse experience to this role at a time when we face a multitude of global challenges that require creative thinking, strong leadership, and bi-partisan policy engagement," said U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "I am excited to learn my friend Mark Green is assuming responsibilities as the Director, President, and CEO of the Wilson Center," said U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). "Mark brings years of knowledge and experience as a Member of Congress, Ambassador, and USAID Administrator to this important role. With so many pressing challenges facing the United States, I look forward to working with him to enhance the Wilson Center's reputation as one of the leading authorities on U.S. foreign policy and national security." Green graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and the University of WisconsinEau Claire. He succeeds former Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA), who announced last July she was stepping down on February 28, 2021, after ten years leading the Center. "Mark is a great choice: the right experience, the right personality, and the right energy and passion for the work," said Harman. "He will soon find out why I call the Center an intellectual candy store, and I will do everything I can to make his transition seamless." The Wilson Center is ranked one of the top think tanks in the world by the University of Pennsylvania. Contact: Ryan McKenna Phone: (202) 691-4217 [email protected] SOURCE Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Related Links http://www.wilsoncenter.org Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, the G7 Ambassadors emphasised the importance of security sector reform in line with international standards. G7 Ambassadors met with Olha Stefanisyna for a broad, positive discussion on Ukraines 2021 reform plans. Among them, G7 emphasised the importance of security sector reform in line with international standards and welcomed President Zelenskys call for respect of international obligations in public procurement legislation, reads the statement of the UKs Presidency of the G7 Ambassadors Support Group in Ukraine posted on its Twitter account. As reported, in his letters to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and the Prime Minister, President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored the need to comply with Ukraines international obligations when amending the legislation in the field of public procurement. The President noted that initiatives are currently being proposed to remove the regulation of procurement of goods and services in various areas from the law on public procurement in general or from its certain provisions. ol You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Archdiocese of New Orleans on Wednesday suspended the pastor of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Treme after he was accused in a lawsuit of raping a 10-year-old boy while hearing his confession during an out-of-state retreat in 2008. The Rev. John Asare-Dankwahs suspension will remain in effect until church authorities can complete an investigation into the allegations, archdiocesan officials said in a statement. The events outlined in the nine-page lawsuit, filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court, are not purported to have occurred at St. Peter Claver, the historic church purchased in 1920 by the Josephite Fathers to serve the areas African American population. They allegedly unfolded at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Broadmoor while Asare-Dankwah was stationed there during a previous assignment. Asare-Dankwah is the third New Orleans clergyman that Archbishop Gregory Aymond has suspended from ministry in recent months after being accused of sex crimes against children. Most recently, Aymond removed the Rev. Patrick Wattigny in October after he allegedly confessed to molesting a teen boy several times beginning in 2013, which prompted the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office to arrest him. Aymond also said he would consider taking steps to force Wattigny out of the clergy altogether. In August, V.M. Wheeler was suspended from his role as a deacon following accusations that he molested a preteen boy 20 years earlier, before Wheeler was ordained. Wheeler has not been arrested but is under investigation by the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. Archdiocesan officials on Wednesday said they would notify law enforcement authorities of the claims against Asare-Dankwah as well. Asare-Dankwah could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The church's statement said he is visiting family in his native Ghana on a preplanned vacation and has been notified of the claims. Church officials also said the filing is the first time they have been alerted to the allegations against Asare-Dankwah. In the suit, attorneys for the plaintiff recount how their client was 10 years old and read frequently at Mass when he met Asare-Dankwah, who was the pastor. The plaintiff, identified by a pseudonym, said he and a group of other children later took a bus ride with Asare-Dankwah to a weeklong retreat in Montgomery, Alabama. The suit alleges that Asare-Dankwah was hearing the boy's confession in a chapel anteroom when the priest exposed himself, pulled the child close, lowered the boys pants, and told him, This will be over quickly. 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 Asare-Dankwah then allegedly raped the plaintiff. When he was done, he told the boy to get dressed and dismissed him from the chapel, the suit says. The plaintiff recalls leaving in tears and needing to share a bed with his bunkmate to fall asleep that night. According to the suit, Asare-Dankwah found the boy the next morning, dragged him out of bed and brought him into another room where they could be alone. The plaintiff says Asare-Dankwah then beat him while accusing him of being gay. He explained (that) was a great sin against God, the lawsuit says. Directly thereafter, (Asare-Dankwah) commanded him to recite the usual Catholic confessional prayers to be absolved for his sins. The plaintiff said he didnt report the rape for years because he was too humiliated. As a result of the experience, the lawsuit said, the plaintiff feared the dark, suffered nightmares and struggled with insomnia. The plaintiff decided to come forward last year after he attended his grandmothers funeral in St. James Parish on Sept. 24. Asare-Dankwah officiated the funeral and, during his homily, made remarks about the plaintiff, who hadnt seen the priest in more than a decade, the suit claims. The plaintiff says he was so distressed that he endured a flashback of the rape. He says he suffered a psychotic break that led him to be arrested and hospitalized twice at University Medical Centers behavioral health ward. He is still receiving mental health treatment, the suit says. The lawsuit demands an unspecified amount of damages from Asare-Dankwah. Blessed Trinity and the archdiocese are also defendants, with the plaintiff contending that they failed to properly monitor and supervise Asare-Dankwah. The plaintiffs lead attorney is Desiree Charbonnet, who ran unsuccessfully for New Orleans mayor in 2017 and represents a handful of church abuse claimants. The archdiocese will almost certainly seek to fold the lawsuit into the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case it filed in May amid the fallout from the Catholic Churchs decades-old, ongoing clerical molestation crisis. Besides numerous lawsuits alleging abuse at the hands of clergymen, that scandal has also prompted the archdiocese to maintain a list of more than 70 priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of child molestation over the years. Asare-Dankwah on Wednesday was not immediately added to that roster, with the churchs investigation still in its early stages. In a dispute between two insurers, a federal appellate court ruled that GEICO is solely liable for the cost of replacing a Lamborghini worth more than $100,000 that was totaled in a collision with another vehicle. A panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal rejected GEICOs argument that Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance should share in the cost because it insured the other vehicle involved in the crash near Tampa, Fla. and had improperly rescinded coverage. In an opinion written by Chief Judge Jeffrey R. Howard, the court found that Philip and Claudia Feldberg snowbirds who split their time between Massachusetts and Florida had violated the terms of their insurance contract by failing to notify the carrier that their Toyota Highlander had been left behind in Florida, where it was regularly operated by a relative. Howard wrote that the undisputed facts show Ameriprise provided plenty of notice in its renewal cover letter and renewal form that the company required the Feldbergs to check the accuracy of the policys information regarding the Highlanders principal place of garaging and its customary drivers. GEICO and Ameriprise squared off after the Feldbergs daughter-in-law collided with a Lamborghini in Wesley Chapel, Fla. while driving the couples Highlander on July 24, 2018. The driver of the Lamborghini was cited for speeding and the daughter-in-law was ticketed for failure to yield. The Ameriprise policy required the Highlander to stay in Massachusetts, where the policy was issued, at least six months of the year. The Feldbergs lived primarily in Peabody, Mass., but they owned a condominium in Naples, Fla. where they stayed approximately half the year. In 2018, however, Philip Feldberg was suffering health problems, so he left the car in Florida and told his daughter-in-law that she could use the car anytime. Ameriprise was aware that the Feldbergs split their time between Florida and Massachusetts because they had filed a claim in January 2018 after their Toyota RAV4 was damaged in a Florida parking lot. A few months later, their grandson was involved in an accident while driving the couples Honda Accord back in Massachusetts. After the Feldbergs filed a claim for damages caused by the collision with the Lamborghini, Ameriprise initially provided five days of rental car coverage for the Feldbergs and paid for medical care rendered to their daughter-in-law. But the carrier also started an investigation to find out where the Highlander was customarily garaged and who usually drove it. After learning that the vehicle has been left behind and that the daughter-in-law was driving it two or three days a week, Ameriprise rescinded the Feldbergs coverage. GEICO insured the Lamborghini. The carrier filed suit, alleging that Ameriprise was liable for a share of the cost of replacing the car because it had improperly rescinded coverage. The U.S. District Court in Massachusetts granted summary judgment in favor of Ameriprise. GEICO appealed, arguing that a jury might decide that the Feldbergs had no duty to inform Ameriprise that the car was garaged in Florida because the annual renewal notice was unclear. In insurance law, any ambiguous language is decided in favor of the policyholder, so coverage would be owed if that argument prevailed. The 1st Circuit didnt find any ambiguity. Ameriprise used language as precise as a GPS tracker: it told the Feldbergs to report any changes to the Highlanders principal place of garaging and to its customary drivers, the opinion says. The appellate panel affirmed the District Court ruling granting summary judgment to Amerprise. Topics Carriers Berkshire Hathaway MP Mustafa Bakri says he has reliable information that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent, though whether it will include a limited number of ministers or a complete overhaul of the government of Prime Minister Madbouli is unclear. Other sources hazard more details: Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli will retain his post, as will the cabinets economic group and the ministers of defence, interior and foreign affairs. Success in mitigating the negative impact of the coronavirus crisis will keep economic ministers in place, said one source who predicts the ministers of finance, planning, international cooperation, housing and transport will all retain their cabinet seats. Interviewed on television, Bakri said anyone seeking to know who is in and who is out should watch closely what happens in the House of Representatives where ministers who face concerted criticism from MPs are likely heading for the exit. On 19 January Minister of Information Osama Heikal was roundly criticised by MPs. Ashraf Rashad, spokesman of the majority Mostaqbal Watan (Future of the Homeland) Party, said it was unacceptable for Heikal to serve as both minister of information and chairman of the Egyptian Media Production Company (EMPC). Rashad questioned the legality of Heikal occupying the posts simultaneously, a concern that MP Mustafa Salem, deputy chairman of the Budget Committee, backed. If Heikal wants to stay as minister of information he should resign as EMPC chairman and repay the money he has received from this post, said Salem. Heikal has failed to achieve the ministry of informations goals, largely due to ongoing conflicts between the minister and journalists and media institutions. Maybe its time to consider disbanding the ministry of information, added Salem. According to Nader Mustafa, deputy chairman of the Media Committee, television channels broadcasting from Turkey and Qatar have been able to exploit the conflict between Heikal and media workers to tarnish the image of Egypt, which is reason enough for Heikal to resign. In response, Heikal insisted that since coming to office in June 2018 he has worked consistently to develop the ministrys role in defending Egypt and explaining government policy. I would also remind people that many people supported the revival of the Ministry of Information and the post was resurrected on an initiative from President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to fill a void in the information and media sector. Heikal stressed that while the constitution divides responsibility for forging information strategies between the National Press Council, the National Media Council, and the Higher Council for Media Regulation, the first two organisations are hamstrung by accumulated debts of LE 62 billion. On 21 January, Minister of Public Enterprise Hisham Tawfik joined Heikal in the crosshairs of MPs. According to Bakri, Tawfiks policies will push thousands of workers into unemployment. While Tawfik conceded that attempts to reform public sector companies have yet to bear fruit he insisted his ministrys privatisation and liquidation policies were fully supported by the government and endorsed by the constitution. MPs, in turn, demanded a parliamentary fact-finding committee be formed to review the governments privatisation policies, with Alaa Abed, head of the Transport Committee, insisting that if Tawfik believes privatisation is the solution for the problems of public sector companies it was reason enough for him to resign. Essam Hilal, Mostaqbal Watans assistant secretary-general, told journalists that while we hear from different sources that a cabinet reshuffle is on the cards, he could not say whether or not the news was correct. The constitution does not stipulate that the government should resign following the election of a new parliament, and Article 146 clearly states that the president of the republic has full authority to appoint a new government at any time. It is up to the president to decide on this matter, said Hilal. Article 146 of the constitution mandates the president to entrust a prime minister to form a government and deliver a policy statement before the House of Representatives. If the presidents appointed government then fails to win the confidence of a majority of MPs within 30 days, the president must then appoint a prime minister nominated by the majority party, or by the coalition that holds the majority in the House of Representatives. Article 147 allows the president of the republic to relieve a sitting government of its duties, but only if the move has the support of a majority of MPs. Prime Minister Madbouli came to office in June 2018. At the time he said the main job of his government was to see through the implementation of the 2016 IMF-inspired economic reform programme. There have been two limited cabinet reshuffles in recent years. The first was in March 2019, when Kamel Al-Wazir was appointed as minister of transport. The second, in December 2019, saw 10 new cabinet ministers named by Al-Sisi and Madbouli and approved by parliament. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: JLR endured a tough year as demand for models such as the Range Rover Velar slumped in key export markets UK car manufacturing output fell 29.3% in 2020 to 920,928 units, the lowest total since 1984 as the industry was hit by lower global demand due to the pandemic. Data issued by the SMMT showed production for UK and overseas markets declined 30.4% and 29.1% respectively, but with more than eight in 10 cars exported. Forecasts for 2021 point to some recovery, with UK car output projected at around one million units this year. However, much depends on an easing of the health emergency around the world and returning economic growth and confidence. Manufacturing operations were severely disrupted throughout 2020, with lockdowns and social distancing measures restricting factory output. Production for overseas buyers fell 29.1% in the year, to 749,038 units, while output for the UK also fell in double-digits, down 30.4% to 171,890. Reinforcing the importance of avoiding 'no deal' tariffs with Europe, the EU remained the UK's biggest export destination, taking a 53.5% share, despite volumes falling 30.8% to 400,460 units. Elsewhere, trade with most of the UK's other key export partners declined in line with the tough market conditions resulting from the pandemic. Shipments to the US, Japan and Australia all fell, down 33.7%, 21.6% and 21.8% respectively. Exports to China, however, ended the year up 2.3%, and those to South Korea and Taiwan also rose 3.6% and 16.7% respectively as these nations travelled on different trajectories in dealing with Covid. Despite the overall gloom, the UK continued to rollout battery electric (BEV), plug-hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid vehicles (HEV) to buyers at home and around the world. Combined production of these models rose to 18.8% of all cars made in Britain, up from 14.8% a year before, with BEVs increasing to a 4.5% share, up from 3.4%. The UK turned out 172,857 alternatively fuelled vehicles, with 79.6% of these exported. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "These figures, the worst in a generation, reflect the devastating impact of the pandemic on UK automotive production, with Covid lockdowns depressing demand, shuttering plants and threatening lives and livelihoods. The industry faces 2021 with more optimism, however, with a vaccine being rolled out and clarity on how we trade with Europe, which remains by far our biggest market. "The immediate challenge is to adapt to the new conditions, to overcome the additional customs burdens and regain our global competitiveness while delivering zero emission transport. We will continue to work with Government to attract investment in battery production and supply chain transformation as we transition to smart and sustainable mobility, supporting jobs and driving economic growth nationwide." The SMMT said that 2020 saw GBP3.23bn of automotive investment publicly announced for the UK. However, over 80% of this amount was attributable to one company committing to a battery Gigafactory (Britishvolt). UK car production by manufacturer, 2020 Model range Plants 2019 2020 %ch TATA Jaguar Land Rover F-type, F-Pace, XE, XF, XJ, Discovery, Disco Sport, RR Evoque, Range Rover, RR Sport, RR Velar Castle Bromwich, Halewood, Solihull 385197 243908 -36.7 Nissan Juke, Leaf, Qashqai Sunderland 346535 245649 -29.1 BMW MINI MINI, MINI Clubman Oxford 221928 175736 -20.8 Toyota Corolla Burnaston-Derby 148106 116261 -21.5 Honda Civic Swindon 108876 69366 -36.3 Stellantis Vauxhall Astra Ellesmere Port 61737 32234 -47.8 Others Others Others 30756 37774 22.8 TOTAL NA NA 1303135 920928 -29.3 Source: SMMT Others includes Citroen and Peugeot products made at IBC Luton and Suzuki product manufactured at Toyota Burnaston Jeffrey Chua winning Slushs Reverse Pitch competition Golden Gate Ventures, the Southeast Asian early-stage fund that invested in companies such as Carousell, Homage, RedMart, and HipVan, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeffrey Chua from Senior Associate to Principal. Jeffrey, or JC as his colleagues refer to him, spent almost two years in a Senior Associate role, and is one of Golden Gate Ventures longest-serving team members, having joined as an intern in 2015 shortly before the close of its second fund. JC is responsible for sourcing some of Golden Gate Ventures most exciting early-stage deals, such as BukuWarung and Rukita, and structuring Golden Gate Ventures GoPlay investment. In his 5 years with the firm, hes been involved in a number of critically important initiatives, including supporting the GO-JEK acquisition of Mapan. He is a master at financial modeling and has trained countless interns on the boundless mysteries of Excel. For those of you that know him, JC is a tireless, diligent investor that gets tremendous joy rooting out the smallest bit of industry gossip from his friends and colleagues, especially if it means sourcing competitive deals before any else. Hes well-respected by his colleagues, co-investors, and most importantly, entrepreneurs. Hes built a great reputation as someone that is honest, trustworthy, and pro-entrepreneur. He holds a number of honors, including winning Slushs Reverse Pitch competition, where VCs pitch to entrepreneurs. JC has a sartorial reputation amongst his colleagues; often showing up to work outrageously over-dressed, with a McDonald's bag in tow. Hes been known to pull a prank, or two, around the office, and his passionate love for karaoke is infamous. JC graduated from New Yorks Pace University in 2011 and has had the same hair-style since 2004. ABOUT GOLDEN GATE VENTURES Golden Gate Ventures is a VC fund in Southeast Asia (SEA) founded by Silicon Valley natives. Since 2011, Golden Gate Ventures has launched four funds and invested in 50+ companies. The firm focuses on investing in the rising consumer internet class in Southeast Asia. Breakout companies include Carousell (mobile classifieds), Appota (Vietnam mobile publishing platform), Alodokter (HealthTech), Carro (Auto Marketplace), and Xendit (Payment Processing). 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. Hitting back at the Congress over politicising the farmers' protest, BJP has expressed its chagrin by calling out Rahul Gandhi's recent statement. BJP's Ram Madhav countered the former Congress leader's remark that farmers do not understand farm laws. He took to Twitter and stated that Rahul Gandhi is calling farmers in the country unintelligent. 'They are probably more intelligent than him and hence not agitating against the farm laws,' Madhav put forth. Rahul calls farmers in d country unintelligent. They are probably more intelligent than him and hence not agitating against the farm laws. https://t.co/7JYNQ6djAk Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) January 28, 2021 READ | Rahul Gandhi Kickstarts Election Campaign In Kerala With 2-day Visit To Wayanad While addressing a rally in his constituency Wayanad, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the truth is that most of the farmers do not understand the details of the farm laws because if they did there would have been an agitation all across the country. 'The country would be on fire,' he said and further explained the three laws in detail, in his own interpretation. #WATCH: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "...The truth is that most farmers do not understand the details of the Bill (the three Farm Laws), because if they did, there would be an agitation all across the country. The country would be on fire." https://t.co/Y5yooquUwR pic.twitter.com/xaAg2Hsct0 ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 READ | Rahul Gandhi Tongue-ties His Translator In Tamil Nadu Roadshow With Convoluted Attack The Congress party has actively backed the farmers who are protesting in Delhi against the farm laws, even though it had proposed the same laws in its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto. The businessmen whom Rahul Gandhi accuses of 'remote-controlling' the PM and claims to be the real beneficiaries of the farm laws have previously met with Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh. Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra had earlier visited the protesting farmers and made allegations along similar lines against the Centre. READ | Rahul Gandhi Won't Relent As Violent Riots Rock Delhi; Insists 'take Back Farm Laws' Congress hailed Farmers for the violent protest Congress has hailed the farmers on January 26 over the violent protest and blamed BJP. On their official Twitter handle, Congress has said that the Centre should not underestimate their power and sharing visuals of tractor rally, Sonia Gandhi-led party has said that they support it. Congress has, in a tweet, said that the national capital is in flames as the government has attacked its own people while sharing visuals of tear gas shells being fired. Rahul Gandhi's 2-day Kerala visit The former Congress president is currently on a two-day visit to Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections in the state scheduled for April-May. Several other programmes are lined up for the lawmaker, including the inauguration of 12 houses built by INCAS Qatar at Panamaram, Koolivayal. He interacted with the representatives of various non-political, socio-cultural-religious and farmers organisations at a government guesthouse in Kalpetta town of the district. READ | In Run-up To Assembly Polls In Several States; Rahul Gandhi To Spearhead Cong Campaigns Independent research and advisory firm identifies Nintex as a market leading software provider of advanced Digital Transaction Management (DTM) solutions, also referred to as Workflow & Content Automation (WCA), in its latest report LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation, today announced it has been named a leader in The Aragon Research Globe for Digital Transaction Management, 2021 based on a review by the independent research and advisory firm of 21 major providers in the market. To download the report, visit https://www.nintex.com/resources/aragon-globe-dtm-report-2021/ Within this year's analysis, Aragon recognises that COVID-19 has been and continues to be a key driver accelerating digital transformation initiatives across every industry. According to the firm, "the pandemic has created a situation in which paper can no longer be relied upon as a safe medium" while employees work remotely. Aragon also believes that "organisations that have deployed DTM continue to outperform their competitors" by providing streamlined and modern digital experiences. "At Nintex, we recognise that every business and government leader is facing increasing pressure to meet (and ideally exceed) the ever-increasing digital demands of their customers, employees and constituents," said Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. "We appreciate being named a Leader with our easy-to-use and affordable platform for powerful automation solutions that turn manual, paper-based and repetitive processes into fully digital experiences for more than 50 per cent of the Fortune 500 and in over 10,000 organisations worldwide today." Aragon Research examines the complete capabilities of the Nintex Process Platform to eliminate paper within the report. With Nintex, customers can automate the assembly and digital distribution of documents by leveraging the platform's integrated eSignature and document automation capabilities, including Nintex Drawloop DocGen which is an app available within Salesforce AppExchange. The firm also notes the Nintex Process Platform offers advanced process management capabilities including easy-to-use visual process mapping with Nintex Promapp, and its built-in Nintex Workflow Generator capability, to create workflow scenarios including document generation with nearly touchless automation design work. Industry leaders like Flight Centre Travel Group, EG A/S, and SUEZ - Water Technologies & Solutions, as well as government agencies like the Ministry of Health Denmark and Food Standards Agency, all report significant results and customer/stakeholder satisfaction leveraging Nintex to easily manage, automate and optimise simple to complex business processes and workflows. To re-imagine your own business processes and put automation to work - from workflow to document or robotic process automation (RPA) - within your organisation, request a Nintex demo at www.nintex.com/request-demo. Media Contact Kristin Treat Nintex kristin.treat@nintex.com cell: (215) 317-9091 About Nintex Nintex is the global standard for process management and automation. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Aragon Disclaimer Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organisation and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427618/Aragon_Research_Globe_Digital_Transaction_Management_DTM_2021_button.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700078/Nintex_Logo.jpg A Pakistani pilot has claimed that he has spotted a very shiny, unidentified flying object (UFO) in the sky during a domestic flight, Pakistani media has reported. According to Geo News, the Pakistan International Airlines' pilot saw the UFO near Rahim Yar Khan while flying from Lahore from Karachi on a Airbus A-320. He also captured a video of the UFO, which has been shared widely on social media. According to the pilot, the thing he spotted in the sky could be a "space station" or an "artificial planet" near the Earth. Many residents of Rahim Yar Khan also spotted the shiny UFO and made videos of the object. The pilot said it was very rare that the UFO was spotted during the daytime. "The UFO was extremely bright despite the presence of sunlight," the pilot said, news agency ANI reported, quoting Geo News. A PIA spokesperson said the UFO was spotted on January 23 by the pilot during a Lahore-bound flight, but it cannot be said for certain whether it was a UFO or something else. The spokesperson added that the captain of the flight had immediately reported the sighting back to the control room. "It is too early to say what that object was. In fact, we might no be able to tell what the object was at all," said the spokesperson. "However, something was spotted and it was reported in accordance with the required protocol." Corky Lee. Shirley L. Ng Photojournalist Corky Lee, who documented Asian American communities, died on Wednesday. His family told the Asian American Journalists Association he died from complications of COVID-19. Lee spent 50 years documenting important moments throughout Asian American history. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Photojournalist Corky Lee, who dedicated his life to documenting Asian American communities, died on Tuesday from complications with COVID-19, his family has said. Lee, 73, died on January 27 in his hometown of Queens, New York, his family told the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Corky (Young Kwok) Lee," his family separately said in a Facebook post. "Corky, as he was known to the Asian American community, was everywhere. He always had a camera around his neck, documenting a community event, capturing a social injustice for the record and even correcting the social injustice of an historical event that took place well over a century ago. He did what he loved and we loved him for it." "(Corky) had a very unique lens. His passion was to rediscover, document and champion through his images the plight of all Americans but most especially that of Asian and Pacific Islanders," the statement added. "He has left us with what is likely to be the single largest repository of the photographic history of Asian Americans of the past half century." Corky Lee. Shirley L. Ng Lee, a second-generation Chinese American, spent 50 years documenting the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He photographed important moments in Asian American history, including the gentrification of Chinatown and antiwar and fair housing protests. In documenting injustice, he photographed a 1975 protest against police brutality after a Chinese American was beaten by New York police officers and protests that were sparked by the 1982 death of Chinese-American Vincent Chin, who was killed in Michigan by autoworkers who blamed the Japanese for the loss of auto jobs in Detroit. Story continues He also captured photos of everyday life in New York's Chinatown, which show chefs on their lunch breaks, children dancing, and more. Lee first became interested in photography in junior high school after seeing a famous photo from 1869, New York University's Asian/Pacific/American Institute says on its website. "The picture commemorated the completion of the transcontinental railroad and showed workers posing with two trains, one from the Central Pacific and one from the Union Pacific," the institute said. "But something was wrong with this picture. No Chinese workers. Since Mr. Lee first laid eyes on that photograph, he has devoted himself to making Asian Pacific Americans visible." AAJA President Michelle Ye Her Lee mourned Lee in a statement on her organization's website. "AAJA is heartbroken over the loss of our beloved Corky Lee, a trailblazer whose career has been instrumental to our collective understanding and appreciation of the history, triumphs and struggles of Asian America," she said. Read the original article on Insider Beijing, Jan 28 : Authorities in Beijing have tightened Covid-19 restrictions in the Chinese capital in the wake of the upcoming Spring Festival, including the requirement of more nucleic acid tests, the municipal government said. Between Thursday to March 15, travellers from low-risk domestic areas must provide negative nucleic acid results within seven days before arrival, and they must receive nucleic acid tests one week and two weeks after settling in Beijing, said Xu Hejian, the city government spokesperson. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on February 12 this year. The capital city is declining entry to those from medium and high-risk domestic areas, while those entering the Chinese mainland via other cities must wait for 21 days before visiting Beijing, Xinhua news agency quoted Xu as saying at a press conference. The tightened entry rules come as increased travels around the Spring Festival, the most important homecoming occasion in China, added complications to Beijing's anti-virus efforts, the official added. The municipal government on Wednesday also renewed calls for residents to avoid outbound travels during the festival to minimise infection risks and promised to offer shopping coupons and free data packages to those who choose to stay put. Beijing reported four new locally transmitted confirmed Covid-19 cases and one asymptomatic infection on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said. It added that all of the confirmed cases occurred in a residential community in Daxing District, where cluster cases had emerged lately. President Joe Biden prepares to sign executives orders related to his racial equity agenda at the White House on Jan. 26, 2021. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) Bidens Move to End Private Prison Contracts Met With Pushback President Joe Bidens executive order to eliminate government contracts with private prisons, stemming from a campaign promise to enact criminal justice reform and to reduce mass incarceration, is being met with pushback from those in the industry. Critics say the move is largely a political statement that fails to get to the root of the issue, since private-sector contractors house only a small fraction of the total number of federal inmates. The executive order carries a litany of negative consequences ranging from job losses, other effects in communities where the facilities are located, and the potential for federal prison populations to overflow, the critics argue. Supporters of the order say it helps to combat racial injustice and racial equity. Before signing the order, Biden remarked that the nation is ready to change, but government has to change as well. Leonard Sipes, a retired federal senior public affairs specialist who runs the website CrimeinAmerica, said private prisons save the federal government money since they dont employ federal employees. Private prison companies have the resources to build new facilities, something the federal government finds challenging, he added, noting that Bidens move could have dangerous implications. The Bureau of Prisons is massively overcrowded, Sipes told The Epoch Times. This [order] will stretch resources to their limit. The Bureau of Prisons is going to release offendersthey have no choice. However, experienced employees in the bureau who are there for the long run tend to be savvy problem solvers who make a prison run efficiently, said Sipes, who has 50 years of criminal justice experience, mostly in state and federal corrections. Considering the immense complexity of prisons, having experienced long-term employees is an obvious plus that you dont get in the private prison system, he said. Under Bidens executive order, the attorney general was ordered not to renew Justice Department contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. Most of the countrys private prisons are run by three companies: CoreCivic, GEO Group, and Management and Training Corp. (MTC) Bidens executive order is a solution in search of a problem, a GEO Group spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. GEO, a real estate investment trust, has for more than three decades provided facilities under a private-public partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The spokesperson said that during this time frame, the companys sites, which are more modern than the generally older government-run prisons, have helped the BOP meet the significant overcrowding challenges facing the federal prison system. The executive order merely represents a political statement, which could carry serious negative unintended consequences, including the loss of hundreds of jobs and a negative economic impact for the communities where our facilities are located, which are already struggling economically due to the COVID pandemic, the spokesperson said. Additionally, limiting the federal governments options to deal with potential overcrowding challenges in the future could result in worsening and unsafe conditions for the men and women in federal custody. There are roughly about 14,000 inmates currently housed in private prisons, which comprise only about 9 percent of the total federal prison population, according to BOP data. Theres already been a recent decline in federal prison populations due in part to the pandemic, and the BOP had already announced steps over the past four months to not renew expiring contracts with private operators, the spokesperson said, who questioned the need for the order. Most of the inmates in private prisons are mostly adult males who are serving short sentences, and illegal immigrants. The sector was born in the 90s to help stem overcrowding in prisons, according to a 2016 DOJ OIG report. To help alleviate overcrowding and respond to congressional mandates, in 1997 the BOP had begun contracting with privately operated institutions, often referred to as contract prisons, at first on a smaller scale and later more extensively, to confine federal inmates who are primarily low security, criminal alien adult males with 90 months or less remaining to serve on their sentences, the report stated. MTC spokesman Issa Arnita said while the company applauds the new administrations focus on criminal-justice reform and reducing the number of people who are incarcerated, it believes the decision to phase out public-private partnerships in corrections does not move us in that direction. Blaming high incarceration rates on contractors is irresponsible because contractors have no say as to what laws are enacted and who is ultimately incarcerated, Arnita told The Epoch Times via email. MTC has effectively prioritized programs which prepare offenders for re-entry and reduce the reoffending rate. MTC has never advocated for any law or policy which would imprison more people or extend the sentences of those who are. Headquartered in Utah and employing nearly 10,000 people, MTC operates 23 Job Corps centers, 22 correctional facilities, 12 prison and detention medical departments, five detention centers, one probation and parole contract, and one workforce development site worldwide, according to its website. If Bidens executive order was truly about reducing the number of incarcerated people, it must address the services, programs, and rehabilitation efforts provided in government-run correctional facilities, Arnita said. Banning the private sector from providing services to the federal government also will have a negative effect on the people within their care, he said. The private sector brings innovation and competition which results in better services at all federal correctional facilities including safety & security, medical care, education, vocational, substance abuse, and rehabilitation. The move to gradually phase out private prisons was begun by the Obama administration, which in August 2016 planned a gradual phase-out of private prisons by letting contracts expire. The Trump administration, however, had different plans, and in early 2017, reversed the order under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions argued the move impaired the governments ability to meet the future needs of the federal prison system. Any assertion that a company or the private prison sector in general is responsible for the rate of incarceration or detention is false, according to Steven Owen, CoreCivics vice president of communications. Under longstanding policy, we dont lobby on any policies, regulations, or legislation that impact the basis for or duration of an individuals incarceration or detention, Owen told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. Every day, CoreCivic helps nearly 1,500 inmates learn the life and vocational skills they need to find and keep employment once released, he said. In 2014, we made commitments to strengthen reentry programming unprecedented for the public or private sector. CoreCivic has provided facilities for the BOP for more than two decades, along with their other federal, state, and local partners in the 21 states they currently operate in. Perfecto by Perforce Wins Leading Vendor Award Second Year in a Row Posted by Publisher Telecommunication MINNEAPOLIS, January 28, 2021 ? Perfecto by Perforce, a leader in continuous testing solutions for web and mobile app testing, was named the Leading Vendor by the 2020 North American Software Testing & QE Awards. This is the second year in a row that Perfecto won the Leading Vendor award. The Leading Vendor award is the latest in a string of awards and industry recognition for Perfecto. Perfecto was also recognized as a Leading Vendor finalist for the European Testing Awards, as a Leader on G2 based on customer reviews and market presence, and as a Strong Performer in ?The Forrester Wave: Continuous Functional Test Automation Suites? Q2 2020 report. ?This award reaffirms the immense value Perfecto provides for customers and our commitment to their success,? says Eran Kinsbruner, Perfecto?s Chief Evangelist. ?Organizations had to go entirely digital and provide exceptional user experiences across both web and mobile apps in 2020. Perfecto?s enterprise-grade cloud platform was there to support them as they matured and excelled their testing.? The North American Software Testing Awards honors organizations who have accomplished significant achievements in the software testing and quality assurance market. The Leading Vendor award is given to the vendor who receives top marks for their product and customer service. It?s an award that recognizes not only top-tier technology, but also testing expertise and unmatched customer support. Vendors must prove their value and ROI with real customer results. Judges examined each vendor?s commitment to customer satisfaction, as well as evidence of value, reliability, and flexibility. Judges also considered each vendor?s contributions to the software testing industry. Perfecto customers were also recognized by the North American Software Testing Awards. The IBM Bell Canada Testing Centre of Excellence Program won the Best Use of Technology in a Project award. Rogers Communication, a Canadian telecommunications company, won the Best Mobile Testing Project award. And Lloyds Banking Group won Best Mobile Testing Project in this year?s European Software Testing Awards. Learn more about the 2020 North American Software Testing & QE Awards here: https://softwaretesting.news/products/testawards/winners-2020/ Learn more about Perfecto here: https://www.perfecto.io/ Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 A Chinese citizen whose father died from COVID-19 in a Wuhan hospital is demanding to meet a visiting World Health Organization (WHO) expert team, claiming that he and others like him have been gagged by the Chinese government. Zhang Hai, whose father died of COVID-19 in February last year after getting infected in Wuhan, China, said the WHO experts should not become a tool for spreading lies. He argued that China has been downplaying the virus and tried to silence him by dismissing lawsuits, interrogating him and threatening the jobs of relatives of those who speak to the foreign media. "This was a criminal act, and I don't want the WHO coming to China to cover up these crimes." Zhang said. Zhang is not alone in the fight against the Chinese government. He has been organizing with relatives of coronavirus victims in China to demand accountability from officials. However, Zhang claims that the bereaved relatives' chat groups were suddenly shut down by the Chinese government shortly after the WHO team's arrival in Wuhan, which he believes is in an effort to prevent them from speaking to WHO experts. China recently approved the visit by WHO researchers only after months of negotiations. The WHO team arrived in Wuhan on January 14 to investigate the origins of the virus. China's Foreign Ministry has not responded to a request for comment. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Online Cybersecurity Degree Pursue lucrative and in-demand roles with Utica College's 100% online cybersecurity degree. You'll choose from four specializations to tailor your degree to your career goals. Study at an institution designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE/CDE). Request Information An online map of surveillance cameras in New York City is in the works. The map project is part of a larger campaign called "Ban the Scan," sponsored by Amnesty International, which is partnering on the initiative with several other tech advocacy, privacy, and civil liberties groups. "We need a map so citizens can have a sense where they are being observed by the NYPD as they go about their everyday lives," explained Michael Kleinman, director of Amnesty USA's Silicon Valley Initiative. "It also gives the citizens of New York, and more broadly people who are concerned about the issue of facial recognition, a sense of just how pervasive this kind of surveillance is," he told TechNewsWorld. Data for the map will be "crowdsourced" by volunteers. This spring the volunteers will be able to roam the streets of Gotham and identify surveillance cameras using a software tool that runs in a Web browser. Data gathered by the tool is integrated with Google Street View and Google Earth to create the map. "To surveil the population as a whole, you don't need a special facial recognition camera," Kleinman explained. "As long as law enforcement has the imagery from that camera, they can conduct facial recognition at the back end." "That's why we say that in any city you can think of, facial recognition is just one software upgrade away," he continued. "It's not an issue of I'm going to reroute my daily commute away from facial recognition cameras," he added. "We can push the New York City Council to ban police use of this technology." Measures banning or restricting the use of facial recognition have already been adopted in Boston, San Francisco and Portland, Ore. Game Changing Technology Yuanyuan Feng, a researcher at the Institute for Software Research at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh explained that there's a transparency problem with the way the technology is used now. "There's no transparency about the retention time of the data, what it's being used for, and what are the sharing practices," she told TechNewsWorld. Most police departments are secretive about this, not only to the public, but to individuals that are arrested, added Jake Laperruque, senior counsel for the Project on Government Oversight, a government watchdog group in Washington, D.C. "Most departments take the position that if it isn't introduced as evidence in a court case, they don't have to talk about it at all," he told TechNewsWorld. That stance seems to belie the significance of the technology to law enforcement. "This isn't just the latest model of car or walkie talkie," Laperruque said. "This is game-changing technology for how policing works." Politicized Technology Karen Gullo, an analyst with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based online rights advocacy group, explained that facial recognition is one of the most pervasive and intrusive of all surveillance technologies. "It's being utilized by law enforcement and government entities with little to no oversight and limitations," she told TechNewsWorld. "Face surveillance is becoming an all-encompassing tool for government to track where we are, what we are doing, and who we are with, regardless of whether we're suspected of a crime or not," she continued. "Programs that provide the public with information about how and where surveillance tools are being used to spy on people...are an important check on law enforcement and give citizens knowledge to demand accountability and public input," she added. Facial recognition has become a politicized technology, argued George Brostoff, CEO of Sensible Vision, a face authentication company in Cape Coral, Fla. "When something becomes politicized, everything becomes black and white," he told TechNewsWorld. "There are few things in this world that are black and white." "People don't want to be tracked," he said. "That's what should be discussed, not just facial recognition. What does the government know about me? How does the government use my information, including my face? Those are things that should be discussed in general." Racial Bias One of the chief criticisms of facial recognition systems is not only are they inaccurate, but biased. Gullo noted that there are studies and research that show facial recognition is prone to errors, especially for Black Americans. A 2012 study co-authored by the FBI, for example, showed that accuracy rates for African Americans were lower than for other demographics. In fact, Gullo continued, the FBI admitted in its privacy impact assessment that its system "may not be sufficiently reliable to accurately locate other photos of the same identity, resulting in an increased percentage of misidentifications." In another study by MIT, she added, there were error rates of 34 percent for dark women compared to light-skinned men in commercially available facial recognition systems. Gender Shades study: How well do IBM, Microsoft, and Face++ AI services guess the gender of a face? "This means that face recognition has an unfair discriminatory impact," Gullo said. She added that cameras are also over-deployed in neighborhoods with immigrants and people of color, and new spying technologies like face surveillance amplify existing disparities in the criminal justice system. Hampering Law Enforcement? Since those studies were performed, facial recognition technology has improved, Brostoff countered, but added that even better technology can be misused. "The question is not is facial recognition biased, it's is the implementation biased?" he asked. He added that not all facial recognition algorithms are biased. "The ones tested had an issue," he said. "Even in those tested," he continued, "not all of them had inaccuracies solely due to a bias. They were also due to their settings. The percentage for a match was set too low. If a match is set too low, the software will identify multiple people as potentially the same person." "Some of it was the quality of images in the database," he added. "If an algorithm doesn't have a filter to say this image is too poor to be accurate, then a bad match will result. Now, 3D cameras can be used to generate depth information on a face to produce more detail and better accuracy." When facial recognition bans are proposed, law enforcement's response is that removing the technology from its toolbox will hamper their efforts to keep the public safe. Critics of the technology disagree. "They can use other tools to track down criminal suspects," observed Mutale Nkonde, CEO of AI For the People, a nonprofit communications agency and part of Ban the Scan Coalition. "For example, during the riot at the Capitol, the FBI used cell phone data to find out who was there and to create a no fly list," she told TechNewsWorld. "The idea that by not using facial recognition, law enforcement will not be able to do their job requires quite a leap of faith when you consider all the power and all the resources law enforcement already has," Kleinman added. "Our concern should not be that law enforcement has too little power," he continued. "Our concern should be what does the expansion of the power of law enforcement mean to all of us?" "The argument that if we can't do X, then we will be crippled is an argument that can be used to justify an endless expansion of law enforcement power to surveil us," he added. 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. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. January 28 : Parth Samthaan is the heartthrob of the silver screen. His portrayal of Anurag in Ekta Kapoor's 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay' made him a household name and his fan following grew immensely. The actor was recently seen in a music video 'Pehle Pyaar Ka Pehla Gham' with Khushali Kumar and the video is getting good response. He spoke to us about the song, his experience working with T-Series and much more. In his recent interaction with News Helpline, the actor opened up about his journey with the song, he said, "It was my first time working with T-Series and the experience was amazing. The team was too sorted and everything fell in place." Talking about the song, he said, "We shot the song last year in Goa. I have great memories with the song. When you go to Goa you are always in a vacation mode and if you get to work over there, it is just fantastic. The whole song was shot with such ease and working with Khushali was amazing" The song is getting good response from the audience, sharing about this he said, "The audience is loving the song and the concept to it. I am happy with the response the song is getting. When I had told my family about this project, they were all so happy with the choice of song. So i have got a good response from everyone." The actor will soon be seen in a web series titled 'Main Hero Boll Raha Hu. He will be playing the role of a gangster in the series which is being produced by Ekta Kapoor's Alt Balaji. Kids at summer camps can skip wearing masks outdoors, with some exceptions: CDC new mask guidance Govt busts myths on vaccines, says adequacy of manufacturing capacity not an issue India carried out 5th highest no of COVID vaccinations till Jan 26: Govt India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 28: India carried out the fifth highest number of COVID-19 vaccinations by inoculating 2.03 million people till January 26, the Health Ministry said as the number of beneficiaries who received the shots across the country crossed 28 lakh till Thursday 7 pm. Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that India was the fastest country to reach 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations in six days, while the US took 10 days, Spain 12, Israel 14, the UK 18, Italy 19, Germany 20 and UAE 27 days. "As per ''Our World in Data'' till January 26, India, which launched its nationwide vaccination drive on January 16, had carried out the fifth highest number of vaccinations in the world by vaccinating 2.03 million people. The important point is many other countries are showing their progress for over 50 days while India is showing its vaccination on January 26 after just 11 days," Bhushan said. Till January 26, the US had administered 23.54 million doses, the UK 7.64 million doses, UAE 2.76 million doses, Germany 1.99 million doses, Italy 1.58 million dose, Spain 1.36 million doses and France 1.14 million doses. Bhushan highlighted that Lakshadweep (83.4 pc), Odisha (50.7 pc), Haryana (50 pc), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (48.3 pc), Rajasthan (46.8 pc), Tripura (45.6 pc), Mizoram (40.5 pc), Telangana (40.3 pc), Andhra Pradesh (38.1 pc), Karnataka (35.6 pc) and Madhya Pradesh (35.5 pc) are among the better performing states with over 35 per cent vaccination coverage of healthcare workers, he said. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu (15.7 pc), Delhi (15.7 pc), Jharkhand (14.7 pc), Uttarakhand (17.1 pc), Chhattisgarh (20.6 pc) and Maharashtra (20.7 pc) have less than 21 pc vaccination coverage and need to improve, he said. Bharat Biotech, SII approach DCGI for using COVID vaccine on those using blood thinners Thirteen states and UTs have each vaccinated more than 1 lakh beneficiaries (accounting for 83.31 per cent of the total), the Health Ministry said in a statement. A total of 28,47,608 healthcare workers were vaccinated through 52,667 sessions till Thursday 7 pm in the country, as per the provisional report, the ministry said. "4,91,615 beneficiaries were vaccinated through 9,994 sessions till 7 pm on Thursday. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight," the ministry said. "293 AEFIs have been reported till 7 pm on day 13 of the vaccination drive," it said. On January 16, 3,374 sessions were organised which increased to 9,994 sessions being held on January 28. On January 16, little over two lakh beneficiaries were vaccinated, but on Thursday, the number of beneficiaries has crossed 28 lakh, Bhushan said. India''s cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate is 5.51 pc and is declining, and the active cases are less then 1.75 lakh after seven months and are declining, Bhushan stated. Two states, Kerala and Maharashtra, account for 67 per cent of total active COVID-19 cases in the country, he said. Over the growing number of cases in Lakshadweep, Bhushan said till three weeks ago the UT was free from COVID-19. The one positive case came from Kochi in a ship and it spread to the close contacts of this person. Bhushan said 23 close contacts were identified by the local administration, they were tested and 14 were found positive. "The original patient and the 14 persons who tested positive have all been physically isolated and it has not spread further. So there is no cause for worry," he underlined. Responding to a question on how vaccine wastage is being dealt with across the country, the health secretary said the ministry has issued detailed guidelines to states and Union territories to ensure that there is no wastage and for that purpose, vaccinators at the session sites have been allowed to add additional beneficiaries, apart from the 100 scheduled for the day, in case some do not turn up. "When the vaccination programme was rolled out, 10 per cent wastage was factored in. We have issued detailed guidelines to states and Union territories on how to avoid wastage of vaccines. We have made our digital platform more flexible and have permitted that apart from the scheduled 100 beneficiaries, the person handling the vaccination session at a particular site can add additional people as long as they are part of the database. This is being done to ensure that there is lesser wastage of vaccines. "Going ahead, we would also be sharing the data of vaccine wastage as we analyse it," he said. The total number of beneficiaries who were vaccinated till Thursday 7 pm since the drive was rolled out include 1,70,910 in Andhra Pradesh, 1,06,824 in Bihar, 1,06,393 in Kerala, 2,84,979 in Karnataka, 1,67,838 in Madhya Pradesh, 88,467 in Tamil Nadu, 48,008 in Delhi, 1,54,234 in Gujarat and 1,84,596 in West Bengal, according to the provisional report. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 21:27 [IST] Commemorating a centuries-old tradition with roots in ancient Israel, Jewish communities celebrated the birthday of the trees Wednesday night. Tu BShevat essentially began as the fiscal year for trees, said Rabbi Miriam Spitzer of Temple Israel of Scranton. Every Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent, so Tu BShevat translates to the 15th day of the month of Shevat, she said, comparing the name to calling Independence Day the Fourth of July. It dates back to ancient Israel when Jews were an agricultural society and brought fruit to their temple as a tithe, she said. New trees had to wait three years before their fruit was brought to the temple, Spitzer said. Rather than keep track of exactly when trees were planted and flowered, farmers used the 15th of Shevat to mark the trees birthday, with anything planted before the 15th falling under the prior year and anything after the 15th falling into the next year, Spitzer said. Local Jewish communities celebrated Tu BShevat with a virtual Seder on Zoom. Temple Israel, Temple Hesed, the Jewish Community Center of Scranton and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania worked together to host the Seder, which was led by Spitzer and Rabbi Daniel Swartz of Scrantons Temple Hesed. In modern times, Tu BShevat includes a focus on fruit and trees grown in Israel, as well as an environmental focus, Spitzer said. Tying into the pandemic, she also incorporated resilience as a theme throughout the Seder. To celebrate a holiday about fruit, they fittingly ate fruit and drank wine or grape juice. They ate different fruits for each season with accompanying lessons and songs. Each fruit and season represented an element of resilience: hardiness in winter, flexibility in the spring, commitment or maintaining core values in the summer and persistence in the fall. For winters theme of hardiness, they ate fruits or nuts with inedible shells or peels, such as pistachios or pomegranates. Springs flexibility meant fruits that are soft throughout, including pears and kiwis. To tie into maintaining core values in the summer, they ate fruits with a hard inner core like dates. For fall persistence, Spitzer told a story from the Talmud the body of Jewish law and tradition about an elderly man planting a carob tree, which takes 70 years to bear fruit, for his descendants. If carob was unavailable, participants ate fruit typical of Israel, such as dates and pomegranates. To facilitate the festivities, the Jewish Community Center of Scranton put together 140 Seder kits containing fruits, nuts, olives, raisins and grape juice, giving away 70 of the kits locally and 70 in the Poconos, said Executive Director Dan Cardonick. We cant come together physically, so we found a new way this year to celebrate Tu BShevat by bringing us together for the holiday, he said. Both Spitzer and Swartz noted the recent renaissance the holiday has experienced. Its really a small, minor holiday as far as that goes, but its one that has experienced a great rejuvenation among modern Jews, Spitzer said. Swartz explained the holiday had remained dormant for centuries, with the modern resurgence taking place over the past three decades. It fell by the wayside with the destruction of the second temple in Israel in 70 CE, Swartz said. In the 16th century a group in Israel who believed sparks of Gods existence are everywhere celebrated with the mindful eating of fruit, he said. In the 1800s and early 1900s, Jews celebrated by raising money to plant trees in Israel, or planting trees if they lived there, Swartz said. The modern environmental movement began during the 1960s with the Vietnam War and the Torahs prohibition of cutting down an enemys trees at war, he said. Tu BShevat has grown steadily since the late 80s and early 90s when organizations started focusing on Judaism and the environment, he said. It really is this idea of connecting to nature, to the world around us, Swartz said. But also, connecting to each other. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A recent research report added by Decisiondatabases on the Polyamide Caster Market provides a comprehensive view of this business sector by giving a detailed description of the global market shares, regional & country-level market size, growth, trends, and forecast analysis. This report also focuses on value chain optimization, recent developments, opportunities analysis, and industrial sector expansion. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Polyamide Caster market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Polyamide Caster Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-31443 According to this study, over the next five years, the Polyamide Caster market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Polyamide Caster business, shared in Chapter 3. This Polyamide Caster market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Polyamide Caster market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Colson Group Flywheel Metalwork Tente International YUEI CASTER Gerhard Schwalb GmbH Zhongwei Holding Group TellureRota Blickle Darcor Takigen ER Wagner Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-31443 This study considers the Polyamide Caster value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Swivel Fixed Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Industrial Civil Domestic In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Polyamide Caster Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-31443 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Polyamide Caster consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Polyamide Caster market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Polyamide Caster manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Polyamide Caster with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Polyamide Caster submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/polyamide-caster-market-2020-analysis-by-latest-trends-growth-opportunities-with-potential-impact-of-covid-19/ Egypts Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Minister Nabila Makram has called on Egyptians abroad to participate in rehabilitating the poorest villages in Egypt under the presidential Decent Life initiative. The minister praised US-based New Egypt Group, which was established by several Egyptians abroad to contribute to providing technical and financial support for achieving sustainable development in Egypt. Makram said the government will be intensifying its efforts to raise awareness among the youth living in the poorest villages about the dangers of illegal migration, which involves the allocation of EGP 250 million from the 2020/21 budget to combat the phenomenon in 70 villages nationwide. The announcements are part of the National Project for the Development of Egyptian Villages, which is part of the larger Decent Life initiative. The initiative, launched by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in early 2019, aims to provide better living conditions for the neediest rural villages in Egypt. In December, El-Sisi launched the second stage of the Decent Life Initiative to provide better living conditions for the neediest villages in Egypt. The president has said that the second stage of the initiative, launched in December, targets a total of 1,500 villages inhabited by 18 million citizens. Earlier this week, Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Kabbaj said that the initiative is within the framework of plans to develop all Egyptian villages within three years in order to improve standards of living, infrastructure, and basic services. Sanitation for rural areas Meanwhile, during a meeting with officials on Wednesday, Housing Minister Assem El-Gazzar followed up on preparations to provide sanitation services to rural villages under the initiative. El-Gazzar discussed non-traditional methods that would be implemented to deliver sanitation services, and called on officials to provide a count of the sewage treatment plants and equipment needed to execute the projects. Short link: 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). Washington: The Biden administration has unveiled what it describes as a new era of American diplomacy that will reverse many of former president Donald Trumps actions and reach out to scorned allies. The world is watching us intently right now, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on his first day on the job. They want to know if we can heal our nation. They want to see whether we will lead with the power of our example. The administration is attempting to reassure the world that US belief in multilateralism - cooperation with other countries on numerous global issues, including the pandemic and climate change - has returned. Antony Blinken, US President Joe Bidens Secretary of State. Credit:AP As State Department employees were greeting Blinken, Linda Thomas-Greenfield was testifying to a Senate committee vetting her nomination as the US ambassador to the United Nations. Former US president Donald Trump's mould-breaking approach has reshaped decades of Middle East diplomacy, but his legacy in the troubled region has quickly come under attack from his successor. From unexpected normalisation deals with Israel, to a "maximum pressure" campaign on rival Iran, the businessman-turned-president changed the face of the Middle East. His close relations with autocratic heads of states and wealthy Gulf monarchies also personalised Washington's approach towards the strategic region which hosts thousands of US troops. Joe Biden promised to change all that. In less than 10 days in the White House, the new president has already erased some of his predecessor's signature moves, but analysts say many of the flurry of deals struck in the last weeks of the administration won't -- or shouldn't -- be easily overturned. Here is a look at what is at stake for Trump's Middle East legacy: - 'Ping-ponging' Iran - On his first full day on the job, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the Biden administration wants to return to the 2015 nuclear deal trashed by Trump -- but said it would only happen once Iran resumes its commitments. Tehran has meanwhile called on Washington to first unconditionally lift sanctions, effectively dismantling the pressure campaign. Observers say this ping-pong process exemplifies the difficulty in extricating the US from Trump policies. "The more the administration pursues the Iranians, the more the Iranians will pull back, in a bid to increase their leverage. Yet, the more the US pulls back, the more the Iranians will try to force the US to engage," said Jon B. Alterman from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We should not expect an easy return to negotiations, whatever the Biden team wants, and we should not anticipate that a supposedly wounded Iran will capitulate. Instead, we should anticipate a drawn-out process punctuated by crisis." Story continues - Arms sales - In a regional game-changer, the US last year agreed to sell more than $23 billion worth of top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets and drones to the United Arab Emirates, to reward its diplomatic recognition of Israel. Trump also backed arms sales to Saudi Arabia, despite lawmakers' objections which were centred on the kingdom's poor human rights record. The Biden administration has said it is "temporarily" freezing the deals "to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review". Experts say a halt would raise questions about a potential impact on the normalisation deal with Israel, which Trump saw as a key foreign policy achievement. - Israel ties - Trumps term saw a flurry of normalisation deals between four Arab states and Israel. Most however were built on diplomatic quid pro quos, which makes them vulnerable in the Biden era. Morocco's accord struck in December saw the US back its rule over disputed Western Sahara. Despite hailing the peace deals, Biden has not committed to maintaining the recognition in the region, where tensions have simmered since the 1970s. For its part, Sudan signed the deal less than a month after the US removed it from its "state sponsors of terrorism" blacklist. The Biden administration should not jeopardise these agreements and should "forge even more", said Dennis Ross and Juan Zarate in an article for the Washington Institute. "Although the instinct to make dramatic changes is understandable and sometimes correct, certain elements of Trump policy provide good opportunities for furthering Arab-Israel engagement." - Bridging the Gulf - After a three-year diplomatic row between a Riyadh-led quartet and Qatar that veered from frosty to furious, Gulf leaders met in Saudi Arabia two weeks before Trump's exit and agreed to restore relations. Washington had intensified pressure for a resolution, insisting Gulf unity is necessary to isolate Iran. However, the accelerated agreement failed to address any of the quartet's conditions to restore relations with Doha, which was accused of being too close to Tehran and financing extremists. As a result, "intra-Gulf rivalries could continue to stoke conflicts and political tensions in the Middle East and Africa," said Elham Fakhro of the International Crisis Group. - Yemen's fate - Trump's administration designated the Iran-backed Yemen Huthi rebels as a terrorist organisation just one day before Biden's inauguration, a move that raised fears it could jeopardise aid operations and put millions of lives at risk. Biden's administration on Monday froze the decision for one month. Blinken said one of his top priorities is addressing the war in Yemen, where US ally Saudi Arabia has been bombarding the Huthis since 2015. - Travel ban - One of Trump's first moves was to ban access to the United States to all travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, igniting international outrage and triggering domestic court battles. On his first day, Biden lifted the measure, enabling many Middle Eastern families to visit their relatives for the first time in four years. mah/sls/dv Mumbai: The Supreme Court's refusal to grant interim protection to Team 'Tandav' and its observation that actors cannot play roles hurting the 'religious sentiments of others' has led to consternation in the industry with many insiders worried about the road ahead for India's 'soft power'. A day after the apex court ruling on the starry political saga from Amazon Prime Video from which several scenes have already been cut, most Bollywood biggies were silent. However, there were others, including Hansal Mehta, Pritish Nandy and Konkona Sen Sharma, who spoke of the line between art and the artiste being blurred and the implications of it. Some asked how actors could be held accountable for who they played on screen. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court declined to grant interim protection from any coercive action to 'Tandav' director Ali Abbas Zafar, actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub and others facing multiple FIRs for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The court observed that "freedom of speech and expression is not absolute" and is subject to restrictions. Ayyub's lawyer defended the alleged objectionable part of the web series, saying that as an actor he has no artistic control over dialogues spoken by him. "You cannot take up role without reading script. You cannot play role hurting religious sentiments of others," the bench remarked. Viewing the observations with alarm, several said it exposes actors, whose very job is to play varied characters, to legal trouble. Sharing the news report about the SC order, actor Konkona Sen Sharma tweeted, "Almost all involved in the show have read the script and signed the contract! Let's arrest the whole cast and crew?" Actor Guahar Khan, who plays a pivotal role in 'Tandav', used a series of monocled emojis depicting scrutiny to respond to a Twitter user who said, "Excellent. Next people playing murderers on screen might be tried for the same. After all, they read the script". Screenwriter-lyricist Mayur Puri, whose works include "Om Shanti Om" and "Happy New Year", said it was "ridiculous" to hold an actor responsible for the actions of a fictional character. Puri said the decision has set a dangerous precedent, one which clearly blurs the line between the art and the artiste. "What I thought was particularly alarming was making a creator or an actor responsible for what a character does. That's fiction! By that logic, you'd say Amrish Puri was a bad person. He wasn't, he just played those characters. You can't hold him responsible. It's a rather stringent interpretation of the law, it's blindsided. It's completely unwarranted," Puri told PTI. "So from now on we have to play characters that are exactly who we are. Dear directors, writers & producers are you by any chance writing a role for a nomadic nerd identifying as a cisgender straight woman who is 5'8" and just the right amount of weird & wonderfully astounding?" tweeted "Scam 1992" actor Shreya Dhanwanthary. At the centre of the controversy is a scene that shows Ayyub's student leader Shiva playing Bholenath, another name for Lord Mahadev, in a college theatrical production, for which the makers apologised and even decided to implement changes under pressure. Filmmaker Onir, who described the apex court decision as sad, said the entire industry should be protesting as it affects everybody. "Somehow that collective voice is missing, for whatever reasons it seems to be divided but it is absolutely unfortunate," Onir told PTI, also citing the backlash faced by shows such as 'Leila', 'A Suitable Boy' and 'Mirzapur'. "There is no end to this. It is very sad that we are turning our country into a space which will suffocate art. Different opinions flourish and it is ok, one can criticize, debate but don't throttle it. It is extremely sad that something like this is happening, especially when the platform has already reedited the series," he said. At the end of the day, art is supposed to push boundaries, create dialogue, debate and hold a mirror to society so that it reflects what is happening around, he added. Producer Pritish Nandy, who has produced the International Emmy-nominated show 'Four More Shots Please', said people have the right to disapprove or criticise but intimidating a creative team is just wrong. "We are globally recognised for our content today. That is why it is so sad to see what is happening to shows like 'Tandav' and 'Mirzapur' which have had phenomenal response otherwise? There are far simpler remedies available. Use those," Nandy told PTI. The writer-producer said suppression of the creative voice would diminish India's role as a global soft power. "We are becoming more and more intolerant. Fringe groups are trying to set the creative agenda for India. This is tragic and self defeating because India is a phenomenally talented nation and to suppress its talent, its genius would be grossly unfair." Don't take the service if 'you don't have the stomach for good content', was his advice. "At the heart of all creativity is freedom. Enjoy the freedom. Allow others to celebrate their freedom. And the world will be a better place," he added. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta asked his followers on Twitter, "Arnab or Tandav? Which is more dangerous?" He was referring to TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami whose purported WhatsApp chats have caused a huge controversy. Following up on the tweet, he further wrote, "Deep Sidhu or Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub?" Deep Sidhu, an actor and activist, has been named by Delhi Police in an FIR in connection with Red Fort incidents. Actor Mohan Kapur, known for featuring films such as "Mission Mangal", "Bodyguard" and is set to star in "Ms Marvel" series, added his voice to the chorus of concern. "#Tandav on @PrimeVideoIN is nothing but a brilliantly essayed political drama with top notch performances by each & everyone! The show has NOTHING objectionable. "There is none, not one, zero, nada, zip, zilch mention of any deity for anyone to take any umbrage," he tweeted. Responding to a news alert on SC's decision on 'Tandav', actor Richa Chadha tweeted: Priorities of the apex court! Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal also weighed in on the Supreme Court's decision. "Tandav Opinion of courts remind me of a pendulum which swings to one way to the other depending on who decides. Such swings betray the cause of justice," he wrote on Twitter. In November last year, the government brought OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar besides other online news and current affairs content under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, giving it powers to regulate policies and rules for the digital space. So far, there was no law or autonomous body governing digital content in India. New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) The United States will provide leadership to the world to solve its problems and meet challenges, says Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "Americas values are noble and powerful and we will recommit to them." Blinken said, assuring the international community, as he took charge of the State Department on Wednesday. "The United States has enormous sources of strength were going to build upon them." he told colleagues at Foggy Bottom in Washington DC. Blinken had a series of telephone conversations with his counterparts in Thailand, The Philippines and Australia and said the US would strengthen its defence and security partnership in the Indo-Pacific. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also spoke with their respective counterparts Lloyd Austin and Jake Sullivan and discussed bilateral and regional security situation in the region. Blinken, an old hand at the Department who has served as Deputy Secretary, said US leadership is needed around the world. and "well provide it, because the world is far more likely to solve problems and meet challenges when the United States is there. "America at its best still has a greater capacity than any other nation on Earth to mobilize others for the better." He said the world is watching the US intently right now. "They want to see whether we will lead with the power of our example and if we will put a premium on diplomacy with our allies and partners to meet the great challenges of our time like the pandemic, climate change, the economic crisis, threats to democracies, fights for racial justice, and the danger to our security and global stability posed by our rivals and adversaries," Blinken said. The American people are watching too, he noted. "They want to see that we are safeguarding their well-being, that we care about their interests, that our foreign policy is about them and their lives," he said. "We will do right by them by pursuing a foreign policy that delivers real benefits to American families, protects their safety, advances their opportunities, honors their values, and leaves their children and grandchildren a healthier and more peaceful world. We have our work cut out," UNI SRJ SB 1334 HAZLETON Concerned over the living conditions at the Kadima Rehabilitation and Nursing at Luzerne in Drums, state Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp., on Thursday called on the Pennsylvania Department of Health to immediately transfer its 31 patients to another facility. Toohil made the formal request in a letter sent to Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection Raphael Barishansky. Toohil informed Barishansky that all but one resident had recently tested positive for COVID-19 and 12 citations had been filed against the home following the latest federal inspection. She also said that her office was contacted by an employee about the deplorable conditions, expired food and lack of personal protective equipment. Currently, Kadima Rehabilitation and Nursing Home does not have the necessary equipment to care for the residents properly. It has failed to timely conduct testing of staff and its residents which led to the current outbreak of COVD-I9, Toohil wrote. Our office has received several phone calls and emails from both staff and family members requesting their concerns be addressed regarding the facility. I fully share in their concerns regarding this very troubling situation. Rice export prices in India rose to their highest level in nearly two years on the back of healthy demand and an appreciating rupee, while a slow harvest squeezed supply and lifted Vietnamese rates. Top exporter Indias 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $390-$394 per tonne this week, the highest since March 2019. Last week, prices were at $385-$391. Asian and African buyers are aggressively making purchases from India. Even after marginal price rise, Indian rice is far cheaper than Thai rice," said an exporter based at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Vietnams 5% broken rice rose to $505-$510 per tonne on Thursday from $500-505 last week on tight supplies. Though the winter-spring harvest has started, supplies remain low Only 5%-6% of the crop has been harvested, and it wont peak until late February or early March," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Trading activity is slow as buyers are waiting for the harvest to peak, traders said. Meanwhile, Vietnam continued to buy low quality rice from India for beer production and animal feed, they added. Thai rice prices were still lingering near a nine-month high, but traders were hopeful prices would ease a little with signs of the baht depreciating against the US dollar. Thailands benchmark 5% broken rice prices widened slightly to $520-$530 per tonne on Thursday, from last weeks $520-$526. The market is still quiet but it is likely to pick up, as prices quoted by Vietnam were also edging higher and closer to ours and the baht has started to weaken slightly" a Bangkok-based trader said. Bangladesh, which is striving to replenish its depleted reserves after last years floods, will buy 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar. A bald eagle takes off over the ice with a fish in its talons at the Cheshire Reservoir in Cheshire. Highlights Havieron Project initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate - 52Mt @ 2.0g/t Au and 0.31% Cu for 3.4Moz Au and 160Kt Cu ( 1 ) - 52Mt @ 2.0g/t Au and 0.31% Cu for 3.4Moz Au and 160Kt Cu Increased Paterson Province total landholding to ~3,200km 2 - by entering into the Juri Joint Venture - by entering into the Juri Joint Venture Drilling intersected a new zone of higher grade mineralisation at Red Chris - 100m west of the open pit, with hole RC666 returning 194m @ 0.62g/t Au & 0.46% Cu from 476m, including 76m @ 1.2g/t Au and 0.75% Cu from 592m - 100m west of the open pit, with hole RC666 returning 194m @ 0.62g/t Au & 0.46% Cu from 476m, including 76m @ 1.2g/t Au and 0.75% Cu from 592m Commenced exploration drilling - at both the Wilki Project in the Paterson Province, Western Australia and the Jarbidge Project in Nevada, USA Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2021) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) Newcrest Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas, said: "The December quarter has seen excellent progress in relation to our expanding exploration portfolio. In the highly prospective Paterson Province in Western Australia we announced our initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Havieron Project and expanded our presence by entering into the Juri Joint Venture and commencing drilling at the Wilki Project. In the Americas, brownfields drilling at Red Chris has confirmed the potential for discovery of new higher grade mineralisation within the main porphyry corridor, whilst at the Jarbidge Project we commenced our initial drilling activities." Havieron - Significant infill resource drilling results since the September 2020 Quarterly Exploration Report, including results reported on 10 December 2020(2): HAD025W1 111.7m @ 3.6g/t Au & 0.46% Cu from 804.7m including 40.2m @ 8.4g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 816.8m HAD109 37.7m @ 9.8g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 814.3m HAD110 140.3m @ 2.5g/t Au & 0.48% Cu from 554m including 37.7m @ 8.2g/t Au & 1.4% Cu from 580.4m HAD110W1 134m @ 3.1g/t Au & 0.45% Cu from 558m including 22.9m @ 12g/t Au & 0.56% Cu from 659.1m HAD113 121.7m @ 2g/t Au & 0.43% Cu from 708m HAD113W1 108.6m @ 2.5g/t Au & 0.64% Cu from 742.4m HAD056W1 ^^ 205.8m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.24% Cu from 598m ^^ HAD097W2 ^^ 119.2m @ 2.7g/t Au & 0.4% Cu from 937.8m ^^ HAD105 ^^ 298.8m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.11% Cu from 801.6m ^^ ____________________ 1 Refer to Newcrest announcement titled "Initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for Havieron of 3.4Moz of gold and 160Kt of copper" dated 10 December 2020 and available on www.asx.com.au under the code "NCM". The Inferred Mineral Resource estimate is presented on a 100% basis. As announced on 30 November 2020, Newcrest has met the Stage 3 expenditure requirement (US$45 million) and is entitled to earn an additional 20% joint venture interest in addition to its existing 40% interest, resulting in an overall joint venture interest of 60% (Greatland Gold 40%). 2 * partial results, assays pending ** partial intercept, assays pending; ^ updated intercept or ^^ previously reported. Red Chris - Significant results since the September 2020 Quarterly Exploration Report, including results reported on 10 December 2020(2): RC664: 338m @ 0.58g/t Au & 0.51% Cu from 762m including 154m @ 0.91g/t Au & 0.70% Cu from 778m including 54m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.82% Cu from 794m RC666 : 194m @ 0.62g/t Au & 0.46% Cu from 476m including 76m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.75% Cu from 592m including 62m @ 1.4g/t Au & 0.78% Cu from 604m : RC641 ^^: 854m @ 0.43g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 66m including 120m @ 0.82g/t Au & 0.87% Cu from 612m including 12m @ 1.0g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 716m ^^: RC645 ^^: 442m @ 0.55g/t Au & 0.45% Cu from 714m including 142m @ 0.94g/t Au & 0.72% Cu from 882m including 54m @ 1.3g/t Au & 0.99% Cu from 960m ^^: RC646 ^^: 606m @ 0.37g/t Au & 0.33% Cu from 488m including 70m @ 0.58g/t Au & 0.51% Cu from 710m including 22m @ 1.0g/t Au & 0.62% Cu from 858m ^^: RC650 ^^: 112m @ 0.57g/t Au & 0.45% Cu from 530m including 100m @ 0.62g/t Au & 0.50% Cu from 532m ^^: RC658 ^^: 538m @ 0.41g/t Au & 0.31% Cu from 558m including 88m @ 0.85g/t Au & 0.57% Cu from 632m including 34m @ 1.3g/t Au & 0.84% Cu from 682m ^^: Further information in relation to the Quarterly Exploration Report can be found in our market release on www.asx.com.au under the code "NCM", SEDAR or on our website at www.newcrest.com. Forward Looking Statements This document includes forward looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions. Forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "objectives", "targets", "outlook" and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding estimated reserves and resources, certain plans, strategies, aspirations and objectives of management, anticipated production, study or construction dates, expected costs, cash flow or production outputs and anticipated productive lives of projects and mines. Newcrest continues to distinguish between outlook and guidance. Guidance statements relate to the current financial year. Outlook statements relate to years subsequent to the current financial year. These forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Newcrest's actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which Newcrest operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. For further information as to the risks which may impact on Newcrest's results and performance, please see the risk factors included in the Annual Information Form dated 13 October 2020 lodged with ASX and SEDAR. Forward looking statements are based on Newcrest's good faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect Newcrest's business and operations in the future. Newcrest does not give any assurance that the assumptions will prove to be correct. There may be other factors that could cause actual results or events not to be as anticipated, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of Newcrest. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, particularly in the current economic climate with the significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward looking statements in this document speak only at the date of issue. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Newcrest does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in assumptions on which any such statement is based. Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources Reporting Requirements As an Australian Company with securities listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Newcrest is subject to Australian disclosure requirements and standards, including the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ASX. Investors should note that it is a requirement of the ASX listing rules that the reporting of ore reserves and mineral resources in Australia is in accordance with the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code) and that Newcrest's ore reserve and mineral resource estimates comply with the JORC Code. Newcrest is also subject to certain Canadian disclosure requirements and standards, as a result of its secondary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), including the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Investors should note that it is a requirement of Canadian securities law that the reporting of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources in Canada and the disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning a mineral project on a property material to Newcrest comply with NI 43-101. Newcrest's material properties are currently Cadia, Lihir and Wafi-Golpu. Competent Person's Statement The information in this document that relates to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results, and related scientific and technical information, is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr F. MacCorquodale. Mr MacCorquodale is the General Manager - Greenfields Exploration and a full-time employee of Newcrest Mining Limited. He is a shareholder in Newcrest Mining Limited and is entitled to participate in Newcrest's executive equity long term incentive plan, details of which are included in Newcrest's 2020 Remuneration Report. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr MacCorquodale has sufficient experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr MacCorquodale approves the disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this document and consents to the inclusion of material of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Authorised by the Newcrest Disclosure Committee For further information please contact Investor Enquiries Tom Dixon +61 3 9522 5570 +61 450 541 389 Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au Ben Lovick +61 3 9522 5334 +61 407 269 478 Ben.Lovick@newcrest.com.au North American Investor Enquiries Ryan Skaleskog +1 866 396 0242 +61 403 435 222 Ryan.Skaleskog@newcrest.com.au Media Enquiries Tom Dixon +61 3 9522 5570 +61 450 541 389 Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au Annie Lawson +61 3 9522 5750 +61 409 869 986 Annie.Lawson@newcrest.com.au This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73005 * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ - Drone Delivery Canada Corp. (TSXV: FLT) (OTC: TAKOF) (Frankfurt: A2AMGZ or ABB.F) (the "Company" or "DDC") is pleased to provide an update on its plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its disruptive drone delivery solution. As part of the Company's technology roadmap, it plans to integrate various aspects of AI into its solution, including the use of AI in leveraging: operational data collected by the Company's FLYTE software as related to weather, air traffic patterns, and package delivery patterns; radar data; vehicular & marine traffic data; and battery / fuel consumption data. AI can be applied to the broad range of data collected by the Company in order to optimize predictive real-time route planning, especially in emergency medical scenarios; for electric and gasoline fuel optimization; long-range and short-range Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems for commercial and residential deliveries; and multi-drone logistics traffic optimization. "There are numerous applications for AI within our system to bring even greater benefits to our customers. As one of the global industry leaders, using AI, machine learning and predictive analysis to push performance capabilities to the next level is part of our technology roadmap. Also, considering the volume of data obtained through our operations, this data can be monetized in the future to create new, incremental revenue streams," said Michael Zahra, President & CEO of DDC. About Drone Delivery Canada Corp. Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is a drone technology company focused on the design, development, and implementation of its proprietary logistics software platform, using drones. The Company's platform will be used as a Software as a Service (SaaS) model for government and corporate organizations globally. Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX.V Exchange under the symbol FLT, on the U.S. OTC Q B market under the symbol TAKOF and on the Frankfurt exchange in Germany under the symbol A2AMGZ or ABB.F . Read more about the Company at: www.DroneDeliveryCanada.com or on DDC's social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drone-delivery-canada https://www.youtube.com/dronedeliverycanada https://www.facebook.com/dronedeliverycanada https://www.instagram.com/dronedeliverycanada https://twitter.com/DroneDeliveryCa 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. 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, and dependence upon regulatory approvals (both in Canada and internationally). 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. SOURCE Drone Delivery Canada For further information: Investor Relations: Mr. Michael Zahra, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Bill Mitoulas, Telephone: (416) 479-9547, Email: [email protected]; Media Relations: Mr. Nelson Hudes, Hudes Communications International, Telephone: (905) 660-9155, Email: [email protected] Related Links http://www.dronedeliverycanada.com BOSTON A major memorial honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King is moving forward in Boston, where they met and studied in the 1950s. King Boston, the privately funded organization coordinating the estimated $9.5 million project, said that fabrication of a roughly 22-foot-high bronze sculpture depicting four arms embracing is expected to begin in March after years of planning. When unveiled late next year, The Embrace will be one of the countrys largest new memorials dedicated to racial equity, the organization says. It will be installed on Boston Common near the site of a 1965 rally and march led by MLK, who would have turned 92 last Friday. Imari Paris Jeffries, King Bostons executive director, said organizers hope their broader effort serves as a model for how public monuments can spark positive action in the wake of the national reckoning on racism sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year. Besides the King memorial, the organization is also raising money to build an economic justice center in Roxbury, a historically Black neighborhood in Boston where MLK preached. It also plans to launch an annual gathering exploring issues of race and equity. Its not only how symbols and monuments represent this commitment to equity and inclusion, Jeffries said. Its also about how research, data and policy work to find new solutions, and how we use the arts and humanities to ground us. Dr. Vicki Crawford, director of the MLK collection at Morehouse College, the civil rights leaders alma mater in Atlanta, Ga., said the Boston project also stands out because it honors the sizable contributions of Coretta Scott King alongside her husband. She founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta and led the successful push to make his birthday a national holiday after his assassination in 1968. She hasnt received adequate recognition for institutionalizing his philosophy of nonviolence, Crawford said. He could not have done it without her by his side. Other recent monuments to MLK include a bronze statue on Georgia Capitol grounds, dedicated in 2017, and the towering granite likeness off the National Mall that opened in 2011. King Boston was launched in 2017 to address what organizers viewed as a glaring deficiency, considering MLK spent some of his formative years in Boston. The Georgia native earned a doctorate in theology from Boston University and was assistant minister at the citys Twelfth Baptist Church. The memorial effort was later broadened to honor Coretta Scott King, who earned a degree in music education from the New England Conservatory. It has been further expanded to also recognize Boston civil rights leaders during the 1960s, whose names will be memorialized in the surrounding plaza. Like other racial justice efforts, Jeffries said King Boston has been bolstered by civic activism following Floyds killing. The organization collected roughly $8 million of the total $12 million it has raised to date in roughly eight months last year, he said. The project also comes as Boston, which was scarred by violent protests over efforts to desegregate its public schools in the 1970s, is enjoying something of a Black Renaissance, Jeffries said. The city of almost 700,000 residents, roughly a quarter of them Black, now has its first Black police commissioner and is also home to the states first Black female district attorney and the states first Black congresswoman. Soon, New Englands largest city will also have its first Black and first female mayor. It seems with every passing day this piece becomes so necessary, said Hank Willis Thomas, the Brooklyn artist who designed the Boston memorial. I never imagined how prescient this would be. Sponsored by Laurentian Bank Securities & Media Sponsor - Newsfile Featured Keynote Speakers: Barry Allan - Managing Director, Research, Mining Analyst, Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. Peter Schiff - CEO & Chief Global Strategist, Euro Pacific Capital Terry Lynch - Founder, Save Canadian Mining And Rick Rule, President & CEO, Sprott Holdings USA Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - IR.INC and FTMIG are pleased to Present Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III"), February 17-18, 2021. Join us for a lineup of premier presenting companies and keynote speakers - with more to be announced in the future. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.Please stay tuned as more companies and keynote speakers will be announced! Featured Companies to date include: Ely Gold Royalties (TSXV: ELY) Chakana Copper (TSXV: PERU) enCore Energy (TSXV: EU) Jaguar Mining (TSX: JAG) Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV: QPM) Galway Metals (TSXV: GWM) Renforth Resources (CNSX: RFR) Omai Gold Mines (TSXV: OMG) Troilus Gold Corporation (TSX: TLG) About IR.INC IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca. About FTMIG Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com. Disclaimer Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them. For further information, please contact: Joanne Jobin, Principal IR.INC | Capital Markets Advisory & Services jjobin@irinc.ca www.irinc.ca Karl Boyd, President Follow the Money Investor Group kboyd@ftmig.com www.ftmig.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/7307 Dhaka, Jan 27 (UNI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked all concerned to work with utmost sincerity, to make the COVID-19 vaccination programme a success. 'We want protection for all from Novel Coronavirus. I want to say to you all to work with sincerity to make the Covid-19 vaccination a success. 'We want cooperation from all so that everything goes well to this end,' she said, while inaugurating the vaccination campaign at Kurmitola General Hospital through video-conference from her official Ganabhaban residence. The premier said the vaccination programme has been taken, following all the guidelines and protocols of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Describing January 27 as a historic day for Bangladesh, she said, 'Many countries of the world are yet to start vaccination. But, we have started it, despite being a country of vast population and limited resources.' She said though the vaccination programme has been taken following the protocols of WHO, some people were out to criticise the initiative, as they have a habit of feeling bad over anything good for the nation. 'They feel unwell when good things happen. Feeling unwell is a disease. I don't know whether there is any treatment or vaccine for the disease,' added Ms Hasina. Despite the fact, she said the government was ready to administer them the vaccines, as their criticism inspires them to work with urgency in procuring the COVID-19 vaccine. More UNI MAZ RJ 2054 A new and highly transmissible form of COVID-19 has been reported in Alabama for the first time. The Alabama Department of Public Health said the variant B.1.1.7 has been identified in two Montgomery County residents and one person in Jefferson County. Two of the patients are under age 19; one is an adult. Other information on the patients has not been released. Heres what we know: What did ADPH announce today? ADPH said the COVID-19 variant has been reported in Alabama for the first time. The specimens were identified at UAB as the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7. What is B.1.1.7? B.1.1.7 is a variant of the coronavirus that, according to the CDC, has emerged with an unusually large number of mutations. It was first identified in September 2020 and is now highly prevalent in London and southeast England. It has been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the U.S. and Canada. What is different about B.1.1.7? The CDC said B.1.17 spreads more easily and quickly than other COVID variants. At this time, however, the health agency maintains there is no evidence that is causes more severe illness or increased risk of death. The impact of the variant remains under investigation, however. Early studies point to the fact that cough, fatigue, sore throat and muscle pain may be more common with the British COVID variant. What is a variant? Basically, its the original virus - with some changes. Viruses constantly change through mutation and new variants of a virus are expected to occur overtime, the CDC explains. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented since the pandemic began. Among the most prevalent types of variants currently circulating are the B.1.1.7 from the UK, 1.351 from South Africa and P.1 from Brazil. The British and Brazil variant have been reported in the U.S. Almost 300 variant cases, almost all the British variant, have been reported in the U.S. Still unknown CDC said scientists are still working to learn more about the variants, including more information on how widely they have spread; how they differ from the current disease; and how they affect existing therapies and vaccines. The big concern From CDC: These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. Currently, there is no evidence that these variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death. However, an increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths. What about the vaccine? Researchers are optimistic that the existing vaccines will protect against the variants but more research is needed. Vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna said they expect their vaccines to be effective against the COVID-19 variant but are planning to test booster shots. How to protect yourself from COVID variant? Experts said the same things you do to protect yourself now thorough handwashing, social distancing and wearing a face covering can help prevent the spread of the COVID variant. Should you double mask? Experts are saying wearing two masks can provide extra protection against COVID variants. If you dont wear two separate masks, you should make sure your mask is the proper type and being worn correctly. A two or three-layer mask is the best to wear to protect yourself, experts said. The best ones have three layers with two tightly woven cloth layers and a filter in between. It should be worn fitted around the bridge of the nose with no gaps around the sides. Two days after President Bidens inauguration, on the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the White House released a boilerplate statement on abortion rights. Mostly overlooked, because it was expected, the brief press release was an unmistakable mile marker in the transition from a Republican administration that fancied itself the most anti-abortion in history and a Democratic replacement that could become the most pro-abortion yet. Biden quickly reversed the so-called Mexico City policy, barring U.S. tax dollars from funding nongovernment organizations that provide abortions overseas. He also signaled his opposition to the Hyde Amendment, a longstanding policy that prohibits federal funding of abortion. But at a moment when individual states are moving to limit abortion accessibility, will Biden go further? Does he support an abortion rights law modeled after the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a statute empowering the Department of Justice to root out abortion restrictions the way the department rooted out Jim Crow? Vice President Kamala Harris proposed just such an approach as a presidential primary season candidate, and while White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki didnt have an update on that policy last week, she told RealClearPolitics, Obviously, her policies are the policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Symone Sanders, chief spokesperson and a senior adviser to Harris, said the same: The Vice Presidents policies are the policies of the Biden-Harris Administration and the statements today speak and accurately reflect those policies. The Jan. 22 statement reads: In the past four years, reproductive health, including the right to choose, has been under relentless and extreme attack. We are deeply committed to making sure everyone has access to care including reproductive health care regardless of income, race, ZIP code, health insurance status, or immigration status. According to three separate Biden-Harris officials, that commitment now includes support for a legislative approach more far-reaching than anything put forward by the last two Democratic administrations including the one in which Biden served as vice president. By proposing legislation modeled after the Voting Rights Act while on the campaign trail, Harris married civil rights and abortion rights. The California candidate described her approach this way: We are living through an all-out assault being waged on womens health and reproductive rights. From Alabama to Ohio, and Missouri to Georgia, the goal of Republican politicians is clear: Overturn Roe v. Wade and end safe and legal abortion in America. States have mandated that women submit to invasive ultrasounds, passed laws requiring survivors of sexual assault to carry their rapists child to term, and placed onerous and medically unnecessary restrictions on health clinics. These restrictions do nothing to make people healthier or safer. Their sole purpose is limiting access to abortion. The proposal was seen at the time as a creative solution to what liberals view as a persistent problem. This is undoubtedly a bold, creative plan to employ Congresss expressed constitutional powers to prevent states from thwarting womens right to an abortion, David Gans, director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights and Citizenship Program at the Constitutional Accountability Center, told the Washington Post. Obviously, there are differences between the Jim Crow South and voting rights in the 1960s and abortion, but theyre both situations where were seeing a number of states targeting a constitutional right and flouting it in a number of different ways. Theres differences, but theres also similarities. Such a bill would also be dead on arrival in Congress. The Senate is deadlocked 50-50, and Republicans are already signaling to the new White House that even repealing the Hyde Amendment is a step too far. It is a creative way to try to protect abortion rights from restrictive state laws, Richard Hasen told RCP, but the law professor at the University of California-Irvine added, I do not believe it has any realistic path of being enacted into law at the present time. Still, support for this kind of legislation, even without an immediate future, sent a signal to groups on both sides of the abortion issue. A spokeswoman for NARAL Pro-Choice America told RCP that her organization and the White House share a commitment to reproductive freedom that includes not only rolling back the extreme anti-choice policies of the Trump era, but also taking meaningful steps to advance reproductive freedom and safeguard access to abortion in the face of unyielding attacks. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, told RCP that she was not surprised by the remarks from the White House because Biden and Harris are the most pro-abortion team yet. While religious rhetoric was thrown about, there was never concrete evidence of daylight between the two during the campaign, she added. His conversion to abortion absolutism was complete long before he received the nomination. It was of course required. Anti-abortion advocates enjoyed something of a boom time during the Trump administration. But like Republicans, they are now out of power at the federal level and place their hopes in a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. They still see opportunities for reform at the state level where the GOP controls a majority of legislatures across the country. A majority of Americans, 53%, describe themselves as pro-choice as the Biden era begins, according to new polling by Marist and the Knights of Columbus. At the same time, nearly six-in-10 Americans, 58%, oppose using tax dollars to pay for abortion and 70% oppose abortion of unborn children because of a Down syndrome diagnosis. In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem introduced a bill just recently that would ban abortion based on such a diagnosis. Republican legislators are moving to ratchet up restrictions in other states. In Kansas, the House voted to overturn a state Supreme Court decision that declared access to abortion a fundamental right, while Montana Republicans are advancing legislation to ban abortion in most cases after 20 weeks of gestation. (Newser) Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in The Last Picture Show, a comedic delight as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died, the AP reports. She was 94. Leachman died in her sleep of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, Calif., publicist Monique Moss said Wednesday. Her daughter Dinah Englund was at her side, Moss said. A character actor of extraordinary range, Leachman defied typecasting. She appeared as Timmy's mother on the Lassie series, a frontier prostitute in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and a crime spree family member in Crazy Mama. Leachman grew up on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, where she was born in 1926. Her mother had ambitious ideas for her children, arranging for Cloris to ride on a coal truck to Des Moines for an audition for a Drake University student play. story continues below She was given the role and appeared in other plays at a local theater. After high school, she won a scholarship to study drama at Northwestern University. Admittedly a poor student, Leachman lasted only a year. While in the Chicago area, she tried out for a beauty contest and was chosen. She competed in the 1946 Miss America pageant, qualifying as a finalist. Her consolation prize: a $1,000 talent scholarship. In 1953, Leachman married George Englund, and they had five children: Adam, Bryan, George, Morgan and Dinah. There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh till the tears ran down your face, Juliet Green, her longtime manager, said in a statement. (Read more obituary stories.) VIENNA, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ -- The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) marks its 45th anniversary today. Since inception, the multilateral development finance institution has approved more than US$25 billion in essential financing for 135 partner countries. Established in 1976 with a distinct mandate to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people, the OPEC Fund's member countries are: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. While the organization works directly with partner countries, it also collaborates with other development finance institutions, regional development banks and the specialized agencies of the United Nations to maximize its development impact. The 45th anniversary coincides with a demonstration of steadfast support from the organization's member countries. The OPEC Fund's Governing Board recently endorsed a second tranche of US$400 million to be contributed by member countries over the next four years. The Ministerial Council approved a US$1 billion Fourth Replenishment of the OPEC Fund's resources in 2001, of which this second tranche is a part. The first tranche of US$600 million was contributed over the past eight years. Abdulwahab A Al-Bader, Chairman of the OPEC Fund's Governing Board, said: "The organization's development operations are self-sustaining, due to prudent management and a long history of positive operational income. This second tranche of contributions signifies member country determination to strengthen the OPEC Fund's ability to meet development challenges that have become even more urgent as a result of COVID-19." OPEC Fund Ministerial Council Member and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan outlined the unique role the organization plays in international development: "The OPEC Fund has been playing a distinguished role in promoting global development, and it is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries only. All developing countries, with the exception of its own members, are eligible for assistance." Story continues The OPEC Fund's Ministerial Council member and Indonesia's Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said: "A new strategy introduced in 2019 and backed by member countries means that the organization has become more agile and can respond without delay to the changing needs of partner countries. We can now move quickly and effectively to ensure finance reaches those who need it most, as low-income communities around the world attempt to recover from the pandemic." OPEC Fund Director-General Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "Thanks to the foresight and dedication of our member countries, the OPEC Fund continues to demonstrate solidarity and play its part in reducing global inequality. During the year ahead, we will focus on delivering in line with our clear and ambitious Strategic Framework to further expand our development impact and secure our future for many years to come." To date, the OPEC Fund's public sector operations have supported the development of 15 GW of electricity generation capacity; contributed to the construction and development of 11,360 km of roads and railways; and provided 11.5 million households with access to water and sanitation. Since launching in 1998 and 2006, the organization's private sector and trade finance operations have directly supported over 350,000 MSMEs; helped generate 15 million tonnes of annual handling capacity in ports; and contributed to the development of 750 MW of renewable capacity generation. For further information on the OPEC Fund's achievements since 1976, please see the special edition of the OPEC Fund Quarterly. About the OPEC Fund The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The organization was established by the member countries of OPEC in 1976 with a distinct mandate: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. The OPEC Fund's work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all. CELEBRATING 45 Years of Success. OPEC Fund for International Development Logo Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/opec-fund-marks-45-years-of-driving-development-as-member-countries-commit-to-further-contribution-301216645.html SOURCE OPEC Fund for International Development Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2021/28/c1955.html 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. New Delhi: Scientists of the UGC-affiliated Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture Technology University (CSA) in Kanpur have created a new type of groundnut that can flourish in summers. According to CSA scientist Jitendra Singh, "The new variety of groundnut can be sown after harvesting pea, potato and mustard during summers". This new summer variety can be harvested in just three months after its sown. Read more: Bizarre peanut worm, faceless fish surprise scientists "Now people will not have to consume stored groundnuts grown during the winter season. They will now relish the taste of fresh groundnuts even during the summers", Singh said. Singh said that in Uttar Pradesh, the summer variety of groundnut could be planted in Kanpur, Fatehpur, allahabad and kaushambi areas which are known as the potato belt, with other parts of the country as well. He claimed that a grower can earn up to Rs 75,000, with an investment worth Rs 30,000 per hectare. Read more: Sea Pickles invade Pacific coastal waters, baffling scientists Moreover, the summer variety of the groundnut crop is disease-free as pests cannot attack the crop because of high temperature in the atmosphere, he added. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. An anthology of children's books by black British authors will be given to every primary school in England to increase 'diversity of voices'. The collection of stories, titled Happy Here, features work from writers including Yomi Sode, Clare Weze, Dean Atta, Patrice Lawrence and Sharna Jackson. It is aimed at children aged seven and older, and will be published on August 5. The project is a collaboration between reading charity BookTrust, publisher Knights Of, and charity Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE). A press release from the project's creators says BookTrust will provide a free copy of the anthology to every primary school in England and, in partnership with CLPE, will 'create and distribute free curriculum resources'. Jill Coleman, director of children's books at BookTrust, said: 'Happy Here is going to thrill and inspire children in families and schools across the country and we want to make sure it is read by thousands of children. Happy Here, is aimed at children aged seven and older, and will be published on August 5 The collection of stories, titled Happy Here, features work from writers including Yomi Sode, Clare Weze, Dean Atta, Patrice Lawrence and Sharna Jackson (pictured at Henleaze Junior School in Bristol) 'We are proud to be working with Knights Of and CLPE as part of our effort to drive a long-term, sustainable increase in the diversity of voices published in children's literature.' Aimee Felone, co-founder of Knights Of, said: 'Being able to commission work that has no motive other than to amplify, uplift and celebrate what it means to exist in the UK today as black British is liberating for our team. 'Each and every author and illustrator has focused not on the trauma or hardship of their existence, which is too often highlighted in children's fiction, but the experience and possibility of happiness for their characters.' She added: 'As partners on Happy Here it is encouraging to know that these stories and resources will reach children everywhere.' Those behind the project will also sponsor author events for schools to support the book, along with a programme of 'ongoing professional development for teachers to broaden the scope of literature taught in schools'. Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive, CLPE said: 'We are so pleased to be working together with our colleagues at BookTrust and Knights Of to bring new stories, characters and settings to children in classrooms across the country and to be part of a brilliant partnership that supports real, meaningful and continued change for the creators of today and the readers of tomorrow.' Pictured right: Dean Atta. Left: Patrice Lawrence hosts a BookTrust Represents workshop HAPPY HERE: THE AUTHORS Dean Atta Joseph Coelho Kereen Getten Patrice Lawrence Theresa Lola E.L. Norry Jasmine Richards Alexandra Sheppard Yomi Sode Clare Weze Advertisement State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli is isolating at home because a member of her staff on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19, a spokeswoman announced Thursday. Several other state members of Persichillis staff who had come in contact with the infected employee will also work from home, department spokeswoman Donna Leusner said in a statement. Persichilli has no symptoms, but she and other employees who worked together at the departments offices in Trenton will stay at home out of an abundance of caution and in line with the Departments guidance, Leusners statement said. The commissioners office will be cleaned and disinfected, she added. The infected persons name and job title were not revealed. The Commissioner will resume in-person public appearances after completing quarantine in accordance with current CDC quarantine guidance, Leusners statement said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a 14-period of quarantine for someone who has been exposed to the virus. This is the second time Persichilli has quarantined during the pandemic. She stayed away from Gov. Phil Murphys coronavirus briefings for 10 days in November after a staff member tested positive. At the onset of the pandemic 10 months ago, Persichilli, 71, told NJ Advance Media, Im definitely going to get it. We all are. Im just waiting. New Jersey has now lost 21,301 residents in the nearly 11 month outbreak with 19,172 confirmed fatalities and 2,129 considered probable. There are 610,324 confirmed cases of the virus in New Jersey, according to the states COVID-19 data page. There have been 19,172 confirmed fatalities and 2,129 considered probable. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. The outrageous abuse of women prisoners in the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility is matched by our states shameful failure to make sweeping changes despite the facts being well known for years. The situation is especially sad because when Mahan (for whom the site is now named) was the superintendent, New Jersey could be proud of its one such institution for women. Mahan received her professional training in California, where the low-security Chino Prison was a model for humane, respectful treatment. She established similar conditions at Clinton Farms, as the New Jersey facility was then called. Ms. Mahan was justifiably praised for the success of the honor system by which the women lived in open dormitories and attended jobs or classes under minimal supervision. Simple fences, not battlements, enclosed the campus, and though there were runaways, they were nearly all caught. It nearly broke Mahans heart to be forced to build several maximum-security cells to house the occasional really dangerous inmate. The administrative committee, with the exception of a fine male psychologist, was a group of outstanding professionally trained women, and nearly all of the staff was female. Complaints were exceedingly rare, as was serious misbehavior by inmates; at least one got in trouble purposely to delay her parole back to the streets of Newark. It is folly to place women prisoners under the control of male supervisors and corrections officers in a culture of pure punishment, where violent force is the modus operandi. Take a page from Edna Mahans playbook and radically change the philosophy, as well as the staff and the rules. Nancy T. Block, M.D., Berkeley Heights The writer was the medical officer at Clinton Farms (EMCF) in 1963 and 1964. $10B for bad bus terminal a bad bet The Jan. 25 Star-Ledger editorial, A New Port Authority Bus Terminal crowns Sen. (Loretta) Weinbergs legacy, praises the proposed terminal without reservation, but cautions that funding may be a problem. The fact that the stated cost is $10 billion is presented as a matter of course rather than an outrage. No other country pays anywhere near New York-area construction costs, even for good infrastructure projects, which the terminal absolutely is not. There is no reason other than inertia that more New Jerseyans should commute to Manhattan by bus rather than rail, as is the case. The editorial mentions that the new terminal could accommodate electric buses in the future, but not that most NJ Transit train tracks are not currently electrified, a 160-year-old technology. The NJT bus network largely duplicates the rail system. Disgracefully, the buses are actually faster in many cases because of the agencys insistence on heavy diesel trains. A $10 billion outlay should easily pay for a refurbished rail connection between Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, never mind the bloated $30 billion Gateway project that would not by itself increase train capacity or speeds. The one advantage of buses, their flexibility, is negated by forcing all commuter buses to terminate in one place, and of course the fact that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey arbitrarily closes the Lincoln Tunnel express bus lane whenever they feel like it. The bus terminal is a bad project at any price. The Port Authority board should call for a 24-hour 42nd Street busway, where buses can make useful stops all day, and a 24-hour tunnel bus express lane, instead of begging the federal government to waste billions more to protect the authoritys fiefdoms. Raphael Wakefield, Jersey City Not my president letter a step in wrong direction I read letters to the editor as a means of exploring the views of others and contemplating the rationale behind their thoughts. David DiBellos recent letter, Joe Biden will not be my president, published barely two weeks after the attempted insurrection of our government, was troubling. The writer somehow seems to believe divisiveness is the answer to Americas problems. For one moment, let us not refer to the shortfalls of Donald Trump or Biden, but rather the path our country will follow for a better future. The focus of the new administration is the COVID-19 virus, unity of America and establishing a positive outlook for the future. I fail to see the shortfalls of such goals. Trump is history, as is the insurrection. The focus of all Americans should be to move forward and accept the past for what it is. Only our commitment to unity and a better future will change the course of history. Richard Dewey Slayton, Succasunna Vaccine scheduling no problem in Essex This is in response to the recent article They got the 1st dosewhat about the 2nd? about scheduling issues at a state-run mega-site in Gloucester County: Kudos to our Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo for establishing a working COVID-19 vaccination system Every city and town in the county including mine, Verona is assigned a designated site at which a person is to receive the vaccine. My wife registered both of us on essexcovid.org. Within a day or two, we received acknowledgement. A week later we received appointments for the first AND second dose, with dates and times for both of them. Brilliant, and we are and thankful! Ron Citron, Verona Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Some 45 people tried to enter Croatia using fake Covid-19 PCR test certificates in the last weekend alone. According to Croatian police, the perpetrators have been detained and, if found guilty, could face up to three years in prison, reports Total Croatia News. The travellers were all stopped trying to cross the border from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Travel restrictions currently state that people can only enter Croatia from the neighbouring country if they present evidence of a negative PCR test or a doctor's certificate proving they have already been infected with and recovered from the virus in recent months. The issue of travellers presenting fake coronavirus certificates is not new, but the weekend of 16-17 January saw the highest number of forgeries recorded to date. The 45 travellers were stopped at two separate border crossings in Brod-Posavina County the total number of suspects could be higher, as there are a further eight counties with their own checkpoints along the Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border. At the Stara Gradiska border crossing, police officers determined that 43 persons, mostly citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented fake PCR tests issued in BiH at the border control, the Brod-Posavina police said in a statement. At the Slavonski Brod border crossing, two people were registered who gave forged tests. Police filed criminal charges against all 45 suspects with the Municipal State Attorney's Office in Slavonski Brod. The maximum sentence for forging a document is three years imprisonment. It follows reports in October 2020 that UK travellers were finding ways to fake negative PCR certificates. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, it had seen evidence of passengers using another persons negative PCR test result and doctoring the name and date to match their own. British passenger turned away due to 'inadequate' Covid test The publication saw this method used by those travelling from the UK to Pakistan. One unnamed man from Blackburn described how he was able to forge a certificate for a recent flight to Pakistan by using his friends results. It is quite simple. Everyone knows someone who has had a Covid test, he said. You can simply get their negative test and change the name and birthdate to your own. You also put a test date on which is within the time limit required. You download the email, change it and then print it. KOKSHETAU, Kazakhstan -- A court in northern Kazakhstan has sentenced an opposition activist to jail and fined two other people for allegedly taking part in an unsanctioned rally. The administrative court in the city of Kokshetau on January 28 handed a 12-day jail sentence to Aslan Qurmanbaev. Another activist, Marat Zhanuzaqov, and a local resident, Gaukhar Shakenova, were both fined 87,500 tenges ($205). The case stems from an unsanctioned rally held in Kokshetau's central square on January 25 by hundreds of people angered by what they called the governments poor results in the fights against corruption and the coronavirus pandemic. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Shakenova said she did not participate in the rally but was just a passerby. Kokshetau is a remote city of 146,000 people located 300 kilometers northwest of Kazakhstans capital, Nur-Sultan. Human rights groups have said Kazakhstans law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as it requires preliminary permission from authorities to hold rallies and envisions prosecution for organizing and participating in unsanctioned rallies even though the nations constitution guarantees its citizens the right of free assembly. 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. CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Katten announced today that the firm earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), designating Katten a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. The index measures corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. "At Katten, we advocate for everyone to be treated with dignity and respect so this distinction by the HRC is a significant endorsement of our efforts," said Chief Diversity Partner Leslie D. Minier. "We constantly strive to offer inclusive policies, activities and initiatives that lead by example to elevate our LBGTQ community and foster a diverse work environment where all of our attorneys can advance in their careers and develop successful personal lives." The corporate index evaluates companies in four categories: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility. The results demonstrate how US-based companies across the country and abroad are promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies and helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces overseas. "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." In addition to non-discrimination workplace protections, Katten offers benefits, including health care, leave and other assistance that extend to same-sex spouses and domestic partners as well as transgender individuals. Last year, Katten achieved certification for Mansfield Rule 3.0 for meeting the benchmarks that women, attorneys of color, LGBTQ attorneys, and attorneys with disabilities account for at least 30 percent of the candidate pool considered for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. Katten's LGBTQ Coalition helps the firm foster an inclusive environment for attorneys and business professionals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender by providing educational and business opportunities such as a biennial LGBTQ Attorney Retreat. The firm also supports organizations that work toward equal rights for LGBTQ individuals and families in broader communities. On a pro bono basis, Katten has successfully represented LGBTQ individuals seeking asylum, fleeing persecution in the United States and abroad, and generally facing discrimination. Katten has sponsored the Equality Illinois Gala and the Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair. Further, it has provided financial support to the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles and the LGBT Bar Association Foundation of Greater New York. Katten is a full-service law firm with nearly 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include commercial finance, corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, and trusts and estates. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com . Contact: Jackie Heard +1.312.902.5450 [email protected] Kate Shenk +1.312.577.8415 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679531/Katten_Logo.jpg SOURCE Katten MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LatinFinance has announced the winners of its 2020 Deals of the Year Awards. The annual LatinFinance Deals of the Year Awards are the landmark recognition of stand-out transactions and institutions in the capital markets of Latin America and the Caribbean. The winners are determined by LatinFinance's editorial staff based on an exhaustive selection process. LatinFinance readers are invited to hear directly from the winners today during the Latin America Capital Markets Summit beginning at 10:30 AM ET and can register here. The full list of winning transactions and institutions can be found in a special Deals of the Year supplement to LatinFinance magazine. For more information about the selection process, visit www.latinfinance.com/dealsoftheyear. Winning deals and institutions Click a winning deal or institution to read more about it. Sovereign Issuer of the Year Mexico Corporate Issuer of the Year Cemex Sovereign Bond of the Year Peru Quasi-Sovereign Bond of the Year Pemex Corporate High-Grade Bond of the Year Suzano Corporate High-Yield Bond of the Year Braskem Sovereign Liability Management of the Year Ecuador Corporate Liability Management of the Year Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 Initial Public Offering of the Year XP Inc. Equity Follow-On of the Year Via Varejo Private Equity Deal of the Year Sale of Mexico's RCO to Abertis and GIC Cross-Border M&A Deal of the Year Natura &Co acquisition of Avon Products Domestic M&A Deal of the Year Grupo Notre Dame Intermedica purchase of Clinipam Syndicated Loan of the Year LD Celulose Restructuring of the Year Argentina Local Currency Deal of the Year Colombia Structured Financing of the Year Camara de Comercializacao de Energia Eletrica (CCEE) Law Firm of the Year: LatAm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Law Firm of the Year: Mexico Ritch Mueller, Heather y Nicolau Law Firm of the Year: Brazil Pinheiro Neto Advogados Law Firm of the Year: Andes Payet, Rey, Cauvi, Perez Abogados Bond House of the Year JPMorgan M&A House of the Year Bank of America Equity House of the Year Itau BBA Loan House of the Year BBVA Investment Bank of the Year Citi Upcoming award nominations Sign up to be notified when nominations open for the 2021 Deals of the Year Awards, Banks of the Year Awards and Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards at www.latinfinance.com/awardalerts. About LatinFinance LatinFinance is the leading global platform providing intelligence on the financial markets and economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. Drawing on 30 years of editorial excellence, its English-language publications deliver high-value information to an international readership of companies, governments, financiers and investors, while its events convene those communities for high-level networking forums focused on the dynamics of those markets, by geography and sector. Media contact: Richard Iurilli, [email protected] SOURCE LatinFinance Related Links www.latinfinance.com World Health Organization is working on a digital solution, an international digital vaccination card that will provide a framework with standards for countries to believe onto. In reality, in countires like Zimbabwe where a fake Covid 19 report can be bought for USD 10 experts worry about fake vaccination card. We thought that [was] really concerning, said Mchechesi, a doctor and co-founder of Vaxiglobal from Zimbabwe. Its not like there is any policing thats done, its actually sold freely. You can imagine, someone can actually be COVID-19 positive and they dont get their test, they just bought that COVID-19 certificate and the border officials assume that the person is COVID negative thats how cases are being transmitted internationally, said Mchechesi. As of now, yellow fever is the only disease specified in the World Health Organizations (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), which require proof of vaccination for entry to some specified countries. But is a paper card and can be falsified easily. If Covid 19 vaccination certificate is made compulsory for travel the world over, it would have to be part of the IHR, and that process would take a long time, Mariano, WHOs director of digital health innovation said. CommonPass, a digital framework for verifying COVID-19 tests and vaccination certificates is one solution. Already, n number of organizations approached WHO with their own models to provide confident solution. The role of WHO is to set the standards. It is more like a VISA logo on bank cards. WHO will have developed and defined the vaccination certificate standards and addressed data privacy issues by the end of March, with the standards ready to go by the beginning of April if everything goes well as per the plan. New Covid-19 variants now in dozens of countries: WHO No need to prioritise vaccination of Tokyo Olympics participants: WHO expert WHO chief thanks Biden for membership U-turn, US joining ACT Accelerator, COVAX The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Edwards: Why I'm pursuing election integrity legislation (again) N.C. Sen. Chuck Edwards represents southern Buncombe and Henderson and Transylvania counties. The nucleus of self-governance the idea that the people, not some ruler, govern themselves is voting. Every aspect of self-government revolves around the people casting a ballot every two years to decide who represents them. Trust in our elections has eroded, and average Americans distrust the process. Others aren't sure what to believe, but doubt has been cast. With these raised concerns, I get many questions about where we go from here and what we can do in NC. We still have much work to do, but the reason that North Carolina has not been in the center of the recent controversy is that I and other Republicans have been making election integrity one of our highest priorities. Let's start in 2016. I supported legislation to change the panel's composition that runs elections in our state. It had previously been controlled by whichever party held the Governor's mansion. It's wrong for one political party Republican or Democrat, to be in charge of administering elections. That on its own breeds distrust and suspicion. But Gov. Cooper sued over the new law to gain sole authority over elections administration. After a drawn-out court battle, he got his way, and now his political appointees run the show. Instead of operating in a nonpartisan, transparent manner, the governor-controlled Board of Elections added fuel to the flames of distrust. One person should not have this autocratic power, and that is happening. In 2017 we restored partisan elections for Superior Court and District Court judges so voters could have more information about the candidates they elect. Rules were implemented to require consistent operation hours to prevent county boards from selecting to operate only those near precincts leaning towards their political affiliation. In 2018 I helped bring you a constitutional amendment for voter ID, and a majority of North Carolinians voted to support it. Unfortunately, two full years after the Constitutional amendment passed, it remains under attack in the courts because Democratic advocacy groups, with Gov. Cooper and Attorney General Stein's support, have sued to block the people's Constitutional amendment from being enacted. Do you think blocking a Constitutional amendment requiring voter ID, which dozens of other states already have, increases or decreases the average person's confidence in voting procedures? The legislature continues to support voter ID in these crucial ongoing court battles. In December, a favorable ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals provided us a hopeful beacon for success in other courts. Also, in 2018 I supported legislation that finalized the abolishment of electronic-only voting and required back- up paper ballots for audit purposes. This act eliminates doubts, as we've seen with electronic voting machines. The Bipartisan Elections Act of 2019 enacted unprecedented fraud prevention measures for absentee voting. Applications for ballots are now required, witness signatures are mandatory, anonymous drop boxes are prohibited, and ID for in-person deliveries are required. The bill also strengthened penalties for election fraud. In 2020 the legislature outlawed carte blanche mail-in voting as we've seen in other states. At the same time, we removed autocratic authority from the state Board of Elections to change rules during a state of emergency. With all our progress, we still need a sober reflection on what's brought us now to this dangerous moment, and we need to acknowledge that many actions have created a trust deficit. For example, in late September of 2020, after voting had already begun, the Governor's Board, together with Attorney General Josh Stein, secretly negotiated with Democratic Party super-lawyer Marc Elias to "settle" a lawsuit to rewrite the rules of the election that was already underway. They brazenly violated multiple state voting laws in the process and were rebuked by numerous federal judges. Suppose the political and media class continue to ignore the very real issues undermining election confidence in North Carolina and continue to demean those who hold reasonable perspectives. In that case, we'll continue to careen down a dangerous path. We must ensure our elections remain free from outside influence. I have and will continue to defend our elections from partisan sway. This year, you will see another election integrity bill that will address our ongoing concerns. * * * * * Chuck Edwards, a resident of Flat Rock, is state senator for the 48th Senate District. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives on Thursday as lawmakers asked for additional funds for security amid increasing threats to their safety. 'We will probably need a supplemental for more security for members when the enemy is within the House of Representatives,' she conceded at her press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday. Asked to specific who she meant by the enemy within, Pelosi forcefully responded: 'It means that we have members of Congress who want to bring guns onto the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress.' She was referencing GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who, before she was a member of Congress, liked Facebook posts that expressed support for executing top Democrats, including Pelosi. The speaker also was referring to several Republican lawmakers who want to carry guns in the Capitol. Republican Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland is being investigated for trying to bring a gun onto the House floor last week. Lawmakers are allowed to carry guns in their offices and on the Capitol grounds but they are forbidden from bringing firearms into the House chamber. Pelosi set up metal detectors to keep members from bringing weapons - violators face a $5,000 fine. Republicans have objected to the new security measures and have argued they have a right to bear arms. But other lawmakers are concerned about colleagues being armed. It's not just Harris. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has been adamant about wanting to carry her gun in the Capitol and GOP Congressman Madison Cawthorn claimed he was armed on the day of the MAGA riot. Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has been adamant about wanting to carry her gun in the Capitol - above, left, Boebert goes through a metal detector outside the House chamber and, right, she speaks on the House floor Speaker Pelosi installed metal detectors outside the House chamber after the January 6th MAGA riot but some Republicans have complained, arguing they have the right to bear arms Several members of Congress wrote to Pelosi and other House leaders on Thursday, asking for the flexibility and funds to hire armed guards and upgrade security measures in their districts as they are terrified of threats against them. 'Reflecting the tense and troubling times we live in, Members of Congress have reported receiving a significant uptick in threats of violence and even death,' states the letter, a copy of which was obtained by DailyMail.com. The lawmakers ask for greater flexibility to use their taxpayer-funded office expenses for security measures at their homes - which would presumably include items such as bullet proof glass and alarms - in addition for personal guards for the lawmakers when they are in their districts. They also want their addresses kept a secret. Pelosi expressed sympathy to the lawmakers concerned about their safety but noted: 'Most of the items on their list have already been done. Perhaps they were not aware and I take responsibility for them not being aware.' She also pledged to look into additional funding, saying 'they shouldn't have to have that money is there for them to meet the needs of their constituents.' She noted the House Sergeant at Arms would send a letter to members on Thursday outlining security options and that she would meet with retired General Russel Honore later in the day. Pelosi tasked Honore with reviewing Capitol Hill security procedures in the wake of the riot. 'He is looking at members here and members at home and in between,' she said, adding they want to 'have a scientific approach to help protect members.' The two-page letter from the concerned lawmakers argues that the internet makes information about lawmakers' lives much more accessible, including home addresses, photos, personal details about lawmakers' families, and real-time information on lawmaker attendance at events - which puts them at greater risk. It asks for more funding to their Member Representational Allowance - the taxpayer money lawmakers receive to run their offices - and for greater flexibility on how that money can be spent on security matters, specifically when they are home. They point out they have protection at the Capitol but not when they are back in their districts - which is where they spend the majority of their time. 'While the U.S. Capitol is protected by the United States Capitol Police with the support of strong security measures, including vehicle barriers and metal detectors, most Members spend the majority of their time in their Congressional Districts where security is often sparse,' the lawmakers note. Specifically they ask for: 1) Greater flexibility for the use of MRA funds for security purposes, especially in Members' Districts. These steps could include allowing MRA funds to directly reimburse additional capital security upgrades at District Offices; the hiring of local law enforcement or other security while Members are in their Districts; and the purchase of security items that would protect members in soft target locations, including their homes. 2) Concerted efforts to keep Members 'personal information, such as their home addresses, private and off of publicly accessible websites and databases; Members should have legal recourse available if their personal address is published without permission. 3) Regular, bipartisan security briefings for Members on the actions that U.S. Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms are taking to keep Members, their families, and staff safe at the Capitol and in their Districts. 4) Conduct a full outside, independent review with recommendations of security protocols for Members both at the Capitol and in their Districts; provide more specific guidelines on the best security practices Members should take to ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and staff members. 5) Provide designated supplemental funds to this year's MRA to address additional security needs, given the increased threat level. 'Protecting Members in their District is much harder because local law enforcement agencies are stretched and limited, and often don't have sufficient staffing or money to provide regular protection to Members. Except for Leadership, Members do not have security details protecting them,' the letter notes. The letter was authored by Democratic Representatives Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Dean Phillips of Minnesota. They were joined by 29 other Democrats and one Republican in their request to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the chairwoman and ranking member of the House Administration Committee, which oversees the lawmakers' office accounts and spending. Several members of Congress wrote to House leadership, asking permission to hire armed guards and upgrade security measures in their districts out of fear of threats Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey led the effort by lawmakers to get increased security in their home districts The taxpayer funds allocated to lawmakers to use in their work are strictly governed in terms of how the money can be spent. The rules are outlined in the Members' Handbook and overseen by the Committee on House Administration. Current rules allow for upgrades to office space in the lawmakers' home district - such as bullet proof glass in the windows and alarm systems. It also allows for armed guards at their district offices and at official events. But the lawmakers are asking for that to be expanded to full time security when they are their private homes or just generally out in public, when they may be recognized or targeted. Security training is a reimbursable expense as are some personal security items. 'The purchase of a bulletproof vest for the Member is a reimbursable expense,' the handbook notes. But tensions have increased among lawmakers and staff, who are still suffering the effects of January 6th MAGA riot, where pro-Trump protesters attacked the Capitol, leaving five people dead and a trail of destruction throughout the building. The rioters interrupted the certification of the presidential election, causing lawmakers to be evacuated from the House and Senate floor. They were held in secure locations in the Capitol complex under the situation was under control. And the threat hasn't faded. One House staffer who works for a Republican House member who was against the election certification told Politico their office has received multiple calls from constituents who say the rioters didn't inflict enough damage and that there should've been more people storming the Capitol. Additionally, a California man was arrested for sending threatening text messages to the brother of Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York on the day of the riot. 'Your brother is putting your entire family at risk with his lies and other words,' one of the messages read. 'We are armed and nearby your house. You had better have a word with him. We are not far from his either.' The messages included photos of Jeffries' home in New York. Jeffries told MSNBC: 'This is something that unfolded on January 6th, directed at a family member of mine. This individual apparently had secured a phone number, secured an address, made it appear as though they were prepared to proceed violently.' Members of Congress have been targeted at home before. In January 2011, then Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head in an assassination attempt just outside of Tucson during an event with constituents. She resigned from Congress during her recovering and later regained much of her ability to walk, speak, read, and write. Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York was a target of threatening messages that included photos of his home In January 2011, then Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head in an assassination attempt just outside of Tucson; she returned to Congress in January 2012 for the State of the Union address (above) where she received a hug from then-President Barack Obama and a standing ovation from her fellow lawmakers Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed she 'had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die' during the riot As part of the investigation into the January 6th riot, one man was arrested for specifically targeting Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York in his social media posts surrounding the event. 'Assassinate AOC,' read one of his posts. After the riot, Ocasio-Cortez spoke of the threat she faced in an Instagram Live conversation, saying she 'had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die.' She did not get more specific. She also said she did not shelter with her fellow lawmakers that day as she feared some of them might reveal her location to the rioters. 'I didn't even feel safe going to that extraction point because there were QAnon and white supremacist members of Congress who I felt would disclose my location and create opportunities to allow me to be hurt,' she said, adding that she 'didn't feel safe around other members of Congress.' 'It is not an exaggeration to say that many, many members of the House were nearly assassinated,' said Ocasio-Cortez. 'It's just not an exaggeration to say that at all. We were very lucky that things happened within certain minutes. That allowed members to escape the gap, the House floor unharmed. 'But many of us merely narrowly escaped death. And it's also extremely traumatizing,' she noted. A subsequent investigation of the January 6th riot revealed how at risk the lawmakers were as several pro-Trump groups launched a coordinate effort to track them down The MAGA rioters tried to breach the House floor on January 6th were several lawmakers were sheltering as the Capitol was stormed National Guard units guard the Capitol building but lawmakers say they need more protection when they are back home in their districts A subsequent investigation of the January 6th riot revealed how at risk the lawmakers were as several pro-Trump groups launched a coordinate effort to track them down in the day's chaos. Court documents show the rioters on January 6th communicated in real time as they breached the Capitol building. The FBI released messages it had obtained in its investigation that showed the rioters were planning to make 'citizens' arrest' of the lawmakers and were tracing their where abouts on that day, including the fact the lawmakers were being taken out of the Capitol via an underground tunnel beneath the complex. 'All legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down,' read one message. Another read: 'All members are in the tunnels under capital seal them in. Turn on gas.' Additional evidence showed members of the far-right Oath Keepers had trained for the incursion and were interested in members of Congress. Federal investigators recovered recordings made using the Zello cellphone app, which acts like a walkie-talkie, in which the rioters were communicating on January 6th. 'We have a good group,' one said during the riot. 'We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan.' Another said: 'You are executing citizen's arrest. Arrest this assembly; we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud.' Thus far, the FBI has identified more than 400 suspects in the riot and said more than 150 criminal cases have been filed. 'What were they thinking?' Nancy Pelosi slams Republicans for putting Marjorie Taylor Greene on Education Committee despite 'mocking the killing of little children' Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at House GOP leadership for putting QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on the Education committee, pointing to past comments of Greene's in which the Georgia Republican said school shootings were 'staged.' 'What could they be thinking? Or is thinking too generous a word for what they might be doing. It's absolutely appalling and I think that the focus has to be on the Republican leadership of this House of Representatives for the disregard they have for the death of those children,' Pelosi said Thursday at her weekly press conference. Pelosi said top Republicans were willing to 'overlook' Greene's comments 'when she has mocked the killing of little children,' pointing specifically to the massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after House GOP leadership for assigning QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the Education committee after she's previously suggested mass shootings like Parkland and Sandy Hook were 'staged' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is under fire for social media posts, including one where she indicates support for executing Pelosi, and for a video that shows her harassing Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg On Wednesday, a video went viral that showed now Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (back left and right) following Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg (left) around Capitol Hill's campus, chiding him for his support of gun control measures Children are escorted out of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14 2012 after a mass casualty shooting at the school Greene, who was sworn-in earlier this month, was placed on the House Education & Labor Committee over the objection of the Democratic chair of the panel. Pelosi had been asked about Greene's social media postings - and what Pelosi would like to see happen to the Georgia lawmaker. Since a Tuesday CNN report on Greene's Facebook posts, California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez introduced a resolution to expel Greene from Congress, while other House Democrats have called for her resignation. David Hogg, who survived the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, recommended that Greene be stripped of her committee assignments, a step House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took in 2019 to punish then Rep. Steve King for making racist statements. A video went viral Wednesday of Greene following Hogg around Capitol Hill before she was a member of Congress. During the 2-minute long video, Greene charges Hogg with 'using kids as a barrier' and taking money from George Soros. Greene asks Hogg why he supported 'red flag laws that attack our Second Amendment.' Greene talked about being armed. 'If school zones were protected with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings, did you know that?' she tells Hogg. The video was making the rounds on the heels of a CNN report that said Greene had indicated support on Facebook in 2018 and 2019 for executing top Democrats, including Pelosi. Greene had liked a post that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' to remove Pelosi from office. In an April 2018 post of Greene's on the Iran nuclear deal, Greene responded to a commenter who asked her, 'Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???,' the individual asked, referring to former President Barack Obama and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 'Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off,' Greene replied. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's office initially said in a statement that the House GOP leader would 'have a conversation' with Greene about her 'deeply disturbing' comments, referring to CNN's report on her Facebook posts. Greene has previously shown support for the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, which centers on the ex-president making moves against a Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic, child sex trafficking ring filled with Democratic politicians and prominent liberals. New Delhi: The stunning B-Towner Vaani Kapoor has three massive films lined up for release this year. In Shamshera, she has been paired opposite Ranbir Kapoor, in Bell Bottom, Vaani will romance Akshay Kumar and in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, she plays Ayushmann Khurranas love interest. The versatile actress hopes that her big films contribute to bringing people back to the theatres. Im hoping this will be the year of big-screen entertainers! People are waiting for the virus to be under control and with the vaccines, the confidence of the people will slowly build. They would want to go back to doing the things that they used to. People are missing many experiences that made them happy and we are a society that thrives on community hangouts, said Vaani Kapoor. Community celebrations will come back in a big way and for Indians going to a theatre to watch a movie with friends and family is a huge thing. Thats going to make a big comeback. They would want to come back to soak in an experience", Vaani quipped. Vaani is certain that new, disruptive content will play an important role in bringing people back to the theatres as she expects the taste of the audience to have changed during the pandemic. She said, "They (audience) would want to watch films that are new, fresh and clutter-breaking. The taste and preference of the audience must have changed because of the coronavirus and they would only want to come to theatres to watch something that tells them a grand, new, compelling story! So, Im really confident that the films that are lined up for release will do that." Im lucky that I have three films Shamshera, Bell Bottom, and Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui which are all theatricals because of the subject and the experience that they are offering to the audience. I cant wait for people to watch these films in theatres because they will truly entertain them to their core", she added. In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 26, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) Sen. Blackburn Says Biden EPA Appointee Broke Law Environmental Protection Agency principal deputy general counsel Melissa Hoffer may have violated federal law by asking the Department of Justice to put a hold on all litigation involving the EPA, according to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). In a Jan. 25 letter made public on Jan. 28, Blackburn asked EPA Inspector General Sean ODonnell and Comptroller General Gene Dodaro to open an investigation into potential violations of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (FVRA) and other potential violations of ethics rules. Dodaro heads the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress. Hoffer, a political appointee, is one of the first 16 officials dispatched to EPA by the White House on Jan. 20 to carry out President Joe Bidens plan to make combating climate change one of his administrations top economic and national security policy priorities. On her first day on the job, Ms. Hoffer swiftly sent a memorandum to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting that the departments Environment and Natural Resources Division attorneys seek and obtain abeyances or stays of proceedings in pending litigation seeking judicial review of any EPA regulation promulgated between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021, Blackburn wrote. Ms. Hoffer electronically signed the letter in her purported capacity as EPAs Acting General Counsel. In her haste to deliver her message, Ms. Hoffer neglected to acknowledge that the Acting General Counsel role is vacant, and she only serves in the inferior role of Principal Deputy General Counsel, as confirmed by EPAs current organizational chart. This is potentially a violation of the FVRA and the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The FVRA grants the President and only the President the limited authority to appoint acting officials while preserving the Senates advice and consent power, Blackburn wrote. Hoffer would only have the authority to make the request to DOJ if she were designated by Biden as EPAs acting general counsel, if she were already at EPA in a Senate-confirmed position [as first assistant to the general counsel] and was designated by Biden, or if she were designated by another EPA official directed by Biden to appoint her, according to Blackburn. It does not appear she can hold the position through any of these three paths. She was not the first assistant when the vacancy arose; she had not been serving in a Senate-confirmed office; and she had not been employed by any other EPA component in the year prior to the vacancy, according to Blackburn. And, if the President has not directed Ms. Hoffer to serve as the Acting General Counsel under one of these scenarios, she may not take it upon herself to install herself into a position the Senate has not confirmed. Hoffer comes to EPA from Massachusetts where, according to an EPA announcement of her appointment, she served in the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office as the Chief of the Energy and Environment Bureau and oversaw the work of the bureaus attorneys on matters including prosecuting civil and criminal enforcement of environmental laws, energy policy, ratepayer advocacy, defensive cases, and affirmative advocacy, including litigation in support of EPAs Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Hoffers request may also involve conflicts of interest stemming from that she could be seen as an outside party interfering with litigation in which she was a party on behalf of the state of Massachusetts, according to Blackburn. Hoffers request, if granted by DOJ, would halt government action on all litigation filed against EPA or by EPA throughout the four years President Donald Trump was in office. Because the DOJ under Trump defended EPA actions when they were challenged in federal court by environmental activist groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), suspending such litigation will help Biden to reverse his predecessors policies. Biden reportedly also is reviewing a DOJ policy initiated by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2017 that stopped the government from entering settlements of environmental litigation that included payments to activist groups such as the EDF and NRDC. Under President Barack Obama, hundreds of millions of dollars were channeled to such groups in this manner. Judge Merrick Garland, Bidens nominee to be the next attorney general, is still going through the Senate confirmation process. Hes expected to revise Sessionss policy or drop it entirely if hes confirmed, as expected. Doing so would restore a significant source of tax-funded revenues to multiple environmental activist groups. An EPA spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. An ODonnell spokesman declined to comment except to say the inspector general always gives due consideration to investigation requests. The GAO confirmed receipt of Blackburns letter but declined further comment. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc The Minister for Agriculture, Bord Bia and the countrys meat processors are being urged to provide absolute commitment to the development of a suckler beef brand. Speaking at this evenings ICSA agm the farm organisations new president, Dermot Kelleher, called on Minister Charlie McConalogue to demonstrate this drive by attaching conditionality to the 100m Brexit support scheme for the food processing sector announced last month. There must be absolute commitment from all stakeholders to turn this dream to reality. The first steps have been taken at the Beef Taskforce, with the commitment of funds to Bord Bia for initial market research and development. "But on its own, this will not be enough. I dont want to see us falling at the first hurdle. Developing a suckler brand will require trial and error. It will need absolute commitment from Bord Bia and 100pc support from the minister and the department. It will also need full buy-in from meat factories and, to concentrate minds, I am calling on the minister to attach conditionality to the 100 million Brexit funds secured for processors, he said. Mr Kelleher contended that there are two essential conditions that should apply to beef processors getting some of this money. The first is absolute commitment to price transparency and co-operation with the food ombudsman. The second is that meat processors who are committing their own resources to the suckler brand should get priority for the funding. This fund is explicitly for the processing and marketing initiatives of processors and we believe that it must be used to develop suckler beef as a premium brand with a view to returning a strong premium to suckler beef producers. BEAM conundrum The ICSA leader also called on the minister to find a solution to the current BEAM scheme difficulty. Last week it emerged that some 18,000 farmers are understood not to be compliant with the rules of the BEAM scheme. The EU and Government-backed beef support package announced in 2019 saw 77m paid out to 33,445 farmers. One of the conditions under which the 50 million was granted by the EU was that farmers must reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on their holding by 5pc. On the matter Mr Kelleher said: We cannot have a scenario where thousands of farmers are forced to return badly needed money due to missing the unworkable 5pc reduction. "ICSA has already proposed that alternatives such as trailing shoe and protected urea be used as an alternative for those who dont meet the 5pc. "This is actually a more true and genuine way to reduce carbon rather than selling cattle to other farmers which doesnt achieve anything. An extension to the end of the year is not the solution, it is simply kicking the can down the road, he said. CAP 2023-2027 The minister was also urged to deliver a significant portion of the 1.05bn Brexit Adjustment Reserve to the drystock sector, while the ICSA leader also set out the lobby groups priorities under the next CAP. "Cattle and sheep farmers are enduring their fifth year of economic turmoil because of Brexit. Uncertain market conditions remain, and the impact of that market uncertainty continues to hit hardest in in the lower income farming sectors. In the longer term, ICSA wants a CAP that prioritises low-income cattle, sheep and tillage farmers. The eco-scheme must be simple, and it should favour less intensive farmers. "The eco-scheme should not set a bar too high to prevent a substantial payment under a new REPS type scheme in Pillar II. "ICSA believes that a trebling of the current GLAS budget is the only realistic way to approach a new agri-environment REPS type scheme. "Farmers must be given the means to deliver on ambitious targets and rewarded for their contribution, the Cork native said. [January 28, 2021] Cresco Labs Expands High Supply Brand Portfolio to Include 1.0 g and 0.5 mg Live Cartridges Available in California and Illinois Cresco Labs (CSE:CL) (OTCQX:CRLBF) ("Cresco" or "the Company"), one of the largest vertically integrated, multistate cannabis operators in the United States, announced today it has launched 1.0 g and 0.5 mg Live Cartridges from its High Supply line in dispensaries across California and Illinois. Cresco Labs has built a robust portfolio with eight distinct brands offering quality cannabis products at different price points to meet the diverse needs of its different markets, patients and customers. The new High Supply Live Cartridges complement the existing brand portfolio and deliver 100% cannabis oil rich in flavorful live terpenes with approachable pricing for cannabis enthusiasts and value shoppers alike. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005302/en/ Cresco Labs' High Supply expanded portfolio includes 1.0 g and 0.5 mg Live Cartridges now available for purchase in California and Illinois. (Photo: Business Wire) "We are continuing to work to round out our brand portfolio with a variety of price points and products targeted towards different users and occasions. Our focus on building our House of Brands has led to widespread success with strong growth from both our new brands like High Supply and our existing portfolio of brands," said Greg Butler, Chief Commercial Officer at Cresco Labs. "We believe the focus we've put on the middle two verticals, brands and wholesale distribution, combined with a diversified branded portfolio approach will continue to drive sustainable long-term results." The launch of High Supply Live Cartridges follows the recent market introduction of the Company's Cresco 1.0 g liquid live resin vape cartridges. High Supply Live Cartridges use quality cannabis flower that is carefully extracted to a broad-spectrum oil. The natural cannabis aromas and flavors are enhanced by blending in live resin terpenes extracted from fresh frozen material. The final products are one-of-a-kind cartridges that offer smooth, tasty and potent vapor experiences. High Supply Live Cartridges never contain THC boosters, distillate or other harmful additives like MCT oil and vitamin E acetate. They come in a variety of Sativa, Indica and Hybrid terpene blends and are competitively priced among ther vapes in California and Illinois. Both Cresco and High Supply vape offerings allow the Company to offer a wide variety of popular products at price points appealing to various consumer segments in California and Illinois. Over the last year, Cresco Labs has widened its breadth of branded product offerings in California and Illinois to include Cresco premium flower, pre-rolled joints, live resin concentrates and liquid live resin vape cartridges; Mindy's Chef Led Artisanal Edibles gummies and chocolates; Remedi capsules, Rick Simpson (RSO) syringes and tinctures; High Supply flower, popcorn, shake, pre-rolled joints, vape pens and live vape cartridges; Good News pre-rolled shorties, gummies and vape pens; Wonder Wellness Co. Wonder Minis; and FloraCal Farms premium flower and pre-rolled joints. High Supply is available in California, Illinois and Arizona. For more information, please visit HighSupplyOfficial.com. About Cresco Labs Cresco Labs is one of the largest vertically integrated, multistate cannabis operators in the United States, with a mission to normalize and professionalize the cannabis industry. Employing a consumer-packaged goods ("CPG") approach, Cresco Labs is the largest wholesaler of branded cannabis products in the U.S. Its brands are designed to meet the needs of all consumer segments and comprised of some of the most recognized and trusted brands including Cresco, Remedi, High Supply, Cresco Reserve, Good News, Wonder Wellness, FloraCal Farms and Mindy's Chef Led Artisanal Edibles created by James Beard Award-winning chef Mindy Segal. Sunnyside, Cresco Labs' national dispensary brand, is a wellness-focused retailer created to build trust, education and convenience for both existing and new cannabis consumers. Recognizing that the cannabis industry is poised to become one of the leading job creators in the country, Cresco Labs operates the industry's largest Social Equity and Educational Development initiative, SEED, which was established to ensure that all members of society have the skills, knowledge and opportunity to work and own businesses in the cannabis industry. Learn more about Cresco Labs at CrescoLabs.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of those forms or other comparable terms. The Company's forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Information Form dated April 28, 2020, and other documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Because of these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. No assurances are given as to the future trading price or trading volumes of Cresco's shares, nor as to the Company's financial performance in future financial periods. The Company does not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the Company's forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, any future event or otherwise. Except as otherwise indicated, this press release speaks as of the date hereof. The distribution of this press release does not imply that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company after the date hereof or create any duty or commitment to update or supplement any information provided in this press release or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005302/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Youth justice and bail laws are constantly reviewed, Queenslands Police Minister says as community and political pressure mounts over the alleged murder of a couple on Brisbanes bayside by a teen accused of driving a stolen car. Alexandra Hills couple Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter, who was pregnant at the time, were hit by the Toyota Landcruiser while they crossed at an intersection on Tuesday evening after the 4WD allegedly ran a red light, collided with a truck and rolled. The Waterford West teen, 17, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and is accused of being behind the wheel of the vehicle while intoxicated, appeared in the Brisbane Childrens Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody to reappear next month. Speaking later alongside Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, Police Minister Mark Ryan said there would be a full coronial investigation into the case along with police investigations underpinning the matter now before the courts. NEW HAVEN An elderly woman, living alone during an unprecedented time of social isolation as a contagious respiratory virus spread throughout the community, was unsure whom to turn to until she learned of a free program advertised on city buses. She made the call. The program, Reach Out Connecticut, a free emotional support line operated by the Clifford Beers clinic on Edwards Street, is connecting individuals feeling lonely or anxious to friendly, empathetic voices seven days a week. And the clinic wants to serve more people. There are a lot of people who are generally fine during a pandemic, then there are people in crisis, but there are also a lot of people in-between struggling in some way who may not be in a crisis situation, said Hannah Milliken, communications director for Clifford Beers. They may be feeling anxious, isolated, overwhelmed with the pandemic and missing friends or family members or dealing with under- and unemployment, Milliken said. We formed the warmline to bridge that gap between people who are doing OK and people who are in crisis. The program began as a warmline known as Reach Out New Haven shortly after the pandemic began. However, an expansion in grant funding from 4-CT, a coalition of statewide community foundations, allowed the program to expand statewide. Now, Clifford Beers staff hope to make the program more widely available as they anticipate more feelings of anxiety and discomfort following unrest after a national election. Our call specialists answering the phone are not clinical folks; theyre administrative case management staff trained in how to be compassionate listeners and give resources and information without trying to solve an issue like a clinical matter, said Shayla Moye, director of client services for Clifford Beers. Milliken said the warmline does not provide direct services like 211 or 911, but can and has referred clients to services in the community. Since last April, Moye said the call volume has increased about 50 percent. Milliken said there is about a 25 percent rate of repeat callers, who have taken advantage of the program more than once. We cant guarantee if somebody calls back they can speak with the same person, because the call specialists do rotate in their shifts, but people are welcome to call back as often as they want, she said. Moye said there are 10 call specialists, who work at the clinic and take shifts on the warmline during the course of their usual day. Kassandra Johnson, a client support representative at Clifford Beers, is one of the staff members who works the warmline as a call specialist. Johnson said that, as a people person, she enjoys the experience of connecting with people. Most of all, she said she enjoys the frequent callers, many of whom are elderly and are unable to connect with family during the pandemic. She said the conversations are not always one-sided. Sometimes they want to ask you questions about how youre dealing with the pandemic and how it is for you not seeing family, she said. She said she recommended doing yoga to one regular caller as a means of dealing with anxiety; now that caller happily reports when she had done yoga that day. Although the warmline is not intended for people in crisis, Johnson said she has received calls from people in crisis before. Milliken said the warmline of course does not turn people in crisis away and will work to connect those callers with the appropriate resources. Sometimes, Johnson said she and other call specialists will make outbound calls to check on callers. I just hope and pray this is something that wont end, because you dont realize how much its needed until you actually roll it out, Johnson said. She said shes spoken to people who need deliveries such as diapers or groceries because they are unable to get them for themselves. It seems small, but its big to the people who need the resources. Milliken said calls per day vary, and each averages about 20 minutes. She also said there is the potential capacity to handle up to 100 calls a day if they are brief, and they have seen callers wanting to stay on the line with call specialists for upwards of an hour for emotional support. The number, 844-TALK-4CT, is staffed Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Clifford Beers also offers a free texting program, through which individuals can text live representatives at Clifford Beers instead of calling. An additional texting program provides automated texts that offer affirmations and jokes. Both can be accessed by texting CTTALK to 30241. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on climate change, creating jobs, and restoring scientific integrity before signing executive orders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, Jan. 27, 2021. AFP President Joe Biden reaffirmed Wednesday the United States' commitment to defend Japan in his first phone call with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, striking a note of reassurance after the Trump era. During Donald Trump's administration, America's Asian allies often questioned whether Washington would uphold long-standing promises to defend them in the event of attack. Trump had publicly mulled withdrawing troops from Japan and South Korea, where more than 20,000 US military personnel are stationed to deter any North Korean military action. Biden and Suga both urged denuclearization of the whole Korean peninsula in the call their first since Biden took office last week. They discussed Washington's "unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan under Article 5 of our security treaty," the White House said, and Biden reaffirmed "his commitment to provide extended deterrence to Japan." The US backing "includes the Senkaku Islands" an area claimed both by Japan and China, which calls the islands the Diaoyus, the statement said. The leaders also "discussed regional security issues, including China and North Korea. They together affirmed the necessity of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Suga agreed to visit the United States as soon as possible, telling reporters in Japan after the call that the trip would be planned "while watching the coronavirus infection situation." - 'Engage with world again' - The Jiji Press agency said the two leaders did not discuss the Tokyo Olympic Games, which were postponed until this year and could again be threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke Wednesday with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and stressed Biden's pledge to "engage with the world again," a State Department spokesman said. America's clear mention of the Senkakus, an uninhabited island chain which has been a potential flashpoint for decades, is likely to cause anger in Beijing. While Biden is making a clean break from many of Trump's policies, his team has pledged continuity on some diplomatic issues including taking a hard line on China. The new US leader sat for decades on the Senate foreign relations committee traveling around the world meeting foreign leaders before serving as vice president to Barack Obama, who promoted America as a "Pacific power." Trump during his time in power rattled Asian allies by picking trade fights with China, embracing North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and openly floating the possibility of withdrawing troops from the region. Suga spoke to Biden in November after the US election and gave a stark warning that the security situation was "increasingly severe" in the Asia-Pacific region. (AFP) They, all of a sudden, realized why we have public burials there, she said of city officials. Its not some Dickensian thing. Its an orderly and secure system of burials that works, especially when you have deaths on the scale of an epidemic. Ariane Didisheim, a former professional figure skater who died at her home in April, did not see the need for a formal burial, said Raoul Didisheim, her son. So facing exorbitant burial costs and backlogged funeral homes, Mr. Didisheim said he decided that Hart Island was best. He said he hoped to see Hart Island open up to the public as a recreational space, which would be a step forward in making it a brighter setting that could provide New Yorkers with a connection to the circle of life. But not everyone agrees with continuing burials on Hart Island. Sandra Yon, whose mother, Ivory M. Pinkney, died at age 76 in April in a Brooklyn rehabilitation center, said she agreed to a Hart Island burial because it was free. I didnt have any money, she said, and, at the time, I was devastated and all over the place. The more information that Ms. Yon learned online about Hart Island, the more she regretted that it was her mothers final resting place. It doesnt sit well with me, because, from what I hear, its just a massive grave, she said. City Councilman Mark Gjonaj, whose Bronx district encompasses Hart Island, said he voted against the 2019 legislation that transferred the islands oversight to the Parks Department because the legislation failed to address how respect for the dead would be maintained, among other concerns. Its sacred ground, he said. The city owes the families and surrounding community more answers and clarity on their intentions for the site. U.S. President Joe Biden prepares to sign executive orders after speaking about climate change issues in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 27, 2021. Biden signed several executive orders related to the climate change crisis on Wednesday, including one directing a pause on new oil and natural gas leases on public lands. (Anna Moneymaker-Pool/Getty Images) Biden Lifts Ban on US Funding for Foreign Pro-Abortion Nonprofits President Joe Biden signed a presidential memorandum on Jan. 28 rescinding the ban on U.S. funding for international nonprofits that provide counseling or referrals for abortion. President Donald Trump reinstated and expanded the ban, known as the Mexico City Policy, during his first days in office in 2017. It was previously rescinded by Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The policy was first announced in 1984 during the Reagan administration and has been rescinded and reinstated along party lines since. The policy requires non-governmental organizations to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in order to receive U.S. taxpayer money for global health initiatives. White House Press Secretary Jan Psaki, when asked if Biden would take this and other pro-abortion steps, responded that the president is a devout Catholic. Across the country and around the world, peopleparticularly women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and those with low incomeshave been denied access to reproductive health care, the White House press release announcing the rescission of the Mexico City Policy states. The memorandum reflects the policy of the Biden-Harris Administration to support womens and girls sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States, as well as globally. Trumps expanded ban affected approximately $7.3 billion in U.S. global health aid, according to an estimate by the Kaiser Family Foundation. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci told the World Health Organizations executive board on Jan. 21 that Biden would rescind the Mexico City Policy in the coming days. Fauci said the move would signal a broader commitment to protect womens health and advance gender equality at home and around the world. Bidens memorandum also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to consider rescinding regulations under its Title X family planning program. Trump had prohibited taxpayer dollars from Title X from going to abortion providers. Another day, another partisan Executive Order from the unity president, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) wrote on Twitter on Jan. 28. Whats unifying about sending Americans hard-earned tax dollars overseas to pay for abortions? Americans overwhelmingly oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions abroad. A January 2017 Marist Poll found that 83 percent opposed or strongly opposed using tax dollars to support abortion in other countries. That figure reflects overall opposition among Americans to unrestricted abortion. Only 16 percent said abortion should be available to a woman any time during her entire pregnancy. More than 73 million unborn children were killed in abortions every year between 2015 and 2019, according to the World Health Organization. A woman wearing a face mask walks past a public information sign in Belfast as Northern Ireland remains in an extended lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus and lower infection rates. Picture: PA Northern Ireland's Department of Health has reported another 13 deaths and 592 new cases of coronavirus. Latest figures show 11 deaths occurred in the 24 hours up to 10am on Thursday, while another two happened previously. The death toll has risen to 1,792. In terms of testing, 4,066 have contracted the virus in the past seven days, that is down from 11,500 the previous week. Read More In total over 769,000 people have been tested and 102,410 found positive. Hospital bed occupancy is at 92%. There are 768 people in hospital with Covid and 67 are in intensive care. There are 126 care homes dealing with an outbreak. The latest figures come as a proposal to extend school closures is being debated by the Executive. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Covid vaccination appointments have been booked online since people aged between 65 and 69 were included in the roll out programme. The Department of Health confirmed the figure on Thursday after launching the service the previous evening. It has also emerged that an inability to roll over funds into the coming financial year has forced our health service to hand back 90m in the midst of the pandemic. The Royal College of Surgeons in Northern Ireland, however, has warned additional funding is required to help tackle Northern Irelands waiting list crisis. According to the most recent available figures, more than 200,000 people here had been waiting longer than a year for a first outpatient appointment or inpatient treatment in September last year. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 20:49:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The government of Afghanistan once again called upon the Taliban group to observe cease-fire and reduce violence as more than 80 combatants with majority of them militants were killed over the past 24 hours in the insurgency-battered country, officials said Thursday. In the latest skirmish, two government force members including an army officer were killed and four others injured as Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Chamtal district in the northern Balkh province on Thursday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said. Bomb blasts killed two Taliban militants in Dasht-e-Archi district in the northern Kunduz province, and another one militant in Tirin Kot, the capital of southern Uruzgan province, since Thursday morning, according to officials. A clash in Alishing district of the eastern Laghman province left six militants dead and two others injured on Thursday, an army statement said. Air raids also killed four insurgents in Arghanjkhwa area of Badakhshan province on Wednesday. According to another army statement, 52 militants were killed and 16 others injured in Arghandab, Panjway and Dand districts of the Kandahar province over the past 24 hours, while 18 insurgents died and four others were injured in Nahr-e-Saraj and Nad Ali districts of Helmand province since Wednesday. Increase in fighting is taking place amid peace talks held in Doha, capital of Qatar, and the government call for a cease-fire in the conflict-stricken country. Chairman of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday repeated the government call for a cease-fire and urged the Taliban outfit to observe the truce. The Taliban group, according to local media report, is reluctant to sit at the negotiating table with Afghan government. According to local media reports, no meeting has been held between the negotiating teams of the Afghan government and the Taliban for the past nine days in Doha. "We must not let the current peace opportunity be lost. The talks should be continued. Observing cease-fire and achieving lasting peace is the demand of the entire Afghan nation," Abdullah told reporters on Wednesday. Enditem Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference at the provincial office in Suwon, Thursday. Yonhap Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, said Thursday it will start providing a second round of coronavirus relief to all residents next month to promote consumption ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Gov. Lee Jae-myung, a leading presidential hopeful of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), announced the plan despite controversy over its possible adverse effect on anti-pandemic efforts and disparities with other local entities. Gyeonggi plans to provide 100,000 won (US$89.78) per person to its 13.99 million residents, including 580,000 foreign nationals. Gyeonggi handed out the same amount of relief from April to August last year, becoming the first local government in the nation to do so. "Now that the third wave of infections is at its lowest point, we have concluded that it is desirable to pay disaster basic income before the Lunar New Year holiday," Lee said at a news conference. The holiday runs from Feb. 11-13. A fed up Sydney driver has been fined more than $500 in just two weeks for parking outside his own garage. The driver shared a photo of multiple cars parking over the footpath in front of their garages in Bondi in the city's east this week - with front wheels resting on the footpath. Confused as to why he was penalised after registering his car to the garage, he asked a local Facebook group whether or not it was legal to park this way. The photo quickly divided the internet with many suggesting cars were able to encroach over a footpath as long as there was enough room for a double pram to get past. According to the RMS website, the fine for 'obstructing access to a ramp, path or passageway' - regardless of how far - is $272. A driver in Sydney was fined twice in just two weeks after he parked over the footpath outside his garage (pictured) The driver said he had been given several different answers to the rules with police telling him he could park there if his car didn't stick out too much and if it was registered to the garage. 'And then we just got nailed twice in two weeks for parking in front of our own garage with a car registered to the address of the garage,' he wrote. 'I'm completely confused. The actual law seems to say it is not legal but then every street in Bondi has cars parked like this.' One local said they'd been told it was fine to park over a path as long as a wheelchair could fit through. According to NSW government legislation, parking across a pathway is considered illegal although many Sydneysiders said some rangers turned a blind eye 'We've been told it's illegal however rangers won't give you a ticket if a double pram can easily get past and the rear of the car doesn't obstruct traffic,' another commented. CAN YOU PARK OVER A FOOTPATH? According to the NSW RMS website, the fine for 'obstructing access to a ramp, path or passageway' - regardless of how far - is $272 Drivers are unable to park over a footpath regardless if it's in front of a garage they own This is because it can stop pedestrians from getting through, forcing them to walk onto the road 'A driver must not stop on a road in a position that obstructs access by or pedestrians to or from a footpath, ramp or a similar way of access to a footpath, or a bicycle path or passageway,' NSW government legislation says Advertisement 'You may have been reported if someone wasn't able to get past. I have been forced into the road many times as I can't access the path with my pram due to the way a car is parked,' one said. 'Sorry to say not permitted and finable. Mobility scooters wheelchairs and prams have to pass not to mention the risk created when pedestrians, especially children, move out onto the street to pass around parked vehicles,' one Bondi resident added. Other locals said most rangers turned a blind eye and drivers were unlucky to get fined. Despite the locals' numerous theories, according to NSW government legislation, parking across a pathway is illegal. 'A driver must not stop on a road in a position that obstructs access by or pedestrians to or from a footpath, ramp or a similar way of access to a footpath, or a bicycle path or passageway,' the website says. 'A driver must not stop on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or dividing strip, or a nature strip adjacent to a length of road in a built-up area.' A spokesperson for the Waverley Council said the driver 'can request a review from Revenue NSW if he feels the infringement was unfair or incorrect'. General Lloyd Austin Is First Black U.S. Secretary of Defense Retired African American General Lloyd Austin is now in charge of the U.S. Department of Defense. On Friday, Jan. 22, the Senate confirmed President Joe Bidens Secretary of Defense pick, making Gen. Austin the first African American to serve in that key strategic federal government leadership role. I pledge to fight hard to rid our ranks of racists and extremists, Gen. Austin pronounced during his confirmation hearings. He also pledged to overturn several discriminatory bans on military service put in place by the previous administration.The confirmation vote cleared by a 93-2 margin Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) were the lone no-votes.One day prior, the U.S. House approved a waiver to allow for Gen. Austins confirmation. The decorated veteran required a congressional waiver to confirm the civilian post because he retired from active-duty service only four years ago. Federal law requires seven years of retirement from active duty before taking on the role.President Biden and others had previously pointed to the Congressional waiver received in 2017 by Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, who served as defense secretary in the previous administration.The law that we keep waiving actually exists for a good reason, remarked Sen. Minority Leader McConnell (R-Kentucky). ADVERTISEMENT Civilian control of the military is a fundamental principle of our republic. We emphatically do not want high-ranking military service to become a tacit prerequisite for civilian leadership posts over the Department of Defense.Gen. Austins confirmation cements him as one of the most prominent members of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Cabinet. The Secretary of Defense controls the countrys largest government agency, commanding troops worldwide and the Pentagons internal workings. The confirmation also keeps with Bidens promise to have a staff and cabinet that reflects Americas diversity.I know firsthand from our time together on the [United Technologies] board that General Austin will be a wonderful choice for Secretary of Defense, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman tweeted. The decorated 67-year-old has accumulated many awards and decorations, including five Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the countrys highest noncombat-related military honor, and three Distinguished Service Medals; the Silver Star, the nations third-highest award for valor in combat; and two Legions of Merit. According to his biography, Gen. Austin began his career in the U.S. Army in 1975 as second lieutenant in the infantry and rose through the ranks to command troops in combat at the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-star levels. Gen. Austin served in numerous command and staff positions in the U.S. and around the world. These include Operation Safe Haven in Panama with the 82nd Airborne Division; Operation Iraqi Freedom, spearheading Iraqs 2003 invasion as the assistant division commander for the 3rd Infantry Division; and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as the commander of the 10th Mountain Division (Light). ADVERTISEMENT In 2008 Gen. Austin returned to Iraq as the commanding general of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq during the period when the surge forces were drawing down under Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009 Gen. Austin was named director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.Following that assignment, Gen. Austin served another tour in Iraq as the commanding general of United States Forces-Iraq, responsible for the transition of all U.S. and Coalition military forces and equipment out of the country by the December 2011 deadline.In 2012 General Austin served as the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army, culminating his military career as the 12th commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from 2013 to 2016. As CENTCOM commander, he was responsible for military strategy and joint operations throughout the Middle East and Central and South Asia. He was also the architect and oversaw the military campaigns execution to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He retired from the military on May 1, 2016 and is now the founder and president of The Austin Strategy Group. Gen. Austin also worked with the President-Elect as vice chief of the Army staff when President Biden served as Vice President under President Barack Obama. Gen. Austin would require a congressional waiver for confirmation to the civilian post because he retired from active-duty service only four years ago. Very good news for national security, Retired Four-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey stated. Ret Gen. Lloyd Austin is a towering figure in Armed Forces. Enormous global experience. Joint Staff and Army staff Pentagon. Very easy to deal with. Loved by the military. Silver Star Valor. West Point. M.A. Auburn. MBA. Chinese mineral water mogul Zhong Shanshan has replaced Alibaba founder Jack Ma as the country's richest person, according to the rich list from Hurun magazine. The 66-year-old climbed to first place from third last year, the publication's founder Richard Hoogewerf said Thursday in an online event hosted by China newsletter Supchina. Zhong comes in ahead of the Alibaba founder Jack Ma and the head of the Chinese internet giant Tencent, Pony Ma. The elevation of Nongfu Spring boss Zhong, who is relatively unknown even in China, is notable, Hoogewerf said. Alongside his mineral water empire, Zhong has built up the pharmaceutical company Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. His wealth climbed as both firms went public this year. Hopes for the development of a coronavirus vaccine spurred on Wantai's success. Zhong's wealth is estimated at more than 100 billion dollars, Hoogewerf said. His pharmaceutical firm is worth more than 10 billion dollars. Hoogewerf said there are only a handful of enterpreneurs in the world who have managed to simultaneously gain success with two business projects of this kind. He pointed to Jack Ma and Tesla founder Elon Musk as rare examples. "He is now the number one. He is bigger than Jack Ma or Pony Ma," Hoogewerf said. Nonfu Spring is based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, as is Alibaba, the world's biggest online trading platform. Alibaba and its boss have come under pressure since Jack Ma sharply criticized Chinese regulators in a speech last year. At the beginning of November, Chinese authorities halted a planned initial public offering (IPO) of Alibaba's financial subsidiary Ant Group. Authorities are now seeking to restructure the firm and more tightly regulate it. The process saw Alibaba's stock value fall, which brought down its founder's wealth. Shanghai-based Hurun magazine publishes its Chinese rich list every year. Source: dpa/GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Cairn Energy was awarded damages of over $1.2 billion plus interest and costs in a long drawn-out tussle over a retrospective tax dispute last month. Cairn Energy Plc's Board of Directors has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking the Indian government to honour an arbitration award and return $1.2 billion to the British oil firm, reported CNBC-TV18. "A significant milestone was achieved in December 2020 with a unanimous award in favour of Cairn in its arbitration with the Government of India (GoI) under the UK-India Bilateral Trade Investment Treaty. We have engaged with the GoI on adherence and are taking steps to protect our rights," CNBC-TV18 quoted Cairn Energy as saying. The UK's Boris Johnson government has also asked the Indian government to respect the arbitration award. The UK-based energy firm was awarded damages by a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in the retrospective tax case last month. The three-member tribunal, which comprised a judge appointed by India, unanimously overturned a Rs 10,247 crore retrospective tax demand on the company and asked the government to return value of the shares it sold, dividend it seized and tax refunds it stopped to enforce the tax. The Modi government, though is now liable to pay it, has not made the payment and may challenge it. Cairn, in the meantime, has also raised the issue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Cairns blue chip shareholders are also engaging directly with the Indian government. India's respect for the award would show that retrospective taxation is a thing of the past, and even the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty provides strong provisions to respect the award, the firm reportedly said in its communication to the Prime Minister. Earlier on January 26, Cairn Energy reportedly began to take steps to identify Indian assets overseas against which it can enforce the $1.2 billion award. Cairn even wrote a letter to addressed to the Indian High Commission in London. In the letter it said if India does not comply with the order it would be a violation of international rules on arbitration awards, commonly called the New York Convention. The copy of the letter was sent to finance and external affairs ministries in New Delhi. West Monroe, a national business and technology consulting firm, announced today that it received a score of 100 the highest possible on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Over nearly 20 years, the Index has become the nations premier benchmarking survey and report for measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. West Monroe is among 1,142 major U.S. companies rated this year and one of 767 to receive a perfect score and designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. This is West Monroes third year participating in the Corporate Equality Index and the first time it has achieved a top score. We simply cannot create the innovative, top-tier solutions our clients expect without diverse perspectives that allow us to think through issues in different ways. To ensure diversity of thought, we must embrace and demonstrate inclusion in every sense, said Kevin McCarty, West Monroes chairman and CEO. Internally, we know the effort we put into being an inclusive workplace, but we are extremely proud to receive validation from a recognized external arbiter whose assessment is based on market expectations. WMPride, West Monroes LGBTQ employee resource group (ERG), formed three years ago. Today, it has champions in each office and approximately 150 members, including allies. Among other areas of focus, the group works directly with company leaders to develop education and influence policy. Areas of focus include: Benefits and business practices: West Monroe has long provided healthcare benefits that support same sex partners and gender confirmation. More recently, the company made sure inclusivity was top of mind in planning moves to three new offices during 2020; for example, by providing gender-neutral restrooms, wellness rooms, and prayer rooms. Education and training: The company has prioritized training and discussion around bias in the workplace as part of its Inclusion and Diversity program. Following a successful pilot, a custom-developed course on unconscious bias is now part of the core curriculum and mandatory for directors. Community involvement and support: West Monroe supports LGBTQ community organizations in its markets through donations, volunteerism, and pro bono work. Key partnerships include Howard Brown Health in Chicago; Carlson School of Management Compass in Minneapolis; and GBSA, Washington States LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce. Additionally, West Monroe has reviewed and updated corporate giving policies; for example, to avoid directing corporate support to organizations whose primary mission includes advocacy against LGBTQ equality. We took to heart the input received during our first two years of participation in the Corporate Equality Index and used that, along with feedback from our employees, to determine where to focus our energy for improvement: Combatting bias, donating to and supporting the right community organizations, and establishing the right internal practices all work together to elevate our impact, said Will Hinde, managing director, leader of West Monroes Healthcare & Life Sciences practice, and executive sponsor of WMPride. That said, a perfect score in no way means we have solved for inclusion. This will be a sustained journey, and the destination will always be evolving. The Corporate Equality Index is a detailed assessment that rates companies based on non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, demonstrated organizational competency, and accountability around LGBTQ diversity and inclusion, public commitment to LGBTQ equality, and responsible citizenship. From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality, said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision. The full report is available online at http://www.hrc.org/cei. About West Monroe West Monroe is a national consulting firm that was born in technology but built for businesspartnering with companies in transformative industries to deliver real, measurable results. Technology is who we are, it is not something we bolted on overnight, and we believe it is one of the greatest enablers of business value. Thats why we work in diverse, multidisciplinary teams that blend industry expertise with deep operational and technology capabilities to create quantifiable, financial value for our clients. Our 1,500 employees based in eight offices across the United States also own 100% of our business, so when you partner with us you know we are committedbecause your success is our success. Our undeniably different approach breeds undeniable results. Visit WMP.com to learn more. About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. TESS previously revealed that Thuban, a former North Star, is also a eclipsing binary, as illustrated here. Three such pairs make up a newly discovered sextuple star system called TYC 7037-89-1. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USR) An international team of researchers led by Brian P. Powell at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Veselin P. Kostov at the SETI Institute has identified a unique system consisting of six stars. The three binary stars form a gravitationally-bound system and each pair is producing eclipses. The star system, known as TYC 7037-89-1, was uncovered in data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data with a neural network designed to detect eclipsing binary stars. This newly discovered complex star system is located in the Eridanus constellation, ~1,900 light-years away from Earth. "Multiply-eclipsing multiple systems such as TYC 7037-89-1 enable simultaneous, precise measurements on the stellar sizes, temperatures, and potentially masses, of pairs of stars that share common history," said Veselin Kostov, research scientist at the SETI Institute. "In turn, this provides better understanding of stellar formation and evolution in dynamically-rich environments." "The system has three binaries (call them A, B and C) with orbital periods ranging between one and eight days, and arranged in a hierarchical order," said Saul Rappaport, MIT Department of Physics. "The A binary orbits around the C binary with a period of several years, while the B binary orbits around the A-C quadruple system with a period of several thousand years. The amazing thing is that all three binaries have their orbital planes sufficiently well aligned with our line of sight so that we see eclipses from all of them. This, in spite of the huge separations among the three binaries." Artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to demonstrate their potential yielding tantalizing discoveries the vast amounts of data collected by missions including TESS and its predecessor, Kepler. While such discoveries still need to be confirmed through human analysis and sometimes follow up observations, the speed at which new findings can be uncovered is increasing exponentially. This schematic shows the configuration of the sextuple star system TYC 7037-89-1. The inner quadruple is composed of two binaries, A and C, which orbit each other every four years or so. An outer binary, B, orbits the quadruple roughly every 2,000 years. All three pairs are eclipsing binaries. The orbits shown are not to scale. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Brian Powell While TESS's primary mission is to search for exoplanets using the transit method, the team applied this same method to detect eclipsing stars. The transit method is the most common way of finding exoplanets. Scientists do this by measuring a stars' brightness over time. When a planet passes between the star and the observation instrument, the star dims at fixed intervals, indicating the presence of an exoplanet. To differentiate dimming caused by an exoplanet from dimming caused by a binary star, scientists can use the depth of the measured event and the size of the host star to calculate the size of the transiting object. If that object is bigger than about two Jupiter radii it is most likely a second star. We already knew about a few other six-star systems, notably Castor in the Gemini constellation. But this is the first time in which each of the constituent binary systems is itself an eclipsing binary. Further study of systems such as TYC 7037-89-1 can provide clues about star formation. We don't know yet how such complex star systems form, but so far, TESS and AI have identified more than 100 candidate systems, which, once confirmed, will have more to teach us. One potential formation scenario is that a young binary star captured a third star, after which each of the three bodies fragmented into two. Explore further Astronomers document the rise and fall of a rarely observed stellar dance More information: TIC 168789840: A Sextuply-Eclipsing Sextuple Star System. arXiv:2101.03433 [astro-ph.SR] TIC 168789840: A Sextuply-Eclipsing Sextuple Star System. arXiv:2101.03433 [astro-ph.SR] arxiv.org/abs/2101.03433 Queenslands current laws mean it is unlikely police will be able to charge a teenager over the death of the unborn baby of Alexandra Hills couple Katherine Leadbetter and Matthew Field. The couple, who were expecting a child, were killed on Australia Day as they were walking their dogs. Kate Leadbetter, 31, and Matty Field, 37, died at the scene of a crash at Alexandra Hills. Credit:Facebook A 17-year-old male has been charged with several offences, including two counts of murder, after allegedly crashing while driving a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, with police earlier flagging he could also face charges over the death of their unborn child. Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said investigators were seeking legal advice on whether they could lay more charges. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Although air carriers continue to bleed financially as the COVID-19 pandemic cripples the travel sector, airlines can avoid bankruptcyeven with little or no help from the Philippine government. That's according to Avelino D.L. Zapanta, a Philippine aviation industry expert, who said while bankruptcy is "always a possibility," Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific can still dig into the deep pockets of the Tan and Gokongwei Groups. "Both the Tans and Gokongweis are resilient entrepreneurs," Zapanta, a former PAL president and chief executive officer, told CNN Philippines. "If not from their own hoard of excess liquidity I believe for the length of time they have been in business they have established sources for capital infusion," Zapanta added. Zapanta also said the airlines' situation is possible to "last till year end, if not, even beyond" as the pandemic rages on. But he believes local carriers can still survive the year despite facing a turbulence in their overall operations. Philstocks Financial Inc. senior research analyst Japhet Tantiangco also told CNN Philippines the recent moves of listed PAL Holdings, Inc. and Cebu Air, operators of PAL and Cebu Pacific, respectively, will help keep their businesses afloat amid the global health crisis. This week, Cebu Air said it was seeking to raise $250 million, or about 12 billion, to finance its restructuring efforts. PAL Holdings, on the other hand, earlier said it was hoping to hike its authorized capital stock to 30 billion. "What the companies can do now is to raise capital in order to maintain the stability of their balance sheet," Tantiangco said. "Another option for both is to apply for new debts to cover the existing ones. A challenge could arise however with this one in the form of tight lending standards. This is because the risks for these companies are seen to be currently relatively high due to the ongoing challenges of the airlines sector," the analyst said. The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines or ACAP sought assistance from the Duterte administration last year as airlines faced "existential threat to their survival" amid the lockdown. Both PAL and Cebu Pacific had conducted mass layoffs to cut expenses. A long flight to recovery Zapanta said while a worldwide race in inoculation against COVID-19 is now here following the swift development of vaccines, regaining flyers' full confidence will take time. He said PAL and Cebu Pacific will continue to be burdened with aircraft leases as travel restrictions still weigh down their operations, translating to lost revenues. "That's running in millions every so many days. The longer the pandemic lasts the slimmer the chance of the airlines to recover from the pit they are in," he added. For January to September 2020, PAL Holdings saw its net loss balloon to 28.85 billion. Cebu Air, meanwhile, widened its losses to 5.54 billion in the same period. This as air passenger traffic dropped by 80% as of end-September, flying only 12 million passengers compared to the 60 million passenger volume in 2019, data from the Civil Aeronautics Board showed on Wednesday. READ: Airlines counting on local travel to recover from 2020 losses Government assistance? Roberto Lim, executive director of ACAP, said there were no government loans provided for airlines. The government only waived aeronautical charges under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. Zapanta said this was "way short of what the local airlines need." During a hearing of the House Committee on Transportation, airlines called for stronger local tourism as international trips are once again dampened by the new COVID-19 variant. For the Intelligencer While National Lutheran Schools Week is taking place this week for most Lutheran churches and schools, Myra Farrell, interim principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Edwardsville, said her school will be an exception. Usually, National Lutheran Schools Week is celebrated in conjunction with the initiation of registration and enrollment for our next school year, she explained Monday. This year, we have begun enrollment for Trinitys 2021-2022 school year from Preschool 2 through eighth grade for members of Trinity Lutheran Ministries as well as families in our community. With more than 20 campaigns in 2020, Super Brand Day events highlight the strength of Lazadas relationship with global brands on its LazMall platform, which has seen resounding success due to the proliferation of e-commerce. Unlike other platform-wide shopping festivals lasting several days, Super Brand Days are a brands exclusive 11.11 one-day sale event. It offers amazing opportunities for shoppers to buy products of well-known global brands at market-beating prices and be rewarded with gifts. Sharing with VIR about the results of the super series in 2020, CEO of Lazada Vietnam James Dong said that Super Brand Day allows brands to acquire more customers and boost interactions with them. Region-wide, these Super Brand Days in 2020 have achieved stellar performance. Brands have recorded more than 40 times uplift in sales compared to the daily average, almost eight times more sales compared to mega campaigns like 11.11, and up to six times follower growth in their brand stores across our markets, the CEO noted. Participating brands covering a wide spectrum of assortment offerings, from electronics to health and beauty to mother and baby products have seen significant improvements in sales, views of livestreams, and participation in in-app games. Shoppers flock to the campaign due to the attractive promotions as well as exclusive gifts and items on offer during Super Brand Days. Generating major growth Some of the major brands who have participated in the campaigns last year include some of the largest names across several consumer segments. Hewlett Packard (HP) was the first computer brand to join the Super Brand Day on Lazada Vietnams platform. Within a single day, HPs sales were 90 times the norm. Even after the campaign, the daily revenue of the brand enjoyed a four-fold increase from the month before the Super Brand Day. Nguyen Hai Dang, Online Channel manager of HP Vietnam said: Computers and laptops has been considered as one of the highest value categories which expect more time to win consumers trust. The Super Brand Day of Lazada was a particularly good chance for us to strengthen online marketing and sales, as well as bring new experiences to customers. Lazada organised 20 Super Brand Days throughout 2020 with resounding success During its Super Brand Day in September, Samsung reached its revenue target for the 24 hours in just 15 minutes of kickstarting the campaign. The wildly successful promotions have also enhanced Samsungs brand identity on Lazada, with the number of buyers doubling while visits to their store on Lazada quadrupled in comparison to previous shopping festival in earlier that month. Lazadas Super Brand Day was a key hook on e-commerce for Samsung to reach new records in sales revenue and number of items sold, encouraging customers to take their custom from offline to online, a Samsung representative said. Philips has sold 2,500 items and quintupled its usual revenue on Super Brand Day, setting a new record for its sales on Lazada in 2020. The brand has also gained about 30,000 new followers on the platform who will subsequently receive updates on new products and other promotions. We have been deeply impressed by the heightened online marketing activities on Super Brand Day. We will pay more attention to shaping our brand identity on e-commerce channels and carry out more online campaigns in the time coming, said Le Thi Phuong Uyen, representative of Philips Vietnam. Piling on these successes, numerous other brands have reported impressive outcomes such as Realme, TCL Technology, Friso, Abbott, Enfa, Lancome, Kiehls, Shu Uemura, Lock & Lock, and Adidas, each of which has sold thousands of items, multiplying regular custom by a factor of hundreds. Super Brand Day on Lazada brings several long-term benefits to participating brands New year new opportunities Despite or even because of the difficulties of the year 2020, e-commerce has been developing at a brisk pace, with market observers highlighting that the newfound habit of online shopping would remain a prevalent part of consumption habits. Thus, initiatives such as Super Brand Days and the promotional mechanisms that the platform provides the brands not only help customers shop safely and conveniently but also accelerate this trend and support brands in developing their online customer bases. Samsung representative said: Lazada has supported us in planning all promotions and solutions to increase views, as well as track and update our performance during the campaign. We will definitely cooperate with Lazadas team to break records in 2021. Echoing this satisfaction, a Xiaomi representative said: Super Brand Day was an amazing chance for us to build our brand identity and grow sales. We expect many more such successes through collaboration with Lazada in 2021. Queenslands current laws mean it is unlikely police will be able to charge a teenager over the death of the unborn baby of Alexandra Hills couple Katherine Leadbetter and Matthew Field. The couple, who were expecting a child, were killed on Australia Day as they were walking their dogs. Kate Leadbetter, 31, and Matty Field, 37, died at the scene of a crash at Alexandra Hills. Credit:Facebook A 17-year-old male has been charged with several offences, including two counts of murder, after allegedly crashing while driving a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, with police earlier flagging he could also face charges over the death of their unborn child. Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said investigators were seeking legal advice on whether they could lay more charges. The Supreme Court on Thursday completed 71 years of its functioning. During the day, Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde said that it is a day fit for commemoration every year, as the first sitting was attended by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru along with his ministers in the Cabinet, and Attorney General M.C. Setalvad. The Chief Justice remembered that in 1950, the top court held its first sitting in the Chamber of Princess. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who were present in the court, agreed that this day should be celebrated. Later in the day, the top court issued a statement to mark its 71st anniversary, which cited that in the backdrop of the Covid-19 protocols and reduced workforce, 1,998 benches of the top court virtually held 43,713 hearings till December 31, 2020. The apex court stressed that under the mandate given to it by the Constitution, it has relentlessly marched towards ensuring the protection of rights and liberties of the citizens, upholding the rule of law and the constitutional values. The top court emphasised that despite facing various challenges in its journey, it remained committed to its duties and ensured that access to justice remained unhindered. Citing its functioning through video conferencing, the statement said: "During these unprecedented challenges, the court remained functional throughout, though the number of benches was reduced. Beyond the usual minimum required 190 days of court sittings in a calendar year, the court was functional for 231 days, including 13 vacation sittings in the year 2020. The Registry also remained functional for 271 days as against an average of 268 days in the previous three years." The statement added that the registry's working strength was affected considerably with 408 officials/staff getting infected with Covid-19 and an unfortunate loss of life of one official. "However almost 99 per cent of the officials/staff who reported positive for the infection were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms," added the statement. Massive investment in renewable energy in the developing economies, which are set to produce most of the global emissions in the coming years and decades, will be necessary to achieve global climate goals, according to Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). If our aim is to reach net zero emissions, if our aim is to address the climate change globally there is no way without hugely accelerating the clean energy investment in emerging countries we can reach this goal. No way whatsoever, Birol said during an online meeting of the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, as carried by Reuters. Investments in clean energy need to nearly triple in order to kickstart a true energy transition in developing economies, the IEAs Birol said. When I look at the numbers, I dont see a big jump in the appetite of investors, Birol noted. Our energy and climate future increasingly hinges on the decisions made in emerging market and developing economies, he wrote in an article last week, part of The Davos Agenda for the World Economic Forum. These areas currently account for around two-thirds of global carbon emissions with one-third occurring in China and another third arising from other markets and would represent the largest source of future emissions growth if insufficient action is taken to transform their energy systems, the IEAs chief added. According to Birol, if the world were to meet the accelerated emissions reduction goals of the IEA Sustainable Development Scenario, the share of clean energy investment needs to rise to around two-thirds of total energy investment by 2030. Of this, almost 60 percent would be needed in developing economies, he said. Countries dependent on oil revenues for much of their budgets will become increasingly vulnerable to problems caused by the global energy transition, Birol told Bloomberg in an interview earlier this month. Birol and the IEA are focused on the energy transition as the agency is preparing to publish in May this year a new special report, The Worlds Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050, which, the IEA says, will be the worlds first comprehensive roadmap to net-zero emissions by 2050. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oiprice.com: Jeffrey Epstein bragged to a young woman he had just met that he took the virginity of a 19-year-old while leering at her at his Palm Beach mansion, newly released court documents reveal. On Wednesday evening, a cache of documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition taken in a settled civil suit against Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre Roberts were released. In one of the documents was testimony from another Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg, who claimed in a deposition taken in 2016, that the pedophile struck up a conversation with one of her friends while at his Florida home in the 2000s. Sjoberg said: '[Epstein] said, ''You see that girl over there laying by the pool?'' She was 19. And he said, ''I just took her virginity.'' And my friend Rachel was mortified.' She also claimed disgraced British socialite Maxwell recruited her to perform massages on the multi-millionaire, who committed suicide while in his jail cell in 2019. Sjoberg said in one encounter the 59-year-old encouraged her to 'finish the job' while performing a massage on Epstein, an apparent suggestion to bring the pedophile to a climax, according to court documents. Sjoberg's unsettling testimony is one of the many disturbing allegations to arise from the newly released documents, including claims that Maxwell ordered a 'room full of underage girls' to dance, kiss and touch each other sexually in front of Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein bragged that he took the virginity of a 19-year-old, newly released court documents reveal. In one of the documents was testimony from another Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg (left), who claimed in a deposition taken in 2016, that the pedophile struck up a conversation with one of her friends while at his Florida home in the 2000s She also claimed disgraced British socialite Maxwell recruited her to perform massages on the multi-millionaire, who committed suicide while in his jail cell in 2019 Sjoberg said she was recruited by Maxwell in 2001, when she was a student at Palm Beach Atlantic College. Sjoberg was under the impression she was being hired as a personal assistant, but she soon realized her job was to provide 'sexual massages' to Epstein, who she has said that told her he needed to have 'three orgasms a day.' She claims she was 'punished' when Epstein failed to orgasm as a result of one of her massages, which Maxwell allegedly told her were necessary because 'she [Maxwell] would not be able to please him as much as he needed and that is why there were other girls around.' Describing being told off by Ghislaine, the then photography student said: 'She had purchased the camera for me, and I was over there giving Jeffrey a massage. I did not know that she was in possession of the camera until later. She called me after I had left and said: 'I have the camera for you, but you cannot receive it yet because you came here and didn't finish your job and I had to finish it for you.' When asked if that meant giving him an orgasm she said: 'Yes. She was implying that I did not get Jeffrey off, and so she had to do it.' Sjoberg, who has claimed previously that Prince Andrew groped her breasts with a Spitting Image puppet of himself, also claims that Epstein would brag about taking a girl's virginity. She said in the deposition: 'He told my friend Rachel: 'You see that girl over there laying by the pool?' She was 19. And he said, 'I just took her virginity'. And my friend Rachel was mortified.' She also described another victim being woken up on a flight by Epstein and immediately tried to perform a sex act on him, believing it was her job. 'He told me one time [the other victim] was 21 sleeping on the plane, and they were getting 22 ready to land. And he went and woke her up... so she started to unzip his pants, and he said, 'No, no, no, you just have to be awake for [landing].' Maxwell, who denies helping Epstein recruit and groom girls for sex, is also accused of confiscating the passport of a sobbing 15-year-old 'slave' who refused to have sex with Epstein. Johanna Sjoberg, who was a college student in Florida in 2001 when she was recruited by Epstein's associate, says that the multimillionaire paedophile told her he needed to have 'three orgasms a day.' She is pictured in 2007 She was accused by Epstein's housekeeper of being at the pedophile's mansion in Florida where 100 girls came to provide him with $200 'sexual massages' over the course of a decade. One anonymous witness testified that Maxwell would 'call him and ask him to bring over young girls that she would provide to Epstein.' Maxwell is currently in prison on federal sex trafficking charges. The documents were unsealed last night and include new details about her sex life and how she allegedly procured young girls for the pedophile. Although the evidence comes from previously sealed interviews with Maxwell when she was sued for defamation by Roberts five years ago, it is sure to be on the FBI's radar. One document among the 112 court documents, running into thousands of pages of evidence, claims that in 2004 Maxwell left a message for her on-off boyfriend Epstein that a girl, aged 14 at the time according to prosecutors, was 'available on Tuesday' and told him he had 'no one for tomorrow.' Another disturbing note found in a dustbin allegedly mentions an underage girl visiting Epstein's house for 'training.' One anonymous witness also 'testified that he watched Maxwell direct a room full of underage girls to kiss, dance, and touch one another in a sexual way for [Maxwell] and Epstein to watch', the unsealed documents reveal. But Maxwell, who is in custody criminally charged with aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of teenage girls, said during a July 2016 deposition that she learned about his abuse claims 'like everybody else, like the rest of the world, when it was announced in the papers.' Lawyers for Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, believes the documents are the smoking gun placing Maxwell at the heart of Epstein's child sex ring. On Wednesday evening, a cache of documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition taken in a settled civil suit against Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre Roberts were released The Duke of York is referred to as 'The Prince' in court documents where an ex-boyfriend of Virginia Roberts (pictured with Andrew in London) is asked if he heard Virginia talking about sex with him They say: 'It is not just the flight logs showing Defendant [Maxwell] flying with Epstein and Ms. Giuffre over twenty times when she was a minor; it is not just the message pads from law enforcement's trash pulls that show Defendant arranging to have an underage girl come over to Epstein's house for 'training,' it is not just the police report. 'Now, there is actual, live testimonial evidence that [Maxwell] was a procurer of young girls for sex with Jeffrey Epstein, with whom she shared a home and a life, thus validating Ms. Giuffre's claims.' Prince Andrew is also mentioned in previously unseen evidence given by Anthony Figueroa, the ex-boyfriend of Virginia Roberts, who claims she was ordered to have sex with the royal three times at Epstein and Maxwell's behest. Figueroa is asked if he ever heard Virginia talking 'about sex with the Prince', he replied: 'I don't recall talking to them about that, but, I mean, it could be possible'. The lawyer then asked: 'Other than sex with the Prince, is there anyone else that Jeffrey wanted Ms. Roberts to have sex with that she relayed to you?' He replied: 'Just Ms. Maxwell and all the other girls.' Prince Andrew vehemently denies he had sex with her and denies meeting her. Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in July Figueroa also alleged that Virginia was forced into a threesome after 'Jeffrey wanted Virginia to have sex with Ms. Maxwell,' who used 'strap-ons and dildos' on her, the bombshell documents allege. Describing his former lover's sexual encounters, he added: 'Ms. Maxwell and Jeffrey would obviously be doing stuff, all three of them together. Like I said, that they would all go out to clubs to pick up girls and try and find them to bring back for Jeffrey. And then she told me about how, like I said, her and Ms. Maxwell and Jeffrey were all intimate together on multiple occasions.' Among the trove of court papers was a filing by lawyers for Epstein victim Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, that included redacted witness testimony accusing Maxwell of preying on several victims and forcing them to perform sexual favors. One witness claimed Maxwell had recruited her from a school campus to have sex with Epstein by initially claiming she was hiring her to be her personal assistant. Johanna Sjoberg, who has previous alleged Prince Andrew abused her with a puppet of himself, said Maxwell also 'punished' her is she failed to make Epstein orgasm. One of the document reads: 'One witness (redacted) was in tears, as he recounted (Maxwell) bringing a 15-year-old girl into his employer's home who, in utmost distress, told him that (Maxwell) stole the young girl's passport and tried to make her have sex with Epstein and then threatened her.' But one court document alleges: 'Ample evidence in this case establishes that not only did Defendant [Maxwell] recruit underage girls for massage and sexual activities with Epstein, but that she participated in calling the girls; getting other people to bring girls; talking to the girls; taking massages from and leaving messages about the girls; and scheduling the girls to come over.' When the pandemic first hit, Sarah Holt worked nonstop, running on adrenaline and buoyed by the cheers, songs and free coffee and pizza for health-care workers at Utah's Intermountain Medical Center, where she's a registered nurse. Several months in, she learned firsthand what it's like to battle covid-19 - she and her husband contracted the coronavirus, isolating for three weeks in the fall. Like countless other health-care workers, she went back to the grind of treating patients once she tested negative and felt better. But as the virus began spreading faster, she started to notice that public enthusiasm for health-care workers had subsided. For the most part, the cheering crowds throughout the country have disappeared. That is why a recent small kindness had outsize meaning for her. It arrived during a covid-19 caseload spike in Salt Lake County. It was a bright yellow insulated bottle - the kind that became popular pre-pandemic among young people. Inside the Hydro Flask were gift cards for coffee and to a restaurant, a $5 bill, lip balm and mascara. The anonymous gesture was in recognition of Holt's dedication. And even better, someone had nominated her for it. A note was tucked inside the bottle, thanking her for her service during the pandemic and giving her instructions on how to nominate another health-care worker for a Hug in a Cup. The name Hug in a Cup might sound corny, but the sentiment wasn't. "I loved it because it was a reminder that after a rough year, people truly cared," said Holt, 37, who has worked as a nurse for 15 years. "And whoever nominated me for the bottle knew that yellow was my favorite color." Holt anonymously nominated a co-worker to receive one, which is just what the organizers hoped would happen. The project was started by four friends from Idaho Falls, Idaho, in November. Candace Jones, Jenna Johnson, Courtney Adams and Melanie Powell came up with their Hug in a Cup Initiative after they noticed that support for health-care workers wasn't as robust as it was in the spring. "People doing 12-hour shifts are working their tails off," said Adams, 37, a postpartum nurse and mother of three. Jones is a mother of four whose husband, Brian Jones, runs a family practice and works night shifts at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. She said her husband noted the difference. "My husband saw tons of support last March, when everyone was doing whatever they could for health-care workers to show they were appreciated," said Jones, 37. "But as the pandemic wore on, it seemed like everyone became exhausted by it all and a lot of people stopped paying attention." Johnson said she wanted to give health-care workers a small donation to buy coffee or cocoa for a "hug in a cup," and the idea grew from there. After they had lined up local businesses to contribute food and drink gift cards, they delivered several dozen bottles to local doctors and nurses during Thanksgiving week. (Makeup was included for women.) Since then, they have donated about 60 flasks, at an average cost of $35, to health-care workers in Idaho Falls and other towns throughout the Intermountain West. Now they're making plans to send out hundreds more nationwide after the Hydro Flask company heard about their efforts and contributed 500 of the insulated stainless-steel bottles to their cause earlier this month. "This is something we can do to show people on the front lines that we haven't forgotten about them - they mattered last spring, and they matter now," said Johnson, 35, a mother of four who runs two small businesses. "So many of these people rarely get a break, and they deserve our support." Johnson said she was moved to do something after witnessing the toll of covid-19 over the past year. Her husband, Matthew Johnson, is the director of an Idaho Falls senior center that was hit hard by the coronavirus. "Right after the funeral of a beloved resident who died of the virus, my husband and I both got it and were down for two weeks," she said. "It was an extremely difficult time - almost everybody at the care center had it." When Johnson and her friends came up with the idea, they told friends and family about it on social media and raised more than $1,500 - enough to buy 50 insulated flasks, she said. Olivia Beckman, a registered nurse at the Lincoln Court Retirement Community in Idaho Falls, was among the first to receive a Hug in a Cup. "It's been a really tough year, and I was grateful to find out my boss had nominated me," said Beckman, 28, who tested positive for the coronavirus after an outbreak at the assisted-living center. "I lost my sense of smell and taste for 10 days, but that's as bad as it got for me," she said. "It was heart-wrenching to see how it affected so many of our residents. We lost six of them - each one was like losing a family member." When Beckman opened her Hug in Cup, she said, the timing was spot on. "It came as a pat on the back at the perfect time," she said. "If I could nominate every single front-line health-care worker in the country to receive one, I would." Read more: She's 90 and Italian. I'm in my 30s and half Indian. Here's why we're the closest of friends. It's like a Little Free Library, but there's art inside. People are flocking to it, tiny art in hand. Upset by veterans who stormed the Capitol, these vets decided to clean up trash the mob left on the streets of D.C. Have a story for Inspired Life? Here's how to submit. RNC to Stay Neutral in 2024 Primary Even If Trump Runs Again: RNC Chairwoman The Republican National Committee (RNC) is declining to back 2024 presidential primary candidates, even if former President Donald Trump runs again, said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. The party has to stay neutral. Im not telling anybody to run or not to run in 2024, McDaniel said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. Thats going to be up to those candidates going forward. What I really do want to see him do, though, is help us win back majorities in 2022. Declining to encourage Trump to run again during the next election could be politically perilous for McDaniel and the GOP, as Trump, according to polls, remains by far the most popular figure in the Republican Party. Trump, for his part, has issued few public comments about what his plans may be. Although in the waning days of his presidency, he made a few hints that he might run again in 2024. A former Trump campaign adviser, Jason Miller, told news outlets several days ago that the ex-president has made clear his goal is to win back the House and Senate for Republicans in 2022, adding: Theres nothing thats actively being planned regarding an effort outside of that. McDaniel told AP that she is aware of the frustration of Trumps base, which is the largest bloc of voters in the Republican Party and has little tolerance for Republican officials unwilling to stand behind the former president. McDaniel also called for party unity and discouraged GOP politicians from attacking other elected officials in the Republican Party. Then-President Donald Trump returns to the White House in Washington on March 25, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) If were fighting each other every day and attacking each other and brandishing party purism, were not going to accomplish what we need to win back the House and take back the Senate, and thats my priority, she said. Miller noted that Trump could retaliate against House Republicans who voted to impeach him earlier this month, and Senate Republicans who join Democrats in convicting him could also be on the chopping block. The impeachment trial is slated to begin early next month. On Tuesday, just five Republicans peeled away from their party to join Democrats in voting to authorize the go-ahead for the impeachment trial. Many GOP senators, however, have said its unconstitutional to impeach a former president. The chairwoman separately denounced the pro-Trump QAnon movement. I think its really important after whats just happened in our country that we have some self-reflection on the violence thats continuing to erupt in our country, McDaniel said, claiming that some adherents of the movement carried out the violence. I think QAnon is beyond fringe. I think its dangerous. SAGINAW, MI Robbing a Saginaw Township bank of less than $3,000 has bought a Saginaw man another prison term. Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello on Wednesday, Jan. 27, sentenced 54-year-old George B. Moat III to 80 months to 23 years. Borrello gave Moat credit for 428 days already served in jail. The judge ordered Moat to pay $2,698 in restitution to PNC Bank. He also ordered him to pay $198 in fines and court costs. Moat declined to speak when Borrello offered him the chance. Moat in November pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, a life offense. Moat pleaded as a fourth-offense habitual offender. The conviction stems from Moat on the afternoon of Nov. 26, 2019, entering the PNC Bank at 5270 Gratiot Road in Saginaw Township and demanding money from a bank employee. Moat did not display a weapon and fled after receiving cash, police have said. Police located and arrested Moat at a Saginaw residence a few hours after the holdup. Moat has a lengthy criminal history, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records. Moat has served sentences for at least 13 felony convictions. Ten of those convictions are for breaking and entering and occurred in Bay, Iosco, Ogemaw, and Arenac counties. More recently, an Arenac County judge in May 2017 sentenced Moat to five years probation on a conviction of possessing marijuana or a synthetic equivalent. The MDOC reports Moat absconded from probation on Oct. 16. Read more: Man with long criminal history faces bank robbery charge in Saginaw County Police looking for hit-and-run driver after Flint crash that left 1 hospitalized Tawas man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 13-year-old girl in Saginaw Australians have been left 'saddened' after a man was 'embarrassed' to wear the national flag as a cape on Australia Day for fear of 'copping abuse'. The man rushed to take off an Australian flag displayed across his back after he stumbled across an 'Invasion Day' gathering in Byron Bay. He was filmed standing in the playground at Apex Park, near Main Beach, on Tuesday, as the nation marked January 26 with both protests and celebrations. Footage of the ordeal went viral but now Australians are asking why the man should have felt such 'shame'. A man has rushed to take off an Australian flag displayed across his back (pictured) after he stumbled across an Invasion Day gathering in Byron Bay Furious Australians have lashed out at a man who was 'embarrassed' by wearing the flag as a cape on Australia Day from fear of 'copping abuse' 'How weak and pathetic!!! Be patriotic, be proud and stand your ground, don't hide your opinions and beliefs. If that means being physically or verbally abused so be it, stand tall and unwavering!' Someone wrote. 'It's a sad day when you can't wear your countries flag with pride,' another commented. 'Weak, should never be embarrassed by our great flag,' someone else commented. Others shared their experiences where they took down their flags in fear of being abused. 'I had an Aussie flag on my car. I took it down for fear l might cop abuse. Pretty sad,' someone revealed. 'It's a bit sad when you feel ostracised wearing the Australian flag in Australia. Diggers died fighting for Australia and then you have people laughing at a dude for not feeling comfortable for wearing it. World gets crazier and crazier,' another wrote. 'Isn't this disgraceful? A citizen Australia Day afraid to display our national flag,' another comment read. 'Disgusting. This is how low Australia has become. You can't even be proud to be an Aussie without being crucified. Double standards,' another wrote. 'Isn't this disgraceful? A citizen Australia Day afraid to display our national flag,' another comment read An Instagram Story showed the man - who was wearing a black cap, white shirt and board shorts - hastily remove the blue, red and white flag tied around his neck. The camera then spun to the left, where protesters had gathered around a flag pole which displayed the Aboriginal flag. 'This kid is brave,' the Instagram story read. The man was then snapped sitting on the crunched up flag at a nearby picnic bench as he ate his lunch. 'Took it off, got embarrassed,' the additional story said. He was later filmed walking away from the bench with the flag in his hand. The stories were reshared by Lords of Byron Bay, an Instagram account dedicated to documenting the famous tourist town in northern New South Wales. Thousands of people across the country marked Australia Day on Tuesday by attending Invasion Day rallies. An Instagram story showed the man - who was wearing a black cap, white shirt and board shorts - hastily remove the Australian flag tied around his neck. The camera then spun to the left, where protesters had gathered around a flag pole which displayed the Aboriginal flag (pictured) The man was then snapped sitting on the crunched up flag at a nearby picnic bench as he ate his lunch Protesters are calling for the national public holiday to be moved out of respect for Indigenous Australians. Five people were arrested in Sydney out of a crowd of about 3000 people, who had congregated in small groups in the Domain to protest in a socially distanced and masked fashion. Conservative lobby group Advance Australia paid for the letters 'Aus Day' to be written in the sky above Sydney to counter the Invasion Day rally. Australia Day in the city began at dawn with the Sydney Opera House sails lit with Indigenous art, with the Aboriginal flag later raised alongside the Australian flag on the Harbour Bridge. At the protest in Melbourne about 5000 people separated into groups of 100 to abide by coronavirus restrictions. Thousands of people across the country marked Australia Day on Tuesday by attending Invasion Day rallies. Pictured: Protesters are seen at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne Scores of people attended rallies in Brisbane, Hobart and Perth, while a huge crowd in Canberra marched from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy to Parliament House to call on Australia Day to be moved. Nearby, Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivered a keynote address at a flag-raising and citizenship ceremony on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, attended by the governor-general and other dignitaries. Mr Morrison argues Australia Day should be on January 26 as it marks the date the nation changed forever. 'There is no escaping or cancelling that fact, for better or worse,' he said. Mr Morrison said January 26, the day Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack and proclaimed British sovereignty in 1788, marked the beginning of modern Australia. 'Our stories since that day have been of sorrow and of joy, of loss and redemption, of failure and of success,' he said. 'We are now a nation of more than 25 million stories. All important, all unique, and all to be respected.' U.S. and Bulgarian authorities this week took control of the dark web site used by the NetWalker ransomware cybercrime group to publish data stolen from its victims. "We are striking back against the growing threat of ransomware by not only bringing criminal charges against the responsible actors, but also disrupting criminal online infrastructure and, wherever possible, recovering ransom payments extorted from victims," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Ransomware victims should know that coming forward to law enforcement as soon as possible after an attack can lead to significant results like those achieved in today's multi-faceted operation." In connection with the takedown, a Canadian national named Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins from the city of Gatineau was charged in the U.S. state of Florida for extorting $27.6 million in cryptocurrency from ransom payments. Separately, the Bulgarian National Investigation Service and General Directorate Combating Organized Crime seized a dark web hidden resource used by NetWalker ransomware affiliates i.e., cybercrime groups responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victims using the ransomware to provide payment instructions and communicate with victims. Visitors to the website will now be greeted by a seizure banner notifying them that it has been taken over by law enforcement authorities. Chainalysis, which aided in the investigation, said it has "traced more than $46 million worth of funds in NetWalker ransoms since it first came on the scene in August 2019," adding "it picked up steam in mid-2020, growing the average ransom to $65,000 last year, up from $18,800 in 2019." In recent months, Netwalker emerged as a popular choice of ransomware strain besides Ryuk, Maze, Doppelpaymer, and Sodinokibi, with numerous companies, municipalities, hospitals, schools, and universities targeted by the cybercriminals to extort victims. Before the takedown, the NetWalker administrator, who goes by the moniker "Bugatti" on darknet forums, is said to have posted an advertisement in May 2020 looking for additional Russian-speaking affiliates as part of a transition to a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, using the partners to compromise targets and steal data before encrypting the files. The NetWalker operators have also been part of a growing ransomware trend called double extortion, where the attackers hold the stolen data hostage and threaten to publish the information should the target refuse to pay the ransom. "After a victim pays, developers and affiliates split the ransom," the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) said. Chainalysis researchers suspect that besides involving in at least 91 attacks using NetWalker since April 2020, Vachon-Desjardins worked as an affiliate for other RaaS operators such as Sodinokibi, Suncrypt, and Ragnarlocker. The NetWalker disruption comes on the same day that European authorities announced a coordinated takedown targeting the Emotet crimeware-as-a-service network. The botnet has been used by several cybercrime groups to deploy second-stage malware most notably Ryuk and TrickBot. Slamming parties for their decision to boycott the President's address to Parliament, the on Thursday accused them of "constitutional and moral bankruptcy". spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said if these parties think that the Modi government will backtrack from its support to three farm laws due to their collective pressure, then they should know that they lack such strength and that this dispensation bows only before people. Addressing a press conference, Bhatia said parties had been calling for a session all this while as he hit out at them for their decision to boycott the address. A day before the start of the Budget Session of Parliament, 16 parties led by the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and the TMC on Thursday decided to boycott the President's address to the joint sitting of in solidarity with the farmers protesting the new farm laws. The spokesperson said all major opposition parties had spoken before these laws were passed in the last session, rejecting their contention that the government had rammed through these legislations without following due consultation. What they have shown with this decision is their constitutional and moral bankruptcy, he said. Parties like the Shiv Sena had even supported these laws in before making a U-turn, so did the Shiromani Akali Dal, he said. Bhatia also lashed out at opposition parties like the Congress, TMC and the Samajwadi Party for not "condemning" the "anarchy" protesting farmers unleashed in the capital on Republic Day and "insult" to the flag. Some opposition leaders had disapproved of the violence but alleged that the government's refusal to heed the farmers' demand to repeal these laws was a factor in it. Bhatia said it is the government which has shown much flexibility and an open mind in its talks with farmer union leaders. He also lauded the Delhi Police for its restrain and overall handling of the situation. (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.) BJP's scare-mongering over 'Love Jihad' will never go far in pluralist Kerala: Shashi Tharoor Naya Bharat, where we make virtue out of sympathy earned by failures: Tharoor's swipe at govt Farmers protest: FIR against Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai, six others over Jan 26 violence in Delhi India oi-Madhuri Adnal Noida (UP), Jan 28:Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and six journalists have been booked by the Noida Police for sedition, among other charges, over the violence during farmers's tractor rally in Delhi, officials said on Thursday. Tharoor, Sardesai, others booked for sedition, fanning violence | Oneindia News The FIR was lodged at the Sector 20 police station here following a complaint by a resident who alleged that "digital broadcast" and "social media posts" by these people were responsible for the violence during a tractor rally by farmers in the national capital. The journalists named in the FIR are Mrinal Pande, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vinod Jose, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath and Anant Nath. An unidentified person has also been named in the FIR. "Yes, the FIR has been lodged," a senior Noida Police officer confirmed to PTI. The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 124A (sedition), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 120B (criminal conspiracy), among others. Farmers' protest: Crowd visibly thin at protest sites; leaders say agitation still strong They have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. The Noida Police have begun investigation into the matter, according to officials. On January 26, thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre''s three farm laws. Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 29, 2021, 0:48 [IST] Washington: President Biden is trying to avoid getting drawn into the approaching Senate impeachment trial as he balances Democratic calls to punish his predecessor with his desire to move forward with his ambitious agenda. The wary approach includes contradicting calls from some Democrats for a quick trial start and declining to say whether former President Donald Trump should be convicted, though Mr. Biden has blamed Mr. Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. This week Mr. Biden told CNN that the trial has to happen" but said he doubted enough Republicans would vote to convict, a day before 45 Republicans cast a vote questioning the Senates authority to hold an impeachment trial for a former president. In another sign of distance, Vice President Kamala Harris, who could have presided over the trial as Senate president, plans to stay out of the process as much as possible, according to a person familiar with the situation, who said Ms. Harris never considered taking that role. Although she might still be called upon to break procedural ties during the trial in the evenly split Senate, the person said Ms. Harriss involvement would be limited. Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in Tuesday as the presiding officer for the coming trial. Mr. Leahy wasnt feeling well later in the day and was taken to a hospital out of an abundance of caution," a spokesman said. He returned home Tuesday night and gaveled the Senate into session Wednesday. During the trial, which begins Feb. 9, the White House expects to stay focused on policy priorities and not change its posture toward impeachment, according to an official. Despite some Republicans saying that the trial goes against Mr. Bidens promises of bipartisanship and striving for unity, the official said the White House will continue to seek GOP support on its legislative agenda. Mr. Biden entered office at a fragile time, with voters bitterly divided and after Mr. Trump for weeks pushed unproven claims of widespread voter fraud. While 87% of Democratic voters support convicting Mr. Trump in the impeachment trial, only 11% of Republicans do, according to a Monmouth University poll released this week. Mr. Biden is enjoying a bump in public approval since the election, according to polls. The Senate trial could erode that support if GOP voters resent Democrats actions. Already, Republican lawmakers oppose some of his ideas, including a $1.9 trillion Covid-relief package, and the trial could embolden resistance. If he were to inject himself in this, there could be some danger and thats why hes letting Congress do its job," said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt. The first 100 days are super important for any president and arguably for Biden its even more important because of the pandemic and how divided the country is." Mr. Bidens Senate allies recognize the balancing act. We have to demonstrate to the American people that we can do both: deliver confirmations [of the presidents nominees] and believe in accountability, and that will be a real challenging question for the Senate," said Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.). Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.) said Wednesday that, given the GOP stance, a trial doesnt seem the right prioritization of our time" and that Covid-19 relief and confirming cabinet nominees should be at the forefront. Mr. Kaine said he was working on an alternative, including a measure to censure Mr. Trump, though Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) affirmed Wednesday morning that a trial would happen. Some Republicans say the trial belies Mr. Bidens rhetoric. I listened to President Biden talking about healing this nation, about uniting this nation," Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.), a Trump ally, said Tuesday. Trial in the Senate would not be healing. It would be vindictive." Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said last week on Fox News: President Biden could, by picking up the phone, stand down impeachment. He could say to Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, President Trump is in Florida, Im ready to move on." Meanwhile, some groups on the left want Mr. Biden to be more forceful. I fear that Biden is missing the opportunity to force the congressional Republican Party to carry the stain of the Trumpist insurrection, which the majority of Americans not only condemn but also hold Trump and many congressional Republicans accountable for," said Waleed Shahid, spokesman for Justice Democrats, a group that advocates for Democrats to take more progressive stances. Mr. Biden is in an unusual position given that both of Mr. Trumps impeachments stemmed directly from the former presidents efforts against him. The first concerned Mr. Trumps attempt to press Ukraines president to announce an investigation of Mr. Biden. He was impeached by the House in 2019 but acquitted in the GOP-controlled Senate in February 2020. The second stems from Mr. Trump urging his supporters to protest at the Capitol against Mr. Bidens election victory. White House press secretary Jen Psaki has faced daily questions about impeachment. The president believes that the Senate has the constitutional duty to proceed as they see fit on holding the former president accountable," she said Tuesday. She also said Mr. Biden is working not just for the people who voted for him but the 74 million who backed Mr. Trump. As leading Democrats made a push to begin the process of sending the Houses article of impeachment to the Senate this month, Mr. Biden was asked Friday by a reporter if he supported the timeline of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) for a February trial. The president said he hadnt seen details but quickly added: The more time we have to get up and running and meet these crises, the better." Lindsay Wise contributed to this article. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The legislation also prohibits landlords from charging late fees greater than $10 a month for the first $1,000 in rent plus 5% per month for amounts more than $1,000. It outlines the procedure for landlords to evict renters and how renters can terminate leases. Security deposits will be limited to no more than 1 months rent and must be returned within 30 days, and such payments cannot be disguised as move-in fees. European Union home affairs ministers are meeting at an informal video conference to discuss migration, in an effort led by Portugal which holds the EU's rotating presidency for the first half of this year.The meeting agenda also includes discussing guarantees of the operation of the Schengen area in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and Europol's new mandate. Portuguese home affairs minister Eduardo Cabrita said on Thursday that the ministers will try to work together to achieve solidarity on a "common responsibility" on migratory flows.The ministers are meeting to discuss the the European Commission's proposal for the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Finding consensus for a common EU policy on migration has eluded the bloc for years.Earlier this month, Portugal started consultations with other European Union countries to find common ground for a new policy on migration. The talks come after years of chaos and dispute among the bloc's 27 nations over the handling of migrants and refugees amid a recognition that the current EU system for deciding whether they should receive protection or be sent home has failed.The arrival in 2015 of well over one million migrants, mostly refugees fleeing war in Syria, sparked one of the EU's biggest political crises. EU nations have fought since over who should take responsibility for the migrants, with front-line Mediterranean nations like Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain demanding more help from their EU neighbours. The arguments rage on even though the number of unauthorized migrants has dwindled sharply in recent years Portugal wants to reach a comprehensive migration agreement with countries along the Mediterranean Sea's southern rim, from where many migrants cross to the EU. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low around 40F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Duty-free shops are traditionally found at airports, but downtown chains are now considered a prime option that can offer more enticing products Last December, South Korean powerhouse Lotte Duty Free inked a deal with Vietnamese Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) to run a downtown duty-free store in Hanoi. Covering an area of around 1,600 square metres, the new store is located on the sixth floor of the Trang Tien Plaza, which is slated to open at the end of the year. Compared to airport duty-free shops, downtown stores boast lower rent-to-sales ratio, better product variety, and flexibility in product pricing and promotion. The development of duty-free outlets in downtown areas can attract customers of imported goods. Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, chairman of IPPG said that with the tremendous potential of Vietnams tourism, IPPG and its partners have plans to open more downtown duty-free outlets in big cities. As high-end businesses are evolving, the group has developed new strategies for consumers. Meanwhile, Dior and Louis Vuitton are relocating their businesses from shopping malls to their own buildings, opening opportunities for the groups to cooperate with new global brands. Lotte Duty Free made its debut in the Vietnamese duty-free market in 2017. The company already operates airport stores in the central cities of Danang and Cam Ranh, and Hanoi as well. Most recently, Lotte Duty Free declared Vietnam its primary target for foreign expansion. The aim is to open downtown duty-free stores in Danang and Hanoi throughout this year. Duty-free appeal The Vietnamese duty-free market is mainly being exploited by local powerhouses. Southern Airports Services JSC dominates the segment at Tan Son Nhat International Airport while Noi Bai Airport Services JSC is running duty-free shops in Hanois airport. Robert Tran, CEO of the Robenny Corporation for the United States, Canada, and Asia-Pacific said that in the past, Vietnams tourism industry has failed to develop quality products, services, and workforce. Thus, downtown duty-free chains are considered new and enticing products for the local tourism industry, attracting luxury tourists in the country. According to consultancy Savills, global luxury expansion experienced a regional rebalancing in 2020. Retailers are pivoting their focus towards Asia-Pacific markets, with the region accounting for a 38.9 per cent share of global luxury store openings from January to October 2020. This exceeded the regions share of 31.8 per cent recorded in 2019, while overtaking Europe for the first time. The geographic shift in luxury openings is a trend that we have been tracking for the past three years, however it has been somewhat amplified in 2020 in line with the earlier reopening of retail markets across much of Asia-Pacific, coupled with a significant rebound in luxury post-lockdown, noted Anthony Selwyn, head of Savills Prime Global Retail Team. For a number of years, Asia-Pacific has provided luxury brands with key locations for their global businesses. Now, the region is experiencing a positive recovery, stimulating further expansion and investment, Selwyn added. Undoubtedly, 2020 was a very difficult year for the retail sector. While sales in some parts of the world might be surging, others will contract significantly similarly, strong counts of physical store openings in certain regions may be overlooking a potential rise in closures in less profitable locations. Nonetheless, those retailers that are able to pivot their offerings, reach new audiences, and capitalise on the local demand will continue to reap the rewards in terms of growth. Vietnams vast potential On the other hand, experts believe that the increasing wealthy population in Vietnam, as well as the huge potential of the countrys tourism industry, has added more impetus for the luxury shopping and duty-free industry. Lotte has been vying with its South Korean counterpart, Shilla, to expand its operations abroad in recent years, as the domestic market begins to saturate. Lotte is currently the third-largest duty-free shop business in the world, after Dufry AG of Switzerland and DFS of the US. This is also the first time a South Korean enterprise has exploited Vietnams duty-free retail market. The Vietnamese site of Lotte Online Duty Free is also preparing to use an e-wallet payment service in the first half of 2021, and plans to expand cooperation with local banks in Vietnam, cited newswire The Moodie Davitt Report. Lee Jung-min, head of the online platform business division of Lotte Duty Free said, We plan to pre-emptively introduce new payment services that can attract Southeast Asian customers such as in Vietnam, and provide various benefits. Last month, Lotte Duty Free launched the e-wallet payment services Sacombank Pay and Lien Viet 24h for the first time within South Korean duty-free systems. In Vietnam, the rate of using electronic wallets is about 21 per cent as common as credit card usage among younger people, Lotte Duty Free noted. Although revenues have not been published yet, with four existing locations Lotte PK Duty Free is estimating that it will reach $100-200 million after a decade of operation. Lottes goal is to become the leading duty-free business in Vietnam. Park Seok Won, CEO of Lotte PK Duty Free said, 2020 is a tough year for all of us. However, Lotte PK Duty Free will definitely not give up its business development potential in Vietnam. Meanwhile, as part of its global expansion plan moving forward, The Shilla Hotels & Resorts has expanded its first footprint in Vietnam with the debut of its maiden brand Shilla Monogram in the central coast region. Starting with Danang, The Shilla Hotels & Resorts is planning to enter about 10 foreign cities in the US, Indonesia, and Vietnam to become a global hotel chain. Although Shilla has not signalled any signs for a potential duty-free business in this country, it is likely that the firm will take advantage of its nationwide branches to increase its luxury shopping services. Currently, as per Vietnamese regulations, only international visitors can buy goods and enjoy the preferential tax policy at duty-free shops. To compensate for the shortage of international visitors, IPPG is proposing a policy to allow Vietnamese to shop at duty-free stores. I am proposing the allowance of tax payments to serve the needs of Vietnamese customers at duty-free shops, such as with imported goods. If approved, the state budget will also benefit from it, said Nguyen of IPPG. As per Research Dive statistics, the global duty-free retailing market is likely to reach up to $139 billion by the end of 2026. Geographically, Asia-Pacifics duty-free retailing market is likely to dominate the industry owing to a rise in disposable income and an increasing middle class in the region. Tulane University has suspended six fraternities and sororities and tightened public health restrictions for all students after discovering that large groups gathered in local bars and at off-campus parties, leading to the university's second-largest spike to date in new COVID-19 cases. University President Michael Fitts said that in light of the surge and alleged conduct violations, students should limit themselves to their dormitories and off-campus residences when not in class or dining on campus. Visitors are now forbidden in dorms. School re-openings didn't up coronavirus hospitalizations, Tulane researchers say in novel study In what experts called a novel study examining one connection between school openings and coronavirus, Tulane University researchers determine "All in-person student programs including student organization events outside of classes will be canceled, rescheduled or redesigned in light of these new restrictions," Fitts said. Two Greek organizations, Alpha Epsilon Phi and Zeta Psi, were suspended last week but have been reinstated, a university spokesperson said. Four others remain on temporary suspension for "reports of misconduct related to COVID-19 behavioral expectations," Tulane officials said. They are Sigma Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta. The crackdown, outlined in a series of stern letters to the university's 13,600 students, comes nine days after Tulane resumed in-person classes Jan. 19 following an extended winter break. About 4,000 students live in dorms. Coronavirus vaccine coming as soon as next week for school nurses in metro area, Tulane staff More groups in the New Orleans metro area are preparing to receive coronavirus vaccine doses in coming weeks, with school nurses in local dist Fitts defended his decision to keep classes in-person and said almost all new cases were detected in people who had shown no symptoms of COVID-19. "We have increased testing for undergraduate students, isolated all known positive cases and quarantined their close contacts," Fitts said. He accused some students of contributing to the spike by partying in close contact and ignoring New Orleans' mask and other coronavirus restrictions. "We know that the vast majority of our students, faculty and staff are closely following university and city guidelines, and we appreciate your hard work and dedication," Fitts said. "However, we have also received reports of student conduct violations regarding COVID-19 safety protocols, including large groups of unmasked students congregating in local bars and off-campus parties. These are the most obvious, and distressing, sources of the current increase in positive cases." Fitts' letter, which threatened suspension or expulsion for rule-breakers, followed a Wednesday email from Dean of Students Erica Woodley, who said certain students had displayed "a reckless disregard for others" that was the "antithesis of everything Tulane stands for and attempts to impart to its students." Can't see the graphic below? Click here. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Since Jan. 4, Tulane has reported 326 positive tests on its COVID-19 dashboard, which captures an aggressive screening program meant to survey the entire university for potential infections and spread. Students were expected to return to school starting Jan. 8 for a pre-semester screening process. Of the 326 new cases, 72 were reported on Tuesday alone, the latest day for which data was available. That made for the largest one-day spike the university has seen since Nov. 6, when 78 cases were reported. Tulane began recording the results of its testing program on July 28, according to archived and current data. As of mid-week, 38,416 tests had been completed campus-wide, generating a percent positivity rate of 3.5% on Tuesday and a 0.9% average over a 7-day period. Fifty-six students were in isolation after testing positive at the Paterson residence hall, the dashboard showed, while 107 were quarantining at the Hyatt Regency, a hotel where Tulane is housing some students for the academic year. Fitts' announcement followed a series of emails in the past week, with Woodley offering "a stern reminder" Friday of the universitys expectations for the spring semester. Tulane officials had warned in mid-January that the university was in a "high priority period" until at least Feb. 1, meaning any misconduct would carry more severe consequences. The suspensions of Greek organizations appear to have happened during or shortly after "rush," the period when Greek groups recruit potential new members, according to student posts on social media and a timeline posted by the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Programs. Those events included bid day on Jan. 17, when undergraduates are typically informed which organization they've been invited to join and celebrate with current members. Tulane spokesperson Mike Strecker said sorority bid day and all other recruitment events were virtual, with the exception of recruitment orientation. For the orientation, some people attended in person at the school's arrival center "following all city-mandated COVID protocols," and others attended via the Zoom video conferencing platform. On social media, some students complained that after-parties had gotten out of hand. Liz Schafer, Tulane's director of fraternity and sorority programs, said the suspended Greek organizations would not be allowed to engage in chapter activities until the investigation is complete, according to The Tulane Hullabaloo, the student newspaper that first reported the suspensions. In a letter to students, Woodley underscored that some local bars had been breaking New Orleans' public health rules, as evidenced by photographs widely shared on social media, but that didn't give Tulane students license to follow suit. "While you may feel it is okay to frequent off-campus bars that are not following the city's COVID policies because no one is shutting these places down -- let me assure you, it is not," Woodley said. "Your actions threaten not only the health and safety of our city, but the educational and economic future of the citizens of New Orleans." Tulane's restrictions elicited a variety of responses from students on social media, including graduate students who were upset that previously permitted activities had been yanked. One student criticized the continuation of in-person class, saying Tulane officials were "needlessly putting your students, faculty, staff, and local community members at risk." Choe Kang-wook, the chief of the minor liberal Open Minjoo Party, leaves the Seoul Central District Court, Thursday, after the court sentenced him to eight months in prison suspended for two years, for fabricating an internship certificate for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's son in October 2017 while working at a law firm. If the conviction is confirmed at the Supreme Court, he will be deprived of his National Assembly seat. / Yonhap Nearly half of US pastors frequently hear congregants repeat conspiracy theories, poll finds Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new study released Tuesday has found that nearly half of Protestant pastors in the United States say they hear members of their congregations repeating conspiracy theories a worrisome trend researchers warn damages the impact of a Christians witness to those in their community. A new study by the Nashville-based Lifeway Research of 1,007 U.S. Protestant pastors with a sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points found that 49% of church leaders agreed with the phrase, I frequently hear members of my congregation repeating conspiracy theories they have heard about why something is happening in our country. Additionally, around 1 in 8 (13%) of Protestant pastors strongly agree their congregants are sharing conspiracy theories. The study was conducted in the months before last Novembers presidential election, Sept. 2 through Oct. 1. Merriam-Webster defines conspiracy theories as a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators. Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said the statistics represented a startling disconnect between Christian churches which resolve to be places focused on truth and the spread of assumptions about plots. Before returning to Heaven, Jesus appealed to His followers to share what they had seen and heard, said McConnell. Passing along these eye-witness accounts of Jesus teaching and His death, burial and resurrection is the mission of the church. Instead, many church members are sharing things that might be, could happen or sound possible. One is a firm message of hope, and the other a shaky message of fear. Interestingly, pastors of churches with more than 250 in attendance are the most likely to agree (61%) with the statement. White pastors are also more likely than African American pastors to say they frequently hear their church members repeating conspiracy theories (50% to 36%). Age also affected responses. Pastors 65 and older are the most likely to disagree that they hear those ideas in their church (59%) and the least likely to agree (34%). While a minority of churchgoers may embrace conspiracy theories, the larger the church the more minds and mouths exist to be misled, said McConnell. At this time, it appears more of the theories are traveling in politically conservative circles which corresponds to the higher percentages in the churches led by white Protestant pastors. Christian apologist and author Mary Jo Sharp, founder of director of the nonprofit apologetics ministry Confident Christianity, Inc., warned in a statement shared by LifeWay Research that irresponsibility with information unravels the impact of a Christians witness to those in their community, and, with social media, to the broader world. The non-Christian may begin to believe or become further ingrained in the culturally popular belief that Christians are anti-intellectual, including anti-science, she said. She added that Christians should always be Gospel-forward in how they live their public lives because they are representatives of the kingdom of God. Before sharing anything in person or on social media, Sharp said Christians should first ask: How will this affect my ability to share the good news of Jesus Christ? The Apostle Paul tells us that, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). I am supposed to delight in knowing, and, therefore, in sharing what is true, said Sharp. That is a high calling, but it is the one Christians are called to as followers of The Truth (John 14:6). We are not called to perfection, but to take seriously our representation of Jesus, and the truth of His salvation. Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore recently emphasized at the Ethics and Public Policy Centers Faith Angle Forum the need for pastors and Christian leaders to speak the truth in the face of conspiracy theories. I talk to pastors every single day who are having to deal with crazy conspiracy theories related to vaccines or related to whatever in their communities, the head of SBCs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said. And after a certain point, many people just become exhausted by this. We cant be exhausted. We have to be the people who recognize reality and have the integrity to call reality what it is, which means having mouths that line up with our hearts, as Jesus taught us to do. Moore said hed had conversations with people frustrated by family members who buy into conspiracies and feel like theyve failed as a result. And what Ive had to say to all of them is, you cant fix this and correct it in the time of a day, he stated. Part of that is the sense that the way that I protect myself is by joining myself to a herd, adopting everything that that herd believes or says as a shibboleth and then projecting a kind of swagger. And its killing us. Its killing us as a society. Its killing us as communities. Its killing us as churches. In an op-ed for The Christian Post, author and retired law professor F. LaGard Smith contemplated why Christians are fascinated by conspiracy theories. He urged believers to focus instead on being passionately loving to others. Ever noticed how believers can be among those most easily drawn to conspiracy theories? Not exactly the greatest testimony to faith and trust! he wrote. Yet, for all their negative connotations, there are more-benign conspiracies, as with a triune God saying in creative accord, Let us make man in our own image. If we believers could but tap into the power of that divine conspiracy conspiring to be passionately loving to each and every fellow image-bearer it would be one conspiracy theory that even non-believers would find irresistible. Bombay High Court judge Pushpa Virendra Ganediwala has come under the scanner in the past few days for a series of judgement which has been deemed as 'controversial.' The Bombay High Court verdict regarding a case of groping of a minor girl sent shockwaves for its controversial statement. The case involved a 12-year-old girl who had reportedly been groped by a 39-year-old man in December 2016. After four years, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court headed by Justice Pushpa Ganediwala found that the accused did grope the child but it did not constitute sexual assault punishable with POCSO but instead constituted the offence of outraging a woman's modesty under IPC section 354. The reason? The girl reportedly had her top on and since there was no "skin to skin contact", the groping could not be ruled as an assault. Justice Pushpa Ganediwala of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, in a judgment passed on January 19, held that there must be "skin to skin contact with sexual intent" for an act to be considered sexual assault. She said in her verdict that mere groping will not fall under the definition of sexual assault. The POCSO Act defines sexual assault as when someone "with sexual intent touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the child or makes the child touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of such person or any other person, or does any other act with sexual intent which involves physical contact without penetration is said to commit sexual assault". The court, in its verdict, held that this "physical contact" mentioned in the definition of sexual assault must be "skin to skin" or direct physical contact. The Bombay HC verdict has come as a shock not only to survivors but also to child safety and protection experts who feel that the move sets a "dangerous" precedent for defining sexual assault in court. Also Read: Good or Bad Touch? Bombay HC Order on 'Skin to Skin' Groping in POCSO Case Raises Questions The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Bombay High Court's controversial order acquitting an accused, which had stated 'skin-to-skin' contact necessary to be classified as sexual assault under the POCSO Act. Attorney General KK Venugopal said the order would set a dangerous precedent. Following the first incident, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has held that the act of holding a girl's hands and opening the zip of pants will not come under the definition of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. The act instead comes under the ambit of sexual harassment under Section 354-A (1) (i) of the Indian Penal Code, observed the bench. The ruling was pronounced by a single bench of Justice Pushpa Ganediwala in a criminal appeal against the conviction and sentence awarded to a 50-year-old man for molesting a five-year-old girl. The Session Court had convicted the man and ruled it to be "aggravated sexual assault" punishable under Section 10 of POCSO and sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 25,000 with a default simple imprisonment for six months. However, Justice Ganediwala set aside his conviction under Sections 8, 10 and 12 of POCSO Act, but held him guilty under Section 354A (1) (i) IPC, which carries a maximum imprisonment of three years. The Nagpur bench observed that the case comes under the gambit of sexual harassment and not sexual assault. The offence of sexual harassment under Section 354A (1) (i), which deals with physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, is attracted in the case, it said. Before being shot to 'controversial' fame in 2021, Ganediwala has presided over some other important judgments in the recent past. Ganediwala was born in 1969 in Paratwada in Amravati District in Maharashtra. She has B.Com, LL.B, and LL.M degrees. Ganediwala was appointed as a District Judge in 2007, and served on the City Civil Court in Mumbai and the District and Family Courts in Nagpur. She later became the Principal District and Sessions Judge in Nagpur, and subsequently was appointed as the Registrar-General of the Bombay High Court. In 2018, Ganediwala was one of several judges who were considered for appointment to the Bombay High Court, but was not appointed after the Bombay High Court recommended against it. The Supreme Court of India accepted the Bombay High Court's adverse recommendations and decided to defer consideration of her appointment. In 2019, Ganediwala's appointment was reconsidered, and she was appointed as an additional judge in the Bombay High Court. In 2019, Ganediwala was part of a bench which headed a significant ruling, that highlighted that parole is limited right available to prisoners, and not merely an administrative decision. Notably, the Court has also struck down a provision that had barred convicts in Maharashtra from seeking multiple paroles in a year. In this regard, a Full Bench comprising Justices P N Deshmukh, Manish Pitale and Pushpa V Ganediwala struck down a proviso introduced to Rule 19 (2) of the Prisons Rules, 1959 under Section 59(5) of the Prisons Act, 1894. Ganediwala has, along with two other judges, commuted death penalty sentences to life imprisonment in two cases while sitting on the Bombay High Court, in 2019. Both cases concerned the offence of murder. In September 2020, Ganediwala and along with a fellow judge heard a case concerning the shortage of available hospital beds and treatment facilities for patients with Covid-19 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and directed the State Government of Maharashtra to make available sufficient staff and facilities for treatment. Ganediwala also rejected a plea to have the Joint Entrance Examination postponed (a national assessment examination held for admission to engineering courses) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as widespread flooding in parts of Maharashtra, but directed examining authorities to facilitate re-examinations for those who could not attend the scheduled examination date because of these difficulties. In October 2020, Ganediwala and another judge directed government-run hospitals to constitute a panel and provide treatment to a pregnant woman who had been denied hospital consultations on the grounds that she had tested positive for Covid-19, and compared the treatment of patients with Covid-19 to the generational, social, and public discrimination caused by the practice of untouchability against Dalit communities. Ganediwala has spoken publicly about the need to reduce pending cases in the family courts in Mumbai, and has criticised Maharashtra Police for failing to conduct investigations sufficiently, linking this to acquittals in criminal cases. Lawyer and Governance expert, Dr Eric Oduro Osae has argued that government did the right thing by honouring late President Jerry John Rawlings with a befitting final funeral rite. According to him, the constitution demands such treat to any Head of State hence, government was precise to have buried him despite some family claims that they should have fully taken charge. Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie, Dr Oduro Osae noted that nothing stops Rawlings family and the party he founded, (NDC) from organizing their funeral as a sign of respect for the former military leader. Theres nothing wrong if they also decide to organize their funeral, he said. Adding that, What government did was constitutional because of Rawlings' status as a former President and just not an ordinary person. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 California Discloses Math Behind Easing Stay-at-Home Order SACRAMENTO, Calif.Californias health director on Tuesday revealed the math behind the states calculation that it was safe to lift all remaining stay-at-home orders, a response to criticism that Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration was hiding key data affecting peoples lives and livelihoods. A half-dozen formulas were used to project that all regions of the state will top 15 percent capacity in their hospital intensive care units in four weeks, a level the state believes provides adequate cushion for any surges in virus patients. Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley currently have 0 percent capacity when taking into account both coronavirus cases and other patients, while rural far Northern California is the only one of five regions above the minimal level. A surge that started in mid-October made California the nations COVID epicenter before numbers improved in the new year. Four regions accounting for virtually all the states nearly 40 million residents were put under the stay-at-home order in December and three remained there until Monday. At his weekly virtual news briefing, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly displayed a slide showing that for each region the state used data including the weekly average of virus cases, transmission rate, hospitalizations, occupied ICU beds and other metrics to determine future ICU capacity. The calculations boiled down to what Im just going to call a simple math formula, Ghaly said. California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, discusses the states response to the coronavirus at a news briefing held at the the Governors Office of Emergency Services in Rancho Cordova Calif., on April 9, 2020. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo) Officials double-checked to make sure the data wasnt skewed by reporting delays from last weeks Martin Luther King Jr. holiday before deciding that we could be confident in what is a fairly weighty decision for three major areas and regions of our state, Ghaly said. David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition that advocates government transparency, applauded Ghaly for sharing the data, late though it is. The default should always be transparency, barring real legal justification for secrecy, he said. Infectious disease experts said the states formulas generally appear reasonable but leave out many potential variables. This is a little simpler than I would have imagined it would be given the data that the state is collecting on who is most vulnerable, said Rajiv Bhatia, an affiliated professor of medicine at Stanford University. Basically all of these numbers have numbers and assumptions behind them that make it very difficult to say this is right or wrong. The state should say how its projections have tracked with actual developments, including if they accurately predicted the recent surge and decline, Bhatia said: How well has it been predicting ICU capacity? If it didnt predict ICU capacity before, why would we trust it now? California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly talks during a news conference on the current state of COVID-19, on Jan. 26, 2021. (California Department of Public Health via AP) Marm Kilpatrick, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said the states approach is reasonable, but rests on some very important assumptions. Hes among those concerned that lifting the orders may increase transmission rates, or that mutations in the virus will cause it to spread much more rapidly. Other considerations include that people are starting to be vaccinated, and a growing proportion have developed natural immunity because they have already had the virus even if they showed no symptoms. The first two confirmed cases of the virus were reported in California a year ago Tuesday. The state has recorded more than 3.2 million since thenby far the most in the United States. The surge at the end of 2020 was the worst of the pandemic in California and overwhelmed many hospitals, prompting some to set up triage areas in tents set up in parking lots. Deaths continue to skyrocket542 per day for the last weekas the sickest of the flood of patients die. But hospitalizations have fallen 20 percent in the last two weeks and transmission rates have dropped well below 1.0, meaning every person with the disease on average is infecting fewer than one other person. Its likely that cases will continue to drop for at least a week or two, Kilpatrick said, but if people relax their safe behavior or if variants become more widespread it could send cases higher again. The release of data behind the ICU projections came one week after The Associated Press first asked for it and was turned down, with a state health officials saying it was too complicated and could mislead the public. Lawmakers of both political parties criticized the secrecy, as did Newsoms political opponents. Editorials in the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle questioned the lack of transparency and worried that the state might be relaxing its toughest restrictions too soon. Health care workers receive a COVID-19 vaccination at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima, Calif., on Jan. 13, 2021. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo) While acknowledging that deaths and hospitalizations remain tragically high, Ghaly pointed to the recent virus data as evidence of a steady and pronounced downward trend. Relaxing the orders still leave all but four of the states 58 counties under the most restrictive of four color-coded tiers for reopening. In those counties indoor restaurant dining and church services are not allowed, retailers are limited to 25 percent capacity and social gatherings cant include people from more than three households. Ghaly said health officials are aware of the potential for a resurgence and could ratchet up restrictions if conditions worsen. Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, said the states overall projection is grounded on the growth in daily virus cases, an assumption that could be quite unstable and subject to various factors that might increase it. Those include changing weather that drives people indoors or allows them to stay outdoors, relaxed adherence to safety precautionsor more adherence, if people become alarmed by the mutating virus. Yet Klausner said he doesnt think the easing of restrictions makes much difference in what he said is a natural cycle in pandemics that typically oscillate like ripples in a pond. Over time the peaks get smaller and further apart until its barely noticeable. By Don Thompson With Pakistan Supreme Court ordering release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, India on Thursday said it is a travesty of justice not to find him guilty of any charge in the heinous act of terror. The Pakistan Supreme Court has ordered the release of Sheikh while dismissing an appeal against his acquittal in the sensational kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl in 2002. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the case truly demonstrates Pakistan's intent on tackling terrorism. "I had mentioned earlier about the very low conviction rate in Pakistan when it comes to sentencing of terror accused. This case truly demonstrates Pakistan's intent on taking action on terror front," he said at a media briefing when asked about the order by Pakistan Supreme Court. "It is a travesty of justice not to find Omar Saeed guilty of any charge in this heinous act of terror," Srivastava said. "Our position on Pakistan taking sustained, verifiable, credible and irreversible action against terrorism and terrorist funding emanating from all territory under its control remain unchanged," he said. Sheikh is one of three terrorists released by India in 1999 in exchange for nearly 150 passengers of a hijacked airliner. Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. Sheikh and his three aides Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib were convicted and sentenced in the abduction and murder of Pearl in Karachi in 2002. A three-judge bench of the apex court led by Justice Mushir Alam dismissed the Sindh government's appeal against the Sindh High Court's decision to overturn the conviction of Sheikh in the Pearl murder case. The beheading of the American journalist in 2002 had grabbed international headlines. Regional Arunachal: 5 NSCN rebels surrender in Longding GUWAHATI , JAN 28 (AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 1/28/2021 11:52:23 AM IST Five National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) cadres have surrendered before the security forces at Longding in Arunachal Pradesh, NE NOW report stated. Of the five surrendered militants, two belonged to NSCN (I-M) while three were from NSCN (K). The surrendered cadres were identified as Wangchen Wangsa (45) and Aaom Wangsu (24) of NSCN (I-M) and Chapha Panda (30), Jewang Wangsa (47) and Chaibo Panda (33) of NSCN (K). Security forces have managed to bring the five NSCN militants to surrender after months of relentless pursuit and concerted efforts said, an Indian Army official. The cadres surrendered before a joint team of Arunachal Pradesh Police and Assam Rifles. Longding SP Vikram Harimohan Meena and Deputy SP Banghang Tangjang were present when the militants laid down their arms. The surrendered cadres were engaged in extortion and collection of taxes, said the official. Aerospace company Boeing expects domestic air travel in India to reach pre-COVID levels this year, while international air traffic will reach the same in 2023. The recovery in air travel in India amidst the pandemic has been much speedier than in other markets, Boeing India President Salil Gupte said. "Our customers are cautiously optimistic about demand recovery." The imposition of a nationwide lockdown in late-March last year to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections had brought the aviation industry to a standstill. The government has since then allowed gradual resumption of flight services. The airlines are currently allowed to operate at 80 per cent of their capacity. Gupte said visits to friends and relatives will drive the growth in domestic traffic in India, while business travel is also expected to return back before other markets. Also read: Boeing reports Q4 loss worth $8.4 billion on weak plane demand "Passengers are returning to fly again. India has seen its air cargo market on narrow body aircraft explode during the pandemic with the carriage of vaccines and PPEs. Additionally, growth of e-commerce here is also contributing to the growth in air cargo market and this trend will continue," he said. On getting its 737 Max aircraft to fly again, Gupte said, the company is in talks with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and is providing the aviation regulator all the details required. Boeing's 737 Max aircraft were grounded across the world after two fatal air crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Earlier this week, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had cleared 737 Max aircraft to fly again. The Federal Aviation Administration of US had given the clearance to the aircraft for commercial operations in November last year. In India, SpiceJet has 13 such aircraft in its fleet. Also read: COVID-19 defers Boeing's plans to manufacture plane-parts in Karnataka The Union Budget 2021-22, which will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, may provide more information about plans for a wider bullet train network across the country. Earlier in December last year, the Railway Ministry had issued a long-term strategic National Rail Plan 2024 meant for development of infrastructural capacity and increase modal share of the Railways. It focused on development of high-speed railway infrastructure in the country. The ministry had said it is aiming to finalise the final plan by January 2021. The draft plan proposed an 8,000-kilometre-long high-speed rail network by 2051. This would include new bullet train corridors such as Varanasi-Patna, Amritsar-Jammu and Patna-Guwahati among others. Currently, India has just one bullet train project under construction which links Mumbai and Ahmedabad. However, the project is facing land acquisition issues, especially in Maharashtra. Thus, the bullet train may initially be made available only in Gujarat. Other corridors under consideration are Delhi-Varanasi via Ayodhya, Hyderabad-Bangalore and Mumbai-Nagpur. During the presentation of the last Union Budget, Finance Minister had said that the Centre will be actively pursuing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. Also, the countrys railways infrastructure is set for a massive revamp as it is likely to see its highest ever capital expenditure (capex) for 2021-22 in the upcoming Budget 2021. During the current financial year, the capex by the Indian Railways was pegged at Rs 161,042 crore, which is likely to grow in double-digits in 2021-22, if the finance ministry meets the Railway Boards expectation. The capital expenditure in Railways was vastly scaled up after 2014 (almost double the previous level) to address the accumulated backlog of infrastructure deficiency in the Railways, according to the government. As per the plan lined up by the Centre under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), the Railways sector is expected to see investment to the tune of Rs 11.43 lakh crore till 2024-25. Based on this roadmap, the sector was expected to see Rs 3.08 lakh crore in Fiscal Year 2022. Total capital expenditure between 2014-20 was Rs 6 lakh crore, which was more than double of total expenditure during 2009-14. The railways is expected to raise its market share in overall freight, from around 30 per cent now to 45 per cent in 2030. Currently, the Railways has taken up 498 Railway projects of 49,069 kilometre (km) length, costing Rs 6.75 lakh crore, which are in different stages of planning, sanction and execution. Out of this, 58 are considered as supercritical and 68 as critical projects. Besides, to increase the carrying capacity of passengers and ensure meeting the needs of the freight traffic, 247 doublings, 189 new lines, 522 traffic facilities and 55 gauge conversion works are sanctioned. Interestingly, the share of extra-budgetary resources had increased over the years. The share of capex contributed by the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) increased from 19 per cent of the total capex in 2014-15 to 48 per cent in 2019-20 and 70 per cent in 2020-21. Out of the total capex requirement of Rs 1.61 lakh crore for the year, IRFC is commissioned to lend Rs 1,13,567 crore. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 [January 28, 2021] Zendesk To Present At An Upcoming Investor Conference Zendesk, Inc. (NYSE:ZEN) today announced its participation in an upcoming investor conference. Elena Gomez, Chief Financial Officer, and Marc Cabi, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Finance & Analytics, will virtually present at Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference 2021 on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Zendesk's presentation is scheduled for 3:40 p.m., Eastern Time. A live webcast of this presentation will be accessible by visiting Zendesk's investor website at investor.zendesk.com. An archived version will be available for six months. About Zendesk > www.zendesk.com. Source (News - Alert) : Zendesk, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005106/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A tough test of the Morrison governments environment credentials looms after a major report on national conservation laws called for urgent reforms to prevent further extinction of Australias wildlife. Former competition watchdog Graeme Samuel handed down his final report from his review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act on Thursday afternoon and highlighted the situation facing the government. To shy away from the fundamental reforms recommended by this review is to accept the continued decline of our iconic places and the extinction of our most threatened plants, animals and ecosystems, he said in the reports introduction. Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen. Since colonisation about 100 of Australias unique flora and fauna species have been wiped off the planet. The rate of loss, as comprehensive as anywhere else on Earth, has not slowed in the past 200 years. Australia is presently embroiled in two major showdowns with superpowers. One is with China. The other is with Google and Facebook. And in the space of a week, weve glimpsed the implications of both. Google has threatened to pull out of Australia if the Morrison government proceeds with plans to force it to pay news outlets when it links to their content. And China (which has been conspicuously shutting the door on Australian businesses) has just upgraded its free-trade deal with New Zealand (which has been conspicuously shutting its mouth about Chinas behaviour). Security officers walk past a display of Australian wines and other agricultural products at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Credit:AP Plenty of smarter people than me seem to think that Googles threat wont be fulfilled. And while Chinas message to Australia from the New Zealand deal is clear, its possible Chinas current belligerence will be temporary as well. But lets take them at face value for a moment and consider a question: which superpowers threat would be a bigger problem for us? A precise answer isnt really the point. The point is that its even debatable. In fact its remarkable how closely the two scenarios mirror each other. During simultaneous celebrations of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day across the globe, Auschwitz survivors tell their stories online "so it doesn't happen again." Fox News reported that commemorations for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, declared by the United Nations every January 27, have moved online due to the pandemic. Notwithstanding the barriers, survivors of Auschwitz retell the horrors they have gone through as "words of caution." "We have to tell our stories so it doesn't happen again. It is unbelievable what we went through, and the whole world was silent as this was going on," Rose Schindler said in an interview with The Associated Press last Monday via Zoom. According to Fox News, Schindler is from Czechoslovakia and was transported to Auschwitz in 1944 where she was selected for immediate death in the gas chambers more than once yet escaped each time. She later moved to San Diego, California. She has been speaking about the horrors of her experience to school groups for 50 years now, and has written about it, along with her late husband's story, in a book entitled "Two Who Survived: Keeping Hope Alive While Surviving The Holocaust." The horrors she spoke of, as per Fox News, include the "the mass murder of her parents and four of her seven siblings, the hunger, being shaven, lice infestations." Schindler continues to tell her story via zoom because of the pandemic considering she is already 91 years old. Like Schindler, Tova Friedman shares her story as a "warning" against "the rise of hatred." Fox News said her story serves as a "sound alarm" against the increasing anti-Semitism and hatred in the world because "another tragedy may happen" if she doesn't. She cited seeing from some of the U.S. Capitol rioters of January wearing anti-Semitic messages such as "6MWE" that meant "6 million wasn't enough" and "Camp Auschwitz." "It was utterly shocking and I couldn't believe it. And I don't know what part of America feels like that. I hope it's a very small and isolated group and not a pervasive feeling," she said. The mob violence, as per Fox News, shocked her because she believes in "the essential goodness" of Americans and of America that she describes as a "country of freedom" and "a country that took" her in. She compared anti-Semitism to the coronavirus that if not stopped is "going to kill humanity." According to the website of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, which was a former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, over 1.1 million men, women, and children lost their lives there. Fox News revealed that the vast majority of those who died in the arms of German Nazis in Auschwitz under this 1.1 million registry were Jews while others were "Poles, Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war." While a total of six million European Jews from across Europe were killed by the Germans. During this year's commemoration celebrations, victims were honored in various ways beside the online celebrations conducted by several organizations and government entities. Fox News cited the COVID-19 vaccination given to hundreds of survivors in Austria and Slovakia as a "gesture both symbolic and truly lifesaving given the threat of the virus to older adults." Then there was the deal signed by Luxembourg "agreeing to pay reparations and to restitute dormant bank accounts, insurance policies and looted art to Holocaust survivors." BJD MPs to attend President's address in Parliament India pti-Madhuri Adnal Bhubaneswar, Jan 28: The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha Thursday said its MPs will attend the presidents address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, which commences its budget session on January 29. BJDs decision to attend the presidents address is being seen as a departure of the stand taken by the 16 opposition parties, including the Congress and TMC, which had decided not to attend it in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the farm legislations. President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on January 29. BJD will attend the presidents address and raise all issues in both houses of Parliament, BJD Rajya Sabha MP and its chief whip Sasmit Patra told PTI. The regional party, which is headed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has 12 MPs in Lok Sabha and nine members in the Rajya Sabha. BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik most popular CM in his own state: 'India Today survey BJDs decision to keep away from the opposition parties with regard to the boycott of the presidents address to protest against the farm laws could be due to its earlier stand to maintain equal distance from both BJP and the Congress, party insiders said. The BJD had, however, compromised its policy after forming the new government in 2019 when it supported a BJP candidate in a Rajya Sabha poll. But keeping in view the recent change of political equation with BJP, its former ally, the regional party may take a tough stand against the central government. The BJD MPs will take up several issues in both houses of Parliament, which may not be in favour of BJP and the central government, they said. BJD will demand more funds for railways, telecom infrastructure development, financial inclusion of banks and special category status for Odisha among others, they said. The BJP, which is the principal opposition in Odisha, has put the state government in trouble in several issues. "Therefore one may expect a change in BJDs stand in Parliament though the party has decided to attend the presidential address to the joint session", another party insider said. Not joining hands with the Congress or other opposition parties in Parliament could be a strategy by BJD to give a message that it was neither with the opposition nor the government, but is an independent force, he added. (JTA) On Jan. 27, 1969, nine Jews were hanged in Tahrir Square in the center of Baghdad as half a million people looked on. It was the climax of a campaign of persecution that followed the establishment of Israel, which in turn hastened an exodus of what had been a strong and flourishing community. Of the 160,000 Jews who had lived in what is today Iraq since the destruction of the First Temple, only a handful of Jews remain. When the Jews fled, they were not allowed to take anything more than three sets of clothing and 50 dinars a pittance. Their communal and personal property was confiscated by the Iraqi regime. ADVERTISEMENT For decades, the survivors and descendants of that community thought all records of their lives in that ancient land were lost. For the Basri family, leaving Iraq meant leaving behind not only our own personal belongings but a vast collection of material belonging to the Frank Iny School, the last Jewish school to operate in Iraq. Frank Iny was my grandfather, and his school was an island of security for Jews as the fires of anti-Semitism raged around them. School records, photos and more were lost, we thought forever. But now, this priceless collection is once more in danger of being lost forever. The Iraqi Jewish Archives chronicles the 2,700-year history of the Jews of Iraq a history that ended when the Iraqi Jewish community was forced to flee. The collection contains tens of thousands of items, including a 400-year-old Hebrew Bible, a 200-year-old Talmud, Torah scrolls, Torah cases and other sacred books including manuscripts by the Ben Ish Hai, the late 19th-century Baghdadi scholar, as well personal and communal records. Until Saddam Hussein was deposed, many Iraqi Jews were afraid to speak publicly about their heritage. Today, when we interviewed members of the community for our latest film, Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives, one woman we spoke to told us how the discovery of the archives strengthened her desire to protect the remnants of their past for future generations. We filmed other Iraqi Jews touring the archives and, for the first time in 50 years, seeing images of themselves and their records as young students at the Frank Iny School. Now, the historical record of this once flourishing community is in danger. The State Department plans to return it to Iraq in 2021. We are now in danger of losing the tangible proof of our very existence in Iraq. Only the Administration or U.S. State Department can prevent this from happening. If the Iraqi Jewish Archives are sent back to Iraq, it will be another step in the ethnic cleansing of Iraqi Jews. These agreements could have far-reaching consequences for all Judaica that had been saved from these countries and are now in use in synagogues or in museums and cultural centers in the United States. We commend the United States for saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives. But now, all that effort could be for naught. Due to the circumstances of the communitys flight from Iraq, there is very little documenting their history and the role they played for over two millennia in this part of the world. This archive is one of the only concrete links to that past and the reality of Jewish life in the land between the rivers. I remember that day in 1969 when nine Jews were murdered. My family had already come to the United States, but even here we were too concerned about the potential consequences for our family still in Iraq to raise our voices in protest. Instead, we drove by the protest at the U.N. silently. My uncle Meir Basri, the head of the Jewish community in Iraq at that time, was then being tortured, for three months, at the Terminal Palace, Qasar al Nehiya, by Saddam Hussein. During this same time, and at the same location, the Chief Rabbis son, Shaul Hakham Sassoon, was held and tortured for over a year. He was falsely accused of collusion with a spy ring. His elderly father was forced to publicly proclaim, through an interpreter, that the Jewish community was being treated well and had full freedoms even while his son was being tortured. We cant erase their pain, but we can preserve their memory. The Iraqi Jewish Archives are Jewish property stolen by the Government of Iraq. Returning the collection to Iraq is the very definition of the biblical rebuke by the Prophet Elijah in Kings 1: Have you murdered and also inherited? that is, seized anothers property. The United States must not be a party to this travesty. Carole Basri is the daughter of Iraqi Jewish Refugees; The Frank Iny School, the last Jewish school to operate in Baghdad, was built by her grandfather. Carole and Adriana Davis have made four films about the Jews of Iraq. Their latest, Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives: A Journey of Identity explores the significance of the archives and the struggle to keep it safe and accessible. Adriana Davis is a filmmaker. Together with Carole Basri, she has made four films about the Jews of Iraq. Their latest, Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives: A Journey of Identity explores the significance of the archives and the struggle to keep it safe and accessible. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTC: HMTXF) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that all follow-up visits of the subjects enrolled in the HS 12 -01 clinical trial will be completed by March 31, 2021. A total 65 subjects who were enrolled in the trial, randomized 2:1 to receive ACP-01 or a placebo, will have completed the last follow-up appointments by March 31, 2021. The Company will provide additional information once trial data has been analyzed. Warrant Amendments The Company announces it is applying to the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") for approval to amend the exercise price and expiration date of outstanding warrants (the "Warrants") previously issued in connection with non-brokered private placements which closed on March 5, 2020 and March 25, 2020 (the "Original Private Placements"). Subject to approval of the TSX-V, and the restrictions applicable to insiders described below, the Warrants of the Company that expire on March 5, 2021 and March 25, 2021 will be repriced to $0.55 each and the expiry date extended to March 5, 2023 and March 25, 2023. In accordance with TSX-V policies, the Warrants will also be amended to include an acceleration clause whereunder the exercise period of Warrants will be reduced to thirty (30) days, if, for any ten consecutive trading days during the unexpired term of the Warrants, the closing price of the Company's listed shares achieves or exceeds the price of 120% of the applicable exercise price. The 30-day expiry period commences on the day the Company either (i) disseminates a press release or (ii) sends a written notice to the holders of the Warrants, advising of the commencement of the exercise period. A total of 13,618,522 Warrants were issued to subscribers under the Original Private Placements, including 5,180,000 Warrants issued to certain directors and officers (the "Insiders") of the Company. In accordance with the polices of the TSX-V, only 1,361,852 Warrants held by the Insiders, representing 10% of the Warrants to be amended, will be repriced on a pro rata basis to $0.55 and the remainder of the Warrants held by the Insiders will remain exercisable at $1 per share and the expiry dates extended as described above. A portion of the Warrants are held by the Insiders considered to be "related parties" of the Company. Therefore, the amendment of Warrants constitutes a "related party transaction" as contemplated by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions, and TSX-V Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions. However, the exemptions from formal valuation and minority approval requirements provided for by these guidelines can be relied upon as the fair market value of the Warrants does not exceeds 25% of the market capitalization of the Company. A material change report in respect of this related party transaction will be filed by the Company. The Company believes that the repricing of the Warrants is reasonable and necessary in the context of the market, as it increases the likelihood that the Company will be financed through the exercise of the Warrants. ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX Hemostemix is a publicly traded autologous stem cell therapy company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company developed and is commercializing its lead product ACP-01 for the treatment of CLI, PAD, Angina, Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions of ischemia. ACP-01 has been used to treat over 300 patients, and it is the subject of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial of its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced critical limb ischemia who have exhausted all other options to save their limb from amputation. On October 21, 2019, the Company announced the results from its Phase II CLI trial abstract presentation entitled "Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for CLI Patients with No Revascularization Options: An Update of the Hemostemix ACP-01 Trial With 4.5 Year Follow-up" which noted healing of ulcers and resolution of ischemic rest pain occurred in 83% of patients, with outcomes maintained for up to 4.5 years. The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families titled: Regulating Stem Cells, In Vitro Techniques for use with Stem Cells, Production from Blood of Cells of Neural Lineage, and Automated Cell Therapy. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com. For further information, please contact: Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Co-Founder Suite 1150, 707 - 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H6 Phone: 905-580-4170 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to the clinical trial of ACP-01. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of Hemostemix and its common shares; the successful resolution of the litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the results of ACP-01 research, trials studies and analysis, including the midpoint analysis, being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies as well as management's expectations of anticipated results; Hemostemix's general and administrative costs remaining constant; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and Hemostemix obtaining satisfactory financing to fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and the Litigation. 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 Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete its current CLI clinical trial, complete a satisfactory futility analysis and the results of such and future clinical trials; litigation and potential litigation that Hemostemix may face; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression; the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Hemostemix 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. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix 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 expressly required by applicable securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73066 Half of all passengers arriving into Ireland on one day this week were returning from holiday destinations, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. Speaking to the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, the Taoiseach said 800 people travelled into the country on Tuesday and 397 of them were returning from holidays. Mr Martin also noted that 542 of the travellers recorded were Irish citizens. The Government is planning a new 500 fine for people who breach travel restrictions by making non-essential journeys abroad. Read More As fears grow about variant strains of Covid-19, in addition to cancelling visa-free travel from Brazil and South Africa, tonight it has emerged that visa-free travel is being cancelled for people travelling from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay as of midnight. The Taoiseachs remarks came as he detailed the Governments plan to introduce mandatory quarantine for people travelling into Ireland from certain countries. Passengers from Brazil and South Africa will face two weeks of quarantine on arrival once the new system is established. However, the Taoiseach told the meeting he expects other countries will be added to the quarantine list. He said the new regulations will involve mandatory quarantine in hotels and in homes. He said legislation on new travel restrictions and penalties for breaches of the rules are being drafted. Mr Martin also said there will be increased Garda check points at port and airports Separately, he said half of all health workers received the vaccine and the rest are being prioritised. He said under the National Vaccination Plan the over-70s are next on the list to be vaccinated. The Fianna Fail leader said he expected the vaccine programme to pick up from April onwards. He also said the country will reopen in time but the Government is focused on suppressing the virus and ensuring a critical mass of the population is vaccinated before they consider any major easing of restrictions. He said there has been a decline in the spread of the virus but insisted more suppression was needed to ease the pressure on health service workers, especially those working in hospitals and nursing homes. VANCOUVER - A government-commissioned panel has rejected the idea of introducing a basic income for all in British Columbia, saying the billions of dollars would be better spent patching holes in the social safety net. British Columbia's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. A government-commissioned panel is recommending against the introduction of a basic income for all in British Columbia.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld VANCOUVER - A government-commissioned panel has rejected the idea of introducing a basic income for all in British Columbia, saying the billions of dollars would be better spent patching holes in the social safety net. The panel's report, co-authored by academics at the University of B.C., Simon Fraser University and the University of Calgary, said a basic income is not the cure-all that some advocates believe. The 500-page report released Thursday says there are far more effective ways of helping people, and that its recommendations would help B.C. be a more "just society." David Green, the panel's chair and a professor at the Vancouver School of Economics at UBC, said a basic income project is also not as simple as many believe. "If we want to address poverty, what simpler way (is there) to proceed than to send everybody a cheque that is equivalent to the poverty line?" he said. "The problem is when you get close to it and you ask, 'How would I actually implement that?'" Many Canadians don't file taxes or aren't known to the tax system, and a basic income program needs a system that can track people down to ensure they're receiving the proper amounts, Green said. The report says conducting a pilot project for a basic income would not provide useful information and raises ethical concerns. "A basic income would not be the panacea that some advocates believe, with many of the claims about the social issues that a basic income would address unlikely to be true in practice or at least, it is unclear that a basic income would be the best way to address the issues, if justice is the objective," the report says. The report says a more successful strategy would be to reform current policies and programs, while providing targeted basic income for youth aging out of care, women fleeing domestic violence and those with disabilities. "The top one would be the youth aging out of care. This is a group of great concern and movement could be made on that in every bit as short a time frame as implementing a pilot (project)," Green said. Improving disability supports could also be done with the sweep of a pen, Green added. If B.C. adopted the most straightforward form of basic income, where those living at the poverty line are sent a cheque, Green said it would cost the government $52 billion. That would double B.C.'s budget and would be less cost-effective than implementing the panel's recommendations estimated at $3.3 billion to $3.5 billion, he said. The report makes 65 recommendations ranging from extended health supplements to adjusting tax system-delivered benefits, such as aiming B.C.'s child opportunity benefit toward families with children living in poverty. "We have some hope that some of these will be implemented," Green said. The panel's report says that many of the proposals it makes would be needed even if a basic income program were adopted. Nicholas Simons, the minister of social development and poverty reduction, said in a statement that his government is reviewing the report. "The panel has recommended changes to B.C.s existing social supports and services to address the complex needs and unique circumstances of individuals and families instead of pursuing a basic income model or pilot," he said. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how important a strong social safety net is to protect people and the economy." The B.C. government commissioned the panel in July 2018 to examine the issue as part of the New Democrats' minority government confidence and supply agreement with B.C.'s Green party. Green party Leader Sonia Furstenau called on the provincial government to implement the panel's recommendations in the upcoming budget. "These reforms are necessary steps that can be taken immediately towards the goal of establishing a society where no one is left behind, and where everyone has their basic needs met," she said in a statement. Floyd Marinescu, the founder of UBI Works, a universal basic income advocacy group, said the report frames the debate in what he called an "old school" view. "We take the position a basic income is about much more than reducing poverty, it's also about economic reform," he said in an interview. A basic income would lead to economic reforms that could reduce poverty, he said. "We see basic income in the context of this massive disruption in how our economy works and as a solution to ensure that particularly the bottom half of earners ... are getting their share of an economy that is growing without them." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2021. Two South Carolina residents are the first Americans with the South African 'super covid' variant that may make vaccines less effective, state health department officials confirmed on Thursday. Neither person has a 'known' recent history of travel and they have no evident connection to one another, as far as health officials can tell. That's a worrying signal that the 50 percent more infectious variant has already been spreading silently in South Carolina, if not the broader US. Dr Anthony Fauci said that he is more concerned about the South African variant than about the UK's B117 'super-covid' because South African form has mutations that might render vaccines less effective. Both Moderna and Pfizer said this week that preliminary lab tests suggest their vaccines are 'protective' against the variant, but it does diminish the effectiveness of their shots. Each company has said it is developing booster shots to improve the potency of their vaccines against variants, including South Africa's. It's the second new variant reported in the US this week, after Minnesota confirmed the first American case of the P1 variant from Brazil. Variants from South Africa and Brazil contain similar mutations that may help them escape antibodies from vaccines, but the Brazilian form brings an additional worry. In the Amazon city of Manaus, people who should have been protected from reinfection are getting second bouts of COVID-19 as the highly infectious variant takes off and overwhelmed hospital there. All three of the international 'variants of concern' - from the UK (pink and red states), Brazil (fuschia spiky ball), and South Africa (purple spiky ball) - are now in the US, as well as at least four homegrown variants (other spiky balls) Dr Anthony Fauci called the South African variant 'more concerning' than others last week, before he or other US officials were aware of any US cases The South African variant has a mutation in its spike protein (circled in yellow) that makes it more contagious, capable of reinfection and potentially more immune to vaccines. Two people in South Carolina are the first US cases but, because they have not traveled recently and have no evident link, the variant may already be spreading in the US 'The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over,' said Dr Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. 'While more COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together.' One person lives in the state's easternmost 'Pee Dee' region, while the other is a resident of the 'Lowcountry' region to the south. The two are both adults, but the state health department said that it will not release any further details of their identities to protect their privacy. Neither person had a history of travel that the South Carolina health department was aware of, raising concerns that there are more cases in the US, and the variant has already been imported and begun spreading. The US has stumbled on its race to vaccinate Americans against COVID-19 - but early research suggests neither shot available in the US will be as effective against the South African variant as they are against older 'wild-type' coronavirus forms circulating in the US It comes just a day after White House officials assured Americans that the variant had not been detected in the US. However, Dr Fauci admitted last week that the US has not been doing enough of the kind of genetic testing that detects new variants of COVID-19. 'The level of sequence surveillance is not at the level we would like it to be, but given the information we have today, it doesn't appear that it's here,' Dr Fauci said last Thursday from the White House. Exactly a week later, the variant is here, and although the CDC is ramping up surveillance, it appears its arrival from abroad was missed. More than 30 countries, including the UK, where there are at least 77 cases - have reported cases of the variant, which emerged in South Africa at the end of 2020. The South African variant is 'a little bit more concerning but not something that we dont think we can handle,' Dr Fauci said last week. Like the UK variant that is more than half of states, the South African variant of coronavirus - known by scientists as 501Y - is thought to be more infectious than original coronavirus. In addition to being about 70 percent more infectious, the UK variant may be 30 to 40 percent deadlier, preliminary data from the UK suggests. A person in New Jersey became the first person in the US to die of that variant, officials there said Thursday. CDC warned that the UK's B117 variant could become dominant by March, triggering another surge in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. But the South African variant also has mutations that might make vaccines less effective against it, a dangerous trait not seen in the UK's B117 variant. The varint that emerged in Brazil has also shown signs of making vaccines less effective. The first US case of the Brazilian variant was reported this week as well, in a Minnesotan who had recently traveled there. That's because they have mutations that may prevent antibodies that vaccines trigger from latching onto them and preventing them from infecting human cells. 'The South African and Brazilian variants are having this effect on the monoclonal antibodies' in lab tests, Dr Fauci said during his first White House press briefing last week. 'The real question is what is their impact on the vaccine? 'We have to pay attention...[because] what they're likely seeing is a diminution more with the South African variant than the UK variant in what would be the efficacy in the vaccine-induced antibody.' On Wednesday, Dr Fauci said that the world could soon have clearer picture of how well Johnson & Johnson's vaccine works against the variant, because the firm is testing it's one-dose shot in South Africa. Moderna and Pfizer have already conducted studies that give early indicators of how well their vaccines might work against the variant. On Tuesday, Moderna reported that its vaccine is still 'protective' against both the UK and South African 'super-covid' variants. But in the lab, antibodies triggered by the vaccine were six times less potent against the infectious 'spike' protein on the South African variant's surface. That doesn't mean that the vaccine won't work - its potency is still well above the level scientists think prevents the virus from causing illness - but it might mean protection fades faster. Moderna said it has already developed a booster shot to improve the shot's efficacy against the variant and is moving the altered additional vaccine to preclinical trials. Pfizer announced Thursday that its shot, too, is protective against the South African variant, but in similar lab tests its potency is reduced by two-fold. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Wednesday the firm will also develop booster shots in an effort to better combat variants, although he did not specify if there was one in development for the South African variant, or what stage of development it might be in. In the meantime, public health guidance is the same: wear masks, maintain distance, avoid gatherings and get the vaccine, even if it might not be as effective against new variants. The CDC also reminded Americans that any international travelers coming to the US must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test. President Biden also added South Africa to the list of countries from which travel is banned altogether (which also includes Brazil and the UK), in an effort to prevent more seeding of new coronavirus variants. The battle between small-time traders and hedge funds that has shaken U.S. and European stock markets moved into Asia on Thursday, with surges in several Australian companies joining a list of social-media hyped moves that have cost financial institutions billions of dollars. Heavily shorted Australian shares, including Webjet and Tassal Group, climbed more than 5% even as Sydneys benchmark ASX 200 index fell 2%. In New York, GameStop, the video game chain at the heart of the slugfest between Wall Street and Main Street, added another 37% in early trading after a two-week, 1,700% surge that has hammered fund investors who were betting the stock would fall. Driven by an army of individual traders who work through online brokerage apps like Robinhood.com and discuss stocks on anonymous social media messaging boards, the dramatic jump in the stock price of companies including GameStop, BlackBerry Ltd and AMC Corp drew more calls for regulatory scrutiny from commentators. The frenzy raises all sorts of questions with respect to possible market manipulation," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at retail broker CMC Markets UK. It is already illegal for institutions to coordinate in the manner currently being seen in moving prices on these stocks, raising questions about the legality of what is currently taking place right now on these forums." The short squeeze - where traders have to abandon loss-making short" bets on a stock falling because it has instead risen - also fueled a 2% slide in the benchmark S&P 500 on Wednesday as investors sold other assets to cover their losses. Futures tracking the main New York index were down another 0.6% on Thursday. Retail trading frenzy, reflation trade drive smallcap stocks higher https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/nmopaooozpa/Pasted%20image%201611834967884.png Reddit discussion threads were again humming with chatter about the stocks on Thursday as membership of the trader-focused group WallStreetBets raced past 4 million. In one discussion, thousands of participants responded We love this stock" to a post that called for more buying of GameStop and cast retail traders as Iron Man against a hedge fund Thanos in a nod to the superhero movie Avengers: Endgame". BlackBerry and Nokia, however, slipped more than 5% in premarket trading after recording hefty gains this week and derivatives positioning pointed to a greater rise in the number of orders betting GameStop would fall. The idea that this is about hedge fund short-sellers transferring funds to a mass of ordinary retail buyers is a compelling story," said Paul Donovan, chief economist of UBS Global Wealth Management. But it is also a story that is unlikely to hold true beyond the brief period of the frenzy." GAME ON The war began last week when famed short seller Andrew Left of Citron Capital bet against GameStop and was met with a barrage of retail traders betting the other way. He said on Wednesday he had abandoned the bet. Regarded by market professionals as dumb money", the pack of traders, some of them former bankers working for themselves, have become an increasingly powerful force worth 20% of equity orders last year, data from Swiss bank UBS showed. The only-way-is-up nature of stock markets over the past decade, fueled by a constant flow of newly created money from major central banks, has also made it less risky to bet on shares rising. The U.S. Federal Reserve kept those taps firmly open at its latest meeting on Wednesday. This weeks turmoil caught the attention of the White House, with President Joe Bidens economic team - including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on her first full day on the job on Wednesday - monitoring the situation." Massachusetts state regulator William Galvin called on NYSE to suspend trading in GameStop for 30 days to allow a cooling-off period. The prospect of intervention here is clearly high, but this will just galvanize the (WallStreetBets) community as it just brings home the feeling of inequality in financial markets," said Chris Weston, head of research at broker Pepperstone in Melbourne. Its fine to prop up zombie companies through Fed actions but if retail follows a path that greatly distorts asset prices by targeting short sellers, then this gets shut down." Reddit said on Wednesday that it had not been contacted by authorities over the surges. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 17:56:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China kicked off its largest annual travel season Thursday, with far fewer passenger trips expected amid stringent epidemic control measures. -- To reduce the flow of personnel and curb the spread of the epidemic, many places across China have encouraged residents and migrant workers to stay put to celebrate the festival. -- Apart from advocating off-peak travel, China has underscored measures including controlling passenger numbers on public transport and conducting regular nucleic acid tests and vaccinations among frontline workers in the sector. by Xinhua writers Wang Haiyue, Lyu Qiuping BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China kicked off its largest annual travel season Thursday, with far fewer passenger trips expected amid stringent epidemic control measures. In the 40-day travel season, also known as chunyun, many people will travel to reunite with their families for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year. Following the resurgence of sporadic COVID-19 cases and restrictive measures taken to reduce people's movement nationwide, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. on Wednesday reconfirmed its adjusted forecast for railway passenger trips during this year's travel season, down from 407 million to 296 million. Passengers observe social distancing while waiting to check in at the Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 54 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 41 locally transmitted ones, the National Health Commission (NHC) said Thursday. STAY PUT To reduce the flow of personnel and curb the spread of the epidemic, many places across China have encouraged residents and migrant workers to stay put to celebrate the festival. Miao Biao, a migrant worker in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, said it would be his first time in 11 years to spend the holiday in Hefei instead of his hometown in the city of Fuyang. "My parents have bought red couplets and lanterns as festival decorations. We've decided to video chat with our relatives and distribute digital lucky money via WeChat," said Miao, 30. According to the appliance maker Whirlpool China, where Miao works, about one-fourth of its 2,600 workers have chosen not to return to their hometown during the holiday. The company will grant them cash rewards, holiday gifts as well as a three-day vacation for a home visit in April, while also reimbursing their travel expenses, said Lu Tao, vice president of human resources for Whirlpool China. Many local authorities and companies have rolled out measures to provide better benefits to those staying put. Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, has launched a plan to distribute 1,000 yuan to each migrant worker who chooses to stay in the city. Migrant workers who remain in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, can enjoy free visits to over 10 major local tourist attractions during the holiday. STAGGERED TRAVEL While workers like Miao have chosen to stay where they are, some others have arrived home early to avoid the peak period for travel. Armed with a negative COVID-19 test result, Zhang Baosheng, who works in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, boarded a high-speed train bound for his home in the rural area of Anhui Province in mid-January. "I registered my information in the town as soon as I went back and have quarantined myself at home for seven days," said Zhang. According to the NHC, people must produce a negative result on a COVID-19 test taken within seven days before returning to rural areas for family reunions. Such travelers then need to monitor their health for 14 days at home, taking their body temperature and guarding against any symptom of COVID-19. "For the safety of my family and folks, I think these requirements are reasonable and I support it," Zhang told Xinhua over the phone. A staff member teaches a child the correct way of washing hands on the train G7258 from Hefei of east China's Anhui Province to Shanghai, Jan. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) Chinese universities are also urged to adjust their winter holiday arrangements and teaching plans per local virus containment orders and avoid starting the spring semester during the Spring Festival travel season. Postgraduate Li Shenxiao arrived home in the city of Huainan, Anhui Province, earlier this month from the Wuhan University of Technology in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. "My winter vacation started about 15 days earlier than last year, so I didn't need to scramble for a ticket like before," said Li, 26. STRINGENT EPIDEMIC CONTROL Apart from advocating off-peak travel, China has underscored measures including controlling passenger numbers on public transport and conducting regular nucleic acid tests and vaccinations among frontline workers in the sector. According to a plan unveiled by the State Council to reduce mass gatherings and enhance epidemic prevention and control during the travel season, local government agencies working in epidemic prevention and control are required to carry out weekly nucleic acid tests for those working on the front lines during the travel season. These workers must also be given priority access to COVID-19 vaccines. Data from the NHC showed that a total of 22.77 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in China by Tuesday with frontline workers prioritized, including those in aviation and other public transport sectors. Modern technologies including non-contact facilities and robots have also come to the fore. A disinfection and temperature-checking robot patrols to disinfect the waiting hall of the Shenyang North Railway Station in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Qing) At Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, large robots are deployed to enhance the efficiency of disinfection and cleaning. An all-in-one machine for contact-free temperature screening and security checks has been put in use at Hefei South Railway Station this year for the first time. "Passengers only need to walk through and stand still for two seconds to complete the security check and temperature screening," said Liu Huaitao, market manager of Brainware Terahertz Information Technology Co., Ltd., developer of the machine. A passenger goes through a machine having the function of both temperature check and security check at the Hefei South Railway Station in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) At Beijing Daxing International Airport, the disinfection frequency of public contact facilities has increased and environmental sampling and testing will be conducted weekly amid the travel season, with all employees taking nucleic acid tests. "Facing the severe and complicated epidemic situation at home and abroad, we will fully implement the prevention and control measures to ensure passengers' safety," said Zhao Ying, deputy general manager of Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd. Enditem (Xinhua correspondents Ma Shurui, Xie Hao, Zhang Zhaoqing, Hu Wenjia, Ding Jing, Zhang Manzi, Qiang Lijing, Wang Siyuan and Yin Xiaosheng contributed to the story. Video reporter: Bai Bin, Tian Chenxu, Wang Xiunan; Video editor: Zhang Yucheng, Liu Yuting) [January 28, 2021] Solo.io Reports Continued Company Growth, 300 Percent Increase in New Customers and Exponential Cloud Native Community Reach CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solo.io , the modern API infrastructure company delivering application networking from the edge to service mesh, today announced strong company growth, expanded customer bookings and continual contributions to the cloud native community at the beginning of 2021. The latest numbers come after the company announced a $23 million Series B round of financing and its re-organized, rebranded Gloo API Infrastructure Platform suite and product portfolio at the end of last year. Solo.io has consistently worked to build products that help enterprises modernize their applications with innovative cloud native technologies such as service mesh and WebAssembly, said Idit Levine, founder and CEO, Solo.io. Weve worked to not only set the industry cloud-native technology agenda, but to stay one step ahead of customer demand for tools that help enterprises adopt, secure and operate modern application networks -- and to make our solution accessible to more companies. As we enter 2021, were seeing our efforts pay off with a significant surge in customer and bookings growth. Meanwhile, Solo.io continues its company growth trajectory, with a 76 percent year-over-year growth in our employee count. Significant Company Growth, Expanded Customer Roster Solo.ios recent company and customer-related growth includes: 550+ percent bookings growth 125 percent net dollar growth in renewals 300+ percent increase in new customers signed New customers include five new Fortune 100 businesses and two of the top five telecommunications companies Continual Product Development and Evolution Solo.io continues to innovate its product offerings, delivering a holistic service connectivity solution with its unified, simplified Gloo API Infrastructure Platform. Gloo, a next generation API gateway, glues together different clusters, service meshes and clouds for consistent configuration, unified management and security. The recently rebranded Gloo API Infrastructure Platform suite includes: Gloo Mesh (previously Service Mesh Hub), single and multi-cluster service mesh management plane (previously Service Mesh Hub), single and multi-cluster service mesh management plane Gloo Edge (previously Gloo), a next-generation API gateway and ingress controller built with Envoy Proxy (previously Gloo), a next-generation API gateway and ingress controller built with Envoy Proxy Gloo Portal (previously Developer Portal), a developer portal to catalog and consume running application APIs Solo.io also unveiled Gloo Mesh Enterprise, which includes all the functionality of Gloo Mesh Open Source, with additional capabilities for enterprise scale, security and observability. Cloud Native Community Innovation Solo.io has spearheaded cloud native community innovation with: Extended and improved Developer experience for WebAssembly for Envoy Proxy WebAssembly module image specification to drive industry-wide collaboration and standardization to drive industry-wide collaboration and standardization Several open source contributions to Envoy, Istio, Flagger and other projects In addition to delivering first-to-market product offerings and an industry specification, Solo.io has also noted: 250+ percent year-over-year increase in Slack users 70+ contributors to Gloo since 2019 The partnership we've built with Solo.io over the last year has been hugely beneficial, said Joe Searcy, technical staff member, T-Mobile U.S. platform engineering team. In addition to their products enabling us to continue our cloud native journey at a high velocity, their leadership and expertise within the open source community has streamlined the effort to implement needed enhancements to upstream projects like Envoy and Istio, saving us a ton of engineering hours. Introducing SoloCon 2021 Solo.io will mark the debut of SoloCon Digital Experience 2021, an engaging, interactive event featuring industry speakers, informative sessions and hands-on workshops. Featured topic areas include service mesh management (Istio, app mesh), WebAssembly (Wasm) and cloud-native API management. Learn more about SoloCon, set for March 23-25, 2021, here: https://www.solo.io/solocon/ Resources Solo.io Website Solo.io on Twitter Solo.io on LinkedIn About Solo.io Solo.io, the modern service connectivity company, delivers API infrastructure from the edge to service mesh, helping enterprises adopt, secure, and operate innovative cloud native technologies. APIs drive microservices and cloud native technologies, forming the foundation for developers, partners and customers to interact with application services quickly, effectively, and securely. Solo.io brings developer and operations tooling to manage and federate security and traffic control and tie together the integration points to enable and observe the application network. Founded in 2017 in Cambridge, MA, Solo.io is backed by Redpoint Ventures and True Ventures. For more information, visit https://www.solo.io/ or follow @soloio_inc. Media Contact Danielle Salvato-Earl Offleash PR for Solo.io solo@offleashpr.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement A furious row today erupted between Buckingham Palace and the BBC over the leak on YouTube of a 1969 fly-on-the wall documentary about the royal family, famously banned by the Queen from ever being shown again. In 1972, Her Majesty ordered the BBC's documentary, Royal Family, which featured her calling the US ambassador 'a gorilla', scenes of the monarch having breakfast from Tupperware containers and shirtless Prince Charles on a jetski, to be locked away and not aired again because it 'cheapens the royal family'. The original documentary has remained under lock and key since, and although there has been some debate over who owns the copyright, the Queen's former press secretary insists it is retained by the BBC, with researchers having to pay to view it at BBC HQ, only after getting permission from Buckingham Palace first. However, weeks ago the full 110-minute programme leaked on YouTube, with thousands of people watching footage of the documentary, the making of which featured in series three of The Crown. 'This is a matter for the BBC. We always exercise our copyright where we can.From time to time, things pop up on the internet that should not be there. We will assume it's going to be taken down,' a royal source told the Telegraph. Buckingham Palace referred FEMAIL to the BBC where a spokesperson refused to comment, however the video appears to now have been removed from YouTube. The Queen's former Press Secretary Dickie Arbiter told MailOnline: The palace will have a version of it, they have one from every broadcaster as theyre sent down and they're securely locked up, but how this one got out is for the BBC to sort out. Somebody obviously nicked it from the BBC - it was a BBC documentary done with the corporation of the Royal Family, and it's BBC copyright. They made it, their equipment, their people, Antony Jays script, so it was their copyright. But how it got out, that's something they'll have to find out.' A 1969 documentary about the royal family which was famously banned by the Queen from ever being shown after its initial airing has reappeared on YouTube. Pictured, Prince Charles and Princess Anne at dinner with The Queen and Prince Philip in the documentary In The Crown, Ms Colman, centre as the Queen, Marion Bailey as the Queen Mother, left, and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, right, sit down to watch the documentary Gogglebox style Prince Charles, holding a cello instrument, pictured together with his younger brother Prince Edward (right) during filming of the television documentary 'Royal Family' in London in 1969 A BBC source added to The Telegraph: 'We will approach YouTube to have it removed. We always exercise our copyright where we can. However, it is notoriously difficult to chase these things down on YouTube once they are out there. Anybody can download it and you just end up chasing your tail.' Meanwhile, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams added to FEMAIL: 'The reappearance of this unique documentary which was received with such fascination, but continues to languish in royal disfavour, illustrates how easily the unexpected can happen in an age dominated by social media. It seems unclear who was responsible but the royal response has been very clear. 'It is strange indeed that this film, which was watched by so many and was also so widely admired, is now locked away again as it has been taken down. Only occasion clips have since been shown. 'It was undoubtedly made in contravention of Walter Bagehots famous maxim dont let daylight in on magic and the Queen subsequently felt it had gone too far. 'However for it to reappear now is extremely curious, as the episode of The Crown in which it features, in Season 3, claimed it has had been a disaster and had appalling reviews. This was yet another example of how the series distorted history. 'Apparently 400 million people saw it in 130 different countries. The public loved it. So it remains a unique example of how vast the interest in a fly on the wall documentary on royal life can be, but also a reminder that, when you are royal, it can be wise to keep the cameras at a distance. I thought it was fascinating and showing it would have been a welcome antidote to some of the manipulative and distorted fiction Peter Morgan has invented in The Crown. 'This also boasts a vast audience though, not yet on the scale of those who once watched this. Such is the allure of monarchy.' The video appears to have been uploaded to YouTube by by a new account in the name of Philip Strangeways, a reference to a mystery organisation called HM Government Public Service Films. The Queen and Prince Philip are shown decorating the Christmas tree in the 1969 documentary A YouTube spokesperson told FEMAIL: 'This video has been removed due to a copyright claim. YouTube has copyright and content management tools to give rights holders control of their content on YouTube. When a copyright claim is filed we remove the content immediately, as is the case with this upload.' The documentary was viewed by 45million people when first broadcast, ahead of Prince Charles' investiture, and was initially created to help the Windsors connect with their subjects. The film was a British phenomenon, watched over two weekends to rave reviews in June 1969, but was last shown three years later after Buckingham Palace feared it 'let the magic out' about the royals. MailOnline previously unearthed three rare clips from the real thing where the Queen makes Prince Philip and Prince Charles roar with laughter as she describes the US Ambassador as a 'gorilla'. Sparking hilarity over a cup of tea, she said: 'It's extremely difficult to keep a straight face when the Home Secretary said to me: "There's a gorilla coming in".' 'So I said: "What an extraordinary remark to make about someone - very unkind". I stood in the middle of the room and pressed the bell and the doors opened and there was a gorilla. He had a short body and long arms - I had the most appalling trouble [not laughing]'. The Home Secretary in 1969 was James Callaghan and the US Ambassador to the UK was Walter Annenberg - but it is not known if she was talking about those two men. It could be Annenberg's predecessor David K. E. Bruce, sent to London by John F Kennedy in 1961. Annenberg features in one scene making small talk with Elizabeth: 'We're in the embassy residence, subject, of course, to some of the discomfiture as the result of a need for elements of refurbishing rehabilitation.' Although it is not clear if he is the 'gorilla' she is referring to. The Queen regales an anecdote with Charles and Prince Philip (out of picture) where she admits the US Ambassador looked like a gorilla In one scene, the Queen makes Prince Charles laugh by referring to the US Ambassador to the UK as a 'gorilla'. It's believed she may have been referring to Walter Annenberg, pictured here in 1969 with his family The family were also seen meeting President Nixon, with the Queen commenting: 'World problems are so complex, aren't they now?' In another scene five-year-old Prince Edward was taken to the shops with his mother to buy an ice cream - a scene that smashed the falsehood that she never carries cash by paying with coins from her purse. Her Majesty then giggled as her youngest son climbed into her car, making a mess on the seat with his lolly. In the final scene the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne were filmed having a barbecue where the Duke of Edinburgh grilled some sausages while his wife unpacked the plates and cutlery with the heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales. During the scene, the Queen poked her little finger into the salad dressing, grimaced, and said: Oh, too oily. After adding more vinegar, she walked over to her husband and announced: Well, the salad is finished. Philip, gazing at his undercooked meat, responded brusquely: Well done. This, as you will observe, is not. Philips use of the F-word in relation to the Queens corgis was edited out, but not his comments on his father-in-law, King George VI, now highly pertinent in the light of the acclaim accorded to the film, The Kings Speech. He had very odd habits, said Philip. Sometimes I thought he was mad.' He described George VI, wearing on his head the full bearskin he used on parade at Trooping the Colour, hacking away savagely with a pruning knife in the royal gardens, and uttering, from the depth of a rhododendron bush the most incredible explosion of obscene language. In another scene, the Duke of Edinburgh asks a war veteran is a tie for 'alcoholics anonymous'. Prince Charles, then only 21, also featured heavily in the film pursuing sports such as cycling, water-skiing, and fishing. The outdoorsy side to the royal family was further emphasised, with the Queen feeding her horses carrots after Trooping the Colour. The family are also seen meeting President Nixon, with the Queen commenting: 'World problems are so complex, aren't they now?' The documentary also showed more mundane details of daily life, such as how the family had lunch, at 1pm, with food being pushed on a trolley from the Buckingham Palace basement through more than '200 yards of corridors' and then up in a lift two floors to the Queen's residence. Her Majesty was also seen discussing outfits, and called a Timur ruby necklace 'fascinating'. 'I think really, one should get a dress designed especially so that one could wear it,' she told her dresser. Prince Philip also accompanied the Queen on the royal train in several scenes, with the couple reading newspapers and discussing their lack of fluency in Portuguese. The was a gale of laughter around the table led by Prince Philip who loved the joke by his wif The Queen and Prince Philip fly back from a visit to Yorkshire in an Andover of the Queen's Flight, in a photo taken during the filming of the joint ITV-BBC film documentary The Royal Family, 1969 How was Royal Family commissioned The commission of the documentary, filmed over a year, was given to Richard Cawston, a BBC producer with no previous experience of working with royals. But he quickly encountered trouble being able to film around the royal family, with Philip shouting at him 'Get away from the Queen with you bloody cameras,' during a Balmoral barbecue. The Firm also initially struggled to allow unscripted conversations to be recorded. A few months into filming, Cawston found the film to be unworkable, and devised a plan to film a chronological diary of the family's year. One former courtier, who had a walk-in part, previously told The Independent: 'We were saying, "Hey fellers, this is the Queen". This is a year in the life of the Queen. And it isn't all gilt coaches and Rolls-Royces, balls and banquets and champagne. It's bloody hard work, and this film reveals what sort of hard work it is.' The final cut was narrated by Micheal Flanders, one part, a long tracking shot of a carriage procession at Windsor, discusses the power of constitutional monarchy. 'This is not the panoply of power,' the commentary says. 'But while the Queen occupies the highest office of state, no one else can. While she is head of the law, no politician can take over the courts. While she is head of state, no generals can take over the government . . . Monarchy does not lie in the power it gives to the sovereign, but in the power it denies to anyone else.' The family were largely happy with the final cut, however Philip asked if a scene showing a young Prince Edward about to cry after the string on Charles's cello had accidentally snapped in the little boy's face, could be cut, but Elizabeth said the scene could stay. The audience was so big that the Metropolitan Water Board reported a dramatic loss of water during the advert break as so many people had used the lavatory. Advertisement One scene of the documentary shows Elizabeth rejecting a speech her Private Secretary has drafted and complaining: 'There's too much, you know, history.' In another, Margaret meets the 1968 British Olympic team and asks them where they train. The idea for the documentary came from the Palaces new royal press secretary William Heseltine, rather than the Duke of Edinburgh, as the Netflix show claims. Heseltine wanted to encourage public support for a monarchy that was increasingly seen as out-of-touch. The programme was met with praise and proved so popular that it was aired again that same year and once more in 1972. It hasn't been broadcast in full since, but short clips from the documentary were made available as part of an exhibition for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012. The Queen's former Press Secretary, Dickie Arbiter, told MailOnline that the monarch is right to have withdrawn the documetary from public view for so many years. The feeling at the time quite frankly was that it was made in 1969, it was shown on both BBC and ITV and the thinking behind it at the time was no one really knew what the Royal Family did off or on duty, and it was really a portrait to show how they work, why they do it, when they do it, and the sort of things they do when they're off duty,' he said. But it was felt after that that having done it, that was it as far as the Queen was concerned and the Royal Family were concerned. There was no need to expand on it further. It had been seen, in the marketplace, everyone knew what the Royal Family did. Subsequently we've had numerous documentaries about the Queen and her work. 'There are some who thought it was not a good idea at the time, but the reasoning of it was no one really knew what they did. And it worked at the time, but looking at it today, it's very out of date and it's not the sort of thing that would be recommended today. And I think the Queen was absolutely right in saying you've had one showing, thats it, theres no need for any more. Documentaries are made from time to time, some with the co-operation of Buckingham Palace, some off the shelf. It's been taken down, somebody obviously nicked it from the BBC - it was a BBC documentary done with the corporation of the Royal Family, and it's BBC copyright. They made it, their equipment, their people, Antony Jays script, so it was their copyright. But how it got out, that's something they'll have to find out. It's the work of one person - it shouldn't have an effect on the whole organisation. It shouldn't have an effect on relations with the BBC - the BBC is just a broadcaster, lets not put it too much on a pedestal. It does programming and news as does Sky, as does ITV, as do dozens of other networks around the world. Buckingham Palace have a pretty good relationship with most broadcasters, but it shouldnt affect the relationship that it has, albeit a fairly loose relationship, with the BBC. The palace will have a version of it, they have one from every broadcaster as theyre sent down and they're securely locked up, but how this one got out is for the BBC to sort out. Phil Dampier, royal expert, said: The Queen wont be happy that this film has found its way onto You Tube as she has tried to keep it under wraps for fifty years. The Palace will doubtless try to find out how it has been leaked and Im sure there will be stern words behind the scenes. But ironically Im not sure in this day and age that the film being seen again would damage the monarchy. In fact, quite the opposite, it might seem tame by todays standards and show them in a good light. It shows them as human beings with a sense of humour and in fairly mundane situations. Compared to the scandals and divorces of the 1990s, the death of Diana and Megxit, the content is somewhat innocent. The Queen may want to suppress Royal Family again, but Im not sure she needs to. In one scene, Prince Philip is seen painting in the ground of Buckingham Palace The Queen took part in the film on the advice of her new PR guru, not Prince Philip as claimed in The Crown, but she grew to dislike the film despite many rave reviews However, in the past, the documentary has not been viewed in such a favourable light. 'Youre killing the monarchy, you know, with this film youre making, the legendary anthropologist and wildlife expert David Attenborough wrote furiously in 1969 to the producer-director of the controversial and ground-breaking television documentary. The whole institution depends on mystique and the tribal chief in his hut, continued Attenborough, then a BBC2 controller. If any member of the tribe ever sees inside the hut, then the whole system of the tribal chiefdom is damaged and the tribe eventually disintegrates', he said. Filmmaker Bryan Forbes said: If you let the genie out of the bottle, you can never put the cork back again. And a lot of people think, with hindsight, that it was a mistake'. The Queen is said to have ordered that the film should be withdrawn from circulation. Even now, nearly 50 years later, her attitude towards this misjudged experiment remains implacably negative. Even in an exhibition, The Queen: Art And Image, at the National Portrait Gallery, Buckingham Palace restricted the organisers to only a 90-second clip from the film. The other 104 minutes will remain unseen and off-limits, like the 38 hours of unused footage which is now held in the Royal Archives at Windsor, unavailable to the eyes of even serious historians and researchers As the distinguished journalist Sir Peregrine Worsthorne observed at the time: Initially the public will love seeing the Royal Family as not essentially different from anybody else and in the short term letting in the cameras will enhance the monarchys popularity. 'But in the not-so-long run familiarity will breed, if not contempt, well, familiarity. In 2018, Robert Lacey, historical consultant on The Crown, explained to ABC's The Story Of The Royals, why the family didn't want the documentary shown. 'They realised that if they did something like that too often, they would cheapen themselves, letting the magic seep out,' he said. 'Some people say that this would open the floodgates, and therefore after that all the sort of tabloid interest in them [would come after],' royal biographer Hugo Vickers added. 'They would want to know more, and more, and more.' European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides has called on to live up to its contractual, societal, and moral obligations as the (EU) has criticised the company for not being able to deliver the amount of Covid-19 vaccine as agreed. "Let me be crystal clear: the 27 EU Member States are united that needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreement. We are in a pandemic. We lose people every day. These are not numbers. They are not statistics. These are persons, with families, with friends and colleagues that are all affected as well," Xinhua news agency quoted Kyriakides as saying at a press conference on Wednesday. The top Commissioner made the remarks as she was giving the latest update amid continuous talks with the UK-based company over its new schedule that considerably cut doses supply to the EU. Chief Executive Pascal Soriot rejected claims that his company was failing to honour its commitments. He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that the contract was a "best effort" commitment which means it would try its best. Kyriakides rejected this statement, saying the view that the company was not obliged to deliver was "neither correct nor acceptable". She said the advance purchase agreement was precisely signed so the company could build manufacturing capacity to produce the vaccine early and deliver doses the day it is authorized. Meanwhile, the UK, where the pharmaceutical company is headquartered and has been granted the authorization for marketing, has not reported any shortage. The company has two plants in Britain and two others in the EU producing the vaccine. Kyriakides stressed that "there is no hierarchy of the factories", meaning that part of the doses delivered to the UK may need to be shifted to the EU instead. "The UK factories are part of our advanced purchase agreements, and this is why they have to deliver." The Commissioner demanded "all companies to be as transparent as possible with information" about the production and export. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Methodist Bishop of Accra, the Rt Rev. Samuel Kofi Osabutey, has called on Ghanaians to be thankful to God for the governance system they are enjoying, although there is still much to be done to improve it. The bishop made the call in a sermon at the burial service for the late former President Jerry John Rawlings at the Black Star Square in Accra yesterday. "Was Jerry a saint? Certainly not; Jerry was a sinner who took the risk to attempt to right the wrongs of society as he perceived them. Being a sinner, then, one can understand and forgive those excesses of the regime he led. As we reflect on his life and legacy, we should at least be thankful to God for the governance system we are now all enjoying," he added. Rt Rev. Osabutey said as people reflected on Rawlingss life, we can all come to varied conclusions, depending on our viewing point, adding that the former President was a man who was loved and hated, devoted to and betrayed, consulted and rejected. Citing various writers and books to buttress his points, he said the fact that the late President named his first daughter Zanetor, meaning the darkness must cease, should, perhaps, give us a perspective on his philosophy of life. The event attracted a host of dignitaries, including some African Heads of State. Theme The theme of his sermon was: The stewardship of leadership or power. The bishop described leadership as the art of combining ideas, people, things, time and faith to achieve predetermined objectives; the exercise of power. On the other hand, stewardship is the recognition that all we are our life, what we own, time, talent and treasure belong to a Sovereign Creator, God. And that God expects us to one day account for these. Stewardship of leadership is the recognition that one owes ones power and authority to lead, to a Sovereign God, he said, adding: If all authority, including civil power, is derived from God, then it is important that those who wield power do so in trust. Rt Rev. Osabutey further said civil rulers were Gods servants for the good of the governed. Politicians and office bearers are to execute their Judiciary, Executive, Legislative or administrative offices only for the good of the citizens. This fact also holds true for traditional and religious office holders. According to him, any political, religious or traditional authority worth its salt needed to conform to the liberating power of the Kingdom of God, as revealed in Christ Jesus. Abuse of power, he said, was the outcome of lack of realisation that human authorities be they civil or religious were derived from God and were subservient to Him. If we submit to the authority of Jesus, He will give us the new perspective to be better stewards of leadership and power. Papa J, with all his faults, has served his generation, he added. From left: former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament; Mr Brigi Rafini, Prime Minister of Niger; Mrs Samira Bawumia, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and the Liberian President, George Weah bidding the late former President farewell at the Black Star Square. Pictures: EBOW HANSON, SAMUEL TEI ADANO & Courtesy: GHANA ARMED FORCES President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with former President John Mahama Ashes to ashes..... Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings saying bye bye to her late husband Pallbearers carrying the remains of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings at the Black Star Square Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Credit: Megan Shannon/public domain Would you let a disease-detecting toilet scan your anus in the name of health? Stanford University researchers have created a precision health toilet that monitors your loo visits. The smart toilet automatically analyzes all urine and stool deposits and alerts your doctor if you're sick. It can detect diseases ranging from some cancers to irritable bowel syndrome. The technology promises to be affordable and can be easily mounted inside the bowl of an existing toilet. But its success depends in part on whether we can get over the 'ick' factor of answering nature's call on camera. Go go gadget Forget multifunction Japanese toilets and their dazzling array of washing sprays. The proof-of-concept system unveiled by Stanford last year is fitted with a suite of different health gadgets. The toilet uses pressure and motion sensors to deploy things like dipstick tests for urine analysis. It can measure white blood cells, blood contamination, levels of certain proteins and more. And it could detect a variety of health problems from infection to bladder cancer or kidney failure. At its current level of development, the system can measure 10 different parameters. The smart toilet also captures the urine stream with GoPro cameras. The video is processed by algorithms that can distinguish normal 'urodynamics' like flow rate, stream time and total volumefrom those that are unhealthy. The toilet also captures stools with a defecation-monitoring camera to classify them on the Bristol stool scale. Your unique analprint To determine who's on the loo at any given moment, the toilet has a built-in identification system. It scans a user's fingerprint and "analprint." (Yes, you read correctly. We each have a unique anal print that can be used as ID. You could call it the opposite of facial recognition.) The researchers who developed the toilet say the scans are used purely for recognition. They say no onenot the user or their doctorwill see them. Any health data collected will be sent to a secure cloud-based system for safekeeping. Ideally, any concerning resultslike blood in the urinewould trigger an alert to the patient's healthcare team via a privacy-protected app. Health professionals could then take steps towards a proper diagnosis. User acceptance Last year, 21 people tested the toilet over several months as part of a pilot study. The research team also surveyed 300 prospective smart toilet users at Stanford to see if people would be willing to bare it all in the name of health. About 15% said they were 'very comfortable' with the system, and 37% said they were 'somewhat comfortable." About 7% said they felt 'extremely uncomfortable' with the idea. Unsurprisingly, the most accepted tool was the dipstick tests, while the majority of people could do without the analprint scans. Still, when asked "Would you feel comfortable with a camera in the toilet bowl that captures stool images and pictures of your anus?" a little over a third of the respondents said yes. Whether people outside the university community share that enthusiasm remains to be seen. This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article. [January 28, 2021] Westcliff University's MBA Consulting Program Formally Launches; Talented Student Body Helps Companies Worldwide Overcome Business Challenges Westcliff University is proud to announce the launch of its MBA consulting capstone program - Strategic Management of Applied Research and Technology (SMART). The SMART program is designed for final-semester MBA students to apply the latest graduate-level theories of business management to helping local, national and global enterprises facing complex real-world business challenges. Together the teams work to overcome key obstacles via eight- and sixteen-week professional management consulting arrangements. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006075/en/ Westcliff University MBA students received certificate of completion in the SMART Capstone (News - Alert) Program for consulting with local, global and non-profit companies. (Photo: Business Wire) In the first cohort of the SMART program, global powerhouses and independent startups trusted small groups of up to five graduating Westcliff University MBA students with their most complex challenges. Both students with years of professional real-world experience and others just starting out were similarly eager to apply their advanced learnings to the most pressing business concerns and strategically challenging problems facing these businesses. Participating businesses benefited from the unique perspectives and creative capabilities of Westcliff's diverse and international student population. Students benefited from the opportunity to apply their skills to serving as professional consultants, readying them to take on careers in consulting, entrepreneurship and more. With small class sizes and one-on-one mentorship from professors across the university, students were well-supported on their journey and also enjoyed the opportunity to build their network by working closely with peers and business professionals. "Our diverse and highly educated MBA students offered businesses the fresh outside perspective needed to tackle their business challenges - bringing them solid, evidence-based solutions," stated College of Business Associate Dean Diana Siganoff, Ed.D, who spearheads the SMART capstone program for Westcliff University. "These teams delivered a lasting, positive impression for the businesses they worked with and received a world-class experintial journey through business management processes along the way." This year's teams were paired with companies including Champs Charter High School, BrightQuery and OmniPrint International among others, and were able to take on unique challenges and find sustainable solutions for each. Immersed into the reality of commerce, the students integrated themselves into participating businesses and applied the latest MBA-level skills, thinking and strategy to produce innovative solutions. Students probed one client's database to identify current trends regarding the impact of COVID-19 on industries that mattered to its future; they built a multi-faceted and well-researched automated warehousing system for another; and used deep data insights to formulate an outreach strategy for connecting with a backlog of 15 years of connections for still another - reviving relationships and achieving a stellar 62 percent response rate. "The SMART program offers an opportunity for students to do more than just satisfy their capstone requirement," added Westcliff University's Director of Strategy and Business Development David Zhou. "It is a chance for them to engage with real companies and create real impact, adding the applied experience of management research, strategic counsel and overall professional conduct to their resumes, and leaving them with powerful case studies and the confidence to take their seat at the table in any boardroom." Westcliff University is currently assessing applications from businesses seeking consulting services in 2021. To learn more about the Strategic Management of Applied Research and Technology (SMART) program and how you can apply as a student or business, please visit https://www.westcliff.edu/resources/mba-consulting/. About Westcliff University: Westcliff University is an innovative global higher education institution with its finger on the pulse of the global business landscape and the needs of today's employers. Founded in 1993 and based in Irvine, Calif., it offers bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees spanning 21 areas of study including business, education, STEM - and most recently law - after its acquisition of Western State College of Law. As the oldest law school in Orange (News - Alert) County, Calif., Western State College of Law at Westcliff University is an established institution with a 50-year track record of success and a reputation for producing both successful trial lawyers and more than 150 graduates that have been elevated to the bench. Westcliff is a California Public Benefit Corporation which certifies its dedication to operating in the best interests of its students and the surrounding community. Its programs focus on both the hard and soft skills needed to secure quality jobs in high-growth industries; it offers community and business engagement opportunities for the hands-on experience today's students require; and it provides innovative and affordable programs live online and in classrooms across the globe. Visit www.westcliff.edu and www.wsulaw.edu to learn more; and follow Westcliff on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Editor's Note: Media interested in speaking to expert staff, faculty and leadership of Westcliff University should email westcliff@beyondfifteen.com to facilitate interviews. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006075/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A medical worker conducts a COVID-19 test at a makeshift site in Seoul, Dec. 14, 2020. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Front-line medical workers in South Korea will get the first COVID-19 vaccinations starting next month, with the general public to be inoculated during the latter half of this year, health authorities here said Thursday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients at hospitals and treatment centers in the wider Seoul area will receive their first doses of the vaccines in February. The authorities estimated around 50,000 medical workers will be vaccinated, followed by another 780,000 people that includes patients at sanatoriums and elderly care facilities, as well as high-risk health care workers, during the first quarter. Starting in mid-March, medical workers at general hospitals with a high number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms will begin vaccinations, the KDCA said. Other front-line COVID-19 workers such as paramedics, quarantine officers and epidemiological investigators will also be subject to inoculations starting in mid-March, it said. The combined number is expected to be around 440,000, the authorities said. The history of U.S. policy toward Cuba can be summed up in one sentence: Diplomacy is for suckers. The corresponding belief, that only punishment can produce change, underlies former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos recent move to put Cuba back on the list of terrorist states. But the approach dates back to 1960, when President John F. Kennedy imposed the economic embargo that limited all exports to Cuba except food and medicine. After that we had outright invasion (Bay of Pigs), followed by increasingly insane attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro (poisoned cigars; booby-trapped fish). In addition to being counterproductive has Cuba made any moves in the direction of democracy in response to U.S. policies? this punitive history has helped fuel another erroneous view of Cuba, this one from the American left. In 2016, about a month after Castro died, I traveled to Cuba as part of a dance trip. I still remember the scene at Fidels graveside. Everyone in my group was gathered around, snapping photos and chatting quietly all except for one woman, a Bay Area lefty like myself, who stood alone, crying. I understood her grief, but I couldnt join in. Ive been to Cuba on four other occasions, and for the past year Ive been collaborating on a book about the countrys Jewish community. I love so many things about Cuba: the people, the music, the ambience, the history. But theres no escaping the fact that the government is a dictatorial regime that puts people in jail for voicing dissent, and that, in 60 years, still hasnt delivered a reasonable standard of living for most of its citizens. I wasnt going to say that, though, because Id become accustomed to people questioning my allegiances whenever I express skepticism about Castro or the Revolution. Sure, they say, there are problems with a one-party system. But what about the broad social safety net the Revolution established, with free health care for all? What about the famous literacy campaigns and the free education? Questioning the Cuban government also puts you in the company of Miami Cubans, who have spent decades nursing grudges about everything they lost in the Revolution. The old guard is dying off, but many young Miami Cubans are still loyal Republicans an increasingly difficult allegiance to defend these days and their hatred of Castro seems almost reflexive by this point. Who wants to be part of that club? For many leftists, the villain in this story is clear: The U.S. embargo is whats kept the country from moving forward. Theres no question that the embargo is both misguided and hypocritical. We trade with China and Vietnam, and negotiate with North Korea; why not Cuba? But its also true that many of Cubas problems are homegrown. From the beginning, Castro seemed less interested in developing the islands resources than in establishing relations with other left-leaning countries, maintaining one-party rule and controlling the citizenry. Plus, he never managed to modernize the sugar industry, which for years was the source of the countrys main export. Today, conditions in Cuba exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Trump administrations brutal travel restrictions are reminiscent of that awful era in the 1990s known as the Special Period. Thats when the Soviet Union, Cubas main source of support, fell apart and left Cubans virtually starving. Things arent much better when it comes to health care and education, the areas many people cite as the Revolutions greatest accomplishments. Cuba does have plenty of medical expertise. Most Cubans dont have access to it, though, since the health care system is essentially two-tiered, with one level for the Cuban party elite and foreigners, and another for average Cubans. For the latter, many common drugs, such as aspirin and antibiotics, are nearly impossible to come by, and hospitals are woefully outdated and understaffed. There are stories of Cubans having to bring their own sheets and blankets to the hospital to avoid having to sleep on dirty beds. As for education, much has changed since the heady first years of the literacy campaigns in the 1960s. Many good teachers have left the country, and the quality of education has suffered accordingly. One also has to wonder how effective an institution devoted to critical thinking can be in a regime thats averse to the very notion. To quote Yoani Sanchez, an internationally known Cuban blogger, High school education emphasize[s] rote learning of dates, names, events ... Graduates can hold in their heads the years and important days of our countrys history, but fail to form their own opinion about what it all means. Even if Cuba lovers have explanations for all of these shortcomings, why arent they more bothered by the countrys lack of civil liberties? Last November, Cubas San Isidro protest movement reminded us, yet again, of how profound that lack is. That month, rapper Denis Soliz was thrown in jail for writing songs critical of the government. Meanwhile, neighbors are forced to spy on one another through the infamous Committees in Defense of the Revolution. (Some people I met wouldnt even say Castros name out loud for fear of drawing attention.) Travel outside the country is severely restricted. Yet for too many Americans, theres a romantic haze enveloping their sense of the island and its history. Part of it is the feeling which is entirely justified that the United States was complicit in the injustices that led to the Revolution. Part of it is the undeniable fact of Castros personal charisma. Part of it is the spirit and charm of the island itself (certainly compared to the gray dreariness of Communist Europe). But that romanticism has blinded liberal Americans to how deeply rooted Cubas problems really are. And that blindness will persist until theyre able to hold two ideas in mind simultaneously: that the Revolution brought with it a welcome liberation from hundreds of years of foreign influence, and that it has failed to live up to too many of its promises. Thats why I didnt cry over Fidel at the graveside that day. I was reserving my tears for the people he let down. Nan Wiener is a local freelance editor. Her website is nanwiener.com. Farmers' protest: Crowd visibly thin at protest sites; leaders say agitation still strong India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 28: The crowd at the protest sites in Delhi's Singhu and Tikri borders was visibly thin on Thursday two days after the tractor parade turned violent, even though the farmer unions said it was because the protesters, who had come to the national capital to take part in January 26 march, have returned home. Additional police personnel were deployed at the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders -- the three main sites where farmers have been protesting the Centre''s new farm laws -- as a preventive measure in the view of the violence on Republic Day that left 394 policemen injured and one protestor dead. The Singhu border, one of the major protest sites that has been home to thousands of farmers for over two months, was noticeably less populated on Thursday than what it used to be before the Republic day, or even before that. The number of tractors have reduced, and so have the protestors, while reaching from one end to the other end of the street, that were chock-a-block till last week, can be now done in no time. Farmers said it was because the protestors who had come to Delhi specifically to participate in the tractor parade on January 26 have returned home. "There is no dearth in our spirits to continue our fight against the three farm laws. The fact that Singhu looks empty is a mere optical illusion. "Just because there were too many people in the run up to the parade, now that they have gone back, it looks like this," said Baldev Singh, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha. Farm law protests: 16 opposition parties to boycott presidents budget address on Friday The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, however, on the eve of Republic Day had announced that all the farmers, who would join the tractor march, would stay back and living arrangements would be made for them. According to Baldev Singh, the protest site also appeared to be less crowded because there were protestors who had been camping here since the very first day, and had waited till Republic Day before returning home. "But then some other members of their families will join us. The protest is only getting stronger," Baldev Singh said. The agitation to demand the repeal of the three laws was their "single point agenda" and they were not going to move from Singhu until they are met, added Ashwini Kumar, district president, Punjab Kisan Union. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Urgrahan, whose organisation has been leading protest at the Tikri border, said there were many people who had come to Delhi to participate in the tractor parade and now they have left for their home. That''s why the site appears to be less crowded. It is perhaps the low population at the Singhu border that has caused several service providers to temporarily shut shop, including langars, ironing service, and the Kissan Mall. At the Singhu protest site, most dismissed the idea of the thinning crowd and said the services were unavailable because they were restocking supplies. "The agitation is as strong as ever. People are going home and returning. The Kissan Mall is shut today only because we are waiting for some fresh supplies. It will be open again from tomorrow," said a volunteer of Khalsa Aid that runs the mall. A similar response was shared by Roshan Singh, who has been running a langar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at the site for nearly two months. On Thursday afternoon, the langar was deserted and the stoves were out. "We served food in the morning but are closed now because we ran out of products. Our enthusiasm about the protest has not at all decreased," he said. The set up where the ironing services were being provided has simply disappeared. For Gurjeet Singh, a farmer from Patiala, the movement continues to remain solid. While he arrived at Singhu in November with a group of 20, only five are currently present at the site. "Many people have just gone back to take care of things at home. Like one person in our group has gone back for his sister''s wedding, another has gone back because of a medical issue. "What happened on Republic Day was the government''s way of maligning our movement, but it has had no impact whatsoever on the enthusiasm of our agitation and we are stronger than ever," he said. As far as the future of the farmers protest is concerned, the February 1 farmers march to the Parliament stands postponed, and farmer leaders are chalking out their further strategy. Meanwhile, a fast would be observed on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, said Baldev Singh. Nearly 400 policemen were injured during the tractor parade of the farmers who have been protesting against three central farm laws at Delhi''s borders since late November. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. The police have filed 33 FIRs in connection with the violence during the rally. Nineteen people have been arrested and around 50 detained. Thirty-seven farmer leaders have also been named in an FIR. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 21:23 [IST] Interview Myanmar Religious, Political Figures Respond to Perceived Threat of Military Coup -- After the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) spokesmans refusal to rule out the possibility of coup during a press conference in Naypyitaw on Tuesday, the public has loudly responded that such a course of action would be in violation of the Constitution the military itself drafted. At a press conference in which the military repeated its claims of electoral fraud in the Nov. 8 voting, a reporter asked whether the Tatmadaws vow to comply with the law meant that the military had no plan to seize power. The spokesmans response was: No. That refusal to rule out a coup has been interpreted by many as a threat. At the very least, it has raised eyebrows over the possibility that the military is actually considering such action. The spokesman insisted throughout his remarks that the armed forces will abide by existing laws including the Constitution. He added, But that doesnt mean the military will take responsibility for the state or wont take responsibility for the state. Prominent political and religious leaders, lawmakers and a legal expert interviewed by The Irrawaddy unanimously said the military-drafted 2008 Constitution does not allow any scenario for a coup, and should one occur, the controversial charter would automatically become null and void. Their perspectives on the spokesmans remarks, and what it would mean if there were a coup, follow. Rev Dr. Hkalam Samson President, Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) Although the military spokesman did not say directly that there would be a coup or no coup, he repeatedly said [the military] would act in accordance with the law and the Constitution if the election fraud claims are not solved. I am concerned because it is like a threat or a political warning, and it could affect the national reconciliation process. I think the spokesman should not even say [such a thing], because if there were a coup, Myanmar would not be able to move forward. The National League for Democracy government has the publics support, so did the Union Solidarity and Development Party [when it held office.] We all must cooperate to achieve peace and to build a democratic federal system. Coup is a bitter word that we dont want to hear. Al Haj U Aye Lwin Chief convener, Islamic Centre of Myanmar (ICM) The military spokesman avoided using the word coup in his answer, but he focused on whether [the military would be] taking responsibility for the state or not. The military had raised the issue of election fraud and maybe they want to show off that they have some force behind their demand, [implying] This is no joke or they could [stage a coup] if they want. But this contradicts what he said: The military will abide by the existing law and the Constitution, which is the mother of the law. At the same time, the military appointees are preparing to attend the upcoming Parliament, showing their participation. Sai Nyunt Lwin Vice chairman, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) I dont think the military plans to stage a coup, as they say they abide by the Constitution and respect their own charter, which does not allow for staging a coup. Even in an emergency situation, the President must give approval for the militarys entitlement to administer a certain region. Daw Htoot May Upper House parliamentarian, Rakhine Ethnic Affairs Minister-elect for Yangon Region Staging a coup is not a good sign for the country. Therefore, I think the militarywhich is already involved in politics through the legislature with its 25 percent of reserved seatswont do it. With this 25 percent, we already have faced many obstacles to reform efforts in the country. Besides, following the previous military coups, we fell behind in the world in terms of politics, economic development and peace, and there was no advantage for the people. Therefore, staging a coup means the return of those bad conditions and I dont think the military, which has been in power in this country, would return to this past. U Thein Than Oo Advocate, general secretary, Independent Lawyers Association of Myanmar (ILAM) What the military spokesman said is like a threat. It is not helpful for national reconciliation. He should not say it. And in history, the army did not announce [it was going] to stage a coup either. If there were a coup, the 2008 Constitution would be invalidated. The current controversy under this charter proves that it is useless. As the current charter should be nullified, we should start to draft a new Constitution. U Pe Than Lower House parliamentarian from Arakan National Party (ANP) A coup wont happen as long as the military abides by the Constitution, which does not allow staging a coup. And the military spokesman insisted [it intended to abide by the Constitution] and [that the military is] the defender of the Constitution. But the military keeps pushing [the argument that] the NLD [National League for Democracy]s actions are unconstitutional. So it could mean that they are showing off their power that if the military wants and feels it needs to, it would [stage a coup]. If the military did stage a coup, it would be very foolish. Cardinal Charles Bo Archbishop of Yangon To all civilian and military leaders, I plead lay aside the futile pursuit of military solutions. You each have the capacity to transform Myanmars divisive political culture. Renew your commitment to face the truths of our past history. Acknowledging these realities, seek justice with courage and determination through dialogue and negotiation. Peace will only come if a spirit of transparent, open and accountable leadership is instilled into every sector and level of governance. History teaches us, diplomats and peacemakers know, that there is never going to be a military solution to a political conflict. Pursuing military solutions leads only to endless war, endless misery. Myanmar has had enough! Where a political solution is absent, any military advantage is fragile. The call to each of us, especially to those with the responsibility of leadership, is to be artisans of peaceuniting and not dividing, extinguishing hatred and not harboring or inflaming it, always opening paths of dialogue that will reconcile, heal, unite and build anew our beautiful Myanmar. You may also like these stories: A Military Coup in Myanmar Is Unlikely, But. Myanmar Military Refuses to Rule Out Coup as It Presses Claim of Fraud in Nov. Election Updated Timeline: Tracing Militarys Interference in Myanmar Election Hyderabad: Power minister G. Jagadish Reddy lambasted Congress leaders for their attempts to pick holes in the way Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is running the state government. We condemn the statements of Congress leaders about KCR and the government. The Congress leaders are not able to digest the development of Telangana, said Jagadish Reddy who held a press meet along with Rythu Samanvaya Samiti chairman Palla Rajeswar Reddy at Telangana Bhavan to caution the Congress leaders against their continued attempts to trash development in the state. The minister said, According to official and unofficial reports, Telangana is the top-performer state. Water is supplied to all habitations under Mission Bhagiratha. In Nalgonda district, fluoride-related health issues have disappeared due to the supply of Bhagiratha water. This is proof of the success of Bhagiratha project. Jagadish Reddy alleged that the Congress was bent on stalling development. They are resorting to false propaganda. Use of water with fluoride content led to huge health problems. But, the Congress governments did nothing to change the scenario in the past six decades. We put an end to such a problem in the six years of KCR rule. He said the Congress had filed 350 cases in courts against the Kaleshwaram project. All cases were dismissed. Uttam Kumar Reddy does have a sense of shame. He is not able to appreciate the greatness of the Kaleshwaram project. The minister said the Congress has no right to complain against the chief minister to the CBI. The CBI knows all about the corruption of Congress leaders. As such, you must be ashamed of speaking against KCR. The government is implementing the Aasara pension scheme for the poor. Do you have any complaint about it? You mislead people about the Kaleshwaram project. You are standing in the way of development of Telangana state. Can you complain against Jawaharlal Nehru who constructed the Nagarjunasagar dam? Jagadish Reddy asked Congress leaders to control Uttam Kumar Reddy. He keeps misleading the people about development. If he does not stop such false accusations, our cadre will teach him a lesson. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the Biden administration's pick for US ambassador to the United Nations (UN), said on Wednesday that she would use her tenure to counter China's influence in the body's powerful Security Council, resist its efforts to install Chinese nationals in key UN leadership positions, and push for greater scrutiny of Beijing's development finance operations in Africa. "We know China is working across the UN system to drive an authoritarian agenda that stands in opposition to the founding values of the institution - American values," Thomas-Greenfield told senators during a confirmation hearing. "Their success depends on our continued withdrawal. That will not happen on my watch." China in recent years installed a number of its own officials in leadership roles at the UN, including high ranking jobs at the International Telecommunication Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization, and its representatives frequently thwart resolutions via vetoes alongside Russia. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. Thomas-Greenfield said China is seeking to insert its own "harmful" language into UN resolutions. As well as countering Beijing's actions within the UN, Thomas-Greenfield said she would also work with leaders in Africa, where China is investing heavily in infrastructure projects, to "push back on China's self-interested and parasitic development goals" in the continent. A 35-year veteran of the US Foreign Service who headed the State Department's bureau of Africa affairs during the Obama administration, Thomas-Greenfield has previously argued for US cooperation with China when it came to the two countries' presences in Africa. Senators, mostly Republicans, pressed Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly on Wednesday about her decision in 2019 to accept a paid invitation to speak at the Chinese government-funded Confucius Institute at Savannah State University, where she spoke favourably of China's investment efforts in Africa via the Belt and Road Initiative. Story continues Linda Thomas-Greenfield answers questions from Senator Ted Cruz (not pictured) at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Linda Thomas-Greenfield answers questions from Senator Ted Cruz (not pictured) at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE In that speech, Thomas-Greenfield said that "win-win-win cooperation" between the US, China and African continent was possible, and argued that criticism of Beijing's "predatory lending" practices overseas missed the fact that the US was not offering adequate alternatives. Savannah State University has since severed its relations with the Confucius Institute, amid concerns aired by lawmakers about the organisation's role in promoting the Chinese Communist Party line and stifling discussion on subjects it deems politically sensitive. On Wednesday, Thomas-Greenfield said she "truly [regretted] having accepted that invitation and having had my name associated with the Confucius Institute," telling senators her decision to speak at the historically black college came from a long-standing wish to encourage more black and Hispanic students to consider careers in the Foreign Service. In sharp contrast to her 2019 speech, Thomas-Greenfield on Wednesday said that China's investment strategy in Africa "has not worked for Africans," citing the use of imported Chinese labour, substandard quality of work, and the "deep debt" countries are left with. If the Senate votes to confirm Thomas-Greenfield as expected, she will join an administration that has pledged a hardline approach to dealing with China's economic practices and global presence. On Tuesday, Biden's pick for Commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo, told a Senate panel she would use tools such as tariffs and export restrictions against China "to the fullest extent possible" to address Beijing's human rights abuses and anticompetitive economic practices. And before his confirmation, Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he agreed with the Trump administration's determination that China's treatment of Uygurs and other ethnic minority groups in the country's northwest constituted "genocide". During Wednesday's hearing, Thomas-Greenfield revealed that Biden's State Department is now conducting its own review of that determination amid concerns that "all of the procedures were not followed", but indicated that she did not disagree with its substance. "What is happening with the Uygurs is horrendous, and we have to recognise it for what it is," she said. Thomas-Greenfield is vying for the ambassadorial role as the Biden administration seeks to reverse the United States' retreat in recent years from multilateral, international frameworks. Under Trump, the US withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization (WHO), pulled out of the Paris climate accord, exited the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the Iran nuclear deal, and threatened to leave Nato and the World Trade Organization. Disengagement by the world's largest economy from the global stage has dovetailed with the ascent of its second. Beijing increased funding to the WHO in the wake of Washington's withdrawal, joined a new Asia-Pacific trade deal last November, and has rallied dozens of UN Human Rights Council members to publicly support its actions in Xinjiang. First and foremost, we need to be there," Thomas-Greenfield said of the UN Human Rights Council, which Biden has pledged to rejoin. "We can work from inside to make the organisation better. If we're on the outside we have no voice." The recently departed US ambassador to the UN under Trump, Kelly Craft, used her final weeks in her role to trumpet increased US support for Taiwan, which has not been a member of the UN since 1971, when China joined. A video screen shows Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and outgoing US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft meeting virtually on January 14. Photo: The United States Mission to the United Nations via AP alt=A video screen shows Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and outgoing US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft meeting virtually on January 14. Photo: The United States Mission to the United Nations via AP "The United States will always stand with Taiwan," Craft said in a virtual meeting with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen on January 14, days after the Trump administration lifted self-imposed restrictions on US diplomats' dealings with Taiwanese counterparts. Craft was expected to visit the island earlier this month, but the trip was called off when all travel was cancelled. On Wednesday, Thomas-Greenfield said it was incumbent on the US to continue supporting Taiwan and "provide them the security that they need to push against any efforts by the Chinese to compromise their security". Asked by Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican, whether that support should include weapons sales, Thomas-Greenfield said: "My guess is yes, that would include providing them with the wherewithal to also support their own security." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2021 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2021. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. CLEVELAND, Ohio Henry Kinicki, 71, blew his wife Kathleen a kiss and waved to her as he left her at an area hospital in April. She was being treated for COVID-19, and he wasnt allowed to stay with her. It was the last time he saw her alive. The next time Kinicki saw his wife, her body lay in a closed casket at a funeral home. COVID-19 guidelines at the time required closed caskets for COVID-19 victims. Theyre telling me I cant even see her, Kinicki recalled. The couple was married nearly 50 years and lived in Parma. That was just the start of how the Kinicki familys grieving process was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their story is familiar to anyone who lost a loved one, from COVID-19 or other causes of death, in the past year. This story is part of the ongoing cleveland.com series Coping Through COVID, which aims to help Northeast Ohio residents manage the stress of COVID-19 by examining the mental-health and behavioral-health aspects of the pandemic. The series tells individuals stories and explores various challenges and strategies with experts. Some relatives stayed away from the Kinicki familys wake, citing fears of the virus. Those who did attend were encouraged not to stay long, and there was no meal afterwards. Normally, we would hug. But people stood 10 feet away, Kinicki said. Only a dozen close relatives were allowed to take part in the funeral Mass. The pandemic has not only disrupted life, but also death and grieving, in so many ways. Funeral homes and cemeteries restrict the number of participants. Loved ones are unable to say goodbye to those dying from COVID-19 at their hospital bedside. Churches are closed to funerals. Smaller gatherings for wakes and funerals have become the norm. Hugging, attending memorial services and visiting the bereaved are seen as risky. As the COVID-19 death toll continues to climb in the United States, so do worries about the mental health of surviving family members. A new Penn State study shows that every death from COVID-19 will impact approximately nine surviving close family members. Among those impacted will be children being raised by grandparents, younger adults losing parents and people in their 50s or 60s losing spouses, researchers said. Funerals are an acknowledgment of a life well lived, and when that is disrupted, its hard for the family to move on in grief, said Jim Busch, president of Busch Funeral and Crematory Services, which has eight Northeast Ohio locations. Shared grief is so critical to helping people get through things, Busch said. Grief is meant to be shared. Memorials and funerals are group experiences that show support for the bereaved and mark a transition to a new chapter in life, said Erin Rafter, psychologist at the Gathering Place, a nonprofit that offers help to those experiencing loss due to cancer.. A funeral or memorial service is the beginning of a 2-year period of intense grief devoted to learning how to live without the loved one and coping with a new reality, said Julia Ellifritt, executive director of Cornerstone of Hope, a bereavement center in Independence. Being unable to fully mourn a loss makes it harder to find closure after a death and often leads to depression, social isolation, loneliness, delayed grief and anxiety, mental health professionals said. In a kind of cruel loop, the stress of coping with the pandemic makes the stress of grieving worse. Grief is something that must be dealt with now or later; putting it off makes the grieving process harder, Ellifritt said. The funeral is culturally the place to do that, Ellifritt said. How the pandemic changed funerals In the pandemics early days, most bereaved families opted to postpone funerals until later in the year, when they hoped restrictions on gatherings would be lifted, Busch said. But as the pandemic dragged on, people stopped postponing and went ahead with some sort of memorial. Some families opt to have a small ceremony right after the death, and delay having a large service until summer when it can be held outdoors. Other families have only a small ceremony immediately following the death. There are no right or wrong ways to grieve during this unprecedented time. It runs the gamut. Its unique to each family, Rafter said. That answer may change over time. The number of attendees at funerals, calling hours, church services and even graveside services often are capped, Busch said. During calling hours, staff at many funeral homes monitor the number of people attending and encourage visitors to stay only a short time so that more people can enter. Livestreams of funeral services are available for those who cant attend in person. Busch Funeral Homes were outfitted for livestreaming before the pandemic, but it has become more important now. Because so many families were not able to say goodbye to their loved one at the hospital bedside, Busch Funeral Homes now offer what it calls a private family farewell. Its a kind of private wake, complete with flowers, candles, music and video tribute. Its a sacred time for them to say goodbye, Busch said. We are trying to make the best we can of the circumstances. In some cases, funeral homes are giving refunds because they were not able to provide all the elements of a full, pre-paid funeral, such as a religious service at a church that is now closed due to the pandemic. Its not uncommon for that to happen, Busch said. Creative alternatives Bereaved families are turning to alternative ways to celebrate a loved ones life beyond the traditional services. Here are a few ideas for acknowledging a loss: Light candles and share stories every night for a certain period of time. Share memories on the deceased persons Facebook page. Plant a memorial tree or flowers. Write a list of things that remind you of that person. Keep writing until you have enough to match the loved ones age when he or she died. Hold a wake on Zoom to give family and close friends a way to share stories and memories. Create a memorial video that can be shared with others. Ask people to paint rocks with meaningful designs, then share photos of the rocks and where they were left. Donate a brick or bench to a park or other outdoor space. Organize a memorial walk, making sure the participants stay socially distanced. Make a birdseed ornament in a shape that honors the deceased persons life. Sign an electronic guest book. Send a handwritten note or card to the bereaved family. Butterfly releases and balloon launches still happen, although environmentalists and naturalists discourage them. Balloons can travel hundreds of miles, pollute land and sea ecosystems and harm wildlife. Butterflies are often released at the wrong time of year, or in a location where they are unable to survive. Will families continue to choose these memorial alternatives after the pandemic eases? I hope so, Rafter said. There are other ways to mark the passing that dont have to be elaborate. When grief becomes burdensome When the normal ways of grieving a loss are disrupted, grief can deepen and become so prolonged that it affects mental health, said Dr. Leslie Koblentz, chief clinical officer for the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services of Cuyahoga County. People feeling extreme grief can feel exhausted, hopeless, sad and suicidal, Koblentz said. They may turn to alcohol and drugs to numb these feelings, but that isnt helpful over the long term. There are many resources for finding grief counseling and grief support groups. Many therapists offer telehealth, and support groups are meeting virtually. Cuyahoga County offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, 216-623-6888. Cornerstone of Hope sponsors support groups for people who are grieving and need help. Here is a list of agencies that can help, and information about how to find a mental health therapist. Grief requires a period of adjustment. Dont be afraid to ask for help, Koblentz said. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close When it comes to Russia, Biden seems determined to return to an approach that worked during the Cold War. He will engage Moscow whenever it is in the U.S. interest to do so as it is on arms control, climate change, nonproliferation and other issues where Washington and Moscow may see eye-to-eye. But he will also oppose Russia whenever it engages in activity, at home or abroad, that threaten U.S. interests or core American values and exact a big price when it does. Journeyman horseman Philip 'Bo' Sowers may hail from New Brunswick, but he and his family have, by all counts, found themselves every bit as at home on the backstretch at Monticello Raceway as lifelong residents of New York's Sullivan and Orange Counties. The 49-year-old native of Fredericton, N.B., was born into the sport like many others and harnessed his first starter three decades ago, but didn't start to find his groove until 2008, which was the first season where his starters amassed over $100,000 in earnings quite the accomplishment considering the paltry purses his stable competed for in New Brunswick and Maine. Ever since, Sowers has steadily gained momentum, racing primarily in Maine through the 2010s and relocating his stable to Monticello in November 2018. "Coming to a new place, new people, I can't say enough about Monticello Raceway," Sowers said in a recent feature published by the Narrowsburg, N.Y., River Reporter. "The people here have been phenomenal." Just as Sowers learned the ropes of harness racing from his family, his wife, Tammy, and his two adult children have taken on active roles in the operation as well. In fact was Tammy who convinced Bo to take the plunge into harness racing full-time after competing solely for the love of the sport in his early years. "She made the call one day and said, 'Let's get back into horses,'" Sowers recounted. "My dad was in it all his life, and I started driving with him when I was five or six years old," said Sowers, whose 80 wins during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season gave him top honours among all Monticello-based trainers. McGwire, 20, has quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after drivers at the 'Mighty M,' finishing 2020 in fifth place in the local standings. "My son drives all my horses," Sowers continued. "Its a thrill to watch him, from first to last. I just enjoy watching my son drive." "When people say, 'Bo Sowers this and Bo Sowers that,' I give my son, wife and my help all the credit." Just as Bo Sowers and his family found themselves at home at Monticello Raceway despite being relative outsiders, New York native Murray Bassen shares a similar sentiment. "I love it here," said Bassen. "I think Monticello is a great track, the people here are great. The 70-year-old owner and trainer cleaned stalls for 50 cents an hour while vacationing in the Catskills with his family as a teenager, took out his training license in 1978, and has witnessed many changes in the landscape of racing at Monticello in the passing decades particularly as the region fell from prominence as a resort destination, and more recently as the industry weathered a months-long shutdown during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. "We used to have 20 or 30 thousand fans, and it took you two weeks to get a dinner reservation," Bassen said, describing the "golden era" of harness racing in Monticello. "It was back when the Catskills and the Concord were going, and things were really good." Since then, Bassen drove and trained horses in Hinsdale, N.H., as well as at The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway before ultimately returning to the track he calls his "alma mater." "Weve suffered through everything together, and theres a lot of camaraderie," he continued. "In the paddock, weve known each other for years, sometimes decades, some of us for 50 years." (with files from River Reporter) PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The European American Enterprise Council (EAEC) and Temple University are pleased to announce the winners of the ENRICH in the USA CES 2021 All-Digital Funding Summit. The featured pitch categories included TechforCity; TechforHealth; and TechforBiz. The top winners (a total of 30 global startups participated following a strict selection process) in each category received US$500; the top three companies in each category also received access to US$200,000 of transatlantic support and soft-landing services and direct applications to the ENRICH in the USA incubation joint programs at leading universities (one-year minimum). These universities included George Mason University (VA); Temple University (PA); Cal Poly University (CA); Purdue University (IN). The winners for each category include (listed 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place): TechforCity: Geckomatics ( Flanders , Belgium ): Builds mobile mapping systems powered by machine learning to identify objects and position them accurately. The company's cameras can be attached to any land-based or water-based vehicle. Users can also choose the types of objects to inspect and access a digital map anytime. ( , ): Builds mobile mapping systems powered by machine learning to identify objects and position them accurately. The company's cameras can be attached to any land-based or water-based vehicle. Users can also choose the types of objects to inspect and access a digital map anytime. Bettair Cities (Catalonia, Spain ): Permits the mapping of urban air pollution and provides insights on how to mitigate air pollution. (Catalonia, ): Permits the mapping of urban air pollution and provides insights on how to mitigate air pollution. Securaxis ( Switzerland ): Combines acoustic signal processing with deep learning and data science to turn sounds into information and actionable insights. The company's software technology has been deployed across Europe for applications such as traffic monitoring, intelligent lighting and noise measurement in real-time. TechforHealth: MJN (Catalonia, Spain ): Dedicated to the design, manufacture, and marketing of medical devices to improve the quality of life of people. The company's first device is a helmet used to measure the risk of epileptic seizures and continuously record the data. (Catalonia, ): Dedicated to the design, manufacture, and marketing of medical devices to improve the quality of life of people. The company's first device is a helmet used to measure the risk of epileptic seizures and continuously record the data. SurgeonsLab ( Switzerland ): Aims to facilitate test, train, plan interventions and improve patient safety using high-end technology as an alternative to human and animal models. ( ): Aims to facilitate test, train, plan interventions and improve patient safety using high-end technology as an alternative to human and animal models. Rheo Diagnostics (Catalonia, Spain ): RheoDX is an inexpensive medical device that monitors blood cells conditions to improve the quality of life of hematology patients. TechforBiz: Bodyguard ( France ): Protects individuals, families, and businesses in real-time from toxic online content. The software also helps protect against cyberstalking and online hate. ( ): Protects individuals, families, and businesses in real-time from toxic online content. The software also helps protect against cyberstalking and online hate. Experify ( Switzerland ): Connects potential consumers with people in their neighborhood who already own products they consider buying; users can get honest opinions and test products. ( ): Connects potential consumers with people in their neighborhood who already own products they consider buying; users can get honest opinions and test products. Typewise ( Switzerland ): The company's first product, Typewise Keyboard, is a next-generation keyboard designed specifically for two-thumb typing on smartphones. "We are excited to recognize and celebrate this all-digital format; the selected companies evoke positive change through their technologies amid COVID-19; also, they all want to be connected with the US tech ecosystems and investment communities," said Sebastien Torre, president of San Francisco-based European American Enterprise Council. "I also want to thank my Global Village, Angel Launch, Invest EU, Enterprise Europe Network, Swiss Global Enterprise, and Berlin Partners for their great support and partnership. See you at our next virtual ENRICH in the USA Funding Summit at SXSW Online 2021!" Sylvain Jaccard, head of Swiss Global Enterprise, said "Switzerland was thrilled that 11 Swiss tech startups were selected for the final pitch session, four of which finished in the top nine. It was great to collaborate with ENRICH and my thanks to them for organizing such a quality event and enabling Swiss startups to be able to network with US investors." Alba Quer, Tech Coordinator ICT Sector, Competitivitat de l'Empresa de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain, added "It is a constructive event for the startups because they get to pitch and receive feedback from the investor's panel. Beyond a possible investment, it is also interesting for the direct and indirect connections they make thanks to the investors." Radhika Malik, Senior Investment Manager at Samsung Catalyst Fund in Menlo Park, CA, also added that "it was fantastic to see the high quality of startups that participated. Many of the technologies and products presented were very innovative and the pitches were well prepared, leading to highly engaging discussions. I look forward to seeing these entrepreneurs' journeys as they expand globally." Howard Pakosh, Founder/CEO of Toronto-based TekStart, said "the ENRICH Funding Summit is always one of my yearly highlights. In addition to the pitch competition, the event gathers experts and industry leaders with founders all designed to connect entrepreneurs in a constructive way. Sebastien and his team do a great job of organizing; thanks for having me participate!" The speakers and judges (30) were well-known investors (from angel networks, early-stage venture capital firms, R1 university incubators and accelerators), as well as city, state and US/EU government representatives. About ENRICH in the USA Launched in April 2017, the mission of ENRICH (European Network of Research Innovation Centres and Hubs) in the USA (ENRICH in the USA) is to provide collaboration and commercialization support services to European researchers and innovators (from the EU and associated countries), and facilitate their access to university centric soft landing ecosystems, to maximize their chances of success in the United States. Promoted by the European Commission through Horizon, the ENRICH network currently offers services to connect European research, technology, and business organizations with five global frontrunner markets for innovation & digital transformation: USA, China, Brazil, India, and Africa. ENRICH in the USA is represented in the USA by the European American Enterprise Council (EAEC) and NCURA. Temple University SBDC (at the Fox School of Business and Management), based in Philadelphia, PA, shall be the official lead representative organization of ENRICH in the USA, starting in March 2021. Maura Shenker, Director of the Temple University Small Business Development Center, said "Temple SBDC is proud to be supporting this incredible group of global entrepreneurs and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with ENRICH and the EAEC to offer more services and connections." About European American Enterprise Council The European American Enterprise Council (EAEC) is a private member-driven social enterprise and network (eight US and EU chapters). EAEC is part of the European Commission's Enterprise Europe Network (600+ organizations in Europe, and a worldwide presence), and aims at promoting transatlantic collaboration, trade and investment between European and North American companies, institutions and economic regions while fostering global innovation and entrepreneurship. About Temple University, SBDC The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are the only statewide, nationally accredited program providing high quality, one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to empower new and existing businesses. The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the US Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 16 universities and colleges across the Commonwealth. The Temple University SBDC is an outreach center of the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University that has been serving Philadelphia and the surrounding communities since 1983. Our highly trained and experienced staff is here to provide startup and small businesses with professional knowledge and assistance. Our mission is to help small businesses grow and succeed. Media Contact: Neal Leavitt Leavitt Communications (760) 639-2900 [email protected] SOURCE ENRICH in the USA BAY CITY, MI A Kentucky man has been ordered to pay fines for having THC in his system when a vehicle he was driving crashed and killed his teenage passenger on the Fourth of July. He avoided a stiffer penalty as investigators found the substance did not contribute to the collision. Joseph H. Cozart Jr., 26, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, appeared via Zoom before Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly for sentencing. Cozart in December pleaded no contest to one count of operating a motor vehicle with the presence of a controlled substance-marijuana. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss a charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Both of those charges are misdemeanors punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine. The charges stem from a crash that happened the evening of July 4 on southbound I-75 near Beaver Road in Kawkawlin Township. Cozart was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado pickup that contained 14-year-old Sterling resident AJ Andrew Jeffs as a passenger, police said. Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham previously told MLive the truck sustained a blown tire and Jeffs was ejected from the truck and suffered fatal injuries. This is an example of a very tragic incident, said defense attorney Matthew L. Reyes. The thorough investigation that took place over months into the cause and how the accident happened clearly revealed a massive tire failure on the vehicle that the defendant did not own and was borrowing at the time is what caused the vehicle to roll over. As a result of the rollover of the vehicle, the young man lost his life. The Bay County Prosecutors Office, I think, did a very thorough job and ultimately decided the resolution in this matter was that Mr. Cozart would enter a plea of no contest to operating while having the presence of THC in his system and Mr. Cozart did not have a medical marijuana card. THC is the psychoactive substance in marijuana. Mr. Cozart takes responsibility for having the presence of THC in his system, but to determine that somehow this contributed to the tragic result, I think is inaccurate, Reyes said. Reyes described Cozart as a hard-working guy who has lived in Kentucky for years. He took issue with presentence report that recommended Cozart receive the maximum jail sentence and asked the judge to fashion a sentence based on facts rather than emotions. I would like to say that my thoughts and my prayers are with that family every day, Cozart said. That accident, it was very serious and its something thats affected me tremendously. I just want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with the family. Kelly ended up ordered Cozart to pay $725 in court fines and costs and gave him credit for one days served in jail. The judge also ordered Cozart pay a fine of $700 in an unrelated probation violation matter. Subtracting what Cozart had posted to be freed on bond, he still owes $147, which the judge ordered he pay within 30 days. This was truly a very tragic situation and I would concur with Mr. Reyes, Kelly said. Nothing I can see in this record shows me that Mr. Cozart was the cause of that. A second passenger in the July 4 crash, age 15, was also injured and was taken to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment. Jeffs, the other teen passenger, and Cozart had been heading south after spending the day in northern Michigan, Cunningham has said. Court records list Cozart as residing in Rockfield, Kentucky. Jeffs mother and the representative of his estate, Lisa Philopoulos, on Sept. 16 filed a lawsuit in Bay County Circuit Court against Cozart and the trucks owner. The suit contains three counts gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct, owner liability act violations, and negligent entrustment. The first count is against Cozart, while the latter two are directed at the 35-year-old man who owned the truck. Defendant (the driver) owed a duty with ordinary care for the safety of the public and specifically to [Jeffs], which duty includes but is not limited to, obeying all laws, statutes, and city ordinances while driving subject vehicle on public roads, the suit states. The suit goes on to claim the trucks owner gave the driver permission or implied consent to drive his Silverado at a time when he knew or should have known the driver was unqualified or incompetent to drive. For each of the three counts, Philopoulos is seeking an amount deemed fair and just and in excess of $25,000. The civil case is set for a settlement conference in Bay County Circuit Court on June 29. Read more: Kentucky man accepts plea deal in July 4 crash that killed teen on I-75 in Bay County Man charged in July 4 crash that killed teen on I-75 in Bay County Mom files lawsuit claiming Bay City man killed son in drunken driving crash Teen dies in Fourth of July crash on I-75, driver faces drunken driving charge Three previous administrations have publicly stated that the US supports India's bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council Washington: US President Joe Biden's pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday did not explicitly commit the support of the new administration for India to be a permanent member of the Security Council. Three previous administrations, that of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, had publicly said that the United States supports India's bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. However, Thomas-Greenfield, who has spent more than 35 years in foreign service before being nominated to the position, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told lawmakers that this is a matter of ongoing discussion. "Do you think India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council)?" Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon asked during her confirmation hearing for the position of the US Ambassador to the UN. Biden has named it as a Cabinet-ranking position. "I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that," she said. "But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion," she said in an apparent reference to the Coffee Club or United for Consensus. Comprising countries like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, the Coffee Club has opposed the permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. Biden in his campaign policy document last year had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Recognising India's growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for India's membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council, Biden Campaign's policy document on Indian-Americans had said last August. Thomas-Greenfield, in response to another question, favoured reforms in the UN Security Council. India is currently its non-permanent member for a two-year term that began in January this year. "I think there is general agreement across the board that reforms are needed in the Security Council. What those reforms will be and how they will be implemented, I think remains to be decided but you know changing the number of members that happened we move from 11 to 15 some years ago and there are efforts to push for more permanent members, and those discussions are ongoing," she said. She was responding to a question from Senator Merkley. I wanted to start by asking about the Security Council itself. At the same time that China and Russian often stymie actions in the Security Council. The Security Council is decreasingly representative of the geopolitical landscape with key powers like India, Germany, Japan not included as permanent members, he said. How do you approach the question of the Security Council? How do you consider that perhaps it needs to be reformed? How do you believe it can be made more effective and functional, Merkley asked. STAMFORD Why did this years winners of the citys 2021 Arts and Culture Grant program include a record number of Spanish-language initiatives? Its not a coincidence, according to John Varamo, program manager for the Stamford Arts and Culture Commission. This year was the first year that we fully executed our grant application in Spanish and allowed grant applications to be submitted in Spanish, Varamo said. He also attributed the spike to an increased outreach initiative from the city. In total, 14 organizations received $100,000 on behalf of the Stamford Arts and Culture Commission, which has provided money to arts-related initiatives based in the city since 2002. Of them, four awardees are organizations focused on serving Stamfords growing Latinx population, including the Ecuadorian Civic Committee, Spanish news program En Vivo con Maricarmen, arts collective La Tertulia de Stamford, and dance studio Taller de Marinera. Walter Argueta heads La Tertulia de Stamford, one of the biggest grant recipients this year. Since 2000, his group has organized plays, poetry readings, and literary discussions all in Spanish. Let me put it this way. We are not just good workers or good cleaners, said Argueta, who goes by Walter Dionisio. We are growing (in Stamford), and we have a beautiful language and culture. The funds from the arts and culture grant allow La Tertulia to hire actors and staff for its planned productions. But more money lets the collective dig into a virtual approach, too. Argueta hopes to put on some virtual poetry readings on YouTube during the pandemic. That proposal drew in in Arts and Culture Commission. We did have an adjustment in this years grant application, Varamo said. We added a question that really asked if COVID-19 continues to be an issue, or it gets worse and worse, if youre unable to do your programming in person ... what is your contingency plan? Modified approaches to community programming were consistent across the applications, even for groups that lean heavily on gathering in person. Stamford Pride was another big-ticket recipient among grant winners, and its plan for a summer Pride festival takes the pandemic fully into account. We wanted to make sure that everyone was able to participate knowing that some people are still going to be cautious and staying at home well into 2021, said Stamford Pride Vice President Kristen Stiles. Programming efforts in partnership with the Ferguson Library and the Avon Theater, another recipient, will happen both in person and online. Plus, Stamford Pride is planning to shut down Bedford Street and open it up for LGBTQ+ vendors to create a socially distant street festival. All the recipients, Varamo said, strive to make arts and culture more accessible in Stamford. The Ballet School of Stamford through the grant will provide free dance classes to people typically priced out of the craft, and other grant recipients undertake similar free programming pushes. The money comes at particularly opportune moment, as the city ventures into its 11th month of the pandemic. The commissioners are so happy that the city of Sanford has continued to support this grant, especially during COVID-19, Varamo said. It is so desperately needed especially now, and very, very much appreciated. The NDP is demanding the release of a report into the decisions surrounding the construction of a pair of Manitoba Hydro mega projects, saying it could hold clues as to the Pallister government's intentions regarding the province's largest Crown corporation. The NDP is demanding the release of a report into the decisions surrounding the construction of a pair of Manitoba Hydro mega projects, saying it could hold clues as to the Pallister government's intentions regarding the province's largest Crown corporation. Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall was to have completed the report on the building of the Keeyask generating station and the Bipole III transmission line last fall. The projects cost billions of dollars more than originally budgeted. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister asked former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell to carry out the $2.5-million review in the fall of 2018. After allegations of sexual assault (which Campbell denies), the province replaced Campbell with Wall a year later, providing him with powers to subpoena witnesses and obtain documents. The Manitoba NDP, while long-regarding the review as an expensive, politically motivated exercise, is nonetheless demanding the release of the report. "The reason the report is so important is because it contains, I think, clarity on the plans this government has for Manitoba Hydro and the future of Hydro," NDP MLA Adrien Sala said Wednesday. Sala said Manitobans are already concerned about "unprecedented interference" by the government in the Crown corporation's operations over the past year. He cited an order preventing Hydro from bidding on a lucrative government contract as one example. A second, he said, was a directive preventing a Hydro subsidiary from taking on new work. Last fall, the government enacted legislation boosting consumers' electricity bills by 2.9 per cent, bypassing the Public Utilities Board rate-setting process. The hike took effect in December. Sala said the NDP is worried the government plans to privatize parts of Hydro. In a statement, Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton said the report "is currently being finalized." "Manitobans deserve to know how Manitoba Hydro was mismanaged under the previous NDP government. Our goal is to better protect Manitobans by not running the risk of repeating the same mistakes that have been experienced in the past with decisions around major capital projects," the minister said. The Keeyask project is expected to cost $8.7 billion. The generating station is now starting to come into commercial service. One of seven of its units was synchronized to Hydro's power grid for the first time Jan. 13, a corporation spokesman said Wednesday. Bipole III went into service in July 2018, at a final cost of $4.62 billion. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca These are, of course, merely examples within an ever-changing landscape. Most resorts in these destinations have the information you need on their websites (although I struggled to find current details, in some cases), typically in a banner across the top. In general, they suggest not only that you make a testing reservation before you leave home but that you take the test at the very edge of the 72-hour rule, so as to allow enough time for the return of the results before you head to the airport. Prime Minister on Thursday addressed the Cadet Corps (NCC) rally here and said that India will soon be known as a big producer of defence equipment instead of being the world's biggest arms buyer. He also said that the youth wing of India's armed forces has witnessed a 35 per cent increase in the number of girl cadets in the last few years. Modi also asked the cadets to follow discipline throughout their lives. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three armed service chiefs were also present during the occasion. The Prime Minister inspected the Guard of Honour, and also reviewed march past by contingents and cultural performance during the event. Addressing the rally here at the Cariappa Ground, Modi said, "India will soon be known as a big producer of defence equipment, instead of being a market as it is today." He said that "you are witnessing fulfilment of several targets of self-reliance". "When you see excitement in your circles with local brands, it is a positive change," he said. He also said that India has received three more Rafale jets from France. "They (Rafale) have the ability to refuel mid-air, which has been done by India's friend UAE, helped by Greece and Saudi Arabia. This is a portrayal of India's strengthening friendship with Middle Eastern countries," Modi said. He said that last year India has shown whether it is a virus or a border challenge, the country is capable of taking every step to defend itself strongly. "Whether it is the safety net of the vaccine or missiles of the challengers of India, India is capable on every front," Modi said. Stressing on the role of the NCC in the society Modi said, "To bring the discipline in society, the NCC can play an important role. The discipline should remain throughout your life." He also asked the NCC cadets to inspire people around them to follow discipline in society, as it will help the country and the society to grow. He said that the image of NCC is growing day by day. "I feel proud. The valour and service feeling of NCC is visible. When there is need to make people aware on laws or on Constitution or on important campaigns, the NCC cadets are there." He said that in times of emergencies or during the times of the natural calamities, the NCC cadets have served the people of the country. Citing the example of issues like Maoism and terrorism in several parts of the country, Modi said, "There was a time when there was Maoism and terrorism, but the role of people and the valour of forces came together and the backbone of Maoism was broken. Now Maoism is present only in a very few districts of the country." He said many youths have left the path of Maoism and have integrated themselves into society. He said that the Covid pandemic was a challenging time for the country. "But it also brought opportunity to do something for the country and to become self-reliant," he said. He said that the government has tried to expand the role of NCC. "We are going to increase the role of NCC in the border areas and on the coastal areas. On August 15 last year it was announced that in 175 districts NCC will be given a new role for which one lakh cadets will be trained by Army, Air Force and Navy," Modi said, adding, "And out of this, one-third are girl cadets." He also said that the NCC training centre capacity is also being increased. "Earlier there was only one firing simulator, now 98 firing simulators have been prepared. Micro light flight simulators have also been increased from 5 to 44 and rowing simulators from 11 to 60," he said. Modi emphasised that these advance simulators will improve the training quality of NCC cadets. Remebering General K.M. Cariappa, after whom the ground has been named, Modi said, "This ground is named after General Cariappa. His life was filled with heroic deeds. His valour gave India a strategic edge during the 1947 Indo-Pakistan war. I pay my tribute to General Cariappa." Giving a call to NCC cadets to join the armed forces, Modi said, "All of you should try to join armed forces. And I will emphasise to girl cadets that opportunities are waiting for you. In the last few years, there has been a 35 per cent increase in girl cadets in NCC. Now in armed forces many opportunities are being opened," he said. He said many women personnel are now safeguarding the country on the borders. Remembering the famous Battle of Longewala in 1971, Modi said, "In the 1971 war, our soldiers had won a strategic and decisive battle in Longewala. In that war against Pakistan, India had defeated the enemy on the borders. Pakistan's innumerable soldiers had surrendered to India. This year, we are completing 50 years of that war." Modi also paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the formation of Bangladesh. --IANS aks/kr (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.) MY SALON Suite It is an honor and a privilege to partner with St. Jude, an organization that has saved so many lives." MY SALON Suite is honored to announce they have donated $200,000 to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital since establishing a compassionate partnership. This milestone comes after a recent fundraising effort led to a nearly $45,000 donation. MY SALON Suite, a turnkey salon suite studios franchise that allows salon professionals to provide beauty services to their own respective clients, held a systemwide fundraising effort to benefit St. Jude in September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. More than 130 MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza locations took part in this initiative. The brands collectively raised $25,492, surpassing their goal of $25,000. Ten vendor partners contributed an additional $19,000 to the fundraising effort. In total, the initiative raised $44,492. It is an honor and a privilege to partner with St. Jude, an organization that has saved so many lives, says MY SALON Suite CEO and President Ken McAllister. MY SALON Suite owners, vendors, and stylists are members of a compassionate family. We are committed to helping our communities, and we hold steadfast to that commitment even during challenging times like the present. Suite Management Franchising, the parent company of MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, started its partnership with St. Jude in 2018 when it launched the Suite Relief Fund. Since the inception of the partnership, the Suite Relief Fund has contributed $200,000 to St. Jude. Donations help St. Judes efforts to research and find cures for pediatric diseases while taking care of children battling life-threatening illnesses. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. The successful fundraiser is the latest accomplishment for MY SALON Suite. The franchise recently reached a new milestone when it surpassed one million square footage across all locations. MY SALON Suite has also been recognized as a leading franchise opportunity by some of the most prestigious business lists, including the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 and the Inc. 5000, in which it was ranked number 100 and 928, respectively. About MY SALON Suite MY SALON Suite is the latest concept in the beauty services industry, bringing together a collection of independent beauty professionals in one luxurious location. Ken and Alanna McAllister opened the first MY SALON Suite in Metairie, Louisiana, in 2010. They had three locations in Louisiana and Florida by 2012, and the franchise expanded across North America. In 2015, MY SALON Suite partnered with Salon Plaza, a salon operation with more than 25 years of experience, to drive expansion and provide knowledge for new and existing franchise partners. With industry-leading knowledge, operational processes, and support services, we help franchise owners successfully build, open and manage upscale private salon suite facilities for highly-qualified, established beauty service professionals who are ready to make an investment in themselves and their professional success by running their own salon business. For more information about MY SALON Suite, please visit: https://www.mysalonsuite.com/. For more information about MY SALON Suite franchise opportunities, please visit: https://www.suitemanagementfranchising.com/. Debenhams Plc Department Store Turned Into Vaccination Centre - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Back in March, the University of Oxford was on the brink of signing a deal with the German drugs giant Merck to research and develop a coronavirus vaccine. The Government stepped in and helped steer Oxford towards a partnership with British-based AstraZeneca instead, taking a huge gamble by helping to fund the research and development of a vaccine that might have proved useless. Instead, the Oxford vaccine became only the second in the Western world to be approved for use, and both the UK and AstraZeneca are now reaping the benefits of the deal that was struck last April. AstraZeneca has, so far, remained fiercely loyal to the Government, resolutely refusing to give in to EU demands that it should redirect supplies of its UK-made vaccine to the bloc. But that close relationship has come under unprecedented strain as the company found itself under huge pressure from Brussels. Boris Johnson sees the operation for distributing Oxford/Astrazaneca vaccine in London during a visit to a vaccination centre in the north of the capital - Stefan Rousseau/PA The row erupted last Friday, when AstraZeneca said it would not be able to fulfil promised supplies of the vaccine, which is expected to be authorised by the European Medicines Authority at the end of this week. Brussels had ordered up to 400 million doses in total and paid 336 million (296.4 million) in advance to secure its supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but the company said it was facing production problems in its EU plants. EU officials said AstraZeneca had only offered a quarter of the 100 million doses it had promised for the first quarter of the year, while the firm put the figure at 31 million out of 80 million jabs it had hoped to deliver. The EU's 27 member states, many of whom had foregone other vaccines to wait for the AstraZeneca jab which is cheaper and easier to store than the Belgian-made Pfizer alternative were furious and wanted answers. The European Commission, which had negotiated its own contract with AstraZeneca, was left red-faced and angry. And so the blame game began. On Monday, the commission subjected AstraZeneca to a string of public and private dressing downs, accusing it of breaching its contractual obligations. Story continues The commission ratcheted up the pressure, saying it would force drugmakers in the EU to ask permission to export vaccines out of the bloc. The threat to British supplies of the Pfizer vaccine was clear. On Wednesday, the EU went further, demanding that AstraZeneca divert British-made supplies of the vaccine to the bloc. The British Government has a deal with AstraZeneca to supply 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Crucially it also said Britain's two plants could only supply jabs outside of the UK once that order was fulfilled. That agreement was struck three months before the EU's deal as ministers took advantage of their post-Brexit freedom to go it alone rather than signing up to EU-wide procurement. While Britain was setting up its logistics and sorting out supply chains, the EU's negotiations with AstraZeneca became mired in bureaucracy, costing the bloc vital time which has now been manifested in its supply problems. On Tuesday, the AstraZeneca CEO, Pascal Soriot, said separate supply chains, including manufacturing plants, had been created for each order one for the EU and one for the UK. This was done explicitly to stop squabbling over supply. The EU supply chain was behind because the bloc, late to the party, was still experiencing teething problems with production problems the UK supply chain had also suffered initially but had overcome. Mr Soriot added that AstraZeneca was under no contractual obligation to supply the vaccines but only to make its "best efforts" to meet the order. His interview in which he pointed out that the vaccines were being supplied on a not for profit basis further infuriated the European Commission top brass. Brussels has made huge play of the virtue of negotiating as a bloc, a posture that has appeared increasingly ridiculous as it lagged behind Britain in the vaccination rollout. To make matters worse, the EU member states have been suffering from logistics and delivery problems for the other two vaccines already approved. The Government was invited to join the EU joint procurement system but declined and made use of emergency authorisation procedures, open to all EU member states, to speed up approval of vaccines. Brussels sneered that it preferred not to take such risks. Mr Soriot's implication that the EU's dithering was to blame for the delay came on the eve of EU countries such as Spain running out of vaccines and having to pause their programmes. On Wednesday, the commission went back on the attack. It accused Mr Soriot of revealing confidential information, such as the "best efforts" clause and the production capacity, in his interview. Legal action was threatened before the threat was later played down. Stella Kyriakides, the EU's health commissioner, told reporters in Brussels: "We reject the logic of first come, first served. That might work at the neighbourhood butchers, but not on our contracts and not in our advanced purchase agreements." Ms Kyriakides said there was "no priority clause" in the EU contract between the four production plants in the agreement, which include two factories in the EU and the two in the UK, adding: "In our contract, it is not specified that any country or the UK has priority [...] this needs to be absolutely clear." The European Commission's chief spokesperson said: "If UK plants are working better, are we expecting UK plants to deliver doses to the EU? Yes we do. " Elsewhere in Brussels, AstraZeneca's name continued to be dragged through the mud. There was talk of a nascent vaccine trade war from one German MEP. Ms Kyriakides turned the knife and played to the gallery; making the reputational risk facing AstraZeneca in the EU crystal clear. She said the EU was losing people to the pandemic "every day" and added: "Pharmaceutical companies, vaccine developers, have moral societal and contractual responsibilities which they need to uphold." In the heightened political drama, it mattered little that AstraZeneca is already right on the limit of what is possible. The 100 million doses destined for Britain is what would normally be produced in a year rather than each month. AstraZeneca stayed firm and loyal to the UK, justifying the Government's decision to move first and fast. But the company remains under huge, sustained legal, financial and reputational pressure from the EU, which is a much larger and more lucrative drugs market than Britain. The fear is that eventually it will yield to EU demands and redirect supply, now or in the future, but the firm insists it has no intention of doing so. After another meeting with EU leaders on Wednesday night, a spokesman for AstraZeneca said: "Our CEO was pleased to participate in a meeting with the EU's vaccine steering board this evening. We had a constructive and open conversation about the complexities of scaling up production of our vaccine, and the challenges we have encountered. "We have committed to even closer co-ordination to jointly chart a path for the delivery of our vaccine over the coming months as we continue our efforts to bring this vaccine to millions of Europeans at no profit during the pandemic." In an ironic post-script, earlier this week Merck the firm that had come so close to signing up with the University of Oxford announced that it was abandoning its attempts to develop a vaccine after disappointing results in trials of two prototypes. The contested piece of art, which Ukraine says is part of its cultural heritage, has earlier sparked a diplomatic row. Ukraine is ready to urgently send its experts to Sarajevo, asking local authorities to provide the group access to the icon, which was smuggled out of the occupied Luhansk before resurfacing in Bosnia and ultimately being presented to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. That's according to Ukraine's Ambassador Vasyl Kyrylych, who spoke in Sarajevo with Bosnia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Bisera Turkovic, Ukrainian Pravda reports. During the meeting, Kyrylych emphasized the fact that Ukraine had never given permission to export the icon in the first place. Read alsoUkraine furious over icon presented to Lavrov in Bosnia and Herzegovina mediaIn order to return the artifact to Ukraine as soon as possible, the ambassador said Ukrainian experts were ready to immediately deploy in Sarajevo, and appealed to the Bosnian-Herzegovinian side to assist the team in their work. Also, having met with Bosnia's chief prosecutor, Kyrylych discussed the issue of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries in the relevant case. Background The Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, presented a Ukrainian icon to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. After that, the Ukrainian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina demanded an explanation from that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as to how the icon had appeared in the country in the first place. Subsequently, the Russian foreign ministry announced that they would return the icon to the side that had presented it so that its history could be traced through Interpol. According to local media reports, the icon is almost 300 years old and was stored in the Ukrainian city of Luhansk, which is now occupied by Russian-controlled forces. Local media reported the relic could be estimated at up to EUR 12.5 million. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy intends to appeal to law enforcement agencies with a request to establish a chain of the icon's movement from Ukraine to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The prosecutor's office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has opened a respective criminal case. Milorad Dodik said he would hand back to Ukraine the centuries-old Orthodox icon on condition that Kyiv proved it had actually been searching for it earlier. Press Secretary for the foreign ministry of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, said: "Ukraine does not accept the language of conditions and ultimatums. [] The fact that the icon comes from Ukrainian territory is indisputable." Reporting by UNIAN Right-wing extremist Stephan Ernst was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday for the murder of Walter Luebcke, a pro-refugee politician whose 2019 death shocked Germany. Ernst is likely to spend at least 15 years in prison due to the seriousness of the crime, the judges in Frankfurt's higher regional court ruled on Thursday, while reserving the right to keep the 47-year-old in preventive detention even longer. Ernst shot Luebcke in the head on the politician's own porch on June 2, 2019. Luebcke, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) who led the local government in the central district of Kassel, is said to have been targeted due to his support for Merkel's open-border policy during the 2014/2015 refugee crisis. Prosecutors said Ernst was motivated by right-wing extremism and xenophobia. Ernst's co-defendant, another known right-wing extremist identified only as Markus H under German privacy laws, was handed a suspended sentence of one year and six months for violating arms laws. The court did not find him guilty of aiding and abetting the crime. Ernst had admitted to the killing, but changed his version of events three times. In his most recent testimony, Ernst placed part of the blame on H and said he had been with him at the scene of the crime. H gave no response to the allegation, only speaking once in the trial to respond to a weapons expert's assessment and in doing so showing his own expansive knowledge on the subject. Markus H's defence team had argued for their client's full acquittal. Presiding judge Thomas Sagebiel said he had no option but to hand down the harshest sentence possible to Ernst, but noted that the man's confession could lead to a milder punishment. Sagebiel explained that the convicted killer could cooperate in a rehabilitation programme for right-wing extremists, which could influence the minimum length of the custodial term or help him to avoid preventive detention upon completing that term. Source: dpa/GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Press Release January 28, 2021 Hontiveros questions SOPs of PNP, AFP amid "trigger-happy" officers involved in unlawful killings "Bunot ng baril kaagad ba ang sagot sa mga tao? Hindi man lamang nila mahanapan ng paraan para kausapin? Hindi kaya masyado nang trigger happy?" This statement from Senator Risa Hontiveros who questioned the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights probed a spate of unlawful killings since 2020. Hontiveros, who co-authored proposed Senate Resolution No. 599 which prompted the said investigation, said that while the law allows uniformed personnel to use force to defend themselves as they perform their mandate, violence should only be used as a last resort. "Is the Step 1 in our Operating Procedure just: open fire, no questions asked? Parang ang mura ng buhay ng tao kung ganon na lang tayo kabilis bumunot at magpaputok ng baril," she said. The senator then pointed to incidents involving questionable use of force by the police and the military. For instance, the killing of senior citizens Agaton Topacio and Eugenia Magpantay, who were shot in their home by police officers in Angono, Rizal. The PNP reportedly gave conflicting accounts to justify their deaths, claiming that the elderly and sickly couple had either fired at the police, or attempted to flee during the pre-dawn raid. Hontiveros also cited the killing of journalist Ronnie Villamor, who was shot by Philippine Army troops in a military checkpoint in Milagros, Masbate. While the military claims that Villamor was armed and died in a firefight with soldiers, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) reported that soldiers fired at Villamor as he was attempting to call local police so that he and four surveyors could pass the checkpoint. "Ibig sabihin ba nito, kahit isang buong arresting team na ang dala ng mga pulis, hindi pa rin nila kinayang arestuhin ang dalawang sakitin na senior citizen? Kahit sa mga dumadaan lang sa checkpoint, dahas rin agad ang paraan ng negosasyon?" Hontiveros said. Hontiveros stressed the PNP and the AFP must formulate more intensive de-escalation trainings for their personnel, in order to prevent violent incidents during interactions with civilians. "I would like to believe that an overwhelming majority of our uniformed personnel are committed to their mandate to protect their fellow Filipinos. But it seems that our police and military personnel would really benefit from a thorough de-escalation training. They need to be able to better handle tense situations without the use of violence, especially in dealing with ordinary civilians," Hontiveros said. Such a de-escalation training program, Hontiveros said, will complement other reforms to the PNP and AFP such as wider human rights education and faster disposition of cases involving abuse or violence by uniformed personnel. "Hopefully, such reforms will transform the AFP and the PNP so that these killings will become a thing of the past," she concluded. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The cloud revolution continues in 2021, and several companies are gaining attention from investors due to confidence in future growth. Ringover, a cloud based platform provider based in Europe, is one of the latest companies to benefit from the surge of demand in cloud technology. The company recently announced that it has secured 10 million ($12 million) in a series A round of funding from Expedition Growth Capital. Ringover representatives commented that the funding will be used to power the future of enterprise communication. Though there are optimistic signs that the pandemic could slow down over the coming months, the past year had sent a message to the entire business world that having proper cloud capabilities is now a necessity. Remote activity will likely continue long after the pandemic ends, and companies are quickly adjusting to this fact. People arent based in physical office and call center spaces with access to a physical work phone or desktop software, so being able to carry out all the same tasks and workflows on a remote digital platform is a priority for businesses, and investors are seeing that growth potential. said Ringover cofounder and CEO Renaud Charvet. 2020 helped usher in a massive amount of funds for a number of other cloud-based organizations. For instance, Talkdesk and MessagBird are both valued at $3 billion dollars after securing well over $100 million in funding. Dialpad and Aircall have also experienced excellent financial growth, receiving $100 million and $65 million investments, respectively. Edited by Maurice Nagle Science is society's best method for understanding the world. Yet many scientists are unhappy with the way it works, and there are growing concerns that there is something "broken" in current scientific practice. Many of the rules and procedures that are meant to promote innovative research are little more than historical precedents with little reason to suppose they encourage efficient or reliable discoveries. Worse, they can have perverse side-effects that harm both science and scientists. A well-known example is the general preference for positive over negative results, which creates a "publication bias" that gives the false impression that certain effects exist where in reality the dissenting evidence simply fails to be released. Arizona State University researchers Thomas Morgan and Minhua Yan, working with ASU graduate Leonid Tiokhin, now at University of Technology Eindhoven in the Netherlands, have developed a new model, published this week in Nature Human Behavior, to better understand the challenges facing the scientific process and how we can make it better. They focused on the "priority rule": the tendency for the first scientist to document a finding to be disproportionately rewarded with prestige, prizes and career opportunities while those in second place get little to no recognition. Winner takes all Many scientists have sleepless nights worrying about being "scooped" -- fearing that their work won't be considered "novel" enough for the highest-impact scientific journals because a different group working on the same topic manages to publish first. The priority rule has been around for centuries. In the 17th century, Newton and Leibniz haggled over who invented calculus. And in the 19th century, Charles Darwin rushed to publish of "The Origin of Species" to avoid being scooped by Alfred Russel Wallace. "Rewarding priority is understandable and has some benefits. However, it comes at a cost," says Tiokhin. "Rewards for priority may tempt scientists to sacrifice the quality of their research and cut corners." "The idea is that competition encourages scientists to work hard and efficiently, such that discoveries are made quickly. But if everyone is working hard, and you need to come in first to be successful, then there's a temptation to cut corners to maximize your chances, even if it means the science suffers," said Morgan, a research affiliate with the Institute of Human Origins and associate professor with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. This is partly why some academic publishers, such as PLOS and eLife, now offer "scoop protection," allowing researchers to publish findings identical to those already published within a certain timeframe. The problem is that science and publishers currently don't have a good idea about whether these reforms make sense. Modelling the priority rule To figure out how exactly the preference for priority affects science, and whether recent reforms offer any solution for its potential drawbacks, the collaborators developed an "evolutionary agent-based model." This computer model simulates how a group of scientists investigate or abandon research questions, depending on their own results and the behavior of other scientists they compete against. "The benefit of an evolutionary simulation is that we don't need to specify in advance how scientists behave. We just create a world in which success is rewarded, and we let selection figure out what kinds of behavior this favors," said Morgan. "We can then vary what it means to successful -- for instance, whether or not it's critical to come first -- and see how selection changes the behavior of scientists in response. We can also measure the benefit to society -- are scientists being efficient? Are their findings accurate? And so on." No panacea The researchers found that a culture of excessive rewards for priority can have harmful effects. Among other things, it motivates scientists to conduct "quick and dirty" studies, so that they can be first to publish. This reduces the quality of their work and harms the reliability of science as a whole. The model also suggests that scoop protection, as introduced by PLOS and eLife, works. "It reduces the temptation to rush the research and gives researchers more time to collect additional data," said Tiokhin. "However, scoop protection is no panacea." This is because scoop protection motivates some scientists to continue with a research line even after several results on that topic have been published, which reduces the total number of research questions the scientific community can address. The 'benefit' of inefficiency Scoop protection reforms in themselves, while helpful, are not sufficient to guarantee high-quality research or a reliable published literature. The model also shows that even with scoop protection, scientists will be tempted to run many small studies if new studies are cheap and easy to set up and the rewards for negative results are high. This suggests that measures that force scientists to invest more heavily in each study, such as asking scientists to preregister their studies or get their research plans criticized before they begin collecting data, can help. "We also learned that inefficiency in science is not always a bad thing. On the contrary -- inefficiencies force researchers to think twice before starting a new study," said Tiokhin. Another option is to make large-scale data collection so straightforward that there is less incentive to skimp on data, alternatively, reviewers and journals could be more vigilant in looking out for "underpowered" studies with small sample-sizes. Metascience This project is an example of metascience, the use of the scientific method to study science itself. "It was a great pleasure to be part of this project. I got to use my modeling skills not only to make specific scientific discoveries, but also to shed light on how the scientific procedure itself should be designed to increase research quality and credibility. This benefits the whole scientific community and ultimately, the whole society," said Yan, a graduate student in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. ### Article published in Nature Human Behaviour, "Competition for priority harms the reliability of science but reforms can help," Leonid Tiokhin, Minhua Yan, Thomas J.H. Morgan. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Wool fibers dyed with Royal Purple,~1000 BCE, Timna Valley, Israel. Credit: Dafna Gazit, the Israel Antiquities Authority "King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon. Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love." (Song of Songs 3:9-10) For the first time, rare evidence has been found of fabric dyed with royal purple dating from the time of King David and King Solomon. While examining the colored textiles from Timna Valleyan ancient copper production district in southern Israelin a study that has lasted several years, the researchers were surprised to find remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and fibers of wool dyed with royal purple. Direct radiocarbon dating confirms that the finds date from approximately 1000 BCE, corresponding to the biblical monarchies of David and Solomon in Jerusalem. The dye, which is produced from species of mollusk found in the Mediterranean, over 300 km from Timna, is often mentioned in the Bible and appears in various Jewish and Christian contexts. This is the first time that purple-dyed Iron Age textiles have been found in Israel, or indeed throughout the Southern Levant. The research was carried out by Dr. Naama Sukenik from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef, from the Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures at Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with Prof. Zohar Amar, Dr. David Iluz and Dr. Alexander Varvak from Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Orit Shamir from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The unexpected finds are being published today in PLOS ONE. Wool textile fragment decorated by threads dyed with Royal Purple, ~1000 BCE, Timna Valley, Israel Credit: Dafna Gazit, the Israel Antiquities Authority "This is a very exciting and important discovery," explains Dr. Naama Sukenik, curator of organic finds at the Israel Antiquities Authority. "This is the first piece of textile ever found from the time of David and Solomon that is dyed with the prestigious purple dye. In antiquity, purple attire was associated with the nobility, with priests, and of course with royalty. The gorgeous shade of the purple, the fact that it does not fade, and the difficulty in producing the dye, which is found in minute quantities in the body of mollusks, all made it the most highly valued of the dyes, which often cost more than gold. Until the current discovery, we had only encountered mollusk-shell waste and potsherds with patches of dye, which provided evidence of the purple industry in the Iron Age. Now, for the first time, we have direct evidence of the dyed fabrics themselves, preserved for some 3000 years." Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef from Tel Aviv University's Archaeology Department says, "Our archaeological expedition has been excavating continuously at Timna since 2013. As a result of the region's extremely dry climate, we are also able to recover organic materials such as textile, cords and leather from the Iron Age, from the time of David and Solomon, providing us with a unique glimpse into life in biblical times. If we excavated for another hundred years in Jerusalem, we would not discover textiles from 3000 years ago. The state of preservation at Timna is exceptional and it is paralleled only by that at much later sites such as Masada and the Judean Desert Caves. In recent years, we have been excavating a new site inside Timna known as Slaves' Hill. The name may be misleading, since far from being slaves, the laborers were highly skilled metalworkers. Timna was a production center for copper, the Iron Age equivalent of modern-day oil. Copper smelting required advanced metallurgical understanding that was a guarded secret, and those who held this knowledge were the "Hi-Tech' experts of the time. Slaves' Hill is the largest copper-smelting site in the valley and it is filled with piles of industrial waste such as slag from the smelting furnaces. One of these heaps yielded three scraps of colored cloth. The color immediately attracted our attention, but we found it hard to believe that we had found true purple from such an ancient period." According to the researchers, true purple [argaman] was produced from three species of mollusk indigenous to the Mediterranean Sea: The Banded Dye-Murex (Hexaplex trunculus), the Spiny Dye-Murex (Bolinus brandaris) and the Red-Mouthed Rock-Shell (Stramonita haemastoma). The dye was produced from a gland located within the body of the mollusk by means of a complex chemical process that lasted several days. Today, most scholars agree that the two precious dyes, purple [argaman] and light blue, or azure [tekhelet] were produced from the purple dye mollusk under different conditions of exposure to light. When exposed to light, azure is obtained whereas without light exposure, a purple hue is obtained. These colors are often mentioned together in the ancient sources, and both have symbolic and religious significance to this day. The Temple priests, David and Solomon, and Jesus of Nazareth are all described as having worn clothing colored with purple. Excavating Slaves' Hill. Credit: Sagi Bornstein, the Central Timna Valley Project. The analytical tests conducted at Bar Ilan University's laboratories, together with dyes that were reconstructed by Prof. Zohar Amar and Dr. Naama Sukenik, can identify the species used to dye the Timna textiles and the desired hues. In order to reconstruct the mollusk dyeing process, Prof. Amar traveled to Italy where he cracked thousands of mollusks (which the Italians eat) and produced raw material from their dye glands that was used in hundreds of attempts to reconstruct ancient dyeing. "The practical work took us back thousands of years," says Prof. Amar, "and it has allowed us to better understand obscure historical sources associated with the precious colors of azure and purple." The dye was identified with an advanced analytical instrument (HPLC) that indicated the presence of unique dye molecules, originating only in certain species of mollusk. According to Dr. Naama Sukenik, "Most of the colored textiles found at Timna, and in archaeological research in general, were dyed using various plant-based dyes that were readily available and easier to dye with. The use of animal-based dyes is regarded as much more prestigious, and served as an important indicator for the wearer's high economic and social status. The remnants of the purple-dyed cloth that we found are not only the most ancient in Israel, but in the Southern Levant in general. We also believe that we have succeeded in identifying the double-dyeing method in one of the fragments, in which two species of mollusk were used in a sophisticated way, to enrich the dye. This technology is described by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder, from the first century CE, and the dye it produced was considered the most prestigious." Prof. Ben-Yosef identifies the copper-production center at Timna as part of the biblical Kingdom of Edom, which bordered the kingdom of Israel to the south. According to him, the dramatic finds should revolutionize our concepts of nomadic societies in the Iron Age. "The new finds reinforce our assumption that there was an elite at Timna, attesting to a stratified society. In addition, since the mollusks are indigenous to the Mediterranean, this society obviously maintained trade relations with other peoples who lived on the coastal plain. However, we do not have evidence of any permanent settlements in the Edomite territory. The Edomite Kingdom was a kingdom of nomads in the early Iron Age. When we think of nomads, it is difficult for us to free ourselves from comparisons with contemporary Bedouins, and we therefore find it hard to imagine kings without magnificent stone palaces and walled cities. Yet in certain circumstances, nomads can also create a complex socio-political structure, one that the biblical writers could identify as a kingdom. Of course, this whole debate has repercussions for our understanding of Jerusalem in the same period. We know that the Tribes of Israel were originally nomadic and that the process of settlement was gradual and prolonged. Archaeologists are looking for King David's palace. However, David may not have expressed his wealth in splendid buildings, but with objects more suited to a nomadic heritage such as textiles and artifacts." According to Ben-Yosef, "It is wrong to assume that if no grand buildings and fortresses have been found, then biblical descriptions of the United Monarchy in Jerusalem must be literary fiction. Our new research at Timna has showed us that even without such buildings, there were kings in our region who ruled over complex societies, formed alliances and trade relations, and waged war on each other. The wealth of a nomadic society was not measured in palaces and monuments made of stone, but in things that were no less valued in the ancient worldsuch as the copper produced at Timna and the purple dye that was traded with its copper smelters." Explore further 3,000-year-old textiles are earliest evidence of chemical dyeing in the Levant Provided by Tel-Aviv University The local newspaper reported that with the money going to use for the deal, it is possible to buy a better quality fighter helicopter. by a Special Correspondent Sri Lanka Air Force is famous for alleged corruption cases though none of those cases was ended finding justice to stop recurrence through due process of the common law. We are sad people in an unfortunate nation. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is preparing to hand over three Russian-made MI24 fighter helicopters to an unqualified company to overhaul and service life extension, local newspapers reported. To justify it, an old tender has been revived. File Photo: MI 24 One of the helicopters for overhauling under this deal is reported to cost US $ 5.4 million. Accordingly, the total cost of this transaction is US $ 16.2 million. According to the file prepared for this tender, the title of the tender is named as CAPITAL OVERHAUL AND SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION OF SAH.MI35P (MI 35V/ MI35P) HELICOPTER OF SRI LANKA AIR FORCE. However, the file was given tender identification number as, AHQ/15/FR/M24/1008, raising suspicions that any fraud was involved, sources said. Apparently, the history in such an important state apparatus has shown to humanity the true power of corrupt intermediaries and corrupt officials. According to the reports, the Russian Helicopters holding has developed a common standard for Mi-24 modernization designated as Mi-35P. The Mi-35P has received the OPS-24N-1L observation-sight system with a third-generation long-wave matrix thermal imager, TV camera, and laser rangefinder. However, when the tenders called for this deal in 2015, Ukrainian and Belarusian companies were submitted their bids but the tender will be awarded to 558 Aircraft Repair Plant Joint Stock Company (558 ARP). However, it is reported that this company, unfortunately, does not have the authentic Mil Design Bureau certification required for this overhaul and service life extension. The Mil Design Bureau is one of the world's leading developers of helicopters, with particular expertise in heavy-lift helicopters where these MI series were designed and produced. If a third party is interested in overhauling and service life extension of any of Russian helicopters, the party must be obtained the necessary approval According to sources, a team of security experts from Russia a few months ago checked the lifetime of these three helicopters and confirmed their flight time for another four years. That means these helicopters could fly till 2023. But, for some mysterious reason, this outdated tender was awarded to a particular company without considering the evaluation by the experts. From Advertising to Defence The local newspaper reported that with the money going to use for the deal, it is possible to buy a better quality fighter helicopter. Meanwhile, sources in the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, Russia pointed out that a businesswoman who had been engaged in advertising activities for some time has been involved in arms deals in Sri Lanka. The woman has started dealing with a Russian company that was the subject of much controversy during the previous government. As a first step, attention is being paid to procure a significant number of tanks required by the Sri Lanka Army. During the previous government, some companies tried to make armed deals with this Russian company, but many of those deals were highly corrupt and had to be withdrawn due to public protest. US sanctions have been imposed on some of these companies for a variety of reasons. The damage to the countrys reputation and the people caused by such fraudulent middlemen and middlewomen engaged in such corrupt dealings is an urgent issue to be addressed. 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. Becca Balint writes from Brattleboro on history, politics and culture. She currently serves as Senate President Pro Tem in the Vermont Legislature. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer. When Workshop tallied up its success stories for a press release announcing the downtown Charleston food courts imminent closure, it counted Pink Bellies among the launched, meaning its on track to have a permanent location by the end of the year. But Thai Phi, owner of the popular Vietnamese kitchen, isnt quite ready to commit to an opening timeline. Everything is still fluid, says Phi, who in 2013 introduced Pink Bellies as a food truck. Four years later he moved his business into a Workshop stall. Within two years he signed a lease to open a ground floor restaurant in a student housing complex at the corner of King and Spring streets. Although the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Oct. 16, 2020, gave Phi the go-ahead to start serving, Pink Bellies remains literally under wraps. The logoed paper covering its windows has become a fixture of the Upper King streetscape. Our main concern is safety, Phi says. I really feel like we have a social responsibility to make sure everyone is safe. But the nearly 400 noodle fans who pledged $31,431 to Pink Bellies Kickstarter campaign under the belief that the restaurant would throw open its doors in August 2020 say he also has a responsibility to fulfill the promises he made when they invested. For example, 89 people each contributed $25 in exchange for a bowl of dumplings, which they have yet to receive. In response to messages from The Post and Courier, Phi on Wednesday contacted backers to clarify that he intends to provide their rewards when he can. We are so grateful for your support and patience, he wrote, reassuring them his team spent the day staining the restaurants tables for the fourth time. Sign up for our food & dining newsletter. We publish our free Food & Dining newsletter every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to keep you informed on everything happening in the Charleston culinary scene. Sign up today! Email Sign Up! It was Phis first private communication with backers since Nov. 30, although some apparently interested parties have attempted to start a conversation via social media. Just be honest, (youre) never going to open, one Instagram user wrote on Pink Bellies Tuesday post heralding a very real garlic noodle giveaway. Phi says he has already fulfilled all of his Kickstarter reward promises that didnt involve dining, such as a tote bag offered in exchange for $45. I think we are getting there, its just were not there right now, Phi says when asked to forecast a ballpark opening date. Complicating matters is Phis determination not to limit the restaurants services to takeout and delivery. While he considered setting up tables outside or using the new restaurants kitchen to prepare to-go orders, he says he decided against both strategies because customers might get a glimpse of the dining room. The last thing we want is for someone to come in and see our dining room and not be able to experience it, he says. While he declined to reveal which public health measurements hes monitoring, such as the states vaccination level or rate of positive COVID-19 tests, Phi says fellow industry members have advised him to do what feels right. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The future of domestic energy production and resource development is happening now in Alaska. Two recent stories out of Alaska sound a warning to energy and mining states: you are next. Last August, the U.S. Interior Department finalized its plan to open a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas development a move welcomed by Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy at the time, who said, "Alaskans, Americans, this is a great day." It was a day full of opportunity, but five months later, reality hit. Leases for just 11 of the 22 tracts were sold on January 6, 2021, the majority to a state-owned development corporation. And not a single major oil company submitted a bid. Not one. Why would private oil companies take a pass on tapping into ANWR's vast oil and gas reserves? In a word, capital, or lack thereof. Drilling in ANWR, despite the potential payoff, does not fit nicely into the Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) policies that oil companies are now required to implement. Today, access to private capital, bank loans, and insurance requires a strong ESG strategy. And without capital or insurance, development of resources is not possible. The Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska has also been in the news lately. In November, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rejected a permit for the mine located on state-owned land. The state and the developer may appeal the decision, but then-candidate Joe Biden said he would work to stop the Pebble project, making any appeal a waste of time. The Pebble mine project has many vocal opponents, but the lesson here is that the federal government will continue to exert influence over resource development despite questions over its authority to do so. Gov. Dunleavy said, "The flawed decision by the Alaska District creates a dangerous precedent that will undoubtedly harm Alaska's future, and any potential project can fall victim to the same questionable standards," a view he shared and expanded recently in a panel discussion with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. After labeling Alaska "the canary in the coal mine," Dunleavy called for energy-developing states to align in defense of their natural resources. It was a powerful call from someone in the fight. Governors and state legislators in states with strong energy and agriculture sectors should pursue an alliance to protect their state resources, their economies, and their residents. The financial sector, environmental groups, and now the Biden administration form a threefold cord not quickly broken. Our domestic energy industry, farmers, ranchers, and consumers will foot the bill. The impacts from ESG will likely increase based on comments from President Biden's nominee for secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, who said she "would create a hub within Treasury that would focus on financial system-related risk posed by climate change, and tax policy incentives to affect change." That's wind in the sails for the ESG movement. State policymakers should take an "all of the above" approach in defending their sovereignty and their role in developing the natural resources, expanding economic opportunities, and protecting fundamental freedoms within their borders. I wrote about the threat that ESG poses to our domestic fossil fuel industry, and soon, farmers and ranchers. And that was before Treasury put its full weight behind the ESG movement. Policymakers and industry experts will need to be creative to ensure that needed capital is available, and they must stand together. There will be no help from Washington. While some members of Congress discovered federalism earlier this month, lobbyists on K Street are working to bring things back to "regular order" in the swamp. State policymakers understand that it is not in the best interest of their states to work with banks, investment firms, and insurance companies that are actively and deliberately undermining their economies and the financial opportunities, freedoms, and energy security of their citizens. Policies aimed at severing state-level relationships with ESG-focused companies in everything from state contracts to the investment of public pension plans are a start. States can consider restricting these companies from operating within their borders or take steps to ensure fair access to capital for every industry operating in the state. Alaska is a playground for environmental activists and a poster child for the future in energy-producing states and everyone who values access to affordable and reliable energy. States, it is on you. Bette Grande (bette@roughriderpolicy.org) is the CEO of Roughrider Policy Center. Image: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Several allies and supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been detained in Moscow after protests last weekend demanding his release from prison drew tens of thousands to the streets in more than 100 Russian cities. Mr Navalnys top ally Lyubov Sobol, Anastasia Vasilyeva from the Alliance of Doctors union, and Maria Alyokhina from the Pussy Riot punk collective have been detained for 48 hours along with Mr Navalnys brother Oleg. All four are reported to be suspects in a criminal investigation into alleged violations of coronavirus regulations during the mass rally in Moscow. The raids came four days before new protests Mr Navalnys supporters have called for Sunday. Expand Close Police at the apartment where Oleg Navalny lives in Moscow (Mstyslav Chernov/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police at the apartment where Oleg Navalny lives in Moscow (Mstyslav Chernov/AP) Mr Navalny, 44, the most well-known critic of President Vladimir Putins government, was arrested on January 17 on his return from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusations. The overnight detentions of his supporters came after more than a dozen raids on apartments and offices of his family, associates and supporters, including Mr Navalnys flat, where police detained his brother, and a rented apartment where his wife Yulia has been living. Also on Thursday, Russias Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal probe against Mr Navalnys top strategist Leonid Volkov, accusing him of encouraging minors to participate in unauthorised rallies. In a further challenge to Mr Putin, two days after Mr Navalnys arrest, his organisation released an extensive video report on a palatial seaside compound allegedly built for the president. It has been viewed more than 98 million times, further stoking discontent. Expand Close Police clash with demonstrators in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police clash with demonstrators in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) Demonstrations calling for Mr Navalnys release took place in more than 100 cities across the nation on Saturday, a strong show of rising anger toward the Kremlin. Nearly 4,000 people were reported arrested. Mr Navalny fell into a coma while aboard a domestic flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20. He was transferred from Siberia to a Berlin hospital two days later. Labs in Germany, France and Sweden, and tests by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, established that he was exposed to the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent. Russian authorities have refused to open a full criminal inquiry, citing a lack of evidence that Mr Navalny was poisoned. His arrest and the harsh police actions at the protests have brought widespread criticism from the West and calls for his release. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has lashed out at Facebook and other data-driven tech giants for rewarding extremist groups and violent incitement through their data policies. In a speech given to an international data protection conference in Brussels today, Mr Cook accused social media firms of endangering society for their own profit. What are the consequences of prioritising conspiracy theories and violent incitement simply because of their high rates of engagement? he asked. What are the consequences of not just tolerating, but rewarding content that undermines public trust in life-saving vaccinations? What are the consequences of seeing thousands of users join extremist groups, and then perpetuating an algorithm that recommends even more? It is long past time to stop pretending that this approach doesnt come with a cost of polarisation, of lost trust and, yes, of violence. Mr Cook referenced the recent riots in Washington DC, where a number of people stormed the Capitol building. I think the past year, and certainly recent events, have brought home the risk of this for all of us, he said. At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement the longer the better and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible. Mr Cooks intervention is the latest escalation in a heated war of words between Apple and Facebook, in particular. This week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg accused Apple of favouring its own apps and services over those of other developers, calling Apple a rival. US media reports claim that Facebook is preparing an anti-trust case that claims Apple is unjustly giving its own apps an advantage over those of other developers. Facebook is also fighting back against Apples new app rules which oblige developers to give users a choice about what personal data is tracked and how that happens. Every app including our own must share their data collection and privacy practices, information that the App Store presents in a way every user can understand and act on, said Mr Cook of Apples new privacy nutrition label initiative. He also explained Apples latest initiative, called App Tracking Transparency, claims that it is about returning control to users and giving them a say over how their data is handled. Right now, users may not know whether the apps they use to pass the time, to check in with their friends, or to find a place to eat, may in fact be passing on information about the photos they've taken, the people in their contact list, or location data that reflects where they eat, sleep or pray, he said. It seems that no piece of information is too private or personal to be surveilled, monetised, and aggregated into a 360-degree view of your life. The end result of all of this is that you are no longer the customer, you're the product. This has provoked disquiet in Facebook and other big web tech companies that depend on ad-tracking for much of their income. This week, Facebook revealed higher-than-expected quarterly revenue and profits. Despite the bumper figures, its share price fell on warnings from CEO Mark Zuckerberg that its advertising model faced new barriers from initiatives like Apples App Tracking Transparency move. However, Mr Cook said that the issue was one of fundamental rights. The fact is that an interconnected ecosystem of companies and data brokers, of purveyors of fake news and peddlers of division, of trackers and hucksters just looking to make a quick buck, is more present in our lives than it has ever been, he said. And it has never been so clear how it degrades our fundamental right to privacy first, and our social fabric by consequence. Mr Cook also repeated his call for a new privacy law in the US that reflects the EUs GDPR rules. It is certainly time, not only for a comprehensive privacy law here in the United States, but also for worldwide laws and new international agreements that enshrine the principles of data minimisation, user knowledge, user access and data security across the globe. If a business is built on misleading users, on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, then it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reform. Estimates show that $ 200-250 million is needed annually to finance the so-called regime in the mountainous part of Karabakh. The separatist regime does not have any independent financial resources to compensate for this dotation. Lack of raw materials and export markets, lack of investment, limited transport and logistics opportunities are the primary factors determining how the development of industries in the mountainous part of Karabakh has no prospect. The industrial development of the region is possible in the context of reintegration with Azerbaijan, a country that reached the highest level of industrialization in Europe and managed to develop the non-oil industry by over 12 percent in 2020, despite the global industrial crisis. The conclusion is made in the report by the Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication titled "The Armenian population in the mountainous part of Karabakh has prospects for sustainable development within the single economic space of Azerbaijan" seen by Vestnik Kavkaza. Over the past decade, Armenia has directly financed 50-60 percent of the budget of the so-called regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2019 alone, Yerevan transferred $ 120 million as a budget transfer to the budget of the so-called regime. The transfer was often referred to as "interstate debt" in the local documents. In addition to the direct transfer to the so-called regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia has also provided other forms of assistance, from vehicles to computer servers, including periodic donations. The total amount of donations from Armenian Diaspora organizations, another major source of funding to initiatives in the Nagorno Karabakh, are not reflected in any official documents. The Hayastan Foundation has provided about $ 15 million for the construction of the $ 35 million Vardenis-Aghdara highway, one of the projects in the occupied territories. The Hayastan Foundation provided a total of $ 150 million in aid to the so-called regime during the period of occupation. The US- based Tufenkian Foundation reported that it has spent $ 900,000 to build a new village in the Jabrayil district. The official documents submitted to the tax authorities by non-commercial organizations in the United States reported that the Tufenkian Foundation has spent about $ 2 million in the occupied territories during the period from 2003 through 2015. Apparently, the economy of the so-called regime in Nagorno-Karabakh was highly reliant on the support of Armenia and the financial assistance from the Armenian Diaspora. (B. A. Graham 2009, Czachor 2015). Moreover, the economic development of the region has been frozen on "neither war nor peace" principles (Tadevosyan 2010). It is confirmed by researches that neither the strategic currency reserves nor other financial resources allow Armenia, the key sponsor of the so-called regime and a country affected by ongoing military- political- economic crisis trio, to support the Armenians living in the mountainous areas of Karabakh. Armenia, a country that is gravely affected by unemployment (21 percent), poverty (23.5 percent), twin deficits, foreign debt (over 66 percent), and GDP fall (over 5 percent), is incapable to send sustainable aid to a region controlled by Russian peacekeepers. On the other hand, Armenia's high foreign debt lowers its international credit rating and makes it less likely to get new loans from international financial institutions. In short, Armenia, a country that is dependent on foreign debt and donations, has limited opportunities to finance the Armenian population in Karabakh. 42 administrative districts finance all their expenses using local revenues, as seen from 2021 public budget of Azerbaijan. The number of self- sufficing regions rose from 9% to 65% over the past seven years. The list of these regions demonstrates that along with lowland regions, the highland regions with difficult terrain, which require more funds, managed to achieve self- financing. The so-called regime failed to achieve financial independence, which most regions of Azerbaijan reached over the past 30 years. Statistics of the so-called regime show that no city or region has been able to finance its expenditures from local resources over the past 30 years although the occupied territories presented great economic potential. The city and regional budgets were gravely dependent on subsidies and diaspora donations came from Armenia (accounted for over 60 percent of their budgets). Financial sources of separatists curtailed with the so-called regime being deprived of the use of land, forest, water and mineral resources upon the liberation of the occupied territories by Azerbaijan. The current state of the Armenian economy and lack of motives for the diaspora limit the scope of the assistance necessary to cover the expenses of Armenians living in the mountainous part of Karabakh. Broad fiscal space with low foreign debt and strategic foreign exchange reserves of over $ 50 billion makes Azerbaijan powerful to ensure the development of Armenians living in the mountainous part of Karabakh. To be continued By Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to issue executive orders on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, refugee resettlement and the reunification of migrant families, according to a Biden transition team memo shared with lawmakers and recent comments by an administration official. The orders had been planned for Friday, according to the memo and people familiar with discussions. But the White House has now pushed back the time line and it remains unclear when it will take place. Biden, a Democrat, has vowed to reverse many policies put in place by former Republican President Donald Trump, a process that could take months or years. ASYLUM AND REGIONAL MIGRATION Biden plans to undo some of Trump's asylum restrictions and take actions to address the root causes of migration, a White House official said on Saturday during a United States Conference of Mayors virtual event. Biden will unwind a Trump program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), the official, Esther Olavarria, deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, said in a recording reviewed by Reuters. The Biden administration said last Wednesday it would end all new enrollments in the MPP program, which has forced more than 65,000 asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait for U.S. immigration court hearings. But it did not give more information on what would happen to the thousands of people currently in Mexico. In the executive orders, Biden will call to end asylum agreements struck by the Trump administration with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, Olavarria said. Biden will also restore a program that allows certain children in the three nations to apply for refugee status in the United States from their home countries, according to Olavarria. The orders will call for the strengthening of asylum protections in Mexico and other countries so that migrants can seek refuge "closer to home," she said. Additionally, Biden plans to roll back a Trump rule that sought to block asylum seekers who pass through another country en route to the United States, according to a person briefed on discussions. Story continues REUNITING FAMILIES SEPARATED BY TRUMP Biden will create a task force to reunite migrant families who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border by Trump's immigration policies, Olavarria said. Parties in a lawsuit over the separations have been unable to reach the parents of more than 600 children, according to a court filing this month. REVIEW OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM Biden will issue an executive order that would remove barriers to legal immigration and promote citizenship, according to Olavarria. The Biden administration will begin the process of reversing Trump's "public charge" rule, which makes it harder for immigrants who are poor or need certain government benefits to secure residency and stay in the country, according to two people familiar with the plans. Olavarria said on Saturday that Biden would rescind several Trump proclamations. She appeared to reference one that barred certain visa applicants who could not prove they had health coverage and two others that banned the issuance of many work and immigrant visas, which Trump said would protect American jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. CHANGES TO THE REFUGEE PROGRAM Biden is expected to lay out principles that will guide his administration's global refugee policy in one of his executive orders. He has pledged to raise annual refugee intake levels to 125,000, up from the record-low 15,000-person ceiling set by Trump for fiscal year 2021, which began on Oct. 1, 2020. Biden is not expected to immediately raise the refugee limit. Instead, the Biden administration will follow a formal process that involves consulting with Congress, according to two people familiar with the plan. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin, Aurora Ellis and Peter Cooney) [January 28, 2021] ZEDEDA Unveils Industry's First Open Orchestration Solution for the Distributed Edge ZEDEDA, ?the leader in orchestration for the distributed edge, today announced its cloud-native solution that delivers visibility, control and security for edge computing deployments. Companies can now have full-stack remote management and observability for any distributed edge computing hardware and edge application while connecting to any cloud or on-premises system. "The explosion of edge data requires more processing closer to the source, and existing solutions simply do not meet the unique needs for orchestrating apps and hardware outside of physically-secure data centers," said ZEDEDA's CEO and founder Said Ouissal. "Our solution enables customers to operationalize secure distributed edge computing at scale and is based on a truly open foundation and backed by the world's leading open edge ecosystem." ZEDEDA simplifies distributed edge operations by enabling customers to deploy and manage compute nodes anywhere with no IT expertise required on site. An unparalleled out-of-the-box experience includes a built-in app marketplace for on-demand deployment of custom innovations and featured offerings from leading ISVs. By activating functions such as data ingestion, AI/ML, networking and security, customers can instantly unlock the value of edge data to make real-time decisions, maximize operational efficiency and drive new business outcomes. The ability to deploy this level of security at the distributed edge is what sets ZEDEDA's solution apart. As Gartner Research Vice President Bob Gill writes in Gartner's ? 2021 Strategic Roadmap for Edge Computing: "One thing that stands out when developing a POC for an edge implementation is that creating a single system for a trial can be straightforward, but implementing such a system at scale, including enterprise-grade security, orchestration, life cycle management and governance, is a daunting task."* "Edge computing is key to the future of industrial automation, and ZEDEDA provides an unmatched scalable and secure universal orchestration solution," said John Zepecki, Vice President, Software and Control at Rockwell Automation (News - Alert) . "Their solution unlocks the digital future of the IoT edge across Rockwell's ecosystem of software and hardware partners." "ZEDEDA will enable us to orchestrate, monitor and automate edge computing at remote well sites," said Obinna Ilochonwu, Industrial IoT Architect at Schlumberger (News - Alert) . "We are also exploring it to deploy Kubernetes-managed containerized AI/ML apps alongside legacy apps in VMs." "We are shaping the future of the packaging world where every phase in the production process is connected, digitized and automated," said Serge Morisod, Head of IoT Lab at BOBST. "ZEDEDA provides a cloud-based solution, orchestrating the software lifecycle of our IoT devices deployed worldwide. This enables frequent and secure updates of new advancedsoftware, which are required for our customers who operate, more than ever, in an agile business." Open Ecosystem Accelerates Time to Value ZEDEDA's open edge ecosystem offers the developer community and enterprises a choice of market-leading solutions and services delivered by industry experts. Participating companies include Accenture, Advantech, Dianomic, Google, HPE, Inductive Automation, Lanner, Microsoft (News - Alert) , PTC, SAS, Supermicro and SUSE. "HPE Edgeline systems are deployed at far-edge locations, and the users value simplified management of platforms and applications," said Bharath Ramesh, Head of Global Product Management, Converged Edge and IoT Systems, HPE. "ZEDEDA provides a remote orchestration foundation that addresses this need for our customers." "We're seeing customers commence Kubernetes projects with thousands to tens of thousands of nodes, and this requires a foundation that provides visibility," said Sheng Liang, President of Engineering and Innovation at SUSE. "ZEDEDA provides a secure foundation for us to extend our supported Kubernetes offer outside of data centers." "ZEDEDA's support for both VMs and containers is valuable for customers," said Abby Eon, General Manager of PTC Kepware. "This enables deployment of Windows-based ThingWorx Kepware Server alongside containerized applications like Azure IoT Edge on the same device." Zero Trust Security Architecture Protects Edge Computing Software and Hardware Deploying valuable resources outside of secure data centers calls for increased safety measures, so ZEDEDA employs a Zero Trust security model with considerations down to the hardware level. Operating under the principle of "never trust, always verify," ZEDEDA's solution authenticates and approves requests at every point, not just the perimeter. Additional Customer and Partner Perspectives on ZEDEDA's Solution "To help more of our energy industry customers meet regulatory requirements, increase production efficiency, and improve worker safety, Agora is expanding access to our edge AI and IoT solutions," said Director of Agora Venture, Sujit Kumar. "Leveraging ZEDEDA's unique approach to orchestrating a wide range of apps (ours and our partners'), is making deployment of edge computing platforms easier." "When we focused our company on MachineEdge's pump system optimization, we needed solutions to three challenges: updating software external to our IoT Edge modules, holistic device security and device monitoring," said Mike Thompson, CTO of PeopleFlo. "ZEDEDA provided a secure platform for device management and application deployment, allowing us to focus on creating the most value for our end-users." "Video surveillance integrators typically lack remote orchestration and management of customer infrastructure because IT tools are too complex and cost-prohibitive," said Tom Larson, Director of Safety and Security at MBX. "ZEDEDA makes simplified deployment and remote management of existing video management software a reality, while future-proofing for new innovations." "Deploying predictive maintenance apps through ZEDEDA's IoT edge orchestration solution has provided new insights into our wind turbines and is expected to both improve uptime and reduce O&M costs," said Matthew Conwell, Director, Operations Engineering at Invenergy. "Our customers and community are deploying Industry 4.0 edge applications for continuous monitoring, predictive maintenance, OEE, and safety using our leading IIoT open-source platform FogLAMP," said Tom Arthur, CEO of Dianomic. "ZEDEDA enables them to securely manage edge operating environments at scale combined with FogLAMP's tight integration with existing ISA95 operational systems (e.g., OSIsoft, Rockwell, Emerson, ABB, Siemens (News - Alert) , AVEVA, SAP, Oracle) and clouds (Google, AWS and Microsoft)." Flexible Purchasing Models ZEDEDA's distributed edge orchestration solution is sold and consumed as a service with a subscription-based enterprise license, including 24/7 support. The "pay-as-you-go" model enables customers with the flexibility to start small and scale as their edge computing needs evolve. White-label models are also available for OEMs and SIs. For pricing, contact ZEDEDA. To learn more about ZEDEDA's open orchestration solution for the distributed edge, register here to join a February 10 webinar (10 am PT). The webinar will include customer use cases and a product demonstration. * Gartner, 2021 Strategic Roadmap for Edge Computing, Bob Gill, November 3, 2020. About ZEDEDA ZEDEDA, the leader in orchestration for the distributed edge, delivers visibility, control and security for edge computing deployments. ZEDEDA enables customers the freedom of deploying and managing any app on any hardware? ?at scale? ?and connecting to any cloud or on-premises systems. Distributed edge solutions require a diverse mix of technologies and domain expertise, and ZEDEDA provides customers with an open, vendor-agnostic orchestration framework that breaks down silos and provides the needed agility and futureproofing as they evolve their connected operations. Customers can now seamlessly orchestrate intelligent applications at the distributed edge to gain access to critical insights, make real-time decisions and maximize operational efficiency. ZEDEDA is a venture-backed Silicon Valley company, headquartered in San Jose, CA (News - Alert) , with offices in Bangalore and Pune, India. For more information, contact info@zededa.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005348/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An ever increasing number of credit unions around the country have been responsibly banking cannabis businesses (specifically marijuana) for years by following the compliance framework outlined in FinCENs 2014 guidance BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses. However, in the 35 states (plus DC and Puerto Rico) that have legalized marijuana, some credit unions remain unwilling to bank cannabis businesses, FinCEN guidance notwithstanding, until it becomes federally legal. Under the previous administration there was little expectation of significant federal marijuana reform due to publicly expressed anti-marijuana sentiment among ranking Republicans, but now that the Democrats have taken control of both the executive and legislative branches theres a very good chance this will change in 2021. Broadly speaking we can expect one or more of the following four things to happen: Full Legalization marijuana is made fully legal for sale and consumption in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and US territories. Decriminalization / Descheduling marijuana would be removed from the schedule of controlled substances but states would retain the right to regulate and restrict its use as they see fit. Rescheduling currently healthcare providers cannot prescribe marijuana because it is a Schedule I controlled substance, so to drop it to a less restrictive tier would effectively legalize medical marijuana (but not adult-use). Specific protections for financial institutions the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act would prohibit federal regulators from discouraging financial institutions from offering services to state-legal marijuana businesses To get a sense of whats most likely to happen in 2021 well look at where several key Biden administration officials stand on federal marijuana reform: President Joe Biden Bidens current position is that we should just study [marijuana] and decriminalize it. Vice-President Kamala Harris During the vice-presidential debate in 2020 Harris promised that she would work with Biden to decriminalize marijuana and [] expunge the records of those who have been convicted of marijuana. In the Senate she introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to decriminalize cannabis and co-sponsored the SAFE Banking Act. Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services Becerra, Californias Attorney General, has publicly advocated for federal marijuana reform. In 2017 he said, weve realized its better to regulate than criminalize marijuana use and in 2018 he co-signed a letter sent by 17 Attorneys General to Congress urging them to pass the SAFE Banking Act. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Schumer introduced the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act to decriminalize marijuana and was quoted in 2020 as saying, My commitment is that if I am leader, I am going to do everything I can to put the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act on the floor of the Senate. The odds are very high it will pass. Taking those positions into account, it seems highly likely well see marijuana decriminalized and/or protections put in place to protect financial institutions that bank marijuana businesses. Its likely versions of the MORE and SAFE Banking Acts will be passed by Congress now that Democrats control both the House and the Senate, but should those efforts stall out its been suggested that Biden is not opposed to decriminalizing marijuana by executive order. So what does this mean for credit unions that arent banking marijuana businesses? First off, any of the four options on the table should remove concerns that banking marijuana will imperil the credit unions charter or reputation. Second, and this is something that weve heard recently from examiners in states with legal programs, not banking marijuana really isnt an option anymore. That doesnt mean you have to open accounts for marijuana businesses, but you do need to be able to show your examiners that you can identify them and understand your reporting obligations. If youre not banking these businesses now, or youre in a state that has yet to legalize marijuana, you need to prepare for whats coming down the pike. Start building a cannabis banking program now, based on the 2014 FinCEN guidance, so that youre not caught off guard when things change in 2021. On January 28, Ambassador of Ukraine Kateryna Zelenko signed an agreement with Oleksandr Kirichuk on the functions and duties of the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Auckland, New Zealand. The consular jurisdiction of the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Auckland will cover the entire territory of New Zealand, the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy in Singapore reported. During the virtual signing ceremony, Zelenko expressed hope that the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in New Zealand will further promote political, trade, economic, cultural, and people-to-people relations, and that the new Honorary Consuls activity will become an example of safeguarding the interests of the Ukrainians in this Pacific country. The Honorary Consul intends to pay particular attention to improving Ukraines economic presence in New Zealand, expanding the export opportunities for our country, and attracting investments into the economy of Ukraine. Oleksandr Kirichuk was born in Odesa. In 2002, he and his family moved to New Zealand and have a family business here. The Honorary Consul of Ukraine can be contacted at ukrconsul.nz@gmail.com or 9 Saleyards Road, Puhoi (ref. 404002), New Zealand 0951. ish Reviewing Prez Trump's clemency work from a number of perspectives | Main | ACLU urging Prez Biden to "use his clemency powers to bring home 25,000 people" from federal prisons I am very pleased to have the opportunity to publish this guest post from Michael Serota, who is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Sandra Day OConnor College of Law, an Associate Deputy Director of the Academy for Justice, and the Director of the Criminal Justice Reform Lab. I was lucky enough to be a small part in a big project Michael has just completed, and so it is especially exciting to provide this platform for highlighting this work: Can scholarship improve criminal justice decisions? That question drives Reforming Arizona Criminal Justice (RACJ), a collaborative project between the Academy for Justice and the Arizona State Law Journal. RACJ is a special law review issue comprised of a dozen articles on Arizona criminal justice policy written by an interdisciplinary group of scholars (including SL&Ps own Doug Berman). Each article offers an intimate look at an area of Arizona criminal law, provides an overview of relevant academic research, and proposes concrete recommendations for reform. Together, the RACJ articles cover topics across all major stages of the criminal process, with an eye toward the most pressing and salient issues in Arizona. Issues addressed by RACJ include: bail and pretrial detention, marijuana reform, expungement, sentencing reform, juvenile justice, forensic evidence, treatment of sex offenders, the policing of homelessness, public safety, private prisons, and prison oversight. Whats unique about RACJ is the organizing principle driving the project. We invited a diverse group of scholars from across the nation to focus their attention on the criminal law and policy issues in a single jurisdiction, and tasked them with offering targeted recommendations and specific policy guidance sensitive to legal and geographic context. The goal is not only to persuade the government decisionmakers in that jurisdiction to move forward with reforms but also to offer them a clear sense of how to do so. I think of scholarship, whether in law or the social sciences, as existing on a spectrum of actionability, with the most general and abstract work on one end, and the most contextual and concrete on the other. Valuable scholarship exists at all points along the spectrum. That said, it seemed worthwhile, both intellectually and practically, to develop a collection of articles whose organizing principle was to push as far toward the concrete end of the spectrum as possible, with the hopes of seeing what a thoroughly actionable law review issue might look like. Criminal justice needs this kind of push because government decisions in this area are rarely made in the right waythat is, rationally, deliberately, and informed by expertise. Instead of a careful weighing of costs and benefits, weve too often witnessed a pathological process in which all forms of expertiseand scholarly expertise in particularhave been marginalized. (To take just one example: for decades, legislators have ratcheted punishments upward despite an academic consensus that marginal increases in sentencing severity are an ineffective way to promote public safety.) And the consequences have been horrifying: mass imprisonment concentrated on our most vulnerable populations, and racial disparities that defy belief. Thankfully, were undergoing a societal reckoning during which increasing numbers of government officials seem interested in replacing this afactual, tough-on-crime decision-making calculus with something smarter. But making smarter decisions requires better information, and criminal justice scholarship should be a critical part of that. That said, hurdles to entry may put topically relevant academic work out of reach. Aside from the obvious challenges (length, jargon, etc.), criminal justice scholarship typically offers conclusions pitched in the most general and universal terms, while focusing on the conceptual U.S. criminal justice system, or the very real but very distinctive federal criminal justice system. In contrast, it is our many individual state and local criminal justice systems that brought us mass incarceration. So it will be the distinct policy decisions made by the government actors that populate these systems that will need to lead us out of it. Hopefully, the production of rigorous yet accessible scholarship, sensitive to the on-the-ground realities in these states and localities and filled with concrete recommendations, will help promote better outcomes. One would be hard-pressed to find a better place to attempt this kind of project than Arizona. In a nation that leads the world in incarceration, Arizona has the countrys fifth highest imprisonment rate. Over the past four decades, prison populations throughout the United States expanded by 400%but in Arizona, they exploded by around 1200%. And most of this growth occurred while crime went down in the state. What were left with is a prison population of more than 40,000 Arizonans. And the situation is even worse than it seems because a disproportionate number of those trapped in the Arizona criminal justice system are also among the most vulnerable: the poor, the underserved, and minorities. And, as the collection of RACJ articles reveals, Arizona appears to be more resistant to criminal justice reform efforts than other jurisdictions of similar size, resources, and political orientation. So why, then, might one think that accessible, targeted scholarship could actually improve criminal justice decision-makingwhether in Arizona or elsewhere? Let me end with a couple of reasons for optimism. Prior to entering academia, I spent six years working on criminal justice reform for the District of Columbias local government. Time and again during this period, I heard expressions of interest in, but lamentations about the absence of, actionable scholarship. Public servants who wake up every day thinking about how to improve a particular area of policy are, in my experience, inherently interested in what others with relevant expertise have to say about it. Their question is simply this: Are those experts speaking our language, and is what theyre saying sufficiently attuned to the diversity of factors bearing on the decisions I have to make? I also believe that, in Arizona, there is particular interest in hearing from experts who are attuned in this way. Prior to undertaking this project, in the fall of 2019, I met with a wide range of Arizona criminal justice stakeholders to learn about the most pressing policy issues facing the state. Over the course of these discussions, it became clear that there is a marked desire for research, but that written policy analyses of criminal justice issues are few and far between. All too often, bills are proposed (and enacted) in Arizona without any meaningful written work product to support them. At the same time, criminal justice debates in Arizona are more frequently centered around claims about evidence and data, alongside an omnipresent sense that Arizonas policy challenges are unique in ways that generalized research might not be able to capture. So, hopefully, a collection of evidence-driven, Arizona-focused scholarship will be a welcome addition to the criminal justice reform efforts happening around the state. For those interested, heres a list of the articles and participants: The articles, along with executive summaries and other project-related multimedia, can be found at the Reforming Arizona Criminal Justice site. Luke Reeves Secures Second Super MILLION$ Title and $408,406 January 28, 2021 Matthew Pitt Luke Reeves has done it again. Reeves won the GGPoker Super MILLION$ on December 10 and scooped $381,241. he won again on January 26 and padded his bankroll with an additional $408,406 after an intense battle against some of the worlds best poker players. GGPoker Super MILLION$ Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Luke Reeves Ireland $408,406 2 David Yan New Zealand $314,924 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada $242,839 4 Mike Watson Canada $187,255 5 Ole Schemion Austria $144,393 6 Eelis Parssinen Finland $111,342 7 Melker Larsson Mexico $85,856 8 Jonathan Proudfoot United Kingdom $66,204 9 Connor Drinan Canada $51,050 Connor Drinan sat down at the final table with the shortest stack and was the first player out of the door. Drinan came unstuck during the 35,000/70,000/8,500a level where he shoved 10 big blinds with king-queen and ran into the ace-queen of Mike Watson in the big blind. A board void of drama sent Drinan to the rail. Jonathan Proudfoot was the next player to bust, doing so during the same level. The action folded to Reeves on the button and he min-raised with queen-eight. Proudfoot, in the small blind, three-bet to 560,000 with suited ace-six. Daniel Dvoress jammed all-in for 25 big blinds with ace-ten, folding out Reeves, but Proudfoot called. Proudfoot spiked an ace on the flop but Dvoress caught running diamonds to win the pot. Larsson Turns $100 Satellite into an $85,856 Score Seventh place went to Mekler Larsson who started the final table with the chip lead. Dvoress raised slightly more than twice the big blind to 220 from the cutoff, doing so with ace-ten. David Yan made it 567,000 to go from the button with ace-king, before Larsson four-bet jammed for 2,011,254 from the big blind with pocket queens, and only Yan called. An ace on the flop was enough to send the former chip leader to the showers. Larsson banked $85,856 for this finish, a great return for a $100 satellite investment last week! Finlands Eelis Parssinen didnt last too much longer and had to make do with the $111,342 sixth-place prize. He doubled through Dvoress with ace-four versus ace-queen but his stack dwindled afterwards. Parssinen came unstuck during the 70,000/140,000/17,500a level. He moved all-in for 537,552 with queen-seven of clubs and ran into the ace-king of hearts in the hand of Yan in the small blind. Parssinen was drawing dead by the turn and the Super MILLION$ was down to only five players. Schemion Busts In a Massive Pot Five became for following the demise of Ole Schemion in a monster-pot. Yan raised to 320,000 in the cutoff which prompted Schemion to raise all-in for 1,550,101 with pocket tens on the button. Watson four-bet all-in with eights, and Reeves woke up in the big blind with kings and called off his 2,426,482 stack. Reeves flopped top set before improving to a full house on the turn, busting Schemion and leaving Watson with a mere 4.3 big blinds. Watsons micro-stack went into the middle on the very next hand with ace-king and Dvoress called from the big blind with pocket deuces. Watson missed the board and the tournament was suddenly down to three players, with Dvoress in a commanding position. Flip & Go Tournaments "Incredibly Easy" says Daniel Negreanu Despite being chip leader with three players remaining, Dvoress was the next player to be eliminated. Blinds were now 125,000/250,000/30,000a and Reeves open-shoved from the small blind with queen-seven and Dvoress called all-in for 3,218,398 with ace-three. A seven on the flop sealed the deal for Reeves. That hand gave Reeves a better than two-to-one chip advantage over Yan. Yan couldnt close the gap and ultimately had to make do with second place. The final hand saw Yan raise to 550,000 with pocket fives, Reeves three-bet all-in with ace-ten, and Yan called off his last 4,701,536 chips. Reeves improved to a club flush by the turn to resign Yan to the $314,924 runner-up prize and to bank the $408,406 top prize, and a second Super MILLION$ title, for himself. Super MILLION$ Satellites If you want to rub shoulders with some of the most famous names on GGPoker, then you can satellite in for as little as $100. $100 Qualifiers to $1,000 Mega Satellites are running hourly. Each Qualifier has up to five $1,000 seats guaranteed, with the Mega Satellites guaranteeing up to eight $10,300 Super MILLION$ tickets. Head to the GGPoker client to check them out for yourselves! Sign Up for a GGPoker Account Through PokerNews Youll need a GGPoker account if you want to jump into the Super MILLION$ or any other GGPoker tournament. Download GGPoker via PokerNews to grab a generous 200% welcome bonus worth up to $600 on your first deposit. The bonus releases into your account in $10 increments each time you earn 6,000 Fish Buffet Points, which is the equivalent of $60 in rake or tournament fees. 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. [January 28, 2021] Mirakl Achieves Record 110% Year-over-Year GMV Growth, With Over $3.1B Transacted on Mirakl-Powered Marketplaces PARIS and BOSTON and LONDON and MUNICH, Germany and BARCELONA, Spain and SAO PAULO, Brazil, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mirakl, the only enterprise marketplace SaaS platform that empowers both B2B and B2C organizations to launch and grow a marketplace at scale, today announced 110% GMV growth and over $3.1B transacted on Mirakl-powered Marketplaces. In addition, in 2020, Mirakl closed $300M in series D funding led by Permira which placed the companys valuation over $1.5 billion. This success is evidence of Mirakls undisputed leadership and unique ability to enable the worlds leading organizations to seize the platform opportunity. eCommerce accelerated dramatically in 2020 , with marketplaces capturing a disproportionate share of that growth. In order to capitalize on the significant eCommerce opportunity, leading enterprises chose Mirakl for its best-of-breed SaaS solution, expertise, and Mirakl Connect ecosystem. As a result, Mirakl signed a record 73 new customers, including numerous Global 2000 companies, while launching 55 new marketplaces. Over the Black Friday sales period, Mirakl-powered Marketplaces generated $160M, a 60% year-over-year increase , and as orders surpassed 1.6 million, The Mirakl Marketplace Platform maintained 100% uptime proving the stability and scalability of the Mirakl platform even under unprecedented demand. ABB Electrification is truly a global business line. Mirakl provides the technology stack and expertise that ABB Electrification needed to address the immediate opportunity for B2B eCommerce and to grow on a global scale, said Samer Shehadeh, Global eCommerce & Innovation Director, Electrification Business at ABB. Leveraging Mirakls best-in-class marketplace solution, we are broadening Krogers ship-to-home capabilities by offering more relevant products for our customers through exciting new partnerships with reputable third-party sellers, said Jody Kalmbach, Group Vice President, Product Experience at The Kroger Co. Further, in just 6 months, Mirakl doubled the size of its Mirakl Connect global marketplace ecosystem, becoming the worlds only independent network of curated, high-quality marketplace sellers and value-added services & solutions. Mirakl Connect ensures Mirakl-powered Marketplaces launch faster and grow bigger across industries. In 2020 operators who accessed Mirakl Connect saw up to 30% increase in their marketplace GMV. Joining Mirakl Connect has allowed us to significantly accelerate seller recruitment with over 50% of our sellers now sourced through the platform, said David Gomez, Head of Marketplace at Leroy Merlin France, the leading home improvement retailer in the country. We have total confidence using Mirakl Connect because the platform has fully vetted the quality of the sellers. Finding the right sellers is very important in creating the best experience for our customers on our marketplace, and Mirakl Connect helps us to keep that promise. Other major Mirakl business highlights for 2020 include: Signing several marquee global brands across industries including BayWa AG, Galeria Inno, La Redoute, Musgraves, SalonCentric, TradeInn, UNFI andmany more. Launching new marketplaces, including: In B2B: ABB, Airbus Helicopters, Maykers, TetraPak, Thales, and Z-Tech (part of ABInBev). In B2C: Carrefour France, Changi Airport, Decathlon Belgium, H&M Home, La Poste, Leroy Merlin France, Maisons du Monde, The Kroger Co., and Verishop. Securing $300M series D funding led by Permira, with participation from long-term investors 83North, Bain Capital Ventures, Elaia Partners, and Felix Capital, bringing total capital raised to $400 million and placing the companys valuation over $1.5 billion. led by Permira, with participation from long-term investors 83North, Bain Capital Ventures, Elaia Partners, and Felix Capital, bringing total capital raised to $400 million and placing the companys valuation over $1.5 billion. Launching, in under 48 hours, a B2B marketplace, StopCovid19.fr in response to French President Macron's Tech for Good initiative , resulting in the first and only COVID-focused marketplace providing critical protective and sanitation supplies to address shortages and resolve supply chain issues. Since launch, the site has delivered over 125 million masks, more than 1 million liters of hand sanitizer, 13 million gloves and 80,000 antigenic tests to over 6,135 healthcare facilities and 23,170 enterprises. in response to French President Macron's , resulting in the first and only COVID-focused marketplace providing critical protective and sanitation supplies to address shortages and resolve supply chain issues. Since launch, the site has delivered over 125 million masks, more than 1 million liters of hand sanitizer, 13 million gloves and 80,000 antigenic tests to over 6,135 healthcare facilities and 23,170 enterprises. Accelerating Mirakl's global growth by adding new partners: Acando and Paragaia in the Nordics, ACCT and Compasso in Brazil, and Jakala in Italy, as well as extending our global partnerships with Accenture, Kearney, Merkle and Deloitte to Southeast Asia and Australia. The company extended the lead of its industry-leading SaaS platform with advancements in key areas including: Continuously adding to Mirakls product capabilities to further expand and grow B2B Enterprise Marketplaces. This includes enhancements to help operators comply with new tax regulations, connect their large customers eProcurement systems, and offer products with pricing per unit of weight, volume, or length. Launching a new Payment Service Provider (PSP) certification , which empowers Mirakl customers to leverage best-of-breed PSPs to accelerate and streamline new marketplace launches. , which empowers Mirakl customers to leverage best-of-breed PSPs to accelerate and streamline new marketplace launches. Achieving ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certification as further proof that Mirakl is constantly focused on staying at the forefront of compliance. As the best-of-breed marketplace solution, Mirakl is deeply committed to investing in enterprise-grade security and compliance that platform operators can trust. To support its accelerating growth, Mirakl expanded its global team with 270 new hires in 2020 and announced plans to hire 1,000 employees over the next 3 years. The company made key strategic hires across marketing, people operations, sales, and solution engineering, bringing on executives from leading eCommerce brands and software providers. Mirakl also opened a new office for the rapidly growing Mirakl Labs technology team in Bordeaux and hired regional experts to support the rapid growth of its global footprint in Latin America, Australia, DACH, Italy, the Netherlands and the Nordics. A testament to the companys broader impact, Mirakls innovation and momentum have also been recognized globally. The company earned prestigious global recognition as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum for empowering B2B and B2C organizations to disrupt traditional industries and thrive in the digital age by platforming their businesses. The company has also earned accolades for its engaging employee culture, being named one of Built in Bostons 2020 Best Places to Work with special recognition as Best Midsize Company and Best Paying Company. In September, Mirakl was awarded the Stronger than Covid Talent Award at the 2020 France Digital Day and in November the BFM Award for International Performance. 2020 was the ultimate test that proved the resilience and agility of the platform model, and through it all, Mirakls best-of-breed marketplace solution rose to the challenge, said Philippe Corrot, co-founder and CEO, Mirakl. We remain committed to offering the most advanced, reliable, and secure enterprise marketplace platform on the market, so that every one of our customers continues to thrive. Our customers, who we celebrate as Platform Pioneers, are redefining go-to-market strategies to lead in this digital-first economy, achieving remarkable growth in one of the most challenging economic environments in recent memory, said Adrien Nussenbaum, co-founder and U.S. CEO, Mirakl. Were proud to stand alongside them and celebrate their successes and to those who have yet to start their platform journey, theres no better time to get on board. For more information about Mirakl and the Mirakl Marketplace Platform, please visit www.mirakl.com . About Mirakl Mirakl offers the industrys first and most advanced enterprise marketplace SaaS platform. With Mirakl, organizations across B2B and B2C industries can launch marketplaces faster, grow bigger, and operate with confidence as they exceed rising customer expectations. Platforms are the new competitive advantage in eCommerce, and the worlds most trusted brands choose Mirakl for its comprehensive solution of technology, expertise, and the Mirakl Connect ecosystem to unlock the power of the platform business model for them. As a result, companies like ABB, Astore by AccorHotels, Best Buy Canada, Carrefour, Catch Group, Changi Airport, Darty, The Kroger Co., Leroy Merlin, Maisons du Monde, Metro, Tetra Pak, and Toyota Material Handling gain the speed, scale and agility to win in the changing eCommerce landscape. For more information: www.mirakl.com. Media Contacts Maya Pattison Vice President, Corporate Marketing maya.pattison@mirakl.com +1-844-264-7255 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] RIP Maw Maw :-( Reply Thread Link Thank you. While she has many iconic roles, my family always knew her as Maw Maw from Raising Hope. Reply Parent Thread Link She was gold in that show. Reply Parent Thread Link "who the hell moved my vagina?" makes me want to re-watch Raising Hope Reply Parent Thread Link Raising Hope was such an underrated little gem of a show. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Damnit I adored her. She has some of the best quotes! She'll definitely be missed. Reply Parent Thread Link Ive been rewatching Raising Hope recently so this is extra sad for some reason. I only had a few episodes left RIP Reply Parent Thread Link She was always Frau Blucher to me. She was amazing. Reply Parent Thread Link YES, she will always be maw maw to me. Reply Parent Thread Link Icon RIP Edited at 2021-01-27 11:16 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link What a legend. RIP Reply Thread Link She was great, I feel like I spent so much of my childhood watching her in Hansel and Gretel. Forgot she was also the grandma in Now and Then. Reply Thread Link I adored her on Malcom in the Middle Reply Parent Thread Link She was fucking iconic on this show Reply Parent Thread Link Omg j forgot about now and then! She stole her scenes. Reply Parent Thread Link GODDAMNIT 2021 Reply Thread Link I think you meant December 57th, 2020. Reply Parent Thread Link Nah, she was 95 Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah IA with Tralexora - she was 95 Reply Parent Thread Link I know, but she was one of the greats that I makes no sense wanted to live forever. :(((( Reply Parent Thread Expand Link RIP iconic queen with a name like a superhero's alter ego Reply Thread Link Noooooo Reply Thread Link a legend. rip. Reply Thread Link She was the same age as my grandma is now, and my grandma isn't doing well. R.I.P., Cloris. Reply Thread Link Nooo aww.... RIP Reply Thread Link I mostly know her from that Olsen Twins movie and Malcolm in the middle. She scared me as a kid...but I'm sure she was nicer irl. Rip Queen. Reply Thread Link Double Double Toil and Trouble! I almost forgot she was even in that!! That movie made me obsessed with wanting a "moonstone" necklace then I won one at a fair or something and thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Edited at 2021-01-27 11:44 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I loved that movie. Reply Parent Thread Link Aw man, what a legend. RIP. Reply Thread Link RIP Reply Thread Link RIP RIP Reply Thread Link HE VAS MY BOYFRIEND Reply Parent Thread Link Glad to see Frau Blucher represented. Such a legend. Reply Parent Thread Link YES! Another person of culture. Might have to watch Young Frankenstein soon. Reply Parent Thread Link Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The boy, now aged 16, pleaded guilty today at the Dublin Childrens Court to attempted robbery of the Brazilian national, who was in his mid-twenties, at a park in Dundrum, on June 28 last year. The youth claimed to gardai that the man thought he was 14 and he took the law into his own hands because he felt the victim was a paedophile. Judge Brendan Toale told the youth he did not accept that that as he adjourned sentencing. In evidence, Detective Garda Paul Kane told the court that in June last year, the boy set up a profile through the Grindr dating app for the LGBTQ community. The accused used a false name and false age, and his own picture, the detective said, adding that the boy pretended in his profile that he was aged 19. Read More On June 28 last, he began an online text conversation with a Brazilian national during which they arranged to meet later that day. The allegation was that a sexual interaction would take place, he said. That day at 6.50pm, the accused met the man in a park and after a brief conversation they went into woods 20 yards away. At that point the boy asked the man to empty his pockets. Two other males, who have not yet been identified, approached and put the man in a headlock and punched him in the face. The accused and his two accomplices ran after the man who screamed for help. He flagged down a car and gardai were called. Detective Garda Kane said the victim did not suffer any injuries and nothing was taken. The boy was identified and arrested just over two weeks later. He made admissions when interviewed. Detective Garda Kane agreed with defence solicitor Brian Keenan that the boy claimed he told the man he was aged 14 when they agreed to meet for a sexual encounter. The investigating officer agreed that the teenager told him he felt the man was a paedophile when he admitted the attempted robbery. The solicitor pleaded with Judge Toale not to send the case to the circuit court which has tougher sentencing powers. He asked him to take into account the boys offer of a guilty plea and a psychological report outlining impulsive behavioural difficulties related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He had also been abusing cannabis but is now attending drug treatment counselling, the court was told. He is still in school and has not come to further garda attention, his solicitor said. Mr Keenan said the boy was immature and had a misguided view he could take the law into his own hands. It was an unusual and serious case but the boy, who had no prior criminal convictions, was apologetic for his behaviour, he said. Judge Toale remarked that it took considerable pre-planning which was an aggravating factor. The teen's opinion could not be the basis for taking the law into his own hands, he held. Noting the boy's age, guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, his issues and the contents of a psychological report, he accepted jurisdiction for the case to remain in the juvenile court. The boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was ordered to appear again in February. A Probation Service assessment must be carried out ahead of sentencing. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday said the company will dial back on pushing political groups and content to users. Why it matters: Facebook is hoping to dim intense political pressure from conservatives and liberals by backing away from arguments its long made that political speech is vital to free expression. Details: On a call to investors, Zuckerberg said that the company will stop providing recommendations for users to join civic and political groups on a long-term basis. The company had done so temporarily leading up to the U.S. election last year. Zuckerberg said Facebook plans to extend this policy globally as well. Facebook also plans to take steps to reduce the amount of political content in the News Feed, although Zuckerberg didn't provide any details about how it plans to do so. He said users don't want politics and fighting to take over their experience on the app. What he's saying: "There has been a trend across society that a lot of things have become politicized and politics have had a way of creeping into everything," Zuckerberg said. "A lot of the feedback we see from our community is that people don't want that in their experience." "We have to balance this carefully because we do have deep commitment to free expression," he added. "If people want to discuss [politics] or join those groups, they should be able to do that. But we are not serving community well to be recommending that content right now." Be smart: Inflammatory political speech on Facebook and the company's handling of it has been its biggest regulatory and reputational threat for years. In recent months, the company has faced growing allegations from conservatives that it, along with some of its peers, intentionally censors their speech. Those claims have intensified since Facebook indefinitely suspended former President Trump following the Capitol riot. Yes, but: It's unlikely the move will assuage critics on either side of the aisle. Conservatives may see the algorithmic diminishing of politics as evidence Facebook is stifling views it doesn't like. Liberals will likely say they're being punished for misdeeds from the far right. That complaint has been raised before, as when some tech firms paused all political donations after the Capitol riot and when Twitter dropped all political ads. The big picture: The company has pushed to address political division on its platform by making tweaks to its algorithms to support verified news and to curb political advertising during times of political volatility. Yves here. Aside from Bill Gates unsavory role in defending the right of Big Pharma to rake in profits at the expense of the public during a massive public health crisis, there is also the wee problem of determining what selling a vaccine at cost would amount to. As a client put it, pointing to a conference room chair, What does that chair cost? I can make it cost whatever I want to. Specifically, big companies have considerable latitude as to the costs and overheads they allocate to products and businesses (thats one reason they regularly have to call in McKinsey, the internal practices so distort the real economics that they need to hire a consultant to untangle the mess). Many years back, a colleague had been in the executive office of Bristol Myers when it owned Clairol. She described that hair color was so profitable (you make it for pennies a box and sell it for dollars a box) that Bristol Myers allocated every overhead expense it conceivably could, to boost the reported pharma profits, to which Wall Street assigned a higher multiple. Imagine the process working the other way with vaccine accounting. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at his website One of the biggest selling points, for me, of the Oxford Covid vaccine aside from the maturity of its delivery platform, and aside from its lower price was the fact that Oxford was also planning to offer unlimited worldwide licensing to other manufacturers, especially in the third world, free forever. Consider that for a moment: A vaccine developer who would offer an effective vaccine at lower cost than its competitors and promise not to profit from it, not through direct sales of the product and not through the licensing of manufacturing rights to other firms. In other words, an anti-capitalist solution for a global public health problem. Oxford University, the original developer of what would eventually become the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, made these promises. And then the grandees at Oxford changed their mind, thanks to the persuasions of multi-billionaire Bill Gates and his foundation. Billionaire charity always comes with a price. As youll read below, Gates was proactively involved. Is Bill Gates evil? Thats an exercise Ill leave to the reader. Whether the promise of profit was too irresistible for Oxford to pass up, and thus played a role in the change of decision, is an also exercise Ill leave to the reader. Im preparing a longer piece on the AstraZeneca vaccine from a technology standpoint, but I wanted to share this striking write-up here. Note the publication date: August 25, 2020. Neither the promise of at-cost sales nor the reneging on that promise made the news in the four months since this was published, at least nowhere near me. Wonder why. Note also the near-manic insistence on secrecy (confidentiality) regarding all of these pharma companies regarding price and other negotiations. These are profit-first, people-last organizations, and apparently always will be until the next Flood of Noah sweeps them away. All of this information comes via writer Jay Hancock and the well-respected Kaiser Health News newsletter. Because Kaiser has put its entire article in the public domain, Ill print it in full below. All emphases are mine. * * * They Pledged to Donate Rights to Their COVID Vaccine, Then Sold Them to Pharma Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News August 25, 2020 In a business driven by profit, vaccines have a problem. Theyre not very profitable at least not without government subsidies. Pharma companies favor expensive medicines that must be taken repeatedly and generate revenue for years or decades. Vaccines are often given only once or twice. In many parts of the world, established vaccines cost a few dollars per dose or less. Last year only four companies were making vaccines for the U.S. market, down from more than 20 in the 1970s. As recently as Feb. 11, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, complained that no major drug company had committed to step up to make a coronavirus vaccine, calling the situation very difficult and frustrating. Oxford University surprised and pleased advocates of overhauling the vaccine business in April by promising to donate the rights to its promising coronavirus vaccine to any drugmaker. The idea was to provide medicines preventing or treating COVID-19 at a low cost or free of charge, the British university said. That made sense to people seeking change. The coronavirus was raging. Many agreed that traditional vaccine development, characterized by long lead times, manufacturing monopolies and weak investment, was broken. We actually thought they were going to do that, James Love, director of Knowledge Ecology International, a nonprofit that works to expand access to medical technology, said of Oxfords pledge. Why wouldnt people agree to let everyone have access to the best vaccines possible? A few weeks later, Oxfordurged on by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundationreversed course. It signed an exclusive vaccine deal with AstraZeneca that gave the pharmaceutical giant sole rights and no guarantee of low priceswith the less-publicized potential for Oxford to eventually make millions from the deal and win plenty of prestige. Other companies working on coronavirus vaccines have followed the same line, collecting billions in government grants, hoarding patents, revealing as little as possible about their dealsand planning to charge up to $37 a dose for potentially hundreds of millions of shots. Even as governments shower money on an industry that has not made vaccines a priority in the past, critics say, failure to alter the basic model means drug industry executives and their shareholders will get rich with no assurance that future vaccines will be inexpensively available to all. If there were ever an opportunity to change the economics of vaccine development, this would have been it, said Ameet Sarpatwari, an epidemiologist and lawyer at Harvard Medical School who studies drug-pricing regulation. Instead, it is business as usual, where the manufacturers are getting exclusive rights and we are hoping on the basis of public sentiment that they will price their products responsibly. In the United States and other developed nations, the solution to drug-company reluctance was to shower them with billions of dollars in public funds to persuade them to help. The Trump administration has announced deals worth more than $10 billion with seven companies to try to turn basic researchoften funded by the governmentinto effective, widely distributed vaccinesbut with no guarantee they would be widely affordable or available. That approach has driven up stock prices in the past four months and enriched drug executives betting with somebody elses money. AstraZeneca stock and options owned by CEO Pascal Soriot have increased by nearly $15 million in value since early April, according to calculations by KHN based on company disclosures. The stock hit an all-time high in July. The stock market value of Novavax, a biotech that never recorded a profit in more than two decades, soared tenfold to $10 billion after a nonprofit and the Trump administration agreed to give it $1.6 billion to make a vaccine. Companies say we have to charge high prices because we are taking a risk, said Mohga Kamal-Yanni, an independent consultant on global health based in the United Kingdom. Actually, the public is taking the risk. The public is paying for the cost of research and development and probably the cost of manufacturing as well. Moderna, another company working on a vaccine candidate, received nearly $1 billion from the U.S. government to pay essentially all costs to research the product and get it approved by regulators. Its using a vaccine designed in large part by the National Institutes of Health and academic scientists using federal grants. If the vaccine works, the company gets an additional $1.5 billion to cover 100 million doses, a deal that U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, likened to giving taxpayers the privilege of purchasing that same vaccine that we already paid for. That deal comes to $15 a dose. Moderna told Wall Street analysts it might charge as much as $37 a dose for smaller-volume contracts. This is greedy, and the taxpayers who have funded all of this should have expected better negotiation on the part of the U.S. government, said Margaret Liu, a globally respected vaccine scientist who once worked for Merck and is now chairperson of the International Society for Vaccines. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department conducted extensive market research and price analysis to ensure prices are fair, said a senior HHS official who asked for anonymity. We are prohibited from disclosing price discussions and details. Even if Moderna distributed a successful vaccine at a loss to make it widely available, it would reap enormous benefits because government support would have helped validate its technology for future products, Liu said. Moderna did not respond to requests for comment. Nonprofits such as Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders have been pressuring drug companies to change for years. Exclusive patents and high prices that sometimes make lifesaving medicines unaffordable in rich countries often render them completely unavailable in the poor world, they argue. One workaround has been enormous private and government subsidies, including from the U.K., the United States and the Gates Foundation, to promote developing-nation vaccines through the Geneva nonprofit Gavi, formerly known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. The Gates Foundation helped launch another non-governmental organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, in 2017. CEPI was created to fight something exactly like the coronavirus: potential infectious threats ignored or slighted by pharmaceutical companies. CEPIs early principles of equitable access drew praise from reformers. The group asked for public data disclosure from drug-company grantees, transparent accounting to show true vaccine cost and the right to step in and take over a vaccine project if the developer failed to deliver. The pharma industry immediately objected. Even though they were bankrolled by public money, drug companies were concerned about the precedent that could be set if they allowed an outside entity, in this case CEPI, to set [the] price of a product unilaterally, CEPI reported in February. The nonprofit backed down, removing most references to prices in a new policy that Doctors Without Borders called an alarming step backwards. The original policy was intended to be interim, and CEPIs commitment to equitable access as a principle is the same, said spokesperson Rachel Grant. Some thought the worst infectious disease crisis in a century, along with the enormous public investments, would change industry behavior. Governments could have demanded transparency and low prices. They could have offered developers cash prizes for vaccines that would have incentivized science but let the public retain the marketing rights, said Love, of Knowledge Ecology International. Agreement by researchers to publish the virus genome in January set the stage for global scientific cooperation, many believed. The full sequence was shared with the world without any strings attached, said Manuel Martin, a U.K.-based adviser to Doctors Without Borders on access to medical innovations. The World Health Organization set up a COVID-19 Technology Access Pool to promote the sharing of patents and other knowledge. Oxford stepped forward and said it would offer nonexclusive, royalty-free licenses for its vaccine, meaning multiple parties could sell it at a low cost. I personally dont believe that in a time of pandemic there should be exclusive licenses, Adrian Hill, director of Oxfords Jenner Institute, which is developing the vaccine, told The New York Times in April. Instead, little has changed. No vaccine maker has offered open licenses, although NIH is sharing key technology it developed with multiple vaccine companies. Governments are signing lucrative deals with manufacturers to ensure vaccines for their own populations. WHO has made no announcements about contributions to its COVID-19 shared technology pool since it launched in May, patent experts said. WHO officials did not respond to a reporters queries. After Oxford announced the exclusive AstraZeneca deal, the company said it would sell vaccines at no profitbut only during the pandemic. Johnson & Johnsons pledge to earn no vaccine profit is similarly limited. With financial information kept confidential, no one will be able to confirm whether the vaccines are truly being sold at cost. And if vaccine immunity is only temporary and endemic coronavirus strains require regular shots for years, the companies will make plenty of money down the road, critics say. Under its deal with AstraZeneca, Oxford will receive no royalties during the pandemic but could make millions after it ends through a web of patents including those held by Vaccitech, a for-profit spinoff. Vaccitechs ownership includes a 50% stake held directly or indirectly by Oxford and 5.25% each owned by Hill and Jenners other top vaccine scientist, Sarah Gilbert, U.K. regulatory filings show. The potential for vaccine profits at Vaccitech was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Pharma company officials say that only decades of industry research could have made it even possible to produce a coronavirus vaccine at the present speed. The federal government cannot research, develop and manufacture vaccines and other new treatments on its own, said Andrew Powaleny, a spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a lobbying group. Large and early government investment is a well-accepted approach to addressing public health crises, he said. Many argue that a health crisis is not the time to worry about overpaying for vaccines or backing some candidates that wont deliver. Getting a good vaccine as quickly as possible requires spreading bets, they say. Spending some extra billions on vaccines is the right choice when human life is at stake and trillions in economic loss is at risk, said Edward Scolnick, a top scientist at the Broad Institute and former head of research for Merck. He owns no stock in Merck or other pharma companies, he said. Oxford backed off from its open-license pledge after the Gates Foundation urged it to find a big-company partner to get its vaccine to market. We went to Oxford and said, Hey, youre doing brilliant work, Bill Gates told reporters on June 3, a transcript shows. But you really need to team up. The comments were first reported by Bloomberg. AstraZeneca, one of the U.K.s two major pharma companies, may have demanded an exclusive license in return for doing a deal, said Ken Shadlen, a professor at the London School of Economics and an authority on pharma patentsa theory supported by comments from CEO Soriot. I think IP [intellectual property, or exclusive patents] is a fundamental part of our industry and if you dont protect IP, then essentially there is no incentive for anybody to innovate, Soriot told the newspaper The Telegraph in May. Some see the Gates Foundation, a heavy funder of Gavi, CEPI and many other vaccine projects, as supporting traditional patent rights for pharma companies. [Bill] Gates has staked out this outsized role in the vaccine world, Love said. He has an ideological belief that the intellectual property system is a wonderful mechanism that is necessary for innovation and prosperity. The Gates Foundation requires all its grantees to commit to making products widely available at an affordable price, a spokesperson said. Oxford officials, including Hill and Gilbert, did not respond to requests for comment. AstraZeneca, for its part, would set a reasonable post-pandemic price and is committed to ensure equitable access, globally in the meantime, a spokesperson said. The company has signed deals with CEPI, Gavi and the Serum Institute of India to bring more than a billion doses to low- and middle-income countries, he said. If nothing else, governments and vaccine makers should be open about their relationships, including making contracts public, said Duncan Matthews, a patent law professor at the Queen Mary University of London. We simply dont know whats in these deals, he said. The biopharma industry is applying old rules of commercial confidentiality in a situation that is unprecedented. Mathematical modeler and statistics. Credit: Image is provided by the Anthro Illustrated project (anthroillustrated.com). Science is society's best method for understanding the world. Yet many scientists are unhappy with the way it works, and there are growing concerns that there is something "broken" in current scientific practice. Many of the rules and procedures that are meant to promote innovative research are little more than historical precedents with little reason to suppose they encourage efficient or reliable discoveries. Worse, they can have perverse side-effects that harm both science and scientists. A well-known example is the general preference for positive over negative results, which creates a "publication bias" that gives the false impression that certain effects exist where in reality the dissenting evidence simply fails to be released. Arizona State University researchers Thomas Morgan and Minhua Yan, working with ASU graduate Leonid Tiokhin, now at University of Technology Eindhoven in the Netherlands, have developed a new model, published this week in Nature Human Behavior, to better understand the challenges facing the scientific process and how we can make it better. They focused on the "priority rule": the tendency for the first scientist to document a finding to be disproportionately rewarded with prestige, prizes and career opportunities while those in second place get little to no recognition. Winner takes all Many scientists have sleepless nights worrying about being "scooped"fearing that their work won't be considered "novel" enough for the highest-impact scientific journals because a different group working on the same topic manages to publish first. The priority rule has been around for centuries. In the 17th century, Newton and Leibniz haggled over who invented calculus. And in the 19th century, Charles Darwin rushed to publish of "The Origin of Species" to avoid being scooped by Alfred Russel Wallace. "Rewarding priority is understandable and has some benefits. However, it comes at a cost," says Tiokhin. "Rewards for priority may tempt scientists to sacrifice the quality of their research and cut corners." "The idea is that competition encourages scientists to work hard and efficiently, such that discoveries are made quickly. But if everyone is working hard, and you need to come in first to be successful, then there's a temptation to cut corners to maximize your chances, even if it means the science suffers," said Morgan, a research affiliate with the Institute of Human Origins and associate professor with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. This is partly why some academic publishers, such as PLOS and eLife, now offer "scoop protection," allowing researchers to publish findings identical to those already published within a certain timeframe. The problem is that science and publishers currently don't have a good idea about whether these reforms make sense. Modelling the priority rule To figure out how exactly the preference for priority affects science, and whether recent reforms offer any solution for its potential drawbacks, the collaborators developed an "evolutionary agent-based model." This computer model simulates how a group of scientists investigate or abandon research questions, depending on their own results and the behavior of other scientists they compete against. "The benefit of an evolutionary simulation is that we don't need to specify in advance how scientists behave. We just create a world in which success is rewarded, and we let selection figure out what kinds of behavior this favors," said Morgan. "We can then vary what it means to successfulfor instance, whether or not it's critical to come firstand see how selection changes the behavior of scientists in response. We can also measure the benefit to societyare scientists being efficient? Are their findings accurate? And so on." No panacea The researchers found that a culture of excessive rewards for priority can have harmful effects. Among other things, it motivates scientists to conduct "quick and dirty" studies, so that they can be first to publish. This reduces the quality of their work and harms the reliability of science as a whole. The model also suggests that scoop protection, as introduced by PLOS and eLife, works. "It reduces the temptation to rush the research and gives researchers more time to collect additional data," said Tiokhin. "However, scoop protection is no panacea." This is because scoop protection motivates some scientists to continue with a research line even after several results on that topic have been published, which reduces the total number of research questions the scientific community can address. The 'benefit' of inefficiency Scoop protection reforms in themselves, while helpful, are not sufficient to guarantee high-quality research or a reliable published literature. The model also shows that even with scoop protection, scientists will be tempted to run many small studies if new studies are cheap and easy to set up and the rewards for negative results are high. This suggests that measures that force scientists to invest more heavily in each study, such as asking scientists to preregister their studies or get their research plans criticized before they begin collecting data, can help. "We also learned that inefficiency in science is not always a bad thing. On the contraryinefficiencies force researchers to think twice before starting a new study," said Tiokhin. Another option is to make large-scale data collection so straightforward that there is less incentive to skimp on data, alternatively, reviewers and journals could be more vigilant in looking out for "underpowered" studies with small sample-sizes. Metascience This project is an example of metascience, the use of the scientific method to study science itself. "It was a great pleasure to be part of this project. I got to use my modeling skills not only to make specific scientific discoveries, but also to shed light on how the scientific procedure itself should be designed to increase research quality and credibility. This benefits the whole scientific community and ultimately, the whole society," said Yan, a graduate student in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. Residents of Yass are kicking up a stink over the state of tap water in the town, with its orange hue and sulphur smell making it unsuitable for drinking and even bathing. The people of Yass, 50 kilometres north of Canberra, have been forced to spend large amounts on bottled water or drive to other towns to collect their supply due to the 'disgusting' condition of the tap product. Resident Andrea James described the water's sulphur stench as a 'sick to your stomach smell' that continues to distress her young daughter. Residents of Yass have been forced to bathe in orange-brown water for years (pictured) 'Its a basic human right to have clean water and she cant even go get clean water,' she told ACA. The orange-brown discolouration and smell have residents at wits' end, with some claiming the water quality is something you'd expect in a third world country, not a short distance from the national capital. Gale Reed said she has refused to drink the water since she moved to Yass three years ago. Yass residents have described the orange-brown waters to have a sulphur smell (pictured) Some residents have resorted to buying bottled water (pictured, left) to drink and shower as Yass' supply was described as 'disgusting' (pictured, right) 'Everyday in Yass is a lottery. Some days it's (the water) clean, but it's always questionable', she said. Ms Reed said the water reminds her of a swamp and buys bottled water weekly from nearby towns for her drinking and cooking. The Yass resident doesn't want her grandchildren growing accustomed to such poor quality water, and is encouraging other residents to pressure authorities into making much-needed changes. 'We've put up with it for years, but we don't have to,' she said. Yass Valley Council's original $31.2million revamp to the water treatment plant has been postponed for two years by the NSW Department of Planning and Industry. Local Mayor Rowena Abbey said the department wants to upgrade the existing plant, but the council have called in independent assessors. The mayor admits that the smell and look of the water isn't pleasant, but assures the town they will spend the required money to solve the problem. Though unpleasant to smell and even look at, the water was not considered unsafe for human consumption. The nearby town of Gulgong in NSW Central Tablelands has experienced the same problems since 2017, with residents saying it had stained their bathroom tiles orange. The Yass Valley fills resident's bathes in discoloured water (pictured) The Hamilton County Health Department has produced an information poster for COVID-19 Vaccine registration. Click here for the information poster in both English and Spanish. Subscribe to the Health Departments mailing list and receive press releases and newsletters in your inbox. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer re-upped her calls for more money to improve roads and water infrastructure during her Wednesday evening State of the State address, highlighting some of the projects funded by last years $3.5 billion road bonding plan while acknowledging more needs to be done. Much of Whitmers speech focused on rebuilding the economy as the state continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. But continued focus on infrastructure needs to be a big part of that, she told viewers of her 2021 State of the State speech, which was delivered virtually due to coronavirus concerns. The long infrastructure saga in Michigan impacts our ability to safely navigate our roads without spending hundreds of dollars each year in vehicle repairs, she said. Were going to forge ahead rebuilding our roads in 2021 to protect our families and keep more money in Michiganders pockets. Related: Whitmer calls for bipartisan COVID-19, economic progress in State of the State address Whitmer used her 2020 State of the State address to launch a $3.5 billion road bonding plan to add or expand 122 major road projects. A year later, she highlighted some of the projects that were completed using the money, such as the I-496 project in Lansing, and also praised MDOT workers for quickly rebuilding a bridge on US-10 after flooding in Midland. But the bonding money can only be used on state-level projects, not local roads. In her speech, Whitmer endorsed legislation to give local communities more options to fund local road and bridge projects. Were going to forge ahead rebuilding our roads in 2021 to protect our families and keep more money in Michiganders pockets, she said. As for your local roads and bridges, last session, legislation was introduced to give local communities more options so they can move some dirt too. Its a good idea and its time for the legislature to get it done. Whitmer also urged the legislature to support her MI Clean Water plan, which would pump $500 million into fixing water infrastructure around the state. Its time for the legislature to pass these bills so we can start rebuilding Michigans water infrastructure, she said. I will keep working so every family in Michigan has clean, safe water. Related: Lawmakers react to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers call for bipartisanship in State of the State address Most experts estimate the state needs billions of dollars more per year to improve road conditions enough to stop the deterioration. The more damaged a road gets, the more expensive it is to fix, meaning the estimated need will increase as roads become more damaged by continued use and freeze-thaw conditions. Industry and local government groups applauded the governor for restating the importance of investing more into roads. Poll after poll continues to show that Michigans roads continue to be a top priority for residents second only to ending the pandemic, said Lance Binoniemi, vice president of government affairs for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. The condition of our infrastructure not only impacts the financial health of our state, but the public health of our communities as well. Stephan Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, said in a statement improving local roads and infrastructure isnt a new issue, but it is a critical one, and MAC supports making it a priority. Currie said the association does not support a local gas tax option as a solution, but remains open to other options such as a local registration fee. The group also said it supports additional funding for local governments to improve drinking and groundwater. As a candidate, Whitmers fix the damn roads catchphrase became an integral part of her gubernatorial campaign. As governor, Whitmers initial plan to raise the gas tax by 45 cents over time was a nonstarter with legislative Republicans, and road funding disagreements threw a wrench in 2019 budget talks. Related coverage: Michigan economy, COVID-19 response completely intertwined, says Whitmer ahead of State of the State address One thing Whitmer has to address in Wednesdays State of the State? The state of Michigans economy. House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery Read Whitmers $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus recovery for Michigan schools, economy Michigan Senate Republicans want parameters around Gov. Gretchen Whitmers road bonding plans Gov. Whitmer unveils Plan B for roads: Shell fix them without lawmakers Whitmers new road plan: Borrow $3.5B to fix them now Whitmers $3.5 billion road spending plan green-lighted by state panel CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, announced today that it has combined its previous Commercial and Corporate and Specialty Banking teams to create a new Commercial Bank. The new Commercial Bank will drive growth, deliver a better client and colleague experience and create efficiencies. "Our Commercial Bank and Corporate and Specialty Banking teams have repeatedly demonstrated that they can deliver strong results together in any economic cycle," said Greg Braca, President and CEO. "To continue their track record of success, we have merged these teams to build on their combined strengths and position them for long-term growth. Ultimately, it will help TD scale its core businesses and build the Commercial Bank of the future." With this change, the Corporate and Specialty Banking teams -- Asset Based Lending, Equipment Finance, Institutional Healthcare and Higher Education, Commercial Real Estate and Global Trade Finance -- will join the Commercial organization. TD Bank's Commercial Bank previously encompassed Middle Market, community and small business lending, deposits, Treasury Management and point of sale solutions for companies within the Bank's Maine to Florida footprint. TD's Commercial Bank has vertical expertise in restaurant franchise, non-profits, medical and dental practice and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending and will now include the vertical markets of the previous Corporate and Specialty Banking portfolio. Chris Giamo, Head of Commercial Bank, will lead the newly formed business. Marla Willner, who had led the bank's Corporate and Specialty Bank, will take on a new role leading Commercial Credit Management for TD as well as other strategic initiatives. Giamo joined the bank in 1998 as the head of its New Jersey Middle Market Lending Group in New Jersey. After successfully growing and building the local Middle Market business, he held various positions of increasing responsibility in commercial and retail banking including serving as Regional President for TD's New York Metro region. He was named Head of Commercial Bank in 2017. Willner joined TD in 2000 and served for 15 years in various executive roles across multiple businesses, including Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Sales & Trading, and as Head of Credit Management for Corporate Banking. "This is an exciting opportunity to drive growth in our commercial banking division through highly competitive service lines and market expertise while delivering more of TD Bank to our more than 9 million customers across commercial and consumer banking," said Giamo. "I'm honored to lead our combined team on behalf of our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve." About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9.5 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,220 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US and www.twitter.com/TDNews_US. TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. SOURCE TD Bank Related Links http://www.TDBank.com Stephen Donnelly appeared to make a series of blunders in a Dail session today, claiming he could not remember what he said on Tuesday and giving out the wrong figures on vaccines. RISE TD Paul Murphy asked the minister: "Earlier this week you quite unbelievably claimed one of the reasons we could not pursue a zero-Covid strategy was that we dont know for sure that another Covid variant wouldnt arrive that would make the vaccine ineffective. What on earth did you mean by that?" Mr Donnelly said he did not recall that he ever made such a claim: "I have to go back and check exactly that interview or statement ... but as you characterise that right now that doesn't sound right to me." On Tuesday, Mr Donnelly replied to a query on a zero-Covid policy, with a focus on allowing international travellers back into Ireland if enough people had been vaccinated. "You've got to keep in mind as well, the new complexity which is variants, so the UK variant we now are confident that the vaccines work on it but it's far more contagious than the Wuhan strain for example," he said. The jury is still out on terms of the Brazilian or South African variant on how exactly they may interact with the vaccines and will the vaccines be just as effective. "What the virologists are telling us is that there will inevitably other strains popping up around the world as well and while we may all and we will achieve the requisite level of vaccination here at some point this year, it doesn't mean it necessarily will work against other strains and that has to be factored into the strategy for the future." In the same session, Mr Donnelly told the Dail that 48,000 Pfizer vaccines arrived into the country this week. However, the HSE say just 24,570 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in the same time period. Later, Labour's Alan Kelly said it was "scary" that the minister did not know this. A row then began in the Dail when Mr Donnelly then made the decision to share his time with backbencher Cormac Devlin. There's a problem with Minister for Health overpromising on vaccines. Minister said strategy after March 5, when #level5 restrictions are supposed to end, would be vaccines. But only a small proportion of the population will be vaccinated by then. @RoisinShortall pic.twitter.com/Dfgt0CdcCy Social Democrats (@SocDems) January 28, 2021 Social Democrat TD Roisin Shortall said her understanding was that the slot was for the Minister. "This whole session is supposed to be about the minister's accountability for his responsibilities," she said. "Why is he sharing his time with a Government backbencher? It is not acceptable." China has been betting big on developing its shale gas resources, driven by surging natural gas demand and efforts to boost energy security. State oil and gas majors have been investing heavily in shale gas development in the key shale provinces and have really boosted shale gas production in recent years. Although China is estimated to have a lot of shale gas resources, even higher than those in the United States, its shale gas boom has just started. But it could end as early as the middle of this decade because shale gas development in China is more difficult and more expensive than in the United States. Unlike the U.S., China is subsidizing the development of unconventional natural gas, and it has recently extended subsidies on all unconventional production through 2023 and, for the first time, included tight gas as an unconventional natural gas source eligible to receive subsidies. The Chinese government has directed state oil and gas majors, including the biggest companies, PetroChina and Sinopec, to work to significantly boost their natural gas production, including from shale formations, as Beijing looks to bolster its energy security amid rising demand for natural gas. Unlike in the U.S., the development of shale gas resources in China is much more difficult due to more complex geography and a lack of adequate infrastructure to remote mountainous regions where most of the Chinese shale resources lie. Drilling for shale gas in China requires deeper wells, while fracturing is also tricky because of the mountain terrain and geological constraints. Related: Canada Is Cleaning Up Its Oil Sands Still, Chinese state majors have managed to boost conventional and unconventional natural gas production in recent years. Shale gas output has grown by double-digit percentages over the past few years, exclusively due to the national corporations boosting development as per government directive. Natural gas output in China jumped annually by 13.7 percent in December 2020 and by 9.8 percent in full 2020, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Sinopec reported in November China's highest-ever daily output of shale gas at 20.62 million cubic meters in its Fuling shale gas field in the Sichuan province. Earlier this year, the company also completed construction of the first phase of the Weirong shale gas field in the same province. PetroChina, for its part, plans to double the natural gas output from its shale operations in Sichuan in the next five years. Shale gas growth is set to drive China's increase in natural gas production through 2025, Rystad Energy estimates cited by Reuters show. But after the middle of this decade, the Chinese shale boom could slow because of the challenging geography requiring major technological breakthroughs to extract the resources deep in the ground, analysts tell Reuters. To further boost production, China is looking to attract investments in shale gas developments by easing restrictions on foreign entities and subsidizing costs. However, it may have to rely only on its own oil and gas majors for sustaining the shale gas production growth as international oil majors abandoned shale exploration in China years ago. In 2019, BP became the latest international major to quit drilling for shale gas in China because of poor exploration drilling results. Commenting on BP's exit, Xianhui Zhang, Wood Mackenzie Eastern Asia upstream research analyst, said at the time: "We understand that both poor well performance and challenging above-ground conditions contributed to BP's decision. The difficulties, for both national oil companies (NOCs) and oil Majors, highlight the unique challenges of developing shale gas in China. These include complex and deep reservoir geology, low well productivity, marginal economics and infrastructure constraints." One should never estimate the determination of the Chinese authorities to get the targets in five-year development plans achieved, so government support to China's shale is expected to help production growth. But even the top Chinese state-controlled majors could, in a few years, find investment in conventional gas more worthwhile than sinking funds into shale development, which is more expensive to sustain and more difficult to scale up. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.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. Former Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at Chatham House in London, on Nov. 6, 2017. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry: Laid Off Oil and Gas Workers Can Work on Solar Panels Special Presidential Envoy for Climate of the Biden administration John Kerry said Wednesday that those workers impacted by the administrations fossil fuel policy can find jobs in solar panels or other growing industries. Kerry, who once served as secretary of state for the Obama administration said in a White House briefing that President Joe Biden is doing what is necessary to combat climate change to eradicate the oil and gas and coal industries. And the fossil fuel workers have been fed a false narrative that dealing with the climate is coming at their expense. We didnt come here to put anybody on notice except to the seriousness of President Bidens intent to do what needs to be done to deal with this crisis, said Kerry. And it is a crisis, with respect to those workers, no two people are more, in this room, are more concerned about it. Some lawmakers disagree with the argument that there is a climate crisis. Sure the climate is changing, and one of the reasons is because the climate has always been changing, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in 2016 during a debate. There has never been a time when the climate was not changing. In October 2018, Rubio said on CNNs State of the Union that many scientists would debate the percentage of what is attributable to man versus normal fluctuations. Workers Have Been Fed False Narrative: Kerry The president of the United States has expressed in every comment he has made about climate the need to grow the new jobs that pay better, that are cleaner, Kerry said on Wednesday. He said that the same people who currently work in fossil fuel industries can work in the solar power industry: The same people can do those jobs, but the choice of doing the solar power one now is a better choice. Kerry credited the job losses and changes of the industries to the market and said workers have been misinformed. I think that, unfortunately, workers have been fed a false narrative, he said. Theyve been fed the notion that somehow dealing with climate is coming at their expense. No, its not. What is happening to them is because other market forces are already taking place. However, he didnt elaborate on what other market forces he was referring to. So what President Biden wants to do is make sure those folks have better choices, that they have alternatives. They can be the people that go to work to make the solar panels, that were making them here at home, Kerry continued. Kerrys statements drew criticism from Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.). On Thursday, he reacted on Twitter: Socialist John Kerry to oil & gas workers fired by [Bidens] anti-energy policy: you little people can go to work to make the solar panels. Lots of problems with that. International Criticism The Biden administrations opposition to the fossil fuel industry in its first few days has ignited criticism both domestically and from Canada. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, the partner of the Keystone XL pipeline project said the cancellation disrespects one of Americas closest friends and allies. He called for Biden to reconsider the cancellation. A group of Republican legislators planned to introduce legislation to keep the project rolling. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) alongside other senators from central and western states said on Wednesday that they plan to introduce legislation to allow the Keystone XL Pipeline to continue construction. Janita Kan contributed to this report. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Farmers have been camping at the border areas of the national capital for almost two months as part of their protest against Centre`s three agriculture laws. Security has been heightened at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) after the violence broke out during a tractor rally in various parts of the national capital on Republic Day. Protesting farmers did not follow the marked route for their tractor march on Republic Day and forcibly entered central Delhi by removing police barricades. They clashed with the police and also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts. Several public and private properties were damaged in acts of vandalism by the protestors, while one farmer died after his tractor overturned at ITO. Here are the highlights: 11.55 pm: Sit-in protest at Ghazipur border (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) continues against the Centre's farm laws. "We will not vacate the site," Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur border. Sit-in protest at Ghazipur border (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) continues against the Centre's #FarmLaws. pic.twitter.com/BOaVAGbAeK ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 22.30 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the Delhi Police issuing lookout notices against farmer leaders over the tractor rally violence is "absolutely wrong". He also said treating the farmers as "flight risk" was not only "illogical but condemnable". "Where will they flee?" asked the chief minister, adding that most of them are small farmers with small land holdings and not some "big corporate raiders" who had fled over the past few years after "looting" the country of billions of rupees. You failed to stop these bigwigs but are now targeting these small farmers fighting for their survival," he said and appealed to the Centre to immediately direct the Delhi Police to withdraw the lookout notices. 9.35 pm: We will not be intimidated by notices sent by Delhi Police, said Samyukta Kisan Morcha on police move following tractor rally violence. It said, "Govt trying to put an end to the movement against farm laws by blaming us for January 26 violence; this is not acceptable." Instead of taking action against real culprits, police arresting farmers who were protesting peacefully, it further said. 9.15 pm: Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) and BKU (Ekta) met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today. "We're also hurt by the Red fort incident. Govt has assured us that they'll continue with commitments made during talks with farmers," says SS Bhati, BKU (Lok Shakti) 8.50 pm: Will commit suicide but won't end protest until farm bills are repealed: BKU's Rakesh Tikait 8.45 pm: Around 30 farmers from DDA Ground Burari have moved towards the Singhu border and other farmers ( around 15) have been detained for their possible involvement in violence by protesters on 26th January and for violating laws. Burari ground is being cleared and will be clear soon. 8.38 pm: Ghazipur border closed. Traffic diverted from NH 24, NH 9, Road no 56, 57 A, Kondli, Paper market, Telco T point, EDM Mall, Akshardham & Nizammudin Khatta. Traffic is very heavy in the area & Vikas marg, Please take alternate route: Delhi Traffic Police 8.30 pm: Section 144 Imposed at Ghazipur Border 8.15 pm: A notice has been served to them (farmers) under Section 133 of CrPC (conditional order for removal of nuisance): Ghaziabad ADM City Shailendra Kumar Singh at Ghazipur border. 8 pm: Rakesh Tikait starts hunger strike. 7.55 pm: Commuters have been advised to take alternate route. Traffic diverted from NH44 near DSIDC Narela. Traffic police has advised commuters to avoid Outer Ring Rd, GTK road and NH 44. 7.15 pm: Singhu, Auchandi, Mangesh, Saboli, Piau Maniyari borders are closed. Lampur, Safiabad, Singhu school and Palla toll tax borders have opened. 7.00 pm: BKU leader Naresh Tikait ends protest in Muzaffarnagar 6.55 pm: Well continue our sit-in protest & will not vacate site till talks with government are held. Administration has removed basic facilities including water & electricity supply. Well get water from our villages: Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur border. 06.50 pm: Uttar Pradesh government has ordered all DMs and SSPs to ensure the end of all the farmers agitations in the state: Government officials. 06.45 pm: Roads to Singhu Border fully closed. 6.20 pm: We want to court arrest peacefully but there is a plan for violence in way while protesters return. If there is any such plan, I will remain here. I will face the bullet, Rakesh Tikait said 6.15 pm: BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has said that they wont surrender. No surrender. BJP wants to create a different scenario. Call details of those responsible for Red Fort incident should come. If needed, more people will come from villages. Deep Sindhu connection should come before country. SC committee should investigate, Tikait said. 6 pm: Singhu border--The government has taken a tough stand after the violence during the tractor parade of farmers on January 26 (Republic Day). The deployment of police has been increased at all the picket sites of farmers including the Singhu border and Ghazipur border. Police and agitators have come face-to-face on the Singhu border. RAF personnel have also been deployed on the Singhu border. Police have started removing barricades with the help of cranes. They were used to remove concrete blocks from the road and two cranes are at work. There is heavy deployment of police at the site. 5.50 pm: Locals raise slogans to vacate Singhu border--As per news agency ANI, a group of people claiming to be locals of the Singhu border gathered and raised slogans, demanding the area to be vacated. People were raising slogans including 'will not tolerate tricolour`s insult', 'vacate Singhu border', 'Delhi Police we are with you' and 'Khalistan murdabad'. At the Singhu border point, a 'sadbhawana march' was taken out by protesting farmer unions. 5.40 pm: Flag march of police on Ghazipur border--The police force has also been increased at the Ghazipur border and the police is conducting flag march at the border. According to information received from sources, the facilities being provided by the Municipal Corporation at Ghazipur border have been removed. The facilities that were provided include sweepers, water facilities, and restrooms. Now only two toilets have been kept. 5.45 pm: Delhi Police--Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava said held a meeting with the special commissioner of police (Intelligence) and other senior police officers at the police headquarters. In a written message to Delhi Police personnel on Thursday, Shrivastava said that coming days can be more challenging and they will have to be alert. "You have shown great patience despite the farmers' agitation turning violent...394 of our friends have been injured in the violence during the farmers' agitation," he said in his message. 5.35 pm: Farmer unions--Those protesting against the three farm laws alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the violence, which left 394 police personnel injured and one protestor dead. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared disinvestment of debt-laden Air India but the final modalities, including the quantum of stake sale, will be decided by a group of ministers. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Cabinet has given in-principle approval for disinvestment of Air India. A group will be set up to finalise modalities/details of disinvestment of Air India, including the quantum of stake sale, he said. The civil aviation ministry is charting out the disinvestment of the state-run carrier. Surviving on taxpayers money, Air India has been in the red for long and various proposals, including government think tank Niti Aayogs suggestion for complete privatisation, have been made. The airline has a debt of more than Rs 52,000 crore and is surviving on a Rs 30,000-crore bailout package extended by the previous UPA government in 2012. ALSO READ: 'AI privatisation welcome but salary arrears should be settled first' For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Moussa Faki Mahamat and Mohamed Ibn Chambas concluded a joint visit to Sierra Leone and Cabo Verde The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), a Govt. of India PSE, has released a IOCL Recruitment 2021 Notification inviting online applications from qualified and experienced Indian nationals for filling Sixteen (16) vacancies to the post of Non-Executives/Junior Engineering Assistant IV (Production) in IOCL through direct recruitment to be posted at the IOCL's Barauni Refinery in Bihar, India on a fulltime basis. The application-cum-registration process towards the same starts on January 28, 2021 and closes on February 19, 2021. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Non-Executives/Junior Engineering Assistant IV (Production) posts in IOCL Organisation Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Educational Qualification Diploma in Chemical/Refinery & Petrochemical Engineering, Or B.Sc in Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry with minimum 50% marks Experience One-year in a relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Bihar Salary Scale Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1,05,000 per month Industry Oil/Govt. of India PSE Application Start Date January 28, 2021 Application End Date February 19, 2021 IOCL Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees Desirous candidates applying for IOCL Non-Executive Jobs 2021 through IOCL Recruitment 2021 must have attained 18 years of age and not have exceeded 26 years as on January 31, 2021 with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 3 years (OBC-NCL) and 5 years (SC/ST) respectively as specified in the IOCL Recruitment Notification 2021. Candidates must remit a prescribed amount of Rs. 150 (Gen/OBC/EWS) as application fee for IOCL Non-Executive Jobs 2020 under IOCL Recruitment 2021 through online SBI Collect mode only. However, SC/ST/PwBD candidates are exempted from payment of Application as mentioned in the IOCL Recruitment Notification 2021 given at the end of the article. Also Read: BEL Recruitment 2021 For 26 Project Engineers Posts At BEL Hyderabad, Apply Offline Before February 18 IOCL Recruitment 2021: Education And Eligibility Desirous candidates applying for IOCL Non-Executives 2021 through IOCL Recruitment 2021 must possess Diploma in Chemical/Refinery & Petrochemical Engineering, Or B.Sc in Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry with minimum 50% marks from a recognised University/Institution with minimum one-year of post qualification experience in concerned area as detailed in the IOCL Recruitment Notification 2021. IOCL Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates for IOCL Junior Engineering Assistants Jobs 2021 through IOCL Recruitment 2021 will be done through a Written Test and Skill/Proficiency/Physical Test (SPPT) as notified in the IOCL Recruitment 2021 notification. Candidates selected for IOCL Junior Engineering Assistants Jobs 2021 through IOCL Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1,05,000 per month. Also Read: WBHRB Recruitment 2021 For 1,647 Medical Technologist Grade III Posts, Apply Online Before February 6 IOCL Recruitment 2021: How To Apply Candidates applying for IOCL Non-Executives through IOCL Recruitment 2021 must register online on the official IOCL website from January 28, 2021 onwards and submit their applications on or before February 19, 2021. Post-online submission, candidates must take a printout of the same duly signed and send it to the "Dy. General Manager (HR), Barauni Refinery, P.O. Barauni Oil Refinery, Begusarai, Bihar - 851114" along with relevant supporting documents on or before February 27, 2021 by ordinary post. Download IOCL Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Non-Executives/Junior Engineering Assistants posts live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced it has successfully demonstrated live 5G service over a commercial network in Hyderabad city, underlining the 5G readiness of its network across domains. The full impact of the 5G experience, though, would be available to Airtel customers when adequate spectrum is available, and government approvals are received. The demonstration in Hyderabad has highlighted the company's technology capabilities, Airtel said. Bharti Airtel MD and CEO, Gopal Vittal, said: "I am very proud of our engineers who have worked tirelessly to showcase this incredible capability in Tech City, Hyderabad today. Every one of our investments is future proofed as this game changing test in Hyderabad proves". Vittal added: "With Airtel being the first operator to demonstrate this capability, we have shown again that we have always been the first in India to pioneer new technologies in our quest for empowering Indians everywhere." India has the potential to become a global hub for 5G innovation, he said adding this would require the coming together of ecosystem applications, devices and network innovation. "We are more than ready to do our bit," Vittal said. The demonstration of live 5G service in Hyderabad was conducted over an existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band. "Using a first of its kind, dynamic spectrum sharing, Airtel seamlessly operated 5G and 4G concurrently within the same spectrum block," Airtel said. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British alcoholic beverages company Diageo plc (DGE.L, DEO) reported Thursday that its first-half profit attributable to parent company's shareholders declined 15 percent to 1.58 billion pounds from last year's 1.87 billion pounds. Basic earnings per share were 67.6 pence, down from 79.2 pence a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 69.9 pence, down from 80.2 pence last year. Organic operating profit was down 3.4 percent. Net sales dropped 5 percent to 6.87 billion pounds from prior year's 7.20 billion pounds. Organic net sales went up 1 percent, despite a significant impact from Travel Retail and on-trade restrictions. North America was up 12.3 percent, offsetting declines in other regions, except for Africa which was broadly flat. Volume dropped 2 percent. Further, the company announced that interim dividend increased 2 percent to 27.96 pence per share. Looking ahead, the company said it is not providing specific guidance due to the ongoing volatility. However, the company said it expects organic operating profit growth in the second half of fiscal 21 to be ahead of organic net sales growth in all regions due to the weak comparator period, except North America. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 18:26:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Sadyr Zhaparov (C) holds a flag at an inauguration ceremony in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Jan. 28, 2021. Sadyr Zhaparov officially took office as the new Kyrgyz president on Thursday, becoming the sixth president of Kyrgyzstan. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua) BISHKEK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sadyr Zhaparov officially took office as the new Kyrgyz president on Thursday, becoming the sixth president of Kyrgyzstan. Zhaparov took the oath at an inauguration ceremony at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic building, and then head of the country's Central Election Commission Nurzhan Shaildabekova handed over the president's certificate and the badge. Zhaparov said Kyrgyzstan will adhere to a multi-vector foreign policy in his speech. "Enhancing cooperation and strengthening economic and cultural ties with strategic partners is a priority of our foreign policy," he stressed. The new Kyrgyz president expressed hope for furthering mutually beneficial cooperation with China. He also expressed great gratitude to countries that provided all possible assistance in difficult days, especially Russia. Zhaparov also said Kyrgyzstan will make effort to start cooperation with the United States and countries in Europe and Asia. He assured that Kyrgyzstan will fulfill international obligations within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union as well as other international organizations. Zhaparov won the Jan. 10 early presidential election with 79.2 percent of the votes. The early presidential election was held after former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov resigned amid protests against the results of the parliamentary elections, which took place on Oct. 4, 2020. Enditem LONDON - Egyptian security officials tampered with the mobile phone of Giulio Regeni, the 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral researcher tortured to death in Cairo in early 2016, an unnamed witness told British daily the Guardian. The witness told the Guardian that he saw Regeni inside a police station in Cairo. The Guardian said the witness is regarded as credible by Italian investigators in Rome who are trying to shed light on the situation. The witness said the security officials behaved as if they were above the law. "Those people that took Giulio were different," he said. "Everyone is afraid of the National Security Agency." He also spoke of Egyptian security officers having possibly tampered with Regeni's mobile phone in order to hinder an investigation by Italian authorities. The Guardian said the witness' testimony has already been obtained by Italian prosecutors investigating Regeni's death. Regeni's body was found in a ditch next to a remote Cairo highway in February 2016, nine days after he disappeared, after having suffered atrocious torture. [January 28, 2021] ThoughtWorks Launches First 'Looking Glass,' Bringing the Technology-Led Changes Impacting Business into Focus CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ThoughtWorks , a global software consultancy, today released Looking Glass , a guide to the critical technology-driven shifts set to shape business in 2021 and beyond. The report, which incorporates five-years of internal strategy and experiences from real-life client work, offers industry leaders a rare glimpse into how ThoughtWorks keeps the businesses they advise at the forefront of technology and innovation. "Looking Glass is rich in insight and advice that will allow any business, from any industry, to look ahead at the technology trends impacting customer behavior and the tools driving enterprise growth," says Dr. Rebecca Parsons , chief technology officer at ThoughtWorks. "ThoughtWorkers have been successfully leveraging these technology lenses for our own business and for the many clients we serve. Today we are excited to invite business leaders from across the globe to peer into the Looking Glass alongside us." Looking Glass identifies over 120 individual trends separated into six 'lenses' of focus for 2021, collectively giving businesses from all industries tools for success that extend beyond typical specified trend reports. Notably, ThoughtWorks offers a new interpretation of the term 'hostile tech,' which is commonly associated with criminal activity such as ransomware, dta theft and computer viruses. Instead, hostile tech by this report's definition can encompass not just criminal tech, but also use cases like advertising and customer targeting, and isn't always malicious or intended. "These are turbulent times with businesses facing more uncertainty than ever and increased pressure to rapidly digitize," said Julie Woods-Moss , chief marketing officer at ThoughtWorks. "Unlike traditional trends forecasts, Looking Glass gives businesses the actual tools and actionable insights needed to succeed in the coming year, but these principles are also crucial for long-term business planning. Looking Glass helps industry leaders cut through the noise of tech trends and focus on what is actually critical to business success." The six lenses in this first-of-its-kind report are: Humanity, augmented: Powerful new data-based tools are revolutionizing the way businesses make decisions and deploy talent, with broadly positive results. But these technologies also come with ethical and organizational challenges that responsible enterprises need to bear in mind. Powerful new data-based tools are revolutionizing the way businesses make decisions and deploy talent, with broadly positive results. But these technologies also come with ethical and organizational challenges that responsible enterprises need to bear in mind. Accelerating towards sustainability: As consumers, governments and investors demand greater environmental accountability from companies, going green has gone from optional to a business imperative. Technology will present both challenges and opportunities in the drive to embed sustainability in more activities and practices. As consumers, governments and investors demand greater environmental accountability from companies, going green has gone from optional to a business imperative. Technology will present both challenges and opportunities in the drive to embed sustainability in more activities and practices. Evolving interactions: Consumers aren't just demanding availability and accessibility they expect interactions to be seamless, and richer. Enterprises can deliver this experience through evolving interfaces that blend speech, touch and visuals. Consumers aren't just demanding availability and accessibility they expect interactions to be seamless, and richer. Enterprises can deliver this experience through evolving interfaces that blend speech, touch and visuals. Morphing of the computing fabric: The boundaries of computing are expanding, pushing the edges of what's possible for enterprises. The emerging computing environment not only provides the opportunity to tap into unprecedented data analysis and processing power, but also to structure computing architecture to better serve the needs of the business. The boundaries of computing are expanding, pushing the edges of what's possible for enterprises. The emerging computing environment not only provides the opportunity to tap into unprecedented data analysis and processing power, but also to structure computing architecture to better serve the needs of the business. Coopetition forces platforms into ecosystems: The platforms created by businesses are increasingly only a starting point. Meeting rising customer expectations often requires joining up with or being open to other participants, turning platforms into ecosystems of related products and services that evolve dynamically as constituents cooperate and compete. The platforms created by businesses are increasingly only a starting point. Meeting rising customer expectations often requires joining up with or being open to other participants, turning platforms into ecosystems of related products and services that evolve dynamically as constituents cooperate and compete. The expanding impact of hostile tech: 'Hostile' technology is commonly associated with criminal activity such as ransomware, breaking into a system to steal data or creating computer viruses but this misses the complete picture. The landscape is evolving in a way that the definition of hostile tech should be broadened to include legal, even widely accepted, acts which ultimately threaten societal well-being. ThoughtWorks' Looking Glass will be updated on an annual basis, to keep pace with the constant shifts in technology priorities and applications for businesses. Visit ThoughtWorks.com/insights/business to stay up to date with the latest business and industry insights for digital leaders. About ThoughtWorks We are a software consultancy and community of passionate purpose-led individuals, 7,000+ people strong across 46 offices in 15 countries. Over our 25+ year history, we have helped our clients solve complex business problems where technology is the differentiator. When the only constant is change, we prepare you for the unpredictable. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thoughtworks-launches-first-looking-glass-bringing-the-technology-led-changes-impacting-business-into-focus-301217176.html SOURCE ThoughtWorks [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] At Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Twp. last month, 130 pets moved to what staff hope will be their forever homes. Thats about 30 more than usual this time of year and one of the highest adoption rates Griffin Pond Executive Director Ashley Wolo has seen in her time with the shelter. But theres still a list of pets waiting to fill their spots. We get so many phone calls every single day, Wolo said. We have a waiting list. Theyre not the only shelter filled to capacity as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Franklin Twp. also reported a rise in dog surrenders, while Dessin Animal Shelter in Honesdale reported more than 100 fewer adoptions last year compared to 2019. Intake numbers havent changed significantly for Griffin Pond in the pandemic, Wolo said, but some peoples reasoning for surrendering an animal is a sign of the times. Some people have been forced to relocate and cannot bring their pets along. Others cant afford pet food or veterinary care. Blue Chip is at capacity for cats, President Marge Bart said, much like every other rescue she knows. Cats tend to rack up more expenses, and its difficult to fundraise in a pandemic, she added. Were trying to adopt out the hundred we have and get down to a reasonable number, she said. Blue Chips dog adoptions rose by 33 from 2019 to 2020, but there were also 16 more surrenders and nine more returns in 2020 than the previous year. People are giving them up more. Theyre either losing their homes or having to move in with other people, and there a lot of people who wont rent to people with dogs or cats, Bart said. Dessin recorded 384 adoptions in 2020 compared to 497 in 2019. They also have seen a rise in the number of cats. With income down and people having a hard time in the pandemic, a lot of people did not take on adopting a new pet just because they were home, said Ashley Martin, shelter co-manager. While adoption fees generate income for the shelter, Martin said these numbers dont concern her because she doesnt want people to adopt a pet while its convenient, then realize later on they cant keep the commitment. I feel like people around here are thinking hard about the decision and not just getting animals because theyre home right now, she said. I feel like theyre really weighing the pros and cons. As an incentive, the shelter offers reduced adoption fees for people 65 and above with qualifying senior pets, military members, veterans and first responders, including doctors and nurses. Were hoping with those programs, we get some more attention to some of our cats because the more we can move these cats into new homes, the more we can bring in the cats who need time in the shelter to find a home, Martin said. Each shelter is open by appointment only with an approved application. Apply to Griffin Pond at griffinpondanimalshelter.com, Blue Chip at bcfanimalrefuge.org and Dessin at dessinshelters.com. HSE CEO, Paul Reid, speaking at the Health Service Executive weekly press briefing in the Solas Room, U Building, DCU Dublin (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA) Testing of close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases is to resume on Friday, the HSE said. At the end of December testing of close contacts was suspended temporarily to prioritise testing of symptomatic cases. It was a result of pressure on the testing system due to widespread community transmission seen in the third wave. HSE chief executive Paul Reid said: From tomorrow, close contacts of a confirmed case will be referred to a Covid-19 testing centre, for a test on day five. Mr Reid said there had been a modest decline in the number of people in hospitals with the virus, but said the health care system will not see the benefits of this for some time to come. The number of hospital staff absent from work as a result of being a Covid positive case, or a close contact of a positive case, has also reduced. Some early signs of minor relief in #COVID19 hospital numbers. However our health system remains under relentless strain. Many very sick & vulnerable people will need care for some time. Our ICUs remain too close to a tipping point. Please continue to hold our guard. @HSELive Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) January 28, 2021 Mr Reid said: Its still at a high level of 5,500, but down from 6,600 last week. Capacity in intensive care units remains to close to a tipping point for us to have any level of comfort, Mr Reid said. There are 1,620 Covid patients in the hospital system currently and 216 of those are in ICU as of Thursday lunchtime. There are 330 patients in ICU overall, including non-Covid patients, leaving just 18 intensive care beds free across the country. There have been over 800 deaths linked to coronavirus in January alone, Mr Reid said. In response to news that German public health officials have advised that the AstraZeneca vaccine not be administered to the over 65s population, the HSE said it will wait for the advice of the European Medicines Agency, which is anticipated on Friday. Ireland has administered a total of 161,500 vaccines to date, the HSE has said. As of January 27, 71,600 doses have been administered to long-term residents and staff in care facilities. A further 89,900 were given to frontline health care workers. Earlier on Thursday, the Dail heard that Irelands Covid-19 vaccination programme is likely to miss its target of inoculating 700,000 people by the end of March. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the indicative target was heavily caveated and dependent on vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca. Mr Donnelly said it is very frustrating that AstraZeneca may not be delivering the full amount anticipated by Government. Minister for Healthas spoofing offers no clarity on vaccine rollout - @davidcullinane "We are not asking the Minister to magic up doses of the vaccine, but we need him to be honest. If commitments need to be revised, he needs to be upfront about this."https://t.co/HjSM3Cc4e8 pic.twitter.com/gZttleA9HG Sinn FAin (@sinnfeinireland) January 28, 2021 As part of the deal with the pharmaceuticals giant, Ireland was due to receive 600,000 coronavirus vaccines in the coming weeks. However, Mr Donnelly said negotiations are under way to establish what the new supply chain will include. The interruption to supply will likely affect the domestic vaccine rollout and the Governments targets for the months ahead. Mr Donnelly said that 3% of the population has been vaccinated by Sunday past, including 66,000 in nursing homes and 77,000 healthcare workers. He said that second doses of the vaccine are being administered this week. However, Sinn Feins David Cullinane accused the Health Minister of failing to provide revised timeframes or targets for Irelands vaccination programme. Minister, I have to say that your opening statement here today falls far short of what was needed, he added. It pains me to say this, it is very difficult to retain confidence in the rollout of the vaccine programme when we are not getting the information that we should be getting from the Minister for Health. You had 10 minutes to set a very clear strategy of providing clarity and certainty to people, and you havent done so. You didnt use the opportunity today to give us the information that we need. I have to say to you minister that this is not a time for spoofing. This is a time for absolute clarity and certainty, and to give assurances and reassurances to the public in relation to the rollout of the vaccine. We need strong leadership on this issue. Mr Donnelly told the Dail: Right now they (AstraZeneca) are not committing to that 600,000 were in negotiations to see what we can get. So obviously, the 700,000 is contingent on the supply that comes in and that that is still under negotiation. Expand Close The Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine (PA) Mr Donnelly told Labour leader Alan Kelly that approximately 40,000 vaccines arrived in Ireland this week. Mr Kelly was critical of the Governments failure to provide a daily breakdown of the amount of frontline healthcare workers who have been vaccinated. Mr Kelly added: What sort of an organisation would not know who they vaccinate? That information has to be provided, otherwise we have bigger problems. It doesnt make any sense that we dont know in UHL (University Hospital Limerick) or at the Coombe (hospital), or any other hospital in this country how many Covid-facing frontline workers have been vaccinated. Its really worrying that you cannot provide those statistics. Mr Donnelly also clarified that he expects all adult residents to be offered a vaccine by September based on current delivery schedules, but warned it is conditional on the supply chain and vaccines being authorised. 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. Mamata Banerjee declined to speak after the slogan was raised from a section of the audience just before she was to address the programme Prime Minister Narendra Modi with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee releases a book during 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata on January 23, 2021. (PTI/Ashok Bhaumik) Kolkata: The Congress and the CPI(M) on Wednesday said that they will not support the censure motion which the ruling Trinamool Congress is likely to move in the assembly over raising of "Jai Shri Ram" slogan at an official programme to celebrate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose here. The motion, if moved, will not be backed unless Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ensures that the Constitution and the opposition of the state get respect, leaders of the two parties said. Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, on January 23 declined to speak after the slogan was raised from a section of the audience just before she was to address the programme in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She had said such "insult" was unacceptable. The Congress had supported Banerjee saying that raising slogans in this way is an insult to the chief minister, while the CPI(M) described the incident as "disgraceful to the state". The TMC on Monday said that it is likely to move a censure motion in the West Bengal assembly over raising of "Jai Shri Ram" slogan at that programme, claiming that it was an insult to Netaji as well as the chief minister. A two-day special session of the West Bengal Assembly will begin on January 27 when the state government will table a resolution against the Centre's new farm laws and discuss the issue of agitating farmers. The censure motion is likely to be placed in the House on January 28. A censure motion is moved in a Legislative House to express strong disapproval of certain policies or acts. "There is no official communication to us till now (about the censure motion)," Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan told reporters. Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that Mamata Banerjee is leading an autocratic government. "Does insult matter only for Mamata Banerjee? Opposition leaders are insulted regularly. They are unable to raise the voices of people (in the assembly). "Rights of people are infringed upon. The BJP is insensitive to farmers problems and the Mamata Banerjee government is insensitive to para-teachers legitimate demands," he claimed. Women members of an organisation of para teachers on Wednesday staged a demonstration outside the West Bengal legislative assembly, demanding parity of their salaries with that of regular teachers in schools. A former BBC security guard has been accused of murdering his wife in their south Belfast home last summer. Gary Alexander Baird (61), whose address was given by the court as Lisburn Road in Belfast, did not appear before Newtownards Magistrates Court yesterday but was charged with the murder of Susan Baird (60). He was released on bail to a secure unit at Belfast City Hospital. On August 16, the mother-of-four was murdered in her home at a cul-de-sac at Windermere Road in the Four Winds area of south Belfast. She was an office administrator for Orangefield Presbyterian Church on Castlereagh Road. A detective sergeant said she could connect Baird to the murder charge and described the totally unpredictable attack as unprovoked, sustained and vicious. She said that the Windermere Road address would be unsuitable for bail as that is where the attack allegedly took place. Detectives from the PSNIs Major Investigation Team had arrested Baird who previously did security work, including at the BBC on suspicion of murder on Monday and took him to Musgrave custody suite for questioning. Representing Baird, Ciaran Toner of Finucane Toner Solicitors explained that the defendant is currently detained in Belfast City Hospital under a Mental Health Order. He added that Baird was released on Tuesday under Article 15 of the order to attend Musgrave custody suite for interview but later returned to hospital. Last night he was charged but because of the recommendations of the psychiatrist he was then brought back to Belfast City Hospital, the defence solicitor said. The detective outlined that police would ordinarily be opposing to bail and asking for Baird to be remanded in prison. However, on advice of the consultant psychiatrist, Baird was described as currently not being fit for prison. Our request, if possible, is to remand him to that unit, the detective added. We obviously have serious concerns about the risk not only to himself but the risk to the public given the fact that this was an unprovoked, sustained and vicious attack which was totally unpredictable. Mr Toner added that were not sure how long Baird will be in hospital so it was agreed that he could appear at a later date before the court in case of a future bail variation. If Baird was no longer detained under the Mental Health Order, police could then make an application to the court to vary bail and remand him in prison, it was contended. My application today, and it was agreed by the custody sergeant and the officer last night, was that he would be admitted to bail subject to the court to that address agreed by police, said Mr Toner. If there was a change to circumstances the police could then come and make representations to the court if they wanted to object. District Judge Mark Hamill said he had never come across this before but released Baird on bail for 400. He must reside in the Belfast City Hospital facility or another address agreed by police. Baird is due to appear before Newtownards Magistrates Court on February 24 for an update. Setting Up My Business in Vallarta was the Right Choice Being able to walk on the beach, swim in the ocean, and enjoy the warm weather all year long is incredibly energizing and has helped me cope up with the challenge of setting up my jewelry business in Puerto Vallarta. I am French, and Vallarta is not the first place I've lived in Mexico. Back in 2004, when I was studying for my mechanical engineer degree in France, my final traineeship was with a small Mexican company in QuerAtaro. It was an incredible time, and I enjoyed the country and its people so much that this experience marked me deeply and would lead me to change the course of my life. Fast forward to 2006, I am back in Mexico, in Reynosa, to work in a maquiladora (assembly plant) as an engineer, and that's where I met a girlfriend that would become my wife, as she came to live with me in France in 2008. Although she was very exited to be living in France and to learn French at the university, she soon discovered how frustrating it was for her not being able to work as a doctor after having graduated in Mexico. French laws can be very strict, (and dumb), as France lacks doctors, especially now because of the pandemic. So, in 2012, after four years of struggling to make it work in France, she got tired of it all and decided to go back to Mexico to pursue her career as a doctor, as this was her call in life. And of course, I decided to join her, but I didn't want to live again on the border as I wanted to live on the coast to be able to surf somehow. We bought a car in Matamoros and drove to QuerAtaro, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, visiting the cities, seeing friends and evaluating job opportunities. So after making a crazy plan, in just one weekend we were both back in Mexico for two weeks to plan our settlement in Mexico as a new chapter in our lives. My wife would stay while I would need to go back to quit my job and sell our belongings before leaving France for this new adventure. During those two weeks, we bought a car in Matamoros (where my wife is from) and drove to QuerAtaro, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, visiting the cities, seeing friends and evaluating the job opportunities that were available to us. Our final analysis was: forget the jobs, Puerto Vallarta is too awesome to not choose it. We decided to settle here and find a way to make a living here. In case of failure, we could always go back to Guadalaraja and find a job there. So my wife started to work as a medic, she worked up to three shifts a week to make ends meet, while I launched my own enterprise: an online jewelry business called Vivalatina. This was my first attempt, the boutique is in France, so my first goal was to be able to resell jewelry to France. In fact, we had already tried to set up an online jewelry outlet in France, selling silver jewelry imported from Mexico online, but my wife was not very interested in sales and I was already working full time, so we never tried hard to accomplish that. VivaLatina's team of artisan jewelers master the work of gold, silver, organic materials, the cutting of fine stones and the setting of precious stones. I decide to give myself 100% to see what I could do with this business idea: shift from selling imported jewelry from France, to selling the same kind of jewelry from Mexico. After failing for three years in a row, I learned two things: a My wife was very patient and loved me very much a I was very ignorant on how to set up a business properly But anyway, during those 3 years I learned how to increase the website's traffic, I learned marketing and, after analyzing the market, decided to shift the business from reselling silver jewelry to actually making custom-made jewelry, both in silver and gold. This was back in 2015 and soon my business was growing. In 2016, I was able to open my own jewelry workshop, as I was working with external jewelers up to this point. Opening my own workshop helped to give me better quality control over my jewelry and to reach delivery deadlines more easily. Up to this point, it had been a crazy workload, but living in Puerto Vallarta was a blessing as my wife found a job quite easily and I was able to take a break on weekends to go swimming in the Pacific Ocean or discover an incredible restaurant with an amazing view with her. And, of course, I took every chance I could to go surfing. But soon, with a small kid in the family and a business to grow, time available for surfing vanished pretty quickly. Being able to walk on the beach, see the sunset and enjoy the warm weather all year long is incredibly energizing and has helped me cope up with the challenge of setting up a business. As the past year has been stormy for everyone, I can appreciate the resilience of my business, as the online sector has not been impacted by Covid, and I am happy with the business choices I made in the past. Started as a solopreneur project, I do have three full time employees now, and being able to provide those jobs during the pandemic and difficult economic situation in Puerto Vallarta has been my pride. In 2018, we launched an English version of our online boutique: While the pandemic seems to linger longer than initially expected, I still aim to grow the business, focusing our marketing efforts on the US. If everything goes as planned, I'm hoping to employ a fourth artisan jeweler by the end of 2021, otherwise, it would be in 2022. With 8 years of experience now, I can see that being in Mexico and Puerto Vallarta has been a tremendous help to setting up my business. First, Mexican laws are very flexible for small businesses and tax rates are very low, and the administrative setup process so easy that every entrepreneur can really focus on their business goals. Had I have been in France, I would have given up after the first year, unable to pay the taxes due to my poor business development skills. Second, Puerto Vallarta in an incredible place to live, which provides motivation to make one's project work here. Having the ocean's peace and space to take a break helped me a lot when I was failing and doubting my business project. After 8 years running my business in Puerto Vallarta, and struggling most of the time, I can now be satisfied with what I've accomplished and enjoy Vallarta's incredible environment.I am French, and Vallarta is not the first place I've lived in Mexico.Back in 2004, when I was studying for my mechanical engineer degree in France, my final traineeship was with a small Mexican company in QuerAtaro. It was an incredible time, and I enjoyed the country and its people so much that this experience marked me deeply and would lead me to change the course of my life.Fast forward to 2006, I am back in Mexico, in Reynosa, to work in a(assembly plant) as an engineer, and that's where I met a girlfriend that would become my wife, as she came to live with me in France in 2008. Although she was very exited to be living in France and to learn French at the university, she soon discovered how frustrating it was for her not being able to work as a doctor after having graduated in Mexico. French laws can be very strict, (and dumb), as France lacks doctors, especially now because of the pandemic.So, in 2012, after four years of struggling to make it work in France, she got tired of it all and decided to go back to Mexico to pursue her career as a doctor, as this was her call in life. And of course, I decided to join her, but I didn't want to live again on the border as I wanted to live on the coast to be able to surf somehow.So after making a crazy plan, in just one weekend we were both back in Mexico for two weeks to plan our settlement in Mexico as a new chapter in our lives. My wife would stay while I would need to go back to quit my job and sell our belongings before leaving France for this new adventure.During those two weeks, we bought a car in Matamoros (where my wife is from) and drove to QuerAtaro, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, visiting the cities, seeing friends and evaluating the job opportunities that were available to us.Our final analysis was: forget the jobs, Puerto Vallarta is too awesome to not choose it. We decided to settle here and find a way to make a living here. In case of failure, we could always go back to Guadalaraja and find a job there.So my wife started to work as a medic, she worked up to three shifts a week to make ends meet, while I launched my own enterprise: an online jewelry business called Vivalatina. This was my first attempt, the boutique is in France, so my first goal was to be able to resell jewelry to France.In fact, we had already tried to set up an online jewelry outlet in France, selling silver jewelry imported from Mexico online, but my wife was not very interested in sales and I was already working full time, so we never tried hard to accomplish that.I decide to give myself 100% to see what I could do with this business idea: shift from selling imported jewelry from France, to selling the same kind of jewelry from Mexico.After failing for three years in a row, I learned two things:a My wife was very patient and loved me very mucha I was very ignorant on how to set up a business properlyBut anyway, during those 3 years I learned how to increase the website's traffic, I learned marketing and, after analyzing the market, decided to shift the business from reselling silver jewelry to actually making custom-made jewelry, both in silver and gold.This was back in 2015 and soon my business was growing. In 2016, I was able to open my own jewelry workshop, as I was working with external jewelers up to this point. Opening my own workshop helped to give me better quality control over my jewelry and to reach delivery deadlines more easily.Up to this point, it had been a crazy workload, but living in Puerto Vallarta was a blessing as my wife found a job quite easily and I was able to take a break on weekends to go swimming in the Pacific Ocean or discover an incredible restaurant with an amazing view with her. And, of course, I took every chance I could to go surfing. But soon, with a small kid in the family and a business to grow, time available for surfing vanished pretty quickly.Being able to walk on the beach, see the sunset and enjoy the warm weather all year long is incredibly energizing and has helped me cope up with the challenge of setting up a business.As the past year has been stormy for everyone, I can appreciate the resilience of my business, as the online sector has not been impacted by Covid, and I am happy with the business choices I made in the past.Started as a solopreneur project, I do have three full time employees now, and being able to provide those jobs during the pandemic and difficult economic situation in Puerto Vallarta has been my pride. In 2018, we launched an English version of our online boutique: vivalatina-shop.com, where we offer our jewelry creations and custom-made services.While the pandemic seems to linger longer than initially expected, I still aim to grow the business, focusing our marketing efforts on the US. If everything goes as planned, I'm hoping to employ a fourth artisan jeweler by the end of 2021, otherwise, it would be in 2022.With 8 years of experience now, I can see that being in Mexico and Puerto Vallarta has been a tremendous help to setting up my business.First, Mexican laws are very flexible for small businesses and tax rates are very low, and the administrative setup process so easy that every entrepreneur can really focus on their business goals. Had I have been in France, I would have given up after the first year, unable to pay the taxes due to my poor business development skills.Second, Puerto Vallarta in an incredible place to live, which provides motivation to make one's project work here. Having the ocean's peace and space to take a break helped me a lot when I was failing and doubting my business project. 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. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 28.01.21: Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan visited Yerablur Military Pantheon and noted that "the Armenian army is a source of our national pride." Current president Armen Sarkissian and ex-president Serzh Sargsyan were not able to visit the pantheon as they are fighting the COVID-19. However, tributes were paid on their behalf at the pantheon. Meanwhile, a rally was taking place in Republic Square, the heart of Yerevan, demanding the PM Nikol Pashinyan's resignation. Various politicians, public figures, ordinary citizens, representatives of political forces, as well as cultural and artistic figures were present. Leaflets that read "Eliminate the traitor" could be seen all over the central streets, bus stops, and subway stations in virtually all administrative districts of Yerevan since early Thursday morning. In all likelihood, 'traitor' alludes to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Second President Robert Kocharyan on Wednesday gave an interview to three media outlets. During the interview, Kocharyan noted his intention to run in elections. According to him, snap parliamentary elections in Armenia are dangerous today - in the absence of answers to these contradictions, uncertainties, and very sensitive questions. "I will definitely run in the elections [...] yes, we will run, we will fight, and we will win [the elections]," Kocharyan added. Speaking about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Kocharyan noted that Azerbaijan does not give captives back because it wants to stop Artsakh army replenishment. Kocharyan is also sure that Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev is under constant pressure over the captives issue. The ex-president called the current situation in the Syunik province 'a disgrace.' "There are sections there where an Azerbaijani can change his cars license plate, drive to Yerevan, turn around and go back, and nowhere will he be stopped and asked," Kocharyan noted. Three more soldiers' bodies have been found during searches in Artsakh. Two bodies were found in the Martuni region, and one in Jrakan (Jabrayil). Searches continue Thursday in Jrakan and Hadrut. A total of 1,321 bodies have been found since the beginning of the search. Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Russian Deputy PMs will meet on Jan. 30 in Moscow. During their trilateral meeting in Moscow on January 11, the leaders of the three countries reached an agreement to set up a trilateral task force for de-blockage of all economic and transport relations in the region. The Armenian government had declared that deputy PM Mher Grigoryan would represent the Armenian side in the trilateral task force. Russian and Armenian FMs have discussed the implementation of Nagorno-Karabakh deals signed on November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021. Russia's Sergei Lavrov and Armenia's Ara Aivazian have also spoken about security aspects, humanitarian component, unblocking of economic and transport ties, Russian MFA noted. The sides highlighted the importance of matching interests and joint constructive work of all countries of the region. The ministers also synchronized watches on some topical issues of Russian-Armenian relations and international issues. Aeroflot Russian Airlines will cancel several international flights. Flights from Moscow to several destinations, including Yerevan, will be canceled from March 28 to April 30. Credit: Rich Carey/Shutterstock Oceanic sharks and rays live so far from land that the average person is unlikely to ever see them. But these species, which live in the vast open ocean, are also among the most revered, and include the great white shark and the giant manta ray. For millennia, their remoteness has allowed these species to largely avoid humans. But since the early 1950s, industrial-scale fishing fleets have been able to reach distant waters and gradually spread to exploit the entire global ocean. Rising demand over the same period for shark and ray meat, as well as fins, gill plates and liver oil, has caused catches of the 30 or so oceanic species to soar. Marine biologists have been raising the alarm for several decades now, but their warnings were often limited to what regional trends showed. Now, new research has brought together disparate threads of data into a single, global analysis of shark and ray populations in the open ocean. Worldwide, oceanic shark and ray abundance has declined by 71% since 1970. More than half of the 31 species examined are now considered to be endangered, or even critically endangered. Compare this with 1980 when only one species, the plankton-feeding basking shark, was thought to be endangered. These are stark statistics, and they indicate that the future for the ocean's top predators is fast deteriorating. Nose dive To arrive at the first global perspective on oceanic shark and ray population trends, the study synthesized a huge amount of data. The researchers calculated two separate indicators of biodiversity, using indexes established by the Convention on Biological Diversity to track progress towards international targets. They used state-of-the-art modeling to estimate trends in the relative abundance of species. One of the indicators combined assessments of 31 species by the IUCN Red List over a 38-year period. Shortfin mako sharks are one of the worlds fastest animals, but often fall foul of fishing gear. Credit: Jose Antonio Gil Martinez, CC BY The results revealed huge declines in the abundance of sharks in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Once abundant species such as the oceanic whitetip shark have declined by 75% globally in just the past half-century, while populations of the endangered shortfin mako sharkvalued for its meat and finshave shrunk by about 40%. Manta ray populations have suffered even greater losses. The study attributes these declines to overfishing. The researchers documented a greater than twofold increase in fishing pressure from longline fisheries for instance, which use lines stretching 100km and bearing 1,200 baited hooks. These lines are deployed each day by any one of the thousands of longlining vessels worldwide, snaring sharks in the open ocean either intentionally or as bycatch while targeting other marine life. The study also found increases in the proportion of sharks that are being fished beyond sustainable levels. But it's particularly worrying that unreported catches weren't included in the study's analyzes. This means the number of sharks and rays killed by fishing boats is likely to be an underestimate and the actual declines of these species may be even worse. Unlike most species of bony fish, sharks and rays produce few offspring and grow slowly. The rate at which they reproduce is clearly no match for current levels of industrialized fishing. Longline fishing deploys several hooks at once. Credit: Lunghammer/Shutterstock Regulating the high seas Immediate and far-reaching action is needed to rebuild these populations. It's clear that the rate of overfishing has outstripped the implementation of fisheries management measures and trade regulations. Since most oceanic sharks and rays are caught in the high seasareas beyond national jurisdictionsagreements between fishing nations within management organizations are needed for conservation measures to work. But, as this new study details, fishery limits imposed by management organizations of regional tuna fisheriesbodies tasked with managing oceanic sharks and ray populationshave been largely inadequate in following scientific advice. As recently as November 2020, the EU and US blocked a catch retention ban for North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks, despite scientific evidence clearly indicating that it was the first rung on a ladder to restoring this population of an endangered species. To begin the recovery of oceanic shark and ray populations, strict measures to prohibit landings of these species and to minimize their bycatch in other fisheries are needed immediately. This must be coupled with strict enforcement. Reducing the number of sharks and rays caught accidentally will be crucial but challenging, especially for longline fishing, which is not very selective and inadvertently catches lots of different species. This currently means that bans on intentional fishing are unlikely to be effective on their own. One solution would include modifying fishing gear and improving how fishers release sharks and rays after capture, to give them a better chance of survival. An equally important measure, noted in the current study, would be banning fishing fleets from hotspots of oceanic sharks and rays. Research published in 2019 highlighted where these areas in the global ocean overlap with fishing vessels most. Led by the UN, negotiations are underway for a high seas treaty which would create no-take marine reserves to protect threatened species in the open ocean. This new study should urge the international community to take such action while there's still time. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. With the goal of curbing the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the president is asking all Americans to wear masks in public as part of his 100 Days Masking Challenge. To help accomplish this goal, President Joe Bidens administration recently issued a mask mandate requiring individuals to wear masks on federal property. In addition, travelers are also now required to wear face coverings while on planes, trains, buses and at airports, according to a report by CBS News. Because of this, Americans will, once again, wonder which kinds of masks provide the best protection against COVID-19 and where can they be obtained? Proof that wearing a mask makes a difference can be found in a study published a week ago in The Lancet online health journal. The article Mask-wearing and control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA: a cross-sectional study states that increasing mask-wearing across the U.S. by just 10% would significantly curb the transmission of COVID-19. A big problem is, however, the effectiveness of wearing a mask is greatly diminished when the mask doesnt fit properly or the person wears the mask incorrectly. Everyone has witnessed that at one time or another seeing a persons mask worn underneath their nose. Even if youre wearing a high-quality mask, if it doesnt contact your face, its going to leak all around. The best masks have a very solid, tight seal so that air doesnt leak. Effectively, a low fit equals low filtration, said Devabhaktuni Srikrishna, founder of global-health platform Patient Knowhow. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at the Rhode Island Hospital, ranked available mask alternatives from most effective to least: 1) N95 masks provide the most filtration. 2) KN95 masks. 3) Regular surgical masks. 4) Double-layered cloth masks with a filter worn in-between the two layers. 5) Double-layer and single-layer cloth masks without filters are the least efficient, but any face covering is better than none, she said. Dr. Tom Frieden, who was the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2017, agreed with Ranneys advice in a tweet Sunday. N95 masks are the most protective masks, followed by three-ply surgical masks, then fabric masks. A fabric mask is a lot better than no mask, but we may need to step up our mask game if contagious Covid variants start to spread widely. Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) January 24, 2021 Many people may react to their recommendations with the same thought. It has been suggested for many months that N95 and other surgical-type masks are supposed to be used primarily by healthcare workers. But is seems the appearance of these types of masks, with respirators, have changed somewhat so if a normal citizen wears one in public, they wont feel conspicuous. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) maintains this list of approved N95 respirators. N95 masks are more available now. One such mask is available from a company based in Paterson, N.J. When Brian Wolins chiropractic business slowed due to the pandemic, he began selling NIOSH-approved N95 masks through his company, Protective Health Gear. Not only does he strive to meet hospitals needs, hes urging the general public to wear them as well. Chiropractor Brian Wolin is selling USA-made, NIOSH approved N95s through his company, Protective Health Gear. (Protective Health Gear) Another recommendation from Srikrishna are reusable elastomeric masks. These are more durable and cost-effective than disposable N95 masks. They are possibly not something the general public would care to wear in casual day-to-day activities, but would be a confident choice for wearing on the job. A study was done last year to evaluate the use of elastomeric masks in a healthcare setting. Lead study author was Sricharan Chalikonda, MD, MHA, FACS, chief medical operations officer for Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network (AHN), where the study took place. Not only did the study -- published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons -- state that healthcare workers that switched from disposable N95 masks to the elastomeric variety (paired with a P100 filter) did not return to wearing N95 masks, Dr. Chalikonda said they were game changing. Elastomeric masks similar to the one pictured are highly effective, are reasonably priced and are not in short supply. In addition, here are a few places to purchase masks/respirators: N95 masks (NIOSH-approved): N95 Medical Supplies -- a box of 20 costs $79.99. 3M Thermoplastic Elastomer Reusable Half Mask: Amazon -- $15 each. P100 filters sold separately at $7.65 for two. KN95 masks (suggested by the FDA): Home Depot -- $23.98 for a 10-pack. KN95 Powecom masks (suggested by the FDA): Office Depot -- $10 for a 10-pack. Of note, counterfeit N95 masks abound. How do you recognize the fakes? According to the CDC, telltale signs of fakes include no markings or approval number on the face piece; no NIOSH markings; decorative add-ons such as sequins on the masks; claims of approval for children, and labels on packaging claiming that a product is legitimate or genuine. Read more: "The Khemisset project will not only contribute to the overarching agenda of enriching agricultural soils to provide affordable food for the world's growing population, but will have a positive impact on the local area," said chief executive Graham Clarke ( ) has released a 2020 Sustainability Summary which gives a forward-looking view on the development and construction of its world-class Khemisset potash project, in Morocco. The company highlighted that the highest standards were adopted to reflect on the company's vision and values, which all can be summarised by the phrase ''doing the right things in the right way''. "The Khemisset project will not only contribute to the overarching agenda of enriching agricultural soils to provide affordable food for the world's growing population, but will have a positive impact on the local area because the directors are determined to do it in the right way, said Graham Clarke, Emmerson chief executive in a statement. We will endeavour to maximise material benefits for all of its stakeholders while mitigating the impact of mining on the environment, both in the construction and production phases. Clarke added: ''We are proud that the project will be such a positive catalyst for economic development in Morocco, which is why we have strong support from the Government and the local communities around Khemisset. Our team is committed to delivering and operating the Project to the highest standards to ensure Khemisset is a national success story in the burgeoning mining sector in Morocco." Lahcen Alloubane, Emmersons Morocco manager, added: As a team developing a mining project, it is fundamental that we commit to the highest standards of corporate and social responsibility to produce a sustainable future for all our stakeholders while we deliver the highest value for our shareholders. On a broader level, development of the Khemisset Potash Project goes in line with the government efforts to revive the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the project aligns well with the strategic plan of making Morocco a hub for fertiliser industry, primarily in the context of Africa. The outstanding Project economics, our commitment to the highest operational and environmental standards, and the expertise we have in the team are key factors to make us part of this broader agenda." SINGAPORE : Singapore and India are in talks about resuming scheduled commercial passenger flights gradually between the two countries, a top aviation authority official said on Thursday. However, Singapore is not discussing an air travel bubble arrangement with India, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) transport director Daniel Ng said. Air travel bubbles give travellers special exemption from quarantine rules. The resumption of commercial flights would not automatically come with such exemptions, unless agreed upon by countries. "There is interest from both countries to explore resuming international scheduled commercial passenger flights between Singapore and India gradually. Discussions are ongoing," Daniel was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia. However, travellers will be subject to travel restrictions and measures such as COVID-19 testing and stay-home notices, he said. Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, P Kumaran, said there is a fair amount of interest on both sides to "resume the excellent connectivity, which we have enjoyed over the years". There is a proposal to gradually restore air connectivity between the two countries. We plan to start with limited restoration of connectivity, which will be gradually ramped up as the situation improves. But travel under this arrangement will involve all health safeguards such as pre-departure testing and quarantine, he said. India is currently operating a limited number of flights to repatriate Indians under the Vande Bharat Mission, as it is being done so in bringing home Indian nationals working overseas but facing travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic. There are about 18 flights a week to various part of India from Singapore. India has already repatriated over 50,000 citizens from Singapore, but there are still over 10,000 registered Indians who need to get home for various reasons such as loss of jobs, medical and family matters, officials said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. People eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine cannot get it right away because all vaccination sites in North Alabama have a waiting list. Dr. Pam Hudson, the CEO of Crestwood Medical Center, said on Wednesday that people can register at multiple sites to get the vaccine, but she asks that once they get an appointment, they let the other sites know they can be taken off the waiting list. And you do not have to stay in Alabama to get the vaccine. Hudson knows people have left the state to get it and there is nothing stopping them from doing that. "The goal for our nation is to get at-risk people vaccinated. So, I think it is somewhat unlikely that we're going to have the kind of, you know, we're not going to have policemen and actuals checking driver's licenses. I haven't heard any reports of that happening," said Hudson. Hudson says that we should not panic, though, and try and stay within our communities to get the vaccine so we do not overwhelm other health care systems that also have lines of people waiting for the vaccine. The state of Alabama has been vaccinating people in group 1B for over a week now, which includes people 75 and older and first responders. Hudson said the CDC guidelines for moving to the next phase of vaccine distribution have not been specific, so Madison County's approach has been to publicize where the vaccine is and who can get the shots so people will sign up for appointments. There needs to be a good response from the groups getting the vaccine, though, before the state and county moves forward. "In terms of a target number, there isn't one. When people stop, when we see a decrease in the number of people who respond, when we put out the 'hey, don't forget you're eligible.' That's how we'll know if you will, air quotes, know when we're ready to move to the next level, and our state health officer actually makes that call," said Hudson. She says the supply of vaccines has not been adequate, though, so she is not sure when public health officials will open up vaccinations to people 65 and older. Thousands of people have already received the coronavirus vaccine in North Alabama, but health officials say the state needs more vaccines to meet the demand. Hudson is one of those people. But a shortage in the vaccine supply is not the only issue slowing down the rollout. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, and that complicates the rollout, because hospitals have to make sure they will have enough vaccines to administer the second dose three and four weeks later. Hospitals do not know the exact date when more vaccines will be coming, so it makes scheduling difficult. "It's not being shipped to the Department of Public Health and being kept in a storehouse. The vaccine is coming directly to the facilities that have qualified for it. Unfortunately, it's not coming as predictably as we'd like and in the amounts that we would like, so that's out biggest challenge right now," said Hudson. She says a big help to the vaccine rollout will be the emergency use authorization of the vaccines that only require one dose. Thiruvvananthapuram, Jan 28 : Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday accused the ruling Left Democratic Front led by CPI-M of stoking communalism in Kerala. "LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan is trying to fan communalism in the state by bringing up unnecessary issues in the run-up to the Assembly elections. The Left is playing with fire and creating a communal divide in society for votes." The Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly was responding to CPI-M state Secretary Vijayaraghavan's statement that Congress leaders in the southern state were becoming "subservient" to the Indian Union Muslim League. Chennithala said that the IUML was the second largest constituent in the opposition United Democratic Front and his party's discussions with the League was not a new phenomenon. "The same CPI-M is in a political alliance with the Muslim League in Tamil Nadu. The Left party has always shown political duplicity for many years. CPI-M leaders, including Vijayaraghavan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should understand that they remain straight in their political approach." The opposition leader also lashed out at the CPI-M over the killing of IUML worker Mohammed Sameer at Pandikaadavu in Malappuram and said that the CPM was "deliberately trying to create an atmosphere of political violence and communal divide" in the state. "The planned killing was deliberate and the CPI-M cadres had been targeting Sameer and other IUML cadres ever since the local body polls in which the Left got a drubbing in Malappuram district," Chennithala claimed. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text On Thursday, the ACB sleuths raided the house of Nageswara Rao and those of his relatives simultaneously in 12 places, including Visalakshinagar, MVP Colony, Madhurawada, and Rambilli in Vizag city and district. DC Image Visakhapatnam: Madem Nageswara Rao, an assistant executive engineer with the AP eastern discom, landed in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) net for the second time on Thursday. Belonging to the Kommadi division, Nageswara Rao was reinstated in 2013 after being dismissed from service for 10 years for corruption in 2003. On Thursday, the ACB sleuths found over illegal assets worth Rs 40 crore movable and immovable properties belonging to Nageswara Rao. The ACB officials said that Nageswara Rao joined the electricity department in 1991 and underwent training as lineman in Visakhapatnam and promoted as sub-engineer in 1992. He was trapped by the ACB in 1994 and was convicted and dismissed from service in 2003. After 10 years of dismissal, he was reinstated in 2013 as sub-engineer and promoted as AEE in 2014. On Thursday, the ACB sleuths raided the house of Nageswara Rao and those of his relatives simultaneously in 12 places, including Visalakshinagar, MVP Colony, Madhurawada, and Rambilli in Vizag city and district. Shakila Bhanu, deputy superintendent of police, ACB, Vizag, said that during the course of searches, they had seized illegal assets of Nageswara Rao and his family members, which include two houses, three house flats (including a luxury flat in Vizag city), two vehicles and fixed deposits worth Rs 1.11 crore. She said that their preliminary investigation had revealed that Rao was possessing disproportionate assets over his known sources of income. As per the registered value, the seized illegal assets could be worth Rs 3.88 crore. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Thursday extended the suspension of international scheduled commercial passenger flights to and from India till February 28, 2021. As per the order issued by the body, this restriction will not be applicable to international cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA. Moreover, international flights could also be allowed by the competent authority on selected routes on a case-to-case basis. Govt extends ban on international scheduled commercial flights to/from India till Feb 28; restrict shall not apply to international all-cargo operations & DGCA-approved flights pic.twitter.com/dz2e4polG2 ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Read: Centre Extends Restrictions On Flights Between India-UK As New Variant Cases Touch 150 While international flights have been suspended since March 22, 2020, India has operated flights largely via Air Bubble agreements. Currently, India holds such agreements with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, UAE, UK, Ukraine, and the USA. It is important to mention that flights to and from the UK have been allowed to operate amid the new strain of COVID-19 with certain restrictions. The DGCA has permitted only 30 weekly flights between the two countries till February 14. The government had lifted the ban on flight services between India and the UK on January 7 allowing operations in a limited capacity. So far, 150 cases of the new COVID-19 variant, said to have emerged from the UK, have been reported in India. Read: India Fastest To Reach 1 Million Vaccination In World, Achieved In 6 Days: Health Ministry India reported 11,666 new cases on Thursday taking the total number of active cases in the country to 1,73,740. For the first time in 8 months, India recorded less than 130 deaths. About 14,301 new recoveries have taken the total recoveries in the country to 1,03,73,606. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday revealed that under India's mammoth nationwide vaccination drive, 25 lakh vaccine doses had been administered so far to the healthcare and frontline warriors in the country. Read: India Has Flattened Its COVID-19 Graph; 146 Districts Have No New Cases For 7 Days: Union Minister Vardhan Read:Sri Lanka Gets 5 Lakh COVID Vaccine Doses From India; Lankan Prez Thanks Indians & PM Modi (With Agency Inputs) VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Capella Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: CMIL) (FRA: N7D2) (the "Company" or "Capella") is pleased to provide the following update on recent exploration and drill targeting activities at the Savant Lake Gold Project ("Savant Lake") in NW Ontario, and the Domain Gold Project ("Domain") in Manitoba. Savant Lake is a Joint Venture ("JV") between Capella and Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV: ECC)("Ethos") in which Ethos is earning-in to a direct 70% interest in the project through annual cash and share payments to Capella and work commitments totalling CAD2M. Domain is a JV between Capella and Yamana Gold Inc. (TSX: YRI) (NYSE: AUY) ("Yamana") in which Capella holds a participating 29.6% interest (Figure 1). Highlights Savant Lake Gold JV Ethos has completed a high-resolution, 4,000-line km helicopter-borne magnetic survey over the main Savant Lake claim block. This survey has provided higher definition of the principal gold target at Savant Lake , the estimated 60 km cumulative strike length of deformed iron formation units (with 90% of this strike length having either limited or no surface exposure) (Figure 2). Detailed evaluation / interpretation of this airborne magnetic data is currently in progress, with results to be integrated with existing geological, geochemical, and geophysical data. Ethos plans to mobilize field crews in early spring with the intention of ground truthing priority target areas followed by drilling in Q3, 2021. claim block. This survey has provided higher definition of the principal gold target at , the estimated 60 km cumulative strike length of deformed iron formation units (with 90% of this strike length having either limited or no surface exposure) (Figure 2). Detailed evaluation / interpretation of this airborne magnetic data is currently in progress, with results to be integrated with existing geological, geochemical, and geophysical data. Ethos plans to mobilize field crews in early spring with the intention of ground truthing priority target areas followed by drilling in Q3, 2021. An orientation basal till sampling program was also completed over a select area encompassing a highly-prospective shear zone along the northern margin of the iron formation basin. Gold grains recovered from the till samples will be characterized to estimate intensity of prospective mineralization and distance and direction to bedrock source. A detailed compilation of historical data for Savant Lake , derived mainly from assessment reports, has also been completed. , derived mainly from assessment reports, has also been completed. Ethos currently expects to complete a fixed-wing LIDAR survey (used for topography and detailed structural interpretations) at Savant Lake during Q2, 2021. during Q2, 2021. Capella received 2 million Ethos shares as part of the sign-on terms for the Savant Lake JV. Domain Gold JV At Domain, project operator Yamana has entered in to an Exploration Agreement with the Bunibonibee Cree Nation to develop a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship relating to exploration within the traditional Territory of Bunibonibee Cree Nation. The current focus is on Community Relations activities and related work supporting an eventual exploration permit application. A total of 62 holes / 9,660m of diamond drilling have been completed at Domain to date, mostly on the so-called "Main Zone" (Figure 3). Pending receipt of the permit, follow-up drilling is currently expected to begin during the second half of 2021. Link to figures: https://capellaminerals.com/site/assets/files/5597/2021_01_canadian_jv_update.pdf Eric Roth, Capella's President and CEO, commented today: "I am very pleased to be providing this update on our two Canadian Gold projects, which we continue to move along the path to drilling together with our JV partners. The high-resolution airborne magnetic data for Savant Lake has given us further confidence in the drill targeting already undertaken by Capella and, as soon as detailed interpretations are completed, will also likely result in the generation of new targets. We also look forward to moving the Domain project towards drilling, as significant potential exists to extend the known gold mineralization in Main Zone both along strike and down dip. In addition, a further 5km of cumulative prospective strike remains open for drill testing. I look forward to keeping the market updated as we move these two projects towards drilling." About the Savant Lake JV Project Ethos is earning-in to a 70% direct interest in the Savant Lake project through a combination of annual cash and share payments to Capella and work commitments totalling CAD 2M over a three-year period (see Company News Release dated September 21, 2020). Capella is not required to contribute any funding during Ethos's earn-in period. The Savant Lake gold project is located within the Archean-age Savant Lake-Sturgeon Lake greenstone belt, approximately 240 km NW of Thunder Bay and 240 km S of Newmont's operating Musselwhite mine1 (Proven and Probable Reserves at December 31, 2019: 9.9 MT @ 6.52 g/t Au for 2.09Moz Au2). The Company's mineral claims in the Savant Lake area total 229 square kilometres and cover meta-volcanic and meta-sedimentary rock sequences which are prospective for both iron formation ("Musselwhite-type")- and shear zone-hosted gold deposits, in addition to base metal-rich (copper-zinc-gold) VMS deposits. The Company completed an initial 8 hole / 1,626 m diamond drill program at Savant Lake in 2017 on select geophysical targets in the northern part of the property, however, numerous high-grade gold targets in the central and southern portion of the property remain untested. 1 Mineralization hosted on adjacent and nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be hosted on the Company's Savant Lake project. 2 Source: Newmont Corporation Reserve and Resource Statement: February 13, 2020. About the Domain Gold JV The Company's Domain Gold Project is located in northern Manitoba and is a JV between Capella (29.6%) and Yamana (70.4%). Yamana is the JV and project operator. A total of 62 holes / 9,660m of diamond drilling has been completed at Domain to date, and this drilling has successfully intersected significant, high-grade iron formation-hosted gold mineralization. Drilling has been focused mostly on the "Main Zone", where the high-grade gold mineralization has been partially tested along some 800m of strike and remains open at both depth and along strike. A further 5km of prospective strike length for gold mineralization remain open for drill testing. Qualified Persons and Disclosure Statement The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101, and approved by Eric Roth, the Company's President & CEO, a director, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr. Roth has 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation. On Behalf of the Board of Capella Minerals Ltd. "Eric Roth" ___________________________ Eric Roth, Ph.D., FAusIMM President & CEO About Capella Minerals Ltd Capella is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of quality mineral resource properties in favourable jurisdictions with a focus on high-grade gold and copper deposits. The Company's precious metals focus is on the discovery of high-grade gold deposits on its recently acquired Southern Gold Line Project in Sweden, in addition to its active Canadian Joint Ventures with Ethos Gold Corp. at Savant Lake (Ontario) and Yamana Gold Inc. at Domain (Manitoba). The Company also retains a residual interest (subject to an option to purchase agreement with Austral Gold Ltd) in the Sierra Blanca gold-silver epithermal project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. The Company's copper focus is on the discovery of high-grade massive sulfide (VMS) deposits within district-scale land positions around the past-producing Lkken and Kjli copper mines in central Norway. Field activities are ongoing on all projects, with the primary focus being to advance priority targets through the permitting process and onwards to drilling and discovery. Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is 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. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of Capella, including the timing, completion of and results from the exploration and drill programs described in this release. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Capella in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Capella's most recently filed MD&A. Capella does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Capella Minerals Limited Related Links www.newdimensionresources.com A teenage girl who went missing from Massachusetts over a week ago has been found safe. The teen was last seen on Jan. 17 when she left her Belmont home. She left behind her phone and debit card, as well as notes for her parents. Have a little patience! Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Chuck Colson liked to say that the Kingdom of God will never arrive on Air Force One. Its still true. Any reprieve in the last few years in the areas of religious liberty and the sanctity of life is coming to an end, and recent events should make the truth of Chucks statement obvious. Whether politics are upstream or downstream from culture (and the right answer is that its really both), it is not the vehicle for lasting cultural change. In fact, the history of Christianity shows that lasting cultural change rarely comes about in ways we are expecting. Christian influence requires that Christians cultivate virtue in both our private and public lives. One virtue that once changed the world is patience. Read more at: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/recovering-patience-cultural-change-wont-come-by-force.html Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Oneida County has received its new shipment of 500 vaccine doses, all of which will go to seniors and first responders. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente says with many seniors struggling to make appointments, the county wanted to prioritize them for this next round of doses. There are many seniors in Oneida County who have had difficulty navigating the laborious vaccination process that has been dictated by New York State, Picente said. Our government has been working with those who do not have the ability to make online appointments and who have trouble with transportation or mobility, and will be making sure they are vaccinated at our county-operated sites on Thursday. The vaccination sites at Griffiss International Airport in Rome and Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica will reopen Thursday so vaccines can be administered. Picente says all 500 doses will be used that day, and the county will once again shut down the sites until more shots are sent from the state. If any Thursday appointments remain, a link will be posted to the county website Wednesday night for others to register. ADVERTISEMENT South Africa is expected to receive the first batch of 1 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, produced by the Serum Institute of India, said the countrys health department. The Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, said this at a public health webinar on COVID-19 vaccine in Johannesburg. We know the nation has been waiting for the arrival of the first batch of vaccine and Im pleased to announce the flight carrying 1 million doses will leave India on Sunday via Durban and land at the OR Tambo airport, Mr Mkhize said. This batch of vaccine doses would be given to healthcare workers, said the official, adding that another 500,000 doses would arrive in mid-February. The vaccine has been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority for emergency use in the country. South Africas National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) welcomed the imminent arrival of the vaccine doses. NEHAWU will work with the health department and other stakeholders to ensure that the vaccination process runs smoothly and guarantee that healthcare workers across the country are vaccinated, said NEHAWU General Secretary Zola Saphetha. (NAN) Press Release January 28, 2021 Lacson: 'Reaffirmed' US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty to Maintain Balance of Power in South China Sea More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/01/28/lacson-reaffirmed-us-ph-mutual-defense-treaty-to-maintain-balance-of-power-in-south-china-sea/ With the importance placed on it by the Biden administration, the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty will help maintain the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific - including in the South China Sea, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Thursday. Lacson, who heads the Senate's Committee on National Defense and Security, said this after State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. "There you go. The US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty is one yet untapped weapon in our arsenal. I certainly hope we do not draw that weapon. Meantime, we might as well keep it there," he said on his Twitter account. On Thursday, Blinken tweeted he had a "great conversation" with Locsin, adding they will "continue to build upon the strong U.S.-Philippine Alliance with our shared interests, history, values, and strong people-to-people ties." A statement by US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said Blinken and Locsin reaffirmed a strong US-Philippine Alliance is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It added Blinken "stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea." Also, Blinken underscored that the US rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea to the extent they exceed the maritime zones that China is permitted to claim under international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, and pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of pressure from China. On Wednesday, Sec. Locsin said the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against a new China law allowing its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels in reefs claimed by China. Landmarks Across the World Join Together to Light Up as a Sign of Unity to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) ATLANTA (Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021) Jan. 30, 2021, will mark the second annual World NTD Day, highlighting the global communitys commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that cause immeasurable suffering among the worlds most marginalized communities. On World NTD Day, more than 50 landmarks representing over 25 nations across the world will be lit up to celebrate progress in beating NTDs and to ensure we continue to make these diseases, which affect the worlds most vulnerable populations, a priority. From the Tokyo Tower to the Rome Colosseum to the Pyramids in Egypt, the world will come together to end the neglect of NTDs. There should be no such thing as a neglected disease, tropical or otherwise. With the resources, knowledge, and technology available to us today, there is little excuse for millions of people to continue to suffer from these preventable illnesses, said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who, with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, founded The Carter Center in 1982. Buildings that will light up in Georgia include The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum (including the Kirbo building on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Sightless Among Miracles statue on the grounds); Emory Rollins School of Public Health (Jumbotron); Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; and The SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel located within the Centennial Park District. Plains, Ga., the home of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, will celebrate by lighting the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm and Main Street in downtown Plains. Georgia Southwestern University will illuminate a statue of Rosalynn Carter on its campus. The Center also joins with partner Alwaleed Philanthropies to light up Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Other landmarks lighting up in the United States include: the Bloomberg Tower in New York City; the Willis Tower in Chicago; the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C, and the Columbia Center Tower and T-Mobile Stadium in Seattle. About one in five people around the world are affected by NTDs, which cause immeasurable suffering and can debilitate, disfigure, and may be fatal. Additionally, NTDs may cause or exacerbate mental health conditions. The Carter Center is a pioneer and a leader in the eradication, elimination, and prevention of NTDs. The primary color for lighting is orange. Learn more information and view a full list of partners for World NTD Day. Key hashtags: #WorldNTDDay #BeatNTDs #EndtheNeglect More information on our NTD work is here: Carter Center celebrates NTD week Guinea worm cases fell 50% in 2020, Carter Center reports The Carter Center: Leader in the Eradication and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases WHO Launches 2030 NTD Roadmap Contact: Rennie Sloan, Rennie.Sloan@cartercenter.org ### Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Sylvan Learning, a leading provider of supplemental and enrichment education for students in grades K-12 with more than 750 points of presence worldwide, is now expanding its footprint to Brookline with the signing of career educator Krista Martin and her partner Tristan Plummer. This new signing brings the leading technology and education franchises statewide count to six, with an opportunity to locations in 26 more territories across Massachusetts. After graduating from college in California, Martin had planned on building a career in academia and quickly fell in love with teaching after starting a job as a teaching assistant. Martin returned to her hometown on the East Coast and began teaching communications within the Virginia Community College system. At the same time, she started tutoring at the Sylvan Learning centers in Martinsburg, West Virginia and Hagerstown, Maryland. When my significant other needed to relocate to New England for his job, I applied to and was hired for the center director position with the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Sylvan Learning center one of the corporate owned centers, said Martin. After two years with the center, I moved into a different role in a different industry and became a customer success manager for a large educational technology company. I grew a lot personally and professionally in that role, but it didnt have the magic of Sylvan Learning. Around that time, Martin started exploring the idea of becoming a Sylvan Learning franchise owner. Soon, she saw that both the Portsmouth and Salem, New Hampshire centers were available as resale centers. In October 2018, she purchased the two centers along with her partner, Plummer. For more than 40 years, Sylvan Learning has been focused on building academic confidence, igniting intellectual curiosity and inspiring a love for learning, all of which make a big impact in school and in life. Since its founding in 1979, Sylvan Learning has become the leading supplemental and enrichment education franchise in North America thanks to its mission-driven philosophy, educational technology, community-oriented approach and strong franchisee support infrastructure. Because of its ongoing investment in technology solutions and breadth of content and delivery options provided in-center, both in-home and online, Sylvan has been uniquely positioned to respond to parents needs in these challenging times. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sylvan Learning has worked hard to support parents. First, in March, Sylvan Learning introduced a virtual tutoring option as school districts transitioned to remote learning. The company is also continuing to utilize its proprietary SylvanSync software, which provides teachers and students with adaptive practice sessions. As the school year approached, the brand announced the launch of School Support, a program that provides a variety of services to help children stay on track and parents manage the complexities of this current school year. As a result of its flexible and innovative offering, the industry-leading learning franchise is continuing to grow. Those who are interested in franchising with Sylvan Learning have the option to provide services completely virtually or offer in-person support to students during their regular virtual school days. By offering a much-needed service during COVID-19, Sylvan Learning franchisees have the opportunity to help families across America during this difficult time. Krista and Tristan will be able to make a difference in their community by bringing Sylvan Learning to the families of Brookline, said CEO John McAuliffe. The Sylvan Learning system is stronger, more nimble and more united than ever. We have ramped up our already-strong training for instruction, local marketing and technology for our franchise owners and expanded our reach for families and students. There is more demand for our services than ever, and we are excited to continue partnering with qualified franchisees to bring Sylvan Learning to new areas across the country. To learn more about Sylvan franchise opportunities, visit http://www.sylvanfranchise.com. ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING LLC With more than 40 years of experience and more than 750 points of presence throughout North America, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvans proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync technology on the iPad for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey. For more information, visit http://www.SylvanLearning.com or SylvanLearning.com/blog. Orange County Man Dies After Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine The Orange County Coroners office is investigating whether a second dose of a Pfizer vaccine contributed to the death of a local health care worker. The Orange County Coroner Division told The Epoch Times in a statement Jan. 27 that the death of Tim Zook, 60, is under an open investigation and that additional tests within autopsy protocol will be conducted. After receiving all additional test results, we will use those findings along with autopsy findings to make a final determination into the cause and manner of death, the statement says. If its determined there may be a correlation to the vaccine we will immediately notify the OC Health Care Agency. On Jan. 5, shortly after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Zook shared a positive outlook on Facebook. The South Coast Global Medical Center X-Ray technologist posted a photo of his bandaged arm and vaccination card alongside the caption: Never been so excited to get a shot before. I am now fully vaccinated after receiving my 2nd Pfizer dose. Later that day, there were complications and Zook had to be put on oxygen, then a BiPAP machine, according to news reports. Several tests for COVID came back negative. Just after midnight on Jan. 7, Zook was in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator. After his blood pressure dropped, he was transferred to the University of CaliforniaIrvine Medical Center. Zook died Jan. 9 after several code blue diagnoses, according to his wife, Rochelle. We are not blaming any pharmaceutical company, Rochelle Zook, a resident of the City of Orange, told The Orange County Register. My husband loved what he did. He worked in hospitals for 36-and-a-half years. He believed in vaccines. Im sure he would take that vaccine again, and hed want the public to take it. But when someone gets symptoms two-and-a-half hours after a vaccine, thats a reaction. What else could have happened? We would like the public to know what happened to Tim, so he didnt die in vain. Severe reactions are rare. In reality, COVID is a much more deadly force than reactions from the potential vaccine itself. The message is, be safe, take the vaccinebut the officials need to do more research. We need to know the cause. The vaccines need to be as safe as possible. Every life matters. South Coast Global Medical Center didnt comment on Zooks death to The Epoch Times, but forwarded a notice of condolences by email. Our deepest condolences are with Tim Zooks family and loved ones, the hospitals chief executive Tim Whaley said. He was a part of our family, too, and we are all grieving his loss. Geojit's report on Agri Picks The government has raised the minimum support price for ball copra to 10,600 rupees per 100 kg for the current year from 10,300 rupees in 2020, according to an official release. The government has procured nearly 58.8 mln tn paddy so far in the 2020-21 (Oct-Sep) kharif marketing season, up 20.3% on year, it said in a release. Paddy is India's largest-grown kharif crop. India's castor oil exports rose 72.7% on year to 62,055 tn in December, according to Solvent Extractors' Association of India data. Exports were at 35,931 tn last December. The Centre will compensate poultry farmers whose birds, eggs, and poultry feed were culled by state agencies in an effort to contain the spread of bird flu, an official release said. The Multi Commodity Exchange of India is waiting for the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to lay down necessary guidelines for the launch of electricity futures on its platforms, the exchange said at a webinar. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More The Ministry of Health launches a brochure with useful information about vaccination against COVID-19, in order to support family doctors and doctors in general. According to a press release of the Ministry of Health, the brochure includes answers to more than 30 questions received from doctors, including the effectiveness of the vaccine, the safety of vaccination for people with chronic diseases, autoimmune diseases or cancer and contraindications to vaccination for patients with various diseases. "Family doctors and doctors in general are vital to a successful vaccination campaign. They are the closest to patients and can help them make informed decisions. The views of the specialist committees that contributed to this brochure confirm that vaccination is safe, effective and is the only way in which we can stop the pandemic together. The medical material is written in collaboration with the specialized committees of the Ministry of Health. We believe that it will be a support for doctors who receive questions about vaccination from patients or who themselves have questions they do not have found answers to," said doctor Andreea Moldovan, Secretary of State with the Ministry of Health, quoted in the press release. The brochure will be sent to family doctors and can be downloaded from the Website of the Ministry of Health, at http://www.ms.ro/brosura-medici-vaccinarea-covid-19-ms/. The Allergology and Clinical Immunology Committee, the Oncology Committee, the Hematology Committee, the Endocrinology Committee, the Cardiology Committee and the Dermatovenerology Committee of the Ministry of Health contributed to the design of the brochure. SACRAMENTO Shirley Weber was confirmed Thursday as Californias next secretary of state, becoming the first Black person to fill the role of chief elections officer. Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated Weber, a San Diego Democrat, to the position in December after he appointed former Secretary of State Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate as Vice President Kamala Harris replacement. The governor called Weber a tireless advocate and change agent. The Assembly confirmed Weber 70-0 on Wednesday and the state Senate approved her nomination 29-0 on Thursday, with lawmakers lavishing praise on their former colleague for her legislative work promoting civil rights and her sweeping floor speeches on racial justice. Some Republican legislators withheld their support, even as they expressed their admiration for Weber. She is a force of nature and a force for good, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said Thursday. She is the right person to champion, as she said yesterday, the sacred democratic act of voting. Weber, 72, spent four decade teaching Africana studies at San Diego State University before winning election to the Assembly in 2012. Over four terms, she carried legislation to overhaul policing practices, lighten criminal sentences, require ethnic studies at California State University campuses, expand voting rights to people on parole and create a task force to study reparations for African Americans. Weber will be sworn in Friday, according to the governors office, and serve out the remaining two years of Padillas term, then face the voters in 2022. After the Assembly confirmation vote on Wednesday, Weber spoke emotionally of her late grandparents in Hope, Ark., who were never allowed to cast a ballot because of Jim Crow laws that kept Black people from voting. I know what its like when the world is not fair. I know what its like when you are discounted, Weber said. I look at the tremendous opportunity that I will have to raise these issues that are important, to ensure that every American has the vote. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff [January 28, 2021] Sweetwater Announces Record Growth in 2020 FORT WAYNE, Ind., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweetwater , the world's leading music instrument and pro audio gear retailer, today announced a series of milestones achieved throughout 2020. Amid a year rife with challenges caused by the pandemic, music prevailed as a form of therapy and a means of bringing people together. Despite last year's difficulties and due to its deep-seated roots in customer experience, Sweetwater was perfectly poised to be a beacon of hope when many were forced to redefine themselves. From musical artists and engineers to manufacturers and shipping partners, 2020's hardship proved to be a lesson in flexibility, enthusiasm and resiliency for Sweetwater. Achieved by their ongoing mission to invoke the 'Sweetwater Difference' in all areas of the business, the company served over 1.5 million unique customers with musical equipment purchases in 2020, up from just under 1 million in 2019. The influx of customers and the process in which Sweetwater serves them, which has been over 42 years in the making, is the catalyst that helped propel the company to cross $1 billion in revenue in 2020. "While we are proud of these company milestones, what we are really celebrating is the resilience, determination, and success of independent musicians, churches, and podcast producers everywhere, many of whom went out on a limb to invest in a new reality, rather than fold their tents," said Chuck Surack, founder and CEO of Sweetwater. "During such a difficult year, knowing that our customers, manufacturers and employees trust us and can continue to rely on us as a stable and growing influence in the music and audio retail space is something for which we are incredibly grateful." Along with its strong customer growth, Sweetwater added over 400 new jobs, increasing employee headcount by nearly 30 percent. They also opened a brand new 480,000 square foot distribution center a few weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown caused a massive spike in demand for audio equipment and instruments. That facility, which is nearly four times the size of the previous one, was expanded further over the summer with the addition of 50,000 square feet to house even more inventory. Throughout the year, Sweetwater$299 increased 70 percent, indicating that new players joined the fold. Its annual GearFest event, which in 2019 drew more than 18,000 people to the campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was held virtually in 2020. Over 125,000 gear fans from around the world tuned in for more than 16 hours of content in the two-day live stream that featured well-known artists & producers, live music, educational content, exclusive deals, and exciting giveaways. The company's growth was in part due to its unique approach to customer service. Championed by its more than 500 sales engineers, the company's 'Sweetwater Difference' process goes above and beyond taking orders and shipping boxes. Sweetwater's sales engineers are recruited from around the globe and have a unique skill set and passion for the music industry that sets them apart from their competitors. As people showed courage to redefine themselves or discover new passions throughout the pandemic, Sweetwater's dedicated service professionals communicated closely with customers to answer questions and check in on them; focusing on the company ethos of building 1:1 connections first and foremost, a by-product of its non-typical method of going beyond corporate norms. This marks the first time in the company's 42 year history that it reached $1 billion in annual revenue, and serves as a testament to the importance of the exceptional service Sweetwater provides. During a year of change, Sweetwater's mission of serving its customers as they make music and pursue their dreams remained steadfast. "Our hope is that these unprecedented times have propelled people into their dreams even more and that our products and services can help provide a sense of comfort and joy when they need it most. If we were able to help people in their time of need, then we are fulfilling our mission as a company," continued Surack. Sweetwater was founded in 1979 when Surack was frustrated by music and professional audio providers not offering customers the kind of service, selection, and support he felt they deserved. With the simple goal of helping his friends make music, Sweetwater grew from operating out of the back of Chuck's hand-me-down VW microbus to the largest online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the United States with nearly 2,000 employees. During the height of the pandemic, hundreds of Sweetwater's loyal customers reached out to share their appreciation. One email said, "I just wanted to say thank you [to my sales engineer] for leaving a voicemail, text message, etc. even if I haven't purchased anything. It goes to show that you guys care about your customer first before anything else. I am grateful to still be recording from home during these times, thanks to Sweetwater. Tell the CEO that his purpose wasn't just music, it was saving lives and we thank him." At the heart of the company's successes over the last year lies a powerful message about the arts; one of creation, determination and flexibility. More than ever, Sweetwater is honored to help people endure trying times across the world with the comfort of music, feeling a deep sense of responsibility to provide the best possible experience in order to help customers create and feel connected. About Sweetwater Sound Founded in 1979, Sweetwater is the No. 1 online retailer of music instruments and audio gear in the U. S. The company is respected as the nation's leading retailer serving musicians, recording studios, broadcast, education, and houses of worship. Sweetwater's customers can be found everywhere music is heard and audio is played, broadcast, or recorded, including recording, film, and broadcast studios in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami; in hundreds of thousands of home recording studios; and in schools and churches nationwide. Sweetwater's founding and meteoric growth are built on a knowledgeable and experienced staff, outstanding selection and pricing, and, above all, an unwavering commitment to customer service excellence in every situation. For further information, visit Sweetwater.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sweetwater-announces-record-growth-in-2020-301207492.html SOURCE Sweetwater Sound, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... FORT WORTH, Texas An American Airlines subsidiary grounded most of its planes Thursday to conduct overdue inspections of bolts that secure doors on the nose gear. The grounding affected two models of Bombardier regional jets operated by PSA Airlines, which operates flights under the American Eagle name. PSA has 130 of the planes, and all but a few were grounded, according to American. American said it is working with PSA and the Federal Aviation Administration to fix the issue. It said a few of the planes have returned to service but gave no precise numbers and did not offer a timetable for finishing inspections on the remaining planes. Tracking site FlightAware.com said 200 PSA flights were canceled by midafternoon Eastern time. American said it was trying to arrange new flights for displaced customers. PSA is based in Dayton, Ohio, and operates many American Eagle flights in the eastern United States including at Americans hub airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. American is based in Fort Worth, Texas. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A 21-year-old Chicopee man has pleaded guilty to his role in a 2019 armed robbery of a Verizon store in Vernon, Connecticut, during which the clerk was threatened with a gun and an estimated $25,000 in electronics were taken. Shakiem Anthony Dessasure entered a guilty plea last week in Tolland Judicial District Superior Court to a single charge of first-degree armed robbery. Sentencing is scheduled for March 30. The Journal Inquirer reports that Dessasure accepted a plea bargain that calls for him to be sentenced to up to four years in prison followed by three years parole. The co-defendant in the case, Shane Sturgeon of Coventry, Connecticut, pleaded guilty a year ago to charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Dessasure and Sturgeon were arrested in Somers after they crashed their car into a tree while fleeing police following the robbery. Police said speeds in the chase reached as high as 100 mph. Andhra Pradesh gram panchayat polls: SEC revises schedule for phase I India oi-Briti Roy Barman Amaravati, Jan 28: The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has revised the schedule for the first phase of elections keeping in view the fact that the district collectors have not made any arrangements to accept nominations from Monday. As per the latest schedule, the nominations for the first phase would commence on January, 29 and polling would be held on February 9. SEC said that the dates fixed for the polling (if necessary) for the II, III and IV phase will remain unaltered. However, the II phase will become phase-I and phase-III will become phase-II and phase-IV will be treated as phase-III and phase-I had been rescheduled as phase-IV. The second phase polling would be held on February 13, III phase polling will be held on February, 17. The phase-IV polling would be conducted on February, 21. The counting of votes would be held on the same day immediately after the completion of polling in the afternoon. Polling for all the phases will be held from 6.30 am to 3.30 pm. According to the last notification issued in Amaravati on Saturday, the elections will commence with the first phase on February 5. The development comes a day after the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government, vehemently opposed to the conduct of the polls, informed the SEC that the time was not conducive for the exercise. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News In the first phase, gram panchayats under 146 revenue mandals in 11 districts will go to the polls, according to the notification. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 14:43 [IST] Customs officials in Nigeria have seized a shipment of endangered animal parts including pangolin scales and ivory headed for Vietnam. It was discovered in a container declared as furniture at the Lagos port. The Nigerian Customs Service says the items are worth $2.5m (1.8m). Upon investigation officials discovered the animal parts hidden inside logs including nearly 9,000kg of pangolin scales. Other items such as ivory, lion bones and animal horns were found. One person was arrested last Thursday in connection with the alleged trafficking. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Nigeria serves as a major hub for smuggling the endangered animals to south-east Asian countries such as China and Vietnam where they are used for traditional medicines. Earlier this month, a court in China jailed 17 people for smuggling pangolin scales worth $28m from Nigeria. 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 Video has emerged showing the moment a shirtless man accused of taking photos of young girls at a packed beach was apprehended and handed to police. Michael Dale, 52, was apprehended by members of the public on Tuesday after they allegedly saw him photographing girls while they were swimming at Wollongong Harbour, south of Sydney. He was handed to police, who seized his phone and later searched his home. Detectives allege his phone contained images of girls aged between 11 and 14. The pictures were taken in the Wollongong and Towradgi areas south of Sydney between December and January. Video uploaded to Tik Tok (pictured) showed the moment Michael Dale, who allegedly took photos of young girls swimming at Wollongong, was handed to police who arrested him Dale, who lives at Coniston, a suburb of Wollongong, was charged with nine counts of possess/produce child abuse material. He appeared in Wollongong Local Court and was granted strict bail by Magistrate Michael OBrien, and will appear again on February 17. Dale was ordered to stay away from pools and beaches and not use the camera function on his phone. He was also ordered to remain confined to his home between 8pm and 8am and not speak to, or be in the presence of, anyone under the age of 18. Court documents showed Dale was recently put on the New South Wales Child Protection Register after being sentenced for wilful and obscene exposure in the presence of girls aged between 13 and 15. Police alleged reports were made against Dale in early January and leading up to Australia Day, after he allegedly approached girls as young as 11 at Towradgi Beach and Ocean Pool. In early January, police allege Mr Dale approached an 11-year-old-girl and her friend at the beach, asking 'nice boogie board, did Santa get that for you?' [January 28, 2021] Horace Mann advances release date for fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 financial results Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) now plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 results on Tuesday, Feb. 2 after the market closes (one day earlier than originally scheduled). At that time, the quarterly news release and investor supplement will be available on the company's website at investors.horacemann.com. Management will host a conference call to discuss the financial results on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors can access the call webcast via the Events page of the company's investor site or by dialing 844-735-3325. For the webcast, please log on to the site several minutes in advance to register and download anyrequired audio software. On-demand replay will be available later that day. About Horace Mann Horace Mann is the largest financial services company focused on providing America's educators and school employees with insurance and retirement solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. For more information, visit horacemann.com. Safe Harbor Statement Statements included in this news release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Horace Mann is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2020, and the company's past and future filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006115/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] News broke earlier today of British multinational consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser (RB) leading a Rs 45 crore funding round in Visage Lines Personal Care, which owns personal grooming brand Bombay Shaving Company. Several individual HNIs, including Anjali Bansal from Avaana Capital, also participated in the round. The investment by RB marks the fifth round of financing for the company, which has earlier seen investments from the likes of Sixth Sense Venture Partners and Colgate-Palmolive. Bombay Shaving Company was founded in 2016 by Shantanu Deshpande, a former McKinsey & Co consultant. According to business research firm PGA Labs, the mens grooming market in India is expected to be worth around $5.5 billion by the end of the year. In an interview with MoneyControl, Deshpande talks about his capital deployment plans, the evolution of the personal grooming market, especially with regard to men, and how the company weathered the pandemic. With the latest capital infusion, what is the total capital raised by the company till date? And how do you plan to deploy it? Weve raised Rs 120 crore since we launched in June 2016. This includes primary funding of Rs 95 core, and secondary transactions worth about Rs 25 crore. Among the things that we want to do is to ensure we are invested in offline distribution and availability of our products across all channels. We will also be investing in R&D and product development because innovation lifecycles in the personal care segments are very short. You have new product categories being created within three to four months and players are able to achieve sizeable numbers. We are also building out other brands in addition to Bombay Shaving Company. In many ways, the idea is to operate like a proper FMCG company. What kind of strategic value add does RB bring to the table as an investor? Reckitt Benckiser are category creators, whether it be with home cleaning such as Lysol, or with condoms with Durex, slightly pharmaceutical products such as Itch Guard, and even, counter-intuitively, with shoe polish in the form of Cherry Blossom. They are known to identify emerging categories very early and launch amazing solutions. That is an exciting skill and we are eager to learn, and benefit from their expertise. Plus, RB has a strong presence in India, and they have a very large distribution footprint which bodes well for us. They are also keen to work with us in global markets. Shantanu Deshpande. You are aiming for a Rs 150 crore topline (revenues) in the next fiscal. What will be the primary drivers of this growth? We want to be among the top three brands across e-commerce in our category. We are looking to penetrate deep into different cities in India. We are available in about 10,000 stores in 20 cities at the moment, and our plan is to be available in over one lakh stores by the end of the year. We will also launch more relevant and effective solutions for our consumers across categories. These will not be restricted to just shaving, but will also include beard care and skin care. The other big area of focus will be customer acquisition. We will not only aim to attract a larger number of customers, but also premiumise our offerings so that the average order value is high. How has the market evolved since you started out in 2016? Men are today way more interested in grooming, and the internet is a big driver of that interest. Men might not talk about their skin care regimen with other men, but they are on YouTube searching for the right shaving cream for their skin, and how to handle acne. Again, their requirements are now becoming very specialised, so the products they choose could range from all-natural to non-chemical or vegan. The categories are becoming very evolved and very specialised and consumption is becoming sophisticated. How did Bombay Shaving Company weather the lockdown? The first couple of months were difficult our warehouses were shut, there were no sales. But things picked up after the lockdown was gradually lifted and orders started picking up across platforms. People had to be well-groomed for Zoom calls, and while consumers might not have spent money on new clothing or footwear, they were keen on pampering themselves with products such as the ones we sell. Moreover, the womens hair removal products market really took off during the pandemic. We tied up with a company in Israel and developed a razor especially made for women last year in just three months. It is now among our top-selling products. So, yes, there were many silver linings in this pandemic for us. What are the areas that are as yet untapped in the personal grooming segment in India? Male make-up is an area that looks interesting. There is a huge demand among college kids. Plus, there is also the opportunity to create specialised, bespoke products. For example, if you life in a coastal region, you would want your skin/hair/beard-care regimen to be different from someone living in another part of the country. I also feel that there will be many subcategory penetrations. Take deodorants, for example. Everyone uses them, but there has been no real differentiator so far. A new tongue-in-cheek website called 'Is my MP a p***k?' has attracted 250,000 visits in just four days. The website, which was set up on Sunday, allows constituents to search their MP's name and rates politicians based on their voting records. While all Tories are branded 'p***ks' by the website, the majority of Labour, SNP and Lib Dem MPs have been rated favourably. Examples of how the generator decides which politicians are 'p***ks' include whether or not they have 'voted against free school meals' and if they have 'promoted equality and human rights'. Other examples include if they have 'voted against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity', 'voted against the proper funding of public services', and taken 'robust action to tackle avoidance and evasion'. Boris Johnson was given a red thumbs down and designated 'a p***k' for his record - which includes 'voting against laws to promote equality and human rights, voting 'against directly funding free school meals over the school holidays during the coronavirus pandemic' and voting 'against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those not able to work due to illness or disability'. Boris Johnson was given a red thumbs down and designated 'a p***k' for his voting record Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn have been given a green thumbs Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn have been given a green thumbs up after voting for laws to promote equality and human rights, directly funding free school meals over the school holidays during the coronavirus pandemic and voting against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, has been down-voted after he voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those not able to work due to illness or disability. Daisy Cooper, a Lib Dem MP for St Albans, Hertfordshire, was rated positively for voting to fund free school meals over the school holidays. SNP leader in Westminster Ian Blackford was up-voted on the website, while even SNP MP Margaret Ferrier - who made headlines after flouting Covid-19 rules - was given all thumbs ups for her past voting history. She voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords and for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those not able to work due to illness or disability. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, has been down-voted despite voting for laws to promote equality and human rights SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford was up-voted on the tongue-in-cheek website And Green MP Caroline Lucas was up-voted for having previously voted in favour of introducing a 'banker's bonus tax'. The website awards MPs with red down thumbs and green up thumbs after combining information from website TheyWorkForYou.com with 'common-sense morality', according to a blurb on the page. TheyWorkForYou.com is a website founded in 2006 by mySociety which allows the public to easily track the voting history of MPs from all political parties across the country. It was set up at the weekend by a man known only as Dave after he listened to the PM 'waffle' on TV. 'I only put the site up a few days ago. I wasn't expecting it to be as popular as it has been to be honest,' he said. 'There have been at least 250,000 unique sessions - a session is registered each time someone uses the site - since Sunday evening. 'The idea for the site came to me while I was listening to Boris Johnson waffle on TV. 'Over the last few years as people became increasingly divided over politics because of Brexit, it seemed clear to me that many people were voting for politicians without really understanding the kinds of policies that they represent. Green MP Caroline Lucas is 'not a p***k' after she voted for a banker's bonus tax 'The aim of the site is to highlight the kinds of policies those politicians represent in an attention grabbing manner.' Social media users have praised the 'great' website after links to it appeared on Twitter this week. Ollie Caveney from the West Midlands said: 'The 'is my MP a p***k' website is truly brilliant, I have since discovered that my MP is more than just that... she's just downright a monster who hates the climate, Scotland, Wales, kids, but loves people getting off Scot free without paying tax.' Mike Stobart from North Yorkshire said: 'It's accurate... My MP Julien Smith is indeed a p***k.' Lyn Matthews in Liverpool said: 'I am pleased to say it is officially recognised that my MP Peter Dowd is not a p***k. I knew that anyway, because he is a boss MP!' And Nick Ludlam from Wales said: ' This is a great little website, nice to know my MP is not a p***k and has been voting in the manor [sic] I'd expect (ie. with common sense).' The Verkhovna Rada on Thursday adopted bill No. 3087-d on the Bureau of Economic Security a new central executive body, which is tasked with counteracting violations of law that infringe on the functioning of the state's economy. An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that the document was supported by 242 MPs with the required minimum of 226 votes. In particular, 201 MPs of the ruling Servant of the People faction, 17 MPs of the Dovira group and 16 MPs of the opposition Holos faction cast their votes for the bill. "It was a very difficult one and a half years of work. It was a very complicated bill... Thanks to those who interfered. With you, the reform has become more difficult, but richer. Although, of course, the most important thing in the creation of the Bureau of Economic Security is still ahead," Head of the profile parliamentary committee Danylo Hetmantsev said, commenting on the adoption of the law. The new body will unite all the units for combating economic crimes of all law enforcement agencies and will pay more attention to analytical work, which will reduce pressure on business and improve the investment climate in Ukraine. [January 28, 2021] Copley Equity Announces Investment in AeroMed Group Copley Equity Partners ("Copley Equity"), a private equity firm and family office headquartered in Boston, MA, today announced that it has completed a growth investment into, AeroMed Group, LLC ("AeroMed") to facilitate the company's acquisition of etaGLOBAL, LLC ("etaGLOBAL"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. AeroMed, based in Charlotte, NC, will utilize Copley's investment to assist in the company's strategy to build a market-leading supply chain solutions provider to the Aerospace and Defense industries. Copley's funding supported AeroMed's acquisition of etaGLOBAL, a Palestine, TX based distributor of class-c parts to customers operating in the Aerospace & Defense sectors. As part of the transaction, Copley Equity representatives Peter Trovato, Sean Sullivan, and Dan Turk will participate on the AeroMed Board of Directors. Bob Spence, President and CEO of AeroMed said, "etaGLOBAL is a well-respected leader in the fragmented class-c part aerospace distribution market with over 40 years of operating history and long-standing, blue-chip customer relationships - all characteristics that AeroMed is seeking in other leading A&D supply chain management providers. We are excited to support etaGLOBAL in continuing to deliver exceptional customer service while also expanding the company's product and service offering. Furthermore, AeroMed is excited to partner with Copley Equity Partners which brings a strong track record of helping lower middle-market companies expand." Peter Trovato, Managing Director of Copley Equity Partners said, "Copley is thrilled to partner with the AeroMed and etaGLOBAL team. Both the AeroMed and etaGLOBAL management teams have demontrated a commitment to exceptional customer service and long history of supporting top companies in the Aerospace & Defense sector. We are excited to help further build the AeroMed platform and support the company's organic growth strategy along with accelerating their efforts to identify, and integrate, additional leading businesses under the AeroMed umbrella. ABOUT AEROMED GROUP, LLC Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, AeroMed Group was founded as a leadership investment group managing and growing aerospace and defense small businesses. Committed to the highest quality and compliance standards, its solutions include customer-centric supply chain services and technologies that result in improved outcomes. https://www.aeromedgroup.com/ ABOUT ETAGLOBAL, LLC Headquartered in Palestine, TX, etaGLOBAL is an Aerospace & Defense supply chain solutions provider whose offerings include distribution and inventory management of fasteners, hardware, bearings, seals, tooling and other engineered products designed to meet the stringent quality requirements of this industry as well as the high production demand expectations. The company has been in operation for more than 40 years and holds long-standing relationships with tier one companies in the industry. EtaGLOBAL supports a world-class customer base including Northrup Grumman, GE Aviation, BAE Systems (News - Alert) , Raytheon, General Dynamics, Parker-LORD Corporation among others. https://www.etaglobal.com/ ABOUT COPLEY EQUITY PARTNERS, LLC Established in 2012, Copley is a private investment firm with offices in Boston and Denver. Copley focuses on partnering with growing, lower-middle market private companies. The firm invests out of an evergreen, single family office capital base and is comfortable in both majority and minority ownership positions. The firm makes investments across a broad range of sectors to help businesses fuel growth, manage risk, and create enduring value. https://www.copleyequity.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005912/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Feb 01: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Monday present the Union budget- her third so far- at a time when the country's economy is recovering from the impact of coronavirus pandemic. After a series of economic packages and relief measures announced by the government last year, Sitharaman is left with limited fiscal room. There is still the need to spend big to aid economic recovery and investors will be keenly watching how the finance minister makes that happen. With Sitharaman saying it will "be a budget like never before", expectations are already high. Will Budget 2021 go beyond 'bahi-khata'? All eyes on Sitharaman's 'Economic Vaccine' coming on Monday "There are expectations that the government will keep aside fiscal prudence and open its pockets to spend more," said Ajit Mishra, vice president of research at Mumbai-based Religare Broking Ltd, told reporters. The Budget presentation will begin with a speech from finance minister in Parliament which is scheduled to take place at around 11 am. Before that, the Union Cabinet will hold a meeting at 10:15 am. (Alliance News) - Lockdown measures will remain in place until at least March 8, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday as he earmarked that date to begin the reopening of England's schools. The PM confirmed that hopes of all pupils returning to class after the February half-term have been abandoned as the battle with coronavirus remained "perilous". UK government figures showed a further 1,725 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 101,887, while there were a further 25,308 lab-confirmed cases. The March reopening target is based on progress in vaccinating the most vulnerable groups in society by mid-February and then giving the jab time to take effect. So far 7,164,387 people have received a first dose of either the Pfizer Inc or AstraZeneca PLC vaccines a a rise of 311,060 on the previous day's figures a although Johnson acknowledged a "sense of frustration" about the patchy nature of the rollout. Based on the latest figures, an average of 412,401 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the government's target of 15 million first doses by February 15. The UK government will publish a strategy for the "gradual and phased" easing of lockdown in the week beginning February 22, with schools expected to be the first to reopen. England's schools are currently closed to all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers. The prime minister told MPs: "The first sign of normality beginning to return should be pupils going back to their classrooms." Arrangements to provide free school meals for eligible pupils would be extended and an extra GBP300 million will be available for tutoring to help children catch up on missed lessons. At a Downing Street press conference Johnson said: "When we look at the toll of this pandemic it must be measured not only in the tragic loss of life that we've endured, with over 100,000 deaths. "But I'm afraid we must also remember not just the damage to the economy but the lost weeks and month of education and the real risk of damage to the prospects of our young people." Schools will only reopen if the government can be confident it will not result in a "huge surge" in cases. The plan will also depend on evidence showing the effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing death and serious illness. He said the road map being published in February will set out a plan to "get our lives back to as close to normal as possible". But he warned it was a timetable that is "inevitably going to be subject to adjustment". The move comes as the UK's rollout of coronavirus vaccines will face "ups and downs" during its early phases, Johnson warned. Johnson cautioned that there would be "bumps" as production of the various vaccines got under way, highlighting that batches are "only just being approved". The government's chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said: "We are at a position where the lockdowns have worked, they've slowed this down, they've reached a position where it has reached a plateau and is beginning to decline a and we see that in cases, we're beginning to see that in hospital admissions and we're beginning to see that in deaths a but it is early days. "This isn't coming down quickly, we remain at very high levels and it is going to take weeks for this to come down to really low levels." The UK government has warned that the emergence of a vaccine-resistant new variant could derail its strategy and Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel set out plans for tougher controls on international travel to reduce the risk of importing mutant strains. The measures include a 10-day quarantine in hotel for travellers from 30 high-risk countries which are currently subject to travel bans including South Africa, Portugal and many South American nations. UK nationals and residents who cannot be refused entry when returning home "will be met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine", Johnson said. Similar measures are expected across the UK, although Scotland and Wales have both indicated they could go further than Johnson's plan for England. People wishing to travel abroad will also be required to make a declaration stating why they need to make the journey, which will be checked by carriers prior to departure. In other developments: a Richard Harling, director of health and care at Staffordshire County Council, said local authorities will be dealing with the virus "throughout the 2020s, into the 2030s". a The row between the EU and AstraZeneca escalated, with Brussels claiming it had a contractual right to vaccines manufactured in the pharmaceutical giant's UK plants in order to meet demand in the bloc. a Production at the Wockhardt site in Wrexham, which provides fill-and-finish services for the AstraZeneca vaccine, was paused while the police and army investigated a suspect package. The current phase of the vaccination programme covers the top four priority groups, including people aged over 70, care home residents and frontline health and care workers, around 15 million people. Johnson said the government was on target to meet the goal of offering them a first dose by February 15 "if we can get the supplies" of vaccine. Labour leader Keir Starmer called for teachers and key workers to be vaccinated once the four top priority groups defined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation had received the jab. Under the existing plan, the JCVI's next priority groups include all over-50s and people with underlying health conditions. Johnson said the JCVI list was designed to prioritise those most likely to die or suffer from coronavirus and Starmer "has to explain which vaccines he would take from which vulnerable groups" to give to key workers. source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. A cat owner has given a hilarious peek into what his cat gets up to whilst he sleeps, sharing footage from inside his bedroom. Aaron Brown, 37, from Dallas, Texas, is seen tossing and turning in bed as the cat, named Tormund, struts around the room and attempts to disrupt the owner's sleep by jumping on, licking and pawing his face. In the video the two-year-old feline, who was rescued by Mr Brown in early 2020, does not appear to sleep at all, instead using his owner as a climbing frame and scratching post. The troublesome cat, an American medium hair, can be seen looking out of the window before heading back to his owner's side to cuddle up. Mr Brown captioned the video 'Tormund Attacks', writing 'I'm a relatively new cat owner. This is my life now.' He believes that the cat wakes him up by jumping on him throughout the night because he is so eager to have his morning feed. The video, which he shared on YouTube, has racked up 1.8million views since he posted the footage. Aaron Brown, 37, from Dallas, Texas, is seen tossing and turning in bed as the cat, named Tormund, struts around the room and attempts to disrupt owner's sleep by nuzzling his face The cat successfully wakes up Mr Brown several times throughout the night Here Mr Brown is seen turning out the light again after his cat woke him up at 5.45am Mr Brown said he took the video in April of last year, several months after he got the cat, in order to show his friend just how 'ridiculous' the cat's behaviour is in the mornings. The owner said: 'Tormund was pretty shy at firstbut he's not shy anymore. 'The response has been much bigger than I expected - it was intended as a one-off video to show my family and friends. Here Tormund sits on his favourite seat, his owner Aaron Brown, as they cosy up at home Mr Brown filmed the video to a friend, with the video unexpectedly getting 1.8 million views on Youtube 'However, now that it has gained a bit of popularity, I'm very glad it's brought some level of amusement to so many people.' One social media user said the clip was something that all cat owners will be able to relate to, writing: 'Hilarious!! Those of us with cats all feel your sleeplessness! 'My large fur kid likes to repeatedly play the cow jumped over the moon with my head every morning 90 minutes before my alarm goes off. Here the feline appears to be feeling the effects of staying up all night, as he yawns widely Despite the sleep deprivation due to Tormund's excitable behaviour Mr Brown is clearly very happy with his decision to adopt the feline 'If that falls to wake me, she talks loudly at me while jumping over/on my head until I give in and make her breakfast.' Another commented: 'Thank you for the much needed laugh! Love it! Totally understand, as I have four who are in constant competition over what they apparently consider prime real estate, (as close to my face as possible). 'It's a never ending game of King of the Hill or more aptly put: King of the Mom...lol!' SCHENECTADY A formal report with recommendations for police reforms could be in the hands of City Council members in the next month or so with an April 1 deadline to submit the document to the state. We want to have something that we can send to them so that they can hold the public comment no later than March 22, thats the deadline that we have, Police Chief Eric Clifford said during Wednesdays virtual meeting of the steering committee for the Schenectady Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. The month of February is where were going to put a lot of hard work in. The city has been working jointly with the John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety in Albany on the project. Clifford said the police commanders have a good sense of what changes the community wants from them as a result of all the meetings so far and that they have already started work in some of those areas. We dont want to say too much about them right now until we see the final report and make sure that theyre consistent with what the report says, added Clifford. He also told the group that the fledgling community advisory panel met and spoke with potential police recruits on Jan 27 and will sit down again next week with another batch of potential hires Wednesday, even though its unclear when the department will be able to hire. Mayor Gary McCarthy said hes told the police chief to be ready to hire up to six more officers but that its all conditioned on the financing coming into place. The city is hoping for more monies from the federal government. Carl Williams, a member of the new hire advisory panel, said that the group is working hard to make a difference. Were ensuring that these conversations are going to transform into beneficial end results for the community, he said. Clifford said Ron Gardner, Schenectadys Affirmative Action manager, was for the first time part of the gathering, and that the plan is to have him eventually oversee the panel because he is independent of the police department. Clifford and McCarthy mentioned the online community survey that went live earlier this week for the public to weigh in with their suggestions. The survey, which is accessible through the police department's web site, will be available until Feb. 15. Last year, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order mandating that all local governments with police departments pass legislation with a series of reforms by April 1 or risk losing state funds for law enforcement. Meantime, the Schenectady County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday that it plans to next month convene two virtual police reform and community collaboration panel discussions with community groups, faith-based organizations, business leaders, public safety officials and social service organizations. The meetings are being held to review and improve police strategies, policies, procedures and practices, with a focus on Princetown and Duanesburg, where the agency most patrols, according to the law enforcement agency. Other topics on the agenda include, procedural justice, systemic racial bias, community-based outreach, and transparency. Mamata Banerjee demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must convene an all-party meeting to discuss the process of withdrawal of these law The West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Thursday witnessed unruly scenes on Thursday with the TMC government tabling a resolution demanding repeal of the contentious farm laws and the BJP MLAs responding by walking out while chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the Centre either withdraw the new laws or step down. Speaking after the resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee amid vociferous protests by BJP lawmakers, Mamata demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must convene an all-party meeting to discuss the process of withdrawal of these laws. As soon as the resolution was tabled, BJP MLAs rushed to the Well of the House to protest and later walked out of the Assembly chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. BJP MLAs led by their legislative party leader Manoj Tigga, rushing to the Well of the House, accused the TMC government of launching a "misinformation campaign" against the laws. "We oppose the anti-farmer laws. We demand their immediate withdrawal. Either the Centre should withdraw the laws or step down," the chief minister had said. Mamata said the BJP pushed the farm laws in the Parliament using "brute force" and urged the Centre to repeal the legislations. "BJP always maligns every agitation as terrorist activity. The laws are totally anti-farmer. They pushed it (in Parliament) using brute force. We will not accept farmers being branded as traitors," she said amid protest by BJP MLAs. She said that the Union government, which has in the past, waived corporate loans, should also extend the same benefit to farmers. She also claimed the Delhi Police "mishandled" the tractor parade by farmers which resulted in the situation going out of hand on the Republic Day. "Delhi Police is to be blamed for that. What was the Delhi Police doing? It was a complete intelligence failure. We will not tolerate farmers being branded as traitors. They are the assets of this nation," she said. Mamata appealed to the Congress and the Left Front to keep aside ideological differences and come together in support of the farmers. The two-day session of the Bengal Assembly began on Thursday. So far, five non-BJP-ruled states Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Delhi have passed similar resolutions in their respective Assemblies against the contentious legislations. With inputs from PTI The Christian Science Monitor, January 14, 2021 By Scott Peterson In the streets of Kabul, Shogofa Sediqi knew she was being stalked by Taliban killers. As the chief director for Afghanistans Zan TV (Womens TV), she had grown accustomed to militants sending her threats, telling her in real time what she was wearing and what time she left home, and warning her to stop her work as a journalist. We know you are back, at the airport, read the first message that popped up on her phone last summer, after a month in India. Later, men waiting in a car outside her house rammed her vehicle as they tried to run her over. Ms. Sediqi, like many Afghans desperate for an end to such threats and decades of war, had hoped that the danger to civil society and womens rights posed by the Islamist Taliban would soon recede when the insurgents and government began intra-Afghan peace talks last September. But an unprecedented surge in targeted assassinations in Kabul and other urban centers which have left dozens of journalists, civil society activists, and officials dead, in almost daily killings since autumn combined with sluggish peace talks and an accelerating U.S. troop withdrawal, is deflating her hope of a peaceful future. The Taliban have not changed They are targeting journalists and civil society because they are the loud voices of the nation, says Ms. Sediqi, whose network has been forced by a multitude of threats to stop live broadcasts and switch to recorded programing, while most staff work from home. The Taliban is the same Taliban as before. They have not changed. They do not accept womens activists and civil society, says Ms. Sediqi. The situation has become worse; weve lost so many. ... We dont know who is our enemy. When we come out we dont trust anyone. Few of the assassinations have been claimed, and the Taliban officially deny any role. But on Jan. 4, for the first time, the U.S. forces spokesman in Kabul explicitly blamed the Taliban, stating that its campaign of unclaimed attacks and targeted killings must also cease for peace to succeed. And this week Afghan commandos reported discovery of a bomb-making center in Logar province with hundreds of mortar rounds and homemade magnetic sticky bombs a tool favored for use on cars stuck in traffic which they linked to a Taliban assassination cell known as Obaida Karwan. Ahmad Zia Saraj, head of Afghanistans National Directorate of Security, told lawmakers Dec. 29 of the existence of Obaida Karwan, tasked with carrying out targeted killings, and said 70 suspects charged with that mission had been arrested. Blindfolded suspects have also been put before cameras at press conferences, to describe their role in Taliban-ordered assassinations. Preparing for authoritarian rule The best way to make sense of what the Taliban are doing by taking out civil society, is its part of them preparing for power, says Michael Semple, an Afghanistan expert at Queens University Belfast who lived and worked for years in the country. For the Taliban, the killings both spread panic and undermine confidence in the government. It may also be about silencing civil society, says Mr. Semple. The Taliban are not going to brook any criticism, either in their campaign to topple the government, or once they are busy putting in place their own regime. Dont expect freedom of speech, when they are back. And the Taliban coming back, in total control as they ruled their self-declared Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the late 1990s, with an iron hand is the premise of current Taliban thinking, he says, despite past public statements about moderating their strict policies. They are setting about imposing the Taliban version of Islam forced at the barrel of a gun, says Mr. Semple. From what I pick up, on their political thinking about when they take over later on in the year, they are looking at authoritarian rule. The Taliban will be solely in charge, and that means any of the old freedoms and guarantees will be gone. Targeted killings of officials and members of the Afghan security forces have been a frequent Taliban insurgency tactic since the jihadists were ousted from power by the United States in 2001. The Taliban now control or have influence over half the country, and field a wide network of loyal agents. Justification for the shift to high-profile civil society targets even as peace talks continue is clear in recent Taliban propaganda videos. One posted by a Taliban spokesman on Twitter on Dec. 28 shows five rifle-toting, thickly bearded fighters standing in a row. One of them citing a verse in the Quran declares that it is permissible to kill the [U.S.-backed] puppet regime of Kabul because it has taken Jews and the Christians as allies. He says jihad against them is obligatory. Accelerated U.S. withdrawal Contributing to the apparent change in Taliban calculations and slow progress at intra-Afghan talks, which resumed this week in Qatar after a recess, but without two top Taliban negotiators who failed to return is the accelerated withdrawal of U.S. troops to 2,500 by Friday. A U.S.-Taliban withdrawal agreement signed last February committed American and NATO forces to a complete pullout by May 2021, in exchange for Taliban counterterrorism steps and ending cooperation with Al Qaeda, which the U.S. and United Nations say the Taliban have failed to do. The U.S.-led withdrawal is meant to be conditional on the Taliban lowering levels of violence by as much as 80%, but President Donald Trump sped up the pullout, despite the Talibans unabated attacks, which included two massive assaults on southern provincial capitals Lashkar Gah and Kandahar last fall.Amid that violence, the intensified assassination campaign brings its own messages. All these [assassination] groups are under the control of the Taliban, says retired Brig. Gen. Abdul Raqib Mubariz, a former commander of the Afghan Crisis Response Unit who has dealt with scores of Taliban and Islamic State attacks. The Obaida Karwan cell named after a Taliban commander in Logar province is very small, he says, but includes many professional people. The killings aim to show the Taliban have become important, to show the world they are strong, says General Mubariz, speaking in Kabul. Even if there is peace, there will still be violence. The Taliban are focused on conflict on making their own separate government. A woman on Talibans target list Despite such concerns, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Jan. 2 about incredible progress in Afghanistan. Experts were surprised that Mr. Pompeo boasted We did it, given the ongoing high levels of Taliban attack. The Taliban are going around saying, We got all these things from the Americans, and gave them nothing in return. We understand the art of the deal, says Mr. Semple at Queens University Belfast. One prominent womens rights activist, who asked not to be named, says she received so many Taliban threats that she recently moved away for her safety. She appeared last week on a list of 100 names, labeled the primary target hit list of Obaida Karwan, which circulated on social media. In the beginning of peace negotiations my analysis was that the Taliban changed, especially for womens rights and lowering violence, but unfortunately my analysis was wrong, says the activist in Kabul. She waited in vain for a cease-fire, and now her name is published as a target. PORTLAND - Having shouldered a significant portion of coronavirus costs for its member towns, the Chatham Health District is now asking for additional funding. Health Director Russell S. Melmed said he is asking for a one-time mid-year additional allocation that would help assure that we can continue to provide the level of services our communities require and deserve. Approval of the health districts request will allow us to stabilize our budget from the COVID-19 disruption, Melmed said in a letter to the chief executives of the member towns. If he were successful in his request, the funds would not come directly from towns approved budgets. Six towns make up the district: Colchester; East Haddam; East Hampton; Hebron; Marlborough; and Portland. Instead, Melmed is proposing the towns use a portion of funds they received in the first round of federal stimulus funding. Each community in the state received funding from the $75 million Municipal Coronavirus Relief Fund. Melmed has asked that the towns contribute 20 percent of their CRF funds to tide the district over just as it is ramping up to offer coronavirus vaccines. For East Hampton, 20 percent of the CRF would be $19,368. For Portland, it would total $13,336. East Hampton Town Manager David E. Cox brought the matter to the Town Councils attention during their regular meeting this week. Portland First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield said she has made the members of the Board of Selectmen aware of Melmeds request. We will discuss this request from the Chatham Health District at the selectmens financial meeting on Feb. 3, she said Wednesday. During a conversation, Bransfield signaled her support for Melmeds request. I am very appreciative of the efforts of the Health District, she said, noting the Health District is coordinating clinics, (including one scheduled to take place early next week in Portland) and other corona-related services and doing all the contract tracing. They are doing a fantastic job, Bransfield said. In his email to the chief executives, Melmed underscored what Bransfield said. For most of the last nine months, my time and the time of my staff has been largely focused on COVID-19 response activities, Melmed said. Including public community testing, distributing PPEconducting contract tracing, expanding access to community testing, clarifying and enforcing Executive Orders and DECD (Department of Economic and Community Development) Sector Rules, supporting day cares and our school district, providing guidance to small businesses, and directly engaging in operations planning for municipal departments such as libraries, senior centers, transfer stations and town halls, Melmed said. The states municipalities have the entire 2021 calendar year in which to allocate funds from the CFR, Bransfield said. When the member towns were first approached by Melmed seeking the additional funding, the towns in turn sought a clarification from the state Office of Policy and Management. In response, OPM said, In recognition of the particular importance of public health and public safety workers to State, local, and tribal government responses to the public health emergency, [the U.S. Department of the] Treasury has provided, as an administrative accommodation, that a State, local, or tribal government may presume that public health and public safety employees meet the substantially dedicated test. As the Camp Fire raged through Northern California in November 2018, Marjorie Taylor Greene, then a vice president of a Georgia construction company and part-time social media conspiracy theorist, took to Facebook to hypothesize that Gov. Jerry Brown started the blaze with space lasers. Several media organizations are combing through old social media posts written by the newly elected Greene, revealing the depths of her conspiracy mongering. Among others, she has endorsed QAnon, Pizzagate, 9/11 trutherism and the idea that the Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings were staged. California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez has since introduced a resolution calling for her expulsion from Congress as more has come to light. On Thursday, Media Matters for America reported on a now-deleted Facebook post where Greene detailed her completely unfounded, albeit elaborate, Camp Fire theory. She alleged a connection between Brown, PG&E and Rothschild Inc. (the Rothschild family has been the target of countless unfounded conspiracy theories primarily aimed at vilifying Jewish people as greedy and nefarious), before getting into the meat of her theory. "It also must just be a coincidence the fires are burning in the same projected areas that the $77 billion Dollar High Speed Rail Project is to be built, which also happens to be Gov Brown's pet project," she wrote. Just one problem: The Camp Fire burned in Butte County, north of both the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. There were no plans to extend the high-speed rail north of Sacramento. Greene then wrote, "there are all these people who have said what looked like lasers or beams of blue light causing the fires," before claiming that "space solar generators" devices concocted by those hoping to "replace coal and oil" have the power to "collect the suns energy and then beam it back to Earth." No such devices exist yet. While it is true the United States Air Force is working on developing satellites that collect and store solar energy, the first such satellite will not launch until 2024 at the earliest. Greene is ultimately unable to decide whether the fire was started for the high-speed rail project, tanking PG&E's stock price before an inevitable rally or a space laser accident that needed a cover-up. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy who hails from California has been relatively quiet about Greene's unearthed social media posts in recent days. After it was discovered she once advocated for executing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, liked Facebook comments suggesting FBI agents be executed and echoed a QAnon theory about Hillary Clinton cutting off and donning the face of a child, a spokesperson for McCarthy called her social media activity "deeply disturbing" and said the minority leader "plans to have a conversation with" Greene. BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With travelers dreaming of new discoveries in 2021, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is ready to welcome them as it unveils the initial hotels around the world exemplifying the brand's new vision: Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, USA; Sheraton Denver Downtown, USA; Sheraton Tel Aviv, Israel; Sheraton Grand Dubai, UAE; Sheraton Guangzhou, China and Sheraton Mianyang, China. Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Sheraton Grand Dubai Following Marriott International's announcement in 2018 of its plans to refresh the iconic brand for today's travelers, the completion of the renovations at these hotels is an important milestone in the brand's reinvention journey. There is now momentum building for the transformation, with over 40 hotels around the world expected to reflect the new brand vision by the end of 2022. "This is a pivotal moment for Sheraton as we see hotel owners embracing the new vision and bringing it to life for the first time," said Amanda Nichols, Senior Director and Global Brand Leader of Sheraton Hotels. "Over the past 80 years, Sheraton has always offered guests the time-honored assurance of a welcoming community. We're proud to have built on this legacy in the new concept, creating an environment where guests can enjoy all the familiar comforts of the Sheraton brand, but with fresh, contemporary updates. As travel resumes, we look forward to welcoming guests into this new chapter for Sheraton." Drawing on its roots as a community hub for locals and guests at flagship locations globally, the new approach for Sheraton creates an intuitive and holistic experience with places to connect, be productive and feel part of something. The layered design approach, balancing a sense of timelessness with a fresh and modern feel, aims to create an environment where guests feel comfortable and at ease, whether working, meeting or relaxing. A Modern-Day "Public Square" At the heart of the new Sheraton experience is the lobby. This has been re-imagined as the "Public Square" of the hotel; a holistic, open space that invites people to join together or be alone amongst others, creating a sense of energy and belonging. With a flow that is natural, intuitive and uncomplicated, guests have what they need within arm's reach, all set against an inviting backdrop that feels warm and comfortable yet refined. Built into the new design are signature elements such as the Community Table, an inviting, purpose-built workspace that will anchor each hotel's lobby and allow guests to work, eat and drink while soaking up the energy of the space. Following Sheraton's philosophy to embrace both form and function, these tables are custom designed with amenities to keep guests productive, including built-in lighting, outlets and wireless charging stations. The Studios, flexible gathering spaces available to book whenever a guest needs it, celebrate collaborative working and connecting with others in a less formal setting. Built on raised platforms and enclosed with glass, the tech-enabled Studios welcome guests to contribute to the energy of the public space while also providing privacy and focus for everything from small group meetings to private dining experiences. Soundproof booths are also strategically placed throughout the lobby, perfect for a spontaneous phone call to connect privately with friends, family or colleagues from afar. Built with its global, productivity-focused guest in mind, Sheraton's new elevated food & beverage philosophy creates a focal point in the lobby experience. Part bar, part coffee bar, part market, the Coffee Bar Bar is a central pillar of the new Sheraton vision, transitioning guests seamlessly from day to night with food & beverage options that are locally-sourced, easy to consume while working and customizable to accommodate all tastes and time schedules. Guest Rooms & Club Lounges That Champion Productivity In the new guest rooms, guests are welcomed into a bright, well-lit space with warm, residential appeal, comprised of soft finishes and light wood tones accentuated with black metal accents. The rooms have been reimagined with new tools for productivity, such as a height-adjustable work table, integrated power and charging and layered lighting; while still retaining some of the classic Sheraton signature amenities, including the luxurious Sheraton Sleep Experience platform bed. The guest bathroom has also been completely redesigned with new and modern walk-in showers and bath amenities by Gilchrist & Soames. The Sheraton Club Lounge, an exclusive space for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and Sheraton Club level guests, has also undergone an upgrade as part of the transformation. The new design ensures the space is welcoming, elevated and purposefully designed for a layered and engaging experience that transitions seamlessly with activations from morning to evening. Guests will find updated food and beverage offerings, premium amenities, enhanced connectivity, and 24/7 access to provide a private environment. Commitment to Clean Sheraton Hotels are following Marriott International's Commitment to Clean protocols, created in partnership with leading experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations. These protocols include mandated mask wearing for all associates within the hotel, and the use of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in the country/region where the hotel operates and the World Health Organization to sanitize surfaces in the hotels. A Continuous Journey There are currently 446 Sheraton hotels in 74 countries and territories around the world, making it Marriott International's most global brand. In 2021, Sheraton Hotels will continue on its transformation journey, with the brand expecting to showcase new guest experience programs and complete renovations in locations including Nashville, USA; Toronto, Canada; Nice, France; Kiev, Ukraine; and Xi'an, China. For a full set of photos of the six first redesigned hotels, please click HERE To find out more about the new Sheraton experience, visit: https://sheraton.marriott.com/experience/new-sheraton/ Note on forward-looking statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including expected hotel renovations and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including those we identify below and other risk factors that we identify in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Risks that could affect forward-looking statements in this press release include the duration and scope of COVID-19, including the location and extent of resurgences of the virus and the availability of effective treatments or vaccines; its short and longer-term impact on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals have taken or may take in response to the pandemic, including limiting or banning travel and/or in-person gatherings or imposing occupancy or other restrictions on lodging or other facilities; the impact of the pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic on global and regional economies, travel, and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of COVID-19's impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; the ability of our owners and franchisees to successfully navigate the impacts of COVID-19; the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides or effective treatments or vaccines become available; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the effects of steps we and our property owners and franchisees take to reduce operating costs and/or enhance certain health and cleanliness protocols at our hotels; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release, and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc., makes it easy for guests to feel part of something special at nearly 450 hotels in over 70 countries and territories around the world. As the most global brand within Marriott International's portfolio sitting at the center of hundreds of communities around the world, Sheraton has a rich heritage in creating a sense of belonging for guests, wherever they are in the world. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is currently undergoing a major brand transformation at properties around the world to bring its signature community experience up-to-date for the next generation of travelers. The new vision for Sheraton features intuitive design, tech-forward experiences and upgrades to everything from guest rooms to F&B. To learn more, visit www.sheraton.com . Stay connected to Sheraton on Facebook, and @sheratonhotels on Twitter and Instagram . Sheraton is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com . SOURCE Marriott International, Inc. Related Links www.marriott.com live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More If a borrower defaults on a bank loan, his other loans drawn from the same bank too may become non-performing assets (NPAs) affecting the customer's credit worthiness, bankers said. All loans may be tagged as NPAs even if the customer is prompt on the repayment of other loans to the same bank. For example, if you default on a credit card loan to a particular bank, your home loan or car loan in the same bank, on which the loan repayment is prompt, may also become a bad loan. This is because the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms require banks to follow NPA classification at a borrower level and not on one particular loan, said private sector Axis Bank in a response to a Moneycontrol Query. The asset classification per extant applicable income recognition and asset classification regulations, requires every bank to follow asset classification at a borrower level and not at a facility/product level, Axis Bank spokesperson said in a statement. We have used the said regulations for determination of our proforma NPA and provisions made in the financial statement for Q3FY21. Hence, the borrower level classification is a RBI regulatory requirement and not an Axis Bank specific choice. The actual customer classification shall be done only upon final order of the Supreme Court, the bank said. On January 27, the Times of India reported that Axis Bank customers who default on credit cards will see their home loans too getting the NPA tag. Clarifying on the report, the lender said this action is nothing specific to the bank, but applicable to all banks as per the RBI norms. Another senior banker from a public sector bank too said one loan default will impact the asset classification of other loans taken by the same borrower. "That happens," said the banker, who didn't want to be identified. "The other loans too become NPA and your CIBIL score gets impacted," said the banker. This rule means that a customer needs to make sure all his loan repayments are proper to avoid the NPA tag. It is upto the bank how to exercise the RBI norms on a borrower level. Generally banks have been increasing provisions expecting an increase in stress in the system, said Siddharth Purohit, Senior Analyst at SMC Global Securities. What if loans are from two group entities? But, the NPA tag on other loans may not come if the loans are given by two separate group entities, experts said. For instance, if the home loan is from the bank and the credit card loan is from a different entity in the same group, then one loan default may not impact the other loan. IRAC (Income Recognition and Asset Classification) norms are clear on this issue. If the loans are from the same bank, one facility going bad will lead to all facilities being declared as NPA, said Naresh Malhotra, a senior banking consultant and former State Bank of India (SBI) Executive. However, in case of a credit card loan default in SBI, this rule wouldnt apply because SBI credit card is issued by a different entity and other loans are given by the bank, Malhotra said. "Hence one default will not affect the other, Malhotra said. But, if one takes the home loan and a car loan (both from the same bank), one default could impact the asset classification of the other, Malhotra said. What happens when a loan becomes an NPA? As per rules, a loan becomes an NPA if there is no payment of interest or principal for 90 days. Once a loan is classified as an NPA, it is bad news for both the bank and the borrower. The bank will have to set aside money to cover the likely losses on such loans, while the customers credit score will get impacted on loan default. Higher provisions impact the profitability of the bank. For the borrower, a lower credit score will impact his ability to secure another loan at cheaper rate. Banks have seen their bad loans going up substantially in the recent years. The RBI has projected the overall GNPAs to shoot up to 13.5 percent of total loans by September this year from 7.5 per cent in September last year in a base case scenario. In a worst case scenario, the bad loans could go up to nearly 15 percent of the total loans, the RBI said. Too Hot To Handle has been renewed for two more seasons by Netflix. The reality series saw a string of attractive contestants learn they would win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact with each other for four weeks. Taking place in a tropical setting, even kissing is not allowed if the contestants want the cash, with each rule break dwindling the prize money. It's a hit: Too Hot To Handle has been renewed for two more seasons by Netflix The first season was filmed in Mexico while the second season, which is currently in the middle of filming, takes place on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, according to Deadline. Brandon Reigg, Netflix VP of unscripted and documentary series, said: 'The secret is out were thrilled to bring back Too Hot To Handle for two new seasons in a tropical paradise. 'Netflix members around the world fell in love with the hilarious antics of season one, and now fans wont have to wait long to see our new contestants try (and fail) to follow [virtual assistant] Lanas strict rules with plenty of twists and surprises along the way.' Production on the series has reportedly been underway for a few months with contestants told they were taking part in a series called Parties in Paradise, to keep the surprise element of the show. Premise: The reality series saw a string of attractive contestants learn they would win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact with each other for four weeks At the end of the first series, ten contestants made it to the final and split the $75,000 prize money between them. The cast hailed from the UK, US, Ireland, Canada, and Australia and have kept in touch since the show ended. Contestant Chloe Veitch told the Evening Standard: 'We all FaceTime each other all the time and now [Too Hot To Handle] has been seen by millions of people, we want to make sure we all are okay. We are making sure we call people and text people so were all alright.' The Essex native also told The Sun the series was a form of 'sexual rehabilitation' and changed her approach to dating. Challenge: Taking place in a tropical setting, even kissing is not allowed if the contestants want the cash, with each rule break dwindling the prize money She said: 'It was sexual rehabilitation for everyone. I was a serial dater and would always have a few guys on the go. 'I was addicted to Tinder, swiping all day. It was a confidence boost for me. But I never chose the best guys. Ive been hurt before and have an emotional barrier up.' Netflix co-CEO previously hailed Too Hot To Handle as the streaming service's 'biggest competition show ever', with the first series the number one show on Netflix during the week of April 20 after it premiered. Astronauts Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover Jr. conducted a spacewalk Wednesday to upgrade and maintain the International Space Station. It was the first spacewalk experience for Glover, who is a few months into his first spaceflight on the station. "What a beautiful view," Glover said after he began the spacewalk. This was the third spacewalk for Hopkins, who previously completed two spacewalks during his first six-month venture to the space station from September 25, 2013, to March 10, 2014. The spacewalk officially began at 6:28 a.m. ET and ended at 1:24 p.m. ET. It lasted for about six hours and 56 minutes. This is the 233rd spacewalk in support of the space station. Hopkins wore the spacesuit bearing red stripes as crew member 1 and Hopkins was in the spacesuit with no stripes as crew member 2. The astronauts focused on progress with the installation of Bartolomeo, the newest payload hosting station outside the European Space Agency's Columbus module. They worked on antenna and cable rigging to hook up power and data connections. The Bartolomeo platform, named after the younger brother of Christopher Columbus, is the first instance of a European commercial partnership that offers a place to conduct science and technology demonstrations outside of the space station, according to the European Space Agency. The Columbus module was also upgraded with a terminal that provides an independent high-bandwidth communication link for European ground stations. The two astronauts encountered a few issues trying to connect two of the cables, so ground teams will troubleshoot solutions and the task will be added to a future spacewalk. During the spacewalk, Glover jettisoned a protective covering that was no longer needed for the antenna. "@AstroVicGlover jettisons a science antenna cover into space since it is no longer needed. It will eventually enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up safely," according to a tweet from the International Space Station account. The two astronauts joked after five hours that they wished they could go to the space station's airlock and pop in for some "snacks and bacon." Even though their heavy suits are weightless, astronauts often say spacewalks are the most physically challenging and most grueling tasks they do in space. Hopkins and Glover also have a second spacewalk scheduled for February 1. The astronauts will install the final lithium-ion battery adapter plate on Monday. This installation wraps up work to complete the replacement of aging batteries outside the station that began in January 2017. Hopkins, Glover, NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi flew to the station in November aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft. They joined NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who were already on the station after launching in October. During both spacewalks, Rubins has the task of operating the robotic arm from inside the space station to assist the astronauts as they work outside. They will focus on other upgrades, like replacing an external standard camera with a new high-definition camera on the Destiny laboratory, and will replace camera and light assembly components needed for the Japanese robotic arm's camera system, located outside of the Kibo module. "We've been talking about these two EVAs (extra-vehicular activities) for the better part of a year, so we're excited to see them executed," said Kenny Todd, deputy manager for the International Space Station Program at NASA during a press conference Friday. There are more spacewalks planned for the crew near the end of February and beginning of March. Glover and Rubins will pair up for the third spacewalk to prepare the station's power system for installing new solar arrays, which will increase the station's power supply. Rubins and Noguchi will conduct the fourth spacewalk to continue upgrades for the space station. During these long spacewalks, the astronauts go through alternating cycles of day and night every 45 minutes, operating against the hot, bright light of the sun as well as the cold darkness of space. This happens because the space station is orbiting the Earth at 17,500 miles per hour. While the astronauts don't feel the direct impacts of extreme cold and heat, there is the potential for a chill, so there are heaters installed in the astronauts' gloves to keep their hands warm, said Vincent LaCourt, spacewalk flight director at NASA for the February 1 spacewalk. Islamabad, Jan 28 : The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has confirmed that a pilot of a Lahore-bound flight spotted "an extraordinary object" in the sky last week, media reports said on Thursday. The Dawn newspaper quoted a PIA spokesperson as saying that the pilot spotted the object on January 23 in airspace between Multan and Sahiwal. The pilot spotted "something over 1,000 feet above his aircraft, which was at an altitude of 35,000 feet, and he made a video which was circulating on social media", the flag carrier's spokesperson was further quoted as saying. "It is too early to say for sure what he had actually witnessed. It cannot necessarily be a flying saucer," he said, adding that the incident was being looked into as per the standard operating procedures. In a separate report, Geo News said the object was "extremely bright" despite the presence of sunlight. A man accused of threatening a female employee with a blood-stained needle in a bid to rob a fast-food restaurant must remain in custody, a judge ruled today. Steven McCabe, 24, allegedly held the needle to the woman's neck and demanded money at a branch of Subway in south Belfast . Police claimed he said to her: "Do you want hepatitis, you b****?" McCabe, of Great Victoria Street in the city, was refused bail on charges of attempted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he allegedly went into the restaurant on the Dublin Road in August last year and approached a woman behind the counter. According to a PSNI officer McCabe brandished a needle and made threats in a bid to get cash from the till. But he was fought off and fled from the scene empty handed, it was claimed. During interviews McCabe denied any physical assault took place during what was described as an opportunistic incident. However, police contended that his blood was confirmed to be on the needle allegedly used. Defence barrister Stephen Toal told the court some admissions have been made. "It was a foolish attempt to get money; obviously drugs played a central role in that," he added. Denying bail, Judge Liam McStay expressed concerns about "a very high risk of serious offending". India signs strategic partnership agreement with International Energy Agency India on Wednesday signed a framework for strategic partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA) members, aimed at strengthening mutual trust and cooperation and to enhance global energy security, stability and sustainability. This partnership will lead to an extensive exchange of knowledge and would be a stepping stone towards India becoming a full member of the IEA, the union ministry of power stated in a release. Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, secretary (power) and Fatih Birol, IEA executive director, signed the MoU on Wednesday. Details of the strategic partnership will be jointly decided by the IEA members and India, including a phased increase in benefits and responsibilities for India as an IEA strategic partner, and building on existing areas of work within the association. These include the Clean Energy Transition Programmes (CETP), such as energy security, clean and sustainable energy, energy efficiency, enhancing petroleum storage capacity in India, expansion of gas-based economy in India etc. The IEA secretariat will be responsible for implementation of the cooperative activities in India and for facilitating discussion between the IEA members and India to further develop the strategic partnership. STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation Software, LLC, developer of FOUNDATION, America's #1 construction accounting software, has received the Top Workplaces USA Award administered by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that turns employee feedback into business intelligence and opportunities for employer recognition. Over the last 15 years, Energage has surveyed over 20 million employees at 66,000 organizations across 54 markets. The marketing department of Foundation Software celebrates the holidays with a virtual party over Microsoft Teams. To be recognized for the award, companies must receive positive feedback from their employees and score positively on 15 comparative culture drivers that Energage says are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. Reflecting on the award, President and CEO of Foundation Software Mike Ode praised his employees for the success of the business amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "This past year was a tough one for companies all over, and we were no exception." Ode said. "In Mid-March, our entire office of over 365 people was suddenly working remotely in a blink. We had to figure out quickly how to collaborate, serve our clients and keep the momentum going without the advantage of being face-to-face." "But that is the great thing about building your business around good people," Ode said, "they come together and drive success. I couldn't be prouder of what they've accomplished this past year and every year." Foundation encourages health and wellness with extensive wellness programs, including free gym access and onsite personal training and fitness classes. With many employees unable to participate in these activities during the pandemic, Foundation adjusted to connect them virtually. Employees meet online to attend yoga and boot camp classes, as well as compete in virtual fitness challenges. Eric Rubino, Energage CEO, acknowledged how tough COVID-19 working conditions have been. When the Top Workplace USA Award recipients were announced, he praised employers for giving employees a platform to discuss their experience by participating in the survey. "During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," Rubino said. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business." Energage interviewed employees from over 1,100 companies to determine winners of the Top Workplaces USA Award. Foundation received further recognition from Energage by being recognized as an outstanding workplace in the technology field. To read more about Foundation Software, visit their website. About Foundation Software, LLC Foundation Software delivers job cost accounting, project management and mobile applications, along with payroll services, to help contractors run the business side of construction. For information, call (800) 246-0800 or email [email protected] . Media Contact Tracie Kuczkowski | Director of Marketing [email protected] (800) 246-0800 x 7933 Related Images foundation-software-christmas-party.png Foundation Software Christmas Party The marketing department of Foundation Software celebrates the holidays with a virtual party over Microsoft Teams. SOURCE Foundation Software, LLC COLUMBIA After years of trying and failing, Republicans in the South Carolina Senate successfully passed a bill to ban most abortions Thursday, pushing the state closer than ever to what is expected to become a lengthy legal battle over the proposal. The Senate voted 30-13 in favor of the legislation to prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which typically occurs around six to eight weeks into pregnancies. The vote means the bill will now head to the House, where the Republican majority is expected to approve it, as it has already done in years past. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has repeatedly promised to sign it and cheered the Senate's action Thursday. "We're closer than weve ever been to passing into law the most comprehensive pro-life legislation our state has ever seen," McMaster said. Though the bill is on track to become law, it is not expected to actually take effect any time soon if ever. As has been the case in close to a dozen conservative states that have passed similar bills, the measure will face instant legal challenges and almost certainly be struck down by lower courts. Anti-abortion activists hope the appeals in those cases will eventually prompt the increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which found that women have a constitutional right to abortion access. Republicans spent years seeking to pass the bill through the Senate but were stymied by Democrats who used procedural hurdles to block the effort. But after Republicans expanded their majority in the 2020 elections, they had more than enough votes to overcome any Democratic objections. The only Republican to vote against the bill was state Sen. Sandy Senn of Charleston, who said she believes it is unconstitutional and too extreme. The only Democrat to vote for it was state Sen. Kent Williams of Marion, who did not explain his reasoning in advance and could not be reached for comment after the vote. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said passage of the bill was a top GOP priority. "South Carolina sent 30 Republicans to the state Senate for a reason and this is one of the bills we hear of most often," Massey said. "Passage of the Heartbeat Bill will save thousands of innocent preborn lives in our state, and strikes an appropriate balance that we feel will stand up to court scrutiny." Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! While Democrats did not have enough votes to block the bill, Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said South Carolina women should not fear because courts will block the measure from becoming reality. "What was done today was entirely political theater to appease extremists," said Hutto, D-Orangeburg. "Republican senators showed you today that they want to deny you of your constitutional rights, but they ultimately will not be successful." Through three days of debate, lawmakers added a few notable exceptions to the bill, including for cases of rape and incest or if the fetus has an anomaly that would be fatal outside the womb. An exception would also be allowed if a physician determined the life of the mother would be in danger without an abortion. State Sen. Mia McLeod, D-Columbia, took particular issue with a provision in the bill that requires physicians to give the name and contact information of women who get an abortion due to the rape or incest exception to the local sheriff. Revealing that she is a sexual assault survivor herself, McLeod said the bill "mocks God by taking away our rights, our liberties, our freedoms and our choices." "After taking all of that, do you have to take our dignity, too?" McLeod said. "Does it make you feel good when women have to relive the horror, the unspeakable shame and the trauma of all that we've experienced at the hands of a man, then, to add insult to injury, force us to retell it to another man this one with a badge?" Massey said Republicans know the bill will face challenges in court and was not sure exactly how much that legal battle may end up costing taxpayers. "I think it will be expensive," Massey said. "But when you compare the expense to the possibility, the likelihood, of saving thousands of lives every year, I think it's an an expense worth making." According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, about 5,100 abortions were performed in South Carolina in 2019. Roughly 45 percent were performed during the first six weeks of gestation. The House could begin moving the bill through the committee process next week. S.C. House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Hartsville, said this week he plans to get the bill passed by his chamber "as soon as possible." 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. A Fianna Fail TD has apologised for saying Ireland should buy anti-Covid vaccine from the Ku Klux Klan if necessary. Marc MacSharry made a reference at the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting this evening to sourcing vaccine if necessary from the Ku Klux Klan, but promptly withdrew it and said it was an extreme analogy. When contacted by Independent.ie, Mr MacSharry acknowledged he made reference to the KKK, but said the comment had been withdrawn and clarified straight away. I abhor the very existence of such organisations, he added. Read More Others at the meeting confirmed the remark, and that it was withdrawn immediately. One said: He should have said we would buy vaccines from the devil himself, which was his point. Mr MacSharry made the reference while arguing that Ireland should ditch EU solidarity and opt for the Russian Sputnik vaccine against Covid-19. The Sligo-Leitrim TD asked: Whats the attitude to the Sputnik Russian vaccine? Are EU prejudices going to prevent the consideration of it? He said Hungary had done a unilateral deal for the supply of the Sputnik vaccine, although doubts have been expressed about its efficacy. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his children have taken the Sputnik vaccine and it has also been tried in South America. My view is if it works lets get it. No matter who has a vaccine that works we should be buyers, Mr MacSharry told the Taoiseach and fellow TDs. He said the EU had failed us on the vaccine and anecdotal evidence suggested the bloc put all its faith in the development of a French-based vaccine which didnt materialise. As a result it had come late to the queue for Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson one-jab vaccine, the latter of which the Taoiseach said was only scheduled to be potentially approved by the EMA in late April. Mr MacSharry said that as the EU dithered, other countries were in quicker and paid higher prices. It was basic supply and demand economics, he said, adding there was currently no visibility on vaccine deliveries. Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan said he would like a zero Covid approach to be taken. One of those in attendance at the meeting said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had waffled on about Covid issues without giving real answers to members concerns. Texas Rangers arrested a former West Texas police officer Wednesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a child in 2009, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a news release. Corisa Tosh, a 41-year-old former officer for the Borger Police Department, has been charged with sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. She was accused of flouting Muslim law in the Maldives after posing topless for social media snaps over the weekend. But amid the drama, Georgia Steel put on a sizzling display as she posed in a coral bikini on Thursday. The reality star, 22, displayed her ample cleavage, toned waist and bronzed legs as she struck a sultry pose on the beach in the sun. Toned: Georgia Steel put on a sizzling display as she posed in a coral bikini on Thursday The top could barely contain her cleavage as she posed, with tie-side bottoms teasing a glimpse of her pert derriere. Her caramel tresses were styled in a tousled updo while the star showcased her glowing complexion. She later posed for a stunning mirror selfie which showcased her bronzed frame. Earlier this week Georgia promoted her latest collaboration with racy underwear brand Boux Avenue. She snapped shots of herself on her bathroom floor as she continues her stay in the tropics, wearing a skimpy lace pink long-line bra, knickers, stockings and suspenders. Wow: The reality star, 22, displayed her ample cleavage, toned waist and bronzed legs as she struck a sultry pose on the beach in the sun Racy lacy: Earlier this week Georgia promoted her latest collaboration with racy underwear brand Boux Avenue Showing off her lithe frame and bronzed limbs, she captioned the snap: 'One thing Ive learnt is that its very important to be your own valentine before anyone elses.' Georgia is apparently abroad 'for work', clearly unable to model the underwear from her bathroom floor in the UK. Her antics abroad have outraged locals as she has hopped from Dubai to the Maldives, despite COVID-19 killing over 2 million people globally, with the UK in a strict lockdown. According to The Sun, her latest topless snap particularly riled up the locals. Up close: She snapped shots of herself on her bathroom floor as she continues her stay in the tropics, wearing a skimpy lace pink long-line bra, knickers, stockings and suspenders Top(less) to bottom: She has been slammed by Maldives residents for posing topless for Instagram snaps, according to The Sun The Sun reports that a local source said: 'It may seem strange to Westerners, but coming here and failing to observe our laws and customs is incredibly insulting. 'Influencers who think the Maldives is just a great backdrop for their Instagram should stop and think before one ends up in jail. 'The resorts could also be in serious trouble if guests like Georgia are found to be generating [nude] images on the premises'. Still abroad hun? Ellie Brown is another Love Islander who has opted to travel abroad for 'work' The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office states, of the Maldives: 'Local laws reflect the fact that Maldives is an Islamic country. Violations of local laws may lead to a prison sentence. 'Nudism and topless sunbathing are not allowed anywhere, including on resort islands. 'Public observance of any religion other than Islam is prohibited. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they dont offend, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.' Oh! The reality personality-turned-influencer, 22, has been abroad for weeks, claiming to be there 'for work'm posting sultry snaps to social media to advertise brands There are still laws that can lead to public floggings or death should they be broken. MailOnline has approached Georgia's reps for comment. Georgia posed for her latest topless snap while soaking up the sun on the beach on Thursday. She wore just a blue patterned bikini bottom and a sun hat in the snap. Georgia styled her brunette locks into plaits as she posed next to a tree while fixing the camera with a sultry stare. The Sun reports that a local source said: 'It may seem strange to Westerners, but coming here and failing to observe our laws and customs is incredibly insulting' In another snap, the reality star looked away from the camera as she fixed her hair. Georgia, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, has been documenting her sun-soaked Maldives getaway in detail for her 1.6million Instagram followers. She is holidaying currently with another former Love Islander Joanna Chimonides. Despite the UK being in national lockdown, Georgia and Joanna flew from Dubai to the Maldives. Georgia previously told her Instagram followers the 'work' trip had been planned for a long time and she was thankful it could go ahead despite the pandemic. Fun in the sun: Georgia recently jetted to the Maldives for 'work purposes' with her friend Joanna Chimonides She captioned one snap: 'I feel so lucky to be able to travel with my job at the moment. 'I'm so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to work with @velassarumaldives for the next week and make memories that are going to last me a lifetime. I thank the universe every day.' However, their fun-filled getaway might be overshadowed on their return as travellers returning to the UK need to present proof of a negative Covid test result. New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine, while the operator who transported them will also be fined. Passengers will still have to quarantine for 10 days regardless of their test results, transport minister Robert Courts said in a statement. If you want to destroy a state, you just have to destroy the trust toward the state; everything has been done in Armenia to have this. The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with three media outlets on Wednesday, when asked how to restore trust in the state, taking into account the situation that the state, the government was in the role of the liar. "In my impression, a criminal punishment should be established by law against an official who liesand a very severe punishment. And you know who the main liar in our country is [i.e., PM Nikol Pashinyan]. This has become a political culture [in Armenia]," he noted. Kocharyan added that the biggest danger is that lying has become so commonplace among Armenian officials that it is not even perceived as an extraordinary case. "How are we going to build a country on these lies?," he asked. According to the second president, the Armenian government that told lies about the recent 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war is still in power, and that surprises everyone. To the journalist's question that when the de facto head of state declares from the tribune of the National Assembly that Shushi of Artsakh is an Azerbaijani city and the occupied territories are called Azerbaijani territories, is it possible to generate political processes in such an atmosphere and save the state from destruction, Kocharyan suggested that PM Pashinyan speak about Yerevan on the principle of Shushi. "I will suggest looking at the statistics as to what national proportion the population of Yerevan had in 1913-14. See how many Armenians, how many Caucasian Tatars there were. I would suggest just publish it, and let the prime minister talk about Yerevan on the same principle as Shushi if you only assess the population at that moment. In Shushi, that 90 percent [Azerbaijani population] was the result of the 1920 massacre there. So you accept that you are taking over that city, that territory, killing those people, changing the demographic picture," he said. Richa Chadha recently took to social media to make a remark on the Supreme Courts refusal to grant relief to the makers and actors of controversial Amazon series Tandav over criminal cases lodged against them in multiple states. On Wednesday, the apex court turned down their petition requesting interim protection from arrest, citing right to freedom of speech is not absolute. Sharing a tweet on the Supreme Courts decision, Richa wrote, Priorities of the apex court! For those of you living under a rock, Tandav is surrounded by controversies for allegedly showing Hindu deities in poor light. Though the contentious scenes have now been removed, several political leaders have demanded strict action against the makers. Priorities of the apex court ! https://t.co/nJNH6tn6oO TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 28, 2021 Multiple FIRs against the series director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer, writer, actors and Amazon India Originals head Aparna Purohit, have been filed in six states. The makers of the web series are facing criminal cases for hurting religious sentiments and insulting religion, punishable under sections 153A and 295 of the Indian Penal Code. Gauahar Khan, who plays Maithili in Tandav, recently expressed astonishment at the Supreme Courts decision. When Mohd Zeeshan Ayyubs lawyer contended that he was just an actor under contract, the bench observed, You accepted the contract after reading the script. You cannot hurt religious sentiments. When a Twitter user remarked that actors playing murderers on screen might be tried for the crime next, Gauahar retweeted it along with three face with monocle emojis. Heres how people gave mixed reactions on Twitter to Richas comment: The Supreme court has become BJP's headquarter. They can give protection only to Kangna Ranaut. Manoj Meghwal (@Boxer_ji) January 28, 2021 Abhi our jalil hona hai tumhe...#UrbanNaxals Aksh9249 (@aksh9249) January 28, 2021 Everyone is glued to their small screens,so with them I guess arvind bhanumurthy (@ariputtar) January 28, 2021 Used to feel that at least judiciary is beyond politics and sane. Are these institutions still intact and objective ? SK (@ihskas) January 28, 2021 Real Tandav here SIMA (@seemaadhikari) January 28, 2021 It is important to safeguard India's rich culture and heritage and the SC understands that. #BanTandavNow #arrestteamtandav Universal Peace (@UniversalPeace0) January 28, 2021 Ali earlier issued an unconditional apology on behalf of the team, maintaining that they did not intend to hurt any sentiments. He later issued another statement, in which he said that the makers decided to implement changes to Tandav after concerns were raised. The contentious scenes were later altered. Tandav features Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sunil Grover, Kritika Kamra, Sarah Jane Dias, Kumud Mishra, Dino Morea and Amyra Dastur in main roles, among others. Lucknow, Jan 28 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered that programmes should be organised, at least, once a month at all the martyrs' memorials in the state. He said that public participation in these programmes should also be ensured. According to the government spokesman, the Chief Minister said that the police band should also be played once a week at memorials as a tribute to those who have sacrificed their life for the nation. The Chief Minister reviewed the preparations for the centenary celebrations of the Chauri Chaura incident of the Freedom movement that will begin on February 4, and said that the walls of the memorial should have paintings of martyrs and the literature related to Chauri Chaura should be compiled, digitalised and published. The Chief Minister said that a proposal will soon be sent to the Railway Ministry to develop the Chauri Chaura railway station. He further directed the officials to use the logo of Chauri Chaura in all official correspondence and honour the families of those connected with the historical event. The inaugural event will be telecast live in the state. The incident took place on February 4, 1922 at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the then United Province (modern Uttar Pradesh) in British India, when a large group of protesters, participating in the Non-cooperation movement, clashed with the police who opened fire. In retaliation the demonstrators attacked and set fire to a police station, killing three civilians and 22 policemen. Mahatma Gandhi, who was strictly against violence, called off the non-cooperation movement on the national level on February 12, 1922, as a direct result of this incident. Hotel workers are afraid they will be at an increased risk of catching coronavirus from travellers arriving at quarantine sites across the UK, unions have warned. Unite want all hotels used to house travellers arriving in the UK to put proper safety measures in place and the union has encouraged its members to report and challenge any breaches of health and safety. Under the new rules, people arriving in Britain from 22 countries on the so-called 'Red List' will have to quarantine in Government selected hotels for 10 days. Portugal is the only European country on the list, though there are fears it could be extended with Home Secretary Priti Patel thought to favour closing borders to new arrivals completely. Unite want all hotels used to house travellers arriving in the UK to put proper safety measures in place to protect staff. Pictured, people at Heathrow Airport Under the new rules, people arriving in Britain from 22 countries on the so-called 'Red List' will have to quarantine in Government selected hotels for 10 days (file image) If the ban is extended, only British and Irish nationals, long-term visa holders and residents will be able to enter the country, though they'll then have to immediately quarantine at hotels. Unite said official figures showed hospitality workers including chefs and pub managers were at a greater risk of dying from Covid-19 than average. The high toll was a result of a 'toxic combination' of insufficient sick pay, unscrupulous employment practices, a failure to maintain social distancing and a lack of PPE, claimed Unite. Assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: 'Once again it appears that the Government is more interested in chasing headlines then considering the welfare of workers. If the ban is extended, only British and Irish nationals, long-term visa holders and residents will be able to enter the country, though they'll then have to immediately quarantine at hotels. Pictured, a passenger arriving at Heathrow today 'It is all very well announcing that you are creating quarantine hotels but the Government also has a strict duty of care to ensure that workers in these facilities are safe and the hotels are completely Covid-secure. What places require a ten-day quarantine in a hotel after? Angola Argentina Bolivia Botswana Brazil Cape Verde Chile Colombia Democratic Republic of Congo Ecuador Eswatini French Guiana Guyana Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Panama Paraguay Peru Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) Seychelles South Africa Suriname Tanzania Uruguay Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe Advertisement 'Far too many workers have already died in the hospitality sector and it would be absolutely shameful if stringent rules are not in place ensuring workers' safety before the doors open to any quarantine hotel. 'As a minimum requirement, to acknowledge the risks involved, the Government should ensure that any hotels selected for this work undertake to pay workers in full if they are required to self-isolate or develop Covid-19.' Unite hospitality organiser Bryan Simpson said its members needed protections against the virus. He added: 'The use of quarantine hotels may seem like a quick fix for the Government in a desperate attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19. 'Yet our members in the hotel sector are fearful that they may be put at increased risk without comprehensive protections being in place. 'Every quarantine hotel must be entirely Covid-secure, a requirement which ensures that the guests and all the hotel staff are able to socially distance at all times and that other Covid measures are also rigorously applied.' It comes after travellers at London's St Pancras station headed to France hit out at the rules and claimed they would not come back to Britain if they have to quarantine. France isn't on the list but Ms Patel singled out Britons travelling to Paris from St Pancras to ski in a fiery speech yesterday. Charlotte, 23, who has lived in the UK for 10 years and is studying Art Law, travels to France regularly to visit her family. Charlotte said: 'Well I won't be coming back if there's the 10 day hotel quarantine. 'It's too expensive. I'd be happy to declare why I'm travelling but I wouldn't travel if I had to stay in a hotel. 'It's the financial thing. To be fair I wouldn't travel anywhere during lockdown, it's just my parents live in Paris. 'I think the 10 days works in places like Australia and islands like Guernsey, but not here. It's good for those who can make the effort because the travel industry can get an income from it.' Jules Coles, 22, from Hampstead, north London, who was travelling to see his family near Paris and will be returning next week, said: 'To be honest, it should have happened before I believe.' At Heathrow terminal 5 this morning, people were generally accepting of the new restrictions and information that they now have to give to the authorities Priti Patel was facing a furious backlash from Tory MPs and airlines today over her 'shambolic' holiday ban announcement amid fears it will leave airport staff facing the full anger of travellers. They accused the Home Secretary of launching a broadside at Instagram influencers and holidaymakers after being 'humiliated' over her attempts to close the UK border completely to foreign arrivals. She read the riot act to would-be travellers last, warning that people on fake work jaunts and social media attention-seekers heading for sunny destinations will be turned away from airports. But foreign travel - apart from some exceptions - has been illegal since the lockdown law was passed on January 5. There was also confusion today over what would constitute an acceptable journey abroad and who would police the policy. Pablod Villacampo, 19, in his second year of biochemistry studies, is going to visit his father in Lyon, and will not be coming back if travel regulations get any stricter Charlotte, 23, is visiting her family in France. She said she won't be returning to the UK if she has to isolate in a hotel One angry airline source told MailOnline enforcing the restrictions would 'present challenges' amid fears check-in staff will be told to make judgements on what constitutes a legitimate journey. Michel Gove added to the anger this morning by suggesting people might not be allowed to go abroad even for legitimate work trips. The senior Cabinet minister said that there needed to be a 'powerful business reason' to leave the UK and that such journeys would be reviewed on a 'case-by-'case basis. Francesca Paris covers North Adams for The Berkshire Eagle. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston, as a news reporter, producer and editor. Find her on Twitter at @fparises. Statehouse Reporter Danny Jin is the Eagle's Statehouse reporter. A graduate of Williams College, he previously interned at the Eagle and The Christian Science Monitor. Danny can be reached at djin@berkshireeagle.com or on Twitter at @djinreports. LOS ANGELES: Television pioneer Norman Lear, creator of ground-breaking comedy shows such as All in the Family," Maude" and One Day at a Time," will receive a lifetime achievement award at this years Golden Globe ceremony, organizers said on Thursday. Lear, 98, will be the recipient of the Carol Burnett Award, an accolade established in 2018 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that hands out the Golden Globes. As a writer and producer, Lear was the force behind several shows that dominated American TV screens in the 1970s and 1980s. His work often addressed social issues such as race and abortion that were rarely discussed on television at the time. Lears approach of addressing controversial topics through humor prompted a cultural shift that allowed cultural and political issues to be reflected in television," HFPA President Ali Sar said in a statement. In addition to All in the Family," Maude" and One Day at a Time," Lears hits included Sanford and Son," The Jeffersons, Good Times" and the soap-opera spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." He stepped away from television in 1980 and started the liberal activist group People for the American Way. In 2017, Lear returned to TV as a producer on a revival of One Day at a Time" that debuted on the Netflix streaming service. Lear will accept the honor during the Golden Globes ceremony, which is scheduled to be broadcast live on Feb. 28, organizers said. Just ahead of the Lunar New Year, Chinese health officials have started deploying new COVID-19 anal swabs for detecting coronavirus, which they claim as a more accurate way of testing compared to the traditional nasal and throat swabs as well as antibody tests. The report was originally reported by Chinese state media outlet the Global Times. New Method of Coronavirus Detection According to Li Tongzeng, the deputy director in charge of infectious diseases in the Beijing You'an Hospital, one of the people that proposed anal swabs, this method is much more accurate as the virus apparently "survives longer in the anus or excrement than those taken from upper body tracts." Li emphasized that taking anal swabs would be able to increase accuracy in key groups, but it's not as convenient as nasal swabs, so it's being used in a relatively limited capacity, with only the key groups in quarantine centers receiving them. However, according to Gizmodo, it appears that the COVID-19 anal swabs were actually much more common than what Li was letting on. Based on the recent reports by Beijing's Daxing district, the anal swabs have been deployed to Beijing quarantine facilities as well as in school settings after the district had been in partial lockdown after discovering two cases of the British coronavirus variant. Among the cases is a 9-year-old kid, with an asymptomatic case of the British strain. With the use of saliva, nasal, and anal swabs as well as serum tests, more than 1,200 people were tested in the school where the pupil attended, but all of them were tested negative from the virus. Read Also: CDC Believes Precautions Taken in Campuses and Community Can Make Schools Safe 'Invasive' Anal Swab Testing in Guangzhou ABC News also reported that the "invasive" testing method is actually more common outside of Beijing, such as the city of Guangzhou, where one woman shared on popular Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu that her anal swabs were taken during the 14th day of her quarantine. The social media user is a returning student from South Korea, who said that she felt "endless shame." Another student based in Australia was also taken sample anal swab tests when she was quarantined in the city of Guangzhou. Nevertheless, not everyone agrees with the new testing method. No Certainty of the New Method's Accuracy Yang Zhanqiu is among the experts that disagreed with the use of COVID-19 anal swab testing, saying that it has been proven that the virus is contracted via the upper respiratory tract compared to the digestive system, so the more accurate testing method remains to be nasal and throat swabs. "There have been cases concerning the coronavirus testing positive in a patient's excrement, but no evidence has suggested it had been transmitted through one's digestive system," Yang further said. In other countries, the traditional swab tests remain to be the most used method of detecting the viral infection, and that the jury is still out whether anal swabs could provide the same accuracy in testing or if it is more useful than a throat swab. As of now, everyone who arrives in China must undergo COVID-19 testing and must fulfill a 21-day quarantine period. Related Article: Pet Cats, Dogs May Need COVID-19 Vaccine, New Study Suggests This article is owned by Tech Times Written by: Nhx Tingson 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Under the joint leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and UNHCR, the United Nations Country Team, together with NGO partners, launched the Armenia Inter-Agency Response Plan. The plan has been presented to both Government and donor partners, ARMENPRESS was informed from the UN Department of Global Communications. In line with Government support initiatives, this Response Plan runs until end of June 2021 and serves as a coordination and advocacy tool. It outlines priorities for the humanitarian response, and achievements to date as well as appealing for the resources necessary to address the needs of the 90,000 people who have sought refuge in Armenia and of the hosting communities who have welcomed them. The Reponse Plan involves 36 humanitarian partners and 188 projects with total financial requirements amounting to USD 62.6 million across six key sectors: protection, including child protection; education; shelter and non-food items; food security and nutrition; health, and early-recovery. Together with our partners here in Armenia, the UN Country Team have been working hard since the beginning of the conflict to help meet the critical needs of people forced to flee their homes, and this Plan represents an important new opportunity for even greater support and solidarity through enhanced humanitarian donor engagement. noted UN RC in Armenia, Shombi Sharp at the launch. Government representatives including key line Ministries expressed appreciation for the the collaboration with the UN, international community and NGOs on the crisis response and recognized the importance of the Response Plan in further scaling up this partnership. While the conflict has ended, people who are in a refugee-like situation in Armenia have urgent humanitarian needs, which are further aggravated by winter. The plan presents our collective efforts to support the Governments response to help these people, both immediately and in the medium-term. It also includes host communities who have shown great hospitality to new arrivals, added UNHCR Representative in Armenia Anna-Carin Ost. To ensure effective linkages between humanitarian and development interventions, this Response Plan has been developed in line with the COVID-19 Socio-Economic Response and Recovery Plan and the upcoming United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which will articulate UN priorities for partnership with Armenia from 2021 to 2025. The plan seeks to expand significant support already provided by UN Armenia, together with humanitarian and development partners, having made an important impact for those displaced from the early days of the conflict. From October until December 2020, the UN agencies and partners distributed over 33,330 non-food items, including bedding items, towels, hygiene supplies, and household items, while providing 1,000 foldable beds and covering the utility costs for 64 collective shelter facilities. 11,500 school-age children who are currently enrolled in secondary education in Armenia were assisted too. Further, hundreds of metric tons of food assistance has been provided to approximately 18,000 people each month, along with a number of other actions. An email laced with exclamation points is never a good sign. At least not if youre me. In my world, exclamation points usually follow words such as idiot! or communist! I take issue with the latter though the former is certainly up for discussion. Moreover, when the salutation itself is followed by an exclamation point, as it was in a recent email, I know its trouble. Mr. Manieri! Inside voice, Im right here. This particular writer went on to make several assumptions about my intellect or lack of. He ended with a call to action. Defend your character! For context, the writer was responding to a column I wrote in which I blamed President Trump for lighting the fuse that led to the Capitol riots. He went on to ask how I could do such a thing when it was clear that members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter were bused in and were, in fact, responsible for the insurrection a claim without any basis in fact. My response featured a conspicuous absence of exclamation points as I encouraged the writer to keep an eye on his blood pressure. I resisted quoting from Proverbs 15: Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention. If you watch much television, or any television, or if you engage in social media, its pretty clear that we tend to punctuate our discourse with exclamation points. Perhaps Jerry Springer was actually a visionary. He understood the marketability of impoliteness and boorish behavior long before it went mainstream. (By the way, I promise never to use the name Springer and the word visionary in the same sentence again.) Civility has fallen out of fashion. Some say its overrated. How do I know this? I refer you to a December 2019 piece in The Atlantic titled, Civility is Overrated. An NPR article in 2019 quotes Lynn Itagaki, an associate professor at the University of Missouri, who said, Civility has been about making sure that the status quo, the hierarchy of the status quo at the moment, which means racial inequality, gender inequality, class inequality, stays permanent. By this redefinition of civility, it would be permissible and even encouraged to meet any injustice, perceived or actual, with an uncivil response. Thats fine if you happen to agree on the injustice. For example, if your candidate loses a presidential election and you believe the election was rigged, storming the Capitol might be an appropriately uncivil response. Thus, if you disagree with someone and youre convinced youre on the right side, whats the point of a civil response? After all, youre right and hes wrong. Many believe our national discourse fell apart the moment Trump entered the doorway of the Oval Office. Surely, the former president, with his unhelpful rhetoric, name-calling and incessant tweeting contributed to the problem. But he wasnt alone. Our elected representatives in Washington Republicans and Democrats have been content to play their respective parts in the Monty Python Argument Clinic sketch. Is this the right room for an argument? I told you once. No, you havent. Yes, I have. When? Just now. No, you didnt. Yes, I did. The main difference, of course, between the sketch and reality is theres nothing even mildly amusing about the real thing. For what its worth, President Biden struck mostly the right tone in his inauguration speech. I pledge this to you 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 said. He then signed 15 executive orders undoing various Trump policies. Unity is a fine message, but no amount of rhetorical gymnastics will bring people together unless were willing to understand and listen to those with whom we disagree. That means acknowledging that not all of the 75 million Americans who voted for Trump are racists and that not everyone who voted for Biden is pushing a Marxist agenda. From the president on down, unless were truly committed to making unity a reality, it wont happen, no matter how many exclamation points we use. Rich Manieri is a journalist and author. He is a professor of journalism at Asbury University in Kentucky. You can reach him at manieri2@gmail.com. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Nevada Exploration Inc. (OTCQB: NVDEF), (TSXV: NGE) ("the Company"), a company that has spent 15 years developing and integrating new hydrogeochemistry (groundwater chemistry) and low-cost drilling technology to build an industry-leading, geochemistry-focused, under-cover toolkit specifically to explore for new gold deposits in the more than half of Nevada where the bedrock is hidden beneath post-mineral cover. President of the Company, James Buskard, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. Buskard shared that while the Company represents a successful team of international explorers, they are primarily focused in Nevada. "We're going after the second half of Nevada's gold endowment which is hidden under large desert valleys," explained Buskard. "In order to do that, we're integrating some new exploration technology and we're executing on a very large scale," he continued. "We've put together a pipeline of brand new projects all based on the model of going after a new Tier-1, 5+ million ounce Carlin-type gold deposit." Jolly then commented on the growing interest in Nevada exploration projects, and asked about the investment potential in this space. "Nevada is unique; there is nowhere on the planet right now that produces more gold by area," shared Buskard, adding that industry experts believe there is another 200 million ounces to be discovered under Nevada's valley. "There's been about $2 billion raised in the capital markets for juniors since the summer," he added, noting that the companies with the infrastructure and teams in place have the advantage of being able to execute more quickly. "The other thing we're seeing is that there are a lot of old projects being dusted off," explained Buskard. "There's a reason that the world's biggest miner, Barrick Gold Corporation, is focusing its efforts on projects that are 5+ million ounces, and a reason we've positioned our exploration program to go after projects that are 5+ million ounces," said Buskard, before elaborating on the importance of considering the teams behind companies in the mining space, as well as the size of their projects, from an investment standpoint. Buskard then elaborated on the experience and dedication of the Company's team. "Our technical team is led by my colleague Wade Hodges, who has been involved in the discovery of more than 30 million ounces of gold in Nevada," said Buskard. "Wade has had a long involvement in some of the state's most important discoveries," he added. "On the board we have some senior technical oversight from Dr. John Larson," said Buskard, before elaborating on Larson's experience and perspective. "Most recently, we've brought on a Senior Technical Advisor, Simon Griffiths," said Buskard. "He was a member of Barrick's discovery team at Goldrush, which was a very important discovery north of our South Grass Valley project." Jolly then asked about the upcoming drilling program at the Company's South Grass Valley project. "This is going to be our third phase of drilling at the project," said Buskard, adding that the Company had successful phase one and phase two programs, which allowed the Company to better understand the site's mineral controls. "We're going in for our phase three program to now use this information to follow these mineral controls hopefully to some economic grades," explained Buskard. "This is potentially game changing for the project, and really game changing for the company," he said. "We're all very excited about it." To close the interview, Buskard expressed his confidence in the potential of the Company and its South Grass Valley project as they enter their third phase of drilling to test for a discovery. "If folks want to get positioned to participate in that sort of success, now is really the chance." To hear James Buskard's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7784391-nevada-exploration-inc-discusses-phase-iii-drilling-at-their-south-grass-valley-project-with-the Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ More About Nevada Exploration Inc. With mature, exposed search spaces seeing falling discovery rates, NGE believes the future of exploration is under cover. The Company has spent 15 years developing and integrating new hydrogeochemistry (groundwater chemistry) and low-cost drilling technology to build an industry-leading, geochemistry-focused, under-cover toolkit specifically to explore for new gold deposits in the more than half of Nevada where the bedrock is hidden beneath post-mineral cover. Nevada's exposed terrains have produced more than 200 Moz of gold, and experts agree there is likely another +200 Moz waiting to be discovered under cover in Nevada. The Company has completed the world's largest hydrogeochemistry exploration program, focused on north-central Nevada, and is now advancing a portfolio of new projects in the heart of the Cortez (Battle Mountain-Eureka) Trend. The Company's most-advanced project is South Grass Valley, located south of Nevada Gold Mines' Cortez Complex. Based on the Company's work to date at the project, it believes it has discovered a mineral system at South Grass Valley with the architecture and scale to support multiple Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGDs), and the potential to host an entire new district. The Company believes South Grass Valley is one of the most exciting new district-scale, Carlin-type projects in Nevada. For more information, the Company's latest videos are available at: https://www.nevadaexploration.com/investors/media/ About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, as well as expectations, beliefs, plans, and objectives regarding projects, potential transactions, and ventures discussed in this release. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things, the assumption the Company will continue as a going concern and will continue to be able to access the capital required to advance its projects and continue operations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the risks inherent in mineral exploration, the need to obtain additional financing, environmental permits, the availability of needed personnel and equipment for exploration and development, fluctuations in the price of minerals, and general economic conditions. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73057 The good news Lets start with two possible explanations for the recent improvement: 1. We may be in the very early stages of herd immunity. Roughly 100 million Americans seem to have had the virus. (For every person who tests positive, three more have had it without being diagnosed, studies suggest.) Another 24 million people have received a vaccine shot. Put those two groups together, and you realize that about one-third of all Americans have at least some degree of immunity from the virus. That may be enough to begin begin slowing the spread, as my colleague Donald G. McNeil Jr. explained on The Daily. 2. More Americans may be wearing masks and staying socially distant. Many still are not, as I saw on my recent 1,600-mile road trip. But any increase in safe behavior matters. And there are signs of change. Multiple states tightened restrictions late last year. The country just elected a president who echoes scientific advice rather than flouting it. Some Americans may also be inspired by light at the end of the tunnel. Im hearing from a lot of people that one of the reasons why theyre really hunkering down now is that it would be a shame to get a severe Covid case while waiting to get the vaccine, Dr. Lee Harrison, the chairman of a local health board, told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week. [January 28, 2021] Energage Announces Recipients of Inaugural Top Workplaces USA Award Energage - a purpose-driven HR technology company that helps organizations build and brand Top Workplaces, today announced the winners of its inaugural Top Workplaces USA award. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005156/en/ The national award program recognizes those organizations across the country that have exceeded key facets of workplace culture. Recipients of the 2021 Top Workplaces USA award were selected based on results from Energage's anonymous, research-based employee engagement survey that is powered by findings from 14 years of research and data from over 23 million employees across 70,000 organizations. In the past three months, thousands of organizations were surveyed to qualify for Top Workplaces USA 2021. An elite group of nearly 600 organizations across four different size-bands were recognized for their role in making the world a better place to work together. The following is a ranked list of the top five 2021 Top Workplaces USA in each size category. Other winners are listed alphabetically. For a full list of the award recipients, click here. 2,500+ Employees 1. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation 2. Progressive Insurance 3. Paycom 4. Edward Jones 5. Homepoit Financial 1,000-2,499 Employees 1. Union Home Mortgage Corp. 2. Team Rehabilitation Services, LLC 3. HubSpot (News - Alert) 4. Arrow Exterminators, Inc. 5. Harvard Pilgrim 500-999 Employees 1. Assurance 2. Enterprise Bank 3. KnowBe4 4. Grow Financial Federal Credit Union 5. BoomerJack's Grill and Bar 150-499 Employees 1. Cooperative Association for Special Education 2. First American Equipment Finance 3. Arctic Wolf 4. GVC Mortgage 5. Moulton Niguel Water District "What better way to kick off this year than by celebrating those organizations that, through one of the most difficult years, continued to put their people first," said Dan Kessler, president and COO of Energage. "2020 raised the bar across the board. Employees and customers are more selective than ever when it comes to who they work for and with. By expanding our regional Top Workplaces program to include a national award, we are giving organizations a way to show those stakeholders that the entire organization-from headquarters to regional offices-prioritize people and culture. That's a powerful statement." In addition to having the chance to be included on the Top Workplaces USA list, all participants qualify to be recognized in quarterly Culture Excellence and Industry awards throughout the year, including Appreciation, Woman-Led, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Remote Work, Direction, Work-Life Flex, Top Managers and more. Qualifying survey results will enter organizations into consideration for all awards issued over the subsequent 12 months following their survey completion date. Energage supports Top Workplaces and related employer recognition programs in more than 50 markets nationwide in partnership with major media outlets such as The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Dallas Morning News, Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune and The Arizona Republic For more information about Top Workplaces USA 2021 and the quarterly Industry and Culture Excellence awards, click here. About Energage Making the world a better place to work together. Energage is a purpose-driven technology company that helps organizations build and brand Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005156/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kendall Jenner can add stylist to her resume as she chose her own clothes for Givenchy's spring campaign. Creative Director, Matthew Williams, allowed the models to have the freedom to express themselves through the fashion house's spring collection. 'My ethos is about the luxury of infusing clothes with your own personality, not being worn by them,' he told WWD.com. Also in the campaign are Bella Hadid and Playboi Carti. She made this happen: Kendall Jenner can add stylist to her resume as she chose her own clothes for Givenchy's spring campaign 'In each of these portraits, a strong character wears a look that reflects who they are: They're the ones who bring the clothes to life.' Kendall opted for a second-skin red top and high-waisted trousers, teamed with a gold Antigona bag. Rapper Playboi opted for a mesh tank top and a leather bomber. Big coat goals: Creative Director, Matthew Williams, allowed the models to have the freedom to express themselves through the fashion house's spring collection The stunning campaign was shot by photographer Heji Shin. The spring collection marks Matthew's first campaign with the luxury label after he was named Creative Director of Givenchy women's and men's collections in June 2020. The 35-year-old designer rose to fame for his innovative 1017 ALYX 9SM brand. Smart move: Bella Hadid chose this backless dress. The spring collection marks Matthew's first campaign with the luxury label after he was named Creative Director of Givenchy women's and men's collections in June 2020 And he continues to operate his five-year-old brand alongside his work for Givenchy. He said when his new role was announced: 'I am extremely honored to join the House of Givenchy. 'The maison's unique position and timeless aura make it an undeniable icon and I am looking forward to working together with its ateliers and teams, to move it into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity. He looks good in leather: Playboi Carti, whose real name is Jordan Terrell Carter, is an American rapper and songwriter 'I am grateful to the LVMH group for trusting me with the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream. In these unprecedented times for the world, I want to send a message of hope, together with my community and colleagues, and intend to contribute towards positive change.' Last week Kendall shared a portfolio of photos from her luxurious getaway in Mexico with younger sister Kylie Jenner as well as Kylie's high school chum Anastasia Karanikolaou, aka Stassie Baby. The budding photographer made sure the images were creative as she used orange and yellow hues to make the shoot look ready for a Vogue cover. Bikini babe on display: Kendall shared a portfolio of photos from her luxurious getaway in Mexico last week Artsy: The budding photographer made sure the images were creative as she used orange and yellow hues to make the shoot look ready for a Vogue cover Jenner said in her caption that is was 'a new day! a good day!' She was referring to the inauguration of the 46th president of the US, Joe Biden whose Vice President is Kamala Harris. As Kendall is on a lounge chair she had a book next to her. The Harper's Bazaar cover girl also said that she was in her happy place as she smiled for the camera. Also on the trip were Victoria and Sofia Villarroel, Hannah Logan and Carter Gregory. Cheers: The star say on a yellow sofa with a yellow wall and a wood table as she sipped a cocktail; a bottle of 818 was off to the side Now with a pal: A friend shared this image calling Kendall, 'Cowboy Kenny' Kendall had on a printed string bikini that showed off her abs and long legs. She added an orange hat as she flashed a white manicure. The star say on a yellow sofa with a yellow wall and a wood table as she sipped a cocktail; a bottle of 818 was off to the side. The reality TV fixture - who has been on TV since she was a child - enjoyed chips and guacamole. Aussie actor Charmaine Bingwa has been cast in Season 5 of US legal drama The Good Fight. Bingwa (Black Box, Nekutronic, Little Sista, Starting From Now) will play Carmen Moyo, a tough, unsentimental, young lawyer whose working-class background allows her to bond with Reddick, Boseman & Lockharts most infamous, difficult clients. She is expected to fill the void left by the departure of Cush Jumbo. We are thrilled that Charmaine is bringing her enormous talents to The Good Fight ensemble, co-creators / executive producers Michelle and Robert King said. The moment that we saw her audition, we knew that we had found our Carmen, and we cant wait to start writing for her in Season 5. The Perth-born actor, a 2018 winner of the Heath Ledger Scholarship, recently wrapped shooting the lead in the indie US feature Trees Of Peace. Her brother Clive Bingwa is managing director of Nine Perth. The Good Fight screens on SBS. Source: Deadline Related SAN DIEGO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mapp, one of the largest independent marketing platforms, looks back on strong growth in the 2020 financial year. The company closes with record year-on-year growth in new customer business of 73%. At the same time, the average contract value has tripled, which underpins the recognition of insight-led customer engagement among medium-sized companies and enterprises. COVID-19 has caused a massive acceleration of digital transformation and online business models in marketing. The necessity of regular online exchanges with consumers through a targeted strategy to trigger profitable interactions has caused many companies in the past year to invest heavily in marketing analytics, personalization, automation, and digital customer activation. It has also become apparent across all industries that the need for effectiveness and efficiency in digital marketing is essential. Many companies have, therefore, realigned their strategies to focus more closely on data-driven approaches. This has led to an enormous growth spurt in the uptake of AI-based customer intelligence solution Mapp Intelligence, which is at the core of the modular marketing platform Mapp Cloud. Here, the seamless integration between Mapp Intelligence and the cross-channel marketing solution Mapp Engage allows marketers to identify actionable insights and user segments to enable highly personalized marketing messages for use across channels. Mapp has supported many companies in their transition to digital marketing strategies over the past year, winning 70 new clients across all sectors and target markets. In particular, retail and e-Commerce new business showed dynamic growth of almost 30%. New Mapp clients include Quint, The Entertainer, Ella's Kitchen, Creed, PetsPyjamas, Francesca's, La Martina, and ePrice.it. Mapp also launched its global partner program last year and expanded its go-to-market presence through partnerships with consulting and technology companies in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Regular Mapp product updates have allowed companies to interact with consumers in ever more targeted ways and from a single source. In particular, the new Customer Data Platform (CDP) functionalities proved to be an important growth driver. Mapp Cloud offers companies a 360-degree view of every individual end consumer across all channels. Through its central contact profiles, important information such as demographics, past interactions, and transactions are bundled and visualized and can be used for advanced segmentation and automation with other company-wide systems. Steve Warren, CEO of Mapp, comments on the very positive result: "Despite COVID-19, we have managed to continue our growth trajectory and close the 2020 financial year on a record-breaking note. My thanks go to our international team who have done a great job despite all the challenges brought on by the pandemic. We are very proud because the dynamic development in our new customer business clearly shows that we offer real added value with insight-led customer engagement. In the new year, we are focusing on new AI-powered functionalities as well as product updates that offer our customers clear competitive advantages and underpin our market position." About Mapp Marketers and data specialists should be able to focus on what will make a difference for their business, instead of spending all their time taming the technology behind it. With the insight-led customer engagement platform Mapp Cloud, they can focus on what really counts and the exciting insights that come with it. Thanks to customer intelligence and marketing analytics, companies can easily and effectively gain data-driven customer insights across all channels in order to trigger highly personalized marketing activities. Customers benefit from AI-supported forecasting models that enable targeted and self-optimizing cross-channel campaigns. Automated messages are sent via the most suitable marketing channel, at the right time, with the optimal contact frequency. Thanks to advanced one-to-one personalization, the highest levels of engagement and long-term customer loyalty are achieved. Mapp has global offices in six countries. Mapp's digital marketing platform helps more than 3,000 companies break away from the pack by uncovering missed opportunities, including Argos, Ella's Kitchen, Expert, Freesat, Lloyds Banking Group, MyToys, Pepsico, Quint and The Entertainer. Press contact: PR Agency: The PR Network Matt Cartmell +44 (0)7930485333 [email protected] www.thepr.network Mapp Digital Harald Oberhofer +49 30 755 415 120 [email protected] www.mapp.com SOURCE Mapp Related Links http://www.mapp.com/ After the reunification of the country, the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail takes a new historic mission - the route of industrialisation and modernisation, becoming the second most modern trans-Vietnam highway in the western part of the country, serving the countrys integration, development and consolidation of national security and defense. In the photo: Phase 1 of the Ho Chi Minh road - a two-lane segment running from Hoa Lac in Hanoi to Tan Canh in Kon Tum province - is basically completed during the implementation of the ninth National Party Congress resolution. (Photo: VNA) New Delhi: During his online interaction with CBSE school heads on Thursday, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced that CBSE class and 12 board exam date sheet will be released on February 2. The exams will be held from May 4 to June 10. The education minister interacted with presidents and secretaries of CBSE Sahodaya School complexes to discuss changes in the CBSE curriculum for the year 2021-22. CBSE The virtual interaction saw a participation of over 1000 people heading CBSE-affiliated schools. The board said that the orientation programmes to create awareness about National Education Policy 2020 will begin after the interactive session ends. The orientation programme will be conducted through its 250 active Sahodaya School Complexes in the country. Rating agencies, Fitch and Moodys have projected a strong economic growth for the country in 2021. Fitch is projecting a growth of 4.8 per cent while Moodys is projecting a growth of four per cent. The World Bank is, however, being modest with its projection, projecting a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.4 per cent. The 1.4 per cent projected growth is lower than the Banks 2.7 per cent growth projection for sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan growth The World Bank in its Global Economy Report for 2021 indicated that growth in the region was forecast to rebound moderately to 2.7 per cent in 2021. While the recovery in private consumption and investment is forecast to be slower than previously envisioned, export growth is expected to accelerate gradually, in line with the rebound in activity among major trading partners. The report said that the resumption in activity in major advanced and emerging economies and key trading partners of the region (Europe, China, US) was chiefly underpinned by positive news on vaccine development and rollout as well as new rounds of fiscal stimulus. It noted that the expectations of a sluggish recovery in sub-Saharan Africa reflect persistent COVID-19 outbreaks in several economies that had inhibited the resumption of economic activity. The pandemic is projected to cause per capita incomes to decline by 0.2 per cent this year, setting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) further out of reach in many countries in the region. This reversal is expected to push tens of millions more people into extreme poverty over last year and this year, the report noted. Global economy The World Bank also pointed out that the global economy was expected to expand by four per cent in 2021, assuming an initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout becomes widespread throughout the year. The group said this would however likely be subdued unless policymakers move decisively to tame the pandemic and implement investment-enhancing reforms, the World Bank says in its January 2021 Global Economic Prospects. Although the global economy is growing again after a 4.3 per cent contraction in 2020, the pandemic has caused a heavy toll of deaths and illness, plunged millions into poverty and may depress economic activity and incomes for a prolonged period. It noted that to support economic recovery, authorities also needed to facilitate a re-investment cycle aimed at sustainable growth that is less dependent on government debt. Source: Graphiconline 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 HOUSTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA USA received a perfect score of 100 on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's premier benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. The bank joins the ranks of over 680 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year. "This year's score reflects the bank's ongoing hard work and dedication to advancing workplace experience, policies, processes and mindsets to create a more inclusive workplace for everyone," said BBVA USA Director of Communications and Responsible Business Reymundo Ocanas, whose team helps steer the bank's overall diversity and inclusion efforts in partnership with the Talent & Culture and Procurement areas. "This is our fourth perfect score in as many years, and it serves as a strong signal to people already working at the bank and those considering joining us that we value them and encourage them to bring their authentic selves to work." As part of the bank's ongoing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion efforts, BBVA USA launched its second Business Resource Group (BRG) in 2020 to support of employees who identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and supporting community. "Creating opportunities for employees to engage and collaborate with one another is more important now than ever," said Tony Moraga, Manager of Social Impact for BBVA USA. "Launching our second Business Resource Group for LGBTQ employees and allies was strategic in order to foster a better understanding of our diverse perspectives and promote a more inclusive work environment." "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." The 2021 CEI evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. BBVA's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. For more information on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. For more on BBVA USA, visit www.bbvausa.com . For more BBVA news visit, www.bbva.com and the U.S. Newsroom . Additional news updates can be found via Twitter and Instagram . For more financial information about BBVA in the U.S., visit bbva.investorroom.com . About BBVA BBVA Group BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, and has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. It is also the leading shareholder in Turkey's Garanti BBVA. BBVA's purpose is to bring the age of opportunities to customers by providing the best solutions and helping them make the best financial decisions through an easy and convenient experience. The institution's responsible banking model aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society. BBVA rests on three solid values: customer comes first, we think big and we are one team. BBVA USA In the U.S., BBVA is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 641 branches, including 330 in Texas, 89 in Alabama, 63 in Arizona, 61 in California, 44 in Florida, 37 in Colorado and 17 in New Mexico. The bank ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (6th). In the U.S., BBVA has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and ranked 14th nationally in terms of dollar volume of SBA loans originated in fiscal year 2019. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/876186/New_BBVA_Logo.jpg SOURCE BBVA USA Related Links www.bbva.com To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in W e might have hoped, on the day after the milestone of 100,000 deaths was passed, for a suspension of party political hostilities at Prime Ministers Questions today. It was not to be. Keir Starmer began by asking why Britain has such a terrible death rate, knowing full well that Boris Johnson cannot give an honest answer, which would probably comprise equal parts of we dont know, bad luck, because we are an open society and maybe in hindsight I can think of a few things I might have done differently. Starmer focused on the last of these, and accused the prime minister of having been consistently slow in responding to the coronavirus. This is partly unfair, because in most cases the opposition was not calling for action before the prime minister took it. Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, came a cropper on the radio this morning when he described Eat Out to Help Out as a mistake, but when he was asked if he had opposed it at the time, said: No. Schools to Re-open After February Midterm The Government has taken the decision to delay the opening of the schools to Monday 22nd February. Government has said that this decision is based primarily on the advice received from senior health professionals including the Director of Public Health. 'The principal driver of the decision is the desire to ensure that all over 60s and the vulnerable and immunosuppressed have had as much immunity as possible from the Pfizer vaccine before the schools are re-opened. This objective is best achieved by keeping schools closed because of the demographic reality that the return of children to school will produce a potential vector of infections in a huge congregation of persons which will likely expose those at risk when children and professionals return home or move about the community outside of the school environment.' The discussion has come after a great deal of deliberation and discussion also with the Department of Education and with the teaching profession, both senior teams in the schools and the representatives of teachers in the NASUWT. The Government it believes that our children and our teachers would be safe in schools next week, but that we cannot be sure of the safety of the effect of opening our schools on the wider community. 'While cases in the community are thankfully decreasing overall, there are still several hundred positive cases which include around 70 children of school age, with a total of 136 schoolchildren having so far tested positive in the month of January alone. Given that the school population is not as yet vaccinated, and the vaccines are not yet approved for under sixteens except in exceptional cases, it remains a large potential source of cross-infection, so that opening them is not considered prudent at this time. Cross infection could lead to a resurgence within the community before the vaccination programme is completed and could then lead to the need to close schools again or to further intensify lockdown measures again.' The Government says it wishes to avoid these possibilities as much as possible. Consequently, the education programme will continue on-line for the next two weeks, with the schools opening one week later after the spring mid-term. The Government also said it very much regrets having to do this. 'Government is aware of the pressure on children and on families to cope with the work at home, and on the effects of prolonged relative isolation on the young. On balance, and based totally on health and Public Health advice, it is considered that it is nevertheless the only real option if we are to avoid the risks that would otherwise arise for our elderly and vulnerable to be at risk.' The provision of facilities for the children of St Martins School will continue and be enhanced as much as possible. Also, given that it is anticipated that other elements of the current lockdown measures will be relaxed in coming days, children will of course be able to leave the confines of home. Minister for Education John Cortes commented, This has been the most difficult of decisions. I really want our children back at school. They are missing the engagement, the contact with friends, and all their activities. And I am of course aware of the pressures that having the children at home, working on the online learning for many hours, brings to our households. So its been very hard. But the Health professionals tell us clearly that it would be best to wait these three more weeks, and we must listen to them. I am satisfied that if we had opened our schools our teachers and our children would be safe in the schools, as our health and ERS professionals, and our other frontliners are and have been safe. But this decision is about the safety of the elderly and the vulnerable in our community and how we ensure they have the maximum possible level of protection by the time we reopen the schools. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close During a speech at the 2019-2020 National Culture Prize award ceremony, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took a moment to speak about the U.S. presidential inauguration and his hopes for better U.S.-Venezuela relations with President Joe Biden. Later in the speech, Maduro spoke of 600,000 Venezuelans having fled the country since 2017, saying they went searching for a life opportunity, economic opportunity. He added: Many were misled by social media, believing they would arrive and be set. They would have an apartment, a car, a salary, vacation. And most of them, according to the statistical study we have, have come back almost 300,000 Venezuelans have returned through the plan Return to Homeland. Maduros claims are misleading; he grossly undercounts the exodus from Venezuela. Under Maduro, who narrowly won Venezuelas presidency after Hugo Chavezs death in 2013, the country has fallen deeper into despair. His presidential win was quickly followed by the collapse of global oil prices in 2014, which sent Venezuelas economy into a free fall. The collapse sparked mass protests, which were met with force. An ensuing humanitarian, economic and political crisis led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans who fled to countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Spain and the United States. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimate that 5.4 million Venezuelans have left in the past six years. From 2014- 2019, nearly 800,000 Venezuelan asylum claims were lodged globally, 75 percent of them in 2018-2019. These numbers, which are based on data from host governments, represent an 8,000 per cent increase in the number of Venezuelans seeking refugee status worldwide since 2014, according to the UNHCR. Maduros estimates are only 11 percent of the UNHCR and IOMs total estimates. The 600,000 figure he cites is almost equal to the asylum claims in 2018 and 2019 alone. And as the UNHCR and IOMs joint database notes, the total figure of 5.4 million is likely an undercount. The estimate represents the sum of Venezuelan migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers [it] may include a degree of estimation, as per each governments statistical data processing methodology. As numerous government sources do not account for Venezuelans without a regular status, the total number of Venezuelans is likely to be higher. Returning to Venezuela President Maduro created the Return to Homeland (Vuelta a la Patria) program in 2018 to help Venezuelans abroad willingly return home. By late November 2018, a little more than 9,800 Venezuelans had repatriated through the program, according to Venezuelas foreign relations ministry. An article posted in October 2020 on the website of TeleSUR, a Venezuelan state-sponsored television network, claimed that more than 200,000 Venezuelans repatriated in recent months. It has been widely reported that thousands of Venezuelan nationals have returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic because of financial hardships and instability caused by the virus. According to news reports, those returning to Venezuela were often mistreated or stopped at their countrys border. Maduro himself has criticized returnees, even calling them bioterrorists. The New York Times reported that they have been met by security forces and held in overcrowded quarantine centers" under military guard for weeks or months for coronavirus tests or treatment with unproven medications. A nurse who spent 70 days in centers told the newspaper [guards] told us were contaminated, that were guilty of infecting the country. Human Rights Watch and the Johns Hopkins Universitys Centers for Public Health and Human Rights and for Humanitarian Health described overcrowded and unsanitary quarantine centers for the people returning, with little access to food, water, or medical care. While the coronavirus pandemic has led thousands of Venezuelans to return home, it has also sparked further emigration from the country. NBC News reported in October that Colombian immigration officials were expecting 200,000 Venezuelans to seek entry into the country in the following months. Venezuelans were using dangerous and illegal pathways to get into Colombia taking dirt roads which are controlled by violent drug trafficking groups and rebel organizations like the National Liberation Army, NBC wrote. While many Venezuelans, as Maduro said, do face hardships when they emigrate to a new country, many feel it is worth it. As the Associated Press reported in October, even the opportunity to earn less-than-minimum wage in Columbia is a draw for many Venezuelans. I cant allow my daughter to be born in a place where she might have to go to bed hungry, Eleazar Hernandez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan migrant who went to the Colombian city of Medellin with his pregnant wife, told the news agency. The UNHCR quoted a Venezuelan refugee it called Rosalba (she used a pseudonym for security reasons) as saying she left Venezuela for Colombia in 2017 but had to return home during the pandemic as the coronavirus crisis made it impossible for her to make ends meet and led to her imminent eviction. However, once back in Venezuela, she found herself in a worse situation. When I left Venezuela, it was unlivable when I returned, it was worse, she told the U.N. agency. After a month back home, she fled to Colombia again. Historic gift of $75 million will go to University of Chicago social work school from Crown family, the Tribunes Elyssa Cherney reports. Its the largest gift of its kind in American higher education, officials announced today. The Crown family has contributed more than $100 million to programs, scholarships and research at U. of C.; James Crown, who serves as a university trustee and chaired the board for six years, runs Henry Crown and Co., a private investment group. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The leaders of a global health charity organisation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have expressed optimism in the global effort to defeat the coronavirus pandemic Editors Note: This story has been updated with new suspension numbers, comment from the U.S. Attorneys Office and to note that all Senate Democrats are now calling for the commissioners removal. New Jersey officials defended the head of the prison system as a growing bipartisan chorus on Wednesday demanded a change in leadership amid reports that officers severely beat women inmates earlier this month. All of the states 25 Democratic Senators signed a letter demanding that Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks lose his job, the caucus announced Thursday. The lawmakers also asked the federal government to take over the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton and demanded women inmates ultimately be moved to a safer prison. The commissioner has demonstrated time and again that he is not up to the task of running the Department of Corrections, the lawmakers wrote to Gov. Phil Murphy. The violations of law and of basic human rights that have been allowed to continue under the leadership of Commissioner Hicks must end now. Murphy so far has defended Hicks ongoing reforms while also appointing a special investigator Wednesday to look into the allegations. Im not only sick to my stomach, Im extremely angry about this, Murphy said Wednesday on WNYC about reports of abuse. Several female inmates reported being attacked by prison staff Jan. 11, and one woman told NJ Advance Media she was sexually assaulted by an officer. Hicks first reviewed an initial investigation of the incident Jan. 14, three days after the incident, according to a spokeswoman. The commissioner then suspended staff who may have had involvement within 24 hours and initiated an ongoing criminal investigation, prison spokeswoman Liz Velez wrote in an email. Thirty-two staff total have been suspended, after two more were put on leave Wednesday, according to William Sullivan, president of NJ PBA Local 105. Furthermore, Hicks and his staff have created a Use of Force Committee to review how officers use force, is expanding the use of surveillance and body cameras and plans to hire an Assistant Commissioner of Womens Services, among other reforms, according to Velez. Placing the Commissioner on leave will only serve to stall this progress, Velez said. Dozens of lawmakers have said that wasnt enough, including many Republicans. State Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Passaic, added that the appointment of a special investigator was beyond disappointing because New Jersey taxpayers will have to shell out for another expensive investigation because Governor Murphys reaction is to circle the wagons rather than hold his team accountable. All seven Republican Assemblywomen called for the commissioner to step down Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Justice previously found evidence of rampant sexual abuse at the womens prison. Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Rachael Honig said her office and the justice department were aware of these new, deeply troubling allegations. We are looking into them, Honig said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to the continuing and complete cooperation of the state of New Jersey as we move forward. NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. New Delhi, Jan 28 : In a clear warning to China, India on Thursday said that Chinese hegemony in Asia is unacceptable. Addressing scholars at the 13th All India Conference of China Studies, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, "The India-China relationship is today truly at a crossroads. Choices that are made will have profound repercussions, not just for the two nations but for the entire world." The minister said India-China relations were dependent on three 'mutuals' and eight principles. One of the principles, he said was that while both nations are committed to a multi-polar world, "there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential constituents." Among other principles, he said the agreements already reached must be adhered to in their entirety, both in letter and spirit. Where the handling of the border areas are concerned, the LAC must be strictly observed and respected, any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable, he said. Also, peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the basis for development of relations in other domains. "If they are disturbed, so inevitably will the rest of the relationship. This is quite apart from the issue of progress in the boundary negotiations," he said. The fifth principle he said that is obviously that each state will have its own interests, concerns and priorities, but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided. At the end of the day, relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature. Sixth, as rising powers, each will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit too cannot be ignored. Seventh, there will always be divergences and differences but their management is essential to the ties. And eighth, civilisational states like India and China must always take the long view. Whether it is India's immediate concerns or more distant prospects, the fact is that the development of our ties can only be based on the three 'mutuals' - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests, Jaishankar said. "Any expectation that they can be brushed aside, and that life can carry on undisturbed despite the situation at the border, that is simply not realistic. There are discussions underway through various mechanisms on disengagement at the border areas. But if ties are to be steady and progress, policies must take into account the learnings of the last three decades," he added. Recalling the factors that led to the deterioration in bilateral relations, Jaishankar said, "For all the differences and disagreements that we may have had on the boundary, the central fact was that border areas still remained fundamentally peaceful. The last loss of life before 2020 was, in fact, as far back as 1975." "That is why the events in eastern Ladakh last year have profoundly disturbed the relationship because they not only signalled a disregard for commitments about minimising troop levels, but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity." Arguing that the ability of India and China to work together will determine the Asian century, Jaishankar said, "At this time, it is equally important to recognise that their difficulties in doing so may well undermine it." Given the "gravity" of India's situation with China, he did not have a definitive answer to offer at this point in time. "Significantly, to date, we have yet to receive a credible explanation for the change in China's stance or reasons for massing of troops in the border areas. It is a different matter that our own forces have responded appropriately and held their own in very challenging circumstances. The issue before us is what the Chinese posture signals, how it evolves, and what implications it may have for the future of our ties," he said. January 28 : Superstar Prabhas just took to his social media profile and welcomed Shruti Haasan on-board Salaar and wished the diva on her Birthday. Shruti Haasan tunes a year older today and to mark her birthday special, the team of Salaar confirmed that she has been roped in as the leading lady in the film. Prabhas took to her social media profile and shared, Happiest Birthday @shrutzhaasan! Looking forward to working with you on #Salaar The official handle of Hombale Films also confirmed the same. It said, Wish you a very happy birthday @shrutihaasanWe're ecstatic to have you onboard for #Salaar. Can't wait to see you sizzle on the screen. #Prabhas @prashanth_neel @VKiragandur @hombalefilms This will be the first time that Shruti will be working with the Baahubali actor. Shruti, who is fresh from the success of her film Krack with Ravi Teja. Salaar, which is being helmed by KGF director Prashanth Neel, has been one of the most talked about film ever since it's announcement. The team recently had a launch event in Hyderabad where Yash and a whole lot of well-wishers of the team were also present. Billed as one of the most immaculate action films to be made in Indian cinema, Salaar will feature the Baahubali actor in a dark, violent role and he is working out to build muscle and acquire a beefed-up look to fit the bill. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2021) - In order to protect against the further erosion of shareholder value, a group of shareholders (the "Concerned Shareholders") of FSD Pharma Inc. (the "Company"), including two directors, Anthony Durkacz and Zeeshan Saeed, have called a special meeting of the Company's shareholders to be held on March 31, 2021. As acknowledged by the Company in its January 22, 2021 and January 26, 2021 press releases, on January 4, 2021, shareholders holding more than five percent of the issued shares of the Company carrying the right to vote at a shareholders' meeting requisitioned the Company's directors to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held not later than March 15, 2021. The purpose of the requisitioned meeting is to replace all of the members of the Company's board of directors other than Messrs. Durkacz and Saeed. The additional nominees to the Company's board of directors are Messrs. Larry Latowsky, Fernando Cugliari and Nitin Kaushal, all of whom are well-qualified to serve in this capacity. Additional details about the background and extensive qualifications of these nominees will be provided to shareholders in an information circular prior to the meeting. In response, the Company's board of directors (other than Messrs. Durkacz and Saeed) has attempted to frustrate the fundamental rights of shareholders to requisition a meeting, by scheduling a meeting to be held nearly six months after the date of the requisition. The board's delay in holding a meeting is a transparent attempt to prevent shareholders from exercising their statutory right to a timely meeting to consider replacement of the current board members. The Company's board is simply trying to frustrate shareholder democracy and deny shareholders their statutory rights. The Concerned Shareholders are seeking to address the Company's dramatic decline and the staggering loss of shareholder value. Since February 6, 2019, the date of the appointment of Dr. Raza Bokhari as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, the Company's share price has dropped from C$67.33 to C$2.50 as of the close of business today. This decline of over 95% has resulted in the loss of over C$400 million in shareholder value. The Concerned Shareholders believe that change is urgently needed to address this situation, as the Company's management and board of directors have failed to develop an effective strategy for reversing the Company's decline. In the past weeks, Dr. Bokhari has disregarded numerous requests from the Concerned Shareholders for access to corporate records. Those requests were made in order to investigate apparent irregularities in the Company's governance that have come to the attention of the Concerned Shareholders. For its part, the Company's board of directors has failed to respond to two separate requests for board meetings submitted by Messrs. Durkacz and Saeed. Instead, Dr. Bokhari has sought to wrongfully terminate Mr. Saeed's employment as the Company's President. The Concerned Shareholders have also been informed that at the Company's most recent board meeting, the directors (other than Messrs. Durkacz and Saeed) authorized a large increase in their annual compensation that is wholly inconsistent with the Company's circumstances, performance and the loss of shareholder value during their tenure. This compensation increase was not disclosed in the Company's January 26, 2021 press release. The Company did not hold a shareholder meeting in 2020. Under its governing statute, the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), the Company is required to hold its next annual meeting of shareholders by not later than March 16, 2021. This obligation was taken into account by the Concerned Shareholders in the meeting date stated in the requisition. Rather than hold a timely meeting to enable shareholders to exercise their fundamental rights, however, the board has sought to delay as long as possible the date for a meeting. This delay frustrates shareholder democracy and denies shareholders their statutory rights, while the Company continues to decline. In light of the Company's dire circumstances and continued deterioration, its ineffective management, and recent actions by the Company's board of directors, urgent action is not only justified but necessary. The Concerned Shareholders have taken action to prevent the further destruction of value and enable the Company's shareholders to determine its future direction by calling a special meeting of the Company's shareholders to be held on March 31, 2021. Further details regarding the meeting will be provided to shareholders in advance of the meeting. Sources: Anthony Durkacz and Zeeshan Saeed For additional information, please contact: Anthony Durkacz ConcernedFSDshareholders@gmail.com Forward Looking Information Certain statement contained herein are "forward-looking statements". Often, but not always, forward-looking statement can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or states that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. The Concerned Shareholders cannot give any assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73026 The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) will soon provide support including the topping up of salaries of returning and diaspora experts to enable them to support the growth of their native countries with skills and knowledge. The experts would either gain financial support including start-up capital, equipment support, technical advice and placement or networking support to establish either their businesses or support the progress of another organization. The returning experts are migrants who travelled to enhance their knowledge and skills in Germany in varied fields and returned to their home countries to utilize the skills for the good of their countries. The diaspora experts on the other hand are trained experts with a migration background who wish to support their country of origin by putting their expertise to good use as volunteers. They usually pass on knowledge and skills through short-term assignments with development projects involving local organisations. The support for experts was through the GIZs Integrated Expert Placement Offer introduced as part of its Programme Migration & Diaspora (PMD). Mrs Abena Owusua Amponsah-Bio, the PMD Ghana Senior National Coordinator, said migration was a global reality with a variety of different manifestations, opportunities and challenges. She said this at a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue & Training Offers Meeting organised on Wednesday in Accra for the GIZ to introduce its key offers in Component Migration Governance to stakeholders and enhance its relationship with them. She said the programme focused on the Migration Governance component where the GIZ-Ghana supported stakeholders in capacity building programmes, policy advice, peer-to-peer exchanges related to policy. The GIZs PMD is present in 22 countries Ghana, Albania, Cameroon, Colombia, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Serbia, Ukraine, Tunisia, Senegal, Peru, Palestinian territories, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Kosovo, Georgia, Ethiopia, and Ecuador. Mrs Amponsah-Bio noted that the GIZ believed the potentials of the diaspora should be harnessed to improve the socio-economic conditions of member countries. Mr Prince Oppong Kwarteng, the PMD Technical Advisor, said according to the United Nations, there were about 272 million migrants in 2019 out of which 48 per cent were women, 14 per cent below 20 years old, and 39 per cent median age. He said migration involved risks for the migrants and their countries of origin such as the loss of highly-skilled professionals (brain drain), and the hazards associated with irregular migration. However, he said, cooperation with job agencies and employment ministries made for safe, orderly, and regular migration that was fair and socially sustainable. Through the PMD and to reflect the Germans governments migration policy, they leveraged the potential or regular migration, and strengthened their partners capacity to actively shape migration processes. Mr Kwarteng said they also addressed the causes or displacement and irregular migration, supported migrants in returning and reintegrating into the labour market, and made migrant remittances fees transparent. He also mentioned development-oriented return, regular labour migration and mobility, social engagement by diasporas, financial and economic contribution of diasporas, and migration governance as five priority areas that the PMD provided support for migrants and other stakeholders. Migration and its effects could affect other countries, he said, explaining that it was, therefore, important to promote equality and ensure safe regular migration through safe and well-managed policies. 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 When the Pallister government launched an independent investigation into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home last fall, there was every reason to believe the findings would be made public. When the Pallister government launched an independent investigation into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Maples Long Term Care Home last fall, there was every reason to believe the findings would be made public. More than two months later, the province has refused to release the probes preliminary findings, with no word on when the public might see a final report. Province doesn't require personal-care homes to make licence reviews public Click to Expand Lisa Prost holds a photo of her father Murray Balagus, 91, who died last Thursday while a resident at Maples Personal Care Home. Posted: 6:56 PM Jan. 26, 2021 Manitobans aren't told if a personal-care home's licence is under review unless they ask about it directly. Neither the provincial government nor care-home operators are required to proactively disclose when licences are under review because of concerns the facilities aren't meeting provincial standards, a spokesperson for the province confirmed Tuesday. Read Full Story Paramedics were called to the Winnipeg care home Nov. 6 when several residents required emergency care. Some were transported to hospital, two residents died before paramedics arrived and many others required onsite treatment, including intravenous hydration. The public only became aware of what occurred after a social-media post by an anonymous paramedic (who described the situation as a "nightmare") went viral the next day. Winnipeg Regional Health Authority officials, in the following days, acknowledged the care home was short staffed. The facility had less than half its scheduled health-care aides working the day paramedics were called. Maples officials had requested staff support from the WRHA in the days leading up to Nov. 6. None was given. Gina Trinidad, the WRHAs chief health operations officer, said the health authority should have planned better to ensure care homes had adequate staffing levels during the pandemic. Cameron Friesen, then health minister, deflected responsibility for the Maples calamity, saying problems at the care home were never brought to his attention. Shared Healths chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa claimed, despite an obvious lack of preparedness, that the province did everything it could to prevent COVID-19 from getting into care homes. Government had a duty to protect some of Manitobas most vulnerable people. It failed. Mr. Friesen launched an independent review into what went wrong at Maples, saying the probe would get to the bottom of what occurred. The expectation was that those findings would be shared with the public. So far, the Pallister government has refused to release them. Lynn Stevenson, a former British Columbia deputy minister, was hired to head the investigation. More than a month has passed since she completed her preliminary report; a document the province said will not be publicly released. No valid reason has been given. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Former minister of health Cameron Friesen There are many questions about the Maples situation to which residents, their families and the public deserve answers. Why, for example, did the province not act on preliminary plans made earlier in the year to beef up staffing at personal-care homes to prepare for potential outbreaks? The Pallister government had the entire summer to plan. The risk of outbreaks in nursing homes was well known, especially after a rash of long-term care home deaths in Quebec earlier in the year. The WRHA conducted several inspections at Maples in the weeks leading up to the outbreak, including an unannounced visit four days before paramedics were called. Why did those inspections not uncover chronic staffing shortages and substandard care at the facility? A spokesperson for the province said this week many of the recommendations in the Stevenson report have already been implemented. How is the public supposed to verify that if government refuses to release the findings? The report may contain information that casts a negative light on the province and its oversight of personal-care homes. Thats not a reason for the Pallister government to refuse to release it. The public has a right to know what the investigation found, including what steps should be taken to ensure residents are given the care and dignity they deserve. The resumption of the exploratory talks is a good step. Turkey has shown a willingness to alter its course. The question is, will this willingness and conduct prove stable, lasting and consistent? Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis stressed in his interview on SKAI TVs morning show Simera, with journalists Dimitris Economou and Maria Anastasopoulou. Mr. Varvitsiotis pointed out that the threat of sanctions and the fact that there will have been three European Council meetings on this issue in the space of six months the ones in October and December 2020 and the upcoming meeting in March drove Turkey to de-escalate the tensions. He also stressed, however, that Greece welcomes this change in course on the part of Ankara, as well as the fact that the Oruc Reis is no longer a provocative presence in the southeastern Mediterranean. Ankaras rhetoric is aimed at appeasing Europe and showing its willingness to cooperation. The question is, will this last? he said. Asked about the matter of vaccine supplies in Europe, the Alternate Minister noted that the European Commission has taken on an enormous task, negotiating the issue on behalf of the member states and averting competition between European partners. He added that the EU will have taken delivery of millions doses of vaccines by April if deliveries are made as scheduled. CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Mace Security International, Inc. (OTCQX:MACE) is pleased to announce it has been ranked #21 in the 2021 OTCQX Best 50, a ranking of top performing companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market last year. The OTCQX Best 50 is an annual ranking of the top 50 U.S. and international companies traded on the OTCQX market. The ranking is calculated based on an equal weighting of one-year total return and average daily dollar volume growth in the previous calendar year. Companies in the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 were ranked based on their performance in 2020. Gary Medved, president and CEO commented, "Our performance in 2020 really speaks to the strength of our strategic growth plan. We've been able to increase our retail presence and ecommerce revenue, streamline production, and introduce new products into the marketplace. We know that audiences continue to focus on personal protection and our brand position is strong." Sanjay Singh, Executive Chairman commented, "We are honored to receive this recognition and grateful for the tireless efforts of our team members and steady guidance from our board of directors, advisors, and stockholders. We added a lot of new stockholders last year and are committed to delivering strong returns in 2021. We plan on continuing our participation in investor conferences this year and sharing our story of focus and transformation." Of the 462 companies trading on the OTCQX Best Market, Mace was recognized as the 21st ranked company. For the complete 2021 OTCQX Best 50 ranking, visit https://www.otcmarkets.com/files/2021_OTCQX_Best_50.pdf. The OTCQX Best Market offers transparent and efficient trading of established, investor-focused U.S. and global companies. To qualify for the OTCQX market, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. About Mace Security International, Inc. Mace Security International Inc. is a globally recognized leader in personal safety products. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the Company has spent more than 30 years designing and manufacturing consumer and tactical products for personal defense and security under its world-renowned Mace Brand - the original trusted brand of pepper spray products. The Company's other leading brands include Tornado Brand stun guns and pepper spray, and Vigilant Brand personal alarms. The Company also offers aerosol defense sprays for law enforcement and security professionals worldwide through its Take Down Brand. Mace Security International distributes and supports its products and services through mass-market retailers, wholesale distributors, independent dealers, e-commerce channels and through its website, www.Mace.com. For more information, please visit www.mace.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words or phrases "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "projected," "intend to" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks, known and unknown, and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic conditions, dependence on management, our ability to compete with competitors, dilution to stockholders, and limited capital resources. Contact: Gary Medved President and Chief Executive Officer gmedved@mace.com SOURCE: MACE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL INC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626463/MaceR-Security-International-Named-to-2021-OTCQX-Best-50 Solera Audatex's PlanManager, increases technician utilization by 10% Tweet this PlanManager enhances the repair management process for Activate Accident Repair and their customers by providing a digital-first management and triage solution, using apps and integrated two-way customer communications. Through unrivalled intelligent data and assisted automated planning, the solution is proven to increase technician utilization by 10% and significantly reduce administrative time by 60 minutes per claim. The partnership will strategically support Activate Accident Repair's business objectives for growth. The solution will support all sites with a fast-track repair lane for non-structural repairs, allowing for reduced times on smaller jobs. Moreover, Activate Accident Repair centres are now able to deliver and measure an improved key-to-key time due to intelligent triage of jobs, utilizing images taken by the driver before the vehicle arrives on site. Victoria Turner, CEO, Activate Accident Repair commented on the partnership: "Working with an innovative partner like Solera complements our mission of being totally tech-led and presenting a transparent, open-book approach to accident repair with our customers. Using PlanManager allows us to implement a more streamlined and efficient workflow process, and is already establishing itself as an integral part of achieving our future expansion plans in the UK." Simon Meredith, Key Account Manager of Solera Audatex UK, also commented: "PlanManager delivers efficiency gains through intelligent, integrated solutions. This provides a superior customer experience giving users the tools and intelligent data needed to run an efficient workshop, enabling real-time tracking of all body shop management tasks and vehicle repairs. We can support Activate Accident Repair's to realise its core objective of using innovation and technology to connect and provide customers with real-time information, reduce costs and key-to-key times." For more information, visit: www.audatex.co.uk/solutions/planmanager ABOUT SOLERA AUDATEX Trusted the world over, Audatex UK has redefined global knowledge and data insight in risk and asset management since 1987. Through unrivalled integrated technology, we connect people, insurers and suppliers, and empower them to make quicker, smarter decisions. Part of the Solera group, we consistently challenge expectations through continuous investment and digital innovation. ABOUT SOLERA Solera is a global leader in risk and asset management data and software solutions, empowering companies across the automotive and insurance ecosystem with trusted solutions that adhere to the highest standards of data privacy, security, and integrity to support connectivity across the vehicle value chain. Solera's solutions bring together customers, insurers, and suppliers, empowering smarter decision-making through service, software, enriched data, proprietary algorithms, and machine learning. These come together to deliver insight and ensure customers' vehicles and property are optimally maintained and expertly repaired. The company is active in more than 90 countries across six continents. We process more than 300 million digital transactions annually for more than 235,000 customers and partners. By drawing on the market-leading solution capabilities and business process best practices from its technologies around the world, Solera provides unsurpassed scale and strength with superior performance while delivering innovation to move the industry forward. About ACTIVATE ACCIDENT REPAIR Group Part of the Activate Group of companies, Activate Accident Repair is the faster, smarter repair partner, delivering high-quality repairs to dozens of insurers and fleet clients. Launched in 2019, it has sites in Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow, and plans to open a further 15 sites in rapid succession in 2021/22. About Activate Group Activate Group and its subsidiaries provide end-to-end accident management solutions to insurers, fleet providers, TPA's and brokers. The Group provides claims management to corporate and commercial fleets through sopp+sopp , operate an approved nationwide repair network for personal lines insurance claims through Motor Repair Network , supply next-day parts and consumables through Sopp Parts and autobody repair through Activate Accident Repair. Based in the UK, Activate Group employs more than 400 people, with two main offices in Halifax and Peterborough. SOURCE Solera Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.solera.com New Delhi, Jan 28 : India has received a consignment of 6,000 Negev Light Machine Gun (LMGs) from Israel, which was procured under 'immediate requirements', a Defence Ministry official said on Thursday. India had signed a contract with Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) on March 19, 2020 to procure 16,479 LMGs under Fast Track Procedure. With the disputed border with China and Pakistan active at the same point of time, the guns will add more firepower to the deployed frontline troops. The Negev 7.62X51 mm Light Machine Gun is a combat proven weapon and currently used by several countries around the globe. This LMG will greatly enhance the lethality and range of a soldier vis-a-vis the presently used weapon. Indian Army received first lot of consignment of 6,000 quantities in mid January this year in Mumbai. The guns have been shifted to Jabalpur and is undergoing proper inspection. The rest of the guns is expected to arrive by March end of this year. Under government's 'Make in India' initiative, rest of the requirement of the Indian Army is being met by Indian industry and currently is at pre-trial stage. "Field Evaluation Trial (FET) scheduled this month," sources said. On March 19, 2020, Indian Armed Forces' long-standing requirement of a modern state-of-the-art Light Machine Gun (LMG) was fructified with approval of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence then had signed the capital acquisition contract with Israel Weapons Industries for procurement of 16,479 LMGs at a cost of Rs 880 crore. The Defence Minister had said provisioning of this operationally urgent and very critically needed weapon will boost the confidence of the frontline troops and provide much needed combat power to the Armed Forces. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) A total of 16 have decided to boycott the president's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of in solidarity with the farmers protesting the new farm laws, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Thursday. The 16 also demand a probe into the Centre's role in violence on Republic Day in Delhi, said the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha while speaking to the media with Congress' chief whip in Lok Sabha, K Suresh, by his side. The Congress on Wednesday had held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the violence that shook the capital on Republic Day and said he should be sacked immediately. The Congress had also accused the Modi government of being part of a concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers' agitation by allowing some miscreants to enter the Red Fort complex and hoist a religious flag, in their bid to ensure that the farmers bury their demand for the repeal of the three new agri laws. President Ram Nath Kovind would address the joint sitting of the two Houses of on January 29. (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.) BOSTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As AI and data increasingly influence our individual lives and shape the fabric of our shared future, questions about how to ensure these tools benefit humanity have never been more urgent. Today, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is announcing that it will double its groundbreaking investments in data science and AI grantmaking in 2021 with a new commitment of $40 million and introduce new initiatives to accelerate opportunity and innovation in the development of inclusive, ethical data and AI. "We sit at the frontier of the digital age with a set of choices about the future of these powerful tools," said Foundation President Vilas Dhar. "Will it be a future where control remains in the hands of a few to benefit the elite? Or a future where we all participate in the co-creation of AI and data that solves our greatest global challenges and makes our individual lives better? Our 2021 commitments aim to disrupt the status quo by empowering civil society to fully participate in shaping the future so that the benefits of AI and data are shared by all." The Foundation's three-pillar commitment includes: A $40 million commitment to data science and AI for public good. These grants will enable nonprofits and NGOs to leverage AI and data to further their work to protect the planet, foster economic prosperity, ensure healthy communities, strengthen tech education opportunities for young people, and create a more inclusive, equitable tech workforce for the future. Grants will also be directed toward organizations designing new approaches to data dignity, data stewardship, and AI ethics. A new data and AI services consultancy for non-profits: With technical support and additional resources, non-profits around the world can better leverage the tools of data science and AI. Through a new philanthropically funded consultancy launching this spring, the Foundation's in-house team of data and AI experts will work directly with non-profit organizations to develop data maturity and infrastructure, and create exemplar cases of AI used for public good. Fostering an inclusive tech, data and AI ecosystem: The Foundation is an active participant and convener in developing a global culture of responsible and inclusive AI and data. Through collaborations with organizations including Oxford, MIT , The Trinity Challenge, MIT Solve, Code.org, AI4All, and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, the Foundation will catalyze efforts to bring stakeholders together, elevate diverse perspectives on the future of AI, and inspire young technologists to pursue tech for public good. A key focus area will be seeking out and including non-traditional and marginalized voices to ensure that the development of AI benefits everyone. As part of this commitment, the Foundation is also announcing support for the World Economic Forum's new Global AI Action Alliance . Mr. Dhar will co-chair this global alliance of more than 100 leading companies, governments, international organizations, nonprofits, and academics committed to maximizing the benefits of AI. "In the future, AI and data science can be among our most powerful tools to achieve good in the world, but that future is not guaranteed," said the World Economic Forum's Kay Firth-Butterfield, Head of AI and Machine Learning. "The support of philanthropic partners is essential if we want to change the status quo and direct technology to serve the public good. These new commitments by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation to grantmaking, consultancy, and community building will powerfully accelerate our shared vision for ethical AI and data." The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is a global philanthropy bridging the frontiers of artificial intelligence, data science, and social impact to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Learn more about our recent grants to support climate action, digital health , and vulnerable communities . Media contact: Deborah O'Neil [email protected] 617-775-1675 SOURCE Patrick J. McGovern Foundation Related Links https://www.mcgovern.org Rainer Grosskopf/Getty Images The United States is closing in on a year of wearing masks, and for the near future, they're not going anywhere. The most recent development in masks, however, is that some European nations are now requiring people to wear not just cloth masks, but medical-grade face coverings in public. While there's ongoing debate about that level of protection and who needs itthe Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization endorse cloth masks for mostfinding N95 or KN95 masks isn't difficult. It just might not be cheap. These KN95s on Amazon are on sale right now, however, and they're going for $12.94 for 10 masks. An emergency department nurse at Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland swabs a woman at a drive-in coronavirus testing site (Michael Cooper/PA) Health Minister, Robin Swann, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride and Patricia Donnelly, Head of the Covid-19 Vaccine Programme pictured at a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. People aged over 65 can now book their Covid-19 vaccination appointments at one of Northern Irelands seven regional vaccination centres. The Department of Health this week announced a twin-track approach to accelerating NIs vaccination programme - ensuring more people can take up the offer of vaccination and help protect themselves against Covid-19. GPs will be focusing on the 70 plus age group, while the seven regional vaccination centres will in parallel be offering offer vaccination appointments to 65-69 year-olds. The online booking is available at covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated/ Earlier Health Minister Robin Swann announced plans for 500 special recognition payment for health and social care staff. Subject to Department of Finance approval, it will be paid to all health and social care workers including doctors, nurses, care home workers, domiciliary care workers, administrative staff and estates teams. Mr Swann also announced a flat rate, one-off special recognition payment of 2,000 for all qualifying students that have been on clinical placement between October 1 2020 to March 31 2021. The qualifying courses are the nursing and midwifery, AHP, social work and physician associate pre-registration programmes commissioned from Queen's University Belfast and the Ulster University by Stormont's health department. A one-off award is also set to be made to carers, but Mr Swann said more work is to be done on this before further detail can be announced. Mr Swann added that the current lockdown is "making a difference" as infection numbers are falling. He said: "The R-number has been moving in the right direction and we have to sustain and building on that progress." He also expressed his frustration at those people who are not taking the threat of Covid-19 seriously and at "armchair experts who spout simplistic ideas and snipe" at Stormont and the "heroes" in our health service over their efforts in tacking the infection rate. "The reality is that we, as a health service and as a society, are living through the challenge of our lifetimes - the battle of our lifetimes. "It is a challenge that is complex, all-consuming and relentless." Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride confirmed that new coronavirus cases are continuing to fall and the R-number now stands at less than one. But he urged people to "continue to do what we're doing", adding that "while the number of hospital admissions may have passed the peak, they remain at a very high level". He added: "It's important to remember that they will remain extremely high for many weeks and that will ensure, unfortunately, that our health staff will remain under very severe pressure in the coming weeks." Dr McBride also paid tribute to those who are adhering to the restrictions and following the advice. "The decisions you make, the actions you are taking, are reducing the number of infections and reducing the number of people who become unwell and require hospital care, "We must now avoid dropping our guard. We need to be extremely careful around the relaxation of any of the current restrictions and certainly to avoid any relaxation too early." He was speaking as Northern Ireland's Department of Health reported another 16 deaths and 527 new cases of coronavirus Latest figures show 12 deaths occurred in the 24 hours up to 10am on Wednesday, while another four happened previously. The death toll has risen to 1,779. Read More In terms of testing, 4,246 have contracted the virus in the past seven days, that is down from 6,944 the previous week. In total over 766,000 people have been tested and nearly 102,000 found positive. Hospital bed occupancy is at 95%. There are 775 people in hospital with Covid and 68 are in intensive care. There are 126 care homes dealing with an outbreak. Head of the Covid-19 vaccine programme, Dr Patricia Donnelly told today's Stormont press conference Northern Ireland has reached an "important juncture" and her team is ready "to accelerate the programme's roll-out". A further delivery of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Northern Ireland yesterday while another is scheduled for next week. "When that arrives we should have sufficient vaccines to allow GPs to cover everyone in the 75-plus age group and begin vaccinating the over 70-year population," she added. Dr Donnelly also confirmed a "twin-track approach" to administering Covid-19 vaccinations here.. "Later this week the role of the seven regional vaccination centres will be expanded to begin vaccinating members of the public. "As GPs focus on the 70-year plus age group the vaccination centres will, in parallel, offer vaccination appointments to 65-to-69-year-olds," she said. "These will be bookable online and further details of a booking portal will be published very shortly as well as a telephone helpline for those unable to use online booking." Meanwhile First Minister Arlene Foster has backed the approach of the South Eastern Trust after an email emerged offering family and friends of staff the chance to get the vaccine. The trust said it was ensuring supplies were not wasted. Read More Elsewhere, Sinn Fein has called for Education Minister Peter Weir to provide "clarity" on if school closures will be extended in Northern Ireland. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that he hoped it would be safe to begin the reopening of England's schools from March 8. "The first sign of normality beginning to return should be pupils going back to their classrooms. I know how parents and teachers need as much certainty as possible including two weeks' notice of the return of face-to-face teaching," he said. Read More Follow live updates below: The Bayonne school district is creating a new administrative position to lead special education services. The assistant superintendent role, which the Board of Education approved Tuesday night, will serve Bayonnes approximately 1,500 special education students who make up about 15% of the school population, said Superintendent John Niesz. That population has been growing, he said, and the first step in helping to better serve those students is to have someone in the central office presiding over the department. It will ensure that special education remains a district priority, he said. This is obviously a significant number of students who require concentrated attention, Niesz said. An assistant superintendent of special education would not only take charge of this entire educational area, but the creation of this position would create a clear understanding for the staff and the community of the importance which the district places on special education. Niesz said the district is just starting a search for candidates for the role, which will be called assistant superintendent of special services. I agree with you that is a position that is needed in Bayonne and will help our special ed population, Board of Education President Maria Valado told the superintendent on Tuesday. Most other school districts in Hudson County have a similar administrative role. A South Dublin woman has brought High Court proceedings against Facebook after a hacker took over and locked her out of her account. The action has been brought by Sylvia O'Mahoney, who claims she first became aware of the hack in mid-December when her social media contacts started receiving messages from her account that she did not send. In reply Facebook accepts that her account was hacked, but says that it moved quicky to restore full control to her, and that all information she had sought concerning the hack had been provided to her. It's counsel Rossa Fanning SC told the court says like all other internet and e-commerce entities Facebook has issues with online security. However, he said that there was no evidence before the court that Facebook could be held culpable for accounts being hacked. Ms O'Mahoney, who has a Facebook account for many years claims that after becoming aware that messages were being sent from her account, she tried to change her password on her account. She said she was unable to do so, and was denied access to her account. In a sworn statement to the court, she said her friends started getting messages from her account. including invitations to like the business page of a decking company. In addition, her name profile changed to a 'Luo Yihan' instead of Sylvia O'Mahoney, and was concerned about the nature of some of content of the messages. She reported this through Facebook's automated complaints system due to her concerns about the unknown person's access to her private information including photos and personal messages. She followed the instructions, including uploading picture ID, on at least two occasions, but said she claims she only got messages back in Chinese saying her issue had been resolved, which it had not. As a result, she has brought proceedings against Facebook, where she claims her constitutional right to privacy and GDPR rights have been breached. Ms O'Mahoney from Brighton Place, Foxrock, Co Dublin has brought proceedings against Facebook Ireland Ltd where she seeks orders including mandatory injunctions. The injunctions would require Facebook to prevent the unknown person, identifying as Luo Yihan from using or accessing Ms O'Mahoney's account, and any information originating from the account. She also seeks orders requiring Facebook to retrieve and return any data take from Ms O'Mahoney's account from the hacker, and that she be provided with all the activity on her account from January 1st last. When the matter came before the High Court on Wednesday Ms O'Mahoney's counsel Jack Fitzgerald said the matter was become even more urgent. As well as her concerns about her own personal data his client had discovered in recent days learned that her account had been linked to many entities, and groups that had nothing to do with her. He said his client did not want to delete her account as she wants to keep evidence of the wrong doing. However, due to the recent revelations regarding her account his client was required to amend her action, counsel said. Counsel added that some direct contact between his client and Facebook regarding her concerns would be beneficial in resolving the matters. In reply Mr Fanning said his client had been concentrating on dealing with the issues raised rather than preparing sworn documents for court proceedings. Counsel said added that in recent days Facebook had sent out two letters to Mr O'Mahoney's solicitors, stating that once it was established the account was hacked, access was restored to Ms O'Mahoney within two business days. An online meeting with Facebook's representatives with Ms O'Mahoney had been also taken place, counsel said. Ms justice Reynolds adjourned the matter to a date in early February, to allow the sides exchange documents. Sabyasachi Mukherjee One of the most influential labels, if not the reigning brand in Indian fashion, Sabyasachi, enters into a strategic partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) by which Aditya Birla Fashion has acquired 51 percent stake in the brand for an undisclosed amount. The namesake label of designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee has been a leading retailer and couturier in Indian fashion since 1999 with a strong presence across the country and internationally. From humble beginnings in Kolkata, designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee has grown his brand from strength to strength, being the proud owner of what can only be called as India's first 'Luxury Fashion House' in the real sense of the term. On Wednesday, 27th January, ABFRL announced that its platform will complement brand Sabyasachi on its journey to becoming a global luxury house out of India. This aim is to build a large ethnic wear business over next few years to complement its strong and diverse portfolio in western wear segment of the Indian apparel market. ABFRL is part of a leading Indian conglomerate, The Aditya Birla Group, with a revenue of Rs. 8,788 Cr in FY19-20, it is India's first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats. CEO and Founder of Sabyasachi Brand, Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee, said: "Over the course of the last couple of years, as my brand evolved and matured, I began searching for the right partner in order to ensure continuity and long-term sustainable growth. I am honoured and excited to have found that partner in Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla and ABFRL. Aligned in our vision, and committed to excellence, we will work together to grow a truly global luxury brand out of India." Sabysachi Mukhrjee has always been ahead of the curve, and from the very beginning has strived to create a brand which in addition to the creative side of fashion, focused on the business of fashion. Sabyasachi has emerged as one of the most influential cultural voices in the country - shaping modern fashion and lifestyle while celebrating artisanal craftsmanship and traditional techniques in each and every product. The brand straddles categories such as apparel, accessories and jewelry and has a strong franchise in India, US, UK and the Middle East. Today, with solid footing in the domestic retail landscape, several major global collaborations, and international flagships opening soon, Sabyasachi continues steadfastly on its path to becoming the first voice of global luxury out of India. Commenting on the partnership with the ace designer, Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, ABFRL adds: "We believe that over the next few years, ethnic wear is going to be an increasingly important category as young and confident Indians rediscover their culture and heritage. The Sabyasachi brand, through its emphasis on excellence in design and craftsmanship has set new benchmarks and captivated the imagination of the sophisticated global Indian consumer. We are proud to partner Sabyasachi in its journey to become the only global luxury brand from India. We see a 'Made in India' global brand like Sabyasachi occupying the pinnacle of our ethnic wear portfolio. Over the next few years, ABFRL intends to craft a portfolio that addresses the entire gamut of ethnic wear segments: value, premium and luxury." The proposed acquisition is subject to necessary statutory approvals and signing of definitive agreements. One can only wait and watch this unique story of Indian excellence unfold in the months to come. National Statement Delivered by Ambassador Byrne Nason at UNSC Briefing on Libya - UNSMIL Statement Thank you very much indeed, Mr. President, and I want to thank the Acting SRSG Williams for her excellent briefing this morning. I want to start by congratulating you Stephanie and your team for the critical work that you have been doing, are doing on the ground in Libya. Your tireless efforts and those of course of all the Libyan partners have paved the way for the significant progress we are hearing about today. As this is your last briefing to us on this issue, I wanted to express our sincere gratitude, and also to both professionally and personally to wish you well Stephanie. Mr. President, it is rare enough at this table that we remark on what is definitely described as tangible progress in a complex situation. Today is one of those rare occasions, so I want to recognise all those who have contributed to the concrete progress that we have heard today right across the political, security, economic, international humanitarian law and human rights tracks. We believe that this progress has helped move Libya further along the path to peace, stability and development. Frankly, it gives us hope for the Libyan people. Let me assure our Libyan friends that Ireland, the European Union and the international community will remain committed to accompanying you, to accompanying Libya, along that path, as we move into a critical phase leading up to elections next December. Ireland sincerely welcomes the appointments of Jan Kubis as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, of Raisedon Zenenga as Mission Coordinator and of Georgette Gagnon as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. Under this new leadership, we see three main priorities. First is the establishment of a credible, realistic and effective ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism. We welcome the parties continued resolve to implement the provisions of the ceasefire agreement and to agree on the operation of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism. Ireland also strongly supports the Secretary-Generals request to the Council to give UNSMIL a clear but flexible mandate to enable the Mission to support the mechanism. We welcome the continued and more positive engagement of Libyas neighbours and regional partners in support of the UN-facilitated intra-Libyan dialogue tracks. We reiterate the need to ensure a single and coordinated international approach in Libya. Frankly, the task of building peace is complex enough, we need a coherent approach. Mr. President, Ireland echoes the Secretary-Generals appeal to all regional and international actors to respect the provisions of the ceasefire agreement. This includes ensuring the complete departure of all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. More than 90 days after the agreement, this requirement remains unfulfilled, and as we have heard, this is simply not acceptable. It must change. The continued threat of terrorism and violent extremism in North Africa, as set out in the Secretary-Generals report, is deeply concerning. Serious violations of the Security Council arms embargo have been documented, both in the report of the Panel of Experts, as well as in the information provided to the Panel by Operation IRINI, whose work Ireland and its EU partners strongly support. These violations must cease. We call on all actors to now heed the call in the ceasefire agreement for the full and unconditional respect for the arms embargo. This Council has a responsibility to ensure that. Second, Mr. President, is the need to secure a vote of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) on an executive authority to prepare for those elections on 24 December 2021. Ireland welcomes the 19 January decision to adopt a selection mechanism for a temporary executive authority. This is a means to an end. It is important now that agreement on the three-member Presidency Council and on the Prime Minister be reached quickly, not least to enable adequate preparations for the December elections. Ireland commends the Libyan electoral authorities for their successful conduct of municipal council elections, despite the challenging security environment and COVID-19. We welcome the Government of National Accords decision to allocate funds and resources to the High National Election Commission. Ireland is also studying the GNAs request for UN support for the December elections with interest and we look forward to this Council taking up the matter at the appropriate time. We remain concerned by the human rights situation on the ground in Libya. Without guarantees for the fundamental rights of the Libyan people, democratic transition will be incomplete. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of UNSMIL and the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights working group in this regard. My third point, Mr. President, is the need for progress on the economic and financial prospects for Libya, including the reform agenda, and in particular, to address the crisis in the banking sector and the mechanism on oil revenue management. Ireland welcomes the recent economic reforms including the re-activation of the Central Bank of Libyas Board of Directors, the unification of the exchange rate, as well as progress in the financial review of the Central Bank and the recent announcement of the audit of the Libyan Investment Authority. This is progress. These reforms should help to create a more durable, transparent, and equitable economic arrangement for the benefit of the Libyan people themselves. Mr. President, In conclusion, I want to reiterate Irelands steadfast support for the work of UNSMIL, and for all the efforts underway in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum. We believe this is a critical moment in Libyas history. It is a moment for optimism, a moment for hope. We must not underestimate the challenges ahead. One of which is the need to invest in national reconciliation that will underpin work for sustainable peace. This Council has a responsibility to prevent spoilers, be they foreign or domestic, from reversing the Libyan peoples hard won peacebuilding gains. We must be ready to take concrete measures, with actions the back up our words, to ensure that happens. We owe at least this, to the people of Libya. Thank you, Mr. President. Previous Item | Next Item A police vehicle moves through the entrance of the Central Prison in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters) Islamic Terrorist Convicted of Beheading US Journalist Daniel Pearl to Go Free KARACHI, PakistanPakistans Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of an Islamic terrorist convicted of beheading American journalist Daniel Pearl, a decision that has left his family in complete shock, lawyers said. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter, was acquitted by a panel of three judges. By a majority of two to one, they have acquitted all the accused persons and ordered their release, a provincial advocate general, Salman Talibuddin, told Reuters. Pakistans attorney general said in a statement that authorities in Sindh, the southern Pakistani province where Pearl was abducted, would file a petition at the earliest asking the Supreme Court to review its decision. Pearl, 38, was investigating Islamic terrorists in Karachi after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped. A video of his beheading emerged weeks later. Sheikh and his co-accused are to be released immediately if they are not required in any other case, the head of the court panel, Justice Mushir Alam, said in a court order. British-born Islamic terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh is surrounded by armed police as he arrives at a court in Karachi, Pakistan, on March 29, 2002. (Zahid Hussein/File Photo/Reuters) A high court last year commuted the death penalty of the British-born Sheikh into a life sentence and acquitted his three co-accused, citing lack of evidence. The government and Pearls parents challenged that decision and pleaded to the Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty. The Supreme Court turned down both pleas on Thursday. The Pearl family is in complete shock by the decision, the familys lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi, told Reuters. No amount of injustice will defeat our resolve to fight for justice for Daniel Pearl. Dr. Judea Pearl, father of American journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed by terrorists in 2002, speaks in Miami Beach, Fla., on April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Matt Murray said the decision was infuriating and unjust. The United States had said it may seek to try Sheikh if efforts to keep him in prison failed in what experts say could be a challenging factor in Pakistans relationship with the Washington. It comes as a new U.S. administration is reviewing Afghanistans peace process, in which Pakistan is a key player. This couldnt have come at a worse time for Pakistan and U.S. relations because we have a new administration and the Pakistanis have been trying to establish contact with them this is going to complicate the relationship, said Shuja Nawaz, a distinguished fellow at the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council. Experts said the case against Sheikh had been flawed from its early stages and the Supreme Court had likely made its decision on legal procedural issues. We have to contextualise it in the war on terror phenomenon where many countries especially in South Asia and the Middle East (were) not fulfilling rule of law principles or terrorists were not tackled via the criminal justice system, said Hassan Abbas, an international security professor at National Defense University in Washington and a former Pakistani police officer. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad declined to immediately comment. The media wing for Pakistans military did not immediately respond to request for comment. A Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment during a press briefing, adding they were waiting to see the courts detailed judgement. By Syed Raza Hassan, Asif Shahzad, and Charlotte Greenfield The Bishops of the Philippines conclude their plenary Assembly with a call for Catholics to let their faith shine through acts of charity and mercy, as Pope Francis invites the local Church to be "a home with open doors." By Devin Watkins Faith shining in deeds of charity and mercy. That, says Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, is the best way for Catholics to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines despite the ongoing pandemic. The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines was speaking to his brother Bishops during their 121st plenary assembly. The 2-day, online event wrapped up on Wednesday, and saw over 80 Bishops discuss the ongoing health crisis and the Churchs continuing response. Papal greetings As the Bishops began work on Tuesday, the Apostolic Nuncio, Charles John Brown, read out a message from Pope Francis. In it, the Pope urged the Bishops of the Philippines to continue offering witness to "evangelical charity" amid the pandemic. He also invited them to set up "more creative expressions" of charity in their pastoral work. These efforts, said Pope Francis, would help the Philippine Church "to be recognized as a home with open doors, offering hope and strength to the suffering and to all who seek a more humane and dignified life." Sharing gift of faith Archbishop Valles urged Filipinos to share the gift of faith with others. Anyone of us can take up this challenge to serve the least and lowest of our brothers and sisters, he said. The Archbishop admitted that 500th anniversary celebration plans have been thrown off course due to the pandemic, but said the faithful cannot take this precious gift [of faith] for granted. We might wake up one day, he warned, like other people have: no longer able to share this gift with others, for our hearts and souls have been hijacked by other beliefs, ephemeral if not empty. Extra year of celebrations Quincentenary celebrations were set to wrap up in April 2021. But due to the difficulty in organizing proper celebrations, the Bishops have extended the Great Jubilee for an extra year, which will end in April 2022. The first Mass in the Philippines was celebrated on 31 March 1521, on the island of Limasawa. On 14 April, the Church celebrates the 500th anniversary of the first local Baptism, which took place in what is now the Archdiocese of Cebu. New national shrine During their plenary assembly, the Bishops also elevated the status of a popular pilgrimage site in Obando town, in the Diocese of Malolos. The San Pascual Baylon Parish-Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Salambao will soon be known as a National Shrine. The parish church was founded by Franciscan missionaries from Spain on 29 April 1754, as a small chapel dedicated to St. Clare of Assisi. A few years later, local fishermen discovered an image of the Immaculate Conception, which came to be known as Our Lady of Salambao. In raising the church to the status of a national shrine, the Bishops have recognized the faith and devotion of the many pilgrims who visit the parish each year. Supermodel mom Irina Shayk is embracing winter style these days. The Russian catwalker was spotted out in an eye catching lavender coat with a matching face mask in New York City on Thursday. It seems that statement coats are the 35-year-old's obsession lately as she has been seen strolling around Manhattan with her toddler this winter in a variety of standout pieces. Model mommy: Irina Shayk was spotted out in an eye catching lavender coat with a matching face mask in New York City on Thursday On a dull January day, Irina was a cheerful beacon of color in her pale purple wool coat and deeper plum silk face mask and a matching lilac crocodile baguette purse. Under the statement coat, Shayk rocked a black graphic T-shirt with jeans and some white patent leather chelsea boots. The off-duty-model swept her chestnut locks back into a low bun and sported a pair of brown tortoiseshell shades. Earlier this week, Irina sported a similar monochromatic style but opting for a bold red patent leather jacket with matching purse. Pastel princess:; On a dull January day, Irina was a cheerful beacon of color in her pale purple wool coat and deeper plum silk face mask and a matching lilac crocodile baguette purse Funky: Under the statement coat, Shayk rocked a black graphic T-shirt with jeans and some white patent leather chelsea boots Among some of her other winter wear standouts, were stunning leather and shearling coats in trench and over-sized moto styles. Irina has been spending lockdown in New York with her three-year-old daughter Lea, whom she shares with her ex, Bradley Cooper. The former couple, who dated for four years before splitting up in 2019, co-parent their little girl together and have an amicable relationship. In addition to being a busy mom, Irina is still working as a model and is currently starring in Moschino's new campaign. Winter look: It seems that statement coats are the 35-year-old's obsession lately as she has been seen strolling around Manhattan with her toddler this winter in a variety of standout pieces Glam: Among some of her other winter wear standouts, were stunning leather and shearling coats in trench and over-sized moto styles She shared some advertisements for the Italian brand this week which show Shayk dressed in couture and styled as a marionette. In an interview with Vogue this month, the catwalk queen spoke about the balance that she attempts to maintain between work and raising her daughter and why she thinks that she is setting a good example for her child. Shayk told the publication: 'I always try not to stay away from my daughter for more than a week, but I also don't want to be this woman who's not truthful to herself.' She continued: 'I want my daughter to know that momma has a job in her life because I want to raise a strong, powerful woman.' On a crisp afternoon in November, Teresa Bautista ventured into Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, New York, on the lookout for feces. It didnt take long for Bautista, 17 and, to her chagrin, her white Puma shoes to hit some serious pay dirt. Speckled all across the parks grass was the greenish glint of goose droppings, which Bautista eagerly swabbed and swirled into a tubeful of chemicals. This was my first time digging into poop, she said. It was really fun. Bautista was after more than just bird excrement. Teeming within it, she hoped, were swarms of infectious viruses ready to spill their genetic secrets and, perhaps, help young scientists like her stop future pandemics. Over the next few months, Bautista and four other New York area high school students will continue to gather samples from the citys birds as a part of the Virus Hunters program, hosted by the nonprofit science outreach organization BioBus. Their goal is to catalog the flu viruses that often lurk in urban fowl, some of which might have the potential to someday hop into humans. The surveillance program, which was developed in partnership with virologists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is one of several outreach efforts that has emerged in recent years to equip young scientists with hands-on experience in outbreak preparedness a quest that has only gained urgency since the new coronavirus started its tear across the globe. For many months to come, COVID-19 will continue to shutter schools and thwart attempts to gather. The changes have forced educators and researchers to change their teaching tactics. But several groups have met the challenge head on, not merely weathering the pandemics inconveniences but transforming them into opportunities for scientific growth. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, a team of computational biologists designed an outbreak simulation that eerily portended the stealthy spread of the coronavirus and is now fighting the spread of COVID-19 in real-time. In Tucson, Arizona, an immunologist has led an effort to include young, underrepresented scientists in microbiology research, even while the pandemic rages on. And in New York, where Bautista is nurturing her love for virology, the effects of these efforts are already starting to take shape. That foraging trip to Van Cortlandt Park, she said, was not just her first experience sampling feces: It was the first time I actually felt like a scientist. Viruses of a feather The Virus Hunters program was borne of a collaboration among BioBus, a wildlife rehabilitation center called the Wild Bird Fund and a group of researchers led by Mount Sinai virus expert Florian Krammer. Flu viruses are fairly cosmopolitan pathogens that are capable of jumping into a wide variety of animals, including birds, and changing their genetic material along the way. Only some of these viruses pose a possible threat to people, Krammer said. But which ones? Researchers will not know unless they check. There is very little information on influenza circulating in birds in New York City, Krammer said. I wanted to know whats in my backyard. The project was awarded funding in early 2020, said Christine Marizzi, chief scientist at BioBus. Weeks later, the coronavirus began to pummel the nation, and the team was forced to shift its plans. But Marizzi, who has long specialized in community-based research, was undeterred. For the remainder of the school year, the team will train its virus hunters through a mix of virtual lessons, distanced and masked lab work, and sample collection in the field. It is a welcome distraction for Bautista, who, like many other students, had to switch to remote learning at her high school in the spring. When the pandemic hit, I felt really helpless, she said. I felt like I couldnt do anything. So this program is really special to me. Operation OutbreakA thousand miles south, the students of Sarasota Military Academy Prep, a charter school in Sarasota, Florida, have also had to make some drastic changes since the coronavirus made landfall in the United States. But a select few of them may have entered 2020 a bit more prepared than the rest, because they had experienced a nearly identical epidemic just weeks before. These were the graduates of Operation Outbreak, a researcher-designed outreach program that has for the past several years simulated an annual viral epidemic on the schools campus. Led by Todd Brown, Sarasota Military Academy Preps community outreach director, the program began as a low-tech endeavor that used stickers to mimic the spread of a viral disease. With guidance from a team of researchers led by Pardis Sabeti, a computational biologist at Harvard University, the program quickly morphed into a smartphone app that could ping a virtual virus from student to student with a Bluetooth signal. Sarasotas most recent iteration of Operation Outbreak was uncanny in its prescience. Held in December 2019, just weeks before the new coronavirus began its rampage across the globe, the simulation centered on a viral pathogen that moved both swiftly and silently among people, causing spates of flulike symptoms. The students in each simulation, partitioned into roles in government, public health, medicine, the military and the media, had to scramble to adapt and work together. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) Bradford Walker, a junior at the academy, said he felt really confident going into the simulation as an eighth grader in 2017. I was like, Well get this together, no problem. But the moment the campuss outbreak began, everything became a mess, Walker said. Panic ensued; protests flared up; Nerf-gun shots were fired. Media personnel stalked and pestered Walker, who was acting as a government official. It was very reminiscent of real life, he said. Surrounded by a real pandemic, Walker often thinks back to his Operation Outbreak days. The program gave him an inkling of what a true viral outbreak might bring, he said. But he has been unnerved by how wholly unprepared the world was for the coronavirus. The coronavirus is a wake-up call, he said. We have to be ready for this kind of stuff. (END OPTIONAL TRIM.) Operation Outbreak was planned to run several in-person courses in 2020, until an actual pandemic intervened. But Sabeti and her colleagues have been building online tools, curricula and games that can make available the lessons of their program to anyone who wants them. After some careful finagling, the team was also able to engineer a handful of in-person outbreak simulations at college and high school campuses using an updated version of their smartphone app. One simulation, run over Halloween weekend at Colorado Mesa University, followed a group of more than 350 students as they mingled during their normal routines. Unsurprisingly, an increase in interactions fueled the spread of the fictional virus the same dynamic that was causing outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus that same semester. The Operation Outbreak app has since grown more sophisticated. As part of the simulations, users can now toggle their epidemics to include diagnostic tests, masks, vaccines and other tools that curb and monitor the spread of infection. Eventually, schools and other organizations might be able to use the simulations as guides as they prepare to reopen for business. Beyond being an education tool, its a tool to get real-world data, Sabeti said. Its an exercise in preparing public health teams. Expanding sciences reachIn Arizona, microbiologist Michael D.L. Johnson has also taken advantage of the pivot to virtual learning prompted by the pandemic. Last summer, he led an effort to enroll 250 students from underrepresented backgrounds in the National Summer Undergraduate Research Program, matching them to more than 150 mentors with expertise in microbiology. All the projects were remote. But, Johnson said, that obstacle most likely also created opportunities for students who might otherwise have been excluded from science because of geographical or socioeconomic restrictions. And mentors who had old data sets lying around or heavily computational projects that needed an extra pair of hands found themselves partnered with eager new collaborators. The pandemic has made us adapt, Johnson said. Were learning that there are some better ways of doing this. (STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.) Some NSURP students even had the opportunity to better understand the virus that had upended their summers. Emy Armanus, now a freshman at the University of California, Irvine, was paired with Suhana Chattopadhyay, an environmental health researcher at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, and spent the summer investigating how the use of nicotine products can worsen cases of COVID-19. It definitely made me more knowledgeable about the pandemic, said Armanus, who is interested in pursuing a career in medicine. This program was a great way to discover myself. The pandemic has altered just about every aspect of daily life. But Marizzi of BioBus said students should still feel empowered to engage in scientific discourse something that sorely needs a new generation of diverse and enthusiastic voices. For Bautista, the budding virologist in New York, the Virus Hunters program is bound to leave a lasting impression. Already, she has learned the basics of how viruses infiltrate hosts and how to coax intact genetic material out of cells and, of course, to never again wear white shoes on a field survey. [January 28, 2021] Graybar Named Among 2021 Top Workplaces USA ST. LOUIS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, has been named a 2021 Top Workplaces USA award winner by Energage. "We are honored to earn recognition as a national top workplace," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Graybar. "This award highlights the value of our employee ownership culture, which inspires a spirit of teamwork, excellence and innovation in everything we do. I thank our employees for their dedication, their focus on our customers and their extraordinary contributions to Graybar's long-term success." This is the inaugural year for Top Workplaces USA, built on the program's 14-year history surveying more than 20 million employees across 54 markets for the regional Top Workplaces awards. More than 1,100 organiations participated in the TopWorkplaces USA employee engagement survey issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. "During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business." To learn more about Top Workplaces, visit topworkplaces.com. To learn more about career opportunities at Graybar, visit www.graybar.com/careers. Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 289 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact: Tim Sommer (314) 578-7672 timothy.sommer@graybar.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/graybar-named-among-2021-top-workplaces-usa-301217528.html SOURCE Graybar [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The new center will provide an integrated platform for basic and clinical research, bringing together vascular biology, immunology, and neuroscience. This combination will bridge the gap between scientific disciplines that have traditionally been viewed as distinct, and studied as such. "Historically, neurological diseases have been classified as being only degenerative, inflammatory, or vascular," explains the center's founding director, Katerina Akassoglou, PhD. "But we now know, given recent insights from clinical research and the failure of many clinical trials, that this classification cannot explain how diseases start and progress, nor has it been able to identify the best potential drug candidates." Scientists have also learned that disease manifestations cannot be described in isolation, because they arise from an intricate network of shared mechanisms in the brain, immune, and vascular systems. The new Gladstone-UCSF center aims to shed light on these overlapping mechanisms to develop new treatments for a wide range of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and traumatic brain injury. Their work will also have broad implications in diseases with neuroimmune and neurovascular features, including neonatal brain injury, epilepsy, infectious diseases, and psychiatric disorders. "Common threads across brain diseases that involve the immune system have been overlooked," says Akassoglou, who is also a senior investigator at Gladstone and a professor of neurology at UCSF. "For instance, blood leaks in the brain used to be considered a consequence of brain dysfunction. Yet, we have discovered that these leaks often precede cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disease and inhibit repair. In addition, vascular damage is emerging as a central player in brain disease, and the immune system is the link between vascular pathology and the brain." Over the past two decades, Akassoglou and her team have made landmark discoveries that connect the blood, the inflammatory response, and brain disease. For example, they made a breakthrough discovery that a clotting factor in the blood (called fibrinogen) is causal to disease in the brain, as its leakage is required to activate the damaging immune response and the neurodegeneration that follows. "We have a new appreciation of the challenges and opportunities in drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases at the blood-brain-immune interface," says Akassoglou. "Innovative approaches in imaging and drug discovery platforms at our new center have the potential to transform biomedicine." "This new center perfectly aligns with Gladstone's approach of using science to overcome disease," says Deepak Srivastava, MD, president of Gladstone Institutes. "Katerina's research provided evidence that vascular pathology is a primary process in the development of disease and, as a result, offers a completely new perspective for how neurological diseases might be treated. Her expertise and vision led to the creation of this center, which will be critical for basic discovery and for developing novel imaging tools, biomarkers, and therapies." Although other academic centers combine neuroscience and immunology, the new Gladstone-UCSF center is unique in its integration of vascular biology as a third and equal player in brain disease. "The new center will leverage Katerina's groundbreaking discoveries in this exciting area of research and will provide her and other colleagues at Gladstone, UCSF, and beyond with unprecedented opportunities to unravel the intriguing relationships among the vascular, immune, and nervous systems," says Lennart Mucke, MD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. "Since vascular mechanisms may be early triggers of brain disease, targeting these triggers could allow physicians to intervene much sooner to prevent and halt disease progression." The center will take a three-pronged approach to uncover the role of vascular abnormalities in the brain. The first will be focused on research and bring together basic and clinical scientists to discover new mechanisms that control disease at the interface of vascular biology, immunology, and neuroscience. The second will leverage cutting-edge imaging technologies to develop new molecular probes to study and diagnose neurovascular alterations in brain diseases. And the third cluster, aimed at drug discovery and therapeutics, will consist of pre-clinical and clinical testing of new biologic, cellular, and small molecule therapies, as well as biomarker studies. Akassoglou and her team at Gladstone will collaborate closely with scientists at UCSF in the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, the Department of Neurology (including the Memory and Aging Center, the Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, and the Neurovascular Division), the Department of Pediatrics, and the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. While Gladstone offers expertise in basic research and state-of-the-art imaging modalities, UCSF provides invaluable resources in patient databases, clinical testing, and biomarker studies. "To implement the center's visionary approach, we need the participation of scientists and clinicians with wide-ranging expertise," says S. Andrew Josephson, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology at UCSF. "Together, the Gladstone and UCSF communities provide an ideal environment to unite all the required disciplines and truly break new ground in treating neurological diseases." The donation of $2.5 million by the Simon Family Trust will help launch this center by providing support for state-of-the-art infrastructure and seed funding for innovative multidisciplinary research projects. "This new Gladstone-UCSF center promises to truly advance the field of neurological disease research," says Nick Simon, director of the Simon Family Trust who is also a trustee of Gladstone Institutes. "My family and I hope that our contribution will help the incredible team of scientists uncover some of the mysteries behind this very complicated collection of diseases and make a major impact on future treatments, which represent one of the most significant unmet clinical needs at this point in time." In addition to Akassoglou, key members of the Gladstone-UCSF Center for Neurovascular Brain Immunology include researchers Scott Zamvil, Jorge Palop, Bruce Miller, Lennart Mucke, and Michelle Arkin, as well as junior investigators and physician-scientists Jae Kyu Ryu, Mark Petersen, and Fanny Elahi. Research in the center is further leveraged by several national and international collaborations, including a long-standing collaboration with Mark Ellisman at the National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research at UC San Diego. Additional members and partnerships will be added as the center develops. "The intersection of the brain, immune, and vascular systems represents a new frontier in biomedical research," says Akassoglou. "I'm very excited by the opportunities for new discoveries created by this new center, which can fundamentally change the way we think about neurological diseases and the development of new therapies." About Gladstone Institutes To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco. Media Contact: Julie Langelier | Assistant Director, Communications | [email protected] | 415.734.5000 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158 | gladstone.org | @GladstoneInst SOURCE Gladstone Institutes Related Links https://gladstone.org Extending its losing streak to the fifth straight session, equity benchmark Sensex plunged 536 points on Thursday, tracking losses in HDFC Bank, Infosys and HUL amid a weak trend in global markets. The 30-share BSE index ended 535.57 points or 1.13 per cent lower at 46,874.36. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty fell 149.95 points or 1.07 per cent to 13,817.55. HUL was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 4 per cent, followed by Maruti, HDFC Bank, PowerGrid, IndusInd Bank, HCL Tech and Bajaj Finserv. On the other hand, Axis Bank, SBI, ONGC and ICICI Bank were among the gainers. "A continued pullback in domestic markets is mainly led by profit-booking ahead of union budget," said Binod Modi, Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities. According to traders, recent foreign fund outflows from the domestic capital markets also had an impact on investor sentiment. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) remained net sellers in the capital market as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,688.22 crore on Wednesday, according to provisional exchange data. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo ended in the red. Stock exchanges in Europe were also trading with significant losses in early deals. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude futures slipped 0.27 per cent to USD 55.39 per barrel. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, today announced it has been named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, receiving a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality across the United States. This is the third year in a row that Bank of the West has been recognized with this honor. "I believe we can only achieve a sustainable future by promoting diversity and using our bank's role in the economy to build a more equitable society. Drawing strength from diversity is an important part of Bank of the West's culture. Inclusion within our organization is not just about accepting our differences, but about challenging ourselves to learn new behaviors and welcome insights from all individuals in the organization, at all levels and from all backgrounds," said Nandita Bakhshi, President and CEO at Bank of the West. "This past year has emphasized the importance of culture. I am inspired by our team members who have shown unwavering commitment to our customers, our communities and society as a whole." From its CEO to investment in female entrepreneurs, Bank of the West leads with and empowers diversity. Its executive leadership team is more than 30 percent women, nearly one-third people of color, and speaks 10 different languages. Bank of the West provides competitive benefits for same-sex partners, regardless of marital status, as well as transgender benefits in all health plans offered. Benefits include 14 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Additionally, full benefits are offered to part-time team members. Our medical insurance employee contributions are based on a percentage of compensation, which reduces the cost for employees and makes healthcare more equitable. All employees are welcome to join any one of the Bank's seven resource groups, which honor and celebrate cultural, gender, and LGBTQ diversity at the bank. The Bank's resource groups actively work in the community by volunteering, participating in employee recruitment fairs, and supporting product, personal and professional development. Learn more about Bank of the West's commitment to diversity and inclusion here . The Corporate Equality Index rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities; Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; Supporting an inclusive culture; and, Corporate social responsibility. "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the Corporate Equality Index are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. About Bank of the West At Bank of the West, we know money deposited in a bank has the power to finance positive change. So we are taking action to ensure our activities help protect the planet, improve people's lives, and strengthen communities. We are redefining banking for a better future by focusing on areas where we believe we can have a real impact: supporting energy transition, helping enable women entrepreneurs, and financing innovative start-ups. As the bank for a changing world, Bank of the West is committed to sustainable finance along with our parent company BNP Paribas. Through Digital Channels and offices across the U.S., Bank of the West provides financial tools and resources to more than 2 million individuals, families and businesses. 2021 Bank of the West. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California. Connect with us SOURCE Bank of the West Related Links http://www.bankofthewest.com Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 54F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. New Jerseys pension fund grew by $6.6 billion in the first half of the fiscal year, closing out 2020 with $83.3 billion in assets, Division of Investment Director Corey Amon announced Wednesday. From July 1 to Dec. 31, the pension fund returned 14.8%, ahead of its benchmark and double its long-term assumed rate of return. For calendar year 2020, the pension fund delivered a 10.75% return, according to a Division of Investment report. The pension fund benefited from strong public market returns in the new fiscal year, Amon said, noting the preliminary investment returns of 14.8% do not reflect up-to-date private-market valuations. Its likely, however, once updated those valuations will push the funds returns higher. Its been a really remarkable roller coaster ride over the past year and were certainly grateful for the types of returns the cap markets have provided and helped strengthen the financial position of the pension fund along the way, Amon told the State Investment Council during a virtual meeting Wednesday. The good news carried into 2021, with the fiscal year returns up about 17% as of Monday, Amon said. New Jerseys pension fund, among the worst-funded in the U.S., supports the retirement of about 800,000 active and retired state and local government workers. Between July 1, 2019 and June 30 which Amon described as a challenging global economic and investment environment the fund generated a 1.2% return, far short of its long-range target. Pension fund assets were valued at $76.7 billion at the end of the fiscal year. The pension fund was not immune to the adverse impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the global economy and on investment returns, Amon said. Fiscal year returns were impacted by certain private market investments, which are inherently longer-term strategies. Investments in real estate and certain private credit strategies, for example, were meaningful detractors to overall returns. Nevertheless, private market investments historically have been one of the pension funds best-performing portfolios, Amon said, and looking forward, we believe the private markets will continue to realize the performance advantage versus public market securities. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. " " .. " " - : - : 23 " . " . : .. .. " 8 5 " .. ". . . ".." . . . 4 . . Advertisement Two gay men begged for mercy as they were caned 77 times each in Indonesia today for breaking Islamic law. Dozens of people witnessed the men, aged 27 and 29, wince in pain and plead for mercy as a team of five enforcers wearing robes and hoods took turns, relieving one another after 40 strokes. The men were arrested in November after residents became suspicious and police broke into their rented room where they were caught having sex, said Heru Triwijanarko, Aceh's acting Sharia police chief. A man accused of having gay sex winces today as he is publicly caned by a member of the Sharia police in Indonesia's ultra-conservative Aceh province Crowds throng and some people take pictures as a gay man is lashed by a member of the Sharia police in Indonesia's ultra-conservative Aceh province today A man accused of engaging in homosexual sex composes himself as he prepares to be lashed by a member of the Sharia police in Aceh today. The man is part of a gay couple sentenced to be lashed 80 times for breaking Sharia law A member of the Sharia police (left) flexes his cane before he whips a man accused of having gay sex, in Aceh today The officer's stick shattered as he struck it across one of the men. It was immediately replaced, local media reported. The punishment was briefly halted and the men, both in their twenties, were allowed a drink of water before it continued. The mother of one man fainted at the sight of her son being whipped. Each man was flogged 77 times, three lashes less than their original sentence, because they had already served three months in prison. Four others were lashed between 17 and 40 times on the same day, for either drinking alcohol or meeting members of the opposite sex. A man accused of having gay sex recoils as he is whipped by a member of the Sharia police in Aceh today A man accused of having gay sex is publicly caned by a member of the Sharia police in Aceh today A Sharia officer pulls his cane back before whipping a man accused of having gay sex, in Banda Aceh, Aceh province in Indonesia today An Aceh prosecutor displays the rattan rods uses to punish Sharia violators, in Aceh, Indonesia today One woman was caned 17 times after being found with her boyfriend. 'Islamic sharia enforcement is final, no matter who it is, and even visitors must respect local norms,' public order official Heru Triwijanarko told AFP. The official said he suspected 'several locations for homosexual practice' in the region which are 'difficult to reveal'. He called on the public to report their suspicions of behaviour which breaks sharia. A man bows his head as he is caned by a member of Sharia police in Indonesia's Aceh province A municipal officer watches a man, who is accused of having gay sex in Aceh, before he is publicly caned today A woman kneels as a Sharia officer poises to cane her during a public punishment for breaking Sharia law. The woman was sentenced to lashes for meeting with her boyfriend A woman is publicly caned by a member of the Sharia police in Banda Aceh today. She was caught in close proximity to her boyfriend, which is considered to break Sharia law Gay sex is not illegal elsewhere in Indonesia and Aceh is the only region in the world's biggest Muslim nation that imposes the Sharia law. In Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, public flogging is a common punishment for a range of offences that include gambling, drinking alcohol and adultery. Human rights groups slam public caning as cruel, and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has called for it to end. But it has strong support among Aceh's population. The region started using religious law after it was granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency. The population of Russia contracted by 510,000 over 2020 to 146.238 mln people as of January 1, 2021, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said on Thursday, TASS reports. The Russian population was 146.748 mln as of January 1, 2020. According to statistical data, such population decline was recorded 15 years ago, when it dropped from 143.8 mln in 2005 to 143.2 mln as of 2006 year-start. The annual increase was registered since 2010. The population did not drop lower than 146.8 mln since 2017 and the first dramatic decline was registered in 2021. Pfizer is expecting to enter fresh talks with the Australian Government about providing millions more doses of it coronavirus vaccine. The federal government has a deal for enough doses to vaccinate five million people with the vaccine, which received provisional approval earlier in the week, but is seeking more. Pfizer Australia's market access director Louise Graham told a Senate inquiry the company anticipated new negotiations about a further allocation could start in coming weeks. 'The allocation to Australia is 10 million doses. We expect to be in future discussions about the ability to increase that,' she told the hearing on Thursday. The federal government has a deal for enough doses to vaccinate five million people with the vaccine, which received provisional approval earlier in the week Ms Graham revealed it was Pfizer that approached the government about the initial deal in June last year ahead of the agreement being finalised in December. Pfizer Australia medical director Krishan Thiru said the company was on track to deliver vaccines in time for the scheduled rollout in late February. Test results have shown the Pfizer vaccine to have a high level of efficacy in preventing the onset of serious symptoms and therefore death from Covid-19. However a new study from Israel - the international leader in administering vaccines to its population - shows most recipients of the Pfizer jab could still catch and therefore spread the virus even after receiving the vaccine. The study by the Clalit Research Institute found that in the two weeks after receiving the jab, 'no difference in infection rates was observed between those who were vaccinated and those who were not vaccinated.' However, after the two weeks had passed, there was a reduced rate of infection among the vaccinated, according to a report in Forbes.com. Mr Thiru played down reports the European Union would block the exporting of the Pfizer vaccine outside the EU so as to ensure supply in that continent as a priority. 'Our understanding is it's not an export control, it's a notification process on where doses are going outside of Europe,' Dr Thiru said. 'It's obviously critical that governments do not impose export restrictions that could potentially disrupt supply.' Pfizer Australia medical director Krishan Thiru said the company was on track to deliver vaccines in time for the first jabs to be administered in late February The rival AstraZeneca vaccine is due to deliver 1.2 million doses to Australia from Europe before CSL pumps out a further 50 million manufactured in Melbourne. AstraZeneca Australia market access director Alice Morgan said the imports were on track to arrive in late February or early March despite concerns in Europe. 'I would acknowledge it is a fluid situation and there are factors which could be out of our control,' she told the hearing. Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd has confirmed AstraZeneca's timetable to produce vaccine doses in Australia is running ahead of schedule. 'This supply is now projected to commence in late March, earlier than previously expected, delivering one million doses per week,' Professor Kidd told reporters in Canberra. 'It is projected that two million domestically produced doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be supplied in late March.' Dr Thiru also explained why Australia would wait up to six weeks for Pfizer vaccinations to start when other countries had rolled out days after approval. AstraZeneca is due to deliver 1.2 million doses from Europe before CSL pumps out a further 50 million in Melbourne throughout the year AstraZeneca Australia market access director Alice Morgan said the imports were on track to arrive in late February or early March despite concerns in Europe Samples from the batch need to be sent to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for approval before the remainder of the doses are sent. 'The overall process takes a few weeks,' Dr Thiru said. Both companies are confident vaccines can be quickly updated to combat new strains. CSL knocked back invitations to appear at the hearing, saying it was too busy, despite the committee considering its evidence essential. New polling shows four in five Australians are willing to be vaccinated, with men keener than women to receive the jab once it becomes available. A Roy Morgan survey of 1648 people found 85 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women would be willing to take it. The overall figure of 79 per cent is two points up from the most recent poll in mid-January, but remains below the high of 87 per cent at the onset of the pandemic. Cybercops Derail Malware Botnet, FBI Makes Ransomware Arrest THE HAGUE, NetherlandsEuropean and North American cyber cops have joined forces to disrupt what may be the worlds largest network for seeding malware infections. The operation appears to strike a major blow against criminal gangs that have used that network for years to install ransomware for extortion schemes and to steal data and money. Separately, the FBI announced the arrest Wednesday of a Canadian as part of a bid to disrupt a ransomware gang that has targeted the health care sector, but has also hit municipalities, law enforcement and school districts, mostly in the United States. The FBI said it seized nearly half a million dollars in cryptocurrency. European Union police and the judicial agencies Europol and Eurojust said Wednesday that investigators took control of the infrastructure behind the botnet known as Emotet. A botnet is a network of hijacked computers typically used for malicious activity; this one has effectively served as a primary door-opener for cybercriminals since 2014. This is a really big deal, said Allan Liska, an analyst with Recorded Future. Emotet was one of the largest, if not the largest, botnets delivering a wide variety of malware. Their botnet consisted of hundreds of thousands compromised hosts which were used to send more than 10 million spam and phishing emails a week. The Emotet model of recent years was a game changer for ransomware gangs who otherwise rely on other access methods, said Jake Williams, president of Rendition Infosec, another cybersecurity firm. Emotet has allowed ransomware gangs to skip the the initial step of penetrating computer networks and instead focus on sowing malware that has crippled networks at Western governments, health care systems and educational institutions. This ransomware scrambles data at the targets, who can only get a decoding software key after paying up. Victims who dont pay risk having the hackers expose their data publicly. Williams said via text message that although someone will eventually fill the gap, theres no question that this will hurt (attackers) and help defenders in the short/mid term. Authorities in the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, the U.K., France, Lithuania, Canada and Ukraine took part in the international operation coordinated by the two Hague-based agencies. Dutch prosecutors said the malware, run out of eastern Europe by a Russian-speaking organization, was first discovered in 2014 and evolved into the go-to solution for cybercriminals over the years. Its been responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in losses beginning with financial theft. They said two of the main servers for the infrastructure were based in the Netherlands and a third in an undisclosed country. The Emotet botnet was effectively used to manage the infection of victims and provide a distributed bulwark against takedown attempts by authorities. Law enforcement agents disrupted Emotet by routing its command-and-control infrastructure to servers they controlled, cutting off criminals from their quarry. Europol said the law enforcement agencies approach was unique and new. Later Wednesday in Washington, the FBI announced an attempt to disrupt NetWalker, a relatively new ransomware strain authorities say was used to extort tens of millions of dollars. According to ransomware expert Brett Callow of the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, NetWalkers victims include Michigan State University, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District in Illinois, the College of Nurses of Ontario and the medical school of the University of California at San Francisco, which paid a $1.1 million ransom. An FBI spokesman said Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins of Gatineau, Quebec, was arrested in the scheme. In a statement, the agency said cryptocurrency worth $454,000 in ransomware income was seized. An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Vachon-Desjardins took part in a scheme to extort an unnamed Tampa, Florida, business. The U.S. will be seeking Vachon-Desjardins extradition, according to Justice Department spokesman Joshua Stueve. Earlier this week, authorities in Bulgaria took down a dark web site that NetWalker used to communicate with its victims, the FBI statement said. The cryptocurrency intelligence firm Chainalysis said NetWalker, which first appeared in August 2019, was among the worlds top five ransomware strains last year. It has extracted more than $46 million in ransoms from more than 300 victims in 27 countries, mostly in the United States, Chainalysis said. Callow said it was too early to say how big of an impact the arrest would have on NetWalker, which is run by Russian speakers who lease the ransomware-as-a-service to criminals who conduct attacks. He said he was not aware of the group using Emotet for distribution. The Emotet and NetWalker operations build on an effort by Microsoft late last year to disrupt a different botnet known as Trickbot that was also used in ransomware attacks. The U.S. National Security Agency was also reported to have tried to take down Trickbot. Costin Raiu, research director at the cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, said the Emotet takedown should impact other cybercriminal groups ability to maintain and grow their botnets. It remains to be seen if they will be able to stage a comeback, be it either as Emotet, or perhaps merge with another group and continue from there. Emotets malicious door-opening software for taking over target computers was delivered in infected email attachments containing Word documents. Dutch prosecutors said different lures used to trick unsuspecting users into opening those attachments included invoices, shipping notices and COVID-19 information. By Mike Corder and Frank Bajak Mumbai should be made a part of Karnataka: Dy CM India oi-Briti Roy Barman Bengaluru, Jan 28: Condemning the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's accusation that Karnataka deliberately changed the name of Belagavi district to 'Belgaum' Karnataka Deputy CM Laxman Sangappa Savadi on Wednesday said that Mumbai should be made a part of the state. "I demand...Central government ensure that Mumbai should be declared a Union Territory. The issue will be resolved once we demand Mumbai," he added. Savadi also said that the Central government should declare Mumbai as a Union Territory. This comes after Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's remarks on "incorporating Marathi-speaking areas in Karnataka" into Maharashtra. "Earlier, we (parts of Belagavi) were a part of the Mumbai region. My demand and the demand of the people in this region is that Mumbai be attached to Karnataka...I demand that the Central government ensure that Mumbai should be declared a Union territory. The issue will be resolved once we demand Mumbai," Savadi said. "We are confident that the judgement will arrive in our favour (Karnataka) in the Supreme Court, whatever may be the petition submitted," Savadi further added. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News Earlier Thackeray said, "Despite the matter being in court, the Karnataka government deliberately changed the name of the disputed region to Belgaum. They made Belgaum the second capital where they also held an assembly session. Here, we think about the law but Karnataka does not. We will bring that part in Maharashtra for sure if we all come together." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 10:49 [IST] Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. Farmers' unions have cancelled their planned march to Parliament on February 1, the Budget Day -- as cracks began to appear in the ongoing agitation against the agri laws after the violence during the tractor parade on Republic Day. However, the farm unions said their agitation against the farm laws will continue and hunger strikes will be held across the country on January 30 on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary to emphasise peace and non-violence. "We have cancelled our plan for a march to Parliament on budget day on February 1. But our agitation will continue and there will be public meetings and hunger strike across the country on January 30," farmer leader Darshan Pal, who has been accused by the police of making inflammatory speeches, said. The decision to hold a hunger strike has come a day after massive violence during their tractor rally in Delhi that left nearly 400 police personnel injured, as the protesters deviated from the routes, clashed with the police and laid siege to the Red Fort. But the farmer leaders alleged that there was a conspiracy behind Tuesday's incidents and demanded a probe. "The conspiracy to defame a peaceful movement of last seven months is now exposed in front of the public. Along with some individuals and organisations, like Deep Sidhu and Kisan Majdoor Sangarsh Committee led by S Satnam Singh Pannu, the government made this movement violent. We clarify again that we dissociate ourselves from the violent actions which took place at Red Fort and other parts of Delhi," Pal said at the press conference. "The tractor parade was hit by a government conspiracy. Deep Sidhu is an RSS man. Police let him go after he hoisted a religious flag at Red Fort," Pal alleged at a press conference. Sidhu is a former aide of actor and BJP MP Sunny Deol. Deol had distanced himself from Sidhu in December after he supported the farmers' agitation. "The parade of the farmers was predominantly peaceful and on the agreed-upon route. We strongly condemn the insult to national symbols, but the farmers' movement cannot be painted as 'violent' as violence was done by a few anti-social elements, who are not associated with us. "Farmers from all borders reached their original place (of protest) after peacefully completing their respective parades yesterday itself," he added. Another farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal claimed that over two lakh tractors and lakhs of people participated in Tuesday's parade and "99.9 percent of the protesters were peaceful". Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav said, "We regret the Red Fort incident and accept its moral responsibility. The incident should be probed. There is a conspiracy behind it." Responding to a question on farmer leaders being named in FIR, Yadav said, "FIR, jail and torture are rewards of movements". As many as 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Darshan Pal, Medha Patkar and Gurnam Singh Chaduni, have been named in an FIR in connection with the violence during the tractor parade. Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur, since November 28, demanding a complete repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops. Also read: Aditya Birla Fashion buys 51% stake in Sabyasachi for Rs 398 crore Also read: Budget 2021: Agency to examine consumer complaints against banks, insurers on anvil Joe Biden's UN Ambassador nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Wednesday remarked that India's bid for the permanent membership of the Security Council (UNSC) was a 'matter of discussion'. Thomas-Greenfield's statement comes even as Joe Biden in his campaign policy last year had affirmed United States' support for India's permanent membership bid. The three previous administrations too had committed their support for India's permanent membership at UNSC. READ: Sullivan Dials Indian NSA Doval, Reaffirms Commitment For Strong, Enduring Relations 'Matter of ongoing discussion' During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley asked Thomas-Greenfield whether India, Germany, Japan, should be permanent members of the UNSC. In her response, Thomas-Greenfield opined that the subject is a matter of discussion with strong arguments. She also spoke about Coffee Club countries' opposition to India's permanent bid. I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that, she said. READ: US Assures 'two-state Solution' To Israel-Palestine Conflict At UNSC In a reference to the Coffee Club's consensus on member countries, Thomas-Greenfield stated that disagreements by those countries are under 'discussion' too. Countries like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt have opposed the permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. However, contrary to Thomas-Greenfield's statement, Joe Biden in his campaign policy had declared support for India's permanent bid to the UNSC. Recognising Indias growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for Indias membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council, Biden Campaigns policy document on Indian-Americans had said last August. 'Two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States': Joe Biden in 2006 In an interview to India Abroad newspaper in 2006, Biden had promised to strengthen ties with India. A policy paper that was released by the Biden Campaign during the US election gave an insight into his methods to achieve the target. "In 2006, Biden announced his vision for the future of US-India relations: "My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States." He has also worked to make that vision a reality, including leading the charge in Congress, working with Democrats and Republicans, to approve the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008," it said. "No common global challenge can be solved without India and the US working as responsible partners. Together, we will continue strengthening India's defense and capabilities as a counter-terrorism partner, improving health systems and pandemic response, and deepening cooperation in areas such as higher education, space exploration, and humanitarian relief," it said. READ: For Peacebuilding, India's UN Envoy TS Tirumurti Pledges $150,000 READ: India unsparing at UNSC: EAM charts 8-pt plan; exposes Pakistan on Dawood, others on vetos (With PTI Inputs) Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When my father was young, a dog saved his life by leaping on a striking snake. Decades later, I watched our overfed ginger cat mourn Dads death, lying every day in the garage where he once worked, rubbing whiskers against his tools. No one who has lived with a pet could deny they have feelings: affection, irritation, fear, perhaps even shame and jealousy, perhaps love. But is their behaviour always what it seems? Did my fathers dog, who was rather unfairly named Bimbo, pounce on the snake to protect him or was some wolfish hunting instinct surfacing at last? Did Max the cat really wonder where Dad had gone or had he just decided to annex the newly available garage? Dogs and cats have been our companions for thousands of years and remain fiercely popular (almost half of Australians now have a dog, for example). Yet serious scientific questions about their inner lives have only been asked in recent decades. Why is it that a dog always seems to know when youre sad? Are cats secretly plotting world domination? How did these two species evolve from the wild into our homes? How do you read their body language? And could they one day learn to talk to us? Researcher and dog trainer Melissa Starling with Kivi the Finnish lapphund (left), Kestral the Portuguese podengo and Erik the Tall, a Swedish vallhund. Credit:Wolter Peeters How did cats and dogs become cats and dogs? A prehistoric puppy thawed from Siberias icy permafrost could solve the mystery of how wolves first became mans best friend. "Dogor" is remarkably well-preserved, just two months old when he died 18,000 years ago, but still with teeth, fur, even whiskers intact. And yet, whenever scientists test his DNA to find out his species, they are stumped. We dont [know] yet whether Dogor is a dog or a wolf or a bit of both, says David Stanton, one of the researchers still testing the pup more than two years after his discovery. Could Dogor be the missing link between wolf and dog? Today the debate is far from settled but most researchers agree pooches evolved from wolves sometime between 15,000 and 32,000 years ago. Advertisement Dogs are the wolves that came in to sit by the campfire, who learnt to work with our ancestors for food, helping them hunt and manage other animals, offering protection and now, increasingly in the modern world, companionship. They evolved at our side, they can read our facial expressions. Even their patented puppy dog eyes offer an evolutionary advantage for dogs, life has become not so much the survival of the fittest but of the cutest. Were wired to respond to them, too, says Melissa Starling, who both trains and researches dogs at the University of Sydney and has her own lively brood at home. We have no defence against puppy dog eyes. Still, dogs today remain 99 per cent wolf (even pugs). The tiny changes in their DNA affect the digestive system, the brain and their rate of physical development (which helps explain the big differences between breeds). Essentially, dogs are well-mannered wolves who can eat grains. Dogor, a perfectly preserved 18,000-year-old pup unearthed from the ice of the Siberian permafrost, could hold the secrets of the first dogs. Credit:Centre for Palaeogenetics/Twitter But dogs are not prized as mans best friend everywhere. In some cultures, they are eaten or considered impure. Cats, too, face their fair share of prejudice. (Just ask my black rescue cat Nox.) And, while both cats and dogs have been carried out of shelters in huge numbers as we weather COVID-19 lockdowns at home, pets are still routinely abandoned to live as strays in the shadows of our cities and towns. Unlike dogs, cats are not social by nature, coming from a long, proud line of solitary felines including tigers and leopards. How then have we tamed these wildcats into wearing collars and posing for Instagram photos? Advertisement It seems it was largely their idea. When agriculture began some 10,000 years ago, the grain attracted rats and mice, which eventually attracted smaller wildcats. Our ancestors quite liked this pest control service and so left out treats to encourage the cats to stay. DNA evidence now shows that domestication has helped cats take over the world shipped out from their original home in the Middle East to just about every continent on earth. Yet cats have not been selectively bred to the same degree as dogs. Even today, they are still considered only semi-domesticated the lion in your living room. Within a few generations in the wild, house cats can revert back to larger, fiercer animals, the feral cats that now wreak such a toll on our wildlife. (This might account for all those mysterious sightings of panthers and leopards in remote corners of Australia.) Nox the cat doesnt like being rushed when hes out walking with his owner, reporter Sherryn Groch. Credit:Luis Ascui Do cats and dogs love us? Any wild animal might become tamer if handled by humans from a young age. And, as our urban sprawl keeps on sprawling, there are even early signs that other animals such as coyotes might be growing more familiar with us. But cats and dogs are different. While they still need to be around humans early to grow up normal (that is, well-behaved), its not just nurture at play. Thousands of years by our side has created some serious chemistry too. Both species have been recorded getting a boost in oxytocin the hormone released when were in love or bonding while being patted by their owners. Dogs seem to get a bigger hit of this molecule damour than cats. Indeed, both dogs and their owners can produce it just by staring into each others eyes (this does not happen between wolves and humans). When US neuroscientist Gregory Berns began training dogs to lie still in noisy MRI machines, he found another promising sign of affection: the reward centre in a dogs brain lights up more powerfully in the presence of its owners scent compared to when its sniffing other humans or dogs. Advertisement Twenty-five years ago, Jeffrey Masson, a former psychoanalyst from California, wrote his first bestselling book on animals When Elephants Weep and found himself accused of that great intellectual sin: anthropomorphising (attributing human traits to animals or objects). But, today, most scientists agree that animals can have complex, even profound emotions. Masson himself believes dogs are now better at loving than people are. Just as you cant be as content as a cat, no one will ever love you like your dog, he says. They love purely. He recalls a tiny puppy he rescued from a car crash when he was studying in India. The pair became inseparable until it was time for Masson to return home to the States. He found the dog, which hed named Puppy, a loving new family and had the tearful goodbye. But, the next day as he was farewelling a professor at his university, there came a sudden banging and scratching at the door. It was Puppy. I still cant understand it. Someone even swore later they had seen Puppy hop on and off a bus to the university. A cat named Tardar Sauce, but known to the internet as Grumpy Cat, became famous for her signature frown, though her owners swore she was actually a sweet girl. With cats, love is a little more complicated. They are famously independent, even aloof at times. They require wooing, chin scratches, multiple openings of tin cans. And even then its hard to ignore that cold look of disdain from the top of the bookshelf while doing your morning yoga routine. Loading Cats are so graceful, everything they do is aesthetically pleasing, says Masson. Of course, not everything we do is pleasing to them But they choose us, theyre capable of deep affection. If youve ever shared a bed with a cat, youll know. They really settle in, they purr. Advertisement Still, cats are not necessarily faithful. One of Massons own once migrated next door. And my neighbour didnt even like cats [at first]. The fickleness of cats is why many scientists are still loathe to study them in the lab. To test one cat, you need three, they will say, as the other two will probably withdraw consent halfway through. They are notoriously difficult, says Federico Rossano, who works with animals of all shapes and sizes as director of the Comparative Cognition Lab at the University of California. We saw a huge boost in research into dogs starting from the '90s but we havent seen the same with cats. But when they do participate, they can give us great results, even match the dogs sometimes. At the University of Oregon, Kristyn Vitale and Monique Udell have run groundbreaking experiments showing that cats display the same signs of attachment to their owners as dogs. Even more astounding, theyve shown that cats prefer interacting with people over toys and, yes, food, and will seek out humans who pay attention to them. Because domestication has made cats and dogs reliant on us, both species live in a kind of permanent juvenile mindset, Vitale says, where we become almost a surrogate mother. Its why you see cats purring and kneading with their paws the same behaviours kittens usually grow out of. Sherryns other rescue cat Ziggy heads off on an evening stroll. Credit:CREDIT: SHERRYN GROCH How do cats and dogs perceive the world? Humans tend to see the world first dogs smell it. For dogs (and to a lesser extent cats), smell is the primary sense and the world is one aromatic buffet of informative scents. The nose of a dog is at least 10,000 times more powerful than your own it can sniff out storms before a whisper of rain is on the air, find cancer cells in our blood, or catch a familiar scent up to 20 kilometres away. We have bred dogs to help us hunt and now we train them for more modern jobs such as sniffing out bombs, drugs, even COVID. Squads of coronavirus-sniffing canines, for example, are already being trialled in some airports around the world (but dont expect a pooch to replace the eye-watering Q-tip test any time soon). Advertisement Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Belgian Malinois, the dog breed that helped the US Navy Seal team in tracking and killing former Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, is likely to be part of the Indian Army soon. The Print, quoting sources in the defence and security establishment, reported that some Army units already have these dogs, and a formal decision is now being taken to ensure more units get these canine soldiers in an institutionalised manner. The canines will be reportedly used for urban warfare, especially in military operations that require rooms in buildings to be recced or searches to be carried out in jungles or orchards. Sources said the Belgian Malinois are being trained to carry out surveillance of rooms through head-mounted cameras and for scouting in the jungles, The Print reported. The K9 unit of the ITBP, which patrols high-altitude regions, already has Belgian Malinois in its team. The Maharashtra police, too, has written to the department concerned and the Director-General of Police (DGP) to acquire the Belgian Malinois for Naxal-hit areas. WINNIPEG - Peter Nygard will remain in jail for another week despite his lawyers laying out an updated bail plan for the Canadian fashion king who faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges in the United States. Fashion mogul Peter Nygard is shown during a bail hearing in Winnipeg on Jan. 19, 2021, in this courtroom sketch. Lawyers for Nygard are back in court today arguing for his release as the Canadian fashion mogul faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in the United States. Nygard, who is 79, was arrested last month in Winnipeg under the Extradition Act and faces nine counts in the southern District of New York. His lawyers are expected to present a new bail plan after the judge presiding over the bail hearing criticized the previous one. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tadens Mpwene - POOL WINNIPEG - Peter Nygard will remain in jail for another week despite his lawyers laying out an updated bail plan for the Canadian fashion king who faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges in the United States. Nygard, 79, was arrested last month in Winnipeg under the Extradition Act and faces nine counts in the Southern District of New York. Court of Queen's Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg said she needs time to decide whether Nygard should be released and has reserved her decision until Feb. 5. His lawyers told court a security company has been hired to provide 24-hour video surveillance of Nygards home if he should be granted bail. There would also be a security guard on the premises. William Dietterle, president of BIL Security, told court it would cost about $20,000 to install the military-grade cameras and an additional $3,000 a month for monitoring. Federal lawyers questioned how Nygard would pay for the security if his finances are in such dire straits as he has said. Scott Farlinger, a lawyer for the Attorney General of Canada, added that video surveillance ends at the property's perimeter and would not ensure Nygard follows the rules for his release. "It doesn't prevent anyone from jumping on an aircraft," he said. Fashion mogul Peter Nygard is shown during a bail hearing in Winnipeg on Jan. 19, 2021, in this courtroom sketch. THE CANADIAN PRESS/La Liberte Manitoba, Tadens Mpwene - POOL Nygard's lawyers have said his life is at risk behind bars due to the spread of COVID-19 and his health conditions, including diabetes and a pacemaker. Federal lawyers have told court Nygard has the means to flee and the charges he faces in the U.S. are too serious for his release. Authorities there accuse him of using his influence in the fashion industry to lure women and girls with the promise of modelling and other financial opportunities. They allege that for 25 years Nygard targeted women and underage girls from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and forcibly sexually assaulted them. A full package of extradition materials from U.S. prosecutors is not expected to be provided to Canadian authorities until February. Nygard's lawyers have said it's unfair to keep him behind bars without complete information on the allegations. "It's so inherently wrong that it flies in the face of fairness," said Richard Wolson, one of Nygard's lawyers. Nygard appeared in a Winnipeg courtroom by video from the correctional centre, where he is being held. He wore a grey shirt with white stains on the front and a large black belt. He had a mask over his face butoccasionallymoved it, revealing a white moustache and beard. His long grey and white hair was tied in a bun at the back of his head. Greenberg last week criticized a previous bail plan after court heard a home that a former company executive offered as a place for Nygard to stay was purchased with Nygard's own money. Nygard's lawyers said the additional video monitoringprovidesassurances beyond what is normally required for bail. Another Nygard lawyer, Jay Prober, told court it's difficult to find people to publicly say they would ensure that Nygard follows bail conditions because of widespread media coverage of the allegations. Federal lawyers said if Nygard is released, he must stay on house arrest, report to RCMP weekly, wear an ankle monitor and remain in Winnipeg. He would also need approval from the attorney general if he is unable to appear in court for any reason. Nygard founded his fashion company in 1967 in Winnipeg, where it grew from a partial stake in a women's garment manufacturer to a brand name sold in stores around the world. He stepped down as chairman of the company after the FBI and police raided his offices in New York City last February. Nygard is also the subject of a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. involving 57 women with similar allegations. Two of Nygard's sons have filed a separate lawsuit against him that alleges they were statutorily raped at his direction as teenagers. Prober has said his client denies all the allegations against him. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2021 South Australia will lift the Covid-19 border restrictions for travellers from the Greater Sydney area from Sunday as the state zeroes in on a 'baseline' level of local virus measures. Travellers will not be required to quarantine but must have a coronavirus test on days one, five and 12. They must also isolate until they receive a negative result from the day one test. New South Wales has gone 11 consecutive days with no community transmission on Thursday. Passengers wearing face masks check in for a Qantas Boeing 737-800, flight number QF735 from Sydney to Adelaide at Sydney Airport on September 24, 2020 The South Australian border sign is seen near the SA border 5kms east of Pinnaroo, South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the change could be reviewed if any new cases emerged in Sydney during the next two days. But he said he was confident it would reach SA's threshold of 14 days without community transmission. NSW reported no new cases again on Thursday, for the 11th day in a row. 'This is the most reasonable step we can put in place that allows that freedom of movement between NSW and South Australia,' he said. 'We're trying to find that middle ground where we're protecting South Australians but enabling as much travel as possible between states and territories. 'This is a good step forward.' Mr Stevens said SA would also remove the requirement for Sydney travellers to get tested as soon as possible. At that point, the freedom of movement between SA and other states was likely to be at its highest since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Health authorities are seen testing people in cars at Victoria Park Covid testing centre on November 17, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia The measures in place until Sunday prevent people from Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong from entering SA and have been in place since the Covid-19 outbreak in the city's northern beaches area. No other restrictions are in place for travellers from any other states or territories. The commissioner said South Australia was also 'really close' to reaching a point where local restrictions would remain for the foreseeable future. 'I don't know if we're going to see too many more changes in relation to what we can free up while at the same time managing Covid if it does come into South Australia,' he said. 'We'll continue to revisit that and we're looking at what a baseline level of restrictions and activity might look like and formalising that so everyone has a clear understanding of what that is.' South Australian Police stopping vehicles near the SA border 5kms east of Pinnaroo, South Australia, Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Mr Stevens said police were also providing advice to the government on when the state's major emergency declaration could be revoked. But he said under the current rules it was needed to enforce existing measures, including the use of masks, QR codes and the requirement for virus testing. SA reported no new Covid-19 cases on Thursday and has no active infections. Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Mike Cusack said the state had now gone seven days with no new cases, either in the community or in hotel quarantine. But he urged anyone with even the mildest of symptoms to get checked, describing a recent fall in testing numbers as 'cause for anxiety' among health officials. WASHINGTON A newly elected Republican member of the House known for conspiratorial social media posts spread a false theory that PG&E started the devastating Camp Fire in 2018 with space lasers in a clean-energy experiment gone awry, according to a new report. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has since deleted the Facebook post in which she made the suggestion, according to Media Matters for America, a left-leaning research outlet. But the group released a screen grab of the November 2018 post in which Greene detailed a long, meandering conspiracy theory involving Pacific Gas and Electric Co., former Gov. Jerry Brown, Sen. Dianne Feinsteins husband, space-based solar generators and unnamed people who claimed to have seen what looked like lasers or blue beams of light causing the fires. The idea is clean energy to replace coal and oil, Greene wrote. If they are beaming the suns energy back to Earth, Im sure they wouldnt ever miss a transmitter receiving station right??!! The post includes references to the Rothschild Inc. investment firm, a frequent subject of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that are monitored by the Anti-Defamation League. It also falsely alleges the fire that ripped through Butte County was along the path of the states planned high-speed rail line, which in reality is hundreds of miles to the south. Greenes post came as the Camp Fire was in the process of being contained but had already ravaged the town of Paradise and nearby communities. The blaze was the deadliest in the states history, killing 85 people and destroying nearly 20,000 structures. The fire was actually sparked by PG&E electrical equipment, and the company later pleaded guilty to 85 felony charges, including 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter. PG&E, which filed for bankruptcy protection a few months after the blaze, agreed to a $13.5 billion settlement with victims of the fire. Greenes office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Neither did Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale (Butte County), whose district includes the areas devastated by the Camp Fire. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, who worked to keep wildfire disaster relief for California from being cut off by former President Donald Trump, has faced questions about Greenes place in the House. A spokesperson said Thursday that reported comments by Greene are deeply disturbing, and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them. Greene has been under scrutiny over her social media presence, including posts trafficking in conspiracy theories related to QAnon and questioning school shootings. In recent days, social media sleuths have uncovered a video of her harassing a survivor of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, and CNN reported she had indicated support for executing Democratic members of Congress. In a news conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said Greenes past comments should reflect poorly on House GOP leadership, which has assigned her to the committee that handles education policy. Its really beyond the pale, Pelosi said. Assigning her to the education committee when she has mocked the killing of little children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when she has mocked the killing of teenagers in high school ... what could they be thinking, or is thinking too generous a word for what they might be doing? Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan President Joe Biden's administration has temporarily paused some pending arms sales to U.S. allies in order to review them, a U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday. Reviews of this sort are typical for a new administration, but Donald Trump's administration was doing deals down to the wire, including one for 50 stealthy F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin as a side deal to the Abraham accords inked only moments before Biden was sworn into office. The Department is temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending U.S. defense transfers and sales under Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review, the official said. The F-35 jets are a major component of a $23 billion sale of high-tech armaments from General Atomics, Lockheed and Raytheon Technologies Corp to the United Arab Emirates. On hold: 50 F-35s like these had been sold to the United Arab Emirates but that deal will now be reviewed Deal: Saudi's Prince Mohammed bin Salman's purchase of 7,500 smart bombs is on hold as Joe Biden's administration examine it Saudi Arabia signed a deal for 7,500 precision-guided bombs with Raytheon, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at his first State Department briefing, expressed support for the Abraham Accords granting recognition to Israel from several countries. 'As we've said, we very much support the Abraham accords,' he said. 'We think that Israel normalizing relations with its neighbors and other countries in the region is a very positive development and so we applaud them. And we hope that there may be an opportunity to build on them in the months and years ahead,' he said. But he said he wanted a 'full understanding' of any commitments that may have been made, when asked about F-35 jet sales to the United Arab Emirates and arms to Saudi Arabia. On a post-earnings conference call with investors on Tuesday, Raytheon's management said 'with the change in administration, it becomes less likely that we're going to be able to get a license' for a direct commercial sale of offensive weapons worth about $500 million to a Middle East customer. Raytheon did not give the name of the customer. 'The UAE will work closely with the Biden administration on a comprehensive approach to Middle East peace and stability,' the UAE ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement posted on the Embassy Twitter account. 'The F-35 package is much more then selling military hardware to a partner, Like the US, it allows the UAE to maintain a strong deterrent to aggression. 'In parallel with new dialogue and security cooperation, it helps to reassure regional partners' Al Otaiba said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Seventy-six years to the day after the Nazi death camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland were liberated, seventh-graders at Albuquerques Bosque School heard about the horrors of that experience firsthand from a Holocaust survivor, who now lives in Israel. Gita (Giselle) Cycowicz, 93, spoke to the children during an online Zoom conference on Wednesday, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. An estimated 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. The students have been studying the Holocaust since the beginning of the school year. They listened to interviews with survivors recorded by Steven Spielbergs Shoah Foundation and other sources and then created art, because art helps us tell stories and it humanizes, said Bosque teacher and librarian Barbara Lazar. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ These students are now entrusted with the memory, and through their own art have a better understanding of the Holocaust, and how survivors stayed connected and found strength, Lazar said. Cycowicz was the youngest of three sisters in the Czechoslovak town of Chust in the Carpathian Mountains. By the time Cycowicz was 12, Chust was occupied by Hungary, which collaborated with the Nazi regime. They kicked the Jewish children out of school, and then they took away my fathers license and the license of every Jewish person to do business, Cycowicz said. The family had no income but stayed in their home for five years until 1944, when Jewish citizens were sent to a ghetto in a nearby town before being transported in railroad cattle cars to the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex. One of Cycowiczs older sisters had already been arrested and was not with them. In the chaos and confusion of exiting the cars, Cycowicz was separated from her parents and sister, just as the guards were making their selection about who would be put to death and who would be put to work, she said. For most of her time in the camp, Cycowicz lived in an unheated womens barracks, lying on bare wooden planks in a three-tiered bunk, with each bunk shared by several women who had to sleep on their sides. She wore the same clothing that had been issued to her on arrival and her shoes were worn out. None of the women was given underwear, socks or coats. Dysentery and other diseases were rampant throughout the camp. The women stood outside for hours each morning and evening for a roll call, and each sustained themselves on one piece of bread daily. Much of the time, Cycowicz said, there was nothing at all to do, though eventually she and other women were put to work in a nearby factory, where they toiled for more than 12 hours a day. By the time Russian soldiers liberated the camp, Cycowicz said, she and the other women were so exhausted, hungry and depressed that they didnt even have the energy to shout for joy. She, her sisters and their mother survived. Her father did not. Eventually, the family made its way to the United States, where Cycowicz married, had three children and earned a doctorate in psychology. Widowed at age 65, she joined her children living in Israel. Her advice to the Bosque School children was to get an education and let go of anger, which is poison for you and the other people you deal with, she said. None of this was lost on the Bosque students. The main thing I took from this is you cant lose hope, said Alyssa Bierer. You just have to keep fighting, no matter how hard it is, and you have to release your anger. Allison Erickson said Cycowiczs story really makes you think how hard a life can be, and the importance of family and friends. She also wanted to know what made the Nazis think it was OK in any way to hurt children, and tear them away from their families and totally traumatize them all for life. Alex Starr said he was struck by the senselessness of the Nazis treatment, and stressed the need to treat people with respect, and to love each other. Wes Anderson is one of the film industry's greatest living auteurs, as his films are shot in a way that makes them look as if they are cartoons that came to life, which is an aesthetic with which cinephiles have been enamored over the years. There are only a few directors in the history of cinema with a trademark style. Anderson's meticulous eye for detail and visual aesthetic has seen him become one of the world's most prolific filmmakers. The director spent the last 30-plus years creating a signature style. It is easy to recognize a Wes Anderson movie by its costumes, color schemes, and tone. Anyone with a pair of eyes can appreciate the uniforms (due to his characters never appearing to change clothes that much), the bespoke Monogrammed Louis Vuitton luggage, the outlandish, reason-be-damned plans, and the signature deadpan facial expressions of beloved characters. Notice how the characters walk in a straight line and how everything follows a rigid four to a five-color palette, reported Wonder. Auteur Wes Anderson's Masterpieces Here are overviews for every Wes Anderson film: 1. 'Bottle Rocket' (1996) Wes Anderson's initial film started life as a 20-minute black and white short, accessible on YouTube. He collaborated with fellow Texans, Owen, and Luke Wilson, who play friends Anthony and Dignan trying their damndest to get mixed up in local crime, reported NME. The output sees Anderson's well-documented quirks arising to shine. 2. 'The Darjeeling Limited' (2007) This film does not work despite having the vigor of other Anderson films. It is unmistakably an output of the director, but it tends to showcase Anderson's worst tendencies, including obvious visual symbolism (the guys casting off their baggage), reducing minorities down to stereotypes, and characters whose idiosyncrasies skew into the cringeworthy, according to Collider. Its saving grace is that there is an apparent heart that beats beneath all the flourishes. Anderson's breakout feature is "Rushmore." The movie stars Anderson favorites Bill Murray and Jason Scwartzman. It was delightfully ahead of its time, seeing Anderson become the poster boy for quirky independent cinema. The movie has a laugh-out-loud sense of humor while simultaneously dark and poetic. 4. 'The Royal Tenenbaums' (2002) "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the archetypal Wes Anderson film. It showcases the fountain of comedy and tragedy he is capable of finding in dysfunctional families. Gene Hackman plays the character of Royal Tenenbaum -- the long-absent and peculiar patriarch of a formerly famous family of kid geniuses. His return and successive attempt to make amends with his already-grown children alter their lives and everyone else's around them. 5. 'Isle of Dogs (2018)' The film is excellent alongside its many layers of visual splendor. Its pacing is at a breakneck speed with the director's vision of an alternate-future Japan features a villainous mayor who decrees all dogs should be isolated to nearby Trash Island due to an outbreak of "Snout Fever." Troubled over losing his pooch, the mayor's ward pilots a plane out to Trash Island and end up crash landing. A team of mangy mutts rescue him and assist in his search for the missing dog. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two groups in the Volta Region have backed the nomination of Dr Archibald Yao Letsa as Minister-designate for Volta Region. The two groups, the Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and the Concerned NPP Grassroots both in the Volta Region, have therefore asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to ignore calls for his rejection. MDCEs A statement signed by the Dean of MDCEs, Mr Edmund Kudjoe Attah, last Monday, described the nomination of Dr Archibald Yao Letsa as welcome news which met their expectation. "It must be stated that Dr Letsa has and will remain a party steward of many years standing who has worked diligently and won the admiration of many people from all walks of life in the region and even out of the region. Under his leadership, we have witnessed massive developmental projects across all districts of our region." Context Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region calling themselves Volta NPP Grassroots For Justice, together with regional and constituency party executive members, last Monday, embarked on a demonstration to register their displeasure over the nomination of Dr Letsa as the Volta Regional Minister-designate. The demonstration, dubbed "Enough is enough," saw hundreds of protesters take to the streets of Ho, where they called on the President to rescind his decision and provide the region with a minister who would be accepted by all. Dialogue But the MDCEs in their statement advised the group to use dialogue as the best option available while calling on leadership to fasttrack their processes in resolving the concerns of the people. It asked the group to reconsider their actions and halt their intended demonstrations. Grassroots for Letsa At a press conference organised by the Concerned NPP Grassroots, the convenor, Mr Forster Kofi Hans Badzana, said they were in support of the renomination of Dr Letsa as Regional Minister-designate. "The selfish interest of the very few which is manifestly being displayed in agitations must not be given currency, for the good of the Volta Region surpasses any interest," he stated. Mr Badzana therefore urged President Akufo-Addo to remain resolute in his nomination of Dr Letsa, as the best choice for the position. Source: Graphic.com.gh 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 Nearly 400 policemen were injured during the tractor parade taken out by protesting farmers on 26 January New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday visited two hospitals to enquire about the health of policemen injured in the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on Republic Day, officials said. Nearly 400 policemen were injured during the tractor parade of the farmers who have been protesting against three central farm laws at Delhi's borders since November. Meeting the injured Delhi Police personnel. We are proud of their courage and bravery. https://t.co/7ooTwEf06x Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 28, 2021 The home minister visited two hospitals Shushrut Trauma Centre and Teerath Ram Hospital to enquire about the health of the injured police personnel, an official from the Home Ministry said. Both the hospitals are located in Civil Lines. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava accompanied the home minister. During the visit, Shah interacted with policemen and also took stock of their health progress from doctors. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the parade that was supposed to be held from 12 pm to 5 pm with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. From Rajpath to Red Fort, the day unfolded in scenes of contrasts. One that Indians have seen for seven decades and the other that seared itself into collective memory with its imagery of protesters demanding a repeal of the three farm laws storming the Mughal era monument, the centrepiece of India's Independence Day celebrations. Clashes broke out in multiple places, leading to violence in well-known landmarks of Delhi and its suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day. A protester died after his tractor overturned near ITO, one of the major flashpoints of trouble. New Delhi, Jan 28 : After the tractor rally organised by the farmers' unions on Republic Day turned violent in the national capital, the situation is tense at the Ghazipur border where security has been beefed up, while Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait too is looking under pressure. The District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) are keeping a vigil on the situation. The farmers sitting on protest at the Ghazipur border are also not certain about the future of the agitation, and many of them have started removing the tents. However, when asked why they are removing the tents, they said that it's cold there, so they are moving under the flyover. Not only the police, but the farmers are also keeping a tight vigil on the suspicious people at the protest site. Tikait caught a person and handed him over to the police as he appealed to the farmers to keep an eye on such people. The farmers are also formulating strategies about the future of the protest. On Thursday evening, the police talked to Tikait and asked him to leave the protest site, but the latter accused the administration of trying to kill him. He said, "They are hatching a conspiracy to kill me in the name of arrest. Unwanted elements with arms are being sent to the protest site in vehicles with stickers of Lucknow Assembly. I will commit suicide, but won't take back the protest till the laws are repealed." "The Supreme Court has also justified the peaceful protest. No incident of violence has been reported from the Ghazipur border. Despite this, the government is pressurising us. This is the real face of the Uttar Pradesh government. We will continue to protest and demand a judicial inquiry into the Red Fort incident," he added. "The Supreme Court has not given any decision on the petition regarding the protest. The district administration cannot be bigger than the Supreme Court. I will file a petition against it in the top court tomorrow," Tikait said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Speaker of Council, Councillor Vasco Da Gama, Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Kevin Wax, Chair of Chairs, Councillor Alex Christians, Members of the Mayoral Committee, Fellow Councillors, City Manager, Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Media, But most importantly, the residents of our City of Johannesburg. Today, I stand before you to deliver the 3rd State of the City Address under this multi-party government. Today's occasion has its origins in the Local Government Elections of the 3rd of August 2016 - in which the majority of the people of this great City, demanded change. It was not just the demand for change to redress the painful legacy of our past. It was a demand for change from the previous 22 years of the failed government that took our City in the wrong direction. Those elections were a lesson to all of us. It was a lesson that our hard-won political freedom is not enough. Our freedom has to translate into the dignity of work that provides for families and the sense of belonging that comes from government delivering critical services. Those elections were about that significant moment in April 1994 being destroyed by the arrogance, corruption, and neglect of a government that promised the world but, just, never seemed to get around to delivering. Our residents exercised their power by installing a multi-party coalition government, as a means to check two-decades of arrogance that had arisen from single-party dominance. Our mandate was made crystal clear from day one; deliver change - deliver it widely and deliver it quickly. In the beginning, we had to come to terms with the challenges that we would have to overcome along the way. Unless these institutional barriers to success were quantified, unless strategies were developed to address them, the change would remain a dream. I have spoken of these institutional barriers at length and will continue to do so at every turn. I do this because the quantum of these backlogs is so great, and it's legacy so severe, that overcoming them is a journey we must travel together. Infrastructure backlogs exceeding R170 billion characterised the service delivery landscape. 4,000 km of broken roads and 700 crumbling bridges arose from a R18 billion backlog in our transport network. A staggering housing backlog of over 300 000 units has led to a legacy of land desperation, backyard dwellings, and shack farming. Far more housing is needed for those belonging to the missing middle and those in need of student accommodation. Electricity outages produced from a R60 billion backlog in our electricity network results in over 170 000 power outages each year. We had to contend with water stoppages resulting from a water network backlog of R18 billion which sprung over 45 000 leaks, losing 107 billion litres of this precious resource, each year. We found just over 200 informal settlements in which our residents lived in the most appalling conditions. Many of our fellow residents were forced to live without the dignity that arises from even the most basic forms of services or sanitation. This was the truly daunting inheritance the multi-party government had to come to terms with. Added to this, were institutionalised levels of fraud, corruption, and maladministration which now total more than R24 billion in transactions under investigation. There can be no doubt, after what we have seen, that the culture of looting went right to the top. Needless to say, the task of turning the City around, and overcoming the legacy left to us by previous governments, proved to be enormous. Put simply, the multi-party government has to, not only redress the legacy of our unjust past that still defines the most unequal City in the world. It also has to correct the legacy of the last 2 decades, which delivered little more after the attainment of political freedom. Our path to delivering change is a journey. And, like any journey, there are hills and valleys. But by knowing where we come from, by planning the route ahead, together, we will arrive at our destination. A destination of a City where all of its residents prosper from the change that stops corruption, delivers services and creates jobs. We call it, Diphetogo. It means real, transformative and lasting changes. Diphetogo recognises that we must prioritise the basics of local government that have been so neglected. We must concentrate expenditure on the most pressing needs of our communities, making the trade-offs required in the process. Upon coming into office, the multi-party government was able to identify over R400 million in non-essential, government expenditure and programs which could be re-directed towards improving essential service delivery to communities. In the 2017/18 financial year, we continued these efforts, achieving further savings. We ended the City's delusions of grandeur, delusions which saw the delivery of bicycle lanes before the delivery of toilets in our informal settlements. This is how our multi-party government has increased Capex budget allocations on Housing, Transport, Electricity, Water and Roads from 58% in 2015/16 to 71% in 2019/20 budget. This is how our multi-party government has increased the budget for electrifying informal settlements from a feeble R260 million over 3 years, to a budget now proposing R750 million over the next 3 years. This is how our multi-party government has achieved higher levels of investment in road resurfacing, electricity grid stabilisation and sewer line replacement than have ever been achieved in the City's history. As we look ahead to the coming financial year, our multi-party government will continue to focus on getting the basics of local government right. Under the theme of Advancing Diphetogo", we have committed ourselves to work harder to accelerate the City's delivery of change to our residents. Ladies and gentlemen, I have always maintained that it is the change that delivers jobs, that holds the greatest prospect for our City and its people. Ultimately, when people find the dignity of work, they have the means to improve their own lives better than the government has ever proven capable of achieving. When this happens, the resources of the government can be focussed on a declining number of people who need our help the most. When this happens, increasing levels of economic activity produce a demand for more businesses that employ more people. The role of an effective government is to create an enabling environment, in which the economic potential of individuals and businesses flourish. This is a key aspect of how we intend on bringing Diphetogo to the City. On this score, the City has turned around its atrocious record of job losses. It is with enormous pride that I tell you today that in 2018, the City of Johannesburg achieved the creation of 110, 000 net new jobs, reducing unemployment by 1.1%. The economic growth rate of our City is growing for the first time in a long time. In the 2017/18 financial year, our economic growth rate increased from 1.4% to 1.7%. I look forward to the 2018/19 data in which we anticipate continued growth. This, ladies and gentlemen, is Real Change. In the 2016/17 financial year, the City achieved R4.5 billion in facilitated investment. At the time this was considered an achievement. By the end of the 2017/18 financial year, the City had facilitated investment worth R8.7 billion. Not being satisfied with this, we set our targets even higher, targeting R16 billion for this current financial year. I am pleased to inform you that as of February this year, our unaudited level of facilitated investment stands at a record-breaking R12 billion, very much on track to achieve R16 billion by June 2019. This, ladies and gentlemen, is Real Change. 2 weeks ago I was able to announce that the 84 properties that have been released to the private sector for low-cost affordable accommodation, have a guaranteed level of investment of R20 billion. I am informed that this is the largest property investment, facilitated by any municipality in the history of our country. The construction sector, which is in decline across our Country, is growing in Johannesburg. From these 84 buildings alone, we will create over 11 000 jobs in Johannesburg. Despite these very positive indications, the reality is that a lot more has to be done. Of particular concern is the epidemic of youth unemployment. Recognising our role in addressing this epidemic, we established the Opportunity Centres. These are spaces where youth and SMMEs can be connected to opportunities and services which can help them gain the critical skills which are proven to be the difference between a small business succeeding or failing. This initiative has been supported by SARS, CIPC, SAICA, SEDA, the Innovation Hub and a number of private sector partners offering a full suite of services to incubate small businesses and access funding. Beyond this, expert trainers assist these small businesses to be more competitive in tendering for City contracts, opening the field to more small business to compete in an environment which previously they could not access. It is an achievement worth noting that, in this current financial year, 22% of our procurement spend has been directed at SMMEs. Since the launch of our first Opportunity Centre in Marshalltown last year, we have gone on to open 3 further Opportunity Centres in Roodepoort and Diepsloot as well as the Orange Farm Business Centre in partnership with Discovery. We are finishing the construction of 3 further Opportunity Centres in Alexandra, Soweto and Randburg by the end of this financial year. This will mean that every one of the City's 7 regions will have an Opportunity Centre up and running before July this year. Through these efforts, 23 277 SMMEs have, to date, been supported since we took office, with the kind of support that increases the prospects of harnessing the potential of small business to generate considerable employment. I cannot express my gratitude enough, to the government organisations and private sector businesses which have offered their expertise in order to make these Opportunity Centres a success. Mrs Thandi Ntunzela first visited the Isiqalo Opportunity Centre in Roodepoort in July 2018. She runs 2 small businesses. When she first approached Isiqalo Opportunity Centre, Ms Ntunzela couldn't yet afford to have a permanent office of her own. She began booking the Hlanganani Small Boardroom and using the free Wi-Fi facilities on a day by day basis, as a workspace to attend to her business and client needs. Ms Ntunzela has received support from the Opportunity Centre in a number of different areas of her businesses, including assistance with legal contracts. Ms Ntunzela has received support to accredit her businesses with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and will also soon meet all requirements to gain accreditation as a training services provider with the Services SETA. Ms Ntunzela is an entrepreneur with an ability to see opportunity where others only see risk. During March of 2019, Ms Ntunzela landed a contract to travel to the Eastern Cape to offer industry-related training. With ongoing support from the Isiqalo Opportunity Centre, and by putting in a tremendous effort herself, Mrs Ntunzela is steadily achieving her goals to grow her businesses to the point where she will now be able to open her own office. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Our multi-party government has instituted programs which specifically aim to target and benefit unemployed young people within our City. In the past year, 200 youth underwent artisan training administered by the City as part of a joint pilot project with the University of Johannesburg. These 200 artisans will emerge as plumbers, electricians, brick-layers and tilers into an industry in which most are approaching retirement age. JOSHCO has also registered 7, 377 youth through the Greater Eldorado Park Youth Skills Development Centre. These young men and women will be trained in Project Management and Call Centre Operations, skills that are much sought after in a modern economy. By the end of this financial year, the City will also be poised to launch the much-awaited Work Seekers Database. The City will go out into communities, and avail our facilities, for qualifying residents to come forward to register. No membership cards will be required, the only criteria will be for unemployed South African citizens. This database will be made available to the private sector and serve to promote the unemployed in Johannesburg, to companies that are hiring. It is our belief that we will be able to link thousands of work seekers with employment opportunities through this database in a manner unlike anything seen before. The database will serve as a resource, where qualifying persons, can register to benefit from temporary work opportunities in the City on a fair and rotational basis. It will connect our unemployed residents to an ever-growing need to match expanding levels of service delivery which requires workers. Most critically, these temporary work opportunities will be accompanied by training and certification that improve the prospects of those workers to be competitive in the market when the time comes for others to benefit. Under the multi-party government, we have already provided 44 030 EPWP work opportunities, with ambitious plans to expand further in meeting our aggressive service delivery plans. Ladies and gentlemen, Johannesburg has served as our country's economic hub, in spite of government and not because of it. This is changing, because we must compete in an ever more competitive world, and be a desirable destination to set up a business. In 2018, the World Bank has recorded an improvement in the score measuring the ease of doing business in Johannesburg. However, we know that more could be done to turn red tape, into red carpets for those capable of employing the unemployed in Johannesburg. To achieve this, we are finalising the capacitation of an investment facilitation unit in Johannesburg. This multi-disciplinary team will involve experts from the relevant Departments and Municipal Entities. Their work will be to receive investment and development proposals in Johannesburg and ensure the fast-tracking of applications. By doing so, Johannesburg will outcompete other municipalities as a destination for investment that guarantees the red carpet treatment. The City remains committed to creating an enabling environment for economic growth and job creation. Central to this commitment is ensuring that we reduce the cost of doing business, incentivise investment, and remove the bureaucratic red-tape that prevents the City from reaching its economic growth target. To give effect to this commitment, in the 2019/20 financial year, the City will be introducing a new Investment Incentives Package. This package is aimed at incentivising labour absorptive sectors that have the potential for growth and providing these sectors with the incentives and support that will allow them to flourish here in Johannesburg. In the year 2019, it is out-dated for the country's economic hub to only be able to process paper-based applications for development. Developers currently have to follow up, in person, to understand the progress of applications. This is not how the country's economic hub should be operating. Before the end of 2019, our Development Planning Department will be launching its new online application process. This process will begin with all development applications of less than 500m2, which form the majority of all applications. The system will ensure that online progress reports are available to applicants and that the structure of the Department is oriented around achieving the fastest turn-around times. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. We are all too aware of how many residents still live under the legacy of apartheid-era spatial planning. Apartheid-era spatial planning sought to push many communities to the very fringes of the City and locked them far away from economic opportunities. Johannesburg is said to have in inward population migration of 3000 people per month. I regard this to be a massively understated figure. This represents a challenge for how we envision spatial planning and housing for the City. I have always held that addressing these challenges cannot possibly be met by government alone. It is for this reason, as a City, we have sought to partner with the private sector in order to create quality affordable housing within the Inner City and along the corridors of freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, The Johannesburg inner-city is full of potential. With 500 derelict buildings, we have the opportunity to provide quality low-cost housing opportunities for the many people who form the 'missing middle' of the housing market. It holds the potential to be a space for small businesses and start-ups, unable to afford the rentals of Rosebank and Sandton. In December 2016, I made the announcement that the multi-party government will turn the Inner City of Johannesburg into a construction site. People laughed at us, they called us mad. Undeterred, we began the process of expropriating derelict buildings and releasing city-owned buildings to the private sector. Through long-term leases, we have been able to ensure that rentals benefit those most in need of these opportunities, and we are engaging Provincial Human Settlements for further subsidisation. I trust the Provincial Government will support this initiative. Today, with the support of this Council, I am pleased to announce that 154 properties have been released since the program began. Today, with the support of this Council, 84 properties have been awarded to the private sector, generating R20 billion in investment, creating over 11 000 construction jobs and producing more than 6500 housing units. These spaces will help generate quality low-cost housing for our poorest residents, close to places of work, at a scale and speed that the government simply cannot. It will also allow us to provide much-needed student accommodation within the inner city as well as support SMMEs that are desperate for space to grow. I am immensely proud to stand before you and be able to say that, in 6 months from now, our iconic skyline will feature the cranes of construction. Ladies and Gentlemen, the work of turning to the inner city into a construction site has begun. One of the reasons I am so passionate about the Inner City project is because our spatial inequality persists so painfully 25 years after the attainment of our political freedom. Relegated to the outskirts of the City, forgotten communities exist, where 45% of precious household income is spent on public transport to seek work opportunities, 3 or 4 taxi rides away. The perpetuation of apartheid spatial planning has forced the multi-party government to take decisive action to halt this unsustainable situation. In February, this year, Council adopted the Inclusionary Housing policy. This policy demands, but also incentivizes, developers, to dedicate 30% of new residential developments to affordable housing. The policy seeks to ensure that densities are increased in a manner that facilitates the co-existence of people belonging to varied income profiles. The densification process will be implemented in and around current nodes, as well as the new 'general urban zone' in areas like Orlando East in Soweto. The adoption of the Inclusionary Housing policy affirms the commitment of the multi-party government to building an inclusive society. While the Inclusionary Housing policy is meant to deal with future housing developments, the City has been hard at work to address present demand and past backlogs. Ladies and Gentlemen, As you would know, the City has a housing backlog conservatively estimated at 300, 000 units with 160 000 people still on our housing list. Despite our challenges, including an ever declining grant funding by the Provincial and National Government, we must see to it that people's expectations of the City are met. In this regard, the current medium-term budget proposes the biggest budget in the City's history allocated to Housing and Informal Settlement Upgrading. Our approach to addressing the complex housing challenges of our city needs to be multi-dimensional. I say this because the delivery of 2000 RDP houses a year is not going to address this challenge in even a thousand years. Our strategy has to involve a combination of RDP housing, social housing, informal settlement upgrading, site and service projects, as well as partnerships with the private sector. In the mixed-income housing space, the City has provided over 6261 units over the last two years, despite declining HSDG funding from the National Government. These opportunities have arisen, largely, from the City's mega projects including Fleurhof, Lufhereng, South Hills and Riverside. The work of delivering RDP housing has to be complemented by our site and service projects, entailing pieces of land being demarcated and title deeds being issued to beneficiaries. Services are then installed on each plot providing sewer, water and electricity connections. The owners of the plots will construct their own structures over the site, with the assistance of government. In a phased approach, the government can then begin by delivering tarred roads, street lights, and other services to develop these sites into a community. I am pleased to announce that the City will be delivering over 4000 sites and service stands in the 2019 calendar year, substantially more than could be delivered by way of traditional RDP housing. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. In the month of March this year, I was joined by Councillors in this chamber to launch the first site and service project in Zandspruit. This site has been commissioned to deliver 701 fully serviced stands for which the City is partnering with the community of Zandspruit. Earlier this month, we were able to launch the second site and service project in Vlakfontein, which will see over 100 fully serviced stands to the beneficiaries of this community. There is no question that site and service have to be a viable option going forward, to address the crisis we face in our housing backlogs and desperation for land, arising from our painful past. One particular project this multi-party government has taken to new heights is the delivery of title needs. To date, the multi-party government has handed out 6659 title deeds since coming into office. This has ensured that thousands of Johannesburg residents experience the joy of homeownership. There are times when numbers and statistics do not adequately capture the meaning of the change that we are delivering in Johannesburg. I would like to share with you, one such occasion. In 2018, while distributing title deeds in Ennerdale, I gave a woman a title deed that she had been trying to receive from the government for over 30 years. She wept in my arms, crying out that her countless visits to the City, over 3 decades, had finally paid off. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. On 1 December 2016, I made a remark about illegal immigration that generated controversy in our City. After 2 and a half years in government, I remain convinced, now more than ever, that our City faces a crisis of illegal immigration. In order to quantify the problem, 66 City-operated clinics in Johannesburg measured over the period of 2016 that over 32 000 undocumented foreigners received treatment at our clinics. In 2018, this figure rose to 83 000 which translated into 15-30% of all patients receiving medical treatment at our clinics. An audit of our social and RDP housing is underway, but early indications would demonstrate that a large number of the occupants of these facilities are undocumented foreign nationals. There can be no doubt that the immigration crisis in our country is contributing to pressures on government to provide services with limited funding. We remain committed to our Constitutional obligations, and recognise many law-abiding foreigners who want to contribute to our City but struggle because Home Affairs cannot process them as Asylum Seekers. As for me, I will not back down and be silenced on a matter that is impacting our City so fundamentally. I have engaged National Government for over 2 years, and with 3 different Ministers of Home Affairs. I have found no support arising from these efforts. I have come to the view that illegal immigration will not be treated with any level of importance, until a different party occupies the Union Buildings. Ladies and Gentlemen, We are beginning to roll back years of underspending on our critical service delivery infrastructure. Infrastructure failure has to be fixed in Johannesburg for the sake of our residents, and for the sake of our economy. The job of keeping it functioning smoothly will require a delicate balance between repairs and maintenance, alongside investment into refurbishing our aged infrastructure. The multi-party government has increased spending on repairs and maintenance from 2% spend on repairs and maintenance to over 5% by the end of this financial year. The City's spending on electricity, water, roads, transport and housing is now sitting at the highest levels in the history of our City, through our Diphetogo program. Our aged electricity network had to see our focus refurbishing our electricity sub-stations. Old sub-stations, built decades ago, have not been able to keep up with the increasing demands of the growing communities they now serve. The greatest number of power outages arise from times where demand exceeds the supply of our aged sub-stations, and this is why we have focussed on refurbishing sub-stations as the first phase of stabilising our electricity grid. In this financial year, City Power will have concluded the refurbishment of the Roosevelt, Sebenza, Wilropark, Nancefield, Heriotdale, Mondeor, Mulbarton, Pennyville and the Waterval Sub-Stations. By the beginning of the 2019/20 financial year, City Power will have concluded its work on the Eldorado Park and Hopefield Sub-Stations. You will recall these were the 2 sub-stations which saw brazen criminals in the City make payments to the amount of R88 million for nowhere near this level of work having been done. It is a tragedy that more critical funding had to be allocated to these projects, while the NPA withdrew the case against the Directors of Setheo Engineering. The Sebenza substation was launched on the 7th of Feb 2019. The City invested more than R1.2 billion for this new, state of the art substation, the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Among the areas that will benefit from Sebenza are Alexandra, Gresswold, Sandringham, Athol Oaklands, Rosebank, Melrose and Parkhurst. This mega substation will energise 30% of the population of the City of Johannesburg. Ladies and gentlemen, our strategy is working. In the 2017 calendar year, each household in Johannesburg experienced, on average, 6.2 power outages per year, averaging 42 hours without electricity. In 2018, in spite of load shedding beginning in December of that year, this number was brought down to 5.9 outages per year and the resulting downtime was reduced to 30.5 hours. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. These improvements are imperative, but I believe the real changes will arise from the completion of our sub-station refurbishments in July this year. In the 2019/20 financial year, City Power's focus will shift to the replacement of high and medium power lines across the City of Johannesburg, using aluminium instead of copper to reduce cable theft. This approach is based on the view that aged power lines are the second greatest cause of power outages in the City. What gives me confidence is that City Power is systematically working through their backlogs, and will have fundamentally reversed the number of power outages experienced by our residents and businesses by the end of this term of office. Ladies and Gentlemen, ESKOM did our City no favours, with the recent rolling blackouts that rose to the highest levels in our Country's history. Residents and businesses were left in the dark, and so too was the City as we received no briefings, no projections and no assurances. Our aged infrastructure, predictably, did not fare well with the power being switched on and off repeatedly and we were left with secondary outages arising from the damage. Our City's dependence upon ESKOM is a disaster, one that we now have to mitigate against. The reality is that load-shedding will be a reality for many years to come. It is clear that the National Government have no plan, which necessitates our multi-party government to develop its own. In December 2018, we received a letter from ESKOM stating that the City could not offset our load shedding requirements with the power generated from the Kelvin Power Station. Kelvin is an independent power producer that the City had been contracted to from previous rounds of load shedding. Upon taking office, ESKOM withdrew from funding this arrangement and left the City to foot the bill. I have initiated a team of people from the City to meet with ESKOM to inform them that we will offset our load shedding with the power produced by Kelvin. If our residents are paying for it, and it is not being generated by ESKOM, there is no rational basis to preventing us from using the 200MW produced at Kelvin to mitigate the crippling effects of load shedding. This is equivalent of what we have to shed in Johannesburg, during stage 2 load-shedding. Should this not be achieved, I have informed our legal teams of my intent to see us in court with ESKOM so that we can mitigate load shedding in Johannesburg. My intent goes beyond this. I have dispatched a team from the City to engage Kelvin to see whether a new contract could be negotiated that would see their output increased, and sold to the City at a cheaper rate than ESKOM. If this is achieved, the City has the license to procure 600MW from Kelvin, which has the ability to prevent all load shedding up to, and including Stage 6. Can you imagine, as a City, being able to tell our residents and businesses that load-shedding will never be experienced in Johannesburg again? Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Joburg Water has achieved amazing feats in addressing our water network across the City. The number of water leaks and bursts in our network has increased until the staggering level of 45 000 per year when we took office. Through their coordinated replacement of water pipes throughout the City, a project that has seen 65 km of pipe replacements since taking office, for the first time, the leaks and bursts are declining by as much as 2000 leaks or bursts in 2017/18. In our current financial year, we are projecting leaks and bursts in our water network to be brought down by a staggering 10 000 this year. For the first time in recent history, non-revenue water losses are on the decline in Johannesburg. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. The replacement of sewer pipelines in the City has exceeded the annual targets of each year, replacing 45km in 2017/18. With the additional investment in our adjustments budget this year, we are currently on track to exceed this in the 2018/19 financial year. This is imperative to our ability to reduce sewer leaks that have been prolific in many informal settlements and have undermined the dignity of our people for so long. The work of the Johannesburg Roads Agency in addressing our road and bridge network has been impressive. Over the next three financial years, the City will invest R1.2 billion for road resurfacing, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The length of roads classified to be in poor or very poor condition has been reduced from the 4000km inherited, by 806km of road resurfacing by the JRA. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. I am also pleased to inform you that the City is eating away at the gravel roads, mostly located in informal areas. Nearly 70km of gravel roads have been tarred to date, and the JRA has been allocated a staggering R1.2 billion to continue this work in the medium-term. Of course, much still needs to be done with respect to managing signal downtime at our robots and intersections throughout the City. We witnessed recently the impact of load shedding on our traffic light network, and the resulting congestion on our roads. However, I am pleased to report that we are beginning to see some progress with a 20% reduction in traffic signal downtime relating to technical faults. The 'no join policy' continues to see the cabling of our busiest traffic intersections in Johannesburg being dug up and re-laid to ensure less downtime, and the installation of uninterrupted power supply to prevent downtime at all. With over 3500 traffic light intersections in our City, there is still much to do, but I am pleased that a strategy has been developed, it is producing results and we are poised to expand the project significantly. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change, Our bridge repair work has taken centre stage of late. With over 900 bridges and only 6% of them in good condition, it is no wonder that they are crumbling to the point of requiring emergency repairs. Our work on the M2 Bridge is the clearest example of this. Causing major inconvenience to businesses and residents alike, we had to take the decision to shut down the M2 in order to protect the lives of our residents. I stood on that bridge, I felt the vibrations, and I saw first-hand the cracks in the supporting structures. There is no doubt that this was a life-saving and very necessary decision. The emergency repairs on this bridge are set to be finished by October this year. I am pleased by the offers from the private sector that have come forward with offerings of time, funding and expertise to expedite the completion of this project. Ladies and gentlemen, As matters stand, 92.6% of residents within the City have access to basic refuse removal. In addition, through the assistance of our residents, 4, 355 tons of waste was diverted from landfill, through our Separation at Source initiatives. This represents a 14% reduction in waste reaching landfill sites within the City. Pikitup management has steadied the uncertainty within the entity's labour environment, arising from the exploitative reliance on temporary workers. To this end, Pikitup undertook the insourcing of former Jozi@Work and so-called 2010 employees" following a feasibility study on Pikitup's current capacity requirements and budget availability. The so-called 2010 employees" had previously been awarded a judgment whereby Pikitup was required to insource this group of employees. This matter had not been addressed for some years, and the new administration was now forced into a position where it needed to find a solution to the problem. Through the recent insourcing project at this entity, a total of 1, 544 individuals were offered employment. The beneficiaries have commenced work and were deployed at various Pikitup depots across the City. The increased capacity is now beginning to produce results that were previously hampered due to a lack of capacity in the entity to meet the refuse removal demands of our residents. This is being achieved while providing former temporary workers, who were abused for years under Jozi@Work, with the benefits of full-time employment in our City. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. The City continues to encourage our residents to participate in our efforts to keep the City clean through our A Re Sebetseng initiative, which was started two years ago. A Re Sebetseng which in Sesotho means Let us work" takes place on the 3rd Saturday of each month, closely modelled after Rwanda's Umuganda. It encourages each of our residents to volunteer their time in order to make their communities cleaner and better. I have been deeply moved by the spirit of our people, who without fail, have answered this monthly call to help make our communities more liveable. I would like to extend my gratitude to the likes of Coca-Cola, Anglo Ashanti, Adcock Ingram, Avis Fleet, Miss Earth SA, universities, places of worship, the Ratepayers Associations and Community Organisations which have also heeded the City's call to volunteering their time and resources towards making this project a success. Through A Re Sebetseng, 28 000 bags of waste have been collected and 21, 500 residents have participated across the City in this initiative. Last year, I announced the diversification of A Re Sebetseng into further areas of volunteerism that will complement our existing clean-up campaign. With this in mind, I am pleased to inform Council of the City's plan to engage with members of the medical profession, in order to encourage them to offer their expertise on a pro bono basis at our local clinics. Over and above this, the City is now at an advanced stage of launching A Re Sebetseng Schools, a program set to launch at the beginning of our coming financial year. In these monthly operations, we will work together to improve the learning environment for some of our poorest schools. It is through A Re Sebetseng, that we will continue to unite people in our City by a common cause of volunteerism and a spirit of community, shared between all people. Ladies and Gentlemen, As a part of addressing the staggering inequality in our City, it is our work in informal settlements which leaves me very proud. Arising from our long-term planning approach to Diphetogo, I can stand before you and say that every informal settlement in Johannesburg, will have access to basic water and sanitation at a ratio of 1 standpipe and 1 toilet for every 8 households by 2021. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Services to informal settlements cannot be regarded as some kind of special achievement, it is a human right, and the current situation is the legacy of 2 decades of under-investment which the multi-party government must now reverse. When the multi-party government took office, we initiated a program of investment into electrifying our informal settlements. This program saw the investment in this priority tripling, with a record-breaking R750 million budgeted over the next 3 years. In 2016/17, we doubled this by electrifying 4800 households in our informal settlements. In 2017/18 we electrified a further 2600 households in our informal settlements. In our current financial year, our plans are to conclude the electrification of 9 further informal settlements with a record-breaking 6500 households to be electrified. These informal settlements include Meriting, Alexandra, Rugby Club, Tsepisong, Matholesville, Heavenly Valley, Rabie Ridge, Princess and Kliptown. That is correct, it will be this multi-party government, who will electrify the home of the Freedom Charter, 25 years after democracy in our country. The multi-party government has changed the City's approach to informal settlements. No longer can they be left without services, awaiting housing opportunities from RDP housing delivery. In-situ upgrades have to be prioritized to provide the dignity that is so desperately required in these communities. Last year, when we finished the electrification of Slovo Park, I was invited into the shack of an old lady, Mrs Ruth Mohlape, who had bought a kettle to share her first pot of tea with me after the electrification. She said to me, This is the first time I have had electricity since 1994. I feel like a human being today." Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change, Joburg Water, has made available 151 million litres of water through stationary tanks in informal settlements in order to meet the very basic needs of some of our informal communities. This is critical while the work of providing standpipes is being rolled out. 57, 000 VIP toilets and 7, 178 chemical toilets have been delivered and are being serviced routinely in our informal settlements. It is our hope that these interim measures will help start placing these poor communities towards the path of attaining the dignity which they have been deprived of, and dignity that they truly deserve. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. You will recall that this multi-party government initiated the extended hours of services at City-owned Clinics. It started with just one, the Princess Clinic, as a pilot project and the results demonstrated the need for this service throughout the City. The City has now extended the operating hours of 22 clinics in our City, with a further 4 to be rolled out before the end of this financial year. When you consider that these clinics are treating, on average, over 100 000 patients every year, you can work it out to understanding that over 2.6 million patients are being served in our extended hours clinics. Through the extended hours offered at our health facilities, we are able to afford patients the flexibility of attending to their personal needs, whether it be work or study commitments, instead of wasting time at a clinic. Accessing services, during extended hours, also eases overcrowding at facilities with high patient volumes and has a potential to improve the retention of in-care treatment - particularly of patients with chronic conditions such as TB and HIV/AIDS. Since the beginning of the extended hours program within the City, our facilities have seen nearly 300 000 patients receiving treatment during the extended hours of operation. During these extended hours of operation, our clinics have dealt with 522 emergency cases, which involved life-threatening conditions, that otherwise would have resulted in death. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. There can be no doubt that not enough has been done by the national and provincial government to effectively combat the scourge of drugs in our communities. In each of our communities, our youth fall prey to addiction and criminality often associated with substance abuse. I could not believe that when the multi-party government took office, there were no substance abuse facilities operated by the City of Johannesburg. Can you imagine this, with the magnitude of the substance abuse problems that are experienced in our communities? As a City, we took the decision that we could not stand by idly and watch as another child dies of this scourge. I am happy to report that as part of our previous commitment, the City has provided 5 free substance abuse clinics to the communities of Eldorado Park Extension 9, Tladi, River Park in Alexandra, Randburg and surrounds and Joubert Park as a means of providing much-needed care and treatment to those who suffer from substance abuse. I am also happy to report that by the end of this financial year, we will be opening 3 more substance abuse clinics in the communities of Thuthukani, Westbury, and Poortjie. When Mr Amon Mthembu learnt about the opening of Tladi Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Tladi Soweto, he says his prayers were answered. For months his family was troubled by his son Bongani, who was an addict, stealing valuable items in the house to feed his addiction. Baba Mthembu says his family was left devastated and helpless. When he heard about the opening of Tladi Rehabilitation Centre he enrolled his son into the program. Bongani's journey to recovery was difficult and challenging, but with the professional help he received, the Mthembu family is now on a road to recovery. In February this year, Bongani together with other patients graduated from the drug rehabilitation program, run by the City of Johannesburg in Tladi Soweto. Bongani says his life is now with purpose and he is back in school. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Last year, in response to a motion by the EFF in Council, I committed to initiating the procurement of mobile health clinics which would be able to take healthcare to our poorest communities. Today I can report to Council that the City can expect to have a mobile clinic operating in each of the 7 regions by July 2019. From savings achieved in this procurement, I am pleased to report that the City will be able to increase these mobile clinics to 10, taking primary medical care to communities far removed from clinics or hospitals. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Coming into office, we found an under-capacitated JMPD which had a fraction of the officers needed to properly police our streets. With the shift system, JMPD averages only around 800 officers on duty on any given day. When you consider this, against the geographical area of Johannesburg, and the wide-ranging responsibilities of the JMPD, it is no wonder that there has been a breakdown of the rule of law. In our first adjustment budget, I committed this administration to recruit 1, 500 additional police officers to make sure JMPD was properly capacitated. Our residents needed to see and feel a police presence, and the criminals needed to learn that Johannesburg will no longer be a soft target. I am pleased to inform the Council that our recruitment efforts are soon to bear fruit. After having started their training which began in November of 2017, by the end of October this year, we can expect 1, 500 new officers to join the ranks of the existing JMPD officers policing our streets. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. In addition to this, the City will be better capacitated to ensure that the rule of law within the City is maintained and that by-law enforcement exceeds the already 18 129 of by-law enforcement operations which have already taken place. This is to also add to the 10 333 traffic operations which have been conducted by the JMPD across the City since the beginning of the last financial year to date. Our K9 unit has seized nearly 460kg of drugs from our streets and continues to prove effective in waging war with the drug trade in Johannesburg. Of course, additional policing manpower means very little unless we can ensure that those found violating our laws are appropriately dealt with through the legal system. By-law enforcement must be aided by municipal courts to ensure that offenders are made to answer to the law. To this end, the City has been working to improve the effectiveness of the Municipal Courts in the City and ensuring that our existing JMPD officers training necessary to up-skill our officers' ability ensure citations are properly recorded. Through this intervention, the prosecution success rate within municipal courts has increased from 4% in November 2018 to over 25% in February. Efforts with the City's Group Legal Service Department and the JMPD are set to continue so that we may build on this success. Our success is assured by our efforts to achieve high prosecution rates in these cases. Firstly, we have tabled a new fines schedule that has been approved by the Chief Magistrate in Johannesburg. This fines schedule will see fines that are punitive, where for example the fine for illegal dumping has risen from R2 000 to R10 000. We have embarked upon extensive training of JMPD officers to ensure their processes around issuing citations and fines are correct and will be upheld in the court proceedings. Finally, we have redesigned the fines book which had misalignments with the different magisterial districts. This was the cause of the majority of cases having to be withdrawn. I am confident that, with these efforts, we will begin to see our municipal courts being kept busy, on a full-time basis, successfully prosecuting those who disregard our by-laws. We have introduced a monthly reporting of crime statistics in Johannesburg, which sees the JMPD accounting to the public about the levels of criminality and our efforts to combat this. This has seen a new era of transparency with policing that will serve to provide our residents with the assurance that we are working to make their streets safe. Already, these monthly statistics were able to demonstrate how, through our road safety campaigns, fatalities on our roads were reduced by 20% over the festive season last year, and not one single casualty over this recent Easter Weekend. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Real Change. As I have said on many an occasion, the local government elections of 2016 signified not only our residents' demand for change, but it also signified our residents' rejection of the corruption which the past administrations had become associated with. Recognising this, we immediately established an anti-corruption unit within the City, headed by General Shadrack Sibiya, to ensure we fight corruption in every corner of the City's administration. There would be no place for corrupt officials and dirty politicians to hide. Those who stole from our residents could be assured that the full might of the law would be used to hold them accountable and recover monies owed to residents. Since the unit's launch just over 2 years ago 5, 335 cases have been investigated, involving more than R24 billion in transactions. Through the work done by Group Forensic and Investigation Services, under the General's leadership, a number of prosecution-ready cases have been handed to our law enforcement authorities for prosecution. However, to date, our criminal justice system has failed the City of Johannesburg and its residents by delaying the prosecution of officials, politicians, and tenderpreneurs who have stolen public money. It is not enough for me that officials have been dismissed, or tenderpreneurs blacklisted with National Treasury. It is not even enough when we civilly pursue the funds that have been lost to fraud and corruption. This multi-party government will not rest until those who have violated the public trust, those who have looted from the funds intended for service delivery, are where they belong, in jail. Some of them are seated in this chamber today. I have written to the NPA head in Gauteng, Advocate Andrew Chauke and our new National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi to raise these concerns. The responses I received confirmed my belief that, to date, no real progress has been achieved in these cases. I have written back to the NPA, affording them until today, 30 April 2019, to confirm whether they will be prosecuting these cases. I have done so, openly communicating my intent to pursue a private prosecution if the NPA will not prosecute these cases. It will be an indictment on the NPA, and its new impetus to fix our criminal justice system, if the City of Johannesburg has to prosecute the cases that they are unwilling to prosecute. There can be no doubt that this multi-party government has brought about a serious investigations capacity. We have begun to reverse the culture of looting, and are seeing real consequences for those who violate the public trust. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Our efforts to tackle the broken customer care and billing system in our City are beginning to bear fruit. Regional integration with municipal entities will see the historical disconnect between customer care and resolution of queries. There is no doubt that the billing system of our City is a deep-rooted. Already, we have reduced the number of incorrect bills to less than 0.5% of all accounts. Our investments into the back office resolution of queries are starting to pay off. Outstanding queries have been brought down from over 100 000 when we came into office, now standing at 9 000. While long-term investment in our IT infrastructure remains key, Regional Open Days are being held across the City to assist our residents. Our Regional Offices are also being capacitated with officials from Revenue and the municipal entities to improve our ability to resolve billing issues on site. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Real Change. Allow me to mark the special occasion that comes tomorrow, when our Country celebrates Workers Day. This multi-party government, working with the EFF, has achieved enormous feats for the workers in our City who have been abused by exploitative temporary work and compromised labour relations from the tripartite alliance. In 2017, we announced the insourcing of security personnel in the City of Johannesburg. It was a departure from the previous model of contracting security companies owned by politically-connected individuals who would receive, on average, R12 000 per security guard. The guards themselves were only paid R4000 per month and often treated poorly by these companies. As I stand before you today, 2800 security guards have been insourced and are enjoying take home salaries that have increased by a minimum of 50%, along with the benefits of full-time employment. I stood with these guards when this phase of insourcing was implemented, and what it meant to them and their families cannot be described in words. Today, I am pleased to inform you that a further 800 security guards have received their appointment letters to start their employment in the City on 1 July 2019. They too will enjoy the dignity that this insourcing program has achieved in Johannesburg. Simultaneously, we have initiated the insourcing of cleaning services in Johannesburg that will see approximately 1500 cleaners benefit from this program. They too will enjoy taking home salaries increasing by a minimum of 50%, and the benefits of full-time employment. The insourcing program, when combining Pikitup, Security Personnel and Cleaning will see the lives of 6 600 families benefit from improved household income, and the dignity of full-time employment. These individuals will serve the City and its residents with pride because we have been able to restore their dignity. This is something to celebrate on the eve of Workers Day 2019. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the EFF for the role they have played in this insourcing program. Your contribution is a demonstration that political parties can work together for the benefit of our residents in Johannesburg. Ladies and Gentlemen, This multi-party government has, without doubt, succeeded in bringing change to the residents of our City. We have brought the change that is stopping corruption, delivering services and creating jobs. At the same time, this multi-party government is sensitive to the fact that we still have a long journey ahead of us to achieve the kind of City where all of our residents prosper from this change. It is essential that I take this opportunity to pay tribute to each and every one of our coalition partners. As a part of this, it is critical to locate the successes of this government against the background of the coalition. We honour the wishes of our residents, as a multi-party coalition, we hold each other to account in ways that simply don't happen with a single party dominant system. As a government, we benefit from the contribution each party brings to the table, proposing solutions to the complex variety of challenges that confront our residents on a daily basis. After the past 2 and a half years, it is my hope that the coalition government becomes the future of politics in South Africa because it produces a better government. Cllr Meshack van Wyk of the ACDP, Councillor Nonhlanhla Makhuba and Mzobanzi Ntuli of the IFP, Cllr Jay Maharaj of COPE, Cllr Thandi Nontenja of the UDM and Cllr Franco de Lange of the Freedom Front Plus, to each and every one of you, I express my most profound appreciation. You have demonstrated your commitment to delivering change to the residents of our City, you enrich our plans and are true leaders in your own right. To my own caucus, I express my most sincere appreciation for your support. The job of overcoming daily barriers and delivering change is not easy, but knowing you are behind me has made it easier. To the EFF and the AIC, although not coalition partners, your support of the agenda, on an issue by issue basis, has proved essential to the delivery of change in Johannesburg. You have stuck to your principles and have backed ideas that benefit our residents while being frank when you do not agree. Your contribution to delivering change in Johannesburg must be acknowledged and appreciated, both in the past 2 and a half years and going forward. Ladies and Gentlemen, In many ways, our City stands on the cusp of great change. We stand poised to reap the rewards of this change, for which we have sowed the seeds over the past 2 and a half years. There can be no doubt, that this City is now moving in the right direction. After many years of this City being led down the wrong path, this is something that must be celebrated. However, we must soberly understand that we have a long way to go. For many residents, the evidence of change can be seen, but not yet felt. It is for these residents that we must understand, that every day going forward is a further opportunity to bring change to the residents of Johannesburg. While the enormity of this task is daunting, our multi-party government derives its strength from the residents of Johannesburg. It is the delivery of change that drives this government, and the efforts to realise a day when all of our residents enjoy the prosperity and dignity that will come with this change. I thank you. [January 27, 2021] Splashtop Announces New Funding at $50M, Achieving Coveted $1 Billion Valuation SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Splashtop Inc., an emerging leader in next-generation remote access and remote support, has closed a $50 million financing round that pushes its valuation beyond the $1 billion unicorn level. Led by existing investor Sapphire Ventures, the latest round also includes participation by other long-time Splashtop investors Storm Ventures, NEA and DFJ DragonFund. "Our sustained profitability and growthwhich accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemicvalidate that Splashtop's modern approach to remote access is making a real difference in how, where and when people can use the digital resources they need to work, learn and be entertained," said Mark Lee, co-founder and CEO of Splashtop. "We're fundraising now at unicorn valuation to amplify our brand and momentum so we can attract talent, expand our enterprise presence, and accelerate our global expansion to delight customers everywhere." Splashtop's $1 Billion Valuation Validates its Performance and Market Vision Unlike the vast majority of the unicorns that ignore financial losses as they pursue high growth, Splashtop has been profitable since 2015 even while growing rapidly. The company's current growth rate of 160% and profits of 60% represent exceptional performance levels. "Splashtop is an example of an efficient and agile enterprise technology company that has demonstrated incredible metrics, including fast growth, impressive customer satisfaction scores and attractive profit margins," said Jai Das, president and partner of Sapphire Ventures. We anticipate the adoption of Splashtop to continue to climb. Its secure remote access solution has been essential for businesses of all sizes during the pandemic, and we anticipate will be critical far beyond as where and how people work has been forever reimagined." Also fueling Splashtop's valuation is recognition of the company's vision for disrupting the established remote access market. "Splashtop is at the leading edge of a major IT trend: making it easier to access and use necessary software applications and data," said Ryan Floyd, a founding managing director of Storm Ventures, which has invested in Splashtop since its Series A funding. "Splashtop replaces the clunky, complex, expensive legacy approaches to remote accessexemplified by virtual private networks (VPNs)with a modern, cloud-native approach that provides secure, easy access to any digital asset, anywhere, at any time." COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerates Splashtop's Business Success The COVID-19 pandemicwhich shut down physical access to corporate and academic computing resources worldwidedrove increased demand and appreciation for Splashtop's solutions, including among larger enterprises. In identifying the "Top Trends Impacting Infrastructure and Operations for 2021," research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. names Trend No. 1 as Anywhere Operations. "Gartner expects that 48% of employees will work from home, even after the pandemic, compared with 30% pre-pandemic. This shift will force IT executives to develop flexible and resilient organizations that enable staff to work from anywhere, allow customers everywhere to access services, and manage the deployment of business services across distributed infrastructures."* Over the past year, Splashtop has served 85% of Fortune 500 companiesincluding Disney, FedEx, GE, Marriott and Toyotaplus government and educational institutions such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Harvard University, Stanford Healthcare, and a research lab enabling COVID-19 vaccine research by major pharmaceutical companies. Splashtop Empowers Leading Businesses to Thrive "Adobe customerswho use our industry-leading Creative Cloud products in broadcast media, graphic design, scientific research, engineering, education and moreneed to remain productive when working remotely, as many have had to do since the start of the pandemic," said Sue Skidmore, head of partner relations, Adobe Video. "Splashtop's remote desktop solution has proven to be very valuable to many video content creators who can run Adobe applications on any device as if they were sitting in front of the high-performance work computers." "As we've seen with the global pandemic, remote access is crucial to the success of any business and we are pleased to be partnered with Splashtop. Their reliability, performance, and customer support have been exceptional in providing us, our customers and employees the necessary tools to keep important work moving forward, even remotely," said Joel Nichols, vice president of Information Systems at Quanterix, a biomarker analysis company that is enabling new insights into the biology of health and disease. "Our revolutionary technology is helping researchers around the world advance the science of precision medicine." Also during 2020, Splashtop expanded its global reach, including new partnerships in EMEA, South America and Asia. In Europe, the company opened an EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam and expanded its Euro currency and local multilingual support. In Asia, the company opened an APAC channel headquarters in Singapore supporting hundreds of revenue-generating channel partners and built enterprise channels in multiple countries, including Japan. The Splashtop blog provides more details about Splashtop's path to unicorn status, and a related press release, also issued today, recounts some of the company's 2020 milestones . The newest funding comes a decade after Splashtop's previous funding: four rounds that raised a total of $45.5 million. *Gartner Press Release, Gartner Identifies the Top Trends Impacting Infrastructure and Operations for 2021 About Splashtop Based in Silicon Valley, Splashtop Inc. delivers next-generation remote access and remote support software and services for enterprises, academic and research institutions, government agencies, small businesses, MSPs, IT departments and individuals. Splashtop's cloud-based, secure and easily managed remote access approach is increasingly replacing legacy approaches such as virtual private networks (VPNs), while earning a stunning 93 Net Promoter Score (NPS), a standard for assessing customer satisfaction. More than 30 million users, including those in 85% of Fortune 500 enterprises, enjoy Splashtop products globally. Visit www.splashtop.com for more information. SOURCE Splashtop Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Los Angeles: WarnerMedia is planning an animated spin-off to hit series Game of Thrones for streamer HBO Max. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio has begun holding preliminary meetings with writers about the potential animateddrama set in the same world. The idea is believed to be in very early, exploratory stages, and there is no concept or creative team on board. The new project is part of a larger strategy to expand the world of creator George RR Martin's fantasy drama. WarnerMedia and HBO are currently working on House of the Dragon, a prequel series to Game of Thrones. The show is slated to premiere in 2022. House of the Dragon will document the buildup to the Targaryen civil war in Westeros that is known as the Dance of Dragons. It was recently reported that HBO is also developing a series adaptation of George RR Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg, a prequel to the events of Game of Thrones. The one-hour show is said to be based on the series of fantasy novellas which follow the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and a young Aegon V Targaryen (Egg) 90 years prior to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire. Navalny to stay in detention upon court order RAPSI 16:00 28/01/2021 MOSCOW, January 28 (RAPSI) The Moscow Regional Court on Thursday dismissed Alexey Navalnys appeal against his 30-day detention, RAPSI reported from the courtroom. On January 17, the blogger was arrested at the Sheremetyevo Airport on his return from Germany based on the search warrant issued in late December. Upon a court order, he was placed in detention until February 15. In December 2014, he received a 3.5-year suspended sentence, a 500,000-ruble fine for embezzlement and 5-year probation after the sentence is served. In August 2017, probation was extended for a year. In late December 2020, FSIN officials warned Navalny of the possible replacement of his suspended sentence with a real prison term because of breaching obligations imposed by court and evasion of the penitentiary control. According to the penitentiary authorities, Navalny left a German hospital yet in September. However, he has failed to appear in a correctional inspection as necessary since then. On August 20, a plane departed from Tomsk to Moscow with Navalny onboard urgently landed in Omsk after the blogger became heartily sick. He was taken to a hospital in coma. Later, he was transported to Berlin. Russian medics said no poison was found in his body. Currently, the blogger is also a defendant in two other criminal cases: over fraud and defamation against war veteran Ignat Artemenko. China opposes any discriminatory and restrictive measures against its firms, a commerce ministry spokesman said on Thursday, in response to queries about India's continued ban on 59 Chinese apps. China has sought clarifications from Indian authorities on the ban, the spokesman, Gao Feng, told an online briefing, adding that it hoped the two countries could meet halfway to create an open and equal business environment. India decided to keep its ban on video app TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps after reviewing the companies' responses on issues such as compliance and privacy, sources told Reuters this week. Also read: Tractor rally violence: Amit Shah visits hospital to meet injured cops Irelands score on an international Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) deteriorated last year, according to a report to be released today. Transparency International Ireland (TII) has called on the Government and opposition parties to make fighting corruption a political priority, as this countrys CPI score fell from 74 to 72 out of 100 in the last year. Countries that have more points out of 100 are perceived to be the least affected by public-sector corruption. The CPI ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of corruption. Irelands score is based on the findings of seven surveys, conducted by international think-tanks and political risk agencies. This country has fallen to 20th on the list, having previously been at 18th. However, Ireland remained above the western European average score of 66. Denmark and New Zealand have retained the top spots on the index and are perceived to be the least corrupt countries, both with a score of 88 out of 100. On the other end of the scale, Somalia and South Sudan are considered to be the countries most affected by corruption with scores of 12 out of 100. Chief executive of TI Ireland, John Devitt, said corruption can be as insidious as any disease and pointed to how it impacts on issues such as the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The impact it has around the world on the most vulnerable in society, on healthcare systems and public trust in democratic institutions has been particularly evident over the past year, he said. The Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of the far-right across Europe and the US has exposed how vulnerable our institutions and democratic norms are to declining trust in government. This trend needs to be reversed if we are to fully address these new threats, but that trust needs to be earned. Mr Devitt pointed out Ireland is still considered to be affected by corruption to a greater degree than most of our northern European neighbours. We are behind all the Scandinavian countries as well as Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. While Ireland is not confronted with corruption to the same degree that has plagued some of the worlds poorest and badly governed countries, it should be remembered that its not that long ago that the Mahon Tribunal described corruption as endemic in Irish politics. We cannot afford to be complacent, Mr Devitt said. He said some welcome changes and reforms have been made since then, but many of the recommendations of that tribunal and, most importantly, the Public Sector Standards Bill have fallen by the wayside. TII has welcomed the publication of the Hamilton Review on measures to tackle white-collar crime. Pakistans highest court ruled Thursday that four men convicted of kidnapping and murdering American journalist Daniel Pearl should be set free. Pearl, who was working for The Wall Street Journal at the time of the kidnapping, had ties to Western Massachusetts, including stints at the North Adams Transcript, Berkshire Eagle and the then Springfield Union-News in the late 1980s. Pearl, 38, was reporting on Richard Reid, the British terrorist known as the shoe bomber, when he was kidnapped in Pakinstans Sindh province in 2002. In April 2020, a high court in Sindh province ruled the four men had suffered irreparable harm and extreme prejudice after spending 18 years behind bars prior. In December, that court ordered all four to be set free. But the Pearl family and the Pakistani authorities appealed the decision to the countrys Supreme Court, which on Thursday ruled against them, BBC News reported. Omar Sheikh was sentenced to death and three others to life in prison for their role in Pearls death. Sheikh had been convicted of helping lure Pearl to a meeting in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, where he was kidnapped. The Sindh high court had ordered Sheikhs release in December, but he had been detained pending the Supreme Court ruling. Related content A date has been set for the launch of Catalonias first nanosatellite. On March 20, at 7.07am Spanish time, a rocket will lift off from Baikonur, in Kazakhstan, to release the first spacecraft built as part of the New Space strategy developed by the Catalan government, which is expected to pour 18 million into the program over the next four years. This first launch will improve connectivity in the Spanish northeastern region, while a second nanosatellite due to go into space late this year or in early 2022 will provide images of the Earth and help fight climate change. In late October the Catalan government announced plans to create its own space agency and develop a new sector that is expected to create 1,200 jobs. The tiny satellites, which are the size of a shoebox, weigh between one and 10 kilograms, and cost a fraction of conventional ones, are packed with technology and have become very popular since 2014. Some countries have been investing significantly in the new space economy for some years, and Catalonia cannot remain on the sidelines, we need to be pioneers on this issue Catalan chief of digital policy, Jordi Puignero But the decision to create a Catalan space program at a time of economic crisis has drawn criticism. At a news conference on Wednesday, the Catalan chief of digital policy, Jordi Puignero, defended the initiative. Some people may wonder if, against the backdrop of the [coronavirus] pandemic, it is necessary for the [Catalan] government to spend its time launching nanosatellites, he said. The answer is yes: we have to do it because we need to transform the countrys economy. We are also told that this money would buy untold amounts of school lunch subsidies, but what we need to do is to create wealth so that we do not have to hand out so many. Some countries have been investing significantly in the new space economy for some years, and Catalonia cannot remain on the sidelines, we need to be pioneers on this issue, he added. The Catalan government estimated that the space industry would create 1,200 new jobs and represent turnover of around 300 million by 2025. The New Space program envisions the launch of up to six satellites in the next four years. The northeastern region is already home to 30 companies that work in the space industry, and Catalan officials are hoping to double this amount. Nanosatellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of 520 kilometers (compared with 36,000 km for conventional ones), and they are in high demand to meet the needs of 5G connectivity and the so-called internet of things. Catalonias first nanosatellite will serve both of these purposes, as well as monitoring rivers, wildlife and cattle, and receiving weather data. The second nanonsatellite will be used for Earth observation as part of the fight against climate change. Both devices will be monitored from the Montsec Astronomy Park in Pallars Jussa, in Lleida province. Children have been asked to come up with names for the spacecraft through a television program aired on the regional station TV3. English version by Susana Urra. Washington Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine said Wednesday that hes discussing with colleagues whether a censure resolution to condemn former President Donald Trump for his role in the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol could be an alternative to impeachment, even as the Senate proceeds with a trial. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said the impeachment trial will move forward. But Kaines proposal is an acknowledgement that the Senate is unlikely to convict Trump of inciting the riot, a troubling prospect for many lawmakers who believe Trump must be held accountable in some way for the Capitol attack. If he were convicted, the Senate could then hold a second vote to ban him from office. A censure would not hold the power of a conviction, but it would put the Senate on record as disapproving of Trumps role in the insurrection, which came as Congress was counting electoral votes to confirm Democrat Joe Bidens victory. Just before Trumps supporters broke through windows and busted through the Capitols doors, he gave a fiery speech outside the White House urging them to fight like hell to overturn his defeat. Talk of finding a punishment that more senators could rally around flared a day after just five Republicans joined Democrats in a Senate test vote over the legitimacy of Trumps trial. It was unclear, though, whether other Democrats, or any Republicans, would sign on to Kaines proposal. House Democrats are busy preparing their formal case against the former president for inciting an insurrection, with arguments starting the week of Feb. 8. Make no mistake there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former president will be presented, in living color, for the nation and every one of us to see, Schumer said Wednesday. An angry mob of Trump supporters wanting to stop Congress confirmation of Bidens victory invaded the Capitol, ransacking hallways and offices and attempting to break into the House chamber with lawmakers hiding inside. They rifled through desks on the empty Senate floor and hunted for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence, who was in the Capitol overseeing the certification of Bidens election victory. A week later, on Jan. 13, the Democratic-led House impeached Trump with the backing of 10 Republicans. The case was sent to the Senate on Monday. Kaine, a Virginia senator, told reporters Wednesday that he has been talking to a handful of his colleagues for the last two weeks about the likelihood that Democrats would fall short of convicting Trump. A conviction would need the support of two-thirds of the senators, or 67 votes. Getting there would require all Democrats and 17 Republicans. Kaine noted that the Senate is spending time on impeachment when it could be working to advance coronavirus relief, a major priority for Democrats and Biden. Tuesdays vote was completely clarifying that were not going to get near 67, Kaine said. So, I think theres maybe a little more interest now and then could this be an alternative. He added: Obviously, we do a trial, maybe we can do it fast, but my top priority is COVID relief and getting the Biden Cabinet approved. Later in the day, Kaine said on CNN that the resolution would say the attack was an insurrection and that President Trump gave aid and comfort to the insurrectionists. He said it would also bar Trump from future office, though it is unclear if such a vote would be enforceable. Sen. Susan Collins, one of the five Republicans who voted with Democrats on holding the trial, said she has been talking with Kaine about ways to hold Trump to account for his role in the riot. The question is, Is there another way to express condemnation of the presidents activities? Collins said. She said that five is probably a high mark on what youre going to see for Republican support for convicting Trump at trial. While many Republicans criticized Trump after the riot, passions have cooled since then. Now a number of Republicans are rushing to his legal defense. The procedural motion from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, defeated on a 45-55 vote, sought to declare the trial unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. Its an argument that many legal scholars dispute but that most of the GOP caucus has leaned into, enabling Republicans to oppose the trial without directly defending Trumps behavior. Some said the censure resolution was too late because Democrats had rejected GOP suggestions of censure before the House voted to impeach. Asked about Kaines idea, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said it would be a bad precedent to set. I guess if we can censure former presidents, then when Republicans get in charge, we can censure Barack Obama or Democrats can censure George Bush. Some Democrats also appear wary. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said doing censure after impeachment is possible, but I dont know how much time that involves and how it would work. He said there were a lot of questions to be answered about the idea. Earlier Wednesday, on the Senate floor, Durbin criticized Republicans who want to dismiss the trial as he marked the three weeks that have passed since the attack. Ill never forget it, he said. Do the 45 senators who voted against the impeachment trial last night still remember it? I certainly hope they do. Its unclear if any Republicans who voted in favor of Pauls motion would now vote to convict Trump on the actual charge of incitement. Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio voted for Pauls motion but said after the vote that he had not made up his mind about conviction and that constitutionality is a totally different issue than the charge itself. Many others indicated that they believe the final vote on Trumps conviction will be similar to the 55-45 tally. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close Trump ally, said he thinks the vote was a floor, not a ceiling. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has said Trump provoked the riots and who has indicated he is open to conviction, voted with Paul to move toward dismissing the trial. Asked about his vote Wednesday, McConnell said the trial hasnt started yet. And I intend to participate in that and listen to the evidence, he said. Belks 300 stores will stay open, the company says, even though the retailer will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The North Carolina-based chain has 20 Alabama locations. There are no plans for store closures or layoffs, the company announced, expecting the bankruptcy process to be complete by the end of February. According to the plan, Belks owner Sycamore Partners will retain majority control of the company and reduce debt by about $450 million, extending its term loans for another four years. The retailer has received financing commitments for $225 million in new capital from Sycamore Partners, global investment firms KKR and Blackstone Credit, and others. As a result, KKR Credit and Blackstone Credit and other participating lenders will acquire a minority ownership in Belk. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows companies to remain open while they seek court approval for plans to exit bankruptcy. The future Chapter 11 filing will be pre-packaged, meaning Belk already has the support of its lenders and will be able to move forward on an expedited basis. Suppliers will be paid for all goods and services provided. In an announcement, Sycamore Partners announced that it will continue normal operations throughout its financial restructuring process. Customers will continue to receive the quality merchandise and service they expect when shopping at Belks stores across the Southeast and online, the company said in a statement. The infusion of new capital is expected to support Belks continued investment in strategic initiatives, including delivering a seamless omnichannel shopping experience (offering in-store and online) and expanding Belks product offerings in Home Goods, Outdoor and Wellness. Belk, like other retailers, has experienced a decline in same-store sales over the past five years, according to Moodys. Most of its stores are in shopping malls, which have seen less foot traffic as consumers move to online shopping and lifestyle centers, and the company was hit hard by the pandemic. Last March, it furloughed workers, with senior staff taking reductions pay by half, according to the Charlotte Observer. Belk has stores in Alabaster, Auburn, Trussville, Birmingham, Cullman, Decatur, Dothan, Florence, Gadsden, Guntersville, Hoover, two in Huntsville, Jasper, Mobile, Montgomery, Prattville, Selma, Spanish Fort and Tuscaloosa. This post was corrected Jan. 29 at 10:13 a.m. CST to reflect that Belk had not yet filed for bankruptcy. What is happening in Syunik Province is just a disgrace. There are sections there where an Azerbaijani can change his cars license plate, drive to Yerevan, turn around and go back, and nowhere will he be stopped and asked, "Who are you? For what purposes are you here?" The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with three media outlets on Wednesday. "This is not normal, this is the first function of the government, enshrined in the Constitution. It is also an obligation. (). It seems the state has nothing to do with it, as if you are a fan from the side. (). In Shurnukh [village of Syunik], when it was announced that by the verbal agreement of the prime minister [of Armenia] with Azerbaijan, some [Armenian] houses shall be handed over [to Azerbaijan], not the Azerbaijanis should come and tell that villager, 24 hours to you [to leave your house], but our official should go to, kneel before the villager, and apologize, our state must relocate them. (). Syunik revealed the current disgraceful situation in which Armenia is," Robert Kocharyan noted. "Anything is expected from this [Armenian] government. When goals, steps are unpredictable and you cannot build that logical chain from the point of view of your national interests, anything is possible. (). And the impression is that this is another tool to destroy our Armenian people," Robert Kocharyan added. WASHINGTON: More money is needed to protect lawmakers from threats of violence coming from an enemy within Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday, a startling acknowledgment of how tensions over safety have escalated since this months Capitol attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The California Democrat told reporters she thinks Congress will need to provide more money for more security for members, when the enemy is within the House of Representatives, a threat that members are concerned about. Asked to clarify what she meant, Pelosi said, It means that we have members of Congress who want to bring guns on the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress. Pelosis remarks underscored how anxiety about security has remained high in Congress since Trump supporters Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, which led to five deaths. Lawmakers, including some who voted for this months House impeachment of Trump, have reported receiving threats. The apprehension has taken on clear partisan undertones. Some Republicans have loudly objected to having to pass through newly installed metal detectors before they enter the House chamber, while Pelosi has proposed fining lawmakers who bypass the devices. Pelosi did not say whom she meant by her reference to an enemy" within the House, and a spokesperson provided no examples when asked. But first-term Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has liked Facebook posts that advocated for violence against Democrats and the FBI. One post suggested shooting Pelosi in the head. Asked to comment, Greene sent a written statement accusing Democrats and journalists of attacking her because she is a threat to their goal of Socialism" and supports Trump and conservative values. They want to take me out because I represent the people. And they absolutely hate it, she said. Earlier this month, the HuffPost website reported that Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., set off a newly installed metal detector while trying to enter the House chamber and was found to be carrying a concealed gun. Other Republicans have also talked about carrying firearms, which lawmakers are permitted to do, though not on the House or Senate floors. Pelosi said she was meeting Thursday with retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honor, who is leading a security review of the Capitol. She said he was examining ways to protect lawmakers in terms of their service here, their service home, their transportation in between. Lawmakers have already been told they can tap accounts they use for office expenses for some security steps. The campus has been surrounded by barrier fences and patrolled by National Guard troops, and new internal security procedures have been put in place, such as the installation of more screening devices. The public is barred from carrying firearms on Capitol grounds, but members of Congress can keep guns in their offices or transport them on the campus if theyre unloaded and securely wrapped. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin warning of the possibility of more violence from people motivated by antigovernment sentiment after President Joe Bidens election. The department did not cite any specific plots. A Senate trial on whether to punish Trump is set to begin next month, following his House impeachment on a charge of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol. Trump made incendiary remarks to a throng of supporters that day, urging them to march to the building. Lawmakers at the time were formally certifying Bidens election victory, which Trump has repeatedly and falsely attributed to fraud. 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 European Unions dispute with AstraZeneca intensified Wednesday with the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker denying the EUs assertion that it had pulled out of talks on vaccine supplies. AstraZeneca said in a statement that it still planned to meet with EU officials in Brussels later in the day. The comments came after EU officials said the company had informed the bloc that it wouldnt take part in a meeting to discuss delayed vaccine commitments the third such talks in as many days . The representative of AstraZeneca had announced this morning, had informed us this morning, that their participation is not confirmed, is not happening, said Dana Spinant, the EU Commissions spokeswoman. The spat between AstraZeneca and the EU has raised concerns about vaccine nationalism, as countries desperate to end the pandemic and return to normalcy jockey for limited supplies of the precious vaccine shots. The latest disagreement between the two sides came after AstraZeneca rejected the EUs accusation that the company had failed to honor its commitments to deliver coronavirus vaccines. AstraZeneca said the figures in its contract with the EU were targets that couldnt be met because of problems in rapidly expanding production capacity. Chief Executive Pascal Soriot made the comments in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica following days of criticism from EU leaders furious about the news that initial shipments from AstraZeneca would be lower than anticipated. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said last week that it planned to cut initial deliveries in the EU to 31 million doses from 80 million due to reduced yield in the manufacturing process. Our contract is not a contractual commitment, Soriot said. Its a best effort. Basically we said were going to try our best, but we cant guarantee were going to succeed. In fact, getting there, we are a little bit delayed. AstraZeneca said in a statement that it understands and shares in the frustration that initial supply volumes of our vaccine delivered to the European Union will be lower than forecast. On Monday, the EU threatened to impose tight export controls within days on COVID-19 vaccines made in the bloc. The EU, which has 450 million citizens and the economic and political clout of the worlds biggest trading bloc, is lagging badly behind countries like Israel and Britain in rolling out coronavirus vaccine shots for its health care workers and most vulnerable people. Thats despite having over 400,000 confirmed virus deaths since the pandemic began. The shortfall of planned deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine is coming at the same time as a slowdown in the distribution of Pfizer-BioNTech shots as that company upgrades production facilities at a plant in Belgium. (AP) Federal and local authorities apprehended more than 60 immigrants and shutdown three human stash houses, according to the U.S. Border Patrol. Authorities said the cases unfolded Tuesday afternoon and continued into the evening. Border Patrol along with the Webb County Precinct 3 Constables Office, Laredo Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations responded to the incidents. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held phone calls on Sunday with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts. He emphasized the importance of the alliances between the US and the two Asian countries respectively. Although Austin didn't name China in the calls, the US' intentions over China are self-evident. The Biden administration will likely continue to enhance military input in the Western Pacific region. But the cost will be beyond affordable for the US if it has to sustain the moves all by itself. Therefore, Washington hopes that Tokyo and Seoul can take a more active role to cooperate in this regard and become more aggressive. This will allow the US to take advantage of them to contain China. If so, Washington won't have to spend too much of its own cash. Going forward with the new Biden team, the US will first of all fix the cracks between itself and the two Asian allies. During Donald Trump's tenure, both US-Japan and US-South Korea ties were affected mainly due to the Trump administration's demand to sharply increase Japan and South Korea's duties to host US troops. This friction is still not alleviated. The US' goals now are to establish a trilateral or multilateral military alliance system with Washington at the center. This will permit it to further expand strategic blockades and military containments against its main rival in the Western Pacific region. Biden's military ideas will probably seek to use more of US allies' resources. This will see Washington urgently move to fix ties with Japan and South Korea and tighten their military bonds. The US may even concede in terms of amount of responsibilities to host US troops in exchange for the two countries' cooperation. Washington is willing to see them develop deep-ocean offense abilities to cooperate with the US Navy to ensure it has a greater presence in the Western Pacific region. However, although US-Japan and US-South Korea military alliances will be enhanced, it will be impossible to integrate the two Asian countries into a complete military alliance system. On the one hand, quarrels between Japan and South Korea are worsening. Neither of them will compromise over maritime territorial disputes. On the other hand, Japan and South Korea are reluctant to be fully controlled by the US. They both have their own strategic propositions. Therefore, the best-case scenario for the three countries to cooperate will be a trilateral collaboration with limited sphere of operations. After all, Tokyo and Seoul wish to completely separate military concerns from economic affairs. Economically, they value China and its market and want to get closer to it. In late 2020, Japan and South Korea agreed to make efforts to speed up negotiations on the China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement. Analysts believe that the three regional countries will boost long-term stability and peaceful development in Northeast Asia through common prosperity. Nonetheless, when it comes to the strategy and security spheres, neither Tokyo nor Seoul can get rid of Washington's control or their reliance on US military might. Due to historical reasons, the US has troops stationed in both countries, and influences their military policymaking. Unbinding these military ties cannot be unilaterally achieved unless Washington wills it. But this won't happen anytime soon. Therefore, the US-Japan and US-South Korea alliances will not see an end in the foreseeable future. Washington won't change its containment policies against Beijing. But given the new US government's preference to convince its allies to go to the frontline, the US' fierce actions against China may simmer down. Hence, what the US promised to Japan regarding the East China Sea during Austin's call could be nothing more than simple lip service. However, China must assure its own strategic space in the first place. It needs to constantly increase defense strength, respond forcefully against external provocations and interference, and strengthen its initiative in some surrounding areas - especially sensitive ones such as the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea. China needs to create a friendlier and relatively stable external environment so that the US cannot find soil to easily sow discord. The author is a Beijing-based military analyst. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results European sales declined by 10%, as growth in Britain and northern Europe was offset by significant declines in Ireland, southern and eastern Europe because of higher exposure to the on-trade ( ) topped up its half-year dividend after underlying sales of drinks brands such as Johnnie Walker whisky, Gordons gin and Don Julio tequila bubbled higher in the first half of the year. However, strong currency swings meant that reported net sales fell 4.5% to 6.9bn for the six months to end-December 2020 and pre-tax profit fell by 11% to 2.2bn. Ignoring currency swings, organic sales growth rose 1% as North America, the FTSE 100 groups largest market was up 12.3%, counterbalancing declines in Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. North America sales grew 12% as spirits continued to take a larger share of the total beverage market, including of Don Julio and Casamigos tequila, Ciroc vodka, Bulleit bourbon and Johnnie Walker and Buchanan's whisky. European sales declined 10%, as growth in Britain and northern Europe was offset by significant declines in Ireland, southern and eastern Europe because of higher exposure to the on-trade channel. Britains top tipples were Gordons gin, Captain Morgan rum, Baileys and scotch. With free cash flow improving 0.8bn to 1.8bn, the interim dividend was lifted by 2% to 27.96p per share. No exact guidance was given for the second half, but chief executive Ivan Menezes broadly expects to see improvement in organic sales and operating profits across all regions over what was a weak period last year when the pandemic first broke out. Menezes, who said the company was using data tools to invest smartly in effective marketing and innovation to strengthen its brands, premiumise its portfolio and expand digital capabilities, said he expects margins to improve as the on-trade and travel retail recover. The shares were up 3% by midday on Thursday to 2,935.5p. Analyst Dan Lane at Freetrade said: Its still tough out there for drinks brands, but US consumers are keeping Diageo afloat. He added: Sensibly, Diageo have used the time to pivot as much as they can to consumers. William Ryder at Hargreaves Lansdown said recording organic sales growth in the second half is no mean feat given the disruption coronavirus has inflicted on the hospitality industry. He said the next halfs sales are going to be flattered by the comparison with the start of the pandemic, but investors and analysts are likely to be more focused on market share and underlying growth in key brands. Diageo is still holding back on share buybacks until debt is brought under closer control, and management expects this to last until at least the end of the financial year. Caution is the right approach, although the group is well placed for a recovery over the summer if vaccines live up to their billing. --Adds shares and broker comment-- LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Intermediate Capital Group plc (ICP.L) issued a trading statement for the period to 31 December 2020. Total AUM increased 2% during the quarter to 47.2 billion euros. Third Party AUM was 44.5 billion euros, an increase of 2% during the quarter and 12% since 31 December 2019. The total fundraising during the financial year to-date was 4.6 billion euros. Fundraising for the full fiscal year is anticipated to exceed 6 billion euros, significantly ahead of the Group's initial expectations for an off-cycle year. Benoit Durteste, CEO, said: 'We maintained very positive momentum in our business through the third quarter, raising significant Third Party AUM and deploying a substantial amount of capital across all our strategic asset classes. Two of our flagship funds, Europe Fund VII and Strategic Equity III, were particularly active.' The group will announce its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2021 on 8 June 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. He predicted it would drive Republican turnout in upcoming races. He said he had met this week with a prosecutor who feels the election was stolen and was pondering a run for a statewide judgeship this year. Other Republicans are more skeptical that lock-step support of the former president is the best path forward in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state that is likely to be up for grabs in the next several election cycles. We have become, over four years, the party of Trump, and it has been one test after the other, said Ryan Costello, a former G.O.P. House member from the Philadelphia suburbs who has been critical of Mr. Trump and is exploring a run for Senate. It is not a sustainable growth strategy to double and triple and quadruple down on Trump when he gets divisive. Despite Mr. Costellos apprehension, most Republicans thought to be mulling runs for Senate or governor have made it clear that they are prepared to pass a Trump loyalty test. They include members of the Republican congressional delegation, hard-line members of the legislature, and even Donald Trump Jr. The presidents oldest son is the subject of persistent rumors that he will run for high office in the state mostly because of his ties to Pennsylvania, where he went to prep school and college. The Trump family spent an enormous amount of time campaigning in Pennsylvania in 2020, and as it seeks its next political stage, the state remains a big one. The transformation of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania has been stark. Less than two decades ago, it was led by political centrists such as former Senator Arlen Specter and former Gov. Tom Ridge, who became the first secretary of homeland security. [January 28, 2021] Aquarius Engines Reach Phase Two of Generator Pilot with Nokia ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquarius Engines (TASE: AQUA) has successfully completed phase one of their partnership agreement with Nokia. The Finnish communications giant now plans to expand field tests of the Aquarius generator from three to five pilots. The initial phase was to test and verify the Aquarius Engines patented remote energy management software, which is designed to allow clients to closely monitor the efficiency of remotely placed generators from miles away. In the long term Nokia hopes to roll-out Aquarius micro generators to isolated communications towers, as well as providing power to areas far beyond the electric grid. In addition Nokia has expressed its desire to expand global field tests of the Aquarius generator from three to five pilots. The initial plan was to evaluate the Aquarius Generator at far-flung locations in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Due to the success of phase one tests, they have now asked toincrease field tests into Europe to include Germany and Poland. The newly invented Aquarius Generators are so small and light that they can easily be transported, while requiring minimal maintenance. This would mean bringing power to places situated hours away from the nearest power outlet. The output and efficiency of the machines can be monitored in real-time by-proxy using the patented Aquarius Engines operating system. "We are proud to have greatly surpassed Nokia's expectations. Now we will not only move to phase two of our strategic partnership agreement with Nokia, but also increase our global field tests to include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Germany and Poland. This is another monumental move towards realizing our vision to supply total energy solutions to some of the most isolated and remote locations on earth." Said Gal Fridman, Chairman of Aquarius Engines. Aquarius Engines is also partnered with the Japanese auto-parts manufacturer Honda-affiliate Musashi Seimitsu. Aquarius Engines is the developer and manufacturer of micro engines that generate electricity through groundbreaking technology with around 20 patents registered worldwide. Aquarius Engines currently has R&D centers in Israel, Germany and Poland. The company's chairman is Gal Fridman and CEO is Ariel Gorfung. Aquarius Engines is a publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: AQUA). www.aquariusengines.com For more information or to arrange an interview contact: avihyman@avihyman.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquarius-engines-reach-phase-two-of-generator-pilot-with-nokia-301217432.html SOURCE AQUARIUS ENGINES [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Scientists are settling on a road map that can help critical sectors of the economy safely conduct business, from meatpacking plants to financial services, despite the pandemics continued spread. After nearly a year of study, the lessons include: Mask-wearing, worker pods and good air flow are much more important than surface cleaning, temperature checks and plexiglass barriers in places like offices and restaurants. And more public-health experts now advocate wide use of cheap, rapid tests to detect cases quickly, in part because many scientists now think more than 50% of infections are transmitted by people without symptoms. The playbook comes after months of investigations on how the coronavirus spreads and affects the body. Scientists combined that with knowledge gained from years of experience managing occupational-health hazards in high-risk workplaces, such as factories and chemical plants, where tiny airborne pollutants can build up and cause harm. They say different types of workplacestaking into account the types of interactions workers haveneed slightly different protocols. The safety measures have taken on new urgency in recent weeks as new infections, hospitalizations and deaths rise across the U.S. and Europe, and potentially more-transmissible variants of the virus spread around the globe. This phase of the pandemic is prompting a new wave of stay-at-home orders, closures and travel restrictions, important first steps to curbing contagion. Infection-prevention specialists say known strategies for stemming spread should continue to work against the new variants, but that increased adherence is even more important. Vaccines are rolling out, but slowly, and access will be limited mostly to high-priority groups for some time. We have to still deal with the right now. Weve zeroed in on this set of controls that we know work," said Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Over the past year, the lack of consistent and cohesive messaging among scientists and lawmakers has seeded confusion over what makes up risky behavior, what activities should be avoided and why. That is beginning to change as consensus builds and scientists better understand the virus. In the US, scientists at first advised people against wearing masks, in part because of shortages, while the idea of stay-at-home orders received severe pushback from some lawmakers. Early in the pandemic, testing was limited to people with symptoms, also partly due to shortages. That advice has shifted, but a year later, sufficient testing remains a critical issue. Countries such as New Zealand and others in Asia adhered to a combination of basic mitigation strategies from the startparticularly masking, large-scale testing and lockdowns that broke transmission chains. They have tended to fare better than those that didnt. In one of his first moves, President Biden signed executive orders to require masks be worn on federal property and at airports and other transportation hubs. The administration said it is focusing on increasing the availability of vaccines, and also stressed the importance of widely available testing, which still lags in low-income and minority communities. The current scientific playbook follows from two of the biggest research insights since the start of the pandemic. First, individuals who arent showing symptoms can transmit the virus. Infectious-disease experts worry most about this silent spread and say it is the reason the pandemic has been so hard to contain. While visibly sick people can pass on the virus, data cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 40% to 45% of those infected never develop symptoms at all. With the new viral variants that can transmit more readily, the potential for silent spread is even higher, infectious-disease experts said. Secondly, researchers now know that tiny airborne particles known as aerosols play a role in the spread of Covid-19. These can linger in the air and travel beyond 6 feet. An early hallmark of the pandemic response focused on the risk of transmission through large respiratory droplets that typically travel a few feet and then fall to the ground. Businesses rushed to buy plexiglass barriers, creating shortages. The barriers can be good at preventing larger virus-containing droplets from landing on and infecting healthy individuals. They may offer some protection in shielding workers who have brief face-to-face interactions with many people throughout the workday, such as cashiers and receptionists, some occupational-health experts said. Yet in settings like offices, restaurants or gyms, the role of the barriers is murkier, because activities like talking loudly and breathing deeply create aerosols that can waft on air currents and get around shields. Also, installing such barriers could affect airflow throughout the space, environmental-health experts said. It is possible they could limit proper ventilation, making things worse, they said. There seems to be an assumption that particles are going to get stopped by the barriers, which is simply not true," said Lisa Brosseau, an industrial hygienist and research consultant for the University of Minnesotas Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Airborne particles ferrying the virus really distribute all over the place." The emphasis on intense surface cleaning has diminished as scientists have come to understand that indirect transmission through contaminated surfaces doesnt play as critical a role in the spread of Covid-19 as they thought in the early days of the pandemic. In September, the CDC published sanitation guidelines for offices, workplaces, homes and schools that said that, for most surfaces, normal, routine cleaning should suffice, and that frequently touched objects, such as light switches and doorknobs, should be cleaned and disinfected. Sanitation is important in general always," said Deborah Roy, president of the American Society of Safety Professionals. The idea is we went overboard at the beginning because of the amount of unknowns. Now, were in a situation where we have more information." Temperature checks have become less popular among some employers because scientists now know that not all Covid-19 patients get fevers. One large study published online in November in the New England Journal of Medicine showed only 13% of Covid-19 patients reported a fever during the course of their illness. Scientists now understand that brief encounters with an infected person can lead to spread, according to an October case studyan advance from earlier, when the rule of thumb was to avoid close contact for 15 consecutive minutes or longer. The report urged people to consider not just time and proximity in defining close contact with a Covid case, but also ventilation, crowding and a persons likelihood of generating aerosols. Following the report, the CDC changed its definition of close contact to a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Fresh air and effective filters indoors are important because they can remove virus particles before they have time to infect. Masks offer a similar benefit, by lowering the amount of particles that infected individuals emit. Some scientists say there could be a benefit to doubling up on masks, as a second layer may improve both filtration and fit, so long as the masks are worn correctly. A study published in October found that in countries where mask wearing was the norm or where governments put in place mask mandates, coronavirus mortality rates grew much more slowly than in countries without such measures. This fall, the CDC said that masks also offer some personal protection by reducing a wearers exposure to infected particles. The combination of airborne particles and personal interactions, even among people who dont feel ill, can turn wedding receptions, plane rides and choir practices into superspreading, potentially deadly events. For Covid, those two factorsasymptomatic spread and aerosolizationis what made mask-wearing so essential," said Megan Ranney, emergency physician and assistant dean at Brown University. Lessons can be gleaned from an outbreak at a Canadian spin studio last fall. The operators of the SPINCO studio in Hamilton, Ontario, had many public-health measures in place, including limiting the number of bikes in each class and screening staff and attendees with a questionnaire about topics including symptoms and travel. Rooms were sanitized within 30 minutes of a completed class, and towels were laundered, according to a statement provided last fall by Elizabeth Richardson, medical officer of health for the city of Hamilton. Masks were also required before and after workout classes, Dr. Richardson said. In total, 54 people who attended workouts over a span of several classes became infected. Another 31 cases were tied to the outbreak after spin-class attendees who contracted the virus then passed it on. The spin studio temporarily shut down following the outbreak and later reopened. It is currently not offering classes due to local regulations that mandated the closure of all gyms and fitness centers amid rising Covid-19 cases in the area. In a November statement following the outbreak, Michelle August, founder of SPINCO, said that the company has always put safety first and [has] exceeded all recommended guidelines from public health throughout" the pandemic. She said SPINCO has also strengthened and heightened its Covid-19 mitigation measures. SPINCOs website currently says face masks are mandated throughout workouts in the companys Hamilton location. It also says that SPINCO is installing air purifiers in all of its studios that filter air in the rooms every 17 to 21 minutes. Airborne transmission experts recommend that building managers pump in clean, fresh air between three to six times an hour and that they install filters that are proven to effectively trap and remove a substantial number of virus-carrying particles. To film a stage play of A Christmas Carol" in November, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis upgraded its air filters and increased the rate at which the ventilation system pumps in outside air, said Brooke Hajinian, the Guthries general manager. Management staggered arrival times, and a compliance officer made sure everyone socially distanced, wore their masks properly and washed their hands. The theater divided staff into pods depending on how close they must get to the lone actor on stage, who portrayed Charles Dickens and didnt wear a mask while performing, according to Ms. Hajinian. Those working nearest the stage underwent testing three times a week and wore N95 masks at all times, she said, while cleaning and security crews, who didnt interact with the stage crews, wore cloth masks and didnt undergo testing. Ms. Hajinian said she monitored the staffs testing results and symptoms. Any symptom is not a failure of this plan," she said. Catching a case and isolating itthats what success looks like for us," she said. There were no cases, she said. Scientists say multilayered safety efforts are needed because no single prevention method is 100% effective. One of the largest studies of asymptomatic transmission to date showed that frequent testing was essential in identifying infections among a group of nearly 2,000 Marine recruits required to socially distance and wear masks except while eating and sleeping. The study looked at cases identified with lab-based tests that search out and amplify the genetic material of the virus, but those tests arent as easily scaled as so-called rapid antigen tests, which search for viral proteins. Results from lab-based tests can sometimes take days, while results from rapid tests are usually available in less than an hour. As a result, some epidemiologists have been advocating for widespread use of antigen tests to prevent outbreaks, because they are cheaper and dont require high-tech laboratory equipment to run, meaning they can be deployed in a broader range of settings. The shift toward using frequent, inexpensive and rapid tests on the same people multiple times a week to screen entire populationsinstead of one-time tests on individuals who have symptomswill be important to efficiently break transmission chains, epidemiologists said. Unless were doing really broad, frequent screening of the people at large, were completely missing the vast majority" of infections, said Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. We have to change how were doing this." While rapid tests tend to be less sensitive than lab-based tests, Dr. Mina said the data suggest they have high sensitivity when people are most likely to be infectious. Other infectious-disease experts have touted contact tracing to identify and bust clusters of infection. But they say the strategy works best when cases arent surging, as they are now. When transmission rates are too high, limiting gatherings, travel and crowding are more effective at denting spread, said Abraar Karan, a global-health physician at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In places without big surges, a high-tech approach is becoming increasingly useful: genetic epidemiology, or tracking tiny changes in viral genomes to map out transmission chains. As the coronavirus replicates and moves from person to person, its genes change slightly. Sometimes, those tiny changes are unusual, and they can be particularly useful in mapping transmission events, according to Justin OGrady, an infectious disease expert at the Quadram Institute in the U.K. By sifting through the differences among more than 1,000 viral genomes, Dr. OGrady and his collaborators found that a particular viral variant was moving through multiple nursing homes in the U.K., among patients and staff, but not among the wider community. The unpublished data suggested that transmission was facilitated by the movement of staff from one facility to another, Dr. OGrady said. The team relayed the findings to government authorities and advised them to restrict staff moving among facilities during the pandemic. Sometimes genomic epidemiology is able to find hidden transmission links that traditional epidemiology would struggle to find," Dr. OGrady said. We cant stop transmission, but when we find a superspreader eventwe can bring in the right prevention methods to stop it from spreading further." Betsy McKay contributed to this article. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Violence which took place on Republic Day in New Delhi was a "conspiracy to malign the farmer unions and distance Punjab from the rest of the country," said Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Thursday. Tikait is among the 37 farmer leaders who have been named by the police in the FIR in January 26 Delhi violence case. "The violence that occurred on January 26 and the Red Fort incident was a conspiracy to break the farmers' movement and the government has succeeded in doing that," explained Tikait. Tikait has also accused the Delhi Police of displaying negligence at Red Fort on January 26, when protesters had stormed the building and hoisted flags. "Someone goes there and hoists a flag, why no firing was done?" Tikait asked the police. Tikait also accused the police of allowing Deep Sidhu to leave without arresting him. Tikait said, "Police allowed him to leave and didn't arrest him. Nothing has been done even now." Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu has been accused by the farmer unions of instigating the violence which took place on January 26. Delhi Police had issued a notice to Tikait asking why legal action should not be taken against him for breaching the arrangement between them and the farmer unions for the Republic Day tractor rally. The notice also reads, "You are also directed to provide names of the perpetrators of such violent acts belonging to your organisation. You are directed to submit your response within 3 days." Delhi Police has named 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav and Medha Patkar, in an FIR in the January 26 violence case. The Delhi Police FIR has mentioned charges of attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy. Also Read: Farmers cancel Budget day march to Parliament; to hold hunger strike on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary Albertas public inquiry into anti-Alberta energy campaigns has been the focus of much attention over the past couple of weeks as details of the $3.5-million investigation have been made public. Albertas public inquiry into anti-Alberta energy campaigns has been the focus of much attention over the past couple of weeks as details of the $3.5-million investigation have been made public. In July 2019, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and his UCP government launched the inquiry, led by Steve Allan, a Calgary accountant. Its mandate was to uncover foreign-funded campaigns against the provinces oil and gas sector, principally the oilsands. "There's never been a formal investigation into all aspects of the anti-Alberta campaign," Kenney said at the inquirys launch. This month, three reports commissioned by Allan were released. The first, which was penned by University of Calgary political science professor Barry Cooper, looked at the changes to the ideology of environmental organizations. Cooper has come under fire for advocating for Alberta separation, as well as being linked to the climate-denial group Friends of Science. Another looked at foreign-funded campaigns against Albertas oil and gas sector. It was written by the firm Energy In Depth, which is the creation of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. The third report, penned by Tammy Nemeth, considers changes in progressive thinking and suggests there is a concerted movement by journalists, respected scientific organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and others to pursue a "Great Transformation" and this is the culprit for Albertas oil woes. Nemeth, in her report, rejects the basic principles of climate science, despite having no standing in that field of work. "Reinforcing this is the ongoing global propaganda campaign to demonize carbon dioxide; the Canadian government, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency went so far as to publicize CO2 as pollution when it is a gas essential to all life on Earth," the report reads. Nemeth ties the report together by using a number of narratives based in conspiracy theories, such as American-Hungarian philanthropist George Soros having a hand in manipulating global ideals. Nemeth was paid $28,000 for the report. Little is publicly available about Nemeth's background but CBC has reported she is a home-school teacher in England. Allan asked University of Calgary environmental law associate professor Martin Olszynski to comment on the material generated by the inquiry. Olszynski was highly critical. "My general assessment is that, by and large, the commissioned reports are textbook examples of climate change denialism. All of them minimize or outright dismiss the reality and seriousness of climate change, even though none of their authors appear to be trained in climate science," Olszynski said. His comments were published on the U of Cs faculty of law blog earlier this month. "We have all recently witnessed the toxic effects of conspiracy theories and alternative realities. They have no place in our democratic discourse and even less place in a public inquiry bound by rules of administrative law," Olszynski wrote on Twitter. University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley says it seems unlikely these reports coming out now is a coincidence, suggesting Kenney would like to move the conversation away from the cancellation of U.S. permits for the Keystone XL pipeline, in which his government was heavily invested. "Progressives will malign (the reports) and dismiss them, thats to be expected," Wesley said. "But even the hard right-wing folks arent prioritizing saving the oilsands or Keystone. Most of them are upset that (Kenney) invested in this stuff in the first place, that hes investing in these reports instead of investing time and money in other parts of the economy." Most worrisome is that government-funded content pushes a narrative of "global forces" being out to get Alberta, he says. "That kind of conspiratorial thinking tends to fuel right-wing populist if not fascist movements in the rest of the world," Wesley said. "Thats the first time Ive used the word fascist in talking to a reporter. But I think we need to start using that language because of what we saw south of the border." The final report from the Alberta inquiry is due Jan. 31. sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca (Natural News) Hunters dad has already revoked an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that barred communist China and other hostile foreign entities from gaining access to Americas power grid. Deceptively named the Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, Joe Bidens order undoing Trumps brings the United States one step closer to total absorption into the global system of technocratic authoritarianism. Thanks to China Joe, Beijing now has direct access to a key piece of American national security infrastructure, and all under the guise of combating the ever-present boogeyman known as climate change, with public health and science also thrown in for good measure. Under Trump, Chinese interference with American infrastructure was on the chopping block. Trump had actively sought to ban, replace and set new criteria for bulk power system (BPS) electrical equipment coming from foreign countries, meaning Chinese equipment with possible hidden backdoors would not have been allowed in the United States. Foreign adversaries are increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in the United States bulk-power system, which provides the electricity that supports our national defense, vital emergency services, critical infrastructure, economy, and way of life, Trumps EO read. The bulk-power system is a target of those seeking to commit malicious acts against the United States and its people, including malicious cyber activities, because a successful attack on our bulk-power system would present significant risks to our economy, human health and safety, and would render the United States less capable of acting in defense of itself and its allies. Joe and Hunter Biden are domestic terrorists and enemies of America Trumps EO went on to delineate that foreign countries and nationals thereof are or were now that the Biden regime is pulling the strings prohibited from acquiring, importing, transferring, or installing any BPS equipment in the U.S. To allow otherwise would put the country at needless risk of a cyberattack or other malicious invasion. Any existing BPS equipment deemed to be in violation of the aforementioned guidelines was slated to be identified, isolated, monitored or replaced, as appropriate but not under Biden. No, the Chinese puppet currently occupying the White House is more than fine with allowing his masters to gain a foothold into Americas energy infrastructure. Expect rolling blackouts, utility warfare and a possible EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack under Biden. Just four days prior to the Biden regime taking over, then-Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette issued a prohibition order designed to reduce the risks that entities associated with the Peoples Republic of China pose to the Nations BPS. The order prohibits utilities that supply critical defense facilities (CDF) from procuring from the Peoples Republic of China, specific BPS electric equipment that poses an undue risk to the BPS, the security or resilience of critical infrastructure, the economy, national security, or safety and security of Americans, a press release added. Bidens EO undoes this directive, suspending Trumps for at least 90 days. Biden has also ordered the new Secretary of Energy and Director of OMB to jointly consider whether to recommend that a replacement order be issued. The fate of Americas BPS, in other words, is now in the hands of Bidens hired lackeys, who almost certainly are working in the best interests of communist China rather than the U.S. It all makes sense when considering that Hunter funneled millions of dollars into China General Nuclear Power Corp., a state-owned power company that was found to be guilty of stealing American nuclear technology for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This was all arranged after Hunters dad departed from the White House back in 2017. More news stories about Sleepy Joes treasonous actions against the United States can be found at Treason.news. Sources for this article include: 100percentfedup.com NaturalNews.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. Ellington Properties, a Dubai-based boutique property developer, has begun the handover of its DT1 residences located over a 20,000-sq-m area in Downtown Dubai. Standing tall at 76 m, DT1 is the fifth residential development of Ellington in Dubai. This luxurious collection of residences has been designed to offer a truly distinct setting inside out, said the developer in a statement. DT1 boasts large three- and four-bedroom penthouses in the topmost floors as well as studios, one-, two- and three-bedrooms. Each home is thoughtfully designed with the living room and kitchen having laminated and lacquer details while the kitchen offers integrated Miele appliances, an under-mount kitchen sink and a dramatic mixer in addition to creative joinery details. Other amenities include a modern fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment and leisure and lap pools, in addition to a games room. It also features a reading patio, and outdoor club lounges for residents and visitors seeking to wind down in the evenings, said the statement. Just walking distance from Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera and The Dubai Mall, DT1 brings residents and investors a unique value proposition in one of the most sought-after locations in Dubai, it stated. Ellington Properties (International) CEO Elie Naaman said: "As a home-grown Dubai-based developer with a focus on design, we are committed to creating exceptional lifestyle environments, further reflected in DT1." "Our first development in Downtown Dubai, DT1 residences offer superb value for investors, led by its central location, elegant architecture and world-class design. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we continued work on the project following all safety protocols and ensuring high quality standards in terms of design and finishes," he noted. Adding to the exceptional lifestyle experience offered by DT1, it features Ellington Properties first, soon-to-open art gallery on the ground floor, said Naaman. "The Ellington Art Gallery, developed in collaboration with leading art auction house, Artiana will host the works of artists from around the world. The central art piece in the lobby is designed by Neel Shukla. Named The Levitate, it is representation of global cultures and a celebration of how Dubais local culture has become part of the social fabric and transformed the city into a true metropolis," he added. A 215,000-a-year BBC journalist was today embroiled in an impartiality row after claiming Boris Johnson had 'berated' the EU over the coronavirus vaccines dispute. Europe editor Katya Adler, 48, who is based in Brussels, prompted fury with a tweet after the EU tried to requisition tens of millions of vaccine doses made from the UK. The married mother-of-three was commenting on a Politico report claiming Britain restricted exports of 100 medicines which could be used to treat Covid-19 patients. But her claim about the Prime Minister was criticised with Twitter users pointing out he had not waded into the row and instead spoke of countries working together. The criticism comes four months after the BBC's complaints unit found Ms Adler had breached impartiality rules after branding Michael Gove 'delusional' in April 2020. Katya Adler at a TV awards ceremony at the Park Lane Hilton in London in December 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson (centre) is shown the Lighthouse Laboratoryor processing PCR samples for coronavirus during a visit to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow today Under a link to the Politico report, Adler wrote at about 9am today: 'While people everywhere suffer and die from Covid, the vaccine dispute between governments and with pharmaceutical companies is getting uglier and exposing hypocrisy. 'The EU lectured the world about 'vaccines for all' and now is considering an export ban on vaccines. 'But while the Johnson government berates the EU, the UK has banned the export of over 170 medicines 'needed for British patients' included dozens reportedly used in treating Covid patients.' Among those unimpressed was Daniel Cremin, who tweeted: 'I've complained on the grounds of editorialisation and a lack of due impartiality - a journalist displaying personal political bias with baseless claims.' Former Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe said: 'I have my problems with this Government but this statement is clearly false. They've been remarkably calm compared to the screeching coming from the EU. Another reason to Carol Donaldson added: 'Boris Johnson has not berated the EU at all. Still refers to them as friends and partners - a description which they don't currently deserve.' And Alan Whitmore tweeted: 'Your left wing political bias is showing. Boris has not berated the EU. Apology required.' A further Twitter user, Max, said: 'Boris Johnson has not 'berated' the EU. His response has been very measured. Lacking a bit of impartiality here, Katya Adler.' Speaking at a Downing Street press conference last night, Mr Johnson would not be drawn on the EU's threat to redirect vaccine doses produced for Britain. He said: 'We're very confident in our supplies, we're very confident in our contracts and we're going ahead on that basis.' Mr Johnson, who refused to criticise Brussels, also referred to 'our friends and partners' within the EU during the press conference. And today, Cabinet minister Michael Gove said there 'will be no interruption' to UK vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca after the EU demanded doses from British plants during a row over supply shortages. Mr Gove said the 'first and most important thing' is that the supply schedule agreed with the UK-based pharmaceuticals giant is honoured so the domestic vaccine rollout can be delivered before neighbouring nations are aided. EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said there have been 'constructive' talks with AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot after telling the firm it is contractually obliged to send jabs produced in the UK to 27 EU member states as the bloc faces supply shortages. Meanwhile, Belgian authorities carried out an inspection at an AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine plant in Seneffe, near Brussels, yesterday. A statement from Belgium's health ministry was reported to say the spot check was carried out 'to make sure that the delivery delay is indeed due to a production problem'. Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said vaccine nationalism, where nations prioritise their own access to the detriment of others, must be avoided. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the issue should be resolved through increased production rather than UK doses being diverted to the EU. MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment regarding Ms Adler's tweet. It comes after the BBC's complaints unit found last September that the editor had breached impartiality rules after branding Michael Gove 'delusional' in a tweet. Ms Adler, Europe editor since 2014, slammed comments by the Cabinet Office in April 2020, after he said 'the Covid crisis, in some respects, should concentrate the minds of EU negotiators, enforcing the vital importance of coming to a conclusion'. In response, Ms Adler wrote: 'Am not first to comment on this today but below observation by Michael Gove that #coronavirus will focus EU minds on post #Brexit trade deal is delusional. It distracts EU leaders all the more from something which was not top of in-tray even before Covid-19.' A member of the public complained to the BBC over the use of the word, and the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit agreed that it breached internal guidelines. USS Porter is entering the Black Sea. The USS Porter will conduct maritime security operations in the Black Sea region. "USS Porter began its straits transit into the Black Sea to conduct maritime security operations in the region. U.S. Navy ships and aircraft routinely operate in the BlackSea in support of our NATO Allies & partners!" U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet wrote on Twitter on January 28, 2021. Background U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. On June 19, 2020, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) entered the Black Sea to participate in exercise Sea Breeze 2020 on multiple warfare areas including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, damage control, and search and rescue. Reporting by UNIAN A woman who traveled to the Lehigh Valley to have sex with a 14-year-old boy she met through online gaming avoided life in prison when she was sentenced this week. Sarah Norton, 41, of Connecticut, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Leeson Jr. on child exploitation offenses. Sarah Norton deliberately and aggressively manipulated a 14-year-old boy, a child that was around the same age as her own children, for her own sexually deviant motives, said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Williams. Her predatory behavior is difficult to comprehend; as a mother herself, she knew the damage she was causing and simply did not care. Court records say Norton met the Upper Macungie Township teenager in August 2017 through online gaming, and initially communicated with him on his Sony PlayStation. The two began communicating online and through cellphones; prosecutors said Nortons messages grew explicit and she encouraged the boy to meet her for sex. Norton came to Allentown on Oct. 14, 2017, and checked into a hotel to have sex with the boy, records say. She told police she met the boy at a park, but left the next day and returned to Connecticut without having sex with the child. Prosecutors said Nortons plan was foiled after the victims father became suspicious of the messages on the boys cellphone and interrupted the plan. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Upper Macungie police. Norton was indicted in the case in April 2018. Following a three-day trial in December 2019, Norton was convicted of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. The charges carried a possible maximum sentence of life in prison. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Killings of RTI Activists: New Book Reveals Shocking Negligence in Investigations in Maharashtra Over the past few years, Maharashtra witnessed brutal killing of Right to Information (RTI) activists from across the state. While studying and writing a book on this, what my fellow researcher, writer Prasannakumar Keskar, and I found was the gross failure of the criminal justice system to identify and punish the murderers. Further, none of the 13 dead whistleblowers had any personal agenda or motive while seeking information under RTI and, yet, they were killed. Shockingly, in at least four cases, the accused were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. So, while the fact of murder is undeniable, nobody has been found guilty of committing the crime or killing RTI activists. It was, indeed, a matter of great satisfaction that Life and death in the time of RTI - a book based on research and ground investigations by yours truly along with Mr Keskar was e-released on Sunday, in the presence of Indias first chief information commissioner (CIC) Wajahat Habibullah and former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi. Both of us had together won the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) fellowship in 2019 to do a comprehensive study on the brutal killings of 13 RTI activists of Maharashtra. The project was conceptualised and edited by Venkatesh Nayak, CHRIs RTI researcher and we were given a three-month time framework, which extended a bit, due to the onerous task of finding facts that were sparse in the police stations, media and also with family members. It was, indeed, a challenging task to follow up on all the 13 cases, spread over seven districts of Maharashtra and address a whole gamut of questions for each case. As we wrote in the prologue of the book, "We decided to examine the causes and the consequences of their RTI activism. We also looked at the manner in which the criminal justice system, namely, the police, the prosecution and the courts reacted to their killings. Did the system act swiftly enough to bring the culprits to book? How long and difficult was the road to justice for the bereaved families? Were their voices heard in the course of the investigation and prosecution? What impact did the gruesome violence have on the families and the immediate socio-political environment in which the victims lived? What was the role of oversight bodies like the State Information Commission, particularly with regard to the victims information requests that were processed by public authorities before these activists were attacked? Will we be able to access credible answers to these and other related questions during our field study? The first established fact from our study is that none of these 13 whistle-blowers who met with brutal deaths, had any personal agenda or motive. This belies the rumour-mongering set about by government babus, politicians and even police, to brand these RTI activists as blackmailers! From our study, it was clear that the slain RTI activists had sought information on the following issues of public interest for the larger good of the society. They were: exposing corruption in cooperative societies and irregularities in cooperative banks; unearthing land-grabbing and real estate scams involving the urban land mafia; opposing the construction-realtor mafia in towns and cities; exposing corruption and irregularities in granting building permissions by municipal corporations; exposing defections of municipal corporators from one political party to another through corrupt means; uncovering forgery of property records used for illicit gain; unearthing irregularities like diversion of food grains under the mid-day meal scheme meant for school children; unmasking the diversion of housing assistance benefits meant for poor families to ineligible persons; uncovering illegal takeover of sugar factories by politicians; exposing illegal sand mining; unearthing irregularities in the staffing and management of educational institutions; exposing irregularities in the disbursement of grants and hostel rooms for students from migrant families; protecting the rights and entitlements of pavement hawkers and vendors; laying bare irregularities in the transfer of key officials in civic bodies; exposing misuse of public funds in the repairing the ancestral home of a well-known freedom fighter; identifying truant employees of civic bodies; unearthing corruption in the repair and maintenance of sewer works; and exposing corruption in road repair and pavement construction works. Then second glaring fact was the negligence, mostly deliberate, in police investigations for all the 13 cases. The common thread being, acquittal of the accused due to haphazard or concocted information on police record and in several cases inordinate delay in which court trials have yet to begin, despite several years having gone by after the heinous crime. Hence, our observations in our research paper read thus: "This is mainly due to the absence of any concerted effort from any quarter- either government or civil society or the State Information Commission or the National Human Rights Commission (which treated at least one of the victims as a human rights defender) to document the aftermath of these murders. Official records relating to the criminal investigation and prosecution were hard to come by. Families often did not preserve records evidencing the RTI activism of the victims. The local RTI activist fraternity either did not have adequate knowledge of these cases or refused to speak with us fearing reprisals. Equally worrisome was the hostile campaign run through the local media by vested interests, with active or tacit support from law enforcement agencies, to malign the victims about their motivations for activism resulting in social stigma for the bereaved families. The most worrisome discovery in this study is the failure of the criminal justice system to identify and punish the murderers. In at least four cases, the accused were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. So, while the fact of the murder is undeniable, nobody has been found guilty of committing the crime. In a majority of other cases the trial has not been completed. In one case, the police closed the matter saying it was a case of accidental death due to consumption of liquor. In another the police blamed the murder on an alleged extra-marital affair that the victim was having, without making inquiries about his RTI activism to examine the conspiracy angle. There was intervention by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in two cases. What we stated was: At least two of these cases were handed over to Indias apex crime investigation agency- the CBI after the local police failed to handle them in a professional manner. CBI boasts of a successful prosecution rate of 65-66% of the cases it handles every year. However, in the very first RTI-related murder case (Satish Shetty murder case) reported in Maharashtra, the CBI filed a closure report citing lack of prosecutable evidence against the accused. The victims brother has challenged this finding in the Supreme Court of India in a last ditch effort to seek justice. In another case, the CBI has announced a cash reward of Rs5 lakh for credible information about the culprits of the murder, having failed in its own investigative efforts. The third fact that was revealed was that these RTI activists hail from various socio-economic strata of society. Some were successful businessmen, a few were farmers. Some belonged to middle-class families. At least one belonged to a nomadic tribe and another hailed from a family of migrant labourers. Some were highly educated; a few others did not go beyond basic schooling. Several were Maharashtrian in origin. A few of them had migrated from northern and western parts of India in search of a better life and livelihood opportunities. One of them had migrated to Maharashtra in order to escape persecution he faced for assisting law enforcement agencies in Delhi. At least three victims worked closely with prominent political parties but that did not afford them any extra layer of protection. This is the report card of how the criminal justice system in Maharashtra responded to these murderous attacks that emerges at the end of our study. As a part of the World Health Organization investigation, to trace the origins of the novel coronavirus, a laboratory in Cambodia has discovered close relatives of the pathogen in a few samples. The samples have been stored in a freezer for more than a decade. The samples which have been taken from a horseshoe bat indicate a 92.6 per cent similarity to SARS-CoV-2 behind the Covid-19 pandemic. While Chinese officials have said that the virus may have come from overseas, the latest discovery by researchers at the Pasteur Institute in Cambodia in Phnom Penh indicates something else. However, the WHO team also said that it is too soon to jump to any conclusions. Read: COVID-19 Victim's Relative Demands To Meet WHO Experts In Wuhan Study of decade old samples As a part of the research, the viruses in Cambodia were picked up in swabs taken from Shamels horseshoe bats. The researchers were comparing species diversity on two sides of the Mekong River in northern Cambodia. These samples were transported back to the institute and stored at minus 80 degrees Celsius. After the emergence of the pandemic, the scientists ran further tests. Out of the 430 samples, 16 tested positive for coronavirus. Also, among these were two identical strains that turned out to be the close SARS-CoV-2 relatives. Read: WHO Recordings Reveal Officials Irked With China's Delayed COVID-19 Information The WHO team of scientists arrived in the central city of Wuhan on January 14. The team has been approved by President Xi Jinping's government after months of controversy. China reportedly stalled for at least two weeks more on providing WHO with detailed data on both patients and cases of COVID-19 in the Asian country, revealed by the recordings of UN health agencys internal meeting held in January 2020 and obtained by the news agency, a time when the pandemic could have been slowed. Despite the internal reality, the WHO officials throughout the pandemic have lauded Chinese authorities publicly because they wanted to coax more information out of the government, the recordings suggest. Read: Peru: Sinovac Vaccine Volunteer Allegedly Dies From COVID-19 Induced Pneumonia Also Read: China Rolls Out Anal Swab COVID-19 Tests, Saying It Can 'increase Detection Rate' (Image Credits: AP/Pixabay) Anniversary of 1700 Quake a Spooky Reminder of What's Coming to Oregon, Washington Coast Published 01/27/21 at 4:26 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Seaside, Oregon) While it's not an anniversary to celebrate, it is definitely one of note and caution. With Tuesday having been the 321-year anniversary of the 1700 Cascadia magnitude 9.0 quake, it is a stark reminder of what damage such an earthquake can inflict on a region. (Above: the 1964 tsunami in Seaside came from an earthquake in Alaska. Photo courtesy Tom Horning). The quake happened in the morning hours of January 26, 1700, off the Oregon and Washington coast, resulting in a tsunami about 25 feet high along stretches of beach from California to British Columbia, as well as wreaking devastation in Japan. The center of it was the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a faultline that stretches from northern California to B.C., created by an area where two continental plates meet. And it's all part of something geologists expect again, likely within the next 50 years. Estimates from OSU geologists, including Dr. Chris Goldfinger, are that there's a 40 percent chance of another such eruption off the Oregon and Washington coasts in the next 50 years. The devastation will be enormous, and depending on where the slip of the faultline happens it could affect Portland and Seattle as much as their coastal regions. The 1700 earthquake and its tsunamis occurred with such force because this is where the Juan de Fuca Plate is sliding underneath the North American Plate. Seaside, Oregon geologist Tom Horning has long studied this region. When it breaks, we will have a M9 quake and the killer tsunami, he told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Horning like many other geologists say the next biggie is quite possibly overdue. We are in a cluster of quakes and tsunamis that have occurred every 330 years, on average. Next one may be around the corner. Six of the past 21 Cascadia events occurred before 300 years had passed since the previous wave. The next wave may be as high as 55 ft. It's a spooky scenario that numerous scientists noted Tuesday, as well as government officials. Oregon officials also said the COVID pandemic proved Oregonians are not ready for the big one, pointing to the rushes for some products in the spring. Officials say you need to have two weeks of supplies for such an emergency (see the State of Oregon's preparedness page). In the coming large-scale quake, Horning said Seaside would be covered in 10 to 40 feet of water. Bridges would be destroyed immediately, cutting off hundreds if not more from evacuating beyond the Necanicum River. All those souls would be swallowed up, a number Horning predicted could be anywhere from 1000 people to 20,000. Horning, who sits on the Seaside city council, has been pushing for bridge upgrades for years now, funded by local hotel taxes. The idea hasn't gone far. Portland is in the middle of a similar morass, with many pushing to get Bridgetown a bit more earthquake proof. What did not happen with the 1700 tsunami is almost as interesting as what did happen. One thing the Cascadia tsunami did not do is create the Neskowin ghost forest, or any other ghost forests found on the beaches of the Oregon coast. That is a different origin, and the forest's carbon dating of 2000 years disproves that theory. The 1700 tsunami did, however, create many other ghost forests inland, in just about every estuary on the Oregon coastline. They're not very obvious, however, and more often resemble regular stumps. The tsunami left a sizable ghost forest of stumps near Copalis, Washington, as well. More photos below: Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Above: more photos of the 1964 tsunami damage in Seaside More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor BEIRUT - Clashes broke out during anti-government protests Wednesday night in Tripoli, Lebanon, resulting in one dead and over 220 injured, including about 30 soldiers and police officers, said the Lebanese Red Cross and health authorities in Tripoli. The city north of Beirut is once again the centre of days of intense popular agitation in the context of a prolonged economic crisis aggravated by anti-Covid measures. In the past 72 hours, over 300 people have been injured in repeated protests in Tripoli. Police said some officers were hit by old, Russian-made hand grenades, two of which exploded with a third that remained undetonated. After a series of sit-in protests that took place all day Wednesday in front of the government palace in Tripoli, clashes broke out in the late evening among dozens of protesters and army soldiers, in which demonstrators threw incendiary bottles and rocks. The soldiers responded with water cannons, smoke bombs, and rubber bullets. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is demanding answers and will absolutely strengthen laws, if needed, after a Brisbane bayside couple died when they were struck by a 4WD allegedly stolen and with an intoxicated teenager at the wheel. A 17-year-old male was accused of driving a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, which clipped a vehicle before rolling and hitting Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field as the pair were crossing the road while walking their dogs. Matty Field, 37, and Kate Leadbetter, 31, both Alexandra Hills locals, were hit and died at the scene. Credit:Facebook The teen, from Waterford West, faces a string of charges over the incident in Alexandra Hills on Australia Day, including two counts of murder and dangerous operation of a vehicle while affected by an intoxicating substance. He appeared in the Brisbane Childrens Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody to reappear on March 24. For legal reasons, he cannot be named. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A company's commitment to diversity and women's advancement within the workplace is more vital today than ever, and for the third consecutive year, national homebuilder and developer Taylor Morrison Home Corp. (NYSE: TMHC) is being recognized for such efforts. Taylor Morrison has been included as one of only 380 companies, and the only U.S. homebuilder, on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), fostering greater transparency and an inclusive work environment in a traditionally male-dominated industry. "Considering women tend to be key decision makers in the homebuying process, having a nearly equal male-to-female representation, 53 and 47 percent, respectively, helps us to mirror our customer base and better understand their wants and needs," said Taylor Morrison Chairman and CEO Sheryl Palmer. "We all benefit from greater diversity of thought and the intrinsic differences men and women bring to the table. While there's more work to be done to make Taylor Morrison the most inclusive and representative organization it can be, this repeated recognition in gender equality is a point of pride for the company." Of all companies included in the 2021 GEI, only 23 companies or six percent, including Taylor Morrison, have a female CEO or equivalent.* Taylor Morrison scored above average of all companies included in the 2021 GEI in many areas including:* Women represent 47 percent of the total workforce compared to the 42 percent average. Women make up 44 percent of the corporate board, compared to the 29 percent average. Women hold 33 percent of executive positions, compared to the 21 percent average. Women hold 62 percent of revenue-producing roles, compared to the 39 percent average. 100 percent of employees that return after parental leave remain with the company, based on a twelve-month retention rate, compared to the 85 percent average. The Bloomberg GEI sets the standard for transparent data reporting by giving companies the opportunity to disclose their commitment to gender equality and workplace gender-related practices. Companies included on the index have scored at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg and are raising the bar of what should be expected from other companies across various industries. The 2021 GEI is comprised of 380 companies across 50 industries headquartered in 44 countries and regions. This year's reporting framework is based on 74 metrics across five pillars: female leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, sexual harassment policies, and pro-women brand. For more information, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/gei. *Represents data submitted by Taylor Morrison for the 2021 GEI for fiscal year 2019 and averages provided by Bloomberg for their 2021 GEI. About Taylor Morrison Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC) is the nation's fifth largest homebuilder and developer based in Scottsdale, Arizona, that has been recognized as America's Most Trusted Home Builder for six years running (2016-2021). Operating under a family of brands including Taylor Morrison, Darling Homes, William Lyon Signature Home and Christopher Todd Communities built by Taylor Morrison, we serve consumer groups coast to coast, from first-time to move-up, luxury and 55-plus buyers. Our unwavering pledge to sustainability, our communities and our teamoutlined in the 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reportextends to designing thoughtful living experiences homeowners can be proud of for generations to come. CONTACT: Alice Giedraitis (480) 840-8137 [email protected] SOURCE Taylor Morrison Related Links https://www.taylormorrison.com/ By Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK (Reuters) - KKR & Co Inc aims to attract at least $15 billion for its flagship North America private equity fund, which would make it the second largest amount raised for a fund managed by the U.S. firm, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Buyout firms are seeking to tap cheap and plentiful financing for acquisitions amid rising corporate valuations, as economies start recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Several investors have committed to KKR's new fund, North America XIII, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the matter was confidential, adding that the target included money KKR employees would contribute. It will be the largest pool of capital KKR has attracted since its KKR 2006 Fund raised $17.6 billion. A spokeswoman for New York-based KKR, which now has $234 billion in assets under management, declined to comment. KKR Americas XII Fund raised $13.9 billion in 2017 and delivered 20% growth by June 2020, according to the website of Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, one of the investors. This means the fund ranks in the top quartile of all private equity funds of that vintage based on its financial performance, according to Cambridge Associates. KKR North America Fund XI raised $9 billion in 2013 and delivered 100% growth by June 2020, the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund website said. North America XIII is the first fund in the region to be raised since KKR promoted Pete Stavros and Nate Taylor to co-heads of the private equity business in the Americas. Stavros previously led KKR's investments in the industrial and healthcare sectors, while Taylor oversaw investments in the retail, consumer and technology sectors. KKR said it expected its assets under management to reach $311 billion after completing the $4.4 billion acquisition of annuities and life insurance provider Global Atlantic Financial Group Ltd in the first quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals. (Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Edmund Blair) OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clorox Company today announced that it is one of 380 companies across 11 sectors included in the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). The GEI expanded in 2021 to represent 44 countries and regions, including firms headquartered in Indonesia and Bermuda for the first time. Companies range from a variety of industries, including automotive, banking, consumer services, engineering and construction, and retail. "Gender equality makes us a better company," said Clorox CEO Linda Rendle. "I'm proud that women leaders make up 50% of Clorox's executive team since it's important we represent the diverse consumers we serve around the world, the majority of whom are women." Added Rendle, "It's great to see Clorox in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index as it shows our strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, including our ongoing focus on meaningful disclosure that contributes to progress." The GEI brings transparency to gender-related practices and policies at publicly listed companies increasing the breadth of environmental, social, governance (ESG) data available to investors. The comprehensive, transparent GEI scoring methodology allows investors to assess company performance and compare across industry peer groups. The reference index measures gender equality across five pillars: female leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, sexual harassment policies, and pro-women brand. The 2020 GEI included 325 companies headquartered across 42 countries and regions. Clorox was also included in the 2018 and 2019 GEI. "The companies included in the 2021 GEI are expanding the ESG data universe to include gender-related data that investors are demanding today," said Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg. "Their commitment to disclosure is making the business case for inclusion, and driving transparency in the markets." Through disclosure of gender-related metrics using the GEI framework, the firms included in the 2021 GEI have committed to providing a comprehensive look at their investment in workplace gender equality and the communities in which they operate, raising the bar of what should be expected from other companies within the same industry. Clorox was included in this year's index for scoring at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect a high level of disclosure and overall performance across the framework's five pillars. Both the framework and the GEI are voluntary and have no associated costs. The GEI is a reference index and is not for use as a financial benchmark. The index is not ranked. While all public companies are encouraged to disclose supplemental gender data for their company's investment profile on the Bloomberg Terminal, those that have a market capitalization of USD1 billion are eligible for inclusion in the index. To learn more, please visit the GEI website and The Clorox Company website, which highlights its IGNITE ESG goals, including commitments to advancing gender equality. The Clorox Company The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 8,800 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2020 sales of $6.7 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol cleaners; Liquid-Plumr clog removers; Poett home care products; Fresh Step cat litter; Glad bags and wraps; Kingsford charcoal; Hidden Valley dressings and sauces; Brita water-filtration products; Burt's Bees natural personal care products; and RenewLife, Rainbow Light, Natural Vitality Calm, NeoCell and Stop Aging Now vitamins, minerals and supplements. The company also markets industry-leading products and technologies for professional customers, including those sold under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brand names. More than 80% of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, listed No. 1 on the 2020 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings and included on the Barron's 2020 100 Most Sustainable Companies list and the Human Rights Campaign's 2020 Corporate Equality Index, among others. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company and its foundations contributed more than $25 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2020. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com, including the Good Growth blog, and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo. CLX-C SOURCE The Clorox Company Spire Research and Consulting, leading provider of business research and consulting, and a group company of the TSE Listed Yamada Consulting Group, has expanded its global footprint to the markets in Middle East and North Africa (Mena). The company has entered into a joint venture (JV) with UAE headquartered ZASK Associates, a leading provider of business and strategy consulting to companies in the Mena region. The new company, known as Spire Research & Consulting Mena LLC, is a JV of Spire Research and Consulting Pte Ltd, the parent company of the Spire group located in Singapore, and ZASK Associates, a company incorporated in the UAE and comprising owners and directors with extensive experience of the Mena region. The company is registered with the SHAMS Free Zone and has a business office in The One Tower Building, Barsha Heights, in Dubai. The Middle East and North Africa region includes 20 countries and contains some 6% of the world's population, 578 million people, similar in population size to Asean. The Mena regions gross domestic product (GDP) is approximately $3.6 trillion and represents 4.3% of the global GDP. It has 60% of the worlds oil reserves and 45% of the worlds natural gas reserves. While oil and gas remains the top industry in the Mena region, other leading industries there include banking, education, real estate, financial services and healthcare. On the occasion of the launch of the JV, Leon Perera, Founder and Global CEO of the Spire Research and Consulting group, said: My team and I are excited to be involved with the dynamic business environment in the Mena region. We strongly believe that there is incredible potential in the region, as governments and private players look to diversify their economies and businesses away from natural resources. Leon added: At Spire, our core philosophy has always been to be a partner that contributes actionable knowledge to our clients decision-making process. We are confident that we will be able to work with clients in the Mena region to help them take better business decisions and create value for their shareholders. Adnan Kaddoura, Chairman of ZASK Associates, said: Spire is an exceptionally strong player with a strong expertise and commitment towards supporting growth and innovation in emerging economies. We are indeed happy that they are our partners. We look forward to supporting both the public as well as private sector in the region with the expertise that Spire and its parent company, Yamada Consulting Group, bring to the region. Ryosuke Funayama, Director, Yamada Consulting Group and in charge of YCGs International Operations, said: The formation of Spire Mena is an exciting development for us at YCG as it will showcase our commitment to the Mena region and allow us to better support the growth aspirations of our Japanese and global clientele. Our clients are actively looking at investment opportunities and the Mena region is one of the regions that has their interest. Tarek El Housseiny, a career banker, has been appointed the CEO of Spire Research & Consulting Mena LLC. Tarek has previously worked with Visa International and American Express, having held leadership positions in the region. -- Tradearabia News Service Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 19:15:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe plans to rely on an immunization program already in place for other diseases to roll out COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they arrive. The Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control with the Health Ministry, Portia Manangazira, told the Parliamentary Committee on Health that the national COVID-19 vaccine readiness assessment had already been done, state-run Herald newspaper reported Thursday. Manangazira said the Health Ministry came up with a deployment strategy that would be used once the program starts. "I am happy to say as a country we have a very robust immunization program and the ministry through the Expanded Program on Immunization has conducted a national readiness assessment for the COVID-19 vaccine and we have also come up with a Zimbabwe COVID-19 national deployment and vaccination strategy," said Manangazira. She said the government had also been studying the vaccines that were already on the world market and were using WHO approvals to help select the vaccines that would be used in Zimbabwe. The government is in the process of mobilizing the necessary resources to buy COVID-19 vaccines, with the private sector also expressing its keen desire to complement government efforts in procuring COVID-19 vaccines. Britain also offered to vaccinate 20 percent of Zimbabwe's most vulnerable population. Zimbabwe is part of a global initiative led by WHO known as Covax which plans to secure and distribute millions of doses of vaccines to African countries, once licensed and approved. The initiative, which seeks to secure at least 220 million doses for the continent, will enable fast and equitable distribution of the vaccines. The government has already said frontline workers, the vulnerable and security services would be among the first to be inoculated. Zimbabwe has seen a spike in COVID-19 infections and fatalities since the beginning of the year. The country has to date recorded 32,304 COVID-19 cases, including 1,122 deaths and 23,687 recoveries, according to the Health Ministry. Enditem SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a fabless semiconductor company specializing in wireless connectivity solutions, today announced the PCS1100, a Wi-Fi 6E 4x4 transceiver. The PCS1100 is the first chip announced as part of Palma Ceia's family of Wi-Fi 6 products which support the growing deployment of Wi-Fi 6 networks, and it will provide essential platform technology for a series of upcoming Wi-Fi 6E chipsets. The PCS1100 supports up to four spatial streams and can operate in the newly allocated 6 GHz spectrum (5.9257.125 GHz) for Wi-Fi devices, in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The transceiver supports dual-concurrent operation, allowing simultaneous operation on two frequency bands. The PC1100 operates as the RF radio part of a wireless system enabling the operation of a Wi-Fi 6 AP-Access Point or STA-Station. It can interface with a host system-level ASSP or ASIC supporting Wi-Fi 6 MAC and baseband digital operation. It is also the ideal companion chip to premium-tier access point architectures. Designers who integrate the AP or STA Wi-Fi 6 digital modem functionality on their system-level ASIC or ASSP chip can use the PCS1100 as the RF companion chip supporting the radio operation of Wi-Fi 6. This reduces the risk of RF integration and allows use of advanced process nodes with the highest logic gate density. "As system-level chips grow in functionality to support advanced AI applications that require Wi-Fi connectivity, they must use advanced process nodes to minimize the chip area, and so using an external RF chip reduces the risk of low yield resulting from failure of an integrated RF radio," said Chief Technology Officer Robert Young of Palma Ceia. "The PCS1100 benefits from the experience and expertise of our RF team, and I expect to see those skills reflected in our subsequent products." Designers who integrate STA modem functionality can use 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 operational configurations, with each additional incremental configuration providing more data throughput. In each configuration, the radio can operate at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or 6 GHz, or simultaneously on two frequency bands subject to a maximum of four spatial streams. Customers who integrate the AP Wi-Fi 6 modem functionality on their system-level ASSP or ASIC can use multiple PCS1100 chips to support as many as 12 spatial streams, eight in 5 GHz or 6 GHz, and four in 2.4 GHz (using three PCS1100s) in both the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) directions. The PCS1100 Wi-Fi 6E 4x4:4 transceiver features a robust RF architecture offering key features and performance indicators including: Support for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz (5.9257.125 GHz) frequency bands Up to four spatial streams Support for dual-concurrent operation, allowing simultaneous operation on two frequency bands Excellent receiver sensitivity for reliable connections at longer range Support for 1024-QAM modulation that delivers increased throughput Excellent phase noise and linearity performance to ensure Tx and Rx EVM (Error Vector Magnitude) requirements are met with significant margin Integrated data converters for channel bandwidths up to 80 MHz, with a high-speed SerDes digital interface to the system-level chip; support for 160MHz channels through an analog I/Q interface Integrated digital functionality for calibration, production test and signal path compensation, including an embedded RISC-V processor core "We are extremely excited about the launch of the PCS1100, the first chip in our family of Wi-Fi-6-based products," said Roy E. Jewell, chief executive officer at Palma Ceia. "The workplace in 2021 can be anywhere we are, and users are increasingly dependent on wireless connectivity. We anticipate a growing demand for the PCS1100 as an RF companion chip as Wi-Fi 6E and use of the 6G spectrum continue to expand." Availability The PCS1100 is scheduled to tape out in early Q2 of 2021, with customer samples available in Q3. Contact Palma Ceia SemiDesign via email at [email protected] for details. About Palma Ceia SemiDesign Palma Ceia SemiDesign (PCS) is a fabless semiconductor company and leading provider of communication semiconductors and IP for next-generation Wi-Fi and cellular applications. With a focus on emerging Wi-Fi and LTE standards, particularly for IoT (Internet of Things), PCS targets the design of ICs for broadband, wireless, medical and automotive applications. Palma Ceia SemiDesign solutions are differentiated by low power, high performance and ease of integration. Headquartered in the Cayman Islands, the company has design and sales support centers in Cambridge (United Kingdom), mainland China, Hong Kong, and McKinney, Texas (United States). PCS is soon expanding to provide direct support for Israel, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Visit Palma Ceia SemiDesign on the web at pcsemi.com. Palma Ceia SemiDesign and the Palma Ceia SemiDesign logo are trademarks of Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a Cayman Islands corporation, and are protected by trademark laws of the United States and other jurisdictions. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Palma Ceia SemiDesign Media Contact Milan G. Lazich [email protected] +1 650-464-1132 SOURCE Palma Ceia SemiDesign Related Links http://www.pcsemi.com A Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Joseph Atsu Ayee, has urged appointees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be agents of change by promoting the public interest, good governance and the fight against corruption. That, he said, would enable the President to leave a lasting legacy and achieve his manifesto promises. He said the nominees through their selfless attitude would prove Ghanaians wrong by doing the right things when given the green light after vetting. He said the nominees must also work hard to unite Ghanaians because the country was extensively politicised. Prof. Ayee shared his views with the Daily Graphic on the nominees whose names had been submitted for parliamentary approval. He said the President should hold each minister accountable to which area he or she would be assigned to and if possible, make them sign a Performance Management Agreement (PMA) to put them on their toes. Reshuffle of minister Prof. Ayee was of the view that the performance of the new ministers would consolidate the Presidents achievements if only they performed morally and ethically to propel good governance. He said the results of the December 7 elections clearly showed that some ministers, especially the MPs, did not live up to the task. If they had done well, they wouldnt have depended on an independent member who was expelled from the party to secure a clear cut majority in Parliament. There were no major reshuffle in the Presidents first term apart from few ministers who for some reasons were relieved of their post. I think this time the President will be prepared to take the risk and reshuffle within a year. His first term was a learning process so I believe in this second term he will be a master of himself and row the boat to a successful end, he emphasised. Gender balance Prof. Ayee said so far the names of ministers that had come out did not give a fair representation of gender balance. I dont know of the rest but what is out now does not give women a fair chance in governance. In good governance we talk about gender balance, especially views of the vulnerable, he said Prof. Ayee emphasised that women had been at the forefront of politics since independence so it was important that women were given a larger proportion in government to enable them to contribute their quota to the development of the nation. New entrants Touching on the nominees, Prof. Ayee said a blend of old and young people such as Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor and Mr Francis Asenso Boakye would help to rejuvenate the Presidents vision. Deputy ministers such as Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Mr Godfred Dame who have been elevated as substantive ministers must be commended for good job done, he added. Source: Graphic.com.gh 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 In one case, home principal secretary Kumar Vishwajeet, DGP Goutam Sawang and IG Mahesh Chandra Laddha appeared before the court in person. DC Image Vijayawada: Several senior IAS and IPS officers appeared in person before the High Court in two contempt of court cases here on Wednesday. Single judge Justice Bhattu Devanand held the hearing in a contempt of court case. Petitioner R.V. Papa Rao, working as an attender at Sri Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi College for Women in Rajahmundry, stated that despite the High Court direction to implement full-time scale to him in 2018, it was not implemented. Endowments commissioner Arjuna Rao and collegiate education special commissioner M. M. Nayak, college correspondent Ramamohan Rao appeared before the court. However, as collegiate education regional joint director David Kumar failed to appear before it, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him and directed Rajahmundry Urban SP to produce him in person before the court in the next hearing that is posted for February 15. In another case, home principal secretary Kumar Vishwajeet, DGP Goutam Sawang and IG Mahesh Chandra Laddha appeared before the court in person. One V. Rama Rao filed a contempt of court petition stating that in spite of a court direction to promote him (an SI) as CI, it was not implemented. When the judge asked as to who was responsible for failing to implement its direction, senior police officers informed that there was some delay in taking legal opinion on the issue. The judge observed that though it was painful to summon the DGP to appear before the court. He said that subordinate officials were misguiding him. Later, the court gave exemption to the three officials from appearing in person and posted the hearing to February 25. Meanwhile, the High Court will hear a petition seeking issue of stay order on notification for conduct of gram panchayat polls on Thursday. A student identified as Dhulipalla Akhila hailing from Guntur filed a petition in the court seeking its intervention stating that the panchayat polls were to be held on the basis of electoral rolls prepared in 2019 and not on latest rolls prepared in 2021 resulting in deprival of right to vote to 3.62 lakh first-time voters in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda Summit via video conference where he spoke on a wide range of subjects, including India's reform trajector, increased usage of technology and the coronavirus pandemic's situation in the country. The Davos Dialogues agenda marks the launch of the World Economic Forum's great reset initiative in the post-COVID-19 world. The ongoing online summit has been addressed so far by Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, among other global leaders. Catch are all the highlights from PM Modi's speech at WEF: -Work is in progress for a strict law on data protection in the country, PM Modi added. -We are promoting the investment in frontier technologies like AI, additive manufacturing, and interdisciplinary cyber-physical systems, said PM Modi. -"We believe in opening all the sectors for market participation. Take the example of UPI. Transactions at UPI platform have crossed 2 billion per month. A major portion of these transactions are taking place through the apps developed by private players, " said PM Modi. -PM said digital lending platforms can help MSMEs get access to credit. 3 lakh common service centres in the country are giving digital services in villages. 6 lakh villages will be connected by fiber internet in the next few years, he added. -I invite all investors to participate in the various PLI schemes, offering production linked incentives of 5%. PLI scheme will lead to production of $520 billion, PM Modi added. -By 2040, India's infra needs will be around $4.5 trillion. This target will be achieved by both government and the industry. Govt is working tirelessly to provide an enabling environment: PM Modi. -Several points have been decriminalised in Company Law. To raise competitiveness, connectivity infrastructure is being strengthened. During pandemic we saw that Indian companies are capable of tackling supply shock, they maintained medical supply in India and across the world, said PM. -Government has continuously taken several majors steps to boost manufacturing in India. Corporate Tax brought down to 15% for new manufacturing units. GST rates have been reduced. Through GST & Faceless Assessment tax structure has been simplified. Labour laws have been reformed, PM said. -India launched 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' with the resolve of increasing the capacity of our economy. India made one reform after the other to provide a high growth trajectory to economy in this decade. These reforms were long-awaited, PM odi added. -Our Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is committed towards global good and global supply chain. India has the capacity, capability and reliability to strengthen the global supply chain, said PM Modi. -PM Modi sends a message of faith, positivity and hope from more than 1.3 billion Indians to the world, as he discusses India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. -The connectivity infrastructure is being strengthened to tackle with the competitiveness, said Modi. -India is saving the lives of people in many other countries of the world by sending COVID vaccines and developing the necessary infrastructure for the vaccination, said Modi at the Davos Dialogues agenda. -In these tough times, India has been undertaking its global responsibility from the beginning. When airspace was closed in many countries, India took more than 1 lakh citizens to their countries and delivered essential medicines to more than 150 countries, the prime minister added. -The ease of doing business is improving in India, Modi added. -Some talked of 70-80 crore covid-related infections, over 20 lakh deaths; but India did not let disappointment get better of it, says Modi as he addresses the Davos Dialogues agenda. -Previously we imported all the PPE kits and masks from outside but now not only are we fulfilling our domestic demand but also are one of the largest exporters of the kits: PM Modi. -India is one of those countries which has successfully controlled the coronavirus, said PM Modi. -In just 12 days, India has vaccinated more than 2.3 million healthcare workers. In next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities, said PM Modi. -Right now there are two made in India vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that in the time to come many more vaccines will come from India, he added. -Amid apprehensions, I have come before you with a message of confidence, positivity, and hope for the world on the behalf on more than 1.3 billion Indians, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at World Economic Forum's Davos Dialogue. -According to the PMO release, more than 400 top industry leaders from across the globe will attend the session, wherein the prime minister will be speaking on the Fourth Industrial Revolution-using technology for the good of humanity. -The WEF 2021 will be held virtually from January 26 to 29 at Davos in Switzerland, on the theme "The Great Reset" representing a commitment to jointly and urgently build the foundations of the global economic and social system for a more fair, sustainable and resilient future. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX Avnet Inc. (AVT) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $19.2 million. The Phoenix-based company said it had profit of 19 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for pretax expenses and restructuring costs, were 48 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 38 cents per share. The distributor of electronic components posted revenue of $4.67 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $4.21 billion. For the current quarter ending in April, Avnet expects its per-share earnings to range from 52 cents to 58 cents. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The company said it expects revenue in the range of $4.3 billion to $4.7 billion for the fiscal third quarter. Avnet shares have increased slightly more than 7% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $37.70, a decrease of almost 7% in the last 12 months. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AVT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AVT A whale shark was seen peacefully swimming with beachgoers just moments before it became stuck in shallow water and needed rescuing. The shark was caught next to rocks just metres from the shore on a beach at Noosa National Park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Wednesday. New drone footage shows the curious shark, which is harmless to humans, swimming right below surfers, paddleboarders and snorkellers just minutes before it eventually needed saving. A whale shark (pictured) was filmed swimming with paddleboarders and snorkellers (also pictured) before it became stuck in shallow water at a beach at Noosa National Park on Wednesday At one point, a paddleboarder and two snorkellers were seen marveling at the shark, which was circling under them. Later, a lone swimmer was seen lying on his back looking at the whale shark gliding right below him. Drone footage also showed the foreboding moment the shark ventured into shallow waters next to rocks, where it would eventually become stuck. Carley Jane Pan was at the beach when she spotted the whale shark thrashing around in shallow water trying to free itself. She and other locals dived into the water to help marine marvel in distress. Later, a lone swimmer was seen lying on his back looking at the whale shark gliding right below him The whale shark caused quite a stir on the beach, with many swimmers and boarders rushing to get a glimpse of the specimen, which is the world's biggest fish Ms Pan told Daily Mail Australia she was quite shocked because she had never seen a whale shark in two decades of surfing at Noosa. She said a few locals including her husband and friend Tony Rapacioli rushed into the water to help the animal. 'The shark flipped over so I ran in to help too, we pulled it from the tail and managed to get it off the rocks when a wave came. It kept trying to circle back but some guys managed to steer it away back into the cove,' Ms Pan said. Whale sharks are the largest known fish species - as whales are classified as mammals - with the largest confirmed individual reaching a huge 18.8 metres in length. The whale shark (pictured) had become stuck in shallow water at Noosa National Park in Queensland (pictured) A group of locals rushed to help the whale shark that had become stuck in shallow water (pictured) They are listed as endangered species and feed on plankton and small fish - posing no threat to humans. While the animals are found in most tropical waters around the world from as far north as Canada and south to Victoria, they generally stay in deeper water rarely venture close to shore. People commenting on the shark at Noosa said they were amazed to see one near the beach. 'Imagine seeing the fins out there,' one person said. 'A whale shark, how incredible,' another said. 'Don't even need to go to WA,' a third added. Beachgoers spotted the huge whale shark in Noosa on Wednesday (pictured) A famous tourist activity is to swim with the whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. The reef is one of the largest in Australia and is located about halfway up the Indian Ocean coast - at about the same longitude as Noosa and the Sunshine Coast on the east. Ms Pan said a team from nearby Australia Zoo arrived and along with help from other locals managed to safely tow the animal back out into deep water. 'So happy to hear that,' a relieved Ms Pan said. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Titus Makin is using his voice to make a difference. The actor portrays Jackson West on the ABC series The Rookie a role hes grown along with for three seasons. Yet this season, Makin is honored to be part of a series that is addressing the racial injustice that the country is feeling. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Its honestly an honor, he says. ABC and The Rookie are both willing to undertake it and add to the conversation. It could be going in its lighthearted style. But they are gong for it and opening up this dialogue. The Rookie is a police procedural series that follows John Nolan, played by Nathan Fillion, a man in his 40s who becomes the oldest rookie in the Los Angeles Police Department. Joining Fillion and Makin are Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Mercedes Mason, Melissa ONeil, Afton Williamson, Mekia Cox, Shawn Ashmore and Eric Winter. The series premiered its third season on Jan. 3 and airs at 9 p.m. Sunday on ABC. In the current season, Makin says, West continues to grow into the person hes meant to be. I feel like everybody has their storylines, Makin says. Jackson is complicated. Hes following in his dads footsteps, so theres that pressure. Hes not only a cop. Hes gay. Hes Black. Hes a rookie. There are so many colors to play as a character. This season, we get to see Jackson take hold of his voice. Portraying West has also taught Makin some valuable lessons. He says West will stay quiet in certain situations, while he wont. There are some scenes when I ask myself, Why is Jackson not stepping up to the plate? Then there are times where Im on the opposite side of the fence, he says. Its been extremely rewarding to play a cop in the first place. I was fearful because of the perception. The great thing about our show is that we show people what policing should be like and how to inspire change. Its police officers policing each other. Makin has been able to inject more of himself into Wests character this season. I speak through him, and its great, he says. Starting with the third episode, you see Jackson begin to own his voice and not back down. Another lesson Makin has learned from the show is simple. Its taught me that I dont have what it takes ever to be a police officer, he says. If theres a gunshot, I will cower or run. I dont have it in me to walk into any of that. When Makin gets breaks from production of The Rookie, he can be found making music under the stage name Butterfly Ali. The music he creates is influenced by Motown artists and is often compared to Frank Ocean, Andre 3000 and Anderson .Paak. He says music delivers something that Hollywood just cant, and he accepts nothing but complete control over his art. His most recent release, Pray for Em, is a 70s-inspired jam with a strong message in support people of color in the current climate. My truest form is music, he says. Acting takes a lot of work. Music comes out of me naturally, and its my detox when work has been really hard. Writing music is the polar opposite of his time on The Rookie. If you give me an opportunity, Ill always show up with a new face, he says. Its great to push myself to grow. Makin hopes to get some time to travel to New Mexico and to write some music. Hes been to Albuquerque before, but never for long, he said. Everything there sounds inspiring, he says. I try to do something different each time, and thats how I push myself in music or acting. ON TV Titus Makin stars in the ABC series The Rookie, which airs at 9 p.m. Sundays. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The government might come up with a COVID cess to compensate for revenue shortfall in the economy. Airtel became the first telecom company to successfully demonstrate live 5G services in India. Cupertino-based Apple registered an exceptionally strong Q1 2021 quarter with an all-time revenue record of $111.4 billion. Read for more top stories from the world of business and economy: 1. COVID cess--India's 10th--could grow cess revenue to over Rs 3 lakh crore Speculations are rife that the government may levy a Covid cess of around 4 per cent on high income earners to fund the coronavirus vaccination drive. 2. BT Insight: Simplicity, liquidity key features of IRDA's Saral Pension Yojana The Saral Pension policy can be surrendered any time after six months from the date of commencement, if the annuitant or the spouse or any of the children of the annuitant is diagnosed as suffering from any of the critical illnesses specified in the policy document. 3. Airtel conducts successful demonstration of 5G; ready for commercial rollout The New Delhi-based telco did the 5G demonstration over a commercial network in Hyderabad. The firm stated that it operated 5G and 4G simultaneously over the existing spectrum in the 1800MHz band. It did so through the Non-Standalone (NSA) technology. 4. Union Budget 2021: How Sensex, Nifty moved on Budget Day in last 10 years Of the last 10 budgets, the stock market has closed lower six times. Twice the indices closed over 1% lower (2012, 2013). This excludes Budget 2020's 2.4% drop in Sensex, the worst budget-day plunge since 2009. 5. Apple registers double-digit growth, all-time record revenue of $111.4 billion Driven by strong demand for the recently launched iPhone 12 models, iPhone grew by 17 per cent year over year, with Apple's active installed base of iPhones over 1 billion Possessions is a French-Hebrew language thriller series premiering on HBO Max today, Jan. 28. Everything is beautiful on the night of Natalies wedding. Shes a young French expatriate in Israel celebrating her special day with her new husband and family. Theyre about to cut the cake and embark on their new life together. All is well. Until the lights go out. When they come back on, her husband lies bleeding to death on the floor, and her once white wedding dress runs red with blood from the cake knife shes holding. But she says she has no memory of what happened, and asserts that she absolutely did not kill her husband. Karim, a French diplomat in charge of helping French citizens who have to deal with the Israeli authorities, will attempt to help Natalie clear her name as he slowly falls for her. Is Natalie as lost and vulnerable as she looks? Or is she a manipulative cold-blooded killer? Karim will dive into Natalie and her familys mysterious past to find out. Where can I watch Possessions? You can watch it on HBO Max ($14.99/month). With HBO Max you can stream all of HBO, plus your favorite series like South Park and Friends, as well as blockbuster movies and Max Originals. As CNN correspondent Tim Mintier and a NASA official narrated, Space Shuttle Challenger lifted into the sky on Jan. 28, 1986. CNN was the only news network covering the launch live from Kennedy Space Center in Fla. Their words were punctuated by long pauses of silence when the screen showed what looked like an explosion. Obviously, a major malfunction, the NASA official said. Theyre holding their breath just as I am sure everyone else is, Mintier said. The NASA official then says the dreaded words, We have a report from the flight dynamics officer that the vehicle has exploded. We are looking at, checking with the recovery forces to see what can be done at this point. Today is the 35th anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle Challenger and its seven crew members. Space Shuttle Challenger crew members gather for an official portrait Nov. 11, 1985 in an unspecified location. In the back row from left are Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, teacher-in-space participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist Greg Jarvis and mission specialist Judy Resnick. In front, from left, are pilot Mike Smith, commander Dick Scobee and mission specialist Ron McNair. (Photo by NASA)Getty Images Just 73 seconds into its mission on Jan. 28, 1986, the shuttle was violently torn apart, sending the crew to their death - Francis R. Scobee, mission commander; Gregory Jarvis, payload specialist; Judith A. Resnik, mission specialist; Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist; Mike J. Smith, pilot; Ellison S. Onizuka, mission specialist; and Christa McAuliffe, teacher in space and payload specialist. President Ronald Reagan, who had planned to give a State of the Union address that day but canceled it, said, For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and were thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, Give me a challenge and Ill meet it with joy. They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us. Helicopters, ships and planes started a recovery mission after debris stopped falling from the sky, which took about 15 minutes. I regret that I have to report that based on very preliminary searches of the ocean where Challenger impacted this morning, these searches have not revealed any evidence that the crew of Challenger survived, said Jesse Moore, NASA associate administrator. The Associated Press reported, The accident defied quick explanation, though a slow-motion replay seemed to show an initial problem with one of two peel-away rocket boosters followed by detonation of the shuttles huge external fuel tank. The exploding tank destroyed Challenger high above the Atlantic while crew families and NASA officials watched in despair from the Cape. McAuliffe was to be the first teacher in space. Some students, including McAuliffes, were watching the liftoff live on TV. Eighteen students were in the audience at Cape Canaveral along with McAuliffes family. Within seconds, a party died in silence as hundreds of Christa McAuliffes friends, students and colleagues watched the shuttle Challenger blast off yesterday and then explode, the Associated Press reported from Concord, N.H. Addressing students, Reagan said, And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttles takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. Its all part of the process of exploration and discovery. Its all part of taking a chance and expanding mans horizons. The future doesnt belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and well continue to follow them. Challengers mission lasted just 1 minute and 13 seconds. It traveled 18 miles. Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Fla. The breakup was blamed on failed O-ring seals in the right rocket booster. The seal had become brittle because of the cold temperature that morning. From history.com, It was later determined that two rubber O-rings, which had been designed to separate the sections of the rocket booster, had failed due to cold temperatures on the morning of the launch. The tragedy and its aftermath received extensive media coverage and prompted NASA to temporarily suspend all shuttle missions. The morning of January 28 was unusually cold, and engineers warned their superiors that certain components particularly the rubber O-rings that sealed the joints of the shuttles solid rocket boosters were vulnerable to failure at low temperatures. However, these warnings went unheeded, and at 11:39 a.m. Challenger lifted off. Several crew members are known to have survived the initial breakup - four Personal Egress Air Packs were found to have been activated. But, the impact of the crew cabin - 2 minutes and 45 seconds after launch - with the surface of the ocean was not survivable. Divers from the USS Preserver found the crew compartment on the ocean floor on March 7. The remains of the seven crew members were found in the compartment. The Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident on the cause of the accident said this, The consensus of the Commission and participating investigative agencies is that the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger was caused by a failure in the joint between the two lower segments of the right Solid Rocket Motor. The specific failure was the destruction of the seals that are intended to prevent hot gases from leaking through the joint during the propellant burn of the rocket motor. The evidence assembled by the Commission indicates that no other element of the Space Shuttle system contributed to this failure. Reagan concluded his address by saying, The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God. READ MORE Help India! Scholars repudiate myths fuelling Islamophobia in India TCN News Support TwoCircles Prof. Harbans Mukhia and Dr. Audrey Truschke, and a prominent political scientist Dr. Shamsul Islam, came together during a webinar on the subject of Examining Muslims in Indian History, to emphasize the shared heritage of all South Asians and to reject myths that are fuelling Islamophobia in India. The webinar was organized on January 26, Indias Republic Day by Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding Indias pluralist and tolerant ethos. Prof. Mukhia, who spoke on the subject of how Muslim was the medieval Indian state? categorically asserted there was no historical evidence to suggest that the medieval Indian Muslim state was engaged in large scale conversion of Hindus to Islam. Prof. Mukhia, a former professor of medieval history at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, said, There is no evidence as there is no data because these conversions took place over centuries, over three or four or five centuries. Very slowly, gradually and at the hands of many many agencies and many motivations. It was not as if the state was out to convert people and they converted. He also rejected the portrayal of Aurangzeb as a fanatic. He based his assessment on the accounts of historians like Sujan Rai Bhandari, Bhem Sen, none of whom describe Aurangzeb as a bigot. They speak of him as a good ruler, bad ruler, efficient ruler, inefficient ruler, but they dont portray him as an Islamic zealot. Prof. Mukhia recounted that the first recorded communal riots took place in 1714, seven years after Aurangzeb died. Communal riots as we understand them today did not happen in all of medieval India. In the whole of the 18th century, five riots took place. So that is the record of the relations between the common Hindus and common Muslims, he added. On the subject of Babri Mosque, Prof. Mukhia asserted that there was no evidence whatsoever of the existence of a Ram temple, or any other temple that was demolished by Babur. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that a popular belief began to grow, linking the Babri Mosque site with the birthplace of Ram. Dr. Audrey Truschke picked up on the theme of Babri mosque, and characterized Indo-Muslim history as the heritage of all South Asians and not just that of Muslims. When a violent mob pulled down the Babri masjid, brick by brick, in 1992, this was not just a loss for Indian Muslims. This was an act that destroyed a part of the heritage of all Indians and all South Asians, she said. She bemoaned the narrative that is designed to spur hatred towards Indian Muslim rulers. This hatred is not based on real history. This is based on some toxic cocktail of half truths, cherry picked tid-bits and straight up lies, asserted Dr. Truschke. Dr. Truschke argued that no one can really understand modern India without understanding the Indo-Muslim history. Without it we would be at a loss to explain tens of thousands of Persian manuscripts of Ramayana and Mahabharata that are today across archives in South Asia and far beyond. PM Narendra Modi has stood in front of that Mughal monument (Red Fort) to address the Indian nation using Persian words which are now part of Hindi precisely because of Indo-Muslim rule. Without Indian Muslim history we cannot understand the words of a man who espouses such ignorance about his own heritage. And it is Modis heritage, whether he likes it or not, added Dr. Truschke. Dr. Shamsul Islam, a former associate professor at Delhi University, also expounded on the subject of the Babri mosque, and wondered how Goswami Tulsi Das who wrote Ram Charit Manas 40 years after the building of Babri mosque in Ayodhya, does not mention that a Ram temple was destroyed or some mosque had come up at the birth place of Ram. Dr. Islam who spoke on the role of Muslims in Indias freedom struggle, named all major events during the freedom movement, starting from the First War of Independence in 1857,recounting the names of almost equal number of Muslims who fought shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Hindu revolutionaries against the British. He made a point of discussing Ayodhya in Faizabad in order to highlight what was happening there during the freedom struggle of 1857. In 1857, Maulana Ameer Ali, a scholar, and a pandit Ramcharan Das of Hanuman Garhi, organized a resistance army. They were caught due to the treachery of a British insider in the community, and they were hanged from a tamarind tree in Faizabad where now stands the Faizabad jail, he said, adding that every part of India witnessed thousands of such examples. Dr. Islam highlighted that Hindutva proponents lie when they claim all Muslims supported Muslim League. Only 8% Muslims had a right to vote. One had to be a revenue payer and degree holder to vote. He went on to add details of Muslim opposition to the idea of Pakistan and the Partition. He was frank in equating Hindutva with Brahminism, calling it the biggest threat against the integrity of India. IAMC is dedicated to promoting the common values of pluralism, tolerance, and respect for human rights that form the basis of the worlds two largest secular democracies the United States and India. Former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya speaks during a conference in New York City on April 29, 2013. (Brian Ach/Getty Images for TechCrunch) Silicon Valley Joins Push to Recall Newsom as New Candidates Eye Gubernatorial Bids A group of technology investors and executives has joined the push to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as one investor announced a gubernatorial bid. Chamath Palihapitiya, the CEO of Social Capitol and a former Facebook executive, said in a tweet this week that he is running for governor as he used a hashtag for the campaign to remove Newsom. Its on, he wrote. California is a messits too expensive, our teachers are underpaid, and our schools arent good enough, his campaign website says. The site says the longtime Democratic donor would cut taxes to zero percent, give teachers a minimum salary of $70,000, and will dole out $2,000 for every new child born in the state. As the campaign to recall Newsom gathers more and more signatures, it has attracted more and more supportersincluding previous supporters of the governor. David Sacks, founder of the Craft Ventures fund, donated $60,000 to Newsoms successful 2018 bid. But he came out Tuesday in support of Palihapitiya, who he described as a centrist Democrat, telling Bloomberg that Newsom is totally beholden to special interests. Kevin Faulconer, the former Republican mayor of San Diego, is also mulling a bid. He signed the recall campaign shortly after the New Year, writing on Facebook that its time to start holding the governor accountable. Recall Gavin 2020 initially drew scoffs but has proven immensely popular, drawing nearly 1.3 million signatures as of this week. Thats 77 percent of the number required to put removing Newsom to voters on an upcoming ballot. Campaign organizers alleged that Newsom lifting the harsh stay-at-home order on Monday was done to try to maintain what grasp he still holds on the state. He knows hes in trouble. It was a reckless choice; he made it by the seat of his pants, and now hes going to get criticized for it, Anne Hyde Dunsmore, the campaign manager for the recall effort, told The Epoch Times. California Gov. Gavin Newsom walks to a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2021. (Irfan Khan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Asked about the notion during a briefing, Newsom said it was complete utter nonsense. Officials asserted they lifted the order because of metrics linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, with projections showing a continued decrease in positive cases. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Critics say Newsom, in his first term, bungled the CCP virus response. California has the most positive cases in the United States. They also point to his going out to eat in a crowded, indoor room while urging residents not to do sonews of the dinner leaked out later, prompting an apology. A spokesman for Newsom has told news outlets that the campaign is a waste of money and that the governor would rather focus on getting through the homestretch of the pandemic. Theres a model to recalling a governor in California. Gray Davis, a Democrat, was recalled in 2003. The campaign to oust him received strong financial support from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who warned Newsom last month to take the current effort seriously. Recall Newsom is getting donations from Silicon Valley. Patricia Perkins-Leone donated $99,800 last month, according to state records. She is the wife of Doug Leone, managing partner of the Sequoia Capital fund. Additionally, Dixon Doll and his wife, Carol, have given nearly $192,000. Doll is also a venture capitalist. Other large donors include the Prov. 3:9 LLC, construction company owners Susan and Howard Groff, and the California Revival political action committee. Drew Van Voorhis contributed to this report. The Checkup for Jan. 27: Vaccine appointments available for those 75 and over. But they're going fast ON VACCINES, CALL. AND CALL AGAIN: All people 75 and older are now eligible to sign up for the vaccine. Anyone who has not received their firs By the time registration opened for people 75 and older on the Massachusetts vaccination website Wednesday, many Berkshire County seniors and their loved ones already had spent hours trying to figure out how to secure a slot. They stayed up until midnight, or woke early, only to find that the Phase Two clinics were not available yet. Even after appointment sign-ups began about noon, website issues bogged down the process. While some residents sped through the sign-ups, others described sites that would not load, forms that froze and pharmacies with no available appointments. Local health officials urged residents to continue to try to access maimmunizations.org, the state-operated website for public clinics. Where to call To set up a vaccine appointment without access to the internet, residents can call councils on aging in numerous communities for assistance: Adams: 413-743-8333 Dalton: 413-684-2000 Great Barrington: 413-528-1881 Lee: 413-243-5545 Lenox: 413-637-4787 North Adams: 413-662-3125 Pittsfield: 413-499-9346 Sheffield: 413-229-7037 Williamstown: 413-458-8250 If these appointments fill, there will be more down the line, said Laura Kittross, director of the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association. So, check back often. Residents also can check their eligibility, see a map of vaccination sites and register for appointments at mass.gov/covidvaccine. People without access to the internet can call many local councils on aging for help registering. People 75 and older will be eligible for the vaccine starting Monday, with the first large-scale public clinic in the Berkshires scheduled for Tuesday. Current vaccination locations include three primary sites Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School in Great Barrington and the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Center in North Adams as well as several pharmacies. Residents in later stages of Phase Two, including those ages 65 to 74, are not eligible yet. They should not reserve an appointment, Kittross said, as that would slow the process. IDs will be checked at clinic doors. Officials stressed that the vaccination timeline depends on the availability of doses. State representatives for the region have expressed hope that vaccinations might begin for the next priority group in Phase Two as soon as mid- or late February. But, in an email to patients, Berkshire Health Systems warned that it might take up to eight weeks to vaccinate the estimated 18,000 county residents who are 75 or older. The state said Wednesday that it remains on track to start vaccinating the general public in April. State officials told The Eagle that the website issues were caused by high demand and limited vaccine supply. At a news conference, Gov. Charlie Baker defended the process and urged patience. If you cant secure an appointment right away, you need to be patient about that, he said. We understand the difficulty thats attached to that. But, keep checking the website. Baker said that more time slots would be added on a rolling basis as additional vaccine shipments arrive from the federal government and that the administration is working to create additional resources for the registration process. In Berkshire County, people rushed to snag several thousand available appointment slots through the afternoon and early evening, with about 500 openings remaining by 6 p.m. But, as the earliest clinics filled up to capacity, some would-be recipients ran into virtual walls. Dave Pill, manager of a condo in Lenox, spent the day trying to help troubleshoot for a half-dozen of his eligible residents who wanted to make appointments. None was able to get the site to load. This is so frustrating, he said. Youre rolling this website out, its having issues, and these are the people that are least technically adept. Pill, who is not yet eligible, found that the server timed out every time he tried it. One woman who lives in the complex told him she was giving up on public clinics and would wait until Walgreens had more appointments available. I dont know if its a supply issue, or a technology issue, he said. Its kind of funny that none of this seems to be working right. Doesnt matter which state youre in. Though pharmacies also are offering some vaccinations statewide, Walgreens and Stop & Shop locations countywide did not appear to have available appointments as of midday Wednesday. Some vaccine hopefuls described long wait times in virtual lines at pharmacies and frustration that they were forced to make a Walgreens account, only to find that they could not book an appointment. Berkshire Allergy Care, though listed as a vaccine provider, is not making appointments at present. Despite initial confusion, some Berkshire seniors found that the whole process ran quite smoothly. Loretta Scheel, of Stockbridge, woke up early to register but saw only Phase One clinics on offer. As she sorted through the website, it froze several times, crashing her tablet and a computer browser. Shortly after noon, though, she was able to get through and book appointments for herself and her husband. It was very simple; we just chipped right through the process, she said. It was pretty clear and, at the end, they just sent us an email to say youre confirmed! Like others who were able to register Wednesday, Scheel, 79, is thrilled to have a concrete date for the long-anticipated vaccine. When youre our ages, you feel like this is a year you never get back, she said. So, we really wanted to get back out. We know we still have to be careful, but were looking forward to breathing more easily. PROPOSED new powers for gardai to enforce Covid-19 regulations may not come into force for up to three weeks. Garda sources said some powers being mentioned by Government ministers might require primary legislation and this meant the changes would not be introduced in a matter of days. The announcement of the changes by ministers has created speculation about the exact details and has caused major concern among the leadership of the force's two main representative bodies. Read More Senior garda officers last night said there was no onus on the Government to consult them in advance of policy changes, although this might occur in some circumstances. However, senior officers said they could understand the concern of the bodies in relation to changes they might be told to enforce and about the health and safety implications for their members. It is understood any primary legislation change would be focused on persons entering the State from overseas and how they should quarantine. It wouldn't have direct implications for on-the-ground policing. Justice Minister Helen McEntee made it clear last night that gardai would not be required to go into people's homes to check whether they were in quarantine. Gardai will likely call to a person's home and that person is then obliged to show that he or she is in quarantine by appearing at the door or window of their residence. However, it is not clear how an officer is expected to determine the identity of that person without being shown valid documentation. Read More The Garda Representative Association said a clear policy for policing the Border with Northern Ireland is needed. Assistant general secretary Dermot O'Brien said too often the Government had decided on policy first without considering the practicalities. General secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, Antoinette Cunningham, said they were worried that the practical application of new regulations. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan said on Thursday it will procure a majority of 120 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine from domestic makers, as production problems overseas have raised concerns over timely distribution. AstraZeneca has scaled back supplies it had promised to the European Union and Australia. Thailand also confirmed this week reduced supply from AstraZeneca. The British-Swedish company confirmed to Japan's health ministry that more than 90 million doses will be produced within the country, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on Thursday. "We believe it is very important to be able to produce the vaccines domestically," Kato told reporters. Japan has arranged to buy 120 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, with Daiichi Sankyo Co, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co and other local partners agreeing to make and distribute the shots. While AstraZeneca began Japanese trials of the vaccine last summer, earlier than Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine, it has not yet filed for Japanese approval of its formula, leaving the rival shot the only one currently under review in the country. AstraZeneca did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters for comment. Japan plans to begin its inoculation push in late February, with the Pfizer vaccine for front-line medical workers. The country trails most major economies in starting inoculations due its dependence on overseas makers and a requirement that the vaccines go through domestic trials. Japan faces major logistical hurdles that some experts say will make it difficult for it to vaccinate a large portion of its population ahead of the planned start of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo from July. (Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Raju Gopalakrishnan) A nationwide exodus has reportedly begun to take shape within the Republican Party following the deadly pro-Trump attacks on the US Capitol, with tens of thousands of GOP members officially switching parties after the riots. The Arizona Republican Party has lost more than 9,000 members in the wake of the violence, CNN reported, as it continued to face a backlash for promoting rightwing conspiracies and igniting public feuds with Governor Doug Ducey, former Senator Jeff Flake and Cindy McCain. Republicans in Arizona have also lost both Senate seats to Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, while a majority of voters in the state cast ballots for the Democratic ticket in the 2020 presidential elections the first time since 1996. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, the office for the Secretary of State reported nearly 10,000 Republican voters had changed their party affiliation in January, with nearly one-third of those voters switching to the Democratic Party. In total, estimates from states reporting recent changes in voter registration indicated at least 30,000 Republicans have left the party since former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to march to the US Capitol on 6 January as Congress certified his electoral defeat. His extremist supporters then attacked police officers and breached security measures while storming the building, spurring his second impeachment for fomenting a deadly insurrection. For many, it seemed the violence at the Capitol was the final straw, with nearly 6,000 Republicans switching parties in North Carolina in the aftermath of the attacks. Another 4,500 Republicans left the party in Colorado, The Hill reported, also noting another 2,300 former-GOP members dropped their affiliations with the party in Maryland. There did not appear to be similar signs of an exodus within the Democratic Party in states seeing a high turnover of former Republicans: for example, in Pennsylvania, just over 3,000 Democrats have changed their party affiliation in the new year. Where the national Republican party goes next remains unclear, as reports indicate House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump in Florida on Thursday after losing control of the Senate to the Democrats. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana is carrying out its COVID-19 vaccine efforts with an age-based structure. Currently, any Hoosier 70 years of age and older can schedule appointments for the vaccine. This came as a bit of a surprise to educators throughout the state including those in the Vigo County School Corporation. On Wednesday morning, News 10 received an email that was sent to Vigo County School employees on Tuesday. It says there was some confusion about employees who could get the vaccine. Several weeks ago, the Vigo County School Corporation asked employees if they would be interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. At the time of that survey, Indiana was not administering the vaccine strictly by age, but also by prioritized workers. Communication Director for the school corporation Bill Riley says the state then changed its course. Before the New Year, Riley says it seemed like educators would be in the 1B stage of the vaccine distribution behind other frontline workers. He says after the New Year, the state changed its philosophy and went with an age-based approach. He says that philosophy absolutely has merit, and the school corporation is still prepared. The school corporation has a list of employees who want the vaccine, and have reached out to its employees who are 70 and older to make sure they know how to register and get vaccinated. We are continuing to advocate for educators to receive the vaccine here locally, Riley said, We were really excited when we thought that educators would be pushed to the front of the line. Now well just do everything we can to let our employees know when its their turn. Riley explained how beneficial it would be to have educators vaccinated. However, he says he understands the states reasons to go this direction. It would be a huge plus for us if we could get educators vaccinated. It would help us keep schools open, Riley said, However, thats just not the philosophy the state has taken at this point. Theyve gone age-based, and you can see the merit in that too. The school corporation has changed its philosophy on how schools are eligible for remote learning. Its based on staff availability which Riley says adds to the importance of getting educators vaccinated as quickly as possible. We feel prepared and ready for action when our educators are available to get the vaccine, Riley concluded, I think its a race between that surge and the vaccine for our community and hopefully we can get shots in arms sooner rather than later. Riley says COVID-19 numbers are down district-wide, and he hopes that trend continues as they patiently wait to vaccinate their employees who want it. Advertisement England, Wales and Northern Ireland gave out 284,954 Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday, official figures show, as the drive to immunise the UK is still off its 400,000-a-day target needed to reach 15 million by mid-February. The Department of Health figures show that 284,954 vaccinations were give out across the three nations on January 27 - of which 282,812 were given to people receiving their first dose. However Scotland was not included in the total number of vaccinations given out on January 27 due to an 'IT issue overnight' and so the full number could not be verified but 'no data will have been lost' from the technical glitch. The UK needs to be vaccinating at least 400,000 people every day for the next three weeks to fulfil Number 10's promise of immunising all 15million of the most vulnerable Brits by February 15. For each day that passes without the target being hit it becomes slightly higher. Overall, 7.5million people across the UK have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. This is 6.5m in England, 462,000 in Scotland, 336,000 in Wales and 175,000 in Northern Ireland. However, a vaccine postcode lottery means that while 84 per cent of over-80s have been immunised in the North East and Yorkshire, this is lower at 78 per cent in the South East and only 65 per cent in London. It emerged earlier this week that vaccine supplies are being diverted away from the North, which is storming ahead with its vaccine drive, and redirected to the South to help it catch up. England, Wales and Northern Ireland gave out 284,954 Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday, official figures show, as the drive to immunise the UK is off its 400,000-a-day target needed to reach 15 million by mid-February The NHS data figures show that 252,992 vaccinations were administered across England on January 27 - of which 251,902 were given to people receiving their first dose. Pictured: Pharmacist Bhaveen Patel gives a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in Brixton, London WHICH REGIONS HAVE VACCINATED THE MOST OVER-80s? North East & Yorkshire: 83.7% South West 83.4% North West 81.8% Midlands 80.5% East Anglia 79.9% South East 78.3% London 65.4% Advertisement The NHS data show that 252,992 vaccinations were administered across England on January 27 - of which 251,902 were given to people receiving their first dose. Gloucestershire is leading the jab rollout of the over-80s with 91 per cent vaccinated between December 8 and January 24. Meanwhile 89 per cent of the over-80 population in Herefordshire and Worcestershire has been vaccinated followed by Northamptonshire with 87 per cent over the same time period. The South East London integrated care system has the lowest proportion, with only 60 per cent of its over-80 population vaccinated. However, the supply of coronavirus vaccines to the North West of England could be cut by a third next month so doses can be diverted to parts of the country further behind in their rollout to the over-80s. The North West has vaccinated the third-highest proportion of its over-80s, reaching 82 per cent of the group who are among those most at risk if they catch the virus. The North East is ahead of it and supplies are expected to be limited there, too. And NHS sources say the region - which includes Manchester, Liverpool, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria - will see supplies cut in the first week of February, according to the Health Service Journal. A senior member of the health service, who was not named, told the specialist news website: 'It means that, having stepped up a lot of services, you're then only using half that capability. I don't think anyone's complaining, but it's going to be a significant step back just as capability has been ramped up.' It comes amid reports ministers are redirecting supplies from areas steaming ahead in the rollout to those lagging behind - such as London and East Anglia - to ensure all priority groups are vaccinated quickly. Confusion was sparked last week after No10 refused to deny Covid-19 jabs could be redistributed to even out a postcode lottery, despite the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi claiming none were being sent away from areas leading the drive. The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously stated ministers will reroute stocks to areas where the fewest number of over-80s and other priority groups have received their first dose. Vaccines WILL limit the spread of coronavirus but we won't know how by much until mid-February, experts say Britain's vaccine roll out will limit the spread of coronavirus, but by exactly how much will not be made clear until mid-February, experts say. Providing a boost to the UK's hopes of ending lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said jabs 'couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission'. He said it was less a question of 'will they?' and rather 'to what extent' will inoculation help to reduce the spread. But Boris Johnson and his chief scientists tonight said experts won't know much effect the coronavirus vaccines are having on the country's epidemic until mid-February, The PM said the impact of the jabs won't be felt in hospital and deaths data until then due to the lag in time it takes between getting injected and developing immunity. He told a Downing Street press conference tonight that he would not consider lifting lockdown restrictions until he'd seen concrete 'evidence that those graphs are coming down'. The immunisation drive has only really got up to speed in the last few weeks and it takes between a fortnight and a month for a person to build up immunity. Both the Pfizer and Oxford University vaccines have been proven to block severe illness, so experts hope they'll start to make a dent in the death and hospitalisation rates in the coming weeks. No10's scientists will be monitoring those metrics, specifically in the most vulnerable groups - including the over-80s, over-75s and care homes residents - who are currently receiving the jabs. So far 6.8million, or one in 10, people in Britain have received at least one dose of the vaccines. In three weeks time, when most of those people have protection, experts will expect to see a near 10 per cent drop in hospital admissions. Not all of the people vaccinated will be immune, however, because the jabs are not perfect. Pfizer's is 95 per cent effective at blocking severe disease, while Oxford's is around 70 per cent. Advertisement The Department of Health told the HSJ it was making 'targeted deliveries' to areas where more people in priority groups were waiting for their first dose. A spokesman said: 'We are in close contact with all of our vaccine suppliers and remain on track to offer first vaccinations to the top four priority groups by mid-February. 'As weve said, supply is the limiting factor and as the public would expect were prioritising those most at risk from this disease across the country. Our approach so far has ensured weve vaccinated more people than any country in Europe.' An NHS North West spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The North West is being fully supplied with all the vaccinations needed to offer vaccination to everyone across the region aged 70 and above, as well as clinically extremely vulnerable patients, and health and social care staff. 'Our job is to get them vaccinated by mid-February so targeted deliveries are being made to areas where there are more people left to vaccinate in the priority cohorts.' The Prime Minister's rollout was mired in confusion last week after No10 refused to rule out plans to transfer Covid-19 stocks to other regions. Asked to comment on the reports, a spokesman said: 'We will continue to ensure that all areas and regions of the UK receive the vaccine to ensure we can protect the most vulnerable in society. 'I would point to what Matt Hancock said yesterday where he said we have got to make sure vaccination is fair across the UK and some parts of the country, including parts of the North East and Yorkshire, have gone fast early on. 'He also said why we're putting more vaccine into areas that haven't made as much progress, so everyone in the top four groups can receive the offer of a vaccine by February 15. 'We've always said that we will prioritise those first four cohorts, which is why we set the mid-February target. But it remains the case that areas of the UK will continue to receive doses of the vaccine.' Meanwhile Britain today confirmed another 28,680 cases of coronavirus in another week-on-week drop, with 24 per cent fewer than last Thursday. The number, although slightly higher than yesterday, is another sign that the third national lockdown in England is working and infections are coming under control. The Department of Health also announced another 1,239 people had died with the virus, taking the total to 103,126. This was a small decline on this time last week four per cent and this figure will be the slowest to fall in the wake of infection numbers and hospital inpatients. It comes as Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that the national lockdown will last until at least March or until three weeks after the most vulnerable group has been completed. This means the prospect of lifting tough social distancing rules that have already been in place for three weeks is reliant entirely on the vaccine programme getting up to speed. Cabinet minister Michael Gove has insisted 'there will be no interruption' to the UK vaccine supplies after tensions between the EU and UK over vaccine supplies escalated again today, with MEPs threatening 'trade war'. 'It is the case that the supplies that have been planned, paid for and scheduled should continue, absolutely. There will be no interruption to that,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme according to the broadcaster. How many first doses of a Covid vaccine have been given out in each UK country as of January 27 According to Department of Health Data, a total of 7.4million people across the UK have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Here is a breakdown of each country: England First dose: 251,902 Second dose: 1,090 Scotland First dose: 0 Second dose: 0 Wales First dose: 23,766 Second dose: 35 Northern Ireland First dose: 7,144 Second dose: 1,017 UK total First dose: 7,447,199 Second dose: 476,298 Advertisement Officials said there are 'a lot of moving parts' contributing to the vaccine slowdown, with 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies, as well as difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s and covering care homes among the factors. MPs have previously 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 claims officials have been sent from the medicines agency to the AstraZeneca plant in Belgium to check it genuinely has problems producing doses. It comes as the bloc tries to turn the screw on the UK-based pharma giant to bail out its shambolic vaccine rollout. European politicians warned the 'consequences' of refusing to divert stocks of the UK-made jabs to EU would be a ban on exports of the Pfizer version from Belgium - suggesting 3.5million doses due to arrive soon could be at risk. EU chiefs want more of the Oxford jabs - made in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire - be handed over to make up for a 75million shortfall on the continent. The European Commission said the Anglo-Swedish firm was obliged to meet its contractual obligations despite production issues at its Belgian site. So far both AstraZeneca and Pfizer look to be holding firm against the sabre-rattling from Brussels. However coronavirus cases in England have fallen 17 per cent in a week amid the brutal restrictions, official figures have revealed. Test and Trace said 274,898 people tested positive for the virus in the week to January 20, the lowest number since before Christmas and the second week in a row a dip has been recorded. It is another glimmer of hope that measures are turning the tide on the second wave after separate statistics from a Government-commissioned study also showed cases were dipping in England - although scientists insisted the drop was 'shallow'. And Department of Health figures are indicating the number of Britons testing positive for the virus every day is falling - with yesterday's figures 88 per cent below the levels two weeks ago. While this year's Pliny the Younger release looked a little different from other years, one thing remained the same: the beer's immense popularity. In its first online-only release in history, the beloved triple IPA from Russian River Brewing sold out in a mere 5 minutes Thursday morning. "Wow! Sold out in about 5 minutes and thankfully nothing crashed! Looking forward to seeing everyone in person again in 2022! Cheers and THANK YOU!" read a Facebook post from the Sonoma County brewery. Customers rushed to purchase Russian River 12-packs, which featured four bottles of Pliny the Younger along with a variety of other craft brews. Many were not successful, and immediately took to the comment section of Russian River's Facebook post to complain, prompting the company to apologize. "We understand that many of you are very upset about not getting the Younger mixed case. For that we are sincerely very sorry. There were over 110,000 active users on the site trying to purchase the beer at the same time, which is extraordinary!" they wrote. Normally, beer lovers from all over the world trek to the North Bay to line up for bottles of Pliny the Younger, but this year, Russian River made the decision to cancel their usual in-person event because of the coronavirus pandemic. "Large crowds tend to gather wherever Younger is available, which can lead to unintended and dire consequences during a global pandemic," read a blog post from the brewery. "The last thing we want is to be responsible for creating super spreader event." In Pliny the Younger's first-ever online launch, only those with California addresses were able to place orders, due to "cost, compliance and legal reasons. If you missed out on the chance to order some Pliny, the beer will be available on draft at select California bars and restaurants, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows sought to distance the Trump family and their loyal allies from taking accountability for their part in inciting the riots at the Capitol. Meadows was speaking on 'Fox & Friends' Wednesday when he was asked by Brian Kilmeade if it was wise for Trump and his cronies to host the rally prior to the assault on the federal building that resulted in five dead. But Meadows insisted that the Capitol attack was no longer important to the American people, and blasted attempts by Democrats to impeach the former president after he left office. 'When we start looking at the rally, Brian, we are focused more on that than we are really we need to be focused on today,' Meadows claimed. 'When we start to look at America, it needs to be about what is important to people on Main Street.' Scroll down for video Marl Meadows was speaking on 'Fox & Friends' Wednesday when he was asked if it was wise for Trump and his cronies to host the rally on Jan. 6 Trump and members of his family were just a few notables who spoke to thousands outside of the National Mall, pushing their debunked claims of voter fraud and a rigged presidential election. Video taken by Donald Trump Jr shows Meadows smiling and enjoying the burgeoning chaos right before Trump took the stage in Washington D.C. The mood was jovial in the space as others appeared to make jokes in anticipation for Trump's appearance on stage. On Tuesday a majority of Republicans voted in favor of a motion that Trump's second impeachment is unconstitutional: a sign the former president will likely be acquitted in his upcoming trial. Rand Paul, senator for Kentucky, forced the vote on the issue, arguing the trial was illegal given that Trump no longer occupies the Oval Office. 'When we start looking at the rally, Brian, we are focused more on that than we are really we need to be focused on today,' Meadows claimed. 'When we start to look at America, it needs to be about what is important to people on Main Street' Video taken by Donald Trump Jr shows Meadows smiling and enjoying the burgeoning chaos right before Trump took the stage in Washington D.C. Most Republicans, including their leader in the senate, Mitch McConnell, agreed with him. Forty five of them voted it was unconstitutional. Five GOP senators joined Democrats, to give them 55 votes to proceed. According to Meadows, the 45 GOP senators voting against the impeachment indicated that it was unconstitutional. 'There was a vote yesterday in the senate that suggested that 45 senators said that it was unconstitutional,' Meadows noted. 'Let's get on and be focused on what is important to the American people.' Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on January 6. Five died during the protests It would take two-thirds of the Senate to convict Trump, which would mean 17 Republican senators would have to cross ranks and vote for the conviction. Paul needed more than 34 votes from Republicans to demonstrate that a Trump conviction would seem all but impossible. He got 44 to join him. On Wednesday, the Conservative Partnership Institute announced that Meadows was hired to be a senior partner after it was reported that the former Chief of Staff was scrambling to find work. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a global economic shutdown in 2020, a new book from startup and tech expert Arnobio Morelix explores how entrepreneurs can reboot and rebuild following the devastating pandemic that has claimed millions of lives and slashed global incomes by $3.5 trillion. Rebooted is the new book from Arnobio Morelix that explores how entrepreneurs can reboot and rebuild following the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Launching today, Rebooted: An Uncommon Guide to Radical Success and Fairness in the New World of Life, Death, and Tech is a forward-looking handbook for the years post-pandemic. Morelix, a California-based senior advisor to the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the chief data scientist at Inc., uses the book to examine topics including the tech butterfly effect, the economics of pandemics, unintended consequences in technology and human-centered artificial intelligence. Order it at www.morelix.com. "Every crisis creates opportunity, with over half of Fortune 500 companies founded during a recession, and the Great Reboot is no different," said Morelix. "But with opportunity comes responsibility. Tech companies are not guys and gals in a garage anymore, but the world's major economic force. Nine out of the 10 ten largest companies in the world today are in technology, compared to one in 10 in 2008. We are on a drastically different path, and companies have a large role in building a fair and equitable future." In Rebooted, Morelix outlines how the Great Reboot has reshaped the world, including: how 10 years' worth of transitions from the analog to the digital economy were compressed in 10 weeks, as the pandemic remade society; why we are in for a Roaring 2020s after the vaccine, and an economic framework for understanding the aftereffects of the pandemic in the decade to come; and actionable insights and tools to navigate positive and negative unintended consequences of technology so we can rebuild responsibly. Rebooted also includes contributions from founders, investors, and technologists, including the creators of the digital age's most transformational technologies: Vint Cerf, the father of the internet, and Martin Cooper, inventor of the cell phone. "Entrepreneurs thrive in times of change and disruption, and they are critically important now as every country and company look to survive and thrive in the years post-pandemic," said Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network. "Rebooted is a must-read handbook for those looking to chart a bold new course." Throughout 2021, Morelix and the Global Entrepreneurship Network will work together to support entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from 200 countries on rebooting and rebuilding. The collaboration will culminate at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they will share insights gleaned from Rebooted. For more information on Rebooted: An Uncommon Guide to Radical Success and Fairness in the New World of Life, Death, visit www.morelix.com. To request a media copy of Rebooted, please email [email protected]. Contact: Sean Ludwig [email protected] + 1 (347) 688-4299 Related Files About the Book Rebooted.pdf About Arnobio Morelix, Author of Rebooted.pdf Related Images rebooted-book-cover.png Rebooted Book Cover Rebooted is the new book from Arnobio Morelix that explores how entrepreneurs can reboot and rebuild following the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Related Links Where to Buy Rebooted About Global Entrepreneurship Network SOURCE Global Entrepreneurship Network If U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was trying to extend an olive branch to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, it certainly didnt go as planned. Cruz took to social media to agree with Ocasio-Cortez and her call for congressional hearings into how and why a financial services company Robinhood Markets Inc. decided to block retail investors from trading stocks. But after Cruz tweeted out to his 4.2 million followers that he agreed with her, Ocasio-Cortez fired back. I am happy to work with Republicans on this issue where theres common ground, but you almost had me murdered 3 weeks ago so you can sit this one out, she said, referring to Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 shortly after Cruz led an effort in the Senate to delay certification of President Joe Bidens victory. The indignation in Ocasio-Cortezs reply mirrors that of other Democrats in Congress, who impeached former President Donald Trump a second time after the attack on the Capitol and have pilloried both Cruz and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, whom they accuse of spurring the insurrection by giving credence to Trumps unsubstantiated voter fraud claims. The partisan divide over the riot has only deepened as new details emerge about the violence of the Jan. 6 attack. Union officials representing the Capitol Police reported earlier this week that 140 officers were injured in the riot, including one who was stabbed with a metal fence stake. An officer was one of five killed. In court records, prosecutors say theyve found evidence of several death threats circulated on social media by people who took part in the insurrection. Federal authorities this week announced charges against Garret Miller, of Dallas County. During the deadly riots, Miller sent a tweet saying Assassinate AOC, according to court documents. Another man, who traveled to Washington for the rally with an assault rifle and other weapons, has been charged with threatening to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. IN-DEPTH: How Texas became a home away from home for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez In her rebuttal to Cruz, Ocasio-Cortez called for him to resign: Happy to work w/ almost any other GOP that arent trying to get me killed, she wrote. In the meantime if you want to help, you can resign. Ocasio-Cortez, who has ties in Texas, wasnt finished. You havent even apologized for the serious physical + mental harm you contributed to from Capitol Police & custodial workers to your own fellow members of Congress, Ocasio-Cortez said. Cruz has voiced no regrets about his objection to Bidens certification. He has said he was trying to build confidence in the results by setting them aside for 10 days while an emergency audit could be conducted to settle Donald Trumps unsubstantiated claims that the election was stolen. Cruzs effort was initially backed by 11 other Republicans, though six dropped their objections after the riot. Its not the first time Ocasio-Cortez and Cruz have battled it out on Twitter since the riots. She was one of the first people to call him out for his campaign sending out fundraising texts during the siege on the Capitol while she and other members of Congress were being rushed away from rioters. Cruz explained that it was an automated text that he immediately told his campaign to halt after it had been sent out. jeremy.wallace@chron.com For Philadelphia City Council, 2020 was a year of unfinished beginnings. January saw the introduction of an intriguing group of freshmen lawmakers, including Councils first millennial and the only third-party member in recent history. But in March, the coronavirus pandemic forced Council to start meeting remotely and temporarily limit its agenda to the emergency at hand. Widespread protests against police brutality soon brought a renewed sense of urgency for many lawmakers, who are now vowing to pursue ambitious policies to address racial inequities in 2021. Last year was also the first of Mayor Jim Kenneys second term, prompting some members to begin positioning themselves to succeed him. Council on Thursday will hold its first meeting of the year. From establishing a public bank to enacting aggressive affordable housing requirements to defunding the police, members are entering 2021 with bold and sometimes controversial priorities. Here are some key dynamics to watch that will shape City Hall over the next year: What role will Councils progressive bloc play? As the leftward shift in Democratic politics reaches local government, Council has developed its own version of the squad in Congress a group of outspoken progressive insurgents unafraid of being labeled socialists. Although they are often joined in policy pushes by other members, the core of Philadelphias squad is second-term member Helen Gym and freshmen lawmakers Kendra Brooks and Jamie Gauthier. The first year of Council having a bona fide left-wing saw few instances of discord between the old guard and the new spilling into public view. But one dustup from late October showed the possibility of a more combative dynamic emerging. In a hearing of the housing committee, which is chaired by Gauthier, Gym attempted to advance a bill that would have extended the citys moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. Other members of the committee wanted to amend the bill so the eviction ban would only apply to renters who could demonstrate they were unable to make rent because of the pandemic. In the conflict-averse Councils of recent years, members usually protect each other from difficult votes by negotiating compromises behind closed doors. But Gym wouldnt budge, and Gauthier planned to let the vote proceed, potentially forcing members to choose between voting for a bill they didnt like or appearing to support mass evictions in a public health crisis. They ended up doing neither. In a dramatic move, most members of the committee left the virtual hearing, denying Gauthier a quorum with which to hold a vote. In the end, the courts extended a ban on evictions anyway, making the debate moot. But Gauthier said the hearing proved to be an education of sorts. That was stressful. It wasnt ideal, Gauthier said. I dont have hard feelings about it. It was a learning experience for me about how difficult it can be to legislate on hard issues and to bring people to consensus. How will the city handle a looming budget crisis? Difficult budgets often make for unpopular mayors, and for Kenney, there will be no shortage of political landmines as he crafts a spending plan to present to Council in March. The administration hasnt yet announced its projected revenue for the fiscal year that begins in July, and city leaders are hopeful that another federal relief package will help. But with the economy stalled and the citys reserves nearing empty, the budget holes could be deep. From spending cuts to tax hikes, Kenneys options are likely to upset at least some members. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas said the city should avoid raising taxes when residents are hurting financially. Councilmember Allan Domb said the city needs to find efficiencies in the budget before it considers cutting services. Brooks voted against last years budget, saying it didnt do enough to heed calls for progress on racial injustice, and can be expected to take a similar stand this year. READ MORE: Kenney had plans. Then the pandemic hit. Can he avoid lame-duck status and get Philly back on track? Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker said that the city avoided the worst-case scenario last year, and will need to be imaginative to avoid painful choices, potentially by working with neighboring counties to craft a recovery plan. What we didnt have to do was a significant layoff like a whole lot of other places did, she said. Out of every crisis comes an opportunity, and while I, in no way, shape, or form, think that we are through with COVID, it does present us with an opportunity to do things differently. Will Philly defund the police? One area of debate will be how to answer activists calls to defund the police, an issue Council largely punted last year. Kenney is opposed to reducing the size of the police force, but is supportive of other reforms. In an interview, the mayor referred to what he calls the defund conundrum, noting that some reforms require increased funding. If we increase a portion of the budget for police to buy body-worn cameras, we could be accused of giving the police more resources, he said. READ MORE: Philadelphias Black Lives Matter organizers are transitioning into a new season of activism Gauthier said she wants the debate to focus on what alternative public safety strategies the city could invest in, such as community-based violence intervention programs. I dont think you can have the defund conversation without being very, very clear about whats coming on the other side to keep constituents safe, she said. Im definitely aligned with the goals and the vision of defund. I have been from the start. But it needs to be a complete conversation. City Council President Darrell L. Clarke said he expects Council to propose ways to redirect money into other initiatives. We have to have a new strategy, he said. Its clear that just throwing money at law enforcement is just not going to work. Will would-be mayors make waves? At least six members of Council are seen as possible mayoral candidates in 2023. Most likely wont end up running, which would require resigning from Council. But a glut of ambitious members can mean bold policy proposals and more potential for conflict between potential future political rivals. Domb, Gym, Parker, Derek Green, Cindy Bass, and Maria Quinones-Sanchez are all said to be eyeing the race, although some may run for other offices. City Hall lobbyist Mustafa Rashed said members ambitions dont necessarily mean they will butt heads and can even lead to a more forward-thinking approach to their current jobs. They still have to govern collectively, and I think what has to be first and foremost is, How we do that? This city is going through a recession, he said. Youre also knowing that the budget that you vote on in June is the administration you inherit three years from now because this recovery is going to take so long. "My concern is that going forward in future years, when that federal money isn't there any more, then what's the state going to do? Are they going to make up the shortfall?" Green said. "I don't know how they can. So this federal money that we're getting, as far as we know, it's a one-year thing. So if the state needs to cut our aid by $3.7 million for them to have a balanced budget (and) the federal money is just a one-time thing, I don't see how the state could make up the difference in following years. So we might be short that $3.7 million next year." China's banking and insurance sectors will ramp up support for the real economy and unveil measures to prevent financial risks in 2021, the country's top banking and insurance regulator said on Wednesday. Banking institutions will further improve their financial services and shore up small businesses with more loan issuances, according to the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. These institutions issued new loans worth 19.6 trillion yuan (about 3.03 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, up by 12.8 percent year on year. A total of 2.2 trillion yuan of new loans flowed to the manufacturing industry, data from the commission showed. To prevent and mitigate financial risks, the commission urged the banking sector to keep the macro leverage ratio stable and strengthen the disposal of non-performing assets. Calling for efforts to improve risk management and impose more severe crackdowns on illegal financial behaviors, the commission vowed to tighten regulation on shadow banking and internet finance. It will also seek multiple approaches to replenish the capital for small and medium-sized banks, including encouraging local governments to issue special bonds. 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. US President Joe Bidens pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday did not explicitly commit the support of the new administration for India to be a permanent member of the Security Council. Three previous administrations, that of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, had publicly said that the United States supports Indias bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. However, Thomas-Greenfield, who has spent more than 35 years in foreign service before being nominated to the position, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told lawmakers that this is a matter of ongoing discussion. Do you think India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council)," Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon asked during her confirmation hearing for the position of the US Ambassador to the UN. Biden has named it as a Cabinet-ranking position. I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that," she said. But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion," she said in an apparent reference to the Coffee Club or United for Consensus. Comprising countries like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, the Coffee Club has opposed the permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. President Biden in his campaign policy document last year had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Recognising Indias growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for Indias membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council," Biden Campaigns policy document on Indian-Americans had said last August. Thomas-Greenfield, in response to another question, favoured reforms in the UN Security Council. India is currently its non-permanent member for a two-year term that began in January this year. I think there is general agreement across the board that reforms are needed in the Security Council. What those reforms will be and how they will be implemented, I think remains to be decided but you know changing the number of members that happened we move from 11 to 15 some years ago and there are efforts to push for more permanent members, and those discussions are ongoing," she said. She was responding to a question from Senator Merkley. I wanted to start by asking about the Security Council itself. At the same time that China and Russian often stymie actions in the Security Council. The Security Council is decreasingly representative of the geopolitical landscape with key powers like India, Germany, Japan not included as permanent members," he said. How do you approach the question of the Security Council? How do you consider that perhaps it needs to be reformed? How do you believe it can be made more effective and functional," Merkley asked. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Inflatable Boats With Cabin Market report offers a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future opportunities. This report is responsible for quantitative estimation and foreseen future for upcoming years based on the recent companies strategic moves and historical data. Further, the market report is categorized into different segments, regions, and countries level. This report also provides competitor analysis with its market share and developments. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Inflatable Boats With Cabin market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Inflatable Boats With Cabin Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-31434 According to this study, over the next five years, the Inflatable Boats With Cabin market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Inflatable Boats With Cabin business, shared in Chapter 3. This Inflatable Boats With Cabin market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Inflatable Boats With Cabin market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Zodiac Nautic Scanner Marine Qingdao Lian Ya Boat Rayglass Boats BSK Marine XTENDERS Lomac Scorpion Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-31434 This study considers the Inflatable Boats With Cabin value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Length More Than 9 Meters Length From 9 to 8 Meters Length Less Than 8 Meters Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Maritime Patrol Family Leisure In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Inflatable Boats With Cabin Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-31434 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Inflatable Boats With Cabin consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Inflatable Boats With Cabin market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Inflatable Boats With Cabin manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Inflatable Boats With Cabin with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Inflatable Boats With Cabin submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-inflatable-boats-with-cabin-market-report-analysis-by-types-applications-regional-outlook-and-forecast-to-2025/ Page Content Overview Private investment in the CBD Some key dynamics and initiatives of note relate to the five-pillar plan adopted by the City some years ago: To decrease and eventually eliminate the sinkholes. To increase the ripple pond investments. To support the economic sectors. To intensify urban management. To maintain and upgrade infrastructure. A new breed of developers has emerged to tackle challenges and entrepreneurial projects at both the residential and commercial end of the spectrum. With office earnings potential remaining muted, 2004 saw the listed sector as net sellers of assets to the new 'turn-around' entrepreneurs, many of whom are investing in residential stock. Office investments recorded a 4,5 percent rise in value from R1 014/m2 in 2002, to R1 418/m2 in 2003 and with further growth in 2004 expected according to the Investment Property Databank (IPD) report. More importantly, this is the first time positive capital growth was recorded in the city centre since the database's inception in 1995. Pitched at the new entrepreneur grouping in particular, the Better Buildings Programme is gaining momentum, facilitating a turn around of blighted buildings with significant rates and taxes arrears. The portfolio has grown from 28 buildings to over 50, but the programme is battling to keep pace with demand from potential investors. Luxury apartment conversions are taking place in numerous select "character" buildings in price brackets equivalent to the north. An area of some 26 city blocks on the eastern end of the CBD, bounded by Jeppe, End, Commissioner and Von Weilligh streets has emerged as a Fashion District. Some 32 buildings in the fashion core occupying a total floor area of 120 000m2 and a combined value of R30-million were identified for potential investments. Newtown launched a R200-milion 4700m2 private sector mixed-use (retail, commercial and residential) development comprising 3 850m2 of office space at asking rentals of R55/m2, and 850m2 of retails space at around R70/m2. The Gauteng Tourism Authority relocated from Rosebank in 2005 to take up nearly 50 percent of the office space. Newtown is supported by new traffic infrastructure that includes the Nelson Mandela Bridge to Braamfontein and the M1/Carr Steer interchange. Tenants in the node include Blue IQ, the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, a state-of-the-art science exhibition centre, the National Design & Crafts Centre, Museum Africa, Tourism SA, Gauteng's arts and culture department, African restaurant Moyo, the Market Theatre, and other complementary tourism-orientated businesses. A R100-milion revamp of the Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg just to the west of Newtown was announced and will include a major food court, multi-purpose hall, gym, banking hall, supermarket chain, franchise stores, multi-level parking, cinema complex and hotel. Letting opportunities at Constitution Hill open for 36 000m2 of office and 2 000m2 of retail space. The Constitution Hill Development Company is open to various development models, including doing the design, obtaining funding, erecting the building and letting the space to interested tenants, as well as facilitating organizations in building their own building under a long-term lease arrangement. The Hyatt group has planned a limited-service hotel on the 9ha site and a variety of government and nongovernmental organisations express interest in office space. Johannesburg is now designated the largest Urban Development Zone (UDZ) in the country, comprising just under 18km2 of residential, industrial and commercial areas in and around the central business district. This initiative is expected to boost current efforts to regenerate Johannesburg's inner city, as developers and property investors take advantage of tax concessions to build and renovate buildings in designated areas. The industrial property sector Following the growth of northwestern Johannesburg, light industries have emerged to support the residential boom. This has helped spawn renewed demand in such places as Lazer Park, Northriding and KyaSands. As well as providing a massive labour pool for emerging business, major proposed developments in close proximity such as Cosmo City could well increase this demand - which typically is in the form of household products and accessories, furniture products and related goods and services. To the northeast, the industrial property market of Midrand appears to be improving after a lull over the past four years as a result of the development of new modern nodes and a general decline in some of the key clusters - primarily IT related. New developments brought to market are generally fully let. One of the advantages for new developments is that land prices of between R150-R280/m2 are lower than those of other areas where comparable highway exposure is sought. By comparison, in popular nodes like Longmeadow and Linbro Park, land now trades at R350/m2 or more, with prime highway-fronting sites trading from R380/m2 to R400/m2. Midrand's relative affordability should rapidly change as the strip is seeing new developments and limited land supply will create a premium in due course. As a node that has a wide variety of supply as well as propensity for combining light industrial and office, the market should continue improving. Industrial supply indicators at a national level confirm that industrial property investment is growing strongly and supports the fixed investment sentiment emanating from the manufacturing survey in general. City Deep and Kaserne to the southeast of the CBD play a critical role in the economy of Gauteng. Forty percent of all cargo exported from the Durban port originates in the area. The infrastructure development process around the terminal is well under way with three roads identified as priority areas. Brownfield industrial complexes such as City Deep/Kaserne face competition from their more modern counterparts located along the city's freeway system to the north and east of Greater Johannesburg. The City and Service Delivery The demographics of the city, and how they are changing over time, are important indicators for measuring service delivery and human development. Strong migratory inflows into an area, over and above the internal population growth, can have a considerable impact on the delivery of social services. The increase in the number of people living in Johannesburg stretches the ability of the City to deliver in terms of services and infrastructure. Johannesburg's population increased by 22,2 percent over the period 1996 to 2001 compared to the national average of 10,3 percent. Johannesburg's success in creating jobs and the relatively high incomes of its inhabitants are acting as a magnet for people all over the country. A growth in the number of households that is more rapid than population growth has significant implications for service delivery and infrastructure development, since many services are delivered to households, rather than to individuals. Good examples of these are electricity connections, indoor plumbing and housing. Although the population growth rate was 22.2 percent, the number of households in the city increased by 39 percent, a ratio of 0,57, suggesting that household formation is increasing at roughly double the pace at which the population is growing. This places enormous pressure on delivery of services and infrastructure. This challenge is predictable in a developing country going through an extended period of economic growth and real increases in personal income. As the income of the poorer part of the population increases, so the prevalence of large households (more than six) starts to decrease. In this way the population growth/household growth ratio can be seen as an indicator of development. Certain poorer areas such as Doornkop/Soweto have shown a particularly strong increase in household formation. This puts even greater pressure on service delivery since the poorer the area the more dependent the inhabitants are on the public sector to provide services. In this situation it is difficult for service delivery to keep pace with the sub-division of households into separate units and this makes the provision of formal housing to all households in many respects a moving target. The relationship between the household ratio/ranking and changes in the area's population is an important one. The poorest area of Johannesburg (Ennerdale/Orange Farm) is also the area that added the highest number of people - just over 115,000. Doornkop/Soweto showed the third highest absolute increase in population (just over 83 000), but is the third poorest. In fact the six poorest areas showed a population increase of 348 861, compared to just 210 106 for the five richest. (The middle area is Diepsloot/ Fourways, with a relatively low absolute increase). This suggests that a significant number of migrants into the city have limited resources and assets at their disposal and so are moving to the poorer areas with the lowest infrastructure levels. Poorer migrants are likely to place relatively high demands on the City for delivery of services. The demographic profile of migrants moving into the city is critically important in these terms, and in terms of skills levels - which to some extent dictate the ease with which migrants may or may not be absorbed into the mainstream economy. The poorest region, which has also had the highest absolute population increase, is Ennerdale/Orange Farm, where the number of formal dwellings increased by more than 100 percent from 1996 to 2001. In addition, the number of new formal dwellings (30 331) was markedly higher than the additional number of employed people in the area (21 412). This suggests a significant contribution made by the public sector in the provision of housing. At the same time, the number of non-formal housing units rose by more than 14 000, to just under 50 000 units. Consequently, despite the efforts of the pubic sector in creating a significant number of new housing units in an economically depressed area, the number of people without formal housing has increased by 40 percent. Access to electricity is a key factor in improving standards of living and an examination of data indicates a similar pattern. From 1996 to 2001, almost 30 000 additional households in the Ennerdale/Orange Farm area had access to electricity (a 58 percent increase). Once again, the demographics of the area suggest that this was due to the intervention of the public sector rather than the inhabitants themselves. Over the same period, the number of households without access to electricity increased by more than 16 000. In 2001, an additional 13 000 households in this region had only candles as a source of lighting in their households. This was despite a massive increase in delivery by the authorities. The point is made again when the Doornkop/Soweto region is examined. There has been a 36 percent increase (more than 40 000) in the number of households with electricity. However, the number of households without electricity or solar power has also increased - by more than 9 000 households and the number of households with access only to candles rose by more than 7 000. Although eventually the pace of delivery will catch up with the pace at which migration swells the city's population, this may take a long time and is affected by the funds available. Additionally, fast tracking of housing and other services is likely to increase migration to the city rather than decrease it, certainly in the short to medium term. Johannesburg is not the only city demonstrating this phenomenon. Other metros experience the same general ratio between population and household growth. This is a clear indication of fairly rapid urbanisation in South Africa, across all areas, in that the rate of household growth is higher than population growth in these metros. However, the fact that Johannesburg recorded the highest absolute increase in population as well as the highest increase in the number of households (more than 280 000 compared to 208 000 for neighbouring Ekurhuleni), suggests that the city is facing much larger service delivery challenges than other metros. It is clear that despite a higher absolute increase in households than other metros, Johannesburg is coping fairly well with these demands relative to other areas. The City has a particularly good relative score in the provision of formal housing and water. All of South Africa's major metros face the challenge of rolling out services at a rate that can keep pace with the very rapid increase in the number of households demanding those services. Conclusion Since 1994 Johannesburg has made remarkable progress in many key areas, such as economic growth and personal income. It has been the most important source of job creation in the country and, excluding the effect of significant migration to the city, most indicators show that the quality of life for most of Johannesburg's inhabitants has improved markedly. While there are still significant challenges ahead, not least of which is to be able to match the pace of service delivery to household growth, the city has built an excellent and solid platform to build on over the next few years. A research team from HSE University and SkolTech, together with experts from the Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza in St. Petersburg and the RAS Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems (IITP), discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus independently entered Russia at least 67 times, mostly at the end of February and beginning of March 2020. The vast majority of introductions came from European countries. No cases of introduction from China were registered, which is likely due to the timely closure of borders with the country. Currently, nine local virus lineages are circulating in Russia, which are not present elsewhere in the world. Given that Russia was actively 'importing' the virus from abroad, the researchers have not detected any cases of 'exporting' any SARS-CoV-2 lineages in other countries. The article 'Genomic epidemiology of the early stages of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Russia' was published in Nature Communications. To analyse and build phylogenetic trees, the researchers used 211 virus genomes, which were sequenced at Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza. All the genomes had been obtained from patients from 25 Russian regions (including the Republic of Crimea) during the period from March 11 to April 23, 2020. The resulting dataset reflected the situation at the early stages of the epidemic in Russia. In addition, to establish the full scope of phylogenetic links, the scholars used a dataset of 19,623 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the rest of the world available on May 26, 2020. The analysis also extensively used data about people's transit across Russian borders and inside the country. The phylogenetic trees built by the researchers demonstrated that in the early stages of the epidemic, almost all lineages of SARS-CoV-2 that evolved by that time circulated in Russia. Meanwhile, a vast majority of genomes belonged to the lineages prevailing in Europe. It turned out that only 2% of them were Asian ones, while they comprised about 50% of the lineages in China at the moment. This means that the main channel of coronavirus 'import' was the passenger traffic from European countries. Probably, the Chinese lineages also came from Europe, since the borders with China had already been closed long before that. The researchers believe that such a high diversity of the virus was achieved due to at least 67 independent virus introductions in different Russian cities in the end of February - beginning of March. Out of these, nine introductions led to the appearance of local virus lineages, which circulate only in Russia. 'The study demonstrates a way to objectively investigate the paths and character of a virus spreading in a population. Today is a unique situation for researchers: we are getting data, including genomic data, almost in real time. 'Thanks' to the pandemic, we are learning a lot about epidemics more broadly, which will help in predicting and controlling them in future,' says Vladimir Shchur, Head of International Laboratory of Statistical and Computational Genomics One of the most interesting results is that the virus that launched the epidemic appeared in Russia quite late. Most of the people who brought the novel coronavirus to Russia arrived in late February - early March. There were no traces of earlier evolution of specific lineages in the country. SARS-CoV-2 came to Russia to stay. There are no signs of 'exporting' the Russian variations of the virus abroad (at least to the countries with data available). This sets the country apart from such global super-spreaders as Italy and Spain, which laid the foundation for the European epidemic, or Great Britain. Inside Russia, the virus started spreading almost immediately after it was imported. The first in-Russia transmission happened as early as March 11. The researchers paid particular attention at the virus outbreak at one of non-infectious hospitals in St. Petersburg - the Vreden Hospital, where over 700 people were locked down in a quarantine for a month, and over 400 of them were infected. According to the city governor Alexander Beglov, the virus was brought there by an employee who came back from a vacation in Turkey. However, the analysis of several dozen genomes from the institution demonstrated that the virus was introduced there from two to three times. And each time, this led to a specific outbreak, which merged and looked like one big outbreak. The specific features of the Vreden Hospital case - its isolated community - make it look like the notorious infection at Diamond Princess cruise ship in the beginning of the pandemic. Such closed populations really get infected by one introduction. There had been no reason to believe that the situation in St. Petersburg was different. And only genome analysis helped reveal the real dynamics of infection in the hospital, with multiple repeated virus introductions. Genomic epidemiology is only able to dispel the rumours and myths about the 'early epidemic' in Russia in November 2019 - January 2020, which are persistently discussed on social media. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of the state restrictive policies. For example, the timely closure of borders with China did not allow the novel coronavirus to be introduced from there into Russia in January and February 2020. At the same time, the measures to control passenger traffic from Europe and other countries in February and March 2020 turned out to be insufficient. This is where SARS-CoV-2 came from, which provoked several local outbreaks that led to a full-scale epidemic. In addition, genomic epidemiology is a good practical tool for epidemiologists, doctors and developers of vaccines. The more time that passes since the beginning of the pandemic, the more there are sequenced genomes of viruses from all parts of the planet. Different lineages will depart further, which will help us understand the general evolutionary vector of SARS-CoV-2, how it adapts to humanity and whether it demonstrates the signs of attenuation (decreasing the harmful effect on the human body and virulence). ### The United States on Thursday called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian and Turkish forces from Libya, after a deadline for them to leave was ignored. "We call on all external parties, to include Russia, Turkey and the UAE, to respect Libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all military intervention in Libya," the acting US ambassador Richard Mills said during a UN Security Council meeting on Libya, which has seen a decade of fighting since the overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi. Under a UN-backed ceasefire signed October 23, foreign troops and mercenaries were to pull out of Libya within three months. That deadline passed on Saturday with no movement announced or observed on the ground. "Per the October ceasefire agreement we call on Turkey and Russia to immediately initiate the withdrawal of their forces from the country and the removal of the foreign mercenaries and military proxies that they have recruited, financed, deployed and supported in Libya," said Mills. The UN estimates there are some 20,000 foreign troops and mercenaries in Libya helping the warring factions: the UN-recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli and the Libyan National Army forces (LNA) lead by Khalifa Haftar in the east. The GNA has received military support from Turkey while LNA has the backing of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt as well as Russia. * This story was edited by Ahram Online Short link: New Delhi, Jan 28 : Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has defended the upcoming WhatsApp privacy policy that has witnessed a massive backlash in India, saying that the update does not change the privacy of anyone's messages with friends and family. The WhatsApp policy has now been put on hold till May 15. It aims to share commercial user data with parent Facebook. The Indian government has also written a letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart to withdraw the policy. In a quarterly earnings call with analysts on Wednesday, Zuckerberg said that the company has moved the date of this update back to give everyone time to understand what the update means. "All of these messages are end-to-end encrypted, which means we can't see or hear what you say and we never will, unless the person that you message chooses to share it and business messages will only be hosted on our infrastructure if the business chooses to do so," Zuckerberg said. More than 175 million people message WhatsApp Business accounts every day. "We are building new features to make it even easier to transact with businesses in the app," the Facebook CEO added. "We're building tools to let businesses store and manage their WhatsApp chats using our secure hosting infrastructure if they would like and we're in the process of updating WhatsApp's privacy policy in terms of service to reflect these optional experiences". Raising concerns over the WhatsApp privacy policy, the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT has asked the messaging platform to withdraw the update. In its strongly worded letter to Cathcart, the ministry has slammed the platform's "all or nothing" approach. The letter noted that the proposed changes to the privacy policy raise "grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens." The matter is also under discussion at the Delhi High Court. On interoperability between Messenger and WhatsApp, he said that the biggest difference between the two apps is obviously the connection to Facebook and the kind of same identity and graph that you use on Facebook comes with you to Messenger. "So even if you can send messages across the different apps and there is more interoperability and we bring the same world-class privacy features to both, I think that, that will still make the apps feel fairly distinct," Zuckerberg explained. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Recently the Huffington Post ran an article that was extremely hostile to Christian education here in the United States. The overall implication of the article was that the January 6 rioting at the Capitol building was directly tied to the government allowing and possibly funding conservative Christian education in the US. Specific curricula were cited and quoted (specifically, A-Beka, Bob Jones and Accelerated Christian Education) and blame was explicitly and carelessly lobbied at these schools and curriculum. Their religion-centered, anti-Democrat, anti-science, anti-multicultural message mirrors the Christian nationalism seen at the U.S. Capitol riot.[1] Such brash and unfair bias cannot go unanswered. The overwhelming majority of schools using these curricula are highly civic-minded American patriots. They love God and their country and deplore violence of any kind. Painting an entire demographic with a wide brush based on hear-say alone is slanderous. It is also disingenuous. The year 2020 was filled with leftist progressives rioting and looting all over the country in response to their own perceived inequities, yet none of that is alluded to in the Huffington Post article. If the author was seeking to be equitable, would she not have to acknowledge the possibility that government schools and their curriculum might bear some blame for those riots? Indeed the article concludes with just the opposite reaction. The following statement from the article claims to have intellectual authority but is severely lacking in credulity. Scholars say textbooks like these, with their alternate versions of history and emphasis on Christian national identity, represent one small part of the conditions that lead to events like last weeks riot at the U.S. Capitol, an episode that was permeated with the symbols of Christian nationalism.[2] Exactly who are these scholars that the author is referring to? There are no footnotes or cited sources for this particular example, and of the three scholars quoted within this article, only one implies this thought process. Therefore, the readers only recourse is to give full trust to the statements of the author or practice intellectual independence and question the statements and opinions as presented. We choose the latter. Linking terrorism to Christian education and its biblical worldview being communicated is grossly misleading. Consider Franklin Graham and the work of Samaritans Purse, which has helped countless suffering and needy people in the US and abroad. It is the same worldview that these schools and curricula seek to advance. American students using the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum annually donate to the BLESS outreach, which sponsors literacy programs in third-world countries, giving thousands of children the opportunity for advancement through education. Consider a very large Florida Christian school that utilizes A Beka and Bob Jones curricula, and funnels all the profit from that school and a thrift shop to help to fund a completely free medical clinic, two homeless shelters, and a food pantry. These are only a few examples. Conservative Christians and their churches and schools are not promoting or involved in riotous activity, but rather in activities that fulfill the Greatest Commandment to love God and neighbor. Students are taught to be contributing members of society who work for the common good of the nation around them. This is an accurate representation of conservative Christian education in America. A Clash of Worldviews At its core this article is about a clash of worldviews. The author is a committed progressive and is defending her ideology. She feels that conservative Christian schools are seeking to undermine evolution and far-left progressive policies and therefore attempts to expose them as such. And this we have in common with her because Christians feel the same exact way. Why? Because it is true. This is the clash of worldviews that the apostle Paul so brilliantly contrasts in 1 Corinthians 2:14. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Conservative Christians can and most certainly have gone through the curriculum of the government schools and point out all the issues that we have with the worldview being presented. Whether it be evolutionary history[3], radical revisions of history (i.e., the 1619 Project), sex-education curriculum developed by Planned Parenthood, transgender and homosexual ideology, etc., etc., etc. But that would be a relatively futile tit-for-tat approach. The most fundamental issue at stake is that progressives are now openly contending that one worldview is dangerous and are laying a foundation for the ostracization of the religious freedoms of anyone who disagrees. Freedom of Speech First Requires Freedom of Thought Those Christians that believe they have a responsibility to educate their child with a biblical worldview cannot consider public education a valid option. The courts have been clear over the years that there is no freedom of religion in a public school, nor is there freedom of speech for students or teachers regarding content that contradicts their sincerely held religious beliefs. Here are just some examples from the past 30 years. 1990 Webster v. New Lennox School District (7th Circuit Court of Appeals). School districts may prohibit a teacher from teaching creation science. It further states that this is not a violation of a teachers freedom of speech. 2000 - Minnesota State Court rules that there is no right for a teacher to present evidence both for and against the theory of evolution. This means that teachers are not allowed to question evolution in their own classroom. 2005 - US District Court refused to allow a school district to put disclaimer labels on textbooks regarding evolution being a theory and that other theories existed, including intelligent design and creation. It was appealed. The appeal resulted in the schools agreeing not to denigrate evolution either orally or in written form. 2005 - US Court ruled that schools could not maintain an Intelligent Design policy. Judge stated that Intelligent Design is not science and cannot be adjudged a valid, accepted scientific theory as it has failed to publish in peer-reviewed journals, engage in research and testing, and gain acceptance in the scientific community. It is of great concern that the Huffington Post (and they are not alone in this sentiment) considers the worldview of conservative Christians as dangerous and worthy of suppression. The tone of the article is clear that Christian education in the United States is a danger to our democracy. For example, a previous student of a Christian school was interviewed and the following summation was offered: Last weeks insurrectionists could have been her classmates, her teachers, her pastors. She felt a wave of recognition as she watched the pictures on social media.[4] One of the grossest misrepresentations is embodied in this quote: That whole belief system revolves around the idea that you want the rest of the world to think like you, said Garman, who is now a social worker. Its a the ends justify the means type of thing.[5] But isnt the whole point of the article that the author takes issue with the way conservative Christian educators think? That their worldview is inferior and dangerous? Doesnt she intimate that allowing this thinking to continue is dangerous to our society? Its the same old progressive logical fallacy tolerance is only extended to those that agree with them. Perhaps the greatest danger to our first amendment right of free speech are the intellectual chains that are being forged around minds. If there is not freedom of thought then there cannot really be any freedom of speech. Consider these words from Richard Dawkins, arguably one of the secularists most staunch apologists: How much do we regard children as being the property of their parents? Its one thing to say people should be free to believe whatever they like, but should they be free to impose their beliefs on their children? Is there something to be said for society stepping in? What about bringing up children to believe manifest falsehoods? Isnt it always a form of child abuse to label children as possessors of beliefs that they are too young to have thought out? [6] Do Christian parents still have freedom of thought and speech to impart those beliefs to their children? So long as America is a free nation they do, but it is quite clear that the secular, progressive worldview would like to eliminate those freedoms. The Real Threat Christian education is not a threat to the safety and well-being of our democracy nor is it a driver of terrorist threats. The real threat of Christian education is that it provides a viable alternative to the progressive worldview, and that terrifies the left. Their philosophies, which are built upon the sand of humanism, are so fragile that they cannot allow anyone to counter them. So how should Christian education respond? In faith that which overcomes the world. Hebrews 11 reminds us that we can obtain a good testimony in this world through faith. The examples presented in Scripture are the basis of our worldview and must set the example for our response. We continue in the course set before us, teaching what we know to be right. We continue to set the example that we believe in a Sovereign God to preserve our thoughts and belief, regardless of opposition. We continue to teach by example our love for fellow man, kindness for those around us, compassion for the hurting. We respond with the faith that brought us to this place, believing that God can do the work we cannot. We continue to believe that the Bible is not just a book, but the very Word of God. We cant fight the powers of progressivism through words and legislation; they are not our weapons. We have the same power of prayer and faith that we started with. Opposition is not new. Christian education must stay faithful to the mission of communicating a Biblical worldview to the next generation. Because if the real threat to humanism is the Truth we believe in, it is all we have. [1] Klein, R. (2021). These Textbooks In Thousands Of K-12 Schools Echo Trumps Talking Points. Huffington Post. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/christian-textbooks-trump-capitol-riot_n_6000bce3c5b62c0057bb711f [2] IBID [3] See Evolution Exposed: Biology from Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/evolution-exposed-biology/?sku=10-2-261& [4] Klein, R. (2021) [5] IBID [6] Cited by Ken Ham and Greg Hall, Already Compromised, Master Books, June 2011; Richard Dawkins, The God Delusions (Boston, MA: Houghton-Mifflin, 2006, 2008), p. 315 Gladys Berejiklian has been blindsided by Annastacia Palaszczuk's decision to reopen the Queensland border to Greater Sydney. A shocked New South Wales Premier had no idea her Queensland counterpart had announced plans on Thursday to welcome back Sydneysiders from February 1 until she did a radio interview. Christmas holiday plans were ruined when the Sunshine state closed its border to 35 local government areas in Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains on December 20 following a fresh coronavirus outbreak. Ms Berejiklian found out the good news she's been anxiously waiting for second-hand on air from 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham. NSW Premier Gladys Berejikian (pictured on Wednesday) said she didn't get a heads up from her Queensland counterpart about the borders reopening to Sydneysiders next week 'We're encouraged to know we're getting some good news from Queensland. Have you heard the news? Fordham began the interview. 'I don't and I hope it's positive,' Ms Berejiklian replied. 'I think we've been very patient, more patient than we needed to be and I hope it will be positive news.' Fordham said he could tell her the news right now. 'Go for it, what do you know that I don't?' a surprised Ms Berejiklian replied. She described news of Monday's border reopening as 'fantastic'. 'I hope it means a lot of families can get back together,' she said. 'I hope that this brings a lot of hope and joy to people and people are reunited, that's my wish for them.' She chose not to reignite her ongoing war of words with Ms Palaszczuk over border closures. 'Why is it that I've got to break the news to you and the Queensland Premier didn't call you direct,'' Fordham asked. 'No, that's okay. The important thing is that the right outcome is achieved,' Ms Berejiklian said. But she did reignite the ongoing war of words over border closures with another cheeky swipe at Ms Palaszczuk. 'We haven't had a hot spot in NSW for quite a while and even when we do I don't think the whole state needs to suffer,' Ms Berejiklian said. 'If there are places around Australia that from time to time do have an outbreak and it's obvious that state is managing that outbreak, then you don't need to punish the whole state. 'I think we need a reasonable approach going forward of how we live with Covid.' Queensland will reopen its borders to Sydneysiders next Monday. Pictured are travellers at Brisbane Airport on December 20 before the latest border closure Ms Palaszczuk announced the good news on Thursday after getting the green light from the state's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young. NSW has recorded 10 consecutive days without a new locally-acquired coronavirus case. 'If anyone's down there in NSW or Victoria and you're thinking about having a holiday, come up to Cairns,' the Queensland Premier told the Today show on Thursday. 'Everyone is here, ready and willing to welcome you with open arms and a friendly smile.' Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said she was 'delighted' the state's chief health officer had reopened the borders with all of New South Wales The borders slammed shut to Sydneysiders just three weeks after they reopened for the first time in four months on December 1. News of the borders reopening comes a day after Ms Berejikilian announced a series of eased restrictions across NSW. From Friday, Sydneysiders will be able to have 30 visitors in their homes, while 50 people can attend picnics and other outdoor gatherings - including in yards. There will be 300 guests allowed at weddings and funerals, while caps will be removed on corporate events, religious gatherings and hospitality venues. Masks will no longer be compulsory in shops must still be worn on public transport, at religious gatherings, in gaming rooms, at hairdressers and beauticians. Ms Berejiklian hinted at easing more restrictions in two weeks if community transmissions remain low. Highlights Airtel on Thursday announced that it has become the countrys first telco to successfully demonstrate and orchestrate live 5G service. Airtel claims that 5G will be capable of delivering 10x speeds, 10x latency and 100x concurrency when compared to existing technologies. 5G experience will be available to Airtel's customers, when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals are received. Airtel on Thursday announced that it has become the country's first telco to successfully demonstrate and orchestrate live 5G service over a commercial network in Hyderabad city. Airtel noted that it did this over its existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band through the NSA (Non Stand Alone) network technology. The telco further noted that it used a "first of its kind, dynamic spectrum sharing to operate 5G and 4G concurrently within the same spectrum block." This demonstration has emphatically validated the 5G readiness of Airtel's network across all domains - Radio, Core and Transport. Airtel claims that 5G will be capable of delivering 10x speeds, 10x latency and 100x concurrency when compared to existing technologies. It noted that in Hyderabad, users were able to download a full length movie in a matter of seconds on a 5G phone, a demonstration which has underlined the company's technology capabilities. The full impact of the 5G experience, however, will be available to Airtel's customers, when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals are received. users will not be required to switch SIM cards when the network is available for them. Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel in a statement said, "I am very proud of our engineers who have worked tirelessly to showcase this incredible capability in Tech City, Hyderabad today. Every one of our investments is future proofed as this game changing test in Hyderabad proves. With Airtel being the first operator to demonstrate this capability, we have shown again that we have always been the first in India to pioneer new technologies in our quest for empowering Indians everywhere." "We believe India has the potential to become a global hub for 5G innovation. To make that happen we need the eco system to come together applications, devices and network innovation. We are more than ready to do our bit," he added. When asked about Jio and Vi, Vittal said he will not comment om the competition and that he will speak for Airtel which is fully 5G ready after the testing was done on a commercial basis. When asked if space technoligies like Starlink were a competition, Vittal said that space is a use case altogether and aimed at working where there is negligible network available. Las year, Reliance CEO, Mukesh Ambani had announced that Jio's 5G network will be available in India in the second half of 2021. noted that a demo is available in Madhapur in Hyderabad where they can expeience the 5G network. 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. NASHVILLE, Tenn. After 30 years of service, Brig. Gen. Kurtis J. Winstead, a Franklin resident, is retiring from the Tennessee National Guard on Feb. 6. Winstead is currently serving as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Tennessee National Guard, a position he has held since February 2017. He began his military career in 1990 when he received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate Corps. He was assigned to the Tennessee National Guards 194th Engineer Brigade where he provided legal services to Soldiers in the unit. Throughout his career, Winstead serve in numerous positions of increased responsibility. In 2004, Winstead deployed to Iraq as the Staff Judge Advocate for Jacksons 194th Engineer Brigade where he was instrumental in forming a consolidated legal office that provided legal services to over 5,000 Soldiers and Airmen during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Following his deployment, he became Tennessees Senior Staff Judge Advocate at the Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville where he served from 2009 to 2017. Brig. Gen. Winstead has been an integral part of our organization for over 30 years, said Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessees Adjutant General. His leadership and passion for helping people will be sorely missed, but we thank him for his dedication spanning three decades, and wish him luck on what lies ahead of him. Throughout his career, Winstead earned numerous recognitions, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal. He also earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2010. A graduate of the University of Richmond with a Juris Doctorate, Winstead has been practicing law for over 32 years and is a founding partner in Rudy Winstead Turner, PLLC, located in Nashville. He and his wife Beth have two daughters: Bridget and Mary Hannah. A retirement ceremony in honor of Winstead will be held at the Tennessee National Guards Joint Force Headquarters on Feb. 6. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions and CDC guidelines, participation in the ceremony is limited to close friends and family. Based on a true story, "Penguin Bloom" is an Australian drama about Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts), who was left paralyzed from the chest down after an accident while on vacation, and how her feelings of despair and helplessness are alleviated by the arrival of an abandoned magpie - dubbed Penguin - that her son (Griffin Murray-Johnston) brings home to care for. Sam's sense of hopelessness affects the whole family, from her saintly husband (Andrew Lincoln) to their three adorable sons. Her self-pity makes for a familiar and superficially uneventful narrative, despite Penguin's scary and sad disappearance after she is attacked and injured by other magpies. But Watts's carefully modulated and unhistrionic performance - aided by gorgeous beachside scenery and an appealing supporting cast that includes Jacki Weaver - ultimately elevates the sweetly inspirational film beyond melodrama. TV-14. Available on Netflix. Contains a disturbing accident scene and some strong language. 95 minutes. - - - Justin Timberlake plays Eddie Palmer, a paroled felon who moves in with his Louisiana grandmother (June Squibb, always a delight) while trying to reintegrate into society via a job as a school janitor in "Palmer." Directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Fisher Stevens, the drama centers on the relationship between the ever-sullen, prone-to-violence Palmer, as he prefers to be called, and a cheerful if misfit moppet named Sam (Ryder Allen), whom Palmer takes in after the boy's meth-head mother (Juno Temple) disappears. Sam likes dressing up as a princess and wearing lipstick, habits that causes him to be bullied by classmates - and some adults. This leads Palmer, who must overcome his own initial disapproval, complete with skeptical side eye, to become Sam's protector. The film's message about the harmful psychological effects of toxic masculinity is a nice one, but the story is marred by cliche, including a redemptive love interest for the protagonist, in the form of Sam's pretty teacher (Alisha Wainwright). R. Available on Apple TV Plus. Contains crude language, some sexuality, nudity and brief violence. 110 minutes. - - - ALSO STREAMING: Ukraine's official Oscar submission, "Atlantis" is a dystopian love story, set in a post-apocalyptic desert in the year 2025. Despite the film's lack of sci-fi bells and whistles, the film's writer, director and cinematographer, Valentyn Vasyanovych, and his cast manage to make "Atlantis," according to the New York Times, both "heartening and stupefying." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com. In Ukrainian and English with subtitles. 108 minutes. - - - Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's supernatural 1839 story and set to a new recording of Philip Glass's opera, with a libretto by Arthur Yorinks, "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a feature film incorporating animation - both hand-drawn and stop-motion - and curated archival footage. Taking place in the mind of an immigrant girl held in a U.S. border detention center, the tale is available on a new streaming service of the Boston Lyric Opera. Unrated. Available on Operabox. 90 minutes. - - - From Iranian filmmaker Kourosh Ahari, "The Night" is the first American-produced film licensed to be shown in Iran since the revolution of 1979. The tale of a couple and their infant daughter stuck in a creepy hotel possesses an "aura of almost beautiful stillness, interspersed with moments of shock," according to the Chicago Sun-Times. " ... To say they're in for a bumpy night is like saying the Overlook Hotel from 'The Shining' never got a whole lot of repeat business, and yes, there are many similarities to Kubrick's classic ahead, from the creepy, ghostlike receptionist (George Maguire) to the sudden appearance of a child in a hotel hallway to one spouse wondering if the other has gone completely, dangerously mad." Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. In English and Farsi with subtitles. 106 minutes. - - - Filmed over three years, the documentary "Notturno" looks at the people who live on the borders between Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria and Lebanon, amid war, foreign invasion and the scourge of the Islamic State. Director Gianfranco Rosi, according to Rolling Stone, avoids the "easy pornography of trauma," focusing instead on "the surreality of what the people he films experience as everyday life." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com and on Hulu. In Arabic and Kurdish with subtitles. 100 minutes. - - - In "Our Friend," a couple (Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson) are assisted in their struggle with the wife's ovarian cancer by the arrival of a selfless friend (Jason Segel). The New York Times calls the fact-based drama a "Lifetime-ready weepie." R. Available at themiracletheatre.com; also opening in theaters. 124 minutes. - - - "Psycho Goreman" is a sci-fi horror comedy about suburban siblings (Nita-Josee Hanna and Owen Myre) who find themselves in possession of a magical amulet that gives them control over an ancient alien overlord who they find buried in their backyard, and whose plans of galactic destruction are thwarted by his masters' childish whims. Variety calls the film "cleverly schlocky." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com. 92 minutes. - - - Japan's official Oscar submission, "True Mothers" tells the story of a couple whose comfortable life with their adopted son is upended by the arrival of a woman claiming to be the child's biological mother. The Hollywood Reporter calls the film a "lush visual reworking of parental angst and despair, offset by frequent interludes of communing with that great healer, Mother Nature." Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com and angelikaanywhere.com. In Japanese with subtitles. 140 minutes. "We continue to be inspired by the countless stories shared by team members, guests and loved ones demonstrating the importance of heart and brain health," said Brian Ferguson, Chief Merchant of Pilot Company. "The importance of giving to raise funds for the American Heart Association's critical research and programs is greater than ever, especially due to COVID-19. With everyone's help, we can make a difference for someone's 'why' and improve the well-being of those in our communities and all over the world." During the month of February, Pilot Company will provide convenient ways for guests to give at its locations across the country, including company-operated Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers and One9 Fuel Network Stores. For guest safety, contactless payment options are available with tap-and-pay enabled pin pads, Apple Pay and Google Pay in stores or on the company's website. The company's fundraising initiatives include: Paper Heart Icons : $1 , $3 and $5 red hearts will be available for purchase at all locations. : , and red hearts will be available for purchase at all locations. Pin-Pad Round Up or Donation*: Guests can round up their purchase to the nearest whole dollar or elect to donate other amounts at the pin-pad during checkout. Guests can round up their purchase to the nearest whole dollar or elect to donate other amounts at the pin-pad during checkout. Donate Online: A donation link also will be included on the company's campaign website throughout the month of February to provide guests another convenient way to donate. Throughout the campaign, guests will also find exclusive deals in the Pilot Flying J app on healthier food and beverage options at Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers. Offers to save on snacks and drinks that are healthier for those on-the-go include Perfect Bars, Think Jerky, RX Bars, Wonderful Pistachios, KIND Bars, Chobani Yogurt, cheeses, freshly prepared fruit and protein cups, bottled water and Pilot Coffee. All of the proceeds raised through Life is Why will directly benefit the critical programs of the American Heart Association and will enable the Association to: Fund research that can improve the health outcomes of heart and stroke patients; Train more than 2.5 million high school students in CPR annually; Support the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities. To learn more about Pilot Company's Life is Why campaign, visit pilotflyingj.com/life-is-why or to find nearby locations to donate, download the Pilot Flying J app. To learn more about the Life Is Why campaign, please visit www.heart.org/lifeiswhy *Certain purchases (including, without limitation, fuel and fuel additives and purchases made on fleet cards or direct bill programs) are not eligible for round-up contributions. About Pilot Company Pilot Company keeps North America's drivers moving as one of the leading suppliers of fuel and the largest operator of travel centers. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Company supplies more than 11 billion gallons of fuel per year. With more than 1,000 retail and fueling locations across both the Pilot Flying J Travel Center network and the One9Fuel Network, Pilot Company makes road travel easier with a variety of products, amenities and services. The Pilot Flying J Travel Center network includes over 750 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces with more than 680 restaurants, 74,000 truck parking spaces, 5,300 deluxe showers, 6,200 diesel lanes and provides truck maintenance and tire service through Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J. The One9 Fuel Network connects a variety of fuel stops to provide value, convenience and perks to fleets and professional drivers at more than 240 locations across the United States. Pilot Company's energy division supplies fuel, DEF, bio and renewables and provides hauling and disposal services as the third largest tanker fleet in North America. Pilot Company is currently ranked No. 10 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies. More information on locations and amenities are available on the Pilot Flying J app. For additional information about Pilot Company and its commitment to team members and giving back, visit www.pilotcompany.com. About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. SOURCE Pilot Company Related Links https://pilotflyingj.com Trachoma is highly contagious, but it is easily treatable with antibiotics if it is caught early. In December 2020, Orbis initiated a mass drug administration (MDA) across 89 districts in Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR), where the burden of trachoma remains particularly high, ultimately administering 7,553,496 doses of the antibiotic Azithromycin. During that time, Orbis also performed 5,449 surgeries in cases where trachoma infections had progressed to trachomatous trichiasis, a painful condition in which scarring causes the eyelid to turn in on itself and the eyelashes to scratch the eye, ultimately leading to blindness. All procedures were conducted with COVID-19 prevention protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), in place. Normally, MDAs take place in community settings in Ethiopia, but preventing the spread of COVID-19 required that the Orbis team take a door-to-door approach. While safer, the process is nearly twice as time-consuming. "Just a couple of years ago, the community working to eliminate trachoma and other neglected tropical diseases celebrated a 91% reduction in the number of people at risk of trachoma around the world, but the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to set back our progress to eliminate trachoma significantly," says Dr. Alemayehu Sisay, Country Director for Orbis Ethiopia. "That's why Orbis and our partners in Southern Ethiopia are especially proud of administering Azithromycin a potent antibiotic recommended by the World Health Organization to eliminate trachoma for 7.5 million people living in endemic districts in 2020. Ensuring uninterrupted annual treatment for communities where trachoma is endemic is our main objective. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Orbis accomplished this while adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols that make the work more challenging.'' Over the past 22 years, Orbis has administered over 82 million doses of donated Azithromycin to the community residing in the SNNPR, achieving the elimination threshold for trachoma in 24 districts across the region, as of 2019. Orbis has also conducted nearly 174,222 trachomatous trichiasis surgeries and has established more than 320 primary eye care units. Good hygiene practices, such as face- and hand-washing, also play a crucial role in combating trachoma because of its highly contagious nature. That is why Orbis has supported the construction of communal and school latrines as well as protected water points in the southern region of Ethiopia. Over the past 22 years, Orbis Ethiopia, in collaboration with local partners, has constructed a total of 126 latrine blocks and installed 36 water points throughout communities and schools. Orbis also leads trachoma-related research, including conducting more than 100 trachoma impact and surveillance surveys across Ethiopia's SNNPR between 2013 and 2019. In collaboration with the Global Trachoma Mapping project (GTMP), the Federal Ministry of Health, SNNP Regional Health Bureau and other partners, Orbis helped conduct the surveys that quantified the prevalence of trachoma across the entire SNNPR in 2013. Such work is critical to track progress in eliminating the disease and to target prevention efforts most effectively. For photos and case stories from Orbis's December 2020 MDA, please see here. About Orbis International Orbis is a leading global non-governmental organization that has been a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness for nearly four decades. Orbis transforms lives by delivering the skills, resources and knowledge needed to deliver accessible quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on ophthalmology training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritization of eye health on public health agendas. Orbis operates the world's only Flying Eye Hospital , a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, and an award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight . For the past nine consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity Navigator 's coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. To learn more, please visit orbis.org . SOURCE Orbis International Related Links www.orbis.org Mr Yaw Dabie Appiah, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party on Thursday, called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to maintain deserving people, as he appoints Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). As President Akufo-Addo makes changes in his government, he reminded that appointments of new MMDCEs were crucial, but added the President ought to tread cautiously by ensuring that competent and hardworking Chief Executives with enriching experiences, were maintained. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Odumase in the Sunyani West District, Mr Appiah, a former Regional Organiser of the NPP, emphasised President Akufo-Addo could however replace MMDCEs who misconducted themselves and made the party unpopular. Unless any MMDCE criminally misconducted himself or herself, there is no need for the president to replace him or her in the supreme interest of the NPP and for the sake of the 2024 elections. Some of the MMDCEs worked harder in their first term and they have already gotten enriching experiences and favour from the party people, therefore it would not be politically prudent for the President to replace them. Any attempt to do so will spell doom for the party in 2024, he advised. Mr Appiah indicated Ghanaians expected to see much development in the second and last term of President Akufo-Addo, and that would enable them to take informed decisions in Election 2024, noting some of the MMDCEs performed well and had proven track records to maintain their positions. He indicated the NPPs slim majority in parliament was an indication that it would be uneasy for the house to push for the implementation of new government policies and programmes. "Believe me my brother. Because of our nature of partisan politics, any policy or programme that would make the NPP popular in the eyes of Ghanaians, and widen its chances in the next general election, would face stiff opposition from the minority in parliament. This means President Akufo-Addo requires experienced and competent MMDCEs who would push and strengthen the already introduced social and poverty intervention policies and programmes of the government for the masses to appreciate. I strongly believed in President Akufo-Addo, and he will not sack or replace any MMDCE or Minister of State without any apparent reason, or justification. I am just pleading with NPP supporters to cooperate with the President as he makes changes in his government, he added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video BURLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadia (arcadia.io), the leading population health management and healthcare intelligence platform company, announced today that its healthcare customers have successfully begun nationwide multilingual COVID-19 vaccination outreach campaigns using tools launched earlier this month. Health plan, ACO, and IDN customers across the country are now engaging patients on COVID-19 safety, testing, resources, and vaccination. These COVID-19 vaccine outreach initiatives build on a broader patient engagement campaign that saw providers and plans send millions of text messages in 2020 to drive patient engagement in a particularly challenging year, encouraging patients to receive critical preventative care like flu shots and childhood vaccinations, sharing information on telehealth availability, and supporting uninsured patients in registering for insurance. Arcadia customers have seen delivery rates exceeding 80% for text-based campaigns, with 16-25% of patients clicking through to screeners on messages that include surveys. Critically, Arcadia's customers are able to leverage massive data sets and advanced algorithms to identify patients in need of additional services. Arcadia's predictive algorithms help surface the patients who would benefit most from a given intervention with deliberate effort made to guard against bias and work to identify patients across a diverse population who can benefit from care. Arcadia's algorithms help the company's healthcare customers target resources at the patients where they can have the greatest effect. For example, healthcare organizations might invest in sending higher-touch notifications in an outreach campaign to higher-risk patients. "So many people are suffering right now from a constellation of medical, social, and economic disasters," explained Arcadia chief medical officer Rich Parker, MD. "Getting communities vaccinated will be a huge step toward economic and social recovery, and we're working hard to support COVID-19 vaccine outreach. But because vaccination alone isn't enough, we're also helping our healthcare customers continue to educate their patients about staying safe, uncover needs in their communities, identify and intervene with high-risk patients, and monitor vaccination rates across demographics to ensure equitable access and series completion." Some of the largest, most innovative, and most successful healthcare companies in the country use health data platform Arcadia Analytics as a foundation for population health management, including COVID-19 patient engagement. Arcadia enables COVID-19 vaccine outreach activities by supporting vaccination education and engagement, patient stratification and targeted outreach to high-risk patients and underserved groups, tracking and communications to ensure series completion, and reporting and analytics to track vaccinations and ensure equity in vaccine administration. "Healthcare organizations are struggling on many fronts when it comes to vaccination outreach," explained Arcadia vice president Anna Basevich. "They need to overcome vaccine hesitancy, especially in historically underserved communities. Multilingual text-based communications from trusted primary care providers have been critically important as part of broader patient education efforts, and the ability to monitor for racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in vaccine distribution will be vital to ensuring we don't overlook underserved populations." "Healthcare organizations also need to manage patient expectations," continued Basevich. "Not all patients who want the vaccine will be able to get it initially, and vaccine-related supply chain disruptions can disrupt operations and create confusion. Being able to rapidly reach out to patients about changes in vaccine appointments or other urgent communications is vital." Learn more: 4 pillars of a COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach strategy explained in Feb. 3 Webinar Basevich and Dr. Parker will host a complimentary interactive webinar on Feb. 3 from 1-2 p.m. Eastern, "COVID-19 Vaccination: Are you ready to engage?" Attendees are invited to learn: How COVID-19 vaccine outreach "the greatest patient engagement challenge of our lives" sits within a broader historical and clinical context Key challenges to impacting your vaccine program Factors that help build patient trust when running a communications campaign Effective strategies for public health education and engagement How to stratify patients and run targeted outreach campaigns to high-risk and other cohorts How to set up ongoing patient tracking and communications initiatives to ensure series completion What you need to effectively report on and understand vaccine administration performance and ensure equity How to nimbly handle outreach to patients when unexpected circumstances come up Learn more and register at arcadia.io. About Arcadia Arcadia (arcadia.io) is the only healthcare data and software company dedicated to healthcare organizations achieving financial success in value-based care. We work with health systems, providers, payers, and life science companies positioning themselves to win in value-based care, including some of the largest, most complex, and influential health systems and health plans in the country. Our purpose-built, HITRUST CSF-certified population health management platform enables our customers to consistently overperform industry average outcomes by reducing medical expenses, improving risk coding accuracy, and improving quality and patient health outcomes. Our software continuously aggregates and curates the highest quality, most complete and up-to-date data foundation, provides relevant, timely and predictive analytics, and enables action through care management tools and in-workflow insights that present at the point of care. Arcadia has off-the-shelf integration technology for more than 50 different physical and behavioral health EHR vendors, powered by machine learning that combs through variations in over 107 million longitudinal patient records across clinical, claims, social determinants of health, and operational data sources. Founded in 2002, Arcadia is headquartered outside Boston in Burlington, MA, with offices in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Rockford, IL. Arcadia has been recognized as a leading vendor by industry analysts, including Chilmark, Gartner, and KLAS. We were awarded Best in KLAS for Value-Based Care Managed Services in 2019 and 2020. Media Contacts Alyssa Drew Strategic Marketing Director Arcadia 781.202.3775 [email protected] Christopher Currington Senior Account Director Amendola Communications for Arcadia 314.799.1987 [email protected] SOURCE Arcadia.io Actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan are all set to welcome their second child. The couple has already moved to their new and much larger paradise, which is just across from their previous residence at Fortune Heights in Bandra. Their new place is said to be an extension of their old home and has been designed according to Saif and Kareenas taste that combines luxury with comfort. Both actors have been working throughout her pregnancy, however, now they have taken a break to spend some quality time together. Saif recently also disclosed Bebos due date and revealed that they will be welcoming Taimurs younger sibling in early February. The actor confirmed the date in a conversation with Filmfare where he also opened up about the new responsibilities and the excitement of being a father again. The 50-year-old said that he is a bit frightened but it does not match the level of excitement of seeing their little kids running around the house. He told the magazine that the duo is relatively more chilled out this time around and they have been quite calm in the last few months. The father-to-be also stated that having another baby is a big responsibility. The couple is already proud parents to four-year-old Taimur, who is a social media superstar and paparazzis favourite. Apart from personal news, Saif has also been making headlines for his recently released web series Tandav. The political drama also stars Dimple Kapadia, Zeeshan Ayyub, Sunil Grover and Gauahar Khan in lead roles. He will be next seen in Prabhas' Adipurush as the antagonist. He will start shooting for the film in March. He also has a handful of other interesting projects in his kitty including Bunty Aur Babli 2, Bhoot Police and Vikram Vedha remake. On the other hand, Kareena will be next seen in Laal Singh Chaddha alongside Aamir Khan. The movie is a Bollywood adaptation of Hollywood hit, Forrest Gump. Led by entrepreneurs and operators with 30 years of services experience, Tercera chooses to invest in people, not products BOSTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tercera , a new growth-focused investment and advisory firm specializing in technology professional services, launched today to accelerate consultancies and managed service providers in the $460 billion cloud services space. Tercera will put $225 million in equity capital to work building the next generation of cloud leaders, focusing on services firms that specialize in analytics, automation, data, security, enablement and management of cloud technology. Cloud computing's Third Wave may be the biggest wave yet as companies accelerate their technology investments to meet challenges brought on by the pandemic and the demands of a digital world. The company, which is led by a team of seasoned investors and advisors who are deeply ingrained in professional services, is on a mission to empower the people and businesses who make technology work. Spanish for Third, Tercera provides those leading the cloud's Third Wave with the capital, counsel and connections they need to scale faster, do more and achieve outsized outcomes in today's digital age. CEO Chris Barbin founded Tercera based on his experiences as the co-founder and CEO of Appirio and his recent work as a Venture Partner at GGV Capital . Appirio, a pioneer in cloud services, was among the first enterprise services partners of Salesforce, Google, Workday and AWS. Barbin led Appirio to be one of the largest cloud consultancies before it was acquired in 2016 for $500 million. The Tercera team is seeking to help other services companies achieve similar success in a market segment that has been historically neglected by other investment firms. "We believe the professional services space has been underserved by investors for too long, especially as it becomes clear just how important these partners are to customer adoption and market growth," said Chris Barbin, founder and CEO of Tercera. "Cloud professional services is already a massive market opportunity, growing more than 20 percent year over year. With the pandemic driving more digital connections with customers, partners and employees, and enterprise cloud adoption happening faster than expected, we believe this market is poised for significant growth over the next few years." Story continues "Businesses rely on cloud computing like never before and it underpins so much of the innovation happening in technology, so it's not surprising cloud professional services are booming on G2," said Godard Abel, founder & CEO of G2, the world's largest B2B tech marketplace. "Businesses are in dire need of systems integrators and managed service providers who can help them manage their increasingly large and complex cloud deployments, and yet the capital flowing into this space has significantly lagged investment in the technologies themselves. Tercera fills a gaping hole in this area, and we'll be closely watching the firm's portfolio in the coming years." Trilantic North America, a private equity firm that manages aggregate capital commitments of $9.7 billion, partnered with Chris to form Tercera, joined by a network of individual investors aligned with Tercera's people-first vision . Tercera looks to partner with services firms that are founder-led , growth-focused and cloud-driven . Tercera typically takes a minority stake in companies, investing between $5 million to $20 million of capital, selectively partnering with other firms and strategic investors as businesses scale. However, the company will provide more than just growth capital. It is also building out a services-oriented Advisor Network that will provide practical and diverse guidance and support to founders. "Capital is only one component to growth," continued Barbin. "Experienced guidance and a support network play an equal role in helping founders and teams scale faster and more gracefully than they could on their own. The Tercera Advisors are services professionals who have built, bought and sold services organizations, or run critical functions in services businesses. They bring the pattern recognition, diversity and playbooks that growth companies need." Useful Resources Definition and players in the cloud's Third Wave Read Tercera's people-first manifesto Connect with Tercera on LinkedIn Follow Tercera on Twitter at @TerceraCapital Follow Tercera's blog for news, trends and advice in cloud services About Tercera Tercera is an investment and advisory firm founded to accelerate the growth of people-centric businesses. Specializing in the $460 billion cloud professional services market, the Tercera team is composed of invested operators who know first-hand what it takes to build and scale a successful cloud services business. Tercera (Spanish for 'third') is on a mission to identify the people and partners who will lead the next wave of cloud computing - the Third Wave - and provide them with the capital, counsel and connections they need to scale faster and take an outsized share of the market. For more information, visit: https://www.tercera.io/ . Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tercera-looks-to-accelerate-technology-professional-services-businesses-specializing-in-the-third-wave-of-cloud-computing-301216856.html SOURCE Tercera 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. . 47 . 610847 121 379253 (Newser) Pamela Anderson has revealed that she's been married since Christmas Eve. The former Baywatch star says her new husband is Dan Hayhurst, who's been her bodyguard during the pandemic lockdown, Fox News reports. The small ceremony was held in the yard of her home on Vancouver Island. Canadian First Nation members blessed the wedding, which included traditional rituals, per the Daily Mail, which posted photos. Anderson grew up in an isolated fishing village in British Columbia. Hayhurst already lived on the island, and the two met last year at the beginning of the lockdown. "I was married on the property I bought from my grandparents 25 years ago," she says. "This is where my parents were married, and they are still together. I feel like I've come full circle." story continues below Hayhurst is a builder, and the couple is renovating the property in the village of Ladysmith. "I am in love," Anderson says, adding that they have "both our families' blessing. Everyone we know is happy for us." The actress has now been married five times to four men. Her exes include Tommy Lee, Kid Rock, and Rick Solomon. A year ago, she was reported to have married film producer Jon Peters, but she now says that was only a mock ceremony. "We were never married," she tells the Daily Mail. "He is a movie maker and ... I guess he just needed a little attention?" (Julian Assange's first social call in a British prison was from Pamela Anderson.) Africas richest man, Alike Dangote, has told a U.S. court that his former American girlfriend, who exposed a part of his body via a social media post, is trying to extort $5 million from him. PREMIUM TIMES exclusively obtained the documents of a civil suit he filed under a pseudonym against the lady identified as Autumn Spikes at a Miami-Dade County Court in Florida, United States of America. The wealthy businessman used the pseudonym, John Doe, with AD, that stands for the acronym for his name, Aliko Dangote, as his alias. He seeks excess of $30,000 in damages against Ms Spikes. One of the court documents filed by the plaintiff on January 22, is titled, Complaint petition for declaratory judgment complaint for extortion petition for injunctive relief. The document, among others, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, accused Ms Spikes of libel, defamation, cyberstalking and a breach of agreement to keep their relationship private and off the social media. It stated that Mr Dangotes business acumen has made him a target for coercion by the defendant, adding that Ms Spikes demanded meritless claims of $5 million in the nature of palimony to which she is not legally entitled. Palimony is an amount of money a law court orders someone to pay regularly to a former partner whom they were living with but were not married to. Autumn Spikes has made a demand that the plaintiff pay her five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) as shown in Exhibit 1, Mr Dangotes court document states. How it began The affair between Mr Dangote and Ms Spikes first came to public knowledge on January 1, when the lad,y using the Instagram handle, Allarounda1, posted a video clip showing herself seated and Mr Dangote stretched on a couch. The images, which went viral on social media, appeared to have been captured during their good times together. It showed most of Mr Dangotes body covered in an orange blanket but with his buttocks exposed while he fiddled with his phone. Ms Spikes also shared other images of the billionaire but later deleted them. In later updates, she said she did not make her affairs public on social media to acquire fame. She also claimed her action was aimed at helping Mr Dangote to clear his name of the embarrassment caused by another ex-mistress of the businessman, Bea Lewis, exposing their intimate affairs on social media. Ex-mistress demands $5 million Mr Dangote had tried to quickly end his relationship with Ms Spikes. In addition to ending the relationship, he asked Ms Spikes for a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) on their affair. ADVERTISEMENT Ms Spikes then demanded $5 million, through her representatives, in exchange for the NDA. The demand was followed by an email by Mr Dangotes lawyer, Mr Fleisher, to Ms Spikes lawyer, Paul Petruzzi, on January 13, asking for the basis of Ms Spikes demand. Responding to Mr Fleishers email, Mr Petruzzi described the affair between his client and the billionaire as an ongoing intimate relationship for nearly the entire past decade since she was pretty young. Mr Petruzzi added in the email that the relationship was quite involved and pretty interesting and insisted that Mr Dangote must pay his client the sum of $5 million in exchange for the NDA. He stated, For whatever reason, your client broke off the relationship as soon as one of his other conquests broke her silence. Your client now wants my client to sign an NDA and, through his representatives, offered her money to do so. While I appreciate your clients desire to continue to exercise his control over mine, she will only agree to the NDA proposed by your client in exchange for the lump sum of 5 million dollars. Mr Dangote filed the email exchange as Exhibit 1 along with his suit, stating, Autumn Spikes anded from plaintiffs counsel Bruce Fleisher through her counsel, Paul Petruzzi, on January 13, 2021, $5,00,000.00, insisting that an ongoing relationship was broken off and blatantly warns of social media and/or talk show exposure. Good relationship turns sour The wealthy man noted in his suit that Ms Spikes had in the past requested financial assistance from him to start up a business. He said he agreed to grant her the assistance on the condition that it would remain confidential. His court document read in part, Autumn Spikes demanded from the plaintiff assistance as an entrepreneur in a start-up business when there was no loan commitment, nor oral or written promise. The plaintiff once announced an oral willingness to provide entrepreneurial assistance to Autumn Spikes on the condition that it be confidential and private. He said he later started seeing social media posts and planned media talk shows done to expose him and make his life miserable if he fails to comply with the demand for $5,000,000. John Does generosity toward Autumn Spikes, if any, has been breached by Autumn Spikes exposure and solicitations to talk show media if he fails to pay her meritless demands, he added. Mr Dangote said his generosity toward Autumn Spikes, if any, has been breached by Autumn Spikes exposure and solicitations to media talk shows if he fails to pay her meritless demands. He maintained that he had the right to stop being generous to her and demand a refund of the funds he had given her to assist her business in the past. Meritless demands The businessman, who described Ms Spikes alleged demands as meritless extortive demands said such are not protected by First Amendment freedom of speech and are barred by Fla. Stat. 771 01 et. Seq. He alleged that Ms Spikes continued her illegal demands and threatened that should he fail to pay her the money she would subject him to nasty and untrue publicity. He said she also threatened to take the matter to social media, including, Facebook and Instagram. He stated, Autumn Spikes continues illegal demands for a plaintiff to pay her what he does not owe her, under threat he will be a victim of nasty and/or untrue publicity in order to induce payment of support, in the form of alimony, and as if she was married to the plaintiff. Defendant has threatened communications on social media, Facebook, Instagram, and otherwise. John Doe has a right to terminate his generosity and to obtain from Autumn Spikes a refund of the monies he had given her to assist her in starting up business. Dangotes complaints, prayers Mr Dangote said the alleged demand by Ms Spike is embarrassing and upsetting adding that she demands support in lieu of marriage or alienation of affection when she is not entitled to the same. He also accused her of cyberstalking and making demands for money in exchange of release of private information if he does not pay the proverbial ransom described above. Among his prayers are a non-jury trial, damages, an award of refund of all of those monies she claims plaintiff paid her, court costs and such remedies as available under the law. The plaintiff insists that Ms Spikes had proposed to expose her relationship with him if he failed to compensate her with $5 million, support her or marry her. He added that her media posting violates the plaintiffs agreement with the defendant that their relationship was private and not subject of social media or talk shows. He wants the defendant restrained from demanding payment in exchange for non-disclosure of their relationship. Pseudonym Mr Dangotes lawyers described him in the court document as a wealthy entrepreneur whose business acumen has made a target for coercion by the defendant. The lawyers said their client used a pseudonym to institute the case to avoid unnecessary media attention and avert coercion to pay the money demanded by Ms Spikes. The plaintiff, John Doe, also known as AD, is a foreigner and for the purpose of this action employs the pseudonym John Doe in order to avoid unnecessary publicity designed to impair his right to privacy and to coerce his payment of money he does not owe Autumn Spikes, the document read in part. Addressing the WEF summit at Davos through video conferencing, the prime minister said that India is amongst the countries that have successfully controlled the coronavirus New Delhi: India will soon make available many more COVID-19 vaccines to other countries after two Made-In-India jabs have already been introduced to the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while emphasising the country's global responsibility in fighting the pandemic. In a special address at the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda Summit, Modi also said he wants to assure the global business community that situation will now change rapidly on the economic front also and invited businesses from all over to participate in the country's growth journey. Modi said that some had said in February-March 2020 that India would be the worst affected country by COVID-19 and would face a "tsunami of corona infections". "Some had talked about 70-80 crore people expected to get infected in India, while some talked about over 20 lakh possible deaths but India did not let the disappointment get better of it," he said. "When COVID arrived, India had its share of problems. At the beginning of last year, several experts and organisations had made several predictions that India would be most affected by the pandemic. Looking at the condition of countries with better health infrastructure, the world was right in worrying about us," he said. The prime minister, however, said in the midst of numerous doubts, he was here with "a message of belief, positivity and hope from over 1.3 billion Indians". Modi said, "We transformed the fight against coronavirus into a people's movement and today India is among the most successful countries in saving lives." "We focussed on developing COVID-specific health infrastructure, we trained our human resources to fight against this pandemic and we made full use of tech for testing and tracking," he said. Modi said India has started the world's largest coronavirus vaccination programme and its speed can be imagined from the fact that over 23 lakh health workers have been vaccinated in just 12 days. "In the next few months, we would complete our target of vaccinating 30 crore old people and people with co-morbidities," he said. He said India has ensured that it follows its global responsibility by sending essential medicines to over 150 countries while COVID-19 vaccines are also being sent to other countries. "While two India-made vaccines have already been introduced to the world, many more vaccines will be made available from India," he said. "India's upcoming vaccines will help other countries at a swifter pace to fight the pandemic," he added. "In this time of crisis, India has also fulfilled its global responsibility from the beginning, following thousands of years old prayer of our country ''Sarvey Santu Niramaya'': May the whole world be healthy," he said. He said 18 percent of the world's population is in India and it is a country that saved mankind from a big disaster by saving its citizens from the pandemic. "We're not only fulfilling our needs of PPE kits and masks but also exporting and helping other countries. India has started the world''s largest vaccination drive as well," he said. "We guided the world on how India''s traditional medicine, Ayurveda, can help in improving immunity. Today, India is sending its vaccine to several countries and is helping in developing the infrastructure for successful vaccination, thus saving the lives of citizens of other countries," he said. With a consistent rise in cumulative recoveries, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has reached nearly 97 percent which is one of the highest globally, according to the Union Health Ministry data. India's total number of active cases has dropped to 1,73,740 and now consists of just 1.62 percent of the total cases at 1.07 crore. Nearly 1.53 lakh people have lost their lives in the country so far. Later, interacting with business leaders on the WEF platform, Modi said the COVID-19 crisis has taught us the basics of human values and that ''Industry 4.0 is for humans, and not robots". He called for ensuring that technology becomes a tool for ease of living and not a trap. Modi said India has stressed a lot on reforms and incentive-based stimulus in recent times. Even during COVID-19 , India has paced structural reforms in all sectors and these reforms are being supported by PLI-schemes, he said. "During the corona crisis, many countries were worried about how to reach their citizens directly financially, but you will be shocked to know that during this time India has transferred more than Rs 1.8 lakh crore directly to the bank accounts of more than 76 crore people," he added. He also referred to a new initiative to provide a unique health ID to 1.3 billion citizens for easy access to healthcare. "I assure you that every success in India will help the world to succeed. Our Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission is fully committed to global good and global supply chain," he said. Modi also talked about Aadhaar, UPI transactions and data privacy laws. India continued its economic activities during COVID with infrastructure work worth trillions of rupees, providing employment, the prime minister said. "We stressed on saving every single life. India, now, is walking ahead to become Aatmanirbhar," he said. I watched American extremists attack our nations Capitol on Jan. 6. While their uncompromising fervor and fanaticism was shocking, it was not altogether unfamiliar to me. When the crowd erected the wooden gallows with the noose, I felt a sense of deja vu that took me a few days to pinpoint: The gallows set up outside the building reminded me of looking at Deera, or chop chop, square in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a site for frequent public beheadings and the same place where the beheaded bodies sometimes are later crucified. This is a weekly event in Saudi Arabia. Watching domestic terrorists erect a set for public execution outside the Capitol was all the more disheartening to me because I spent a good part of my career at the CIA fighting to keep this kind of extremism from reaching our shores. And I fear that many do not grasp the potential consequences of letting this type of lawlessness stand without loud condemnation by every member of Congress. This is not the time for equivocation or political maneuvering to remain in power. Here, we could learn something from the Saudis. The capitulation by Saudi political leaders to Islamist extremists was born hundreds of years ago. But what I observed as a counterterrorism officer was that Saudi political leaders are hamstrung when they try to curb violent jihad emanating from the kingdom. They understand that a crackdown would imperil their reign, and they are forced to recall their original bargain with extremists: A coexistence deal was hatched centuries ago between the Bedouin Saud tribe and the violently puritanical Wahhabi sect of Islam. This partnership was restated in 1901 when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was born, and then bluntly driven home with the 1979 deadly takeover of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by a particularly virulent faction of religious extremists who believed Saudi politicians had become too liberal and modern. The leader of the siege, a religious extremist leader called Juhayman, was uneducated and preached his extremist views to the uneducated. During the takeover, hundreds died, including security officers and religious pilgrims. Saudi political leaders heeded the refresher on who called what shots in the kingdom. The takeover of the mosque later gave rise to Osama bin Laden, who referenced the takeover and Juhayman in his own call to arms. So its no surprise that the vast majority of 9/11 hijackers were Saudis. Nor that the Saudis assistance in the global war on terrorism was tepid and on their own terms. Nor that, more recently, the Saudis killed a journalist critical of the royal family. The Saudi rulers will do whatever they need to, with whomever they need to, to stay in power. And so the family holds power mostly unmolested, in exchange for endorsing Wahhabi religious extremism. When I left the CIA in 2015, I had been chief of the counterterrorism technical collection initiative against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups once in 2003, and again in 2013. So I was struck by how the Jan. 6 insurrectionists employed the same online tactics to rally people and grow followers as the foreign extremists I had followed. By 2013, Islamic extremists fully embraced the sophistication of a broad range of online platforms. Foreign extremists had learned how to grow a Twitter account, so accounts could expand from hundreds to thousands to tens of thousands of followers in a startlingly short period. Some of those followers were fanatics. Many were unemployed, disenfranchised and hurting economically kicking around looking for a cause. Republican political leaders apparently have decided that it is worth pandering to Americans who have been radicalized to help them retain power, just as the Saudis did. Look how this base responded to Trumps tweets about a wild protest in Washington on Jan. 6. Adherents flocked to town from all over the country. Trump whipped them up by personally addressing a rally that morning, asking the crowd to march to the Capitol to stop the steal. He also threw then-Vice President Mike Pence under the bus, showing clearly that fanning the flames of extremism was more important than personal or political loyalty. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, trotted by the crowd, fist raised in solidarity. And so, after decades of sacrifice by the U.S. military, law enforcement and intelligence officers working to fight terrorism, Trump brazenly built his own extremist faction and incited them to conduct terrorism in America. We didnt know it at the time, but the 9/11 attackers did not present an existential threat to America. It is true they inflicted a horrible wound but we rebuilt and came back stronger as a nation, attuned to the foreign terrorist threat and unified never to let it happen again. Homegrown extremism, fostered by political leaders, is even more horrific and longer lasting. Just look to Saudi Arabia when its political leaders stray from the deal they made with radicals there. When the Saudi government does not heel to its homegrown extremists, bombs go off in the kingdom. People die. I doubt that the political leaders of Saudi Arabia envisioned or wanted the United States to be attacked on 9/11. But by making a deal with the devil Wahhabi extremists the Saudi royals enabled attacks on the United States. I have little doubt that in the aftermath of 9/11, the Saudi rulers fully understood that the attacks were sown by their own actions and inaction. The same goes for Republican leaders who pander to the extremists they value as a political base. Trumpists play with dark forces they do not fully understand or control. At the Capitol, we saw a preview of what could come if the GOP doesnt renounce the extremists that Trump enabled. A deal made with extremists to remain in power will dog all of us for decades. Hyatt's independent collection portfolio is a collection of brands that not only embrace the locations in which each hotel resides, but serve as a gateway to some of the most sought-after destinations worldwide. Each property brings a sense of place to the guest experience in new and unforgettable ways. "We are very excited to bring these three Story Hotels in Europe under Hyatt's JDV Hotel brand portfolio and at the same time grow the Hyatt hotel footprint in Sweden," said Felicity Black-Roberts, vice president development for Europe at Hyatt. "We are focused on thoughtful growth in locations that meet our guests and members needs, and the upcoming addition of three Story Hotels help us fuel this growth in markets like Scandinavia, as we collaborate with owners who want to maintain each property's unique identity. With their strong design focus and neighborhood feel, Story Hotels will be the perfect representation of Hyatt's independent collection in Europe." Story Hotel Riddargatan, Story Hotel Signalfabriken and Story Hotel Studio Malmo are ideally located at the heart of their destinations and each will celebrate the unique neighborhoods in which the properties reside. With modern, Scandinavian design that reflects the edgy nature of both cities, the hotels will offer amenities for both business and leisure travelers. "It was clear at an early stage that Hyatt and Story Hotels had a very similar vision of how modern upscale living should look and feel," said Staffan Akerlind, CEO Story Hotels. "We are thrilled to introduce the JDV Hotel brand to Europe and Scandinavia and, we are proud to be working with such an experienced, international hospitality company like Hyatt. We look forward to leveraging their experience to offer excellent service to our guests and benefit from their global scale and distribution platform." All three hotels will feature individually designed boutique guestrooms, vibrant public spaces and food and beverage offerings popular with both visitors and locals alike. Boutique in size as a reflection of their urban locations, each hotel will offer complimentary access to local gyms during their stay. Story Hotel Riddargatan, Stockholm An 83-room property widely believed to be one of Stockholm's original boutique hotels, the Story Hotel Riddargatan will have an industrial design to represent the building's former life as an apartment complex, barber shop and garage. The property is centrally located in the Ostermalm area with easy access to vibrant neighborhood restaurants, cafes and bars as well as the high-end shopping district. The hotel will also feature a restaurant, Ling Long, specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine, and one indoor and one outdoor bar. Story Hotel Signalfabriken, Stockholm Story Hotel Signalfabriken will feature 83 individually designed guestrooms and a vibrant bar and restaurant, which will host regular DJ performances. Formerly a fire station and town hall, this listed property in Sundbyberg's Torg neighborhood will attract business travelers with meetings in the surrounding areas of Solna, Bromma and Kista. Leisure guests will enjoy the small town feel and abundance of restaurants nearby with quick access to Stockholm's city center in less than ten minutes via the nearby tram, bus and subway lines. Story Hotel Studio Malmo Story Hotel Studio Malmo will feature 95 unique guestrooms, all creative and playful in their design to reflect the young and vibrant population of the city. Situated on the top floors of a high-rise building, the hotel offers spectacular views overlooking the city and water. The hotel is part of the mixed-use STUDIO building, which also houses conference and meeting facilities, corporate offices, retail outlets, several restaurants and a cafe. With its unique waterside location at Universitetsholmen, and close proximity to Malmo's central station, guests can easily explore the city, and nearby Copenhagen via a 35-minute train ride. The hotel's restaurant and cocktail bar, Kasai in the Sky, will deliver food and drink on Malmo's highest outdoor terrace with views of the ocean and city skyline. Story Hotel Riddargatan, Story Hotel Signalfabriken and Story Hotel Studio Malmo are expected to increase the number of Hyatt hotels in Sweden to four, following the 2020 opening of Stockholm's Hotell Reisen, which is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand. Fueled by guests' growing desire for unique, differentiated experiences that foster genuine connections with people and cultures, Hyatt recently announced its intention to grow by more than 30 percent in Europe, with a significant focus on developing the footprint of its lifestyle brands. For more information, please visit www.jdvhotels.com. Guided by its purpose of care, Hyatt's multi-layered Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment further enhances its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. More information on Hyatt's commitment can be found here: hyatt.com/care-and-cleanliness . The term "Hyatt" is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates. About JDV Hotels A community for the spirited, light-hearted, and young-at-heart, JDV Hotels offers a collection of vibrant, independent hotels that are true reflections of the urban neighborhoods they call home. Each hotel provides an experience that is inclusive in spirit and space, welcoming all vibes, tribes and unique soulseffortlessly bringing people together with joy-driven service. Embracing its namesake, each property invites guests and locals to connect, live in the moment and celebrate the joy of life. Follow @JDVHotels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for news and updates. For more information, please visit www.jdvhotels.com. About Hyatt Hotels Corporation Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company offering 20 premier brands. As of September 30, 2020, the Company's portfolio included more than 950 hotel, all-inclusive, and wellness resort properties in 67 countries across six continents. The Company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to attract and retain top employees, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, lease, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences, and vacation ownership properties, including under the Park Hyatt, Miraval, Grand Hyatt, Alila, Andaz, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Centric, Caption by Hyatt, Joie de Vivre, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place,tommie, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club brand names, and operates the World of Hyatt loyalty program that provides distinct benefits and exclusive experiences to its valued members. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com. About Story Hotel Holding AB Story Hotel Holding is the parent company of Story Hotel Riddargatan, Story Hotel Signalfabriken and Story Hotel Studio Malmo, with a total of 261 hotel rooms and 519 beds.The Company's vision is to acquire and open additional Story Hotels in Scandinavia and Northern Europe within a few years and to continue to challenge the conventional hotel industry by taking advantage of technological solutions, pay homage to individualism and offering creative hotel alternatives inspired by design, art and music. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the short- and longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence; actions that governments, businesses, and individuals take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or any resurgence, including limiting or banning travel; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or any resurgence, on global and regional economies, travel, and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of its impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; the ability of third-party owners, franchisees or hospitality venture partners to successfully navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pace of recovery following the pandemic or any resurgence; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the rate and the pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; limited visibility with respect to future bookings; loss of key personnel; domestic and international political and geo-political conditions, including political or civil unrest or changes in trade policy; hostilities, or fear of hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, that affect travel; travel-related accidents; natural or man-made disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, oil spills, nuclear incidents, and global outbreaks of pandemics or contagious diseases or fear of such outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; our ability to successfully achieve certain levels of operating profits at hotels that have performance tests or guarantees in favor of our third-party owners; the impact of hotel renovations and redevelopments; risks associated with our capital allocation plans and common stock repurchase program and quarterly dividend, including a reduction in or elimination of repurchase activity or dividend payments; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the real estate and hospitality businesses; changes in distribution arrangements, such as through internet travel intermediaries; changes in the tastes and preferences of our customers; relationships with colleagues and labor unions and changes in labor laws; the financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party property owners, franchisees, and hospitality venture partners; the possible inability of third-party owners, franchisees, or development partners to access capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; risks associated with potential acquisitions and dispositions and the introduction of new brand concepts; the timing of acquisitions and dispositions, and our ability to successfully integrate completed acquisitions with existing operations; failure to successfully complete proposed transactions (including the failure to satisfy closing conditions or obtain required approvals); our ability to successfully execute on our strategy to expand our management and franchising business while at the same time reducing our real estate asset base within targeted timeframes and at expected values; declines in the value of our real estate assets; unforeseen terminations of our management or franchise agreements; changes in federal, state, local, or foreign tax law; increases in interest rates and operating costs; foreign exchange rate fluctuations or currency restructurings; lack of acceptance of new brands or innovation; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access such markets; changes in the competitive environment in our industry, including as a result of industry consolidation, and the markets where we operate; our ability to successfully grow the World of Hyatt loyalty program; cyber incidents and information technology failures; outcomes of legal or administrative proceedings; violations of regulations or laws related to our franchising business; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our annual report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2020, which filings are available from the SEC. These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of our forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. If we update 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. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428693/Hyatt_Story_Hotel_Studio_Malmo.jpg SOURCE Hyatt Hotels Corporation A warehouse worker sacked for allegedly masturbating at work has lost a legal challenge in which he claimed he was being discriminated against because he was actually scratching a rash in his pubic area. Daniel Whipps was caught on CCTV at work at the Battery Store Australia's Townsville warehouse in October 2018 with his shorts pulled down to his thigh, holding a mobile phone in his right hand and reaching down his pants with his left. A Queensland industrial commissioner dismissed the claim. Credit:iStock An industrial commissioner found that, while Mr Whipps previously had a rash, he had not proved he had it when he was fired. Even if he was scratching a rash, his employer had not discriminated against him because it did not fire him because of the condition and would have treated any other employee the same way, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission found. Irelands Covid-19 vaccination programme is likely to miss its target of inoculating 700,000 people by the end of March, the Dail has heard. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the indicative target was heavily caveated and dependant on vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca. Mr Donnelly said it is very frustrating that AstraZeneca may not be delivering the full amount anticipated by Government. As part of the deal with the pharmaceuticals giant, Ireland was due to receive 600,000 coronavirus vaccines in the coming weeks. However, Mr Donnelly said negotiations are under way to establish what the new supply chain will include. The interruption to supply will likely affect the domestic vaccine rollout and the Governments targets for the months ahead. Mr Donnelly said that 3% of the population has been vaccinated by Sunday past, including 66,000 in nursing homes and 77,000 healthcare workers. He said that second doses of the vaccine are being administered this week. However, Sinn Feins David Cullinane accused the Health Minister of failing to provide revised timeframes or targets for Irelands vaccination programme. Minister, I have to say that your opening statement here today falls far short of what was needed, he added. It pains me to say this, it is very difficult to retain confidence in the rollout of the vaccine programme when we are not getting the information that we should be getting from the Minister for Health. You had 10 minutes to set a very clear strategy of providing clarity and certainty to people, and you havent done so. You didnt use the opportunity today to give us the information that we need. I have to say to you minister that this is not a time for spoofing. This is a time for absolute clarity and certainty, and to give assurances and reassurances to the public in relation to the rollout of the vaccine. We need strong leadership on this issue. Mr Donnelly told the Dail: Right now they (AstraZeneca) are not committing to that 600,000 were in negotiations to see what we can get. So obviously, the 700,000 is contingent on the supply that comes in and that that is still under negotiation. The Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine (PA) Mr Donnelly told Labour lead Alan Kelly that approximately 40,000 vaccines arrived in Ireland this week. Mr Kelly was critical of the the Governments failure to provide a daily break down of the amount of frontline healthcare workers who have been vaccinated. Mr Kelly added: What sort of an organisation would not know who they vaccinate? That information has to be provided, otherwise we have bigger problems. It doesnt make any sense that we dont know in UHL (University Hospital Limerick) or at the Coombe (hospital), or any other hospital in this country how many Covid-facing frontline workers have been vaccinated. Its really worrying that you cannot provide those statistics. Mr Donnelly also clarified that he expects all adult residents to be offered a vaccine by September based on current delivery schedules, but warned it is conditional on the supply chain and vaccines being authorised. Meanwhile, head of the HSE Paul Reid said there are some early sign of minor relief in Covid-19 hospital numbers. He tweeted: However our health system remains under relentless strain. Many very sick and vulnerable people will need care for some time. Our ICUs remain too close to a tipping point. Please continue to hold our guard. A teacher-turned-secret gossip blogger who wrote about girls at prom looking like 'prostitutes and trans-human Kardashian clones' must wait to learn if he has been struck off after his misconduct hearing was adjourned. Alex Price, 43, secretly penned his thoughts on his school's annual prom, describing it as 'a shallow, vacuous affair, about nothing more than who has spent the most on looking nice.' The former Design and Technology teacher at Denbigh High School, North Wales, compared his head teacher to a 'slithering,' character from Lord of the Rings, while claiming students were taking cocaine and smoking cannabis at their prom. Andrew Price, pictured taking a selfie in a tuxedo, described his school's prom as a 'shallow, vacuous affair, about nothing more than who has spent the most on looking nice' Mr Price said he created the blog, titled 'The Provoked Pedagogue,' as a 'cathartic' exercise while working at the failing high school and tried to make them 'colourful and entertaining'. He said: 'The blog had a tiny readership and was fully anonymous. 'Hundreds of pages of papers and hours and hours of time have been invested to investigate a blog which yielded zero complaints and simply told the anonymous truth. 'The articles are colourful and meant to be entertaining.' In an article called The Problem with Prom, Mr Price described some girls as looking like a cross between 'Eastern European prostitutes and trans-human Kardashian clones'. He said girls at Denbigh High School in Denbigh, North Wales, would spend 'nine out of 12 months' planning for the event when they should be learning. Mr Price admits writing the blogs during his time at Denbigh High School in North Wales, but denies they amount to unacceptable professional conduct. If found guilty he faces being struck from the teaching register. Mr Price was caught after the school conducted an investigation when one teacher thought the posts might be about Denbigh High School He added: 'The prom means more to them than GCSE results, the pressure builds and builds and when they should be studying they are on ASOS. 'Young girls in school fresh-faced or pimpled are plastered in make-up because they feel pressure from all angles, often including the school. 'Parents getting paid alone to pay for hair extensions and lip pumping, botox for some and dermal peels for others - make-up so thick that when it cracks it rivals tectonic plates. 'Then there's the fake tan: ludicrous shades and colours that defy even the unlimited variations provided by the human gene.' He said some pupils had 'literacy so poor they cannot read the instructions on sachets of brown goop that leak into every pore.' He described prom as 'the ugly end of society where only the rich has value and everyone else has to emulate. 'Anxious young teens shoe-horned into gowns and paraded into towns like cattle.' The former Design and Technology teacher claimed the blogs were anonymous, but presenting officer Ashanti-Jade Walton said: 'Anyone with working knowledge of the school' would be able to identify it' Quotes from Mr Price's gossip blog Mr Price wrote that girls often ended up looking like a cross between 'Eastern European prostitutes and trans-human Kardashian clones'. He also called prom 'a shallow, vacuous affair, about nothing more than who has spent the most on looking nice'. Mr Price described the event as 'the ugly end of society where only the rich has value and everyone else has to emulate.' He added: 'Tears are assured and will have been flowing freely, family relationships are stretched to breaking point in the quest for the perfect combination of overpriced tat that the teenager thinks they want.' In another post he made up nicknames for his former head teachers calling on 'El Supremo' and another 'Grima Wormtongue' after a character from Lord of the Rings. He described children as 'shameless chicken fillets shoved into criminally expensive and ill-fitting gowns'. Mr Price said: 'I have seen vodka-filled teens covered in their own vomit and door staff leering at underage girls and lads barely through puberty acting like Jordan Belfort or Bob Marley puffing on reefers and snorting coke at the back of poorly prepared venues. 'In reality the only thing you can actually congratulate them on is the fact that they look nice.' Advertisement 'Tears are assured and will have been flowing freely, family relationships are stretched to breaking point in the quest for the perfect combination of overpriced tat that the teenager thinks they want.' Mr Price was caught after the school conducted an investigation when one teacher thought the posts might be about Denbigh High School. James Wood was then appointed by Denbighshire County Council to independently investigate and said today that Mr Price had already admitted to being behind the posts. Colin Adkins, Mr Price's NASUWT representative, said: 'The blogs have been totally misrepresented.' He said the article about prom was meant to show how girls were put through 'an appalling, degrading, spectacle' and not meant to cause offence. He added: 'Alex Price has a view on prom night and it's a view he's entitled to hold.' Mr Adkins said the large majority of the blogs were written 'about education and education matters' and contained views 'appropriate to express as a teaching professional.' He said: 'Of all the blogs written by Mr Price - more than 100 - the EWC investigation produced just five blog posts and one tweet of concern, all the rest were deemed fine.' Presenting officer Ashanti-Jade Walton said although Mr Price claimed the blogs were anonymous 'anyone with working knowledge of the school' would be able to identify it. She said: 'It does not take much skill to scroll through blog posts and tweets.' Mr Price admits writing the blogs but denies they amount to unacceptable professional conduct. If found guilty he faces being struck from the teaching register. The hearing in Cardiff was adjourned until a date to be fixed. Three teenagers have been arrested in connection to a massive house fire in Denver that left a Senegalese family, including two young children, dead last summer. Two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were taken into custody on Wednesday on first-degree murder, burglary, assault and arson charges, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said. The teenagers are accused of targeting the Diol family's home in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood, a relatively new development of closely spaced homes near Denver International Airport, in the early hours of August 5. Surveillance photos showed the three suspects wearing full face masks and hoodies as they approached the home around 3.30am. Investigators said the three fled in a dark-colored sedan after the fire was set. Djibril, 29, and Adja Diol, 23, were killed in the blaze along with their 22-month-old daughter Khadija, as well as relative Hassan Diol and her infant daughter Hawa Baye. Djibril, 29, and Adja Diol, 23, were killed in the blaze along with their 22-month-old daughter Khadija The burned home of the Diol family stands burned with old bouquets, stuffed animals and other remembrances hanging on the fence surrounding the house Three other people managed to escape by jumping from the second floor of the home. They were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Pazen said the evidence does not indicate that the crime was bias-motivated, and police cannot release many additional details about what happened because of the ages of the suspects. 'While we are saddened, we are also thankful that those who allegedly committed this crime were brought to justice and placed in custody,' he said in a press conference. Shortly after the fire, a $50,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrests of those responsible for the deadly fire, including $10,000 from the Colorado chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The images of three masked suspects were issued in a 'Crime Alert' bulletin by Denver police Cops released images of a possible getaway vehicle taken from surveillance footage In this August 5, 2020, file photo, people look at a house where five people were found dead after a fire, in suburban Denver A $50,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrests of those responsible for the deadly fire, The group had called on police to consider the possibility of a hate crime. 'It's been a rough year, not just for us but for all of us because of the pandemic. But on top of that, having to deal with the loss of beautiful people like these,' said Papa Dia, a family spokesman who also is a Senegalese immigrant. 'We are grateful, but we are still in pain. Arrest has been made, but we know its not going to bring these beautiful people back.' Police, fire officials and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are still investigating because there are indications that the fire was arson. Authorities have not elaborated on the evidence because they say they do not want to compromise the investigation. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said Wednesday he had spoken to Senegal Consul General Elhadji Ndao about the arrests. Hancock described the fire as 'one of the most heinous crimes I've ever seen or witnessed in our city, as mayor or otherwise. ... It hit me to the core.' We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form SHOWS February 22, 2021 10.00 am Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Oceanic shark and ray populations have collapsed by 70 percent over 50 years by TIM VERNIMMEN January 28,2021 | Source: Nat Geo On the high seas, far from any continent, sharks and rays were once abundant. Shortfin makos, the fastest sharks on the planet, chased after their prey at speeds of over 20 miles an hour. Scalloped hammerheads plied the waters, scanning the ocean expanse for food with their wide-set eyes and other specialised sensory organs. These animals travelled widely across open waters so vast and inaccessible that many fishermen, and even some biologists, found it hard to believe that overfishing would ever endanger them. A decade ago, recalls Nicholas Dulvy, co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Natures Shark Specialist Group, we would have extremely heated debates about listing an oceanic shark as threatened. Now, a sweeping analysis of current and historic population numbers have created a clearerand soberingpicture. Dulvy and co-author Nathan Pacoureau, both at Simon Fraser University in Canada, found that populations of 18 shark and ray species have declined by 70 percent since 1970, according to the study, published in the journal Nature this week. At this rate, many of the species might disappear entirely in a decade or two, the authors caution. When the research team crunched the numbers for the oceanic whitetip shark, a species that was common back in 1970, we just looked at them in stunned silence, Dulvy says. The oceanic whitetip had declined by 98 percent in the last 60 years. That pattern was consistent across all three oceans. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now lists the species as critically endangered. Scalloped and great hammerhead sharks have met a similar fate. Though fisheries rarely target oceanic sharks, if they're caught, their meat, fins, gill plates, and liver oil is often sold. This is troubling news both for the sharks and ocean health, as these top predators play a crucial role in the food web, in part by keeping smaller predators in check, experts say. The impact of overfishing, accidental or otherwise, on sharks should motivate governments to impose more regulations, with the goal of making fisheries sustainable, Dulvy says. It's also important, he adds, to limit the international trade of threatened shark and ray species. But theres a long way to go. A proposed ban on fishing of endangered shortfin makos in the North Atlantic was recently blocked by the European Union and the United States, in part because the bulk of the catch is by Spain, says Dulvy. Sharks are kind of the last unregulated area, he says, which I think is why there is a bit of resistance to managing them. Such a ban has been shown to work for other species, says David Sims, a biologist at the U.K.s University of Southampton who was not involved in this study. Sims has published research showing hopeful signs of recovery for great white sharks and porbeagles in the northwestern Atlantic, both of which are protected from fishing. Theme(s): Fisheries Resources. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 09:02:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia registered 476 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the national tally to 135,045, said the country's Ministry of Health on Wednesday. The death toll from COVID-19 in the country reached 2,083 as of Wednesday evening, after eight new deaths were reported, the ministry said. It said that 846 more recoveries were reported, taking the nationwide count to 121,594. Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement precautionary measures so as to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem Credit: CC0 Public Domain Increasing numbers of Florida children are being placed in foster care due to maltreatment, even though fewer children overall are being placed in foster care during the pandemic, researchers say. This new study provides a glimpse into how the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting one of the most vulnerable populations in Floridachildren who face physical and sexual abuse as well as neglect. Erica Musser, an FIU associate professor of psychology at the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, and a team of collaborators from the University of Miami examined nearly two decades worth of data on children in the Florida foster care system. They found placements into the foster care system decreased during the pandemic and remained significantly lower throughout 2020 even as placements due to maltreatment increased. Parental stress during the pandemic is believed to be a primary culprit for the increase in abuse claims as economic instability, health concerns, child care issues and other factors disrupt daily life. The pandemic has created a cascading crisis where fears of abuse and maltreatment were combined with concerns over fewer calls to Child Protective Services, possibly because those who normally report suspected abusenamely teachers and medical service providerswere not seeing children in person. News reports of these possible trends worried Musser. A scientist and a licensed clinical psychologist, Musser has dedicated her research to understanding both the risk and protective factors associated with the development of psychopathology among children, including child maltreatment. She also studies behavior, emotion and social cognition in FIU's Center for Children and Families. Musser knew the best way to uncover what was really happening in Florida was to explore the data. The data mirrored the media reports. The most dramatic decrease in the number of children entering foster care was during the stay-at-home ordersa 24 percent decrease when comparing April 2019 to April 2020. During this same period, though, there was a 3.34 percent increase in placements due to maltreatment. Parental substance abuse and domestic violence were the top reasons cited. Rates of placement and child maltreatment differed according to race. Black children are typically over-represented in the foster care system. Studies show a wide range of reasons, according to researchers, including structural racism and a century of disinvestment in Black communities resulting in higher rates of poverty-based neglect, and lack of access to medical and mental health support. Once in the system, Black children have lower rates of reunification and significantly lower rates of adoption. However, there has been a dramatic decrease of black children entering foster care during the pandemic. As Musser points out, while the team expected to see racial disparity in foster care during the pandemic, they weren't expecting to see a shift this drastic. Musser said under-reporting of abuse was likely a problem for black children during the pandemic. With fewer people coming in contact with children, fewer were placed into foster care. This is cause for concern. "For decades, there have been speculation racial factors may play a role on foster care and this may be one more piece of evidence for that," Musser said. The findings also give Musser pause. They point toward the reality that rates of maltreatment are likely on the rise and a larger population of children, at least in Florida, are experiencing various forms of abuse known to negatively impact a child's brain development, as well as their overall mental health and wellbeing. Musser hopes this study can be used for informing policy and decisions about child welfare and protections during local, national and global challenges. "It's unlikely this pandemic will be the last crisis that could impact the foster care system, so it is important to think proactively about ways the system could reexamine itself and think creatively about ways to overcome these issues before they become issues again in the future," Musser said. This study was published in Child Abuse & Neglect. Explore further Foster care and child well-being: Insights in the time of coronavirus More information: Erica D. Musser et al. Child Maltreatment in the Time of COVID-19: Changes in the Florida Foster Care System Surrounding the COVID-19 Safer-At-Home Order, Child Abuse & Neglect (2021). Journal information: Child Abuse & Neglect Erica D. Musser et al. Child Maltreatment in the Time of COVID-19: Changes in the Florida Foster Care System Surrounding the COVID-19 Safer-At-Home Order,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.104945 Specialty insurer AmTrust Financial Services reported that Jeffrey Batt and Michelle Ingrassia have joined its cyber insurance team headed by Aaron Basilius, senior vice president, Cyber. Batt joins AmTrust from M&T Bank where he was the Cyber Insurance practice leader. Previously, he was vice president in the Marsh cyber practice. From 2010-2016, he was an associate deputy general counsel at the U.S. Department of Defense. As vice president, head of Cyber Strategy & Innovation at AmTrust, Batt will be responsible for AmTrusts engagement with its customers and business partners and creating risk solutions. Ingrassia joins after seven years with Beazley where she was most recently an attorney for its Cyber & Tech division. Earlier, she was with The Falcigno Group (now TFG Insurance Specialties) in Connecticut. As vice president, Cyber Product & Underwriting Management at AmTrust, she will oversee AmTrusts cyber insurance offerings. Team leader Basilius joined AmTrust in July 2020 from Munich Re where he was head of Cyber, North America for its large risk corporate division. He served as managing counsel for Beazleys Cyber & Tech division from 2010-2018 and, prior to that, practiced law with Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto, Calif. AmTrust is currently active in this large risk cyber insurance market and is also developing cyber risk products for small businesses, which will be launched later this year. In the last year, with cyberattacks and data breaches on the rise, we have seen the demand for cyber insurance grow dramatically, especially in AmTrusts core small business market, said Basilius. We are delighted that Jeffrey and Michelle have joined our growing team as we build out AmTrusts cyber insurance offerings. Topics Cyber Garnice Robertson wants accountability for her mothers death from COVID-19 caught while she was living at a Kansas nursing home that allegedly failed to prevent an outbreak of the disease. An unexpected legal hurdle stands in her way. The nursing home argues it has complete legal immunity for lawsuits like Robertsons stemming from COVID-19. It cites recent changes to a 2005 law by the former Trump administration that had been sought by the senior care industry. The law known as the PREP Act was originally designed to encourage production of emergency vaccines during an epidemic by granting legal immunity to drug developers. Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation of Kansas City, Kansas, where Robertsons mother allegedly became infected, is one of at least 36 nursing homes and senior living facilities that have cited the law as a defense. Facilities across 14 states, where more than 650 residents died, have argued they should be immune from wrongful death cases an early sign of how the PREP Act could be used by a range of businesses to fend off lawsuits resulting from the pandemic. No judge has yet adopted the nursing homes view of the law, but those arguments, and disputes over which court should hear the case federal or state have led to months of delays, preventing Robertsons lawyers from getting records and interviewing witnesses critical to her case, the lawyers said. Robertson, whose lawsuit was moved to federal court in Topeka, Kansas by Riverbend, said she was upset by the nursing homes use of the law. If Im feeling the way I feel, how do you think all these other people feel? she said. Its just not right. Riverbend, which is affiliated with the publicly traded Ensign Group Inc,. and its lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. Immunity Extended The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act was originally meant to jumpstart U.S. defenses against a possible avian flu epidemic or bioterrorist attack. It authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), during a public health emergency, to shield from liability makers of countermeasures such as diagnostic tests, protective gear and vaccines like those developed by Pfizer Inc., Germanys BioNTech and Moderna Inc. The PREP Act does not apply in instances of serious injury or death caused by willful misconduct. When the PREP Act shield applies, the injured person instead can seek compensation from a government fund, although most claims are denied. Former HHS Secretary Alex Azar invoked the PREP Act in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and since then the agency has issued amendments and guidance as recently as Jan. 12 to broaden the reach of the law. The agency guidance included criticism of rulings that went against defendants, including Riverbend. They have made the arguments for the defendants better than the existing defense lawyers, said Jonathan Steele, Robertsons lawyer, of the HHS guidance. Its unprecedented. Some changes were sought by the type of facility operators now defending against lawsuits. In August, in response to a query from a lawyer at a lobbying firm, then-HHS general counsel Robert Charrow wrote that senior living facilities were covered by the PREP Act if they were using approved products to fight the pandemic. HHS also said in recent months the PREP Act applied in situations where, while trying to comply with health regulations, an organization failed to take an action such as testing which is an allegation in most of the nursing home lawsuits. LeadingAge, a group that represents non-profit nursing homes and other service providers, sought the clarification in March, when masks and other protective gear were in short supply. LeadingAge, one of several elder care groups that called for greater protection, declined to comment. The group does not represent Ensign. HHS has said it wants to provide legal certainty to organizations that they will be immune from good-faith mistakes when trying to comply with health guidelines and ensure a unified national response against the spread of COVID-19. HHS did not respond to a request for comment regarding the agencys plans under a Biden administration. Acting HHS Secretary Norris Cochran said in a letter to state governors on Friday that they could expect continued use of PREP Act declarations to support the fight against the pandemic. More than 100,000 residents of U.S. nursing homes and senior living facilities have died from COVID-19. Some attorneys said that without some form of immunity, litigation over a novel airborne illness that could be spread by asymptomatic carriers could swamp the industry. Buying Time? So far, seven federal judges have issued preliminary rulings, and all of them sided with the plaintiffs and ordered the cases returned to state court, Reuters found. Six of the rulings were issued before HHS amended the PREP Act in December to declare that for consistent interpretation of the law the cases should be heard in federal court, which was reshaped by former President Donald Trump and is seen as more favorable to companies. Only a few of the rulings touched on the question of PREP Act immunity, which nursing homes can still use as a defense in state court. Just raising the PREP Act defense can complicate procedures in a way that could impact future cases, said Mike Duff, a professor at the University of Wyoming College of Law. Time is money and complexity is time and the more complexity in a case means the less likely the wrongful death claimants will find lawyers to represent them, he said. Nursing homes have used that HHS guidance to try to move cases from state court, adding delays. For example, the family of Vincent Martin sued Hollywood Premier Healthcare Center of Los Angeles in state court a month after Martin died of COVID-19 in April. The nursing home, where at least 11 residents died, cited the PREP Act to have the lawsuit moved to federal court. The federal judge, however, sided with the family and sent it back to state court. In January, armed with fresh guidance from HHS, Hollywood had the case moved back to federal court a second time, where it is pending. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer said Hollywoods request to stay proceedings while it appealed the order sending the case back to state court raised a serious possibility of such removals being used in a cynical, strategic way to stall cases and to extract concessions from opposing plaintiffs. Hollywood and other facilities are not unreasonably delaying discovery, but are applying the law and HHS guidance which makes clear the cases belong in federal court, said Kim Cruz, a lawyer for Hollywood, in an email. Unfair Tactics Robertson, whose case has been similarly removed to federal court, called Riverbends legal tactics unfair and she is waiting to gets answers about her mothers care. Her mother, Georgia Clardy, had been a resident since 2017 at Riverbend. She was taken to a hospital in March for a broken femur and, during her absence, Robertson said coronavirus entered and spread within the Riverbend facility. The lawsuit alleges Riverbends negligence included a lack of adequate staff, allowing infected employees to enter the facility and a failure to adopt social distancing. Robertson said she would have brought her mother home from the hospital rather than returning her to Riverbend if the facility had told her there was an outbreak. Once I found out she was diagnosed with COVID nobody wanted to talk about it, said Robertson. That was very disturbing for me. The judge in Robertsons case has set the next hearing for February. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Noeleen Walder) Top Photo: A bed sits made at a Rockland, Mass. nursing home. About 2.5 million people reside in long-term care facilities in the United States. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Topics COVID-19 Claims Senior Care The Flexible Packaging Market is poised to experience spend growth of more than USD 41.12 billion between 2021-2025 at a CAGR of over 4.42%. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Request free sample pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005471/en/ SpendEdge has announced the release of its Global Flexible Packaging Market Procurement Intelligence Report (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 120-page research report with TOC and LOE on "Flexible Packaging Market Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend." SpendEdge's reports now include an in-depth complimentary analysis of the COVID-19 impact on procurement and the latest market data to help your company overcome sourcing challenges. Our Flexible Packaging Market procurement intelligence report offers actionable procurement intelligence insights, sourcing strategies, and action plans to mitigate risks arising out of the current pandemic situation. The insights offered by our reports will help procurement professionals streamline supply chain operations and gain insights into the best procurement practices to mitigate losses. Information on Latest Trends and Supply Chain Market Information Knowledge centre on COVID-19 impact assessment Insights into the Market Price Trends Suppliers in this market have moderate bargaining power owing to moderate pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants. Buyers can benchmark their preferred pricing models for flexible packaging Market, Procurement, Management with the wider industry information and identify the cost-saving potential. Insights to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their Flexible Packaging Market requirements. This procurement report answers the following questions: Am I engaging with the right suppliers? Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers? Which supplier selection criteria are relevant for? What are the Flexible Packaging Market category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx? To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Insights into strategies that will help buyers optimize their category management practices. The report answers the following questions: What should be my strategic procurement objectives, activities, and enablers for the Flexible Packaging Market category? What negotiation levers can I pull for cost-saving? What are Flexible Packaging Market procurement best practices I should be promoting in my supply chain? Some of the top Flexible Packaging Market suppliers enlisted in this report This Flexible Packaging Market procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Amcor plc Sealed Air Corp. Mondi plc Sonoco Products Co. Huhtamaki Oyj Constantia Flexibles Holding GmbH Coveris Holdings S.A. WestRock Co. Winpak Ltd. Videplast Clondalkin Group Holdings BV Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005471/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us About 300 people gathered outside New Zealands parliament in Wellington on January 26 to demand government action to address catastrophic climate change. The rally was led by groups of high school students but also included university students, teachers and other workers. Organisers foreshadowed further events once the school year begins. Part of the protest outside parliament The event was organised by School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C), which held three nationwide school strikes in 2019 as part of international protests. Tens of thousands of people participated in New Zealand, with rallies in September 2019 attracting 170,000 people nationwide. Protests were suspended over the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even as the refusal of governments to suppress COVID-19 has led to nearly 2.2 million deaths, there are growing warnings that their failure to address man-made global warming is preparing an even greater disaster. Rutgers University researchers recently found the world is the hottest it has been in at least 12,000 years. The polar ice caps are melting at a record rate, in line with the worst scenario predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Rising seas are already endangering many islands and coastal communities. A paper published this month in Frontiers in Conservation Science, warns of a ghastly future of mass extinction, declining health and climate-disruption upheavals and the steady erosion of the fabric of human civilisation. This crisis requires nothing less than transforming the global economy along socialist lines, taking power out of the hands of corporations, which profit from pollution and control policy-making in every country. Capitalist governments are completely incapable of taking the necessary action. The recent policy announced by US President Joe Biden, ostensibly aimed at reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050, does not provide the resources needed to achieve this target, and is crafted to avoid imposing burdens on corporate polluters. A protester in Wellington: "There is no Planet B" Similarly, New Zealands Labour Party-led government, which includes the Green Party as a coalition partner, passed the Zero Carbon Act in 2019, which has a target of zero emissions by 2050 but does not require any concrete actions to achieve this. Late last year, the government declared a climate emergency and promised to make the public sector carbon-neutral by 2025. Even if achieved, this would only eliminate 7 percent of the countrys emissions. Many young people at Tuesdays protest expressed frustration with government inaction. One placard stated: Labour: Do something for once. A young student, Charlotte, told the crowd: I have felt fear and despair in my heart when I think about my future, because all the science points to the fact that things are going to get pretty bad. But movements like this make me harness that fear and turn it into determination. School student Nathan linked the climate crisis to social inequality, saying: Our current system favours prioritising money and individual advantages over systemic change and improvements to everything. We need to focus on fixing the whole world instead of improving one persons experience at the expense of everyone. Environmental scientist David Lowe warned protesters not to be fooled by weasel words from the government, which he said continued to support unchecked growth on a finite planet. Kate Jensen, a postgraduate marketing student from Victoria University of Wellington, told the World Socialist Web Site she had been protesting regularly for action on climate change over the past two years since she realised it had the potential to end life on earth. Governments throughout the world were talking about the issue but had done little. Theres so much that needs to be done, cutting down emissions to virtually nothing. Kate Jensen While Kate felt that the Labour Party was better than the previous National Party government, she said the Zero Carbon Act doesnt mean a lot if theres no implementation behind it, and theres really nothing at the moment. Jensen also criticised the Emissions Trading Scheme, describing it as a money-making scheme that allows companies to buy the ability to pollute. SS4C presented a list of demands to the government, including the urgent phasing out of fossil fuels, electrification of public transport, subsidies for renewable energy, funding for electric vehicle charging stations, government investment in green infrastructure projects, clean agriculture, and retraining workers for green jobs. The group also called on the government to allow people made homeless by climate change to migrate to New Zealand with dignity, and contribute more aid to Pacific island nations facing rising seas, hurricanes and other disasters. SS4C organisers, however, are largely young members of the Labour Party and the Greens, and sought to promote illusions in Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government. The rallys opening speaker said: The time to act is now. People are suffering. This is not the clean or fair Aotearoa that we are portraying ourselves to be. However, there is still hope, together we can achieve what has been deemed in the past as unachievable. Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw, the minister for climate change, were invited to address the rally, along with Labour Party MPs and Stuart Smith from the opposition National Partyall of whom postured as defenders of the environment. Davidson cynically declared that the Greens wanted an overall system change to make our world a better place. She stated: Climate justice is about transforming a system that for generations has concentrated power and wealth for short-term profit and gain, and only into the hands of a few. In fact, social inequality and poverty have continued to soar since the Labour-Greens government first came to power in 2017. SS4C leaders glorified the governments response to COVID-19, saying it should show the same can-do Kiwi attitude in tackling climate change. However, the governments main response to the pandemic was to give tens of billions of dollars to big business and the banks. Meanwhile, working people are suffering from increased unemployment and hunger, and severely unaffordable housing driven by property speculation. The Greens support so-called environmental businesses, such as the elite private Green School, which received nearly $12 million from the governments COVID-19 handouts thanks to lobbying by the party. Shaw promoted the governments Climate Change Commission, saying its recommendations due to be released next week will shape our response for years to come. This is a pro-business body led by Rod Carr, a former chairman of the Reserve Bank and former leader of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The commissions recommendations, like every other government policy, will be completely subordinated to the demands of big business that nothing must impinge on their ability to make profits. Sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer, the women who allege they were abused as children by Ms Leifer, were among the 30 people watching Thursdays hearing via video link. Ms Leifer has long maintained she is innocent. She fled to Israel in 2008 when the allegations were first aired, but was extradited this week following the decision of the Supreme Court of Israel, which dismissed her final appearance and ordered she return to Australia to face prosecution. Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer. Credit:The Age The legal fight to have her return to Australia lasted six years and included more than 70 court hearings in Israel. Ms Leifer is to remain in custody until her next court appearance on April 9, which is also expected to be held via a video link. She did not apply for bail on Thursday but could do so in the coming weeks. Prosecutor Phillip Raimondo said Ms Leifer was charged in 2012. Extradition proceedings began in 2014. Mr Hargreaves told magistrate Johanna Metcalf that a prison would have better facilities to treat Ms Leifer than those available in the police cells. Malka Leifer landed at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday night after being extradited from Israel. Credit:Darrian Traynor/Getty Images Mr Hargreaves also said Ms Leifer observed strict religious beliefs and asked that arrangements be made for those to be adhered to in prison. It is not yet known when the accused will be transferred to a womens prison. All new prisoners in Victorian jails must spend 14 days in quarantine to safeguard against the coronavirus infiltrating the states prison system. The flight Ms Leifer boarded in Israel was one of the last to leave the country before airports closed due to coronavirus restrictions. Ms Erlich, Ms Sapper and Ms Meyer were heavily involved in the push to have Ms Leifer returned to Melbourne but have not commented on her extradition, other than short statements made by Ms Erlich on Twitter, which said Ms Leifer was on her way back to Australia and had then arrived in Melbourne. Asked about the case on Thursday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews who raised the matter with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Israel in 2017 said his thoughts were with the alleged victims. This is a matter that will very soon be before the Victorian courts and I dont want to say or do anything that might compromise justice being done, he said during a press conference. My thoughts are with Dassi Erlich and her sisters. They have shown a dignity and courage that is quite amazing. I sent them a message of best wishes this morning and my thoughts are with them today. Loading We all need to be very careful not to say anything that might call into question that process that is now very much on foot. Asked about any custody management issues due to Ms Leifers extradition from Israel, Mr Andrews said: Id have confidence [Corrections Victoria] would put in a very good system to make sure that any person who was being extradited here was not a risk to public health. He said he would not comment on a report in The Age that a government-funded chaplaincy organisation would offer religious services to Ms Leifer in custody. SACRAMENTO Shirley Weber was confirmed Thursday as Californias next secretary of state, becoming the first Black person to fill the role of chief elections officer. Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated Weber, a San Diego Democrat, to the position in December after he appointed former Secretary of State Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate as Vice President Kamala Harris replacement. The governor called Weber a tireless advocate and change agent. The Assembly confirmed Weber 70-0 on Wednesday and the state Senate approved her nomination 29-0 on Thursday, with lawmakers lavishing praise on their former colleague for her legislative work promoting civil rights and her sweeping floor speeches on racial justice. Some Republican legislators withheld their support, even as they expressed their admiration for Weber. She is a force of nature and a force for good, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said Thursday. She is the right person to champion, as she said yesterday, the sacred democratic act of voting. Weber, 72, spent four decade teaching Africana studies at San Diego State University before winning election to the Assembly in 2012. Over four terms, she carried legislation to overhaul policing practices, lighten criminal sentences, require ethnic studies at California State University campuses, expand voting rights to people on parole and create a task force to study reparations for African Americans. Weber will be sworn in Friday, according to the governors office, and serve out the remaining two years of Padillas term, then face the voters in 2022. After the Assembly confirmation vote on Wednesday, Weber spoke emotionally of her late grandparents in Hope, Ark., who were never allowed to cast a ballot because of Jim Crow laws that kept Black people from voting. I know what its like when the world is not fair. I know what its like when you are discounted, Weber said. I look at the tremendous opportunity that I will have to raise these issues that are important, to ensure that every American has the vote. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Tokyo, Jan 28 : Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga spoke with new US President Joe Biden over the phone on Thursday, which was their first conversation since the American leader was inaugurated on January 20. In the talks that lasted about 30 minutes, the two leaders affirmed the importance of Japan-US alliance and discussed the situation of North Korea as well as Covid-19 response and climate change, among other issues, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. During the conversation, Suga welcomed Biden's decisions to return to the 2015 Paris Agreement on curbing carbon emissions and not to withdraw from the World Health Organization, Xinhua news agency reported The Ministry confirmed that Biden also invited the Prime Minister to take part in a summit on climate change slated for April 22. After the talks, Suga told reporters: "I would like to deepen my personal relationship with President Biden and work to strengthen the Japan-US alliance." The Japanese leader also said that he hopes to visit the US as soon as possible amid the challenges of containing the Covid-19 pandemic. The other foreign leaders Biden spoke to following his inauguration were the Prime Ministers of Canada and the UK, Justin Trudeau and Boris Johnson, respectively. [January 28, 2021] Sanofi Canada launches Biogenius Grant for high schools, strengthening commitment to equity in the field of STEM learning Sanofi believes that all students deserve equal opportunities to be innovators, no matter their socio-economic background, cultural or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, family status or location, and strives to break down barriers to scientific discovery. The Biogenius Grant will bring Canadian students new opportunities for experiential STEM learning, helping to inspire and prepare our next generation of scientific researchers to answer the medical challenges of tomorrow by supporting public high schools in need of renewed science equipment and facilities. As a top investor in biopharmaceutical R&D across Canada, Sanofi is committed to the entire research spectrum, and that starts by nurturing the researchers of tomorrow. MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Addressing the challenge of underfunded public high school science programs and STEM equity across the country, Sanofi Canada is expanding on its commitment to the next generation of Canadian innovators in health and life sciences with the launch of the Biogenius Grant. This new program, which formally opened to online applications today, will see four Canadian high schools receive funding in 2021 to help upgrade their science laboratories and launch new hands-on STEM programming in the classroom. "As a society, and especially today, it is imperative to be able to access the full pipeline of diverse talent to foster scientific discovery, and that starts in the classroom. Canadian high schools need more resources to break down barriers, renew scientific equipment and nurture the spark of innovation within each and every student, and Sanofi Canada sees this as vital to the future of our life sciences community," said Marissa Poole, Country Lead, Sanofi Canada and General Manager, Sanofi Genzyme. "The Biogenius Grant will create new opportunities to support access for ALL high school students to careers in health and life sciences through hands-on STEM learning. By ensuring an inclusive approach, we will help close the gaps that exist and inspire interest in the sciences so that every Canadian student has the opportunity to succeed." p> The Sanofi Biogenius Grant program is designed for Canadian public high schools offering science courses to students of Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 (or Secondary 3, 4 and 5 in Quebec ) and looking to revitalize science instruction in their school. Applicants must demonstrate what they do to inspire their students to innovate through hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while also sharing strong community support and engagement in their efforts. Funded exclusively by Sanofi Canada, Biogenius Grant recipients will be selected following a review process, with the final decisions being made by an independent cross-Canada panel of experts in STEM instruction and research. Recipients will use these funds to renovate existing laboratory facilities, purchase new science equipment, develop programs that maximize the impact of their lab, or any combination of the above to help pave the way for the next generation of leaders great thinkers, innovators, and expert researchers who will shape the future of our country. Schools interested in participating can find more information and can complete an online registration form at grant.biogenius.ca; all applications must be submitted no later than 12am (local time) on April 1, 2021. The Biogenius Grant will work in tandem with the existing Sanofi Biogenius Canada science competition, expanding the overall impact within public high schools by helping improve access to scientific equipment and learning resources for hands-on STEM instruction for all students. Registration for the 2020-2021 edition of the SBC science competition continues until March 1 at www.biogenius.ca. About Sanofi Biogenius Canada Sanofi Biogenius Canada (SBC) is a national science initiative for youth founded in 1993 by Sanofi Canada. Its signature program is the SBC biotechnology and life sciences competition, a unique science fair opportunity for high school students that has helped over 6,000 young Canadians pursue real-world research projects that have proven to be launch pads to future success. In 2021, Sanofi Canada launched the Biogenius Grant, expanding the impact to public high schools by helping improve access to scientific equipment and learning resources for hands-on STEM instruction, further motivating students to embrace scientific discovery. For more information, please visit our website at www.biogenius.ca/ or follow SBC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the #SBC2021 hashtag. About Sanofi Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe. Sanofi entities in Canada employ approximately 2,000 people. In 2018, we invested more than $127 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country. Follow us on Twitter @SanofiCanada and on YouTube. Sanofi, Empowering Life SOURCE Sanofi Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. Tresl, a multi-lender Fintech that connects consumers with beneficial financial resources, announced today that the company has made a strategic investment in the next generation lending platform CreditSnap. Tresl will also take a seat on CreditSnap's board of directors. San Antonio, TX based CreditSnap is an award winning fintech company that provides a lending and account opening platform to Banks and Credit Unions as a white labeled product. This same platform powers Tresls market-leading digital pre-qualification experience and helped Tresl achieve a +100% improvement in look-to-book ratio as well as improved customer satisfaction in both its auto refinance and auto purchase loan channels. Based on the overwhelming positive results, the two firms agreed to align officially with the shared objective of serving the needs of the Bank and Credit Union community. Along with the strategic investment, Tresl and CreditSnap are also announcing an alliance to bring a new joint product proposition to market known as BankingAmplified. This new product takes inspiration from Tresls industry-leading customer experience and fulfillment capabilities, and CreditSnaps pre-qualification based digital experience capabilities. It is a unique solution designed to support Banks, Credit Unions and Lending Institutions in achieving their digitization and customer growth goals in a turnkey approach. The BankingAmplified program enables financial institutions to do the following: Grow member / customer base by deploying borrower-friendly No Credit Impact pre-qualification technology, end to end digital fulfillment capabilities, highly curated customer acquisition methods, whitelabel consultative sales solutions, and compliant transaction solutions in all 50 states. In-turn, financial institutions will be fully equipped to compete with fintech lenders Increase share-of-wallet through intelligent cross-selling of products to existing and new customers Accelerate product Go-To-Market with turnkey digital experience and lead generation solutions, be it i) to grow high volume specialty transactions like Auto Lease Purchases OR ii) to expand into high yield Student Loan Refis and Personal Loans, OR iii) to offer non-traditional products like installment loans Tresl President and CEO, Christine Pierson stated, CreditSnap's pre-qualification engine served as a strong technology platform to fuel Tresl's own growth over the last two years. The CreditSnap system integrated seamlessly with Tresls proprietary digital platform, and it has allowed us to deliver more quality funded loans to our lending partners and a great lending experience to our customers. With the new BankingAmplified product offering, we aim to offer a complete turn-key Fintech enablement solution to Banks and Credit Unions, enabling them to effectively compete with major Fintech lenders in the marketplace today. Deepak Polamarasetty, President and CoFounder of CreditSnap, added Unlike Fintech lenders, Banks and Credit Unions are uniquely positioned to deliver personalized financial solutions to their customers. What they lack, however, is the same cutting edge technology that solves for customer experience. BankingAmplified empowers these lending institutions to strike a healthy balance of Tech and Human Touch: a) Digital experience powered by next generation technology (CreditSnap), and b) Result-oriented customer experience that integrates 100% digital experiences with the consultative, omnichannel support of finance experts (Tresl). Background: The relationship between Tresl and CreditSnap is one that began in late 2018 when Tresl was looking for an innovative way to deliver highly accurate pre-qualified rates & terms to its customersone that reflected the diversity and competitiveness of Tresls lender network. After extensively evaluating multiple solutions, Tresl found that CreditSnaps SaaS solution was superior. After some rapid configuration and setup, Tresl deployed CreditSnaps pre-qualification engine in early 2019, overnight becoming CreditSnaps largest client. In conjunction with other proprietary technology & operational optimizations Tresl has undertaken, the CreditSnap pre-qualification engine has allowed Tresl to unlock strong results, including over 100% improvement in look-to-book ratio and improved customer satisfaction. By offering innovative, turnkey technology and customer experience solutions that Banks, Credit Unions, and other lending institutions have long been searching for, Tresl and CreditSnap hope to democratize Fintech! If you represent a lender and are curious about how BankingAmplified could help your organization reach its goals, get in touch with us today at https://mytresl.com/tresl-creditsnap-partnership/#contactform. About Tresl Tresl (formerly IFS) is the ultimate personal finance support platform. Since 2007, Tresl has equipped customers to reach their financial potential by intelligently connecting them with beneficial financial resources for auto purchasing, refinancing, and more from its partner network of Credit Unions, Banks, and Lending Institutions. Throughout the companys end-to-end process, its customers benefit from the support of its cutting-edge financial technology and consultative team of expert finance advisors, enabling them to make the financial decisions that are right for them. About CreditSnap CreditSnap, a FinTech consumer lending platform, aims to democratize soft inquiry based lending and account opening technology for small and large credit unions and banks. With instant offers, real time collateral valuation, next generation mobile responsive experience, loan offer customization, LOS and Core Integrations, and more, CreditSnap is the first digital enablement platform that allows Banks and Credit Unions to achieve digital enablement and customer experience goals without changing their current tech stack. CreditSnap has processed more than 480,000 loan and account opening applications for its Bank, Credit Union and Fintech customers. NEW YORK and RISHON LETZION, Israel, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymulate, one of the only SaaS-based Continuous Security Validation platform to operationalize the entire MITRE ATT&CK framework, today announced that it has joined the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association and has integrated Cymulate with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. These integrations streamline the process of continuous security validation and prioritize remediation efforts, delivering operational efficiencies and better security to Microsoft customers. Cymulate Integrates with Microsoft Defender ATP The integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint capabilities enables organizations to assess and optimize its protection and detection capabilities against evolving threats. Cymulate correlates EDR findings with hacking techniques, behavior-based attacks and malware launched from the Cymulate platform to validate endpoint protection efficacy against new threats and accurate detection and alerts of possible attacks. Cymulate also integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint's threat and vulnerability management capabilities and correlates threat intelligence-led attack simulations launched from the Cymulate platform to vulnerabilities identified by the vulnerability management module. It also provides attack-path visualization of vulnerable machines within the customer's network. The integration enables Microsoft and Cymulate customers to prioritize remediation and patching efforts based on the actual risk that vulnerabilities and vulnerable machines create within their environment. Defender for Endpoint is a holistic, cloud-delivered endpoint security solution that includes risk-based vulnerability management and assessment, attack surface reduction, behavioral-based and cloud-powered next generation protection. The solution also offers endpoint detection and response (EDR), automatic investigation and remediation, managed hunting services, rich APIs, and unified security management. "The integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint will allow our customers to confront the dynamic threat landscape by correlating EDR findings with various attacks and malware, and prioritizing remediation and patching efforts. We are very excited to be part of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association and appreciate their support," said Avihai Ben-Yossef, Co-founder and CTO at Cymulate. "As the attack landscape continues to evolve, there is increased pressure on CISOs to protect their businesses," said Rani Lofstrom, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Security. "Cymulate's API integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to provide customers with additional, continuous security validation. Cymulate's BAS platform, together with Microsoft Defender, provides additional security efficiencies for end-point protection, enabling CISOs to better detect, manage and respond to threats." About Cymulate Cymulate Continuous Security Validation enables companies to challenge, assess and optimize their cyber-security posture against the evolving threat landscape, simply and continuously. The platform provides out-of-the-box, expert and threat intelligence-led risk assessments that are simple to use for all skill levels, and constantly updated. It also provides an open framework for ethical hackers to create and automate red and purple team exercises and security assurance programs tailored to their unique environment and security policies. Cymulate, for security professionals that want to know and control their dynamic environment. For more information, visit www.cymulate.com. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOEsLiAvJgI&feature=youtu.be SOURCE Cymulate Related Links http://www.cymulate.com Canara Bank | The stock has fallen-43 percent in 2020 to Rs 126.35 as of December 29, 2020 from 221.35 on December 31, 2019. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Canara Bank share price shed over 2 percent intraday on January 28, a day after the state-owned bank reported a 9 percent year on year decline in net profit to Rs 696 crore in the December quarter, with a 61 percent jump in provisions to Rs 4,686 crore taking a toll on the bottom line. The public sector lender reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 739.20 crore in the third quarter ended December of the current fiscal. It had earned a net profit of Rs 406.43 crore during the same period a year ago. The bank's total income (consolidated) during the October-December period of 2020-21 rose to Rs 24,490.63 crore from Rs 15,531.80 crore, Canara Bank said in a regulatory filing. "Figures of December 31, 2019, and March 31, 2020, are related to standalone Canara Bank financials to pre-amalgamated period, hence, not comparable with post amalgamation financials of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020," the bank said. The bank amalgamated Syndicate Bank with itself effective April 1, 2020. On the asset front, the gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of the bank fell to 7.48 percent of the gross advances as of December 31, 2020, as against 8.40 percent by end of December 2019. The stock was trading at Rs 128.20, down Rs 2.95, or 2.25 percent at 10:14 hours. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 129.80 and an intraday low of Rs 124.60. Net Interest Income (NII) came in at Rs 6,323.58 crore in December 2020, up 71.31 percent from Rs. 3691.39 crore in December 2019. Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward spent weeks relentlessly questioning the results of November's presidential election. She emerged as a leading voice in the "Stop the Steal" movement to deny President Biden's win, making false claimsof mass fraud. But after Ward was narrowly reelected Saturday to her position leading the beleaguered state party, she is now facing questions about the integrity of her own victory. Sergio Arellano, a Pima County small business owner who lost to Ward by 42 votes, requested a recount of all state party races on Monday, he told The Washington Post. More than two days later, he said, Arizona state party leaders - who report to Ward - have not yet scheduled the audit, which was first reported by the Arizona Republic. "It shouldn't be a big deal. If her core No. 1 issue is election integrity, then it should be a nonissue," he said in an interview. "It should be transparent, expeditious, and let's move on." Neither Ward nor Greg Safsten, the Arizona Republican Party's executive director, immediately responded to messages from The Post early on Thursday. Arellano, who served on the advisory board for President Donald Trump's Latino campaign arm, emphasized that he does not expect a recount to change the results of his race against Ward. But after dozens of other Arizona Republicans reached out to him to point out potential issues in at least two other races, he said he had to ask for a recount. Ward, an osteopathic physician and former state senator, twice ran unsuccessful primary campaigns for U.S. Senate, challenging John McCain in 2016 and then losing in a three-way race to succeed former senator Jeff Flake two years later. It was the latter race that elevated her national profile, as she faced attack ads from Senate Republican leadership, launched a bus tour with a far-right conspiracy theorist and seemingly accused a dying McCain of trying to distract from the tour's kickoff. (Ward later denied this was the case, blaming the media.) Fresh off her second primary loss, she managed to secure leadership of the state party in 2019, campaigning on her enthusiastic support for Trump. When he lost to Biden in November, she helped Trump mount a baseless campaign claiming that the presidential election had been rigged. She sent out fundraising mailers describing a "stolen" election and offered up unsubstantiated claims of hidden precinct data. At her direction, the Arizona GOP sued to overturn the state's election results, in a case that was later dismissed by the state Supreme Court for a lack of evidence. As a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, seeking to keep Congress from certifying Biden's win, Ward kept going. "Send the elector choice back to the legislatures," she wrote on Twitter during the siege, also claiming at a rally that the rioters were fakes trying to undermine Trump. At Trump's urging, she announced that week she would run for reelection as state party chair. Though Ward was expected to win easily, the race was seen as a test for Republicans' future in Arizona - especially after she had sparred with Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and overseen losses to both Biden and Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November as well as a flightin party registrations. At a Phoenix church on Saturday, hundreds gathered for a chaotic party meeting where many were not wearing masks, The Post reported. A majority of members voted to censure Ducey, Flake and Cindy McCain, all of whom had previously broken with Trump. Ward presented her candidacy as the only option to keep the Arizona GOPfrom going "back to the dark days before Trump," adding: "The president is watching today's race very closely." She narrowly won reelection, beating Arellano in a runoff by a margin of 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent. But after the stated winner of another race was later told she had lost, party members began to raise questions about the elections process. Arellanosaid that Sandra Dowling, who had run for an at-large committee member seat from the state's 8th Congressional District, was initially announced as the winner of her election during the convention. "I start getting phone calls from everybody and their neighbor saying 'Congratulations, Sandra, you won, you won, you won,' " Dowling recalled to the Republic, only to note that the victory had been pulled back hours later. Ward later blamed the mix-up on "human error," the newspaper reported. Following that news, Arellano was flooded with calls through the weekend from other state party members encouraging him to ask for a recount of all races. He said the party's bylaws only allow candidates for chair to file such a request, and added that another race resulting in a three-way tie had gone unresolved. Ward appoints a group tasked with counting ballots, Arellano said, though he was able to send an observer to watch the count. Given that she emphasized election integrity in her reelection campaign, he said an audit is a chance for Ward to prove that such an idea is being put into practice. "So, I have no doubt that everything will be as advertised," he said. "Right?" In just a short period of time, Anusha Chinthalapale, a 19-year-old student at George Washington University and daughter of South Indian parents, has made her presence known as an activist. At a young age, the teenager moved from New Jersey to Germantown, Md., a community in Montgomery County she described as inclusive compared to neighboring areas. The majority of my childhood, I was surrounded by people who looked like me, people who sounded like me, people who talked like me because pretty much everyone was a person of color in Germantown, where I live now, she told In The Know. I went to schools where diversity was kind of the biggest thing that everyone was really proud of. But, as the older Chinthalapale got, the more she realized how unique her challenges were. Despite living in majority-minority area, for instance, she attended a high school that she bluntly called redneck. People were really into conservative government, stuff like that, she recalled. So theyre obviously growing up with friends who look different from me and with the growing idea that South Asian people are this, like theyre dirty, theyre gross, you know, they smell like this. Over four years, Chinthalapale dealt with many of these misperceptions as a South Asian American while also trying to navigate the world as a woman. Even though her parents always encouraged her to question authority and challenge societal norms, the teenager noticed, for example, that issues such as reproductive rights and feminine hygiene werent often talked about within her community. Much of those conversations were surface-level Chinthalapale and her mother would have brief talks about the formers period and menstrual cycles, but those discussions were never in-depth. Credit: Anusha Chinthalapale I think that especially around reproductive rights like sex the whole idea of gender inequity and stuff like that for Asian immigrants is a really difficult thing to talk about, she said. Probably because growing up in the Eastern side of the hemisphere, those issues dont really seem big-scale in the grand scheme of things. Story continues In fact, according to UNICEF, cultural norms, combined with structural inequalities, have long disadvantaged women and girls in South Asia. Women not only have to fight back against patriarchal values (which hold sons in higher regard than daughters) they also have to fight for access to education and other resources. As a result, many South Asian girls who become pregnant at a young age frequently enter pregnancy poorly equipped to raise their children, the organization notes. For Chinthalapale, it was important to speak up. At times, she and her friends would trade stories about how, as South Asian American women, they lost their childhoods taking care of their brothers. South Asian female children are more likely to grow up quicker, mature faster and take on more responsibility as a young child, whereas South Asian males are usually protected [and] made sure they have all their affairs in order, Chinthalapale explained. And so thats just kind of the toxic dynamic in the South Asian community that obviously needs to be fixed. The teenager said she was first inspired to take action after taking an Advanced Placement U.S. government class that had left her with more questions about the system than answers. As a junior, she joined the Montgomery County Students for Change, a grassroots organization that focus on social equity, gun violence prevention and climate reform. Working her way up to becoming the director of field operations, Chinthalapale organized demonstrations, managed petitions and lobbied for the passage of several bills. The 19-year-old was also heavily involved in the Womens March, which she had joined during her senior year. It was a lot of working with other youth organizations on a national level to kind of cultivate, I guess, a progressive reality within our generation, said Chinthalapale, who first started as a youth regional coordinator before later becoming the co-president of Womens March Youth Empower cohort. In 2019, the teenager worked with her fellow leads to organize events and grow the movements youth membership in the DMV region. But perhaps the most pivotal moment occurred in May, when she took part in one of 400 demonstrations across the U.S. against extreme abortion bans in red states like Alabama. Credit: Anusha Chinthalapale Its always difficult having your voice heard as a woman of color, she told Ms. Magazine that year. I come from a community that has, for so many decades, staunchly poured more resources, time and ambitions into STEM. Because of years of subconscious stereotyping, people dont perceive South Asians as politically inclined. But this field affects me and people like me the most. In the three years shes been an activist, Chinthalapale said shes also learned a lot about herself. As much as she has advocated for womens reproductive rights and other issues, she has also worked to break down what she calls her own internalized [version] of societal norms. Its definitely difficult to come to terms with the fact that like, hey, maybe you havent been as anti-racist as you thought or maybe you havent been as anti-mysogynistic as you thought, she said. Maybe its time for you to take a second and really focus on what needs to be fixed and how you can fix it. Now a junior at George Washington, Chinthalapale said her experience in campaigning for reproductive rights has prepared her to have uncomfortable conversations about hot-button issues, especially at a university where the student body is predominately white and may not necessarily share the same views as her. Currently an intern for Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, she hopes to be a constitutional lawyer and an educator someday. Something that my South Asian upbringing taught me was that people can steal your money, they can steal your house, your car, your whatever, but they cannot steal an ounce of knowledge that you have, she said. Give your home office a much-needed upgrade with these must-haves: In The Know is now available on Apple News follow us here! If you found this story insightful, you might want to read about Dimple Patel, who is on a mission to raise awareness about mental health within the South Asian community. More from In The Know: After a driver cursed a woman out at a drive-thru, she responded in a powerful way These inexpensive silky-soft pillowcases on Amazon are good for your hair and your skin The 3 most affordable meal delivery kits for cooking at home Shoppers say this cordless vacuum is much cheaper and just as powerful as the Dyson The post Anusha Chinthalapale is raising visibility for South Asians while fighting for reproductive rights appeared first on In The Know. South Africa: SA COVID-19 deaths surpass the 42 000 mark South Africa has recorded a further 753 deaths due to complications related to the Coronavirus, which takes the death toll to 42 550 since the outbreak. KwaZulu-Natal reported the highest number of recent fatalities at 261. The province is followed by Limpopo, which recorded 219 patients who died due to COVID-19. However, according to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the provinces spike in deaths is due to its continued audits of fatalities in hospitals and updating the statistics. The Minister said 102 people died in the Western Cape, 75 in Gauteng, 50 in the North West, 17 in Free State, 16 in Mpumalanga, seven in the Northern Cape and six in the Eastern Cape. Meanwhile, South Africa logged 7 070 new COVID-19 cases, which represents a 14% positivity rate. According to Mkhize, this brings the total number of infections to 1 430 648 since the last case was reported in March last year. In addition, 49 065 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, which pushes the overall figure to over 8 million. Our recoveries now stand at 1 263 476, representing a recovery rate of 88.3%. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 99 864 391 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 2 149 700 deaths. Global view The WHO said 4.1 million new cases were reported in the past week, a decline of 15% from the previous week and the second week of decline after global case incidence peaked in the first week of January 2021. This downward trend is largely attributed to relative reductions in case incidence in several countries that have contributed the highest numbers in recent months, but hides continued upward trends in other countries in the same regions. Meanwhile, the agency said the ongoing and prolonged high rates of new infections continues to strain health systems in many countries around the world. All regions reported a decline in new cases except the Western Pacific region which reported a similar incidence to last week. In addition, the largest decrease in new cases was reported in the European region by 20% followed by the African region, which went down by 16%. The Americas and Europe reported 86% of all new cases globally in the past week, WHO said, adding that around 96 000 deaths have been reported. The Americas and Eastern Mediterranean region reported an increase in new deaths by 4% and 3% respectively, whereas Europe, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions showed a decrease in new deaths compared to last week. The WHO said no change in new deaths was seen in Africa. In the past week, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases continue to be the United States (1 259 902 cases, 20% decrease), Brazil (360 428 cases, 5% decrease), the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (260 098 cases, 24% decrease), Russia (151 191 cases, 9% decrease) and France (138 288 cases, 10% increase). SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. City_news Trudeau considering new air travel deterrents, restrictions Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is considering this week new measures to deter and even restrict altogether air travel from outside of Canada. One is a request from Quebec Premier Francois Legault to in an effort to prevent increased cases of COVID-19 require returning travelers to quarantine for 14 days in local designated hotels, at their expense. Trudeau and Legault are generally discouraging Canadians not to travel for non-essential reasons even within Canada I think its clear that if we tell eventual travellers that they will have to pay two weeks for a room in a hotel when coming back, I think we will have a lot less travellers, Legault told the media. Right now the quarantine for these people is not enough guarantee for the protection of the Quebec workers. The Premier has also said he does not want to see a repeat of last year travellers returning infected and spreading COVID following March break. Trudeau is also discussing with the new Biden administration about closing the loophole that allows non-essential air travel, but not car travel, across the Canada-U.S. border. We could be bringing in new measures that significantly impede your ability to return to Canada at any given moment without warning, Trudeau has warned in recent days. On the other hand, reports say that airlines argue travellers only make up two percent of COVID cases. Montreal Public Health director Dr. Mylene Drouin told the media that we have cases that are imported from travelers, but its not an important proportion of our new cases. At least teo other restrictions in Quebec appeared not to have a scientific basis. The provinces Public Health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda said last year he did not recommend to the provincial government the closure of restaurants, which is still in effect and he also said that there was no medical or scientific data to support curfews. Joe Bidens administration has announced it is restoring relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, reversing decisions made under Donald Trump. Mr Biden believes a two-state solution is the only way to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians, said Jen Psaki, White House press secretary. The previous government provided unprecedented support to Israel, recognising Jerusalem - which is also claimed by the Palestinians - as Israels capital, moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv, and reversing course on the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians. Mr Trump also cut off funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which was established to aid the 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the war surrounding Israels establishment in 1948. Palestinian leaders broke off contact with the US soon after. Read More Richard Mills, acting US ambassador to the United Nations, laid out the administrations broader return to previous US foreign policy positions on the decades-long conflict. Under the new administration, the policy of the United States will be to support a mutually agreed two-state solution, one in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state, Mr Mills said. Ahmed Majdalani, minister of social development in the Palestinian Authority, said: We believe that this opens the door wide to restore the peace process. Analysts, however, say the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are dimmer than they have been in years. The Biden administration has already signalled that it will not move the US embassy back to Tel Aviv. ( Daily Telegraph Syndication 2021) Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced that for the fifth consecutive year it has earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), designating the company as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. In total, Carnival Corporation has been recognized a total of eight times in the annual HRC Foundation CEI report, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. As the educational arm of the largest civil rights organization in the U.S., HRC Foundation is working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. "As a company with employees from nearly 150 countries, we fully embrace the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, and we are committed to promoting a positive and empowering corporate culture for all of our shipboard and shoreside employees," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. "We believe that proactively building a diverse and inclusive workforce is not only the right way to operate, but it is also a business imperative that provides a competitive advantage. Our commitment to diversity of thinking across the organization fosters new perspectives and approaches to reaching our goals and drives continuous innovation that helps us better serve our guests and consistently exceed their expectations for an excellent vacation experience." In its 19th year, the CEI evaluates U.S.-based companies and top law firms based on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars including non-discrimination policies, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility. "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." The sustained recognition from HRC over a multi-year period builds on recent recognitions Carnival Corporation has earned for its companywide operations and dedication to diversity and inclusion. In January 2020, the company was named for the second consecutive year as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes, along with being named to the media company's annual listing of America's Best Employers for Women for 2020. Most recently, Carnival Corporation was recognized for its commitment to corporate social responsibility leadership by Newsweek on its second annual list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and was named a Glassdoor Employees' Choice Award Winner honoring the best 100 U.S. places to work, in addition to being named to 3BL Media's listing of 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2020. As part of its broader corporate strategy that includes the company's top priorities of compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of its guests, crew members and communities it visits, Carnival Corporation fully embraces and values diversity and inclusion, a commitment that permeates every aspect of operations across the company and its nine cruise line brands. The company's commitment is reflected in the diversity of its workforce, leadership and guests, and through its companywide sustainability goals for building a diverse and inclusive workforce, in addition to its ongoing record of supporting diversity, equity and inclusion around the world. This includes being actively engaged in supporting efforts by OUTBermuda and other LGBTQ community organizations to advocate for the legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Bermuda. Additionally, in 2020 Carnival Corporation was among the first companies to join the United Nations' Standards of Conduct for Business, a global campaign seeking to tackle discrimination against LGBTI people in the workplace and society. About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard. Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com. SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc Related Links www.carnival.com Kim Brent / The Enterprise Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames made the right decision this week in urging all residents to join the citys waiting list for a vaccine regardless of their pre-existing conditions or even where they live. The goal is to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible, and the current national rollout is proceeding too slowly for everyone to stand patiently in line. First-responders and people with underlying conditions should still receive priority for vaccinations, but anyone else who can get vaccinated should do so whenever the opportunity presents itself. The problem is a shortage of vaccine doses in Southeast Texas and almost everywhere else. Because of that, officials from all over the country are making the same requests for what is so far a limited supply of these life-saving injections. In our region, mayors and county judges have to make sure that our needs dont get lost in the shuffle. They need to keep making phone calls and sending emails and then do it again later. Cicis, a restaurant chain best known for its $5 all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, has filed for bankruptcy. The chains Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing cited the unpredictable and unprecedented scale of the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying restaurant shutdowns, CNN reported. The Texas-based chain has more than 300 locations in 26 states, including 18 restaurants in Alabama. The chain has a reported $50 million to $100 million in liabilities. Fox News is reporting Cicis will be sold to D&G Investors. It marks the fourth time in less than 20 years Cicis has changed ownership. You can read more here. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. HOLLYWOOD Close to 4,000 trees infested with Asian longhorned beetles have been identified in Charleston County since last year. Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said any new trees detected are likely part of the same infestation that has been in the area for at least seven years. The first detection was made in June in the Stono Ferry neighborhood of Hollywood. Residents have shared concerns that the bugs, native to China and Korea, could be spreading to new areas. But officials dont believe they are spreading beyond the initial infestation. So its been there for a while, said Rhonda Santos, a spokeswoman for the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The insect has had time to build up its population and continue to infest trees nearby. When the bugs do start to move on their own, it is because the population has grown enough to branch out. Santos said the beetles start to move around the seven-year mark because, by that point, they have infested the tree for so long that it starts to die. They then find new host trees to lay eggs on. The USDA and Clemson University are continuing to survey the county for more infested trees. To date, 31,085 tree surveys were completed. And 3,990 infested trees were found in Charleston County, including in areas of Adams Run, Charleston, Hollywood, Johns Island and Ravenel. Hollywood has the most, with more than 3,000 infested trees. Wadmalaw Island was surveyed for the bugs, too, but no infested trees were detected, according to Haley Ritger, Clemsons Asian longhorned beetle program manager. She said the university investigates when people report a suspicious tree or insect. Asian longhorned beetles are believed to travel to new areas through shipping crates and wood-packing materials. They could have gotten here through the Port of Charleston. The bugs affect multiple plant families, but primarily maples, elms and willow trees. Dr. R. Talbot Trotter III, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Connecticut, said the beetles burrow inside the wood of a tree, and once they are large enough, they chew a tunnel out. The holes left behind weaken the wood, and the trees can break and fall apart. Contractors began removing and chipping infested trees in Stono Ferry in November. There have been 430 tree removals, so far. Steven Long, a state plant regulatory official, said in November that taking down the trees destroys the eggs that could be laid on the exterior and any larva on the inside of it. It can take about 15 years to get rid of the beetles after they have infested an area. Removing the infested trees is the only way to control the problem. A federal and state quarantine has been established for Hollywood and the surrounding area that prohibits the movement of firewood, storm debris and other tree parts to prevent the spread of the beetle. Ritger said Clemson Extension is working with the Forestry Commission to find resources to provide trees for a replanting program. Islamabad, Jan 28 : The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the key accused in the 2002 kidnap and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl. The apex court dismissed the Sindh government's appeal against the Sindh High Court's (SHC) decision to overturn Sheikh's conviction, reports Dawn news. In its the verdict, the three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam also directed to release the suspect. Only one member opposed the decision. Thursday's development comes a day after Sheikh admitted in the Supreme Court that he had played a "minor" role in the brutal killing 19 years ago, Dawn news reported. The 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal was doing research on religious extremism in Karachi when he was abducted in January 2002. A graphic video showing his beheading was delivered to the US consulate a month later. Subsequently, Sheikh was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by a trial court. In its April 2, 2020, order, the SHC had overturned his conviction . The provincial high court had also acquitted three other men namely Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib, who had been earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi. SCHENECTADY For the second time in two election cycles, an insurgent candidate is running for Schenectady County Legislature in the hope of winning a seat long held by establishment Democrats. Democrat Omar Sterling McGill's candidacy puts him on a collision course with either Margaret "Peggy" King, an oft-elected Schenectady Democrat who won the seat two years ago, or Brendan Savage, the son of the legislature's former chairwoman, Susan Savage, who is weighing his own campaign. McGill announced Wednesday hes running for the District 1 seat on the county Legislature. Whenever I speak to my neighbors, friends and family, they all want to see improvements in the quality of life, protections of our seniors, ways to combat the housing crisis and support for our youth, McGill said. McGill, 30, said hes taking a second run at the seat, which he lost to King in 2019, because he can present real solutions to these problems and my experiences will give District 1 a voice and partner in the county Legislature. King didnt return multiple phone calls for comment on Wednesday. Savage, a recently announced candidate for Schenectady's City Council, said Wednesday he is instead weighing a run for the legislature seat. McGill, 30, works as a journal clerk in the state Senate, and serves as vice chairman of the county Human Rights Commission, a post he plans on retaining amid the campaign, and also if hes elected. The Schenectady natives candidacy comes amid an inflection point in racial politics in the county and the city, and will likely animate an ordinarily-sleepy primary race for county Legislature by highlighting the intersection between race, privilege and power. All but one of the 15 members of the county Legislature are white. McGill, who is Black, made the lack of diversity a centerpiece of his unsuccessful bid last cycle two years ago, contending the city and county Democratic committees failed to uplift and support diverse candidates in favor of sustaining the status quo. The county Legislature, McGill said, can't represent everyone if everyone doesnt feel included and a part of the team. District 1 encompasses the citys Stockade, Goose Hill, Bellevue and GE Realty Plot neighborhoods, as well as portions of Mont Pleasant and downtown. Twenty-percent of city residents are Black, according to 2019 U.S. Census estimates; 11 percent Latino, while nearly 8 percent count themselves as two or more races. While McGill stopped short of contending the lack of diversity leads to blind spots in the county's policymaking, he said diversity both in age and race will bring more people into the public conversation and broaden civic participation. It will allow them to reach and connect more people that they dont connect with that at the moment, McGill said. McGill failed to land the nomination from the city Democratic Committee in 2019 and ran against King on the Working Families Party line. King, a longtime fixture in city and county politics who was initially appointed to fill the seat in June 2019 following the death of Karen Johnson, hasnt said whether she will run for re-election. Johnson, a Democrat and former Schenectady mayor, held the legislature seat from 2001 until her death in 2019. The county Democratic Committee will begin interviewing potential candidates Thursday. Im interviewing with the Democratic Committee tomorrow, and putting my best foot forward, McGill said. Dharam Junior Hitlall, who previously served two terms on the city school district board of education, will also seek the seat. While the Bellevue resident told the Times Union on Wednesday he currently has no plans for a formal campaign announcement, he aims to meet with Democratic brass on Thursday. Racial undercurrents have also dominated the emerging contests for City Council, which is faced with an unusually high level of turnover to fill two vacancies and three seats up for re-election in November. City Councilwoman Marion Porterfield, who is seeking re-election this year and is the bodys sole Black member, said diversity transcends skin color. Diversity is important because its also about shared experiences and who you have contact with, said Porterfield, who is a member of the Schenectady NAACP. Those have equal importance to make sure communities are being represented." Former city Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo, who resigned last week, has described the city Democratic Committee as a hidebound institution beset with infighting and slow to support candidates of color. Party leaders have denied the claim. Five candidates have formally declared candidacies for City Council, including Thearse McCalmon, William Rivas, Haileab Samuel, Carl Williams and Savage, son of former county Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage. All are Black except Savage, a 21-year-old Siena College student and Northside homeowner who confirmed on Wednesday he was ending his bid for the seat and is weighing his options for the District 1 race. Im no longer seeking the City Council seat and Ill be interviewing with the county executive committee on Thursday, Savage told the Times Union. My message will be the same on sharing my vision for neighborhoods, and I look forward to sharing my vision with the county executive committee on Thursday night. While the ink is barely dry on the two City Council resignation letters, the process has been beset with infighting among the five remaining lawmakers, all Democrats. City Council can either fill the unexpired terms or keep the seats open until Novembers general election. City Council President John Mootooveren wants the City Council to fill the two vacancies immediately, contending a full seven-member panel is necessary to conduct city business, while Majority Leader John Polimeni wants the city Democratic Committee, which will meet on Saturday, to first vet and interview candidates before lawmakers make a decision. That internal tumult, as well as discussions on race and experience, led to Savage ending his candidacy, four sources told the Times Union. Savage said he disagreed with that characterization, citing the rapidly-expanding field and what is shaping up to be a sizable primary of candidates running city-wide. "I thought politically it would be difficult to get my message focusing on neighborhood revitalization across to voters in such a crowded primary field," Savage said. "I believe that County government has been very instrumental in much of the progress that has happened here in Schenectady, and thats where I believe I can make the most impact if I were elected." McGill declined to comment on internal dynamics. Im not focused on anyone that Im running against, McGill said. Im focused on my campaign and my team. A mother has told how she was raped by a soldier in her home, while her three-year-old daughter slept upstairs, after he followed her home from a barbecue. Georgia Hinton, 26, from Livingston, met Serupepeli Niubasaga, 41, at her neighbour's gathering in May 2018 - instantly deeming him a 'creep' after noticing him leering at her. Hours later, Georgia took her now six-year-old daughter home, only to find Niubasaga, who is originally from Fiji, had followed her. He told her that the way she was dressed would attract the 'the wrong attention' in his home country and that men would see her clothing as an 'invitation' for sex, before sexually assaulting and raping her. In July 2020, Niubasaga was jailed for seven years for the horrific attack. Now, Georgia is waiving her anonymity to raise awareness of how allegations of sexual abuse are dealt with by the army. 'When I took my little girl to the barbecue that day, I had no idea what horrors lay ahead. I'm just glad I got my justice and he's behind bars,' Georgia said. Georgia Hinton, 26, (pictured) from Livingston, Scotland, has told how she was raped by a soldier in her home, while her then three-year-old daughter (pictured) slept upstairs, after he followed her home from a barbecue Georgia (left) is bravely waiving her anonymity to raise awareness of sexual abuse in the army, after her attacker (right) was jailed for seven years In May 2016, pharmacy assistant Georgia met her now ex-wife, who is a Postal and Courier Operator in the army. A year late, in July 2017, the pair got married and two months later decided to relocate to the Duke of Gloucester barracks in South Cerney, Gloucestershire with Georgia's then three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. 'I soon met all of the army wives and settled in', said Georgia. 'My daughter joined the nursery there and she made plenty of friends too. 'But as time went on, I began feeling quite isolated from the world.' The next year, Georgia's marriage broke down. Her ex-wife was assigned new quarters meaning she moved out of the barracks. Months later, in May 2018, Georgia dropped her daughter off at a neighbour's house for a play date. 'When I picked her up, the neighbours said they were having a barbecue and invited me to join'. Soon after, Georgia spotted soldier, Niubasaga. Georgia met Niubasaga at her neighbour's gathering in May 2018 - instantly deeming him a 'creep' after noticing him leering at her 'I recognised him,' she said. 'He was a friend of an acquaintance and I'd seen him at the nursery and supermarket before, but we'd never spoken. 'Suddenly, he began to gawk at me, I immediately felt on edge. Then, he came over and introduced himself. 'But as we were chatting, he stared at my body. I realised he was a creep.' Georgia quickly forced a smile, before telling Niubasaga she needed to top up her drink, but he stepped in front of her blocking her way. 'He kept saying, "Where are you going?" and "Stay longer". 'I sternly told him "No" before joining my friends.' Georgia felt Niubasaga's eyes on her for the rest of the night, and decided to leave at midnight once her daughter had fallen asleep. 'I said goodnight to everyone and carried her home', said Georgia. 'I walked upstairs and tucked her into bed.' Hours later, Georgia took her now six-year-old daughter home, only to find Niubasaga, who is originally from Fiji, had followed her 'Suddenly, I heard a creak a behind me. I turned around and saw Niubasaga stood in the middle of the bedroom. My heart stopped. I realised he must've followed us home.' Ignoring Georgia, Niubasaga walked up to her daughter's bed and kneeled down. 'He whispered, "Go to sleep" and "Be a good girl for your mummy". 'My little girl nodded, before drifting off. Petrified he'd hurt her, I calmly walked downstairs, hoping he'd follow me.' Terrified, Georgia sat down on the sofa, in silence. Ignoring Georgia, Niubasaga walked up to her daughter's bed and kneeled down before telling her to go to sleep 'Niubasaga then kneeled down and said: "You need to listen to me, the way you dress in my country would attract the wrong attention". 'Then suddenly, he started fondling my breasts. He continued saying, "Men will take the way you look as an invitation".' 'I wanted to scream, but I was scared he'd hurt my daughter, so I quietly sobbed. 'Moments later, he pushed up my skirt, moved my underwear aside and raped me. I tried to kick him off but he pinned me down.' Afterwards, Niubasaga left Georgia's house without saying a word. 'I collapsed into a heap on the floor. Eventually I managed to ring a friend for help, I was hysterical.' Three hours later, the police and army welfare arrived and the next day Niubasaga was arrested. The next week, Georgia and her daughter moved 200 miles away to live with Georgia's family in Lowestoft, Suffolk 'Army welfare kept saying how Niubasaga was innocent until proven guilty', said Georgia, 'I was horrified that they were defending him. After that, I suffered horrible flashbacks.' The next week, Georgia and her daughter moved 200 miles away to live with Georgia's family in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The following year, in October 2019, the trial arrived but it was a hung jury. Finally, in July 2020, Niubusaga was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of rape against Georgia at Bristol Crown Court. He was jailed for seven years. 'I went through hell during the two trials', said Georgia. 'The defence ridiculed me as a mother for not taking my daughter away. 'Meanwhile, Niubasaga lied through his teeth, telling the jury that I raped him. 'But thankfully, I was believed in the end. Sadly, not many women have got justice like me though. 'More needs to be more done for sexual assault victims in the army.' 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. Angola, IN (46703) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. New Delhi: Twitter has allowed third-party academic researchers free access to the full history of public conversation via the full-archive search endpoint, which was previously limited to paid premium or enterprise customers. Twitter API was first introduced in 2006 and since then, academic researchers have used data from the public conversation to study topics as diverse as the conversation on Twitter itself. These include state-backed efforts to disrupt the public conversation to floods and climate change, from attitudes and perceptions about COVID-19 to efforts to promote healthy conversation online. "Today, academic researchers are one of the largest groups of people using the Twitter API," the company said in a blog post late on Tuesday. With the new Academic Research product track on the Twitter API, qualified researchers will have access to all data released to date. They will have higher levels of access to the Twitter developer platform for free, including a significantly higher monthly Tweet volume cap of 10 million (20 times higher than what's available on the Standard product track today). The new initiative will ensure more precise filtering capabilities "across all v2 endpoints to limit data collection to what is relevant for your study and minimise data cleaning requirements". "The Academic Research product track gives researchers a window into understanding the use of Twitter and social media at large, and is an important step by Twitter to support the scientific community," said Dr Sarah Shugars, Assistant Professor at New York University. Twitter said that in the coming months, it will introduce a specialised Business product track, as well as additional levels of access within its Academic Research, Standard, and Business product tracks. "Twitter's enhancements for academic research have the potential to eliminate many of the bottlenecks that scholars confront in working with Twitter's API, and allow us to better evaluate the impact and origin of trends we discover," said Dr David Lazer, Professor at Northeastern University. [January 28, 2021] commercetools Sees Big Demand for its Modern Commerce Architecture, Rolls Out New Partner Program MUNICH, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- commercetools , the next-generation commerce software company, today announced that it is rolling out an extended partner program due to large-scale growth and increased demand for its modern commerce architecture. With the introduction of three levels of partnership including Premier Partners, Select Partners and Registered Partners, commercetools is giving partners access to resources to help them deliver unique and engaging e-commerce experiences for B2C and B2B brands. "Our partners are a significant part of our growth story, and we love seeing the amazing things they build for companies with our modern commerce architecture," said Dirk Weckerlei, VP Global, Partner Management, commercetools. "The main differentiating factor between our partner program and others out there is that you don't have to be the biggest company or spend a certain amount to 'buy' a partnership level with us. Our partner program levels are based on ability, commitment and success, meaning every partner has the same chance to become a highest-level Premier Partner demonstrating our 'Partners First' commercetools DNA." Called the Partner Possibilities Program, commercetools' partner program gives Systems Integrators, ISVs, Digital Agencies and Consultancies and other service providers access to top e-commerce experts, training and support to discover, develop and deliver next-generation commerce experiences. "With more and more clients looking for (and needing) a composable architecture to create a seamless journey across digital and physical touchpoints, we see commercetools' role increasing year-on-year," said Pascal Lagarde, VP Commerce at Valtech. commercetools' partner ecosystem has grown tremendously over the past few years, with partners contributing significantly to commercetools' growth. The company's modern enterprise commerce architecture is cloud-ntive, API-first and headless, separating the frontend (mobile app, CMS, etc.) from the backend (commerce) layer. This allows enterprises to own the experience level and quickly make changes to frontend elements and roll out new customer experiences on any device or channel. "Our partners help drive our growth, and we help drive theirs," said Weckerlei. Recently recognized by IDC MarketScape as a leading provider of headless commerce, Gartner, as a "Leader" in the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce, and Forrester, as a "Leader" in B2C commerce and a "Strong Performer" in B2B commerce in The Forrester Wave: B2C and B2B Commerce Suites, Q2 2020 reports, commercetools has been making waves with its digital commerce platform. Founded to solve the issue of traditional commerce platforms being too rigid, complex and challenging to update at the speeds needed today, commercetools helps companies: Build their own e-commerce platforms up to 3x faster (weeks versus months) Deliver unique and engaging e-commerce experiences across any channel Make changes to their commerce platform incrementally for immediate ROI Drive down maintenance costs by up to 70% Gain the freedom to experiment with new commerce offerings Take full control over their brand and customer experiences to get away from "cookie-cutter" commerce experiences Learn more about commercetools' Partner Possibilities Program here . About commercetools commercetools is the world's leading platform for next-generation B2C and B2B commerce. To break the market out of being restrained by legacy suites, commercetools invented a headless, API-first, multi-tenant SaaS commerce platform that is cloud-native and uses flexible microservices. Using modern development building blocks in a true cloud platform provided by commercetools, customers can deliver the best commerce experiences across every touchpoint on a large scale. commercetools has offices across the US, Europe, and Asia Pacific, with headquarters in Germany. Since its founding in 2006, commercetools software has been implemented by Fortune 500 companies across industries, from retail to manufacturing and from telecommunications to fashion. More information at commercetools.com . Contacts: Stephanie Wittmann Global Communications Manager, commercetools E: stephanie.wittmann@commercetools.com Tel: +49 (0)173 615 56 01 Margaret Rea VP/Head of Americas Marketing, commercetools E: margaret.rea@commercetools.com M: 949-278-9149 Rebecca Harbin Allison+Partners for commercetools E: rebecca.harbin@allisonpr.com Tel: 404-832-0698 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/commercetools-sees-big-demand-for-its-modern-commerce-architecture-rolls-out-new-partner-program-301217384.html SOURCE commercetools [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee who was elected on a promise to transform the regions approach to criminal justice removed 36 suspected sex workers Thursday from a proposed injunction aimed at shutting down street trafficking on the Bissonnet Track, a notorious hub in Southwest Houston. Menefee said suing these newly identified human trafficking victims was not a solution to curbing illegal activities in the neighborhood, and it only compounded the harm for vulnerable people. His office is also taking a hard look at dozens of others still named in the lawsuit, although some suspected pimps both male and female will remain for the time being as defendants. None of the removed defendants are believed to be traffickers, he said. One thing we do know is targeting sex workers, many of which have been confirmed to be victims of human trafficking, is not a sound approach to solving the issues that are faced on the Bissonnet Track, he said. THE TRACK: Open-air sex trade permeates daily life on Houstons outskirts He believes that in the case of a known hub for human trafficking, the government should prioritize ending these crimes while protecting victims. This lawsuit did not achieve those goals, he said. It proved to be ineffective and the proposed injunction would likely create another layer of harm for victims In the 2018 lawsuit, announced to great fanfare by Menefees predecessor, Vince Ryan, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo at a packed City Hall gathering, officials sought to prevent 86 people accused of engaging in the sex trade from entering an anti-prostitution zone. The sweeping injunction they envisioned never came to fruition. Only a handful of defendants made progress by presenting evidence the county should drop the charges or by agreeing to steer clear of criminal conduct within the few-block circuit. Women in skimpy clothes still stroll the few block circuit, as evidenced during a Thursday afternoon visit by a Houston Chronicle photographer. When state Democratic Rep. Ann Johnson, a former prosecutor, visited a few months ago she said it was jaw dropping to her campaign staff who hadnt seen such blatant prostitution before. Police Chief Art Acevedo said the situation has been compounded during the pandemic. The Bissonnet corridor is an absolute ... its just a black eye that we all share collectively as a community in a world where you know COVID and everything else is there, Acevedo said. Its clear we have to modify our approach, Johnson said. The ACLU of Texas has argued the proposed injunction is far too broad and would sweep up conduct by the defendants that is not in any way illegal, like standing at a bus stop or making calls on a cellphone. Civil injunctions shouldnt be used as a tool for policing or a way to criminalize someones very existence, said Brian Klosterboer, a staff attorney at the ACLU who brought a challenge in the Bissonnet lawsuit. The injunction sought in this case was unconstitutional and far too broad, and sought to drive people further into the shadows. Experts in human trafficking said it was unnecessarily punitive to target people whod been victimized for years and often were compelled by pimps to sell other victims. Johnson, the newly elected lawmaker who also founded the Harris County District Attorneys human trafficking program, followed the Bissonnet case closely and testified as an expert for one of the Jane Does sued. INVESTIGATIONS: Read in-depth reporting from the Houston Chronicle here She thinks the countys lawsuit sent a contradictory message, namely, That those who were being exploited were somehow part of the problem rather than the focus of our protection. The former county attorneys unusual strategy jointly with the state of Texas was to seek civil penalties to prevent pimps and johns from perpetuating the cycle and deter prostitutes who had been arrested repeatedly from flagging down cars and loitering in doorways and outside shops. Ryan, a three-term incumbent who pursued an array of nuisance injunctions against illegal gambling parlors and kush vendors, lost in a March primary to the 32-year-old progressive litigator. Menefee went on to defeat Republican John Nation by more than 141,000 votes. Ryan said Thursday he thought the injunction was the right move to address a glaring problem for the local management district his office represented by bringing a lot of attention to it. Its always easy to look backwards and say we coulda, shoulda, he said. But in time, he came to believe that the real problem was the pimps and it didnt make sense to punish the people being sold. He said he spoke briefly with Menefee about the policy shift and he supported the new thinking. Its a different time now than it was then, he said. Menefee said his staff is not done examining the rare court filing that asks for a blocked-off zone for certain conduct. Im 27 days in on the job; were still assessing the effectiveness and the legality of it, he said. He said he felt sure that going after the sex workers who are victim is not the right path. He emphasized that his office is sensitive to the concerns of families living near the area and he plans to seek partnerships with community groups and government agencies aimed at solutions to human trafficking. Pct. 1 Constable Alan Rosen, whose office runs a widely attended recovery group for people involved involved in trafficking, also thinks the new approach makes sense. We wholehearted applaud any action that treats sex workers like the survivors they so often are, Rosen said. The pathway forward is not clear for the 36 defendants removed by Menefees office. They were nonsuited meaning his office is no longer suing them and several defendants from the initial filing were also nonsuited by Ryan. However, these individuals are not yet dismissed from the case, because a neighborhood group, the Sugar Branch Condominium Association, entered into the litigation as an intervenor plaintiff. Godofredo A. Vasquez contributed. Gabrielle Banks has covered the injunction since the day it was announced in August 2018 and wrote a series on it for the Houston Chronicle called The Track. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com. Alleged victims of missing millionaire Melissa Caddick have branded her an 'evil woman', as police close in on her possible hideaway. The Sydney-based financial adviser disappeared on November 12 last year, just two days after police revealed she was being investigated for allegedly siphoning tens of millions of dollars from her clients. Detectives have suggested they believe Ms Caddick is still alive, and are investigating whether she fled to Queensland. But they are running out of time to prove their theory as they try to access crucial CCTV footage which may provide a lead on the whereabouts of the 49-year-old - including video from Sydney airport. Most cameras automatically delete footage after 30 days to make space for new data, meaning officers are in a race against time to find any evidence of her fleeing the city. Ms Caddick's husband did not tell police or her family that she was missing for more than 30 hours. He believes she is innocent despite allegations from their friends and family (pictured, the couple together) Victims of a sophisticated scheme allegedly orchestrated by missing millionaire Melissa Caddick (pictured) are assisting authorities, as police close in on potential locations she could have fled to after detectives raided her home and accused her of fraud They are particularly interested in any CCTV footage near the airport, as well as Point Piper and Pulpit Point marinas, Watson's Bay, Hermit Bay and Parsley Bay wharves. Footage taken at Edgecliff and Bondi Junction train stations are also forming part of the investigation, The Daily Telegraph reported. It comes as 60 Minutes revealed several of Ms Caddick's former friends - victims of her alleged financial scheme - are assisting police in the hopes of having some of their money returned. Former NSW Police lead detective Gary Jubelin is also assisting, and questioned whether Ms Caddick had accessed her phones since her disappearance. 'Have accounts been activated? Have phones been used?' he asked. A friend of Ms Caddick's previously revealed her WhatsApp account had been accessed twice since her disappearance. Several of Ms Caddick's former friends - and the victims of her financial scheme - are assisting police in the hopes of having some of their money returned to them (pictured, alleged victim Michelle Leslie and her partner) Ms Caddick's husband (pictured together) claims to have not heard from her since her disappearance. He is not accused of any wrongdoing 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) In screenshots seen by Daily Mail Australia, Ms Caddick's account had 'seen' two messages sent by the friend in the days after she went missing. Detective Jubelin now seems to think that might be a clue in eventually tracking her down. Another detective explained that there are 'a lot of accounts, a lot of movement and a lot of money,' linked to the matter. 'Somebody always knows something,' she explained. Meanwhile alleged victims and former friends say they've been left entirely in the dark about Ms Caddick's activities. Some claim to have lost millions that they trusted her to invest. Michelle Leslie, who was once Ms Caddick's personal trainer before the pair became friends, entrusted the financial adviser with her nest egg. A detective explained that there are 'a lot of accounts, a lot of movement and a lot of money,' linked to the matter 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 (pictured, having a coffee in Bondi on January 15) But she and her husband are now facing the reality that they may never see that money again. 'She's a narcissist. Evil woman,' she said in a teaser clip for the upcoming 60 minutes episode. 'I hope you're watching this Melissa. It's the betrayal, just the lies and the stories this lady spun.' After hearing stories from multiple alleged victims, journalist Tom Steinfort remarked that Ms Caddick appeared to be 'a criminal mastermind'. It has been revealed that police are investigating the theory that Ms Caddick may have staged her disappearance among several others. The businesswoman was dressed in her activewear when she left the house about 5.30am on Thursday, November 12. She was apparently headed off on her usual morning run but left her phone and keys at home. Security camera footage of the front of her house the home did not capture the events of that morning, frustrating standard police checks. Detectives are operating as if Ms Caddick is still alive, and investigating whether she fled to Queensland. But they are running out of time to prove their theory, and are in a race against time to access crucial CCTV footage which may provide a lead on the 49-year-old (pictured, left with her partner and right on her own) Two days earlier, Ms Caddick had been raided by the Federal Police in connection with an investigation by the corporate regulator, ASIC. She was also slapped with a Federal Court order, ordering that her passport be surrendered and barring her from selling, disposing of or mortgaging her assets. ASIC was probing whether her company Maliver Pty Ltd had misused millions from investors. The victims were largely friends and associates. Ms Caddick is also accused of splurging on luxury brands such as Dior and Chanel, overseas holidays, limousines and even protein shakes. An affidavit seen by Daily Mail Australia states that $20million of investors funds were deposited into her accounts between January 2018 and September 18, 2020. Melissa Caddick's partner (pictured) claims he has not heard from her since she disappeared The corporate watchdog alleges Ms Caddick opened up fake CommSec accounts for her clients and sent them fake monthly reports of how their shares were going. As of Friday, Ms Caddick has been missing 78 days. Should she not be found in 90 days - in two 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. 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. Ms Caddick, 49, vanished on November 12, two days after a Federal Police raid on her $6.1million Dover Heights home for allegedly misappropriated tens of millions in investors' funds Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 5:28 pm Although many older Lewis County residents are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine under the first tier of Phase 1B, many report frustration and confusion about how and where to get one. And with limited supply and no clear timeline for future allocation, county officials cant offer residents much reassurance. In an event that has had a lot of challenges, I would say this is definitely among the most frustrating, Lewis Countys Public Health Director J.P. Anderson said Tuesday. He noted that people should continue to monitor the state Department of Health (DOH) website, which lists all local providers and their preferred method of communication. I know thats frustrating, he said. But thats really all you can do right now. Demand still far outweighs supply statewide, and even with four mass vaccine clinics opening this week throughout the state, appointments are filling up quickly, and clinics are at the mercy of the state in terms of when more doses may be allocated to them. Some residents are expecting the county to become a centralized entity to connect people to vaccines, but Anderson said its not going to happen. Instead, distribution is fragmented into a network of individual providers, each with their own sign-up policies and procedures. Now, eligible residents under the first tier of Phase 1B people 65 and older, or people 50 and older who live in a multigenerational household are struggling to figure out how to get a shot. Youre talking about a population where many of us dont even have internet, Lewis County Seniors President Ron Averill said. And if they do, they easily become confused. And I can tell you the process of getting into the system is not easy. One 84-year-old Chehalis resident, Bob Tuininga, said he was surprised this weekend to read that the vaccine was even in the county. Although he has a computer, Tuininga said he doesnt like using it. Many of his friends assumed that some government agency would be reaching out to connect them with a vaccine. I was thinking Im on a list somewhere, Tuininga said. Some people are aggressive about calling their doctors Most of us are sitting around thinking, I dont want to be a pest. But residents will largely have to take initiative to score an appointment. Providers are already seeing residents driving over county lines in order to get a dose. Some have expressed frustration with people claiming doses not allotted to their county in what can seem like a statewide free-for-all. But Anderson said its a tactic residents may want to consider. If our residents are able to sign up for a spot at a care provider and theyre able to make it to that appointment, whether it be out of this county, I would not discourage them from doing that, he told county commissioners. I think thats becoming more commonplace. More individuals may have to travel further away, too, as the state opens its four mass vaccination sites. In a Monday meeting with lawmakers, Washingtons Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah said that the sites which are planned to administer 500 vaccines per site per day, and more in the future may end up decreasing allocations for other providers around the state. Averill hopes that Lewis County Seniors can utilize their meal delivery program to distribute all this information to the hundreds of seniors they serve weekly. United Way of Lewis County Executive Director Debbie Campbell, who organized volunteers for Sundays mass vaccination event at the fairgrounds, said shes hearing eligible residents express frustrations about technology issues, lack of internet access and lack of information issues exacerbated by the pandemic. If things were open, I know the senior centers would have a session on how to fill out these forms, or the library would, but jeez, nothing is open, she said. Former County Commissioner Edna Fund said this week that she would be talking to the Timberland Regional Library about potentially working to amplify information as well. When asked about seniors who may be struggling to use technology to get a vaccine appointment, Gov. Jay Inslee said during a Tuesday press conference that individual citizens will need to lend a hand to those individuals. Its like any emergency a significant part of the rescue is by individuals. Its by us, its taking care of our neighbors, our relatives, extending a hand to maybe an older person ... Grandkids that help their grandparents, he said. This is a moment in time where all of us can step up and help people, particularly the people like you say, who might be challenged when it comes to technology. Averill is most concerned about seniors who are homebound, unable to make it to large vaccination events or even a local clinic. While Anderson said the county is working on plans to get rural, homebound seniors vaccinated, nothing is totally fleshed out yet. One option is mobile clinics, which Twin Transit has offered to help with. Plans for any vaccine events are significantly stifled by a lack of actual vaccines, and the fact that providers are currently only getting about seven-days notice before doses roll in from the state. Its a great idea, and it could be something were able to do and realize here in the medium-future, but its not going to be in the near future as in the next week and a half, Anderson said. Democracies have slightly outperformed authoritarian countries in suppressing the coronavirus, according to an analysis that found smaller populations and competent bureaucracies were the major factors in managing the global pandemic. The COVID Performance Index compiled by the Lowy Institute ranked 98 countries handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, finding New Zealand performed the best while Australia sits in eighth place. Australia came in eighth place of the best-performing countries in suppressing the coronavirus. Credit:James Brickwood New Zealand was closely followed by Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand and Cyprus, while the United States was the fifth-worst performing country. There has been growing concern from western commentators that the failure of some democracies to suppress the virus will result in more countries losing faith in the model of liberal democratic government and turn to authoritarianism. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain What makes one person drive above the speed limit while another navigates steadily in the right lane? What motivates someone to leave a job with a steady paycheck to launch their own business while the other sticks to one employer for an entire career? "People have different tendencies to engage in behavior that risks their health or that involve uncertainties about the future," says Gideon Nave, an assistant professor of marketing in Penn's Wharton School. Yet explaining the origin of those tendencies, both in the genome and in the brain, has been challenging for researchers, partly because previous studies on the topic relied on small unrepresentative samples of college students. That has now changed. In a massive study of brain scan and genetic data from more than 12,000 people, a team led by Nave and the University of Zurich's Gokhan Aydogan reveals how a genetic disposition toward risky behavior is embodied in the brain. Notably, these associations between risk-taking and brain anatomy are many. There is no one "risk region" in the brain, Nave says. "We find a lot of regions whose anatomy is altered in people who take risks." The findings appear in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. Many research teams have investigated the neuroanatomical correlates of the tendency to take risks across individuals, with recent studies identifying a number of associated brain regions. But these studies have been limited by their numbersin the hundredsconstraining their power to make firm conclusions about the links between biology and behavior. The current work benefits from a robust dataset, the UK Biobank, which has biomedical data from 500,000 volunteer participants between the ages of 40 and 69. To get an overall metric of risky behavior, the researchers looked at four self-reported behaviors: smoking, drinking, sexual promiscuity, and driving above the speed limit. These behavioral measures were aggregated to create an overall indicator of risk tolerance. To drill down on the connections between genes, brain, and risk tolerance, the researchers used data of 12,675 people of European ancestry from the UK Biobank and began looking at relevant information. They first estimated the relationship between total gray matter volume across the brain and the risk-tolerance score. Even while controlling for a variety of factorsincluding total brain size, age, gender, handedness, excessive alcohol consumption, and genetic factors related to population structurethey found that higher risk tolerance was correlated with overall lower gray matter volume. Gray matter consists of most of the main cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system and is understood to carry out the basic functions of the brain, including muscle control, sensory perception, and decision making. The research team next took a closer look at which specific areas of the brain had the strongest relationship between risk taking and reduce gray matter. They identified associations with distinct brain regions that had been found in prior studies, such as the amygdala, involved in feelings of fear and emotion, which have also been shown to be activated in functional MRI studies of risky decision making. But they also found links between individuals' risky behavior and lower levels of gray matter in many additional brain regions that hadn't been implicated previously, such as the hippocampus, which is involved in creating new memories. They also found links in areas of the cerebellum, an area involved in balance and coordination whose involvement in cognition and decision-making has long been suspected, yet under-appreciated by researchers. "We find that we don't have only one brain region that is the 'risk area,'" Nave says. "There are a lot of regions involved, and the effect sizes we found are not that large but also not that small." Soon after the researchers had completed their initial analyses, the UK Biobank added brain scan images from more than 20,000 people to the database. This enabled the researchers to replicate their analysis in an additional 13,004 participants of European ancestry, finding almost all of the brain regions they originally identified as having a link between risk taking and reduced gray matter volume held. "To do a study this largemore than 12,000 people, then replicated in 13,000 peopleis really a new approach," says Philipp Koellinger from Vrej University Amsterdam, who was also involved in the research. Finally the research team wanted to see if they could identify how participants' genetic disposition for risk behavior lined up with their neuroanatomy to try to draw a line between genes, brain, and behavior when it came to risk taking. "This is not easy to do," Koellinger says. "We know that most behavioral traits have a complex genetic architecture, with a lot of genes that have small effects." The researchers' solution to this "many genes" problem was to develop a measure of genetic variation they termed the polygenic risk score. They arrived at this metric through a genome-wide association study of a separate group of nearly 300,000 people of European ancestry, taking into account the effects of more than a million single nucleotide polymorphisms, or places where one "letter" of DNA differed from person to person, that were associated with risky behavior. This risk score, the team found, explained 3% of the variation in risky behavior. The score also correlated with reduced gray matter volume in three specific brain areas. Looking at these three brain regions, they determined that differences in the gray matter of these locactions in the brain carried out around 2.2% of genetic disposition toward risky behavior. "It appears that grey matter of these three regions is translating a genetic tendency into actual behavior," Koellinger says. While the study makes great strides to link up genes, brain anatomy, and behavior, it also generates many additional unanswered questions. For example, the fact that these brain regions explained only 2.2% of the genetic disposition, the researchers say, points to the fact that genes that support risk tolerance may be related to aspects of biology besides what happens in the brain. "The question then is, What are they related to?" Nave says. Nave emphasizes that further study is needed to clarify genetic disposition from environmental effects. "You want to think about the fact that there are family, environment, and genetic effects, and there is also the correlation between all these factors," Nave says. "Genetics and environment, genetics and familyeven what appears to be a genetic effect could actually be a nurture effect because you inherit your parents' genes. "For instance," he says, "if your parents are more nurturing, and they have genes related to more nurturing behavior and if nurturing affects your behavior, you will see genes and behavior correlated, but that doesn't mean that the genes directly caused the behavior," he says. Nave is hopeful that a new collaboration he launched, the Brain Imaging and Genetics in Behavioral Research, or BIG BEAR, Consortium, members of which conducted the current study, will help in finding answers to these questions. "Our ultimate goal is teasing apart all of these relationships and identifying the causal relationships," Nave says. Explore further Large study identifies numerous genes associated with risk tolerance and risky behaviors More information: Genetic underpinnings of risky behaviour relate to altered neuroanatomy, Nature Human Behavior (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-01027-y Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour Genetic underpinnings of risky behaviour relate to altered neuroanatomy,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-01027-y UPPER MANHATTAN, NY Patch has compiled a list of events residents in Inwood and Washington Heights might want to know about in the coming week. From community board meetings to local art exhibitions to learning about Fort Tryon Park, here are the dates to know for the week of Jan. 25. Ongoing Events: Dyckman Farmhouse: "Unspoken Voices: Honoring The Legacy Of Black America": The Dyckman Farmhouse at 4881 Broadway has a current exhibition with three local Upper Manhattan artists who were each inspired by the research that Dyckman Farmhouse has been doing about people previously enslaved at the property. You can book an admissions ticket on the farmhouse's website. Morris-Jumel Mansion: COVIDA Homage To Victims Of The Pandemic: The Morris-Jumel Mansion at 65 Jumel Terrace, near West 163rd Street, has an outdoor public art installation that pays tribute to the lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibit was created by Andrea Arroyo, who lives a couple of blocks away from the installation in Washington Heights. Local Community Board Meetings Around Upper Manhattan "Talking About Race Matters" lecture series from the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum: Herbert Seignoret will lead a discussion on Wednesday, Feb.3, called "Unearthing New York City's Forgotten Past: Seneca Village The Life And Death Of An African American And Irish Immigrant Community." The conversation will specifically include the history of Seneca Village. You can get tickets here. The Secrets of Inwood, Prehistoric NYC Neighborhood: The New York Adventure Club will take you on a time machine back to the 18th-century Manhattan, where you can learn about what the Inwood neighborhood used to look like. The online program will take place Friday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. You can sign up for the event here. How Fort Tryon Park's Animals Survive in Winter: Author and naturalist Leslie Day will lead a Zoom workshop on how the fauna in Fort Tryon Park survive the winter. The event will take place Sunday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. You can sign up for the event here. This article originally appeared on the Washington Heights-Inwood Patch A senior New Zealand minister advised Australia to adopt his country's softly-softly approach to China on Thursday, a rare public disagreement between the neighbours on how to deal with a more assertive Beijing. The comments -- which closely echo Chinese government complaints -- are likely to anger Canberra, while exposing the different approaches towards China by New Zealand and its "Five Eyes" intelligence partners Australia, the United States, Canada and Britain. Pointing to Wellington's recent success in trade talks with China, Trade Minister Damien O'Connor urged Australia to show more "respect" to Beijing. "I can't speak for Australia and the way it runs its diplomatic relationships, but clearly if they were to follow us and show respect, I guess a little more diplomacy from time to time and be cautious with wording, then they too could hopefully be in a similar situation," he said. Australia's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on O'Connor's advice. New Zealand's cautious approach has been reflected in its reluctance to sign joint statements from Five Eyes partners criticising China's crackdown on the Hong Kong democracy movement, including the recent arrests of activists in the city. New Zealand officials have also been careful not to directly question China's growing influence in the Pacific, unlike their US and Australian counterparts. Critics say Wellington's China policy puts economic benefit above democratic values, something the New Zealand government has denied. "We've always been able to raise issues of concern," O'Connor told CNBC on Wednesday in the wake of a free trade upgrade that took more than four years to negotiate. O'Connor said the new agreement would further reduce tariffs on New Zealand goods entering China, its largest market with two-way trade of NZ$32 billion (US$22.8 billion) a year. Story continues In contrast, China has imposed punitive levies on more than a dozen Australian imports, including wine and barley, as relations sour. Irritants for Beijing include Australia's call for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and a ban on Chinese tech giant Huawei's participation in the nation's 5G network. China's state-run Global Times newspaper on Wednesday said New Zealand and Australia's approaches to Beijing were "fire and ice", accusing Canberra of having "a jingoistic Cold War mentality" while New Zealand was "relatively open toward the rise of China". ns/arb/qan This morning, the PACE Monitoring Committee reviewed the proposals and rejected all draft amendments, submitted including by MPs from Ukraine. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today, January 28, has decided to turn down the initiative of the Ukrainian delegates to apply restrictions to the Russian delegation over the actions breaching the principles of the Council of Europe. As part of the consideration of the draft resolution authored by Austrian MP Stefan Schennach, prepared in response to the appeal against the powers of the Russian delegation, the PACE refused to support Ukraine's amendment asking the Assembly to not ratify the powers of the Russian delegation. The relevant amendment was opposed by 115 legislators, with only 37 supporting it and seven abstaining. At the same time, Stefan Schennach's resolution allowing Russian delegation's work saw support of 107 deputies, with 36 against and 24 abstained. Read alsoPACE backs Ukraine's initiative to contest Russian delegation's credentialsOn Thursday morning, the PACE Monitoring Committee reviewed the proposals and rejected all draft amendments, including those not related to the introduction of sanctions. Russia in PACE: Previous developments In April 2014, PACE stripped the Russian delegation of the right to vote and expelled its representatives from all governing bodies of the Assembly over the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. Russia then refused to pay contributions to the Council of Europe as of June 2017. Many PACE members and politicians called such actions of Russia blackmail. On June 25, 2019, PACE adopted a resolution that canceled the existing mechanism for imposing sanctions against delegations. On June 26, 2019, PACE voted to ratify the credentials of the Russian delegation without imposing any sanctions. This allowed Russia to return to the Assembly's session hall, and it reportedly resumed paying its contributions. On January 25, PACE backed Ukraine's initiative to appeal the credentials of the Russian delegation. Reporting by UNIAN New Delhi, Jan 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally here and said that the youth wing of India's armed forces has witnessed a 35 per cent increase in the number of girl cadets in the last few years. Modi also asked the NCC cadets to follow discipline throughout their lives. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three armed service chiefs were also present during the occasion. The Prime Minister inspected the Guard of Honour, and also reviewed March Past by NCC contingents and cultural performance during the event. Addressing the NCC rally here at the Cariappa Ground, Modi said, "To bring the discipline in society, the NCC can play an important role. And in this culture should remain throughout your life. The discipline should remain throughout your life." He also asked the NCC cadets to inspire people around them to follow discipline in society, as it will help the country and the society to grow. He said that the image of NCC is growing day by day. "I feel proud. The valour and service feeling of NCC is visible. When there is need to make people aware on laws or on Constitution or on important campaigns, the NCC cadets are there." He said that in times of emergencies or during the times of the natural calamities, the NCC cadets have served the people of the country. Citing the example of issues like Maoism and terrorism in several parts of the country, Modi said, "There was a time when there was Maoism and terrorism, but the role of people and the valour of forces came together and the backbone of Maoism was broken. Now Maoism is present only in a very few districts of the country." He said many youths have left the path of Maoism and have integrated themselves into society. He said that the Covid pandemic was a challenging time for the country. "But it also brought opportunity to do something for the country and to become self-reliant," he said. He said that the government has tried to expand the role of NCC. "We are going to increase the role of NCC in the border areas and on the coastal areas. On August 15 last year it was announced that in 175 districts NCC will be given a new role for which one lakh cadets will be traind by Army, Air Force and Navy," Modi said. "And out of this, one-third are girl cadets," he said. He also said that the NCC training centre capacity is also being increased. "Earlier there was only one firing simulator, now 98 firing simulators are being prepared. Micro light flight simulator is also being increased from 5 to 44 and rowing simulator from 11 to 60," he said. The Prime MInister emphasised that these advance simulators will improve the training quality of NCC cadets. Remebering General K.M. Cariappa, after whom the ground has been named, Modi said, "This ground is named after General Cariappa. His life was filled with heroic deeds. His valour gave India a strategic edge during the 1947 Indo-Pakistan war. I pay my tribute to General Cariappa." Giving a call to NCC cadets to join the armed forces, Modi said, "All of you should try to join armed forces. And I will emphasise to girl cadets that opportunities are waiting for you. In the last few years, there has been a 35 per cent increase in girl cadets in NCC. Now in armed forces many opportunities are being opened," he said. He said many women personnel are now safeguarding the country on the borders. Remebering the Battle of Longewala in 1971, Modi said, "In the 1971 war, our soldiers had won a strategic and decisive battle in Longewala. In that war against Pakistan, India had defeated the enemy on the borders. Pakistan's innumerable soldiers had surrendered to India. This year, we are completing 50 years of this war." Modi also paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the formation of Bangladesh. Ontario Racing is pleased to notify industry participants that, pending final approval, Standardbred horsepeople will have the opportunity to access certain purse funds that remain available under the Funding Agreement with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as a result of the suspension of live racing in the province due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds were already committed to the industry through the Funding Agreement for Live Horse Racing between Ontario Racing and OLG. Application and declaration forms to apply for equine benefit payments will be available from Ontario Racing in the coming days. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Racing created a task force, as it did during the spring lockdown, to address the financial impacts to Standardbred horse racing in Ontario. Eligibility Requirements For horsepeople to be eligible for financial payments pursuant to this program, the Standardbred COVID-19 Task Force has determined that horses must meet the criteria outlined below to be eligible to receive an equine benefit payment for the period of December 2020 and/or January 2021: December Payment - $300 per horse Horses must have a charted line, verifiable by third party information, between the dates of Oct. 23 and Dec. 23. No application will be required for the December payment. January Payment - $1,000 per horse Horses three years old and older who have started at an Ontario racetrack between June 5, 2020 and Dec. 23, 2020 (verifiable third-party charted line), or unraced three- and four-year-olds who were preparing to race, currently stabled in Ontario and under the care of an AGCO licensed trainer. All horses must remain stabled in Ontario and are currently under the care of an AGCO licensed trainer. The January payment will be for horses identified through a declaration or application of horses who were eligible orintending to race in 2021. Notes: All payments received must be used for the care and maintenance of Standardbred horses noted on the submitted application (further details to be communicated). Once racing resumes in Ontario, horses who have received benefits under this program must make their first start at an Ontario Standardbred racetrack. Ontario Racing reserves the right to request additional information to ensure all criteria has been met. Those receiving benefits under the program could be subject to an audit by Ontario Racing. Failure to meet the criteria will result in all amounts being repaid to Ontario Racing. (Ontario Racing) Ahmednagar : , Jan 28 (IANS) Social crusader Kisan Baburao alias Anna Hazare on Thursday lamented that the Centre is ignoring all his pleas on the farmers' demands, compelling him to go on another hunger strike from January 30. The 83-year-old anti-graft activist said that he had been agitating for the farmers since four years and in past three months only, he had written on this five times to the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister. "But it seems that the government is not taking appropriate decisions on the issue of farmers. The government is not sensitive to the plight of farmers. So I will start a fast from the Yadavbaba Temple in Ralegan-Siddhi on January 30, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination," Hazare announced. Detailing his struggles, Hazare said he had launched a hunger strike in Delhi on March 23, 2018 after which the PMO gave a written assurance on March 29 on the MSP demand and other issues. The government did not comply with the same forcing him to go on another strike in Ralegan-Siddhi from January 30, 2019 and a week later, the Union Agriculture Minister and then Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis discussed the issue with him. "After 6 hours of talks, I was again given a written assurance about the decision. But no concrete action has been taken on it till date. Assurance is a promise. If the government does not keep it (promise) then how will the country and society get a bright future," Hazare asked. Even today, farmers continue to commit suicide, they don't get the right price for their agriculture produce, and the Centre claims it has implemented the recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission, but the facts are otherwise, Hazare claimed. "Government representatives keep coming here and discussing, but till date no proper solution has been arrived at on the farmers demands," he added. Hazare expressed his grief at the violence incidents that rocked the January 26 farmers movement in New Delhi, and he stressed on the need for a 'non-violent agitation'. "In past 40 years, I have organised many agitations. The Lokpal Movement was in New Delhi where lakhs of people from across India joined, but not a stone was thrown. Peace is the power for this struggle, which Gandhiji has taught us," he said. While he would take up the hunger strike alone in his village, Hazare appealed to all his supporters to take similar peaceful agitations in their respective villages in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Microsoft has been granted a patent for a chatbot that could imitate another person's personality and likeness. The chatbot could be created through the information that could easily be collected on social media, such as images, voice data, behavioral information, social media posts, and text messages. This according to documents from U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It could even take on a physical presence. However, Microsoft's General Manager of AI Programs says he is unaware of any plans to build the chatbot, according to a Business Insider report. Microsoft's patent does not specifically say when the product would be used to bring deceased people back to life digitally. The patent was filed in 2017 but was only approved in December. Tim O'Brien, General Manager of AI Programs at the huge tech company, said that he's looking into the patent but not aware of any plans to build or ship it, according to a Tucson report. Meanwhile, the chatbot could also rely on outside data sources, in case the user asked a question of the bot that could not be answered based on the person's social data. "Conversing in the personality of a specific person may include determining and/or using conversational attributes of the specific person, such as style, diction, tone, voice, intent, sentence/dialogue length and complexity, topic and consistency," the patent states, according to a Fintech Zoom report. It could also have behavioral attributes such as interest and opinions, and demographic information such as age, gender, and profession. In some cases, the tool could also be used to apply voice and facial recognition algorithms to recordings, images, and videos to create voice and 2D or 3D models of the person. This in order to improve the chatbot. Related story: Source Code for Disney, Microsoft, Nintendo Leaks Online Challenges in Implementing This Tech The use of another person's likeliness or personality can cause some legal battles. An individual can be sued for using another person's likeness, name, or personal attributes for an exploitative use in the United States, especially if this was done without permission from the individual. In addition, the U.S. recognize postmortem rights in its 23 states, which allow a deceased person anywhere from 10 to 100 years of protection from unauthorized use of their identity, which includes their name, voice, image, and likeness from being used for profit. However, this is not the first time that this kind of tech was used. In 2016, San Francisco-based artificial intelligence developer Eugenia Kuyda created a memorial bot to her friend Roman Mazurenko, who died in an accident just before his 33rd birthday, according to a The Guardian report. Kuyda said that being able to talk to a dead friend or relative helps the grieving process. She added that it is not about pretending someone is alive, saying that it is about accepting, thinking, and talking about it, and not staying in denial. Tech analysts say that the digital death market is et to reach a peak. Related story: New Microsoft Tech to Track Body Language in Meetings Raises Privacy Concerns Though Muhammed Sameer was rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries early on Thursday. (Representational Image) Malappuram: A 26-year-old activist of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was stabbed to death allegedly by ruling CPI(M) workers, at nearby Keezhattoor Oravumparam in Nilambur, police said. The incident occurred around Wednesday midnight. Though Muhammed Sameer was rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries early on Thursday. Three people were arrested in connection with the crime and investigation is on, they said. Condemning the incident, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said it was a political murder carried out by CPI(M) workers. After the panchayat elections, the UDF workers were being continuously harassed by Marxist workers, he alleged. Chennithala also sought a comprehensive probe into the incident. The IUML leaders have also accused the left party workers for the murder. However, the CPI(M) has refuted charges saying that the incident was a fallout of some dispute between two groups and the party had nothing to do with the crime. Tension had been prevailing between the league workers and Marxist cadres for some time now in the area. CINCINNATI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- XED Beverages , the new future-focused beverage company, announces the launch of its premiere product, SESH: Cocktail Meets Seltzer , an adult beverage at the crossroad of two of the fastest-growing segments in the alcohol industryRTD (ready-to-drink) cocktails and hard seltzers. With the rich taste of an RTD and the better-for-you qualities of a spiked seltzer, SESH comprises zero sugar, gluten or preservatives and just 120 calories. At 6% ABV, SESH arrives in a quartet of supremely satisfying flavors: Gin & Tonic, Mojito, Moscow Mule and Paloma. SESH was founded by former college roommates and entrepreneurs Zeke Bronfman and Nate Medow to address weaknesses they identified in the alcohol industry. Bronfman, carrying on the family legacy of spirits titans Samuel Bronfman and Edgar Bronfman Sr. of Seagrams fame, developed a taste for quality beverages early on. Nostalgic for the sips of whiskey and gin shared with his grandfathers, Bronfman yearned to craft a cocktail both high-end and accessible. Medow, an athlete who has lived with Type 1 diabetes since childhood, sought a drink that met his needs concerning sugar and carb intake. Bronfman and Medow simply refused to accept the tradeoff that consumers are frequently forced to make with alcohol: authentic flavor OR low sugar. Carb-filled beer, sugary mixers, expensive cocktails and flavorless seltzers all fell short. After months of tasting sessions and long hours of experimentation with multiple flavors, the duo successfully created an alcoholic beverage that is as full-bodied and flavorful as it is guilt-free. Making absolutely no compromises, SESH finally marries better-for-you with better-tasting. Starting in February 2021, consumers will not only be able to enjoy a SESH at bars and restaurants in strategic cities across the nation, this thoroughly unique product will also be available for purchase at some of the country's most prominent local retailers; these include Kroger, Total Wine, Binny'sand digital delivery service, goPuff. SESH will also be available direct-to-consumer in most states at drinksesh.com . SESH is just the initial offering from XED Beverages as the company expands its portfolio of products that authentically connect with consumers. Says Zeke Bronfman, co-founder, CEO and chairman of XED Beverages, "SESH was created as a direct antidote to disappointments Nate and I faced as consumers. When we realized the total absence of alcoholic beverages on the market that checked the boxes of high-quality, low-cal and affordable, we checked those boxes ourselves. As founders, we could not be more excited to solve a problem for our consumers with SESHand this is just the beginning for XED Beverages." Adds Nate Medow, XED Beverages co-founder and president, "We are experiencing a paradigm shift in the way alcohol is consumed. People are now far more aware of what they eat and drink and SESH uniquely answers the need of anyone seeking out bold flavors with less sugar. After so many hours in the making, we are enormously proud to present SESH to modern consumers in this new age." ABOUT XED BEVERAGES XED Beverages, co-founded by Zeke Bronfman and Nate Medow, is the parent company for a growing portfolio of cutting edge, high-growth and health-conscious beverage brands. XED has expanded into a future-focused beverage company launching, investing in, importing and growing the revolutionary beverage brands of today and tomorrow. Media Contact : Meghan Ianiro [email protected] 551 200 1126 SOURCE XED Beverages GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, media at home and abroad focus on Guangzhou, the cultural center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as the founders of Youth Music Culture Guangdong (YMCG) today announce the "YMCG 2021 Special Event" to be presented to mainland China on January 30th and the rest of the world on February 1st. The broadcast will be available to watch, free-of-charge, on the BBC Music Magazine website and YMCG social media channels for 72 hours. The "YMCG 2021 Special Event," presented by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and organized by the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (GSO) and Xinghai Concert Hall, consists of three parts: first, a concert by the GSO; next, YMCG Artistic Director Yo-Yo Ma presents an online master class geared toward young orchestra players; finally, Maestro Long Yu and Yo-Yo Ma come together virtually for a Q&A and guided talk. 1: Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra Concert Violinist Paloma So and pianist Serena Wang two rising millennial stars perform as featured soloists with the GSO in the "YMCG 2021 Special Event" concert. Under the baton of GSO's Music Director and YMCG Chair of the Artistic Committee Long Yu, they perform movements from Sergei Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor and Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor alongside a timeless Chinese work, "A Pleasant Evening" by ehru master Liu Tianhua (adapted by Yuan Zhi). 2: Inside the Practice Room with Yo-Yo Ma In this rare and illuminating deep-dive into his soul and artistic philosophy, renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma shares his unique artistic concepts and delves into topic themes including: "Asking questions: Activating the Imagination," "Diving Into Music," and "Bring It Forward." During this session, Yo-Yo Ma illustrates ideas with performances of works by Saint-Saens, Beethoven, and others. 3: A Dialogue with Masters Across Continents For the final segment of the evening's special event, Yo-Yo Ma (in Boston) joins Long Yu (in Guangzhou), professional musicians, former YMCG participants, representatives from the Guangzhou Symphony Youth Orchestra, and others for an interactive conversation and Q&A session on the theme of "harmony and equilibrium." The "YMCG 2021 Special Event" shows the power of music and community in comforting and sustaining people through the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world highlighting the value of cultural dialogue and inviting reflection on how man can create harmony with nature. Contact: Patricia Price [email protected] SOURCE Youth Music Culture Guangdong Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja gave a quirky twist to singer and global superstar Rihanna's popular song Umbrella, and it is all about promoting social distancing. Sonam posted a couple of pictures on instagram earlier on Wednesday, and then a video of the same sequence. Of the two pictures she posted, the first is a close-up, but it is the second that catches your attention. It is a long shot taken on a street. She rests against a convertible dressed in a beige overcoat and grey suit. A hand holds a huge umbrella above her. Up to 369 of this months Covid-19-related deaths were linked to people who became infected during an outbreak in a hospital or nursing home, the HSE said today. So far the death toll from the virus this month has reached 830. More than 400 patients picked up the virus after admission to hospital in the first two weeks of the year. Martin Cormican, HSE lead on infection control, told todays briefing: I am sorry for all those cases who caught it. It was not for the want of trying. He said sometimes patients have no symptoms when they are tested on admission and the virus may not show up. In a bid to identify these as early as possible there is now more repeat testing, he said. Once a patient is found to be positive, the whole ward and staff are tested. Read More The more Covid-19 that is in the community, the more difficult it is to keep under control in hospital, he said, pointing out the more infectious UK variant is proving more difficult to control. Earlier, HSE chief Paul Reid said that despite the fall in daily numbers testing positive for the virus, the hospital system is too close to tipping point for any comfort. He said there are 330 patients in intensive care, 216 of whom have Covid-19. There are 18 beds free across the country. Patients are much sicker than previously and are spending longer in intensive care. Two thirds with Covid in intensive care are receiving ventilation. One third of patients who are receiving respiratory care outside of intensive care will have to be transferred there or die. Reflecting on the past year, he said: Covid-19 has ripped the hearts out of so many families across the country. We need to keep our resolve. There will be an end to this. He said that up to Sunday, 148,500 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered and this rose to 161,500 yesterday. They include 71,600 first doses in long-term care facilities and 89,000 doses among frontline health workers. Of these 76,100 have got a first dose and 13,000 have got the second dose. In the coming week 46,000 second doses will be administered. Four nursing homes are still without vaccinations due to outbreaks and it remains incomplete in 117 facilities. Chief operations officer Ann OConnor said almost a third of nursing homes have open outbreaks and they are down 1,500 staff due to infection or being a close contact. Overall there are 524 open outbreaks in long-term care facilities and hospitals. She said that 54 long-term care facilities are receiving high support. However, HSE staff shortages due to the pandemic are causing problems. The number out of work has fallen to 5,596, but it remains a serious issue. Mr Reid said they will resume testing close contacts of confirmed cases from tomorrow, offering a test on day five. Asked about the decision by the German authorities not to licence the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for the over 65s, Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer of the HSE, said they will be guided by the recommendations of the European Medicines Agency which will decide the terms on which it will be approved tomorrow. The vaccine, which is at the centre of a row over a fall in anticipated supplies, is central to the roll-out of the jab among the over 70s in Ireland. (Natural News) As they are known to do, Democrats are exploiting the riot at the Capitol Building earlier this month as an opportunity to target their political opponents namely the nearly 75 million Americans who voted for former President Donald Trump in November. By now anyone with a functioning brain stem understands that regardless of who took part in the Capitol incident, they were not reflective or indicative of the former presidents supporters. At rally after rally during the 2016 and 2020 campaign cycles as his supporters were targeted by Antifa and BLM thugs, they never responded in kind. None of Bidens meager rallies were ever disturbed or molested by supporters of the ex-president. But none of that matters; Democrats now see the riot as a means to an end getting rid of Trump and Trumpism once and for all because if he and his supporters are allowed to continue functioning in society like every other American, then there is too good of a chance that either the former president returns to successfully win the White House in 2024 or his hand-chosen MAGA successor will. (Related: The FBI spent 80 years CREATING domestic terrorism; now they will target 80 million voters by labeling them terrorists, too.) Big League Politics reports that Democrats game plan is to simply decouple Trumps supporters from their own country and society: As conservatives and members of the MAGA Movement in general continue to be ostracized by the mainstream media and establishment politicians for the events that unfolded on January 6th, members of congress are moving to further compromise the lives of those who werent even involved in the infamous siege. While many Trump supporters have been quietly disposed of by their employers, this has largely been a policy of businesses to choose with whom they want to associate with as privately owned companies. However, according to Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), supporters of Donald Trump should be barred from the public sector as well. Murphy, a member of the House Armed Services Committee who came to the U.S. from her native Vietnam as her family fled the Communist regime in 1979, is behaving much in the way a Communist would. She has proposed legislation that bars anyone associated with the Stop the Steal movement or who believes in the QAnon conspiracies from being able to get a security clearance which would prevent them from joining the U.S. military, where clearances are required, as well as hold any number of federal jobs. Remember when Democrats like her believed in the fake Trump-Russia collusion conspiracy? Maybe Republicans, when they were in the majority, should have proposed and passed legislation barring any Democrats who bought in to that BS from getting clearances or federal jobs; who needs those whack jobs, right? The legislation, titled the Security Clearance Improvement Act of 2021, requires applicants looking to obtain or renew their federal security clearances to disclose if they participated in the Jan. 6 rally in Washingtonor another Stop the Steal eventor if they knowingly engaged in activities conducted by an organization or movement that spreads conspiracy theories and false information about the U.S. government, the left-wing Daily Beast reported. The bill is actually unconstitutional because it specifically targets as in, discriminates against the presidents supporters, meaning they are being persecuted for their political views. It doesnt get any more anti-American than that, but really, when have Democrats ever cared about the Constitution, unless of course, it works to their advantage? One Twitter user hit the nail on the head: Basically, If you question what the government does, we wont let you see what the government does. Democrats are putting forth a new bill that would bar you from obtaining a security clearance if you participated in a Stop the Steal event Basically: If you question what the government does, we wont let you see what the government does pic.twitter.com/2gI6bNwyfI Yung Zoomer (@YungZoomer) January 22, 2021 No doubt this wont be the last effort by Democrats to capitalize on the riot (notice how they only care when rioters are 20 feet away from them, not several miles or even thousands of miles away on the opposite coast). There will be additional efforts to de-person Trump supporters and deny them basic civil rights over the fabricated claim that they are national security risks. See more reporting like this at CivilWar.news. Sources include: NaturalNews.com BigLeaguePolitics.com The European Union has demanded access to AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in UK plants as the blocs row with the pharmaceutical giant over a shortage of doses intensified. European health commissioner Stella Kyriakides told the firm on Wednesday it is contractually obliged to send jabs produced in Oxford and Keele to EU member states. AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot argued supply chain teething issues were fixed in the UK ahead of the bloc because Britain signed a contract three months earlier. But Ms Kyriakides said: We reject the logic of first come first served. That may work at the neighbourhood butchers but not in contracts. She denied the bloc would impose an export ban on vaccines leaving the EU but said the contract signed with AstraZeneca, which worked with Oxford University on its vaccine, contains two factories in the UK. There is no hierarchy of the factories. You are aware in the contracts there are four factories listed but it does not differentiate between the UK and Europe. The UK factories are part of our advance purchase agreements and that is why they have to deliver, she added. We expect the doses that are in an advance purchase agreement to be delivered to the European Union. There were concerns that the UK could face supply issues for the Belgium-manufactured Pfizer jab if the EU imposed export controls, as previously suggested. But Ms Kyriakides said: Let me be absolutely clear, the European Union is not imposing an export ban on vaccines or restricting the export of vaccines to third countries. What we have proposed as a commission is an export transparency mechanism. What it will do is bring clarity on the production capacity of manufacturers. (PA Graphics) In an interview with Italys La Repubblica newspaper, Mr Soriot said we are basically two months behind where we want to be in supplies due to manufacturing issues in Europe, citing problems in a Belgian plant. He said there had been teething issues in the UK supply chain as well but that the deal with Britain was signed three months ahead of the EUs. So with the UK we have had an extra three months to fix all the glitches we experienced, he said. He rejected the suggestion the firm was selling to the highest bidder because we make no profit everywhere under the agreement signed with Oxford University. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that he had total confidence in the UKs supply of jabs. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., neglected to disclose a stock purchase made by her husband last year. But, according to Business Insider, the news outlet that first reported on the forgotten disclosure, she assured Senate officials that she would pay any necessary fines. "I recognize that this untimely filing carries a monetary penalty, which I will pay upon notification from the Senate Select Committee on Ethics," wrote Feinstein said in a letter to the Senate Secretary dated Jan. 6 the day of the Capitol riots. The investment, made by Richard Blum an investor and the founder of Blum Capital, a private equity firm was made to The Generation Lab, a polling firm that studies "young people and the trends that shape their world." Blum purchased $50,000 worth of shares in the firm. The firm confirmed to Business Insider that Blum is an investor. Lawmakers are required to disclose investments greater than $1,000 belonging to them, their spouse or their dependent children. They have 30 days to report after being notified of the purchase, per Insider, and up to 45 days overall. Tom Mentzer, a representative for the lawmaker, told SFGATE: The transaction was reported as soon as the oversight was discovered. We cant speak to why it had been previously overlooked but have been assured that personnel involved in her husbands transactions are aware of the reporting requirements." He also confirmed that any stocks owned by the senator are in a blind trust. Blum, a UC Berkeley alum and a Board of Regents member, was criticized in a report by the California State Auditor last year after writing an "inappropriate letter of support" for an under-qualified, waitlisted Berkeley applicant to Chancellor Carol Christ. That student was admitted. He also was found to have sold stock in biopharmaceutial company Allogene before the pandemic, a move that Feinstein said she was not aware of, per Insider. The Associated Press contributed to this report. India and France on Thursday launched a joint initiative to strengthen cooperation in and work towards global protection. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and French Minister for Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili launched the Indo-French Year of the Environment, under which the two countries will engage in discussions on critical areas of collaboration relating to and allied areas. Various programmes under the initiative will focus on five main themes -- environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable urban development, and development of renewable energies and energy efficiency. Welcoming Pompili on her maiden visit to India, Javadekar emphasised on the significance of alliance in working towards climate change. "We are the two main pillars of the International Solar Alliance launched by PM Narendra Modi. This revolutionary step has changed into a successful experiment. This partnership towards global environment protection will set an example for the rest of the world to work more effectively and efficiently towards sustainable development, Javadekar said. Speaking about India's efforts towards climate change, he said the country has already achieved 26 per cent of reduction of emission intensity. As of 2020 the renewable capacity in India stands at 90 GW which includes 36 GW of solar energy and 38 GW of wind energy, he said. He further added that India looks forward to strengthen the Indo-French cooperation in sustainable development, increase the effectiveness of actions in favour of the global environment protection and give them greater visibility. Pompili reiterated the significance of the Indo-French partnership towards climate change and environment protection and said that through this partnership, France and India look forward to setting an example for the rest of the world. India can motivate many many countries in the field of sustainable development, Pompili said. From the French side, the Indo-French Year of the Environment will be held under the aegis of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs with the support of the Embassy of France in Delhi and its partners. From the Indian side, it will be coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) along with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and other concerned Ministries/Departments/Organisations, a ministry source said. A joint screening committee will also be set up to finalise the calendar of the events for the Indo-French Year of the Environment. Prior to the launch, a bilateral meeting was held between the French delegation and their Indian counterpart here where both the sides deliberated on issues relating to climate change, bio-diversity, blue economy, international solar alliance, cooperation in the field of single-use plastic, etc. (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.) Panaji, Jan 28 : The Goa government has formed a special committee, headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, for the timely maintenance and restoration of the 17th century Basilica of Bom Jesus, Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar told the state Legislative Assembly on Thursday. Kavlekar was responding to a Zero Hour mention made by opposition MLA Sudin Dhavalikar who complained of neglect of the Unesco-endorsed structure which had developed leakage due to non-timely repairs. "The Chief Minister has formed a committee, Old Goa World Heritage area co-ordination Committee which will oversee (repair and restoration works). We will make sure there will be no problems in the future," said Kavlekar, who is also the state's Archives and Archaeology Minister. The Committee comprises the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and officials from the state archaeology, police, public works departments, as well as the Central government's Archaeological Society of India, as well as church officials. Construction of the church complex, of which the Basilica is a part, by the Portuguese colonists was completed in the 17th century. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the church complex, which is located around 10 km from Panaji. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, which is the key heritage building in the complex, also holds the relics of Fr. Francis Xavier, a Spanish Saint, who died in the mid 1500s. Earlier this year, the Basilica had developed leaks in the monsoons and the repair work was delayed because the contractor entrusted with the work was unable to hire workers during the Covid-19 lockdown. [January 28, 2021] Advantage Dental Search Volume Increases by 7x in One Month with Yext Answers NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, today announced its success implementing Yext Answers, its revolutionary search product, on the website of Advantage Dental Oral Health Center, one of Oregon's largest dental care organizations. Before collaborating with Yext, Advantage Dental did not have any site search functionality on its website. As such, answers to questions about the cost of procedures, location information, and paperwork requirements were typically delivered via patient phone calls into a local Advantage Dental practice. Yext Answers's advanced natural language processing (NLP) and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)-powered search experience completely transformed Advantage Dental's website, giving the organization an easy way for the first time to see the questions patients were asking and answer them directly. With Yext Answers, patients can find now what they're looking for directly on Advantage Dental's Answers experience without having to bounce back to a third-party search engine or resort to a time-consuming phone call. Further, Advantage Dental now has insights into what patients are searching for, which gives them a real-time view into what is most top of mind with and how they can better accommodate their patients. Within six weeks of launching Yext Answers, Advantage Dental experienced a 27.5% site search click-through rate. In just one month after making the search bar on its website more prominent, Advantage also saw search volume increase by 7.1x. "We can't plan ahead for unexpected crises like fires, snow storms, hurricanes, or a pandemic bu with Yext, we can rest assured that we're prepared with the right tools when those crises arrive," said Fred Menko, Vice President of Marketing at Advantage Dental. "The ability to manage information about our practices all in one place has been a huge efficiency for us. Months ago, it would have taken us hours to update and make it discoverable on our website and beyond now, with Yext, we can do it in a matter of minutes." "Patient expectations are drastically different in a COVID world, and healthcare organizations can no longer afford to have their website just look good," said Carrie Liken, Head of Industry for Healthcare at Yext. "The amazing success Advantage Dental has achieved with Yext Answers shows just what a difference investing in an enhanced site search experience and answering patient questions on the spot can make in driving patients to conversion." Discover the full story of how Yext modernized Advantage Dental's search experience. About Yext The ultimate source for official answers about a business online should be the business itself. However, when consumers ask questions on company websites, too often they are left in the dark with wrong answers. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud, solves this problem by organizing a business's facts so it can provide official answers to consumer questions wherever people search. Starting with the company website, then extending across search engines and voice assistants, businesses around the world, like T-Mobile, Jaguar Land Rover, BBVA USA, and Kiehl's as well as organizations like the U.S. State Department and World Health Organization trust Yext to radically improve the search experience on their websites and across the entire search ecosystem. Yext's mission is to help businesses and organizations around the world deliver official answers everywhere people search. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area and work-from-home offices all around the world. About Advantage Dental Oral Health Center One of the largest OHP providers in the NW, Advantage Dental Oral Health Center is geographically and numerically one of the largest Dental Care Organizations in the state of Oregon, providing dental services for nearly 320,000 Oregon Medicaid enrollees, many of whom live in areas where dental care is difficult to access. Advantage Dental believes that everyone deserves the same quality care no matter the payment plan or insurance type. Relentlessly dedicated to the mission: To improve the oral health of all, Advantage Dental provides patients with better care, timely education, greater access, innovative solutions, and transformative system change. This unique industry leading approach to dentistry is called Preventistry. This approach ensures families in Oregon receive the best care possible. Media Contact: Amanda Kontor, pr@yext.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advantage-dental-search-volume-increases-by-7x-in-one-month-with-yext-answers-301216855.html SOURCE Yext, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When a post on social media exposed animal traffickers who planned to illegally sell two young jaguars abroad, Nicaragua zookeeper Eduardo Sacasa had a narrow chance to save the cubs. The poachers -- who had already killed the young cats' mother -- were caught red-handed and agreed to hand the animals over, but under one condition. They demanded Sacasa, director of Nicaragua's National Zoo, meet them in the Daukura region and pick up the cubs without bringing any authorities along. So Sacasa flew to the Caribbean city of Bilwi, and then, with the help of four guides, traveled first by car and then up a river by boat to a village to meet the poachers and save the baby jaguars -- one of the most endangered species in Nicaragua. "It's our passion to save these little animals that are in danger of extinction, they're killing them," he told AFP upon return to the capital city of Managua with the felines, a female and a three-month-old male. "They're thin, they (the poachers) gave them cowhide to eat," Sacasa lamented. "They were going to sell them to a Chinese citizen after taking them to Honduras." He explained that lately there have been wild animals roaming through human communities after hurricanes Eta and Iota in November destroyed their habitats. The nervous little green-eyed predators on Wednesday arrived at the zoo south of Managua, where they will spend the next few days getting dewormed and undergoing medical examinations. According to Sacasa, jaguars are among the most endangered species in Nicaragua, along with the tapir. The zoo, which also houses an animal rescue center, is developing a breeding program for jaguars, which can live up to 25 years in captivity, but often do not make it past 10 in the wild, due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting, Sacasa explained. In Nicaragua, jaguars, which are strong hunters capable of taking down even a crocodile in the water, mostly live in the forests along the Atlantic coast. Jaguars, or panthera onca, are listed as "near threatened" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species. bm/mav/dg/caw/bfm (Natural News) New man-made strains of African swine fever are spreading in Chinese pig farms due to the use of illegal vaccines. The disease caused by the strains is not deadly but is expected to hurt pork output in the worlds top producing country. Yan Zhichun, chief science officer of New Hope Liuhe, Chinas fourth-largest pork producer, said that two new strains of African swine fever have infected more than 1,000 adult female pigs on several farms owned by the firm, as well as pigs being fattened for the company by contract farmers. The strains are missing one or two genes and do not kill the pigs like the strain that blighted Chinese farms in recent years. Because infections are mild, officials believe that the use of unauthorized vaccines might have caused the outbreak. But the strains still cause a chronic condition that has decreased the number of newborn piglets and has forced New Hope to cull infected sows. If the outbreak is not contained, the disease is expected to slash Chinas pork output. New swine flu strains likely emerged from vaccines Experts suspect that the new strains may have originated from illicit, faulty vaccines. Beijing-based veterinarian Wayne Johnson said that he detected a less lethal form of African swine fever last year. The virus lacked genetic components known as the MGF360 genes. The strains at New Hope, according to Yan, are missing these genes as well as another set called the CD2v gene. I dont know where [the strains] come from, but we find some mild field infections caused by some sort of gene-deleted viruses, Yan said. Last year, Chinas Harbin Veterinary Research Institute (HVRI) developed a live vaccine for African swine fever with missing MGF360 and CD2v genes. The vaccine, which uses a weakened form of the virus, is the first of its type to show promise. But it carries high risks because it can revert to its wild-type form or mutate to become infectious again. A similar type of jab was used in Spain in the 1960s. It caused a chronic disease in pigs that worsened the outbreak over the next three decades. Since then, no nation has approved a vaccine for African swine fever. Yan suspects that some people replicated the DNA sequences of the virus and that pigs injected with illicit vaccines based on these sequences may be infecting others. Its definitely man-made. This is not a natural strain, Yan said. Though African swine fever does not affect humans, it is wildly contagious and deadly in pigs. Industry insiders said, many Chinese farmers are turning to unapproved products to protect their hogs. Mo Salman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University with experience working on animal health in Asia, said that Chinese laboratories produced several unauthorized vaccines for Asian bird flu strains from 2004 to 2005. He raised concerns back then that these jabs could produce dangerous new variants. Now, hes sounding the alarm once again. The current [African swine fever] unlawful vaccines in China is repeating history, Salman said. Beijing withholding outbreak data Beijing is withholding information about the new strains, replicating its handling of the outbreak that led to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last August, Chinas Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs had tested pigs for different strains of the virus as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal vaccine use. But no findings about it have been released so far. Beijing also refused to disclose who produced the illegal vaccines and how widely they had been used. Chinas secrecy brings back the early days of the pandemic. Leaked recordings of a meeting with the World Health Organization confirmed that the Communist government withheld or delayed information about the Wuhan coronavirus, the pathogen that causes COVID-19. Before this, China also under-reported outbreaks that led to the African swine flu epidemic in 2019, according to Reuters. (Related: Chinese authorities hid the fact that medical staff in coronavirus-hit city were infected.) This epidemic decimated half of Chinas 400 million pig herd. Global pork prices hit record levels and remain high to this day. If the current outbreak is not contained, Chinas pork output is expected to suffer another blow, with effects that can ripple through the global supply chain. Learn more about unsafe drugs and their adverse effects at DangerousMedicine.com. Sources include: StrangeSounds.org ABC.net.au Reuters.com 1 TheGuardian.com Reuters.com 2 A Charles Manson fanatic has had his ashes tattooed into an 'X' on his forehead to match the cult leader and 'Helter Skelter' inked above his eye, five decades after the murderer sent his followers out to kill in order to inspire a race war. Patrick Boos, a 45-year-old married man from New York, paid $600 for the two tattoos linked to the man he described as a 'prophet' saying it was 'a once in a lifetime opportunity' he couldn't pass up. He said he paid tattoo artist and self-proclaimed 'professional weirdo' Ryan Almighty for the privilege after the artist said he got some of Manson's ashes from a former friend of the notorious mass murderer's grandson. He opted for the phrase 'Helter Skelter' to be tattooed above his right eye - a reference to the Beatles' song and the name Manson adopted for the race war he encouraged his followers to start. Boos also decided to get the 'X' to match the notorious killer's own tattoo that he famously carved into his head every day during his murder trial. The so-called 'Manson Family' of cult followers also copied the design on their own faces during the trial and Manson later turned his cross into a full swastika. Boos admitted to Vice that 'it's weird that Charles is a part of me now' and said 'we really dont know' if Manson was responsible for the multiple murders he was convicted of. However he insisted he does not want to start a race war or be like the infamous killer, describing himself as a 'nobody'. Charles Manson fanatic Patrick Boos (above) has had his ashes tattooed into an 'X' on his forehead to match the cult leader and 'Helter Skelter' inked above his eye, five decades after the murderer sent his followers out to kill in order to inspire a race war The 45-year-old sought out Almighty and got in touch with him after he heard he had used Manson's ashes for other pieces of art. 'The tattoo was a once in a lifetime opportunity to me. A piece of history...,' Boos told Vice. 'Its weird that Charles is a part of me now. Kinda creepy, I guess. And I dont think it will affect me in any way.' While he said he was 'sad for the victims' slaughtered by the doomsday cult, Boos said Manson 'is now forever infamously part of history, and I chose to have that DNA history a part of me'. Boos said he does 'think [Manson] did send the Family out for the murders' but said 'we really don't know' and also described the serial killer as a 'prophet'. 'We really dont know if Charles Manson did anything other than being a cult leader - he may have sent others to kill, but he claims he had nothing to do with it,' he said. Boos suggested Manson may have been influenced by drugs or may not have remembered the crimes. 'I think he did send the Family out for the murders. Maybe he was tripping when he told them to do it and doesnt remember saying to do it, I dont know,' he said. Boos (pictured) paid $600 for the two tattoos linked to the man he described as a 'prophet' saying it was 'a once in a lifetime opportunity' he couldn't pass up He opted for the phrase 'Helter Skelter' to be tattooed above his right eye - a reference to the Beatles' song and the name Manson adopted for the race war he encouraged his followers to start Despite his fascination with Manson, Boos said he doesn't want to be like him and doesn't believe there should be a race war. 'I dont want to be like him at all. Im a nobody Id rather be home with my family than be around people,' he said. That said, he told how he opted to get the Helter Skelter tattoo because 'of all the chaos going on today', citing the pandemic, the 'political bulls**t' and Black Lives Matter. 'I decided to go all out and add the Helter Skelter because of all the chaos going on today, which is still going on, with this virus and all the political bullshit and Black Lives Matter,' he said. 'Charlie was a prophet, if you listen to some of his interviews.' When asked if he agreed with Manson's message about a race war, Boos said: 'For him, maybe, but not me. I think I stated what it meant for me: all the chaos going on today in the world around us, how crazy things are right now.' Boos also decided to get the 'X' to match the notorious killer's own tattoo that he famously carved into his head every day during his murder trial. Manson later turned his cross into a full swastika (above) He went on to say it 'has nothing to do with race for me' and said 'people need to unite together'. He added: 'It's bullshit that everyone cant get along because of each others point of views or beliefs.' Boos acknowledged there is a 'stigma' around collecting serial killer's items and that even Manson would think he was 'crazy' but said 'I dont give a s**t what others think'. 'People have said all sorts of stuff, like Im crazy or Im sick. Or the cremains are probably fake. It doesnt bother me,' he said, adding that it had affected his wife more than him because of 'all the mean stuff people were saying'. Boos told Vice he does 'think' the cremains are real but admitted he does not have any proof of authenticity. When Manson died in 2017, some of his ashes were scattered in the Sierra Mountains in California during his funeral service, some were scattered over the Gulf of Mexico and some were given to 'Manson Family' cult member Sandra Good. Manson (in around 1984) died in 2017 behind bars after being convicted of seven murders Good had remained a loyal follower of Manson's up until his death, moving to Hanford, California, to be close to Corcoran State Prison where he was imprisoned and setting up a pro-Manson website. She was given some of the ashes by Manson's grandson Jason Freeman, who was awarded custody of his remains following a bizarre battle between him, longtime Manson pen pal Michael Channels, and LA musician Matt Lentz who claimed he was Manson's son. Almighty wrote in a blog post that he got his hands on the cremains through a man called Tony Miller, who attended Manson's funeral and was friends with Freeman. He said Miller pocketed some of Manson's ashes during the service and gave him some of them to use in art. He has since claimed to have used the cremains in a series of paintings and a mask of Manson's face. Manson being escorted to his arraignment on conspiracy-murder charges in connection with the Sharon Tate murder case Manson died in a California hospital in November 2017 aged 83 after serving more than four decades in prison for the murders of seven people back in 1969. He formed a cult in California known as the Manson Family in 1967. Central to the cult was Manson's beliefs in starting a race war, which prosecutors said was the motive for him sending his followers to commit murder. On August 9 1969, Manson Family members Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins, and Linda Kasabian murdered pregnant actress Sharon Tate at the home she shared with her husband film director Roman Polanski in Cielo Drive, Beverly Hills. They also killed three of Tate's friends - Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger and Voytek Frykowski - and Steven Parent, an 18-year-old man who was visiting the caretaker of the estate. The following night, the same group of young followers - together with Leslie van Houten and Manson - murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their home in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. Manson received nine life sentences for the murders. Some of his followers including Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, Charles 'Tex' Watson and Patricia Krenwinkle were also convicted. 3 1 of 3 Courtesy photo /U.S. Customs and Border Protection Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A Rio Bravo resident has been arrested after she allegedly tried to smuggle about $130,000 in cocaine through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, according to an arrest affidavit. Nayeli Aceves, 18, arrived at the bridge on Jan. 24 driving a 2009 Chevrolet vehicle. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers referred her to secondary inspection. CBP officers said K-9 and X-ray inspections of the vehicle yielded seven packages containing 16.97 pounds with an estimated street value of $130,900. The Cross River State House of Assembly on Thursday backtracked and confirmed Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive chief judge of the state. Hope Obeten, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the Assembly, Eteng Jones, broke the news about Justice Ikpemes confirmation in a Facebook post, Thursday morning. Efa Esua, the member representing Calabar Municipality State Constituency, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES. It was a unanimous decision, we didnt give room for voting, Mr Esua said, Thursday afternoon. When asked why the House made a u-turn on the matter, the lawmaker simply said, It means that the first time we didnt do it right. So, having seen that there was an error, we needed to correct it. Cross River State had been without a substantive chief judge since early 2020 after Mrs Ikpeme, the most senior judge in the state who ought to have been appointed into the position, in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and legal tradition, was disqualified by the assembly allegedly because of her family ties with neighbouring Akwa Ibom State. Mrs Ikpeme is of Akwa Ibom parentage. She was born in Calabar, Cross River, when Akwa Ibom was a part of Cross River. She is married to a man from Cross River, and has been working for decades as a judicial officer, including being a director of public prosecution, and a judge in Cross River. Akwa Ibom was created out of Cross River on September 23, 1987, by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida. A previous confirmation hearing by the House was reportedly manipulated by the state governor, Ben Ayade, against Justice Ikpeme. But the Commissioner for Information in the state, Asu Okang, told PREMIUM TIMES, last year, that people were unnecessarily attacking the state government and Governor Ayade over Justice Ikpemes matter. Mr Okang said the state assembly had the constitutional right to reject Justice Ikpeme. A potential chief judge of the state shut down all the court, shut down the entire judiciary, mobilised thugs to the assembly, members of the assembly scampered for their safety, just to ensure that she was cleared (by the assembly). Are you aware that Justice Akon (Ikpeme) was asked as part of the screening exercise, In case there was an issue between Cross River and Akwa Ibom State Your Lordship, who would you stand for? You know her response? She said, I would stand down on the case and reassign it to someone else. A chief judge of the state? The commissioner said Cross River has the highest number of political appointees who are not indigenes of the state in Nigeria. There are over 200 of them who are non-Cross Riverians, very recently the appointment of special advisers Muslim affairs, first in the entire South-south. Cross River has two commissioners in the state executive council who have no fatherly lineage to Cross River origin, members of Cross River State Executive Council, the apex body of decision-making and policy-making in Cross River State Government. The governor was the same governor who swore in Justice Akon (Ikpeme) as acting chief judge. In this case, the NJC recommended, the governor forwarded to the assembly, and the assembly declined consent with a simple majority of 15 to eight. We are in a democracy. Fifteen members voted no to the confirmation, eight members voted yes to the confirmation. A clear democratic process! Are we saying that the House of Assembly has no such legislative powers? the commissioner said. ADVERTISEMENT The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over to Kyiv special vehicles worth $ 735,000 for the prompt detection and elimination of accidents on the city's heating networks, Kyiv City State Administration said on its website. "Three emergency vehicles and a mobile diagnostic laboratory will allow the Kyivteploenergo municipal company on average two and a half hours faster to restore heat supply in the premises of Kyiv residents after network failures, thereby reducing the time of outages, reducing losses, operating costs and improving the quality of heat supply services," the local authorities said in the statement. According to Kyiv City State Administration's website the emergency vehicles are completed with modern equipment, a portable generator, power tools, protective equipment, pipeline sections and valves. The mobile laboratory allows non-invasive diagnostics of which parts of the system are at high risk of damage and require preventive maintenance. As reported, on December 2018, Kyivteploenergo and Kyiv City State Administration signed a memorandum with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on cooperation in the modernization and development of the heat and power supply sector in Kyiv. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor has sought to ease tensions with his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan after he suggested Australia should speak with a little more diplomacy and respect towards China. Senior Australian government officials are infuriated at Mr OConnors comments, which they see as a continuing pattern of New Zealand not joining other allies in standing up to Chinas growing assertiveness in recent months. NZ Trade Minister Damien OConnor and Chinas Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, sign an upgraded free-trade deal via video-link on Tuesday. Mr OConnor called Mr Tehan on Thursday to reiterate that he did not intend to speak for Australia when making the comments. Appearing on American business channel CNBC on Wednesday, Mr OConnor said New Zealand had a mature relationship with China and weve always been able to raise issues of concern. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results A landlord ordered by the court to take measures to reduce noise levels at two of his rented properties near University College Cork, described in court as Covid party houses, has mounted a High Court challenge against the orders. Fachtna OReilly, of Model Farm Rd, Cork, is facing fines of 1,000 and/or up-to 12 months in jail for breaches of the order. Mr O'Reilly, who is in his early 80s, was granted relief by the High Court just before Christmas to challenge the legality, by way of a judicial review, of the orders which were obtained in Cork District Court last summer. The two residents who brought the private prosecutions against Mr OReilly under environmental legislation last July, have contested the matter. The hearing was adjourned earlier this month for hearing next week. It is understood that legal correspondence between the parties is ongoing. The orders were granted by Judge Olann Kelleher last July arising out of two private prosecutions taken by two long-term residents who live close to the two rented properties and who are alleging noise pollution. The houses were described in court as "Covid party houses" and "party central". Sadie OMahony and Mairead OCallaghan brought proceedings under Section 108 of the Environment Protection Agency Act 1992, alleging that Mr OReilly was the person responsible for the following noise, namely loud music, persistent shouting, and rowdy and aggressive behaviour during the day, into the night and the early hours of the morning at two properties near University College Cork. They were supported in their action by fellow members of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association, which led a high-profile campaign last year over the holding of a series of what they called "J1-style or Magaluf-type" Covid-19 lockdown house parties which were occurring in a number of rented properties in their area during the height of the first lockdown. Judge Kelleher found in favour of the two women and gave Mr OReilly, a retired lecturer at Cork Institute of Technology, a week to take measures to reduce noise levels at the properties. Its up to you to make all the running on this, the judge said at the time. When the issue returned to court a week later, the judge was told that Mr OReilly had spoken to the tenants in the party houses and had given them a warning letter. The court was told that he had installed a system for logging noise levels at the houses, that he had installed CCTV outside both properties and that he paid the costs the local residents had incurred in bringing their complaint to court. Mr O'Reilly's solicitor, Eamonn Murray, asked the judge not to impose an order on Mr OReilly and to adjourn the case with no order to see how things would go in light of steps taken in the past week. The significance of the order is that any breaches of it would be punishable by a fine of up to 1,000 and/or a 12-month jail term. However, Judge Kelleher did impose the order on him formally. He said he was conscious of the fact that Mr OReilly was 80 at the time and recently widowed and accepted he had done the right thing in the past week but wondered why it had taken until now. Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot U.S. Army North has ordered 80 military personnel to help hospitals in Abilene, Lufkin and Eagle Pass in the nations ongoing battle against coronavirus. Acting at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the command based at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has conducted similar missions across the country over the past several months, including in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Wisconsin and North Dakota. The teams will arrive Friday in the latest such effort, to support Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, CHI St. Lukes Health-Memorial Hospital in Lufkin and Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center in Eagle Pass. This is the fourth time Department of Defense medical assets have deployed to support our home state, said Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of Army North and the Joint Land Force Component Command. While COVID-19 continues to challenge communities here and across the U.S., we remain steadfast in our support of our local, state and federal partners. The Army Reserve and Navy continue to provide 50 uniformed medical personnel in Chinle and Tuba City, Ariz., and Shiprock and Gallup, N.M. Another 40 military medical personnel from the reserve began supporting Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona on Jan. 9. Some 40 military personnel will end their deployments Friday at hospitals in Colton and Stockton, Calif., but 185 will remain at six hospitals in five cities across that state: Lodi, Fresno, Torrance, Moreno Valley and Los Angeles. The missions of about 45 troops in Wisconsin supporting four hospitals in four cities, and 60 airmen at six cities in North Dakota, have been completed. About 60 Air Force medical personnel supported three hospitals in El Paso late last year. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases Elements of two organizations, Task Forces 46 and 51, continue to support the medical teams. Task Force 46 is made up primarily of the Michigan Army National Guard's 46th Military Police. Task Force 51 is Army Norths forward-deployable headquarters. As the national strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness states, we can and we will beat COVID-19, Richardson said. This is truly a joint effort and I am confident that collectively our service members are up to the task. sigc@express-news.net (@ChaudhryMAli88) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) The United States filed wire- and mail-fraud against a businessman who purchasing huge quantities of protective equipment (PPE) at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and sold his stash to healthcare providers at inflated prices, the Justice Department said in a press release. "The indictment alleges that after the first US-confirmed case of COVID-19, [Kenneth] Ritchey participated in a scheme to defraud health care providers, including the VA [Veterans Administration], of more than $1.8 million by acquiring PPE and other designated materials from all possible sources, including home improvement stores and online retailers, and ultimately hoarding the same," the release said on Wednesday. Due to nationwide PPE shortages and COVID-19-related fears, Ritchey then directed sales representatives to solicit health care providers, including the Veterans Administration, to purchase PPE and other designated materials at excessively inflated prices through high-pressure sales tactics and through misrepresenting sourcing and actual costs, the release also said. For example, the indictment claims that Ritchey sold N-95 face masks to the Veterans Administration and other health care providers for as much as $25.00 per mask, despite acquiring such masks at much lower prices. Ritchey made his initial appearance Wednesday before US Judge Robert Myers in the state of Mississippi, according to the release. Millions of homeowners must be protected from the crippling cost of replacing faulty cladding affecting millions of homes, Labour warned today. Sir Keir Starmer said the current situation was 'intolerable' and called on the Government to set out what it planned to do. Almost four years on from the Grenfell Tower disaster that left 72 people dead and scores injured it was 'beyond frustrating' that issues with flammable cladding had still not been resolved, he said. Labour said millions of homes - up to 16 per cent of housing stock - could be affected, with residents trapped in dangerous properties they cannot sell. The Opposition will force a Commons vote on Monday calling on ministers to establish the extent of the problem, provide upfront funding to ensure cladding remediation can start immediately, and protect leaseholders - and the taxpayer - from the cost by chasing the construction firms responsible. Sir Keir told LBC Radio: 'What I would say to the Prime Minister and Government - it's an open offer really - if on Monday you have got a better proposition, if you on Monday come and say 'we are going to do this on cladding, sort it out once and for all', then we will certainly all pull together and do it.' Almost four years on from the Grenfell Tower disaster that left 72 people dead and scores injured it was 'beyond frustrating' that issues with flammable cladding had still not been resolved, Keir Starmer said. He said the current situation was 'intolerable' and called on the Government to set out what it planned to do. The inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell fire in Kensington, west London, in which 72 people died, has exposed how hundreds of apartment blocks were built which do not comply with safety regulations. The Government has said developers and building owners should fix the safety crisis, but current leasehold law means residents in the flats must foot the bill. Last week it was revealed big building firms face a multi-billion-pound levy to help families pay to repair homes with dangerous cladding in the wake of the Grenfell fire. It could a mean a levy on all high rise flats and possibly a separate charge on major developments to atone for building tens of thousands of flats and homes with unsafe cladding and insulation in recent decades. The levy could raise up to 200million a year a total of 2billion over ten years. On Wednesday Boris Johnson told MPs that Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick would be producing a plan 'very shortly'. Shadow housing secretary Thangam Debbonaire said: 'Millions of innocent leaseholders are seeing their dream of home ownership become a nightmare, forced to spend lockdown trapped in unsafe and unsellable flats, with bills mounting. The number of bankruptcies is growing. 'Government inaction on the cladding scandal has gone on for too long. Buildings must be made safe and residents must be protected. 'Ministers have consistently promised leaseholders they would not have to pay for this work, but consistently failed to deliver. 'Conservative MPs will have the chance to vote to ensure that the Government keeps its promise and leaseholders are not burdened with the cost of fixing problems they did not cause.' In order to develop the agriculture sector, significant policies and regulations must be extended to farm-based EVs in national as well as local contexts Rural logistics is a critical link for the proper functioning of the agricultural supply chain. It serves the primary purpose of providing timely inputs to farms and delivery of agricultural output to consumption centres across the agri-food value chain. A robust and resilient functioning of rural logistics is important for Indias food security and this was further realised during the COVID-19 crisis. While there are multimodal transport systems, transportation of agricultural goods is primarily dependent on road transport facilities. However, it is characterised by high costs as both vehicle-operating costs and food quality maintenance costs across the supply chain should be considered. The dominance of small and marginal farmers in India makes these aspects even more critical. The existing scenario can be improved rapidly by including disruptive low-cost innovations like passive cooling and electric mobility for improving the rural logistics scenario. These interventions can accelerate rural development while increasing farmers income and ensuring the availability of quality farm produce for direct consumption or processing in urban clusters as discussed below: Electric vehicles (EVs): Eco-friendly EVs, coupled with an appropriate OPEX model, can mitigate several transportation challenges faced by farmers. The major challenges faced by farmers are: Expensive transit cost for small-sized lots from farm to market Limited access to vehicles for transportation of produce to markets during peak harvest seasons Limited scope of first and last-mile delivery to remote areas Value proposition of EVs 50 percent cost savings in fuel as compared to internal combustion engines 20 percent cost savings in maintenance costs as compared to internal combustion engines Can operate in a hub-and-spoke model for transportation of produce to markets and retail selling Has the potential to enable cooperatives and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) to set up and manage first and last-mile operations with reduced carbon footprints at a much lower cost EVs can be charged at solar-based charging stations and installed within built advanced telematics for real-time tracking and management. There have been rapid developments in policies, regulations and technologies related to Indias electric mobility ecosystem in recent years. The government prioritised promoting and manufacturing EVs on a mission-mode approach in 2011 which led to the launch of the National Mission for Electric Mobility (NMEM and subsequently the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 in 2013, which envisaged the cumulative sale of EVs to reach 1516 million units in India by 2020. Further, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) India scheme was launched in 2015 under the aegis of the NEMPP 2020 by the Department of Heavy Industries (DHI). The DHI supported the manufacturing of 2.78 lakh hybrid/EVs under the first phase of the FAME India scheme. The scheme provided a significant thrust to the electric mobility sector in India, leading to national and state-level stakeholders taking actions that created a better environment for manufacturing and promoting hybrid/EVs in the country. The policies currently focus on converting public transport such as commercial two-wheelers, cars and buses into EVs. In order to develop the agriculture sector, significant policies and regulations must be extended to farm-based EVs in national as well as local contexts. It is encouraging to note that in recent years, EV innovation in India has been led by startups that have developed vehicles and charging/battery swapping ecosystems that cater to the unique needs of the Indian consumer. Hence, with the right push towards innovation, electric mobility and participation of large manufacturers can be prioritised for strengthening mainstream farm-based transport facilities and reducing overall costs and emissions. Passive cooling technology can bring efficient cold chain infrastructure to the doorsteps of farmers and consumers. Most perishable produce like fruits and vegetables are highly wasted due to the lack of cold chain facilities from farms to consumption centres. The high cooling costs and limited access to cold chain infrastructure lead to extensive wastage across the value chain, especially for small and marginal farmers. Passive cooling technologies provide an efficient solution to this situation by drastically reducing the cost of cooling and thereby the cost of logistics for reefer transport. Passive cooling technologies are suited for multimodal transport and are equally suitable for small farmers who have smaller outputs, as well as large traders dealing in container volumes. Apart from reducing the cost of transport, the technologies provide other advantages for maintaining the quality of produce across the cold chain which can significantly enhance the realised profits for farmers. These new and emerging technologies can make agriculture more profitable and sustainable for farmers. They also have the potential to generate employment in rural areas for local entrepreneurs and assist them in running the operating model by strengthening necessary infrastructure, equipment and network, and providing information and enabling services. Kumar is Partner - Clean Energy and Kakra is Leader, Food and Agriculture, PwC India Hryvnia weakens to U.S. dollar on Jan 28 The rate against the euro is fixed at UAH 34.12. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter (a) Molecular structure of the l-PN(THS) oligomer series. (b) Band diagram for the materials employed in the OLEDs. TFB (Poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-(4,4?-(N-(4-sec-butylphenyl)diphenylamine)]) and F8BT molecular structures are illustrated respectively above and below the relative band diagrams. (c) OLED architecture including ITO patterned glass substrate, poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole-transport layer, TFB electron/exciton blocking layer, F8BT:l-P6(THS) NIR light-emitting layer and Ca/Al cathode. Credit: Alessandro Minotto, Ibrahim Bulut, Alexandros G. Rapidis, Giuseppe Carnicella, Maddalena Patrini, Eugenio Lunedei, Harry L. Anderson, and Franco Cacialli Near-infrared emitters (NIR) will be of crucial importance for a variety of biomedical, security and defense applications, as well as for (in)visible light communications and the internet-of-things (IoT). Researchers from the UK and Italy have developed porphyrin oligomer NIR emitters which afford high efficiencies despite being totally free from heavy metals. They demonstrated organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) at 850 nm with 3.8% peak external quantum efficiency, together with a novel quantitative model of device efficiency. The ability to manipulate near-infrared (NIR) radiation has the potential to enable a plethora of technologies not only for the biomedical sector (where the semitransparency of human tissue is a clear advantage) but also for security (e.g. biometrics) and ICT (information and communication technology), with the most obvious application being to (nearly or in)visible light communications (VLCs) and related ramifications, including the imminent Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. Compared with inorganic semiconductors, organic NIR sources offer cheap fabrication over large areas, mechanical flexibility, conformability, and, potentially, bio-compatibility. However, the emission efficiency of organic emitters in the NIR is hindered by the detrimental effects of certain types of aggregation/packing of the emitters in the solid state and by the generally observed increase of non-radiative rates upon reduction of the energy gap (EG), i.e. the so-called "energy-gap law" (EG-law) for radiationless transitions. Hybrid organic/inorganic innovative materials such as perovskite methylammonium lead halide and quantum dots may offer a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) alternative, but their heavy-metal content will prevent their use in most applications, especially biocompatible or wearable ones. Toxicity issues can also affect phosphorescent materials incorporating toxic heavy elements. In a new paper published in Light: Science & Applications, an international team of scientists, led by Professor Franco Cacialli at University College London and Professor Harry Anderson at the University of Oxford report novel non-toxic and heavy-metal-free organic NIR emitters and OLEDs characterized by emission peaking at ~ 850 nm and a maximum 3.8% external quantum efficiency (EQE). The authors use optical spectroscopy to elucidate how it is possible to leverage the increasing spatial extent of excited states with oligomer length to favorably manipulate the competition between radiative and nonradiative processes (quantified by the radiative and nonradiative rates, kr and knr respectively), while simultaneously suppressing aggregation. Surprisingly, instead of a decreasing photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) with oligomer length (and thus with reducing gap), a steady increase and eventual saturation of the PLQY is observed at around the hexamer (l-P6(THS)). While surprising, this behavior can be understood by considering that in these systems conjugated triple-bond-based bridges between the porphyrins allow effective intra-molecular electronic coupling among the macrocycles, and so enable the radiative (singlet) excited state (exciton) to delocalize over increasing portions of the molecule. This forces an increasing mismatch of the spatial extent of the radiative (singlet) and of the non-radiative (triplet) excitons, in view of the intrinsically localized nature of the triplets. Such a mismatch is expected to suppress intersystem crossing (ISC) between singlets and triplets and therefore the non-radiative rate (knr). In addition, exciton delocalization is also expected to favor decoupling from vibrational ladders (and thus circumvent the EG-law). Remarkably, the growth of the nonradiative rate as a function of the decrease of the energy gap (forced by the increased oligomer length) is characterized in these systems by a logarithmic rate an order of magnitude smaller than in previous studies. Second, bulky trihexylsilyl side chains are attached to the porphyrins to prevent aggregation quenching, through steric hindrance, which limits - interactions (see chemical structure in Figure 1). The basic photophysics and material design breakthrough has been confirmed by incorporating an F8BT:l-P6(THS) blend in OLEDs, with which an average EQE of 1.1% and a maximum EQE of 3.8% at a peak wavelength of 850 nm were demonstrated (Figure 2). A novel quantitative model was also developed to analyze the results, which implies the importance of triplets to singlets conversion processes (e.g. reverse inter-system crossing, and/or thermally activated delayed fluorescence) to account for the EQE values beyond the apparent limit imposed by spin-statistics. EL spectra of the OLEDs incorporating F8BT:l-P6(THS) as active layer collected at 15 and 24 V (i.e. the maximum radiance voltages) without and with EBL respectively (a), EQE versus current density (b) and corresponding JVR curves (inset). Credit: Alessandro Minotto, Ibrahim Bulut, Alexandros G. Rapidis, Giuseppe Carnicella, Maddalena Patrini, Eugenio Lunedei, Harry L. Anderson, and Franco Cacialli The EQEs presented in the paper are, to the best of the authors knowledge, the highest reported so far in this spectral range from a 'heavy-metal-free' fluorescent emitter. The authors summarize the significance of their work, noting that, "Not only do our results demonstrate milder increases of knr with (reducing) EG than in the literature, but, most importantly, they also provide a general strategy for designing high-luminance NIR emitters." "In the short term, they may enable further development of OLEDs in this challenging spectral range for a wide range of potential applications spanning from the life-sciences (biochemical wearable sensors, in vivo sub-surface bio-imaging, to name just two), security (e.g. biometrics), horticulture, and (in)visible light communications (iVLC), a serious contestant to alleviate the bandwidth demands of the imminent Internet-of-thing (IoT) revolution." "More importantly, and in perspective, these findings are significant to a range of disciplines." Over the past seven days, the number of new cases of COVID-19 has ranged between nine hundred and sixty four and just under two thousand cases per day, with more than 60 per cent of the states in the country recording sharply rising numbers of cases daily. Whereas these statistics could easily be chalked up solely to the increased testing capability and widened laboratory coverage that have enhanced the access to COVID-19 tests of communities previously unable to gain such access, unfortunately, with the rising numbers of cases, there are regrettably more frequent reports of case severity and deaths. Facilities ear-marked for the isolation and treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 patients in need of medical care are fast running out of capacity and life-saving interventions. Medically-provided oxygen, essential for managing the growing number of patients who are out of breath, is now as scarce as fine gold. The upsurge in the daily consumption of oxygen in many of its COVID-19 treatment facilities, has forced the Lagos State government to set up its own oxygen plant to meet patients demand. The country saw an exponential increase in the number of cases in the aftermath of the holiday season. This should have been anticipated and provisioned for were we the kind of country that learns lessons from other peoples experiences. We have, however, responded to this challenge as if it were business as usual, with key cogs in the healthcare system exhibiting a mystifying lack of urgency in their response to this second wave of the pandemic. Walk or drive along the streets of the countrys busiest cities, and you would be hard pressed to locate face masks being used by pedestrians, even in heavily populated and busy parks, markets, shops, offices, and bus stops. Aside from the daily reports released by the NCDC, one would think that the pandemic was pretty much over at least in Nigeria. While authorities at the federal level and in many of the states with a few exceptions could be said to have put some preventive protocols and regulations in place to guide the public, even if these have not been communicated or enforced well enough across the country, the rather unfortunate role of numerous opinion leaders from the religious to the political in sowing doubt about the existence or virulence of the disease has been quite galling. This has inspired behaviours largely driven by ignorance and supernaturalism in the general population, which have compounded the present public health crisis pertaining to COVID-19 in Nigeria. Whatever explains the initial low occurrence of cases, comparatively speaking, in our land, we should not push our luck too far. This yet-to-be-explained circumstance, plus the proliferation of conspiracy theories may have contributed in no small measure to limiting our success in having the populace take the threat of the pandemic seriously. If one thing is clear, even in this second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that the mode of transmission of the virus, regardless of which variant it may be, remains largely unchanged. It is still transmitted from person-to-person through droplets from asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Therefore, preventive measures such as wearing face masks correctly, physical distancing, frequent hand washing and use of sanitisers, remain unambiguously valid. 2020 was a difficult year, and the COVID-19 pandemic dismantled many of the societal norms and cultural practices that are tied to our identity as Nigerians and as Africans. Norms such as gathering in celebration and worship; and practices such as congregating closely in friendship and fellowship, have been upended. But, tragically, as at the end of the year, the pandemic had also deprived more than 1,350 Nigerian families of at least one member. We do not need to wait for more deaths to recognise that we have a dire situation and react to it with the urgency that it requires. First, the intensity with which the COVID-19 preventive measures were upheld during the first wave needs to be rekindled. The wearing of face masks, physical distancing and restrictions on public gatherings are now regarded as personal and collective choices, and it is not uncommon to see event centres and venues packed with traffic from throngs of event attendees. Enforcing restrictions on public gatherings and ensuring the adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures in schools and higher institutions of learning are especially essential at this time. As such, there is the need for governments in the country to be more proactive around enforcement, with an instructive case being the COVID-19 Marshals announced by the Kano State Government to police compliance with protocols around preventing the transmission of the virus. Secondly, there is an urgent need for an integrated communication strategy led by trusted non-state actors that should be directed at increasing the understanding of the populace. The information made available to the public should be delivered in a way that is relatable and could be easily disseminated, using local languages and media. To avoid conflicting information or misinformation, it is vital to engage community leaders to inform and engage their communities with harmonised messages. Much of the information surrounding the pandemic has been delivered with elite and enlightened audiences in mind. Even then, in a backdrop of societal mistrust of authority, it is little wonder Nigerians appear to have moved on from COVID-19. Prioritising the messengers and not just the message is critical, as we have seen that knowledge does not equate to trust. The publics mistrust of government is further entrenched by the current communication of the countrys vaccine strategy. The initial delivery of 100,000 doses has been said to be reserved for frontline health workers and strategic public officials, to be allocated in a manner that speaks more to political considerations and is quite far from the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current case distribution in the country. Government at all levels should clearly communicate the vaccine strategy in a coordinated, transparent, and accountable manner, or else risk the feeding of the publics lack of confidence in the government. Thirdly, this current wave of the pandemic has again brought into sharp focus the fragility of Nigerias primary healthcare system. With many of the COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities shut down in the last phase of the previous wave, newly confirmed cases with access to healthcare had only their primary care providers across the public and private sector to interface with, and in a health sector plagued with an insufficient workforce due to the incessant brain drain of skilled health workers, ill-equipped facilities, and a dearth of critical equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE), and ventilators, it comes as no surprise that the numbers of severe cases of COVID-19 are rising and the disease is taking more lives. ADVERTISEMENT It is therefore imperative that primary healthcare structures are strengthened with necessary equipment and manpower, so that essential health services are provided, and early diagnoses made. Strengthening primary healthcare systems ensures a robust first line of defence against unchecked infectious disease outbreaks, with skilled and equipped frontline workers testing, tracing, treating and where necessary referring infected individuals, thus forming the backbone of the pandemic response efforts. Carrying out effective testing and tracing in the populace once again relies on public trust and peoples confidence that the health policies, preventive measures, and health system in place exist to serve them and their communities and can and will ultimately keep them safe. In addition to sound, transparent investment, government, and the healthcare workers must ensure that the systems are people-centred to build community trust, which will drive adherence to critical infection prevention measures and acceptability of vaccines when finally available. Lastly, the scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health facilities across the country has left many health workers exposed to infection with the virus, and given the global demand for PPE and strained global supply chains, the fact that domestic manufacturing of PPE has not been sufficiently enabled at a scale adequate to protect the nations frontline workers, has left a very wide gap in health security. According to the Vice President of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), more than 70 per cent of health workers have been infected with COVID-19 at some point. Considering that these health workers provide care in communities where they often reside with their families, cases will continue to spread like wildfire. It is thus evident that developing the local industry for PPE is the countrys main hope for protecting the health workers at the frontline and as importantly, these protective equipment ought to be systematically distributed, and workers trained on their effective use across primary care centres, district hospitals and teaching hospitals, thereby ensuring coverage at the three levels of healthcare in both the public and private sectors. Nearly 90 per cent of health facilities in the country are primary healthcare providers, and private facilities provide over 30 per cent of healthcare to Nigerians. The continued exclusion of primary care and private facilities in the distribution of essential equipment is therefore most unwise. The relentless increase in numbers of cases of COVID-19 is not a fluke but a direct consequence of the laxity with which individuals have confronted the continued pandemic. Without a strong, coordinated, strategic and people-centred response, we can only expect to see escalating numbers of avoidable fast-filled hospital bed spaces and rapidly dug-up graves because of this virus. The good thing is there is still a small window in which to act and save the lives of thousands if not millions of Nigerians. We must act with a determined, deliberate, collective sense of urgency, and we must act now. 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. Womens rights advocates and allies in Poland vowed on Thursday to continue to fight a near-total ban on abortion, calling it a breach of human rights and a sign that the country is regressing. The constitutional court ruling, which abruptly came into effect Wednesday night, tightened Polands already restrictive laws to further ban abortions in cases of fetal abnormalities. It immediately spurred thousands of outraged Poles to take to the streets to express their defiance, despite limits on public gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic. This decision is a declaration of war, Marta Lempart, a protest organizer, said in an phone interview on Thursday. When the ruling was first announced in October, it set off a month of protests on a scale not seen since the 1989 collapse of communism. A map based on evidence from key police witnesses shows the shocking extent of a 17-year-old's road-rage spree through the streets of Brisbane, just minutes before he ploughed into a pregnant woman and her boyfriend, leaving both dead. The behaviour of the teenager over roughly ten minutes before the horror crash that claimed the lives of Kate Leadbetter, 31, and Matthew Field, 37, was crucial in police deciding to charge him with murder, not a lesser charge. So too was video posted to Facebook that showed the 17-year-old allegedly showing him driving erratically. The footage caught the teen driver - who cannot be named - abusing and gesturing towards a family at a red light, before appearing to deliberately crash into their car. Chris and Angela Fleming had begun to film the driver after themselves having a run in with him. Mr Fleming told Daily Mail Australia they have been told by detectives that the video is a crucial piece of evidence in the case against the teen over Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field's deaths. A map based on evidence from key police witnesses shows the shocking extent of a 17-year-old's road-rage spree through the streets of Brisbane, just minutes before he ploughed into the couple A 17-year-old (left) has been charged with two counts of murder over the horror deaths of Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field (both right) at Alexandra Hills, in suburban Brisbane, on Tuesday The Toyota LandCruiser that the teenager was allegedly driving lies damaged at the scene of the horror crash around 5.20pm on Tuesday. Moments earlier it had allegedly been used in a road rage incident on a nearby road 'The only reason why he's getting charged with murder is our video,' Mr Field said. 'We stuck around at the scene so we could provide the video to police and we went in and spoke to detectives yesterday too. 'They told us it is one of the most important bits of evidence because it shows his intent before the accident.' Queensland Police confirmed that detectives had charged the teen with murder, not a lesser charge, because of a unique provision under the state's legislation. In Queensland, an outcome that is defined as a probable consequence of an action, can result in the individual being charged for that. 'There is provision in certain circumstances where a criminal reckless or negligent act can result in a murder charge if a death was a foreseeable and probable consequence of that illegal act,' Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said this week. 'Our investigations have considered the evidence so far before them and have preferred that charge, and that will ultimately be considered by the court.' Mr Fleming first came across the teenage driver after pulling out of the Alexandra Hills Shopping Centre and onto Cambridge Drive about 5.07pm. Within moments a white Toyota LandCruiser had pulled up right behind him. 'I first came across him about three minutes before we started recording,' he said. 'We just pulled out of Alexandra Hills shops and onto Cambridge Drive and he came screaming up behind us and tried to play with us. 'He pulled right up to the arse end of my car, so close you couldn't see his bullbar. 'I didnt want anything to do with him so he overtook us on a blind corner going over a hill crest. If there was a car coming the other way they would have both been dead then and there.' Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field were taking their dogs Frankie and Django for their usual afternoon walk when they were struck Frankie (pictured) survived the horrific crash but fled the scene in terror immediately after. He was found by a large search party in dense bushland the next morning Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field's dog Frankie is carried out of bushland on Wednesday morning at the end of a long search by locals, friends and family to find the dog Mr Fleming said he and his wife were so shocked at the driver's antics they decided to film him. 'He pulled into a left turn only lane and was hanging outside the car window saying "Do you want to race, do you want to race?",' Mr Fleming said. 'He was gesturing and calling them c***s. Then, as you see in the footage, they take off after a short pause when the light turns green.' In the footage Mrs Fleming can be heard screaming as the Toyota 4WD drives into the side of the Hyundai i30. While the Hyundai driver pulled over along Allenby Road, the Toyota continued on. Minutes later as it continued to drive the streets of Alexandra Hills, police allege the driver lost control and hit a tow truck - before veering off the road and into Mr Field and Ms Leadbetter, who were taking their two dogs on their usual afternoon walk. The teenager faced Brisbane Children's Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody until his next appearance in early March. The Courier Mail reports he was on bail for 50 unrelated offences at the time of the crash. In a tragic twist of fate, friends of the pair have revealed they went on a different route to normal that day. Locals banded together to hold a vigil at the intersection of Finucane and Vienna Road - where the couple tragically lost their lives Loved ones console each other during the vigil for the young couple on Wednesday night A mourner adds a bouquet of flowers to the growing floral memorial at the intersection where Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field were killed Ms Leadbetter, 31, and Mr Field, 37, died instantly, while their dog Frankie who they had been walking, fled from the scene Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said even the most hardened members of the force had been rocked by the tragedy. 'We, the police department, along with our community, are hurting. Dealing with this sort of tragedy - which is preventable - is incredibly frustrating,' he told the Today show on Thursday. 'I'm limited by law [by what I can say]. I'm not going to compromise our investigation and prosecution. 'The reality of it is... It's something that does my head in. 'I am angry. I'm angry and my people are angry. They're frustrated and they're heartbroken... Can you imagine going and telling a family about the loss of a loved one? It has an impact on our people but we're providing them enormous support.' Today host Karl Stefanovic said the story of the 'beaming and beautiful' expectant parents breaks his heart. 'Just at Christmas. Holding a picture of their unborn baby. Their whole lives ahead of them,' he said on Thursday morning after learning of the couple's walking route. 'But in one horrifying moment on a bayside suburban street that was ripped apart. 'As they left home to walk their dog, we learn this morning they made a fateful decision, turning left when they would ordinarily turn right. 'Moments later, they were struck and killed.' Locals banded together on Wednesday night at a vigil on the corner of Finucane and Vienna Road - the intersection where the parents-to-be tragically lost their lives. Ms Leadbetter's aunt, Danielle Leadbetter, bravely spoke out about the horrific crash which claimed the life of her 'beautiful' niece. 'No parent should have to bury their child. Ever. I feel sorry for everyone involved. The paramedics, police, the people who witnessed it. You never get over a traumatic event,' Ms Leadbetter said. The shattered aunt and uncle of Ms Leadbetter, Danielle and Jason Leadbetter (pictured at vigil), said they would always remember their 'beautiful' niece Candles were laid around the memorial which is only expected to grow as the vigil continues on into the night Distraught mourners turned out in droves to the vigil on Wednesday night after the beloved couple were killed in a horror crash 'I just really would like Queensland to instead of just posting to social media, campaign for change. That is what we need. Campaign for change, campaign for justice, and let's stop this ridiculous loss of life. 'She was just everything that is beautiful in this world so Queenslanders posting on social media, I'm reading it, you're angry, let's change the laws, take this anger and challenge it into something positive so it's not your child that you are burying one day. 'I hope that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and our lawmakers are watching this.' Countless bouquets of flowers and teddy bears were laid at the scene while loved ones bravely spoke out about the loss of the couple. Distraught residents found comfort in each other's arms as crowds turned up to honour the young couple. Candles were laid around the memorial which is only expected to grow as the vigil continues on into the night. A little girl was captured in a heartbreaking photo laying a bouquet of flowers at the couple's memorial while two other distraught children were seen sitting arm-in-arm. Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered his condolences and said his 'heart breaks' for the friends and families of the victims. 'Three beautiful young lives gone in the blink of an eye. I cannot begin to imagine the grief their families are feeling,' he wrote on Wednesday night. Mourners were seen at the vigil late on Wednesday night to honour the couple killed Heartbroken loved ones are seen at the tribute service held for Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field The tribute has grown throughout the day with loved ones and residents dropping off flowers, stuffed animals and candles Flowers, teddy bears and letters were left at the intersection where a young couple were killed on Australia Day 'I'd like to extend my thanks and support to the first responders and witnesses to this horrific accident who fought so hard to try and save their lives. 'Some very small comfort to hear one of the couple's dogs, Frankie, who had run off from the scene last night was found late this morning after the local community rallied together to help find her after a plea from Kate's family.' Ms Leadbetter, who was six months pregnant, is understood to have been working as an interior stylist while her partner worked in fabrications. The young couple had recently shared a photo of their baby's ultrasound as they stood proudly in front of a Christmas tree. Queensland Police are now investigating the potential to lay more charges against the teenager over the death of Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field's unborn baby. 'Here's two people going about their business innocently on Australia Day, walking their dogs, they should be entitled to do that,' Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said of the deaths of Mr Field and Ms Leadbetter A young child is seen laying a bouquet of flowers at the vigil on Wednesday The vigil started at 6pm at the intersection in Alexandra Hills as hundreds of locals paid their respects Children are seen laying candles at the memorial for the couple in Brisbane's east Families lay flowers and candles at the vigil on Wednesday night. The couple were due to become parents in just three months before they were killed 'That's certainly something we'll be considering as part of the ongoing investigation,' Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Cold said on Wednesday. 'Here's two people going about their business innocently on Australia Day, walking their dogs, they should be entitled to do that. 'To have them ripped away from their families is an absolute tragedy, and I can assure you it's impacted very heavily on the first responders and witnesses who faced that.' The 17-year-old had allegedly been driving erratically through the intersection when he ploughed into a tow truck. His car then began to roll and moments later collided with the couple walking their two dogs. It is understood Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field never saw the car coming. A woman wipes away tears during a vigil held for Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field at the intersection where they were killed Huge crowds were seen at the vigil on Wednesday night on the corner of Finucane and Vienna Road Harrowing scenes are pictured at the memorial held on Wednesday night following the tragic deaths of a young Brisbane couple Mr Field was killed instantly while desperate attempts from passersby were made to save his girlfriend's life. The 17-year-old from Waterford West was due to front Brisbane Children's Court on Wednesday but chose not to appear. At a hearing in his absence he was remanded in custody. The teen is understood to have been on bail for 50 unrelated offences when the crash occurred. Outside court the teen's lawyer Patrick Horgan said it had been a 'very traumatic experience for everyone involved'. A GoFundMe page was initially set up to help cover the costs of medical treatment for the couple's dog, Frankie. But after a local vet decided against charging to assess the animal, the funds will now go towards funerals for Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu (l) and gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana are among those who have been named in connection with the violence in Delhi on Republic Day. (IANS photos) Women in 21 provinces and cities in Vietnam who have 2 children before the age of 35 will be rewarded with cash or in kind support, according to a circular issued recently by the Ministry of Health. The circular guides localities in promulgating policies to reward and support collectives and individuals that implement the family and population policy. According to this document, the reward aims to encourage steady maintenance of replacement fertility in 21 provinces that have low birth rates. The provinces and cities with low birth rates include: HCM City, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa, Long An, Bac Lieu, Tay Ninh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Dong Nai, Binh Thuan, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, An Giang, Ben Tre, Da Nang, Quang Ngai and Kien Giang. The average birth rate in these provinces and cities is 1.5 - 1.6 children per woman of reproductive age. The birth rate in HCM City once fell to 1.24 children/woman, the lowest in the country. The circular also proposes rewards and support in cash or in kind to communes and wards in the provinces and cities with low birth rates where at least 60% of couples of reproductive age give birth to two children over three consecutive years. In the provinces with high birth rates, women of reproductive age who already have two children and voluntarily use long-term contraception methods will also be rewarded in cash or in kind. The circular takes effect on March 10. It is considered one of the measures to help Vietnam reduce the large birth-rate gap between regions. Thuy Hanh Authorities worry about seriously falling birth rate in HCM City Alarmingly falling birth rate in HCM City worried authorities as falling birth rates in the city could spell disaster for economic growth and welfare systems. There are more than 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent. A new Canada-Ukraine Mobility Working Group is being established to identify and improve mobility opportunities for Ukrainians seeking to come to Canada, once COVID-19 restrictions are removed, as announced by Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. This mobility working group will let Canada and Ukraine share best practices on migration management, increase recruitment, promote Canada's economic immigration programs and further strengthen cooperation on migration-related matters, Yahoo Finance reports. Read alsoCanadian PM Trudeau issues statement on Holodomor Memorial DayThrough this group, Canada and Ukraine will also work together to finalize a youth mobility agreement that will provide Canadian and Ukrainian youth with opportunities to travel, once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. "Through generations of Ukrainians who have made Canada their home, the Ukrainian-Canadian community continues to make outstanding contributions to Canada's economy, our society and our diverse cultural fabric. The unique partnership that we are announcing today will serve to further strengthen the deep-rooted, people-to-people ties between our two countries," the minister said. Memo There are more than 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent. The CAN+ program was rolled out in Ukraine in 2017. Applications that show that the applicant traveled to Canada in the last 10 years or holds a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa will be sent to the visa office for processing. Since January 2014, Canada has committed more than $800 million in multifaceted support to Ukraine, encompassing a broad range of financial, development, stabilization and security, non-lethal military and humanitarian assistance. Canada's support of the military training and capacity-building mission in Ukraine, Operation UNIFIER, launched in September 2015. It is a key part of Canada's overall effort to aid Ukraine's security, stability and sovereignty. The 2017 Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement eliminated tariffs on 86% of Canada's merchandise exports to Ukraine. In 2019, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Ukraine was approximately $300 million. Reporting by UNIAN Canadian lawmakers voted on Wednesday to grant citizenship to a jailed Saudi blogger whose family lives in Quebec. By a unanimous vote, the House of Commons approved a motion calling on Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino to offer Raif Badawi citizenship in order to remedy a particular situation and unusual distress. The non-binding motion doesn't legally require Mendicino to act. Saudi authorities arrested Badawi in 2012, accusing the popular blogger of insulting Islam though interviews and online posts that were critical of Saudi religious figures. A court sentenced him in 2014 to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a $266,000 fine. The next year, the European Parliament awarded Badawi the Sakharov Prize for human rights. In front of a crowd of spectators outside of a mosque in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Badawai received 50 of his lashes in 2015. The rest of his flogging sentence was suspended amid criticism from human rights campaigners and foreign governments, who called the practice inhumane. In April 2020, Saudi Arabia announced it had abolished flogging as a form of punishment. Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, who lives in the southern Quebec city of Sherbrooke with the couples three children, called the House of Commons vote extraordinary news. Haider, who is allowed limited phone calls with her husband, said the news will give him hope. "He will see that people have not forgotten Raif. Canada and Quebec have not forgotten Raif," Haider, a Canadian citizen, told CBC. On Monday, the city of Brussels adopted Badawi and prominent womens rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul as part of an Amnesty International campaign to create a network of cities defending human rights. A Saudi court convicted Hathloul in December of spying for foreign powers and conspiring against the Saudi government and sentenced her to more than five years in prison. A number of Americans also remained jailed in the kingdom on spurious charges, including Walid Fitaihi. The Harvard-educated physician was convicted in December of charges that include obtaining American citizenship without permission. On Tuesday a group of House Democrats wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to demand Saudi Arabia release Fitaihi and other arbitrarily detained citizens during his first month in office. [January 28, 2021] McGraw Hill Announces Winners of the Second Annual ALEKS All-Star Educator Awards NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw Hill today announced the winners of its second annual ALEKS All-Star Educator Awards, an awards program honoring outstanding educators. This second installment of the program, which was launched in 2019 in celebration of the 20th anniversary of McGraw Hill ALEKS, recognizes K-12 teachers and higher education instructors who have used the ALEKS learning solution to achieve exceptional results, going above and beyond to help learners succeed. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8697151-mcgraw-hill-winners-aleks-all-star-educator-awards/ "In a year characterized by an accelerated transition to digital learning, it has been incredibly inspiring to see the creative and impactful ways educators have used this software to unlock their students' potential," said Simon Allen, CEO of McGraw Hill. "These daring and imaginative instructors are brilliant examples of what educators are capable of. We are so glad to honor these all-stars who make such meaningful differences in the lives of those they teach." The winners of the 2020 ALEKS All-Star Educator Awards are: K-12 Winners: Robert Duncan and Meghan Slotman Robert Duncan, who teaches Algebra at Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg, MD, has used ALEKS as a cornerstone of his fully-virtual instruction plan, and his use of ALEKS has aided him in helping the majority of his students see double-digit percentage increases in the amount of material they've been able to master this year. Several of his students have also seen marked increases in their performance on statewide assessments. Meghan Slotman, who teaches 6th Grade Math at Allendale Middle School in Allendale, MI, has structured a great deal of her face-to-face and virtual instruction around ALEKS; her one-on-one work with students using ALEKS has enabled her, even through the difficulties of remote instruction, to drive impressive increases in her students' mathematics performance and, in turn, increase her students' confidence in their math skills. Higher Ed Winners: Dan Collins and Morteza Barshooi Dan Colins, who teaches Chemistry at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, uses ALEKS as a critical component of his own instruction, while also helping other branches of the University set up ALEKS as part of their arsenal of instructional tools. His students and colleagues all speak highly of his energy, passion, dedication, and instructional skill. Morteza Barshooi, who teaches Mathematics at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC, uses ALEKS as a core element of his curriculum. He is known to his students as a caring, thoughtful, and dedicated instructor. His students speak of his eagerness to support them as much as possible both in and out of the classroom and express their gratitude for the time he takes to ensure they are getting the most out of ALEKS and their time in class. The winners will each receive a $1,000 donation from McGraw Hill to an education-focused non-profit or charity of their choice, a $250 gift card and a collection of McGraw Hill books for professional development. McGraw Hill also recognizes four additional educators with Honorable Mentions. The 2020 ALEKS All-Star Educator Honorable Mentions are: Alan Scharman , Ahern Middle School , Foxborough, MA , , Foxborough, MA Chris Vierling , Urbandale Middle School, Urbandale, IA , Urbandale Middle School, Michael Bailey , Brookhaven College , Farmers Branch, TX , , Kelly Jackson , Camden County College , Camden, NJ Based on the theory of "knowledge spaces" from cognitive science, ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) uses artificial intelligence to create personalized and dynamic learning paths for K-20 students based on their unique needs. Since all students enter a course with varying levels of preparedness, ALEKS's technology pinpoints what students already know, what they don't and, most importantly, what they're ready to learn next. To date, ALEKS has helped more than 20 million students at thousands of K-12 schools, colleges and universities around the world. McGraw Hill McGraw Hill is a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that drive results for students, parents, educators and professionals. We focus on educational equity, affordability and learning success to help learners build better lives. Headquartered in New York City, McGraw Hill has offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education, professionals and others available in more than 75 languages. Visit us at mheducation.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter. Contact: Tyler Reed McGraw Hill (914) 512-4853 tyler.reed@mheducation.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcgraw-hill-announces-winners-of-the-second-annual-aleks-all-star-educator-awards-301217254.html SOURCE McGraw Hill [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Star properties in the Nelson mining camp in southern British Columbia. https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/XimenStarProperties.png Ximen recently signed an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in 25 Crown Granted mineral claims covering 363 hectares in the Nelson camp, collectively referred to as the Star Properties. The Star properties include a group of 22 contiguous Crown Grants situated south of the Kenville gold mine property, 2 Crown Grants that adjoin the Kenville Gold mine property on its west side, and one Crown Grant situated east of Kenville. https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NQ2DrillCoreGold.png ALMA N ZONE VISIBLE GOLD- (top) VST09-009 Andesite;Quartz Vein photo of NQ2 drill core from 121.75 to 121.90m. There is approx. 10-15 very fine grained (<0.5mm) gold flecks at 121.86m (bottom). The one metre wide sample, # 103457 assayed: 14.45 g/t Au, 15.00 g/t Ag and 0.59% Cu. Ximen believes the group of Star claims located south of the Kenville mine is one of the key properties in the Nelson camp. This claim group straddles the margin of the Eagle Creek pluton, which hosts the high-grade gold-quartz veins at Ximen's Kenville property. On the Star ground, widespread disseminated mineralization occurs over a south-southeast trending zone approximately two kilometres in strike length and one half to one kilometre wide. Mineralization includes fracture-controlled pyrite, chalcopyrite and other copper sulfides and oxides, specular hematite and local molybdenite. The best mineralized intercepts occur in steeply dipping zones that are 50 metres or more in width but in some areas, mineralization extends over entire hole lengths (100 metres or more). The gold-silver-copper mineralization is associated with potassic alteration (orthoclase and carbonate), which signifies genesis by a porphyry-type system. As such, this property has excellent potential for a large-tonnage, low-grade gold deposit. https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AlmaNZone3DModel.png Alma N Zone Conceptual 3D Model The Star Crown Grants cover the historic Eureka and Star mines. Historic production at the Eureka was 617 ounces gold, 36,161 ounces silver, 350, 910 pounds of copper and minor lead from 8,995 tonnes mined (3603 tonnes milled). Calculated grades for tonnage mined are 125 grams per tonne silver, 1.8 grams per tonne gold and 1.77% copper. The historic Star mine produced 180 ounces of gold and minor silver and copper from 1,163 tonnes mined. The calculated gold grade is 4.81 grams per tonne. The property has been held since the 1950's when underground development was done at the historic Eureka mine to test high-grade copper-silver bearing fracture zones. Between 1984 and 1988, soil geochemical surveys, geophysical surveys (IP and magnetic) and drilling were done (rotary reverse circulation and core drilling). From 1989 through 1992 the property was further tested. In 1990, three zones were trenched at the Star claim and copper-gold mineralization was traced over an area of 800 by 200 metres, which was then tested by 26 diamond drill holes totalling 5880 metres. Between 2008 and 2011 aerial geophysical surveys and fifteen more holes were drilled. Significant drill intercepts from historic data are listed below. Zone Hole Type From To Length Gold g/t Silver g/t Copper % Eureka 89-5 Diamond 32.0 82.0 50.0 1.10 2.36 0.27 Eureka VST10-11 Diamond 54.0 113.0 59.0 0.65 1.19 0.16 Eureka VST10-11 Diamond 242.0 288.0 46.0 0.35 5.45 0.47 Star S-1 Rotary 5.2 27.4 22.2 0.47 2.00 0.16 Star S-1 Rotary 27.4 118.9 91.5 0.16 N/A 0.12 Star S-8 Rotary 73.2 138.7 65.5 0.74 2.20 0.08 Star S-9 Rotary 4.6 140.2 135.6 0.39 1.06 0.15 Star S-10 Rotary 13.7 70.1 56.4 1.20 3.58 0.26 Star " 70.1 152.4 82.3 0.13 1.55 0.04 Star S-13 Rotary 83.8 120.4 36.6 0.98 6.00 0.12 Star S-35 Rotary 2.1 136.2 134.1 0.66 3.04 0.15 Star S-36 Rotary 3.0 74.7 71.7 0.60 2.37 0.17 Star " 74.7 136.2 61.5 0.25 1.60 0.08 Star S-37 Rotary 3.0 38.1 35.1 0.75 2.90 0.29 Star DDH-51 Diamond 18.3 89.9 71.6 0.78 5.26 0.16 Star " 89.9 149.4 59.5 0.14 1.50 0.09 Star DDH-52 Diamond 12.2 114.3 102.1 0.25 1.04 0.21 Star 89-4 Diamond 13.4 76.0 62.6 0.67 2.49 0.11 Star " 76.0 110.0 34.0 0.26 1.35 0.03 Star " 110.0 188.0 78.0 0.41 2.32 0.19 Star VST08-004 Diamond N/A N/A 24.0 1.16 2.46 0.16 Star VST10-010 Diamond 109.0 127.0 18.0 0.90 3.13 0.27 Alma N S-3 Rotary 25.9 62.5 36.6 2.74 2.90 0.02 Alma N S-5 Rotary 27.4 74.7 47.3 4.30 2.90 0.03 Alma N S-33 Rotary 24.4 65.5 41.2 0.68 N/A N/A Alma N 89-1 Diamond 17.0 96.0 79.0 1.48 1.95 0.03 Alma N VST08-006 Diamond 76.0 88.0 12.0 1.32 0.54 0.01 Alma N " 233.0 245.7 12.7 5.94 3.78 0.01 Alma N VST09-007 Diamond 6.0 50.0 44.0 2.12 1.63 N/A Alma N VST11-013 Diamond 442.0 462.0 20.0 0.11 N/A 0.10 SE S-29 Rotary 20.4 111.3 90.8 0.77 10.30 0.05 SE S-38 Rotary 79.3 121.9 42.7 0.27 8.80 0.08 SE S-41 Rotary 15.2 79.3 64.0 0.41 6.60 0.03 SE S-42 Rotary 12.2 25.9 13.7 0.41 8.00 0.03 According to the terms of the Option Agreement, to acquire 100% interest in the properties Ximen is required to pay the vendors a total of $400,000 over nine years in scheduled varying payments and do work on the property for expenditures totalling $1,000,000 over 10 years in scheduled varying annual increments. The payments and work expenditures can be accelerated. The acquisition is subject to a 2.5% NSR royalty in favour of the vendors that can be reduced to 1.5% by payment of $2,000,000. Readers are cautioned that historical information including the drill records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate. Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Christopher R. Anderson" Christopher R. Anderson, President, CEO and Director 604 488-3900 Investor Relations: Sophy Cesar, 604-488-3900, ir@XimenMiningCorp.com About Ximen Mining Corp. https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/x6.png Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen's two Gold projects The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under a option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has recently acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment. https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/x7.png Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL. This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. 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 statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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. Ximen Mining Corp 888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 Tel: 604-488-3900 XIM images: Pic 1: https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/XimenStarProperties.png Pic 2: https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NQ2DrillCoreGold.png Pic 3: https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AlmaNZone3DModel.png Pic 4: https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/x6.png Pic 5: https://www.ximenminingcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/x7.png SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626452/Ximen-Acquires-25-Crown-Grants-Beside-Kenville-Gold-Mine--Nelson-Mining-Camp In the post immediately below this one, John describes how, in Minnesota, the left is substituting indoctrination for learning. His focus is on plans to teach a virulently anti-American version of our nations history one that, in Johns words, drops almost everything normally regarded as historythe Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Holocaust, and any reference to minor figures like George Washingtonin favor of political indoctrination on the evils of whiteness, Christianity, and capitalism. But the left isnt content with spreading its propaganda through the teaching of U.S. History. It is also determined to do so through the teaching of Civics. And, to take things one step further, the left intends to use Civics classes to promote left-wing activism by students. I warned about this development last month in a post called Reject woke Civics. That post quoted extensively from Stanley Kurtz, who, thank God, is all over this looming disaster. In his latest contribution, Stanley demonstrates how far along the left is in imposing Action Civics on Americas students. He warns: Advocates of Action Civics are poised to press a novel practice on every state education system in the Union. Bills mandating Action civics will soon be introduced in state legislatures across the country; it is already required in Massachusetts and Illinois. The Biden administration is likely to support that effort with federal carrots and sticks, using the model of the Obama administrations support for Common Core. Unfortunately, widespread adoption of Action Civics will definitively politicize an already politically tainted K-12 educational system, irrevocably cementing the partisan Lefts hold upon our culture. Action civics amounts to school-sponsored indoctrination and political action in support of progressive policy positions. It must be energetically opposed by all who value authentic liberal education. What is Action Civics? Says Stanley: Action Civics conceives of itself as a living laboratory in which mere civic theory is put productively into practice. Students, it is held, best acquire civic know-how through direct political action, for example by protesting in favor of gun control or lobbying for legislation to address climate change. Action Civics thus aims to turn students into the shock troops of the left. Thats a move typical of authoritarian and, especially, totalitarian regimes. I think I learned that in Civics class. Back then, Civics teachers had a quaint view of civic instruction. Stanley summarizes that view as follows: True civic education conveys the purpose, nature, and contours of our constitutional republic, tells the story of the struggle to uphold its founding principles of equal rights and liberty, and cultivates virtues necessary to the republics preservation. What civic education very deliberately does not attempt to do is supply students with substantive political positions. That is for students themselves to determine as free individuals, in the fullness of time. (Emphasis added) Some advocates of Action Civics are open about their desire to deploy it on behalf of a leftist policy agenda. Others say it does not impose a political viewpoint upon students, but merely encourages them to act upon their own pre-existing political convictions. That might be bad enough, given that were talking about the largely unexamined pre-existing convictions of 15 year-olds. But, as Stanley says, given the pressures easily and inevitably placed upon students by teachers and peers in classrooms dedicated to direct political action, this is difficult to credit. Make that impossible to believe. Its not speculation to say that Action Civics will directly promote left-wing student activism. The evidence supports this concern. Stanley points to that evidence: In their 2020 report on Action Civics for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Tom Lindsay and Lucy Meckler assess the controversy between NAS and Generation Citizen. To determine whether Action Civics almost invariably leads to protests on behalf of progressive political causes, Lindsay and Meckler reviewed 27 political projects listed on the websites of Generation Citizen and its allies. What emerged was an overwhelmingly progressive political bias, examples of which include protests in support of the Green New Deal, various gun control measures, drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, opposition to a border wall, etc. In addition, Lindsay and Meckler reviewed public statements by Andrew Wilkes, a leader in the Action Civics movement. They found that his statements strongly supported progressive positions. Lindsay and Meckler concluded that Civic Action advocates are being less than frank about the decidedly partisan politics at the heart of their enterprise. What a surprise. Theres much more to Stanleys article. Ill conclude, though, the same way John concluded his post on the lefts hijacking of the way U.S. History is taught: British commercial vehicle production fell 15.5% in 2020 to just 66,116 units, the lowest annual output since 1933, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Export output was down 17.8% to 37,893 while production for the UK domestic market fell 12.2% to 28,223. "More than half (57.3%) of all British-built CVs [were] destined for global markets underlying the importance of frictionless trade," SMMT said in a statement. Chief executive Hawes told Sky News' Ian King Live on Thursday the UK auto industry had "dodged a bullet" with the post-Brexit free trade deal but additional border checks hindering 'frictionless trade' were causing problems for UK automakers with some having to resort to flying in urgently needed components. December output was down 9.2% to 6,638 CVs, "rounding off a weak quarter and awful year for the CV sector which turned out 12,154 fewer units than in 2019", SMMT said. "The coronavirus pandemic, with social distancing measures and multiple lockdowns throughout the year, badly affected manufacturing capabilities and demand, while uncertainty right up until the end of the Brexit transition period dented business confidence." These issues meant production for both the overseas and domestic markets declined, down 17.8% (to 37,893) and 12.2% (28,223) respectively. Nevertheless, almost six out of every 10 commercial vehicles built in the UK in 2020 were exported, with the key market, the EU, placing the majority of orders (94.9% export share). While the EU was by far the sector's biggest overseas customer, 670 units were exported to Israel, 288 to Taiwan, and 248 to Russia. Vehicles were also shipped to 50 other countries. The UK's top selling light commercial model line, the Ford Transit, is imported from Turkey while other popular van lines from Renault, PSA and Stellantis are imported from Europe. PSA builds a proportion of its van model line in Luton. Hawes said in the statement: "2020 challenged commercial vehicle manufacturers beyond belief and, as the final figures show, reflect what has been the worst year in a lifetime for the sector. The pandemic hit markets across Europe while prolonged uncertainty threatened business confidence at home, as a potential 'no deal' Brexit loomed over the industry for much of the year and was only put to rest on Christmas Eve. However, with the vaccine rollout now in full swing and the necessary clarity businesses need for cross-channel trading requirements now visible, there is hope for the future. "2021 must be focused on recovery and growth for commercial vehicle manufacturing. This starts with providing the right conditions to both attract investment and accelerate the take up of alternatively fuelled vehicles a crucial next step on the way to a rapid and successful sector transition in the UK." Separately, SMMT said UK engine manufacturing fell 27% last year to just over 1.8m units. Production for domestic and overseas markets fell 23.4% and 29.1% respectively. December saw production fall 7.9% "to round off bleak year for the sector". Hawes said: "2020 was a tough year for UK engine manufacturers with the coronavirus pandemic chiefly responsible for the fall in output. That said, factories still turned out more than 1.8m internal combustion engines, with the majority of these exported globally. This reinforces how important it is that, in the increasingly rapid transition to electrification, the UK's skilled engine manufacturing workforce is not left behind, as they should be a critical component in positioning the country as a competitive place to produce ultra-low and zero emission vehicles." International Gospel Musician and preacher Sonnie Badu is pleading with President Akufo-Addo to rename Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in honour of late former president Jerry John Rawlings. The former President who passed away in November 12, 2020, was laid to rest on 27th January, 2021. Eulogising him on social media, Sonnie Badu wrote: JJ do something before you die that was the chants!!! You indeed did all you needed to you .... You will always be a role model to some of us. Thank you for all you did for Ghana. Your burial is so beautiful it makes some of us want to work even harder and make the nation proud ...... Now dear president, @nakufoaddo How about Kotoka international airport being changed to JJ Rawlings International Airport? In all honesty It would be nice to hear his name more often all over the world at different airports flight 737 flying to Jerry John Rawlings International Airport Accra, Ghana ... I know God will touch your heart to do this ... just saying. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The man accused of beheading U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl is set to walk free after Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered his release Thursday. The Pearl family was "in complete shock" after hearing of the decision, according to a statement from their lawyer Faisal Siddiqi, who called the ruling "a complete travesty of justice." Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter covering militants in Pakistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Saeed, a British-born Pakistani who was implicated in other kidnappings, was sentenced to death for Pearl's murder and kidnapping, but his case was reopened because of claims of lack of evidence. Saeed's murder conviction and sentence were overturned by a provincial court last year, while the kidnapping charge was downgraded. The Pearl family quickly appealed, but that was ultimately dismissed Thursday by Pakistan's Supreme Court. The court did not provide any justification behind its ruling. The complete reasons will "be recorded later," the court said. Thursday evening, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the court's decision "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan." In a statement, he said that Saeed remains in custody and that the United States expects Pakistani authorities to "expeditiously review its legal options to ensure justice is served." Blinken also noted that Saeed "was indicted in the United States in 2002 for hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, resulting in the murder of Pearl," and that the United States is prepared to prosecute Saeed. "This is an infuriating and unjust decision," said the Wall Street Journal's editor in chief, Matt Murray. "We'll continue to support efforts to hold to account those responsible for the brutal murder of Danny." The Justice Department had issued a statement in December from acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen, who called last year's ruling "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere." He said that Pakistani authorities were trying to keep Saeed in custody while appeals against the ruling would continue. "While we remain grateful for the Pakistani government's opposition to these acquittals on appeal, in light of the Supreme Court's decision, the Department of Justice reiterates that the United States stands ready to take custody of Sheikh to stand trial here on the pending charges against him," Rosen said in a statement after the ruling Thursday. "He must not be permitted to evade justice for his charged role in Daniel Pearl's abduction and murder." But following the decision from Pakistan's highest court Thursday, there are few legal avenues open to the Pearl family. Lawyers representing the Pearl family may petition for a review of Thursday's ruling, but it's rare for such reviews to be accepted, according to Abdul Latif Afridi, the president of Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association. The lawyer representing Saeed said: "Today's order by the Supreme Court shows that the courts are independent, and they don't come under any pressure. I am satisfied with the court's order." The lawyer, Mahmood Sheikh, said he expects his client to be released immediately. Pakistani authorities have prevented Saeed from being released in the past, and Pakistani legal experts say it's possible that another charge could be brought against him to keep him behind bars. Pearl was told he was meeting with a radical cleric when instead he was kidnapped, held for days and beheaded. When Saeed was convicted months later, he was sentenced for planning Pearl's kidnapping and murder. But a 2011 investigation by the Center for Public Integrity's Pearl Project found that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, killed Pearl. Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and is being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is not charged in the journalist's killing. Pakistan was under immense pressure in 2002 to find the people responsible for Pearl's killing. At the time of Saeed's conviction, defense attorneys raised questions about the weight of evidence against him. - - - The Washington Post's Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Ellen Nakashima in Washington contributed to this report. 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Egypt extended its condolences to Cameroon over the victims of a deadly collision in the countrys west which killed over 50 people and injured dozens. In an official statement on Wednesday, Egypts foreign ministry stressed its support to Cameroon and its people at this painful time, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. At least 53 people were killed and 29 seriously injured following a deadly crash between a bus and a truck carrying flammable liquid in West Cameroon. The collision took place at around 3am at the Cliff of Dschang. "This unfortunate accident, which occurred during the night, highlights the problem of night trips favored by certain interurban passenger transport companies and the need for their supervision," Cameroon's Transport Minister, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, said. An investigation will "establish the responsibilities", and "the appropriate measures" will be taken, the minister said. Short link: Family-Run Craft-Producer Sweeps Awards in First Year of Sales, and Becomes the First Independent Licensed Producer to Deliver Certified Organic Concentrates Salt Spring Island, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Craft BC cannabis producer GOOD BUDS Company Inc., wins major awards in its first year of sales, including: Concentrate of the Year (KIND Awards 2020), Best Social Media (ADCANN Awards 2020) and Top Five Finalist for Cannabis Brand of the Year (ADCANN Awards 2020). Both awards are community-voted by the Canadian public and cannabis industry, with the ADCANN Marketing and Advertising Awards receiving over 400 entries and 100,000 public votes. The KIND Awards were chosen by over 150 retail budtenders from across the country from thousands of products. "We're thrilled to say our all-natural concentrates and family-brand are now award-winning!" said Tyler Rumi, Co-Founder and CEO of GOOD BUDS. "We started GOOD BUDS to honour the legacy of great weed and its ability to bring people together. This has driven us to stay true to our craft-roots and put our focus on unique genetics, all-natural extraction techniques, and organic growing on Salt Spring Island, BC. To see this awarded by budtenders and the cannabis industry is the biggest honour, and one that drives us to take our top-shelf weed and concentrates to the next level." GOOD BUDS is now the first independent Licensed Cannabis Producer to release Certified Organic Concentrates, after GOOD BUDS received complete organic certification for all outdoor cultivation, pre-rolls, and extracts from the Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association (FVOPA). Founded by brothers, Tyler and Alex Rumi, GOOD BUDS is a family of professionals with a relentless focus on quality and sustainable cultivation. The company is guided by the principles of artisanal quality, and organic growing and extraction techniques. GOOD BUDS currently sells small-batch cannabis and all-natural Certified Organic hash and rosin at retailers across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. For more information about GOOD BUDS, visit goodbudsco.com. - 30 - About GOOD BUDS Company Inc. Founded by brothers, Tyler and Alex Rumi in 2017, GOOD BUDS is an award-winning Licensed Cannabis Producer and Extractor based in Salt Spring Island, BC. GOOD BUDS sells flower, pre-rolls, and solventless concentrates into select Canadian recreational markets. The company is also a Certified Living Wage Employer through BC's Living Wage for Families Campaign. To learn more, visit us at Goodbudsco.com or @goodbudsco on Instagram. For more information, high-res images or to request an interview please contact: Sierra Percy-Beauregard | sierra.pb@goodbudsco.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72988 [January 28, 2021] Productique Quebec to continue to stimulate manufacturing business innovation with new 3D printing cell SHERBROOKE, QC, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Cantons-de-l'Est college centre for technology transfer (CCTT) Productique Quebec is considered a pioneer in disseminating the Industry 4.0 concept across Quebec. To build on its momentum, the Cegep de Sherbrooke-affiliated NPO wants to acquire an additive manufacturing or 3D printing cell. These technologies make it possible to design unique products by enhancing the quality of components while reducing time-to-market. There are also economic and ecological benefits to manufacturing metal components through 3D printing compared with classic manufacturing. To ensure the project is a success, Productique Quebec will receive a non-repayable contribution of $920,000 from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. The announcement of this support for the Cantons-de-l'Est CCTT was made today by Elisabeth Briere, Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), the Honourable Melanie Joly. The Government of Canada's support will focus more specifically on the acquisition and installation of equipment such as an automated additive manufacturing machine (3D printer), a digital machining centre to post-treat components as well as advanced measuring equipment needed for quality control. A growing manufacturing sector is essential for the Quebec economy. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting an organization such as Productique Quebec, which helps manufacturing businesses enhance their productivity and stimulate innovation by fostering the acquisition of digital technologies through technical support, applied reserch and training. Quotes "Innovation is a veritable economic engine generating growth to the benefit of businesses and communities. The support for Productique Quebec is in line with this; the technical assistance provided to manufacturing businesses will enable them to create and market innovative products." Elisabeth Briere, Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) "By helping businesses become more innovative, we are helping them improve the daily lives of Canadians and people around the world who, now more than ever, must face global trends marked by rupture and change. During these times of crisis, we are here to support Canadian SMEs and workers as they adapt to the changing context. By assisting Productique Quebec, CED is boosting businesses that leverage innovation, which is key to a strong, sustainable economic recovery." The Honourable Melanie Joly, Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CED "We are proud of the confidence CED is showing in Productique Quebec and its team by granting us this financial support. Increasing businesses' capacity to innovate means giving them access to advanced technologies and enabling them to develop and acquire new knowledge. Establishing this metal additive manufacturing cell will enable us to offer and demonstrate, through concrete technology transfer projects within SMEs, all the potential this technology offers to improve products, manufacturing processes and productivity." Sebastien Houle, Chief Executive Officer, Productique Quebec "This project will have a major, positive impact not only on businesses that will be able to use this new technology to push their production projects further along, but also on our training in the industrial field. In fact, this additive manufacturing cell will enable our students in several programs to benefit from advanced equipment to acquire and develop new skills. Enriched with this background, they will then become agents of change, bringing a true wave of innovation with them as they enter the labour market." Marie-France Belanger, Chief Executive Officer, Cegep de Sherbrooke Quick facts The Honourable Melanie Joly , Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, is the minister responsible for the six regional development agencies, including CED. , Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, is the minister responsible for the six regional development agencies, including CED. Funds have been granted under CED's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program. This program targets entrepreneurs leveraging innovation to grow their businesses and enhance their competitiveness, as well as regional economic stakeholders helping to create an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation and growth for all, across all regions. CED is a key federal partner in Quebec's regional economic development. With its 12 business offices, CED is present to accompany Quebec businesses, supporting organizations and regions into tomorrow's economy. Stay connected Follow CED on social media Consult CED's news SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Britain could be poised to join an alliance known as 'Asian NATO' in order to restrain China's ambitions, it is believed. Reports in Indian media have floated the idea of Britain joining the so-called 'Quad' which currently consists of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. With Britain lining up what Dominic Raab has called an 'Indo-Pacific tilt' after its departure from the EU, membership in the 'Quad' would enlarge an alliance of countries who have all clashed with an assertive Beijing in recent months. While no firm proposals have been put to Boris Johnson so far, there is thought to be an 'appetite' in the UK government to join the alliance, according to the Telegraph. Fears over China's military and political ambitions have led to calls for an expanded 'Asian NATO' alliance and prompted the US to send an aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (pictured), to the South China Sea to promote 'freedom of the seas' Officially known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the alliance was first set up in 2007 and joint naval exercises were held between the four countries. The grouping was abandoned a year later, but revived in 2017 with official talks between the four governments. The four foreign secretaries met last October at a meeting in Japan where the US lashed out at China's Communist rulers for 'exploitation, corruption and coercion'. The US has clashed with China over a long line of issues while Australia has feuded with Beijing over coronavirus, Indian soldiers have battled Chinese troops in deadly clashes on their Himalayan border and Japan also has disputes over islands. Britain has also feuded with Beijing over issues including the Hong Kong security crackdown, Huawei's 5G network and alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. On a visit to India in December, Raab was quoted as saying that there was 'nothing ruled out' after he discussed the Quad with his Indian counterpart. Kurt Campbell, appointed this month as a top Asia policy official in the new Biden administration, wrote in a recent article for Foreign Affairs that the Quad could be expanded in the name of 'military deterrence' towards China. Citing the 'need for an allied and partner coalition to address Chinas challenge', he also voiced support for the UK's idea of a 'D-10' club of global democracies. Fears over Chinese ambitions have been fuelled further by its rhetoric over Taiwan, which reported multiple Chinese fighter jets and bombers entering its air defence zone over the weekend. The Chinese incursions coincided with a US carrier battle group entering the disputed South China Sea to promote 'freedom of the seas'. China toughened its language on Taiwan today by saying that 'independence means war' on the island which Beijing claims as part of its own territory. This map shows China's territorial claim in the South China Sea (in red), which the US rejects. Marked in blue are US bases in Okinawa off Japan and in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, and Sembawang wharf in Singapore where Britain's Royal Navy maintains a small presence. Marked in red are three naval bases in South China belonging to the People's Liberation Army China's security crackdown in Hong Kong has also led to condemnation from Western governments (pictured, a man is detained in the city last weekend) Beijing claimed that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference, while Washington has urged China to call off the pressure. 'They are a solemn response to external interference and provocations by 'Taiwan independence' forces,' a Chinese government spokesman said. 'We warn those 'Taiwan independence' elements: those who play with fire will burn themselves, and 'Taiwan independence' means war,' he added. China believes that Taiwan is moving towards a declaration of formal independence, while Taiwan already regards itself as a country called the Republic of China. Joe Biden's new government has reaffirmed its 'rock solid' commitment to Taiwan after Donald Trump's administration ramped up arms sales to the island. Taiwan is just one of a series of issues on which Britain, the US and their allies have clashed with China on in recent years, including over the coronavirus pandemic which began in Wuhan a year ago. The Trump administration accused China of covering up the outbreak and touted theories that the virus might have leaked from a Wuhan lab. China reacted angrily and retaliated with tariffs after Australia led international calls for an investigation into the pandemic's origins last year. The US recently sent an aircraft carrier to the South China Sea amid concerns about Beijing's militarisation of the disputed waters where it has built artificial islands. Western governments have also voiced alarm over China's crackdown in Hong Kong, where Beijing imposed a new 'national security' law in the wake of massive protests. The West accuses China of backsliding on the promise of 'one country, two systems' which sees Hong Kong granted freedoms that are unknown on the Chinese mainland. Britain angered China last year by offering millions of people linked to Hong Kong a route to UK citizenship. Joe Biden's new administration is expected to maintain Western pressure on China (pictured, Biden meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping when he was Barack Obama's vice president) Further tensions have been caused by US demands for its allies to cut Chinese tech firm Huawei out of their 5G mobile networks. The UK last year bowed to the pressure from the White House and announced that Huawei would be removed from its networks by 2027. Western governments fear that Beijing could use Huawei technology as a backdoor for espionage, but the tech firm denies it would take part in this. On top of that, China has also faced accusations of genocide over its treatment of the Uighur ethnic minority in Xinjiang. Human rights groups say that up to a million people are detained in mass 're-education camps' which have been likened to Nazi concentration camps. China denies wrongdoing, but Trump's former secretary of state Mike Pompeo used his last days in office to officially determine that China had committed genocide. The Biden administration is expected to maintain pressure on Beijing on many of those fronts by renewing alliances that were strained under Trump. Biden's incoming UN ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield has vowed to work 'aggressively against Chinese malign efforts' at the UN. 'We know China is working across the UN system to drive an authoritarian agenda that stands in opposition to the founding values of the institution - American values,' she said at her Senate confirmation hearing. Biden's administration says it is reviewing the genocide ruling on procedural grounds, but has not challenged the substance of the claim. Proprietary NGAL Test provides early risk assessment of acute kidney injury (AKI) Test available for diagnostic use in Europe and Canada but not in the US yet Moving ahead with its Danish partner on co-development of a rapid test to detect coronavirus What does: A/S (CPH:BIOPOR) is an in-vitro diagnostic company based in Hellerup, Denmark, that provides health-care professionals in 80 countries a range of diagnostic tests and antibodies to treat obesity and diabetes, innate immunity, allergies and infectious diseases. The Copenhagen-listed company, founded in 2000, has been aggressively marketing its proprietary NGAL Test, which provides an early risk assessment of acute kidney injury (AKI), a well-known complication that is common after surgeries such as kidney transplants and heart-bypass. says its NGAL Test can detect AKI in critically ill patients as quickly as 2 hours. It is the only AKI biomarker that can be measured in both human urine and plasma and can run on standard chemistry analyzers. The NGAL Test helps doctors tailor a care plan more quickly and effectively than standard testing, which reduces the risk of renal failure and/or death. The test measures NGAL levels, a biomarker which increases in response to injury. The company says rival tests can take up to 72 hours to detect injury to the kidney. Aside from the test, has an established business selling antibodies globally. The company offers more than 400 monoclonal antibodies, which are types of lab-created proteins that can bind to substances in the body, including cancer cells. The antibodies are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell. The antibodies are used in research disciplines. Recently, also partnered with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) to co-develop a test for early, rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus ((COVID-19). The test is designed to use novel SDU antibodies with s patented gRAD technology to create a dipstick point-of-care test that can detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus from a sample in under 10 minutes. How is it doing: It has been all change in the BioPorrto boardroom in 2021. On May 5, the company announced that its chief executive officer of nearly eight years, Peter Mrch Eriksen, will resign his position with the company once his successor has been found. Mrch Eriksen, however, will continue to support the company until the end of January 2022, the company said. And just over a week earlier, had announced that it has begun a search for a new CFO after Ole Larsen resigned to pursue opportunities outside the company. Larsen had served as CFO and a member of the companys management team since 2018. He will officially leave the company by the end of May and remain available for the company until the end of October. Looking at financials, on May 12 shared an interim report which showed that its first-quarter 2021 revenue grew by 33% driven by strong sales of antibodies and its flagship NGAL acute kidney-injury test. The in-vitro diagnostic company based in Hellerup, Denmark, said that revenue from product sales of its proprietary NGAL Test remained at last years high level with a solid performance in the United States. Based on results in the first quarter, the Danish company forecast overall revenue of approximately DKK 30 (US$4.9 million) for 2021, which was the same as the financial guidance for the year that had published in its 2020 Annual Report on March 17. In that March report, had said the number excluded revenues from potential sales of a COVID-19 lateral flow test, and with only early sales from a US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared NGAL kidney test product for pediatrics. The company had also said then it expects an EBIT loss of approximately DKK 73 million (around US$11.7 million). The company said the main growth driver in 2021 will be product sales of The NGAL Test in the European Union and the Rest of the World, while sales of antibodies and ELISA kits are expected to continue to decline due to s strategic refocus on products generated from its own antibody library. As has been the recent pattern, 2021 revenues will be back-end loaded, it added. In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) brought significant challenges in patient enrollment, as hospitals were forced to prioritize patient care over clinical research. Subject to the developments of the pandemic during 2021, BioPorto, therefore, expects to conclude its study in the summer of 2021 and thereafter submit its application on pediatric use of The NGAL Test to the FDA. The company's COVID-19 test based on gRAD is also currently being tested with patient samples in the US. If successful, BioPorto plans to request an emergency use authorization in the US and a CE mark in Europe in the second quarter of 2021, Eriksen said. On March 3, 2021, had said it expects to complete its clinical study and submit a De Novo application to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric use of its NGAL kidney test this summer. The Danish company also said it is awaiting US test results for the rapid gRAD-based SARS-CoV-2 assay; if positive, and will then proceed towards US FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and European CE mark submissions in the second quarter of 2021. To further support the CE mark application, BioPorto said it is also evaluating options for conducting additional testing at clinical sites in Europe. At the end of 2020, Diagnostics revealed it has gained the CE mark in Europe for its NGALds test, the first based on the group's proprietary Generic Rapid Assay Device (gRAD) platform for the development of lateral flow assays. The NGALds test is designed to deliver a semi-quantitative NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) result in under 15 minutes, without the need for laboratory instrumentation or complex user training. This makes it ideal for near-patient settings such as physician offices and urgent care clinics, where a quick assessment of the risk of kidney injury can help clinicians to better triage patients. As an outpatient test, it will complement in-patient hospital use of s automated assay, The NGAL Test. The group said the commercial launch of the NGALds test will be initiated immediately in Europe through s distribution partners and the companys sales team. At a later stage, BioPorto plans to seek regulatory approval of the test in other markets, it added. In parallel with the development of NGALds, BioPorto said it has also implemented an accelerated gRAD development process to create a rapid test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes coronavirus (COVID-19). The goal is to offer a simple test that can quickly and accurately identify infected patients using a non-invasive sample, delivering a result in under 15 minutes, at a price significantly less than molecular tests. After completing successful antibody pairing, device prototyping and production agreements, on December 23, 2020, BioPorto said it provided test kits to the University of California, Davis in the US to test samples from approximately 150 COVID-19 patients. BioPorto said in September that its fast-track collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) to create a 10-minute test for the coronavirus (COVID-19) had yielded promising results in tests against heat-inactivated virus. The collaboration, announced in April, leverages SDUs antibody expertise and BioPortos Generic Rapid Assay Device (gRAD) platform for the development of lateral flow assays to develop a non-invasive rapid test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are highly specific to the viruss spike protein, which could result in a higher clinical specificity compared to other commercially available rapid tests. Inflection points: Search for new CEO and new CFO Commercialization in Europe of its NGALds test US FDA approval of the NGAL Test for pediatrics Collect data to support the submission of adult application for the test More news on rapid coronavirus test development What the broker says: In a note published on May 13, 2021, following BioPorto's first-quarter results, analysts at Edison Research noted: "BioPorto is facing a major turning point as it continues the enrolment of its pivotal study of paediatric AKI. The study is using NGAL measured in urine to gauge the risk of AKI in paediatric patients, and the company recently guided towards the study being completed in summer 2021. "BioPorto expects to file an application for De Novo 510(k) clearance shortly thereafter. Moreover, this study and the results of the application will inform how the company will pursue clearance for the adult NGAL Test, which is expected to progress after the FDA response." The analysts also noted that the company announced two departures from its C-suite in Q221 with both the companys CEO and CFO will be moving on from the company. They concluded: "Our valuation is up slightly: DKK916m from DKK909m previously, and DKK3.42/share from DKK3.41/share. This does not include the contribution from the COVID-19 program, as in previous reports. Our valuations increased from rolling forward our NPVs, but this was offset by lower net cash (DKK91.1m pro forma following recent warrant exercises from DKK108m at the end of Q420)." What the boss says: In the company's first-quarter revenue statement on May 12, BioPorto CEO Peter Mrch Eriksen said: Viewed in the light of a quarter still heavily influenced by the severity of the global third wave of coronavirus (COVID-19), I am satisfied with BioPortos performance. We drove revenue up by more than 30% by utilizing all of our assets, despite limited access to key markets for key products. In this context, I believe maintaining revenue from product sales of the NGAL Test at last years high level is a solid achievement and I am glad to see our own library of antibodies performing very well, he added. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Black Restaurant Week, which helps highlight San Antonio Black-owned restaurants will begin on February 21-28. The week-long event is not only for brick-and-mortar spots but food trucks, caterers and other food-related businesses in San Antonio to also be showcased. "In a city where the Black population only makes up about 7% of the citys population, and has a small but growing population of Black business owners, it is nice to be able to shine a light on Black business owners in the culinary field to provide support and acknowledgement. Through Black Restaurant Week San Antonio we get to celebrate cuisine, culture and community," said Ryane Smith, organizer for Black Restaurant Week San Antonio. RELATED: Skyline: East Side soul food restaurant Mrs. Kitchen moving to Windcrest The event first took shape in 2019, when organizers tapped Tank's Pizza, Squeezers Juice Bar, and Ray Harmon's Barbecue to participate. The 2021 participant list has not yet been announced but those interested in participating can still sign up on their website. Participating restaurants will donate $1 from each Black Restaurant Week dish purchased to the San Antonio Food Bank. READ MORE: Opening a restaurant during a pandemic is no joke. 5 of them share how it's going so far Recent developments in Upper Mount Bethel Township have called into question the priorities of the leadership. The board of supervisors is putting a lot of time and effort into fighting a rock wall on federal land along an interstate highway in New Jersey because it may affect traffic in their township. However, they have only recently considered a traffic study pertaining to the largest industrial park on the east coast proposed for their own township. The board has also not completed a community impact study, performance impact study, or an environmental impact assessment, so essential in planning a development. Without oversight, multiple wells have been drilled, and a two million gallon per week drip irrigation system for sewage treatment is being proposed. Sludge from this system will be trucked to other communities to worry about. Sound familiar? The board of supervisors text amendments will allow six, ten-story buildings, four of which could be 800,000 square feet, and two could be 1 million square feet or more. These buildings could very well be high cube, automated warehouses offering few jobs and massive traffic. Taking all this into consideration, it appears that the board of supervisors is determined to lead their township towards suicidal development. Further information concerning this can be found at: https://concernedcitizensofumbt.wordpress.com David Friedman Upper Mount Bethel Township 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. Bridgerton has become Netflix's most popular new series, with more than 82 million households tuning in to watch the period drama, the streaming service has announced. The show reached number one in 83 countries including the United States, Britain, Brazil, France, India and South Africa, Netflix said in a statement Wednesday. "I'm SO proud of the incredible team behind this show! And thank you guys for loving it," 25-year-old actor, Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, wrote on Instagram. Netflix said a record 82 million households watched the show in its first 28 days online, describing it as its "biggest series ever." The previous record was 76 million views over a four-week period for "The Witcher." The figures are not subject to third party verification, unlike audience measurements for broadcast television. Bridgerton has made the top 10 in every country except Japan, the company added. The drama, set in early 1800s London, centers on the well-to-do Bridgerton family as it tries to navigate Regency-era high society in England. The show, with its outlandish costumes and racy sex scenes, has been lauded for casting Black actors in period drama roles that are traditionally played by white actors. "It's designed to be more lavish, sexier and funnier than the standard period drama -- and that's what so surprised and delighted our members," said Netflix vice president of original series, Jinny Howe. Bridgerton is produced by acclaimed American producer Shonda Rhimes and is based on a series of romance novels by Julia Quinn. It has been commissioned for a second series. pdh/jm I call on our state and federal governments to lead the fight against the growing problem of racially based extremism by candidly characterising it and advocating that these groups be added to the terror list. However, extremist expert Lydia Khalil, of the Lowy Institute, cautioned that, while the proscription debate was important, it faced several legal and political hurdles and should not be viewed as a catch-all solution. Alleged members of a far-right extremist group seen at Halls Gap and the Grampians. She said early prevention was critical and that government agencies having belatedly expanded their focus from programs targeting would-be jihadists to right-wing extremists must concentrate on tailoring interventions to far-right groups. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday that there was no place for bigotry and hatred in the state. I wont comment on individual circumstances because they may well be the subject of Victoria Police work. But I will just say there is no place for that kind of anti-Semitism in our state, there is no place for that sort of bigotry and hatred. There is no place for violence, he said. I would make the point as well, that many would argue, and the international evidence is very clear, and indeed the local evidence, that anti-Semitism is on the rise. Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday. Credit:Penny Stephens Its an evil thing, its a wicked thing, and I just take this opportunity to send a message to the Jewish community across Melbourne and Victoria, you have and continue to make a profound contribution to our state. Its hard to imagine so many things we cherish and value, they just wouldnt be in the position they are in, they would not have emerged, they wouldnt be as strong as they are without the contribution the Jewish community has made and no community should be treated that way. I know it affects the Jewish community deeply and it offends all of us and there is just no place for that. Mr Sewell has previously sought to distance his group from those who espouse violent action and there is no suggestion that the groups members engaged in any violent acts. Tom Sewell of the Lads Society. Credit:YouTube Victoria Police has been contacted for comment about the Grampians visit by the far-right group. When Halls Gap resident James passed the group on his mountain bike on Sunday afternoon in town, he was addressed with a Sieg Heil. There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting white power. That is intimidating for anyone, let alone the young Asian families sharing the barbecue space, he said. James, who declined to use his full name for fear of repercussions, was one of several residents who called the local police only to be promptly called back by detectives working with Victoria Polices Counter-Terrorism Command intelligence-gathering division. The division is monitoring right-wing extremist groups in Australia, alongside intelligence agency ASIO, which was also notified about the gathering. There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting white power. That is intimidating for anyone. Halls Gap resident James The detective asked James to take photos, which he did using his helmet camera. It sparked a confrontation with two big, burly guys. It was pretty terrifying at that point. I told them I was a tourist and wasnt filming them, he said. According to extremist experts, two right-wing groups, the Lads Society and Antipodean Resistance, recently helped form a new Australian extremist outfit, the National Socialist Network, which in turn helped organise the 38 young, white men to assemble in the Grampians over the Australia Day weekend. Photos show some wearing army-issued boots and packs. The Age and the Herald have identified some of the key organisers and participants of the Grampians gathering. Some show the faces of young men who would prefer to stay in the shadows posing in their own online posts with faces covered. Alleged members of the group were seen visiting a general store, meeting and camping at Halls Gap. The organisers include the Lads leader, Mr Sewell, raised in the middle-class suburb of Balwyn in Melbourne. The Lads have also been accused of a failed attempt to branch-stack the NSW Young Nationals in 2018. Mr Sewell has claimed in a social media post that the Grampians event was aimed at providing content for a new neo-Nazi group, the European Australian Movement. Loading He has the hallmarks of some far-right activists in the US, including those who stormed the Capitol in Washington three weeks ago, a move that Mr Sewell said in one online message had lessons for Australian extremists. His posts indicate that he is a racist conspiracy theorist appealing to marginalised, underemployed young Australians on the fringes of society. The 2019 terrorist attack by an Australian on a mosque in New Zealand that left 51 dead served as an ideological rallying point for some far-right groups, and a reminder of the potential consequences of underplaying the potential threat. ASIO has revealed that up to 40 per cent of its prioty caseload involve right-wing extremist groups. ASIOs deputy director-general, Heather Cook, told a parliamentary committee last year the COVID-19 pandemic was fuelling a surge in radicalisation because of the amount of time individuals are spending in isolation, working from home or not in school. The Canadian Parliament is now debating a move to declare the far-right group, the Proud Boys, a terrorism entity. In Melbourne last November, a lone-wolf extremist on the fringe of local far-right groups, Philip Galea, was jailed for 12 years for planning a terrorist attack on Trades Hall, the Socialist Alliances Melbourne headquarters and the Melbourne Anarchist Club. With Simone Fox Koob Know more about the Grampians trip participants, the National Socialist Network or any other far-right groups? Contact (anonymously if preferred) nickmckenzie@protonmail.com ROCKY MOUNT, NC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / PB Financial Corporation (OTCQX:PBNC) is pleased to announce it has been named to the 2021 OTCQX Best 50, a ranking of top performing companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market last year. The OTCQX Best 50 is an annual ranking of the top 50 U.S. and international companies traded on the OTCQX market. The ranking is calculated based on an equal weighting of one-year total return and average daily dollar volume growth in the previous calendar year. Companies in the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 were ranked based on their performance in 2020. Whitehurst commented, "We are very excited to be recognized by the OTCQX Best Market for our stock performance. To be ranked 20th for all companies listed on the OTCQX Best Market is such a great honor and speaks to the hard work of our employees and directors as well as our Company's long-term outlook. Additionally, we are pleased with the exposure and liquidity the OTCQX Best Market has created for our shareholders." For the complete 2021 OTCQX Best 50 ranking, visit https://www.otcmarkets.com/files/2021_OTCQX_Best_50.pdf. The OTCQX Best Market offers transparent and efficient trading of established, investor-focused U.S. and global companies. To qualify for the OTCQX market, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. PB Financial Corporation, the holding company for Providence Bank, is headquartered at 450 N. Winstead Avenue in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, with branches in Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Nashville, Wilson and Raleigh. This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding PB Financial Corporation. Those statements may include but are not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as "believes," "considers," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects," "would be," and similar expressions. These statements are based upon current beliefs and expectations of management of PB Financial Corporation and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual or future results or events may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. PB Financial Corporation does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements in this press release. For more information, contact: Ted E. Whitehurst, President and CEO 252-467-2990; twhitehurst@pbknc.com SOURCE: PB Financial Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626582/PB-Financial-Corporation-Named-to-2021-OTCQX-Best-50 On the fourth night of their walkout, Hunts Point Produce Market workers stood around holding Stop the War on Workers signs, staying warm by bonfires and listening to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a megaphone. Our entire city needs to stand by our essential workers, Ocasio-Cortez said. Its not just enough to say thank you. We have to support them in their demands for a better life. She had spent several nights at the market, as did other politicians, handing out Cafe Bustelo coffee and hand warmers. That night, Anuel AA and Bad Bunny played on speakers, while fireworks went off in the background. After seven days of striking, the Hunts Point employees reached an agreement with the owners of the largest wholesale produce market in the U.S. The Teamsters Local 202 workers got a raise of 70 cents per hour in the first year, and $1.85 per hour in total raises over the three-year contract. In the deal, the average base pay of most workers will rise to $20.42 an hour by the end of the contract. Negotiations with management initially dissolved when members of Teamsters Local 202 were met with what they considered to be a substandard offer of pay increases and added health care contributions. Employees argued they had worked tirelessly throughout the coronavirus pandemic, risking their own health and safety to make sure New Yorkers had produce on the table and that they deserved to be compensated accordingly. Since the beginning of the pandemic, six workers from the market have died of COVID-19 and 300 to 400 have contracted the coronavirus. Some wake up as early as 2 a.m. to get to work, taking multiple buses because the subways are shutdown overnight. The market itself supplies over half of the citys produce, shipping leafy greens to city staples like CTown and Gristedes. The striking workers, who earn between $30,000 and $40,000 a year, had threatened a walkout in mid-January before following through days later. The pre-strike calls for increased wages were supported by Assembly Member Amanda Septimo and City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., who told WCBS 880AM that a dollar is not a lot to ask for. Salamancas father spent years working at the market. On Jan. 18, former presidential candidate and current mayoral candidate Andrew Yang showed up with Rep. Ritchie Torres to support the strikers, tweeting that essential workers deserve more. But the strike received national attention when Ocasio-Cortez arrived. The New York City Democratic Socialists of America and their Uptown Bronx DSA chapter also helped distribute food and coffee to the workers. Two days later, nearly a dozen New York City congressional Democrats wrote a letter demanding that the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board look into the tense dispute. During the pandemic, societys view of essential workers has changed, since theyve been commuting to work and keeping the country moving by stocking shelves at grocery stores and delivering packages, while many white-collar workers stay at home. Many essential workers have also had to fight for privileges that were already provided to other employees. Last year, the group representing state prison guards fought and won the right for their members to wear personal protective equipment at work. Grocery store and pharmacy workers won the right to participate in a city program that provided child care for other essential workers, like nurses. The success of the Hunts Point workers could be the first sign of translating that widespread public support into material gains for essential employees. But many fear being forgotten again when this is all over. As Nikki Kateman, Local 338s political and communications director, told City & State in April: I just hope that this uplifting (of workers), that everyone remembers this when things go back to normal. At first glance, the concrete piles lying off the coast of southeast Essex, near the town of Shoeburyness, looks like the exposed columns of an old pier, but in reality is a defensive structure erected across the mouth of river Thames to prevent ships from crossing into. At one time, this so called boom extended all the way to the other side of the water channel to Sheerness in the Isle of Sheppey. The Shoeburyness boom across Thames estuary. Photo: Andy119/Shutterstock.com The Shoeburyness boom was originally built during the start of the Second World War to prevent German ships and submarines from striking Britain at its most vulnerable placeshipping. At any given time, the island nation had about 2,500 freighters sailing from around the world bringing in goods. The British also used ships for the movement of goods within the country, via the Thames and its numerous canals, as well as along the east coast of the island. Germany was determined to cut off this vital lifeline. German destroyers relentlessly laid mines off the east coast and on the Thames estuary sinking more than one hundred ships within the first few months of the war. The situation began even more threatening when Germans began to drop bombs towards the end of 1939, bringing British commercial shipping to a virtual standstill. Although mine sweepers were constantly in operation, Britain realized that what it needed was a system of defensive forts along the coast to deter mine laying and shoot down enemy crafts. Eventually, they ended up building four Naval forts and four Army forts, not on the coast but on the water of the Thames and Mersey estuary. These armed towers, known as Maunsell Forts after Guy Maunsell, its designer, still stands. To prevent enemy ships and submarines from entering the Thames estuary, a defensive barrier known as a boom was laid across the estuary from Shoeburyness in Essex to Sheerness in Kent, a distance of 9 kilometers. In the shallow water at either end, closest to the land, the boom was formed of wooden piles driven into the sandy seabed and reinforced with concrete. In the deeper sections of the water channel, the boom became an anti-submarine net consisting of timber floats joined together with heavy chains. The boom had two gates, one located on the Medway channel leading into Sheerness and the River Medway, and another on the Yantlet channel leading to the Thames and London. These gates were guarded by the Royal Navys vessels. Additional defense cover was provided by the nearby Maunsell Sea Forts and by a coastal battery at Shoeburyness. A second boom was placed across the Thames at Canvey Island and similar protections were installed at the Solent and at Plymouth. Submarine nets on the Thames estuary. Photo: Imperial War Museum A Royal Navy vessel defends a gate on the Shoeburyness boom. Photo: Imperial War Museum In the early 1950s, a new boom was constructed to the west of the old boom, this time to defend against the perceived threat from the Soviet Union. The boom comprised of two rows of concrete piles driven into the sand and linked by angle-iron straps. One began at Shoeburyness and continued for about 2.6 kilometers before changing to floats and submarine nets. Another began at Sheerness and likewise proceeded north until both ends of the boom met. However, by the time the boom finished construction it was already obsolete, because of its uselessness against nuclear-armed bombers and missiles. In the 1960s the boom at the Kent side was completely dismantled while that on the side of Essex is largely intact, although it has been shortened by 600 meters to its current length of 2 km. The boom currently serves as a boundary to an artillery range operated by military, and access is not permitted to the beach beyond. Photo: Julian Osley Photo: Julian Osley East Beach in Shoeburyness, Essex. Photo: Romazur/Wikimedia Commons (CNN) Health officials are "extremely" worried about the new coronavirus variants that have been detected in the United States and what they could mean over the coming months, one expert said Monday night. "We've seen what happens in other countries that have actually had coronavirus under relatively good control, then these variants took over and they had explosive spread of the virus, and then overwhelmed hospitals," emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen told CNN's Anderson Cooper. Some countries are struggling with an increase in new cases. The number of cases worldwide since the pandemic began topped 100 million Tuesday. More than a quarter of those cases have been reported in the United States. How the new variants spread is a concern for health experts. Officials in Minnesota announced Monday they detected the P.1 variant of the virus in a traveler from Brazil. The variant is one of four being closely watched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and appears to be more easily transmissible. CDC officials have also said another variant called B.1.1.7 and first spotted in the United Kingdom has been detected in more than 20 states. While the United States seems to be heading in the right direction on infection rates with 42 states reporting downward trends that progress could be erased if variants take hold, Wen said. Preventing that will mean extra vigilance. "If there is something more contagious among us, if we thought that going to the grocery store before was relatively safe, there's actually a higher likelihood of contracting coronavirus through those everyday activities," she said. "Wearing an even better mask, reducing the number of times that we have to go out shopping, or in indoor crowded settings, all of that will be helpful," Wen added. Dr. Anthony Fauci told NBC on Monday wearing two masks is likely more effective in stopping the spread of the virus. "If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective," he said. 6% of the US population has gotten a COVID-19 shot So far, nearly 20 million people about 6% of the US population have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to CDC data. Nearly 3.5 million are fully vaccinated. The numbers are a far cry from where some officials hoped the United States would be by now, but President Joe Biden said Monday he is hopeful the country could soon be administering 1.5 million vaccines daily. That's about a 50% faster pace than the goal of a million doses per day that he's promised since before inauguration. Biden on Tuesday announced the government will soon increase vaccine distribution by 16% from 8.6 million doses to 10 million doses per week, He said the government is working to order 200 million more doses total from Moderna and Pfizer. Biden said he hopes to have most Americans vaccinated by late summer or early fall. States will get a three-week notice of how many doses to expect, he said. Across the country, health leaders and state officials have been working to enhance their vaccination strategies and boost the number of shots going into arms. CVS will begin offering on-site vaccinations at more than 270 locations across 11 states in February, Dr. David Fairchild, associate chief medical officer at CVS Health, said Monday. "We're definitely prepared and want to play a large role in helping to get the vaccine out there," he added. "Our internal goal is to have a capacity to perform 25 million shots a month or more." California is switching to a third-party system instead of counties and hospitals running their own vaccination deliveries, officials said. Officials from the state's health and human services agency and government operations agency said the new system will simplify eligibility, standardize information and data, and address the available supply of doses by streamlining the vaccination process. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice debuted a new online pre-registration system Monday, which allows residents to pre-register to receive a vaccine. Since the system's launch Monday morning, more than 32,000 residents had scheduled a vaccine appointment, the governor said. That will work alongside an existing hotline that residents can call to pre-register. Illinois announced it was entering its next stage of vaccinations Monday, opening guidelines to people 65 and older and frontline essential workers including teachers, first responders and grocery workers. The governor added as more doses become available, more mass vaccination sites will open up. Chicago will target 15 "high-need communities based on the City's COVID vulnerability index," the mayor's office said in a news release. The initiative will include "strike teams" that will reach "those who may be disconnected from more traditional vaccine administration channels," it said. "Our city is two-thirds people of color," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a news briefing. "Yet we are falling woefully behind in the number of people of color who've been vaccinated today." Lightfoot said that of the nearly 108,000 residents who have received their first vaccine dose, only 17% are Latino and about 15% are Black. Minimal COVID-19 spread is possible at schools with the right precautions, study says Students in K-12 schools can go back to classrooms with the right mitigation strategies, according to a study published Tuesday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study looked at more than 5,500 students and staff members at 17 schools in Wood County, Wisconsin. Staff were told to wear masks, social distance and limit time in shared indoor spaces. If a student was out of school with COVID-19 symptoms, their siblings also were told to stay home. Each students was provided with three to five double- or triple-layered cloth masks. Masks were required in schools and statewide, and more than 92% of students of all age groups wore them. A total of 191 people tested positive for the coronavirus. The researchers found that COVID-19 case rates in schools were 37% lower than in the surrounding community. Contact tracing and investigation determined that seven of those 191 cases were contracted in school. Three of the seven students who tested positive were from one elementary school class. Moderna says its vaccine protects against some variants The good news, Fauci told CNN in a separate interview Monday, is that current COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be effective against the new variants. "The sobering news," he added, "(is) as you get more and more replication, you can get more and more of evolution of mutants, which means you always got to be a step ahead of it." Moderna said Monday its vaccine created antibodies that neutralized COVID-19 variants first found in the United Kingdom and South Africa. There are concerns the vaccine may have a somewhat decreased efficacy against the strain first spotted in South Africa, and the company is working on a booster shot aimed at fighting it. But as COVID-19 evolves, it will be important to prove "time and time again" that vaccines provide protection against new strains, Moderna president Dr. Stephen Hoge said in a panel discussion Monday. "Until we've got this thing sort of fully suppressed and in control, and people are broadly vaccinated or seropositive and protected against it, it's going to be an ongoing battle for the next couple of years," he said. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is being tested in South Africa, the United States and Brazil, and those results could provide insight into how well it works against emerging variants, one of its developers said. "If we see the efficacy results ... it'll give us insights not only into whether or not this vaccine candidate is effective, but it'll also give us insights into whether or not the variants that are circulating in South Africa might be a problem for vaccines," Dr. Dan Barouch, a Harvard Medical School professor, told CNN. Johnson & Johnson told investors Tuesday it expects to share further details on its Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine study results by early next week. Alex Gorsky, chief executive officer and chair of Johnson & Johnson's board of directors, said the company is "hopeful" efficacy and safety data from earlier trials is a "good precursor" to the kind of data in the larger population in its Phase 3 trial. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Everyday activities are more dangerous now that new Covid-19 variants are circulating, expert says." The All-Africa Conference of Churches hails the entry into force of the Treaty on the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Scanrail - stock.adobe.com) The All-Africa Conference of Churches salutes the recent coming into force of the Treaty on Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), hailing it as further inspiration to work for a nuclear-weapons-free world. By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ The first-ever Treaty on the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) came into force on 22 January 2021 after years of negotiations. The Treaty, welcomed by many as a step towards ridding the world of nuclear weapons, was signed four years after it was adopted by the UN in 2017. Hailing this recent development, the All-Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), in a statement on Tuesday, expressed its support, together with the rest of the ecumenical community, for the Treaty which now becomes international law. The ecumenical body said that the Treaty ushers in the possibilities of heralding a new world free of the threats and tensions that have been characterized by the battle to develop and hold nuclear weapons. No safe hands for nuclear weapons In the Tuesday statement, AACC stated its belief that the very holding and potential threat of use of nuclear weapons is immoral, adding that it looks forward to the day when the world will be freed of these weapons permanently. There are no safe hands for these weapons, added AACC. The accidental or deliberate detonation of a nuclear weapon would cause severe, long-lasting and far-reaching harm on all aspects of our lives and our environment throughout the world. At the same time, these technologies are part of structures and systems that bring about great suffering and destruction and have been the cause of major tensions and threats of widespread devastation. TPNW: inspiration for a nuclear-weapon-free world In the wake of the entry into force of the Treaty, AACC said that at a time when the world desperately needs fresh hope, the TPNW inspires us to work towards fully eliminating the threat of nuclear weapons, and to create conditions for peace, justice and well-being. AACC also pointed out that the treaty addresses the disproportionate impact of nuclear weapons on women and indigenous peoples, as well as the importance of victim assistance and healing environmental harms in a groundbreaking way. Citing the example of the hibakusha survivors of the two nuclear attacks launched at Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II AACC noted that their courage and perseverance serve as the inspiration, guidance and moral foundation in the quest for a world without nuclear weapons. Appeal to States Highlighting that none of the nine nuclear global powers, and many countries with defense pacts with them have signed or ratified the Treaty, AACC pointed out that a lot of work still remains to be done. As at its entry into force, the TPNW was signed by 86 countries and ratified by 51. In this regard, AACC appealed to the ecumenical global community to make its contribution, in whichever way possible, to participate in the global work for peace, justice and respect for life. Concretely, the ecumenical body is urging all States to sign and ratify the TPNW, as well as join the first meeting of the State parties scheduled for next year. AACC further calls for decisive action to strengthen the power of the TPNW upon its entry into force, and to work for peace, cooperation and common security. We must not be discouraged at the slow pace, but become even more determined to push for a better world, AACC said. This is part of our mission and we know God is on our side. AACC Founded in Kampala, Uganda, in 1963, the AAAC is an ecumenical association that today has 173 member churches present in 40 African countries, representing over 120 million Christians on the continent. Its headquarters is in Nairobi, Kenya. Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 5, 2020. (Senate Television via Getty Images) Chief Justice John Roberts Move Not to Sit for Trump Impeachment Sparks Constitutional Concerns Chief Justice John Roberts decision not to preside over former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial has raised concerns about whether the proceedings are constitutional. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told MSNBC that Roberts did not want to partake in the impeachment trial. The Constitution says the chief justice presides for a sitting president, he said. So it was up to John Roberts whether he wanted to preside with a president who is no longer sitting, Trump, and he doesnt want to do it. Schumer has argued that an impeachment trial of a president once hes left office is constitutional and vowed to go through with it. Instead of Roberts, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the Senate president pro tempore, will preside over the trial. The Supreme Court has not responded to a request for comment from The Epoch Times or other news outlets about the reason why Roberts wont partake. Roberts has not offered a public comment about his decision. But because Roberts isnt presiding over the event, some have argued that it goes against the Constitution. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was one of them, writing an opinion article earlier this week noting that the Constitution says two things about impeachmentit is a tool to remove the officeholder, and it must be presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Neither one of those things will happen. President Trump is gone, and Justice John Roberts, properly noticing the absence of an officeholder being impeached, is declining to preside, he continued. That settles it for me. The Kentucky Republican made reference to Roberts decision not to attend the trial on the floor of the Senate during his bid to vote down the impeachment trial. If the chief justice doesnt preside, I think its an illegitimate hearing and really goes to show that its not really constitutional to impeach someone whos not president, he remarked. Pauls bid was voted down 5545, with five Republican senators joining Democrats to go ahead with the trial. However, 17 Republicans are needed to convict Trump. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of GOP leadership, said earlier in the week that the Constitution requires that the chief justice preside over the impeachment trial of a president, adding that it is indicative of the fact that were in uncharted waters. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) speaks at a press conference as Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) listens, in Washington on Feb. 12, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) I just think it looks very petty and vindictive, he added. I understand there are a lot of people who are mad, but the process itself already looks like a railroad job. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) objected to Roberts not presiding over the trial. That is his constitutional duty. I cant imagine why a Supreme Court justice would not do his duty, she said last week, according to The Hill. Leahy, in confirming the move, said he would not waver from my constitutional and sworn obligations to administer impartial justice during Trumps second trial. On Tuesday, the 80-year-old Vermont Democrat was taken to the hospital and was under observation before he was released hours later, his office confirmed. This evening, Senator Leahy was in his Capitol office and was not feeling well, Leahy spokesman David Carle said in a statement to news outlets at the time. He was examined in the Capitol by the Attending Physician. Out of an abundance of caution, the Attending Physician recommended that he be taken to a local hospital for observation, the spokesperson added before saying that he had returned home. Roberts presided over Trumps first impeachment trial last year. Trumps next trial is scheduled to start the week of Feb. 8. MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the last three years, SAJU has been redefining how glasses accessories are made and sold in Colombia. In this short period, with over 100,00 units sold, they have accomplished great goals such as: Saju Cartagena SunGlasses: made of 10 recycled bottle caps & Saju Imagine Glasses Strap, made out of printed fabrics. Saju Cartagena SunGlasses: made of 10 recycled bottle caps & Saju Ibiza Glasses Strap, made out of laser-cut acrylics. Being awarded as one of the twenty-five most resilient start-ups. (According to Forbes Colombia) Employing only mothers head of household in our production facilities. Participating in SharkTank Colombia with three investment offers from the sharks. Working with indigenous communities to honor their traditions. Collaborating with great brands, such as Tous, CocaCola, Rappi, and Toyota. Selling our product overseas in more than 20 countries. All these significant achievements have been able, thanks to more than 20 employees, that every day gives their best, to redefine a category that has been forgotten for years: Glasses accessories. Last year, Saju faced a major mental shift to social and ambient awareness, leading to the launch of their latest product: Sunglasses made locally from ten recycled bottle caps and inspired in Cartagena different colors. Our glasses have had generous support from the community since day one. Achieving successful crowdfunding of $40,000usd in just 2 hours and selling more than 1,000 units during the first three months. Thanks to the community's support and the goal to establish a global brand, SAJU has decided to open a fulfillment facility in Florida, USA. This facility will be shipping all orders made through www.sajuthemonkey.com and promise a delivery USA-WIDE no longer than a week. To celebrate their new webpage and fulfillment facility, SAJU will be offering 25% OFF on all orders +35 USD thru February. Media Contact: Juan Pablo Pradilla, CEO at SAJU THE MONKEY LLC. [email protected] +573202338743 SOURCE SAJU THE MONKEY LLC Related Links http://www.sajuthemonkey.com The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano took to Twitter on Wednesday to decry a Statehouse proposal that would give her department the names of any rape or incest victims who get abortions. The amendment, part of the so-called fetal heartbeat bill, would require any doctor who performs an abortion for an adult patient who reports that the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest to give the patient's contact information to the local sheriff within 24 hours. Currently, doctors may refer victims to law enforcement or recovery services, but wouldn't do so without the patient's consent. While the addition was ultimately approved, opponents say the reporting requirement would further traumatize sex assault survivors who don't feel they can safely report the crime, and potentially dissuade them from seeking medical care. "This is absolute insanity to re-victimize the victim," Graziano tweeted in response to the amendment. "Sheriffs should not be policing a woman's body, religious beliefs or personal health decisions." The Senate is expected to pass the full bill, then hand it over to the House for committee and floor action before landing on Gov. Henry McMaster's desk. The governor, who supports the measure, has said he would sign it. Graziano, who earlier this month became the Palmetto State's first female and first openly gay sheriff, campaigned on promises of transparency and respect from law enforcement. "I may be a new sheriff, but I'm not new at being a woman," Graziano added in a tweet with the hashtag #mybodymyrights. S.C. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, one of the lawmakers who proposed the amendment, declined to directly respond to Grazianos comments. But he noted the measure does not directly force women to do anything. The physician would report the rape or incest, and the women would not be required to press charges or take any further action if they chose not to. The reason behind the amendment is that the state has a compelling interest in investigating, prosecuting and deterring violent crime, and I think rape and incest is a violent crime, said Massey, R-Edgefield. Massey also pointed out that, for years now, state law has already required abortion providers to report to law enforcement when they perform abortions on minors as a result of rape or incest. This extends that to adult women, Massey said. Charleston is one of just a few Palmetto State counties with abortion providers, and has a victim-focused program for nurses to collect forensic evidence from sex assault victims at the Medical University of South Carolina. Lowcountry leaders aren't alone in denouncing the move. The S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault released a statement saying that the reporting requirement would further strip victims of their autonomy "by removing doctor-patient confidentiality and replacing it with fear and intimidation." The amendment was the culmination of hours of debate Tuesday, when several Republicans spoke against abortion but hesitated to support a bill without exceptions for rape. The legislation would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which usually begins within 6 to 8 weeks into a pregnancy. Jamie Lovegrove contributed to this report. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA As work to suppress coronavirus in Montgomery County continues to show positive results, the federal government has taken steps to recognize that progress. Montgomery County is among several states that were recently downgraded out of the "red zone" into the "orange zone" of coronavirus outbreak severity, as determined in a report by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. While moving into the new category does not herald any specific changes to day to day life in the county the report is used by federal officials to inform policy and to gain a snapshot of trends in local and regional health it does indicate positive news for the region. Montgomery was joined by Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester counties in being downgraded to orange in the Jan. 24 report. All told, it classifies 40 of the state's 67 counties as being in the red zone. There are 17 counties in the orange zone and 10 in the yellow zone. RELATED: COVID Positivity Rate Drops Below 9% In Montco: See Latest Data In order to fall to orange, Montgomery County had to see less than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents, and a percent positivity rate below 10 percent. Both of these metrics are among key statistics that have fallen in the county this month. The county's latest positivity rate on tests is 8.8 percent, with healthcare metrics like hospitalization rate also improving. To fall from orange to yellow, counties must have reported between 10 and 50 new cases per 100,000 residents and a diagnostic test positivity result between 5 and 7.9 percent. Under the Trump administration, these reports were not made public by the task force. Instead, they were obtained by The Center for Public Integrity. See the full Jan. 24 report here. With reporting from Patch correspondent Kara Seymour This article originally appeared on the Norristown Patch Flags at the U.S. Capitol fly at half-mast to honor Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, in Washington on Jan. 8, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Another DC Police Officer Dies by Suicide Following US Capitol Breach A second police officer has died by suicide after responding to the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Acting D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee told members of Congress. During his Tuesday hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, Contee revealed in his testimony (pdf) that Jeffrey Smith, who had served the Metro Police Department (MPD) for about 12 years, took his own life in the aftermath of the incident. It was previously disclosed by the U.S. Capitol Police that Howard Liebengood, a 15-year veteran of the force, died off-duty on Jan. 10. Fox News and the Washington Post later confirmed that Liebengood died by suicide. Brian Sicknick, also of the Capitol Police, died on Jan. 7 from strokes. We honor the service and sacrifices of Officers Brian Sicknick, Howard Liebengood, and Jeffery Smith, and offer condolences to all the grieving families, Contee told the committee investigating the law enforcement response to what it described as a coup attempt. A memorial for Brian Sicknick is erected near the U.S. Capitol on January 10, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Getty Images) Sixty-five MPD members sustained injuries documented in injury reports, he added. Many more sustained injuries from the assaultscratches, bruises, eyes burning from bear macethat they did not even bother to report. Approximately 850 MPD officers were at the Capitol during the height of the incident, Cantee said. By the days end, an additional estimate of 250 had been in the area to directly support the response and aftermath. According to Contee, law enforcement training doesnt prepare the MPD officers for hours of hand-to-hand combat, which can take a toll on their physical and psychological well being. He said his department is working to help officers emotionally recover from the Jan. 6 trauma. Yogananda Pittman, the acting chief of the Capitol Police, also appeared at the hearing. She admitted that her department was aware of the potential violence days ahead of the incident, but didnt properly prepare for it. By January 4th, the Department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020, Pittman said, according to testimony obtained by the New York Times. I believe the multiple reviews, after actions, and investigations currently underway will conclude that the Capitols security infrastructure must change and that the Department needs access to additional resourcesboth manpower and physical assets. Pittman reportedly told the House committee that the Capitol Police Board, a three-member panel that oversees the department, declined former Capital Police Chief Steven Sunds request to declare a state of emergency in advance of then-President Donald Trumps rally and bring in National Guard troops to protect the Capitol. She said Sund again called on the Board to request support from the National Guard, but it took more than an hour for them to approve Guard intervention. Sund resigned from the position hours after the attack on Capitol. Editors Note: This article has been updated with new information about Sicknicks cause of death. Los Angeles County Sued Over Commercial Eviction Moratorium A small landlord suffering economic hardship is suing the county of Los Angeles over its pandemic-related moratorium preventing the eviction of commercial tenants for nonpayment of rent. The lawsuit, Iten v. County of Los Angeles, which was filed Jan. 19 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges the county is violating the contracts clause of the U.S. Constitution. Former Marine and Vietnam veteran Howard Iten is a retired auto mechanic who depends on rental income from his sole commercial property, which is located in the City of Lawndale in Los Angeles County. The problem is his current tenant is an auto repair franchisee who has refused to pay much of his rent during the current pandemic, even though his business has been fully open the entire time; the tenant is several thousand dollars in arrears. I think its wrong that the burden is placed on property owners, while tenants can take advantage of the situation, Iten said in a statement provided by his lawyers at Pacific Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm headquartered in Sacramento. At least I owned my property free and clear. I sympathize with those landlords who hold a mortgage. Iten and his wife jointly own a one-half interest in an approximately 2,600-square-foot commercially zoned rental property. From the late 1970s to the mid-2000s, he operated a successful auto repair shop on the site. Following his retirement and his sons running of the business for a few years, he decided to lease the property, and in August 2015, he entered into a five-year standard commercial lease agreement with an auto repair company. In September 2016, that lessee entered into a sublease with another auto repair company, which does business as a franchisee of a nationally recognized auto repair firm. It has fewer than 10 employees. In March 2020, the county issued a residential and commercial eviction moratorium on an emergency basis. The eviction moratorium, which took the form of an ordinance, has been extended and amended several times, including in September, October, and November, and most recently on Jan. 5 of this year. The current eviction ban runs through the end of February and is likely to be extended. In its current form, the moratorium forbids the charging of interest or late fees on rents or amounts that come due during the moratorium period. It provides that commercial tenants that have fewer than 10 employees have 12 months from the end of the moratorium period to pay rent that came due during the moratorium. This means Iten cant even try to recover the overdue rent until 12 months after the moratoriums expirationcurrently, Feb. 28, 2022. In April 2020, Itens tenant informed him that it was adversely affected by the pandemic and was unable to pay the rent. Iten wanted to terminate the tenancy but couldnt because of the moratorium, so when the lease and sublease expired in the fall, he negotiated a new five-year lease with the tenant to increase the chances of someday recovering the past-due rent. Damien M. Schiff, a senior attorney at PLF handling the lawsuit, expressed optimism about the case during an interview with The Epoch Times. The moratorium itself is unfair to landlords, he said. There is no mechanism in the ordinance to assure any sort of partial income stream to landlords, meaning that if a tenant says I cant pay because of COVID, I dont have to show documentation, I just simply say I cant pay, then not only can you not evict me but also I dont have to pay rent, and there is no way that you can force me to pay you anything during the moratorium period. So for a lot of landlords who are small like Mr. Iten, being deprived absolutely of the right to an income stream is a huge impairment of the economic value of these lease contracts. Lawsuits against various moratoriums have all been focused on residential moratoriums, and by and large, the reason why theyve all lost so far is because the courts see a fairly close connection between fighting the pandemic by stay-at-home orders and eviction moratoriums to keep people in their homes. No court has yet to address whether the connection between a commercial eviction moratorium and pandemic efforts is now too attenuated. Just because a commercial tenant is evicted does not mean that there is necessarily or even likely going to be a person on the streets or put into substandard housing. The Los Angeles County Counsels office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. A Melbourne father has been jailed after bombarding a schoolgirl with obscene photos and sick messages and pressuring the teenager to take the drug ice. Jason Dow, 30, an excavator of Langwarrin South, was sentenced to a maximum 18 months' jail after pleading guilty to grooming a child for sex and supplying a drug of dependence to a child in late 2018. Dow, who admitted heavy drug use to the Melbourne Magistrates Court, was also made a registered sex offender for eight years. He took the 15-year-old girl to his parents' home and gave her meth, and later sent her a stream of vile messages including offers of money in exchange for sex. Jason Dow, 30, was sentenced to a maximum 18 months' jail after pleading guilty to grooming a child for sex and supplying a drug of dependence to a child Dow sent his 15 year old victim dozens of obscene text messages (pictured) and photos including offers of money and drugs in exchange for sex - even trying to coax her from her school studies Dow's disturbing messages (pictured) to the schoolgirl continued for several months and only stopped when she blocked him He sent her text messages offering her $100 to have sex with him, then $75 for the same demand, and pestered her with sexual questions and demands. At least once the schoolgirl replied that she was busy studying, but that did not deter Dow, the Herald Sun reported. 'Don't you wanna stop studying and make $100 for half an hour,' Dow replied. 'Then you can study after, up to you. What are you scared you can't take it last last half hour.' Dow then sent the schoolgirl a photo of his erect penis with a plea for her to 'sit on that for half hour while smoking a pipe lol'. Dow's defence was called 'self-pitying and self indulgent' and showed no care for his 15 year old victim, who was left traumatised and scared to go to school He also asked the girl to have sex with him because it was his birthday - but police had been alerted and arrested Dow the same day. At the sentencing Melbourne Magistrate Luisa Bazzani was damning of Dow's defence, which included a handwritten note about his plans to improve his life, which she called 'self-pity in my view and self-indulgence.' Dow's defence included expressing 'shame and embarrassment' and accepting that his 'judgement was off'. Magistrate Bazzani said his letter to the court contained 'no reference by you to show any care or concern to your victim'. Dow's grooming was 'insidious', 'highly damaging to any child' and 'calculated to harm this child,' Bazzani said. Dow's defence included admitting he was a daily meth user and felt 'embarrassment' 'I have no doubt whatsoever she was a particularly vulnerable child. It is clear the drugs were to incite sexual activity (the) offending against the victim was to gratify you sexually.' In court the girl's victim impact statement recounted how she was traumatised and scared to go to school. 'I'm distressed, I'm disgusted with myself,' she said. Under questioning Dow admitted he had only stopped messaging the girl because she had blocked him. Dow also told police he continued barraging the girl with explicit messages and photos because he was 'a f***ing idiot'. Dow's sentence will be a minimum of 12 months in jail. The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has told the Supreme Court that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) was biased towards John Mahama. The NDC kingpin who has been picked as one of the witnesses by former President John Mahama in the ongoing election petition said: The Chairperson of 1st Respondent and 1st Respondents are also not required under Article 296 of the Constitution to be biased either by resentment, prejudice or personal dislike in exercising any discretionary power, but they are required to exercise such powers in accordance with due process of law. The Chairperson of 1st Respondent, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, allowed herself to be biased by her prejudice in favour of the 2nd Respondent, who appointed her in August 2018 and with whose wife Mrs Jean Adukwie Mensa has a close familial relationship. Mrs Mensa was thus, at all material times in the conduct of her responsibilities, biased by prejudice in favour of the 2nd Respondent and against the Petitioner. According to the man known as General Mosquito, "in announcing the various so-called "corrections" and "corrections" of "Corrections", no officer of 1st Respondent engaged in any consultative process involving petitioner..." adding "it is clear that in seeking to justify the new figures put forward in the (EC's) press release of 10th December 2020, one or more officials of 1st respondent made various adjustments to figures of votes cast for various candidates on their own, in the absence of representatives of Petitioner". Asiedu Nketiah's witness statement was filed on Wednesday, January 27. Read the full statement below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Another 100 minors to be returned from Syria Russias Child Rights Commissioner RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 12:06 28/01/2021 MOSCOW, January 28 (RAPSI) Another 100 children are expected to be returned from Syria to Russia, according to the Minors Ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova. The required documents are prepared, she said. The Russian Child Rights Commissioner also met with the relatives of minors, who are currently held in the Syrian prisons and camps within warfighting territories. The work on the childrens repatriation has been ongoing since 2018. Over 100 minors have been already returned to their homeland with the assistance of Anna Kuznetsova. 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. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Listen to President Bidens words as he reversed a policy by his predecessor that effectively barred transgender troops from the military: What Im doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform. Its that simple. Bidens executive order doesnt give special privileges to transgender people or take anything away from other service members. It ensures equal treatment for anyone willing to put their life on the line for our nation. Its shameful that that right was ever infringed or in doubt. As with so many of the previous administrations policies, this one was spurred by a Twitter tirade that singled out transgender people in the military as disruptive - without an ounce of proof. By the time the military transformed President Trumps July 2017 tweets which had announced an outright ban on transgender men and women serving in any capacity into policy in 2019, the rules barred only the enlistment of transgender people who planned to have gender-affirming hormones or surgery. Those already serving openly were allowed to remain, but service members who came out as trans were required to serve in the gender assigned at birth. The policy was never a priority of the American people. The majority of Americans 71 percent disagreed with the ban, according to a Gallup poll conducted after the summer after it took effect. Even the presidents pick as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who defended the policy during his confirmation hearings later in 2019, conceded that flatly categorizing transgender service members as problematic was wrong. I do not believe there is anything inherent in anyones identity to prevent them from serving in the military, Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at his confirmation hearing: "It's about standards, not an identity." A study from the Palm Center, led by former top medical officers in the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, found that the ban undermined military readiness by reducing the dwindling recruitment pool, lowering morale of transgender troops and harming the reputation of the military by casting it as unwelcoming and intolerant. The ban inflicted pain not only on the more than 15,000 openly transgender troops and those afraid to come out, but on potential recruits who were discouraged from enlisting and on the greater transgender community, already marginalized in daily life. People either had to hide or deny who they are or, if they came out, be discharged, said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and one of the attorneys who challenged the ban. That takes a toll on people. It's brutal. It wasnt Trumps only policy targeting the transgender community. His administration also ended protection for transgender people in health care, federal employment, federal prisons and homeless shelters and revoked Obama-era guidance protecting transgender students in public schools. Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, already face discrimination, harassment and violence simply for being who they are. Last year, at least 37 transgender and gender non-conforming people were killed the most since Human Rights Watch began tracking in 2013. The FBIs annual crime report showed that hate crime incidents motivated by gender identity rose 20 percent in 2019. By rescinding the ban, Biden sends a strong message, a show of support that began when he became the first president-elect to mention transgender Americans in his victory speech. His first day in office, Biden signed an executive order directing the federal government not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. He has also nominated Rachel Levine, Pennsylvanias top health official, as his assistant secretary of health. She would become the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As his presidency takes root, Biden must continue to restore the protections for transgender people. He must follow through on campaign pledges to the LGBTQ community, including ensuring the passage of the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the classes protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such actions will let all Americans know that transgender individuals are part of our countrys fabric and are entitled to equal protection under the law. They should be accepted, not shunned. They should be free to live their lives, and free if they so choose to put their lives on the line in service to this nation. When it comes to patriotic sacrifice, the only identity that should matter is the American identity. Are we making injustice worse by turning a blind eye to issues which make us uncomfortable? In her new book published today [28] sociologist Dr Hannah Jones highlights the problems caused by the phenomenon she has dubbed "violent ignorance," and suggests small steps everyone can take to work towards recognising and changing unfairness in society. Dr Jones said: "In the run-up to the Brexit referendum a member of parliament was assassinated in the street by a terrorist associated with extreme political groups - and the national response was to encourage picnics rather than answer uncomfortable questions about how Jo Cox's murderer had developed his views, and what that might tell us about levels of division and hate in British society. "I've called such turning away from painful knowledge and the further violence that can bring, 'Violent Ignorance.' How is it that as a nation we have decided that racism, forced deportations, and entrenched inequality of the sort that led to the Grenfell fire are just normal facts of life?" Violent Ignorance: Confronting Racism and Migration Control explores belonging, race, migration and history, looking at case studies from the Grenfell tragedy to Ben Affleck's covering-up of his slave-holding ancestors, and from the UK immigration detention centre whistle-blower to the resistant schoolteacher in Nazi Germany. The book connects current events, buried histories, and artistic responses to injustice to ask how we might contend with the horrors that meet us each day - from drownings in the Mediterranean to cover-ups of state torture - rather than becoming desensitised to them. Drawing on thinkers from John Berger to Ben Okri, from Audre Lorde to Susan Sontag, Dr Jones asks what damage is done by looking away from unbearable violence - and what might make it possible to not only look at that violence, but act to alleviate it. Reviewing the book, human rights activist and former Director of Liberty Baroness Shami Chakrabarti said: "To call this a wake-up call might imply that society slumbers in innocence. More accurately, in Violent Ignorance, Hannah Jones makes an emergency citizen's arrest. "In this urgent analysis and prosecution of our times, Jones demonstrates how the evils of the world don't just happen and there is nothing natural nor inevitable about man's inhumanity to man. Violent Ignorance should be required reading for all those in power and an essential text for those seeking to take and share it." While drawing on Dr Jones' academic research into border controls and enforcement, the book is written for a general audience and will appeal to anyone interested in challenging the complacent acceptance of cruelty in contemporary life. ### * Violent Ignorance : Confronting Racism and Migration Control by Hannah Jones is published by Zed/Bloomsbury. ISBN:9781786998637 NOTES Dr Hannah Jones is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick. She writes, researches and teaches on racism, belonging and migration, and on critical public sociology. She is lead co-author of Go Home? The politics of immigration controversies (2017), co-editor of Stories of Cosmopolitan Belonging: Emotion and Location (2014), and author of Negotiating Cohesion, Inequality and Change: Uncomfortable Positions in Local Government (2013) which won the BSA Phillip Abrams Prize for best first book in UK sociology. NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday mett Delhi Police personnel who were injured in the violence during the farmers' tractor rally on January 26th. The Home Minister met one of them at Tirath Ram Shah Hospital in Delhi and interacted with him. He is visiting the two Delhi hospitals - Shushrut Trauma Centre and Teerath Ram Hospital - where three police personnel injured in the violence have been admitted in north Delhi. He has inquired about the health of the injured police personnel. #WATCH Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets and speaks to an injured Police personnel, who is admitted at Tirath Ram Shah Hospital. These Police personnel were injured in the violence during the farmers' tractor rally on January 26th. pic.twitter.com/f0WsgOvSPP ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Both the hospitals are located in Civil Lines. Nearly 400 policemen were injured during the tractor parade of the farmers who have been protesting against three central farm laws at Delhi's borders since November. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the parade that was supposed to be held from 12 pm to 5 pm with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Delhi Police has issued notices to at least 20 farmer leaders including Yogendra Yadav, Baldev Singh Sirsa, Balbir S Rajewal for breaching the agreement with police regarding the tractor rally. They have been asked to reply within 3 days, the Delhi Police said. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. From Rajpath to Red Fort, the day unfolded in scenes of contrasts. One that Indians have seen for seven decades and the other that seared itself into collective memory with its imagery of protesters demanding a repeal of the three farm laws storming the Mughal era monument, the centrepiece of India's Independence Day celebrations. Clashes broke out in multiple places, leading to violence in well-known landmarks of Delhi and its suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day. A protester died after his tractor overturned near ITO, one of the major flashpoints of trouble. Live TV Jennifer Sesma A Beach & Bartolo salesperson, Jennifer Sesma, was named rookie of the year by the Columbia Greene Board of Realtors. The board recognizes one active member who has been in the business three years or fewer who demonstrates outstanding service to the industry and to the board. Sesma started her real estate career in September 2019 as a salesperson with Beach & Bartolo Realtors. Flash Japan on Wednesday reported 3,965 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total tally of infections to 377,007, as the government mulls extending the state of emergency currently in place for 11 prefectures including Tokyo. Health officials said 72 more people died from COVID-19-related illnesses, taking the latest nationwide death toll to 5,383 people. According to the health ministry, the number of patients designated as being "seriously ill" hit its highest-ever level on Wednesday at 1,043 patients, topping the previous record set on Monday by 26 patients. The Tokyo metropolitan government, meanwhile, reported 973 new daily COVID-19 cases in the capital on Wednesday, bringing the city's cumulative total of people testing positive for the virus to 96,507. The latest figure, as was the case on Sunday and Monday, dipped below the 1,000-mark, before rising above the threshold on Tuesday when new daily infections in the city of 14 million rose to 1,026. Health officials in the capital said the number of patients designated as being in a "serious condition" stood at 159, rising by 11 compared to a day earlier, with concerns rising over the increasing strain to the medical system and the likelihood that the number of critically ill patients will rise more among the elderly. As such, rising numbers of Japanese lawmakers are advocating for an extension of the current state of emergency as despite recent dips in infections, no marked downturn has been discernible so far in the capital and other areas covered by the emergency virus measures. The month-long state of emergency was initially declared by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga earlier this month, covering 11 of the country's 47 prefectures, namely Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Aichi, Gifu, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka. Under the state of emergency, people in the affected areas are asked to refrain from making unnecessary trips outdoors, and restaurants and bars are requested to close by 8:00 p.m. local time. While the current end date of the virus emergency is slated to be Feb. 7, informed government sources have said it could be both extended until the end of February and also expanded further to cover other prefectures where cases of the novel coronavirus have shown no signs of abating. Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of the government's COVID-19 response, said on Tuesday that the government will avoid waiting until the last minute to announce its decision on the possible extension and further expansion of the emergency virus measures, so prefectural governments will have adequate time to prepare themselves. Oamaru (the small town in North Otago) has been voted the most welcoming town in New Zealand by booking.com The results were found by collating online reviews from accommodation and attractions. Here are the Top 10 most welcoming cities... Oamaru Hokitika Invercargill Cambridge Picton Lake Tekapo Kerikeri Palmerston North Paihia Twizel On top of that the South Island region of Canterbury made the website's list for most welcoming regions in the world! "Canterbury is a diverse region known for its wild coastlines, clear lakes, lush vineyards and snow-capped mountains." the website said. "The best way to explore the region is by train, which will bring travelers through the Southern Alps including New Zealands highest point Aoraki Mount Cook." "Situated in the centre of the South Island and famous for its crystal-clear lake with mountain backdrop, Lake Tekapo is definitely worth a visit. In the night, the sky here is filled with stars for some serious stargazing." So while we still can't travel overseas, here's a few ideas for your next Kiwi holiday! Sex differences in vinegar flies' brains' neural connectivity reconfigures circuit logic in a sex-specific manner. Males receive visual inputs and females' olfactory (odour) inputs. Credit: Oxford Science Blog Males and females not only behave differently in terms of sex, they are evolutionarily programmed to do so, according to a new study from Oxford, which found sex-specific signals affect behavior. The new study from Oxford's Goodwin group from the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics says, despite sharing very similar genome and nervous system, males and females 'differ profoundly in reproductive investments and require distinct behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations." The team argues, "In most animal species, the costs associated with reproduction differ between the sexes: females often benefit most from producing high-quality offspring, while males often benefit from mating with as many females as possible. As a result, males and females have evolved profoundly different adaptations to suit their own reproductive needs." The question for the researchers was: how does selection act on the nervous system to produce adaptive sex-differences in behavior within the bounds set by physical constraints, including both size and energy, and a largely shared genome? Today's study offers a solution to this long-standing question by uncovering a novel circuit architecture principle which allows deployment of completely different behavioral repertoires in males and females, with minimal circuit changes. The research team, led by Dr. Tetsuya Nojima and Dr. Annika Rings, found that the nervous system of vinegar flies, Drosophila melanogaster, produced differences in behavior by delivering different information to the sexes. In the vinegar fly, males compete for a mate through courtship displays; thus, the ability to chase other flies is adaptive to males, but of little use to females. A female's investment is focused on the success of their offspring; thus, the ability to choose the best sites to lay eggs is adaptive to females. When investigating the different role of only four neurons clustered in pairs in each hemisphere of the central brain of both male and female flies, the researchers found the sex differences in their neuronal connectivity reconfigures circuit logic in a sex-specific manner. In essence, males received visual inputs and females received primarily olfactory (odor) inputs. Importantly, the team demonstrated that this dimorphism leads to sex-specific behavioral roles for these neurons: visually guided courtship pursuit in males and communal egg-laying in females. These small changes in connectivity between the sexes allowed for the performance of sex-specific adaptive behavior most suited to these reproductive needs through minimal modifications of shared neuronal networks. This circuit principle may increase the evolvability of brain circuitry, as sexual circuits become less constrained by different optima in male and females. And it works, the study says, "Ultimately, these circuit reconfigurations lead to the same end resultan increase in reproductive success. "Our findings suggest a flexible strategy used to structure the nervous system, where relatively minor modifications in neuronal networks allow each sex to react to their surroundings in a sex-appropriate manner." Furthermore, this is the first time a firm link between sex-specific differences in neuronal networks have been explicitly linked to behavior. According to Professor Stephen Goodwin, "Previous high-profile papers in the field have suggested that sex-specific differences in higher-order processing of sensory information could lead to sex-specific behaviors; however, those experiments remained exclusively at the level of differences in neuroanatomy and physiology without any demonstrable link to behavior. I think we have gone further as we have linked higher-order sexually dimorphic anatomical inputs, with sex-specific physiology and sex-specific behavioral roles." The researchers maintain 'evolutionary forces' have driven these adaptations, "Drosophila, males compete for a mate through courtship displays, while a female's investment is focused on the success of their offspring." They conclude, "In this study, we have shown how a sex-specific switch between visual and olfactory inputs underlies adaptive sex differences in behavior and provides insight on how similar mechanisms maybe implemented in the brains of other sexually-dimorphic species." Explore further Exploring why males are larger than females among mammals More information: Tetsuya Nojima et al. A sex-specific switch between visual and olfactory inputs underlies adaptive sex differences in behavior, Current Biology (2021). Journal information: Current Biology Tetsuya Nojima et al. A sex-specific switch between visual and olfactory inputs underlies adaptive sex differences in behavior,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.047 US President Joe Biden's pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday did not explicitly commit the support of the new administration for India to be a permanent member of the Security Council. Three previous administrations, that of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, had publicly said that the United States supports India's bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. However, Thomas-Greenfield, who has spent more than 35 years in foreign service before being nominated to the position, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told lawmakers that this is a matter of ongoing discussion. Do you think India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council), Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon asked during her confirmation hearing for the position of the US Ambassador to the UN. Biden has named it as a Cabinet-ranking position. I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that, she said. But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion, she said in an apparent reference to the Coffee Club or United for Consensus. Comprising countries like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, the Coffee Club has opposed the permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. President Biden in his campaign policy document last year had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Recognising India's growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for India's membership in a reformed and expanded Security Council, Biden Campaign's policy document on Indian-Americans had said last August. Thomas-Greenfield, in response to another question, favoured reforms in the UN Security Council. India is currently its non-permanent member for a two-year term that began in January this year. I think there is general agreement across the board that reforms are needed in the Security Council. What those reforms will be and how they will be implemented, I think remains to be decided but you know changing the number of members that happened we move from 11 to 15 some years ago and there are efforts to push for more permanent members, and those discussions are ongoing, she said. She was responding to a question from Senator Merkley. I wanted to start by asking about the Security Council itself. At the same time that China and Russian often stymie actions in the Security Council. The Security Council is decreasingly representative of the geopolitical landscape with key powers like India, Germany, Japan not included as permanent members, he said. How do you approach the question of the Security Council? How do you consider that perhaps it needs to be reformed? How do you believe it can be made more effective and functional, Merkley asked. (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.) Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. India this week became the sixth country to administer more than 2 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, even as the infection spread continued to subside. Nearly two weeks into the ambitious vaccination drive, Karnataka led the way with over 264,000 doses by Wednesday. Kerala, the only state where the virus is still spreading fast, has given 82,514 doses so far. But turnouts at vaccination camps are a challenge. To meet the August target of inoculating 300 million citizens, India needs to give 1.3 million doses a day. The current pace is a lot slower, at less than 200,000 a day, as some doubt the jabs safety. The Centre has directed states to act against those spreading rumours about vaccines. Nine health workers have died so far after getting vaccinated, though the Centre denies any link with the shot. Globally, 80.3 million vaccine doses have been given so far, according to Our World in Data. Of these, 23.5 million were in the United States, followed by 15 million in China. By Wednesday, Israel had fully vaccinated nearly 17% of its population, followed by the United Arab Emirates (2.5%) and Iceland (1.4%). No one has been vaccinated fully so far in India as both vaccines being used in the country need two doses spaced a few weeks apart. View Full Image Graphic Mint Meanwhile, the covid-19 threat is increasingly receding in the country. Just over 90,000 cases were reported in the last seven days, shows data from the health ministry. The death count this week was 978, the lowest since June. With this, Indias total case-load reached 10.7 million by Thursday morning, of which 153,847 have died. Nearly 46% of the new cases were in Kerala, and 19% in Maharashtra. Kerala is the only state where active cases are still rising sharply even a year after it reported Indias first coronavirus patient. The state has 72,476 active cases as of Thursday morning, out of a total of 173,740 nationwide. Maharashtra has 44,624 of them, and Uttar Pradesh is next, with 6,368. In terms of deaths, Kerala fares better than Maharashtra, which accounted for nearly one-third of Indias covid-related deaths this week. Only six states and Union territories crossed the 50 mark, and eight did not report any death at all. The virus menace in Kerala is spread across districts. All 14 of them, barring Kasargod, added more than 1,500 cases this week, shows data compiled by howindialives.com. The case-load is rising the fastest in Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Wayanad, each of which recorded an 8% rise last week. The southern state continues to test aggressively but its positivity rate is still alarmingly high. Almost 10% of all people tested in the last two weeks turned positive for the virus, compared to 1.9% nationally. Meanwhile, the number of people who tested positive for the UK variant of the virus in India rose to 153. More variants have been reported in recent days, particularly from South Africa and Brazil. Fortunately, early studies show the vaccines developed so far could be effective against the new variants as well. However, the pace of getting everyone vaccinated varies across the world. Earlier this week, pharma company AstraZeneca cut off vaccine supplies to the EU due to production issues. The decision has irked the bloc, as Pfizer, another manufacturer, had made a similar announcement just days before. This means the developing world could be having it even worse. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa even accused rich countries of hoarding vaccines, and urged them to give up excess doses that they have ordered. This is crucial for global economic recovery, as experts increasingly warn that the covid-19 war cannot be won if vaccination is spread unequally. A new study, led by Cem Cakmakl of the Koc University, Turkey, found that inequitable distribution of vaccines could hurt advanced economies too, to the tune of up to 3.7% of their 2019 GDP, because of potential disruptions to global trade and supply chains. This is a warning to India as well: protecting its own citizens wont be enough. On its part, the country has begun shipping supplies to neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal free of cost, and more is in store. The new US administration even lauded India for this effort, calling it a "true friend". The message to the rich world is clear: just like the global infection phase, the recovery phase cannot be isolated either. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Noting the importance of military-technical cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow, Indian Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma on Wednesday said India has an independent policy and makes every decision in the military sphere in accordance with the interests of its defence and security. In an interview with TASS, envoy Varma said, "India-Russia ties go back decades. This is one of the pillars of our strategic partnership. India also has a global strategic partnership with the US. New Delhi's relations with each country are independent. India has an independent policy, and we make every decision in the military sphere in accordance with the interests of our defence and security." On the question of possible US sanctions over the purchase of S-400s, he said: "All our partners are aware of India's defence policy and needs. For any country, it should not be a surprise that India is making decisions on its defence policy independently, in accordance with its own needs in defence and security." Speaking on the Russian Sputnik V clinical trials in India, Varma added, "The Sputnik V vaccine is already well known. The second stage of its clinical trials in India has been completed, and the third has begun. The vaccine approval process will take another couple of weeks." Envoy Varma further revealed that he received his first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine last week. "Many of my colleagues at the embassy have also been vaccinated, and many are going to do so," he said. Over the annual Russian-Indian summit not being held last year, he said, "There is an agreement between the two countries that President Putin will visit India to participate in the bilateral summit, which could not be held in 2020 for the only reason -- the COVID-19 situation. As soon as the epidemic situation allows, both sides will agree on a specific date for the visit." On the USD 1 billion credit line extended by India for the development of the Far East, envoy Varma said, "This is an unprecedented case, because for the first time India provides a preferential credit line to its business partners for cooperation with Russian colleagues in the Far East, and this is very important." Over chairing the BRICS summit, the Indian envoy said, "India, as chairman of the BRICS, as always, wants to consolidate the association as a key international platform for cooperation in a multipolar world in order to change the situation in the economy and health after the pandemic, but also to strengthen the synergy of contacts between people. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New passionfruit-flavored cannabis edibles made with four all-natural aphrodisiac ingredients Available for Valentines Day in MA, NV, and RI; widely available in other markets by March 2021 Marks 10th flavor and formulation for award-winning Bettys Eddies brand NORWOOD, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Move over, flowers and chocolate. Leading multi-state cannabis operator MariMed Inc. (MRMD:OTCQX) (the Company or MariMed) is heating up the cannabis edibles market in time for Valentines Day with the release of its Bettys Eddies Smashin Passion chews. Scientifically formulated to stimulate mind and body, Smashin Passion chews will be available starting in February at the Companys spacious Panacea Wellness dispensary in Middleboro, MA, and later at select dispensaries in Massachusetts, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico. The tenth addition to the award-winning Bettys Eddies line of all-natural fruit chews, Smashin Passion chews are made with pure freeze-dried passionfruit and a proprietary blend of four all-natural aphrodisiacs: damiana, horny goat weed, maca root, and muira puama. We are incredibly excited to spice up dispensary shelves and nightstand drawers with Bettys tenth flavor and formulation, explained Ryan Crandall, Chief Product Officer and SVP of Sales at MariMed. Smashin Passion truly is a labor of love for the thousands of patients and consumers whove made Bettys Eddies one of the top-selling edibles in the US. Betty's Eddies was named 2020 Edible of the Year by the Explore Maryland Cannabis Awards and is the 2019 LeafLink Winner for Best Selling Medical Product. Sought after for their tempting flavors, mouth-watering texture, and reliable effects, all Bettys Eddies fruit chews are gluten-free, vegan, and made with organically grown fruits and vegetables. For information, sales, and availability of Smashin Passion and all other flavors, please visit Bettys Eddies at http://www.bettyseddies.com/. About MariMed MariMed Inc., a multi-state cannabis operator, is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of people through the use of cannabinoids and cannabis products. The Company develops, owns, and manages seed to sale state-licensed cannabis facilities, which are models of excellence in horticultural principles, cannabis cultivation, cannabis-infused products, and dispensary operations. MariMed has an experienced management team that has produced consistent growth and success for the Company and its managed business units. The Company is at the forefront of science and innovation through research developed by its lab technicians and medical advisors resulting in industry-leading products and brands, including Betty's Eddies, Natures Heritage, Bourne Baking Co., and Kalm Fusion. These precision-dosed products are focused on specific symptoms and conditions and are licensed and distributed across the country. For additional information, visit marimedinc.com. Important Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to MariMed Inc. that is based on the beliefs of MariMed Inc.'s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events, including estimates and projections about its business based on certain assumptions of its management, including those described in this Release. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, among other factors, changes in demand for the Company's services and products, changes in the law and its enforcement and changes in the economic environment. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as "hoped," "anticipated," "believed," "planned, "estimated," "preparing," "potential," "expected," "looks" or words of a similar nature. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. None of the content of any of the websites referred to herein (even if a link is provided for your convenience) is incorporated into this release and the Company assumes no responsibility for any of such content. All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Company Contact Jon Levine, CFO MariMed Inc. Tel (781) 559-8713 Media Contact Beth Waterfall MariMed Inc. bwaterfall@marimedinc.com T: 781-619-8539 Investors KCSA Strategic Communications Scott Eckstein / Elizabeth Barker MRMD@kcsa.com (Newser) Details continue to emerge out of Texas after what the Austin Police Department deems a murder-suicide involving two doctors who apparently didn't know each other. Per witnesses and police statements, the Austin American-Statesman reports that Dr. Bharat Narumanchi, 43, showed up at Children's Medical Group on Friday asking if any volunteer work was available; a staff member said he revealed he had terminal cancer and wanted to spend his last few weeks helping out. He returned Tuesday afternoon with a pair of duffel bags and two guns, holding five employees hostage. As SWAT team members tried to negotiate for six-plus hours, four of the hostages escaped or were released, leaving Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson, also 43, inside with Narumanchi. When cops finally sent in a camera-fitted robot around 10:45pm, they spotted the bodies of the two pediatricians inside, both shot. story continues below It's still not clear what led to the shootingauthorities are looking into whether Narumanchi's terminal diagnosis or being turned down by the center for volunteer work may have triggered him, per KXANor why he targeted Dodson, a mom of three. But the American-Statesman notes there were signs of an erratic, sometimes violent past: He'd moved often around the country, and he also had a domestic abuse case brought against him in Hawaii nearly a decade ago, which was eventually dismissed. He'd also at one point been embroiled in a bitter child custody battle with his ex. Police are talking to his family members to glean more insight into what happened, while the Travis County medical examiner will be trying to determine a cause of death. "We are beyond devastated at the tragic, sudden, and senseless loss of our beloved Lindley," Dodson's family said in a statement, per KVUE. "We are all better because of her." (Read more hostage stories.) CBSE Class 10, 12 2021 date sheet to be announced on Feb 2 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: The CBSE Class 10, 12 board exam date sheet 2021 will be released on February 2, Education Minister, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank informed. The same once released will be available on the official website. The education minister made the announced during a live interaction with the Presidents and Secretaries of CBSE Sahodaya Schools today. He also informed that the CBSE will digitalise the 45 year records of the students. In December the minister had announced the CBSE board exam dates and said that the same would begin on May 4 and will continue till June 10 2021. The board exams were deferred due to the ongoing pandemic. The exams are usually held in March, but are now being held in May. The schools were allowed to conduct the practical exams on their own for Classes 10 and 12 from March 1 and continue till the beginning of the practical papers. The exams will be held in pen and paper mode and the students would be required to visit the designated exam centres for the exams. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 15:38 [IST] Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 15:31:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Google's digital advertizing dominance is facing stricter regulation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC on Thursday published the interim report from its landmark Digital Advertising Services Inquiry. It found that Google controls 90 percent of the digital display advertizing sector when measured via impressions, which is worth 3.4 billion Australian dollars (2.6 billion U.S. dollars), and 70 percent of the revenue. It warned of Google's "ability and incentive to favour its own related business interests" and raised issues about the technology giant's impacts on publishers, advertizers and consumers. "Effective competition in the Ad-Tech industry is important for Australian consumers. If advertisers pay too much for digital advertising, the costs will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services," the report said. "If publishers receive too little revenue for their advertising inventory, consumers will face a reduction in the quality and variety of online content. "While there are a large number of Ad-Tech providers across the supply chain, Google is by far the largest provider of each of the four key services considered." In 2020 the government directed the ACCC to develop a world-first media code for technology giants including Google and Facebook that will force them to pay for news content. Despite threats from Google that they could leave Australia as a result of the media code, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government was committed to ensuring that regulation kept "pace with the changes being driven by digital platforms." He said digital platforms had "fundamentally changed the way that media content is produced, distributed and consumed." "While this is an interim report, the government notes the ACCC's concerns over competitiveness and the continued dominance of tech giants," Frydenberg told News Corp Australia. "The government looks forward to receiving the final report later this year as we continue delivering reforms to better protect and inform Australian consumers and businesses in the digital age." Enditem Senator Ted Cruz (TX-R) claimed that climate czar John Kerry was 'out-of-touch' when making comments about blue-collar workers who were no longer working on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Cruz - who himself, is still in hot water given his connection to the insurrectionist at the Capitol - appeared on Fox News Primetime on Wednesday just moments after President Joe Biden tied climate change to creating job opportunity. During his Wednesday signing, Biden revoked a key cross-border presidential permit needed to finish the controversial Keystone XL pipeline - a move that angered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and ended the $8 billion pipeline. Scroll down for video Ted Cruz appeared on Fox News Primetime on Wednesday just moments after President Joe Biden tied climate change to creating job opportunity During his Wednesday signing, Biden revoked a key cross-border presidential permit needed to finish the controversial Keystone XL pipeline - a move that angered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and ended the $8 billion pipeline Kerry - who joins the National Security Council in his role - spoke just before Biden signed the climate change executive orders. 'It is now cheaper to deal with the crisis of climate than destroy it,' Kerry said of why the administration was pushing this now as it combats COVID and tries to improve the economy. He argued there were jobs for workers in the solar and wind energy - positions that could be filled by oil and gas workers who lost their jobs. 'You look at the consequences of black lung for a miner, for instance, and measure that against the fastest-growing job in the United States, [which] before COVID was the solar power technician,' Kerry said Wednesday. 'The same people can do those jobs, but the choice of doing the solar power one now is a better choice' 'Unfortunately workers have been fed a false narrative, no surprise, for the last four years' about the shift to clean energy, Kerry said. 'They've been fed that somehow dealing with climate is coming at their expense. No, it's not.' Kerry concluded: 'You look at the consequences of black lung for a miner, for instance, and measure that against the fastest-growing job in the United States, [which] before COVID was the solar power technician. The same people can do those jobs, but the choice of doing the solar power one now is a better choice.' Cruz said of Kerry's message: 'It is not a unifying message, and it is not doing the job we should be doing [in] fighting for working men and women in this country.' Cruz said of Kerry: : 'What an arrogant, out-of-touch statement for a centimillionaire to say. You know, "You little people, you know, I don't like the choices you're making, and so your jobs go away," as John Kerry said right there' He later added: 'What an arrogant, out-of-touch statement for a centimillionaire to say. You know, "You little people, you know, I don't like the choices you're making, and so your jobs go away," as John Kerry said right there. 'Quelle surprise that the Democratic elites have decided that blue-collar workers, that union members, that men and women with calluses on their hands, they've made the wrong choices, in John Kerry's words.' Biden already has taken a series of actions to combat climate change - a dramatic reversal from the policies under former President Donald Trump. Biden created the climate czar position and gave it to the man he calls his 'best buddy' On his first day as president, Biden signed the papers for the United States to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord after Trump removed the country from the climate agreement. Biden will also host a Leaders' Climate Summit on Earth Day, April 22, 2021. Some Democrats said Biden should do more, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who called on the president to declare a national emergency. 'President Biden should consider the declaration of a national emergency on climate change,' Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning. 'It would allow President Biden to tap additional resources,' he pointed out. Ghanas longest serving head of state is now laid to rest. The Ancestors have called him home. Our nation has come alive to stories, rememberings, speeches and a spirit of mourning in the week of activities ending with his state funeral on Wednesday at Black Star Square. As the ritual of burial comes to a close, what remains is not that Jerry Rawlings is remembered he always will be and should be but how he is remembered, how he is memorialized. Obituaries have been written. Eulogies have been given. I do not offer another of either. I do invite us to engage in a reckoning for the purpose of healing. Former President Rawlings was beloved in the Diaspora due to his savage public unapologetic critique of capitalism and colonialism, his advocacy for the regular, working people, and for his staunch Pan Africanism. He was beloved in Ghana for his fierce advocacy for working people. During his state funeral it is those accolades that will be highlighted, articulated to nods, applause and the global tradition of not speaking ill of the dead. But we must speak truth of the trauma caused by violence from parts of their leadership, and we need healing from those parts. Ghana, we must pursue Emotional Justice. It is a visionary framework for healing that is useful in this space where you cannot legislate memory and erase trauma and its aftermath on party, progress and a people. In an earlier column, I wrote that Rawlings was a man equally lionized and bastardized. What remains is legacy. Healing is required due to the legacy of the democracy he ushered in chequered by a violence that marred and made freedom for some and scarred families and futures in equal measure. Narratives matter. I and my family, like many families, was scarred by the violence of the coups that marked Rawlings ascent into presidential power. The news of his death triggered outpourings about the trauma from the loved ones of those Rawlings and his administration killed or incarcerated. They reminded us that a portion of our history on democracy remains untouched, but requires excavating as part of a healing process that centres accountability. A legacy within the framework of Emotional Justice requires an intimate reckoning with the toll and trauma from the darkest parts of Rawlingsleadership. In 2019, Ghana came alive for the Year of Return when thousands and thousands of African Americans returned to Ghana. President Akufo-Addohonored the trauma of those lost due to the transatlantic slave trade. The point being the national honoring of loss sends an important message to an entire people about the significance of such a loss;that it is remembered, recognized as part of a healing journey. That same recognition, naming, honoring is required for the traumas caused to the families whose fathers were executed by Rawlings, and who have lived with a legacy of untreated and unacknowledged trauma from Ghana as a nation. This is challenging work. It is politically polarizing, and will draw myriad accusations of playing fast and loose with the memory of a president beloved and beleaguered by millions. I was deeply moved listening to Hon. Zanetor Rawlings eulogy for her father on behalf of hischildren. She offered us insight to a father, one who deeply loved his children, was fun and loving, offered them multiple lessons that shaped their world view and relationship to a nation, as well as themselves. I think of the men killed by Rawlings, and what their children might have revealed about the kind of men they were, the lessons they taught daughters and sons, the insights, the memories. This is not to compare loss with loss. All loss is unique and incomparable; it is to recognize that a legacy of untreated trauma exists, has been silenced in plain sight and holds no place in the light of democracys history. Fathers shape their daughters and sons, and from Zanetors eulogy we were given invaluable insight into how she and her siblings were shaped. Presidents shape nations, that is public work, and so the pain caused requires public scrutiny, recognition and healing. The eulogy by the NDC predictably showered praise and reverence on Rawlings. But this is no longer about a living former president, but a legacy of a nation in need of healing. It is time. Emotional Justice does not replace legal justice. It offers a path to reckon with and name untreated, and offers a healing that navigates the rocky terrain that there is not a singular narrative, not a singular truth there are multiple truths. Rawlings remembered by family and party is one narrative. Rawlings relationship with the Diaspora is another narrative. Rawlings impact on derailing families whose fathers were murdered, traumatizing their children, silencing their pain, while continuing to celebrate and jubilate over a time in which blood was spilled and continues to stain rather than cleanse, is another. All are truths. All have not been publicly heard. National healing requires they must be. There is no easy, straight-forward route here. No easy answer, no space where one truth doesnt hurt, even as it heals. Such is the complexity of this particular president and the legacy he leaves behind. What cannot happen is a continued single story that smothers that space of violence, pain, trauma and the lives impacted by it. We dont know what happened for those families. We know that six judges were executed, that people were incarcerated. I remember as an adult learning from my mother what happened on the night of the 1966 coup. I knew that coup as a date in a nations history. I learned the story of what it meant from a mother who lived through it, and dealt with its aftermath. Stories. They are a tool, a strategy to connect to a national healing. They are part of a culture of ritual and remembering. A Day of National Healing, one that publicaly names and honours those killed by Rawlings and his administration, that hears from the children of those slain, who they were to them and for them, is crucial. This matters because an integral way to not repeat a past of pain is to name it, acknowledge how it shaped you, in order to create a way forward through it. There is also the darkness of a trauma that shapes the traumatized and their relationship to nations and to power. Untreated trauma can make people dangerous, can derail their emotionality, can do lasting damage. So, healing is about honoring the fullest story of a now gone leader, it is also about telling total truths about a nations history. Healing is not a political project, but there is no question that there is a politics to this healing. This is tender terrain that must be navigated thoughtfully, but navigate it we must. We must never forget our past or erase the memories of where we come, so said Rawlings. Let those words be fuel to ignite a national healing where we pour light onto some of the darkest parts of his own past and its toll in order to ease the pain of many within a nation, and begin a healing. Ghana, lets pursue Emotional Justice. Source: B&FT/Esther Armah 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 TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cryptologic Corp. (CSE:CRY) (the Company or Cryptologic) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding share purchase agreement with Greenland Resources Inc. (the Seller) on January 27, 2021 to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of the Sellers wholly-owned subsidiary, Copenhagen Minerals Inc. (Copenhagen), which owns 100% of a mineral exploration license known as the Stor Gold Project, located in Greenland (the Acquisition). The Stor Gold Project is located some 40 km northeast of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. It is located on the 12 km2 mineral exploration License No. 2014/11 and hosts an inferred mineral resource of 885,000 tonnes at a grade of 3.4 g/t gold. The Stor Gold Project is devoid of vegetation and overburden, which facilitates exploration and enjoys year-round property access for eventual mining and ice-free shipping. In addition, there is a second larger 540 km2 mineral exploration License No. 2021-01 surrounding License No 2014/11, where a recent satellite-based spectral analysis survey outlined numerous other Stor-type exploration targets. As well, Copenhagen owns a mineral prospecting License No. 2020-62 covering the entire eastern third of Greenland. Metallurgical studies undertaken by SGS Ltd. in Lakefield, Ontario show recoveries of between 91.5% and 94.8% from gravitational separation/cyanide leach. Selected intersections of the Stor Gold Project include 4.11 g/t gold over 14.03m in DDH 15-03; 20.0m of 6.30 g/t gold in DDH 95-03; 12.0m of 4.20 g/t in DDH 05-01; 23.9m of 6.40 g/t gold in DDH 95-05; and 28.8m of 6.74 g/t gold in DDH 10-54. Upon closing of the proposed Acquisition, the Company will be a mineral resource issuer and the Stor Gold Project will be the cornerstone of the Companys business. Although the Company expects to use up to $2.5 million of its cash on hand to pursue the exploration and other recommendations in the Technical Report (as defined below), it expects to have sufficient available cash to pursue other mining prospects of interest. The Company currently has $7.6 million of cash on hand and expects to collect upwards of $1 million of sales tax receivable that it has previously written off. This write off has been at the request of its auditors, however the Company has historically collected these receivables. Proposed Acquisition Consideration for the proposed Acquisition is expected to be satisfied through the payment of C$250,000 cash and the issuance to the Seller of 37,600,000 common shares of Cryptologic at a deemed issue price of $0.24 per share (the Consideration Shares), subject to all necessary regulatory and securityholder approvals. The Consideration Shares will be subject to the escrow requirements of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). It is expected that Copenhagen shareholders will hold 43.6% of the shares of Cryptologic following closing of the Acquisition, with shareholders of Cryptologic holding the remaining 56.4%. As Cryptologic previously sold its business and all of the assets comprising its cryptocurrency mining and other operations, the proposed Acquisition will be a change of business under the rules of the CSE. The Company will seek to change its name to more accurately reflect its new mineral resource focus, but no new name has been selected at this time. It is expected that, subject to and upon closing of the proposed Acquisition, each of John Kennedy FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Joshua Lebovic, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, will step down from their respective positions and leadership of the Company will transition to a new management team which will include Greg McKenzie as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The balance of the management team will be appointed by the new board of directors of the Company, which is expected to be comprised of two nominees of the Seller, two nominees of the Company and Mr. McKenzie. Completion of the proposed Acquisition is subject to customary conditions, including, receipt of applicable securityholder approvals by the Company and Seller and all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the CSE. Closing of the proposed Acquisition is expected to occur following satisfaction or waiver of all closing conditions, including receipt of applicable shareholder approval and approval of the CSE, which is expected during Q2 2021. The Company also intends to schedule its annual general meeting of shareholders in the near term. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION Mr. Jim Steel BSc, MBA, P.Geo., a director of Seller and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release. The mineral resource estimate was prepared by SRK Consulting (Sweden) AB with an effective date of October 24, 2016, in the technical report entitled A NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Stor Gold Project, Greenland (the Technical Report). For additional information, including with respect to the key assumptions, parameters and methods used in respect of the mineral resource estimate, refer to the Technical Report, which is available on Sellers SEDAR profile. About Cryptologic Corp. Cryptologic Corp. is currently a shell company that previously divested all of its cryptocurrency mining assets and operations and has been exploring acquisition opportunities in sectors outside of cryptocurrency mining. About Copenhagen Minerals Inc. Copenhagen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greenland Resources Inc., owns in Greenland a 100% legal and beneficial interest, in two mineral exploration licences, known as the Stor Gold Project and one prospecting license. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words will, intention, expects, is expected to, subject to, anticipates and variations or similar expressions and which include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Such statements include those relating to the terms of the proposed Acquisition, the value of Copenhagen, the value of the consideration to be paid by Cryptologic in connection the proposed Acquisition, the nature and satisfaction of the conditions to completing the proposed Acquisition, and the ability of Cryptologic and Seller to secure the consent of the holders of their respective securities in connection with the proposed Acquisition and the Companys expectations and plans following closing of the proposed Acquisition. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Such assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, that the definitive share purchase agreement is terminated or the proposed Acquisition is otherwise not completed on the terms and timelines anticipated by the Company or at all, that all conditions to closing outlined in any such definitive agreement are satisfied and/or waived, that all necessary regulatory, stock exchange, securityholder and other consents and approvals will be received in connection with the proposed Acquisition on the timelines anticipated or at all, that all other conditions to closing will be satisfied in the manner and on the timelines anticipated or at all. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. In particular, the completion of the proposed transaction with Greenland is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and uncertainties (including those noted above) and the Company can offer no assurance that the proposed Acquisition will be completed on the terms, conditions and timelines anticipated by the Company or at all. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. The Board of Management of St Louis Dundalk has announced the appointment of Mary Gilmore as permanent Deputy Principal after three years in an acting role. Mary has been a permanent teacher of English, History and more recently Philosophy in St Louis Dundalk since 1991, having worked part-time in the school since 1988. Mary also taught in St Vincents Secondary School, Dundalk, Our Ladys College Greenhills Drogheda and St Louis Secondary School Carrickmacross. Mary, a native of Dundalk is a past pupil of St Vincents Secondary School. She graduated from UCD with a BA Honours Degree in English, History and Philosophy and attended NUI Maynooth for her Higher Diploma in Education. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership from Maynooth University since 2010. She held a number of roles in St Louis over the years including Transition Year Co ordinator, Year Head in an Assistant Principal Post holder role as well as serving over 10 years on the Board of Management of St Louis. In 2013, Mary was seconded to the Department of Education to work as an English Subject Advisor for the then newly formed Junior Cycle for Teachers Support Service. She worked with a small team of seven led by Dr Padraig Kirk on the introduction of the New Junior Cycle curriculum, supporting and working with teachers and secondary schools across the country. Mary recalls this as a challenging yet rewarding time in her career as major and significant changes in curriculum and assessment were being introduced into the Irish Education system and she was part of a team at the forefront of this at the time. This experience supported her well on her return to St Louis in September 2017 when she took up the role, initially as Year Head and shortly after as Acting Deputy Principal working closely with the Acting Principal Michelle Dolan. Mary brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role of Deputy Principal and is proud to live the ethos of St Louis in her interactions with all. She believes with support and commitment anything is possible for the students, thanks to the shcool ethos. Mary said: There is something very special about St Louis Dundalk, it is palpable from the moment you walk through the doors, its down to the dedication and kindness of the staff, the warmth of the girls and the commitment of all in our community who together make anything possible. "I am very proud to work with Ms Dolan, our staff and Board of Management to continue to lead our wonderful school. towards a very promising future Ms Dolan, Principal, congratulated Mary on her permanent appointment as Deputy Principal : I want to thank Mary for all her hard work and support over the past three and a half arduous years on the management team. "We are delighted to have such a wonderfully experienced, energetic and committed Deputy Principal in the school. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. [January 28, 2021] exocad Supports Overland For Smile (ONLUS) To Provide Dental Care For Disadvantaged Kids In Eastern Europe DARMSTADT, Germany, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ -- exocad GmbH, an Align Technology, Inc. company, today announced its 2020 holiday contribution to the non-profit organization "Overland for Smile (ONLUS)" which it has supported since 2018. exocad's donation is estimated to help support dental care for more than 160 disadvantaged children and teenagers in Eastern Europe. A portion of the donation includes proceeds from the charitable T-Shirt campaign during the two-day exocad Insights event in September 2020, which featured two key slogans "JUST CAD IT" and "arCADe champion" created specifically for this campaign and printed on purple T-shirts. "We are very pleased with the proactive support and donations we have received from exocad," reported Cinzia Prazzoli, President and General Manager of ONLUS, continuing: "With the donated amount, we can ensure providing dental care for a total of 166 children and teenagers from orphanages across Eastern Europe." Further information is available at exocad.com and overlandforsmile.it About exocad GmbH exocad GmbH, an Align Technology, Inc. company, is a dynamic and innovative software company committed to expanding the possibilities of digital dentistry and providing OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) with flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use CAD/CAM software for dental labs and dental practices. exocad software has been chosen by leading OEMs worldwide for integration into their dental CAD/CAM offerings, and thousands of exocad DentalCAD licenses are sold each year. For more information and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit exocad.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exocad-supports-overland-for-smile-onlus-to-provide-dental-care-for-disadvantaged-kids-in-eastern-europe-301217511.html SOURCE exocad GmbH Former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, urged the current administration led by Biden to continue a policy of confronting China's ruling regime, especially in their propaganda to cover up the early stages of the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic. "These Chinese sanctions, Maria, these Chinese threats, they are real stories," Pompeo told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo. "More importantly, they are real facts; real facts that I think the American people need to know about and come to understand how it might impact American foreign policy as it relates to China." "But make no mistake, I hadn't seen this banning of the term 'Chinese Virus.' I've called it the 'Wuhan Virus' almost since its inception. It began in Wuhan. It is, in fact, a virus that came from that place," Pompeo continued. "We know the Chinese Communist Party covered that up. We know that they disappeared doctors and journalists who wanted to write about it, were told they couldn't. We know that - I think it's still to this day, the World Health Organization hasn't been able to see the most important elements of where this virus may have begun. These are things the State Department was talking about while I was the Secretary of State." he continued. "We put out just in my last couple of weeks a few key pieces of information about some doctors who contracted something that looked like or symptomatic of something that seemed like this virus back in November of 2019," he added. "These are important things; the American people need to know them because they matter. They matter for our health, for our safety, for economic prosperity, and for our security, and I hope and I'm counting on this next administration to do what the American people demand of them and continue to confront the Chinese Communist Party." The U.S. State Department recently released a report providing details indicating that COVID-19, or the China Virus, came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. It added that the Chinese government, under the Chinese Communist Party, avoided transparency. People are questioning whether the new Biden administration is ready and willingly able to handle pressure from China. Although when Pompeo was asked by Bartiromo if he thinks, after spending some time with the new team, that the Biden administration understands the threats that America faces, he responded with: Bartiromo asked Pompeo if he thinks the Biden administration understands the threats China brings to America. He said he thinks the new administration understands them. "This is an adversary that, as you know, is determined to create a global hegemony to impact asia in ways that are detrimental to the people of The United States of America," he said. "I think they know that, I think they see that." He also added that giving in and backing off are "not the things that will lead the Chinese Communist Party to change its direction and change its course of action." He said what China needs to see is "fierceness and resistance" and "a capacity to impose cause on them." If the Biden administration does this correctly, "I'm confident the American people will be rewarded by a relationship that protects the American people in a way that the Chinese Communist Party hopes," he added. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A sixth Democrat has entered a crowded field to replace U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland. State Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero of Albuquerque on Wednesday announced she is a candidate for Congressional District 1, should there be a special election to fill Haalands seat if she receives Senate approval to lead the Department of the Interior in President Joe Bidens administration. Roybal Caballero announced her candidacy on Facebook, saying that she wants to bring her background as a social justice warrior, and community and labor organizer to Congress. We need a congresswoman who will not just support the Biden administration but stand with the people who are making good trouble and push them to be bold, she said in her announcement. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ She pledged to work on immigration reform, prioritize climate change, support a $15-per-hour minimum wage and health care for all if elected. Like Haaland, Roybal Caballero is part Native American. Her website says the lineage of her fathers family can be traced to the Piro Manso Tiwa Indian Tribe, Pueblo of San Juan de Guadalupe. Her mothers side of the family was of Mexican and Spanish ancestry. Lets be clear, the fight for justice takes work, and no one knows that more than women of color, she said. Roybal Caballero adds to the field seeking to replace Haaland in the Democratic-leaning district that represents most of Albuquerque. State Reps. Melanie Stansbury and Georgene Louis, state Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, attorney Randi McGinn and Victor Reyes, legislative director for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, are all Democrats who have announced they are running for the seat. On the Republican side, Eddy Aragon and Michelle Garcia Holmes, who lost to Haaland in the November election, have announced their candidacies. Former state Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn is running as an independent candidate. Haaland, a Democrat, is holding her seat and wont have to resign until her nomination is approved by the Senate, which would make her the countrys first Native American Cabinet secretary. If that nomination happens, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver would have to call a special election to fill Haalands seat no later than 91 days after it is vacated. The states major political parties would hold central committee meetings behind closed doors to nominate their own candidates before the special election. A World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic left its quarantine hotel in Wuhan on Thursday to begin field work, two weeks after arriving in the Chinese city where the virus emerged in late 2019. The mission has been plagued by delays, concern over access and bickering between China and the United States, which has accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak and criticised the terms of the visit, under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research. "Thanks, Chinese Health Minister Ma Xiaowei, for a ... Workers prepare to greet passengers at the COVID-19 testing centre in the International Arrivals area at Pearson Airport in Toronto on Tuesday January 26, 2021. Ontario is awaiting the first COVID-19 projections since a stay-at-home order came into effect two weeks ago.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn India could emerge as the next big trade market for Australian exporters, the country's trade minister has said, after China imposed heavy tariffs and sanctions on several Australian export commodities amidst a strain in relations with Beijing. Australia's trade relations with its major trading partner China deteriorated last year when Australia supported a call for an international inquiry into China's handling of COVID-19, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. China took several measures that restricted Australian imports, ranging from levying new tariffs to imposing bans. China imposed sanctions and tariffs on several Australian commodities including barley, timber, coal, cotton, wine and lobster. Australia, for its part, asked the World Trade Organisation to mediate in their dispute over stiff duties on Australian barley in the Chinese market. Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan on Wednesday flagged India as its top priority while looking at new trade opportunities across the globe. We haven't had a formal trade ministers meeting with China for over three years, this is something we have been seeking to constructively engage with China for over three years, he said. Looking to really boost the relationship with India, there's enormous opportunities there. We have to be patient but we have to be very proactive with India,'' he said. He said that Japan, Vietnam, the new Joe Biden administration in the US, all present many opportunities for Australia and that's what he will be focusing on, as well as seeking to constructively engage with the Chinese. Tehan said, ''The India relationship which is incredibly important to us, and I'd really like to prioritise that is something we're going to have to be patient about.'' China is Australia's largest trading partner accounting for over a third of all Australian exports, worth more than 150 billion Aus dollars a year while trade with India stands at over 30 billion Aus dollars. On Wednesday, Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg lashed out at China's recent actions on imposing sanctions and tariffs and said Well, we agree with that sentiment that big nations should not bully small ones but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between the words and the actions. The reality is, Australia has been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh actions when it comes to our trade. (Natural News) An analysis of Google search trends over the years shows that the only time Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Antifa are ever really popular is right before important elections. Only in the months prior to the 2016 election was anyone actually searching the web for information about BLM, it turns out. Prior to that, search trends were flatlined, meaning nobody cared whatsoever about the movement. Immediately after the 2016 election, BLM searches flatlined once again, only to spike just before the 2020 election. Immediately after Joe Biden was installed, internet searches for BLM once again became nonexistent. According to Ulysses S. Tennyson from 100percentfedup.com, this suggests that BLM is merely a political tool wielded by the mainstream media, Big Tech, large corporations and corrupt politicians to violently extort America and the West of all its resources including human capital and freedoms. A graph he includes in his article clearly depicts this trend. Only when major elections are about to occur does BLM suddenly enter the news cycle. Leftist voters and other easily manipulated folks are then guilted into voting accordingly. BLM, Antifa are the definition of domestic terrorism According to the dictionary, domestic terrorism is the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. Was there ever a truer definition for BLM and Antifa? Not only do these movements cease to exist the moment they are no longer politically needed, but when they do reemerge their actions are also in promotion of violence and chaos. Were it not for BLM and Antifa, Beijing Biden simply would not have been able to illegally seize the presidency. Now that he is in office, BLM and Antifa are once again out of the news cycle, where they will remain until the next false flag incident is needed to push an agenda. Hilariously, the Biden regime has completely ignored BLM ever since being declared the winner. On Dec. 9, 2020, the official BLM Twitter account tweeted that neither Biden nor Kamala Harris responded to a letter that was sent requesting a meeting. It has now been 32 days and we have yet to receive a response, BLM whined. To set up a meeting with civil rights leaders, without BLM, is unacceptable. Perhaps BLM is coming to the stark realization that Biden and the Democrats could not care less about its existence except when there is some political capital to gain from its exploitation. Nobody on the left actually cares about black lives or black issues. They only care about amassing more power and control on the backs of faux civil rights demonstrations that, in truth, are designed to hurt, rather than help, minorities. How do you think they will react when enough of them realize they are just being used to take all the risks by people high above all of us as they shift pieces on the chess board of humanity? Tennyson asks. The goal is not equality and prosperity for everyone, which is what America used to be. It is a Great Reset that benefits none of us except the overlords that treat all humans as resources to be corralled however they see fit. One commenter on Tennysons article wrote that everyone already knows BLM is a terrorist organization, even the left. Another pointed out that it is becoming increasingly difficult for China Joe to keep dodging the violent groups that helped him get fake elected. Theyre going to throw Harriet Tubman onto the $20 so they can say, See? We did something for you,' wrote yet another. Now go away until we can put you to use again.' The latest news about the BLM and Antifa psy-op can be found at Terrorism.news. Sources for this article include: 100percentfedup.com NaturalNews.com Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The farmers accused the UP Police of resorting to lathicharge to clear the sit-in late on Wednesday night, however, police claimed the protest ended after a consensus was reached through talks Baghpat: A farmers' protest against three farm laws of the Centre, which was being held on a national highway in this Uttar Pradesh district since 19 December last year, has come to an end with the protesters alleging use of force by police. The police, however, claimed that the matter was resolved through deliberations and the protesting farmers were sent home on Wednesday night. The protesters have alleged that police personnel entered their tents late on Wednesday night, used force on the sleeping farmers and chased them away. Thamba Chaudhary, Brijpal Singh, Baljaur Singh Arya, Vikram Singh and other farmers who took part in the protest on Thursday said their agitation against the farm laws was going on on one side of the national highway. Late on Wednesday night, a large number of police personnel entered their tents, resorted to lathicharge on the sleeping farmers and chased them away, they told reporters. Charging the police with adopting repressive measures, they claimed that their tents were uprooted. About 40 farmers were present at the spot at that time, they said. Refuting the charges, Circle Officer Alok Singh said the protest ended after deliberations with the farmers and the police did not resort to lathicharge on the protesters. Whatever happened was in agreement with those present there, he said, adding that the protesting farmers returned home peacefully. Meanwhile, ADM Amit Kumar Singh said the Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Sanjay Misra, had written a letter complaining that work on the Delhi-Saharanpur highway was being hampered because of some anarchic elements. Acting on the letter, the protesters were removed from the national highway and sent home, the ADM said. The protest was launched on the national highway at Badaut on 19 December last year. When I was born in Huntsville in 1959, the city was booming and in transition from being the Watercress Capital of the World to be the Rocket City. This did not happen by accident or without vision and, yes, political pull. The city has been shepherded by men such as Bob Jones, Ronnie Flippo, Bud Cramer, John Sparkman, Howell Heflin and now Richard Shelby. I dont agree with the politics of some on this list, and some of these men certainly shared the sin of racist politics, but all shared and pursued a vision for North Alabama that has helped to shape it in a positive way despite this. Let me break the flow to give a special shout out here to Howell Heflin who in 1993 had this to say - though we live in a nation that daily is trying to heal the scars that have occurred in the past. Were trying to heal problems that still show negative and ugly aspects in our world that we live in today, and perhaps racism is one of the great scars and one of the most serious illnesses that we suffer from still today. He said these words in support of Carol Moseley Brauns successful opposition to the United Daughters of the Confederacys attempt to block the renewal a design patent for a Confederate flag design. Now, North Alabamas 5th Congressional District is reaching beyond the stars to be a powerhouse in manufacturing, while still maintaining its reputation as a gracious host to our military and NASA and continuing its presence as a center for agricultural production in Alabama. We now have a population with roots from all corners of the globe, but bound to a single goal of improving Alabamas future. We have done this with leadership that held on to what was the best of our roots, while learning to reject what would hold us back. We are still a work in progress, but we have come far. But to continue our progress, we must reject leaders that refuse to grow, who refuse to learn and who do not share our values. And that brings us, of course, to Mo Brooks. For full disclosure I have never supported Mo Brooks. In his first run for the 5th District seat, I criticized him on what I perceived to be weakness on environmental issues. He responded to say that if anything, he was too green on the environmental issues for many Republicans. I hope that even he would not make such a bold lie today. Lets remember that in 2018 it was Mo who argued with Phillip Duffy, president of the Woods Hole Research Center and former senior adviser to the US Global Change research program, that it was not climate change causing ocean levels to rise worldwide, but rocks falling into the ocean. That was akin Mo showing up for a gunfight, armed with a soft pretzel. And to this day, Mo has refused to consider any data that contradicts his denial of climate change. It is Mos refusal to consider ideas and facts that contradict his beliefs that now, in the wake of his encouraging words to seditionists make Mo unfit to serve the 5th District. To this day, Mo has shown no true contrition for his part in encouraging the storming of the Capitol in an outlandish, amateurish, but deadly coup attempt. Although he claims to be in the party of personal responsibility and law and order he has shown contempt for both ideas. And he continues to spread the big lie that the election was carried by Joe Biden by a massive conspiracy and fraud that somehow has produced no evidence and no leaks. That is simply not possible. This makes Mo is a liability to all future interests in the 5th District. The damage his continuing presence as our representative will to the 5th Districts economic interests will not respect party affiliation. He is now a pariah in the House and faces little chance of true rehabilitation without full acceptance of the consequences of his actions, something he is not capable of doing. For the 5th District, he can be the tide that lowers all boats. He has shown contempt for truth, for his oath of office and for the Constitution. And he refuses to learn and grow in office. And for all of those reasons, we cannot afford to keep him in office past his current expiration date in 2022. Democrats lets find a strong opponent for Mo in 2022. Republicans you owe it to your nation and the 5th District to do the same. Bob Nicholson, CPA, MBA, works in corporate finance in Birmingham and lives in Birmingham and Huntsville. As a Certified Fraud Examiner, he has enjoyed investigating the false allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election. By Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads to Scotland on Thursday in a bid to stem growing support for another independence referendum by arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the benefits of staying together. The bonds that tie England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland together in a $3 trillion economy have been severely strained by both Brexit and Johnson's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Opinion surveys show that a majority of Scots would now back independence, though Johnson has repeatedly said that now is not the time for another referendum that could break apart the more than 314-year-old union between England and Scotland. Ahead of his visit, which was criticised by Scottish nationalists, Johnson said that Scotland as a part of the United Kingdom gained access to a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the shots are being administered by the shared armed forces, who are creating 80 new vaccine centres in Scotland. "We have pulled together to defeat the virus," Johnson said. "Mutual cooperation across the UK throughout this pandemic is exactly what the people of Scotland expect and it is what I have been focussed on." Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised Johnsons trip, questioning whether his reasons for visiting are "really essential" and arguing it sets a bad example to the public. Sturgeon, who runs Scotland's semi-autonomous government, is hoping a strong performance by her Scottish National Party in an election for the country's devolved parliament in May would give her the mandate to hold a second referendum. If Scotland voted for independence it would mean the United Kingdom would lose about a third of its landmass and almost a tenth of its population - just as the world's sixth-biggest economy is grappling with the impact of Brexit. Johnson, who would have to agree to a new referendum, has said there is no need for a new vote after independence was rejected by Scottish voters in 2014. Story continues Scotland voted against independence by 55% to 45% in a 2014 referendum. But a majority of Scots also backed staying in the European Union in the subsequent 2016 Brexit vote, stoking demands by Scottish nationalists for a new independence vote after the UK as a whole voted to leave. Scottish nationalist attempts to force a change to the United Kingdom's constitution are a massive distraction while the government battles COVID-19, British Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove said. "At the moment, when we are prioritising the fight against the disease and also the need for economic recovery in due course, talking about changing the constitution and so on is just a massive distraction," Gove told Sky News. Gove said that Johnson, who had made himself minister for the union, was the best frontman for the keeping the United Kingdom together. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Paul Sandle) Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: The three social evils: Racism. Materialism. Militarism. By Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Racism. Materialism. Militarism. The three social evils Dr. Martin Luther King Jr warned would destroy America from within Decades later, they help explain the divisions in our country that led to the January 6th siege of Congress. While its often ignored, the way militarism drives our scourges at home is a critical missing link in how we ended up with Trump and the attack on the Capitol. Posted January 07, 2021 No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Post your comment below Registration is necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Some traders at the Central Business District of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have expressed concern about the increasing activities of daytime Preachers in the area. While some said their wordings sometimes brought hope, joy and restoration, others blast the microphone with gospel music and some scriptures to get their daily bread without any solid biblical doctrines. Madam Ekuba Yankey, an 'akyeke' seller-a local Nzema delicacy, said some men of God preaching at the market place genuinely inspired traders and therefore encouraged them to do more to win souls for God. She was however not happy with Preachers who only criticized anything seen around. Ms Grace Nyanebah, a fruit seller indicated that just as there were genuine currencies and fake ones so there are fake and genuine Preachers and advised residents to be vigilant. "The fake ones are just keen in taking offerings from sellers and buyers by just playing loud music without teaching anything meaningful," she added. For his part, Mr Issah Seidu, a vegetable seller opined that with the increased activities of preachers at the market place, not everything they preach about actually caused people to change or be inspired. Aunt Ewuresi Andorful a fresh fish seller and a wife of one of the preachers, said she believed preachers are doing their best to win souls and change perceptions and mindset of people. "It is all about the people and their choices as some people might be touched by what the preachers are saying others will always not like preachers" and urged all preachers to continue doing the good works of God. 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 Subscriber content preview Photo by Kidder Mathews [enlarge] The 34-year-old, six-building complex is poised for a major makeover, with no budget announced. North Creek Parkway Center, at 11804 - 18916 North Creek Parkway in Bothell, has sold for $62.1 million, according to King County records. The buyer was Nitrogen Propco 2020 LP, which is associated with TPG Real Estate Partners of San Francisco. Public records indicate the assumption of a $23.7 million loan from Wilmington Trust. . . . Nigeria is looking to benefit from Egypts expertise in combating terrorism, Joe Keshi, the Special Envoy of the Nigerian President, told Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday. According to the Egyptian presidency, Keshi delivered to El-Sisi a letter from Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on bilateral cooperation, especially in the economy and trade, combating terrorism and boosting political consultations between Cairo and Abuja. The letter also discussed an exchange of expertise in dealing with the coronavirus and Egypts role in supporting Nigerias efforts towards development through cooperation in infrastructure projects, including road construction and power generation. Keshi affirmed the long-standing ties between Egypt and Nigeria, and his countrys aspiration to benefit from Egypts expertise in combating terrorism through training sessions in light of Egypts role as a key pillar for stability and security in Africa. El-Sisi underlined the historical relations between the two countries and Nigerias status within the African continent and especially in West Africa. He stressed Egypts keenness on bolstering ties with Nigeria through the optimisation of energy and resources in Africa to help push joint African efforts to achieve the developmental aspirations of the continents nations. Short link: Netflix is set to release its first-ever Swedish feature film with a gritty Nordic thriller which sees a young couple lost in a dangerous snow storm. Red Dot, which will premiere on the streaming service on 11 February, follows David and Nadja, played by Swedish actors Johannes Kuhnke and Nanna Blondell, a couple in their late twenties, who've been struggling with their marriage. The couple embark on a ski hike to northern Sweden but end up being tracked by two hunters across the cold, unforgiving wilderness. The Swedish drama could be the latest big hit to emerge from the Scandanavian country, following in the footsteps of films like The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo and Wallander. Netflix is set to release its first-ever Swedish feature film in the form of a gritty Nordic thriller Red Dot, which sees a young couple lost in a dangerous snow storm Red Dot, which will premiere on the streaming service on 11 February, follows David and Nadja, played by Swedish actors Johannes Kuhnke and Nanna Blondell, as they find themselves hunted down in the wilderness When Nadja becomes pregnant they make an attempt to rekindle their relationship and decide to travel to the magnificent expanses in the north of Sweden for a ski hike. But after what started as a quarrel with two local hunters, their romantic trip slowly turns into a nightmare. Soon, a red laser dot appears in their tent and they are quickly forced to flee into the cold, unforgiving wilderness. Totally isolated in the mountains, they are pursued by reckless shooters. In the film, the expectant parents are tracked by a pair of reckless shooters whom they have had an argument with Meanwhile, during this sadistic hunt, the couple's past also comes back to haunt them. The film is among a host of Swedish programming that is set to come to the streaming service in the coming months. Tim King, the head of film and TV production at Stockholm's SF Studios recently told The Guardian: 'There's been a significant increase in the amount of work we've been doing with them over the last couple of years.' 'It's woken everyone up who's dreamed of doing horror, sci-fi, anything. Suddenly there's an outlet and somebody who's willing to bet on it.' The film is among a host of Swedish programming that is set to come to the streaming service in the coming months He continued: 'With Red Dot, we looked at it for a cinematic release, but we decided no, it's too high risk, it's too small a niche we'll lose money on this thing. 'And so when Netflix came in and said 'what have you got that's different?', we said this. What Netflix does is they find that niche everywhere in the world.' Nordic content has proved hugely popular with international viewers over the years, with many filmmakers hoping to emulate the success of the critically acclaimed The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo. The hit movie was based on the bestselling book of the same name by Stieg Larsson. Tim King, the head of film and TV production at Stockholm's SF Studios, called the Nordic thriller 'niche' The movie starred Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger, Stellan Skarsgard as Martin Vanger, and Robin Wright as Erika Berger. Fincher's movie is based on the first in a trilogy of best-selling books by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, and was largely filmed in Sweden. A Swedish language film adaptation of the trilogy was released in 2009, starring Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth. Police have arrested a maskless 'Covid denier' after he tried to take a dying elderly patient home from an intensive care ward against doctors' orders. Officers from Surrey Constabulary detained Toby Hayden-Leigh, 45, from Maidstone, Kent, on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. It followed an incident last Thursday where he was joined by a group who refused to wear face coverings in East Surrey Hospital and became abusive towards staff. Police released an appeal saying they were hunting Hayden-Leigh after videos emerged on social media on Saturday. A second man was also arrested this afternoon on suspicion of assisting an offender and is also in custody. Toby Hayden-Leigh, 45, from Maidstone, Kent, was joined by a group of people who refused to wear masks inside East Surrey Hospital and then became abusive towards staff on January 21 Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey said: 'The appeal generated hundreds of calls from members of the public with information as to his whereabouts and we would like to thank both them and the media for their help in tracking him down. 'I would also like to thank our colleagues at Kent Police, who assisted with the arrests. The man will be interviewed and further updates will be issued in due course.' Footage showed Haydeigh-Leigh and the group close to a patient in the intensive care unit last week. They filmed medics tirelessly trying to save the pensioner's life and insisted he should be discharged, despite a doctor warning he could 'drop dead at any minute'. Insisting he was the patient's 'McKenzie friend' - an untrained legal helper - he asks for the patient to be taken off oxygen, despite his seriously low levels, and ignored repeated requests to leave during the fiery 20-minute row. When Hayden-Leigh and the others were told they were putting themselves and others in grave danger by being there they replied: 'It's our own risk.' Joined by others close to the patient, the intruder filmed a team of medics - who were working tirelessly to save the pensioner's life - and insisted he be discharged, despite a doctor warning he could 'drop dead at any minute' The patient, who was seen coughing and struggling for breath, removed his oxygen tube and demanded to go home, but was told by staff he would not survive. The ringleader, who insisted he was exempt from wearing a mask, asked staff whether Covid was even 'proven to exist', before being booted out by security. The video also shows the patient and his loved ones arguing with a young male doctor as he desperately battles to save the man from the virus. The doctor warns the patient if he removes his oxygen tube he will die, to which he replies: 'Yeah, so you keep saying. Let's go.' Hayden-Leigh steps in and accuses the hospital of 'lying' about the patient's condition and keeping his family in the dark. The doctor responds: 'My main concern is his safety and at the moment you are making him unsafe. He's taken his oxygen off, he's going to die if we don't put it back on.' The patient defiantly replies: 'No, I'm not.' The doctor refuses to discuss the matter further until the oxygen pipe is put back in - and the patient reluctantly agrees. Appealing to his family, the doctor says: 'You're not respecting our wishes by coming inside. You're going to spread Covid around.' Hayden-Leigh insists 'we're fine', and the patient - clearly struggling for air - asks: 'What about my wishes?' The doctor then points at the patient's oxygen levels on a monitor and says: 'Seventy-three per cent. He's at risk of dropping dead at any minute.' The seriously ill man says 'I want to go home', but is told: 'You will die.' Again, he dismisses the medical advice. The man's loved ones continue to challenge the doctor but he stands firm and insists the patient will not survive without a constant supply of oxygen. He says: 'He has coronavirus pneumonia affecting both of his lungs. He's on steroids called dexamethasone. He's on antibiotics to treat concurrent bacterial infections.' Security had to intervene, right, after Mr Leigh, who was filming the incident, refused to listen to doctors, left Hayden-Leigh says his treatment should be replaced with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc but is flatly told: 'None of those are proven treatments for coronavirus.' Security guards then arrive and order him to leave, but he refuses to comply, saying the patient is being held 'hostage'. He says: 'I'm an officer of the court. I'm putting you on notice, if you put one hand on me and touch me I'll be doing you for assault.' The doctor tells the patient he needs to be put on a ventilator, but he shakes his head and says: 'No way. Hurry up and get me out of here.' Hayden-Leigh then rants about Covid conspiracy theories, at which point the doctor ends the conversation and tells security to throw him out. As he is hauled away, he shouts 'get off me, ya p****' and threatens to have the men prosecuted for assault. A police spokesman said: 'On investigation, these posts related to an earlier incident at the hospital, on Thursday 21 January, when a number of people, some of whom were not wearing masks, gained access to the critical care ward to visit a family member and were abusive towards hospital staff. They also refused to leave. 'Officers attended and issued fines to two individuals involved for breaching Covid restrictions and issued a breach of the peace warning, which resulted in the group leaving the location.' 21 runners killed during mountain race in northwestern province of Gansu; Indian variant of Covid-19 found in Guangzhou; Beijing willing to arrange for vaccines to be sent to Taiwan May 28, 2021 08:15 PM The majority of pupils in Northern Ireland will not return to school until Monday, March 8, at the earliest, the Northern Ireland Executive revealed this afternoon. First Minister Arlene Foster said the ongoing public health situation meant remote learning must continue. It may also be the case that only some year groups go back to school on 8 March, if a return then is possible. Mrs Foster said she recognised it would come as a 'disappointment' for many parents and pupils. "The kitchen table is no substitute for the school desk. It is also important though that we give people a clear view of what is happening so we thought it was important to indicate today that we would not be back before 5 March in schools." The recommendation had been made by Education Minister Peter Weir due to the ongoing public health situation. Special schools remain open to all pupils, but only vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers are able to attend mainstream nursery, primary and post-primary schools at present. Mr Weir said: I have consistently stated that, no matter how good the quality of remote learning being provided, the removal of face-to-face learning will have a negative impact on childrens educational experience, with a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged groups and vulnerable children. Any interruption to normal schooling is only done with the greatest level of reluctance. My priority is to return to full-time face-to-face teaching for all as soon as possible. The aim would be to start face-to-face teaching in early March, but all actions on resumption will be dependent on the wider public health situation. The Opposition party demanded a large fiscal stimulus to the economy, asserting that such a step alone will put money in the hands of people and stimulate demand New Delhi: Alleging that seven years of the Narendra Modi government have "wrecked" the economy and high growth prospects, the Congress on Thursday said it is afraid that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present "dressed-up" revised estimates for 2020-21 in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament and attempt to build an attractive narrative for the coming fiscal year. The opposition party demanded a large fiscal stimulus to the economy, asserting that such a step alone will put money in the hands of people and stimulate demand. At a press conference, former finance minister P Chidambaram also demanded that the government should make direct cash transfers to 20-30 per =cent of the families at the bottom of the economy at least for a period of six months. He said the Congress believes that the reality is that the economy is in a recession, the recovery will be slow and painful, and the "rate of GDP growth in 2021-22 (in constant prices) will be modest -- no more than five per cent". "We are afraid that the FM will present a dressed-up Revised Estimates for 2020-21 and attempt to build an attractive narrative for 2021-22. The RE for 2020-21 will be a set of false numbers and, therefore, the BE for 2021-22 will be a conjurer''s illusion," Chidambaram said, reading out a party statement at the press conference with senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Mallikarjuna Kharge by his side. Sitharaman is scheduled to present the annual Union Budget in Parliament on Monday. The budget for 2020-21 began to unravel within weeks of its presentation, Chidambaram said, noting that the Congress had even at that time pointed out that the assumptions behind the budget were wrong and the targets set were unattainable. "Even without the pandemic, the economy would have continued on the downward path that had begun in the first quarter of 2018-19 and continued for eight successive quarters. The pandemic pushed the economy into an abyss -- minus 23.9 per cent in Q1 of 2020-21 and minus 7.5 per cent in Q2," he said. The current finance minister has the distinction of presiding over the first recession in four decades, the Congress leader added. The year 2020-21 will end with negative growth and none of the numbers estimated at the beginning of the year will be achieved, he claimed. The revenue targets will be missed by a large margin, capital investment will take a hit, the revenue deficit will be close to five per cent and the fiscal deficit will exceed seven per cent, Chidambaram said. "There is no point in wasting time over the budget of 2020-21. It was a disaster at the start and will be a catastrophe at the end of the fiscal year," he said. Former chief economic advisor to the government Arvind Subramanian described the period 2004-2010 as the golden years of the Indian economy and the equivalent period of 2014-20 has witnessed the slow but "inexorable descent into a deep hole", the Congress alleged. "The conclusion of a recent study by Brookings using IMF and World Bank data is humiliating but not surprising at all: the biggest rise in poverty will be in India and India will overtake Nigeria and become the country with the largest number of poor people," Chidambaram said, adding that this "is the contribution of the Modi government at the end of seven years". "Looking ahead, we do not see a ''V'' shaped recovery. We believe that the recovery, slow and painful, will still leave millions of households struggling to survive and it will resemble more the letter ''K''. As a result, inequality will increase. Those who are behind will be pushed back further," he said. In what it said was its "prescription" for economic recovery, the Congress called for formulating and implementing a rescue plan for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to revive the closed units, recover the jobs that were lost and create new jobs for those who have moderate education and skills. It also demanded a reduction in tax rates, especially GST and other indirect tax rates (for example on petrol and diesel), and called for increased government capital expenditure. The party urged the government to recapitalise the public sector banks immediately and encourage them to lend without the fear of investigative agencies probing every loan. Congress also called on the government to abandon protectionist policies, re-engage with the world, enter into bilateral trade agreements with as many countries as possible and remove the bias against imports. "By a stroke of good fortune, if even a part of the agenda that we have set out is accepted by the government (and we do not crave any acknowledgement), we shall be happy and relieved for the sake of the people of India," Chidambaram said. If enough teachers get their second dose, it might be time to start, Ewing said after the meeting. If not, we may want to delay further. This is in the best interest of everyone. We want to get everyone vaccinated as soon as possible. Gardner Fraser said the shooting was in self-defense, claiming stand your ground laws, but the victims father believes it was a premeditated murder A Florida man was sentenced to just one year in prison after he allegedly shot and killed a former lover. Gardner Fraser was sentenced to one year in Macclenny, Floridas Baker County jail on Monday in connection to the death of Dominic DJ Broadus II. The rural county is about an hour from Jacksonville. Fraser pleaded no contest to tampering with evidence. Read More: Florida school officer body-slams female student into concrete in viral video Fraser, who is white, said the 2018 shooting was in self-defense, citing stand your our ground laws. But prosecutors tell a different story. Fraser, the son of an ex-Baker County Sheriffs Office deputy, supposedly disposed of the victims cell phone because it would expose their sexual relationship. News4Jax says that after an investigation by the 4th Judicial Circuit, who took over the investigation to avoid any appearance of conflict due to Frasers connection to the sheriffs office, the circumstances of the murder didnt warrant further charges. We have conducted an extensive investigation into the death of Dominic Broadus, Jr. and declined to bring charges against Gardner Fraser for the shooting of Broadus, David Chapman, communications director for the State Attorneys office said in a statement. This investigation has determined that Broadus showed up to Frasers private residence an isolated property in the middle of a rural area unannounced and uninvited. Fraser asserted that Broadus attacked him on the doorstep of his home. The statement continued, The investigation has not generated evidence to disprove Frasers claim of self-defense. The evidence in this case, Frasers unwavering claims of self-defense, and Florida law do not provide support for homicide charges. We are ethically prohibited from instituting criminal charges that we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Story continues In his defense, Fraser also claimed that Broadus, 31, attacked him without provocation. Dominic DJ Broadus II Image: Facebook There was a struggle and it appears that it was a complete surprise that Mr. Broadus was there, said his defense attorney James Sawyer. But the phones disappearance raises some questions. This defendant took the actions to get rid of that phone, said the Assistant State Attorney Mark Caliel, per News Jax 4. Where it is, we dont know, your honor. To this day only one person knows where DJ Broadus phone is, thats Garner Fraser. Activists protested after Broadus death, which they say shows evidence of racial bias. Its brought light on to what everyone already knows: The prejudice is here. The racism, thats here. The favoritism, thats here, said Anita Baker McGoogin, who organized demonstrations in the area. And just this case alone, tampering with evidence when he was blatantly executed on their property. Frasers father appeared with DJs sister on The Clay Cane Show to discuss his sons killing. The real motive is not tampering with evidence, Dominic Broadus Sr. said on the show on Jan. 26. The motive behind destroying the phone is trying to hide his bisexual tendency and executing on my son, murder premeditated. Fraser received the maximum time for tampering with evidence one year in jail and four years of probation. It came as a surprise to us, Dominic said in regards to his sons sexuality. Thats something we discuss as a family and you deal with as a family. You dont have someone killed or executed because of that. Read More: Florida teacher fired after telling students antifa breached Capitol We still love DJ. Well always love DJ. You cant judge a person based on their sexual nature, Broadus Sr. said. You got to base it on the content of their character. You dont base it on these prejudices. Weve got to start getting over that. Take a look at the full interview with Broadus father and sister below. Earlier this month, the Broadus family filed suit against Fraser seeking $30,000 in damages in connection with Broaduss death. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! The post Florida man sentenced after killing Black man who was his alleged lover appeared first on TheGrio. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Meteorologists are monitoring the trajectory of a major winter storm that could hit Staten Island as soon as Sunday. The winter storm is currently hitting California and will move east during the weekend, AccuWeather predicts. There will likely be a large zone of cold air ahead of the storm across the Midwest and Northeast, AccuWeather Forecasting Manager Dan DePodwin said. The storm could hit Staten Island, but Senior Meteorologist Dave Bowers told the Advance/SILive.com Wednesday, there is still a fair amount of uncertainty on the details of the storm. The storm could hit the borough Sunday night or Monday afternoon, but some predictions move the storms arrival up by 12 to 18 hours, Bowers warned. Right now, there are too many questions to be very confident about a prediction of snow, Bowers said. There could be a few inches of snow, but it could all become snow, he said. Its too early to say. So far, AccuWeather is predicting a mixture of snow and sleet with little or no accumulation on Monday. Temperatures will be in the high 30s with a real feel of 22 degrees, AccuWeather shows. Wind gusts could reach 29 mph. Vietnam confirmed 82 more local coronavirus infections at noon on Thursday, taking the days count to 84, which is the largest daily rise since the virus hit the Southeast Asian country in January last year. The Ministry of Health had announced two domestic transmissions on Thursday morning, the first local cases since December 2. Hai Duong Province, located in northern Vietnam, registered 73 of the patients, while Quang Ninh another northern province logged the rest. All of the new patients were in direct contact with patients 1,552 and 1,553, both recorded on Thursday morning. Patient 1,552 is a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Hai Duong. She had come into contact with a woman who left Vietnam for Japan on January 17. That woman tested positive in Japan on Tuesday for the new variant, 70 percent more transmissible, that has raged in the UK recently. Patient 1,552 was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday evening. She is being treated at the Dong Anh District branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. The other patient is a 31-year-old Vietnamese employee at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh. He had a fever, dry cough, and sore throat so he went to the hospital for a check-up. The man was tested for the novel coronavirus and the result returned positive at the Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control on Wednesday evening. He is isolated for treatment at the Dong Anh District branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the Vietnamese capital. Vietnam has documented 1,635 coronavirus patients as of Thursday afternoon, with 1,430 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country detected the first COVID-19 patient on January 23, 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The commanding officer of a Navy ship was relieved days ahead of a scheduled change-of-command ceremony after an investigation was opened into his decision to make a plaque commemorating his crew's major weapons seizure in the Middle East, his lawyer said. Cmdr. Frank Azzarello was removed from his post on the destroyer Forrest Sherman on Wednesday over what the Navy said was a "loss of confidence in his ability to command." He was relieved by Rear Adm. Ryan Scholl, the head of Carrier Strike Group Eight. Azzarello, who had commanded the destroyer since September 2019, is currently under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, said Cmdr. Ashley Hockycko, a U.S. Second Fleet spokeswoman. But the command declined to provide further details about what prompted the probe or Azzarello's relief. Read Next: The Marine Corps Is Developing a Better-Fitting, More Functional PT Uniform "It would be inappropriate to discuss any details until completion of an ongoing investigation," Hockycko said. Tim Parlatore, Azzarello's lawyer, said the Navy sacked the commander over his plan to turn a rusty AK-47 assault rifle into a plaque to celebrate the crew's celebrated Arabian Sea weapons seizure. "He was trying to create something nice and good for the crew -- a morale booster for the men and women on the ship to commemorate their good work," said Parlatore, who attended Surface Warfare Officer School with Azzarello. "It's not like he stole an enemy weapon to put into his personal collection or something." Parlatore said it's not clear whether Azzarello faces further punishment for the move. Hockycko said it "would be premature to speculate if any other members of the command will receive disciplinary/administrative action." There are procedures service members must follow if they have plans for an enemy weapon, Parlatore said. As a warship commander, he added, it wasn't a situation Azzarello frequently encountered, so he didn't have training on the protocols. "If he was, say, a SEAL commander, there probably would be a lot more detailed training he would have gone through all this," Parlatore said. "... Aviation and surface Navy, not so much." The Forrest Sherman was one of two ships celebrated for their 2019 and 2020 arms seizures in the Middle East. Navy Capt. William Urban, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, told reporters last year that weapons, including a new type of Iranian missile, were intercepted on their way to war-torn Yemen. Weapons seized from Iran by crew of the USS Normandy, including 358 surface-to-air missile components and Dehlavieh anti-tank guided missiles, February 9, 2020. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael H. Lehman) Parlatore said the Navy could have told Azzarello to redo the processes for making the plaque out of the AK-47 instead of relieving him of command. "To me, I think that this is going to be more damaging to recruiting and retention," he said. "What [Azzarello] did here is the kind of thing that, if he was my captain, I would have thought, 'What a great thing.'" Azzarello has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Surface Force Atlantic's staff. Cmdr. Greg Page, with Afloat Training Group Atlantic, has assumed duties as the Forrest Sherman's commanding officer. The Forrest Sherman crew helped give U.S. weapons experts their first look at what Urban last year called a "uniquely Iranian-designed missile." The destroyer and cruiser Normandy confiscated eight of the new 358-missiles during separate weapons seizures. "He's proud of what they did in that seizure," Parlatore said of Azzarello, "which was one of the reasons why he tried to commemorate it. "It's unfortunate," he added, "because here's a guy that spent 28 years of his life serving, and not only is his Navy career over, but quite frankly ... for the rest of his life, [prospective employers] are going to Google him and they're going to see this." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: The US Navy Just Got Its Hands on a New Kind of Iranian Missile Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne has advised Ghanaians to stop justifying their actions by blaming politicians for the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. According to him, the political campaigns cannot be said to be the cause of the sudden increase in the numbers but rather called on the citizenry to change their behavior towards the disease. He noted that the habit of some Ghanaians not wearing nose masks and refusing to adhere to all the protocols has contributed to the rapid infections. Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Sam Pyne asked why a Ghanaian would blame poiticians and refuse to protect themselves and others from contracting the viral disease. ''Let's even assume that it's the failure of the politician or it is at the instance of the politician that has brought about this; is there no essence in you protecting yourself? Is there no wisdom in protecting yourself?'' Ghana's case count According to the Ghana Health Service, Ghana has currently recorded 62,751 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 58,561 Recoveries/Discharge and 377 deaths. The country, as at Wednesday, January 27, has recorded 616 daily cases resulting in 3,813 active cases. 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. Featured Video Environmental Health Index by Caligenix By aggregating multiple sources in one place, the EHI democratizes data, giving consumers the power to see the data first-hand and make more informed decisions. -- Dr. Andrew Battles, lead developer of the Environmental Health Index Caligenix, a fast-growing genetic wellness brand, announces their new Environmental Health Index tool that enables anyone in the USA to see their environmental and infectious factors in real-time based on their individual zip code, along with six personalized recommendations. Available free to the public, Caligenixs Environmental Health Index was created amid the pandemic to empower people with a simple and fast way to assess data about their external environment so they can make more informed decisions about proactively protecting their health. Theres a constant dance between nature and nurture when it comes to the relationship between ones external and internal environments, said Eliad Josephson, Caligenix Co-Founder. People need to have a clearer understanding of that relationshipespecially during this pandemicso that theyre able to decide what actions they should take based on external factors in their area, like weather, pollution, the number of COVID cases, and so forth. Our mission is to provide wellness solutions personalized to ones lifestyle and genomic data, which is why we designed this tool to facilitate decisions based on real-time, location-specific data. Instantly after a zip code is entered, the Environmental Health Index tool displays the areas environmental impact and COVID infection risk, and also provides six personalized recommendations for protecting the immune system. It pulls data from the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures the ground levels of five harmful pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide, and NO2, and then uses a proprietary algorithm to provide additional information. As a company, we care deeply about empowering people to take control of their own healthand that starts with awareness, said Dr. Tzur Gabi, Caligenix Co-Founder. Anybody can benefit from using our Environmental Health Index, but especially those who are health-conscious individuals, environmentalists, or people living in highly polluted cities or in high-risk COVID areas will appreciate this simple (and free!) informational tool. "By aggregating multiple sources in one place, the EHI democratizes data, giving consumers the power to see the data first-hand and make more informed decisions, said Dr. Andrew Battles, lead developer of the system. As our user base grows, we can leverage artificial intelligence to guide even better recommendations, strengthening Caligenix as a go-to data hub." The Environmental Health index tool launches on the heels of the biotech companys inaugural product launch of the nutritional supplement, Immunotype, a DNA-based supplement that addresses the human immune system at the level of the genome. Access the Environmental Health Index at ehi.caligenix.com. To learn more about Caligenix and their wellness solutions, visit Caligenix.com. About Caligenix: Headquartered in Los Angeles, Caligenix is a genetic-based health and wellness company innovating customized solutions in the fields of nutrigenomics and dermagenetics, personalized to individual lifestyle and genomic data, so that people are empowered to take control over their overall health and well-being. Visit Caligenix.com. Media Inquiries: media@caligenix.com The Belk store in Denham Springs. Belk filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Houston late Tuesday. It's the first step in a reorganization plan that will see its owner, Sycamore Partners, cede a large stake of the company to its lenders while maintaining control. Belk has two stores in South Louisiana: one in Denham Springs and one in Covington. The United States has expressed outrage that Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the release of a British-born man convicted of the 2002 murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. A three-judge bench acquitted Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh by a majority of two to one and ordered him to be freed. Sheikh, a former student at the London School of Economics, was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court, while three other defendants were handed life sentences for their part in Pearl's kidnapping and death. The main suspect's attorney, Mehmood Sheikh, and a provincial attorney general, said the Supreme Court ordered the three other convicts be freed as well. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the court's decision as "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan," and said the United States was prepared to prosecute Sheikh domestically. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was "committed to securing justice for Daniel Pearl's family." Psaki called on the Pakistani government to quickly review legal options including letting the United States prosecute those acquitted. In a statement released by their lawyer, the Pearl family called the court's decision "a complete travesty of justice." "The release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan," the statement reads. In April last year, a lower court acquitted the 47-year-old Sheikh of murder and reduced his conviction to a lesser charge of kidnap -- overturning his death sentence and ordering his release after almost two decades in prison in what Washington said was an "affront to victims of terrorism." Pearl, 38, was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about Islamist militants. A video showing Pearl's decapitation was delivered to the U.S. Consulate in Karachi nearly a month later. A letter handwritten by Sheikh in 2019, in which he admitted a "minor" role in the killing of the reporter, was submitted to Pakistan's Supreme Court earlier this month. It wasn't until January 27 that Sheikh's lawyers confirmed their client wrote the letter, which doesn't exactly say what his alleged role in Pearl's slaying was. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, AP, and Dawn Mumbai: Popular comic-actor Kapil Sharma on Thursday confirmed reports that his television series, The Kapil Sharma Show, will go on a small break as he wants to focus on his family, with wife Ginni Chatrath expecting their second child. The second season of the comedy show The Kapil Sharma Show, with superstar Salman Khan attached as one of the producers, currently airs on Sony TV. There were reports that the show would go off air briefly and return with creative changes. During a Q&A session on Twitter, when a fan asked the comedian why is the show going off air, Sharma replied, Because I need to be there at home with my wife to welcome our second baby. Sharma tied the knot with Chatrath in 2018 and welcomed baby girl Anayra in 2019. When another user posed a similar question about the show, the 39-year-old actor said the show is only taking a small break. The comedy show features an ensemble of artistes, including Bharti Singh, Sumona Chakravarti, Krushna Abhishek and Kiku Sharda. During the session, Sharma also confirmed starring in the rumoured SonyLIV project, Dadi Ki Shaadi. When a fan asked about its casting, the comedian said, Dont know anything about the cast yet, team is working on the script. Earlier this year, Sharma announced he was heading to Netflix for his digital debut. Though it is unclear whether the project is a comedy special, series or film, it will premiere on the streamer in 2021 across 190 countries. Renovation 28 January 2021 Sin City's longest running hotel & casino completes massive renovation project in January 2021, with a few more exciting changes on the way. A true hallmark of Las Vegas history, the iconic El Cortez Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas is thrilled to announce the completion of its recent $25 million renovation project, which culminated just in time for its 80th anniversary this year. Built in 1941, El Cortez is the longest running hotel & casino in Las Vegas. As protectors of its long and vibrant history, the team behind this beloved hotel, including owner Kenny Epstein, has made sure to keep its integrity intact while renovating the space, taking special care to bring an elevated guest experience while preserving the same vintage charm and authenticity that have captivated Las Vegas locals and tourists for 80 years. As part of the remodel, El Cortez revamped the casino floor with brand new ceilings and a woven Axminster carpet by Brintons, a world-famous manufacturer. Spanning almost all 42,000 square feet of the main level, the carpet brings a vibrant energy to the casino floor boasting a fiery leopard print and leaf design boldly displaying eye-catching colors, including bright red, gold and green. In addition, El Cortez features 200 remodeled, premium tower rooms and suites that inspire a modern take on historical themes. Boasting a warm, contemporary design blended with a bit of whimsy, the suites draw inspiration from the Spanish Colonial Revival era, with decorative elements including black-and-white floor tiles, traditional style rugs, modern accent furniture and carved wood details. Leading up to the highly anticipated 80th anniversary in October, El Cortez will unveil a few more exciting changes, including thoughtful updates to the original vintage rooms, a new hotel lobby and dazzling high-limit room. [January 28, 2021] Atlantic-Pacific Processing Systems Acquires Paynomix Atlantic-Pacific Processing Systems NV, Corp. (APPS), a fintech holding company providing technology and financial services solutions, has completed the acquisition of cloud-based software company Paynomix, LLC, making Paynomix a wholly owned subsidiary. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Paynomix founder and payments wiz Brent Gephart will join APPS as its new chief information officer. Paynomix will continue developing and implementing software-as-a-service ( SaaS (News - Alert) ) payment solutions focused on helping businesses maximize customer interactions, streamline operations and drive revenues. This includes the company's payment facilitation infrastructure platform; enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and accounting platform integrations with QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Xero, Sage and more than 40 retail, restaurant and hopitality systems; and a suite of semi-integrated, cloud-based payment terminals certified to all major processing platforms. "Two key decision factors in acquiring Paynomix were the quality of their technology and their team of highly skilled payment experts," said APPS President and CEO Abe Maghaguian. "With years of payment design, coding and implementation experience, Paynomix solutions and people will be able to seamlessly integrate into the APPS environment to continue fueling our rapid growth," added Maghaguian. "We are pleased to welcome Brent and his team to APPS." Paynomix has spent the past 14 months designing, building and deploying a completely new version of its accounting ERP platform. Merchants now have a faster back to front of house SaaS payment solution where staff can accept payments online, over the phone or on a terminal, as well as send invoices via email or text. All payments are tied to their existing merchant account using virtually any payment processor. "The entire Paynomix team is excited to join forces with APPS," said Gephart. "Together, we have a bright future ahead of us," added Gephart. "We are thrilled to be able to provide APPS' customers with new and exclusive technologies of substantial value and look forward to playing an important role in growing our businesses together." About Atlantic-Pacific Processing Systems NV, Corp. (APPS) APPS is a full-service acquirer offering secure connectivity for card present transactions and online payment gateways for all e-commerce, mobile and virtual transactions. With more than 15 years in the payments business, APPS has organically grown into a premier leader in our trade through core solutions for service, savings, reporting, technology and security. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and has offices in Fountain Valley, California and Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, please visit approcessing.com or email communications@approcessing.com. About Paynomix, LLC Paynomix is a leading provider of cloud-based software that simplifies, digitizes and automates back-office financial processes for small and mid-sized businesses. Our customers span all industries, ranging from startups to established brands, nonprofits and franchises. Paynomix is headquartered in Marietta, Georgia. For more information, please visit paynomix.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005969/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The first load of desperately needed essential aid to Chernobyl in almost a year will leave Kilkenny on Friday morning (tomorrow). After months of cancelled trips, because of the global Covid-19 pandemic, local volunteers and organisation leader Adi Roche are overjoyed to finally be waving off the container of supplies. Huge efforts were made in the weeks leading up to Christmas to get an urgently needed consignment of medical supplies, PPE, nappies, food, medical equipment, sanitary products and Santa Clause gifts for orphaned children to Belarus but this eventually proved to be impossible. Since then, negotiations have continued with transport and shipping companies in Ireland and with health authorities in Belarus and the green light has finally been given to allow the consignment to travel and arrive at Chernobyl Children Internationals flagship childrens institution, Vesnova, by Valentines Day. Kilkenny volunteer Jim Kavanagh, and his dedicated family, have worked all week to get the container loaded and ready for transport. Because of Covid regulations just Jim and his son JimBob could load up the container - by hand. The go-ahead only came through last Saturday. The container arrived on Monday, and the men had to have it fully loaded and sealed up by Thursday evening! "They weren't daunted," Adi Roche told the Kilkenny People, describing their heroic efforts as "a labour of love." "The torch of hope is still burning brightly thanks to the love and care of a father and son who have worked ceaselessly and tirelessly, not complaining," she added. Adi also paid tribute to Penny Kavanagh who 'kept the coffee and sandwiches on the go' as the men loaded up the container. On Friday the container will be driven to Cork port, loaded on to a ship bound for Rotterdam, then continue to its destination by road. After months of planning, an opportunity finally arose to send the urgently needed consignment of medical supplies, PPE, nappies, food, medical equipment, sanitary products and Santa Clause gifts for orphaned children to Belarus CCI voluntary CEO, Adi Roche, said "We are sending a message of hope for the children and letting them know that they are not forgotten." Read more about this life-line delivery in next week's Kilkenny People newspaper - out on Wednesday. Even when sheep havent been directly attacked by a dog, the presence of the animal can cause a pregnant ewe to lose its lamb up to two or three days after the incident One of the great advantages of living in West Kerry during a coronavirus lockdown is that there's an abundance of opportunities for getting out into the countryside but farmers are warning dog owners to leave their pets at home because dogs and sheep are a bad mix, especially during the lambing season. Farmers made it clear this week that people who go out walking on the hills will not be welcome if they bring their dogs with them, even if the dogs are on a lead. County Councillor, sheep farmer and Dingle Hillwalking Club member Seamus Cosai Mac Gearailt told The Kerryman that problems with dogs worrying sheep have increased because more people are heading for the hills during the lockdown and some dog owners bring their pets with them, often not knowing that they are causing a huge problem for farmers. "Dogs worry sheep, regardless of whether or not they're on a lead. You have to look at it from the sheep's point of view: A person might have the quietest dog in the world but the sheep don't know. All they have to do is see a dog and they could panic and run themselves into some harm," he said. "From now on sheep are in lamb and it's a very finicky time for them - any fright could cause them to abort the lamb." Cosai added that Dingle Hillwalking Club has a strict ban on dogs. "On a few occasions people came along [to an organized walk] with a dog and we made them go home. Some of them weren't too happy about it," he added. "Walkers with dogs are becoming an increasing problem, especially on established walks in mountain areas where sheep graze," he said, adding that even for farmers themselves "it's a golden rule that you don't bring a dog into a field when sheep are heavy in lamb. You try to disturb them as little as possible." Cosai said most farmers are very welcoming to walkers "as long as they leave the gate the way they find it, don't litter and don't bring a dog". However, he said there is a danger that farmers could close access to their land "if dog owners don't behave themselves". He added that farmers are entitled to deny access even to commonage land which, contrary to popular belief, is not land with no owner but is instead land owned 'in common' by two or more farmers. Backlash After Robinhood, Interactive Brokers Restrict Trading in GameStop Stock The Robinhood and Interactive Brokers platforms have restricted trading in GameStop stock and options on Thursday morning, triggering a significant backlash among retail investors who decried the move as market manipulation. It follows steps taken by TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab on Wednesday. We continuously monitor the markets and make changes where necessary. In light of recent volatility, we are restricting transactions for certain securities to position closing only, including $AMC, $BB, $BBBY, $EXPR, $GME, $KOSS, $NAKD and $NOK. We also raised margin requirements for certain securities, Robinhood said in a statement explaining the move. Interactive Brokers explained why it is suspending trading of the stock and others like AMC Theaters, Koss, Express, and BlackBerry: As of midday yesterday (1/27/2021), Interactive Brokers has put AMC, BB, EXPR, GME, and KOSS option trading into liquidation only due to the extraordinary volatility in the markets. In addition, long stock positions will require 100 percent margin and short stock positions will require 300 percent margin until further notice, the firm wrote to news outlets. We do not believe this situation will subside until the exchanges and regulators halt or put certain symbols into liquidation only. We will continue to monitor market conditions and may add or remove symbols as may be warranted. On Reddit forum WallStreetBets, where calls to buy stocks have helped drive the moves in recent weeks, some of its more than 4 million members reported trading platform Robinhood was now preventing investors from buying new shares in GameStop and other companies. After Robinhood implemented the restrictions, users on the Reddit forum accused Robinhood and others of market manipulation. Robinhood just burned down their own company to save the hedge funds. This is bigger than we knew, said one highly-upvoted comment. Dave Portnoy, the head of Barstoolsports, panned Robinhood, saying the platform is one of the biggest frauds of them all. Democratizing finance for all except when we manipulate the market cause too many ordinary people are getting rich. The dramatic jumps in the stock price of companies including GameStop, BlackBerry, and AMC drew more calls for regulatory scrutiny and action from commentators. The calls for regulation have drawn backlash from retail investors using the WallStreetBets sub-Reddit, who again said its tantamount to market manipulation on behalf of hedge funds and large corporations. In terms of short interest being monitored, the U.S. markets are probably the most transparent, but theres always room for improvement, former SEC chairman Jay Clayton told CNBC. Reuters contributed to this report. After racking up almost two million views of a TikTok video, a father-daughter firefighting team from Co Armagh are thrilled to be showing just what it takes to be members of the emergency service. The video, posted by 19-year-old Chloe Wilson, shows her and dad Phil, a veteran of 29 years in the Fire Service. And it's all thanks to a Christmas gift of a doorbell video system. Chloe only joined up in November last year and said she thought it would be fun to go through the video, and now her online post has gone viral as it shows the dedication of firefighters at all hours of the day. "I literally only started in December. I had always been interested in getting involved, especially with my dad being part of it all too," said Chloe, who trained in childcare at Lurgan FE College after leaving Portadown College, and also works full-time at P&G Foods in the town. "I was finishing off my last few years in education and the chance came up, so I went for it. "My dad's obviously an influence. "He's an inspiration for me, and since I've joined up it's been a fantastic experience. I'm loving it." Indeed, she loves it so much she spent time going through the videos of all the comings and goings with her father as they responded to calls at all hours of the day and night, in sunshine, rain and snow. "I just thought it would be fun to put it together, I didn't expect it to get this reaction," she said. Phil signed up as a firefighter in 1992 and served in Belfast before moving to Lurgan station a quarter of a century ago. "It's a great feeling to have my daughter alongside me when the call comes in," he said. It was his wife Nuala's Christmas gift of the video doorbell that led to the footage now doing the rounds on social media. "It has a sensor which detects and records if someone is coming up the driveway, so it goes off every time we leave the house on a call," he explained. "It's picked up quite a few mad dashes from the house already. "It used to be just my alarm going off in the middle of the night, now my wife has to put up with two of them. "But this attention is all Chloe's fault. "It was her idea, and I had no idea how much attention it was going to get." Eagle-eyed viewers will spot that a lot of the callouts see the pair leap into separate cars to rush to the station, which is only five minutes away. "That's been pointed out," added Phil. "But as Chloe is a probationary responder, she won't always be on the first appliance to leave the station. She has to get back home sometimes. "And you'll see I'm usually the one who gets out of the house first. I guess that's down to around 30 years more experience of it. "But I'm as proud as any father could be of Chloe and her commitment to joining." The Fire Service is to launch a recruitment drive for on-call firefighters with two online information sessions on Thursday, January 28 and Monday, February 1. Register by e-mailing nifrs.recruitment@nifrs.org The coronavirus pandemic has canceled San Antonio's popular Barbacoa & Big Red Festival for the second time. Organizers for the fest announced the news on Facebook Wednesday, writing in a statement that the cancellation is due to COVID-19 still being present in the community. The event typically takes place in May. Last year, the festival was planned on May 16 and May 17, which would have been the first year the organizers hosted a two-day event to help control the long lines and wait times. However, it was postponed in April, one month after the pandemic shuttered many non-essential businesses in the Alamo City. READ ALSO: Annual Cowboy Breakfast will be a private event this year in response to pandemic In the 2021 statement, the Barbacoa & Big Red Festival team said the decision to cancel the 2021 festivities comes after they consulted with their team of experts in health and wellness, as well as community leaders. The statement added it is doing its part to help combat the spread of the deadly virus. "We are hoping to come back in 2022 and celebrate San Antonio's stable of Barbacoa & Big Red once again safely as a community together," the team wrote in the statement. "Please be safe and continue to do your part in helping keep our community safe." The event typically draws massive crowds. In 2019, the festival reported more than 30,000 attendees. RELATED: Here's why some San Antonio hangouts are opening as early as 7 a.m. Friday Barbacoa & Big Red Festival isn't the first to cancel its event due to COVID-19 this year. Oyster Bake, a headliner Fiesta event, decided to pull out of San Antonio's largest celebration last week. The annual Cowboy Breakfast also pivoted its plan by not allowing its free breakfast event to be public this year, and opting to deliver breakfast tacos to local nonprofits instead. In its place, severa area bars are hosting breakfast events. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Duke Energy (DUK), alongside GIC, Thursday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for an acquisition of a 19.9 percent interest in Duke Energy Indiana (DEI), a subsidiary of Duke Energy, by an affiliate of GIC Private Limited, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund. Duke Energy also announced its 2021 adjusted earnings guidance of $5.00 to $5.30 per share. The transaction with GIC bolsters the company's growth potential and supports its increased long-term adjusted EPS growth rate of 5 to 7% through 2025, based off of a 2021 adjusted EPS midpoint of $5.15. GIC will acquire a 19.9 percent indirect minority interest in Duke Energy Indiana for a total purchase price of $2.05 billion, a significant premium to Duke Energy's current public equity valuation. Proceeds from the transaction will fund Duke Energy's increased $58 to $60 billion capital plan, a five-year plan that will accelerate its clean energy transition and redeploy capital to support increased growth investments within its portfolio of regulated utilities. 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. 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. ONTARIO, Calif.Wellness line HighOnLove, one of whose ingredients is hempseed oil, has launched a new collaboration with CalExotics sister brand JOPEN, arriving just in time for Valentine's Day. The Objects of Pleasure Gift Set includes HighOnLove's bestselling Stimulating O Gel, a fusion of all-natural oils and premium grade hempseed oil, and JOPEN's Pave Marilyn, a dual motor massager adorned with crystals. Angela Mustone, Founder and CEO of HighOnLove, called the collection "stunning to look at, and even more stunning to enjoy." Mustone went on to say, "This collection combines everything a woman loves: something beautiful and something orgasmic. What more do you need?" According to the company, HighOnLove's Stimulating O Gel increases blood flow and sweetens sensations for the ultimate climax. Users can take their experience even further by using the Stimulating O Gel together with the dual-stimulating JOPEN Pave Marilyn. Offered Susan Colvin, founder and CEO of CalExotics, "Valentine's Day brings in new shoppers looking for just the right gift. Make their shopping experience easy by offering this stunning gift set. It's beautiful, sexy and fun. The Objects of Pleasure Gift Set will make the perfect gift for those shopping for a partner or themselves." In addition to the Objects of Pleasure Gift Set, the Objects of Desire Gift Set is also available. This set includes the HighOnLove Stimulating Sensual Oil and JOPEN's Pave Grace massager. All HighOnLove X JOPEN by CalExotics sets are available for purchase through HighOnLove. Distributors and retailers may contact HighOnLove now to place their orders. To learn more about HighOnLove, visit HighOnLove.store. For more on CalExotics, visit b2b.calexotics.com. Tibetan refugees in Nepal honor Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in an undated photo. The United States takes seriously the forced return by Nepal of Tibetans escaping their homeland to seek asylum outside China and is regularly discussing this issue with senior Nepalese officials, a State Department spokesman told RFA this week. [We] continue to urge Nepal to follow procedures that are fully consistent with its domestic laws and international commitments, including upholding Nepals non-refoulement obligations, the State Department said, referring to the practice of forcing refugees back to the states from which they fled. Nepal shares a long border with Tibet and is home to around 20,000 exiles who began arriving in 1959 when a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule forced Tibets spiritual leader the Dalai Lama into exile in Dharamsala in Indias Himalayan foothills. Under pressure from China, however, the government of Nepal over the last decade has tightened controls over its border with Tibet, discouraging escapes by Tibetans and sometimes returning Tibetan refugees by force to face abuse at the hands of Chinese authorities. Nepals close growing political and economic and ties with China have meanwhile left Tibetan refugees already present in the Himalayan country uncertain of their status, vulnerable to violations of their rights, and restricted in their freedoms of movement and expression, rights groups have charged. Banned activities by Tibetans in Nepal include elections within the refugee community and birthday celebrations for the Dalai Lama, who is regarded by Chinese leaders as a separatist seeking to split Tibet from Beijings rule. Return to registration urged Though a system of Refugee Identification Cards previously recognized Tibetans legal right to live in Nepal, Nepals government stopped issuing the cards in 1994, the Human Rights Organization of Nepal noted in a report released last year. There has now been no registration of Tibetans living in Nepal since 1995, the State Department said. We urge the Government of Nepal to register and document all Tibetan refugees and ensure the timely implementation of Nepals planned registration and verification process of both the registered and un-registered long-staying refugee population. Legal identity documentation for refugees should grant the right to work, own businesses, and ensure equal access to public education, health, social protection and livelihoods, the State Department said. Washington-based Freedom House rated Nepal partly free in its 2020 annual index of world liberty, with a score of 51 out of a possible 100. China was meanwhile rated not free with a score of 10, while Tibet got an even lower ranking of just 1. The authorities [in Nepal] are especially rigorous in suppressing any signs of dissent among Tibetans, including manifestations of uniquely Tibetan religious belief and cultural identity, the 2020 report noted. Reported by Tashi Wangchuk for RFAs Tibetan Service. Written in English by Richard Finney. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) A group opposed to experiments on animals says a Louisiana university should be fined $30,000 because heat stroke apparently killed three research monkeys on the same day last summer. Michael Budkie of the Ohio-based nonprofit Stop Animal Exploitation Now says negligence and poor handling caused the deaths at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's New Iberia Research Center. The university said staffers at the center used standard measures in the afternoons to help the animals stay cool. It said they could not have anticipated the deaths and are taking additional measures. A federal official described those actions as timely and appropriate. Cases of coronavirus caught on hospital wards have fallen by a third since the start of January despite a record number of inpatients, NHS figures show. The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards in England has dropped from 553 on January 10 to 369 on January 25, a fall of 33 per cent. This has happened despite the number of patients in hospitals rising throughout the month, with a now record 3,600 people in intensive care and 32,000 inpatients. Falling in-hospital infections, also known as nosocomial infections, come alongside a decline in daily hospital admissions in all regions of England. The number of Covid cases caught in hospital on any single day this month was highest on January 4 with 635 cases, a day before the third national lockdown came into force. This then halved to a low of 304 on January 22, while the daily average, calculated over seven days, has declined more slowly. The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards has dropped from 553 on January 10 to an average low of 369 on January 25 across England Sir Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England, warned on Tuesday that doctors and nurses were still seeing no respite from 'incessant' Covid admissions. Pictured: A patient at King's College Hospital in London The total number of Covid-19 patients on wards remains 'incredibly high', Professor Chris Whitty warned this week, and is 80 per cent above the peak of the first wave. HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FALLING IN ALL ENGLISH REGIONS The number of coronavirus patients being admitted to hospital appears to have peaked in every region of England, official figures show as the third national lockdown continues to drive down infections. NHS England data showed hospitalisations had fallen 13 per cent across England from their peak, and a regional breakdown shows a falling trend in all regions with the biggest drops in London, the South East and East of England, which have been in lockdown since before Christmas. NHS England data shows weekly Covid-19 hospitalisations across England peaked in the week to January 12, when they hit an average of 26,700 patients, before dropping to 23,000 by January 24, the latest date figures are available. London, the South East and the East of England were first to see their daily coronavirus admissions peak, NHS England data shows, with each seeing their highest number over the seven days to January 9. In the capital admissions hit 6,000 patients, before dropping 28 per cent to 4,300 by January 24. In the East of England they hit 3,351, but then fell 17 per cent to 2,800, and in the South East they dropped by 28 per cent from 4,600 to 3,400. Admissions passed their peak in the South West - which has escaped the full force of both waves - in the week to January 15, and have now dropped by 15 per cent from 2,100 to 1,750. And in the North West - forced to endure months of severe restrictions under the old and new tier systems - they peaked in the same week, but have since only dropped five per cent from 3,100 to 2,900. The daily number of hospitalisations in the Midlands hit a height of 5,300 in the week to January 20. It has now dropped by 10 per cent to 4,800. And in the North East and Yorkshire NHS data suggests admissions peaked in the week to January 21 at 3,200 before falling by six per cent to 3,000. Advertisement And the numbers on mechanical ventilators are at their highest level since the pandemic began at 30 per cent above the levels in April, although in the most recent days this has started to dip on a national level. Preventing the spread of coronavirus in hospital is being achieved by all patient-facing staff wearing large amounts of protective equipment. All are required to wear gloves, masks and aprons whether they are meeting Covid patients or not. And wards have been segregated to keep Covid-positive patients away from others who are there for treatment for other serious illnesses. The risk of transmission in hospitals is high because patients generally have large amounts of the virus in their body, which is what makes them sicker, and medical staff regularly have to touch them and get extremely close. Testing surveys have found that staff working in patient-facing medical roles are more likely to contract coronavirus than the general population. But hospitals are now warning that keeping Covid and non-Covid patients separate is becoming increasingly difficult as wards get ever busier. Papers published before a board meeting of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust, according to The Times, stated: 'It is becoming much more difficult to separate the Covid positive and Covid negative patients.' The documents said it was increasingly common for patients admitted into 'cold' areas for non-Covid treatment to be transferred into 'hot' areas for Covid sufferers despite showing no symptoms. Sir Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England, warned on Tuesday that doctors and nurses were still seeing no respite from 'incessant' Covid admissions. A Covid-19 adviser to the British Medical Association said earlier this month a staff member from a London hospital said it was 'impossible' to segregate Covid patients. Dr David Strain said: 'I heard reports from a staff member in central London who had completed a 12-hour shift where it was impossible to maintain a safe distance, it was impossible to segregate patients with coronavirus from those without it. She was genuinely fearful for patients and her staff.' NHS staff were among those who were offered the jab when the rollout began in December and Englands deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam has said jabs couldnt fail to have some effect on transmission. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference he said it was less a question of will they? and rather to what extent will inoculation help to reduce the spread. However England's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said he would be 'extremely cautious' about the effect vaccines on transmissibility until there was 'proper data' available. He added: 'You shouldn't expect to see nobody getting ill who's been vaccinated. Vaccines are not 100 per cent effective. We will still see people who get disease.' The daily number of Covid-19 hospitalisations in England has peaked but remains 'incredibly high'. Above it is broken down by regions of England Nathan Miller, President and Founder of Rentec Direct, Joins Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors I have both a passion and a vision to see our county experience positive, healthy growth, largely driven by my commitment to my own family and employees, said Miller. Nathan Miller, President and Founder of Rentec Direct, has joined the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as of January 1, 2021. The Chambers Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals elected to represent all industries in the business community of Oregons Josephine County. Board members serve as the primary decision-makers of the Chamber, leading the direction of the organization as a whole. I grew up in Josephine County and have been operating my property management software company here for over a decade, so I understand the unique economic needs and challenges of our business community, said Miller. I have both a passion and a vision to see our county experience positive, healthy growth, largely driven by my commitment to my own family and employees. It is an honor to represent the Josephine County business community alongside many other accomplished leaders who I look up to. Based in Grants Pass, Rentec Direct has been named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country and is consistently the highest-rated property management software solution. Miller founded Rentec Direct in 2009 after investing in real estate and managing the properties himself, realizing a gap in the industry for efficient and cost-effective property management software. Today, Rentec Direct has grown to be the third-largest software platform in its sector, serving over 16,000 landlords and property managers across the country. Miller has grown his company organically with zero outside funding or debt. As one of the only tech companies in the area, Miller has worked hard to continue growing Rentec Direct while keeping the company local and attracting and retaining employees in Josephine County. The Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce strives to support and promote local commerce through communication, advocacy and partnerships. Since 1924, the Chamber has been dedicated to helping local companies grow their businesses by creating resources and opportunities to encourage business development, success, engagement and meaningful impact. The Chamber is very excited to have Nathan join our Board of Directors, said Josie Molloy, Chamber President and CEO. Nathan brings a lot of great business experience and passion, which fit in very well with the Chambers mission. We look forward to working with him. To learn more about the Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors, visit: https://www.grantspasschamber.org/board-members. About Rentec Direct Rentec Direct offers industry-leading property management software and tenant screening solutions for real estate professionals. Features include online rent payments, tenant and owner portals, the industrys largest vacancy listing syndication network, full property, tenant, and owner accounting, 1099-MISC reporting and more. Rentec Direct was named one of the Most Customer Friendly Companies of the Year in the 2020 Best in Biz Awards, received the silver Real Estate Company of the Year Award in the 2020 American Business Awards, has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for four years in a row (as of 2020), and was also included on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Entrepreneur360 list for Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America. http://www.rentecdirect.com (TNS) - Jan. 27Midway through the 2020-2021 academic year, uncertainty about COVID-19 and its impact on school operations still looms large in Colorado.Many students and teachers already are back in classrooms, and more are gradually returning each week as the state pushes districts to offer in-person learning.Educators, who likely won't start receiving vaccinations until March, worry about catching the deadly disease. Many parents, excited that their children will be able to see their teachers and friends face-to-face, are nervous classes could move online again if COVID-19 conditions change.With few significant changes to day-to-day procedures, educators and parents alike are bracing for a spring semester that resembles fall one marked by frequent disruptions, long hours retooling lesson plans, and constantly shifting indications on whether or not it's safe to reopen schools.But over the course of nearly a dozen recent interviews with families and educators, a new sentiment emerged that wasn't present prior to the start of the school year: hopefulness. After navigating the pandemic's unprecedented challenges, both teachers and parents said they are prepared to expect the unexpected, though they hope this semester won't be as unpredictable as the last."We can choose to roll with the punches and do the best we can, or not," said Annette Green, a special education teacher at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy. "I choose to see the optimism and the best in what we're doing.""Fall was the trial run," said Katie Winner, parent to two Jeffco Public Schools students. While she doesn't expect the experience to be much different in the spring, how parents react will be, she said."For some that might involve a $5,000-a-semester learning pod with private tutors, and for some that might mean home schooling on their own or dropping out," she said. "There's a broad spectrum of options parents might choose to employ including staying with Jeffco and current structure."That's not to say this semester won't have its challenges. Logistically, schools still have to adapt when students and teachers are quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure. According to school leaders, the biggest hindrance to hosting in-person classes last fall was filling staffing gaps when teachers were in quarantine. And because Colorado faces a shortage of substitutes and other critical positions, even supplemental federal funding may not translate into additional, necessary hires.Last month, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment updated its quarantine protocols in hopes of preventing these staffing issues. Now, when a case of COVID-19 is detected, schools have the option to use what health officials call "targeted contact identification," which allows them to send home only those who were within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 minutes or more instead of a whole cohort of students. In order to use the targeted approach, schools must track illness-related absences, enforce mask wearing at all times except meals and implement class seating charts, among other safety measures.Still, within the first weeks of Denver-area students returning to school, hundreds have been quarantined. In the Cherry Creek School District, more than 600 students and staff members are currently in quarantine, as are about 1,400 in Denver Public Schools, according to the districts' coronavirus dashboards.Gov. Jared Polis has promised educators, students and their families access to more than 1 million rapid COVID-19 tests monthly to not only conduct surveillance testing and find cases before they reach schools, but also to potentially shorten quarantine stays. A negative test result can enable adults and kids to return to school in less than two weeks, according to the state's new guidelines.While that encourages Littleton High School teacher Will Daniel, it does little to calm his anxiety about returning for face-to-face instruction. His district offers free COVID-19 testing, which Daniel has undergone every two weeks since August. That offers peace of mind, he said, but only for so long.Last fall, Daniel was asked to leave school midday and quarantined after a positive case showed up in his cohort. He said that unless a teacher is symptomatic, the expectation is they will instruct class from afar while they wait out the isolation period. The whiplash of moving from in-person to virtual learning is hard on both students and teachers, not to mention more work. The thought of preparing two weeks worth of lesson plans for a sub to fill in is also "terrifying," Daniel said."My gut is that we will probably be bouncing forth more than we were in the fall," he said. "You can't help but worry when there are (students) being told to stay home and we haven't even put them back into school."Rachel Adler, a teacher at Swigert International School in Denver, agrees. Her fifth-graders began attending in-person classes Jan. 11, and she is equally as excited to see them as she is nervous about the virus. Adler expects more consistency in how kids learn this semester, which is a good thing as long as it doesn't come at the expense of her or her students' health."Seems we're in it for the long haul," she said, "for better and worse."Last semester's experience with remote learning has mom Tracy Paskoff on edge. Though she originally enrolled her first-grader Hayes in Jeffco Public Schools' virtual program because of the health risks, it proved to be "an unmitigated disaster." Hayes suffered emotionally, breaking down when he didn't want to do an assignment or if he made a mistake.After Paskoff was able to transfer her son to in-person learning, Hayes' demeanor changed. He was happier, more engaged, and when he had unfinished work, he was able to sit with his teacher to get assistance. Those weeks of face-to-face instruction in the fall made all the difference when Jeffco went remote after Thanksgiving."The fact he was in the classroom with his teacher and with these kids before remote learning started, I think he was more into the community of it," Paskoff said. "That helped a lot with feeling obligated to do the work."Educators like Amanda Cameron, a Spanish teacher at Arvada's Ralston Valley High School, are making the most of their face time with students, given it's unclear how long it may last. Though managing a hybrid schedule is difficult, it's easier to keep in touch with students when they're in the building part-time, she said. Cameron is also infusing as much fun into her classes as she can to keep them engaged no matter the learning format."Relationship building is at the core of any kind of success," she said. "So I've been trying to work as hard as I can to get students to build relationships with each other, so they're comfortable with each other and they can take advantage of that small window of time they do have in person to make connections and get stimulation of being around other humans."Many parents on social media expressed how reopening schools this semester has improved their children's moods, even in just the first few weeks. Sumeet Garg is among those who have noticed a marked change in his sons, who attend Denver Public Schools. Last semester, his third-grader struggled with motivation to do coursework, while his sixth-grader felt isolated from his friends.Now when they come home it's with big smiles and excitement to talk about their day."We send them to school with a mask and they've reported that kids are wearing masks in their classes... I've felt very safe with protocols at schools to keep the kids protected," Garg said. "I'm optimistic that they will be able to continue an in-person option through the end of the school year."When it comes to how the pandemic will play out this spring, many unknowns remain. A new, more contagious COVID-19 variant was discovered in Colorado in December, though so far it hasn't seemed to have influenced how schools operate. To date, 10 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant have been confirmed in the state.That weighs heavily on Jennifer Smith-Daigle, who has three teenage sons who attend Cherokee Trail High School in the Cherry Creek School District. The boys would have liked to enroll virtually, but some of their essential classes, such as advanced placement courses, were not offered online. That Smith-Daigle feels the district has moved away from solid metrics to dictate a learning format has only increased her concerns about school safety.On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention published reports that found minimal transmission of the disease in schools when mask-wearing, social-distancing and other safety protocols are in place. Special education teacher Green said administrators are militantly enforcing these rules at her school. Because of that, she feels safe in the building where she sees a small group of students in-person five days a week.Of course, few efforts would be as reassuring as being able to get vaccinated, teachers said. This week, state officials announced educators would be the first among essential workers eligible for inoculation under the second part of Phase 1B of the state's rollout plan, but the timeline still calls for those first shots to be distributed beginning in March.Until then, it's up to schools and communities to work together to ensure students' success, said Brooke Williams, president of the Jefferson County Education Association."I really believe that we've taken every precaution we possibly can," Williams said. "No one wants to be in classrooms more than educators. We really love our students and want to be with them. I'm hopeful we can do this safely."___(c)2021 The Denver PostVisit The Denver Post at www.denverpost.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. India and Bangladesh will hold extensive deliberations on Friday at the next round of Foreign Office Consultations on key issues such as cooperation in combating COVID-19, border management and security as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the neighbouring country. The Indian side will be led by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the Bangladeshi side by his counterpart Masud Bin Momen. The Foreign Office Consultations will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including cooperation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, border management and security, trade and investment, connectivity, energy, water resources, development partnership and regional and multilateral issues, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. "Both sides will also discuss joint activities to be held throughout the year as the two countries celebrate 50 years of their diplomatic ties," he said. Preparations for the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi to Bangladesh will also be discussed, Srivastava said. Prime Minister Modi will visit Bangladesh in March this year to join the celebrations to mark 50 years of Bangladesh's Independence and diplomatic relations. Bangladesh is one of the key pillars of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and both countries have comprehensive cooperation through more than 60 bilateral mechanisms. the MEA said in a statement. During his visit, the Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary will also call on the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Meanwhile, the 2nd Consular Dialogue was held on Thursday with Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary (CPV & OIA) heading the Indian delegation, while Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East), Bangladesh foreign ministry, leading the Bangladeshi side. Consular dialogue mechanism between the two countries was instituted in 2017 to discuss issues related to consular, visa, and mutual legal assistance matters. The two sides had wide-ranging discussions on mechanisms to strengthen coordination and cooperation on Consular issues, the MEA said. The discussions included finalisation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for consular access, verification of nationality and release of detainees, particularly early release of detained fishermen, it said. "It was agreed that implementation of provisions under the Revised Travel Arrangements (2018) relating to tourist, student and business visas and further liberalization of visa formalities and entry and exit norms would further enhance ease of travel," the MEA said. Both sides welcomed the close cooperation between agencies to deal with terrorism and cross-boundary crimes and on legal assistance, it said. The two sides reiterated their commitment to continue to work towards citizen-centric consular mechanisms. Noting the special bond between the two countries and the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, they agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relations and promote greater people-to-people exchanges. The next Consular Dialogue will be scheduled in Dhaka, the MEA 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.) Analysis Tension Grows Following Militarys Coup Talk Commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses senior officer trainees of the National Defense College via videoconference on Jan. 27, 2021. / Military Information Team Tensions are rising in Myanmar after military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun hinted at the possibility of a coup, should the militarys claims of electoral fraud go unaddressed. Particular attention has been paid to his comment on Tuesday that The military will abide by existing laws including the Constitution. But that doesnt mean the military will take responsibility for the state or wont take responsibility for the state. This has led the media to focus on the likelihood of a coup, though top military leaders say such a step would be a last resort. The spokesmans words have fueled concern among citizens, businesspeople, politicians and diplomats. A Yangon-based diplomat told The Irrawaddy that his embassy is watching and monitoring the situation closely and carefully. There is great cause for concern, he said. A day after Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun spoke, military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in an address to senior cadets, The Constitution is the mother law. We have to follow the Constitution. If the law is not respected or followed, we must abolish it. Even if it is the Constitution, we must abolish it. In the time of the Revolutionary Council, the 1947 constitution was abolished. He seemed to be suggesting that the 2008 Constitution can be abolished. But how? The Tatmadaws recent comments are a departure from military leaders repeated assertions in the past that they would safeguard the 2008 Constitution, which was drafted in favor of the countrys former ruling generals. Who dares abolish the militarys charter? Under the 2008 Constitution, the military in Myanmar plays an unusually powerful role in the executive branch of government and in national politics. The army controls three security-related ministries: Defense, Home Affairs and Border Affairs. Moreover, the militarys unelected representatives occupy 25 per cent of the seats in Parliament. The Constitution states that the president has the executive power to declare a state of emergency, after consulting and coordinating with the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC). However, no NDSC meetings have been held since the current government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD) came to power. Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings reference to previous constitutions that were abolished has only fueled the speculation. (Myanmars 1947 constitution was abolished when General Ne Win staged a coup in 1962; the 1974 charter was scrapped in 1988 when the military staged a bloody coup after crushing a nationwide pro-democracy uprising.) Meetings between top-ranking government officials have reportedly been held to discuss possible ways of easing the tension, and the NLD has ordered all of its MPs, who are now gathered in the capital preparing to attend the opening of the new Parliament on Feb. 1, to remain calm and not to resist in case of a coup. However, anxiety and foreboding are spreading among NLD MPs, and sightings of armored vehicles on the streets of Yangon have only hightened the concern and tension. Ruling party lawmakers are preparing for the worst-case scenario. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the party, and several other MPs previously endured years of incarceration in detention centers and prisons or under house arrest. In any case, the senior generals comments have only inflamed the coup speculation, with some pundits predicting a takeover in a matter of weeksif not days. The military chiefs comment that, if the law is not followed we must abolish [the Constitution] is ironic given that just last year the military blocked the ruling partys bid to amend the charter. Analysts believe the militarys claims of electoral fraud are motivated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)s heavy defeat in Novembers general election. The USDP was founded as a proxy party for the military. USDP: 2020 polls big loser The USDP won around 10 percent of seats in the Union Parliament in the 2015 general election, but in last years poll it secured just 5 percent. Senior figures in the USDP suffered defeats in the election, losing their races to NLD rivals. This was a serious defeat for the military and its proxy, and the USDP will be a diminished force in the new Parliament. The USDP was formed in June 2010 to contest that years general election. It is an offshoot of the former military junta and the successor to its mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). Its evolution is similar to that of the Golkar party in Indonesia, whose origins lie in an organization with military links. The largest and best-funded military-backed party, the USDP was established to play a major role in national politics over the coming decades. Its senior officials and leaders are former military personnel with strong ties to active military generals. The patron of the USDA was Senior General Than Shwe, who is now retired and following the unfolding political events from his home in Naypyitaw. It is not known how the former regime leader views the current political stalemate, but it is safe to assume he wants to see stability and a compromise. Neither of those could be achieved through a coup or by abolishing the 2008 Constitution he designed and whose drafting he guided. After its election drubbing in November, the USDP refused to recognize the results of the general election and called for a re-run of the voting as soon as possible, with the militarys cooperation, in order to have an election that is free, fair, unbiased and free from unfair campaigning. The Union Election Commission (UEC)whose impartiality and fairness military leaders called into questionrebuffed the calls for a new election. Its their allegation that the election was unfair. Its from a small group of people. A true democracy values the majoritys wish, said UEC official U Myint Naing. In December, the military came to the USDPs rescue, saying the armed forces were scrutinizing and reviewing voting in 218 townships where military personnel and their relatives cast ballots on Nov. 8. The UEC instructed its sub-commissions not to hand out electoral documentation without its permission a day after the military called for documents to be provided to support its probe into claims of fraud. Mid-ranking military officers in Naypyitaw say the ball is in the UECs court and that it must now come out and refute the allegation. They say that Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing doesnt want to be pushed into a corner, where he will have no choice but to stage a coup. Political analysts in Yangon suspect the military leaders would like to see the UEC dissolved, but this is impossible. NLDdominated Parliament Myanmars newly elected Parliament, the second assembly dominated by the NLD, is due to convene on Feb. 1. The USDP and the military dont want to proceed with this parliamentary session and have reportedly demanded that the government postpone it. In its second straight landslide election victory on Nov. 8, the ruling NLD won 396 out of 476 elected seats (83 percent) in the two houses of Parliament, allowing it to form the next government. The USDP won only 33 seats (around 7 percent). The military representatives will have their usual quota of 25 per cent of seats, meaning a combined 166 military personnel will sit in the two houses of Parliament. In December, the military released the new list of names of its appointed lawmakers who will attend the upcoming Parliament session. In the new Parliament, the USDPa once powerful, ruling partywill no longer be a tiger but a kitten. This is a real concern for the military and the USDP. You may also like these stories: A Military Coup in Myanmar Is Unlikely, But. Myanmar Military Refuses to Rule Out Coup as It Presses Claim of Fraud in Nov. Election Updated Timeline: Tracing Militarys Interference in Myanmar Election In the last 500 years, the people of Cabo Verde have evolved at a breakneck pace -- thanks to a genetic variant, inherited from their African ancestors, that protects against the ravages of malaria. Credit: F. Mira Malaria is an ancient scourge, but it's still leaving its mark on the human genome. And now, researchers have uncovered recent traces of adaptation to malaria in the DNA of people from Cabo Verde, an island nation off the African coast. An archipelago of ten islands in the Atlantic Ocean some 385 miles offshore from Senegal, Cabo Verde was uninhabited until the mid-1400s, when it was colonized by Portuguese sailors who brought enslaved Africans with them and forced them to work the land. The Africans who were forcibly brought to Cabo Verde carried a genetic mutation, which the European colonists lacked, that prevents a type of malaria parasite known as Plasmodium vivax from invading red blood cells. Among malaria parasites, Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread, putting one third of the world's population at risk. People who subsequently inherited the protective mutation as Africans and Europeans intermingled had such a huge survival advantage that, within just 20 generations, the proportion of islanders carrying it had surged, the researchers report. Other examples of genetic adaptation in humans are thought to have unfolded over tens to hundreds of thousands of years. But the development of malaria resistance in Cabo Verde took only 500 years. "That is the blink of an eye on the scale of evolutionary time," said first author Iman Hamid, a Ph.D. student in assistant professor Amy Goldberg's lab at Duke University. It is unsurprising that a gene that protects from malaria would give people who carry it an evolutionary edge, the researchers said. One of the oldest known diseases, malaria continues to claim up to a million lives each year, most of them children. The findings, published this month in the journal eLife, represent one of the speediest, most dramatic changes measured in the human genome, says a team led by Goldberg and Sandra Beleza of the University of Leicester. The researchers analyzed DNA from 563 islanders. Using statistical methods they developed for people with mixed ancestry, they compared the island of Santiago, where malaria has always been a fact of life, with other islands of Cabo Verde, where the disease has been less prevalent. The team found that the frequency of the protective mutation on Santiago is higher than expected today, given how much of the islanders' ancestry can be traced back to Africa versus Europe. In other words, the chances of a person surviving and having a family thanks to their genetic codethe strength of selectionwere so great that the protective variant spread above and beyond the contributions of the Africans who arrived on Santiago's shores. The same was not true elsewhere in the archipelago. The team's analyses also showed that as the protective mutation spread, nearby stretches of African-like DNA hitchhiked along with it, but only on malaria-plagued Santiago and not on other Cabo Verdean islands. Together, the results suggest that what they were detecting was the result of adaptation in the recent past, in the few hundred years since the islands were settled, and not merely the lingering imprint of processes that happened long ago in Africa. Humans are constantly evolving, but evidence of recent genetic adaptationduring the last 10 to 100 generationshas been hard to find. Part of the problem is that, on such short timescales, changes in gene frequencies can be hard to detect using traditional statistical methods. But by using patterns of genetic ancestry to help reconstruct the Cabo Verdean islanders' history, the researchers were able to detect evolutionary changes that previous techniques missed. The authors hope to extend their methods to study other populations where mass migration means migrants are exposed to different diseases and environments than they were before. "Humans are still evolving, and here we have evidence," Hamid said. Explore further NASA-NOAA satellite sees new Tropical Storm Rene drenching Cabo Verde islands More information: Iman Hamid et al, Rapid adaptation to malaria facilitated by admixture in the human population of Cabo Verde, eLife (2021). Journal information: eLife Iman Hamid et al, Rapid adaptation to malaria facilitated by admixture in the human population of Cabo Verde,(2021). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.63177 India made permanent a ban imposed in June 2020 on 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Baidu, WeChat and UC Browser. The decision was made after India reviewed responses from companies on issues such as compliance and privacy, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Since the border clashes with China in May 2020, India had cited national security as an excuse to ban a total of 267 Chinese apps. These moves clearly violate the market principles and WTO rules, and seriously infringe upon Chinese companies' legitimate interests. It is hoped that India can assure a fair, just, and nondiscriminatory environment for businesses from different countries, including China. Essentially, New Delhi should correct its wrongful moves. For the sake of maintaining the overall beneficial China-India relationship for the sound development of the two countries' economic and trade ties, Beijing has not yet taken any countermeasures against the above-mentioned actions of New Delhi. The Chinese apps on New Delhi's ban list have been in operation in India for years. How could they suddenly begin to impose a security threat to India since 2020 - particularly after the border clashes? Obviously, the rise of anti-China sentiments in India following the clashes is the origin of the alleged threat to its national security. Imitating policies of former US president Donald Trump, New Delhi has been trying to decouple from China economically. In addition to banning Chinese apps, the Indian government also instigated a wave of boycotts against China within India. However, India is not the US. Its moves may harm Chinese companies, but cannot hurt the Chinese economy. India has shot itself in the foot. National security is the highest priority for any sovereign country, which is way more important than economic interests alone. No country would sacrifice its national security for economic benefits. If relevant Chinese apps had jeopardized Indian national security, New Delhi should provide solid evidence to prove its ban has a legal basis. Unfortunately, the Indian side has not yet unveiled any proof in this regard. Venture capital investment from China has promoted Indian internet industry's prosperity in recent years. There is a lot of room for cooperation between the two countries in this field. Some Indians believe these banned apps can be easily replaced by those of its own and of other countries. But if other countries learn from India's approach, the international ecology of the internet industry and the global market environment will be harmed. The worldwide web will become local networks with national border as boundaries. In that case, India's internet industry will hardly be able to succeed abroad. India's unwise move will make Chinese enterprises think twice about the Indian government's ability to really abide by international law. Nor would these firms take India's claims of openness and transparency seriously. Other countries are also taking note of India's bad business behavior. In particular, arbitrarily targeting Chinese enterprises with national security excuses will undoubtedly make Chinese investors more aware of the risks of doing business in India. This will surely lower their willingness to invest in the country. It will also hamper companies in other countries that have close links with China in the industrial chain from making investments in India. The Trump administration launched strategic crackdowns on China and waged a trade war and a tech war to suppress China's high-tech companies. It also attempted to restructure the global industrial chain, urging US and other foreign companies to move out of China. Seeing this as an opportunity, India has swiftly moved closer to the US, with a hope that enterprises that leave China will be transferred to India. The COVID-19 outbreak in China at the beginning of 2020 even made many Indians believe it was the time for India to replace China as the world's factory. But to the great surprise (and disappointment to some extent) of many in the Western world and in India, China has successfully put the epidemic under control while the US and India have become the top two worst-hit countries by the virus in the world in terms of total numbers of infections and deaths. China was the only economy to achieve positive economic growth in 2020, and had attracted the most foreign direct investments, with $163 billion of inflows. In contrast, both the US and India have witnessed negative economic growth. India regards China as a major competitor and its biggest threat. It plans to gain benefits by cooperating with the US in containing China. However, large countries like China and the US, and even India cannot be easily contained or defeated by external forces. Joint containment by the US and India cannot crush China. If India wants to succeed, it should, first of all, do a good job with its domestic reforms and solve its internal problems to improve its own competitiveness. Otherwise, the opportunities lost by any other country can never be transformed into chances for a global Indian success story. The author is a senior research fellow with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at the Beijing Foreign Studies University and president of the Chengdu Institute of World Affairs. (Global Times) STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Police say an armed robber remains at large after he tried to get money from another persons bank account. According to the Starkville Police Department, officers responded just before midnight Tuesday to the area of University Drive. Investigators learned an armed man approached an occupied vehicle and forced the victim to drive to a bank in an attempt to get money from the victims bank account. The robber later fled from the College View area and remains at large as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The robber was described as a Black male wearing dark clothing. Police did not provide a name nor further description. Investigators continue to search the area. Residents should expect to see a higher presence of police officers in the area. Anyone with information should call the Starkville Police Department at 662-323-4131 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. Crime Stoppers may offer a cash reward. Long-time fans of Tobey Maguire have been waiting for him to re-appear in "Spider-Man 3." But while the rumor of his possible return is yet to be confirmed, a new concept art showed what he would look like in his Spidey suit again. The rumors surrounding the upcoming "Spider-Man" installment gets more interesting day by day. While there are still no concrete details about Tom Holland's film yet, there have been talks that Maguire and Andrew Garfield would reprise their respective roles to create the Spiderverse. Since it has been years when fans saw Maguire in that friendly neighborhood costume, an artist reimagined him as Spider-Man and offered a concept art for it. On Instagram, an artist named bobby_art made a more "Peter B. Parker" look for the actor. The Instagram user dressed him up using Parker's looks in "Into the Spider-Verse." In the picture, Maguire can be seen wearing a green jacket over the top of his webbed suit. While he looked older than ever, he flaunted the same old moody face like he is already a part of the "Spider-Man 3" cast. "Here is my character poster of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker in a more Peter B. Parker kind of look! Tobey's version of Spider-Man is my favorite live action so making this poster was pretty fun to make," bobby_art captioned the post. Apart from Maguire, Garfield also became the artist's subject. In his previous post, bobby_art also gave the actor a combination of his own suit and the design in the "Spider-Man 3." Spider-Man 3 Full Movie: When Will It Be Released? As of writing, the "Spider-Man 3" release date remains unknown. However, it has been confirmed that the upcoming installment will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4. The final list of "Spider-Man 3" cast is also yet to be publicized, but several stars have already been connected to the film. Aside from the three Spider-Man, Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx will reportedly appear again. On December 8, The Hollywood Reporter said that Molina will reprise his role as Doctor Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus in the upcoming flick. His character first appeared in Maguire's 2004 film "Spider-Man 2." Meanwhile, Foxx already revealed in a now-deleted post that he is returning as Electro. His character appeared in Garfield's "The Amazing Spider-Man." During Disney's 2021 Investors Call, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that Cumberbatch will also play a role in Holland's movie. The reports revealed that he will be Spider-Man's newest mentor, taking over from Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man and Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. This created a direct connection with Holland's "Spider-Man 3" and Cumberbatch's "Doctor Strange 2, "and it explains why the old villains are also set to return. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Takashi Kurai signed an agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and Japan to provide a grant for the purchase of special equipment for medical facilities of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, including an MRI machine. "Over the years, Ukrainian-Japanese cooperation, built on the principles of mutual trust and respect, has brought many achievements. Today, when our country and the whole world are fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to have modern medical equipment for fast and high-quality diagnosis of diseases. I am grateful to the Japanese Side for this timely support of the Ukrainian Government's efforts to counter COVID-19," the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry quoted Kuleba as saying on Thursday. Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine said the purchased medical equipment should provide access to quality and timely diagnosis to about 400,000 patients, including not only employees of the State Border Guard Service, but also a wider range of Ukrainian citizens. Kuleba expressed gratitude to the Japanese Side for Japan's consistent support of the implementation of reforms in Ukraine, large-scale infrastructure projects, the countering of Russia's aggression and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister also praised Japan's unwavering position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the need for further sanctions pressure on Russia in order to de-occupy Donbas and Crimea. The parties reaffirmed their readiness to actively expand comprehensive cooperation between Ukraine and Japan in the spirit of mutually beneficial partnership. State Border Guard Service Head Serhiy Deineko noted that the signed agreement creates a proper regulatory basis for further cooperation between the Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Government of Japan. "I am sincerely grateful to Japan for the constant and tangible support of the State Border Guard Service and the people of Ukraine. Modern high-tech medical equipment, including an MRI machine for the needs of the SBGS hospital, will significantly improve the quality of medical services for Ukrainian border guards," Deineko stressed. The grant provided by the Japanese Side according to the signed agreement is 200 million Japanese yen (about $1.82 million), the ministry reported. Two South Carolina patients are the first in the United States to be diagnosed with a mutated strain of the coronavirus, raising concerns that this more transmissible variant could become dominant here and throughout the country. There are now a few variants of COVID-19 spreading from different parts of the world. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Thursday that the two patients in South Carolina were diagnosed with the B.1.351 variant, a strain first identified in South Africa about six weeks ago. President Joe Biden added the African country to a travel ban earlier this week in order to mitigate the spread of the virus, but the restrictions come weeks after the South Carolina patients tested positive in early January. It was only determined this week that they tested positive for this specific new variant. One patient is from the Lowcountry and the other is from the Pee Dee, according to DHEC, and both are now doing well, according to one health department official. The agency released few other personal details, citing patient privacy, but did say the two cases are not related and neither person had a known travel history. Though the B.1.351 variant is believed to spread more readily than SARS-CoV-2, it is not known to cause more serious cases of COVID-19. The vaccines currently being administered are also thought to be protective against the new strains, although Moderna, one of the two manufacturers making coronavirus vaccines, says it is now looking into producing a booster shot that would make the inoculation more effective against the South African strain. But with South Carolina second in the nation in new cases reported per capita, according to a White House task force report, a virus picking up speed is the last thing the state needs as it confronts its worst-yet surge of disease that has killed roughly 6,700 people here. It is spreading so rapidly, DHEC says it has scaled back its contact tracing goals. "We know that viruses mutate to live and live to mutate," said Dr. Brannon Traxler, interim public health director for DHEC. She added that the same social-distancing measures that have been proven to work over the last year will also stop the spread of the mutated strain. Neither DHEC nor the Governor's Office suggested further lockdowns or restrictions on Thursday to prevent further spread of the disease. "This is important information for South Carolinians to have, but it isn't a reason for panic," Gov. Henry McMaster wrote to his constituents on Twitter about the new strain. The fact that the two cases have no known travel connection suggests the mutated virus is already spreading in South Carolina. It is impossible to say how prevalent it has already become. Though the state health department processes more than 100,000 tests for COVID-19 each week, DHEC only sequences the genetic material of two dozen samples every week to search for variants, The Post and Courier recently reported. Traxler said DHEC is steadily increasing the number of samples it runs to find out how prevalent the strain has become. Private labs also test for variants. Each of the two South Carolinians who tested positive for the B.1.351 variant were diagnosed with COVID-19 at the beginning of January. DHEC acknowledged that it took several weeks to determine that these positive COVID-19 cases were, in fact, a different variant than has ever been detected in the U.S. The agency explained it takes time to sequence the samples to determine if it's an example of one of the variants, and Traxler said those efforts are not as pressing as the diagnostic tests. Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email Sign Up! "The urgency is still diagnosing somebody with whether they have COVID-19 or not," she said. The major diagnostics company LabCorp discovered one of the two cases in its tests, and DHEC was notified late Wednesday. The agency found the other positive case, also on Wednesday, through routine sampling it did on Monday. Variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 began showing up internationally late last year, according to the World Health Organization. There are three the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned about, and with South Carolina's news Thursday, all of them have been found somewhere in the United States. A strain that first showed itself in the United Kingdom on Dec. 14 has become dominant in that country and led to renewed lockdowns. During a White House briefing Wednesday, the new director of the CDC said 308 cases of the U.K. variant have been confirmed in 26 states. South Carolina wasn't one of them. A first case of the Brazilian variant in the United States was announced on Tuesday. A person who traveled from the Latin American country to Minnesota tested positive for that strain. The CDC also says the lab-based tests that have become the standard for health departments and hospitals should be able to detect the variant and return a positive result. Those results won't indicate whether the individual has the variant strain or not, only that theyre positive or negative for COVID-19. Further lab testing would be required to find out, said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, a member of the Medical University of South Carolinas infectious disease faculty. Knowing the strain is present is important information for researchers studying the spread of the disease. While it may not make a difference to the individual which strain of the coronavirus they catch, Kuppalli said it is more important than ever to follow social-distancing guidelines, practice good hand hygiene and wear a mask. Those measures will work regardless, and, if practiced aggressively, could prevent the variant from becoming dominant here. "All you have to do is look at what's happening in England, and be worried that that's what's going to happen in other parts of the world," she said. In South Carolina, about one in 13 people say they are not wearing a mask while in public, according to research by Carnegie Mellon University. The results, from thousands of surveys of Facebook users in every state, have steadily improved over time, but still put South Carolina slightly below the national average. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 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 decades-old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka escalated into a political slugfest on Wednesday as both states hit out at each other for raking up the issue with claims and counter-claims. Karnatakas deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi said Mumbai should be made part of his state, and urged the Centre to at least declare it a Union Territory. His suggestion came after Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray raised the border issue at a public event, demanding that the disputed areas be carved out into a union territory till differences are resolved. The dispute between the two states over Belgaum and other border areas has been pending before the Supreme Court for several years, but the issue has erupted into a firestorm after the Maharashtra CM said his government is committed to incorporating into the state the areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority. He made the statement in the presence of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and his deputy Ajit Pawar, who has earlier stoked the issue by saying that Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani needed to be included in Maharashtra as it was a dream of Balasaheb Thackeray. What is the origin of land dispute? The land dispute over the border areas between Maharashtra and Karnataka had began after the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 made Belgaum and 10 talukas of Bombay State - once part of colonial Bombay Presidency - a part of the then Mysore state. This happened because states were divided on the basis of linguistic and administrative lines. The issue has been pending in the Supreme Court for several years. What Maharashtra and Karnataka Claim? Maharashtra has for long claimed that certain areas that are a part of Karnataka - Belagavi, Karwar and Nippani should be handed over to Maharashtra. The state contends that the majority of the population in these areas is Marathi-speaking. Karnataka, on the other hand, maintains that Belagavi is an integral part of the state and has built the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modelled after the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru, where a legislative session is held once a year. Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa had in November reiterated that the state considers Mahajan Commission report to be final. I condemn Maharashtra DCM Ajit Pawars statement. The whole world knows that the Mahajan Commission report is final. Marathi people here are like Kannadigas in our state. We have created a corporation here for the development of Marathas, Yediyurappa said. The Mahajan Commission report The Reorganisation of States Commission, while demarcating state borders, included talukas with an over 50 per cent Kannada-speaking population in Mysore. However, opponents of this demarcation argue that Marathi-speakers outnumbered Kannadigas who lived there in 1956. The Mahajan Commission, under former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan, was formed in October 1966 to resolve the issue after the then Bombay government in September 1957 had lodged a protest with the Centre. The Commission had in August 1967 recommended that 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra and that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with Karnataka. Maharashtra had rejected the report, calling it biased and illogical, and demanded another review. Karnataka welcomed the report, and has ever since continued to press for implementation, although this has not been formally done by the Centre. What is the Situation Today? Maharashtra continues to press with its demand that 814 villages from Karnataka be transferred to the state after the linguistic population of each state is counted. After Uddhav Thackeray became the chief minister under the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2019, he appointed ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde as coordinators to oversee the states efforts to expedite the case filed in the Supreme Court related to the dispute. The Maharashtra government had in 2004 approached the apex court, seeking resolution of the border dispute under Article 131(b) of the Constitution. This case is still pending. Mark Dunne said the drugs were so cheap he could not say no A convicted drug dealer said he thought a vacuum-packed ball of cannabis found in his bedroom during a garda search was a "legal high". Mark Dunne (43) said he had bought the 470 worth of "weed" for 80 in a shop because he did not realise it was illegal and it was "so cheap I couldn't say no". Dublin District Court heard the shop was later investigated, raided and shut down. Judge Grainne Malone found Dunne guilty of possession of the drug and having it for sale or supply. She imposed a four-month suspended sentence. Dunne, a father-of-two, had pleaded not guilty. The prosecuting garda said he searched the house at Rafter's Avenue, Drimnagh, under a warrant on November 20, 2018 and found cannabis in a tightly-sealed, vacuum-packed plastic bag in the accused's bedroom. Dunne took responsibility at the scene and said it was for personal use. Obvious The garda initially believed it was a small amount because the ball was so tightly packed, but when opened it was obvious it was a larger quantity, 23.5g, valued at 470. Dunne later told gardai he bought "that weed" from a CBD shop. He said he thought it was a legal high, it would take him a month to smoke it and he had not intended to sell or supply it to anyone else. Asked if it was cannabis, he said: "Yeah, it could be." He said that when he saw it in the shop, "it was so cheap I couldn't say no". Defence solicitor Matthew Kenny said it was his client's "honest belief" that what he bought was not a controlled drug. No tick list or weighing scales were found. Judge Malone rejected the defence's argument. She said Dunne's assertions went to his credibility and she could not accept them. The accused suffered from his nerves and had relied on using cannabis, Mr Kenny said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Good morning, Bay Area. Its Thursday, Jan. 28, and a flash flood watch remains in effect through today near fire-scarred areas of the South Bay, the East Bay and Monterey County. Heres what you need to know to start your day. The state, acting after weeks of criticism that its vaccine distribution system was slow and confusing, announced a deal with Oakland-based health insurer Blue Shield of California to take over statewide vaccine distribution, which could speed up vaccinations by sending more doses to providers that can administer a large number of doses quickly. The current system would not change much under Blue Shield, which would allocate doses to health care providers, such as Sutter Health and Kaiser Permanente, and to pharmacies and counties. The biggest change could be that large providers, who could vaccinate more people faster, will be allocated more doses than smaller providers. But the Bay Area has been seeing glimpses of progress in the historic coronavirus vaccination campaign that began six weeks ago. Data from three counties that share seven-day rolling averages San Francisco, Contra Costa and Marin shows the average daily number of shots given going up significantly since the beginning of the month. Read more from reporter Catherine Ho. How the Bay Area coronavirus variant differs from others. California vaccine tracker. A large majority 71% of Californians want to get vaccinated, survey suggests. L.A.s reopening plan resembles S.F.s but charts show its coronavirus stats are far worse. Oakland International is first airport in U.S. to sell COVID testing kits via vending machines. Around the Bay Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Beware of fake cheesecake! People are scalping popular Bay Area pop-up foods. Stop evictions, save lives: Protesters close down Santa Clara County courthouse for hours in protest over evictions. A recent analysis by KQED showed that Santa Clara County has had more evictions during the pandemic than any other Bay Area county. Police seize dozens of weapons: A Napa businessman and suspected far-right extremist who carried a white privilege mock credit card has been charged with possessing pipe bombs and accused of threatening to bomb Democrats, the state Capitol and social media companies in an attempt to keep Donald Trump as president, according to court records. Amid push to make immigration courts independent: The director of the nations immigration courts is leaving his post a week into the Biden administration, a move that follows reporting by The Chronicle on misconduct among immigration judges he oversees and criticism from immigration advocates. Big as in billions: California lawmaker wants to make big businesses disclose greenhouse gas emissions. More local climate change news: Sign up for the MicroClimates newsletter. The future of the Bay Area The majority of San Francisco tech companies are cutting their office space and will keep at least part of their workforce remote beyond the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey of 83 companies released Wednesday. A separate survey of 90 tech founders by venture capital firm Initialized also showed a widespread appetite for more dispersed workforces, a loss for Silicon Valley that could boost the economy of cities outside the Bay Area. Everyone is a lot more comfortable with hiring remote now, and its very hard to put the genie back in the bottle there, said Kim-Mai Cutler, a partner at Initialized. Kellie Hwang and Roland Li report on what these surveys indicate about the long-term impact of the pandemic on the Bay Areas economy. From Heather Knight: Portrait of one small S.F. business trying to hang on until the pandemic ends with little help from City Hall. Are San Francisco rents showing first sign of return to normal since pandemic drop? Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown, Anna Buchmann and Kellie Hwang and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact the writers at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com, anna.buchmann@sfchronicle.com, and kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com. NORWALK After receiving complaints claiming some meats distributed at the Connecticut Food Bank mobile pantry in Norwalk were expired, food bank organizers decided against bringing the meat to Wednesdays pantry. On Monday, Norwalk resident Judy Morales launched a complaint through social media about the quality and safety of food distributed at the CT Food Banks Calf Pasture location. Morales, a Norwalk Mutual Aid volunteer and former city employee, said a few people reached out to her about frozen ground turkey received from the food pantry with use by dates in December. In response to the concern surrounding the foods safety, Norwalk Communications Manager Josh Morgan said the city is looking into distributing a flier or information regarding the safety of food beyond expiration dates and the differences between use by, best by and sell by labels. It is not uncommon for the food bank to distribute food with recently expired dates, having ensured the food is still safe to consume and properly stored, CT Food Bank spokesperson Paul Shipman said. That is part of the world of food banking, Shipman said. In the case of meats, theyre frozen and once frozen, we keep them frozen. When they are frozen like that, theyre safe indefinitely. Often, the food bank will receive meats from local grocery stores, including Stop & Shop, that are set to expire in the coming week. As the food bank receives the goods before the listed expiration date, and the meats are frozen before the date, the meat is fine for consumption, Shipman said. Shipman assured the meats are always frozen prior to the expiration date and kept frozen, including when being distributed. Our trucks are refrigerated, and if theres a significant supply of something it is replenished in the line and that food is pulled from the truck, Shipman said. Volunteers learn to look on frozen packages for certain implications of compromise, too much of a bulge in the plastic, punctures anywhere. The same standard of use and distribution beyond the expiration date applies to nonperishable food items as well, including pasta, rice and canned goods, he said. At Wednesday mornings distribution, CT Food Banks Senior Director of Logistics Doug Herberger said the organization chose not to bring ground turkey this week due to the stir previous turkey recipients caused online. These concerns were never raised before, Herberger said. The Connecticut Food Bank is a trusted food bank for well over 30 years and never had concerns before. To Shipman, misunderstanding the products labeling played into the issue. The dates you see on products can be extremely confusing, Shipman said. Some say best and sell and use by. They arent really dates that have any basis in when something is no longer safe. They are more about companies wanting the user of their product to understand there is a date at which it is at its peak appearance and flavor. Myltha Georges, one of the more than 900 patrons to receive food at the Calf Pasture pantry Wednesday, said while this week was her first trip to the food pantry, she would not feel comfortable using any food, including meat and nonperishable foods, that were beyond the listed expiration date. Norwalk resident Raffaele Difrenna said he was also a first-time food pantry patron but would not be opposed to using food beyond its expiration date. Id still be comfortable with it, Difrenna said. If its a little past date, Id use it. The Calf Pasture Beach mobile pantry is in its third week and will operate each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon for the foreseeable future, Shipman said. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com Prince Andrew is mentioned repeatedly in newly unsealed Ghislaine Maxwell court filings, with one lawyer claiming Jeffrey Epstein wanted Virginia Roberts to have sex with the royal. Maxwell is currently in prison on federal sex trafficking charges. But the dozens of documents relate to Virginia Roberts' Florida lawsuit against Maxwell which was settled in 2017. The documents were unsealed last night and include new details about her sex life and how she allegedly procured young girls for the pedophile. Although the evidence comes from previously sealed interviews with Maxwell when she was sued for defamation by Roberts five years ago, it is sure to be on the FBI's radar. In the papers, The Duke of York, 60, is mentioned once in evidence given by Andrew Figueroa, the ex-boyfriend of Ms Roberts, who claims she was ordered to have sex with Prince Andrew three times at Epstein and Maxwell's behest when she was 17. But the royal strenuously denies the allegations. The court documents also reveal that Maxwell claimed she could not remember a trip to London where Roberts allegedly slept with Prince Andrew. Andrew has yet to talk to the FBI about Maxwell's case despite his promise to cooperate with authorities. The Duke of York is referred to as 'The Prince' in court documents where an ex-boyfriend of Virginia Roberts (pictured with Andrew in London) is asked if he heard Virginia talking about sex with him Maxwell is accused of procuring girls as young as 14 for Epstein (pictured together in 2005) between 1994 and 1997 The Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein 1999 - Andrew first meets Epstein, reportedly introduced through his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell. Andrew welcomes Epstein to the Queen's private Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire. Andrew later says he sees Epstein 'infrequently', adding 'probably no more than only once or twice a year'. 2000 - Andrew and Ms Maxwell are seen on holiday with Epstein at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein and Ms Maxwell attend a party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen to mark Andrew's 40th birthday, the Princess Royal's 50th, the Queen Mother's 100th and Princess Margaret's 70th. 2001 - Virginia Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew 'three times, including one orgy', with the first encounter allegedly taking place in Ms Maxwell's London townhouse. Ms Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew on two more occasions, at Epstein's New York home and at an 'orgy' on his private island in the Caribbean. 2008 - Epstein admits prostituting minors and is sentenced to 18 months in prison. 2010 - Epstein is released from jail. Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park. Footage emerges years later, reportedly shot on December 6 2010, showing him inside Epstein's Manhattan mansion, from where he is seen looking out from a large door. 2011 - The duke quits his role as UK trade envoy after the fallout from the Central Park photos. 2015 - Buckingham Palace denies Andrew has committed any impropriety after he is named in US court documents related to Epstein. A woman, later named in reports as Ms Roberts, alleges in papers filed in Florida that she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, which is under the age of consent in the state. In April the claims against Andrew are struck from US civil court records following a federal judge's ruling. 2019 - Epstein is found dead in his jail cell on August 10, having killed himself after being charged with sex trafficking. Advertisement Mr Figueroa was asked in 2016 if he ever heard Virginia talking about 'sex with the Prince,' he replied: 'I don't recall talking to them about that, but, I mean, it could be possible.' The lawyer then asked: 'Other than sex with the Prince, is there anyone else that Jeffrey wanted Ms Roberts to have sex with that she relayed to you?' He replied: 'Just Ms. Maxwell and all the other girls'. Dozens of documents relating to Maxwell's second deposition were publicly released in the US last night, that includes new details about her sex life and how she allegedly procured young girls for the paedophile. They reveal the British socialite gave evidence in 2016 claiming that she had no memory of anything amiss on Jeffrey Epstein's properties in the 2000s, despite accusations from dozens of women and girls that they were sexually abused by the financier. Maxwell, who is criminally charged with aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of teenage girls, said during a July 2016 deposition for a defamation lawsuit that she learned about abuse claims 'like everybody else, like the rest of the world, when it was announced in the papers'. Asked if she tried to find out whether the allegations were accurate, Maxwell was stopped by her lawyer from answering, in a transcript released late on Wednesday along with other documents pursued by the Miami Herald. But she indicated that she left employment with Epstein because she 'ceased to be happy in the job and I ceased to be happy spending time with Mr Epstein'. She said he 'became more difficult to work with', according to the transcript. Asked to be more specific, she said: 'Just general. Just doesn't work.' The latest court documents has put more pressure on Prince Andrew, who has faced criticism at his refusal to speak to US authorities investigating the crimes of his paedophile former friend Epstein - despite promising more than a year ago to co-operate. He was branded as 'outrageous' by Lisa Bloom, the lawyer representing six victims of the dead disgraced financier, who killed himself in prison in 2019. Bloom in November last year called on the royal to submit to an interview with the FBI as they investigated another of the Royal's friends socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of procuring teenage girls for Epstein to abuse. She said at the time: 'How outrageous that it's been a year since Prince Andrew publicly promised to co-operate with law enforcement investigating all those who enabled Jeffrey Epstein's sexual assaults on hundreds of women and girls. 'He simply has not kept that promise. Meanwhile, the six victims I represent struggle to repair their lives. 'We implore Prince Andrew to submit to an interview with the FBI investigation of Ghislaine Maxwell and other accused co-conspirators, to tell what he knows, to turn over documents and evidence, and to instruct his staff to do so as well. 'It is never too late to do the right thing.' Andrew - the Queen's second son - stepped down from public life on November 20 2019, following the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein. Prince Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2010 The duke was criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards the paedophile's victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with the pervert. Ms Bloom made her intervention on the first anniversary of the duke quitting royal duties. In the Newsnight interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis, the duke denied claims that he slept with Virginia Giuffre, who says she was trafficked by Epstein, on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law. The duke, in a statement released on his parents' wedding anniversary in 2019, said that the Queen had given her permission for him to bow out of royal duties for the 'foreseeable future'. He said: 'The circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work.' Andrew added he continued to 'unequivocally regret my ill-judged association' with Epstein and pledged to help 'any appropriate law enforcement agency'. More than a year on from withdrawing from his public role, the duke is widely expected never to return to royal duties. He has faced a war of words between his camp and American authorities over his availability to answer questions about Epstein. Andrew was accused of attempting to 'falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co-operate' by US attorney Geoffrey Berman, who was leading the investigation into Epstein. But the duke's legal team said he had made three offers to give a witness statement. Calls for him to speak to the authorities were renewed after Maxwell appeared in court in the US accused of facilitating Epstein's sexual exploitation of underage girls. Her trial is set for July this year. JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S UNDOING: A TIMELINE OF THE MILLIONAIRE PEDOPHILE'S DOWNFALL 1999 - Virginia Roberts Giuffre is allegedly recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell to became Epstein's 'sex slave,' at 17. She also claimed that he forced her to have sex with his friend Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth. 2002 - Trump tells New York Magazine that his friend Epstein 'likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' 2005 - A 14-year-old girl tells police that Epstein molested her at his Palm Beach mansion. May 2006 - Epstein and two of his associates are charged with multiple counts of unlawful sex acts with a minor. State attorney of the time Barry Krischer, referred the case to a grand jury who heard from just two of the 12 girls law enforcement had gathered as potential witnesses. They returned just one single count of soliciting prostitution. July 2006 - The case is referred to the FBI by the Florida Palm Beach police who were unhappy with how the case was handled. 2007 - Epstein's lawyers meet with Miami's top federal prosecutor Alexander Acosta, who would later become the Secretary of Labor in the Trump administration. They secretly negotiate the 'deal of a lifetime'. June 2008 - After pleading guilty to two prostitution charges, the millionaire was sentenced to 18 months in a low-security prison in exchange for prosecutors ending their investigation into his sex acts with minors and give him immunity from future prosecution related to those charges. In reality, Epstein was able to work from his office six days a week while supposedly incarcerated at the jail. July 2008 - Accusers learned of the deal for the first time. July 2009 - Epstein is released from jail five months early. July 2018 - The Miami Herald publishes investigative journalist Julie K. Brown's expose on Epstein's long history of alleged sexual abuse and news of the 'deal of a lifetime' after Acosta was made Labor Secretary. February 2019 - The justice department opens an internal review into Epstein's plea deal. July 7, 2019 - Epstein is arrested after his private jet lands at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport from Paris. At the same time, federal agents break into his Manhattan townhouse where they uncovered hundreds of photographs of naked minors. July 8, 2019 - Epstein is charged with sex trafficking charges which detail how he created a network of underage girls in Florida and New York, paying girls as young as 14 to provide 'massages and sex acts.' The charges carry a sentence of up to 45 years in prison. July 11, 2019 - More than a dozen women, not previously known to law enforcement, came forward to accuse him of sex abuse. July 24 - Epstein was found unconscious in his cell after an apparent suicide attempt. He was moved to suicide watch at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. August 9, 2019 - More than 2,000 documents are unsealed which reveal the lurid allegations against Epstein in detail. August 10, 2019 - Epstein is found dead in his cell. Advertisement (CNN) - A Phase 3 trial of biotechnology company Novavaxs COVID-19 vaccine shows it has an efficacy of 89.3%, the company announced on Thursday. But the company highlighted the vaccines apparent efficacy against new variants of the virus that have alarmed politicians and scientists alike. The trial, conducted in the United Kingdom, included efficacy estimates by strain based on PCR tests performed on strains from 56 COVID-19 cases in the trial. The vaccine was found to have 95.6% efficacy against the original novel coronavirus and 85.6% against the variant first identified in the UK, known as B.1.1.7. The company also announced that a Phase 2b study conducted in South Africa, where another variant was first identified, showed 60% efficacy. "With todays results from our UK Phase 3 and South Africa Phase 2b clinical trials, we have now reported data on our COVID-19 vaccine from Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials involving over 20,000 participants," Stanley Erck, Novavax president and CEO, said in the announcement. The company's vaccine, known as NVX-CoV2373, is the first vaccine to demonstrate not only high clinical efficacy against COVID-19 but also significant clinical efficacy against both the rapidly emerging UK and South Africa variants, Erck said. NVX-CoV2373 has the potential to play an important role in solving this global public health crisis." Regarding the trial in South Africa, the 60% reduced risk against COVID-19 illness in vaccinated individuals in South Africans underscores the value of this vaccine to prevent illness from the highly worrisome variant currently circulating in South Africa, and which is spreading globally, Shabir Maddi, principal investigator in the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa, said in the announcement. "This is the first COVID-19 vaccine for which we now have objective evidence that it protects against the variant dominating in South Africa, Maddi said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Novavax says UK Phase 3 trial shows its coronavirus vaccine has 89% efficacy" Thank you for Reading. As a community service, our obituaries are always free to view. In order to better know our audience, we ask that you register to continuing viewing. Worldwide, over one billion people live with a disability. Historically, they have been discriminated against and stigmatized by society. To improve their rights, they should be included in political decision-making, yet there is a lack of political representatives who are known to have a disability. This under-representation may be due to several factors, including how voters perceive a political candidate with a disability. However, a new study published in Frontiers in Political Science, found for the first time that voters do not apply negative stereotypes when evaluating candidates with a disability. Rather, voters tend to perceive candidates with a disability as capable, honest, and caring. Stereotypes as information short-cuts To form an impression of others, and with a lack of motivation and resources to dig past the surface, we tend to use stereotypes of social groups as a basis of information. We do this in a political context as well. ''Stereotypes can serve as 'information shortcuts','' says Dr Stefanie Reher (University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom). ''Being aware of how stereotypes and assumptions might affect one's beliefs might help voters make more deliberate decisions''. She describes two types of stereotypes that might influence voters' perceptions of candidates with a disability: trait stereotypes, and stereotypes about competence and political beliefs of candidates. Trait stereotypes operate if voters perceive candidates with a disability as weaker or more vulnerable, but also as courageous or inspiring. Competence and beliefs stereotypes are at work if voters might perceive candidates with disabilities as more concerned with healthcare and minority rights, and less concerned with (for instance) defense. The research To study voters' perception of candidates with a disability, Reher surveyed 1,500 British participants. In the online survey, participants were presented with descriptions of two fictional candidates and were asked to assess them on several dimensions. The descriptions gave background information about the candidates: gender, age, ethnic background, profession, years of political activity, and previous experience of elected office. They either did not mention any disability or included one of three selected disabilities: paralysis below the waist, blindness, or deafness. Overall, voters do not appear to apply negative trait stereotypes, such as incompetence and weakness, when assessing candidates with a disability. Particularly, voters perceive them as more caring, with a difference between 4% to 6% from non-disabled candidates, and more honest, with a difference between 3% to 5%. The findings also indicate that effects of competence and beliefs stereotypes are larger than trait stereotypes. Specifically, voters perceive candidates with a disability as more concerned with minority rights, healthcare, and social welfare, with a difference between 4% to 12%. Interestingly, candidates with a disability were perceived to be more left-wing, with a difference between 3% to 5%. ''The study suggests that voters consider disabled people as very capable of fulfilling the tasks of elected office,'' says Reher. ''In fact, it appears that the experience of being disabled is even seen as an asset in some policy domains, including social security and healthcare.'' Implications of the study These findings have implications for governments and political parties. Reher continues, ''the finding that voters do not perceive disabled candidates as less competent than non-disabled candidates is very informative for governments and political parties, as well as aspiring disabled politicians themselves.'' The problem of under-representation in politics may not lay with voters. Instead, increasing different types of support for candidates with a disability is key. ''If voters do not support candidates less because they are disabled, this suggests that there are other factors preventing disabled people from reaching positions of political power'', Reher adds, ''including a lack of accessibility and financial support for reasonable adjustments, and potentially a hesitancy within parties to nominate disabled people as candidates.'' ### NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most common myths about BDSM is that people who engage in it are authoritarian, abusive, sexist, aggressive and even psychologically maladjusted. However, a recent survey finds that taking on a dominant/sadistic role in BDSM doesn't mean you will be the same in real life, especially when it comes to politics. BDSM survey The survey conducted by KinkD--a kinky dating app, received responses from 4,890 US users, who answered 3 questions regarding the individual's attitudes towards the 2020 presidential election. Results showed that 71.1% of the respondents disapproved of the way Donald Trump handled his job as president, while 77.2% of the respondents accepted Biden's victory in the presidential election as legitimate. It is also noted that 91% of the respondents disapproving of Trump reported themselves as Dom/Sadist in BDSM play. Since 2016, Donald Trump and his backers have been criticized by the media for their extreme aggression and authoritarianism. Some psychologists even think that Donald Trump has exhibited traits across his whole life that you would not expect of a U.S. president. "If there is a correlation between BDSM and a political stance, some people will say BDSM practitioners are more likely to stand with Donald Trump. This is a total misconception about BDSM, and the result of this survey just provides solid evidence to debunk it." Said John Martinuk, co-founder of KinkD. According to the survey, 27% of the respondents approved of the way. Trump handled his job as president, while the rest held the opposite opinion. The following are screenshots of some representative answers, which may shed light on the political perception of the BDSM community. Approvals of Trump: Reasons: He's the first president since Carter that hasn't involved us in a new military conflict. He may be an arrogant bastard but he's not the blood soaked monster that every other president in the last 40 years has been. He may be an asshole but at least he's honest about it and didn't hide his violence and eat crimes behind a smooth talking smile. Reasons: He hammered the China trade deal and had us not get screwed with trade. I like how he tried his best to keep jobs here and capital gains taxes low for stock trading. Now don't think of me as one of those Trump rioters. I am disappointed with the president as of late. I wish it worked out better. He gave me hope in 2015. He sounded pretty liberal on social issues which he was for the majority of his life. I'm a social liberal but am a fan of Capitalism and free enterprise. I wish him the best and hope he and his family are left alone. Disapprovals of Trump: Reasons: If after 4 years in office and the looting of millions of taxpayer money into his own businesses, the hundreds of guilty pleas from his friends and coworkers, the racist and sexist comments, and executions of the poor and mentally ill a person still approves the man who smears $7 a .15mL tube of bronzer on his face than we have someone who is a cult follower. Reasons: Fascism, destroying the working class and eliminating the middle class, using racism to allow the exploitation of workers all around the globe, transphobia, homophobia, the list goes on and on. About KinkD: KinkD is a kinky dating app for Fetish & BDSM enthusiasts, now with over 1 million users. The app is available on Appstore & Google Play. Official site: https://www.kinkdapp.com/ Appstore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1126201375 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kinky.fetlifestyle Contact: John Martinuk 16472676834 [email protected] SOURCE KinkD Related Links https://www.kinkdapp.com/ by Melani Manel Perera Solidarity protests are held in 12 Sri Lankan locations to show solidarity with Indian farmers fighting against agricultural reform. In a globalised world that exploits those who have less resources, the struggle of Indian farmers is valid for all, an all-out fight against the neo-liberal policies of international trade organisations. Colombo (AsiaNews) Sri Lankan activists, workers and civil society groups took to the streets in 12 different locations in the island nation yesterday, Indias Republic Day, to show their solidarity with Indian farmers who are protesting against their governments agricultural reform. This is a battle not only in India but also ours too, shouted the Sri Lankans (pictured) who took part in the protest action organised by the Indian-Sri Lankan People's Solidarity movement. This protest organised by us all over the country is aimed at publicly expressing our strong opposition to the steps taken by the Indian government to destroy the lives and lands of farmers, said Kumara and Chinthaka Rajapaksa, coordinators of the movement, speaking to AsiaNews. The demonstrations touched various regions and the main cities, including Jaffna, Trinco, Hambantota, Ampara, Gampaha, Hatton, Negombo, Nuwaraeliya, Maskeliya, Vavunia, Hindurakgoda and Panama. For Herman Kumara, who is also the national coordinator of the National Fisheries Solidarity Organization (NAFSO), This is one of the decisive campaigns against globalisation and global capital which destroy people, their livelihoods and the environment. So, we decided to launch a campaign in solidarity with them as concerned Sri Lankan citizens. According to his colleague Chinthaka Rajapaksa, moderator of Monlar (Land and Agricultural Reform Organization), the Indian struggle clearly shows that the government machinery is deliberately deviating from the process of protecting its citizens. This is happening not only in India, but especially in the international arena, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, which are constantly trying to create space for the global market to operate freely. This campaign, Kumara adds, is a way to awaken producers and allow them to join forces in this battle. We all fight united against injustice, human rights violations and discriminations against [the weak part of] humanity. Speaking about the campaign Our support for the battle of the Indian farmers, the Indian-Sri Lankan People's Solidarity movement made it clear that we are no longer victims of the neo-liberal project. We [. . .] fight together on a global scale, not just Indian or Sri Lankan. Accordingly, their struggle is not only theirs but also ours. SPRINGFIELD MassMutual has a deal in place to buy Great American Life Insurance Co. from American Financial Group Inc. for $3.5 billion Great American Life will continue to be led by its current president, Mark Muething, and its more than 600 employees will remain headquartered in Great Americans hometown of Cincinnati as part of the transaction, according to a MassMutual news release issued Wednesday. Great American is a provider of fixed and fixed indexed annuities. MassMutual said the it expects that deal will significantly boost its presence in the retail annuity market and expand its distribution capabilities. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year. Great American Life will operate as an independent subsidiary of MassMutual. This acquisition is an excellent strategic fit for MassMutual that will broaden our product offerings, expand our distribution, and generate additional earnings, allowing us to build a true lifetime income franchise and deliver ongoing value to our policyowners and customers, said Roger Crandall, chairman, president and CEO of MassMutual, in the news release. With MassMutuals enduring financial strength, broad investment capabilities, and end-to-end digital experience, we will build on the outstanding leadership position that the talented and dedicated Great American Life team has built over generations, enabling us to help even more people secure their future and protect the ones they love. S. Craig Lindner, American Financial Groups Co-CEO, said, This transaction presents an excellent opportunity for Great American Life and MassMutual to be one of the leading providers of traditional fixed and indexed annuities in major distribution channels and markets. In fact, MassMutual has among the highest insurance financial strength ratings, which we believe will result in enhanced distributor recruitment and policyholder retention. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., owned by its participating policyholders, was founded in 1851 in Springfield. It is expanding its headquarters in Springfield and expects to hit 4,500 employees by the end of 2021 or early 2022. That would be up from up from 3,500 in 2020. Great American Insurance Groups roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Co., according to the news release. The company sponsors the Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds. Earlier this month, Empower Retirement said it has finalized its $3.35 billion purchase of MassMutuals retirement plan business. Colorado-based Empower also said it has brought in 1,700 former MassMutual employees and plans for them to work eventually at the former MassMutual offices in Enfield, Connecticut, and Phoenix, Arizona. Significant reform of youth mental health care in Canada is needed to address the high rates of mental illness in young people. Credit: Unsplash/Devin Avery Canada is grappling with a major youth mental health crisis characterized by high rates of mental illness, suicide, hospitalizations and considerable delays in access to services. These issues are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and opioid overdose epidemic. With limited signs of progress, significant reform of youth mental health care in Canada is paramount. As mental health researchers in the field of prevention and early intervention, we recognize the importance of youth engagement in mental health issues, and present here not only our own opinions but the lived experiences and perspectives of youth. Our national youth advisory team informs multi-site research trials and supports the development and use of evidence-based youth mental health interventions. Through this collaboration, we present key challenges within the Canadian mental health-care system for youth, and offer novel solutions and recommendations for progress. Funding prevention and early intervention A key issue is the continued limited government funding for mental health, especially prevention. The 2019 federal budget prioritizes mental health literacy, harm reduction treatments for opioid use and a suicide crisis hotline. Because 70 percent of adults with mental health issues begin experiencing symptoms in adolescence, greater investment in youth mental health and prevention is vital. Specifically, evidence-based early intervention and preventionsuch as the Canadian PreVenture programcan reduce the prevalence of youth mental health and substance use disorders by about 50 percent. Despite the science, current funding for prevention represents less than one percent of all costs to society related to substance use disorders. Another ongoing issue is affordability and accessibility of services. Although free psychological help is available, waiting times are notoriously long. For youth, such delays can make the difference between the need for preventive services versus treatment. The alternativeprivatized careis largely unaffordable. Fees often range from around $100 to $225 per hour, preventing access for many youth, especially those exercising their right to privacy and agency by seeking care without a guardian. Giving youth access to privatized mental health care for free would reduce the strain on the public system. A step in the right direction would be for Canada's public health plan to include universal access to mental health services, particularly preventive and early intervention supports, at least until age 25. Accessibility of services However, our youth advisers noted the importance of addressing concerns beyond affordability. They list services' efficiencywait times and staff capacity, for instanceas well as functioning hours, inclusiveness, appropriateness to youth needs and location as significant obstacles to accessing care. Adapting evidence-based programs, including cognitive behavioral therapies and peer support services, to be distance/virtually delivered offers a new way to rapidly reach under-served youth. This is particularly pertinent in light of recent reports of deteriorating youth mental health and substantial disruptions in access to mental health care during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While youth may have access to mental health professionals in schools, our youth advisers found such personnel were often heavily focused on academic concerns. Indeed, school psychologists' time and effort may be diverted towards educational assessments and evaluations of learning disabilities and behavioral problems more than other mental health conditions and research. The ratio of students to psychologists also tends to be higher than the recommended 1,000 youth per professional, reaching 2,000 to 8,000 students. Furthermore, many school-based drug education programs delivered to students have limited evidence of effectiveness. To address this, national standards are needed for school psychologists, focused on providing clinical support to students and participating in research that will help further mental health services for youth. Towards new models of care In response to the need for reform, new, more holistic models of care are emerging, which include a greater consideration of a persons' developmental stage in life, and the severity of their diagnosis. For example, youth-focused and integrated services like Foundry BC and Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) follow a similar model to Australia's Headspace and Canada's ACCESS Open Minds to provide fast access to evidence-based, innovative mental health services incorporating in-person, virtual and outreach care. They also seek to delay transitions to adult services by extending care to young adults. However, these services remain largely dependent on young people actively seeking help and contacting them independently, which introduces biases in the type of young person served. In this regard, partnerships with schools could be beneficial. Schools can provide clinics with the opportunity to reach more youth (potentially all youth), and clinics can assist schools in addressing mental health demands that they cannot manage on their own. Engaging young people Finally, despite growing evidence of the benefits of engaging youth in research and services, there is a lack of sustained opportunities for youth to inform mental health care. Notably, our youth advisers expressed some reticence about openly discussing mental health because they feared stigmatization and had doubts that service providers, researchers and policy-makers would listen to their views. Overall, however, most felt that raising awareness of young people's mental health experiences could be beneficial, and could contribute to the creation of appropriate and relevant services. While we engage youth in research, YWHO and Foundry BC involve youth in service development and delivery via advisory committees, outreach work and peer support. By integrating these different young engagement platforms into their institutions and committing to gathering youth feedback in accessible and meaningful ways, service providers can shape their resources to better serve the needs of youth. Co-ordination between service providers and schools may also create new avenues for youth participation. The pandemic and the opioid crisis highlight the urgency of developing a more adaptable mental health-care system that reaches youth across the country. Canadian youth deserve affordable and accessible mental health care that's backed by science, informed by their own voices and coordinated and funded nationally and provincially. Explore further Rural areas have fewer mental health services for young people This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Share UK car production declined 29.3% in 2020, to 920,928 units, according to the latest figures issued today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). December output was down 2.3% to 71,403, with some firms affected by border closures and thus component supply issues. This rounded off a dreadful year, the worst since 1984 for UK car makers, with the pandemic chiefly responsible for the decline. Despite the gloom, the UK continued to rollout battery-electric (BEV), plug-hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid vehicles (HEV) to buyers at home and around the world. Combined production of these models rose to 18.8% of all cars made in Britain, up from 14.8% a year before, with BEVs increasing to a 4.5% share, up from 3.4%. All told, the UK turned out 172,857 alternatively fuelled vehicles, with 79.6% of these exported which the SMMT claims is evidence of the countrys existing capability in building the vehicles essential to a net-zero future. Production for overseas buyers fell 29.1% in the year, to 749,038 units, while output for the UK also fell in double-digits, down 30.4% to 171,890. Even amid the global pandemic, exports continued to drive UK car manufacturing, however, with more than eight in 10 of all cars made shipped overseas. Reinforcing the importance of avoiding no deal tariffs with Europe, the EU remained the UKs biggest export destination, taking a 53.5% share, despite volumes falling 30.8% to 400,460 units. Elsewhere, trade with most of the UKs other key export partners declined in line with the tough market conditions resulting from the pandemic. Shipments to the US, Japan and Australia all fell, down 33.7%, 21.6% and 21.8% respectively. However, exports to China ended the year up 2.3%, and those to South Korea and Taiwan also rose 3.6% and 16.7% respectively as these nations travelled on different trajectories in dealing with Covid. Says Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive: These figures, the worst in a generation, reflect the devastating impact of the pandemic on UK automotive production, with Covid lockdowns depressing demand, shuttering plants and threatening lives and livelihoods. The industry faces 2021 with more optimism, however, with a vaccine being rolled out and clarity on how we trade with Europe, which remains by far our biggest market. For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv Share this: Email Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Print Reddit Twitter Tumblr Pocket Like this: Like Loading... In the survey, 2,532 salons and spas shared their safety protocols representing 19,392 licensed beauty professionals and services for over 2 million+ clients since reopening. Of the 2 million+ clients, only 0.07% reported testing positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of visiting a salon or spa. The bottom line? Salons and spas are safe for beauty professionals and clients. Salons and spas across the country increased their already rigorous safety protocols to safeguard against the spread of infection, including enhanced sanitization for both the client and the stylist, modified check-in and payment procedures, retrofitting of workspaces to allow for social distancing among many others. These efforts have paid off; the results show with these safety measures in place, salons and spas are safe for staff and their clients. According to Leilani Lucas of Napa, CA, "We check everyone's temperature when they arrive for their appointment. If anyone feels ill, we welcome them to reschedule with no penalty. We have disinfectant at every station, as well as hand sanitizer and Lysol. We encourage touchless payments and do not offer drinks or magazines." The story is the same coast-to-coast. "Our sanitation practice is thorough and consistent and we operate at less than 50% capacity when open," states Tara Acosta of Philadelphia, PA. "After building a brand new salon out last year, being closed for 14 weeks was devastating for us and our staff." The latest survey data published by the PBA supports this shared point of view. "Aside from maintaining health as the most integral priority, we want to help ensure that the industry is minimally impacted economically. As with so many other industries, the beauty industry has been devastated by the pandemic." says Steve Sleeper, Executive Director of the Professional Beauty Association. "The salon and spa industry completes sanitization training as part of their licensing and has been using cleanliness protocols for years. Now, with extensive measures in place to protect against COVID-19, we see salons and spas are safe and not helping to transmit COVID-19. The recent survey shows that less than .1% of visitors to a salon or spa contract COVID-19 within 14 days, suggesting salons and spas can safely stay open." PBA has resources available to salon and spa owners and employees to help support them through this tough time. PBA joined the COVID Relief Now Coalition, and the PPP Forgiveness Coalition in an effort to work together to seek relief from Congress for small businesses and individuals. Salon and spa owners and licensed beauty professionals are encouraged to explore funding opportunities through the SBA as well as state grants that may be available. PBA continues to share data with state government officials. PBA has also established its COVID-19 Relief Fund, which has raised over $1.5MM with support from top industry brands like L'Oreal Professional brands, Moroccanoil, Henkel Professional Beauty Division, Dyson, and more; additional information is available at http://Probeauty.org/relief. 100% of the donations are going directly to support licensed beauty professionals experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PBA remains steadfast in its commitment to continue its fundraising efforts to support the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help the beauty community during this difficult time. Assets to communicate national salon and spa safety statistics can be downloaded here. About The Professional Beauty Association The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is the largest and most inclusive trade organization representing the entire beauty industry. PBA exists to elevate, unite and serve the beauty industry and the professionals who improve people's lives and is the only national organization to represent the entire beauty industry. Our members include manufacturers, distributors, salons, spas, schools, independent practitioners, students and industry suppliers. PBA is dedicated to advocating and fighting for the rights of the beauty industry, enhancing professionalism, and committed to the long-term success of the stylist and the businesses that employ and support them. For more information on membership levels and dues please visit: www.probeauty.org/join. Contact: Julie Melton [email protected] 480.281.0427 SOURCE Professional Beauty Association Related Links https://www.probeauty.org 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. Former President Jerry John Rawlings was laid to rest on Wednesday, 27th January 2021 after a burial service held at the Black Star Square in Accra. The burial service was filled with tributes from dignitaries across the globe including from Buckingham palace, United Kingdom (UK). Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II in her tribute said: I was saddened to hear the death of H.E. Jerry John Rawlings, the former President of Ghana. I recall fondly my visit to Ghana in 1999 and our many discussions at Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings. He made an invaluable contribution to the creation of the current constitution and returning Ghana to democracy in 1992. I wish to convey, my condolences to his family and the people of Ghana Her son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles also had this to say: My wife and I were so very sad to learn of the death of His Excellency former President Jerry John Rawlings. Knowing what a towering figure former President Rawlings was in Ghanaian public life, and how greatly he was respected for laying the foundations of Ghanas now proud democratic traditions. I can well imagine how keenly his loss will be felt by so many people. For my part, I have such special memories of having met former President Rawlings on my visits to Ghana, most recently in 2018, when we had the opportunity to recall fondly how, in 1977, it was a young Flight Lieutenant Rawlings of the Ghana Air Force who escorted my aeroplane as I landed in Ghana for the first time. As Ghana mourns the passing of former President Rawlings, my wife joins me in sending our heartfelt condolences to his family, to yourself and to all the people of Ghana Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A genetic engineering method makes it possible to observe how woody cell walls are built in plants. The new research in wood formation, conducted by the University of Copenhagen and others, opens up the possibility of developing sturdier construction materials and perhaps more climate efficient trees. The ability of certain tree species to grow taller than 100 meters is due to complex biological engineering. Besides needing the right amounts of water and light to do so, this incredible ability is also a result of cell walls built sturdily enough to keep a tree both upright and able to withstand the tremendous pressure created as water is sucked up from its roots and into its leaves. This ability is made possible by what are known as the secondary cell walls of plants. Secondary cell walls, also known as xylem or wood, are built according to a few distinct and refined patterns that allow wall strength to be maintained while still allowing connecting cells to transport water from one to the other. How these wall patterns are built has been a bit of a mystery. Now, the mystery is starting to resolve. For the first time, it is possible to observe the process of woody cell wall pattern formation within a plant--and in real-time no less. A team of international researchers, including Professor Staffan Persson of the University of Copenhagen, has found a way to monitor this biological process live, under the microscope. The scientific article for the study is published in the renowned journal, Nature Communications. This opens up the possibility of manipulating the building process and perhaps even making plant xylem stronger--a point that shall be returned to. A genetic trick makes it possible to observe wood formation in real-time Because wood forms in tissue that is buried deep inside the plant, and microscopes work best on the surfaces of objects, the wood-forming process is difficult to observe. To witness it in action, researchers needed to apply a genetic trick. By modifying the plants with a genetic switch, they were able to turn on wood formation in all cells of the plant--including those on the surface. This allowed them to observe the wood formation under a microscope in detail and in real time. Cell walls consist mainly of cellulose, which is produced by enzymes located on the surface of all plant cells. Generally speaking, the process involves the orderly arrangement of protein tubes - known as microtubules - at the surface of the cells. The microtubules serve as tracks along which the wall producing enzymes deposit construction material to the wall. "One can imagine the construction process as a train network, where the train would represent the cellulose-producing enzymes, as they move forward while producing cellulose fibers. The microtubules, or rails, steer the direction of the proteins, just like train rails. Interestingly, during the formation of woody cell walls these "rails" need to change their organization completely to make patterned walls - a process that we now can follow directly under our microscopes" explains Staffan Persson, of UCPH's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. Taller trees and sturdier building materials "We now have a better understanding of the mechanisms that cause the microtubules to rearrange and form the patterns. Furthermore, we can simulate the wall pattern formation on a computer. The next step is to identify ways that allows us to make changes to the system. For example, by changing patterns," suggests Persson. First author, Dr Rene Schneider chimes in: "Changing the patterns can alter the ways in which a plant grows or distributes water within it, which can then go on to influence a plant's height or biomass. For example, if you could create trees that grow differently by accumulating more biomass, it could potentially help slow the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." In the longer term, Persson suggests that one of the most obvious applications is to manipulate biological processes to develop stronger or different woody construction materials. "If we can change both the chemical composition of cell walls, which we and other researchers are already working on, and the patterns of cell walls, we can probably alter wood strength and porosity. Sturdier construction materials made of wood don't just benefit the construction industry, but the environment and climate as well. They have a smaller carbon footprint, a longer service life and can be used for manifold purposes. In some cases, they may even be able to replace energy-intensive materials like concrete," says Persson, whose background as a construction engineer compliments his plant biology background. He also points to potential applications in the development of cellulose-based nanomaterials. These are gaining ground in medicine, where cellulose-based nanomaterials can be used to efficiently transport pharmaceuticals throughout the body. However, these applications would first require further knowledge in how we can manipulate secondary walls and implementation of the knowledge in trees or other useful crop plants as much of our research is conducted in model plant organisms, such as thale cress, underscores both Staffan Persson and Rene Schneider. FACTS: The secondary cell walls of plants are located between the primary cell wall and the cell surface. They are typically formed when the thinner primary cell wall stops growing. In addition to cellulose, one of the main components of cell wall is lignin, which fills in the cavities in cellulose and thereby strengthens the wall even more. Secondary cell walls have two major patterns in two distinct stages of cell life. The first is a spiral pattern which twists around the cell, making the walls stronger and allowing for the cells to continue to grow. The second pattern is perforated by numerous small holes. The latter pattern doesn't allow for cell growth. However, as cells connect with each via the holes, they are able to transport water from one cell to the next, and so on. The scientific article for the study is published in the renowned journal, Nature Communications: https:/ / www. nature. com/ ncomms/ The study's first author is Rene Schneider, affiliated with the University of Melbourne in Australia and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Germany. In addition to the University of Copenhagen's Staffan Persson, research was also conducted by researchers from Wageningen University, Netherlands; Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan; University of Tasmania, Australia and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. Professor Staffan Persson was recruited from the University of Melbourne, Australia in July 2020 as a recipient of the Villum Investigator and NNF Laureate Research Grant. Persson is the new head of the Copenhagen Plant Science Center (CPSC) and a DNRF Chair at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. ### ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The man accused of beheading U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl is set to walk free after Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered his release Thursday. The Pearl family was "in complete shock" after hearing of the decision, according to a statement from their lawyer Faisal Siddiqi, who called the ruling "a complete travesty of justice." Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter covering militants in Pakistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Saeed, a British-born Pakistani who was implicated in other kidnappings, was sentenced to death for Pearl's murder and kidnapping, but his case was reopened because of claims of lack of evidence. Saeed's murder conviction and sentence were overturned by a provincial court last year, while the kidnapping charge was downgraded. The Pearl family quickly appealed, but that was ultimately dismissed Thursday by Pakistan's Supreme Court. The court did not provide any justification behind its ruling. The complete reasons will "be recorded later," the court said. Thursday evening, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the court's decision "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan." In a statement, he said that Saeed remains in custody and that the United States expects Pakistani authorities to "expeditiously review its legal options to ensure justice is served." Blinken also noted that Saeed "was indicted in the United States in 2002 for hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, resulting in the murder of Pearl," and that the United States is prepared to prosecute Saeed. "This is an infuriating and unjust decision," said the Wall Street Journal's editor in chief, Matt Murray. "We'll continue to support efforts to hold to account those responsible for the brutal murder of Danny." The Justice Department had issued a statement in December from acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen, who called last year's ruling "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere." He said that Pakistani authorities were trying to keep Saeed in custody while appeals against the ruling would continue. "While we remain grateful for the Pakistani government's opposition to these acquittals on appeal, in light of the Supreme Court's decision, the Department of Justice reiterates that the United States stands ready to take custody of Sheikh to stand trial here on the pending charges against him," Rosen said in a statement after the ruling Thursday. "He must not be permitted to evade justice for his charged role in Daniel Pearl's abduction and murder." But following the decision from Pakistan's highest court Thursday, there are few legal avenues open to the Pearl family. Lawyers representing the Pearl family may petition for a review of Thursday's ruling, but it's rare for such reviews to be accepted, according to Abdul Latif Afridi, the president of Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association. The lawyer representing Saeed said: "Today's order by the Supreme Court shows that the courts are independent, and they don't come under any pressure. I am satisfied with the court's order." The lawyer, Mahmood Sheikh, said he expects his client to be released immediately. Pakistani authorities have prevented Saeed from being released in the past, and Pakistani legal experts say it's possible that another charge could be brought against him to keep him behind bars. Pearl was told he was meeting with a radical cleric when instead he was kidnapped, held for days and beheaded. When Saeed was convicted months later, he was sentenced for planning Pearl's kidnapping and murder. But a 2011 investigation by the Center for Public Integrity's Pearl Project found that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, killed Pearl. Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and is being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is not charged in the journalist's killing. Pakistan was under immense pressure in 2002 to find the people responsible for Pearl's killing. At the time of Saeed's conviction, defense attorneys raised questions about the weight of evidence against him. - - - The Washington Post's Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Ellen Nakashima in Washington contributed to this report. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned that "weaker" international institutions and a "deteriorating" global security system could lead to inevitable catastrophe resulting in a "war of all against all". Putin, while speaking at the session of the Davos Agenda 2021 online forum organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF), said that negative demographic consequences of the ongoing social crisis could lead to humanity losing entire civilisation. Read: Joe Biden Discusses Protests, Election Meddling In First Phone Call With Russia's Putin Putin said that the world has a shared responsibility to prevent this as he mentioned his conversation with US President Joe Biden on extending the New START, a nuclear arms reduction treaty, which will expire in February this year. Putin said that the "inability and unwillingness" to find a substantive solution to similar problems in the 20th century led to World War II. "Of course, such a heated global conflict is impossible in principle, I hope. This is what I am pinning my hopes on, because this would be the end of humanity. However, as I have said, the situation could take an unexpected and uncontrollable turn unless we do something to prevent this. There is a chance that we will face a formidable break-down in global development, which will be fraught with a war of all against all," Putin said. Read: Joe Biden And Vladimir Putin Agree To Extend 'New START' Nuclear Arms Treaty 'Multi-faceted approach needed' Putin said that to address these issues the world must work to improve the socioeconomic status of billions of people who still live below the income level set by the World Bank. Although Putin underscored that developing countries have benefited a lot in the past 40 years because of globalisation and the growing demand for their traditional goods. But, the Russian premier added that it also had its social costs, including a significant gap in individual incomes. Read: Putin Extends Greetings On Republic Day, Wishes 'success, Prosperity To Indian Citizens' Putin said that it is not just developing countries, but the gap can be seen in developed countries as well, giving the example of the United States, where according to the World Bank, the low-income population has increased from 3.6 million in 2000 to 5.6 million in 2016. Putin said that the developed economies in Europe also show the same trend as the US in terms of individual incomes, where stratification has grown deeper. Putin called for new, additional forms of cooperation, saying "multi-faceted approaches do work". Putin highlighted Russia's role in bringing stability in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a war for weeks last year. Putin also mentioned how Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, along with other countries worked together to bring stability in global energy market last year when crude oil prices skyrocketed because of disagreements in setting cap between the top oil producers in the world. Read: Putin Denies Navalny Team's Allegation Of Owning $1.35 Bn Black Sea Property A new trial, led by experts from the University of Nottingham, will look at reducing the transmission of Covid-19 and its severity in care homes, thanks to funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The team are initially looking for up to 400 care homes to take part in the ground-breaking trial - called PROTECT. As part of the trial, researchers will test drugs that already show promise for treating Covid-19, but will use them to prevent Covid-19 instead. The team will focus on care home residents because they are at high risk from Covid-19, and although priority has been given to them for vaccination, the effectiveness of vaccines in this group has not yet been fully established. The aim is to reduce the number and severity of Covid-19 cases in those homes. The UK has more than 21,000 care homes looking after 420,000 residents, many of whom have dementia or physical care needs. Up to half of all Covid19 deaths in the UK have occurred in care homes. If PROTECT can identify an effective drug to reduce the severity of Covid-19, and the likelihood of transmission, then this, alongside other measures, could help enable a return to a more normal life for care home residents and their families, including more liberal visiting policies. The lead researcher, Professor Philip Bath from the University of Nottingham said: "Apart from vaccines, there are no drugs for preventing serious Covid-19 and we believe that the PROTECT trial has a good chance of finding one or more drugs that might reduce the awful death rates seen in care homes." The trial will have a "platform" structure like the RECOVERY trial, which has rapidly evaluated candidate treatments for Covid-19. However, PROTECT will randomise care homes (rather than individual residents) to one of up to three drugs or no additional treatment, in a cluster randomised controlled design. This design allows several drugs to be tested in parallel and then for new drugs to be added once the first candidates have been shown to be beneficial or have no useful effect. Treatment will be given alongside the ongoing vaccination programme. The trial will be coordinated from the University of Nottingham working with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, Cardiff, Surrey and Warwick and Queen's University Belfast and University College London. Having worked closely with care homes throughout the pandemic, I have seen how hard it has been for residents, their families and staff to deal with the high rates of illnesses and deaths, and the associated loss of routine, including visiting. The announcement of PROTECT is an important step towards finding preventative treatments that might help restore normality. The agents investigated may have important protective effects in future virus outbreaks, even after the pandemic has passed." Professor Adam Gordon, President-Elect of the British Geriatrics Society and Co-Chief Investigator, University of Nottingham Vic Rayner, Executive Director of the National Care Forum, said: "This trial is hugely important on so many levels. Firstly, it will enable detailed research with the intention of identifying lifesaving interventions that could prevent some of our most vulnerable citizens from contracting Covid-19. And secondly, because it recognises that those living within care homes continue to have a vital contribution to make towards society, and prioritises medical research which puts their health and wellbeing front and centre of scientific considerations." Minister for Innovation Lord Bethell said: "Vulnerable care homes residents have been disproportionately impacted by this virus and we are working tirelessly to find effective ways of protecting those most at risk." "This is a very promising development for the UK and I actively urge as many care homes as possible to get involved with this trial, which the government is backing through the National Institute for Health Research. Together, we can play a part in helping to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are given every possible form of defence against the virus." Care homes interested in taking part in the trial should contact the researchers via the website at http://www. protect-trial. net or by email [email protected] [January 28, 2021] Alliance Data's Bread Business Announces Technology Partnership with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of data-driven marketing, loyalty and payment solutions, today announced its Bread division is licensing its payments technology platform to RBC (NYSE: RY), a premier global financial services provider. Bread is a leading payments technology company that enables seamless checkout experiences for merchants and partners, and was recently acquired by Alliance Data. RBC is leveraging Bread's white-label digital payments platform to expand its payment solution offerings for Canadian merchants. Launched in fall 2020, PayPlan powered by RBC is an innovative way for Canadian customers to pay for big-ticket items over time. "Canada is Bread's first international expansion, and is another example of how Bread continues to build merchant-focused point-of-sale payment solutions that give shoppers more convenience and choice," said Derek Joyce, president, Bread. "Our agreement with RBC accelerates Bread's platform growth and enables us to continue bringing next-generation payment and checkout solutions to more consumers globally." PayPlan by RBC is an end-to-end solution tailored for merchants. Using Bread's robust application programming interface (API) and customizable payment infrastructure, merchants benefit from a fast and easy integration that creates a frictionless user experience designed to grow sales and reduce shopping cart abandonment. "Bread's platform expands our payment capabilities, and enables us to deliver an innovative e-commerce solution that helps merchants unlock more revenue at the point-of-sale," said Amit Sadhu, vice president, personal lending at RBC. "This is another example of how RBC is working with fintechs to meet the evolving needs of Canadian merchants and customers." "This announcement is evidence of the power of Bread's modern payments technology to drive value to bank partners like RBC and its merchants through convenience and choice for today's digitally savvy consumers," said Val Greer, chief commercial officer, Alliance Data Card Services. "With Alliance Data's recent acquisition of Bread, we are excited about this opportunity for Bread to bring to bear its innovative technology, unique digital capabilities and exceptional talent to offer a white-label solution that augments RBC's existing merchant payment suite." For more information about Alliance Data's Bread business, please visit www.breadpayments.com. About Alliance Data Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) is a leading provider of data-driven marketing, loyalty and payment solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions that measurably change consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its partners create and increase customer loyalty across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. A FORTUNE 500 and S&P MidCap 400 company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Allince Data consists of businesses that together employ over 8,500 associates at more than 50 locations worldwide. Alliance Data's Card Services business is a comprehensive provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, general purpose and business credit card programs, digital payments, including Bread, and Comenity-branded financial services. LoyaltyOne owns and operates the AIR MILES Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. More information about Alliance Data can be found at www.AllianceData.com. Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. About Bread Bread, a division of Alliance Data, is a leading digital payments company that partners with merchants and partners to personalize payment options for their customers. Bread's flexible platform and robust suite of APIs allow merchants and partners to integrate point-of-sale financing and other digital payment products anywhere in their customers' shopping journey. Bread's full-funnel recommendation engine serves up the right options at the right time, empowering merchants to sell more, improve conversion, and lift average-order-value. To learn more, please visit breadpayments.com. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.? We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. Forward Looking Statements This release contains 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. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding, and the guidance we give with respect to, our anticipated operating or financial results, initiation or completion of strategic initiatives, future dividend declarations, and future economic conditions, including, but not limited to, fluctuation in currency exchange rates, market conditions and COVID-19 impacts related to relief measures for impacted borrowers and depositors, labor shortages due to quarantine, reduction in demand from clients, supply chain disruption for our reward suppliers and disruptions in the airline or travel industries. We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. Alliance Data Brian Vereb Investor Relations 614-528-4516 brian.vereb@alliancedata.com Shelley Whiddon Media 214-494-3811 shelley.whiddon@alliancedata.com Rachel Stultz Media 614-729-4890 rachel.stultz@alliancedata.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alliance-datas-bread-business-announces-technology-partnership-with-royal-bank-of-canada-rbc-301217004.html SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Life sciences tech leader triples headcount, announces 5X ARR boost TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - ACTO, the Omnichannel Education Platform for Life Sciences, today announced major growth across a range of key metrics during 2020, including a 500% increase in annual recurring revenue since 2018. During the global pandemic, ACTO has cemented its position as an essential partner for life sciences companies seeking to accelerate digital transformation and double down on remote engagement, closing out Q4 2020 with record million-dollar deals signed. Continued rapid adoption of its solution, which educates and engages learners across the care continuum through unified educational experiences and journeys, is expected in 2021 as the pandemic prompts a long-term shift toward virtual learning. Among the momentum indicators announced today: ACTO's year-end ARR was up 197% from 2019, and up 500% from 2018 ACTO now employs over 100 team members globally, nearly triple its 2019 headcount. In particular, ACTO grew its product development and engineering team from 19 to 65 people as the company continues to enrich and optimize its SaaS platform. ACTO also more than doubled the size of its customer success team to support its rapidly growing roster of clients. ACTO has doubled its customer base since 2018, posting 59% growth in 2020 ACTO's growth accelerated following an $11.5 million Series A round in August 2020, led by Resolve Growth Partners with participation from Salesforce Ventures. Within 50 days, ACTO made two strategic acquisitions to bolster its mobile learning and patient-facing education capabilities, building on its promise to deliver true omnichannel education for learners across the care continuum. In 2020, ACTO entered into more than 10 strategic partnerships with key players in the life sciences tech space, dramatically expanding the company's ecosystem of premium services provided to drug and device makers. The past year also saw ACTO take home a slew of industry recognitions for the company's impactful work in the life sciences community and tech leadership. Among the company's honors this year: ACTO's Triple A Initiative, in collaboration with Axiom and AstraZeneca, was the Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network's Industry Partnership Winner Co-founders Parth Khanna , Kumar Erramilli , and Kapil Kalra won PM360 Magazine's ELITE Disrupter Award , , and won PM360 Magazine's ELITE Disrupter Award ACTO's Triple A Initiative was a finalist in the "Most Valuable Collaboration" category at Pharma Awards USA 2020 by Reuters Events, alongside other distinguished companies like Biogen, Servier and Takeda. 2020 by Reuters Events, alongside other distinguished companies like Biogen, Servier and Takeda. ACTO won a coveted Brandon Hall Group bronze award for "Best Advance in Mobile Sales Enablement and Performance Tools" ACTO was recognized on the Best Workplaces for Start-ups in Canada list, and received a Regional Best 'Tech for Good' Timmy Award from Tech in Motion Events "We were fortunate to deliver tremendous growth during a year of unprecedented turbulence," said Parth Khanna, CEO and co-founder of ACTO. "This is a testament to our commitment to building the best and most comprehensive suite of education and engagement tools for life sciences companies. We're committed to building on this success in 2021, and helping life sciences companies to position themselves as the connective tissue between technology, treatment, and patient outcomes." In 2020, ACTO also launched a one-of-a-kind industry podcast, The Launchpad , which highlights change agents working to disrupt life sciences with new strategies for commercial success. The podcast's first 7 insight-packed episodes have garnered more than 1,200 views on YouTube and featured exclusive interviews with notable influencers from top life sciences companies such as AstraZeneca, Monaghan Medical, ExplORer Surgical, and more. About ACTO ACTO is an AI-powered SaaS platform that combines mobile experiences and engagement data to disrupt how drugs and devices are promoted and brought to market. Global life science companies partner with ACTO to transform their learners' learning journey and experience at scale. Commercial and clinical leaders leverage ACTO's Omnichannel Education platform to educate and engage learners across the care continuum through unified educational experiences and journeys. Building an ecosystem for life sciences, ACTO holds a network of partnerships with content agencies, data providers, technology companies, and more. ACTO is headquartered in Toronto, with a global team across Canada, the United States, and India. For more information on ACTO for Life Sciences, visit https://acto.com/ SOURCE ACTO Technologies, Inc. Related Links www.actoapp.com The National Police have arrested seven people for alleged extortion, money laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation offences. Investigators said the gang contacted their victims, Russian citizens, and through falsified documentation made them believe that they were being prosecuted, and offered them the possibility of dismissing the charges by paying half a million euros. The alleged extortions were directed from the Costa del Sol and Madrid, where the National Police have arrested seven people for their alleged involvement in the crimes of extortion, money laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation. The investigations began at the beginning of 2019, after the officers received information that pointed to the presence of a network in Malaga province. Police found out that they allegedly committed the extortions by making their victims believe that the organisation had the power to initiate judicial proceedings in Russia and that they also had access to police databases. To stop the creation of proceedings or, if necessary, to end them, they demanded their victims to pay them 500,000 euros by posing as intermediaries of the Russian authorities. Investigators said the operational capacity of the network was so remarkable that, in the midst of the pandemic, a member of the extortion gang travelled from Russia to Madrid to secretly interview people close to one of the victims. The objective was to give instructions on how the person should make the payment of the 500,000 euros requested if he wanted to see his criminal problems resolved in Russia. This situation was used by the officers to closely monitor the meeting and, once it was concluded, arrested the extortionist. Police found that all the alleged members of the organisation led a high standard of living with luxurious residences and high-end vehicles. As a result of the investigations, the National Police have arrested a total of seven people, in Malaga and Madrid, and searched six properties on the Costa del Sol in Marbella (four), Estepona and Mijas. Officers found various paper and electronic documents which, it is believed, could contain incriminating evidence of the extortion activities carried out by the criminal group. In addition, five bank accounts have been frozen and some 45,000 euros in cash, along with four high-end vehicles, as well as a large amount of jewellery, watches and almost a hundred luxury bags have been seized. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A storm capable of blitzing our borough with several inches of snow could strike early next week, according to meteorologist Brett Rossio of AccuWeather. An alternative scenario is that Staten Island could be deluged with a wintry mix of snow, sleet and coastal flooding from Sunday night through Monday. Everything is still preliminary at this point, Rossio said, noting that the storm currently is off the shores of California and days away from striking Staten Island. He cautioned that there is a good deal of uncertainty with regard to the track and strength of the impending storm. Right now, were thinking in the ballpark of 6 to 10 inches of snow with some sleet in the mix, he said, but that can change. AccuWeather.com is calling for a range of four to eight inches for this storm. While its too early to give a definite timeline, it looks like snow would probably start sometime Sunday night, and then it would get heavy later in the day on Monday, Rossio said. The Monday afternoon commute probably will end up being the worst. The heaviest snow likely will go north of Staten Island. Rossio anticipates that there will be gusty winds capable of blowing snow around our borough. AccuWeather.com is warning about the possibility of a noreaster early next week that could bring the potential for heavy snow to the central Appalachians, New York and the other mid-Atlantic states and New England. Although on a similar track to Tuesdays storm that coated our borough, a major difference is that next weeks storm likely will gather moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, raising the stakes of coastal flooding in our borough, Rossio said. As the storm barrels through the country, an area of low pressure over the Ohio Valley could weaken. However, a new low might develop along the coast, and thats going to throw a great deal of Atlantic moisture inland, Rossio said. He explained that if that coastal feature rapidly develops, youre going to have a stronger on-shore flow. Theres going to be the threat for some coastal inundation, so that certainly is a concern. Temperatures also will be key in determining snow totals on Staten Island. The ultimate question that we have at least in the greater New York City area is how much cold air is going to be available? Rossio said. How entrenched is the cold air going to be? If frigid air settles over Staten Island and the rest of New York City, higher snow totals are likely. More warm air aloft typically creates mixed precipitation and Staten Island is anticipated to hit a high in the mid-30s on Monday. TACOMA, WA / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / IONIC BRANDS CORP. (CSE:IONC) (OTC PINK:IONKF) (FRA:1B3) ("IONIC BRANDS" or the "Company"), a regional multi state operator in the Pacific Northwest region of innovative cannabis edibles and concentrate extract products, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding proposal letter (the "Letter") with certain holders of secured convertible debentures due May 16, 2022 (the "Secured Debentures") for a proposed exchange (the "Proposed Exchange") of 90% or approximately CAD$16.2 million of the outstanding principal amount of Secured Debentures for preferred voting shares (the "Preferred Voting Shares"). The Proposed Exchange represents approximately 72% of the Company's total debt, therefore significantly improving the financial position of Ionic Brands. A summary of the proposed principal terms and conditions of the Proposed Exchange are as follows: Proposed Exchange. Holders of the Secured Debentures shall exchange 90% of the outstanding principal amount of their Secured Debentures, along with any accrued and unpaid interests, into Preferred Voting Shares at the post-Consolidation (as defined below) price of CAD$0.30 per Preferred Voting Share (the "Conversion Price"). The aggregate amount of outstanding principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest exchanged for Preferred Voting Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "Initial Amount". Consolidation. Prior to closing the Proposed Exchange, the Company will complete a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") on the basis of a one (1) post-consolidated Common Share for each six (6) pre-consolidation Common Shares (the "Consolidation"). Voting. Each Preferred Voting Share entitles the holder to one vote per Preferred Voting Share at all meetings of shareholders of the Company. Story continues Dividends. The Preferred Voting Shares will carry an annual, cumulative, preferential dividend equal to, initially, 10% of the Initial Price, compounded annually. The dividend shall be paid by way of the issuance of Preferred Voting Shares at a rate of 12% per annum, unless and until the Company received notice from holders of Preferred Voting Shares holding no less than 66% of the outstanding Preferred Voting Shares that all future dividends be paid in cash, in which case the dividends shall be paid at a rate of 10%. Dividends shall be declared and paid for so long as any Preferred Voting Shares are issued and outstanding. Redemption and Retraction. The holders of Preferred Voting Shares shall be entitled, at their election at any time and from time to time after May 16, 2022 (the "Redemption Date"), to have the Company redeem, in whole or in part, the Preferred Voting Shares for an amount equal to Conversion Price per Preferred Voting Share plus the payment of any accrued and unpaid dividends. The Company shall be entitled, at its election at any time after the Redemption Date, to redeem all of the Preferred Voting Shares at the Conversion Price per Preferred Voting Share plus the payment of any accrued and unpaid dividends. Liquidation upon a Change of Control. Not less than 30 days prior to the consummation of any change of control, the Company will notify the holders of Preferred Voting Shares of the change of control and the holders shall have the right (i) to require the redemption by the Company of their Preferred Voting Shares for an amount equal to 105% of the respective Initial Amount, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, or (ii) to convert their outstanding Preferred Voting Shares into Common Shares in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Voting Shares. Liquidation and winding-up. Upon the occurrence of any liquidation event that does not constitute a change of control, holders of Preferred Voting Shares would be entitled to 100% of distributable cash on a priority basis ahead of all Common Shares and other preferred shares in amount up to 100% of the converted Secured Debenture (the "Liquidation Preference") (calculated cumulative with all prior distributions in respect of the Liquidation Preference). Upon a sale of less than substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than ordinary course and de minimis transactions), holders of Preferred Voting Shares would be entitled to share in the distributable cash on a priority basis ahead of all common shares and other preferred shares in amount up to 100% of the Liquidation Preference (calculated cumulatively with all prior distributions in respect of the Liquidation Preference). Option to Convert Preferred Voting Shares. Each Preferred Voting Share will be convertible into one Common Share at any time at the holder's option. The Proposed Exchange is subject to approval from the requisite number of holders of the Secured Debentures, the Canadian Securities Exchange and, if applicable, shareholders' approval. Ionic Brands, Chairman and CEO, John P. Gorst, stated, "We are very pleased with the continued and long-term support of our debt holders. Their agreement to this exchange of debt for preferred equity cleans up our balance sheet and sets the stage to launch Ionic Brands 2.0. Management has worked tirelessly to restructure the Company and preparing it for future success, creating long-term value for the Company's shareholders." Pursuant to the terms of the Letter, the Company announces today that it will be proceeding with the Consolidation. The Company will not be changing its name and trading symbol in connection with the Consolidation. The Consolidation is subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange, and no fractional shares will be issued under the Consolidation. Letters of transmittal with respect to the Consolidation will be mailed upon completion of the Consolidation to all shareholders. The Company currently has 253,964,402 Common Shares issued and outstanding, and immediately following the Consolidation will have approximately 42,327,400 Common Shares outstanding. The exact number of post-Consolidated Common Shares will vary depending on the treatment of fractional shares which will occur when each shareholder's holdings in the Company are consolidated. Outstanding stock options and warrants would similarly be adjusted by the Consolidation ratio. About IONIC BRANDS CORP. The Company is dedicated to building a regionally based multi-state consumer-focused cannabis concentrate brand portfolio with strong roots in the premium and luxury segments of vape concentrates and edibles. The cornerstone Brand of the portfolio, IONIC, is a top vape product along with our economy brand Dabulous vaporizer brand in Washington State and has aggressively expanded throughout the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The brand is currently operating in Washington and Oregon. IONIC BRANDS' strategy is to be the leader of the highest-value segments of the cannabis market. John P. Gorst Chief Executive Officer & Chairman For more information visit www.ionicbrands.com or contact: To stay better informed with the current events of the company you can join our investor community at https://www.ionicbrands.com/investor-community John Gorst investor.relations@ionicbrands.com +1.253.248.7927 The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The risks are without limitations the price for cannabis and related products will remain consistent and the consumer demand remains strong; availability of financing to the Company to develop the retail locations; retention of key employees and management; changes in State and/or municipal regulations of retail operations and changes in government regulations generally. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the Canadian Securities Exchange, the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and the Alberta Securities Commission. SOURCE: IONIC Brands Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/626658/Ionic-Brands-Corp-Announces-an-Agreement-with-Convertible-Debenture-Holders-to-Exchange-Approximately-CAD162-Million-of-Debt-to-Preferred-Equity-and-a-Share-Consolidation-Plan-to-Launch-Ionic-20 Armie Hammer's ex-lover Paige Lorenze has shared more shocking allegations about her two-month relationship with the troubled actor. Speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday, the 22-year-old described in detail how the Hollywood star allegedly wanted to remove one of her ribs and eat it. 'In non-sexual settings he asked me on multiple occasions to remove my ribs,' she said. Speaking out: Armie Hammer's ex-lover Paige Lorenze has shared more shocking allegations about her two-month long relationship with the troubled actor. Pictured together 'He wanted to find a doctor in LA to like, remove the ribs that I don't need,' she continued. 'And he wanted to, like, he has a smoker at his house in L.A. and he wanted to smoke it and eat it.' The model admitted that she took it as 'dark humour' at first, before he made the request 'five times' - to the point that she believed it was more of a 'serious thing'. 'He would always say, "I wonder what it tastes like, I bet it tastes good," stuff like that,' she claimed. When asked if she thought the Call Me by Your Name actor would have really eaten her ribs, Lorenze responded firmly: '100 per cent.' 'He asked me on multiple occasions to remove my ribs': Speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday, the 22-year-old described in detail how the Hollywood star allegedly wanted to remove one of her ribs and eat it. Pictured: Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson Lorenze also made troubling claims that Hammer would tell her stories about his childhood when his own family 'felt like he was being taken' by the devil. She previously told Daily Mail that Hammer was fixated on biting her body, begging that she allow him to take lumps of flesh from her arm, before consuming them. Father-of-two Hammer, 34, urged his lover - who is 12 years his junior - to participate in 'role play' sex. Even on their first night of intimacy, Lorenze revealed Hammer insisted: 'You can either call me daddy or sir.' The actor often tied up Lorenze, hit her with paddles and planned out 'high protocol nights' of painful sexual moves, which often left her covered in bruises. Fears: Lorenze also made troubling claims that Hammer would tell her stories about his childhood when his own family 'felt like he was being taken' by the devil. Pictured: Lorenze, Hammer and the actor's mother, Dru Ann Mobley Lorenze described their time together in Los Angeles as 'like a real life 50 Shades Of Grey, without the love'. Laying out more of his sick fantasies, Hammer begged the Instagram model to have her ribs removed so that he could barbecue them. Even with his family at Thanksgiving, Hammer took along his leather-bound BDSM case for kinky sex games. In a photo shared exclusively with DailyMailTV Hammer is seen posing with Lorenze and his mother, Dru Ann, during the holidays, which they celebrated in Dallas, Texas. 'You can call me daddy or sir': The actor often tied up Lorenze, hit her with paddles and planned out 'high protocol nights' of painful sexual moves, which left her covered in bruises In another exclusive photo, the former couple are seen shirtless on a moped in the desert, with Hammer smiling and wearing a cowboy hat. Lorenze told DailyMailTV: 'I want Armie to address his demons, see the pain and trauma that he has caused me and other women. 'He told me theres a whole community that will do this stuff, that it was not criminal. 'He really thought that his fantasies were normal behavior in the BDSM, non-normative, sexual kink community. I thought that this is what it was. I thought I was safe. But any man who is fantasizing about crushing bones, eating them, having sex with female limp bodies is a danger to all women. 'And this is not me kink shaming, I want that to be clear. 'Any man who is fantasizing about crushing bones, eating them, having sex with female limp bodies is a danger to all women,' Lorenze said of the actor. (Hammer pictured in 2018) His actions and behavior are dangerous and emotionally and psychologically damaging. He is saying people are kink shaming him and should not comment on his sex life, but BDSM is a smoke screen for him wanting to hurt women. You can be just as traumatized by consensual sex. Its unacceptable that he coerces women into agreeing to let him hurt them.' In a statement to DailyMail.com, Hammer's lawyer said: These assertions about Mr. Hammer are patently untrue. Any interactions with this person, or any partner of his, were completely consensual in that they were fully discussed, agreed upon, and mutually participatory.' Lorenze says she never considered raising the alarm or going to the police because naively she believed Hammer's assurance it was normal. 'I want him to get help more than be put behind bars, because I did see a loving, caring side to him,' she explains. It made me think that there is maybe hope for him to heal and move on from this. I was in love, orchestrated by him to make me be completely obsessed, feeling as if I would never be with anyone who was better than him,' she explains. I trusted him based on his experience, age, and the fact that I was being taken care of by him. But I really wasnt - I was being hurt by him. He put me in a role, complimented me in ways Ive never experienced, but he wanted control in sex - and I allowed him that. His actions and behavior are dangerous and emotionally and psychologically damaging,' Lorenze stated Lorenze says Hammer was focused on pushing boundaries with her from the first night they spent together. He first contacted Lorenze on Instagram, before insisting he would welcome her to LA when she moved there from New York in September. Hours after landing, he and some friends met Lorenze at a West Hollywood BnB. Within a few hours, the celebrated actor seduced the blonde and then took her back to a friends home, where he stayed. During their first intimate moment he detailed his unusual desires. She said: That first night, Armie told me he was a sadomasochist. I had no idea what he meant and thought it was a cult thing like Scientology. Armie made me watch the movie Secretary with Maggie Gyllenhaal. He wanted me to relate to her emotional problems in the way she finds purpose in life through a dominant partner and BDSM. Then he asked for high protocol nights, which is a standard trait in BDSM, where one partner sets out the nights activities from outfits to what we do sexually. We did a lot of those nights, which became darker and darker. It was what I had to do to please him. I didnt enjoy any of it, but Armie took advantage of me. I would have done anything to please him and make him feel happy and satisfied. I didnt enjoy any of it, but Armie took advantage of me,' she explained. 'I would have done anything to please him and make him feel happy and satisfied' Hammer introduced her to his BDSM toys carried in a brown leather case, which contained ropes, small sharp knives, clothes pins, whips and paddles. After trying various erotic situations using his bags toys, Hammer kept pushing the boundaries of pain for Lorenze. During a night in late November, Hammer went further than ever with a set of custom made razor sharp hand knives as she laid bound by ropes at his mercy. He would love to do knife play, where he would wave the blade above me or glide it across my skin. He was obsessed with it and usually he did not cut me. 'However that night he decided he wanted to brand me as his property and carve his name on my body. He tried to rationalize it as his gesture of his commitment to us being together for the long term. 'I wasnt sure he was serious, as he looked over my body and said: "Where should I carve an A on you?" Before I could process it, he plunged the tip of the knife into my flesh just above my vagina.' She continued: 'The pain was excruciating, but I did not want to seem weak, despite the discomfort. Scarred: Using a sharp knife Hammer cut his first initial 'A' into her skin during a kinky sex game, which Lorenze insists got out of control I froze as he smiled at his work. He then said the cut was not deep enough, even though it was about an inch - the whole tip of the blade. He said he wanted to collect a kitchen knife to make it bigger, but then as it bled, he started licking it. This continued for a few minutes. And I kind of blanked it all out. I was concerned that the wound was going to get infected. I had to clean it and put a bandaid on afterwards. Traumatized, Lorenze still trembles recalling the night in detail, but revealed: He knew I was upset, but did not say sorry. The next day he even told people about what he had done. I was upset, embarrassed and humiliated, but he insisted: "You should be proud of it. I would not tell anyone who did not think it was awesome". I rationalized it with his logic of us being a couple, to mask the truth - but I was completely manipulated. Its humiliating as it will haunt me forever. I will have laser treatment to get rid of the scar. Bag of tricks: Hammer (pictured) introduced Lorenze to his BDSM toys carried in a brown leather case, which contained ropes, small sharp knives, clothes pins, whips and paddles Hammer, who often drank neat vodka or whiskey, adored their hour long BDSM sessions, calling them 'beautiful'. Lorenze said: I had bad bruises all over me when we were together. I was left with marks from him using a paddle. I was his own real life Christian Grey fantasy. There were teeth marks and bite marks all over me. He was completely obsessed with biting me. He told me be proud as they were just love bites. Once he said, If you did not tell me to stop I would eat a piece out of you. And he was serious too. It was like he actually wanted to eat my flesh away.' Lorenze says Hammer even spoke about wanting a sex dungeon room similar to one seen in the movie 50 Shades of Grey. Hammer often enjoyed sex several times daily, but Lorenze recalls: We never had completely normal sex because he always wanted something kinky. He liked role play, where I pretended to be a student and he was my professor.' Bruised: Lorenze's body appeared to be covered in bruises during the few months she was dating Hammer. Pictured: The model appears to have a discolored mark on her chest in an Instagram picture posted in late October Up until 2020 Hammer was regarded as one of the most suave, handsome and brightest stars and family men in Hollywood. But behind closed doors, Lorenze saw a broken side of the actor, famous for films like The Lone Ranger, Social Network and Call Me By Your Name. Armie is deeply insecure. He really opened up at times about his marriage break-up and family issues,' she said. He would cry in my arms, about how he loved his kids and felt Elizabeth was a great mother. But then would villainize his wife at other times. And he also talked about all the women that he had been with, which made me think he cheated all the time. There are issues too with his parents, which haunt him. I didn't ask questions, I just listened, because I felt we had an instant trust. Now I think a lot of it was an act, attention seeking and part of his mind games. It was an Oscar winning performance.' Lorenze eventfully decided to call the relationship off. It was too much. I felt sick to my stomach, insecure and no longer attracted to him - and he was getting stranger,' she said. I texted him that morning to say I do not think we can see each other anymore. Perhaps I hoped he would change or try to make things right, but instead he replied: "okay I understand". 'He left soon after to see his family in the Cayman Islands for Christmas, but told me he did not want to go as he was lonely and sad. 'It will take me a long time to get over this. It still feels like a fever dream and not real. Earlier this month, Hammer dropped out of his upcoming film Shotgun Wedding costarring Jennifer Lopez after he was rocked by disturbing claims of cannibalism and violating BDSM practices. In leaked Instagram DMs allegedly written by the actor to a woman, he says: 'I am 100% a cannibal'. They were leaked publicly by an anonymous account, House of Effie. Hammer responded to the scandal at the time in a strongly worded statement. 'Im not responding to these b*****t claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for 4 months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic,' he said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. Berger said when he read the findings of the first probe, "it was pretty clear to me we needed to do a follow-on... WINDSOR, ON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Windsor and Detroit should establish a transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster to best reap the economic benefits of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, says a new study out of the University of Windsor's Cross-Border Institute. Building on existing regional expertise and capacity, the cluster would consist of truck yards, facilities where containers can be transferred between trucks and rail, climate-controlled warehouses with on-site inspection areas for agricultural goods and pharmaceuticals, truck stops, customs brokers, and other firms involved in the movement and storage of goods. But first, a new international agency should be created to make sure the cluster grows in a coordinated fashion on both sides of the Detroit River, with appropriate land use and servicing, environment assessments, and community consultation. "Our study is focused on the permanent economic benefits that will arise due to improved cross-border transportation services that the new bridge will provide once it's open," said Bill Anderson, director of the Cross-Border Institute. "Based on our background research and consultations with numerous industry players, we have concluded that the transportation, distribution, and logistics sector presents the most significant and attainable opportunities for the development of new economic activities or expansion of existing activities stimulated by the new bridge." The Institute is a renowned research centre that studies the movement of people, goods, services, and funds across international borders. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority commissioned the 68-page report to look into how the region could best position itself to benefit from the bridge after it's constructed. "Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is committed to the region's economic success," said CEO Bryce Phillips. "The Cross-Border Institute's Economic Impacts and Opportunities Study is an example of WDBA working with regional educational institutions such as the University of Windsor and Michigan State University, businesses, and community groups to help realize the regional economic and community development opportunities stemming from the Government of Canada's investment in the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. The unique opportunities identified in the study are just some of the ideas the business community and local agencies can capitalize on to benefit from this new border transportation system. "We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our stakeholders on both sides of the border during the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project and during the operations phase of the crossing." Canada and the U.S. have the second-largest bilateral trade relationship on the globe, exceeded only by the trade flows between the U.S. and China. Manufactured goods, crossing mainly in trucks, account for more than half of the cross-border shipments of both countries. A large share of manufacturing trade is in materials and parts that move between factories on both sides of the border. By far the largest crossing point for this trade is through the Windsor-Detroit corridor. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, with an estimated completion date in 2024, will provide a direct, freeway-to-freeway connection from Highway 401 via the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway to U.S. Interstate I-75. The entire route will employ the latest intelligent transportation systems, logistics, and security technology and is designed to accommodate future technological advances. The study estimates the new route will save about 850,000 hours per year for trucks, translating into billions of dollars in savings over the bridge's lifetime. Anderson said, while the main focus of the research was on the large volume of commercial traffic that crosses at the Detroit River, the analysis also considered impacts on personal vehicles that will cross the border at the new bridge. "Dr. Anderson's research plays a significant role in identifying and understanding the ways to maximize the economic benefits of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge both in our region and internationally," said University of Windsor President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon. "The University of Windsor is ideally positioned to play an important part in assessing the new bridge's impact now and into the future. I'm both pleased and proud of the efforts the Cross-Broder Institute has provided as a valuable resource to the international trade community." The study finds that a robust transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster would provide local employment opportunities that could be filled by workers from both Canada and the United States. These new jobs would range from routine manual tasks to cutting-edge positions in information and communications technology. The cluster would enhance the competitiveness of other industries in the region, including manufacturing, agrifood, and e-commerce. SOURCE University of Windsor MIDDLETOWN The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will host a virtual KeyBank Workshop on The Basics of Web Design Feb. 9. This seminar will be presented by Lauren Middleton from Forest City Marketing, and will run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Zoom, according to a press release. She will cover the basics of web design and the best practices to make websites more user-friendly. Middleton is a Connecticut native and the owner of Forest City Marketing who has been a Middletown resident for seven years, the news release said. She opened her company in 2015. Ninety percent of potential customers turn to the internet to find local businesses, so it is imperative owners have an online presence, according to the chamber. There are several options out there for beginner website builders, which Middleton will go over, the release said. The seminar will also cover: picking a domain and site hosting, the four basic pages a business should have, how to pick colors and themes, free tools to make websites better, how to use basic search terms to get a site found, and the basics of website security. To register, visit middlesexchamber.com or call 860-347-6924. subsidiary Ei.Ventures CEO David Nikzad tells Proactive the privately-held, Hawaii-based group is poised to soon enter Phase 1a and Phase 1b clinical trial studies with its plant-based psychedelic formulation named Psilly. Nikzad says the group will raise up to $15M through a Series A round to fund its pre-clinical work with its partners in Canada. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! COVINGTON, Ky., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, January 26th, Governor Andy Beshear's office announced that the first two cases of a more contagious variant of coronavirus, first identified in the United Kingdom, have been confirmed in Kentucky. Local Covington-based Gravity Diagnostics began coordinating with the Kentucky Department of Health weeks ago to submit specimens with a unique detection pattern for sequence analysis. This led to the discovery announced on Tuesday by Beshear's office. Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for public health for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, thanked the laboratory during the Governor's press conference Wednesday afternoon. Background from Gravity Diagnostics on detection of SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants Gravity Diagnostics utilizes a molecular test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Our test relies on specific RNA sequences for the identification of the virus in clinical specimens. However, RNA viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, mutate resulting in changes to their RNA sequence. One specific mutation in the S-gene is associated with an increased risk of transmission, the B.1.1.7 variant. This variant contains a deletion in the S-gene which can impact the detection of SARS-CoV-2 with molecular tests. Impact on Gravity Diagnostics SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assay (EUA202301) Gravity Diagnostics utilizes a modification of the ThermoFisher TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit for our SARS-CoV-2 testing. Their methodology detects three distinct genes (S-gene, N-gene, ORF1ab) in the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome, which offers a built-in redundancy for detection of the virus. They have become aware that certain variants will not have the S-gene amplify, but the other two targets will detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Analysis by the FDA suggests no impact to the overall sensitivity of the assay. In fact, they can use this pattern of detection to possibly track new variant spread. Once this was known, they began to coordinate with the Kentucky Department of Public Health to submit specimens with this detection pattern for sequence analysis. This information will be used to prepare public health officials with contact tracing and potentially prevent further spread of infection. "I reached out to our Director of Research and Development, Ryan Walker, PhD., in late December to begin research on how we could start testing for and tracking the SARS-CoV-2 variants. At Gravity part of our core mission is always to go beyond testing samples and reporting results to being a part of a larger, more comprehensive solution that makes a positive impact on and protects our community. With the pandemic, one way we are doing that is by providing more information to the experts who are tracking and coordinating efforts in the field, not just the baseline 'positive and negative' test results. This recent assistance in the discovery of the first two variants of the U.K. strand is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our clinical team. I could not be prouder and we will continue to expand and support these efforts," said Julie Brazil, chief operating officer at Gravity Diagnostics. About Gravity Diagnostics Gravity Diagnostics is a full-service state-of-the-art CLIA laboratory licensed in all 50 states providing innovative laboratory testing in the areas of COVID-19, Upper Respiratory, Toxicology, Pharmacogenomics, and Sexually Transmitted Infections. We are an advocate for physicians, patients, and our communities, supporting them with unsurpassed integrity, regulatory compliance, and clinical expertise. We currently service over 750 customers from small private practices, to universities, to Fortune 500 companies. Media contact: [email protected]. For more information, visit www.gravitydiagnostics.com. SOURCE Gravity Diagnostics Related Links https://www.gravitydiagnostics.com/ Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 People over 65 are next in line for the COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri. One mid-Missouri man said he wants the shot so he can see his loved ones again. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 82F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Indianapolis, IN (46208) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low near 45F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. A representative of the U.S. Embassy was given a note in connection with the spread of fake news about protests in Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Russian Foreign Ministry has also warned the U.S. embassy that Moscow has the right to take measures in response to spreading of fakes about Russia by U.S. digital platforms. "We note the large-scale dissemination of fakes about Russia by American digital platforms who systematically produce provocative content which is, in turn, coordinately spread by the U.S. embassy in Moscow. Its representative who was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on January 27 was handed a note of protest containing a warning that the Russian side reserves the right to respond," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said Moscow backs laying down international regulations in moderating content by social media platforms in light of the recent actions by the US IT giants. "It is clear that the media sphere must be regulated and codified. We need to establish constructive dialogue with all interested parties to mobilize efforts to work out clearly defined demands for transparency of policies of social media content moderation and enshrine them in international documents. There is pressing need for joint substantive work in relevant international organizations, primarily the UN, Council of Europe and the OSCE," TASS cited the Russian diplomatic agency as saying. The ministry stressed that restrictive actions of American social media managements about the content published on their platforms "dealt a blow to the democratic system of values and the international information architecture." "Permissibility of arbitrary and non-transparent censorship of media content by digital platforms in absence of relevant court decisions raises question about the state duty as a guarantor of implementing international obligations to ensure freedom of opinions by those under its jurisdiction," the statement notes, adding that the US violated a number of international documents including OSCE ones. Cairo, Jan 28 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with visiting EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Susanna Terstal on reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process During their meeting on Wednesday, Shoukry briefed Terstal on the tireless efforts exerted by Egypt in a bid to bring the Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiation table,Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement. Shoukry highlighted Egypt's joint efforts with international partners in this regard, citing the latest quartet meeting between him and the Foreign Ministers of Jordan, France and Germany in Cairo. The quartet meeting aimed to "push ahead with peace efforts and to create an environment that helps urge the Palestinian and Israeli sides to engage in a serious and constructive negotiation path". said the statement. Egypt and its peacemaking partners seek to reach a just and comprehensive settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the UN-backed two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the statement. Shoukry "expressed his confidence in the continuation of European support for the Palestinian cause at all levels". For her part, the EU special envoy briefed Shoukry on the results of her latest contacts with the various parties concerned and elaborated on the European vision of reviving negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. "Very good meeting in Cairo today with the Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry. Good discussion on the importance to join our efforts to relaunch a meaningful peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians Terstal expressed her aspiration for continuous consultation and cooperation with Egypt regarding Middle East peace, Hafez said. Shoukry and Terstal further discussed the progress of inter-Palestinian reconciliation and the financial issues facing the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that provides support for some 5.7 million Palestinian refugees as stated by the agency. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has stalled since 2014, after rounds of US-sponsored talks failed to produce a breakthrough. Palestine has cut off ties with the US government which under former President Donald Trump, who recognized the disputed holy city of Jerusalem as Israeli capital in 2017, and relocated the American embassy in Israel to the city in May 2018. London: Boris Johnson has announced that Britain will introduce Australian-style hotel quarantine without exemption for residents returning from 30 countries with major coronavirus outbreaks. The new policy was announced as the death toll climbed by 1725 to 101,887. Britain is trying to curb a mutated variant of COVID-19 that was detected before Christmas that is between 30 to 70 per cent more transmissible; infections have fallen steeply - by almost a third over the last week. The UKs vaccination program is on track to deliver jabs to those in the top four priority groups by mid-February with 7.1 million doses already administered. A plane passes over the Sofitel Hotel near Londons Heathrow. Credit:PA Unlike Australia, Britain has never closed its borders and had previously allowed travellers to quarantine at home for ten days, with officials performing few checks leading to widespread non-compliance. A Taliban delegation has held talks with Russian officials in Moscow amid ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the militant group. Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem tweeted that the delegation led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, a senior member of the Talibans negotiating team, met with Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, and officials from the Foreign Ministry on January 28. Naeem said the two sides discussed the ongoing situation of the intra-Afghan negotiations and subjects concerning the full implementation of the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February 2020. During a phone call with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was reviewing the deal to determine whether the Taliban are living up to their commitments to cut ties with terrorist groups, to reduce violence in Afghanistan, and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government and other stakeholders. Blinken highlighted robust diplomatic support for the peace process focused on helping the parties to the conflict achieve a durable and just political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire," the State Department said in a readout of the January 28 call. Under the agreement, all foreign forces are to leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for security guarantees from the militant group, including severing ties with terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. The Afghan government has welcomed the Biden administrations review of the U.S.-Taliban deal. Stanekzais trip to Moscow comes a day after a separate delegation led by deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with high-ranking Iranian officials in Tehran. Baradar met with Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, and other officials. Naeem said the two sides discussed the Afghan peace process, border issues, and Afghan refugees. The trips came with peace talks in the Gulf state of Qatar deadlocked. The warring sides have agreed on the rules and procedures for the negotiations. But they have yet to settle on an agenda for the talks. Negotiations over the substantial issues -- including a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula -- are far off. Progress has been hampered by deep mistrust and animosity. A huge gulf remains on key issues between the sides, which have conflicting priorities in the negotiations. Those divisions have been exacerbated by soaring violence. Both sides have intensified military operations, particularly the Taliban, which sees violence as its main source of leverage against the government. ROGUE RIVER, Ore. Rogue River Police confirm that they have arrested the man who allegedly threatened a gas station attendant with a gun before stealing a truck on Thursday morning. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, a man was dropped off at the Chevron station on Depot Street in Rogue River around 9 a.m. He was holding a gas can, and asked the attendant if he could fill it with gas for free. The attendant refused, and the man flew into a rage. As the argument escalated, the attendant went inside of the gas station and locked the door. The other man produced a gun and began making threats, police said. While the attendant called 911, the other man began hitting the glass on the gas station windows, breaking several. "Initially, it was reported the suspect was shooting the windows out," the Sheriff's Office said. Rogue River Police said that the suspect noticed that the attendant's keys were in his Chevrolet pickup truck, allowing the man to get in and steal the vehicle, driving away. Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police troopers soon arrived in the area, pulling the suspect over on Foothill Boulevard and taking him into custody. An officer from Rogue River Police reportedly recovered a handgun from inside the truck. The suspect was later identified as 53-year-old Abel Rubio-Camacho. His address is unknown, but the Sheriff's Office says that he is from the Medford area. He is being held at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Robbery First Degree, Unauthorized Use Motor Vehicle, Menacing, and Criminal Mischief Third Degree. His initial bail is $115,000. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart speak to the media during a visit to the Molson Overdose Prevention Site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on Jan. 16, 2020. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press) Health Canada Agrees to Discuss Decriminalization of Simple Drug Possession, Vancouver Mayor Says Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart says Health Canada has agreed to start formal discussions on the citys plan to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. The confirmation from federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu came in response to the city council voting in November to ask Ottawa to decriminalize simple possession of all illicit drugs for personal use. In her letter to Stewart and Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, Hajdu said Health Canada will work with officials from the City of Vancouver and the local health authority to better understand the proposed framework. I am committed to our continued work to identify options that respond to the local needs of the City of Vancouver, Hajdu said. If the federal government grants an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to allow decriminalization of simple drug possession in Vancouver, the city would be the first jurisdiction in Canada with such an exemption. Stewart said Vancouver will work with Health Canada, Vancouver Coastal Health, the police department, community groups, advocates, and drug users to determine how decriminalization will be implemented. With a file from The Canadian Press Traffic on the eastbound Hollywood Freeway, U.S. Highway 101, approaches the four-level interchange in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. in this file photo. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Orange County Congresswoman Vows to Improve Californias Traffic Issues Congresswoman Michelle Steel says shell make alleviating Californias jammed-up highways a priority through her role on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Steel, who represents Californias 48th district, was among 10 new Republican members named to the committee Jan. 25. Orange County has some of the most congested freeways in the United States and improving transportation for California families should matter to all of us, Steel said in a press release. This includes reducing noise pollution in our communities. I am honored to be chosen as the newest member of this important, bipartisan committee. This is a great opportunity to support the residents of Orange County and I wont let them down. The committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation, including highways, bridges, railroads, aviation, maritime, and others, as well as parts of national infrastructure, such as clean and wastewater management, transport of resources by pipeline, flood damage reduction, management of federal and state-owned buildings, and more. By joining the committee, Steel said she hopes to help improve traffic conditions and help keep the countrys coastline safe. One of my top priorities as the representative for Orange County is to ensure our coastline remains protected, and our beaches and bays remain clean and safe for generations to come. This includes flood protection and sand replenishment on our shores, she said. Sam Graves, a Republican House member from Missouri and ranking member of the committee, said he was pleased to welcome Steel onto the board, where she will join 33 other Republican members. Her years of experience on the Orange County Board of Supervisors overseeing a large infrastructure budget and her work with the Orange County Transportation Authority make her a vital addition to the committee, he said in a release. She brings a wide array of transportation experience, and I know she will work diligently to advance priorities of importance for Californias 48th district as well as the nation. Leftists always tell us whom they worry about as a Republican presidential candidate, by running hit jobs well before the campaign begins. And the New York Times, which functions as a pilot fish for the rest of the propaganda apparatus that we still mistakenly call the mainstream media, is off on a campaign to demonize South Dakota's Governor Kristi Noem, who must be giving them nightmares. Imagine, if you will, a series of 2024 presidential debates between Noem and then-president Kamala Harris, as transparent a phony as one could imagine, so unappealing that she was the first Democrat to drop out of the presidential field despite an expensive and well planned kickoff rally, a "person of color" claiming to be (part) Black who couldn't find much support among African-Americans. Governor Noem exudes sincerity, competence, and an iron will. Under her stewardship, South Dakota has mightily prospered due to no lockdowns. The regrettable incidence of the China virus among Native Americans whose living conditions make them particularly vulnerable, is a big part of the COVID story there, and that is an issue that is not limited to South Dakota. South Dakota's rate of new infections per 100,000 population may be second highest in the nation, true, but its rate of death is number 6, well below that of New York's Governor Cuomo, who is being sainted by the media. Eddie Scarry of the Washington Examiner does a good job of critiquing a six-minute hit job video that the New York Times has just put out on Governor Noem. I recommend that you read the whole thing to see how unfair it is. But here is an excerpt: It shows a clip of Noem publicly stating, "We all know that the science tells us we cannot stop this virus." After that quote, the New York Times inserts a buzzer sound and the voice-over goes on to list several Asian countries (including China, where the numbers cannot be trusted) with "such low infection rates that people are living normal lives." They got her! Oh, wait no, actually, they didn't. The liars didn't even provide the full context of Noem's quote. What she says in full is, "We all know that the science tells us we cannot stop this virus. Our goal from day one was to slow down the spread and to free up hospital capacity for those who need higher levels of care." To "slow down the spread" is the same thing as having "low infection rates," which is exactly what those Asian countries mentioned by the New York Times were able to do. None were able to "stop" it. Presuming that Kamala Harris will be the incumbent in 2024 seems like a good bet, and the left is scared silly that the GOP will come up with a more appealing female candidate, which, considering Harris's personality, is not a high bar. Thus, expect more hit jobs on Noem, Nikki Haley, and other possibilities. Photo credit: Matt Johnson, CC BY 2.0 license. Al Azhar, the Muslim world's most prestigious if not authoritative Islamic university, recently blasted Jerome, the archbishop of Athens and all Greece, for saying during a January 14 interview that: "Islam, its people, is not a religion but a political party" that Muslims are "the people of war ... who seek expansion," which is a "characteristic of Islam." Instead of replying with outrage and accusations of "Islamophobia" as Turkey and other nations did, on January 19, the Observatory, a branch of Al Azhar, denounced "these irresponsible statements by the archbishop of Athens," adding that they are "merely farcical and empty claims trivialities unworthy of responding to or discussing." Why? Because, continued Al Azhar, "Islam is the final, heavenly message that Allah Almighty sent to our master Muhammad, the seal of the prophets and apostles, to bring humanity from out of the darkness and clutches of ignorance and into the light of truth and the sun of guidance." To anyone unconvinced by this hagiographic explanation, Al Azhar continued: Accusing Muslims of being people of war and expansion is a pure lie a fraud and falsification of Muslim history, which is replete with forgiveness and pardon[.] ... The Prophet's invasions were either in defense of Muslims or to discipline those who reneged on their pacts[.] ... [Islamic history] is inconsistent with the claim that Muslims want to expand! Indeed, the only thing consistent here is Al Azhar's denial of the militant, expansionist history of Islam. For example, on April 30, 2020, during his televised program, which is watched by millions in Egypt and the Arab world, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb Al Azhar's grand imam and Pope Francis's close ally declared that "Islam doesn't seek war or bloodshed, and Muslims only fight back to defend themselves." This somewhat surreal claim was even the grand conclusion reached at and therefore making a mockery of a recent mega-conference dedicated to finding solutions to "extremism." Hosted in Egypt by Al Azhar, and attended by leading representatives from 46 Muslim nations, al-Tayeb capped off the two-day conference by again declaring: Jihad in Islam is not synonymous with fighting; rather, the fighting practiced by Prophet Muhammad and his companions is one of its types; and it is to ward off the aggression of the aggressors against Muslims, as opposed to killing those who offend in [matters of] religion, as the extremists claim. The established sharia rule in Islam bans antagonism for those who oppose the religion. Fighting them is forbidden as long as they do not fight Muslims. Needless to say, such claims fly in the face of more than a millennium of well documented Islamic history. Beginning with Muhammad whose later wars were hardly defensive, but rather raids meant to empower and aggrandize himself and his followers over non-Muslims and under the first "righteous" caliphs and virtually all subsequent sultans and rulers, jihad consisted of "inviting" neighboring non-Muslims to embrace Islam or at the very least submit themselves to its political authority (as second-class dhimmis); if non-Muslims refused, as they almost always did, if they insisted on maintaining their own religious identity and freedom from Islam, then jihad was proclaimed, the non-Muslims' lands were invaded, and the aftermath looked like an ISIS setting, with pyramids of heads, burned churches and other temples of worship, and slave markets of women and children littering the landscape. One need only look at a map of the Muslim world today and realize that the vast majority of it all of the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Central Asia, as far east as Pakistan and farther was taken by violent conquest in the name of jihad. There is nothing "defensive" about that. Indeed, within the context of his interview, Archbishop Jerome's words were especially accurate, for he was discussing the Islamic conquest of Constantinople in 1453. As with the aforementioned Muslim conquests preceding it, the only reason it was attacked and its citizens treated in mind-boggling ways is because it refused to submit to Islam, preferring to remain Christian, as it had been for over a thousand years. In short, the history and subsequent expansion of Islam is almost entirely based on violent conquest, or jihad. Anyone who denies that and that goes for the Muslim world's most authoritative prestigious institution, Al Azhar is the one making "farcical and empty claims trivialities unworthy of responding to or discussing." Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. Image: jonramlan via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Amid his first wave of actions after his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden took direct aim at the nation's dysfunctional immigration system by rescinding some of the Trump administration's more extreme approaches to enforcement and pushing Congress to finally adopt comprehensive reforms. That's a refreshing and responsible change from his predecessor's unconscionably nativist approach. Biden seeks to embrace a humane and pragmatic view of immigration reform. The executive directives halt further construction of President Donald Trump's vanity wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; reinvigorate the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that Trump sought to end; end the ban on people from about a dozen predominantly Muslim countries; and withdraw an order that ramped up immigration sweeps in the interior of the country. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security announced a 100-day suspension of deportations as it reviews procedures and a freeze on new enrollments in the program that requires border-crossing asylum seekers to remain in Mexico, though it did not offer relief for the 60,000 asylum seekers currently stranded along the border. In a sense, the new directives reset federal polices to those of the Obama administration, which is good enough for now. Biden's more ambitious efforts lie within the bill he proposed to Congress this week, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. Among other things, the measure would let some 11 million people now living in the shadows apply for temporary legal status and provide them an eight-year path to citizenship. That is both the strength of the proposal and its major friction point. A main argument against such "amnesty" is that it encourages migrants to come in without permission in the hope of staying below the radar until the next amnesty comes along. But sweeping amnesties such as what Biden proposes are rare the last major one came in the Reagan administration and the reality is that our immigration enforcement has been ineffective for so long that the U.S. is now home yes, home to millions of people without authorization. Rousting them all, as the hard-liners advocate, would be impossible to achieve and damaging to the country. As of 2017, half of all unauthorized immigrants had lived in the U.S. for at least 15 years, according to the Pew Research Center, and their tenure has likely only increased since then. Many have American spouses, American dependents, and contribute to their communities and the economy (including owning businesses that employ Americans). There is nothing to be gained from kicking them out now. Immigration reform must reflect that reality while also ensuring that migrants who credibly pose a risk to public safety do not remain. Trump's sweeping enforcement policies have left us with a backlog of 1.3 million cases in immigration courts, which is more than double the backlog he inherited from Obama, with the average wait time of 2.4 years for pending cases. Offering temporary legal status and a path to citizenship would radically reduce that caseload and the delay in resolving cases. Biden also would use financial aid again to try to stabilize the governments and economies of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where migrants have been leaving in the tens of thousands to escape crime and grinding poverty exacerbated by the effects of climate change, including two major hurricanes this season in a matter of weeks. Reducing the "push factors" is an important part of the mix, though even Pollyanna would recognize that endemic corruption in the region is a strong headwind to success. Other elements of Biden's proposal call for developing better technological methods to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border, improving processing of new arrivals at ports of entry and expanding efforts to counter international trafficking in people and drugs. The plan doesn't give as much attention to border security as conservatives typically demand, however. And based on overviews of the proposal, it appears to ignore the problem of people who arrive legally but then don't leave once the visa expires, which accounts for half of the people who fall into undocumented status. One notable component missing from Biden's proposed legislative reforms: Dismantling the nation's unnecessary, inhumane and mostly privatized system for detaining immigrants, part and parcel of a longstanding (and bipartisan) U.S. policy that some people desperately seeking asylum or the chance for a better life must be deprived of their freedom while the government considers their cases. But the vast majority of detainees pose no risk of fleeing or threatening public safety, and depriving them of their freedom because they seek protections is grotesquely unjust. There are, of course, no quick fixes to the broken immigration system, which rivals the tax code in its complexity. The specifics of Biden's proposed legislation will emerge and be debated in the coming weeks or months, and we fervently hope the reform effort doesn't get caught up in the same web of resistance that has doomed previous efforts. A Democratic president proposing an immigration overhaul to a Congress in which not even the Democrats are unified means this will be a long slog. But Congress must seize the moment. This editorial appeared at the Los Angeles Times and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. The black-filled bar shows beetles that did not exhibit tonic immobility. The straight lines in the beetle illustrations indicate the mandible length (a) and prothorax width (b). Many beetles had shorter durations, while a few had longer durations (range 0-563.31 s, mean s.d. = 58.44 73.27 s). Credit: 2020 Biology Letters, 2019 Okayama University Across many animal species there is great evolutionary pressure on males, who often engage in combat for the rights to copulation. This phenomenon, called sexual selection, often ends up favoring males with larger weapons, such as horns or pincers. Interestingly, scientists have noted that males endowed with smaller weapons adopt alternative reproductive tactics in some species. For example, instead of fighting other more powerful males, they may try to sneak around or disperse in search of a lonely female. Variability in sexual behavior according to a male's weapon size has been widely studied. However, it's worth noting that bigger is not always better. Though larger weapons usually help in fights for reproductive rights, they can also be a hinderance because they lower the animal's overall mobility. This has been proven in males of a species of Japanese rhinoceros beetle, who fall prey to predators more easily when their horns, which they use as weapons, are bigger. Could it be that, just as males with smaller weapons adopt alternative sexual tactics, males with larger weapons adopt different anti-predator strategies? In a recent study published in Biology Letters, a team of scientists from Okayama University, Japan, proved that this is most likely the case. Led by Professor Takahisa Miyatake, they focused on a species of beetle called Gnathocerus cornutus, the males of which bear large mandibles as weapons for male-on-male combat. When threatened, G. cornutus exhibits two very distinct behaviors: escape or tonic immobility, also called death feigning. The team investigated whether differences in weapon size caused males to behave differently when faced by a predator. They obtained nearly two hundred male G. cornutus beetles from a laboratory and conducted two types of experiments. First, they pitted male beetles against one of their natural predators, a jumping spider. When attacked by the spider, most beetles froze in place, which seemed to cause the spider to quickly lose interest. On the other hand, the beetles that tried to struggle or run away were repeatedly attacked by the spider and killed. These initial experiments proved that tonic immobility is a useful anti-predator strategy. In the second series of experiments, the researchers measured the size of the mandibles of male beetles and then tried to get them to exhibit tonic immobility by gently touching their abdomen with a thin stick. Unlike previous behavioral studies, which exclusively focused on the duration of tonic immobility once triggered, the team also quantified the frequency of tonic immobility. Whereas no statistical relationship was found between weapon size and tonic immobility duration, a link was very apparent between weapon size and frequency; individuals with larger mandibles were generally more prone to exhibit tonic immobility when stimulated. Excited about the results, Dr. Kentarou Matsumura remarks: "For animals that fight with weapons, the costs of having larger weapons are well known. However, this is the first time we have scientifically determined that anti-predator tactics can vary among males according to their weapon size." The results and the research strategy adopted by the team will help biologists unravel the mysteries of the evolution of behaviors, as Miyatake explains: "As the first study of predator-avoidance tactics in animals that have weapons for male-to-male fighting, we believe this is an opportunity to delve deeper on the relationship between the evolution of weapons and anti-predator behavior." Miyatake also states that these new discoveries will spawn a new research topic in the evolution of survival tactics, which in turn will increase our overall scientific understanding of this challenging field in the future. What other fascinating evolutionary secrets could be hiding out there in the behaviors of different animals? Let us hope this study acts as a springboard for finding the answers. Explore further How the male mantis keeps its head during rough sex More information: Kentarou Matsumura et al, Anti-predator behaviour depends on male weapon size, Biology Letters (2020). Journal information: Biology Letters Kentarou Matsumura et al, Anti-predator behaviour depends on male weapon size,(2020). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0601 South Africa: First batch of COVID-19 vaccines expected to arrive in SA on Monday Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed the long-awaited news that the first consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccines is expected to land on South African shores on Monday. The first batch is scheduled to leave India on Sunday, 31 January, and arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on 1 February 2021. The Minister broke the news during a public health webinar on COVID-19 vaccine inoculation on Wednesday evening. After the arrival of the vaccine, they will undergo technical processes of quarantine, which is specified in the law, quality assurance [which will look at] how many vials are there, how many are broken and need to be returned and all of those issues, Mkhize explained. The Minister said the process was necessary for the safe distribution of the vaccine, which will take up to 14 days before the vaccination of healthcare workers can begin in all the provinces. Mkhize remarked that the national vaccination campaign is a government-led initiative supported by other sectors such as civil society, trade unions and the private sector. These players have supported the government's framework to achieve their goal of herd immunity by the end of the year, the Minister said. He thanked Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and his officials, especially the Procurement Officer, for making sure the country attains the lifesaving jabs. They ensured that there are no undue delays and granted us the necessary deviations that weve requested and committed to financing additional orders. Regulations Just this afternoon, Treasury met with the Department of Health and business, this multi-sectoral collaboration has borne the fruit we need to fuel our ambitious programme. Mkhize also announced that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has already granted the department authorisation to supply AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII). In addition, the Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister signed regulations to waive the 30-day consultation period needed to participate in activities relating to Genetically Modified Organisms in South Africa. We needed to adhere to for the importation of organic goods derived from genetic modification, Mkhize explained. With the regulatory obstacles out of the way, the Minister believes that government is now ready to move ahead with the mass inoculation campaign. The Minister said the media will be allowed to document this important event, even though it will be restricted due to COVID-19 regulations. He also applauded the fearless compatriots who participated in vaccine trials. Let us not forget these heroes who defied all anxieties and chose to be of service for a greater cause. Its only through human trials we can truly establish the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and they were those humans. Types of vaccines Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccines Chair, Professor Barry Schoub, said there are close to 300 prototype vaccines being developed in different kinds of ways to make COVID-19 shots. Meanwhile, about six of these are commonly used, namely AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sputnik V. The Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Health, Dr Anban Pillay, said South Africa is looking at securing as many vaccines as is possible. According to the DDG, the AstraZeneca vaccine, is a two-dose liquid vaccine with an efficacy rate that ranges from 62% to 90%. The dose interval is between four to 12 weeks and administered in the deltoid muscle with a needle and syringe. Its side effects include largely tenderness to the injection site, headaches, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills, arthralgia and nausea. These usually last for a few days. Most vaccines probably have a similar effect in terms of the immune response and just to emphasise, these are very mild symptoms, Pillay added. Meanwhile, Pfizer-BioNTech is 95% effective, requires two shots and is administered the same way as the AstraZeneca. The challenge with it is that its stored at minus 70 degrees, at the vaccination site it can be kept at between two to eight degrees for 120 hours and the side effects are similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine. In addition, the Modernas efficacy is about 94.5%, which is a two-dose vaccine and can be kept in the freezer for storage. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnsons single-dose vaccine is still awaiting interim data from its phase three trial, while the Chineses Sinopharm is still not distributed in South Africa. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. (Newser) "Today is climate day at the White House," President Biden declared Wednesday as he signed executive orders to "confront the existential threat of climate change." "We've already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis. We can't wait any longer," Biden said, per the New York Times. The executive actions include a pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal land and an order for the Department of the Interior to conserve 30% of America's lands and water by 2030. Federal agencies have been asked to "eliminate fossil fuel subsidies as consistent with applicable law." More: Focus on jobs. Biden tried to get ahead of criticism that the measures will eliminate jobs at a time of mass unemployment, the BBC reports. " When I think of climate change and the answers to it, I think of jobs,'' Biden said. "Were going to put people to work. Were not going to lose jobs. These arent pie-in-the-sky dreams. These are concrete actionable solutions." He said millions of people will be able to get jobs "modernizing our water systems, transportation, our energy infrastructure." story continues below Ambitious goals . Biden aims to make the electricity sector emissions-free by 2035, followed by the rest of the economy by 2050, the AP reports. The orders will "supercharge our administration's ambitious plan to confront the existential threat of climate change," he said Wednesday. . Biden aims to make the electricity sector emissions-free by 2035, followed by the rest of the economy by 2050, the AP reports. The orders will "supercharge our administration's ambitious plan to confront the existential threat of climate change," he said Wednesday. A big tent . Biden's climate plan is backed by a broad coalition that includes racial justice groups, auto companies, labor unions, and the US Chamber of Commerce, Politico reports. But holding the coalition together long enough to get Congress to approve trillions in funding will be a challenge. . Biden's climate plan is backed by a broad coalition that includes racial justice groups, auto companies, labor unions, and the US Chamber of Commerce, Politico reports. But holding the coalition together long enough to get Congress to approve trillions in funding will be a challenge. A "whole-government" approach . Biden's orders established a National Climate Task Force with leaders of 21 government agencies, the Guardian reports. He also established an environmental justice council to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income and minority communities. . Biden's orders established a National Climate Task Force with leaders of 21 government agencies, the Guardian reports. He also established an environmental justice council to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income and minority communities. An "essential element" of foreign policy . The executive orders state that climate action will be an "essential element" of foreign policy and national security decisions. John Kerry, Biden's international climate change envoy, denied Wednesday that the administration would make concessions to China on issue like human rights or the South China Sea in return for progress on emissions, Vox reports. "Those issues will never be traded for anything that has to do with climate," he said. "Thats not going to happen." . The executive orders state that climate action will be an "essential element" of foreign policy and national security decisions. John Kerry, Biden's international climate change envoy, denied Wednesday that the administration would make concessions to China on issue like human rights or the South China Sea in return for progress on emissions, Vox reports. "Those issues will never be traded for anything that has to do with climate," he said. "Thats not going to happen." Opposition from oil companies. Oil companies have slammed the halt to new leases on federal lands, saying the move will cost jobs and make the US more dependent on foreign energy. But environmental advocates note that energy companies can still extract oil and gas from the existing leases they stockpiled during the Trump administration, the Los Angeles Times reports. "If what this pause does is say to the oil companies, OK, you have thousands of permits youre not using, lets work on those, thats still a lot," said Nada Culver, vice president of public lands for the National Audubon Society. (Read more climate change stories.) Sean Hannity spent part of his show on Wednesday attacking both Democrats and 'weak' Republicans over the looming impeachment of Donald Trump. The Fox News host blasted Senators for wasting the public's time in pursuing the trial of the former president, and insisted that 'radical Democrats are falsely accusing Trump of inciting an insurrection.' Hannity called out members of the GOP who have not pushed to block the upcoming trial. He said: 'Republicans, will you for once, get a backbone? Will you for once not buckle, not capitulate, not give in? Will you say he's not in office - enough? Stop wasting our time and our money?' On Tuesday, 45 GOP senators voted for a resolution stating that Trump's impeachment was unconstitutional because he is now a private citizen. But five Republican senators didn't vote in favor of the motion: Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey. With 67 votes needed to convict Trump, at least 12 who voted for the resolution would need to flip, likely dooming any chance of a conviction. Scroll down for video Sean Hannity blasted some Republicans as being 'weak' and without a backbone Hannity referred to the upcoming proceedings as a 'sham, unconstitutional impeachment trial.' 'We already know the outcome,' Hannity said. 'President Trump will be acquitted so they will now officially be wasting your money and your time.' 'Enough, we get it,' Hannity said of Democrats. 'You hate President Trump. Donald Trump has this unique ability to live in these people's minds.' Trump infamously posted his 'love' for the Capitol Hill rioters on social media before being banned from multiple platforms, espousing false claims of election fraud when the rioters came to the Capitol on January 6. After predicting Democrat defeat in the impeachment trial, Hannity turned on Republicans, imploring them to 'get a backbone.' Hannity then suggests Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Maxine Waters should be censured themselves. 'Stop legitimizing - you Republicans, you weak ones - this psychotic rage,' Hannity exclaimed about the impeachment trial. 'Focus on your job.' Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi displays a signed article of impeachment against President Donald Trump It's likely, therefore, that Donald Trump will escape an impeachment conviction once again He then claimed Democrats don't have compassion, awareness, or empathy in regards to those struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, evidenced by their desire to have an impeachment trial for Trump. Hannity has a famously close relationship with Trump, with the two talking on the phone on an almost weekly basis during Trump's presidency. A man who provided his car as a means of escape for his older brother after a failed gunpoint robbery has received a fully suspended sentence. Cillian Cullen (24) joined his older brother after the failed robbery, was present when the initial getaway car was set on fire and then left with his brother in his own car which he had left nearby the previous night. Cullen with an address at Woodlands, Clonsilla, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension of a person at Applegreen, Friarswood, Co Meath, on June 11, 2018. He has no previous convictions. Detective Sergeant Shane McCartan told Siobhan Ni Chulachain BL, prosecuting, that on the morning in question, the accused's older brother Robert Cullen (29) entered Paddock's Pub in Clonee armed with a sawn-off shotgun and threatened members of staff. The staff members managed to elude and hide from the armed man, who discharged the shotgun four times into a door before leaving the pub. One of the staff members looked out a window and saw Robert Cullen getting into a silver VW Gold with a second man. The court heard that Robert Cullen was sentenced in 2020 to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment for his role in the failed robbery. Det Sgt McCartan said that Cillian Cullen was picked up by the silver car at a nearby roundabout and accompanied the two men to a town in Co Meath. The silver car was then set on fire and the three men got into a grey Honda Accord which was registered to the accused. In interview with gardai, Cullen said he had left his car at the Applegreen petrol station on the night before the robbery. Judge Pauline Codd said the court heard evidence that the accused's family were subject to severe threats of violence and the family was under threat due to his brother's drug debts. Judge Codd sentenced Cullen to five years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years. She said she made the decision to fully suspend the sentence on the basis of the exceptional pressures that informed the decision of the accused to assist the perpetrators, his lack of previous convictions and his being assessed by the Probation Service as being at a low risk of reoffending. Det Sgt McCartan agreed with Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, defending, that her client's older brother has a significant amount of previous convictions, including convictions for possession of firearms, possession of explosives and robbery. The sergeant accepted this has impacted the Cullen family in significant ways, including an attack on their former home. He agreed that her client and his parents no longer reside in the Dublin 15 area and have moved to a village outside of Co Dublin. Det Sgt McCartan said the family as a whole were under pressure arising from a drug debt owed by Robert Cullen. Ms Lawlor said the family were effectively burned out of their home and that before the armed robbery her client was told by his brother that there was going to be an execution of someone in the family. Counsel said her client is currently employed having entirely divorced himself from his life in Dublin and is not at all involved with his older brother. She said her client has very real remorse for his actions. China opposes any discriminatory and restrictive measures against its firms, a commerce ministry spokesman said on Thursday, in response to queries about India's continued ban on 59 Chinese apps. China has sought clarifications from Indian authorities on the ban, the spokesman, Gao Feng, told an online briefing, adding that it hoped the two countries could meet halfway to create an open and equal business environment. India decided to keep its ban on video app TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps after reviewing the companies' responses on issues such as compliance and privacy, ... Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo withdrew his application for the San Jose police departments top job Tuesday, one day after he was announced as a finalist. Chief Medaria Arradondo has opted to remove himself from the San Jose police chief recruitment process, San Jose City Manager David Sykes said in a statement Tuesday evening. Sykes did not give a reason for Arradondos abrupt withdrawal. Arradondo led the Minneapolis police department during the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd, whose death ignited protests and renewed calls for police reform across the country. The Minneapolis police chief was one of six finalists selected to lead the San Jose police, and the only one from outside the region. Four candidates from within the department are vying for the top job alongside Piedmont chief Jeremy Bowers, who spent two decades as an officer in San Jose. We need a Chief who leans in proactively reducing crime, building relationships in the community, innovating new approaches to policing, and pushing for greater accountability and transparency, said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in a statement. Weve got much work to do, and the passive, bureaucratic, and conventional-thinking need not apply. A call to Arradondos secretary Natasha Hanson was not returned. The police chief finalists were selected from 18 applicants and were chosen after a screening interview and a review of their qualifications, Sykes said Monday in a statement. We are reevaluating our next steps and will release information once we have explored options, Sykes said Tuesday of Arradondos withdrawal. The city will hold a virtual candidate forum for the five remaining candidates at 10 a.m. Saturday. Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@NMishanec Sorry! This content is not available in your region ?? En vivo | La presidenta del Consejo de Ministros, @VBermudezV, amplia la informacion acerca de las nuevas medidas contra la emergencia sanitaria.https://t.co/hUMn12KZBS (Newser) Coronavirus testing is getting even more uncomfortable. At least thats the case in China, where health authorities have begun using anal swabs to test for the virus, Gizmodo reports. According to a report by Chinese state medias Global Times, Studies have shown that the coronavirus survives longer in the anus or excrement than those taken from upper body tracts. Not everyone agrees with the new testing method, the Washington Post notes, reporting that the move to use anal swabs instead of nasal or throat swabs has prompted widespread discussion and some outrage. A poll on Chinese social media platform Weibo found that 80% of respondents could not accept the method. story continues below Everyone involved will be so embarrassed, one Weibo user said. Still, Li Tongzeng of Beijings Youan Hospital told state broadcaster CCTV that Applying extra anal swabs can improve the detection rate of infection and reduce missed diagnosis and they are only being used for people in virus hotspots under quarantine, Australias ABC reports. Not all doctors in China are on board, with one telling Global Times: There have been cases concerning the coronavirus testing positive in a patient's excrement, but no evidence has suggested it had been transmitted through one's digestive system. (Read more coronavirus stories.) Sri Lanka on Thursday welcomed the first 500,000 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine from India, which has donated the shots to eight countries in the region. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar announced on Twitter about the Coronavirus vaccine doses that reached Sri Lanka. READ | Next-gen COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Needed To Tackle Emerging Variants, Say Scientists A dependable partner, a reliable friend. Made in India vaccines reach Sri Lanka now.#VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/7lUEqUPbNs Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 28, 2021 Sr Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took to Twitter and confirmed that his country has received 500,000 vaccine doses and also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and every Indian. READ | 'India A True Friend': US Lauds Move To Gift COVID-19 Vaccines To Several Countries On Wednesday, Lalith Weeratunga, the advisor to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had said that purchasing from India will follow Thursdays arrival of Indias free vaccines to Sri Lanka. He had also said that the Indian Covishield vaccine is to arrive on Thursday and the consignment will be accepted by President Rajapaksa at the Colombo International Airport. 250,000 people priority in Sri Lanka A total of 250,000 people, mostly health frontline workers, members of the security forces and police, and the vulnerable aged will get the vaccine on a priority basis. The vaccination programme for which dry runs were made over the weekend will commence on Friday. Weeratunga had added that 300,000 free vaccines from China are also due and the government would be requesting Russia also for the vaccine. READ | Iraq Approves Sinopharm, AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines For Emergency Use Against COVID-19 Sri Lanka has recorded a near 60,000 cases till January 26, with 288 deaths from the pandemic since it was found in the island nation in mid-March last year. India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines. India has earlier sent consignments of domestically produced coronavirus vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mauritius, and Seychelles. READ | Cambodia's PM Seeks Help From India For The Provision Of COVID-19 Vaccines As List Grows Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, addresses the 15th anniversary and Chinese Lunar New Year gala of China General Chamber of Commerce-U.S.A. in New York, the United States, Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China are facing "a consequential choice again" of getting the bilateral ties back onto the right track at a historical juncture, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said on Wednesday. Cui made the remarks at the "China-U.S. Engagement: Past Achievements & Future Adjustments" Online Dialogue, organized by the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament and the Carter Center Wednesday evening. "Tomorrow will be the 42nd anniversary of Mr. Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States ... At this historical juncture, we are facing a consequential choice again," Cui said. Forty-two years ago, Deng and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and the two countries "were able to break the ice of the Cold War and rise above ideological differences," he said. "Since then, our ever-deepening cooperation has delivered huge benefits to the two peoples, and contributed enormously to world peace, stability and prosperity. Facts have proved that we have made the right choice and stood on the right side of history," he said. However, in the past few years, some people in the United States tried to "deny these basic facts," said the ambassador. "By creating rumors, stoking hatred and fanning confrontation, they attempted to hijack America's China policy and push China-U.S. relations down the precipice of confrontation. This has seriously damaged the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is doomed to failure," Cui said. There have also been calls recently "for America to adjust its strategy and build an allied and partner coalition, so as to address China's challenge and restore balance and legitimacy in the Asia-Pacific," he said. "Such an adjustment is just like putting old wine in a new bottle. It may cause the same mistakes made in the past and create new imbalances, which will further disrupt regional order," he said. "As we speak, COVID-19 continues to put human society to the test, and the China-U.S. relationship has come to a new crossroads," he said. "With the upcoming Year of the Ox bringing in confidence and hope, this dialogue is highly relevant and carries special significance." "At this historical juncture, we are facing a consequential choice again. I agree with President Carter that China and the United States must remain closely connected, and restore trust, respect and normalcy between them," he said. "While China wishes America full success in building unity, in healing and in restoration, it is also hoped that integrity, candor, respect and vision will return to its China policy," he said. When he started out as an actor, Sean Murray never would have predicted a career with nearly two decades of job security playing Special Agent Timothy McGee for 18 seasons on the CBS drama NCIS. In this business, especially as an actor, that just does not happen very often, Murray said. Shows are not meant to go that long usually, so it is definitely a unique position to do one character and one job for 18 years. Its wild. But it wouldnt be half as fun unless the character evolved. And we had those conversations right at the beginning, he said. McGee started out as this rookie agent but I remember saying, I dont want it to be like baby Maggie Simpson where every week you revert to the same character; there has to be growth. And I think that McGee has probably changed over time more so than any of the other characters on the show. When asked to share an embarrassing moment from his career, instead of focusing on one instance Murray recalled a series of indignities that stuck in his memory that are part of any actors life. For Murray, that career began when he was a teenager. I couldnt help but think of a few things off the top of my head, he said. My worst moment ... Do you remember the TV show Silk Stalkings? I did a guest role on that (in 1995) and my character was supposed to be a basketball star and I could play just enough to where I could kind of fake it. So I was me with a bunch of guys who actually knew how to play ball. Were mixing it up and they have the cameras going. And all of a sudden I was completely overcome and ran to the corner and started throwing up because I had physically exerted myself so much. Getting sick in front of all the guys? That was embarrassing. It was like, yeah, Im not as physically fit as all of you and now Im throwing up. I was a teenager during this time, which is an awkward age. Youre so self-conscious about everything to begin with, so the little things that go wrong so much bigger and really embarrassing. Story continues Before that I did a show called Civil Wars (in 1992) with Mariel Hemingway where I was supposed to be a top-ranked young tennis star, which is funny because this was a situation not unlike Silk Stalkings. The shot was set up so that I was supposed to just serve the ball and the other guy would miss it. We tried to do it about eight times and I couldnt get it over the net. The other guy was a pro who was trying to make it look like he was missing the ball and the whole thing was so bad that they ended up having someone throw the ball over the net from off camera and then I ran in like I had just hit the ball. Basically these two stories point to the fact that I was not a major jock. They never asked if I could play tennis, they never asked if I could play basketball. In fact, the one role I did where they did ask if I could do something sports-wise involved skiing and Im actually a pretty good skier, so I was able to do that. But I remember I was sent out to an audition to play a Swedish wrestler. I think I was 19? I was a pretty lanky kid and I walked into the room and the casting director looked at me and I looked at her, and I was like, Yeah, Im not sure why Im here either. I think there was a mistake. We actually laughed about it and we did the scene and she ended up bringing me in on another project months later that I ended up booking. But this stuff happens when youre an adult, too. Ill give you an NCIS story. We were doing an episode that was a really heavy McGee episode and there was lots and lots of tech talk, which Im actually good at because I know and understand a lot of it. But this was an episode where I just had mountains of dialogue in every scene and the pace of shooting television is just go, go, go, go. As soon as you finish a scene, you have to be ready to go on the next one and it might be four pages of dialogue. So I think it was the last day we were shooting the episode, I was doing a scene with Pauley Perrette in Abbys lab and I had a monologue that was supposed to be very frustrated and rushed. And because of all the dialogue memorization I had done for this episode, my brain just hit a wall. I remember feeling panicked and looking at Pauley after rehearsal and saying, Im not going to remember a word of this. I cant do this. And Pauley just kind of smirked and she said, Sean, weve all had that happen. Heres what I want you to do: I want you to take a piece of paper and write your monologue down and I want you to stick it on the computer in front of you and I want you to read it as if youre saying it to me. And I said, Are you kidding me? Because that goes against everything that acting is about! But it became a matter of pure survival; youre there to get things done. So I did it (laughs), I wrote down the monologue and I stuck it to the computer and I read the entire thing during the scene and I felt like the worst actor in the world. Has Murray watched the episodes in question when there was a calamity behind the scenes? Sometimes. I remember watching the NCIS episode and I was so scared because I knew the scene was coming up and I was so nervous to see what was going to happen. And none of it looked fake in any way! I was like, wow, I guess I pulled it off. But I figured out pretty early on that I dont learn a lot from watching myself. I can usually watch something without that cringey Im-watching-myself feeling only if its years later, then I can sort of judge it properly. The takeaway Well, we know that Im not a jock (laughs). Weve figured that out. Its funny, even just talking with you now, the times when I had these embarrassing moments, it ended up being OK. Or sometimes turning into a positive. It feels terrible in the moment, but in the big picture it isnt, and you learn from those things. Its part of the adventure. A pet owner in China has faced a fierce backlash online after he walked his dog from a third-floor window with a makeshift leash during coronavirus lockdown. Shocking footage shows the resident lowering the dangling pooch from their high-rise flat with an extended rope made of old clothes, sending it onto the ground in north-eastern Heilongjiang province. After walking the dog, the man drags the animal back to the flat about 12 metres (39 feet) above the ground by pulling up the rope. The video was filmed on Sunday in the city of Suihua in Heilongjiang province, part of Chinas northern regions which have been hit by a fresh wave of coronavirus infections recently The pet owner, Mr Li, said that he had to resort to the extreme method after being banned from leaving his home amid the lockdown. The video was filmed on Sunday in the city of Suihua in Heilongjiang province, part of Chinas northern regions which have been hit by a fresh wave of coronavirus infections in recent weeks. Tens of millions were put under stringent lockdowns while Chinese authorities imposed travel restrictions and mass testing in a bid to curb the spread. The quarantined pet owner said he came up with the idea of walking his dog from his flat window as he used to walk his dogs three times a day. The dog used to get walked three times a day and its used to relieve itself outdoors, Mr Li told The Beijing Television. Shocking footage shows the resident lowering the dangling pooch with an extended rope made of old clothes from their high-rise flat, sending it onto the ground in Heilongjiang After the video became viral on Chinese social media, many users were appalled by the pet owners method, slamming it as dangerous and irresponsible The dog kept barking while holding it in [during the lockdown], so I was forced to come up with this idea. With an 18-metre (59-foot) leash made of old clothes, the owner is seen in the video lowering the dog from the third-floor window until it reaches the ground. He then walks the dog by holding the rope from his flat before eventually lifting the animal back up. Media reports did not specify the height, but a third-floor flat in China is about 12 metres (39 feet) above the ground. After the video became viral on Chinese social media, many users were appalled by the pet owners method, slamming it as dangerous and irresponsible. One commenter wrote: It could easily break or slip, this is way too dangerous! Another one replied: This is not cute nor funny. An irresponsible owner who doesnt treat his pet like family. Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan speaks during a celebration of the 72nd Republic Day at the embassy in Seoul, Jan. 26. Republic Day marks the 1950 enactment of India's Constitution. / Courtesy of Embassy of India By Yi Whan-woo The leaders of Korea's major political parties congratulated India on its Republic Day, which honors the enactment of the country's constitution on Jan. 26, 1950. In a video message shared by the Embassy of India in Korea, ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon and main opposition People Power Party interim leader Kim Chong-in both expressed hope for bilateral relations to continue to prosper. "For thousands of years since ancient times, we have stayed connected," Lee said. He referred to the marriage between Kim Suro, the legendary founder of the Gaya Confederacy (42-562) and Indian princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, who traveled to Korea in the year 48. In 1929, Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore praised Korea, which was a Japanese colony then, as "the Lamp of the East." Lee said President Moon Jae-in and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "have built the best partnership" through their visits to each other's countries in 2018 and 2019. "In the future, the two countries will have more interaction and cooperate deeper Congratulations on the Republic Day of India and best wishes for a prosperous future," Lee said. The PPP interim leader noted that bilateral relations, after their establishment in 1973, were upgraded to a special strategic partnership in 2015 when Saenuri Party, a predecessor of the PPP, was the ruling party. "My congratulations on the 72nd anniversary of Indian Republic Day I look forward to deepening various exchanges and friendly cooperative relations between the two countries in the future," Kim said. Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan, third from left, joins the unfurling of the national flag with other embassy officials during a celebration of the 72nd Republic Day at the embassy, Seoul, Jan. 26. / Courtesy of Embassy of India F ew subjects live up to William Yeats line the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity as the debate over empire. The shadow of this debate plays out in our public discourse over matters as varied as Brexit, Covid-19, old statues and our relationship with America. Inherent to this is a funny contradiction, muses Sathnam Sanghera in his new book Empireland. Many people feel strongly about our imperial past, but there is little consensus on what the British empire left us. This is not simply an abstract topic that we learn, or in many cases ought to learn, in school. In twelve chapters Sanghera examines the social, economic and geographic impact of a global empire on its motherland. Empireland lays the legacy of British imperialism at the door of the modern United Kingdom. He attempts to show that empire is in our institutions, in our politics and in the way we live and we hate. The story of how so many artefacts found their way into Britains museums, one of the more literal legacies of five centuries of imperialism, is entertaining and relevant. But more interesting is the analysis of our national psyche. The experience of running the worlds largest empire, according to Sanghera, made the British more multicultural, internationalist and wealthier. A look down an English high street, into a typical London classroom or through the options on Deliveroo demonstrates this well enough. But a failure to wrestle with the extent of our imperial history has also imbued us with a dangerous sense of exceptionalism and a dash of anti-intellectualism. It is also responsible, alleges Sanghera, for the countrys distinct brand of racism. This is the racism of asserting an American president has an ancestral dislike for Britain due to his Kenyan heritage. Or the racism of telling Britons descended from former colonies who criticise their country to go somewhere else. One of the most lucid parts of the book comes in a footnote, in which the author attacks the notion that minorities must be grateful and uncritical of the society in which they were born, and the author of The Boy with the Top Knot threads in his own experience growing up as the child of Sikh Punjabi immigrants in Wolverhampton. This is a journey of discovery for himself too, he admits that two years ago he knew very little about the subject. There is a nuance in analysing what we inherited from empire: in teasing out what is a parallel and what is a cause. I am unconvinced that because Britons were colonisers, settlers and tourists, our modern wanderlust (principally to Spain and France, two countries largely un-colonised by Britain) is derived from empire. I would also have liked to read more about how the different nations of the United Kingdom experience empire differently. This is touched upon in the chapter Selective Amnesia but will become a more pressing issue as Scottish nationalism threatens to tear apart modern Britain. As a remedy to our blank spots, he advocates more teaching of empire in schools, not cordoned off as a special subject, but integrated into how we learn our language, appreciate our monuments and read our great books. The picture of the UK painted by Sanghera is of one ill-at-ease with itself. Empire as a subject is a partisan issue; your opinion on it says more about your politics than your knowledge of history. But good or bad; it is our birthright. Why North Star felt it was key to keep in-person education amid COVID NFCC HPN Renter Advantage While there are and have been systems in place to aid homeowners, delivering counseling to renters at scale has not been done before. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Housing Partnership Network (HPN) today announced a joint response to the crisis gripping Americas renters by establishing an unprecedented collaboration between credit counselors and nonprofit rental property owners supported by cutting edge technology. Renter Advantage enables credit counselors and nonprofit rental property owners to work directly with renters to preserve their housing status and stabilize their financial situation in communities across the U.S. Renter Advantage streamlines service delivery for credit counselors to provide renters with trusted guidance including enrolling renters in need of assistance in plans to address sustainable rent repayment, debt management, and improving long-term financial health. This collaboration is supported through a generous $4.4 million grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to develop and pilot an innovative approach to stabilize renters struggling with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The support provided by Wells Fargo allows our new and powerful partnership to develop a scalable and sustainable program to address the growing rental crisis caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, said NFCC President and CEO Rebecca Steele. Together with HPN, we will marshal the resources of our service provider networks to create a pathway toward stability for struggling renters and multifamily property owners. The new approaches we develop can serve as a model for wide-scale responses to the coronavirus crisis that can be replicated to help renters and rental properties across the country. Beyond the initial February 2021 program launch, the goal of HPN-NFCC Renter Advantage is to create and deploy a set of new, sustainable strategies to assist renters and multifamily owners that can be replicated in markets across the country. The program will also offer help for multifamily property owners adversely impacted by the financial setbacks of their tenants and will be available in English and Spanish, with translation services available for additional languages. While there are and have been systems in place to aid homeowners, delivering counseling to renters at scale has not been done before, notes HPNs COO, Chuck Wehrwein, Our mission-aligned network of multifamily owners are well-positioned to pilot this program. Wells Fargos strategic investment and our collaboration with NFCC hold the promise to shape systems that will have long-term, impactful change. This $4.4 million grant is part of the Wells Fargo Foundations efforts to keep more than 200,000 people affected by COVID-19 housed with grants to nonprofit housing organizations across the U.S. Overall, the Wells Fargo Foundation has donated over $225 million to assist people and communities affected by COVID-19. The economic fallout from COVID-19 is causing housing instability for far too many renters, including people of color disproportionately affected by this crisis, said Eileen Fitzgerald, head of housing affordability philanthropy with the Wells Fargo Foundation. While renters continue to struggle with keeping up with payments and the complex patchwork of moratoria, we realize multi-family property owners are also in need of resources to keep people housed. As part of our comprehensive efforts to help people stay in their homes, we believe this innovative initiative by NFCC, HPN and their community-based members will have a meaningful impact in directly assisting people to stabilize their housing situation and improve their financial health. The Wells Fargo Foundation has committed $1 billion in philanthropy by 2025 to address housing affordability solutions across the U.S. The Wells Fargo Foundation philanthropic strategy focused on creating housing affordability solutions, small business support, and financial health in collaboration with national and local organizations. Services related to emergency rental and housing counseling are now available. Anyone needing assistance can call 844-865-2463 or visit nfcc.org to connect with an NFCC Member Agency. About the NFCC Founded in 1951, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is the nations first and largest nonprofit dedicated to improving peoples financial well-being. With a national network of member offices serving 50 states and Puerto Rico, our NFCC Certified Credit Counselors are financial advocates, empowering millions of consumers to take charge of their finances through one-on-one financial reviews that address credit card debt, student loans, housing decisions and overall money management. Make one of the best financial decisions of your life. For expert guidance and advice, call (800) 388-2227 or visit http://www.nfcc.org today. About HPN Housing Partnership Network (HPN) is an award-winning business collaborative of 100 of the nation's leading affordable housing and community development nonprofits as well as an Aeris-rated CDFI and HUD-approved housing counseling intermediary. Since our founding in 1992, HPN has collectively served almost 12 million people; developed, rehabilitated, or preserved over 400,000 affordable homes; and launched 14 successful social enterprises. Our work has been recognized with honors including the MacArthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions and Wells Fargo NEXT Award for Opportunity Finance. Learn more at http://www.housingpartnership.net. During the 35th meeting of the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas called for close cooperation at the border in the name of harmonious and transparent cross-border management in modern conditions. "The EU has finalised the reconstruction of two border crossing points between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and provided substantial investment. I encourage the Ukrainian side to implement the agreed renovation works and provision of infrastructure in order to swiftly launch joint border operations, to the benefit of people and trade," the EUBAM quoted Maasikas as saying in a press release posted on Thursday. Representatives of the Foreign Ministries, border, customs and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the European Union Delegations to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and United Nations Development Programme joined the meeting virtually. During the meeting, the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova noted that the EU Border Assistance Mission continues to be a key player in bringing closer together the Moldovan and Ukrainian border management authorities. "This is done with joint efforts in the fight against cigarettes smuggling or in rolling out the joint border control concept along the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, so that citizens on both sides can travel more easily from one side to the other. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to put at risk people's health and safety, and EUBAM stands firm with the border police and customs services in their mission to ensure a better service delivery to citizens. Related to further implementation of joint control, I would like to reiterate that we are looking forward to further progress in the next few weeks and months at border crossing points such as Kuchurhan-Pervomaisc," he said. In his turn, Deputy Director General of the Directorate for the European Union and the NATO of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Serhii Saienko stated that Ukraine and Moldova have an opportunity to enter new stage in multifaceted relations and in their integration movement to the EU. "As Ukraine and Moldova leaders reiterated during their meeting in Kyiv on January 12, both countries will contribute into regional security by enhancing cooperation on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. Fight against smuggling and trafficking of tobacco, drugs and arms, corruption prevention and countering illegal migration remain key priorities with EUBAM assistance," he said. The next meeting of the Advisory Board will be held in June 2021. President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that the concerns of the Government and Parliament must be aimed at reforming key-sectors such as Health, Education, Transport, but also the interaction between the state and the citizen, emphasizing that "the unity" of the coalition partners and their determination in making the right decisions is needed, even if some of them are difficult. "Romania is at the beginning of a road, a road of important reforms in the big public systems, of investments and of accessing European funds. The current concerns of the Government and of the Parliament for reforms and investments must be translated as soon as possible in concrete proposals, aiming at reforming key-sectors, in areas such as health, education, transport, but also in terms of interaction between state and citizen. Too much time has passed in the last three decades, too many opportunities have been missed, things that have slowed down or even compromised the big development projects of Romania. The current political class has both the chance and the responsibility to accelerate the essential reforms for the benefit of all Romanians", the head of state said at the New Year reception of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which takes place in video conference format. According to Iohannis, forecasts indicate that Romania will benefit from a 4.3% increase this year, a "fairly good" percentage in the current context.The head of state specified that Romania continues to face the spectrum of economic imbalances, against which sustainable solutions must be found."It is essential to strengthen the state of public finances, as well as to implement policies to support increasing competitiveness, with a special focus on increasing exports and attracting long-term investment. We must be aware that economic developments in the coming period will be directly influenced by the pace and success of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19, both at European and national level. It is up to all of us to return to normalcy, in conditions of health safety," said Klaus Iohannis.He stated that the business environment must remain a very important partner of the Romanian state."The development of Romania cannot be imagined without a public-private symbiosis, without a correct collaboration, based on involvement, respect and decisional transparency", the president showed.The head of state mentioned that in 2020, the "good communication" between the business environment and the Government led to the adoption of appropriate economic measures, both at the beginning of the health crisis and later, and many of the positive effects of these measures continue today. He gave as an example the Kurzarbeit scheme, the SME Invest scheme, the guarantee scheme for large enterprises, which are to produce the "expected" effects in the coming months.The President also said that there is still the need to clarify some regulations and the need to simplify the procedures for streamlining the state's activity, in order to effectively support the private environment, business people expecting seriousness and efficiency from the Government."The delays that still exist in the implementation of some solutions are also strong signals for the members of the governing coalition," Iohannis said.According to the head of state, Romanian companies must "become more competitive regionally, dare to develop long-term investment projects and invest in innovative products, using the latest and most advanced technologies.""We all want a partner business environment, together with which we can give the economy vision and stability. This objective, vital in the new economic and geopolitical context, can be achieved including by improving Romania's image, both inside and especially outside the country. Large companies can promote, sometimes even more efficiently than public authorities, the benefits of a friendly business environment, a competitive tax regime, quality Romanian products, a wide variety of tourist attractions, untapped natural resources and a well-trained workforce. Only by working together, through the joint effort of state authorities and the business environment, can we reach the destination of the road that Romania embarks on at the beginning of the year towards state reform and economic well-being. To achieve these goals we also need the unity of coalition partners and their determination to make the right decisions, even if these are difficult decisions," President Iohannis said. This article appears in the January 29, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. [Print version of this article] Africa Briefs Wang Yis New Years Visit to Africa Extends the Belt and Road Initiative The traditional Africa visit, the first trip of the New Year by a senior Chinese official, began Friday, January 1, when Foreign Minister Wang Yi was welcomed to embattled Nigeria. This is the 30th year that China has chosen an African country for this honor. In addition to Nigeria, Wang also visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Tanzania, and Seychelles on this trip. The DRC and Botswana became the 45th and 46th nations on the African continent (54 nations, total) to join Chinas global Belt and Road Initiative, which gives them favorable access to financing for infrastructure projects. Wangs visit comes as many nations on the continent are struggling with the re-emerging COVID-19 virus, which has already contributed to an emergence of famine conditions in several places, and brought even the sturdier countries to the brink of collapse. In that climate, an international debt forgiveness effort has arisen, led by Nigerian Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, involving seven nations. African Unions CDC Director Calls Fair Vaccine Distribution a Moral Challenge As the world watched mass vaccinations beginning in Britain and other first world countries in early December, the Director of the African Unions Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, warned that some parts of Africa might not see COVID-19 vaccines until the second half of 2021. Speaking December 12 at his now regular weekly press conference in Geneva, Nkengasong called the fair and equitable distribution of the vaccine a moral challenge, asserting that it would be extremely terrible for Africa to watch the developed world receive vaccines while African countries went without (as happened for years with antiretroviral therapy in the AIDS pandemic in the1990s), especially as the continent is now straining under a surge of new COVID-19 cases. Rosatom Announces 6th Atoms Empowering Africa Youth Competition Russian domestic nuclear power producer Rosatom has announced its 6th Annual Online Video Competition for African Youths, to encourage young scientists 18-35 to explore nuclear technologies. To compete, applicants must produce a video demonstrating the benefits of nuclear technology, and are further encouraged to share their pro-nuclear videos on Facebook. Three top finalists will win an all-expenses-paid trip to Russia. In announcing the competition, Rosatoms CEO for Central and Southern Africa, Ryan Collyer, said, Rosatom puts a great deal of resources into supporting youth to foster their talents and share their views and ideas. We are confident that nuclear can help to achieve the UN Sustainability Goals in Africa, not only through clean and affordable energy, but also through life-saving medical procedures and technologically advanced agricultural practices. Through this competition we hope that the youth will educate themselves and their peers on the immense benefits that nuclear technology has to offer. Nigeria Calls Revived ICC Investigation Harassment In December, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced it would begin an investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the jihadist Boko Haram, alleging that Nigerian authorities have been lax in prosecution. In its statement, however, which refers to incidents alleged to have occurred ten years ago, the court also included the Nigerian security forces as among those who perpetrated crimes. The ICC announcement comes at a moment when the conduct of Nigerian protesters against an alleged instance of police brutality is destabilizing the governmenta government that is developing infrastructure and energy production as never before. The announcementpraised by Amnesty Internationalwas condemned by Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, saying that the ICC and some international human rights organizations, especially Amnesty International, have constituted themselves to another fighting force against Nigeria, constantly harassing our security forces. China Grants 3-Year Reprieve to Angola on $20 Billion Debt Angola, whose primary source of foreign revenue comes from oil exports, has secured a three-year reprieve from payments on $20 billion debt owed to a consortium of Chinese lenders, including the China Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of China. Like many African countries, Angolas economy is now depressed due to the global pandemic and economic slowdown. It has also seen increasing civil unrest in the recent period, as COVID-19 lockdowns have added additional stress to an already weak domestic economy. Angola is the single largest recipient of Chinese loans on the African continent, according to the South China Morning Posthaving received $43 billion or 29% of Chinese lending to Africa since 2000so the decision to grant this relief speaks eloquently of Chinas approach to the growing global debt crisis. COVID-19s Second Wave Hitting Africa Hard Total reported cases of COVID-19 in Africa exceeded 2 million in December. While the continent as a whole appears to have suffered a smaller percentage of infections than Europe or the U.S., the pandemic strikes a continent with a poorly developed health care system, and thus potentially greater impact. The hardest hit nation by far is South Africa, also a major victim of the first wave last year. While the country responded by building significant emergency field hospital capacity, including ICU units, it has once again reached and exceeded its limits, especially in the densely populated province of Gauteng, home to Johannesburg, Pretoria, and many townships, such as Soweto, Sebokeng, and Alexandra. There are not enough nurses and not enough oxygen for hypoxic patients. There are not enough ICU units. Hospital construction during 2020 was attacked by the opposition Democratic Alliance as a waste of money since, it claimed, the COVID-19 peak had passed. Construction was suspended in Gauteng at that time, as a result. South Africa has now closed its border with Zimbabwe, which it had not done during the first wave. Malawi, a neighbor of Zambia, closed its borders on December 23. President Lazarus Chakwera then declared a national emergency after two of his cabinet members died on January 12. Kenya has imposed restrictions on air travel, requiring that all incoming and outbound passengers present a digital health pass proving a negative virus test within 48 hours of flight time, as part of the Africa CDCs Trusted Travel Initiative, designed to both control the virus as well as increase intra-African travel during the pandemic. Uganda Blocks Internet Before Election, Twitter Issues Protest Within a week of Twitters banning of then U.S. President Donald Trump from its platform, Twitter strongly objected when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni took a similar measure in his own country. Within hours of Musevenis pre-election national internet shutdown, Twitters Public Policy posted a response strongly condemning Musevenis actions, further calling them hugely harmful, [a violation of] basic human rights and the principles of the #OpenInternet. Access to information and freedom of expression, it declared, including the public conversation on Twitter, is never more important than during democratic processes, particularly elections. Nigerian President, Cabinet to Take Covid-19 Vaccine Live on TV Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that he, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other prominent Nigerians are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine live on TV, as soon as vaccines arrive in the country. This gesture is intended to conquer fear and hesitancysprung from mistrust and superstition, but also from knowledge of hostile imperial intentions in the past which extended to medicine, including vaccines. Buhari, and African leaders generally, are painfully aware of both the destructive potential of the pandemic and the damage to economic activity and development as a result of the lockdowns. Thus the importance of a high level of acceptance of the vaccine. Nigeria is expecting 100,000 doses to arrive before the end of January, through the United Nations COVAX program. Ghana Receives Sub-Saharan Africas First LNG Regasification Unit In a first for sub-Saharan Africa, the port of Tema, Ghana has received a liquified natural gas (LNG) regasification unit. For safe sea transport, LNG is cooled to a semi-frozen state (260F). Returning it to ambient temperature (regasification) is expensive and slow. The floating unit was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation. According to project manager Edmund Agyeman-Duah, the Tema LNG terminal will deliver roughly 1.7 million tons of LNG a year30% of Ghanas general capacity. Although Africa is blessed with an abundance of domestic energy resources and should ultimately be able to supply its energy needs without imports, the LNG facility will boost immediate energy supplies, with a very small investment for supporting infrastructure. The port of Tema is located just east of Accra, Ghanas largest city. Chief economist at IMF, Gita Gopinath, said that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code should be given priority since bad loans are expected to rise in the wake of the economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and added that a 'Bad Bank' is a reasonable idea. In an interview to CNBC-TV18 she said, "If you are going to have NPAs go up to 13 percent in the base line, that would require a much more efficient IBC process. The Bad Bank is certainly a reasonable idea but right now I would encourage the banks and the NBFCs to raise capital given how easy the financial conditions are at this point. Government should also prepare for needing to put in capital infusion into the public sector banks." A bad bank has been mooted by several experts ahead of the Union Budget 2021. It can act as an aggregator of all stressed assets in the system and work towards the resolution of these assets whereas banks can focus on business. Since the government dominates the banking system, it is imperative that the government itself spearhead the bad bank idea. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest World Economic Outlook update. It says while vaccine approvals are good news for a turnaround from the pandemic, concerns still linger owing to new strains that have emerged in different parts of the world. The IMF projects that the global economy will grow at 5.5 percent in 2021 and 4.2 percent in 2022. For 2020 though the global growth contraction is estimated at negative 3.5 percent, 0.9 percentage points higher than the previous forecast. For India the picture looks more promising. The IMF has revised its growth forecast sharply higher to 11.5 percent for FY22 and 6.8 percent for FY23. This makes it the only country projected to register double-digit growth after a minus 8 per cent growth rate in 2020. "What has kind of worked well for India is that when the economy opened up after the stringent lockdowns, you saw activity recovering much faster than expected. Mobility has returned much more quickly. While in other economies when you reopened, you then had a second and third strong wave of the pandemic, that has not happened in India," Gopinath said. She said that India has actually seen a sharp decline in the number of active cases, which may be a reflection of the fact that there were many more in India who were infected but were asymptomatic and therefore have the anti-bodies. "So that is a very important piece of this revision too," she added. By Luis Jaime Acosta BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) on Thursday accused eight former commanders of the demobilized FARC guerrillas of war crimes and crimes against humanity for taking hostages during the country's internal armed conflict. This is the first time since the signing of the 2016 peace deal that the JEP has attributed criminal responsibility to former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia(FARC), which demobilized to reintegrate with society. "Depriving people of their freedom and setting conditions for their release, as well as their wellbeing, integrity, and life, was a war crime, especially the taking of hostages," the JEP said in a statement read by magistrate Julieta Lemaitre. The former commanders are also charged with other war crimes connected with the treatment of kidnap victims, including murder and torture, among others, Lemaitre said. Among the accused are former FARC leader Rodrigo Londono - know by the nom de guerre Timochenko - Pablo Catatumbo, Pastor Alape and Milton de Jesus Toncel. They have 30 days to accept or reject the accusations. If the commanders accept the accusations, they will face restrictions on their freedoms for five to eight years. However, if they reject them, they could face up to 20 years in jail per the terms of the peace deal which ended the FARC's part in a conflict that has left 260,000 dead and millions displaced. The JEP is a tribunal created under the 2016 peace deal to prosecute former FARC members and military leaders for alleged war crimes. There was no immediate response from the former FARC commanders. Last year, former guerrilla leaders - including Timochenko - sought forgiveness for kidnappings. FARC guerrillas used kidnappings to fund their war against the state, while captured military or government personnel were used to pressure authorities into releasing jailed rebels, the JEP said. Kidnapping victims say they continue to suffer from mental health damage caused by the physical and emotional suffering they were subject to. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Alistair Bell) Raven Bumgarner (pictured) lost her sons Shaun Dawson, 7, and Riley James, 6, in a tragic murder-suicide committed by their step mother on December 8 The mother of two young boys who were shot in the head and burned by their step mother last year has spoken out for the first time about the woman's 'selfish, evil' actions in murdering her 'babies'. Raven Bumgarner from West Virginia lost her sons Shaun Dawson, 7, and Riley James, 6, in the tragic murder-suicide on December 8. They were killed by her ex's new wife Oreanna Myers, 25, who also fatally shot her own children - Kian Myers, 4; Aarikyle Nova Myers, 3; and Haiken Jirachi Myers, age 1 - before burning down the family home. Myers then shot and killed herself. Law enforcement officials in Greenbrier County only revealed the harrowing details of the shootings last week, saying that the 'depressed' step mom had fully confessed to the crime in suicide notes. 'It's like your soul is ripped out of you,' Bumgarner told The Sun of the loss of her two boys. 'How could you do that to children? They had full lives ahead of them. I feel she was of complete sound mind, she didn't write me a letter, she was selfish and she wanted to hurt people. 'This was planned, and I can't get my boys back, she murdered my babies,' added Bumgarner, who also has a three-year-old daughter, Khari, from a previous relationship. 'It's hard. It really is hard, I probably wouldn't be here if I didn't have my daughter. 'I'd always told my kids, "Mommy's always here', mommy always comes back,' but mommy couldn't stop this.' Shaun Dawson, 7, and Riley James, 6, died in the tragic murder-suicide on December 8 Pictured above are five of the children who were killed: Shaun Dawson Bumgarner, 7, Riley James Bumgarner, 6, Kian Myers, 4, Aarikyle Nova Myers, 3 and Haiken Jirachi Myers, age 1 First responders were called to the family's home after getting reports of a fire on December 8, as pictured above. There, they found the bodies of the children and Myers Shaun Dawson, 7, and Riley James, 6, were Brian's kids from his first marriage to Raven According to the local sheriff, Myers was upset that her husband, Brian Bumgarner, had been staying with relatives during the work week due to transportation issues, instead of coming home to her. Text messages between Myers and her husband showed that his absence during the week had been 'a tremendous source of contention' between them. According to the sheriff, the woman grew more desperate after Brian left the house on December 6 after dropping off groceries for his family. 'You'll have nothing to come back to but to corpse [sic]. No one cares why should I?' Myers texted her husband. 'Money will come and go, once I go there's no replacing me. I beg and cry for help but never get it. It's my mental health that needs tending tohelp me I do not care anymore.' Raven shared 50-50 custody with Brian and said that she had made small talk with Oreanna as she dropped her boys off to stay. Brian Bumgarner (left) was married to Oreanna Myers (right) when she shot her three sons and two step-children at her home near Williamsburg on December 8. According to police, Myers was upset that her husband had been staying with relatives during the work week Raven Bumgarner had two sons, Shaun and Riley (pictured above with their younger sister) with Brian and they shared 50-50 custody over the boys Raven said she had been looking forward to her first Christmas in her new home with her three children but is now stuggling to explain her sons death to her daughter '[I believe] she wanted to take everything from Brian,' Raven said. 'But she didn't just hurt Brian when she did this, she didn't just hurt his kids, she hurt everybody.' Speaking to the media last Thursday, Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan said the five children's bodies were found with shotgun wounds to the heads inside the Williamsburg home, while Myers was found outside near a picnic table. Sloan described how Myers was found, revealing that she was wearing a coat with a hood, and had a red line drawn across her face from ear to ear, reported MetroNews.com. The mysterious line was seen on surveillance video when Myers had gone to pick up two of her sons from the bus stop at the end of the school day. One of the boys asked her if it was blood on her face, but Myers replied she had just drawn the line. An hour later, emergency dispatch got a 911 call about a house fire on Flynns Creek Road. When firefighters arrived on the scene just before 4pm, they found the residence engulfed in flames. The five-bedroom, one-bath house was built in 1888 and had an estimated value of $126,000. About 40 minutes later, Myers' body was found outdoors. Raven described how she had received a message from Brian's cousin on the day of the tragedy telling her not to panic but sending a picture of a fire at the house. 'I called Brian and he was on his way home, I jumped in my car and left my daughter with a sitter,' Raven said. 'The whole way there I was expecting to see all five children and Oreanna outside. The farm was packed with people, but nobody could tell me anything. 'It was like, "Check the barn, check the barn". And I was waiting for them [the boys] to come out of the woods. 'My brother was telling me, 'Don't do anything stupid" because he knew that I would jump in and try to go get my kids. But there was nothing to jump in to, there was a chimney standing and flames.' The murder-suicide and arson took place in West Virginia on the afternoon of December 8 It took officials four days to find the body of one of the five children amid the debris Four of the children were found dead inside the house that same day, but the fifth child's body was only recovered from the debris four days later, reported WVNS-TV. Raven revealed that it was hours before she received confirmation that her two sons were dead. 'She shot all five kids in the head and set the house on fire and went outside and shot herself,' Raven said. 'They [cops] described she used a single action shotgun. You have to break it down and reload it after every single shot. 'How can you do that five times to five children? 'In these letters she's apologized, making it all about mental illness,' Raven added, referencing the suicide notes left by Oreanna. 'But she did it five times, wrote four different letters, you set this up, this wasn't just some mental illness, it was planned.' Sheriff Sloan said he was unaware of whether Oreanna was under treatment for any diagnosed mental illness at the time of the deaths. But in several notes she left before carrying out the murder-suicide and setting fire to her family home, Myers complained about the lack of treatment for mental illness, according to the sheriff. Two of the children who died - Shaun and Riley (top and bottom left) - were Brian Bumgarner's sons from his first marriage to Raven who has spoken out for the first time about their deaths Raven and Brian had shared custody of Shaun and Riley, pictured above Shaun and Riley pictured with their younger sister Khari 'This is no one's fault but my own. My demons won over me. Sorry, I wasn't strong enough,' she wrote. Myers texted her husband the day of the shootings saying she left something for him in their vehicle. A letter addressed to him was found inside with a bloody fingerprint next to her initials, Sloan said. 'I'm so sorry Brian,' she wrote to her husband. 'I was not strong enough for you or this family. My head is so (expletive). I'm sorry for my evil crime. I was not strong enough to fight these demons, Snap. Crunch, Boom. So depressed. Heart numb. Soul completely shattered. I am sorry I failed you. I am sorry I failed our handsome boys. I am so sorry I was not strong enough. OAM.' Raven, pictured, said she has been able to go back to the house where they died The sheriff said the woman also placed three notes inside a plastic bag and taped them to a side-view mirror on the family vehicle, including phone numbers to reach relatives, a confession and a will. 'I had shot all of the boys in the head. I had set house on fire. I had shot myself in the head. I'm sorry,' she wrote in her confession. 'Mental health is serious. I hope one day someone will help others like me. Mental health is not to joke about or taken lightly. When someone begs, pleads, cries out for help, please help them. You just might save a life or more lives. Thank you, OAM.' Also recovered from the vehicle were glass jar with a crystal and a cloth decorated with a spiral symbol. Brian Bumgarner has stayed out of the public eye over the past month after his children's deaths. One day after the murders, he took to Facebook, sharing a status with his friends which read: 'I just wanted to say sorry and thank you to everyone reaching out to me and messaging me. I can't get back to all of you but in a truly dark time, I feel like I could fall and all of you guys would catch me. 'It gives me something... I don't know what. Maybe it be hope or strength or grit, I don't know. All I know is I have something and that's not nothing!!!' he added. Myers was upset that her husband, Brian Bumgarner, had been staying with relatives during the work week for logistical reasons. Prior to the killings, Myers texted Bumgarner (pictured above), warning him that he would come home to find a 'corpse' Bumgarner addressed the tragedy in a Facebook post two days after the fact Ravan said she met Brian when she was 13 and he was her 'childhood sweetheart' who she married at 19. When they split up, Brian met Oreanna shortly afterward in 2016 and told Raven that she would be a 'better mom'. 'I busted my butt, I went back to school to do college online, I paid off the trailer, I got my car by myself, I got this house by myself, I did everything I could as a single mother,' said Raven, who just recently moved into a house in which she had hoped to share a first Christmas with her three children. 'I wanted to give them everything I never had,' said the young mother, who herself grew up in foster care. 'I aged out of state care, those boys saved me, they made me into a better person. I've never told someone I loved them with my whole being except for my kids.' 'It's waking up [and thinking] 'I gotta get breakfast ready for the kids', just to realize you only have one,' she added of their sudden loss. 'It's expecting to find them in their rooms and they're not there. It's turning around the corner to see them raiding the fridge. And they're not there. 'I can't even bring myself to go back up there [where they died] because it's expecting them to get in my car.' Raven said that her youngest daughter now keeps asking for her older brothers and that they are both in therapy. 'The first few days she kept asking where they were at,' she said. 'I kept trying to say with God or in heaven, but she didn't understand that concept yet. I have to explain. They can't come back but you can talk to them.' On Thursday, from 12:00 - 1:00 (PST), UCI Professor Chris Schwarz returns for the third year to the Irvine Chamber Business Outlook event. Chris' presentations are great. This is free. Register here Thursday: At 8:30 AM ET, Gross Domestic Product, 4th quarter 2020 (Advance estimate). The consensus is that real GDP increased 4.3% annualized in Q4. At 8:30 AM, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for an decrease to 880 thousand from 900 thousand last week. At 10:00 AM, New Home Sales for December from the Census Bureau. The consensus is for 860 thousand SAAR, up from 841 thousand in November. At 11:00 AM, the Kansas City Fed manufacturing survey for January. This is the last of regional manufacturing surveys for January. Some businesses have had to hold off on announcing Lunar New Year bonus details until the last minute. Photo: Le Toan With only three weeks until Lunar New Year, Nguyen Thi Trang and many other employees at Vietnam Airport Ground Services Co., Ltd. have yet to receive the companys notice about their holiday bonus. She said that on January 1 she did not receive the same new year bonus as usual, but was advanced Januarys salary instead. Because of the difficult business situation in the past year, we all know that the companys Lunar New Year bonus is not guaranteed. Even monthly salaries have only been returned to their original level a few months ago. But since weve worked for the whole year, were all just looking forward to receiving a bonus, no matter how much it is, said Trang. As one of the industries most affected by the pandemic, many textile and garment enterprises have had to let go of thousands of workers and reduce working hours for tens of thousands of others since orders remained limited or were cancelled entirely. However, some companies have managed to get through the hard times by switching production lines and cutting costs for benefits to take care of employees. Tran Thi Ha Binh, senior director of Human Resources at Bowker Garments Co., Ltd. said that, though business activities were negatively affected last year, her company was determined to support employees in the New Year, and that they can be assured of a long-term commitment to the business. According to Hanois Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, a quick report from 325 businesses operating in Hanoi shows that the average Lunar New Year bonus this year amounts to VND3.8 million ($165), with the highest counting VND30 million ($1,300) and the lowest bonus VND650,000 ($28). Among foreign-invested enterprises, the Lunar New Year bonus averaged at VND4.45 million ($195), with the highest being VND280 million ($12,000) and the lowest VND750,000 ($32). Balancing expenditures Chu Tien Dung, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Associations, said that mobilising businesses to pay bonuses for employees is also a concern for many associations and businesses. We see that most businesses are determined to ensure that Lunar New Year salaries and bonuses are paid for employees. Our association also promotes programmes to take care of workers, Dung explained. Le Quang Long, deputy head of Hanoi Industrial, Export and Processing Zones Management Authority, reaffirmed that in previous years many businesses announced Lunar New Year bonuses for their employees and workers. However, this year, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, many have to balance their revenues and expenditures. Some businesses also said that despite their best efforts, it remains difficult to give out Lunar New Year bonuses. Representatives of Vietnam Airlines said that the company has cut employees salaries and bonuses throughout 2020. With the prolonged difficulties, it is expected that Vietnam Airlines workers will not receive bonuses this year. According to Le Cong Hung, chairman of the Hanoi Taxi Association, as traditional taxis were already struggling to compete with ride-hailers, the pandemic has caused more of them to reduce the number of active cars, with revenue decreasing by 60-70 per cent on-year. Employees salaries had to be paid late, and we didnt even think about Lunar New Year bonuses, Hung said. No overview yet In order to support and supervise the implementation of the Labour Code, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) requested localities to report their numbers for salaries and New Year bonuses. Although these are due for more than three weeks, the ministry only received reports from some 30 localities, most of them industrial zones and mountainous provinces, so the ministry lacks the data to present an overall picture of wages and bonuses for the whole country. It is expected that by the end of January, the ministry will have completed general information about the situation for the entire country. Through their connections to grassroots trade unions, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour said that most businesses that could secure their workers position will also maintain Lunar New Year bonuses worth at least one month of salary. We realise that giving these bonuses this year will be much more difficult compared to previous years, and the possibility of getting even higher bonuses is almost entirely ruled out, said Ho Thi Kim Ngan, deputy head of the Department of Industrial Relations under the confederation. According to the new regulations in the Labour Code 2019, which officially became effective from January, enterprises are not required to give bonuses if the business situation is difficult or if in-kind rewards can be used instead. Therefore, some enterprises in the service, hotel, tourism, and transport sectors are trying to ensure Lunar New Year bonuses for employees, but not in cash. Hoang Nhan Chinh, general secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board said, The impact of the pandemic has cost travel companies so much money that they are unable to pay Lunar New Year bonuses for employees. Thus, some of them will offer vacation vouchers instead. Although the business situation is difficult, most businesses consider Lunar New Year bonuses a beautiful tradition worth keeping to motivate employees and increase the connection between them and the business. Some industries with stable growth, which were not affected as much by the pandemic such as technology companies, maintained a good bonus rate, but their numbers are still limited. Pham Thi Bich Hai, president of the Trade Union of Toto Vietnam Co., Ltd., shared that the companys bonus this year remains the same as in 2020, so many of the firms employees are happy. Passengers wearing masks and face shields for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sit between plastic barriers inside a jeepney in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Jan. 27, 2021. Reuters The Philippine economy shrank a record 9.5 percent last year, official data showed Thursday, after coronavirus measures devastated the retail and tourism sectors while a series of natural disasters wrecked crops. But Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the outlook for this year was "encouraging" as measures introduced to contain the virus are eased further and the country prepares for a vaccination drive. "We will see more economic activity in the months ahead," Chua said. "This will lead to a strong recovery before the end of the year when the government will have rolled out enough vaccines against Covid-19 for a majority of our people." Gross domestic product shrank for four straight quarters in 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority said. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Kilgour Williams Capital is pleased to announce that its KiWi Private Credit Fund posted a full year net return1 of 8.9% in 2020. This return represents an increase of 0.8% compared to 2019's 8.1% return and is the highest since the fund inception in 2017. The Fund was profitable each month of 2020 even through the onset of the COVID pandemic. The KiWi Private Credit Fund follows a capital preservation strategy, targeting 8% annual yields to investors. The Fund focuses on three lending verticals within the US small balance credit market: Prime Consumer Loans; Small Business Loans; and, Short-Term Residential Development Loans. Across all three verticals, the Fund delivers a positive social impact as borrowers use loan proceeds to make a difference in their lives, their small businesses, and their communities. Since its inception in 2017, the Fund has helped over 750 Small Businesses access affordable capital and supported more than 5,000 Consumers to reduce interest costs. The KiWi Fund, along with its commercial partners, is also part of the US Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), which provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID pandemic. "As we entered the pandemic there was uncertainty as to how the year would unfold," said Colin Kilgour, one of the principals of Kilgour Williams Capital. "But our focus from the fund's inception on making good, prime quality loans while managing for incredibly broad portfolio diversification really allowed KiWi Private Credit Fund to weather the storm. "The opportunity to help small businesses fund their payrolls and keep people employed during the pandemic is very gratifying to us as investors," added Daniel Williams, principal at Kilgour Williams Capital. "With vaccine deployment now gathering steam in the US, we are looking forward to the end of the pandemic and are very optimistic about the prospects for 2021." About Kilgour Williams Capital: Kilgour Williams Capital is an investment management firm specializing in alternative credit. The firm is the only fund manager in Canada dedicated to investing in the US small balance credit market. Launched in 2017, the KiWi Private Credit Fund allows Canadian investors to access this high yielding, uncorrelated and highly diversified market. KiWi Private Credit Fund has been profitable every month since the portfolio was fully ramped in 2017. For more information: Kilgour Williams Capital Colin Kilgour 416-315-4884 ck@kilgourwilliams.com ____________________ 1 Return figure includes all fund expenses, marks to market, and credit losses but excludes management fees. It also assumes reinvestment of monthly distributions. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73028 Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. A Virginia gang task force has dropped use of a database that catalogues thousands of alleged gang members across the Washington region after activists raised concerns that minorities are disproportionately represented in it and its use is shrouded in secrecy. The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force is the first local law enforcement entity in the D.C. area to discontinue use of GangNet, according to the program which oversees use of the database in the region. The database has stirred controversy in a handful of jurisdictions across the country in recent years. Law enforcement officials say it can be an effective tool to track and investigate gangs, but police reform advocates worry some non-gang members may be erroneously logged in it and the demographics of the database may indicate racial profiling. The advocates also object to the database because people are never told when they are included or given a chance to challenge a gang label. Jay Lanham, the executive director of the task force, said his decision came after activists raised questions, but said it had less to do with concerns of racial bias and civil liberties than more prosaic ones about the declining utility of the database. He said detectives haven't had much time to input alleged gang members, making it less useful. "We don't use it that much to solve crimes in the region," Lanham said. "Our guys haven't found it helpful." The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force includes agencies from 15 jurisdictions, including Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William counties and the City of Alexandria, as well as the Virginia State Police. GangNet is used by more than 120 law enforcement agencies in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. and contains nearly 7,800 alleged gang members, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy's Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), which runs it. It's been in use for about a decade. Local jails and prisons use it to screen incoming inmates for gang affiliations, so they don't place them with rival gang members. Detectives use it for information while investigating gang crimes and some beat officers also use it on patrol. Law enforcement agencies from Baltimore to Richmond place people suspected of being gang members in the system if they meet two criteria from a list that includes admitting to being a gang member, being identified as a gang member by a reliable source, having gang tattoos, wearing gang attire, being associated with gang members or having been arrested with gang members. The data is for intelligence purposes only, so it can't form the basis of probable cause to make an arrest or place charges. Entries are purged from the system if there is no criminal activity in five years. But law enforcement agencies don't tell people when they have been included in the database or comply with requests to reveal whether someone has been added. Tom Carr, executive director of HIDTA, said GangNet regularly helps crack gang-related crimes. "The whole purpose of the system is to identify all the different gangs and their members operating in the area," Carr said. "It is merely a pointer system." In his view, the gang task force dropping the database could be detrimental to police. "It could really hamstring investigations and jeopardize officers' safety by not being able to know you are dealing with an identified gang member," Carr said. But Kofi Annan, executive director of police reform group the Activated People, said the opacity around the database was troubling. He was also concerned that nearly 80 percent of people logged are Black or Latino, while Whites make up 20 percent, according to HIDTA statistics. "The use of a database where they track suspected gang members is not inherently a problem," Annan said. "The problem is really the procedures and lack of transparency about how people get in there and the lack of an option to dispute whether or not they should be in there." Annan said he worried the overrepresentation of minorities in the database was a result of racial profiling by police. Carr said no racial profiling was occurring. Carr said most of the gangs in the area draw from minority communities and that jails and prisons, which have large minority populations, are responsible for the greatest number of adds to the database, skewing its demographics. "We are very cautious about entering people in the gang database," Carr said. But some activists suspect some people are being erroneously entered into the database, although it's difficult to know for sure because HIDTA does not make the information public. Kelly White, a senior program director at the Capitol Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition, pointed to the case of a Salvadoran immigrant who was deported in 2017 after seeking asylum in the United States because he feared gang violence in his homeland. The man, who spoke on a phone call from El Salvador via an interpreter, said he drew the scrutiny of authorities after a killing in his Stafford County neighborhood. Local police investigating the slaying visited the home where he lived and asked for social media handles for him and other immigrants, he said. Soon after, the man said he was detained in an immigration raid. At a bond hearing in immigration court, White said the government alleged the man was involved with MS-13. She said they produced photos of the man that appeared to be culled from social media that showed him wearing Nike Cortez sneakers - popular with MS-13 members - and photos they alleged showed him using gang signs. White said the government never revealed how they got the photos, but White suspects the man may have been entered into GangNet and turned up in a background search. The man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he fears gangs in El Salvador, said he was not a gang member and family members testified on his behalf at the hearing. White said the man was never charged in connection with the slaying and had no serious criminal record or gang offenses. A bill before the Virginia legislature would bring more clarity to cases like that of the Salvadoran man. Del. Kaye Kory, D-Fairfax, has introduced legislation requiring law enforcement agencies to notify individuals of their intent to place them in gang databases and give them an opportunity to challenge the designation if they so choose. It would also require law enforcement agencies to report the number of people they are placing in gang databases. Virginia is not the only place where GangNet has drawn scrutiny. Attorneys and elected officials have raised similar concerns over immigrants being wrongly added to GangNet in Prince George's County, Md. "There was no justice," the Salvadoran man said of his situation. "It was very unfair being accused of being a gang member." Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 06:38:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Civilians are among the casualties from increased clashes between government and rebel forces in southern al Hodeidah Governorate in Yemen, UN humanitarians said on Thursday. Since mid-January, there has been an uptick in clashes in the area, including the shelling of residential areas, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) said. Preliminary reports indicated more civilian casualties, and houses and farms in Hays and al Durayhimi districts were damaged. Over 100 families, at least 700 people, have been displaced. "The number of civilian casualties in al Hodeidah Governorate is an ongoing cause of concern," the office said in a release. "In the last three months of 2020, 153 civilian casualties were reported in al Hodeidah, the highest number reported in any governorate across the country, with continued clashes close to residential areas." "Indiscriminate attacks on residential areas are a breach of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately," said Auke Lootsma, humanitarian coordinator in Yemen. "The parties must remember that they have a duty to take all necessary measures to protect civilians at all times and allow humanitarians to respond to the injured and displaced." At least 23 fighters, from both the Yemeni army and Houthi militia, were killed in clashes in the al-Durayhimi district in the southern part of Hodeidah, a local government military source told Xinhua News Agency on Jan. 18. The Red Sea port city of Hodeidah has seen a shaky cease-fire between the government forces and the Houthis since they reached a UN-sponsored truce in Stockholm in December 2018. Yemen remains the world's worst humanitarian crisis, OCHA said. Nearly 80 percent of the population, over 24 million people, require humanitarian assistance and protection. Only 56 percent of the 3.38-billion-U.S.-dollar planned fund for Yemen humanitarian response program last year was received. Enditem The Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations will become fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act under a plan that projects the locations will open by the end of 2024 with larger and more modern structures, according to a CTA news release. That means those sites will contain elevators, escalators and wider platforms, along with new architecture and tracks. More Than Buyer Beware In the United States, about one in five women between the ages of 18 and 49 currently use health apps those that track fitness, nutrition, sleep and other health-related metrics according to a Gallup poll conducted in November. And femtech in particular, including medical devices, by some estimates, could become a $50 billion market by 2025 a small slice of the broader global digital health market (including telemedicine, wearable devices and so on), which is expected to reach $600 billion by 2024. But as long as health apps make only general wellness claims like meditation apps marketed to soothe you to sleep they do not need to be vetted by federal health regulators. Moreover, and to the surprise of many users, those consumer health apps also generally do not have to comply with a federal privacy law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, which specifically covers patient data collected by and shared among doctors, hospitals, labs and health insurers. In other words, the personal health data you enter into consumer apps even apps that you have to pay for are not protected by federal safeguards for patient privacy. The Federal Trade Commission, which enforces fair business rules, may crack down on apps that break their privacy promises, which is what regulators charged in the Flo case. Flo agreed to settle the F.T.C. charges. The proposed settlement prohibits Flo Health, the company that owns Flo, from misleading users about its data-handling practices. It also requires Flo to obtain users consent before sharing their health details and to obtain an independent review of its privacy practices. In settling the case, Flo did not admit to any wrongdoing. The company said in a statement that it had used third-party analytical tools in the past to gain a better understanding of how our users interact with our app and ultimately enhance their experience and that users data had been used solely for analytical purposes. The company added that the app does not share information about users health without their permission. We are committed to ensuring that the privacy of our users personal health data is absolutely paramount, the company statement added. Hyderabad: Indigenous pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech will create antigen for the first anti-malaria vaccine. For this, an agreement (MoU)has been reached between Bharat Biotech, global pharmaceutical company GSK and non-profit global health organization Path, which works to eliminate health disparities, on malaria vaccine RTS, S/AS01E1. Under this, India will produce biotech malaria vaccine and supply GSK and PATH. GSK will retain the production of the adjuvant of the vaccine (AS01E) and will supply it to Bharat Biotech. BBIL was selected through a comprehensive, competitive process undertaken by GSK and PATH, working in consultation with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the vaccine maker said in a statement here. The RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine, developed by GSK for more than 30 years, and in partnership with PATH since 2001, is currently being piloted in regions of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi under the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP). Ministries of Health concerned are leading the implementation of the vaccine, which is being given to young children through the three countries routine immunisation programmes, with WHO providing technical and scientific leadership, playing a coordinating role, and working in collaboration with GSK, PATH, and a range of other partners. RTS,S/AS01E is the first, and to date, the only malaria vaccine to have received a positive review by regulatory authorities (positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency and approval by the regulatory authorities of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi for use in the MVIP). The first dose of the vaccine has reached more than 500,000 children since the pilots were initiated by Ministries of Health in the three participating countries in 2019. This agreement with BBIL is the result of efforts by GSK, PATH, and WHO to help ensure long-term sustainable vaccine supply, in the event of a WHO policy recommendation for broader use and a commitment of sustained funding. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin may be more effective against UK strain Lancet reviews on Covaxin phase 1 trail say: 'No serious side effects' Serum Institute releases factsheet for Covishield vaccine Configuration of the Dyatlov group's tent installed on a flat surface after making a cut in the slope below a small shoulder. Credit: Gaume/Puzrin Researchers from EPFL and ETH Zurich have conducted an original scientific study that puts forth a plausible explanation for the mysterious 1959 death of nine hikers in the Ural Mountains in the former Soviet Union. The tragic Dyatlov Pass Incident, as it came to be called, has spawned a number of theories, from murderous Yeti to secret military experiments. In early October 2019, when an unknown caller rang EPFL professor Johan Gaume's cell phone, he could hardly have imagined that he was about to confront one of the greatest mysteries in Soviet history. At the other end of the line, a journalist from The New York Times asked for his expert insight into a tragedy that had occurred 60 years earlier in Russia's northern Ural Mountainsone that has since come to be known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Gaume, head of EPFL's Snow and Avalanche Simulation Laboratory (SLAB) and visiting fellow at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, had never heard of the case, which the Russian Public Prosecutor's Office had recently resurrected from Soviet-era archives. "I asked the journalist to call me back the following day so that I could gather more information. What I learned intrigued me." A sporting challenge that ended in tragedy On 27 January 1959, a 10-member group consisting mostly of students from the Ural Polytechnic Institute, led by 23-year-old Igor Dyatlovall seasoned cross-country and downhill skiersset off on a 14-day expedition to the Gora Otorten mountain, in the northern part of the Soviet Sverdlovsk Oblast. At that time of the year, a route of this kind was classified Category IIIthe riskiest categorywith temperatures falling as low as -30 degrees C. On January 28, one member of the expedition, Yuri Yudin, decided to turn back. He never saw his classmates again. When the group's expected return date to the departure point at the village of Vizhay came and went, a rescue team set out to search for them. On 26 February, they found the group's tent, badly damaged, on the slopes of Kholat Syakhltranslated as Death Mountainsome 20 km south of the group's destination. The group's belongings had been left behind. Further down the mountain, beneath an old Siberian cedar tree, they found two bodies clad only in socks and underwear. Three other bodies, including that of Dyatlov, were subsequently found between the tree and the tent site; presumably, they had succumbed to hypothermia while attempting to return to the camp. Two months later, the remaining four bodies were discovered in a ravine beneath a thick layer of snow. Several of the deceased had serious injuries, such as fractures to the chest and skull. What happened? The Soviet authorities investigated to determine the causes of this strange drama, but closed the case after three months, concluding that a "compelling natural force" had caused the death of the hikers. In the absence of survivors, the sequence of events on the night of 1 to 2 February is unclear to this day, and has led to countless more or less fanciful theories, from murderous Yeti to secret military experiments. This is the mystery that Gaume was confronted with. "After the call from The New York Times reporter, I began writing equations and figures on my blackboard, trying to understand what might have happened in purely mechanical terms," he says. "When the reporter rang back, I told her it was likely that an avalanche had taken the group by surprise as they lay sleeping in the tent." This theory, which is the most plausible, was also put forward by the Russian Public Prosecutor's Office after the investigation was reopened in 2019 at the request of the victims' relatives. But the lack of evidence and the existence of odd elements has failed to convince a large portion of Russian society. "I was so intrigued that I began researching this theory more deeply. I then contacted Professor Alexander Puzrin, chair of Geotechnical Engineering at ETH Zurich, whom I had met a month earlier at a conference in France." Gaume, originally from France, and Russian-born Puzrin worked together to comb through the archives, which had been opened to the public after the fall of the Soviet Union. They also spoke with other scientists and experts regarding the incident, and developed analytical and numerical models to reconstruct the avalanche that may have caught the nine victims unaware. "The Dyatlov Pass mystery has become part of Russia's national folklore. When I told my wife that I was going to work on it, she looked at me with deep respect," says Puzrin. "I was quite keen to do it, especially because I had started working on slab avalanches two years earlier. My primary research is in the field of landslides; I study what happens when a certain amount of time elapses between when a landslide is triggered and when it actually occurs." According to Gaume and Puzrin, this is what happened in 1959: The hikers had made a cut in the mountain's snow-covered slope to set up their tent, but the avalanche didn't occur until several hours later. Bridging the gaps in the investigation "One of the main reasons why the avalanche theory is still not fully accepted is that the authorities have not provided an explanation of how it happened," says Gaume. In fact, there are a number of points that contradict that theory: first, the rescue team did not find any obvious evidence of an avalanche or its deposition. Then the average angle of the slope above the tent siteless than 30 degreeswas not steep enough for an avalanche. Also, if an avalanche occurred, it was triggered at least nine hours after the cut was made in the slope. And finally, the chest and skull injuries observed on some victims were not typical of avalanche victims. In their investigation, published in Communications Earth & Environment on January 28, Gaume and Puzrin attempt to address these points. "We use data on snow friction and local topography to prove that a small slab avalanche could occur on a gentle slope, leaving few traces behind. With the help of computer simulations, we show that the impact of a snow slab can lead to injuries similar to those observed. And then, of course, there's the time lag between the team cutting into the slope and the triggering of the event. That's the main focus of our article. Previous investigators have been unable to explain how, in the absence of any snowfall that evening, an avalanche could have been triggered in the middle of the night. We had to come up with a new theory to explain it," says Gaume. On the night of the tragedy, one of the most important contributing factors was the presence of katabatic windsi.e., winds that carry air down a slope under the force of gravity. These winds could have transported the snow, which would have then accumulated uphill from the tent due to a specific feature of the terrain that the team members were unaware of. "If they hadn't made a cut in the slope, nothing would have happened. That was the initial trigger, but that alone wouldn't have been enough. The katabatic wind probably drifted the snow and allowed an extra load to build up slowly. At a certain point, a crack could have formed and propagated, causing the snow slab to release," says Puzrin. Both scientists are nevertheless cautious about their findings, and make it clear that much about the incident remains a mystery. "The truth, of course, is that no one really knows what happened that night. But we do provide strong quantitative evidence that the avalanche theory is plausible," Puzrin continues. The two models developed for this studyan analytical one for estimating the time required to trigger an avalanche, created by ETH Zurich, and SLAB's numerical one for estimating the effect of avalanches on the human bodywill be used to better understand natural avalanches and the associated risks. Gaume and Puzrin's work stands as a tribute to Dyatlov's team, who were confronted with a "compelling force" of nature. And, although they were unable to complete their treacherous expedition, they have given generations of scientists a perplexing enigma to solve. Explore further The subtle mechanics of an avalanche as seen in 3-D More information: Communications Earth & Environment www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00081-8 01/28/2021 Photo (c) mphillips007 - Getty Images Just when Americans were getting their COVID-19 vaccinations and cranking up their wanderlust for traveling again, the U.S. State Department is telling those people to put the suitcase away and rethink their plans. Seriously reconsider going overseas right now. If youre overseas right now, its going to be harder to come home for a while, cautioned the State Departments Ian Brownlee in a briefing. Everyone needs to be prepared to be potentially seriously disrupted in their trip. The reason behind Brownlees warning relates to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) new COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers, which went into effect after new variants of the virus were detected around the world. Those new rules include being tested no more than 3 days before traveling by air into the United States and, prior to boarding, showing the airline proof of a negative test result. Travelers may also present a letter from a health care provider or a public health official stating that they are cleared to travel. No fun in the sun Airline operators and cruise lines were anticipating a return to travel from those who got vaccinated, especially those who wanted to get away to the Caribbean. However, the new COVID-19 variants popping up in the Caribbean have forced the State Department to put Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas all on the new travel restriction list. One particular hotspot is the Cancun, Mexico area, where Brownlee says there are tens of thousands of U.S. citizens seeking to travel back to the United States. We dont have a health unit within 600 miles of Cancun, Brownlee said, adding that the agency has no plans to set up testing stations. We do not have the capacity to provide this sort of testing overseas. Be informed and prepared The Biden administration is handling the pandemic much differently than its predecessor, and Brownlee parroted that in the briefing. Be informed and be prepared. The State Department is committed to upholding the administrations efforts to combat the pandemic through prudent, science-driven measures. Many countries are updating their requirements for travel, given the evolving nature of the pandemic. And today, to keep us all safe, the United States joins them, he said. Brownlee went on to say that the State Departments travel advisories can change day-to-day depending on the migration and transmission of the virus. He said that the department is taking the situation country-by-country and that its almost a given that travelers will need to stay put and wont be allowed back into the U.S. until further notice in situations where no tests are available. And if all else fails? Brownlee said the U.S. isnt going to leave anyone completely stranded in a foreign country with no hope of getting the tests necessary to return home. So this is not a question of saying, Good luck, youre on your own. But it is important to remember that...the financial assistance we are able to provide is in the form of a loan. It is not a grant. And it is also important to note that the U.S. Government cannot... provide medical services overseas to private U.S. citizens, he said. To counteract what might be viewed as a harsh stance, Brownlee softened the situation by saying that there are facilities for U.S. citizens overseas and that the U.S. can provide information about where consumers can get tests and medical help if necessary. If they need medical assistance, we can provide information on local medical providers, that sort of thing, and...we can put them in touch with family members back in the United States who might be able to provide financial support, he said. If theyre, in fact, truly destitute overseas...we have mechanisms for providing loans to those people. One important note for Medicare and Medicaid members Brownlee closed out his worst-case scenarios by reminding people that Medicare and Medicaid are not applicable overseas. Some U.S. insurance policies -- including travel insurance -- might cover situations like this, but not in all cases. So thats why its so terribly important for U.S. citizens who are preparing to travel overseas to find out whether their medical coverage goes with them. They should not assume it does. They need to verify that, Brownlee said. Karleen West is an associate professor of political science, international relations and Latin American Studies at the State University of New York at Geneseo. West is the author of Candidate Matters: An Analysis of Campaigns and Elections in Ecuador, published by Oxford University Press. Like so many other Americans, my mom was radicalized by one of our countrys major parties. Its time that the Republicans end their support of authoritarian tactics to ensure that citizens like my momand our democracyremain secure. Mom is safe. I just checked in with her, my sister texted me at 2:53 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. I had some idea why she was sending me this, knowing that my mom had flown across the country in the midst of a pandemic to participate in Trumps Save America Rally in Washington, D.C. My pulse raced as I checked the news to discover what we now all know too well Trump supporters had stormed the Capitol to prevent the ratification of a democratic election. Is she in the capital (sic)? I responded. Not inside, my sister replied. Although our political views diverged once I started college, I had never been frightened by my moms politics. My mom a registered Democrat to support Ted Kennedy in the 1980 primary began voting Republican in the Reagan era. But the 2016 election was different. My mom put a MAGA placard in her yard; I signed onto a prescient letter of concern written by political scientists warning of the dangers of a Trump presidency. We got to this point because the Republican Party willingly chose authoritarianism over democracy when they nominated Donald Trump and openly manipulated the American people. Alternate facts are propaganda News is not showing the truth, my mom wrote in response to my sisters inquiries about her involvement with the Capitol insurrection. Only one side of capital (sic) some people tried jumping the fence. My mom was deep in the crowd that day and, thankfully, was not part of the cohort that stormed the building. Nevertheless, her willingness to doubt the truth rather than bear witness to an event happening before her has become a hallmark not just of Trumpism, but also of conservative politics. Since the 1960s, the Republican Party has adopted the strategy of deceiving voters to achieve their political ends, enabled by conservative news organizations, and bolstered by social media. As I know too well from studying Latin America, aspiring dictators recognize the power of deceit. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was an expert on the manipulation of the media and the truth. But he was also the victim of media bias. In 2002, Venezuelan conservative media claimed that Chavez supporters shot and killed opposition activists in a march on the capital. The media used the event to justify a military coup that removed Chavez for 47 hours, placing in office a candidate who was more palatable to Venezuelas conservative upper class. Despite documentary footage of the shoot-out that shows Chavez supporters were likely not responsible for the deaths, the anti-Chavez narrative, fostered by private media, was powerful. Its not true, an international student from Venezuela insisted after watching the documentary, reminiscent of my moms denial. Events leading up to the coup against Chavez remain hotly contested, fueled by the divisive political environment. Following the coup attempt, Chavez grew increasingly extremist, and Venezuelas democracy was never the same. Whats incredible is that we have allowed outright deceit to become a viable electoral strategy for a mainstream political party in the United States. In any other country, we would have called it what it is: propaganda. No wonder my mom is suspicious of reality; she is the victim of a sophisticated campaign of misinformation backed by some of the most influential people in our country. Trump as Caudillo Youre fired! Trumps voice echoed across my moms living room, week after week. Trump doesnt read books? Thats OK, neither does my mom. Trump ignores his advisers? My mom doesnt take crap from anybody either. As a long-time single mother that had lived on the verge of poverty, my mom admires Trumps lifestyle and identifies with his personality. But Trump is what Latin Americans call a caudillo, an authoritarian strongman who uses populism and charisma to govern with an iron fist. Like other infamous caudillos, Trump capitalizes on his popularity to undermine democracy. Just as Juan Peron did in Argentina, Trump threatens to jail his opposition. Trump impugns the impartiality of judges, following the lead of Alberto Fujimori who dissolved the judiciary in Peru. That the Republican Party welcomed a would-be caudillo to lead their party is not only shameful, its dangerous. The GOPs willful ignorance of this fact in search of votes puts America in a class with fragile democracies around the world. It also legitimizes Trumps unacceptable behavior for average citizens like my mom. America deserves better Were good, my mom texted, having returned safely to her D.C. hotel on Jan. 6. But my mom isnt good, and neither is our democracy. Using strategies that could easily be drawn from the playbooks of Latin American dictators, todays Republican Party not only radicalized my mom, it also brought about the greatest threat to American democracy in recent history. As a daughter, I am sad and frightened that my mom has been seduced into activities that undermine our democracy. But as a scholar who has spent my career studying political stability, I know that the future of our country requires Republicans in power to stop acting in their own self-interest, and start prioritizing our democracy. Its what the American people and especially Trump supporters like my mom deserve. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Auto giant General Motors (GM) Thursday announced plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. The company says it will eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035, and the entire company will start manufacturing zero-emissions vehicles by 2040. 'General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world,' said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. 'We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole.' GM said it is investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles in the next five years, which is up from the $20 billion planned before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. GM will offer 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade and 40 percent of the company's U.S. models offered will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025. The company plans to include crossovers, SUVs, sedans and trucks in its electric vehicle lineup. GM also will source 100 percent renewable energy to power its U.S. sites by 2030 and global sites by 2035, which represents a five-year acceleration of the company's previously announced global goal. 'With this extraordinary step forward, GM is making it crystal clear that taking action to eliminate pollution from all new light-duty vehicles by 2035 is an essential element of any automaker's business plan,' said Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp. 'EDF and GM have had some important differences in the past, but this is a new day in America - one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward.' 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. She recently returned home to the UK from a work trip to Dubai with boyfriend Dan Edgar. And Amber Turner is preparing for a romantic Valentine's Day in lockdown next month, sharing a sizzling Insta snap on Thursday. The TOWIE star modelled racy black lace lingerie for her followers, showing off her incredible physique. Wow: Amber Turner is preparing for a romantic Valentine's Day in lockdown next month, sharing a sizzling Insta snap on Thursday The blonde beauty flaunted her Dubai tan in the plunging one-piece, which flashed plenty of skin with its high-leg style and cut-out detail. Amping up the romance factor, Amber held a white rose as she posed up a storm in her Ann Summers lingerie at home in Essex, captioning the snap 'Yours forever.' Amber once again looked incredible on Wednesday as she flaunted her toned frame in a throwback snap from Dubai. The blonde beauty, 27, wowed in a busty halterneck top which drew the eye to her ample cleavage and honed midriff. Glow: Amber once again looked incredible on Wednesday as she flaunted her toned frame in a throwback snap from Dubai She captioned the snap: 'I just wanna get dressed up & go for cocktails.' Earlier this month Amber took to Instagram Stories to reflect on her past cosmetic treatments, admitting that she used to be 'addicted' to lip filler. She told her 826K followers that she's now gone more than a year without getting any fillers. Sharing a close up of her face, Amber penned: 'Haven't had my lips done since 19th Dec 2019! I swear I was addicted. 'Anyone who knows me knows lip filler never lasted and I used to get like 1ml every 2/3 months lol! Feel like I prefer them like this tho!' Changing her look: The TOWIE star also admitted that she used to be 'addicted' to lip filler Stunning: She explained how it's now been more than a year since she had any filler, adding that she prefers her current appearance (pictured on Saturday) An investigation by Reuters has revealed that 36-year-old Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the far-right vigilante group, the Proud Boys, was a prolific confidential informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local Florida police following a 2012 arrest for fraud related to relabeling and selling stolen diabetes test kits. According to a transcript of a 2014 federal court proceeding obtained by Reuters, which had statements from a former prosecutor, an FBI agent and Tarrios own lawyer, Tarrio worked undercover for federal authorities and local police helping to prosecute 13 people in cases involving drugs, gambling and human smuggling. A right-wing protester carries his rifle at the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan in an April 30 demonstration against Whitmer [Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya] Tarrios unmasking isnt surprising. Far-right militias such as the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers and the III percenters, all of which participated in the January 6 coup attempt on the Capitol, are riddled with police, current and former military members and paid agents of the state. While the Pround Boys is not an entirely state-run organization, there is no doubt that Tarrio is not the only agent provocateur operating in the group. The revelation further underscores the need for a full public investigation into the fascist insurrection on January 6, including all communications made between Tarrio, police, federal agents and Republican politicians. In an interview last year, Tarrio boasted of his fondness for Trump and the close connections he had with the campaign, claiming that he personally knocked on 40,000 doors for the president and was a close personal friend of long-time Trump political crony and fixer, Roger Stone. When confronted with the court transcript by a Reuters journalist, Tarrio suffered an apparent bout of amnesia. I dont recall any of this, he said. The former federal prosecutor in Tarrios case, Vanessa Singh Johannes, told Reuters that Tarrio, cooperated with local and federal law enforcement, to aid in the prosecution of those running other, separate criminal enterprises, ranging from running marijuana grow houses in Miami to operating pharmaceutical fraud schemes. Tarrios then-lawyer Jeffery Feiler, said in court proceedings that Tarrio was instrumental in helping police uncover three marijuana grow houses, and was a prolific cooperator. The FBI agent called Tarrio a key component in local police investigations involving marijuana, cocaine and MDMA, or ecstasy. Tarrio's fascist, racist and anti-Semitic organization, which Donald Trump infamously ordered to stand back and stand by during a presidential debate last September, has a history of cozying up to police departments across the country in order to terrorize protesters against police violence. Last July, it was revealed that dozens of Philadelphia Proud Boys were welcomed to listen to a speech Vice President Mike Pence gave at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 headquarters in Pennsylvania. Roughly two months later, Proud Boys were videotaped shaking hands with Philadelphia police after they staged a fascist march through the city, flashing white power signs while denouncing leftists and Antifa as terrorists. The far-right group was founded by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes in 2016, who publicly dissociated himself from the organization in 2018 after it was revealed by the Guardian that the FBI had categorized the fascist gang as an extremist group with ties to white nationalism. After McInnes stepped down as the public face, Tarrio was elected the leader of the group. Tarrio was arrested by DC police on January 4 on a misdemeanor count of destruction of property. He was also charged with two felony counts of possession of high-capacity ammunition-feeding devices, otherwise known as extended magazines. A warrant for his arrest was made after he live-streamed himself on December 12 burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was stolen from the Asbury Methodist Church. Police claimed four churches were vandalized the same night Tarrio and the Proud Boys burned the BLM banner. Overall, three dozen were arrested in melees between Proud Boys and local anti-racist and anti-police violence protesters. However, in light of the events of January 6, it cannot be ruled out that Tarrios arrest was meant to shield the leader of the Proud Boys from incriminating himself due to the events that would unfold less than 48 hours later. Unearthed video, taken by Txtwire CEO Daniel Beck, has shed further light on the intimate coordination between the Republican party and Trumps inner circle in planning the coup. The video and subsequent reporting have revealed that a large meeting was held at the private residence of the President in his Trump International Hotel in Washington on January 5. Those in attendance included: * Donald Trump, Jr. and Eric Trump, Trumps eldest and second-eldest son * Michael Flynn, former national security adviser to Trump, who previously argued that Trump should declare martial law and rerun the election. Flynn also spoke at the Jericho March held in DC, which joined the Stop the Steal/March to Save America group that stormed the Capitol * Peter Navarro, assistant to the president, director of trade and manufacturing policy, and National Defense Production Act policy coordinator * Corey Lewandowski, 2016 Trump campaign manager * David Bossie, 2016 Trump deputy campaign manager * Adam Piper, executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA). Piper stepped down earlier this month after it was revealed that RAGA had sent out hundreds of thousands of automated messages urging Trump supporters to attend the January 6 rally * Charles Herbster, wealthy Nebraska rancher and prospective gubernatorial candidate, national chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee for the Trump administration * Tommy Tuberville, Republican senator from Alabama, who voted to overturn the election results January 6 after the failure of the insurrection * Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal attorney. Giuliani spoke at the Ellipse on January 6, urging Trumps fascistic mob to engage in trial by combat. * Kimberly Guilfoyle, girlfriend of Donald Trump, Jr. * Michael Lindell, Trump donor and MyPillow CEO. In a January 5 Facebook post, Herbster claimed that all of the above were in attendance at the hotel. He wrote that these faithful servants of freedom need our prayers as well as the US Congress. Tomorrow on Capitol Hill, they [will] open sealed electoral voting certificates from each state. This joint session is the last official chance for our members of Congress to object to the widespread voter fraud that happened on November 3. In an appearance on the January 6 edition of Breitbart News Daily, Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander claimed that he spoke to Kimberly Guilfoyle on the evening of January 5 regarding the groups efforts to overturn the election. Alexander said that Trump was in fighter mode. He added that Guilfoyle had told him none of us are stopping, and that this is the party of Trump. In an earlier article by the Omaha World-Herald, Herbster confirmed that the group discussed how they could pressure members of Congress to object to the Electoral College results and overturn the election. Despite these startling revelations, President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party have not demanded further investigations, nor the arrest of those involved. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Russia hopes the success of extending the last remaining US-Russia arms control treaty will give a new boost to re-starting a strategic dialogue between Moscow and the Biden administration, Russia's deputy UN ambassador said Wednesday. Dmitry Polyansky told a press briefing that there are a lot of security and strategic issues on the table, including arms control, which require a serious, in-depth dialogue, on equal footing. He said Russia is cautiously optimistic about Tuesday's first phone call between President and US President and their agreement to work together to extend the New START nuclear weapons treaty for five years. Russia's parliament ratified the treaty Wednesday and Polyansky expressed hope the Americans will not miss the Feb. 5 deadline. We, of course, will be judging the new administration and its attitude towards Russia by actions, he said. So far, the first action that we saw yesterday is very positive. Despite former president Donald Trump being enamored of Putin and frequently undercutting his own administration's tough stance on Russia, relations between Moscow and Washington were at a low point when the Biden presidency began on January 20. For many years there was no dialogue between Russia and the United States, Polyansky said. There were only accusations, and that's the problem. ... We were making proposals, but they were ignored or criticized. He said if the approach of the Biden administration is about containment, about featuring Russia as kind of a rogue state, as kind of a country that deserves isolation, sanctions and if there is no dialogue and understanding about what is behind the current world political situation, I don't think that there will be much of a breakthrough. So we're not too pessimistic, Polyansky said. We're realists." He stressed that the re-engagement of Russia and the United States in a strategic dialogue is the most pressing issue. I think the whole world is suffering from the lack of such dialogue, including on security issues, on regional security issues, he added. The Putin-Biden phone call underscored the troubled relations between the United States and Russia and the delicate balance between the former Cold War foes. While the Kremlin focused on the New START treaty, the White House said Biden raised concerns about the arrest of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Moscow's alleged involvement in a massive cyber espionage campaign and reports of Russian bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. On each of these issues, Polyansky said, there are a lot of allegations but there are no proofs, and there are no facts. Russia is told that information is classified and can't be shared which it doesn't like, he said. Give us the proof. ... We are innocent unless proved otherwise, that's our approach. Polyansky expressed hope that the success of New START will spur a dialogue. He pointed to a number of Russian proposals including having the two countries make a joint statement on the inadmissibility of a nuclear war which would bring us to the spirit of dtente, and exchange letters on initial commitments on non-interference in each other's affairs which Moscow proposed in July 2018 but hasn't received a reply from Washington. Polyansky said Russia is also waiting for the Biden administration to confirm its desire to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement between major powers and Iran known as the JCPOA which Trump withdrew from in 2018. After Trump re-imposed U.S. sanctions, Iran started increasing the level of uranium enrichment and taking other measures beyond JCPOA limits. The first step would be the clear expression of the United States to come back to the JCPOA, he said, stressing that it would be counterproductive for the U.S. to add any preconditions. The second step would be for Iran to say what Iran will do, how it will respond and how the steps it has taken will be reversed, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ballygowan and MiWadi owner Britvic expects its sales performance to continue to come under pressure this year in the face of national lockdowns in Ireland and the UK set to continue into March. The British soft drinks group said trading in the first quarter of its current financial year the three months to the end of December continued to be impacted by Covid restrictions in its main markets. Total group first-quarter revenue fell by nearly 6%, year-on-year, to 328.1m (371m). Britvic owns the likes of Drench water and the Robinsons range of juice drinks. In Ireland, it also owns the Club range and TK Lemonade and holds the Irish distribution rights to 7-Up, Pepsi Max and Mountain Dew. The introduction, in Britain and Ireland, of tighter pre-Christmas Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent national lockdown measures, have put further pressure on sales in both the hospitality sector and on-the-go consumption," said Britvic chief executive Simon Litherland. Read More Temporary easing of restrictions helped boost December retail sales "While there remains considerable uncertainty over the depth and duration of future restrictions, we anticipate they will remain in place at least through our second quarter. Consequently, we would expect performance to continue to be significantly affected," he said. Mr Litherland said group profit growth this year will depend on the pace of the easing of restrictions. In November, Britvic reported a near 9% fall to 1.4bn in annual revenues. In the first half of its last financial year, its Irish-based revenues fell by 12.5%. Mr Litherland said, however, Britvic will continue to invest in its brands. "While the introduction of the latest restrictions will undoubtedly impact this year's results, we will continue to implement our strategy." Here's what you need to know this morning: Thursday, Jan. 28 Type address separated by commas Your Email: Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Flash China will donate 300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Sri Lanka to jointly fight the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement from the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said Wednesday that China made the decision after a recent request by the Sri Lankan government. The vaccine doses are expected to be handed over to the Sri Lankan side in mid-February after the due procedures in both ends are completed, the statement said, noting that the vaccine is manufactured by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (Sinopharm). As an inactivated vaccine, it better ensures the safety of vaccines, and could be easily stored and transported at a regular fridge temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, the statement said. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's senior advisor Lalith Weeratunga told journalists in capital Colombo earlier Wednesday that presently the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) was conducting tests on the Sinopharm vaccine and once clearance is obtained from them, this vaccine could be used under an emergency basis. The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday rejected bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui for hurting religious sentiments, saying it was the constitutional duty of every citizen to promote brotherhood and harmony. Indore police had arrested Faruqui and his four associates after a complaint from Eklavya Gaur, son of Indore-4 BJP MLA Malini Gaur, alleged that he insulted religious sentiments of Hindus. 29-year-old Munawar was arrested by Indore Police on 2 January, a day after he was detained from Monroe Cafe on 1 January. However, Indore Town Inspector (Tukaganj Police Station) Kamlesh Sharma reportedly said, Theres no evidence against him for insulting Hindu deities or Union Minister Amit Shah, and added that Faruqui has been booked as an organiser. According to Live Law, two bail pleas filed by Faruquis lawyers have been rejected. This is the third bail plea and the first one in the states in high court where on 25 January, Justice Rohit Arya said at the outset, "But why you take undue advantage of other's religious sentiments and emotions. What is wrong with your mindset? How can you do this for the purpose of business? He is serial offender and often cracks defamatory jokes on Hindu gods and goddesses, the complainant Gaur said on the day of the comedians arrest. When I heard about Munawars show, I bought a ticket and went to see it. As expected, he was insulting Hindu deities and also mocked Home Minister Amit Shah by dragging his name with Godhra riots," he added. Faruquis bail plea was earlier rejected by a court in Madhya Pradesh on January 5. On January 13, Indore police chief Vijay Khatri acknowledged that there was no concrete evidence against Faruqui, but he defended his arrest. On January 14, Faruqui had moved Madhya Pradesh High court seeking bail. The matter was posted for hearing the next day. However, the plea was rejected then also. His judicial custody was extended till January 27. Faruqui and his associates Edvin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas and Nalin Yadav have been booked under IPC Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 298 (uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 269 (Whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Another FIR has been filed against him in UPs Allahabad on January 6 for charges of committing offences affecting communal harmony and hurting religious sentiments of people. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. - to Effect, among other matters, the Succession of the Aluminum Can and Aluminum Rolling Businesses through Company Splits (Simplified Absorption-Type Company Splits), and Result in Certain Consolidated Subsidiary Ceasing to be a Consolidated Subsidiary of Showa Denko K.K. TOKYO, Jan 28, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - This is to announce that the Company has decided to execute a master agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Master Agreement") with a special-purpose company formed by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (collectively, hereinafter referred to as "Apollo"), regarding a series of transactions, including the succession of the aluminum can business of the Company to Showa Aluminum Can Corp., which is a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of the Company (hereinafter referred to as "Showa Aluminum Can"), and the succession of the aluminum rolling business to Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum Corp., which is a wholly owned non-consolidated subsidiary of the Company (hereinafter referred to as "Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum"), by company splits (absorption-type company split), with tentative effective dates of June 1 2021 and August 2 2021, respectively. Following the completion of the series of transactions under the Master Agreement, Showa Aluminum Can is expected to no longer be consolidated subsidiary of the Company, and be succeeded by Apollo as an independent company. It should be noted that because the company splits will be a simplified absorption-type company splits (kani kyushu-bunkatsu) between the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, some disclosure items and details have been omitted from this press release. 1. Objectives of the Company Splits and the Series of Transactions The aluminum can business of the Company has provided high quality aluminum cans for beverages through an integrated process extending from the molding of can bodies and lids to printing, Showa Aluminum Can, which is a consolidated subsidiary of the Company, started to manufacture aluminum cans for beverages in 1971, becoming the first company in Japan to do so. In 2014, the Company acquired shares of Hanacans Joint Stock Company in Vietnam, and has been developing its business in the rapidly growing Vietnamese aluminum can market. In the domestic aluminum can market, although demand for alcoholic beverage cans has been stable with increasing demand for non-beer alcoholic beverages, there has been a significant decrease in demand for non-alcoholic beverage cans due to their replacement with PET bottles. It is expected that the business environment will continue to be challenging in the future. In order to respond to such changes in the domestic market, the Company has been working to strengthen its domestic business base, including by optimizing production capacity at its domestic production bases in June 2020. On the other hand, the Vietnamese aluminum can market is expected to see continued strong demand for beverage consumption in the future as well, and the Company, in July 2020, completed its third manufacturing facility in Vietnam, and has established a three-base system covering all of northern, central, and southern Vietnam. In the future, the Company is planning further growth by actively exploring opportunities to expand its business around the world, including in Vietnam, while promoting and strengthening its business foundation and aiming to stabilize profits in Japan. The aluminum rolling business of the Company commenced operations as Takada Aluminum Instrument Factory in 1933, later had its name changed to Showa Aluminum Corp., and then became the Sakai office of the Company in 2001. At present, the Company produces high purity aluminum foil for aluminum electrolytic capacitors, as well as aluminum plates that are used for building materials as well as cap and printed base materials. The high purity aluminum foil produced by the Company has strength in high-end products with high capacity and high strength, and the Company has the number one market share of sales in the global high purity aluminum foil for aluminum electrolytic capacitor market. In 2013, the Company established Showa Denko Aluminum (Nantong) Co., Ltd. in Nantong, China, and has built a manufacturing and sales system of stable supply of high quality, high purity aluminum foil for the rapidly growing Chinese market. Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are widely used in a range of fields from home appliances to IT equipment, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, as well as in the new energy sector, and demand is expected to grow, particularly in the environmental and energy sectors. As the market is expected to grow in the medium to long term in China in particular, the Company shall continue to further improve profitability by maintaining its technological superiority and strengthening its cost competitiveness. As set forth in the Long-term Vision for Newly Integrated Company published on December 10, 2020, the Company is aiming to become a world-class functional chemical manufacturer by combining the materials and know-how of the group in such pioneering fields as semiconductors and automobiles. In light of the rapidly changing business environment, the Company has been examining the optimal allocation of management resources and portfolio management to realize sustainable growth. After careful consideration of all available options, the Company reached the conclusion that the expansion of the aluminum can business and the aluminum rolling business would be best achieved through business partners that have specialized knowledge and management resources to enable future growth of these businesses together with the employees engaged in the respective business. Taking these factors into consideration, the Company decided to execute the transactions set forth in the Master Agreement with Apollo, which is one of the world's leading alternative investment managers and has a wealth of experience supporting aluminum-related industries for more than 20 years. The Company is confident that the active and strategic support based on Apollo's management resources, the aluminum can business and aluminum rolling business will be well positioned to execute its business strategies in a flexible and bold manner as independent companies to further growth and improve competitiveness. 2. Details of the Company Split and Series of Transactions (1) Schedule for the Company Split and Series of Transactions - Master Agreement Execution Date: January 28, 2021 - Absorption Split Agreement Execution Date (aluminum can business): April 21, 2021 (Expected) - Absorption Split Agreement Execution Date (aluminum rolling business): June 24, 2021 (Expected) - Absorption Split Effective Date (aluminum cans business) June 1, 2021 (Expected) - Absorption Split Effective Date (aluminum rolling business) August 2, 2021 (Expected) (Note) As the Company Split corresponds to a simplified company split (kani kyushu-bunkatsu) under Article 784 Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act, it is planned to be performed without the passing of a resolution at a general shareholders' meeting of the Company. (2) Company Split Method The Company shall be the splitting company, and Showa Aluminum Can and Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum shall be the respective succeeding companies of the split. (3) Details on Allocations Relating to the Company Split At the time of the Company Split, no shares shall be allocated, and no other consideration shall be provided. (4) Handling of Stock Acquisition Rights and Corporate Bonds with Stock Acquisition Rights in Conjunction with the Company Split Not applicable. (5) Capital Increase or Decrease Due to the Company Split The capital of the Company shall not be changed by the Company Split. (6) Rights and Obligations to be Succeeded by the Succeeding Companies The assets, liabilities, contractual positions, and other rights and obligations relating to the aluminum can business of the Company (limited to those prescribed in the absorption-type split agreement) shall be succeeded by Showa Aluminum Can, and the assets, liabilities, contractual positions, and other rights and obligations relating to the aluminum rolling business of the Company (limited to those prescribed in the absorption-type split agreement) shall be succeeded by Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum. (7) Prospect of Fulfillment of Debts It has been determined that there will be no issues in the prospect of the payment of debts of Showa Aluminum Can and Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum after the Company Split. 3. Overview of the Parties to the Company Split (aluminum can business) (Current as of January 28, 2021) Split Company / Successor Company (1) Name: Showa Denko Corp. / Showa Aluminum Can Corp. (2) Address: 13-9, Shiba Daimon 1-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo / 7th floor, Win Gotanda Building, 30-2, Nishi-Gotanda 1-Chome, Shinagawaku, Tokyo (3) Position and Name of Representative: Representative Director and President Kohei Morikawa / Representative Director and President: Yasushi Tashiro (4) Business descriptions: Manufacture and sale of petrochemicals, gas products, special chemicals, electronic and information-related products, inorganic products, and aluminum products, etc. / Manufacturer of aluminum cans, etc., in Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand (5) Capital: 140,564 million yen / 2,160 million yen (6) Date of establishment: June 1, 1939 / April 25, 1969 (7) Number of Issued Shares: 1,497,112,926 shares / 216,000 shares (8) Fiscal year-end: December 31 / December 31 (9) Major shareholders and shareholding ratio: The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd (account in trust) 7.24%, Korea Securities Depository Samsung 4.80%, Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (account in trust) (Custody Bank of Japan, Ltd., at present) 3.51%, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Company 3.09%, Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (account 7 in trust) 2.21% / Showa Denko Corp. 100% (10) Net assets: 519,433 million yen / 4,718 million yen (11) Total assets: 1,076,381 million yen / 35,579 million yen (12) Net Assets per Share: 3,423.25 yen / 21,837.96 yen (13) Sales: 906,454 million yen / 36,487 million yen (14) Operating income: 120,798 million yen / 1,253 million yen (15) Ordinary income: 119,293 million yen / 1,264 million yen (16) Net Income this Period Attributable to Parent Company: 73,088 million yen / -415 million yen (17) Per Share this Period Net Income: 501.03 yen / -1,921.30 yen In regard to (9), Showa Denko Corp. is current as of June 30, 2020. In regard to (10) to (17), the financial results of Showa Denko Corp. and Showa Aluminum Can are for the fiscal year ending December 2019. 4. Overview of the Parties to the Company Split (aluminum rolling business) (Current as of January 28, 2021) Split Company / Successor Company (1) Name: Showa Denko Corp. / Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum Corp. (2) Address: 13-9, Shiba Daimon 1-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo / 224, Umiyama-cho 6-Cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka (3) Position and Name of Representative: Representative Director and President Kohei Morikawa / Representative Director and President Takahiro Hosoi (4) Business descriptions: Manufacture and sale of petrochemicals, gas products, special chemicals, electronic and information-related products, inorganic products, and aluminum products, etc. / The production and processing of bare metal, cast products, rolled products, and foil made from light alloys such as aluminum (5) Capital: 140,564 million yen / 13 million yen (6) Date of establishment: June 1, 1939 / January 16, 1973 (7) Number of Issued Shares: 1,497,112,926 shares / 25,200 shares (8) Fiscal year-end: December 31 / December 31 (9) Major shareholders and shareholding ratio: The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd (account in trust) 7.24%, Korea Securities Depository Samsung 4.80%, Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (account in trust) (Custody Bank of Japan, Ltd., at present) 3.51%, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Company 3.09%, Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (account 7 in trust) 2.21% / Showa Denko Corp. 100% (10) Net assets: 519,433 million yen / 26 million yen (11) Total assets: 1,076,381 million yen / 934 million yen (12) Net Assets per Share: 3,423.25 yen / 1,047.62 yen (13) Sales: 906,454 million yen / 3,242 million yen (14) Operating income: 120,798 million yen / 2 million yen (15) Ordinary income: 119,293 million yen / 4 million yen (16) Net Income this Period Attributable to Parent Company: 73,088 million yen / 2 million yen (17) Per Share this Period Net Income: 501.03 yen / 76.63 yen In regard to (9), Showa Denko Corp. is current as of June 30, 2020. In regard to (10) to (17), the financial results of Showa Denko Corp. and Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum are for the fiscal year ending December 2019. 5. Overview of Department to be Split (1) Description of Business of Department to be Split aluminum can business: The manufacture and sale of aluminum cans, etc., for beverages of the Company aluminum rolling business: The manufacture and sale of high purity aluminum foil, etc., mainly to be used for electrolytic capacitors of the Company (2) Business Performance of Department to be Split (Sales Period Ending December 2019) aluminum cans business: 37,638 million yen aluminum rolling business: 17,791 million yen (3) Items and Amounts of Assets and Liabilities Subject to Split (Current as of September 30, 2020) aluminum cans business Assets Liabilities Current Assets: 12,371 million yen Fixed Assets: 15 million yen Total: 12,386 million yen Liabilities Current Liabilities: 4,922 million yen Fixed Liabilities: - Total: 4,922 million yen aluminum rolling business Assets Current Assets: 6,033 million yen Fixed Assets: 16,190 million yen Total: 22,223 million yen Liabilities Current Liabilities: 1,294 million yen Fixed Liabilities: 53 million yen Total: 1,347 million yen Note: The above amounts for both businesses are calculated based on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2020. The actual amount of the assets and liabilities to be succeeded may vary from the amounts stated above after reflecting any increase or decrease of the assets occurring prior to the effective date of the Company Splits. 6. Status of Listed Company and Absorption-Type Split Successor Company after the Split There shall be no change to the trade name, headquarters address, representative, business content, amount of stated capital, or fiscal year of the Company in conjunction with the Company Split. 7. Future Outlook The impact on the performance of the Company as a result of the company split and series of transactions shall be minor. The forecast of business performance for the period ending December 2021 including the impact of the series of these transactions is scheduled to be released in the announcement of the Company full-year financial statements in December 2020 which is expected on mid-February 2021. Note: Overview of Apollo Global Management Inc. Apollo is a leading global alternative investment manager with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Bethesda, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Apollo had assets under management of approximately $433 billion as of September 30, 2020 in credit, private equity and real assets funds invested across a core group of nine industries where Apollo has considerable knowledge and resources. For more information about Apollo, please visit its website at www.apollo.com. Full press release: www.sdk.co.jp/assets/files/english/news/2021/20210128_sdknewsrelease_e.pdf About Showa Denko K.K. Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TOKYO:4004, ADR:SHWDY) is a major manufacturer of chemical products serving heavy industry to computers and electronics. Our Petrochemicals segment provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene; Chemicals provides high-performance gases and chemicals to semicon and other industries; Inorganics provides ceramic products: alumina, abrasives, refractory/graphite electrodes and fine carbons. Aluminum provides aluminum materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminum; Electronics provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra high-bright LEDs and rare earth magnetic alloys; Advanced Battery Materials (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery components. Please visit us at www.sdk.co.jp/english/. For further information, contact: Showa Denko K.K., CSR & Corporate Communication Office, Tel: 81-3-5470-3235 Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. SHOWA DENKO-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de A week after his inauguration, US President Joe Biden has withdrawn a Trump-era rule rescinding work authorisation for H4 visa holders, who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas, with majority being highly-skilled Indian women. An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The H4 visa is normally issued to those who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status in the US. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on Monday said the proposed rule titled, "Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation, was being withdrawn. Spouses of Indian professionals on H-1B visas, mostly women, are the biggest beneficiary of the Obama-era rule that gave employment authorisation cards. Soon after coming to power, the Trump administration in 2017 announced that it would rescind that rule. However, the Republican Party-led Trump administration was not able to complete the process in the four year of its rule. During the presidential election, the Biden campaign had promised to withdraw the Trump administrations move. Soon after his electoral victory, a group of 60 members of the US House of Representatives in a letter urged Biden, a Democrat, to unilaterally extend the expiration work authorisation documents for holders of H4 visas. We respectfully request that the Department of Homeland Security publish a Federal Register notice on day one of your administration that would extend the validity period of all expired H4 EADs (Employment Authorisation Document), the members of Congress wrote to Biden in a letter on December 16. In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a rule allowing certain H4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders to legally seek employment in the US, the letter said. This rule presented an important step towards rectifying gender disparities in our immigration system, as around 95 percent of H4 visa holders who have secured work authorisations are women. As of December 2017, USCIS had approved 1,26,853 applications for employment authorisation for H-4 visa holders. According to a 2018 report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) 93 percent of approved applications for H-4 employment authorisation were issued to individuals born in India, and five per cent were issued to individuals born in China. This is the heartwarming moment a dementia-hit Liverpool fan starts singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' when his daughter reveals his bedroom decorated with club memorabilia. Alfred Johnson, 68, moved in with his daughter Donna, 38, at her home in Walton, Liverpool, when he was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia three years ago. Donna decided to transform his bedroom into a shrine to Liverpool FC - the club he has supported since he was a boy - after the father-of-four was taken to hospital with a blocked bowel earlier this month. She spent 500 on various decor for the room including scarves, a floor mat, bedsheets and even wallpaper with the Liverpool FC insignia, which took her a week to renovate. Revealing the finished room to her father for the first time this week, Donna was moved to tears as he started singing along to the club's iconic anthem. Alfred Johnson, 68, pictured with his daughter Donna, 38, singing along to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' by Gerry and the Pacemakers inside his newly-decorated bedroom in Walton, Liverpool Footage shows retired carpenter Alfred walking up the stairs with 'You'll Never Walk Alone' by Gerry and the Pacemakers heard in the background ahead of the big reveal, before breaking into a smile as he enters his room. Mother-of-two Donna then starts singing along to the song, but is left sobbing when her father joins in while sat on his new bed. Donna then shows Alfred a Liverpool FC t-shirt that she's also bought for him, and says: 'Told you it would be a surprise didn't I?' She said: 'As soon as I put the music on and started walking him up the stairs I could feel the tears coming. 'He was sat singing and then started rattling off names of all the old players like Kenny Dalglish and Tommy Smith, so I think it has triggered some memories for him. 'When he started singing along and I saw his face beaming at me I just started sobbing. 'It was just pure excitement on his face, it was just so joyful seeing him that happy.' She added: 'I've always been a daddy's girl, he means the absolute world to me. When he got sick I refused to put him into care and I became his full time carer. Alfred's new room. Mother-of-two Donna spent 500 on various decor for the room including scarves, a floor mat, bedsheets and even wallpaper with the Liverpool FC insignia The room pictured before and after the renovation, which took a week. Donna said: 'He absolutely loves his new room, he's barely come out of it since I showed him it for the first time' Alfred pictured in his new bed, which is decorated with Liverpool FC-themed bedsheets. Donna said: 'He was born and bred in Liverpool and he's supported them all his life' 'When he got ill he started calling me Betty but now he calls me "mum". The first day he called me mum it broke my heart. 'These special moments with him are so precious.' Alfred was diagnosed with dementia in October 2018 aged 65 and Donna became his full-time carer. Donna said: 'He was born and bred in Liverpool and he's supported them all his life. 'He absolutely loves his new room, he's barely come out of it since I showed him it for the first time.' Its a condition that affects more than 350,000 people in this country, but people dont know what it is, and those who live with it often do so in silence. But a recent campaign is trying to shine a light on overactive bladder (OAB) to raise awareness of the condition and let those affected by it know that help is at hand, and to encourage people to seek help sooner rather than later. Research shows that more than one third of people have no idea what OAB is, and while there is a common misconception that it mainly affects women, figures show that 52pc of those with OAB here are men. Read More The research also show that a quarter of Irish women, aged 4070, have experienced OAB symptoms, but due to embarrassment or unease about talking about the issue, many leave it until the condition is adversely affecting their quality of life before seeking medical treatment. OAB is a treatable medical condition in which the bladder is more active than usual. Instead of staying at rest as urine fills the bladder, the muscle contracts frequently and spontaneously. Its different to stress urinary incontinence, which is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles and results in leakage through exercise, coughing or sneezing. According to James Forde, a urologist at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, there are a number of symptoms of OAB; one is an urgency to urinate which results in a dash to the bathroom, and another is having to go to the toilet frequently during the day and getting up at night to urinate. Mr Forde says the condition can result in urinary incontinence, where the sufferer may not make it to the bathroom in time, resulting in the leakage of urine. In Ireland, the most recent research shows that 350,000 people are affected, so its pretty widespread. Theres a perception that this affects females, but it seems to be an equal split between men and women, says Mr Forde. While he explains that the symptoms of OAB can be caused by different conditions, for a large number of sufferers, its idiopathic that is, the cause is unknown. We dont know why the bladder all of a sudden doesnt want to hold a large amount of urine and contracts, he says. Treatment for OAB begins with active management of the condition before medical interventions may be deemed necessary, and fluid intake is one of the first things doctors will look at, according to Mr Forde. He explains that while many people are used to getting their fluids from tea, coffee and other caffeinated and sugary drinks, these can actually irritate the bladder. Drinking water and keeping a bladder diary, where patients can see how much fluid theyre taking in and how regularly theyre going to the toilet to urinate, is a useful tool in highlighting whats going on, he says. Doing exercises to retrain the bladder by trying to hold on for longer periods of time before going to the toilet and allowing the wave of urgency to pass, is an important step in treatment. If conservative management fails, then doctors will move to considering medication which reduces the contractions of the bladder, and in some cases, surgery. Mr Forde points out that by the time patients come to see him, OAB is having an impact on their quality of life. At work, they may be going to the toilet frequently and getting up at night to urinate regularly, which is affecting their quality of sleep. It also leaves people worried about going into certain situations unless they know they have access to a toilet. A lot of people dont understand that this is a medical issue. They dont realised there is treatment and that it is effective, he says. For Daisy (not her real name), a mother of four in her early 60s, symptoms of OAB began in 2007, but she suffered in silence for many years before going to her GP and being referred for further treatment. It was only when the condition began to have a detrimental effect on her life and she didnt want to leave home that she finally sought help. Its not an easy subject to go to the doctor with. It got to the stage where Id barely make it in the door of the house to make it to the toilet and I said, Enough is enough, says Daisy. She was referred to a consultant for urodynamics, a series of tests to evaluate the bladder, and diagnosed with OAB. In her case, medical drug treatment to relax the bladder was deemed necessary. Im wonderful now. I can hold on for ages now and the physical pressure I felt is gone. It had got to the stage I didnt want to go anywhere, and if I did, I was looking for a bathroom every half hour, says Daisy. It took away my life I could go nowhere. It was a battle. Its so simple you just go you to the doctor and theyll run some tests. Its a whole new world now and its like Ive got a whole new bladder. I can take long flights, I can sit in the cinema. When I first went to the doctor, I couldnt manage a trip to town for half an hour without finding a bathroom, she says. According to Professor Barry OReilly, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Cork University Hospital, OAB has been a taboo subject for many years. But other countries, including Australia, have run very informative public health campaigns which have been hugely helpful in raising awareness. Lifestyle changes, including managing your fluid intake, is the first thing doctors will look at if OAB is diagnosed. Dr OReilly explains that normal fluid intake in this climate is between six and eight glasses of fluids a day or 1.5 to 2 litres. In some cases, by avoiding excessive intake, people can alleviate their symptoms. Expand Close Urologist James Forde / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Urologist James Forde Avoiding caffeine, a potent bladder stimulant, is important when looking at your fluids, he says. In some cases, patients are asked to fill in a fluid volume chart over a period of days to get an idea of how much theyre taking in, he says. And according to Dr OReilly, retraining the bladder or getting people to hold on a little bit longer before they go to the toilet is also a key tool in treatment. This can be aided by giving medication to relax the bladder. The condition can be so severe that it has an impact on a persons quality of life. They wear dark clothes all the time, they wont go to peoples houses in case they leak on their couch. It can cause anxiety, and depression is strongly correlated with it. The first step is going to the doctor and seeking help, says Dr OReilly. Its about starting the conversation and not putting up with it. It was a taboo subject for many years, but there is absolutely something that can be done, he says. Maynooth-based chartered physiotherapist Leah Bryans says some of her work involves helping people understand how the bladder should function and teaching them techniques to control the urge to urinate. An OAB is one which sends a very strong signal or urgency to urinate, she says. Working with patients to retrain the bladder, she teaches them techniques to hold on a little longer before giving in to the urge. Sometimes it involves teaching them different strategies to help them ignore the urge to go. We do it in stages and its often down to lifestyle changes. Some fluids will give you a stronger sense of urgency. I say Tea makes you pee even more so than coffee. Caffeinated beverages irritate the bladder, so I say to my patients they might need to reduce it, and tea is a big trigger, says Bryans. She also teaches patients techniques to interrupt the signal from the brain to the bladder. The brain can only deal with one signal at a time, so we try to interrupt it. Doing things like standing on your tiptoes or scrunching up your toes. This can make your bladder stop talking to you. The urgency comes like a wave, so we teach patients to ride that wave by doing deep breathing and staying calm, she adds. For more information on the Control OAB campaign, go to oab.ie Read More NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Allies to continue to increase defence spending, invest in modern capabilities and boost the readiness of armed forces to cope with global challenges such as Russias aggressive actions, terrorism and Chinas rise. He told Allied Chiefs of Defence that NATO must remain fit to face any challenge amid a more unpredictable and competitive world. "Our democracy, our values, and the rules-based order are being challenged. So we must remain fit to face any challenge the future may bring," the NATO chief said. Belgian health authorities announced they have inspected a pharmaceutical factory in Belgium to find out whether expected delays in the deliveries of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine are due to production issues. The European Commission had asked the Belgian government to inspect the factory amid a heated public dispute between the 27-nation bloc and the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker. EU officials are under tremendous political pressures because the blocs vaccine rollout has been much slower than that of Israel or Britain. Chemical manufacturer Novaseps factory in the town of Seneffe is part of the European production chain for the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. AstraZeneca said last week that it planned to cut initial deliveries in the EU from the scheduled 80 million doses scheduled to 31 million doses because of reduced yields from its manufacturing plants in Europe. Expand Close European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides (Olivier Hoslet/Pool Photo via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides (Olivier Hoslet/Pool Photo via AP) The EU said it would receive even fewer, just one-quarter of the doses that its member nations were supposed to get during January, February and March. However, the blocs executive commission said it remains confident that the AstraZeneca delay will not affect its plans to ensure that at least 80% of EU citizens over age 80 are vaccinated by March. Stefan de Keersmaecker, the commissions health policy spokesman, said that target is based on the availability of doses manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. It is an ambitious target, but we believe it is a realistic one, he said. The EU, which has 450 million people, has signed deals for six different vaccines, but so far regulators have only authorised the use of two one made by Pfizer and another by Moderna. T The European Medicines Agency is scheduled to consider the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday. In total, the EU has ordered up to 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and sealed deals with other companies for more than two billion shots. Constructive tone in our exchange with @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, in our Vaccine Steering Board, on deliveries of their vaccine following approval. The EU remains united & firm ai Contractual obligations must be met, vaccines must be delivered to EU citizens. Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) January 27, 2021 A third round of talks between AstraZeneca and EU officials did not produce immediate results on Wednesday, but the commission still hopes the dispute can be resolved. What we have been discussing with AstraZeneca is how they can deliver to us as quickly as possible the doses which we believe are required in order to vaccinate the population, European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer said. We believe it is in the interest of European citizens. More than 400,000 EU residents with Covid-19 have died since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the EU, the Belgian factory is one of four AstraZeneca sites included in the contract sealed by the commission and the company to produce vaccines for the EU market. France Dammel, a spokesperson for Belgiums health minister, said experts from the federal medicine agency inspected the Novasep site. They will now work with Dutch, Italian and Spanish experts before delivering a report in the coming days. Manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine is a pioneering process in terms of scale, complexity and quantity, Novasep said in a statement to The Associated Press. We have worked closely with AstraZeneca and conducted regular and coordinated reviews of the production processes to ensure the active drug substance was delivered on time and met the highest standards for quality and stability. Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for health and food safety, said AstraZeneca should provide vaccines from its UK facilities if it is unable to meet commitments from factories in the EU. She also made clear the EU would find out if some of the doses manufactured in the EU were diverted elsewhere. No company should be under any illusion that we dont have the means to understand what is happening, Ms Kyriakides said. We do have a knowledge of the production of the doses, where they were produced, and if they have bee sent anywhere, where this is. A European Union top official said the bloc should look at legal ways to secure enough supplies of Covid-19 vaccines if negotiations with pharmaceutical companies do not succeed. In a reply to a letter he received from four EU government leaders, EU Council president Charles Michel said the bloc should explore all options and make use of all legal means and enforcement measures at our disposal under the Treaties. Trending Reporter Tawney Beans has been with TNR since 2019 as a staff reporter and trending reporter, where she writes about popular news topics related to UC. She has completed internships with UCs Marketing and Communication department and the Akron Beacon Journal. Boost: Donald Trump has reached out to senators for support. Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis All but five Republican senators have backed former president Donald Trump in a key test vote ahead of his impeachment trial. The results suggest the proceedings are likely to end with Mr Trumps acquittal on the charge that he incited the January 6 Capitol riot. The vote also demonstrated the continued hold Mr Trump holds over GOP officeholders, even after his exit from the White House under a historic cloud caused by his refusal to concede the November election and his unprecedented efforts to challenge the result. Mr Trumps trial is not scheduled to begin until February 9, but senators were sworn in for the proceedings on Tuesday and they immediately voted on an objection raised by Senator Rand Paul questioning the constitutional basis for the impeachment and removal of a former president. Impeachment is for removal from office, and the accused here has already left office, he argued, adding that the trial would drag our great country down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol, the likes of which has never been seen. Democrats argue that Mr Trump must be held accountable for the riot, which saw the Capitol overrun and claimed the lives of one police officer and four rioters. Read More Mr Pauls argument, they said, suggests presidents can act with impunity late in their terms. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said the argument is flat-out wrong by every frame of analysis constitutional context, historical practice, precedent and basic common sense. The final vote was 55 to 45 to kill Mr Pauls objection, with GOP senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Patrick Toomey joining all 50 Democrats. The largely partisan vote indicated much of the GOPs anger over Mr Trumps actions has faded. Notably, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who previously said Mr Trump had provoked the mob voted to back Mr Paul and Mr Trump, who has reached out to senators to marshal support for his defence. Convicting Mr Trump would require support from 67 members of the 100-member body. The Democratic-led House has already impeached Mr Trump a historic second time. If convicted in the Senate, he could be barred from holding future office with a subsequent majority vote. Mr Paul had sought to muster at least 34 votes in support of his objection to signal there were enough senators with misgivings to secure an acquittal. After the vote, he declared the impeachment trial is dead on arrival. Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been advising Mr Trump on his defence, said he considered 45 votes to be a floor, not a ceiling for an acquittal vote. He just needs to keep doing what hes doing, and the trial will be over in a couple of weeks, he told reporters. Some senators who voted with Mr Paul disputed that the vote was a foolproof indication of the trials outcome. Senator Rob Portman said he wanted to hear a debate on the constitutionality question but had not yet decided whether to convict Mr Trump. But several other Republicans, including Ms Collins, drew the conclusion that an acquittal was now a fait accompli. I think its pretty obvious from the vote today that it is extraordinarily unlikely that the president will be convicted, she said. Just do the math. Before the vote, Republican senators heard from Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor who has argued that a former president cannot be tried for impeachment. Mr Turley said he had presented a nuanced argument: that the benefits of condemning a now-departed president were outweighed by the cost of setting the precedent that Congress could retrospectively impeach and remove former presidents, thus creating a new political weapon. The theory has gained traction among Republicans as a way to side with Mr Trump while sidestepping the question of whether he incited the violence at the Capitol the allegation at the heart of the impeachment. ( The Washington Post) is now a 5G-ready network and the telecom operator is waiting for adequate spectrum allocation to rollout services in the country, said Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, on Thursday. Recently, the company demonstrated live over a commercial network in Hyderabad city and said that its network is ready. did this over its existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band through the Non Stand Alone network technology. Using the dynamic spectrum sharing, Airtel operated 5G and 4G concurrently within the same spectrum block. I am very proud of our engineers who have worked tirelessly to showcase this incredible capability in Tech City, Hyderabad today. Every one of our investments is future proofed as this game changing test in Hyderabad proves. With Airtel being the first operator to demonstrate this capability, we have shown again that we have always been the first in India to pioneer new technologies in our quest for empowering Indians everywhere, said Gopal Vittal. Airtel said it is capable of delivering 10x speeds, 10x latency and 100x concurrency when compared to existing technologies. In the Hyderabad demonstration, users were able to download a full length movie in a matter of seconds on a 5G phone. This demonstration has underlined the companys technology capabilities. The full impact of the 5G experience, however, will be available to our customers, when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals received, Airtel said. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A defiant Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw on Thursday forcefully defended how she led her department during protests and civil unrest last year following a critical independent report, saying she has the support of Mayor Jim Kenney and will not resign. She said while police were initially woefully understaffed on May 30, the first day of protests in the city, and when that was brought to her attention, we began to bolster those resources. Am I enough? Absolutely, and some, she said during a news conference. Do I deserve to be here? Absolutely, and some. Did I lead this department in the last year? Absolutely, and some. No police commissioner, chief, superintendent has ever had to deal with what weve dealt with in the past year. Kenney did not attend the news conference, but tweeted shortly after that Outlaw has his full support, saying I appointed Commissioner Outlaw because of her commitment to true and lasting reform, and she deserves the citys support to make that a reality. Outlaw left as chief of the Portland Police Bureau to take the Philadelphia job. The report, released Wednesday, was commissioned by the city controller and conducted by two independent firms. It revealed new details about Outlaws decision-making process and actions during three days of civil unrest in late May and early June last year, including that she sought to use tear gas against protesters even as Kenney and at least one other top police official expressed some opposition. In addition, the report offered new information showing Outlaw was on scene at critical moments and either observed without taking command, or left as the situation escalated, including on June 1 when protesters took over I-676 and police sprayed tear gas while protesters were trapped in a ravine. Outlaw told investigators she and then-deputy commissioner Dennis Wilson discussed by phone whether to use tear gas to disperse the crowd, but said she told him to call her before he gave final approval. That didnt happen, according to Outlaw. Officers then used tear gas and rubber bullets as protesters tried to escape, needing to scale a 10-foot fence to get away. According to the report, Outlaw told investigators she was sitting in a parked SUV on an overpass as the crowd made its way onto the highway. But Outlaw said Thursday that she was in the area when she heard over police radio that tear gas had been deployed. She said she parked on the overpass and did not take over command of the incident. She said she could not see what was going on, but was close enough to have some form of situational awareness and follow over the radio. Wilson was demoted weeks later. The report also detailed a meeting that took place the day before the incident on I-676. On May 31, Outlaw met with top brass and discussed using tear gas to quell civil unrest. She, her driver, and other commanders were fitted for gas masks. Hours later, crowds gathered in West Philadelphia, and people began burglarizing stores and setting fire to police vehicles. Outlaw authorized police to use tear gas on 52nd Street, between Market and Chestnut, a one-block area. SWAT officers indiscriminately sprayed tear gas over a half-mile stretch for more than two hours, with residents of the majority-Black neighborhood reporting that the chemical was seeping into their homes. Outlaw said the decision to use tear gas was not predetermined ahead of the initial demonstration. She also during prepared remarks that the report failed to note that dozens of police officers sustained injuries during the unrest. The report mentioned injuries sustained by police at least three times, including on page 1 of the introduction where it noted that 104 officers were injured over the course of the civil unrest. Using ImagineAR's licensed AR SDK and cloud-based studio suite, IMP will create immersive AR engagements for manufacturers and consumers attending virtual and future in-person auto shows In 2019, IMP created an AR scavenger hunt for the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show ImagineAR Inc ( ) (OTCQB:IPNFF) (FRA:GMS1) announced the execution of a three-year, $150,000 software development kit (SDK) licensing and revenue sharing agreement with Interactive Marketing Promotions (IMP) to integrate immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences within the companys new Touch-A-Prize auto show app. Using ImagineAR's licensed AR SDK and cloud-based studio suite, IMP will create immersive AR engagements for manufacturers and consumers attending virtual and future in-person auto shows across North America. In 2019, IMP created an AR scavenger hunt for the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show, which was presented by the Automobile Dealers Association of Metro Milwaukee. The companys other auto show clients have included Alabama, St. Louis, Hawaii International, Sacramento, Orlando, Tampa and other Motor Trend shows. "ImagineAR continues to be the global leader in delivering dynamic mobile augmented reality engagements, IMP CEO Bob Kames said in a statement. By integrating the ImagineAR platform with our IMP app, we are providing automobile shows the most advanced interactive consumer attendee engagement solution and data capture tool." In addition to on-site and virtual scavenger hunts, AR technology will be able to virtually bring automobile product experts on location as avatars or holograms. "We have successfully worked with IMP prior to the onset of the pandemic," ImagineAR Alen Paul Silverrstieen said. "Our partnership will be focused on the automobile event marketplace as well as synergistic opportunities in North America. Additionally, IMP is also an authorized ImagineAR reseller for the SDK and white label products." Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel [January 28, 2021] observIQ's Stanza Log Agent Now a Part of OpenTelemetry Project observIQ, a provider of next-generation observability solutions for ITOps and DevOps teams, today announced that its open source log agent Stanza is now part of the OpenTelemetry Project as the key component for log collection. Since its inception in 2020, observIQ's mission has been to deliver a simple to use, powerful, and performant log management experience. observIQ launched Stanza as an open source project in mid-2020 with the goal of developing a high-performance, yet flexible, open source log agent. observIQ and OpenTelemetry have agreed to include Stanza as the log agent component within OpenTelemetry. Several observIQ team members will join the project as maintainers of the log agent component to continue to innovate in log agent technology and help to advance the mission of OpenTelemetry. This announcement comes as observIQ launches observIQ Cloud, its log management platform designed to dramatically simplify log management for ITOps and DevOps teams. "We're pleased that observIQ's Stanza log agent will become a key part of the OpenTelemetry project," said Mike Kelly, CTO of observIQ. "This has been in the works for many months and the team at observIQ is excited to see it become a reality. This announcement coincides with the launch of our log management platform, which will be the first platform to take full advantage of the log agent technology now incorporated into OpenTelemetry." Morgan McClean, Co-Founder of OpenTelemetry, also commented on th news, saying, "We are thrilled to integrate observIQ's Stanza log agent into the OpenTelemetry Project." McClean added, "observIQ's contribution to the logs portion of the project will significantly increase the usability and adoption of OpenTelemetry for all IT professionals." Torsten Volk, Managing Research Director at Enterprise Management Associates ( EMA (News - Alert) ), stated, "Observability gaps and interoperability breakdowns are often side-effects of the increasingly rapid adoption of cloud native open source technologies. In this world of increasing technology complexity, organizations are often partially blind to operational risk that is present whether they are aware of it or not. I applaud the observIQ platform for helping enterprises gain complete visibility by providing a unified log management platform as a service that consistently and comprehensively captures logs and dependencies across cloud native and traditional app stacks. Here it is exciting to see that observIQ's Stanza high performance open source agent has become the foundation layer of the logs portion of the OpenTelemetry observability framework as this makes unified open source log management available to ITOps and DevOps alike." To download the Stanza open source log agent, please visit GitHub at https://go.observiq.com/observIQ-OpenTelemetry-Github. You may sign-up for a free trial of observIQ Cloud at https://go.observiq.com/observIQ-OpenTelemetry-FreeTrial. To learn more, please read this blog post by observIQ's CTO Mike Kelly. About OpenTelemetry OpenTelemetry is an observability framework - software and tools that assist in generating and capturing telemetry data from cloud-native software. The project has wide industry support including contributions from Google, Amazon, Splunk (News - Alert) , New Relic and others. https://opentelemetry.io/ About observIQ observIQ builds next-generation observability solutions for ITOps and DevOps teams. Built by engineers for engineers, observIQ's solutions accelerate, simplify, and enhance observability across today's hybrid environments. For more information, visit observIQ. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005370/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Texas Education Agency agreed last summer to pay up to $15 million for two years of access to a digital platform for dyslexic students that will not be ready for widespread use until February or March, according to documents and emails obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Documents show TEA officials used emergency procurement measures to tap Baltimore-based AmplioSpeech to provide access to its virtual learning platform to students with dyslexia and speech-language disorders, as well as trained speech pathologists. At minimum, the agency agreed to pay $410,000 a month to the company. TEA officials say eight districts are using the software as part of a pilot program now, with 300 students using the service. Records show the agency does not have an official contract with the company, and the only documents outlining what the company was hired to do are purchase orders, emergency procurement forms and a four-page table of pricing and services they would provide. Emails and requisition forms show the agency plans to spend as much as $15 million for 23 months depending on how many students use the service, and state officials expect districts to pay up to an additional $15 million over the same period to AmplioSpeech. According to a TEA statement, Matt Montano, deputy commissioner of special populations and monitoring, originally reached out to AmplioSpeech last spring to help continue speech therapy services for students after schools closed to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. TEA paid the company $1 million. Before that first contract was completed, Montano and others decided to buy access to the companys platform. Stakeholder groups have long expressed concern around the quality of services provided to students with dyslexia in Texas, TEA officials wrote. Long-term, this partnership with AmplioSpeech will aid school systems in providing high-quality dyslexia services to eligible students well into the future. This platform is just one way TEA is responding to those concerns at the student level. TEA officials on Thursday said the agreement will last 23 months, but only the first 11 months are funded. According to an AmplioSpeech pricing sheet, its online platform will enable students to videoconference with therapists, allow therapists to track student progress and give students access to games and additional work they can do on their own as well as digital access to dyslexia curricula currently used by Texas schools. TEA officials said they hoped the platform will be launched statewide within the next two months. Eight districts currently are using the platform as part of a pilot, and some are paying additional fees for AmplioSpeech-employed speech language pathologists to work with their students, according to the TEA. TEA officials wrote in a statement that CARES Act dollars were used to bring as much ongoing benefit to the state from those federal monies as possible. However, some special education and dyslexia advocates say much of the work promised by the arrangement with AmplioSpeech can be done with existing resources. You could use Zoom to do this work. So, if youre going to spend $15 million, spend it on the service, not on the platform, said Robbi Cooper, state leader for policy and advocacy with Decoding Dyslexia. To really help districts, the money should be spent offsetting the cost of the providers and therapists working with kids. Kristin McGuire, director of governmental relations for the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, said much still is unknown about the arrangement and how schools would interact or be expected to help shoulder the cost of the new platform. And because the platform will not be ready for a statewide launch until most of this school year is over, she questioned how much benefit it would have. Im not sure who would have asked for this, McGuire said. Im never not going to be thankful to participate in some type of disability intervention service, but I cant say that this was kind of a statewide desire or desperate ask. Im not sure exactly where the decision to do this came from. COVID opened the door Records show TEA awarded a contract to AmplioSpeech last April, without soliciting cost projections or proposals from other companies. The agency paid the company $1 million up front on April 15 to provide access to its platform, and in some cases speech and language pathologists, to help dyslexic students across Texas receive therapies remotely. That contract was meant to provide at least 10,000 students with help, which agency officials said it accomplished. AmplioSpeech CEO Yair Shapira said he started the company in Israel in 2014 after trying to help his son overcome a stutter. The platform went through years of research and development before it first was unveiled in some Israeli and U.S. schools in 2019. He said the companys U.S. operations are headquartered in Maryland, but 36 employees live in Texas and many others are scattered across the country. It serves tens of thousands of students nationwide, Shapira said. Media reports show it has also been used in Michigan and Walton County, Fla. TEA officials said Montano first became familiar with AmplioSpeech at a conference and contacted the company when schools began to close last March. Records show AmplioSpeech employees submitted a proposal to connect dyslexic students with speech pathologists. The company proposed to provide training, a TEA-branded dashboard, online documentations of services, self-practice tools, technical support and language therapists to help districts that were short-staffed. In exchange, it wanted $1 million up front, an additional $20.15 per student served each week, plus $66.36 per student served by an AmplioSpeech therapist. COVID opened the door in many ways, Shapira said. To have evidence-based curricula, this new technology, personalized and standardized therapy intervention we believe AmplioSpeechs platform worked great during COVID times and will work for the horrible learning loss were starting to see in post-COVID times. Although AmplioSpeechs original agreement was not set to expire until the end of September, emails show TEA officials were eager to keep using the companys platform or something similar. By the summer, Montano said TEA officials had reached out to seven potential vendors for a project that would give students access to a new dyslexia platform. Three, including AmplioSpeech, submitted bids. The work TEA sought was nearly identical to what it received from AmplioSpeech in the spring, except the work ultimately awarded to AmplioSpeech in the fall would include digitizing dyslexia curricula currently used in Texas schools so it could be accessed over the platform. Under a payment schedule approved by TEA, the company is to receive $410,000 a month for 11 months to provide services to 0-20,000 students. That caught the attention of TEA accountants, who sought to clarify AmplioSpeechs completed work with Montano before paying the first invoice. While the contract started on October 1, I do not think they have provided a service to a single student, Montano replied. TEA accountant David Alonzo seemed baffled and emailed Montano a table detailing what TEA owed the company for serving as few as zero students. Just want to confirm with you, is the 410K charge valid for zero students? Alonzo asked. Yes. This makes sense, Montano replied. Please proceed with payment. Shapira and Montano said the first few invoices paid by TEA helped cover the cost of digitizing the existing dyslexia curricula. TEA officials said they began the second contract under a broad purchase agreement to facilitate a quick launch of the service. It took a while to get the ball rolling, Shapira said. I hope it will be launched very soon, and eventually it needs to get into the hands of hundreds of thousands of students. Not ready for rollout It is not the first time a TEA arrangement with a vendor has drawn scrutiny. In 2017, the agency issued a $4.4 million no-bid contract to a new technology firm to collect and analyze data regarding disabled students individual education programs. That contract was canceled seven months later amid concerns raised by parents and special education advocates. State auditors later said TEA had paid the company, SpedX, $2.5 million but the firm had done only about $150,000 worth of work. The U.S. Department of Education has ordered TEA to repay the $2.5 million in federal dollars spent on the aborted project. The agency still is fighting that penalty. AmplioSpeechs pricing schedule shows districts would pay $10 for each student who uses the platform, plus an additional weekly per-student fee if districts use the companys speech language pathologists to provide services. Montano and TEA officials said they are working with the company to reduce or eliminate the fees paid by districts after some in the pilot program said the costs would likely preclude some schools from being able to participate. Currently, 300 students in eight districts are using AmplioSpeechs platform as part of the states pilot program. Houston ISD officials issued a statement saying that the district received 25 student passes from TEA, but that 4,575 students were using AmplioSpeech this year. They did not respond to questions about how the service is working and how much the district is paying for the service. Melissa De Leon, director of special education for the Orenda Public Charter School District in Georgetown, said 50 students there are using the service. She said the charter system had a vacant speech and language pathologist position they were unable to fill, and AmplioSpeech was able to fill that gap with its professionals. She said the services the company was providing were high quality, and the digital platform has been especially helpful with remote and in-person learners. Misty Higgins, special education director at Port Neches-Grove ISD, said about 25 of its students who are homebound due to medical conditions connect with AmplioSpeechs speech and language pathologists but that no students in their schools are using the platform. We are very grateful for TEA and for AmplioSpeech developing this, Higgins said. I feel like its been very beneficial, and our parents have really liked it. While the service may be helpful to some districts, special education directors in local districts are not as concerned with having a digital platform for dyslexic students as they are with how they will help students with disabilities catch up after missing out on services during the pandemic, McGuire said. Is this the most appropriate way to prioritize our relief funding, when we know and everyone has acknowledged theres some sort of learning loss experience, regardless of disability? McGuire said. I would much prefer a district be able to look at its population of students, their individual needs, and say, Were going to use this relief funding to pay for this particular service, or to contract with this occupational therapist to make up for what this student didnt get. Cooper with Decoding Dyslexia agreed. I think it was hastily done with good intentions and bad results, Cooper said. CARES Act dollars, to me, would mean its used for a shorter period of time during the pandemic. And the fact they ran this by special education directors to see if they could absorb the additional $15 million its like buying somebody a car, and you dont know if they can afford to pay the insurance. shelby.webb@chron.com twitter.com/shelbywebb Goods valued above 100.000 Euro to be distributed to people in need living in Bavaria. TREKSTOR CEO asking other companies to get active as well. Today the TREKSTOR GmbH, the manufacturer behind the blnk branded healthcare products, completed delivery of 100.000 FFP2 class respirators to the Tafel Deutschland. This is a reaction to the increased demand for certified PPE products created by both decisions of the federal government as well as the FFP2 mandate active in the state of Bavaria. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005522/en/ A volunteer at Tafel Bayern takes possession of and inspects the donated FFP2 respirators. (Photo: Business Wire) "As a German company, which mainly exists today due to the sales of entry-level PCs and tablets to price-sensitive customers in the past, we are aware of our responsibility to our fellow citizens", Shimon Szmigiel, CEO of TREKSTOR, explains. "Many of them are lagging the financial prowess to purchase high quality protective equipment, a state that is worsened by lay-offs and short-time work arrangements." Therefore, TREKSTOR decided on short notice to donate 50.000 packs containing 2 pcs of its own blnk brand model BL-03N FFP2 respirators, which are normally sold to government, hospital and care facilities. As do all FFP2 respirators, it filters =94% of particles, in the COVID-19 relevant comparison with NaCL, the masks even performed above the 99% mark. "The selection of Tafel Deutschland as our partner was very easy", adds Shimon Szmigiel. This is due to existing infrastructure and experience when it comes to distributing food, which makes the Tafel to a unique distribution network. Based on the agreement, the respirators were delivery to a central warehouse in Nurnberg and will from there be distributed to the 168 locations in Bavaria according to demand. Jochen Bruhl, Chairman of Tafel Deutschland: "We are delighted for this wonderful support. People in poverty are especially affected by this crisis. As important as the mask mandate is, it is a financial burden for poor people. Around 1.6 million people rely on our food banks, among them 430.000 retirees and up to 500.000 children and youths. The donation by TREKSTOR helps them to protect themselves while also relieving some of the financial pressure. For that, we are very thankful." TREKSTOR is aware, that this donation is literally only a drop in the ocean, which is why Shimon Szmigiel appeals to all other businesses: "If you are active in the same areas we are or if you are not, take heart, temporarily forget about profit, and do something good." About TREKSTOR blnk Healthcare TREKSTOR, known as one of Europe's leading consumer electronics manufacturers based in Bensheim, Germany, has been active in the healthcare space with its brand blnk starting March 2020, helping to stop the spread of the virus via face masks, disinfectants and other protective equipment. The company is selling equally to government institutions and the army alongside direct sales to care facilities, hospitals, pharmacies, and end-consumers. About Tafel Deutschland e.V. The 950 charitable food banks in Germany collect impeccable surplus food from retailers and manufacturers and distribute it regularly to more than 1.6 million poor people across the country. In doing so, they create a balance between waste and poverty. With around 60,000 volunteers who are involved in the food banks, the food banks are one of the largest socio-ecological movements in Germany. The food banks are organized in the umbrella organization Tafel Deutschland e. V. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005522/en/ Contacts: For press inquiries: Mr. Simon Wiedemann pr@blnk-healthcare.com. A leading British scientist has suggested another pandemic-causing 'Disease X' could be around the corner - and it is a matter of 'when, not if'. Professor Mark Woolhouse added that it is difficult to tell when such a disease may emerge, and the precise mechanism of how it comes out is always unpredictable. The expert in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh said that pandemic flu is at the top of the list for outbreaks to be concerned about, but he added that there is a whole range of other viruses to be aware of. Mr Woolhouse told how he and some colleagues got the World Health Organisation to add something called Disease X to its list of priority diseases four years ago. He said: 'We thought that the next emerging pandemic might be a virus that we don't even know about yet quite frankly we thought it was the most likely scenario.' It comes as: Prime Minister Boris Johnson said lockdown will continue until at least March 8; Travellers arriving in the UK from 'red list' countries will go to quarantine hotels; The EU has demanded access to AstraZeneca Covid vaccines made in UK plants; Mr Johnson visited Scotland today to stress the benefits of being in the UK. Professor Mark Woolhouse, an expert in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, has suggested another pandemic-causing 'Disease X' could be around the corner Mr Woolhouse said he and some colleagues got the World Health Organisation (whose offices in Geneva are pictured) to add something called Disease X to its list of priority diseases in 2017 Mr Woolhouse said that in a meeting the following year experts considered what the disease might be, and one possibility they came up with was a novel coronavirus related to Mers or Sars. He said: 'I mean, it really couldn't be more accurate than that. This new virus is so closely related to Sars, so they absolutely pinpointed it as one of the threats.' What is Disease X? The World Health Organization says 'Disease X' represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen which is unknown to cause human disease. It is on a list of WHO priority diseases which are being studied by its research and development teams, along with: Covid-19 Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease Lassa fever Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Nipah and henipaviral diseases Rift Valley fever Zika Advertisement Asked if the next Disease X could potentially be around the corner, Prof Woolhouse said 'absolutely'. Speaking independently, he said: 'You could use the phrase 'it is when, not if'. 'We can't put a handle on when, of course. The precise mechanism by which a virus comes out is always extremely unpredictable. You can never predict precise events, so you have to do it on sort of statistical grounds probability.' Mr Woolhouse said that every year or two scientists are discovering maybe one or two viruses that are transmissible to humans, and the rate has been constant for more than 50 years. He added: 'That's going to keep happening. It's picking up the ones that are actually going to cause the next pandemic out of this constant trickle of new viruses that's coming along. 'Occasionally one comes along, so spotting the rare event is always hard.' Asked if there was now a greater appetite among policy makers to be aware of the risk of future pandemics, Mr Woolhouse said: 'I'm not sure that there's a lot of thinking going on about the next threat, while the world is concentrating full tilt on dealing with the one it's got. 'I absolutely agree that there needs to be more thought about that.' He added that it was not that the UK did not have any plans, and actually had 'pretty mature and sophisticated plans' to react to the next pandemic influenza. 'Unfortunately, I like to put it, we did a lot of work, we did our revision, we went into the exam room, and they gave us the wrong paper. Doctors tend to a patient in intensive care at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside last month 'We were all prepared to meet the pandemic flu, and we got something else. 'And that I think for me is the big lesson I have tried to push this for many years now is don't be overly prescriptive about what you think's going to come next. 'Be broad-minded, open-minded about and look at the range of possibilities. 'We absolutely do need to be more aware of these events, but I think this game of trying to guess what it will be is very risky. 'We just played it, and it didn't do us any favours. We prepared, as I say, for the wrong exam, and we don't want to do that next time.' The comments come as this week marks a year since the first coronavirus cases were reported in the UK, and the anniversary of the first known death in the country. This Saturday also marks one year since the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over Covid-19. Across the world supporters of Joe Biden have been celebrating the Democrats victory, with those plans kicked up a notch last Wednesday as he was formally sworn in as President of the United States. Unfortunately plans for big events to mark the inauguration have been hampered by the current pandemic, but that hasnt stopped the Louth County Council from marking the occasion in their own way as they look to honour their most famous son. In leu of official events taking place, they remembered Biden by turning the fountain in the Market Square Dundalk red, white and blue and Fianna Fail Councillor Emma Coffey was delighted they did so. I just felt that even with the Covid times we had to acknowledge the inauguration and celebrate it in some form claimed Coffey. Thankfully, Louth County Council were supportive of that and agreed to illuminate the square through the fountain. The Stars and stripes were also on full display along with the Irish Tri Colour outside county buildings and the Chairperson of the Dundalk Municipal Council was in a jubilant mood as their work was broadcast to a national audience. As I sit here with the TV silent, I can see the county buildings with the American flag being filmed by RTE News and its wonderful to see our efforts whatever small being acknowledged. Ms Coffey was a prominent member of the Irish For Biden Campaign, which came in for praise from the man himself in helping to get his message to the masses and she was keen to praise the work of Paul Allen and his team who brought her into the fold in July of last year. It was built on a small principle of getting on the phone and ringing friends or ringing relatives in America and getting the Irish vote out for Biden. Something as simple of that in July of 2020 gathered momentum. It was a small contribution but one I am very proud of. Mr Biden is seen as the most popular US President in the eyes of many in Ireland and is classed as the most Irish since John F Kennedy in the 1960s due to having connections in both Mayo and Louth. Coffey has not been surprised one bit by the fanfare for the newly elected President and pointed to his run in with the BBC as an example of his Irishness, however she also sees him as a possible symbol for the county that the world will see. As a small nation we punch well above our weight, our diaspora has many reaches and has had plenty of success. The Wee County, although small our voice is very loud and Joe can definitely be Louth and Proud for us over there. Im not surprised at all to see his popularity over here. Coffey believes Mr Bidens success will bring extra eyes on the county and is hopeful she can bring tourism to the area through utilising the freeman of Louths name. I think it is all about the branding, maybe if I lobby the council hard enough, we might get a bridge or a monument or some sort of landmark named after President Biden. The Obama Plaza has done well in the Midlands so we might try and get something over in the Wee County to mark the fact we have a Louth man in the white house. While the Dundalk based councillor is sceptical that the president will arrive in the county this year despite rumours of a flying visit in June, she is hopeful his love for Louth will see him return to the county. When he was given the Freeman of Louth award, it was very evident not just by him but also by his family the pride and honour it was to receive that award so Id very hopeful that he would return. I think it is more realistic of an official visit in 2022 and Id be very hopeful that Louth would be on that list. He got a great reaction in 2016 and I think it would be matched if not better on his return in 2022. The New York Times John Kerry, the new US envoy for climate change, has spent the past few days repeatedly telling world leaders that the United States is ready to help the world "raise ambition" to address global warming. Doing so, however, could mean big changes for Americas role in the world. Foreign policy experts say that the Biden administrations efforts must extend far beyond rejoining the Paris Agreement, the global pact by nearly 200 governments aimed at slowing climate change. Taking on climate change will require a reassessment of everything from US priorities in the Arctic to helping fragile countries deal with the fallout of climate risks. "It changes defense posture, it changes foreign policy posture," said John D Podesta, a former Obama administration official. "It begins to drive a lot of decision-making in foreign policy, diplomacy and development policy." The first acknowledgment of that shift is expected on Wednesday, with the White House directing intelligence agencies to produce a National Intelligence Estimate on climate security, and telling the secretary of defense to do a climate risk analysis of the Pentagons facilities and installations. Addressing climate change can, and will be, a central pillar of the Biden administrations foreign policy, said Meghan OSullivan, who served as a deputy national security adviser under President George W. Bush and now leads the Geopolitics of Energy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School. It means infusing the issue of climate and environment into our trade policies, our foreign aid programs, our bilateral discussions and even our military readiness. Kerry, a principal member of President Joe Bidens National Security Council, is in charge of navigating that shift. Here are four big things to watch in the coming weeks and months. Can the US address its own climate problem? On his first day in office, Biden began the process of rejoining the Paris Agreement. Now comes the hard part: The United States, which is responsible for the single largest chunk of greenhouse gases that have warmed the planet since the industrial age, needs to set specific targets to reduce its own emissions by 2030 and to put in place domestic policies to achieve them. Greenpeace has urged a 70% reduction in emissions from 2010 levels, while the World Resources Institute and other American advocates have pushed for around 50%. That puts Kerry in a tricky position. More ambitious targets would give him more leverage over other countries before the next global climate talks, set for November in Glasgow. But setting targets for domestic emissions reductions will not be so simple politically, especially with a split Senate. In a speech to American mayors on Saturday, Kerry signaled that the administration would seek to balance the ambitious with the realistic. We have to go to Glasgow with reality, and we have to go to Glasgow with strength, he said. How will the US deal with China? Climate may be one of the few areas of cooperation in an increasingly tense relationship between Washington and Beijing. The two countries are the worlds largest emitters and the worlds largest economies, and without ambitious steps from both, there is no way the world can slow down warming. Podesta said the Biden administration would need to create a protected lane in which the other issues dont shut down the conversation on climate change. China is also ahead in some ways. Its president, Xi Jinping, said last September that Beijing was aiming to be carbon neutral by 2060, which means it plans to either capture its carbon emissions or offset them by buying credits for green projects like tree-planting programs. Kerry has described Chinas 2060 target as not good enough. Not for nothing have Kerrys first overtures as climate envoy been to European leaders. His best chance of putting pressure on Beijing is to do it alongside the worlds other big economy: the European Union. What leverage does the US have? Kerry has repeatedly said he intends to raise ambition by all countries. The United States has at its disposal a few diplomatic sticks and carrots. Kerry could use a bilateral United States-Mexico trade agreement, for instance, to persuade Mexico to open up to American investment in clean energy projects. He could encourage private U.S. investment to encourage India to move away from coal and accelerate renewables. And he could channel US development aid to help countries pivot to a green economy not something Washington is known for, as Kelly Sims Gallagher, a former Obama administration official, pointed out. For the United States to be seen as a country thats helping vulnerable countries to become resilient and enabling low carbon development, actually fostering low carbon development, would earn us a lot of good will, said Gallagher, now a professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. It would be a major turnaround. Climate advocates have called on the Biden administration to ensure that development aid is channeled to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and to work with allies in Europe to encourage developing countries to build clean energy projects instead of polluting coal plants. Few details have emerged from the White House about how to use American money to advance climate goals abroad. Kerry has said only that the United States, having reneged on a $2 billion pledge to the United Nations-backed Green Climate Fund, would make good on its financial commitment to help vulnerable countries deal with climate risks. Will US alliances with oil-producing countries change? The elephant in the room in a climate-focused White House is what to do about U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia. The geopolitics of energy had already been changing. The United States had steadily become less dependent on oil from the Middle East, thanks to the shale boom at home. A climate-focused White House stands to accelerate the change. We do have an opportunity to rethink and reset our relationships in the Middle East because of that, Gallagher said. Climate change is an additional factor. No sooner had Biden been elected than Saudi Arabias crown prince unveiled plans for a car-free city. Somini Sengupta. c.2021 The New York Times Company EDWARDSVILLE To wrap National Lutheran Schools Week, Metro-East Lutheran High School will hold an open house at its campus on Center Grove Road Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This event, which is open to the public, will allow attendees to tour the campus, meet faculty and administrators and find out more about the outstanding academics, wide range of extracurricular opportunities and supportive environment that can be found at MELHS. From Tuesday to Thursday, MELHS hosted a prayer vigil, where students can sign up for 15-minute time slots to come to the school conference room and pray. The vigil ensures that prayers for the school, the local community and the world constantly are being said all day over the three school days. MELHS also partnered with area Lutheran K-8 schools in a project called #askmelhs. MELHS extended an invitation to local seventh- and eighth-grade students to submit a question they would like to ask current MELHS students about anything to do with high school - whether it was what is served for lunch at MELHS, what extracurricular opportunities are available at the school or how to survive final exams. Five winning questions were then selected from those submitted and MELHS students created videos answering the junior high students questions. One #askmelhs video will be featured on Metro-East Lutheran High Schools social media each day during National Lutheran Schools Week, and junior high students whose questions were selected won prizes, ranging from MELHS gear to wireless earbuds to gift cards. This project was a fun way for high school students at MELHS to serve as mentors to younger students, even in an environment in which it is more difficult to connect in person. Schools that participated in the #askmelhs program included Trinity Lutheran School in Edwardsville, Zion Lutheran School in Bethalto, Holy Cross Lutheran School in Collinsville, Good Shepherd Lutheran School in Collinsville, Zion Lutheran School in Belleville, St. Peters Lutheran School in Prairietown, Zion Lutheran School in Staunton and Saint Paul Lutheran School in Hamel. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735 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. BRUSSELS (AP) - There was little effort to mask the gloating, just one month after Britain's full - and, at times, tempestuous - divorce from the European Union. In big bold type, the vaccination table produced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party showed that the U.K. had administered more jabs than the EU's four biggest countries combined. The implication was clear: Britain had been right to make the momentous decision of leaving the bloc. It also indicated how, beyond the medical complexity, the humanitarian needs and the personal pain felt across the continent, the pandemic is also an intense political fight. It's not just the age-old acrimony between the European mainland and the United Kingdom. Germany has by far the most important election on the continent coming up in September, and there too COVID-19 is already showing its corrosive impact. One guiding principle runs through most of the debate. The crisis, that's already killed well over half a million Europeans, and the solution, with vaccines far too scarce, are such that nations say: We need to take care of our own people first, whatever the consequences. On top of that, there's the view that the sooner people are vaccinated the faster the continent's faltering economies can be revved up again. "This is obviously sort of whats being called vaccine nationalism. And you know - this is big politics," said Robert Yates, director of the global health program at the Chatham House think tank in London, A security guard talks to people at the entrance of Novasep factory in Seneffe, Belgium, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. Belgian health authorities said Thursday they have inspected a pharmaceutical factory located in Belgium to find out whether the expected delays in the deliveries of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccines are due to production issues. The Novasep factory in the town of Seneffe is part of the European production chain for AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine. (AP Photo/Mark Carlson) Compounding the political implications is the power play between strong governments and the giants of industry, in this case Big Pharma. And from the sidelines, poor nations can only watch as rich nations go for each other's throats. "Whats much worse is that these squabbles between rich countries ... potentially deny vaccines to people in the rest of the world," Yates said. Much of that political bile pools together in the small Belgian industrial town of Seneffe south of Brussels. That's where Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said last week there had been problems in the complicated process of making mass quantities of the vaccine, which the EU is expected to approve for use Friday. As a result, from a first batch of 80 million doses only 31 million would be delivered. It was a sucker punch for the 27-nation EU, which has staked its credibility on a massive, quick and smooth rollout of the vaccines for its population of 450 million. Despite billions of euros in EU pre-funding, the operation has so far missed many of its targets. Quickly eyes turned to recently-departed Britain, which has two AstraZeneca plants that are also included in the EU's delivery contract. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides insisted late Wednesday that, if need be, "the UK factories are part of our advance purchase agreements, and this is why they have to deliver." It's a political standoff in which London is not about to blink. "The really important thing is making sure that our own vaccination program proceeds precisely as planned," said senior cabinet minister Michael Gove, a long-time arch-Brexiteer. It's indicative of the tension and suspicion that Belgium said Thursday it has sent inspectors to the Seneffe plant, to look into the reported production problems and possible suspect movements. "No company should be under any illusion that we don't have the means to understand what is happening," warned Kyriakides. In the standoff with AstraZeneca there is one thing that the EU refuses to do: ask for the help of UK authorities. That would be a political embarrassment, coming just after Brexit. Only on Thursday, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the divorce proved that "the EU is not a prison," but warned that "those who want to get out have to face the consequences." But at least on the vaccine front that rings hollow. About 11% of the U.K. population has been served at least one shot - compared to the EU average of little more than 2%. Germany also hovers between 2 and 3 %, and discontent is rising, 8 months away from a general election that will pick a successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel. Health Minister Jens Spahn, a prominent figure in Merkels center-right party, has faced criticism over the vaccination strategy from, among others, the center-left junior party in Germanys coalition government. There have been signs of vaccine nationalism here too, with some media and the far-right Alternative for Germany party questioning the ordering of doses through the EU instead of doing it independently as a wealthy nation much better off than the EU average. Which would make it all the more important for Berlin to ensure the EU gets all the vaccines it can. "Its about Europes fair share," Spahn said. ___ Danica Kirka in London, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Sam Petrequin in Brussels contributed. ___ Follow AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Cars are parked at the entrance of Novasep factory in Seneffe, Belgium, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. Belgian health authorities said Thursday they have inspected a pharmaceutical factory located in Belgium to find out whether the expected delays in the deliveries of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccines are due to production issues. The Novasep factory in the town of Seneffe is part of the European production chain for AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine. (AP Photo/Mark Carlson) Teachers and school employees most likely to come face-to-face with students in the coming weeks got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday, prompting a range of emotions. Among them, education workers said: Tentative hope. Fear. Gratitude. Guilt. Relief. Diana Rowey, a music teacher at Southeast Portlands Woodstock Elementary, said shes struggled at times with feelings of isolation and concern for the future. Like the rest of her colleagues across the district, shes interacted with her students through a screen and said the months of virtual teaching have made her value the in-person time of years past that much more. It just makes me appreciate the community building and joyful times that we had in the classroom even more, Rowey said. Rowey has underlying medical conditions, she said, making it particularly important that she get vaccinated before she can go back to in-person teaching. She was among the thousands of education sector employees from across the three-county metro area who were given appointments for the mass vaccination at the Oregon Convention Center. It opened to the first in that group people who work in K-12 education and in day cares and preschools just days after Gov. Kate Brown announced they would be placed ahead of seniors on the states priority list. The Oregon Convention Center teemed with National Guard reservists as school employees stood in line, spaced at least six feet apart, to check in for their vaccine appointments early in the morning. The educators were ferried into the facilitys cavernous ballroom, where Legacy Health and Providence Medical Group staff injected them with a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. After waiting 15 minutes in case they had a reaction and scheduling their appointment for a second dose, the inoculated educators were free to go. Amanda Shwetzer, the secretary and registrar at Glencoe Elementary, has also been working from home since last March when Brown ordered the states public schools to shutter. Shwetzer told The Oregonian/OregonLive shes happy she and her colleagues can get a vaccine. But she said it breaks my heart that shes been inoculated while her mother, who lives in a senior care home, has not. If I couldve given her my shot, I would have, Shwetzer said. Shwetzer said its essential she and her colleagues get vaccinated, otherwise they wont feel comfortable returning to work. A union poll of Portland Public Schools teachers showed only about 14% of the districts educators were willing to return to classrooms in a limited capacity, two hours at a time. That was back in December when coronavirus infections were double what they are now and it was unclear when Oregonians would begin receiving vaccine doses. The high case counts may not have been a factor, as only 16% of educators polled said theyd feel comfortable returning to classrooms if case counts fell. The union did not survey its members on whether vaccinations were a factor in their willingness to work on-site. Multiple studies have found children younger than 10 do not spread coronavirus nearly as commonly a preteens, teenagers and adults. The Oregon Health Authority reported 20 coronavirus cases among the 50,000 or so public school students who regularly attended class in-person in December and so far in January. Forty-three employees of those schools tested positive over the same time period, although the agency has not traced infections back to classrooms. Kathy Price, an administrative assistant at the Cottonwood School, interacts regularly with multiple students when class is in session at the South Portland charter school. She wears a lot of hats, she told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Price substitutes for absent teachers, runs disciplinary interventions for students and provides them with medical care. She misses seeing her students and felt sad that kids have been growing and changing without her being able to witness their development. I just want to be around the kids again, Price said. Thats why Price said she was willing to get inoculated, even though she has reservations about the vaccines safety and potential long-term effects. The whole thing is just so new, Price said. Its kind of a relief that its happening. But, at the same time, its kind of the unknown. Kathy Price, administrative assistant at Cottonwood Charter School pauses for a portrait before receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at The Oregon Convention Center on January 27, 2021, in Portland. "The whole thing is just so new," she said, "It's kind of a relief that it's happening. But, at the same time, it's kind of the unknown."Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian Robin Kobrowski, a principal in the Beaverton School District, said much of her work during distance learning has involved giving her staff emotional support, including reaching out to people who might be struggling and developing relationships with everybody. Many of her 75 teachers, administrators, assistants and other educators at the Springville K-8 school are grateful they can get vaccinated knowing that all the citizens in Oregon need it, Kobrowski said. Robin Kobrowksi, principal at Springville K-8 in the Beaverton School District pauses for a portrait after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at The Oregon Convention Center on January 27, 2021, in Portland. "All educators are working to support students right now," she said. "Because we've been following the best we can the guidelines the vaccine is something we've been interested in, in order to feel safe in a crowded indoor space."Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian The Oregon Convention Center is expected to administer about 2,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine per day to school district employees and early childhood workers from throughout the Portland metro area. There are about 40,000 eligible educators in the area plus another 20,000 or so childcare and preschool workers. Portland Public Schools, the states largest district, employs about 3,600. The district broke up its vaccine distribution list into four waves, with elementary educators and those who volunteered for its limited in-person sessions, two hours per day for classes composed of students with an acute need for academic support. Portland Public Schools officials expect it will take at least four weeks for every educator in the district to be vaccinated and state officials projected an even longer timetable, estimating only about three-fourths of education sector workers, at most, will get a first dose by the end of the first four weeks. Oregons vaccination efforts are just one of many logistical hurdles districts must clear before mounting a wide-scale reopening of schools. Most districts have prioritized a return for elementary schoolers, according to their reopening plans. In Portland Public Schools, officials say theyre aiming to begin offering in-person options for families of fifth graders and younger students in early February. A first-grade teacher who received a first dose Wednesday and received the second dose precisely on schedule would be considered fully immunized by March 3. In the Lake Oswego district, Superintendent Lora De La Cruz announced elementary school students will begin in-person classes in late February, postponing earlier plans after fierce backlash from the teachers union. Both De La Cruz and Portland Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero have said vaccinations are a critical step in returning to classrooms. Union leaders say many educators are terrified at the prospect of returning to classrooms unvaccinated. Educators who have devoted years of their lives to the education of Lake Oswego children were talking about leaving the classroom, Lake Oswego Education Association President Kelly Fitzsimmons said after the district pushed back its reopening plans. Brooke Herbert contributed to this report. Eder Campuzano and Fedor Zarkhin By Ben Fox and Eric Tucker January 27, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - WASHINGTON -- The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the potential for lingering violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after U.S. President Joe Biden's election, suggesting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol this month may embolden extremists and set for the stage for additional attacks. The department did not cite a specific threat, but pointed to "a heightened threat environment across the United States" that it believes "will persist" since Biden took office on Jan. 20. "Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence," the bulletin said. It did not mention any ideological or political affiliation, instead warning more broadly about "individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances and ideological causes fueled by false narratives." These individuals, DHS said, "could continue to mobilize a broad range of ideologically-motivated actors to incite or commit violence. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins and advisories about the prospect for violence tied to a particular date or event, such as July 4. But this particular bulletin, issued through the the department's National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable because it effectively places the Biden administration into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology and suggests that it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism. The wording of the single-page document suggests that national security officials see a connective thread between recent violence over the last year motivated by anti-government grievances, whether over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results or police use of force. It also singles out racially motivated acts of violence such as the 2019 rampage targeting Hispanics in Texas, as well as the threat posed by extremists motivated by foreign terrorist organizations. The alert comes at a tense time after the riot at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump who were seeking to overturn the presidential election. DHS also notes violent riots in "recent days," an apparent reference to events in Portland, Oregon, linked to anarchist groups. The alert was issued by acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske. Biden's nominee for the Cabinet post, Alejandro Mayorkas, has not been confirmed by the Senate. Of the total 2,296 vacancies, 947 seats are for the unreserved category and 507 are for Other Backward Classes candidates The India Post of Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle has released the recruitment notice for 2,296 vacant posts of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS). Candidates can visit the official website of India Post at appost.in and apply online by 26 February. A candidate must be aged between 18 and 40 years to apply for the posts. Those belonging to reserved categories are liable to getting relaxation in the age limit as per the government norms. The selection will be done on the basis of the automatically generated merit list. This list will be compiled and published on the website. Of the total 2,296 vacancies, 947 seats are for the unreserved (UR) category. Thereafter, 507 vacancies have been reserved for the OBC, 324 for EWS, 279 for SC, 143 for ST, 18 for PWD-A, 34 for PWD- B, 35 for PWD- C, and 9 for PWD-DE categories. As per the rules of application, a candidate must have a Secondary School Examination pass certificate of Class 10 with passing marks in Mathematics, local language, and English. The certificate must have been issued by any recognised board of school education under the Government of India or any state governments. The candidate should have also studied the local language at least up to Class 10 to be eligible. An official notice said that candidates belonging to OC/OBC EWS Male/trans man category should pay an application fee of Rs 100 for each set of the five options. Those required to pay the fees need to visit any Head Post Office or other identified Post Offices in India. Here is the direct link to apply Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Note to readers: Bitcoin is becoming popular by the day. It has captured the imagination of many young investors and millennials. But keeping aside its meteoric rise, what is Bitcoin really? And why is the Reserve Bank of India worried? Moneycontrols two-part series demystifies Bitcoin and how they work. Todays story talks about Bitcoin as an investment option. In 2017, Delhi-based Rahul Mishra, 34, invested in the Bitcoin after seeing his office colleagues do so. And like many others, he understood precious little of this new animal back then. The Bitcoins price had already surged to Rs 3.61 lakh, up from Rs 65,000 at the start of that year. Every month, he kept investing Rs 25,000; he had diverted his on-going mutual fund systematic investment plans to the Bitcoin. Just six months later, he got a rude shock. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a circular banning cryptocurrency trading in India. It directed all legal entities regulated by the RBI to not deal in virtual currencies or provide services to any individuals or businesses dealing in cryptocurrencies. Investors panicked, Bitcoins price in India crashed. In a matter of seven days, its price fell from a high of Rs 5.2 lakh per Bitcoin to Rs 3.07 lakh. His own investment in Bitcoin worth Rs 1.50 lakh before the ban, fell to Rs 30,000. Also read: Explained | RBIs proposed cryptocurrency project and what it means for you The meteoric rise of Bitcoin One main reason behind the surge of the Bitcoin was the Supreme Courts ruling that came last year. Already, Bitcoin is legal in the US and UK. Most central banks have managed to tide over the COVID-19 pandemic situation by injecting excess liquidity into the system. So, part of it is getting invested in bitcoins, says Ashvin Parekh, Managing Partner at Ashvin Parekh Advisory Services LLP. Beyond the SC relief order, there has been no news from the governments side on the legality of the Bitcoin. For instance, you cannot use Bitcoins in India to buy goods and services. You can, however, buy and sell Bitcoins itself now. But the sheer hope of Bitcoin being acceptable as a currency causes the price to increase. The other reason is that some large institutions have begun to back Bitcoin. PayPal, a US-based online wallets firm, now allows its users to buy and sell Bitcoins. It also allows its customers to buy items from its network of 26 million sellers, by paying in Bitcoins. Institutional support from payment giants such as PayPal and MasterCard integrating cryptocurrencies into their services, among others, have been major drivers of prices. The earlier scepticism has now given way to wide-spread acceptance, says Sumit Gupta, Co-founder and CEO of CoinDCX. Basic economics suggests that efficient markets discover price based on demand and supply. Given that the only 900 new Bitcoins are minted every day at present, the interest from new buyers is increasing demand disproportionately. Naturally, the price is increasing, and will increase as long as this imbalance of demand-supply exists, says Ajeet Khurana, a cryptocurrency expert and founder of Genezis Network. How legal is Bitcoin really in India? After the SCs judgement last year, a few crypto exchanges claimed that some public and private banks now allow customers to link their bank accounts for trading in cryptocurrency. Moneycontrol reached out to State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, IDFC First Bank, Canara Bank and Federal Bank. None of them responded. At present, there is no law that either ratifies or prohibits trading in Bitcoin and other cryptos. We do not encourage our customers to invest in any cryptos by linking the bank accounts to cryptocurrency exchanges, says a retail banker requesting anonymity. The challenge is about Bitcoin being recognised as a currency in a tightly-regulated currency market. Till that happens, Bitcoin will mostly likely be recognised only as an investment option. Due to lack of clarity, Bitcoin is treated as an asset, much like gold or real estate. Under the Income-Tax laws, tax experts classify Bitcoin as Income from other assets. If you sell it after three years, you pay 20 percent long-term capital gains tax with indexation benefits. Short-term gains are taxed at your personal slab. The flipside of anonymity Bitcoins anonymity can also work against you. Transactions, once done, cannot be reversed. Since Bitcoin is not regulated, there is no grievance settlement mechanism. All bitcoin transactions are irreversible. But most importantly, youve got to remember the password to your Bitcoin wallet. If you forget your Bitcoin password, there is no way to recover it. Your Bitcoin value is lost forever. Heres how it works. All Bitcoin owners get a public key. Due to its democratic and anonymous nature, Bitcoin buyers and sellers dont get to know each others identity. You are, instead, assigned a public key. That is your public identity that you use to receive the Bitcoin. Conversely, if you wish to send a Bitcoin to someone, you need the receivers public key. Think of it like a username. To access your Bitcoin, however, you need to remember a private key; think of it as your password. But the keys are a set of alphanumeric characters. If you lose your keys, you lose your Bitcoin forever, says Nischal Shetty, Founder & CEO of WazirX, crytpcurrency exchange. Should you invest in Bitcoin? Retail investors must avoid Bitcoin. Mrin Agarwal, financial educator and founder of Finsafe India, equates investing in Bitcoin to gambling. She adds, There is no underlying asset, its un-regulated. Price discovery is unpredictable. Stay away. Investing in any asset without understanding it is akin to gambling. First time investors should spend time and effort understanding more about Bitcoin before investing. If they choose to invest they should put in small amounts, as low as Rs. 100, to try it out. And if they intend to invest significant amounts, they should use averaging strategies as no one can time the market, suggested Ajeet Khurana. Nobody knows when the Bitcoin would become a globally-acceptable currency. You shouldnt bet your entire savings on Bitcoin just because of its past returns. The Bitcoin is meant only for those who can take high volatility and losses, says Mukul Shrivastava, Partner, Forensic and Integrity Services, EY. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 18:29:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close European Parliament President David Sassoli delivers a speech on a virtual event to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 27, 2021. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a global memorial day on Jan. 27 designated by the United Nations in 2005 to commemorate the genocide that occurred during World War II. 2021 marks the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the ending of the Holocaust. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua) 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. These companies frequent outrages against our humanity are supposedly the price we must pay for being able to post our summer vacation and new puppy pics to our friends, or for political dissidents and whistleblowers to alert the world to their just causes. Those are all important uses, but the price paid is very high. We can do better. Counties with a greater number of cannabis dispensary storefronts experience reduced numbers of opioid-related deaths relative to other locales, a recent University of California, Davis, study has found. This is the first study to examine the association between active cannabis dispensary operations -- both medical and recreational -- and opioid-related mortality rates at the county level, suggesting that providing alternative pain management could improve public health outcomes, researchers said. "While the associations documented cannot be assumed to be causal, they suggest a potential relationship between increased prevalence of medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries and reduced opioid-related mortality rates," said Greta Hsu, professor of management at the Graduate School of Management at UC Davis and lead author of the study. The study was published Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the British Medical Journal. The article was co-authored by Balazs Kovacs of Yale University. "Given the alarming rise in the U.S.'s fentanyl-based market and in deaths involving fentanyl and its analogs in recent years, the question of how legal cannabis availability relates to opioid-related deaths can be regarded as a particularly pressing one," researchers said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- the source for researchers' opioid data -- opioids were involved in 46,802 overdose deaths in 2018, accounting for nearly 70 percent of all drug overdose deaths. "Overall, greater understanding the public health outcomes of cannabis legalization on opioid misuse is needed for policymakers to properly weigh the potential benefits versus harms of promoting cannabis legalization," Hsu said. Significant death rate from synthetic opioids "As the spread of COVID-19 has overtaken global health resources and attention, another health crisis appears to be silently raging in the background: increasing opioid-related overdose deaths," Hsu said. Reports from public health tracking systems such as the University of Michigan's System for Opioid Overdose Surveillance suggest, she said, that opioid-related mortality rates in 2020 increased substantially over previous years. "But there is an alternative approach to thinking about how to address widespread misuse of opioids: altering the supply of available drugs with potential medical usages in pain management," Hsu said. "In particular, public health researchers have wondered whether increasing the availability of cannabis, which is generally thought to be a less addictive substance relative to opioids, could be associated with a decrease in opioid-related deaths." In this study, researchers looked at the 812 counties (out of more than 3,000 total) in the United States that legally allowed cannabis dispensaries by the end of 2017. They documented opioid mortality rates and counted dispensaries selling cannabis between 2014 and 2018, aggregating all opioid-related deaths but also separating out deaths due to prescription opioids, heroin and synthetic opioids. Finding a relationship between county-level medical and recreational dispensary numbers and reduced opioid-related mortality rates appears particularly strong with regards to deaths associated with synthetic (non-methadone) opioids, researchers found. This class of opioids includes fentanyl and its analogs, which have sharply overtaken other types of opioids in number of deaths in the U.S. in recent years. (Opioids refer to a class of chemically related drugs that include the illicit drug heroin, prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.) By the end of 2018 -- the latest date county-level mortality rates available from the CDC -- 33 states had legalized medical cannabis, which requires purchasers to a have a medical identification card or doctor recommendation. Ten states, by then, and the District of Columbia had legalized recreational cannabis, which requires buyers to be 21. There is no federal database for dispensaries. Under federal law, cannabis is still illegal in the United States. To gather data on cannabis dispensaries, researchers examined at county-level data from Weedmaps.com to count actual storefront businesses, with street addresses, that are in operation. Researchers noted that counties oversee criminal justice, social service, and health and emergency service programs -- all vital dimensions of the public infrastructure related to drug use and markets. Other studies of the association between cannabis laws and opioid-related deaths often focus at the state level. However, the researchers noted that a focus on state legislation can be less reliable because state laws sometimes take months or years to go into effect. Further, many local counties within cannabis-legal states do not allow storefronts or other sales opportunities, limiting access to cannabis among individuals within those counties. "As business school researchers, we tracked evolving cannabis markets across the U.S. from 2014 onwards in an effort to understand how this new category of organizations emerged," Hsu said. "We realized, however, that our county-level database could also be used to examine whether the availability of legal cannabis in an increasing number of geographic areas has any implications for opioid misuse. Allowing for legal sale of cannabis is a key step in increasing its availability, since it shifts the cost structure of supplying cannabis, making cannabis more easily and widely accessible to customers." Researchers said more study is needed to determine if there is true cause and effect, and that other issues still must be considered. "At the same time, cannabis' potential harms for adolescent's cognitive development, medical conditions such as schizophrenia, and public safety risks should not be ignored," Hsu added. ### At 10 a.m. today, a tragic accident occurred at Foundation Food Groups prepared foods facility in Gainesville, Ga. Preliminary indications are that a nitrogen line ruptured inside the facility. While we wait for confirmation, we are very, very sad to say that six team members appear to have died, and others were transported to the hospital with very serious injuries. Some first responders were also exposed and treated. Those lost today include maintenance, supervisory and management team members. Every team member is equally important to us, and our hearts go out to their families and communities who have suffered such a devastating loss. Sheriffs office involvement in this situation presently is for the death investigation, the investigation of the individuals who are deceased. Also, as you heard mentioned by fire services that OSHA is on the scene investigating as well, and the state fire marshals office investigative unit. So they will primarily be looking into the cause of this. Were investigating it from a death investigation standpoint. I heard from our investigators on the scene that fire services have been able to get in the facility and deemed it safe at about 1:40 this afternoon. And so our crime scene unit was able to get in and start processing the scene. Our sheriffs investigators are currently working on trying to identify all the victims that lost their lives in this very tragic event today. Theyll from there, theyll be notifying the families of these victims that perished. So I would definitely ask everyone to keep the families in your prayers. And a lot of these folks that came in to work today did not have any idea of what would happen, nor did their families. Theyre not in a profession that you would expect something like this to happen. But here we are. Gov. Tom Wolf is once again pushing for a higher minimum wage, a tax on natural gas drilling and the legalization of marijuana for recreational uses as top priorities in the coming year. The governor has met resistance from Republican lawmakers on those goals in the past. But he said hed be pushing forward with them again as he outlined some of his top 2021 priorities in a news conference Thursday. Next week, Wolf is slated to introduce his spending plan for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The General Assembly must approve the spending plan before Wolf can enact it. With Republicans controlling the Legislature, there are bound to be clashes on some priorities with the Democratic governor. Wolf is proposing to raise the minimum wage to $12 per hour by July 1, 2021, putting Pennsylvania on a path to reach $15 per hour by 2027. Wolf proposes raising the minimum wage an additional 50 cents per hour between July 2021 and July 2027. Pennsylvanias minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, mirroring the federal minimum. All of Pennsylvanias neighboring states have a higher minimum wage. Altogether, 29 states and the District of Columbia have a higher minimum wage than Pennsylvania. Some business trade groups have opposed raising the minimum wage and the governor has tried and failed to win enough support in the legislature. In a news conference, the governor was asked about the negative impact a higher minimum wage could have on small businesses that have been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Wolf said paying workers better wages makes senses for businesses, enabling them to retain good workers. If you dont pay your workers a wage that allows them to build a family and have a good career, youre not going to have the best results, Wolf said. Youre going to have high turnover. Youre going to have high training costs. Wolf has previously pushed a severance tax on natural gas production in each year in office and hes now midway through his second term. Last year, he sought to use the tax to finance a host of economic development projects. Republicans have rejected proposals for a natural gas tax in the past. Pennsylvania is the second leading producer of natural gas in the nation. The governor said the severance tax would need to be reasonable but said it could be a source of revenue to finance economic development and workplace development programs that will help the state recover from the pandemic. The Marcellus Shale Coalition, which represents the natural gas industry, said a severance tax would hurt an industry already dealing with setbacks related to the pandemic. David Spigelmyer, the coalitions president, said the industrys numbers of active rigs and new well development are at their lowest since 2012. We all feel the pandemics ongoing pain, yet Governor Wolfs fixation with higher energy taxes will only compound these historically difficult challenges, Spiglemyer said in a statement. Increasing taxes on natural gas, one of the most essential products needed to keep us safe and defeat the pandemic, will put more Pennsylvanians out of work, increase energy bills for struggling families, small businesses as well as manufacturers, and further harm our economic recovery. Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, spoke out against the governors proposed tax on natural gas drilling and his plan to raise the minimum wage. While Barr said he appreciates the governors desire to boost the states economic recovery, he added, The administrations aggressive proposal to more than double the states minimum wage to $15 will increase labor costs and lead to further job loss. Wolf also reiterated his push to allow the sale of marijuana for recreational purposes. He said taxes sold on legal sales of marijuana would offer significant revenue to finance state government programs. The governor and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman have urged lawmakers to sign off on marijuana legalization but havent won enough support from the GOP-controlled legislature. The coronavirus pandemic poses challenges for the governor and lawmakers in agreeing on a budget. The pandemic has battered businesses across the state, causing some to shut their doors and and others to endure losses and layoffs. With businesses generating less cash, theres less revenue to finance state government programs. Wolf urged lawmakers to move on his earlier proposal to use $145 million in state funds to direct grants to small businesses hurt by the pandemic. On Wednesday, the state Senate approved a $912-million relief package of federal and state aid for schools and businesses, which included the state funds to help smaller businesses. The governor called the Senate passage of the aid package a good step forward. Wolf has also said the state needs to improve its distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, a key priority in controlling the pandemic and allowing a return to normalcy. Republican lawmakers, and some Democrats, have grown increasingly critical of the pace of the rollout. He said Thursday the state continues to work on improving distribution of vaccines but said the state is still dealing with the fact that the supply isnt anywhere close to the demand. The Biden administration expects to ramp up vaccine supplies to the state by 16% in the coming weeks, Wolf said. But Wolf acknowledged the state needs to do better and his administration is focused on getting more shots into arms. We are not ever going to rest as long as one person in Pennsylvania needs a vaccine, Wolf said. More from PennLive Children are susceptible to COVID-19 and some nasty long-term effects: What you need to know Hey, Harrisburg, Washington, think vaccine, vaccine and vaccine! | John Baer (Adds Qatari government comment on Jan. 28 story) By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Ali Jamac Dhoodi thought his son was working as a security guard in Qatar, helping prepare for next year's soccer World Cup. Then one day last April, officials from Somalia's National Intelligence Agency arrived with $10,000 in cash. They told him his son had died - not in Qatar, but in Eritrea, one of the world's most secretive countries. "They showed me a picture from their WhatsApp and asked me, 'Do you know this picture and his full name?' I said, 'Yes he is my son,'" Dhoodi, 48, told Reuters. "They said to me 'Your son died'. I cried." They gave him the money, and told him not to ask questions. Ali's son was one of three young Somali men whose families told Reuters they had been recruited by Somalia's federal government for jobs in Qatar, only to surface in Eritrea, where they were sent to serve in a military force against their will. Two other families said their sons had simply disappeared. The apparent secret recruitment of young Somali men for a fighting force in Eritrea is stirring public anger in Somalia, a poor country where opportunities to work abroad are eagerly sought. Protests erupted last week in the capital Mogadishu and in the towns of Guriel and Galkayo over the missing recruits. In a statement, Qatar's government communications office said the Gulf state "condemns any abusive and duplicitous recruitment of any individual who was falsely told they were moving to Qatar for employment opportunities". "The State of Qatar stands against such practices and urges all governments to investigate such abuses," it added. Reports that Eritrean forces have taken part in fighting that broke out in November last year in neighbouring northern Ethiopia - which Eritrea and Ethiopia strongly deny - have led some Somalis to worry their sons may have been sent there. Story continues Asked if Eritrea had recruited Somalis, trained them or sent them to Ethiopia, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel told Reuters: "This is ludicrous ... There is massive disinformation floating around." Somali government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim and Information Minister Osman Dube did not respond to requests for comment on the Somali government's apparent role in the recruitment, but Ibrahim said no Somalis had been sent to Ethiopia. The leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea have been drawing closer together since 2018, after a change of leadership in Ethiopia. Ethiopia and Eritrea, once archenemies, signed a peace deal and have regular high level visits. Somalia - which once accused Eritrea of supporting Islamist rebels - now has friendly relations with its president. 'A BULLET IS THE REPLY' Hussein Warsame said his son Sadam, 21, had been recruited for a security job in Qatar in October, 2019. Nothing was heard from him for more than a year. Finally, last November, he phoned from Eritrea. "We were all shocked to land in Eritrea. We thought we were being flown to Qatar," he quoted his son as telling him. "Dad, there is no life here, I have not seen food save a lump or slice of bread since I left Somalia in 2019, and when recruits demonstrate or reject orders, a bullet is the reply." Sahra Abdikadir, whose son Aqil Hassan Abdi disappeared in 2019 under similar circumstances, told Reuters that he had called in January and said he was in a camp in an unknown location in Eritrea. Eritrea, a heavily militarised society, has never held elections, has no independent media and forces its citizens into indefinite government service. Former guerrilla leader Isaias Afwerki has been president since 1993. Somalia has had only limited central government rule since 1991. Both countries have a history of decades of conflict in the Horn of Africa region, often involving their much larger neighbour Ethiopia. A regional security analyst who asked not to be identified told Reuters he had learned from conversations with Somali security officials that about 1,000 Somalis had been recruited and taken to Eritrea in at least three groups. One group had returned to Somalia, the second group was unreachable and the third was still in Eritrea. Reuters was unable to confirm those details. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Additional reporting by Omar Mohammed, Katharine Houreld and Alexander Cornwell; Writing by Omar Mohammed; Editing by Peter Graff and Kevin Liffey) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-27 22:18:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- European leaders on Tuesday called for more multilateral cooperation, free trade and the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines on the second day of the virtual World Economic Forum Davos Agenda as solutions to the COVID crisis. Their speeches echoed Chinese President Xi Jinping's Davos speech on Monday calling on the world to stay committed to openness and inclusiveness instead of closeness and exclusion. MAKING VACCINES GLOBAL COMMON GOOD "In a pandemic there is no time to lose. We need a new public-private approach to detect earlier, develop together and manufacture faster at scale," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her special address. "Europe invested billions to help develop the world's first COVID-19 vaccines, to create a truly common good," she said, urging pharmaceutical companies and vaccine manufacturers to live up to their delivery promises. "Now, the companies must deliver, they must honor their obligations. This is why we will set up a vaccine expert transparency mechanism. Europe is determined to contribute to this global common good," she added. Vaccine rollout in the 27-nation bloc has been criticized as being slow compared to other developed regions as the European Union (EU) is struggling to overcome the pandemic that has already killed more than 2.1 million people worldwide. MULTILATERALISM "This is the hour of multilateralism," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, stressing that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and fair international trade are a cornerstone for more international cooperation. "I think the WTO is absolutely of the essence if we really want to be sincere about multilateralism. We see a number of bilateral trade agreements, multilateral trade agreements in Asia, we see the RCEP that is very remarkable, countries of very different structures linked by this instrument," she said. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement was signed among its 15 participating countries in November, launching the world's biggest free trade bloc. In December, China and the EU concluded negotiations for an investment agreement, which is expected to boost free trade and inject impetus into the global economic recovery. CLIMATE CHANGE Besides anti-pandemic battle and economic development, other global issues also call for multilateral cooperation and rules, such as fighting climate change. In his address on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted that the climate challenge is a top priority. "We have agreed on the Paris Agreement. At this point, we have not lived up to our commitments. Our top priority is to do our utmost to stay true to our commitments. There cannot be any freeloaders." Last week, newly-sworn-in U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to abandon the deal. "We need to apply this (the Paris Agreement) at the local and regional levels. We need to have a carbon prizing that is high enough, we need mechanisms that invite companies to go down that road, we need to have sanction mechanisms." The next UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November this year. "During the coming summit, we need to be able to negotiate the equivalent of the Paris Agreement for biodiversity," Macron said. "What we are doing for climate we need to do for biodiversity. This year we have to come up with common rules." DIGITAL ECONOMY During Tuesday's meeting, regulations on digital economy also took center stage with von der Leyen warning that the power of Internet companies needs to be contained and proposing a new global "rulebook." "We want the platforms to be transparent about how their algorithms work. We cannot accept that decisions that have a far-reaching impact on our democracy are taken by computer programs alone," she said. "We could create a digital economy rulebook that is valid worldwide. It goes from data protection and privacy, to the security of critical infrastructure. A body of rules based on our values," she said. She also promised that the EU would step up financial support for digital projects and nurture innovative ecosystems "to become a global hub for artificial intelligence..." Under the theme of "A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust," more than 2,000 leaders joined the virtual Davos Agenda meeting, which lasts until Friday, to exchange ideas about global issues. Produced by Xinhua Global Service As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge the global community, a year after the first confirmed case of the virus in the United States, students at the University of Miami continue to do their part to avert the spread. With the spring semester operating similarly to last fall, the Butler Center for Service and Leadership announced its plan to add additional students to fill the role as public health ambassadors. We have increased the number of student public health ambassadors from 75 to 100 for the spring, and our staff and dean of students will continue to follow up on any reports of students not abiding by the measures in place to keep everyone healthy, President Julio Frenk said in a video message to the University community earlier this week. To continue supporting a safe learning and working environment for students, faculty, and employees, ambassadors will continue to share guidelines on the Coral Gables Campus this semester by offering support and utilizing peer-to-peer influence in order to encourage members of the campus community to engage in the healthy behaviors of physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and hand washing/sanitizing. Andrew Wiemer, director of the Butler Center, said ambassadors will be hosting additional meet-and-greet programs to increase their presence and visibility among the campus community. The public health ambassadors are heroes on our campus, said Wiemer. We want to allow our UM community to meet them and continue their positive relationship. Last semester, the cohort proved to be a benefit to the campus community. Most of the workers reported that the overall reaction to their presence was positive and recounted respectful interactions with the public. In this role, sometimes they have had to encounter several situations that have provided them with skills such as conflict management and positive communication, said Wiemer. I believe they have gained numerous leadership skills that will stay with them throughout their lifetime. Similar to the fall semester, students, faculty, and staff can expect the presence of public health ambassadors in high-traffic areas including the Student Center Complex, Whitten Learning Center, and Richter Library. They will be there on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and weekends between noon and 5 p.m. When ambassadors observe someone who is not complying with COVID-19 campus policies, they are tasked with approaching them to resolve the violation. The public health ambassadors role is one of the most challenging student positions on campus, Wiemer acknowledged. During training, ambassadors are made aware of their great responsibility to the campus community and are fully prepared to handle situations that may occur. Sophomore Louisa Khan will return to campus as an ambassador this spring. One thing I am looking forward to is meeting students who are on campus for the first time since the pandemic, said Khan, who hails from Satellite Beach, Florida, and majors in music. Last semester we proved with our low case numbers that we are being safe and being on campus is safe. Khan said she is excited to show more people how the University chooses to adapt and respond to the pandemic and how ambassadors are committed to protecting students, faculty, and staff. Were just regular students, said Khan. They think were here to yell at them and be angry, but were just students who are here to do our part and slow down the spread. In addition to the Public Health Ambassadors Program, the Division of Student Affairs encourages students to report concerns about unsafe behaviors to Canes Care for Canes. An online form can be submitted, anonymously if desired, and University staff members will follow up. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Details of Boris Johnsons trip to Scotland yesterday were available on what gimlet-eyed spooks call a need-to-know basis. No schedule, no itinerary. More covert than a CIA black op. The PMs ventures north of the border are always toe tippers. Boris is as welcome here as Donald Trump landing a gold helicopter in the middle of Celtic Park. Antelopes in the Serengeti have been known to receive warmer receptions from the local leopard community. The official line from No10 was that the PM had come to meet front-line medical workers helping fight the virus. Frankly you can put as much stock in that as a science briefing from Commons anti-lockdown loon Sir Desmond Swayne. Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Lighthouse Laboratory used for processing PCR samples, during a visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow January 28 Boriss main purpose was to drum up support for the Union, currently draining faster than a leaky washing machine hose. First stop: Glasgows Lighthouse laboratory, a testing facility on the citys University campus. The PM was decked out in a blue bib and marigolds, his blond bob smothered in a giant shower cap. What a sight! He could have been a dinner lady doling out soggy rice pud. You wouldnt have got a vain booby like David Cameron, or indeed Sir Keir Starmer, in such garb. For Boris, the dafter the better. Hed don lederhosen if he thought it could raise a laugh. He padded about bothering laboratory workers. Every now and again the PM shook his head in wonder. A schoolboy being shown around the cockpit of a Stealth bomber. High tech gizmos, flashing dials. He loves the Boys Own stuff. Some of the lab girls tittered coquettishly. You could see why the PMs people send him up here. When this lot clocked off last night, you can bet most of them were telling friends Boris wasnt quite the twerp they all thought he was. Next it was on to Livingston, home to French biotech firm Valneva, which is developing a yet-to-be approved vaccine. We saw the PM awkwardly squirting something into a sample bottle. Nothing more toxic than saline water I hope. The PMs podgy hands are not exactly blessed with a surgeons touch. Eventually he agreed to speak to a reporter in a little ante-room. He was asked whether this was really an essential trip considering current travel restrictions. Boris Johnson meets troops as they set up a vaccination centre in Glasgow's Castlemilk district on January 28 during his controversial visit to Scotland Im here to thank officials for their fantastic work! replied Boris a little over enthusiastically. It was as though he was trying to convince the hostess of a dreary cocktail party what a fabulous time he was having. Talk quickly turned toward Scottish independence. A slight wince. Cmon Boris, you knew this was coming. He insisted holding another referendum wasnt the right thing to do at this moment. Besides, the Scots had just had one. Next! Would he meet with Scottish fishermen struggling to get their catches to the EU since Brexit? Im always happy to meet with any section of business, Boris smiled. Just not today of course. These people carry harpoons after all. He mentioned the word fishermen before quickly correcting himself to fishing communities. Oh dear. Still, better than the BBC cranks whove recently started calling them fisherpeople. Boris Johnson tried his hand at one of the tests as he visits the French biotechnology laboratory Valneva in Livingston where they will be producing a Covid 19 vaccine on a large scale, during a visit to Scotland Sir Desmond Swaynes controversial claims about scientific data surrounding the virus being manipulated were raised. Boris stared blankly. Hadnt a clue what his interviewer was referring to. Seriously? Swaynes comments had been big news all morning. Hard to think Boriss handlers hadnt briefed him during the journey up. Perhaps he was taking a nap. More likely he was covering for Sir Dessie whom I can tell he rather likes. Giving him time to retract his loopy remarks before having to sack him as a Tory MP. The PM seemed far crosser when asked about Jacob Rees-Mogg, who earlier in the Commons referred to Nicola Sturgeon as Moan-a-lot. Boris denounced the jibe as petty personal issues. Thanks a bunch, Moggster, you could see him thinking. Hed come all the way to Scotland to smooth feathers only for the Leader of the House to go ruffling them up again. Pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom is back in the news, this time thanks to a major acquisition and the successful completion of a restructuring plan. Liquid Telecom has announced a strategic acquisition of the Middle East & African operations of Quattro Business Solutions (QBS) a leader in the fast-growing ecosystem of Microsoft Dynamics partners. The acquisition, according to Liquid Telecom, will allow it to innovate and enhance its digital services offerings. QBS is an official indirect Cloud Solution Provider for Microsoft Dynamics and currently supports over 800 partners in 25 countries. This purchase gives Liquid Telecom the ability to be a well-rounded Microsoft partner, offering deep capability on Dynamics 365 in addition to Office 365 and Azure. With the QBS offering now added to its stable of digital solutions, Liquid Telecom says it has positioned itself as the digital service provider that will support its partners through a seamless digital transformation journey. In addition the Liquid Telecom restructuring plan that began last year appears to be nearly complete: Liquid Telecom will become Liquid Intelligent Technologies by the end of the year. The new CEO Deon Geyser has been quoted as pointing out that the company is not just about putting fibre in the ground and that its cloud business has been its fastest-growing product during the past financial year. MADISON, N.J., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Century 21 Real Estate LLC announced that in 2020 the CENTURY 21 System collectively raised more than $2.5 million for Easterseals, an organization that for more than 100 years has been providing exceptional services, education, outreach and advocacy so people with disabilities can live, learn, work and thrive in their communities. Since the inception of this philanthropic partnership in 1979, the CENTURY 21 network's independent franchisees and affiliated relentless sales professionals have collaborated to raise a total of $129 million. As the brand celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021, it also commemorates its 42 years of partnership with Easterseals, one of America's largest nonprofit health care organizations providing comprehensive health care services and supports wellness to more than 1.5 million individuals with disabilities and their families annually. "Easterseals is an integral part of our history of innovation and transforming the way real estate is done because they, like us, have affiliates in local communities that deliver extraordinary outcomes-based services and experiences to their customers, the one in four Americans living with disability today," said Michael Miedler, president and chief executive officer of Century 21 Real Estate. "Helping others thrive is baked into the overall mindset of our family of sales professionals that call the CENTURY 21 brand home." "Our friends in the CENTURY 21 brand are truly relentless," said Angela F. Williams, Easterseals President and CEO, referring to the $2.5 million raised during the pandemic. "We are grateful to the CENTURY 21 System for their commitment to Easterseals, ensuring that support for services critical to children and adults with disabilities -- regardless of age or ability is available so they are 100% included in their communities and 100% empowered to reach their potential in life." In 2020, for the seventh consecutive year, the top three Easterseals fundraisers from the CENTURY 21 System were: CENTURY 21 Town & Country; Utica, Michigan CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company ; Dallas, Texas CENTURY 21 B .J. Roth Realty Ltd.; Barrie, Ontario, Canada . This is the 24th straight year that CENTURY 21 Town & Country has held the top spot among brokerages for fundraising efforts to benefit Easterseals. In fact, in 2020, CENTURY 21 Town & Country raised a record $1,638,574. This year, 13 of the Top 21 leading the CENTURY 21 System fundraisers are Canadian firms, led by CENTURY 21 B.J. Roth in Ontario. The "Top 21" North American Fundraisers for Easterseals in 2020 are: CENTURY 21 Town & Country, Utica, Michigan CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company , Dallas, Texas CENTURY 21 B .J. Roth Realty Ltd., Barrie, Ontario, Canada CENTURY 21 Scheetz, Carmel, Indiana CENTURY 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc., Markham, Ontario, Canada CENTURY 21 Heritage Group Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada CENTURY 21 Dome Realty Inc., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada CENTURY 21 Real Estate Center, Lynnwood, Washington CENTURY 21 Executives Realty Ltd., Vernon, British Columbia, Canada CENTURY 21 North Homes Realty, Inc., Lynnwood, Washington CENTURY 21 Heritage House Ltd., Woodstock, Ontario, Canada CENTURY 21 Bamber Realty Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada CENTURY 21 Fusion, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada CENTURY 21 Assurance Realty Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia , Canada CENTURY 21 Bachman & Associates, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada CENTURY 21 Arizona Foothills, Phoenix, Arizona CENTURY 21 Coleman-Hornsby, Morris, Illinois CENTURY 21 Beggins Enterprises, Apollo Beach, Florida CENTURY 21 Westman Realty Ltd., Brandon, Manitoba, Canada CENTURY 21 Miller Real Estate Ltd., Oakville, Ontario, Canada CENTURY 21 Foothills Real Estate, High River, Alberta, Canada Special recognition of the achievements of the "Top 21" companies, and all other CENTURY 21 network companies who raised funds for Easterseals in 2020, will occur throughout the year at virtual (and hopefully live events) as well as on the CENTURY 21 System internal and external communications channels. About Easterseals Driven by its purpose to change the way the world defines and views disability, Easterseals makes profound, positive differences in the lives of people with disabilities every day through its life-changing services and powerful advocacy. For more than 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for children and adults with disabilities, veterans, seniors, their families, and their communities. Together, its national network of 67 Affiliates serves 1.5 million people annually through high-quality community- and home-based services that include early intervention; autism services; workforce development programs; medical rehabilitation including physical, occupational and speech therapies; behavioral health services; adult day programs; and much more. In schools, workplaces, and communities, Easterseals is fostering environments where everyone is included and valued making a real and positive impact on us all. Join us in ensuring that everyone regardless of age or ability is 100% included and 100% empowered to reach their potential and participate in society. Learn more at www.easterseals.com. About Century 21 Real Estate LLC The approximately 146,000 independent sales professionals in approximately 13,000 offices spanning 84 countries and territories in the CENTURY 21 System live their mission every day: to defy mediocrity and deliver extraordinary experiences. By consistently chasing excellence, giving 121% and always elevating, the CENTURY 21 brand is helping its affiliated brokers/agents to be the first choice for real estate consumers and industry professionals worldwide. Century 21 Real Estate has numerous websites to help answer specific consumer needs. They are century21.com, century21.com/global, century21.com/commercial, century21.com/finehomes and century21.com/espanol. Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services. 2021 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21, the CENTURY 21 Logo and C21 are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Contact: Peter L. Mosca Century 21 Real Estate LLC Phone: 973.407.5180 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Century 21 Real Estate LLC Related Links https://www.century21.com PM Modi holds talks with Abu Dhabi crown prince India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the two leaders discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and expressed satisfaction that cooperation between India and the UAE had not halted even during the health crisis. In a telephone conversation, the PMO said in a statement on Thursday, the two leaders agreed to continue close consultations and cooperation to further strengthen the India-UAE partnership in the post-COVID-19 world. In this context, they discussed the opportunities for further diversifying trade and investment links. "Prime Minister expressed his special appreciation for the personal attention and care that His Highness has always shown for the well-being of the expatriate Indian community in UAE," it added. India carried out 5th highest no of COVID vaccinations till Jan 26: Govt The crown prince is also the deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces. The two leaders shared their confidence that the COVID-19 crisis would soon be overcome, and looked forward to meeting in person in the near future. Earlier in the day, Modi had hailed India''s growing ties with countries in the Middle East and had in this context noted that India-bound Rafale fighter aircraft were recently refuelled midair in the UAE and countries like Greece and Saudi Arabia had also helped. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 21:42 [IST] Update: 15-year-old Nya Brown has been found and reunited with her family, police announced Thursday. Fifteen-year-old Nya Brown left her home on a Sunday evening nearly two weeks ago, leaving behind her cellphone and debit card. She hasnt been seen since. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now joined the Belmont Police Department in the search for the missing teenager, who was last seen at 6 p.m. on Jan. 17, according to authorities. A spokesperson for the FBI Boston Division confirmed the agencys Child Exploitation-Human Trafficking Task Force is assisting the department in its search for the Belmont girl. The FBI is postured to assist the Belmont Police Department with whatever resources they need, the spokesperson told MassLive. We can add manpower to the investigation, including special agents who are specifically trained and experienced in missing children matters. Authorities dont know what Brown was wearing at the time she went missing, but police released numerous photographs of the girl and described her as 57 and 150 pounds. Belmont police have put multiple calls out on social media, saying they need the publics help locating the teenager and urging anyone with information to call the department at (617) 484-1212. Two small Australian gems are big winners in this year's TripAdvisor travel awards, a relief for Australian holidaymakers who can only dream of overseas jaunts. New South Wales' Shoalhaven and the wine region town Mudgee have made spots eight and ten on TripAdvisor's top emerging destinations category. The nods are likely to boost tourism in the regions, as Australians seek glamorous staycations in their own backyard. Two Australian towns are shock winners in this year's TripAdvisor travel awards, a relief for Australian holidaymakers who can only dream of overseas jaunts (pictured, Seven Mile Beach just south of Gerringong in the Shoalhaven area of New South Wales - which got a nod) New South Wales' Shoalhaven and Mudgee have made spots eight and ten of TripAdvisor's top emerging destinations category (pictured, View of Gerrigong from Mount Pleasant Lookout, Shoalhaven) The 'emerging destinations' list features places international travellers haven't caught wind of yet, TripAdvisor's Hayley Coleman told Escape. 'These are destinations that travellers want to visit next whether an existing tourism gem, or an off-the-radar spot not yet firmly on the map,' she said. Of number eight, Shoalhaven, Tripadvisor said it 'might not be the first place to come to mind when thinking of Australiabut it should be.' The travel company described the coastal region is ideal for anyone wanting to surf 'sparkling turquoise waters', walk 'verdant trails' or explore 'caverns and sea cliffs'. The sapphire view of Point Perpendicular Lighthouse and stunning vineyards were also noted as highlights of the region. Small regional town Mudgee (pictured), which came in at number ten, was described by TripAdvisor as a history lover's playhouse Gold Rush-era buildings' and the Gulgong Pioneers Museum, alongside 'moss-covered rocks and oversized ferns in Ferntree Gully' are drawcards of Mudgee (pictured) Small regional town Mudgee, which came in at number ten, was described by TripAdvisor as a history lover's playhouse. 'Gold Rush-era buildings' and the Gulgong Pioneers Museum, alongside 'moss-covered rocks and oversized ferns in Ferntree Gully' are drawcards of the town. Cyclists should not hesitate in hopping on their bikes to visit Mudgee as it offers both 'gentle rides through the countryside' and 'dirt back roads for mountain biking'. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (pictured) won the top 'trending destination' spot for its 'crashing waves' and 'calm water' Although the closest most Australians can get to international destinations is through obscure zoom calls to overseas friends, Cabo San Lucas and Martinique should be put on the mood board. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, won the top 'trending destination' spot for its 'crashing waves' and 'calm water'. An adventure lover's paradise, Cabo offers big game fishing, diving and kayaking alongside beach laying and even its nightlife is crash-hot, Tripadvisor said. Once they've conquered the Mexican coast, travellers might want to catch a flight east for a 'laid back' holiday in French foothold Martinique in the Carribean, which won best emerging destination. After guests have hopped off the plane in their vertically striped tees, they can enjoy the very chic black sand beaches and French dash West Indian cuisine and culture on the Caribbean island. Michigan breweries were confronted with some of their biggest challenges in 2020. What can we expect in the craft brewing world here in the Mitten as move forward? Will adversity spark creativity? Are big changes coming to Michigan beer? Inquiring minds want to know. By and large, the craft beer world is a progressive world, said David Ringler from Cedar Springs Brewing Company, when asked about trends in beer for 2021. We reached out to a few experts in the beer industry to get their take on what might be coming in 2021. We found that while there some things they saw happening across the board, there are also a few interesting outliers that might prove to be bigger players in years to come. Overall, a tone of very cautious optimism is happening across the Michigan beer industry. Last year was a game changer, and while the industry adapted and innovated as necessary throughout the year, they now are approaching the new year with perhaps a hint of trepidation. Tepid innovation, is one trend that Ringler thinks well see this year from Michigan breweries. In addition to Ringler, who is vice president of the Michigan Brewers Guild, we also talked to other local experts: They all shared their thoughts on what trends we might see across the beer beverage category in 2021. Listen to Annette May discuss why research might drive trends in craft beer in 2021 here. They also almost all agreed it is incredibly hard to predict what might happen this year, especially after everything that happened in 2020. According to Hartman, Its been a weird year to try to predict trends. With no conferences, either national or statewide, its been hard to see what beers are trending. That being said, lets see what might happen in Michigan beer in 2021. Marzen beer at Cedar Spring Brewing Company in Cedar Springs, Michigan.John Gonzalez New products? Maybe not this year. Or maybe a lot more. There has been a ton of stress and challenges from the pandemic for our Michigan breweries. With so much change happening, and so many unknowns still out there, a lot of Michigan breweries might just stick with what they already know works for 2021. The buzz thing in craft beer has always been new, new, new, said Ringler. Make something new. But for small guys that are beholden to draft beer, and on-premise sales, thats really hard. With indoor dining closed for most of 2020, draft beer sales have dropped off almost completely. As Lambert said, That was just like, gone. Many small breweries have started canning their beer for the very first time, in order to sell it to-go to customers. This demand has now created a can shortage, another problem facing breweries who need to move beer while its fresh. If you cant get it out the door, why would you risk tank space, time, money and effort on beers that dont have a track record of selling well? How do you put out five or six new beers, and nobody can come onsite, or only a fraction can, and it doesnt move? asked Ringler. You want to try something thats new or has the appearance of new, but you have to have the confidence that its going to sell. One way breweries might continue to offer a bigger variety of new beers and different flavors of beers is to take a page out of big beers book. According to Ringler, we might see more breweries splitting batches of beer, and then creating two or three different flavored beers from that one batch. Maybe you make a batch or two of beer that you can then spike a couple of kegs, he said. You can flavor them, maybe add raspberry to one, something else to the other. That way you dont have that much beer sitting there. Hartman agreed that Breweries might not want to bring new products to the market that are innovative because they want to keep it local, with products they know will sell. Michigan breweries have been in a completely different situation than the rest of the country over the last year, he explained. Plans have been put on hold for many brewery expansions, he said. The change and growth that weve seen in the industry in the past might be much, much slower this year. For many breweries, especially smaller ones, bringing new products to the market might not make sense right now. But for some, it was the lifeline they needed last year. HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor used the pandemic as a time to finally take the leap on a brand new product, and it has proven to be wildly successful. Smooj, a fruity hard seltzer the brewery makes under their company Troobado, was something that owner Tommy Kennedy had been thinking about for a while. We didnt really have the bandwidth to play around with it until Covid hit, Kennedy said. We wanted to come up with something fun and exciting to come out of this thing with, so lets really dig in, and put a lot of energy in to make this thing a possibility. We spent from March to June coming up with processes and the recipes that we were excited to get going with, and launched the first one in early June. No fanfare, new brand name, and were excited people found it, and were willing to experiment with it. Our first one sold out in about a day, the next one sold out in a few hours. The thing about Smooj that really made it different for HOMES is they designed it with distribution in mind. HOMES Brewery has always operated on a no-distribution model. If you want to try their beers, you pick them up at the brewery in Ann Arbor. Theyve always relied on the incredible local support for their beers. We never wanted to be in distribution with HOMES, because we wanted to stay small and flexible and didnt want to be beholden to a staple beer, Kennedy said. We wanted to be able to keep experimenting, and always feel unstable about the state of things, and always keep challenging ourselves as a creative outlet. Unstable is a great way to describe 2020, and sometimes it can be too much. The pandemic really forced HOMES to rethink their business model. Although their local support has been incredible, It was a lot to ask of a small audience, Kennedy said. With Smooj, we saw an opportunity to diversify revenue streams, and have something thats not HOMES. Its a whole separate company, has its own different marketing strategy where we can be in distribution, and be stable through these ebbs and flows, Kennedy said. It just felt like a perfect pairing with what we were already doing. Will continued market instability force other breweries to pivot their business models and offer something completely new? Or will it force a major slow-down on new products being offered? Looks like its a split decision on this trend. Beers of the year for 2020 includes a variant, the incredible array of seltzers from Odd Side Ales. Seltzer will only grow in availability and quality. Hard seltzers are the fastest-growing segment in the beverage market. What was originally sold and marketed on a national scale by big brands has trickled down to the Michigan beer market, and many of our breweries now offer their own versions. Hard seltzers are affordable to make, easy to customize, and offer something for customers who might not be traditional beer drinkers. Youll also be seeing innovation from breweries that are getting into the seltzer, and trying to steal consumers from like White Claw and High Noon, Hartman said. Its getting a non-traditional beer drinker into the category. Its a way for breweries to reach out to consumers they may have missed in the past. Ringler agrees that well see more hard seltzer offerings. Youll see people trying to push seltzers, and a lot of that is in desperation, he said. Theyre very cheap, relatively easy to make. Youre using these artificial flavoring ingredients and its a way to expand your audience, because your cocktail drinker and wine drinker will drink them. Theres so much innovation in the seltzer category, said Lambert, looking at seltzers from a distributors standpoint. Shes watched the growth from national brands, and is starting to see it more in Michigan. Her company now offers all sorts of varieties of hard seltzer, and she thinks even more of this variety in the style will be arriving. We have teas that are seltzers, lemonade seltzer, a limonade one, she said. Any innovation they can bring out, in a seltzer, or a new and better for you beverage, will be received well. Odd Side Ales in Grand Haven went all in on seltzers in 2020, launching their line in April. The brewery purchased three new 60-barrel tanks this summer in order to keep up with the demand. Theyve released close to 20 different flavors since the launch, and they continue to be popular. In fact, this fall due to the can shortage, and the high demand for their seltzer, the brewery ended up rewrapping some of their beer cans with seltzer labels. We had to wrap Dank Juice cans to support our seltzer line, OLeary said in an interview last fall. Hartman has been impressed with what some of these breweries have been creating. There is an element of complete innovation where there are other breweries doing these crazy, slurpy slushy beers, like HOMES, he said. A hard seltzer smoothie. Its an example of them trying to be innovative with a style, but then grabbing someone who wouldnt drink a traditional beer with four ingredients in it. Theyre grabbing the cocktail client or the wine drinker. While seltzer might not replace beer completely, it certainly is wedging its way deeper into the industry, one zero calories, zero carbs can at a time. Breweries across the country, and many in Michigan brewed the Black is Beautiful beer in support of justice for Black people in 2020. Inclusive beers will continue to draw in new craft beer fans. We saw many Michigan breweries participate in the Black Is Beautiful beer campaign in 2020. The beer was the brainchild of Marcus Baskerville, founder and head brewer at Weathered Souls Brewing based in San Antonio. Over 700 breweries participated in this effort to bring awareness to the injustices that Black people face daily. Bells Brewery was one of them. We all have some work to do, Bells included, and we are committed to that, said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bells in an article on MLive back in June. It starts on an individual level. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to continue this conversation and help drive real change. Bells has been brewing beers to support various communities through their Celebration series for years now. The beers have helped celebrate women, veterans, LBGTQ+, Black and African American groups in the past, and the brewery plans to continue to brew these. These type of inclusive beers, and efforts at breweries to include more untraditional beer drinkers, will continue to grow in 2021. Beers at North Channel Brewing Company in Manistee, Michigan.John Gonzalez Better for you beverages will continue to expand in the marketplace. Anybody that can set themselves apart with an ingredient twist, or a connection to something that is healthy will set themselves apart, Lambert said. While beer might not be healthy, per se, Michigan breweries are making a lot more options for lower ABV (alcohol by volume) beers, and are starting to experiment with non-alcoholic beers. Well be seeing more and more of these entering the market in 2021. We are seeing more and more people being more health-conscious, and want a lower-calorie beer, Hartman said. New Holland Brewing introduced their beer Lightpoint in 2020. Its low calorie and only has 3.7% ABV. We wanted to make a lower-calorie beer that had some flavor to it, he said. And yet make it New Holland and make it craft. So thats where we added some orange peel to it. We added some coconut water, which is a little bit different. I still think there is a segment of the craft drinker who wants a beer with flavor, but they want a break from the traditional full flavor, and the 6 to 7% beer. As for low ABV or non-alcoholic beers, May agrees that there will be more of them hitting the market. I think we are going to see more of this, more because of technical stuff happening. Its been proven in the last years that NA beers in craft beer is a thing now. Especially industry people, people are starting to understand how much alcohol can damage your system, and they want a break. More brewers are getting better technically at making them, and the more we are going to have, the better they are going to taste. With more research and accessibility to the right equipment that is needed to do this, we will be seeing more of these types of beers. Lambert refers to this beverage category as better for you, and believes its just going to keep growing into 2021. Head brewer Joe Powers at HomeGrown Brewing Company in Oxford, Michigan. HomeGrown was opened in April 2017 by Oakland County couple John and Marie Powers and was recently awarded the title of Michigan IPA Brewery of the Year at the New York International Beer Competition.Courtesy of HomeGrown Brewing Co. Research will drive some beer styles May, who is an instructor at Schoolcraft Colleges brewing program, a member of the craft womens collective Fermenta, and a certified advanced cicerone, said her trends come from the technical side of things, where research drives innovation. Well see more non-alcoholic beers because brewers finally have the right equipment and knowledge to make them, she explained. Its not easy to make them, and its taken lots of experimentation to find the right ways to do it. She feels Michigan brewers are on the cusp of really getting these right. She also thinks that some trends wont go away, and its simply because they are just too valuable as research tools. The last few years have seen an explosion in the popularity of New England IPAs, and Michigan has certainly embraced the trend. May isnt one to mince words, and she explained that she isnt really a fan of NEIPAs, preferring traditional-style beers. Despite her personal feelings, she thinks this trend will continue, and for a very interesting reason why. I dont think the hazy or the NEIPA or whatever you want to call it is going away anytime soon, May said. Its not because theyre popular or because people like them. Its because there is so much research going on into new hop varietals and ways to brew with them, and bringing out their aroma. Theres so much research going on, and people are going to be using this research. Doing experimental brews with experimental hops, and seeing how much aroma and flavor can come out of this hop through biotransformation. In Mays opinion, the unique flavors that brewers are able to extract from hops is the exact reason why this beer style will be sticking around. Were just at the tip of the iceberg, she said. The hazy IPA is the showcase style for this type of hop research. It showcases all the benefits of this research with hops. Brewers are not going to stop experimenting. Hop producers are not going to stop creating new hop varietals. Which means, we arent going to see the end of NEIPAs anytime soon. Albion Malleable Brewing Company not only has Michigan's Best Burger, they also have some delicious beers. Outliers What else might we see in the craft beer world in 2021? Maybe a bigger return to bottles, simply because of the can shortage. Breweries are still hog-tied in Michigan over draft sales, so kegging isnt a great option to get beer moving. Well see more of them return to their original bottle form in 2021, like Bells Hopslam release this January, and many of Odd Sides beers last year. Even if we reopen for indoor dining soon, it will be at severely-reduced capacity, and many people might still not feel comfortable dining inside. In Michigan, well continue to see breweries upgrade and expand their patios and outdoor dining options, not just from necessity, but also because customers have embraced them. I think well also see another round of innovative ideas from breweries on take-out options, whether its slimmed-down menus, take-out windows, or more crowler and can offerings. Variety packs have proven to be immensely popular, and are also a growing trend. A 12-pack with three different flavors of beer in it makes it affordable to have something for everyone. With supply chains sometimes interrupted from the pandemic, and with the focus being very close to home, expect to see an uptick of local ingredients in Michigan beers in 2021. Whether its local honey, fruits, hops, home-grown grains or even locally-sourced yeasts, well see more breweries taking pride at incorporating Michigan grown products. A flight of beer from Biere de Mac. More Michigan beer news: Readers pick a wild dark saison as Beer of the Year Amys Top Ten Beers of the Year 2020 Gonzos Top Ten Beers of the Year 2020 Kalamazoos One Well Brewing tucks heaters under tables to create a warm situation This Detroit brewery ask you to pay what you can as they pay it forward Beer can shortage means some popular brews will be in bottles only. Two Guys Brewing finds ways to give back, and grow Non alcoholic beer is creating a buzz around Michigan See 32 beers that Michiganders loved in 2020 CSE: VYGR OTCQB: VYGVF Borse Frankfurt: UCD2 - Voyager Therapeutics Announcements Mistakenly Posted on Voyager Digital's News Links - NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Voyager Digital Ltd. ("Voyager Digital" or the "Company") (CSE: VYGR) (OTCQB: VYGVF) (FRA: UCD2), a publicly-traded, licensed crypto-asset broker that provides investors with a turnkey solution to trade crypto assets, has become aware of news articles relating to Voyager Therapeutics mistakenly being attributed to our Company on various news feeds. The Company has contacted the various news feeds to have the ticker symbols amended. In light of this, the Company asks all investors to carefully read any news articles to ensure such articles are in respect of Voyager Digital. For more information on Voyager Digital, please visit https://www.investvoyager.com. The Voyager app is available for Android and iPhone. Voyager Digital Ltd. is a crypto-asset broker that provides retail and institutional investors with a turnkey solution to trade crypto assets. Voyager offers customers best execution and safe custody on a wide choice of popular crypto-assets. Voyager was founded by established Wall Street and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who teamed to bring a better, more transparent, and cost-efficient alternative for trading crypto-assets to the marketplace. Please visit us at for more information and to review the latest Corporate Presentation. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. Certain information in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future growth and performance of the business, momentum in the businesses, future adoption of digital assets, and the Company's anticipated results may constitute forward looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements), which can be identified by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "intend," "continue" or "believe" (or the negatives) or other similar variations. Because of various risks and uncertainties, including those referenced below, actual events or results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are subject to the risk that the global economy, industry, or the Company's businesses and investments do not perform as anticipated, that revenue or expenses estimates may not be met or may be materially less or more than those anticipated, that trading momentum does not continue or the demand for trading solutions declines, customer acquisition does not increase as planned, product and international expansion do not occur as planned and those other risks contained in the Company's public filings, including in its Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual Information Form (AIF). Factors that could cause actual results of the Company and its businesses to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, a decline in the digital asset market or general economic conditions; the failure or delay in the adoption of digital assets and the blockchain ecosystem by institutions; a delay or failure in developing infrastructure for the trading businesses or achieving mandates and gaining traction; failure to grow assets under management, an adverse development with respect to an issuer or party to the transaction or failure to obtain a required regulatory approval. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made assumptions that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business and that current trends in respect of digital assets continue. Forward-looking statements, past and present performance and trends are not guarantees of future performance, accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, past performance, or current trends. Information identifying assumptions, risks, and uncertainties relating to the Company are contained in its filings with the Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com . The forward-looking statements in this press release are applicable only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the relevant forward-looking statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after that date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are cautioned that past performance is not indicative of future performance and current trends in the business and demand for digital assets may not continue and readers should not put undue reliance on past performance and current trends. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. SOURCE Voyager Digital (Canada) Ltd. The House managers walked quietly through Statuary Hall to present the single article of impeachment against former US president Donald Trump to the Senate. Americans have now become deeply familiar with this civics lesson, one that features members of the House striding slowly through the hall as though they are part of a funeral procession. What once seemed so rare and arcane has now become a sad hum in the background the contrails of an administration that the country may take a generation to shake. The former president was impeached for a second time in the House of Representatives, most recently for engaging in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States. In other words, he egged on the mob that stormed the US Capitol early this month. And so on Monday evening, with the Capitol blessedly quiet and calm, one could hear the footfalls of the legislators on the stone floor as they walked two by two, solemnly focused on their task. A few camera shutters clicked, but mostly there was an eerie silence in a space that has been the location of so much tumult, so many emotions in such a short span of time. The impeachment managers moved though a room filled with the ghosts of our distant past and the fresh memories of our troubled present. The Capitol was the crime scene on January 6, the place where citizens came to kill their own democracy by denying the results of a fair and square election. Then, only two weeks later, on inauguration day, it was the setting where our representatives stood and admired the stability and fortitude of the American system. The simple comity of now-Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell toward House speaker Nancy Pelosi was greeted by observers like gladiatorial detente. There at the Capitol lies the worst of us, as well as our mediocre selves. The best that we have to offer has gone missing. Tuesday afternoon, the sad hum continued. The senators were sworn in as jurors in the upcoming trial. And in groups of four, they walked to the front of the chamber to sign the oath book. They bent low over a wooden table as a clerk handed each one a pen. In between the calling of names, a rush of white noise filled the microphone, emphasising the plodding bureaucracy of the proceedings. Impeachment has become part of the countrys churn. Frustrating, unsatisfying but necessary. Read More Impeachment moved forward while President Biden spoke to the country about systemic racism and his belief that the US cant progress in a full and free way unless it brings all of its citizens along. Biden was at the White House, busy signing executive orders putting an end to the Department of Justices use of private prisons and reinvigorating the Department of Housing and Urban Development to root out long-standing inequity in the housing market, and meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the country was trying to sort out just how it felt about its own constitution. The impeachment carried on even though some Senate Republicans aimed to declare it unconstitutional to hold the former president to account for attempting to subvert the constitution, which leaves one wondering exactly what these legislators think it means to take an oath to uphold the countrys governing document. Other Republicans Senator Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley have lamented that impeachment is too divisive or tedious, too distracting or difficult or simply too mean. They want to just move along smiling politely in the face of the wreckage. The whole nation wants to move on. How could we not? But we cant until weve dealt with the mess that lies all around us. We cant simply step over it and put it in the past because the muck is too wide and deep. We need to wade in. We need to confront the presidents part in the storming of the Capitol by people who billed themselves as patriots and come to a much-needed, fuller recognition that it was part of the psychic violence that happened long ago, when so many members of our society werent considered Americans at all. Biden has rightfully turned his attention to strengthening voting rights and safeguarding them. The Senate is now charged with assessing the man who stoked extremism, racism and fear, who caused the veracity of the vote in the recent election to be questioned because he questioned the validity of the voters themselves. The impeachment of the former president forces us to wrestle with a past that allowed such poisonous thinking to flourish and to become a rallying cry. A year ago, when Trump was first impeached, the sight of the House managers striding through Statuary Hall had the air of high drama. The formal transfer of documents was a triumphant climax for a substantial percentage of the country that was immensely frustrated and angry. This time, the impeachment proceedings were fast and furious after a devastating breach of democracy. The walk to the Senate chambers didnt resonate with rage or righteous indignation. Mostly, in the managers sober dress and silence, there was little more than sorrow that it had come to this. The countrys grievous past has so thoroughly spoiled the present that even the constitution has been called into question. And instead of looking to it for guidance and grounding, it has become a damnable vessel of doubt. ( Washington Post) TL;DR: About 9,000 prekindergarten through second-grade students in Philadelphia public schools are expected to come back to classrooms next month. A Philly private school got COVID-19 vaccines for its teachers but hours later, its clinic was canceled. Before getting nixed, word had trickled out to public school teachers, who questioned how a private school was able to get doses while they had been told to wait at least a month. Kelly OShea (@kelloshea, health@inquirer.com) What you need to know: Philadelphia City Council members are demanding answers from city officials as questions build over their soured partnership with Philly Fighting COVID, a self-described group of college kids responsible until this week for managing the citys largest coronavirus mass vaccination site. For New Jerseyans who need help making appointments to get second doses of the coronavirus vaccine, health commissioner Judith Persichilli outlined several solutions including the states hotline. A 30-year-old bartender in Montgomery County has been diagnosed with the highly transmissible strain of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom, county officials said. SEPTA launched its latest COVID-19 mitigation measure on Wednesday, called Mask Force Philly, an effort to boost face-covering compliance on its system. Pennsylvanias Senate approved legislation to distribute just more than $900 million to aid schools and hospitality-related businesses hit hard by the coronavirus, as well as people struggling to pay rent. The bill still requires approval from the state House of Representatives and Gov. Tom Wolf. Whats going on in your county or neighborhood? We organized recent coverage of the coronavirus pandemic by local counties and Philly neighborhoods mentioned in the stories to make it easier for you to find the info you care about. Local coronavirus cases The coronavirus has swept across the Philadelphia region and cases continue to mount. The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on tests conducted, cases confirmed, and deaths caused by the virus. Track the spread here. About 9,000 prekindergarten through second-grade students in Philadelphia public schools can come back to classrooms two days a week beginning Feb. 22, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Wednesday. Their teachers are expected to report Feb. 8. Many of Philadelphias students are low-income, have special needs, are English language learners or vulnerable in other ways, and the pandemic has hit them especially hard, meaning a safe return to school is imperative, Hite said. The return only applies to students whose families opted for in-person learning in the fall, when the district intended to return kids to buildings in late November. It took hustle, but Heather Orman-Lubell, medical consultant at the Philadelphia private school Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, was thrilled to secure hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine doses for teachers and staff through a Montgomery County pharmacy. Hours later, state health officials shut down the plan, citing rules about vaccine eligibility. Before getting nixed, word of SCH Academys plan had trickled out to public school teachers, who questioned how a private school was able to get doses while they had been told to expect to wait at least a month. Shifting priorities and confusing messages over how schools are supposed to obtain doses are setting off a frantic search for solutions, as well as worries about equitable treatment for all. Helpful resources You got this: Keep the fun alive A year ago, the job of activities directors at nursing homes and assisted living facilities was to get people out of their rooms. Almost overnight last March, Rachel Kaufman, escapades producer at Brandywine Living at Dresher Estates, became a key player in the struggle to keep residents safe, and also happy. She visited residents rooms with carts loaded with things to do. She wore silly costumes and dispensed cocktails. Read more about how she kept the fun alive at a Montgomery County personal care facility. Take your cooking game up a notch with these six duck recipes from Philly chefs. Phillys Acori Honzo couldnt find figurines of Black folks, so he started sculpting them himself. How three Philly groups are raising mental-health awareness in immigrant communities. Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter. What were paying attention to Enjoy getting our journalism through email? You can also sign up for The Inquirer Morning Newsletter to get the latest news, features, investigations and more sent straight to your inbox each morning Sunday-Friday. Sign up here. One person was found dead after a house fire Wednesday in Ewing, township police said. A delivery driver reported seeing smoke coming from a residence on Beacon Avenue around 12:40 p.m., and neighbors told responding officers that a resident was inside the home, according to Ewing police. Officers immediately entered the residence but were driven back by smoke and fire, police said in a news release. Firefighters doused the flames and discovered the victim, police said. The person has not been identified. Ewing detectives and the Mercer County Prosecutors Office were investigating what caused the blaze. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. A modified version of the Boeing 737 Max, incorporating multiple safety upgrades, has been approved to resume flights in Europe, following nearly two years of reviews after the aircraft was involved in two deadly crashes that saw the planes grounded worldwide, the European aviation safety agency said yesterday. Changes mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) include a package of software upgrades, a reworking of the electrical system, maintenance checks, operations manual updates and new crew training. We have reached a significant milestone on a long road, said EASA executive director Patrick Ky. Following extensive analysis by EASA, we have determined that the 737 MAX can safely return to service. This assessment was carried out in full independence of Boeing or the Federal Aviation Administration and without any economic or political pressure we asked difficult questions until we got answers and pushed for solutions which satisfied our exacting safety requirements. Read More "We carried out our own flight tests and simulator sessions and did not rely on others to do this for us. The planes were grounded in March 2019 following the crashes of a Lion Air flight near Jakarta on October 29, 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10, 2019, killing a total of 346 people. Investigators determined that the cause of the crashes was a faulty computer system that pushed the planes nose downward in flight and couldnt be overridden by pilots. Changes mandated by the German-based EASA include a recertification of the planes flight-control system which was not a part of previous 737 models. Irelands inspirational craftspeople and makers will be celebrated in a landmark new exhibition in Kilkenny charting the evolution of the crafts and design sector in Ireland over the last 50 years. The 50 Makers: 50 Years exhibition will take place at the National Design & Craft Gallery in the Castle Yard in July. The initiative is part of a series of events this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Design & Crafts Council Ireland. The celebrate makers whose work has contributed to the rich tapestry of craft and design practice in Ireland. As part of the initiative to celebrate Irelands Craft Heroes, industry stakeholders across the country are invited to nominate makers whose work has significant legacy, heralded new approaches or changed the way we look at the world. The deadline for the nominations is January 31. From next month an expert committee will have the difficult task of narrowing the selection to 50 makers, representing 50 years of outstanding craft and design innovation in Ireland. Commenting on the initiative, DCCI Chief Executive Rosemary Steen said: This landmark exhibition will celebrate the huge role our makers and designers have played in Irelands cultural evolution over the past half a century. This period has overseen the greatest societal changes the country has known and we have seen massive changes in the crafts and design sector, which has evolved to become a major player on the global design stage, enhancing Irelands reputation as a creative society and economy. The Design & Crafts Council has been central to this evolution, supporting makers and designers, stimulating innovation, championing design thinking and informing Government policy to nurture, develop and grow the sector, which now employs just under 50,000 people and contributes over 37 billion to the economy. Aside from the exhibition, the Design & Crafts Council is also planning a series of online events over the coming months to mark the contributions by all the individual craft and design disciplines from jewellery, ceramics, textiles, and candlemakers to silversmiths, stone working, furniture makers any many more to the sector. Interim DCCI Chair Andrew Bradley said the focus of the 50th anniversary events planned throughout the year is to give a vital platform for the countrys makers and designers to showcase their products and talent as they respond to the challenges posed by Covid-19. Mr Bradley added: During a very difficult time, our craftspeople, designers and creative communities have provided an economic lifeline to local communities throughout the country. Our makers and designers have shown great resilience in responding to the challenges posed by Covid-19 and we want to use our 50th anniversary to provide them with a platform to market their business and products in a very positive way. President Michael D Higgins paid a warm tribute to the huge contribution our craftspeople have made to Irish life over the past 50 years, which he said continues a proud tradition that is firmly rooted in our rich cultural history. President Higgins said: In Ireland we are very proud of our reputation for creativity, a reputation which is greatly enhanced by our many talented craftspeople and designers. Their creative and beautiful works, which receive wide acclaim on both the national and international stage, remind us of how much of our culture and heritage is embedded in crafted artefacts such as the Book of Kells and the Tara Brooch. At its very best, our design and craftwork connect us in profound ways to our roots whilst also reflecting the immediate world of our inhabited by the designer. They become an exquisite weaving together of individual artistic vision, collective cultural memory and contemporary influence. Minister for Enterprise, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, said: Congratulations to the Design & Crafts Council Ireland on this impressive milestone. The skill and craftmanship of Irish designers and creators is renowned the world over. This exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of DCCI and the events planned over the coming months give us an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the contribution our craftspeople make to Irelands economy and society as a whole. The exhibition will also give a platform to designers to showcase their creations to a wider audience after what has been an incredibly difficult year. Kilkenny TD and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral reform, Malcolm Noonan, added: It is only fitting that Design & Craft Council Ireland celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding still based in the home of Kilkenny Design Workshops; continuing a tradition of craft and innovation that is firmly rooted here but distinctly international'. The Design & Crafts Council can look forward with confidence in the knowledge that design and craft in Ireland have not only shaped this nation but have a vital role in how we meet the great challenges of this century and how human endeavour and creativity can be the catalyst for localisation, sustainability and durability. I would like to congratulate all who have contributed to this great Irish success story. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a booster of conspiracy theories with a track record of making racist statements, repeatedly endorsed violence against Democratic leaders and federal agents, according to a CNN review of her Facebook activity. Greene filled her feed with extremist content for years before she was elected in November, becoming the first open supporter of QAnon, an extremist ideology based on false claims, to win a seat in Congress. In a January 2019 post, Greene liked a comment advocating a bullet to the head of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., according to a screenshot published by CNNs KFile. In another, from April 2018, a commenter asked, "Now do we get to hang them ??" referring to former president Barack Obama and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, KFile reported. In response, Greene did not denounce the suggestion of execution and instead wrote, "Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off." The revelations are the latest examples of Greene's far-right, conspiratorial online exploits, which also include supporting the bogus claim that the Parkland, Fla., school shooting was staged and backing a dangerous conspiracy about child abuse. Greene has also relentlessly boosted the "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was rigged against President Donald Trump, even though court after court has dismissed the former president's claims and state officials across the country, including Republicans, have rejected the baseless allegations. Greene's statements have resulted in her temporary ban from Twitter and they have prompted a number of advocacy organizations to call for her resignation or expulsion from Congress a push that intensified after CNN's Tuesday story. The offices of Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., did not respond to requests for comment about Greene's Facebook activity or the campaign for her removal. On Twitter, Greene characterized the KFile report as a "hit piece on me focused on my time before running for political office" but did not dispute the authenticity of the posts it highlighted. Instead, Greene wrote that she has had "teams of people manage my pages." "Many posts have been liked," she said. "Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views. Especially the ones that CNN is about to spread across the internet. They are taking old Facebook posts from random users to try to cancel me and silence my voice." But Greene's office did not respond to questions about why the posts and "likes" remained on her page if she did not agree with them. Many of the posts included in the CNN article are no longer visible. It's unclear whether Greene changed her privacy settings or Facebook removed the posts. The social media company did not respond to a request for comment. Rep. Don Beye, D-Va., was among those calling for Greene's resignation. "So you aren't denying you wrote called for the deaths of political leaders, you aren't taking responsibility, you aren't apologizing, you aren't even saying it was wrong," he wrote on Twitter, responding to Greene's statement. "You're just blaming others. Your conduct does not reflect creditably on the House, and you should resign." Greene has a history of singling out Democrats especially Pelosi with threatening and ominous rhetoric. Before she ran for office, Greene circulated a petition to have Pelosi impeached. In February 2019, she led a group of Trump supporters into the speaker's office, where she accused Pelosi of "treason" and suggested she "shall suffer death or shall be imprisoned." In now-deleted posts, Greene "liked" one comment encouraging her to "beat Pelosi's ass" and another that advocated for Pelosi's ouster "through removal or death, doesn't matter, as long as she goes." In others, she criticized FBI agents not being sufficiently loyal to Trump. She "liked" one comment that proposed capital punishment for those law enforcement officials, reading: "Trump already said there were some great ones working with FBI but some have fallen and quite frankly need to be hung for TREASON!" And in another Facebook post, surfaced by the liberal media watchdog group Media Matters for America and also published Tuesday, Greene endorsed the gruesome conspiracy dubbed "Frazzledrip," which involves Clinton, her aide Huma Abedin, satanic ritual and child murder. A commenter called it "another hillary hit." Greene replied: I post things sometimes to see who knows things. Most the time people dont. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Cairo Steps released a new video of the performance of their original composition Siwa on YouTube and Instagram on Wednesday. Performing with the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui, the concert took place as part of the Arabic Music Festival (1-10 November 2020) at the Nafura stage, Cairo Opera House. Siwa is one of the most popular compositions by Cairo Steps, composed by the band's leader and oud player Basem Darwisch. It has been performed numerous times in many venues. The minister of culture, Ines Abdel Dayem has been frequently joining the ensemble playing the flute, one of the most prominent instruments carrying the melody line in Siwa. In the recently released video, the flute is played by Huda Abd Elazim. Siwa is arranged for the orchestra by Mohamed Saad Basha. In the video the Cairo Opera Orchestra features Basem Darwisch (oud), Rami Attallah (piano), Ragy Kamal (kanoun), John Sami (nay), Wael El Sayed (accordion), Huda Abd Elazim (flute), Kareem Hossam (e-bass), Azeema (percussions), Hany Al Sawaf (req and duff), Mohamed Labib (saxophone), Jan Boshra (cello) and violinists Emad Azmy, Shereen Azmy, Shady Abdelsalam, Nehad Gamaleldin. Founded in 2002 as a collaboration between Darwisch and German pianist Matthias Frey, Cairo Steps has performed extensively in Egypt and Germany, and on many other international stages. The band brings together numerous music genres -- traditional Egyptian and Oriental grooves, Sufi traditions, Western classical music, European ethnic music and jazz improvisation -- into one melting pot. The final blend is a unique combination of compositions from Eastern and Western musical cultures. In 2018, their album Flying Carpet was awarded the German Jazz Award Gold. One of the past Cairo Steps concerts held at the Cairo Opera House was among the most popular videos released by the culture ministry on its YouTube channel in April 2020. The concert was released shortly after the launch of Culture Between Your Hands, an initiative which kicked off to bring theatre performances, concerts, and other cultural events to audiences online amid the shutdown of theatres, cinemas and concert halls due to the coronavirus. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: The United States has called for the "immediate withdrawal" of Russian and Turkish forces from Libya. The stance came from the voice of Richard Mills, ambassador regent for the United States at the United Nations Security Council. "We call on all external parties in the field, including Russia and Turkey, to respect Libya's sovereignty and immediately stop any kind of military intervention," Mills said. In these years of conflict between the forces of General Haftar and the government army recognized by the international community, Ankara and Moscow have progressively entered the Libyan chessboard, the first in support of the Tripoli executive, the second giving support to Haftar. . All, analysts argue, with the aim of dividing the country into two, different and respective areas of influence. (Unioneonline / lf) Kubbra Sait, who gained recognition through her role in Sacred Games, has acquired quite the fan following on social media. In a recent Instagram post, Sait shared adorable pictures of her visit to Popeye Village. The whimsical pictures of the actor just enjoying life to the fullest seems quite on-brand for her. Kubbra Sait was seen posing with Popeye and Olives life-size cut-outs. The pictures looked fresh all the while being socially distanced and isolated. Kubbra Sait's photos in Popeye's village Popeye Village based in Malta is a film set that was used to film the live-action musical feature Popeye which starred Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall. It is created like a theme park for people to enjoy and relive the Popeye experience. It is based on the same concept of what a Disney World is. Sait looked poised yet casual with a minimal makeup look and a high knot. Her caption Popeyes got a double chin was a real howler in the context of the picture. The other picture simply read Olive Oyl. The background in one picture looks sunny and dewy, the next one is dark and overcast. Also Read: Kubbra Sait Says 'Im Not Complaining' As She Shares Her Work From Home Location In another post belonging to the same series of pictures, Kubbra Sait is seen with her friend in a room with a relatively low ceiling. Her caption, Hahaha! Stuck with me, stands as a testament of the friendship the two share. The two friends are captured in a candid moment of enjoyment. A peek into Kubbra Sait's Instagram In yet another post, Sait posted her detailed workout routine with her followers. Not only did she post the video of her workout but also a caption with the routine jotted down. She emphasised on the ten-minute stretch. Sait posts materials on the regular and keeps her fans involved in her life. Sait gained a lot of recognition for her role as the transgender Kuckoo. She has been vocal about the fact that she has a desire to do a variety of roles and that she does not have any restrictions as long as the script would interest her. Kubbra Sait is all set to release her memoir in 2021 which will be published by HarperCollins India. Sait has had a tumultuous life and journey which the 37-year-old actor is ready to share with her fans in her signature bold and sassy manner. Also Read: Kubbra Sait Shares New Workout Video, Calls It A 'Peace Of The Soul' Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 28 : After a wait of over four decades, the 6.8 km two-lane Alappuzha bypass on NH66 was jointly inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a virtually organised function on Thursday. While, Vijayan attended the virtual inauguration from Thiruvananthapuram, Gadkari participated in the function from New Delhi. The Kerala Chief Minister lauded the joint efforts of the Centre and the state government in executing the project. He said that the bypass will reduce the traffic bottlenecks on the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam stretch. Earlier, due to massive traffic jams, it was a one hour travel on the stretch, but now the journey would be completed in less than ten minutes. Vijayan added that of the total cost of Rs 364 crore for the project, the Centre had provided Rs 164 crore, whereas the state government spent Rs 200 crore. Gadkari had invited the Kerala Chief Minister to New Delhi to discuss the pending highway projects and said that the problems could only be fixed if there is proper communication between the two governments. Speaking on the occasion, Kerala PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran said: "This is a dream come true and the will and support of both the central and the state governments has transformed this project into a reality." He lashed out at the Congress, saying that the project got delayed during its regime for several years on various accounts. Sudhakaran hailed the services rendered by the PWD engineers and said that it was the hard work and technical proficiency of the team which helped in the completion of the project. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, V. Muraleedharan said: "The will power of the Narendra Modi government and especially of Union Minister Gadkari has to be mentioned in this context because of which the project could be completed." Alappuzha Congress Committee president, M. Liju said, "It was AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal who had completed all the basic work of the Alappuzha bypass when he was the local MP. Not inviting him for this function is a bad political precedent and the CPI-(M) and BJP seem to have joined together for a Congress-Mukt Bharat." Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressing WEF's Davos Dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the strength of India's vaccination programme in his address at the World Economic Forum's Davos Dialogue. While doses of two vaccines are already being supplied by India, "more made-in-India vaccines are on their way", Modi said in his virtual address on January 28. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum Institute of India's Covishield - the Indian variant of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine - were cleared by the country' drug regulator earlier this month. The export of vaccines was also cleared by the Modi-led government. "India is saving the lives of people in many other countries of the world by sending COVID-19 vaccines and developing the necessary infrastructure for the vaccination," Modi said at the forum. India has so far supplied the vaccines to Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Nepal, Seychelles, Myanmar, Bhutan, Morocco, and Brazil, among others. A number of countries in North Africa, Asia, and Latin America are expected to receive shipments in the days to come. "Right now there are two made-in-India vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that in the time to come many more vaccines will come from India," Modi added. 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 "In these tough times, India has been undertaking its global responsibility from the beginning. When airspace was closed in many countries, India took more than 1 lakh citizens to their countries and delivered essential medicines to more than 150 countries," he pointed out. The Prime Minister also told the virtual gathering of world leaders and experts that India has succeeded in inoculating over 2.3 million people with the vaccine within 12 days of launching the immunisation programme. The target is to vaccinate 300 million people who are elderly or suffering with comorbidities in the next few months, Modi reiterated. Apart from the vaccination drive, the Prime Minister also credited a robust testing and treatment mechanism in India for reducing the pace of coronavirus transmission. "India is one of the few countries that successfully defended its people against COVID-19. The daily count has been falling," he said. Modi also spoke on the Aatmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India campaign which his government spearheaded after the onset of the pandemic. The campaign, claimed Modi, is not against globalisation. "Our Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is committed towards global good and global supply chain. India has the capacity, capability and reliability to strengthen the global supply chain," he said. "India launched 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' with the resolve of increasing the capacity of our economy. India made one reform after the other to provide a high growth trajectory to economy in this decade. These reforms were long awaited," he added. Modi also highlighted the emphasis placed by his government in strengthening the country's digital connectivity in the last six years. "In the last 6 years, India's digital drive has become a subject of interest even for WEF experts," he said. "In December, Rs 4 trillion of transactions were enabled through the UPI," he said, while also adding that Rs 1.8 trillion was cumulatively transferred to the bank accounts of various beneficiaries in India during the COVID-19 period. A total of 1.3 billion Aadhar cards have been issued in India so far, around 1.1 billion mobile connections are registered and the number of internet subscribers has reached 750 million, Modi said. The country is setting up 300,000 common service centres to bridge the digital gap in villages, he said, adding that "600,000 villages will be connected by Fibre Net in the next few years". He noted that "we want to invest in frontier technology such as AI (artificial intelligence)". The government, while focusing on digital penetration, is also working on a strong law for data protection, he said. Modi also claimed that an environment conducive for industries is prevailing in India. "The government has continuously taken several major steps to boost manufacturing. Corporate tax was brought down to 15 percent for new manufacturing units. Through GST and Faceless Assessment, tax structure has been simplified. Labour laws have been reformed," he added. Variety magazine has apologized to Carey Mulligan for an 'insensitive' review of her new movie Promising Young Woman which said she wasn't attractive enough for the lead femme fatale role. In its initial review of the movie, written by Dennis Harvey, Variety referred to Mulligan as an 'odd choice' for the lead role, branding her as someone who appeared to be in 'bad drag.' Harvey also suggests that Margot Robbie, a producer on the project, should have taken on the role instead. Mulligan had blasted the magazine for the sexist critique, saying it 'drove me crazy'. The review read: 'Mulligan, a fine actress, seems a bit of an odd choice as this admittedly many-layered apparent femme fatale Margot Robbie is a producer here, and one can (perhaps too easily) imagine the role might once have been intended for her. Whereas with this star, Cassie wears her pickup-bait gear like bad drag; even her long blonde hair seems a put-on.' The Variety review was posted online a year ago, but was updated with an 'Editor's Note' apology in bold after Mulligan spoke out about in a recent interview. 'Variety sincerely apologizes to Carey Mulligan and regrets the insensitive language and insinuation in our review of 'Promising Young Woman' that minimized her daring performance,' the apology reads. Carey Mulligan has more to say a month after she called out Variety for a movie review Mulligan took issue with the Variety review for being 'transparent' and behind the times Variety told the Daily Telegraph that Harvey is a freelance critic, and would not comment on whether he would continue to write for the publication. A statement said 'Variety has no further comment. The apology speaks for itself'. Mulligan spoke out again this week, talking about the controversy with fellow movie star Zendaya in Variety's 'Actors on Actors' series. During the interview, Zendaya probed Mulligan on calling out Variety after the Promising Young Woman review was released. 'I feel its important that criticism is constructive,' Mulligan said. 'I think its important that we are looking at the right things when it comes to work, and were looking at the art and were looking at the performance. 'And I dont think that goes to the appearance of the actor or your personal preference for what an actor does or doesnt look like which it felt that that article did.' 'So I think in criticizing or bemoaning a lack of attractiveness on my part in a character, it wasnt a personal slight,' Mulligan continued. 'It didnt wound my ego, but it made me concerned that in such a big publication an actresss appearance could be criticized and it could be accepted as completely reasonable criticism. 'Its important to call out those things, because they seem small and they seem insignificant. But it stuck with me, because I think its these kind of everyday moments that add up.' 'Beautifully said,' Zendaya responded. Mulligan's portrayal of Cassie in Promising Young Woman is receiving widespread acclaim She claimed that personal appearance should not be deemed a fair criticism for actors The apology came about after Mulligan called out Variety in an interview with The New York Times after Variety published their review. 'I read the Variety review, because Im a weak person,' Mulligan said to the Times. 'And I took issue with it. It felt like it was basically saying that I wasnt hot enough to pull off this kind of ruse. 'It drove me so crazy. I was like, Really? For this film, youre going to write something that is so transparent? Now? In 2020? I just couldnt believe it.' But Variety's apology has been criticized by fellow movie critic Jeffrey Wells, who said that while he disagreed with Harvey's review the publication should have given him an opportunity to respond. He blasted online: 'Theyve completely washed their hands of Harvey in this instance and have more or less thrown him under the bus.' Promising Young Woman, first released on Christmas Day in 2020, holds a 91 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie features Mulligan as Cassie, who fights back against the men who try to sleep with her while she is seemingly intoxicated. Mulligan has earned a Best Actress award from the National Board of Review for her performance, with Oscar buzz following her as well. Prison officer overtime has increased during Northern Irelands pandemic, the director general of the service said. Inmates are being held in single cells to reduce the risk of a Covid-19 outbreak but that requires extra manpower to staff a more sprawling footprint of buildings. The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) also has to cover individual sickness levels well in excess of the civil service-wide average but has reduced that to 19 days annually in recent times, Ronnie Armour added. Staff have been exceptionally good over the Covid period in stepping forward and doing some extra hours Ronnie Armour, Northern Ireland Prison Service He said: People work overtime on a voluntary basis, it is not compulsory. Staff have been exceptionally good over the Covid period in stepping forward and doing some extra hours. A total of seven prisoners who were in quarantine on committal and three inmates in the general population have tested positive for Covid-19. One was diagnosed prior to committal into the services custody and two during long-term hospital stays. The total population varies but a snapshot from the end of 2019 showed around 1,500 in custody. A number of prisoners deemed safe were released early due to the need to free up space during the coronavirus outbreak. Mr Armour said: We have been dealing with the Covid pandemic where every prisoner is in single cell accommodation. Our footprint in each of the prisons is greater than it would be so we have to staff that as well. Expand Close Concerns around staff fatigue due to overtime had not been raised with Mr Armour, he said (Michael Cooper/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Concerns around staff fatigue due to overtime had not been raised with Mr Armour, he said (Michael Cooper/PA) He told Stormonts Justice Committee the issue of staff fatigue due to overtime had not been raised with him. A report published by the Justice Minister this week said sickness absence has cost the NIPS more than 3 million annually for the last three years. A significant number suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, a review ordered by Naomi Long said, yet some support services were relatively under-used. During the year to March 2020, 988 absences were recorded. Mr Armour said he was aware of many of the issues raised and the Prison Service was committed to implementing the reviews recommendations. He said significant sums of money were being directed towards the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (PRRT). Serving prison officers have access to its services but former staff do not. A total of 1,400 staff have retired over the past eight years. For far too long, people in society had this view that prison officers simply swung keys and locked doors Ronnie Armour Mr Armour said he was committed to increasing recruitment of staff from across the community and a senior colleague pointed to progress in attracting more women. He added: We are very keen to reach into the communities and to give a very clear understanding to people right across the community what the role of a prison officer is. For far too long, people in society had this view that prison officers simply swung keys and locked doors. There is much more to the job and I do see it as part of a caring profession. We do have to hold people securely and safely if they are sent to us by the courts but there is a great opportunity with prisons to do so much more with people around rehabilitation and around seeking to reduce their likelihood of reoffending when they leave. Construction continues up Mount Cristo Rey on the new half-mile section of border fence built by We Build the Wall at Sunland Park, N.M., on May 30, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) CBP Stops Border Wall Construction After Biden Order The construction of the wall on the southern border has been suspended, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed on Jan. 27, one week after President Joe Biden signed an executive order ordering the halt. CBP, in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has suspended wall construction projects except for activities that are safety related, CBP said in a statement, according to Fox News. All projects are in compliance with the Presidents Proclamation. A Democratic lawmaker previously said that construction would cease by end of day Jan. 26. The Trump administration had obtained billions of dollars in funding to construct the wall. Over the last four years, amid legal and congressional battles, about 450 miles of wall were built along the border. After Bidens executive orders were issued, former Trump administration officials, including former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan, said that the border wall is necessary to reduce illegal immigration. With the stroke of a pen, President Biden made this country less safe, Morgan told Breitbart News on Jan. 23. Its pure politics over public safety. Look, I know what our team said to the transition team. I know the facts and data and analysis that was provided. I know what they told them and gave them that showed that the wall works. The halt will mean the loss of some 5,000 construction jobs, according to Morgan. Conservatively, its going to cost about 5,000 jobsconstruction workersright now, Morgan said. Its gonna cost them their livelihood. Biden signed the stop-work order on his first day in office. The order states: Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution. It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. One of former President Donald Trumps final trips was to the U.S.Mexico border wall in Alamo, Texas. The wall was a signature policy position of his campaign in 2016 and became the flashpoint of resistance to his agenda for many Democrats in Congress. A standoff over funding for the wall resulted in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. In every region that weve built the wall, illegal crossings and drug smuggling have plummeted, absolutely plummeted, Trump said in Alamo on Jan. 12. In the Rio Grande Valley, crossings have dropped nearly 80 percent. In Yuma, Arizona, illegal entries have been slashed by 90 percent. Mimi Nguyen-Ly contributed to this report. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally here and said that India will soon be known as a big producer of defence equipment instead of being the world's biggest arms buyer. He also said that the youth wing of India's armed forces has witnessed a 35 per cent increase in the number of girl cadets in the last few years. Modi also asked the NCC cadets to follow discipline throughout their lives. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three armed service chiefs were also present during the occasion. The Prime Minister inspected the Guard of Honour, and also reviewed march past by NCC contingents and cultural performance during the event. Addressing the NCC rally here at the Cariappa Ground, Modi said, "India will soon be known as a big producer of defence equipment, instead of being a market as it is today." He said that "you are witnessing fulfilment of several targets of self-reliance". "When you see excitement in your circles with local brands, it is a positive change," he said. He also said that India has received three more Rafale jets from France. "They (Rafale) have the ability to refuel mid-air, which has been done by India's friend UAE, helped by Greece and Saudi Arabia. This is a portrayal of India's strengthening friendship with Middle Eastern countries," Modi said. He said that last year India has shown whether it is a virus or a border challenge, the country is capable of taking every step to defend itself strongly. "Whether it is the safety net of the vaccine or missiles of the challengers of India, India is capable on every front," Modi said. Stressing on the role of the NCC in the society Modi said, "To bring the discipline in society, the NCC can play an important role. The discipline should remain throughout your life." He also asked the NCC cadets to inspire people around them to follow discipline in society, as it will help the country and the society to grow. He said that the image of NCC is growing day by day. "I feel proud. The valour and service feeling of NCC is visible. When there is need to make people aware on laws or on Constitution or on important campaigns, the NCC cadets are there." He said that in times of emergencies or during the times of the natural calamities, the NCC cadets have served the people of the country. Citing the example of issues like Maoism and terrorism in several parts of the country, Modi said, "There was a time when there was Maoism and terrorism, but the role of people and the valour of forces came together and the backbone of Maoism was broken. Now Maoism is present only in a very few districts of the country." He said many youths have left the path of Maoism and have integrated themselves into society. He said that the Covid pandemic was a challenging time for the country. "But it also brought opportunity to do something for the country and to become self-reliant," he said. He said that the government has tried to expand the role of NCC. "We are going to increase the role of NCC in the border areas and on the coastal areas. On August 15 last year it was announced that in 175 districts NCC will be given a new role for which one lakh cadets will be trained by Army, Air Force and Navy," Modi said, adding, "And out of this, one-third are girl cadets." He also said that the NCC training centre capacity is also being increased. "Earlier there was only one firing simulator, now 98 firing simulators have been prepared. Micro light flight simulators have also been increased from 5 to 44 and rowing simulators from 11 to 60," he said. Modi emphasised that these advance simulators will improve the training quality of NCC cadets. Remebering General K.M. Cariappa, after whom the ground has been named, Modi said, "This ground is named after General Cariappa. His life was filled with heroic deeds. His valour gave India a strategic edge during the 1947 Indo-Pakistan war. I pay my tribute to General Cariappa." Giving a call to NCC cadets to join the armed forces, Modi said, "All of you should try to join armed forces. And I will emphasise to girl cadets that opportunities are waiting for you. In the last few years, there has been a 35 per cent increase in girl cadets in NCC. Now in armed forces many opportunities are being opened," he said. He said many women personnel are now safeguarding the country on the borders. Remembering the famous Battle of Longewala in 1971, Modi said, "In the 1971 war, our soldiers had won a strategic and decisive battle in Longewala. In that war against Pakistan, India had defeated the enemy on the borders. Pakistan's innumerable soldiers had surrendered to India. This year, we are completing 50 years of that war." Modi also paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the formation of Bangladesh. Paris, Jan 28, 2021 (SPS) - Representative of the Frente POLISARIO in France Mohamed Sidati affirmed Tuesday that the qualitative operation conducted by the Sahrawi army in El Guerguarat has unveiled Moroccos blackout on the war in Western Sahara, urging the Mekhzen to acquiesce to the international law. In a statement to APS, Sidati underlined that the Moroccan system is not only doing a blackout on the war in Western Sahara but also make the public opinion believe that the situation is under control, pointing out that it isnt possible to conceal the truth () when the blow is deadly and the noise of the military operations is solemn. The diplomat underlined that the Moroccan themselves were witnesses on the quality of the operation conducted by the units of the Sahrawi army in El Guerguarat, and are aware of the reality of the war, underscoring that the Sahrawi army was strongly committed to extending the military action until the recovery of the independence. The Moroccan system always attempts to make people believe that the situation is under control in Western Sahara, while the operation of El-Guergarat let him completely confused, notably after the broad media coverage of the military operation, he said, adding that the Moroccan armys losses were so important that doing the blackout and trying to mislead the public opinion is no more possible. The Mekhzen system must be aware of the armed fatality, show wisdom and acquiesce to the international legitimacy, said Sidati, stressing that the Sahrawi peoples struggle will continue for its inalienable rights and that the military operations are but a legitimate reaction in the face of the occupation of our land and the plundering of our natural resource.SPS 125/090/700 (Newser) It's deja va all over again for Republicans, at least in the AP's eyes. "Republicans have a Marjorie Taylor Greene problem. Again," it declares, and it's not alone in that coverage. Though she was embraced by then-President Trump, the Georgia Republican was denounced by party leaders during her primary run over her voiced support for QAnon. But once she clinched the primary, that clamor against her all but ceased. Now, new issuesfor her and for the partyin the form of a deep dive into her Facebook activity and the surfacing of a video in which she is hounding a Parkland school shooting survivor. The latest: CNN KFile dug into hundreds of posts and comments that appeared on Greene's Facebook page, and found instances from 2018 and 2019 where she liked comments related to executing leading Democrats, among them Nancy Pelosi. In that January 2019 instance, she liked a comment that suggested "a bullet to the head" would be a quicker way to remove Pelosi from her post. In response to a commenter asking about hanging Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, she replied, "Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off." In a tweeted response to the report, Greene blasted "Fake News CNN" for its hit piece and offered a defense, writing that her Facebook page has been handled by others in addition to herself. "Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views. Especially the ones that CNN is about to spread across the internet." Media Matters flagged a 2018 Facebook post in which Greene gave air to a conspiracy theory that there is video of Clinton murdering a child as part of a satanic ritual and and orchestrated a hit on a cop to cover it up. story continues below That after an earlier Media Matters report on "a previously unreported interaction" in which Greene agreed with a 2018 Facebook comment that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting in Parkland, Fla., was in truth a "false flag" operation. It flagged another post in which she wrote, "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." Greene's views on Parkland again came into the spotlight this week, when video of an encounter she had with Parkland survivor David Hogg in March 2019 went viral on Wednesday. In the video, which NBC News notes Greene herself posted to YouTube last Thursday, Greene trails Hogg as he is headed toward the US Capitol, asking him questions that he does not respond to about how the students managed to score meetings with so many senators. "He's a coward," Greene says finally of Hogg, who she has referred to as #littleHitler. "He can't say one word because he can't defend his stance." The Guardian reports Parkland survivors are now asking congressional Republicans to publicly censure Greene for both her false-flag comments and her encounter with Hogg. Hogg himself tweeted, "@GOPLeader you need to something about @mtgreenee she basically has threatened to kill and intimidated the survivors of Gun violence trying to trigger our PTSD." you need to something about @mtgreenee she basically has threatened to kill and intimidated the survivors of Gun violence trying to trigger our PTSD." "Take her Committee assignments away," Hogg also implored on Twitter. That hasn't happened: The Washington Post on Wednesday reported Greene has been assigned to the House Education and Labor Committee. But some members are making moves. Politico reports Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California said Wednesday that he will introduce a resolution to oust Greene. It's extremely unlikely he'd manage to secure the two-thirds majority he needs, but Politico still sees it as "one of the starkest rebukes yet." With Greene's past views and actions splashed back onto the scene, the GOP definitely has an issue on its hands in the AP's view. "The party largely embraced Greene after she won the primary, making it harder for them to distance themselves from her, especially when many of her views were already well known," it observes. (Read more Marjorie Taylor Greene stories.) The RSPCA is set to hand over its role in bringing animal cruelty cases to court so it can focus on 'frontline work' after criticism over its private prosecutions. The animal welfare charity revealed today it has paved the way for the Crown Prosecution Service to take over the role. But it added this would only continue as long as 'animals still get the justice they deserve'. The 200-year-old service's chief executive said the change is to focus on investigating cruelty allegations and rescuing mistreated animals. The animal welfare charity revealed today it has paved the way for the Crown Prosecution Service to take over the role (file photo) Chief Executive Chris Sherwood said: 'The world has changed and we have to change with it. Let me be clear that we would not be stepping back from prosecutions, only from our role as the prosecutor' Controversial cases involving the RSPCA 2013: The RSPCA took Richard and Samantha Byrnes cat away from their home in Tring, Hertfordshire. The measure came after a neighbour claimed Claude, 16, was thin and had matted fur. The Turkish Van was put down. The couple were charged with animal cruelty offences. But this was later dropped after it came to light that Claude did not like being brushed. 2014: The charity got a tip off that a pig was being mistreated and had an abscess on its face. It launched legal action against Robert Skinner, 63, from Dorset. The RSPCA said he was not caring properly for Mr Pig, a 20-year-old kunekune. He referred to the swine as 'my only companion'. The charity send inspectors to his 1million house when Mr Skinner was away, took the pig and destroyed it without telling him. In court, magistrates were told Mr Skinner had not taken it to the vets because he could not believe it would have to be put down. He was accused of causing it unnecessary suffering. But the court refused to ban him from keeping livestock and he was given a two-year conditional discharge. He also had to pay the RSPCA's 1,000 prosecution fees. Advertisement Chris Sherwood said: 'The world has changed and we have to change with it. Let me be clear that we would not be stepping back from prosecutions, only from our role as the prosecutor. 'Our inspectors would still be rescuing, investigating and collecting evidence of cruelty and abuse and seeking to hand this over to the CPS. 'We would like to reassure the public that we would not step back from the role of prosecuting unless we are assured that the CPS has the commitment, the resources, and the expertise to make sure that animals continue to get the justice they deserve.' The move follows calls by MPs in a 2016 report for the RSPCA to stop private prosecutions. A verdict delivered by the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee said the charity should only bring cases to court in exceptional cases. Today's move by the charity stems from government plans to ramp up maximum animal cruelty sentences to five years, from six months. Mr Sherwood said: 'Some of these cases will now move to Crown courts and those carrying out the worst abuse could face lengthy jail terms. 'This places a huge responsibility on a charity's shoulders. We believe this responsibility should sit with the CPS.' He said 'complex' cases such as criminal gangs taking part in puppy farming and dog fighting was another factor. He added: 'The CPS is the statutory body with responsibility for taking prosecutions in England and Wales and by working more closely in partnership with them, we can free up resources to focus on our unique frontline investigation, rescue and care work, where we can make the most difference to animals. 'However, we reserve the right to take a prosecution in future if we feel that justice is not being done for animals.' Just 1 per cent of more than 100,000 reports of cruelty and neglect that the RSPCA receive each year end up in the courts, it said. The vast majority of cases are dealt with through advice, education and support, it added. The charity also unveiled its new strategy up to 2030, with one of its aims being to push a more vegan agenda on the public. Chair of our board of trustees, Rene Olivieri, added: 'We've carried out this important work for a long time but the RSPCA has changed in recent years - we have new governance, a new chief executive, a new board and a new strategy; it's the right time to review this role as we look at where we want to be by 2030.' A spokesman for the CPS said: 'The CPS prosecutes cases referred to us by the police and other law enforcement bodies wherever our legal test for a prosecution is met. 'We have been working with the RSPCA as part of their wider review of the prosecution function. 'However, any proposed change to legislation in terms of which investigative bodies are able to refer cases to us is a matter for the Government.' Roughly 60% of U.S. mayors acknowledge police violence is a "problem in their communities," but 80% believe their police departments "do a good job" attracting "well-suited" officers, according to results of the 2020 Menino Survey of Mayors published Wednesday. Why it matters: Protests against police brutality have swept the nation since last May, when white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd, a Black man, after kneeling on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The Black Lives Matter movement has since escalated calls to defund the police. By the numbers: The survey, conducted annually by Boston University's Initiative on Cities, interviewed 130 mayors from 38 states last summer. 68% of mayors believe Black people are treated worse by police compared to white people, but it splits by party: 73% of Republican mayors and 14% Democratic mayors believe police treat white and Black people equally. 38% do not believe that police violence is an issue in their communities. 69% believe protests against police violence were "forces of positive changes in their cities." 56% of mayors are open to reallocating at least "a few" police resources to other parts of city government, though 80% believe their police budgets last year were "about right." 1 in 3 does not see the need to reallocate. When asked about desired reforms, only 16% supported bigger structural changes. Slight majorities recognize that lack of racial diversity and racism in the police force contribute at least "a little" to police violence. The big picture: Black people are three times more likely than white people to be killed by the police, but 98% of police killings since 2013 have not led to any criminal charges, per Mapping Police Violence. Cities at the center of last year's high-publicity protests have pledged reform to varying degrees and with mixed results. Though a majority of the Minneapolis city council vowed to disband the police department in the immediate aftermath of Floyd's death, in December the council voted to cut only 4.5% from the 2021 police budget, which did not change the number of cops on the streets, according to Rolling Stone. A settlement with Breonna Taylor's family requires Louisville, Kentucky, to provide housing credits for officers to live in the neighborhoods they police and grant only high-ranking commanders the authority to approve search warrant requests, AP reports. What they're saying: "We need a comprehensive approach to reform, one that stresses transparency in operations, engagement with the public, an emphasis on values-oriented policing and the greater use of social services/mental health personnel," Inglewood, California, Mayor James T. Butts, a former police chief, said in a statement. Methodology: The 2020 Menino Survey of Mayors uses a combination of open- and closed-ended questions to explore a myriad of salient local issues and policy priorities. The vast majority of interviews were conducted over the phone. This systematic sampling and recruitment effort yielded a representative sample of mayors of American cities with populations over 75,000. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Women are obsessing over a stylish new linen blazer that costs just $30 and goes perfectly with almost any outfit. Available in beige and steel blue, the 'Relaxed Blazer' from Kmart hit shelves online and in stores across Australia in sizes six to 20 this week. Fashionistas have been rushing to buy the jacket since Canberra stylist 'This is Genevieve' wore it in an outfit photo uploaded to Instagram on Tuesday. Followers said she had inspired them to buy both colours of the affordable piece, which is stitched from viscose and polyester with a full lining. Scroll down for video Australian fashionistas have been rushing to buy the blazer since Canberra stylist 'This is Genevieve' wore it in this outfit photo uploaded to Instagram on Tuesday 'I seriously need to invest in more blazers, love this outfit!' fellow blogger Jess Allen replied. 'Love, love, love,' Melbourne stylist Paige Kennedy added, while Brisbane mummy blogger Jess Dakota wrote: 'So much yes.' The blazer matches a pair of $15 linen trousers that flew off shelves at Kmart after a nurse and part-time stylist named Denisa endorsed them on Instagram. Available in beige (pictured) and steel blue, the 'Relaxed Blazer' from Kmart has just hit shelves online and in stores across Australia in sizes six to 20 She sparked a rush on the budget-friendly 'Tapered Drawstring Pants' by wearing them in an outfit photo uploaded on January 9. The influencer, who lives in Melbourne, said she has been 'living' in the affordable trousers which usually cost $22 but are currently reduced to just $15 online and in stores nationwide. 'They're an essential piece of clothing for every summer wardrobe,' Denisa wrote in the caption of the snap. Australian stylist Denisa (left and right) sent women racing to buy the 'Tapered Drawstring Pants' after wearing them in these photo uploaded to Instagram The photo, which racked up 161 'likes' in three days, drew dozens of delighted responses from thrifty shoppers. 'Loving this look,' one woman replied. 'Lovely outfit,' added a second, while a third called the trousers 'beautiful'. The pants - which come in beige and navy - have already sold out online in sizes 14 and 20, but limited stock is still available in sizes six through 12, 16 and 18. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Worried Quezon City officials are tracking down people who joined a crowd that swelled outside the studio of TV host Willie Revillame, forgetting physical distancing reminders in hopes of receiving cash on his birthday. Throngs of fans trooped to Wil Tower along Eugenio Lopez Drive from Wednesday to early Thursday morning. Although Revillame did not announce that he will distribute money outside the studio, the crowd still gathered despite the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping the host will push through with his tradition of giving back to fans during his birthday. Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday said she will coordinate with Revillame's staff to track down the massive crowd. She added they will be encouraged to undergo COVID-19 testing. "The crowd swelled when money was being given out. I will ask his chief of staff to submit the names of their beneficiaries for contact tracing," she told CNN Philippines in a text message. Belmonte said she informed law enforcers of this possibility after she was warned by the TV personality that his fans could troop to the studio. She said she will ask Quezon City Police District Director Police Brigadier General Danilo Macerin to explain their failure to control the size of the crowd. "Gusto ko malaman sa kanila kung ano ang nagawa bakit may mga reports ang media na hindi nagkaroon ng crowd control, etcetera. So I will have to get their side," the mayor said. [Translation: I want to hear from them why there are media reports that there was no crowd control. I have to get their side.] Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said whoever is behind the incident will be held responsible. "Then si mayor naman tinap niya na yung pulis to further investigate, para malaman kung meron ba talagang violation, either si Willie o yung mga organizers... We will investigate," DILG Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Bernard Florece told CNN Philippines' News Night. [Translation: The mayor already tapped the police to further investigate, so we can determine if there is really a violation, either it's Willie or the organizers.] Quezon City has a total of 30,009 COVID-19 cases, with 1,184 currently battling the disease. As public health experts feared, COVID-19 cases and deaths surged in the US following the Thanksgiving holiday, when millions of Americans ignored pleas to forego traditional gatherings. In a new Essay published 28th January in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, "Anti-science kills: from Soviet embrace of pseudoscience to accelerated attacks on US biomedicine," vaccine and infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez explains how the richest country in the world allowed the pandemic to spiral out of control. The unprecedented politicization of biomedical science in the US combined with an explosion of anti-science activities cloaked in rightwing rhetoric are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans, argues Dr. Hotez, professor of pediatrics and molecular virology, and dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. "This year of COVID19 exposed our vulnerabilities to pandemic threats, but also how a rising tide of anti-science can dramatically expand its devastating impact," said Dr. Hotez, who codirects the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital, which is helping to develop a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine. "We are learning a harsh reality that anti-science may represent almost as big a threat as the virus itself." For most of the pandemic the US has led the world in cases and deaths because the government refused to launch a coordinated national response or promote face masks, social distancing and other evidence-based safety measures, Dr. Hotez argues in the Essay. Instead, he writes, "the White House and its coronavirus task force, and famously the President himself, organized a campaign of disinformation." President Trump and his political associates promoted a rotating roster of conspiracy theories, false claims, and pseudoscience to inflate the curative properties of unproven treatments, dismiss the severity of the disease, and attack safety precautions as assaults on liberty, he argues. Trump's sustained assault on facts and evidence echoed similar anti-science campaigns by Brazil's Bolsonaro and Duterte of the Philippines, populist autocrats Trump has openly praised. These activities were further amplified by home-grown antivaccine and anti-science groups in the US. Starting in the summer of 2020, US attacks on evidence-based biomedicine spread to Europe, where they were amplified by far-right, and QAnon groups, Dr. Hotez writes. What began as "homegrown medical freedom protests against vaccines" in the US spread through Russian cyberattacks and rightwing protests in Europe. He calls for the establishment of a US Government inter-agency task force that includes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) but also Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Justice. Globally, the UN agencies must also look at similar options. Dr. Hotez revisits a dark chapter in the history of the Soviet Union--the "Great Purge," when Stalin persecuted and executed scientists and millions of other so-called enemies of the state--to remind readers of the terrible fate that can befall citizens when their government leaders exploit science for political gain. ### Peer-reviewed; Essay; Humans In your coverage please use these URLs to provide access to the freely available articles in PLOS Biology: http://journals. plos. org/ plosbiology/ article?id= 10. 1371/ journal. pbio. 3001068 Citation: Hotez PJ (2021) Anti-science kills: From Soviet embrace of pseudoscience to accelerated attacks on US biomedicine. PLoS Biol 19(1): e3001068. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pbio. 3001068 Funding: The author received no specific funding for this work. Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Peter Hotez is a collaborator on a low cost COVID19 vaccine for global health which was recently licensed by Baylor College of Medicine to a commercial third party for scale up and production. The city of Worcester is not prepared to begin vaccinating residents 75 and older until at least next week, as it continues to provide COVID vaccines to individuals in Phase 1, Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said Wednesday. Hirsh said delays could linger even two weeks as the demand for vaccines has overwhelmed the supply within the city for Phase 1. Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Monday that Massachusetts would advance to Phase 2 on Wednesday, which would begin with residents 75 years and older. In Worcester, though, Hirsh said the state is only supplying the city with about 1,000 vaccines per week. The quantity isnt enough to fully vaccinate those eligible in Phase 1 at the Worcester Senior Center on Providence Street. Worcester is also using the site to vaccinate those eligible in Phase 1 for the towns of Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Shrewsbury and West Boylston. Phase 1, just before the governor had announced the expansion to Phase 2, was expanded to include a lot of groups that we didnt previously anticipate, Hirsh said. So weve been taking care of not just police and fire and EMS in Phase 1, but home health aides, visiting nurses, court officers. All different kinds of security folks. Residents 75 years and older are the first group in Phase 2 and are eligible to receive the vaccine as early as Monday. While the city-operated senior center wont be able to provide residents 75 years and older with the vaccine over the next couple weeks, Hirsh said the states super vaccination sites like Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park could be options. If you are having trouble viewing this map, click here. Two other vaccine locations - Central Mass Allergy and Asthma Care on Lake Avenue and UMass Memorial Health Cares campus at Knowles Hall - are not operated by the city, therefore do not rely on the state for supply. They may be able to accommodate priority vaccinations in Phase 2, Hirsh said. Many primary care physicians have also directly obtained the vaccine for patients. Pharmacies around the state have also placed large orders with Moderna and Pfizer. Hirsh encouraged residents to check those two locations as well while the city catches up on Phase 1. Its not an easy thing for people to be anxious about, Hirsh said. Im glad in actuality that so many people want this. Hirsh said the city is fortunate to receive up to 1,000 vaccines per week as many municipalities are only receiving about 100. Hirsh said Worcester joined Boston as the only two communities receiving 1,000. I dont want to say this is the fault of the state, Hirsh said. This is them making the maximum use of the resources they have. Following residents 75 years and old, Phase 2 is scheduled to continue with residents 65 years and older, individuals with at least two comorbidities that make them high risk for COVID and/or residents and staff of low income and affordable senior housing, followed by early education and K-12 workers, grocery, transit, public health, sanitation and other essential workers. State health officials have yet to release a date for when these groups will become eligible. Hirsh hopes the city can enter Phase 2 in early February and complete it by the end of March. He hopes the city can open its services up to the general public by April and possibly wrap up administering the vaccine by the end of July. Worcester hopes to reveal plans this week for a super vaccination site in the city that could administer up more than 1,000 doses per day. A site of that magnitude, though, would currently not provide any aid to the city as there just arent enough vaccines for the population. The herd immunity that we all want to get, where we get 75 to 80% of the community vaccinated is our way forward, Hirsh said. We want to get to that as soon as we can. And we will, but theres a little bumpiness right now. Related Content: Investment protection To encourage investment, the SA government continues to pass legislation geared to a smooth and cost effective set up for foreign investors. This is reflected in SA achieving 10th position globally (183 economies ranked) regarding protecting investors in The World Bank and IFC Ease of Doing Business 2010 Report. Overall, SA achieved a ranking of 34 (183 economies rated) in Doing Business 2010 Report, the second highest in Africa, after Mauritius, and well ahead of the BRIC economies (China 89, Russian Federation 120, Brazil 129 and India 133). Intellectual Property Law SA has a developed system of intellectual property law covering patents, industrial designs, copyright and trademarks. It is also a signatory to most of the international conventions in the field of intellectual property. Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said today Alabama will receive an extra 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna for each of the next three weeks. Thats in addition to what the state usually receives, which is about 50,000 to 60,000 for first doses and generally about 60,000 for second doses. Harris said he plans to announce on Friday plans to use the extra doses. We were very pleased to find out that Alabama is getting, at least for the next three weeks, about 10,000 additional Moderna doses, Harris said. So, were going to try to deploy those as quickly as we possibly can in a large scale way. Harris spoke to legislators in Montgomery today at a budget hearing in preparation for the legislative session, which starts Tuesday. Harris said the supply of vaccine still falls well short of what is needed. Alabama is giving vaccines to health care workers, people over 75, and first responders. Harris did not say when eligibility would expand to the next group, which would include people age 65 to 74. Harris said he will give an update on that and more information about the vaccine rollout at a press briefing Friday. There are about 700,000 people eligible for shots in Alabama now. Harris said the 65 to 74 group would add at least several hundred thousand. The amount of doses needed is twice the eligible population because both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two shots. Were working now to try to determine if theres enough capacity to handle that, Harris said. We dont have a lot of extra vaccine out there but there may be a little bit. I think the most important message to get to people is just because you hear that youre eligible, doesnt mean theres vaccine out there for you. And if youre really not a high-risk person, if youre a younger, healthier person who has the ability to stay at home and not be out in public, please wait. Please let somebody else go in front of you in line, somebody who needs it more. Related: COVID-19 variant found for first time in Alabama: What you need to know 4,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses in Alabama relocated by health officials This story was corrected at 2:44 p.m. to say that the state receives vaccine for second doses in addition to the 50,000 to 60,000 a week for first doses. Paducah Main Street Unveils New Website By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Paducah Main Street has refreshed its website and Instagram account to share the experience of historic downtown Paducah.Paducah Public Information Officer Pam Spencer says the new mobile-friendly website has been enhanced with vivid imagery and improved flow.One of the new features on the Paducah Main Street website is a list of available properties with contact information for either the property owner or listing agent. Other items on the website include a calendar of events, information about downtown incentive programs, and an array of things to do.Paducah Main Street Director Katie Axt encouraged everyone to view the refreshed website. You can check it out at the link below. You can also like them on Facebook (@PaducahMainStreet) and follow them on Instagram (@downtownpaducah) to find out whats new.On the Net: Chevron Corp. and Reliance Industries Ltd. are meeting with U.S. State Department officials to request a rollback of some of the previous administrations restrictions against Venezuelas oil industry. Representatives from the two companies are holding virtual discussions with officials this week, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public. High on the agenda: reinstating transactions known as oil swaps that would allow companies to receive Venezuelan crude in exchange for supplying diesel, one person said. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela SA in early 2019, in an effort to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro from power by depriving his government of oil revenue. While some companies were still allowed to engage in limited dealings with the South American country, the swaps were nixed last October, said one of the people. Indian refiner Reliance is seeking to revive those swaps. Meanwhile, Chevron, for now, wants to build goodwill and remind officials of its commitment to remain in Venezuela, another person said. The oil giant currently has until June to wind down operations, unless it gets another extended waiver. The U.S. cant ban international companies from buying Venezuelan oil. It can, however, financially squeeze them by prohibiting them from doing business with American companies if they ignore sanctions. Reliance and Chevron requested meetings with the State Department even though some of the key decisionmakers, including assistant secretaries to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ray Fohr, a spokesperson for Chevron, said the company is in regular conversations with multiple agencies within the U.S. government to make sure laws are understood. STILL HELD: Houston's 'Citgo 6' sentenced to prison in Venezuela We remain committed to the integrity of our joint venture assets, the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families, and the companys social and humanitarian programs during these challenging times, The San Ramon, California-based oil producer said of its Venezuela operations in an emailed statement. Reliance and the State Department did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Venezuela is barely able to produce its own refined products because of widespread mechanical failures at refineries. Reliance is basing its request to resume oil swaps on the argument that the operations do not provide cash to the Venezuelan government but rather help lessen the humanitarian crisis there, one person said. Diesel is used in power generation, public transportation, agriculture and to deliver food and medicine. The resumption of oil swaps could allow Venezuela to boost oil production, said Scott Modell, managing director at Rapidan Energy Advisors LLC. Output, which is currently at between 400,000 and 500,000 barrels a day, could hit 750,000 barrels day if the Biden administration eases some of the sanctions, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The police in Lagos said they have arrested two suspected armed robbers at a shrine in Lagos, while they were trying to appease the god of iron, Ogun. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, said this in a statement on Thursday. He said the suspects were arrested on January 22, by police officers attached to Ejigbo Division, after they received a tip-off from the Abore (Chief Priest) they were consulting. The police said the suspects consulted one Lawrence Adeniji, (OPC Abore) at his shrine to appease the god of Iron, Ogun, but when the priest observed that the men were armed, he alerted the police. At the shrine, the Abore and some members of the community quickly informed the Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo Division, of the antics and suspicious moves of the suspects for being in possession of locally-made pistols, live cartridges and ammunition to appease the god of Iron, Ogun, which is strange to their usual practice in the shrine, the statement partly reads. The suspects arrested are Opeyemi Adegboyega, 28, and Dernard Ahor, 35. Items recovered from them included two (2) locally-made pistols, six (6) live cartridges, one hand chain, one ring, two (2) iPhones, one Nokia phone, one Tecno phone and assorted charms. The suspects and their exhibits have been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for proper investigation on the order of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, Mr Adejobi said. In another operation, the spokesperson said officers attached to Owutu Division in Ikorodu, arrested two suspected cultists on January 24. The suspects were arrested at Damis Palace Hotel Igboolomu area, Ikorodu. The police had been informed of the gathering of some suspected cultists, planning to foment troubles in the area, when the police operatives, in conjuction with some Vigilante men, raced to the hotel and picked up the suspects while others escaped. The suspected cultists are Lucky Ibaye, m, 23, and Kazeem Sherif, m, 34. Two (2) locally-made pistols and assorted charms were recovered from them. The suspects have been transferred to State CID Panti for investigation and possible prosecution, the police said. Hakeem Odumosu, the Commissioner of Police, acknowledged the efforts of the members of the community in calling the attention of the police to suspicious acts of suspects. The police boss urged the general public to embrace the principles of community policing and support the police in providing adequate security for all and sundry in Lagos State. Kanye West and Chance the Rapper have been close for years. Therefore, when footage leaked of West screaming in Chances face, fans were disturbed. Though there doesnt seem to be any ill-wIll between the musicians, it was certainly unsettling to watch. There may be a deep reason behind the drama. Kanye West and Chance the Rapper | Paul Natkin/Getty Images Kanye West and Chance the Rapper have been friends for years The Chicago rappers friendship stretches back in time a decade. In 2011, Chance tweeted that West was one of his biggest inspirations. In 2014, the men finally met at the Made In America Festival in LA, and they have been close ever since. By 2015, West was calling Chance one of the most talented new young artists. The next year, Chance was being featured on Wests seventh studio album, The Life Of Pablo. I finally got the answer now. I understand. Yall trust Biden more than yall trust Ye. I think I understand why, I just dont feel the same way. Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 13, 2020 RELATED: Chance the Rappers Net Worth: The Surprising Way He Makes His Money and How He Stays Humble Chance the Rapper has supported Kanye West during his recent outbursts Chance has always praised West. In fact, the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy rapper inspired Chances own journey in the industry. Kanye West is like my first image of a free Black man in the industry, and Ive just always loved him for that, Chance told Windy City LIVE in a 2018 interview. Loved his music, loved his creativity, loved his voice, loved his fearlessness. Working under him, working with him on his albums is crazy. The 27-year-old rapper even defended Wests 2020 Presidential run even when many people pushed back against him. And yall out here tryna convince me to vote for Biden. Smfh, he tweeted in July 2020. Yall trust Biden more than yall trust Ye. I think I understand why, I just dont feel the same way. Kanye West was filmed going off on Chance The Rapper in shared footage of a new documentary Glad to see they worked it out! pic.twitter.com/HEliS3kNEI Power 106 (@Power106LA) January 25, 2021 Kanye West was recently caught on camera screaming at Chance the Rapper It appears that West and Chances relationship may have turned sour recently. In mid-2020, the College Dropout rapper tweeted a series of inflammatory statements about his wife, Kim Kardashian West, his mother-in-law, Kris Jenner, and others. At the time, Kardashian West asked for the compassion she believed her husband was dealing with a manic episode due to his bipolar disorder. The 43-year-old rapper left his family home in Calabasas to live in Wyomings ranch, where he has been living full time ever since. Now amid divorce rumors between the rapper and the Skims founder, producer Damon Dash leaked a video of West screaming at Chance the Rapper. The video is from Chance visiting West Wyoming as he finished his latest album, Donda. In the footage, Chance can be seen calmly approaching his mentor before the Jesus Walks rapper begins screaming in Chances face. Sit yo a** down and listen to the album or leave, West screams. Dash went on to say that Chance was simply visiting to check on Wests wellbeing. Chance, because of what he was reading, he came through just to check Kanye, Dash explained via Rap-Up. They got into it, but they worked it out. At the end of the day, Chance is there just to be a friend. Pooja Hegde is back in her hometown, Mumbai, as she is currently shooting for her next, Cirkus here. The actress had earlier expressed how she was elated to have a tight schedule to kickstart this significant year. The Indian star had been shuffling between Hyderabad and Mumbai for shoots consistently, but is now back for a while as the next schedule of the Rohit Shetty directorial is to be shot here itself. A source close to the actress revealed, "After Pooja wrapped Radhe Shyam a few days back, she immediately flew to Mumbai to shoot for her next schedule of Cirkus. She will be staying at home for a while after pretty long because she had been travelling to and from since quite a few months for her commitments and even now she is back home for work itself." The casting of the film stars a fresh, exciting pairing of Pooja Hegde alongside Ranveer Singh. Since the duo will be coming together for the first time everyone is super excited to see their chemistry on screen. After wrapping the first schedule of the film in November end the actress had set off to Hyderabad for other films' shoots. Starting the new year on a working note, Pooja has again had no time to catch a break as she recently wrapped the final schedule of the Pan-India Prabhas starrer film, Radhe Shyam only to get back to the sets of Cirkus. Also Read : Riteish Deshmukh Is All Praise For Pooja Hegde & Akhil Akkineni's Most Eligible Bachelor's New Poster The hard-working star is all set to impress with her immeasurable talent and looks in 2021 as she has multiple films lined up. These include Cirkus, multi-lingual film Radhe Shyam with Prabhas, Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali with Salman Khan and Most Eligible Bachelor with Akhil Akkineni. Also Read : Radhe Shyam To Cirkus; Pooja Hegde Hops From One City To Another Due To Her Busy Schedule Representative image. Bulls managed to control the market in December with benchmark indices gaining about 7 percent each during the month and around 15 percent each in the year 2020. Meanwhile, small & midcap indices outperformed rising about 20 percent each in the same period. Small & midcaps were in the limelight after two straight years of underperformance. Even the PMS schemes that outperformed were mostly from the broader market space. Portfolio Management Services (PMS) cater to wealthy investors with portfolio sizes exceeding Rs 50 lakh. The professional fee structure is also different from a regular mutual fund (MF). Out of 191 schemes that PMSBazaar.com tracks, 44 posted gains more than Nifty in December. Negen Capital's Smallcap Emerging fund, which is a multicap theme was the top gainer in December, rising 12.83 percent on a month-on-month basis. The other four schemes which have outperformed Nifty50 in December are Credent Asset Management Companys Growth Portfolio, Concept Investwells Legend scheme, TCG Advisory Services Multicap Fund delivering more than 10 percent each in December. We have collated a list of funds that have declared their December stock holdings. A close look at the top holdings of these funds can give investors some clue as to where the top fund managers are betting their money on. Negen Capitals Smallcap Emerging Fund which gave about 13 percent return includes stocks like Greenpanel Industries, Intellect Design Arena, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finance, and Sirca Paints, etc. Credent Asset Management Growth Portfolio which gave nearly 11 percent return in December includes stocks like Power Finance Corp, HCL Technologies, Mphasis, Cipla, and Bayer Cropsciences, etc. among others. Concept Investwell Pvt Ltd which is a largecap fund gave a 10.8 percent return in December. The portfolio includes stocks like Infosys, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC AMC, and State Bank of India, etc. among others. TCG Advisors Multicap fund rose more than 10 percent include stocks like Crompton Greaves Consumer, Dr. Reddys, SRF, Coromandel International, and Hindalco Industries etc. among others. Stallion Asset Core portfolio which is managed by fund manager Amit Jeswani invests in stocks like APL Apollo Tubes, Avenue Supermarts, Reliance Industries (Partly Paid), Dixon Technologies, and Bajaj Finance etc. among others. What should investors do? The focus will now shift towards the broader market space which are under-owned and has underperformed in the last two years as compared to largecaps. There is a valuation comfort in the broader market space and historically when the economy has shown green shoots, small & midcaps have got investor attention. Midcaps and small-caps have underperformed large-cap space for a long time now since Jan 2018. Many of them have resorted to cost-cutting, become leaner, and have got rid of excess leverage during the time period, Prasanna Pathak, Head of Equity & Fund Manager Taurus Mutual Fund told Moneycontrol. Also, a broad-based pick-up in the economy should benefit them more. As discussed above, in a scenario of ample global liquidity, money have already started flowing to these companies. I think mid-cap and small-caps should do well for the next 2-3 years, he said. Naveen Kulkarni, Chief Investment Officer, Axis Securities also feels that the Mid and small caps will be preferred in 2021. We believe that if market volatility remains in the manageable zone, then mid and small caps will outperform the market in 2021, he said. However, given the recent runup seen in prices investors will be better off making a portfolio that has a mix of good largecaps and midcaps. Largecaps will give support if D-St undergoes a profit-taking dip while Midcaps will continue to add alpha. Between large and mid-caps we prefer large-caps as they could be more resilient in any future correction and also remain the favourites of FPIs, Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol. The BSE Small cap Index is still underperforming the Nifty-50 because of the steep erosion in market cap over the previous two years. Since the small-cap space is an ocean one can do individual bottom fishing with proper research and reading, he said. : The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The Times Kuwait news portal on January 27 posted an article on the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), describing this as one of the most important political events in the country in 2021. The article on the 13th National Party Congress published on the Times Kuwait (Photo: VNA) It wrote that with the results and accomplishments achieved in 2020 in particular, and during the past five years, Vietnam has made a mark with breakthroughs, outstanding in the difficult circumstances and situations facing the world. Over the past many years, Vietnam has been known as a safe country with index on human security gradually improving. With political stability, the Vietnamese people now believe in the political system and in the leadership levels of the CPV, as a result of which the important decisions of the Party are often fully supported by the Vietnamese people. In 2020, the highlight for Vietnam was the very early control of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also managing to promote economic growth; and the success of the government in implementing the dual goal mission with all flexibility, initiative, creativity, the participation of the entire political system, and unity of the entire Vietnamese people. This represents a miracle only existing in Vietnam, which is has controlled the spread of the pandemic with limited health resources compared to other developed countries in the world. The Times Kuwait said in terms of economics, under the CPVs leadership, Vietnam has been ranked among the top 10 fastest growing countries in the world over the past five years, and is one of the 16 most successful emerging economies. In 2020, when the majority of countries had negative growth or went into recession due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnams economy continued to grow at 2.91 percent. The country is also recognised as becoming a manufacturing hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The newspaper cited the World Banks assessment that Vietnam is a part of Asia with dynamic resurgence with its economy increasingly open, diversified, and with great investments in research and development, including in the digital economy. Vietnam is considered to be an important partner in all fields, a dynamic economy with a friendly investment environment and stable political system, creating favourable conditions for external cooperation and an important factor in international economic cooperation. Over the past years, a prominent mark of Vietnam is that it has clearly shown its role of connecting, enhancing friendly and cooperative relations and deepening trust between countries inside and outside the region. The CPV has developed a long-term strategic plan for foreign affairs and economic development. Diplomatic relations and international integration have achieved important successes, contributing to the enhancement of Vietnams position in the international and regional arena. In 2020, the country also achieved great successes as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It has launched many initiatives in fields such as humanitarian activities, peacekeeping operations, activities against climate change, and cybercrime prevention activities. According to the Times Kuwait, Vietnams voice is gaining more weight in regional and international affairs and its capacity to chair, govern and lead at conferences, forums, regional and international organisations is increasingly proven. With brilliant marks in all fields, the CPVs 13th National Congress will continue to develop Vietnam in-depth and deeply integrated with the world with its increasing role and position, and with partners trust in the prestige of Vietnam, the newspaper noted./.VNA A terminally ill doctor who murdered a pediatrician in Texas has been pictured, as a vigil was held in Austin to celebrate the life of a mother-of-three who 'radiated light, love and joy'. Dr Katherine Lindley Dodson, 43, was shot and killed by Bharat Narumanchi on Tuesday at Children's Medical Group in Austin, Texas. A week before the shooting Narumanchi, who was licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Florida and California, where he most recently practiced, was turned down for a volunteer role at the clinic. Dodson was not believed to have met him at the time. Bharat Narumanchi (left), a terminally ill doctor, shot and killed Katherine Lindley Dodson (right) on Tuesday Staff at the Children's Medical Group gathered to comfort each other on Wednesday Dodson's colleagues and patients paid tribute to her on Wednesday On Tuesday he showed up at the clinic with a pistol, a shotgun and two duffel bags at 4.30pm and took Dodson hostage along with four other employees. The four others either escaped or were let go by Narumanchi, but he kept Dodson behind. A hostage negotiator pleaded with Narumanchi to answer his phone and communicate with them. 'I want to help you work through this. You have saved a lot of lives,' the negotiator said. 'I cannot guarantee your safety unless you comply. I am letting you know, doctor, there is a way to resolve this. 'I need your help to fix the situation. That starts with you answering the phone.' At around 10pm, police sent in a SWAT robot which detected the two bodies. Police were seen entering a building as they respond to hostage situation at doctor's office in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday night The medical clinic was under siege for around six hours, from 4:30pm on Tuesday Hostage negotiators tried their best to convince Narumanchi to answer his phone and communicate with them Residents watch as Austin police officers work the scene of a hostage situation The armed police are seen outside the clinic on Tuesday evening A police crime scene marker is taped to the door at Children's Medical Group on Tuesday In a press conference on Wednesday, Austin police Lt Jeff Greenwalt said authorities did not know why he targeted the medical center. 'We feel like his terminal cancer probably played a large part in whatever occurred in his life and what was happening yesterday,' Greenwalt said. Narumanchi completed his pediatric residency training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Austin American Statesman reported. He had attended St George's University School of Medicine in Grenada. In 2012, Narumanchi was charged with domestic abuse in Hawaii, during a contentious divorce battle, but the case was later dismissed, court records show. It was unclear why he was in Texas, although the paper said he appeared to have relatives in the area. Dodson's former patients and friends left flowers outside the clinic in downtown Austin Dodson's colleagues on Wednesday consoled each other after the murder of their friend Police are trying to work out whether Dodson was targeted: she did not seem to know her killer On Wednesday a vigil was held at her clinic, and staff could be seen in tears, comforting each other. Her patients and family paid tribute to a warm and loving doctor. Her family said in a statement on Wednesday that they 'are beyond devastated at the tragic, sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Lindley.' They added: 'As a dedicated mom, wife, daughter, friend and pediatrician, she radiated light, love and joy in everything she did and with everyone she touched. Dodson was described by friends as a talented doctor and loving mother-of-three 'She developed immediate rapport with her patients and had the unique ability to make you feel like the only person in the room. 'We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and concern but due to the ongoing nature of this investigation and our request for privacy during this awful time, we will have no further comment.' Dodson's patients remembered her as kind, caring and thoughtful. Daniel Abernathy, a web developer, shared a photo of his son being treated by Dodson. 'Last night our boys' pediatrician was killed by a gunman in her office,' he said. 'We love Dr. Dodson and how well she took care of the boys. This thread is a great tribute to how loving and dedicated she was to her patients. Please pray for her family and all the staff at CMG.' Leslie Chunta, who lives in Austin and had two children under Dodson's care, told Fox News how she followed up with the children, months after their appointment. 'On New Year's Eve day, she gave me a call and mentioned that she had done some additional training and thought of my son, and she went out of her way to call me and ask me how my son is doing, and ask me how I was doing,' she said. 'We were really struggling so it was kind of a breath of fresh air to hear from her. It started us on a path to help get my son some resources to help make his life better, make our lives better as a family. 'Without her outreach, without her support, my son wouldn't have had an advocate.' Chunta said Dodson always radiated 'positivity and love and happiness.' 'My son loves to go see her. Some of the things that he's been working on, he was really excited to go tell her,' Chunta said. 'I don't know how I'm going to tell my son that we're not going to be able to see her.' A sign reading 'we love you' is left outside Dodson's clinic on Wednesday after the tragedy Dr Tammy McConnell, left, walks with Angie McLarty to a memorial to pay their respects Laura Whittaker, whose son had been visiting her for a year, said that from the beginning she was encouraging and positive. 'Not only did she make us feel like everything was going to be ok, but she was the kind of doctor who made you feel like she was really in it with you,' she said. 'It's been interesting to see how he reacts and develops with different people over time. 'We saw her two weeks ago for his 12-month checkup, and I had the sense that he remembered her even just from seeing her every few months as an infant.' Karen Vladeck, whose two children were seen by the pediatrician, tweeted that Dodson 'made you feel like your child's illness was the only one that mattered in that moment, even though you knew there was a line of other kids and parents waiting anxiously to see her.' She added: 'She lived just around the corner from us and I would often see her running around taking her 3 children to various activities or the park. 'Even though she had 100s of patients, she would always ask 'How is Syd's ear? How is Maddie feeling after that vaccine?'' She is survived by her three children and her husband. Dodson's colleagues were in shock on Wednesday following the murder of their fellow medic Dodson received her BA in chemistry from Washington & Lee University in 1999, then received her Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2003, according to her LinkedIn. After graduating, she worked as a pediatric resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as a medical school instructor at Harvard Medical School, and as an urgent care physician at Boston Children's Hospital. She worked as a pediatric hospitalist for a decade at Seton Health Care Family, in Texas, which is part of Dell Children's Medical Center. 'Yesterday evening we received the tragic news that one of our former Dell Children's hospitalists, Dr. Lindley Dodson, was killed last night,' a spokesman said. 'We are shocked and saddened by this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Dodson's family, friends and colleagues. 'Dr. Dodson was a hard-working and compassionate provider who will be greatly missed.' Head office of the R&CRM Department ALL CUSTOMERS Every City of Johannesburg customer should have their own water and electricity account; you cant inherit an existing water and electricity account from a previous owner or tenant of a property. To open an account, go to your nearest Customer Service Centre and ask for an Application for the Supply of Water and Electricity contract. Submit the completed form, together with the following standard documents: A valid South African identity document; Details of next of kin; Your banking details; Contact details, which include your name, telephone and cellphone numbers, physical and postal addresses, and email; and The deposit amount (cash, cheque or internet banking). Rates accounts will automatically be created in your name, as the new property owner, as soon as transfer is registered at the Deeds Office. It may take up to 10 weeks to receive and update new owner records. Property not yet transferred If the property you have bought is not yet registered in your name, you need to go to your nearest Customer Service Centre with the following documents: A valid South African identity document; Details of next of kin; Your banking details; The deposit amount (cash, cheque or internet banking); Your Offer to Purchase or Deeds document; Your meter number/s and latest readings; Contact details, which include your name, telephone and cellphone numbers, physical and postal addresses, and email; and The completed Application for the Supply of Water and Electricity form. Developers/buyers of a new subdivisio or a new township If you are a developer or have bought a property in a new subdivision or new township and want to open an account, go to your nearest Customer Service Centrewith the following documents: A valid South African identity document; Details of next of kin; Your banking details; Contact details which include your name, telephone and cellphone numbers, physical and postal addresses, and email; The deposit amount (cash, cheque or internet banking); A separate Title Deed for your stand; The Certificate of Occupation; The surveyor-generals diagram (usually obtained from the developer); A proclamation notice for a new township (available from the developer); and The completed Application for the Supply of Water and Electricity contract. TENANTS If you are a tenant and want to open an account, the owner or his proxy must co-sign your application. Go to your nearest Customer Service Centre with the following documents: A valid South African identity document; Details of next of kin; Your banking details; Contact details, which include your name, telephone and cellphone numbers, physical and postal addresses, and email; Meter number and latest readings; The deposit amount (cash, cheque or internet banking); A certified copy of the owner/proxys identity document; A certified copy of the lease agreement, stating the date of occupation; and LAVAL, QC, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Walmart Canada is proud to announce that all its Supercentres in Quebec will now sell pork from Quebec, supplied locally by the province's farmers. Starting today, Quebec customers will be able to purchase a variety of local pork products including bone-in and boneless pork chops, pork tenderloin, spareribs, shoulder roast and ground pork at everyday low prices. This commitment represents sales of approximately 350,000 kg of meat per year supplied by Quebec-based company Olymel. Local Sourcing Through this initiative, Walmart reinforces its commitment to offering local quality meat at everyday low prices, in addition to increasing its products from Quebec suppliers. "The quality of our local pork is undeniable, and we are very excited to provide our Quebec customers with this offering," said Cyrille Ballereau, Walmart Canada's Regional Vice President. "Thanks to the invaluable cooperation of Quebec farmers, we are able to provide fresh, tasty, quality meat to our Quebec customers." "As the largest pork processor in Quebec, Olymel is proud to be part of Walmart's initiative to showcase locally sourced products. The province's pork meat is known as being among the best in the world. Thanks to Olymel's production capacity and processing expertise, the company will be able to meet Walmart's needs for local pork products. As well, as a major distribution brand in Quebec, it will meet the demand and satisfy the growing appetite of consumers and customers for its offerings.", explained Rejean Nadeau, President and CEO of Olymel. David Duval, President of Les Eleveurs de porcs du Quebec, stated that "Quebec consumers are mindful of shopping local, and this is even more true during the unique times we are facing. Pork from Quebec is a guarantee of high-quality meat. It is the result of the efforts of thousands of local producers who work tirelessly to provide the best possible meat to families across the province. Producers in Quebec meet the highest food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare standards, so there is much to rejoice with this announcement, which will benefit the community as a whole". This new product offering joins the many food items with the Aliments du Quebec certification label that Walmart already provides in its Quebec stores. In addition to Quebec pork, the company offers a multitude of locally-grown produce, including fresh tomatoes and Boston lettuce. Over a period of 12 months, Walmart has sourced more than $ 3.3 billion in products from Quebec-based suppliers in support of the provincial economy. This new announcement is aligned with Walmart's vision to offer more Quebec products at everyday low prices. About Walmart Canada Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by more than 900,000 customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $400 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada's social media pages Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SOURCE Walmart Canada For further information: Steeve Azoulay, Senior Director, Public Affairs, [email protected] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Restaurant owners reacted with mixed emotions to Gov. Andrew Cuomos announcement of dining reopening plan coming later this week. He said on Wednesday restrictions on the majority of COVID-19 micro-cluster zones soon would be lifted. Certainly a step forward...what took so long? said Jim Stayoch of a temporarily closed Adobe Blues. He refuses to reopen his iconic, New Brighton saloon until the capacity restrictions allow him to reasonably operate. In September with the 25% allowance, business was tough. Dominick "Griff" Griffo of Griff's Place and, right, Jim Stayoch of Adobe Blues in New Brighton. Both restaurants are closed, Griff's because of his license being suspended and Adobe because it's just not worth it to be open. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Stayoch explained, The 25% still will prevent small operations from realizing any profit, let alone even breaking even. As a true step forward, I would like to see 50% at this juncture, while abiding by the rules as previously set forward. Maggie Nailinorok of Big Nose Kates Saloon in Rossville listened to the governors press conference intently. She summed up, He said that hes going to come up with a plan. And hes not letting go of a 10 p.m. curfew. I think hes just going to come up with a plan and a timeline and not anytime soon and hes just going to jerk us around. She added, Its so frustrating. He says that everything is in Yellow Zone now. That means 25% and four to a table. Are we still Orange Zone? Staff of Big Nose Kate's pose inside the bar October 30, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Victoria Priola) As of Wednesday afternoon, the States micro-cluster map showed Staten Island half Yellow and half Orange, the latter designation mainly on the South Shore. Yellow zoned eateries in New York State must follow half-capacity rules indoors. Regardless, indoor dining is not permitted in New York City. Nailinorok worries about upcoming holidays in the restaurant business like Valentines Day and St. Patricks Day. Anytime theres been some holiday hes been not been doing anything. I dont forsee him doing anything before these holidays, said the Big Nose Kates manager. So for now, the restaurant focuses on to-go trays of wings, ribs, mac n cheese bites and penne ala vodka. Several restaurant owners polled for this article scoffed at the news, dubious about a plan or reopening dining rooms anytime soon. Ill skip a comment until we hear what he has to say, a North Shore restaurant owner said. Doc Hennigan's backyard patio (Courtesy of Dr. Craig Campbell) I am cautiously optimistic by his comments. But I know this governor has made comments in the past that he eventually back-pedaled on, said Doc Hennigans owner, Dr. Craig Campbell. He nods to the short-lived return of indoor dining in the fall, upticks admittedly traced to house parties (not restaurants) and unfulfilled promises to follow the numbers as guidance in allowances. Of Cuomos midweek announcement, Js on the Bay owner Joe Salimeni said, I think its fantastic and its long overdue and lets pray to God that its really going to happen. With his luncheonette business operating for takeout and pickup only, he plans to renovate his Rosebank building and shut down starting next week for a brief time. J's on the Bay in Rosebank with Joe Salemini (Staten Island Advance/ Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri Yet with Js on the Bay, there lies one of the most profound illustrations of how much the food service industry has changed since March 16, the day indoor dining ceased as normal in New York City. Salemini said his meal prep business has taken off in a surprising way. The service originally developed around gyms and the boroughs health-conscious and focused on office commuters who were too busy to do the shopping, cooking and packing of salubrious meals themselves. Salimeni detailed how new routines now govern the borough. A lot of people started working at home, they did their own meal prep. Gyms were closed so people couldnt work out. We took a different approach to the business model, said the chef. But there was an uptick in demand for help with institutional food service: as cafeterias in the region changed work flow with social distancing requirements and COVID-19 absences, whole departments were streamlined, said Salimeni. Enter Js on the Bay with pre-portioned, hermetically sealed meals with nutritional parameters to feed this new market that includes nursing facilities. Linda Baran, president and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce said, Todays shift by the governor to announce a plan for lifting restrictions on NYC borough restaurants was encouraging news. The longer the limitations on indoor dining goes on, the bigger the fallout. The restaurant and hospitality industry has been decimated and desperately need both the governor and mayor to allow them to operate in a sustainable way. Michele Mershon of Fort Wadsworth dined with pal Debbie (camera shy) in the Big Nose Kate's yard and loved it. (Courtesy of Michele Mershon) Attorney Michele Mershon of Shore Acres loves to dine out with friends and shes missing the social interaction on Staten Island at favorite haunts like Jac Mao in Dongan Hills and her neighborhood pub, Bay Street Tavern. A self-described bar fly she said, Like in prison films I now have a fork in one fist and a knife in the other fist banging them on the table. We wanna eat! We wanna eat! Lets just hope Cuomos not delivering us the ultimate tease on this news. Keep in touch. Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. A research group from Kumamoto University (Japan) has developed an automated measurement system to assess healthy lifespans using nematodes (C. elegans). Based on qualitative differences in lifespans, this system can classify populations of nematodes that are, on average, healthy and long-lived, healthy and die prematurely, and living with long periods of poor health. Since there are many similarities between the mechanisms that determine the lifespan of C. elegans and humans, the researchers believe that this system will make it easier to develop drugs and find foods that extend the healthy lifespan of humans. The concept of "healthy life expectancy" was proposed in the year 2000 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is an important indicator for the health of a population. It refers to the average life expectancy minus the period of living dependent on continuous medical or nursing care. However, there is no clear scientific understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifespan in experimental animals or cells. Furthermore, the technology to objectively and rapidly analyze the factors that affect healthy life expectancy has not yet been established. Despite being an extremely simple animal, C. elegans has differentiated organs such as nerves, skeletal muscles, and a digestive tract, and many mammalian animal-related genes are conserved. It is very useful for cutting-edge research in fields like genetics and molecular biology. However, while lifespan analysis of this nematode provides a great deal of useful information, previous lifespan studies had many limitations including 1) sensitivity to various stimuli at room temperature, 2) a long experimental time required for daily measurements, 3) a lack of objectivity due to a tendency for results to be dependent on experimental technique, and 4) the small number of samples that can be processed at one time making it unsuitable for simultaneous measurement of many samples. The researchers attempted to resolve these issues by developing a new healthy lifespan assessment system that maintained the advantages provided by nematodes. They focused on determining the optimal conditions in a live cell imaging system for automatically measuring nematode survival, such as counting the number of nematodes in a sample, incubation temperature, medium thickness, feeding conditions, imaging interval, and survival determination method. This became C. elegans Lifespan Auto-monitoring System (C-LAS), a fully automated lifespan measurement system that can non-invasively measure a large number of samples (currently up to 36 samples). C-LAS uses overlapping images of nematodes to identify those that are moving, meaning they are alive, and those that are not moving, meaning they are dead. Next, by using C-LAS to observe C. elegans, the researchers found that nematodes can be classified as being in one of three possible behavioral states: an active (alive) state, an inactive survival state, or an inactive (dead) state. They defined the period of active behavior as the "healthy lifespan" and established a new system that they called the C. elegans Healthspan Auto-monitoring System (C-HAS). Similar to C-LAS, C-HAS is an automated health and longevity measurement system that can distinguish between live and dead nematodes by overlapping periodic images. It is also possible to detect when nematodes are in an inactive survival state (alive but unhealthy) when they only partially overlap between images. Using C-HAS, researchers can use these parameters for mini-population analyses. This type of analysis makes it possible to divide nematodes with the same genetic background into four groups: those with an average lifespan, those that are healthy and long-lived, those that are unhealthy and die prematurely, and those that have a long period of frailty. The researchers performed a mini-population analysis of nematode healthy lifespan using a combination of C-HAS and statistical analysis on common nematodes with the same genetic background. They found that about 28% of the population had average lifespans, about 30% had long and healthy lifespans, about 35% had healthy lifespans but died prematurely, and about 7% had a long period of frailty. They also found that activating--either genetically or through administration of the drug metformin--AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is closely associated with healthy life expectancy, dramatically increased the population with healthy longevity and reduced the population with long periods of frailty. Metformin is thought to increase healthy life expectancy in humans, and the present study supports this idea. Currently, clinical trials are underway to ascertain its association with healthy longevity. It might be a little unexpected to see nematodes being used to measure healthy lifespans, but we have already used C-HAS to identify new genes related to healthy lifespan that were previously unknown. This technology makes it possible to easily search for genes, drugs, or foods that are related to, or even extend, human healthy lifespans with a speed and accuracy that could not be obtained when using laboratory animals. We expect that C-HAS can be used for drug discovery research and in the search for healthy foods in the future. We are currently working on the development of C-HAS-AI, which will incorporate deep learning into C-HAS to boost automated analysis." Tsuyoshi Shuto, Study Leader, Associate Professor, Kumamoto University Contrary to President Joe Bidens explicit support for Indias permanent UNSC membership in his campaign for Indo-Americans, Joe Biden's pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield did not out rightly commit to the support. Contrary to President Joe Bidens explicit support for Indias permanent UNSC membership in his campaign for Indo-Americans, Joe Bidens pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield did not out rightly commit to the support during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. When asked if she thinks India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council) by Senator Jeff Merkley, she responded I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that,. Referencing the Coffee Club she added, But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion,. Coffee Club or Uniting for consensus is a movement developed in 1990 under the leadership of Italy in opposition to the expansion of permanent seats in UNSC. Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt also constitute its founding members. Also Read: Violence marks farmers tractor rally: Time to probe foreign funding & vested interests Also Read: Farmers tractor rally turns violent: Over 300 Pak twitter handles identified trying to create stir President Bidens campaign policy document last year mentioned, Recognizing Indias growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for Indias membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council,. Until now four out of five permanent members of the security council excluding communist China backed Indias bid for permanent membership. The last three administrations under George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump had openly said that the United States supports Indias bid to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Authorities in the southern province of Guangdong have jailed the administrator of a wiki-based forum for 14 years after a post revealed personal information about the close family of ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, RFA has learned. Niu Tengyu was handed a 14-year jail term on Dec. 30, 2020 by the Maonan District People's Court in Guangdong's Maoming city, which found him guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," "violating others' privacy" and "running an illegal business," after a photo of Xi's daughter Xi Mingze was posted online. "My son was arrested in early August 2019 because Xi Mingzes photo was posted on the Zhina Wiki site," Niu's mother told RFA in a recent interview. "After this was seen by the central government, a special task force was formed, and a large number of police officers were sent across the country to arrest people connected to the site," she said. The person in charge of that site couldn't be arrested because they were outside the country, Niu's mother said. "They were all found innocent after grueling interrogations, and released by local police ... who then tried to shift the blame to pin it on [Niu's] Esu Wiki site, and arrested all of them instead," she said. "There were vested interests at work in the Maoming police department ... which wanted this to be remembered as its contribution," Niu's mother said. "They then reported it to the Ministry of Public Security as a major case of collusion with anti-Chinese forces," she said. The court also handed down shorter jail terms to 23 other people associated with the site. Niu and his co-defendants plan to appeal. Esu Wiki started out as a subforum for sharing satirical and nationalistic memes mostly targeting celebrities on the Baidu Tieba forum. Tortured by police Niu, a self-taught computer expert, was tortured by police to get him to "confess," his mother said. "They wanted him to confess to being the ringleader, so they started beating him, suspending him, and depriving him of sleep," she said. "These kids weren't even the ones who uploaded the photo, but they were used as scapegoats," Niu's mother said. "They were deprived of their human rights, and ... forced to confess, threatened, and intimidated every day." "One of [Niu's] arms is now permanently injured; he was beaten unconscious several times, then had cold water thrown over him, before being told to confess to being the ringleader," she said. New York-based democracy activist Chen Chuangchuang said the 24 were jailed for "violating others' privacy." "This is a political case, because it involves relatives of top CCP leaders," Chen said. "One photo was the ID card of Xi Jinping's daughter and the other related to Xi's brother-in-law Deng Jiagui." A lawyer who asked not to be named agreed that the case was highly political, pointing out that several wiki-style sites in China had been doxxing people for years with no reaction from the authorities. Several lawyers representing the defendants were forced to withdraw before the trial, the lawyer said. Reported by Yitong Wu and Chingman for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Abbie Chatfield has taken a swipe at her former Bachelor rival Elly Miles for attending a booze-fueled Australia Day pool party hours after attending a change the date protest. On Wednesday, the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star, 25, said that it is the 'easiest f**king decision' to stay away from celebrations on January 26 in a scathing statement posted on Instagram. Abbie began: 'You aren't being the change if you're participating in harmful traditions. Not happy: Abbie Chatfield (left) has appeared to blast her former Bachelor rival Elly Miles (right) in a scathing statement about Australia Day hypocrisy 'It is the EASIEST f**king decision. To just NOT. Hottest 100 is now on the Saturday, you can celebrate the long weekend with your friends then. I did! Without an Australian flag in sight.' While she didn't name names, Abbie added that people should have used the public holiday to learn more about the day itself, and 'broaden your understanding of the harm colonization has caused'. 'The level of cognitive dissonance in believing that you can ACTUALLY attend a rally and then just pop on over to your pool party is something else,' she continued. 'If you were *actually* listening to speakers at these rallies, you wouldn't be able to have fun in the afternoon. You'd want to dig deeper, feel a responsibility to be uncomfortable and to hopefully learn something,' she added. Fuming: Abbie shared the furious message on her Instagram page, saying it should have been the 'easiest f**king decision' to not attend a pool party 'Anyway, my followers all know this. Will chat about it next week on the pod.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative for Abbie for further comment. While Abbie didn't specifically name Elly, her post comes after the former Bachelorette issued a public apology for attending the boozy pool party hours after delivering a sombre speech about how painful Australia Day can be for Indigenous people. Addressing the furore in an Instagram post on Wednesday, the 26-year-old wrote: 'To answer people's comments from yesterday, there is nothing else I can say in this situation other than "I am sorry". 'I had a complete lapse of judgment and have a lot of regret for my actions. I sincerely apologise for upsetting anyone,' she added. 'Beyond tone deaf': Elly was slammed for sharing an 'Invasion Day' message on Instagram (left) - before documenting her boozy bash online (right) 'Be the change': On Tuesday morning, the Bondi influencer uploaded a video of herself delivering a sombre speech about how painful Australia Day can be for Indigenous people, before sharing a photo of herself attending an 'Invasion Day' protest in Sydney (pictured) 'I stand by my attendance at the Change the Date protest and feel that it is an incredibly important issue. I truly wasn't being insincere with my attendance. 'I know how it looks, we all make mistakes - I made one yesterday and all I can say once again, from the bottom of my heart, is that I truly am sorry.' In her speech on Tuesday morning, Elly told fans 'it would just be so good if we could change the date' and insisted she would love 'everybody in Australia to celebrate Australia on a day that isn't severely traumatic and awful for our Indigenous cultures'. 'If you feel like you don't know enough, have a conversation. Like start a conversation, that's how my view has changed,' she said. Not a care in the world! That afternoon, Elly shared a video of herself attending a backyard pool party 'Because growing up I had celebrated Australia Day but I just didn't know any better. And it took me to have conversations with some Indigenous friends and work colleagues for me to truly understand the meaning of the day for Indigenous culture, and it's not good,' she added. A few hours after this thoughtful speech, Elly shared a video of herself attending a backyard pool party. 'Get me to the pool,' Elly wrote as she posed in a bathrobe and snakeskin bikini. Throughout the festivities, Elly was seen drinking with pals, taking shots of tequila and posing for busty mirror selfies. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has announced the appointment of Mohammed Paracha as Head of Middle East. Paracha will succeed Deirdre Walker, who has held this leadership role since 2017 and continues with the firm as a disputes partner. A partner at Norton Rose Fulbright since 2010, Paracha currently leads the banking and finance practice in Dubai. He is also the firms head of Islamic finance for the Middle East and Africa. Paracha commented: I am delighted to be appointed to the role of Head of Middle East. I look forward to working with our team and colleagues around the world to support our regional clients at a time of profound legal, regulatory and economic change. Peter Scott, Managing Partner, Europe, Middle East and Asia, commented: Mohammed Paracha has over 20 years experience of working in the Middle East both at our firm and as in-house counsel at a leading Bahraini bank. I know Mohammed will work closely with our entire Middle East team to build on our strong foundations and capitalise on the significant opportunities for growth in the region. On behalf of the firm, I would like to thank Deirdre Walker for the significant contribution she has made as Head of Middle East, particularly in growing our award-winning dispute resolution practice. Paracha trained and qualified with Norton Rose Fulbright in London in 2001. He focuses on Islamic finance and banking matters and has extensive cross-border transactional experience. Mohammed led the firms team on a $1 billion first-of-a-kind cross-border Islamic financing last year, one of several ground breaking Islamic finance mandates he has advised on over his career. Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded in the Middle East over the past year with four lateral partner hires including Nicholas Kramer, Nicholas Robinson, Zayd Alathari and Kayaan Unwalla, as well as counsel Shabnam Karim and Jonathan Burton. Earlier this month, Angela Croker was promoted to partner. Recent accolades for the firms wider Middle East practice include Litigation Team of the Year at the 2020 Law.com Middle East Legal Awards, as well as several 2020 Islamic Finance News Awards including Hybrid Deal of the Year, Syndicated Deal of the Year and Law Firm of the Year in the Banking & Finance category. -- Tradearabia News Service MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) Moldova hopes that the United Nations and the World Health Organization will assist the county in the issue of acquiring COVID-19 vaccines, President Maia Sandu said on Thursday. Sandu met with UN Resident Coordinator for Moldova Simon Springett and the WHO's representative in the country, Igor Pokanevych, on Thursday. "The key topics that we discussed today at a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator Simon Springett and WHO Representative in our country Igor Pokanevych are the fastest possible access to a vaccine for Moldovan citizens, as well as support for economic recovery after the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," Sandu wrote on her Facebook page. The Moldovan leader mentioned that the UN and the WHO assisted Moldova's health care system last year during the pandemic. The government has approved closure of loss-making state-owned firm Limited and shutting down the operations of its units, the company said on Thursday. PTI had reported a week ago that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is believed to have given its consent to the closure of the Lucknow-based company. In a BSE filing, said the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises has communicated that the competent authority has approved the closure. It has also cleared seeking a loan (with interest) of Rs 65.12 crore required for the closure from the Government of India. Besides, it has approved separating the regular employees rendered surplus due to the closure through voluntary retirement scheme / voluntary separation scheme (VRS/VSS). The employees not opting for VRS/VSS will be retrenched as per the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The firm has around 100 employees. TheScooters India brand name shall be sold separately as the company holds famous brands such as Lambretta, Vijai Super, Vikram and Lambro. The company produces several types of three-wheelers under the Vikram brand. "Before closure of the company, the trademarks/brands available with the company are to be monetized and the proceeds are to be utilised for the closure process," the filing said. If the company fails to monetize the same in a timely manner, the brands/trademarks will be vested in the Government of India with a right to vest the same in another government company. The disposal of the plant/machinery and movable assets will be done through e-auction by MSTC Limited, the filing said. Moreover, 147.49 acres of the company's land shall be returned to the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority at mutually agreed upon rates. The government's go-ahead to the closure proposal paves the way for the Heavy Industry Ministry to begin the process of winding up the firm. The process of winding up also involves delisting of its shares from the stock exchange. The has made several efforts in the past to find buyers for and nurse the ailing firm back to health, but they have not yielded results. In 2018, the government had invited expression of interest (EoI) to sell its entire stake with transfer of management control in Scooters India. Scooters India was incorporated in 1972. It was engaged in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad spectrum of conventional and non-conventional fuel driven three-wheelers. In 1975, the company started commercial production of scooters under the Vijai Super brand for the domestic market and Lambretta for the overseas market. Later, it also introduced three wheelers under the brand name of Vkram/Lambro. However, in 1997, the company strategically discontinued its two-wheeler production and concentrated only on manufacturing and marketing of three-wheelers. (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.) Rada snubs Vitrenko for First Vice PM, energy minister post, again Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities backed his candidacy. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Call your primary care doctor first. That's the direction patients are typically given when they're facing a non-emergency medical situation. But in the case of securing the COVID-19 vaccine, many primary care physicians and their patients have been left in the dark. Thousands of calls have flooded private doctors' offices across Pennsylvania since the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Yet primary care physicians who aren't affiliated with hospitals are among the last in line to receive and distribute the vaccine to patients, medical leaders say. Dr. Keith Sadel, who owns and operates a private family practice in Upper Southampton, filed his paperwork to get the vaccine for his patients and submitted the required forms two months ago. Still, no vaccine. Dr. Keith Sadel cares for a patient from his Upper Southampton family practice, which has been trying to get the vaccine for its patients for two months. Many primary care physicians, who are unable to get the vaccine before pharmacies and other medical specialists, are upset the rollout is leaving them out. "When I see that some of my patients who are young and healthy and are not health care workers getting the vaccine at Rite Aids, while my patients 65 years and older can't get the vaccine and they look towards me, this is frustrating as you can imagine," said Sadel, who cares for about 4,000 patients, most of whom are elderly and have medical conditions. "I do not understand why pharmacies are placed over physicians to deliver the vaccine." He is not alone. The federal government has largely left vaccine rollout to the states and public health departments, and Pennsylvania, like many states, is relying on hospitals to be the main distribution points. More: 'We need to do a better job': COVID-19 vaccine rollout limited by slow supply of doses, Wolf says Pennsylvania last week opened up vaccine eligibility to anyone 65 and older and adults with pre-existing medical conditions, spiking demand despite dwindling supply. On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf expressed frustration with the federal governments coronavirus vaccine rollout, saying Pennsylvania needs 6.5 million more individual doses just to complete full vaccination of everyone in the current 1A phase of the states plan. Story continues Yet there are questions about whether the state and its counties are making use of all the vaccines delivered so far. An online report from Beckers Hospital Review ranked Pennsylvania 42nd out of the 50 states in percentage of vaccine doses received that have been administered. Of the approximately 1.6 million vaccines delivered to the state, about 800,000 have not yet been given, according to data from the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "If they gave us 1,000 vaccines tonight, I'd have it 1,000 arms this week," said Hatboro family doctor Dr. Harris Cohen, who has the refrigeration and staff in place to give the Moderna vaccine. Like many local doctors, he worries local primary care physicians are being left out of the state's vaccine rollout plan. "If they gave us a thousand vaccines tonight, I'd have it in a thousand arms this week," said Hatboro family doctor Harris Cohen, who has the refrigeration and staff in place to give the Moderna vaccine, one of two that has received emergency use approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Only a fraction of the vaccines distributed so far have gone to primary care physicians, according to the state's list of approved providers. At the same time, confusion about how to sign up for a shot has left many Pennsylvanians frustrated, and those at high risk of serious complications from COVID-19 continue to wait, with little news on when theyll be inoculated. More: Bucks, Montgomery County hospitals work to give COVID vaccine amid 'temporary choke point' in supply That confusion has translated into about a hundred calls a day flooding Cohen's family practice, Hatboro Medical Associates. "This is the most important health issue we have right now, yet there are so many roadblocks," he said. "Every patient I see asks about it and I don't have an answer. It reminds me of the testing shortage in early March. Again, I feel paralyzed that I don't have the answer." Pennsylvania Department of Health officials don't have the answers either. When asked, they lacked a detailed explanation for how the distribution of vaccines is being prioritized for nonhospital providers. April Hutcheson, the Pennsylvania Department of Heath's director of communications, said, "In terms of who becomes a provider to administer vaccine first, it has to be within the scope of practice of the doctor to be able to provide injections. Then they enroll as a provider." Hutcheson then provided the state's link for providers, outlining the application process and requirements. Both Sadel and Cohen have met those requirements. Yet when they see who is receiving the vaccine in their region such as a Bucks County dermatology office more questions surface. While Cohen acknowledges that the vaccine rollout is one of the greatest logistical challenges ever undertaken, Cohen said primary care doctors are in a position to get the vaccine to their patients quickly and safely. "We have the mechanism in place and the ability to do it, but they need to get the vaccine in the right people's hands," he said. He said his practice could offer a drive-thru vaccination service that would prioritize his sickest and oldest patients, many of whom don't have access to the present online registration method set up by the county. "We know their chronic diseases and could start from the oldest and most ill," he said. To determine which providers get the vaccine, Maggi Barton, a deputy press secretary at the Department of Health, said the agency uses a formula looking at population; population 65 and older; percent positivity; and death rate; as well as other factors, such as inventory on hand, to determine how to allocate the limited doses of vaccine among counties and providers. From there, the federal government provides information to providers about how much vaccine they will receive. More: Bucks County opens vaccine hotline to reach those without internet, as online registration continues A call for more vaccines On the national front, medical leaders are calling on President Joe Biden to direct states to get vaccines to physician practices. In a Jan. 26 letter, Halee Fischer-Wright, CEO of Medical Group Management, cited a survey that showed 85% of independent practices and 45% of hospital or health system-owned practices actively seeking the COVID-19 vaccine for their patients reported having obtained none to date. "Despite possessing the ability to identify and inoculate vulnerable patients, states have largely not leveraged physician practices in vaccine rollout efforts," she wrote. She said that many physician groups have been approved by their states to distribute the vaccine, but as the survey results indicate, they have so far received little to no inventory, she said. "We strongly believe that medical groups have a critical role to play in COVID-19 vaccination efforts due to their trusted role as providers within the community and ability to identify vulnerable patients," she said. Leading Pennsylvania hospital officials agree that the vaccine needs to go beyond hospitals and into community doctors offices and clinics. Andy Carter, association president of the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania, told reporters last week that this public health effort must expand to include more pharmacies, doctors offices, and community-based vaccine clinics." Not only are doctors having trouble getting vaccines for patients, many physicians and medical staff not employed by hospitals or health systems reported problems getting inoculated themselves, even though they are caring for patients who are in the top-priority group. Dr. Keith Sadel cares for a patient from his Upper Southampton family practice, which has been trying to get the vaccine for its patients for two months. Many primary care physicians, who are unable to get the vaccine before pharmacies and other medical specialists, are upset the rollout is leaving them out. Many hospitals, given the bulk of the first vaccine shipments, also are choosing to vaccinate all staff, including those who arent involved in patient care or visitor contact, before passing vaccines onto unaffiliated family doctors. Bucks County recognized this and set up a vaccination site at Woods Services in Langhorne to make sure front-line health and EMS workers get the vaccine. But when the state expanded the eligibility, state medical leaders sounded the alarm. "While the Pennsylvania Medical Society applauds DOH for expansion of 1a of its vaccination plan to include our most vulnerable citizens, we remain highly concerned that a number of health care workers not connected to large systems remain unvaccinated, unnecessarily putting our front-line workers and their families at risk while asking them to take care of our most critical patients," the group said. On Tuesday, more than a week after the expansion, Claire Shearer, the medical societys communication director, said, "We are excited for the general public, but we have concerns that our front-line workers are still not all vaccinated." 'Begging for the vaccine' Cohen said he was able to get his vaccine through Doylestown Hospital, which under a state order is required to set aside 10% of vaccines for community front-line workers. But for doctors working to secure the vaccine for patients, it's been "a mad scramble." Sadel, who applied as early as he could, has been calling the state health department to check on the status of his application. One woman, he said, inquired about his freezers and wanted the make and model numbers. Two weeks later, he learned his application is under consideration. What upsets me is that I get information from pharmacies that are vaccinating people in their 30s and 40s, not employed in the medical industry," he said. In the meantime, he said: I have patients so scared that they cant get the vaccine; one lady is sick and in her 80s, with no computer, and doesnt know what to do, yet we have some people who are healthy able to get the vaccine at (a pharmacy). It doesnt make sense. Many of his patients, he said, fear going to a pharmacy for the vaccine, he said. "I know my patients, and I'm much more equipped to give vaccine than a pharmacy," said Sadel, adding that he has a defibrillator, IV fluid and other medications on hand in case someone has a reaction. "I'm capable of handling emergencies in ways pharmacies are not." For his wife, Vivi, who helps run the practice, it's hard to explain why primary care physicians have been left out. "The little guy can help but has no means, no capacity and/or is stuck in that all too familiar bureaucratic loop," she said. "Meanwhile, we are the ones that get the 50 calls a day almost begging for the vaccine." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where can I get a COVID vaccine? Family doctors scramble to fill need 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 Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. blackwasp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 2,842 Thanked: 24,860 Times View My Garage USA President Joe Biden is a complete car guy! President Biden grew up around cars since a young age. His father ran car dealerships for over 34 years in Delaware. The first car he picked up was a 1951 Studebaker, followed by a 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook Convertible. In college, he had a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air and a Mercedes-Benz 190SL. The latter was equipped with a Solex carb and had clocked over 100,000 miles on it (1.6 lakh km). Image source Representative Image only However, the most special car in Bidens garage is the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette that his father gave him for his wedding in August 1967. It has a 5.8-litre V8 motor good for over 350 BHP. The convertible is finished in Goodwood-green shade and gets tan leather interior. In one of the interviews, he also said that hes maxed out the speedometer in the Corvette. The car can go upto an indicated 257 km/h (160 mph). Image source - Joe Biden / Twitter Here's a short video on the same car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQVpzCxumGY Joe Biden also served as the Vice President of the United States for 2 terms from 2009-2017. Due to his security status, he was barred from driving any cars by the US Secret Service, the agency in charge of his protection amongst others. You know hes a complete car guy when he does a burnout during an interview with Jay Leno. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP-hyDSlmUs Hes also an advocate of electric cars and is expected to announce pro-green car policies during his tenure. Most of us know that the President of the United States of America travels in an armoured car dubbed The Beast. Joe Biden, the 46th president, will now be using the car. However, you might be surprised to know that he is a proper car guy.President Biden grew up around cars since a young age. His father ran car dealerships for over 34 years in Delaware. The first car he picked up was a 1951 Studebaker, followed by a 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook Convertible. In college, he had a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air and a Mercedes-Benz 190SL. The latter was equipped with a Solex carb and had clocked over 100,000 miles on it (1.6 lakh km).Representative Image onlyHowever, the most special car in Bidens garage is the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette that his father gave him for his wedding in August 1967. It has a 5.8-litre V8 motor good for over 350 BHP. The convertible is finished in Goodwood-green shade and gets tan leather interior. In one of the interviews, he also said that hes maxed out the speedometer in the Corvette. The car can go upto an indicated 257 km/h (160 mph).Image source - Joe Biden / TwitterHere's a short video on the same car:Joe Biden also served as the Vice President of the United States for 2 terms from 2009-2017. Due to his security status, he was barred from driving any cars by the US Secret Service, the agency in charge of his protection amongst others. You know hes a complete car guy when he does a burnout during an interview with Jay Leno.Hes also an advocate of electric cars and is expected to announce pro-green car policies during his tenure. TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") today announced that drilling program at Hook Lake has begun. Hook Lake is a joint venture between Cameco Corporation (39.5%), Orano Canada Inc. (39.5%), and Purepoint (21%) in the Patterson Uranium District, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Hook Lake Project lies on the southwestern edge of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin and is adjacent to and on trend with recent high-grade uranium discoveries including Fission Uranium's Triple R Deposit and NexGen's Arrow Deposit. Chris Frostad, President and CEO stated: "The drilling program this year will be solely focused on the highly prospective, yet largely untested Sabre Target area within the Patterson Lake Corridor. As previously reported, we expect to complete about 3,250 metres of drilling to test geophysical targets identified within the Sabre Target area during last year's ground electromagnetic survey." Sabre Target Area The Sabre Target Area is situated on the northeastern portion of the Hook Lake Project, within the Patterson Lake Corridor. Last year's geophysical survey covered the Sabre Target area and consisted of five lines of stepwise-moving loop EM surveying that were spaced 800 metres apart. Interpretation of the survey results have provided initial drill targets covering 3.5 kilometres of conductor strike length. The purpose of the survey was to provide drill targets northeast of hole HK19-105 that intersected numerous shear zones, strong hydrothermal alteration and elevated radioactivity (up to 125 ppm U over 0.3 metres). Interpretation of the EM results provided four to six conductor picks of varying strength along each survey line. Drill hole HK20-115 tested a 2020 EM conductor pick located 3.6 kilometres northeast along strike of favorable drill hole HK19-105. Below the unconformity at 460 metres, the hole encountered strongly clay altered porphyroblastic schist and mafic intrusive to 500 metres, strongly hematite altered granodiorite gneiss to 512 metres, then strongly chloritized, sheared and graphitic mafic intrusive to a depth of 525 metres before completion within unaltered diorite gneiss at a depth of 638 metres. More information about the Sabre Zone can be viewed on the Company's 5-minute video: https://youtu.be/KGZwvRnRHSo. Hook Lake JV Project The Hook Lake JV Project is owned jointly by Cameco Corp. (39.5%), Orano Canada Inc. (39.5%), and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (21%) as operator and consists of nine claims totaling 28,598 hectares situated in the southwestern Athabasca Basin. The Hook Lake JV Project is considered one of the highest quality uranium exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin due to its location along the prospective Patterson Lake trend and the relatively shallow depth to the unconformity. Current exploration is targeting the Patterson Lake Corridor that hosts Fission's Triple R Deposit (indicated mineral resource 87,760,000 lbs. U3O8 at an average grade of 1.82% U3O8 www.fissionuranium.com), NexGen Energy's Arrow Deposit (indicated mineral resource 256,600,000 lbs. U3O8 at an average grade of 4.03% www.nexgenenergy.ca) and the Spitfire discovery by the Hook Lake JV. The foregoing mineral resource disclosure is information about the properties adjacent to the Company's property and does not imply that the Company will obtain similar information from its own property. In other news, further to the December 18, 2020 news release, in connection with the closing of the private placement, the Company paid certain finders' fees consisting of an aggregate of $60,720 in cash and 1,214,400 non-transferable compensation warrants. About Purepoint Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. is focused on the precision exploration of its six projects in the Canadian Athabasca Basin, the world's richest uranium region. Established in the Athabasca Basin well before the initial resurgence in uranium earlier last decade, Purepoint's flagship project is the Hook Lake Project, a joint venture with two of the largest uranium suppliers in the world, Cameco Corporation and Orano Canada Inc. The Hook Lake JV Project is on trend with recent high-grade uranium discoveries including Fission Uranium's Triple R Deposit, NexGen's Arrow Deposit and the Hook Lake JV's Spitfire discovery. Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, PGeo, Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release. Neither the 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 Press release. Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. SOURCE Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. Related Links http://www.purepoint.ca By Patricia Uhlig and Tom Sims FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank's new chief executive, Manfred Knof, wants to cut 10,000 jobs and close hundreds of branches as part of a strategy revamp announced just weeks after he took on the top job at Germany's second-biggest bank. The bank's management hopes the overhaul plans revealed on Thursday will revive the fortunes of the partly state-owned group, which has struggled to boost profits amid executive reshuffles and strategy zig-zags. The has bank never fully recovered after a state bailout during the last financial ... Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 (Alliance News) - The EU is looking at legal means to guarantee the delivery of all the Covid-19 vaccine doses it bought from AstraZeneca PLC and other pharmaceutical companies. The European Medicines Agency is expected on Friday to authorise use of the vaccine that the Anglo-Swedish company developed with Oxford University. It would be the third cleared for use in the EU, after the BioNTech SE/Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc vaccines. However, officials in Brussels have quarrelled with AstraZeneca after the pharmaceutical company said it would deliver smaller than expected supplies to the 27 EU nations. The bloc's executive commission asked Belgian authorities to inspect a factory in Belgium that is part of AstraZeneca's vaccine production chain. Adding to the uncertainty, a draft recommendation from a German expert committee called for offering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine only to people under the age of 65 for now. European authorities are under pressure after a sluggish start to the EU's vaccination campaign in its first month, and the AstraZeneca serum would add much-needed extra supplies. In a reply to a letter he received from four European government leaders, European Council President Charles Michel said the EU "should explore all options and make use of all legal means and enforcement measures at our disposal", if negotiations with drug companies do not yield satisfaction. The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca over expected delays in deliveries. AstraZeneca said last week that it planned to cut initial deliveries in the EU from the scheduled 80 million doses for the first quarter of the year to 31 million doses. The company cited reduced yields from its manufacturing plants in Europe, but the EU suspects doses produced in Europe have been directed elsewhere. Michel said the EU could invoke an article of one of its treaties that allows members to take measures "if severe difficulties arise in the supply of (a) certain product". He wrote that the use of Article 122 "would give the EU and member states the legal means, by adopting appropriate urgent measures, to ensure effective vaccine production and supply for our population. I believe this solution would demonstrate the EU's strength and reliability in protecting its citizens' health over and above all other considerations". The European Commission also plans new rules strengthening the control of vaccine exports to ensure the doses it bought are delivered to the bloc's residents. In Germany, the draft recommendation added a question mark over how widely it might be used a though the country's health minister stressed that a final decision will not be made until after Friday's EMA meeting. Germany's vaccination advisory committee, an independent panel advising the government, called for using AstraZeneca's vaccine for the 18-64 age group on the basis of currently available information. It said that "there currently is not sufficient data to assess the vaccination effectiveness from 65 years". AstraZeneca said after Thursday's release of the German draft that "the latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group". It added that it awaits the EMA's decision. The company noted earlier this week that British regulators supported its use in the older age group despite lack of late-stage effectiveness data. It pointed to earlier-stage data published in the journal Lancet in November "demonstrating that older adults showed strong immune responses to the vaccine, with 100% of older adults generating spike-specific antibodies after the second dose". But questions have remained about how well the vaccine protects older people. Only 12% of participants in the AstraZeneca research were over 55 and they were enrolled later, so there has not been enough time to see whether they get sick at a lower rate than those who did not get the vaccine. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said there had been a discussion about a lack of data on the subject since the autumn, but it was not yet clear "how concretely" that would ultimately affect authorities' decisions. The EU, which has 450 million people, has signed deals for six different vaccines. In total, it has ordered up to 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and sealed deals with other companies for more than two billion shots. The inspection the European Commission requested of production at manufacturer Novasep's factory in Seneffe, Belgium, has been done, and the data collected will be analysed in the coming days, Belgian authorities said. The EU said the Belgian factory is one of four AstraZeneca sites included in the contract sealed by the commission and the company to produce vaccines for the EU market. Stella Kyriakides, the European commissioner for health and food safety, said AstraZeneca should provide vaccines from its UK facilities if it is unable to meet commitments from factories in the EU. Kyriakides also made clear the EU would find out if some of the doses manufactured in the EU were diverted elsewhere. AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot has argued in an interview with Die Welt newspaper this week that the UK government helped develop the vaccine and signed its contract three months before the EU reached its agreement. He said the contract with British authorities specifies that vaccines produced at UK sites must go to the UK first. However, the commission said it remains confident that the AstraZeneca delay will not affect its plans to ensure that at least 80% of EU citizens over the age of 80 are vaccinated by March. Health policy spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said that target is based on the availability of doses manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. "It is an ambitious target, but we believe it is a realistic one," he said. More than 400,000 EU residents with Covid-19 have died since the beginning of the pandemic. source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. India, Germany, Brazil and Japan, who formed the G4 bloc to press for their inclusion as permanent UNSC members, have been calling for a 'decisive push' for the long-delayed reforms Beijing: China, which has been blocking Indias efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has called for evolving a package solution acceptable to all UN members to reform the top global governing body. The reform should reflect the leadership of UN member states, adhere to extensive democratic consultations and gradually accumulate consensus, so as to find a "package solution" acceptable to all parties, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said Wednesday. Wang spoke on the reforms in the powerful UN organ during his meeting through video link with Joanna Wronecka and Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the UNSC reform of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly. Wronecka and Al Thani are also permanent representatives of Poland and Qatar, respectively, to the UN. India, Germany, Brazil and Japan which formed the G4 bloc to press for their inclusion as permanent members of the Security Council, have been calling for a "decisive push" for the long-delayed reforms of the UN body. Last year, G4 foreign ministers meeting that included external affairs minister S Jaishankar, called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during the 75th session of the UN. They unanimously called for text-based negotiations in a fixed time frame. The Chinese foreign ministry in its reaction to the G4 ministers' call last year said there were enormous divisions and lacked consensus among the UN members. In his meeting with Wronecka and Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Wang said the reform of the Security Council concerns the future development of the UN and the vital interests of its member states. The reform should reflect fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, give more small and medium-sized countries the opportunity to participate in the decision-making of the Security Council, and correct historical injustices against Africa. He also highlighted that the reform must be carried out in a stable and orderly manner, and effectively safeguard the unity of member states as well as the prestige of the UN, State-run Xinhua news agency reported. India has been spearheading decades-long efforts to reform the Security Council, saying a structure set up in 1945 does not reflect contemporary realities of the 21st Century and is ill-equipped to handle current challenges. China is part of the permanent five (P5) of the UNSC with veto power has been stonewalling Indias efforts to become member of UNs powerful body for years pointing to lack of consensus even though the other four, US, UK, France and Russia have expressed backing for New Delhis membership. Beijings all-weather ally Pakistan is also opposed to India becoming a permanent member of the UNSC. US president Joe Biden in his campaign policy document last year had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. India calls for six additional permanent seats, two each for Africa and Asia, one for Latin America and the Caribbean, and one for the West European and Others Group and also for increase in non-permanent seats. Jack Gerber, 93, of Philadelphia, an accomplished artist known primarily for his bold and bright figurative paintings of everyday life, died Thursday, Jan. 14, of complications from Alzheimers disease and dementia at Cliveden Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Germantown. A painter, printmaker, draftsman, and sculptor, Mr. Gerber saw his work shown at, among other places, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Academy in New York, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill, and the Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He was a good guy, said fellow artist Michael Guinn. He was a little crusty, and he always expected to win a prize. But he had a real style. Noted for his peculiar technique, one that features blocky subjects and Art Deco colors, Mr. Gerber, who was born in 1927, embraced his art as a child. According to a 2000 article in the Daily News by art critic Anne R. Fabbri, Mr. Gerber grew up near Cobbs Creek Park in West Philadelphia and was influenced by his father and grandfather. His grandfather inspired a love of books and intellectualism in him, and his father, a schoolteacher, encouraged his artistry as a teenager. Mr. Gerber studied at the Fleisher Art Memorial as a youth, and, according to Fabbri, worked in watercolors with Filomena Dellaripa, painting with Maxim Gottlieb, and sculpture with Marcus Aurelius Renzetti. After a stint in the Navy during World War II, Mr. Gerber returned to Philadelphia and used a scholarship to enroll at the School of Industrial Art, now the University of the Arts. But he was restless there, so he dropped out after a year and spent the next four years at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Gerber didnt conform to the academys ideas of art, but the maverick artist stayed the full four years, Fabbri wrote. His resulting style is unique by any measure. Influenced by the German expressionist Max Beckmann, Mr. Gerbers form was described by Fabbri as intensely colored figures in enigmatic spaces that look familiar, but its not the world we know. The late Edward J. Sozanski, longtime art critic at The Inquirer, wrote that Mr. Gerbers paintings generate an exotic ambience thats both timeless and contemporary. In a short autobiography, Mr. Gerber wrote that relationships between people, and between people and animals, anchor his work. What I really like is to present a picture and then let the viewer try to figure out the subject, he wrote. This way, he/she can enter into the work and maybe, if it entices enough, he/she can become a part of it. Despite his art education, Mr. Gerber considered himself self-taught through reading and trying. He was a voracious reader and listed Herman Melville, William Butler Yeats, John Keats, and Carl Jung as among his favorite writers. He liked to read about psychology and religion, enjoyed Mexican culture, and never married. He was a frequent guest at dinner parties hosted and attended by other local artists. Oh, he was very talkative, said friend and fellow artist Dorothy Roschen. He was always up on things. Politics. Current events. He talked about all of that. He always had the TV on. I consider his work joyful and always colorful. Mr. Gerber belonged to, among other groups, the Philadelphia Water Color Club, the Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Philadelphia Sketch Club, and the Plastic Club. He worked for 18 years as a graphic designer at Triangle Publications in Philadelphia. Guinn said Mr. Gerber lived alone in North Philadelphia after his brother died years ago. His house was filled with his art, Guinn said, and every room was dedicated to a different medium. There was a room for painting, a room for drawing, one for pastels, for washes, and ceramics, Guinn said. He was a great printmaker, and he even had a press in his basement. He was so dedicated, Roschen said. His whole well-being was doing art. Mr. Gerber left no survivors. A memorial service is to be held later. 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. Its no secret that colleges and universities across the nation and the world are struggling financially, and that these problems have deepened with the pandemic. So it is incredibly important, in these times, that we get a little help from our friends. At Westfield State, we recently announced the largest private donation in the universitys 181-year history a planned gift with an estimated value of $3.5 million from the estate of former student Paul W. Dower. The gift will provide game-changing scholarships for students most in need, helping them achieve their dreams of a college degree. As an endowment, Dowers generosity will provide meaningful financial assistance for generations to come. Gifts like the one received from Dower further the momentum of major gifts at Westfield State. His donation follows an anonymous gift of $1.1 million to the university in 2017, which enabled the purchase of 20 Steinway & Sons instruments. That purchase earned Westfield State distinction as the first and still only public university in New England to earn the All-Steinway School distinction, the piano industrys gold standard. Private institutions attract much of the limelight in Massachusetts competitive higher education landscape, but public institutions educate the majority of the states workforce. Ninety-one percent of Westfield State Universitys first-year students come from the commonwealth of Massachusetts. And 85% of 2019 post graduate survey respondents reporting employment indicate working in Massachusetts. Locally, our alumni impact is even more pronounced. Although we recruit 40% of our students from eastern Massachusetts, more than half of our 40,000 alumni reside in Western Massachusetts. In addition to the abundance of business owners, teachers, health care providers, police officers, and other professionals, our graduates have become leaders. Local mayors include Springfields Domenic Sarno, West Springfields William Reichelt and Westfields Don Humason. Others include state Rep. Brian Ashe, Springfield Public Schools assistant superintendent Lydia Martinez-Alvarez, the director of Gov. Bakers Western Massachusetts office, Jose Delgado, and the president of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Jamie Birge, to recognize a few. Donations to public institutions have a profound effect and are far more influential in comparison to private schools due to the disparities of student financial need and the number of people they serve. Public post-secondary institutions educate our citizenry. An investment in public higher education is an investment in the livelihood of the Bay State. What I hope will happen in the near future is that more hard-working individuals, especially those who have benefited from a public education, will pay it forward by financially supporting these schools. Its a significant way we can say thank you for the opportunities we have enjoyed and support the future of our state and country. Roy H. Saigo is interim president of Westfield State University. To learn more about Westfield State and its programs, go online to westfield.ma.edu. The on Thursday rejected the bail pleas of stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui and another accused Nalin Yadav in a case of allegedly passing indecent remarks against Hindu deities. Justice Rohit Arya of the Indore bench of the on Monday had reserved the order on their bail pleas. In its order passed on Thursday, the single judge bench while dismissing the bail plea said the court refrains from commenting upon the contentions of the parties touching on merits, but based on the material seized, the statement of the witnesses and considering that the investigation is in progress, no case is made out for grant of bail. "The observations, if any made in the order on facts are only for the purpose of deciding these bail applications and shall have no bearing on pending trial, the order said. "Before parting with the case, it is considered apposite to observe that our country is a beautiful country and sets an example of coexistence amid diversities; be it religion, language, culture, geographical locations, etc. to the world at large," it added. Police had arrested Faruqui, who hails from Gujarat, and four others on January 1 following a complaint by a BJP MLA's son that objectionable remarks were made by him and others about Hindu deities during a comedy show at a caf in Indore. (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.) SINGAPORE: COVID-19 vaccination programmes in China and India will stretch until late 2022 due to the sheer size of their population, and more than 85 poor countries will not have widespread access to vaccines before 2023, a study showed on Wednesday. While rapid development of vaccines has raised hopes for an end to the year-long pandemic, concerns over unequal distribution have also mounted due to production problems and large bilateral deals between wealthy countries and drug makers. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the United States aims to secure an additional 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech and Moderna Inc by summer. In Europe, the European Commission is setting up a proposal to restrict COVID-19 vaccine exports amid frustration over delays in deliveries of AstraZeneca's vaccine and other supply problems. "Most developing countries will not have widespread access to the shots before 2023 at the earliest," Agathe Demarais, director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, the research division of the Economist Group, said in its study. "Some of these countriesparticularly poorer ones with a young demographic profilemay well lose the motivation to distribute vaccines, especially if the disease has spread widely or if the associated costs prove too high." Most countries in Africa are unlikely to get widespread vaccination coverage until early 2023, while many Asian countries will have broad access to vaccines by late 2022. The report said vaccine deliveries to poor countries by global vaccine sharing scheme COVAX, backed by the World Health Organization, may be slow due to delays in delivery to wealthy nations first and poor infrastructure in the developing world. COVAX said 1.8 billion doses would be supplied to 92 poorer countries in 2021 and that would correspond to approximately 27% coverage of populations in those countries. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. By Brad Polumbo The January 6 attack on the US Capitol shocked the nation. Now, as so often occurs in the wake of tragedy, some Washington politicians are using the opportunity to push for an expansion of their powerhoping Americans are too shell-shocked to object. A bipartisan group in Congress has introduced the so-called Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act Of 2021. It would expand the surveillance and police powers of the national security state in the name of combatting dangerous extremism. America must be vigilant to combat those radicalized to violence, and the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act gives our government the tools to identify, monitor and thwart their illegal activities, Congressman Brad Schneider, one of the bills lead sponsors, said. Combatting the threat of domestic terrorism and white supremacy is not a Democratic or Republican issue, not left versus right or urban versus rural. Domestic Terrorism is an American issue, a serious threat that we can and must address together. The Bill Is Drawing Backlash We all surely agree that true domestic terrorism is reprehensible. But many progressive lawmakers are speaking out against the hasty push to expand government power and warning of the threat it poses to civil liberties. They warn these powers will undoubtedly be used against many more people and disfavored groups than just violent radicals like those who attacked the Capitol. Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a progressive Democrat, called this push so dangerous in a Fox News interview. We dont have to guess about where this goes or where it ends, Gabbard argues, When you have people like former CIA Director John Brennan openly talking about how hes spoken with appointees and nominees in the Biden administration who are already starting to look across our country for these types of movements that in his words make up this unholy alliance of religious extremists, racists, bigots even libertarians. .@joebiden Your leadership is needed now to denounce those like John Brennan & Rep Schiff who are advocating for targeting half the country as potential domestic terrorists. Truly unite the American people around our Constitution & the rights that are endowed to us by our Creator pic.twitter.com/OpemBm4biS Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) January 24, 2021 .@JohnBrennan: Biden intel community are moving in laser-like fashion to try to uncover as much as they can about the pro-Trump insurgency that harbors religious extremists, authoritarians, fascists, bigots, racists, nativists, even libertarians pic.twitter.com/SjVXWhPhR8 Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 20, 2021 So, when you look at their process as theyre building this profile of a potential extremist, what are we talking about? she asked. Are we talking about evangelical Christians? Somebody who is pro-life? Libertarians? People who attended a Trump rally? [This would] lead to a very dangerous undermining of our civil liberties and a targeting of almost half the country, Gabbard concluded. Join the Activist Post Community at Patreon for just $1 per month. The concern is that government powers authorized ostensibly for use against domestic terrorists would wind up being wielded against much broader swaths of society. A letter signed by 10 progressive House Democrats, including Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Ro Khanna, calls on leadership to reject reactionary demands to further erode the rights and liberties of the American people. Im leading the call for national security powers to not be expanded in light of the attack on our nations Capitol that occurred two weeks ago, as such measures often lead to the erosion of Americans civil liberties. pic.twitter.com/K6IHTPQzne Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) January 19, 2021 History is littered with examples of initiatives sold as being necessary to fight extremism that quickly devolve into tools used for the mass violation of the human and civil rights of the American people, the letter warns. Why Progressive Critics Are Right to Oppose New Domestic Terrorism Powers There is simply no need to expand the governments police powers. According to New York Universitys law school, existing statutes have long provided substantial authority for the federal government to investigate and prosecute acts of domestic terrorism. Indeed, at least 150 people have been charged with crimes related to the attack on the Capitol. The government already has vast powers to surveil, pursue, and prosecute Americans who commit crimes or plot violence. After all, law enforcement already knew from intelligence that the planned demonstration at the Capitol could turn violent. Their failure to adequately prepare for it was not due to a lack of information or authority. Some might wonder, well, how could it hurt to give them more tools? Better safe than sorry, right? This is an understandable impulse but deeply naive as a permanent conclusion. Theres good reason to think that domestic terrorism government powers would wind up targeting many Americansbecause weve seen the same dynamic play out before, time and time again. Passed in the wake of the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Patriot Act gave the federal government enormous surveillance powers. For example, it authorized sneak and peek searches, allowing government officials to search someones home or office, take pictures, and even sometimes confiscate property, yet only inform them after-the-fact. According to the ACLU, 76 percent of sneak-and-peak searches have occurred in drug enforcement cases, with less than 1 percent actually happening in terrorism-related-cases. The Patriot Act also created a new pathway for FBI agents to access Americans personal information, such as phone records, computer records, credit history, and banking information. Per the ACLU, of the 192,500 such records examinations the FBI made from 2003 to 2006, only one led to a terrorism conviction. (And the ACLU says that conviction would have been obtained without Patriot Act.) All of this doesnt even touch on the way post-Patriot-Act mass surveillance caught up millions of innocent Americans, as exposed by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. Theres plenty of precedent that suggests these abuses can be explicitly political, too. Government agenciesincluding the FBI and the Department of Defensehave conducted their own spying on innocent and law-abiding Americans, the ACLU reports. Through the Freedom of Information Act, the ACLU learned the FBI had been consistently monitoring peaceful groups such Quakers, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Greenpeace, the Arab American Anti-Defamation Committee and, indeed, the ACLU itself.\We might give the government vast new powers to fight domestic terrorism. But its inevitable that these same powers will eventually be used against millions of Americans who have nothing to do with such extremism. The Big Picture: We Must Resist Rushing Through Bad Ideas Amid Emergencies Theres a lesson here that extends beyond the specific debate over surveillance powers and the War on Terror. In times of crisis and emergency, enterprising politicians will always seek to exploit the situation to expand their own power. Too often, scared citizens go along with these power grabs. This is the danger economist Robert Higgs identified in his seminal work Crisis and Leviathan as the Ratchet Effect. Higgs showed how throughout history, crises have been used to excuse government power grabs. After each crisis, the government lets go of some of the power, but never all of it. As a result, the federal governments power (the Leviathan) has ratcheted up, crisis after crisis, throughout the last hundred years. Progressives, conservatives, and libertarians alike must stand firm against the latest push to infringe on civil liberties in the name of combating domestic terror. Otherwise, sweeping powers granted amid crisis will undoubtedly be used against millions of Americans who did nothing wrong on January 6. Source: FEE.org Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a libertarian-conservative journalist and Opinion Editor at the Foundation for Economic Education. 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. We are deploying these forces in support of civilian law enforcement based on threat-levels against the U.S. Capitol, said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, commander of the Illinois National Guard, said in a statement. We have asked a lot of them in the last year and each time these men and women have answered the call and upheld their oath to defend and support the U.S. Constitution. People hold a campaign in Pyongyang, North Korea, to uphold the decisions made at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, Jan. 20. / Yonhap By Do Je-hae The arrival in South Korea of a former acting ambassador at the North Korean Embassy in Kuwait just over a year ago has renewed attention to a series of defections to the South by high-level diplomats under Kim Jong-un's rule. Some South Korean media reports said that Ryu Hyun-woo, who led the North Korean mission in Kuwait since the 2017 expulsion of former Ambassador So Chang-sik, arrived in the South in September 2019 and has settled here. The authorities have yet to confirm these reports, although Ryu's arrival was relayed to the media by other former North Korean diplomats who defected, such as Rep. Tae Yong-ho, a former minister at the North Korean Embassy in the U.K. and now representative of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). Ryu's case is the most recent in a series of high-profile defections, following Jo Song-gil, a former acting North Korean ambassador to Italy, who entered South Korea in July 2019 after vanishing from the embassy. Tae said there were other cases that have not been reported by the media. Ryu told a local media outlet that he decided to defect because as a parent, he wanted to give his children a better future. The motives behind North Korean diplomats' decisions to defect have raised curiosity, because they are thought to enjoy privileges that come with their job status, unlike regular North Koreans. Experts say there are multiple reasons why they give up such privileges and decide to move to South Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the North Korean Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, Feb. 27, 2019 during his visit to the country for the second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Yonhap First is the prospect of living in South Korea, which is far better than what they could expect after returning to North Korea following their diplomatic assignments abroad, according to Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector who until recently worked as a reporter for the Daily NK, an internet news outlet specializing in North Korea. "The defections of high-level diplomats should be perceived differently from the defections of regular North Koreans who have no overseas experience or exposure to capitalism. Unless they are mentally armed with a devotion to North Korea and wish to return there, many of them are bound to want to enjoy capitalist culture," Kang told The Korea Times. She has lived here for the last 10 years and now serves as CEO of NKID, a research and consulting firm on the North Korean economy. "North Korean foreign affairs officials are well aware of the cases of diplomats who have settled in South Korea and they know South Korea very well. What they are most interested in is how people like them end up in South Korea and as they can use the internet freely when they work overseas, they will most certainly look up cases of Tae and others. When they return to North Korea, they will just be part of their organization and serve as the head of some department. But from previous cases, they have seen that people in their position who have defected to South Korea are treated like heroes. So they seem to believe that they will have more opportunities in South Korea rather than in North Korea," Kang said. Another reason is the financial problems faced by diplomats due to international sanctions. "Without a doubt there are financial considerations. North Korean embassies are often involved in illegal means of making money for the regime back home, and it may be difficult for high-level diplomats to carry out the demands of their superiors in Pyongyang while under the scrutiny of the nations where they are working," Donald Kirk, a columnist on Korean Peninsula affairs, told The Korea Times. "In fact, they also may have trouble just getting enough funds to support their embassies, including themselves, their families and their staff. They may have a certain amount that somehow they must collect, whether through currency or drug or just cigarette smuggling, etc., and the sanctions imposed against North Korea may make these illicit activities all the more difficult." A guard inspects the North Korean Embassy in Hanoi ahead of the Kim-Trump summit in Singapore in February 2019. Some North Korean diplomats have been defecting to South Korea despite the privileges of their job. AFP-Yonhap TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai taken off air for two weeks: Reports India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 28: Rajdeep Sardesai, senior news anchor and consulting editor of India Today, has been taken off the air for two weeks for repeated violation of social media guidelines laid down by the group, suggests reports. According to reports, Sardesai on January 26, had tweeted, "One person, 45-year-old Navneet, was killed allegedly in police firing at ITO. Farmers tell me: the 'sacrifice' will not go in vain," on January 26. The tweets were later deleted by him. So far, Sardesai has not commented on the issue. Farm law protests: 16 opposition parties to boycott presidents budget address on Friday However, the Delhi Police was quick to issue a rebuttal and released a video showing the farmer overspeeding the tractor, running it over the barricades and the tractor finally turning turtle. The farmers draped the body in the tricolour and kept it at the ITO crossing, not allowing the police to send it for post-mortem. The farmers also lashed out at the mediapersons covering the incident. Sardesai tweeted the video, adding that the police showed "great restraint" with "no evidence of bullets fired". While the farm protestors claim that the deceased Navneet Singh was shot at by Delhi police while on a tractor, this video clearly shows that the tractor overturned while trying to break the police barricades. The farm protestors allegations dont stand. Post mortem awaited. pic.twitter.com/JnuU05psgR Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 26, 2021 Protesting farmers clashed with police at several places in the national capital and entered the iconic Red Fort and ITO in the heart of the city on Tuesday after hundreds of them deviated from pre-decided routes, prompting security personnel to resort to lathicharge and tear gas. Chaotic scenes were witnessed at ITO, where hundreds of protesters could be seen chasing police personnel with sticks and ramming their tractors into the buses parked by police. The Delhi Police claimed that more than 300 police personnel were injured following the incident. The police later booked at least 37 farmer leaders in an FIR in connection with the violence during the tractor parade, as two farmers' unions reportedly withdrew from the agitation because of the events that unfolded on Republic Day. Two days after the events of Republic Day that saw the farmers' tractor rally against Centre's farm laws turn violent, tensions are still brewing high in Delhi. As numbers have dwindled at protest sites across borders adjoining Delhi, the Ghaziabad and Uttar Pradesh government have asked farmers to vacate the areas. While the Ghaziabad administration has given an ultimatum to protesting farmers to vacate UP Gate by Thursday midnight, failing which they would be removed, the UP government has ordered all its DMs and SSPs to ensure the end of all farmers protests in the state. "Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protestors camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them," said a district official. The central government has also extended the deployment period of four companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) till February 4 to maintain law and order situation in Ghaziabad in view of the protests. Their deployment was till January 28. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said the protesting farmers will not move from Ghazipur site. We will not move from here. We will commit suicide but wont end protest until the farm bills are repealed, he said, adding that the administration had removed basic facilities including water and electricity supply. "We'll get water from our villages." But his brother Naresh Tikait, who is President of the same union, said that the over two-month-long farmers' agitation will end on Thursday. A confrontation was building up at the UP Gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi with heavy security deployed while frequent power cuts were witnessed in the evening at the protest site, where BKU members, led by Rakesh Tikait, have stayed put since November 28. Here's what the situation looks like for now: Farmer Unions Meet Tomar Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) and BKU (Ekta) met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday. They said they were also hurt by the Red Fort incident, adding the government had assured them it would continue with commitments made during talks with farmers. Crowds Thinned, Some Services Stopped The crowd at protest sites at Singhu and Tikri borders was visibly thin on Thursday. But farmer unions said it was because the protesters, who had come to the national capital to take part in the January 26 march, have returned home. Additional police personnel were deployed at the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders -- the three main sites where farmers have been protesting -- as a preventive measure. The Singhu border, one of the major protest sites that has been home to thousands of farmers for over two months, was noticeably less populated on Thursday than what it used to be before the Republic day, or even before that. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Urgrahan said there were many people who had come to Delhi to participate in the tractor parade and now they have left for their home. That's why the site appears to be less crowded. In Rewari, Locals Ask Protesters to Vacate Site A panchayat (meeting) of at least 15 villages in Haryana's Rewari district on Wednesday asked farmers camping at Delhi-Jaipur National Highway to vacate the road within 24 hours. Following the ultimatum, police said farmers staying put near the Masani barrage cut in Rewari on the Jaipur-Delhi highway since January 3 vacated the site by Wednesday evening. "The protesters have vacated the Masani cut protest site and some of them have moved to Tikri, while some have gone to Jai Singhpura Khera village (in Rajasthan on Haryana-Rajasthan border). Many others have returned home, Rewari's Superintendent of Police," Abhishek Jorwal said. Special Cell to Investigate Events Delhi Police's Special Cell will investigate the "conspiracy" and "criminal designs" behind the violence during the farmers' tractor parade on January 26, officials said on Thursday. The Delhi Police claimed there was a "pre-conceived" and "well coordinated" plan to break the agreement arrived at with farmer leaders to bring international embarrassment for the government on Republic Day. "The Special Cell is investigating the conspiracy and criminal designs behind these unfortunate events of January 26. A preliminary assessment suggests there was a pre-conceived and well coordinated plan to break the agreement reached between Delhi Police and the leaders of farmers organisations, to indulge in violent confrontation with the security forces, to breach the sanctity of iconic and historical structures and monuments and to create an international embarrassment for the government on the occasion of the Republic Day," the police said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) The Minister of State-designate for Works and Housing, Ms Freda Prempeh, yesterday expressed appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for giving her the opportunity to serve in his government in the first and second terms. She assured the President she would work hard to help address the deficit in the nations housing sector and justify the confidence the President and the good people of Ghana had reposed in her. Key area Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Tano North Municipality in the Ahafo Region, Ms Prempeh, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North, noted that the Works and Housing sector was a key area President Akufo-Addo had prioritised in his last term of office. As a government, we will focus on affordable housing and I believe we can do this perfectly when we work towards reducing the cost of construction to make housing affordable,'' she said. That, she explained, called for the establishment of a National Housing Fund and National Housing Authority that would promote and push the use of local materials for building and construction. Public Works Department Ms Prempeh was unhappy that currently the nations housing deficits hovered around 1.7 million and underlined the importance to push for the restructuring of the Public Works Department (PWD) to make it attractive and more efficient. She indicated the entire people of the Ahafo Region would forever be grateful to President Akufo-Addo for the level of development brought to the area, saying the creation of the Ahafo Region alone demonstrated the will of the President to develop Ahafo. She emphasised that without the total support of Ghanaians, the government would be unable to facilitate accelerated national development and called on the populace to support the President and his appointees to push the Better Ghana Agenda and the Ghana Beyond Aid. Ms Prempeh commended the good people of Ghana for re-electing President Akufo-Addo in the just-ended election and assured the government would strengthen its flagship social and poverty reduction intervention programmes to benefit the masses and alleviate the plight of the people. Background President Akufo-Addo appointed Mrs Prempeh as the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing and later in a reshuffle, moved her to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as a deputy, a position she has held till now. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 07:51:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Argentine President Alberto Fernandez on Wednesday called for Latin American unity to tackle the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic. "The pandemic is much more than a disease that has claimed lives. The pandemic has exposed the inadequacy of a system," Fernandez said in an address during a visit to the headquarters of the Santiago, Chile-based Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Fernandez said, "I'm not talking about the insufficiency of capitalism, but about recreating a more humanitarian capitalism, because this capitalism of financial derivatives, where fortunes are made in minutes simply by betting on a bond or a share -- the truth is that it makes many rich, but impedes millions of human beings around the world." The pandemic has shown "economic foundations were not solid, social foundations were weak. Injustice existed and it was revealed that inequality was a problem," said Fernandez. "To overcome, the unity of the continent is central. Governing Argentina is no easy task, but in a globalized world, where the need for multilateralism is becoming increasingly clear, we need to be a united continent to face the challenge that is coming," urged the president. As of Tuesday, Argentina registered 1,885,210 cases of COVID-19 infection and 47,253 deaths from the disease. Enditem An aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe says the failure on the part of the lawyers of the petitioner to file the witness statement as demanded by the Court was not an act of disrespect to the judges of the Supreme Court. According to him, the lawyers of former President John Mahama gave reasons for not filing their witness statement as they have already filed for stay for proceeding, making it impossible to take a further step. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe was of the view that no lawyer can set out his mind to go to the Supreme Court to disobey the judges as lawyers know the Supreme Court to be the highest court of the land. As lawyers, the Supreme Court is the highest court of the land and so no Lawyer can say that he is going to disobey the Supreme Court. We gave a reason that it is because of the stay for proceeding that we have filed; we did not want to take a further step and that is why we did not file our witness statement, he explained. He, however, indicated that in view of the warning by the Supreme Court, the lawyers of the Petitioner have been given up to the close of Wednesday, 27th January 2021 to file all the processes that they need to file. The Supreme Court made it clear to us that the position we canvass, they disagree with us and for that matter, they gave us by close of Wednesday, 27th January 2021 to file so we come back to the court tomorrow, he hinted. Watch video below Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On January 26, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal rejected a complaint of British American Tobacco Sales and Marketing Ukraine (BAT) against the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) on a fine of UAH 80 million, the company said on Wednesday. "We will file a cassation appeal [...] We are considering the possibility of applying to international arbitration to protect our rights and legitimate interests as an investor under the agreement between the government of Ukraine and the government of Great Britain on the promotion and mutual protection of investments," the company told Interfax- Ukraine. In a press release, the company said the court did not properly examine all the evidence in the case, did not give a proper legal assessment of the facts and norms of the applicable law. "Such decisions undermine any plans for investment in the Ukrainian economy and cause unjustified damage to our reputation as a reliable corporate citizen," the company said in the press release. The company said the imposed fine has already been paid. "We emphasize that the payment of the fine does not mean that we recognize the conclusions of the Antimonopoly Committee and the decisions of the courts of two instances. The payment of the fine was carried out solely to avoid the accrual of penalties," the company told Interfax-Ukraine. Coronavirus cases in England have fallen 17 per cent in a week amid brutal lockdown restrictions, official figures reveal. Test and Trace said 274,898 people tested positive for the virus in the week to January 20, the lowest number since before Christmas and the second week in a row a dip has been recorded. It is another glimmer of hope that measures are turning the tide on the second wave after separate statistics from a Government-commissioned study also showed cases were dipping in England - although scientists insisted the drop was 'shallow'. And Department of Health figures are indicating the number of Britons testing positive for the virus every day is falling - with yesterday's figures 88 per cent below the levels two weeks ago. Experts say lockdown is reducing transmission of the virus, although some worry this isn't happening fast enough to relieve pressure on over-stretched hospitals. Test and Trace - run by the Department of Health and private contracters - has been dogged by allegations it is too slow to reach positive cases and had failed to plan ahead for spiking numbers of infections in September when schools returned. The above graph shows the number of people testing positive for the virus. The dark blue bar shows those who tested positive under pillar 2 - tests carried out in the community - and the light blue represents those who tested positive under pillar 1 - swabs in hospitals This shows the number of people who were transferred to the contact tracing system to be told to self-isolate (dark blue line) and the number who were actually contacted (light blue line) This graph shows the proportion of close contacts of positive cases who were asked to quarantine within 24 hours of the case being identified. It is essential to get contacts to quarantine quickly to stop them inadvertently spreading the virus NEXT PANDEMIC IS A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF, SAYS SCIENTIST A leading British scientist has suggested another pandemic-causing 'Disease X' could be around the corner - and it is a matter of 'when, not if'. Professor Mark Woolhouse added that it is difficult to tell when such a disease may emerge, and the precise mechanism of how it comes out is always unpredictable. The expert in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh said that pandemic flu is at the top of the list for outbreaks to be concerned about, but he added that there is a whole range of other viruses to be aware of. Mr Woolhouse told how he and some colleagues got the World Health Organisation to add something called Disease X to its list of priority diseases four years ago. He said: 'We thought that the next emerging pandemic might be a virus that we don't even know about yet quite frankly we thought it was the most likely scenario.' Mr Woolhouse added that in a meeting the following year experts considered what the disease might be, and one possibility they came up with was a novel coronavirus related to Mers or Sars. Advertisement The figures published today show almost 56,000 fewer Britons tested positive for the virus in the third week of January than the week before. There were 330,871 positive swabs in this week, which was 57,000 people fewer than the seven-day spell before when 388,037 people tested positive - the peak of the second wave. Test and Trace figures only pick up symptomatic cases - when someone gets a swab after suffering a high temperature, new continuous cough or loss of taste and smell. But they leave out those that are infected but are not experiencing any symptoms of the virus. The Health Minister Lord Bethell today warned one in three people who are infected with the virus do not suffer symptoms, 'meaning you can infect others unknowingly'. 'It is therefore crucial that we continue to follow public health guidance, and all play our part by following the rules and reducing our social contact to slow the spread of the virus,' he said. The figures also showed nine in ten people who go for tests are now receiving their results within 24 hours, in a boost to the system. Test and Trace bosses added they managed to reach 85.9 per cent of all those who tested positive for the virus in the week to January 20. And told 93.2 per cent of their close contacts to isolate, meaning fewer people were walking the high street after being exposed to someone who had tested positive. There are more than 800 test sites now in operation across the UK, with a median distance of just 2.1 miles from someone's home to a site. It comes after the REACT-1 study admitted today that Covid-19 cases did start falling in the third week of lockdown, but said this was a 'mixed' picture across the country leaving many hospitals still under pressure. Professor Paul Elliot, the director of the Imperial College London study, said infections rose slightly in the East Midlands over the first three weeks of the national shutdown and flattened in the West Midlands and the North. 'I think its difficult to know (why this is happening),' he said. 'Certainly compared to the first lockdown, we know from mobility data that there is more activity happening generally, more people are going to work, the rules around the schools are slightly different to last time. 'But also, you know, it really behoves us all to pay attention to the public health message. We know how the virus is transmitted through social contact, so the social distancing, face coverings and hand washing are extremely important.' The study used random swabbing of 167,000 people in England to indicate about 1.57 per cent had the virus over the first three weeks of lockdown - the equivalent of almost 880,000 residents. They also estimated the national R rate is 0.98, below the critical threshold of one, suggesting the second wave is receding as fewer people are catching the virus each week, but the decline is moving slowly. Britain yesterday recorded another 25,308 coronavirus infections as the second wave continues to run out of steam during the third national lockdown but it was the second deadliest day of the pandemic. Department of Health statistics show the number of new cases is 35 per cent below last Wednesday, when 38,905 were recorded. It also marks an 88 per cent fall on the 47,525 infections announced two weeks ago. Indias ambassador to Russia has confirmed that he has received the first dose of the Sputnik vaccine for COVID-19. Days after getting the shot, Ambassador Bala Venkatesh Varma said he felt fine so far. Along with him, many other embassy staff were also administered the Sputnik V and more are to follow suit. I am very happy to tell you that I have already taken the first shot of the Sputnik V vaccine, last week. I feel very well, there are no side effects. Many of my colleagues also have taken the vaccine and many are going to do so, Varma was quoted as saying by Russian news agency TASS on Monday. Earlier this month, Italian Ambassador to Russia Pasquale Terracciano also took the Sputnik V jab and said that she did not suffer from any side-effects. The report added that WHO representative to Russia, Melita Vujnovic, is also planning to get inoculated by Sputnik V. In yet another milestone, Sputnik V was approved for use by the Iranian government. The announcement was made by the countrys foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Tuesday. This comes after the government banned the use of vaccines made by the United States and Britain, citing a lack of trust. Developed by the Russian Health Ministrys Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Sputnik V, a vector vaccine based on the human adenovirus, was registered in August last year. In India, the vaccine is undergoing the Phase III clinical trial with as many as 40,000 participants. It is being developed through a collaboration between the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and domestic pharma major Dr Reddys Laboratories. The Phase III trial is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. Indias Hetero Biopharma has also partnered with RDIF to make over 100 million doses of the vaccine. RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev has said that about 300 million doses of the vaccine will be produced in India in 2021. Sputnik V has reportedly shown the efficacy of 91.4 percent on day 28 of getting the first shot, which goes as high as 95 percent after 42 days. One of the world's most active volcanoes, Indonesia's Mount Merapi, erupted Wednesday, belching out huge clouds of smoke and ash that billowed down the sides of its rumbling crater. The volcano, near Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta, shot hot ash into the air around three dozen times throughout the day. Some of it travelled as far as three kilometres (two miles) away from its peak, Indonesia's geological agency said. Authorities told residents to stay outside a five-kilometre no-go zone, warning about possible lava flows. Fiery red lava has been seen flowing down the volcano in recent days, but authorities have kept its alert status at the second-highest level. Mount Merapi's last major eruption in 2010 killed more than 300 people, and forced the evacuation of around 280,000 residents from surrounding areas. That was its most powerful eruption since 1930, which killed around 1,300 people, while another explosion in 1994 took about 60 lives. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a vast zone of geological instability where the collision of tectonic plates causes frequent quakes and major volcanic activity. The Southeast Asian archipelago nation has nearly 130 active volcanoes. "The Postal Service is honored to issue the August Wilson Forever stamp," said dedicating official Joshua Colin, vice president, Delivery Operations, U.S. Postal Service. "Wilson is hailed as a trailblazer who brought fresh perspectives and previously unheard voices to the stage." Colin was joined for the ceremony by Constanza Romero, trustee of the August Wilson Trust and widow of August Wilson; Sakina Ansari, daughter of August Wilson; Phylicia Rashad, actor, director; and Stephen McKinley Henderson, actor and associate artistic director for the audio recordings of August Wilson's American Century Cycle. The virtual ceremony also included photos from the August Wilson Archive courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh and a video tribute featuring actor Viola Davis. The ceremony can be viewed on the Postal Service Facebook and Twitter pages. "August Wilson was a literary master. He understood the inherent power of language," said Rashad. "I am overjoyed that the Postal Service has selected this inspired playwright as its 44th honoree in the coveted Black Heritage stamp series." Background One of America's greatest playwrights, Wilson is hailed as a trailblazer for helping to bring nonmusical African American drama to the forefront of American theater. August Wilson was born Frederick August Kittel in Pittsburgh, PA, on April 27, 1945. After dropping out of high school, he became a voracious reader at the local library, served in the Army for a year, and worked a variety of jobs. In 1965, the year he took the surname of his African American mother, he discovered the blues, which inspired a lifelong fascination with the importance of music and oral tradition in African American culture. Energized by the Black Power movement, he helped found a theater company in 1968 in Pittsburgh's Hill District, his childhood neighborhood. In the late 1970s, Wilson moved to St. Paul, MN, where he worked for a science museum, honing his scriptwriting skills by adapting Native American stories into plays for children. Between 1982 and 2005, Wilson focused on writing his acclaimed American Century Cycle. This series of 10 plays includes nine set in Pittsburgh's Hill District, with one play for each decade of the 20th century. Loosely connected through a few characters who appear at different stages of their lives, the American Century Cycle plays have been praised for being emotionally powerful but not sentimental, and for demonstrating Wilson's ear for African American storytelling traditions. All 10 plays have been produced on Broadway, and several have returned to the Broadway stage for critically successful revivals. The only play in the American Century Cycle not set in Pittsburgh, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" chronicles a tense 1927 recording session in Chicago that reveals truths about the exploitation of African American musicians and the tenuous nature of African American success. Noted for its statement about the blues as a way of understanding African American life, the play debuted at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1984; Wilson typically debuted his plays with regional theater companies before honing them for the Broadway stage. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" opened on Broadway later the same year. Several awards and nominations marked the Broadway production as a turning point for Wilson's career, including a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play and a Tony Award nomination for Best Play, and the original Broadway cast recording won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording. The film adaptation of the play was released on Netflix last month. With lyrical language and the emotional power of the blues as staples of his work, Wilson collected innumerable accolades, including seven New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards; a Tony Award for 1987's "Fences"; and two Pulitzer Prizes for "Fences" and 1990's "The Piano Lesson." Art director Ethel Kessler designed this stamp with art by Tim O'Brien. The August Wilson stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. This Forever stamp is always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. A pictorial postmark of the designated first-day-of-issue city, Pittsburgh, PA, is available at usps.com/shopstamps. Postal Products Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. Please Note: For U.S. Postal Service media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube channel, like us on Facebook and enjoy our Postal Posts blog. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. Contact: Roy Betts (C) 202-256-4174 [email protected] Mauresa Pittman (O) 202-268-2220 [email protected] usps.com/news SOURCE U.S. Postal Service Related Links http://www.usps.com Sorry! This content is not available in your region On a private caucus call with Senate Democrats and Brian Deese, the director of Mr. Bidens National Economic Council, Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia pushed for the party to go forward with a sweeping package that included another round of stimulus checks, arguing that the issue helped Democrats win both of the states Senate seats and clinch the majority, according to two people familiar with the comments. Mr. Ossoff declined to comment on the call because it was private. Some moderate lawmakers have also pushed the administration to justify the need for nearly $2 trillion in additional relief, warning that money already approved by Congress in previous rounds of aid including in the $900 billion package passed in December has not yet been spent. Some Democrats also fear Mr. Biden would be forced by parliamentary rules to drop his call for a $15-an-hour minimum wage if the bill circumvented the filibuster via the so-called budget reconciliation process, though it is unclear whether Mr. Biden could get the votes for it even if it were, as some Democrats believe, eligible for inclusion. Mr. Biden has said repeatedly that he will work with Republicans to craft a bill that could earn bipartisan support, and moderate Republicans have warned that cutting their party out of the process would undermine Mr. Bidens calls for unity and jeopardize future attempts at negotiations. But White House officials said on Thursday that Democrats could move quickly without sacrificing bipartisanship. The president wants this to be a bipartisan package, regardless of the mechanisms, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, told reporters. Republicans can still vote for a package, even if it goes through with reconciliation. Mr. Biden recently called two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman of Ohio, who are members of a bipartisan group intent on bridging the gap between the two parties. Ms. Psaki said the president would make more calls to Republicans and Democrats this week. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Thanks to prolific leaker @OnLeaks, we have our first look at Sony's upcoming Xperia 1 III flagship smartphone. It features three rear cameras; one of which is a periscope lens. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor, an all-glass body and a programmable button are also included. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker Some time ago, we got our first glimpse at Sony's upcoming mid-range Xperia 10 III smartphone. Shortly after, Sony launched a ridiculously-priced Xperia Pro that is essentially an Xperia 1 II with a mmWave antenna and an HDMI port. Now, we have our first look at the true Xperia 1 II successor, the Xperia 1 III. Once again, the information comes from renowned leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer aka @OnLeaks via Voice. One can't help but notice the striking resemblance the Sony Xperia 1 III has to its predecessor. Sony is one of the few companies that has refused to cave into the notch/hole-punch display trend, and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. The Sony Xperia 1 III will carry forward its predecessor's legacy with its 6.5-inch OLED HDR 10 4K screen, something that the likes of Samsung still haven't caught up to. An earlier rumor told us that it could be clocked at 120Hz. Moving on to the back of the Sony Xperia 1 III, we get three rear cameras and a ToF sensor. Little is known about the actual camera configuration, though Steve says that one of them is a periscope lens. One can only hope that the upgrades are more significant this time around, as the Sony Xperia 1 II's cameras were only marginally better than that of the Xperia 1. The leak also suggests that the smartphone will be 5G-ready, so we're probably looking at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC under the hood. Both sides of the Sony Xperia 1 III will be protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass. It also gets a dedicated programmable button, something that debuted alongside the Sony Xperia Pro. Lastly, the phone's fingerprint scanner has been baked into the power button. The Sony Xperia 1 III is one of the few flagship devices that still believes in the 3.5mm audio jack, so props to Sony for that. Buy the Sony Xperia Pro on Amazon Three East Jefferson candidates will vie for the Louisiana House of Representatives seat that opened earlier this month when incumbent Republican Charles Henry quit after one year in office. Eddie Connick of Metairie, Raymond Delaney Jr. of Elmwood and Laurie Schlegel of Metairie had signed up for the March 20 special election in the 82nd District by the close of qualifying Wednesday. Connick and Schlegel are Republicans, Delaney a Democrat. None has run for elected office before this. Charles Henry, Jefferson Republican state representative, abruptly resigns seat State Rep. Charles Henry, an Old Jefferson Republican who won election to the House in 2019, abruptly resigned Tuesday, saying he had to shif Early voting will be March 6-13. Connick, cousin of Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr., works for a medical device company but says he is soon to retire. Schlegel, wife of 24th Judicial District Judge Scott Schlegel, is a mental health counselor. Delaney is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Southern University of New Orleans. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The candidates said issues range from crime and law enforcement to the coronavirus pandemic. The winner may serve the roughly three years remaining on Henry's term. Henry resigned Jan. 12, saying his priorities had "shifted" after the birth of a son. This week, the New Orleans law firm Adams and Reese announced Henry had joined the firm as a senior government affairs adviser. The 82nd District covers a broad swath of East Jefferson. It was held by Republican Steve Scalise before he was elected to Congress, then by Henry's brother, Republican Cameron Henry, until he was elected to the state Senate in 2019. Charles Henry won the office in 2019. Elections in Gretna, Westwego and for Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District are also on the March 20 ballot in Jefferson Parish. Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning. Partly cloudy skies late. High 83F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. True to their name, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) seldom receive the attention they warrant. This group of diseasesexternal icon includes lymphatic filariasis (LF, or elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), trachoma (the leading infectious cause of blindness), and Guinea worm disease. In recent years, intensive efforts from CDC and its partners have helped ensure that hundreds of millions of people no longer live at risk for certain NTDs. Forty countries, territories, and areas have achieved World Health Organization (WHO)s elimination targets for at least one disease. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to reverse some of this progress and put millions of people in impoverished areas back at risk for infection. Faced with extraordinary challengesthe need for countries to focus on the COVID-19 response, concerns about COVID-19 risks associated with NTD control activities, and limitations on travelCDC and its partners adapted their work to continue battling NTDs. For World NTD Day 2021, we recognize two innovative, life-changing efforts. The debilitating burden of LF in American Samoa Lymphatic filariasis (LF), which often leads to swollen limbs or genitals, is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. Over 50 million people across 72 countries are afflicted with LF. In addition to causing extreme physical disfigurement, LF results in stigmatization and socio-economic challenges. Affected people frequently cannot work or conduct normal daily activities, crippling both their families and their communities. American Samoa, a tiny chain of islands in the Southern Pacific about the size of Washington D.C. and with a population of just 55,000, is the last remaining American territory with known ongoing LF transmission. In 2016, a survey revealed that the prevalence of LF in American Samoa was more than 6% with sustained, widespread transmission. Virtual trainings lead to successful impact assessment DPDMs Kimberly Won, Health Scientist, and Keri Robinson, Microbiologist, demonstrate the proper technique for fingerstick blood collection during a virtual training for colleagues with the American Samoa Department of Health in September 2020. CDCs Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM) works with partners, particularly the American Samoa Department of Public Health, to carry out LF elimination strategies recommended by WHO. These include distributing preventative medicines to communities through mass drug administration (MDA) and regularly assessing the impact of MDA on disease transmission. CDC and its partners conducted the most recent MDA in American Samoa in fall 2019. Then, early in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic snaked its way around the globe, CDCs experts realized it would be impossible to travel to American Samoa to carry out the planned assessment of the MDAs impact. Without a follow-up impact assessment, it is difficult to know how effective the MDA wasor wasntin preventing LF infections. If you miss an assessment, you delay reaching the endpoint: validation of elimination, says CDC health scientist Kimberly Won. Its crucial to stick to the established timeline. Any deviation from the timeline of planned activities can cause delays in implementation of key program activities, risking falling short of LF elimination targets. As soon as things started shutting down, we began making contingency planseverything from A to Z, says Won. CDCs team eventually decided to train American Samoan public health workers virtually so they could conduct the assessment without in-person technical support. The implementation of the 12 free trade agreements signed off by the EU would increase the value of imports beef into the block by up to 26pc, a new EU analysis has found. The report was commissioned by the EU in the wake of criticism of the Mercosur trade which will grant improved access for South American countries to EU markets. Under both a conservative and ambitious scenario, the report found that EU beef imports would increase by 21pc and 26pc or 512 million and 614 million respectively. Most of the increase in imports derives from Mercosur with imports totaling 422 million. Australia would also gain market access worth between 45 million and 121 million in additional beef exports. In volume, this overall increase in EU beef imports amounts to an additional 85,000t to 100,000t. The EU report estimated the impact of the additional imports would see EU producer prices would fall by about 2.4pc. Beyond the beef sector, the report claimed the EUs policy on trade deals has benefitted its indigenous farming and agri-food sector. It claims that EU policy will result in substantial increases in EU agri-food exports, with more limited increases in imports, creating a positive trade balance overall. The report quotes the Commissions Executive Vice President, Valdis Dombrovskis, as saying that the EU has always stood for open and fair trade which has enormously benefitted our economy, including agricultural producers. The president of ICMSA Pat McCormack rejected the findings highlighting that the number of family farms in the EU has declined and is still declining year on year. "If what he said was true, if EU Trade Policy was benefitting agricultural producers then that would be reflected in the numbers of EU citizens farming or otherwise engaged in primary food production, but those people are still leaving the sector every year. Theyre showing what they think of the EUs attitude to EU farming by leaving the sector. Thats the reality and every scrap of data for 25 years shows that thats the case, said Mr McCormack. EU chair Portugal said recently it would try to conclude a free-trade treaty between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur that was agreed in 2019 after two decades of talks but has still not been finalised. Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said his country, which assumed the EU's six-month rotating presidency on Jan 1, needed to make progress because failure would damage the reputation of the EU, the world's largest trading bloc. "Our credibility is at stake. It is a responsibility of Portugal to try to conclude this process and we assume this obligation," Santos Silva told an online briefing. In a breakthrough against protectionism around the world, the EU agreed in June 2019 to create a free-trade area of 700 million people with South American trade bloc Mercosur, which is made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela and Uruguay. But France and the European Parliament have since led opposition to finalising the details of the treaty, saying Mercosur must do more to meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and that Brazil is failing to combat deforestation in the Amazon. The Brazilian government rejects criticism that it is not doing enough to stop deforestation in the Amazon, protect the environment and prevent climate change. The impasse reflects the complexity of the EU's trade deals, which seek to go beyond market access and trade tariffs to encompass European environmental and foreign policy goals. But Santos Silva also said that France and Ireland should not use the environment to deflect concerns about the scale of future meat imports into the EU, saying that European countries would benefit by being able to export more to Latin America. The election of President Alberto Fernandez in Argentina in August 2019 has also raised doubts about the commitment of Mercosur, the world's fourth-largest trade bloc, to the EU deal. Fernandez has said he wants to renegotiate parts of the agreement. Santos Silva said trade negotiations would not be reopened. Chandigarh, Jan 28 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday hit out at Union minister Prakash Javadekar over his "disgraceful and desperate" attempt to shift blame for the Red Fort violence, which Amarinder claimed had been instigated by supporters and members of the BJP in collusion with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with the Congress nowhere in the picture. "Workers and supporters of BJP and AAP, and not the Congress, have been caught on camera waving the Nishan Sahib at the Red Fort," pointed out the Chief Minister in a strong retaliation to Javadekar's unfounded allegations against the Congress, and his own government in Punjab. Amarinder's comments came even as Delhi Police named Deep Sidhu, a key aide of BJP MP Sunny Deol, as one of the main instigators of the violence, and Amrik Micky, an AAP member, was also spotted at the site. Not a single Congress leader or member was seen at the Red Fort indulging in any kind of lawlessness, Amarinder said, adding that even farmers were not responsible for the January 26 trouble, which was in fact the doing of anti-social elements who had infiltrated the tractor rally. The Centre should also get a free and fair probe conducted into the possible role of any political party, or even a third country as is being alleged by BJP's own leaders, to ensure that the guilty are punished and the genuine farmers are not unnecessarily maligned or harassed, Amarinder said. The Chief Minister also lashed out at Javadekar for accusing Rahul Gandhi of inciting the violence, asking "Did the Congress leader ask anyone to climb Red Fort? He did not. It was BJP and AAP men who did that," he said, adding that Rahul had, in fact, promptly condemned the violence, and made it clear that violence was no solution to the crisis. "These allegations are nothing but a cover-up attempt by the BJP leader for his own party's role in the violence, and in fact for their utter failure to manage the situation, which they had created in the first place with the unilateral implementation of the black farm laws," said Amarinder, trashing Javadekar's charges. "How could I stop peaceful farmers from going to their own national capital to exercise their democratic right of protest," the Chief Minister further said, reacting to the Union minister's statement that the Punjab government failed to stop farmers from joining the tractor rally. Permission for the tractor march was officially given by the Delhi Police and there was no reason for the Punjab government to prevent farmers from joining the rally, said the Chief Minister, adding that if there was a ban on the movement of farmers to the Delhi borders, the BJP-led central government, of which Javadekar is a part, should have directed their own Chief Minister in Haryana to stop them on the way. For over two months, farmers had been peacefully agitating in Punjab without causing any trouble, before camping at the Delhi borders, where also they had been completely peaceful for two months before the events of January 26, the Chief Minister pointed out, adding that pinning the blame for the violence on the Punjab government or on the Congress is clearly a diversionary tactic on the part of the BJP leadership. Amarinder further pointed out that all these months when the farmers were blocking railway tracks in Punjab, he had been reaching out repeatedly to the central leadership, including the Prime Minister and a host of ministers, to intervene and resolve the crisis. "But nobody heeded us, nobody listened to me or to the agitating farmers, fighting for their survival," he added. This insensitivity of the BJP and the central government to the pain and anguish of the farmers, many of whom have lost their lives in their struggle for justice, and it is causing a heavy loss for the nation, said the Chief Minister, urging the Centre to give up its ego and accept the farmers' justified demand for repeal of the farm laws. "If the Centre can put the laws in abeyance for two years, why can't they simply revoke them and bring fresh legislations after due discussions with the farmers and other stakeholders?" he asked. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Weve commented extensively over the last 10 months on the Cantrell administrations up-and-down handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for good reason: Leadership in a time of crisis necessarily comes from the top. Our elected officials, particularly Gov. John Bel Edwards, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and City Council members, sit atop our political pyramid. By and large, they have led us well. But even the best set of rules means nothing without buy-in from citizens. For much of the pandemic, New Orleanians answered the call. Even when City Hall has not evenly or equitably enforced the rules by allowing tourists to run amok, the vast majority of New Orleanians toed the line. With multiple new strains of Covid spreading at the height of Carnival season, this is no time to let our guard down. Too many people have sacrificed too much to throw it all away over a Mardi Gras that wont hold a candle to those of years past, which makes the recent spate of flagrant rule-breaking particularly outrageous. The Krewe of Nyx, which imploded under the weight of its leaderships race-baiting, drew widespread scorn after photos surfaced of the krewes 2021 Mardi Gras ball in Biloxi. While many lampooned the few dozen participants on social media for taking their show of defiance to Mississippi, this was no laughing matter. Each of those unmasked faces represented a danger not only to themselves and their families, but also to our entire city. Any one of them could still trigger a deadly super-spreader event a fact that seemed to be part of Nyxs contrarian fun of flouting the rules. If Nyxs event were the only example, we could write it off as a small group of Covid-denying fools. Unfortunately, the problem is much larger. Monkey Hill Bar recently held its own super-spreader event an egregious example of a bar and its patrons ignoring public safety and common sense. Sadly, they are not alone. In areas that cater to tourists or to younger crowds, more and more bars are bending, breaking or completely ignoring Covid-related occupancy and social-distancing rules. The impulse to gather in celebration is understandable, particularly in New Orleans. We've been cooped up for nearly a year, and theres little chance of a sustained economic rebound anytime soon. But fostering large crowds these days is reckless and selfish. Commentary: Local Covid rules must apply equally to tourists, for everyones safety With the arrival of Carnival season, New Orleanians are coping admirably with the realities of COVID-19. We are determined to celebrate in new Worst of all, the mayor has foolishly welcomed tourists with open arms even as she imposed restrictions on locals. Cantrells mixed message has produced predictable results: businesses and individuals risking it all for a crowded Saturday night out or a goofy selfie to own the libs. How should we expect them to behave come Mardi Gras weekend, when throngs of tourists pack the Quarter and the allure of joining the fun is harder than ever to resist? Were not against Mardi Gras fun, but we urge our fellow citizens to keep their eyes on the prize namely, our city emerging from the pandemic as whole as possible. Keep wearing your masks, practice social distancing, and above all avoid crowds, no matter how much fun you think youre missing. Because Zoom funerals are no fun at all. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In the race against the virus, you might have thought coming up with the vaccine would be the crucial breakthrough. Based on the headlines of late about shortages of the immunizing doses here, there and everywhere, we may need to rethink things. I get that warp speed development involving messenger RNA to deliver salvation in a syringe is light years beyond my elementary school science fair project. But perhaps the even bigger hurdle involves the DNA of supply chains so Pfizer, Moderna et al can keep up production at the pace needed globally. Fortunately, Oklahoma is sitting on a $2-million stockpile of hydroxychloroquine, the malaria treatment a former U.S. president trumpeted as a miracle cure for COVID-19. The headlines today from the Sooner State are all about the 1.2 million hydroxychloroquine pills purchased in the early days of the pandemic that are up for sale. In case you were socially distancing yourself from news from Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt was quick to jump on the hydroxychloroquine bandwagon as a "proactive" move to "protect" Oklahomans. A former state health official later chalked up that purchase on the "fog of war." The fog has since cleared. The US Food and Drug Administration warns hydroxychloroquine is not a safe or effective treatment for COVID-19. And if malaria somehow trumps your worries about the coronavirus, then theres a deal potentially waiting for you in Oklahoma. From my standpoint, there doesnt appear to be any supply chain issues surrounding the stockpile. But see if you can get the Republican governor to sweeten the deal by throwing in a few extra crates of Lysol. Paul Samyn, Winnipeg Free Press editor THE LATEST NUMBERS Note: Manitoba and Canada figures may not match due to differences in data sources. THE LATEST IN MANITOBA Provincial health officials announced 95 new cases of COVID-19 and three more deaths in Manitoba Wednesday. There are 3,456 active cases in Manitoba, with 281 people in hospital, 36 of them in intensive care. The five-day test positivity rate is 9.6 in Manitoba, and 6.1 in Winnipeg. Of the new cases announced Wednesday, 44 are in the Winnipeg health region, three in Southern Health; two in InterlakeEastern; three in Prairie Mountain; and 43 in Northern Health. For the latest information on current public health orders, restrictions, essential items and other guidance, visit the provincial government's website. THE LATEST ELSEWHERE Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured him Wednesday that new export requirements on COVID-19 vaccines won't affect shipments of Canada's vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. On Tuesday, von der Leyen said they were enacting an export transparency mechanism to ensure European countries were made aware of how many doses of vaccines made in Europe were being exported, as the continent is not getting as many doses of vaccines as it had expected. White House coronavirus response co-ordinator Jeff Zients says its essential that Congress pass President Joe Bidens COVID-19 relief bill to keep the momentum on vaccinations and more testing capacity to contain the virus. Zients says the administration is committed to delivering on Bidens goal of 100 million shots in 100 days, and more if doable. But his top aide, Andy Slavitt, also says 500 million shots would be needed to vaccinate all Americans 16 and older. Bidens "American Rescue Plan" has a total price tag of $1.9 trillion, which is making some Republicans in Congress balk. Most of the cost is to shore up the economy. The 27-nation EU is coming under criticism for the slow rollout of its vaccination campaign. The bloc, a collection of many of the richest countries in the world, is not faring well in comparison to countries like Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States. While Israel has given at least one shot of a two-dose vaccine to over 40 per cent of its population and that figure in Britain is 10 per cent, the EU total stands at just over 2 per cent. Bangladesh started vaccinations against coronavirus in the nations capital, with the hope of administering more than 30 million doses over next few months. The campaign started as Bangladesh has received 7 million doses since Thursday from India. Two million doses were gifts from the Indian government while the rest was purchased from the Serum Institute of India. Bangladesh has recorded 532,916 confirmed cases and 8,055 deaths. Moscows mayor lifted some coronavirus restrictions in the Russian capital, citing a downward trend in new infections. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says employers are no longer required to have 30 per cent of staff work from home, although a recommendation to continue doing that remains. Sobyanin has also allowed cafes, restaurants and bars to operate between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. In Moscow, the number of daily new infections dropped to under 2,000 on Wednesday, from roughly 5,000 two weeks ago. China has given more than 22 million coronavirus vaccine shots to date as it carries out a drive ahead of next months Lunar New Year holiday, health authorities said Wednesday. China, which largely stopped the spread of the virus last spring, has seen fresh outbreaks this winter in four northern provinces. About 1,800 new cases have been reported since mid-December, including two deaths. QUOTE, UNQUOTE "The White House respects and will follow the science, and the scientists will speak independently." Andy Slavitt, White House senior adviser on the pandemic, speaks at the launch of new health briefings from the Biden administration LOCAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS COVID-19 BASICS CLEVELAND, Ohio -- U.S. District Judge Dan Polster, who is overseeing one of the nations largest civil cases, will seek senior status, joining a judicial trend that will affect federal courts for decades. Polster, 69, has announced that he will become a senior judge, which means he will continue handling cases but can elect to take fewer of them. It also means that President Joseph Biden will nominate another judge to replace Polster in the Northern District of Ohio. The Biden administration could tap Polsters successor by summer. Polster joins a growing number of federal judges in recent weeks to announce moves to either retire or shift to senior status. That enables Biden to fill federal courts with his appointees. In Maryland, for example, three of the 10 federal district court judges on the bench have announced plans to move to senior status, according to federal records. Had Polster and others decided last year, former President Donald Trump would have had the ability to fill the vacancies with his nominees. Polster said he would continue to oversee the opioid litigation, which involves more than 2,500 federal lawsuits brought by cities, counties and tribal lands involving pharmaceutical companies that manufactured and distributed painkillers. I intend to see it through, Polster said in an interview Wednesday. Its the sensible thing to do. A senior judge continues to serve. He said that he wrote a letter to Biden that stressed nothing is going to change. As for his timing, he said, Each judge makes the decision for himself or herself. Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmonds School of Law, said the decisions are personal and often complicated. There are a lot of explanations, he said. Some judges have said to me, Im not going to let Trump replace me. So, they waited. Tobias said he could understand Polsters decision. Think about his work on the opioid case, Tobias said. Its herculean. Its a huge piece of litigation, and he has been living with it day and night. Lewis Katz, an emeritus professor of law at Case Western Reserve University, said he fears Polsters shift to senior judge, as it means Polster could take on fewer cases. Its a loss to justice, he said. In the Northern District of Ohio, four of the 15 judges -- Patricia Gaughan, Solomon Oliver, James Gwin and John Adams -- are eligible to move to senior status. It remains to be seen whether any of Polsters colleagues expect to make a similar move. Four other judges -- Donald Nugent, James Carr, Jack Zouhary and Christopher Boyko -- already have senior status. The federal judiciary relies on the rule of 80, which means a judge must be 65 years old and have 15 years as a jurist to retire or shift to senior status. Tobias said he expects greater diversity in the choices Biden considers. For too long, longtime prosecutors and lawyers from large firms were considered, Tobias said. There is some pressure on Biden from left-leaning legal groups to appoint lawyers who worked on the other side of the criminal justice system as public defenders and criminal defense attorneys. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, Ohios two members in the U.S. Senate, will submit candidates to the White House in the coming weeks. This is the beauty of senior status, Tobias said. You still have Polster and his experience, and you will get a fresh face on the bench. Its a good thing. Doug Quint and Bryan Petroff have announced that they have pulled the plug on Big Gay Ice Creams Philadelphia outpost their first location outside of New York City because of the pandemic. The soft-serve specialist on South Street just off Broad Street, which debuted in 2015, has not been open since early last year. The men also closed their shop on East Seventh Street in New Yorks East Village, their first location after starting in 2009 with a truck. Quint was a concert bassoonist, and his partner, Petroff, was in corporate human resources. They called it Big Gay Ice Cream until they could figure out a real name. The batteries have gone a bit dim on that street, they wrote about their East Village location. Empty storefronts, the result of both rising rents and the COVID-19 pandemic, have settled in. Many great businesses have closed. It aint what it was. As a seasonal business with no indoor seating we recognize that the location will never truly recover. Therefore, we have decided to call it. They say that they hope to return to a new Philadelphia location. For now, weve put the entire shop in storage, they wrote. Two of their New York locations, on the Upper West Side and West Village, have been reopened. MARTIN COUNTY, Ind (WTHI) - A Martin County, Indiana man is facing child molestation charges. Wednesday, Indiana State Police arrested 24-year-old Ashton Pottorff of Shoals. ISP says they were made aware of child molesting allegations back in December. He's currently in the Martin County Jail. Pamela Anderson has tied the knot with bodyguard Dan Hayhurst after falling in love during the Coronavirus lockdown. According to reports, the two got married in an intimate ceremony on Christmas Eve. Pamela opened up about her love story for the first time during an interview with DailyMail TV. She called their love a 'natural fit' and added, "I'm exactly where I need to be - in the arms of a man who truly loves me. This one year together has felt like seven - like dog years." Pamela who was born in Ladysmith, also tied the knot in a traditional ceremony which was held in the backyard of the sprawling countryside property in Ladysmith, on the east side of Vancouver Island, Canada. Pamela further told the portal, "I was married on the property I bought from my grandparents 25 years ago. This is where my parents were married and they are still together. I feel like I've come full circle. I think this romantic property has a lot of healing energy. I'm at peace here. It's a big property but a few people passing by could see the fairytale gown with the long Princess Diana veil dragging in the mud. Heaven." A friend of Anderson's said the newlyweds are smitten. "Pamela fell in love with the boy next door. This is who she would have ended up with if she never left Vancouver Island. It proves she's the same little girl that might have lived there all along. It's like everything else was just a dream. Pamela and Dan are doing wonderful things together. He is donating his time to build a barn for a local animal sanctuary. They are very involved in helping their community, including helping to find ways to positively support First Nations vulnerable children," said the source. "Dan and Pam have huge hearts. And their small town of Ladysmith has fallen head over heels for this homegrown love story. Dan married the girl of his dreams and is so proud of Pamela's accomplishments. He supports her every move,"a source told DailyMail.com This is the fifth time the Baywatch star has gotten hitched. Anderson was previously married to Tommy Lee, with whom she shares sons Brandon, 23, and Dylan, 22. ALSO READ: Pamela Anderson Didn't Like Priyanka Chopra's Baywatch Film: Let's Just Keep Bad TV As Bad TV ALSO READ: Bigg Boss: From Pamela Anderson, Rashami To Rimi & Sidharth, Here's List Of Highest Paid Contestants The Servant of the People faction will support the exclusion of MP Oleksandr Dubinsky, against whom the U.S. sanctions have been imposed, MP, representative of the President of Ukraine in the Constitutional Court Fedir Venislavsky said. "I believe that the sanctions against Mr. Dubinsky are well-founded and have a sufficient amount of evidence. And our faction is well aware of the consequences this can lead if there is no appropriate reaction. Given this fact, I am sure that there will be a sufficient number of votes in the faction to temporarily expel Oleksandr Dubinsky from the Servant of the People faction. Personally, I will vote for this," Venislavsky said on the Espreso.TV channel. According to him, the party will also support the appointment of Yuriy Vitrenko as Energy Minister: "During the first vote, many MPs did not vote for the appointment of Vitrenko, guided by the arguments that were made public in the media, in particular, about Mr. Vitrenko's awards from Naftogaz [...] At the recent meeting, Mr. Vitrenko was able to convince the MPs. He clearly explained what plan he will adhere to in the field of energy development. This is what increased the support among the deputies of our faction in his favor," he said. -- The goal of this strategic partnership is to develop digital solutions to improve the lives of patients with psoriasis based on cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology and mindfulness BARCELONA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Almirall, S.A. (BME:ALM) , a global biopharmaceutical company based in Barcelona, and Happify Health, a leader in digital therapeutics solutions to improve mental and physical health based in New York, will develop a version of its digital platform specifically for people with psoriasis in Spain, UK, Italy and France to be rolled out this year. It is estimated that 20-30% of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety and depression[1]. Happify Health, through evidence-based and clinically validated platforms, delivers mental health solutions targeted to patients with chronic diseases. The Almirall partnership with Happify Health will focus on a solution called CLARO targeted to addressing the mental health concerns of psoriasis patients. The goal of the CLARO program is to create a solution/service to help psoriasis patients improve their well-being when living with a chronic disease providing a meaningful, dynamic and fun user experience. CLARO will be delivered through the Almirall patient support program. This new partnership demonstrates Almirall's commitment to deliver digital solutions to patients suffering from psoriasis. "We are so pleased to be joining Happify Health on their mission to improve the lives of patients with chronic conditions. This partnership will allow us to provide patients with psoriasis a solution based on a clinically validated positive psychology platform. We selected Happify as our partner as they have already demonstrated a positive impact on the mental health of patients with chronic conditions, including psoriasis, in published research," said Francesca Domenech Wuttke, Chief Digital Officer at Almirall. "Since mental health events act as stressors that can trigger psoriasis flare ups, Happify is excited to work with a European leader like Almirall in this condition to address the mental and physical health symptoms of these patients," said Chris Wasden, Head of Digital Therapeutics at Happify Health. "Our digital therapeutic solution acts as a complement to Almirall's commitment to psoriasis patients to empower people with psoriasis to live full lives through meaningful behavior change. Together, we can help psoriasis patients, one patient at a time, and at scale." References [1] H.L. Richards, D.G. Fortune, C.E. Griffiths, C.J. Main The contribution of perceptions of stigmatisation to disability in patients with psoriasis J Psychosom Res., 50 (2001), pp. 11-15. The prevalence of comorbid depression in patients with psoriasis is estimated at between 20% and 30%, and rates as high as 62% have been reported. E.A. Dowlatshahi, M. Wakkee, L.R. Arends, T. NijstenThe prevalence and odds of depressive symptoms and clinical depression in psoriasis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis J Invest Dermatol., 134 (2014), pp. 1542-1551. M. Esposito, R. Saraceno, A. Giunta, M. Maccarone, S. ChimentiAn Italian study on psoriasis and depression Dermatology., 212 (2006), pp. 123-127. Martin Odegaard has been a Real Madrid player for just over six years, but in that time he has managed to play just 11 first-team matches for the club. The Norwegian's arrival as a 16-year-old was a major coup for Los Blancos, as he chose them over Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, but his rise hasn't been quite as meteoric as expected, despite becoming the youngest-ever player to feature for the first team. This season, everyone expected Odegaard to have a breakout year in Madrid, especially as Zinedine Zidane took the decision that he should form part of his squad rather than spend another year on loan at Real Sociedad, as had been planned. Odegaard's own doubts about cutting his time in San Sebastian short proved well founded, however, as he has featured in just nine games this season. Unable to break through the impenetrable wall of Real Madrid's old guard in midfield, Odegaard is flying the nest for the fourth time as he joins Arsenal on a six-month loan deal. STERLING HEIGHTS, MI -- The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association announced Thursday that Chippewa County will be home to its new command and control center. Its the third major announcement in the last 14 months from the organization, which oversees Michigans aerospace and defense manufacturing community within the global industry. MAMA announced plans for a horizontal launch site at Oscoda-Wurthsmith Airport in February 2020 and a vertical launch site in Marquette in July 2020. Chippewa County Airport, located in Michigans Upper Peninsula, was among four locations across the state considered for the command-and-control center along with KI Sawyer Airport in the U.P. and locations in Traverse City and Dowagiac. Site selection co-led by spaceport consultants BRPH and Kimley-Horn was based on many factors, including community support, constructability, existing communication infrastructure and established workforce and aerospace industry. This is the third and final site in the Michigan Launch Initiative, a public-private partnership organized by MAMA that is expected to bring an estimated 40,000 new jobs and aims to solidify the states place as a premier commercial aerospace destination. RELATED: NASA rockets once flew from launch pad hidden in Michigan wilderness Funding is being secured mostly through private commercial entities, MAMA Executive Director Gavin Brown said during a Thursday press conference. The Michigan Legislature appropriated $2 million to assess the feasibility of developing one or more low-orbit launch sites in the state in June 2019. This will be roughly a multi-hundred million investment into the state of Michigan and its assets, Brown said. The command and control center will support both launch sites and provide classified and unclassified capabilities for the Department of Defense and other interested commercial space organizations. It will manage satellite operations once rockets carrying small and midsized satellites are launched from the horizontal and vertical launch sites into low Earth orbit, which is about 1,200 miles above the Earth. It also will manage research and development for high-speed suborbital flights. The DOD plans to launch 17,000 LEO satellites over the next decade, according to a news release, and MAMA thinks Michigans new launch sites will help meet this demand. MAMA says Northern Michigan north of the Earths 45th parallel is perfectly situated for polar orbit launches and it has ideal infrastructure for logistics and technical support. The Chippewa County location is located strategically between the two launch sites in Oscoda and Marquette. This large and contiguous site in Chippewa has existing facilities that can easily be converted to support the command and control centers mission, Brown said. It also has early radar line of sight tracking for the horizontal and vertical launch sites to support our Michigan Launch Initiative. The Chippewa communitys strong partnerships within the aerospace industry and its established aerospace labor market will allow for immediate support for the center. Upon future determination, a military aspect will be key in the MLI, enabling us to interface with the Department of Defense on projects that utilize satellites and other space assets. Michigans new launch sites and our evolving space ecosystem will help position our state to be a true leader. We are thrilled to welcome Chippewa to the MLI team. MAMA will now turn its attention to working with community, local and state partners on environmental permitting, site design and construction. Brown said Thursday that addressing environmental concerns, particularly with the Marquette site, is an area of focus. Environmental studies on the sites, which are part of the licensing process, have not yet been conducted. Brown said MAMA will begin engaging the studies in Oscoda in the next couple months but it will probably be more than a year until that happens at the Marquette site. Findings from the studies will be available to the public, Brown said. We are extremely pleased with and excited about the selection of Chippewa County for the command and control center location, said Chippewa County Economic Development President Chris Olson. Chippewas proposal provides an ideal balance of industry expertise, local know-how and national security space proficiency necessary for the successful implementation of a premier command and control center. The MLI is working to obtain licensing approvals for the Oscoda horizontal launch site and the Marquette vertical launch site. Operations are expected to begin at the horizontal space launch site in late 2023 or early 2024 and at the vertical space launch site by early 2025. These are exciting times in the space industry, Brown said. The space domain is critical to both our national security and economic viability. Space is a significant growth area for both the DOD and commercial sectors for the foreseeable future. We are honored to be leading this effort. As Britain struggles to make its HS2 train project become a reality, Spain launched a budget bullet train service this week with tickets going for only 5 (4.43) for journeys of over 600km. Thousands of buyers crashed the rail network's website trying to buy tickets for the AVLO, low-cost train which will run between Madrid and Barcelona. Travelling at up to 330km/h, the train will take passengers between Spain's two largest cities, a journey of about 390 miles, or almost the same as between London and Glasgow. While Britain's HS2 high-speed rail project to connect London with northern England and Scotland has been beset by problems because of the pandemic and environmental protests such as the activists under Euston today Spain has expanded its high-speed rail network over the past 20 years. Backed by 50bn (44.26bn) in public investment, the state-run rail operator Renfe extended the network of the AVE Spanish for bird across vast swathes of rural Spain, uniting previously isolated towns and cities. With tickets at affordable prices, these elegant trains which have film shows, a cafe and room to spread your legs, have become a real rival to air travel in a huge country. AVLO, which is the cut-price cousin of the AVE, will mean travellers who climb aboard in Madrid can get out in Barcelona in about three hours. The fastest trains take two and a half hours. The service was launched to rival Ouigo, another cheap high-speed rail service which will come on line this year in Spain, which is backed by French state operator SNCF. After years of enjoying a monopoly in Spain, Renfe faced competition for the first time. Ouigo has promised it will not be like Ryanair and, instead, offer customers comforts like large seats and cafes on trains. In an effort to beat their Spanish rivals, the French operator will sell their first 10,000 return tickets for only 1 (89p) each. Ouigo starts its operation between Madrid and Barcelona on 10 May, with five daily return journeys. We are proud to launch Ouigo in Spain. We have reached two objectives to offer high speed lines with the highest number of travellers possible and with a service which has the lowest carbon footprint possible, said Alain Krakovitch, the director general of Voyages SNCF. The company's basic fare will be 9 each way while children aged between four and 13 will be charged 5 and minors under three can travel for free. The AVLO service, which will operate four daily return journeys per day from 23 June, marked the 80th anniversary of Renfe with the promotional tickets. The AVE has provided cheap tickets for Spaniards to get around the country because of a highly subsidised system thanks to the government and the European Union, said Gines de Rus, a professor of economics at the University of Las Palmas. Britain has a high demand for train travel but the tickets will be costly and it has been hard to build through densely populated areas. The Venice Commission received a request from Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov to provide its opinion on the draft laws concerning the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. The corresponding message is posted on the Commission's website. "By letter dated 26 January 2021 the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Mr Dmytro Razumkov, requested the Venice Commission's opinion on the draft Law 'On Constitutional Procedure' and on the draft Law 'On the Procedure for Consideration of Cases and Execution of Decisions of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine,'" a press release reads. The Commission noted that this request "is a follow-up to the recommendations of the Commission expressed in its two urgent opinions of December 2020 on the legislative situation regarding anti-corruption mechanisms and the reform of the Constitutional Court following judgment no.13-r/2020 of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine of 27 October 2020, requested by the President of Ukraine Mr V. Zelensky." Ltd's ( ) Jon Reynolds discusses with Proactive's Andrew Scott why they're excited about nickel and what's attracted them to Western Australias Fraser Range. He says they've built up an enviable position of 11 tenements in some of the hottest locations and it's borne fruit - firstly with the Nova find in 2012 and more recently for Boadicea with the IGO Ltd ( ) deal. WHAT CHANGES FROM TODAY? Not much for those residing in Ireland, the state will remain in level 5 lockdown until at least March 5. The continuation of the Covid-19 public health measures will see non-essential retail, schools, pubs and construction sites remain closed for the time being as cases of the virus remain high across the community. WHAT ABOUT SCHOOLS? Schools will remain shut for now, however, may open on a phased basis starting next month. CAN PEOPLE STILL TRAVEL TO IRELAND? Yes, however, all visa-free short-term travel from South Africa and all of South America is suspended until at least March 5. All those coming from those locations where new Covid variants have been found will face mandatory quarantine when entering the country for no less than five days. Anyone entering the State from overseas will be subject to mandatory quarantine, in one form or another sometimes at hotels, but more likely at home. This requirement will no longer be advisory and will now be punishable by fines or imprisonment. Gardai will be tasked with policing whether people comply with the quarantine rules. Those arriving without a negative PCR test will be hit with a fine of up to 2,500 or six months in prison, as well as two weeks' mandatory hotel quarantine. Anyone entering the State from overseas will be subject to mandatory quarantine, in one form or another sometimes at hotels, but more likely at home. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin There will also be more gardai at ports and airports and gardai will be able to turn people coming from Northern Ireland back under new laws, but not those living in the Republic. The current 100 fine for breaching travel restrictions is likely to be increased to about 500 for severe breaches of travel restrictions. CAN I STILL TRAVEL WITHIN THE ISLAND? Unless you are leaving home for an essential purpose, you do not have a reason to travel. More garda checkpoints are set to be rolled out in border areas to stop any unessential travel between the Republic and the North. IS THIS PLAN GOING TO WORK? Much of what the Government announced will need primary legislation and new powers to be brought in to make the requirements work. Designating hotels as well as drafting legislation could take a number of weeks, while planes continue to arrive in Ireland from all over the world. Opposition and some within the Cabinet have said that they do not feel the plan goes far enough. New variants are so prevalent in a number of countries that mandatory quarantine for just two areas will not be sufficient to stop the spread of those new variants in the state. Meanwhile, travellers from any country can still enter the Republic from the north of Ireland through ports and airports in Belfast, Derry or Larne, for example, without having to inform the State or quarantine. Despite many requests from the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government has not shared passenger locator forms for those arriving in the state who plan to travel north, citing GDPR issues. WHAT ABOUT VACCINES? The HSE has endeavoured to vaccinate every resident in a nursing home in the state, but this has not happened due to various Covid-19 outbreaks in residential facilities. Health minister Stephen Donnelly did not have the figures of how many residents had not received a vaccine when asked. This week, the HSE plans to give 6,551 vaccines to staff and residents of long-term care facilities. About 47,000 people will get their second vaccination dose this week. This will be both frontline healthcare workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities. If the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is authorised by the European Medicines Agency this week, older people will be vaccinated in the order, beginning at 85 and older, and descending to 80-84, 75-79 and 70-74. The Government has conceded that the State does not have as many vaccines as they want. The delivery to Ireland of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be "at the lower end" of its expectations for February and "considerably lower" than originally stated by the company for March, Mr Donnelly said. Vaccination of over-70s against Covid-19 will start in February despite supply difficulties. Shares in De La Rue rose after the company revealed that profits will be ahead of expectations and it is creating 70 jobs. The banknotes printer said operating profit in the year ending in March is expected to reach between 36 million and 37 million, barring any major Covid-19 developments. This is ahead of average analysts expectations of around 34 million, De La Rue said, and comes amid a three-year, nearly 80 million plan to get the company back on track. Shares leapt by 6.5% a couple of hours after markets opened in London on Thursday. Chief executive Clive Vacher said: I am pleased that we are able to report increased adjusted operating profit expectations for the year, due to positive trading. We remain focused on delivering shareholder value through the successful execution of our turnaround plan. We have announced today a positive trading update and good progress on our polymer substrate expansion strategy #DLAR https://t.co/OOstKlBhvV pic.twitter.com/chXZ73VCIz De La Rue (@DeLaRuePlc) January 28, 2021 The company said it will be spending another 5 million on its strategy to print polymer banknotes, in addition to the 15 million it had already indicated would be invested. Included in this plan was a search for somewhere in the UK to print the notes. On Thursday, De La Rue said it has bought a new building next to its existing site in Westhoughton, near Bolton, in Greater Manchester. The line will be fully operational before the end of this year, and will double polymer production capacity while adding 70 new jobs over the next two-and-a-half years. I am delighted to announce further investment in manufacturing and job creation in the North West of the UK, as we continue to increase our polymer market share globally, Mr Vacher said. It is a fitting endorsement of the technical and operational capabilities of our Westhoughton site that we have made the decision to concentrate our polymer substrate manufacturing into this centre of excellence. Page Content The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission join forces to accelerate the retrofitting of public and private buildings in local and regional communities across the EU The renovation of the EU's building stock is key to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and to boost employment in the post COVID-19 recovery. While 75% of existing buildings in the EU are considered energy inefficient, only 1% currently undergoes renovation each year. Buildings account for 40% of Europe's energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). It is estimated that the Renovation Wave can create an additional 160 000 jobs in the construction sector by 2030. The COVID-19 health crisis has amplified the need to improve our buildings and to eradicate energy poverty, which still affects some 40 million citizens in the EU. In a session entitled Financing the Renovation Wave, EU representatives, local and regional leaders, and experts from across the EU discussed the challenges and funding opportunities for cities and regions to speed up the retrofitting of building stocks. The Renovation Wave aims to remove barriers for building renovations, such as structural and administrative obstacles, investments shortages, market failures, regulatory barriers and lack of expertise. Opening the debate, Juan Espadas (ES/PES), Mayor of Seville and Chair of the CoR's ENVE commission and Green Deal Going Local working group, said: "Today we know that a big part of fighting the climate crisis has to come from fixing our building stock. The Renovation Wave, as a crucial pillar of the European Green Deal, represents the occasion to make our public buildings, like schools and hospitals, social housing, and our homes more sustainable, green and energy-efficient. Financing this wide urban revolution is indispensable for its success, but it is not just an issue of funds. We need to keep climate and social goals together, to make sure that no people or territories are left behind." The former president of the Tuscany Region (2010-2020), Enrico Rossi (IT/PES), CoR Rapporteur on the Renovation Wave (opinion factsheet) and Member of Signa Municipal Council (Florence), said: "17% of Europeans live in overcrowded houses and there are at least 34 million citizens suffering from energy poverty. The Renovation Wave must increase solidarity, social inclusion and combat poverty by increasing investments in energy efficient public and social housing. The effects of the health crisis on the economy are extremely serious. Boosting public investment in the construction sector has a key role to play in accompanying the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic." The CoR draft opinion on the Renovation Wave is to be adopted at the next ENVE commission meeting on 1 February, with the final text scheduled for adoption during the plenary session in March 2021. Vlasta Krmelj (SI/EPP), Mayor of Selnica ob Dravi, vice-president of the Financing and Investments Working Group of FEDARENE and director at ENERGAP stressed that "energy agencies across Europe stand ready to translate the Renovation Wave into concrete programmes that leverage massive investments. They are market facilitators with public mandates, providing technical assistance to municipalities, regions, companies and citizens, having the ability to connect stakeholders and governance levels. They have competence and expertise for buildings, technology, value chains as well as experience in structuring financing models with multiple funding streams." Mikel Irujo (ES/EA), Director-General for External Action of the Government of Navarre, declared: "Our experience in the energy efficiency partnership of the Urban Agenda is very positive. Some of the measures we have put forward have been taken into account by the European Commission proposal on the Renovation Wave, such as the need to create a 'one stop shop' to empower citizens to actively participate in the sustainable energy transition." Guest speakers included a member of the cabinet of EU Commissioner for energy Kadri Simson and representatives from DG ENER, DG REGIO and EASME amongst others. The EIB representative recalled that public investments would not be sufficient to fill the existing energy efficiency investment gap. Last week, the CoR and the EIB renewed its cooperation with a joint Action Plan for 2021. All EU Member States are to establish national long-term renovation strategies as an integral part of their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). The success of national renovation strategies vastly depends on the cooperation with local and regional authorities: they often own or manage large building stocks and are responsible for one third of public spending and two thirds of public investments in the EU. Regrettably, a recent consultation (January 2021) from the CoR and the CEMR points out that 'many EU governments are excluding regions and cities from the preparation of post-COVID recovery plans.' Background: Financing the Renovation Wave is a Green Deal Going Local event. As part of the CoR's 'building resilient communities' priority, Green Deal Going Local (GDGL) is an initiative which aims at placing cities and regions at the core of the European Green Deal and ensure that both the EU's sustainable growth strategy and the COVID-19 recovery plans translate into direct funding for cities and regions and tangible projects for every territory. Green Deal Going Local was launched on 15 June 2020 with the creation of a specific Working Group composed of 13 members. In order to inspire and accelerate action, Green Deal Going Local includes an online map with 200 best practices. The Renovation Wave was launched on 14 October 2020 through the European Commission Communication 'A Renovation Wave for Europe - greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives'. It is a key pillar of the European Green Deal roadmap. The Renovation Wave aims to remove barriers for building renovations. The Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG) has identified six types of barriers: structural barriers, information barriers, market failures, lack of expertise, a combination of factors making it difficult to aggregate projects and/or carry out more efficient district approaches, and regulatory barriers. All these obstacles directly affect local and regional authorities and hinders their capacity to invest more in energy efficient projects. Together with the decarbonisation of the transport sector and the greening of cities, the renovation of the EU's building stock is a key Green Deal priority. Not only due to its potential ability to reduce both energy use and CO2 emissions, but also as a driver for sustainable growth and job creation. The construction sector is the largest generator of jobs per million euros invested (IEA 2020). This week, the PES group of the European Committee of the Regions is hosting a series of events under the title 'Housing for All: Time for Europe to Deliver'. Contact: David Crous david.crous@cor.europa.eu +32 (0) 470 88 10 37 Two years after police officers stormed into a home in southeast Houston, the relatives of the couple killed in the raid filed long-anticipated lawsuits against the city and police officers involved. Lawyers argued that more than a dozen current and former officers violated the civil rights of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas by using excessive, deadly force in a fraudulent police action. And they accused city officials of continuing to stonewall efforts to obtain information. After two years of fighting, there's still some very basic questions that can and should be answered, said attorney Mike Doyle, who is representing Nicholas relatives. The suits detailed accusations of police misconduct before, during and after the raid, but the facts about what happened in the moments in which two people were killed and four wounded remain murky. Most of the allegations repeat information in criminal charges filed by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and Houston Chronicle stories that first detailed reports of police misconduct. The federal lawsuits come on the second anniversary of the Jan. 28, 2019 drug raid, in which officers from HPDs Squad 15, a group of street level drug cops, executed a no-knock warrant on Tuttles home at 7815 Harding St. Gunfire ensued, leading to the deaths of Tuttle and Nicholas and injuries to four officers. In the aftermath of the operation, police investigators determined that Gerald Goines, the officer who led the raid, lied about buying drugs from a man at Tuttles home. So far, 12 current and former officers have been indicted with crimes stemming from the investigation into the raid. Two men, Gerald Goines and Felipe Gallegos, are charged with murder. Eleven current and former officers have been charged with crimes such as tampering with government records or lying to pad their overtime earnings. Prosecutors said they believed as many as 150 of Goines cases might need to be overturned and three people have seen their convictions reversed. After Gallegos was indicted earlier this week, his attorney described him as a hero and said the squad of officers had not known Goines had lied to obtain the warrant they were executing. Doyle argued that the city of Houston and Houston police officers used excessive, deadly force, violating Tuttle and Nicholas constitutional rights, in a pattern of misconduct that plays out like a scene from Training Day. Mayor Sylvester Turner defended the citys police, saying the majority of HPDs 5,300 officers do an outstanding job, and said the lawsuit would have to run its course. You cannot tarnish, you cannot stain the entire force of any organization because of the acts of the few, he said. Im very proud of the men and women of HPD. Courtesty Acevedo declined to comment, citing the pending court fight. Houston Police Officers Union President Douglas Griffith questioned the timing of the lawsuit, which came days after Ogg announced indictments against several of the officers tied to the raid. It seems almost like it was planned, he said. At a Thursday morning newsconference just east of downtown at the Talento Bilingue De Houston, Nicholas brother said the ordeal has taken a toll on his aging mother. Chief Acevedo keeps saying we had a reason to be there. It's taken you two years to find that reason? My mother would like to know, he said. We won't quit til we get answers. If we get an answer in one day, or 10 years from now, my mother said she will live til she gets the answers. Doyle said the litigation came after two years of efforts from the family to get information about the raid, but police officials didnt answer basic questions, blocked records requests, and fought other efforts (such as hearings in probate court) to obtain additional details. I don't think anybody feels uncomfortable calling at this point a cover-up, he said, Chief Art Acevedo today could release this ballistics information. He could release the facts, the physical evidence. He can do it today. And if he won't do it, the mayor could do it. What a story for our times. A teacher at a rural school in Wales with trenchant views about the staff, pupils and school culture, vented his feelings in blogs called The Provoked Pedagogue. Perhaps he thought that being anonymous and naming no names, hed get away with it. But one reader realised the author was in fact his colleague, design and technology teacher Alexander Price, and reported him to the school head. Mr Price was sacked and is now fighting for his career in an employment tribunal. Reading the Provoked Pedagogues remarks, they seemed a bit ripe; certainly he didnt spare the headmaster. And describing teen girls at the school prom as shameless chicken fillets shoved into criminally expensive and ill-fitting gowns was harsh. Melanie McDonagh explores how social media is affecting teen body image, as a teacher is sacked for describing pupils as 'Kardashian clones'. Pictured: Kim Kardashian But it was when I read what he said about girls looking like a cross between Eastern European prostitutes and trans-human Kardashian clones that I sat up. Because you know what? Aside from the crass language, he may have a point. Not that my own daughter, 14, fits the bill grunge is more her look. But if were talking here about prematurely sexualised, twerking, gyrating, self-consciously provocative girl-poses, then thats what an awful lot of young teenagers are doing. Looking at the images posted by girls from my daughters secondary school on social media, I see knowing expressions, coquettish pouts, garish make-up, feline eyes (yep, the Kardashian aesthetic) girls who look way, way older than their years. Partly, of course, this is because they look at those Kardashian girls (Kim is pictured), with their unrealistic lips and bodies, making hundreds of millions of dollars from preening and pouting in barely there outfits, and they come to believe that is what beauty, conformity and success looks like. Partly, too, because tragically the teenage universe is polluted by instant-access pornography more than ever before. And that brings with it warped expectations which some girls feel pressured to conform to. East European prostitutes may seem a cruel way of putting it, but look at the pictures teenagers actually post and share on the likes of TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, and Mr Price has a point, hasnt he? Yesterday, I saw a social media post by a girl of 14. It wasnt just the idiotic content that was disquieting. It was the way her pose and make-up, skimpy top and tight trousers made her look like a 19-year-old streetwalker. Underneath the practised pout and sideways glance and finished lipstick, she was probably just as vulnerable and childish as any of us were at 14, and probably takes her teddy to bed, but thats not what you see. Melanie who has a 14-year-old daughter, admits she tried to look older when she was a teenager. Pictured: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian I think she was trying to look in control and grown-up. But among the people who picked up the post, there were boys . . . did she actually realise just what kind of signal she was sending out? It was a dispiriting image. Is that really whats in store for teenagers like my daughter? She, prudently, doesnt let me see most of whats out there in the world of young teenage girls; she knows what Id say. Besides, I spend most of my time as it is trying to take devices off her. But when I ask her why her friends pose like that, she says simply that some girls are sexualised, but that lots are just proud of their bodies and want to show them off. Then other girls do the same by way of imitation, or to stand up against so-called slut shaming theres a lot of that online, apparently: people making unpleasant remarks such as slut or slag about girls who look provocative. My daughter says some girls are insecure about their body image, but that others just want to look that way so what? Granted, when I was her age, I tried to look older. The nun at my convent school sent me out of maths lesson for wearing make-up. And lots of girls used to hitch up their school kilts above the knee. But that was pre-social media. A recent report found the number of girls dissatisfied with their appearance doubled by the age of 14 because of heavy social media use. Pictured: Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kim Kardashian Its becoming terrifyingly clear what perpetually posting images online does to you. If youre a girl it makes you hyper conscious of your look, way more than previous generations. Yesterday a report by the Education Policy Institute and the Princes Trust suggested that the number of girls dissatisfied with their appearance doubled by the age of 14 because of heavy social media use. The funny thing about things like Instagram is that right alongside pictures of models with enlarged lips, improbable breasts and scary nails, there are images of cute pets and Greta Thunberg. Theres more to contemporary teenage culture than selfies. They are obsessed with the environment, racism (my daughter never stops talking about Black Lives Matter), sexism, colonialism and, if youre really unlucky, veganism. Whatever your views on any of those, at least they are motivated by concern for others. They also really like kittens. But as teacher Alexander Price pointed out, the overriding impression in terms of how modern teen girls present themselves is sexualisation. In another blog Mr Price talked about the pupils prom as a shallow, vacuous affair, about nothing more than who has spent the most on looking nice. He described the ugly end of society where only the rich has value and everyone else has to emulate. Melanie said if she was the head teacher at the school where Mr Price worked, she would've had a discussion with him about teenagers competing with each other. Pictured: Kim Kardashian Well, I dont know what adolescent life is like in North Wales, but I bet, pre-Covid, the same scenario was played out among school leavers all over Britain. If I were the school head, instead of trying to get Mr Price struck off, Id be having him round to discuss the poverty of expectation that means teenagers compete to spend enormous amounts of money on tat because they dont have a lot else to aspire to. Some girls will always enjoy being the focus of attention because theyre pretty and want to show off. But if they had a better sense of their own worth, because of their skills and abilities, they wouldnt set so much store by online likes and heart emojis and living up to impossible role models. An obsession with looks has become a substitute for a fulfilling life. And thats something schools can and must do something about. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 8, 2020. (Erin Scott/Reuters) Democrats Ready to Pass Bidens $1.9 Trillion Relief Bill Without GOP Backing: Schumer Democrats in Congress are laying the groundwork to use the budget reconciliation process to avoid having to win over any Republicans to pass President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that some GOP lawmakers have panned as an expensive, unworkable liberal wish-list. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Democratic senators Wednesday to be ready to vote on the relief bill as early as next week under a so-called reconciliation procedure that would not require any Republican support in a 50-50 split Senate in which Vice President Kamala Harris can cast the tie-breaking vote. The work must move forward, preferably with our Republican colleagues, but without them if we must, Schumer said Wednesday, after a private meeting with Democratic senators. Time is of the essence to address this crisis. Were keeping all options open on the table, he added. With the remarks, Schumer is setting the stage for passage of the relief bill by a simple 51-vote majority, rather than the 60-vote threshold typically needed to advance legislation. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the incoming Budget Committee chair, is preparing the budget blueprint, which will contain instructions to certain authorizing committees to include in it pieces of the relief bill. The Budget Committee then assembles these into one big bill, which has a special status in the Senate and, like the budget, it cannot be filibustered, meaning it will not require the 60-vote threshold to pass. We are going to use reconciliation, that is 50 votes in the Senate plus the vice president, to pass legislation desperately needed by working families in this country right now, Sanders told CNNs State of the Union program on Sunday. In 2017, Senate Republicans used budget reconciliation to pass tax cuts, a move that Sanders sharply criticized, saying the GOP was abusing this process. Asked about his criticism of Republicans for what he was now proposing to do with the pandemic relief bill, Sanders told CNN that the dire circumstances brought about by the outbreak justify the move. Yes, I did criticize them for that, Sanders said. And if they want to criticize me for helping to feed children who are hungry or senior citizens in this country who are isolated and alone and dont have enough food, they can criticize me, he added. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said that pushing Bidens relief bill by means of reconciliation would undercut his calls for unity and bipartisanship. It would exacerbate the partisanship around here; it would make it more difficult to find common ground; and it would therefore be bad for the American people, Portman said, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), meanwhile, in a statement last week, warned Biden not to exploit the pandemic to push a laundry list of liberal causes in the relief package, characterizing the presidents bid as a big government take-over of the U.S. economy. Its reckless to borrow another $2 trillion on top of $4 trillion already in the pipeline. While more pandemic relief is needed, some of the line items are a political pipe dream for progressives, he said. The sweeping bill includes $400 billion to expand vaccinations and to reopen schools, $1,400 direct payments to households, as well as other priorities, including raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Congress has approved some $4 trillion in emergency pandemic relief since the start of the pandemic last year, the largest rescue package in American history. Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes and County Mayor Jim Coppinger said Thursday they see a welcome trend in fewer COVID-19 cases in Hamilton County. Our numbers have gone down as it concerns active cases. Were down to almost 2,000 cases, as are our hospitalization and ICU cases down, County Mayor Coppinger said. The testing continues and we are very active, and those numbers and the positivity rate has gone from 20 percent to around 13 percent. He thanked citizens who have followed precautions such as wearing masks, washing hands, and avoiding large gatherings. He also addressed the call center. He said vaccines came in today, and he said the county will give out the link and phone number (423-209-5398) for those who want first doses. If you get a busy signal, we encourage you to keep calling, County Mayor Coppinger said. We cant do anything about the busy signals, and once you get a recording saying that all of the appointments are taken, then theyre taken. We ask for your patience. He asked for people to schedule only appointments for themselves, and to not schedule appointments for other people or multiple appointments. He said the county had to make over 300 phone calls to match up with the number of times people called in this week. County Mayor Coppinger said Riverfront Parkway and the CARTA bus barn on Wilcox are both being used as places to distribute the vaccine. He asked citizens who do have an appointment to be in line at least 15 minutes early. The Enterprise South site has been set up, and this will be an alternative site in the event we get more vaccine, the county mayor said. Our goal is to get as many vaccines as we can from the state, and the state has to get it from the federal government. Ms. Barnes said the Health Department has given out 10,139 first dose vaccinations and 3,021 second vaccinations. She said other community partners have given out the vaccines that havent been reported. Our goal is to give out the vaccine as quickly as we can, and our goal is to give the second doses as quickly as theyre due, Ms. Barnes said. Were now averaging about 500 tests a day, instead of 1,000 like a few weeks ago. She said testing has been cut back to six days a week in order to redirect staff to focus on vaccination efforts. However, Ms. Barnes said partners will begin testing on Sunday. Ms. Barnes also answered a question about reporting the number of COVID-related deaths. She said the health department gets this information from a number of sources, and said there can be a lag in getting that report. We report that number as quickly as we get it, but the date that person died is certainly not that day, Ms. Barnes said. So we go back on our website and we post the date on the appropriate week. Ms. Barnes emphasized the importance of people coming back for a second dose. She said 10 to 14 days after the second dose is when people reach optimum protection. She said the county has offered more appointments than people who have been vaccinated, in order to give returning people choices for when they get the second dose. The administrator said in Hamilton County, many residents over 75 want the vaccine, which is why the phase has not changed. She said when the first-dose appointments begin to stay unfilled, then more phases will be opened up. The really good news for us is that people in Hamilton County want to be vaccinated, because thats how we ultimately end this pandemic. She said the Health Department has published a vaccination dashboard with information on vaccination numbers. Ms. Barnes said the department hopes to make the dashboard more prominent in the future. NEW YORK MILLS, N.Y. The Herkimer County Hunger Coalition donated $1,000 on Wednesday to another organization that also helps people with food assistance. The donation was made to Feed Our Vets, an organization in New York Mills that helps provide food for local veterans in need. We had very generous donations this year from our sponsors and when we can pay it forward to an organization like these guys - we are just happy as could be to do something like that, said Ron Schoonmaker, board member at the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition. It's a double plus for me -- Im a veteran, too. Schoonmaker says he hopes the charity can continue to make more donations. For more information on the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition, click here. Press Release [January 28, 2021] In the name of Green Solar Power Project, Azure Power and APDCL snatching lands of Ryots in Mikir Bamuni Grant The culture, identity, life and livelihood of Karbi and Adivasi farmers of Mikir Bamuni Grant are under grave threat Nagaon Town, Assam | 28 January 2021: Since last one year, the situation in Mikir Bamuni Grant village has been a cause for concern with news of farmers protesting forceful takeover of their land for setting up a 15 MW solar power plant by Azure Power Forty Private Ltd. In order to look into the matter an all-India Fact-Finding Team made up of Prafulla Samantara (recipient of Goldman Prize, also known as Green Nobel Prize) from Odisha, Leo Saldanha (Environment Support Group) and Bhargavi Rao (Environment Support Group and Center for Financial Accountability) from Karnataka, and Amit Kumar (Delhi Solidarity Group) from Delhi arrived in Assam on 26 January 2021 and visited the site and met with the local communities, as well as with several state officials over the course of the next 2 days. The prima facie evidence suggests that the process of acquiring the land in question is mired in several illegalities and violations of policies, laws and regulations from the nature of land appropriation, to dispossession of people, and construction of a solar power plant through the use of repressive measures inflicted upon the community by the police and state authorities. The solar power plant is being constructed in the midst of fertile agricultural land where we could see the residue of last seasons crop. Not only the land, the environment and the wildlife are also threatened as we came to know that elephants keep crossing through the village. Fresh elephant dung and elephant foot marks were witnessed by the members. Prafulla Samantara points out that the state must defend its people and not take the side of the company. The land and the forest belong to the people of Assam. The project appears to violate all the existing land laws that were earned through a long struggle of peasants over the sixties and seventies. Ignoring the Rayati rights of the farmers, the sale of land to the company by the erstwhile zamindar family tramples on the spirit of the Assam (Temporary Settled Areas) Tenancy Act 1971. Leo Saldanha pointed out that PM Narendra Modis ambitious proposal to generate up to 450 GW of electricity based on renewables, particularly solar, has widespread ramifications to the future of India, and also to Indias commitments under the Paris Agreement. The experience of villagers of Mikir Bamuni Grant villages land in Nagaon district of Assam is indicative of the direct threat there is to Fundamental rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples, considering how Azure Power has been facilitated by Assam State Govt in promoting a 15 MW solar park in prime agricultural land flouting all constitutional and statutory safeguards. Evidence gathered by the fact-finding team reveals that the Assam Solar Policy 2018 has been drafted so as to advantage private ventures to grab land by any means. Besides, the January 2019 Notification of Revenue Dept exempts solar projects in particular from statutory mandate of complying with 2015 Land Reclassification law. This amounts to the Executive issuing a subordinate directive in blatant violation of a major statute passed by the Assam Legislature protecting the right to land of indigenous communities, a law secured after decades of struggle. The 2019 Assam Land Policy acknowledges how extensively land is degrading due to flooding, a direct consequence of climate change, and advocates public review and critical engagement of the highest level of Govt of any conversion of agricultural land to other purposes. This too appears to have been blatantly flouted in the case of Azure Power. Bhargavi Rao raised the issue of violence against the local community by the police and said it is unacceptable. Stories of Women who have been beaten, kicked and subjected to trauma needs documentation and has to be addressed by all concerned authorities. The bulldozing of standing crops by Azure power company in December 2020 has taken away food security at the household level for these families and that will have serious implications on women and child health. This, especially during a pandemic year when agrarian economy was hit the hardest. It is important that Azure power realises this and lives up to the highest level of corporate ethics. It is appalling that IFC and CDPQ are funding such a project that is in complete violation of all fundamental and human rights, and a project that has caused violence against women and children. Amit Kumar pointed out that this is just the beginning of capturing the land won by farmers under the Tenancy Act 1971, and takes us back sixty years invalidating the rights secured by them over years of struggle to end the feudal zamindari system. Many such projects are in the pipeline which endangers not only the land of the farmers but also the wildlife and environment. The youth of Assam will have to awaken to this impending threat and crisis. This takeover of land is in direct contravention of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. A detailed report will be available in the next couple of weeks. For further details, contact Amit Kumar 8486944483, amitk.mayaganj[at]gmail.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The Philippines received a dismal score in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the analysis of an independent think tank. The Lowy Institute on Wednesday said the Philippines placed 79th out of 98, lagging behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbors. The Philippine government's handling of the global health threat received a score of 30.6 out of 100. New Zealand topped the list, closely followed by Asian nations Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand. The pandemic response of New Zealand, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, received an average score of 94.4. Brazil, which is at the bottom of the list, received a score of just 4.3. The United States, meanwhile, is at 94th spot with a score of 17.3. China was not included in the analysis due to lack of data available to the public. The study tracked the total cases and deaths taking into consideration the country's population for seven months in 98 countries. It said fewer reported cases and deaths, both in aggregate and per capita terms, point towards a better response to the virus. It added that lower rates of positive tests, meanwhile, indicate greater degrees of control over the transmission of COVID-19. The global COVID-19 tally now stands at 100 million, with 2.16 million deaths and 55.5 million recoveries. DOH: 'We can't be comparing apples to oranges' The Department of Health on Thursday acknowledged the report, but at the same time, said the Lowy Institute's methodology for the study "did not capture the complex nature of pandemic response." It said the analysis did not even compare how quickly nations initiate contact tracing or the readiness of their health facilities to treat patients. "We can't be comparing apples to oranges... The indicators of performance used by the Philippines are multidimensional, with both strategic and operational indicators of health and economic performance and across the Prevent - Detect - Isolate - Test - Treat strategies," the DOH said in a statement. The Philippines reached 518,407 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, with 475,542 recoveries. The nationwide death toll is at 10,481. Budget 2021: Facility of bulk clearance for ecommerce imports, exports expected India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: The Indian government in the Union Budget next week is expected to announce measures such as extending the facility of bulk clearance for ecommerce imports and exports with a view to promoting the growth of this fast-growing segment in the country, sources said. They said as there is a multi-fold increase in the ecommerce sector in the country, a significant volume of products is imported into and exported out of India through this platform, and there is a need to find a balance between control and facilitation for the sector. Presently, importers and exporters are required to submit individual/separate clearance documents for each package with the Indian customs department, which adds cost for traders to conduct business through ecommerce. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil the Budget for 2021-22 on February 1. According to exporters, easing of processes for the sector would further help in boosting the country's outbound shipments. A leather exporter said the move if announced in the Budget, would help promote exports through ecommerce medium. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News In another development, sources said the Indian government is likely to raise the farm credit target to about Rs 19 lakh crore in Budget 2021, with the aim of doubling farmers' income by 2022. For the current fiscal, it has set a farm credit target of Rs 15 lakh crore. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 12:28 [IST] 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. [January 28, 2021] Cloud4C collaborates with Google Cloud to build Centre of Excellence HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud4C, World's leading cloud managed services provider, is collaborating with Google Cloud to build a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for SAP and Anthos by Google Cloud. The partnership aims to enable enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation journey on the cloud. The center of excellence (CoE) will equip businesses with capabilities to modernize mission critical IT infrastructure and applications, while gaining the complete benefit of Cloud4C's extended SAP service portfolio. By leveraging Anthos , enterprises can modernize their existing applications and build cloud-native apps to achieve agility and cost savings with Google Cloud. Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder and CEO, Cloud4C, said, "We are delihted to collaborate with Google Cloud. Our customers can leverage the best of Google's offerings in a secure manner with reduced capital investment and improved value delivery. The CoE will serve as a multi-disciplinary customer showcase hub, developing and delivering solutions for high efficiency and reliability." He further added, "Rapid deployment of SAP applications through Anthos by Google will additionally contribute to lowering carbon footprint." The CoE will also support customers in their modernization journey, as they level up their mission-critical IT infrastructure and applications and leverage advanced Google Cloud Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and analytics capabilities at scale. The partnership will help organizations make the most of Cloud 4C's end to end SAP capabilities through multi-cloud support, multi-cluster/unified management, centralized policy management, infrastructure management and achieve higher return on investment, enhanced platform, operational efficiency, rapid scalability and optimize costs. "Together with Cloud4C, we will offer organizations a clear path to build, run, and manage their critical SAP workloads on hybrid and multi cloud environments with full flexibility, agility and security. This will be a huge benefit for businesses in India," said Amitabh Jacob, Head of Partners and Alliances, Google Cloud India. Cloud4C is the largest and the oldest SAP Partner offering SAP Managed Services across 25 countries and 50+ locations and has dedicated SAP services including Switch2Cloud, S/4 HANA implementation and application management services, exclusively focusing on greenfield, brownfield and hybrid packages as well as end to end application management services (AMS) offerings. About Cloud4C Cloud4C is World's leading cloud managed services provider and a preferred cloud evolution partner to 3500 enterprises including 60 of Fortune 500 companies. The company has over 2000 certified cloud experts with presence in 25 countries managing mission critical workloads across public, private and hybrid cloud platforms. Cloud4C is a leading Cybersecurity provider that helps businesses combat cybercrime, protect data and reduce security risk. Adopting the philosophy of "Secure by Design", Cloud4C offers a comprehensive portfolio of Managed Security Services, robust security frameworks, consulting and professional services, and technologies and tools to protect data, Cloud4C helps businesses embrace digital transformation securely. For more information, please visit: https://www.cloud4c.com/sap/. Contact: B.S.Rao bsrao@cloud4c.com Vice President, Marketing and Global Head (PR and Communications), Cloud4C Logo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1198268/Cloud4C_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In another shocking ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has held that the act of holding a girl's hands and opening the zip of pants will not come under the definition of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. The act instead comes under the ambit of sexual harassment under Section 354-A (1) (i) of the Indian Penal Code, observed the bench. The ruling was pronounced by a single bench of Justice Pushpa Ganediwala in a criminal appeal against the conviction and sentence awarded to a 50-year-old man for molesting a five-year-old girl. The Session Court had convicted the man and ruled it to be "aggravated sexual assault" punishable under Section 10 of POCSO and sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 25,000 with a default simple imprisonment for six months. ALSO READ | Supreme Court Stays Bombay HC's Order on 'Skin to Skin' Contact for POCSO Sexual Assault After Uproar However, Justice Ganediwala set aside his conviction under Sections 8, 10 and 12 of POCSO Act, but held him guilty under Section 354A (1) (i) IPC, which carries a maximum imprisonment of three years. The Nagpur bench observed that the case comes under the gambit of sexual harassment and not sexual assault. The offence of sexual harassment under Section 354A (1) (i), which deals with physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, is attracted in the case, it said. The police had registered a case based on the complaint lodged by the victims mother, who said that she saw the accused, whose pants zip was opened, holding the hands of her daughter. She had also testified that her daughter informed her that the accused removed his penis from the pant and asked her to come to the bed for sleeping. While considering the appeal, Justice Gandewala noted the definition of "sexual assault" under Section 7 of the POCSO says, "Sexual assault Whoever, with sexual intent touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the child or makes the child touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of such person or any other person, or does any other Act with sexual intent which involves physical contact without penetration is said to commit sexual assault. ALSO READ | Good or Bad Touch? Bombay HC Order on 'Skin to Skin' Groping in POCSO Case Raises Questions The Court observed that according to the definition of 'sexual assault', a 'physical contact with sexual intent without penetration' is an essential part of the offence. Since no actual touching of the private parts of the body happened in the case, the act will come under the ambit of the third part of the definition: any other Act with sexual intent which involves physical contact without penetration, the High Court said. Meanwhile, in a January 19 judgment, the Nagpur bench said groping a minor's breast without "skin-to-skin contact" cannot be termed sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Justice Pushpa Ganediwala held that there must be "skin to skin contact with sexual intent" for an act to be considered sexual assault. It has drawn the ire of child rights bodies and activists across the country. The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Bombay High Court's controversial order. Attorney General KK Venugopal said the order would set a dangerous precedent. Advertisement The unsealed documents allege that in July 2004 Ghislaine Maxwell left a message for Epstein that a girl, aged 14 at the time, was 'available on Tuesday' but 'no one for tomorrow' (pictured) Jeffrey Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly ordered a 'room full of underage girls' to dance, kiss and touch each other sexually in front of him and confiscated the passport of a sobbing 15-year-old 'slave' who refused to have sex with the billionaire financier, according to newly unsealed court filings. Maxwell, who denies helping Epstein recruit and groom girls for sex, was also accused by Epstein's housekeeper of being at the pedophile's mansion in Florida where 100 girls came to provide him with $200 'sexual massages' over the course of a decade. One anonymous witness testified that Maxwell would 'call him and ask him to bring over young girls that she would provide to Epstein.' Maxwell is currently in prison on federal sex trafficking charges. But the dozens of documents relate to Virginia Roberts' Florida lawsuit against Maxwell which was settled in 2017. The documents were unsealed last night and include new details about her sex life and how she allegedly procured young girls for the pedophile. Although the evidence comes from previously sealed interviews with Maxwell when she was sued for defamation by Roberts five years ago, it is sure to be on the FBI's radar. One document among the 112 court documents, running into thousands of pages of evidence, claims that in 2004 Maxwell left a message for her on-off boyfriend Epstein that a girl, aged 14 at the time according to prosecutors, was 'available on Tuesday' and told him he had 'no one for tomorrow.' Another disturbing note found in a dustbin allegedly mentions an underage girl visiting Epstein's house for 'training'. One anonymous witness also 'testified that he watched Maxwell direct a room full of underage girls to kiss, dance, and touch one another in a sexual way for [Maxwell] and Epstein to watch', the unsealed documents reveal. But Ms Maxwell, who is in custody criminally charged with aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of teenage girls, said during a July 2016 deposition that she learned about his abuse claims 'like everybody else, like the rest of the world, when it was announced in the papers'. Lawyers for Ms Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, believes the documents are the smoking gun placing Maxwell at the heart of Epstein's child sex ring. They say: 'It is not just the flight logs showing Defendant [Maxwell] flying with Epstein and Ms. Giuffre over twenty times when she was a minor; it is not just the message pads from law enforcement's trash pulls that show Defendant arranging to have an underage girl come over to Epstein's house for 'training,' it is not just the police report. Now, there is actual, live testimonial evidence that [Maxwell] was a procurer of young girls for sex with Jeffrey Epstein, with whom she shared a home and a life, thus validating Ms. Giuffre's claims'. Prince Andrew is also mentioned in previously unseen evidence given by Anthony Figueroa, the ex-boyfriend of Virginia Roberts, who claims she was ordered to have sex with the royal three times at Epstein and Maxwell's behest. Mr Figueroa is asked if he ever heard Virginia talking 'about sex with the Prince', he replied: 'I don't recall talking to them about that, but, I mean, it could be possible'. The lawyer then asked: 'Other than sex with the Prince, is there anyone else that Jeffrey wanted Ms. Roberts to have sex with that she relayed to you?' He replied: 'Just Ms. Maxwell and all the other girls'. Prince Andrew vehemently denies he had sex with her and denies meeting her. Mr Figueroa also alleged that Virginia was forced into a threesome after 'Jeffrey wanted Virginia to have sex with Ms. Maxwell', who used 'strap-ons and dildos' on her, the bombshell documents allege. Describing his former lover's sexual encounters, he added: 'Ms. Maxwell and Jeffrey would obviously be doing stuff, all three of them together. Like I said, that they would all go out to clubs to pick up girls and try and find them to bring back for Jeffrey. And then she told me about how, like I said, her and Ms. Maxwell and Jeffrey were all intimate together on multiple occasions'. Among the trove of court papers was a filing by lawyers for Epstein victim Ms Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, that included redacted witness testimony accusing Maxwell of preying on several victims and forcing them to perform sexual favors. One witness claimed Maxwell had recruited her from a school campus to have sex with Epstein by initially claiming she was hiring her to be her personal assistant. Johanna Sjoberg, who has previous alleged Prince Andrew abused her with a puppet of himself, said Maxwell also 'punished' her is she failed to make Epstein orgasm. One of the document reads: 'One witness (redacted) was in tears, as he recounted (Maxwell) bringing a 15-year-old girl into his employer's home who, in utmost distress, told him that (Maxwell) stole the young girl's passport and tried to make her have sex with Epstein and then threatened her'. But one court document alleges: 'Ample evidence in this case establishes that not only did Defendant [Maxwell] recruit underage girls for massage and sexual activities with Epstein, but that she participated in calling the girls; getting other people to bring girls; talking to the girls; taking massages from and leaving messages about the girls; and scheduling the girls to come over'. The bombshell documents also revealed: The ex-boyfriend of Virginia Roberts claims that Virginia had threesomes with Epstein and Maxwell with sex toys; Epstein's Florida housekeeper Juan Alessi found sex toys and costumes lying around that belonged in Maxwell's bedroom cupboard; Detective Joseph Recarey told prosecutors that he interviewed over 30 girls abused by Epstein who claimed he would fondle them during massages; Johanna Sjoberg, who has made allegations of sexual misconduct against Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, claims she was paid $20-an-hour to massage Epstein. She said she was 'expected to perform sexual acts' on Epstein and on one occasion was told off by Maxwell for not 'bringing him to orgasm'. Maxwell gave evidence in 2016 that she had no memory of anything amiss on Jeffrey Epstein's properties in the 2000s despite accusations by dozens of women and girls that they were sexually abused by the financier. She said: 'Like everybody else, like the rest of the world, when it was announced in the papers'. Maxwell also claimed that Virginia Roberts was a 'liar', an 'opioid addict' and had 'cried rape' as a teen; Maxwell is accused of procuring girls as young as 14 for Epstein (pictured together in 2005) between 1994 and 1997 The Duke of York is referred to as 'The Prince' in court documents where an ex-boyfriend of Virginia Roberts (pictured with Andrew in London) is asked if he heard Virginia talking about sex with him Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in July Maxwell deposition: I have no memory of anything amiss with Epstein and learned he was a paedophile 'in the papers' Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper Juan Alessi claims that Ghislaine Maxwell opened up to him when he asked her why she was so close to the pedophile Maxwell gave evidence in 2016 that she had no memory of anything amiss on Jeffrey Epstein's properties in the 2000s despite accusations by dozens of women and girls that they were sexually abused by the financier. Maxwell, who is criminally charged with aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of teenage girls, said during a July 2016 deposition for a defamation lawsuit that she learned about abuse claims 'like everybody else, like the rest of the world, when it was announced in the papers'. Asked if she tried to find out whether the allegations were accurate, Maxwell was stopped by her lawyer from answering, in a transcript released late on Wednesday along with other documents pursued by the Miami Herald. But she indicated that she left employment with Epstein because she 'ceased to be happy in the job and I ceased to be happy spending time with Mr Epstein'. She said he 'became more difficult to work with', according to the transcript. Asked to be more specific, she said: 'Just general. Just doesn't work.' Advertisement The filing also included testimony from Rinaldo Rizzo, a butler who worked for hedge fund billionaire Glenn Dubin and his wife, Eva Andersson-Dubin. Rizzo had said in filings for an unrelated case that Epstein and Maxwell brought a 15-year-old Swedish girl with them when they visited his employers in New York. Wednesday's unsealed court filings revealed Rizzo was 'in tears' as he recalled how the teen told him Maxwell had taken her passport and tried to 'make her have sex with Epstein.' Rizzo had previously said he found the girl crying in the kitchen, and heard her describe her alleged treatment at the hands of Maxwell and her assistant, Sarah Kellen, when she was being held at Epstein's property in the US Virgin Islands. Kellen has denied the allegations claiming that she was herself a victim. Rizzo claimed the girl told him that Maxwell and Kellen had demanded sex from her and taken away her passport and threatened her when she refused. The filings come after Maxwell this week asked a judge to dismiss her case ahead of her July 12 trial, citing various grounds including that an agreement not to prosecute Epstein also shielded her. In court filings on Monday night, lawyers for the British socialite also complained that not enough black and Hispanic grand jurors were used to indict her, and that parts of the indictment were too vague and should be thrown out. A spokesman for US Attorney Audrey Strauss in Manhattan declined to comment on Tuesday. The office is expected to respond in a few weeks. Maxwell, 59, is being held in a Brooklyn jail after being denied bail twice following her arrest last July 2 at her New Hampshire home, which prosecutors called a hideout. She has pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and groom three girls for sex in Manhattan in the mid-1990s, and lying about it under oath. Still, Maxwell got a break when the judge in the case ruled that anything relating to 'private intimate conduct' in her deposition should be redacted. Judge Loretta Preska said that anything in the documents about 'consensual adult behavior' should stay private too. The 58-year-old British socialite is accused of procuring girls as young as 14 for Epstein to abuse and in some cases taking part in the assaults. Maxwell is also accused of perjury and has pleaded not guilty. Epstein's housekeeper 'spent time tidying up sex toys and outfits that belonged in Maxwell's closet while cleaning up after massages' Juan Alessi, 70, worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2006 first as a maintenance guy on his homes and then the housekeeper and driver in Palm Beach Jeffrey Epstein's housekeeper found sex toys when he cleaned up after the financier and Ghislaine Maxwell's massages, according to new court documents. Juan Alessi worked at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion for ten years, during which time he said he saw around 100 'massage therapists' come through the doors. Describing cleaning the room after the sessions, Alessi told prosecutors: 'I would find things like a dildo, it's called a double. I hate to say it because these ladies. But I find these things, put my gloves on, took it out and rinse it, and put it in Ms. Maxwell's closet.' He said that the sex toys were kept in Maxwell's room where he also once discovered a 'shiny black costume' in her closet. Alessi described how Epstein and Maxwell procured the masseuses through friends. When asked who went out to look for these girls, he replied: 'Ms. Maxwell, Mr. Epstein and their friends, because their friends relayed to other friends they knew a massage therapist and they would send to the house. So it was referrals.' He testified that some of the therapists were recruited from high-end spas at the exclusive local clubs, including the Breakers, Boca Raton and Mar-a-Lago. Alessi knew this because he had to call them up to organize appointments and was even in charge of handing out cash after the sessions, sometimes up to $500. 'I used to have to call the Breakers or the Mar-a-Lago or the - all the clubs. There be clubs, even in Boca Raton, the Boca Raton Resort and Hotel. They have a great spa. I had to call these people, Can you come in at 10:00 tonight?' 'Everybody got $100 an hour,' Alessi told the lawyers. 'But I paid more if they were four massages; I would pay $400, $500.' The housekeeper said he believed 'most' of the girls were over 18. Billionaire's butler describes 'quivering' girl, 15, who sobbed after telling him she was Epstein's 'sex slave' while 'held hostage on his island', documents claim A butler who worked for hedge fund billionaire Glenn Dubin and his wife, Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin (pictured), testified in court that Maxwell once brought a 15-year-old Swedish girl to the Dubins house. The girl allegedly told the butler, Rinaldo Rizzo, that she was a 'sex slave' for Jeffrey Epstein The filing also included testimony from Rinaldo Rizzo, a butler who worked for hedge fund billionaire Glenn Dubin and his wife, Eva Andersson-Dubin. Rizzo had said in filings for an unrelated case that Epstein and Maxwell brought a 15-year-old Swedish girl with them when they visited his employers in New York. Andersson-Dubin, a former Miss Sweden, once dated Epstein. The butler said that the girl reminded him of other girls he saw at Epstein's home. Rizzo said the girl sat in a stool next to a kitchen counter in the Dubins' home. She was 'distraught and shaking...literally quivering' as she described her treatment at the hands of Epstein's alleged madam, and her assistant, Sarah Kellen, in the US Virgin Islands. He claims he told her that they had demanded sex from her and taken away her passport and threatened her when she refused. 'She proceeded to tell my wife and I 'I was on the island and there was Ghislaine, and there was Sarah,' and she said, 'They asked me for sex. I said no'.' Rizzo then said: 'She didn't specify who asked for sex. She said they asked for sex.' According to Rizzo, after the young girl refused to have sex, Kellen took the young girl's phone and passport and gave them to Maxwell. 'And at that point, she said she was threatened,' Rizzo testified. 'And I said, 'Threatened?' 'She says, 'Yes. I was threatened by Ghislaine, not to discuss this'.' After Rizzo asked the girl if she spoke to her parents, 'She says, 'I'm not supposed to talk about this'.' Rizzo testified that the teen told him Epstein threatened her to keep quiet about what she knew. 'The word she used was sex,' he testified. As far as the girl's emotional state was concerned, Rizzo said that she was 'shaking uncontrollably.' Rizzo testified that the girl stopped answering questions once she realized that someone was heading toward the kitchen. It was Eva Andersson-Dubin, according to Rizzo. The Dubins have repeatedly denied these allegations, with a spokesperson for the couple telling DailyMail.com previously: 'Glenn and Eva Dubin are outraged by the allegations against them in the unsealed court records and categorically reject them.' Jeffrey Epstein victim claims Maxwell said she should be 'grateful' to him before 'punishing' her for not making him 'orgasm', saying: 'I had to finish it myself' Johanna Sjoberg, who was a college student in Florida in 2001 when she was recruited by Epstein's associate, says that the multimillionaire paedophile told her he needed to have 'three orgasms a day.' She is pictured in 2007 Johanna Sjoberg said that she was recruited by Maxwell in 2001, when she was a student at Palm Beach Atlantic College. Sjoberg was under the impression she was being hired as a personal assistant, but she soon realized her job was to provide 'sexual massages' to Epstein, who she has said that told her he needed to have 'three orgasms a day.' She claims she was 'punished' when Epstein failed to orgasm as a result of one of her massages, which Maxwell allegedly told her were necessary because 'she [Maxwell] would not be able to please him as much as he needed and that is why there were other girls around'. Describing being told off by Ghislaine, the then photography student said: 'She had purchased the camera for me, and I was over there giving Jeffrey a massage. I did not know that she was in possession of the camera until later. She called me after I had left and said: 'I have the camera for you, but you cannot receive it yet because you came here and didn't finish your job and I had to finish it for you'. When asked if that meant giving him an orgasm she said: 'Yes. She was implying that I did not get Jeffrey off, and so she had to do it'. Ms Sjoberg, who has claimed previously that Prince Andrew groped her breasts with a Spitting Image puppet of himself, also claims that Epstein would brag about taking a girl's virginity. She said in the deposition: 'He told my friend Rachel: 'You see that girl over there laying by the pool?' She was 19. And he said, 'I just took her virginity'. And my friend Rachel was mortified'. She also describe another victim ... being woken up on a flight by Epstein and immediately tried to perform a sex act on him, believing it was her job. 'He told me one time [the other victim] was 21 sleeping on the plane, and they were getting 22 ready to land. And he went and woke her up... so she started to unzip his pants, and he said, 'No, no, no, you just have to be awake for [landing]'. Palm Beach cop who interviewed 30 Epstein victims claims Maxwell helped 'seek girls' who performed sex acts on him in his Florida mansion Joseph Recarey described how Ghislaine Maxwell 'was involved in seeking girls to perform massages and work at Epstein's home', and that 'massage' was a double-entendre for sexual gratification. A detective described how Jeffrey Epstein's procurement of underage girls to provide naked 'massages' worked like a sexual abuse pyramid scheme, new court documents have revealed. Joseph Recarey, who led Palm Beach police department's investigations into Jeffrey Epstein in the mid-2000s, was questioned by federal prosecutors in New York four years ago. He described how Ghislaine Maxwell 'was involved in seeking girls to perform massages and work at Epstein's home', and that 'massage' was a double-entendre for sexual gratification. He interviewed around 30 girls who provided massages at Epstein's mansion in Florida, only two had any prior experience, the vast majority were under 18 and others were under 16. The girls attended on the pretext of a massage they were sexually abused and were paid $100, told to find other girls and enticed by stories that they could become Victoria's Secrets models. 'Each of the victims that went to the home were asked to bring their friends to the home. Some complied and some didn't.' The police officer said. He described Epstein's modus operandi of lying on a massage table and waiting for his victim to be ushered in to start rubbing his back and the backs of his legs. 'Epstein would either attempt to fondle the girls or touch the girls inappropriately, and at which point he would masturbate. And when he was done, he would get up and go wash off while the girls would get dressed and go back downstairs and get paid.' Recarey told prosecutors. 'Some of the victims did not want to be touched; some of the victims did not want to partake in that. So it was - I believe for - for a couple of them it was only a one-shot deal, but others continued to come.' The detective said Epstein would have multiple massages throughout the day, some took place in the morning, others in the afternoon and a few might take place in the evening. More pressure on Prince Andrew over Epstein: Ghislaine Maxwell lawsuit claims 'Jeffrey Epstein wanted Virginia Roberts to have sex with Royal' and she told lawyers she 'couldn't remember' trip to London Prince Andrew is mentioned repeatedly in new Ghislaine Maxwell court filings, with one lawyer claiming Jeffrey Epstein wanted Virginia Roberts to have sex with the royal. The Duke of York, 60, is mentioned in evidence given by Andrew Figueroa, the ex-boyfriend of Ms Roberts, who claims she was ordered to have sex with Prince Andrew three times at Epstein and Maxwell's behest when she was 17. But the royal strenuously denies the allegations. The court documents also reveal that Maxwell claimed she could not remember a trip to London where Roberts allegedly slept with Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2010 The Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein 1999 - Andrew first meets Epstein, reportedly introduced through his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell. Andrew welcomes Epstein to the Queen's private Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire. Andrew later says he sees Epstein 'infrequently', adding 'probably no more than only once or twice a year'. 2000 - Andrew and Ms Maxwell are seen on holiday with Epstein at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein and Ms Maxwell attend a party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen to mark Andrew's 40th birthday, the Princess Royal's 50th, the Queen Mother's 100th and Princess Margaret's 70th. 2001 - Virginia Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew 'three times, including one orgy', with the first encounter allegedly taking place in Ms Maxwell's London townhouse. Ms Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew on two more occasions, at Epstein's New York home and at an 'orgy' on his private island in the Caribbean. 2008 - Epstein admits prostituting minors and is sentenced to 18 months in prison. 2010 - Epstein is released from jail. Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park. Footage emerges years later, reportedly shot on December 6 2010, showing him inside Epstein's Manhattan mansion, from where he is seen looking out from a large door. 2011 - The duke quits his role as UK trade envoy after the fallout from the Central Park photos. 2015 - Buckingham Palace denies Andrew has committed any impropriety after he is named in US court documents related to Epstein. A woman, later named in reports as Ms Roberts, alleges in papers filed in Florida that she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, which is under the age of consent in the state. In April the claims against Andrew are struck from US civil court records following a federal judge's ruling. 2019 - Epstein is found dead in his jail cell on August 10, having killed himself after being charged with sex trafficking. Advertisement Mr Figueroa was asked in 2016 if he ever heard Virginia talking about 'sex with the Prince,' he replied: 'I don't recall talking to them about that, but, I mean, it could be possible.' The lawyer then asked: 'Other than sex with the Prince, is there anyone else that Jeffrey wanted Ms Roberts to have sex with that she relayed to you?' He replied: 'Just Ms. Maxwell and all the other girls'. Dozens of documents relating to Maxwell's second deposition were publicly released in the US last night, that includes new details about her sex life and how she allegedly procured young girls for the paedophile. They reveal the British socialite gave evidence in 2016 that she had no memory of anything amiss on Jeffrey Epstein's properties in the 2000s, despite accusations from dozens of women and girls that they were sexually abused by the financier. Maxwell, who is criminally charged with aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of teenage girls, said during a July 2016 deposition for a defamation lawsuit that she learned about abuse claims 'like everybody else, like the rest of the world, when it was announced in the papers'. Asked if she tried to find out whether the allegations were accurate, Maxwell was stopped by her lawyer from answering, in a transcript released late on Wednesday along with other documents pursued by the Miami Herald. But she indicated that she left employment with Epstein because she 'ceased to be happy in the job and I ceased to be happy spending time with Mr Epstein'. She said he 'became more difficult to work with', according to the transcript. Asked to be more specific, she said: 'Just general. Just doesn't work.' The latest court documents has put more pressure on Prince Andrew, who has faced criticism at his refusal to speak to US authorities investigating the crimes of his paedophile former friend Epstain - despite promising more than a year ago to co-operate. He was branded as 'outrageous' by Lisa Bloom, the lawyer representing six victims of the dead disgraced financier, who killed himself in prison in 2019. Bloom in November last year called on the royal to submit to an interview with the FBI as they investigated another of the Royal's friends socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of procuring teenage girls for Epstein to abuse. She said at the time: 'How outrageous that it's been a year since Prince Andrew publicly promised to co-operate with law enforcement investigating all those who enabled Jeffrey Epstein's sexual assaults on hundreds of women and girls. 'He simply has not kept that promise. Meanwhile, the six victims I represent struggle to repair their lives. 'We implore Prince Andrew to submit to an interview with the FBI investigation of Ghislaine Maxwell and other accused co-conspirators, to tell what he knows, to turn over documents and evidence, and to instruct his staff to do so as well. 'It is never too late to do the right thing.' Andrew - the Queen's second son - stepped down from public life on November 20 2019, following the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein. Ms Roberts claims she was ordered to have sex with Prince Andrew three times at Epstein and Maxwell's behest when she was 17 The 15-year-old Swedish girl allegedly told Rizzo that she was held against her will on Epstein's island in the U.S. Virgin Islands after she refused pressure to have sex with men The duke was criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards the paedophile's victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with the pervert. Ms Bloom made her intervention on the first anniversary of the duke quitting royal duties. In the Newsnight interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis, the duke denied claims that he slept with Virginia Giuffre, who says she was trafficked by Epstein, on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law. The duke, in a statement released on his parents' wedding anniversary in 2019, said that the Queen had given her permission for him to bow out of royal duties for the 'foreseeable future'. He said: 'The circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work.' Andrew added he continued to 'unequivocally regret my ill-judged association' with Epstein and pledged to help 'any appropriate law enforcement agency'. More than a year on from withdrawing from his public role, the duke is widely expected never to return to royal duties. He has faced a war of words between his camp and American authorities over his availability to answer questions about Epstein. Andrew was accused of attempting to 'falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co-operate' by US attorney Geoffrey Berman, who was leading the investigation into Epstein. But the duke's legal team said he had made three offers to give a witness statement. Calls for him to speak to the authorities were renewed after Maxwell appeared in court in the US accused of facilitating Epstein's sexual exploitation of underage girls. Her trial is set for July this year. QAnon disrupted Ghislaine Maxwell case as her $28.5m bail package backfires after a judge said it 'only solidifies' the risk of her fleeing Earlier this month, a hearing for Maxwell at federal court in New York was temporarily disrupted by QAnon conspiracy theorists who were livestreaming the dial-in audio hearing on YouTube. The phone line to listen in had already hit 500 people by the time the stream posted by a YouTube personality went up and attracted 14,000 viewers. Judge Preska ordered him to stop and said he was 'operating against the law' and the stream went down a few minutes later. Maxwell's case has become an obsession for conspiracy theorists who believe the world is controlled by a group of pedophile Democrats and Hollywood stars. The deposition was taken in July 2016 in a defamation case brought against Maxwell by Virginia Roberts Giuffre that led to her perjury charges. Giuffre claims that Maxwell recruited her and that she and Epstein loaned her out to Britain's Prince Andrew for sex three times, claims which the Prince vehemently denies. In her ruling Judge Preska rejected claims from Maxwell's lawyers that unsealing this set of documents would cause a 'media frenzy'. Nor would it jeopardize her right to a fair trial as Maxwell had claimed. Judge Preska said that in a previously unsealed deposition from Maxwell, which she submitted to in April 2016, Maxwell did not answer when asked about her sex life. But in her July 2016 deposition she did answer such questions and so was entitled to privacy. The judge said: 'Public access to certain parts of the transcript is outweighed by Ms. Maxwell's countervailing interests in resisting disclosure of the details of her private, intimate relationships with consenting adults. Judge Alison Nathan said the vast sum, including $22.5m from Maxwell and her husband, was so much higher than the $3.5m she claimed to be worth after her arrest in July that it was suspicious. 'This testimony is, in any case, far afield from the sex trafficking and sexual abuse allegations that were central to the dispute in (the defamation case). 'Although the prurient interest of some may be left unsatiated as a result, Ms. Maxwell's interest in keeping private the details of her sexual relationships with consenting adults warrants the sealing of those portions of her testimony and any materials that reference them'. Referring to one document the judge said: 'Objections to questions nine, 10 and 11 will remain sealed because it relates to Miss Maxwell's intimate conduct. Material on pages 17 to 19 shall remain sealed, same reason. On another document Judge Preska said: 'In the introduction, the sentence beginning 'Miss Maxwell never admitted' shall remain sealed. It relates to private intimate conduct. Pages 1-2, the material relating to Miss Maxwell's adult conduct shall remain sealed'. In the same document, Judge Preska said one sentence with 'material relating to adult consensual behavior should be redacted'. The names and testimony of people who did not object to their identities being made public will be unsealed in the next batch of documents, as will all references to Alan Dershowtiz, the lawyer who has represented Epstein. Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with Dershowitz too, claims he strongly denis. Judge Preska initially wanted the documents unsealed by Tuesday next week but Maxwell's lawyers asked for another day because they have a deadline to file court documents in her criminal case on Monday, and the judge agreed. The April 2016 deposition which has already been made public ran to 418 pages and Maxwell fought tooth and nail to keep it private. Over seven hours Maxwell was questioned about everything from her sex life to her relationship with Andrew and Epstein. Maxwell was defiant, dismissive and refused to answer some questions 20 times. At one point she denied keeping a 'laundry basket of sex toys' at Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Maxwell was asked about having three-way sexual massages with Epstein and his sexual 'idiosyncrasies' such as nipple pinching. When asked if she ever provided Guiffre with 'schoolgirl outfits' for her to wear with a massage Maxwell responded: 'I have no idea what you are talking about'. Maxwell did admit that in 2015 she and Prince Andrew talked on the phone about allegations made by Giuffre. Andrew said of Giuffre that 'everything she said is a lie', according to Maxwell. Judge Nathan wrote that Maxwell was guilty of 'misdirection' to the court by failing to disclose her true worth the first time around Elsewhere in the deposition Maxwell called Giuffre an 'awful fantasist' and at one point she became so angry she banged her hand on the table. Maxwell's attempt to get free from jail on a $28.5m bail package backfired spectacularly after a judge said it 'only solidifies' the risk of her fleeing. Judge Alison Nathan said the vast sum, including $22.5m from Maxwell and her husband, was so much higher than the $3.5m she claimed to be worth after her arrest in July that it was suspicious. Judge Nathan wrote that Maxwell was guilty of 'misdirection' to the court by failing to disclose her true worth the first time around. Maxwell's 'lack of candor is, if anything, stronger now than in July' and her representations back then were 'woefully incomplete', the judge said. The scathing assessment was part of a 22-page filing to federal court in New York which set out Judge Nathan's reasons for denying Maxwell bail for a second time. The ruling means that Maxwell will remain in the grim Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until at least July next year when her trial is due to take place. Maxwell, 58, has been held there since July when she was arrested for allegedly procuring girls as young as 14 for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. The British socialite is also accused of perjuring herself in a civil case and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Maxwell's second bail application had included more than a dozen letters from family and friends in support. The $22.5m in cash and assets from her and husband Scott Borgerson, 44, a tech entrepreneur, was on top of $5m in property from her family and a $1m bond from a private security company. But in the filing Judge Nathan said that Maxwell's new bail application showed she had 'extraordinary financial resources' she could use to 'flee the country undetected'. The judge wrote: 'The new information provided in the renewed application only solidifies the court's view that the defendant plainly poses a risk of flight and that no combination of conditions can ensure her appearance'. Judge Nathan said that Maxwell 'providing incomplete or erroneous information to the court or pretrial services' was a 'significant' factor in her decision. After her arrest in July Maxwell claimed she had no access to her financial records and was piecing her assets together from memory. But Judge Nathan said that the difference between $3.5m and $22.5m was so big that Maxwell's explanation stretched credibility. The judge wrote: 'Even if the defendant was unable to provide an exact number, however, the difference between the number she originally reported to pretrial services and the number now presented to the court makes it unlikely that the misrepresentation was the result of the defendant's mis-estimation rather than misdirection. 'In sum, the evidence of a lack of candor is, if anything, stronger now than in July 2020, as it is clear to the court that the defendant's representations to pretrial services were woefully incomplete. 'That lack of candor raises significant concerns as to whether the court has now been provided a full and accurate picture of her finances and as to the defendant's willingness to abide by any set of conditions of release'. Judge Nathan noted that Maxwell had leaned heavily on a letter from Mr Borgerson - who she acknowledged as her husband for the first time in the bail application - saying that she would never leave the US and abandon him. Borgerson wrote that Maxwell was a 'wonderful and loving' person and he believed in her innocence. Judge Nathan wrote: 'The defendant now argues that her newly revealed relationship with her spouse signals her deep effective ties in the country, but at the time she was arrested, she was not living with him and claimed to be getting divorced. 'Indeed, she does not propose to live with him were she to be released on bail, undercutting her argument that that relationship would create an insurmountable burden to her fleeing'. Elsewhere in the ruling Judge Nathan said that, contrary to Maxwell's claims, the case against her remained 'strong'. The allegations from the three accusers would be backed up by flight records and other witnesses' corroborating testimony, the judge said. JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S UNDOING: A TIMELINE OF THE MILLIONAIRE PEDOPHILE'S DOWNFALL 1999 - Virginia Roberts Giuffre is allegedly recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell to became Epstein's 'sex slave,' at 17. She also claimed that he forced her to have sex with his friend Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth. 2002 - Trump tells New York Magazine that his friend Epstein 'likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' 2005 - A 14-year-old girl tells police that Epstein molested her at his Palm Beach mansion. May 2006 - Epstein and two of his associates are charged with multiple counts of unlawful sex acts with a minor. State attorney of the time Barry Krischer, referred the case to a grand jury who heard from just two of the 12 girls law enforcement had gathered as potential witnesses. They returned just one single count of soliciting prostitution. July 2006 - The case is referred to the FBI by the Florida Palm Beach police who were unhappy with how the case was handled. 2007 - Epstein's lawyers meet with Miami's top federal prosecutor Alexander Acosta, who would later become the Secretary of Labor in the Trump administration. They secretly negotiate the 'deal of a lifetime'. June 2008 - After pleading guilty to two prostitution charges, the millionaire was sentenced to 18 months in a low-security prison in exchange for prosecutors ending their investigation into his sex acts with minors and give him immunity from future prosecution related to those charges. In reality, Epstein was able to work from his office six days a week while supposedly incarcerated at the jail. July 2008 - Accusers learned of the deal for the first time. July 2009 - Epstein is released from jail five months early. July 2018 - The Miami Herald publishes investigative journalist Julie K. Brown's expose on Epstein's long history of alleged sexual abuse and news of the 'deal of a lifetime' after Acosta was made Labor Secretary. February 2019 - The justice department opens an internal review into Epstein's plea deal. July 7, 2019 - Epstein is arrested after his private jet lands at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport from Paris. At the same time, federal agents break into his Manhattan townhouse where they uncovered hundreds of photographs of naked minors. July 8, 2019 - Epstein is charged with sex trafficking charges which detail how he created a network of underage girls in Florida and New York, paying girls as young as 14 to provide 'massages and sex acts.' The charges carry a sentence of up to 45 years in prison. July 11, 2019 - More than a dozen women, not previously known to law enforcement, came forward to accuse him of sex abuse. July 24 - Epstein was found unconscious in his cell after an apparent suicide attempt. He was moved to suicide watch at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. August 9, 2019 - More than 2,000 documents are unsealed which reveal the lurid allegations against Epstein in detail. August 10, 2019 - Epstein is found dead in his cell. Advertisement The British socialite and friend of Prince Andrew who became Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam: How press baron's daughter Ghislaine Maxwell went from impeccably connected party girl to fugitive accused of luring girls into paedophile billionaire's bed Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of disgraced press baron Robert, is the person who knew Jeffrey Epstein and his secrets best. A socialite who once revelled in her connections with the rich and famous, she has now been found and arrested in New Hampshire having been virtually invisible since the autumn of 2016 - having only been spotted once at a burger restaurant in California last year. The 58-year-old, who has been accused of being a 'madam' and 'fixer' for Epstein, will now be hauled to court to tell all she knows about her relationship with the billionaire paedophile before he killed himself awaiting trial for sex crimes in August last year. Maxwell has previously been accused of recruiting and 'training' underage girls for Epstein - her benefactor and sometime boyfriend - to abuse, while often joining in the abuse herself. The pair went everywhere together, moving through high-class circles that included the likes of Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton, and is said to have been the one person Epstein treated as an equal. Virginia Roberts, Epstein's most prominent accuser, says it was Ghislaine who first approached her about working for him as a 'traveling masseuse' while she was taking a break during a shift at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in 1999. She says Ghislaine participated in the first time Epstein sexually abused her, and was in charge of managing several girls he routinely assaulted - referring to herself as a 'mother hen'. Ghislaine Maxwell was known as Jeffrey Epstein's closest confidante. The pair dated for a time in the 1990s before settling into a 'close friendship' that his accusers say included her recruiting young girls for him to abuse, and sometimes joining in (pictured, Ghislaine and Epstein, right, with Donald Trump and Melania at Mar-a-Lago in 2000) Ghislaine was a wealthy socialite, moving in elite circles until she virtually disappeared from public view in 2016 after Virginia Roberts - Epstein's main accuser - filed a lawsuit against her (pictured, Epstein and Ghislaine in New York in 2015) Roberts says it was Ghislaine who introduced her to Prince Andrew at Tramp nightclub the evening they allegedly had sex and told her what to do with the prince. She also appears in the infamous photo of the two together, which was taken inside Maxwell's London townhouse. Born of a tyrannical, dishonest but charming father whom she never deserted, Ghislaine was inevitably going to stand by her man Jeffrey Epstein, even when he killed himself awaiting another child sex trial but her silence will be tested by the FBI. And her arrest will certainly shake Prince Andrew, a friend of 20 years or more, and raise concerns at Buckingham Palace that a fresh storm is heading their way. She was said to be 'madly in love' with Epstein following their meeting shortly after Maxwell died after falling off his yacht, but the paedophile who killed himself last year is said to have shunned marriage with her because he wanted to sleep with other women. Alternately described by his associates as his 'main girlfriend' and 'closest friend', the nature of their relationship is perhaps best surmised in allegations that Epstein kept a 9ft nude painting of Maxwell, legs spread, at his New Mexico 'baby-making ranch'. For years she followed Epstein between his mansions in the US and the US Virgin Islands was his frequent travel companion on trips around the world, where he procured girls for himself and his famous friends. He allegedly did this with the help of his ever-loyal friend Ghislaine, according to Virginia Roberts, who claims she was made Epstein's 'sex slave' and forced to sleep with Prince Andrew three times when she was 17. Maxwell operated as part-girlfriend, part-employee, orchestrating Epstein's social life. Epstein supported Maxwell and helped her remain in the social position she had grown accustom to from her upbringing. She has even been described as the 'madam of the house' by a former housekeeper at Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Hitherto, she has always emphatically denied misconduct. 'She inherited her father's slightly bombastic charisma, and is one of those people who successfully trades on the fact that she knows lots of other fancy people, including Clintons, Kennedys and various royals,' said one acquaintance. Describing her own meeting with Ghislaine in a New York bar in the Eighties, Petronella Wyatt described how she had 'an intense sexuality' and gave her a very public lesson in the art of oral sex. Writer Christina Oxenberg recalled that, during another meeting, she greeted guests wearing nothing more than her underwear, fanned herself with a copy of Vogue, and 'threw' her Yorkshire Terrier puppy across the room In 1991, Robert Maxwell drowned in mysterious circumstances after falling off his yacht named the Lady Ghislaine - and it was his death that led to her meeting Epstein later that year as she fled to America to avoid scrutiny in her native Britain. Soon after the newspaper tycoon's dearth Ghislaine caused outrage by being photographed boarding Concorde while at the same time publicly speaking of her financial struggle her father, she lamented, had left her only an annual 80,000 trust fund to live off. Increasingly, she was seen to be resolutely unsympathetic to Maxwell's victims and, astonishingly, sought to defend her father's behaviour even after it became clear he had defrauded so many of his employees. Before long, there was the inevitable speculation that she was living off stolen money and Ghislaine was said to have taken to wearing a disguise in Britain to avoid recognition. But it was a different story in America, where Ghislaine found she could do as she pleased and over the years she has taken full advantage of this attitude. Maxwell is a long-time friend of Prince Andrew (pictured together in 2009) and was the one who introduced him to Epstein, with whom he became close friends Ghislaine managed to manoeuvre herself into the very heart of New York's business and Hollywood elite. And she did it with the American billionaire financier friend Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein took Ghislaine under his wing when she arrived in New York a broken and lonely woman and helped her not only back on to her feet but also to become one of the most sought-after members of the city's social elite. She was instantly attracted to him a man as flamboyant, dominant and rich as the father she had just lost. In no time, she was appearing at Epstein's side as the 'celebrity' guest at the opening of a glamorous Manhattan restaurant. She was also a regular guest at his Upper East Side apartment. Very soon, a friend reported that 'her dependence [on Epstein] is pretty total'. At one time, there were even rumours they would marry, but they never did and she saw him has a father figure to replace the one she had lost. Robert Maxwell biographer Tom Bower said she 'worshiped rich, domineering men' 'Ghislaine floated in and out of the house with the keys, and even though Jeffrey told me they didn't have a sexual relationship, she'd drop under her breath that she was sleeping in his bed from time to time' one Epstein ex-girlfriend told Vanity Fair. The pair partied with Donald Trump and Melania at Mar-A-Lago and threw lavish dinners at Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse, attended by Woody Allen, Katie Couric, Chelsea Handler, David Blaine and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, among others. The jet-setting financier also hobnobbed with Trump allies Wilbur Ross, Steve Mnuchin and Rudy Giuliani at a Hamptons film screening in 2010, just two months after his release from prison in Florida. Epstein had bragged to a New York Times columnist about having 'dirt' on his rich and powerful associates - and rumours of a black book of secrets on all of them - and Ms Maxwell was said to be intrinsically involved In 2008, Epstein was offered a secret deal to avoid federal prosecution and pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting an underage girl for sex. As part of that deal, federal prosecutors agreed not to charge 'any potential co-conspirators of Epstein'. He served 13 months in county jail in Palm Beach, Florida and registered as a sex offender. During his sentence, he was allowed to work from his office most days. The deal was cut by Alex Acosta, then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. He resigned from his current role as Trump's Secretary of Labor in the fallout from the Epstein case. On July 6 2019, FBI investigators broke down the doors of Epstein's $77 million New York home after he was arrested on his private jet at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey following a flight from Paris. A search of Epstein's home turned up hundreds of pictures of nude women, some of them minors, along with cash, diamonds, valuable art and an expired Austrian passport with Epstein's face but someone else's name, claiming Saudi Arabia as place of residence, according Geoffrey Berman, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Maxwell has not been seen since last August when she was photographed at an In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles, ten days after Epstein's suicide Maxwell is alleged to be one of the main players in a network of recruiters and enablers who provided Epstein with those underage girls to sexually abuse before he took his life in a New York prison cell last year. Ghislaine is Maxwell's youngest child. She attended the boarding school Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England, a favorite of the British elite, and went on to study at Oxford University. In her twenties, she was a well-known face on London's social scene and founded the Kit Kat Club, an alternative to the old-school-tie network for high-powered women. She worked for her father's newspaper, The European, and as the director of Oxford United Football Club while her father was owner. The first report of their friendship was a footnote in a newspaper diary column from early 1999. 'Prince Andrew keeps interesting company these days,' it began. 'He's just attended a dinner hosted by Ghislaine Maxwell.' By April 2000 Ghislaine and Andrew were spotted sharing one of several intimate lunch dates together. They sat hand in hand while dining on lobster salad she sipped a champagne cocktail at Nello restaurant on New York's Madison Avenue. His police bodyguard watched discreetly and fell in step behind Andrew once he had paid the 90 bill in cash. Miss Maxwell left separately in order to avoid the paparazzi. But, she and the Duke of York were not in a romantic relationship. Indeed, as his new found confidante and social fixer she was far, far more important to him than that. Former friends and acquaintances spoke of Miss Maxwell's enigmatic personality and the similarities between her relationships with her fraudster father and Epstein. At Marlborough public school and later at Oxford she was a member of a powerful clique. 'She was her Daddy's girl,' recalls one school contemporary. 'But you could not quite work out what made her tick.' After her father's death when the extent of his corruption was exposed, Miss Maxwell retreated to America where 'she grew a second skin and an icy resolve', says a friend. There she met Epstein, eight years her senior, whose fabulous wealth was mirrored by the obscurity of its origins and current business dealings. 'The moment you saw them together you could see Epstein was her father substitute,' says one friend. 'A powerful older man. A second Robert Maxwell.' Together they partied with the Kennedys and the Clintons and Ghislaine boasted that she was particularly close to President Bill. In February 2000, Andrew and Miss Maxwell flew from New York to Florida on a private jet belonging to one Donald Trump. They stayed at the future president's resort, Mar-a-Lago. The prince danced the night away at a club, flirting with a number of women and buying a 300 bottle of champagne. Then he flew back to New York with Miss Maxwell, where they attended a Ralph Lauren fashion show. Soon it was time for Andrew to repay their hospitality. In June 2000, both Epstein and Miss Maxwell were among guests at a lavish party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen. The Dance of the Decades was to mark Andrew's recent 40th birthday, Princess Anne's 50th and Princess Margaret's impending 70th, as well as Prince William's 18th. Months later, Miss Maxwell and the prince attended a very different calibre of event in Manhattan that autumn a 'hookers and bondage' party for which Ghislaine dressed as a streetwalker. The prince simply looked dishevelled in a suit. The closeness of the relationship was confirmed when, in December, Andrew threw a 'surprise' 40th birthday party for Miss Maxwell at Sandringham. Epstein was in attendance. Within a matter of months he and Miss Maxwell appeared to have become the prince's closest friends. It was a catastrophic error of judgment. His ex-wife and the palace were by then voicing concerns which grew when Andrew left the Royal Family's Christmas gathering at Sandringham to join Miss Maxwell and Epstein in Phuket, Thailand, for New Year. There he was photographed sunbathing on a luxury yacht surrounded by topless young women. Ghislaine Maxwell, circled, pictured at the wedding of Chelsea Clinton in 2010 Maxwell is pictured meeting Princess Diana in 1984. Maxwell used her impeccable social contacts, like her friendship with the Prince, to introduce Epstein, a gardener's son, to society How far Ghislaine Maxwell was prepared to go to help Epstein, the man who bankrolled her fabulous lifestyle, is now a criminal matter. One of seven children, they all struggled to escape their father's dark legacy. In a rare interview some years ago, Ghislaine's sister Christine gave a fascinating insight into what it was like to have been one of Maxwell's children. She told of the ritual humiliation he visited on his children at Sunday lunch, which was 'torture'. 'He was dreadful to us, in front of friends, boyfriends it was unbearable. Everything was black and white for him: you were with him or against him.' It emerged that his newspaper empire was built on the proceeds of epic criminality, which had seen him defraud its pension fund of almost half a billion pounds. Vilified in the UK, where Robert Maxwell's victims were angered by the lavish lifestyle his family had enjoyed at their expense, his youngest daughter relocated to New York, where she took up residence in a small apartment, and set about re-inventing herself. Now Maxwell has been taken into custody, said FBI spokesman Marty Feely. An indictment made public on Thursday said Maxwell facilitated Epstein's crimes by 'helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse' girls as young as 14. It also said she participated in the sexual abuse. Epstein killed himself in a federal detention centre in New York last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Ghislaine is the daughter of disgraced press baron Robert and Elizabeth Maxwell (pictured together at Cannes Film Festival in France in 1987), described as a tyrannical, dishonest but charming father whom she never deserted Maxwell was accused by many women of recruiting them to give Epstein massages, during which they were pressured into sex. The indictment included counts of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury. Maxwell has previously repeatedly denied wrongdoing and called some of the claims against her 'absolute rubbish'. Among the most sensational accusations was a claim by one Epstein victim, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, that Maxwell arranged for her to have sex with the Duke of York at her London townhouse. Andrew denied her story. 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. 1948-70 - Nearly half a million people moved from the Caribbean to Britain, which in 1948 faced severe labour shortages in the wake of the Second World War. The immigrants were later referred to as 'the Windrush generation'. Working age adults and many children travelled from the Caribbean to join parents or grandparents in the UK or travelled with their parents without their own passports. Since these people had a legal right to come to the UK, they neither needed nor were given any documents upon entry to the UK, nor following changes in immigration laws in the early 1970s. Many worked or attended schools in the UK without any official documentary record of their having done so, other than the same records as any UK-born citizen. 2012 - The hostile environment policy, which came into effect in October 2012, comprises administrative and legislative measures to make staying in the UK as difficult as possible for people without 'leave to remain', in the hope that they may 'voluntarily leave'. The policy was widely seen as being part of a strategy of reducing UK immigration figures to the levels promised in the 2010 Conservative Party Election Manifesto. Measures introduced by the policy include a legal requirement for landlords, employers, the NHS, charities, community interest companies and banks to carry out ID checks and to refuse services if the individual is unable to prove legal residence in the UK. Landlords, employers and others are liable to fines of up to 10,000 if they fail to comply with these measures. The policy led to a more complicated application process to get 'leave to remain' and encouraged voluntary deportation.The policy coincided with sharp increases in Home Office fees for processing 'leave to remain', naturalisation and registration of citizenship applications. 2013 - The Home Office received warnings that many Windrush generation residents were being treated as illegal immigrants and that older Caribbean born people were being targeted. The Refugee and Migrant Centre in Wolverhampton said their caseworkers were seeing hundreds of people receiving letters from Capita, the Home Office's contractor, telling them that they had no right to be in the UK, some of whom were told to arrange to leave the UK at once. Roughly half the letters went to people who already had leave to remain or were in the process of formalising their immigration status. People considered illegal were sometimes losing their jobs or homes as a consequence of having benefits cut off and some had been refused medical care under the National Health Service (NHS), some placed in detention centres as preparation for their deportation, some deported or refused right to return to the UK from abroad. Caribbean leaders had put the deportations on the agenda at the Commonwealth meeting in Sri Lanka and in April 2016 Caribbean governments told Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, that immigrants who had spent most of their lives in the UK were facing deportation and their concerns were passed on at the time to the Home Office. Shortly before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018, twelve Caribbean countries made a formal request for a meeting with the British Prime Minister to discuss the issue, which was rejected by Downing Street. 2017 - Newspapers reported that the British government had threatened to deport people from Commonwealth territories who had arrived in the UK before 1973, if they could not prove their right to remain in the UK. Although primarily identified as the Windrush generation and mainly from the Caribbean, it was estimated in April 2018 on figures provided by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford that up to 57,000 Commonwealth migrants could be affected, of whom 15,000 were from Jamaica. In addition to those from the Caribbean, cases of people affected who had been born in Kenya, Cyprus, Canada and Sierra Leone were identified in the press. The press coverage accused Home Office agencies of operating a 'guilty until proven innocent' and 'deport first, appeal later' regime; of targeting the weakest groups, particularly those from the Caribbean; of inhumanely applying regulations by cutting off access to jobs, services and bank accounts while cases were still being investigated; of losing large numbers of original documents which proved right to remain; of making unreasonable demands for documentary proof - in some instances, elderly people had been asked for 4 documents for each year they had lived in the UK and of leaving people stranded outside the UK because of British administrative errors or intransigence and denial of medical treatment. Other cases covered in the press, involved adults born in the UK, whose parents were 'Windrush' immigrants and who had been threatened with deportation and had their rights removed, because they were unable to prove that their parents were legally in the UK at the time of their birth. The Home Office and British government were further accused of having known about the negative impacts that the 'hostile environment policy' was having on Windrush immigrants since as early as 2013 and of having done nothing to remedy them. 2018 - Questions were raised in Parliament about individual cases that had been highlighted in the press. On March 14, when Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn asked May about an individual who had been refused medical treatment under the NHS during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Theresa May initially said she was 'unaware of the case', but later agreed to 'look into it'. Parliament thereafter continued to be involved in what was increasingly being referred to as 'the Windrush scandal'. On April 16, David Lammy MP challenged then Home Secretary Amber Rudd in the House of Commons to give numbers as to how many had lost their jobs or homes, been denied medical care, or been detained or deported wrongly. Lammy called on Rudd to apologise for the threats of deportation and called it a 'day of national shame', blaming the problems on the government's 'hostile environment policy'. Rudd replied that she did not know of any, but would attempt to verify that. In late April, Rudd faced increasing calls for her to resign and for the Government to abandon the 'hostile environment policy'. There were also calls for the Home Office to reduce fees for immigration services. On May 2, Labour introduced a motion in the House of Commons seeking to force the government to release documents to the Home Affairs Select Committee concerning its handling of cases involving people who came to the UK from Commonwealth countries between 1948 and the 1970s. The motion was defeated by 316 votes to 221. On April 25, in answer to a question put to her by the Home Affairs Select Committee about deportation targets, Rudd said she was unaware of such targets, saying 'that's not how we operate'. The following day, Rudd admitted in Parliament that targets had existed, but characterised them as 'local targets for internal performance management' only, not 'specific removal targets'. She also claimed that she had been unaware of them and promised that they would be scrapped. Two days later, The Guardian published a leaked memo that had been copied to Rudd's office. The memo said that the department had set 'a target of achieving 12,800 enforced returns in 2017-18' and 'we have exceeded our target of assisted returns'. The memo added that progress had been made towards 'the 10% increased performance on enforced returns, which we promised the Home Secretary earlier this year'. Rudd responded by saying she had never seen the leaked memo, 'although it was copied to my office, as many documents are'. The New Statesman said that the leaked memo gave, 'in specific detail the targets set by the Home Office for the number of people to be removed from the United Kingdom. It suggests that Rudd misled MPs on at least one occasion'. Diane Abbott MP called for Rudd's resignation: 'Amber Rudd either failed to read this memo and has no clear understanding of the policies in her own department, or she has misled Parliament and the British people.'Abbott also said, 'The danger is that (the) very broad target put pressure on Home Office officials to bundle Jamaican grandmothers into detention centres'. On April 23, Rudd announced that compensation would be given to those affected and, in future, fees and language tests for citizenship applicants would be waived for this group. On April 29, The Guardian published a private letter from Rudd to Theresa May dated January 2017 in which Rudd wrote of an 'ambitious but deliverable' target for an increase in the enforced deportation of immigrants. Later that day, Rudd resigned as Home Secretary. Parliamentary committees - On June 29, the parliamentary Human Rights Select committee published a 'damning' report on the exercise of powers by immigration officials. MPs and peers concluded in the report that there had been 'systemic failures' and rejected the Home Office description of a 'a series of mistakes' as not 'credible or sufficient'. The report concluded that the Home Office demonstrated a 'wholly incorrect approach to case-handling and to depriving people of their liberty', and urged the Home Secretary to take action against the 'human rights violations' occurring in his department. On July 3, the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) published a critical report which said that unless the Home Office was overhauled the scandal would 'happen again, for another group of people'. The report found that 'a change in culture in the Home Office over recent years' had led to an environment in which applicants had been 'forced to follow processes that appear designed to set them up to fail'. The report questioned whether the hostile environment should continue in its current form, commenting that 'rebranding it as the 'compliant' environment is a meaningless response to genuine concerns'. Home Office replies - On June 28, a letter to the HASC from the Home Office reported that it had 'mistakenly detained' 850 people in the five years between 2012 and 2017. In the same five-year period, the Home Office had paid compensation of over 21million for wrongful detention. Compensation payments varied between 1 and 120,000; an unknown number of these detentions were Windrush cases. The letter also acknowledged that 23 per cent of staff working within immigration enforcement had received performance bonuses, and that some staff had been set 'personal objectives' 'linked to targets to achieve enforced removals' on which bonus payments were made. National Audit Office report - In a report published in December 2018, the UK's National Audit Office found that the Home Office 'failed to protect [the] rights to live, work and access services' of the Windrush scandal victims, had ignored warnings of the impending scandal, which had been raised up to four years earlier, and had still not adequately addressed the scandal. 'Windrush Lessons Learned Review' - On March 19, 2020, the Home Office released the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. This study, described by the Home Secretary as 'long-awaited', was an independent inquiry managed and conducted by Wendy Williams, an inspector of constabulary. The report was a scathing indictment of the Home Office's handling of Windrush individuals, and concluded that the Home Office showed an inexcusable 'ignorance and thoughtlessness', and that what had happened had been 'foreseeable and avoidable'. It further found that immigration regulations were tightened 'with complete disregard for the Windrush generation', and that officials had made irrational demands for multiple documents to establish residency rights. The study recommended a full review of the 'hostile environment' immigration policy. "Beko has long been ahead of the curve - on health, wellness and sustainability - with its dedication to putting more carbon-neutral products into American kitchens," explains Elkin. "All of this is why, here at Beko, we're declaring that 2021 is going to be the year of health and wellbeingour biggest commitment ever to promoting healthy and sustainable living through award-winning technology." Ranked as the leading home appliance brand in Europe, Beko believes that by putting premium technology within reach, everyone can achieve the goal of a healthy life. The company's full product line features 29 kitchen and laundry appliances on the 2020 ENERGY STAR Most Efficient lista distinction reserved for energy efficient products that also deliver the latest in technological innovation. As this year's KBIS Opening Ceremonies and KBIS Design Product Award Ceremonies Sponsor, Beko invites all attendees to visit KBIS and Beko's virtual booth at the all-virtual event taking place February 9-12, 2021. NEW PRODUCT: Beko French Door Refrigerator Beko meets the growing demand for kitchen appliances that promote healthy living with the new environmentally friendly 36" French 3-Door refrigerator. Beko's remarkable EverFresh+ and Active Fresh Blue Light technology, meticulous temperature management, and precise humidity control combine to keep fresh food fresher up to 30% longer than an average refrigerator up to 30 days. Fruits and vegetables retain vitamins and nutrients with this amazing technology that simulates natural light conditions, extending the photosynthesis process. Beko's new refrigerator is exquisitely designed for counter depth installation, has a fingerprint-proof exterior, and offers a new sleek interior stainless rear wall that helps stabilize temperatures. The Beko BFFD3624XSS features innovative compressor technology, extremely low ozone depletion, and efficient cooling while performing as silent as your neighborhood library. And the industry-leading capacity Beko Turbo Ice Maker is an instant family favorite by cranking out up to 11 pounds of ice a day. "Through looking at and understanding consumer behavior, we at Beko aim to bring purposeful new technologies, across all product lines, that respect the planet and make everyday life easier for users," said Salih Zeki Bugay, Director of Marketing & Product Management, Beko US Inc. "Food preservation is key with cooling appliances, so we offer innovative features such as EverFresh+ to not just one unit, but to nearly the entire line up of refrigeration products offered in different sizes to meet numerous space and use needs." Meet the Beko Team and Enter to Win a Suite of Beko Kitchen Products at KBIS Meet the Beko US Appliances team at KBIS and learn how Beko technologies are purposefully made with the health and wellbeing of our customers top of mind. Consumers are focused on sustainability in practice, which is why we are so proud to have received the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for Beko's outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency for four years in a row, 2017 -2020, a first for any appliance manufacturer. Plus, when you stop by Beko's Virtual Booth, you can enter to win a kitchen suite package with our latest health and wellness focused technology. Valued up to $10,000, this package includes Beko's full white glove service for delivery and installation. Coming Fall 2021 After learning and growing through a long year of Covid-19, Beko has developed new products focused on health and hygiene, sanitization, and safety and we cannot wait to share all the news! Stay tuned for what's in store from Beko with our fall line-up of new products. For more information on Beko US products and services visit our website at www.Beko.com/us-en. Or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. About Beko US Inc. Beko US, Inc. is the U.S subsidiary of Arcelik A.S. operating in more than 140 countries. Beko is the leading freestanding home appliances brand in Europe in the white goods sector. Beko US Inc. is committed to developing highly energy efficient home appliances that deliver advanced technology and superior features, empowering your family to live healthier. Four years in a row, from 2017 to 2020, a first for any appliance manufacturer, Beko US, Inc. received the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for its outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. In 2019 and 2020, Beko US, Inc. also was recognized with an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award, the program's highest honor. For more information visit www.beko.com/us-en. About Arcelik: Founded in 1955, Arcelik is one of the leading players in the electronics and home appliances industry. The company is present in 146 countries, has 30,000 employees, 23 production units in 9 countries (Turkey, Romania, Russia, China, South Africa, Thailand, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh) and 35 sales and marketing offices worldwide. The company owns 12 brands (Arcelik, Beko, Grundig, Blomberg, ElektraBregenz, Arctic, Leisure, Flavel, Defy, Dawlance, Voltas Beko, Altus) and is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. For more information visit www.arcelikglobal.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Susan Hartzler Public Relations Manager Janzen Brands 818-585-8641 [email protected] PUBLIC CONTACT: Julie G. Howerter Senior Channel & Product Marketing Manager Beko US (630) 853-6221 [email protected] SOURCE Beko US Related Links https://www.beko.com/ 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. Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher Activision Blizzard is resisting calls to diversify its hiring practices. VICE is reporting that Activision lawyers have pushed back against a shareholder proposal asking it to implement a 'Rooney Rule' in a bid to foster more diversity, calling the proposal "unworkable." The 'Diverse Candidate Search Policy' proposal, submitted by labor federation AFL-CIO, would require Activision to interview a diverse range of candidates, including women and people of color, for all open positions. Although it wouldn't dictate who the company could hire, it would ensure people from underrepresented backgrounds are added to that initial pool of potential hires. "The purpose of the requested Diverse Candidate Search Policy is to assure that the Companys recruitment pools for external hires are adequately diverse," explained the AFL-CIO. "A diverse workforce at all levels of a company can enhance long-term company performance." In a letter obtained by VICE, however, Activision's attorneys said the policy would amount to "an unworkable encroachment on the Companys ability to run its business and compete for talent in a highly competitive, fast-moving market." They also argued that the proposal would violate SEC guidance by micromanaging Activision's hiring process, leaving "no room for the Companys management or Board of Directors to exercise discretion in how new hire decisions are structured." Since VICE published its report, Activision has sought to clarify those remarks in a statement sent to IGN. The publisher claims its attorney's statements have been "mischaracterized" by VICE, and that its "hiring practices are rooted in ensuring diversity for all roles." "Activision Blizzard is committed to inclusive hiring practices and to creating a diverse workforce; it is essential to our mission," it told IGN. "Vice completely mischaracterized the SEC filing made by our outside attorneys. In fact, our hiring practices are rooted in ensuring diversity for all roles. "We engage in this aggressively and successfully. Our objection was rooted in the fact that the AFL-CIO proposal failed to adequately consider how to apply these practices in all of the countries we operate in." You can read VICE's report in full right here, and head on over to IGN to hear Activision's response. Germanys Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded a consortium, or ARGE, consisting of MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH a contract to fabricate, integrate and support testing of a laser weapon demonstrator in the maritime environment. The order value is in the low double-digit million euro range. Germanys Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded a consortium, or ARGE, consisting of MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH a contract to fabricate, integrate and support testing of a laser weapon demonstrator in the maritime environment. The order value is in the low double-digit million euro range. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link F 219, an FGS Sachsen-class frigate. Trials of a laser weapon demonstrator onboard the German Navy frigate F-124 Sachsen are to take place in 2022 (Picture surce: Bundeswehr) Work will be shared out on a roughly equal basis. MBDA Deutschland is responsible for tracking, the operators console and linking the laser weapon demonstrator to the command-and-control system. Rheinmetall is in charge of the laser weapon station, the beam guiding system, cooling, and integration of the laser weapon system into the project container of the laser source demonstrator. The laser weapon demonstrator is to be fabricated, tested and integrated by the end of the 2021. Trials onboard the German Navy frigate F-124 Sachsen are to take place in 2022. As Doris Laarmann, head of laser business development at MBDA Deutschland, notes, The contract is an important step on the path to an operational high-energy laser system. Our two companies will apply their respective strengths to make this project a success on behalf of the German Navy. Once its installed, the demonstrator will also be used to test important aspects such as the interaction and function of the sensor suite, combat management system and effector as well as rules of engagement. Alexander Graf, head of Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions laser weapons programme, and Dr Markus Jung, who leads the companys laser weapon development effort, both agree, adding that The contract marks a systematic extension of the functional prototype laser weapon successfully tested in recent years, with the experience gained now dovetailing into one of the most ambitious projects in the field of laser weapon development in Europe. Rheinmetall is in charge of the laser weapon station, the beam guiding system, cooling, and integration of the laser weapon system into the project container of the laser source demonstrator. MBDA Deutschland is responsible for tracking, the operators console and linking the laser weapon demonstrator to the command-and-control system. (Picture surce: Rheinmetall) A breakthrough development in the history of defence technology, lasers engage targets at the speed of light, operating with great precision and producing very little collateral damage. A demonstrator system featuring these capabilities will soon be put to the test under highly realistic operating conditions onboard a German frigate. Throughout its 130-year history, Rheinmetall has enjoyed a global reputation as a centre of excellence for weapons and ammunition. Moreover, the company has been active in the field of laser weapon systems for many years. In the world of laser weapon stations and laser sources, during the past five years Rheinmetall has laid the foundation for a future 100kW laser weapon system, demonstrating its fundamental feasibility. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 22:23:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ten of Cambodia's nearly-extinct Royal Turtles were released on Thursday into their natural habitat in the Sre Ambel River in southwest Preah Sihanouk province, a conservationist group said. The Royal Turtle, also known as Southern River Terrapin, is one of the world's 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises and it is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Critically Endangered. The Royal Turtle release is the result of nearly two decades of turtle nest protection, care for the young turtles in the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, and community-based protection of turtles on the Sre Ambel River, said a joint statement issued by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Cambodia's Fisheries Administration (FiA). It was the fifth release of Royal Turtles into the river, following releases made in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, making a total of 96 turtles returned to the wild, the statement said. "We highly appreciate the participation of local authorities, community and WCS to conserve these critically endangered turtles so that they can persist in the natural water bodies," said Ouk Vibol, director of the Department of Fisheries Conservation. "All stakeholders should continue their efforts to conserve the threatened species, and those who still trade protected species will face legal action," he added. All 10 Royal Turtles were collected immediately after emerging from their nests along the Sre Ambel River and Kampong Leu River in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces from 2006 to 2015 and sent to Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center for care before being freed into the wild, said Som Sitha, WCS landscape project manager. The Royal Turtle has been designated as Cambodia's National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005, the statement said, adding that the continued sand dredging, illegal fishing, over-exploitation and loss of habitat are major threats to the survival of these species which is at great risk of extinction. The Royal Turtle was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was rediscovered by the FiA and WCS in the Sre Ambel River. Since then, WCS and FiA have been working together to protect the species from extinction, it said. Conservation activities include nest protection program, head-starting, law enforcement, research and monitoring, prevention of illegal trade, outreach and livelihood support, the statement added. "The nest protection program plays a vital role to protect the species by promoting participation of the local community to protect nests and allowing nests to successfully hatch, head start and release into the wild," said Ken Sereyrotha, WCS country program director. Enditem An NHS worker has quit his 'dream job' after claiming the pressures of coronavirus became overwhelming. Shane Longton, 37, from Preston, Lancashire, said he was prepared to work for the NHS for life but reluctantly admitted that he 'didn't sign up for this' amid the ongoing pandemic. The healthcare assistant of four years claims that attitudes towards frontline staff have changed since the 'clap for carers' phase, and added that he is now sick of people breaking the rules and refusing to wear masks. Shane, who can remember the names of all 50 patients he accompanied during their last dying moments, said that staff sickness levels have also been piling on extra pressure at a time when morale is at an all-time low. Shane Longton (pictured), from Preston, Lancashire, said he was prepared to work for the NHS for life but reluctantly admitted that he 'didn't sign up for this' amid the ongoing pandemic Shane claimed that his work now makes him a target of abuse by people who believe the virus is a 'hoax' - which was the final straw in his decision to quit his much-loved role. He said his anxiety has become 'too much to bear' and he handed in his notice last week - despite having no job to move on to. Shane said: 'I still remember all my patients names and faces, because I made a point of getting to know each person I worked with. 'One morning I could be chatting to them about their life and their family, but by the afternoon I could be be preparing their bodies after they passed away. The healthcare worker of four years (pictured) claims that attitudes towards frontline staff have changed since the 'clap for carers' phase 'I loved my job, and I still want to care for people and make an impact on people's lives, but it's become too much to bear - I have to look after my mental health. 'Not only that - more and more staff are off sick, putting even more pressure on those of us who were left - and it just becomes impossible to manage. 'People say "It's what you signed up for", but none of us signed up for this. 'I thought I'd work for the NHS for the rest of my life, but I just can't do it anymore. 'I wanted to do my job and save people, but you can't save everyone. 'It's horrible to hear of staff being given abuse - often from the same people who flout the rules by refusing to wear masks and social distancing. Shane, who lives with husband Graham Longton, 36, (pictured together) said he began work for the NHS as a healthcare worker after being inspired by a nurse who cared for him after routine surgery 'The icing on the cake for me has been the anger directed towards the NHS and people refusing to follow the rules. 'I have had to delete a lot of my own Facebook friends after seeing statuses saying the pandemic is a "hoax".' 'And seeing protesters chanting outside of hospitals full of Covid patients - it's just ridiculous.' Shane, who lives with husband Graham Longton, 36, said he began work for the NHS as a healthcare assistant after being inspired by a nurse who cared for him after routine surgery. He has been working at several hospitals around north west England after training, and said it was a job he 'absolutely loved' - until the pandemic began last March. As wards filled with Covid-19 patients, PPE was in short supply, leaving him anxious about catching the virus. He said: 'We saw the TV reports showing the hospitals in Italy, but you can never mentally prepare for something like that when it happens around you. 'We were all so scared - at the back of your mind you're always thinking, "am I going to catch this?".' He said every day he would develop friendships with patients to support them when they couldn't see their loved ones. But would often find himself preparing their body just hours later, after they died from the virus. He said: 'I made a point of getting to know every patient I worked with and I remember each one that passed away. 'They told me about their lives, their families, and what mattered to them most in the world - so it's devastating when anyone passes away. 'One of the hardest things to do is to switch from hospital mode to family mode when you leave work at the end of the day - the things you see stay with you.' Shane said he has seen a shift in attitudes towards NHS staff working in the pandemic. Last year he said he felt appreciated, with 'clap for carers' and countless rainbows displayed in windows, but now thinks that less people are appreciating NHS work and more people are willing to flout the rules. He added that he now feels his hard work makes him a target of abuse and blame by people who are fed up of lockdown or believe the virus is a 'hoax' - which was the final straw in his decision to quit his much-loved role. Shane said handing in his notice last week was a 'very bittersweet moment'. Now seeking a new job, Shane said: 'This past year has really taken its toll on my mental health and I have to put that first. My anxiety has got a lot worse and I'm showing symptoms of PTSD from the first wave. 'People say we knew what we were signing up for, but none of us signed up for this. 'I thought I'd work for the NHS for the rest of my life, but I just can't do it anymore.' But Shane is not alone after a UNISON survey of more than 10,000 NHS staff published in recent days revealed 52 per cent are considering leaving their job in the next year. Sara Gorton, head of health at UNISON, a union which represents public service workers, described the experiences of many of the union's NHS members. She said: 'The NHS is under unbelievable strain and the pressure on staff is overwhelming. 'With soaring numbers of health workers off ill, those on duty are being asked to give even more. 'It's clear people are now beyond exhausted. This could lead to them quitting the profession altogether.' THIRD GENERATION ATTORNEY OPENS UP OWN LAW OFFICE Attorney Kree D. Filer is announcing the opening of her private law practice effective February 1, 2021. The young lawyer says, This has been my lifelong dream.to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and father! I look forward to having my own cases to work on and having my own clients to fight for. I also know that a private law practice is a business and respect the challenges and opportunities that will be presented in this endeavor. Attorney Filer attended undergraduate school at UC Santa Cruz, graduating in 2012 with a BA in Womens Studies. She attended Loyola Law School where she received her JD Degree in 2016. She immediately started her legal career as an associate attorney in her cousins law office, Filer | Palmer, LLP located in Long Beach. The last year and a half she has worked as a staff attorney with the non-profit legal agency, The Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers (LADL), where she handled complex dependency matters at the Edelman Childrens Courthouse. Attorney Filer is grateful for those work experiences and feels she is ready to branch out on my own! Attorney Filer is proud to say that she is one of a long line of Filer lawyers. Her grandfather was Maxcy D. Filer, a very well-known civil rights activist and former member of the Compton City Council. Maxcy Filers name is etched in the legal history books for his perseverance, to wit, he took the California Bar Exam for 24 years straight before finally passing on his 48th attempt. My Grandpas determination reminds me that we should never give up on our dreams! Her dad is Judge Kelvin D. Filer who presides over criminal cases in the Compton Courthouse. He had his private practice in Compton before ascending to the bench. Kree says, my father to this day still talks about how much fun he had trying serious felony cases in court! Krees uncle is Anthony S. Filer, Sr., who is the Supervising Attorney for Community Legal Aid SoCal which is the local legal aid office serving Norwalk/Compton. Kree says that her Uncle Anthony constantly reminds her the importance of giving back and using our platform to help those who otherwise could not afford legal services. ADVERTISEMENT As referenced earlier, Kree has one cousin, Lance M. Filer, who maintains a private law practice in Long Beach. It is with the utmost pride that she adds she has another cousin, Anthony S. Filer, Jr. aka Tony, who recently passed the California Bar Exam and has joined the ranks as an attorney! Kree says she gets teased because she is the only female so far of the group. The young attorney says her she will have a general private practice with a focus on criminal defense, dependency cases and civil litigation. I l know that I love the theater of the courtroom and I am not afraid to take on legal challenges. I am committed to providing the best legal representation on behalf of all of my clients. I particularly want to help those who are most in need and, in that way, make a positive contribution to our community. The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) on Thursday staged a protest over China reportedly establishing a village in the Upper Subansiri district of the state. The apex students' body of the state along with 16 of its federal units and community-based organisation staged a sit-in at Indira Gandhi Park here, demanding the Centre to "act tough" on the issue. The union, armed with banners and placards, condemned the nefarious activities of China and slammed the Centre for remaining "silent" over the issue. Speaking to reporters, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang blamed the Centre for its "failure in protecting" the state from "foreign incursion". "The AAPSU is ready to fight against the Chinese military if the central government authorises," Bagang said. Bagang urged the MPs from the state to be vocal on such matters, concerning the interest of Arunachal Pradesh and its people. He also appealed to the central government for road and telecommunication connectivity in the border areas, besides releasing developmental packages and increasing military deployment in the frontier state. "The symbolic protest is a message to the Centre that the indigenous people of the state reject the repeated claim of China over the state's territory," AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said. The people of the state are frustrated against the lackadaisical attitude of the Centre towards such serious issues, he said. Stating that China's claim over the state's territory is an old issue, Dai blamed the successive central governments led by the Congress and the BJP for not taking the matter seriously. North East Students' Organisation (NESO) coordinator Pritam Bhai Sonam urged the government for collective measures and not to play the blame game when the issue is of national interest. The WA Liberals have lost their candidate for the southern metro seat of Baldivis after the emergence of a blog post she wrote in April 2020 spouting a baseless conspiracy theory linking COVID-19 to the rollout of 5G telecommunications towers. Andrea Tokajis blog post on conservative website Caldron Pool, headlined Are Our Fears of the Coronavirus Undermining Our Freedoms?, pushed discredited theories that major pandemics were related to radio wave technologies. Former WA Liberals candidate for Baldivis Andrea Tokaji and excerpts from her blog post on conservative website Caldron Pool. Credit:WA Liberals/Caldron Pool She said the Spanish Flu of 1918 correlated with the introduction of radar equipment. This may be the evidence we have been overlooking, she said. In a similar fashion, the 1968 pandemic, referred to as the Hong Kong flu coincided with the introduction of satellites in the Van Allen Belt, omitting radio-active frequencies on levels which our bodies have adverse reactions to. SUZHOU, China, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited (HKEX: 9939) is pleased to announce that the clinical trial (the "Trial") of Proxalutamide's treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was approved by the Institutional Review Board ("IRB") of Brazil. The trial was accepted for accelerated review. We have received support from the Brazilian government in terms of medical resources allocation and expect to start with the patients recruitment over the coming weekend. The Trial is a double-blinded, randomized and multi-center investigational study of Proxalutamide's treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 male and female patients of 18 years old or above. Approximately 588 patients (294 male and 294 female) who meet the eligibility criteria will be enrolled within 48 hours of admission to hospital. The estimated time from screening to the end of the Trial for each patient will be 28 days. The Trial will have two cohorts of men and women and two arms of Proxalutamide Arm and Control Arm, respectively. The patients will be randomized to each arm at a ratio of 1:1. In the Proxalutamide Arm, patients will be orally administered Proxalutamide 300mg once daily (QD) for 14 days. In the Control Arm, patients will be orally administered placebo once daily (QD) for 14 days. Each arm will also receive standard of care as determined by the principal investigator at the site. The primary endpoint of the trial is the treatment efficacy of Proxalutamide arm relative to the Control arm as assessed by the WHO COVID-19 ordinal scale on day 14. Dr. Tong Youzhi, the founder, chairman and CEO of Kintor Pharmaceutical, commented, "Based on the results that Proxalutamide could alleviate symptoms and has reduced hospitalization risk of 100% for male COVID-19 outpatients and 90% for female COVID-19 outpatients, respectively, we collaborated with our investigator and quickly initiated the clinical study of Proxalutamide for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 male and female patients. This Clinical Trial has received strong support from the Brazilian government and was granted with the accelerated review. We are actively initiating MRCT phase III registrational trials, so as to bring an effective treatment therapy to COVID-19 patients over the world." About Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited Founded in 2009, Kintor Pharmaceuticals aims to become a leading enterprise in the R&D and commercialization of "best-in-class" and "first-in-class" innovative therapies. The Company initially focused on androgen receptor (AR) related diseases and researched and developed product portfolios in multiple channels covering cancers with a globally high incidence and illnesses yet to meet their clinical requirements, such as COVID-19, prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer ,hair loss and acne. Kintor Pharmaceuticals has prospectively developed a diversified product pipeline that includes small molecule innovative drugs, bio-innovative drugs and combination therapies, including 5 products that are undergoing clinically researched androgen receptor antagonists, ALK-1 monoclonal antibody, mTOR kinase inhibitors and Hedgehog inhibitors, as well as PD-L1/TGF- dual-targeting antibody, AR-Degrader and c-Myc inhibitors that are undergoing preclinical research. Globally, the Company has more than 60 issued patents or under review, many of which are listed as the "Major New Drugs Discovery" in National 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans. On 22 May 2020, the Company was officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with the stock ticker 9939.HK. Please visit http://www.kintor.com.cn for more information. SOURCE Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited Japanese auto major on Thursday said it has started exporting vehicles from India to left hand drive nations to strengthen its business here in the country. The company has begun export of 5th generation City sedan with the dispatch of initial batch to the Middle East countries from the Pipavav port in Gujarat and Ennore port in Chennai, Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said in a statement. HCIL has been exporting the right hand drive models of the City sedan to South Africa since August 2020 and to neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan from October 2020, it added. "Honda City has been the benchmark of sedans in India and addition of exports of its left hand drive model to completely new destinations is a great opportunity for us to strengthen our India business," HCIL President and CEO Gaku Nakanishi said. He further said,"We have invested in creating an expansive world-class manufacturing facility at Tapukara which can produce both right hand and left hand drive models that allows us to manage demand for domestic and international consumers." Last month, Honda had announced closure of manufacturing operations at its Greater Noida facility in Uttar Pradesh. The automaker had said the decision to cease production at the plant, which came up in 1997, was taken as part of realignment of manufacturing operations with the goal of improving business efficiency. With the closure of Greater Noida facility, HCIL has also discontinued in India the CR-V and Civic models which are produced at the plant. Nakanishi said the 5th generation City sedan has been very well appreciated in the Indian market and "we hope that we will be able to replicate this success and satisfy our global customers with its best quality and performance". He also said the move to export to left hand drive countries "is in line with our commitment towards 'Make in India' where HCIL has been manufacturing all its volume models with more than 90 per cent localisation and has been integral in developing a strong ecosystem in the country". HCIL said it has been exporting models including Amaze, WR-V and City to Nepal, Bhutan, South Africa and SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries. The export of 5th generation Honda City (both right hand and left hand drive) is the newest addition to the export business from India. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NPP Ashanti Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne has warned the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to provoke the Supreme Court Judges in their election petition before the Court. Lawyers for John Dramani Mahama, the petitioner in the ongoing Presidential election petition, incurred the wrath of the Supreme Court Panel adjudicating the matter on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 resulting in the panel serving notice of its intention to dismiss the election. This followed remarks by Counsel for the Petitioner, Tony Lithur that the team has not filed its witness statement as directed by the panel. The Supreme Court ordered the petitioner (Mr Mahama) to file his witness statement by Thursday, January 21, for commencement of the court hearing of the case. But Lawyer Lithur told the court that his client has filed a stay of proceedings along with an application for the Apex Court to review the earlier decision by the court to dismiss his leave to serve the 1st Respondent, Electoral Commission (EC) some 12 interrogatories. However, his explanation for their inability to go by the courts directives did not sit down well with the panel who then issued a word of caution to them. The case has been adjourned to Thursday, January 28. Addressing the issue, Sam Pyne called on the petitioner to humbly withdraw his case if he thinks his case has no subtance. ''They must stop those dribbles and that thing they're doing to seemingly provoke the Supreme Court Judges. If you think you don't have any case, it's very simple. You can come and tell us you have withdrawn your case',' he said. 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. Featured Video Global growth this year could be less than half the World Banks 4% estimate if vaccine distribution doesnt move quickly, said chief economist Carmen Reinhart. A more drawn-out recovery will add to the pressure on nations that are burdened with debt, many of which will likely seek to restructure due to the pandemic, Reinhart said in an interview with Stephanie Flanders for Bloombergs The Year Ahead virtual summit. Emerging markets are going to have a rough road ahead, she said. The Group of 20s common framework, which aims to get China and private lenders more involved in debt relief, can help poor countries resolve issues faster, Reinhart said. A number of countries had fragile debt positions prior to the pandemic, and the world is slowly moving toward forgiveness rather than just payment suspension, she said. Chad yesterday became the first country to request the restructuring of its external debt under the G-20 framework. Zambia and possibly Ethiopia are among some of the countries that would benefit from faster debt resolution, she said. The more permanent reductions -- restructurings of some of these countries that are in need -- is more of a medium-term objective, Reinhart said. Reinhart, co-author with Kenneth Rogoff of the 2009 book This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly, is known for her expertise in the history of debt and financial crises. She joined the in June, taking leave from Harvard University, where she is a professor. As the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened, families and inexperienced hikers have fled large metropolitan areas they would usually spend their free time in and have literally ran for the hills. As state park visitation skyrocketed at some Texas parks over 2020, rescues of hikers also increased. At Big Bend State Park, the largest park in the state, staff reported 23 rescues last year, more than double the 11 recorded in 2019 before the pandemic, as reported by Texas Monthly Magazine. Their story opens with the rescue of a 45-year-old San Antonio man, whose rescue called for four hours from 13 crew members and lots of equipment. The chairman of dairy giant Bega has said he is confident the business will be able to manage any further souring of the relationship between Australia and China despite recent sanctions across the wine and seafood industries. Barry Irvin, Begas chairman, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald while he was advocating for an improvement in relations with the nations largest trade partner, the ASX-listed purveyor of cheese and spreads was prepared to weather the storm if issues did arise. Bega Chesse executive chairman Barry Irvin isnt concerned about China. Credit:Brendon Thorne Were carefully monitoring it, but I think we could manage that change if we had to, he said. For us, Japan is still by far our largest market and weve got a number of other markets throughout Asia. But obviously were keen to see trade relations improve rather than go the other way. GODFREY About 120 healthcare students and staff participated in a multi-station COVID-19 vaccine clinic Tuesday at The Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College. The clinic, managed in partnership with the Madison County Health Department, was staffed by L&C nursing students for health sciences faculty and students, as well as campus safety staff eligible under the recently begun Phase 1B of the rollout. Engaging Lewis and Clark Community College nursing students in this process is a fantastic experience for them and a tremendous help to us, said Amy Yeager, Director of Community Health at the department. We are happy to be able to partner and provide a location in the northern part of our county. L&C Dean of Career Programs Susan Czerwinski said the health department contacted the colleges Family Health Clinic with idea of hosting a vaccine event. We were able to utilize our Nursing program students to give the vaccines, Czerwinski said. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to be involved with immunizing their fellow students and faculty during this pandemic. Its remarkable to have that kind of chance. Because two vaccines are required for immunization, Czerwinski said plans are being made to hold a repeat clinic in about 28 days. Were hoping to do additional events in the same way with the county that serve not only our students and staff, but people in the community, she said. The Madison County Health Department is doing an outstanding job, and it brings hope that weve made a real turn in this pandemic. Its very encouraging. L&C Director of Security Brad Raish noted the campus has previously hosted several COVID-19 testing clinics open to the public. More Information COVID-19 cases by county Madison - 25,216 (429 deaths) Jersey - 2,317 (44 deaths) Calhoun - 466 (5 deaths) Greene - 1,228 (42 deaths) Macoupin - 4,234 (100 deaths) Montgomery - 3,229 (56 deaths) St. Clair - 23,408 (422 deaths) Clinton - 5,265 (82 deaths) Bond - 1,803 (20 deaths) Monroe - 3,755 (72 deaths) Randolph - 3,835 (72 deaths) Washington - 1,514 (20 deaths) Source: IDPH & Madison, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and Calhoun county health departments See More Collapse When vaccines become more available to the general public, Madison County Health Department has the ability to use our campus, he said. We have the facilities, and it was amazing to see our own nursing students and staff work in tandem with the health department to administer vaccines during a pandemic unlike anything weve ever seen. On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced two Madison County deaths among the 103 newly reorted COVID-19 related deaths statewide. Listed were a man in his 60s and a man in his 70s. Late Wednesday, the Madison County Health Department reported an additional COVID-19 death, a man in his 70s, to bring the countys death toll to 429. The department also reported 136 new confirmed and probable cases for a total of 25,216, and 1,242 tests for a total of 230,373. There are sometimes discrepancies in the number of cases and deaths reported at the state and local levels, in part because of the volume of cases, and also as each local department forwards the information and it is verified. Local health officials have said the cases eventually reconcile as the reporting catches up. As of Wednesday there were 60 COVID-19 patients in Madison County hospitals, five on ventilators. The three-day positivity rate in the county was 10.83% on Wednesday. The seven-day rate was 10.56% and the 10-day rate was 11.02%. Calhoun and Macoupin counties also reported additional COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the totals there to five and 100 respectively. The IDPH on Thursday reported 4,191 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois. To date, the IDPH has reported 1,116,372 cases, including 19,067 deaths. As of Wednesday night, 2,802 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 567 were intensive care unit patients and 292 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests Jan. 21-27 was 4.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity for the same period was 5.5%. Additional cases also were reported Thursday by the IDPH in Jersey, Greene, Macoupin, Calhoun, Montgomery, St. Clair, Clinton, Bond, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties. Additional deaths were reported in Clinton, Monroe, Montgomery and St. Clair counties. On Thursday, the IDPH reported 1,293,075 doses of vaccine had been delivered to providers in Illinois. About 496,100 doses have been allocated to the federal governments Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 1,789,175. The IDPH on Wednesday reported a total of 829,488 vaccines administered, including 131,284 for long-term care facilities. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 36,728 doses. For the latest information about COVID-19 or coronavirus resources, visit www.madisonchd.org or Facebook @madisonchd. Also visit www.co.madison.il.us or Facebook @madisoncountyil for more vaccination news and daily updates. Local and statewide information also is available at www.dph.illinois.gov. Click the coronavirus banner. For health-related questions about COVID-19, people also can call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. Senators Bill Seeks to Stop Biden Restricting Drilling on Federal Lands Without Approval From Congress In opposition to President Joe Bidens executive order to block new leasing of oil and gas drilling on federal lands, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) is introducing a bill that would limit the White House from such actions without congressional approval. Biden signed a broad executive action on Wednesday, the goal of which is to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and (which) puts the United States on an irreversible path to a net-zero economy by 2050, and includes a pause on new oil and gas drilling on U.S. government lands. The senator from one of the top fossil fuel-producing states criticized Bidens unilateral executive action as destructive for existing sectors of the U.S. economy and as an attack on the livelihoods of many Wyomingites. The #BidenBan on energy leasing on federal lands will have unprecedented economic consequences on WY and the U.S. Lost wages and jobs, declining economic activity, and lost revenue is just the start. The ripple effect will be disastrous and affect families from coast to coast, Lummis said. The executive action also includes subscribing to the paradigm of climate change as defined by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a national security priority while conserving at least 30 percent of federal land and oceans by 2030. The U.N. warns on its website that irreversible changes in major ecosystems and the planetary climate system, may already have been reached or passed. But some challengers have said, while the science of CO2 being a greenhouse gas that contributes to warmer temperatures is settled, solutions to the problem are not limited to top-down social reengineering approaches currently promoted, like the Green New Deal and the World Economic Forums proposed Great Reset. Lummis said in a press statement on Wednesday, A mere 24 hours ago, President Biden stood before America promising to unify our nation. Yet on day one, he took divisive actions to devastate Wyomings economy. Make no mistake about it, the Biden Ban is a strike on the heart of Wyoming jobs, families, and communities. His actions to appease the radical left will be borne disproportionately on the shoulders of states like Wyoming with high amounts of federal lands, she added. The Wyoming senator said her complete legislation will likely be released on Thursday, alongside a similar bill in the House led by Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.). Herrell on Monday criticized Bidens plan to ban new oil and gas drilling. The oil and gas industry is the lifeblood of our states economy, Herrell wrote of New Mexico. If banned today, New Mexico stands to lose more than 60,000 jobs by 2022. The loss of these good-paying, family-supporting jobs would devastate entire communities and have grave long-term consequences for our state. Royalty payments and taxes on the oil and gas industry account for more than a third of the states annual budget. The states K-12 public education system alone received more than $1 billion in funding from the oil and gas industry last year, which equates to $60,062 per teacher and $3,788 per student, she added. The Biden administration said on Wednesday that it has a concrete plan to address the impending job losses looming for the industry by creating more than a quarter million jobs to do things like plug the millions of abandoned oil and gas wells that pose a health and safety threat to communities. Theyre abandoned wells that are open now, and were going to put people to work. Theyre not going to lose jobs in these areas; theyre going to create jobs, he said. It is unclear from his remarks how the government plans to pay for the proposed health and safety works. Days earlier on the second day of the Bidens administration, the Department of the Interior had moved to suspend new leases for oil and gas drilling on federal lands for 60 days. The executive order now extends that moratorium beyond the two months until a review by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of Energy is completed. The analysis will consider whether to adjust royalties associated with coal, oil, and gas resources extracted from public lands and offshore waters, or take other appropriate action, to account for corresponding climate costs, the order states. Former Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.), who lost her swing district seat in Oklahoma to Republican challenger now-Rep. Stephanie Bice, had opposed the Biden campaigns stance on moving away from fossil fuels, saying instead that all forms of energy are need to be harnessed for Americas energy independence. Heres one of the places Biden and I disagree, Horn wrote on Twitter in the lead up to the general election. We must stand up for our oil and gas industry. We need an all-of-the-above energy approach thats consumer-friendly, values energy independence, and protects OK jobs. Ill keep fighting for that in Congress. Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told Axios that the Biden campaigns perceived hostility to oil and gas may have contributed to Horns loss. While both Republicans and Democrats from fossil fuel-dependent states have been critical of Bidens pledges to limit or halt the use of fossil fuels, other mostly Democratic lawmakers and progressives have praised the presidents actions, which they believe are in the name of helping save the planet and present as the key solution to the United Nations predictions of an impending crisis posed by climate change. A pause on leasing is just the first step, however. Now its up to the Interior Department and Congress to craft new rules and legislation that ensures Americas public lands are part of the climate solution, instead of part of the problem, Jesse Prentice-Dunn, policy director at the Center for Western Priorities, a public lands watchdog group, said in a statement. Other executive actions that the Biden administration has taken to combat the climate crisis and seek environmental justice since his inauguration include suspending the Keystone pipeline project and the rejoining of the United Nations Paris Climate Accords. Melanie Sun contributed to this report. 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. New Delhi, Jan 28 : A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the NIA to conduct a court-monitored investigation against the anti-social elements, part of the farmers' tractor rally, who engaged in violence on the streets of national capital on Republic Day. The plea, filed through advocates Shashank Shekhar Jha and Manju Jetley Sharma, said the attack on the Red Fort and the national flag on the Republic Day needs immediate attention. "The protesters cannot be allowed to put the government and people at ransom and undertake violence in the name of protest. The freedom of expression and protest cannot be absolute and must consider the rights of others," it said. The petition also sought directions for setting up a commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a Special Investigation Team, which should be monitored by the top court. Earlier, a petition was filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari urging the top court to issue directions to register FIR against persons or organisation responsible for dishonouring of the national flag. "Unfortunately, the tractor march took a violent turn leaving injuries and destruction of public property. This incident also effected the daily life of the public. Internet services were interrupted as government ordered the operators to suspend the same," the plea said. On the day of the incident, a Mumbai-based law student had also written to Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde to take suo moto cognizance in an incident at Red Fort. So far, nearly five pleas have been filed in the top court seeking action against people who indulged in violence on Republic Day. On Tuesday, protesting farmers swarmed into the Red Fort in the capital during a 'tractor rally' on the Republic Day even as police tried to prevent them from driving towards central Delhi. The farmers barged into the 17th century monument, climbed up its ramparts and waved farmer union flags and banners and even hoisted a pennant. Police and other security personnel deployed at the Red Fort were seen baton charging the protesters even as they were clearly outnumbered by the farmers. A few youths climbed up the flagpole on the ramparts of the fort and put up a saffron pennant with a religious symbol. Later, a few of them even climbed up further and fixed a farmer union flag near the spot where a bigger tricolour was aflutter. ANDERSON COUNTY, SR 61 Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway and Market Street in Clinton: SR 61 East is reduced to one lane through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this area. ANDERSON COUNTY, US 25/SR 9 Bridge over Clinch River between SR 61 and Carden Farm Drive: SR 9 northbound is reduced to one lane approaching the bridge as crews continue work in this area. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this bridge construction project. ANDERSON COUNTY, US 25/SR 9 at SR 170: Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, possible lane closures and use extreme caution through this intersection construction project. BLOUNT COUNTY, US 129 North and South between SR 35 Hall Road and Tyson Boulevard: Motorists should be alert for workers present, possible lane closures and brief stoppages of traffic through this roadway construction project. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-hall-road-to-tyson-blvd.html BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 335 Hunt Road Bridge over US 129 Alcoa Highway: The newly constructed Hunt Road Bridge is open to traffic. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns and workers present as work continues in this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 335 Hunt Road between Ambrose Street and Ramsay Street: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures at various times as crews install utilities through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present directing traffic and use extreme caution through this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 33 between Foothills Mall Drive and Henry Street: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this intersection improvement construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changed conditions and use extreme caution through this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, US 321 between Lamar Street and Court Street: On Monday, February 1, 2021 through Wednesday, February 3, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. as crews perform work on the overhead pedestrian bridge. Motorists should be alert for workerspresent, slowed traffic and use extreme caution through this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, US 321 between Jones Avenue and Lamar Street: Beginning Monday, February 1, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible daily lane closures as crews perform roadside work through this project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North and South between Mile Markers 135 and 142: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North near Mile Marker 143: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning on Sundays through Thursdays through this project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, SR 63 between Myers Lane and Frontier Road/Woodson Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and/or 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CARTER COUNTY, US 19E/SR 37 Bridge over the Doe River and Riverview Road: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. CLAIBORNE COUNTY, SR 63 between Old Town Creek and US 25E/SR 32: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. COCKE COUNTY, I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 430 and 434: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed, and use extreme caution through this area. COCKE COUNTY, SR 9 near I-40: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. HAMBLEN COUNTY, SR 34 near Commerce Blvd.: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. HAMBLEN COUNTY, SR 160 near Commerce Blvd.: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. JEFFERSON COUNTY, I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 410 and 415: On Thursday, February 4, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. JEFFERSON COUNTY, I-81 North and South between Mile Markers 0 and 7.5: On Thursday, February 4, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. JOHNSON COUNTY, SR 167 at Log Mile 7.5: Motorists should be alert for single lane roadway with temporary traffic signal through this slide repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-40 West between Mile Markers 394 and 393: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform median barrier wall work through this overhead sign replacement project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, US 11W/SR 1 Rutledge Pike Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad near Harris Road: Motorists should be alert for lane shifts and changing traffic patterns through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect potential delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, US 129/SR 115 Alcoa Highway between Topside Road and Maloney Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-little-river-to-maloney.html KNOX COUNTY, US 129/SR 115 Alcoa Highway between Maloney Road and Woodson Drive: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-maloney-to-woodson.html KNOX COUNTY, US 441 Broadway Viaduct between Jackson Avenue and Fifth Avenue: US 441 Broadway Viaduct over Norfolk Southern Railroad in downtown Knoxville is closed for bridge replacement. The Broadway Viaduct will be closed to all traffic for the duration of the project. During the closure, Broadway will be closed from the intersection of Oak Avenue, Worlds Fair Park, and Jackson Avenue to just north of the Depot Avenue intersection. Depot Avenue will also be closed. These closures will ensure the safety of workers and motorists as crews demolish the old bridge and reconstruct the new bridge. Primary and Local Detour Routes around the bridge closure will be in place. For detour routes and project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/broadway-viaduct.html KNOX COUNTY, US 441/SR 71 Chapman Highway between Highland View Drive and Burnett Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/chapman-highway-evans-to-burnett.html KNOX COUNTY, SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway West between I-40 and Lovell Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway West at Hardin Valley Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 168 Gov. John Sevier Highway near Log Mile 11.7: Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2021 through 6 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this area as crews perform concrete roadway repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 332 Concord Road between Turkey Creek Road and Northshore: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and new traffic patterns through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-332-proposed-widening.html LOUDON COUNTY, I-40 East between Mile Markers 364 and 365: Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, closed shoulders and use extreme caution through this slope stabilization project. LOUDON COUNTY, I-40 East near Mile Marker 364: On Tuesday, February 2, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution through this area. LOUDON COUNTY, I-40 West near Mile Markers 367: On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. as crews perform roadway maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution through this area. ROANE COUNTY, I-40 West between Mile Markers 340 and 344: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures nightly between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this slope stabilization project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this area. SCOTT COUNTY, US 27/SR 29 between Industrial Lane and Second Avenue: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. SEVIER COUNTY, SR 71 between US 411 and Macon Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. SEVIER COUNTY, SR 73 between Nell Rose Lane and Pitman School Road: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. as crews perform roadside geotechnical work through this area. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. UNICOI COUNTY, SR 36 between Log Miles 2.5 and 5.3: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures, workers present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this slope stabilization project. WASHINGTON COUNTY, I-26 East and West between Mile Markers 16 and 18: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect delays, and useextreme caution approaching this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, SR 93 between Davis Road and Fire Hall Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, and use caution through this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, SR 354 Boones Creek Road at I-26: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Lake Park Drive will be closed and detoured at the intersection with SR 354 as construction continues in this area. Motorists should follow signed detour. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. For information on statewide interstate construction motorists can access the Tennessee Department of Transportation SmartWay website at https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic. TDOT is now on Twitter. For up to the minute traffic information in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/knoxville511. For statewide travel information follow www.twitter.com/TN511. 28 January 2021 Type Event Proceeding On a recent Farm Business Options Webinar, which took place on Tuesday, 26 January, host, Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist, Teagasc was joined by Grainne Blount, Natural Forces; Tom Marren, Astatine and Rory Mullan, MullanGrid Consulting to discuss the options for Irish farmers connecting to the Grid. On-site generation of renewable electricity has become an element of many farming businesses across Europe. To encourage deployment of green technologies, Ireland has introduced RESS incentive to encourage early adopters while making the prospect of producing electricity to feed directly to the grid an attractive one to those with reasonable resources and access to a grid connection. Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist, Teagasc was joined by a panel of experts to discuss the options for micro-generation, community projects and large scale options for the Agri-industry to produce and sell renewable electricity whilst de-carbonising electricity production in Ireland. View presentations below: View webinar recording below: Find out more about the series or register for future webinars here: Farm Business Options Webinars Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Burkinabe minister of Trade, Harouna Kabore, Wednesday announced the suspension of importation and trade of poultries and poultry meat from Senegal until further notice because of the appearance of the avian flu in that country The Jersey City Council voted to increase the maximum salaries that top administrators and department heads can earn, bringing them in line with their counterparts in Newark. In a move that could add up to $240,000 worth of salary to the city payroll, the council adopted an amended ordinance Wednesday that adjusts the salary ranges of 17 directors and administrators most of whom are now eligible to potentially earn more. Council President Joyce Watterman, one of six council members to vote in favor of the change, said the city cant afford to lose another director during this COVID-19 pandemic. Raising salary maximums may incentivize directors to stay with the city, she said. So that means theres a gap in our system that will leave a hole and everyone cant perform to the fullest, Watterman said. One thing I learned in life; timing is always off. It is always off when you are talking about giving someone a raise it will never be a good time to give people a raise, but you have to appreciate the work that people have done. Former Business Administrator Brian Platt resigned from his position in October and took a job as city manager of Kansas City, Missouri. Newarks business administrator makes $260,000 a year, some $90,000 more than Platt earned before he left for Kansas City. Under the legislation, which amends a 2019 ordinance on salary increases, the current Newark salaries would be the benchmark for key positions in Jersey City. Mayor Steve Fulop told the council during a Jan. 11 caucus that the change is needed to keep and attract the best talent. But Councilman at large Rolando Lavarro, Ward E Councilman James Solomon and Ward F Councilman Jermaine Robinson all voted against the legislation. Solomon said some of the positions saw raises just 18 months ago. An ordinance instituting a new pay range for many members of the citys leadership staff, along with raises for the City Council, was adopted in October 2019. Department directors, including the city clerk and the tax assessor, were eligible for up to 10% pay raises each year pending a performance review done by the business administrator and the director of human resources. However, that language is now removed from the new legislation. There [is] a list a mile long of important priorities that we need to fund in this city, and we do not have the money to do, Solomon said. I dont know how I look a voter in the face and say this is the best use of our money. Sabrina Harrold, a recreation department employee, said during public comment portion of the meeting that the council should consider increasing the salaries of regular employees before they look to give salary bumps to directors. You have talented educated workers that are already within the system, what about promoting within, said Harrold, adding that she hasnt had a raise in seven years. What about looking at their salaries and increasing their salaries? Watterman and Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley agreed with Harrolds call to increase salaries at all levels. We definitely should adjust salaries across the board, Ridley said. I think that is something many of us on the council have mentioned and I dont want to put words in anyones mouth but I think we would definitely be supportive of I definitely would be supportive of. BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Wednesday heard a work report via video link from Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on the Macao SAR government's work in 2020 and Macao's current situation. Xi highlighted the work of Ho and the SAR government to tame the COVID-19 epidemic in Macao in a fairly short period, as a result of quick response and forceful measures. No new local infections have been reported in Macao for more than 300 days, an achievement highly appreciated by local society, according to Xi. "While preventing and controlling the COVID-19 epidemic, effective measures have been taken to restore the economy and overcome the people's difficulties. These measures have achieved positive results and promoted social harmony in Macao," Xi told Ho. "The central authorities fully acknowledge the work you and the Macao SAR government have done," Xi said. He said the central authorities will continue to give full support to Macao in coordinating epidemic response with economic and social development. Xi also highlighted support to the SAR in improving its legal system for safeguarding national security and corresponding enforcement mechanisms, moving faster in promoting an appropriate level of diversity in its economy, better integrating into the country's overall development, and further advancing the successful "one country, two systems" practice with Macao characteristics. Ho expressed his sincere gratitude for the care and support provided to Macao by the central authorities. Ho said he will continue to lead people in Macao to break new ground for the practice of the "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics. Senior leaders including Han Zheng attended the event. Press Release January 28, 2021 Gatchalian: Credit card fraud victims should not be harassed to pay their 'debt' Senator Win Gatchalian said victims of fraudulent use of credit cards must not be subjected by banks to harassment and unethical debt collecting practices. Some netizens who claimed to have been victimized by financial cyber thieves through their credit card have complained to Gatchalian about the mounting finance charges they are now facing brought about by the unauthorized transactions charged to their account. "It's already unfair to prevail upon the victim and make him or her assume the financial liability that he or she did not make, much more subject them to abusive debt collection practices," Gatchalian said. "Sakaling ipasa na ng bangko sa collecting agency ang isang account, nananawagan ako sa mga bangko na bantayan nang maigi ang proseso at siguruhing hindi naha-harass ang mga account holders para lang mapuwersa silang magbayad ng halagang hindi naman nila napakinabangan," he added. The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies has introduced a bill that will shield such account holders from being subjected to wayward practices of debt collectors. Gatchalian's filed Senate Bill No. 1366 or the proposed Fair Debt Collection Practices Act included provisions prohibiting the collection of debt on the person concerned when the debt is under dispute and that the debtor wishes the creditor to take the matter to court. The measure likewise proposed the prohibition of the imposition of any fees to the debtor beyond what is due to the creditor. Also, the creditor cannot refuse to provide sufficient information to the debtor when the latter would request the details of the debt. "Mabigat na pasanin na nga ang mga lumolobong bayarin o pagkakautang lalo na kung hindi mo naman kagagawan ito. Mistulang ginigisa sila sa sariling mantika," said Gatchalian. # # # Mga biktima ng credit card fraud, hindi dapat ma-harass para magbayad ng 'utang' - Gatchalian Hindi dapat makaranas ng panggigipit at unethical debt collecting practices ang mga biktima ng credit card fraud ayon kay Senador Win Gatchalian. Ginawa ni Gatchalian ang panawagan matapos idulog sa kanya ng ilang naging biktima ng mga tinatawag na financial cyber thieves na lumobo ang kanilang bayarin sa credit card dahil sa panloloko ng mga kawatan. "Hindi na nga tama na obligahin ang mga biktima na panagutin sila sa bayarin na hindi naman nila dapat akuin, mas lalong hindi tama na pagdaanan nila ang mga mapang-abusong paraan ng paniningil ng utang o bayarin," ani Gatchalian. "Sakaling ipasa na ng bangko sa collecting agency ang isang account, nananawagan ako sa mga bangko na bantayan nang maigi ang proseso at siguruhing hindi naha-harass ang mga account holders para lang mapuwersa silang magbayad ng halagang hindi naman nila napakinabangan," dagdag pa ng senador. Mayroon nang inihaing panukalang batas sa Senado ang Vice Chairman ng Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies na naglalayong maproteksyunan ang mga credit card holders laban sa mga panggigipit na gawain ng mga inatasan ng bangko na mangulekta ng mga lumulobong utang ng kanilang kliyente. Isang probisyon sa Senate Bill No. 1366 o ang panukalang Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ni Gatchalian ang nagbabawal ng paniningil ng utang ng account holder na under dispute o kinukuwestyon pa. Kasama sa panukala ang pagbabawal ng pagpapataw ng mga karagdagang bayarin sa utang na sinisingil sa may ari ng account or credit card. Hindi rin maaring tanggihan ng creditor o nagpautang ang nangutang ng kaukulang impormasyon sakaling hilingin niya ito. "Mabigat na pasanin na nga ang mga lumolobong bayarin o pagkakautang lalo na kung hindi mo naman kagagawan ito. Mistulang ginigisa sila sa sariling mantika," said Gatchalian. WASHINGTON - Three self-styled militia members charged in the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol began soliciting recruits for potential violence within days of the 2020 presidential election, later training in Ohio and North Carolina and organizing travel to Washington with a busload of comrades and a truck of weapons, U.S. authorities alleged Wednesday. A four-count indictment returned in the District of Columbia laid out fresh details and allegations against Jessica Marie Watkins, 38, and Donovan Ray Crowl, 50 - both of Woodstock, Ohio - and Thomas Caldwell, 66, of Berryville, Va. The three, all U.S. military veterans, are accused of conspiring to obstruct Congress and other counts, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have said Caldwell appears to have ties to the anti-government Oath Keepers extremist group - although his attorney said he is not a member. They also have alleged that the retired Navy lieutenant commander helped organize dozens of others who coordinated their movements as they "stormed the castle" to disrupt the confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden's electoral college victory. Real-time conversations recovered from a walkie-talkie-style app captured Watkins discussing a group of about 30 to 40 "sticking together and sticking to the plan" during the breach, according to court documents previously filed in the case. In a 15-page indictment unsealed Wednesday, prosecutors revealed new allegations, accusing Watkins of contacting recruits on Nov. 9, six days after the election, for a "Basic Training" camp outside Columbus, Ohio, in early January so they would be "fighting fit by innaugeration." Prosecutors also allege that Watkins participated in a "leadership only" conference call via an encrypted app, and that Caldwell arranged with another person bringing "at least one full bus 40+ people coming from N.C." and weaponry ahead of Jan. 6. Crowl, a former Marine mechanic, attended a training camp in December in North Carolina, while Caldwell hosted Watkins in Northern Virginia, charging papers said. At one point, Caldwell wrote Watkins, "Don't know what [Person One] is cooking up but I am hearing rumblings of another MAGA march 12 December. I don't know what will happen but like you I am very worried about the future of our country . . . I believe we will have to get violent to stop this." "You are my kinda person and we may have to fight next time," Caldwell added. Previous charging papers identified Person One as "Stewie," a possible reference to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes. On Dec. 30, Caldwell messaged Watkins saying, "If [Person One] isn't making plans, I'll take charge myself, and get the ball rolling," the indictment stated. On Jan. 2, Caldwell allegedly concluded, "I don't know if [Person One] has even got out his call to arms, but its a little friggin late. This one we do on our own. This is one we are doing on our own." Caldwell allegedly told Watkins that the leader of another group, unnamed in the indictment but described in previous court filings as "Paul," promised a busload of more than 40 and weaponry. Paul "is too broken down to be on the ground all day and . . . he is committed to being the quick reaction force and bringing the tools if something goes to hell," Caldwell said, according to the indictment. "That way the boys won't have to schlep weps on the bus. He'll bring them in his truck the day before." In a statement Wednesday, defense attorney Thomas Plofchan called Caldwell "a highly decorated veteran" and said his client "expects to have the charges dismissed or to be acquitted at trial." Plofchan called the indictment "a deliberate attempt to find a scapegoat for activities on January 6." He said Caldwell is "not a member of the Oath Keepers and never entered the Capitol that day," and that the charging document contained no factual assertion that he "coordinated any activity aimed at entering the Capitol, disrupting any procedure, or taking any action against any person." An attorney for Crowl did not respond to a request for comment. "I didn't commit a crime. I didn't destroy anything. I didn't wreck anything," Watkins told the Ohio Capital Journal earlier this month, adding that the riot was a peaceful protest that turned violent. In an interview, Watkins's boyfriend's mother, Joyce Siniff, said, "I think it got out of hand for her." She described Watkins as "a good and kind person" and said she did not know her to be affiliated with any national militia groups. The local organization, she said, "anytime they've gone to anything it was to protect the police." In a phone interview last week, Rhodes said Caldwell helped "Stop the Steal" protesters navigate arriving in the District for a protest in November but that Caldwell is not a dues-paying member of Oath Keepers and does not hold any leadership position in the organization. Rhodes said he did not know Caldwell to be taking any action on Jan. 6 on behalf of Oath Keepers. Rhodes said Watkins is a member in Oath Keepers. In their planning, according to prosecutors, the group cited the perceived direction of then-President Donald Trump, embracing his false claims of election fraud and readying for a fight in apocalyptic terms. "Trump wants all able-bodied Patriots to come" to the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally, Watkins is quoting as saying on Dec. 29. "If Trump activates the Insurrection Act, I'd hate to miss it," she added, according to the indictment. Asked earlier by a recruit what to prepare for, Watkins allegedly wrote in November that if Biden became president, "our way of life as we know it is over. Our Republic would be over. Then it is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights." "If Biden get the steal, none of us have a chance in my mind. We already have our neck in the noose. They just haven't kicked the chair yet," she said, according to the indictment. Prosecutors previously detailed the group's alleged communications over the walkie-talkie-style app Zello during the riot. "You are executing citizen's arrest. Arrest this assembly, we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud," one man said as Watkins reported undergoing plastic bullet and tear-gas fire. "This is . . . everything we f---ing trained for!" an unknown man told Watkins, according to the court documents. Watkins and Crowl turned themselves in to authorities in Ohio on Jan. 18, and Caldwell was apprehended Jan. 19. The new charges against the three were among eight indictments returned Wednesday by a grand jury against previously charged defendants. The indictments come one day after Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said that investigators are turning their focus to whether militia groups and several states may have coordinated or planned ahead of time to commit criminal acts. Law enforcement officials have focused on the Oath Keepers, the nativist Proud Boys, and Three Percenters, another anti-government group that takes its name from the bogus claim that only 3% of the colonists supported the American Revolution against the British. Aaron C. Davis contributed to this report. Read more: [January 28, 2021] Online Students Among Recipients of National Service Award Stride, Inc. - formerly K12 Inc. - is pleased to announce that students from two of its Stride K12-powered schools will receive the prestigious Silent Servant Award from The Peter R. Marsh Foundation. The Silent Servant Award recognizes students nationwide who selflessly and quietly serve others. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005014/en/ Among this year's award winners are: Dominique Belasquez-a 12 th grader at Destinations Career Academy of Colorado. When the pandemic began and masks were in short supply, Dominique assisted a teacher in creating masks on a 3D printer the school had originally purchased for its engineering program. Even after he received a coveted college acceptance letter this school year, Dominique continued to lead an online winter social, which encourages students to engage in online games and interact amid social distancing guidelines. grader at Destinations Career Academy of Colorado. When the pandemic began and masks were in short supply, Dominique assisted a teacher in creating masks on a 3D printer the school had originally purchased for its engineering program. Even after he received a coveted college acceptance letter this school year, Dominique continued to lead an online winter social, which encourages students to engage in online games and interact amid social distancing guidelines. Mason Rake-an 11th grader at Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin. As part of the school's Information Technology program, Mason devotes his time to refurbishing computers to donate to Veterans. Additionally, he is member of Skills USA and the National Technical Honor Society, where he encourages others to commit to a life of service and often leads by example. "These student award recipients successfully set aside the modern excesses of social and technical clutter and connected with the intrinsic qualities of their minds and hearts. They are real-time youthful champions who continally affirm that empathy is a key element of the compassionate and peaceful society we all desire," said Peter Marsh, Foundation Chairman. "The Foundation's goal is to continually identify, recognize and inspire student-servants and to encourage parents and educators to utilize these worthy superstars as teachable-moment models." "We couldn't be prouder of these two students and every student at our Stride K12-powered schools who give back to their communities," said Jeanna Pignatiello, Senior Vice President & Chief Academic Officer at Stride, Inc. "It's inspiring to see so many learners strive to balance a rigorous academic course load along with their commitment to making a difference." Befitting the Silent Servant Award itself, the students do not apply for the recognition themselves. To be considered, they are nominated by a mentor or teacher. Schools may nominate up to three students per school year. The Silent Servant Award is open to all high school students in the United States. Already this year, they have recognized students from New York to California, and Hawaii to the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, please visit https://www.prmfoundation.org/. About The Peter R. Marsh Foundation The Peter R. Marsh Foundation's mission is to provide money and awards recognizing high school students for service to their communities. Their primary goal is to promote service learning, and help schools improve Social Emotional Skills in a positive way. And they partner with prestigious organizations like the Successful Practice Network and the National Dropout Prevention Center. For more information, please visit https://www.prmfoundation.org/. About Stride, Inc. At Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) - formerly K12 Inc. - we are reimagining lifelong learning as a rich, deeply personal experience that prepares learners for tomorrow. Since its inception, Stride has been committed to removing barriers that impact academic equity and to providing high-quality education for anyone-particularly those in underserved communities. The company has transformed the teaching and learning experience for millions of people by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and post-secondary settings. Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculum. Providing a solution to the widening skills gap in the workplace and student loan crisis, Stride equips students with real world skills for in-demand jobs with career learning. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The company is a proud sponsor of the Future of School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between the pace of technology and the pace of change in education. More information can be found at stridelearning.com, K12.com, destinationsacademy.com, galvanize.com, techelevator.com, and medcerts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005014/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. New Delhi: Even as India takes the landmark step of vaccinating its health care workers, a viral video of a conversation between a doctor who got his vaccine shot without his wife has left the internet in splits. In a phone conversation which was recorded live by Delhi-based doctor KK Agarwal, it can be heard his wife berating him for getting his COVID-19 vaccine shot without her. Aggarwal, a cardiologist and Padma Shri recipient is at the receiving end as his wife fumes over him getting the shot without his wife. In the video, which has since gone viral, Aggarwal is seen doing a live video where he is about to talk about vaccine shot. His wife then calls him up and asks him if got his vaccine shot, when he confirms receiving the jab, she bearates saying, "Why couldn't you take me with you?" To which the doctor sheepishly says, "There was some confusion" and retorts "you will be vaccinated on Monday". CHECK VIDEO HERE: Doctor KK Agarwal got himself vaccinated without his wife. Note to self : don't ever pick-up phone while you are live on tv :) #forwarded. pic.twitter.com/uhIQYvZ4IO Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) January 27, 2021 The nearly 1-minute long video has been gathered more than 721K views. Later, Aggarwal shared a statement from his unverified Twitter handle writing that he was aware of the video and that it portrayed nothing but his "wife's concern towards his health and safety." He also urged everyone to take the COVID-19 vaccine when they get the chance. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! AKRON, Ohio -- If approved by the University of Akrons Board of Trustees to be the dean of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences beginning July 1, Mitchell McKinney will make a base salary of $215,000, the school reported Thursday. McKinney, 54, was announced earlier this week as the universitys pick to head UAs largest and oldest college after a national search for the next dean. McKinney, who currently works at the University of Missouri, will replace Joe Urgo, who has been acting dean of the college and interim senior vice provost. Urgo came to UA in November 2019 as interim vice president and provost until May 2020, when John Wiencek was tapped for the permanent position. Its unclear whether Urgo will stay at the university after his tenure as interim dean ends in June. Joe Urgo has been exemplary in his service as interim dean of BCAS, in addition to his other duties, and five months remain on his contract, Wiencek told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. No firm decisions have yet been made beyond June 30. UAs Board of Trustees is expected to vote on whether to approve McKinney as dean during its Feb. 10 meeting. Wilmington, DE, Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Apache Software Foundation (ASF), the all-volunteer developers, stewards, and incubators of more than 350 Open Source projects and initiatives, announced today Apache ECharts as a Top-Level Project (TLP). Apache ECharts is an intuitive, interactive, and powerful charting and visualization library ideally suited for commercial-grade presentations. The project originated in 2013 at Baidu and entered the Apache Incubator in January 2018. "Our decision to incubate ECharts at The Apache Software Foundation was a wise one," said Ovilia Zhang, Vice President of Apache ECharts. "Through the Apache Way, our community is healthier and more diverse, which has improved ECharts to become a more attractive, competitive choice for visualization professionals and enthusiasts." Written in JavaScript and based on the ZRender rendering engine supporting both Canvas and SVG, Apache ECharts provides an array of dynamic, highly-customizable chart types that include line, column, scatter, pie, radar, candlestick, gauge, funnel, heatmap, and more. Features include: Customized and amalgamated chart styles with more than 20 chart types Multi-dimensional data analysis and coding Interactive components available out-of-the-box Cross-device responsiveness Optimized dynamic scaling Server side rendering Immediate UI response on millions of streaming data through progressive rendering Extensions for: 3-D visualization and other rich special effects Python, R, Julia, and other languages Platforms that include Wechat App and Baidu Smart Program Examples of ECharts many data visualization options are available at https://echarts.apache.org/examples/ The project has recently released ECharts 5, which provides rendering ability for tens of millions of data points, and supports accessibility requirements in compliance with W3Cs Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) standards. Building on ECharts core features, ECharts 5 makes it even easier for developers to tell the story behind the data through 15 new features and improvements in story-telling and data expression, optimized visualization and responsive design, interaction and performance enhancement, developer experience, internationalization, and more. Apache ECharts is in use at Alibaba, Amazon, Baidu, GitLab, Intel, and Tencent, among others, as well as solutions such as Apache Superset data visualization software. The project continues to grow in popularity, with more than 44,000 stars on GitHub and 250,000 weekly downloads on npm to date. "The world we live in today is powered by software and data," said Erica Brescia, COO of GitHub. "With Apache ECharts, developers around the world have access to a powerful, free and open source library for data visualization. It is great to see the project flourishing on GitHub. Congrats to the Apache ECharts on their graduation to a top level project at the Apache Software Foundation." "Apache ECharts helps visualization experts and data analysts easily create a wide variety of visualizations that are very helpful for us to analyze and explore the story behind the data," said visualization academia pioneer Professor Wei Chen of Zhejiang University. "We are glad to witness ECharts pleasant process in the Apache Incubator," said Ming Zu, Senior Manager at Baidu. "Our community grew with individuals from many countries and organizations, who contributed to bug fixing, issue resolving, and new feature implementation." "When the Apache Superset community looked into visualization libraries to rebuild the core visualization plugins, ECharts stood out as the absolute best fit," said Maxime Beauchemin, original creator of both Apache Airflow and Superset, and serves as Vice President of Apache Superset. "It has an unparalleled variety of visualizations, a rich and composable visual grammar, an intuitive and well designed API, a flexible and performant rendering engine, a very lean tree of dependencies, and the important set of guarantees that the ASF provides when committing long term to using an Open Source project." "It was a pleasure guiding the ECharts community through the Apache Incubator," said Dave Fisher, ASF Member and Apache ECharts Incubating Mentor. "They have embraced the Apache Way of community-led development, encouraging those interested in helping improve ECharts to contribute and become part of its growing community. "This is an exciting time for the ECharts community," added Zhang. "We are enjoying continued growth, and invite those interested in contributing to the project to join us on our developer and user lists." See the range of options available with ECharts in "Apache ECharts in 5 minutes", a new video created by members of the Apache ECharts community (in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles) https://youtu.be/nKKK0orjSq8 Availability and Oversight Apache ECharts software is released under the Apache License v2.0 and is overseen by a self-selected team of active contributors to the project. A Project Management Committee (PMC) guides the Project's day-to-day operations, including community development and product releases. For downloads, documentation, and ways to become involved with Apache ECharts, visit http://echarts.apache.org and https://twitter.com/ApacheECharts About the Apache Incubator The Apache Incubator is the primary entry path for projects and codebases wishing to become part of the efforts at The Apache Software Foundation. All code donations from external organizations and existing external projects enter the ASF through the Incubator to: 1) ensure all donations are in accordance with the ASF legal standards; and 2) develop new communities that adhere to our guiding principles. Incubation is required of all newly accepted projects until a further review indicates that the infrastructure, communications, and decision making process have stabilized in a manner consistent with other successful ASF projects. While incubation status is not necessarily a reflection of the completeness or stability of the code, it does indicate that the project has yet to be fully endorsed by the ASF. For more information, visit http://incubator.apache.org/ About The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) Established in 1999, The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is the worlds largest Open Source foundation, stewarding 227M+ lines of code and providing more than $20B+ worth of software to the public at 100% no cost. The ASFs all-volunteer community grew from 21 original founders overseeing the Apache HTTP Server to 813 individual Members and 206 Project Management Committees who successfully lead 350+ Apache projects and initiatives in collaboration with nearly 8,000 Committers through the ASFs meritocratic process known as "The Apache Way". Apache software is integral to nearly every end user computing device, from laptops to tablets to mobile devices across enterprises and mission-critical applications. Apache projects power most of the Internet, manage exabytes of data, execute teraflops of operations, and store billions of objects in virtually every industry. The commercially-friendly and permissive Apache License v2 is an Open Source industry standard, helping launch billion dollar corporations and benefiting countless users worldwide. The ASF is a US 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization funded by individual donations and corporate sponsors including Aetna, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Amazon Web Services, Anonymous, Baidu, Bloomberg, Budget Direct, Capital One, Cloudera, Comcast, Didi Chuxing, Facebook, Google, Handshake, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, Pineapple Fund, Red Hat, Reprise Software, Target, Tencent, Union Investment, Verizon Media, and Workday. For more information, visit http://apache.org/ and https://twitter.com/TheASF The Apache Software Foundation. "Apache", "ECharts", "Apache ECharts", "Airflow", "Apache Airflow", "Superset", "Apache Superset", and "ApacheCon" are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. # # # Turkey claims to have arrested 12 ISIS members on the border from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan reports Al-Masdar. On Wednesday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the arrest of 12 terrorists belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS), including five Russians, on the border with Syria. The Turkish Ministry of Defense issued an official statement saying On Dec. 31, 2020, 12 terrorist militants were arrested at a checkpoint near the city of Rikhanli in the Turkish province of Hatay. The statement added, The militants tried to enter the country by crossing the Syrian border illegally, and it was found that five of the terrorists have Russian nationality, four from Uzbekistan and three from Kyrgyzstan. In addition, the Turkish security authorities have recently arrested a large numbers of ISIS members who hold European nationalities during Operation Peace Spring, carried out by the Turkish forces last month in the northeastern region of Syria. 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. President Joe Biden signs executive orders as part of the Covid-19 response as Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Director of NIAID Anthony Fauci look on in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 21, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Fettering Bidens Administrative State Trump-era rules will constrain the new presidents activism Commentary The administrative state will get a new lease on life under President Joe Biden, but Americas administrative state is far more constrained than that of many other countries. Britain, for example, wrote its net-zero climate target into law after only a 90-minute debate in the House of Commons, without any examination of what the cost might be. Arguably the European Union is an administrative state, where the unelected European Commission proposes legislation, enforces it, and even levies billion-euro fines on companies without so much as a court hearing. By contrast, executive-agency rulemaking in the United States is more circumscribed. Agencies must show cause, respect precedent, and demonstrate that their rulemaking is properly grounded in the relevant statute and in a factual record sufficiently compelling to refute any suggestion that their action was arbitrary or capricious. They should expect controversial rules to be able to withstand challenges in the courts. In 2016, the Supreme Court stayed the Environmental Protection Agencys Clean Power Plan promulgated by the Obama administration to decarbonize the electrical grid. On the last full day of the Trump administration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated the Obama plans successor, the Affordable Clean Energy plan, in a 2-1 opinion. The majority ruled that the EPAs interpretation of the Clean Air Act had been too narrow; the dissenting judgea Trump appointeeopined that both plans relied erroneously on the wrong provision of the Act to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions. These rulings illustrate just how difficult the EPA will find crafting a new rule to fulfill Bidens promise to decarbonize the grid by 2035. The new administration is constrained not only by the courts but also by the late-term rulemaking of its predecessor. It could use the 1996 Congressional Review Act to nullify recently finalized federal regulations with a simple majority vote in each house of Congress. But Republicans can inflict a political price. Last October, the Department of Labor finalized a financial factors rule. It requires managers of corporate pension plans to justify incorporation of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors solely on the grounds of boosting risk-adjusted investment returns by reference to generally accepted investment theories. Wall Street hated it when the rule was first proposed, but all it does is operationalize the requirement of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 that plan managers perform their duties for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to plan beneficiaries and defraying reasonable plan expenses. In reality, opponents of the rule oppose the exclusivity hardwired into ERISA that pension savings be invested with eye single to the interests of plan beneficiaries. A vote to nullify the rule would be a vote in favor of socializing retirees savings and deploy them for wider societal ends. For Republicans, it would be a debate worth having. Similarly, congressional Republicans can gain politically by taking a stand opposing nullification of the EPAs Jan. 3, 2021 transparency-in-science rule. This rule broadens and strengthens the agencys 2018 transparency rule and aims to ensure that regulatory decisions are taken on the basis of robust, verifiable scientific studies. Polling shows that voters are more motivated to support environmental regulations when presented as protecting public health. This creates a market for studies linking pollution to public-health harms, however flimsy they might be. Environmental regulations mandating national standards on ozone and PM2.5 targeting fossil-fuel combustion are often based on epidemiological studies drawing on undisclosed data that cant be re-analyzed to check for errors and sensitivity to assumptions. A justification often made for this anti-scientific practice is safeguarding patient anonymity in such studies, something for which the new rule provides. Covering up is never a good look, however, and the spectacle of the self-proclaimed party of science arguing for secret science and against transparency would demonstrate how deeply politicized the science used to justify environmental regulation has become. The Trump administration left the best till last. With just one week to go, on Jan. 13, the Federal Register published an EPA regulation that quickly became known as the banana peel rule. Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act states that the EPA Administrator shall include a category of sources that causes, or contributes significantly to pollution anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. The new rule defines the level deemed significant. At the rules chosen level of 3 percent of U.S. stationary-source greenhouse-gas emissions, the only category deemed significant is electrical power generationa category that accounts for 43 percent of such emissions. Should the Biden administration ditch the 3 percent threshold and use the Clean Air Act to enmesh more sectors in greenhouse-gas targets, it will be compelled to develop an objective rationale for doing so. This is far from straightforward, hence the banana peel epithet. As the Trump rule notes, greenhouse gases do not have the local, near-term ramifications found with other pollutants; their impact is based on cumulative global loading. Directly or by inference, significance must therefore be linked to global emissions (U.S. power station emissions account for 3.6 percent of global emissions) and how effectively they are regulated at a global level. It would be irrational to regulate domestic emissions if there were little prospect of global emissions falling, too. As the Obama administration realized after the collapse of the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009, when Chinaalong with India, South Africa, and Brazilvetoed a global climate treaty, Beijing holds the key to a credible global greenhouse-gas regime. The 2014 U.S.-China climate accord negotiated by Presidents Obama and Xi paved the way for the Paris Agreement on climate the following year. Xis statement at the U.N. last September that China would aim for carbon neutrality before 2060 is widely seen as a climate gamechanger. Writing in a January 2021 Foreign Policy essay, Ted Nordhaus and Seaver Wang argue that Chinas climate diplomacy is part of a bigger geopolitical playBeijings desire to counterbalance rising Western concerns about Chinas belligerent posture in the South China Sea, its saber-rattling toward Taiwan, its human-rights crackdown in Hong Kong, its genocidal assault on the Uyghur minority in northwestern China, and much more. It would be naive not to recognize the geostrategic and political trade-offs in elevating China as climate savior. In a break with the routine formulation of climate change as existential threat trumping all else, Nordhaus and Wang warn that a world that succeeds in addressing climate change will not necessarily be a more equitable, inclusive, or humane one. On his last full day as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo declared Chinas persecution of the Uyghurs a crime against humanity. His successor agrees. During his confirmation hearing, Tony Blinken said that he supported Pompeos genocide finding, and that China poses the most significant challenge of any nation-state to the United States. China is playing for higher stakes than the climate. This reality confronts the new administration with its greatest dilemma: saving the planet requires appeasing Beijing. How the dilemma is resolved could well come to define Joe Bidens presidency. From RealClearWire. Rupert Darwall is a senior fellow of the RealClear Foundation and author of Green Tyranny: Exposing the Totalitarian Roots of the Climate Industrial Complex and the report The Climate Noose: Business, Net Zero, and the IPCCs Anti-Capitalism. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. By Prof. Dr. Andreas Stoffers - Country director Vietnam Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom This effect is perfectly timed with the positive effects of free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). This creates synergies that Vietnam needs right now in times of the countrys attempts of repositioning after the pandemic crisis. In general, the new Law on Investment helps resolve overlapping investment-related laws, and clarifies conditions and principles to select investors for projects involving land use including the auction of land use rights, bidding to select investors, and the approval of investors and investment practices. There are several major changes. Foreign investors are entitled to the same market entry conditions as applicable to domestic investors for sectors that both can invest in without any conditions (except for areas subject to market entry conditions and are to be listed by the government). It is saving time for both foreign investors and licensing authorities in determining and appraising investment proposals and applications for registration of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). New investment incentives are also introduced. They are based on performance and investment time and towards attracting for foreign investors to enter the Vietnamese market. New forms of investment in the context of global transformation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution are allowed, especially via incentives in the area of innovation and technology startup projects. The law provides more industries with investment incentives such as tertiary education, medical materials and supply, and science and technology products as well as products contributing to global value chains. To ensure the quality of foreign investment, the amended law includes specific conditions for sectors and projects that are entitled to investment incentives. These sectors are carefully selected and designed to lift Vietnams economy to the next level of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This includes high tech sectors like IT, research and development, and new and clean energies. The investment procedures in the area of M&A are also clarified and made easier for foreign investors. However, advice from law firms will be still important, especially if there are changes in the ownership ratio of foreign investors in the target company. These changes underline the governments efforts to further improve the business environment as well as enhance its position in international rankings such as the Ease of Doing Business report by the World Bank and Regional Risks for Doing Business by the World Economic Forum. The new Law on Investment, enacted in January, will ease business, especially when it comes to implementing EU agreements, Photo: Le Toan Synergies of law with EVFTA The new law comes at the right time, because of the many FTAs Vietnam has signed and/or ratified in the last months. Among them, the most advanced and modern one is the EVFTA. The advantages for Vietnam through the EVFTA are clear: it gives access to the biggest market worldwide, and along with the COVID-19 crisis, Vietnam can make use of the great interest of EU countries governments to recover. Vietnam could profit from technology and technology transfer from the EU, especially in connection with the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which will hopefully be ratified this summer. Adapting high EU standards would strengthen Vietnams competitiveness in the world market. In addition, the option for Vietnamese companies to invest in Europe also has good prospects. As far as the ongoing trade war between the United States and China is concerned, Vietnam is able to diversify imports, exports, and foreign direct investment (FDI), involving the EU as a neutral third party. Therefore, the EVFTA is definitely one essential part of Vietnams repositioning strategy. The synergies of the new Law on Investment and the EVFTA are obvious: FDI has been one of the key drivers of socioeconomic growth in Vietnam over the last decades. Both the EVFTA and the new Law on Investment are promoting FDI by improving Vietnams global competitiveness. Combined with the EVIPA, the synergetic effects will be even bigger. It is very positive that foreign investors will not need to apply for an investment registration certificate if they want to invest in a startup or investment fund for startups in the area of high-tech, digitalisation, smart buildings, or energy. These industries are the essential prerequisites for Vietnam to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0. Against this context, promoting this development, whether by domestic or foreign investors, makes a great deal of sense. Subsequently, Vietnam would be an interesting place for attracting high quality investment. Hence, Vietnam can be encouraged to continue on this path. It will support Vietnams repositioning in the world after COVID-19. Moreover, it demonstrates the openness of Vietnams leaders to speed up the economic recovery and development. With the new law, Vietnam has proven its openness to investors from other countries, who are thirsty for legal certainty. Besides all the other positive signs given by Vietnam, the law is one of the reasons why, for instance, German businesses are very bullish regarding Vietnam and their own business in the country specifically. According to a recent survey from the German Chamber of Commerce, 55 per cent of German companies expect Vietnam to recover this year, and 32 per cent next year. Regarding their own business in Vietnam, 50 per cent of these interviewed German companies expect a better business in 2021. Only 41 per cent out of them see their business unchanged, and just 9 per cent are pessimistic. Compared to other countries, these figures are outstanding. Again, openness and legal certainty as seen in the investment law play an important role. However, there has always been room for improvement. Taking advantage Despite the good conditions created by the new Law on Investment, success is not guaranteed. One of the key success factors is to get the word out to business in Vietnam and abroad. The phrase knowledge is power also counts here. Unfortunately, many businesspeople are not yet aware of the positive effects of the law. This is where awareness campaigns must come in. The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, its European counterpart, and the national European chambers of commerce are natural partners for dissemination, and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation is already involved here. Abroad, embassies can play a supporting role in this. For example, Vietnamese Ambassador in Berlin, Dr. Nguyen Minh Vu, is very well connected with German business organisations. These contacts can be used for another Vietnamese image campaign. However, it remains essential for foreign investors to involve lawyers at an early stage. The aim here is to identify stumbling blocks in good time and remove them. In order to reposition Vietnam after the pandemic, the new law is an important element for recovery as it stands for the open and liberal politics of Vietnam. It moves in the direction of legal certainty and makes Vietnam - especially in conjunction with the EVFTA and EVIPA - more attractive for investors from overseas. Philippine navy personnel wave the flags of the Philippines and Japan at the Naval Air Group headquarters at Sangley Point in Cavite, south of Manila, March 26, 2018. A province south of the Philippine capital has cancelled its plan to award U.S. $10 billion to a Chinese company-led consortium to develop an airport because of various deficiencies in required documents, the local governor said Wednesday. The consortium, made up of the China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC) a company blacklisted by the United States and MacroAsia Corp., a Philippine firm, was the sole bidder for the international airport in Sangley, a former military base at the mouth of Manila Bay in Cavite province. Due to the various deficiencies of the submission of requirements to conclude the joint venture agreement for the Sangley Point International Airport, the Cavite provincial government special selections committee has recommended the non-approval of the redevelopment of the former airbase presented by the applying parties, Cavite province Gov. Jonvic Remulla said in a statement. He said his office had accepted and approved the move to cancel the project on Tuesday, adding that his office would seek to restart it with a more qualified partner by October 2021. I still believe that the new international airport is important for the country in the long run, Remulla said. It must also be stressed that the cancellation is not prejudicial against anyone. The governor told Reuters that documents submitted by the consortium were deficient in three or four items. We saw it as a sign they were not fully committed, Remulla said, according to the news agency. Beijing-controlled CCCC is one of 24 Chinese firms and individuals that were sanctioned by the United States in August 2020 for what Washington said was their role in constructing artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. In response, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte rejected the U.S. blacklist. [The] Sangley project will continue [and] all other projects involving Chinese companies that are banned in the U.S. can continue in the Philippines, Duterte spokesman Harry Roque said last September. We are not a vassal state of any foreign power and we will pursue our national interest. Chinese projects Since taking office, Duterte has sought development deals with the Chinese. During a 2018 state visit to Manila by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two nations signed 29 bilateral deals that touched on big-ticket infrastructure projects, which fell under Dutertes ambitious build, build, build infrastructure initiative. The initiative calls for building bridges and highways, as well as the reconstruction of southern Marawi city, which was destroyed during a 2017 siege by Islamic State-linked militants and an ensuing five-month battle with government forces. In early 2019, Philippine defense officials said two Chinese firms were eyeing the takeover of a major shipyard located inside a former U.S. naval base at Subic, north of Manila. On Wednesday, Remulla said the decision was not connected to the U.S. decision. The announcement about the cancelled airport project came 11 days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up a visit to the Philippines. During his stay, the two countries finalized a deal to build a cargo railway that would connect the former American base at Subic with the former Clark U.S. air base here. The project to build the 71-kilometer (44-mile) railway from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Clark International Airport is valued at close to $1 billion, officials said. In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he was not privy to the specifics of the negotiations, but stressed that the Chinese government backed state companies seeking ventures in the Philippines in accordance with laws and regulations. We believe the Philippine side will follow the principle of fairness and justice and provide a favorable environment for Chinese businesses, which serves the common interests of both sides, Zhao said. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. With an influx of 5G smartphones in the market, there's no denying that a lot of people are looking forward to using 5G in India. But service providers haven't really been talking much about 5G until now. We've only heard about 5G from Jio and now, even Airtel has confirmed that it's ready to deploy 5G in India. Yes, Bharti Airtel has confirmed that their networks are ready for 5G. They tested the 5G service over the commercial network in Hyderabad and said they are the first telecom service provider in India to conduct a Live 5G service over an in-use network. Reuters Airtel used the existing technology-neutral spectrum on the 1800MHz band and now have the capability to operate 5G networks on 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz as well as the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands. The company further noted that they can deploy 5G on their networks in a matter of months. If it's true, then 5G in India may not be a distant dream now. Spectrum has been a challenge for telecom operators in India and it looks like Airtel will be offering both 5G and 4G within the same spectrum. The telco has also confirmed that they can simply flip a switch for 5G via a software update for the existing network infrastructure. In order to perform the Live 5G test in Hyderabad, Airtel used the Oppo Find X2 Pro and the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G phones. The company has also confirmed that they'll confirm the list of phones to support their 5G speeds soon. Unsplash Airtel 5G is expected to be 10 times as fast as the current 4G speeds. More importantly, 5G will also reduce latency significantly while the network will be able to handle 100x more concurrent users than the current technology. Going by all this, it looks like we might not have to wait too long before we can ride the 5G wave. However, it'll be interesting to see which telco will manage to rollout 5G for its users in India. Will it Jio or Airtel? Let us know your thoughts by dropping a line. Source: The Economic Times LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hive Learning - the world's leading peer learning platform - has advanced from Solid Performer to Core Challenger status on the 2021 Fosway 9-Grid for Learning Systems. This follows a third consecutive year of record growth, exceptional customer advocacy, and continued high performance with enterprise customers. Fosway Group - Europe's #1 HR industry analyst - describes vendors in the Core Challenger Zone as "mid performing solutions with a strong core suite of solutions capability, strong customer advocacy and good performance in enterprise customers". The Fosway 9-Grid is a multi-dimensional model used to understand the position of vendors in the UK and European markets based on their performance, potential, market presence, total cost of ownership and future trajectories. Hive Learning has advanced to the Core Challenger position after two years in the Solid Performer Zone, as Hive Learning's customer base grew significantly thanks to their ability to support customers through the COVID-19 pandemic. Hive Learning are also identified as a specialist in the Collaborative/Peer category for the second year, as a result of their deep expertise in the space. The specialist has deployed more than 20,000 peer learning solutions and generated over 22 million peer learning interactions in the past three years alone. Major milestones include: Hive Learning launched its peer learning programme designed to build inclusive culture, Inclusion Works, in 10 different languages - a first step in removing language as a barrier to conversation as the award-winning provider drives towards translating content in just a few clicks Hive Learning launched two new programmes, Resilience Works and Wellbeing Works, in response to client demand at the beginning of the pandemic, while their Inclusion Works programme was expanded to meet learner needs in response to the Black Lives Matter movement Multiple enterprise customers launched cohorts of more than 100,000 users across its peer learning programmes for the first time in Hive Learning's history Hive Learning retained almost 90% of its customer base, as well as welcoming a host of new and innovative companies including Babcock, Legal & General, and DP World among others The organisation's customer base expanded to Asia and the Middle East (including China and the United Arab Emirates ) as well as Europe , South America , and the US David Wilson, CEO of Fosway Group comments: "Hive Learning is a great example of a Specialist Learning System that has focused on its strengths and deepened its growth and adoption, and customer advocacy as a result. Enabling effective online collaboration is a huge challenge for organisations in lockdown and Hive Learning's specialised approach is supporting this particular moment of need, hence it's advance position in this year's Fosway 9-Grid for Learning Systems." Hive Learning Chief Executive Officer, Julia Tierney, comments: "Very early on in our journey here at Hive Learning, we could see from the data that peers being involved in each other's learning experiences had a profound impact on engagement and outcomes. The last year has amplified that impact even further and encouraged many organisations to take the leap to try something different. They have been rewarded with record engagement and results. "Peer learning is so much more than comments in an LMS, people learning from one another or using social tools to get their work done. It's about creating shared experiences and accountability to create self-sustaining culture change. "As Fosway called out, many businesses are discovering the challenges of scaling collaboration through tools like Teams which are getting crowded (although can be powerful for helping people access learning in the flow of work). "We agree with the analyst's assessment that there are only few specialist providers able to deliver a powerful programmatic and collaborative approach well, and we are proud to have been able to deliver group-based cohort learning to 100s of 1000s of learners this year. "As we look ahead to 2021, we'll continue to deepen our understanding of network science and the magic of peer learning, and we are ramping up our investment into our product development to really accelerate impact. Watch this space!" Download the full report for the 2021 Fosway 9-Grid for Learning Systems now. About Hive Learning Hive Learning is an award-winning peer learning platform. Our approach uses peer accountability to create deep emotional connections with learning and embed lasting culture change. We create peer learning programmes, specialising in inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership development; and peer learning networks - best practice communities that scale knowledge sharing to drive innovation. This formula helps organisations radically accelerate the adoption of culture-critical skills at scale. Hive Learning is proud to count the likes of Legal & General, the 30% Club, and Deloitte among its customers. Visit www.hivelearning.com to learn more. About Fosway 9-Grid Fosway Group is Europe's #1 HR Industry Analyst. The Fosway 9-Grid provides a unique assessment of the principal learning and talent supply options available to organisations in EMEA. Now in its eighth year, the analysis is based on extensive independent research and insights from Fosway's Corporate Research Network of over 150 customer organisations, including BP, HSBC, PwC, RBS, Sanofi, Shell and Vodafone. Visit the Fosway website at www.fosway.com for more information on Fosway Group's research and services. Media Contact Rotunda Rumblings Hes out, she might be in: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced Wednesday he wont run for the U.S. Senate next year, while Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken confirmed her interest in the race, Andrew Tobias reports. Husted said in a statement he wants to be governor someday, and that his current job will help him do that while also making more of an impact. Eyes on Jordan: Meanwhile, Champaign County Rep. Jim Jordan looms large over the race, Tobias reports. While most Ohio Republicans dont think Jordan will actually run, the possibility that he might while getting former President Donald Trumps blessing is influencing the field. Former State Treasurer Josh Mandel is seen as likely to run if Jordan doesnt get in, setting up a likely face-off with Timken and any other candidates who might enter the fray. Least favorite person: Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, told reporters on Wednesday that Jordan would be last on my list of people hed like to see replace Portman, Sabrina Eaton reports. Brown criticized Jordan for questioning the results of last years presidential election and said People like that shouldnt serve in public office. He said hes talked to several Democrats interested in running for the seat and hasnt asked anybody to run at this point. Getting charged up: After sending supporters an email with the subject line Im thinking about running for U.S. Senate, Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan on Wednesday extended a formal invitation to President Joe Biden and key administration personnel to tour two modern energy facilities in the Mahoning Valley and attend a Voltage Valley roundtable. Ryans letter said the idea would be to discuss our strategic initiatives and look for opportunities to accelerate our efforts and more closely align with your administrations goals. A presidential visit also wouldnt hurt his Senate prospects. Also out: Former U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi issued a statement on Wednesday saying hes not considering running for Ohios open U.S. Senate seat in 2022. My current role as President & CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable has allowed me to help improve the lives of Ohioans through championing pro-growth policies to grow our state, and that remains my primary focus going forward, Tiberi said. Restraining orders: Ohio GOP lawmakers are advancing legislation giving them the power to override any of Gov. Mike DeWines executive orders -- not just health orders. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, Senate Bill 22 would also set up a new legislative committee that could strike down coronavirus orders, and it would require legislative approval for health emergencies to last longer than 30 days. Clearing the table? An attorney representing a Stark County man convicted of rape and kidnapping asked the Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday to throw out his verdict and order a new trial, because his accuser was sitting at the prosecutors table and was introduced as a representative of the prosecution. An attorney representing the Stark County Prosecutors Office told justices that jurors were told they could weigh the credibility of everyone on the stand, and they were deliberate in making the decision, Laura Hancock reports. Out later: Ohio had the seventh consecutive day Wednesday with coronavirus-related hospitalizations coming in below 3,500, meaning the overnight curfew will be shortened by an hour, Hancock reports. Hours later, the new coronavirus order came out. It goes into effect Thursday night. Permission denied: The Ohio Liquor Control Commission announced a number of sanctions against bars and restaurants that are in violation of laws and orders, including coronavirus-related public health orders. Hancock reports it has revoked the liquor permit of the popular Cleveland bar Barley House. Huge drop in nursing home cases: Nursing home patient cases of COVID-19 in Ohio have dropped from 5,155 in mid-December to 2,356 currently amid the vaccination effort. Meanwhile, the number of deaths reported weekly are also dropping, reports Rich Exner. Another step: Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague took a step closer to launching his ResultsOhio program on Wednesday by announcing five Ohio organizations - four nonprofits and a state agency had gotten his stamp of approval. As Tobias reports, the program follows the pay for success model, which aims to attract private investment to tackle public-policy issues. The projects, which target issues ranging from job training to addiction treatment, still need to find funding before they can begin. Join the party: Dayton and Toledo are seeking to join a lawsuit by Cincinnati, Columbus and Attorney General Dave Yost to block the tainted House Bill 6s $1 billion-plus ratepayer bailout to the owner of two northern Ohio nuclear plants, according to documents filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Dayton Mayor (and possible 2022 Democratic statewide candidate) Nan Whaley wrote in a cleveland.com op-ed that she was proud to have her city join the suit. If our statewide elected officials wont step up, local leaders will, she wrote. Unemployment opens for 100K: Close to 100,000 Ohioans, many of whom exhausted their unemployment benefits before the end of the year, will be able to submit claims starting this weekend, state officials say. The claims under extended benefits will be retroactive to Dec. 27, as part of the most recent stimulus bill, Exner reports. In addition, $300 extra is being paid per week, for 11 weeks. Changing of the Guard: The Ohio National Guard is sending 150 military police to Washington, D.C. through at least mid-March in anticipation of continued civil unrest. But Pelzer reports the Guard is refusing to disclose how many of the 1,000 troops who have just returned to Ohio from D.C. for Bidens inauguration have tested positive for the coronavirus. Lobbying Lineup Five groups that lobbied on House Bill 798, a bill in the last state legislative session that sought to delay subsidies to FirstEnergys nuclear power plants after federal investigators made arrests in connection with House Bill 6. The bill never passed. State lobbying forms dont require people to indicate which side of a bill theyre on. None of FirstEnergys lobbyists indicated theyre lobbying on the bill. 1. American Electric Power 2. American Petroleum Institute 3.Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund 4. Ohio Manufacturers Association 5. TimkenSteel Straight from the Source I took a picture of my shelves. It looked like locusts had gone over them. Id never seen them that empty in my life. It was like, overnight. -Chuck Gress, liquor manager of an Arrow Wine & Spirits store in the Dayton area, talking about the rush on his store at the beginning of the pandemic. The Dayton Daily News reports sales of high-proof liquor by the gallon increased 9.8% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Sales in that time increased 18.6%. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American New Delhi: IndiGo, India's leading low-cost airline in terms of market share, has expressed interest in buying stake in Air India, secretary civil aviation R N Choubey told reporters on Thursday. "Post the cabinet decision tomorrow, we have received an expression of interest for Air India from IndiGo. They have said that they are interested in Air India," Secretary R N Choubey told reporters. Minister of State for Aviation Jayant Sinha said other companies too had approached the government informally. Several companies have approached informally for Air India stake. Got interest from both domestic and international airlines. Havent received any formal communication, he said. The Cabinet on Wednesday approved divestment of Air India. On Wednesday, finance minister Arun Jaitley said at a press briefing that he would be heading a group to work out procedures for the Air India disinvestment. Air India has a fleet of 118 aircraft and flies the highest number of passengers to and from India according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation data. It also has coveted parking slots in airports around the world such as New York, Chicago and London besides 18-morning departure slots in Mumbai alone. Aviation secretary R.N. Choubey said IndiGo will have to apply when the tenders are floated. An IndiGo official who declined to be named confirmed the interest in Air India. The airlines spokesman said the company was in a silent period and hence could not comment. Meanwhile, IndiGo controls about 40 percent of the domestic market, with 126 planes and 854 daily flights. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Check out the news you should not miss today: Society Vietnams Ministry of Health on Thursday morning announced two locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh, increasing the countrys tally to 1,553. The two are now being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. The northern province of Quang Ninh on Thursday gave all K-12 students a four-day break, as part of the localitys immediate activation of the alarm mode at the highest level to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant from the UK after a patient tested positive for COVID-19 one day earlier and identified as a locally-transmitted case. Vietnams Ministry of Health is requesting Japan to provide more information about a case in which a Vietnamese woman tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday after she entered Japan on January 17. Thien Hanh Hospital in the Central Highlands province of Dak Laks Buon Ma Thuot City on Wednesday discharged a five-year-old boy, who was earlier hospitalized with severe injuries from being slashed, and presented him with a bank deposit certificate worth more than VND1.4 billion (US$60,684) donated by the community after the call of the hospitals doctor Pham Hoa Anh. Business Vietnams footwear sector is now beginning to see positive signs after export revenue for footwear and handbags fell 11 percent year-on-year to US$19.5 billion in 2020, making it one of the sector's hardest hit by COVID-19, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. The first 60 tons of jasmine rice shipped to the UK under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) hit the shelves in London on Tuesday, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. Lifestyle Nguyen Tan Dat from Ho Chi Minh Citys District 3 has recently captured attention after he spent three months creating traditional Vietnamese meals for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, which falls on February 12 this year) from clay. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Vanilla Seed Market report offers a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future opportunities. This report is responsible for quantitative estimation and foreseen future for upcoming years based on the recent companies strategic moves and historical data. Further, the market report is categorized into different segments, regions, and countries level. This report also provides competitor analysis with its market share and developments. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Vanilla Seed market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Vanilla Seed Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-31450 According to this study, over the next five years, the Vanilla Seed market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Vanilla Seed business, shared in Chapter 3. This Vanilla Seed market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Vanilla Seed market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Territorial Seed Johnnys Selected Seeds Thompson & Morgan Suttons Burpee Seeds Seed Parade West Coast Seeds Urban Farmer Mountain Rose Herbs Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-31450 This study considers the Vanilla Seed value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Genetically Modified Organisms Non-Genetically Modified Organisms Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Home Commercial In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Vanilla Seed Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-31450 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Vanilla Seed consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Vanilla Seed market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Vanilla Seed manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Vanilla Seed with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Vanilla Seed submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-vanilla-seed-market-report-2020-by-regions-upcoming-trends-industry-analysis-and-global-demand-till-2025/ Violent tractor rally leaves 300 police personnel injured At least 300 police personnel were injures in the violence let loose by protestors in the name of tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day. Protestors targeted police with sticks and other crude weapons and even tried to run over them with their tractors. Clashes broke out at several places, including Red Fort and ITO, Mukarba Chowk, Nangloi and other areas as protestors removed all barricades to enter uncharted routes in defiance of authority. The Delhi Police have arrested 200 people in connection with the violence, and 22 FIRs have been filed so far. Police have also detained over 300 people in connection with Tuesdays violence at several places in Delhi. A protesting also died near the ITO metro station after his tractor overturned on Tuesday. At least two kissan organisation announced their decision to dissociate with the joint front of farmers organisations saying they disapproved of all that happened in Delhi that marred the Republic Day spirit Extra paramilitary forces are likely to be deployed in Delhi after union home minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation. Police had to use batons and teargas shells to bring the violence under control, Internet had also been suspended in various parts of Delhi-NCR as violence erupted. Those who indulged in violence will have to pay for their deeds, said a farmer leader. Farmer leaders on Wednesday, 27 February, condemned the violence that took place in Delhi during the tractor rally on Republic Day. "Those who indulged in violence and unfurled flags at Red Fort will have to pay for their deeds. For the last two months, a conspiracy is going on against a particular community. This is not a movement of Sikhs, but farmers," Bharatiya Kisan Union's Rakesh Tikait was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's SS Pandher reportedly said, "Some miscreants joined the protest to defame the farmers' movement. We did not plan to unfurl the flags at Red Fort, this was not our program. Deep Sidhu's photo with the PM has floated, we had already expressed doubt over him." The siege on the Red Fort and violence on capitals roads during the tractor parade on Tuesday, have led to divisions in the farm unions front with the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee and the BKU (Bhanu Pratap Singh group) quitting the protests and announcing their own plans to struggle for justice. AIKSCC chief VM Singh and BKU Bhanus Bhanu Pratap Singh today addressed a press conference to announce that their organisations were withdrawing from the ongoing farmers protests which had lost the legitimacy and the moral authority to continue after what happened yesterday. Asked if the entire AIKSCC was dissociating from protests, VM Singh said he was dissociating as the national president of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (RKMS). VM Singh said his organisation will leave the Ghazipur protest site. Both AIKSCC and BKU (Bhanu) are Uttar Pradesh based organisations. Singh attacked BKUs Rakesh Tikait for admitting to inciting violence and asking supporters to carry batons, sticks and flags to the parade besides breaking barricades yesterday and said, We have not joined this agitation for people to die. The farmers are not here to do what we saw yesterday. They are not agitating for someone to become a political leader. Singh asked whether BKUs Rakesh Tikait who has attended all 10 dialogues with the government ever raised the concerns of sugarcane farmers with the Centre. Singh also slammed Tikait for breaking barricades asking, Why did they start early for the parade? Singh added, Whoever has done the wrong yesterday needs to be acted against. Ours is an agriculture dominated nation. Our agitation will continue but not in the current form. We cannot run the agitation with those who have their own separate roads and plans. We are withdrawing from the agitation, VM Singh said. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, meanwhile, said VM Singh has been removed from post of convener of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) a month ago. Reports also said most farmers have returned home from Ghazipur and that the number of tractors there have come down to around 150-200. Earlier, where there were around 3,000 tractors. BKU president Naresh Tikait had returned to Muzaffarnagar yesterday itself, they added. Traffic is smooth on the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi highway. However, Rakesh Tikait has refused to go back saying that he plans to stay put till the end of the agitation. Twenty two people in Derry's council area are seeking a new home because they say they have been intimidated. New figures have revealed a total of 234 cases in Northern Ireland where people have told the Housing Executive that they have been forced to leave their homes because they say they have been threatened. Among those they claim to have been threatened by are paramilitary organisations. Of the 234 cases, 22 are in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. The figures emerged following a question in the Northern Ireland Assembly by DUP Assemblywomen Paula Bradley. She asked the Housing Minister Caral Ni Chuilin for a breakdown by council area of the the cases involving 'intimidation paramilitary housing points'. In response, Ms Ni Chuilin department said that, as of September 1, 2020, there were 234 cases in Northern Ireland where the reason given as to why the person was homeless was 'intimidation paramilitary'. The Belfast City Council area had the highest number of cases at 64. The Derry and Strabane council area had the sixth highest number of cases of the 11 council regions in Northern Ireland. According to the Housing Executive, intimidation points are only given to people if they are at risk of dying or their home is genuinely at risk of being destroyed in: - a terrorist attack - a racist or sectarian attack - an attack motivated by the persons sexuality or disability - an attack by someone who falls within the scope of the Housing Executives statutory powers to address neighbourhood nuisance or other similar forms of anti-social behaviour The Housing Executive says that the threat has to be confirmed by the PSNI or an organisation that can confirm threats from paramilitary organisations. The Housing Executive's guidance also states that other organisations can be contacted to confirm that the person could be killed or their home destroyed. If the threat is confirmed, the person is awarded 200 points on the housing waiting list. People may also be entitled to an intimidation grant. In the case of where someone owns their property, the Housing Executive may agree to purchase their home if they have been intimidated. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 19:39:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to his Surinamese counterpart, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, recently over his infection with COVID-19. In his message, Xi extended sympathy to Santokhi over his infection with the virus and wished him a speedy recovery. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi voiced staunch support for the Surinamese government and people in their anti-pandemic battle, and wished the Surinamese people an early victory over the pandemic. Enditem Newly crowned Australian of the Year Grace Tame removed the portrait of acclaimed actor Geoffrey Rush from an honour wall just hours after she was presented with this year's award. Rush's portrait was notably missing on Australia Day - the same day Ms Tame's portrait was added to the honour wall of Canberra's Crowne Plaza hotel. The portraits of every winner since 1960 were on display at the hotel for this year's Australian of the Year nominees and their guests before Monday night's award ceremony at the National Arboretum. Rush was awarded Australian of the Year in 2012 for his contribution to the arts. Daily Mail Australia has been told by multiple sources that Ms Tame removed Rush's portrait in protest at unproved allegations he behaved inappropriately during a Sydney Theatre Company production of King Lear in 2017. Before: 2012 Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush's portrait sits beside Simon McKeon and Ita Buttrose After: Rush's portrait was removed by Grace Tame on Australia Day and remained that way Grace Tame during the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards at the National Arboretum in Canberra on Monday Geoffrey Rush was named Australian of the Year in 2012. The 2021 winner removed his portrait from the honour wall Rush was awarded a record multi-million dollar payout over the defamatory claims, which were published by The Daily Telegraph that year. Nationwide News appealed the decision, but last year was told to pay the Oscar winner almost $2.9 million in damages. The stories alleged Rush behaved inappropriately towards Eryn Jean Norvill, his co-star in the production. Daily Mail Australia has been told Ms Tame removed Rush's portrait, folded it up and dumped it on the ground. She declined to return Daily Mail Australia's repeated calls about the matter. The poster's removal did not go unnoticed by Australia Day Council organisers, whom Daily Mail Australia has been told were informed by Ms Tame that she had removed the portrait herself. The portrait remained absent for the remainder of the event until all of the other portraits were taken down by event organisers. An Australia Day Council spokesman later confirmed the picture was indeed found folded up on the floor next to where it had been hanging. 'It has been returned to the collection,' he said. A portrait of this Ms Tame was added to the display of recipients following her award win. 2021 winner Grace Tame is pictured (top right) alongside every Australian of the Year except Geoffrey Rush Grace Tame's picture went up after Geoffrey Rush's came down (above) Grace Tame is a sexual assault survivor who has dedicated her life to helping other survivors tell their stories Geoffrey Rush arrives at the Supreme Court of New South Wales on April 11, 2019 in Sydney. He was awarded a record payout over a defamatory article Eryn Jean Norvill arrives at the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2019. The trial judge did not regard her as a credible witness Ms Tame received her award for her brave campaign against laws that prevented sexual assault victims from speaking out about their experiences. The 26-year old was sexually assaulted by a 58-year-old high school teacher when she was just 15. The first Tasmanian to ever be named Australian of the Year, Ms Tame has become a key voice on social issues - including calling for a change to the Australia Day date. She was accompanied to Canberra by her boyfriend Max Heerey, who proudly took to Instagram after the awards night to boast about dating an 'incredible lady'. Before the ceremony, the pair took the opportunity to have a dig at the government's climate change stance - with Mr Heerey posting a video on his Instagram showing Ms Tame walking up behind Prime Minister Morrison, with the caption: 'Creeping up like climate change'. The Instagram story - which Ms Tame also later shared to her own page - included an emoji of a Christmas stocking full of coal, and the word 'aloha' - in reference to Mr Morrison's controversial trip to Hawaii last year at a time when bushfires raged across Australia. In an emotional acceptance speech, the newly named Australian of the Year detailed her remarkable fight for justice against her high school teacher. Ms Tame was bullied and vulnerable with no self-esteem when she confided in maths teacher Nicolaas Bester at the elite St Michael's Collegiate School in Hobart. She told him about an incident when an older child had forced her into a cupboard and told her to undress before molesting her. Kate Winslet and Australian actor Geoffrey Rush. Rush received a record payout over defamatory articles that wrongly claimed he had acted inappropriately Geoffrey Rush (right) was at the peak of his fame when defamatory articles ruined his career, a court heard Grace Tame was honoured as Australian of the Year Bester saw an opportunity to pounce. 'He then introduced the actual sexual abuse by recreating that scene that I had described to him of my childhood trauma,' she recalled. The predator locked Ms Tame in a cupboard and molested her. From there, Bester groomed the youngster by exposing her to films which glorified relationships between young women and older men. 'Discussion of child sexual abuse is uncomfortable. But nothing is as uncomfortable as abuse itself,' she said. 'I lost my virginity to a paedophile. I was 15, anorexic. He was 58, my teacher. 'For months he groomed me, then abused me every day: Before school, after school, in my uniform, on the floor. I didn't know who I was.' Wanting to speak out about her ordeal but blocked by the law, Ms Tame became the first woman in Tasmania to win the right to publicly name herself as a rape survivor. Prior to her legal victory, Ms Tame was barred from speaking publicly about what she had experienced - despite her jailed abuser being able to openly tell his story, had he wanted. Ms Tame decided to get a tattoo when she was 19 to represent her survival. It reads: 'Eat my fear'. Updates with bill introduction. Restoring the federal deduction for state and local taxes is back on the congressional agenda. But this time, the leader of the U.S. Senate is pushing it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York is the lead sponsor of legislation to repeal the Republican tax laws $10,000 cap. The provision disproportionately affected New Jersey and other high-tax states, most of which send billions of dollars more to Washington than they get back. Democratic U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey, the state with the nations highest property taxes, are co-sponsors, along with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee. The bill was introduced Thursday. Allowing property taxes to be fully deducted has been a bedrock principle of our tax code and is common sense tax policy that rewards states that invest in things like education, public safety, infrastructure and economic opportunity for all., said Menendez, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. The legislation is a straight repeal of the cap, unlike legislation introduced in 2019 by Menendez and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist. which paid for the loss of revenue by raising taxes on wealthy Americans or a House-passed bill in December 2019 bill that eliminated the $10,000 limit for two years and never was voted on in the Senate. We are renewing the battle to bring meaningful middle-class tax relief and ease the pressure on local governments in New Jersey, Pascrell told NJ Advance Media. After years of suffering under GOP tax scam law and struggling to survive the pandemic, our neighbors and local government are crying out for relief. With the states hardest hit by the deduction cap also the ones initially hardest hit by the coronavirus, House Democrats also attempted to restore the full tax break in stimulus legislation, including it in two bills that passed the chamber. But then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the effort, even as his home state of Kentucky received $63 billion more from Washington than its residents paid in federal taxes in 2019, while New Jersey got $10 billion less, according to the State University of New Yorks Rockefeller Institute of Government. After passing the tax law that gave 21% of its benefits to the richest 1 percent and just 17% to the bottom 60%, majorities of Republicans in both houses then sought to repeal the federal estate tax that falls solely on individuals inheriting more than $11 million. But Republicans have targeted the state and local deduction as a giveaway to the rich. A study by the progressive Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said 86% of the benefits would go to the top 5% of taxpayers. I cant think of any action more disconnected from the real world as the Democrats push to give tax breaks to the wealthy, said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee. Far more middle-class taxpayers, however, would receive a tax break, though their individual savings would not be as great as the wealthy since they pay less in taxes. Two-thirds of those hurt by the cap in New Jersey had income between $75,000 and $200,000, according to Internal Revenue Service statistics. And repealing the cap would give 30% of New Jersey taxpayers a tax cut, the highest percentage in the nation, the group said. Meanwhile, home values in all 21 New Jersey counties were below than they would have been without the tax law, according to Moodys Analytics. We should be building a fairer tax code that lifts up families, makes it easier for individuals in high cost-of-living states like New Jersey to afford homeownership, and allows communities to invest in education, public safety, and infrastructure, Booker said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 52F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Overcast. Low 43F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. [January 28, 2021] The National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. Announces New President and CEO The National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA) is pleased to announce the selection of their new President and Chief Executive Officer, Guylaine Saint Juste who will officially step into the role on February 1, 2021. Saint Juste succeeds Walter J. Smith, a Lifetime Member who previously served as NABA's 23rd Chairman of the Board of Directors, as he re-enters retirement after providing leadership and stability to the organization for over 2-1/2 years. "Guylaine is a transformational leader who will lead NABA into the next 50 years," shares the NABA, Inc. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Herschel Frierson. "We are excited and honored to have Guylaine lead this great Association we love. Her skills, dedication, and commitment will build upon the already solid foundation of 'Lifting As We Climb'." Guylaine was formerly the Managing Director, Employer of Influence Strategy at Year Up, a nonprofit organization that provides students of color the opportunity to experience careers in business and technology. Guylaine is a leader in the boardroom not only for her executive roles but with her activist spirit, she fights issues in the industry such as: tackling colorism in the workforce, the "4-year degree required" for entry-level to middle-skills jobs, pedigree as a barrier to advancement for opportunity youth, and the interdependence of equity and economic mobility. "I am honored to join NABA Nation and look forward to serving this great organization," Guylaine states. "I welcome the opportunity to connect with many as we chart the path for the next five years." Saint Juste, who is Haitian-American, has over 25 years of experience in financial services. For almost five years, she served as the Business Banking Virginia Market Executive with Capital One (News - Alert) Bank. From there, she joined Year Up as the Executive Director of the National Capital Region in April of 2015. During the four years she served in this position, she increased revenue by over 30%, doubled the number of students in the program, and grew corporate partnerships by 31%. NABA, Inc. is dedicated to the advancement of Black professionals in our industry, and with Guylaine Saint Juste as the leader, there are no limits to how they can continue to fulfill their motto; Lifting As We Climb. About the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for black professionals in the accounting, finance, and related business professions. Visit www.nabainc.org to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005278/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. Ukraine has a chance to become a member of NATO with the support of the new U.S. administration, according to former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. "NATO membership is a historic mission that we can achieve. There is a chance to do this with the new U.S. administration. We lost this opportunity in 2008. Let's take the opportunity now to join NATO so that Ukraine gets a Membership Action Plan," he said during the online discussion "Ukraine and the United States: Plan for Strategic Partnership" as part of the Kyiv Security Forum on Wednesday, January 27. Yatsenyuk expressed confidence that the new U.S. administration would support Ukraine, as it did during the Obama-Biden administration. At the same time, the politician stressed that the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence should be on the agenda of bilateral relations and expressed hope that the new U.S. administration would support economic reforms in Ukraine. "We are convinced that the new administration will help the Ukrainian army become more powerful and provide it with lethal defensive weapons," he said. Yatsenyuk said he was "very optimistic" about the future of bilateral relations. "The United States has passed the test of democracy. After all that happened, the United States has become even stronger. The United States has been, is, and will be a model of a true democracy. The stronger America, the stronger Ukraine, and vice versa," he said. op "We are thrilled to start the year by announcing our new partnership with Tidewater Eye Centers," said Clyde Bell, CEO of CVP. "With the combined presence and experience of Tidewater Eye Centers and Virginia Eye Consultants now under the CVP banner, this represents a significant eye care consolidation in the Coastal Virginia region." Tidewater Eye Centers, with its roots in Virginia for 50 years, is a large ophthalmology practice, serving patients at three clinic locations in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. Tidewater Eye Centers provides care in the specialties of cornea, glaucoma, retina, as well as offering cataract and refractive surgeries. "Our team is excited to join many other leading, patient-focused practices nationwide as a CVP partner," said Roger Newsom, M.D. "The CVP model, with a focus on eye care innovation as well as industry-leading administrative resources, enhances our ability to serve our community in and around the Hampton Roads and beyond." "Tidewater is excited to join the ranks of one of the premier ophthalmology groups in the country," said Tom Edmonds, M.D. "We look forward to solidifying our partnership and growing CVP's presence in Virginia." "We are committed to providing the highest quality eye care solutions to our valued patients in Virginia," said John Sheppard, M.D., M.M.Sc., President of Virginia Eye Consultants. "Tidewater Eye Centers, with the reputation they've built over fifty years, and their history of firsts for the region helps us deliver on our mission." This news marks one of the largest eye care consolidations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Together, Tidewater Eye Centers, Virginia Eye Consultants and Virginia Beach Eye Center represent eight clinic locations and 32 providers. CVP is building one of the country's leading ophthalmology management services organizations by bringing best-in-class operations, marketing, and patient experience expertise to partner practices working at the forefront of life-changing advances in eye care. CVP's network aligns the efforts of many physicians operating in all ophthalmic subspecialties around a singular vision: transformative eye care. The expanding CVP network leverages the professional resources of Cincinnati Eye Institute in the Midwest, Virginia Eye Consultants in the Mid-Atlantic, and the capital resources and expertise of Revelstoke Capital Partners, to identify and fund growth initiatives that would not be available to a single practice working on its own. The CVP leadership team looks forward to robust opportunities for partnership with best-in-class providers in pursuit of life-changing advances in eye care. About CVP CVP is a premier ophthalmology management services organization formed in 2018 through a partnership with Cincinnati Eye Institute, one of the nation's largest ophthalmology practices, and Revelstoke Capital Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm. Virginia Eye Consultants joined the company in 2019, expanding the network to the Mid-Atlantic. CVP partner practices feature more than 150 industry-leading providers across all major subspecialties in ophthalmology and optometry. Partner practices and their affiliated providers are currently based in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Virginia, with other regional and national partnerships now in discussion which are expected to add significantly to the growing network of 47 clinical centers, and eight ambulatory surgical centers. CVP strives to attract best-in-class physicians and staff and deliver the highest quality eye care in the industry. www.cvphealth.com For more information, contact: Clyde Bell, [email protected] Chief Executive Officer of CVP (513) 569-3770 SOURCE CVP Just weeks into the vaccination campaign, that secrecy is already making accountability difficult. The drug companies Pfizer and AstraZeneca recently announced that they would miss their European delivery targets, causing widespread concern as dangerous virus variants spread. But the terms of their contracts remain closely guarded secrets, making it difficult to question company or government officials about either blame or recourse. Available documents, however, suggest that drug companies demanded and received flexible delivery schedules, patent protection and immunity from liability if anything goes wrong. In some instances, countries are prohibited from donating or reselling doses, a ban that could hamper efforts to get vaccines to poor countries. Governments are cutting at least three types of vaccine deals: Some are buying directly from pharmaceutical companies. Others are buying through regional bodies like the European Union or the African Union. Many will turn to the nonprofit Covax program, an alliance of more than 190 countries, which is buying from the drug makers with an eye toward making vaccines available worldwide, especially to poor countries free or at reduced cost. Some governments have signed deals with manufacturers and Covax alike. The United States has secured 400 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, enough for 200 million people, and is close to arranging 200 million additional doses by summer, with options to buy up to 500 million more. It also has advance purchase agreements for more than 1 billion doses from four other companies whose inoculations do not yet have U.S. regulatory approval. The European Commission, the European Unions executive branch negotiating on behalf of its 27 member states, has nearly 2.3 billion doses under contract and is negotiating for about 300 million more, according to data collected by UNICEF and Airfinity, a science analytics company. A tiny West Australian mining company has been caught up in the investing craze surrounding US company GameStop thanks to its ASX code matching that of the American video game retailer. GME Resources, which is listed on the local bourse with a market capitalisation of just $40 million, is a mining company focused on nickel and cobalt extraction. On Thursday, its shares soared more than 50 per cent to 12 cents, their highest level since 2018, with volumes of nearly $7 million. A local company that shares an ASX ticker with US retailer Gamestop has seen its shares surge 50 per cent. Credit:Bloomberg However, the skyrocketing price had nothing to do with the business quarterly update released last Friday nor the rising price of nickel. Instead, local participants of share trading groups on Reddit and Facebook had bought the stock as a joke due to its tickers similarity to popular US stock GameStop. Shares in the overseas video game retailers have rocketed over 1500 per cent in the past month to nearly $US350 ($460) thanks to day traders on the Reddit forum Wallstreetbets continuing to promote the stock and other heavily short-sold companies in perceived revenge against major US hedge funds. CBSs top two news executives were placed on administrative leave after a bombshell story in the Los Angeles Times alleging they were responsible for creating a hostile work environment. The story, which is based on a CBS internal investigation, alleges serial instances where CBS TV president Peter Dunn, who is in charge of CBS stations across the country, bullied women managers in Philadelphia and other cities, as well as discriminated against and disparaged Black employees and potential employees. Dunns lieutenant, David Friend, has also been accused of similar discriminatory acts. CBS3 anchor Ukee Washington was named as one of the targets of these attacks. In 1991, when I came to Philadelphia to work in news at WCAU (which at the time was CBS), Washington was already a popular fixture at KYW. More than 30 years later the fact that he is still on TV as the stations main anchor is a testament to his skills, popularity, and resilience. Given the culture described in the L.A. Times, his longevity is nothing short of miraculous. The derogatory comments allegedly made by Dunn about Washington are straight out of the Jim Crow minstrel shows only seen on the TCM channel. READ MORE: Hes not jive. Hes our own Ukee Washington and Philly stands with him | Jenice Armstrong During my 30 years of working in five television markets across the country, I heard countless stories from colleagues of both overt and subtle experiences of racism akin to what is alleged in the CBS investigation. Far too often women and people of color find themselves navigating newsrooms full of land mines at the intersection of race, gender, and age. As a young reporter I was often accused of being too aggressive (aka an angry Black woman). These comments were not made about my male colleagues. Or I would be passed over for an assignment that went to a less qualified male. A news director once told me in a staff meeting in front of other coworkers, Sometimes when you are on air you get this look on your face and you just look dumb. As I got older, some comments were ageist. A supervisor matter-of-factly stated that when hiring a coanchor to work with me, it was tough because all the candidates are young and you end up looking like their grandmother. Let me be clear: For most of my television career, I worked in newsrooms that were racially diverse and overall, it was a wonderful experience. To this day I love it when someone stops me and says, I grew up watching you. While my personal experiences with disparities were less about race and more about gender and age, most of us know that race runs through every aspect of our lives, making it difficult to parse. READ MORE: CBS puts two execs on leave after report alleging racist, sexist behavior involving Phillys CBS3 Some part of this problem is inherent in the superficial nature of local television news because so much is based on appearances. It allows executives to get away with assessments or calls that would never fly in other industries. In television news, executives make judgments on a talents looks. If the boss has a racial bias then that is the lens through which they see the candidate. It gives them license, under the guise of chemistry, to say I dont like her face. That was the comment Dunn allegedly made about a former CBS3 Black anchorwoman. Or the bias that can exist in the common practice of maintaining a balance when putting together anchor teams. That was shown when, as reported in the Times article, Dunn felt comfortable saying there was too much diversity on the CBS3 anchor desk when both coanchors were Black. And of course, none of this addresses the complexion of journalists behind the scenes. A news release from the National Association of Black Journalists set forth that CBS3 has not had a full-time Black news producer in six years. How can an industry whose raison detre is built on shining a light on the wrongs of others be so blind when it comes to the importance of valuing race, age, and gender? Not to mention the fact that our nation is now being led by those in their 70s and 80s, that women are the second and third persons in the chain of command, and the new administrations cabinet is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history. All newsrooms have to be held accountable and those of us in news, current and former, cant be silent. Some of the executives who saw the behaviors spoke out while it was happening, but others did not. I failed to speak out and challenge ageist remarks while I was still working in the newsroom. In the Los Angeles Times story, several reporters of color were anonymous sources for the allegations of racism in the newsroom. That was courageous, but it is not their responsibility alone. We need allies in the newsroom and that means the support of white male colleagues. If Black Lives Matter is more than a slogan on a sign, then everyone has a responsibility to speak up. Of course, ultimate responsibility rests with CBS. READ MORE: Report alleges racism, hostile work environment at CBS3 It appears the top brass at CBS made the decision to put Dunn and Friend on administrative leave only after the National Association of Black Journalists demanded they be fired. Leadership matters, the buck stops here, the fish rots from the head pick whatever euphemism you choose, but real change starts at the top. CBS will never be able to create a culture of inclusion, it will never have the trust of its employees and ultimately the communities it serves, if it is led by individuals who have betrayed the very values and traditions CBS maintains it stands for. Both men should be removed from their positions. In the words of CBS legend Walter Cronkite: And thats the way it is. Renee Chenault Fattah is a lawyer, broadcast journalist, and a former NBC10 anchor and reporter. She is currently the director of pro bono action at SeniorLAW Center. Editors note: A previous headline referred to a CBS3 executives comments. It has been corrected to refer to CBS, the local stations parent company. Computer science initiative expands programming fundamental offerings to small colleges, high schools Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 Scott DeLoach, Kansas State University professor and department head of computer science. | Download this photo. MANHATTAN An initiative by Kansas State University could soon bring university computer programming courses to high schools and small colleges across the state, providing students with an in-demand job skill. K-State's Computational Core Initiative, offered by the computer science department in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, is a set of programming courses designed to provide students of any major with the fundamental knowledge to utilize programming in a variety of situations. The initiative's courses focus less on programming theory, so advanced mathematics classes such as calculus are not required college algebra is sufficient to take the courses. "Programming is the skillset that makes students stand out in the 21st century job market," said Scott DeLoach, professor and department head of computer science at K-State. "Using computers to solve problems is a key part of the modern, technology-driven workplace." While the initiative's original goal was to integrate computer science classes into other degree programs offered at K-State which has happened with a certificate program offered and a new integrated computer science degree the initiative's vision has expanded. Through the Computational Core Initiative's Academic Partners Program, K-State computer science courses have seen enrollment success at Manhattan Christian College this spring, with upcoming plans to offer the courses to more small colleges regionally. The Computation Core Initiative is multifaceted in that it uses the same basic courses to make computer science available to non-computer science majors online, on campus and throughout the region at smaller colleges lacking resources or expertise to offer their own classes in this area, DeLoach said. At the high school level, the initiative's Cyber Pipeline program was piloted at Manhattan High School in fall 2020 with 18 students enrolled in the first course through a hybrid setup. The students learned online but also had a teacher in their classroom to help with questions. Enrollment for the spring semester is at 12 students, all attending class in person. Both Manhattan High School and Basehor-Linwood High School in Leavenworth County have signed onto the program for the 2021-2022 school year. "Our vision is for computer science to be taught in all high schools in Kansas at no cost to the students," DeLoach said. "Right now we are projecting a $100 cost to school districts for each student in a yearlong course. In the coming years we are expecting even more high schools across the state will be on board, with possibly even a Missouri high school now that K-State is offering in-state tuition to Missouri residents." Prospective high school teachers and administrators can find more information at cs.ksu.edu/core/cyber_pipeline. DeLoach has plans to expand the initiative's outreach even further. "We basically want to provide a set of highly modular educational components that can be integrated into computer-related education from middle school through college, and even adult education," he said. A Perth house where two of Australia's most infamous serial killers undertook a spree of evil crimes in 1986 has been sold to a twenty-something bargain-hunting couple. The three-bedroom home at 3 Moorhouse Street in the suburb of Willagee - the scene of the appalling 'Moorhouse murders' - was snapped up for $425,000. Five women were held captive and brutally raped at the home by sadistic killers David and Catherine Birnie in October and November 1986. Two of the women were murdered there. The Birnies - who have been called Australia's Fred and Rosemary West, after the British serial killers - murdered two of their victims in national parks after raping them at the home. 3 Moorhouse Street, Willagee in Perth was the scene of 'Moorhouse murders' in 1986. It sold recently for $425,000 - $79,000 below the median for a similar house in the suburb The four women raped and murdered by David and Catherine Birnie were (clockwise from top left): Mary Neilson, 22; Susannah Candy, 15; Denise Brown, 21 and Noelene Patterson, 31 The four women raped and murdered were Mary Neilson, 22; Susannah Candy, 15; Noelene Patterson, 31 and Denise Brown, 21. The fifth victim, 17-year-old Kate Moir, escaped through the bedroom window while David Birnie was at work and Catherine was answering the door. She endured a sleepless night chained up in the home and was repeatedly raped before she managed to flee to safety. There has long been speculation David Birnie may also have been responsible for the murders of three other women - Cheryl Renwick, Barbara Western and Lisa Marie Mott - although it was never proven. Renwick reported being stalked by a man and a woman before she disappeared. The agent who sold the recently renovated home, Tony Papineau of One Residential, said he had sold the home 'three times in the past eight years'. 'I love a good challenge, though I am selective,' Mr Papineau told Daily Mail Australia. David (left) and Catherine Birnie (right) were convicted over the murders of four women, aged between 15 and 31, they kidnapped and raped in 1986 The renovated bedroom at 3 Moorhouse Street. The fifth and final victim Kate Moir escaped the front bedroom when Catherine Birnie left the room and David Birnie was at work He said the ratio of people disturbed by the home's history to those unfazed was 'about 50-50'. 'The young couple that bought it they looked around but this was a good price, it is a good buy,' he said. The median sale price for a three-bedroom home in Willagee is $504,000 - far above the price obtained for 3 Moorhouse Street. In 2015 the home went on the market for $579,000 but it didn't sell. Mr Papineau spoke the the previous owners each time he'd sold it and none reported it being haunted. Catherine Birnie, who is still held at Bandyup Women's Prison in WA, lured victims to their capture and participated in the rapes and murders of victims 'One was a nurse from the UK and she said 'I worked in emergency, I'm used to dealing with death, it doesn't affect me',' he told Daily Mail Australia. At trial, in 1987 David Birnie pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count each of abduction and rape. He was sentenced to four consecqutive sentences of life imprisonment. When asked why he pleaded guilty, he gestured to the victims' families and said, 'It's the least I could do.' Catherine Birnie was also sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment. Both were eligible for parole after 20 years, but David Birnie killed himself in Casuarina Prison in 2005, aged 54. Catherine Birnie, now 69, remains at Bandyup Women's Prison and has repeatedly denied parole. The arresting officer Paul Ferguson told PerthNow she should never be released. 'I honestly believe that woman has never given those victims one ounce of consideration, both the dead victims and the families of the victims,' he said. Catherine and David Birnie were never legally married, though both were married to other people. She changed her surname to Birnie by deed poll. The pair, who began a twisted relationship puncuated by crime when each was 13, exchanged an estimated 2,600 letters in prison. Ferguson said: 'They were parasites who lived off each other, the most evil people I've ever, ever come across.' Three teenagers were arrested Wednesday and are expected to face murder and arson charges stemming from a house fire in Denver over the summer that killed five immigrants from Senegal, a crime that drew the attention of that countrys president, the authorities said. The names of the three boys were not released because of their ages two of them are 16, and one is 15, according to the police, who said investigators were limited in their ability to share information about the case because it involved minors. At a news conference announcing the arrests, officials said that while there was no indication that the fatal arson constituted a hate crime, solving the case had been a top law enforcement priority. They declined to discuss a motive for the arson or say how the three teenagers in custody had been identified or how the fire had been set. But they noted that the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Secret Service had assisted in the investigation. On Tuesday, six days into the Biden administration, it became clear why Susan Rice, hitherto a foreign policy specialist, was named director of the Domestic Policy Council. Rice, unconfirmable for a Cabinet post after her unembarrassed Sunday show lies about Benghazi, ventured into the White House A collaborative team of Salk scientists led by Professor John Reynolds will receive $1.2 million over four years as part of a Network Grant from the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation to examine aging across the life span, including age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The research will advance our understanding of aging mechanisms at the cognitive, genomic and cellular levels with potentially direct translatability to humans. Other members of the team include Salk President and Professor Rusty Gage, Staff Scientist Uri Manor, Senior Staff Researcher Courtney Glavis-Bloom, and Carol Marchetto, an assistant professor at the University of California San Diego. Aging is the greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, yet we know very little about how the brain ages across the life span. With this generous new funding from the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation, we will be able to explore this scientific mystery and hope to uncover some of the basic mechanisms of brain aging." Professor Rusty Gage, Salk President For this newly funded project, the Salk team will examine the link between metabolism of the aging brain and cognitive decline. Neurons use nearly ten times the amount of energy as any other cell type, making them especially susceptible to metabolic dysfunction. The main energy source for neurons are the cells' powerhouses, the mitochondria, which experience significant deterioration as the brain ages. The scientists will test whether mitochondrial impairment is driving the cognitive decline observed in neurodegenerative diseases. "We think age-related mitochondrial deterioration could be driving the cognitive decline observed in many neurodegenerative diseases," says Reynolds. "We are extremely grateful to the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation for funding our project, so that we can examine this theory in extraordinary detail." The Larry L. Hillblom Foundation supports medical research within the state of California and facilitates interaction between networks of researchers. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Almost a week since the "world's largest" vaccination exercise with its home-grown inoculants started, India crossed a major milestone with two million healthcare workers having been inoculated so far. According to Live Mint report, a cumulative 20.29 lakh vaccinations have been completed so far through 36,572 sessions. Reuters Amid the steady vaccine drive, one Delhi-based doctor also decided to get the shot but the aftermath meant having to face the wrath of his furious wife. In a video now viral, his wife was heard berating him over a phone call. Dr K K Aggarwal, a cardiologist and Padma Shri recipient, was being recorded when he received a call from his wife. When he confirmed receiving a shot, she was heard asking "Why couldn't you take me with you?" repeatedly. Doctor KK Agarwal got himself vaccinated without his wife. Note to self : don't ever pick-up phone while you are live on tv :) #forwarded. pic.twitter.com/uhIQYvZ4IO Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) January 27, 2021 In the video, Dr Aggarwal was heard explaining to his wife that while he had already received the vaccine, she would be able to get it on Monday. "I just went to check on the vaccine. They said get it done, so I got it," he was seen saying while sitting in a car. But his wife was heard repeatedly saying, "Why couldn't you take me with you?" and "Don't lie to me." Also Read: Peru Volunteer Who Took Part In Vaccine Trial Reportedly Dies Of COVID-19 Pneumonia After a moments silence the doctor said, "I'm' live on camera right now," the doctor says while trying to end their conversation. "Doctor KK Agarwal got himself vaccinated without his wife. Note to self : don't ever pick-up phone while you are live on tv," wrote Twitter user Tarun Shukla while sharing the video. On January 23, Dr Aggarwal had shared a Facebook video which shows him receiving the Covid vaccine. Many frontline and healthcare workers have requested they be allowed to choose which vaccine they receive amid ongoing phase 3 trials of Covaxin. The death of at least four frontline workers soon after getting their first shot has deepened fears. Also Read: Spreading COVID-19 Vaccine Rumours Now Criminal Offence None of the deaths are related to the vaccines, the government has said while releasing the number of cases of daily hospitalisations, and minor adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). In phase 1, set to be completed by July, one crore health workers followed by 2 crore frontline workers will get the vaccine. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) Iran exported some $28 billion worth of non-oil commodities over the past 10 months despite US sanctions, President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. Rouhani made his speech during a ceremony where he launched several agricultural projects, according to IRNA. At the same time, the president mentioned that Iran's imports during the same period amounted to $30 billion. Rouhani also said that Iran's trade was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and praised the nation for its resistance amid the US pressure. The United States has imposed a broad array of sanctions on banks, oil and other sectors of Iran's economy following Washington's withdrawal from a multinational nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018. (TNS) - Georgia has not opened COVID-19 vaccination to teachers yet, but a small school district east of Athens still managed to offer shots to any employee who wanted them.Elbert County Superintendent Jon Jarvis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he sees his teachers, bus drivers and other employees as "essential" personnel who should be prioritized for vaccination."They're seeing it, they're facing it every day, a lot of times with 20 kids in their classroom," Jarvis said. He credits a local doctors' office with making doses available to all of his employees.Under state guidance, teachers in Georgia are not yet eligible for the vaccine, unless they happen to also be health care workers, first responders, nursing home workers or 65 and older.The Medical Center of Elberton started vaccinating school employees a few weeks ago, after administering doses to all willing members of the state's highest priority workers but before completing the vaccination of seniors.Many children in the rural community on the South Carolina line lack internet service and rely on the schools for food, said Dr. Dan McAvoy, a center physician. "So we saw it as very important to get our school teachers vaccinated, and stepped out and did that. And then we saw the guidance later."The 3,000-student district, which has about 500 employees, has been operating mostly in-person. It had to close for six days before Thanksgiving due to staffing issues when teachers and more than 300 students had to quarantine, Jarvis said. He said he hoped the quarantine period, which can last up to 14 days, would be reduced for vaccinated teachers.On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a medical journal that schools can safely operate face-to-face if basic precautions, such as wearing masks and social distancing, are followed. But communities must prioritize schools and control transmission elsewhere with measures such as restricted indoor restaurant dining, the CDC researchers wrote.Brooke McDowell, an administrator at Elberton's medical center, said about 90% of the local first responders and medical personnel chose to get shots. After finishing with that group several weeks ago, the facility started administering the vaccine to local teachers and other school workers, though all willing seniors in what the federal government calls phase 1a had not yet been vaccinated. The center was still injecting as many as 90 seniors a day with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, McDowell said Monday."We're not going to leave it on the shelf for it to ruin," McDowell said. "The governor's asked us to put shots in arms, and that's what we're doing."Elbert County is likely among the first school districts in the country to offer vaccination to all staff. Governors in Oregon and Kentucky have pushed to get teachers vaccinated by early to mid-February.A spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Public Health said there is a vaccine shortage and providers have been asked to adhere to the phase guidelines unless that would result in waste. The vaccine spoils quickly, so the agency has told providers they can vaccinate anyone if they have open vials that must be used. The agency will notify providers when they can move to the next phase, 1b."Moving to additional phases without approval from DPH is a violation of the vaccine provider agreement," the spokeswoman said in an email. "If an investigation confirms that a vaccine provider is in violation of the provider agreement, the agreement can be rescinded and the provider will no longer receive the vaccine."The spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon that she would have to look into the situation in Elbert County.So far, school districts in metro Atlanta have been vaccinating only their first phase employees, including those who qualify by age. Most teachers retire well before age 65 though, and Gov. Brian Kemp faces mounting pressure to begin vaccinating all school employees.These workers suffer "mental and emotional trauma" each day, said a letter to Kemp on Sunday from a Cobb County school board member "in solidarity" with another dozen board members from around the state, most of them from metro Atlanta. Kemp's office pushed back, saying the board members' school districts should use their federal coronavirus relief money to buy personal protective equipment for teachers. Then, on Tuesday, the AJC obtained a copy of a letter from eleven metro Atlanta school superintendents asking Kemp to move teachers ahead in the vaccination line. "The longer we delay in vaccinating our teachers and school staff, the more we risk having to close our doors once again," they wrote.There have been isolated reports of educators dying around the state, including two in Cobb County last week and another in Cobb on Christmas Day. The Georgia Department of Education recently announced a task force of 13 superintendents who will develop model guidance for vaccinating school employees once they become eligible.Teachers are anxious, and the vaccinations in Elbert County are welcome news for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. "I hope this serves as a road map for other school districts," said Margaret Ciccarelli, a lawyer with the group, which sent a letter to state health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey Tuesday urging her to prioritize and help coordinate the vaccination of school employees.Lisa Morgan, a DeKalb County teacher and president of the Georgia Association of Educators, also welcomed the news of the vaccinations. She said her peers across the state are at "great risk" of infection in classrooms where the recommended social distancing is often not possible and masks are not mandatory.Despite that, school employees in Elbert County appear to be wary of the vaccine. Jarvis, the superintendent, estimated that only 40% chose to get inoculated."I think they want to do it at some point but they wanted to wait and see," Jarvis said. He got vaccinated himself to set an example and thinks his staff will warm to the idea in the coming monthsThe low vaccination rate among Elbert school employees did not surprise Robert Bednarczyk, assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at Emory University. National surveys have been showing that 40% to 60% of Americans are reluctant to take one of the new vaccines, which use cutting-edge genetic technology.This is the first time mRNA vaccines have been widely used, and the vaccines were developed rapidly, said Bednarczyk, with the Rollins School of Public Health. However, he said, the technology has been under development since after the first SARS virus emerged in 2002. "This isn't some new technology that somebody started cooking up six months ago," he said.Bednarczyk is working with the Morehouse School of Medicine to study attitudes toward the vaccine among Black and Latino Georgians. Black survey respondents nationally have expressed suspicion about the medical establishment, in part due to past exploitation.That doesn't explain the reticence in Elbert County, a politically conservative community where about 70% of residents are white. An even higher percentage of teachers and other certified employees there 90% were white, according to 2017 state employment data when there were nearly 600 employees.Edna Eberhardt, a high school civics teacher there, said her mother had her vaccinated for childhood illnesses when she was young and she had her own kids vaccinated when they were little. Eberhardt, who is Black, said she was not suspicious of the medical system but was concerned about her husband, who has underlying health complications that could make infection with COVID-19 riskier.Eberhardt, who has a doctorate in teacher leadership, jumped at the chance to get vaccinated, getting a shot in her left arm on Jan. 6. She praised Superintendent Jarvis for making the vaccine available and for allowing teachers to leave during the school day to get it, if necessary. She hasn't asked her colleagues whether they got vaccinated and doesn't know why they would pass up the opportunity. "I called it a no-brainer for myself but I respect the opinions of others."She expects to get her second and final shot Wednesday after school.Staff writer Kristal Dixon, newsroom data specialist Jennifer Peebles and news applications developer Emily Merwin DiRico contributed to this article.___(c)2021 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.)Visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) at www.ajc.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Ambassador of Belarus A.Molchan meets the Minister of University Education of Venezuela On January 27, 2021 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Andrei Molchan, met with the Minister of University Education of Venezuela, Cesar Trompiz. Taking into account the concluded intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation between Belarus and Venezuela in the field of education, the parties discussed possible directions for intensifying cooperation in the field of university education. The interlocutors discussed issues of training of Venezuelan students in Belarusian universities in the most demanded specialties for the Venezuelan side and outlined prospects for interuniversity cooperation through the organization of conferences, seminars and forums. print version A 10-year-old Amur tiger with arthritis underwent hip replacement surgery at a zoo outside Chicago on Wednesday, and her surgical team is confident the procedure will add years to her life. Veterinarians at Brookfield Zoo noted that, like humans, animals routinely develop degenerative problems in their joints as they age. When the tiger, Malena, arrived at the zoo last year, she had already been diagnosed with arthritis of the hip and was receiving pain relief medications. "We're hopeful that by doing the surgery now, we're able to really get on top of this arthritis and keep her comfortable so that she's able to live a good quality life for many years down the road," said Dr. Michael Adkesson, of the Chicago Zoological Society. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Cook, of the University of Missouri, who led the surgery team, said the 6.5-hour surgery was very challenging and took longer than expected. But he said the operation was a success and that the tiger seemed to have full range of motion in her hip after the procedure. "The first six weeks are critical, but we've given it our best shot and are pleased with the result," Cook said. A CT scan determined that veterinarians wouldn't be able manage the tiger's hip and keep her comfortable without performing surgery. Florida-based medical device maker Arthrex used data from Malena's CT scan to design, manufacture, and donate a custom-made implant that is specifically designed for Malena's joint, Cook said. "We've got to replace both parts, the ball and the socket, and we've got to do that in a really minimally invasive way so that we protect her musculature and give her the best chance of recovery," he said before the surgery. Malena is not the first tiger to undergo total hip replacement. Previous attempts with non-custom implant designs in a snow leopard, a cheetah and a tiger in Germany have had mixed success. According to Adkesson, the post-operative period is going to be challenging because of the need to keep Malena quiet and calm. "Obviously, from a therapy standpoint, we're not able to get in with the tiger the same way we might do physical therapy on a dog or a domestic cat," the veterinarian said. "But our care staff have a wonderful relationship with these animals, and they'll be able to get her up and kind of moving around by asking her to come to different areas of the enclosure." Amur tigersalso known as a Siberian tigersonce roamed in Russia and China, but are now endangered; Their population in the wild is estimated between 500 and 600 animals. Explore further Rare white tiger diagnosed with cancer dies at zoo 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. The four men were convicted in 2002 of kidnapping and murder. One of the men--British national Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh--was sentenced to death. Last April a court overturned three of the four convictions and reduced Sheikh's sentence, and the Pearl family's attorneys then appealed to Pakistan's highest court. Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in December that the United States stands ready to try Sheikh if he is extradited to America. "Daniel Pearl's killing was an abomination, and anyone who played a role in it should be held accountable," said National Press Club President Lisa Matthews. "Pakistan's government should extradite Pearl's alleged kidnappers to the United States for trial." "Setting free these alleged participants in Pearl's abduction and murder would send a chilling message of impunity around the world," said Angela Greiling Keane, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's nonprofit affiliate. "At a time when journalists everywhere are under siege, anyone who harms them must be held accountable every time." 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 abroad and at home. 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. CONTACTS: John M. Donnelly, NPC Press Freedom Team Leader: [email protected]; 202 650 6738 Lindsay Underwood for the National Press Club: [email protected]; (202) 662-7561 SOURCE National Press Club Related Links http://press.org A man impersonating a Garda attempted to get into a house in Laois on Tuesday evening January 26. Portlaoise Gardai have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred at Kennels Cross area of Portarlington at about 5.30pm. A description of the man puts him at 5ft 8 tall, well dressed. They say he "called to a house and attempted to gain admittance by purporting to be a member of An Garda Siochana". The public is being asked to contact the Gardai, if they drove through the location, were out walking there, have CCTV or dashcam footage, or if they saw anything suspicious in the area. It is a crime to impersonate a member of An Garda Siochana, and a person found guilty and on conviction on indictment, is liable to a fine of up to 50,000 or a five year prison term or both. MASON CITY, Iowa - A Mason City man is facing a felony burglary charge for allegedly breaking into a car wash. Jackie Reich, 33, was booked Thursday into the Cerro Gordo County Jail and is being held on $5,000 bond. Reich is accused of entered locked areas of Laser Wash (500 1st St. NW) and causing property damage of more than $1,000. Hes accused of committing theft of items valued between $1,000 and $10,000 in November of 2020. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters Californias decision to lift its stay-at-home order is drawing backlash from health experts and frontline workers who warn that a premature reopening could prolong the crisis and further devastate hard-hit communities. Citing projections that hospital capacity would improve in coming weeks, the governor, Gavin Newsom, announced Monday that he was rescinding the statewide shutdown order. The move returned counties to a tiered system of localized reopenings and allowed certain sectors to partially resume business, including salons, restaurants and churches. Have we not learned anything? said Marcia Santini, a nurse at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), medical center, who was infected and hospitalized with Covid-19 last month. A fireman doesnt put out half of a fire and hope the rest goes out on its own. Our numbers will shoot back up again and well just keep infecting each other. Related: California extends eviction moratorium to June as Covid-19 devastates state The easing of restrictions comes at a time when numerous regions, Los Angeles in particular, are still grappling with the effects of an astronomical surge in Covid cases, which have only just started to trend downward. Local healthcare systems have been pushed to the brink of collapse, the funeral industry is faced with a horrifying backlog of thousands of corpses and epidemiologists fear that new Covid variants in the state could be more transmissible and deadlier. Newsom said his decision was based on the fact that intensive care unit capacity is on track to be above 15% in four weeks. The revived tier system means many counties with high case rates still have significant restrictions in place, and local authorities can set their own rules. But officials in LA, one of the worst Covid hotspots in the US, are following the state guidelines and relaxing rules, allowing outdoor dining, indoor personal care services at reduced capacity, outdoor fitness activities and hotel booking for leisure travel. Story continues While there are signs of improvement after two months of relentless, record-breaking infections and deaths in LA, the rates are still exponentially higher than they were in the summer 2020 peak. Many hospitals in LA county are at full ICU occupancy, and the rate of more than 200 deaths a day is higher now in LA than it was when Newsom adopted the stay-at-home rules in December. Without meaningful government aid, businesses and unemployed workers have been suffering huge hardships due to shutdowns. And officials have insisted the rules for reopening would keep people safe. But even if the outdoor activities are relatively lower risk, experts said they were worried the announcements were confusing and could send the wrong message. Everybody is having problems at this point keeping everything straight. For California, its been in and out of strict lockdowns a few times now, said Celeste Kidd, an assistant professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley. Most people would perceive the reopening headlines to mean that the numbers are much better and that the newly allowed activities carry minimal risk neither of which is true, she added: Were not out of the woods and there are still high rates of infection. People wait in line to receive the Covid-19 vaccine on 26 January 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images The rollout of the news was also sudden and haphazard, first leaked Sunday night in an email from the states restaurant lobby to members. Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, said he learned of the changes at the same time as the public. Kidd said she first heard it in an email from a barbershop that said it was back to scheduling appointments. Dr Seema Yasmin, the director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, said she talked to four northern California residents who all had different interpretations of the new regulations. She also noted that just one day prior to the news, officials were saying that ICU projections were not good enough for lifting restrictions in multiple regions: Im concerned that lifting the stay-at-home order signals broadly that things are moving in the right direction, when I dont think they are. The state has repeatedly reopened too soon, which can exacerbate the crisis, said Dr Peter Katona, professor of medicine at UCLA: We never allow the rates to actually go down to a manageable number. Santini, the nurse, said it was especially frustrating considering the states slow vaccine rollout: Lets first get more people vaccinated, so we dont have to go through this open and close and open and close again. Sometimes it feels like we are putting the economy over lives Alex Sanchez The virus has also been disproportionately devastating for Latinos and Black Americans in the state, with worsening inequities in LA in the latest wave. That means the people most at risk of suffering further were people of color, undocumented immigrants, and essential workers and their loved ones, advocates said. And some now forced to go back to work are still ineligible for vaccines. Its heartbreaking. Sometimes it feels like we are putting the economy over lives, said Alex Sanchez, an organizer with the Garment Worker Center in LA, who was recently hospitalized for two weeks with Covid and is still dependent on supplemental oxygen. He said he was infected after his son, an Amazon warehouse worker, contracted the virus, adding: Im a 44-year-old healthy male with no pre-existing conditions and it pretty much almost killed me. He said he was worried for healthcare workers dealing with severe trauma: Nurses are having panic attacks and breaking down because of all the sickness and death they are seeing. While there are significant unknowns about the Covid variants circulating in California, experts agree that mask-wearing, social distancing and avoiding gatherings are even more crucial now. San Diego in southern California is already a known hotspot of the variant that originated in the UK, which researchers now believe is more contagious and deadlier. A new variant discovered in California could also be contributing to the surge here. The emergence of these new variants is more a call for us to double down and recommit to the behavior we need to do right now, said Paula Cannon, a professor at the University of Southern California school of medicine. Related: 'A slow drip versus an explosion': inside California's divided Covid reality She said she was sympathetic to suffering businesses and government officials trying to restart the economy, but noted that the risks were still serious. As a virologist, would you get me outdoor dining or going into a salon? No. Would I let my family do that? No. The risk to me personally and to the broader community is too high. She said she was especially worried about people dining out with members outside their household. With so much community spread, the virus could also have more opportunities to continue mutating, potentially giving rise to new and more dangerous variants, warned Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at UCLA, adding that actives that were once considered low risk, like going to the grocery store or going to an outdoor restaurant now carry more risk. There are also still unanswered questions about how vaccines would protect residents against the new variant, Yasmin added. Newsom, a Democrat, has faced backlash and lawsuits from the restaurant industry and is now the subject of a recall campaign from conservative groups who have protested shutdowns. Asked if his reopening plans were a response to political pressures, the governor said the suggestion was utter nonsense and that he was following the science. Maanvi Singh contributed reporting This afternoon the fate of the so-called "downtown Kansas City renaissance" depends on Mayor Q, the council and their estimation of equity and inclusion regarding developer incentives. To wit . . . KANSAS CITY THREATENS TO ADJOIN SOCIAL JUSTICE WELFARE TO CORPORATE WELFARE WITH SLOPPY LEGISLATION THAT MIGHT PREVENT PRICEY DEVELOPER GIVEAWAYS OVERALL!!! The bright side . . . The effort is stepping backwards into reform that oddly unites both fiscal conservatives and fair housing activists. We shared our concerns with Mayor Q and he replied a worthwhile perspective that confirms our thesis . . . "If this goes like the 75% ordinance, fewer will use incentives to build multifamily, which actually will reduce some of the "corporate welfare" you're discussing." And he's right. Developers despise this ordinance and claim that any limits to their freebie cash feeding trough will halt local building. Reality . . . COVID has transformed the American economy and old school incentives should be discouraged given the busted KCMO budget . . . If posturing on behalf of po'folk does the trick . . . Providing campaign material for politicos can be forgiven. Here's the quickest/best write-up from local MSM . . . KSHB: KCMO City Council expected to vote on affordable housing ordinance Deets . . . "The ordinance would require any housing developer receiving tax incentives from the city to reserve a portion of their units for affordable housing. "20 percent of units would have to be set aside for affordable housing and of that, 10 percent would be set aside for families earning 70 percent of HUD's median family income estimate ($86K in KCMO). The other half would go to families earning only 30 percent." You decide . . . Ramallah, Jan 28 : A senior Palestinian official welcomed the announcement of the new US administration under President Joe Biden on restoring ties with the state. Sabri Seidam, deputy Secretary-General of the central committee of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, told reporters here on Wednesday that the Palestinians look forward to restoring ties with Biden administration, reports Xinhua news agency. "Restoring ties with the US has to be based on implementing international law and the UN resolutions related to resolving the Palestinian cause," Seidam said. Ties between Palestine and the former US government of Donald Trump were severed after the latter recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017 and encouraged Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank. "Returning to Trump's plan won't be accepted by the Palestinians," Seidam said, adding the Palestinians want to deal with a non-biased US administration and are ready to communicate with it. On Tuesday, Richard Mills, the new US ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council that the Biden administration is intending to abolish all Trump's policies toward the Palestinians. Biden's Middle East policy "will be to support a mutually agreed, two-state solution, in which Israel lives in peace and security, alongside a viable Palestinian state", Mills added. The Ambassador added that the administration intends to restore Palestinian aid and take steps to reopen diplomatic missions closed by Trump administration. "In order to advance these objectives the Biden administration will restore credible US engagement with Palestinians as well as Israelis. "This will involve renewing US relations with the Palestinian leadership and Palestinian people. "President Biden has been clear that he intends to restore US assistance programs that support economic development programs and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, and to take steps to reopen diplomatic relations that were closed by the last US administration," Mills added. Russias liquefied natural gas production rose by 3.5 percent last year to a total 30.5 million tons, according to data from Rosstat, the countrys official statistics agency. In December alone, Russian producers turned out 2.85 million tons, which was up 1.4 percent on the year and 5.8 percent on November, Rosstat also reported. Russia is a relative newcomer on the LNG market but has already staked a solid claim, eyeing a market share of 25 percent in the medium term, Deputy Prime Minister and former Energy Minister Alexander Novak said earlier this month in an interview with news outlet RBC. Meanwhile, thanks to its abundant natural gas reserves, the country has quickly become the worlds fourth-largest LNG exporter, after Qatar, Australia, and the United States. Most of Russias LNG comes from the Yamal LNG project, majority owned and operated by Novatek. Despite its ambitious plans for liquefied natural gas, Russia, like other exporters, felt the pinch of lower demand amid the coronavirus epidemic, with LNG exports falling sharply in 2020 from 2019. Now that demand is beginning to improve, Novatek and Russias second LNG producer, Gazprom, will likely see higher shipments, especially to Asia, where demand for the fuel is most likely to rebound quickly and start growing. In fact, Novatek expects the LNG market to swing into a deficit of 150 million tons annually by 2030 because of the delay or cancellation of final investment decisions on new capacity, a move in response to the pandemics effect on energy demand. Yet the possibility of natural gas as a whole falling out of favor because of the energy transition and "falling out of the equation is grossly overstated," Novateks CFO Mark Gyetvay said, as quoted by Argus this week. In fact demand for LNG will likely grow along with global renewable energy capacity thanks to coal phase-outs and plans for much greater hydrogen production, Gyetvay said at the virtual European Gas Conference. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: [January 28, 2021] Merchant One, Inc. - Notice of Data Security Event MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchant One, Inc. ("Merchant One") today is providing information about a recent event that may impact the privacy of some personal data related to individuals associated with Merchant One. What Happened? On or about February 24, 2020, Merchant One became aware of suspicious activity related to a third-party IT provider. Upon discovery, Merchant One immediately launched an investigation, which included working with third-party forensic specialists to determine the full nature and scope of this incident. The investigation determined that an unknown individual may have accessed specific files in Merchant One's system. Therefore, Merchant One began a comprehensive review of the files identified as potentially impacted to determine what information was contained therein and to whom it relates. Upon confirmation that personal information was present in the potentially accessed files, Merchant One began reviewing its files to determine address information for those individuals. On January 7, 2021, Merchant One obtained address information to allow it to provide notice of this event to impacted individuals. Merchant One is unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of personal information, but provided notification out of an abundance of caution. What Information Was Involved? The following information was potentially impacted: name, address, Social Security number, driver's license number, passport information, tax identification number, date of birth, financial account information, and health insurance information. What Merchant One is Doing. Upon discovering this incident, Merchant One immediately took steps to confirm the security of our systems. As part of its ongoing commitment to the privacy of personal information in its care, Merchant One implemented additional measures to further protect information, including enhanced email security, multi-factor authentication and additional training. Additionally, Merchant One transitioned to utilizing a different IT provider. Merchant One also notified regulatory authorities, as required by law. Merchant One is providing those whose personal information may have been exposed to this incident with access to complimentary credit monitoring services through Kroll. Merchant One encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor their credit reports and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity. Merchant One is providing potentially impacted individuals with contact information for the three major credit reporting agencies, as well as providing advice on how to obtain free credit reports and how to place fraud alerts and security freezes on their credit files. The relevant contact information is below: Experian PO Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/freeze/center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 1-888-909-8872 www.transunion.com/credit-freeze Equifax PO Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ Potentially impacted individuals may also find information regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes and the steps they may take to protect their information by contacting the credit bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580, www.consumer.gov/idtheft, 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement or the individual's state Attorney General. California Residents: Visit the California Office of Privacy Protection (www.oag.ca.gov/privacy) for additional information on protection against identity theft. Kentucky Residents: Office of the Attorney General of Kentucky, 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 118 Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, www.ag.ky.gov, Telephone: 1-502-696-5300. Maryland Residents: Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, Consumer Protection Division 200 St. Paul Place Baltimore, MD 21202, www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer, Telephone: 1-888-743-0023. New Mexico Residents: You have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violators. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You can review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb _summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. New York Residents: The Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; https://ag.ny.gov/. North Carolina Residents: Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, Consumer Protection Division, 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, www.ncdoj.gov, Telephone: 1-919-716-6400, 877-566-7226 (toll free within NC). Oregon Residents: Oregon Department of Justice, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4096, www.doj.state. or.us/, Telephone: 877-877-9392. Washington D.C. Residents: the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia can be reached at: 441 4thStreet NW, Suite 1100 South, Washington, D.C. 20001; 1-202-442-9828; https://oag.dc.gov. We understand that some people may have additional questions concerning this incident. Individuals can direct questions to our dedicated assistance line at 1-833-971-3227 (toll free), Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., ET. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/merchant-one-inc--notice-of-data-security-event-301217756.html SOURCE Source: Merchant One, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Armenias Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian today had a meeting with the delegation led by French Secretary of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, as reported on the official website of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Armenian foreign minister and the French Secretary of State thoroughly discussed the Armenian-French agenda, reaffirmed their reciprocal willingness to take active steps to strengthen and expand the multi-sector partnership and underscored effective use of the potential for trade and economic cooperation as a priority. Aivazian and Lemoyne also touched upon regional security and stability. Minister Aivazian expressed his gratitude to France for its unbiased position on the large-scale aggression that Azerbaijan launched against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the Armenian people and for giving an evaluation of the aggression. Both parties underscored the imperative of a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the scope of the peace process under the auspices of the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. Minister Aivazian stated that the axis of establishment of durable peace, security and stability in the region is the determination of the legal status of Artsakh, hinged on the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to self-determination. The Armenian foreign minister called Secretary of State Lemoynes attention to the immediate repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians being kept in Azerbaijan and the phony obstacles that Azerbaijan is creating for this. The preservation of Armenian historical and cultural monuments was also in focus. In this context, the interlocutors attached importance to the unimpeded involvement of international specialized organizations, especially the UNESCO and the use of the potential for bilateral cooperation. Study says there were warning signs on Twitter before the first Covid case was declared Even before the WHO announced the first case of Covid-19, many users on Twitter flagged cases of an "unknown" pneumonia in the winter of 2019, a study has found, according to a report in ThePrint. Late 2019 and early 2020, the study found that concern (where) was growing about cases of pneumonia across many European countries. The study, which analysed data from Twitter, found that the concerns were displayed in regions which later turned out to be major Covid-19 hotspots. The study ... Ambassador of Australia to Ukraine Bruce Edwards has welcomed Ukraine's intention to establish the Crimean Platform to develop solutions and mechanisms for the de-occupation of the peninsula. "The parties also discussed ... efforts to launch the Crimean Platform, the inaugural summit of which is scheduled for August 23, 2021. Bruce Edwards welcomed Ukraine's intention to create an influential international platform to involve foreign leaders, international figures and expert groups in developing solutions and mechanisms for de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports following the meeting between Ambassador Edwards and First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar. The first deputy minister praised the high level of cooperation between Ukraine and Australia in the international arena, including support for Ukrainian initiatives within international organizations, primarily the UN, and further strengthening of Ukraine-Australia relations and development of bilateral cooperation in various fields. During the meeting, the parties pointed out the need to further strengthen the political dialogue between the two countries. As reported, the Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine. The Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network. ol WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cambridge Global Advisors (CGA) a strategic advisory services firm with expertise and experience at the global, national, state, and local levels proudly announced that Senior Advisor Nicole Tisdale served on the Biden-Harris Transition Team for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Her service, which ended on Inauguration Day, focused on personnel and policy recommendations for the Management Directorate, the Office of Legislative Affairs across the DHS components, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "Our firm couldn't be prouder to have had Nicole at DHS, ensuring a smooth transition," quoted Ambassador Douglas Lute, CEO of CGA. "She is a well-known expert on a wide variety of issues, including cybersecurity, counterterrorism, disinformation campaigns, data privacy, and intelligence as well as a collaborator known for her record of developing and executing bipartisan legislative agendas." Ms. Tisdale has a long history in the government and with the national security community, including more than a decade on Capitol Hill where she served as the primary national security advisor in the role of Director and Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security for Intelligence & Counterterrorism. Ms. Tisdale said, "It was an honor and privilege to bring my decade of congressional experience and agency oversight to the executive branch to help ensure DHS has the tools and policy recommendations needed to thrive under the Biden-Harris Administration. I was especially proud that I was able to highlight and model how Congress and the Executive can and will work together as co-equal branches of government to serve the American people and our international allies." Moving forward, Ms. Tisdale will return to consulting with CGA, working closely with Capitol Hill on DHS authorization, and continuing to lead her congressional training and consulting company, Advocacy Blueprints. Ambassador Lute said, "From policy affecting DHS components to initiatives in the Management Directorate, CISA, and more, we look forward to Nicole continuing to provide expertise to our clients trying to keep up with fast pace changes in Washington today." CGA is a bipartisan strategic advisory services firm specializing in national security, defense and cybersecurity. To learn more, visit www.cambridgeglobal.com or follow us on Twitter at @camb_global CONTACT: Jaclyn Houser, 517-420-4372, [email protected] SOURCE Cambridge Global Advisors Related Links https://www.cambridgeglobal.com/ Page Content Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec Southwest of Johannesburg - near the Gold Reef City Casino, the Apartheid Museum and Soweto - is Johannesburg Expo Centre. The massive exhibition facilities offer 42 000 square metres of undercover space. The centre is also quite self-sufficient: it has its own banks, post office, telecommunication services and secure parking for up to 20 000 vehicles. The main arena can accommodate an impressive 20 000 people. Another venue, the Black Eagle, can be divided into three sections. The Bateleur, which is slightly larger, easily divides into two. It can seat 1 000 delegates cinema-style. The centre is within easy reach of restaurants and fast-food outlets. The centre hosts a number of huge events annually - including the largest consumer exhibition in the southern hemisphere, the Rand Show. Address: Johannesburg Expo Centre, Corner Rand Show and Nasrec Roads, Nasrec Tel: 011 494 1920/5616 Email: info@expocentre.co.za Website: www.expocentre.co.za Disinformation is undermining the limitless potential of technology to be a positive force for industries, businesses and communities. In the current global landscape, barely a conversation goes by without mention of fake news and its ability to mislead critical discourse regarding events such as elections and current affairs around the world. Combined with the fact that the definition of privacy is constantly being redefined in the age of surveillance capitalism, this means its a not-so-metaphorical minefield out there when it comes to safeguarding our data. In light of this, the onus is increasingly on data protection and cybersecurity technologies to protect the integrity of our human rights in the face of cyber information warfare. But businesses too must ensure they remain on the right side of using data ethically, compliantly and securely. Data Protection Day is an opportunity to explore some of the technologies leading the way in the fight against cyber (dis)information and how businesses can take up arms to protect our rights as employees, consumers, and citizens. Data protection as a human right Unbeknown to some, data protection is a human right. In Europe, its for this reason that we celebrate Data Protection Day, which this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to the Automatic Processing of Personal Data. Or in short Convention 108: the treaty that spawned the first European Union-wide data protection laws, which is today covered within the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Despite the significant financial and reputational damage for failing to protect this basic human right, its data protection, or rather a lack of, which continues to grab headlines. Fortunately, data protection and cybersecurity technologies are striving to change this. Technology: a vital weapon in the fight against cyber information warfare A lot has been said about technologys role as an enabler for spreading disinformation and inciting cyber information warfare. But more vitally, its our biggest weapon in the fight against cybercriminals. This is particularly true with its role as a guardian against a choice weapon of cybercriminals. Ransomware is a maliciously created malware that encrypts files and storage. It is one of the most intractable and common threats facing organisations across all industries and geographies. Predominantly, attackers use ransomware to extort money. But many attacks also seek out production and backup files, as well as documents. By encrypting those too, the attack leaves organisations with no choice but to meet the demands of cybercriminals. By the end of 2021, the global cost of ransomware damage is predicted to reach $20 billion (USD), according to the 2019 Veeam Ransomware Study. But more damaging still is the countless violations of human rights as ransomware attackers increasingly threaten to leak stolen data. To combat this and the rising challenges of cybercriminals working together its important for technology to form its own armies and alliances, such as the ransomware protection alliance Veeam has formed with a number of partners including: Cisco, AWS, Lenovo, HP and Cloudian. But of course, cybercriminals are always seeking new and innovative ways to steal data and since the start of COVID-19, businesses havent been the only ones accelerating their digital transformation with cyberattacks on cloud systems spiking 250% from 2019 to 2020. In response, its more important than ever to work with technology partners that not only prioritise the data management needs of today, but are also looking to the cloud and security solutions of tomorrow all the while remaining one step ahead of cybercriminals. Using data ethically, compliantly and securely In this digital age, businesses have more responsibility than ever to use data ethically, compliantly and securely. Doing so is not a nice-to-have or something that sits atop a business agenda. Its a human right! But still, too many businesses are inadvertently aiding the efforts of cybercriminals with their lackadaisical approach to data security. In a recent article, Mohamed al-Kuwaiti, head of UAE Government Cyber Security was quoted saying that the Middle East region is facing a cyber pandemic with Covid-19 related attacks skyrocketing in 2020. Trend Micro recorded over 50m cyber-attacks in the GCC region during the first half of 2020. Fines and reputational damage are of course deterrents. However, were still seeing too many data breaches and businesses must do more to curb the plight of data protection. To this end, technology is once again a key enabler. Regardless of your business size, find a solution that ensures data security, compliance and customer privacy requirements are met. Dont just take a vendors word that their solutions are secure read customer testimonials, do your research and look to respected rewards bodies. In the business year ahead, maintaining customer trust will be a core priority theres enough going on in the world for them to also be worrying about the welfare of their data, after all. So, putting your trust in the right technology can help uphold our human rights and take giant strides in the war against cybercriminals. Edited by Maurice Nagle Advertisement The scientists behind a shocking study that claimed coronavirus cases weren't falling over the first 10 days of lockdown have published their full findings and U-turned, admitting there 'is a decline' in infections. Imperial College London researchers sparked widespread concern last week when their paper seen as a key measure of Britain's outbreak suggested there was no drop in cases over the first ten days of the national shutdown, contradicting data showing the second wave had already begun to fade. But the team have now conceded their latest round of swabs on 25,000 people taken between January 15 and 22 show infections are dipping, although they insist the fall is 'shallow'. Their random swabbing of 167,000 people in England indicated about 1.57 per cent had the virus over the first three weeks of lockdown - the equivalent of almost 880,000 residents. The experts also estimated the national R rate is 0.98, below the critical threshold of one, suggesting the second wave is receding as fewer people are catching the virus each week. Professor Paul Elliot, who leads the Government-commissioned REACT-1 study, admitted: 'I think the suggestion now that there is a decline happening, particularly in some regions, may reflect that the restrictions in lockdown are beginning to have some effect on the prevalence [of the virus].' He added: 'It's going in the right direction but probably not in the right direction fast enough.' It comes after Britain recorded another 25,308 infections yesterday as the second wave continues to run out of steam during the third national lockdown but it was the second deadliest day of the pandemic. Department of Health statistics show the figure is 35 per cent below last Wednesday, when 38,905 were recorded. It also marks an 88 per cent fall on the 47,525 infections announced two weeks ago. Results from the REACT-1 study show the prevalence of the virus in the population in England dropped by 0.3 per cent from 1.4 to 1.1 per cent over the third week of lockdown, meaning over 720,000 people were carrying the virus at any given time. BRITAIN 'COULD SUFFER 50,000 MORE DEATHS BEFORE VIRUS IS UNDER CONTROL' Coronavirus could kill another 50,000 Britons before the UK's crisis is brought under control, SAGE scientists warned today after the UK crossed the grim milestone of 100,000 fatalities on Tuesday. The experts claimed Boris Johnson could have saved tens of thousands of lives if he hadn't been so slow in locking down in the spring and in autumn, when the second wave was taking off. Professor Calum Semple, an infectious disease expert at Liverpool University who sits on SAGE, warned it 'really would not surprise me if we're looking at another 40-50,000 deaths before this burns out'. His comments echoed a warning from Professor Chris Whitty at last night's Downing Street press conference, when he said fatalities will remain high over the next few weeks and only decline slowly. The experts say the huge numbers of people infected in December and January, combined with the super-infectious Kent variant, means the country will be grappling with lots of deaths until the vaccines can be rolled out to the most vulnerable. Professor Neil Ferguson, who was sacked by SAGE in spring after breaking social distancing rules to meet his married lover, blamed the high death toll on the Government being too slow to react to the rising infections in autumn. In September and October, SAGE begged ministers to impose a circuit breaker during the half-term break to halt the second wave in its tracks. Professor Ferguson, dubbed 'Professor Lockdown' after his terrifying modelling spooked No10 into the lockdown in spring, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'Had we acted earlier and with greater stringency back in September when we first saw case numbers going up, and had a policy of keeping case numbers at a reasonably low level, then I think a lot of deaths we've seen - not all by any means - but a lot of the deaths that we've seen in the last four or five months, could have been avoided. Advertisement But they argued the drop 'masked' trends in the East Midlands and North East, where infections continued to climb despite the lockdown. Professor Elliot told a press conference last night that they were now beginning to see a 'quite shallow decline'. But he added: 'We really need to keep an eye on what's happening. Even though we're seeing a down tick now it is by no means as good and so without getting a more rapid decline from these very high prevalence levels there will continue to be pressure on the NHS services.' Professor Steven Riley, an infectious disease expert who co-leads the study, said there was 'some good news' in the most recent data as they 'do see a decline'. But he added: 'There's more uncertainty and regional heterogeneity so it doesn't seem to be consistent across the country and we can't immediately say why this is happening. 'It is possible lockdown is having more of an effect in some regions than others.' Regional prevalence of the disease was highest in London at 2.83 per cent, the East of England at 1.78 per cent and West Midlands at 1.66 per cent. The percentage of people with the disease over the study period in the South East was 1.61 per cent, followed by the North West at 1.38 per cent, North East at 1.22 per cent and East Midlands at 1.16 per cent. Prevalence was lowest in Yorkshire and The Humber at 0.8 per cent and the South West at 0.87 per cent. The study also estimated the proportion of infections suffered in age groups. Prevalence was lowest in those over 65 - who are most at risk of being hospitalised and dying if they catch the virus - at 0.93 per cent. But the experts warned the levels were 'too high'. Infections were highest among those aged 18 to 24, the results showed, at 2.44 per cent. The results were published as an online pre-print, meaning they are yet to be scrutinised by other scientists. The next study will start in February, and will seek to measure the impact of lockdown on the population. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the findings were a stark reminder of the need to remain vigilant'. 'Infection rates this high will continue to put a strain on our NHS and add to the significant pressures dedicated health and care staff are already facing,' he added. 'We must bring infections right down so I urge everyone to play their part to help save lives. You must stay at home unless absolutely necessary, follow social distancing rules and minimise contact with others.' Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University who was not involved in the study, said it was 'reasonable' to suggest the latest figures indicate that the prevalence of the virus has begun to fall. 'A fall of any kind in the number of infected people is good news, and a fall would match what we've seen recently in numbers of confirmed cases, but I'd want to see more data to be surer of this trend,' he added. Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said: 'The latest REACT-1 survey brings news of broadly sustained numbers of infections across England between 6th to 22nd January. 'Intriguingly, during this time, hospital admissions began to fall around the 14th January, which would normally indicate an overall decrease in infections. 'This apparent contradiction might be because infections were highest in the age groups from 13-24 years, who are least likely to be hospitalised. 'With that in mind, merely looking at hospital admission numbers will not be a reliable way of gauging the risk to society of lifting restrictions and opening schools. 'While there is still so much virus circulating in the population, there will be a significant risk of filling intensive care units with unvaccinated members of the working age population and those for whom the vaccine fails to give any protection against Covid-19.' Scientists challenged the REACT-1 study's suggestion that cases weren't falling over lockdown last week, saying they didn't have enough raw data to draw conclusions about whether the measures were working. Professor Tim Spector, who heads up the ZOE Symptom app which also estimates infections throughout the country, told MailOnline they 'can't really judge the effects of lockdown with their survey' because they didn't collect any data over the Christmas period. Experts say it can take up to two weeks for someone infected with the virus to develop symptoms, get a test, and then receive a positive result. This means there is a lag between becoming infected and having the case identified, meaning the impact of draconian measures may not become clear for 14 days. As the original study only looked at the first ten days after lockdown, it may have mostly picked up those that got infected before the draconian measures came in - impacting their estimates. By Ritah Kemigisa The police Force Fire and Rescue Services are still struggling to completely put out the fire that gutted the Royal Foam Mattress, Megha industries, at Kyambogo this morning. The Kampala deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire says much as they have managed to contain the fire that started as early as 3am from further spreading, there is still fire in the basement of the building that they are yet to put out. Owoyesigyire says the fire started from one of the production store which has been completely burned down. He adds that no injuries or deaths have been reported although millions worth of property have been destroyed. He however says investigations are ongoing to find out the actual cause of the fire and the extent of damage caused. Riyadh, Jan 28 : Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested dozens of suspects over their involvement in a corruption case worth 11.59 billion riyals ($3.09 billion), a state media report said. According to the report by the Saudi Press Agency published on Wednesday, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority has cooperated with the Saudi Central Bank in investigating the case. The case involves a number of bank employees receiving bribes from an organised gang for depositing cash from unknown sources then transferring them outside the Kingdom, Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying. The authority arrested five suspects while they were heading to a bank to deposit over 9.7 million Saudi riyals, seven businessmen, 12 bank employees, seven other individuals for their involvement in bribery, forgery and money laundering. Saudi Arabia has been fighting against corruption in the last few years as part of the efforts to protect its economy. With the states rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for people over the age of 75 on the horizon, Gov. Charlie Baker explained the registration procedure at a press conference earlier this week. Determine if youre eligible, on the site, find a location thats providing vaccinations thats convenient to you, click on it, make an appointment, he said, referring to pages on the states website offering information about vaccine eligibility and a map of locations. When a reporter from another news organization asked if there were any plans to streamline the process, Baker shot back: How much more streamlined would you like it to be than that? For elder citizens, though, what may sound like a few simple steps to computer-savvy people are in fact a nightmare. Some dont have computer or internet access. Others arent skilled in navigating websites or digital features such as interactive maps. A signup system that relies largely on online registration leaves them no choice. Its been awful. Ive been up during the night, looking for a website, said Angela Goulet, an 81-year-old Agawam resident. Finally, I talked to a friend who has a daughter that found a link, she said. What do people do if they dont have family? Through her friend, Goulet was able to schedule an appointment at the Eastfield Mall. The experience was still unsettling. I have a time and confirmation of an appointment. ... I hope I did it right, she said. Residents over the age of 75 will be eligible for the vaccine Feb. 1, when the state launches the second phase of its vaccination plan. But state Sen. Eric Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat, called the states vaccine rollout totally inadequate, due in part to a registration process that requires residents to jump through multiple digital hoops. Lesser pointed to a letter from the AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, to the governor. The organization criticized the vaccine rollout and asked the state to establish a toll-free number to help elderly citizens. We continue to hear from members that they do not know when, where or how to schedule an appointment, the letter read. This is unacceptable to AARP and should be to all Bay Staters. Massachusetts can and must do better. Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, a Somerville Democrat and Senate chair of the Legislatures Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, said in a tweet Wednesday that her office has heard from dozens of frustrated constituents, and that she had struggled to use the website to schedule her own vaccination. We are trying our best to help, but the website is confusing and ineffective, she said. Jehlens tweet came as Bakers administration announced Wednesday that individuals ages 75 and over can visit the states website to book appointments. The site includes the interactive map of locations; users can also download the location lists as a Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet. The announcement offered these steps for signing up: Visit www.mass.gov/CovidVaccineMap and click on the map. Select a location, schedule an appointment online. Have your important information with you, such as your insurance card. Fill out the self-attestation form, which will need to be presented at their appointment. As of noon on Wednesday, the states most current list of vaccination sites identified 87 locations. A review of the location list by The Republican / MassLive found about two dozen different registration websites. In many cases, grocery store and pharmacy chains offer registrations through their own websites. The list also includes links for some hospitals and health systems such as Trinity Health of New England, the parent company of Springfields Mercy Medical Center as well as maimmunizations.org, a portal for some local vaccination clinics. Most locations offer online registration only, with a few including a phone number. The former Macy's department store at the Eastfield Mall will open Friday as a COVID-19 vaccination site, offering shots to residents eligible in the first phase of the state's plan. Phase two, which begins with residents 75 and older, begins Feb. 1. (Don Treeger / The Republican) Senior centers have been fielding inquiries from residents seeking help signing up. A spokesperson at the Raymond Jordan Senior Center in Springfield was busy Wednesday helping residents navigate the websites. Others tried to do it on their own, only to look for family or friends usually from a younger, more computer-friendly generation to help them. I spent four hours (Tuesday) trying to find a page on the computer, anything to see if I could find where to put my information, said Joan Marsh, an 85-year-old Springfield resident. Marsh said she wound up calling a health official in Boston, who told her to become comfortable with the computer Tuesday by practicing on it, so that once registrations were open, shed be ready. Shes still relying on some help. Im assuming my son can do this, Marsh said. Despite her anxiety, she understood why registration was being done online as opposed to phone lines that would doubtlessly be jammed. Marsh said once shes scheduled, shell show up even if Im the millionth person in line. And I have to go to a pharmacy and sign in there, Im willing to have a pharmacist stand there right next to me, helping me do it if necessary. Lesser said Baker has been handling the rollout without coordination or input from the Legislature. He called that a problem along with the absence of a toll-free 800 number. Some states, including Florida, have set up such resources, he said. Were falling behind, Lesser said. Its been made too complicated. With new, more contagious strains of the virus being identified, Lesser said vaccination is a race against time. If people are vaccinated in time, he said those strains will be controlled but they may take hold if vaccination efforts fall behind. The AARP letter to Baker included the organizations offer to help. It also said problems are not limited to the first round of shots. We are also hearing from some older Massachusetts residents about confusion on how to schedule their second shot. The failure to schedule an appointment for the needed follow-up shot when the first shot is administered is causing confusion and delays and may result in some not receiving their second shot, the letter said. The letter added, Massachusetts should require uniform standards across the state to ensure that an appointment for the needed follow-up shot be made when individuals receive their first shot, regardless of whether the first shot was administered by a state-run vaccination site or a private site. Meanwhile, state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said yesterday that Hampshire and Franklin counties have been left high and dry without any mass vaccination sites and limited public transportation. Vaccinations are being offered on a smaller scale at the University of Massachusetts and Bangs Community Center in Amherst and the Northampton Senior Center. A successful vaccine rollout, which yes, depends, in part, on federal supply also needs Governor Bakers commitment to regional equity as well as a commitment to the resources necessary to address the overall pace of the rollout, the logistics around sign ups, and painstaking attention to reaching the most marginalized among us, Comerford said in a statement. How to find a location and sign up The searchable table below is based on the list of locations published on the states website. Locations were current as of noon on Jan. 27; The Republican / MassLive will update the search tool as new lists are published. Some locations are open to all state residents, but some have restrictions. Visit the states website for more information. This week, Danny M. Lavery and Slate staff writer Rebecca Onion discuss a Prudie letter: the professional student. Danny M. Lavery: I suppose I should start by saying this probably isnt exactly what you had in mind when you mentioned I could save academic questions for you as part of your area of expertise! Rebecca Onion: hahahahahhaha I mean!! This is not a grad student But this is a thing that happens with grad students sometimes So.it applies Danny M. Lavery: At least theres the possibility that a terminal degree will enable you to work in your field (although I realize thats often not the case and that grad students/postdocs are wildly underemployed and underpaid) but getting undergraduate degree after undergraduate degree is just who is his academic advisor, for start! Rebecca Onion: This person doesnt even seem to want to get that far (which honestly, I wouldnt recommend for him, it doesnt seem like hed enjoy the professionalization parts of grad school) Right!!! This is malpractice Though a lot of schools, its just fine for them, obviously They dont care how many loans So thats my first huge red flag here, for the LW. Its been 11 years and he wont say how many loans That could be, like, 100K or more??? IDK Danny M. Lavery: one can almost admire the bravado of saying You cant put a price on knowledge with a straight face Rebecca Onion: Daddy Joe Biden may be coming to save us from this kind of situation but he may NOT Hahahahahha There are a lot of things in here that I cant believe a person could say with a straight face Toxic rhetoric Danny M. Lavery: yeah, it seemed unlikely to me that he actually believes the things he is saying to her! it seemed much more like they were indicators of his contempt for her Rebecca Onion: YES I mean. I do not believe that we should have to work as much as we do, in American culture, either Danny M. Lavery: it is such an insult to her intelligence to say you cant put a price on knowledge, like hes an encyclopedia salesman, when his partner of a decade is saying I really want to split the water bill someday, how would you feel about picking up a few shifts a week somewhere? like its such a wild mischaracterization of her request, to me, it cannot be anything but willful and perverse Rebecca Onion: Yes totally. Its a misdirection Im assuming shes female? since theres an implication that shes oppressing him with her demands for money If she is, then this line of argument is literally something mens rights activists say! The whole Women are squeezing money out of men thing Danny M. Lavery: yeah, I dont like to always assume couples are straight unless otherwise indicated, but I think this gendered dynamic here is pretty straightforward Rebecca Onion: I think so Danny M. Lavery: but even if this were a gay couple I would have the same advice Rebecca Onion: What do you think she should do I really dont think they want the same things They dont even know how to talk about what they want because he wont be honest Danny M. Lavery: also, theres a huge difference between judging someones worth based on [their] ability to provide financially and after a decade of paying for all of our shared expenses Id sure like you to chip in for rent! Rebecca Onion: completely!!!! Danny M. Lavery: Rebecca this may shock you prepare yourself I think they should break up. Rebecca Onion: My mind is blown Hahahahahah I cant believe LW even included Am I in the wrong here? in this letter Like, is this a joke Danny M. Lavery: I just read a sentence like this and feel so unbelievably sad for the letter-writer: Other than this conflict, we typically agree on most things and he is a loving and supportive partner. Rebecca Onion: AGAIN I am not a fan of our toxic work culture in any way and I wish the revolution would come and wed all have a universal basic income but In this case this argument is being used to characterize a partner as toxic in order to get out of working! Yes its so sad Danny M. Lavery: I think you are whistling in the dark, and I think you are worried about feeling foolish if you break up with him like it will necessarily mean that the last decade was a waste, and that you simply threw away your money and your affection on him, and so part of your own sense of dignity and self-respect is threatened by the prospect of a breakup Rebecca Onion: He is NOT loving and supportive, any person with reading comprehension could see Thats a great point Danny M. Lavery: And apparently its fine for HER to have a job that makes life not worth living Rebecca Onion: But nothing he has said has indicated that he wants to turn this around Totally!!! She can be a drone Its so diminishing Danny M. Lavery: if he really believed in the things hes saying, about how taking literature survey classes year in and year out is the only way to pursue the life of the mind, then he would presumably also want her to have some of it! You know? Rebecca Onion: Like, I have been in situations like this - MULTIPLE situations - and to me the difference-maker is when the person actually recognizes the problem and shows signs of trying to work out of it Danny M. Lavery: Hed be encouraging her to scale back to part-time work, to join him in frolicking in the Thought-Fields Rebecca Onion: Totally - Transcendence for me, but not for thee Danny M. Lavery: but apparently he thinks its just fine for her to be one of those drones hed rather die than be anything like Rebecca Onion: It doesnt seem like they have a grounds to connect on this. He is basically saying, This is going to continue this way, get used to it. She needs to ask herself whether she can stand this going on and on I dont think she can! Danny M. Lavery: this is something that affects every aspect of your life and your relationship, letter-writer, so I think even if he is loving and supportive in issues other than this one, it just doesnt balance the scales Rebecca Onion: This is a dragon lying at the roots of the tree of this relationship Its not going away And I dont know how old she is, but as you get older, this kind of thing gets more and more untenable! Life gets scarier, you see how stressful it is to face things like family illnesses or crises without the money to cushion it Not to mention shit like retirement Danny M. Lavery: Im really sorry I have definitely been in a relationship where I was supporting someone else financially for a while and realized it was untenable not because I think all couples have to split every bill 50/50 or make the same amount of money but because the dynamic was entirely dependent on my not asking too many questions or expressing concerns or suggesting I wasnt prepared for things to go on like that forever Rebecca Onion: Totally!! Thats the problem here If he gets stressed, resistant, and defensive at these suggestions Its not stopping Danny M. Lavery: and so I also had that fear of, If I take this seriously and end this relationship because its not working anymore, I will feel foolish because I gave them money, and Ill look like a dupe or something Rebecca Onion: Hahah yes.a classic sunk costs Tinged with shame! (Which I think the problem of sunk costs is always tied up with) Danny M. Lavery: and shame keeps you stuck! Its not a productive foundation for decision-making, shame Rebecca Onion: Totally. She didnt mention any family perceptions but in a situation like this, the way the people around you perceive the relationship becomes a bigger and bigger issue Danny M. Lavery: but yeah, I see a question like Is there any way we can argue more effectively about this, and my answer is just No Rebecca Onion: Whoever you care about, they see it and feel a way Danny M. Lavery: youve spent ten years trying to argue about this, and he has compromised exactly 0% Rebecca Onion: yeah, I dont think so Exactly! Theres no space here Im very sorry, LW I think you have to cut your losses The idea of which sucks even more in a pandemic! Danny M. Lavery: it does! Rebecca Onion: I wonder if shes worried about him sinking if forced to swim in the ocean of real life, which she didnt mention Not her problem But after 11 years it might feel like it Danny M. Lavery: and I think its likely that shell feel a degree of guilt over but how will he support himself if I dont cover his living expenses yes, I think thats a likely factor! Rebecca Onion: Totally, shes not a monster Danny M. Lavery: I will just say that, based on this letter, I think this guy is unbelievably good at looking out for himself Rebecca Onion: Hahahahahha lololololol Danny M. Lavery: I dont doubt for a second that he will take care of himself beautifully for as long as he lives Rebecca Onion: He has SOME skills to pay the bills Danny M. Lavery: his life may get increasingly messy! absolutely! those debts are real Rebecca Onion: A very fine observation Danny M. Lavery: but if he got you to subsidize a decade of repeat B.A.s, hes going to adapt Rebecca Onion: Honestly, impressive I wish I could get another BA! I wont lie Danny M. Lavery: this guy is the unsinkable Molly Brown and he is not nearly as helpless as he wants you to think he is I often feel like Paul F. Tompkins talks about just a pure rush of relief that I never have to go to school again Rebecca Onion: Hahahahahah We are opposite, Id do it forever if I could, butI cannot Danny M. Lavery: I really hated it, and I sometimes have nightmares that I have to go back for some reason in fairness, I got my B.A. at an evangelical Christian college in the suburbs of Southern California, where I was repeatedly placed on chapel probation Rebecca Onion: Hahahah yesssss That MAY have something to do with it Just possibly Danny M. Lavery: I was not strolling across the quad with the great lords of Bologna Rebecca Onion: Hehehehehehe Well I went to an educational paradise where there was no way to take enough advantage in just 4 years especially if you were also trying to get laid So Id go back, sure Danny M. Lavery: learning is great, books are magic, knowledge is powerful etc, you can learn in lots of ways while also helping to support your partner and having a day job Rebecca Onion: Yes!!! Thats what Id say Life itself is about using knowledge in different ways We agree then Danny M. Lavery: we do! also, I truly hate this guy Rebecca Onion: Hahaha me too!! I was saying it as a by-the-way but honestly I feel like hes an MRA at heart Like I think the guy hates women And what you say about his contempt for her.yeah Danny M. Lavery: I could spend a lot of time speculating about the source and focus of his contempt, but I should get back to my other job Rebecca Onion: Hahah yes Danny M. Lavery: look at us, having jobs and still occasionally trying to learn new things Now available in your podcast player: the audiobook edition of Danny M. Laverys latest book, Something That May Shock and Discredit You. Get it from Slate. By now, even casual observers recognize that Wyomings near single-minded reliance on mineral revenues leaves the state vulnerable to wild swings of boom-and-bust volatility and makes funding the basic functions of government a dicey proposition in bust times like these. What readers may not realize, however, is that other states with similar economies and political environments have figured out how to avoid putting all their eggs in one basket. Take West Virginia for example. Wyoming and West Virginia each have claimed coal as one of their major resources for decades. West Virginia... Rishi Sunak has sent out a strong signal that taxes will rise to pay for coronavirus spending in the Budget, telling Tory MPs putting them up now will allow him to cut them to boost the party's chances in the 2024 election. The Chancellor told a meeting of Conservative backbenchers that he wants to be in a position to cut taxes before the vote expected in 2024. But addressing the 1922 Committee last night he warned that that meant they would have to rise in the shorter term to help alleviate the massive public spending over the past year. UK national debt is now above 2trillion and fears have been raised about the long-term effect of heavy public borrowing. But Mr Sunak is facing push-back from business groups and some of his own Tory colleagues who feel it would be more effective to cut taxes to stimulate growth. One MP at the meeting last night told the Telegraph: 'Mr Sunak said he wants to be tax-cutting towards the end of the parliament, that there will probably be some rises in the middle, and that we're going to be frank with people about the tough choices ahead. 'Obviously everyone in the meeting understood what that meant. Some agreed, some didn't.' Government borrowing could be close to 400billion this year and is set to continue at eye-watering levels into the mid-2020s, as this OBR chart shows Confederation of British Industry today warned against a fresh tax burden on UK businesses. Some economists have suggested taxes will need to go up for covering the cost of the pandemic, but CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith last week said: 'We don't see now as the time to be increasing taxes. 'You need to wait until one or two years after you've seen the trough in GDP when growth is back on a sustainable trajectory before really trying to think about either significant cuts in Government spending or significant increases in taxation.' There has been speculation that a levy of 2 per cent on all goods bought online potentially raising 2billion a year could be implemented. Jesse Norman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, told MPs last week such a levy is a possibility as Chancellor Rishi Sunak tries to raise money to pay off the UK's pandemic debt pile. Mr Norman did not give any detail about what an online sales tax might look like, but the idea was first suggested when the Treasury reviewed business rates in July. ROCHESTER, Minn. - Some Rochester restaurants hard-hit by the pandemic now have the opportunity to receive COVID-19 relief grants from a food delivery service. Door Dash is announcing a $150,000 in local grants as part of its expanded COVID-19 relief program to help Rochester restaurants. Any restaurant that has three or fewer locations, 50 or fewer employees per location and less than $3 million of revenue form 2019 can apply for a $5,000 grant. The best part is restaurants dont have to be a Door Dash partner to apply. Public policy and partnerships lead Mariah Ray said, We feel like there are lots of additional costs associated with running a restaurant and keeping it open so this program is actually open for restaurants to utilize for their operational expenses. We are not restricting what restaurants use this $5,000 grant towards. If they are selected they can use it for anything that helps keep their business open. There are 19 cities that have been chosen to participate in the program. Door Dash says Rochester was picked because it was among those hardest hit. Ray added, "We're honored to be able to take this a step further and provide grants to restaurants that are struggling. Dining rooms are being closed, outdoor dining is not an option in most places and certainly not an option in most parts in Rochester throughout the winter months, so we feel like this is a crucial thing to help restaurants make it over a very, very difficult winter season." Restaurants have until February 17th to apply. The program will be administered by Door Dashs partner, Hello Alice. The company will manage the application and selection processes as well as the distribution of funds. You can find the company's full press release below: ROCHESTER DoorDash today announced it would provide $150,000 in local grants as part of its expanded COVID-19 relief grant program to help Rochester restaurants. Restaurants will be able to apply to receive a $5,000 grant to be used to offset costs associated with the ongoing pandemic. The grant program is part of the companys $200 million, 5-year Main Street Strong Pledge, which includes a $10 million effort to help restaurants in select cities across the United States and Canada. How exciting to be included as part of the Main Street Strong Pledge initiative!Our local businesses have done all they can to adapt to the changes needed to stay open and viable during the pandemic, said Mayor Kim Norton, City of Rochester. The DoorDash grant program will give them some additional support at a critical time. As restaurants in the Rochester community look for creative ways to stay open during the winter months, were proud to be able to offer continued support as part of our Main Street Strong pledge, said Alexi Madon, Senior Manager, Government Relations, Central at DoorDash. DoorDash is committed to providing financial support and other resources to our restaurant partners during this challenging time. The Chamber is grateful for DoorDash's support of small businesses in Rochester we encourage all to participate, said Lizzy Haywood, Chair of Rochester Area Chamber and CEO of Peoples Food Coop. The program will be administered by DoorDashs partner, Hello Alice, a technology that helps small businesses launch and grow. Hello Alice will manage the application and selection processes as well as the distribution of funds. Grant recipients will be selected based on criteria set out in the application, and a process intended to help ensure equal access to funds and eliminate selection bias. Applications are available today through February 17th, 2021, and selected restaurants will be notified by March 1, 2021. Hello Alice will begin grant distribution in March, with all restaurants receiving their grant by early May. Eligible restaurants will be located in Rochester, must have 3 stores or fewer currently operating; $3M or less in 2019 annual revenue per store; and employ 50 people or fewer per store. Were thrilled to work with DoorDash in its Main Street Strong Pledge, said Elizabeth Gore,Co-Founder and President of Hello Alice. Small businesses play a great role in our economy, both locally and nationally, and have been severely impacted by COVID-19. This funding can make a world of difference for owners in these trying times and we look forward to contributing to their continued success. Any restaurant that applies will receive free access to the Hello Alice platform, which offers peer-to-peer networking, mentorship, and tools such as the COVID-19 Restaurant Resource Center, a curated list of industry-specific resources, information from fellow restaurant and food service owners about the challenges theyre facing, and how-to guides designed to help restaurants reopen the doors and get back to business. In addition to these funds, DoorDash also announced that with the reopening of the Payment Protection Program (PPP), it has extended its previous partnership with BlueVine, a leading provider of small business banking solutions and an official direct non-bank PPP lender, to make PPP loans more accessible to both First Draw and Second Draw merchant partner applicants. DoorDash is proud that in the first round, the company helped nearly 200 merchants receive over $6 million in PPP loans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DoorDash has taken significant active steps to ensure the safety of our entire community, including: Main Street Strong Pledge committing $200M over five years to support restaurants, Dashers, and the broader community Providing $120 million in commission relief and marketing investments 50% reduction in commissions for mom-and-pop restaurants, plus 0% commissions for pickup and 0% commissions for restaurants new to DoorDash Free personal safety equipment for Dashers, including hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, and masks Two weeks of earnings for eligible Dashers affected by COVID-19 COVID-19 screenings and telemedicine appointments for Dashers for just $4 per visit Read more about DoorDashs efforts to help restaurants through our grant program here. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Sen. Martin Heinrich said many lawmakers were shocked at the Air Forces decision to locate the U.S. Space Command Headquarter in Alabama, and the New Mexico Democratic senator said that Pentagon officials have committed to reviewing the decision. Heinrich, in a virtual meeting with the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning, said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during his confirmation hearings committed to reviewing if the Air Forces decision. Heinrich said he has spoken directly with the White House about the matter as well. I dont want to go into a whole lot of details. But theres a lot of chatter on Capitol Hill about just how far that deviated from those (previous Air Force basing) decisions, Heinrich said in response to a question. Many of us, many of my colleagues, were shocked at where the process landed, frankly, given the equities that were not in the community that was chosen. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that the U.S. Space Command Headquarters would be located at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque was one of six finalists for the command headquarters, as was Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, where the Space Command is temporarily located. The command headquarters has the potential to bring more than a thousand jobs and billions of dollars in spending for years to the community where it is located. After the decision to place the headquarters in Alabama was announced, lawmakers in several finalist cities raised questions about whether the decision was politically motivated. Officials in Alabama, meanwhile, praised and defended the Air Forces decision to locate Space Command there. Huntsville is nicknamed Rocket City for its ties to the U.S. space missions. Greg Canfield, Alabamas secretary of commerce, defended the selection in a recent op-ed published in Alabama media. In Huntsville, folks like to say: We do space. Thats not just a saying. Its true, he wrote. These capabilities allowed Alabamas Rocket City to stand out in the competition for Space Commands Headquarters. Heinrich brought up the Space Command selection to Austin during his confirmation hearing earlier this month. Heinrich said during the hearing that he thought the selection process was severely flawed. Austin committed to reviewing the decision. Ill do that and Ill make sure that we look at all of our processes going forward so that future decisions are made within the confines of what has been laid out, Austin said. Days before the Trump administration announced that Alabama was going to host the Space Command, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett met with then-president Trump and informed him that the Air Force had chosen Colorado Springs as its top pick, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported. The paper, citing Pentagon insiders and lawmakers, said that Trump ignored the pick and instead chose Alabama. This week, Colorados congressional delegation sent a letter to Biden asking for a thorough review of why the command headquarters is being moved out of Colorado. The delegation asked the president to suspend any action related to relocation until after the review has taken place. This move undermines our ability to respond to the threats in space and is disruptive to the current mission, the Colorado delegation wrote to Biden. Additionally, significant evidence exists that the process was neither fair nor impartial and that President Trumps political considerations influenced the final decision. Heinrich said he also wants to get a explanation for how Redstone Aresenal was selected. We will work to make sure we have a process that is transparent and where we can see how the choices matched up to the metrics, Heinrich said during Thursdays Chamber meeting. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Americas Automotive Trust Announces Affiliation with The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage and brings America On Wheels Museum on as Member Entity TACOMA, Wash. (January 27, 2021) Americas Automotive Trust announces major affiliations that provide it with important East Coast partners. At its recent Executive Committee Meeting, the Trust approved a major agreement to formally affiliate with The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage and to bring the America On Wheels Museum into the Trust as one its members along with LeMayAmericas Car Museum and the RPM Foundation. We are delighted to formally affiliate with The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage to further our mutual vision to secure Americas automotive heritage, said David Madeira, Vice Chairman of Americas Automotive Trust. That vision is the life passion of Nicola Bulgari, Vice Chairman of Italian luxury retailer, Bvlgari. The Center is testament to his efforts to secure that vision. Renowned for his collection of American cars, Bulgari has served on the Trusts Board since 2003 and creating this partnership between the Trust and The NB Center is a culmination of considerable planning and discussion. Nicola was delighted when I called him with the news, said Gary Gartner, Mr. Bulgaris attorney and Managing Director of The NB Center, this agreement affirms his long-held belief that those who care about Americas automotive heritage should cooperate rather than compete. It is why he joined the Trusts Board years ago, why he created The NB Center, and why he has supported America On Wheels. An equally important aspect of the agreement is bringing the America On Wheels Museum into the Trust as a member entity. America On Wheels broad focus on transportation and its strong regional presence in the Mid-Atlantic region provide an important addition to the Trust. America On Wheels provides the Trust an important physical presence in the East, said Madeira, enabling us to more successfully pursue our mission to promote automotive heritage efforts. Keith Flickinger, AOWs President, noted that membership in the Trust will also strengthen the America On Wheels curatorial, marketing and development efforts transforming AOW from a regional museum into part of a national enterprise. The Agreement took effect on January 1, 2021 and leadership and staff of the three institutions has begun implementation discussions. The first meeting of the combined Board of Directors will take place later in the month. Americas Automotive Trust was founded with the goal of securing our automotive heritage for future generations. We bring together like-minded organizations that honor the past, celebrate the present, and drive the future of car culture to make a greater impact. Founding member organizations LeMay Americas Car Museum, RPM Foundation, Club Auto, and Concours Club work together to foster a strong community where any enthusiast can thrive from the classroom, to careers, to the open road. Americas Automotive Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.americasautomotivetrust.org. About The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage is dedicated to preserving Americas automotive heritage through its commitment to craftsmanship, education, and good stewardship. The NB Center is located on 27 acres in east Allentown, Pennsylvania, on the site of the former Boulevard Drive-In Theater. The campus houses over 150 vintage American automobiles, restoration shops with experienced craftsmen training interns and apprentices, a dedicated track for the ready to-be driven collection, and the Historic Vehicle Associations National Laboratory. The NB Center collection of automobiles is also shared with enthusiasts at public car shows and events, as well as by loan to various institutions. About America On Wheels The America On Wheels Museum inspires and educates multi-generational audiences by exploring history. Travel is adventure, visit America On Wheels based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The entertaining and educational venue tells the story of the past, present and future technologies of the automotive industry and introduces the joys, benefits, and need to preserve our historic and iconic vehicles to younger generations. America On Wheels Museum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.americaonwheels.org. General Motors Co. is promising to go green by making all of its global operations and vehicles carbon neutral by 2040, including selling only zero-emission models by 2035. The pledge is a bold embrace by the automaker of emission-reduction goals set by California. The state is one of the largest markets for vehicles in the U.S. and announced plans in September to ban sales of gasoline-powered cars and trucks by 2035. GMs target for achieving company-wide carbon neutrality is 10 years ahead of rival Ford Motor Co.s goal. The companys stock rose as much as 7.4% on the news and traded up 3.1% to $50.89 as of 12:50 p.m. in New York. GMs initiative is part of Chief Executive Officer Mary Barras strategy to take on Tesla Inc.s leadership in electric vehicles and change the Detroit companys image as a builder of gas-guzzling, carbon-spewing trucks and SUVs. Barra already has committed GM to spending $27 billion to build 30 electric vehicles by 2025. EDITORIAL: Automakers siding with Trump against Californias emissions rules are selling out customers General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world, Barra said in a statement. We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole. GM will have to convert every model it sells to run on battery power or possibly hydrogen to meet its target. It aims to lower the price of some electric vehicles to make them accessible to more new-car buyers. Our focus will be offering zero-emission vehicles across a range of price points, Dane Parker, GMs chief sustainability officer, said in a call with reporters. Were going to need to have products that appeal to all of our consumers, products they want and products that they can afford. A big challenge for GM is staying profitable as it transitions to lower-margin electric vehicles. Currently the gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs its known for make up the majority of GMs income. Company President Mark Reuss has said the cost of GMs Ultium battery pack is coming down and its electric vehicles will be profitable. DIFFICULT PATH: Net-zero emissions by 2050 may be impossible, report says UBS said in a report published last year that most global carmakers will be able to phase out their carbon emissions by 2040. We believe the transportation sector can be almost entirely decarbonized by 2040, the report said. Why? New technologies have breakthroughs enabling them to start providing value at a reasonable cost, and saving energy has a feel good factor attached to it. GM plans to use renewable energy for all of its plants and buildings globally by 2035. Thats five years faster than the company previously targeted. Barras move shows how the companys strategic plans have been shifting rapidly. Four months ago when California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his ban on gasoline-fueled cars starting in 2035, Ford was quick to issue a statement praising the step. GM and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, now part of newly-merged Stellantis NV, deferred comment to an industry trade association, which said more needed to be done to increase consumer demand for electric vehicles. THE FUTURE: Could Texas be an electric vehicle hub? At the time, GM was still supporting former President Donald Trumps lawsuit to eliminate Californias exemption from federal emissions rules, which allowed the state to pass its own tougher restrictions. After Trump lost the election, GM withdrew its support. Ford, Honda Motor Co., Volkswagen AG and BMW AG had sided with California earlier. Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, said he has been talking to Barra for about five years and in that time, the automakers views on carbon emissions have evolved, gathering pace more recently. This is for real, Krupp said in a phone interview. Mary Barra is betting the company that this is the next big transition for the industry. Mark Welsh | Daily Herald via AP DES PLAINES Five people, including four children under the age of 6, were killed Wednesday in a fire at a home in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines. All five people were members of the same family, Des Plaines Fire Chief Daniel Anderson said. Their names have not been released. Kimberley Garner brushed off the growing backlash aimed at influencers bragging about their 'work trips' in lockdown as she enjoyed a beach day in Miami on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, slipped into a skimpy pink bikini as she continued to pack on the PDA with her mystery male companion. Kimberley is one of many reality TV stars and influencers who have been trolled online after being slammed by Home Secretary Priti Patel for jetting abroad under the ruse of a 'work trip' despite strict COVID-19 travel rules. Nothing to see here! Kimberley Garner, 29, brushed off backlash aimed at influencers bragging about their 'work trips' as she enjoyed a beach day in Miami on Wednesday Kimberley put on a sizzling display in her plunging pink bikini as she strolled on the beach in the Florida sunshine. The model flaunted her svelte physique in the revealing two-piece as she cosied up to her mystery male companion. Despite the COVID-19 rules, Kimberley didn't seem fazed by the growing outrage back home as she enjoyed an afternoon of sunbathing. Who's that? The former Made In Chelsea star slipped into a skimpy pink bikini as she continued to pack on the PDA with her mystery male companion Wow! Kimberley put on a sizzling display in the barely-there salmon pink bikini as she strolled along the beach Amazing: The model flaunted her svelte physique in the revealing two-piece as she took a walk on the beach New man? Kimberley also put on a cosy display with her new mystery man, after being seen with him in Miami on multiple occasions Drama: In recent days backlash towards influencers who have jetted abroad during the pandemic has continued to grow In recent days backlash towards influencers who have jetted abroad during the pandemic has continued to grow. As they shared photos from sun loungers, lockdown had appeared not to apply to so-called influencers and models who 'used loop-holes' to jet off the sunnier climes under the guise of work. On Wednesday Priti Patel criticised those who have been holidaying in the sun when they have been told to stay at home. Breaking the rules? As they shared photos from sun loungers, lockdown had appeared not to apply to so-called influencers and models who 'used loop-holes' to jet off the sunnier climes Annoyed: On Wednesday Priti Patel criticised those who have been holidaying in the sun when they have been told to stay at home She said going on holiday was 'not an exemption' as she unveiled a strict borders clampdown to slow the spread of the virus, telling the Commons: 'People should simply not be travelling. 'We see plenty of influencers showing off where they are mainly sunny places.' As the criticism intensifies, members of the public appear to be taking umbrage with their tone deaf posts from Dubai - now dubbed 'Covid Cosablanca.' Not worried! Kimberley, who jetted to Miami following a trip to Barbados, didn't seem fazed by the growing backlash in the UK Upsetting: Hostile messages on social media have accused influencers of recklessly spreading the virus and putting the NHS under increasing strain Hostile messages on Instagram and Twitter pages are accusing them of recklessly spreading the virus and putting the NHS under increasing strain. Many claim they jetted off for 'unavoidable work trips' - with some even going so far as to suggest that their social media posts should make them 'key workers'. Laura Anderson, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, moaned about how 'hard it was to be an influencer' after she was met with a backlash about her Dubai trip, before claiming she went as a 'coping mechanism' to deal with COVID. Scores of reality TV stars 'used loop holes' to flee to Dubai to lounge in luxury hotels, pose for pictures with cocktails on sun loungers and enjoy beach parties. Really? Many claim they jetted off for 'unavoidable work trips' - with some even going so far as to suggest that their social media posts should make them 'key workers' Protecting herself: Despite clearly enjoying the luxuries of Miami's incredible weather, Kimberley took to Instagram earlier this year to discuss her plans to stay safe Expats working in Dubai have accused them of 'taking the f***ing p***' by claiming they are in the city for work, and risking spreading the virus to residents by partying and flouting social distancing. And government sources told MailOnline people have been 'exploiting grey areas', with 'high profile people getting away with it,' adding, 'what they are claiming as work is not.' Molly-Mae Hague, Maura Higgins, Amber Davies, Anton Danyluk, Georgia Harrison and Kady McDermott were among those to jet off before the third national lockdown. Safe: The blonde wrote: 'I am here, but I am very very strict still. I see people in Tulum and all over going to parties and it doesn't feel right to me' Are you living there? Kimberley splits her time between her homes in London and Miami after purchasing a dream pad in the coastal city in December 2018 It is thought fed-up Brits have hit back by unfollowing the stars accounts with Anton, 25, and Laura, 31, dropping a combined 26,000, reports The Sun. Anton, who is thought to have lost 14,000 followers, shared that he was heading to Dubai on December 10 and has since posted glimpses of his impressive hotel views and dips in the pool with his 1m fans. While Laura Anderson, who has reportedly dropped a sizeable 12,000 followers, sparked a backlash when she said it was 'really hard' to be an influencer following unimpressed comments on her Dubai snaps. Others thought to have taken a hit in the Instagram numbers include Kaz Crossley, 27, who has reportedly lost 7,000 followers since touching down in the city. New man? Last year, the bombshell was seen with former Made In Chelsea co-star Ollie Chambers Single? Although she recently revealed that she has been having a 'great' time dating, the TV star confirmed to MailOnline in July 2020 that her relationship with the hunk is purely platonic Amazing: She certainly caught the eye in her barely-there salmon pink two-piece as she took a stroll on the beach in the sunshine Drama: While Kimberley has been living it up in the US, a majority of the influencers facing to backlash have jetted to Dubai, earning it the nickname 'Covid Cosablanca.' Angry: The Home Secretary slammed stars for bragging about their holidays and people 'turning up with their skis at St Pancras Station', adding, 'Going on holiday is not an exemption' While Gabby Allen is thought to have lost 2,000 and Josh Ritchie 8,000. TOWIE star James Lock, who is in Dubai with his girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou is also said to have seen 1,000 people disappear from his followers. Ministers are understood to have been increasingly concerned about social media 'infuencers' and other celebrities turning up in exotic destinations while the rest of the country is in lockdown. One government source told MailOnline people appeared to have been exploiting grey areas about what counts as 'essential' work trips. 'It is quite clear there are some high profile people getting away with it and what they are claiming as work is not,' they said. Who has gone where? The hard working 'influencers' on 'essential businesses' Scores of reality TV stars have been sharing photos from their sunny 'work' breaks, including; Kimberley Garner (she was in Barbados and is now in Miami) Love Island stars: Amber Davies, Joe Garratt, Anton Danyluk, Kaz Crossley, Ellie Brown, Ella Rae Wise and Amber Gill Georgia Harrison (who claims she's living in Dubai now) Montana Brown (currently in Barbados) Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei Love Island's Georgia Steel (was in Dubai and is now in The Maldives) The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) stars James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou Some have since returned to the UK, including; Love Island stars Danny Williams, Michael Griffiths, Wes Nelson and Francesca Allen, Malin Andersson and Laura Anderson Sophia Peschisolido, daughter of Tory peer Karren Brady Kady McDermott (who jetted to the Maldives before going to Dubai) Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews (they flew to St Barts. late last year) Sophie Piper (it was reported she'd jetted to the Maldives) Sam Faiers (she flew to The Maldives for her 30th earlier this month) Ferne McCann Chloe Ferry Amber Turner Tiffany and Lucy Watson (were in Barbados) Love Island's Molly Mae and Tommy Fury visited early December and then squeezed in a trip to the Maldives before returning to the UK Maura Higgins and Christopher Taylor jetted to Dubai late last year but are now back in the UK Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy, who celebrated Christmas in Dubai Rochelle and Marvin Humes, enjoyed a family winter vacation in Dubai in mid-December, before lockdown rules came into force Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott jetted to the Maldives for a month Advertisement Despite clearly enjoying the luxuries of Miami's incredible weather, Kimberley took to Instagram earlier this year to discuss her plans to stay safe while spending time across the pond. The blonde wrote: 'I am here, but I am very very strict still. I see people in Tulum and all over going to parties and it doesn't feel right to me. 'I haven't been out to any parties and turned down invites from friends as feel it's just not right to be in a crowd - it's not OK at the moment. 'I'm really lucky to be in the sun and outdoors, and am valuing that totally, but not going to live normally as it's not a normal world at the moment. 'I really think and feel for everyone home at the moment, it really sucks, please be brave, please be kind to each other. 'I did lots of little routines when I was in lockdown and that helped keep me happy. Simple things like Praying, walking, working out, cooking and calling people who I like :).' [sic] Last year, the bombshell was seen with former Made In Chelsea co-star Ollie Chambers. Although she recently revealed that she has been having a 'great' time dating, the TV star confirmed to MailOnline in July 2020 that her relationship with the hunk is purely platonic. Kimberley splits her time between her homes in London and Miami after purchasing a dream pad in the coastal city in December 2018. LUXEMBOURG The Luxembourg government signed a deal Wednesday with the World Jewish Restitution Organization to pay reparations and to restitute dormant bank accounts, insurance policies as well as looted art to Holocaust survivors. The deal announced on International Holocaust Remembrance Day will also provide financial resources to promote remembrance, education and research of the Holocaust in Luxembourg. The agreement today is a profound statement by Luxembourg of its abiding commitment to preserving the memory of Jews who were persecuted and murdered during the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg, said Gideon Taylor, the World Jewish Restitution Organization chair of operations. The Nazis occupied Luxembourg in May 1940. About 2,000 Luxembourg Jews were killed during the Holocaust. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Beto O'Rourke might be ready to hold public office in Texas again. The former congressman from El Paso told a radio station that he's considering running for Texas governor in the next election, Houston Chronicle's Jeremy Wallace reports. TEXAS POLITICS: Ted Cruz encounters his first burned bridge of 2021 You know what, its something Im going to think about, ORourke said in an interview with El Paso radio station KLAQ. O'Rourke's political action committee Powered By People is publicizing the interview. I want to make sure we have someone in the highest office in our state whos going to make sure that all of us are OK, ORourke said. And especially those communities that so often dont get the resources or attention or the help, like El Paso. O'Rourke narrowly lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 U.S. senate race, coming closer to winning a seat in the red state than any Democrat has in 40 years. He also ran for president in 2020 but lost the Democratic nomination to President Joe Biden. Republican Sen. John Cornyn heard the news, retweeting a tweet from his communications director acknowledging O'Rourke's possible run. "A gift," Drew Brandewie wrote on Twitter. "Poll after poll last cycle showed there was no Democrat more unpopular statewide than Beto." Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will run for his third term as Texas governor in 2022. Former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Mukhammedkaly Abylgaziyev has been arrested, according to the country's State Committee for National Security, Azertac reports. On January 26, Abylgaziyev was summoned for interrogation to the State Committee for National Security, which was followed by his detention. He is charged with illegal enrichment. A criminal case could be initiated against Abylgaziyev in connection with the latest agreements on the development of the Kumtor field. Abylgaziyev served as prime minister in 2018-2020 and resigned on June 15, 2020 amid a scandal over the sale of radio frequencies. A sessions court in Delhi has suspended a magistrate court order convicting AAP MLA and sentencing him to two years imprisonment in connection with an assault case involving security guards of AIIMS, Delhi. Special Judge Vikas Dhull's order came after observing that the appeal filed by Somnath challenging magistrate court order will take a considerable time for disposal. "Since the appeal is going to take a considerable time for disposal and having regard to grounds set out in the appeal, the application filed by the convict/appellant is allowed and conviction order dated January 22, 2021 and sentence order dated January 1, 2021 of Ld Trial court are suspended during the pendency of this appeal, subject to the appellant furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 20,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of this court. Bail Bond filed. Same stands accepted," read the order by Rouse Avenue Session Court. In his appeal filed through advocate Mohd Irshad, Somnath has challenged the trial court order dated January 22 convicting him in the matter, and January 23 order sentencing him to two years jail terms. The court also issued a notice to Delhi Police on Somnath appeal and listed the matter for February 15 for further hearing. On September 9, 2016, AIIMS Chief Security officer RS Rawat lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police accusing Bharti and his 300 supporters of misbehaving with security guards of AIIMS. The chief security officer accused AAP MLA and others of trying to encroach government land and disrupting peace in the hospital. (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.) Facebooks business has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic, but 2021 might prove more difficult. The company cautioned in its latest earnings report that new privacy features in Apples iOS 14 update could contribute to a slowdown in advertising revenue. The social network has been a vocal critic of Apples upcoming changes, which requires app makers to gain users explicit consent before turning on ad-tracking features, and has warned of the impact the changes could have in the past. But with those changes now imminent, the threat to Facebooks bottom line will no longer be theoretical. In a statement, Facebook CFO Dave Wehner said the companys advertising business could start to take a hit beginning late in the first quarter. We continue to face significant uncertainty as we manage through a number of cross currents in 2021, Wehner said. We also expect to face more significant ad targeting headwinds in 2021. This includes the impact of platform changes, notably iOS 14, as well as the evolving regulatory landscape. Additionally, he said that ad revenue could slow down if the pandemic trends that have so far been beneficial for the company namely the massive increase in online shopping begin to subside. The warnings clouded what were otherwise strong results for Facebook. The company reported $28 billion in revenue for the quarter, and grew its user base to 1.84 billion daily active users and 2.8 billion monthly active users. Additionally, the company reported 3.3 billion family monthly active people, which refers to people who use at least one of the companys family of apps. During a call with analysts, Mark Zuckerberg criticized Apple for using its dominant position to interfere with competing apps like WhatsApp, which he said was clearly superior. We have a lot of competitors who make claims about privacy that are often misleading, Zuckerberg said. Apple recently released so-called nutrition labels which focus largely on metadata apps collect rather than the privacy and security of people's actual messages. But iMessage stores non-end-to-end encrypted backups of your messages by default unless you disable iCloud, so Apple and governments have the ability to access most people's messages. So when it comes to what matters most -- protecting people's messages, I think that WhatsApp is clearly superior. Zuckerberg also repeated Facebooks previous argument that Apples iOS 14 changes will hurt developers and small businesses. Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own, he said. This impacts the growth of millions of businesses around the world, including with the upcoming iOS14 changes, many small businesses will no longer be able to reach their customers with targeted ads. Apple may say that they're doing this to help people, but the moves clearly track their competitive interests. Updated with additional quotes. China toughened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, warning after recent stepped up military activities near the island that "independence means war" and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference. Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported multiple Chinese fighter jets and bombers entering its southwestern air defence identification zone last weekend, prompting Washington to urge Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan. China believes that Taiwan's democratically-elected government is moving the island ... Given the extended suspension of viewership data for news channels , advertisers and media buyers are relying on their research and historical data to deploy advertising money. In October 2020, television viewership monitoring agency Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC) had paused publishing of weekly data for news channels, following reports of alleged rigging of ratings. In October, Mumbai police said it had busted a television rating points (TRP) racket based on complaints received from BARC India and Hansa Researcha consumer insights company and one of the vendors of BARCabout suspicious trends" and activities. The case has seen 15 arrests so far including those of Partho Dasgupta, former BARC CEO, Romil Ramgarhia, former chief operating officer (COO) of the TV agency and chief executive of Republic TV Vikas Khanchandani. So far, the ratings blackout has not affected advertising. According to a report by TAM AdEx, average ad volumes on the genre rose by over 12% in the October-December period as compared to July-September. However, this rise was also in sync with the festive season. On their part, advertisers, media agencies and news channels said ad budgets are being fixed on a combination of factors including brand efficacy, channels credibility and performance. Ashish Bhasin, chairman of Dentsu Aegis Network, said besides viewership data, the news environment, feedback from the field force of the companies and impact on their sales are also considered while allocating media money. Former Colors CEO and ad sales veteran Raj Nayak said most large organizations have always used feedback from their dealers and distributors when deciding on ad budgets besides using TRP inputs. R.S. Sodhi, managing director of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, the maker of Amul dairy products, said the company does not decide its media plan solely on the basis of TRPs, but uses its field workforce to understand what is being watched in towns and cities. Because of the ratings blackout, we cannot stop communicating with the consumer. At Amul, we spend almost 35%-40% of out TV budget on news channels, although for regional language news, this figure goes up to 50%," he said. A Republic TV spokesperson agreed advertising rates are being currently negotiated on the basis of the historical performance of news channels dating back to 8-10 weeks prior to the blackout. News pricing does not change dramatically unless there is a hugely topical event. It is largely based on perception and deals stick around for a year or so," the spokesperson said, adding the ratings blackout will be a challenge in the long run since these numbers are important not only for media transactions but also for the content organization to know whats working. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Adventist Health Sonora View Photo Sonora, CA A wrench has been thrown in the Adventist Health Sonoras mass vaccination clinic planned for this weekend and hospital officials blame the state. With the successful vaccination of just over 1,000 Tuolumne County residents during last weekends two-day mass vaccination clinic, Adventist Health Sonora is being forced to cut short its January 30 and 31st clinic due to changes to the States vaccine allocation process and eligibility criteria. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the changes yesterday with the state streamlining vaccination distribution and moving to an age-based eligibility system after vaccinating those now at the front of the line, including health care, agricultural workers, emergency personnel, and seniors 65 and older, as reported here. We learned on Tuesday that Californias allotment process is changing and we will not be receiving the supply of vaccines we anticipated, explains Michelle Fuentes, Adventist Health Sonora President. Because we wont have the 1,600 doses as expected, we have to reduce the number of spots for Saturday and cancel our Sunday clinic. We will be able to vaccinate nearly 500 people on Saturday and will remain hopeful that Californias new process will be outlined promptly and allow for our community to be vaccinated as quickly as possible. In a written press release, the hospital detailed that staff will be reaching out to around 40 people who already had appointments on Sunday and offering them a Saturday spot. Any openings after that will be filled by those already on the waiting list, for which there are not enough doses available for everyone. We are calling people on the waiting list, in the order their names were received, and will keep calling until all of the spots are filled, Fuentes explains. Our goal had been to reach out to every person on the list because we want to give the vaccine to each person, just as much as they want to receive it. This has been an emotional turn of events for everyone involved with the vaccination clinics and we sincerely apologize to those who will not be getting a phone call from us this week. The hospital also noted that it had planned to release several hundred appointments to those aged 65 to 74 through online scheduling on Thursday, but it had to be scrapped since no appointments will be available. Also, no further clinics have been scheduled. Those who have already received their first dose of the vaccine through the clinic should plan to return to the Mother Lode Fairgrounds 28 days after their first dose, as scheduled, relay hospital officials. Meanwhile, they say they are working to ensure that those doses will remain available. Updates will be posted on the hospital website and for those without internet access, a hotline with recorded information is available at 209-536-5165. A majority of the Northern Ireland public is in favour of mandatory quarantine for travellers from Great Britain, a new survey has found. The survey carried out by LucidTalk and IrelandThinks found almost two thirds (65%) would be in favour of a 10-day mandatory hotel quarantine for those setting foot on the island from Great Britain. Of the remaining respondents, 30% were opposed and the other 5% were unsure. The majority - nine in 10 - said travellers from the rest of the world should have to stay in a hotel for 10 days on arrival anywhere on the island. Less than one in ten (8%) were opposed and 2% said they weren't sure. The highest number of those opposed to the idea are people who voted for the UUP in the last Assembly election (18%). Those who voted for the DUP and the UUP were least likely to agree with the idea of a mandatory quarantine in a hotel for those arriving from GB, with more than half (59% for the DUP and 54% for the UUP) saying this should not be the case. More than half of Leave voters (57%) in the EU referendum also disagreed with mandatory quarantine. Meanwhile, more than nine in 10 Sinn Fein and SDLP voters (94% and 91% respectively) and eight in 10 Alliance voters agreed with mandatory hotel quarantine for those arriving from GB to the island of Ireland. Half of those surveyed who voted for the Green Party in the last election also agreed (57%). The results of the survey reflect similar numbers in Britain showing support for mandatory hotel quarantine for passengers arriving from outside Britain and Ireland. A YouGov survey, where almost nine in 10 respondents (87%) showed support for a ten-day mandatory quarantine while in the Republic of Ireland, an Ireland Thinks survey also showed majority support for the move (90%). Dr Kevin Cunningham of IrelandThinks said it shows significant support, although a minority within the unionist community, in favour of the move. Speaking to the BBC, he said there is often strong support for temporary measures. "The pandemic itself seems to be cutting across party lines," he said. "It seems that the public are in favour of extreme or at least significant measures to tackle new variants." Polling was carried out in January by Belfast-based polling and market research company LucidTalk surveying 1,704 respondents weighted by gender, community background and other demographics with a margin of error of +/-2.4%, at 95% confidence. It comes as Boris Johnson is set to announce that travellers coming into England will have to quarantine in hotels for 10 days at their own cost of 1,500, it's understood. The move is in response to concerns about new variants and the areas associated with them, including South America, Portugal and many countries in Southern Africa. It's also thought a ban on holiday travel will also be tightened, with travellers required to declare their reason for leaving the UK. The Irish government is also set to tighten its Covid-19 travel rules, which will see Existing Passenger Locator Form rules amended to ensure NI-bound passengers complete the full form by providing a forwarding contact address. Further plans announced by Taoiseach Micheal Martin include a "mandatory quarantine at a designated facility" for anyone arriving into Irish ports or airports without a proof of a negative test for Covid-19. "They will also be subject to a fine of 2,500 and/or six months imprisonment," Mr Martin said. Executive guidance states anyone travelling into Northern Ireland who plans to stay for at least 24 hours should self-isolate for 10 days, with the exception of people who routinely cross the border for essential purposes. Irish government advice states that any passengers who arrive from Great Britain, South Africa or any country in South America into the Republic are advised to self isolate for a period of 14 days following their arrival. What might seem a daunting task to most is seen as sort of a poetic experience to Culotti whose own mother was an orphan who was put out on the streets at the age of 18 with only $100 to survive. Culotti sees the show as an opportunity to honor her mom by harnessing her resilience. A serial entrepreneur since the age of 14, Culotti broke into the male-dominated construction business and bulldozed her way into becoming one of the industrys biggest players. Shes known for not letting anyone or anything stop her from achieving her goals. Along the way, shes developed and built everything from luxury homes to casinos and hospitals. A so-called military brat, Culotti grew up traveling throughout Europe with her English-born mother and Irish-American father. She credits her sense of style and drama to her childhood years exploring German castles, English farmhouses, and Renaissance towns of Italy. She soon opened her own business importing antiques, collectibles, textiles and architectural elements, later branching out to launch her own design firm, retail store and manufacturing facility. Her experience in design has given her the ability to manage projects from start to finish for her clients. One of the projects she is, perhaps, most known for is the iconic House of Rock in Santa Monica, which she designed and organized into a pop-up designer showcase and luxury event space before eventually selling it. Culotti also owns the 40-acre Big Z Ranch in Fallbrook, California. There she grows everything from palm trees to fruits and vegetables. The property is an expression of her deep passion about the food we put in our bodies as well as the solidarity she feels with the local farm workers who grow it. She has, therefore, partnered with local farmers to make it easier for fresh food to be sold directly to consumers without the middle men of big box stores. Each week, Big Z assembles packages of fruits and vegetables grown on the ranch and delivers them directly to consumers doorsteps. In a time where American farmers are desperately struggling, her vision is to build permanent farmers markets across the nation where local farmers and the community can meet and do business. I recently spoke with her about this latest turn in her entrepreneurial journey. JWK: So, tell me a little about yourself and why you were asked to take up the challenge of doing Undercover Billionaire. Elaine Culotti: Im a serial entrepreneurWhat that means is I like to start up businesses on my own I always have and see how well they do and then try to (get) other people to join me in my idea. So, they (the producers) thought that was a good fit for thisI dont know how many (other entrepreneurs) they looked at. I didnt know about Monique and Grant either. It was meant to be a stand-alone show but, because of COVID, I think they felt it was timely to combine us and create this beautiful triptych of all of us. I think my entrepreneurial spirit combined with my high net-worth capabilities made (me) a perfect fit for the show and I was willing. Im sure that other people that were asked werent. Its a big deal to say I need to take 120 days off of my life 90 of which are completely incognito, meaning you have absolutely none of your resources including your name. And then theres some lead-up time and some exit time because you have about five to seven days prior to leaving where (you) kind of say goodbye to your family and they do some video and stuff in Los Angeles and at my ranch. They want to create an entry into the story. And then, once the show is done filming and youve gotten to your goal or have not gotten to your goal at the end, theres sort of a little coming-out party, if you will, where you let everyone who you are. And then I personally felt obligated to be there for a while with my team because, you know, it was a big shock to them. So, thats kind of it in a nutshell. JWK: How difficult is it to take $100 and turn it into a million in 90 days? EC: I think its eminently more difficult for someone to do who doesnt have a lot of faith in themselves. If you know that you can, you can. It really cuts down to your existential well-being. JWK: So, putting yourself out there to create a business and build wealth is, in a real sense, an act of faith. EC: Oh, one-thousand percent. Thats not debatable. Youve gotta give it to God. If you dont, youre not gonna do it. Its just one of those things. People can talk about it or not talk about it. Real true grit requires a tremendous amount of courage. Youve got to rely on whatever it is that you rely on. Who knows what that is? Who am I to tell people what it is that they rely on thats bigger than themselves. For me, I dig down real deep and I really manifest things and I mantra them out. I say them over and over again. I make them my reality and I embrace that. And, when things get in the way of it, I tend to go over, under, around or through. JWK: The show itself, I guess, is sort of a primer for people with entrepreneurial dreams but you do have any tips you can share in a nutshell? EC: Well, I will tell you this. The showis in some ways a class on its own because its really a kind of on-the-ground business school. Its really a lesson in starting a businessThere are things you could literally (jot down) on a piece of paper. You could write A. Do this, B. Do this, C. Do this because we stop in the middle and we narrate our (story). We call them sensei interviews. Were, basically, stopping for a minute and telling you exactly (what the strategy is). I think its a class on entrepreneurialism. Its certainly a class on startup. There are many people who would see a difference between a startup business and an entrepreneur. Maybe one (is) just participating (in building a business) and the other is completely dreaming something up out of thin air. (Undercover Billionaire is about what happens after) having rolled into a place where you dont know where you are (and) you have no idea where youre going. (You also have) no resources only $100 and a phone that doesnt have wifi. You dont have your drivers license. You have a new name. Thats entrepreneurial because its without any resources whereas you could call a franchise a startup. You can have structure in a startup. You could have baking (facilities) in place in a startup. You could have a lot of things. (Established franchise) partners, whatever you might have. Ive had some startup businesses where someone had come to me and said This is my idea and I said Thats a great idea and we started it up. Thats different a little bit this kind of spirit of nothing toasted into something. JWK: I take it that youre a proponent of capitalism as something that serves society well. EC: I dont think that capitalism is a dirty word absolutely not. We cant survive without it. (We need to) balance between taking care of those who cant (fully manage) and taking care of ourselves. I always turn to that interesting thing that happens when you get in an airplane and the lady stands in the aisle and she says When the oxygen mask falls from the ceiling be sure to put it on yourself first before you help the small child next to you or whoever is next to you. Conceptually, that is a very important statement because what it is essentially saying is that if youre not healthy you cant help anyone. Lets peel it back a little bit and stop saying things like Capitalism is a dirty word. We have to be healthy as a country which means we have to be productive. If we cannot sell what we produce, we are not earners and, if we are not earners, we cannot keep our families healthy, happy and safe. We have to just think about that for a minute. JWK: Do you have any thoughts about Universal Basic Income? EC: I do. I have many thoughts about it. I understand the arc of economics both existential economics and our traditional capital system. What I would say is that you have to kind of flatten the curve a little bit to really see where and how much that would fit into the program that weve laid out in the United States in terms of how we earn our capital wealth. In other words, trying to implement a new concept into an already existing structure is what were trying to do when we say wed like to have more of a social economy. Weve got this weird thing (where) we think we pay a lot of taxes. Everyone freaks out when taxes go (up). They really do. They panic. I always say go take a good look at Germany or someplace where the social structure is very clear and delineated and then take a look at the tax base. Then come back and ask How much do we pay (in) taxes? What we cant do is not allow our bureaucracies to distribute the money that comes into them in the way that it was designed to be distributed. Thats what weve got to stop doing. Its quagmiring everything and stopping the flow of money thats there for helpand then having that money to be eaten up in the wrong way through bureaucracy payroll, through bureaucracy litigation (and) through bureaucracy approval. We have a lot of resources for homelessness in this country. We have a lot of resources for drug addiction in this country. We have tremendous interest from (Americans) to help, get involved and to do something about it. Weve had many, many private citizens and public entities put money into solving these problems and we dont shine a light on our progress. We only talk about the (failures)We have a huge problem with homelessness in this country and it should not be. We have plenty of food. We have plenty of wealth. It seems to be the distribution of the money that weve raised that becomes the big problem. What are we doing standing in the way of that? Get it there, you know? Look at each program and decide which ones are the best ones or listen to people that have ideas. Look into capital markets that we havent tapped into. JWK: Getting back to Undercover Billionaire, Episode 3 of Season 2 airs tonight on Discovery. If theres a third season, will you be doing this whole undercover thing again? EC: It will be a whole other group of people next year. I think theyre actually starting that process of selecting new, I guess, challengees for the big challenge. JWK: I can think of a business person who launched his political career off a show not too different from this. Do you have any aspirations in that area? EC: Well, you know, youve got to give him credit where credit is due. Its interesting. I actually was talking to somebody about why was Donald Trump successful on his show but not successful as president, as a leader. He was successful leading his television show but not successful in leading people. JWK: What was your answer? EC: I think its pretty simple, honestly. I think it comes down to being humble. Its a juxtaposed position when youre the president because it feels like youre empowered but really you work for the people. So, really, youre the biggest employee in the world. If youre not used to working for people being an employee, being humble and being grateful for the job that you have I think its hard to communicate. It could be as simple as that because he didnt communicate well in a way that he could get the buy-in from fans that he didnt already have. He didnt gather (new) masses. He kept the ones that he had because I believe in blind faith too. I mean we all do. As long as he was moving forward, I think he kept a pretty strong hold on his fan base but as things got crunched (and) as he got more and more pressure on himand people were more and more frustrated and becoming more and more vocal, he didnt calm the waters. Thats what you have to do when you lead because, right or wrong, you have to keep everybody under control and calm and believing in you. He lost control of the ship. Thats what happened. I feel for the guy. I honestly do. I genuinely think there were some great things that happened in the administration that were good for the country and I think that there were a lot of really great people he surrounded himself (with) in his cabinet. Anything good got overshadowed and thats a shame. I wish Biden a much better outcome because we need some bringing together, you know? In the Pledge of Allegiance, that word is in there thats so important indivisible. We are not dividable. JWK: Would you have any inclination to enter the political field yourself? EC: I dont know if I would be a good employee. I have to think about that. I think if I learned to be that person, I could do it. Postscript: Below is an extended analysis of Elaine Culotti in action during Season 2/Episode 1 of Undercover Billionaire. As mentioned, a new episode airs tonight (1/27) at 8:00 PM on Discovery. Encourage one another and build each other up 1 Thessalonians 5:11 The Massachusetts House has approved a revised version of a police accountability bill and sent it back to the desk of Gov. Charlie Baker. More than two-thirds of Texans support raising some new taxes and using the states rainy day fund to patch budget shortfalls from the pandemic, according to a new survey by the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs. The survey, conducted online earlier this month, comes as lawmakers are back in Austin to consider a raft of new bills, many of them centered on the health crisis and other recent events, including protests over police brutality and the November election. In addition to overwhelming support for new taxes on e-cigarettes and vaping products, respondents also heavily favor closing loopholes that allow large companies to lower their property taxes, raising the franchise tax on large businesses and legalizing casino gambling and marijuana, which would generate new tax revenue. Just over 80 percent of respondents oppose a universal state income tax, but a majority, 62 percent, support taxing income on those earning more than $1 million a year. Finding new sources of revenue is never easy in the Texas Legislature, said Kirk Watson, dean of the Hobby School and a former Democratic state senator. But we found that there is broad agreement among Texans, even across party lines, on some potential new or increased sources of funding. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox In election reforms, two thirds of Texans support online voter registration and universal mail-in voting, according to the poll. The state currently does not have widespread online voter registration and limits mail-in voting to those over 65 or living with a disability. Texas is considered to have the most restrictive voting process in the country. Another big issue this year will be redistricting, in which lawmakers redraw the states political boundaries for the next ten years. The process is currently controlled by Republicans, who hold majorities in both state legislative chambers. According to the poll, however, 70 percent of respondents support turning the process over to an independent commission, as is done in some other states including California. Separately, 72 percent of respondents support criminal justice reforms spurred by the killing last summer of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The George Floyd Act, as its known, includes changes such as prohibiting chokeholds and limiting police immunity from civil lawsuits. While it is widely supported, fewer than half of Republican respondents favor the legislation. And with the states uninsured rate ballooning further, 69 percent of respondents support expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The action would extend coverage to more than 1 million low-income Texans. Texas had the nations highest uninsured rate heading into the pandemic, and is one of just 12 states still yet to expand the safety net program. The poll included just over 1,300 respondents and has a plus-or-minus 2.7 percent margin of error. jeremy.blackman@chron.com After a troubling audit of his narcotics division in July, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told this editorial board: Sloppiness does not equate to corruption. Maybe not. But now that a dozen police officers have been indicted two of them on murder charges corruption may be putting it mildly. Today marks two years since the botched Harding Street raid left two innocent people dead and five officers wounded and we still dont know the extent of the dirty dealing within the Houston Police Department. What we do know is that Acevedo should stop depicting this tragedy as the product of a few rogue officers. He should acknowledge publicly the scope of this scandal, and root out its causes, if he wants to rid his department of any residual rot. With the charges announced this week, the indictment count stands at 12 with seven of the current or former officers facing the possibility of life sentences, if convicted. Hardly a bushel but far from one or two bad apples. Most striking among the new indictments announced Monday by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, is a murder charge against Officer Felipe Gallegos of the narcotics unit. He is the second officer charged with murder in the deaths of husband and wife homeowners Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, who were killed Jan. 28, 2019 during the raid. Initial reports painted a picture of veteran narcotics officers executing a no-knock warrant being met with gunfire as they burst into a heroin dealers den. That story quickly fell apart as investigators discovered no heroin on site and announced they were looking into squad leader Gerald Goines for lying about buying drugs from the home. That investigation spread, resulting in state and federal charges against Goines and his partner, Steven Bryant, including two state counts of felony murder for Goines. A reevaluation of his conduct led to an ongoing review of thousands of cases handled by Goines and his colleagues. Oggs office has recommended charges be dismissed in dozens of cases where defendants were convicted solely on Goines casework. The new indictments charge eight of the current or former officers with engaging in organized crime in working together to steal overtime, just one layer of illegal activity that prosecutors allege provided cover for dirty officers and sowed the ground for Harding Street. The consequences of corruption are that two innocent ordinary people were killed in their homes, four police officers were shot, one of them paralyzed, Ogg said Monday. A fifth officer was injured during the raid, but was not shot. She promised to hold errant police officers accountable, and so far, shes kept her word. Those charges must still be tested in court, but for a city and county long reputed to look the other way when law enforcement turned criminal, accountability is welcome news. Chief Acevedo told the editorial board Wednesday he will follow suit, launching an internal investigation into the active duty officers who were charged by Ogg for stealing overtime, as well as cast a wider net to ensure the practice hasnt spread. Were set to meet with the DAs office to discuss opportunities for other measures we can take to also put safeguards in place, he said. We have to hold people accountable. This is an important step one Acevedo could have initiated much earlier if hed acknowledged the likelihood of a broader problem and probed more deeply within his department. Acevedo has resisted calls for an independent audit. But until hes willing to say the word corruption its hard to have confidence in his internal review. A partial audit of the narcotics division, released in July after months of delay, already hinted at widespread problems within the narcotics unit. Covering three years worth of casework by Goines and Bryant, it found hundreds of administrative errors, missing case review sheets and incomplete reports, unauthorized payments to confidential informants and discrepancies in evidence handling. Even as the report pointed to systemwide issues that went beyond poor record keeping, Acevedo remained steadfast in his defense and downplayed the problems as sloppiness. Now, the chief should make good on his vows of transparency and tell it to us straight. Everything he doesnt know, he should entrust an independent auditor to find out. If Houston police officers did indeed murder innocent people, we should spare no expense, and no ego, to ensure it never happens again. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- After more than three years, Victoria Wilson said she no longer could bear keeping the secret about her former boyfriends death. I was tired of being harassed and tired of carrying it on my shoulders. It was just so overwhelming, the 25-year-old Wilson testified Tuesday, Jan. 27 in a Grand Rapids courtroom. Wilson was the key witness in a probable cause hearing for 26-year-old Omar Dontay Wilson, the man she married in October 2016 and who police say shot and killed 27-year-old Mark Toliver five months earlier. Toliver had been a former boyfriend to Victoria Wilson. Their relationship lasted 3-4 years, ending in early 2016. After listening to testimony from Wilson and another man, Grand Rapids District Judge David Buter determined there was enough evidence to send Omar Wilson to trial for murder. Toliver was shot and killed about 1:45 a.m. May 25, 2016 while on his porch in the 200 block of Dickinson Street SE, near Lafayette Avenue. At the time, relatives said he simply eating an ice cream bar on the porch when shot. During testimony Wednesday, Victoria Wilson said she was in a new relationship with Omar Wilson in May 2016 and they discussed robbing a person known as Meech who often could be found outside Tolivers house. They were walking in the area of Griggs Street SE and Collins Avenue early May 25 when Omar Wilson told her to go back to their car. Related: Shooting victims family: Why cant you sit on your porch and eat a Klondike bar? She said Omar Wilson came back to the car after about 10 minutes and confessed to her that he had shot Mark Toliver moments earlier. He basically just got in the car and told me Mark pulled a gun on him, she testified. Omar shot him because he pulled a gun on him. She was upset but showed no emotion while in the car. I was scared of what he would do to me if I went against him, said Wilson, who soon learned Toliver had died. She admitted she and Omar Wilson smoked marijuana both before and after the shooting. Victoria Wilson said police and prosecutors questioned her at least twice in 2016 about the killing, including during an investigative subpoena in August, but she denied knowing anything about it. Police did locate an extended handgun magazine clip in her cars glovebox in late 2016, then a handgun in a kitchen drawer at her apartment. It wasnt clear if the weapon was used in the killing. Omar Wilson then went to prison in July 2018 on unrelated weapons charges, with the earliest possible release in March 2022. In late 2019, Victoria Wilson contacted authorities to change her story about Tolivers death. She admitted being concerned that she might be charged with the homicide, in part because she gave Omar Wilson information on who to rob. She is the parent of a young girl. Victoria Wilson testified Wednesday while wearing a jail uniform. Shes incarcerated on charges unrelated to the homicide. Court records show she pleaded guilty in 2019 to firearms possession by a felon and felony firearms, after being convicted in 2017 of felonious assault. She was sentenced in September 2019 to a minimum two years incarceration. As part of an agreement, prosecutors have told Victoria Wilson she will not be charged with perjury, for lying in 2016, if she testifies truthfully in the homicide case. More from MLive Lawmakers react to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers call for bipartisanship in State of the State address Whitmer tells Michigan she hasnt forgotten about roads in State of the State speech 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. A bill filed at the Massachusetts Statehouse would set new penalties for those who encourage others to die by suicide. The bill is a reaction to the case of Michelle Carter, a Massachusetts woman sentenced to 15 months in jail after she was convicted in 2017 of involuntary manslaughter for using text messages and phone calls to encourage her boyfriend, Conrad Roy, to kill himself in 2014. The legislation would set a maximum sentence of five years in prison for anyone who intentionally coerces or encourages another individual to die by suicide or attempt to die by suicide by using physical acts or mental coercion that manipulate a persons fears, affections or sympathies. State Sen. Barry Finegold told The Salem News that Massachusetts is among a handful of states without a law criminalizing the act of suicide by coercion. Most other states already have made it illegal to encourage or provide the resources for someone else to commit suicide, the Andover Democrat said. The tragic death of Conrad Roy made it clear that Massachusetts is not equipped to deal with scenarios like this. Finegold filed a similar bill in the last session. He said the legislation would send a clear message that coercing another person to commit suicide is not only unacceptable, but subject to criminal liability. Conrad Roys mother, Lynn Roy, helped write the bill that is named after her son. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Carters conviction appeal. Prosecutors say Carter caused her boyfriends 2014 death when she told him in a phone call to get back into his carbon monoxide-filled truck. Carter was released from jail in 2020 after serving most of a 15-month sentence at the Bristol County jail in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The 23-year-old got out more than three months early for good behavior. She will be on probation until 2022. Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 5:19 pm Former city of Chehalis human resources and risk manager Judy Schave retired last week after working with the city for over 35 years. The human resources and risk manager position has been filled by former Chehalis Police Chief Glenn Schaffer. Schave, who started working with the city in 1985, was honored at Monday evenings council meeting for her years of service. She worked for the city in various capacities over the years, including city clerk, human resources and risk manager and various positions within the finance department. Judy worked just as hard on her first day as she did on her last day and I think that says a lot about her character, Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes said. Schaffer began his position as Chehalis new human resources and risk manager on Monday, Jan. 25. We did do recruitment and we had a set of quality applicants for that position, including one of our very own, and that would be Police Chief Glenn Schaffer, City Manager Jill Anderson said. Schaffer applied for this job looking for a new challenge at this point in his life and his career and he rose to the top of that very strong applicant pool. Schaffer has served as the police chief in Chehalis since 2007 and has worked in law enforcement for 33 years. Schaffers son, Washington State Trooper Justin Schaffer, was killed in the line of duty in March 2020 in Chehalis. The Chehalis Police Departments Deputy Police Chief Randy Kaut, who has been with the department for over 30 years, will serve as interim police chief until a replacement is hired. Anderson said she anticipates the search for a new police chief to take six to nine months. Ive had the pleasure of working for the Chehalis Police Department for over 32 years now, starting as a rookie officer assigned to the night shift. Although the city has changed over those years, the quality of the officers Ive worked with has not. As deputy chief, they have made my work so much easier and I have no doubt their help will be invaluable as I take on additional duties, Kaut said. I would also like to thank Glenn Schaffer for the opportunity to work under him. He was not only my supervisor but a wonderful mentor. HONG KONG, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global leaders and experts agree that China and the United States remains the world's most crucial relationship, and the two must work together to combat global challenges. During a three day virtual forum "US-China Relations: The Way Forward", hosted by the China-U.S. Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), speakers examined the new and existing global challenges facing U.S.-China relations and the key areas that the two countries will need to focus on including fighting COVID-19, climate change, and cybersecurity. 2020 was a year of unprecedented turmoil. The pandemic sent humanity a message: the world is fundamentally changing, and the U.S. and China are more successful combating these challenges together rather than apart. The high level forum gathered panelists including Carlos Gutierrez, Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Zeng Peiyan, Chairman of CCIEE, Yasuo Fukuda, Former Prime Minister of Japan, Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in Physics & Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee & Chairman of the China United States Exchange Foundation, amongst over 40 other senior business leaders, current and past government officials, and renowned scholars. The ongoing U.S.-China trade war along with the fiscal hardships exacerbated by the pandemic is expected to plunge the world into a recession unlike anything seen since World War II. The distinguished speakers asked to reconsider the rhetoric issued by leaders, noting COVID-19 is a virus not isolated by borders. Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Myron Brilliant stated that COVID-19 is not a U.S. pandemic, nor a Chinese pandemic, but rather a global emergency that will be eradicated only by collaboration and contribution from the world's two biggest and most innovative economies. Economic and trade experts attested for a dire need to salvage and redefine the complex U.S.-China relationship, predicting that collaboration could hasten economic recovery. Xu Bu, President of the China Institute of International Studies, acknowledged that the U.S. and Chinese economies are more complementary than competitive, and should act accordingly. Only through allowing transparency and partnership will scientists be able to continue to make significant progress in areas imperative to global health that include research and development, the COVID-19 vaccine, and prevention of future pandemics. Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, analyzed how the Trump administration's efforts to isolate China involuntarily compelled China to begin transforming themselves, accelerating the shift of the global economy to Asia. "Whether it is short term or long term, this kind of pressure put on Chinese companies forced them to innovate themselves, and they became the true winners. Just like the U.S. wants to invest in China, Chinese companies want to invest in the United States," Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at CCIEE Zhang Xiaoqiang observed. While many admired the transformation, it is essential for both countries to be more inclusive and re-establish people to people exchanges, as partnerships could lead to beneficial advancements in areas of education, tourism, civil institutions, and think tanks. According to the President of the National Committee on United States-China Relations Stephen Orlins, "people to people relationships are the foundation of our political relationship. It's going to determine how and whether that relationship creates a more secure and prosperous world." To do this, he recommended both China and the U.S. open its borders to each other on every level. This includes reopening the consulates in Houston and Chengdu and restoring the U.S. Fulbright Program in China, which David Firestein, President and CEO of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations reaffirmed. Aside from the pandemic, we continue to face other world challenges such as terrorism, natural disasters, and climate change. Competition is healthy both in technology and science, but ultimately, these areas should be based on rules and directed towards positive results that benefit all. Technology lies at the heart of all these challenges and will play an integral part in finding the solutions. Among the speakers who asserted the importance of cooperation and honest exchange in the technology discussion, there were six business leaders of large corporations in China who participated. "Not just by words, but by deeds," proclaimed former U.S. Ambassador to China and former U.S. Senator from Montana, Max Baucus. In his opinion, it will be difficult for students and politicians to visit China until each country indicates to the other the fact that they want to work with each other by actions. Yet, hope is on the horizon. Though the future of the U.S.-China relationship remains uncertain, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs Wang Chao expressed his confidence in the foundation of U.S.-China relations "built through our joint efforts over generations." Mr. Wang added that goodwill shall remain unchanged and optimism will prevail regarding people to people exchanges. Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee & Chairman of the China United States Exchange Foundation, ended the forum on a positive note: "Indeed, our many speakers and panelists have pointed out what should be done. If I were to summarize their thoughts expressed in these three days...return to the dialogue table, restore respect and trust, allow competition and cooperation to coexist. Let's work together now. The road is not easy, but together we will find a way." Note to Editors: About the China - United States Exchange Foundation The China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental foundation committed to the belief that a positive and peaceful relationship between the strongest developed nation and the most populous, fast-developing nation is essential for global wellbeing. Founded in Hong Kong in 2008 and privately funded, CUSEF builds platforms to encourage constructive dialogue and diverse exchanges between the people of the U.S. and China. For more information please visit https://www.cusef.org.hk/ . About the China Center for International Economic Exchanges Founded on March 20th, 2009, China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), is a social organization and a new type of think tank, registered with and approved by the relevant authorities of the Chinese government. Guided by the philosophy of "Originality, Objectivity, Rationality and Compatibility", CCIEE aims to serve national development, improve people's welfare and promote exchanges and cooperation by conducting research on strategic and economic issues both at home and abroad, developing international exchanges and cooperation and providing consulting services and intellectual support to the government and business in decision making. For more information, visit www.cciee.org.cn . Media contact: You are here: World Flash Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova has tested positive for COVID-19, the press office of the Presidency said Wednesday. "The Vice President is in good general condition with mild symptoms," the press office said. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, whose last contact with Iotova was on Jan. 20, has tested negative, the press office noted. The necessary measures have been taken for disinfection of the working premises and for the normal functioning of the presidential institution, it added. To date, Bulgaria has confirmed 216,416 COVID-19 cases and 8,916 deaths. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines, but only 29,122 people have so far received COVID-19 vaccines in the Balkan country. Meanwhile, 236 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 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. 26. [January 28, 2021] Online Broker tastyworks Sweeps Investor's Business Daily's Annual Best Online Brokers List for 2021; Secures Overall #1 Spot tastyworks, one of the fastest-growing online brokers, announced today its first-place ranking in the 2021 Investor's Business Daily review of Best Online Brokers. With wins in 12 of 15 categories, ranging from Trade Execution Speed/Price, Website Security, Site Performance, Customer Service, Trade Ideas*, Mobile Trading Platform/Apps, Options Trading and Educational Resources, tastyworks handily ranked above larger legacy brokers coming in #1 in IBD's overall investor survey. "The number of tastyworks clients almost doubled in 2020 for a very good reason, and the IBD review explains why," said Tom Sosnoff, co-CEO of tastytrade. "Our combination of investing in best-of-breed technology, delivering engaging content and research, and habit of answering support emails on Sunday night is what sets us apart. We're honored that our hard work has been ranked first by Investor's Business Daily." Launched in 2017, tastyworks is an online brokerage with desktop and mobile trading platforms for stocks, options, and futures. tastytrade is a live programming network with daily content for beginner investors to advanced traders, and is integrated into the tastyworks platform. "The response to what we've built has exceeded our projections," aid Scott Sheridan, CEO of tastyworks. "Earning the top spot in the IBD rankings is a great validation, but we're not stopping there. We have big plans for 2021, both in software development and expanding our business. Everyone else will be playing catch-up." "tastyworks should be proud of the level of service it provides investors," said Chris Gessel, Chief Content Office at IBD. "It is clear that tastyworks has developed compelling offerings and takes the interests of its customers seriously." For more information on IBD's methodology, visit https://www.investors.com/news/online-brokerage-comparison-survey-discovers-americas-favorite-brokers/ *tastyworks, Inc. does not provide investment advice or make trade recommendations. About tastyworks Based out of Chicago, IL, tastyworks is a brokerage firm, creating a leading a financial revolution for the do-it-yourself investor. The brokerage firm was launched in 2017 by the same anti-Wall Street team that created thinkorswim in 1999 and tastytrade in 2011. tastyworks supports investors who want to actively manage their own money with a power platform, embedded engaging content, and a unique commission structure. tastyworks is a subsidiary of tastytrade. For more information visit www.tastyworks.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005367/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. After a day of giving coronavirus vaccinations, Michael Weber and his team were headed back to Grants Pass, Ore., to administer their last doses on Tuesday when traffic suddenly came to a halt. Authorities had closed the snow-covered highway because of a car accident, and it would be hours before traffic could resume. But Weber and his team of 20 staff members and volunteers didn't have that much time to use the six Moderna doses they had left before the vaccines expired. That's when Weber had an idea: If he couldn't make it to the clinic on time, he could bring the clinic to six other drivers stranded on the highway. "I decided to start going door-to-door, car-to-car, offering [the vaccine]," Weber, who is Josephine County's public health director, told The Washington Post on Wednesday night. The impromptu vaccination session amid a snowstorm is the latest example of health-care workers scrambling to make use of leftover doses during a sometimes chaotic rollout that's seen around 21.1 million people receive one or both doses of the vaccine in the United States. Weber's six leftover Moderna doses, which had already been transferred to syringes earlier on Tuesday, needed to be used quickly or discarded. Like the Pfizer version, the Moderna vaccine must be used within six hours after being removed from subzero storage and reaching room temperature. "We knew the vaccine would not make it back to Grants Pass," said Weber, 40. "In all likelihood, it was going to expire." After consulting with his team, Weber and four staff members trekked through the snow, knocking on car windows in search of six lucky arms. One team member carried a bin with the vaccines, alcohol, gauze and other medical supplies. Weber, who was in charge of the vaccination paperwork, carried the forms inside his coat. Others carried a container for used needles and an umbrella for the heavy snow. An ambulance that had accompanied them during a vaccination session at a high school earlier that day was also present and ready to treat anyone in the rare case they suffered an allergic reaction, Weber added. But finding six people who wanted the shots wasn't that easy, David Candelaria, a health officer with Josephine County Public Health, told The Post. "We were a little nervous because not a lot of people in this part of the state are eager to get the vaccine at this point in time," said Candelaria, 61. The team went car-to-car and introduced themselves as county health officials stuck in the snowstorm, who, incidentally, had vaccine doses for a virus that has killed more than 427,000 Americans, including close to 2,000 in Oregon. It took Weber and his team about 45 minutes to administer the six vaccine doses. "We went through a lot of cars before we found six yeses," Weber said. While most people politely declined, Weber said, those who said yes could hardly contain their excitement. "I can't imagine a better way to spend four hours stuck in a snowstorm," Weber said. One man, Candelaria recalled, was so ecstatic that he got out of his car and took his shirt off in the middle of the snowstorm so the team could inoculate him. Another woman was so taken aback by the surprise vaccine that she could hardly sign the paperwork, her hands were trembling so much from excitement. The last person to get a leftover vaccination was a woman who didn't make it on time to her appointment earlier that day. "It was meant to be for her," Candelaria said. Press Release January 28, 2021 GORDON LAUDS LOCSIN FOR FILING DIPLOMATIC PROTESTS AGAINST CHINA'S AGGRESSIVENESS AT WEST PHILIPPINE SEA Senator Richard J. Gordon commended Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday for filing diplomatic complaints against China's aggression at the disputed West Philippine Sea. "I commend Secretary Locsin for taking a very important and valiant action by standing up for our rights. He did right by our country, and we support him wholeheartedly," said Gordon. In a Twitter post on January 27, Locsin wrote that "At 5:17 pm today, the Chinese embassy received two diplomatic protests: 1. On the pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in PH waters & 2. Declaring parts of Philippine territory as part of Hainan province - both violations of international law & Philippine sovereignty." Gordon has been consistently urging the government to take a firm position on dealing with the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China. At the Plenary on Tuesday, he raised concern over the enactment of a new Chinese law that allows the Chinese Coast Guard to "take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea." "When another country claims the oceans surrounding us, which we claim, even threatens to demolish our fishing boats or fishing boats of any country that get to that ocean or that sea, this is a serious cause for concern. This is a shot in the bow of all the claimants in the territories," said Gordon. The French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the United States and Russia to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) till 2026. " welcomes the decision of the United States and Russia to extend the New START treaty for five years. It welcomes the efforts and responsiveness of the two parties, which made it possible to extend the treaty before its expiration date on February 5," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement. This comes after US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation on Tuesday, which later led to the extension of the treaty. On Wednesday, both houses of Russia's parliament and the Federation Council ratified an agreement to extend the treaty until February 5, 2026, Sputnik reported. The French ministry said that the New Start treaty is a pillar of the arms control and disarmament architecture. "It is vital to strategic stability and the last instrument still in effect aimed at limiting the capabilities of the United States and Russia, which still account for almost 90% of the world's nuclear weapons stockpile," the statement said. " reaffirms its attachment to ensuring that the extension of the New Start Treaty must be swiftly followed by the redefinition of an ambitious, more comprehensive arms control and strategic stability agenda," it 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.) A French superyacht skipper was 'high on cannabis' and showing off in front of nine partying Britons when he lost control and crashed the 78-ton vessel into another yacht - killing a British deckhand, 29, on the French Riviera. Crewman Jake Feldwhere, 27, was on the foredeck of an 88ft-long Minx preparing to lift the anchor when he was struck and killed off the coast of Ile Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes. The tragedy happened after the husband of the British owner of the 78ft long Vision yacht asked the French skipper if it would be possible to attempt a pass of the yacht Minx so his guests could wave goodbye to their friends. But the skipper lost control of the boat while speeding at 33 knots - more than six times the local speed limit - and ploughed into Minx. Crewman Jake Feldwhere (pictured), 27, was on the foredeck of an 88ft-long Minx preparing to lift the anchor when he was struck and killed off the coast of Ile Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes The super yacht Vision pictured moments before hitting another boat while speeding at more than six times the local limit on the French Riviera Mr Feldwhere was killed in the collision on the evening of May 25, 2019, which was the last day of the Cannes film festival. Guests on both boats had spent the afternoon and evening partying together, initially in a restaurant on shore while their crews remained on the yachts, according to a report by the UK Government's Marine Accidents Investigation Branch. The two groups who knew each other agreed to continue their party at sea and the two yachts were rafted together so they could carry on drinking after being ferried back by tenders from the island by around 6.30pm. The report said that the crew of the Gibraltar-registered Vision started preparing to return to Monaco at around 8.30pm when it was still daylight and the two groups of guests returned to their respective boats. The 78-tonne boat began planing as its speed increased while rapidly approaching the Minx with the propellers of its twin engines creating a 'rooster tail' water spray The tragedy happened after the husband of the British owner of the 78ft long Vision yacht asked the French skipper if it would be possible to attempt a high speed pass of the yacht Minx so his guests could wave goodbye to their friends The husband of the beneficial owner of the boat, described in the report as the charterer, asked his skipper if they could pass Minx as they departed 'to allow the guests to wave goodbye to their friends on board the anchored yacht'. The report said that the skipper motored 750m away before turning round and accelerating as he attempted 'a fast slalom-type manoeuvre close down the port side of the anchored Minx'. The 78-tonne boat began planing as its speed increased while rapidly approaching the Minx with the propellers of its twin engines creating a 'rooster tail' water spray. But the boat failed to respond due to its high speed when the 42-year-old French skipper tried to steer to port at the last moment and the Vision collided with Minx's bow, hitting Mr Feldware who was on his first day at sea. He is thought to have died instantly from serious head injuries. Mr Feldwhere was killed in the collision on the evening of May 25, 2019, which was the last day of the Cannes film festival. Pictured, the damaged superyacht Minx after the collision Mr Feldware (pictured) from Midhurst, West Sussex, had only arrived in the south of France four weeks before the tragedy, having just completed a basic boat training course Most of other crew and guests on the Minx were thrown to the deck by the impact and several suffered minor injuries. Those on board the UK-registered boat included the owner who is reportedly British and his eight guests. French emergency services and maritime police rushed to the crash scene and both of the damaged yachts were escorted by police to marina berths at Cannes later in the evening. The skipper of the Vision which is owned by the Gibraltar-registered company Ceratops Consultants underwent a blood test the next day and tested positive for cannabis. The report described the Vision's manoeuvre as 'unsafe' and said it had 'introduced the risk of collision'. The report said that Vision's skipper, encouraged by guests on the yacht, did a daring swallow-dive into the sea from the flybridge during the party. Pictured, Minx It said: 'On departure from the anchorage, Vision's skipper attempted a high-speed close pass of the anchored Minx. The aim of the close pass was, at the suggestion of Vision's charterer, to provide an opportunity for the guests to wave goodbye to their friends on board Minx. 'However, during the manoeuvre Vision's skipper lost control of the yacht and it collided with the anchored Minx. 'The accident happened because Vision's skipper underestimated the risks associated with the close pass manoeuvre, and prioritised his perception of the charterer's wishes over the safe navigation of the vessel. 'Blood sample tests conducted the day after the accident indicated that Vision's skipper was under the influence of cannabis, which was likely to have impaired his judgement.' Mr Feldwhere (pictured) died in the yacht collision in Monaco The report said that Vision's skipper, encouraged by guests on the yacht, did a daring swallow-dive into the sea from the flybridge during the party. It added that Gibraltar shipping regulations prohibited crew members from being on duty or operating vessels while under the influence of drugs. The use of illegal drugs was also specifically banned in the skipper's contract of employment. The skipper was found to have a Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster certificate to operate powered boats, but had not endorsed it by taking a Professional Practices and Responsibility course as required under Small Commercial Vessel rules. The report added: 'The collision occurred because Vision's skipper attempted an unsafe, close high-speed pass, then lost control immediately after turning directly towards Minx. 'Minx's crewman was on the foredeck and could do nothing to avoid being struck and was killed instantly by the force of the impact. 'As professional seafarers in a commercial environment, motor yacht skippers have a duty of care to the guests, the vessel, their crew and other water users. 'In the motor yacht industry, owners and charterers are on vacation; they will want to relax, be pampered and party, but they might also want to be entertained, perhaps even thrilled, by the experience of being at sea for their leisure. 'In this environment, motor yacht skippers and crew must stay in control of the yacht and not allow themselves to get caught up in the party atmosphere. 'However challenging it may be, the presence of powerful owners or demanding charterers must not have any influence on safe operations and the professional conduct of the crew. 'Vision's skipper had swallow-dived into the sea during the party and then driven the yacht at over six times the local speed limit when attempting to provide an opportunity for the guests to wave to their friends on departure from the anchorage. 'These were actions that illustrate that Vision's skipper had not placed the safety of the yacht and its occupants as his absolute top priority. However, the skipper's behaviour, in attempting the pass, was heavily influenced by the charterer's wish to provide a good opportunity for his guests to wave goodbye to their friends.' The Vision 60ft yacht collided into the boat which was said to be travelling at 'three times the speed limit' when it crashed at 9pm The report added: 'Cannabis is a central nervous system depressant, which can significantly impair the execution of tasks. 'The effects of cannabis use can be similar to alcohol, including reduced reaction times, lack of co-ordination and difficulty with complex or skilled tasks requiring divided attention such as driving. Mr Feldware from Midhurst, West Sussex, had only arrived in the south of France four weeks before the tragedy, having just completed a basic boat training course. He posted a smiling selfie from Monaco Port on social media after he arrived, writing: 'Only gone and made it to Monaco. Let the adventure begin!' Hours before his death, he posted more pictures on Instagram of the Cannes shoreline from Ile Sainte-Marguerite, a notorious spot for yacht parties, with the caption: 'Not a bad day to be out on the sea. #Cannes #LoveIt.' French prosecutors revealed at the time of the accident that the skipper of the Vision had been charged with involuntary manslaughter. WOOD RIVER Madison County Health Department is starting COVID-19 vaccinations this week for those eligible under Phase 1B and next week launches an appointment schedule, both online and by phone, for people who live or work in Madison County who are qualified. Vaccinations will be by appointment only. The Health Department will launch its online appointment scheduler next week for people who live or work in Madison County and are eligible for Phase 1a or Phase 1b to set up their vaccination appointment. Phase 1B includes: People who are 65 years old and older or a frontline essential worker in one of the following occupations: First Responders, Educators (congregate child care, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade,) food processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services and agriculture, manufacturing, correction workers and inmates, grocery store workers and shelters/adult day care. During Phase 1A, 11,434 total doses of vaccine were administered in Madison County as of Jan. 27, Madison County Public Health Director Toni Corona said. Weekly vaccination clinics will be held at various locations by appointment only. Locations will include: Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville and Lewis and Clark Community College Commons in Godfrey. Hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and local medical providers will also support vaccination efforts during phase 1b by offering clinics, vaccinating essential workers and supporting health department efforts. Smaller clinics will be scheduled in vulnerable areas of Madison County where access might be a barrier. With close to 10,000 educators in Madison County, the health department collaborated with the Madison County Regional Office of Education, public school superintendents, private, and parochial schools to coordinate appointment only clinics. The clinics will be held on Saturdays at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville starting in mid-February. Educators will receive information about the clinics from their districts. School nurses will assist in providing vaccines at the clinics. Vaccination information will be provided to local media, posted on www.madisonchd.org and shared across the health departments social media channels Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To find additional vaccine locations visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/vaccinsation-location. The health department will launch its appointment scheduler next week for people who live or work in Madison County and who are eligible for Phase 1a or Phase 1b to schedule their vaccination appointment. The amount of vaccine dose is limited. The number of dates and times for appointments reflect the vaccine available on hand. We will be in Phase 1b for some time, Corona said. There are more than 50,000 people in Madison County who are eligible for Phase 1b. There will be plenty of vaccine available for anyone who wants to receive it. It will just take some time to get to everyone. As more vaccine arrives, the health department will continue to add more dates and times. A special phone number will also be launched for people to call who need help scheduling an appointment. Information will be listed on the health departments website and on its social media channels when the online scheduler and phone number are operational. Individuals eligible for Phase 1b and who completed the Madison County Vaccination Registration Survey (Jan. 4 through Jan. 20) will receive a scheduling link for an appointment. If you only provided a phone number, then you will receive a call. Please be patient, Corona said. Vaccine distribution is just starting. Supplies should continue to increase to meet demand. This vaccination process will take several months to accomplish. Some two dozen homes and outbuildings suffered severe or major damage in Salinas from mud flows amid high rainfall in the burn scar of the River Fire, officials said. The hillside above the small neighborhood is susceptible to landslides after last summer's wildfire, and the soaking rain triggered the landslide. One resident was injured while escaping her home, Monterey County Regional Fire reported. Mud is covering River Road one mile north of Limekiln Road, regional fire said. There are also reports of mud in the 1500 block of River Road, according to the Gonzales Fire Department. Officials are working with property owners to assess damage at homes. "Thank you to all the local ranchers helping with heavy equipment needs," the county said. Noah Berger / Associated Press KSBW reported people were trapped in their homes and horses and other large animals are missing. Also in the region, the area around Old Stage and Hartnell roads is flooded. "Multiple vehicles have tried to get through and have gotten stuck, requiring assistance," the county said. "Avoid the area." The River Fire broke out on Aug. 16, 2020, south of Salinas near River Road, amid a rash of lightning across California and went on to burn 48,088 acres. The National Weather Service warned of mudslides and debris flows in the burn scar area ahead of a moisture-rich atmospheric river that swept into the region Tuesday night and is expected to dump rain over Monterey County through Thursday. The River Fire burn scar is under a flash flood warning through 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Monterey County Regional Fire wasn't immediately available for comment. This is a developing story. The FBI is continuing with its efforts to build a conspiracy case in the wake of the Capitol riots. Authorities have arrested more than 150 people for their alleged role in the siege according law enforcement. But the investigation is about to shift gears and the next steps will see federal officials attempt to prosecute those who allegedly took part, as more information is gathered on the suspects and investigators attempt to determine whether a larger conspiracy case might be able to be pursued. The FBI has hundreds of agents on the case looking at the Capitol attack. Pictured, Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, of Arizona, is one of those charged Steven D'Antuono, head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington field office said prosecutors already have charged more than 150 people with federal crimes Acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., Michael Sherwin, said law enforcement will work out whether the Capitol riot was coordinated before January 6 and whether certain groups or individuals were also involved in planning. 'We are going to reach a plateau in the very near future and it will involve looking at the more complicated conspiracy cases,' Sherwin said. Sherwin said investigators will look at 'possible coordination among militia groups from different states that had a plan to travel here before the sixth to engage in criminal conduct.' So far prosecutors have charged several alleged riot participants with conspiracy. Violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump, including Kevin Seefried, center, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol Authorities have arrested more than 150 people for their alleged role in the siege according law enforcement but there are still more to come In three cases, they believe suspects acted in an 'organized and practiced fashion' with the suggestion of possibly gassing lawmakers and allegedly suggested potentially gassing lawmakers in the Capitol, according to The Wall Street Journal. Steven D'Antuono, FBI Assistant Director in Charge had revealed the FBI has received more than 200,000 digital media tips from the public. Though a combination of tips and research, 400 suspects allegedly involved with the riots have been identified and about 150 arrested. In one video, more than a dozen men wearing assault force-type garb push up the Capitol steps in a line, cutting through the dense crowd toward the building's doors. In another, a woman in a pink hat gives directions via megaphone to others inside the building, telling them where to go. Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6. Authorities are sifting through more than 200,000 digital tips gathered from social media, the public, confidential informants, news and surveillance footage And several men, including two who made it inside the Senate chamber, carried zip ties that could be used to restrain hostages. Some officials said many of the pro-Trump protestors who broke into the offices of top legislators like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to know how to navigate the maze-like Capitol. Groups of Trump supporters had toured the Capitol for 'reconnaissance' a day before the attack. But analysts say much of the activity on January 6 was chaotic, disorganized and more typical of a spontaneous riot. The FBI is looking at what was happening behind the scenes and whether there was any organization involved to suggest conspiracy Matthew Feldman of the Center for Analysis of the Radical Right in Britain said that's typical of political violence. At the moment, with limited evidence on communications and other links, he said, 'It is impossible to establish causality.' 'Those people who made up the herd did not appear organized, but within them clearly there were people who were organized.' At the same time, he noted that the crowd included members of the violent Three Percenters, Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, some who traveled to Washington from as far as Hawaii. Their presence, the discovery of pipe bombs planted nearby, and the apparent threats to capture members of Congress or the vice president, were signs of 'terror' plotting, he said. 'You had a riotous mob... and within that you had domestic terrorists' who were 'clearly planning something.' Lawyers defending the suspects are using a common defense saying their clients took their instructions from former President Trump, who called on his supporters to flock to D.C. to protest Congress's certification of President Biden's election win. The Spanish Health Ministry will ask regional governments to closely monitor the Covid-19 vaccine administration process, to avoid new cases of people getting immunized ahead of time thanks to their influence or contacts. Spain is struggling to contain a surge in coronavirus cases that is stretching hospitals to the breaking point in several parts of the country. On Thursday afternoon, Portugal said it will close its border with Spain on Friday for at least two weeks in a bid to curb its own soaring caseload. A draft ministry document first reported by the daily El Mundo and which EL PAIS has seen asks regional authorities for preventive and corrective measures to guarantee that shots are administered according to the governments list of priority groups. What these measures should be is not specified. If the government of Spain thinks that things are that bad, then let it act Madrid regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso The first stage of the vaccination campaign seeks to immunize care home residents and employees, healthcare workers and people with need for daily assistance who are not living in care facilities. But in recent days there have been reports about hundreds of ineligible individuals who managed to get vaccinated ahead of time including politicians, a bishop and an army general. This is not just about responsibility, its also about solidarity with the most vulnerable segment of the population and with those who are most exposed to the virus, reads the document, to be presented at a meeting of central and regional health officials on Thursday afternoon. The gathering will be presided by Spains new health minister, Carolina Darias, who this week replaced Salvador Illa. The latter stepped down in order to run as a candidate in upcoming regional elections in Catalonia. Vaccine delays The meeting will also address recent delays in vaccine shipments that are complicating the immunization campaign. A new survey by the Center for Sociological Studies (CIS) shows a sharp rise in Spaniards willingness to get the vaccine: 72.5% are now ready to do so, compared with 40.5% in December. In another recent survey by the Science Ministry, 58.1% of respondents said they were completely certain that they would get vaccinated tomorrow if they had the chance. Health officials are also expected to discuss the EUs recommendation to isolate areas with a 14-day coronavirus incidence of 500 per 100,000 inhabitants. Most of the Spanish territory is posting numbers above that threshold, with the Valencia region currently heading the list at more than 1,400 cases per 100,000. In Madrid, where the 14-day incidence is 989 per 100,000, regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the Popular Party (PP) insisted that she is not prepared to adopt more restrictions against the virus despite the negative data. If the government of Spain thinks that things are that bad, then let it act, she said, in a challenge to the central executive led by Pedro Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE). Under the current state of alarm approved by parliament in October, it is up to regional governments to handle the situation through their own policies. Last years three-month home lockdown, by contrast, was decreed by the central government. With reporting by Pablo Linde, Isabel Valdes and Juan Jose Mateo. English version by Susana Urra. EdgeProp The bungalow at 8 Treasure Island has a 27m frontage and a driveway big enough for seven cars (Photo: PropNex)SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - When a bungalow at 8 Treasure Island in Sentosa Cove was offered for mortgagee sale at an auction in March this year, Eric Cheng, founder and CEO of Sevens Group, a niche land- ed property developer, was riveted. (See: First mortgagee sale of bungalow on Treasure Island priced from $12.9 mil)Cheng went down to view the property: It was a bungalow sitting on a 99-year leasehold site of 8,379 sq ft, with a built-up area of 9,362 sq ft. The 212-storey detached house comes with five en suite bedrooms, a basement and a 27m frontage with a driveway for seven cars. The house has a 22m frontage along the waterway and comes with a private jetty.Sevens Group has been shopping for a bungalow at Sentosa Cove since early last year, says Cheng. Prices of bungalows at Sentosa Cove had peaked at $3,214 psf in October 2012, when a sea-facing property sitting on a land area of 10,111 sq ft along Ocean Drive, changed hands for $32.5 million. We feel that prices at Sentosa Cove are at rock-bottom today and definitely worth a closer look, he adds.If Sevens Group wants to redevelop or undertake extensive additions and alterations to a bungalow at Sentosa Cove, including changing the facade, Chengs options are limited to the bungalows developed by individual owners on individual plots sold by Sentosa Development Corp. These can be found along Ocean Drive, Cove Way and Lakeshore View on the North Cove; as well as those on the South Cove such as Cove Drive, Cove Way and Cove Grove.Among the five islands at Sentosa Cove, four were purchased by property developers: Coral Island with 21 villas and the 29-villa Paradise Island were developed by Ho Bee Land; Sandy Island, with 18 villas, was developed by YTL Land; and Pearl Island, with 19 villas by Chinese developer Ximeng Land. The facade of the bungalows has to be retained in order to conform with the other bungalows on the same island, says Cheng. That means he cannot redevelop the property or undertake facade changes to the properties on these islands.This leaves just one island, namely Treasure Island, which was purchased by a group of tycoons back in 2007, and has been developed into 19 villas. Although the 19 villas have a similar facade as they were designed by CPG Corp and completed in 2009, the individual bungalows can be redeveloped and the facade can be changed, according to Cheng.He had considered several other bungalow plots including one at Cove Drive, with a view of Tanjong Golf Course. The deal fell through, how ever, due to a mismatch in price ex- pectations between buyer and seller.The bungalow on Treasure Island has a 22m frontage with a private berth along the waterway (Photo: PropNex)8 Treasure Island: Designing a trophy homeThe bungalow at 8 Treasure Island was attractive in Chengs eyes as it was a mortgagee sale, and marked the first mortgagee sale on the island. There have been several other mortgagee sales elsewhere, such as on Coral Island, Paradise Island and Sandy Island.The banks guide price for the property on Treasure Island was $12.88 million ($1,537 psf). Seeing that it was a distressed sale, Cheng initially offered $11 million, which was turned down by the bank. As the property was hotly contested, all the agents who were marketing the property had to submit offers from interested parties by mid- April.Cheng approached Bruce Lye, managing partner of SRI, to help him broker the deal. Chengs business partner and a director of Sevens Group submitted a bid of $12,900,128 ($1,540 psf) which was $20,128 above the guide price and the highest offer received. That led them to secure the property. While the option was recently exercised, the caveat has yet to be lodged.As the new owner, Cheng already has plans to invest another $2.5 million to $2.8 million in extensive addition and alteration works over the next 12 months. He plans to change the facade, reconfigure the interiors and turn the spacious basement into a karaoke lounge and entertainmentspace. He intends to select designer furnishings from luxury brands such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Armani. I want to design a stunning, trophy home, says Cheng.When the extensive refurbishments are completed, Cheng is targeting to launch it at a price above $2,500 psf, which would translate to upwards of $21 million.Sevens Group intends to invest $2.5 million to $2.8 million in extensive additions and alterations to turn the property into a "trophy home" (Photo: PropNex)Returning to peak prices?In the heydays of Sentosa Cove, between 2010 and 2013, apart from the bungalow at Ocean Drive that crossed $3,000 psf in 2012, three other bungalows had changed hands at prices in the high-$2,900 psf range: a sea-front property at Ocean Drive that fetched $28.2 million ($2,989 psf) in October 2010; another at Lake hore View fronting the Serapong Golf Course, the lake and the sea beyond, changed hands for $24.8 million ($2,952 psf) in May 2013; and this was followed by another property along Lakeshore View that went for $26 million ($2,922 psf). In September 2016, another seafront property along Ocean Drive fetched $28 million ($2,923 psf), based on caveats lodged.The two biggest bungalow deals in Sentosa Cove in terms of absolute prices were both transacted this year: The Copper House, which sits on one of the biggest plots of 18,053 sq ft (an amalgamation of two adjacent plots), fetched $43,666,000 ($2,419 psf), according to a caveat lodged in February; while another bungalow along Ocean Drive, which is also the result of two adjacent sites combined, with a land area of 19,551 sq ft, went for $39,333,999 ($2,012 psf) in April.More recently, a bungalow with an auspicious address at Coral Island changed hands for $10.3 million ($1,371 psf), according to a caveat lodged on May 5. The property was built in 2007, and sits on a 99-year leasehold site of 7,511 sq ft. The previous owner paid $5.488 million ($731 psf) for the property when Coral Island was first launched in December 2005.Cheng feels it is an opportune time for Sevens Group to build our presence in Sentosa Cove and to carve a niche in the prime districts of Singapore. Some Singaporeans are concerned about the 99- year lease at Sentosa Cove, says Cheng. But investing in property is not for those looking for a short- term gain. As a developer, we are looking at the mid- to long term, and we are focusing on the top 1% of the market.Foreigners can purchase bungalows at Sentosa Cove, unlike elsewhere on the mainland. However, they will still require approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit of Singapore Land Authority. There are only around 300 such bungalows in Sentosa Cove. Its very limited in number, adds Cheng.Check out the latest listings near Treasure Island, Sentosa Cove, Ocean Drive, Cove Way, Lakeshore View, Cove Drive, Cove GroveSee Also: Singapore Property for Sale & Rent, Latest Property News, Advanced Analytics Tools New Launch Condo & Landed Property in Singapore (COMPLETE list & updates) Copper House flipped for $43.67 mil after two years [UPDATE] Ho Bee launches 16 remaining units at Turquoise at prices from $1,290 psf First mortgagee sale of bungalow on Treasure Island priced from $12.9 mil En Bloc Calculator, Find Out If Your Condo Will Be The Next en-bloc HDB Resale Flats Up For Sale, Affordable Units Available Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF) has distributed school supplies and other items to over 100 street-connected children as part of this years Back to School event, dubbed - Take me back to school. The supplies, which are aimed at equipping the children, especially SCEF scholarship recipients to go back to school was donated by Adenia Partners, Send a Smile e.V and Rev. Father Andrew Campbell of Christ The King Parish Accra. The Executive Director of SCEF, Mr. Paul Semeh expressed the organizations continuous commitment to empowering children in the street situation through education. He noted that this years event is particularly significant due to the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of parents and urged the children to put the items to good use and study hard to create a better future for themselves and their families. We can all see the impact of COVID-19 on everyones income, especially the parents. It is our hope that these supplies will help reduce their burden. The only thing I ask of you as beneficiaries is to learn hard and become better people in future. Said, Paul. Mr. Semeh further noted that the mission to leave no one behind in the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda will not be realized if children in street situations are not supported to access quality education. He, therefore, called on other individuals and organizations to partner with SCEF to provide access to quality education for the vulnerable children in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4. The beneficiaries thanked SCEF and their partners for the kind gesture and promised to study hard in school. I am thankful to SCEF, Adennia Partners, Send a Smile e.V and Rev. Father Andrew Campbell for giving me these supplies. I am motivated to study hard because these items are exactly what I need to study in school. God bless them for helping me, says Solomon Narh, a beneficiary. Take Me Back To School is an annual event organized by SCEF to provide opportunities for individuals, groups and corporate organizations to support vulnerable children with school supplies, especially SCEF scholarship recipients. This years event saw the distribution of school bags, books, mathematical sets, pens, pencils, rice and other personal items to the children. 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 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. Earlier this week, police had to intervene at the Arima to Port of Spain taxi stand on Henry Street, as some drivers were reported to be flouting the regulations. MADISON, N.Y. Sgt. Lisa Pearsall has been away from her family on National Guard duty for the past three weeks but returned Monday to surprise her son at Madison Central School. Second-grader Noah Pearsall was shocked to see his mother outside of his classroom, and his first instinct was to jump into her arms. Madison Central School posted a video of the happy reunion on Facebook. Lisa was in Washington D.C. providing additional security leading up to and during President Bidens inauguration. HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WTVA) - A shooting injured one person Wednesday morning near Hattiesburg High School, WDAM-TV reported. A spokesman for the Hattiesburg Police Department said officers responded to a report of someone having a weapon near the school before 8:00. Officers found the individual with the weapon and tried to approach him. At that time, shots were fired and the male individual was struck. He was later transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries, the TV station reported. A Hattiesburg police officer was involved in shooting the male individual, according to Maj. Johnny Poulos of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI). The names of the officer and the male subject have not been released at this time. MBI is overseeing the investigation. We accept obituaries only from the funeral home in charge. For information on submitting an obituary, please contact The Herald-Dispatch by phone at 304-526-2793 or email at obits@herald-dispatch.com. Obituaries for The Herald-Dispatch must be received by 2 p.m. to appear in the next days publication. Obituaries for the Wayne County News, which publishes on Wednesday, must be received by noon Tuesday. BOOK OF THE WEEK Francis Bacon: Revelations by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan (William Collins 30, 880pp) London, 1949. A sumptuous white-tie ball. Princess Margaret was among the glittering guests. Giddy with champagne in the small hours, the princess grabbed the microphone from Noel Coward. The partygoers stopped dancing. The princess started singing, loudly, warbling off-key. The guests clapped and clamoured for an encore. Just as she was settling in to Let's Do It, a 'ghastly hiss, a jeer, a prolonged and thunderous booing' welled up from the belly of the crowd. The princess went red and rushed out of the room, followed by her flustered lady-in-waiting. Who was it who had dared to boo Princess Margaret off the stage? Francis Bacon: Revelations by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan tells the story of the British artist's colourful life and loves. Pictured: Francis Bacon in 1969 It was the 40-year-old Francis Bacon, or 'that dreadful man, Francis Bacon', as some guests muttered: that 'drunken artist', standing next to his similarly appalling friend Lucian Freud. 'He calls himself a painter,' remarked one old gent, 'but he does the most frightful paintings. I don't understand how a creature like him was allowed to get in here. It's really quite disgraceful.' A small handful of younger guests, according to Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan, the American authors of this magnificent new biography of Bacon, found his boos thrilling: 'A rush of night air into England's stuffy room.' That's what Bacon was. From the moment he first put paint to canvas, the untrained (and almost uneducated he only went to school for two years of his teens) Bacon had an innate urge to mount an assault on convention. Pulitzer Prize winners Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan have written about his life. Pictured: Francis Bacon in his studio, circa 1960 Through his terrifying triptychs of crucified flesh, his screaming Popes, his grimacing businessmen in cages and so on, his own scream 'emerged from deep within the physical body as a welling up of rage and despair over the fraudulent constructs of civilised life'. Though his paintings were shockingly raw and violent one New York art critic remarked that there was so much flayed human flesh that he should have worn a butcher's apron rather than black tie to the private view Bacon comes across as a kind, shy man, keen on rough sex but very fond of his male lovers and devoted to his nanny, Nanny Lightfoot, who lived with the family in Ireland during his childhood and continued to look after Francis in London until her death in 1950, when he was 41 and she was 80. Nanny Lightfoot almost deserves a biography in her own right. A bespectacled Cornish lady with pinned-up braids, she came to the rescue of wheezy, nervous little Francis whose tyrannical, homophobic Anglo-Irish father, Captain Bacon, thought him pathetic. The new book tells how Bacon had a desire to tackle convention with his work. Bacon is pictured left with photographer John Deakin Nanny would later become Bacon's partner in crime, acting as doorman/bouncer at his illegal London gambling evenings, and the two of them could sometimes be found poring over small ads together, both in search of 'a little something on the side'. Oddly enough, Francis fancied his father. He was always sexually attracted to opposites: older posh men, or cockney criminals. He had his first experiences with the grooms in his father's stables and for ever after found the smell of horse dung arousing. He was, say these authors, 'catnip to the closeted'. An upright cousin of his father's, Cecil Harcourt-Smith, who was a closet 'ultra-sadistic sadist', took Bacon on a dissolute trip to Berlin in 1927, where his eyes were opened to the intoxicating contrast between opulence and squalor. Bacon based a number of famous paintings on photographs he commissioned from Deakin (the pair are pictured together) From then on, he sought out the low dives of Soho, putting rouge on his cheeks for long nights of drinking and sex. His first two long-term lovers were rich, older men, both called Eric, who supported him financially. It's fascinating to watch his agonisingly slow rise to celebrity. He started off not as a painter but as a modernist furniture designer. His first private art show was a disaster, his paintings described as 'exotic monstrosities'. He destroyed all the unsold ones. With his choirboy looks, he became known as 'the baby-faced canvas-slasher', as he had already destroyed 700 of his own works by 1939. When war broke out in 1939, the asthmatic Bacon failed his 'physical' with the military board. Instead, he holed up in a cottage in Hampshire (with Nanny) and painting became an obsession. He was inspired by Nietzsche's view that 'it's all meaningless so you might as well be extraordinary'. Francis is pictured in Paris in 1987. This new book reveals all the detail of his career and personal life In 1945, his deeply disturbing Three Studies For Figures At The Base Of A Crucifixion shocked the contemporary art scene and made everything before it seem bland and safe by comparison. Graham Sutherland spotted Bacon's genius and 'recommended him to the tastemakers'. Bacon carried on being short of money for years, writing begging letters to his rich friends and gambling away anything he did earn. Like his friend Lucian Freud, he got a kick out of losing all his money: it 'swept away the fog of hope'. He played the tables at Monte Carlo, accompanied by Nanny, and gambled in the low dives of Tangiers, where he frequently visited the third love of his life, an ex-fighter pilot called Peter Lacy, with whom the sex was at its roughest; Bacon would emerge bruised and resort to amphetamines after 'a rough night'. It wasn't until he was taken on in the 1950s by Marlborough Fine Art, the prestigious art gallery in Old Bond Street founded by two Austrian-Jewish emigres Frank Lloyd and Harry Fischer, who knew how to nurture, hype and market him that Bacon became world-famous and mobs crowded outside museums on his opening nights. On one of those events, in Paris in 1971, his Cockney lover George Dyer died on the loo in their Paris hotel, having taken an overdose of drugs. Earlier in the day, Bacon had found him in their hotel room with an Arab boy whose feet stank. Francis Bacon: Revelations by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan ( William Collins 30, 880pp) Bacon quietly asked the hotel manager if he could 'postpone' George's death to the next day, as the red carpet evening was about to begin at the Grand Palais, with a Guard of Honour. The hotel manager obliged. Bacon managed to get through the evening in a heartbroken state. George, like so many of Bacon's lovers, comes across as rather sweet: an 'inept thief' with a ginger crew-cut and a stammer, he lost his self-esteem when he gave up his profession as a burglar. He even took elocution lessons to get rid of his Cockney accent. Their love affair started (rumour had it) when George had tried burgling Bacon, but Bacon heard the noise and caught him red-handed. He said they must have sex there and then, otherwise he would report him to the police. They became a devoted couple, and Bacon painted this short, muscly man 20 times all through the 1960s. But George drank, started ripping up Bacon's art and once set fire to the studio. 'Light-filled people sometimes best capture darkness,' the authors of this wide-ranging and thoughtful book surmise. In spite of all the nocturnal roughness, Bacon was light-filled in his daily life, relishing the company of old friends to shore up the 'deep well of loneliness' inside him that had been there since his childhood. And he could depict love. Lucian Freud kept one of his paintings, Two Figures, above his bed for more than half a century, and was so possessive of it that he refused to lend it for a retrospective. That work may be, the authors write, 'one of the most sensitive, even tender, depictions of the animal in man to be found in 20th-century art.' Deep into his 70s, Bacon still dressed like a dandy. Right up to the time of his death in Madrid, aged 82, he was being rejuvenated by a much younger Spanish boyfriend. A painter of darkness, he 'remained a desperate optimist'. In his life as well as his art, his urge, as he himself said, was always 'to say the truth even if it hurts'. Please disable your ad blocker, and refresh the page to view this content. If self-driving cars are to become common on our roads, governments need to actively partner with private companies to develop the digital infrastructure to support them. That is the finding of a major Queensland government-commissioned report into the feasibility of driverless cars on our roads, the latest step in a long-term investigation into the viability of the technology. The Renault ZOE electric car used for the joint QUT-Queensland Government autonomous car trial. The report was put together by researchers from the Queensland University of Technology, led by Professor Michael Milford, and reviewed the existing research on the topic in different countries around the world. Professor Milford said it confirmed their belief that extremely detailed high-definition maps are needed to make self-driving cars safe and functional in the short to medium term. In his last days of office, President Trump gave pardon to Death Row Records Founder and others. His clemency acts were given to others that would have stayed in prison for offenses that may not have been deserved. One of then-president Trump's plan was to grant pardons to 70 individuals in prison. Many benefited from his last act in office, but some serious crimes weren't able to receive it. A chance at a second life One of the recipients of pardons that the president gave is an American hip-hop label co-founder and ex-drug kingpin jailed for 30 years. Had it not been for the compassion, he would still be in prison, reported NTD. According to Michael "Harry O" Harris, who gave an interview from the time his presidential pardon became official, the presidential pardon's effect is to convert the sentence of Harris, whose crime like drug trafficking and attempted first-degree murder was judged guilty. His original sentence is supposed to be 25 years to life sentence when the jury convicted him. The part of the attempted first-degree murder was the worse part of the charges in 1988, and he paid with jail time for it. Being one of those getting clemency is a chance to get out and have a second go at life. Denied by Obama, Trump set him free In a Daily Mail report, the Death Row Records founder thanked Donald Trump, his children, and his son-in-law. According to the ex-record producer, the pardon changed his life and made special mention of Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner (White House adviser). Also read: Lisa Montgomery on Her Final Moments Before Execution Until She Closed Her Eyes He did not know why he received the pardons from many possible recipients. All that matters, he got it and greatly valued it. Before Trump's compassion, he tried to ask it from former President Barack Obama, which he never got until now. Harris said to the network that his request never made it to Obama with too many loopholes in the bureaucratic machine. There was no chance it would not have been granted nor reached the 44th president's pen. Snoop Dogg lobbied for the convicted record producer One of those who was able to help Harris become a free man after thirty years in jail is the acclaimed rapper Snoop Dogg. He lobbied for the release of his friend over the years until 2021. Snoop used to be a part of the infamous record label. When his friend was one of the recipients of presidential pardons, Dogg gave thanks to those responsible for the decision. Getting one of the pardons for Harris was a longshot that meant he got fortunate. Snoop Dogg's statement to the New York Post said that the Trump administration's work on the pardons and clemencies was great to work. He gave thanks and loved what they have done. The Death Row Records founder said he was awestruck when he was a free man. He thanked President Trump from the bottom of his heart for another chance to make it right. Related article: Federal Execution of Dustin John Higgs Delayed by Judge Because of COVID-19 @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bargain hunters can buy one of Britain's cheapest flats for just 7,500 - but potential buyers should be ready for a spot of DIY. The flat in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde is currently one of the least costly properties listed for sale at the moment - costing around 97% less than the average property price in the UK. Four Maxwell Street is a one-bedroom property that is 'in need of modernisation' - but could fetch a profit if resold after a few improvements. The property, being auctioned for 7,500 by Sold.co.uk, is estimated to have a rentable income of between 400-600 each month once it has been spruced up. The flat in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde is currently one of the least costly properties listed for sale at the moment - costing around 97% less than the average property price in the UK Four Maxwell Street is a one bedroom property that is 'in need of modernisation' - but could fetch a profit if resold after a few improvements The property, being auctioned for 7,500 by Sold.co.uk, is estimated to have a rentable income of between 400-600 each month once it has been spruced up The flat in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde is currently one of the cheapest flat listed for sale at the moment - and around 97% cheaper than the average property price in the UK Britons looking to bag themselves a bargain will cost 237,933 less than the average British house price - currently standing at 245,433, according to the Land Registry. If the price increases at the auction or remains the same, the buyer will pay a premium of 2,400 plus 2,500 in administration charges. But they may be entitled to a disbursement package that may be payable to the purchaser on completion. Images of the property valued at 7,500 shows it is in not ideal condition and in need of renovation. A bath is shown pushed upwards in a bathroom with no sinks and a wall that entirely needs replaced. A bath is shown pushed upwards in a bathroom with no sinks and a wall that entirely needs replaced The front door has three wooden blocks attached which are likely to have been put in place during a quick repair job The auction is due to go live this week, with a starting price of 7,500 but lists their guide price at 8,000 Pipes and plumbing are also shown sticking out. Dirt can be seen embedded in the carpets that need replaced and the walls need a new lick of paint. The kitchen appears fairly refurbished compared to the rest of the property. The bargain properties are being sold off so cheaply to make way for a current regeneration project in the area by the council. However, the front door has three wooden blocks attached which are likely to have been put in place during a quick repair job. The auction is due to go live this week, with a starting price of 7,500 but lists their guide price at 8,000. There is also another property in the area on the market with a starting price of just 3,000 - however it is expected to reach as much as 24,000. The bargain properties are being sold off so cheaply to make way for a current regeneration project in the area by the council. In 2019, a couple bought the cheapest property in Britain in Liverpool for just 1 on the Webster Triangle in Wavertree, Liverpool. Earlier this week it was recently reported a 10,000 two bedroom house in Bonnybridge, Falkirk will be going under the hammer tomorrow. Two soldiers in the Queens elite Coldstream Guards regiment have been arrested on suspicion of stealing ammunition. Met officers swooped yesterday on two addresses. The operation was supported by the Royal Military Police and Ministry of Defence Police. Last night Scotland Yard confirmed that a quantity of ammunition had been recovered during one of the raids on a residential address. The ammunition is said to be 9mm calibre and is used in pistols. Two serving members of the British Army have been arrested. They not yet been named but were detained by members of the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad. Pictured: Stock photo A police spokesman said: A man in his 30s and a man in his 40s were arrested on suspicion of possession of ammunition and conspiracy to steal. 'They have been taken to a nearby police station where they remain in custody. An MoD spokesman said: We can confirm that two soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. We are assisting the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. Last night troops were warned not to speculate about the case. The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army. The Armys website describes it as well-known for its high-profile ceremonial duties but its an infantry unit first and foremost, with a hard-won reputation as an elite fighting force. Coldstream Guards have a ceremonial role as protectors of Royal palaces, including Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. The Coldstream Guards after the changing of the guard outside Windsor Castle in Berkshire It is among the units authorised to wear the bearskin cap. It has been active since 1650. The regiments name comes from troops spending three months in the town of Coldstream in the Scottish borders in 1659. Thirteen members of the Coldstream Guards have been awarded the Victoria Cross, and one the George Cross. Nicknamed the Lilywhites, the regiments motto is Nulli Secundus second to none. Former members include Day Of The Jackal actor Edward Fox and Tory MP Richard Drax. Notable events involving the regiment include the capture of New York in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. Three battalions were deployed to France during the First World War. Five battalions fought in Europe and North Africa during the Second World War. Americas new National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in his first call with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Wednesday reaffirmed the commitment of President Joe Biden to a strong and enduring bilateral strategic partnership based on shared commitment to democracy, the White House said. Sullivan reaffirmed President Bidens commitment to a strong and enduring US-India strategic partnership based on our shared commitment to democracy," said the National Security Council of the White House in a statement. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal This was the first call between the two national security advisers. They discussed the importance of continuing close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, promoting regional security, and renewing efforts to collaborate on global challenges, including COVID-19 and climate change," said the statement. Sullivan, a close confidant of Biden, has so far spoken with his counterparts from eight countries. They are Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Adviser to the French President; Jan Hecker, Foreign and Security Policy Adviser to the German Chancellor; Dominic Raab, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs; Shigeru Kitamura, Secretary General of Japans National Security Secretariat. He has also spoken with National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib of Afghanistan; National Security Adviser Suh Hoon of the Republic of Korea and National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat of Israel. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. This fixer-upper in the woods shows what can happen when a stone mason builds a house with a vision of using the energy of the earth. But doesn't quite finish the job. The current owner built the house on Miner Street in Warsaw, NY, from concrete and glass in 1980, and notched it into the hillside. Its listed for only $99,900 and needs some serious work to bring it up to date. There are a variety of ways a buyer could configure the earth-sheltered structure. One of the early blueprints that he had was that this would be built as an apartment complex, explains the listing agent, Rodney Heale. Instead, the owner wound up taking up residence in part of the structure and leaving the rest unfinished. Other projects competed for his attention, and he was never able to devote his full attention to the place. Being a mason by trade, he'd go out and have to finish everybody else's projects, and then this was kind of his baby to do on his own, Heale says. As with other contractors, not all of them finish some of the projects that they're doing for themselves. He'd be the classic example of that. Exterior Jason Beck Exterior Jason Beck Kitchen Jason Beck Living space Jason Beck Living space Jason Beck Finished space Jason Beck Bedroom Jason Beck Bathroom Jason Beck Unfinished space Jason Beck Unfinished space Jason Beck Unfinished space Jason Beck Unfinished space Jason Beck One side of the structure is a wall of windows facing out to nature, but the back side backs right into the earth, which forms part of the roof. Heale told us the rubber membrane between the concrete and the earth needs some repairs. Even so, the earth does help the structure to maintain a consistent temperature. ___ Watch: Spectacular Glass Home in Dallas Is Waiting for Its First Inhabitants ___ On a day like today, at the right time in the afternoon, you could open up those inside windows and just by letting in some of that natural heat that has been captured, the temperature would go up anywhere from 2 to 5 degrees, he says. As far as finished spaces go, the home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms on 2,336 square feet. Everything inside could use a refresh. The rustic kitchen has custom brickwork and several living spaces outfitted with radiant heat, baseboard heat, and other technology. Another 600 square feet of unfinished space is ready for new owners to customize to their liking. Finished space Jason Beck It's not clear what the next steps should be, but the concrete home in the hillside is a livable space. Everybody's subject to their own opinion as to what's move-in ready, Heale says. There's some that would look at it and say, We can live in this part here, and we'll slowly change some of the things around, and then eventually finish [it] off. Then there's other people that come in and say, Oh my, I would have to spend a ton of money on this property in order to make it the way that I want it to be. Exterior Jason Beck The house sits on almost 1.5 acres of wooded land in the village of Warsaw, NY, about an hour southeast of Buffalo. Its on a dead-end road, so there are only a couple other properties there, Heale says. There are really no other building opportunities there, so this is very secluded, but youre inside the village, so you still get public water and sewer. He says the house is quiet because of the concrete and earth, yet bright, thanks to all the windows. Because of the issue with the roof and the repairs required, obtaining traditional financing has been difficult. Heale and the owner are in search of a cash buyer. It will also take a buyer with a vision and talent. In the description, I put unique as one of the first words, unique contemporary, he says. Somebody needs to come in and finish it off. Exterior Jason Beck Unfinished space Jason Beck Unfinished space Jason Beck The post Built Into a Hillside, This Concrete and Glass Fixer-Upper Is on Sale for Only $99,900 appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Impeachment Petitioner Seeks to Withdraw By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - A lawmaker says one of the four Kentuckians to sign a petition pushing for the governors impeachment has signaled he wants to withdraw from the proceeding.Rep. Jason Nemes said Wednesday the legislative committee reviewing the petition received a letter from the petitioners counsel indicating he wants to end his participation. The other three petitioners are proceeding with their effort.Nemes says the committee will seek additional information from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.Nemes says he hopes the information is returned quickly so the panel can resolve this matter as expeditiously as possible. Beshear says there are zero grounds for his removal from office. New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI/BusinessWire India): HMD Healthcare Ltd. (Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices), one of the leading manufacturers of healthcare and medical devices in the world, is celebrating the one-year of the successful launch of DispoCann Alcohol Swabs. Pre-moistened and ready-to-use, these are high-quality, antiseptic swabs that are used to prepare the skin prior to injection. Saturated with 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol, these swabs are used to quickly and efficiently disinfect an area before medicine or vaccine is injected, or blood drawn, minimizing the chances of infection. A disposable product, DispoCann alcohol swabs can also be used to provide first aid in cases of minor cuts and burns in order to disinfect the skin. Cotton gauze and cotton balls containing water may have microbial contamination. An experiment was conducted, wherein, seven in-use cotton gauze samples and three cotton balls that were soaked in sterile distilled water and kept for 7 days. All the samples were found to be contaminated with colony-forming units/ml of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is the reason why the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the usage of a clean and single-use swab. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends adhering to the recommended product-specific contact time. The use of cotton balls stored wet in a multi-use container has been strictly prohibited by the World Health Organization (WHO). Abscess at injection site from sterile single use AD Syringes were traced back to the usage of Cotton Balls soaked in Disinfected bottles. Considering the guidelines shared by WHO, HMD Healthcare Ltd., launched its range of alcohol swabs for the safety of the patients. Application of a single-use swab containing 60-70 per cent isopropyl alcohol - a colourless, flammable, organic chemical compound liquid - is a WHO (World Health Organization) best practice for skin disinfection before the administration of an injection. Designed to reduce skin bacterial counts by over 80 per cent, alcohol swabs replace the old cotton method used for skin preparation. Unsafe skin preparations before giving an injection can be harmful to the patients. "We are delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of the rollout of DispoCann alcohol swabs", said Mr. Rajiv Nath, Managing Director, HMD Ltd. "Alcohol swabs have been proven to be a reliable disinfectant, efficiently eliminating bacteria & virus. The pre-moistened antiseptic swabs are in line with the HMD commitment to ensure optimum safety in medical practices. The product also marks the expansion of the number of low-cost, high-quality tools made by us to help reduce the risk of infection in patients." Dispocann alcohol swabs are an addition to HMD Ltd.'s portfolio of premium quality medical products that include Single Use Syringes, I.V. Cannulas, Auto Disable Syringes, scalpels, Single Use Needles, and Blood Collection Systems, among others. Products made by the healthcare device giant are known to be manufactured with a high degree of precision, ensuring the highest quality in mass production. 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.) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Two women were killed and a man was injured in a shooting Wednesday night at a Northeast Albuquerque apartment complex. Tanner Tixier, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said police have nobody in custody and no details to release on the shooter. He said officers responded around 10 p.m. to a shooting with multiple victims at the Jefferson Crossing Apartments, near Montgomery and Washington NE. Tixier said two women died at the scene and a man was taken to the hospital in stable condition. This is a very large and active scene, he said. We have numerous officers and detectives on site. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Tixier gave no other details. The incident marks the eighth person killed and second double homicide over the past week across the city. So far, 15 people have been slain this month, five of them women. Paks blueprint for ties with US based on economy not security: Report Newly wed 22-year-old bride gangraped in front of husband by four robbers in Pakistan Daniel Pearls killer ordered to be released by Pak SC as family loses appeal International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Karachi, Jan 28: The Pakistan Supreme Court today ordered the release of dreaded terrorist Omar Sheikh who abducted and brutally murdered US journalist, Daniel Pearl. The appeal filed by Pearl's family was rejected by the Pakistan SC. In a surprise move, a two-judge bench of the Sindh High Court in December directed security agencies not to keep Sheikh and other accused under "any sort of detention" and declared all notifications of the Sindh government related to their detention "null and void". The court observed that the four men's detention was "illegal". Pak court orders release of terrorist Omar Sheikh in Daniel Pearl case According to the Jail Superintendent, the four men could not be released from Karachi's Central Jail on Thursday as the prison authorities received orders from the Sindh High Court for their release very late. According to the legal counsel for the four men, they would now be released on Saturday as Friday is a public holiday in the country. The United States had expressed "deep concern" over Sindh High Court's order to release Sheikh and his aides and said it will continue to monitor any developments in the case. "We are deeply concerned by the reports of the December 24 ruling of Sindh High Court to release multiple terrorists responsible for the murder of Daniel Pearl. We have been assured that the accused have not been released at this time," the US State Department said in a tweet. It said that the US will continue to monitor any developments in the case and will continue to support the Pearl family "through this extremely difficult process" while honouring the legacy of Pearl as a "courageous journalist". The US has been mounting pressure on Pakistan, demanding justice for Pearl. In April, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench commuted the death sentence of 46-year-old Sheikh to seven years imprisonment. The court also acquitted his three aides who were serving life terms in the case almost two decades after they were found guilty and jailed. However, the Sindh government refused to release them and kept them in detention under the Maintenance of Public Order. Their continuous detention was challenged in the Sindh High Court, which ordered their release. However, it asked authorities to place their names on the no-fly list so that they could not leave the country. It also directed them to appear before the court whenever summoned. Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. A three-judge apex court bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam is hearing the appeal by the Sindh government and the family of the slain journalist against the acquittal of Sheikh. Pearl's murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News He was serving a prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 13:44 [IST] GRAND RAPIDS, MI At least three people were stabbed early Thursday, Jan. 28, on Cass Avenue SE north of Franklin Street. Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls around 1:10 a.m. in the 600 block of Cass Avenue. When police reached the scene, preliminary reports suggested people had been shot before police determined that they had been stabbed. Three people are being treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening stab wounds. Police said there could be a fourth stabbing victim who hasnt alerted investigators. No information on the assailant was immediately available. Police asked anyone with information to call detectives at 616-456-3380 or Silent Observer anonymously at 616-774-2345 or go to www.silentobserver.org Read more: Former girlfriend of 2016 homicide victim testifies her husband committed fatal shooting Im happy that Im free: Michigan man released from prison after serving 25 years for marijuana case Lawmakers react to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers call for bipartisanship in State of the State address Advertisement Britain today confirmed another 28,680 cases of coronavirus in another week-on-week drop, with 24 per cent fewer than last Thursday. The number, although slightly higher than Wednesday's, is another sign that the third national lockdown in England is working and infections are coming under control. The Department of Health also announced another 1,239 people had died with the virus, taking the total to 103,126. This was a small decline on this time last week four per cent and this figure will be the slowest to fall in the wake of infection numbers and hospital inpatients. It comes as separate Public Health England figures show that the rates of positive tests tumbled in 97 per cent of all the country's local authorities last week. The PHE report shows that, on the whole, cases are plummeting fastest in the South East and London, which became the UK's Covid epicentres after an outbreak of the highly infectious Kent strain in autumn. Infections in these regions fell sooner and faster during the national shutdown because they were put under tough Tier 4 curbs in December while the rest of the country enjoyed more freedoms, which gave them a head-start, and their infection rates are falling from higher peaks. But the figures now show that areas in the North of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands have started to catch up, with places such as York (-38 per cent), Liverpool (-35 per cent) and Manchester (-26 per cent) seeing significant weekly drops. Those rates also fell in every region of England and in all age groups. And NHS Test & Trace data saw a 17 per cent decline in the weekly total number of people testing positive, to 275,000 from 330,000 a week earlier. All but five local authorities in England saw coronavirus infections fall last week, official data shows in the clearest sign yet that cases are trending downwards across the country during lockdown It comes as in another day of coronavirus news: Boris Johnson and UK health chiefs insist Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine dose work after Germany says it should not be used for over-65s due to 'insufficient data'; Parents call for pupils to be allowed to repeat a whole year of schooling lost due to the pandemic; Scientist warns a new 'Disease X' outbreak could be just 'around the corner' and the next pandemic is only a matter of 'when'; Prime Minister defends trip to Scotland to shore-up the union after he was reported to police by nationalists; Number of people testing positive for the virus in England falls 17 per cent in a week with 275,000 cases in seven days to January 20 - the lowest number since before Christmas; Covid-denying conspiracy theorist, 46, dies from the virus after refusing to wear a mask and follow social distancing rules; Cases of Covid-19 caught in hospitals have fallen by a third since the start of January, data shows; It comes after all but five local authorities in England saw coronavirus infections fall last week, official data shows in the clearest sign yet that cases are trending downwards across the country during lockdown. Public Health England figures published on Thursday reveal 144 out of 149 areas (97 per cent) recorded a drop in weekly positive tests in the seven days up to January 24, confirming that cases are now falling in all regions of England. Infection rates plunged by more than a third in 40 local authorities and fell sharply by more than a quarter in another 48 areas. Cases are down in every age group, in another positive sign in Britain's Covid fight. The PHE report shows that, on the whole, cases are plummeting fastest in the South East and London, which became the UK's Covid epicentres after an outbreak of the highly infectious Kent strain in autumn. Infections in these regions fell sooner and faster during the national shutdown because they were put under tough Tier 4 curbs in December while the rest of the country enjoyed more freedoms, which gave them a head-start, and their infection rates are falling from higher peaks. But the figures now show that areas in the North of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands have started to catch up, with places such as York (-38 per cent), Liverpool (-35 per cent) and Manchester (-26 per cent) seeing significant weekly drops. Scientists had been warning for weeks that the national shutdown was having an effect on some but not all parts of England. But the latest promising data suggests the draconian measures are having their desired impact everywhere now. The biggest drop in infection rates last week was recorded in Thurrock, Essex, where the weekly case rate was slashed from 757 per 100,000 people to 406, a fall of more than 46 per cent. Eight London boroughs saw similar week-on-week falls, with Tower Hamlets and Lambeth each recording a 42 per cent decrease. Case rates there are now 393 per 100,000 and 397.5, respectively. Havering and Islington both saw rates tumble by 41 per cent, in Newham it fell by 40 per cent and in Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, there was a 39 per cent decrease. Rounding out the top 10 was the Isle of Wight, where cases went from 612.96 per 100,000 to 366.79, the equivalent of a 40 per cent fall. Only five local authorities mostly in Yorkshire saw positive Covid tests continue to rise in the past week, but the increases were relatively small. Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, suffered the biggest increase at 9 per cent, with the rate climbing from 229 per 100,000 to 250. In Bradford, also in West Yorkshire, the rate went from 274 to 292.34, a rise of 6 per cent. In Barnsley, South Yorkshire, there was a 5 per cent week-on-week increase. The infection rate there rose from 246 per 100,000 to 259. The metropolitan borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire suffered a 3 per cent rise, while North Tyneside, in the North East, went up by just 1 per cent. Boris Johnson, UK health chiefs and AstraZeneca all insisted their coronavirus vaccine does work in all age groups after German authorities said it should not be used in over-65s due to 'insufficient data'. The PM and Public Health England struck a bullish note after a Berlin commission said there was 'insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older'. British regulators, by contrast, have approved the jab for all age groups - with AstraZeneca pointing to data published in a medical journal showing that 100 per cent of older adults generated antibodies in trials. Germany's stance comes amid an angry row between the EU and AstraZeneca over vaccine supplies, with the bloc lagging far behind Britain in immunising its population against Covid-19. Although it is possible the position could change with more evidence, it raises the prospect of splits between the UK and EU on what vaccines are regarded as effective - with speculation that in the future travel to some destinations could be contingent on having been inoculated. On a visit to Scotland this afternoon, Mr Johnson said he was not worried about the news from Germany. 'No, because the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford-AstraZeneca is very good and efficacious and gives a high degree of protection after just one does and even more after two doses,' he said. The PM said the MHRA concluded the vaccine is 'effective across all age groups' and 'provides a good immune response across all age groups'. He added on the German conclusions: 'So I don't agree with that.' Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE, said there had been 'too few cases' of coronavirus in older people in Phase 3 clinical trial to determine efficacy in this age group, but other data on immune response had been 'reassuring'. WHERE DID INFECTION RATES FALL THE MOST? Area name % change Rate of positive cases per 100,000 people (January 24) Thurrock Lambeth Tower Hamlets Havering Islington Newham Isle of Wight Enfield Southwark Hammersmith -46% -42% -42% -41% -41% -40% -40% -39% -39% -39% 406.67 397.5 393.54 389.9 303.96 529.54 366.79 427.21 379.51 339.2 Advertisement AstraZeneca said: 'The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group.' The German panel did not endorse the sensational claim published by German media on Monday that the jab is only eight per cent effective among over-65s, a theory debunked by the manufacturers and the German health ministry. Instead, it said there was not enough data to make a decision either way - after AstraZeneca's boss said the 'very ethical' Oxford scientists had slowed down trials on older people until the vaccine was proved to be safe. It remains to be seen whether the European Medicines Agency will make a similar determination on Friday, after EMA chief Emer Cooke said on Tuesday that the body could decide to split hairs between age groups. Meanwhile, the brutal row over stocks is raging, with the EU demanding AstraZeneca make up for delays by supplying doses from its UK factories. Mr Johnson said he expects the British-Swedish firm to continue providing two million doses a week to the UK. Dr Ramsay said: 'Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are safe and provide high levels of protection against Covid-19, particularly against severe disease. 'There were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group, but data on immune responses were very reassuring. 'The risk of severe disease and death increase exponentially with age the priority is to vaccinate as many vulnerable people as possible with either vaccine, to protect more people and save more lives.' How did the UK end up as one of the world's leading countries on the vaccine roll-out? The UK is one of the world's leading countries when it comes to the speed of the roll-out of its coronavirus vaccination programme - a fact made all the more impressive given where the nation started when the pandemic hit early last year. At that point the country had just one vaccine manufacturing site - a facility in Liverpool which made flu jabs. But the Government quickly set up a vaccine task force in April to make sure the UK was well-positioned to benefit from medical breakthroughs. The experts appointed to the task force reportedly recommended seven projects for investment within its first two weeks, according to The Times. Advance purchase orders were hammered out by the task force with suppliers despite the fact there were no guarantees that any of the vaccines would work or that they would be signed off by regulators. That early work meant the UK was in pole position to receive the jabs, if and when they were shown to be effective and safe. The task force's strategy means two companies have been relied upon to do much of the heavy lifting during the UK's vaccine roll-out: Pfizer and AstraZeneca. The UK ordered 40 million doses from the former and 100 million doses from the latter. Advertisement Coronavirus cases in England have fallen 17 per cent in a week amid brutal lockdown restrictions, official figures reveal. Test and Trace said 274,898 people tested positive for the virus in the week to January 20, the lowest number since before Christmas and the second week in a row a dip has been recorded. It is another glimmer of hope that measures are turning the tide on the second wave after separate statistics from a Government-commissioned study also showed cases were dipping in England - although scientists insisted the drop was 'shallow'. And Department of Health figures are indicating the number of Britons testing positive for the virus every day is falling - with Wednesday's figures 88 per cent below the levels two weeks ago. Experts say lockdown is reducing transmission of the virus, although some worry this isn't happening fast enough to relieve pressure on over-stretched hospitals. Test and Trace - run by the Department of Health and private contracters - has been dogged by allegations it is too slow to reach positive cases and had failed to plan ahead for spiking numbers of infections in September when schools returned. Thursday's figures show almost 56,000 fewer Britons tested positive for the virus in the third week of January than the week before. There were 330,871 positive swabs in this week, which was 57,000 people fewer than the seven-day spell before when 388,037 people tested positive - the peak of the second wave. Test and Trace figures only pick up symptomatic cases - when someone gets a swab after suffering a high temperature, new continuous cough or loss of taste and smell. But they leave out those that are infected but are not experiencing any symptoms of the virus. The Health Minister Lord Bethell warned one in three people who are infected with the virus do not suffer symptoms, 'meaning you can infect others unknowingly'. 'It is therefore crucial that we continue to follow public health guidance, and all play our part by following the rules and reducing our social contact to slow the spread of the virus,' he said. The above graph shows the number of people testing positive for the virus. The dark blue bar shows those who tested positive under pillar 2 - tests carried out in the community - and the light blue represents those who tested positive under pillar 1 - swabs in hospitals A Covid-denying conspiracy theorist who refused to wear a face mask died a day after testing positive for the virus. Gary Matthews, 46, had been ill for around a week before testing positive for coronavirus on January 12. He died alone in his flat in Shrewsbury, Shropshire the next evening, according to the Guardian. Mr Matthews, who exercised regularly, is understood to have told a local conspiracy theorist that he suffered from asthma - though his family said they were not aware of his condition and suggested he may have kept an inhaler on him to exempt himself from wearing a mask. His heartbroken family insist that he did not believe Covid-19 was real, and would not adhere to government pandemic measures including social distancing and mask mandates. Conspiracy theorists claim Mr Matthews may have killed himself, and have bandied about the outlandish suggestion that he was 'murdered' by the state, the Guardian reports. However, an autopsy has not taken place. Britain has recorded more than 100,000 Covid-related deaths, with scientists claiming the victims could have been reduced if the government had taken tougher action earlier in the pandemic. Mr Matthews' cousin Tristan Copeland said he had begged him to wear a mask and maintain social distance. 'But he and his friends had the mindset that they needed to go out and meet people to show they didn't believe the government,' he said. He called Mr Matthews 'quite shy' and was 'led astray' by conspiracy theorists he found on Facebook groups. 'I think these groups gave him that. He was ripe to be adopted into it and they led him astray,' Mr Copeland said. 'About two or three years ago he became very concerned about the conflict in Syria from a humanitarian point of view. I think he read a few stories which led him to distrust the media. Eventually that led him to some climate change denial groups which he started posting on.' The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards has dropped from 553 on January 10 to an average low of 369 on January 25 across England Cases of coronavirus caught on hospital wards have fallen by a third since the start of January despite a record number of inpatients, NHS figures show. The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards in England has dropped from 553 on January 10 to 369 on January 25, a fall of 33 per cent. This has happened despite the number of patients in hospitals rising throughout the month, with a now record 3,600 people in intensive care and 32,000 inpatients. Falling in-hospital infections, also known as nosocomial infections, come alongside a decline in daily hospital admissions in all regions of England. The number of Covid cases caught in hospital on any single day this month was highest on January 4 with 635 cases, a day before the third national lockdown came into force. This then halved to a low of 304 on January 22, while the daily average, calculated over seven days, has declined more slowly. The total number of Covid-19 patients on wards remains 'incredibly high', Professor Chris Whitty warned this week, and is 80 per cent above the peak of the first wave. And the numbers on mechanical ventilators are at their highest level since the pandemic began at 30 per cent above the levels in April, although in the most recent days this has started to dip on a national level. Preventing the spread of coronavirus in hospital is being achieved by all patient-facing staff wearing large amounts of protective equipment. All are required to wear gloves, masks and aprons whether they are meeting Covid patients or not. And wards have been segregated to keep Covid-positive patients away from others who are there for treatment for other serious illnesses. The risk of transmission in hospitals is high because patients generally have large amounts of the virus in their body, which is what makes them sicker, and medical staff regularly have to touch them and get extremely close. Testing surveys have found that staff working in patient-facing medical roles are more likely to contract coronavirus than the general population. But hospitals are now warning that keeping Covid and non-Covid patients separate is becoming increasingly In her third "State of the State" address on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer outlined her plans to continue fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which include a $5.6 billion spending proposal. The MI COVID Recovery Plan proposes the use of federal funding to increase vaccine distribution, with a goal of administering more than 50,000 vaccine doses per day. "We certainly want to take those dollars and give them out in a positive way, helping our communities and focusing on our communities instead of a lot of it going to the state agencies," said Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland. "My focus will be getting those dollars to the local communities, whether it's our businesses, our schools or the vaccine." Stamas said his office has been receiving many calls for senior citizens from across his district, including Midland, asking when they will be able to get the vaccine. "Getting the vaccines out is big priority," Stamas said. Along with healthcare and education, Stamas said the Senate will be prioritizing funding for road maintenance in Midland. On Sept. 10, the Michigan Department of Transportation closed on an $800 million bond the first installment of Whitmer's "Rebuilding Michigan" program. The bonds were slated to cover the cost of rebuilding some of Michigans most highly-traveled freeways, according to officials with the governor's office. "There are some additional dollars that we've received from the federal government, that I hope to direct more toward local roads, versus sending them to MDOT," Stamas said. House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, said House Democrats will work on the shared priorities outlined by Whitmer in her address, including faster COVID-19 vaccine distribution, direct small-business support, relief for hardworking families and a plan to get kids and educators back to school safely, according to a press release. House Democrats will introduce legislation supporting the caucus priorities of increasing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, providing small businesses with direct relief, making sure working families are supported and that kids and educators can return to in-person learning safely, the press release stated. Michigan House Republicans on Wednesday proposed their own $3.5 billion COVID-19 recovery plan. While Rep. Annette Glenn did not issue a statement regarding Whitmer's address, she did support the $3.5 billion plan in a press release. We are all painfully aware of the suffering and loss of life caused by this pandemic, Glenn stated. Our plan devotes more resources to vaccine distribution and testing for the virus critical steps needed to save lives and fully restore Michigan to normalcy. Our plan also gets help to where its needed most, providing real relief to real people families, students, teachers, small family businesses and their employees all across our state. Glenn believes one reason why Michigan has been one of the states hit hardest by COVID-19 is due to the lack of a clear plan. Our new plan is the best option to help our families and communities recover, and it brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the states COVID response," Glenn stated. Ever wonder what gives the homes of Ellen DeGeneres, soon to be ex-couple Kimye, and other stars their chic, Zen-like charm? The answer is often "Japandi," a mashup of Japanese and Scandinavian styles that's calmly infiltrating homes today. In fact, Pinterest searches for Japandi doubled year over year, according to the decor site's 2021 predictions report, so much so that it dubbed Japandi "the new modern" of the year. Simple, uncluttered, neutral, and natural, the "Japandi design concept showcases minimalism and a low-key color palette," says designer Marty Basher. Ana Cummings of the eponymous design firm says that DeGeneres' Montecito, CA, mansion is a perfect example of Japandi style, with its focus on natural materials (glass walls, bamboo ceilings), earth tones, and clean furniture lines. Or look to the marble-clad, nearly all-white Hidden Hills, CA, estate of Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West. "Japandi was adopted by the couple throughout the home," says Basher. If you're looking to make a clean break from 2020 (and frankly, who isn't?), embracing this fresh look is just the ticket. Here's more on the history of Japandi style, and how to incorporate it into your own home. The history of 'Japandi' style Photo by Ward 5 Design Japandi home design traces it origin to long-standing cultural ties between Denmark and Japan. "It's a relationship that began more than 150 years ago, when Danish artists and designers began traveling to Japan in search of new inspiration," says Basher. These seemingly disparate nations already had similar design philosophies, so a marriage of the two was inevitable. "The wabi-sabi movement in Japan, which highlights imperfections and the use of natural, handcrafted materials, has a lot of similarities to traditional Scandinavian hygge designs," says Cummings. From ceramics and textiles to quiet colors and natural fabrics, the Danish and Japanese cherish a time-worn appearance and the rich traditions of crafting. "People in both countries appreciate minimalist interiors, and the look has certainly gained a much bigger following during this past home-bound year," Cummings says. Make furniture functional Photo by Rowland+Broughton Architecture & Urban Design Clutter is extremely forbidden in a Japandi home as it clashes with the decor's principles that emphasize a function-driven space with statement pieces rather than an abundance of items, says Karen Gray-Plaisted of Design Solutions KGP. To that end, a dining room like this one fits the bill with furniture that features clean lines and practicality. "Accessories have lesser importance in this design style, but the ones that do show up lean toward natural elements like plants and wooden bowls that add warmth to the entire room," she says. Choose quiet shades Photo by IDF Studio Whites, off-whites, and all manner of beige are typical in a Japandi home, but this doesn't mean a little brightness can't also be introduced. "Japandi colors also include softer tones such as light grays, pinks, blues, and greens," says Basher. And natural light is key to this home style, so throw back the curtains (or remove them completely) in order to flood your interiors with sunlight. Lean on wood and stone Photo by Houzz "Japandi design relies heavily on the use of natural elementsand the presence of wood and stone help to create a sense of balance," says Basher. Wood tones are usually light or blond choices mixed with other real materials (think rattan, paper, and bamboo). "Unglazed pottery or dishes made to appear more organic in shape over perfectly round profiles are also welcome," says Cummings. Accessorize with care Photo by Design Build 4U Chicago A spareor even bareaesthetic is another Japandi calling card. Extra stuff has no place in this baby nursery nor does it rule supreme on kitchen counters or your bedside table. Instead, choose just a single accessory or two and showcase it. "Minimalism is an essential feature here, which applies to every piece of furniture and also means zero clutter," says Basher. Nix busy patterns Photo by EightyTwo You don't need to go full-on stark with white walls and plain linens, but know that patterns should be sparse in a Japandi home. "Stay away from textiles with a lot of lines, curves, and checks, as these are overpowering and defeat the purpose of this simplified style," says Basher. Shop related brands Photo by BoConcept Pennsylvania Estate sales and antiques shops can yield stunning one-of-a-kind pieces, but more cost-conscious homeowners can look to Ikea and even Target for Japandi pieces. "These big-box brands are hopping onto this trend and fabricating items with this particular aesthetic in mind," says Cummings. Basher recommends Maruni, a Japanese brand that crafts mass-market options as well as BoConcept, a Danish company with stores in dozens of countries that's known for modern furniture, accessories, and lighting with Scandinavian flair. The post What Is Japandi? Ellen DeGeneres and Kimye's Favorite Decor Style, Explained appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. By Keith Burbank Bay City News Service BERKELEY (BCN) University of California at Berkeley officials on Tuesday stripped another hall of its name, the fourth in a year's time. Kroeber Hall, which honored anthropologist Alfred Kroeber, was unnamed because he continues to be associated with the ideas of exclusion and erasure of Native Americans. Kroeber is remembered as the founder of the study of anthropology in the American West. But he is also remembered for taking custody in 1911 of a Native American man he named Ishi, who became a living exhibit for museum visitors. The hall will be temporarily named the Anthropology and Art Practice Building. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ said in a statement that some of Kroeber's writings and views "clearly stand in opposition to our university's values of inclusion and our belief in promoting diversity and excellence." She added that unnaming the hall would "help Berkeley recognize a challenging part of our history, while better supporting the diversity of today's academic community." Phenocia Bauerle, a Native American of the Apsaalooke tribe who directs Native American student development at the university and sits on the university's Native American Advisory Council, said Tuesday's action "may seem like just political correctness, just a gesture, but it is a big gesture, because, for so long, names like Kroeber were untouchable." The now unnamed hall is the home of the Department of Anthropology, the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology, the Department of Art Practice and Worth Ryder Art Gallery. A proposal to unname the hall was given to Christ in July 2020 by her Building Name Review Committee, which in the fall reached a unanimous decision to remove Kroeber's name. That decision followed an analysis of the proposal and a review of comments solicited from the campus community. Eighty-five percent of the 595 respondents were in favor of removing the name, university officials said. Christ supported the committee's decision and sought and obtained UC President Michael Drake's approval. One of the key reasons for seeking the denaming was Kroeber's unethical and immoral practice, even for his time, of collecting or authorizing the collection of the remains of ancestors of Native Americans as well as curating a repository of them. He also allowed an autopsy of Ishi's body against the wishes of the man. Additionally, Kroeber pronounced the Ohlone people culturally extinct, contributing to the federal government's failure to recognize the Ohlone and "leading to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe having no land and no political power," according to the committee. A year ago, the name of UC Berkeley's School of Law was denamed and in November Barrows and LeConte halls were stripped of their names. Not everyone supported the unnaming of Kroeber Hall. Several faculty members said that the denaming was unjust to Kroeber, who did few if any archeological excavations in California but focused on ethnological research. Ethnology is a branch of archeology that involves analyzing and comparing of human cultures. The opponents also said the museum was a place for the remains of Native American people before Kroeber arrived at the university and he curbed the university's emphasis on California archeology. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. CORK navy member Donnchadh Cahalane has commenced his role as captain of the LE James Joyce. The Dunmanway native, who joined the naval service in 2002, is thrilled with the role which he took up yesterday. It is a huge honour, he said. I have always aspired to be a captain. It is a big responsibility. Not many people have been appointed captain of an Irish warship that carries a name that is internationally recognised. I am hoping to run a ship that the crew onboard will enjoy serving on. Mr Cahalane has enjoyed his 19 years with the Defence Forces, and would recommend the navy to anybody who seeks adventure. I joined because it was something different. It is interesting and exciting. It is just adventure. I love going to sea. Something always happens when you least expect it. I would recommend it to anyone who is contemplating joining. There is such a huge variety. What you can be asked to do on a daily basis can range from fisheries protection, to a search and rescue mission, or testing people during a pandemic. The navy is a learning institution. You never stop learning. You are always training and it is very fulfilling as the training is always practical. The captain will be deployed in his post for two years, and looks forward to getting started. Generally, the navy works on a two-year rotation because you couldnt live on a ship all your life as it would impact on family life. We normally work two years on a ship, before doing an office role for two years. This is rotated constantly. The ship will be my responsibility for two years. We will generally do four weeks at sea before returning to base for two weeks. In those two weeks, the priority is to prep the ship before going out for another four weeks. The 37-year-old previously served as a press officer in the naval headquarters for two years. It was an interesting and active role, he said. Press and social media are so important. It is important Government agencies are engaging. In this day and age, people require transparency. The church, by the way, is not only one of the citys oldest congregations, it gave women a voice among its members 62 years before they were given the right to vote. Thats one of the many historical facts McMann learned in 2008 when, after discovering an assortment of unorganized documents and photographs in a box in the church basement, he decided that instead of updating existing literature for the churchs 150th anniversary, hed write a book, Through These Doors, instead. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has again failed to appoint Yuriy Vitrenko as Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and energy minister. Only 204 MPs voted for a respective decision, with the required minimum being 226 votes, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. On December 17, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada failed to appoint Vitrenko as first deputy prime minister and minister of energy. Only 186 lawmakers then voted for his appointment. On December 21, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Vitrenko acting minister of energy. President Volodymyr Zelensky on January 25 asked MPs from the Servant of the People party to support Vitrenko's appointment to the post. He said the acting minister had limited powers. On January 28, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov said that Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had tabled in parliament a proposal to appoint Vitrenko as first deputy prime minister and energy minister. Vitrenko is a former executive director at Naftogaz. From April 2019 to June 2020, he headed the supervisory board at PJSC Ukrnafta. From October 2019 to January 2020, he was a member of the supervisory board at Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom. Market players are focusing on developing technologically advanced products with higher efficiency and improved shelf life to attain a competitive edge. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Future Market Insights: FMI states in its recent study on the Power tools market that the market will record a CAGR of 5.1% through 2031. Demand for power tools is anticipated to continue surging particularly on due to a rapid increase in end-use industries that includes aerospace, automotive and furniture. "Increasing sales via online channels have been a prominent trend expected to create positive growth prospects over the forecast period" says the FMI analyst. Request a report sample to gain comprehensive market insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-760 Power Tools - Important Highlights According to product type, Drilling tools are estimated to be the most popular due to their increase in usage across different industries and due to their demand in commercial and household applications. Construction applications market is estimated to be the major market holder in the power tools market during the forecast period. North America led by the US is estimated to hold the major share in the market owing to its growth in commercial and residential constructions. Germany is estimated to be the leading market for power tools in Europe, due to high demand from the construction industry. Brazil is coming up as an as an eminent share holder in the market due to an increase in demand from the agriculture sector. Power Tools Market - Drivers Rapid urbanization is creating demand for construction industry, which is driving the market. Demand from manufacturing assembly units, fabrication and service sectors are estimated to contribute to the surge in demand of power tools. Increasing preference towards speed and effectiveness by end-use industries and desire to eliminate strenuous manual labor across industries have been contributing to the growth of power tools market. Power Tools Market - Restraints Much more complex compared to the hand tools, which is causing a negative effect on its market. Requires regular maintenance and are costly. High price sensitivity of the raw materials that are associated with power tools. We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-760 COVID-19 Impact on Power Tools Market The power tools market growth is expected to be hampered. The main source of power tools market use was in the fields of construction. But many nations imposed nationwide lockdown to curb the deadly virus, which caused disruptions in supply chain materials, shortage of human resources therefore affecting the whole of the industry. Experts are now predicting that the the virus will have a long-term effect on the market. Competitive Landscape Market players have left a lasting impact with their unique business expansion strategies and robust product offerings. Now the key market players are focusing on product launches. For example, Makita U.S.A., Inc., one of the popular manufacturers of accessories and high-quality professional tools started selling 18V X2 LXT Cordless/Corded Upright L.E.D. Area Light (DML810, tool only) in July 2020 .Some of the leading companies operating in the market are Robert Bosch Power Tools GmbH, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., Makita Corporation To get a deeper understanding, you can get a comprehensive report of the market at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/760 About the Study The study offers readers a comprehensive assessment of the power tools market. Global, regional and national-level analysis of the latest trends influencing the market is covered in this FMI report. The study provides insights on the basis of product type (drilling tools, grinders, saws, application(construction industry, home appliances and others) and across key regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, China, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa). Explore FMI's Coverage of Automation Industry Industrial vacuum evaporation systems market: Get insights on the outbound industrial vacuum evaporation systems market through FMI's report covering detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis for projection period 2020-2030. Water Electrolysis Machine Market: FMI's exhaustive study on the water electrolysis machine market covers the latest trends, innovations, key players, and popular strategies for the period 2020-2030. Elevator and Escalator Market: Obtain detailed analysis on the Elevators and escalators market through FMI's report covering competitive analysis, key regions, and segmental analysis for 2020-2030. About Future Market Insights Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/power-tools-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/power-tools-market SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626501/Greater-Adoption-of-Cordless-Power-Tools-across-Industries-and-Construction-Sites-is-Spurring-Growth-of-Power-Tools-Market-New-Report-Analyzes Citing a lack of data on the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, German authorities have recommended that this vaccine should not be used on people aged 65 or above. While British-Swedish company promoted the cause of the vaccine calling it safe for use, Germanys disease control agency the Robert Koch Institute said there was insufficient data to judge how effective the vaccine is for people above 65 and as a result, it could only recommend using the vaccine on people aged 18 to 64. In all other respects, an RKI advisory committee however mantained that the AstraZeneca vaccine was as equally suitable as those manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. According to a report by The Guardian, a spokesperson from the University of Oxford, which developed the vaccine, said the clinical trials conducted showed similar immune responses in younger and older adults and high efficacy in younger adults. While there was not sufficient data on older adults involved in the trials, the team said early figures were promising. Backing up the claims of AstraZeneca, Mary Ramsay, head of immunizations at PHE vouched for the safety of the vaccine and said that there were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group, but data on immune responses were very reassuring. Also read: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Receives 5 Lakh Doses of Indian Covid-19 Vaccines However, a week earlier, an article in the business daily Handelsblatt claimed the rate was only 8% among over-65s. As a response to such a finding, Germanys health ministry suggested the report had mixed up the efficacy rate for over-65s with the proportion of older people involved in AstraZenecas trials. As per reports, Calculations in the German authorities draft recommendation show only 6% of participants in the trials were over 65, with 341 of them receiving a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 319 receiving a placebo. However, in an interview earlier this week, the AstraZeneca chief executive, Pascal Soriot, defended the low number of older participants in the trials carried out by Oxford University, saying: They didnt want to vaccinate older people until they had accumulated a lot of safety data in the 18 to 55 group. Meanwhile, there were talks that Germanys health minister, Jens Spahn was considering adjusting the priority list for the AstraZeneca vaccine, starting with younger people with pre-existing conditions or medical staff rather than older people. U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, has been named to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation including aviation, maritime and waterborne transportation, highways, bridges, mass transit and railroads. Nehls, freshman representative for Texas U.S. District 22, cited the committee and its impact on the Fort Bend County region as his main focus in Congress. More by Claire Goodman: Katy city council approves zoning for churches, expansion of Katy ISD Outdoor Learning Center The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was my number one House committee target, and Im pleased to announce I achieved my goal, Nehls said. Infrastructure investment is critical to my district and the Houston region. Nehls has experience dealing with transportation in the area. As former sheriff of Fort Bend County, Nehls territory traversed through major thoroughfares like Interstates 59, 69 and 10. My work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will offer me the opportunity to focus on numerous issues such as highway and interstate development, national security, and flood management, he said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Beto ORourke says hes thinking about running for Texas governor Congressman Brian Babin and Congressman Randy Weber are also Houston-area based House members on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Congressman Nehls is a welcome addition to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, given his understanding of the role infrastructure plays in our national security, his decades of law enforcement experience and his experience directing large infrastructure projects during his military career, said committee ranking member Sam Graves, R-Montana. Hes also witnessed firsthand the effects of inadequate infrastructure while personally performing dozens of water rescues in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. I look forward to working with him on the committee. In addition to addressing transportation issues, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also has jurisdiction over other aspects of national infrastructure, such as clean water and wastewater management, the transport of resources by pipeline, flood damage reduction, the management of federally owned real estate and public buildings, the development of economically depressed rural and urban areas, disaster preparedness and response, and hazardous materials transportation. claire.goodman@chron.com The Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE ) will announce the schedule for the upcoming class 10 and 12 board exams on next Tuesday, 2 February, said Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishan' on Thursday. He also said that CBSE will digitalise the 45-year records of the students. The new system, which will come into effect from March 1, has been restructured as per various recommendations for systemic reforms laid down in the new National Education Policy (NEP). The education minister had already announced the dates for the class 10 and 12 board exams earlier. The exams are scheduled to take place physically from May 4 to June 10, 2021. Practical examinations will be conducted by schools from March 1. The results of the board exams will be announced by July 15, he added. Usually, practical exams are conducted in January and written exams begin in February and conclude in March. However, the exams are being delayed this session in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The board exams for classes 10 and 12 will be conducted from May 4 to June 10. Schools will be allowed to conduct practical exams from March 1. The result will be declared by July 15," Pokhriyal announced. Several schools have already conducted pre-board exams online to keep the students prepared. The CBSE had earlier this month announced that board exams in 2021 will be conducted in written mode and not online. Schools across the country were closed in March to contain the spread of COVID-19. They were partially reopened in some states from October 15. However, a few states have decided to keep them closed in view of a spike in the number of infections. The board exams this year had to be postponed mid-way in March. They were later cancelled and the results announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme. "Students, teachers and schools are facing an unprecedented and uncertain situation due to the COVID-19 epidemic but teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that students do not face any difficulty in their studies," Pokhriyal said. The Union Minister had also said that on the basis of the consultations, the guidelines will be prepared which will further be decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the Ministry of Health. "Ensuring safety of students is our first priority," he said. In the national capital, over 3 lakh students have registered 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. The Ministry of Education had also announced that JEE-Mains for admission to engineering colleges will be held four times a year starting 2021 to offer flexibility to students and a chance to improve their scores. The first edition of the Joint Entrance Examination-Mains (JEE-Mains) will be held from February 23 to 26, followed by rounds in March, April and May. The delay in board exams, however, may affect the conduct of all-India medical entrance exam -- National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) -- which is usually conducted in May. There is no official communication on it yet. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Dubai-based global trade enabler DP World and Unicef have announced a wide-ranging partnership to support the global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and related immunisation supplies in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The new partnership- with a multi-million dollar value - is the largest to date to support Unicefs lead role in procuring and supplying two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines and auxiliary vaccination supplies on behalf of the COVAX Facility. DP World and Unicef will also collaborate on other global programmes in support of education, health, womens empowerment and water and sanitation. DP World, a leader in global end-to-end supply chain logistics, will provide Unicef with logistics solutions and supply-chain expertise. By using DP Worlds warehouse facilities in Dubai, Unicef will have optimized access to many countries. In addition, DP World has committed to leveraging its global logistics infrastructure and services on a pro-bono basis in support of Covid-19 vaccine logistics needs, including transport, port and storage requirements in countries where DP World is present. Dubai is currently used by Unicef as a strategic hub for pre-positioning auxiliary materials needed for the Covid-19 vaccine campaigns, such as syringes and safety boxes. The partnership was signed by Henrietta Fore, Unicef Executive Director, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World. It arose from Unicefs collaboration with the World Economic Forums Supply Chain and Transport Community, of which DP World is a member and explores how the community collectively could support an equitable access to the Covid-19 vaccines globally. "Distributing Covid-19 vaccines is humanity's biggest logistics challenge since the end of the Second World War, said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. We offer our infrastructure and expertise to support this effort because everyone should have access to vaccines, especially the most vulnerable in our society. Unless the vaccine is available to all, the pandemic will not end for anyone." "The pandemic has turned children's world upside down, disrupting their education, health and protection, said Henrietta Fore. Vaccines will be a big step towards putting childrens lives back on track. This new partnership will support our collective efforts to ensure equitable, affordable and sustainable access to Covid-19 vaccines." Under this partnership, DP World and Unicef will also collaborate to address logistical bottlenecks hindering children and their families access to essential supplies through advocacy, knowledge and expertise sharing. TradeArabia News Service THERE is new hope for Covid-19 patients in Zimbabwe after Government authorised the use of the readily available Ivermectin. The importation and use of the anti-parasite drug was recently banned after the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) said its use could endanger the lives of members of the public. The authority was also concerned that members of the public were going to self-medicate by taking Ivermectin products thinking they can be a substitute for Ivermectin intended for humans. Zimbabwe like other countries has since said the drug can be used on Covid-19 patients. This week, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) announced it will allow a controlled compassionate use of Ivermectin to treat Covid-19. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the drug has encouraging effects on coronavirus, though like other regulators its also said the medication hasnt been properly evaluated. Ivermectin has been used for decades to treat livestock infested with parasitic worms, while in humans its used as a topical ointment for diseases including skin infections and inflammation. The drug is also approved in other countries for use in animals for prevention of heartworm disease in some small animal species, and for treatment of certain internal and external parasites in various animal species. WHO has suggested the drug has encouraging effects on Covid-19 in the body and called for continued studies on the drug to determine its exact efficacy. Physicians in the country had been using Ivermectin in a solution with Nanosilver and found the combination to be effective in reducing mortality rates. They also wrote to the Ministry of Health and Child Care saying they feel comfortable using Ivermectin for Covid-19 patients. We feel comfortable using this drug, which has been around for 40 years. It is on the WHO essential drugs list and has an excellent safety profile. Since August 2020 we have adopted the use of both Ivermectin and Nanosilver solution and have found this combination to be a game-changer in terms of management of our patients, the doctors said. Zimbabwe has to date recorded over 32 000 Covid-19 cases and over 1 100 deaths since the outbreak of the global disease in March last year. In a notice to MCAZ, the acting permanent secretary in the Health Ministry Dr Robert Mudyirandima said Government has authorised the strategic stocking of Ivermectin for the investigation of Covid-19 treatment alternatives. In these difficult times of Covid-19 treatment, we have to be careful to protect the patients as well as not to deny them effective treatment regimes. It is in this regard that authority is hereby granted for you to proceed under Section 75 of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act to allow importation and use of these medicines under the supervision and guidance you outlined, said Dr Mudyirandima. Ivemectin can be evaluated for both treatment and prophylaxis. Chronicle The tornado in Fultondale Monday night is the third one to touch down in the same vicinity in 10 years. You've probably experienced many tornado watches and warnings if you've lived in Alabama for some time. A meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Huntsville, Jessica Chace, said the weather in the southeast tends to develop many tornadoes. From weak to strong, to violent tornadoes, we see just as much, if not more than a lot of other areas of the country," she said. There's no conclusive research on tornado hot spots yet, but Chace said the evidence showing certain areas get more tornadoes is emerging. She said heavier populated areas make it more difficult to tell. Where theres more people, again, theres more likelihood that youre actually going to get the report to then go survey," said Chace. "So, its difficult to tell, you know, is the mountainous area going to be more favorable than the plains? Chace can't give a definitive answer where some areas in North Alabama may be hot spots, but she urges everyone to take tornado watches seriously and to have a plan in place if the watch becomes a warning. In Northern Alabama, just given our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and where these more warm, moist air masses collide with colder air masses to our North West, we just always encourage people to remain weather aware, especially on days where were anticipating severe weather, not to let your guard down," said Chace. You can download our weather app to make sure you're staying up-to-date on any severe weather warnings. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) announced today it has signed a multi-year enterprise agreement for its Foundry Platform with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO), one of the worlds leading mining and metals corporations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005373/en/ Description: Saguenay/IOC, Reclaimer, the port in Sept-Iles, Quebec, Canada Source: Rio Tinto Brand Bank Copyright 2021 Rio Tinto Palantirs software will integrate raw data from a multitude of disparate sources into a representation of critical mining operations. Rio Tinto will be able to make decisions and take actions using a single source of truth that combines operational and transactional data. This data resource will be available, with the necessary security and privacy controls, to its frontline and office-based workers. This partnership is an important step in our digital transformation; enabling fast-paced, forward-looking decision making across our operations leading to improved results in safety, cost and production, says Fay Cranmer, Rio Tintos CIO. We are excited to work with Palantir in the collaborative delivery of digital products, with best-in-class data technology. The new multi-year partnership with Rio Tinto builds on a number of successful data integration projects explored last year across various business units including: transforming Borates to a digital business across the value chain; connecting people with data in Rio Tintos underground operations; and assisting the company with the safety and well-being of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a significant industry partnership for us, says Shyam Sankar, COO of Palantir. Our Foundry Platform has been used extensively to accelerate delivery and optimise value chains across a number of market sectors where safety matters. About Palantir Palantir Technologies Inc. is a software company that builds enterprise data platforms for use by organizations with complex and sensitive data environments. From building safer cars and planes, to discovering new drugs and combating terrorism, Palantir helps customers across the public, private, and non-profit sectors transform the way they use their data. Additional information is available at www.palantir.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 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. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantirs expectations regarding the amount and the terms of the contract and the expected benefits of our software platforms. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to meet the unique needs of our customer; the failure of our platforms to satisfy our customer or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; our platforms reliability; and our customers ability to modify or terminate the contract. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005373/en/ Have you ever voted in Triple Js Hottest 100? Yeah me too. The only reason I voted last time was because there was a song I totally loved. I also thought that the song was going to struggle to get in. Bad Apples by Briggs came out in 2014. It is a hard and true song. It is about the struggle of intergenerational trauma. It is bold, telling it like it is. Though it also speaks of the way to bring release. It ain't worth it, who cursed it? Point the fingers at the ones who birthed it Brought to earth, a brand new person The same ones who called 'em all worthless And called 'em good for nothing, I call them cousin I call 'em brother and sister, I still love 'em Brother and sister, I still love 'em Brother and sister, I still love 'em Still Makes Me Cry To this day this song makes me cry. Because I have witnessed this from the outside. We all have known families that are like this. You knew what was going on, but, how do you stop it? To take the kids away solves nothing. Its family, relationship and community that releases these bonds. Bad Apples ended up 87 in 2014s Hottest 100. I thought that was a bit of slap in the face. Briggs himself has gone on to bigger things. Briggs acted in the series Cleverman and he writes for the Simpsons spinoff Disenchanted. He continues to releases music as part of the duo known as A.B. Original. Soundtrack 2020 For the trash fire of 2020 I found a song I could not ignore. Yes there were other songs that I liked a lot. JK-47 had The Recipe from his debut album Made for This. Stand Atlantics Wavelength impressed me. I still want to use it as the opening to an animated series. During lockdown Run The Jewels released their fourth studio album titled 4. Killer Mike and El-Ps heavy and dark sounds are covered with lyrics that speak a loud, cynical and caustic socialism. As they say in the opening track Yankee and the Brave We don't mean no harm But we truly mean all the disrespect Right now you may be backing away from this article. Please, not yet. Because you are missing out on the best Jesus shout out since Kanye Wests Jesus Walks. So, I will give you the TL;DR first. Then you can decide wether you want to continue. Best Jesus Shout Out 2020 Walking in the Snow is the sixth track on the album. It is the Best Jesus Shout Out for 2020. Run The Jewels use Jesus in scriptural context, relating it to the social and political ills of their nation, and, as a contrast against pseudo-Christians who are indifferent and unable to connect reality with anything Jesus said. The lyric in question is expelled by Killer Mike as the final riposte of the second verse. All of us serve the same masters, all of us nothin' but slaves Never forget in the story of Jesus, the hero was killed by the state As a theologian, as a Christian, as fan of words and rhyming. I was totally in awe. It could have had something to do with the fact I was in early lockdown and was staying up too late. Though the awe has yet to fade. Let me continue on how rare Walking in the Snow is. It is incredibly rare to get Jesus in a song that does not use Jesus as a swear. Especially to hear it on triplej. If you do get Jesus in a song it is out of biblical context, being used to subvert biblical context, chastising faith, God or religion. Relatable Crucifixion The contextual links to Jesus are not just there as a critique of Pseudo-Chrisitans. It is there to highlight the tragedy of Jesus death and the apathy towards the death of George Floyd. In 2016 New York poet Crystal Valentine posted on Youtube a response to Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. Valentines words should make it clear for all of those in the back still not getting it. "He [Jesus] died in the blackest way possible, with his hands in the air, with his mother watching," And again I am crying. There were other songs that helped me through 2020. They were upbeat and made me smile. Yet when lockdown ended and I thought it was safe enough to go to JB-HiFi guess which album this I bought. Advisory: Please do not play this song at Church. A 55-year-old New Jersey man was killed Wednesday when he crashed into a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of Interstate 80. Walter Pasuco was driving east just before 4:15 p.m. when hit the truck near milepost 40.4 in Parsippany, New Jersey State Police said. He was pronounced dead at Morristown Medical Center, Sgt. Philip Curry said. The truck driver, who was seated in the cab, was not hurt. The crash closed the right lane for about four hours and remains under investigation. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jean E. Wilson, co-managing shareholder of the Orlando office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., presented a fireside chat on business and community involvement guidance during the Enterprise Florida Haitian American Business Leaders Summit on Jan. 27. The virtual summit titled Kreyol Pale, Kreyol Konprann was launched to introduce the Haitian American business community to Enterprise Florida. The event also provided the Minority and Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Capital Programs division of Enterprise Florida and partner agencies the opportunity to highlight Florida-based training, development, and finance resources for Haitian American small businesses. Additionally, Haitian American business leaders discussed various topics, such as legitimizing a business venture, finding capital, generating revenue, bottom-up marketing and partnerships, and relocation strategies. Wilson, who is of Haitian descent, is the chair of Greenberg Traurigs Orlando and Atlanta Public Finance Practices. He has broad experience as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriters' counsel, bank counsel, trustee's counsel, borrower's counsel, and purchasers' counsel in various types of tax-exempt and taxable financings, including housing, transportation, public utilities, general obligation, sales tax, revenue, and tourist development tax issues, as well as tax increment, industrial development, and downtown redevelopment financings. It was a distinct honor to be invited by Enterprise Florida to participate in the Haitian American Business Leaders Summit; the program provided the participants with invaluable insight into acquiring the resources needed for success, growth, and job creation, Wilson said. Actively involved in the Orlando community, Wilson is a board member of the Central Florida Leadership Academy and a member of the Dean's Advisory Council for Florida A&M University School of Law. He is also former board member of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: 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 Jennifer Garner was seen strolling around the posh Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon. The 48-year-old actress seemed to be enjoying a socially-distanced 'walk and talk' with a friend as they attempted to get some fresh air. Despite bidding blue jeans farewell forever in an Instagram video released in the afternoon, the Alias star seemed to go back on her word as she sported skinny jeans and a turtleneck. Walk and talk: Jennifer Garner, 48, joins a friend on a socially distanced walk in Brentwood as she bundles up in a grey turtleneck amid LA's current cold spell With Los Angeles in a cold spell currently, Garner tucked her hands into the arms of her grey sweater for warmth. She wore a pair of retro pink accented trainers and went makeup free, leaving her brown locks down. Jennifer, who made sure to don a face mask, was seen without any belongings on her person as she swiftly made her way past a home under construction. With Garner's own home having been under renovation for the past couple years, she was no stranger to navigating some street side rubble. Blue jean baby: Despite releasing an in-memoriam style video called 'Tight Jeans: Goodbye Forever' on Wednesday, Garner seemed to go back on her word as she sported a pair of skinny legged denim Earlier in the day she released a funny in-memoriam style video called 'Tight Jeans: Goodbye Forever' where she paid tribute to the pre-COVID-19 days of traveling and wearing anything but loungewear. The 40-second montage of her throughout the years in various airports featured some light dancing and goofy shenanigans. A very busy actress and organic food producer before the pandemic, Garner's video was relatable to many who yearn for the days of safely being on-the-go. Home raising her three kids Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, eight, - who she shares with ex Ben Affleck - the past year has been a learning experience for her, just as it has most parents dealing with homeschooling. Travel days: An homage to the days of traveling, Garner was recorded in various airports with lots of luggage Through the years: The video saw her napping on various plane rides and dancing on the jet bridge She and Affleck have reportedly been 'often communicating' due to their co-parenting dynamic, which has made the extended time at home a bit easier. Recently it was revealed that Affleck split from his girlfriend of nearly a year Ana de Armas just last week, despite moving in together a few months ago. Sources said they were just in 'different places in their lives,' with them mutually deciding to go their separate ways, but a gaunt-looking Affleck was seen after a giant cut out of de Armas was thrown out. His brother Casey - who the internet speculated was the trash-tosser based on their resemblance in the photos - spoke to ET last week and said he offered Ben breakup advice. 'I think she's a catch in every way. And I'll be there to carry Ben through it, but I don't think he'll have any problems [either]. The reality is, I think that this year has been really hard on people in relationships.' Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Lawton, OK (73501) Today Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Shortly before thousands of people stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Donald Trump gave a rousing speech to that crowd, calling them amazing patriots. He said that they must demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated. Our country, he told them, has been under siege for a long time, and youll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong. While it remains to be seen whether Trumps words that day rise to the level of criminal incitement, it is beyond dispute that by casting doubt on the outcome of the election months before it occurred, he emboldened his supporters to take up arms in an effort to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Bidens clear victory. By wrapping his lies in the cloak of patriotism, Trump fueled the view that a violent assault on the Capitol, which resulted in five people dead, was a legitimate action similar to the actions of the American founders in 1776. In fact, the mob seemed to believe the insurrection was their 1776 moment. Many returned home after the attack expecting a celebration of their actions rather than condemnation. The Congress on Wednesday held home minister Amit Shah responsible for the violence that shook the national capital on Republic Day due to the security lapse and intelligence failure owing to farm law protests, and said he should be sacked immediately. The Congress also accused the Modi government of being part of a concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers' agitation by allowing some miscreants to enter the Red Fort complex and hoist a religious flag, in their bid to ensure that the farmers bury their demand for the repeal of three new agri laws. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the goverment is adopting "a policy of first hit, torment and defeat the farmers by the use of force, then tiring them out through various rounds of talks, trying to divide them and finally by now defaming them through such miscreants who created violence during their tractor march". He said this has been the policy of the government from the first day, but farmers should not deviate from their goal of getting the three farm laws repealed through peaceful protests and struggle. "A concerted conspiracy, aided and abetted by the Modi government is unfolding to malign the entire farmers' movement and to push them out and bury the demand for repeal of the three anti-agriculture black laws under the din and noise of FIRs," Surjewala told reporters. The Congress leader said the Delhi police instead of booking and arresting the miscreants involved in violence and unruly incidents are actually registering false cases against the leaders of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. He asked how a group of 500 people could enter the complex without being stopped by the police, who remained mute spectators as the miscreants indulged in hooliganism and violence. "It is a huge, colossal security lapse and intelligence failure on the part of none less than the home minister of India Amit Shah. Amit Shah must be sacked without delay," he said. Surjewala further said, "Can such a home minister, who is the weakest home minister in the history of India in the last 73 years, be permitted to stay in office even for a single day? Amit Shah must be sacked and if the Prime Minister does not sack him, it will be apparent that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a part of this concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers' movement". He said this is the second time in less than a year that under Shah's leadership the national capital has been pushed to the brink of unabated, unchecked and uncontrolled violence. He recalled the Delhi riots and the anti-CAA protests when violence had erupted in the national capital. "Did Amit Shah and intelligence agencies not know about the open declaration over the last 24-48 hours by these violent and anti-social elements, who segregated themselves from the farmers and expressed their desire that they are going to go to the Red Fort," the Congress leader asked. "What was Amit Shah doing? Was he sleeping? What were the intelligence agencies doing? Were they sleeping," he also asked. Surjewala said how can the police remain mute spectators as 500-700 people occupied the Red Fort. He claimed the policy of the Modi government and the BJP from day one has been very clear - to defame and remove the farmers from agitating against the new agri laws. He alleged that a set of people with the premeditated motive of violence, who have nothing to do with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, were permitted to enter the Red Fort and put up a flag there, carrying out an act of sacrilege. "This is unacceptable and those who did it, Deep Sidhu and gang, they have been seen in the past cohabiting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, ample evidence of which is now available in the public domain. Instead of arresting them then and there, they were permitted to go back," Surjewala said. Also Read: Ayushman CAPF: Healthcare scheme for 28 lakh CAPF troops, families launched Workers are seen on the top of an iron ore pile as a machine works on blending the iron ore, at Dalian Port, Liaoning Province, China on Sept. 21, 2018. (Muyu Xu/Reuters) Aussie Iron Ore Miners Hit as Chinese Steel Production Wanes Australian iron ore companies saw their share prices dive on Wednesday in response to declining steel sector activity in China. According to RBC analyst Kaan Peker, Chinese steelmakers have been reducing production for the last five weeks, partly due to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) ban on Australian coal imports into the country, and the upcoming Chinese New Year period. The S&P/ASX200 fell 44 points to 6,780.6 points on Wednesday, while Australian mining giants Fortescue Metals, BHP, and Rio Tinto saw their share prices decrease. Chinese residents across seven provinces shivered through winter as low coal supplies forced provincial authorities to ration electricity supply. Residents were told not to turn on heating until the temperatures dropped below 3 degrees Celsius, or 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It was revealed in November that over $700 million worth of Australian coal was being held up at Chinese ports, amid a continuing Beijing-instigated trade dispute between the countries. Currently, the dispute has encompassed beef, wine, barley, lobster, timber, and cotton. But despite the heavy intervention by the CCP, Fortescue Metals CEO Elizabeth Gaines says the miner has seen no slowdown in demand for the mineral, AAP noted. Were actually very pleased with the performance for the quarter, and certainly the record for the half, Gaines said. The company shipped 46.4 million tonnes of iron ore in the December quarter, the same amount in 2019. In fact, China paid 9 percent more per tonne for iron ore in December than in November. Iron ore exports also increased by 15 percent. Australia also recorded its fourth-highest trade surplus ever at $9 billion, up from $7.4 billion in the previous month. Gaines noted that Chinese steel producers were now looking to reduce carbon emissions and some older production facilities could close, potentially affecting future demand for iron ore. The CCPs 14th Five-Year Plan released last year saw a greater focus on reducing emissions by increasing scrap metal use and a push for steelmakers to update mills, which could force several facilities to close. Seoul, Jan 28 : South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook has confirmed that the country will hold the annual springtime combined military drills with the US as planned, the media reported on Thursday. "We will conduct a combined exercise in the first half of this year as a computer-simulated command post exercise (CPX) without outdoor drills. It is a regular program and for defence purposes," Yonhap News Agency quoted Suh as saying while addressing the media here. "Taking the Covid-19 situation and other related factors into account, we are closely discussing how to conduct it in detail with the US side," he added. The two countries usually hold major combined military exercises twice a year, along with smaller-scale ones throughout the year, and the springtime one is supposed to be held around March. Since 2018, South Korea and the US have either cancelled or scaled back joint drills to back diplomacy with North Korea. Last year, they "indefinitely postponed" the springtime program due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the summertime exercise was held in a scaled-back manner in August. A Denver man who was extradited from Mexico to the US last year in connection with the 1998 cold-case homicide of his girlfriend has been charged with her murder and kidnapping. The Denver District Attorney's Office on Wednesday announced the charges against Crespin Nene-Perez for the killing of 47-year-old Bonny Baker. Nene-Perez, 57, appeared in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing concerning the newly filed charges of first-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping. Crespin Nene-Perez, 47 (left), has been charged with first-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping in the 1998 killing of his live-in girlfriend, Bonny Baker, 47 (right) Nene-Perez was among five fugitives who were handed over to the US by the Mexican government in May 2020. Baker was Nene-Perez's live-in girlfriend when she went missing from their apartment on Louisiana Avenue in Denver on June 30, 1998. According to an arrest affidavit, earlier that night Baker had been celebrating with a group of friends after getting a raise at The Fort restaurant where both she and Nene-Perez worked. When her boyfriend arrived home that night, he was described as 'acting weird and his eyes were glazed, like he was on something like cocaine,' according to the affidavit cited by 9News. Witnesses said he seemed angry that Baker was drinking and dancing with other people, and he was 'mean mugging everyone.' A friend later recounted that Baker's last words at the party were: 'it would be better if I just go now or it would be worse.' Early the next morning, police got a call from an unknown woman, who reported that Baker was killed after a fight with her boyfriend at 8pm the previous night, according to the affidavit. Nene-Perez was extradited from Mexico to Colorado in May 2020, seven years after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Denver The caller said the boyfriend was heading to Mexico with Baker's body in the trunk of his car, which he planning to dispose of along the way. The woman told police she and others had noticed Nene-Perezs car trunk was moving, reported The Denver Post. Officers who responded to the couple's apartment found no signs of struggle. Immediate efforts to locate Nene-Perez and Baker were unsuccessful. Hours later, Nene-Perez wrecked his car in Globe, Arizona, but by the time local police arrived on the scene, he had fled on foot, reported The Denver Channel. Investigators did collect blood evidence from the suspect's car and in the trunk. In July 1999, two boys riding horses in a remote part of Navajo tribal grounds in New Mexico came upon a human skull and called the authorities. A medical examiner failed to determine a cause of deaths, and the skull languished in storage for the next 15 years, until in 2012 Bakers cold case was reopened and DNA samples from the remains confirmed that they belonged to the missing woman. Prosecutors believe Baker had been buried in a shallow grave in New Mexico the day after she had been reported missing. In 2013, a Denver cold case detective completed a further round of witness interviews and forensic testing and concluded, based on that evidence, that there were sufficient grounds to arrest Mr. Nene-Perez, the DAs office wrote in a news release. A warrant was issued for Nene-Perez's arrest, but he was found to be living in Mexico at the time. It took another seven years to have him extradited back to Colorado. The district attorney's office did not say how they think Nene-Perez killed his girlfriend. Justice Minister Park Beom-kye speaks with inmates at Dongbu Detention Center in southeastern Seoul during his visit to the facility, Thursday, in this photo provided by the justice ministry. Yonhap New Justice Minister Park Beom-kye began his term Thursday by visiting a correctional facility at the center of a recent COVID-19 outbreak. During the visit to Dongbu Detention Center in southeastern Seoul, Park told reporters that he chose the facility as his first stop because the public's welfare depends on controlling the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm worried that the virus situation is getting worse again after getting better," he said. "I plan to focus judicial administration on the field." The lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party also stressed the importance of prosecution reform, suggesting he will discuss the next reshuffle of senior prosecutors when he meets with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. Park took a COVID-19 test upon arriving at the detention center, and the result came back negative. During a meeting with detention center staff, he said he would hear from correctional officers and inmates and look into ways to better protect their basic rights. "I am sorry to the nation once again for the large number of COVID-19 patients that we saw at Dongbu Detention Center," he said. Park also told the staff that he wanted to help improve the morale of correctional officers there in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. "To formulate the right response, we must have the chain of command working, and we must also listen to people in the trenches," Park said. "This is where reformation of judicial administration begins." One staff member at the facility told the justice minister that correctional officers are often neglected by the public, compared with other uniformed service workers, such as police officers and firefighters. Later in the day, Park told the inmates, "You're all part of our society. I hope my visit today will provide at least some consolation." Park reiterated his earlier point that he was committed to improving the basic rights of inmates. The justice ministry said Park was scheduled to spend 30 minutes with correctional officers and 30 minutes with inmates, but their sessions went for 80 minutes each. More than 1,200 people at the detention center have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was reported there on Nov. 28. Park, who succeeds Choo Mi-ae, was formally appointed by President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday after going through a confirmation hearing from a National Assembly committee despite objections from the main opposition party. His swearing-in ceremony was expected to be held Thursday afternoon but was postponed due to the visit. (Yonhap) Theres no doubt podcasts are having a moment. They have been for a while, and it started before we were all stuck at home. Music services, production companies and more are betting big on the format, by either snapping up platforms and high-profile hosts or announcing a slate of new shows at a constant pace. Of course, thats all well and good for the established players, but what about aspiring creators and journalists who are still honing their skills? Colleges and universities have added podcast-focused courses to their curriculum, covering everything from the initial idea to how to perfect a pitch and effective interview techniques. One such school is New York University (NYU). On top of existing classes on the subject, the university partnered with Spotify, one of the biggest players in the podcast industry, this winter to offer a three-week intensive course on podcasts. Taught by veterans of WNYC Studios and Vox, Audrey Quinn and Julia Furlan, Podcasting and Audio Storytelling began with a survey of history before diving into formats, genres, business and more. Several classes included guest speakers with extensive experience, and not just as hosts or reporters. Spotify chief content officer Dawn Ostroff, vice president and global head of Spotify Studios Courtney Holt, Gimlet co-founders Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber and several others participated in learning sessions. As the person in charge of Spotify Studios, Holt explained that the company recognized a gap during the hiring process. He noted that the challenge becomes selecting people from different disciplines and getting them to understand how to work with audio, or vice versa. When I was going through my education, the best part of any class is the guest speakers who have an experience that you can learn from, Holt said. So I was like how do I bring experienced people together with students who are interested in the media? avdyachenko via Getty Images Through existing relationships with various schools, Spotify began discussing the potential partnerships for podcast-specific courses and seminars. Holt said the process was really organic, and though the company had conversations with a number of colleges about what a podcast curriculum could be, NYU suggested doing a course for the January term. So the condensed class became a proof-of-concept of sorts. Spotify worked with the dean and his staff at NYU on determining the key elements, setting the three-week schedule and picking the guest speakers. We want to have more of a presence in podcasting, said Antonio Merlo, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at NYU. One thing that was very clear is that if you look at the roster and the set of people who came in as guest lecturers, this is a rarity. The goal for the course was to help students refine an initial idea for a show and craft an effective pitch for it. In fact, they were required to submit a proposal before the first class. Halfway through, a 250-word written pitch was due that explained why the show idea was valid and who was the intended audience. At the end of the course, they were expected to record a three-minute audio pitch -- with help from Spotify engineers. Those projects were like a teaser youve likely heard at some point for an upcoming show. During that final class, Holt, the head of Spotify Studios, was one of three professionals who offered direct feedback on the projects. In addition to meeting every weekday for three weeks, students were given optional opportunities to go deeper into a certain aspect of podcasting. Those sessions covered editing software, data and distribution, and careers in audio. The idea was to take a multidisciplinary approach, but not to get bogged down in niche aspects of the industry. Moving forward, those additional courses, including some that could span an entire semester, will expand the course lineup. One thing that was very clear is that if you look at the roster and the set of people who came in as guest lecturers, this is a rarity. Antonio Merlo, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at NYU Despite being part of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU, the course was open to any majors. Since it covered topics like monetization, production and sound design, theres some appeal for other fields beyond journalism. And Merlo sees an opportunity to expand what the university offers with a podcasting certificate program -- also being created with help from Spotify. The vision we have is a world where NYU, in partnership with Spotify, would be able to offer a certificate in podcasting, he explained. We would add a sequence of three courses with an overview of aspects of the industry and more in-depth courses. Merlo was clear that the certificate program is still in the early planning stages, and would need a series of approvals before NYU is able to offer it. However, its very much part of the immediate future for the university and such a program was already part of the conversation with Spotify. For now, its all about refining this initial course that will serve as the introduction or overview portion of the three classes. We don't want to say well done, we did this course and replicated it over and over, he added. We certainly want to continue it, but we want to incorporate all the lessons that we learn and help refine our vision moving forward. Not only was Holt impressed with what students managed to produce in such a short time, but he says some of the pitches were so good, the streaming service may offer to help the students turn them into a proper show. Plus, these students had to tackle a new course and new curriculum while learning remotely the entire time. I went into this assuming that it'd be nearly impossible to create workable audio, in a three-week course, from people who hadn't really done it before, Holt said. The output was unbelievable, and there were shows in there that we may actually help the creators get going. New Delhi, Jan 28 : About 84 per cent Indian consumers agree that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to provide better customer experience, improve brand reputation, and increase customer loyalty, a study revealed on Thursday. According to software company Pegasystems, the study surveyed over 1,000 consumers in India on their views about AI as it relates to morality, ethical behaviour and empathy. Indian consumers generally trust new technologies like AI if they see the potential to improve their productivity and make things simpler. But at the same time, respondents still worry about the ethics behind AI and the potential for it to act with bias, the company said in a statement. The study also indicated that almost 78 per cent are comfortable interacting with AI for business-related queries. "This presents an important opportunity for Indian companies to accelerate their AI adoption -- particularly as the pandemic forces them to increase their digital engagement capabilities," Suman Reddy, Managing Director, Pegasystems India, said in a statement. "By taking an empathetic and ethical approach to AI, businesses can ensure their customers' faith in AI is rewarded with better service - which ultimately leads to an increase in customer loyalty," Reddy added. In the study, 75 per cent of those surveyed believe that machines can behave morally and thus make 'good' decisions based on empathetic considerations. In addition, 76 per cent of respondents in India believe that when an organization uses AI to make relevant, appropriate, and valuable offers to their customers, it is an example of AI demonstrating empathy. Organizations should adopt transparent and unbiased AI, which means their AI models can explain exactly why a decision was made, the study said. By combining AI-based insights with proper AI governance, organizations can more safely adopt AI while driving better customer engagements, it added. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. WARSAW, Poland (AP) A Jewish prayer for the souls of the people murdered in the Holocaust echoed Wednesday over where the Warsaw ghetto stood during World War II as a world paused by the coronavirus pandemic observed the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Most International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations were being held online this year due to the virus, including the annual ceremony at the site of the former Auschwitz death camp, where Nazi German forces killed 1.1 million people in occupied Poland. The memorial site is closed to visitors because of the pandemic. In one of the few live events, mourners gathered in Poland's capital to pay their respects at a memorial in the former Warsaw ghetto, the largest of all the ghettos where European Jews were held in cruel and deadly conditions before being sent to die in mass extermination camps. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a message to a World Jewish Congress and Auschwitz memorial museum event, said the online nature of remembrance events takes nothing away from their importance. It's a duty but also a responsibility, one we inherit from those who lived through the horrors of the Shoah, whose voices are gradually disappearing, Steinmeier said. The greatest danger for all of us begins with forgetting. With no longer remembering what we inflict upon one another when we tolerate anti-Semitism and racism in our midst." We must remain alert, must identify prejudice and conspiracy theories, and combat them with reason, passion and resolve, Steinmeier said. From the Vatican, Pope Francis said remembering was a sign of humanity and a condition for a peaceful future while warning that distorted ideologies could lead to a repeat of mass murder on a horrific scale. In Germany, the parliament held a special session to honor victims. In Austria and Slovakia, hundreds of survivors were offered their first doses of a vaccine against the coronavirus in a gesture both symbolic and lifesaving given the threat of the virus to older adults. In Israel, some 900 Holocaust survivors died from COVID-19 out of 5,300 who were infected last year. Israel, which counts 197,000 Holocaust survivors, officially marks its Holocaust remembrance day in the spring. But events were also being held across the country, mostly virtually or without members of the public in attendance. Meanwhile, Luxembourg signed a deal agreeing to pay reparations and to restitute dormant bank accounts, insurance policies and looted art to Holocaust survivors. Survivors and many others joined a World Jewish Congress campaign which involved posting photos of themselves and #WeRemember. They were broadcast at Auschwitz on a screen next to the gate and a cattle car representing the way camp inmates were transported there. The online nature of this year's commemorations is a sharp contrast to events marking last year's anniversary, when some 200 survivors and dozens of European leaders and royalty gathered at the site of the former camp. It was one of the last large international gatherings before the pandemic brought normal life to a halt. Due to the pandemic, most survivors today live in isolation and loneliness, said Tova Friedman, 82, a Poland-born Auschwitz survivor who attended last year's event and had hoped to return this year with her eight grandchildren. Instead she recorded a message of warning from her home in Highland Park, New Jersey. Today, as anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head again, the voices of protest are not many and not loud enough, said Tova, who at age 6 was among the thousands of prisoners to greet the Soviet troops who liberated the camp on Jan. 27, 1945. Piotr Cywinski, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum, also warned of worsening anti-Semitism, populism and demagoguery. Our world is suffering (from) our own incapacity to react, our own passivity, Cywinski said. We are the bystanders of our times. The vast majority of those killed at Auschwitz were Jews, but Poles, Roma, homosexuals and Soviet prisoners of war were also murdered there. In all, about 6 million European Jews and millions of other people were killed by the Germans and their collaborators. In 2005, the United Nations designated the anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Of the 6 million Jewish victims, some 1.5 million were children, and this year's commemorations included a special focus on them. All living survivors were either children or still young during the war that began more than 81 years ago. While commemorations have moved online for the first time, one constant is the drive of survivors to tell their stories as words of caution. Rose Schindler, a 91-year-old survivor of Auschwitz who was originally from Czechoslovakia but now lives in San Diego, California, has been speaking to school groups about her experience for 50 years. Her story, and that of her late husband, Max, also a survivor, is also told in a book, Two Who Survived: Keeping Hope Alive While Surviving the Holocaust. After Schindler was transported to Auschwitz in 1944, she was selected more than once for immediate death in the gas chambers. She survived by escaping each time and joining work details. The horrors she experienced the mass murder of her parents and four of seven siblings, the hunger, being shaven, lice infestations are difficult to convey, but she keeps speaking to groups, over past months by Zoom. We have to tell our stories so it doesn't happen again, Schindler said in a Zoom call from her home Monday. It is unbelievable what we went through, and the whole world was silent as this was going on." Friedman said she believes it is her role to sound the alarm about rising anti-Semitism and other hatred in the world; otherwise, another tragedy may happen. That hatred, she said, was on clear view when a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Some insurrectionists wore clothes with anti-Semitic messages like Camp Auschwitz. It was utterly shocking, and I couldnt believe it. And I dont know what part of America feels like that. I hope its a very small and isolated group and not a pervasive feeling, Friedman said. ___ Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report. 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. Twenty four elderly residents have died after an outbreak of Covid-19 at a Hampshire care home, while a second care home tragedy in the Midlands has left nine dead. The residents at Pemberley House care home, Basingstoke, died in the last few weeks following the virus outbreak earlier this month, in what is one of the worst known outbreaks in a care home in England. In a similar tragedy, nine elderly residents have died at Seagrave House care home in Corby, Northamptonshire, and it is feared dozens more are fighting infections. Both care homes are operated by Avery Healthcare, with the company saying staff were 'deeply saddened' by the deaths following the Basingstoke outbreak. In a statement, a spokesperson said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of a number of our residents at our care home in Basingstoke, and our thoughts are with all the family and friends who have lost loved ones during this very difficult time. Twenty four elderly residents died after an outbreak of Covid-19 at Pemberley House care home, Basingstoke (pictured) following a virus outbreak that was found on January 5 'Staff have, and continue to work tirelessly throughout the pandemic to protect residents and each other. 'Our focus remains on supporting the wellbeing of residents, families, and staff as we work through this together.' The Care Quality Commission said it has been notified of the cluster of 24 deaths, which had followed an outbreak of Covid-19 at the home earlier this month. A spokesman said it was not yet confirmed if all 24 deaths were directly caused by a Covid-19 infection. The deaths mean over a third of the home's residents have died. The care home is in the Viables area of Basingstoke, south of the town centre. There was a spike in coronavirus cases in this district of the town earlier this month, according to the government's Covid-19 data dashboard. During the first week in January there were 101 positive tests reported in the area, which was equivalent to an infection rate of 1,289.4 cases per 100,000 people. This was the highest rate recorded in the area since the start of the pandemic and one of the highest rates in the country. The outbreak in the Basingstoke care home was first declared on January 5, according to the Basingstoke Gazette, with 60 percent of its residents testing positive for the disease. The UK's national statistics body found 1,705 care home residents died from the virus in the week ending January 22, up from 661 a fortnight ago The Pemberley House care home is run by Avery Healthcare, with the company saying staff were 'deeply saddened' by the deaths following the Basingstoke outbreak Avery Healthcare did not confirm if residents at the home had received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the time of the outbreak of the virus, but the newspaper reported residents had begun to receive the jabs. Government's advise says that an individual 'can not catch Covid-19 from the vaccine but it is possible to have caught Covid-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment', adding that it may take 'a week or two' after the first dose to develop protection. A spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency emphasised that there was no suggestion the deaths were linked to the vaccine. 'We are saddened to hear about any deaths which have occurred since receiving Covid-19 vaccination. However, our surveillance does not suggest that the Covid-19 vaccines have contributed to any deaths,' the spokesperson for the MHRA said. 'It is not unexpected that some of these people may naturally fall ill due to their age or underlying conditions shortly after being vaccinated, without the vaccine playing any role in that. 'We have robust surveillance systems in place to rapidly review all reports of suspected side effects to determine whether these are possible new risks, or coincidental.' Pictured: Dr Maurice Price administers the BioNTech/Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine into the arm of Beryl Humphreys, a resident of a care home in Shrewsbury, on January 20 (file photo). Vaccinations had reportedly already been given to some residents of Pemberley House in Basingstoke, where 24 have died following an outbreak of coronavirus In the week ending January 8 there were 101 positive tests in the Viables area of Basingstoke where the care home is based. Care home residents across Hampshire were scheduled to be among the first to receive the jabs in the vaccination programme which started in England last month. The National Infection Service at Public Health England says that anyone who receives the vaccine can still catch the virus for two to three weeks afterwards - and for older people it may take a week longer for the vaccine to be effective. The most recent Care Quality Commission inspection of Pemberley House, in June 2017, rated the care provider as 'Good'. At the time of the inspection, 72 people were living at the care home, while it had capacity for up to 72. It provides residential care for older people over the age of 65. Meanwhile at the Northamptonshire care home, local media sources say they understand as many as 35 residents and 40 members of staff have tested positive, which provides residential, respite and dementia care. At least nine residents have died, it is understood. In a similar tragedy, nine elderly residents have died at Seagrave House care home in Corby, Northamptonshire, and it is feared dozens more are fighting infections Those who have tested positive must wait four weeks for a vaccination. About 15 residents who have not been infected were due to have their first jab last week by the county clinical commissioning group's home visiting service, who are running care home vaccinations. But a risk assessment has to be carried out before a vaccination team can be sent to a care home, and Seagrave House's planned vaccination date was cancelled. It's understood that the care home was originally told that the vaccine had been postponed for up to four weeks, and that they would likely be given a new date in February. However, today it's been confirmed that the home has a vaccination team going in tomorrow (Friday). Katie Brown, acting director of adult social care at Northamptonshire Adult Social Services, said 'Public Health Northamptonshire tracks all of the county's known outbreak situations and takes action to manage the coronavirus in our communities. 'We are aware of an outbreak at Seagrave House and are providing residents and staff with appropriate guidance and support. It's understood the CQC was notified of several deaths by Seagrave House (pictured) over the weekend, although their causes of death are yet to be confirmed What are the current rules for visiting care homes? Care homes across the UK are still offering outdoor visiting and 'screened' visits during the lockdown. Government guidance says these should always be an option because visits are 'crucially important for maintaining health and wellbeing and quality of life for residents'. As well as maintaining social distance, visitors have to adhere to hand hygiene protocols and in some cases wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including aprons, masks and gloves. However, care homes can cancel outdoor and screened visits if there is an outbreak in the facility. Families are only allowed in-person visits in exceptional circumstances, including seeing dying relatives. This should continue even in the event of clusters within the homes, Number 10 says. Relatives coming for in-person visits must be tested using rapid lateral flow devices, which give a result within half an hour. Only after a negative result can the visit continue. Advertisement 'We are working with the local public heath team, Public Health England and environmental health colleagues and closely monitoring the situation. 'We are not able to provide further specific details on the settings as we are subject to information governance regulations in order to protect the privacy of individuals and we are confident that this is a contained outbreak and does not pose a threat to the wider community.' Any regulated service has to inform the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when a service user in adult social care dies. It's understood the CQC was notified of several deaths by Seagrave House over the weekend, although their causes of death are yet to be confirmed. A CQC spokesman said 'We are aware of a coronavirus outbreak at Seagrave House, and that the service has sadly reported that some of its residents have died. 'We are monitoring the situation closely to ensure people's safety. 'We are also working with our health and social care partners to support the service to respond to this challenge.' Seagrave House, which cared for 84 people at the time of its last inspection by health regulators, did not return a request for comment. Avery Healthcare directed enquiries relating tot he Midlands care home to Public Health England when approached for comment but did not refute the numbers of cases and deaths put to them. A Public Health England spokesman confirmed they are aware of the outbreak and are supporting the care home. There are currently 45 active care home outbreaks in the county, including six in Corby. More than 200 Covid deaths have been recorded in Northamptonshire care homes since last March. Fifteen residents of Temple Court in Kettering died after a Covid outbreak last year and the care home was ordered to close. A seven-month police probe ended with no further action earlier this month. Care home coronavirus deaths nearly tripled in a fortnight, damning official figures showed on Tuesday, as the disease makes a deadly resurgence in the sector. The UK's national statistics body found 1,705 care home residents died from the virus in the week ending January 22, up from 661 a fortnight ago. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revealed care home residents make up almost a third of all Covid-19 fatalities. Liz Kendall, Labour's shadow social care minister, warned the UK is 'in a race against time to vaccinate residents and staff' As of Tuesday, just 75 per cent of care home residents had been vaccinated against Covid, despite the vaccination scheme launching seven weeks ago. The Independent Care Group, which represents providers in York and North Yorkshire, said the figures make 'grim reading' and demonstrate the need to avoid complacency. Human rights group Amnesty International told MailOnline it suspects the resurgence of the virus in care homes is linked to the Government's controversial policy to continue 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 pass inspection and are deemed Covid-secure are asked to house infected patients. Other experts have said that when transmission is allowed to spiral in the community - there are thought to be about 100,000 new infections in the UK every day - it will always trickle into care homes through asymptomatic staff and claim lives. 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 the Government of throwing care homes 'to the wolves'. The NHS data figures show that 252,992 vaccinations were administered across England on January 27 - of which 251,902 were given to people receiving their first dose. Pictured: Pharmacist Bhaveen Patel gives a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in Brixton, London England, Wales and Northern Ireland gave out 284,954 Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday, official figures show, as the drive to immunise the UK is off its 400,000-a-day target needed to reach 15 million by mid-February. The Department of Health figures show that 284,954 vaccinations were give out across the three nations on January 27 - of which 282,812 were given to people receiving their first dose. However Scotland was not included in the total number of vaccinations given out on January 27 due to an 'IT issue overnight' and so the full number could not be verified but 'no data will have been lost' from the technical glitch. The UK needs to be vaccinating at least 400,000 people every day for the next three weeks to fulfil Number 10's promise of immunising all 15million of the most vulnerable Brits by February 15. For each day that passes without the target being hit it becomes slightly higher. Overall, 6.9million first and second doses have been administered across England and 6.5 million have at least received their first dose while 1,090 received their follow-up jab on Wednesday. However the vaccine postcode lottery saw 84 per cent of over-80s immunised in the North East and Yorkshire with only 78 per cent in the South East and 65 per cent in London. England, Wales and Northern Ireland gave out 284,954 Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday, official figures show, as the drive to immunise the UK is off its 400,000-a-day target needed to reach 15 million by mid-February The NHS data figures show that 252,992 vaccinations were administered across England on January 27 - of which 251,902 were given to people receiving their first dose. Gloucestershire is leading the jab rollout of the over-80s with 91 per cent vaccinated between December 8 and January 24. Meanwhile 89 per cent of the over-80 population in Herefordshire and Worcestershire has been vaccinated followed by Northamptonshire with 87 per cent over the same time period. The South East London integrated care system has the lowest proportion with only 60 per cent of its over-80 population vaccinated. However the supply of coronavirus vaccines to the North West of England could be cut by a third next month so doses can be diverted to parts of the country further behind in their rollout to the over-80s. The North West has vaccinated the third-highest proportion of its over-80s, reaching 82 per cent of the group who are among those most at risk if they catch the virus. The North East is ahead of it and supplies are expected to be limited there, too. And NHS sources say the region - which includes Manchester, Liverpool, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria - will see supplies cut in the first week of February, according to the Health Service Journal. A senior member of the health service, who was not named, told the specialist news website: 'It means that, having stepped up a lot of services, you're then only using half that capability. I don't think anyone's complaining, but it's going to be a significant step back just as capability has been ramped up.' It comes amid reports ministers are redirecting supplies from areas steaming ahead in the rollout to those lagging behind - such as London and East Anglia - to ensure all priority groups are vaccinated quickly. Vaccines WILL limit the spread of coronavirus but we won't know how by much until mid-February, experts say Britain's vaccine roll out will limit the spread of coronavirus, but by exactly how much will not be made clear until mid-February, experts say. Providing a boost to the UK's hopes of ending lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said jabs 'couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission'. He said it was less a question of 'will they?' and rather 'to what extent' will inoculation help to reduce the spread. But Boris Johnson and his chief scientists tonight said experts won't know much effect the coronavirus vaccines are having on the country's epidemic until mid-February, The PM said the impact of the jabs won't be felt in hospital and deaths data until then due to the lag in time it takes between getting injected and developing immunity. He told a Downing Street press conference tonight that he would not consider lifting lockdown restrictions until he'd seen concrete 'evidence that those graphs are coming down'. The immunisation drive has only really got up to speed in the last few weeks and it takes between a fortnight and a month for a person to build up immunity. Both the Pfizer and Oxford University vaccines have been proven to block severe illness, so experts hope they'll start to make a dent in the death and hospitalisation rates in the coming weeks. No10's scientists will be monitoring those metrics, specifically in the most vulnerable groups - including the over-80s, over-75s and care homes residents - who are currently receiving the jabs. So far 6.8million, or one in 10, people in Britain have received at least one dose of the vaccines. In three weeks time, when most of those people have protection, experts will expect to see a near 10 per cent drop in hospital admissions. Not all of the people vaccinated will be immune, however, because the jabs are not perfect. Pfizer's is 95 per cent effective at blocking severe disease, while Oxford's is around 70 per cent. Advertisement Confusion was sparked last week after No10 refused to deny Covid-19 jabs could be redistributed to even out a postcode lottery, despite the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi claiming none were being sent away from areas leading the drive. The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously stated ministers will reroute stocks to areas where the fewest number of over-80s and other priority groups have received their first dose. The Department of Health told the HSJ it was making 'targeted deliveries' to areas where more people in priority groups were waiting for their first dose. A spokesman said: 'We are in close contact with all of our vaccine suppliers and remain on track to offer first vaccinations to the top four priority groups by mid-February. 'As we've said, supply is the limiting factor and as the public would expect we're prioritising those most at risk from this disease across the country. Our approach so far has ensured we've vaccinated more people than any country in Europe.' An NHS North West spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The North West is being fully supplied with all the vaccinations needed to offer vaccination to everyone across the region aged 70 and above, as well as clinically extremely vulnerable patients, and health and social care staff. 'Our job is to get them vaccinated by mid-February so targeted deliveries are being made to areas where there are more people left to vaccinate in the priority cohorts.' The Prime Minister's rollout was mired in confusion last week after No10 refused to rule out plans to transfer Covid-19 stocks to other regions. Asked to comment on the reports, a spokesman said: 'We will continue to ensure that all areas and regions of the UK receive the vaccine to ensure we can protect the most vulnerable in society. 'I would point to what Matt Hancock said yesterday where he said we have got to make sure vaccination is fair across the UK and some parts of the country, including parts of the North East and Yorkshire, have gone fast early on. 'He also said why we're putting more vaccine into areas that haven't made as much progress, so everyone in the top four groups can receive the offer of a vaccine by February 15. 'We've always said that we will prioritise those first four cohorts, which is why we set the mid-February target. But it remains the case that areas of the UK will continue to receive doses of the vaccine.' Meanwhile Britain today confirmed another 28,680 cases of coronavirus in another week-on-week drop, with 24 per cent fewer than last Thursday. The number, although slightly higher than yesterday, is another sign that the third national lockdown in England is working and infections are coming under control. The Department of Health also announced another 1,239 people had died with the virus, taking the total to 103,126. This was a small decline on this time last week four per cent and this figure will be the slowest to fall in the wake of infection numbers and hospital inpatients. It comes as Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that the national lockdown will last until at least March or until three weeks after the most vulnerable group has been completed. This means the prospect of lifting tough social distancing rules that have already been in place for three weeks is reliant entirely on the vaccine programme getting up to speed. Discount grocer Lidl has reported sales of 278.2m in Northern Ireland. It also had pre-tax profits of 2.1m for the financial year March 2019 to February 2020. The company, which has 40 stores in NI, is publishing full financial details of its business here for the first time. While in fourth position for grocery sales in the marketplace here - behind Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda - its sale have been growing at a faster rate than its competitors. According to retail monitor Kantar, it has a market share of 6.4% here, but had grown its sales by 19.7% over the last year. Lidl has around 1,000 staff in NI, and recently opened its 40th store here at Holywood Exchange outside Belfast. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Ireland chief executive JP Scally said: Were absolutely thrilled with the sales in NI. Were the fastest-growing retailer across NI for a number of years at this stage and that continues into this financial year for us as well. Were particularly proud of the team on the ground in NI who have developed the business singnficantly over the last number of years. But he added: We see still huge opportunity for growth. According to Kantar, were at 6.4% of the market in NI, which means theres about 94% of the market we dont have, and that I suppose feeds into our ambitions for our growth by investing in our store network and additional stores being added on. He said Lidl NI had been established as a limited company as part of an abundance of caution to prepare for Brexit. And he said the company had not seen the gaps in its shelves which had hit other supermarkets following the end of the transition period and the introduction of the NI Protocol introducing checks on animal-based food products coming into NI from Great Britain. Instead, he said the company had reoriented its supply chain away from using the UK as a route into the island of Ireland from continental Europe. A leading academic expert on national security has called for a radical shake-up in how the UK deals with major crises on the scale of the current pandemic A leading academic expert on national security has called for a radical shake-up in how the UK deals with major crises on the scale of the current pandemic. Former industrialist and MoD official Dr Simon Harwood said it was time for a new body which does not just try and spot what could go wrong, but also sets out the steps which need to be taken so the UK can cope with the country's next extraordinary / extreme event. This could be another pandemic or for other 'major risks', such as a serious terrorist attack, cyber-biological threat, space-weather or the potential catastrophic impact of man-made climate change - such as flooding or other extreme weather events. Dr Harwood, Director of Defence and Security at Cranfield University, was speaking this week to the House of Lords Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Committee. The committee's members include some of Britain's leading scientists, plus senior figures such as former NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson. Speaking to the committee Dr Harwood said: "What use is simply having a list of risks that we do nothing about? What we need, what I believe we need as a country, is a comprehensive resilience framework that looks at the risk, and also our ability to mitigate it." Dr Harwood said it was vital that the organisation in charge of deciding which risks were the most dangerous ones should also have the job of understanding how and whether they could be mitigated. He told the committee that the UK needs to move away from the "ever expanding list of risks into what are we going to do about them," which he describes as "connected resilience." Dr Harwood said this new organisation - a new 'national-emergency agency' - could have its own personnel with one of its roles being to co-ordinate volunteer reservists able to work across communities in the face of another crisis. "We need leadership and decision-making from a dedicated national level operation capable of working nationally, internationally and globally. We can't continue to rely on the outstanding work the armed forces are doing to step in at any and every extra ordinary event as has so often has happened; flooding, foot and mouth, disruption of the petrol supply chain, Covid, ebola. This time with Covid, the UK was fortunate that our armed forces were not being deployed extensively overseas on a mission." Dr Harwood continued. Dr Harwood called it the "fourth emergency service, able to work across our communities, bring together and give training and medical skills, crowd control, logistics, communication, essentially a group drilled to take their place alongside local councils and the emergency services." Dr Harwood said the UK's lack of resilience in some key sectors - exposed by the coronavirus pandemic was now a risk in itself. "Covid-19 exposed everything that's brittle about making efficiency the priority for both the public and private sector," as he went on to say "in a business case, in efficiency terms, why would you invest to mitigate a low probability event?" Dr Harwood is part of a team at Cranfield University which is looking at the interconnectedness of different threats - from pandemics to information security - the impact that the UK could face should they happen, and how to try and ensure that there is a plan for recovery in the worst circumstances. Cranfield researchers and academics are working on a multi-disciplinary basis in this area and include specialists on organisational resilience, environmental risk management, foresight, resilient infrastructure and safety, accident and investigation. Cranfield is a UK leading centre of expertise on connected resilience and is playing a major role on the new National Preparedness Commission led by Lord Toby Harris. ### ADVERTISEMENT The Jigawa State House of Assembly has sanctioned a member for criticising Governor Muhammed Badaru and saying the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has not lived up to expectations. Musa Sule, representing Dutse constituency, was removed from heading a committee after he made the comments in an interview on Freedom Radio on Saturday. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the Speaker of the Assembly, Idris Garba, on March 5 last year suspended Sani Isyaku, the member representing Gumel constituency, for alleged thuggery. Mr Isyaku was accused of leading thugs to attack the convoy of the state governor in Hadejia Local Government Area. However, the state High Court later voided Mr Isyakus suspension and ordered his rights and privileges as a member of the House restored. On Tuesday, the Speaker, Mr Garba, announced Mr Sules removal from his committee leasership role during the plenary. Musa Sule is removed from his chairmanship of the house standing committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said. Mr Garba said Aminu Zakari, the chairperson of the House committee on information, will oversee the committee on Sustainable Development Goals. He did not state why Mr Sule was removed nor speak with journalists after the plenary. Radio criticism The sanctioned lawmaker had appeared on a popular political radio programme, Baki ke yanki wuya and made critical comments. In 2023, the major challenge ahead of APC is uncertainty because the electorate have lost trust in the leaders and they believe that they are being cheated by those at the helm. The governors are no longer trusted by the common man due to what transpired after they were elected to power and unfortunately, they are serving their last term in office, the lawmaker said. In the party, leaders are appointing and firing executives at the national and state levels at will, injustice has climaxed and the electorate have realised that they have elected the wrong persons, Mr Sule said. He said any anointment by the governor as a candidate in 2023 is dead on arrival, because they have killed our party in the state. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Church's Chicken, the national fried chicken quick-service restaurant beloved for its bone-in chicken, today announced the arrival of its newest boneless chicken category offering: Church's Texas Tenders. Starting Jan. 28, Church's new Texas Tenders will be a permanent menu item, meeting the growing demand for high-quality boneless chicken and on-the-go menu options following the successful launch of the Church's Chicken Sandwich in October 2020. The Texas Tenders are big and bold, taking inspiration from Church's home state of Texas, and are debuting in the Tenders 'N Shrimp meal, a limited-time combo offering available for Lent. Church's Tenders 'N Shrimp meal is available for a limited time only at participating Churchs restaurants, while supplies last. "The evolution of our tenders with the introduction of our new Texas Tenders gives our guests even more reasons to choose Church's," said Brian Gies, chief marketing officer for Church's. "With the new Texas Tenders 'N Shrimp meal, we're combining two menu items packed with the flavors our fans crave. You can taste the punched-up flavor in every bite of these Texas Tenders and Crispy Butterfly Shrimp, delivering an authentic taste of down-home cooking." The new Texas Tenders are marinated in buttermilk, hand breaded with Church's signature seasoning blend and cooked to a golden crisp. To boost the flavor even more, the Texas Tenders will come with new Smoky Honey-Q dipping sauce that is a blend of BBQ and honey mustard with a hint of seasoning that adds a combination of sweet, heat and smoke in every dip. Delivering even bigger, bolder value, each Texas Tenders 'N Shrimp meal is served with two Texas Tenders, four Crispy Shrimp, fries, a Honey-Butter Biscuit and cocktail sauce, all for just $5. This seasonal meal deal is available for a limited time only at participating Church's restaurants, while supplies last. Guests can easily and safely order the new Texas Tenders 'N Shrimp meal at their local Church's via drive-thru, carry-out and Order Ahead where available nationwide. The Texas Tenders join the Church's Chicken Sandwich as a permanent menu item, extending the brand's culinary innovation in the boneless chicken space. To accompany the "drop" of Church's new Tenders 'N Shrimp meal, the brand is releasing an exclusive Look Book featuring fashion-inspired photos of the Tenders and Shrimp, inviting fans to indulge in the art of this new homestyle combination. By following Church's on social media, super-fans may have a chance to get their hands on a limited-edition Church's fanny pack, insulated and ready to carry a Texas Tenders 'N Shrimp meal around in style. The stylish fanny pack is a perfect accessory to keep those flavor-packed tenders and crispy shrimp nice and warm while on-the-go. To learn more about the new Church's Texas Tenders 'N Shrimp meal, and to find a nearby location, visit www.churchs.com. About Church's Chicken Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952 by George W. Church, Church's Chicken is one of the largest quick-service restaurant chicken chains in the world. Church's specializes in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded. The chain is famous for its Texas Tenders, Honey-Butter Biscuits made from scratch and freshly baked, and classic, homestyle sides all for a great value. Church's (along with its sister brands Texas Chicken and Church's Texas Chicken outside the U.S.) has more than 1,500 locations in 25 countries and international territories. With system-wide sales of more than $1 billion, the system had a recording-breaking year in 2019. For more information, visit www.churchs.com. Follow Church's on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Media Contact Nick Fischer 678-997-7928 [email protected] SOURCE Church's Chicken Related Links http://www.churchs.com New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) A total 16 opposition parties, including Indian National Congress, will boycott the Presidential address in Parliament on Friday to register their protest against newly-enacted farm laws and show solidarity towards farmers protesting at Delhi's borders for more than two months, an official statement said on Thursday. As per the official release, the parties which have agreed to boycott the address are Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK),All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Commusnist Party of India (CPI), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kerala Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). The parties demanded an impartial inquiry into January 26 clashes in the National Capital as they suspected 'central government's role' in orchestrating it. Republic Day in Delhi was marred with clashes between protesting farmers and Delhi police over a tractor parade resulting in injuries to scores of civilians and policemen and loss of one life. "We also express our sadness over the injuries sustained by Delhi police personnel while handling the difficult situation," the opposition parties said. The parties alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have remained insensitive to the issue. "The Prime Minister and the BJP government remain arrogant, adamant and undemocratic in their response," the statement said. The parties reasserted that the newly-enacted farm laws are an 'assault' on rights of states and 'violate' federal spirit of the Constitution. They reminded the Centre that over 155 farmers have lost their lives while protesting at the borders in biting cold weather from the last 64 days. The three laws, passed by Parliament during monsoon session, are seen by growers as pro-corporate and anti-farmers as they allow private players in the agricultural trade. UNI PS SB 1527 The H24All project, led by a consortium of fifteen partners, has presented an application for European Green Deal funding to develop Europes first 100 megawatt (MW) alkaline electrolyzer plant, which will be connected to a Repsol industrial site. The consortium aims to pave the way for a new and competitive hydrogen industry based on European know-how through innovation by developing, building, operating and demonstrating the sustainability of a 100 MW high-pressure alkaline electrolyzer. The technology will be demonstrated in real operation according to end-users needs, meeting market requirements for competitive low-carbon hydrogen production. Partners in the consortium represent the whole value chain of hydrogen from six different countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Spain, and Turkey). The partners include research centers, material suppliers, engineering firms specializing in electrolyzers, electro-intensive industries, energy and automotive companies, universities, and industry associations, all of which have a high level of expertise in this field and are safety-oriented and committed to CO 2 reduction. During the H24All project, partners will bring together different innovative solutions that will together represent, in a record time, significant progress in hydrogen technologies that improve the competitiveness and viability of an electrolyzer while reducing the investment needed as well as operating costs. The objective for the Green Deal project will be to boost the technology and the use of renewable hydrogen by reducing the cost to close to 3/kg (US$3.63) H 2 . This project will be the validation reference of an innovative and competitive technology at pre-commercial scale. The economic and business-modelling case will provide quantitative evidence that will reduce the risk for other hydrogen infrastructure deployment across Europe. The complete timeline of the project encompasses an expected three years of research, development and construction plus two years of a demonstration and validation phase. This initiative will represent a major boost to the technological development of renewable hydrogen production and will have a positive effect on other industries, such as mobility, refining, synthetic fuel production and renewable power generation. Repsol aims to become a leader in the production of hydrogen in the Iberian Peninsula by reaching a production equivalent to 400 MW by 2025. Repsols refining business is currently the largest consumer and producer of this product in Spain, and it will, through its Technology Lab, contribute its technological capabilities, knowledge, and experience in hydrogen to the consortium. Bahrain today (January 28) received its first batch of the Covishield - AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India under the name Covishield. The Covishield-AstraZeneca vaccine, produced by AstraZeneca in cooperation with the University of Oxford, and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, has been approved for emergency use by the Kingdoms National Health Regulatory Authority. The vaccine will be available to all citizens and residents and distributed equitably to support the national vaccination action efforts, reported BNA. Confirming this, Minister of Health Faeqa Saeed Al Saleh, said the first batch of the Covishield-AstraZeneca vaccine was delivered today by the Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, Piyush Shrivastav, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Minister. lauding the support provided by the Indian Government in strengthening bilateral health cooperation in light of the global spread of Covid-19, said the depth of Bahraini-Indian relations has led to this increase in cooperation across various development fields. Shrivastav expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the government and citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain for their commitment to further strengthening cooperation and affirmed Indias resolve to continue bolstering joint health cooperation to benefit both countries and their peoples. The Ministry of Health has called upon the citizens wishing to take the Covishield vaccine to register via either the BeAware application or the Ministry of Healths website on https://healthalert.gov.bh. TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the eighth time in ten years, a Florida governor has officially recognized the last week in January as Florida School Choice Week, a week to raise awareness about choice in K-12 education. Gov. Ron DeSantis' proclamation of Florida School Choice Week (Jan. 24-30) recognizes the state's diverse education options and how every child deserves an effective education. Gov. DeSantis' proclamation joins those of more than 20 other governors and hundreds of mayors, councilmembers, and other leaders nationwide. Across the country, more than 33,000 virtual or socially-distanced activities have been independently planned for the Week. Florida families enjoy many school choices, and, for the last several years, Florida has been one of the leading states in the number of events held during School Choice Week. This year, Florida families and community members will celebrate with more than 3,400 virtual activities. These virtual school expos, drive-in movie nights, online parent panels, at-home celebrations, and more will shine a light on how finding an inspiring and challenging educational fit transforms a child's experience. "Florida parents continue to lead in speaking up for school choice and growing educational opportunity in their state," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We are grateful to Gov. DeSantis for proclaiming the Week and wish Florida families, teachers, and community members all success this School Choice Week." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/florida . SOURCE National School Choice Week Related Links www.schoolchoiceweek.com The insurer that targets members of the military and veterans, USAA, is going to start writing its own small business insurance policies for the first time. The company will initially offer the coverage in five states Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, South Carolina and Tennessee. Plans call for an ongoing rollout to other states through 2021. The insurer which serves insureds or members who are in the U.S. military currently, military veterans, and their families has for 30 years offered small business insurance from unaffiliated companies through its USAA Insurance Agency. This is the first time USAA will be offering its own product, a move it said is based on increased member demand. Its new small business insurance is underwritten by subsidiary Garrison Property & Casualty Insurance Company of San Antonio. For small business owners, their business is their life and livelihood, Jim Syring, retired Vice Admiral, United States Navy, and USAAs Property and Casualty president, said in prepared remarks. They put their heart into building their business and work around the clock to make it a success. We believe we understand veterans better than anyone and want to be there to support them and their business every step of the way. The military veteran-related small business market is a sizable one. There are 2.4 million veteran-owned small business firms, and they employ 5.8 million people, according to statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration. These businesses cover a variety of sectors including finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, mining, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, real estate, utilities, agriculture and forestry. USAA said its new coverage will be able to help protect small business owners of virtually any size, in any industry and virtually every state. The insurer said it can serve businesses of all sizes through USAA Insurance Agency, but its manufactured product is currently targeted to businesses with under $500,000 in annual revenue. USAA said it will expand its offerings as it looks to serve evolving member needs. Initially, USAA is marketing a business owners policy product with basic, standard and premium levels of cover. Coverage elements include business liability, business personal property, business income, cyber, computer fraud, terrorism, hired and non-owned auto, and employment practices liability. Workers compensation coverage will be offered through USAAs agency partners. USAA will sell its small business products and its ongoing agency offerings both digitally and through member service representatives. USAA Insurance Agency will still offer business insurance products underwritten by third-party insurers. USAA or its affiliates are not involved in the underwriting, but the agency gets a commission on the sale or renewal of these products, as well as potential performance-based compensation, the company said. Source: USAA. Topics Trends Commercial Lines Business Insurance Market New Markets Small Business A mystery object has been filmed flying 35,000ft over Pakistan by shocked airline pilots who claim it was not a balloon or aircraft. In the video, a group of Pakistan International Airlines pilots can be heard trying to figure out what the object is pulsing above their plane. 'It's not a balloon, it's not an aircraft', one pilot says in English. The object, which looks like a circular light, flares and launches what look like small explosions of gas in the sky. Pilots on a Pakistan Airlines flight have captured an unidentified object flying in the sky during a routine flight between Lahore and Karachi The object, which the men said was not a balloon or aircraft, can be seen pulsing in the sky over Pakistan Local media reported the pilot saying: 'The UFO was extremely bright despite the presence of sunlight.' The pilot did not think the object was a planet, and thought it could be a 'space station' or an 'artificial planet'. One local media report quoted the pilot recalling a metal ring wrapped around the object and a brilliant light coming from its centre. The unidentified flying object was seen over Rahim Yar Khan, a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The pilots were operating a routine flight from Lahore to Karachi. The object periodically pulses as it hovers, 1,000ft above the cruising aircraft, as pilots watch it on a flight between Lahore and Karachi Pakistani journalist Zain Khan, who tweeted the footage, wrote on Twitter: 'It is too early to say for sure what he had actually witnessed. 'It cannot necessarily be a flying saucer.' Khan said the pilot immediately reported the incident when he saw it last Saturday, adding that authorities were now investigating as to what the object is. A spokesman for PIA confirmed the captain of the flight saw an 'extraordinary object' flying 1,000ft over his aircraft, which was cruising at 35,000ft, and made a video which is being circulated on social media. 'At this time we don't know what the object was', the spokesman said. WENZHOU, China, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bespoke auto parts manufacturer, SONTIAN just launched a new brushless motor manufacturing facility in Rui-an, China. The new plant's knotting ceremony, which was held on the morning of Jan. 27, 2021, occupies about 80,000 square meters and is estimated to provide an output value of 120 million dollars. SONTIAN Automotive Motor SONTIAN is looking to establish its identity as a leading BLDC motor manufacturer, and with this new plant, there is no doubt that they would attain the desired feat within the shortest possible time. The newly launched manufacturing facility is slated to focus on different intelligent brushless blower motors and brushless radiator fans. The smart brushless radiator fan and brushless blower motors SONTIAN is looking to introduce, with the launch of this new manufacturing facility, is set to serve multiple car manufacturing companies. "Automotive industries are set to benefit massively from the smart auto part variants this new SONTIAN manufacturing plant is equipped to produce." Weighing the viability of the new products SONTIAN is looking to add to its production line based on SONTIAN's track record and its promise to provide excellence on all fronts. It's safe to assume that these auto part products are going to be designed with cutting edge technology, high energy ferrite magnets and state-of-the-art sine wave sensor-less drive. While the BLDC motor manufacturers CEO Mr. Dai XueZhi highlighted the design and manufacturing of smart brushless motor products to be their key focus for the newly launched plant. The CEO reiterated that SONTIAN is in no way backing down in the development of window regulators, windshield wiper, air conditioner blower motors and other products the old factory was known for. SONTIAN's CEO further stated that the goal behind this new manufacturing site is to increase production and meet up with their customers' dynamic needs. To keep up with the estimated output of this newly launched manufacturing facility, SONTIAN has become a bit extravagant in investing in new technologies. The auto part company has taken drastic measures to up its marketing game, enhanced its production line and established a formidable online store. About SONTIAN SONTIAN is an auto part solution provider offering bespoke automotive items in line with customers' specifications and design. The automotive company possesses a 28,000 square meter factory site at Rui-An city equipped with state of the art technologies and operates with dedicated and highly skilled experts - individuals who go above and beyond to maintain a flawless production line. The company offers wide range coverage across multiple horizons, from window regulators for vintage cars to heavy-duty wiper motor solutions for vehicles of today. Sontian's collection has got you covered. SONTIAN Automotive Motor Contact Details: Michelle Zhou Sales manager [email protected] Tel: 0086-577-65321888 Mob/WhatsApp : 0086-18281250591 Related Images sontian-brushless-dc-motor.png Sontian Brushless DC Motor Manufacturer SOURCE SONTIAN Automotive Motor Related Links https://sontianmotor.com/ Washington: The Biden administration has unveiled what it describes as a new era of American diplomacy that will reverse many of former president Donald Trumps actions and reach out to scorned allies. The world is watching us intently right now, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on his first day on the job. They want to know if we can heal our nation. They want to see whether we will lead with the power of our example. The administration is attempting to reassure the world that US belief in multilateralism - cooperation with other countries on numerous global issues, including the pandemic and climate change - has returned. Antony Blinken, US President Joe Bidens Secretary of State. Credit:AP As State Department employees were greeting Blinken, Linda Thomas-Greenfield was testifying to a Senate committee vetting her nomination as the US ambassador to the United Nations. Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted on Thursday in favor of extending the Russian delegations rights in the organization. A total of 107 members voted yes, 36 were against and 24 more abstained, TASS reported. The text of the resolution notes worsening negative trends regarding democracy and human rights in Russia. The rapporteur voiced concerns over the constitutional amendments passed in Russia last year, saying that they give the Constitutional Court the right to recognize that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights cannot be implemented. In addition, the provisions on protecting territorial integrity make it nearly impossible to iron out the Crimean issue. Therefore, the document calls for abiding by the Venice Commissions recommendations published last year. Meanwhile, the final document says that the support for this resolution does not mean the recognition of Crimeas reunification with Russia. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ervin Cohen & Jessup (ECJ) today announced that Real Estate Partner and Co-Chair of the Firm's Real Estate Practice Albert Valencia and Litigation Partner and Chair of the Firm's Food, Beverage and Hospitality Practice Pooja S. Nair have once again been selected by the Los Angeles Business Journal as Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys in Los Angeles. The publisher writes that these stellar minority attorneys in the Los Angeles region are "particularly impactful on the legal scene, while serving as trusted advisors, along with maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards." Nair and Valencia were both recognized by the publication in 2020. "Pooja and Al are enormously talented lawyers who have continually proven their ability to deliver the firm's clients with the highest degree of strategy and service," said Co-Managing Partner Randall S. Leff. "In addition to their commitment to clients, they are also influential leaders within the firm." In the special report published today, the Los Angeles Business Journal writes that "clients look to Valencia for his experience in a broad range of real estate asset classes including commercial, office, retail, multi-family, mixed-use and industrial properties." In the last year, Valencia has represented a multi-family developer in the purchase of at least ten residential properties for redevelopment in Los Angeles County, and the purchase and financing of 7651 and 7501 Esters Boulevard, a 176,700 square foot office complex located outside of Dallas. The journal commends Nair on her work last year, when she "launched ECJ's Food, Beverage and Hospitality Group, which provides a full range of legal services to clients across the food, beverage and hospitality industries." Nair advises food and beverage clients, startups and other businesses on a comprehensive range of issues, including employment, trade secrets, partnership disputes, contract negotiations and intellectual property. Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP is a full-service firm that provides a broad range of business-related legal services including, real estate, litigation, corporate, tax, land use, employment, bankruptcy, estate planning, finance, healthcare, intellectual property and technology law. For more information, visit our new website http://www.ecjlaw.com/ SOURCE Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP Residents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries have an increasingly favorable view toward China, compared to the significantly lower figures to the United States, according to a survey published on January 12 by Arab Barometer, a Princeton University-affiliated non-partisan quantitative research institute. A screenshot from the official website of Arab Barometer Arab Barometer has conducted a survey to gauge public opinion toward China and the U.S., the world's two biggest economies. Over 6,000 residents from six MENA countries, including Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia, participated in the research. The survey shows that Arab publics prefer China. In Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, half or more than half of respondents prefer China to the U.S., with figures reaching 60 percent, 52 percent, and 50 percent, respectively. In the other three countries, China has received over a third of positive views. The U.S. is less welcomed in the MENA region. In six countries, fewer than a third of interviewees hold a favorable view towards the U.S., having results ranging from a high of 28 percent in Morocco to a low of 14 percent in Libya. The poll also reveals that interviewees think China's foreign policies are more beneficial to the MENA region. Forty-two percent of Algerians in the survey agree that China's foreign policies have been favorable for the area, which is the highest among the six countries. Even in Jordan, where the support is somewhat lower, the number reaches 21 percent. The same figures for the United States are less appealing, for the highest view stands at 18 percent in Lebanon. Only 6 percent of the interviewees in Tunisia support U.S. foreign policy. Despite China's growing economic ties with the MENA countries, relatively few residents consider China as a threat to their countries national interest. Instead, they are more concerned about U.S. economic power. Over a third of respondents in six countries believe the U.S. could jeopardize their country's economy. Screenshot from the official website of Arab Barometer Among the six countries, people in Lebanon are most likely to think the two countries' economic involvement represents a significant threat. The figure toward the U.S. topped at nearly 50 percent, almost twice as high as China's figure, which is 26 percent. The research institution explains different attitudes via two countries performance on international issues. "China has taken an increasing role in the region, providing aid to governments for COVID-related relief, building on years of increased involvement in MENA through its Belt and Road Initiative," said the research. With the largest repository of publicly available data on people's views in MENA regions, the survey results are high quality and reliable that can reflect the attitudes of ordinary citizens in the MENA region. MUEHLHEIM (dpa-AFX) - German chemical and ingredients distributor Brenntag AG (BNTGF.PK) Thursday said it has signed an agreement to acquire China's Zhongbai Xingye Food Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. in two steps, aiming to expand its food and nutrition business in China. The company now agreed to buy a majority stake of 67% of the Chinese distributor of specialty food ingredients, including dairy products and proteins, at an enterprise value of about 90 million euros. The remaining 33% will be acquired by Brenntag by end of 2024. The acquiring business generated sales of approximately 146 million euros over a twelve-months period up to June 2020. Closing of the first tranche is subject to certain contractual conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021. Closing of the second tranche is expected at the end of 2024. Following the acquisition, the business will be settled within the global division of Brenntag Specialties. Christian Kohlpaintner, CEO Brenntag Group, said, 'The chemical distribution market in Asia Pacific and especially in China is growing dynamically. We see a substantial potential there and we will strengthen the focus on the region in terms of our M&A strategy.' 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. SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on Global Market Insights Inc., report, the global Glutathione Market size was estimated at $195 million in 2020 and is slated to surpass $315 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7% from 2021 to 2027. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the top winning strategies, wavering industry trends, drivers & opportunities, top investment avenues, competitive scenarios, market estimations & size. Global Market Insights Inc. The rising application of glutathione in various end-use industries such as Nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food should support the product market growth. Additionally, glutathione is an essential antioxidant, which helps in DNA synthesis, sperm formulation, and immunity. Therefore, these benefits of glutathione support its market growth over the forecasted period. Glutathione reduced witnessed highest growth potential in the market, owing to multiple health benefits of the product such as reducing oxidative stress, improve psoriasis, and reduce respiratory disease symptoms. Request for Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4147 Glutathione uses in the pharmaceutical industry are anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecasted period, owing to rising lifestyle disease and change in consumers' lifestyle and eating pattern. North America region holds a major share in the global glutathione market and is anticipated to grow with the highest CAGR of over 7.0%. Continuous expansion of the pharmaceutical industry in this region and continuous government support for research and development activities should drive the market growth. Asia Pacific region is anticipated to show significant growth in the global glutathione market over the coming time frame. It is owing to the growing cosmetic industry in the Asia Pacific region, pertaining to its rising urban population and beauty trend from its neighboring regions. Latin America region is anticipated to show significant industry growth of 6.5% of CAGR between the years 2021 to 2027 owing to the growing cosmetic and personal care industry in the region. Wherein, the Brazilian fragrances, personal care, and cosmetics, product's sales accounted for more than 45.0% of the Latin American cosmetic products' sales in the year 2019. As a result of changing consumer living patterns, rising disposable income, and rising expenditure on personal care and beauty products. Therefore, this growing demand for cosmetic products in Latin America supports to drive the glutathione market growth, as it is highly used in anti-aging products such as cream serum and so on. Request for customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4147 Key players in the global glutathione industry include Kyowa Hakko Bio Co. Ltd., Haihang Industry Co. Ltd., Xi'an Fengzu Biological Technology Co. Ltd, Cayman Chemical Company, KOHJIN Life Sciences Co. Ltd., Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., YAOPHARMA., Shandong Jincheng Biological Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and Herbo Nutra, these players in the market are holding significant share and are implementing various strategies to further increase their global presence and production capacity. 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. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.gminsights.com Related Images glutathione-market-statistics-2027.jpg Glutathione Market Statistics - 2027 Related Links 2,5-Dimethyl-2,4-Hexadiene Market - 2027 Anti-Aging Ingredients Market Statistics - 2027 SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. 1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone. 2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea. 3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials. 4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied. Vote View Results Its not yet known why reduced-dose of the Oxford vaccine showed better efficacy in trials, but it could be down to the viral vector. When the efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was announced in late 2020, there was some confusion. The overall efficacy of the vaccine at stopping people developing symptomatic COVID-19 , two weeks after the second dose, was 70 percent. But this wasnt the whole picture. This figure was based on averaging the results from two groups. In one group, which was given two full doses, the vaccine was 62 percent effective at stopping people developing symptoms. But in the second group, a dosing error meant that volunteers received a half dose followed by a full one. This ended up being 90 percent protective against developing COVID-19 . This was intriguing. Why would giving people less of the vaccine lead to a more effective immune response? The answer to this may lie in the design of the vaccine and could mean that there are ways to make this vaccine and others that use the same design more effective. How the Oxford vaccine works Vaccines work by exposing the immune system to recognisable parts or antigens of pathogens that cause diseases, such as bacteria or viruses. The immune system then mounts a response. Immune cells called B cells make antibodies to destroy the pathogen. Sometimes T cells can also be called into action, which eliminates our own cells that have been infected with the pathogen. Some B and T cells then remember the antigens for the future. At some future point, if the person is exposed to the pathogen, these long-lasting memory cells can quickly order more antibodies to be made to destroy the pathogen and attack infected cells. In effect, the principle of vaccination is to mimic an infection, but in a controlled way so that immunity is generated without causing illness. After a few weeks, once T cells and B cells have been generated, the person vaccinated will be protected. For certain vaccines, this requires two doses, as in some people the first dose alone wont generate complete immunity. The booster dose ensures as many people as possible acquire protection. In the case of the coronavirus vaccines, a number of methods are used to present the viruss antigens to the immune system. Some, such as the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines in China, simply present the body with a whole, inactivated version of the coronavirus . But others instead instruct the vaccinated persons own cells to produce a specific part of the coronavirus : the spike protein on its outer surface, which is a particularly recognisable antigen. These vaccines do this by delivering the part of the coronavirus s genetic code that encodes the spike protein into the cells of the body, which then read the code and start making the protein. Some, such as the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, deliver the code in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA). Others use a harmless virus to get the genetic code inside cells; the Oxford vaccine uses chimpanzee adenovirus, genetically altered so that its unable to reproduce, called ChAdOx1. These are known as viral-vector vaccines. How design could affect efficacy Its not yet known why the reduced-dose regimen of the Oxford vaccine showed better efficacy in trials, but it could be down to the viral vector. When a person is given a viral-vector vaccine, as well as generating an immune response against the coronavirus s spike protein, the immune system will also mount a response against the viral vector itself. This immune response may then destroy some of the booster doses when it is subsequently delivered before it can have an effect. This has long been recognised as a problem. However, a lower first dose might not allow for a strong anti-vector immune response to develop, which could leave the booster dose unscathed and lead to greater overall efficacy. If it turns out that this is the case, then future work will need to establish the optimum dosing regimen for generating the strongest immune response. The Russian Sputnik V vaccine acknowledges that immunity to the viral vector could be a problem but comes up with a different solution. It uses two different human adenoviruses Ad26 and Ad5 (out of the 50 that affect humans) for its two vaccine doses. This heterologous (or hybrid) vaccine, with different vectors for prime and booster vaccinations, is less likely to have one jab generate an immune response against the viral vector that then interferes with the other. The vaccine is, therefore, less likely to have reduced efficacy. The Gamaleya Center, the lab that made Sputnik V, said that after two doses the efficacy of the vaccine is over 90 percent (though it has yet to publish full results demonstrating this). This has now led to AstraZeneca testing a new hybrid vaccine schedule, comprising one dose of its vaccine and one of the Ad26-vector Sputnik V, to see if this makes the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine more effective. Jameel Inal, Professor of Immunobiology, London Metropolitan University, and Visiting Professor of Biomedical Science, University of Hertfordshire This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The United States is concerned about the human rights situation in and is worried about the safety and security of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken told reporters here on Wednesday. We've already expressed our deep concern for the treatment of Mr Navalny specifically and more generally with the human rights situation in Russia, and it remains striking to me how concerned and maybe even scared the Russian government seems to be of one man, Mr Navalny, Blinken said at his maiden news conference. Across the board, he said the US is reviewing all of these actions that are of deep concern to the US, whether it is the treatment of Navalny or the apparent use of a chemical weapon in an attempt to assassinate him. We're looking very urgently at SolarWinds and its various implications. We're looking at the reports of bounties placed by on American forces in Afghanistan. Of course, we're looking at these questions of election interference, he said. But as I say, we have a deep concern for Mr Navalny's safety and security. And the larger point is that his voice is the voice of many, many, many Russians, and it should be heard, not muzzled, Blinken 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.) OWOSSO, MI -- Last year we picked Lulas Louisiana Cookhouse as the No. 1 restaurant to visit in 2020. Then a pandemic hit. Like the thousands of Michigan restaurants that had to make tough decisions in order to keep their businesses afloat through Covid-19, and its uncertainty, the owners at Lulas decided to make an extreme decision that affected loyal customers and dedicated staff. They shut down. We didnt do take out; it just didnt make any sense, said owner/executive Chef John Beilfuss in a recent MLive Podcast. Located in downtown Owosso, in an historic brick building, Beilfuss said their small kitchen was a big drawback because employees would be working together in close proximity. It was March and a lot was still unknown about Covid-19. I didnt want to get anybody sick, said Beilfuss, who closed his doors on March 15 and laid off his 30-plus employees. In the summer, when restaurants resumed limited indoor dining before the second wave hit this winter, he remained closed. Even now, with restaurants allowed to re-open on Feb. 1 at 25 percent capacity, Beilfuss and his wife and co-owner, Morgan, are waiting it out. Its not an easy decision, especially when your livelihood and those of others rely on a bustling restaurant, which is home to Michigans Best Fried Chicken and next door to their popular jazz club, Lily Pearls Lounge. RELATED: Michigans Best Fried Chicken: Our Top 10 revealed Along with logistics and health guidelines as deterrents for reopening, Beilfuss also is aware of the dining experience, which has changed during the pandemic. As a foodie at heart -- who specializes in Southern/Louisiana meals and flavors from around the world -- he knows part of the joy of going out with family and friends is conversation, company and cuisine. At the initial shutdown, he knew everything was changing. Its the same way we feel today. Its why we didnt do the carryout, Beilfuss said. Our fried chicken is really good, he laughed, but put it in a box - theyre going to be happy, but youre not getting the entire experience or the ambience, and the comradery we have with our servers and customers. Thats why we decided to hold out until we could offer the entire experience. With Morgan working as a full time realtor in Owosso, Chicken John, which is what we call him at Michigans Best, decided to work on his recipes, a line of spices called Boy Wonder Spice and his cooking channel on YouTube called Scratch Cook with John. RELATED: Michigans Best Fried Chicken winner offers videos for stay-at-home cooks John and Morgan look forward to re-opening in 2021. Well call them an honorary pick for our list of the Top 21 restaurants to visit in 2021. The couple is optimistic about the future, despite the pandemic. They hope to re-open on May 1. This will change, Morgan said. Well get past this. Were able to hold the fort down. Were just trying to make things better. Were working on merchandising, like Johns spices, and trying to at least share the experience with people on how to make it at home. When things get back to normal it will be a grand celebration. Chef John said he even has a new menu for that day. We have every intention (to re-open) when we can safely have you and Amy at the door, greeting everybody for our grand re-opening. Thats when were going to re-open! Lula's owners Morgan and John Beilfuss are producing some instructional cooking classes online for you to enjoy.Mlive.com IF YOU GO Lulas Louisiana Cookhouse 113 S Washington St, Owosso, MI 48867 989-720-5852 More info: lulascookhouse.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/LulasCookhouse Learn about Boy Wonder Spices: boywonderspice.com How to make Shrimp Creole with Executive Chef John Beilfuss of Lulas Louisiana Cookhouse See more videos: Scratch Cook with John - YouTube Channel Paddle Hard Brewery in Grayling, Michigan, has been nominated for Michigan's Best Outdoor Dining.Courtesy of Paddle Hard Brewery More Michigans Best Stories How to vote for Michigans Best Outdoor Dining in our 11 regional polls Michigan craft beer trends, what to look for in 2021 Have a sweet tooth? Here are Michigans Top 21 Pies 21 of Michigans must-eat items for 2021 Non-alcoholic beer creating a buzz in Michigan Two Guys Brewing in Wyoming is finding success, and giving back John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman, MLive's Michigan's Best team, share stories from all over Michigan. Follow our Michigans Best adventures on social media: @mlivemibest on Twitter @mlivemibest on Instagram Facebook at MLiveMIBest. Join in by using the hashtag #mibest. In addition: Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail. John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo. If you have questions, feel free to email us. Amy Sherman: asherma2@mlive.com John Gonzalez: gonzo@mlive.com Source: Twitter US President Joe Biden's pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday did not explicitly commit the support of the new administration for India to be a permanent member of the Security Council. Three previous administrations, that of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, had publicly said that the United States supports India's bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. However, Thomas-Greenfield, who has spent more than 35 years in foreign service before being nominated to the position, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told lawmakers that this is a matter of ongoing discussion. Do you think India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council), Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon asked during her confirmation hearing for the position of the US Ambassador to the UN. Biden has named it as a Cabinet-ranking position. I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that, she said. But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion, she said in an apparent reference to the Coffee Club or United for Consensus. Comprising countries like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, the Coffee Club has opposed the permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. President Biden in his campaign policy document last year had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Recognising India's growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for India's membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council, Biden Campaign's policy document on Indian-Americans had said last August. Thomas-Greenfield, in response to another question, favoured reforms in the UN Security Council. India is currently its non-permanent member for a two-year term that began in January this year. I think there is general agreement across the board that reforms are needed in the Security Council. What those reforms will be and how they will be implemented, I think remains to be decided but you know changing the number of members that happened we move from 11 to 15 some years ago and there are efforts to push for more permanent members, and those discussions are ongoing, she said. She was responding to a question from Senator Merkley. I wanted to start by asking about the Security Council itself. At the same time that China and Russian often stymie actions in the Security Council. The Security Council is decreasingly representative of the geopolitical landscape with key powers like India, Germany, Japan not included as permanent members, he said. How do you approach the question of the Security Council? How do you consider that perhaps it needs to be reformed? How do you believe it can be made more effective and functional, Merkley asked. BOSTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on interviews with key startups in the energy space, Lux analysts have published a list of the top 20 startups in 2020. These startups have been evaluated by Lux's technology experts on their technology, business strategy, leadership, and market positioning. They have been awarded a "Lux Positive" or "Lux Strong Positive" rating. The list has been published in the market map "Top Energy Startups of 2020." "Every year, the Lux Research team conducts thousands of interviews with leading startups developing novel and emerging technologies," says Yuan-Sheng Yu, Director of Research at Lux Research. "By speaking directly with founders, Lux experts are able to unearth technical and strategic details often missing from traditional pitch decks and press releases, culminating in the Lux Research Company Profile. We score each company on 10 metrics on a scale from 1 to 5, with categories including the technology value proposition, IP, management team, and momentum. The nearly 15-year methodology has enabled Lux to pick winning startups at four times the success rate of the tech startup industry average." The startups are categorized into four key trends the energy industry should be tracking: Evolution of Energy Networks New technologies are disrupting today's isolated and unidirectional energy supply chains, but successful strategies must learn how to reuse existing infrastructure effectively. Decarbonization of Industry Carbon and energy use in the industrial sector remains one of the hardest decarbonization challenges in the energy system, with many solutions not available yet. Optimal Use of Resources New energy technologies have new land, water, and key mineral requirements; inherent limitations will shape the energy transition. Future Energy for Mobility Even though electrification seems to be a panacea for mobility at times, it is not the ultimate solution, as a mix of energy carriers are required to decarbonize transportation. "Receiving a Positive or Strong Positive Lux Take is no easy feat, with our analysts not only meticulously analyzing the technology but also assessing the startup's go-to-market strategy," explains Yu. "The startups within this elite group exemplify both, with many already gaining commercial traction in their respective applications." With renewed interest from investors in cleantech in the past year, Lux expects an influx of capital to support promising startups and go toward several unworthy ones as well. "Patience will be key, an investment horizon of 10 to 20 years may be required for this space," furthers Yu. "It is becoming even more important to conduct the proper due diligence to justify an investment to avoid falling for the hype that is quickly building in the industry. While we don't think we're on the verge of another cleantech bubble like the one from more than a decade ago just yet, short-term memory and the allure of chasing the next cleantech unicorn startup may lead a lot of investors down a path of disappointment." The named top startups include Ampaire, Amply Power, CarbonCure Technologies, Cheesecake Energy, Cuculus, EnergySource Minerals, Framergy, Greenbird Integration Technology, Ionic Materials, Lithium Americas, Lithium Werks, MagniX, Onzo, Peak Power, Piclo, PolyPlus Battery, SolidEnergy Systems, Svante, UniEnergy Technologies, Virta. Download the market map to learn more. Media Contact: Jessica Bonner 617-502-5319 Related Links http://www.luxresearchinc.com SOURCE Lux Research Related Links http://www.luxresearchinc.com [January 28, 2021] Health Prime Names Pranil Vadgama CEO & President Health Prime today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Pranil Vadgama as the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President, effective immediately. Vadgama was hired to lead Health Prime as it enters a new phase of growth, focused on customer management and continued technology innovation to lessen the administrative and financial burden on physicians. "The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the financial wellness of hospitals, surgery centers and physician groups across the country," says Vadgama. "During this challenging time, Health Prime is in the unique position to drive transformational change to ensure that physicians are paid properly. And, by lessening the administrative burden, physicians can focus efforts on what matters most, patients. I am honored to lead this charge." According to the Board of Directors, Vadgama's expertise in managing multiple large-scale initiatives, from strategic planning through execution, and his global leadership in driving productivity make him the ideal choice for this role. Vadgama's experience building a strong work culture and proven success in developing high performance teams at scale will be essential to support the company's rapid growth while maintaining the exceptional level of service that Healt Prime's customers have become accustomed to. Under Vadgama's leadership, Health Prime will continue to advance its technology and service offerings, including the company's flagship revenue cycle management and analysis platform, Datalytics. Datalytics lets physicians monitor the health of their medical practice by providing transparency into the medical billing collections process. The ability to identify areas that need improvement allows practices to make adjustments to ensure maximum reimbursement is received. Prior to joining Health Prime, Vadgama held the position of Executive Vice President for Global Corporate Scaling at R1 RCM in India, where he led operations, technology infrastructure, procurement, and process improvement across the company. He has more than 25 years of diverse experience in international management. Vadgama's involvement across multiple industries, operations and geographies was key for his appointment with Health Prime. Health Prime operates globally with a presence in the U.S., India, and Costa Rica. The company takes a holistic approach to Revenue Cycle Management and Practice Optimization, combining expert services and analytical technology. Health Prime makes managing a practice significantly easier, improving the well-being of physicians, patients, and health care practices. To learn more about Health Prime, visit https://www.hpiinc.com/ About Health Prime Founded in 2004, Health Prime is a practice optimization company that serves as a strategic partner for value-based care organizations in today's modern consumer health care marketplace. Created by physicians for physicians, Health Prime's transformative technology solutions and services optimize everyday medical practices, improve profitability, increase patient and provider satisfaction, and manage value-based care. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005209/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BELGRADE - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it has donated 1.7 million euros for the design and construction of fibre broadband infrastructure in rural regions of Serbia. Media sources said the deal was signed on Wednesday in Belgrade by representatives from the Serbian government and EBRD. The project will cover 90,000 households in 600 rural settlements across Serbia. The deal was signed by Serbian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Tatjana Matic; Serbian Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic; EBRD regional representative Zsuzsanna Hargitai; and head of the EU delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi. The number of pigs killed by the African swine fever in northern Tanzania has risen from 500 to 1,155, an official has said Hezron Nonga, the Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, on Wednesday told Xinhua in a telephone interview that out of the 1,155 killed pigs, 909 were in Kahama district, 56 in Geita district, 38 in Mbogwe district, 147 in Sengerema district, four in Kyerwa district and one in Misungwi district. The number of pigs killed by the African swine fever in northern Tanzania has risen from 500 to 1,155, an official has said Hezron Nonga, the Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, on Wednesday told Xinhua in a telephone interview that out of the 1,155 killed pigs, 909 were in Kahama district, 56 in Geita district, 38 in Mbogwe district, 147 in Sengerema district, four in Kyerwa district and one in Misungwi district. Nonga visited Kahama district to provide support to a team of experts formed by the government to contain the spread of the deadly disease that broke out in Kahama district in late December 2020. Mashimba Ndaki, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, last week directed regional and district commissioners to control the transportation of pigs to curb the spread of the disease. In March 2018, more than 900 pigs were killed by the African swine fever in the southern Tanzania's region of Ruvuma. Source: Xinhua/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 Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot Several Midland-area residents weighed in on the 86 draft recommendations of the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force during a public Zoom meeting on Wednesday morning. In fact, local residents made up nearly half of the approximately 18 people from around the state, and also Wisconsin, who commented publicly during the meeting, which was scheduled by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). The comments took up about 45 minutes of an 80-minute period that was allotted for comments. View the draft recommendations at this link: https://bit.ly/3sYWIjc Last Sept. 3, EGLE appointed 19 members to the task force, which has held online public meetings once or twice a month since that time. Task force chair Evan Pratt said the goal is to have the final recommendations released on the task force website by Feb. 1. EGLE charged the task force with "evaluating the statutory structure, budget, and program design of the Water Resources Division Dam Safety Program, the adequacy of Michigans dam safety standards, and the level of investment needed in Michigans dam infrastructure," according to an EGLE news release in September. The creation of the task force was spurred by the failure of the Edenville Dam and, consequently, the Sanford Dam on May 19 after heavy rains, which resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents and widespread destruction of homes and businesses in Midland and Gladwin counties and elsewhere, the draining of Wixom and Sanford lakes, and a federal disaster declaration for those counties among others. "It is unfortunate that we had the situation happen that led us to this effort, but I am so appreciative of the hard work of the task force," EGLE Director Liesl Clark said at the start of Wednesday's meeting. "I'm very appreciative to the public that has joined us for these meetings. I'm looking forward to hearing from you today." Those from the Midland area who gave public comment on Wednesday included Four Lakes Task Force President Dave Kepler, City of Midland Ward 1 Councilwoman Pam Hall, Kelly Bax, Dave Pasek, Tim Daugherty, Gregory Eagle, and Michael Rapanos. Each commenter was given up to two minutes to speak. Four Lakes Task Force recommendations Kepler, on behalf of FLTF, a group whose longterm goals include restoring the Edenville and Sanford dams and, with them, the corresponding Wixom and Sanford lakes, spoke for the allotted two minutes and also released an 11-page statement from FLTF on the organization's website. 1. The State should require a private (dam) owner to have a Community Advisory Board that is selected and approved by the county that includes representatives from local government, such as townships, improvement boards, and Lake Associations. The Community Advisory Boards role would be to: Review the status of major repairs and compliance issues. Review Emergency Action Plan updates. Address community concerns on the environment and recreation. Provide a forum for the state to receive community input. It is a best practice in all aspects of private operations, but more importantly it puts boots on the ground with a structure to formally engage with the owner on understanding the dam owners business and communicating community concerns. 2. Part 307 section 2 states, a county board may delegate powers and duties under this part to that county's commissioner, road commission, or other delegated authority. For large communities with many small lakes a county water resource commissioner, county drain commissioner or county road commission is a logical location for this authority. On large lakes, with multiple ownership on a large river system, where the county resources are limited, and the governance structure such as FLTF is a good model to emulate. Providing models and guidance on governance structures would help communities understand the degree of complexity of their systems, and the resources needed to implement. 3. Consider improving other Part 307 factors in helping communities and counties in implementing Part 307 Normal Inland Lake Levels. Streamline environmental permitting for lakes that have been in existence for many years with an established ecosystem. Provide state financing opportunities and grants for construction of improvements in the context of Service Life Measurements. Increase dollar amount in initial study which is currently at $10,000. Provide state grant opportunities to complete the initial study. Provide state financing opportunities for construction improvements in the context of Service Life Measurements similar to dam removal. Allow for at-large assessments to the State for lakes with public access. The full statement from the FLTF regarding dam safety is at this link: https://bit.ly/3aajhsI Midland council woman doesn't want lakes back Hall's prepared statement was among the most striking comments of the meeting. "I am speaking today on behalf of not only myself, but many who have asked me to attend this meeting but were not able to attend," Hall said. "This statement is not a consensus of everyone in my ward. To paraphrase the overall reaction, 'The idea of rebuilding the dam after the failures absolutely horrifies me.'" When contacted by the Daily News later in the day and asked to expand on those comments, Hall said she had heard from a good number of people in the Sanford area, as well from constituents in her ward, who oppose having the Sanford and Edenville dams rebuilt. "People have openly said, 'If they do (rebuild the dams), I'm not moving back (to the Midland area),'" Hall said, noting that she knows many people in Sanford and has spent a lot of time on Sanford Lake. "I can appreciate the beauty of Sanford Lake and Wixom Lake," Hall continued. "But, given the amount of devastation (from the dam failures) and how many people it has impacted, it seems to be that nature has the upper hand here. We can't control nature. "From people that love the lake and miss it, they're still thinking, 'Let Mother Nature win this one, let it return to its natural state, and do appropriate recreation there where it's not affecting so many people,'" Hall said. Resident questions future lake levels, special assessment district Bax, who said she owns property along the Tobacco River, which along with the Tittabawassee River flows into the Edenville Dam, had a question about the current work that EGLE has contracted to be done on the Tobacco River spillway. "You're taking down the Tobacco River (spillway) 16 to 20 feet. What is the end process?" Bax said. "Are you going to return it to the legal lake level established by (Circuit Court) Judge (Stephen) Carras in 2019?" (Pratt, the meeting moderator, noted at the start of the meeting that questions would not be answered during the meeting.) Bax also had concerns about the Special Assessment District, a geographic area of waterfront properties along or near Sanford, Wixom, Secord and Smallwood lakes whose owners will be assessed taxes to acquire, repair, operate and maintain the four dams that correspond to those lakes. "Why is the people in a Special assessment district responsible to the liability caused by others," Bax wrote in a dialogue box during the meeting. Resident: People should know if they are in a dam inundation zone Pasek said he lives in Midland and was "unknowingly" in the inundation zone of the Sanford Dam after the dam failures in May. "Ive lived in my residence for 30-plus years. It was never communicated to me that my property was in a dam inundation zone. That needs to be communicated to residents on a regular basis," Pasek said. Pasek also said dam owners need to be compelled to carry adequate liability insurance, and insurance rates should be tied to how well a dam owner maintains a dam. Daugherty typed a comment in the dialogue box and followed up with verbal comments. "My two comments are basic. 1. We should never allow an LLC to own public infrastructure. 2. There has to be an enforcement arm either state or federal to force compliance," Daugherty wrote. "We all knew the dam was old and was going to break at some point," he said in a spoken comment. "Thats what really irks me. Were all out our lake, and youve got a federal government without the ability to enforce (dam safety compliance)." Eagle echoed Pasek's comment about the lack of communication about the inundation zone. "Potentially affected landowners must never again be surprised by flood damage from a dam in non-compliance," Eagle wrote. "The dam management and oversight process grossly gave dam owners and lake property owners excessive influence and significant disregard of impacts on downstream potentially affected parties." Rapanos said he is concerned about the Dam Safety Task Force's recommendations 30 and 31, which recommend the ability for an emergency order to be given to "draw down dangerous dams" to mitigate flooding, an order which would supersede court-ordered lake levels. "This last incident already went through a judge and didnt get handled properly," Rapanos said. Pratt, the task force chair and Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner, told the Daily News after the meeting that he feels most of the public comments made during the meeting have been addressed by the draft recommendations. "I believe that most of the comments today are covered in existing recommendations and/or suggestions from (task force) members for supporting/clarifying narrative," he wrote in an email reply to the Daily News. But Pratt said the task force members will still be collaborating to fine-tune the final recommendations. "I am just one set of ears for the group and have asked that the support team and officers find a time this week to debrief and trade notes to ensure that our best work is in the final report that will be shared with the public early next week," Pratt said. He said it is his understanding that the public comments given on Wednesday will also be mentioned in that final report. ROCHESTER, Minn. - As the pandemic continues to impact business, families, and every day life as we know it, it's important to remember good things are still happening all around us. One local organization giving back during this time is a non-profit called the Power of 10 Foundation. One of its goals is to spread smiles with small care packages. The organization brings packages to the Gift of Life Transplant House, three Ronald McDonald House locations in Minnesota, and individuals who apply. The non-profit aims to increase funding for childhood cancer and rare diseases, while giving back to those personally impacted. Founder Sarah Adolphus says she's suffered from diseases herself. She says one day, when she was very sick, she received a care package and remembered how special that package made her feel. It inspired her to kick start the foundation, which is something her father is also involved in. "We always felt that if every person on the earth reached out a hand to help one person, everybody on the earth would be provided for," says James Adolphus. The foundation has sent packages to 15 countries and all 50 states. A dozen states including Oregon are reporting drops of 25% or more in new COVID-19 cases and more than 1,200 counties have seen the same, federal data released Wednesday shows. Experts say the plunge may relate to growing fear of the virus after it reached record-high levels, as well as soaring hopes of getting vaccinated soon. Nationally, new cases have dropped 21% from the prior week, according to Department of Health and Human Services data, reflecting slightly more than 3,000 counties. Corresponding declines in hospitalization and death may take days or weeks to arrive, and the battle against the deadly virus rages on at record levels in many places. New cases fell significantly in Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, with each state recording at least 30% fewer new cases. Each of those states reported having vaccinated 8% or more of their adult population by Tuesday, putting them among the top 20 states in terms of vaccination rate. Alaska leads the states currently, at nearly 15%, according to HHS. Its also logged a new-case drop of 24% in recent days. Anxiety about new strains of the virus from the U.K., Brazil and South Africa remains high in Portlands Multnomah County, Oregon, which saw a drastic 43% new-case decline in recent days. The concern is that everything could change, said Kate Yeiser, spokesperson for the Multnomah County Health Department. Health officials, data modeling experts and epidemiologists say its too early to see a bump from the vaccine rollout that started with health care workers in late December and has, in many states, moved on to include older Americans. Instead, they said, the factors involved are more likely behavior-driven, with people settling back home after the holidays, or reacting to news of hospital beds running out in places like Los Angeles. Others are finding the resolve to wear masks and physically distance with the prospect of a vaccine becoming more immediate. A single reason is hard to pinpoint, said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She said it may be due in part to people hoping to avoid the new, more contagious variants of the virus, which some experts say appear to be deadlier as well. She also said so many people got sick in the last surge that more people may be taking precautions: Theres a better chance you know someone who had it, Casalotti said. Eva Lee, a mathematician and engineering professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, works on models predicting COVID-19 patterns. She said in an email that the decline reflects the natural course of the virus as it infects a social web of people, exhausts that cluster, dies down and then emerges in new groups. She also said the national trend, with even steeper drops in California, also reflects restrictions in that state, which included closing indoor dining and a 10 p.m. curfew in hard-hit regions. She said those measures take a few weeks to show up in new-case data. It is a very unstable equilibrium at the moment, Lee wrote in the email. So any premature celebration would lead to another spike, as we have seen it time and again in the US. Four California counties were among the five large U.S. counties seeing the steepest case drops, including Los Angeles County, where new cases declined nearly 40% in the week ending Jan. 25, compared with the week before. Dr. Karin Michels, chair of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said the lower numbers in L.A. after the virus infected 1 in 8 county residents likely mirror what happened after New York Citys surge: People got very scared and changed their behavior. People are beginning to understand we really need to get our act together in L.A., so that helps, she said. The big fear [now] is Is it really going in this direction, is it plateauing, or where is it going to go? We need to go further down, because it is really high. Michels said herd immunity would not explain the declines, since were nowhere near the level of 70% of the population having had the disease or been vaccinated. She said the declines may also reflect a drop in testing, as Dodger Stadium has been converted from a mass testing site to a mass vaccination center. Officials with the California Department of Public Health acknowledged that testing has fallen off, but overall rates of positive COVID-19 tests are falling, suggesting the change is real. Yet experts arent willing to say yet that the vaccines are driving cases down. Most people in public health dont think well see the benefit of the vaccine until a few months from now, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The number of deaths continues to remain high weeks after high case rates as the virus variably attacks the heart, kidneys, lungs and nervous system. Many patients remain unconscious and on a ventilator for weeks as doctors search for signs of improvement. The death rate fell by only 5% in the data posted Wednesday, reflecting 21,790 patients who died of the virus Jan. 19-25. (Shoshana Dubnow contributed to this report.) Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Systematic obstruction of SMM's work in the occupied territories prevails. Russian-controlled armed formations and their mercenaries have been breaching the ceasefire agreement and impeding the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, Ukrainian monitors say. According to the Ukrainian side to the Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center, last Sunday an OSCE observer drone spotted two 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers and four D-30 howitzers near the village of Bile in Luhansk region. Howitzers had been deployed beyond the withdrawal lines, monitors say citing an OSCE SMM report of January 26. Read alsoUkraine envoy says 'DPR'/'LPR' block prisoner swap since SeptSystematic obstruction of SMM's work in the occupied territories prevails. The latest such incidents were reported near Voznesenovka and Dolzhanske, as well as at the checkpoint in Staromykhaylivka, where militants did not allow OSCE patrol to do their monitoring job and record violations. "The obstruction of the OSCE SMM shows that representatives of the Russian armed formations and their mercenaries are trying to conceal from international observers the facts of violations," says the Ukrainian side to the JCCC. Reporting by UNIAN Morocco will launch the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus on Thursday Jan.28 and King Mohammed VI will give the effective start of the campaign, the royal office announced in a statement on Wednesday evening. After receiving different batches, the Covid-19 vaccine is available in sufficient quantity in the Kingdom of Morocco to start the national vaccination campaign in the best conditions, said the Royal Office press release. Morocco has so far received two million doses of Covishield developed by UK-based AstraZeneca and Oxford University and a first batch of half a million doses of Chinas Sinopharm. in accordance with the Kings instructions, this vaccination campaign will be free for all citizens, the statement said, adding that the campaign will unfold gradually and will benefit all Moroccan citizens and foreign residents aged between 17 and over 75. The statement said the vaccination campaign will make it possible to achieve the expected levels of collective immunization and protect the population against the pandemic. The country plans to vaccinate 25 million people, starting with health workers, security forces, teachers and people in vulnerable health condition. This will require 50 million doses to guarantee collective immunity. All those who fall into these categories can request an appointment online or by SMS and will be called for vaccination. Two shots are required with an interval of 21 days for Sinopharm and 28 days for AstraZeneca. The vaccines will be administered in 2,880 fixed points (health centers, universities, prisons, workplaces) and 7,000 mobile points, according to the web portal created by the Ministry of Health. New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): Paisabazaar.com is the only independent digital platform in the country to reach an annualized loan disbursal of USD 1.5 billion. The marketplace platform receives consumers from 1000+ cities every month and offers unsecured loans to both salaried and self-employed consumers, short term personal loans, credit cards, home loans, loan against property along with free credit report with monthly updates. Through a wide array of partnerships, Paisabazaar enables consumers to check, compare and apply for lending products, digitally. During the pandemic and the lockdown, when the lending industry was stalled due to heavy dependence on physical and offline processes, Paisabazaar.com introduced its 'Digitization Stack', that, through deep technology integrations with lenders, digitizes the lending process completely, enabling consumers to take loans without any physical interaction. The Paisabazaar Stack was also recognized as the "Best Use of Emerging Tech" at the India Digital Awards. Paisbazaar.com says, while the pandemic led to several external challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's likely to be a turning point, with sharper focus from the entire lending industry on building a more digitally innovative and consumer-focussed ecosystem. Naveen Kukreja, CEO and Co-founder, Paisabazaar.com, said, "At Paisabazaar.com, we have always aimed to build a platform for the future, with deep integrations with our partners and ease of access for our millions of consumers. Though 2020 was a tough year, we have remained focussed on building more resilient systems, with the support of our partners and millions of consumers. These awards are a great encouragement to work harder towards digitizing lending for India." Over the last 7 years, Paisabazaar.com has become a platform of choice for India, through 3 key innovative initiatives. Since 2017, Paisabazaar.com has been running the country's largest credit awareness initiative by offering consumers their credit report, free for life. It also offers advisory services to help consumers improve their credit score, through personalized advise and recommendations. Second, by partnering with 100+ Banks, NBFCs and Fintechs, Paisabazaar.com offers a wide choice of lending products for various consumer segments. Through deep analytics, consumers can avail most-suited and relevant offers from lenders. In 2018, it also built India's first Chance of Approval model, that rank-orders all lender offers, matching each consumer's eligibility and credit profile with the lender's policies. Third, Paisabazaar.com has focussed on building digital systems, by enabling consumers to access credit seamlessly, through paperless and presence-less processes. With its stack of digital capabilities, the fintech is building new-age processes that will provide a gold standard experience while availing lending products digitally on Paisabazaar.com. "There are exciting times ahead of us in consumer lending. And hopefully, over the next couple of years, the lending ecosystem would leap-frog to offer a world-class experience to varied consumer segments," added Naveen Kukreja. Paisabazaar.com is India's largest marketplace for lending products. It was the only independent digital platform to disburse USD 1.5 billion on an annualized basis in FY 20. Paisabazaar also runs India's largest credit awareness initiative by offering consumers their free credit report with monthly updates from all bureau. Paisbaazar is one of India's fastest-growing fintechs with a CAGR of & gt;80 percent and has earned the trust and goodwill of over 23 million consumers since inception. PaisaBazaar.com is part of ETechAces that owns India's leading insurtech brand, PolicyBazaar.com. The company is backed up by a host of investors including the likes of Softbank, Temasek, Tiger Global Management, True North, InfoEdge (Naukri.com), Premji Invest, besides investments from other PE funds and family offices. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haiti - News : Zapping... Seizure of firearms and ammunition Tuesday, January 26, customs agents of Saint-Marc (Dept. Artibonite) discovered concealed in a vehicle during customs clearance, a large quantity of ammunition, some of a caliber intended for the weapons of war which were seized. 265 Mw more for the metropolitan area "The metropolitan area has a capacity of 323 Mw in electrical substation. After the execution of the project to strengthen the network financed by a loan from Taiwan, we will have 588 Mw. Construction work on the substations of St Christophe (Cabaret) and Cite Soleil are progressing," informs the EDH. Joseph Lambert discusses Constitution with Canadian Ambassador Senator Joseph Lambert, President of the Senate and Senator Kedlaire Augustin vice-president of the office, received the Ambassador of Canada accredited to Haiti Stuart Savage. Respect for the Constitution and the laws of the Republic was discussed; the return to constitutional order through elections (apart from a non-sworn CEP); the need for a political agreement for the rejection of chaos and for peaceful governance; and the role of the Senate in mediating between the protagonists. Academic and scientific cooperation with Spain Saintil Louis Marie, Ambassador of the Republic of Haiti to the Kingdom of Spain, received the Secretary of State for Universities, Luis Cerdan Ortiz-Quintana, on issues related to academic and scientific cooperation between Haiti and Spain. This included support for higher education institutions; the strengthening of teacher/student mobility programs; the development of a Framework Agreement and the involvement of the academic world in the process of political and economic reforms in Haiti. The BRH encourages local production Wednesday January 27, 2021, in order to encourage local production, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) showcased Haitian stylists and designers and artisans through a fair that takes place at the Convention and Documentation Center of the BRH around the theme "Rediscovering our identity through fashion". HL/ HaitiLibre RBmedia and its sister company Audiobooks.com, global leaders in spoken audio content and apps, today announced strong 2020 performance. RBmedia produced a record number of new titles across its nine publishing brandsdominating bestseller lists and major industry awardsand claimed a leadership position in creating innovative audio originals. On the direct-to-consumer front, Audiobooks.com added a range of new content and services, while millions of consumers downloaded the app. RBmedia Publishing Highlights RBmedia remained the undisputed leader in the spoken audio market with a catalog of more than 50,000 audiobooks, the largest in the industry. In 2020, the company: Released more than 7,000 new titles across its nine audio brandsmore than other major publishers combined Acquired the leading producer of dramatized audiobooks, GraphicAudio, which supports the companys expansion into multi-actor dramatizations, including sound effects, music, and more Produced groundbreaking audio originals including: Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyricswhere Dolly shares never-before-heard stories and samples of nearly 100 of her most cherished songs Brandon Sandersons The Originalan audio-first release and the first title of RBmedias audio original publishing partnership with Mainframe, LLC Led key literary awards and bestseller lists in 2020 with: 57 New York Times bestsellers 3 Pulitzer Prize winners and 1 finalist 1 National Book Award winner and 2 finalists 3 Booker Prize finalists 6 Hugo Award finalists OverDrive acquired the RBdigital library media platform in July of 2020. RBmedias audio brands continue to supply their titles to libraries and direct-to-consumer digital services worldwide with record success. Audiobooks.com Highlights In 2020, consumers downloaded millions of Audiobooks.com apps from the app stores. The company added over 70,000 new audiobooks to the service, a range of new spoken audio content services, and numerous key product enhancements, including: An expanded podcast offering, which now provides access to over 92 million podcast episodes New AI technology to improve title recommendations so that members can easily discover content that best fits their interests New payment methods in partnership with Amazon, Google, and Apple to provide consumers more flexible and easy ways to purchase Title pre-order functionality which enables consumers to purchase new releases months in advance and access them immediately upon release ### About RBmedia & Audiobooks.com RBmedia and its sister company, Audiobooks.com, are global leaders in spoken audio content and apps that reach millions of consumersat home, in the car, and everywhere their mobile devices go. The companies produce and distribute a vast array of audio content, including digital audiobooks, dramatized multi-actor audio, sleep and mediation content, podcasts, audio news, and more. RBmedia is the largest audiobook producer in the world. With more than 50,000 exclusive titles, our audiobooks continually dominate key literary awards and bestseller lists. The companys powerful digital retail and library distribution network reaches millions of listeners around the globe. Our titles are available on leading audio platforms, including Audible, iTunes, Google Play, Audiobooks.com, OverDrive, Hoopla, and many more. RBmedia is owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. Find out more at rbmediaglobal.com. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. Dissecting President Joe Bidens Racial Equity Agenda: The Time to Act is Now There is new air surrounding the pillars of Capitol Hill, and within the first week of new leadership, Biden has directed his attention to the needs of the country. In addition to the concerns brought on by a global health tragedy, he has led his administration to focus on social equity. President Biden has been working diligently, making the concerns of underrepresented communities a priority in all federal agencies under his guidance. USA Today stated that President Biden led his administration to investigate a solution for the racial bias among housing programs, and to reconstruct the private prison functionality within the Justice Department. He is looking to have an all-of-government approach to create equitable practices throughout federal leadership, which will serve as the model for all public policy. A number of executive orders made it to the presidents desk; subjects ranging from racial inequity within federal policy to COVID-19 relief initiatives and protocols. Its been confirmed that Biden signed four directives; looking to bring healing to severely impacted demographics due to the level of social awareness that recently erupted in America. ADVERTISEMENT NPR enlisted the four directives to be the following: lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development to motion the removal of racial discrimination from federal housing policies, direct the Department of Justice to eradicate the use of private prisons; leading to the unity of the commitment to tribal sovereignty and consultation, and lastly, to erase social xenophobia-behavior against Asian American and Pacific Islanders. In addition to reimagining the use of private prisons in the Justice Department, Biden is delegating organizations to concentrate on racial inequalities found in federal blueprints dating back to the origins of the nation. Biden has lifted the veil of the misrepresentation of targeted groups and brought national attention to the xenophobia emboldened by the rhetoric of former President Trump, and the statements he used in reference to Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Biden has been in step with his political campaign promise so far. On his first day as president, Biden administered diverse federal agencies to create initiatives; correcting major racial imbalances that are deeply cemented into federal policies and programs. Although the head of Domestic Policy, Susan Rice, confirmed that the general approach for justice will be reflected in an economic agenda, similar steps towards balance are looking to be made throughout the Bidens presidential term. The aim is inclusion and to bring equal opportunity to all marginalized groups, such as people of color, the LGBTQ community, and people living with disabilities. The Biden-Harris administration wants to encompass a new frontier, leading to open doors of opportunity for every American. Overall, this will strengthen the nations economic foothold. According to USA Today, Rice confirmed the estimated loss of $16 trillion dollars over the last 20 years, due to social discrimination. This coalition for equality includes multiple federal departments and civic equity groups. In addition to Domestic Policy, other branches and facilitators involved include the National Urban League, NAACP, and the Housing and Justice Action Network. According to the previously noted source, the NAACP encouraged Biden to create a directive that had a czar position, putting one person in charge of addressing racial justice and equity issues. The president also delivered news surrounding the efforts to manage the COVID-19 outbreak. The president is looking to have vaccinations available for mass distribution by this spring. In the same breath as racial equality, the nation has been suffering from a global virus that affected the countrys livelihood and took many loved ones away. The president is facing these truths and looking for immediate assistance. Biden is looking to bring tighter regulation on traveling in and out of the country in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 with the addition of new variants of the virus. NPR reported this may be an early sign that the current president may turn back the movements to open U.S. borders to foreign travelers amid a global pandemic. Biden is seeing that part of the main focus of his administration will be devoted to coronavirus policy. The plan is to strengthen public health measures, put more emphasis around travel security, and general prevention of the spread of COVID-19. The U.S. has surpassed 25 million confirmed cases, according to the data collected by the John Hopkins Universitys Coronavirus Resource Center. Additionally, one of the new variants has been studied; the results infer that it is more infectious than the original strand of the virus. ADVERTISEMENT President Biden is moving forward with deconstructing imbalanced directives, that was set up by the previous Head of State. Biden and his transition team has focused on bridging the proper political stance, with the diverse country that its looking to serve. The current president has declared the time is now, to take much needed action, and to bring in a new wave of change for this country. Biden proclaimed his personal turning points in his speech recorded this week. Continuing on the crusade of racial Justice, Biden addressed the murder of George Floyd, as a turning point of racial Justice. Biden said, The devastation in communities of color has been nothing short of stunning. The president dissected the recorded data collected behind social inequality during a global pandemic. He disclosed that 40 percent of frontline workers are Americans of color, however many are still living below the poverty line. One out of ten Black Americans are currently out of work, and one out of eleven Latinx Americans are seeing the same fate; Biden concluded that this is a result of systemic racism. Sharing his thoughts of the behavior illustrated in the violence on Capitol Hill on January 6, the president is looking for an immediate call-to-action to bring equality to the forefront. Summarizing his following moves in the White House, Biden said, Now is the time to actits time to act because thats what the faith and morality calls to do; across every faith, the same principles hold. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 U.S. Army North has ordered 80 military personnel to help hospitals in Abilene, Lufkin and Eagle Pass in the nations ongoing battle against coronavirus. Acting at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the command based at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has conducted similar missions across the country over the past several months, including in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Wisconsin and North Dakota. The teams will arrive Friday in the latest such effort, to support Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, CHI St. Lukes Health-Memorial Hospital in Lufkin and Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center in Eagle Pass. This is the fourth time Department of Defense medical assets have deployed to support our home state, said Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of Army North and the Joint Land Force Component Command. While COVID-19 continues to challenge communities here and across the U.S., we remain steadfast in our support of our local, state and federal partners. The Army Reserve and Navy continue to provide 50 uniformed medical personnel in Chinle and Tuba City, Ariz., and Shiprock and Gallup, N.M. Another 40 military medical personnel from the reserve began supporting Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona on Jan. 9. Some 40 military personnel will end their deployments Friday at hospitals in Colton and Stockton, Calif., but 185 will remain at six hospitals in five cities across that state: Lodi, Fresno, Torrance, Moreno Valley and Los Angeles. The missions of about 45 troops in Wisconsin supporting four hospitals in four cities, and 60 airmen at six cities in North Dakota, have been completed. About 60 Air Force medical personnel supported three hospitals in El Paso late last year. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases Elements of two organizations, Task Forces 46 and 51, continue to support the medical teams. Task Force 46 is made up primarily of the Michigan Army National Guard's 46th Military Police. Task Force 51 is Army Norths forward-deployable headquarters. As the national strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness states, we can and we will beat COVID-19, Richardson said. This is truly a joint effort and I am confident that collectively our service members are up to the task. sigc@express-news.net (Newser) Gone are a slew of historical figures, including Washington, Jefferson, and Lincolnas well as the much more recent Dianne Feinstein. The San Francisco Board of Education has voted to take those names and others off 44 of its schools. The board has for years debated whether to rename buildings or continue to honor figures whose legacies are not celebrated by everyone. When members finally voted Monday, only one of seven members dissented, SFGate reports. "It's a message to our families, our students, and our community," one board member said. "It's not just symbolic." The board has new guidelines for choosing a name. Those honored can't have been slave owners or have abetted in slavery or genocide; committed human rights violations; or be "known racists and/or white supremacists." That rules out George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who both enslaved people. Abraham Lincoln is out because of "his treatment of First Nation peoples," a teacher said. story continues below Feinstein, who once was San Francisco's mayor, made the list because she reportedly brought Confederate flags back to City Hall in the 1980s. Junipero Serra was among those whose name is coming down because of colonization and abuses inflicted upon Indigenous people. The school district has been mocked for its handling of the issue, and the city's mayor was critical on Wednesday, per KRON. "What I cannot understand is why the school board is advancing a plan to have all these schools renamed by April when there isn't a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then," Mayor London Breed said. "Our students are suffering, and we should be talking about getting them in classrooms, getting them mental health support, and getting them the resources they need in this challenging time." Per SFGate, one parent at the board meeting asked, "Is this meant to distract parents so we don't ask what the school reopening plan is?" (The school board reversed itself in 2019 about destroying a mural of Washington.) Filming was officially underway for Thor: Love and Thunder on Tuesday at Sydney's Fox Studios. And with Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman [the God and Goddess of Thunder] in town, the film crew are hard at work building a sci-fi landscape in Centennial Park. In images taken on Wednesday, an impressive set could be seen taking shape for what would likely be an upcoming fight/action scene. It's Hammer time! Thor: Love and Thunder's impressive set takes shape in Sydney's Centennial Park for upcoming action scene Ready for action: Hollywood heartthrob Chris Hemsworth jetted from his home in Byron Bay to Sydney last Wednesday via private jet ahead of filming The construction of the structure was in its early stages last Thursday, and now appears nearer to completion. Hollywood heartthrob Chris Hemsworth jetted from his home in Byron Bay to Sydney last Wednesday via private jet ahead of filming. The Australian actor has played the hammer-wielding Norse god Thor in the Marvel franchise since 2011, and has starred in eight movies as the superhero character. What happened? The structure appears to represent a bunch of broken colourful scrap metal and building pillars Taking shape: Not too far from the mound of metal was another structure being erected with green/blue screen tiles The structure appears to represent a bunch of colourful scrap metal and pillars. It is believed to be a form of building collapse or destruction from an upcoming action or fight scene. Not too far from the mound of metal was another structure being erected with green/blue screen tiles. These blank boards could later be used in post-production to add the desired and intended background behind the actors. Movie magic: These blank boards could later be used in post-production to add the desired and intended background behind the actors Keep out: The blockbuster's set is likely under strict surveillance, with the cordoned off area having a large fenced perimeter Also in the cordoned off area were two large machinery vehicles. One was a yellow mobile crane telehandler to support a camera with operator. There was also a red crane, and several other earth movers and electric scissor lifts. Access all areas: There were large machinery vehicles and scissor lifts on the site ahead of the movie's filming process Earlier this month, Daily Mail Australia obtained aerial photographs that revealed the full extent of the production, and it seems no expense has been spared. Images of the set at Sydney's Fox Studios revealed two large sound stages ready for filming, as well as an array of trailers for the cast and crew. On Tuesday, Thor star Chris campaigned to change the date of Australia Day while documenting a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony from the Gamay dancers of the Gadigal and Bidiagal Nation and performances and karakia by Maori dancers from Te Aranganui. 'Lets begin the healing and stand together in unity and support with our First Nations people with solidarity and compassion. Lets find a date where all Australians can celebrate this beautiful country together,' he captioned a photo outside one of the Fox Studio sets. She's back! In the forthcoming Thor installment, Natalie Portman is back as Jane Foster, and will also pick up the hammer and become the Goddess of Thunder/ female Thor. Pictured: 2019 In the forthcoming Thor installment, Natalie Portman is back as Jane Foster, and will also pick up the hammer and become the Goddess of Thunder/ female Thor. Natalie was absent for 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, but was a key player in the first two Thor films in 2011 and 2013. The film, directed by Taika Waititi, is due for cinematic release in May 2022. The year 2021 begins quite actively for Ukrainian-German relations: January is not over yet, and representatives of the President's Office, the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already visited Berlin as part of consultations at the level of political advisers in the Normandy format. On January 25, political consultations between the foreign ministries took place at the German Federal Foreign Office Head of the Ukrainian delegation, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar shared with Ukrinform information about what other events are planned for this year, what issues are sensitive in relations with Germany and our immediate neighbors. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR 2021 IS QUITE SERIOUS Question: Vasyl Myronovych, what bilateral events are planned this year, if, of course, the epidemiological situation allows? Answer: There are several major events on the bilateral agenda that we are working on, namely: the 30th anniversary of Ukraines independence, to which we invite Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy, to which we would like to invite President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It is also crucial to hold the Ukrainian-German Economic Forum, which is scheduled for March 19 with the participation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Chancellor of Germany. In general, our schedule is quite serious. In addition, we want inter-agency consultations to take place systematically. Today in Berlin we made sure we are on the same page: we identified issues that have not yet been agreed upon, what to work on and where to make extra effort. Question: What issues were raised in Berlin on Monday? Answer: There were two key blocks - bilateral interaction and international issues. The first block included the preparation of events at the highest level, trade and economic cooperation, the expansion of technical assistance to Ukraine from Germany, some consular affairs, cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, primarily in the context of research on common pages of history. The second block concerned European and Euro-Atlantic integration, security issues in Europe and, especially, in the Black Sea region, the situation in the occupied Crimea and the launch of the Crimean Platform, interaction within international organizations, the fight against COVID-19 and vaccination. WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT VACCINE APPEARS IN UKRAINE ASAP Question: You have mentioned vaccines. This is perhaps the most pressing issue today. What are our chances of receiving drugs from European partners who have already started vaccination campaigns? Answer: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky raised the issue of vaccines in a phone conversation with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Health Ministry plays a key role in this matter, and the Foreign Ministry provides assistance in establishing contacts. We are working very actively to ensure that the vaccine appears in Ukraine as soon as possible, and we use different sources for this. The Foreign Ministry instructed ambassadors in all European capitals to discuss support options for surplus vaccines (either on a paid basis or as part of humanitarian aid) so that we can start vaccinating health workers and people at risk. We have already received certain positive signals from some EU countries that they can transfer or sell surpluses to us, but we have not disclosed the details yet. Question: Is it possible to physically hold the 4th Ukrainian-German Economic Forum in March? And if not, does it make sense to conduct it virtually? Answer: Our vision is that this event should be offline. We hope that the forum will take place in Berlin, Germany, on March 19. We have already established online cooperation, this is of course a temporary way out, but the best is direct, face-to-face communication in order to address issues on the agenda, ranging from problems faced by German business in Ukraine, to issues of interaction in the implementation of the Association Agreement and improvement of legislation. Question: Are we continuing to raise the issue of Nord Stream 2 now when US sanctions could put an end to virtually everything? Or do we expect the project to come to naught thanks to them? Answer: This is one of the topical issues in the dialogue at various levels. We talked about this today. Ukraine's position is clear: this is a political project that will affect the energy security of Europe. This project is not beneficial to both of us. We also understand how sensitive this issue is for Germany. It is important for us to know what decision Germany will make since it may affect the Ukrainian gas transmission system and energy security in Europe. WE COOPERATE WITH GERMANY IN MANY HISTORICAL TOPICS Question: Announcing the consultations, you said that historical issues would be discussed. Are there any outreach activities planned for the anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy in Germany? Answer: Of course, and not only in Germany. It will be a broad international information campaign and we will attract and invite many international partners to Kyiv to mark the 80th anniversary of Babyn Yar. We cooperate with the Federal Republic of Germany on many historical topics related to the Holocaust tragedy and others. In particular, we hope that Germany will recognize the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people. There are also issues related to the creation of a memorial to the victims of World War II in Berlin, as more than 8 million Ukrainians lost their lives, and hundreds of cities were destroyed. We believe that Ukraine's contribution to the victory over Nazism should be duly honored. All these issues are on the agenda and are related, in particular, to the activities of the commission of historians. We have our own national interests and we will defend them. Our Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk is extremely active in this regard. On the other hand, both sides are not interested in excessive "historicization" of bilateral relations. We do not want to shift the emphasis of interaction to the historical plane. This dimension of cooperation must be considered by historians and scholars. Question: You have mentioned the commission of historians, from which the Foreign Ministry revoked its patronage last year. Do you think it needs to be reformed? Answer: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry made a constructive proposal to the German side to form an equal commission. We are looking for an effective bilateral mechanism o for interaction between historians from our and German sides. The dialogue should develop on an equal footing, on topics of mutual interest. In our opinion, the Ukrainian part of the commission should be headed by a state institution that is responsible for this - the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. We are currently working on the details. NORMANDY FORMAT SHOULD WORK Question: These are the first bilateral political consultations between the foreign ministries over the past six years. What caused such a long break? Answer: In fact, consultations and negotiations with the German side are held constantly. However, their priority attention was focused on resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the Normandy format. We have agreed to cover a wide range of bilateral issues, and we have succeeded. Question: Has the issue of cooperation in the Normandy format played a major role during the current consultations? Technically, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries is to take place before the leaders' summit Answer: Of course, this issue has been raised within the framework of interaction between the foreign ministries. We talked about further steps that we can jointly take to achieve practical results, in particular, to hold a meeting of foreign ministers, and later a summit of leaders. Question: It is clear that it is difficult to talk about specific dates. But is it still possible to predict any time frame for a meeting at the level of foreign ministers? Answer: We are working to ensure that it takes place in the coming months, so that we can reach specific agreements, and not hold a meeting for the sake of a meeting. It is obvious to everyone that the concrete actions of the Ukrainian side on the settlement do not lead to the same actions on the part of the Russian Federation, which occupies part of Ukraine and does not have the will to end the war. The creation of new checkpoints also remains unanswered. Citizens from the temporarily occupied territory cannot move to the territory controlled by Ukraine. Our position is clear and understandable: first of all - security, and then the settlement of political and socio-economic aspects. We will not agree with the proposals of Russia, which wants to see us and representatives of the so-called LPR and DPR, thereby legitimizing them, at the negotiating table, and then withdraw from this process. Russia is a party to the conflict, and it is necessary to negotiate with it. Our international partners are well aware of this as well. Question: Could we, with the new US administration, return to the issue of involving the United States in the settlement? Answer: Of course, we could. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, immediately after winning the election, proposed the idea of resetting the formats and more actively involving the United States in the negotiation process. This is one of the key issues for discussion with the American side. Question: As part of the Minsk process, in particular in the Normandy format, we are forced to communicate with the Russians. Is there any communication outside these frameworks? Answer: Before 2014, this communication was constantly maintained. What did it lead to? We all see this. Today we cannot trust Russia. Therefore, the participation of international partners is the best option; when we have mediators, like Germany and France, who can help to reach agreements and implement them. CONSULATE GENERAL IN WROCLAW TO OPEN THIS YEAR Question: Our neighbor to the west is Poland. The largest Ukrainian diaspora lives in this country. Will the Consulate General in Wroclaw open this year? Answer: We hope it will start operating this year. The decision to open it has already been made, and the technical aspects are now being worked out. Question: When will the meetings of the Commission on Economic Cooperation and other bodies take place? Answer: We are already working on this. Oleksiy Reznikov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Chairman of the Ukrainian side of the Commission on Economic Cooperation, will soon visit Poland to discuss preparations for the next meeting. The previous one was back in 2017, so it is important to analyze the state of relations in the trade and economic sectors, and outline ways to solve existing problematic issues. We are working to intensify the work of other institutional mechanisms, in particular the Presidents' Advisory Committee, the Intergovernmental Coordination Council on Interregional Cooperation, interdepartmental working groups, including through the Institutes of National Remembrance. BUDAPEST DOES NOT ACCEPT UKRAINE'S OPENNESS Question: Relations with our other neighbor, Hungary, remain difficult. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto is expected to visit Kyiv on January 27. What do we expect from this visit? Has anything changed recently in Budapest's position? Answer: Hungary is our close neighbor. It is a member of the EU and NATO. And it is essential for us to have a normal relationship with it. We are all witnesses that Minister Dmytro Kuleba has devoted a lot of his time, attention and energy to resetting relations with Hungary, trying to make them more constructive. Unfortunately, the Hungarian partners interpreted such openness a little differently, and their interference in Ukraine's internal affairs, in particular, direct campaigning for one of Ukraine's political forces, led to yet another tension. But we do not lose hope that we will find opportunities for understanding. We even proposed a draft roadmap for the development of bilateral relations; we offered to commit everything to paper, determining who is doing what in order to avoid any manipulation. Unfortunately, the Hungarian side continues to politicize the educational issue, interprets the Ukrainian legislation and the actions of law enforcement officers in its own way, and abuses its NATO membership to put pressure on Ukraine. We are ready to discuss everything related to the development of bilateral relations, but without interfering in internal affairs. This is the red line. Having a negative experience of Russian aggression, we will not allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs. RELATIONS WITH BELARUS SHOULD NOT BE POLITICIZED Question: You have recently said: "It is crucial to Ukraine and the whole of Europe that Belarus remains a sovereign and independent state, away from the influence of Russia. Ukraine is ready to cooperate in various formats in order to assist Belarus in resolving the political crisis." What are these formats and how realistic is it to minimize the Kremlin's influence on the neighboring republic? Answer: Ukraine's position is very clear: we do not recognize Lukashenko as president; we have shown solidarity with European policy towards Belarus and joined personal sanctions. On the other hand, we are trying to help ordinary Belarusians who have left Belarus due to increased repression so that they feel comfortable in Ukraine. We understand that Russia, trying to isolate the current regime in Belarus, is playing its own game and wants to increase its influence on Minsk. We maintain diplomatic channels of communication and contacts at the expert level and are ready to pragmatically resolve the existing pressing issues, primarily in the economic sector. It is important for us to develop mutually beneficial cooperation and have a friendly, good-neighborly and safe Belarus, and not what Russia wants to do with it. Question: The Lublin Triangle was founded last year. Could this platform help resolve the Belarusian crisis? How do Kyiv and its partners plan to use this tool of international cooperation? Answer: The main thing is the interaction of countries in ensuring security in the region. This is a format of interaction between the foreign ministries, headed by ministers and special commissioners, who will form the agenda in order to coordinate efforts to preserve security in the region. Issues of European integration, countering disinformation, and the situation in Belarus will also be discussed. When the format was being created, our minister said that now we have a triangle, and later we can expand the format. The fourth seat is still empty, but open for possible participation of the Belarusian side. For this it is necessary to resolve the situation inside the country and calmly discuss the prospects for regional cooperation. FIGHT FOR POST OF BSEC ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL CONTINUES Question: Vasyl Myronovych, last year, for the first time since the founding of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in 1992, Ukraine nominated its candidate for the post of Secretary General of the organization it was you. How is the process progressing? Answer: Ukraine was one of the first countries to nominate a candidate in the middle of last year. The post of the BSEC Organization Secretary General will be vacated on July 1 this year. Therefore, the elections will take place in May-June, when a meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials and the Council of Foreign Ministers - the highest decision-making body within the organization will be held. There are currently five candidates from 13 countries. To win, one needs to gain nine votes. It is a very difficult task. I have already consulted with the vast majority of countries, visited their capitals. There is a certain level of support, but also an extremely high level of competition. On the one hand, we have a desire to reboot this organization, make it more effective and efficient. It is economic in nature, but 13 countries face almost the same number of conflicts. So we see our biggest task in finding mutually beneficial and least controversial areas, in particular, business interaction, the IT sector, transport issues, and the possibility of developing alternative energy. Question: To get a little out of politics? Answer: This will not be fully realized, because Russia politicized this organization as much as possible, starting an aggression against Ukraine and seizing the center of the Black Sea region - Crimea. Today, in the post-pandemic period, we need to look for new opportunities for our region, namely to create competitive conditions so that goods, for example, from China go to Europe through our Black Sea region, and do not bypass it. Olha Tanasiychuk, Berlin One week into the job, US President Joe Biden has sent a clear warning to Beijing against any expansionist intentions in East and Southeast Asia. In multiple calls and statements, he and his top security officials have underscored support for allies Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, signalling Washington's rejection of China's disputed territorial claims in those areas. On Wednesday, Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that his administration is committed to defending Japan, including the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed both by Japan and China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands. That stance was echoed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who told Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi on Saturday that the contested islands were covered by the US-Japan Security Treaty. Austin affirmed that the United States "remains opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea," according to a Pentagon statement on the call. Meanwhile, three days into the Biden administration, State Department spokesman Ned Price warned China about menacing Taiwan after it repeatedly sent more than a dozen military fighters and bombers through the island's air defense zone. "We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity security and values in the Indo-Pacific region -- and that includes deepening our ties with Democratic Taiwan," Price said in a statement. "Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid." Those comments and others sought to emphasize that the new Biden administration will not deviate from the firm security stance towards China that it inherited from ex-president Donald Trump. - 'A free and open Indo-Pacific' - Washington has long sided with allies such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in rejecting disputed Chinese territorial claims in the East China Sea and South China Sea. But the Trump administration raised the tone of that rejection when then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo declared last July that most of Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea were "completely unlawful." Story continues In his first overseas contacts after taking office, Austin included not only Japan but also counterparts in Australia, South Korea and India. Over the past three years, Washington has expanded defense cooperation with India, which sees China posing a military threat both on its northern border and in the seas to the south. In a call with Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, Austin observed that the two countries' defense partnership "is built upon shared values and a common interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. A similar China-directed refrain echoed through Austin's call with Australian defense minister Linda Reynolds on Tuesday. Austin "emphasized the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, founded on existing international law and norms in a region free of malign behavior," Kirby said. To underscore the unchanged US stance in Asia, on January 24, the fourth day of the new Biden administration, the US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a so-called "freedom of navigation" mission in the South China Sea, sailing in or close to waters that China claims to underscore Washington's rejection of those claims. In addition, even as his initial focus for the US Defense Department is battling the coronavirus, Austin is expected to make Asia his first destination on an international trip. sl/pmh/to You are here: World Flash The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,473,940 as of Wednesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency's dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic in Africa stood at 86,898 as of Wednesday. A total of 2,955,394 people infected with COVID-19 have recovered across the continent so far, the agency disclosed. The Southern Africa region is the most affected area in Africa in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases, followed by the Northern Africa region, according to the agency. The most affected African countries in terms of the number of positive cases include South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. South Africa has reported the highest COVID-19-inflicted deaths in Africa, at 41,797 as of Wednesday, according to the Africa CDC. Last week, John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC, said that the African continent is "in a critical phase of the pandemic." "As economies reopen and travels resume, we must pay attention to the prevention of transmission, prevention of deaths and prevention of harm by carefully and cautiously opening our borders," Nkengasong said. The diplomatic sector has significantly contributed to maintaining a peaceful, stable environment favourable for national development, as well as national security, according to Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaks at the January 27 working session of the ongoing 13th National Party Congress. (Photo: VNA) In a presentation at a working session of the ongoing 13th National Party Congress on January 27, Son said the sector has made noted contributions over the past five years through a good combination of Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy. During the 12th tenure, despite great difficulties and challenges, with the latest the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn, fierce competitions between powers, along with emerging security issues, Vietnams diplomacy has joined hands with the entire Party, people and army to successfully implement external affair guidelines set by the 12th National Party Congress. In the past tenure, Vietnam has set up comprehensive partnership with five more countries and upgraded relations with two others to a strategic partnership, raising the total numbers of its strategic partners to 17 and comprehensive partners to 13, including all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and ASEAN member nations. The diplomatic sector has partnered with national defence and security forces in safeguarding the countrys sovereignty over its sea and islands. Amidst the complex development of the East Sea issue, Vietnam has been able to mobilise international support to oppose unilateral infringement, advocate the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, while maintaining stable relations with relevant neighbouring countries, Son said. Regarding land border, the official highlighted the ratification of two legal documents recognising the completion of 84 percent of work in border demarcation and marker planting between Vietnam and Cambodia. The country has also coordinated well with Laos and China in managing their common border lines. Thanks to such efforts, the country has built and consolidated a land border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development with all neighbours, he stressed. The sector has also helped to attract huge resources for national socio-economic development and reform, he said, citing the signing of five free trade agreements (FTAs), including new-generation, high-standard ones with key partners, which put Vietnam at the centre of a network of 16 regional FTAs. In his report, Son also reviewed citizen protection work in the 12th tenure, with about 80,000 Vietnamese citizens brought home from more than 60 countries and territories worldwide amidst COVID-19. More than 50,000 citizens, including nearly 10,000 fishermen, have received protection during the past tenure. Overseas Vietnamese have put more trust in the Party and the State, and actively contributed to national construction in terms of both knowledge and economic resources, sending home nearly 90 billion USD in remittance during the 2016-2020 period, according to the official. Son said diplomacy has played a significant role in raising the countrys position, as reflected through its hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2017, the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in 2018, the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in 2018, the summit between the US and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 2019, its ASEAN and AIPA Chairmanship last year, and non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. Son attributed those achievements to the Partys sound, comprehensive and absolute leadership, the flexible application of President Ho Chi Minhs diplomatic ideology, as well as the countrys flexible adaptation to changes. He proposed key tasks in external affairs in the upcoming tenure, including deepening political trust and combining interests with 30 strategic and comprehensive partners, with development put at the centre of relations, and Asia-Pacific as the strategic region, while enhancing relations with other potential partners in the region. It is a must to step up international integration intensively and extensively, advance multilateral diplomacy, and more actively engage in such multilateral mechanisms like ASEAN, the UN and Mekong cooperation, he continued. More efforts are needed to promote multilateralism and international law, he said, highlighting the significance of economic diplomacy in national development. Diplomacy should join in preventing and eliminating security risks early on and from afar through promoting dialogues, building trust, and advocating preventive diplomacy and respect for law, the Deputy Minister emphasised. Diplomacy will continue to serve as a firm bridge connecting 5.3 million Vietnamese abroad with their homeland, enabling them to contribute to national development and integration, Son said. Official: Party diplomacy contributes to 13th National Party Congress Head of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan The Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy contributed to fulfilling goals during the tenure of the 12th National Party Congress, said head of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan. In an interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Quan said Vietnam was a symbol of the world in the past struggle for national independence and reunification, and also set example during national renewal and development. Therefore, international friends are eyeing the 13th National Party Congress. Many political parties, international organisations and heads of states sent messages and letters of congratulations to the Vietnamese leaders on this occasion. Quan added that a number of world leaders consider Vietnam an exemplary model of development. At present, Vietnam has been hailed worldwide for its success in meeting the dual goal of fighting COVID-19 pandemic and restoring socio-economic development thanks to the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), drastic actions of the Vietnamese Government and unity of the Vietnamese people. He said international friends expect that the 13th National Party Congress will open up a new period of development for Vietnam. According to him, important progress has been made in Party diplomacy over the past five years. Vietnam strengthened ties with political parties globally in both width and depth, including ruling communist parties from neighbouring socialist countries, and parties from traditional friends and major partners, contributing to consolidating political trust, cultivating friendship with countries as well as improving leadership capacity. He said the CPV is adopting mechanisms of holding theoretical seminars with eight important political parties, policy dialogues and consultations with major parties and political parties worldwide. Vietnam also signed training agreements to send thousands of officials to the Communist Party of China, Singapore Peoples Party and political parties in Australia each year, along with many other training courses for officials and cadres at all levels. In his view, the CPV is one of the important parties with respected voices at forums of the communist and workers parties globally such as in Europe and Latin America where Vietnam has held ties with the communist and left-wing parties, contributing to improving Vietnams stature on international arena. About orientations to promoting the Partys external relations, he highlighted the effective combination among the Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy to uphold collective strength of the nation on the diplomatic front. He also mentioned the goal of maintaining an environment of peace and stability for development, and protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the world is evolving rapidly, complicatedly and uncertainly, he suggested the CPV further broaden ties with political parties worldwide, and stay flexible and creative to adapt with the new situation. In 2019, the Politburo issued Directive No.32-CT/TW on strengthening and improving the efficiency of the Partys foreign relations in the new situation. He called for continuing to enrich the brainpower of the Party by pooling international resources, including Party leadership experience, science-technology, human resource training, material and spiritual resources in service of the national renewable and development, contributing to accomplishing tasks by the 13th National Party Congress. Vietnam aims to elevate bilateral, multilateral relations Vietnam will elevate bilateral and multilateral relations in the time to come as stated in the draft documents submitted to the ongoing 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Congress at the National Convention Center in Hanoi on January 27, Hoang Binh Quan, head of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations, said Vietnam will make efforts to make its bilateral relations more substantive and effective, focusing on increasing political trust. Currently, the CPV has a resolution to enhance Vietnam's multilateral relations in a spirit that the country will both actively and proactively engage in multilateral mechanisms and initiatives, he said. This is a development step in the foreign policy of the Party and Government of Vietnam in the coming term, he noted. Regarding the effectiveness of Vietnams foreign policy, Quan said that Vietnam has joined nearly 20 free trade agreements, which means the countrys trade and investment space is very large. For a country like Vietnam, with its current level of development, this is a great international integration effort, he affirmed. The task for Vietnam now is to better its policy system and infrastructure, especially digital facilities, so that it can participate in the worlds playgrounds more confidently and practically, he went on. Vietnam will make every effort to effectively and responsibly implement its international commitments as well as those to multilateral institutions, he said, adding that the country will promote international integration with higher quality to take advantage of international cooperation and support for its renewal cause. The 13th National Party Congress will last until February 2. With the motto Solidarity - Democracy - Discipline - Creativeness - Development, it will review not only the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress but also 35 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, 30 years of implementing the 1991 Political Platform, 10 years of implementing the amended Political Platform (supplemented and developed in 2011) and the National Socio-economic Development Strategy 2011-2020. The Congress will also set out socio-economic development orientations and tasks for 2021-2025 (the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification); and determine goals and orientations to 2030 (the 100th founding anniversary of the Party) and a vision for national development to 2045 (the 100th founding anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam)./.VNA Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results In December 2020, off the east coast of South Korea, four Chinese and fifteen Russian warplanes violated South Koreas ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) and flew in and out of the ADIZ several times. South Korean fighters were sent to intercept and the Chinese and Russian warplanes withdrew. China said they told South Korea they would be conducting an exercise in the area but not that they and the Russian aircraft would enter the ADIZ. This was the fourth ADIZ violation for China in 2020 and the first for Russia. Thats actually an improvement over 2019 when Russia violated the ADIZ twenty times. The ADIZ was first used in 1950 for the U.S.-Canadian air defense system. The size of an ADIZ is similar to that recognized in 1982 when an international treaty created the 380-kilometer (from nearest land owned) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) nations can claim within their coastal waters. This includes fishing and possible underwater oil and gas fields. While some ADIZs are smaller or larger than EEZ they all tend to be similar to EEZ boundaries. Any aircraft entering the ADIZ must announce itself to local civil or military air controllers and state why they are there. Permission to proceed can be denied and in that case, interceptors are sent up to escort the trespasser out of the ADIZ or shoot the offending aircraft down. Rarely are aircraft shot down but the escorts often act in a threatening manner and collisions sometimes occur. China has become a persistent ADIZ violator and has been doing so nearly five times as often as Russia. This is mainly because in 2013 China announced a new ADIZ that overlapped South Korean, Philippine and Japanese ADIZs. Normally nations do not overlap ADIZs of neighbors. China demanded that any foreign military or commercial aircraft request permission before flying into this zone. South Korea and Japan protested while the United States quickly flew some B-52s into the disputed zone without asking for Chinese permission. China protested and the United States ignored them just as China ignores South Korean protests. Yet Chinese aircraft will leave when South Korean fighters show up, Russian violations have sometimes required drastic action. One earlier violation resulted in South Korean fighters being sent to intercept and the drive the Russian aircraft away and the Russian A-50s refused to leave. South Korea fighters fired several hundred cannon shells towards the A-50s to get their attention. The A-50s then left South Korean air space and Russia later insisted that the A-50 pilots never saw the South Korean fighters or cannon fire. Japan also sent up jets during this incident but the South Korean aircraft got there first. South Korea and Japan threatened to more vigorously enforce their ADIZ and that often works, for a while. Meanwhile ADIZs remain the scene of increasingly dangerous confrontations. Rush Twp. police say five people, not two, and all of them local were injured in a three-vehicle crash in Hometown Tuesday morning. One of the people involved in the crash later died from her injuries, according to a news release from the Lehigh County Coroners Office. The new information surfaced after police issued a Tuesday news release on the wreck that happened on Route 309 (Claremont Avenue), according to the department. Additionally, police said a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country involved in the crash was operated by an 18-year-old Schuylkill County woman, not a 29-year-old Allentown woman as officers originally reported. Police said that information was released erroneously and is the result of the trauma center receiving multiple crash victims in the same time frame from different incidents involving similar circumstances. The driver of the van, Amber L. Schwoyer, died Wednesday at 6:17 p.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. The coroners office said she sustained multiple traumatic injuries in the crash. According to police: The van was traveling north in the passing lane of Route 309 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the southbound side around 11 a.m. The vehicle collided with a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer driven by a 55-year-old Tamaqua man. The collision caused the drivers side rear tire to be torn from the Mountaineer. The van continued north in the south lane, hitting a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 29-year-old man from Summit Hill. A passenger in the van, a 13-year-old boy from Tamaqua, suffered what was described as life-threatening injuries. Both were treated on scene by medical personnel before being transported to LVH-Cedar Crest. The boy is being treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Another passenger in the van, a 3-month-old girl, was taken to the same hospital and is being treated at the Pediatric Unit for a broken bone and other related injuries. The 55-year-old man driving the Mountaineer was taken by private vehicle for treatment at St. Lukes-Miners Hospital in Coaldale and later released. The 29-year-old driving the Silverado was initially treated at the scene by an ambulance crew and then driven by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton. He was stabilized there and transferred to Cedar Crest for additional treatment of injuries. The names of the other people involved in the crash werent released to the public. The crashes happened about a mile north of Tamaqua, in the unit block of Claremont Avenue near Ye Olde Hauto Road and resulted in the road being closed for about three hours as police investigated. Rush Twp. police were assisted at the scene by personnel from Ryan Twp. EMS, Tamaqua EMS and Lehighton EMS, Hometown firefighters, Hometown fire police and Pennsylvania State Police Troop L, Schuylkill Haven. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact police at 570-668-4242 or police@rushtownship .org At a time of record low savings rates, any bank actually improving the rates they pay to savers is bound to raise an eyebrow or two. But this is especially the case when it comes to Al Rayan Bank and Gatehouse Bank, two Sharia lenders which have upped their savings rates in recent weeks and now sit comfortably at the top of the independent This is Money best buy tables. Al Rayan tops our one-year fixed-rate tables with a 0.85 per cent deal that beats its closest competitor by 0.2 percentage points, while it and Gatehouse compete for the top spot when it comes to other fixed-term deals for both bonds and tax-free Isas. Top of the tables: Al Rayan and Gatehouse comfortably top our best buy tables at the moment However, being Sharia-compliant banks, these returns are not actually interest. They are an 'expected profit rate', a subtle but important distinction. And with the two banks once again top of our best buy tables, This is Money explains what you need to know about how these banks work compared to their high street rivals. What is an expected profit rate and how does it differ from interest? Perhaps the most important difference for savers when it comes to Sharia banks is the way their returns are packaged. Because under Islamic law money is a medium of exchange with no intrinsic value, it cannot generate interest. Instead, money is invested, in return for an 'expected profit rate'. 'Practically, there is no real difference', according to Ibrahim Khan, the co-founder of the website Islamic Finance Guru. However, 'conceptually, rather than a loan to the bank for which you get paid interest, here you are entering into a joint venture or profit share type of arrangement with the bank', he said. 'You are saying to the bank "here is 50,000 for you to invest and use to run your business, and just make sure you give me back at least 2 per cent profit on that. The rest you can keep as your share."' By how much do Islamic banks beat the best buy tables? Bank One-year fixed-rate Two-year fixed-rate One-year fixed-rate Isa Two-year fixed-rate Isa Al Rayan Bank 0.85% 1.15% 0.65% 0.75% Gatehouse Bank 0.55% 1.1% 0.45% 0.8% Next best non-Sharia rate 0.65% 0.82% 0.6% 0.7% Market average (from Moneyfacts.co.uk) 0.49% 0.7% (average of all bonds longer than 18 months) 0.47% 0.62% (average of all Isas longer than 18 months) Source: This is Money/Moneyfacts Ultimately, this means a return is not necessarily guaranteed. 'Firm believers in Sharia finance accept banks might not provide a 2 per cent return, they could get 1.8 per cent or 2.2 per cent', Charles Haresnape, the chief executive of Gatehouse Bank said. But this does not usually happen. 'We do our absolute utmost to deliver a quoted return', Haresnape added, 'and we've never not paid the quoted rate, we manage it very closely on a daily basis so we can give that commitment.' Meanwhile, Khan added: 'Banks have a reserve fund specifically set aside to dip into in case they do run at a loss in a particular year. 'And then from a public relations perspective if Islamic banks failed to pay it would be a nightmare given how important savings accounts are to their business model.' In practice then savers should feel comfortable feeling that what they say is indeed what they will get. Is this why the rates are better? Charles Haresnape, Gatehouse Bank chief executive It is firstly important to note that while savers' money is invested in Sharia-compliant projects, this does not mean that cash is at risk. Savers could potentially get back less of a return, but it is still a savings account and therefore up to 85,000 is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, provided the bank is a UK one and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This investment does mean Sharia banks pay higher rates of return as a result, hence why Al Rayan can offer 0.85 per cent on a one-year fixed-rate bond at a time when its closest competitor Shawbrook Bank is paying 0.65 per cent and the average bond just 0.49 per cent. Meanwhile there is another simple reason why they often populate the top of our best buy tables: they need savers' cash. 'We need to be competitive on rates in order to attract customers', Haresnape added. The reason for this, Khan explains, is that 'Islamic banks cannot engage in interest-based transactions so they cannot borrow off the interbank market. 'Instead they need to get their money from savings accounts. And they offer the best rates as they need that money as they have no other option.' This makes them popular among Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Haresnape said. 'We are of the opinion that a large percentage of our clients are non-Sharia, and are people after the best rates and take what we offer.' Where does savers' money go? Ibrahim Khan, co-founder of the website Islamic Finance Guru If savers' money is invested, the next logical question may be - where is it invested? Sharia banks are forbidden from investing money in areas like arms, alcohol, gambling and tobacco, and they even have supervisory boards which grade their investments according to how Sharia-compliant they are. At a basic level, this can mean not investing in commercial property used to operate an off-licence selling beer or wine, for example. Instead, retail deposits are often used for construction projects and Sharia equivalents to mortgages, be they buy-to-let, commercial or residential. They are often described as 'home financing', for example Gatehouse offers two and five-year fixed-rate 'home finance' up to 80 per cent 'finance to value' at rates of up to 3.49 per cent, while financing for buy-to-let Sharia mortgages accounted for 385million of the financing it provided in 2019. 'There are lots of similarities with a traditional bank', Haresnape said, 'but the difference is we don't quote interest, we charge a profit rate as we're owning the property with you, it's effectively like rent.' Savers' money held with Sharia banks is often invested into home financing or commercial property. More than half of money deposited with Al Rayan Bank was used for Islamic mortgages in 2019 Similarly, Al Rayan, the UK's largest Islamic bank and the UK arm of one of Qatar's largest banks, Masraf Al Rayan, had more than half of its 1.65billion in 2019 financing invested into retail assets in 2019. The rest went into commercial property or 'premier' financing, which includes helping citizens of Gulf nations purchase UK property. It held 1.879billion in deposits at the end of 2019 and had 91,000 customers, according to its latest financial results. Gatehouse, meanwhile, which is four years younger after being founded in 2008 by the Kuwaiti entrepreneur Fahed Boodai, the bank's chairman. It currently holds over 600million in savings, and had 685million in assets and provided 530million in financing in 2019, according to its latest results. The majority of downtown Portland businesses owners believe that the citys core is no longer safe, according to a survey conducted by Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, a nonprofit and affiliate partner of the Portland Business Alliance. In a survey conducted between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2020, 62% of downtown businesses owners said that the central city was no longer safe, a nearly threefold increase from when the survey was last conducted in 2018. The merchants surveyed also expressed increased concerns about vandalism and graffiti, a lack of cleanliness and rising homelessness in downtown. While public safety was a big concern, though, 41% of the merchants surveyed said the coronavirus pandemic was the biggest issue impacting their businesses. Thats twice as many as cited homelessness, crime and protests combined. Fifty-seven percent of downtown merchants reported a decline in revenue in 2020 amid the pandemic with 34% of those businesses saying it would take more than three years for their businesses to recover. The results of the survey were not a surprise. The pandemic has kept tourists and office workers away from the citys core, contributing to a sharp decline in foot traffic. The number of homeless people camping downtown has risen dramatically during the pandemic as well and Portland Mayor Ted Wheelers plan to move them into shelters hasnt panned out. Downtown Portland business owners have been complaining for months about a sharp uptick in vandalism and other crime, often committed by people who have used protests for racial justice as a cover. Protests that consumed downtown nearly every night last summer dwindled in the fall, but there have been several direct-action demonstrations in the last several months where downtown businesses have been damaged. A third of businesses said they planned to relocate in the next two years, with only 6% saying they would relocate to another space downtown. That compares to 17% that said they planned to relocate within two years when the survey was last conducted in 2018. However, 50% of those planning to relocate at that time were planning to remain downtown. When asked about factors that need to improve, business owners pointed to homelessness, cleanliness and vandalism as their top concerns. Of those surveyed, 86% said cleanliness needs to improve downtown. Seventy-seven percent said the impact of people experiencing homelessness, mental illness and/or addicted to intoxicants was very much a concern, while 73% said the effects of increased graffiti and vandalism was very much a concern. Wheeler has floated multiple ideas to help downtown merchants, dedicating additional resources to graffiti removal, participating in clean-up events downtown and working with the citys economic development agency and other groups to promote local downtown retailers. But Wheeler also acknowledged earlier this month that police and politicians were currently ill-equipped to effectively crack down on vandalism and crime that has stemmed from protests. Crime within the city is up across the board as well since the start of the pandemic, but the Portland Police Bureau has said they dont have the resources necessary to adequately respond to the criminal activity. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg 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. Alabama legislators sought more information today from Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn about negotiations with private developers to build three new prisons, but Dunn revealed nothing new about the talks or prison plans. The commissioner said he expects Gov. Kay Ivey to make announcements on the negotiations very soon, although he was not specific about the timing. Dunn made a presentation and answered questions during the Legislatures budget hearings at the Alabama State House. The Ivey administration and the ADOC are negotiating with two developer teams for three mens prisons that the developers would finance, build, maintain, and lease to the state over 30 years. In September, Ivey announced the prisons would be in Bibb, Elmore, and Escambia counties. The ADOCs request for proposals to the developers says the states cost limit on the lease payments is $88 million a year. Reps. Rich Wingo, R-Tuscaloosa, and Arnold Mooney, R-Shelby County, who work in commercial real estate, said legislators need to know more about the financial terms of the leases, such as how much money the developers will make on the deals. I think this committee deserves to know what the return on costs really is for the developers that are actually building them, Wingo said. Im all for them making money. Dont get me wrong. Im not trying to short cut them. But it is the peoples money. And were responsible for the peoples money. The ADOC says it can cover the $88 million lease payments with savings gained by replacing decaying prisons that are hard to maintain and inefficient to staff. Mooney said he hoped that turned out to be correct but said legislators need more information before the state makes a 30-year commitment for $2.6 billion. We do this in our world in commercial real estate, and its 8%, 9%, 10% return, thats a fair return and its a great deal for the state, Mooney said We would want to be able to say that. But right now, were on the outside looking in without information. Dunn said the negotiations are confidential. The ADOC committed to confidentiality in the request for proposals. Dunn said the ADOC would give legislators information to the extent that it could. He said the ADOC has met with legislators to discuss the same concerns. Some of Alabamas 13 mens prisons would close when the new prisons open, but the ADOC has not said which ones. Mooney and Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, told Dunn that people who will be affected by those decisions need to know what to expect. St. Clair Correctional Facility is an important source of jobs that support and provide health insurance and other benefits for families in the McClendons district, the senator told Dunn. He said those people need to know if the prison will still be there in five years. Is it going to be gone or is it going to be torn down or whats going on? McClendon asked. Dunn said he had no specific answers about which prisons would close but reminded legislators that Ivey created the Alabama Prison Repurposing Commission to make recommendations on what to do with the old prisons. Ivey directed the 15-member commission, which includes four legislators, to report its findings by September 2023, or within 90 days of the three prisons being completed. Dunn said the commission will hold meetings in communities that would be affected by prison closings. I think that the commission that the governor set up represents many of her concerns ... so that everyone is heard and we work towards a solution that is simultaneously best for the state of Alabama and also for the rural counties that you referenced, Dunn said. I dont deny its a very difficult and complex problem. Mooney said he knew about the Repurposing Commission but said thats no comfort to families who could lose jobs under the prison consolidation plan. The governors commission is a wonderful group of people who Ive read are listed on it, Mooney said. However, it doesnt answer questions for families that are trying to put food on their table, get medical bills paid for and try to do a good days work so that they have a job in the future. Do you understand the uncertainty were experiencing in trying to serve the people who elected us to try to have a fiduciary responsibility over the tax funds that they give to the state of Alabama? Speaking to reporters after the budget hearing today, Dunn was asked about legislators expressing concerns about not knowing the details of the lease agreements before theyre signed. I appreciate that and I think thats an issue that we have been working with legislative leadership and providing information, Dunn said. The negotiations are confidential because were dealing with two separate private entities. Theres an element of that. And then theres an element of developing the conditions of the lease, but also achieving financial close. President Biden on Tuesday ordered the Justice Department to end the use of privately managed federal prisons. Dunn said Alabamas prison development plans are not affected by that. The state will operate the new prisons that it leases from the developers. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in December alleging that Alabama violates the constitutional rights of prisoners by failing to protect them from violence from other inmates and excessive force by correctional officers and by failing to provide safe and sanitary conditions. The state has until Feb. 15 to respond to the lawsuit. The DOJ said new facilities alone would not fix the problems but did note the poor physical conditions of Alabamas prison buildings. The legislative session starts Tuesday. Keke Palmer will host the new competition series Foodtastic on Disney Plus, which is scheduled to go into production this week, with a premiere set for later this year. In each self-contained episode, three teams of food artists will be tasked with transforming Disney's legendary characters and stories into massive and extravagant food sculptures. The works of art will be judged based on design, technical skills, and narrative, and not by taste. Palmer will be joined by judges Benny Rivera, founder of New York's City Cakes, and Amirah Kassem, founder of Flour Shop. Unused food from each episode will be donated to local food banks. Sign up for Disney Plus here. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / The United States commercial fishing industry is united around the common goals of protecting our traditional fishing communities, maintaining domestic food security, and leading with evidence-based decision making during an era of rapidly changing ocean use. We are encouraged by the new Administration's commitment to inclusivity and environmental science. We look forward to improving partnerships between lawmakers, policymakers, and fisheries experts to protect and promote this low-environmental impact protein source, which leads the world in sustainability through the rigorous fisheries management and conservation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. It is imperative that our elected officials support and adopt policies to minimize and mitigate the effects of climate change; the strategies to do so must equally address the pressing issues of food production, ecosystem health, and preserving cultural heritage. As evidenced by his Agency nominations and recent Executive Order on "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad," we are encouraged that the President is taking a measured approach. We applaud leadership and processes that underscore the value of science-based collaboration with members of small communities who are most impacted by natural resource management decisions. Offshore Renewable Energy Development The Administration has made clear its commitment to address climate change, which is a matter of critical importance to seafood harvesters adapting to the effects of ecosystem changes every day. The rapid advancement of large offshore wind energy facilities to meet climate goals places our nation at the dawn of a new era of ocean industrialization. While mitigating carbon emissions is urgent and necessary, so is protecting and prioritizing domestic sourcing of sustainable, affordable, and healthy protein. This necessitates evaluating the most efficient means of reducing atmospheric carbon while minimizing impacts to biodiversity and the economy. Fishing communities stand ready and willing to incorporate their unique expertise in the country's transition to renewable energy but there must be meaningful ways for them to do so. Three key topics must be addressed to ensure responsible planning for the unprecedented demands that are anticipated to be placed on our oceans. 1. Improving regional research efforts and scientific understanding of offshore infrastructure projects Development of the Outer Continental Shelf should only be done in a purposeful planned manner utilizing the best available science. Our scientific understanding of impacts from offshore wind energy development is improving, but there is far more unknown about how development will alter the physical, biological, economic and social dimensions of the marine environment. Evidence-based planning is necessary to understand and minimize impacts, and currently that does not exist for the proposed scale of development to proceed responsibly. For commercial fishermen, it is extremely worrisome to see the push for a new industry that jeopardizes a sustainable and historic one without rigorous scientific due diligence. Such diligence must apply to transparent information about the environmental and economic effects associated with the entire offshore renewable energy supply chain, from mining rare earth minerals for battery components to turbine production to maritime traffic to decommissioning. Currently, there is no balancing of priorities in offshore renewable energy permitting decisions. Promises to achieve production targets for offshore wind energy based solely on climate goals will significantly impact other public needs such as food production, tourism, and national security. Such targets, if adopted, must be accompanied by a comprehensive roadmap for evaluating tradeoffs and should not be pursued before the creation of balanced multi-use ocean plans. These must include funding for environmental research and compensatory mitigation for impacted sectors. 2. Enhanced interstate coordination and a clear delineation of authorities within federal agencies Some of the biggest challenges around offshore renewable energy development are due to a lack of consistency in the leasing and planning processes, nonexistent or inconsistent engagement opportunities, and poor integration between planning and permitting authorities. Regional issues associated with environmental and fisheries impacts require appropriate federal oversight. The current approach results in widespread duplication of efforts, inconsistency and inequity, misplaced interstate competition, and overall unpredictability. To help address the lack of coordination of regional research, RODA co-founded the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance with federal and state entities, offshore wind energy developers, and expert fisheries scientists to serve as a trusted regional coordinating entity. The Administration should reward the collaboration on this innovative public-private partnership and utilize it as a resource for improved coordination. Responsibilities for the various federal agencies involved is often unclear. A clarification of the roles for these entities is urgently needed and regulatory authority should be returned to agencies with most expertise in the relevant aspects of environmental review. We look forward to an incoming Commerce Secretary who can bring her expertise and knowledge of coordinating numerous federal, state and local agencies, as well as community members and regional partners together through her experience with the Block Island Wind Farm. As governor, Ms. Raimondo witnessed first hand the time and dedication required for effective collaboration and the complex links of offshore wind energy with the U.S. economy. 3. Facilitation of industry to industry cooperation As users who will inevitably share the ocean space, regulations, and potential workforce, it is paramount that industry to industry cooperation improves between offshore wind energy development and fishing. Currently this is very difficult to achieve and would benefit from regulatory incentives or direct federal involvement. RODA has worked to bring industries together through its Joint Industry Task Force and fishing industry leaders are committed to direct engagement when assured those efforts can bear fruit. Small collaborative projects and communication have added value to the process, but not enough resources have been committed to truly catalyze the industries working together in a meaningful way. Absent resources and in a regulatory atmosphere that strongly favors one party, progress is difficult. To be effective, support must be directed to fisheries-driven efforts, not just wind-organized ones. Similarly, some wind developers have expended far more effort than others to work with affected communities in good faith. Incentives to do so must be greatly expanded. "30x30" The Presidential Memorandum on scientific integrity must extend to implementation of science-based recommendations for conservation and environmental protection. We are encouraged by the Administration's commitment to collect input from stakeholders in the "30x30" provisions included in the Executive Order on climate change, which implements a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. waters by 2030. We echo the concern expressed by fishing communities and scientists across the country that arbitrary closures, or targets for the total area of closures, based on political negotiations rather than science could have greater negative impacts to ocean conservation than no closures at all. For conservation measures to be beneficial, they must be carefully designed for specific outcomes such as enhancing ecosystem production, protecting sensitive habitat, or preserving fish spawning activity. The public and transparent fishery management council process is the appropriate way to ensure the best available science determines such design. We must also be mindful that for a vast majority of Americans, the only access they have to the marine resources in U.S. oceans is a direct result of the U.S. fishing industry. The Executive Order clearly states environmental and economic justice are important considerations in developing programs and policies. Reducing our abilities to provide U.S. seafood to disadvantaged communities would not further environmental and economic justice. Support for the Buy American Initiative The Biden Administration should champion the U.S. commercial fishing industry, which complies with a multitude of regulations to provide renewable protein to Americans across the country. U.S. fisheries are among the most sustainable around the world and constitute one of the lowest-carbon methods of food production. Too often we hear public misconceptions that wild harvest fisheries are on the verge of extinction or utilize destructive practices, but that is not true for U.S. based fisheries. Domestic fisheries are the most strictly regulated in the world and have rebounded extraordinarily from overfishing decades ago; failing to recognize their success only pushes consumers toward seafood from other markets with much looser environmental oversight. The coastal communities across the nation that support our fishing heritage must be protected and celebrated. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and staggering unemployment rates, efforts to promote jobs should be maximized across all maritime sectors and ensure that any new coastal uses benefit the U.S. economy and Americans. RODA calls on the Biden administration to work with fishing companies and crews, offshore wind supply chains, unions, and workforce development programs to create robust mechanisms that create and maintain jobs across all maritime trades. Complementary to this, offshore wind energy development should be the poster industry for the President's "Buy American" initiative. Current infrastructure in the U.S. does not support the manufacturing or installation of offshore wind turbine components and thus energy development companies are poised to purchase from foreign countries. For example, GE Renewable Energy, a main supplier of wind turbines and turbine parts, recently opened a new offshore wind and development center in China. The Administration should support American labor by requiring turbines, monopiles and blades be manufactured here in the U.S., ensuring that they meet our world-class environmental standards. As small business owners reliant upon a healthy U.S. environment, our members look forward to working with the President's appointments for the Secretaries of Commerce, Interior, and Labor. Their experience working with small communities, including coastal and fishing communities, will prove vital as we tackle some of the biggest issues facing our nation. We also look forward to working with the entire Administration on protecting and promoting sustainable U.S. seafood. RODA is committed to helping our members stay on the water and will continue to advocate for protecting the important heritage of the fishing industry and coastal communities across the country. About RODA The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance represents fishing industry associations and companies dedicated to improving the compatibility of offshore developments with their businesses. RODA's approximately 170 members represent every Atlantic coastal state from North Carolina to Maine, and Pacific coast members in California, Oregon, and Washington. PRESS CONTACT: Bob Vanasse Stove Boat Communications (202) 333-2628 bob@stoveboat.com SOURCE: Responsible Offshore Development Alliance View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626667/RODA-Statement-on-Considerations-for-the-Biden-Administration-from-the-Fishing-Industry-and-Coastal-Communities Andalucia is gearing up to receive the first Moderna vaccines next week according to the Juntas Minister of Health, Jesus Aguirre, during his visit to the regional hospital in Antequera this Thursday. He also announced the region would receive 76,050 doses from Pfizer next week but will continue press Madrid for more supplies to achieve the goal of reaching 70 per cent of the population by summer. Aguirre said that he has asked Spains new Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, to pressure Europe "so that the commitments with the different multinational manufacturers of vaccines are fulfilled. According to the Junta de Andalucia, as of 27 January, 266,231 doses have been administered, of which 156,225 correspond to the first injection and 55,003 people have received the second. As for the Pfizer vaccine Aguirre said, "It is confirmed that we will receive 76,050 doses next week, although he "regrets that there are fewer doses than hoped for. Aside from the reported prequels and spinoffs of the hit drama series "Game of Thrones," an animated series is reportedly in the works. According to a report by TV Web, HBO is planning to roll out an animated adaptation of the eight-season drama about nine noble families that had been at war against each other. However, fans should not get their hopes up that it will come soon, as it has been revealed that the project is still in its very early stages. While it is unkown if it is still in the conceptual stage or there are already concrete plans, no plot details have been revealed. The TV Web report also noted that no writer has been attached to the animated series, which means that it's likely the project hasn't even began production yet. For what it's worth though, the said series is reportedly planned to be streamed on HBO Max. Per Reuters, however, HBO did not comment on the report. Game of Thrones Full Series The fantasy series based on George R.R. Martin's novels first aired in 2011 and ended in 2019. While the series' final season has been met with criticisms for its development, the show still made huge waves and garnered significant following over the years. It has also been highly successful in awards shows over the years, bagging 12 Emmy Awards which includes Best Drama Series. The "Game of Thrones" casts such as Sophie Turner, Kit Harrington, Maisie Williams and Emilia Clarke also rose to more fame with their respective roles in the highly regarded TV series adaptation. Game of Thrones Prequels While full details about the animated series is yet to be revealed, it is worth noting that HBO already has a planned prequel featuring the House of Dragon. It is set 300 years before the events that was featured in the first "Game of Thrones" series. With Jane Goldman as writer, the story will put an emphasis on the Targaryen civil war in Westeros, which known as the Dance of Dragons. It is scheduled to debut in 2022. Moreover, as previously reported, HBO is said to be planning another spinoff related to "Tales of Dunk and Egg." It will reportedly follow the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and a young Aegon Targaryen (Egg), 90 years prior to the happenings in "A Song of Ice and Fire." See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles A DJ has captured the bizarre moment a wild black bear interrupts his at-home DJ set as the animal appears to listen to the music before trying to open the door. Jody Flemming, 50, was performing to a livestream at home in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, when a bear came sniffing around outside his door. The DJ continues to mix the decks unaware that a large bear is watching him, with just the door's thin fly screen separating them. After noticing a shadow Mr Flemming is seen turning around to open the door, believing a neighbour is standing there - only to discover the visitor is a bear. He calmly shoos the animal away and goes to get his phone to take a photo. At this point a car pulls up to his house and the bear makes an escape. After being sure that the bear had gone the DJ continued the entirety of his set to his bemused fans. Jody Flemming, 50, was performing a DJ set at home in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, when a bear came sniffing around outside his door After turning around Mr Flemming walks towards the door as if he is going to let the bear in He then manages to shoo the techno-loving animal off by waving his arm Mr Flemming, who describes himself as a DJ, realtor, dad and good-time-lover, later shared the video of the incident to his Instagram, writing: '20,000 views in 24 hours. Crazy! #technobear.' One social media user commented that the bear 'came to party!' to which Mr Flemming responded 'he came to the right place'. Another wrote: 'WTF!?!!!!! Jody are you also a bear whisperer?' Mr Flemming, who describes himself as a DJ, Realtor, Dad and good-time-lover, later shared the video of the incident to his Instagram, writing: '20,000 views in 24 hours. Crazy!' Mr Flemming seen performing a DJ set on another occasion, with no bears around Black bears are known to be more dangerous than brown bears and are more likely to attack humans if they encounter them in close quarters. Residents of North Carolina have long had to contend with black bears, which are populous in the state - especially in coastal and mountain areas. Their numbers are rising across the United States, with 300,000 of the creatures in the country - most reside in Montana and surrounding states including Idaho and North Dakota. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Nigeria has dropped in the 2020 corruption ranking released by Transparency International (TI) on Thursday. The country dropped three places and scored lower in number of points than in its previous years record. This is an indicator that corruption is perceived to have worsened in the country within the last one year. The fresh TIs new Corruption Perception Index (CPI) says Nigeria scored 25/100 which is one point less than its 26 points in the previous year. It says Nigeria is now 149 out of 180 countries, a record that is three steps lower than its rank of 146 in 2019. In the 2018 index, Nigeria rose by four places on the index from 148 to 144. Assessment The CPI assessed 180 countries on the basis of perceived corruption in the public sector and not based on opinions of experts and business people. It assessed countries on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. According to the latest report, Denmark and New Zealand with 88 points each, are the least perceived corrupt countries, followed by Finland, Singapore and Sweden and Switzerland scoring 85 points each. War-torn countries like South-Sudan and Somalia ranked the highest countries perceived to be corrupt with 12 points each. The Nigerian authorities have always criticised the yearly reports, saying TI was oblivious of the achievements of the current administration of President Muhammadu in the fight against corruption. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had said at the release of the last index, that the reports do not corroborate the facts on the ground. In terms of the fight against corruption, we have been doing more, we have done more, and we will continue to do more out of inherent conviction and desire on our part to fight against corruption devoid of any extraneous considerations relating to the rating by Transparency International, Mr had Malami argued. Nigeria is yet to react to the latest ranking. Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of British-born al-Qaeda militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime accused in the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 in Karachi. The apex court dismissed the Sindh provincial government's appeal against the Sindh High Court's (SHC) decision to overturn the conviction of Sheikh for the beheading of Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal. According to the short verdict, a three-judge SC bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam also directed to release the suspect. One member of the bench opposed the decision. Pearl's murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He was serving a prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country. Pearl was abducted and beheaded while he was in investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. In April 2020, the SHC had overturned the death sentence of Omer Sheikh and sentenced him to seven years in prison and acquitted three other accused Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib who were earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an anti-terrorism court (ATC). After the SHC verdict, the Sindh government and family of Daniel Pearl filed petitions in the apex court. The Sindh government also immediately detained the four men under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960. The same SHC division bench annulled the detention order on December 24 and ordered the Sindh government to immediately release the four men. This order elicited an immediate response from the US which on December 25 expressed its deep concerns over the SHC order. The US has been mounting pressure on Pakistan, demanding justice for Pearl. In December, the US has said it is ready to take custody of Sheikh, asserting that Washington will not allow him to evade justice. (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.) Mumbai: The brand value of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) grew by $1.4 billion in 2020 over the prior year which is the highest absolute growth among the 25 companies assessed in a pandemic-hit year, a new report said on Tuesday. TCS has further consolidated its position among the top 3 most valuable brands in the IT services sector, according to Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation firm. According to the Brand Finance IT Services 25 2021' report, TCS grew in a challenging year when the brand value of IT services companies collectively dropped by 3 per cent. At 10 per cent growth over the prior year, TCS has outperformed its peers in the top 3 category. "With what was a very tough 2020, led so ably by its CEO Rajesh Gopinathan, TCS has excelled itself once again. Along with 10 per cent growth in its brand, its market cap also hit pole position in its industry and it is increasingly closing in on the top two in the IT services sector table," said David Haigh, CEO, Brand Finance. "2021 will, undoubtedly, be another great year for TCS and its brand." The seamless adaptation to new ways of working and the increased agility engendered by location-agnostic remote working models have led to faster execution on the ground and enhanced customer satisfaction, helping TCS win more business and gain market share, the report mentioned. "This recognition of our brand strength is a stellar reaffirmation of the continued trust that our customers have placed in us over the years," said Rajashree R, CMO, TCS. "We are proud and excited to embark on the next phase of our growth, building on our beliefs, and harnessing the passion, dedication and strength of our 469,000 associates who are the true custodians of Brand TCS". TCS was recognised as a Superbrand' across the US and the UK, based on the strength of its brand reputation across channels, business performance, industry-leading job creation, scale of employee training and development, and dedication to nationwide corporate social responsibility initiatives. leader on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for allegedly "ruining" the country's economy. In a tweet, the MP said: "Mr Modi's governance is a lesson in how to ruin one of the world's fastest-growing economies." He has been actively criticising the ruling government over the issues of economy and employment in the country. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Gandhi had shared a report by Oxfam on the alleged increase in wealth of Indian billionaires saying, "This is what happens when the Prime Minister runs a country in the sole interest of 3-4 crony capitalists." The leader arrived in Kerala on Wednesday for the two-day visit ahead of the Assembly elections in the state scheduled for April-May. Earlier, he was on a three-day visit to the western belt in Tamil Nadu where he interacted with farmers, business people, weavers and the general public. During his visit, the politician said that the major economic policies of the present central government like Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation destroyed micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the country. (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.) (Natural News) It looks like the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) wants to rewrite history or erase it from the public school curriculum. On Jan. 11, the MDE presented new standards that would banish crucial lessons about World War I, World War II and the Holocaust. Systemic racism and awareness Shockingly, the MDE also proposed the erasure of vital historical moments like the Civil War, the American Revolution, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Instead of studying these important figures and moments in American and world history, students will be taught about other topics such as: Gender equality Developing a respectful awareness of the LGBTQ+ community. How freedom and democracy included or excluded certain groups throughout U.S. history. The Reconstruction period, particularly efforts to disenfranchise newly freed Black Americans and connecting this history to persistent discrimination and inequity in the present. Systemic racism in America allegedly rooted in the countrys founding. An analysis of the ideology of Manifest Destiny and its relationship to whiteness, Christianity, and capitalism. Minnesotas juvenile justice system and its evaluation on the impact on black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities. Under Minnesota law, the states Department of Education establishes standards for K-12 public schools for several categories. According to an entry from John Hinderaker at the Powerline blog, a committee revises the benchmarks for each category every 10 years. For 2021, the Social Studies standard is being revised. However, the committee spearheading the revision, including Gov. Tim Walz, is hard left. Hinderaker expressed his shock at the first draft, which also received thousands of comments from concerned citizens. Unfortunately, these comments have been dismissed without careful consideration. Catrin Wigfall, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, reviewed the proposed draft. She explained that at least 5,000 comments were submitted to the standards review committee by parents and citizens through the campaigns website. Along with the letters was a letter expressing concern about eliminating significant events in U.S. history and civic features. Wigfall noted that instead of considering the comments and the issues detailed in the letter, Doug Paulson, the Director of Academic Standards, casually dismissed the concerns of Minnesotans. Paulson even said these issues raised in the letter used white supremacy language. But Wigfall clarified that nothing quoted or referenced in the letter came off as white supremacy language to her. Even committee member Danyika Leonard asked if the committee should just go ahead and completely dismiss the valid concerns brought up in the comments from 5,000 Minnesotans. Focusing on the minority and ignoring the majority Per the MDEs new standards, students will be taught how to describe alleged tactics used by the American government to claim indigenous and Mexican land. Hinderaker considers this unusual because there are an extraordinary number of benchmarks devoted to the history of Native Americans even though they only make up one to two percent of the states population. The blogger was concerned because under the Walz administration, students will be kept in the dark about the countrys true history. If these standards are enforced, young children may even grow up hating the country for imagined slights on the minority. (Related: BAN HISTORY! Illinois lawmaker wants to stop schools from teaching history because the subject is now racist.) Over 5,000 commenters used the Raise Our Standards MN website to send a letter to the committee, most of which objected to the anti-American features of the draft standards. Despite making up 80 percent of the comments that the committee received, the sentiments of thousands of concerned citizens have been ignored. The second draft of the proposal will be available for public review and feedback from mid-February to mid-March. Sources include: WND.com Breitbart.com PowerLineBlog.com Education.mn.gov 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. ADVERTISEMENT The Ekiti State government is ready to partner with the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) Alumni Association in improving the quality of lives of Nigerians by impacting positive change in young students through its mentoring programmes. The Governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, said this in Ado-Ekiti during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the association on January 18. The IVLPAA (IVLP Alumni Association) is an association aimed at fostering mutual understanding between the United States and other nations through short-term visit to the U.S. The governor commended the association for upholding the values of the IVLP programme, through its activities which comprise of a mentoring programme for senior secondary school students of government schools. The students are equipped with leadership skills, exposed to proper decision making process, and motivated to strive for excellence both personally and academically. Other programmes by the association targeted at young people include Waste to Wealth, Teachers Training, Online Food and Grocery Training, Drug Abuse and Crime Workshop. Mr Fayemi said Ekiti State is open for such initiatives. The philosophy on which IVLP is built makes it easy for the state government to collaborate with the association in instilling values that will shape the future into the young ones, Mr Fayemi said. The governor added that the IVLPAAs mentorship programmes can also help the states chapter of Fashion Designers Association in promoting its clothing products to the world, and also to introduce young and middle-aged people into the Online Food and Grocery sector. He directed relevant agencies of the state government to liaise with the IVLPAA in areas of partnership to enable the Ekiti people benefit from the wealth of experience of members of the association. Speaking earlier, the President of the IVLPAA, Adetoun Tade, said the visit was to felicitate with Governor Fayemi as one of its members and to commend him for what he was doing as governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum. Mrs Tade added that the visit was also to extend the activities of the association to Ekiti State to enable more people benefit from the experiences, knowledge and skills of its members. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American By Kim Hyun-bin The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses and even some courts to temporarily halt operations, but one organization has stayed busy trying to change outdated laws and policies to help budding startups. That organization is the Sandbox support center run by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The support center was launched in May and helps out startups with a one-stop approach, from application procedures to getting approval for businesses. The business support center got its name from the playground fixture in order to amplify the KCCI's initiatives to temporarily reduce or exempt regulations so startup companies will have more room to operate and grow. Other countries, including the U.K. and Japan, have already implemented the sandbox system. But Korea is the first case where a private organization is offering such support. During the first 200 days since the Sandbox center was launched, 84 cases have been resolved, including virtual treatments for foreign patients, a shared barbershop, shared kitchen and the operation of urban surveillance drones, which have given new businesses new opportunities that weren't possible previously due to outdated laws, according to the KCCI. The Sandbox made all of this possible by submitting and reviewing over 20,000 pages of applications. Sandbox Effect "It is not about successfully launching one startup. We are laying the groundwork for them to support the Korean economy in the future and as soon as possible," KCCI Chairman Park Yong-maan said. KCCI Chairman Park Yong-maan Plymouth, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT) (OTCQB: PLRTF) (FSE: 4XA) (WKN# A2N8RH) ("Plymouth Rock", "PRT", or the "Company") a leader in developing threat detection and unmanned technologies, is pleased to announce that it has supplied its first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to the United Nations (UN) as part of UNSOM (United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia) under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The program is for a reseeding mission. UNEP estimated 8.2 million trees were cut down for charcoal in Somalia between 2011 and 2017, increasing land degradation, food insecurity and vulnerability to flooding and drought. Over 80 percent of charcoal produced in Somalia is exported to Gulf States and neighbouring countries. Illegal trade in charcoal is recognized as a key contributor to insecurity in Somalia, providing a major source of funding for militias, terrorist groups, and other actors linked to conflict, who illegally tax exports. To address the issues of charcoal in Somalia, both the demand and supply side have to be tackled. To do this, the Government of Somalia needed cooperation to implement the UN Security Council Resolution and ensure the environmental, economic and human losses that happen because of illegal charcoal trade are curbed. The platform supplied for this application is a highly modified hexacopter drone that has the sensory and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capability of the PRT X1. "Operating in a war zone, flying BVLOS at night whilst carrying a heavy payload, and delivering it with exact precision is not a simple undertaking," stated Carl Cagliarini, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of PRT. "Not to mention in all weather conditions and on a 20 nautical mile round trip! The technologies within this UAV platform combined are not dissimilar to that found on military assets. The task of stripping away every ounce of weight to add the means for stealth flight and essential mission tools was critical," concluded Cagliarini. "Notwithstanding the tremendous accolade of serving a UN mission, but one with an undertaking of such ecological and economic importance is an honor for all of our staff and the company as a whole," stated Dana Wheeler, Co-Founder and CEO of PRT. "I believe that this deployment is a further example of the world class ingenuity and engineering capability within the PRT team and it's technology partnerships. Working on essential UK NHS programs along with completing the UN shipment during the first week of the new year required our staff to work through the holidays and COVID-19 restrictions is testimony of our team commitment to delivering what is required when it is essential," concluded Wheeler. "During my many years in government service, I got to witness firsthand the incredible work the United Nations does. It is a true honor for us at Plymouth Rock Technologies to be part of such an important project," said Douglas Smith, Chairman of Plymouth Rock and former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security. Pre-Delivery Testing images and operational footage will be uploaded to the company Social Media Platforms. About the United Nations (UN) The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. The Purposes of the United Nations are: To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace; To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace; To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. https://www.un.org/ About UNSOM (United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia) The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was established on 3 June 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2102, following a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations in support of the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia. The mandate of UNSOM was subsequently renewed by Security Council resolutions 2158 (2014), 2221 (2015), 2232 (2015), 2275 (2016), 2358 (2017), 2408 (2018), 2461 (2019), 2516 (2020), 2527 (2020), and 2540 (2020). The current mandate is valid until 31 August 2021. Unanimously adopting resolution 2102 (2013), the Council decided that the mandate of UNSOM would include the provision of policy advice to the Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on peacebuilding and state-building in the areas of governance, security sector reform and rule of law (including the disengagement of combatants), development of a federal system (including state formation), constitutional review, democratisation (including preparations for the 2016 political transition) and coordination of international donor support. https://unsom.unmissions.org About the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Our mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. https://www.unep.org About Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. We are on a mission to bring engineering-driven answers to the most critical problems that threaten our safety. We work with government, law enforcement and military to innovate solutions for national security, defence and space systems. The Company is developing the next generation of threat detection solutions and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The PRT X1 is a purpose-built multirotor UAS, utilizing Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge sensors and the latest FLIR dual-camera module as standard, offering thermal capabilities alongside 1080p HD real-time air-to-ground streaming and 4K video recording, with the ability to mount multiple, various sensors, modules and payloads. Our advanced threat detection methods fuse artificial intelligence with augmented reality interfaces to eliminate human operating error. Plymouth Rock products, both airborne and land-based, will scan for threat items at greater 'stand-off' distances than current existing technologies. Our unique radar imaging and signal processing technology creates new opportunities for remotely operated, non-intrusive screening of crowds in real time. Plymouth Rock's core technologies include: (1) UAS platforms engineered to conform to H.R.4753 - Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act ("X1") ("XV"); (2) Millimeter Remote Imaging from Airborne Drone ("MIRIAD"); (3) A compact microwave radar system for scanning shoe's ("Shoe Scanner"); (4) A compact modular radar utilized for a variety of applications, from aircraft to weapon detection ("CODA"). www.plyrotech.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dana Wheeler President and CEO +1-603-300-7933 info@plyrotech.com Investor Information: Tasso Baras +1-778-477-6990 tasso@plyrotech.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward - looking statements are 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 and dependence upon regulatory approvals. 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 statements. The Company 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 as required by securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72983 Fired Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt has accused the network of 'indulging their consumers' worst cravings', as he blasted what he described as the 'hype men in the media who tried to steal an election or at least get rich trying'. Stirewalt, who was part of Fox's election team that called Arizona for Joe Biden before his sensational firing last week, penned a scathing opinion piece for the LA Times where he appeared to pin some of the blame on Fox for the 'rebellion on the populist right against the results of the 2020 election'. Though he did not reference Fox by name, he made a series of thinly-veiled attacks on the network with its focus on 'ratings' meaning it avoids 'at almost any cost impinging on the reality' of its viewers. The ousted editor, who worked at the Rupert Murdoch-owned network for more than a decade, also claimed he was targeted with 'murderous rage' from viewers after the network was first to correctly call Arizona for Biden in the presidential election. Stirewalt, 46, was ousted last week along with at least 16 digital editorial staffers in a purge that Fox described as a 'post-election restructuring'. Stirewalt had publicly defended the network's move to call Arizona on the night of November 3 while other networks held back to watch the razor-thin margins play out. The Associated Press joined Fox in calling the state for Biden three hours later on election night, but other networks including ABC, CBS and NBC all waited eight days until November 12, by which time Biden had been declared the overall winner of the White House race. Biden won Arizona by 10,475 votes out of nearly 3.4 million cast. The controversial early call by Fox, which has long been an ally of Donald Trump, sparked outrage from the network's right-wing viewers as well as Trump himself who pushed Jared Kushner to call Murdoch directly and demand he retract the call. Fired Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt (pictured) has accused the network of 'indulging their consumers' worst cravings', as he blasted what he described as the 'hype men in the media who tried to steal an election or at least get rich trying' Stirewalt wrote that the refusal among Trump supporters to accept the outcome of the presidential election was partly the fault of what he called the 'hype men in the media'. 'The rebellion on the populist right against the results of the 2020 election was partly a cynical, knowing effort by political operators and their hype men in the media to steal an election or at least get rich trying,' he wrote. He took aim at Fox for 'indulging their consumers worst cravings' and 'avoiding at almost any cost impinging on the reality' of viewers in order to hold on to ratings. 'Whatever the platform, the competitive advantage belongs to those who can best habituate consumers, which in the stunted, data-obsessed thinking of our time, means avoiding at almost any cost impinging on the reality so painstakingly built around them,' he wrote. Stirewalt described an environment where unnamed 'superiors' 'track even tiny changes in viewership'. 'Ratings, combined with scads of market research, tell them what keeps viewers entranced and what makes them pick up their remotes,' he wrote. He took aim at his former employer using the choice word 'firing' to describe his departure - just days after Fox claimed it had 'realigned its business and reporting structure'. He suggested his exit came about as the network 'offers penalties for reporting the news but lots of rewards for indulging a consumer's worst cravings.' Stirewalt, who was part of the Fox's election team that called Arizona for Joe Biden before his sensational firing last week, penned a scathing opinion piece for the LA Times (above) where he appeared to pin some of the blame on Fox for the 'rebellion on the populist right against the results of the 2020 election' While the longtime editor was laid off last week, hosts such as Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlsson remain in their positions at the network after spending weeks pushing Trump's unfounded claims of widespread election fraud - claims that had no evidence and were tossed out by several courts and debunked by Trump's own administration. Trump continued to push the claims in his rally on January 6 where he told his supporters to 'fight', moments before a MAGA mob stormed the US Capitol in a riot that left five dead. By contrast, Stirewalt wrote that Fox viewers were 'furious' that he had called Arizona for Biden. 'When I defended the call for Biden in the Arizona election, I became a target of murderous rage from consumers who were furious at not having their views confirmed,' he wrote in the op ed. Stirewalt defended the early call saying he was 'proud' of making the projection ahead of other networks as 'being right and beating the competition' was part of the job. He compared his speed at calling the state to the move made by Erastus Brooks, former owner of the New York Evening Express, to beat the competition in announcing an important state election in the 1840s. 'Once, in order to beat his competitors with the results of an important state election in the early 1840s, Brooks hired out a stateroom on a Hudson River steamboat and installed a printing press,' he wrote. Stirewalt was part of the election team that was first to correctly call Arizona on the night of November 3 (above). Most networks didn't call it until November 12 'By the time the competition's reporters returned to New York City from Albany to file their stories, Brooks already had the finished product in hand.' Stirewalt wrote that the media industry is 'chockablock' with stories of 'heroic (and sometimes underhanded) efforts' to beat the competition in getting a story out to the American public and that he had always focused on being first in his career. 'I have always been with Brooks. I wanted to steam downriver as fast as I could to be first with the news to beat the competition and serve my audience,' he wrote. Two days after the call and amid the backlash from viewers and Trump's White House, Stirewalt doubled down on the call on air saying: 'Arizona is doing just what we expected it to do and we remain serene and pristine.' When the Trump campaign initially threatened lawsuits in Arizona over the election results, Stirewalt also responded: 'Lawsuits, schmawsuits. We haven't seen any evidence yet that there's anything wrong.' The Murdoch empire - in particular Fox - had long been a close ally of Trump. Trump and Rupert Murdoch playing golf in 2016 In Thursday's op ed, Stirewalt wrote: 'I was proud of our being first to project that Joe Biden would win Arizona, and very happy to defend that call in the face of a public backlash egged on by former President Trump. 'Being right and beating the competition is no act of heroism; it's just meeting the job description of the work I love.' But the ousted journalist hit out that 'being first' is of 'scant value' and can actually be a 'commercial disadvantage' because the US has become 'a nation of news consumers both overfed and malnourished.' 'Americans gorge themselves daily on empty informational calories, indulging their sugar fixes of self-affirming half-truths and even outright lies,' he wrote. Stirewalt broadened out his anger to the media industry and consumers in general saying 'most stories are morally complicated'. 'The lie that Trump won the 2020 election wasn't nearly as much aimed at the opposing party as it was at the news outlets that stated the obvious, incontrovertible fact,' he wrote. Trump was furious at Fox News for calling Arizona, on the night of the election, before any other network. The then-president demanded his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner call Murdoch to demand a retraction but Murdoch refused to bow down. Trump (pictured at the MAGA rally on January 6 before rioters stormed the Capitol) was furious at Fox News for calling Arizona and even demanded his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, call Murdoch to demand a retraction. Murdoch refused Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in a riot that left five dead. The riot came after Trump pushed unfounded claims of election fraud Jason Miller, another Trump adviser, was told to call Bill Sammon, a senior vice president and managing editor in Washington. In response Trump urged his supporters to boycott Fox and watch rivals Newsmax and OAN instead. Stirewalt and at least 16 editorial staffers from the Fox News Digital department were laid off last week. Sammon also told staffers he planned to retire. '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,' a Fox spokesperson said. 'We are confident these changes will ensure the platform continues to deliver breakthrough reporting and insightful analysis surrounding major issues, both stateside and abroad.' But the lay-offs have been described as a 'blood bath' initiated by editor in chief Porter Berry and a move to align the digital operations with the right-wing opinions of its broadcasting shows. Berry is a former Sean Hannity producer and appears intent on remolding the network to be more aligned with the pro-Trump views on Hannity, sources told the Daily Beast. 'There is a concerted effort to get rid of real journalists,' a former staffer told the Daily Beast. 'They laid capable people off who were actual journalists and not blind followers.' Another said: 'It's essentially the final nail in the coffin for digital journalism at Fox.' Reporter Ben Zigterman is a reporter covering business at The News-Gazette. His email is bzigterman@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@bzigterman). Under the guidance of China's 14th five-year plan (2021-2025), officials in Inner Mongolia have started to impose several measures to develop a 'greener' Chinese ferroalloy and steel industry. To ensure that the energy consumption per unit of GDP will decrease by 3.4% in 2021, an electricity policy to cut supply was issued by Wulanchabu Industrial and Information Technology bureau on 10 January, followed by the Fengzhen government issuing an updated notice for its ferrochrome industry on 23 January to control energy consumption. London: UK, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The resultant furnace regulations include: All furnaces below 25MVA must be shut down. Producers who produce noble alloys, will have their product reviewed by end-February and be allowed to operate if the required qualifications are met. Only one open or semi-closed furnace above 25MVA can be put into operation by operators, while the rest of the furnaces must be shut down. All open and semi-closed furnaces are required to complete the technological upgrading to closed furnaces, and only qualified furnaces can come back online after they are examined by the government before the end of February. All furnaces, regardless of size, will be examined according to the energy consumption indicators from Bureau of Statistics at the end of February. Those not meeting the required qualifications will be forced to shut down. Fengzhen is one of the core areas in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, for producing high-carbon ferrochrome (HC FeCr) in China, with the total capacity accounting for around 30% of Inner Mongolia and 15% of the country. However, nearly half of the area's furnaces are below 25MVA. At this point, it is not clear if and when this regulation will filter through into the other key ferroalloy producing regions, but for now it is in line with China's 14th five-year plan (2021-2025) which outlines: Replacing high-speed growth with high-quality growth. growth. Rebalancing its economy with supply-side structural reform . . Driving modernization through innovation and technological advancements. through innovation and technological advancements. Promoting high-end, intelligent, and green production. Structural reforms of smelting furnaces in China have generally moved in tandem with the development of larger, cleaner furnaces. These furnaces also operate at higher efficiency rates and therefore inevitably lead to a net increase in operational capacity. The closure of small and non-closed ferrochrome furnaces in China has already been ongoing, but the decision to close all furnaces up to 25MVA has caught many in the industry off-guard, as the expected closures were thought to coincide with the development of new capacity. Naturally, the immediate closure drives a short-term tightness in supply and producers outside of China will look for opportunities to fill the gap. Roskill's new Chromium Cost Model Service allows users to instantly model the impacts of ore taxes, supply volumes and other macroeconomic factors on the structure of the ore and alloy industry. All furnaces below 25MVA across China account for about two-thirds of total installed capacity, although this is significantly lower when comparing operational capacity. Nevertheless, available furnaces larger than 25MVA are theoretically capable of accounting for the equivalent volume of China's total 2019 output level. Therefore, any growth in FeCr supply in China will be underpinned by expansion projects of larger furnaces. The stainless steel industry is on track for a strong recovery in 2021 following the impacts of COVID-19. Roskill forecasts continued healthy growth over the 2020s that will underpin raw material demand, especially for chromium and nickel. Roskill's new Steel Alloys 1st Edition report provides the latest market analysis and forecasts for key bulk, base and noble alloys consumed by the steel industry, including chromium and nickel. In addition, there is a move globally to impose "greener" regulations on the ferroalloy and steel industry, which together with the reduction in excess old capacity in China will add pressure on producers and emphasise the importance of their cost competitiveness to meet demand within a sustainable guidance. Pressure is growing to repeal a law that "criminalises homelessness" after it emerged that 45 people had been convicted in Northern Ireland's courts under the Vagrancy Act since 2015. Originally brought in to make it easier for police to remove destitute soldiers returning from the Napoleonic Wars from the streets, the Vagrancy Act 1824 makes it an offence to sleep rough or beg. According to figures released by Justice Minister Naomi Long, 83 prosecutions have been made under the Act in Northern Ireland since 2015, with 45 resulting in a conviction. In 2019 there were 17 prosecutions and six convictions, compared with 10 prosecutions and six convictions the previous year. The highest number of such cases came in 2015, when 26 prosecutions were brought, resulting in 16 convictions. Tony McQuillan, director of the charity Shelter NI, said every person prosecuted as a vagrant because they were homeless was "one person too many". "This Act continues to criminalise homeless people and does nothing to help resolve and tackle the root causes of homelessness," he added. Expand Close Shelter NI director Tony McQuillan said every homeless person prosecuted for vagrancy is one too many / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shelter NI director Tony McQuillan said every homeless person prosecuted for vagrancy is one too many "It may also prevent someone from accessing outreach services that support homeless people to move away from the streets. "We believe there is a need to repeal the act to eliminate the criminalisation of homelessness." He called on Stormont finances to be ring-fenced to fund a rapid increase in housing supply and housing-related support. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said Mrs Long was aware that cases had been dealt with under the Vagrancy Act. "Recognising the cross-cutting nature of the issues involved, she 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," the spokesperson added. Jim Dennison, chief executive of the Simon Community NI, said that while his organisation recognised there would always be those beg as a trade, it was "imperative" that authorities understood motives so people in genuine need were not punished. "For several years, our charity has advocated for new ways of thinking in response to rising homeless figures and an ever-increasing number of complex cases," he added. "The Simon Community welcomes any progress within the Department of Justice to review the Vagrancy Act and play a role in tackling homelessness." People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said it was "frankly barbaric" that people who were homeless and in need were being criminalised, and stressed that the legislation should have been repealed years ago. "Even before the punishing impact of the pandemic, welfare reform had thrust more and more people into financial peril," Mr Carroll added. "Those people need help and deserve basic respect but instead are being met with the letter of the law, which could have a long-term impact on their lives. "Criminalising those in need will never get to the root of homelessness or begging. "We need to see urgent action from the Executive to build public housing and to scrap welfare reform in favour of a proper social security system, where assistance is available for those who need it." Belfast's Deputy Lord Mayor Paul McCusker, who works with the homeless, added: "This outdated Act needs scrapped completely and I would urge the department to do so swiftly. There are ways of dealing with the homeless through supporting them. This is not one of them." Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill said the Executive would be able to spend the money (Liam McBurney/PA) Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has vowed that all of Northern Irelands Covid relief budget will be spent this year. Stormont ministers have suggested ideas for using millions of pounds before April, when it could be returned to the Treasury in London. First Minister Arlene Foster said the cash for tackling the public health emergency and propping up lives and livelihoods could not be directed towards other issues. Ms ONeill said: The Executive will be able to spend this money. The Finance Minister has asked for executive members to come back to him with proposals. The Deputy First Minister said: The Finance Minister said that the money will be spent to the best effect. More than 200 million of Covid-19 support funding has not yet been used by Stormont departments. Extra funds are calculated as a percentage of UK-wide additional spending. We are engaging through the Finance Minister to try and get some flexibility in relation to rolling some of that money over. Covid will go beyond the financial year First Minister Arlene Foster This year has seen a series of financial interventions announced by Whitehall at short notice to help save an economy threatened with collapse due to coronavirus restrictions. That means the normal planning process for spending funds has been significantly shortened. Mrs Foster said: We are engaging through the Finance Minister to try and get some flexibility in relation to rolling some of that money over. Covid will go beyond the financial year. Along with the Scottish and Welsh finance ministers, Conor Murphy has requested flexibility from the Treasury to carry over funding into 2021/22. Northern Ireland has been allocated 3 billion in Covid-19 funding, including 200 million just before Christmas. It would be a sad day for Northern Ireland if sums earmarked for health were ultimately handed back to the Treasury, the Royal College of Surgeons of England warned. Expand Close Finance Minister Conor Murphy has requested flexibility from the Treasury to carry over funding into 2021/22 (Sinn Fein/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Finance Minister Conor Murphy has requested flexibility from the Treasury to carry over funding into 2021/22 (Sinn Fein/PA) At the last count, nearly 100,000 people were waiting to be admitted to hospital and the pandemic had exacerbated waiting lists, the professional body added. Stormonts Department of Health said: The minister (Robin Swann) has stressed that if he were to be allowed by Treasury to roll the money into the next financial year and beyond he could have spent it five times over but the real solution was security of funding over a longer period. The departments budget was boosted during the year as a result of emergency Covid funding allocations. This was very welcome given the situation we were facing. However, the long-term structural problems in the health service that have been harshly exposed by this pandemic cannot be resolved through one-off allocations. We cannot invest in growing the health and social care workforce with funding that isnt guaranteed year after year. Mark Taylor, Northern Ireland director of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: It would be a sad day for Northern Ireland and our Government if we had to hand back much-needed money when our situation is so dire. Patients expect us to take every opportunity we can to keep urgent surgery going during these difficult times and we want to do exactly just that. As big tech begins to shift away from China-based production centers, a host of international firms, including major suppliers for Apple, Sony, and Microsoft, are finding a new home in Vietnam. With big-name contract manufacturers such as Foxconn, Luxshare-ICT, and Pegatron making the move announcing the expansion of production centers in Vietnam, experts expect a new wave of investments into the Southeast Asian country. What remains to be seen, however, is whether or not Vietnam will find a way to pull itself out of the 'assembler' pigeonhole and move upward in the global supply chain. Big shots On January 18, the Peoples Committee of the northern province of Bac Giang issued the investment certificate for the construction of a new Foxconn factory at Quang Chau Industrial Park. With a registered investment of US$270 million, the project involves building assembly lines for Apples iPad and MacBook devices, capable of turning out at least eight million products per year. Bac Giang authorities have also recently issued investment registration certificates to three other foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in electricity and tech. One of these projects will be undertaken by Ja Solar PV VN, a solar cell manufacturing operation with a $210 million investment stake from Hong Kong firm Ja Solar Investment. The other two projects are the construction of factories for Vietnam Risesun New Material and Vietnam Kodi New Material, two subsidiaries of Singaporean firm Risesun. An office at Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre Bac Giang is just one of many Vietnamese provinces opening its doors to international tech firms. In March 2020, the coastal city of Hai Phong gave its approval to three new investment projects run by Taiwan-based Pegatron Corporation, a major component manufacturer for Microsoft, Apple, and Sony. The combined value of these projects adds up to $1 billion. Reports also show that Pegatron is making preparations to shift its research and development (R&D) department to Vietnam from China. Meanwhile, fellow Taiwan-based tech firm Universal Global Technology also commenced the construction of its manufacturing hub at Hai Phongs Deep C Industrial Zone after receiving an investment certificate from local authorities four months ago. The facility will allow the firm to produce watches, mobile phones, and headphones for Lenovo and Sony. Relocation amid coronavirus pandemic Back in August last year, while the COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc on a global scale, Silicon Valley-headquartered tech company Arevo signed a memorandum with Ho Chi Minh Citys Saigon Hi-Tech Park on the rollout of a carbon fiber composite 3D printing project able to churn out components for the aerospace sector. Le Diep Kieu Trang, president of Aervos Vietnam operations, said the future factory will assemble 3D printers for export. The project also includes a printing factory dedicated to innovative technology design in Vietnam, Trang added. Once the project is implemented, Vietnam will become the only place capable of fiber composite 3D printing on a manufacturing scale," she said. "Other facilities are only able to do 3D prototype printing. The move is a sign that Ho Chi Minh Citys attempts at drawing in foreign investment are paying off. During an economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the city managed to reel in R&D operations development projects from several foreign firms thanks to relentless attempts at improving its logistics services and constructing affordable factories for lease. Land reclamation is seen at Cat Hai - Dinh Vu Industrial Park in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre Signs of new investment wave Local experts seem convinced that there is a tidal wave of FDI heading toward Vietnam. In a discussion with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Nguyen Van Toan, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), said the arrival of suppliers, manufacturers, and assemblers for Apple, Microsoft, and Sony signifies the success of the Southeast Asian countrys plan to attract tech-related FDI. The presence of industry-leading firms in Vietnam also indicates the countrys success in fostering a profitable environment thanks to a good legal framework and sound policy offers to investors, Toan stated. The countrys success in attracting tech giants can also be attributed to its early containment of COVID-19, as well as the effectiveness of the governments special working group on FDI attraction, he added. According to Nguyen Xuan Thanh, fellow lecturer of public policy at Fulbright University Vietnam, the year 2020 witnessed the continuation of the FDI movement into Vietnam. Despite slightly plummeting compared to previous years, the FDI tally hit a promising figure of $28.53 billion a testament to the attractiveness and stability of the Vietnamese market. Foxconns certificate done in four days Currently, the two biggest Apple suppliers Foxconn and Luxshare-ICT have factories in Bac Giang. Le Anh Duong, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, said Foxconns decision to invest in Bac Giang stemmed from the pre-established relationship between the province and several other Apple suppliers. The fact that Bac Giang was chosen by many tech 'eagles' can be expounded by the provinces proximity to harbors and airports. Additionally, the place also offers a flexible investment environment, which appeals to investors. Le Anh Duong, chairman of the Bac Giang Province Peoples Committee Upon receipt of the investment registration certificate, the CEO of Foxconn said he had planned to stay in Vietnam through the Lunar New Year holiday for the procedure and was surprised to see the certificate issued in just four days. According to Duong, the province has promised all investors that it would provide timely support for post-investment procedures, as well as creating opportunities for investors to meet with provincial leaders to work out solutions to issues. Paperwork can also prove a big obstacle for investors due to legal discrepancies between Vietnam and their home country. With this in mind, Bac Giang has formed a dedicated working group and a hotline to guide FDI investors through procedures relating to environmental matters, land, factory construction, recruitment, and epidemic prevention. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Antony Blinken speaks during his confirmation hearing to be Secretary of State before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Alex Edelman/Pool/Getty Images) Its Time for American Impatience With China Commentary On cue, White House press secretary Jen Psaki has signaled that President Joe Bidens administration isnt prepared to seriously confront the complex and immediate threat communist China poses to American security and world peace. Earlier this month, incoming secretary of state Antony Blinken acknowledged that communist China presents a formidable problem and added former President Donald Trumps administration was right in taking a tougher approach to China. The tough approach was helpful to U.S. foreign policy. For a Blinken moment, it looked as if the Biden administration might get China right, too. But in her Jan. 25 press briefing, Psaki soft-pedaled. The new administration, she said, starts from an approach of patience as it relates to our relationship with China. She then unloaded a dictionarys worth of Beltway jargon, promising consultations galore and an interagency process review in order to take a multilateral approach to engaging with China. Psakis telltale word is patience. Strategic patiencethe diplomatic termquickly becomes strategic negligence and potentially submissive appeasement. At best, strategic patience is a reactive response. Patience plays into Beijings hands. Chinas territorial aggression in the South China Sea is a fact. Beijing exploited 25 years of American patience to expand. Chinas pervasive and interconnected covert campaign of military and industrial espionage, intellectual property theft, unfair trade practices, and political infiltration (often lubricated with economic bribes) is an immediate threat that exploits patience. Chinas American spy operation has no historical precedent. For almost two decades, Sen. Dianne Feinstein employed a Chinese intelligence source in her San Francisco-area office. For several years, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) had very close ties to alleged Chinese operative Christine Fang. Both Feinstein and Swalwell serve on congressional intelligence committees. In 2015, Chinese cyber-spies penetrated the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and acquired personal information on 20 million government workers, to include military personnel. American military personnel later received letters confirming hackers had acquired their detailed personnel files, to include background investigations for security clearances. StrategyPage.com observed, Since the CIA recruits many field agents from former Special Operations Command personnel, many key CIA people were now much less secret. Chinas OPM identify theft attack harmed American intelligence operations, perhaps for a decade. The administration of then-President Barack Obama reacted to the attack with strategic patience. Patience fails to confront the Chinese Communist Partys primary diplomatic and gray-area warfare doctrine: a triad of intimidation, retaliation, and retribution directed at nations, organizations, and individuals with the courage to confront CCP aggression and malign activities. At the moment, Beijings most overt acts of intimidation are its military probes of Taiwan. On Jan. 23, at least 12 Chinese aircraft (a mix of fighters and bombers) entered Taiwans air defense identification zone. On Jan. 24, 15 Chinese air force planes intruded. China conducted military shows of forcedemonstrations to test Taiwans defenses but also gauge U.S. military and diplomatic reactions. Chinas target: the Biden administration. Japan confronts routine Chinese air and sea space incursions. China claims Japans Senkaku Islands, which are located in the East China Sea. In a phone call with Japans defense minister, Bidens new secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to help Japan defend its islands, to include the Senkaku. Thats good. Now, Biden should make the same public commitmenton global television. He should also affirm Americas commitment to defend critical Asian allies and mention Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore. Words, however, must be backed by deeds. Biden must demonstrate proactive impatience, such as opening U.S. courts to U.S. corporations and individuals who have suffered economic loss from illegal activities by Chinese government and corporate entities. Another proactive deed: Continue the Trump administrations Clean Network initiative, implemented to secure Americas communication and energy grids by banning suspect Chinese equipment, like that manufactured by Huawei. The most proactive deed: Recognize Taiwan as the free and independent nation it is. Austin Bay is a colonel (ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserve, author, syndicated columnist, and teacher of strategy and strategic theory at the University of TexasAustin. His latest book is Cocktails from Hell: Five Wars Shaping the 21st Century. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The North Wales Police said on Wednesday that the contents of a suspicious package sent to an industrial estate where the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is being produced and stored has been taken for analysis and that there are no wider concerns for public safety LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th January, 2021) The North Wales Police said on Wednesday that the contents of a suspicious package sent to an industrial estate where the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is being produced and stored has been taken for analysis and that there are no wider concerns for public safety. "Colleagues from the Royal Logistics Corp Bomb Disposal Unit attended and examined the package to make sure it was safe to handle. The contents will be taken away for analysis and police will undertake an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident," the force said in a statement. The incident that led to the partial evacuation of the area and to the deployment of a bomb disposal team took place at a plant run by the pharmaceutical company Wockhardt UK in Wrexham, Wales. The company also confirmed that investigation of the suspicious package has been concluded and that the staff has been allowed back into the facility. "The package was made safe and staff are now being allowed back into the facility. We are grateful to the authorities and experts for their swift response and resolution of the incident," Wockhardt UK announced on Twitter. The local news website Wrexham.com reported that a controlled explosion had taken place around 15:20 GMT without damage to the area. It also published images and video footage of a bomb disposal robot being used in the area. The North Wales Police said that some roads on the industrial estate will remain closed as investigations continue. Xiaomi India has announced that the company sold over 1.5 million units of Mi and Redmi smartphones during the 5-day Republic Day sales on Amazon and Mi online and offline channels. The development was shared by the Chinese smartphone maker on Twitter today, that further notes that the Redmi 9 Power was among the best-selling smartphones on Amazon India. Both Xiaomi and Amazon hosted Republic Day sales in India between 19 to 23 January, where the companies offered temporary price cuts bundled with other sale deals on a variety of devices. Xiaomi adds that in the sub-10K segment, the Redmi 9A and Redmi 9 were the best-selling smartphones on Amazon India. On the other hand, the newly launched Mi 10i emerged as the best-selling 5G smartphone on Amazon, Xiaomi added in a tweet. Speaking over the development, Raghu Reddy, Mi India Chief Business Officer said in a statement that the company is "overwhelmed" with the response it received across online and retail platforms during the 5-day Republic Day sales in the country. The Xiaomi India executive adds, "It's incredible that in less than a month of launch, Mi 10i emerged as the No. 1 5G selling smartphone on Amazon. Redmi 9 Power was the No. 1 selling smartphone on Amazon... We hope to continue delivering products with the best specs, highest quality at an honest price." The Mi 10i that was launched earlier this month packs a 120Hz display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC, and a 108-megapixel primary camera. Currently, its price in India starts at Rs 20,999 for the base 6GB + 64GB storage option and goes up till Rs 23,999 for the 8GB + 128GB storage variant. Whereas, the Redmi 9 Power that was launched in India December 2020 carries Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC under the hood and quad rear cameras at the back. Its price starts at Rs 10,999 for the base 64GB variant, while the 128GB model comes with a price tag of Rs 11,999. Notably, the latest Counterpoint report notes that Xiaomi was the leading smartphone brand in India in 2020, in term of shipments. The company held a market share of 26 percent last year, posting a 22 percent year-on-year growth. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA , Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO) (GTX or the Company), a pioneer in the field of health and safety wearable GPS human and asset tracking systems, and a supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE), announced a significant increase in demand since the start of the year for many of its health & safety products including its COVID-19 IgG/IgM Antibody Rapid Test Kits, KN95 masks, Made in U.S.A. printed masks and other PPE products. Since its launch in December that coincided with the vaccine rollout, the Company has seen over a 100% year to date increase in demand for its COVID-19 IgG/IgM Antibody Rapid Test Kits and has also seen a significant increase in government contracts for masks. The rapid test kit detects antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 with 97% accuracy in less than 15 minutes and provides an affordable and convenient testing solution that does not require a lab to obtain the results. Several new Governmental Policy Changes and Executive Orders have also contributed to a noticeable increase in demand for many of the GTX products. In a recent Washington Post article , the President is quoted saying The Future Will Be Made in America, and directing regulators to tighten the definition of American-made products by creating a position in the Office of Management and Budget to oversee stepped-up purchases of domestic goods. As an authorized GSA government supplier and U.S based manufacturer, with many of its PPE health & safety products made in America, GTX supports The Future Will Be Made in America, campaign pledge to revive domestic manufacturing. Below a few examples of other recent Executive Orders and Policy Changes which could impact GTX. Biden's first Executive Order will require masks on federal property. Increase supplies of masks, gowns, gloves, rapid Covid-19 test kits, testing agents and material for vaccines through federal agency actions that include authorizing the Defense Production Act. A federal testing board will be created to increase testing, boost U.S. manufacturing of tests, and support screening for schools. Travelers will have to wear masks in airports and in certain types of public transportation such as trains, ships, intercity buses, and airplanes. U.S. Department of State for Travel Advisory for Mexico , effective January 26, 2021 all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel . , effective January 26, 2021 all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel Former CDC director Frieden recently recommended moving up from a cloth mask to a surgical mask, or from a surgical mask to an N95 or a KN95 mask because they are more effective. Patrick Bertagna, GTX Corp CEO commented, "GTX made several strategic moves in 2020, from expanding its Health & Safety product line to include PPE, make and provide more Made in the U.S.A. products and increase our engagement with our GSA government channels. These moves combined with new administrations policy changes and mandates, places GTX in a good position to address the upcoming demands for 2021. As vaccines continue to rollout, many people will start going back to work in an office, back to school, or simply just go out, but their need to be safe and stay safe will not stop. Masks, tests, sanitizers , will still be in demand and GTX will be there to supply them, just like we have been since the start of the pandemic. We also expect to launch our new line of GPS tracking devices, which we are already receiving pre-orders, as more people want to know where their loved ones or pets are or track and trace COVID patients. Wearable tracking and monitoring technology is at the core of GTX, so we expect the rollout of our new 4G SmartSoles to be a big part of our 2021 roadmap. In 2020 GTX not only made some strategic moves it also showed a profit for the first three consecutive quarters, took on no new convertible debt, while cleaning up the balance sheet by reducing existing debt. We are all still challenged by this evolving pandemic and business landscape; however, you have our management and boards commitment that we will continue to forge ahead with purpose to deliver products that help make peoples lives better. About GTX Corp GTX Corp (OTC: GTXO) is a pioneer in smart, mobile and wearable GPS tracking and recovery location-based solutions, supported through a proprietary IoT enterprise monitoring platform and intellectual property portfolio. GTX offers a global end-to-end solution of hardware, software and connectivity and develops two-way GPS tracking technologies, which seamlessly integrate with consumer products and enterprise applications. GTX utilizes the latest in miniaturized, low power consumption GPS, Cellular, RF, NFC and BLE technology, enabling subscribers to track in real time the whereabouts of people or high value assets. GTX is known for its game-changing and award-winning patented GPS SmartSole -- the worlds first invisible wearable technology tracking device created for those at risk of wandering due to Alzheimers, dementia, autism and traumatic brain injury. GTXs business model is built around technology innovation and holds over 85 patents, with many issued patents in the area of GPS tracking. The company has international distributors servicing customers in over 35 countries and is a U.S. Military Government contractor. Other customers include public health authorities and municipalities, emergency and law enforcement, private schools, assisted living facilities, NGOs, small business enterprises, senior care homes, and consumers. GTXCorp.com Track My Workforce GPS SmartSole.com Social Media Hashtags - #withyou #smartsole #connectedandprotected #trackwhatyoulove #iot #smartproducts #nfc #ble #safety #healthcare #veritap #exceptionmonitoring #assettracking #coronavirus #facemask #covid19 #gotpreparedness #preparedness #safetyeducation #familysafety #PPE GTX Blog https://gtxcorp.com/press/ https://www.facebook.com/gtxcorpcom https://www.linkedin.com/in/gtxcorp https://www.pinterest.com/GTXCorp/ https://instagram.com/gtxcorp GTX Corp (@GTXCorp) / Twitter General information, investor relations, wholesale licensing, consumer purchase: 213.489.3019 Info@GTXCorp.com IR@GTXCorp.com Contact Us GTX Corp United Kingdom In the UK, GTX Corp operates from its London office. Please contact: Nelson Skip Riddle Email: NSRiddle@GTXCorp.com Tel: +44 7785 364100 Disclaimer: GTX Corp does not warrant or represent that the unauthorized use of materials drawn from the content of this document will not infringe rights of third parties who are not owned or affiliated by GTX Corp. Further GTX Corp cannot be held responsible or liable for the unauthorized use of this documents content by third parties unknown to the company. Liberty Global Logistics Homepage by Digital Silk Our designers have managed to translate LGLs robust offering and legacy into a clean, search-friendly website with effective messaging and optimized user experience. Digital Silk, a creative digital agency, has launched a new corporate website for Liberty Global Logistics (LGL), US-based multimodal transportation and logistics company. The new dynamic website provides an improved user experience while highlighting the company's 150-year legacy and expertise in managing commercial and US government cargo transportation. Website visitors can easily browse LGLs fleet of Ro/Ro and charter vessels, US flag services including logistics management and relevant certifications. Digital Silks user experience goal was to increase on-site quote and booking requests by facilitating shipment planning. The agency developed a detailed conversion funnel and mapped the user journey with strategically placed calls-to-action (CTAs), allowing users to view the LGLs schedule and reach customer support with a single click. Adding to the simplified user experience is LGLs new user interface (UI). To evoke the companys US ownership and origins, and its long-standing presence in the industry, Digital Silks designers opted for a traditional blue and red palette. They created a clean layout with web-friendly typography, skimmable content and subtle motion effects placed against the images of LGLs fleet. Our designers have managed to translate LGLs robust offering and legacy into a clean, search-friendly website with effective messaging and optimized user experience. As a result, in just a month, the company has started seeing a rise in their engagement metrics, from time on site to the click-through rate. Organic traffic and conversion rates are following suit a testament to the power of SEO and conversion funnel optimization, " said Jamie Maloney, client partner at Digital Silk About Digital Silk: Digital Silk is a creative digital agency focused on growing brands online. From custom websites to digital marketing, Digital Silk creates SUPERIOR digital experiences to drive higher conversions, greater brand engagement & measurable results. About Liberty Global Logistics: Liberty Global Logistics LLC (LGL) is a United States based multimodal transportation and logistics company, as well as a Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement participant, specializing in heavy equipment and rolling stock utilizing a fleet of Pure Car/Truck Carriers (including two modern U.S. flag vessels) and multi-purpose carriers. The 32-year-old comedian is in judicial custody and lodged at Indore Central Jail since he was arrested on 1 January for objectionable comments that he would have allegedly made against Hindu deities at a comedy show in Madhya Pradesh The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is slated to deliver its judgment tomorrow on the bail application of stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, according to several media reports. The 32-year-old comedian is in judicial custody and lodged at Indore Central Jail since he was arrested on 1 January for allegedly making objectionable comments against Hindu deities at a comedy show in Madhya Pradesh. According to LiveLaw.in, the court will also hear the bail application of Nalin Yadav, who was also arrested in the same case. BREAKING : Madhya Pradesh High Court(Indore Bench) to deliver judgment tomorrow on the bail applications of comedians Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav, who were arrested on January 2 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their comic show.#MunawarFaruqui pic.twitter.com/nNpcmnFdYZ Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 27, 2021 According to a report in The Quint, a bench of Justice Rohit Arya had reserved his order on Monday on the bail application after hearing the arguments of both the petitioner and prosecution for around 30 minutes via video conferencing. The court had also asked the prosecution and two local advocates opposing Faruqui's bail to furnish documents relating to the case. Faruqui was arrested by the police following a complaint against him filed by Eklavya Singh Gaud (36), son of local BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaud. Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for Faruqui, contested the charge against his client under Section 295A (outraging religious feelings) of the IPC. He argued that the comedian, a resident of Junagadh in Gujarat, had not spoken any word that would hurt anybody's religious feeling during the show on 1 January at a cafe in the city. However, the complainant created a furore on the dais and got the function stopped mid-way, said Tankha. Government advocate Amit Singh Sisodia opposed Faruqui's bail plea. Local advocates Rajesh Joshi and Manish Gupta, too, opposed bail to the comedian, contending he has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. They argued that the comedian, during his shows in the past as well, had made objectionable comments against Hindu gods and goddesses and such remarks of his have come to light on online platforms. The comedian moved the high court after the lower courts turned down his bail pleas. Besides Faruqui, four other persons associated with organising the show were booked under IPC section 295A (outraging religious feelings) and other counts. According to the complainant, indecent statements were made at the show against Hindu deities, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the 2002 Godhra incident. All the accused were booked under IPC sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Section 269 (unlawful or negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and other relevant provisions. With inputs from PTI Manchester United missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to bottom of the table Sh... Manchester United missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to bottom of the table Sheffield United. Kean Bryan opened the scoring for the Blades after 23 minutes, rising highest to glance home John Fleck's corner. Billy Sharp was perhaps fortunate to not be penalised for a nudge on David de Gea in the buildup. United's equaliser also came from a corner, Harry Maguire powering Alex Telles' out-swinging delivery into the net. But the Blades responded through substitute Oliver Burke, as his strike from inside the area deflected in off Axel Tuanzebe at the second time of asking after some horrific United defending to secure a deserved win for a spirited Sheffield United. World Economic Forum: More vaccines can be expected from India, says PM Modi at Davos Agenda Summit India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 28: India will soon make available many more COVID-19 vaccines to other countries after two Made-In-India jabs have already been introduced to the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while emphasising the country''s global responsibility in fighting the pandemic. While addressing the forum, Modi said,''We focussed at developing COVID-specific health infrastructure, today India is among those countries where the number of people infected is decreasing.'' ''Amid apprehensions, I have come before you with a message of confidence, positivity, and hope for the world on the behalf on more than 1.3 billion Indians,'' Modi said at World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda. World Economic Forum: PM Modi addresses Davos Agenda Summit The Prime Minister said,''It was a challenging phase when COVID19 hit India. There were experts who predicted that India will be worst hit by the pandemic. But with public participation India is now among those countries which saved maximum lives due to COVID19.'' ''In just 12 days, India has vaccinated more than 2.3 million healthcare workers. In next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities,'' Modi said. ''Right now there are two made in India vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that in the time to come many more vaccines will come from India,'' he also said. In the next few months, we would complete our target of vaccinating 30 crore old people and people with co-morbidities, he said. He said India has ensured that it follows its global responsibility by sending essential medicines to over 150 countries while COVID-19 vaccines are also being sent to other countries. "While two India-made vaccines have already been introduced to the world, many more vaccines will be made available from India," he said. "India''s upcoming vaccines will help other countries at a swifter pace to fight the pandemic," he added. "In this time of crisis, India has also fulfilled its global responsibility from the beginning, following thousands of years old prayer of our country -- ''Sarvey Santu Niramaya'': May the whole world be healthy," he said. He said 18 per cent of the world''s population is in India and it is a country that saved mankind from a big disaster by saving its citizens from the pandemic. Karnataka Governor lauds State government for its 'achievements' amid COVID-19, Congress stages protest We''re not only fulfilling our needs of PPE kits and masks, but also exporting and helping other countries. India has started the world''s largest vaccination drive as well, he said. "We guided the world on how India''s traditional medicine, Ayurveda, can help in improving immunity. Today, India is sending its vaccine to several countries and is helping in developing the infrastructure for successful vaccination, thus saving lives of citizens of other countries," he said. With a consistent rise in cumulative recoveries, India''s COVID-19 recovery rate has reached nearly 97 per cent which is one of the highest globally, according to the Union Health Ministry data. India''s total number of active cases has dropped to 1,73,740 and now consists of just 1.62 per cent of the total cases at 1.07 crore. Nearly 1.53 lakh people have lost their lives in the country so far. Later, interacting with business leaders on the WEF platform, Modi said the COVID-19 crisis has taught us the basics of human values and that ''Industry 4.0 is for humans, and not robots". He called for ensuring that technology becomes a tool for ease of living and not a trap. Modi said India has stressed a lot on reforms and incentive-based stimulus in recent times. Even during COVID-19, India has paced structural reforms in all sectors and these reforms are being supported by PLI-schemes, he said. "During the corona crisis, many countries were worried about how to reach their citizens directly financially, but you will be shocked to know that during this time India has transferred more than Rs 1.8 lakh crore directly to the bank accounts of more than 76 crore people," he added. He also referred to a new initiative to provide a unique health ID to 1.3 billion citizens for easy access to healthcare. "I assure you that every success of India will help the world to succeed. Our Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission is fully committed to global good and global supply chain," he said. Modi also talked about Aadhaar, UPI transactions and data privacy laws. India continued its economic activities during COVID with infrastructure work worth trillions of rupees, providing employment, the prime minister said. "We stressed on saving every single life. India, now, is walking ahead to become Aatmanirbhar," he said. The event runs throughout the week with daily themes on subjects like economic systems, responsible growth, cooperation and the harnessing of technologies in the 4th Industrial Revolution - a common theme at Davos events. The annual event in Davos typically draws thousands of elites to the Alpine snows to discuss ways of building a better future. The Davos Dialogues agenda marks the launch of the World Economic Forum's great reset initiative in the post-COVID-19 world. The Taliban are not meeting the promises they made in the peace agreement with the United States, including reducing violence and cutting ties with Al-Qaeda, the Pentagon said Thursday. "We are still involved in trying to get a negotiated settlement. The Taliban have not met their commitments," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Kirby said the new administration of President Joe Biden remains committed to the February 2020 peace agreement set in Qatar between the United States and the Afghan insurgent group. That agreement required the Taliban to halt attacks on US forces, sharply decrease the level of violence in the country, and advance peace talks with the government in Kabul. In return, the United States would steadily reduce its force level in the country, and remove all forces by May 2021. Kirby said there is "no change" to the US commitments made in the peace deal. However, he said, "the Taliban are not meeting their commitments to reduce violence, and to renounce their ties to Al-Qaeda." As long as that remains the case, he said, "it's going to be difficult for anybody at that negotiating table" to stand by their own promises. "In fact, it would not be the wise course," he added, underling the US commitment to ending the war "in a responsible way." Kirby said the US Defense Department is comfortable with the current level of 2,500 US troops in the country, down from close to 13,000 a year ago. It is enough to carry out the main US mission in the country now, to counter the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda forces operating in Afghanistan, he said. But he would not say if the Pentagon would cut troop levels to zero by the May deadline. Much depends on whether the Taliban and the Afghan government can negotiate a peace settlement, he said told reporters in a briefing at the Pentagon. "I would say this to the leaders of the Taliban, that... they make it that much more difficult for final decisions to be made about force presence by their reticence to commit to reasonable, sustainable and credible negotiations at the table," he said. pmh/ft Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are demanding concessions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of a March general election which could hinge on a battle for right-wing votes. While most countries consider all Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, Israel broadly divides them into two categories: government-recognised settlements and so-called wildcat outposts. In the former, Israel aims to provide similar services -- water, electricity and the like -- as it does to citizens within its internationally agreed borders. Wildcat settlements, often ramshackle collections of portacabins set up by hardline religious nationalists deep inside the West Bank, generally have no connection to the Israeli grid. Some outposts have been given retrospective authorisation in the past, particularly by Netanyahu-led governments. As another Israeli election nears, pro-settler groups are using tactics including a hunger strike outside Netanyahu's Jerusalem office to demand recognition for another 70 wildcat outposts, home to some 25,000 of the 650,000 settlers in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Yossi Dagan, an influential settler leader who staged a week-long protest fast outside the premier's office this month, insisted that distinguishing between types of settlements was "absurd". "There is no logical reason why 25,000 Israeli citizens do not have the same rights as others, it's not a political question, it's a question of social rights," he said. Limited 'wiggle room' Dagan, head of a regional council for Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank, fainted and was briefly hospitalised after speaking to AFP last week. He had launched his hunger strike as former US president Donald Trump was about to leave office -- timing that experts suspect was far from coincidental. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War of 1967. Both Republican and Democratic US administrations have long opposed Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory. But Trump's staunchly pro-Israel administration broke with this policy, announcing in 2019 that it did not regard such activity as illegal. Trump's four-year term saw an unprecedented boom in settlement construction and spared Netanyahu from Washington's traditional criticism in response to new West Bank housing projects. President Joe Biden is set to restore Washington's opposition to settlements, so right-wing settlers are trying use the window before Israel's next election to secure firm commitments from Netanyahu -- who is desperate for their votes. "The settlers know that (with Biden in office) the government's wiggle room will not be as great as it was during Trump's tenure, so they need promises, not just statements of support" from Israeli politicians, said Denis Charbit, a political scientist at the Open University of Israel. Hagit Ofran, who monitors settlements for the Israeli anti-occupation group Peace Now, said Biden's presidency and Israel's election results could impact both wildcat settlement recognition and broader questions around the "appropriation of Palestinian land". Battle for the right Netanyahu partly owes his record as Israel's longest-serving premier, in power since 2009, to his status as the unchallenged leader of the Israeli right. But polls suggest the March election, Israel's fourth is less than two years, could swing against him. Gideon Saar, a leading right-winger with pro-settler credentials, defected from Netanyahu's Likud party last year, and polls suggest his breakaway party could win a solid chunk of seats in the parliament. Surveys also suggest that the staunchly pro-settler Yemina party of Naftali Bennett, a former defence and economy minister, is on the rise. Both Saar and Bennett have ruled out joining a Netanyahu-led coalition, which could complicate the premier's bid to forge a 61-seat majority -- something he already failed to do after three recent elections when the Likud was united behind him. In Givat Hahish, a wildcat outpost near Bethlehem where some 40 families live in a mixture of mobile homes and permanent dwellings, father of four Matan Fingerhut declined to state his political preferences. But he made clear that he wants political recognition of Givat Hahish. "I like this place and I want to live here legally," said Fingerhut, who built his own house on a hill without Israeli government permission. He said he hoped recognition could lead to better services. "We often find ourselves in the dark, without heating, without hot water," he said. Uriya Loberbaum, a 38-year-old father of five, recently staged an 18-day hunger strike in support of recognition for his wildcat settlement of Sde Boaz. He dismisses the international consensus that the West Bank must form part of a future Palestinian state. "We have to make it clear that it is ours, this region belongs to the Jewish people," he said. Short link: Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Kensington Corridor Trust formed in 2019 to invest in the Kensington Avenue commercial corridor, transition properties to neighborhood control, and protect residents and businesses in the neighborhood from being displaced. It lists equity as one of its guiding values. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is citing the organization as an example of how communities can use land trusts to ensure they stay affordable. Preservation can be a tool to stabilize neighborhoods and to foster equitable growth in Black and other marginalized communities, the National Trust has found. Philadelphia was one of 10 cities nationwide that the National Trust explored in an October report. A lot more work needs to be done to establish trust and empower communities to leverage what preservation has to offer as a tool, said Di Gao, senior director of research and development at the National Trust, at a virtual panel about the report Wednesday. The drivers of displacement and the roots of place-based inequity are systemic and based on factors that stretch far beyond the traditional scope of preservation alone. Nationwide, historically Black neighborhoods see higher rates of demolition, undervalued housing, underfunded essential services, and reduced access to financing than in other areas, according to the National Trusts report. In Philadelphia, only about 6% of historically designated properties are in historically Black census tracts, according to the reports researchers. The places that tell the story of resilience in [Black and other historically marginalized] communities have been systematically undervalued, underinvested, demolished, and erased from our physical landscape for far too long, the reports authors wrote. Preservationists must contend with and unpack how the traditional methods and standards of preserving buildings may be perpetuating systems of injustice. In years past, preservation has not demonstrated its relevance to marginalized communities, so it must shed its elitist perception and adapt to meet the needs of a broader section of Americans, Gao said. Preserving and investing in the maintenance of older properties can help prevent the displacement of longtime residents. Patrick Grossi, director of advocacy at the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, which convened Wednesdays panel, said one of the most common calls the organization gets is from owners of older homes who need help with maintenance. Even with Philadelphias large stock of old housing presenting a large demand, few programs meet these owners needs, he said. READ MORE: Developers condos would destroy South Phillys famed Black Doctors Row | Inga Saffron Preservation should be community-driven and focused on people, according to the report, but too often it is dictated by outside forces and is building-centered. Preservation also is impeded by unequal decisions about what is considered historic or culturally significant in Black neighborhoods compared with other neighborhoods and by city policies that allow historic buildings that could be restored and adapted for community use to be demolished. Black communities often also have less access to the money and other resources needed for revitalization and for the pursuit of historic designations. More emphasis needs to be placed on culture, heritage, and legacy rather than focusing almost exclusively on the integrity of physical buildings, Gao said. To promote equity in preservation and community development, residents must be able to make decisions about their own neighborhoods, the report said. Preservation-related professionals must be racially diverse. Preservation efforts in historically Black neighborhoods must invest in Black cultural sites. Community revitalization must address systemic inequalities, a goal some cities are tackling by funding the adaptation of vacant properties into community spaces and promoting community ownership. READ MORE: Phillys Dox Thrash house will get a second life with preservationists acting as investor-partners Some communities oppose historic designation because they see preservation as a burden on residents and businesses and as an agent of gentrification, Gao said. City policies can help correct these criticisms. Preservationists must use high-quality data to demonstrate the need for policies that support equitable development, measure how their work affects communities in the long term, form partnerships in the public and private sectors to pool resources, and evaluate neighborhood development in the context of the wider geographical regions, the report said. The time is now for our nation to examine and reduce place-based inequities and to pursue ideas yet to be seen that scale up and fast-track the preservation of and investment in African American landmarks and neighborhoods, Brent Leggs, executive director of the National Trusts African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, wrote in the report. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A PUBGOER punched another man off a stool in a Dublin bar after the victim racially abused him for being Scottish, a court heard. Truck driver Gordon Kirkland (47) struck the man several times in the face, causing him to fall unconscious to the floor. He maintained the victim had called him a Scottish p**ck and used other racial slurs during a disagreement about a moved pint. Kirkland, a father-of-two of St Patricks Road, Greenhills, Dublin pleaded guilty to assaulting the man, causing him harm. Judge Brian OShea applied the Probation Act, sparing Kirkland a conviction after hearing that the injured party had declined to make a victim impact statement. Its obvious to me now why, the judge said. Read More Dublin District Court heard the accused was drinking at Rory OConnors pub, Walkinstown at 5.30pm on December 8, 2019. The victim was sitting on a barstool when Kirkland punched him several times in the face. He fell off the stool and lost consciousness for a minute or two, the court heard. An ambulance was called but the victim did not avail of medical attention. He later reported the assault to gardai. The court heard Kirkland and the victim knew each other and drank in the same pub but were not friends. The man did not wish to make a victim impact statement or attend court, a garda sergeant said. Kirkland was originally from Scotland but had lived in Ireland for quite a period of time, his barrister John Griffin said. He was in full time employment as a heavy goods vehicle driver, transporting materials around the country. On the day, there was a match on in the pub and Kirkland got up and went to the bathroom. When he got back, his pint and chair had been moved and words were had with the complainant. Some racial slurs were mentioned toward Kirkland and he reacted by assaulting the victim, Mr Griffin said. The racial slurs were related to Scotland, he added. The sergeant read from the accuseds statement, saying he told gardai the victim opened with a barrage of abuse, pointed at his face and said you Scottish pr**k, you Scottish c**t. Kirkland said this was racist crap and the victim was being told to calm down by a friend. I genuinely thought he was going to hit me so I got in first, Kirkland said, adding he took a couple of swings and was not proud of it. Kirkland had no prior convictions and had written a letter of apology. Judge OShea read a letter in which he said the proprietor of the bar described the accused as a gentleman who had attended the pub for more than 10 years and was always very pleasant and polite. Judge O'Shea said it was difficult to reconcile this with the assault, notwithstanding the fact that the victim was the person who was injured. It seemed Kirkland thought the other man was about to hit him, but pleaded guilty. There is no victim impact statement and its obvious to me now why there isnt, the judge said. Bohemia, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - AmpliTech Group, Inc. (OTCQB: AMPG) announced today that they have appointed Andrew Lee to the AmpliTech Board of Directors. AmpliTech Group, Inc. If you cannot view the logo above, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7466/72993_1f51ec0a94fd1b3b_001full.jpg CEO, Fawad Maqbool commented, "We are excited and proud to announce the selection of Andrew Lee to AMPG's Board of Directors. Andrew is the Chief Financial Officer of RealWear, Inc., a technology company that makes a hands-free, head-worn computer designed for industrial settings. Andrew will serve as Chairman of the Audit Committee, while being a member of all other Committees. We look forward to benefiting from both his technical and financial prowess." RealWear's investors include Teradyne, Bose Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, and investors from JP Morgan's Private Bank. Prior to joining RealWear, Lee led Finance and Operations as the CFO of Ryonet Corporation, a high-growth firm in Vancouver, Washington. Throughout his career, he has completed numerous rounds of financing, managed foreign currency hedging strategies, and led three major ERP implementations. Lee is a licensed CPA and holds his MBA degree from Washington State University. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration, with concentrations in Finance and Accounting, from Walla Walla University. Lee's strengths include P&L management, debt and equity capital raising, and strategic planning. About AmpliTech Group, Inc. AmpliTech Group, Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures custom and standard state-of-the-art RF components for the Domestic and International, SATCOM, Space, Defense and Military markets. These designs cover the frequency range from 50 kHz to 40 GHz - eventually, offering designs up to 100 GHz. AmpliTech also provides consulting services to help with any microwave components or systems design problems. Our steady growth over the past 13+ years has come about because we can provide complex, custom solutions for nearly ANY custom requirements that are presented to us. In addition, we have the best assemblers, wires, and technicians in the industry and can provide contract assembly of customers' own designs. Website: http://www.AmpliTechinc.com. Forward-looking Statements This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) the Company's financing plans; (ii) trends affecting the Company's financial condition or results of operations; (iii) the Company's growth strategy and operating strategy. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. CONTACT: Fawad Maqbool, CEO, AmpliTech Group, Inc. (631) 521-7831 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmpliTechAMPG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amplitechampg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmpliTechInc To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72993 Mumbai: Equity benchmark Sensex dropped over 520 points in early trade on Thursday, tracking losses in index-heavyweight stocks like HDFC twins, TCS, Infosys and ICICI Bank amid weak trend in global markets. The 30-share BSE index was trading 523.14 points or 1.10 per cent lower at 46,886.79. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty fell 167.80 points or 1.2 per cent to 13,799.70. HDFC Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 2.50 per cent, followed by HDFC, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, PowerGrid, Kotak Bank, SBI, and Nestle India. On the other hand, ONGC, NTPC, Reliance Industries and HUL were among the gainers. In the previous session, the Sensex tumbled 937.66 points or 1.94 per cent to settle at 47,409.93, while the NSE Nifty plunged 271.40 points or 1.91 per cent to close the session at 13,967.50. According to traders, recent foreign fund outflows from the domestic capital markets also had an impact on investor sentiment. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) remained net sellers in the capital market as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,688.22 crore on a net basis on Wednesday, according to provisional exchange data. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo were trading in the red in mid-session deals. US equities finished lower mainly due to lower earnings by tech giants and concerns over stretched valuation. Live TV #mute Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark, Brent crude futures, were trading 0.45 per cent lower at USD 55.56 per barrel. Close Remember Simba from the Disney movie The Lion King? Well, Singapore just introduced an artificially conceived lion cub who was named after the movie's protagonist. Likewise, NDTV reported that Simba's genetic father was named after the cartoon's father, Mufasa. It is the first time for Singapore Zoo, and a rare phenomenon in general, to have a lion cub be conceived via artificial insemination. According to reports, Simba is now a three-month-old lion cub that is healthy and inquisitive and has his father's eyes. In 2018, two cubs were born in South Africa via assisted reproduction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified lions as vulnerable species, with only 20,000 lions surviving in Africa and a few hundred in India. Circle of Life: Simba Is Born The zookeepers have put Mufasa under to extract his semen using an electrojeculator. According to IFL Science, the principle of semen extraction across mammals is essentially the same. The device is inserted into the animal's rectum while a sheath is attached over the penis of the lion to collect the semen. The manual for AC-1 Ejaculator cautioned that the process requires finesse as it warns that "some movement of the rear legs will occur during stimulation." The Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), who oversees most zoos in Singapore, noted that Mufasa was considered elderly and in poor health at the ripe old age of 20 but did not sire any cubs throughout its lifetime due to its aggressive behavior. Although, unfortunately, he died shortly after the procedure, his genes continue to live on through his son Simba, contributing to African lions' genetic diversity and sustainability in the zoos. ALSO READ: Ancient Giant Lion "Simbakubwa" Found in Kenya Healthy and Inquisitive Simba Three months ago, on October 23, Simba was born in Singapore Zoo and is currently being cared for by his mother, Kayla. The zookeepers said that the lion cub is healthy and inquisitive and has the same beautiful eyes like his father's. Although it has been months already before they announced Simba's birth, the zookeepers said that it was because they needed to wait until the lion cub passed a healthy three-month milestone. According to MailOnline, the first few months of Simba was not easy. The lion cub had trouble sucking from his mother, whereby the zookeepers had to provide supplemental bottle feedings. The WRS added that Kayla might possibly be suffering from inflammation of her mammary glands, based on observations. The zookeepers were hesitant at first to take Simba to his mother for feedings "because animals can reject their young following temporary separation," said Kughan Krishnan of the Singapore Zoo. But thankfully, Kayla has responded positively to their intervention, which shows the test built between her and her care team. IUCN Listed Lions As Vulnerable Species The IUCN has classified lions as vulnerable species under their Red List of Threatened Species. But in some parts of South Africa, they are listed as critically endangered species because of their plummeting populations at an unprecedented rate. According to African Impact, the biggest threats to the lion populations include habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, poor legal trade regulation, diseases, ad climate change. But with the help of volunteer programs, such as African Big 5 & Wildlife Conservation and Big Cat Wildlife Research & Conservation, there is a gradual increase in their populations. While in zoological institutions, artificial insemination is one way to conserve the animals and promote genetic diversity among them. RELATED STORY: Cave Lions and Modern Day Lions Are Separate Species Check out more news and information on Lion and Artificial Insemination on Science Times. MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LeaseLock, the world's leading insurtech provider to the rental housing industry, today announced that Jordan Greek has joined the company as Vice President of Enterprise Sales for the Pacific Northwest. He will focus on the procurement of large contracts and bolstering the growth of LeaseLock Zero Deposit and overall sales efforts. Greek comes to LeaseLock after working at Knock where he served as Vice President of Sales for the company's Northwest division. Prior to Knock, Greek spent seven years at Zillow, where he managed revenue growth and retention, and planned and executed new customer acquisitions. Greek also evaluated, closed and managed new strategic business partnerships, oversaw market analysis and provided leadership in the design and implementation of strategic business objectives. "Jordan's skill set particularly his sales expertise and ability to forge and retain business alliances will pair well with our vision to be a true partner for our enterprise rental housing clients," said Ed Wolff, Chief Revenue Officer at LeaseLock. "We're excited to have Jordan on our sales leadership team and look forward to his contributions to further accelerate LeaseLock as the first enterprise insurtech platform." As the only B2B insurance technology platform serving enterprise rental housing providers, LeaseLock seamlessly integrates with property management systems and back-office workflows. Operators can market their properties as Zero Deposit communities, LeaseLock's flagship solution, and they also receive $5,000 in rent loss and damage coverage for each new lease with the standard coverage plan. Meanwhile, residents pay an affordable monthly deposit waiver fee instead of an expensive upfront deposit. NMHC Top 50 operator LeaseLock clients include Greystar, Pinnacle, Alliance, Avenue5, Harbor Group, The Bainbridge Companies, LMC and RKW Residential. Top ownership clients include Goldman Sachs, ColRich, GoldCor, Olive Tree, TruAmerica, White Oak, Trinsic and Goodman Real Estate. About LeaseLock LeaseLock helps the world find home. Powered by insurance technology, LeaseLock deploys software and a proprietary AI-driven risk platform to eliminate deposits across entire rental housing portfolios while creating a modern lease experience for residentsfaster, simpler, and more affordable. Headquartered in Marina Del Rey, Calif., LeaseLock has insured over $800 million in leases and is backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. LeaseLock has secured $25 million from leading insurance, technology, and real estate venture funds including Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, American Family Ventures, Wildcat Venture Partners, and Moderne Ventures. For more information, please visit www.leaselock.com . Media Contact: LinnellTaylor Marketing Marlena DeFalco Account Director (303) 682-3943 [email protected] SOURCE LeaseLock Related Links http://www.leaselock.com Prime Minister said on Thursday that India last year showed it is capable of taking all steps to meet challenges, be it from or at its borders. "We have to strengthen the emotion with which we dealt with big challenges last year, with one nation with one heart. We have to completely remove the ill effects of the pandemic on our economy," he said at a rally of the Cadet Corps (NCC) here. According to government projections released earlier this month, India's GDP is estimated to contract by a record 7.7 per cent during 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister said, "Last year, India has shown that its capable of taking steps to meet all challenges, be it from or at its borders." Indian and Chinese armed forces are engaged in a bitter standoff at their border areas in eastern Ladakh since May last year. "Whether it is developing protective shield of the vaccine or destroying with modern missiles intentions of those challenging India, the country is capable on all fronts," he stressed. If India is 'aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant) in vaccine, it is also trying with equal vigour to modernise its armed forces, Modi said. The prime minister asserted that all steps are being taken to ensure that every wing of India's armed forces is the best, adding that the country now has excellent "war machines". Referring to mid-air refuelling of three Rafale fighter aircraft while they were on way to India on Wednesday, Modi said it was done in UAE and Saudi Arabia, and Greece also helped. "This highlights our growing ties with the Gulf countries," he said. This was the third batch of Rafale fighter jets that arrived in India after flying non-stop from France. About his government's efforts to boost domestic defence manufacturing, Modi said, "India will soon be known as a big producer of defence equipment instead of a big market as it is today." He said the indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet is exhibiting its glory in the sea and sky and an order of more than 80 of these aircraft have been placed by the government recently. "India is focusing on all necessary research and development so that it does not remain behind in developing artificial intelligence related warfare capabilities," Modi 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.) Disney Plus is set to release hundreds of new films and TV series next month as part of its "Star" brand. Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! film (which recently was adapted for the stage and is set to arrive in the UK later in 2021) will be made available, as will the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's iconic musical Evita. Also being added are Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Favourite with WhatsOnStage and Academy Award winner Olivia Colman and the film versions of 9 to 5 and Pretty Woman (both of which have now made it onto the stage). Luhrmann's version of Romeo and Juliet with Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio will be available, as will the original film version of Waitress, which was adapted into a major blockbuster musical. For anyone craving a bit of Arthur Miller, the film version of The Crucible can be accessed. The Devil Wears Prada, set to be adapted for the stage in 2022, will also be on the platform. Disney Plus' existing offering for theatre fans can be found here we're updating that article regularly. The new titles will be available from 23 February 2021 at which point the price of Disney Plus will also go up for new subscribers (so we'd recommend getting in there now). Paramedics who can spend hours treating Covid-19 patients in the back of an ambulance are calling for access to better personal protective equipment (PPE). The College of Paramedics has written to Health Minister Robin Swann asking him to act to protect the massively overstretched workforce. The organisation has warned the current situation is putting the lives of staff, patients and their families at risk, describing paramedics as potential "super spreaders". Under current guidance, when a paramedic attends a call involving a patient with Covid-19 they should wear a surgical mask, visor, plastic apron and gloves. However, given the pressures on the health service, crews can sometimes spend hours in an ambulance with a patient waiting to hand them over to hospital staff. Paramedics also attend multiple calls during shifts and spend time in homes where they are potentially surrounded by people with the virus. Rory O'Connor, chair of the College of Paramedics in the UK, wants paramedics to be allowed to risk-assess each individual call and decide whether they should wear enhanced PPE. He said: "Our primary concerns at the moment are that we feel whilst the advice states it is safe to use level two PPE, the evidence isn't strong enough to suggest that it is appropriate in all settings, particularly in ambulance settings. "We are worried about staff getting infected and we are calling for an urgent review of the evidence to be carried out. "While that review is being carried out, we are calling for ambulance staff to be allowed to carry out risk assessments on a case-by-case basis, so where they feel there will be prolonged exposure with a Covid patient, they can use level three PPE. "Staff are feeling quite vulnerable at the moment, they are going in and out of people's homes, where people may or may not have Covid-19. "When the service is particularly struggling, they may spend hours in the back of an ambulance waiting to hand a patient over to the hospital. "We aren't making a demand for level three PPE to be used on every call, just when the paramedic feels it is appropriate. "This is about protecting staff and patients. "It is also about reducing the number of paramedics who have to take time off work to isolate." The Department of Health said Mr Swann had not received a letter from the College of Paramedics as yet. Current guidance for paramedics provides advice on what action they should take to mitigate spending prolonged periods of time with Covid-19 patients. In the event of a crew facing a delay in handing over a patient to hospital staff, paramedics are asked to minimise the number of staff with the patient and to avoid sitting face-to-face. They are also advised to keep ventilation systems running, and where this is not possible they are asked to open the doors of the vehicle. They should also decontaminate the vehicle frequently. Hearing Held for Assyrian Monk Accused of 'Terrorism' in Turkey Fr. Sefer Aho Bilecen. The new hearing in the trial of Assyrian monk, Fr Sefer (Aho) Bilecen, was held today at the High Criminal Court in Mardin. As in the previous hearing in early November, proceedings were held in camera with no journalists allowed. Fr Sefer faces terrorism charges. Prosecutors accuse him of aiding a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey, by giving a piece of bread (story). The PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, has been in prison since 1999. The court ordered another postponement with the next hearing scheduled for April. If convicted, the clergyman could get two to 15 years in jail for giving food to someone who asked for it at the door of his monastery. For his part, the monk recently reiterated his position, namely that he does not know the people who came to the monastery begging for food, and that he opens the door to them "out of Christian charity". Fr Sefer (Aho) Bilecen is the custodian of the monastery of Mor Yakup (St James), which dates back about 1,500 years. Located in Nusaybin district (Mardin), south-eastern Turkey, on the border with Syria, the historic building has been in a state of neglect since the Armenian genocide of 1915, and it is thanks to Fr Sefer's commitment that it was reopened in 2010. The monk was arrested on 9 January 2020 as a result of the testimony of an alleged (later repentant) PKK member. Four days later, he was released pending trial, thanks also to a grassroots movement by local Christians who petitioned the authorities to let him go. The confession of the PKK member remains the key factor in Assyrian priest's indictment. A second witness, also in prison, said he did not know the religious and had heard from others that he gave food to the needy as an act of charity. The trial comes at a time of rising tensions between Turkey and Western countries and growing violations and abuses against Turkey's Christian minorities. Recently, an ancient Armenian church went on sale on the Internet, just the latest in a series of controversial episodes showing disrespect for, if not contempt for the country's Christian religious and cultural heritage. The list includes a barbecue held at the historic Sourp Asdvadzadzi Armenian church and the conversions of the ancient Christian basilicas of Hagia Sophia and Chora into mosques. The latter were turned into museums under the founder of modern Turkey Ataturk. Such actions have been controversial but they fit in the "nationalism and Islam" policy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a way to hide the country's economic woes and help him stay in power. In both churches, Islamic authorities have covered with white curtains the images of Jesus, as well as frescoes and icons that show their Christian roots. Novavax Inc's experimental COVID-19 vaccine is safe and nearly 90 percent effective at preventing infection, but possibly not against all variants, an interim analysis shows. On Thursday, the Gaithersburg, Maryland-based company released results from two clinical trials, one held in the UK and the other in South Africa. Both countries have seen highly infectious variants crop up in recent months that have spread around the world. A third clinical trial being conducted in the U.S. is still in the process of recruiting participants and is not expected to reveal data for several months. In the UK late-stage trial, just 62 of more than 15,000 participants fell ill, showing 89.3 percent efficacy. Roughly half were infected with the UK variant known as B.1.1.7, and the vaccine appeared to be almost as effective in that group. Results showed 95.6 percent efficacy against the originally circulating variant and 85.6 percent against B 1.1.7. But in South Africa's mid-stage study of about 4,000 participants, the Novavax shot was not as protective and was found to be just 49.4% effective its variant, 501Y.V2. The news comes just hours after the U.S. reported its first known cases of the variant in two unrelated people in South Carolina and days after both Moderna and Pfizer said that their vaccines are also less effective against the South African variant. In a late-stage UK study, the Novavax coronavirus vaccine was shown to be 89.3% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. Pictured: Three potential coronavirus vaccines are kept in a tray at Novavax labs in Gaithersburg, Maryland, March 2020 However, the vaccine was just 49.3% effective against the South African variant in a mid-stage study conducted in the African country. Pictured: A volunteer receives an injection from a medical worker during the country's first human clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, June 2020 Novavax's vaccine uses synthesized pieces of the surface protein that the coronavirus uses to invade human cells and spurs antibody production. Pictured: The Novavax logo is reflected in a drop on a syringe In the UK trial, of the 62 people who contracted symptomatic COVID-19, 56 had received a placebo and six had received the vaccine. Just one person had a severe case of the virus, and was in the placebo group. Roughly half the people who contracted the virus had the UK variant, but it appeared to be just as effective against the variant as it was against the original virus. Novavax, which has not produced a vaccine before, was one of six vaccine candidates to be given funding for research and development by the Trump's administration's Operation Warp Speed last summer. However, no contracts were signed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to supply doses of the vaccine. Its shot contains synthesized pieces of the surface protein that the coronavirus uses to invade human cells. The idea is that the protein will cause human cells to spur production of antibodies to fight the infection. This technology is a more traditional method of administering vaccines compared to the newer technology in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that has never been used before. 'We have the first trial - we are the first to conduct an efficacy trial - in the face of a changing virus,' Stanley Erck, the president and CEO of Novavax, said, according to The New York Times. Erck said he expected the variants could alter the study's results, but 'the amount of change has been a bit of a surprise to everyone.' It comes as the first cases of the South African variant were confirmed in the U.S. in two unrelated people in South Carolina within no travel history (above) Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has said he is more concerned about the South African variant than any other. Pictured: Fauci speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, January 21 The biotechnology company has been running trials in Britain, South Africa, the U.S. and Mexico. However, the U.S.-based, late-stage trial did not begin until December after Novavax had issues in scaling up the vaccine's manufacturing. Novovax's trial results raise the stakes for the Johnson & Johnson, which is expected to deliver its results next week after originally scheduled to do so this week. This has led to rumors that the company found its vaccine was also less effective against the South African variant. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said on Wednesday he is more concerned about the South African variant than any other because of its mutations that might render vaccines less effective. He added that data Johnson & Johnson, which has been testing its one-dose shot in South Africa, will be a bellwether for whether or not vaccines can protect against variants. 'The South African and Brazilian variants are having this effect on the monoclonal antibodies' in lab tests, Dr Fauci said during his first White House press briefing last week. 'The real question is what is their impact on the vaccine? 'We have to pay attention...[because] what they're likely seeing is a diminution more with the South African variant than the UK variant in what would be the efficacy in the vaccine-induced antibody.' In August, Novavax released Phase I trial data, which found its vaccine generated a an immune response higher than seen among COVID-19 survivors. A total of 106 participants between ages 18 and 59 received the vaccine while 25 people were given a placebo at two sites in Australia. The inoculation, named NVX-CoV2373, was given with or without an adjuvant, which is an agent that boosts the immune response. Volunteers were split into four groups and given either five micrograms or 25 micrograms with or without the extra ingredient. For those who were immunized, they were given the jab via intramuscular injection about 21 days apart. Participants generated high levels of neutralizing antibodies and T-cells, both of which are needed to build up immunity. It's unclear how soon the vaccine would receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for distribution across the country. Two South Carolina residents with NO travel history test positive for the South African 'super-covid'-variant By Natalie Rahhal, U.S. Health Editor Two South Carolina residents are the first Americans with the South African 'super covid' variant that may make vaccines less effective, state health department officials confirmed on Thursday. Neither person has a 'known' recent history of travel and they have no evident connection to one another, as far as health officials can tell. That's a worrying signal that the 50 percent more infectious variant has already been spreading silently in South Carolina, if not the broader U.S. Both Moderna and Pfizer said this week that preliminary lab tests suggest their vaccines are 'protective' against the variant, but it does diminish the effectiveness of their shots. Each company has said it is developing booster shots to improve the potency of their vaccines against variants, including South Africa's. It's the second new variant reported in the US this week, after Minnesota confirmed the first American case of the P.1 variant from Brazil. Variants from South Africa and Brazil contain similar mutations that may help them escape antibodies from vaccines, but the Brazilian form brings an additional worry. The South African variant has a mutation in its spike protein (circled in yellow) that makes it more contagious, capable of reinfection and potentially more immune to vaccines In the Amazon city of Manaus, people who should have been protected from reinfection are getting second bouts of COVID-19 as the highly infectious variant takes off and overwhelmed hospital there. 'The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over,' said Dr Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. 'While more COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together.' One person lives in the state's easternmost 'Pee Dee' region, while the other is a resident of the 'Lowcountry' region to the south. The two are both adults, but the state health department said that it will not release any further details of their identities to protect their privacy. Neither person had a history of travel that the South Carolina health department was aware of, raising concerns that there are more cases in the US, and the variant has already been imported and begun spreading. 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. They will draw redistricting maps, which must be approved by the Legislature. This form of an independent commission has never been used before, as redistricting occurs once every 10 years. The 2014 amendment also limits the power of a party when it holds a simple majority in both chambers of the Legislature. The amendment the Legislature just approved to appear on the ballot in November would, among other things, reverse that, allowing a party with a majority in both the Senate and Assembly as the Democrats have now to have more power over the redistricting process. Redistricting is a contentious topic. Where district lines are drawn on a map can shift state power to one party or another, eliminate a district or make it harder for a political party to win specific districts by cutting or adding areas of the district that lean more toward a certain political party. In 2014 when the constitutional amendment was approved, the Republicans controlled the Senate and the Democrats controlled the Assembly, meaning they had a majority of seats in their respective chambers. Now Democrats control both chambers. The commissions bipartisan makeup would remain the same under this amendment, but Democrats could have more power to reject and redraw maps. NEW DELHI : India's rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in a corruption perception index (CPI) in 2020. For 2020, Transparency International (TI)'s corruption perception index was released on Thursday. The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. India's rank is 86 out of 180 nations with a score of 40. "India was ranked at 80th position out of 180 countries in 2019. The CPI score for India is constant this year as well as the previous year's score," the index said. India is still very low on corruption Index, the report said, noting that experts feel the CPI does not reflect the actual corruption level in any country. The integrity score determines the corruption situation of a country. This year, New Zealand and Denmark were ranked at first position with scores of 88. Somalia and South Sudan were ranked lowest at 179th position with scores of 12. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Vatican Secretary of State is visiting Cameroon until 3 February, during which he will meet with government leaders, celebrate Mass in Bamenda Cathedral to present the pallium to Archbishop Fuanya, and visit the Household of Hope in Yaounde. By Vatican News Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin arrives in Cameroon Thursday, 28 January, and his visit lasts until 3 February. He is accompanied by Msgr. Ivan Santus, an official with the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State. Sign of Popes care and concern The visit is meant to showonce again and in the context of the current humanitarian emergency caused by the pandemicthe attention of the Church and Pope Francis for the African continent, a land rich in humanity but marked by great suffering. It is also intended as a concrete sign of common, supportive, and inclusive commitment to protecting and promoting the dignity and good of all, a willingness to show care and compassion, to work for reconciliation and healing, and to advance mutual respect and acceptance. The Pope called for this expression of concern in his message for the 54th World Day of Peace, celebrated on 1 January 2021, which was entitled: A culture of care as a path to peace. Civil and Church appointments Meetings with the countrys authorities are planned, as well as various religious appointments. Cardinal Parolin will celebrate the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Bamenda, during which he will impose the pallium on the Archbishop of the Diocese, Andrew Nkea Fuanya. The Vatican Secretary of State will also visit the Household of Hope in Yaounde. The center was founded 40 years ago by Jesuit Father Yves Lescanne to provide assistance for street children and young prisoners. Boris Johnson said he took 'full responsibility' for the government's decisions as the UK death toll passed 100,000. (PA) The government has revealed the 10 areas where its controversial Eat Out to Help Out scheme was used most, two days after Boris Johnson said he would take full responsibility for decisions made during the pandemic. Throughout August, when coronavirus infections were low, Eat Out to Help Out was chancellor Rishi Sunaks flagship policy to boost an economy damaged by the first national lockdown. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, diners in participating restaurants got a 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks. The offer could be used on unlimited occasions. Figures released by the government on Thursday showed just how popular the scheme was, with a total 106,533,154 discounted meals claimed across the UK on the 13 eligible days in August. Rishi Sunak places an Eat Out to Help Out sticker in the window of a business during an August visit to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. (Jeff J Mitchell/PA Images via Getty Images) Following the winter COVID-19 crisis, however, Eat Out to Help Out has increasingly been blamed as one factor behind the increase in infections which began in September. On Tuesday, after COVID deaths passed 100,000 in the UK, Boris Johnson promised to take full responsibility for everything the government has done during the pandemic, with the prime minister saying we did everything we could to restrict the virus. Watch: Boris Johnson takes full responsibility as UK deaths top 100,000 Here are the 10 parliamentary constituencies where the most meals were claimed in businesses with 25 or fewer outlets: Cities of London and Westminster: 1,875,000 Manchester Central: 882,000 Liverpool, Riverside: 854,000 Birmingham, Ladywood: 800,000 Glasgow Central: 728,000 Holborn and St Pancras: 681,000 Bristol West: 618,000 Belfast South: 606,000 Bethnal Green and Bow: 587,000 Leeds Central: 534,000 This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. On 30 October, research by the University of Warwick claimed between 8% and 17% of new COVID infection clusters could have been attributed to the scheme. Dr Thiemo Fetzer, the report author, said at the time: This strongly suggests that the link between Eat Out to Help Out and new COVID-19 infections is causal. When people were not dining out as part of the scheme there were fewer new cases of the virus. Story continues Eat Out to Help Out may in the end have been a false economy, one that subsidised the spread of the pandemic into autumn and contributed to the start of the second wave. The government is now facing criticism from MPs on both sides of the parliamentary divide. Read more: Michael Gove insists Boris Johnson's trip to Scotland is 'essential' despite Sturgeon opposition Boris Johnson denies being too optimistic over plan to reopen schools At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Labours Angela Eagle asked Johnson if he was proud of the scheme in light of the winter crisis. And on Tuesday, senior Conservative backbencher Tobias Ellwood agreed Eat Out to Help Out contributed to the death toll though he pointed out tough decisions are made by all governments trying to balance tackling COVID-19 while keeping the economy open. Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown Near the beginning of December, Bloomberg sources suggested that the French oil major Total SA was looking to rid itself of its 18% stake in the Sarsang exploration block in northern Iraqi Kurdistan. Now, Iraqs oil ministry has signed an MOU with the oil giant to execute large and promising projects in Iraq, specifically in natural gas and clean energy, the countrys oil ministry said on Wednesday. Totals CEO Patrick Pouyanne was in the country at the time of the signing. Total already has a 22.5% interest in Iraqs Halfaya oilfield in southern Iraqand it is still holding onto, for now, that 18% Sarsang asset that it was rumored to be exiting. Also on Wednesday, Iraqs state-run Dhiqar Oil Co announced that Lukoils trading arm Litasco would finance an oil project to double the capacity of the countrys Nassiriya oil project to 200,000 bpd. Iraqs SOMO will pay Litasco with crude. But Iraqs oil deals dont stop there. China is also muscling its way into Iraqs oil industry, including via a $2 billion, five-year pre-payment oil supply deal between the Iraqi federal government and Chinas Zhenhua Oil. Related: The Surprising Rise And Fall Of A Shale Superstar The deals come as Iraq works feverishly to pull itself out of the economic hole it now finds itself in, and is seeking emergency loans to the tune of $6 billion from the IMF as low oil prices continue to squeeze the countrys finances. Iraq has been one of the worst laggards in adhering to the supply cut deal it agreed to as a member of OPEC, and its dire financial straits have likely contributed to its reluctance or inability to stick to the cuts. As part of the deal it reached with OPEC members and its allies, known as OPEC+, Iraq and other laggards must meet all oil production cut obligations, even if they need to extend the cuts beyond the normal expiry. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Its impossible to understand the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol without addressing the movement that has come to be known as Christian nationalism. Andrew L. Whitehead and Samuel L. Perry, professors of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the University of Oklahoma, describe Christian Nationalism in their book Taking America Back for God: It includes assumptions of nativism, white supremacy, patriarchy and heteronormativity, along with divine sanction for authoritarian control and militarism. It is as ethnic and political as it is religious. Understood in this light, Christian nationalism contends that America has been and should always be distinctively Christian from top to bottom in its self-identity, interpretations of its own history, sacred symbols, cherished values and public policies and it aims to keep it this way. In her recent book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, Katherine Stewart, a frequent contributor to these pages, does not mince words: It is a political movement, and its ultimate goal is power. It does not seek to add another voice to Americas pluralistic democracy, but to replace our foundational democratic principles and institutions with a state grounded on a particular version of Christianity, answering to what some adherents call a biblical worldview that also happens to serve the interests of its plutocratic funders and allied political leaders. This, Stewart writes, is not a culture war. It is a political war over the future of democracy. While much of the focus of coverage of the attack on the halls of the House and Senate was on the violence, the religious dimension went largely unnoted (although my colleagues Elizabeth Dias and Ruth Graham made the connection). I asked Perry about the role of the religious right, and he replied by email: The Capitol insurrection was as Christian nationalist as it gets. Perry elaborated: Obviously the best evidence would be the use of sacred symbols during the insurrection such as the cross, Christian flag, Jesus saves sign, etc. But also the language of the prayers offered by the insurrectionists both outside and within the Capitol indicates the views of white Americans who obviously thought Jesus not only wanted them to violently storm the Capitol in order to take it back from the socialists, globalists, etc., but also believed God empowered their efforts, giving them victory. Together, Perry continued, the evidence reflects a mind-set that clearly merges national power and divine authority, believing God demands American leadership be wrested from godless usurpers and entrusted to true patriots who must be willing to shed blood (their own and others) for God and country. Christian nationalism favors authoritarian control and what I call good-guy violence for the sake of maintaining a certain social order. The conservative evangelical pastor Greg Locke, the founder of the Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tenn., epitomizes the mind-set Perry describes. In his Sept 2020 book, This Means War Locke writes, We are one election away from losing everything we hold dear. The battle, Locke continued, is against everything evil and wicked in the world. It is a rallying of the troops of Gods holy army. This is our day. This is our time. This means something for the Kingdom. As a matter of fact, THIS MEANS WAR. On Jan. 5, Locke tweeted: May the fire of the Holy Spirit fall upon Washington DC today and tomorrow. May the Lamb of God be exalted. Let God arise and His enemies be brought low. Along similar lines, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and a leading figure among conservative evangelicals, was asked in a 2018 Politico interview, What happened to turning the other cheek? Ed Andrieski/Associated Press If your Hobby Lobby trips included use of the weekly 40percent off coupon, well we have some bad news for you. Starting at the end of February, the popular craft store will get rid of the snazzy deal for good, the company said in a Facebook post. "As of February 28th, 2021, Hobby Lobby will no longer be offering the 40% off coupon in stores or online. By making this decision, we are intensifying our efforts to discount thousands of items every day," the store said. READ ALSO: Costco buys land on far West Side in San Antonio The announcement, however was not welcomed by many coupon moms and crafters as they lit up the comment section on Facebook. "WOW! With a slow economy, I can not believe you are going to take away your 40% off coupon! This will be the last time I shop here!" said Karen Helms-Phillips on Facebook. Meanwhile one woman came up with a creative hashtag, maybe hoping the craft store would change its mind. If you bought a tuna sandwich from a Subway restaurant recently, chances are you may have eaten something that was made from anything but tuna, two Bay Area customers allege. Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin of Alameda County filed a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court last week accusing the American fast food restaurant franchise of misrepresenting its tuna sandwich. The plaintiffs claim that they performed independent lab tests of samples of tuna taken from several Subway locations in California. The tests prove that the tuna is actually a mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by [Subway] to imitate the appearance of tuna, according to the complaint. The complaint does not specify what the lab tests revealed or what the tuna is actually made of. Subway has denied the claims, telling DailyMail.com that the tuna is real and from fish caught in the wild. A Subway representative told DailyMail.com: These claims are meritless. Two Subway customers from Alameda County, California are suing the popular fast food restaurant chain because they claim lab tests prove that its tuna sandwich isn't made from real tuna. The above image is a stock photo of a Subway tuna sandwich 'There simply is no truth to the allegations in the complaint that was filed in California,' a company spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'Subway delivers 100 per cent cooked tuna to its restaurants, which is mixed with mayonnaise and used in freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads that are served to and enjoyed by our guests. 'The taste and quality of our tuna make it one of Subway's most popular products and these baseless accusations threaten to damage our franchisees, small business owners who work tirelessly to uphold the high standards that Subway sets for all of its products, including its tuna. 'Given the facts, the lawsuit constitutes a reckless and improper attack on Subway's brand and goodwill, and on the livelihood of its California franchisees. 'Indeed, there is no basis in law or fact for the plaintiffs' claims, which are frivolous and are being pursued without adequate investigation.' The spokesperson added: 'Unfortunately, this lawsuit is part of a trend in which the named plaintiffs' attorneys have been targeting the food industry in an effort to make a name for themselves in that space. 'Subway will vigorously defend itself against these and any other baseless efforts to mischaracterize and tarnish the high-quality products that Subway and its franchisees provide to their customers, in California and around the world, and intends to fight these claims through all available avenues if they are not immediately dismissed.' Subway bills its tuna sandwich as freshly baked bread that contains flaked tuna blended with creamy mayo then topped with your choice of crisp, fresh veggies. But the plaintiffs attorney, Shalini Dogra, told The Washington Post: We found that the ingredients were not tuna and not fish. Dogras clients, Dhanowa and Amin, want to have their claim certified as a class action, which would allow thousands of other potentially dissatisfied customers to join in the legal action. Anyone wishing to join the lawsuit would have had to purchase a tuna sandwich or tuna wrap sometime after January 21, 2017. Dhanowa and Amin are suing Subway for fraud, intentional misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and other civil violations. They claim they were tricked into buying food items that wholly lacked the ingredients they reasonably thought they were purchasing based on Subways advertising and marketing of the product. A Subway spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the claims are 'meritless.' The above image shows a Subway location in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida Dhanowa and Amin allege Subway is saving substantial sums of money in manufacturing the products because the fabricated ingredient they use in the place of tuna costs less money. They claim they are being cheated out of the health benefits they thought they were getting by buying tuna sandwiches. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages as well as attorneys fees. Consumers are consistently misled into purchasing the products for the commonly known and/or advertised benefits and characteristics of tuna when in fact no such benefits could be had, given that the products are in fact devoid of tuna, according to the complaint. Subway says its tuna is flaked in brine, mayonnaise and an additive to protect flavor. On Twitter, social media users piled on Subway with some expressing relief they never bought a tuna sandwich from the chain. 'Subway: where you can get a tuna that's not really tuna sandwich on bread that's not really bread all under a sign that says "Eat Fresh",' tweeted Kamaron McNair. McNair was referring to a ruling last fall in which Ireland's Supreme Court found that Subway's bread contained too much sugar to be called bread. Another Twitter user commented: 'I don't eat Subway and haven't for years, but this "tuna" sandwich was the only thing I ate. 'Fish mystery meat. Proof that mixing mayo into anything makes it good.' Esther tweeted: 'Wait.. its not tuna?! I remember they had to take down the crab (or lobster) sandwich because it was misleading. Im getting a stomachache 'I worked at a subway in my teens. It was tuna. But this was decades ago.' Another Twitter user, Adam Rayes, tweeted: 'As a former "sandwich artist", this allegation being true would not surprise me one bit. 'Tuna should not come in moisture-less bricks, and yet at Subway it does. Never even smelled like tuna.' Elise Hu tweeted: 'Wow. So, to review: An Irish court already ruled that Subway sandwich "bread" is not bread. 'A US lawsuit tried to prove their "footlongs" aren't actually a foot long, and now ... a new suit alleges its tuna salad is not tuna?!' Another Twitter user posted an emoji showing a fish after the word 'Seems' as if to say 'Seems fishy.' One Twitter user wrote: 'Lab tests revealed that the Subway Tuna sandwich isn't tuna or even fish. So it's not tuna, it's not fish, is it.....chicken?' That tweet included a gif showing singer Jessica Simpson eating from a can of tuna. In 2003, Simpson and her then-husband, fellow singer Nick Lachey, starred in the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. In one famous episode, Simpson was eating tuna taken from a 'Chicken of the Sea' tin can. On Twitter, social media users piled on Subway with some expressing relief they never bought a tuna sandwich from the chain 'Subway: where you can get a tuna that's not really tuna sandwich on bread that's not really bread all under a sign that says "Eat Fresh",' tweeted Kamaron McNair. McNair was referring to a ruling last fall in which Ireland's Supreme Court found that Subway's bread contained too much sugar to be called bread Esther tweeted: 'Wait.. its not tuna?! I remember they had to take down the crab (or lobster) sandwich because it was misleading. Im getting a stomachache...I worked at a subway in my teens. It was tuna. But this was decades ago.' Another Twitter user commented: 'I don't eat Subway and haven't for years, but this "tuna" sandwich was the only thing I ate. Fish mystery meat. Proof that mixing mayo into anything makes it good.' Elise Hu tweeted: 'Wow. So, to review: An Irish court already ruled that Subway sandwich "bread" is not bread. 'A US lawsuit tried to prove their "footlongs" aren't actually a foot long, and now ... a new suit alleges its tuna salad is not tuna?!' Another Twitter user, Adam Rayes, tweeted: 'As a former "sandwich artist", this allegation being true would not surprise me one bit. Tuna should not come in moisture-less bricks, and yet at Subway it does. Never even smelled like tuna.' Another Twitter user posted an emoji showing a fish after the word 'Seems' as if to say 'Seems fishy. One Twitter user included a gif showing singer Jessica Simpson eating from a can of tuna. In 2003, Simpson and her then-husband, fellow singer Nick Lachey, starred in the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. In one famous episode, Simpson was eating tuna taken from a 'Chicken of the Sea' tin can. 'Is this chicken what I'm having or is this fish?' Simpson asks Lachey. 'I know it's tuna, but it says 'chicken...by the sea'." 'Is this chicken what I'm having or is this fish?' Simpson asks Lachey. 'I know it's tuna, but it says 'chicken...by the sea'." The comments ignited a firestorm of mockery from the public. What is the nutritional value of a tuna sandwich? That depends on several factors, including the type of bread, cheese, veggies, sauces, and seasonings one may choose. According to Subway, a six-inch tuna sandwich with Italian-style bread, pepper jack cheese, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and bacon translates into 580 calories, 35 grams of fat (9 grams saturated fat), and 70mg of cholesterol. It would also contain 1,000mg of sodium, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 26 grams of protein, and some vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. A footlong version of the same sandwich equals double the nutritional values listed above. Tuna is one of our most popular sandwiches, Katia Noll, Subways senior director for global food safety and quality at Subway, told DailyMail.com. Our restaurants receive 100 per cent wild-caught tuna, mix it with mayonnaise and serve on a freshly made sandwich to our guests. Subway is the fast food chain with the largest number of restaurants both in the United States and worldwide. According to its web site, there are more than 22,000 Subway franchises in the US; more than 2,800 in Canada; 1,674 in Brazil; more than 1,200 in Australia; and thousands more combined in Europe, Russia, and China. Restaurateurs looking to start a business choose Subway because of their relatively cheap franchise fee, which is just $15,000. By comparison, the franchise fee to start a McDonalds costs $45,000. Construction costs for Subway locations are also relatively cheap. While it could cost around $250,000 to open up a Subway, a McDonalds restaurant could set you back as much as eight times that amount before serving one customer. This is not the first time that Subway has been accused of making false claims misrepresenting its products. In March 2017, Subway sued the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation over a television news report claiming its chicken is packed with soy fillers. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages as well as attorneys fees In a TV expose, the CBC said Subway's chicken was only around 50 per cent poultry and the rest of it soybeans. Subway sought $210million in damages in the lawsuit calling the allegations 'defamatory and absolutely false'. That same year, a US federal appeals court threw out a class-action settlement intended to resolve claims that the Subway sandwich chain deceived customers by selling 'Footlong' subs that were less than a foot long. The 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago called the settlement 'utterly worthless,' even as it rewarded the customers' lawyers for convincing Subway it was better to make the case go away than fight. 'A class action that seeks only worthless benefits for the class and yields only fees for class counsel is no better than a racket and should be dismissed out of hand,' Circuit Judge Diane Sykes wrote for a three-judge panel. 'That's an apt description of this case.' This past fall, Ireland's Supreme Court ruled that bread sold by Subway contains so much sugar that it cannot be legally defined as bread. The ruling came in a tax dispute brought by Bookfinders Ltd., an Irish Subway franchisee, which argued that some of its takeaway products - including teas, coffees and heated sandwiches - were not liable for value-added tax. A panel of judges rejected the appeal, ruling that the bread sold by Subway contains too much sugar to be categorized as a 'staple food,' which is not taxed. 'There is no dispute that the bread supplied by Subway in its heated sandwiches has a sugar content of 10 per cent of the weight of the flour included in the dough, and thus exceeds the 2 per cent specified,' the judgment read. The law makes a distinction between 'bread as a staple food' and other baked goods 'which are, or approach, confectionery or fancy baked goods,' the judgment said. As a young boy Nicholas Trimble saw first-hand how brutal the political scene in Northern Ireland could be - and made a promise to himself never to have anything to do with it. Yet today the 34-year-old son of former First Minister David Trimble is mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and finding the role far more fulfilling than he ever imagined. Despite his best intentions to forge a very different career from his father, six years ago a good turn delivering election leaflets for a friend prompted a swift series of events that now sees him, as he comically describes it, "put on my suit and my mayoral chain of office and sit in my own kitchen waving at people on Zoom". Confronted with the irony of how his life has turned out, the personable UUP's man's wry sense of humour continues. "Um, well... er... look... ," he laughs. "Nobody really believes me when I say this, but growing up in the household that we did, turned me and my siblings completely off politics here. We saw it at its ugliest." The conversation quickly turns more serious as he admits there were childhood moments of real fear and trauma for him, older brother and sister, Richard and Victoria, and younger sister Sarah. "Horrific," is the word he falls back on repeatedly to describe that torrid period when his father was UUP leader in the run-up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, years that saw bitter in-fighting in unionism. "As children we had a front row seat. We had protesters standing outside our house chanting 'Trimble the traitor'. I remember mum coming home and telling us about the letter bomb that had been sent to dad's constituency office." As David and wife Daphne left the election count in his Upper Bann constituency in 2001, the couple were attacked by an angry crowd. "There was 'argy bargy' - that was the term used on a few occasions," recalls Nicholas. "Mum had bruises on her shins where she had been kicked." Expand Close Nicholas father David / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicholas father David He does concede, however, that being the young son of a politician at the centre of historic developments also delivered its fair share of moments to impress school friends with. As negotiations intensified in the bid to broker the peace deal, Nicholas found the family home, near Lisburn, the focus of world attention. "There'd be so many political meetings in our house, it's amazing what you can normalise as a child. The phone was always ringing off the hook, and that was one thing my dad tried to avoid - answering the phone. My siblings and I were the phone answering service and we loved it. You'd be taking phone calls from 10 Downing Street or the White House. It was always the switchboard, but to a little 10 or 11-year-old, well, you can just imagine." More tricky were those occasions when their weary father cautioned them: "If anyone calls, I'm not in." Nicholas continues: "Normally you can parrot that off but when it is Number 10 and a voice says 'Is the First Minister there?... ' I'd to say 'Could you hold on a minute please?' and then go and check with dad." In Washington he'd a memorable encounter with Gerry Adams when the former Sinn Fein president asked to share some of his sweets. Nicholas and his siblings had accompanied their parents to an event at the US National Press Club in 1998, shortly before their father received his Nobel Peace Prize along with the late SDLP leader John Hume. "Mum was holding on tightly to my younger sister Sarah, but I was a free agent and wandering around the room," he recalls. "There was a tray of sweeties and I picked up a bag of M&Ms. Then, this man approaches me and it was Gerry Adams. I knew who it was though the full context was lost on me." Showing off a talent for mimicry, Nicholas adopts the deadpan delivery of Mr Adams: "So, he looks over at me and says 'here, can I have a wee sweetie?' I'm holding tight onto the packet and, a bit like having stage-fright, going, 'Er... no... I can't get the box open'. And then I ran away, taking the sweets with me. I think he wanted to be friendly - I'm sure he knew I was David's son - but he didn't get my M&Ms. Expand Close Nicholas addressing the Ulster Unionist Party conference in Belfast in 2016 Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicholas addressing the Ulster Unionist Party conference in Belfast in 2016 "When I did finally get the box open, I discovered they were peanut M&Ms, which I didn't like, so he could have had them." For the past seven years Nicholas has been married to Sarah, who previously worked in retail and is a qualified nail technician. They met through their church, Harmony Hill Presbyterian. "We lived miles away from each other," he jokes. "I was Lambeg and she was Hilden - literally a stone's throw apart." The couple share their home with a Jack Russell and a Dachshund, Max and Ellie. He's conscious that when they wed "Sarah married someone who was not a member of a political party, who wasn't elected, and now we are completely involved in politics and that's not quite what she signed up for. She doesn't have a political bone in her body. She has been very good (about it), but it hasn't been what we planned in our 'where are we going in life?' talks." But, then, while still a teenager Nicholas had to confront and come to terms with having his assumed career trajectory interrupted by a serious mental health issue. Talking frankly about the events that engulfed his life shortly after he started a Maths degree at Cambridge University, he reveals: "I hit a wee bit of a psychological mishap and sort of went to pieces. Basically, I said 'I need to come home.' I had got through the first two terms - they have a three-term system - and they said 'we'll put you down for coming back next year in September'. "But when I came home I knew I was not in a very good place psychologically and I couldn't bring myself to consider going away again. After getting over that - and that took a good while, I was medicated - I thought I don't think I could face going back there now. I just wanted to go into the workforce." In 2007, he started a job at Belfast City Hospital, in the medical records department. "It was entry level admin stuff but I enjoyed it. Then the credit crunch hit and I signed to different agencies and worked in quite a few places." A few years later his then minister at church suggested he study theology at Union Theological College in Belfast but he eventually gave up those studies which "I was doing just out a personal interest". He'd never any intention of joining the clergy and after meeting Sarah he wanted a paid job again so they could start planning their future. Next came a series of posts in the financial sector. Reflecting on his academic journey now, he says: "There's very much a view if you come through the grammar schools, then you are going on to university. Many people aren't properly prepared mentally as to what that kind of life is actually like. There should be more encouragement for people to stop and ask themselves if this is what they want to do because it's not the only option." His openness about his own mental health struggle is admirable and as a politician it's an area that he wants to support. Working for Grant Thornton's insolvency team brought home how quickly people's financial circumstances can change. "When lockdown finally ends many will realise they are carrying their financial insecurity with them in their head 24-hours a day and that's when we'll need a serious mental health intervention." Nicholas Trimble is affable, bright and confident, and evidently the UUP quickly spotted his potential. After helping his friend win a seat on the council, he was quickly inveigled into becoming treasurer of their local association and then, in 2016, MLA Robbie Butler asked him to take on a full-time job in his office, though he's gone down to one-day-a-week while mayor. Constituency casework brings its moments - "like someone complaining about a neighbour's dog and it turns out the neighbour is a close relative!" - but he clearly derives satisfaction from helping people. "One person told us that we had saved their life. That resonated with me so much. I'd done something good for someone else." Obviously the pandemic has impacted his year as mayor. There was no installation dinner and a farewell dinner in May now doesn't look likely. He's improvised, conducting engagements online. During the summer he managed to host volunteers who'd distributed parcels to the vulnerable in several socially-distanced gatherings. "Normally, there'd be a finger buffet and a trip to the mayor's parlour but... we have to make the best of it. I'm unlikely to ever get the role again." Despite renewed talk of a border boll, he doesn't believe unionism is demoralised. "Maybe I'm too short in the tooth, but I'm optimistic about a lot of things. There is a vibrancy in unionism. Politics is about creating the future, but that conversation doesn't happen enough here. Political discourse becomes destructive, it spirals downwards." His father, now 76 and a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, chose to stay in London during the pandemic. His mother has joined him there and they've spent a lot of time with his sister Vicky who made headlines after coming out to her parents. Nicholas is reluctant to be drawn on the subject out of respect for his sister. "I'm not actually sure how that conversation went between my parents and Vicky, that's a conversation she had with then directly. It's something dad never had to face before - he was born in 1944 and was of a generation when for his formative years homosexuality was criminalised. But he accepted it. It probably wasn't easy for him but in the end it didn't register too much because at heart he loves his family, he loves his children. That's the main thing there." He laughs off suggestions that he'd like to inherit his dad's famous collection of Elvis LPs. "I'd have nothing to play them on," he protests, before letting slip: "Dad also likes some American country, like Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks. Other than that it's Richard Wagner." Nicholas, who is church organist, prefers Queen - "a band that's stood the test of time". As a child, his father seemed "a wee bit distant but I never thought that he wasn't there. I could always talk to him but he was a busy man with a busy job that took him away". He is hugely proud of his achievements. "I genuinely think if he had not held firm and stepped up when he did and brought the people with him then this country wouldn't be in the place it is. Would we eventually have got there? Possibly, but it might have taken another couple of decades. "Probably the hardest thing was that it turned out to be political suicide... slowly. But it was the right thing to do and I think he knew it was the right thing to do and by hell or high water he did it. To say I'm proud is an understatement. I think he changed this country for the better." His father "enjoys being a spectator now of Northern Ireland politics now" but did he have any words of advice for his son when he joined the council? "He didn't, and that was deliberate on his part. He said that I was big enough and ugly enough to make my own decisions. "If I asked for his advice, he'd certainly give it to me, but he takes the view that this is my story to tell." Earlier this week, police had to intervene at the Arima to Port of Spain taxi stand on Henry Street, as some drivers were reported to be flouting the regulations. Connecticuts official death toll attributed to COVID-19 has surpassed 7,000, just two months since the state eclipsed 5,000 deaths. Forty-four deaths reported Thursday increased the states death toll to 7,020 during the pandemic. Connecticut has seen a sustained and intense epidemic peak that has been at a high level, said Dr. Daniel Weinberger, an associate professor in epidemiology of microbial diseases at the Yale School of Public Health. He noted there are lags from when people contract the virus to when they develop symptoms and die. The reporting process adds a further delay, Weinberger said. Deaths that are being reported now could reflect people who were infected several weeks ago or longer, he said. The deaths of some people who were infected during the holiday period could just be reported now. While deaths from the virus have continued to mount, Connecticuts hospitalizations and the percentage of daily positive tests have remained relatively stable in recent weeks. On Thursday, Connecticut reported 1,426 new infections, diagnosed from 40,185 tests for a one-day positivity rate of 3.55 percent. Hospitalizations declined to their lowest point since Nov. 24, with 21 fewer patients, dropping the statewide total to 995. Connecticut reached 7,000 deaths as January became the deadliest month at any point during the pandemic, according to U.S. News and World Report. Gov. Ned Lamont noted on Thursday that the seven-day positivity rate dropped to around 4.4 percent. Obviously, fatalities are a lagging indicator, but hospitalizations are down, vaccinations are up, he said. Its breaking my heart, we ought to be bending this curve very, very soon. And its not Connecticut its happening in 49 other states as well, those fatalities are still cresting. The grim total comes as Lamont has said the state is in a race to vaccinate as many people as possible ahead of new COVID variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned a highly transmissible variant of the virus first detected in England could become the predominant strain in the U.S. by March. Other variants have been identified in Brazil and South Africa. South Carolina officials announced Thursday the first two U.S. cases of the South African variant, the Associated Press reported. Neither person had recently traveled, and the two cases were found in different parts of the state, raising concern among South Carolina health officials. Lamonts office announced four new cases of the U.K. variant, known as B.1.1.7, had been found in Connecticut on Monday, bringing the statewide total to eight known cases. In the U.K., Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this month that England would go into a second lockdown after COVID-19 hospitalizations jumped, the Associated Press reported. The lockdown closed schools for in-person learning for all children except those of key workers and vulnerable students. Nonessential businesses and personal services were also ordered to close. Connecticuts state epidemiologist Dr. Matt Cartter told school superintendents during a recent call the U.S. could take similar measures if the virus becomes the predominant strain here. But Lamont clarified on Thursday he didnt believe the variants will result in schools going back to fully remote as they were last spring. Right now, I think the vaccines are going to be able to stay ahead of whatever risk there is there, he said. Im fairly confident that if we continue our flow of vaccines ... were gonna be having school in March. On the vaccine front, the governor said the state expects to see a 16 percent increase in the number of doses it receives from the federal government starting next week up to about 54,000 a week from 46,000. Lamont said those doses will come from Moderna. There have been 299,876 people in the state who have received their first shot, while 64,379 have received their final dose. Some 35 percent of the states 75 and over population have been vaccinated, according to the governors office. The state plans to open six additional vaccination sites where residents can schedule an appointment over the phone. Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, said those sites will include Bristol Hospital, as well as locations in Danbury, Kent, Middletown, Stamford with others to be announced next week. Another 80 people, many who work as contact tracers, have been redeployed to help with the states vaccination phone line. Fourteen sites are also available through CVS and Walgreens. As more people are vaccinated, the governor indicated he would ease some restrictions as early as next week. Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have already begun rolling back curfews at restaurants. Lamont suggested he would eliminate a numerical cap on houses of worship. I think were gonna to do that. Look, Ill be blunt were gonna have all the folks 75 and above vaccinated, at least that want to get vaccinated with their first dose within a couple weeks, the governor said. But a leading state Republican has accused Lamont of claiming their idea as his own after they said he rejected their proposals to ease restrictions on houses of worship. We saw the same maneuver in December when Gov. Lamont dismissed House Republicans suggestion to fund an aid program for our states hospitality industry, only to announce his own program days after rejecting our proposal, Republican House Leader Vincent Candelora said. The Connecticut Catholic Conference said it welcomed the possibility, calling it an important step toward welcoming back more of our faithful to Mass and the sacraments. The statement said the church remains firmly committed to ensuring that all steps are taken to promote public health and safety. Around 2:05 a.m., police responded to another vehicle fire in the 3500 block of North Keeler Avenue in the South Old Irving Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side, police said. The owner was also on the scene and identified the vehicle as a blue 2016 Chevrolet Cruz. The fire started on the front of the Cruz, but the cause had not yet been determined, police said Vaccination follies The vaccination campaign in the United States has steadily managed to pick up its pace, and around 1.2 million Americans are now being inoculated each day. But there are hiccups. At a time of widespread frustration over the troubled start to the campaign, episodes of ineptitude, selfishness and greed are drawing attention. While they may be few and far between, they give a glimpse into the behavior of some during the greatest health crisis in a century. In Philadelphia this week, a plan to distribute vaccines went awry after the city used an organization called Philly Fighting Covid which describes itself as a group of college kids and was founded last year by a 22-year-old graduate student to run the states largest inoculation site. The city eventually severed ties with the group after it moved to switch from nonprofit status to a for-profit company and changed its data privacy policy to allow it to potentially sell data about patients, and after allegations surfaced that the CEO pocketed vaccine doses and 18- and 19-year-olds were vaccinating one another without supervision. In a joint statement, the leaders of the main communities accuse the ruling class of "toying with the fate of the nation". Ecclesiastical sources report the approval of the Maronite patriarch and the main Shiite and Sunni leaders. The attack on those who "slow down any attempt at reconciliation". Beirut (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Lebanese Christian and Muslim religious leaders yesterday launched a joint appeal for the salvation of the country, in the face of an escalation of the political, economic, social and health crisis. Addressing the political and ruling class the leaders of the main communities write "stop toying with the destiny of the nation." In a statement released at the end of an intense round of telephone consultations, the Christian and Muslim leaders of Lebanon in particular ask for "the immediate formation of a government of national resolve", which "does not take into account personal and sectarian calculations, nor traditional dividing of the spoils among political parties which is only a harbinger of blackmail. At a time when the "collapse" of the country seems to "accelerate" with the accompanying "dangers for the future", "conflicts between political personalities persist" that "slow down any attempt at reconciliation" from within or without. These behaviours, the reflection continues, are "diametrically opposed" to a responsible management of power and the "duty of loyalty" to the people. In mid-October, Aoun tasked three-time Prime Minister Rafic Hariri with putting together a new cabinet. The crisis of the last year is but one of the many difficulties affecting Lebanons political and economic life, as well as its very political institutions. The already precarious situation has worsened with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the two explosions that rocked the port of Beirut in August, finally pushing 55 per cent of the population below the poverty line amid a permanent emergency. The extreme instability has triggered a spike in suicides and a rush to buy the few remaining drugs, whilst hospitals are in catastrophic conditions. The Christian and Muslim religious leaders assure that their appeal, which bears no signatures, is launched "with one voice" on a national scale. According to a well-informed ecclesiastical source, the text is approved by the Maronite patriarch Card Beshara Rai and by the main Muslim, Sunni and Shiite religious leaders. The promoters agree on a series of principles, first and foremost "the immediate formation" of a national executive and to prioritize the needs of the people, preserve civil peace and the values of coexistence, remain faithful to the Constitution and right. Silence "is no longer an option" concludes the appeal of Christian and Muslim leaders, who addressing the ruling class affirm: "Stop toying with the destiny of the nation" because "neither the people nor history will forgive you. Finally, yesterday the president of the Shiite Supreme Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, warned against "a reckless political discourse that leads the country to the abyss". He invoked protection over the nation and called for unity, because "the solution to the current Lebanese crisis must come from within" since "foreign forces are not charities and will not safeguard the interests of either Lebanon or her children". New Delhi: Pointing out that India China ties being at a "crossroad", External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said that "choices that are made will have profound repercussions" not just for 2 countries, but also the entire world. Ties between the two countries have deteriorated significantly in the past one year due to the build-up by China at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The Galwan incident, in which 20 Indian soldiers died due to aggressive Chinese actions further impacted the ties. EAM S Jaishankar said, "The events in eastern Ladakh last year so profoundly disturbed the relationship" and they "not only signal a disregard for commitments of minimizing the troop levels but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity." He explained, "to date, we have yet to receive a credible explanation for a change in China's stance or reasons for the massing of troops" in border areas. Under the various pacts signed by the two countries, to maintain peace and tranquillity at LAC, there shall be no massing of troops. China also so far has refused to disengage in the area despite repeated rounds of talks at both diplomatic and military levels. The EAM listed out how China's created hurdles for India, pointing to several issues - the stapled visas issue, reluctance to deal with military commands, blocking NSG & UNSC bid, stopping listing of Pak based terrorist at UNSC, the promise of market access not delivered, violation of Indian sovereignty by CPEC and friction at the border area. "Far from mitigating the differences", EAM said, "events of 2020 have actually put our relationship under exceptional stress" and "development of ties can only be based on mutuality"--Mutual respect, Mutual sensitivity, and Mutual interests. He said, "life can't carry on undisturbed despite the situation at the border" which simply is "not realistic". As a major impact of Chinese actions, India has banned many Chinese mobile apps, increased scrutiny on investment from the country. The national sentiment in the country has also turned very negative against China. This comes as globally Chinese actions have drawn criticism due to its aggressive acts with a whole host of countries--Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Vietnam etc. Live TV Warner Bros. has unspooled a teaser trailer for its 2021 releases, which includes a glimpse of Michael Gandolfini as young Tony Soprano the iconic mobster role made famous by his late father, James Gandolfini. The younger Gandolfini will star in The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to the popular HBO series, The Sopranos. The upcoming movie is scripted by Sopranos creator David Chase with Lawrence Konner. It co-stars Ray Liotta, Vera Farmiga, Leslie Odom Jr. and Jon Bernthal. The Many Saints of Newark is slated for a simultaneous release in theaters and HBO Max in September. Other films glimpsed in the teaser trailer include Godzilla vs. Kong, The Suicide Squad and Judas and the Black Messiah. South Africa: Government recommits to stabilising debt National Treasury has reiterated governments commitment to prioritising the COVID-19 pandemic response, reducing the fiscal deficit and stabilising debt over the next five years. The department made the commitment during a series of virtual meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 15 and 25 January 2021. The meetings are part of the IMFs routine staff visit engagements with the country. During the meeting, the IMF staff discussed economic development in the country with government, the South African Reserve Bank, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), business and academia. In a subsequent statement, National Treasury said the visit does not result in a board discussion or publication of a report on South Africas economy. In a statement, the IMF noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened South Africas growth and fiscal vulnerabilities and therefore, government is rightly prioritising the response to the pandemic. The IMF urged South Africa to reduce large fiscal deficits and debt levels through the containment of the wage bill, and avoiding ill-targeted subsidies and transfers to inefficient SOEs. South Africa should advance structural reforms that will raise long-term growth," said the IMF. Treasury noted the content of the IMF press release, particularly the key risks identified and proposed policy recommendations. Treasury said government has prioritised the response to the pandemic with a comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework will be implemented. Government has also pledged transparency in its dealings with vaccine manufacturers and various other initiatives. Currently, different options are being considered to fund the vaccines for COVID-19. However, funding will not be a constraint in governments focus to doing the right thing and saving lives, Treasury said. South Africa has committed to reducing its fiscal deficit, stabilising debt over the next five years and returning public finances to a sustainable position. We have confirmed that governments medium-term policy priorities are economic recovery, fiscal consolidation, and reductions to the wage bill to assist in narrowing the budget deficit, said Treasury. In December, the Labour Court dismissed the application by public sector unions seeking to force government to implement salary increases for this year as part of the 2018 wage agreement. Treasury said while the decision by the Labour Court is being challenged for completeness, the Labour Court decision was encouraging in the context of a constrained fiscal framework. Operation Vulindlela Through Operation Vulindlela, Treasury said South Africa remains committed to implementing structural reforms. Operation Vulindlela is seen by government as a means to unlock and fast track the implementation of the structural economic reform agenda. Operation Vulindlela will support the implementation of the economic recovery plan by accelerating priority structural reforms. "It is based on similar initiatives in countries such as the United Kingdom and Malaysia, as well as lessons learnt in South Africa, Treasury said. Thehe initiative is staffed by a full-time technical team that draws on additional expertise and capacity in the public and private sectors. The team is currently assisting the economic cluster, Cabinet and the President to coordinate and accelerate the implementation of a limited number of priority reforms. Treasury said government is committed to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan in order to accelerate growth, secure fiscal sustainability and create much needed jobs. The Budget Speech in February 2021 will provide further details on governments plan in supporting inclusive economic growth, the department said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. As Illinois enters the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccination program, many residents of long-term facilities who were eligible during the first phase continue to wait for their first dose. Illinois Department of Public Health data show about 110,000 shots have been administered as part of a federal program that sends Walgreens and CVS Health pharmacists into long-term care facilities for vaccinations. More than 530,000 doses have been allocated for the facilities, meaning just more than one-fourth have been administered. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the federal government is responsible for the partnership with the two pharmacies. All the vaccinations that are necessary for that entire group have been taken out already of our allotment, and they sit on shelves because that federal pharmacy partnership is so slow at the job, Pritzker said. Illinois is sixth in the nation in terms of the number of doses that have been administered, Pritzker said. But a news report by the New York Times based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers shows Illinois is 44th in the country in the percentage of the population that has received a first dose, at 4.4%. Federal law doesnt require nursing homes to obtain written consent for vaccinations, but CVS and Walgreens require verbal or written consent from long-term care facility residents or a family member. This must be documented on forms supplied by the pharmacies, a process some say is slowing the ability to deliver the vaccinations. The companies give second injections three to four weeks after the first shots. Pharmacists also are supposed to visit long-term care facilities a third time for anyone who missed an earlier vaccination opportunity. But it is nearly impossible to track progress at individual nursing homes, because neither CVS nor Walgreens makes public a list of where they visit and when. The state has said it expects CVS and Walgreens pharmacists to have visited all facilities to provide at least the first vaccine dose by Feb. 15. . Total cases in west-central Illinois counties as of Wednesday, according to individual county health departments, were: Brown County 626 total, 592 recovered, seven deaths Cass County 1,822 total, 1,744 recovered, 31 deaths 10 new cases. Greene County 1,271 total, 1,202 recovered, 42 deaths One new case. Jersey County 2,317 total, 2,191 recovered, 44 deaths Macoupin County 4,222 total, 2,951 recovered, 99 deaths 21 new cases and one additional death. Morgan County 3,401 total, 3,238 released from restrictions, 94 deaths Eight new cases. Pike County 1,607 total, 1,506 recovered, 45 deaths 11 new cases. Sangamon County 15,036 total, 206 deaths 40 new cases and one additional death, that of a woman in her 90s. Schuyler County 635 total, 603 recovered, 16 deaths Six new cases. Scott County 412 total, 373 recovered, one death Statewide, 3,751 new cases of coronavirus disease and 81 deaths were reported Wednesday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 1,112,181 cases and 18,964 deaths in Illinois. A smoker could pay anywhere from 6,000 to 60,000 than their non-smoking counterpart for life assurance according to figures released today by Royal London. Experts at the leading protection specialist say that many policyholders are unaware of the significant cost savings that can be made on their life insurance premiums if they have given up smoking with non-smokers benefiting from a reduction in premiums of up to around 50%. Royal London is highlighting the issue now as this is a time when many smokers make it their New Years resolution to give up smoking once and for all and, after the expense of Christmas, they believe it comes as welcome news to anyone who has successfully managed to quit since January 2020 or before, that this year their life insurance premiums may be reduced dramatically. Michele Murphy of Royal London explained: When weighing up the advantages of quitting smoking, we generally think about the obvious health benefits and the cost savings to be gained from not purchasing cigarettes frequently especially given that, from 2021, one packet is set to cost 14. "However, fewer people may immediately think of the significant cost benefit of quitting in terms of the impact it has on life cover premiums. As you might imagine, smokers pay more in premiums for life insurance than non-smokers, due to many damaging health effects, but people may not be aware of just how sizeable the difference can be between the premiums charged. Commenting on the cost analysis carried out by Royal London, Ms. Murphy said: The figures speak for themselves - showing massive savings for non-smokers when compared with smokers. A smoker turning 35 on their next birthday will pay over 6,000 more in premiums than their non-smoking counterpart for 300,000 worth of Level Term Life Cover over a 25-year term. "A smoker turning 45 on their next birthday can expect to pay over 68,300 more than a non-smoker during the course of a Specified Serious Illness policy for 300,000 over a 25-year term. Our experience is that while many people expect that smokers will pay more in premiums; they are surprised how much the cost savings can add up to over the lifetime of the cover. Royal London says that anyone considering quitting smoking as their 2021 New Years resolution has the added incentive of looking forward to a reduction in premiums next year. To be classified as a non-smoker for insurance purposes you must have not used any tobacco products in the last 12 months, including the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement products such as patches or chewing gum, with no intention to do so in the future. It is possible that your insurance provider may ask you to complete a cotinine test (smoker test). This is a simple test which involves screening a sample of saliva or urine for tobacco use. Last year the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more important than ever to quit smoking. Smoking impairs lung function and the infectious virus primarily attacks the lungs. Added to that, tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes. According to a report from the World Health Organisation research suggests that when smokers are affected by the virus that they are at higher risk of developing severe illness and death. Ms. Murphy concluded by saying, Given the pandemic, more focus than ever has been on our physical health, and with tobacco use being the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland each year, it stands to reason that those that smoke may make giving up the habit a priority in 2021. Fortunately, the prevalence of smoking in Ireland is decreasing according to HSE figures for the first half of 2020 15.7% of the Irish population smoke, which is down from the 2019 full year figure of 17.1%. "We are calling on ex-smokers who have successfully kicked the habit since at least 01 January 2020 to go about reaping the financial rewards of their outstanding achievement. If you are a smoker, who is considering quitting, the potential cost savings on your life insurance is another reason to break the habit that you can add to the list. If youre an ex-smoker since this time last year, we recommend that you get in touch with your Financial Broker who, by assessing your individual needs, will be able to advise you about the potential cost savings for non-smokers. It may be possible for you to avail of cheaper rates and start the New Year by saving money on your insurance policy. Six students from Offaly were among students from every county in Ireland and 15 countries in the EU were awarded special Entrance Exhibition Awards from Trinity College Dublin on Wednesday. The awards go to the student accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieves the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points. The Offaly students who received the awards are Martha Mc Mahon from Banagher College, Grace Minnock from Killina Secondary School, Conor Brennan Pollak from Colaiste Choilm, Evelyn Coughlan from St. Mary's Secondary School, Sally Dolan from Birr Community School and Aisling Gallagher from the Sacred Heart School. Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond. Past Exhibitioners include Tanaiste and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Of the 2020 new entrants to Trinity, 527 students qualified for an award, up from 452 in 2019. The students come from a record 455 different schools, 438 schools on the island of Ireland (up from 403 in 2019) and 17 schools from overseas. For the first time, the awards were delivered virtually and you can watch them by clicking here Trinity Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said, "we are delighted to welcome these talented students to Trinity and only wish that they and their families could come to celebrate with us at the University, as they usually do. Since we revised the Entrance Exhibition Awards in 2018 as part of our commitment to boosting diversity we are seeing an ever-growing number of schools represented and, this year, all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. We congratulate each student and wish them well in their studies." Changes made to the awards scheme in 2018 meant that students who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school with a minimum of 500 points in the Leaving Certificate (or its equivalent second level final examinations) are eligible for an Entrance Exhibition Award. This includes bonus points for Mathematics. Previously, any students receiving 560 or more points (excluding bonus points) were awarded Entrance Exhibition Awards which meant that there could be up to 20 students from any one school. The Entrance Exhibition Awards were awarded to 322 students from Leinster, 75 from Munster, 61 from Ulster, 52 from Connacht and 17 international students from Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, Croatia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Hungary, Spain, France, Poland, Norway, Austria and Netherlands. Awardees will receive a certificate and a 150 book token. Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a series of appeals against the acquittal of the British-born militant convicted of masterminding the kidnap and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl, paving the way for his release. "The court has come out to say that there is no offense that he has committed in this case," Mahmood Sheikh, who represented Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, told AFP. The top court's ruling comes after an international outcry erupted last year when a lower court acquitted the 47-year-old of murder and reduced his conviction to a lesser charge of kidnap -- overturning his death sentence and ordering his release after almost two decades in prison. Pearl was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about Islamist militants. Nearly a month later, after a string of ransom demands were made, a graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate. Migrants: UNHCR calls on European countries, stop pushbacks 'Refugee rights not a choice but legal, moral obligation' (ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, 28 GEN - The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR launched an appeal to European countries to investigate and put an end to expulsions and forced pushbacks of refugees and asylum seekers at land and sea borders, which have recently become increasingly more frequent. Belgrade media outlets said UNHCR highlighted that the institution of asylum is under attack at European borders, and it is calling for an end to forced pushbacks and the use of force against refugees and asylum seekers. "Respect for human lives and refugee rights is not a choice, but a legal and moral obligation," said a UNHCR representative cited by Serbian media. "Countries have the legitimate right to manage their borders in line with international law, but at the same time human rights must be respected. Pushbacks are simply illegal," UNHCR said. (ANSAmed). US veterans exposed to Agent Orange twice as likely to have dementia: study A U.S. helicopter sprays Agent Orange on a dense jungle area in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. Photo by Shutterstock. U.S. veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are twice as likely to have dementia, a recent study has found. For the study, which concluded in October 2020 and was published on Monday in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) Neurology, over 300,000 veterans were examined. Scientists at the University of California and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System found that exposure to Agent Orange, based on medical records, made them nearly twice as likely to suffer from dementia even after adjusting for medical and psychiatric comorbidities and other variables, the study said. Five percent of veterans with documented exposure to Agent Orange were diagnosed with dementia, compared to 2.5 percent when there was no known exposure, Deborah Barnes, a researcher at the University of California San Francisco, said. While additional studies are needed to find the association between Agent Orange exposure and dementia, dioxin, one of the main ingredients of Agent Orange, is known to be stored in fat tissue for a long time. The chemical might have been slowly released over time and caused toxic effects on the brain, and Agent Orange also increases the risks of other disorders known to be risk factors in causing dementia, Barnes said. Meanwhile, a French court on Monday heard a case filed by French-Vietnamese journalist and activist Tran To Nga against more than a dozen multinationals accusing them of being responsible for the harmful effects of Agent Orange on her, her children and many others. "I'm not fighting for myself, but for my children and the millions of victims," AFP quoted her as saying. She said she was suffering from typical Agent Orange effects, including type 2 diabetes and an extremely rare insulin allergy. Millions of people in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were exposed to Agent Orange for over a decade until 1971 when the U.S. military sprayed an estimated 76 million liters (20 million gallons) of the herbicide and defoliant to halt the advance of North Vietnamese troops and deprive them of food. Dioxin, a highly toxic chemical, stays in the soil and at the bottom of lakes and rivers for generations. It can enter the food chain through meat, fish and other animals, and has been found at alarmingly high levels in human breast milk. Between 2.1 to 4.8 million Vietnamese were directly exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals, which have been linked to cancers, birth defects and other chronic diseases. ADVERTISEMENT The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Command, said it arrested at least 3,187 traffic offenders during its 30 days operation zero tolerance in the state. The Lagos Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday. He said the offenders were arrested for allegedly committing 3,708 traffic offences between Dec. 15, 2020, and Jan. 15. Mr Ogungbemide added that officers of the command impounded 1,430 vehicles and confiscated 1,757 vehicles for failure to meet roadworthiness requirements during the period under review. According to him, a total of 46 road traffic crashes were recorded with five fatal accidents. He said the offences included Light/Sign violation (LSV), 608; Seat belt violation (SUV), 609; Failure to install Speed Limiting Device (SLD), 513; and driving with worn-out tyres (TYY), 505. The sector commander expressed worry that some commercial drivers disconnected the speed limit devices in their vehicles, exposing passengers to danger. He explained that the practice by commercial drivers was on the increase, forcing operatives of the command to be strict with enforcement. It was discovered that the arrested vehicles disconnected their speed limit devices, which is also an indicator that commuters in such vehicles are exposed to danger. The commuters are also exposed to crashes as a result of uncontrolled speed that could lead to loss of control of the vehicle, which could also lead to fatality. It is unfortunate that we still have unpatriotic drivers who are disloyal to the driving rules and law of the land, Mr Ogunbemide said. The Lagos sector commander said the Federal Government had mandated FRSC to implement the use of speed limit device for the benefit of the masses. He said road crashes had been reduced by 80 per cent since the introduction of the speed limits device. Mr Ogungbemide stated that the corps used over two years to sensitise the motoring public on the use of the speed limit device before enforcement of its implementation. He urged other motorists yet to install the speed limit device to do so, adding that officers and men of the corps were on the lookout for offenders. (NAN) Derry's council is to write to the Cuban government to seek support in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The council say they will seek assistance from the Cuba-based Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade in efforts to combat the crisis caused by Covid 19 in the the local area. The group, which was set up by the Cuban government in 2005, sends medical teams to assist countries affected by natural disasters or serious epidemics. It was named after Henry Reeve, in honour of a US doctor who fought in Cuba's independence war. Teams from the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade have already travelled to different parts of the world to help in the fight against coronavirus. A motion to contact the Cuban government to seek the assistance of the brigade in the Derry and Strabane area was put forward this afternoon at the local council's monthly meeting by independent councillor Gary Donnelly. The motion also stated that the council would write to Altnagelvin Hospital, Dr Tom Black, the British Medical Association's chairman in Northern Ireland, and the Western Trust to inform them of their plans. Cllr Donnelly's motion was passed unanimously at today's meeting. Madanapalle : , Jan 28 (IANS) Students and parents of the school in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district where the mother, who murdered her two daughters along with their father, worked, are in a state of shock, disbelief and fear. "All the people who heard about this incident are shocked," a school teacher and colleague of V. Padmaja at the Masterminds IIT Talent School said on Thursday, when asked about the state of students and parents. Padmaja's colleagues, however, also praised her and said she is a very good person in normal times. "Madam is a very good person. She always used to motivate us. Something happened to them... normally they are not that kind of people. Our opinion is that somebody could have done something to them," said Shoba, a teacher in the school for the past 12 years. Expressing disbelief over the happenings, her colleagues reiterated about that both Padamaja and her husband, V. Purushotam Naidu, a lecturer at a government women's college, are good people and they have no clue as to who pushed them to such a state. "They loved their children so much. When children were at home, madam used to come only once a week and spend most of the time with children," said another teacher. However, police believe that they had stopped the parents from killing themselves as well by reaching there in time. "The couple are extremely devout with belief in afterlife. When we spoke to them, they admitted that they have killed their children but said that their children will return," a police official leading the investigation in the case said. When the police reached the spot, the couple asked them to leave that day, assuring them they will produce the children the next day. According to police, the couple claimed that they only killed an illness called 'kali' in their children. At the scene of offence, a brass tumbler was seen shoved into the mouth of one daughter and 'nava dhanyalu' (nine varieties of grains) sprinkled into her mouth. In Telugu culture, 'nava dhanyalu' are sprinkled during house warming and other functions, symbolizing auspiciousness. The police officer said that the daughters were mostly bludgeoned on the head and one girl's head was even pierced with a spear-like weapon. During the interrogation, the couple said that after their daughters walked their dogs one day, some abnormality developed in them. Padmaja also told police that she was a follower of Mehr Baba and her husband of the Shirdi Sai Baba. During investigation and arrest, Padmaja behaved eccentrically and even smiled sometimes. "I am Shiva," she even said once. The couple's elder daughter Alekhya (27) had completed a diploma in forest studies from Bhopal, while younger daughter Sai Divya (22) studied BBA. Divya was also a student at the A.R. Rahman Music School in Chennai. According to the police, the parents as well as the daughters were devotional to the extent that they thought God will save them come what may. Most of the neighbours are still in disbelief and reminisced how exemplary the family was in happier times. On Tuesday, Jan. 26, three seniors from Mount Saint Mary Academy were honored during a virtual ceremony held by the Diocese of Metuchen. The St. Timothy Award was granted to Jaclyn Dencker of Westfield, Katherine Kwiatkowski of Metuchen, and Tara Schilke of Pittstown. Kwiatkowski also received the dioceses St. Teresa of Calcutta Award. The awards were presented by Megan Vantslot, director of the Diocese of Metuchens Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Bishop James F. Checchio. According to Vantslot, the St. Timothy Award recognizes high school-aged youth who live as disciples of Jesus Christ, demonstrate Gospel values, witness to their faith by exhibiting Catholic morals and integrity, and reflect Christian leadership in a variety of settings. I am so honored to have received the St. Timothy Award. I hope that by receiving this award, and serving as a leader in the Mount community, I can encourage and inspire as many people as possible to help and connect with those in need, said Dencker. Jaclyn Dencker receives award from Diocese of Metuchen.Courtesy Mount Saint Mary Academy My faith in Jesus has guided me to not focus on what put those in need in the situation that they are in, but to put their needs before mine, love them as my brother or sister, and serve them as Jesus would, she said. Dencker is the secretary of the Mount Saint Mary Academy Student Council Executive Board. She has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, and she is a volunteer at St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, where she makes sandwiches every week during the pandemic. She attended two service trips with her parish, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield. She is also a part of peer ministry club at the Mount. Schilke said, I am honored to receive this award. I truly enjoy integrating God into my life in many ways including personally, at school, and in my parish. Peer ministry especially has allowed me to become closer with God and my whole Mount community. At Mount Saint Mary Academy, Schilke is a member of the Peer Ministry Leadership Team, the Peer Ministry Club, and the H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) Club. She has been a teachers aide for second grade religious education at her parish, and she has participated in the March for Life since she was a fifth grader. Tara Schilke receives award from Diocese of Metuchen.Courtesy Mount Saint Mary Academy Vantslot said that the St. Teresa Award, named after St. Teresa of Calcutta, is bestowed to only four students in the diocese. These students bring the love of Christ through their good works to the poor, lonely, sick, and homeless. Kwiatkowski, who received this prestigious award as well as the St. Timothy Award, said, I am honored to have received both the St. Timothy Award and the St. Teresa Award as I was nominated by my parish and the Mount. She said, The Mount has provided me with many service opportunities and has deepened my faith in God through my theology classes, prayer and with the inspiring mentorship of my teachers. As a peer ministry leader, it is my job to teach my peers about the Critical Concerns and Core Values of the Sisters of Mercy, and to help them connect with their faith and respond to service. But Peer Ministry has given me the same virtuous opportunity and is a leadership role I am proud to hold. The St. Timothy and St. Teresa awards reflect my commitment to my faith through service and it is an honor to be recognized. Katherine Kwiatkowski of Metuchen receives Diocese of Metuchen St. Teresa of Calcutta Award and St. Timothy Award.Courtesy Mount Saint Mary Academy Kwiatkowski has been an altar server at St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen, has taught religious education at Vacation Bible School for five summers, and has been a catechist to preschoolers and first graders. At the Mount, she has been active in spiritual life by leading the student body as an altar server, a peer ministry leader, and as Director of Spirit and Service. She has planned and led spiritual retreats, altar served Masses, and incorporated the Mercy Core Values into student life through the student activities she organized. In her community, Kwiatkowski delivers food to the Ozanam Shelter and makes breakfast bags at Saint Vincent de Paul. She volunteered with the Center of Faith Justice to rebuild communities first in Trenton then in Dunlow, West Virginia. She has also been active in Life Choices, participating in baby bottle collections and, for the past five years, attending the Right for Life March. For three years, she attended the Steubenville conference in New York City and last year attended a Kairos retreat with classmates. Online Investment Round Will Close on February 26, 2021 Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2021) - Caliber Co., a fully-integrated real estate company, announced today an imminent opportunity to invest like an institution in an unconventional online public offering, which will close on February 26, 2021. Through a Reg A+ offering, Caliber is providing an opportunity for anyone to access a sophisticated, private real estate investment that has been traditionally reserved for accredited or institutional investors. Now accredited and non-accredited investors have a unique opportunity to join other Caliber owners by investing before the end of the round. "We believe that 2021 will be a year of opportunity and growth," stated Chris Loeffler, CEO and Co-Founder of Caliber. "We believe we have shown our resiliency over last year and proved out our business plan as we continue to grow and seize the capital markets and real estate opportunities. As always, we believe we have tapped into something special through investing in distressed real estate and our recent Reg A+ offering. This is demonstrative of our holistic approach to managing every step of our investment process where we can create long-term value for our customers, company and community." With a 12-year track record of growth and boasting a 21% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) since 2016, Caliber has demonstrated its ability to create value for investors. Caliber is one of the fastest growing, award-winning real estate investment companies in the Southwest with an asset base that has grown by over 186% over the last four years through an exceptional real estate strategy that targets middle market investments within the Southwest region of the United states. The Company believes these markets offer the best supply and demand fundamentals that are essential to long-term value. At Caliber, people are one of the Company's most important assets, which is why the Company is strategically investing in its human capital to create a cohesive unit that will serve the needs of its investors. Trust is a major building block at Caliber and resonates throughout the organization. For the last decade, Caliber's cornerstone to success has been built upon trust and transparency, which has led to a growth trajectory supported by a unified vision of creating sustainable long-term value. Investors large and small have an opportunity today to be part of a leading real estate investment firm, without all the associated upfront costs and daunting logistics of real estate ownership. Caliber offers exclusive access to real estate investment opportunities in residential, commercial, and hospitality markets. With over $400 million in assets under management, Caliber has over 1,000 accredited investors. New investors can enjoy the potential benefit of Caliber's growth and scale. Expertise in investing is not a prerequisite, only a desire to invest like an institution to realize the potential benefits of owning a stock that allows you to become an insider and benefit from a rapidly growing market. Caliber is offering securities through the use of an Offering Statement that has been qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Tier II of Regulation A. A copy of the Final Offering Circular that forms a part of the Offering Statement may be obtained from: Caliber: https://www.seedinvest.com/calibercos Caliber is offering securities through the use of an Offering Statement that has been qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Tier II of Regulation A. A copy of the Final Offering Circular that forms a part of the Offering Statement may be obtained from: Caliber: https://www.seedinvest.com/calibercos -30- CONTACT Victoria Rotondo | Caliber | 480-295-7600 | Victoria.Rotondo@CaliberCo.com Mary Jensen | Public Relations | 310-526-1707 | Mary@Irrealized.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73015 Workers wave off a team of experts from the World Health Organization who ended their quarantine and left the quarantine hotel in a bus in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. The WHO team emerged from quarantine to start field work in a fact-finding mission on the origins of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) After a two-week quarantine, the real work can begin. Maybe. A World Health Organization team of researchers emerged from their hotel Thursday for the first time since their arrival in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to start searching for clues into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit has been shrouded in secrecy: Details of their itinerary have not been released, and it's unknown how much access China will give the researchers to the sites they want to visit and the people they want to talk to. WHY IS THE TEAM IN CHINA? Scientists hope that information on the earliest known cases of the new coronaviruswhich was first identified in Wuhanwill help them better understand where it came from and prevent similar pandemics in the future. Researchers around the world are eager for access to samples taken from the Huanan Seafood Market, which had an early outbreak, and Wuhan hospital records. The team may visit the market itself as well as the locations of other early cases. It could also go to a laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that was built after the 2003 SARS pandemic and maintains an extensive archive of genetic sequences of bat coronaviruses. U.S. officials in the previous Trump administration suggested without offering evidence that the virus could have escaped from the institute. Workers wave farewell as a member of a World Health Organization team of experts prepares to leave from a quarantine hotel in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. The WHO team emerged from quarantine to start field work in a fact-finding mission on the origins of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Experts say it's unlikely that the new coronavirus emerged from the lab in Wuhan and overwhelmingly say analysis of the new coronavirus's genome rules out the possibility that it was engineered by humans. The researchers might also visit the hospitals that were overwhelmed at the height of the pandemic in China and the local branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The seafood market and other places where early cases emerged remain important because the virus is constantly changing, as the new strain found in the United Kingdom shows. ___ WHAT DO RESEARCHERS HOPE TO LEARN? Wuhan is where COVID-19 cases were first detected, but it is highly possible that the virus came to the industrial city of 11 million people from elsewhere. Genetic sequencing shows that the coronavirus started in bats and likely jumped to another animal before infecting humans. The virus that is the closet known relative of the one that causes COVID-19 has been found in bats in a mine shaft nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) southwest of Wuhan, near China's border with Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The Associated Press was blocked from visiting the mine. A member from the World Health Organization team of experts uses his smartphone to record after boarding a bus to leave at the end of a two weeks quarantine at a hotel in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) People began falling ill in Wuhan in December 2019, and many had links to the seafood market. Scientists initially suspected the virus came from wild animals sold at the market, prompting China to crackdown on the wildlife trade. But the subsequent discovery of earlier cases challenged that theory. China's CDC said that samples taken from the market indicate it was likely a place where the virus spread, not where it started. The WHO team's ability to further our understanding of the virusand its credibilitycould hinge in part on getting access to those samples. Studying the genes of the earliest known cases in Wuhan could provide clues to how it got from bats to people and whether it was through a mammal such as a bamboo rat or a civet. ___ WHAT OBSTACLES DOES THE TEAM FACE? The big question is what China will allow the researchers see and do. The ruling Communist Party is concerned the research could shed light on its handling of the virus that could open it up to international criticismand even demands for financial compensation if it is found to have been negligent. Workers wave to the team of experts from the World Health Organization who ended their quarantine and prepare to leave the quarantine hotel by bus in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) China has stifled independent reports about the outbreak at home and published little information on its research into the origins of the virus. An AP investigation found that the government has strictly controlled all COVID-19-related research and forbids researchers from speaking to the media. Another AP investigation found WHO officials privately complained that China had dragged its feet on sharing critical information about the outbreak, including the new virus's genetic sequence, even as the U.N. health agency publicly praised China for what it called a speedy response. China, stung by complaints it allowed the disease to spread, has suggested the virus could have come from abroad. A government spokesperson has said the origins hunt will require work beyond China's borders, including in bat habitats in neighboring Southeast Asia. An expert on the WHO team has suggested the same thing, and this is a possibility researchers are exploring. ___ A worker in protective gear carries an exercise dumbbell belonging to the World Health Organization team of experts as they prepare to leave from a quarantine hotel in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A worker in protective gear carries a musical instrument belonging to the World Health Organization team of experts as they prepare to leave from a quarantine hotel in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Workers wave to the team of experts from the World Health Organization who ended their quarantine and left the quarantine hotel in a bus in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A team of experts from the World Health Organization who ended their quarantine leaves the quarantine hotel in a bus in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) WHEN WILL WE KNOW THE ANSWERS? The search for the origins of COVID-19 is likely to take years. It took more than a decade to find the origins of SARS, and the origins of Ebola, first identified in the 1970s, remain elusive. But knowing where the virus came from could help prevent future outbreaks of viruses from wild animals. 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. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company posted 1% rise in standalone net profit to Rs 305.55 crore in Q3 FY21 compared with Rs 302.46 crore in Q3 FY20. The insurance company's total income jumped 119% to Rs 28,760 crore in Q3 FY21 as against Rs 13,132 crore in Q3 FY20. The company's net premium income increased by 10.3% to Rs 8970.84 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 27 January 2021. The company's profit before tax stood at Rs 350.74 crore in Q3 FY21, 8.5% higher than Rs 323.16 crore in Q3 FY20. Current tax expense was sharply higher at Rs 45.19 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 20.7 crore in Q3 FY20. New business sum assured grew by 22.2% year-on-year in Q3 FY21 along with expansion in new business premium by 14% year-on-year in the same period. The company was further able to strengthen its position as the private market leader on new business sum assured, with a market share of 13.0% during 9M-FY21, up from 11.8% for FY20. Value of new business (VNB), used to measure profitability of the new business written in a period, rose 0.5% to Rs 428 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 426 crore in Q3 FY20. The company's VNB margin improved to 25.7% in Q3 FY21 from 20.9% in Q3 FY20. New business Annualised Premium Equivalent (APE), a measure of new business written by a life insurance company for Q3-FY2021 was Rs 1666 crore, a sequential improvement of 14% over Q2 FY21. The total assets under management of the insurance company was Rs 2,04,872 crore at 31 December 2020, a growth of 34% over Rs 1,52,968 crore in 31 March 2020. This is an outcome of the growth in new business, strong persistency, lower surrenders and robust fund management. The insurance company said it is focused on maintaining balance sheet resilience through a robust risk management mechanism and investment policy which helped ensure zero Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) since inception and across market cycles. The solvency ratio stood at 226% on 31 December 2020, well above the regulatory requirement of 150%. Commenting on company's N S Kannan, MD & CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said, We had a strong VNB performance with the margin improving from 21.0% for 9M-FY2020 to 26.0% for 9MFY2021. As we progressed through the pandemic, our focus has been to put in place the building blocks for future growth. Our product strategy is helping us capitalize on opportunities in the emerging environment without compromising on risk management. During the quarter, traditional long-term savings products grew by 36% year-on-year and annuity products registered a robust growth of 125% year-on-year. Our diversified product mix has the ability to deal with cycles and is better placed for growth. ICICI Prudential Life is promoted by ICICI Bank and Prudential Corporation Holdings, headquartered in United Kingdom. The company offers and array of products in the protection and savings category which match the different life stage requirements of customers, enabling them to provide a financial safety net to their families as well as achieve their long term financial goals. The scrip shed 0.15% to Rs 498.30 on the BSE. It traded in the range of 487.45 and 500.85 so far during the day. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 More than 130,000 Michigan residents have received both of the two recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, while another nearly 660,000 have gotten their first shot. In less than seven full weeks, the state has reported 802,106 total doses as administered, out of almost 1.48 million doses allocated to the state from the federal government. Michigans total allocated doses includes 430,200 that bypassed the state and went straight to pharmacies to be used to vaccinate long-term care facility residents and staff. Of those doses, 81,336 have been administered. The federal long-term care vaccination program had completed 1,753 clinics, or 51% of the 3,440 scheduled clinics, as of Jan. 24. Another 706 clinics were scheduled over the next week. Supply of the vaccine has been an issue for weeks. Local health departments have said they dont have enough shots to meet the significant demand. In some cases, waitlists and appointments are already stretching through February. Over the last week, Michigan has averaged at least 33,312 shots administered per day -- a slight increase from the week prior. Related: Genesee County COVID-19 waiting list swells to 30,000 as vaccine supply trickles in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has called on the federal government to send more shots, and even asked if the state could buy its own doses from Pfizer, which is located in Southwest Michigan. Her administration has said its capable of doing 50,000 shots per day, but it needs more supply to make that goal a reality. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced plans to ramp up vaccine allocation and distribution, including the purchase of 200 million more vaccines, including 100 million doses each from Pfizer and Moderna. As was recommended by the CDC, the state first provided vaccines to health care workers and the residents and staff of long-term care facilities. A second priority group, which includes school staff, first-responders and residents 65 years and older, joined the eligibility pool about two weeks ago. Hospitals have been responsible for putting 422,919 shots in arms. Local health departments have contributed 187,488 shots in arms, followed by pharmacies with 91,238, and home health providers with 27,342 doses administered. As of Wednesday, 41 local health departments had either a website setup for COVID-19 vaccination information, or a phone number to call to schedule appointments. They can be found in the grey boxes on the Michigan.gov/coronavirus webpage, here. Four health departments -- District #2, Genesee, Huron and Tuscola -- were still working on Phase 1A as of Wednesday and had no appointments available for Phase 1B. Michigan is in better shape than other states when it comes to daily new COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations. Over the last week, the state has averaged 1,727 cases and 72 deaths per day -- down from 2,461 cases and 91 deaths per day two weeks earlier. To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Read more on MLive: From bars to basketball, experts re-rank 32 activities by coronavirus risk level with latest science Wednesday, Jan. 27, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Michigans six largest counties below 7% positivity Michigan sending $500 hazard pay checks to teachers, $250 to school staff by Feb. 25 House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Sorry! This content is not available in your region The online security system store Atu Tech will allocate 1 million Euro in 2021 for business development support, according to a press release sent by the Romanian company, on Thursday, to AGERPRES. "The company continues, thus, the investment plan started last year, when it allocated over 2 million Euro, as a part of a 2-year investment strategy, meant to bring the business to a new level. So, in 2021, the company will continue the investment in its new logistic headquarters and in software development for streamlining the work flow. A part of the investment budget will also be directed towards the platform behind the website and in the constant improvement of services, both pre and post sale, in order to offer its customers a complete experience. Atu Tech (a2t.ro) will also invest in larger security stocks, in order to support the solution demand, which is on an upward trend," the quoted source notes. Throughout this year a category which will attract a dedicated investment budget is represented by Safer equipment, Atu Tech (a2t.ro) own brand, under which security equipment and accessories are being sold, access control, thermal cameras and temperature monitoring products, at a premium quality and with an accessible price. Thus, Safer currently generates 20% of its total sales in its online store. According to the quoted source, decisions regarding the value and redirecting investments have an estimated base of sales growth of 20% in 2021. Last year, Atu Tech registered sales worth approximately 58 million RON (12 million Euro) rising by 35% from 2019. Atu Tech (a2t.ro) is the largest online store of security systems in Romania, according to its turnover. The company, founded in 2011, has its headquarters in Sibiu and registered last year a turnover of 9 million Euro. The a2t.ro online store markets over 4,000 products, from categories such as video surveillance, alarm systems, control access, gate automation, intercoms and video-intercoms, fire systems and audio systems, electrical installations, networks, phone, etc. Atu Tech holds a network of over 600 partner installers, through which it can offer such services at a national level. January 23 was the first anniversary of the Chinese governments lockdown of the city of Wuhan, which eventually contained the first major outbreak of COVID-19. A year later, however, the pandemic is raging worldwide, and re-emerging in China. With the arrival of the coldest period of winter, infections are growing rapidly. On January 24, there were 124 new confirmed cases (symptomatic) and 45 new asymptomatic infections in China. In the past week, more than 100 new cases have been reported almost every day, mostly concentrated in the Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces of northern China. Patient being treated for COVID-19 (Source: WSWS) As of January 26, there were 2,928 confirmed cases (symptomatic) and 956 asymptomatic infections across the country, with seven regions classified as high-risk and 72 as medium-risk. With the massive movement of people associated with the week-long Spring Festival looming, due to commence on February 12, and the spread of the epidemic across the country, the governments pandemic prevention and control system is facing tremendous pressure and fuelling popular discontent. Tonghua City, Jilin Province, with a population of about two million, is one of the hardest-hit areas. On January 24, there were 67 new cases in Jilin Province, of which 56 cases were in Tonghua City. As of January 26, there are 202 confirmed cases (with symptoms) in Tonghua City. The local government announced a lockdown on January 18, blocking traffic and suspending production and business activities. In addition, many areas implemented seals controlsmany residents had their homes affixed with seals to prohibit entry and exit. This bureaucratic control measure has caused significant dissatisfaction. Being forcibly locked in their homes and unable to obtain enough food and medicine, people protested on social media about the lack of resources and support, including the shortage of volunteers that officials relied upon to deliver essential supplies. A resident commented on social media: There are only 800 volunteers in Tonghua City, but in fact there may not even be 800. The app for ordering daily necessities cannot be opened, and no one will deliver them three or four days after placing the order. Community calls have been unable to get through Every house has a seal, garbage is left in the house for more than ten days, chronic patients have no medicine to use, [and must] open the window to ask neighbours to get some insulin. Pregnant women cant eat fruits and vegetables. My brother was trapped in a pet shop without a bed or quilt. He only relies on a box of instant noodles that he forgot to bring home before All the delivery workers are sealed at home. They have done multiple nucleic acid tests and are not allowed to come out for distribution. Some people want to be volunteers, but the community does not allow them. It is better to report the real situation Solving problems blindfolded is really ridiculous. Another resident posted this message: At present, as an ordinary resident, the problems I can see are as follows: 1. There are not enough front-line workers and volunteers. Many people do not sleep for several days and nights and cant hold on anymore. High-load work makes many frontline workers and volunteers overwhelmed. 2. There are not enough samples for nucleic acid testing, and no one will do the test after the seal is put on the door. 3. There is no support guaranteed after the seal is put on the door, and no one has delivered materials and handled garbage for many days. Confronted by residents protests and dissatisfaction, Tonghua City punished 14 bureaucrats, including the director of the local health committee, on January 23 for ineffective pandemic prevention and control. On January 24, Jiang Haiyan, the deputy mayor of Tonghua City, publicly apologised at a press conference for food and medicine delivery and other issues. However, according to many media reports, despite official promises, the problem of resource deliveries has not been resolved. At the same time, a large number of frontline workers and volunteers frequently lack protective equipment. Such insensitive bureaucratic methods are not confined to Tonghua City, with reports of similar practices in Heilongjiang and Hebei provinces. Since the lockdown policy was first implemented in Wuhan last year, it has been generally considered to be an effective means of responding to COVID-19 outbreaks. China mostly controlled a large-scale pandemic through strict control measures. However, problems are being caused by the Beijing regimes rigid social management. Bureaucrats at all levels neglect the needs and opinions of the working class, seriously disrupt lives and violate basic rights, in order to prove their political performance. Not only that, but following the economic shock caused by the pandemic, the Chinese government and official media played down the impact of the epidemic during the second half of last year. Despite many small-scale pandemic outbreaks, the government kept its focus on a Resume Production campaign. Many articles warned of the risk of a new wave of infections in China, but the government paid no attention. Now the pandemic shows no signs of remission in China, and the working class faces a bureaucratic response and lack of support, as well as unemployment and wage cuts. Bidens message was one of both reunification, restoration and change, echoing both former President Barack Obama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Anwar A. Khan In the words of Joe Biden, 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. Joe Bidens speech as President of America at the Inaugural Ceremony at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on 20 January, 2021 on the TV screens - the entire gamut of his speech was found poetical. He was then emerged-out as a true poet and his delivery of oration is all in a poetical form. His whole length of speech is so fashioned artistically that every line is short in a poetic form delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration, but with great signification. It can be located as beautiful, picturesque, sublime and majestic spatially analysing every point of aesthetic terminology in descriptions. The whole lecture is a bang-up poem of beauty. There are many mellifluous, melodic, and pleasingly arranged poem in his speech in American history. Many, I believe, during the last about five decades have not listened to such a majuscule public oration in an esthetical poetic form. Bidens eyes are a metaphor, no Shakespearean sonnet even a lyric, will suffice to describe the elegance he carries. His smile, the greatest curve, all simile will not be cut across; a perfect harmony and melody; and he is neither a hyperbole nor full of irony. Instead, he is a perfect rhyme; he is a walking poetry - a personification of aesthetics. The pomp and circumstance surrounding the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States was decidedly more festive than that of his predecessor, Donald Trump, four years ago remarkable given it managed to do so safely with a pandemic currently raging across the country. Primetime was capped off with Celebrating America, a 90-minute event televised across numerous online platforms as well as major TV networks ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and PBS. Hosted by Tom Hanks the show saw appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato and Black Pumas among others. During the inauguration ceremony itself, held at the U.S. Capitol, Lady Gaga delivered an exquisite version of The Star-Spangled Banner. Prior to the performance she tweeted, My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land. Gaga was followed by Jennifer Lopez, who came up with a unique medley of This Land Is Your Land and America the Beautiful. During the mashup, the Latina declared Una nacion, bajo Dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos! "One nation, under God, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all!" a nod to her Puerto Rican roots and dig at the former administration which had been heavily criticized for being anti-immigrant. There was also a moment that received mixed reviews when Lopez shouted out Lets get loud! in a call back to a song/single of the same name from her 1999 debut, On the 6. President-elect Joe Biden would deliver the 59th inaugural address during a tumultuous and unprecedented time in American history. The speech was scheduled to take place on the U.S. Capitol's West Front, which was breached by pro-Trump rioters attempting to overturn an election just two weeks before Inauguration Day. President Joe Biden didnt make his inauguration speech about him. He made it clear: 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 thanked his predecessors from both parties, adding, This is a great nation. We are good people. Biden made it. History is made. Americans start a chapter of growth and progress. Now a leader enters the White House. Lady Gaga sang her heart out at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Ahead of her powerful performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, Gaga stated her intentions clearly. Singing our National Anthem for the American People is my honor. I will sing during Watch Joe Bidens Inauguration Speech as he declares This Is Americas Day; this Is Democracys Day. President Joe Biden didnt make his inauguration speech about him. He made it clear: 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 Acknowledging the Capitol riots, he condemned the attempted insurrection, noting firmly, It did not happen. It will not happen: not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Biden also slammed the rise in extremism and anti-Semitism and praised what ultimately became a peaceful transition of power and urgedus all to have a bold, optimistic view of the future. The president also spoke of the pandemic, noting that its taken more American lives than World War II and made a point to say that we may well remain in its deadliest phase, speaking with urgency: Weve come so far. We still have so far to go. Well press forward with speed and urgency as we have much to domuch to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. That begins with unity, Biden said, or else other efforts will likely prove an exercise in futility. 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, he said. I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days, he admitted. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. I also know they are not new. Unity is the path forward. He gave instructions to the people: Hear one another. See one another. Show respect to one another. In addition to addressing his own country, Biden also addressed Americas foreign allies, noting, 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, he said, vowing a change from the isolationist policies of his predecessor. 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. Bidens message was one of both reunification, restoration and change, echoing both former President Barack Obama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., telling us, 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. Donald Trump came to office promising a crackdown on immigrants living illegally in the U.S., often portraying them in derogatory terms. During his term, he moved to restrict legal immigration as well. One of Trumps first orders was a travel ban on immigrants and visitors from mainly majority Muslim countries. But after the inauguration, Vice President Kamala Harris sounded more hopeful. I was just so excited watching it, she said. Not only did she see a new president with an agenda diametrically opposed to his predecessor. Over the past half century, the content of the ritual has been increasingly hollowed out. Biden on 20 January took this tendency to a new levelor, rather, to new depths. His terminus remarks are remarkable, 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'll give all, all of you, keep everything 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. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness ...Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness, delightful lily of youthful wantonness, richest in bounty and in beauty clear and in every virtue that is held most dear. Thus, an uppercase poet, an orator and a statesman in Joe Biden as President that the US has witnessed! But it is very sad that he has not said anything on his foreign policy. So, it senses that America will remain as a military society as it was and its imperialistic policy shall be carried on as before! -The End The writer is a political analyst based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs. 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. We are creating opportunities for students and professionals to learn, get certified, and contribute to the widening IT skills gap. With qualified talent available to serve, we can get the economy to bounce back from the severe repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, says Ed Sattar, CEO QuickStart QuickStart, the award-winning, AI-based IT workforce readiness and career development platform, has successfully partnered with University of Texas at Arlington to offer job-focused, online IT bootcamps. The bootcamps are set to prepare students for the current and future demand of skilled IT talent in fields like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data science. Individuals can enroll in the bootcamps to begin or grow their IT careers. The curricula are comprehensive, designed to accommodate even those who want to switch their careers and step into the field of information technology. There is a variety of learning tracks offered in the bootcamps. These tracks are tailored to specific learning and budget needs of students and professionals. For absolute beginners there is a master bootcamp which has self-paced courses, live mentor sessions with industry experienced professionals, practical projects for hands-on learning, and much more. Individuals can also pick a completely self-paced program that does not offer live sessions, is extremely budget-friendly, and suits professionals who are in the field for years and want to refresh their knowledge base. The bootcamps come with tremendous value propositions that will help build careers in todays competitive yet welcoming world of technology and innovation. Graduates will get certificate of completion from UT - Arlington, an opportunity to choose from 12-month job assistance program (to help get hired) or free IT consultancy training (teaching them to set up their consultancy business). QuickStart also offers various payment methods including discounted upfront fee, instalment plans and third-party funding via income sharing agreement, wiping financial hinderances out of the way. Find all universities partnered with QuickStart Learning Inc. for online IT bootcamps here: QuickStart online IT Bootcamps About QuickStart QuickStart is an Austin based Microsoft Gold Partner accredited by Cisco, NetApp, ITIL, CompTIA, and EC Council. The organization uses its proprietary learning methodology and workforce readiness platform (CLIPP) to transform IT teams. The platform maximizes IT workforce readiness by personalizing adaptive learning using AI and multi-modal to meet IT goals and objectives. Visit QuickStart Learning at http://www.QuickStart.com to explore the platform and start IT certification training to advance your career or up skill your teams to achieve organizational IT project goals. KALAMAZOO, MI Officials in Kalamazoo County are applauding Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for remarks about Pfizer during her third State of the State address. Whitmer mentioned the company during the speech Wednesday, Jan. 27, and called on lawmakers to pass Good Jobs for Michigan legislation to retain and grow our businesses and create jobs. Pfizer was the first business to utilize Good Jobs for Michigan, Whitmer said, and did so to build their sterile drug manufacturing plant and create 450 good-paying jobs in Portage. The governor called on the legislature to pass Good Jobs for Michigan legislation to retain and grow our businesses and create jobs and said it would be good for families, businesses and the economy. We are so proud that Pfizer calls Portage home, City Manager Joe La Margo said. Portage and Kalamazoo County are a hub of innovation and creativity where ideas are hatched, and concepts are brought to life. The city of Portage commends Pfizer employees who have helped produce a safe and effective vaccine in record time making history during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related: Trucks carrying Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine depart Michigan facility for distribution Pfizer is one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies, and its largest manufacturing site where the company is producing the COVID-19 vaccine is in Portage. Pfizer employs about 2,500 people, the city of Portage said. Recently seated state Rep. Christine Morse, D-Kalamazoo, issued a statement as well. Not only does Pfizer provide good paying jobs right here in the Kalamazoo area, but they have also made history by creating a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, which was produced by Michigan workers and distributed nationwide, said Morse, who served as a Kalamazoo County commissioner prior to being elected state representative in 2020. I have immense pride in the role our community has played in providing a path to end this devastating pandemic, and I would like to join our governor in applauding Pfizers efforts, she said. Luann Dunsford, CEO of the Michigan Works! Association said the group is a member of the Good Jobs for Michigan coalition and a strong supporter of its mission of advancing economic development tools and efforts to strengthen Michigan and secure good-paying jobs for our families, community, and future. State Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, issued a statement on Wednesday in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers 2021 State of the State address, expressing frustration with a lack of bipartisan cooperation. This is the third State of the State in which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has outlined her plans and called on the Legislature to work with her, but her actions in recent years have shown she feels otherwise, Nesbitt said. She chose to go it alone on roads, she chose to redo the state budget as she saw fit and she has chosen to take on this pandemic alone. State Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, joined his Democratic colleagues in celebrating the work being done locally at Pfizer, also advocating in a statement for the Good Jobs for Michigan program. They say hindsight is 20/20, but its truly remarkable that in 2018, Pfizer had the extraordinary vision to be the first company to tap into the Good Jobs for Michigan program, McCann said. I couldnt be prouder to see them as a worldwide leader today in the fight against the coronavirus with the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the efforts of hardworking Kalamazoo County residents who continue to build our way back to a healthier, safer future. Read more: Whitmer calls for bipartisan COVID-19, economic progress in State of the State address 4 things we learned from Gov. Whitmers State of the State address Pfizer ramps up vaccine production to 2 billion doses for 2021 Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Halberd Corporation (OTC Pink: HALB) ("the Company"), a company with a patented extracorporeal treatment applicable to many hard-to-cure blood-borne and neurological diseases, including COVID-19, other viruses, and PTSD. President and CEO of the Company, William A. Hartman, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. "The first part I would like to talk about is the fluorescent and non-fluorescent monoclonal antibodies. What are those exactly?" asked Jolly to begin the interview. "Antibodies work against disease antigens, and antibodies and antigens attract each other like ionic attraction. If you have antibodies present, what they do fundamentally is conjoin with disease antigens, the bad stuff, and in effect they can then be eliminated," explained Hartman. "We have fluorescent and non-fluorescent antibodies," he continued. "Non-fluorescent are your standard antibodies. We have multiple non-fluorescent antibodies, and we also have multiple fluorescent antibodies. Fluorescent antibodies can be used very effectively in detection systems and improve the efficacy or efficiency of detection systems," said Hartman. "For example, fluorescent antibodies can be used against COVID-19." "I understand Halberd Corporation is or has been working on an antibody cocktail, if you will. What exactly is that?" asked Jolly. "A monoclonal antibody has a degree of effectiveness in terms of the strength of it, as well as the attractiveness to the disease antigens," explained Hartman, noting that the efficiency of antibodies can be improved when combined. "So, we have developed an antibody cocktail simply because it's so much more efficient than antibodies alone." "How is your radio frequency project coming along?" asked Jolly. "Radio frequency is an entirely new approach. What we do is we conjoin a metallic moiety, which is literally another item conjoined to an antibody, and of course then that attracts the antigen," said Hartman. "By coming up with the exact radio frequency, you can destroy the conjoined metallic moiety-antibody-antigen complex and eliminate the disease antigen from the blood or whatever you happen to be using as a medium," said Hartman. "This radio frequency is a patent-pending mechanism by Halberd, and we're working on this with several universities." Jolly then asked about the Company's immunity booster strategy. "We've come up with our own immunity booster strategy in terms of developing vitamin complexes that may produce an immunity against COVID-19," he shared. "This could be used by not only those that get the vaccine, but also those who have not yet had the vaccine," said Hartman. "We're very pleased with that and we will be bringing this product out shortly. We're talking to manufacturers to build under a non-disclosure agreement so that they can build our exact formulation." The conversation then turned to the qualitative and quantitative measurement of COVID-19 antibodies and antigens. "During the development of our fluorescent antibody, in determining what we could and could not do with it and how it could make a more effective measurement of disease infestation, degree and/or freedom from disease, in terms of the antibody that is present in the blood, we've developed a methodology whereas we can use our fluorescent antibody as a tool to measure the precise degree of antibody and/or antigen present in the blood," said Hartman. "Today's testing mechanism that you find commercially available tests 'yes' or 'no' for antibodies; we measure the precise amount of antibodies and/or antigens present," he continued, adding that the mechanism can also measure the effectiveness of a patient's COVID-19 treatment. "This could be a tremendous boom to the industry worldwide. This could test whether or not people need the vaccine, whether or not the vaccine was effective, whether or not the treatment was effective. This could be a real blockbuster," said Hartman. "The more technology we have, the more attractive we become to Big Pharma. The simple truth is that Halberd Corporation has a lot of technology, we put out a lot of press releases, and we're trying to make ourselves more attractive to where we can license the technology, sell it, and etc.," shared Hartman. "With all of the technology that we have, we have three issued patents. In the last couple of months, we put out eight provisional patent applications! That is I think among some of the best of the industry. We have a lot of technology and we're a great investment." "What do you think is going to be the catalyst to move your company forward?" asked Jolly. "We're doing a multifaceted approach. Number one, develop a lot of technology. Number two, we've contracted with Arizona State University, and they're the best in the industry according to the U.S. News and World Report. We're also working with other universities to supplement them," said Hartman, adding the Company also has a strong focus on communications and publishing regular press releases to build interest and awareness. "We have great people. In fact, among the best in the industry. Frankly, the end result for us is to develop a lot of technology, patent it, and present ourselves to the industry and to our stockholders. We think that is the key to success." To hear Bill Hartman's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7784371-halberd-corporation-discusses-qualitative-quantitative-diagnostic-methodology-for-detecting-cov Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About Halberd Corporation. Halberd Corporation. (OTC Pink: HALB), is a publicly traded company on the OTC Market, and is in full compliance with OTC Market reporting requirements. Halberd's Articles of Incorporation prohibit the company from issuance of convertible debt which would result in dilution. See the company's Articles of Incorporation here. The company holds the exclusive rights to the COVID-19 extracorporeal treatment technology provisional patent applications: "Method for Treating and Curing Covid-19 Infection;""Method for Treating COVID-19 Inflammatory Cytokine Storm for the Reduction of Morbidity and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients;" "Method for Treating and Curing COVID-19 Infection by Utilizing a Laser to Eradicate the Virus," "Nasal Spray To Prevent The Transmission Of Covid-19 Between Humans," "Nasal Spray to Prevent the Transmission of Covid-19," and "Method For Treating And Curing Covid-19 Infection By Utilizing Radiofrequency Extracorporeally To Eradicate The Virus," "Medication For The Reduction Of Morbidity And Mortality In Persons Infected By Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19 Virus)." Halberd also holds the exclusive rights to the underlying granted U.S. Patent 9,216,386 and U.S. Patent 8,758,287. Safe Harbor Notice Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The Companies caution that statements, and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. The Companies undertake no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. Investor caution/added risk for investors in companies claiming involvement in COVID-19 initiatives - On April 8, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and William Hinman, the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, issued a joint public statement on the importance of disclosure during the COVID-19 crisis. The SEC and Self-Regulatory Organizations are targeting public companies that claim to have products, treatment or other strategies with regard to COVID-19. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, new information may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. We further caution investors that our primary focus and goal is to battle this pandemic for the good of the world. As such, it is possible that we may find it necessary to make disclosures which are consistent with that goal, but which may be adverse to the pecuniary interests of the Company and of its shareholders. For more information please contact: William A. Hartman w.hartman@halberdcorporation.com support@halberdcorporation.com www.halberdcorporation.com Twitter:@HalberdC About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73054 Rep. Jim Jordan Wont Run for Ohio Senate Seat in 2022 Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) will not run for the upcoming vacancy in the U.S. Senate, his office said Thursday. Jordan is solely focused on representing the great people of Ohios Fourth District, and will not be running to fill the seat of retiring Senator Rob Portman, a spokesperson for the congressman told Cleveland.com. Mr. Jordan believes at this time he is better suited to represent Ohioans in the House of Representatives, where as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, he can advance an America first agenda, promote conservative values, and hold big government accountable. Jordans office didnt immediately respond to a request for more information. Jordan had declined to answer directly when asked whether hed run recently on Newsmax. Jordan is an ally of former President Donald Trump, who recently endorsed former aide Sarah Sanders in the Arkansas gubernatorial race. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said this week he wont run for reelection in 2022. Ohios Senate representation is split, with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) holding the other seat. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, and former Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) are among those considering a run for the seat. A driver who forced pedestrians to flee as he drove at high speeds through Melbournes Bourke Street Mall has evaded police and remains on the run. Police said the mans car was found abandoned in Albert Park about 6.40pm on Thursday. A chase unfolded just before 5pm. Witnesses described seeing a green sedan speed down the mall with police following close behind. They said the driver hit a metal bollard in the mall, did a U-turn, and then headed down Swanston Street and St Kilda Road. During the manoeuvre a man jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle and fled on foot, before the car accelerated through the mall. The largest police department in Massachusetts will soon have a new commissioner. Boston Police Commissioner William Gross - who is reportedly considering a mayoral run - is stepping down after more than three decades with the department, Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday. I want to thank Commissioner Gross from the bottom of my heart for his 37 years of service to the Boston Police Department and for his two and a half years leading the department as Commissioner, said Walsh. Anyone who knows Willie can instantly feel his love for the job and his passion for keeping communities safe. No matter the situation, his warm smile, dedication, and love for meeting people made him uniquely capable of taking on the toughest challenges. Gross was named commissioner in 2018 after the retirement of his predecessor, former Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. He is the citys first Black police commissioner. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Police Commissioner, leading a department of hardworking men and women who serve this city day-in and day-out, and put the safety and well-being of our community first, said Gross. It is only after long and careful consideration that I have made the decision to retire from my role. My heart will always remain alongside my brothers and sisters of the BPD, who over the course of my 37-year career have become my village. I will continue to be one of their biggest champions as I move forward with my next chapter. Dennis White, chief of staff to the commissioner and a superintendent, will serve as the next police commissioner for Boston, Walsh announced Thursday. White will assume the role of acting commissioner when Gross retires on Friday. Speculation that Gross will join the growing field of Boston mayoral candidates rose this month after Walsh was tapped to serve as the secretary of labor in the Biden-Harris administration. Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell announced their bids for Walshs seat months ago and City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George announced her candidacy on Thursday. Under the leadership of Gross, the department established the Bureau of Community Engagement at BPD, which seeks to build connections between officers and Boston residents. Gross joined the Boston Police Department as a cadet at age 22 and rose through the ranks, spending his first 10 years as a patrol officer in East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston and Charlestown. Gross faced criticism last year after he met with then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr. The department has also come under fire in recent months, particularly in the wake of numerous protests against police brutality last year. An investigation was launched after camera footage emerged last month of one of the demonstrations, showing Boston police officers pushing and pepper-spraying protestors. One officer was heard talking about hitting demonstrators with a vehicle, the Associated Press reported. I have placed a Sergeant involved in this incident on administrative leave and I will take any additional action as necessary at the conclusion of the investigation, Gross said following the videos surfacing. I want to encourage people to bring these matters to our attention so that we can investigate them appropriately. RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic did not dampen advertisers' enthusiasm for popular social media channels such as Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, as global digital marketing spend in 2020 is forecasted to have reached $330-340 billion, a CAGR of nearly 13 percent. Digital marketing and advertising have almost replaced the traditional form of advertising as marketers focused more on digital campaigns to generate greater brand awareness, according to Beroe Inc, the world's leading provider of procurement intelligence and supplier compliance solutions. On the contrary, the global marketing services, on a traditional level, slipped 30 per cent on an average as compared to the previous year. For its part, the online market research space has seen an increase of 40 per cent to 50 per cent, while traditional market research only contributed to 24 per cent of the entire research sector. https://www.beroeinc.com/category-intelligence/digital-marketing-services-market/ Beroe, which is based in North Carolina, further stated that procurement experts can access this report on its recently launched AI-enabled market intelligence platform Beroe LiVE.Ai: https://www.beroeinc.com/beroe-live-ai/ The global digital marketing spend was valued at $290-$310 billion in 2019, with the future having a much stronger suit due to the continual attraction on every digital channel. It was forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12.8 per cent to reach about $330-$340 billion by 2020. There are different factors that the consumers have been considering for the marketing of their product, along with creating awareness about it. Digital Out of Home is one such aspect, where marketers are becoming able to not only advertise their product but also augment the customer experience with different technologies such as VR and facial recognition. Different brands are viewing Influencer Marketing as a major source of marketing, as the current pandemic has increased the presence of customers on social media. They view this as an opportunity to create a positive advertisement for their brand, as these indirect campaigns help in reaching the target audience, without having to face any additional costs. Buyers today, are viewing their options with an open mind, and are using analytic tools such as predictive analytics, which helps them to forecast and effectively develop strategies based on their insights. There has been an improvement in the DIY solutions, according to market research to gain control from the survey platforms and software providers. Key Findings: - Research has forecasted that Instagram, YouTube and even Twitter directly influence about 40 per cent of the online purchasing power of the customers. - The current pandemic has created an opportunity for buyers to increase the sales on the online platforms, thus, replacing the traditional forms of shopping. Artificial Intelligence can ensure that every search pop-ups and advertisement is directed at the customer. - When the customer is directly engaged with MR agencies on a continuous insights basis, rather than in a discrete manner, it enables buyers to understand their customers on a deeper level, along with other opportunities and problems. - The clients have the choice to adopt different methodologies, such as CATI, which are readily available, and are active under the guidelines, relating to privacy and legislation. Moreover, the face-to-face interviews and exit interviews are likely to decrease, due to the increased impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Different brands are trying to develop innovative advertising modus operandi to reach out to the customers who are working from home, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. - Discounts are given to the customers on the products using QR codes, which can be linked to direct calling that can help customers to scan the QR code and reach the company, instead of looking for their telephone number. - Different stores are looking for augmenting the customer shopping experience by using innovative shopping practices, along with easy payment options. This allows for the maintenance of all the safety conventions while ensuring higher sales. - The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed an opportunity to increase innovation among the companies and service providers for introducing cost-effective and supportable print groundwork that includes AI, automation, giving preference to local vendors, hiring freelancers, adding masks, visors, etc. The research methodology adopted for this report included: - Experts with twenty years of domain experience - Interaction with buyers - Inputs from supply chain partners With further research, it was found that there is a growth in the different substrates for industrial printing across various substrates and shapes that are expected to take place in 2021. Further, the trend of E-commerce is spreading rapidly, where if a printed material or print company sets up an e-store to sell print products, then it will surely bring wonders. This report also includes: Market Analysis: Global Marketing Services Outlook: Big Data and Analytics DIY Solutions Customer Journey Tracking Adopting Methodologies. Voice Search Tools Buyer's Analysis: Artificial Intelligence Influencer Marketing Cloud-based Managed Print Services (MPS) Digital Jet Inking Technology Supply Analysis: Field Management Tools Self-Checkout Points Digital POS About Beroe Inc.: Beroe is the world's leading provider of procurement intelligence and supplier compliance solutions. We also provide critical market analysis and information, which enables companies to make smart outsourcing decisions. This leads to lower costs, higher profits and reduced levels of risk. Beroe has been providing these services for more than 13 years and currently, works with more than 10,000 companies worldwide, including 400 of the Fortune 500 companies. To learn more about Beroe Inc., please visit: https://www.beroeinc.com Media Contact: Debobrata Hembram [email protected] SOURCE Beroe Inc. With his Rwandan born wife Dafroza, who lost family in the genocide, Alain Gauthier has spent decades of his life tracking down Rwandan genocide suspects who have found refuge in France. "Our lives were turned upside-down on the night of April 6, 1994. During the three months of the genocide, we worked tirelessly to make people aware of what was going on in Rwanda," he said. Many still seek justice 27 years after the genocide that killed 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus "You can see today it is the memorial, but in 1994 it was not the memorial, it was the prefecture stadium, that is where we took refuge," genocide survivor Albertine Mukakamanzi told AFP. "They shot, shot, shot, shot, shot until night fell. That's when I saw my mother, she was still alive, then I told her, 'ok mom, goodbye, we'll see you in heaven'." Gauthier has travelled 9,000 kilometres to tell locals in the village of Bissero that a genocide suspect from the region will be tried in France. The news is welcomed by locals who embrace him. For weeks the Tutsis of Bisesero held off their local attackers until the extremist Hutu government had militiamen brought in from other regions to launch mass attacks. An estimated 50,000 people were killed in the remote village. Lost families Aaron Kabogora lost 10 family members in the Bisesero massacres and Gauthier decides to use his evidence in a case. "Today I have no wife, no children, no grandchildren. None of them are alive. This is why the genocide perpetrators must be hunted down wherever they and punished," Kabogora said. Claude Muhayimana, a former hotel driver in Rwanda who took refuge in France and gained French nationality in 2010, was due to have gone on trial in Paris on February 2. He is accused of having transported Hutu militiamen to sites in the west, including the Bisesero region, where massacres were carried out. "I would find it incomprehensible that there are no witnesses from Bisesero in this trial, and I will personally request that Aaron be one of those witnesses," Gauthier said. So far, the Gauthiers' efforts have led to about 30 legal cases being initiated in France against Rwandan suspects, all of them men. Six have gone on trial, three of whom have been convicted. One was jailed for 25 years and the other two given life sentences. The Gauthiers have funded their work themselves and thanks to donations made to the association. Dafroza was employed as a chemical engineer and they had three young children; later, they took in victims' children too. Critics But the husband-and-wife team has critics, too. Detractors claim they are a "network of informers" and criticise their ties with the Rwandan government, which is often accused of clamping down on dissent. In 2017, President Paul Kagame awarded the couple the National Order for Exceptional Friendship in recognition of their work. Philippe Meilhac, defence lawyer for about 10 Rwandans in the crosshairs of French justice including Muhayimana, condemns their closeness to the Kigali regime. He claims that the Gauthiers' association is "to a certain extent, a technical and political instrument for the Rwandan authorities". French ties While Rwanda was never a French colony, successive French governments cultivated close ties after the country's independence in 1962, including training its top military leaders. France also signed military deals with the Hutu strongman president Juvenal Habyarimana, whose death in 1994 sparked the massacres. Against the backdrop of these ties, a number of genocide suspects have sought refuge in France. Rwanda has made 48 extradition requests to France, more than to any other European country. But France's highest court has consistently opposed the extradition to Rwanda of suspects accused by Kigali of genocide, on the grounds that the crime was not in the Rwandan statute books at the time of the massacre. Source: africanews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A possible betting scandal involving the Australian of the Year Award has been referred to Australias top criminal intelligence agency. A spokesperson for the National Australia Day Council said it had been concerned about betting on the Australian of the Year Awards for a number of years and spoken to authorities about having these markets shut down. Australian of the Year Grace Tame. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The NADC referred betting on this years Australian of the Year Awards to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission on Monday 25 January, the spokesperson said. The NADC requires all staff, contractors and broadcast partners who need to be advised of winners before the national announcement to sign non-disclosure agreements. This agreement has a specific non-betting clause. Plans for Patong electric bus service unveiled PHUKET: Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus has signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Patong Municipality and several private companies to assist in the research and development of an electric bus service to operate within Patong, among other projects that are expected to generate some B200 billion for the islands economy within five years of being launched. patongtourismtransporteconomicsconstructionenvironmentpollutiontechnology By The Phuket News Thursday 28 January 2021, 11:49AM The MoU was signed at the PSU Phuket campus in Kathu on Tuesday (Jan 26). Present as signatories were PSU Phuket Campus Vice Chancellor Assoc Prof Dr Phan Tongchumnum and Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup. Also present as signatories were Maroot Siriko, CEO of AMR Asia Co Ltd, and Thaphana Bunyaprawit, President of the Thai Association of Town Planning. Signing the MoU follows our universitys goal of being part [of the move] to improve Phuket by investing in the infrastructure to support tourism, in order to welcome tourists after the pandemic situation has been resolved and the country has fully reopened, Dr Phan explained. Patong should have a good and nature-friendly transport system to connect people and places. Our university has scholars and other human resources to support and work with private companies to develop our island, he added. AMR Asia President Mr Maroot noted, We have already examined the landscape of Patong to make a plan to construct a cable car system and a ferris wheel which will also have a skywalk and glass lift. Patong has many areas where new attractions can be built and attract more tourists. he said. After this, there will be a public hearing to obtain comments from local people and business operators about the location of the project so that the project can support their businesses and does not affect the beauty of Patong, Mr Maroot added. For the electric bus service, we will discuss this more with the Patong Mayor, and the Department of Land Transport for the permission on using the road. We will also discuss with taxi drivers about bus stops and the service route, so that the buses do not affect their business, he said. There will be smart cards, smart bus stops,and smart parking lots for local people in the same way that are used in Bangkok, Mr Maroot explained. Our company signed a MoU with PTT Public Co Ltd last year for research about the project, and about installing EV chargers in Thailand. Right now, we are ready to install EV chargers in all areas of Phuket, and we will install in Patong as the first area in this year, he said. The EV charging points discussed were not just for the electric bus service being proposed, but also for private vehicles, Mr Maroot explained. Mr Thaphana, who also serves as a committee member of the Thai Charter for Health, explained that the projects proposed would move forward the economy and attract more investment in Patong. I expect that we will have determined the location for the cable car station and the route for the electric bus service in May this year, he said. Meanwhile, the electric bus and EV charger installations are expected to start at the end of this year, if the project gains a good response from local people, he added. As for the construction of the cable car and ferris wheel, they may need to wait for a new town plan at the beginning of next year, so that we can file for construction permission. Mr Thaphana noted. The cable car may generate up to B150bn within five years after it opens for service. The whole project cable car, ferris wheel, skywalk and glass lift will generate about B200bn, he said. Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub Bridgeport Police / Contributed Photo BRIDGEPORT Police are asking for the publics help to report any potential sighting of a city teen who has been missing for more than a week. Samia Ramos, 16, was described in a Silver Alert as an endangered runaway. She is 5-foot-6 and about 120 pounds. There was no clothing description available. Facebook's supreme court said in its first rulings Thursday that the tech giant was wrong to remove four of the five pieces of content it had reviewed. The left-leaning Oversight Board said the social network was wrong to take down posts for violating rules on hate speech and harmful COVID-19 misinformation. It overturned decisions to remove a post with photos of a deceased child that included commentary on China's treatment of Uighur Muslims. The board also overturned a decision to remove a quote incorrectly attributed to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Facebook had removed that for violating its policy on 'dangerous individuals and organizations.' It also said the removal of a post in a group claiming certain drugs could cure COVID-19, which criticized the French government's response to the pandemic, was wrong. And it ruled that Instagram photos showing female nipples that the user in Brazil said aimed to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms should not have been taken down. Facebook had already said this removal was an error and restored the post. The board upheld one decision; a post that purported to show historical photos of churches in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a caption that Facebook said indicated 'disdain' for Azerbaijani people and support for Armenia. The oversight board also made non-binding recommendations, calling for the company to make its content moderation policies clearer and more precise. They said Facebook should tell users the specific rule they have violated and better define their rules on issues like dangerous groups and health misinformation. Facebook doesn't have to act on these, but it does have to publicly respond within 30 days. Still yet to come is the panels most high profile case - the decision to indefinitely suspend former President Donald Trumps account. It will be the biggest test yet for the panel, which faces criticism that Facebook set it up to stave off regulation or even an eventual breakup of the company as it faces antitrust scrutiny. The board was first proposed by Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg in 2018, and the California-based internet giant has set up a foundation to fund it FACEBOOK DECISIONS THE OVERSIGHT BOARD OVERTURNED Deciding its first-ever cases, Facebook Inc's oversight board ruled on Thursday that the social media company was wrong to remove four of five pieces of content the board reviewed. These are: An quote incorrectly attributed to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels that Facebook removed for violating its policy on 'dangerous individuals and organizations.' A post in a group claiming certain drugs could cure COVID-19, which criticized the French government's response to the pandemic. This case was submitted by Facebook, rather than a user. Instagram photos showing female nipples that the user in Brazil said aimed to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms. Facebook had also said this removal was an error and restored the post. A post from a user in Myanmar with photos of a deceased child that included commentary on a perceived inconsistency between Muslims' reactions to killings in France and to China's treatment of Uighur Muslims. Advertisement FACEBOOK DECISIONS THE OVERSIGHT BOARD UPHELD A post that purported to show historical photos of churches in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a caption that Facebook said indicated 'disdain' for Azerbaijani people and support for Armenia. Advertisement Facebook's panel is intended to rule on thorny content issues, such as when posts constitute hate speech. The social media site said Thursday it would abide by the board's decisions. 'We can see that there are some policy problems at Facebook,' said board member Katherine Chen in an interview with Reuters. 'We want their policy to be clear - especially those policies involved in human rights and freedom of speech. They have to be precise, accessible, clearly defined,' she added. Before the decisions were made public Alan Rusbridger, one of the 20 board members and the former editor of The Guardian said: 'For all board members, you start with the supremacy of free speech. 'Then you look at each case and say, what's the cause in this particular case why free speech should be curtailed?' Of the decision to overrule the removal of a post from a user in Myanmar that included commentary on China's treatment of Uighur Muslims the board wrote: 'While the post might be considered pejorative or offensive towards Muslims, it did not advocate hatred or intentionally incite any form of imminent harm.' Facebook removed the post under its hate speech rules, but the board ruled the terms used were not derogatory or violent. The board said: 'Taken in context, the Board believes that the text is better understood as a commentary on the apparent inconsistency between Muslims reactions to events in France and in China.' But Eric Naing, a spokesman for Muslim Advocates, said that 'instead of taking meaningful action to curb dangerous hate speech on the platform, Facebook punted responsibility' and that the board's ruling had reinstated 'a dangerous, anti-Muslim post in Myanmar.' With regards to the removal of a post to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms the panel said: 'The incorrect removal of this post indicates the lack of proper human oversight which raises human rights concerns. The detection and removal of this post was entirely automated. 'Enforcement which relies solely on automation without adequate human oversight also interferes with freedom of expression.' It said Facebook should tell users when automated enforcement is used to moderate their content. Discussing the decision to overrule the removal of a quote incorrectly attributed to Goebbels the board wrote: 'Reviewing the case, the Board found that the quote did not support the Nazi party's ideology or the regime's acts of hate and violence.' The user said they intended to draw a comparison with the presidency of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The board said the quote did not support Nazi ideology or acts. It said Facebook's rules were not sufficiently clear for users and called for the company to provide public examples of dangerous individuals and groups. The Board 'noted a gap between the rules made public through Facebooks Community Standards and additional, non-public rules used by the companys content moderators'. And in ruling against the removal of a post in a group claiming certain drugs could cure COVID-19, the board 'noted that Facebook had not demonstrated the post would rise to the level of imminent harm'. The board said Facebook's rule against misinformation that contributes to the risk of imminent physical harm was too vague. Explaining the decision to uphold the removal of a post Facebook said indicated 'disdain' for Azerbaijani people and support for Armenia the board said: 'The context in which the term was used makes clear it was meant to dehumanize its target. As such, the Board believes that the post violated Facebook's Community Standards.' A majority of the board agreed with Facebook's removal of the post. It also recommended Facebook create a new 'Community Standard' on health misinformation and that it should be 'less intrusive' in enforcing policies where content does not risk imminent physical harm. In a blog post, Facebook said its COVID-19 misinformation policies could be clearer and that it would publish updated rules soon. However, it said it would not change its approach to removing misinformation during a global pandemic. The social network had on Wednesday announced its profits increased by 53 per cent last year compared to 2019. It benefited in 2020 from more people being at home during the pandemic and saw an increase in use of their platforms. FACEBOOK'S 'SUPREME COURT': THE 20 OVERSIGHT BOARD MEMBERS Left to right: Afia Asantewaa Asare-Kyei, Evelyn Aswad and Endy Bayuni Afia Asantewaa Asare-Kyei - A human rights advocate who works on women's rights, media freedom and access to information issues across Africa at the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. Evelyn Aswad - A University of Oklahoma College of Law professor who formerly served as a senior State Department lawyer and specializes in the application of international human rights standards to content moderation issues Endy Bayuni - A journalist who twice served as the editor-in-chief of The Jakarta Post, and helps direct a journalists' association that promotes excellence in the coverage of religion and spirituality. Left to right: Catalina Botero Marino, Katherine Chen and Nighat Dad Catalina Botero Marino, co-chair - A former U.N. special rapporteur for freedom of expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States who now serves as dean of the Universidad de los Andes Faculty of Law. Katherine Chen - A communications scholar at the National Chengchi University who studies social media, mobile news and privacy, and a former national communications regulator in Taiwan. Nighat Dad - A digital rights advocate who offers digital security training to women in Pakistan and across South Asia to help them protect themselves against online harassment, campaigns against government restrictions on dissent, and received the Human Rights Tulip Award. Left to right: Jamal Greene, Pamela Karlan and Tawakkol Karman Jamal Greene, co-chair - A Columbia Law professor who focuses on constitutional rights adjudication and the structure of legal and constitutional argument. Pamela Karlan - A Stanford Law professor and Supreme Court advocate who has represented clients in voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and First Amendment cases, and serves as a member of the board of the American Constitution Society. Karlan had been asked to describe the differences between a U.S. president and a king during Trump's impeachment hearing when she brought up the first son's name. 'The Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility, so while the president can name his son Barron, he can't make him a baron,' Karlan told lawmakers. She later apologized. Tawakkol Karman - A Nobel Peace Prize laureate who used her voice to promote nonviolent change in Yemen during the Arab Spring, and was named as one of 'History's Most Rebellious Women' by Time magazine. Left to right: Maina Kiai, Sudhir Krishnaswamy and Ronaldo Lemos Maina Kiai - A director of Human Rights Watch's Global Alliances and Partnerships Program and a former U.N. special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association who has decades of experience advocating for human rights in Kenya. Sudhir Krishnaswamy - A vice chancellor of the National Law School of India University who co-founded an advocacy organization that works to advance constitutional values for everyone, including LGBTQ+ and transgender persons, in India. Ronaldo Lemos - A technology, intellectual property and media lawyer who co-created a national internet rights law in Brazil, co-founded a nonprofit focused on technology and policy issues, and teaches law at the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Left to right: Michael McConnell, Julie Owono and Emi Palmor Michael McConnell, co-chair - A former U.S. federal circuit judge who is now a constitutional law professor at Stanford, an expert on religious freedom, and a Supreme Court advocate who has represented clients in a wide range of First Amendment cases involving freedom of speech, religion and association. Julie Owono - A digital rights and anti-censorship advocate who leads Internet Sans Frontieres and campaigns against internet censorship in Africa and around the world. Emi Palmor - A former director general of the Israeli Ministry of Justice who led initiatives to address racial discrimination, advance access to justice via digital services and platforms and promote diversity in the public sector. Left to right: Alan Rusbridger, Andras Sajo and John Samples Alan Rusbridger - A former editor-in-chief of The Guardian who transformed the newspaper into a global institution and oversaw its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Edward Snowden disclosures. He was editor of the left-leaning Guardian newspaper for 20 years, which was chosen by Edward Snowden to publicise his NSA leaks and campaigned against the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States. Andras Sajo - A former judge and vice president of the European Court of Human Rights who is an expert in free speech and comparative constitutionalism. John Samples - A public intellectual who writes extensively on social media and speech regulation, advocates against restrictions on online expression, and helps lead a libertarian think tank. Left to right: Nicolas Suzor and Helle Thorning-Schmidt Nicolas Suzor - A Queensland University of Technology Law School professor who focuses on the governance of social networks and the regulation of automated systems, and has published a book on internet governance. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, co-chair - A former prime minister of Denmark who repeatedly took stands for free expression while in office and then served as CEO of Save the Children. The social democrat was elected in 2011 on a pro-immigration, high tax manifesto before losing power in 2015. Advertisement The oversight board is empowered to make binding rulings that is, ones that can't be overturned by CEO Mark Zuckerberg on whether posts or ads violate the company's rules. Any other findings will be considered 'guidance' by Facebook. The board does not set Facebook policies or decide if the company is doing enough to enforce them in the first place. Its 20 members, which will eventually grow to 40, include a former prime minister of Denmark, the former editor-in-chief of the Guardian newspaper, along with legal scholars, human rights experts and journalists such as Tawakkol Karmanm, a Nobel Laureate and journalist from Yemen, and Julie Owono, a digital rights advocate. Facebook has long faced criticism for high-profile content moderation issues, ranging from temporarily removing a famous Vietnam-era war photo of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack to failings in policing hate speech and misinformation. The board said on Thursday that it had received 150,000 appeals since it started accepting cases in October. It will rule on a limited number of controversial decisions. The first four board members were directly chosen by Facebook. Those four then worked with Facebook to select additional members. Facebook also pays the board members' salaries. The rulings are a crucial test of the independent body, created by Facebook in response to criticism of the way it treats problematic content. The board also called for Facebook to be clearer about its rules on what is allowed on its platforms. The board has been in the spotlight after the company last week asked it to rule on the recent suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trump. It said on Thursday it would soon be opening the case up for public comment. Facebook blocked Trump's access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts over concerns of further violent unrest following the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by the former president's supporters. The company's oversight board started hearing cases in October and announced the first cases it would review in December. Facebook now has seven days to restore the pieces of content that the board ruled should not have been taken down. The board said it would shortly announce one more case from its first batch. It also issued nine nonbinding policy recommendations - for example that Facebook should tell users the specific rule they have violated and better define their rules on issues like dangerous groups and health misinformation. Facebook doesn't have to act on these, but it does have to publicly respond. Facebook has long faced criticism for high-profile content moderation issues, ranging from temporarily removing a famous Vietnam-era war photo of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack to failings in policing hate speech and misinformation. But the board's limited remit has also been the subject of criticism. Facebook itself can ask the board to review a wider range of content problems. Before the rulings were announced, a group of Facebook critics, dubbed The Real Oversight Board, said they were 'a PR effort that obfuscates the urgent issues that Facebook continually fails to address - the continued proliferation of hate speech and disinformation on their platforms.' Facebook has pledged $130 million to fund the board for at least six years. CEO Zuckerberg had on Wednesday sounded the alarm about forthcoming changes from Apple that could threaten his company's future dominance. Apple is planning on making a software change that will give iPhone and iPad users a more clear opportunity to opt out of ad-tracking for online advertising, a big piece of Facebook's pie. Facebook says it will permanently stop recommending political groups to users in an extension of a temporary ban brought in before the election Facebook will no longer recommend political and civic groups to users of the platform, Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday. The social media company said in October that it was temporarily halting recommendations of political groups for U.S. users in the run-up to the presidential election. On Wednesday Facebook said it would be making this permanent and would expand the policy globally. Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that a temporary block on political groups was being made permanent The move to stop recommendations was introduced initially in October, and is now being extended Facebook will no longer recommend political and civic groups to users of the platform, Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday The move came a day after Democratic Senator Ed Markey wrote to Zuckerberg asking for an explanation of reports, including by news site The Markup, that Facebook had failed to stop recommending political groups on its platform after this move. He called Facebook's groups 'breeding groups for hate' and noted they had been venues of planning for the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. 'Facebook doesn't simply allow dangerous group pages that organize and coordinate violent and anti-democratic efforts to exist on its platform, it RECOMMENDS them,' he tweeted Tuesday. 'It appears Facebook has failed to keep its commitment to stop recommending political groups.' Senator Ed Markey on Tuesday accused Facebook of failing in their promise to stop recommending political groups Markey said that, instead of blocking political groups, Facebook had actually promoted them Speaking on a conference call with analysts about Facebook's earnings, Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that the company was 'continuing to fine-tune how this works.' Facebook groups are communities that form around shared interests. Public groups can be seen, searched and joined by anyone on Facebook. Several watchdog and advocacy groups have pushed for Facebook to limit algorithmic group recommendations. They have argued that some Facebook Groups have been used as spaces to spread misinformation and organize extremist activity. Zuckerberg also said that Facebook was considering steps to reduce the amount of political content in users' news feeds. Mark Zuckerberg says Apple is now Facebook's biggest competitor and slams their 'self-serving and anti-competitive' privacy changes - as social network's profits surge 53 per cent to $11.2 billion Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has blasted rival Apple for their 'self-serving and anti-competitive' privacy changes, on the day the social network announced its profits increased by 53 per cent last year compared to 2019. Facebook benefited in 2020 from more people being at home during the pandemic and saw an increase in use of their platforms. But CEO Zuckerberg is sounding the alarm about forthcoming changes from Apple that could threaten his company's future dominance. Facebook's results for the final quarter of 2020, reported on Wednesday, came as Apple announced that it too had had a bumper year, with revenues of more than $100 billion in the three months to the end of December. Only a handful of companies, including Walmart , have previously reported $100 billion quarters, while Amazon is expected to break this barrier when it reports next month. But Apple's profit margins are projected at about 23 per cent roughly five times that of either retailer. Apple is planning on making a software change that will give iPhone and iPad users a more clear opportunity to opt out of ad-tracking for online advertising, a big piece of Facebook's pie. Zuckerberg also believes Apple is positioning iMessage to overtake Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. 'iMessage is a key linchpin of their ecosystem,' Zuckerberg said on the earnings call, according to CNBC . 'It comes pre-installed on every iPhone and they preference it with private APIs and permissions, which is why iMessage is the most used messaging service in the U.S.' Apple's new policy will prohibit certain data collection and sharing unless people opt into tracking on iOS 14 devices, via a prompt when they download the app. Zuckerberg had more harsh words to say about Apple's business practices. Mark Zuckerberg's company posted $28 billion in profits in the final quarter of 2020 'Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own. 'Apple may say they're doing this to help people but the moves clearly track their competitor interests. We and others are going to be up against this for the foreseeable future.' Facebook still had much to celebrate on Wednesday, posting a profit of $11.2 billion on revenues of $28 billion in the final three months of 2020. The Californian company's revenue rose 33 per cent to roughly $28 billion during the quarter. On Apple, Zuckerberg had some harsh words about their upcoming software changes. Their apps - Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp - saw a 14 per cent increase year-on-year in monthly active users, with 3.3 billion people, almost half the world's population, using them. After an initial drop in advertising in March, Facebook's business boomed as more people bought products online during the pandemic, executives said. 'We had a strong end to the year as people and businesses continued to use our services during these challenging times,' said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, in a statement. But the 36-year-old's company cautioned that there may be challenges ahead, with the 'evolving regulatory landscape', including the Apple software changes. 'We also expect to face more significant ad targeting headwinds in 2021,' the chief financial officer, David Wehner, said in a statement. 'This includes the impact of platform changes, notably iOS 14, as well as the evolving regulatory landscape. 'While the timing of the iOS 14 changes remains uncertain, we would expect to see an impact beginning late in the first quarter.' Facebook has warned that pressure from governments may change their financial future Dozens of states and the federal government sued Facebook last month, alleging the social media giant has abused its dominance in the digital marketplace and engaged in anti-competitive behavior. This month the social media giant removed Donald Trump, and many of his allies, from their site after the January 6 attack on the Capitol, accusing him of inciting violence. Zuckerberg said he was optimistic about the year ahead. 'I'm excited about our product road map for 2021 as we build new and meaningful ways to create economic opportunity, build community and help people just have fun,' he said. Analysts said the results showed the resilience of the Palo Alto firm. 'Despite the negative publicity and antitrust cases, it appears there is nothing that can stop what is arguably the world's most important advertising platform,' said Jesse Cohen, senior analyst at Investing.com. Apple, meanwhile, finished 2020 with its most profitable quarter ever, with $111.4 billion in sales powered by people upgrading their technology to work from home. A Stormont minister has urged the UK and Irish governments to take urgent action to address Brexit barriers to importing soils and plants into Northern Ireland. Agriculture minister Edwin Poots said the viability of the regions agriculture and horticulture sectors is on the line as a consequence of new Irish Sea trading arrangements. The Northern Ireland Protocol, which governs the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is currently preventing the importation of certain plants, soil, plant products and seeds. Mr Poots had previously written to UK Environment Secretary George Eustice and Irish agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue on the problem. He said he has now raised it in an inter-ministerial group with ministers from England, Scotland and Wales. As things stand, the implementation of the NI Protocol continues to prevent the marketing in NI of many plants, plant products and vegetable seeds from Great Britain (GB) that are of significant importance to the agriculture and horticulture sectors, he said. This includes the movement of soil from third countries, including where it is associated with plants. The importance of allowing trade to continue is absolutely vital to the agriculture and horticulture sectors viability and associated economic activity. This is an urgent issue and will have significant impacts on important NI and ROI trade. That is why I have written to both the UK Secretary of State George Eustice and Irish Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) Minister Charlie McConalogue to raise these concerns for immediate action. Mr Poots also insisted that a statutory rule (SR) passed in the Assembly in December to reflect the changes brought about by the protocol could not have been altered to prevent the introduction of the new arrangements. The SR could not change the consequences of the Northern Ireland Protocol, as voted for by the Westminster Government, he said. The prohibition of the movement of soil from third countries, including where it is associated with plants, are mandatory obligations imposed by the protocol and the SR could not have changed that. In response, a Defra spokesman said: We are working closely with the horticulture industry to ensure they can take advantage of the opportunities leaving the EU brings, and overall businesses are adjusting well to the new rules and continue to trade effectively. Alongside other measures, we have put in place the Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS) to support and assist traders moving plants, plant products, and agrifood from GB to NI meaning that businesses do not face new direct costs from certification requirements. PROOF-HD, a Phase 3 clinical trial in Huntington's Disease (HD), is currently recruiting in Europe The trial is designed to replicate previous findings of pridopidine demonstrating maintenance of functional capacity in early HD patients and could lead to the registration of pridopidine PROOF-HD trial is endorsed by the European Huntington's Disease Network Prilenia Therapeutics B.V., a clinical stage biotech company focused on developing novel treatments for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, today announces the enrollment of the first participant in Europe in its global Phase 3 clinical trial for HD. The study is being conducted in 60 sites in collaboration with the Huntington Study Group (HSG) in North America and Europe. The first US subjects in the PROOF-HD trial were enrolled in October 2020. PROOF-HD will take place at 30 sites across nine countries in Europe: Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and the UK. National approval has been granted in all European countries. The first participant was enrolled at George Huntington Institute (GHI) in Munster, Germany. The innovative protocol design, including virtual visits, will allow the study to continue undisrupted in case of any potential lockdown situations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of pridopidine 45 mg bid in patients with early-stage HD. The primary endpoint is Total Functional Capacity. The global study will enroll a total of 480 participants aged 25 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of adult-onset HD in North America and Europe. The treatment period will last up to 78 weeks and there will be an optional open-label extension. PROOF-HD is designed to replicate previous findings demonstrating that pridopidine shows a beneficial effect on the maintenance of functional capacity in patients with early HD. The trial treatment dose (45 mg bid) has a favorable safety profile based on over 1,000 patient years in previous HD trials. Ralf Reilmann, MD, PhD, FAAN, Founding Director of the George-Huntington-Institute and European Principal Investigator of the study, said: "PROOF-HD is currently the only Phase 3 study available to early-HD patients in Europe, opening up an exciting opportunity for the patient community with an orally available drug. Pridopidine has shown a positive safety profile and promising results in earlier studies, making me confident of its potential to have a positive effect on everyday function and quality of life for patients." Michael R. Hayden, CEO of Prilenia and world-renowned scientist in Huntington's Disease research, commented: "The design of the PROOF-HD study is based on strong scientific and clinical data, including in vivo target engagement for the selected dose, prior clinical efficacy results and extensive long-term safety data in our target population. Enrolling our first patients in Europe is a significant milestone." Pridopidine is a first-in-class highly selective Sigma 1-receptor (S1R) agonist developed by Prilenia for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as HD and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Pridopidine binds and activates the S1R, a protein that is expressed at high levels within the brain and regulates key cellular pathways, commonly impaired in neurodegeneration. Recent analyses of previous PRIDE-HD and Open-HART trial results have shown positive data with regards to pridopidine on Total Function Capacity. Further details of the trial can be found here: PROOF-HD Study website ClinicalTrials.gov EU clinical trial register Notes to Editors About Prilenia (www.prilenia.com) Prilenia is a clinical stage biotech startup founded in 2018 with the purpose of improving the lives of patients and their families by developing treatments for neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Prilenia raised 88.5 million thus far and is backed by a group of well-respected investors: Talisman, Forbion, Morningside and Sectoral and ALS Investment Fund. The Company is based in Naarden, the Netherlands, Herzliya, Israel and Boston, MA in the U.S. About Pridopidine Prilenia's lead asset is Pridopidine, a first-in-class drug candidate with an established safety profile and therapeutic potential in several neurodegenerative diseases affecting adults and children. The highly selective S1R agonist was acquired from Teva in 2018. Pridopidine's favorable safety profile has been established in clinical trials in >1300 study participants, exposed to various doses for a total of ~1300 patient years. Pridopidine for Huntington's Disease HD is a fatal, inherited, neurodegenerative disorder. Every offspring of an HD patient has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene. Usually starting at around 40 years of age, HD patients suffer from movement disorder, progressive functional and cognitive decline, psychiatric disturbances and behavioral symptoms. Following diagnosis, functional, motor and cognitive functions decline steadily, ultimately leading to immobility, dementia and premature death. Pridopidine has demonstrated maintenance of functional capacity in HD patients, as measured by Total Functional Capacity (TFC), in a clinical trial. This effect was most prominent in early-stage HD patients (HD1 and HD2), who showed functional benefit from pridopidine 45 mg, taken twice a day. There is extensive preclinical evidence that further supports pridopidine's potential beneficial effect in HD. The therapeutic effect has been shown to be mediated exquisitely by the sigma-1 receptor (S1R) using multiple deletion and antagonist models. Analyses of previous PRIDE-HD and Open-HART trial results have shown positive data with regards to pridopidine. Exploratory additional efficacy data show pridopidine (45 mg bid) to be the first drug to exert a significant and clinically meaningful beneficial effect on TFC. In addition, results from the Open-HART trial demonstrate potential durability of the effect of pridopidine with less TFC decline over 5 years compared to historical placebo group, as well as positive safety and tolerability data. Results were published in The Journal of Huntington's Disease: Effects of Pridopidine on Functional Capacity in Early-Stage Participants from the PRIDE-HD Study Additional Safety and Exploratory Efficacy Data at 48 and 60 Months from Open-HART, an Open-Label Extension Study of Pridopidine in Huntington Disease Prilenia has an orphan drug designation for pridopidine for the treatment of HD in both the US and Europe. About PROOF-HD PROOF-HD is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of pridopidine in patients with early stage of Huntington's Disease. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of pridopidine 45mg bid on functional capacity, as well as on motor and behavioral features. For more information about PROOF-HD, including inquiries regarding participation, please visit the study's website: https://huntingtonstudygroup.org/proof-hd/ About Huntington Study Group Clinical Research Founded in 1993 in Rochester, NY, the Huntington Study Group (HSG) is a not-for-profit organization comprised of the world's first collaborative network of experts in Huntington's Disease. HSG Clinical Research, Inc. is a wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary of the HSG, conducts clinical trials to benefit the HSG and its mission of seeking treatments that make a difference for those affected by HD. There are 700 credentialed HD experts at more than 120 HSG credentialed research sites worldwide. The HSG also offers educational services like CME4HD for healthcare professionals and care providers on treating patients with HD. For more information, visit www.huntingtonstudygroup.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005105/en/ Contacts: For further information, please contact: Prilenia Therapeutics Limor Ben Har, COO E: info@prilenia.com Instinctif Partners Melanie Toyne-Sewell Agnes Stephens Siobhan Sanford T: +44 (0) 207 457 2020 E: prilenia@instinctif.com GREENWICH, CT Town residents 75 years old and over are continuing to receive vaccines as the number of coronavirus cases in Greenwich continues to rise, according to town officials. During a press update Wednesday afternoon, First Selectman Fred Camillo said the number of cases of the virus has risen to 3,223, an increase of 166 from last week. The total number of active cases has also risen to 189, up 26 from last week, Camillo said. No new deaths as a result of the virus were reported this week, the total number of which is currently 79. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.) According to Greenwich Hospital president Diane Kelly, the hospital has 39 patients in-house as of Wednesday. Kelly noted the hospital typically discharges the same number of patients it takes in each day, keeping the number of patients relatively consistent each week. "That's something we're continuing to watch," Kelly said, "and I have to say that it's really essential that people continue to wear their mask, [practice] good hand hygiene and good social distancing. I know people are very tired at this point in time, but we still have not vaccinated enough people in our population that we should be letting up in any way, shape or form." Kelly said she was happy to report that Greenwich Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health System have been able to move their vaccination efforts into the community. "We've had very helpful and productive meetings with the town of Greenwich," Kelly said. "They've been essential in helping us with police and traffic, and just talking through our vaccine processes together as a health system and with our town." Kelly said the vaccine clinics in town are going "extremely well" so far. "People are being so grateful and so calm," Kelly said. "I can say that people are waiting their turn, people are maintaining social distancing, so everything is going smoothly." Story continues The hospital announced last week a public vaccine clinic would be held at the Brunswick School, located on King Street. The clinic officially opened Monday. Camillo said he stopped by the school this week and it seemed to be going well. "It was running very smoothly," Camillo said. "No complaints at all, so thank you to Greenwich Hospital for getting this up and running." While Camillo said he has not received much feedback from residents on how the clinics in town have been running so far, he did note some people have voiced concerns that residents from areas of New York near Greenwich may try to receive the vaccine in town. "People are always going to try and skirt the rules," Camillo said. "I know we have Connecticut residents trying to do that in New Jersey and Florida...so it doesn't surprise me that residents of other states are trying it here, so we're keeping an eye on it as best we can, but we are aware of it." This article originally appeared on the Greenwich Patch popular top story Thursday's vaccination updates: 9.8% of Champaign County residents have now received first dose; Pritzker responds to GOP claim that 'Illinois has failed its residents' A region of the brain linked with risk-taking has been identified by scientists, who say it could explain why some people are more likely to smoke and drink. A team of neurologists from the University of Zurich found major functional and anatomical distinctions among those who are likely to smoke, use alcohol or drugs, speed, or have many sexual partners when compared to more cautious people. For the study the Swiss team examined 25,000 people and found a direct relationship between differences in brain anatomy and propensity to take risks. Distinct characteristics were found in regions of the brain responsible for controlling happy hormones like dopamine, memory storage and in managing self-control. They say understanding what prompts people to engage in risky behaviours is important due to the health and economic consequences linked to these activities. A team of neurologists from the University of Zurich found major functional and anatomical distinctions among those who are likely to smoke, use alcohol or drugs, speed, or have many sexual partners when compared to more cautious people Around 50 per cent of British people describe themselves as risk-takers and try to take small risks to increase their adrenaline levels, surveys have shown. But experts have said risks can lead to enormous health and economic consequences, with costs of an estimated 600 billion dollars a year in the US alone. As part of this new study, the Swiss-led team found distinct characteristics linked to risk taking in the 'happy hormone' controlling hypothalamus, the memory storing hippocampus and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex responsible for self-control. They found there was no single 'risk region' of the brain - rather a number of regions are involved when someone is more predisposed to take risky actions. Other characteristics were found in the amygdala, which controls the emotional reaction to danger, and the ventral striatum - activated when processing rewards. Surprisingly the scientists were finding measurable differences in the cerebellum, which plays an important role in decision-making processes. In each of those areas showing changes among risk-taking individuals compared to the risk-adverse, the team found less grey matter. Dr Goekhan Aydogan, at the University of Zurich, said: 'We found both functional and anatomical differences. 'It appears that the cerebellum does after all play an important role in decision-making processes such as risk-taking behaviour. 'In the brains of more risk-tolerant individuals, we found less grey matter in these areas. How this grey matter affects behaviour, however, still needs to be studied further.' Distinct characteristics were found in regions of the brain responsible for controlling happy hormones like dopamine, memory storage and in managing self-control Many research teams have investigated the link between a tendency to take risk and how it correlates to different brain regions - but previous studies have only featured hundreds of participants - constraining the power to make firm conclusions. This new study, including work from the University of Pennsylvania, benefits from a robust dataset, the UK Biobank, which has biomedical data from 500,000 volunteer participants between the ages of 40 and 69. To get an overview of risky behaviour they looked at four self-reported behaviours: smoking, drinking, sexual promiscuity, and driving above the speed limit. To drill down on the connections between genes, brain, and risk tolerance, the researchers used data of 12,675 people of European ancestry from the UK Biobank and followed it up with another 12,000 to verify the results. Many research teams have investigated the link between a tendency to take risk and how it correlates to different brain regions - but previous studies have only featured hundreds of participants - constraining the power to make firm conclusions. They found higher risk tolerance was linked to overall lower grey matter volume in the brain and particularly in certain areas of the brain. 'We find that we don't have only one brain region that is the 'risk area,'' said study co-author Gideon Nave from the University of Pennsylvania. Nave says. 'There are a lot of regions involved, and the effect sizes we found are not that large but also not that small.' The scientists warned that more research needs to be done in how a person's environment affects their genetic disposition to risk-taking. Dr Aydogan added: 'How exactly the interplay of environment and genes determines risk-taking requires further research.' The findings have been published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biology and Biomedicine has gone in this thirteenth edition to David Julius, from the University of California, San Francisco, and Ardem Patapoutian, from the Scripps Institute, La Jolla (United States), "for identifying the receptors that enable us to sense temperature, pain and pressure." "Temperature, pain and pressure are part of our sense of touch, perhaps the least understood of the five main senses of humans," read the opening words of the citation. "Julius and Patapoutian provided a molecular and neural basis for thermosensation and mechanosensation." This line of research holds out exciting medical possibilities, because "it sheds light on how to reduce chronic and acute pain associated with a range of diseases, trauma and their treatments." In fact, several pharmaceutical laboratories are working to identify molecules that act on these receptors with the aim of treating different forms of chronic pain, for example, those associated with inflammatory processes like arthritis. But the committee also highlighted "the immense value that comes with understanding from a fundamental standpoint how we perceive the world," in the words of Oscar Marin, committee secretary and Director of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at King's College London (United Kingdom). "Although we have yet to see practical applications from these discoveries, their potential is so great as to mark a transformative milestone. Understanding how our bodies sense changes in temperature or pressure is so conceptually important that it is surprising how little we knew until recently, or rather, how we knew which part of the nervous system processes the information, but not the molecular sensors it uses. This is the kind of finding where it is hard to grasp the full scope of its potential applications, although work is already underway on some, such as chronic pain management and blood pressure control." For Marin, the award is also a timely reminder of the importance of basic science: "Think back 20 years to the researchers working on RNA biology. Not even they could imagine that they had found the key to a new generation of vaccines likes those now being deployed against Covid 19." The two laureates' findings have opened an area of research with the power to transform how we understand the physiological processes that govern our bodies' functioning, with important medical implications. This new field, mechanobiology, is taking a first look at the role of pressure receptors inside the body. In the excretory system, for instance, to indicate a full urinary bladder, or the circulatory system, to control blood pressure. Taste and touch sensors The first surprise came when David Julius found that the receptor that triggers a burning sensation in the mouth on ingesting capsaicin - the pungent ingredient in chili peppers - is also responsible for sensing heat. Julius, says the committee, "identified the gene encoding the first temperature sensor, the ion channel TRPV1, using capsaicin, and discovered that TRPV1 is also activated by high temperatures." The signal emitted by this receptor reaches the brain, which determines whether the heat is strong enough to burn tissue and, if so, produces the sensation of pain. Julius explained after hearing of the award that though the link between the burning sensation of spicy food and high temperature was "obvious with hindsight," it was not so at the time. It was his basic curiosity about how we use natural products that attracted him to this area of research, eventually leading him to investigate the molecular basis of pain. "Plants defend themselves by generating substances that cause predators pain, and we thought we could use these tools to try and understand the sense of pain on a molecular scale," says Julius. His research group started by studying the molecular bases for the perception of capsaicin, which they knew from research done elsewhere could be linked to pain sensation. They were successful in identifying the gene of the receptor for the hot ingredient of chili, but the real surprise came when they began looking at the same protein's function in humans. "There was no way," says Julius, "that we would have it just to enjoy spicy food." They discovered in cultured cells that heat too would activate the capsaicin receptor. "We realized that heating the cells produced an intense activation of the receptor," the new laureate recalls. "It was a truly thrilling moment." They decided to pursue this line of research and search for the cold receptor. Armed with their knowledge of the link between temperature and certain taste reactions, they turned to menthol, an ingredient of mint associated with a cool or icy sensation. In effect, they found that the receptor for menthol and low temperature was one and the same. And, to Julius's astonishment, it resembled that of capsaicin. "What was really fascinating about this discovery was that that molecule is very close genetically to the receptor activated by the capsaicin of chili peppers and by heat. So together these findings told us that nature uses a common strategy that enables our nervous system to detect changes in temperature through a family of similar molecules." Wasabi and inflammatory pain Julius then went on to identify the receptor for wasabi, the pungent compound belonging to the mustard family. Again the clues were found in nature: "Extracts from mustard have been used for many years in pain tests: a physician would rub a tincture of mustard oil on a patient's skin to generate a sense of irritancy that tests acute pain response, but also generates inflammation which makes the area more sensitive to temperature and touch. So this was used as a model to understand the mechanisms associated with inflammatory pain, such as you would feel with an arthritic joint. We asked how this process worked and identified a receptor in the nerve cells that is the mechanism through which wasabi and other mustard plants produce a pungent sensation." It has since been found that the wasabi receptor is implicated in the stinging of the eyes experienced when chopping an onion, and is also activated by the toxins of certain animals, among them the scorpion. But "the crucial point" about this mechanism, Julius explains, is that "it is important for understanding the pain of an inflammatory injury" and may serve "to understand how tissue injury generates not only acute but persistent pain, leading on to chronic pain syndromes." Pressure in skin and blood vessels The discovery of the capsaicin receptor gene was published in 1997. At that time Ardem Patapoutian - an Armenian immigrant fleeing the war in Lebanon who had come to the USA to become a doctor but quickly "fell in love with research" - had also begun to study the molecular bases of sensory perception. The two laureates, who coincided at the University of California, San Francisco, during Patapoutian's postdoctoral stay, described their relationship as moving from "competitive" to "complementary" as they began specializing in different receptors. Patapoutian, the citation says, "identified the genes encoding a family of stretch-activated ion channels." Known as Piezos, these proteins "are responsible for pressure sensing in the skin and blood vessels, so their importance in health and disease extend beyond the sense of touch." "These findings," it continues, "opened the door to understanding mechanobiology, an emerging field of science that intersects biology, engineering and physics." Touch and neuropathic pain The starting point for Patapoutian's research was the observation that touch is the only sense based on the translation of a physical signal, like pressure, into the chemical language that the body understands. "When studying the peripheral nerves that help us feel touch and pain, we realized something very special, which is that they do something that the rest of the body doesn't. They sense physical forces like temperature and touch. There is really very little known about how the body translates these physical forces into a chemical language." Patapoutian and his group looked for cells that reacted electrically in a lab culture to the physical stimulus of pressure. Once found, they systematically suppressed the expression of candidate genes via RNA interference until they had isolated the receptor. At this stage, they still had no inkling of how this finding might relate to other physiological processes: "We knew there were proteins involved in the perception of pain, touch, heating or blood pressure, but no one had any idea that a single family, the Piezo 1 and Piezo 2 receptors discovered by our group, could explain all these processes," said Patapoutian yesterday. This breakthrough was the first in a chain of discoveries in this research field. Patapoutian's group has since revealed the three-dimensional structure of the Piezo receptors, helping to elucidate their mechanical functioning. They are, it turns out, large proteins that move repeatedly in and out of cell membranes, like an elastic band fastened to the membrane that alternately stretches and contracts. Last October, an article in Nature described how Piezo 2 indicates when the urinary bladder is full. It is also Piezo 2 that detects when the skin is brushed lightly or caressed. Or warns that the skin is inflamed by sunburn. Patapoutian elaborates further: "Piezo 2 is required for a very specific subset of pain. The pain of being hit with a hammer has little to do with this receptor, but if you get sunburn, for example, and just touching your shoulder hurts, that form of pain seems to be Piezo 2 dependent. This could be important for the treatment of neuropathic pain [when pain lasts for a long time after the original injury has gone away]. I believe it will be interesting to see what the next five or ten years bring in terms of the medical repercussions of these findings." The Scripps Institute investigator has also shown that these sensors play an essential role in "proprioception," our ability to feel the relative position of the parts of our body. This is a sense, he points out, that we largely ignore "because we cannot turn it off," but that we rely on completely to do such simple things as stand up or walk. He is confident that mechanobiology will uncover additional means of inter-cell communication, with potentially enormous implications for biomedical research: "Until now we have treated life mainly as a bag of chemicals that talk to each other by chemical synthesis, but more and more we are realizing that mechanobiology, mechanical forces, play important roles in everything from cell division all the way up to hearing, touch and pain. What we have discovered so far is very exciting, but it's just the tip of the iceberg of this new science." The 318 is the engine powering the Dodge Dart GT we have here as well, with this 1968 all-original model recently found in a barn now ready for a new adventure.The car comes in unrestored condition, and you can easily tell by simply looking at the photos in the gallery and the video embedded below. Painted in the factory-applied MM1 Turbine Bronze finish with a black top and interior, this Dart GT was born as an Ohio car but landed in Indiana back in 2012.Its pretty clear the car has seen better days, but on the other hand, theres nothing that cant be fixed with a thorough restoration process. Theres some rust, thats true, but with the proper fixes, this Dart should be easily turned into the looker it was 53 years ago.The engine starts and runs, and the video embedded below is living proof theres no sign of smoke or anything like that. So, in theory, the engine is ready to rock, only that the Dart needs fixes in other areas, such as the braking system. The owner warns the car comes without any brakes, so while it drives, you cant get it on a public road just yet.The lights, the gauges, and everything else work correctly, and the car still comes with most of the parts, including the bucket seats and the factory console. And whats more, youre also getting the original keys and broadcast sheet should you decide to purchase the car.Listed on eBay by seller vintagentleman , this Dart GT can be yours today for only $4,700. The car is parked in Indiana if you want to check it out in person. Midland planners this week discussed the City of Midland Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which is a document that outlines capital expenditures over a six-year period. As Director of Planning and Community Development Grant Murschel explained, its a 30,000-foot overview. Specifically, the public plan covers projects until 2027, but is updated every year. Upcoming improvement projects include water main replacements, local and major street enhancements, landfill maintenance and more, with an investment of about $13.3 million in 2021-22 alone. In total, the City of Midland plans to spend about $82.9 million in the next six years on capital improvements. However, flood mitigation projects in the Wastewater Department, which currently has a vacant director position, were omitted from the conversation Tuesday because a broader discussion is taking place by city council. So, the CIP will be updated later. Usually we have kind of a good understanding as to where we need to go from a wastewater perspective at this time of year, leading into our next fiscal year, Murschel said. However, this is a very important discussion and something thats not being taken lightly and so we are still waiting for further direction as it relates to what council does desire. The Midland Planning Commission recommended its approval of the CIP, which will now appear before Midland City Council for final approval at an upcoming meeting. Residents can view the plan ahead of time here. Road projects In total, the Engineering Department, which also has a vacated director position, has budgeted $6-8 million each year for street projects. In the coming fiscal year, a few major street projects are planned including Jefferson Avenue, from Sugnet Road to Wheeler; St. Andrews Road from Eastman Avenue to the Midland Country Club; an extension of Sugnet Road from Northwood University to Main Street; and improvements to Wackerly Street at Eastman Avenue. Specifically, the city is adding a right turn lane on westbound Wackerly for drivers turning onto Eastman and the Michigan Department of Transportation will also add a right turn lane on Eastman onto eastbound Wackerly. Local streets getting upgrades this year include Burrell Court from Eastman Avenue to the end of the road and Dartmouth Court from St. Andrews Road to the end of the road for a combined cost of about $325,000. More expensive local street projects include Lindy Street from Ashman to Scott; Pine Street from Rodd to George; Hubbard Street from Main Street to Eastman Avenue; Greenbrier Terrace from Lambros to Canterbury; North Street from George to Jefferson; and Salem Street from St. Andrews to Sugnet. Combined, these projects will cost about $2 million. Also, $400,000 was budgeted for pavement patches, curb replacements, surface sealing and crack sealing of roadways. Stormwater improvements There are four projects outlined for the fiscal year for the stormwater sewer system for a total of $845,000. However, in the next six years, budgeted amounts for projects will cost as high as $4.3 million. This year, projects include culvert and catch basin replacements. Water projects About $4.1 million is budgeted for the Water Department in 2021-22. The bulk of that is for replacing or upgrading water mains under Burrell Court, St. Andrews Road and Pine Street at the same time those roads are upgraded. Over half the water mains in the water distribution system are over 50 years old, said Water Director Peter Schwarz, and the valves and hydrants require more maintenance. Working on water pressure improvements is also in the CIP. Were focused mainly on maintenance; were not really expanding at this point, Schwarz said. We have a lot of capacity, now its just maintaining that infrastructure. However, $477,000 is set aside for equipment costs, such as a dump truck, scissor lift, forklift and more. Midland landfill The Midland Sanitary Landfill, located at 4311 Ashman St., consists of 335 acres which serves about 100 customers a day, or 30,000 cars a year. For 2021-22, about $1 million will be spent on a potential leachate pretreatment system and maintenance of aging infrastructure, such as closed cell improvements which is needed annually. 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. In an essay that ran in the New York Times a few years ago, journalist and author Constance Hale gave a succinct analysis of the way in which politicians employ the passive voice to deflect responsibility: The most pilloried use of the passive voice might be that famous expression of presidents and press secretaries, mistakes were made, Hale wrote, adding that through the years, pols have used the passive voice to spin the news, avoid responsibility or hide the truth. Add our governor to that list. During an interview on WCBS radio Tuesday, Phil Murphy was asked by host Paul Murnane to explain why he has yet to decide on legislation to legalize pot that has been sitting on his desk for more than a month. Im still an optimist that this will get done, he said. That this will get done by whom? Murphy didnt say. But only the governor can sign the two bills that passed both houses of the Legislature back on Dec. 17. In the meantime people keep getting arrested for possessing marijuana - despite the passage last November by a two-to-one margin of a Constitutional Amendment to Legalize Marijuana. As Amanda Hoover reported in the Star-Ledger the other day, Police arrested 2,125 people for possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana in November and another 1,703 in December, according to data from the state judiciary Statewide numbers for January are not yet available, but defense attorneys have said arrests continued into the month. Murnane cited that article in asking the governor to explain why people are still getting arrested. Murphy replied that Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal has extended the stay against arrests till the end of March. His office later told me he misspoke and meant to refer to prosecutions, not arrests. But thats a big difference. If people werent getting arrested, then perhaps the Hamlet of State Street would be able to take his time deciding whether to sign or not to sign. But with people still getting busted he has a duty to carry out the spirit of that referendum. Back when Grewal ordered that stay on prosecutions in November, the administration could pin the blame on the Legislatures indecisiveness. Fairness demands that we suspend prosecution of marijuana possession-related cases while we await direction from the Legislature, Grewals statement said. Then on Dec. 4 the governor put out a release with legislative leaders stating that Were proud to announce today that weve reached an agreement on legislation providing the framework for legalization. But once the bills passed, the governor changed his mind based on a trivial point. On that radio program, Murphy again repeated his charge that the bill would legalize marijuana for those under 21. No, it wouldnt. If that decriminalization bill becomes law, it will still be illegal to sell or give pot to those under 21, just as it is with cigarettes. This may seem like a fine point to those of us who live in the suburbs, where kids can find plenty of places to smoke either pot or cigarettes in secret. But its a big deal to the legislators who represent urban areas. State Senator Nia Gill put out a statement the other day that nicely sums up the views of minority legislators. I will not vote yes on any legislation that continues the school-to-prison pipeline or implements a modern-day stop and frisk on our children, the Essex Democrat wrote. We have seen the cost of these interactions and how they often turn dangerous or fatal. Other minority legislators have made it clear they are not budging on this issue. Without their support, Murphy has zero chance of getting his desired changes. Meanwhile times running out. As the schedule now stands, the governor has to either sign or veto the bills by Feb. 8. Here we get into a question of mathematics rather than linguistics. The legalization bill, which would set up a bureaucracy to regulate pot, failed to get Republican support and passed by a slim margin. But the decriminalization bill passed both houses with bipartisan support exceeding the two-thirds margin needed to override a veto. If such an override passed, the possession of less than six ounces of marijuana would become not punishable as a crime, offense or civil violation of the law for anyone. (And the supply could be provided through the free-market system exemplified by Ed Forchion.) And there would be nothing the governor could do about it. So hed better abandon the passive voice. Its time to get active. Genies, sorcerers, and exorcists are back in the Iranian political debate a decade after then-President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's associates were accused of practicing witchcraft and summoning supernatural creatures, claims that he denied. The debate about the alleged influence of sorcerers and clairvoyants on state officials was renewed this week when a member of the powerful Expediency Council -- a body that advises Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- said some Iranian politicians have consulted with people who claim to be able to summon genies. Ahmad Tavakoli made the claims last weekend in a story published on the news site Alef.ir, in which he said genies and fortune-tellers have been involved in mysterious, inefficient, and corrupt decisions by "some officials and dignitaries." According to Islamic mythology and Iranian folklore, genies live in a parallel world and possess extraordinary powers, including the ability to take different shapes and forms. Tavakoli said several cases of politicians involved in such things are being investigated by the anti-corruption group Justice and Transparency Watch, which he heads. Tavakolis comments followed a controversial claim by Tehrans interim Friday Prayers leader, Ayatollah Kazem Seddiqi, who said in a television interview in early January that a deceased cleric, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, a spiritual father of hard-liners, had opened his eyes and smiled kindly while undergoing the ritual washing of his body before his burial. The claim by Seddiqi, who quoted the person who had washed Mesbah's body, was met with criticism and mockery, including by those who accused the cleric of attempting to take advantage of peoples beliefs and others who said jokingly that Ayatollah Mesbah must have been buried alive. Seddiqi later said the person who performed the bathing ritual on Mesbah -- who died on January 2 at the age of 86 -- may have imagined the incident. Seddiqi expressed shame for repeating the claim. In his piece, Tavakoli named Mesbahs body washer, Reza Matlabi Kashani, and said he is a [major] investor who has many financial ambiguities and ties to senior officials and prominent clerics. Tavakoli said the rich businessman performs the washing ritual on the dead bodies of prominent clerics at his house. University graduates are missing from the decisions and management of the countrys affairs.... Were witnessing people with magical thinking making decisions. His claims were met with criticism by hard-liners, including by a former lawmaker who blasted him for suggesting that a man who had been accused of financial fraud had washed the body of master Mesbah, a claim the son of the cleric denied. Others said Tavakolis revelations highlighted the state of affairs in the Islamic republic where many elderly clerics with outdated ideas and no special expertise sit in powerful bodies. In a commentary published online, former reformist lawmaker Dariush Ghanbari said Tavakolis remarks showed that educated Iranians do not have much of a say in the countrys affairs. University graduates are missing from the decisions and management of the countrys affairs," Ghanbadi wrote, warning that ultimately Iranians pay the price of such unscientific practices. "Were witnessing people with magical thinking making decisions, he said. Tavakoli later said his comments were only the tip of the iceberg. Belief in genies, which has origins in Islamic mythology and Iranian folklore, is widespread in some segments of society whose members consult about important life decisions with people claiming to be in contact with an unseen world. Accusations of Iranian politicians contacting sorcerers and engaging in paranormal activities peaked under Ahmadinejad, who at one point claimed a halo of light had surrounded him during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2005. He later denied the episode, which had been videotaped, while his aides said the video had been doctored by his opponents. Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final word on all state affairs in the Islamic republic and is deeply suspicious of the West, mentioned genies in a speech in March when he cited a Koranic verse and suggested a supernatural creature and Irans enemies were working together to undermine Iran. There are enemies from among both genies and human beings, and they help one another. The security services of many countries work together against us, Khamenei said in remarks that raised many eyebrows. Some media reportedly removed the genie reference from Khameneis comments in an effort to prevent criticism. His website later interviewed a cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Abedi, to clarify the unsettling comments made by Iran's supreme leader. But Abedi, who was introduced as a professor at seminaries and universities, not only confirmed Khameneis odd claim but even went a step further by accusing Israeli intelligence services of using sorcery. The Jews, in particular the Zionists, pursue metaphysical matters to a large extent. Their intelligence service, Mossad, undoubtedly does such things, Abedi was quoted as saying by Khamenei.ir. The anti-Semitic claim has been used by several extremist clerics in the past. The San Francisco School Board has announced Tuesday its decision to remove the names of key historical figures from 44 of its schools, eliciting a lot of criticism from legislators and parents themselves. According to a report by the San Francisco Gate, the decision came after years of debate to remove the names of historical figures who have any relation so slavery, are racists, or human rights violations. The Daily Mail UK, on the other hand, reported that the school board's decision was not an arbitrary decision mainly influenced by the recent protests born from the death of George Floyd but actually "came after the 2017 death of Heather Heyer at the hands of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia." In 2018, the schoolboard established a task force "to study the names of district schools and determine which ones would be replaced, as calls mounted to replace those of historicial figures tied to slavery." The taskforce then created a volunteer panel that reviewed the names of 144 schools in the district and from this came the recommendation to remove those belonging to the 44 schools. Of the historical names to be removed, the San Francisco school board have enlisted Alamo, Edwin Bryant, Pedro De Alvarado, Vasco Nunez De Balboa, Don Antonio De Ulloa, James Denman, Mission Dolores, El Dorado, Edward Everett, Dianne Feinstein, James Garfield, William Henry Grattan, Herbert Hoover, Edward Hyde, Francis Scott Key, Henry Ware Lawton, Claire Lilienthal, James Lick, James Lowell, James Wilson Marshall, Frank McCoppin, William McKinley, James Monroe, John Muir, Noriega, Jose Ortega, Presidio, Paul Revere, Jose Bernardo Sanchez, Gen. Philip Sheridan, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, Junipero Serra, John Sloat, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert F. STockton, Adolph Sutro, and Daniel Webster. Notably, the list of names that will be removed as per the Board's decision include that of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The schools whose names were to be changed have until April 2021 to come up with a replacement based on guidelines provided by the San Francisco school board, the San Francisco Gate said in its report. "It's a message to our families, our students and our community. It's not just symbolic," San Francisco board member Mark Sanchez explained to the San Francisco Chronicle in an interview. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, as per San Francisco Gate, criticized the move of the school board and called it "offensive." 'It's offensive to parents who are juggling their children's daily at-home learning schedules with doing their own jobs and maintaining their sanity. It's offensive to me as someone who went to our public schools, who loves our public schools, and who knows how those years in the classroom are what lifted me out of poverty and into college. It's offensive to our kids who are staring at screens day after day instead of learning and growing with their classmates and friends," Breed pointed out. "This is an important conversation to have, and one that we should involve our communities, our families, and our students. What I cannot understand is why the School Board is advancing a plan to have all these schools renamed by April, when there isn't a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then," Breed said Wednesday in a statement. "Let's bring the same urgency and focus on getting our kids back in the classroom, and then we can have that longer conversation about the future of school names," she added. The Daily Mail said critics found the board's move as inappropriate since it did not give any credence to the historical context of those being removed due to their flaws that were based on Wikipedia's account instead of actual historians and as impractical for not focusing on what is more urgent such as the reopening of schools. Wikipedia, which hails itself as a "Free Encyclopedia," indicates in its Terms of Use that anyone can "contribute to and edit" the content shown in its pages. It does not moderate or fact-check the content users add; rather, it simply "hosts" them - which could mean that those with malicious intent can add false information to mislead readers.. Other critics cited the costs this decision will entail considering the district's budget deficit that's estimated to reach $75 million for the next school year. The costs entailed, in particular, involve a $400,000 signage replacement that excludes expenses for "new uniforms and gymnasium floors," the Daily Mail UK said. This is not the first time historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln have been targeted, CBN News reported. Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser created a committee which recommended the same action last year. It also called on the federal government to "remove, relocate or contextualize" federal memorials and monuments such as the Washington Monument, a statue of Benjamin Franklin and the Jefferson Memorial. If anything, this latest decision seems to be part of what Ben Carson referred to as a "coordinated" historical revisionism from the Left. (Natural News) Supposed Big Tech alternative MeWe is opting for the path of political censorship and repression, caving to demands of media leftists to censor right-leaning political content. (Article by Richard Moorhead republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) MeWes administrators confirmed they would close so-called Stop the Steal groups and purge their content from its platform earlier this month. MeWe styles itself as somewhat of a Facebook alternative, advertising user privacy and independence from a data surveillance business model. MeWes administrators have taken to signaling against real free speech social media platforms such as Parler and Gab, a thumb in the face of their largely anti-establishment user base, many of whom joined the service to begin with in pursuit of a Facebook alternative that doesnt censor. MeWe is NOT an "anything goes" site like Parler or Gab. MeWe's TOS is strict & clear (https://t.co/oJP1JvrxiZ)- haters, lawbreakers, violence inciters etc. are not welcome. We have an outstanding Trust & Safety team that works hard every day to investigate & remove TOS-violators MeWe (@mewe) January 10, 2021 An overwhelming majority of Americans who attended Stop the Steal protests are peaceful and non-violent, with only a handful getting out of control during the January 6th raucous US Capitol riot. MeWes decision to implement political censorship en masse makes it no different than the worst Big Tech authoritarians, except for the deceptive marketing of a free speech social media platform. In any event, a social media platform that bans arbitrarily defined haters is almost assured to have draconian anti-free speech policies. MeWe has opted for the path of a minuscule Big Tech clone in a betrayal of its own user base. Gab offers a wide range of social services without the politically correct censorship, and MeWes users should embrace it as the real home of free speech online. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com and Censorship.news. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit! Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Jan. 28, 2021 Jim Rutherford steps down as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Allegations pile up against a group of self-proclaimed college kids after they greatly mismanage distributing the COVID-19 vaccines at a site in Philadelphia. A man hits two deer with his new car, then hits $2 million in the lottery. And one many reconstructs Easton out of Legos. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too. 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. Baker-Polito Administration Files $45.6B Fiscal 2022 Budget Proposal BOSTON The Baker-Polito administration on Wednesday filed its fiscal year 2022 budget recommendation, a $45.6 billion proposal that continues the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and addresses critical priorities including promoting economic growth, fully funding the first year of the landmark Student Opportunity Act, and supporting cities and towns across Massachusetts. This balanced proposal does not raise taxes on the commonwealth's residents and preserves substantial financial reserves for the future, according to the administration. Submitted as House 1, this budget recommendation provides $246.3 million in new funding for the Student Opportunity Act including an increase of $197.7 million in Chapter 70 funding, with a particular focus on school districts serving low-income students. The administration is also proposing to allow municipalities to count $114 million in federal dollars toward their Chapter 70 required local contribution increases to further deliver on the commitments in the Student Opportunity Act. Additionally, House 1 maintains the administration's promise to cities and towns with a $39.5 million increase in unrestricted local aid, which is equivalent to the 3.5 percent consensus tax revenue growth rate. "We are proud to submit a fiscal year 2022 budget proposal that despite the challenges of the pandemic, invests in economic growth and fully funds the first year of the landmark Student Opportunity Act all without raising taxes on the commonwealth's residents," said Gov. Charlie Baker. "This balanced budget proposal allows the commonwealth to respond to the pandemic and promote our recovery, while investing in key priorities such as education, health care, substance misuse, and racial equality and diversity. We look forward to working closely with the Legislature to adopt a full spending plan for FY22." This budget recommendation is based on the $30.12 billion consensus tax revenue estimate, which anticipates a 3.5 percent growth in total tax collections over revised FY21 tax estimates. House 1 includes $45.6 billion in gross spending, a decrease of 0.7 percent from fiscal year 2021 projected spending, excluding transfer to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund. This year-over-year decrease accounts for current tax projections and is primarily driven by caseload and cost decreases at MassHealth, which previously experienced significant cost increases in FY21 due to the pandemic. This proposal authorizes a withdrawal of up to $1.6 billion from the Stabilization Fund to help ensure the continuation of essential government services and responsibly preserve financial reserves for fiscal year 2023 and beyond. Working together, the Legislature and the administration have been able to grow the the so-called "Rainy Day" fund since 2015. Improvements in tax collections or new federal revenue will allow the amount of this withdrawal to be reduced. This current Stabilization Fund withdrawal is projected to leave the fund with a balance of approximately $1.11 billion. This balanced and fiscally responsible spending plan makes investments across key areas including: Fund the Student Opportunity Act with $246.3 million in new funding added for initiatives laid out in this legislation. This includes an increase of $197.7 million in Chapter 70 funding, with a focus on school districts serving low-income students. The administration's proposal also provides an increase of $22.5 million for special education circuit breaker reimbursement for local cities and towns, as well as $26.1 million in additional funding for charter school reimbursement. Another $16.9 million is targeted to additional funding for transforming vocational high schools into Career Technical Institutes and training 20,000 new workers in skilled trades and technical fields over four years. Also, a $1.310 billion investment for the Department of Higher Education, University of Massachusetts, and state universities and community colleges, representing a $146.1 million (12.6 percent) increase since 2015 Unrestricted General Government Aid investment has increased by $39.5 million compared to the FY21 budget, which is consistent with the expected 3.5 percent growth in tax revenue. This translates to a total UGGA investment of $1.168 billion to local cities and towns across the commonwealth. This budget provides $4 million in funding for Community Compact-related programs including best practices and regionalization and efficiency grants. Additionally, the budget includes $4.8 million for the Public Safety Staffing Grant Program managed by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, as well as $3 million for local technical assistance. The proposal includes $4 million for the Small Business Technical Assistance Grant Program for entrepreneurs and small businesses and $1 million for regional economic development grants. There is $668 million for Small Business Relief Grant Program, which is providing financial assistance to Massachusetts businesses with a focus toward minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as those sectors most impacted by the pandemic. In relation to COVID-19 response, $1 billion will be used through MassHealth to help stabilize health-care providers, including more than $60 million in field hospitals and isolation and quarantine hotels; $56 million to address food security; 41 million pieces of personal protection equipment. The COVID-19 response is also being supported by the most recent federal COVID-19 legislation, which contains more than $450 million for testing and tracing, and nearly $90 million for vaccine distribution efforts. House 1 supports these efforts with $707.1 million in funding for the Department of Public Health and investment in key new positions with a focus on the State Lab and public health hospitals, and maintains $10 million in grants to health departments to support municipalities' capacity to respond. More on the budget items, including investments in diversity and equity, sexual and domestic violence, homelessness, transportation, substance abuse prevention and treatment, care for seniors and veterans, disabilities and behavioral health, public safety, children, and climage change can be found here.https://budget.digital.mass.gov/govbudget/fy22/ Amid confusion and concerns about getting the second dose of the COVID vaccine on time as people have had trouble securing appointments, state officials said Tuesday that some delay need not be concerning. Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said that while its recommended that people get their shots as close to 21 days after the first shot for Pfizer or 28 days for Moderna, there is no known loss of effectiveness of the second dose as long as someone receives the second dose within 60 days. I was on a call with the experts from the White House and they talked about six weeks from the time of your first dose. Within that window, you should get your second dose, she said. Gov. Phil Murphy added: In a perfect world its 21 and 28 days, Murphy said. But its not the end of the world if it slips. But medical experts are split on how important the timing of the second dose really is. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said people should get the second dose as close as possible to the recommended time frame, but if thats not feasible, the second dose can be scheduled up to six weeks, or 42 days, after the first dose. The World Health Organization also said the timing between doses can be from 21 to 42 days when necessary. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical advisor and the top infectious disease expert in the U.S., said he was concerned about new, more-quickly spreading variants of the virus and whether it would spread faster if second doses are delayed. You dont get full efficacy until you get the second dose, and if you allow suboptimal efficacy, you can actually immunologically select for mutations, Fauci told the World Economic Forum panel earlier this week. And after Great Britain announced earlier this month it was giving more first doses, which could cause a delay in second doses, Fauci said he didnt agree with the plan. I would not be in favor of that, Fauci said. Were going to keep doing what were doing. Dr. Judith Lightfoot, chief of infectious disease at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, said waiting an extra two weeks wont be harmful. Youre still going to have some protective antibodies on board (from the first dose), she said. I think the 90-year-old mother who has to be waiting two additional weeks is going to be fine if everyone around her is doing what theyre supposed to do. This is one of the reasons why I strongly advise people to socially distance and still wear a mask. Right now with the shortage we may not even be able to deliver the second doses, she added. No one wants to wait because of everything going on. But if we dont have the vaccine we will all have to wait. Nalin Johri, acting program director of the Seton Hall Master of Healthcare Administration Program, said second dose timing, based on data used for the vaccines Emergency Use Authorization approvals, has a grace period in which people can get their second doses earlier than the recommended time frame. There is room to get it later, too, he said. Unpublished data from Pfizer and Moderna reported in the British Columbia Medical Journal suggests that there was `no difference in vaccine efficacy between the people who got their second dose at day 19 and the people who got it at day 42 and that there was no decrease in protection between the first dose and the second dose, he said, noting that it would still be ideal to get the second dose at the recommended 21- or 28-day intervals. Others argued there is no data that supports spacing the doses out beyond 21 and 28 days. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted as recently as Jan. 4 that increasing the timing beyond three to four weeks goes beyond what the data can tell us, said Stephanie Navarro Silvera, an epidemiologist and public health professor with Montclair State University. Only 2% of participants in the Pfizer trial and 8% in the Moderna trial received their second dose beyond the three- and four-week interval and they were not followed long enough to be able to know what the impact on efficacy might be. Another study of the Pfizer vaccine showed that neutralizing antibodies, which indicates an immunity, does indeed diminish beyond 21 days after the first dose, she said, but she noted the study only included 34 participants. So Im not sure that we can draw any generalizable conclusions, but, in the absence of data, Im not sure that extending the interval is advisable, Silvera said. The goal, in my opinion, should be working with the federal government to ensure they acquire and distribute more doses. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. South Africa: Transnet National Ports Authority move to improve competitiveness The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), developer and operator of the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has welcomed the move by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to relocate its head office to the Port of Ngqura. Its a much-welcomed move and one the CDC looks forward to with keen interest bearing in mind the symbiotic economic enabling relationship the CDC and Port of Ngqura have enjoyed over a long period of time, CDC Unit Head of Marketing, Brand and Communications, Dr Ayanda Vilakazi said on Wednesday. He said the decision of the TNPA shows the commitment to be closer to clients, ensure the unblocking of projects, and facilitate further the competitiveness of ports, impacting positively on the various port users. TNPA provides the assurance that there are adequate, affordable, equitable and efficient port services and facilities available to the users of the ports. In addition, TNPA provides high levels of service and increasing efficiency for a growing customer base, enhancing South Africas global competitiveness and facilitating the expansion of the South African economy through socially and environmentally sustainable port development, Vilakazi said. With the establishment of the Coega Project as far back as 1999, the Port of Ngqura has added tremendous value to the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) due to its strategic location. The CDC said the relocation of the head office, to Port of Ngqura is a critical enabler in tapping into the raw potential of the Eastern Cape economy, its role in improving the overall competitiveness of South Africa, and unlock opportunities in the coastal regions, further realising the countrys strategy on the Oceans Economy. The Coega SEZ sees itself as a crucial linkage to the Port of Ngqura, and the ground experience will be of benefit to the rest of the TNPA staff located here, as part of ongoing programmes to improve the competitiveness of South African ports. It is worth mentioning that there are various national strategic projects on which we are already collaborating with the TNPA, including the proposed Gas to Power Programme, following a declaration by national government that the CDC will be the location for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) through the allocation of 1000MW. The Port of Ngqura is required to play a pivotal role in laying the groundwork in preparing for the project, Vilakazi said. Moreover, the CDC is particularly keen to advance the Coega SEZs Transhipment-Hub strategy, with Zone 1 (back of Port operations) set aside as a maritime and logistics area that is integrated with the deep-water Port of Ngqura. Vilakazi said the Transhipment Hub has proven to be successful in other countries like at the Port of Singapore. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Flash The Russian parliament on Wednesday ratified President Vladimir Putin's bill on a five-year extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). At a plenary session on Wednesday, the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, approved the bill submitted by Putin on Tuesday on the extension of the significant arms control pact between Russia and the United States. The New START reached by the world's two largest nuclear powers cannot be "overestimated" and it is of great significance for the whole world, said State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. Shortly after that, the Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, also greenlighted the bill. "The New START is being extended for five years without any additional conditions. This is our stance and this is our success!" said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council. Russia and the United States have started expert-level work on the extension of the New START, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Monday. Also on Monday, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a phone conversation to discuss the extension of the New START and Russian-U.S. cooperation in the field of security. In 2010, Washington and Moscow signed the New START, which stipulates limits to the numbers of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems by both. The key pact, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, will expire on Feb. 5. Govt's Kharif paddy procurement nears 59 million tonnes Amidst the ongoing farmers strike, government agencies have procured a record 58.76 million tonnes of paddy, valued at Rs1,10,934.02 crore, so far (up to 25 January 2021), benefiting about 8,47 million farmers in the procurement operations in the ongoing . Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per existing MSP schemes, as was done in the previous seasons, a government release stated. Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Karnataka and West Bengal. Total paddy purchases have crossed 58.76 million tonnes up to 25 January 2021, which is an increase of 20.28 per cent against the last year corresponding purchase of 48.85 million tonnes. Out of the total purchase of 58.76 million tonnes, Punjab alone has contributed 20.28 million tonnes, which is 34.51 per cent of total procurement, the release pointed out. Also, based on the proposal from the states, approval has been accorded for procurement of 5.19 million tonnes of pulse and oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme (PSS). The sanction for procurement of 1.23 lakh tonnes of copra (the perennial crop) for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has also been given, says the release. Further, based on proposals by state governments, sanction for procurement of 2.50 lakh tonnes of pulse and oilseeds of Rabi Marketing Season 2020-2021 for the states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, has also been given. Proposals from other states will also be accorded approval on receipt of proposals for procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective states/UTs by the central nodal agencies through state nominated procuring agencies. Government through its nodal agencies has so far procured 3,01,124.83 tonnes of moong, urad, tur, groundnut pods and soybean having MSP value of Rs1,622.29 crores, benefitting 1,62,120 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan. Similarly, 5,089 onnes of copra (the perennial crop) having MSP value of Rs52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (up to 25 January 2021). At present, in respect of copra and urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing states. The respective state/UT governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective states based on the arrivals of pulses and oilseeds, the release stated. Procurement operations of seed cotton (Kapas) under MSP are going on smoothly in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 25 January 2021 88,43,412 bales of cotton, valued at Rs25,825.34 crore has been procured, benefitting 18,13,288 farmers, the release added. RBC is leveraging Bread's white-label digital payments platform to expand its payment solution offerings for Canadian merchants. Launched in fall 2020, PayPlan powered by RBC is an innovative way for Canadian customers to pay for big-ticket items over time. "Canada is Bread's first international expansion, and is another example of how Bread continues to build merchant-focused point-of-sale payment solutions that give shoppers more convenience and choice," said Derek Joyce, president, Bread. "Our agreement with RBC accelerates Bread's platform growth and enables us to continue bringing next-generation payment and checkout solutions to more consumers globally." PayPlan by RBC is an end-to-end solution tailored for merchants. Using Bread's robust application programming interface (API) and customizable payment infrastructure, merchants benefit from a fast and easy integration that creates a frictionless user experience designed to grow sales and reduce shopping cart abandonment. "Bread's platform expands our payment capabilities, and enables us to deliver an innovative e-commerce solution that helps merchants unlock more revenue at the point-of-sale," said Amit Sadhu, vice president, personal lending at RBC. "This is another example of how RBC is working with fintechs to meet the evolving needs of Canadian merchants and customers." "This announcement is evidence of the power of Bread's modern payments technology to drive value to bank partners like RBC and its merchants through convenience and choice for today's digitally savvy consumers," said Val Greer, chief commercial officer, Alliance Data Card Services. "With Alliance Data's recent acquisition of Bread, we are excited about this opportunity for Bread to bring to bear its innovative technology, unique digital capabilities and exceptional talent to offer a white-label solution that augments RBC's existing merchant payment suite." For more information about Alliance Data's Bread business, please visit www.breadpayments.com. About Alliance Data Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) is a leading provider of data-driven marketing, loyalty and payment solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions that measurably change consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its partners create and increase customer loyalty across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. A FORTUNE 500 and S&P MidCap 400 company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Alliance Data consists of businesses that together employ over 8,500 associates at more than 50 locations worldwide. Alliance Data's Card Services business is a comprehensive provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, general purpose and business credit card programs, digital payments, including Bread, and Comenity-branded financial services. LoyaltyOne owns and operates the AIR MILES Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. More information about Alliance Data can be found at www.AllianceData.com. Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. About Bread Bread, a division of Alliance Data, is a leading digital payments company that partners with merchants and partners to personalize payment options for their customers. Bread's flexible platform and robust suite of APIs allow merchants and partners to integrate point-of-sale financing and other digital payment products anywhere in their customers' shopping journey. Bread's full-funnel recommendation engine serves up the right options at the right time, empowering merchants to sell more, improve conversion, and lift average-order-value. To learn more, please visit breadpayments.com. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. Forward Looking Statements This release contains 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. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding, and the guidance we give with respect to, our anticipated operating or financial results, initiation or completion of strategic initiatives, future dividend declarations, and future economic conditions, including, but not limited to, fluctuation in currency exchange rates, market conditions and COVID-19 impacts related to relief measures for impacted borrowers and depositors, labor shortages due to quarantine, reduction in demand from clients, supply chain disruption for our reward suppliers and disruptions in the airline or travel industries. We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. Alliance Data Brian Vereb Investor Relations 614-528-4516 [email protected] Shelley Whiddon Media 214-494-3811 [email protected] Rachel Stultz Media 614-729-4890 [email protected] SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation Related Links http://www.alliancedata.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. In his first day in the Oval Office US President Joe Biden signed an executive order reversing multiple immigration policies promoted by his predecessor in the White House, including the 2017 travel ban on people from a number of predominantly Muslim countries. The move received little attention in the Arab media which, like the regimes in the most influential Arab capitals, had made little secret of their preference for Donald Trump. It may not be a big thing but it is still an indication of where countries in the region stand and where the Biden administration stands, commented a Cairo-based Western diplomat. It shows their different priorities at least. It is clear, according to one Washington-based Arab diplomat, that the Biden administration wants to signal its commitment to liberties and non-discrimination. And the signalling extends beyond overturning Trumps travel ban on a group of Muslim majority countries to include the new presidents choice of his foreign policy team. Selecting Antony Blinken as secretary of state is significant in this respect, according to the Arab diplomat. Blinken served as deputy national security adviser from 2013 to 2015 and deputy secretary of state from 2015 to 2017 under Barack Obama. Bidens nominee for the top diplomatic job in Washington has made his positions clear, both through tweets and then during his approval hearings. He has underlined that the US cannot turn its back on human rights and democracy; that it will have to find ways to re-engage Iran within new parameters; get its regional allies, including Turkey, to act as such, and find effective ways to put pressure on China and Russia. On Tuesday Blinkens nomination was confirmed by the US Senate. Blinken is not the only member of Bidens foreign policy team providing food for thought for governments across the Middle East. Samantha Power, Bill Burns, and Jack Sullivan, Bidens choices for USAID director, CIA director and national security advisor, are all cut from the same cloth as Blinken. For the most part they are seasoned diplomats, says an Egyptian diplomatic source. They know that when all is said and done US foreign policy in the region is designed to serve the interests of the US in this part of the world. While they might be inclined, at least initially, to prioritise a debate with Middle Eastern states on human rights, its equally likely that debate will quickly peter out. According to this diplomat, Washingtons top priority in the Middle East will continue to be security-oriented. We are talking about the security of Israel, Washingtons top ally, the security of the Gulf, host to a considerable US military presence, and the security of the Mediterranean, the southern border of NATO. On these issues there is a lot more room for agreement than disagreement. According to regional diplomatic sources, Israel and Saudi Arabia are already sending clear messages to Washington about their expectations with regards to Iran. The return signals, the same diplomats say, have been quite reassuring. The Biden administration is not looking to re-enter the 2015 Iran nuclear deal without it first being tweaked. The US will accommodate the concerns of countries in the region, especially with regards to Irans missile capacity which is particularly worrying for Gulf states. Even in the most optimistic assessments, the diplomats argue, the file will take a year to fix. And it is a year during which the US will be working on other important security files, including Libya and the situations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Obviously, the US will not be able to overlook the role of Egypt in these files, says the Egyptian diplomat. And Cairo, he adds, has already let Washington know it is willing to work in a positive way on the relevant issues. For Egypt, the Biden administrations pursuit of security issues around the region could be an excellent opportunity for Egypt because on this front what we agree on with the US is a lot more than what we disagree on. Fixing Eastern Mediterranean security, argues the Egyptian diplomat, simply means pushing for a more rational approach from Turkey vis-a-vis the region, and more active engagement in finding a way to manage the Palestinian cause. Cairo is already working closely with Jordan, France and Germany to re-launch Palestinian-Israeli talks, and is working with Jordan to manage the differences it has with Turkey over the Eastern Mediterranean. We told the Jordanians what we expect of Turkey, especially with regard to its intervention in Libya. We think that Turkey is getting the message and if it shows a willingness to respond positively then we will reciprocate, says the diplomat. He also expects the Biden administration to put pressure on Turkey to abandon its imperial dreams. It is clear from Turkeys behaviour in the last few weeks that Ankara has got a clear message from the European Union that it needs to behave in accordance with the requirements of regional stability. We think the Biden administration, as part of its scheme to consolidate trans-Atlantic relations, will also expect Turkey, a NATO member, to act in line with the collective requirements of regional security. Saudi Arabias recent opening up to Turkey reflects the new foreign policy parameters Riyadh is adopting following the inauguration of Biden, say regional diplomats. This new opening comes with an implicit understanding that Ankara and Riyadh will reach an accommodation over a host of regional issues, including a commitment from Turkey to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Riyadhs allies. Meanwhile, says the Egyptian diplomat, Cairo expects Washington to act to curb the support Ankara offers militant Islamist groups in Libya and Syria and keep a close eye on Turkeys backing of militant Islamist groups in East Africa and the Red Sea. We are very interested to work with the US on Red Sea security, and under Biden, or any other administration for that matter, Washington has no choice but to push for a deal to end the prolonged crisis over GERD. According to the Egyptian diplomat, Cairo is well aware that Ethiopia has some inroads in the Biden foreign policy team and Ethiopia probably has more support in the US Congress today than we do but we are working on building alliances and we know we can. And the fact is Washington knows it cannot place Egypt at risk when it comes to water resources. Everybody in the US, and in the EU, understands that a severe drop in water supplies poses a direct risk to Egypts stability. Cairo-based Western diplomats agree that for the EU and the US the stability of Egypt is a crucial issue. They also agree that given the troubled situation in Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Iraq and several East African states nobody would be willing to rock the boat when it comes to Egypt. Yet even so, Cairo is busy bracing itself for an unwanted conversation on the human rights/democracy file. In all honesty we have been making some changes and I think there is a mood for improvement now that Egypt is a little more relaxed about the war on terrorism, insists the Egyptian diplomat. Human rights, he says, are, after all, a fixed element in the US foreign policy. It is just that they were overlooked by the Trump administration. We know how to take pressure and we know how to push back, and we know how to get compromises done. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under headline: Pursuing compromise Short link: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the World Economic Forum's Davos Summit on Thursday said the world would receive more vaccines from India. The nation started its mega inoculation drive about a week back with Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. Since then, many other nations have also received the jabs from India as part the government's 'Vaccine Maitri' plan. The World Health Organisation (WHO), which has repeatedly criticised 'vaccine nationalism' by richer nations, has praised India's efforts. Dubbed as the country's embarkment upon a new kind of 'vaccine diplomacy', here is a closer look into the supply of the jabs to nations who need it. ALSO READ | Narendra Modi at WEF's Davos: Many More Covid Vaccines Will Soon Come From India, Says PM What Countries Has India Supplied Vaccines to So Far? Bahrain: Bahrain on Thursday received its first delivery of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine by produced by SII. The vaccine will be free to citizens and residents of the Gulf Arab state, which on January 25 approved the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker's vaccine for emergency use, state media said, without providing the number of doses. Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also prime minister, thanked Modi "and our friends in India for working with us to secure the delivery of" the vaccine, his court said in a Twitter post. Sri Lanka: India sent half a million free doses of coronavirus vaccine to Sri Lanka on Thursday. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the Covishield vaccine from the Indian ambassador Gopal Baglay at a ceremony at Colombo airport, Gotabaya's office said in a statement. The island nation of 22 million people will begin inoculations of frontline health workers on Friday from the western province, the presidential office said. Brazil: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro previously thanked India for the export of Covid-19 vaccines in a unique way, by tweeting an image of Hindu god Hanuman carrying the jabs from India to Brazil. It was a reference to the Hindu epic Ramayana, wherein Hanuman carries the life-saving 'Sanjeevni plant' to save Ram's brother Lakshman's life. India had previously cleared commercial exports of COVID-19 vaccines, and the first consignments were shipped to Brazil, and Morocco on Friday last week. Bhutan, Maldives: Bhutan and Maldives were the first two countries to receive Covid-19 vaccines sent by India in sync with its 'neighbourhood first' policy. Bangladesh: Bangladesh on Monday received the first consignment of the 5 million doses of Covishield vaccines from India under a procurement agreement, four days after New Delhi gifted 2 million doses of the vaccine to Dhaka. A special Air India flight carrying the shots reached the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport earlier in the day to be initially stored at a warehouse of private Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd ahead of their planned countrywide distribution. Nepal: Nepal has already launched its nationwide vaccination drive with the one million doses of vaccine provided by India under grant assistance. Vaccines have also been flown to Seychelles, Mauritius and Myanmar. Other Countries Awaiting Vaccines South Africa: South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday a million coronavirus vaccine doses will arrive from India in the country on February 1. After the arrival of the vaccine doses via Dubai, these will undergo some processes for 10 to 14 days, after which these will be distributed among provinces, he said during a virtual press conference. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is also set to receive 3 million vaccines from SII in about a week. Supplies to Afghanistan will also commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances. India also recently informed the UN Security Council that it will supply vaccines to the Covax facility of the WHO and undertake contractual supplies to various countries in a phased manner. It also added that more than six million doses have been airlifted to nine countries under New Delhis vaccine diplomacy. The country 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 Delhi Police on Thursday issued notices to 20 farmer leaders over the violence during the farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day. Notices were served to the farmer leaders including Yogendra Yadav, Baldev Singh Sirsa, Balbir S Rajewal for breaching the agreement with police regarding the tractor rally. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal The Delhi Police has sought answers in three days on why the agreement with the police was broken and rules were flouted. While the Delhi Police is holding farmer leaders responsible for violating the agreed rules of the tractor parade, which they say led to clashes in parts of the Capital, the farmers have said there was a conspiracy to sabotage and malign their peaceful protest. The farmers have also scrapped their plans to march to the Parliament on 1 February, Budget Day. The action comes after Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava alleged that the farmer leaders were involved in the 26 January violence and warned that no one will be spared. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reportedly visit the injured police and security personnel who were attacked during the Republic Day violence in the national capital. Shah will be visiting the injured personnel this afternoon at the Civil Lines hospital where they are undergoing treatment. Red Fort shut till 31 Jan The Red Fort, which was over-run by protesting farmers on 26 January, has been temporarily shut for visitors from 27 January to 31 January, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said in an order. While the order did not mention the reason behind the closure, it is believed that this time will be utilised to ascertain the damage caused to the iconic monument when it was overrun by protesting farmers on 26 January. As per reports, after the violence that erupted in the Red Fort premises on Republic Day, the ASI has taken a decision to keep the gates shut to take stock of the damages. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. She was one half of the Australia's most successful radio duos for years. And on Wednesday, Kate Langbroek revealed the truth behind her 'split' from comedian Dave Hughes after she decided to move to Italy. Speaking on her new radio show The 3pm Pick-Up, the 55-year-old said the pair's 'divorce' was a long time coming. Split: Kate Langbroek has revealed the truth behind her 'split' from comedian Dave Hughes after years on air together 'It was a big thing, but he knew it was coming for a long time because I had pre-empted [a move to Italy],' she told co-hosts Monty Diamond and Yumi Stynes. 'We were actually doing a show here together when I decided we [her family] were going to go live in Italy together.' She said Dave questioned her move to Bologna Italy and how she would spend her days in the city. Move: Speaking on her new radio show The 3pm Pick-Up , the 55-year-old said the pair's 'divorce' was a long time coming after she decided to follow her dream and live in Italy with her family 'He kept saying to me: ''What are you going to do all day'',' Kate said. 'I'm like, my dream, my dream is nothingness.' Kate went on to call Dave one of the most 'significant men in her life'. 'Apart from my husband he was the most significant man in my life. And it has been like a marriage, and now like a divorce,' she said. Back on the airwaves: Kate is now on the 3PM-Pick Up, alongside Monty Diamond and Yumi Stynes. She replaced model and WAG, Bec Judd Kate and her husband of 17 years, Peter, relocated to Bologna with their four children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, in January 2019. It was supposed to be a 'family gap year', but they decided to extend the break for an additional 12 months before coronavirus was declared a pandemic. Kate only recently moved back to Melbourne after she was forced to live under Italy's strict covid lockdowns last year. Adventure: Kate and her husband of 17 years, Peter, relocated to Bologna with their four children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, in January 2019 Speaking to the Herald Sun earlier this month, Kate explained that 'Hughesy and Kate' couldn't get back together because Dave is now doing a breakfast show in Sydney. She said she didn't want to uproot her four children to a new city again following their recent return from Italy. 'We had conversations about that but I couldn't say to the kids, yeah we're coming back to Australia, guess what we're moving to Sydney,' she explained. Food Check-Out Week is an Our Food Link Event. "The pandemic showed the world how essential agriculture is to the food supply chain," said Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick. "Food Check-Out Week reminds us to pay tribute to our agricultural heroes that grow the food that keeps our grocery stores stocked. Farm Bureau volunteers statewide will be celebrating Food Check-Out Week Feb. 15-19, 2021. The celebrations spotlight the healthy, nutritious food supply available to Floridians. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, when applied to a calendar year, the average American earns enough income to pay for an annual supply of food in just seven weeks. By comparison, the same person must work until mid-April to pay for annual yearly income taxes. Our farm families are committed to providing consumers with safe, nutritious and affordable meals, said Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick. The pandemic showed the world how essential agriculture is to the food supply chain. Food Check-Out Week reminds us to pay tribute to our agricultural heroes that grow the food that keeps our grocery stores stocked. The average American is now at least three-generations removed from the farm. To help better link Americans with the sources of their food, clothing, shelter and energy, Farm Bureau volunteers will host various interactive community events statewide. Sample events include educational and food displays at local grocery stores including food giveaways, collections for food banks and donations to various charities, such as Ronald McDonald House Charities. To find out what events are taking place in your community, contact your local Farm Bureau county office by visiting http://www.floridafarmbureau.org/county-farm-bureaus/. Florida Farm Bureau, the states largest general agricultural organization, represents more than 136,000 member-families. We serve to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities. Media contacts: Rachael Smith, Interim Public Relations Director 352.374.1521 rachael.smith@ffbf.org # # # An Idaho woman attended a local city council meeting sporting an eccentric look that she claimed resembled a burka, voicing her frustration that she had to 'dress like a freaking Muslim' to get out of wearing masks while attending classes on her college campus. The woman - who identified herself as Katie Dugger - was among the many irate residents who spoke during Monday's city council meeting in Lewiston, Idaho, voicing their frustration with mask policies enforced because of COVID-19. Approaching the podium in a bright multi-colored poncho and floor length skirt along with a loud purple scarf, Katie went into a impassioned speech about how her life had been impacted since having to wear a mask. 'I took last semester off at LCSC (Lewis-Clark State College) because of all this nonsense because I can not wear a mask, it doesn't matter why but it is very traumatizing for me to put on a mask, because of something that happened to me when I was a kid,' she claimed at the podium. Scroll down for video The woman - who identified herself as Katie Dugger - was among the many irate residents who spoke during Monday's city council meeting in Lewiston, Idaho Dugger wore a multi-colored poncho and a floor length skirt along with a purple scarf. She would share that the scarf came from Peru Dugger then turned to her 'beautiful outfit,' which she clarified came from Peru. She continued: 'I'm wearing this because the only way I could go to school today was because I had to act like I had on a freaking burka and go like this so I could go to school and cover my face like I am a Muslim because I can breathe through this at least. 'This is thin enough that I can breathe through it... so the way for me to go to school and get my education is I have to dress like a freaking Muslim.' The woman soon became overcome with emotion, describing the current situation as 'terrible.' 'I'm wearing this because the only way I could go to school today was because I had to act like I had on a freaking burka and go like this so I could go to school and cover my face like I am a Muslim because I can breathe through this at least,' she said at the meeting Dugger added: 'You think the virus is smart enough to say "oh my god she has on a burka, I think I'll stop right here and not infect her or anybody else"' 'I want to go to school, I want to make this a better place,' she sobbed. 'I want to get my degree. 'This thing was wrapped around my head all day, I was at school for nine hours today and because of this thing around my face, my face was just dripping, dripping and I am trying to do homework, I am trying to do classwork,' Katie continued. 'I can't focus. Katie told people to wear a mask if they felt they needed to while voicing her skepticism for the vaccine 'Do you think these kids, in these schools can focus on their work when they are getting rashes, they are getting infections. The irate anti-masker then went on to mention someone she knew at the college that she claimed suffered an infection after she was forced to wear a mask following work she had done on her mouth. Dugger said that she was going to conduct a poll on her campus to determine if students actually wanted to wear masks before sharing with the council that she and others were working with an attorney on a class action lawsuit. She soon started crying again, explaining that she had to shut down her business of eight years because of the pandemic. Katie then voiced her frustration with taxpayers dollars going to 'plastic partitions and signs,' which she described as a 'load of bulls**t.' 'If they want to get a vaccine, let them get a vaccine and get Bell's palsy and fall over dead two weeks later,' Dugger declared 'What kind of people do we want to bring up where you have to cover your face and we can't see who you are, hide your identity,' she said. 'You think the virus is smart enough to say "oh my god she has on a burka, I think I'll stop right here and not infect her or anybody else."' Before wrapping up, Katie told people to wear a mask if they felt they needed to while voicing her skepticism for the vaccine. 'If they want to get a vaccine, let them get a vaccine and get Bell's palsy and fall over dead two weeks later,' Dugger declared. Katie Dugger's appearance on Monday was immediately followed by her husband, Jeff Dugger, who continued on with the onslaught against masks 'Idaho is conservative,' he said. 'We are supposed to be the ones who stand up. We still have our guns. They are coming for everything right now and they are starting off with this ridiculous mask thing' 'I just want to go to school. I just want to be a good person and I just want to do good for the community.' Katie Dugger's appearance on Monday was immediately followed by her husband, Jeff Dugger, who continued on with the onslaught against masks. Dugger advocated for letting 'herd immunity have its course' while he claimed that Idaho residents were being bullied by law enforcement and politicians. 'Idaho is conservative,' he said. 'We are supposed to be the ones who stand up. We still have our guns. They are coming for everything right now and they are starting off with this ridiculous mask thing.' Both Katie and Jeff Dugger have repeatedly posted on social media how they do not wear masks nor plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine Both Katie and Jeff Dugger have repeatedly posted on social media how they do not wear masks. In a post when Jeff asked others if they planned on getting the vaccine, Katie Dugger asserted 'Hell No!' Idaho has just over 161,200 people who have tested positive for the virus, according to the state's official coronavirus website. Some 1,714 people have died. Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Global e-tailer Amazon India on Thursday signed an agreement with the Karnataka industries and commerce department to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the state to increase their exports on its global selling platform. "The agreement will enable Amazon to train and onboard MSMEs across the state on its global selling platform for driving their exports to customers in 200 countries the world over," said the US-based company's Indian subsidiary in a statement here. The e-tailer's platform lowers entry barriers for MSMEs to expand their business and launch their products globally. "MSMEs from the state export a range of products, including readymade apparel, leather goods and toys among others," said the statement. The company will conduct training, webinars and on-boarding workshops in MSME clusters at Ballari, Channapatna and Mysuru on B2C e-commerce exports and selling worldwide through its 17 international marketplaces. "The workshops will enable MSMEs to use tools for launching their brands and grow their business in overseas markets through our global selling platform," said the statement. State Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar said on the occasion that Karnataka had a vibrant agro, aerospace, automobile, biotech, garment, handicraft, textile and toys sectors. "Our partnership with Amazon India will enable MSMEs to leverage its global presence and showcase their products to customers the world over," said Shettar in the statement. Amazon India global trade Director Abhijit Kamra said the partnership with the Karnataka government would elevate MSMEs in the state to a global level. "The Amazon global selling programme has enabled over 70,000 Indian exporters to cross $2billion in exports and showcase Made in India products," said Kamra in the statement. "E-commerce firms like Amazon complemented our government's efforts in meeting the needs of customers by delivering essentials and helping thousands of MSMEs to move online to grow and expand their business during the Covid pandemic," said the state industry secretary Gaurav Gupta. The southern state has a rich cultural and traditional heritage, with multiple Geographical Indications (GIs) products like Bidriware, Channapatna toys and Kinnhal craft. Mysore silk, Udupi cotton and Ilkal sarees are world-famous. "The partnership with Amazon will help the livelihood of artisans, weavers and craftsmen in the state," added Gupta. State industrial development commissioner Gunjan Krishna said as 50 per cent of sellers from Karnataka on Amazon were in based in tier-II cities, Amazon should expand its footprint beyond Bengaluru to other parts of the state. The state has about 8 lakh MSME units with Rs 86,000 crore investments and employ 56 lakh people in 10 clusters spanning automobiles at Hubli-Dharwad, food processing at Kalaburagi, readymade garments at Hubli, raisin at Bijapur (Vijayapura) and Athani in Belagavi, heat treatment at Hubli and printing at Harohalli in Ramanagara district among others. Actor Dharmajan Bolgatty, is likely to contest the assembly election. According to the reports, he is expected to field from Balussery constituency. He said that he will contest the polls if the Congress party wants him to. The actor who identifies himself as Congress supporter, had previously expressed his desire to contest in the polls. The Muslim League contested from Balussery last time instead of the Congress. 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. As more people get vaccinated and states begin to roll back some of the restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic schools, agencies and workplaces are working on a plan on how to safely return to normal. A Wisconsin family is looking back a year after they were separated by the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. One year ago, Sam Roth was trying to get his wife, Daisy, and daughters, Abby and Ada, out of Wuhan. They were visiting family at what turned out to be the start of the pandemic. "We did not want to go out. It was not safe outside," Daisy Roth said. "(We were) locked inside. (It was) pretty boring, their small apartment was pretty small," Abby Roth said. "I was scared that anything happened in China and we're so far away from each other. It was really hard to imagine the future," Daisy Roth said. But they made it on an evacuation flight and after quarantine at a California military base, they made it home. "For a little bit of time when they got back, we felt safe," Sam Roth said. "It's over there, worried about the family but not worried about our direct exposure, and that didn't last." The U.S. later became its own virus zone with home quarantines becoming the new normal. Because of that time they couldn't be together the Roths are maybe appreciating together time more than most. They're not going out much, and that's OK. "Being together is more important," Daisy Roth said. "We much prefer being together here in Wisconsin. It's a lot easier on us," Sam Roth said. Daisy Roth added that her parents remain safe in Wuhan, choosing to limit their trips outside for now, much like the Roths are doing. So far, no one in the family has gotten sick. The Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Morocco was launched Thursday from the Royal Palace in Fez by King Mohammed VI, who received the first shot of the vaccine. The vaccination campaign is launched after Morocco received last week two million doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine and on Wednesday it got half a million doses from Chinas Sinopharm. In accordance with the Kings instructions, the vaccination will be free for all citizens. The vaccination campaign, which will unfold progressively, will benefit all Moroccan citizens and foreign residents aged between 17 and over 75 years. This will make it possible to achieve the expected levels of collective immunization and protect the population against this pandemic. To ensure success to the large-scale operation, Moroccan authorities have mobilized nearly 3000 sites, over 25,530 health workers and 7000 mobile unites to inoculate the targeted priority people. Morocco has ordered 66 million vaccine doses and targets the immunization of at least 25 million inhabitants against the Coronavirus, starting with health workers, security forces, the army, teachers, and people older than 75. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov and Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien discussed the state of bilateral cooperation and countering modern hybrid threats, the NSDC's press service has reported. "Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov held a meeting with Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of bilateral cooperation," the report reads. The NSDC secretary congratulated the American side on the inauguration of the newly elected President of the United States, Joe Biden. Danilov informed Kvien about the ongoing work to develop and approve 14 sectorial strategies, which are provided by the National Security Strategy of Ukraine enacted by the Decree of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. He also stressed the importance of coordination and joint actions with Ukraine's strategic partners, in particular, in combating modern hybrid threats and information terrorism. In addition, the parties considered issues of sanctions policy and intensification of cooperation in the military and technical sphere. In her turn, Kvien assured of the unwavering support of Ukraine by the United States and expressed readiness to further expand bilateral cooperation. Erin Scott / Bloomberg While Senator Ted Cruz has faced scrutiny most of the month for his recent moves in Congress, a local group is ending January with rally in support of him. The Republican Party of Bexar County, with Allen West as chairman, is tied to the Republican National Committee. The local installment is planning the rally outside the headquarters at 12000 Starcrest Drive on Jan. 30. After a day of giving coronavirus vaccinations, Michael Weber and his team were headed back to Grants Pass, Oregon, to administer their last doses on Tuesday when traffic suddenly came to a halt. Authorities had closed the snow-covered highway because of a car accident, and it would be hours before traffic could resume. But Weber and his team of 20 staff members and volunteers didnt have that much time to use the six Moderna doses they had left before the vaccines expired. Healthcare workers administered the Moderna vaccine to stranded drivers in Oregon. Credit:Josephine County Public Health Thats when Weber had an idea: If he couldnt make it to the clinic on time, he could bring the clinic to six other drivers stranded on the highway. I decided to start going door-to-door, car-to-car, offering [the vaccine], Weber, who is Josephine Countys public health director, told The Washington Post. 'SoHo Karen' Miya Ponsetto has had a charge for public intoxication dropped after a drunken altercation at a hotel in California, while her 42-year-old lookalike mom received 100 hours of community service. Miya, 22, became infamous in December after video footage showed her accusing an innocent 14-year-old black boy of stealing her phone before allegedly attacking him at an NYC hotel. But Thursday's court decision in California was related to a separate incident involving an altercation with police at The Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills. According to previous reporting, the mother and daughter were drunk and refused to leave the five-star Peninsula hotel on February 28 last year, prompting staff to call the police on them. When officers responded to the hotel and tried to remove Miya and Nicole Ponsetto from the premises, the mother pushed and kicked a cop. The officer sustained injuries but refused medical attention. According to prosecutors, Nicole believed she was defending her daughter when she kicked the officer in the knee. Miya Ponsetto's mother, Nicole Ponsetto (right), is pictured in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, in connection to a February 2020 public intoxication case Nicole, 42, pleaded no contest no contest to battery on a police officer and public intoxication Nicole (left) was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and entered a 12-month diversion program. Her daughter Miya (right) had a public intoxication charge against her dismissed by a judge Miya's mother Nicole Ponsetto pleaded no contest to battery on a police officer and public intoxication. She was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and entered a 12-month diversion program. Nicole, wearing a tight, midriff-baring light-brown sweater, black cargo pants and a pair of flat sandals, declined to comment on the plea deal as she walked out of the courtroom. If she complies with the conditions of her sentence and keeps out of trouble with the law for a year, the case against her will be dismissed, reported New York Daily News. Miya was not in court Thursday, but a judge reportedly agreed to drop a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication against her, after prosecutors noted she had 'no criminal history' before the hotel incident. But legal woes followed in the months after the 22-year-old's first arrest, including two separate DUI arrests. The first arrest was in Los Angeles County on May 28, a day after Miya celebrated her 22nd birthday. She pleaded no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 per cent or higher and was sentenced on September 28 to three years of probation, 30 hours of community service and a first-time offender DUI program. Ponsetto returned to Los Angeles after being freed on supervised release following her arraignment in New York City If Nicole complies with the conditions of her sentence and keeps out of trouble for a year, the case against her will be dismissed. She is seen walking out of court on Thursday A week later, Miya was caught on video hitting out at officers during a DUI arrest in Ventura County, California. She can be heard screaming 'there are gang members killing people right now and you're arresting a girl?' while the officers attempt to cuff her and get her in the back of a police car. Ponsetto was charged with DUI, resisting arrest and obstructing/delaying a peace officer or EMT. Her blood alcohol levels were twice the legal limit. She is due back in court in that case on April 16. Earlier this month, Miya was charged in New York City over the December 26 incident involved 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. at the Arlo hotel in Manhattan. In October 2020, Miya was caught on video getting arrest in Ventura County, California, on DUI charges (left and right). She can be heard screaming 'there are gang members killing people right now and you're arresting a girl? She had been extradited back to New York after she was filmed attacking the teen, who is the son of Grammy-winning jazz musician Keyon Harrold, at the high-end hotel after falsely accusing him of stealing her iPhone. The Harrold family have claimed the incident was racially motivated but Ponsetto has denied this. In a video recorded by the teen's father, Ponsetto was seen pushing and grabbing both father and son. She was recorded demanding the teenager's phone, claiming he had stolen it from her. Harrold Sr can be heard in the recording telling Ponsetto to leave his son alone. Miya made national headlines when she was filmed on December 26 allegedly assaulting a black 14-year-old after accusing him of stealing her phone. The incident took place at the Arlo hotel in Manhattan The victim of the attack was Keyon Harrold Jr, 14 (left), the son of Grammy-winning jazz musician Keyon Harrold (right) Miya Ponsetto, dubbed 'SoHo Karen,' is pictured in a 'wanted' poster as the NYPD searched for her after the hotel assault Security video later released by the NYPD shows Ponsetto frantically grabbing at the teen as he tried to get away from her through the hotel's front door. She's seen clutching him from behind before both tumble to the ground. Moments after the scuffle ended, her missing phone was found in an Uber and returned to her by the driver, Harrold Sr has said. NYPD detectives flew to California to help locate her after Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance signed off on charges of attempted robbery and felony fugitive from justice. Earlier this month, Ponsetto was flown back to New York to face charges of attempted robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, attempted grand larceny, and attempted assault The 22-year-old, who described herself as part Italian, Greek and Puerto Rican, denied being racist and apologized to the teen for 'making him feel inferior' during a rambling interview with CBS This Morning's Gayle King. Ponsetto was charged with four felonies of attempted robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, attempted grand larceny, and attempted assault, and was freed on supervised release, allowing her to return to California. After Thursday's court decision in California, the women's defense lawyer Sharen Ghatan told the Daily News: 'Were thankful and were grateful Miyas matter was dismissed. And Nicole will be earning a dismissal.' LANSING, MI - Its great that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer promoted a spirit of cooperation during her State of the State address, said House Speaker Rep. Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, during a Thursday press conference. But she needs to prove to Republicans that she means it, he said alongside Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, at a press conference Thursday. The tone of what the Governor said is what I think the people of Michigan want to hear, Wentworth said. Like the Senate Majority Leader has said, though, actions speak louder than words, and I look forward to this newfound sense of bipartisanship. Related: Senate leader praises Whitmer for not wearing a mask, looking delightful in State of the State speech The Republican legislative leaders spoke to media virtually and inside the Capitol building on Jan. 28. They not only reacted to Whitmers speech, but outlined how they will continue to oppose her COVID-19 orders through political gestures, Shirkey said. One of those gestures occurred during the Senates Wednesday session, where Republicans blocked 13 of Whitmers appointments to state positions. Yesterdays action on appointments was a purposeful political gesture, Shirkey said. Not a gesture to score points, but a gesture to make a point. Until this Governor stops acting unilaterally and invests in and encourages and invites in the Legislature to be a part of some of these decisions, not all of them, then were relegated to using the tools given to us in our Constitution and our statutes. Read more: Michigan Senate rejects 13 Whitmer appointments in show of disapproval over coronavirus response House of Representative speaker Jason Wentworth during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Lansing. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com Whitmer spoke to media earlier on Thursday about how Republican lawmakers dont show up to the administrations data-sharing meetings, a point that Wentworth and Shirkey rejected. We have been inviting the legislature to our modeling meetings, she said. They like to challenge the data, but they dont show up to the meetings where we actually share the data with them. I think its really hard to have a thoughtful conversation about the work that we need to do as a state to keep people safe if were not operating off of facts. The Republican leaders both rejected that point, claiming that their fellow representatives and staff do indeed attend the meetings. Both also referred to many of them as presentations instead of conversations. There has never been a data meeting where we dont have at least two people from the Senate policy staff or Senators themselves, Shirkey said. Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford) before he escaped out of the Legislature. Sen. (Curtis) VanderWall (R-Ludington) is on almost every one of them. We have at least one policy person on every one of them. Ive made about half. Regarding their policy positions on COVID-19, both made it clear: schools need to fully reopen and restaurants need to relax some of the capacity restrictions. Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, unveiled a budget plan that would allocate $2.1 billion towards K-12 school districts, given Whitmer reallocates the power to reopen schools from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to local health departments. This includes $363 million towards districts seeking to reopen by Feb. 15. Read more: House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Wentworth called criticism from education associations and unions that this was just a political power grab disingenuous. The Republican priority is getting kids inside the classroom, he said. Were not taking away the Governors pandemic powers or her authority to respond to the pandemic or MDHHSs authority to respond to the pandemic, he said. What we are trying to do is to get kids into the classroom. Get kids in their seats...Parents want it, the science says it, and every other state is doing it. Schools in Ohio are still closed until at least March, while states such as Indiana reopened at the beginning of January. The governor strongly encouraged schools to offer an option for in-person instruction no later than March 1 while speaking during a virtual afternoon press conference on Jan. 8. Health experts have characterized schools as safer from COVID-19 spread than restaurants, which are open in Michigan at 25% capacity. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey speaks during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Lansing. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com Regarding the budget proposal, the Senate is still reviewing it, Shirkey said, but expects to find common ground on it. Republicans will conflict with Whitmer on her budget pushes to fund job creation initiatives such as Good Jobs for Michigan. Wentworth called this a corporate giveaway that shouldnt be part of COVID-19 relief discussions. Honestly, that was a slap in the face to small businesses in our state, Wentworth said. Last month, the Governor was calling a deposit into the (Unemployment Insurance) Trust Fund...corporate welfare. Here she is disguising (Good Jobs for Michigan) as anything other than a corporate giveaway. Alberts plan proposed a $150 million direct deposit into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and $55 million for local Michigan job providers to deal with unemployment contribution costs. This echoes a previous GOP attempt to replenish the Trust Fund in December, which Whitmer vetoed. The Trust Fund initiative is meant to prevent an increase on payroll taxes for Michigan businesses that exclusively pay into the fund. It is expected to be completely depleted later this year, which would catalyze a tax increase. Read more: Michigan burned through 84% of its unemployment cash in 2020. What happens when its gone? Neither he nor Shirkey completely ruled out addressing extra funding for Whitmers job creation programs in the future, as Shirkey said he just wants to discuss it with Whitmer outside of COVID-19 relief negotiations. One area where Shirkeys stance on Whitmer softened was on vaccine distribution, where he said she deserved a little bit of grace. Its a very complex problem and a very challenging logistics issue, he said. I believe her when she says she wants it done robustly and so forth. But again, actions speak louder than words. There was not a single conversation with the Senate, and I suspect none with the House, on how we could actually help improve the process and help improve the messaging. After initial middling rankings, Michigan currently ranks 15th in the country in per-capita vaccine administration, based CDC data as of Thursday. The Republican duo touched on a few other disparate issues. For one, Wentworth stated his priority to push through ethics reform, which includes the ability to FOIA government records in the Legislature and Governors office. The initiatives have passed with nearly unanimous bipartisan support in the House the last two sessions, but died in Senate committees. Wentworth said hes not acting off previous templates for the legislation and will start brand new, while Shirkey said one bit of heartburn he has on the legislation is the disclosure of lawmakers financial documents. Its fodder for (the media) to go after people and its unnecessary, he said. We already have rules in place for eliminating conflicts of interest, and I havent had anybody show me where those rules were spoiled or breached in my tenure, frankly. In addition, Shirkey called Whitmers $5 million proposal to fully ban guns at the Capitol dead on arrival. Wentworth echoed this, saying it should be made outside of COVID-19 relief talks. Lastly, Shirkey said he expects the Senate to start its advice and consent hearings on the appointment of MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel to the full position next week. The wait is to make sure she finds her sea legs to be able to respond to questions in committee, he said. Read more from MLive: 4 things we learned from Gov. Whitmers State of the State address Lawmakers react to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers call for bipartisanship in State of the State address Whitmer calls for bipartisan COVID-19, economic progress in State of the State address Whitmer tells Michigan she hasnt forgotten about roads in State of the State speech The 2020 heart attack Michigans economy suffered wont heal overnight, economists say Michigan economy, COVID-19 response completely intertwined, says Whitmer ahead of State of the State address Hybrid, synchronous and symptomatic were just a few of the new terms commonly used on social media, Zoom meetings and around the quiet University of Georgia campus by students and faculty during the fall 2020 semester. Mumbai, Jan 28 : Actress Shruti Haasan turned 35 on Thursday, and she says she wants her future to be filled with light and creativity. "Filled with gratitude and joy !!! This has been the best phase of my life and I'm thankful for my lessons and the journey," Shruti wrote in an Instagram post. She shared the post along with a picture of herself posing with balloons. "I have grown and changed in ways that have shaped my vision of the future I want for myself filled with light and creativity -- I want to take a second to say a giant THANKYOU to my virtual family for making my birthday so special ... Thankyou for all your wishes I feel so loved," she added. Earlier in an interview to IANS, the actress had shared that she doesn't have any plans for a birthday party. "I don't have any major plans for my birthday. This year has been inundated with lots of work for me and that's what I'm focusing on. Birthdays are special but it totally depends on work," she said. Meanwhile, Shruti will soon be seen in Netflix's first Telugu original, "Pitta Kathalu", and says she is "really looking forward to its release." She also reveals that she is busy more with OTT content lately. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text UW Student from Granite Canyon Receives Prestigious National Fellowship UW graduate Emily Wood, from Granite Canyon, photographed at an intensive Indonesian language program in Indonesia, recently received a prestigious USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship. (Andhi Susanto Photo) University of Wyoming graduate Emily Wood, from Granite Canyon in Laramie County, is among 15 students nationwide to receive the prestigious USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship, for which Wood was among 650 applicants, seeks to attract outstanding individuals interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $96,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships and professional development activities, is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service. Wood graduated from Cheyenne East High School in 2014, then took a gap year in Germany with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange scholarship before starting at UW in 2015. She began work on her bachelor's degree through UWs highest tuition aid program, the Trustees Scholar Award. She double-majored in international studies and German, with a minor in honors, graduating summa cum laude in May 2019. After graduating from UW, Wood joined the Peace Corps in Mozambique, where she was a high school English teacher before being evacuated because of the COVID-19 pandemic last March. She first heard about the Payne Fellowship program when researching options and fellowships for graduate school during her senior year, and also through her Peace Corps service in Mozambique. After being evacuated from the Peace Corps due to the pandemic, I was trying to figure out my next steps, she says. When I looked more closely at this fellowship, I realized that this was the perfect opportunity for me because I wanted to continue a career in international development. Wood plans to pursue a masters degree in international development and to focus her studies on issues related to Indigenous development and ethics. The fellowship allows her to further her education and skills, as well as fill a guaranteed job in international development with USAID. I am finishing up applications for grad schools, so Im not sure where Ill attend yet, but Im glad that I dont have to worry about funding, so my options are open, she says. After graduate school, the Payne Fellowship places her in a career as a USAID foreign service officer, allowing her to travel around the world working on development issues and trying to increase access to resources and improve lives. She hopes to target work on Indigenous and marginalized populations. Wood says she is honored to be selected for the fellowship and for the chance to have a career serving others and representing the United States around the world. For a long time, it felt like I had a direction but no clear path to get there, and now I'm finally making progress toward my goals, she adds. I am extremely thankful for all the help and support that Ive received from the UW faculty and staff along every step of my journey -- for sharing opportunities like this with me and believing in my success. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Sorry! This content is not available in your region Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Outrage swept across the country Thursday after popular mobile investment app Robinhood and other brokerages paused buying abilities of Gamestop, AMC, and some other stocks. The app is under fire from both prominent Democrats and Republicans after only allowing users to sell their shares while hedge funds can continue to both buy and sell. Durham, NC - Senquan Liu, Ph.D., is STEM CELLS's Young Investigator of 2020 for his work on human stem-cell derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). This award fosters advancements in the field of stem cell research by honoring a young researcher who is the principal author of an article published in STEM CELLS that is deemed to have the most impact and to push the boundaries of novel and insightful research. Dr. Liu and his team at Johns Hopkins University focused on optimizing an approach to produce and purify human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) EVs, then they investigated the properties and therapeutic potential of stem cell derived EVs. They demonstrated for the first time that human iPSCs produce great numbers of EVs under a defined culture condition, and the concentration is 16-fold higher than by MSCs. Highly purified EVs secreted from both iPSCs and young MSCs alleviated senescence associated cellular phenotypes of aged MSCs through reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level via exosomal transfer of PRDXs. "The discovery that EVs from human stem cells can be used to alleviate cellular aging in culture by the delivery of intracellular peroxiredoxin antioxidant enzymes and other factors is an important step forward," said Dr. Jan Nolta, Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS. "This knowledge could be useful for improving culture conditions and expansion without a loss in cell potency. The studies also help define shared mechanisms of aging and aging?associated diseases." Dr. Liu is currently an associate investigator in the Division of Life Sciences and Medicine at the University of Science and Technology of China, one of the top research universities in China. ### Learn more about Dr. Senquan Liu's work on extracellular vesicles or read his winning paper "Highly Purified Human Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Stem Cells Alleviate Aging Cellular Phenotypes of Senescent Human Cells." About the Journal: STEM CELLS, a peer reviewed journal published monthly, provides a forum for prompt publication of original investigative papers and concise reviews. The journal covers all aspects of stem cells: embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells; tissue-specific stem cells; cancer stem cells; the stem cell niche; stem cell epigenetics, genomics and proteomics; and translational and clinical research. STEM CELLS is co-published by AlphaMed Press and Wiley. About AlphaMed Press: Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes three internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines. STEM CELLS is the world's first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. THE ONCOLOGIST is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE is dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As Ohio looks to vaccinate school staff at 500 schools over the course of its first week, districts are welcoming back students into buildings. Buildings are beginning to open up ahead of the state beginning to vaccinate staff at districts or schools that agree to return in person, fully or partially, by March 1. About 45% of students in public school districts are now fully in-person, with 36% in partial in-person. Gov. Mike DeWine, who backs the choice to prioritize educators for the vaccine as a policy decision to get kids back in buildings, attributed the shift to in-person instruction to the promise of the vaccine. Here is Ohio's current K-12 breakdown of in-person vs. remote pic.twitter.com/P6Dt21jF7N Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 28, 2021 As the plans to be vaccinated have rolled out, though, there have been several questions raised, both on a state level and on a national level. Take a look at some of the answers to questions you may have about the coronavirus in Ohios schools, and vaccination plans here. Q: How many cases are being reported in K-12 schools in Ohio? A: For Jan. 18 through Jan. 24, the most recent week of reporting, Ohio reported an increase of 2,426 coronavirus cases in K-12 students and 1,013 in staff. The increase is slightly down from last week for staff and slightly up for students. These numbers do not include students and staff who are not on-site, which includes instruction, activities, or support services. The new cases bring totals since Sept. 7 to 32,439 in students and 19,469 in staff. Children make up about 9% of overall coronavirus cases, according to most recent state data. Search for your school in the database at the bottom of this post. Q: Which schools will be vaccinated first? A: The full list of schools being vaccinated for Week 1 was released on Tuesday. In Northeast Ohio, schools in Mahoning County, Medina County and Summit County are on the list, as are Columbus schools and Cincinnati schools. Cleveland schools are not on the list, though CEO Eric Gordon said in a board meeting on Tuesday he hopes the district will be in the next batch. Schools, including public, private and parochial, will find out whats happening with vaccinations by Friday, DeWine said. Every public school in the state except one has accepted the conditions for the vaccines, DeWine said. That means that schools will need to go back to buildings in some form by March 1. Jefferson Township in Montgomery County is the lone district not on the list. Q: What are some concerns? A: DeWine previously had not addressed any flexibility on the March 1 deadline for educators that had not received a second dose of the vaccine. Both vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer, require a booster dose after several weeks. Some educators will have the booster shot by March 1, but many will not. DeWine has said that how the vaccine will roll out will depend on supplies and how quickly the shots can be administered. The superintendent of the Summit County Educational Service Center told the Akron Beacon Journal that the state informed him that there wont be enough doses to vaccinate everyone the first week, which pushes back any second dose. When asked how the state plans to handle districts that might be worried about sending educators back into buildings before that booster shot, DeWine said the March 1 start date is a matter of good faith. He has not shared any consequences for schools that wont meet that deadline, and says that the state has given leeway by allowing hybrid options. Chief Medical officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said during the coronavirus briefing that research shows that first shot has a profound effect on immunity, though the second shot is needed to ensure long-lasting immunity. I dont want anyone to think that a single shot is enough -- its not -- but I want people to recognize that within weeks of getting that first shot our bodies are boosting immunity, he said. DeWine said based on anecdotes and other research, including Ohio research, schools arent showing to be a significant source of coronavirus spread. (Teachers) can feel pretty confident if you go into a classroom and everyone is wearing a mask, he said. In a response to a question about how teachers of students with disabilities, who might be exposed to the virus more because students cannot or have difficulty wearing masks, might be prioritized, DeWine said the state will look at it. Another group advocating for prioritization is Ohios early educators, who were not included as part of the K-12 group. A change.org petition which advocates for early educators to be added into Phase 1B has garnered more than 17,000 signatures. Jamie O Leary, associate director of policy at Ohio State Universitys Crane Center for Early Childhood Research, and Laura Justice, a distinguished professor at OSU, wrote an opinion piece for education publication The 74 Million about the lack of prioritization. States unwillingness to prioritize the inoculation of early childhood educators is disappointing but not altogether surprising: It reflects longstanding patterns and problems with how we treat the field of early childhood, they wrote. Q: Whats research saying nationally? A widely-circulated viewpoint article published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, claimed that school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission. The authors, three Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers, reviewed studies in Mississippi, Wisconsin and North Carolina, as well as several overseas. The authors assert that taking steps to reduce community spread can help reopen schools, including restricting indoor dining at restaurants when local transmission is high and postponing school activities that are riskier, like indoor sports. The CDC currently recommends core indicators for reopening which include community transmission indicators like positive tests, but also point to the schools ability to address these measures: -- Consistent and correct use of masks -- Social distancing to the largest extent possible -- Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette -- Cleaning and disinfection -- Contact tracing in collaboration with the local health department The core indicators for reopening page on the CDC website has not been updated since September. Significant research, including CDC studies cited in the JAMA article, have occurred since then. MUSKEGON, MI A local musician and owner of a Muskegon record company is hosting a dinner giveaway on Saturday, Jan. 30 to give back and pay it forward. Tamar Porter, a hip hop artist who goes by MR. 1204, partnered with Lott & Big Weezys Kitchen in Muskegon Heights to feed 100 people. The event is focused on trying to reach out to the community, Porter said. Lott & Big Weezys Kitchen, a soul food restaurant, and Porter each put forward $500 to purchase the $10 meal plates. Since announcing the event, Porter said hes received enough additional donations to give away 20 more meals. Born and raised in the Muskegon area, Porter started his company Phat Boi Records 20 years ago. He said he wanted to host an event that isnt focused on promotion but engaging with people. How else can you reach your people? Feed them, Porter said. The giveaway serves an additional purpose of supporting the Muskegon and Muskegon Heights community during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which Porter said he hopes the hot meals can also maybe take a burden off somebody that day. I DO WHAT I DO FOR MY COMMUNITY!! SATURDAY JAN.30th!! IM GIVING AWAY 100 $10 MEALS TO THE FIRST 100 PPL WHO SLIDE!!... Posted by Mr.1204 on Thursday, January 21, 2021 Porter is also using the event to have conversations about addressing violence after a 23-year-old man was shot and killed in Muskegon Heights this week. Lets all eat, celebrate life and figure out how we can move better with our community moving forward, he said. This is the first meal giveaway Porter has hosted, but he said if its successful hell consider replicating it in Grand Rapids. The outdoor event starts at 3 p.m. at 169 Broadway Ave. and social distancing will be encouraged. Meals will be given away until supplies run out. More on MLive: Muskegon Heights chooses new chief to lead police department Large marijuana grow site gets OK for Shaw-Walker factory that also will see 150 new apartments Health care inequities focus of Michigan State University, Henry Ford Health System partnership Texas is preparing to launch a mobile vaccine program to ramp up COVID-19 vaccinations in rural counties. Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced the launch of the State Mobile Vaccine Pilot Program on Wednesday. Texas National Guard members, who will be part of the teams administering the inoculations to qualified residents, will be ready to start by Thursday. RELATED: RGV teen pleads with Abbott to help his mom survive COVID-19 before his 15th birthday The first five counties the mobile units will be deployed to are DeWitt, Marion, Real, Sherman and Starr. TDEM is coordinating with each county to schedule the arrivals of the vaccination teams. DeWitt, which encompasses Cuero, and Real, where Leaky is, are the closest to San Antonio. READ MORE: S.A. COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: One shot COVID-19 vaccine gives Gov. Abbott hope "The State Mobile Vaccine Pilot Program will help us ramp up vaccination efforts among homebound Texans, Texans 65 years of age or older, and among communities in need," Abbott said in a statement. Texas joins states like Wisconsin and Florida where similar mobile programs started administering shots last week. Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye Amid all the challenges of the global pandemic, there was another issue that loomed large last year: wage theft in businesses that are household names. From Qantas to the ABC, restaurants headed by celebrity chefs and even commercial law firms, revelations of wage theft have been rampant in recent times. In response, many large businesses are increasing their efforts to comply with minimum wage laws, but where will they find the expertise to ensure they are doing it correctly when they tire of paying hefty consultancy fees? Business needs more experts to help navigate the industrial relations system. Credit:iStock Some claim that complexity in our award system is to blame for the inadvertent payroll errors of honest employers. It is not just small business making this claim, but well-resourced, large companies like Woolworths. But all businesses deal with complexity of some kind, to varying success. Pharmacists prepare and dispense correct medication, builders interpret plans and follow building codes, chefs create magnificent dishes for demanding patrons while complying with food regulations and supermarkets manage intricate supply chains from producer to customer within the bounds of competition and corporate laws. Her family has been in the spotlight since their reality show Chrisley Knows Best debuted in 2014. But Julie Chrisley still finds it hard to deal with the online trolling that comes with celebrity, especially when its racist comments about her biracial granddaughter, Chloe. 'I can deal with just about anything, but the things that people have said about her on social media are absolutely unfathomable,' Julie, 48, told PageSix.com. 'It breaks my heart.' Hurt: Chrisley Knows Best star Julie Chrisley has spoken out about what she calls 'unfathomable' racist online comments directed at her biracial granddaughter Chloe She went on: 'The things that people will say because they're sitting behind a keyboard in a basement bedroom somewhere is just unbelievable.' Julie and her husband Todd Chrisley share custody of Chloe whose father is the wealthy Georgia realtor's son Kyle from his first marriage. Kyle, 29, appeared in the first season of Chrisley Knows Best but has struggled with drug addiction and domestic violence allegations. It led to an estrangement between Kyle and Todd but they reconciled in 2019. Julie and her husband Todd Chrisley, pictured in 20017, share custody of Chloe whose father is the wealthy Georgia realtor's son Kyle from his first marriage Spoke out: 'The things that people will say because they're sitting behind a keyboard in a basement bedroom somewhere is just unbelievable,' Julie told Page Six. 'It breaks my heart' 'Beautiful inside and out': Chloe turned eight last November and in a sweet Instagram post, Julie described her as 'a blessing to our entire family!' Grandpa: Todd also posted a birthday message to Chloe. 'You've changed our lives and you will change the world, with all my heart and to the moon and back, I love you,' he said Chloe turned eight last November and in a sweet Instagram post, Julie described her as 'a blessing to our entire family!' She wrote: 'Always know that you are worthy, beautiful inside and out, and you are going to do amazing things!' Todd, 51, also posted a birthday message to his granddaughter. 'You've changed our lives and you will change the world, with all my heart and to the moon and back, I love you,' he said. Chrisley Knows Best premiered in 2014 and centers on Todd and Julie as well as their children and extended family members. The series which airs on USA Network is currently in its eighth season. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO Cameras monitor masks, social distancing in Peachtree Corners city hall Peachtree Corners, Ga., is using artificial intelligence-powered surveillance camera technology at city hall to monitor for people not wearing masks or observing social distancing protocols. The technology from Cawamo enables existing cameras to detect peoples positions and whether theyre wearing masks, and then alert city personnel through a web-based dashboard to those violating the guidelines -- without identifying them. The video analysis solution combines AI with synchronized edge and cloud computing technology. The edge unit is installed on-site and runs the AI-based detection software, which synchronizes with the Cawamo cloud neural AI network. It can be installed on any camera and generates high-quality alerts with very few false positives, the company said. The technology will be installed on two cameras in the lobby of city hall -- at no cost to the city -- to test its ability to detect people entering the building not wearing a mask and those standing too close to one another. Alerts sent to a dashboard will only be used to validate whether the technology is accurately identifying the social distancing and mask wearing protocols it was designed to identify, city officials said in a statement. Officials said they have no plans to deploy the solution outside city hall. We believe this technology will help us maintain important public safety protocols as we work to slow the spread of the virus, said Brandon Branham, Peachtree Corners CTO and assistant city manager. Allowing us to instantly convert existing cameras into smart cameras also shows promise for wider deployment across the city, in addition to within workplaces in the near future. Peachtree Corners, located in suburban Atlanta, is home to the Curiosity Lab, an economic development initiative that features real-world connected infrastructure that government and industry can use to test smart city technologies. The city deployed the worlds first fleet of teleoperated e-scooters and runs a fully autonomous shuttle for residents. The Ray, an 18-mile stretch of I-85 in southwest Georgia dedicated to smart highway solutions, worked with the city to build 1.5-mile autonomous vehicle test track that features a 52-foot long strip made of thin, skid-resistant solar panels that generates clean energy from the sun when not obscured by cars, and feeds that energy into the grid. In 2020, Peachtree Corners took advantage of Georgia Powers no-cost offer to install SiteView, a high-definition solar-powered camera and license plate reader system, which was mounted on outdoor lighting poles at strategic entry points to the city. The equipment is owned, installed and maintained by Georgia Power with no upfront cost to the city, and the video is provided directly to the citys on-site video recorder or third-party cloud-based storage. Cawamo is offering municipalities the free COVID-19 monitoring service with purchase of onsite equipment. As the first cloud-edge video analytics company to develop mask and social distancing detection technology that connects with any existing security camera, we are thrilled to be helping the City of Peachtree Corners keep its citizens safe using the already-installed security cameras around the city, Cawamo CEO David Yakov said. Personally, it gives me tremendous pride to be one of the many thespians, educators, and historians that have taken on the responsibility of carrying on and promoting [his] legacy as well as that of many other distinguished African-American writers, he told The News. [January 28, 2021] Piper Sandler Expands European Healthcare Investment Banking with the Hiring of Vincenzo di Nicola Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR), a leading investment bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Vincenzo di Nicola as a managing director within the firm's healthcare investment banking group. He will expand the firm's European healthcare team and the global pharma outsourcing coverage, and will be based in the firm's London office. Prior to joining the firm, di Nicola was a managing director, head of healthcare Europe and co-head of pharma outsourcing at Cantor Fitzgerald. Prior to that, he was a managing director and head of healthcare Europe at Robert W. Baird & Co. "We are excited to welcome Vincenzo to our healthcare platform," said Peter Day, co-head of healthcare investment banking at Piper Sandler. "With 20 years of investment banking experience predominantly focused on healthcare, we look forward to leveraging Vincenzo's deep industry expertise as we expand our European healthcare investment banking platform as well as strengthen our global pharma outsourcing coverage." Di Nicola earned a bachelor's degree in international economics from the University of Naples and a Masters in Finance from the London Business School. ABOUT PIPER SANDLER Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR) is a leading investment bank driven to help clients Realize the Power of Partnership. Securities brokerage and investment banking services are offered in the U.S. through Piper Sandler & Co., member SIPC and NYSE; in Europe through Piper Sandler Ltd., authorized and regulated by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority; and in Hong Kong through Piper Sandler Hong Kong Limited, authorized and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission. Private equity strategies and fixed income advisory services are offered through separately registered advisory affiliates. Follow Piper Sandler: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter 2021. Since 1895. Piper Sandler Companies. 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-7036 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006143/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ian Bailey has challenged the statutory right of gardai to process a drug-driving prosecution against him. The revelation came as Bantry District Court adjourned four charges against the 62-year-old freelance journalist and law graduate who last year successfully fought extradition to France over the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39). Mr Bailey has consistently protested his innocence in relation to the December 23, 1996 killing of the French mother of one at her west Cork holiday home. The Manchester-born poet was convicted in absentia by a French court of the killing in 2019 but has repeatedly claimed that attempts were made to frame him for the crime. Mr Bailey described the Paris proceedings as "a farce" and "a show trial". The French have sought and failed to secure his extradition three times since 2010. The Bantry District Court adjournment was for legal reasons and the availability of the hearing judge. Last November, Judge John King heard detailed legal submissions on Mr Bailey's behalf from Emmet Boyle BL, instructed by solicitor Ray Hennessy. Written legal submissions are now being made on various matters arising. The counts all arise from an alleged incident on August 25, 2019 near Schull, Co Cork. Mr Bailey was stopped by gardai while driving at Skull townsland, outside the west Cork village, and was later taken to Bantry garda station. He was subsequently released without charge. Mr Bailey later appeared before Bantry District Court on four summonses on the basis of samples taken by gardai and sent for further analysis. He faces one summons over allegedly driving while under the influence of cannabis, two summonses over the alleged possession of cannabis and one summons for allegedly allowing his vehicle to be used for the possession of drugs, namely cannabis. The court was told a small tin of cannabis was allegedly recovered after Mr Bailey had been stopped in his Toyota Verso car by gardai at a checkpoint. Three rolled-up joints were allegedly later found in his vehicle when it was searched the following day. Mr Bailey has pleaded not guilty to a total of four charges. Mr Boyle, on Mr Bailey's behalf, has challenged a number of issues in respect of the matter including how the alleged drugs were found, why the keys of Mr Bailey's car were retained by officers, why the vehicle was moved from the roadside field entrance where it was parked to the garda station, and why it was only searched the following day. The matter was adjourned for a month. Mr Bailey has published two successful volumes of poetry and is now the focus of a number of books and two high-profile documentaries. A television documentary by Academy Award-nominated director Jim Sheridan and investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre is scheduled to get its world premiere in April. Des Plaines school district students picking up their STEM Kits The recent modifications to schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the opportunities students had to explore and investigate in the same ways they had in the past, said School District 62 Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, Dr. Laura Sangroula. The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO), dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators and helping restore Americas leadership in technology education, today announced the launch of iBIO STEM Kit, a new program designed to fill an important educational gap created by distance learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Todays launch coincides with the distribution of the first activity kits to hundreds of high-need, low-income students in Des Plaines School District 62. Beginning today and continuing monthly through June, a total of 1,980 kits will enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning experiences for 330 students in grades three through eight. The monthly kits provide everything needed for each learning activity, as well as information about real-world applications and career opportunities to which students can aspire. Todays Welcome Kit contains materials and basic equipment that will be used across many of the activities. Each monthly activity kit will include: activity procedures written in English and Spanish, required materials and supplies, spotlights on local STEM heroes highlighting women and people of color, a link to a video providing step-by-step guidance, and membership in a private Facebook group where students can access additional career connections and interviews with interesting people working in STEM fields. The recent modifications to schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the opportunities students had to explore and investigate in the same ways they had in the past, said School District 62 Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, Dr. Laura Sangroula. We have admired how our students have adjusted to the changes in their lives at home and in school during our transition as we found new and innovative ways to support our students remotely and in-person, in particular in the area of STEM. We developed this new initiative by building on the research-based curricular assets of our two principal programs, Stellar Girls and STEMgirls Summer Camps, as well as last years STEMfamily Virtual Summer Camp, said iBIO Senior Vice President Ann Vogel. After reaching more than four thousand students through these programs, we have applied best practices to create fun, safe and age-appropriate STEM Kit activities. We will continue to iterate the STEM Kit program with an eye toward continuous improvement on behalf of the states students, their families, future employers and society at large. Twelve-year-old Francesca Billotto of Gurnee, Ill. a participant in the STEMfamily Virtual Camp, said, It was a fun and enjoyable experience, allowing me to expand my view of the world of STEM. One of my favorite activities was building a simple circuit that allowed me to be creative with my design for a flashlight. Abbott steps up as first sponsor The global healthcare company Abbott, which has a presence in Des Plaines with its leading molecular diagnostics business focused on the analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins at the molecular level, provided $50,000 in funding to develop and deliver the STEM kits for the Des Plaines school district students. We were fortunate to partner with Abbott, which led to us receiving STEM kits from iBIO that will provide many of our students with materials and resources to enrich STEM concepts and practices at home, beyond the school day, added Dr. Sangroula. We are excited for our students and are grateful for the opportunity to partner with iBIO and Abbott for the betterment of the students of District 62. Open invitation to sponsors, school districts and families iBIO is already working with additional corporate sponsors and invites corporations, foundations and other sources of philanthropic funding to support the expansion of the iBIO STEM Kit program to students throughout the state. iBIO also invites Illinois school districts to request participation in the program by contacting Operations Manager Monique Naleway at mnaleway@ibio.org. In addition, anyone interested in purchasing individual STEM kits or sponsoring kits for others should click here for more information. Fees for private family subscriptions will cover production and shipping costs and will help reduce program costs for families in financial need. About iBIO 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 promotes the industrys value to the public and policymakers; connects innovators to investment and talent; stimulates collaboration and fosters the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to transform patient lives through groundbreaking research and works to grow the Illinois economy. iBIO delivers industry-led STEM programs for teachers and students, thereby inspiring the next generation of innovators and helping restore Americas leadership in technology education. To learn more about iBIO and its programs, visit http://www.ibio.org. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Nutritional High International Inc. (CSE: EAT) (OTC Pink: SPLIF) ("Nutritional High" or the "Company") provides this bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203"). In the Corporation's initial default announcement of October 30, 2020 (the "Default Notice"), the Corporation announced the delay in the filing of its audited annual financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2020 (the "2020 Annual Financial Statements") and related management discussion and analysis and certifications (collectively, the "Annual Filings") by the prescribed filing deadline. As previously announced in the Company's December 1, 2020 press release of the Corporation, the Corporation applied for and was granted a management cease trade order in respect of the delayed Annual Filings (the "MCTO") by the Ontario Securities Commission. The MCTO prohibits the chief financial officer and the chief executive officer from trading in the Corporation's securities for so long as there are filings that are outstanding under applicable securities laws. The MCTO does not affect the ability of the general investing public to trade in the Corporation's listed common shares. The audit of the 2020 Annual Financial Statements is in progress and the Corporation continues to expect to file the Annual Filings on February 1, 2021. The Corporation confirms that since the Default Notice: (i) there is no material change to the information set out in the Default Notice that has not been generally disclosed; (ii) there has been no failure by the Corporation in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203; (iii) there has not been any other specified default by the Corporation under NP 12-203; and (iv) there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Corporation that has not been generally disclosed. Furthermore, the Corporation anticipates that its interim financial statements for the three-month period ended October 31, 2020, the accompanying management's discussion and analysis and the related CEO and CFO certifications will not be filed by the prescribed filing deadline and will be filed on or before February 22, 2021. The Corporation will continue to comply with the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases for so long as it remains in default of the filing requirements set out above. About Nutritional High International Inc. Nutritional High is focused on developing and manufacturing branded products in the cannabis industry, with a specific focus on edibles and oil extracts for medical and adult recreational use. The Company works exclusively in jurisdictions where such activity is permitted and regulated by state law. Nutritional High has brought its flagship FLI edibles and vape product lines from production to market in various markets including Colorado where its award winning FLI products are manufactured by Palo Verde, LLC. The Company signed a purchase agreement for Palo Verde and is awaiting regulatory approval. The Company also owns Psychedelic Science which is working with Rangsit University in Thailand to consider the medical benefits of various psychedelic cacti. For updates on the Company's activities and highlights of the Company's press releases and other media coverage, please follow Nutritional High on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.nutritionalhigh.com. For further information, please contact: Robert Wilson Chief Financial Officer Nutritional High International Inc. 416-666-4005 Email: rwilson@nutritionalhigh.com Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information: NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR OTC MARKETS GROUP INC., NOR THEIR REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Risks that may have an impact on the ability for these events to be achieved include completion of the 2020 Filings. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking information expressed in this press release include, but are not limited to: obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals including acquiring and renewing U.S. state, local or other licenses, the uncertainty of existing protection from U.S. federal or other prosecution, regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including U.S. state-law legalization, market and general economic conditions of the cannabis sector or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73097 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was 'hurt' that the Jharkhand chief minister visited the district for political purposes and said he 'should look after his own state' Jhargram: Jharkhand chief minister and JMM working president Hemant Soren on Thursday held a rally in poll-bound West Bengal's Jhargram district, demanding establishment of an autonomous council for the tribal-dominated Western part of the state. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she was "hurt" that Soren came to Jhargram for political purposes and advised him to take care of his own state. Sources in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said that the party is keen to fight in a number of seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections due in April-May this year and Thursday's well-attended public meeting is its show of strength in Jangal Mahal region. Raking up an old demand of the tribal people of the area for setting up an autonomous council for the Western part of the state, Soren said, "The JMM will fight for the interests of the Adivasi people of West Bengal." The JMM leader also attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre claiming that it has done nothing the tribal population. The BJP is also selling off the assets of the country, he claimed. The saffron party had bagged the Jhargram seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "A Paschimanchal Autonomous Council should be formed under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution We are sure that the people here will actively fight to get what is due to them," he told the meeting held at Jamda area of Jhargram. The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing in any state other than certain states in the North Eastern region. Following the demand for an autonomous council, the Left Front government has set up Paschimanchal Unnayan Parshad in 2000 for the development of the 74 blocks in five districts in the western part of the state. A Department of Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs was also created in July, 2006. The JMM has some influence in at least three constituencies in Jangal Mahal but it had never won any seat in the state. Reacting to Soren's demand, Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said, "I felt hurt. I had gone to Hemant Soren's swearing-in as chief minister (in 2019) and had supported him a lot." Banerjee said that if the JMM working president can come to West Bengal and seek votes of the tribal people, she can also go to Jharkhand where a large number of Bengalis live and ask for their votes. "We do everything for the people living in the state," she said. The battle against human-caused climate change is unlike any other in human historyand yet, in spite of its unprecedented scale, climate-conscious citizens have found plenty of guidance from looking to the past. Activists have drawn inspiration from both legislative measures and grassroots movements, from the New Deal to the fight for reparations. One particular social initiative has been invoked time and again: the fall of Big Tobacco from its once-ubiquitous perch in American life. Researchers and writers have often compared Big Oils possible pending demise to tobacco companies decadeslong decline. Sarah Milov, an associate professor of history at the University of Virginia, thinks there are lessons for environmentalists to take from anti-smoking crusaders, whose history she chronicles in dazzling detail in the book The Cigarette: A Political History. I spoke with Milov over Zoom to discuss the comparisons between Big Oil and Big Tobacco, the innovations and flaws of nonsmokers protest methods, and the unique challenges facing climate activists. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nitish Pahwa: With the pandemic, weve started to see a lot of fossil fuel companies get hit hard in their financial bottom line. Fracking and drilling companies were already bleeding jobs, and now thats been accelerated. Even when the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was put up for auction for drilling, Alaska just ended up buying it back. So it would appear Big Oil is in a state of vulnerability and decline, even after a very oil-friendly administration. Some people have said this is similar to the cultural and political decline of Big Tobacco, especially from the 90s onward. Do you think this comparison holds weight? Sarah Milov: I definitely think the comparison between Big Oil and Big Tobacco is more than fair. But I would say that to understand Big Tobacco, we shouldnt look at the 1990s. You want to take that story back at least to the 1960s, which might provide kind of a note of caution. Advertisement The surgeon generals report both was and was not a turning point, and I think there might be lessons for that today. Sarah Milov In 1964, the surgeon generals report came out. That was the first time the federal government said there is a causal link between smoking and lung cancer. That link had been well established by the scientific literature for more than a decade, but it was obviously significant that you had the government saying it for the first timemaybe this would authorize some meaningful regulation. And you saw, very briefly, that Americans reduced their cigarette consumption. Maybe they were scared. Stock prices dipped, but then they came roaring back, as did cigarette consumption. In fact, cigarette consumption didnt begin to fall in the aggregate until the early 1980s. Advertisement So what the tobacco story shows is that people can take on interests, they can take on industry, but the fight is long. And my understanding is that climate activism is a relatively young, recent brand of activism. Obviously its on the heels of a much longer, centurieslong history of climate and environmental activism. But thinking about antifossil fuel activism specifically, it is helpful to understand that the fight against tobacco was half a century in the making before the public could fairly say they had control over this social epidemic. Advertisement The surgeon generals report both was and was not a turning point, and I think there might be lessons for that today. It was a turning point because it was a moment in time where public attention was riveted on this issue, but it was not a turning point if you step back and look at cigarette consumption historically, which continued apace. In fact, what the surgeon generals report ended up unleashing, at least in terms of federal regulation, was moves by a tobacco-friendly Congress to shield the industry from more hard-hitting regulation by the Federal Trade Commission on cigarette packages. Would you say then that the surgeon generals report was more a reportage victory? Getting it to the point of Yes, we have this established link, heres what we need to do about it, in the same way messaging on climate has evolved with attribution science? Advertisement Advertisement I think the surgeon generals report unwittingly unleashed new forces that pushed in somewhat opposite directions. It was understood by companies that if they could get the tobacco-friendly Congress to give them a weak warning label, this could be tremendously helpful for them down the line in terms of their own liability. I dont know how perfectly the analogy works with climate change, but we might expect that industry would also see an opportunity in regulation. It should always be remembered that highly capital-intensive industries frequently welcome regulation that can stamp out their competitors and also buy what they think is a modicum of respectability with the public. On the other hand, the surgeon generals report basically cast young lawyers eyes on the tobacco industry at a moment in time when there was intense interest in what we now call the public interest law movement. In tobacco specifically there was a young lawyer who said: We can use another federal regulatory route to try to countervail the power of Big Tobacco, through advertisements on TV. So you had millions of dollars worth of free airtime for anti-tobacco ads. That route isnt exactly there for climate activists. But perhaps or especially because of the history of tobacco, I think media consumers are hopefully slightly more skeptical of spots bought and paid for by the American Petroleum Institute. Advertisement Advertisement With regard to the advertising bit, obviously we have a much different media landscape than wed had back in the 70s. There are all these quibbles over labeling social media ads, which spread misinformation, or youve started to see how the natural gas industry is Paying for influencers, just like Juul did. Exactly. Or you see BP pledging net-zero by 2050, which is very different from zero emissions. And you also see such companies trying to co-opt messaging from younger climate groups. Are there steps climate activists could make on the advertising front, similar to how nonsmokers took on advertising regulations for cigarettes? One particularly effective anti-tobacco advertising campaign was from the 1990s: the Truth campaign. It did a really brilliant job of scrutinizing tobacco executives and their lies and their hypocrisy. The campaign was: Teenagers respond to cynicism, and maybe they wont pick up a cigarette if they feel cynically toward the CEOs of tobacco companies. But whats the equivalent pitch today? What are we asking teenagers not to do in their lives today? If they were to see an extremely effective ad making fun of Shells CEO, what is the pitch? Dont drive? Dont go into a building, since buildings are responsible for huge amounts of carbon emissions? The structural nature of climate change, I think, poses somewhat of a more difficult challenge for activists than the very personal nature of smoking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of countries over the past few years have asked whether pollution is a human rights issue. Youve written in your own research about the movement for the right to breathe clean air. Weve also had court cases tentatively pop up advocating for future generations. Do you see invoking the human rights aspect of itthinking of the childrenas a viable path forward for climate activists? I think in this regard climate activists should learn from what I consider to be a blind spot of the nonsmokers rights movement, which was a real inattention to class and race. The nonsmokers rights movement was almost forthright in saying that, for example, workers who smoke are bad workers, so this workplace should ban smoking. Even today we see that nonsmoking is a class issue: Smokers tend to be less educated and less wealthy than nonsmokers. That is in part a legacy of how the nonsmokers rights movement proceeded, its assumptions, the base of the movement itselfand not to put entire blame on the movement, where resources were targeted and were not targeted to help people quit smoking. Advertisement I think a lesson from this is to fuse the insights of scholarship in journalism, in environmental racism, with the climate suits to show that climate change places a disproportionate burden on Black Americans, on communities of color, on Native Americans, and to make that central to the argument. Thats actually something where you dont want to follow the anti-tobacco playbook. Advertisement Im really glad you brought that up because you see in climate reporting that so many environmental justice groups have had to reckon with their own racist legacies or lack of apt representation, or the fact that a lot of famous preservationists and environmentalists Happened to be eugenicists. Its actually like a natal connection between a desire for environmental purity and ideas about racial purity circulating in the early 20th century. Advertisement Researchers now are keenly aware of and sensitive to these issuesand not just issues on the access of race and class, but also on the axis of sexual identity. Theres a lot of research about how the tobacco industry targets LGBTQ youth. So theyre much more sensitive to the various dimensions of the American population than they were in the 1970s. A big point you emphasize in your book is that a lot of change came at the local level. I think one lesson from tobacco is that there is actually a lot of consensus about who is to blame for smoking. And I think that today there is climate consensus, though its not unanimouscertainly the waters have been muddied by the assiduous efforts of industry to make it a partisan issue. But there are steps that can be taken at pretty much any levelfrom the individual to the workplace, to the city, to the state, to the federal governmentto do something about it. Even if a smaller city were to announce its own intentions, that keeps up the momentum and feeling that people can take control over something. That was crucial in the fight against cigarettes, that you could see the results of the activism. If you go to your city council and give testimony about why you think smoking shouldnt be allowed in the library, and the next week it isnt, you can see the fruits of your labor. I think its really important to find ways for people to engage in a way that is local and real to them, and the government thats most local and real to them is probably not even their city governmentits their work. Every place of work is different, but Im sure certain employers are probably more than happy to abide by certain small gestures that are even seen as cost-saving. Advertisement Advertisement One thing weve seen in the talk of the Green New Deal is the concept of a just transition for workers. For some oil workers with strong unions, those jobs are the only thing theyve really ever known throughout their life. Has there been any analogous just transition for tobacco farmers? There was some thought given to this in the early 2000s because part of the Master Settlement Agreement included money for tobacco farmers to buy them out of their production rights. Many farmers who did that were old and happy to take the buyout because it was a partial retirement for them and they had not been making enough money in tobacco anyway. It was a good thing for them, but it was a retirement. For people who were still renters, that didnt look like a just transition for them. And in terms of actually transitioning to other modes of production, the wealthiest tobacco farmers continued in tobacco. They didnt stop producing it. I just want to say one more thing: that I think even thoughts of Big Tobaccos death are premature. If you look at the stock market history for Philip Morrisor Altria as it is now rebrandedyoud be a rich guy if you invested in the 1990s held onto that stock even till today. The very recent history of Big Tobacco, Juuls ultimate fate notwithstanding, shows remarkable resilience and a voracious appetite to move into new markets, move into the developing world, buy goodwill in the form of harm reduction, and say, Were going to promote both the disease and its cure. I wonder if there is not an analogy to Shell or other oil companies investment in renewables. In terms of tobaccos public presence in American life, yes, smoking rates are much reduced, but overall revenues are up and people across the world continue to smokeespecially as smoking is seen in many places as a kind of emblem and harbinger of development. The quelling of political warfare in the United States has to start somewhere. Topical in broad strokes yet frustratingly allergic to particulars, the well-meaning documentary The Reunited States, directed by Ben Rekhi and inspired by Mark Gerzons early-2016 book, The Reunited States of America, profiles people who have made a mission of listening to the other side. David Leaverton, a former Republican strategist, regrets that he contributed to a toxic political climate; with his wife, Erin Leaverton, and children, he embarks on an RV trip to meet strangers and learn about their lives. Susan Bro, who says she didnt pay attention to politics until her daughter, Heather Heyer, was killed in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, carries on Heyers civil rights message. Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado. US, allies will stand up to China pressure: Blinken Antony Blinken made the remarks during a call with his counterpart in the Philippines, Teodoro Locsin. File photo: Reuters The United States rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea beyond what it is permitted under international law and stands with Southeast Asian nations resisting its pressure, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. Blinken made the remarks in a call with Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin, the US State Department said in a statement, in which he also stressed the importance of a long-standing defence agreement between the allies and its clear application if Manila came under attack in the South China Sea. "Secretary Blinken pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of PRC pressure," it said, referring to the People's Republic of China. "Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea," it said. Blinken's assurances came after Locsin said on Wednesday the Philippines had filed a diplomatic protest over China's passing of a law allowing its coastguard to open fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a "threat of war". China passed the legislation on Friday allowing its coastguard to use "all necessary means" to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels, including demolishing other countries' structures built on Chinese-claimed reefs. China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea, which is also a major trade route. The United States, which has accused China of taking advantage of the distraction of the coronavirus pandemic to advance its presence in the South China Sea, has sent a carrier group through the waterway to promote "freedom of the seas". China on Tuesday said it would hold military drills of its own this week. A spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday the Philippines hoped no country would do anything to increase tension. The State Department said Blinken, who took office this week in Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, "underscored that the United States rejects Chinas maritime claims in the South China Sea to the extent they exceed the maritime zones that China is permitted to claim under international law." (Reuters) The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has called for applications in a prescribed format from qualified and experienced individuals for filling Hundred (100) vacancies to the post of Manager Security in PNB through direct recruitment to be posted anywhere in India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process towards the same started on January 27, 2021 and closes on February 15, 2021. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Manager Security in PNB Organisation Punjab National Bank (PNB) Educational Qualification Bachelors Degree Experience Five years in the Army/Navy/Air force/Gazzetted Police/Para military/Central Police organizations Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Anywhere in India Salary Scale Rs. 48,170 to Rs. 69,810 per month Industry Banking Application Start Date January 27, 2021 Application End Date February 15, 2021 PNB Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for PNB Manager Security Jobs 2021 through PNB Recruitment 2021 must have attained 21 years of age as on January 1, 2021 and not be more than 35 years, with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 5 years (SC/ST) and 3 years (OBC) respectively as specified in the PNB Notification 2021. Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 500 (All other candidates) and Rs. 50 (SC/ST and women candidates) respectively as application fee for PNB Manager Security Jobs 2021 under PNB Recruitment 2021 through cash mode only at any branch of Punjab National Bank as specified in the PNB Notification 2021. Also Read: IOCL Recruitment 2021 For 16 Non-Executive/Engineering Assistant Posts, Apply Online Before February 19 PNB Recruitment 2021 Category Wise Vacancy Gen/UR - 40 OBC 27 SC 15 EWS 10 ST 10 Total 100 PNB Recruitment 2021: Education And Eligibility Candidates applying for PNB Manager Security Jobs 2021 through PNB Recruitment 2021 must possess a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University/Institution and must have served as an officer for five years in the Army/Navy/Air force/Gazzetted Police/Para military/Central Police organizations as detailed in the PNB Notification 2021. PNB Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale The selection for PNB Manager Security Jobs 2021 through PNB Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting and Interview as notified in the PNB Recruitment 2021 Notification. Candidates selected for PNB Manager Security Jobs 2021 through PNB Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 48,170 to Rs. 69,810 per month. Also Read: KSAT Recruitment 2021 Notification For Stenographers And Typists, Apply Offline Before February 25 PNB Recruitment 2021: How To Apply Candidates applying for PNB Manager Security Jobs 2021 through PNB Recruitment 2021 must fill the application form in a prescribed format post-download from the official PNB website and send the same along with relevant supporting documents to the "Chief Manager (Recruitment Section), HRM Division, Punjab National Bank, Corporate Office plot no 4, Sector 10, Dwarka, New Delhi -110075" on or before February 15, 2021. Download PNB Recruitment 2021 Application From PDF for PNB Manager Security posts Download PNB Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Manager Security posts Pipeline 28 January 2021 Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today an expansion of the luxury lifestyle Alila brand in the United States with the addition of Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena, Calif. Slated to join Hyatt's portfolio on March 1, 2021, and at this time, scheduled to resume operations on March 15, 2021, the exclusive 68-room adults-only retreat will feature personalized hospitality that celebrates the authenticity of one of the world's most famous wine regions. Alila Napa Valley will add to Hyatt's growing Alila brand portfolio, joining Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, and Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, which is slated to open in March 2021. With 14 distinct properties across six countries worldwide, the Alila brand features luxury hotels and resorts in unique locations, distinguished by innovative design, a strong commitment to sustainable tourism, as well as rare and intimate destination experiences. Surrounded by the pristine home vineyards of the Beringer Estate, Alila Napa Valley will offer guests an exclusive, curated and truly luxury travel experience in the heart of California's Wine Country. The hotel features award-winning design by renowned design team Yabu Pushelberg using natural materials and a soothing neutral palette that well-complement the unobstructed vineyard and mountain views that face west for idyllic sunsets. The hotel's 68 guest rooms, including seven suites are appointed with automation controls, marble bathrooms, custom-designed furniture. All guestrooms have oversized balconies or wrap-around terraces with fireplaces and some with an outdoor bathtub. Alila Napa Valley will feature a newly rebranded Spa Alila and Fitness Center, a dramatic outdoor pool that overlooks adjacent vineyards and distant mountains, as well as a seasonally driven restaurant and bar - Acacia House, led by Chef Chris Cosentino - which will feature a local, sustainable menu that reflects the bounty of Napa Valley. The hotel is walking distance from the quaint shops and restaurants in downtown St. Helena and has nearby access to more than 400 wineries, hot air ballooning, the Culinary Institute of America at the Greystone and a variety of experiences curated by the concierge team. Previously known as Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Napa Valley, the hotel is built around a stately, Georgian-style guesthouse that was originally constructed in 1907 and is now used to house the restaurant, bar and seven guest rooms. The welcoming dining space offers a half horseshoe-shaped bar for sipping and tastings as well as indoor and outdoor seating on a beautiful, covered terrace with towering columns. The hotel's transformed Spa Alila will invite guests to relax and rejuvenate with transformative and customized therapies and treatments that are reflective of its wine country location. Guests will be able to enjoy various wellness offerings such as daily yoga classes, creative fitness programming, complimentary bicycles and uniquely local offerings such as "mindful wine tastings." Spa services will be offered within a unique contemporary farmhouse including a lap pool, steam room, couples massage suite and more. Meanwhile, a premium fitness center will be open to guests around the clock with state-of-the-art equipment from TRX and Life Fitness, as well as a yoga studio. Alila Napa Valley will be set for gatherings with three contemporary-designed event spaces totaling nearly 5,500 square feet for small meetings and social events up to 100 guests. A boardroom will fit up to 12 guests, and the Acacia Barn will offer an adjoining kitchen and space for up to 150 guests. Groups can also take their affairs outside with a terrace, patio, and a 3,000-square-foot lawn perfect for weddings, reunions, and other fresh air events. Alila Napa Valley will be easily accessible from various points throughout Northern California and the Bay Area, situated just 78 miles from San Francisco International Airport, 64 miles from Sacramento International Airport, and 45 miles from Sonoma County Airport. Joining Alila Napa Valley and Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, will be Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, slated for opening in March 2021 in Encinitas, Calif., a quintessential beach town in San Diego's North County Coastal region. Situated along coastal bluffs and overlooking Grandview and South Ponto Beaches, Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas will be a luxury oceanfront hotel with 130 guestrooms, including 16 suites. The resort will offer an ocean-view restaurant with rooftop patio, a pool with pool bar and an infinity-edge hot tub, a luxury Spa Alila and spectacular wedding and events venues, all with panoramic Pacific Ocean and lagoon views. On March 1, 2021, Alila Napa Valley will also join the World of Hyatt loyalty program, providing members with opportunities to enjoy valuable loyalty benefits on qualifying hotel stays, dining services, meetings, events and more as a part of their unique stay experience. Reservations for Alila Napa Valley will be available starting March 1, 2021, for stays slated for March 15, 2021 and beyond. Alila Napa Valley will be located at 1915 Main Street, St. Helena, Calif. For more information on Alila Napa Valley, visit alilanapavalley.com, and to learn more about the Alila brand, visit alilahotels.com. By Peter Hobson LONDON (Reuters) - A collapse in shipments to China and India, whose vast jewellery markets were partially shut by the coronavirus, drove Swiss exports of gold in 2020 to the lowest since at least 2012, customs data showed on Thursday. India's demand for gold recovered strongly as the year ended, but China, once the biggest buyer, recieved no gold at all from Switzerland for the third straight month in December. Switzerland is the world's biggest gold refining centre and a transit hub, and its trade data shows how the pandemic transformed the bullion market. Consumption plunged in Asia, where most gold is sold as jewellery, and metal moved west to satisfy an explosion in demand from investors who are the main buyers in Europe and North America. Swiss gold exports https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/ygdvzaajzpw/SWISS%202020%20CUSTOMS%20DATA.JPG This dynamic is now beginning to reverse but left its mark on the 2020 figures. Switzerland shipped 148 tonnes of gold to India in 2020, compared to 232 tonnes in 2019 and 253 tonnes in 2018. It exported just 30.5 tonnes to China, down from 181 tonnes in 2019 and 432 tonnes in 2018, and 26.7 tonnes to Hong Kong, down from 73 tonnes in 2019 and 222 tonnes in 2018. Hong Kong, a regional trade hub, shipped 178 tonnes of gold to Switzerland in 2020, dwarfing the amount it received. By far the biggest destination of Swiss gold last year was the United States, which received a staggering 508 tonnes in 2020, up from 17.8 tonnes in 2019 and 8.1 tonnes in 2018. The pace of these shipments -- most of which have been deposited in vaults in New York, where they underpin trading of futures contracts -- has slowed sharply in recent months. In total, Switzerland exported 1,180 tonnes of gold last year, down from 1,189 tonnes in 2019 and the lowest since the country began publishing data in 2012. December's exports of 76.4 tonnes were the lowest since February. An ounce of gold currently costs around $1,850 and a tonne is worth $60 million. (Reporting by Peter Hobson;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Outrage swept across the country Thursday after popular mobile investment app Robinhood and other brokerages paused buying abilities of Gamestop, AMC, and some other stocks. The app is under fire from both prominent Democrats and Republicans after only allowing users to sell their shares while hedge funds can continue to both buy and sell. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. DETROIT, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gage Growth Corp. ("Gage" or the "Company"), the leading high-quality craft cannabis brand in Michigan, has announced the final closing of its Regulation A, Tier 2, equity financing (the "Offering"). In total, Gage issued 28,571,400 Subordinate Voting Shares for gross proceeds of US$50,000,000, the maximum amount qualified under the Company's offering circular (see Gage Cannabis Co. Offering Circular ). The oversubscribed Offering included demand from both institutional and retail investors and significantly expanded the Company's ownership base through the addition of over 1,000 new shareholders. The Company expects to use the proceeds from the Offering to expand its retail footprint, pursue accretive acquisitions, and help position and solidify Gage as the leading cannabis brand in the state of Michigan. "We are humbled and excited by the significant interest and investor demand we received for our oversubscribed Reg A financing," said Fabian Monaco, President of Gage. "Michigan is one of the fastest growing cannabis markets in the United States, and Gage is well positioned with a robust balance sheet to continue to grow our market share as the leading operator with the best brands in the state. This is a great first step in our journey to becoming a publicly-traded company, and we're excited to continue to drive long-term shareholder value." As previously announced, the Company continues to pursue a potential go-public transaction which it expects to complete in Q1 2021. Please do not hesitate to contact our Investor Relations team for further information or to be added to our shareholder distribution list at [email protected]. Board Appointment The Company is pleased to welcome Richard Mavrinac to the Company's Board of Directors. Richard Mavrinac previously served as Chief Financial Officer of George Weston Limited and Executive Vice President of Loblaw Companies Limited, two of Canada's largest companies operating in the retail grocery and bakery sectors. Mr. Mavrinac's experience has encompassed all aspects of finance including overall responsibility for financial reporting, treasury, risk management, pension and benefits, investor relations, taxation, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Mavrinac is currently a member of the Board of Directors of TerrAscend Corp., Roots Corporation and Canopy Rivers Inc., and brings significant experience in the retail and cannabis sectors to the Board of Directors. About Gage Growth Corp. Gage Growth Corp. is innovating and curating the highest quality cannabis experiences possible for cannabis consumers in the state of Michigan and bringing internationally renowned brands to market. Through years of progressive industry experience, the firm's founding partners have successfully built and grown operations with federal and state licenses, including cultivation, processing and retail locations. Gage's portfolio includes city and state approvals for "Class C" cultivation licenses, processing licenses and provisioning centers (dispensaries). To learn more, please visit www.GageUSA.com . Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. While legal in certain states, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation. Investors should carefully read the risk factors and disclosures contained in the offering circular prepared in connection with the Offering before making any decision to invest in the Company. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and include statements with respect to future revenue and profits and a potential go-public transaction. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's offering circular effective September 14, 2020. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Gage Cannabis Co. Workers from Myanmar detained at an immigration center in Ranong, a Thai province on the border with Myanmar, hold a placard saying 'We want to go home!', Jan. 25, 2021. Police in Thailand announced Wednesday that they had arrested 78 people this month mostly Thais who were suspected of smuggling in more than 260 migrant workers from Myanmar and other neighboring countries. The crackdown on suspected traffickers of migrant workers came on orders from Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha last month, amid a wave of coronavirus infections, Police Gen. Suwat Changyodsuk, the national police chief, said at a news conference. Authorities had blamed the surge in COVID-19 cases on migrants who had entered the country illegally via the kingdoms shuttered borders. The operations are focused on trafficking rings brokers and their masterminds who smuggle illegal workers in or out. We are not focused on suppressing the illegal workers because the government has a clear policy on bringing some of them into the labor system and letting them work, Suwat said. The arrests were made from five trafficking rings, between Jan. 1 and Jan. 25, and consisted mostly of Thais and a handful of people from Myanmar, Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapat, Suwats deputy, said. Police used surveillance cameras equipped with license plate- and face-recognition technology to detect traffickers traveling on the border roads, Suwat said. The popular routes used by traffickers run from the border district of Mae Sot in Tak province, about 480 kilometers (298 miles) northwest of Bangkok, all the way to the Thai-Malaysian frontier in the insurgency-torn Deep South, he added. In recent months, 624 migrant workers were arrested along the border in the far south, said Lt. Gen. Kriangkrai Srisuk, head of Internal Security Operations Command for Region 4. The ISOC-4 stepped up measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, Kriangkrai told reporters on a visit to the border line in Narathiwat last week. We teamed up with the marines to dispatch mobile teams to keep guard along the border routes. Meanwhile, the chief of Thailands immigration police, announced that Thai authorities had coordinated with officials in Myanmar to deport 166 Myanmar migrants who were being held at a detention center at the Ranong Immigration office in northwestern Thailand. The deportation was expected to take place on Thursday, Lt. Col. Sompong Chingduang, the immigration bureau commissioner, told reporters on Tuesday. Last month, Prayuth warned that his government would crack down on syndicates that smuggled migrants into the country in defiance of Thailands months-long ban on the re-entry of foreign workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PM blamed migrant workers for what was then the biggest surge in coronavirus cases since the first infection was detected in Thailand in January 2020. According to police statistics, arrests of illegal migrants fell in 2020 to 68,942, compared with 208,791 in 2019, due to the pandemic-related border shutdown. Still, as Thailand had successfully limited the spread of new infections and allowed businesses to reopen, those migrant laborers who had returned to their countries started to come back via illegal border crossings. Once here, many evaded a mandatory 14-day quarantine, health officials had said last month. Thailand had been among the least affected by the global pandemic but the COVID-19 caseload shot up after more than 400 new infections were confirmed on one day, Dec. 22, mostly among migrant workers from Myanmar, at the countrys largest seafood market-complex in Samut Sakhon, near Bangkok. This infection cluster spread to the rest of Thailand, which now has more than 14,000 COVID-19 cases and a total of 75 virus-related deaths. Work permit extension The government estimates that the number of illegal migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos is around 500,000. It directed the police immigration bureau to record these workers biometric information through online channels by April 16, so the labor ministry could then consider issuing them 2-year work permits. Toward the end of last year, the Thai cabinet approved a program to temporarily legalize undocumented workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, as a measure to stem the spread of the coronavirus. A Thai workers rights group said that in addition to the leniency shown to the 500,000 illegal workers, the police should announce clearly that the migrants would not be prosecuted. If the government announces clearly that it waives punishment for those workers, all sides will feel comfortable and Thailand will see gains to its workforce, Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a coordinator with the Migrant Working Group, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Separately, nearly 2 million other migrant workers are in the process of applying to extend their work permits for two years, according to an official cabinet announcement this week. Applications will be processed by September 2021, by which time the workers who are jobless would need to have found employers. After that, the foreign laborers have until Nov. 12 to register with the interior ministry. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. 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 [January 28, 2021] Andrew Catapano Joins Alliant Insurance Services Andrew Catapano has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Executive Vice President, Alliant Construction Services Group. Catapano specializes in complex, high-valued property, casualty, public entity, construction, and corporate risk management insurance programs. He will be based in the New York office. "Andrew has a strong network of relationships with industry leaders and senior executives of large public entities throughout the Northeast," said Michael Cusack, Co-COO, Alliant Specialty. "We hope to capitalize on those relationships." Catapano has over 40 years in risk management, and prior to joining Alliant was executive vice president of a global insurance brokerage firm. Catapano has served as president and CEO of multiple insurance brokerage firms. Catapano earned a bachelor of science degree and a master of business administration with honors from Dowling College. He has been honored as 'Humanitarian of the Year' by Family Resiences and Essential Enterprises (FREE) and has served on the Board of Directors for Long Island Association, Long Island Philharmonic, and the United Way. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The New York Building Congress. Catapano can be reached at (212) 603-0152 or at Andrew.Catapano@alliant.com. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nation's leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a national network of specialized national platforms and regional offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of services and ensure they get the most innovative thinking and solutions in the industry. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and we're meeting that complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. We're changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their businesses. Visit us at alliant.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005262/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams office last week withdrew its bid to uphold a the rape conviction of a woman accused of sexually abusing two pre-teen girls, averting arguments set for Tuesday at the Louisiana Supreme Court. The new DA effectively conceded that Chasity Andrews convictions for simple rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile should be tossed because she was too young to be tried as an adult, breaking with the position of his predecessor, Leon Cannizzaro. The decision comports with Williams stance that juveniles should never be tried as adults. But it also creates a new dilemma for the DA, who must now decide whether to pursue the case again. He has spoken often about the need to take a tough stance against sexual violence. Andrews' accusers said she subjected them to disturbing abuse inside a house in Algiers. Prosecutors said the girls were 5 years old when she forced them to perform oral sex on each other. Andrews also forced one of the girls to perform oral sex on her while she watched pornography, prosecutors said. It was years before the girls had the language to describe what happened to them, prosecutors said. Finally, one girl learned at school about "good touching" and "bad touching." Andrews was 14 at the time of the alleged crimes and is now 28. Prosecutors charged her in adult court with aggravated rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile. A Criminal District Court jury convicted her of simple rape and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Probation, no jail time for New Orleans woman convicted in rape of young girls, judge says A New Orleans woman convicted last week of sexually abusing two young girls when she was a teenager will receive no prison time, a judge ruled Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The victims' parents, who knew Andrews, didnt ask for prison time. A judge placed her on three years' probation and ordered her to to register as a sex offender. Andrews own young age became a key point of contention on appeal. Because years passed before the victims told their stories to police, Andrews wasn't charged until 2013 or tried until 2019. During the trial, Andrews presented evidence that she attended school in Texas during the 2007-08 academic year. In an unusual mid-trial maneuver, prosecutors amended the alleged date of the crime in the bill of indictment to include the 2006-07 school year, when it was undisputed that Andrews lived in New Orleans. That change might have salvaged the case at trial, but it doomed it upon appeal. Judges at the state 4th Circuit Court of Appeal said in January 2020 that the earlier date meant that Andrews was only 14 when the crimes allegedly happened. New Orleans woman convicted on lesser rape count in abuse of girl Chasity Andrews has been out on bail for more than five years since she was charged with sexually abusing two young girls in Algiers. For someone so young, indecent behavior charges could only be tried in Juvenile Court. Prosecutors also should have sought an order transferring Andrews from juvenile to adult court for the rape charge, the 4th Circuit panel said. Prosecutors under Cannizzaro were preparing to defend the rape conviction in oral arguments at the Supreme Court before Williams took office on Jan. 11. In an expedited motion Jan. 20, Assistant District Attorney Michael Ambrosia moved to withdraw the states appeal of the 4th Circuit decision to the Supreme Court. The 4th Circuit Court opinion noted that Williams could again seek charges against Andrews. The district attorneys office believed the 4th Circuit ruling was supported by the law, and Chasity Andrews was entitled to due process as a child, a Williams spokesman said Wednesday night. One of the things that I hear a lot more this time than I did in the first wave is that a lot more people are personally impacted, Deborah Sanders, the chief executive of Barnet Hospital, told me. Thats especially true for frontline health care workers. One of our nurses, her husband died in the intensive care unit, Ms. Sanders said. With over 46,000 medical workers off sick across the N.H.S. this month, staffing has been stretched dangerously thin. You just think it cant get any worse than this, and it does, Tracy Goodman, a head nurse at the hospital, said. And its still getting worse. The American lobster, which supports the most valuable fishery in North America, may be more susceptible to the effects of climate change than previously thought, according to a new study published in Ecology and Evolution. This finding could help fishery managers anticipate the long-term effects of climate change for one the nation's most precious natural resources. The American lobster's range extends from Atlantic Canada to the mid-Atlantic waters of the United States, but increased carbon dioxide emissions by humans are warming and acidifying their ocean habitat. To date, studies of the early life stages of lobsters have concluded that ocean acidification, compared to warming, had relatively limited impact on growth and metabolism. However, according to the new publication, their genes tell a different story. "Our study indicated that acidification is affecting these lobsters on a molecular scale," said Maura Niemisto, lead author and research associate at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. "Because of environmental changes, they have genes firing at an even higher rate." Niemisto published the research with Bigelow Laboratory Senior Research Scientist David Fields and University of Maine Research Professor Richard Wahle, who is based at the Darling Marine Center. Co-authors Spencer Greenwood of the University of Prince Edward Island, and Fraser Clark of Dalhousie University contributed expertise in genomics. The work built on previous experiments by co-author Jesica Waller of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Through their genes, all living organisms have the capacity to regulate a wide range of biological processes. Changes in their environment can influence this. For example, many organisms have a heat shock protein gene. When they get overheated, the environmental stress triggers cells to produce a protein that helps the organism adapt. This study focused on the postlarval stage of lobsters because they live in the upper water column, where ocean acidification and temperature are changing quickly. In addition, they are planktonic, which means they have limited control of their movement to avoid unfavorable environments. The scientists conducted laboratory experiments to expose postlarval lobsters to the temperature and acidity levels projected for the end of the century. Under these conditions, they found lobsters' cells adjusted gene regulation to support shell structure and immune functions. This response was stronger in relation to increased acidity than increased temperature. The study also revealed that, when their environment was both warm and acidic, the lobsters showed significantly more genetic response than when exposed to either stressor alone. "Stressors on an organism have the ability to compound into something that makes it really hard to grow through all the developmental stages to get to a full-grown lobster," said Niemisto, who conducted the research as part of her master's thesis in marine biology at UMaine. The implications of these responses remain unclear for lobsters in the Gulf of Maine, which is acidifying and warming faster than the majority of the world's oceans. While the results suggest that lobsters have the genetic capacity to adapt to their changing environment, it may come at a cost. The genetic processes take a significant amount of energy, which comes from a limited budget. "So, if they're spending a lot of energy on building proteins to respond to stressors, something else has to give," Niemisto said. Researchers are now looking to see exactly where that extra energy is coming from and what is being given up. For example, if lobsters have to expend energy on maintaining their shells, they may not be able to invest in their immune system. The authors say the next step is to better understand these genetic responses in relation to larger-scale changes. Pairing this study's findings with further research on the ecology and biology of lobsters can help reveal their likely response as a population. "This study has cracked open the door to our understanding of the basic biology of lobster larvae and their response to the changing environment," said co-author Fields. "However, there is still a lot to learn. As the use of these genetic tools grows, so will our understanding of the larval lobster biology and the impact of climate change on this iconic fishery." ### This research was supported by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's Ocean Acidification and National Sea Grant programs, and the National Science Foundation. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, nonprofit research institute located in East Boothbay, Maine. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Bigelow Laboratory scientists use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future for all life on the planet. Learn more at bigelow.org, and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. West Bengal assembly passed a resolution against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre and demanded that they be withdrawn immediately. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee moved the resolution. Getty Images While speaking on the resolution, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Centre should either withdraw the new laws or step down. The CPI(M) and the Congress supported the resolution but demanded that the state government withdraw similar laws it had passed a few years ago. Some MLAs subsequently walked out shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans. PTI "We oppose the anti-farmer laws. We demand their immediate withdrawal. Either the Centre should withdraw the laws or step down," the chief minister said. The West Bengal chief minister also claimed the Delhi police "mishandled" the tractor parade by farmers which resulted in the situation going out of hand on the Republic Day. We will not accept farmers being branded as traitors: CM Mamata Banerjee says in Bengal assembly after resolution moved for repeal of farm laws Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2021 "Delhi police is to be blamed for that. What was the Delhi police doing? It was a complete intelligence failure. We will not tolerate farmers being branded as traitors. They are the assets of this nation," she said. French shipping group CMA CGM said on Wednesday it has reached an agreement with Egypt to operate a future container terminal at the port of Alexandria. Operations at the planned terminal are due to start in 2022, CMA CGM said in a statement. Short link: The project will result in faster delivery of 5G wireless technology in Mississippi markets and provide ultra-fast, all-fiber broadband services to over 200,000 homes and businesses by 2025 in Mississippi and Alabama, where the diversified telecommunications and technology services firm recently expanded its broadband internet availability. "We need companies like C Spire stepping up to the plate to move our state forward" - Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves When completed, the project is expected to bring all-fiber infrastructure to within 1,000 feet of half of Mississippi's residential premises, deliver game-changing 5G service the next generation of mobility to nearly 600 sites representing over 60% of the state and expand next-generation, ultra-fast broadband services to over two dozen Alabama markets. "We have a strong reputation of providing world-class products and services to consumers and businesses and this investment signals that we intend to deliver these benefits faster than ever before," said C Spire CEO Hu Meena, noting that the firm will make the initial investment in three years with another $500 million in capital spending over a five-year period. Meena said the investment is expected to result in fiber within reach for half of all Mississippians a record for the Southeast and 12th best in the U.S. and millions of dollars in secondary economic benefits for both states through contracts and agreements with firms who will help C Spire with the massive infrastructure deployment and construction efforts. "I'm thrilled to see that C Spire is investing so much to build out its high-speed internet infrastructure to support the future of education, health care, technology, and small business in Mississippi," said U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi. "Because we live in a digital world, better, faster internet connections are critical to keeping our state competitive and boosting our $100 billion-plus economy," he added. Wicker praised C Spires commitment to rapid deployment of 5G fast service to virtually every major part of the Magnolia state with the activation of more than 300 sites by the end of this year. He also praised the company for its continuing commitment to roll out more broadband in more places. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the infrastructure initiative will reap immediate dividends in a state where so many of its key priorities and initiatives rely on robust broadband technology infrastructure, including education, workforce development, health care and economic growth. "We need companies like C Spire stepping up to the plate to move our state forward." Business executives also expressed support for the C Spire investment initiative, including the 10,000-member Mississippi Business Council and the Mississippi Development Authority. "It is essential we close the digital divide in Mississippi," said MEC President and CEO Scott Waller. "We wholeheartedly support efforts by C Spire to continue to develop the 5G and broadband infrastructure for a competitive 21st century economy in our state." "With its extensive 5G and broadband infrastructure in our state and a commitment to invest extensive capital resources on an accelerated timeframe, C Spire is well positioned to become an even more substantive contributor to the state's emerging technology leadership," said MDA Executive Director John Rounsaville. Meena said C Spire plans to move quickly and aggressively in 2021 to bring the cutting-edge technology benefits to consumers and businesses in both states, leveraging several recent acquisitions, including Teklinks and Harbor Communications, to accelerate its growth and expansion efforts. To learn more about C Spire 5G and fiber broadband internet, go to C Spire 5G Fast and Fiber Fast. For more information about C Spire products and services, visit www.cspire.com. About C Spire C Spire is a privately-owned telecommunications and technology company driven to deliver the best experiences in wireless, fiber internet, and business IT solutions such as internet, VoIP, cloud and managed services. Read more news releases and announcements at cspire.com/news. For more information, visit cspire.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. SOURCE C Spire Related Links http://www.cspire.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 23:27:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) disclosure process for the 4.5 billion U.S. dollars Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES) has been completed, paving the way for the implementation of the project, an official said Thursday. Chairperson of the Zambezi River Authority Council of Ministers, Zhemu Soda, who is also Zimbabwean Minister of Energy and Power Development, made the disclosure during the 38th Council of Ministers virtual meeting held Thursday. "It is encouraging to learn that most of the preparatory works for the implementation of the scheme have been completed. This includes the updating of the 1993 engineering feasibility studies and the undertaking of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) studies which have culminated in the production of a draft ESIA report. "In line with the environmental legal framework of the two contracting states and international best practice, the ESIA report was placed in the public domain in March 2020 as part of the public disclosure process and this was concluded on 25th January 2021," Soda said. He said upon the conclusion of the ESIA report public disclosure phase, the report will be updated taking into consideration stakeholder inputs. "We accordingly look forward to the final ESIA report that should map the way forward in ensuring the sustainable implementation of this 4.5 billion U.S. dollars project," he said. Soda added that apart from introducing over 4,000 direct and 6,000 in-direct jobs, the mega project will generate revenue of over 750 million U.S. dollars annually, which will consequently enhance the GDP of Zimbabwe and Zambia. In 2019, a consortium of Power Construction Corporation of China and U.S. firm General Electric won a bid to build the 2,400 MW hydropower station under a Build, Operate and Transfer funding model. The power generated from the plant will be shared equally by the two countries. The Zambezi River Authority is an organization jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe mandated with managing the Kariba Dam, providing water for hydro-power generation as well as facilitating and overseeing the development of infrastructure along the Zambezi River for the benefit of the two countries. "Our two governments remain committed to ensuring that the peoples of the republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe draw equal social and economic benefits from the development of the BGHES and indeed other projects under the Authority's water storage infrastructure development plans covering other dam sites located along the stretch of the Zambezi river forming a common border between the two sister republics," Soda said. Enditem In a shocking development on Thursday, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the release of terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh- the main accused in the Daniel Pearl murder case. In 2002, Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia Bureau of The Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped in Karachi and beheaded while he was pursuing a story on the links between ISI and Al-Qaeda. In custody since February 2002, Sheikh's death sentence was commuted to 7 years by the Sindh High Court on April 2, 2020, while three other accused serving life terms were acquitted. The PPP-led Sindh government had challenged this verdict in Pakistan's apex court and immediately detained the 4 men under Section 3(1) of the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. However, the same Sindh HC bench struck down the provincial government's decision on December 24, 2020. However, the Sindh government refused to release the convicts in the wake of the pending case before Pakistan's SC. As per local media reports, one member of the three-judge bench dissented from the majority view in rejecting the Sindh government's appeal of the HC order. Read: Five-year-old Boy Drives An SUV In Pakistan, Police In Action After Video Goes Viral 'Travesty of justice' British-born-terrorist Omar Sheikh dropped out of the London School of Economics and instead, underwent training at terror camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 1994, he was arrested in India for kidnapping foreign tourists and remained incarcerated till he was freed by the NDA government in exchange for hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight which was diverted to Kandahar in Afghanistan in December 1999. Sheikh returned to Pakistan after his release. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has condemned this verdict. Briefing the media, MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, "I have mentioned earlier about the low conviction rate of Pakistan in sentencing terror accused. And this case demonstrates the lack of any seriousness on part of Pakistan for taking action on terror-related issues. It is also a travesty of justice not to find Omar Saeed guilty of any charges in this heinous charge of terror. Our position on Pakistan taking verifiable, credible and irreversible action against terrorism and terrorist funding emanating from all territories under its control remains unchanged." Read: 65-yr-old Woman Finally Returns To India After Being Locked Up For 18 Yrs In Pakistan Jail It's a travesty of justice not to find Omar Saeed guilty of any charges in this heinous act of terror. Our position on Pakistan taking sustained credible & irreversible action against terrorism & terror funding emanating from territories under its control remains unchanged: MEA https://t.co/c9esQ8D07v ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Read: Pakistan Pilot & Others Spot 'Massive UFO' In Karachi Sky; 'Aliens Came To Collect Debt?' * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has given the green light for the controlled use of Ivermectin, a veterinary parasitic drug, for Covid-19 infection management in humans. Image: Taj Pharma Not registered for human use During a wartime, there will be things that are not in the routine course of business, where the regulator has to think very hard and think of the context in which they are working, while still absolutely thinking of safety, quality and efficacy. Earlier this month, the authority warned the public against the use of the drug for treating Covid-19, because there was no available confirmatory data.However, Sahpra chief executive (CEO), Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, said the authority would allow a controlled and compassionate programme for the use of the drug after embarking on extensive engagements with medical professionals. A guideline will be published shortly.We are in the second wave. We are seeing lives being lost and we have many medical practitioners that have reached out to us. We have considered all of that. The approach is that we will facilitate a controlled, compassionate access programme for Ivermectin, she said.Semete-Makokotlela said, however, this does not mean that the authoritys position on the matter has changed. Our position [does not] change around the availability or lack of availability of data, but we had to have in-depth discussions around the context in which we find ourselves.We are in a pandemic with limited options available. It is on that basis that we are saying we will facilitate a controlled access programme that will enable us to monitor the use and [allow people] to get healthcare, she said.Sahpra has taken this posture, with several studies indicating there is not enough data on the risks and benefits of using the drug.We understand the position from which the health practitioners are coming. We also acknowledge that there are very limited but good evidence-based options that exist.We also understand the pressure healthcare practitioners are facing because of these limited options, Semete-Makokotlela said.One of the challenges faced by Sahpra, said Semete-Makokotlela, is that the drug is currently not registered for human use in South Africa.In many countries, its being utilised off-label because a rigorous review was conducted when it was registered for human use.Since 6 January 2021, Sahpra has reviewed an extensive piece of data that has emerged.Firstly, we engaged with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and theres a statement theyve issued around this, saying theres limited information around [the drug]. WHO is working to review current clinical trials for them to get sufficient data to give to us.Weve also engaged other regulators that we work closely with as Sahpra, such as the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration), the European Medicines Agency, MHRA in the UK, etc., and they have indicated a similar position to us, said Semete-Makokotlela.Sahpra chairperson, Professor Helen Rees, said the authority has taken into account the national context when considering the use of the drug.Since the pandemic began, the staff at Sahpra have worked extraordinarily hard because its not just on medicines Its not just a simple thing to say that a new medicine has come along, can we register it? she said.During the pandemic, Rees said Sahpra has been inundated by work needing its attention.Rees said the authority is aware that, at the moment, there are limited options for the prevention and treatment of sickness.Although we now have good evidence for hospitalised patients, wed like more. We are very supportive of our healthcare providers, who are in the frontline, who are really desperate and looking for solutions. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A new restaurant taking shape within the Four Seasons hotel is designed around sweeping views of the Mississippi River and the cuisine of one of New Orleans' most accomplished restaurateurs: Donald Link. The hotel, set to open this spring at the foot of Canal Street, will be home to the next restaurant from the chef and his Link Restaurant Group. It has yet to be named, and details of the concept remain in development. Link said it will be a fine dining restaurant, a notch more upscale than his bistro Herbsaint in the Central Business District and with a contemporary approach. It will be a large restaurant, with about 150 seats and 30 more at the bar. Link's crew will also field menus for the separate pool and cabana terrace adjacent to the main restaurant. While many facets of the project are still in the works, one of its defining characteristics is already set. From its perch on the hotels fifth floor, one side of the dining room will be all glass, framing a vista of the flowing river, passing ships and the contours that shaped the Crescent City. That helped seal the deal for Link when he was considering the project. Once I saw the view, that got me, Link said. This is the second chef partnership for the new Four Seasons. In the fall, the hotel announced plans to develop a restaurant with chef Alon Shaya and Emily Shaya of Pomegranate Hospitality, which runs the modern Israeli restaurant Saba in Uptown. The Shayas restaurant will be on the hotels first floor, and it is projected to open around the time of the hotels debut. Links restaurant is to join the hotel later, with a projected opening in the fall. The hotel, officially the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans, will mark a new chapter for the former World Trade Center high rise. The Four Seasons will have 341 guest rooms, 92 private residences and various events spaces, including in the distinctive copula topping the tower. The landmark buildings redevelopment as luxury hotel and condominiums has been touted as a key for reviving this part New Orleans and the riverfront. Thats one reason Link decided to proceed with the project, even while the hospitality industry struggles with the economic toll of the coronavirus crisis. It was hard to wrap my head around another restaurant at first, but, really, I started going back to the post-Katrina days, Link said. Work in the Warehouse District to develop Cochon, Links second restaurant, was underway when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Pushing ahead was nerve-racking with New Orleans just beginning its long recovery, the chef recalled. But it proved to be a pivotal decision for his company, and when Cochon opened the following spring it was another sign that the New Orleans dining scene was coming back. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up He sees the Four Seasons project in a similar light now. Its a way to make a commitment to New Orleans and keep the city moving forward, he said. The Link Restaurant Group is one of the most acclaimed operators in the New Orleans dining scene. Through the years it has built a national reputation, along with a trophy case of James Beard Awards. In addition to Herbsaint and Cochon, it runs Peche Seafood Grill, Gianna, the market and eatery Cochon Butcher and the bakery cafe La Boulangerie. +12 For a Mardi Gras without parades, New Orleans restaurants find new roles As if there was any doubt, the Mardi Gras spirit is manifestly clear at Commanders Palace now that the restaurant has joined the growing rank The company has been approached numerous times to open restaurants in hotels around the country. Link said he has always passed on the offers. When the Four Seasons possibility arose, Link was impressed by the quality of the hotel brand and by the potential to make a post-pandemic statement for New Orleans. I think the Four Seasons is a big deal for New Orleans. It will draw people," he said. "Id rather have locals do [the restaurant[ than others from out of town coming in. +21 Red beans and Saints: Reliving a historic season game by game, plate by plate This Saints season brought more uncertainty than most, starting with whether we would even get one during the coronavirus crisis. But when it Mali Carow, general manager of the new hotel, said building relationships with local chefs was an important part of the Four Seasons approach. We wanted to find a chef with a story to tell, a local story to tell, she said. As the hotel and restaurant group began discussing possibilities, Carow said, it was clear Links team had the right cultural fit for the Four Seasons. We start with core and culture. We want people who share our values, she said. Were forming a marriage between the Four Seasons and New Orleans, and it starts with our people. The Link and Shaya restaurants will complete the hotels dining program, along with its banquet facilities. Shayas restaurant, which is also yet to be named, will be accessible from the ground level and will also handle food and beverage across the hotels lobby. In an earlier interview, Shaya described the new restaurant as a showcase of classic and contemporary influences running through Louisiana cuisine, with elements ranging from Cajun to Vietnamese. Flash China and the United States share broad common interests and cooperation space in coping with climate change, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when commenting on media reports that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. climate envoy John Kerry have both expressed willingness to cooperate with China on climate change. John Kerry, also the former U.S. Secretary of State, said that although the U.S. has serious differences with China, no issues between the two nations would be traded for climate-related cooperation. Zhao said that climate change is a common challenge facing mankind and bears on its future and the future of the world, and no country can solve it alone, as tackling it requires global action, global response and global cooperation. Noting that China and the United States have carried out fruitful cooperation in response to climate change, Zhao said the two countries share broad common interests and cooperation space in coping with climate change. "China and the United States have played a positive and constructive role in promoting the signing and entry into force of the Paris Agreement. China is willing to work with the United States and the international community to address climate change," Zhao said. He also emphasized that China-U.S. cooperation in specific areas is not "a flower in a greenhouse" and must be closely related to the overall bilateral relationship. Zhao said that no party should expect to wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs and violate China's interests, on one hand, while on the other hand expecting China to offer its understanding and support on bilateral and global affairs. "We hope the U.S. side can create favorable conditions for China-U.S. coordination and cooperation in important fields," he said. Nanfu Wangs documentary In the Same Breath opens the virtual version of the Sundance Film Festival this year, but its story effectively begins at Sundance last year, which opened on the same day as the COVID lockdown in Wuhan. Wang, who was raised in neighboring Jiangxi province, has lived in the United States for nine years, but shed just left her 2-year-old son with her mother for the Chinese New Year, and found herself frantically trying to figure out if the lockdown meant shed be unable to retrieve him. The New Years fireworks, Wang recalls in the film, were the last time anything felt normal, although, as the movie documents, COVID had already been spreading for more than a month. With the help of local camerapeople in Wuhan and the U.S., Wangs movie chronicles how quickly things spiraled out of control, and how dedicated the state apparatus in both countries was to preventing us from realizing it. Wang has made movies in China and the U.S. before, but this is the first movie to span both, and the perspective is eye-opening. In the growing minigenre of COVID documentaries, its already standard for the story to start in China and move to the U.S., but Wangs keeps going back and forth, drawing provocative comparisons between Chinese citizens saturated in government propaganda and MAGA types who think the outbreak is fake news. Its the first movie Ive seen to suggest that COVID is only a part of a larger crisis whose end we are nowhere near seeing, and which we cant inoculate ourselves against with a shot or two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We talked via Zoom earlier this week. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Sam Adams: You mention in the movie that you were on a work trip when the Wuhan lockdown started. That was actually opening night of Sundance 2020, where you were on the documentary jury. Nanfu Wang: It was really a perfect storm for us because my husband and I, we have a son who was about 2 at the time, and we hadnt had a vacation, just the two of us, for three years. So we thought while I was on the jury was the perfect opportunity that my husband would join me in Utah, we would watch movies together with the plus-one pass, and we would pick my son up after Sundance. And then of course, all of this happened. We had to change plans. Advertisement My husband went to China to pick him up while Wuhan was locked down, and the other parts of the country were starting to lock down too. He is American and he doesnt speak Chinese, and my village is so remote that from Beijing [or] Shanghai to my village still takes another three-hour flight and two hours of a bus ride to get to my family. It was crazy that he was trying to communicate and taking my son out and going through all of this with the language barrier, and I was at Sundance just refreshing my news feed, trying to figure out what was going on, how dangerous it was. Sign up for the Slate Culture newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. So much of living through this pandemic has been about trying to figure out whats going on from afar, endlessly refreshing screens just to get a hint. It seems like you got that very early and very dramatically. Advertisement The feeling of the time was, were we overreacting, or were we paranoid, or is this really severe? Do we need to do this? With the limited information, especially from China, we didnt know what was true. We didnt know whether we should trust the official announcement, which seemed to be much more contained. And then we were debating, because its a very big thing for us to travel. We had just dropped off our son there. And so we were debating, discussing. We got tickets, we returned them, we got them again, and we refunded them. From hour to hour, the decisions were shifting based on what we saw and what we learned. Advertisement Advertisement I know when you were making One Child Nation, which is about the Chinese governments one-child policy, you and your director took special precautions in case you were detained, tracking each others GPS and such. Obviously, going back during the pandemic poses special challenges, but in general how much are you free to come and go? Every time I made a film about China, going back to the country again was a test, because we never knew what was going to happen. Would they allow me in, and would there be confrontation? January [2020] was the first time I went after I made One Child Nation, which was a year after its premiere, and nothing happened. So I came back and started making In the Same Breath, and we knew that we would encounter some difficulties. But the level of censorship and surveillance was never like I had seen before. I think its because the whole world has its eyes on Wuhan. And the Chinese government really wanted to restrict access to Wuhan and to the hospitals. So everybody who had access to film, not only in the hospitals but even in the city, was very strictly vetted. People had to have paperwork to do that. And that was something that I never experienced before, even making Hooligan Sparrow and One Child Nation. Because its when you touch on some sensitive topics, then you attract attention and the scrutiny from the government. But with this one it was just overall, anything about the outbreak was going to be examined by the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement You couldnt shoot In the Same Breath yourself, so you relied on a small army of cinematographers. How did you find them? We had about 10 people filming in China, and roughly 10 people in the U.S. too. And the process of finding the cinematographers was a complicated one. First, we needed to find people who were inside Wuhan and could get access from the official channels, because any private freelancers would be hard to get into the hospital or even go out of their apartments. The eventual 10 cinematographers in Wuhan, I would say half of them were people that I already knew and collaborated with before, and the other half of them were people that I didnt know. And that was tricky because the film is sensitive. Sometimes I didnt know what the cinematographers political views were, and if we werent careful, this person could easily, after the first phone call, go to the authorities and report what we are doingand that would be the end of the entire shoot. I was carefully gauging the other persons response. If I mentioned Hooligan Sparrow or One Child Nation, it could go either way. People could be like, Oh, wow, you are the person who made this. I admire that. Or its like, Oh, my God, I cant be close, I cant be working on this. This is, like, the person whos the traitor. Its a very complex process of getting to the point of, OK, this person we can trust, or they can trust me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are there people who think of you that way, as a traitor? There are, definitely. Thats how the films, or me sometimes, were portrayed by the official narrative. Because they see anything that is critical about the government, about the country, as you are being a traitor or working with the foreign hostile forces and trying to sabotage the Chinese government, the Communist Party. You talk a bit in the new film about the Chinese governments insistence on portraying positive stories from the COVID epidemic, and thats an attitude that seems to be shared by a lot of Chinese people as well. There are people who dont want to say things that could make the country look bad or give ammunition to the countrys enemies. As a filmmaker who has made movies critical of China, do you ever feel that impulse? Not to make propaganda necessarily, but to balance out the criticisms. Advertisement Yeah, my answer would be no. Im conscious what things were not positive. And I, as a storyteller, as a filmmaker, and as a citizen, I felt that its my responsibility to expose that and to reveal that, to raise awareness so people could see. Thats the only way I feel you could really push the country to move forward, to improve, and hold the authorities accountable. But its an interesting question, because sometimes when I have conversations with my husband and were talking about China and America, and he would catch me, saying, This is you defending your country. That sense of a patriotism, I think, is so buried in each one of us. We all have the sense of belonging and identity and pride in our own country. And I think its only problematic when that patriotism is being taken advantage of by the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Youve made films in China and in the U.S., but this is the first youve made in both countries, and its really interesting when the scene shifts and we see you treating the parade of government misinformation in the U.S. from the early days of the pandemic the same way you treated the Chinese governments propagandaespecially Anthony Fauci saying that COVID isnt something Americans need to be worrying about, and that we shouldnt be wearing masks. Its jarring to be reminded how much of what we were being told, even by people who apparently had good intentions, was flat-out wrong. I think sometimes we forgot that the situation in America today is not a result of one person. Its not just Trump, although he has so much responsibility in getting us to where we are today. For me, as an outsider, it was more shocking to see how the U.S. responded to the outbreak than it was seeing it in China. I think I have this internalized bias, maybe, towards China, and I felt it wasnt surprising that there would be propaganda, that there was a cover-up. But when I finally saw it happening in the U.S., that was shocking, because my preconceived notion about America is that its this democratic country where there is freedom. So it forces me to confront my own bias, and that was what drove me through the editing process and the filming process of the past year. Advertisement Advertisement The most striking aspect of In the Same Breath for me is how you treat the people in MAGA hats who dont believe that COVID is realnot as deranged loons but as people who are responding in their own misguided way to a climate of misinformation. Coming from a country with state-run media and widespread censorship, it seems as if you understand where they are coming from, but you also understand the extremely dangerous potential they represent. That part is so difficult and tricky, to find the balance. Everybody already has preconceived notions and theyve already made up their minds of how they wanted to think about these people. When I started watching the [anti-lockdown] protests, that was my first reaction too. But then the more I watched them, I realized maybe it is my desire to understand them, to empathize with them, and to try to see all of us as human beingsrather than there is a hierarchy, moral or intellectual superiority in one way or another. Advertisement Right. When I really had the patience and the open mind to listen to them, I realized we are all the same in a way. We all want certain things. We all want transparency. We all want accurate information. And especially with the experience of coming from China, knowing how somebody could firmly believe in something that was not true. I would never look at any of the subjects in China who say they love, they admire, they appreciate Xi Jinping and they appreciate what the Chinese government does with contempt or with disgust. I would never do that. Because I know what they came from, and I know what made this happen. Advertisement So with that same sentiment, I wanted to look at the Trump supporters and understand what they came from and why they are believing what they believe today. I wanted to convey that to the audience and invite them to not immediately reject the other side of voices, but more so to open up and to try to see the rationale behind them. Maybe through that way we can finally look at the source of the problem and not just see the people as the problems themselves. Advertisement One of the most interesting moments in the film is when you describe being in New York in early March, and your mother is calling you from China, trying to convince you that COVID is really bad and you need to wear a mask. And youre telling her no, its not like China, the experts say everything is fine here. At that moment, I was confused. I think it was challenging what I thought America was. I immediately thought the information in China, and what my mom was telling me, was not right. Because this is what I trusted, the experts in America, which I suppose I had a different level of trust in, previously. Advertisement Advertisement How is your mom doing now? Advertisement Shes good. In China, the testing and the quality is really effective. Its completely opposite. Its so interesting to see how the two systems, theyre almost like on the opposite spectrum of politics and measures, but then at the same time, they have so much overlapping and in common. Its easy for COVID to seem like the biggest problem in the world right now, but you end the movie suggesting that the response to it has laid bare the potential for an even greater danger, which is the rise of authoritarianism in the U.S. There were two biggest fears that I had just over the last year. One is if people look at this and its like, Oh, this is an unavoidable disaster. Chinese people think this way. I think in the U.S. now probably less people are thinking that way. But in China, definitely everybody felt, Well, the government did the best, and this is inevitable. They use the analogy its like going to war, that death is just inevitable. I think were all eager to forget, were all eager to put it behind and not think about it again. And if that happens, then what have we learned from it? And that would be, to me, a scary thing. Advertisement Advertisement And the other thing, more scary, is I realize how effective the propaganda in China is. That not only most of its citizens believe the narrative that was put out, that the government did a great job and handled it really well, but also, from my observation, its really effective outside too, internationally. Especially with the U.S. as a contrast, most people in the world looked at China and really thought, Wow, they did great. They managed to control it. And the reason that they reached that conclusion is partly what they are allowed to see, and that the kind of reporting that has been allowed to get out from China is so carefully crafted and controlled. My fear is if, after this, we really allow people to think the model in China was successful or effective, then its putting the whole world in a more dangerous place. Pfleger himself, who has been removed from the pulpit as the investigation proceeds, posted to Facebook after the allegations against him came to light earlier this month, I am devastated, hurt and yes angry, but I am first, a person of Faith, I Trust God. Please keep me in prayer and the Faith Community of St. Sabina. He added, I have been asked by the Diocese not to speak out at this time. "Demand for Orions collaboration platform continues to grow as industries like security, retail, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and hospitality, among others, recognize the need to include their deskless workforce in digital transformation initiatives, said Greg Taylor, Orion Labs CEO. Orion Labs, Inc., the leading voice-first, intelligent collaboration platform that empowers deskless workers, today announced an extraordinary year of growth as organizations increasingly recognize the need to connect the deskless workforce. In 2020, the company marked a 250% increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) year-over-year. Demand for Orions collaboration platform continues to grow as industries like security, retail, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and hospitality, among others, recognize the need to include their deskless workforce in digital transformation initiatives, said Greg Taylor, Orion Chief Executive Officer. The company delivered important new product innovations, was awarded 16 patents, and welcomed a record number of new enterprise customers in 2020. We will continue to respond to the growing demand for our deskless collaboration platform in the year to come. 2020 Year-over-Year Growth Highlights: 250% growth in ARR 400% increase in prospect pipeline 12x growth in subscription commitment Funding Orion raised $29 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Dell Technologies Capital with participation from WRVI Capital and existing investors, including Avalon Ventures, Argentum Capital Partners, and Allen & Company. Innovation Orion continued to invest in its category-leading platform in order to best serve its customer base and was granted 16 new patents in 2020. The company also announced the availability of both on-premise and private cloud versions of its cloud-native SaaS enterprise collaboration platform. Executive Hires In 2020, Orion expanded its executive team of proven growth leaders to scale and meet the growing demand resulting from a strong market response. Daniel de Mos joined as Vice President of Finance to strengthen the companys operating infrastructure. Michael Schwartz joined as Chief Marketing Officer to guide the brands marketing strategy as it serves the extensive addressable market for its category-defining intelligent collaboration platform. Orion saw remarkable growth in 2020 with 250% increase in Annual Recurring Revenue, and we anticipate this momentum to continue into 2021, said Daniel de Mos, Orion VP of Finance. My team has been focused on implementing processes and systems to track, report, and analyze our business to ensure we have the operational platform in place to manage rapid expansion, both in new customers and across the organization. Orions 400% increase in pipeline is a reflection of the markets understanding that outdated radios and limited push-to-talk (PTT) apps cannot compete with the modern, intelligent technology designed for frontline work, said Michael Schwartz, Orion Chief Marketing Officer. Until now, organizations committed to digital transformation have underinvested in tooling and technology for deskless workers. 2021 will be an exciting year as we continue to build pipeline, add customers, and demonstrate the tremendous value of Orions deskless collaboration platform. Recognition Orion was recognized with Manufacturing Technology Insights Top 10 Industrial IoT Solution Providers for 2020 award. The judging panel noted Orions unmatched innovations to support the deskless workforce with voice-first multimodal collaboration, process automation, intelligence amplification, and analytics. Industry analysts also recognized Orion this past year. 451 Research cited Orion in its Voice and contactless interfaces set to play key role in post-COVID-19 workplace brief, noting, The combination of [Orions] capabilities is particularly relevant for frontline and deskless workers. About Orion Labs, Inc. Orion is the leading voice-first, intelligent platform that empowers deskless workers by enabling real-time team collaboration, process automation, location mapping, and access to enterprise systems to improve workforce productivity, safety and compliance, and customer engagement. Orion holds 28 patents that support its award-winning solutions and has been named an IDC Innovator. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading investors. For more information, visit http://www.orionlabs.io. Stay in touch with Orion Labs | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Blog Sen. Ted Cruz has burned bridges in Congress, according to a Twitter exchange between him and a congresswoman. While not totally rare for the junior senator to side with his progressive colleagues, Cruz tweeted that he agreed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez when she criticized Robinhood, a stock trading app, for blocking certain people from purchasing stock in GameStop and other companies. UP TO SPEED: Real-life gamer Joe Biden knows what's happening with GameStop The move by Robinhood comes after Reddit users from r/WallStreetBets swooped in and purchased GameStop stock this week, causing the price to soar. That hurt Wall Street's suits, some of whom were hoping that GameStop's stock would plummet so they could profit. Ocasio-Cortez called for the House Financial Services Committee to investigate the Robinhood's decision, which disenfranchised many who used the app while Wall Street brokers were still able to make purchases. Cruz said he agreed with looking into the company. Ocasio-Cortez responded within minutes, agreeing to work with Republicans on holding Robinhood accountable just not with Cruz. Instead, she pinned the blame of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection on Cruz and those who sowed doubt in the validity of the 2020 presidential election results. Cruz thought Washington would be back to business as usual after now six people died as a result of the violence, but that appears to not be the case. She continued, urging that Cruz be replaced. It's the first of likely many roadblocks Cruz will face moving forward in his term, as Democrats control both houses of Congress until at least 2023. The violence of Jan. 6 marked a change in the congress members' relationship. The representative previously said she was "extraordinarily excited" to work with Cruz in areas where the two agree, Matthew Choi reported for Politico in 2019. The change is not a hardened approach toward Republicans from Ocasio-Cortez, as she insisted she would still work with members of the GOP on the Robinhood measure and other pieces of legislation. This is the senator's second Twitter beef in as many weeks. He and Seth Rogen had a heated discussion in a widely publicized exchange, according to Chron's Abigail Rosenthal. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home recently unveiled a new detailed mural paying tribute to its history of serving the most vulnerable populations of New York. The artwork, The Spirit of Sea View by Yana Dimitrova, was completed under New York City Health + Hospitals Community Murals Project in partnership with the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. The mural is located in the E. Robitzek Building at Sea View. Its first panel highlights Sea Views beginnings as a part of the New York City Farm Colony. Founded in 1829 as the Richmond County Poor Farm, it welcomed the poor, mentally ill, criminals and other outcasts at the time. The second panel highlights the Black Angels contributions. The Black Angels were a group of approximately 300 African-American nurses from across the country who cared for patients with tuberculosis at Sea View during the TB pandemic after a large group of white nurses staged a walk-out at the 2,000-bed sanatorium in 1929. Virginia Allen, an Advance Woman of Achievement and the last living Black Angel, attended the murals unveiling. The final panel reflects the present with Sea View Hospital transformed into a rehabilitation center and nursing home. It includes a portrait of Miss Marquita, an actual Sea View patient, in the hospitals greenhouse. Sea View Hospital is located at 460 Brielle Ave. For more information on murals dedicated to healthcare workers, visit nychealthandhospitals.org/. COLUMBUS, OhioOhio lawmakers on Tuesday took their first look at new legislation that would give the legislature the power to strike down any executive order or emergency declaration issued by the governor. Senate Bill 22 would also create a new legislative committee that could overrule Gov. Mike DeWines coronavirus orders, and it would require legislative approval for health emergencies to last longer than 30 days. Its the latest effort by Republican lawmakers to rein in the governors sweeping authority to issue enforceable health orders that, at times during the 10-month-long COVID-19 crisis, have included a stay-at-home requirement, business closures and face-mask mandates. Under the legislation, the legislature could rescind any gubernatorial executive order or emergency declaration health-related or not via a concurrent resolution, which requires a simple majority from the House and Senate. However, State Sen. Rob McColley, a Northwest Ohio Republican co-sponsoring SB22, told cleveland.com Wednesday that, despite the wording of the bill, their intention was not to give the legislature the ability to overturn executive orders not dealing with health emergencies. That could have been something that was made in error, McColley said. Another part of SB22 would require that any public health state of emergency declared by the governor would automatically expire after 30 days unless the Ohio General Assembly passes a resolution extending it. In addition, SB22 would create a 10-member Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee and give it the power to rescind any gubernatorial declaration of a public health state of emergency after 11 days, as well as any executive orders related to the emergency. The committee could also, at any time, strike down any Ohio Department of Health orders, which DeWine has used frequently to impose rules designed to curb the spread of the virus, which has infected nearly 873,000 Ohioans as of Tuesday, killing 10,856. Once the legislature or the committee struck down an order or rule, the governor wouldnt be able to reissue the directive for 90 days, under the bill. McColley said in legislative testimony Tuesday that he believes DeWine has acted with what he feels are good intentions to combat the virus. But, McColley continued, this does not change the fact that the constitution remains in effect, and the governor and health director are subject to checks and balances like every other division of our government. McColley, speaking before the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee, pointed out a dozen instances in existing state law in which the legislative branch has the ability to override executive branch decisions, including the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review and the Joint Committee on Medicaid and Oversight. He noted that DeWine himself, during state budget negotiations in 2019, proposed allowing the Ohio General Assembly to suspend the operation of an executive order via a concurrent resolution. He also said 23 other states have checks similar to what SB22 proposes. A DeWine spokesman, when asked for the governors thoughts about the legislation, replied: We are currently reviewing SB 22, as it was recently introduced. Last year, DeWine vetoed three other bills seeking, respectively, to decriminalize his administrations health orders, strip away his power to issue statewide health orders at all, and override a health order banning most county fair activities. State Sen. Cecil Thomas, a Cincinnati Democrat, questioned the constitutionality of giving lawmakers power to overrule emergency declarations by the governor. He noted an Ohio Supreme Court ruling from 1912 holding that the Ohio General Assembly cant pass laws via resolutions. Im thinking you all may be running into a very gray area here, Thomas said. McColley replied that Supreme Court case doesnt apply in this instance, arguing that rescinding an executive order or rule is not the same as creating a new law. State Sen. Terry Johnson, a Scioto County Republican also co-sponsoring SB22, joined other Republicans in saying that its actually DeWines coronavirus orders that are effectively laws, as they have criminal penalties associated with them (though the DeWines administrations power to issue such orders was granted by the legislature more than a century ago). The effect of law fell upon my constituents, and they were demanding for me to know why I wasnt doing something about it, Johnson said. And today, Im standing here doing something about it. We thought we were ready. We told ourselves we were. Then we told this lie to the world. We are open for business. We are COVID-free! Read more There is no change in our convictions and positions, he told reporters when asked about his stance on the continuing political crisis in Armenia. In a televised address to the nation aired on December 8, Garegin said Pashinian lacks popular trust after the disastrous war in Nagorno-Karabakh and should step down to prevent violent unrest and end the deep political crisis. He said he made this clear at a face-to-face meeting with the embattled premier. Similar statements were also made by the number two figure in the church hierarchy, the Lebanon-based Catholicos Aram I, and other top clergymen in Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora. Some of them denounced Pashinian in unusually strong terms. Garegin again insisted on Thursday that the ancient church, to which the vast majority of Armenians nominally belong, is not meddling in politics or siding with opposition forces trying to topple the government. The church is guided by national and state interests, and if the churchs position is in tune with the views of one or another political faction that must not be construed as a church bias in favor of a particular political party. The church is above politics, he said. President Armen Sarkissian and Armenian many public figures have also urged Pashinian to step down and hand over power to an interim government. The premier has rejected these calls while expressing readiness to hold fresh parliamentary elections. Garegin spoke to journalists as he visited Yerevans Yerablur Military Pantheon to mark the 29th anniversary of the establishment of Armenias Armed Forces. Many of at least 3,500 Armenian soldiers killed during the recent war were buried there. Garegin had traditionally prayed and laid flowers at Yerablur together with the countrys political leaders. But he was conspicuously absent from a wreath-laying ceremony led there by Pashinian this time around. The prime minister was joined by parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan and several members of his government. Pashinian and his entourage declined to attend a Christmas mass celebrated by Garegin at Yerevans St. Gregory the Illuminators Cathedral on January 6. Luxembourg 28 January 2021 - Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a sizeable(1) contract by Equinor for the Northern Lights project. Subsea 7s scope includes engineering, fabrication and installation of a 100km CO 2 pipeline that will run from ygarden to the CO 2 storage complex, as well as installation of umbilicals, tie-in and pre-commissioning activities. Project management and engineering will commence immediately at Subsea 7s offices in Stavanger, Norway. Fabrication of the pipelines will take place at Subsea 7s spoolbase at Vigra, Norway and offshore operations will be executed in 2022 and 2023. The Northern Lights project is part of the Norwegian full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project Langskip (Longship). The Northern Lights project comprises transportation, receipt and permanent storage of CO 2 in a reservoir in the northern North Sea. The CO 2 receiving terminal will be located in the municipality of ygarden in Western Norway. John Evans, Chief Executive Officer Subsea 7 said: We are proud to be a trusted partner for this project. CCS is an important part of Subsea 7s strategy to be a proactive participant in the energy transition and our continued drive for a more sustainable future. Monica Bjrkmann, Vice President for Subsea 7 Norway said: The Northern Lights project marks the start of a new value chain for lowering carbon emissions from Norway as well as Europe. We look forward to supporting Equinor and its partners in successfully delivering this pioneering project. (1) Subsea 7 defines a sizeable contract as being between USD 50 million and USD 150 million. ******************************************************************************* Subsea 7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs. Story continues Subsea 7 is listed on the Oslo Brs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62. ******************************************************************************* Contact for investment community enquiries: Katherine Tonks Investor Relations Director Tel +44 (0)20 8210 5568 katherine.tonks@subsea7.com Contact for media enquiries: Jan Roger Moksnes Communications Manager, Norway Tel +47 415 15 777 janroger.moksnes@subsea7.com www.subsea7.com Forward-Looking Statements: This announcement may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, future, goal, intend, likely may, plan, project, seek, should, strategy will, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the Risk Management section of the Groups Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2019. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; and (xvii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Attachment Explained: What is double masking; How is it more effective amid new strain of COVID-19 viruses India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Jan 28: With the spread of new strain COVID-19 variants around the world, it can be seen that healthcare experts are now encouraging the use of two face masks, a practice popularly called "double masking", to help create a stronger barrier against the deadly disease. Doubling up face masks just "makes common sense" as it is likely to be more effective, according to the US' top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci. "That's the reason why you see people either double masking or doing a version of an N95," he said in an interview. Number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 more than double number of active cases:Govt The practice generated buzz after US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' inauguration ceremony, where several officials and celebrities were photographed wearing two face masks. But in reality, how effective is this method? How is double masking more effective? Several healthcare experts, including Fauci, recommend wearing two layers of face masks instead of just one as viruses, in theory, will have a tougher time penetrating both layers as opposed to a single layer. But the US' Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is yet to officially recommend double masking. The commentary, authored by Monica Gandhi and Linsey C Marr, shows that wearing a surgical mask under a cloth mask offers better protection against viruses as the surgical mask acts as a filter and the cloth mask provides an extra layer of filtration, while also improving the fit. "A mask is like an obstacle course for particles to get through," Lindsey Marr, a virus transmission expert told US NGO AARP. Adding a second mask adds another obstacle course, increasing the chance that the particle will be trapped before it gets through to the other side. In places where social distancing is difficult to maintain, such as in a plane or at a busy store or event, two masks will help provide extra protection. While N95 masks are believed to be the best in terms of protecting you against COVID-19 as they are said to filter 95 per cent of airborne particles, these are difficult to come by. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News In another study published in the peer-reviewed journal Matter in July stated that double masking could increase protection from viruses by 50-75 per cent. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 12:04 [IST] DAYTON, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Students at one Dayton-area school are movin' and groovin' to celebrate school choice in recognition of National School Choice Week, an annual week-long celebration that raises awareness about K-12 education options available to families in communities across the country. To kick off the celebrations, students and staff at North Dayton School of Discovery (NDSD) displayed their enthusiasm for school choice by participating in a "yellow out," wearing yellow attire, the organization's themed color. Students logged in virtually and showed up to learn in-person in their brightly colored clothes. Additionally, students from all grade levels, kindergarten through eighth grade leaped into action to learn the official NSCW Dance during gym class throughout the week. "North Dayton is looking forward to celebrating School Choice Week for the first time," said Victoria Simmons, principal at North Dayton School of Discovery. "Staff and students are wearing yellow to symbolize all platforms of learning and acknowledge parent choice. We are proud to serve our Dayton Community." During the week, students and teachers from across the country come together to shine a spotlight on the benefits of providing parents with access to a variety of education environments for their children. "I am so excited about North Dayton's involvement in celebrating school choice this week," said Staci Bennet, director of school quality at National Heritage Academies (NHA). "In the midst of such trying times, this will definitely serve as a bright spot in the education arena!" Launched in 2011, NSCW is the world's largest annual education-related celebration. The goal of NSCW, which features participation from tens of thousands of schools and organizations, is to shine a positive light on effective education options for children. This year's event will feature more than 33,000 virtual celebrations. "School Choice Week is a time to shine a light on the options and positivity that all Ohio families need in K-12 education," said Andrew Campanella, president of NSCW. "We are thrilled that North Dayton School of Discovery students and staff will be celebrating their learning choice and showcasing their dance skills this School Choice Week." National School Choice Week, began on Jan. 24 and ends Jan. 30. National School Choice Week is nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and committed to including all school choice perspectives. The Week is held every January with the goal of empowering parents to choose schools for their children during the best time of year to start the process of selecting a school. About North Dayton School of Discovery: North Dayton School of Discovery, managed by National Heritage Academies, is a free, public charter school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the Dayton area. For more information, visit northdayton.org. SOURCE National Heritage Academies Related Links www.heritageacademies.com Seoul, Jan 28 : A high-profile North Korean defector-turned-activist has left for the US to attend a congressional hearing on a bill passed by South Korea to ban the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets, his lawyer confirmed on Thursday. Park Sang-hak, who runs Fighters for a Free North Korea, flew to Washington on Wednesday to attend the hearing that New Jersey Representative Chris Smith is seeking to convene to discuss the anti-leafleting law, reports Yonhap News Agency. "Park left for the US yesterday for the purpose of attending the U.S. Congress hearing and other reasons with a plan to return in early March," the Yonhap news report quoted Lee Heon, the lawyer serving as Park's legal representative, as saying. The date of the hearing is yet to be confirmed, Lee added. Last month, the South Korean National Assembly passed the bill penalising the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into the North despite strong objection by opposition party lawmakers. Park had earlier filed a constitutional complaint against the ban. The sending of leaflets across the border by activist groups has emerged as a major source of cross-border tensions since Pyongyang called it a violation of an inter-Korean summit agreement and also threatened to take a series of retaliatory steps against South Korea if it did not stop such activity. In June 2020, North Korea also blew up a joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in anger over the leafleting issue. The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Haneef Atmar's visit to Saudi Arabia, ended successfully. The visit took place at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan from 20th to the 23rd January 2021. After performing the Hajj Umrah and pilgrimage to Medina, Foreign Minister Atmar met with various Saudi Arabian officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Commerce, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, the President of the Islamic Development Bank, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Minister of Transport and Co-Chair of the Saudi-Afghan Joint Cooperation Commission, the Minister of Education, and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. In these meetings a number of decisions were made and agreements were reached. 1. Expanding Political Relations The Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to increase ongoing bilateral contacts and consultations to realize the vision of the two countries' leaders to further strengthen political relations and economic cooperation, and contribute to peace and stability. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU will increase contacts and consultations between senior Afghan and GCC officials to strengthen political, economic, and cultural cooperation. Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia stressed the need to enhance security cooperation in the fight against terrorism and common threats. 2. Supporting the End of War and Ensuring Lasting Peace The Muslim World League shall hold a historic international conference of leading thinkers, scholars, and muftis of the Islamic World to support the cessation of hostilities, the end of bloodshed, and the success of the Afghan peace process. The Government of Saudi Arabia announced its support for the International Ulema Conference and the global consensus to end the war in Afghanistan. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, rejected the crimes and terrorist acts in Afghanistan from the Islamic point of view. The head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supported the government's flexible stance on peace and political participation. 3. Strengthening Economic Cooperation Afghan and Saudi officials agreed to finalize a mutual "Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Framework" involving four sectors: (1) trade, (2) investment, (3) guest workers, and (4) development cooperation. Both sides reviewed Sixty decisions of the first meeting of the Joint Cooperation Commission between the two countries, and they agreed to implement the remaining provisions. Both sides agreed to hold semi-annual meetings at the level of the Co-Chairs of the Joint Commission to evaluate agreements and progress. Both sides stressed on expanding transportation lines and removing barriers in shipment of Afghanistan's primary export goods to Saudi Arabia. It was agreed to send a technical team to Afghanistan to expertly examine the investment opportunities in the mineral resources and assess the comparative advantages in producing ond exporting agricultural and food products, and Afghanistans accession to regional supply and value chain. It was agreed to send a technical team of the Islamic Development Bank to examine Afghanistan's capacities and opportunities in various sectors to allow Afghanistan to join the Member Country Partnership Strategy" and enter into partnership with the IsDB. 4. Educational and Cultural Collaborations Navigating, exploring and thinking about space are part of daily life, whether it's carving a path through a crowd, hiking a backcountry trail or maneuvering into a parking spot. For most of human history, the driving force for day-to-day wayfinding and movement across the landscape was a need for food. And unlike other primates, our species has consistently divided this labor along gender lines. In new research published in Nature Human Behaviour, scientists including James Holland Jones of Stanford and lead author Brian Wood of University of California, Los Angeles, argue that the increasingly gendered division of labor in human societies during the past 2.5 million years dramatically shaped how our species uses space, and possibly how we think about it. Underlying these conclusions is a huge and detailed trove of travel data revealing stark differences in the ways men and women among the nomadic Hadza people of Tanzania use space. A contemporary hunter-gatherer society, the Hadza provide a window into a highly mobile lifestyle, which was the norm for our species before the widespread adoption of agriculture. "We're taking gender differences as a given in this particular cultural setting, and then asking what consequences they have downstream," said Jones, an associate professor of Earth system science at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences (Stanford Earth) and a senior fellow at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. A better understanding of this dynamic could yield clues about why men and women seem to think about space differently. Research in many human populations suggests men and women are better at different types of spatial tasks. On average, women tend to excel on spatial memory tasks, while men tend to score higher on two basic measures of spatial cognition associated with movement: mental rotation of objects and accurately pointing to distant locations. 'Male work is more navigationally challenging' The paper examines a popular theory that men's hunting for wild game would produce more extensive and sinuous travel, and that women's harvesting of plant foods would lead to more concentrated, straight-line travel to and from known locations. While previous efforts to substantiate the theory have relied heavily on verbal accounts, the researchers here tested it by examining more than 13,000 miles of travel logged on lightweight GPS trackers worn by Hadza foragers between 2005 and 2018. "One or two researchers would walk through camp early in the morning as people were rousing," the authors write. "We would greet people at their homes or hearths and hand out GPS devices to be worn during the day." Around nightfall, when most people had returned to camp, Wood and assistants hired in the Hadza community removed the devices. They ultimately used data from 179 people, representing 15 camps and ranging in age from two to 84 years old. The authors also examined the degree of overlap in the lands visited by men and women. "One of the most surprising results of this study was the fact that Hadza men and women essentially occupy different worlds from a young age. In our data, most of the landscape was effectively gender-segregated," said Wood, an assistant professor of anthropology at UCLA who began working on this paper a decade ago as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford. To analyze the movement data, the researchers adopted techniques from the field of movement ecology and also developed custom software. As expected, the results show men walked further per day, covered more land in less direct paths and were more likely to travel alone. "In this hunting and gathering context, male work is more navigationally challenging," the researchers write. Although some individual day journeys extended to 20 miles or more, Hadza men overall averaged eight miles per day and women - many of them accompanied by young children - averaged nearly five miles. Gender differences emerged by the age of six. From the mid-forties, the gender difference declined, mostly due to decreasing travel by men while women sustained more of their daily mileage. Human mobility in a changing world Detailed spatial data like those amassed in this study will aid future comparative research into human mobility, according to the authors. This holds particular resonance in light of a pandemic that has forced sudden revisions of normal movement patterns and heightened attention to the costs and benefits of different spatial habits. Already, Wood has begun to apply technical, logistical and scientific lessons from this study to a new National Science Foundation project meant to help identify research and policy priorities to prepare the U.S. for inevitable future pandemics - in part by measuring mobility and modeling patterns of social interaction. "The study of human movement can be used to identify at-risk communities for disease transmission and spread," Wood explained. Even when we're not in a pandemic, Jones said, people's mobility drives economic activity, social cohesion and environmental impacts. And the environment, in turn, shapes spatial behavior. That feedback loop is at the heart of some of the internal migration patterns already emerging as a response to global warming. As once-rare weather events become commonplace, Jones explained, migrant laborers will likely travel longer distances for work; more people will engage in seasonal migration to pursue agricultural work or escape hurricanes and droughts, and crop failures will drive more rural residents to urban areas. "Changing mobility is going to be one of the key ways that humans adapt to a heated world," Jones said. "Knowing more about gender differences and other drivers for spatial behaviors across a wide swath of human populations and ecological contexts will help us anticipate how this adaptation will play out and inform policies to manage it." ### The research received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Leakey Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the National Geographic Society, Yale University, UCLA and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Wood is also affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Coauthors are affiliated with the Max Planck Institute, Arizona State University, University of Southern California, Duke University, University of Chicago, University of Roehampton, University of Nevada, University of Dar es Salaam and University of Utah. Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 4:49 pm Washington State may soon have a new state dinosaur, thanks to the efforts of an elementary school class and the Washington state Legislature. The proposed state dinosaur is Suciasauras Rex, named for a fossil fragment found in 2012 on Sucia Island in San Juan Islands. The fossil is a 17-inch piece of the dinosaurs upper leg and dates to about 80 million years ago. It is the only dinosaur fossil ever found in Washington state. HB 1067, the bill to recognize Suciasaurus, was introduced this year by Melanie Morgan, D-Tacoma, on behalf of a class at Elmhurst Elementary in the Franklin Pierce School District, who learned about the fossil and took steps to have it recognized by the state Legislature. The bill was introduced last session, passed the House by a wide margin but did not get a hearing in the state Senate. Morgan reintroduced the bill this session. This bill is more than just about a dinosaur, Morgan said at a hearing Jan. 27. It's our formal recognition and appreciation for the hard work, preparation, creativity, and the drive of these students who are now in the sixth grade. Suciasaurus was a two-legged carnivore about half the size of its relative Tyrannosaurus Rex and lived about 12 million years before its famous cousin. It originally stalked its prey between Baja Mexico and Northern California. The fossil came to rest in the San Juan Islands after land masses drifted north over eons. Twelve states and Washington D.C. also have official state dinosaurs. Washington already has a state fossil. It is the Columbian mammoth. The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org. Scrutiny: Henry Enrique Tarrio (centre), who leads the Proud Boys, and Joseph Biggs (right), who was arrested after being identified by the FBI as one of the first into the Capitol Building on the day of the riots. Photo: Stephanie Keith The leader of the Proud Boys extremist group has been unmasked as a prolific former FBI informant. Enrique Tarrio (36) worked undercover exposing a human trafficking ring, and helped with drug and gambling cases, according to court documents. Mr Tarrios documented involvement with law enforcement related to the period 2012 to 2014. There was no evidence of him co-operating after that. But the revelation has raised questions over why police did not take further steps to secure the US Capitol ahead of the riots on January 6. At least half a dozen members of the Proud Boys were arrested over involvement in the riots. Mr Tarrio denied ever being an informer, telling Reuters: I dont know any of this. I dont recall any of this. But his past was revealed in court in Miami in 2014 when he pleaded guilty to fraud in a case involving the sale of stolen diabetes test kits. Read More In a bid to reduce his sentence the prosecutor, an FBI agent, and his own defence lawyer, detailed how he had helped the authorities to charge 13 people in a variety of other cases. That led to his sentence for the fraud case being reduced from 30 months to 16 months. Jeffrey Feiler, Mr Tarrios lawyer, told the court his client had been a prolific co-operator. He worked undercover in an investigation into the sale of anabolic steroids, and in another involving wholesale prescription narcotics. In a further case, the lawyer said, Mr Tarrio at his own risk, in an undercover role, met and negotiated to pay $11,000 to members of that [human trafficking] ring to bring in fictitious family members of his from another country. An FBI agent called Mr Tarrio a key component in drug investigations involving cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. Mr Tarrio maintained that the sentence in his 2014 case was reduced because he and other co-defendants had helped to clear up questions about that investigation. He said he never helped authorities to investigate other people. The Proud Boys group was founded in 2016 and Mr Tarrio became the national chairman two years later. In September the organisation became internationally known when Donald Trump was asked to denounce them in a presidential debate. He responded: Proud Boys stand back and stand by. But Ill tell you what, Ill tell you what, somebodys got to do something about Antifa and the Left. On December 11 Mr Tarrio was seen telling a cheering crowd in Washington: To the parasites both in Congress and in that stolen White House. You want a war, you got one. The next day he burned a Black Lives Matter banner taken from a black church in Washington. When he arrived in Washington ahead of the planned protest in support of Mr Trump on January 6, he was arrested for burning the banner. At the time of his arrest he was carrying two high-capacity rifle magazines with the Proud Boys logo, police said. A court ordered him to leave Washington and to return for a hearing in June. Mr Tarrio was not part of the mob that marched to the Capitol. Among the Proud Boys members who did was Joseph Biggs, who was later arrested in Florida and charged with disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building. According to the FBI, Mr Biggs, an army veteran, was one of the first into the Capitol. He denied having any knowledge of a plan to storm the building. ( Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021) Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Blue Origins BE-4 rocket engine lights up for a full-thrust test firing in Texas. (Jeff Bezos via Instagram) If youre hanging out in West Texas during a pandemic, there are few fireworks shows more thrilling than a test firing of your very own rocket engine. At least thats the way Blue Origins billionaire founder sees it. Perfect night, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who created the Blue Origin space venture more than two decades ago, wrote in an Instagram post. Sitting in the back of my pickup truck under the moon and stars, watching another long-duration, full-thrust hot-fire test of Blue Origins BE-4 engine. The post featured a shot of Bezos and other spectators looking on at the rising rocket plume from afar, as well as a video with closer perspectives of the firing. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Blue Origin is testing the engine in preparation for its use in the companys New Glenn rocket as well as United Launch Alliances semi-reusable Vulcan rocket. Both launch vehicles are currently due to make their debut late this year. The BE-4, which uses liquefied natural gas for fuel, was developed at Blue Origins headquarters in Kent, Wash., with tests conducted at Bezos West Texas ranch (which is one of his pandemic hangouts). Last year, Blue Origin opened up a factory in Alabama to turn out rocket engines on a production basis. Each BE-4 is designed to blast out up to 550,000 pounds of thrust or about 10% more thrust than SpaceXs methane-fueled Raptor engine. Last month, Blue Origin provided two engines to United Launch Alliance for pathfinder ground testing, and flight-ready versions are due to be delivered in time for the launch of Astrobotics first lunar lander on a Vulcan rocket. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. ULA CEO Tory Bruno says hes confident that the BE-4 engines will be ready for launches in 2021. When he was asked on Twitter what gives him the most anxiety when it comes to the Vulcan development effort, heres how he replied: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In other rocket news, the U.S. Space Force closed the books as of Dec. 31 on the participation of Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman in a multibillion-dollar program supporting the development of new launch vehicles for national security missions. Story continues Last August, those two companies lost out to ULA and SpaceX in a competition for the next phase of development support, but it took months to work out the termination of the contracts. In a statement provided to Space News, the Space and Missile Systems Center said Blue Origin was paid $255.5 million for work conducted on New Glenn between October 2018 and December 2020, while Northrop Grumman received $531.7 million over the same period for work on its now-canceled OmegA rocket. The Space Force will have limited rights to data and hardware developed under the companies agreements, Space News reported. More from GeekWire: NEW YORKIn a field of 10 candidates seeking the top prosecutors job in New York County, also known as Manhattan, one has pledged to halt prosecutions involving consensual sex work. On Thursday, candidate Eliza Orlins, a Manhattan public defender and Legal Aid lawyer, released her policy calling for full decriminalization of sex work in New York Citys most populous borough. In a report for The Daily Beast, Michael Ellsberg, author of the book Sex, Cash & Privacy: A Case for Allowing People to Profit From Their Own Sexuality in Peace, called Orlins' policy one of the most detailed policy positions on the full decriminalization of sex work ever put forward by a major candidate at any level of U.S. politics. Ellsberg also noted that Orlins policy was formulated in consultation with many sex workers and sex worker-advocacy organizations. Orlins is perhaps best-known outside of New York City as a 2004 contestant on the seminal reality TV series Survivor. In her official biography, Orlins says that her celebrity from the show netted her a national following, which she uses to advocate on behalf of criminal justice reform and other social justice issues. Orlins released her sex work decriminalization policy on the same day that a Manhattan Democratic state senator, Liz Krueger, proposed a statewide sex work decriminalization bill titled The Sex Trade Survivors Justice & Equality Act, which would employ the so-called Nordic Model of decriminalization. Under the Nordic plan, and Kruegers bill, law enforcement would end prosecutions of sex workersbut not their customers. Paying for sexual services would remain a criminal offense. Orlins proposal goes considerably further, calling for the full decriminalization of consensual sex work. This will begin with declining to prosecute all cases of consensual sex work. Orlins also says in her policy that her plan will make it easier to catch and convict criminal sex traffickers. Some people use the need to fight sex trafficking as a justification for the prohibition of sex work. However, evidence suggests that the opposite is true: the criminalization of consensual sex work makes it more difficult to detect and prosecute sex traffickers, she wrote in the policy document. People engaged in consensual sex work may know about evidence of sex trafficking that they are unable to share, for fear of facing criminal charges themselves. Decriminalization allows people to report abuse and exploitation that they or others face, without fear of arrest or prosecution. Orlins says that if elected, the D.A.s office will never prosecute criminal charges based solely on the consensual exchange of sex for money or another thing of value, or solicitation of such an exchange. Cases of violence arising out of sex work interactions will be prosecuted, she said, adding, sex workers who experience violence in the course of their work can expect the full protection of the law from my office. Orlins also said that she will advocate for full decriminalization at the statewide level. In addition to Kruegers Nordic bill, a group of progressive lawmakers in the New York state legislature said in December that they will introduce a decriminalization measurefor the third consecutive yearthat would remove most criminal penalties from consensual sex work, as well as ban police from making loitering arrests that are often used to round up sex workers, particularly those of color, and LGBTQIA+ sex workers as well. Photo By Dustin Senger / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain Outrage swept across the country Thursday after popular mobile investment app Robinhood and other brokerages paused buying abilities of Gamestop, AMC, and some other stocks. The app is under fire from both prominent Democrats and Republicans after only allowing users to sell their shares while hedge funds can continue to both buy and sell. Phuket further relaxes required quarantine for domestic arrivals PHUKET: People arriving in Phuket from Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi no longer need to observe a mandatory 14-day quarantine after arriving on the island following an order issued by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew today (Jan 28). COVID-19Coronavirushealth By The Phuket News Thursday 28 January 2021, 04:14PM All Group 2 arrivals now must only self-monitor for signs of infection, not quarantine. Image: PPHO However, they are asked to continually self-monitor their health for signs of infection of COVID-19. The two Greater Bangkok provinces were moved to the list of secondary red zone risk areas after Bangkok was moved to the group last Sunday (Jan 24). Group 1, the highest risk areas, now comprises just five provinces: Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chonburi, Trat and Chanthaburi. Group 1 arrivals must: 1) Install the Mor Chana app 2) Register their travel details on gophuget.com 3) Be tested and followed up by staff at an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) 4) Quarantine at home or at an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel for 14 days 5) Follow the disease control measures strictly People arriving from the five provinces for a short-term trip for the purpose of running a business or joining a meeting must present documents issued by their employers that outline the reason and necessity of their trip to the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for teh area where the foreigner is staying, noted the order. In order for Group 1 arrivals to receive permission to leave their accommodation, visitors must file a request to the EOC which clearly explains why, when and where they intend to go. Visitors should avoid going to communal areas or places where there is likely to be a crowded gathering of people, the order added. With Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi now added the the list, Group 2 arrivals comprise people arriving from the following 23 provinces: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Tak, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Ranong, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaew, Ratchaburi, Petchburi, Samut Songkhram, Angthong, Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri. Group 2 arrivals must: 1) Install the Mor Chana app 2) Register their travel details ongophuget.com 3) Have EOC staff check for signs of infection, and monitor themselves for signs of infection 4) Follow the disease control measures strictly Group 3 remains unchanged, and comprises people arriving from 11 orange zone provinces: Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani or Phang Nga. Group 3 arrivals must: 1) Install the Mor Chana app 2) Register their travel details ongophuget.com 3) Self-monitor at their home or accommodation 4) Follow the disease control measures strictly Group 4 still comprises people arriving from anywhere else in the country 38 provinces designated as yellow zone risk areas. Group 4 arrivals must: 1) Install the Mor Chana app 2) Register their travel details on gophuget.com 3) Follow the disease control measures strictly The order also repeated that day-trippers to Phuket must only 1) Install the Mor Chana app; 2) Register their travel details ongophuget.com; and 3) Follow the disease control measures strictly. No other details or requirements about day-trippers were explained. Wednesday marked one year since a fire broke out at a marina in Jackson County and killed eight people. It happened at Jackson County Park in the middle of a cold January night. A small fire broke out aboard a houseboat that was one of 35 boats tied up just feet apart from each other along Dock B. [Images from left to right] Yancy Roper, Amanda Foster and Annette Miles with her five children: 19-year-old Christopher Zane Long, 16-year-old Bryli Anniston Long, 10-year-old Traydon Dominic Miles, 9-year-old Kesston Damien Miles and 7-year-old Dezli Nicole Miles [Images from left to right] Yancy Roper, Amanda Foster and Annette Miles with her five children: 19-year-old Christopher Zane Long, 16-year-old Bryli Anniston Long, 10-year-old Traydon Dominic Miles, 9-year-old Kesston Damien Miles and 7-year-old Dezli Nicole Miles Within minutes, the small, smoldering fire grew to a raging inferno. "One of the scariest that I've faced so far," is how Lt. Landon Baker with the Scottsboro Fire Department remembers the night. "We knew it was going to be bad when you got there, Robert Shook with the Jackson County Rescue Squad said. "The sky was just orange." Today, there's no evidence a dock was ever there. Except for a slab of concrete, all traces of Dock B are gone. Someone left a flower-covered cross on the old electrical panel that serviced the dock. It's the only physical reminder of the tragedy that occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 27, 2020. Eight lives were lost there. One man lost his entire family, including his wife and five children. Through the words of witnesses and investigators, we pieced together what happened, what led to the disaster at Dock B, and the lessons learned to hopefully prevent another tragedy like that from ever happening again. '... Families are closer and love more ...' Lake Guntersville is home to at least a dozen marinas and thousands of boats. Houseboats are popular there and provided a lifestyle that brought Joe Miles to Jackson County Park with his wife, Annette, and their five kids. They lived year-round aboard two houseboats tied up at the dock. "Usually, families are closer and love more and enjoy life more when you're in a small home," father Joe Miles said. "Instead of our kids out in trouble, they were usually on a kayak or fishing. They enjoyed it." The "Dixie Delight" was moored at the first covered slip on Dock B. Like all the live-aboard boats, it was connected to power and water by electrical lines and pipes that ran the length of the 420-foot wooden dock. By all accounts, it had not moved from its spot for at least 10 years. WAAY 31 obtained a transcript of the interview the owner gave to investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board after the fire. He said about 12:30 a.m. he woke up to the sound of popping and smoke coming from behind the boat's electrical panel. He tried to put the fire out with a small fire extinguisher, and when that didn't work, he ran across the dock to a neighbor's boat for help. But it was too late. At 12:38 a.m., he called 911. Scottsboro police arrived at 12:45 a.m. Firefighters from Station Number 2, the closest to the marina, were right behind them. "I don't think any of us expected to see what we saw when we arrived," Lt. Baker with Scottsboro Fire said. Baker, a 14-year veteran of the fire department, said the call came in from dispatch as "a boat on fire." "Unreal, when we saw what we were fixing to be faced with when we pulled up to the scene, he said. "Because we realized at that point, we realized it wasn't a boat on fire. It was the whole dock." In the minutes before firefighters arrived, the owner of the "Dixie Delight" ran to Joe Miles' boat to wake him up. Together, they tried to push the burning boat away from the dock, but they couldn't untie it. After so many years, the knots were too tight. By now, the fire was quickly engulfing the boat. Within seconds, the fire jumped to the boat next to it, and then, the boat across from it. At that point, almost 20 people, including the Miles family, were out of their boats and on the dock. Annette Miles, along with another woman, Amanda Foster, were trying to keep the kids calm. But their situation was quickly becoming desperate as the fire now completely blocked their path to shore. '... It almost looked like daylight over there' Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Necklaus got the alert at home that something big was happening at Jackson County Park marina. While racing to the scene, his worst fears were confirmed, still miles away. "I mean, it was, it almost looked like daylight over there, Necklaus said. I've seen a lot of things and scared myself a few times in 20-something years, but that, that's one that you just ... I couldn't even fathom something of that nature until it happened." Not only were survivors unable to get off the dock, firefighters were all but powerless to put it out. "The fire origination, being on the inland side, really hampered our access, really hampered our ability to get where we needed to be, Necklaus said. The wooden construction of Dock B fueled the fire. As it burned, it became more unstable and dangerous. The fire consumed boat after boat, feeding on their fiberglass shells and the fuel and furnishings inside them. "It's spreading from boat to boat pretty quick, and each time it does that, the heat factor just increases exponentially," Necklaus said. By now, fire crews from neighboring communities were on the way, along with the only fire boat nearby in Guntersville, but it wouldn't make it in time. According to witnesses, the entire 420-foot dock and all 35 boats were on fire within 15 minutes of the first call for help. The 17 trapped and panicked survivors had no time to lose. One man used a kayak to paddle to shore. Another says he suggested they all jump in the water and swim to safety, but Joe Miles wouldn't risk his kids to the icy, cold water. "What I told them to start with is get all the kids, get everyone out of their boats to the end of the dock and hoping maybe that'd give us time for the fire departments to help," Miles said. The 16 left quickly cut loose two large boats, climbed aboard and pushed them out. They used anything at hand, including folding chairs and cleaning brushes, to paddle a short distance into the lake. For a moment, they were safe, but only for a moment. Back on the burning dock, a series of events was playing out that would ultimately claim many of them. Exhausted survivors couldn't escape "I remember every single thing about that night," Jackson County Emergency Management Agency Director Paul Smith said. Smith was called because of the threat of hazardous material in the water. He pulled up on a hellish scene. "Propane tanks exploding, shooting up in the air like Roman candles, boats drifting out...And you'd notice, the boats that were on fire and drifting out, almost like a magnet, they'd drift out and they'd come together," he said. The two boats carrying exhausted survivors couldn't escape, either. "And when the fire came through to the end of the dock, it was just like a vacuum. It...It pulled the boat in," Miles remembered. WAAY 31 Chief Meteorologist Kate McKenna explained that a fire as large as the one at Dock B actually creates its own wind environment. As the heat from the fire rises, it sets up a convective current, which pulls in air from the surrounding area. It would easily be enough force to move a boat floating freely on the water. Then, unoccupied boats, now on fire, began drifting from the dock. One hit the vessel containing the four men. A survivor, Greg Sanderson, said the boat that hit them was fully engulfed. All four men jumped overboard into the 41-degree water, which was also now littered with floating, burning debris. From the other boat, Joe Miles could see more boats on fire floating toward them. In a heroic effort to save his family, he jumped into the water and tried to push the burning boats away. He was badly burned in the process, and it was no use. Another burning boat collided with the boat loaded with his loved ones and the others. In seconds, that boat, too, was on fire. Everyone took cover in the cabin. One man managed to break open the forward hatch to escape onto the deck and jump into the water. Several others followed an older couple and the owner of the boat where the fire started. Read more here. But Joe Miles' family was trapped, and he was helpless to save them. "And when we came back up, I heard my family screaming for me to help them. There wasn't time," he said. His wife of 13 years perished in the fire, along with their five children. "Christopher Zane Long was 19. He was autistic, brain tumors, he had a lot of problems. And then Brylie Anniston Long was my daughter...and then Traydon Dominic, he was 10. And Kesston Damian was my nine-year-old. And then I had a pretty little daughter...She was seven. Her name was Dezli Nicole Miles," he said. Amanda Foster, the other woman who had tried to comfort the children, also died on that boat. Her stepsister told us she died a hero. "How easy it would have been for her to jump off. I mean, she was a healthy individual. She could have jumped off and swam across and saved herself, but she didn't. She would not leave those kids, and that's the one thing that keeps getting told to me over and over, she would not leave those kids," Monica Pascale-Howard said. Read more here. 'There's no choice' We also spoke with the first responders who jumped in to save those still in the water. They explained that in the midst of all the chaos, some things actually worked in their favor as they rushed to save lives. "At that point, he started yelling at me for help. Help me! Help me! Lt. Baker said. A fundamental foundation of first responder training is the safety of the responders. Chief Necklaus says that applies whether you're driving an engine, running into a burning building or jumping into 41-degree water. "You have to protect the responder, because if you don't, then you compound the problem. You take what was one emergency, or someone else's emergency, and now you've added to it," he said. Lt. Baker got permission from his battalion chief to go into the icy water, a potentially life-threatening decision. "And at that point, when someone's yelling at you for help, there's no choice," he said. He stripped off his equipment, grabbed a life jacket, tied a rope around his waist and jumped in. "I just remember getting to him and told him to grab ahold of the life jacket. And then, as soon as I knew he had ahold of it and I had it wrapped around my arm, I hollered for my firefighter to start pulling the rope and pull us back in," Baker said. Running to help So many first responders sprang into action that night. Robert Shook owns Scottsboro Gun and Pawn. Saving lives? Well, he does that in his spare time. Shook is a 40-year volunteer with the Jackson County Rescue Squad. Sgt. Brian Eakin is a near 20-year veteran with Scottsboro police. He's worked with Shook many times, from plucking stranded hikers out of the Walls of Jericho, to boating accidents on Lake Guntersville. That night, Eakin was on patrol and received a call of a break-in at Shook's Pawn Shop. Shook says that was the first of many things that actually went right that night. It was a false alarm, but he still went down to meet Eakin at the shop and check it out. "You know, normally, I put on a pair of pajamas or something like that. And I got dressed. Why did I get dressed?" Shook recalled. Both men believe God had a hand in helping them help others that night. While at the store, the call came over Eakin's radio that Dock B at Jackson County Park marina was on fire. Survivors were in the water and they needed a boat, fast. The boat they needed was at Shook's rescue squad building, and because he and Eakin were already together, precious life-saving minutes were saved. "We knew what we had to do. We came over here, we got a truck, went over to the next building and got a boat and took off and backed it in the water," Eakin said. It took them less than nine minutes. On the way to the dock, Shook said a prayer, fearing a family he knew who called the marina home might be in danger. "You know, when the alarm went off and we were...he said it was at the park...I said I hope it's not Joe's boat,' and it was Joe's boat," Shook said. Together, Shook and Eakin searched for survivors among the burning wreckage. "We knew it was going to be bad when you got there," Shook said. "But it was pretty frightening." Frightening hardly begins to describe it. One survivor, a woman, was hanging on to the back of a burning boat. She yelled that she couldn't swim. "We finally convinced her to let go, just enough that Robert was able to make a pass-by and, as you can see by the buoy here, I mean we got close enough to that boat that we burnt the buoy off the side of the boat," Eakin said. Dodging the burning debris, one by one, they pulled almost all of them to safety, including Joe Miles. Shook remembers seeing him in the spotlight, struggling to stay above the surface. He didn't know it, but Joe had just about given up. "I recognized him. He didn't have his glasses on, so he couldn't recognize me, but he knew the voice," Shook said. "I knew I was going to die, probably, Miles said. "Robert said my whole body had done went under. He reached down and pulled me up, and I remember him calling me by name, but I couldn't tell who he was. "When we got to Joe, all we could see was his face sticking out of the water. He said, 'I heard you call my name,' and I reached in and got him," Shook said. '... You think about those poor kids...' The memories and emotions for survivors and first responders are still fresh, even a year later. Many of the witnesses and survivors we contacted just couldn't talk to us on camera, including Joe Miles, who lost the most that night. That's why you're hearing from him over the phone. "It's very heart-wrenching, Shook said. I mean, you think about those poor kids." "My hero, number one, is Robert Shook. But every one of them is great people and done all they could," Miles said. "A lot of them beat themselves up, but there is none of them could've done any more than what they did." Shook thinks about the one drowning victim that night, the eighth victim, Yancy Roper, last seen jumping off one of the boats with his brother, Tommy Jones, and two other men. His brother talked to WAAY 31 last year. "Yancy had a big heart. He loved everybody. He worked hard and he cared. He really did. He actually helped get the children on the boat, and we pushed the boat out, and then, we went and pushed our boat out," Jones said. Read more here. Almost every agency that responded that night has made significant changes over the past year in order to respond to worst-case scenario situations like this. For most if not all of these first responders, the disaster at Dock B was the worst experience of their professional lives. They see it when they close their eyes. They feel it when they hug their kids. "It was more than any of us wanted to see that day, EMA Director Paul Smith said. Lessons learned What helps them, the survivors, and this small community get through this is believing that some good will come out of it. There are definite lessons learned, and changes have already been made. "That's the nature of this work, unfortunately," Necklaus said. A lot of times, it's a reactive service, and it takes a significant event to make you better for the next one, and to prevent the next one." Fires are going to happen at marinas again. The NTSB's lead investigator in the case said on average, the agency is called to one or two marina accidents per year. He says even when marinas do everything right, all it takes is a lightning strike or unattended cigarette to start a tragic sequence of events. "These marinas aren't facilities that are unique to Scottsboro, Alabama, or even the South, Bart Barnum said. They're up and down the East and West Coast. There's thousands of these across the country, and this could have happened anywhere." But Necklaus says there are ways to minimize the impact. The Scottsboro Fire Department now has its own fire boat. Now, they can fight fires where they couldn't before. "We have it if we need it, so that's what it's about," Necklaus said. Just a few miles upstream is the city of Scottsboro's marina at Goose Pond. Three hundred boats are moored there, many of them with year-round occupants. Safety features were built into these docks, and Necklaus wants to see them retrofitted at all docks. There is no wood there, just metal and concrete. Above, what look like skylights are actually burn-out panels. If a boat were to catch on fire, the panels are designed to melt away quickly to allow the heat to escape. Other changes were made at Goose Pond after the fire at Jackson County Park. Park manager Stephen Clark showed us. "We added more safety equipment to the docks. We added life rings. We added bells, sound-signaling devices in the event of an emergency. We have sirens up on shore here that we can send off if we need to. Just something to alert people if something's going on; wake people up," Clark said. They also require that all boats are fully operational. "If something happens and the owner is down here, they can start that boat up, cut the lines or untie the boat, and back that boat out of the slip. And we do require that. And that was one of the big issues at [Jackson] County Park," Clark said. EMA Director Paul Smith supervised the removal of the charred wreckage of Dock B's boats. What he saw was shocking. "They absolutely need to run. There were boats that came out of that water...they may have had running motors, but there were no propellers," Smith said. The investigation The NTSB ruled the fire at Jackson County Park "accidental." Read more here and here. The lead investigator told WAAY 31 because of a frustrating lack of evidence due to the fire, they relied heavily on witness statements to reach their conclusions. But in their report, they noted "contributing to the severity of the fire and loss of life were the county and marina's limited fire safety practices." Alabama's fire codes for covered docks and marinas were not applicable to Dock B, which was built before those codes were adopted. The dock was inspected periodically and passed, most recently in 2016. The NTSB report went on to say "the Jackson County Park marina did not observe several existing safety best practices and guidelines, such as annual electrical inspections, employee fire training, biannual fire drills and a pre-fire plan." "Like many accidents we investigate, it's not a single factor that ultimately causes the fatalities or the ultimate tragedy. It's a sequence of smaller accidents that, left unnoticed, can exacerbate the problem," Barnum said. In his witness statement to investigators a year ago, Jackson County Park Manager Carl Barnes told federal investigators "We're going to implement a fire protection plan. I'm going to go personally and make sure their boats run." But the marina's website still only states that boats need to be "presentable." "We're going to make sure they have (life vests), and if they don't have it, then they don't stay here," Barnes said. We tried asking him about whether any of his plans had been implemented. He refused to talk to us. Dock B had minimal safety equipment, no alert system or burn-out panels in the roof. Chief Necklaus is taking those lessons to heart. "Would any of them have made a difference in January? I don't know. But all we can do now is what we think is the best to try and stop this from ever happening again," he said. 'You better love your kids...' The disaster at Dock B was an almost unbelievable and tragic series of events. The eight people who died leave a lasting scar on this small town. EMA Director Paul Smith says the best we can do is see that their lives were not lost in vain. "Unfortunately, you have to have tragedy at some point for there to be adjustments in your thinking, some different ways to do things, some thinking outside the box. Sometimes, it takes that. There's never been a point in human history when we haven't learned from something we've all experienced," he said. Its a sentiment echoed by the NTSB's marine safety director. "We learn from these accidents and we use them to build regulations that are smart and responsive," Morgan Turrell said. Joe Miles wants you take something much more personal away from his unimaginable loss. Don't take anything for granted, especially those you love. "But I just hope people see that they're not promised tomorrow. You better love your kids and enjoy life with your family while you got it...I enjoyed my family." HEALTH experts have once again called upon authorities to introduce a much tougher Covid-19 lockdown, including further restricting the movement of people to curb the spread of the killer disease in the country. Welcoming the governments new set of fines for coronavirus violators, the health experts said a much tougher stay-at-home order would help the country to contain the lethal global pandemic. Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, the president of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina), Enock Dongo, said while the new and stiffer fines were welcome, they would not on their own, achieve the desired goals. With all due respect, the new fines may not be deterrent enough. As we have seen in the past, huge fines may turn up to be corruption bliss for law enforcers and so, they may not be the solution. For us, a total lockdown of 21 days will be the best thing to do under the circumstances. It then means that whoever has the virus will not spread it to others. By the time that lockdown ends, we may then be able to realise a decline in Covid-19 cases, Dongo told the Daily News. Mpilo Hospital acting chief executive officer, Solwayo Ngwenya, also said while hefty fines were welcome, the public was likely to find ways to circumvent paying them, as they had done in the past. The government is really trying its best to deter offenders, and so increasing fines is a welcome measure. However, our peoples attitudes and behaviour towards the pandemic has been extremely appalling, Ngwenya told the Daily News. Each measure is being met with new behavioural changes which I call tsotsi tsotsi behaviour, like fake Covid-19 certificates. I will not be surprised by new behaviours meant to defeat these latest measures. The whole population must change or else we will be facing measures upon measures. The last measure will be to enforce a strict and tight lockdown, whereby no one is allowed to move at all because people are not obeying the simple rules that have been put in place to protect them, Ngwenya further told the Daily News. On her part, the president of the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA), Shingai Nyaguse-Chiurunge, said authorities needed to ramp up education and awareness campaigns in communities as most people appeared to lack enough knowledge about the virus. Public health measures like wearing masks and physical distancing require self-discipline by the public. Therefore, the government should invest more in measures that help people to own the issue and govern themselves. We will never have enough police officers to monitor the whole nation. Therefore, the government should invest in informative campaigns that show people why it is important. The government should recruit and pay community health workers, especially in urban areas, and also support households that are struggling financially so that people have less need to be up and about, Nyaguse-Chiurunge told the Daily News. Under the new fines announced on Monday, those who are caught not wearing a mask or not properly covering their face will be liable to a $5 000 fine up from the previous $500 which was set in March last year when the government introduced the first hard coronavirus lockdown. Daily News Jagan was reviewing the progress of the Navaratnalu-Pedalandariki Illu scheme at his camp office in Tadepalli on Wednesday. (Photo:Twitter @AndhraPradeshCM) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for completion of house site patta distribution under Navaratnalu-Pedalandariki Illu scheme in the next two-three days. He was reviewing the progress of the scheme at his camp office in Tadepalli on Wednesday. The Chief Minister said that 87.17 per cent house pattas were distributed in 13 districts and asked the officials to distribute the remaining in the two-three days. He further instructed sanction of house sites to eligible persons within 90 days of receiving applications and stated that the housing scheme and issue of title deeds were a continuous process. He said volunteers and staff of the village secretariat must complete physical verification within 12 days of receiving the application and beneficiaries should be identified through social audit. The Chief Minister directed the officials to take steps to ensure uniformity and quality in the structures and to furnish full details on facilities provided and their mode of construction. He said internet facilities should be provided in YSR Jagananna colonies. He said bio-mining should be conducted for dumping yards and it should begin as soon as possible. The officials briefed about the steps being taken to create infrastructure in YSR Jagananna colonies. They said a detailed project report for the same would be completed by March 31. They said steps are being taken for Anganwadi centres, YSR clinics, primary health centres, schools, bus stops proportionate to the population in the colonies. Housing minister Cherukuvada Ranganatha Raju, Chief Commissioner for Land Administration Neerab Kumar Prasad, principal secretaries Y. Srilakshmi (municipal affairs), Ajay Jain (housing), Usharani (revenue), Chief Ministers principal adviser Nilam Sawhney and others were present. As of Thursday morning, there were no appointments available for people 75 and older for large-scale public clinics countywide. Local and state health officials say more slots will be added as the state receives more shipments of the vaccine. Tokyo / Hamburg, Jan 28, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Olympus Corporation (Olympus - Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO: Yasuo Takeuchi) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Quest Photonic Devices B.V. (Quest - CEO: Richard Meester) for up to EUR50 million including milestone payments to strengthen its surgical endoscopy capabilities.Headquartered in the Netherlands, Quest offers advanced fluorescence imaging systems (FIS) for the medical field, enabling more surgical endoscopy capabilities, compared to conventional imaging technologies.Fluorescence imaging refers to special light imaging technologies that utilize the properties of fluorescent dyes directed to specific anatomical structures. By using targeted dyes, in combination with specific light wavelengths, tissues or lesions that are nearly invisible under normal white light become visible. Olympus' existing laparoscopic imaging system, VISERA ELITE II, is already equipped with fluorescence imaging technology. VISERA ELITE II uses near-infrared light to identify blood vessels or lymph nodes under the surface tissues, aiming to assist surgeons in performing safer procedures with lower complication risks. The Quest technology acquired is intended to expand opportunities for Olympus in this field.Making the Invisible VisibleQuest offers innovative technologies for multi-spectral imaging and imaging systems for medical applications, ranging from fluorescence imaging to photodynamic therapy. The acquisition strengthens Olympus' position as a world leader in medical imaging solutions, and delivers innovative capabilities (including 3D and 4K imaging) to surgeons, to "make the invisible visible."Quest's lead product line is the Quest Spectrum Fluorescence Imaging System, which enables fluorescence-guided surgery for open and minimally invasive procedures. Kanichi Matsumoto, global head of Surgical Endoscopy at Olympus, said: "We are delighted to incorporate Quest's advanced FIS capabilities into our comprehensive medical imaging portfolio. The combination of the Quest Spectrum product line's leading FIS technologies with Olympus' existing laparoscopic imaging system VISERA ELITE II will enable Olympus to offer surgeons a wide range of high quality fluorescence imaging solutions."New Applications and Market GrowthThe global market for FIS devices is expected to grow at a compounding annual rate of more than 12%, from around US$310 million in 2018 to over US$827 million in 2027*. Increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures and reconstructive surgery is helping to drive FIS growth worldwide. Furthermore, application of the FIS technology is expected to expand over the coming years, as additional fluorescent dyes are paired with targeted antibodies. Among other applications, molecular imaging will allow healthcare professionals to visualize cancerous lesions in vivo and perform cancer surgery in unprecedented ways, potentially lowering recurrence rates.Quest also works with biotechnology companies that are developing next-generation molecular imaging dyes. These innovative dyes may enable Quest's technology to advance diagnostic opportunities in fluorescence-guided cancer surgery.*Source: Transparency Market Research; Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging System Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2019-2027.About QuestQuest Photonic Devices B.V. is a multispectral imaging leader and focuses on the medical markets of fluorescence image-guided surgery and cancer-targeted probes. Quest's next generation Spectrum Florescence Imaging System has the ability to "see through tissue" with enhanced sensitivity, capable of accessing otherwise inaccessible information to aid the surgeon in improving clinical outcomes.About Olympus' Medical businessAs a leading medical technology company, Olympus' Medical business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients and their safety. Olympus' Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, system integration solutions, medical services, and a wide range of endotherapy instruments for endoscopic and therapeutic applications. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com.For questions or additional information, please contact:Europe, Middle East and AfricaMatthias Gengenbach+49 15142369420matthias.gengenbach@olympus-europa.comJapan and Asia PacificYuka Horimoto+81-90-2490-1071yuka_horimoto@ot.olympus.co.jpSource: OlympusCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak will hold talks with his Swiss counterpart on Wednesday as the two countries seek to deepen financial services ties in the wake of Brexit. The virtual discussions with Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer will focus on the goal of a comprehensive mutual recognition agreement to cut costs and barriers for UK firms operating in Switzerland and vice versa, the Treasury said. The negotiations aim to cover sectors including insurance, banking, asset management and capital markets. Our ambition is to deliver one of the most comprehensive agreements of its kind in financial services as part of our plan to seize new opportunities in the global economy now we have left the EU, Sunak said in a statement. The two nations have a shared commitment to high standards of regulation, market integrity and investor protection, he said. Sunak is trying to seize opportunities available since Britain completed its departure from the European Union at the end of last year. He has hinted at a repeat of Margaret Thatchers Big Bang period of financial services deregulation, and in November laid out a wider vision for the industry including a review of listing rules and a pledge to issue the countrys first green gilts in 2021. Sunak told the House of Commons on Tuesday that he hopes to provide an update when he announces the budget on March 3. We are doing the technical work required to make sure that the launch of our green gilts are successful, he said. In November Sunak said he hoped the move would spur a wider market for corporate green bonds. His plans for financial services also include plans for mandatory disclosure by companies of their exposure to climate-change risks by 2025, measures to attract innovative businesses to Britain and a consultation on reforming the UKs rules governing funds. The Treasury said talks with Switzerland are set to continue at official level over coming months. But the UK is already strengthening its ties, and earlier this month, the Treasury said it plans to allow trading in Swiss shares, reversing an EU ban. Talks With Banks Regulations aimed at granting share trading equivalence to Switzerlands trading venues are due to enter force Feb. 3, subject to parliamentary approval. The Treasury said it expects the Swiss will reciprocate. Even so, thats unlikely to be enough to repair the damage wrought by Brexit. Before the EU ban, London-based trading of Swiss shares averaged 1.3 billion euros ($1.6 billion) per day, equivalent to about a fifth of the trading in EU shares thats now been lost. Also on Wednesday, Sunak is scheduled to hold talks with the heads of some of the biggest global banks, according to the Treasury, which didnt detail the attendees. The chancellor intends to reiterate the governments commitment to the UK financial services industry and express confidence that Britain will remain one of the worlds pre-eminent financial centers it said. Another meeting is organized for next week between the chancellor and representatives from the insurance industry, asset managers and other firms. With assistance from Tom Metcalf. Top Photo: UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 12:54:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Botswana plans to vaccinate every citizen in the nation against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic once available, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Wednesday. "The country's real and long term solution in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is to vaccinate the whole population (of Botswana) against the deadly disease," said Masisi in a video sent out to journalists soon after a closed door meeting with officials from the World Bank Africa. Masisi said vaccinating the whole population is the quickest possible time to deal with this global pandemic, because vaccinating only 20 percent of the population will not hit the number needed to treat to neither provide protection nor get immunity out of it. "We want to procure the most effective vaccine given our circumstances and the potential for success," said Masisi, adding that Botswana will mobilize citizens from all corners of this southern African country with an estimated population of 2.3 million people. Botswana has got a rich history of immunization, according to Masisi, adding that immunizing people against COVID-19 will not be a huge problem. Botswana has recorded 20, 658 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 124 deaths since the outbreak of the disease in March last year. Enditem. Foreign reporters who could not come to Vietnam to cover the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) due to the COVID-19 pandemic have praised the countrys initiative to allow their online coverage. Hundreds of Vietnamese and foreign reporters have covered the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Knowing that this 13th Congress of the Vietnamese Communist Party is a major event in the political life of this country, and of all its people, it seems to me that all the necessary means have been mobilised to allow journalists to cover in time real, and in excellent condition, said Mohamed Abdoun from Algerias La Patrie News. I would also like to thank the authorities of Vietnam for allowing me to be as close as possible to this major event in the history of the country in particular and of all of Asia in general, said Mohamed Abdoun. It is a great pity that it is not possible to travel to Vietnam to meet on the spot because of the pandemic, said Stefan Kuhner from the newspaper of the German Communist Party named Unsere Zeit. The homepage https://en-daihoi13.dangcongsan.vn in five languages was a very good source even before the Party Congress and I was happy to use it. Congratulations for this example of journalism openness, he noted. Amazed at the leaps that Vietnam has gained in past 35 years since Doi moi (Renewal) process, Stefan Kuhner, 69, praised the leadership of the Communist Party in Vietnam over the years. Doi moi has grown up at 35! I remember very well the difficult situation of Vietnam due to the war and the boycott of Vietnam by the US and other countries. It is amazing what Vietnam has achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the last 35 years to eradicate poverty to make people's lives better, the German journalist said. Sharing this view, Yimel Diaz Malmierca from Trabajadores, a Cuban newspaper, said Vietnam's prestige in the world has grown systematically in recent decades. From being a nation devastated by a terrible war, it has gone on to lead various sectors of the regional and world economy. The sustained growth of the Vietnamese economy between 7 percent and 9 percent in the last 20 years says a lot about the country and how hard it has worked to bring well-being to its people, said Yimel Diaz Malmierca. She said the organisers of the event provided the best conditions for online coverage. Online coverage of the Congress is an excellent opportunity. The selected platform works optimally, she said. The 13th National Party Congress is being held in Hanoi from January 25 to February 2. Nearly 90 reporters from 80 foreign media outlets of 25 countries registered to cover the event online in the context of COVID-19./.VNA A west-central Illinois congressman is inviting President Joe Biden and other federal officials to visit his district. Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis extended the invitation to Biden and Interior Secretary-designate Deb Haaland to see the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site. The site and its artifacts were unearthed during construction of the Carpenter Street segment of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project and consists of the remains of five homes that were burned during the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, one of the worst race riots in our nations history, Davis said. There has been no statement from the White House about whether the president or Haaland will accept. The site is being considered for inclusion in the National Park System. Davis House Resolution 139, known as the Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act, directs the Interior Department to conduct a study to determine the sites suitability for park system inclusion. The race riot was sparked by an angry mob that was prevented from lynching two Black inmates accused of rape and murder. The ensuing violence resulted in six deaths and left dozens of Black homes and businesses burned and destroyed. Nearly 2,000 Black residents left the city after the riots, and the acts are said to be the catalyst behind the formation of what later would become the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The race riot in Springfield demonstrated that racial injustice was not an isolated issue only in the South, but one to be addressed across the nation, Davis said. I have worked tirelessly with the previous administration, as well as with my colleagues in the House and Senate, to designate this site as a national monument in recognition of its significance as a major event in the African American civil rights struggle. Davis work resulted in the site being added last year to the African American Civil Rights Network, marking the first time it was formally recognized for its significance in the civil rights struggle. As our nation continues to experience deep racial tension, now more than ever, this site tells an important story that we must not forget, Davis said. Contesting the proposed changes to its privacy policies in Delhi High Court, the Centre blamed WhatsApp for following unilateral practices for its users in the country. In doing so, the Facebook-owned chat app is treating Indian users differently from Europeans, the centre highlighted. Getty Images The centre told the court that the changes were a cause of concern for Indian users as it followed an "all or nothing approach". This is because the app does not give Indian users the option to opt out of these new changes, the primary concern of which is WhatsApps decision to share user data with Facebook. The argument was put forward before Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma on Monday. The hearing followed a petition filed by a lawyer against the new privacy policy of WhatsApp in India. During the hearing, ASG Sharma pointed out the different privacy policies followed by WhatsApp for its user base in India and in Europe. While the latter does not have the clause of the company sharing user data with Facebook, users in India have no escape from the same once the proposed changes come into play. (Representative Image: Getty Images) "This differential treatment is certainly a cause of concern for the government. It is also a matter of concern for the government that Indian users are being unilaterally subjected to the changes in the privacy policy," the ASG told the court. "This leverages the social significance of WhatsApp to force users into a bargain which may infringe on their interests in information privacy and information security," he added. The ASG also told the court that the scope and expanse of WhatsApp "make it a germane ground that reasonable and cogent policies are put in place which is being done by the Personal Data Protection Bill and discussions are very much on". The petition contended that the updated privacy policy violates users right to privacy under the Constitution, allowing WhatsApp full access into a user's online activity without any supervision by the government. The court reiterated its earlier stance at the start of the hearing. It cleared that WhatsApp is a private app and it is optional for the user to download it or not. Reuters "It is not mandatory to download it. Every other app has similar terms and conditions regarding sharing of user information with others," the court said. Adding to this, the court asked why the petitioner was specifically challenging the policy of WhatsApp. The court also pointed out that the Personal Data Protection Bill was being considered by Parliament and the government was looking into issues raised in the plea. Appearing for WhatsApp, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the court that the communication has been received and will be responded to. The court has now listed the next hearing for the matter on March 1. (With inputs from PTI) SAGINAW, MI A Saginaw teen has been charged with a life offense for his alleged role in a robbery that led to a man suffering a gunshot wound to his head. Elijah H. Williams, 18, on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 28, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman for arraignment on single counts of armed robbery causing injury and felony firearm. The former is punishable by up to life imprisonment, while a conviction of the latter comes with a mandatory minimum two-year sentence, to be served consecutively with any related stint. Prosecutors allege that in the early morning of July 30, Williams had gotten a ride from a 19-year-old man to sell marijuana. Williams driver took him to a place on North Bond Street to meet with a customer, prosecutors said. The male customer showed up and got into the vehicles backseat, where Williams was seated. The customer then pulled a handgun and demanded cash from the 19-year-old driver, prosecutors said. After the driver handed over some money, the customer shot him in his head. The shooter and Williams fled while the wounded man drove himself to an area hospital, prosecutors said. The wounded man survived, they added. While he knew Williams, he did not know his legal name, leaving Major Crimes Unit investigators to work back on identifying Williams as a suspect, prosecutors said. Police arrested Williams the day before his arraignment. Williams is alleged to have aided and abetted the robbery, prosecutors said. The shooter remains unidentified, they added. This is the second armed robbery charge Williams is facing. Prosecutors allege Williams and 18-year-old Torrion D. Holt were at another teens Saginaw house on April 27 when they robbed him and his girlfriend of money, an iPad and a MacBook. Both Williams and Holt have been charged with armed robbery and felony firearm in that matter. Judge Hoffman on Thursday set Williams bond at $75,000 cash-surety. He scheduled Williams to be back in court for a preliminary examination at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 11. Read more: Man with long criminal history faces bank robbery charge in Saginaw County Police looking for hit-and-run driver after Flint crash that left 1 hospitalized Tawas man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 13-year-old girl in Saginaw Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley has warned followers to be on alert after having her phone stolen by a 'kid on a bike,' while walking to work in London. The radio host and television presenter took to Twitter earlier this week to share the 'absolutely horrible experience,' which happened on Monday afternoon. Addressing followers the next day, she wrote: 'I was walking from Euston station in London to work yesterday afternoon - stood waiting to cross the road & texting my producer when a kid on a bike snatched my phone from my hand. 'Gone in seconds. Lesson learned Weary face.' Jo Whiley warned Twitter followers: 'Be on your guard,' after she was robbed of her phone on Monday afternoon The Radio 2 presenter said her phone was stolen by a 'kid on a bike,' as she walked to work from Euston Station in London The Northampton-born BBC star believes others may have fallen foul of thieves around the Central London train station. She added: 'It seems to be a common occurrence in that area so just be on your guard. 'I certainly will be from now on. Its a pretty horrible experience.' Fans and friends offered their condolences as Whiley was forced to tweet from her iPad. Victoria Clowes wrote: 'I live the other side of Russell Sq tube down the road from Euston & it's rife in the area. 'They tend to come out just before schools are out. Usually in pairs, they pass the phone to another. 'None of us take our phones out of our pockets now. I think it's getting worse.' Journalist Natalie Jamieson added: 'Well that sucks. Sorry this happened and hope you're OK. 'I find it increasingly upsetting that there continue to be s***** crimes when everyone is going through such a tough time.' Yesterday Whiley tweeted an update to followers following the theft. She shared: 'Sorry to use Twitter for this but Im still without phone & receiving no texts or emails. Its kind of blissful but also not.' US aerospace major on Thursday said it received approval from the US government to offer its F-15EX multi-role combat jet to the Indian Air Force. Ankur Kanaglekar, the head of fighters sales of Defence and Space in India, said the F-15EX can offer a future-ready and multi-role solution to the IAF in the form of unmatched payload and performance. Interacting with a group of journalists, he said has received marketing licence from the US government for the F-15EX, paving the way for its supply to India. F-15EX is the latest and most advanced version of the multi-role, all-weather and day and night versions of the F-15 aircraft family. In April 2019, the IAF issued an RFI (request for information) or initial tender to acquire 114 jets at a cost of around USD 18 billion, which is billed as one of the world's biggest military procurements in recent years. The top contenders for the deal include Lockheed's F-21, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian aircraft MiG 35 and Saab's Gripen. The company said the F-15EX will be exhibited at the next edition of Aero India in Bengaluru beginning next week. Boeing also shared its 2021 growth strategy for the Indian market and exuded confidence in the fundamentals of India's aviation and defence industry. The company reiterated its commitment to being trusted partners to the Indian armed forces and airline customers as the world weathers the challenges of the pandemic. "India's aerospace industry is persevering through the global pandemic, which has brought significant challenges. The nation's fundamental growth drivers remain resilient and robust, making India an attractive business destination globally, and Boeing is committed to the advancement of India's aerospace industry," said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India. "We are excited about the potential for partnership and growth in India and look forward to the dialogue with our customers, partners and industry at Aero India 2021," he said. The company said it will hold discussions with customers and industry partners about its range of capabilities in multi-role fighter aircraft, vertical lift platforms, aerial multi-role tankers, unmanned systems and commercial platforms, in addition to technologies, services, world-class sustainment and training capabilities. It said Boeing's exhibit at Aero India themed 'Building The Future Together' will focus on its partnerships with India's armed forces and highlight the strategic investments the company has made to develop the country's indigenous aerospace and defence ecosystem. "At the exhibit, Boeing will feature a range of advanced capabilities including the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet, F-15EX, KC-46A, AH-64E Apache, P-8I, Chinook, 737-10 and 787-9," it said. In his comments, Kanaglekar mentioned that Boeing discussed the advantages of the F/A-18 Block III offering for the Indian Navy. "The Super Hornet's unique differentiators for the Indian Navy include its two-seater carrier-compatibility capability which provides operational flexibility, and opportunities to integrate future technologies related to manned-unmanned interface from aircraft carriers," he said. "The F/A-18 Super Hornet recently successfully concluded ski-jump tests at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, demonstrating its compatibility with Indian Navy carriers," Kanaglekar said. In addition, the company announced the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub initiative that envisions a competitive MRO ecosystem for engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair and sustainment services of defence and commercial aircraft in India. It said the initiative is a first that will benefit Indian customers with best-in-class solutions, efficient turnaround times, and optimal economic value, all available in-country. (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.) As a rule, only boring people complain about being bored. And so . . . We can only hope that our neighbors in Kansas are inspired to ignore this MSM snub and keep busy with their lives. Moreover, the apocryphal Chinese phrase: "May you live in interesting times" is actually a curse. Read more . . . Canon Andy Bryant crouches next to 1,000 crosses at Norwich Cathedral helping to remember those who have died from Covid. Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Global coronavirus cases surpassed 100 million yester day as countries around the world struggle with new virus variants and vaccine shortfalls. Almost 1.3pc of the worlds population has now been infected with Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and more than 2.1 million people have died. One person has been infected every 7.7 seconds on average since the start of the year. Around 668,250 cases have been reported daily over the same period, and the global fatality rate stands at 2.15pc. The worst-affected countries the US, India, Brazil, Russia and the UK make up more than half all reported Covid cases but represent 28pc of the global population, according to a Reuters analysis. Read More It took the world 11 months to record the first 50 million cases of the pandemic, compared to just three months for cases to double to 100 million. Around 56 countries have started vaccinating people against the coronavirus, administering at least 64 million doses. Israel leads the world on per capita vaccinations, inoculating 29pc of its population with at least one dose. With more than 25 million cases, the US has 25pc of all reported Covid cases although it accounts for just 4pc of the worlds population. The US leads the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every five deaths reported worldwide each day. With just under 425,000 fatalities, the US has reported almost twice as many deaths as Brazil, which has the second-highest death toll in the world. As the worst-affected region in the world, Europe is currently reporting a million new infections about every four days and has reported nearly 30 million since the pandemic began. Britain this week reached 100,000 deaths. Irelands death toll has passed 3,000. The Eastern European region, including countries like Russia, Poland and Ukraine, contribute to nearly 10pc of all global Covid cases. Despite securing deals for vaccine supplies early on, many European countries are facing delays in shipments from both Pfizer and AstraZeneca. In India, the nation with the second highest number of cases, infections are decreasing, with almost 13,700 new infections reported on average each day around 15pc of its peak. Its prime minister, Narendra Modi, last week said India was completely self-reliant on coronavirus vaccine supplies as the worlds second-most populous country inoculated more than a million people within a week of starting its campaign. China, which recently marked the first anniversary of the worlds first coronavirus lockdown in the central city of Wuhan, is facing its worst wave of local cases since March last year. As richer nations race ahead with mass vaccination campaigns, Africa is still scrambling to secure supplies as it grapples with concerns about more infectious variants of the virus first identified in South Africa and Britain. According to the Reuters tally, African countries have nearly 3.5 million cases and over 85,000 deaths. The South African variant is 50pc more infectious and has been detected in at least 20 countries. US President Joe Biden is to impose a ban on most non-US citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa, starting on Saturday, in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of Covid. Australia and New Zealand have fared better than most other developed economies during the pandemic through swift border closures, lockdowns, strict hotel quarantine for travellers and widespread testing and social distancing. We have the virus under control here in Australia, but we want to roll out the vaccine, Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told a news conference. Shortly after the 2000 presidential election, Harris County became one of the countrys early adopters of electronic voting, replacing the error-prone punch-card system implemented in the early 1980s. Voters lauded the new interface, including the rotary wheel used to operate the machines. Nearly two decades later, Harris County still is using the same equipment, making it the largest county in the United States without an auditable paper trail. That is set to change as soon as the May 2021 elections, after Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously approved a $54 million deal to replace the current eSlate machines with ones featuring touch screens, a paper backup and features that make voting more accessible for seniors and residents with disabilities. The new machines allow voters to select candidates or ballots measures on a touchpad instead of the rotating wheel, now derided by critics as a clunky feature that some voters mistakenly have used to cast ballots for the wrong candidate. After voters complete and review their ballots, the machines will print out the selections, at which point voters again can review their ballots for any erroneous choices. They then will take the printed ballots to an electronic ballot box that will record the votes and store the paper ballots, in case the election is called into question and needs to be audited. "Really, the utility of the paper record is, instead of having to program our machines to spit out receipts, we are getting the record as the voter sees it, into a ballot box that, should we need to count or recount or pull something back later, we can pull it up, Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said Wednesday. The election results will be stored on two separate hard drives for each voting machine, one of which can only be accessed with a special key provided to Longorias office. The new safeguards are expected to provide stronger security than the current system, in which votes are recorded on mobile memory cards that are brought to a central counting site, uploaded onto a computer and tallied. Longoria also said the new machines may provide faster election results, as votes can only be tallied under the current system using an outdated computer processing software with slower processing speeds than what is widely available today. Harris County election nights have famously stretched well past midnight during previous elections because of the pace of the election results being uploaded. Though Harris County did not experience any major election malfunctions or security issues using the eSlate machines, experts warned that the aging technology would be inadequate if the election were called into question because of a cyberattack or then-President Donald Trumps repeated claims that the 2020 election would be rigged. The new machines will be supplied by Hart InterCivic Inc., the same company that provides the countys current stock of eSlate voting machines. The new system, called InterCivic Verity Voting, was approved in 2019 by the Texas Secretary of State and already used in Tarrant County. Under the contract approved Tuesday, Hart will provide Harris County with 12,000 machines and an assortment of other election equipment, including voting booths and ballot boxes. Among the other upgrades are what officials say will be a more robust voting system for residents with disabilities. Longoria described the existing setup as primitive, in which voters use red and green paddles, or buttons, that replace the scrolling wheel and enter button. Now you'll have, essentially, a remote control attached to the machine that has directional arrows and multiple buttons, so that folks with a different kind of physical need will have the same access to voting, Longoria said. The elections administrators office will receive the first shipment of devices by March 1. Longoria and her staff will start familiarizing themselves with the machines and decide whether to use them for the May 2021 local elections. If they opt to wait, the machines would be in place for the March 2022 primaries. "The really big deciding factor for me is, how long will it take to train all of our internal staff on these new machines to feel comfortable with them? And then the turnaround time for us to develop those training materials so that we can really safely and fairly train up the different clerks and judges that will have to use these on Election Day, Longoria said. Before commissioners approved the contract with Hart InterCivic on Tuesday, county officials had declined to release information about the deal or any details about the new machines. The machines were selected by a committee of representatives from each county commissioners office, the county judge and technical experts from the county clerk and elections administrators staff, according to Longorias office. Longoria defended the lack of available details prior to the vote. If you release too much information, if you release too many specifics, then you have lobbyists come out of the woodwork, she said. People start, without all the information, really lobbying you, and then there's always a sense of impropriety. Zach Despart contributed to this report. jasper.scherer@chron.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. (Natural News) Joe Biden will ram through warped liberal social experiments masquerading as credible, time-tested programs designed to stabilize the nation. (Article by Robert Bridge republished from Strategic-Culture.org) It was a stark image never before seen in Washington, DC, and one that bodes ill for the future prospects of the country. A locked down capital ringed in barbed wire, with 25,000 troops encompassing the Capitol building, provided a surreal backdrop to Joe Bidens inauguration as the 46th POTUS. The excuse Democrats have provided for turning the citadel of democracy into a maximum security prison is not due to a growing distrust with the electoral process. Nor was it blamed on the spectacle of the mainstream media and Big Tech silencing the voices of exactly one half of the U.S. electorate up to and including that of the now former president, Donald J. Trump. No, to suggest such irrational things would attract howls of conspiracy theory from the liberal gallery. Thankfully, we have Silicon Valley fact checkers and corporate media commentators to lead us to the valley of truth, which informs us that all those Trump insurgents who invaded the Capitol building on January 6th were motivated by pure evil intentions rooted in racism, sedition and white supremacist ideology. And as Hillary Clinton suggested during an off-the-rails interview with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Trump and his motley crew of deplorables may have taken their marching orders from none other than Vladimir Putin himself. Who needs fiction writers these days when we have the Democratic Party? Good evening. Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton are calling for a 9/11 Commission on conservatives to declare them agents of Russia. Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) January 19, 2021 Conservatives need to come to grips with the realization that they are not dealing with rational people who will be willing to engage in cool-headed discussion and debate. Despite a full sweep of the political landscape, the left remains consumed by a collective fit of rage, hysteria and raw emotion that shows no sign of abating. Why? Partly due to political immaturity in the ranks, and partly because victory for the left no longer means victory at the polls; these fanatics, for that is really what they are, will not rest easy until the political opposition is shorn of its voice and representation. In other words, when it is completely and unequivocally obliterated. And given the political proclivities of Big Tech and Big Media, those dreams are dangerously within reach. Unless the right is able to essentially build its own internet architecture to bypass the lefts censorship machine, they will eventually go the way of the dinosaurs as a political force. In the meantime, Joe Biden, or whoever will be pulling his strings, will ram through warped liberal social experiments masquerading as credible, time-tested programs designed to stabilize the nation. Of course they are nothing of the sort. These are globalist-backed policies such as defunding the police, opening the border, vilifying the right as racist, and sexualizing the minds of elementary-age children designed to utterly destabilize the nation and all of its core institutions, including not least of all the nuclear family. Anyone who speaks out against these reckless initiatives will be struck down by the harshest cancel culture cult ever known to man. In fact, domestic terrorism legislation is already drafted that, if passed by Congress, will go far at stifling any dissenting voices from the right. The very first line of the proposed legislation, entitled Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020, which was conveniently prepared just weeks before the Capitol riots erupted, states that White supremacists and other far-right-wing extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States Buried deep in the text is a single line devoted to Antifa, and nothing whatsoever about Black Lives Matter, yet these groups were responsible for torching and looting a swath of destruction across the United States following the death of George Floyd during an arrest by a while police officer. Days before Bidens ironclad inauguration, the media was out in full force propagating the notion of a connection between right-wing Trump supporters and wait for it terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda. 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, Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former head of Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq and the commander of all U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan, said in an interview. This is now happening in America. So there you have it, straight from the horses mouth: the deplorable right in the United States is almost on par with the same guys who carried out the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Needless to say, with such outrageous comments making the rounds, there was little chance of a balanced message from Joe Bidens inaugural speech with regards to the myriad problems now stalking America. Indeed, the address was top heavy with warmed-over cliches about unity, as well as references to racism and inequality. After four years of groundless rhetoric about racist Trump supporters (yet no other conservative president has been so successful at attracting members of the Black and Latino community to the Republican standard than Donald Trump), it was only natural that Biden would allude to a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat. Coming just days after the riots at the Capitol building by Trump supporters, which the hapless mainstream media has been at great pains to label a racist event, the message made it amply clear for whom the bell tolls. The federal government's premier nuclear research lab hosted a 3-day reeducation camp for "white males," with the goal of exposing their "white privilege" and deconstructing "white male culture." Here are the leaked documents from the race-segregated, taxpayer-funded session. Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) August 12, 2020 Once again, at this dangerous crossroads in American history, any hope for a true bipartisan breakthrough is doomed to failure, and more so now as the radical progressives in the Democratic Party are demanding the most outrageous social, cultural and political overhaul the nation has ever witnessed. No true conservative will ever abide by these changes. At the same time, the voice and demonstrations of the right is not only being brutally vanquished, it is actually being assimilated under the banner of domestic terrorism. This marks the widest chasm between the two primary political parties in the United States, which, unless quickly bridged, will end in imminent disaster for the American experiment in democracy. Read more at: Strategic-Culture.org Denton, TX (76205) Today Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 77F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. New Zealand milk production was relatively flat in December compared to December last year increasing 0.7% on a litres basis (up 1.0% on a milk solids basis). Following a 2.5% drop year-on-year in November driven by challenging weather conditions, milk production growth has improved in December as milder and drier weather settled in. New Zealand milk production for the 12 months to December was also relatively flat on last year at 0.4% higher. Total New Zealand dairy exports increased by 8.7%, or 32,823 MT, in November compared to the same period last year. Record volumes of WMP to China and South East Asia of 31,421 MT led this increase. This was offset by decreases in butter and fluid milk products, down a combined 6,852 MT. Exports for the 12 months to November were down by 2.3%, or 81,486 MT, on the previous comparable period. This was primarily driven by butter, infant formula, SMP, and cheese. China dairy import volumes increased by 10%, or 28,565 MT, in November compared to the same period last year. Import volumes of fluid milk products, up 23,401 MT, from Germany and New Zealand continued to increase as dairy consumption is widely promoted to boost immunity. Whey imports were also up 19,739 MT, primarily from the US as China continues to rebuild its hog herds using whey as feed. Imports for the 12 months to November were up 10.4%, or 325,647 MT, driven by whey, fluid milk products, butter and lactose. Fonterra's New Zealand collection for December was 183.1 million kgMS, down 0.7% on December last season. Season-to-date collection to the end of December was 902.8 million kgMS, down 0.7% on last season. The poor pasture conditions experienced in some areas in early November turned around with production at near normal levels by later in the month. December saw a wide range of weather conditions across the country but indications of good levels of supplementary feed production across most parts of the country. Please see the link below for more details: Global Dairy Update January 2021 Source: Fonterra Shareholders' Fund Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) Better Positioned for Future Growth Green Cross Health Limited (NZX: GXH) Full Year Results to 31 March 2021 28th May 2021 Morning Report Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces First FY Results as a Listed Company NZ Automotive Investments Limited (NZX: NZA) Delivers Net Profit Above Guidance for FY21 Smartpay Holdings Limited (NZX: SPY) Preliminary Full Year Result Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK) FY2021 Results Announcement Gentrack Group Limited (NZX: GTK) Half-Year Results Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Financial Results for the 12 Months to 31 March 2021 Asset Plus Limited (NZX: APL) Financial Result for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 An anti-corruption group, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), on Thursday, described Nigerias poor ranking in the newly released 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International (TI) as worrisome. CISLAC, a Nigerian partener of Transparency International, identified factors suspected to be responsible for the countrys poor performance to include lack of transparency in COVID-19 response, nepotism, and lack of adequate laws to tackle corruption. In its statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa, the group also identified the prevalence of bribery and extortion by the police and corruption in the security sector, as another probable causes of the poor ranking. It said, Nigerias CPI score is just another reminder of the need for a fast, transparent, and robust response to the challenges posed by corruption to Nigeria. It is worrying that despite the numerous efforts by state actors on the war against corruption, Nigeria is still perceived by citizens and members of the international community as being corrupt. CISLAC/TI is forced to ask why the results do not commensurate with the efforts? Attacks for unfavourable ranking Mr Musa also alluded to attacks the group often got from various government officials and their sympathisers whenever the CPI turned out to be unfavourable for them. This it said was despite that CISLAC and Nigerian partners do not collect the CPI data as this is done by independent, reputable organisations. According to him CISLAC and other well-meaning citizens have experienced push-back from various governments and their supporters when the CPI results and other indices turn unfavourable. Some of these pushbacks include labelling us unpatriotic citizens. In some instances, physical attacks were experienced, he added. Call for action He, however, called on the government and its supporters to examine the drivers behind Nigerias deteriorating anti-corruption image and consider actions, which will tackle systemic corruption. He added, We guarantee that the perception will improve in the short term. As law-abiding citizens, CISLAC/TI and other partner organizations are willing to work with state and non-state actors on how to collectively improve Nigerias fight against corruption as we have always done in the past. CPI report In the report released early Thursday, Nigeria scored 25 out of 100 points, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is the highest possible score is very clean. Nigerias 25 points fell short by one point compared to its 2019 record. The country also dropped by three places from its 146 position to in 2019 to 149 out of the 180 countries surveyed. According to the CPI report, Nigeria is ranked the second most perceived corrupt West-African country after Guinea-Bissau which was ranked 165. The country is also ranked the 15th most corrupt African country behind war-torn nations like South-Sudan and Somalia that ranked the highest countries perceived to be corrupt with 12 points each. While Denmark and New Zealand with 88 points each are the least perceived corrupt countries, followed by Finland, Singapore and Sweden and Switzerland scoring 85 points each. Nigerias latest CPI report ranks is the worst in five years. ADVERTISEMENT While Nigeria scored 26 in 2015 ranking 136 out of the 178 countries surveyed, in 2016, the country scored 28 points retaining the 136 rankings out of the 178 countries that were surveyed worldwide. In 2017, its score dropped to 27 points and it ranked 148 out of the 180 countries surveyed. In 2018, it maintained its 27 points but dropped four places to rank144 among 180 countries. In 2019, Nigeria scored 26 points and ranked 146, also among 180 countries. Fight against corruption Fighting corruption is one of the three focal policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. The President said in his inaugural speech in 2015 that corruption will kill Nigeria if Nigeria does not kill corruption. The efforts the government claims it has been putting into the fight against corruption appear to have little or no impact on the countrys yearly ranking. The authorities, in its selective criticisms of CPIs unfavourable reports, said TI failed to take into account the Buhari administrations achievements in the fight against corruption. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, while reacting to the 2019 CPI result, had said it did not correlate with the facts on the ground. BRIDGEPORT State Sen. Marilyn Moore will pay the state a $300 fine out of a possible $2,000 maximum penalty related to an elections complaint filed against her failed 2019 mayoral bid. Moore and the State Elections Enforcement Commission entered into a consent agreement after the commissions investigators concluded Moore falsely signed a campaign petition that she did not personally circulate. The deal was finalized Jan. 20, with the final report released by the commission to Hearst Connecticut Media late Tuesday. This is the second such complaint Moore faced related to her 2019 challenge of fellow Democrat and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. The elections commission dismissed the first case last month. Both complaints were filed by Ganim supporter Joel Gonzalez. The first complaint targeted Moores successful petition drive to mount a primary against Ganim. Gonzalezs second allegation the subject of the recent consent deal and the $300 fine focused on Moores campaigns effort to also gather signatures to ensure her a spot on the November 2019 general election ballot as the Working Families third partys mayoral contender. Under elections law, the candidate, campaign worker or volunteer gathering and witnessing the signatures must sign each petition page that they personally circulate. In both his complaints, Gonzalez offered two examples of what he claimed were signatures Moore had not gathered, despite her having claimed she was the circulator. In the second, just-finalized case, state investigators interviewed a couple who signed Moores general election petition; the wife confirmed that the petition page was circulated by a man rather than by the candidate herself. However, rather than impose the toughest penalty $2,000 on Moore, elections officials opted for $300. Their final report states that Moore was cooperative, generally denied that she knowingly signed a petition page (on which) she did not witness every signature and that she claimed it was an inadvertent mistake due to the confusion of the campaign. The elections commissions report went on to conclude that Moore has no prior history of similar misconduct, did not appear to have acted in bad faith, that the matter was confined to a single petition page and that she had been running parallel petition drives (during) a chaotic campaign against a popular incumbent. Moore ran a tough primary race against Ganim, scoring a rare win against the incumbent at the voting machines but losing the primary after he received more absentee or mail-in votes. Her 2019 effort, however, was ultimately crippled by her petition drive Team Moore thought it had secured a third-party November ballot line her Plan B were she to lose the primary only to learn from Hearst on primary night that she had not, in fact, submitted enough qualifying petition signatures to do so. Moore continued her post-primary mayoral bid as an underdog write-in candidate and lost both the machine and absentee votes to Ganim that November. Reached for comment Wednesday, Moore referred to a recent column she wrote on the topic published by Hearst in which she stated: While it was a clerical error in the chaos of filing forms and internal processes, it was not intentional. ... Regardless of the circumstances, or chaos, I signed it, and I am not above the law. ... I take full responsibility for the error and for everything that transpired in the campaign. Ganim in a statement Wednesday said, It is assuring that the investigation into any improprieties are thorough, taken seriously and that this one has now come to a conclusion. The mayor, however, alluded to the fine during an interview last Wednesday on WICC AM 600 with host Melissa Sheketoff. He said incorrectly that he understood Moore pled guilty to forging signatures. The Elections Enforcement Commission has one last matter dating back to the Moore versus Ganim contest. Moore and her allies accused Ganim and his supporters of winning the primary through absentee ballot irregularities and potential fraud. The state based in part on an investigation published at the time by Hearst decided to open a case which is still pending. Image: Canva I am hosting a conversation on the role and purpose of the Ph.D. Dan Treier provided a helpful (and proactively titled article) to start the series. PhDs: Who Needs Them?, was widely read and discussed. (Dan leads our Wheaton Ph.D. program, and his longer article on what to consider when considering a PhD is must reading.) I have invited several contributors to join in on the dialogue, some in different roles and with different views. Today, I am pleased to publish our second article in this series, from Dr. Garet D. Robinson. "What good is a PhD in the pastorate?" is a question I received multiple times while working on my PhD in Theology. The question came from well-intentioned church members and also fellow staff members. To be fair, this is a legitimate question, at least as far as I see it, and one I was happy to answer. From many of my colleagues' experiences, they also received this question, though not directly about the ministry, as they worked their respective PhDs. Being curious about a PhD's practicality is certainly understandable; the degree requires tremendous study and rigorous examinations in fields that are not often covered by most higher education institutions. Most churches, particularly within the free church traditions in North America, are content for their pastor to hold a Masters of Divinity. For some churches, the Doctor of Ministry provides a practical doctorate which is more applicable for their context. When it comes to the PhD, there is a little more consternation. PhDs are considered a research-focused degree with little application in real-world contexts. It is thought that PhDs provide little practical outcomes in real life and too often those with them have their heads in the clouds and little concern for real life outside an ivory tower. However, if we consider the PhD for its possibilities, we might see it as a degree with wide application for the local church setting. To do so, we can begin by seeing the pastoral application of a PhD beyond the traditional Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, and a few other specified tracks of study. This isn't to say that PhDs in these fields aren't useful for local churches; they most certainly can be wonderful pastors. Yet, if we expand our view of the PhD to other fields, we find compelling possibilities. Imagine... The benefit a PhD in social work could have in helping develop and extend a church's ministry to homeless and marginalized communities. How a PhD in music could bring up the caliber of musicianship for a church's worship ministries. The impact a PhD in counseling could have in growing a local church-based counseling ministry. What someone with a PhD in international church planting could do to help an urban-based church intentionally and strategically start new churches to expand God's Kingdom. The depth which could be developed in a church's discipleship plan led by a PhD in education or discipleship. A PhD in preaching, or rhetoric, who could develop sonorous sermons that engage the heart, inform the head, and motivate the hands of a local congregation. PhDs have their application in so many places for ministry in a local church because within the local church, we have the ideal place for incubating ministries that change the world. In local churches, we find spaces for terminally degreed ministers to work out their discipline of study and research while also doing needed ministry among the people of God. Of course, the local church isn't the same vocational space as the hallowed halls of a college, university, or seminary. The hospital corridors, hospice rooms, fellowship halls, and Sunday School classrooms are a bit different environs, but these are also places in which the people of God need a pastor who can answer their difficult questions even if it is sometimes done best just by being present. For someone who wants to find a practical way to work out their research, a local church provides a fantastic context to grow and thrive. There is margin to engage in deeper research in the topics and issues which drew you to your PhD in the first place. Friends and colleagues who are blessed to teach full time in a higher education system have told me that the amount of time they spend in meetings, seminars, continuing education, and teaching leaves them about the same amount of time for research as a pastor with a local church full of ministry. In my role in a local church, there has been space to work on academic conference presentations, peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as working in an adjunct role. The great saints I am blessed to minister among have encouraged my research in these ways. While this may not be ensconced in the academic environs of a finely landscaped college campus, it has been among the people of God who are full of hope and blessing. Being able to take the tools and skills developed during my education and apply them to delivering Bible studies, devotionals, and sermons has also given me opportunities to see wider application for my PhD work outside the academy. Just like the blessing many professors receive when their students finally get it, as a pastor, it is an amazing moment to see someone who was far from Christ only a little bit ago discover their true calling in Christ. All this to say, the local church is surely a good place for those with PhDs to work out their calling in a legitimate way. I submit that the possibilities of a pastor with a PhD are even greater when appropriately applied within a local church than even in higher education. The local church is a wonderful place to use your PhD to the glory of God and to equip his saints for a lifetime of ministry. (Singapore--January 28, 2021 11:00 p.m. SPT/10:00 a.m. EST)----Several leading international lung cancer researchers at a press briefing held by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer today, presented compelling new data revealing that factors of race, gender, sexual orientation and income continue to be significant barriers to those living with lung cancer. The press briefing is part of the IASLC's World Conference on Lung Cancer 2020 Singapore. The press briefing is moderated by IASLC Communications Committee Chair Dr. Anne-Marie Baird, senior research fellow at Trinity College in Dublin and president of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE), a nonprofit that aims to provide a voice for people impacted by lung cancer in Europe. Patient Research Advocate Jill Feldman, co-founder of the patient advocacy group, The EGFR Resisters, will contribute insights from the advocacy community's perspective. Earlier this year, Ms. Feldman co-authored an article for IASLC Lung Cancer News, in which it was noted that, "[c]ontemporaneously, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the already existing health inequities in underserved populations [in the United States]. It is well documented that Black patients, Indigenous People, patients of Pacific island descent, and Hispanic patients are 3.7 times, 3.5 times, 3.1 times, and 2.8 times, respectively, more like to succumb to COVID-19, than White patients.(1) These disparities cannot be explained by differences in income alone.(2) It is, therefore, very likely that the pandemic will only exacerbate lung cancer health care delivery gaps in these already disenfranchised communities." Among Patients with Lung Cancer, Gender Disparities Exist in Virtually Every Country Dr. Yanting Zhang, of the Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, examined geographic patterns and temporal trends in lung cancer incidence from 1978 to 2012 for 43 countries across five continents (Abstract 3090). "We sought to evaluate the effects of a birth cohort and period of time on temporal trends to better identify populations at increased risk of lung cancer and to provide clues for understanding the causal factors underlying the changing trends," he said. Sex disparities were noted in almost all countries, with the male-to-female rate ratios exceeding 5.0 in five countries (Belarus, Turkey, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Estonia) and ranging from 2.0 to 5.0 in 22 countries for rates of incidence of lung cancer. During 1978-2012, 19 countries showed significantly favorable trends among men, with the largest decline in incidence rates occurring in Bahrain (AAPC = -6.9 %), while 26 countries showed significantly unfavorable trends among women, with AAPCs ranging from 0.9% to 5.2 %. "The disparity in both incidence rates and trends of a birth-cohort effect between the sexes may reflect sex differences in underlying risk factors and pathogenesis. Further etiologic research will be required to identify reasons for the elevated incidence of lung cancer among [women]," Dr. Zhang reported. Gender and Never-Smokers Study from Women's Health Initiative The stigma of lung cancer is strong and pervasive, and one that the lung cancer community has worked hard to counter. Research presented today by Dr. Sitapriya Moorthi from Dr. Alice Berger's lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle showed that if those never-smokers with lung cancer were considered as having a separate disease, it would be the seventh-largest category of cancer deaths (Featured Poster, FP12.12). Currently, 24% of lung cancer cases in women and 17% of lung cancer cases in men are in individuals who have never smoked, the majority of which are adenocarcinomas. Lung cancer cases in never-smokers are more common among women and are three- to four-fold more common among Asian women, Dr. Moorthi stated. "Despite this, the majority of tumor genome-wide sequencing efforts in lung cancer have been focused on patient cohorts with a smoking history," she said. Through a unique collaboration with the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and Dr. Garnet Anderson, Dr. Moorthi performed exome-sequencing on this cohort and describes here novel mutations, structural variants and copy number alterations in this cohort. "Mutational analysis of our lung cancer never smokers cohort revealed that, in general, LCNS have a lower tumor mutational burden compared to their control cohort with a history of smoking. Additionally, we find that this cohort has mutations that have been previously reported in studies in never-smoker patients with lung cancer. However, the existence of novel mutations and structural alterations may offer a unique opportunity for future target identification and therapeutic intervention," she reported. The LGBTQ+ Community and Lung Cancer Disparities Research presented at the World Conference by Dr. Yannan Li, of the Department of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, reported potential worse cancer survival outcomes in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ), and queer population. Previous studies have shown the LGBT population have increased smoking prevalence, predisposing this group to higher cancer risks, especially for lung cancer, along with worse survival. Dr. Li and her research colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study using the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data (Poster P09.19). They used a weighted estimation method for the cancer survivorship model using data from seven states regarding demographics, health risks, health care access, and cancer survival outcomes. Of the 44,348 sample participants in the study, 1,439 self-identified as LGBT. In terms of healthcare access, 33.5% of transgender individuals did not have healthcare insurance coverage vs. 3.4% of those who identified as gay/lesbian (p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, 35% of people identifying as bisexual reported having two or more types of cancer vs.4.3% for the gay/lesbian group (p < 0.0001). Dr. Li urged future policymakers to focus on expanding healthcare insurance coverage, promoting physical and mental wellbeing regarding cancer status, re-evaluating cancer pain management approaches, and improving programs for tobacco and alcohol control, to adapt to the needs of the LGBT population. Another study, also using the 2018 BRFSS survey data, focused on people aged 55 to 79 years who identified as LGBT and examined lung cancer screening access. There are no previous data on lung cancer screening in the LGBT population, according to Dr. Hui Xie, of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Zilber School of Public Health, Milwaukee (Abstract 3133). With higher smoking rates and other outstanding risk factors in this population, Dr. Xie and colleagues examined the social determinants regarding receipt of lung cancer screening and explored potential solutions to eliminate health disparities in lung cancer. Dr. Xie's team identified a total of 14.37% of U.S. individuals aged 55 to 79 years old who had no personal history of lung cancer and who were eligible for lung cancer screening. Among this group, approximately 22.85% underwent screening in the past 12 months. Respondents who were assigned males at birth, or gay/lesbians (OR: 5.30; 95% CI: 1.32-21.36; p = 0.019), in fair/poor general health (OR: 4.16; 95% CI: 1.41-12.26; p = 0.010), and had no medical cost burden (OR: 9.37; 95% CI: 2.26-38.83; p = 0.002) were significantly associated with greater odds of receiving lung cancer screening. However, those who identified as bisexual (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.20-0.96; p = 0.045) and heavy drinkers (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02-0.75; p = 0.023) were associated with decreased odds of receiving screening. Respondents who were assigned female at birth, in fair/poor general health (OR: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.15-15.73; p = 0.030) and had no medical cost burden (OR: 17.00; 95% CI: 2.44-118.23; p = 0.004) were significantly associated with greater odds of receiving screening. "Our findings point to the potential sex-related and sexual-identity disparities regarding use of lung cancer screening among U.S. respondents aged between 55 and 79 years old, using BRFSS data from 2018," Dr. Xie said. She recommends targeted educational programs are needed to address the economic burden and increase awareness for the uptake of lung cancer screening among bisexual populations, especially among those who were assigned male at birth. New Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines May Not Improve Disparities Public health screening for lung cancer should aim to reduce disparities in mortality rates between racial and ethnic groups. However, proposed United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Draft 2020 guidelines may inadvertently increase racial and ethnic disparities compared with the 2013 guidelines, according to research presented during the World Conference by Dr. Rebecca Landy, of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (Abstract 3564). Landy published her research on January 5th in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The draft USPSTF 2020 recommends annual lung cancer screening for individuals aged 50 to 80 who currently smoke or quit in the last 15 years, and who have a smoking history equivalent to at least one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years or more. This expanded the age range and smoking history requirement compared to the current (2013) USPSTF recommendations, to "partially ameliorate racial disparities in screening eligibility". Neither set of recommendations considered the higher risk of lung cancer and younger ages at diagnosis among African Americans, despite smoking less than whites. Dr. Landy and colleagues found that draft USPSTF 2020 guidelines increase eligibility for all races/ethnicities by similar levels (97% for whites vs 78% for minorities). Their empirical modeling showed the draft guidelines inadvertently increased racial/ethnic disparities in screening-prevented deaths or increased life-expectancy for each minority group. The researchers suggested broadening the eligibility criteria to additionally select individuals who would benefit most under the Life-Years From Screening-CT (LYFS-CT) model, which calculates the gain in life expectancy for an individual if they undergo screening. They showed that augmenting USPSTF criteria to include these high benefit people selected significantly more African-Americans than whites (22% vs 9%), and thus could reduce or even eliminate disparities between whites and African Americans. This study highlighted the importance of developing eligibility criteria that identify individuals who benefit most from screening, regardless of race/ethnicity. Using prediction models such as the LYFS-CT models could reduce racial/ethnic disparities in screening eligibility. Progress Before COVID-19 Dr. Brendon Stiles, of Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, reported that that short-term mortality and hospital readmission decreased in the years between 2004 and 2014, and that short-term survival improved in low-income patients. In addition to later year of diagnosis, treatment at academic centers, surgical treatment, and having private insurance each seem to improve outcomes in economically disadvantaged patients (Poster P08.04). Dr. Stiles and his co-researchers identified 242,757 patients from the National Cancer Database that featured the following demographic breakdown: 47,437 patients (49.7% female) were in the lowest income quartile, with a median age of 69 years Approximately 23% of patients were Black 65% were from metropolitan areas Most patients were clinical stage I (75%), with adenocarcinoma (43%) the most common histology "Patients with the lowest income may be slower to seek treatment, are more likely to be undertreated, and have historically had worse survival for early-stage NSCLC," Dr.Stiles reported. "We sought to determine whether early-stage NSCLC outcomes have improved over time in low-income patients, and I can report that progress has been made." Stiles also reported that treatment at academic centers, surgical treatment, and having private insurance each seem to improve outcomes in economically disadvantaged patients. ### About the IASLC: The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes nearly 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit http://www. iaslc. org for more information. About the WCLC: The WCLC is the world's largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more nearly 7,500 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2020.iaslc.org. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Cleveland City Schools continues to monitor active case counts and other data points in the community. In consultation with the health department and a downward trend of local cases, the district will continue to be in the Yellow Phase the week of Feb. 1-5. All students will be in a traditional, in-person school setting everyday. Cleveland City Schools will continue to be in the yellow phase while the COVID-19 task force meets biweekly to monitor the situation. Moving forward daily communication of COVID-19 positive cases per school will not be sent out at this time, but CCS will provide notifications to all individuals involved in contact tracing. You may still find your school active case count weekly, as well as the district's case count, at clv.city/casecount. If you have any questions, please contact cvquestions@clevelandschools.org or contact the local school. Premier Mark McGowan has defended a controversial deal with two of the states wealthiest businessmen that could see the East Perth power station land sold for just $1. Works at the derelict site could begin as early as next year but details of negotiations between the government and billionaires Kerry Stokes and Andrew Forrest remain shrouded in secrecy. An artists impression of the East Perth power station redevelopment. Speaking to 6PRs Liam Bartlett on Wednesday, Mr McGowan said the $1 valuation hadnt been committed to, but would not reveal how much the businessmen would fork out for the site. This is a matter for negotiation between the government and the successful tenders, he said. The block hasnt been sold, there is no value of a lease because we havent signed a lease. State health officials confirmed another 4,222 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the number of active statewide cases to 78,171. Officials also announced another 43 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from coronavirus to 14,056. There are 1,878 Massachusetts patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, including 442 people in intensive care, 255 of whom are intubated. The seven-day average of positive tests is currently 4.44%. If you are having troubling viewing this map, click here. Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday said officials will be setting up a vaccine hotline to help residents navigate the states online portal after residents expressed frustration with the new system. The two big issues we heard yesterday were, number one, we need some sort of a call center that people who cant use the online system can access. We agree with that, and thatll be happening next week, Baker said. The second thing is the ongoing concern about when Im going to get my appointment. On Wednesday, residents age 75 and older were allowed to book appointments online get the vaccine. At Springfields Eastfield Mall, one of a handful of vaccinations sites the state planned to bring online, appointment slots were filled up through early next week. State officials are hoping to have the capacity and the supply to administer 305,000 doses a week by Feb. 15, which includes first and second doses, Baker said. Members of the White House COVID response team told Massachusetts officials on Wednesday that the supply of vaccines to the state will increase in the coming weeks. President Joe Biden on Tuesday promised to up allocations to states by roughly 15% next week, adding that federal officials have ordered 200 million more doses of the vaccines. If you are having troubling viewing this map, click here. Total COVID cases by county: Barnstable County: 8,494 Berkshire County: 4,409 Bristol County: 49,218 Dukes County: 753 Essex County: 76,259 Franklin County: 1,742 Hampden County: 36,386 Hampshire County: 5,496 Middlesex County: 100,273 Nantucket County: 1,064 Norfolk County: 39,481 Plymouth County: 35,182 Suffolk County: 70,398 Worcester County: 58,264 Related Content: 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. As of 10:00, about 500 people have already gathered on the square. Ukrainian entrepreneurs are rallying in the Kyiv center to protest quarantine restrictions and tougher taxation policies. About 1,000 activists are expected to take part in the protest campaign today, January 28, the SaveFOP [Save Individual Entrepreneurs] movement group wrote on Facebook. Read alsoRada postpones introduction of cash registers for entrepreneursThe crowd is gathering in the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square, downtown Kyiv. Protesters' demands Entrepreneurs oppose the introduction of quarantine curbs in Ukraine, affecting their businesses. In addition, they stand against the government's intention to tighten tax policy and introduce cash registers for most categories of small-scale entrepreneurs. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on December 1, after numerous protest actions, passed a compromise draft law that postponed the introduction of cash registers for another year. However, protesters demand some more radical concessions on the part of authorities. Reporting by UNIAN Robinhood can now add a class action lawsuit to its growing list of headaches after it said it would restrict users from trading GameStop and other stocks. A class action lawsuit was filed in New York Thursday, alleging that Robinhood deprived their customers of the ability to use their service, in an effort to manipulate the market for the benefit of people and financial intuitions. The lawsuit comes hours after Robinhood informed users that it would restrict a handful of stocks, including GameStop, Blackberry, AMC, and American Airlines, due to recent volatility. The company also said it would raise margin requirements for some securities. We continuously monitor the markets and make changes where necessary, Robinhood said. A spokesperson for Robinhood declined to comment. Robinhood isnt the only firm to restrict trading on GameStop. Interactive Brokers, Webull, and TD Ameritrade have imposed similar restrictions. But Robinhood has drawn the most ire, likely due to its popularity among the Reddit day traders who fueled the unprecedented rise of GameStop to begin with. According to Motherboard, 56 percent of all Robinhood users own GameStop stock that they are now unable to trade (Correction: this statistic is inaccurate), prompting accusations that the company is working to protect large financial institutions rather than small-time investors. It also caught the attention of several members of Congress, who questioned the move. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, said she would support a hearing if necessary. Yes @aoc. We need an investigation into RobinhoodApps decision and who influenced that. And this shows the need for a financial transaction tax on hedge fund shorting and SEC regulations on short selling practices. https://t.co/mYX8Ab3JwH Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) January 28, 2021 Why are brokerage firms like Robin Hood restricting trading in GameStop? Looks to me like a fear of too much profit going to ordinary investors. Can you explain @RobinhoodApp? https://t.co/682yG7ZiqX Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 28, 2021 It wouldnt be the first time Robinhood has gotten in hot water. The company previously paid a $65 million fine for misleading users about its revenue sources. Its also faced questions about whether it does enough to educate young users about the potential risks of day trading. Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 4:57 pm Editors Note: The following information is current as of Wednesday, but statewide vaccination efforts are dynamic and changing quickly, so check the Department of Health website at https://www.doh.wa.gov/ for the most recent information. COVID-19 vaccines began rolling into Lewis County in December, first going to healthcare workers, emergency responders and long-term care residents. Now, eligibility has broadened to include more of the public. The local and statewide vaccination systems are developing in real time, sometimes making it difficult to figure out how and where to get vaccinated. Heres what you need to know: Am I eligible for the vaccine? Washington state is currently in the first tier of Phase 1B for COVID-19 vaccination distribution. That means that residents 65 and older or residents 50 and older who live in a multigenerational household are eligible for the vaccine. Use the states Phase Finder tool (https://form.findyourphasewa.org/210118771253954) to see if youre eligible. If you dont qualify under the current phase, you can still use Phase Finder. Put in your contact information and the state Department of Health (DOH) will notify you when youre eligible. Where can I get a vaccine? Go on the state Department of Healths website (https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Immunization/VaccineLocations) to find clinics near you that are offering the vaccine. Each clinic operates differently and has their own preferred communication method. Some clinics in Lewis County are still waiting to get approved to receive and distribute the vaccine. The state is also in the process of standing up four mass vaccination clinics (in Spokane, Ridgefield, Wenatchee and Kennewick). Find information on those sites here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/Articles/ID/2583/Four-mass-vaccination-sites-opening-statewide-this-week#:~:text=Announced%20by%20Gov.%20Jay%20Inslee,Phase%201A%20or%201B%2D1 or call 1-800-525-0127. Should I call the county to get an appointment? No. Vaccination efforts in Washington are being led by the state and individual clinics. Lewis County is not acting as a centralized system, scheduling appointments or administering doses. To find out where you can get a vaccine locally, go to the DOH website to find a provider or call 1-800-525-0127 if youre having trouble. Are there enough vaccines? No. Demand for the COVID-19 vaccines is currently outpacing the supply, making it difficult for eligible residents to get vaccinated. You should continue to monitor the DOH website to see when appointments open up. The county itself is receiving short notice (about seven days) before doses roll in, so things can change and appointments can open up fairly quickly. When will the next fairgrounds event be held? Lewis County recently finalized an agreement to hold future mass vaccination events at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. However, the next event depends on when more vaccine doses are allocated to health care providers in the county. Sundays fairgrounds event was spearheaded by Providence, but future events may be hosted by other providers. The provider, not the county, will decide how to notify patients or publicize the event. Can I get vaccinated in a different county? Yes. Some Washingtonians are crossing county lines to get vaccinated. Public health officials are prioritizing getting shots in arms, rather than policing who gets vaccinated where. Public Health Director J.P. Anderson said this week that he wouldnt discourage residents from traveling to neighboring counties to get vaccinated if theyre eligible and able to make the appointment. Will someone call me to help me get vaccinated? Dont count on it. The best way to get an appointment is to go to the DOH website (https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Immunization/VaccineLocations) yourself and find a provider near you. Appointments may be full, but more vaccine doses will continue to come into the county in coming weeks, so youll need to be patient as you continue to monitor local clinics. What if I dont have good internet access? DOH has a COVID-19 hotline (1-800-525-0127) that may be able to assist, although that line was recently overwhelmed. State officials are working to get it more adequately staffed. Gov. Jay Inslee said this week that vaccination success will likely require more tech-savvy individuals or family members stepping up to help residents that may be struggling to navigate the system. In an explosive claim on Thursday, Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan convenor VM Singh alleged a Congress link to the protests against the three farm laws. Speaking to the media, he claimed that a majority of the persons currently protesting at the Delhi border are from the Congress party. According to him, the number of farmers at the Delhi border had dropped to less than a thousand people owing to the withdrawal of RKMS from the stir against the agrarian laws. Making his disagreement with BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait very clear, Singh had announced this decision post the violence during the farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day. Incidentally, the RKMS convenor has also been named in an FIR by the Delhi Police along with others such as Tikait, Darshan Pal, Joginder Singh Ugraha, Jagjeet Singh Dalewal, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Kavita Kurnguti, Medha Patkar and Yogendra Yadav. A total of 37 farm leaders and rioters have been charged under Sections 147, 148, 149, 152, 186, 188, 269, 353, 332, 307, 395, 397, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. RKMS convenor VM Singh remarked, "The day before yesterday, there were 40,000-50,000 people. Today, you check out how many people are there. The Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan is UP's biggest union." He added, "Nobody from Uttar Pradesh is sitting there. There are not even 1000 people. 200, 300, or 400 people from Uttarakhand are sitting there. A majority of them are from Congress." Read: After Delhi Violence, Singhu Locals Protest Demanding Farmers Leave; Cops Play Peacemaker Violence on Republic Day The Delhi Police had permitted farmers to take out the tractor rally on three routes emanating from the Singhu border, the Tikri border, and the Ghazipur border covering 62 km, 60 km, and 46 km respectively. Darshan Pal, Rajinder Singh, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Buta Singh Burjgil, and Joginder Singh Ugraha were asked to coordinate with the police during the rally. Additionally, the Police mandated that a maximum of 5000 persons with 5000 tractors can participate in the Republic Day rally from noon to 5 pm. However, the rally took a violent turn after groups of farmers broke police barricades at the Delhi border to enter the national capital before the allocated time. As per visuals, some of the protesters vandalised a DTC bus and drove tractors to deliberately run over the police personnel at ITO in central Delhi. In a clear violation of the conditions laid down by the police, farmers were seen carrying sticks and riding horses. Thereafter, the anti-farm laws protesters entered the premises of the Red Fort and unfurled their own flags from its ramparts. While 394 police personnel have been injured in the violence, the Delhi Police has registered 25 FIRs against the protesters. Following the severe backlash, the farm unions called off their scheduled march to the Parliament on February 1 in protest against the three farm laws. Read: Delhi Violence Crackdown LIVE Updates: Kejriwal Reacts, Shah Visits Injured Policemen US President Joe Biden moved decisively on climate, rejoining the Paris Agreement on day one and appointing former secretary of state John Kerry as his Climate Envoy. Kerry has already called out the climate emergency, emphasised that time is fast running out, and makes the critical point that existing Paris pledges are inadequate to meet the goal of keeping global warming below 2 degrees. Kerry will make the point in coming summits that countries collectively need to do at least three times as much as they are currently pledging. The costs of climate events are rising alarmingly, as evidenced for Australia by a Climate Council report on Wednesday of a looming annual $100 billion bill for natural disasters. Kerry has drawn attention to the cost of some $US350 billion ($452 billion) in one year after three storms. The governments own forecasts warn of a catastrophic temperature rise of 4.4C by the end of the century. Credit:Nick Moir A 2 degrees increase in temperature is specified by science as an upper limit, as a guardrail, or tipping point, beyond which global warming becomes an unstoppable chain reaction. Our children could face the prospect of their planet becoming uninhabitable in their lifetimes. To stay below that limit the world has a finite carbon budget a fixed amount of pollution we can emit over the next two to three decades. The next decade will be determinant. Hence the global focus on increased targets for 2030. (POLO, Mo.) -- The Caldwell County Sheriff's Department is reporting a fatal shooting in Polo Wednesday morning. A department news release said deputies responded to a shots fired call at a street intersection in Polo. After arriving, the release said deputies found a woman with a gunshot wound and a male with a weapon running from the scene. It said the suspect was later taken into custody only after a lengthy pursuit and manhunt in a nearby wooded area. The woman was pronounced dead at the hospital. The suspect is being identified as a 35-year-old male from Lawson. The victim's name has not yet been released. The sheriff's department release said their department received assistance in the manhunt from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Polo Police Department, Clinton County Sheriff's Department, Tri-County Regional SWAT Team, Canadian Pacific Railroad Police, and Missouri Department of Conservation. The suspect is being held at the Caldwell County Detention Center pending formal charges being filed. A teenager accused last year of fatally shooting his Bellaire High School classmate has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, according to Harris County Juvenile Division Chief John Jordan. The teen has not been identified because he was 16 at the time of the Jan. 14 shooting. He was charged with manslaughter in the death 19-year-old Bellaire High School senior and Army recruit Cesar Cortes. Both teens were part of the schools JROTC program, according to earlier reports. At the time, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said she believed the shooting was unintentional. He did not, based on the evidence, intend to kill his friend but he did. Thats reckless, Ogg said. This young person is going to have to live with that for the rest of their life. The accused teen was found guilty of manslaughter in a virtual trial. He will start his sentence as a juvenile, Jordan said. A judge will later determine whether he will be transferred to the adult prison system before his 19th birthday. Jordan, the juvenile division chief, and Harris County Assistant District Attorney Amanda Zelisko prosecuted the case. The shooting jolted the school community. It took place on campus around 4 p.m., triggering a massive law enforcement response as many students left for the day. After the incident, hundreds of Cortes peers flocked to a candlelight vigil at Evelyn's Park, where Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg and Cortes brother addressed the grieving crowd. I will miss him, and he did not die in vain, said the brother, Dylan Cortes. Because I will live forward for him and my family. Students previously told the Chronicle that Cortes and the accused teen were friends in the same JROTC battalion. The teen had been showing Cortes a pistol when the gun went off. Cortes dream was to become an Army soldier, friends said. He had been counting down the days when he would ship off to basic training in Fort Benning in Georgia. His friend, 18-year-old Jordan Koy, planned to join him. It's just shocking to see that taken away from him, he said at the time. He had a great career ahead of him. julian.gill@chron.com Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2021 -- HTF MI Analyst have added a new research study on Title COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Industry Market Report-Development Trends, Threats, Opportunities and Competitive Landscape in 2020 with detailed information of Product Types [, Cloud & On-Premise], Applications [BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Telecom & IT, Transportation & Logistics & Others] & Key Players Such as TriNet Group, Inc., Accountor, HR Solutions, Paylocity Corporation, Kronos Incorporated, Jobvite, Inc., SAP SE, Sage Group Plc., Caribbean HR Solution, Paycor, Inc., Ramco Systems Limited, TMF Group Holding B.V., Automatic Data Processing, Paychex, Inc.,, Paycom Software, Ultimate Software Group, Intuit Inc. & Oracle Corporation etc. The Study provides in-depth comprehensive analysis for regional segments that covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World with Global Outlook and includes Clear Market definitions, classifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, development policies and plans. The facts and data are well presented in the report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations with respect to its Current Trends, Dynamics, and Business Scope & Key Statistics. If you are a COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services manufacturer and deals in exports imports then this article will help you understand the Sales Volume with Impacting Trends. Click To get SAMPLE PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures)@ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2868478-covid-19-outbreak-global-payroll-hr-solutions-and-services-industry-market-1 Covid-19 Impact Update COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Market Research Analysts at HTF MI constantly monitor the industry impacts of current events in real-time here is an update of how this industry is likely to be impacted as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic: Demand from top notch companies and government agencies is expected to rise as they seek more information on COVID-19. Check Demand Determinants section for more information. Key Highlights from COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Market Study. Revenue and Sales Estimation Historical Revenue and sales volume is presented and further data is triangulated with top-down and bottom-up approaches to forecast complete market size and to estimate forecast numbers for key regions covered in the report along with classified and well recognized Types and end-use industry. Additionally macroeconomic factor and regulatory policies are ascertained in COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services industry evolution and predictive analysis. Manufacturing Analysis the report is currently analyzed concerning various product type and application. The COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services market provides a chapter highlighting manufacturing process analysis validated via primary information collected through Industry experts and Key officials of profiled companies. FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS: In order to better understand Market condition five forces analysis is conducted that includes Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, Threat of rivalry. Competition Leading players have been studied depending on their company profile, product portfolio, capacity, product/service price, sales, and cost/profit. Demand & Supply and Effectiveness COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services report additionally provides distribution, Production, Consumption & EXIM** (Export & Import). ** If applicable Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2868478-covid-19-outbreak-global-payroll-hr-solutions-and-services-industry-market-1 Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated: - APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) - North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) - South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) - MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa) The Latest Trends, Product Portfolio, Demographics, Geographical segmentation, and Regulatory Framework of the COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Market have also been included in the study. Market Growth by Applications: BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Telecom & IT, Transportation & Logistics & Others Heat map Analysis, 3-Year Financial and Detailed Company Profiles of Key & Emerging Players: TriNet Group, Inc., Accountor, HR Solutions, Paylocity Corporation, Kronos Incorporated, Jobvite, Inc., SAP SE, Sage Group Plc., Caribbean HR Solution, Paycor, Inc., Ramco Systems Limited, TMF Group Holding B.V., Automatic Data Processing, Paychex, Inc.,, Paycom Software, Ultimate Software Group, Intuit Inc. & Oracle Corporation Market Growth by Types: , Cloud & On-Premise Book Latest Edition of Study COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Market With COVID-19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2868478 Introduction about COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) [, Cloud & On-Premise] in 2018 COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Market by Application/End Users [BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Telecom & IT, Transportation & Logistics & Others] COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications Global COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2025) COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application COVID-19 Outbreak- Payroll - HR Solutions and Services (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined. COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Payroll - HR Solutions and Services Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data Key Raw Materials Analysis & Price Trends Supply Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain Analysis ........and view more in complete table of Contents Check Complete Report Details @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2868478-covid-19-outbreak-global-payroll-hr-solutions-and-services-industry-market-1 Thanks for reading this article; HTF also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia Senate Republicans, some of whom may reasonably have feared for their own lives when insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, are now coalescing around a single argument as they harden their positions against an impeachment trial for Donald J. Trump: a constitutional claim that former presidents may not be impeached. This is an idea floated by, among others, a former federal appeals court judge, J. Michael Luttig, in the Washington Post, Sen. Tom Cotton, and professor Jonathan Turley, who fully briefed the Senate GOP at a luncheon on Tuesday. (It appears that in 1999, Turley took the opposite position, but no matter.) Sen. Rand Paul forced a test vote on this proposition Tuesday. It failed, but not in a way that perfectly predicts how many GOP senators will embrace the constitutional offramp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Republicans seem to have settled upon a strategy of blanketing a numb and exhausted populace with process arguments. This claimthat it is not constitutional to impeach a former presidentis not really a sound idea, but it probably sounds good enough to pass the stink test. Never mind that 150 legal scholars including a co-founder of the Federalist Society as well as one of Ronald Reagans solicitor generalsdispute it, or that the argument is stunningly weak as a matter of constitutional text and history, or that the two sides here are not in fact really two sides at all. Its clear that whereas in recent weeks Senate Republicans were unified around the vague unity theory of the case against impeachment (meaning that, for the sake of unity, the former presidents actions must be forgiven and ignored), theyve now glommed onto what feels like a more plausible constitutional process rationale for leaving the pasteven if that past is only 3 weeks oldfirmly buried in the past. Advertisement The process argument has a certain allure; it allows Rand Paul and Ron Johnson to sound like they are adhering to high constitutional principle while releasing them from the crushing burden of justifying the former presidents actual actions around Jan. 6. And none of this lofty talk of Article II, Section 4, even takes into account the actions of the 147 other Republicans who voted that day to overturn the election results based on sham claims of a stolen election. As Adam Serwer observes, the fact that some Senate Republicans themselves will be on trial in a sense during this second impeachment should weigh heavily on them. But it will not. And as my colleague Jim Newell predicted, Senate Republicans will process-argue their way out of dealing with what happened earlier this month because they have discovered that they can. Advertisement Advertisement And so Senate Republicans seem to have settled upon a strategy of blanketing a numb and exhausted populace with process arguments about all the ways their hands are tied when it comes to the actions of an ex-president, while still complaining that the other side of the aisle is lawless. Sure, what the former president did was problematic, the fractionally more honest Republicans will say, but impeachment is not the correct vehicle to remedy that. If this all sounds familiar, recall that, only a year earlier, the bulk of Donald Trumps defenders in the Senate chose not to deal with the reality of his phone call to Ukraine that sought to have that country begin investigating the son of his election opponent. Instead, GOP members confined their arguments to claim that impeachment was inappropriate for a sitting president. That first impeachment effort was an extra-constitutional effort to either overturn the prior election or an effort to try to steal the next one. These were some of the main arguments that allowed every GOP senator aside from Mitt Romney to say that the law itself forced their hands. Advertisement A year ago, Sen. Joni Ernst explained her vote to acquit the former president as part of her constitutional obligation to ensure that the American peopleand not she, a sitting senator elected by those peoplewould decide the impeachment question: Given the constitutional requirements, voting any other way on these articles would remove the ability of the American people to make their own decision at the ballot box in November. Impeaching a sitting president foreclosed the constitutional right of the voters to remove a sitting president by voting against him, apparently. But Ernst argues this week that while Trump bears some responsibility for the Capitol riot, an impeachment at this point is unconstitutional and if the president is truly guilty of something else we have remedies through the courts for that. Advertisement Advertisement Then-Sen. Lamar Alexander made exactly this argument at the first impeachment trial: It was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation. When elected officials inappropriately interfere with such investigations, it undermines the principle of equal justice under the law. But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this years ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate. The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday. Advertisement For much of the GOP, last year was too soon for the Senate to act constitutionally. This year it is now too late. The let the voters decide contingent in 2020 included Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Rob Portman. These same senators are today arguing that they once again cannot do their jobs to check power in the executive branch of the government. Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. During the last impeachment, multiple Senate Republicans used a slightly different version of this faux-constitutional argument to object to the proceedings: They said the Senate trial was simply a shabby, extra-legal effort because it aimed to overturn the will of the people from the 2016 election, as opposed to the 2020 election. Consider, for instance, Sen. Josh Hawley. Around this time last year Hawley, on Fox News, accused Democrats of purporting to protect democracy by overturning elections. (For what little its worth, Hawley was one of the Senate Republicans who, purporting to protect democracy on Jan. 6, voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election for no reason other than that his preferred candidate lost.) A year later Hawley now says of an impeachment trial: I think that this impeachment effort is, I mean, I think its blatantly unconstitutional. Its a really, really, really dangerous precedent. Advertisement Similarly, Ted Cruz, back in January 2020, pronounced that to use impeachment, like the House Democrats are doing, to express their political disagreement with the president, to try to overturn an election theyre unhappy with, that is an abuse of the Constitution. (Cruz, like Hawley, voted on Jan. 6 after the riot to overturn an election he was unhappy with.) He now admits that the constitutional matter of impeaching a former president is a close question, then pivots to say that he opposes impeachment for Trump because President Trump has already left office, we have a new administration. I think this impeachment trial is petty, it is vindictive, and I think its time to move on. So. To review. In 2020 it was an abuse of the Constitution to use impeachment to overturn an election, but in 2021 its petty and vindictive to use impeachment to punish a president who sought to overturn an election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boldest Trump apologists combined both arguments about prior and future elections into a big faux-constitutional fondue. Here was White House counsel Pat Cipollone in his closing arguments in the first impeachment trial: We put our faith in the Senate because we know that you will put your faith in the American people. You will leave this choice to them where it belongs. Cipollone echoed Cruz and Hawley, adding that at the end of the day, this is an effort to overturn the results of one election and to try to interfere in the coming election that begins today in Iowa. There is only one answer to that, and the answer is to reject those articles of impeachment. To have confidence in the American people, and to have confidence in the result of the upcoming election, and to have confidence and respect for the last election and not throw it out and to leave the choice of the president to the American people. Advertisement Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow made this same observation in his own arguments: Elections have consequences. We all know that. And if you do not like the policies of a particular administration or a particular candidate, you are free and welcome to vote for another candidate. But the answer is elections, not impeachment. The constitutional shell game here is a simple one: If the president is still in office, impeachment is an inappropriate remedy because its either an effort to subvert the past election or manipulate the upcoming one. For a sitting president, the argument goes, it will always be urgently important to let the people decide. Once the president is out of office? Impeachment is an inappropriate remedy because he is no longer sitting; indeed, even the effort to prevent the president from seeking future office is now characterized as anti-democratic apparently, no matter what he may have done to subvert democracy himself. Asked about a vote to bar the president from running in the future, Ron Johnson said this week, Let the voters decide whether they want President Trump to run again. Theres nothing I see in the Constitution that allows you to impeach a president after hes already left office. Let the voters decide is the get-out-of-jail-free card, by which other officials also elected by the voters declare themselves impotent about past, present, and future misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Law professors largely agree that the central problem with the argument that a former president cannot be impeached is that it would allow her to resign three minutes prior to an impeachment trial, having committed impeachable offenses throughout her time in office. But the political objection is simpler: If Republicans now contend that you cannot impeach a sitting president, and you also cannot impeach a former president, and you cannot even prevent an impeachable president from running again in the future without running afoul of the will of the people, impeachment is a dead letter, a relic, and completely useless. Unless of course, theyre already trying to impeach Joe Biden. In which case the Constitution stands firmly on their side. Beijing will issue shopping coupons for residents who answer the government's call to stay put in the city during the Spring Festival, the city government said on Wednesday. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, usually sees hundreds of millions of Chinese head to their hometowns to unite with families. But this year, with a COVID-19 case rebound, the Chinese capital has asked residents in certain areas not to leave the city and others to avoid unnecessary outbound travels. The Beijing municipal government has rolled out measures to ensure those who stay in the city enjoy the festival, city government spokesperson Xu Hejian said at a press conference Wednesday. The city's supermarkets, major commercial complexes, vegetable markets, and courier stations will operate normally during the festival. Museums, theaters, and parks will open "in an orderly manner" with reservation requirements and flow limits in place, Xu said. Apart from vouchers, whose values were not specified, mobile phone users in Beijing are eligible for receiving 20G free data packages for use in the city during the festival, the official said. The Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12 this year. Beijing reported four new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic infection on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said. It added that all of the confirmed cases occurred in a residential community in Daxing District, where a number of cases had emerged lately. Charlotte Hanna was sitting through a Zoom meeting when she saw an email pop up from the office of Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz with surprising news: the city had decided it would not collect a 3% community impact fee associated with her cannabis business. It was welcome news for Hanna, the CEO and founder of Community Growth Partners, which is currently building out a cultivation facility in Northampton. Hanna is also the owner of Rebelle, a dispensary in Great Barrington. Narkewicz told MassLive that because Northampton has had ample experience with marijuana businesses, he has decided to not collect a community impact fee unless a specific impact comes up related to a specific cannabis business. It appears that Northampton may be the first Massachusetts community to waive a community impact fee. I feel like now were in a position where we understand how this industry operates, and it operates like any other business in the community and we havent seen the kinds of impacts that I know opponents of legalization were concerned about and wanted these kinds of safeguards in the law, so I feel like making this switch now to this different mode of how we would manage potential impacts makes sense at this time, Narkewicz told MassLive. Northampton is home to NETA, one of the first two recreational cannabis stores to open in Massachusetts in November 2018, and in 2015, NETA opened in the city as the states second medical marijuana dispensary. To open a cannabis business in a Massachusetts town or city, the company must negotiate a host community agreement, which allows for that town or city to collect a community impact fee of up to 3% of the gross annual sales. Communities can only collect such impact fees in the first 5 years of the cannabis business operation. Narkewicz sent amended HCA agreements to its cannabis businesses earlier this month. Northampton has 23 total HCAs with 17 different companies, as some companies have multiple operations, like medical and retail, Narkewicz said. Hanna said she was delighted to hear the news, which came out earlier this month. I was just shocked, Hanna said. We are operating in a few different municipalities so were paying the tax multiple times. In Fiscal 2021, Northampton has collected $564,315 in community impact fees. Last fiscal year, that amount was $1,816,095. Dollars from community impact fees have not been used to fund the citys operating budget, Narkewicz said. Previously, the fee has been used for projects near NETA, like paving, street repairs, adding sidewalks, crosswalk improvements and on-street parking. Those improvements were directly related to increased traffic and parking demands related to NETA, the mayor said. Massachusetts communities can also take in 3% of gross sales in a local tax option, which Northampton will continue to collect, Narkewicz said. In addition to the 3% local tax, taxes assessed on cannabis businesses in the state include a 6.25% sales tax and 10.75% excise tax. Were such a taxed industry in the state and then also, of course, when you take into consideration the IRS tax code 280E, our effective tax rate on an income tax basis is 50%, Hanna said. We cant deduct anything after our gross profit. Its tough to operate as a small business. Its tough to operate in this market and make money when you cant actually deduct anything. Hanna said she thinks Narkewiczs decision shows an enlightened point of view toward the cannabis industry and that she hopes other towns and cities will follow suit. Northampton has been a very business-friendly community, thats one of the reasons Im there, she said. I hope that other municipalities see that by being friendlier to the business that in the long run, its going to be better for the community because more businesses will want to locate in those towns. Narkewicz said he made the decision because it was the best option for Northampton. Its also a decision that could benefit equity in the industry, as capital remains an obstacle for people who have been affected by cannabis prohibition and arrests. I really view this as another barrier that were lowering because it does ultimately lower the cost for all operators and so I think its the right move for Northampton. I cant really speak for other cities and towns, Narkewicz said. Community Growth Partners is currently building out its 28,000-square-foot cultivation and manufacturing facility at a Northampton mill building and hopes it will be open in the fall. Because construction is ongoing, Community Growth Partners has not had to pay the community impact fee yet in Northampton. I hope these savings will all be passed on to the consumer, Hanna said. Hanna said that from her experience in Great Barrington, shes noticed there are a lot of people who will travel a large distance to buy products in the legal market that have gone through rigorous testing. However, cannabis flower remains expensive in Massachusetts, which leads some buyers to stay with the traditional market. Ultimately, I hope that prices become more favorable for consumers to bring more people into the legal market, she said. Related Content: Campus Outbreak and Response During August 315, a total of 56 persons received positive SARS-CoV-2 test results (an average of 4.3 per day, representing 11.7% of all tests performed); 90% of cases were identified through testing of symptomatic persons, with the remainder identified through screening tests of student athletes. During August 1622, the university experienced an outbreak (Figure 1), with 371 confirmed cases (an average of 26.5 cases per day, representing 15.3% of all tests performed), 355 (96%) of which were in undergraduate students and 13 (3%) in graduate students; 62% of affected undergraduate students lived off campus. One faculty member and two staff members received positive test results. Contact tracing identified several large, off-campus parties where campus masking and physical distancing guidelines were not followed as common sources of exposure for approximately two thirds of cases among undergraduate students. On August 19, the university implemented a switch to online instruction for all undergraduate classes for a minimum of 2 weeks; graduate and professional classes continued in person. Several temporary campus restrictions were instituted as well, including restricting undergraduate students who lived off campus from the campus (except to access campus health services) and requiring on-campus students to minimize nonessential activities and to remain on campus at all times for at least 2 weeks. Residence halls were restricted to persons who lived or worked in them, student organizations were required to meet remotely, and indoor recreational facilities were temporarily closed. Students were required to eat outside, maintaining 6 feet of distance from others, or in their residence hall rooms, and gatherings were limited to 10 persons (both on campus and off campus, although this was difficult to enforce off campus), with mandatory masking and physical distancing. In addition, masks were mandated at all times in all spaces, except in a persons assigned residence hall room or private office. During the 2-week period of online instruction, the university focused on facilitating access to testing; expanding contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine operations; and implementing screening tests for asymptomatic persons, as well as enhancing the data systems to support these measures. Before the outbreak, modifications to the daily health check platform could be made only by the software provider on a set schedule, limiting the ability of the university to respond to changing circumstances. Improvements to this platform facilitated data retrieval, allowing a more detailed view of symptom prevalence and the ability to automate test orders when necessary. To reduce barriers to testing, the university increased the test site hours and capacity. Orders for diagnostic testing were automated in response to the presence of primary COVID-19 symptoms (temperature >100.4F [38C], new onset of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or new loss of sense of taste or smell). Persistent secondary COVID-19 symptoms (minor symptoms, such as headache or rhinorrhea, lasting 2 days) or reported close contact with a person with COVID-19 also automatically generated test orders, eliminating the need for clinicians to triage and authorize testing. Rapid antigen tests were used as the front-line diagnostic test because they facilitated rapid isolation and quarantine. Persons with negative antigen test results who were symptomatic or determined to be close contacts received a follow-up RT-PCR test, with results typically available within 36 hours. The university enhanced contact tracing efforts and redefined workflows to facilitate timely identification and quarantine of close contacts of persons with confirmed COVID-19. During the 2-week outbreak, the contact tracing team expanded from nine full-time staff members to 11 full-time and 13 part-time workers. A new Daily Care and Concern Team was established to ensure that students in isolation and quarantine received meals and other needed resources; this team, consisting of 12 reassigned university staff members and 60 volunteers, also telephoned everyone in isolation and quarantine daily to monitor for worsening symptoms. The university initially reserved 250 beds for isolation and quarantine purposes, increasing to 1,007 beds during the surge of cases, through use of apartments and hotels on or adjacent to campus. During August 1629, a total of 1,250 students were placed in isolation and quarantine; students with access to adequate facilities (i.e., allowed them to sleep separately from others and had access to a private bathroom) were permitted to isolate or quarantine off campus. In addition to the 371 cases identified during the first week of the outbreak, another 160 were identified during the second week of the outbreak. Slightly more than one half (52%) of the newly positive test results were in persons who were already in quarantine. Among 802 persons in quarantine during this 2-week period, 83 (10.3%) ultimately received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. In the week after the return to in-person instruction, an average of four cases per day were identified. An enhanced communications campaign was created to underscore the importance of adhering to campus public health protocols. The campaign included e-mails from university administrators and campus leaders, video messages, and virtual town hall meetings. The proportion of e-mails sent to the student e-mail distribution list that were viewed (a measure of the reach of these education efforts) was 84.1%. ALLENDALE, MI A Grand Valley State University student who was found dead on campus in December died of hypothermia. An Ottawa County medical examiner determined that Taylor DeRosa, 18, died of hypothermia with alcohol a contributing factor, a GVSU spokeswoman said Thursday, Jan. 28. The death has been ruled accidental. In a message to students, GVSU President Philomena Mantella wrote: Taylors death is a terrible tragedy for her family and all those close to her. We know her fellow students, as well as our faculty staff, have been affected. We are a caring community and our hearts go out to all who knew and loved Taylor. Investigators had been waiting for toxicology tests to be completed before the cause of DeRosas death would be determined. A runner found the victims body Dec. 12 near the intramural fields on the Allendale campus. Students held a vigil at Cook Carillon Township in her memory. Read more: Police awaiting toxicology report on GVSU student found dead Gov. Whitmer touts job creation at local vaccine-maker Pfizer during annual address Senate leader praises Whitmer for not wearing a mask, looking delightful in State of the State speech Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Asheville powers up its data analytics office Asheville, N.C., is powering up its Office of Data and Performance, a new initiative to increase transparency and provide data-driven accountability. The city established the office in December to support a results-based, data-driven approach to city programs and to deliver clear communication about program goals, processes and performance. The office will be organized as a cross-departmental team, consisting of staff working in budgeting, community engagement, equity, GIS and law enforcement. The initiative will be managed by the IT Services Department and staffed by three IT open data employees. The offices initial goals are to help understand the impacts of city services and projects, establish baselines and benchmarks for improvement and to monitor performance and identify issues and respond proactively. The effort has been 10 years in the making, Office of Data and Performance Manager Eric Jackson said on a Jan. 21 Q&A session on YouTube. We started out thinking primarily about the data itself, how do we get that data, how do we manage it, how do we put it out there for people to access, he said. Over time, though, Jacksons team started thinking more about how the city and the community could use the data. Before long, they concluded that disciplined performance management is really critical for our communication -- getting us on the same page about what the goals are and how we're going to tell whether we're making progress through those goals. The office wont be delivering quick data-based solutions to problems, Jackson said. This isn't a data service, it's not an analytics service. Our role in the city is really to help everybody on staff change how they do what they do, he said. This distinction becomes clear when thinking about law enforcement. When you define public safety solely in terms of metrics that are related to enforcement, a couple of things become true, Jackson said. One, you put the burden on the police to solve the problems, [when] in many cases the police are not the right tool to address those problems, he said. The second outcome is that just looking at enforcement data blinds you to some of the alternative strategies that might be there, he said. Data and analytics projects have been bubbling up across the city. In September, Ashevilles Equity and Inclusion Department launched and equity dashboard to both give background and story behind what's going on, giving users a way to dig into the numbers. The Police Department recently released a transparency dashboard. The new Office of Data and Performance will build on Ashevilles previous data efforts, including its GIS initiative, city dashboards, the SimpliCity application and the Open Data Portal. The Police Department recently released a transparency dashboard. Eventually, Jackson wants to get to a point where city departments have standard way of sharing their data across all initiatives so that city managers and the community can use it to foster a deeper understanding of complex problems. That's really critical, he said, because it's never just the data, right? (ANSA) - GENOA, JAN 28 - Italian police on Thursday arrested the suspected Italian pointman of a Colombian drug cartel. The 59-year-old drug trafficker from Sarzana near La Spezia in Liguria was arrested in Quito, the Ecuadoran capital, by finance police from Genoa. The man, Antonio Dalcielo, is facing a 10-year jail sentence in Italy. He is set to be extradited, finance police sources said. Dalcielo has a history of offences regarding the South America-Europe cocaine trade. That traffic is controlled by Italy's richest and most powerful mafia, the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta. (ANSA). " " - - " " : - " " "" . "" "" " ". A former church warden serving a life sentence for the murder of a university lecturer following a campaign of physical and mental torture today challenged his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Benjamin Field, 30, killed Peter Farquhar, 69, in order to inherit his house and money after driving him to think he was losing his mind following a period of gaslighting. Field, from Olney in Buckinghamshire, was ordered to serve at least 36 years behind bars in October 2019 after being found guilty of Mr Farquhar's murder following a trial at Oxford Crown Court. At a Court of Appeal hearing in London today, Field's barrister David Jeremy QC argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, misdirected the jury and that the murder conviction is 'unsafe' as a result. Mr Jeremy told the court the directions given to the jury before it started its deliberations left the defence with 'nothing to say' when in fact there was 'much that could be said on Field's behalf on the issue of causation'. Benjamin Field (pictured), 30, killed Peter Farquhar, 69, in order to inherit his house and money after driving him to think he was losing his mind following a period of gaslighting He said full directions would have explained to jurors the fact that the prosecution 'could not prove causation' because there was 'no evidence that Mr Farquhar had been forced or tricked' into consuming alcohol and a tranquiliser drug. Oliver Saxby QC, who represented the Crown Prosecution Service, contended that the jury's verdict on the count of murder is safe. He said that the drugs, alcohol and 'smothering' were all part of a plan concocted by Field. The prosecution case at trial was that Field secretly gave Mr Farquhar drugs and spiked his whisky, hoping that his eventual death at his hands would look like suicide or an accident. It was only when the Baptist minister's son began targeting Mr Farquhar's neighbour, Ann Moore-Martin, in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, that his wicked scheme began to unravel. The sexually promiscuous Field also manipulated Miss Moore-Martin, a retired headteacher, by writing messages on her mirrors purporting to be from God. He admitted fraudulently being in relationships with the pensioners as part of his plan to get them to change their wills. Mr Farquhar, who was torn about his sexuality because of his religion, died in October 2015 while Miss Moore-Martin died in May 2017 from natural causes. Field underwent a 'betrothal' ceremony with gay Mr Farquhar while also having a string of girlfriends and was in a sexual relationship with Miss Moore-Martin, who was 57 years his senior. Ms Moore-Martin gave him 4,000 to buy a car and 27,000 for a dialysis machine. Field, from Olney in Buckinghamshire, was ordered to serve at least 36 years behind bars in October 2019 after being found guilty of Peter Farquhar's murder following a trial at Oxford Crown Court. Pictured: Field and Mr Farquhar at their betrothal ceremony Lord Justice Fulford, who heard the appeal with two other judges, said they will give their ruling at a later date. Pictured: Mr Farquhar Field admitted two counts of burglary and three of fraud before his trial for murder. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder Miss Moore-Martin and an alternative charge of attempted murder. He was also found not guilty of possession of an article for use in fraud. Two psychiatrists said Field was either suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder or a psychopathic personality disorder. Sentencing Field, Mr Justice Sweeney said he 'lived by deception and deceit and had been a well-practised and able liar'. 'You further admitted how you could manipulate and manoeuvre people, however sceptical they may have been, to achieve your ends without ever asking them to do so directly,' he said. 'You were, you accepted, a snake talker, as you were able to build pressure on your victims to believe what you needed them to believe and then to do whatever you needed them to do. 'The evidence at trial clearly demonstrated grandiosity, a sense of superiority towards others, the exploitation of others to achieve personal gain, the need to belittle and humiliate others, fixation on fantasies of power and success, intelligence, a need for admiration from others, and a sense of entitlement together with an unwillingness to empathise with the feelings, needs and wishes of others.' The judge said that Field murdered Mr Farquhar by covertly giving him drugs and getting him to drink strong whisky and then, 'if it was necessary, finished him off by suffocating him in a way that left no trace'. Lord Justice Fulford, who heard the appeal with two other judges, said they will give their ruling at a later date. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the state will reopen its border to Greater Sydney on Monday, February 1. The decision to reopen Queenslands border came down to the wire and was finalised in an early morning phone call between Ms Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young on Thursday. Queenslands border will open to all of NSW from Monday. The decision means travellers from Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains regions no longer need to quarantine upon arrival in Queensland. Up until Wednesday night, NSW contact tracers were still racing to link six mystery infections before Queenslands border restrictions were reviewed. Preliminary data show UC received a total of 249,855 applications, a 16.1 percent leap from the past year, from students who applied to at least one campus: 203,700 from freshman applicants and 46,155 from aspiring transfer students. The University of California announced today (Jan. 28) that the system received for fall 2021 admission the highest number of undergraduate applications in its history, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Highlights among California freshmen include a jump in overall applications and surges among African American and Chicano/Latino students, while California Community College transfer applications also grew by an impressive margin. Preliminary data show UC received a total of 249,855 applications, a 16.1 percent leap from the past year, from students who applied to at least one campus: 203,700 from freshman applicants and 46,155 from aspiring transfer students. Our record number of applications is a testament to the resilience of students and their families as well as their undeterred focus on higher education, said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. Californians continue to see us as the pathway for a better future. In a nod to successful in-state outreach efforts by its campuses, UC saw a substantial one-year increase among California freshman applicants of 14,789 applications or 13 percent. In total, applications for freshman admission from both in-state and non-residents shot up by 31,601, or 18.4 percent. I am heartened and inspired by so many hardworking students who want to attend the University of California, said UC Board of Regents Chair John A. Perez. The diverse backgrounds, many strengths and impressive talents of those who enroll will undoubtedly enrich the UC community. The proportion of applications from underrepresented students for freshman admission remained steady at 45.1 percent this year, inching up from 45 percent last year. Campuses saw significant growth of freshman applications from African American students, with an increase of 1,505 applications or 21.8 percent, as well as Chicano/Latino students, with a jump of 5,250 or 12.2 percent. Overall, Chicano/Latino applicants make up the largest proportions of prospective in-state students: 37.8 percent of freshman applicants and 33 percent of California Community College transfers. Applications from California Community College students also rose by 2,474, or 7.5 percent, over the number of applicants from the past year. Within this group, applicants from underrepresented communities kept the same pace, making up 40 percent of the applicant pool, virtually no change from 40.1 percent in 2020. Resulting from partnership with CCC, these impressive numbers demonstrate the Universitys continued advancement toward a student body that mirrors the rich diversity of California, said Provost Michael Brown. UCs world-class education will give them the tools they need to achieve their highest dreams, in education and beyond. UC currently educates 226,449 undergraduates. Of this enrolled student population, 40 percent are first-generation, one-third receive federal Pell Grants, and California residents comprise 80 percent of undergraduates. Additional details about applicants applying to the university can be found here, along with preliminary campus-by-campus breakdowns. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. New Delhi: India will soon make available many more Covid vaccines to other countries after two Made-In-India jabs have already been introduced to the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while emphasising the countrys global responsibility in fighting the pandemic. In a special address at the World Economic Forums online Davos Agenda Summit, Modi also said he wants to assure the global business community that situation will now change rapidly on the economic front also and invited businesses from all over to participate in Indias growth journey. Modi said that some had said in February-March 2020 that India would be the worst affected country by Covid and would face a tsunami of corona infections. Some had talked about 70-80 crore people expected to get infected in India, while some talked about over 20 lakh possible deaths but India did not let the disappointment get better of it, he said. Modi said, We transformed the fight against coronavirus into a peoples movement and today India is among the most successful countries in saving lives. We focussed on developing Covid-specific health infrastructure, we trained our human resources to fight against this pandemic and we made full use of tech for testing and tracking, he said. Modi said India has started the worlds largest coronavirus vaccination programme and its speed can be imagined from the fact that over 23 lakh health workers have been vaccinated in just 12 days. Meanwhile, the external affairs ministry said India will supply 1 crore doses of the Covid vaccine to African nations. New Delhi is supplying the vaccine both on commercial basis and as "gifts" (free of cost) to foreign nations. India is also supplying the vaccine to a few nations on a commercial basis that includes Canada. India will also supply 10 lakh doses of the vaccine to UN health workers. MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, From January 20, we gifted over 55 lakh doses to our neighbours and in our extended neighbourhood Bhutan (1.5 lakh), Maldives (1 lakh), Nepal (10 lakh), Bangl-adesh (20 lakh), Myanmar (15 lakh), Mauritius (1 lakh), Seychelles (50,000), Sri Lanka (5 lakh) and Bahrain (1 lakh). These supplies are based on requests from these countries. In the week since the inauguration of Joe Biden as president of the United States, Jacobin magazine, associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has produced dozens of articles pleading with the incoming Biden administration to do the right thing. One such article, emblematic of the broader political perspective of Jacobin and its co-thinkers in the DSA, is headlined Theres Really No Need to Compromise, Joe and written by David Sirota. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden peeks out of the roof of an SUV as he leaves a fundraiser on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The article argues that the Biden administration is capable of making a psychological shift to the left, with enough pressure from below. Sirota pleads with youth and workers to not lose hope in the Democrats, despite their ever-further shift to the right. Sirota begins his article by noting that just four weeks after Biden promised voters in Georgia $2,000 stimulus checks if they secured the Democratic Party control of the Senate, his administration is already walking back the deal in Congress. He also notes that the Democrats have indicated they are open to negotiating eligibility requirements for the stimulus checks and suggested that it could take at least until March to even pass the legislation. Sirota makes no mention of the state of the pandemic, which continues to rage unabated throughout the country, or the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, which Jacobin and the DSA have systematically downplayed and covered up over the last three weeks. He goes on to recount the experience of 2009, the last time that the Democrats controlled all three branches of government: Youll recall that back then, Barack Obama and Biden got themselves elected in the middle of an economic crisis after promising to pass a public health insurance option. By 2010, the Obama administration killed the plan, and as Sirota writes: Senate Democrats refused to even bring it up for a floor vote when they had the chance. He continues: The public option fight should be a harrowing cautionary tale for Biden. [Biden] of all people should know that this story never ends well. Sirota concludes by asking, The question is: Can he and Democrats learn from the past? As they promote the fiction that the Democratic Party can be pushed to the left, one might be tempted to reply, Can Sirota and Jacobin learn from the past? However, in the case of both Sirota and Biden, it is not a question of insufficient mental capacity, however lacking they may be in this regard, but class interests. Sirota is longtime Democratic Party operative and former speechwriter for Bernie Sanders. In the early 2000s, he worked in the political department of the right-wing Zionist American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He presents the Democratic Party and its political operatives as if they are naive and cowardly figures who wish to do the right thing, if only they had the brains and courage. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Democratic Party is a party of Wall Street and the military, and the entire policy of the Biden administration is determined and constrained by what is acceptable to the financial oligarchy. Now that the Democrats control Congress, their first order of business has been to move to the right. Biden and the Democrats have made clear that even as the Republicans have incited fascistic violence, their call is for unity within the state apparatus as it confronts growing opposition from below. This was the entire content of Bidens inauguration address on January 20. Consider the current situation in the US: The health care system is on the brink of collapse, hospitals are closing, millions of people are unemployed, and millions more are food-insecure. The death toll from the pandemic is nearing half a million people. Bidens plan for the coronavirus consists of a limited mask mandate and promises of more-rapid vaccine distribution. His advisors have already acknowledged that it will still be months before most people can get a shot, even if they meet their goals. They have ruled out shutting down nonessential production to get the spread of the virus under control and have declared that all K-8 schools will be reopened within three months. At every point, the position of Jacobin has been determined by the interests of the Democratic Party. Their political function is to block an independent political movement of the working class. During the pre-election and post-election crisis, it sought to cover-up the extreme danger to democratic rights posed by Trumps efforts to overturn the Constitution, culminating in the January 6 coup attempt. In one article, The Washington Riot Was a Defeat for the Far Right, Not a Triumph, the authors go to great lengths to praise the quick repudiation of the coup by the political and economic elite, insisting that this demonstrates the enduring strength of American democracy. This corresponded to the Democrats own efforts to prevent opposition to Trumps actions from creating a social explosion. In the immediate aftermath of Bidens inauguration, Jacobin promoted the fiction that the incoming administration was implementing a fundamental change in policy. It published an article on January 21, the day after the inauguration, proclaiming that Bidens initial measures marked a more decisive departure from bipartisan Reaganomics than we might have expected. (If Biden Moves Left, You Can Thank the Left). After this political fiction was rapidly exposed, Sirota is jumping in to insist that it is necessary to keep hope alive. Sirota ends his article by insisting: The good news is that theres still time to reverse this trajectory, so now is not the time to give up hope and stop pushing. The Democratic Party is a bourgeois party, operating in the center of world capitalism. It is the party of the southern slave owners before the Civil War, of Jim Crow segregation and of the anti-Chinese and anti-Japanese restrictions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is the party that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the conclusion of World War II. More recently, under the Obama administration, the Democrats oversaw the largest transfer of wealth in modern history from the poor to the rich, record levels of deportations and institutionalization of drone murder. The policies and positions of the Democratic Party are dictated by the sections of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus that they represent. As for Jacobin and the DSA, they function as political auxiliaries of the Democratic Party, speaking for privileged sections of the middle class hostile to the development of an independent movement of the working class. The critical lesson of the last 200 years of the Democratic Party, including the recent experience in 2009, is that not a single step forward can be taken in the struggle to defend jobs, living standards, and democratic rights, and to defeat the rise of the far right without establishing the political independence of the working class from the Democratic and Republican parties. Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day. 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. An actor who appeared in crime drama Luther alongside Idris Elba killed himself while being out of work during lockdown, an inquest has heard. Luke Westlake had messaged his ex-girlfriend threatening to take his own life the night before he was found hanged, a coroner heard on Thursday. After graduating from one of the UK's top drama schools, the 26-year-old went on to appear in Luther and snagged roles in other BBC dramas No Offence and Doctors. But the inquest heard that the Westlake was stressed about the loss of work resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and suffering following the breakdown of a long distance relationship. Westlake, who lived in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, tried to take his own life in late April and again in June, the assistant coroner heard. Just over a week after the June attempt, Westlake messaged his ex-girlfriend Hannah Llewelyn threatening to kill himself - something that was 'not uncommon', the coroner heard. However, the young actor was found dead the next morning on June 18. An actor who appeared in crime drama Luther alongside Idris Elba killed himself while being out of work during lockdown, an inquest has heard. Luke Westlake had messaged his ex-girlfriend threatening to take his own life the night before he was found hanged, a coroner heard on Thursday The cause of death was concluded as hanging following a post mortem examination, and a toxicologist discovered a substantial amount of THC in Westlake's body, indicating heavy cannabis use. The inquest at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was told that in the months before his death, Westlake had been desperately seeking therapy for childhood abuse and was left frustrated after being denied it as specialists first wanted to deal with his drug and alcohol issues. 'If someone is using, it will be very problematic for them to have that treatment. You should try to deal with the drug and alcohol problem and stabilise it for a reasonable amount of time,' Dr John Pimm, a clinical lead for Oxford Health NHS foundation, said via video link. 'The key issue is that in trauma therapy, you will delve into very distressing things from someone's past - in order to do that they need to be in a really good place. 'If you have not done the pre-work it is very risky, it is like going into surgery without the pre work.' After graduating from one of the UK's top drama schools, the 26-year-old went on to appear in Luther (pictured) and snagged roles in other BBC dramas No Offence and Doctors. But the inquest heard that the Westlake was stressed about the loss of work resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and suffering following the breakdown of a long distance relationship Westlake appeared in the first episode of Luther season 5, which aired on the BBC in 2019, two years after he graduated from drama school Assistant Coroner Michael Walsh, sitting in front of parents Bridgette and Lee Westlake, concluded the inquest with a verdict of suicide. He said: 'Like was aged 26 years at the time of his death. He has a history of anxiety and depression and substantial misuse by way of alcohol and cannabis, used as a coping mechanism. 'He had reported childhood abuse and did not agree with plans of clinicians to deal with substance abuse before he had some treatment for trauma when he was younger. 'Luke found it difficult to deal with stressful triggers - his relationship and his employment. It was noted that it was not uncommon for him to threaten to harm himself - such an occasion occurred on June 17. 'Unfortunately, he was found the next day with a ligature around his neck at 8.46am. He had threatened to take his life and had taken cannabis shortly before he died.' Westlake graduated in 2017 from ArtsEd drama school, whose alumni include the musician Yungblood. He had early successes playing the recurring role of Adam Miller in ITV's Dark Heart as well as Dean Wayne in the third series of No Offence. A spokesman for the esteemed drama school said on Twitter: 'Today we pay tribute to Luke Westlake, BA acting 2017 graduate. A passionate individual, creative soul and brilliant actor, we are immensely saddened to hear of his passing.' The BWH Agency, which represented Westlake said it was 'with extreme sadness we honour our beautiful client Luke Westlake'. The inquest at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was told that in the months before his death, Westlake had been desperately seeking therapy for childhood abuse and was left frustrated after being denied it as specialists first wanted to deal with his drug and alcohol issues 'Luke was an exceptionally brilliant, instinctive and truly transformative actor whose passing is nothing short of a tragedy.' Drama school classmates have set up the The Luke Westlake Scholarship, rewarding a student with more than 3,000 worth of artistic and financial support for their final year of training and first years in the industry. 'The scholarship was established when we realised many actors were being priced out of their career once they left training,' they said. 'This year, we have renamed the scholarship in memory of Luke Westlake, a friend and a talented actor. A diligent, fierce, working-class actor, he represents everything the scholarship stands for.' A JustGiving page set up in his memory has raised almost 4,000 to go to mental health services for those in the performing arts. 'Luke had a passion for acting from a very young age and pursued this as his career path,' the page read. 'He had so much talent and so much more to give and it is devastating to us all that sadly he shortened his life. 'Those of you who knew Luke well will know he battled with his emotions and we wish to raise awareness of mental health issues within acting and the performing arts and to bring to the forefront of people's minds how deeply troubled young minds can be.' If you have been affected by the issues in this story, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. One of New Jerseys most beloved delis is coming to Montclair. Millburn Deli, known for its massive Sloppy Joes along with other delectable sandwiches and dishes, has signed a lease for its third location, owner Andrew Morgan told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. Morgan hopes the Montclair outpost will be open by July. The deli, which serves what we believe to be the second-greatest sandwich in New Jersey, had long looked to expand past its titular town. After opening a location in Morristown last summer to great fanfare, they turned their attention to a third deli, first considering Ridgewood before deciding to go with Montclair. My business partner was in Montclair for something, Morgan said. He saw the building and hes like, Why have we not been looking at Montclair? Montclair has everything that we look for. Its a walkable downtown, its right near a train station, right near a college. Theres a high school down the road. Why did we not think of Montclair like six months ago? The new deli will be at 256 Park Street, just down the block from the former location of also-revered Watchung Deli, which closed in late 2020 after nearly 100 years of business, citing COVID-19 struggles. The Watchung Delis owners reached out to the Millburn Deli about selling them the building, but the timing didnt work out. Montclair just felt meant to be. It was just easy, we did terms really easily, the footprint works, Morgan said. I have high hopes. While the Morristown location that opened over the summer is tiny, fitting about five customers in at a time, the Montclair deli will be closer in size to the flagship Millburn location a larger space with four to six people making sandwiches at a time. Just like the other Morristown eatery, Montclair will tout the Millburn Deli name despite it being a geographical misnomer. Morgan has great respect for Watchung Deli and is aware of the history there, but hopes Millburn can build its own legacy in the town. For me, I think thats kind of the most exciting part, Morgan said. Getting to getting the opportunity to introduce your food to folks who maybe have never even heard of you. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. A bodybuilder has been charged over the death of his ex-girlfriend on the Gold Coast 16 months ago. Ivona Jovanovic, 27, was shot in the chest at a Highland Park home on September 8, 2019 and died in hospital shortly afterwards. The Labrador woman was allegedly with four friends at the time, including ex-boyfriend Christos Panagakos, who allegedly lived at the address. Panagakos, 28, was arrested by detectives at Woodford Correctional Centre on Thursday following an extensive investigation into Ms Jovanovic's death. He was taken to Brisbane Watchhouse, where he charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Ivona Jovanovic died after she was shot in chest at a Gold Coast home in September 2019 He will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon. Panagakos, a bodybuilder with alleged links to the Mongols outlaw bikie gang, has been serving time at Woodford Prison on unrelated charges. Detective described Thursday's breakthrough in the case as extremely satisfying. 'Our subsequent investigation has led us to the point where we've charged that male person with manslaughter because we don't consider there was any intent there,' Gold Coast police Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'It's extremely satisfying for police and of course for the victim's family that this arrest has been made today. These types of investigations we'll never give up on. 'It's been a long period of time since this offence occurred.' Ivona's ex-boyfriend Christos Panagakos (pictured) as charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm Detectives have made a breakthrough in the investigation of Ivona Jovanovic's death. She's pictured getting ready for a night out Police alleged at the time the four friends Ms Jovanovic was with when she was shot fled the scene before emergency services arrived. 'I'm sure of one of them had been injured in that manner they would expect as much assistance as everyone there,' Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said at the time. 'Whilst they called the ambulance, there's a lot of first-aid that could have been rendered at the time that may or may not have made a difference we'll never know.' Panagakos was previously arrested on the night of her death but released without charge. Panagakos' arrest comes hours after Ms Jovanovic's grieving sister Annette wrote a cryptic Facebook post on Wednesday. 'Tomorrow is going to be a good day,' she wrote. Christos Panagakos (pictured) will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday Ivona Jovanovic (pictured) was getting ready for a night out when she was shot in the chest. She died in hospital a short time later Annette opened up about the anguish of not knowing what happened to her older sister seven months ago. Why every time when I attempt to go to bed my mind begins to race and I'm wide awake still trying to figure out what happened to my sister,' she posted on Facebook in June. 'What makes it so much harder is knowing there are 4 people who know the truth and exactly what happened but yet they can't speak up and give my family any closure. 'Ivona's life was taken and her families lives are being destroyed each day and each night.' Police urge anyone with more information about Ms Jovanovic's death to call Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A Russian doctor kept her cool as her home was searched by police at 3 a.m. -- playing Beethoven's Fuer Elise on her piano while officials looked on. The raid was one of what one commentator called "an epidemic of searches" of homes and offices of supporters of jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny ahead of nationwide anti-government protests on January 31. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Former Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar Lalu Prasad has been shifted to a private ward from the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) after his health improved on Thursday, doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here informed. "He is improving. The fluid retention in his lungs has reached a normal level. He is also not facing any difficulty in breathing," a senior doctor from the team assigned to look after Lalu's health told IANS. The former minister was kept in the CICU of the hospital under the supervision of Dr Rakesh Yadav, a noted cardiologist AIIMS. He has treated Lalu earlier as well. Dr Yadav had earlier said that the leader was gradually recovering from pneumonia infection which infected his lungs. He had developed Pulmonary Edema, which led to the pneumonia infection. Pulmonary Edema is a condition where excess fluids get collected in the lungs. 72-year-old RJD chief was admitted to AIIMS on Saturday. He was brought to Delhi by air ambulance through a chartered flight after his health condition deteriorated while undergoing treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) Hospital in Ranchi where he was admitted earlier. His wife Rabri Devi and sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav accompanied him to the hospital. An eight-member team of RIMS had referred him to AIIMS for the treatment. RIMS Director Dr Kameshwar Prasad had told IANS that Lalu was found to be infected with pneumonia and had trouble breathing. The former Union Minister has been in jail since December 2017 after being convicted for a fodder scam. He has served most of his jail sentence in Jharkhand at the RIMS hospital. European Commissioner in charge of Health, Stella Kyriakides, during an online press conference on AstraZeneca at European Commission headquarters in Brussels. Photo: Olivier Hoslet/Pool via AP The rate of Covid-19 vaccination in the UK is now nearly four times higher than in this country amid fears a shortage of supplies from Oxford AstraZeneca will slow down the roll-out to the over-70s here. It comes amid the bitter row between the European Commission and AstraZeneca and demands that 75 million jabs be diverted from the UK for member states. The EU is expected to receive only 31 million doses in the first quarter, around 60pc less than initially agreed, with knock-on shortages for this country. The latest Our World in Data league table for vaccinations shows the doses administered in the UK per 100 people stood at 10.79 on January 27, with 7.3 million vaccines given. Read More The Republic of Ireland is fourth in the table after the UK, Malta and Denmark. At that point, the number of doses given here per 100 people was 2.9. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said around 300,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine were now promised in February and March down from the expected 600,000. But he hoped that might yet improve. The plan is to start the roll-out of the vaccine which is due to be approved tomorrow by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the middle of next month in GP surgeries and vaccination centres, starting with the over-85s. But there are still questions about whether the EMA will authorise it for older age groups over concerns too few were involved in trials. Residents over 65 in nursing homes and other residential centres, as well as their staff and frontline health workers, will be given the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. But it could be the middle of March before all frontline healthcare workers get a second dose. AstraZeneca chief Pascal Soriot said his contract with the UK meant that doses coming from its factories would go to Britain first. He insisted the EU contract did not commit the company to a specific timetable for deliveries. The vaccines meant for the EU were produced in four plants in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. But Stella Kyriakides, the EUs health commissioner, said: We reject the logic of first come, first served. That may work at the neighbourhood butchers, but not in contracts. And not in our advance purchase agreements. There is no priority clause in the advance purchase agreement. And theres also no hierarchy of the four production plants named in the advance purchase agreement. Two are located in the EU and two are located in the UK. She warned: Let me be crystal clear: the 27 European union member states are united that AstraZeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreement. We are in a pandemic. We lose people every day. These are not numbers. They are not statistics. These are persons, with families, with friends and colleagues that are all affected as well. Pharmaceutical companies, vaccine developers, have moral, societal and contractual responsibilities, which they need to uphold. EU Commission officials claimed that under the contract, the company had also committed to providing vaccines from two factories in Britain. They claimed the drug company had not provided sufficient explanations as to why doses could not be shipped from stocks at factories that experienced no production problem, like those in Britain. AstraZeneca said the contract with the EU stated best effort to deliver on the vaccine doses. But the EU responded, saying best effort is a completely standard clause when signing a contract with a company for a product that does not yet exist. The EU contract with AstraZeneca is an advance purchase agreement for the supply of at least 300 million doses provided the vaccine is approved as safe and effective, with doses delivered in stages. The EU has threatened to monitor future exports of Covid-19 vaccines in retaliation for companies announcing delays, although the EU trade commissioner ruled out any export bans. Meanwhile, a factory in Wales that produces AstraZenecas vaccine was partially evacuated yesterday after it received a suspicious package. Patrol Protect for Off-Duty Police Officers The Rockwood team has supported the insurance needs of law enforcement officers for over a decade. Patrol Protect is a further demonstration of our commitment to support those who watch over us including our partners who support the coverage, said Rockwood president Glenn Clark. Rockwood Programs, Inc. has launched a new insurance product designed to protect police officers while performing important duties outside of their role in law enforcement. Patrol Protect provides insurance coverage for law enforcement officers who provide services outside of their respective police organizations as part-time employees of other organizations. It provides coverage against allegations of negligence, misrepresentation, violation of good faith, property damage, assault, battery, and false arrest/detainment while performing off-duty activities. We launched Patrol Protect to address an underserved niche in the marketplace, said Glenn Clark, President of Rockwood Programs. Municipalities and private employers carry insurance to protect themselves and their organizations in case of a lawsuit. More frequently, we are seeing the individual officer being named in these suits. In most cases, the existing coverage does not provide protection for the individual and their involvement in the underlying event. Patrol Protect closes this coverage gap. Many police officers take second jobs or off-duty assignments as a way of augmenting their income. Most of these moonlighting positions involve security-related tasks. While officers are trained to diffuse situations in a non-confrontational manner as possible, they must sometimes take more definitive steps to protect the publics safety. The Rockwood team has supported the insurance needs of the law enforcement officers for over a decade. Patrol Protect is a further demonstration of our commitment to support those who watch over us, including our partners who support the coverage, said Clark. Patrol Protect is underwritten by Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company (Fortegra). Fortegra maintains an A- (Excellent) rating by A.M. Best, reflecting its financial stability and claims-handling abilities. All claims are adjudicated by Wilson Elser - a nationally-recognized law firm with more than 30 years experience in professional liability litigation. Its team of legal experts will provide an advocacy defense for Patrol Protect policyholders. Premiums start at $250. Two limit of liability options are offered. Customized plans are available to groups such as police departments, law enforcement-related associations, and organizations. Interested parties can learn more about the product by accessing the Patrol Protect website at https://patrolprotect.com. About Rockwood Programs Rockwood Programs is a Wilmington, Delaware, based administrator of several countrywide management liability programs. Rockwood has been one of the premier providers of insurance agent E&O for nearly 20 years. The program covers P&C retail agents as well as newly licensed agents. The Delhi Police has named actor Deep Sidhu and gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in an FIR in connection with the Red Fort violence, officials said on Wednesday. The Delhi Police has registered the case at Kotwali police station of North district under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and other legislations. Provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and the Arms Act have been added in the FIR. The police has invoked IPC sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 152 (assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), and 307 (attempt to murder), they said. The Red Fort will remain closed for visitors from January 27 to January 31, according to an order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). While the order does not mention the reason behind the closure, it refers to earlier orders of January 6 and January 18 whereby the iconic monument was closed from January 19 to January 22 due to a bird flu alert. ALSO READ | R-day Violence: 37 Farmer Leaders Named in Delhi Police's FIR; Unions Call Off Feb 1 March to Parliament The national capital on Tuesday witnessed clashes between protesters and police during the tractor parade by farmers to press their demand of repealing three new agri laws. Thousands of protesting farmers who reached ITO from the Ghazipur border clashed with police. Many of them driving tractors reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. They also hoisted flags on the domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts of the national monument at which national tricolour is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day. Following the violence, two farmer unions withdrew from the protests on Wednesday. The Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), which had publicly denounced the Republic Day violence, pulled out of the ongoing protests against the three contentious farm laws that the farmers claim will benefit only big corporates and not growers. We can't carry forward a protest with someone whose direction is something else. So, I wish them the best but VM Singh and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan are withdrawing from this protest right away, ANI quoted RKMS national convener VM Singh as saying. ALSO READ | India Won't Tolerate Insult of National Flag at Red Fort, Says Centre After Republic Day Violence Singh also blamed BKUs Rakesh Tikait for pressuring the farmers to take a different route than the one designated for the tractor rally on Republic Day. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) president Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh said he was deeply pained by whatever happened during the tractor parade, adding his union was ending its protest being staged at the Chilla border. The covid-19 variants that have emerged in the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and now Southern California are eliciting two notably distinct responses from U.S. public health officials. First, broad concern. A variant that wreaked havoc in the U.K., leading to a spike in cases and hospitalizations, is surfacing in a growing number of places in the U.S. This week, another worrisome variant seen in Brazil surfaced in Minnesota. If these or other strains significantly change the way the virus transmits and attacks the body, as scientists fear they might, they could cause yet another prolonged surge in illness and death in the U.S., even as cases have begun to plateau and vaccines are rolling out. On the other hand, variants aren't novel or even uncommon in viral illnesses. The viruses that trigger common colds and flus regularly evolve. Even if a mutated strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid, makes it more contagious or makes people sicker, the basic public health response stays the same: Monitor the virus, and any mutations, as it moves across communities. Use masking, testing, physical distancing and quarantine to contain the spread. The problem is that the U.S. has struggled with every step of its public health response in its first year of battle against covid-19. And that raises the question of whether the nation will devote the attention and resources needed to outflank the virus as it evolves. Researchers are quick to stress that a coronavirus mutation in itself is no cause for alarm. In the course of making millions and billions of copies as part of the infection process, small changes to a viruss genome happen all the time as a function of evolutionary biology. "The word variant and the word mutation have these scary connotations, and they aren't necessarily scary," said Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious disease programs for the Association of Public Health Laboratories. When a mutation rings public health alarms, it's typically because it has combined with other mutations and, collectively, changed how the virus behaves. At that point, it may be named a variant. A variant can make a virus spread faster, or more easily jump between species. It can make a virus more successful at making people sicker, or change how our immune systems respond. SARS-CoV-2 has been mutating for as long as we've known about it; mutations were identified by scientists throughout 2020. Though relevant scientifically mutations can actually be helpful, acting like a fingerprint that allows scientists to track a virus's spread the identified strains mostly carried little concern for public health. Then came the end of the year, when several variants began drawing scrutiny. One of the most concerning, first detected in the United Kingdom, appears to make the virus more transmissible. Emerging evidence suggests it also could be deadlier, though scientists are still debating that. We know more about the U.K. variant than others not because it's necessarily worse, but because the British have one of the best virus surveillance programs in the world, said William Hanage, an epidemiologist and a professor at Harvard University. By contrast, the U.S. has one of the weakest genomic surveillance programs of any rich country, Hanage said. "As it is, people like me cobble together partnerships with places and try and beg them for samples, he said on a recent call with reporters. Other variant strains were identified in South Africa and Brazil, and they share some mutations with the U.K. variant. That those changes evolved independently in several parts of the world suggests they might present an evolutionary advantage for the virus. Yet another strain was recently identified in Southern California and flagged due to its increasing presence in hard-hit cities like Los Angeles. The Southern California strain was detected because a team of researchers at Cedars-Sinai, a hospital and research center in Los Angeles, has unfettered access to patient samples. They were able to see that the strain made up a growing share of cases at the hospital in recent weeks, as well as among the limited number of other samples haphazardly collected at a network of labs in the region. Not only does the U.S. do less genomic sequencing than most wealthy countries, but it also does its surveillance by happenstance. That means it takes longer to detect new strains and draw conclusions about them. It's not yet clear, for example, whether that Southern California strain was truly worthy of a press release. Vast swaths of America's privatized and decentralized system of health care aren't set up to send samples to public health or academic labs. "I'm more concerned about the systems to detect variants than I am these particular variants," said Mark Pandori, director of Nevada's public health laboratory and an associate professor at the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine. Limited genomic surveillance of viruses is yet another side effect of a fragmented and underfunded public health system that's struggled to test, track contacts and get covid under control throughout the pandemic, Wroblewski said. The nation's public health infrastructure, generally funded on a disease-by-disease basis, has decent systems set up to sequence flu, foodborne illnesses and tuberculosis, but there has been no national strategy on covid. "To look for variants, it needs to be a national picture if it's going to be done well," Wroblewski said. Last week, the Biden administration outlined a strategy for a national response to covid, which included expanded surveillance for variants. So far, vaccines for covid appear to protect against the known variants. Moderna has said its vaccine is effective against the U.K. and South African strains, though it yields fewer antibodies in the face of the latter. The company is working to develop a revised dose of the vaccine that could be added to the current two-shot regimen as a precaution. But a lot of damage can be done in the time it will take to roll out the current vaccine, let alone an update. Even with limited sampling, the U.K. variant has been detected in more than two dozen U.S. states, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned it could be the predominant strain in the U.S. by March. When it took off in the United Kingdom at the end of last year, it caused a swell in cases, overwhelmed hospitals and led to a holiday lockdown. Whether the U.S. faces the same fate could depend on which strains it is competing against, and how the public behaves in the weeks ahead. Already risky interactions among people could, on average, get a little riskier. Many researchers are calling for better masks and better indoor ventilation. But any updates on recommendations likely would play at the margins. Even if variants spread more easily, the same recommendations public health experts have been espousing for months masking, physical distancing and limiting time indoors with others will be the best way to ward them off, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, a physician and professor at the University of California-San Francisco. "It's very unsexy what the solutions are," Bibbins-Domingo said. "But we need everyone to do them." That doesn't make the task simple. Masking remains controversial in many states, and the public's patience for maintaining physical distance has worn thin. Adding to the concerns: Though case numbers have stabilized in many parts of the U.S. in recent weeks, they have stabilized at rates many times what they were during previous periods in the pandemic or in other parts of the world. Having all that virus in so many bodies creates more opportunities for new mutations and new variants to emerge. "If we keep letting this thing sneak around, it's going to get around all the measures we take against it, and that's the worst possible thing," said Nevada's Pandori. Compared with less virulent strains, a more contagious variant likely will require that more people be vaccinated before a community can see the benefits of widespread immunity. It's a bleak outlook for a nation already falling behind in the race to vaccinate enough people to bring the pandemic under control. "When your best solution is to ask people to do the things that they don't like to do anyway, thats very scary," said Bibbins-Domingo. The shortage of semiconductors across the world is due to pent-up demand, Sanjay Gupta, Vice President and India Country Manager, NXP Semiconductors, one of the largest automotive chip suppliers in the world, has said. In an interaction with Moneycontrol, Gupta said it was a global phenomenon and that having semiconductor fabs in India would be a great asset to the country, referring to facilities where these chips can be made. "Once the coronavirus outbreak situation saw some improvement from September onwards, customers started stepping out of their homes and buying cars and other electronic items. There was a sudden surge due to this pent-up demand post the lockdown and is not just restricted to cars but also electronics like laptops as well," added Gupta. Moneycontrol has reported how the semiconductor shortage that has hit automakers in several countries has disrupted the production plans of automakers in India as well. Ford India was forced to extend the four-day shutdown of its Chennai plant by another week to January 25. The company blamed the extended shutdown on the shortage of semiconductors. The Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors is among the largest players in this segment and posted a revenue of $8.88 billion in 2019. NXP is also one of the largest automotive suppliers in India and has 2,000 plus engineers working in the country. The company works with brands like Bosch, Ericsson, Huawei, Hyundai, Nokia, Panasonic and Samsung among others. Gupta said the situation could normalise over the next three-six months. Semiconductors are the chips that control critical commands in any electronic equipment. Focus on semiconductor fabs in India Gupta said the Indian government as well as the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY) had shown a higher interest in setting up fabs in India. Semiconductor fab is a unit where chipsets or tiny circuits are produced for use in electronic devices. Here the silicon component called wafer is the base of the chip-set that is produced. "Yes, there are still infrastructure bottlenecks that need to be resolved in India but MEITY is very serious about this plan," he added. When asked about whether NXP will also be looking to set up such facilities in India, Gupta said the company would take a decision once the final guidelines were released by the government. "NXP has a very structured approach to go for partners for fabs. Once the demand-side equation and proposal to invite global companies gets clarified in the long term, we will look into it," he added. The ministry is working with the appliance and electronic goods makers to look at segment-wise information about which component is made where and what will be the requirement to set up production facilities in India. Moneycontrol has reported that as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India, mission, semiconductor wafer fabrication manufacturing on a large scale for use in white goods could be the first category. Industry estimates suggest that the semiconductor market in India is worth $300 million. If semiconductor fabs are added to this, the value could go up to $ 4-5 billion. Bingo is back in the dining room. In-person visits have returned, too, though with masks and plexiglass. The Haven Assisted Living Facility's residents are even planning a field trip for a private movie screening once they've all gotten their second round of covid-19 vaccines. Such changes are small but meaningful to residents in the Hayden, Colorado, long-term care home, and they're due mostly to the arrival of the vaccine. While the vaccine rollout has hit snags across the U.S., including in many large urban areas, some rural counties with their smaller populations and well-connected communities have gotten creative about getting the doses out quickly to long-term care facilities. They are circumventing bogged-down Walgreens and CVS, the pharmacy chains contracted for the campaign, and instead are inoculating their older residents with the counties' shares of doses. It's clear why the counties are trying their own path. Federal data provided by the state of Colorado shows that, as of Jan. 21, dozens of long-term care facilities in Colorado were enrolled to receive vaccines from Walgreens or CVS but still did not have any vaccination dates scheduled. Among assisted living facilities in particular, rural locations tended to have later start dates than non-rural ones. By mid-January, over 90 facilities had opted out of the program that has been beset by cumbersome paperwork and corporate policies. When Roberta Smith, who directs the Routt County Public Health Department, learned in December that The Haven and another facility in the county hadn't gotten any dates from Walgreens for their shots, she diverted about 100 doses from the county's allotment. The vaccines would likely have gone to health care workers, she said, but she couldn't let the most vulnerable in the county wait. Fourteen of the 19 people who died of covid in the county, after all, had been residents of those two long-term care facilities. The county received a shipment of Moderna vaccines the following week to continue with its health care workers, Smith said. The health department ensured that all able and willing residents of the county's two long-term care facilities received their first doses before 2021 began. Smith suspects such reprioritization and fast deployment despite the department's reliance on spreadsheets and sticky notes to schedule visits is easier in small communities. "There is a sense of community in our smaller, rural counties that we're all kind of looking out for each other. And when you tell someone, 'Hey, we need to vaccinate these folks first,' they're quick to say, 'Oh, yeah,'" Smith said. Hayden, a town of about 2,000 in northwestern Colorado, is the kind of place where, within hours of Haven staffers posting online that they were looking for a grill, workers from the hardware store delivered one at no charge. It's the kind of town where locals have come throughout the pandemic to serenade Haven residents with guitar, flute and violin performances outside the windows. When the virus hit The Haven, eventually killing two of its 15 residents, locals paraded past the facility in their cars, taped with balloons and signs that said "We love you" and "Get well soon." After all the heartache, isolation and waiting, newly vaccinated resident Rosa Lawton, 70, is ready to bust out of The Haven. She said she expected to get her second vaccine dose Jan. 28. "I hope to be able to go shopping at Walmart and City Market and go to the bank, the library, the senior center. I won't stop," she said, laughing. "Right now, we're restricted to the building." Even after getting everyone vaccinated, though, assisted living locations won't be able to fling open the doors quite yet. State and federal officials need to give the OK, said Doug Farmer, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities in the state. Still, the combination of vaccines, repeated negative covid tests and a lower level of virus spread in the community is allowing some facilities the peace of mind to crack the doors open just a bit in the meantime. Until recently, Lawton and others at The Haven were playing bingo perched in their doorways, with a staff member moving down the hallway calling out numbers. Lawton said she could see about four others from her door, but not her friends Sally, Ruth or Louise. Now, they're back in the dining room, with one person to a table and playing with sanitized chips. "We can see each other and we're closer together and we can hear the caller better," said Lawton. "It's just more of a group experience." Residents can now gather in the common areas, wearing masks, to play the piano and do target practice with foam dart guns. And the excursion to a movie theater next month will be the first field trip in nearly a year. (Lawton is rooting for watching "The Sound of Music.") "It just feels overall lighter," said Adrienne Idsal, director of The Haven, hours before receiving her second vaccine dose. Fraser Engerman, a spokesperson with Walgreens, confirmed that some counties moved ahead with vaccinations before the company received its allocation, and said the company is on track to complete vaccinations at all Colorado long-term care facilities that they were responsible for by the end of January. Monica Prinzing, a CVS Health spokesperson, said that her company has completed first doses for all 119 skilled-nursing facilities in Colorado and more than half the assisted living sites it partnered with, adding that their team is working closely with facilities to "remain on track to meet our program commitments." Along the state's eastern edge, where Colorado meets Kansas, a pair of counties is already done vaccinating long-term care residents, according to Meagan Hillman, the public health director for Prowers and Kiowa counties. In December, Hillman and her colleagues started to wonder just how Walgreens was going to get the shots to their four local long-term care facilities. "Out here, I'm two-plus hours from the closest Walgreens, and I don't even know where a CVS is," she said. "It's such a huge operation and we just were worried, you know. Oftentimes the little guy gets left out or left for last." Hillman said she and her colleagues managed to secure Pfizer vaccines from a local hospital. "We have been so beat down in public health that I actually went and did the vaccination clinic," said Hillman, who is also a physician assistant. "We just needed that a good, heart-swelling thing to do." She said it indeed helped boost her spirits to give the shots herself. "Finally, I feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train," she said. editor's pick Just 1 Question: Who will you be thinking about on International Holocaust Remembrance Day? A Microsoft tech education program that military members and veterans could previously take by leveraging their tuition assistance or GI Bill funds is now offering its program at no cost, the company announced Wednesday. The program, Microsoft Software and Systems Academy, or MSSA, will instead be funded entirely by Microsoft. It was previously held primarily in an in-person classroom setting but will now be 100% remote, a company official announced. "As of February 2021, participants will no longer need to use their GI Bill to cover MSSA program costs," Chris Cortez, Microsoft's vice president of military affairs, wrote on LinkedIn. "And the training will be accessible through online delivery to all eligible U.S. military service members and veterans nationwide across time zones -- even if they are living outside the country." Cortez and his team put in place the new model after shifting the program online during the pandemic. "The pandemic understandably changed our in-person training model," he wrote. "Since moving to online-only instruction, we've had the opportunity to reassess our strategy and ensure our offering is best serving this community." MSSA trains veterans in critical areas, jobs that are vital to the growth and development of America's tech sector. These areas include cloud application developer or server & cloud administrator. The intense, 17-week program ends with a graduation ceremony and an arranged job interview with Microsoft or one of its 600 industry partners. This means MSSA graduates have access to long-term, high-paying technology jobs that will be in demand for years to come, all without the time and expense of attending a university program in the same field. Graduates enjoy an average salary of more than $70,000, and the courses have a 90% graduation rate. A further 95% of those graduates go on to work in an information technology job, according to Cortez. The Aspen Institute, a nonprofit think tank, believes "upskilling" is an important development for employers and job seekers in the 21st-century economy. This is especially true for veterans in tough economic times. Companies in need of skilled employees in critical fields are struggling to meet the demand, the institute said. Meanwhile, veterans leaving the military don't always have the time or means to attend a traditional college or university. Separating veterans are often older than other students and may have children, reserve duty or other factors to consider when choosing post-military career training. Corporate upskilling is a solution that helps both parties. Accepted applicants can receive the exact training needed by a company in a much shorter period of time, leading to successful military-to-civilian transitions while filling critical positions for the company. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told Yahoo! Finance that the company's Intelligent Cloud and Productivity and Business Processes segments generated $14.6 billion and $13.4 billion in revenues. Investing in veterans by providing MSSA training at no cost is the best way the company can service transitioning military veterans, Cortez said in his LinkedIn post. To learn more about the program and how to enroll, visit the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy website. You can also email MSCAops@microsoft.com to receive an invite to weekly information sessions, a mandatory part of the application process, held every Tuesday at both noon and 3 p.m. EST. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs? Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers, as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Families have been left horrified after a group of far-right activists descended on a small town, performing the Nazi salute and screaming 'white power'. Nate Hart was hiking in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria with a friend on Saturday when he passed about 30 young men gathered in a cave singing 'Waltzing Matilda'. The avid hiker thought the behaviour was strange, but didn't see it as too out of place because it was the weekend before Australia Day. It wasn't until he saw a younger member 'proudly throw up the Sieg Heil' that he realised the group was more than singing patriots. Pictured: A group of white supremacists at the Grampians National Park, performing the Seig Heil Upon closer inspection, Mr Hart realised most of the men were wearing black shirts with the Celtic Cross - a symbol commonly used by white supremacists. As he walked away, the men 'aggressively yelled 'power of the white man!',' Mr Hart wrote on Facebook. 'It was clear we were in the presence of a group of actual fascists, indeed Nazis, out for a training camp and bonding exercise,' he said. 'Young blokes coming together over their shared hatred of others.' Other hikers and locals in the nearby town of Halls Gap saw the same group marching through the town on Sunday and Monday, The Age reported. They gathered around a barbecue area - some shirtless and showing Nazi tattoos - and drank coffee outside a cafe run by a local Indian family. 'They looked like Nazis from a Hitler movie,' a cafe owner said. 'And they were.' One resident told the publication a group member said, 'we are the Ku Klux Klan'. Someone else heard the group drunkenly chanting racist slogans while camping illegally at Lake Bellfield - an idyllic spot with panoramic views of the national park. A local known only as James said he was greeted with the Nazi salute as he rode through Halls Gap on his mountain bike. 'There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting 'white power'. That is intimidating for anyone, let alone the young Asian families sharing the barbecue space,' he said. He was one of many residents who called the police, who asked him to take photos of the group. When James started using his bike helmet camera to document the scene, he caught the attention of two 'big burly guys'. Pictured: A man wearing a black t-shirt with a Celtic logo, symbolising white supremacy Terrified, the cyclist was forced to tell them he was just a tourist who was not filming them. Another local was afraid the group would confront Indigenous children and teenagers in the town. Six officers from nearby Stawell confronted the group on Monday. The following day, they collected CCTV footage from stores in Halls Gap. Victoria Police would not comment specifically on the activity in Halls Gap, but told Daily Mail Australia it monitors the behaviour of far-right groups closely. 'Victoria Police works closely with its state and Federal partners and our Joint Counter Terrorist Team has undertaken a number of investigations covering extremism,' a spokeswoman said. 'We encourage anyone who has been a victim of a prejudice-related crime to reach out to police for assistance. Every Victorian has the right to feel safe and secure in the community and in pursuing their values, beliefs and interests.' On Wednesday, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg - who is Jewish - said far-right groups that attended Invasion Day rallies was 'frightening for us all'. January 28, 2021 / 10:56 PM IST being retained. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers union leaders have ended in a stalemate. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP system and corporatise farming. The Supreme Court had earlier ordered a stay on the implementation of these contentious laws, hoping it will end the protest. The farm union leaders have also rejected Centre's proposal to suspend implementation of the laws for the 18 months. Some protesters breached barricades and clashed with police on January 26 when the farmers were staging a tractor rally in the national capital. Some also stormed the historic Red Fort. Hundreds of individuals from both, the police and protesters, were injured during the violent incident. The Delhi Police has issued notices to around 20 farmer leaders over the incident, asking why legal action should not be taken against them. Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates: The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 64th day today. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, are staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The protest started on November 26. The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesBy MEG CUNNINGHAM, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, said that he would support sanctions against members of the House who repeat violent rhetoric, like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who expressed support online for executing prominent congressional Democrats. "I'll support sanctions by the leadership that they feel appropriate in this matter," Reed said on ABC News' "Powerhouse Politics" podcast. "And I hope they do take measures that will send the message that this is unacceptable. And I would hope my colleagues on the left will do the same thing -- as those that hold posts of leadership on the left -- that engaged in this extreme rhetoric." Reed told ABC News Political Director Rick Klein and Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl that while members are elected to represent their constituents, they also have to represent the Republican Party as a whole. "I don't know her," Reed said of Greene. "But I've expressed concern about the rhetoric and the information that I'm seeing with her, and I would hope some folks would maybe talk with her. And maybe leadership, as my understanding, is going to be talking to her, because one of the things that is concerning when you have folks that come to D.C. -- and I appreciate the passion, ... what I try to do is just recognize that when you represent folks and when you're a representative, what you do is also representative of us as Republicans -- as a whole. What you do in regards to how you do it, we all have to answer for." Reed said he believes that Democrats have a similar problem, pointing to members of the progressive "Squad." Karl pushed back on that statement, using Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as an example. "But you haven't seen AOC suggesting executing fellow members of Congress," Karl said. "Executing members of Congress? I haven't seen that." Reed responded, "I've seen some extreme rhetoric. I've seen some extreme rhetoric posted on the internet." "And I'm not going to get into this battle with you as to what behavior is acceptable and what is not acceptable by members. And I will say any rhetoric that is of that extreme nature, like what you just articulated from my colleague on the Republican side is offensive. It's appalling. It cannot be accepted. And where I see it on both sides of the aisle. That's unacceptable," he continued. "We, as members, owe it to the American people to recognize that we have to do better than that. And I condemn it from the loudest of mountaintops that that is not acceptable. And I encourage my members on both sides of the aisle, in their own House and across the aisle, you need to condemn it together and stand together to condemn it and say it's unacceptable." Reed, who has been a member of Congress since the Obama administration, told Klein and Karl that compromise is as important as ever, but he isn't surprised at the flurry of executive orders from President Joe Biden at the beginning of his administration. "It's not helpful, to be honest with you," Reed said of the executive orders. "But having been through Obama's administration, Trump's administration and now Biden's administration, I recognize that the elections have consequences and executive orders are part of those consequences." "And as I've told the administrations before, and I told my colleagues, what can be done by executive order can be undone by executive order. That's why that is a terrible way to govern the nation -- the zig-zag approach that tears the country apart," he added. "Do it on the old fashioned engagement. Compromise is not a dirty word and try to get it done." Reed is one of 58 members of the congressional Problem Solvers Caucus, which is working on negotiations surrounding Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. "We've had multiple meetings with the White House, and I will tell you, I take their commitment that they said, 'We'll meet with you. We'll talk with you. We'll listen to you.' And so let's see how this unfolds over the next few weeks," he said. "But I think they're looking at it from a multi-prong approach to see what they have to do in order to get something done." Reed said members are ready to work in "good faith" with the White House on pushing forward with negotiations, but some of the money from the $900 billion package hasn't made it out of "the coffers of Washington, D.C., yet." "So we've got to see where we stand," Reed added. "I think there's broad recognition that it's going to take six weeks -- eight weeks at a minimum, to get a reconciliation bill through the House and Senate because it's so divided on a narrow margin, equally divided in the Senate. But in the meantime, what I encourage the Biden administration to consider is what can we agree upon immediately?" Klein asked Reed to elaborate on what outreach and collaboration looks like from the Biden White House in comparison to former President Donald Trump's. Reed said Biden's history as a member of Congress leads him to place an emphasis on building relationships. "I think President Biden was always a man of the Senate ... enjoys those relationships," Reed said. "And so I'm glad to see us continuing on the Trump administration's practice of reaching out and developing relationships to bring these members to the White House." Reed, who voted against impeaching Trump, said he supported all members voting with their conscience, including No. 3 House Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who is now facing censure efforts from some members of her conference. "When it came to impeachment, as I told my colleagues, when I stood in front of them on that conference, this is going to be a vote of conscience, just as the vote on the Electoral College is. But if you're using this moment for politics -- Machiavellian politics -- I condemn them." "This is a critical moment in our history that we have to look beyond politics and look at what's good for the country," Reed added. "And I think our Republican Party is strong enough -- I know it is -- to have the difference of opinions, where members vote their conscience. And we can get through it, and we will become united and we'll become stronger when we get through this. It's going to be ugly. It's going to be a fight that's going to occur." Reed said it's time for his colleagues to put political arguments behind them in order to heal divisions across the nation. "And if we're engaging in politics, let's put it behind us. ... Let's lead with a Republican Party that's united. Listen to the Trump voters, listen to their anger, listen to their frustration and let us get through this as quick as we possibly can. But it's going to take time and we're going to have to not only heal the wounds of the party, but let's lead the country in healing the wounds of a broken country," he said. Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study has shown that, while there is limited evidence for overall increased mortality in patients with atopic eczema, those with severe atopic eczema may have a greater risk of dying from several health issues compared with those without eczema, according to a new study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The research team, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and funded by the Wellcome Trust, compared the risk of dying in over 500,000 adults with atopic eczema with more than 2.5 million without eczema. Patients with severe atopic eczema had a 62% higher risk of dying compared to individuals without atopic eczema, due to several causesthe strongest links of which were seen for infections, lung problems and kidney or bladder disorders. There was limited evidence of increased 'all-cause' mortality in patients with non-severe atopic eczema, and the absolute risk of death was modest, with low overall mortality rates (1435 per 100,000 people per year in those without atopic eczema, and 1496 per 100,000 people per year in those with atopic eczema). The researchers did not set out to find the reasons behind the increases in risk of death in severe or predominantly active atopic eczema. Previous studies have suggested that the elevated risk may be linked to reduced physical activity and reduced sleep quality, as well as immunological dysfunction due to the disease itself or the drug treatments the patients might be on. They urge for more research into the causes to help develop intervention strategies. The research was conducted in collaboration with Health Data Research UK, Aarhus University Hospital, Nottingham Support Group for Carers of Children with Eczema and the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. Atopic eczema affects up to 10% of adults and is becoming more common globally. The disease is characterised by itch, sleeplessness and adverse effects on quality of life. Around 30% of people with atopic eczema have moderate to severe disease. Sinead Langan, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM, said: "Recent evidence has led to a paradigm shift in how atopic eczema is perceived, from focusing on skin symptoms and associated allergic diseases, to understanding that the disease may be associated with a range of important medical outcomes. Recently, we found atopic eczema to be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, angina and heart failure. "However, few studies have assessed if atopic eczema increases the risk of death, a research question we aimed to address in this study." This new research used the healthcare records from UK general practices alongside hospitalisation records and mortality data from the Office for National Statistics spanning 1998 to 2016. More than 500,000 people with atopic eczema, of which nearly 35,000 were classified as having severe atopic eczema, were matched with up to five individuals without eczema, based on their age (within 15 years), sex and general practice. This resulted in more than three million individuals were successfully matched, with a median age of 41.8 years. The researchers found that patients with atopic eczema had 8% to 14% increased risk of death due to infectious, digestive and genitourinary causes. Crucially, they noted that increased mortality risk was mainly in those with the most severe or more active atopic eczema. Patients with severe atopic eczema had 62% higher overall risk of death. These findings are consistent with previous studies. Long-standing patient collaborator, Amanda Roberts, said: "Forewarned is fore-armed. Now we eczema patients can be more aware of potential harms and complications associated with lungs, kidneys or bladder. This research team is adding so much to our understanding of eczema." Professor Langan added: "Although the absolute risk of death from severe eczema is low, our findings suggest that those with severe or more active forms of the disease do face a higher risk of dying from associated health issues. We hope that this new information will help inform further research to better understand this pattern and the underlying mechanisms of these associations, and subsequently inform and improve treatment processes for those with severe eczema." The researchers acknowledge the limitations of this study, including a lack of standardised measures of disease severity. Severity had to be identified based on hospital referral or receiving of specific therapies, prevent the researchers from disentangling the effects of treatment and severity. Explore further Atopic eczema linked to increase fracture risk in adults Trump's policies destroyed infrastructure Biden needs to raise refugee ceiling to 125,000, advocates say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former President Donald Trump's cuts to the refugee ceiling will continue to impact resettlement for years as President Joe Bidens commitment to resettle 125,000 refugees per fiscal year will only be as good as the infrastructure that has been decimated in recent years, advocates said Wednesday. Representatives from faith-based groups and a national security expert discussed issues facing refugee resettlement in the United States with reporters on a zoom conference organized by the National Immigration Forum. Trumps cuts to the number of refugees allowed to be resettled in the U.S. each year to as low as 15,000 refugees for fiscal year 2021 meant that some employees of resettlement organizations lost their jobs, reporters were told. As were thinking about this from a policy standpoint, this is a problem that is more significant than raising a number," said Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Vice President for Public Policy, Travis Wussow. "Its about rebuilding the pipeline for refugee settlement." Trump lowered the refugee ceiling to 15,000 people in his final year in office, down from the close to 100,000 refugees resettled in the last full fiscal year of the Obama administration (2016). Since the 1980s, the U.S. has set ceilings at an average of 95,000 people per year, Bethany Christian Services Vice President of Public and Government Affairs, Nathan Bult, said. Until about four years ago, resettling refugees was extremely bipartisan, said Bult. The most common question we receive is, is it safe to resettle refugees? This is not a process where you simply purchase a plane ticket and you can simply come to the U.S. The Trump administration differed from previous Republican and Democrat presidents by cutting refugee numbers, he said. It cut off funding to refugee resettlement organizations and dismantled the logistical systems required to bring in 95,000 refugees per year. Aid organizations have struggled to connect families who want to help refugees with people who need help after Trumps cuts, said World Relief's Church Mobilization Director Matthew Soerens, who is also the national coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Forum. We have lost a lot of infrastructure in the last few years. Theres been a 38% reduction in the number of offices for refugee resettlement since 2017, he said. World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals and one of nine agencies authorized to resettle refugees in the U.S., laid off 140 employees in 2017 after Trump's first refugee ceiling cut. Because the organization got paid by the government for each refugee it resettled, it received less funding when Trump lowered refugee numbers. In 2019, over 100 offices for refugee resettlement closed or suspended programs. Despite an estimated 1.4 million people in urgent need for resettlement worldwide, the U.N. reaches less than 1% of the need, said Bult. Now is the time for the U.S. to reassert global leadership. To resettle 125,000 refugees in a year, nonprofits and government agencies will have to increase their current rate of resettlement eightfold. They will have to do so before they know how many refugees will want to apply to the U.S., Soerens said. Its great to put a ceiling, but that doesnt tell us how many refugees will be arriving. The resources historically followed the arrival of the refugees, but we need to build it before they arrive, he said. Trumps refugee policies damaged lives around the world and abdicated Americas place of leadership, said Elizabeth Neumann, the former deputy chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security under Trump who endorsed Biden in the 2020 election. The fearmongering that took place over the last four years was not grounded on any actual threat. A lot of the assertions on why we needed the travel ban were not grounded in reality, she said. Tone down the rhetoric. Start dealing in facts. Thats the best way to keep us safe. Its not to close our doors. The travel ban Neumann cited was set in motion by former President Barack Obama, who in December 2015 signed into law the Visa Waiver Improvement Program and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, which designated Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia as areas of concern. The countries affected by the travel ban before Bidens revoked it last week were Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen. Trump issued the first version of the travel ban on Jan. 27, 2017. In April 2018, Trump removed Chad from the list of the blocked countries. Last year, he added Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania due to their failure to share terrorist, criminal, or identity information for their travelers. Neumann argued that refugees from war-torn countries dont pose a higher security threat than Americans who are already in the country. And the refugees who have committed terrorist attacks chose radical beliefs after they arrived in the U.S., she contended. Advocates said that refugees have to pass through a complex series of logistical obstacles, background checks and bureaucracy before they enter the U.S. Getting into the U.S. can take two years as well as requires a large number of skilled professionals to organize. Bidens refugee ceiling sends an important message to the rest of the world, Neumann asserted. Setting the ceiling, even if its difficult or impossible to achieve this year, its sending a signal that were back, she said. "It is my understanding these resettlement agencies domestically will need time and space to step up." Eel fishermen in Northern Ireland can no longer sell their stock to buyers in Britain because of Brexit. The Lough Neagh fishermen's Co-operative says a "very significant" amount of its catch ends up as jellied eels in London's pie and mash shops. But post-Brexit rules have put a stop to that business, forcing fishermen to find new buyers just months ahead of the 2021 season. According to the BBC, Lough Neagh fishermen will have to find new markets for around a fifth of all eels caught. The rest goes to Europe, most of which is bought by businesses in the Netherlands. Businesses in NI are following many of the EU's trading rules as set out by the NI protocol, which was implemented to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland. And the EU has banned the sale of eels with any country outside the bloc because they are an endagered species on the Continent. The protocol sets out that eel fishermen in NI are covered by those rules, meaning they can't sell to buyers across the Irish Sea in England. Pat Close of the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative said London provided "very significant trade". The flip side of the new rules is that NI will find it difficult to restock Lough Neagh. In years gone by, juvenile - or glass eels - would have been bought from Britain. But the new rules mean that is no longer possible either. "We always thought Northern Ireland was a bit of a home market", Peter Wood, who supplied Lough Neagh from his farm on the River Severn, told the BBC. "It was a handy place to have," he added. "We could ship glass eels from the River Severn to Lough Neagh in an hour-and-a-half, right on our door. "Of course, now we find with the NI Protocol, it could be in the middle of the world as far as we're concerned." The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs blamed the EU Commission for the changes. "...We continue to work closely with the sector to strengthen the case for trade to resume - and will reapply to the commission shortly," a spokesperson said. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. DEAR ABBY: My 25-year-old son has been dating a girl for two or three months. She seems very nice. She has two children and is pregnant with her third child. She's due in three months. The child is not my son's. I was told by some friends of my son that he's planning to sign the birth certificate as the father. He understands the implications. How do I convince him that, although he feels like he and this girl will be together for the long haul, this is a poor decision to make, especially because of the short length of time they have been dating? -- TOO MUCH, TOO SOON DEAR TOO MUCH, TOO SOON: Although it can be difficult to convince someone in the throes of new love, you and your son's friends should urge him to discuss this with a lawyer before signing ANYTHING. He needs input from someone who is not emotionally involved and can explain the legal ramifications of what he's considering. Not all romances have storybook endings, but if this relationship leads to marriage in the future, he can always adopt or provide financially for the child if he wishes. I sincerely hope you and the others who care about him can get through to your son. DEAR ABBY: My college-aged granddaughter is no longer speaking to me, answering my phone calls or allowing her other grandmother (who raised her) to post anything on Facebook where I can see what she is doing. My granddaughter came to live with me last summer because she worked a summer job here. I asked her if she was gay, not because I think she is but as a prelude to a conversation about not allowing other girls to recruit her into a same-sex relationship as I saw in college and while teaching public school. Although I tried to explain, things have grown progressively worse. My son and her mother married when she was 7 and divorced when she was 13. Over the years, I worked hard to develop and maintain a relationship with her. Now, she has told the other grandmother that she will never speak to me again. Was what I did so bad, and what should I do now? -- OTHER GRANDMOTHER IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR OTHER: What you said wasn't "bad," but it was misinformed and heavy-handed. While same-sex relationships do happen in high school and college, young people don't usually indulge unless they are already at least bi-curious. Even then, straight people don't suddenly "turn gay." Your granddaughter may still be trying to figure out her sexual orientation, which could be why she has reacted so strongly. If you are wise, you will allow her the time she needs to sort it out, rather than push or panic. DEAR ABBY: My daughter and I have a wonderful relationship. But I am very upset because she listens in on the speaker phone to every conversation I have with my 11-year-old grandson. I really believe we should have privacy, and I think it's strange that she does this. Is she justified, since she knows I'm disturbed by speakerphones in general? -- CONCERNED NANA IN THE EAST DEAR CONCERNED: You wrote that you have a wonderful relationship with your daughter. Have you asked her why she feels monitoring your calls to your grandson is justified? From my perspective, her behavior may be hypervigilant, but whether it is justified isn't a question that someone who isn't familiar with your family dynamics can answer. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. The Australian sharemarket sagged to its worst weekly performance since October amid ongoing retail trading jitters, fresh vaccine concerns, and falling iron ore prices - though the index still edged narrowly in front for January. The ASX 200 started Fridays session on the front foot thanks to a strong overnight lead from Wall Street, where stocks rebounded from their worst session in three months. The ASX 200 fell 0.6 per cent on Friday, and dropped 2.8 per cent for the week. Credit:Jim Rice But the heavyweight banks and miners lost steam as the local session wore on, with the ASX drooping severely after lunch as US futures turned red. The local market finished Fridays session 0.6 per cent lower at 6607.4 and sagged 2.8 per cent for the week, extending Thursdays $40 billion plunge to a $52 billion loss across the two sessions. Tech names such as Afterpay and Xero joined the energy sector in the dumps on Friday, while Wesfarmers backed away from a record high. Pulling the other way were blue-chips biotech CSL, toll giant Transurban, and Telstra. BetaShares ETF senior economist David Bassanese said end-of-month portfolio repositioning likely played a role in the decline, though mixed vaccine news from Germany may also have weighed on sentiment. The European nation is not recommending the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine - one of the vaccines expected to be used in Australia - for people aged over 65, citing a lack of trial data. Mr Bassanese said it was key to remember the market was coming off 11-month highs after a relatively strong January. Theres no obvious reason for the market to have a major correction, he said. I think it will continue to bank on the vaccine rolling out as planned. Any disruption on that, such as the lockdowns in US and Europe being ongoing, and yes that would be a concern. Further markets jitters came as the chaos of the Reddit retail trading raid reverberated around Wall Street. I do think one of the near term issues is the disruption going on in the US markets because of the short squeeze on hedge funds, Mr Bassanese said. There seems to be a lingering worry that we could see more disruption on Wall Street, with hedge funds liquidating their positions. On local shores, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg ruled out extending JobKeeper beyond March, while falling iron ore prices weighed on the miners. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals were sharply lower, with the latter losing 4.1 per cent in its worst week in nearly three months. In the end, the ASX 200 finished 0.3 per cent ahead for January. It was a fourth straight monthly gain, and the 10th month of gains out of the past 11 since the pandemic plunge. Stock markets rallied strongly at the start of 2021on vaccine hopes, improved economic data, and the prospect of additional US stimulus on a Democrat clean sweep of Congress. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on COVID-19 response in the State Dining Room of the White House, on Jan. 26, 2021. -(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) GOP Lawmakers Seek UPenn Records Over Potential China Funding for Biden Center Republican lawmakers from three House investigative committees have asked the University of Pennsylvania to disclose funding sources for its academic institute focused on diplomacy and foreign policy thats named after President Joe Biden, amid concerns of foreign influence. In a Jan. 28 letter to the president of the university, Amy Gutmann, the Congress members asked her to provide records of Chinas funding to both the university and the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement to help us better understand the depth and breadth of foreign influence and investment in U.S. higher education, as well as the University of Pennsylvanias and the Biden Centers ties to China. Donations from China to the university surged to over $72 million in the three years since the founding of the Biden Center was announced in 2017compared to $21 million in a similar time frame before the center was set up. That prompted a watchdog group and lawmakers to question whether the funding increase was due to the center. Understanding whether the [Biden Center] received funds from China or other adversarial nations at the behest of the Biden family or future Biden Administration officials will shed light on the depth and breadth of the potential improper influence these nations enjoy over the Biden family, states the letter by House Committee on Oversight and Reform ranking member James Comer (R-Ky.), House Committee on the Judiciary ranking member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and House Committee on Education and Labor ranking member Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously served as managing director of the center before joining the Biden campaign in 2019. The lawmakers also noted that the federal investigation into Bidens son Hunter Biden and his tax affairs, reportedly includes a probe into his business dealings with China, raising serious questions regarding conflicts of interest and the integrity of the Biden familys ties to China, the letter states. Last year amid the election season, a former business partner of Hunter Biden revealed to media outlets a trove of text messages, some of which demonstrated Hunter Bidens close ties to a Chinese billionaire. Other messages suggested Joe Biden was aware of his sons business deals. While running for president, Joe Biden denied knowledge of Hunters business dealings. Ron Ozlo, a spokesperson for the university, said in an email to The Epoch Times that the Biden Center has never solicited or received any gifts from any Chinese or other foreign entity. The University has never solicited any gifts for the Center. Since its inception in 2017, there have been three unsolicited gifts (from two donors) which combined total $1,100. Both donors are Americans, Ozlo said. In the letter, the lawmakers expressed concern about the Chinese regimes use of strategic investments to turn American college campuses into indoctrination platforms for American students. The CCPs [Chinese Communist Party] actions call into question whether U.S. institutes of higher education receiving federal taxpayer dollars should be allowed to accept funds from China, the CCP, or other affiliated organizations, the letter stated. The lawmakers also asked the university to brief committee staff on the matter by Feb. 4. U.S. officials and lawmakers have increasingly sounded the alarm on Chinese influence on American college campuses, including through Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes that have been criticized for spreading CCP propaganda and stifling academic freedom. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned last year that U.S. universities are becoming hooked on Chinese Communist Party cash, jeopardizing free speech and national security. Denton, TX (76205) Today Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 77F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. UnitedLex, a leading technology and legal services company, has integrated Microsoft Cloud services to globally scale UnitedLex Vantage, a holistic, turnkey technology platform built to revolutionize the customer experience and transform the legal function into a first-class digital citizen. UnitedLex has integrated Microsoft solutions into its software portfolio since 2008 and has deep experience working closely with Microsoft. UnitedLex Vantage delivers a flexible, secure, and scalable platform, powering all enterprise legal workflows. Vantage comes with a vastly reduced implementation time (a matter of days versus months), a 20 percent increase in work efficiency, significant cost savings across overall legal and IT spend, and most crucially: new revenue opportunities for the business. UnitedLex Chief Technology Officer Sean Jennings said, We are pleased to deepen our longstanding relationship with Microsoft. The Vantage platform represents a substantial investment for UnitedLex to reinvent how legal services are delivered in enterprise technology landscapes, and such complex technical and business requirements can only be built and delivered on a world-class platform. UnitedLex Vantage integrates Microsoft Azure services, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform. In addition, UnitedLex solves new customer challenges through its use of a wide range of Azure services, including machine learning, data analytics, artificial intelligence, security, and more to gain greater insights, drive significant optimization opportunities, and transform business processes. Microsoft was a natural choice for us because of the way they tie seamlessly into the tools our end customers are already using, said Jennings. These systems have been designed with resilience, scalability, and security with trust front and center, providing a natural platform for this transformative application. Vantage dramatically improves visibility and operational efficiency of the legal function, reduces administrative burden, consolidates and simplifies disparate department functions, and reduces friction for the legal professional from the outset. These core features are aggregated in one comprehensive platform, hosted securely and privately in a UnitedLex run and managed Microsoft Azure tenant. The inherent advantage of working with Microsoft is the opportunity to leverage the continual innovations made in their platforms, Jennings added. We are able to incorporate new technology quickly into Vantage and continue to deliver better outcomes for the organizations we empower. Vantage utilizes the best of Microsoft cloud technologies, allowing UnitedLex to deliver differentiated features faster and more reliably to its end customers, said Carlos De Torres, Vice President, One Commercial Partner at Microsoft Corp. Integrating Azure and Power Platform allows UnitedLex to transform how legal services are delivered and establish the foundations that will allow its customers to grow and thrive in the future. About UnitedLex UnitedLex is a technology and legal services company committed to delivering full-scale Digital Legal Transformation. The worlds most forward-thinking law departments rely on the companys expertise in over 25 global jurisdictions. Founded in 2006, the team includes 3,000 legal, engineering, and technology professionals with major operations in 18 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127005363/en/ It ranked, together with Jordan and Slovakia, 60th out of 180 countries and territories evaluated in the Berlin-based watchdogs 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released on Thursday. Armenia and two other countries shared 77th place in the previous CPI released a year ago. Transparency International assigned the South Caucasus state a CPI score of 42 out of 100 at the time. The watchdog raised the score to 49 in the latest survey. It is the second largest [CPI score] increase in the world after Maldives, it said in an explanatory note. Armenia was 105th in the corruption perception rankings two years ago. It still trails neighboring Georgia but is ahead of its three other neighbors: Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. Georgia occupies 45th place in the 2020 CPI. A country to watch last year, Armenia has taken a gradual approach to reform, resulting in steady and positive improvements in anti-corruption, says a Transparency International report. However, safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring checks and balances remain critical first steps in its anti-corruption efforts, it adds. The effectiveness of those efforts is additionally challenged by the current political and economic crisis as a result of a recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the subsequent protests against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over a ceasefire deal. Pashinian has repeatedly claimed to have eliminated systemic corruption since coming to power in May 2018. Armenian law-enforcement authorities have launched dozens of high-profile corruption investigations during his rule. They mostly target former top government officials and individuals linked to them. Earlier this month the Armenian parliament began debating a government bill that calls for the creation of a special law-enforcement agency tasked with investigating corruption cases. The government also plans to set up new courts dealing only with such cases. President Biden called Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday afternoon to check in on Alabama after Monday nights tornado that killed a 14-year-old boy, injured 30 people and left a trail of devastation in its wake, the governors office said. President Biden called me to check in on Alabama following Mondays severe weather. I shared with him what we saw today, both from the air and on the ground, Ivey said in a statement, referring to the tour she took of the damage in Fultondale. While the recovery will be tough, these communities are united. This is what makes Alabama so special. The EF-3 tornado with winds of 150 mph struck about 10:30 p.m. Monday, killing 14-year-old Elliott Hernandez, a Fultondale High School ninth grader, and injuring 30 people. Homes and businesses can be rebuilt,' Ivey said during the tour, but losing a young soul to a storm like this is beyond heartbreaking. Now Republicans want to sweep the whole thing under the rug for the sake of unity. I wish we could do that because this country desperately needs to come together. But what happened on Jan. 6 is much too grave to be ignored. Trump must be held accountable. And instead of imploring Democrats to forget the insurrection and move on, Republicans could begin to bring this country together by apologizing to Americans for supporting Trumps false claims of election fraud. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 leader will visit his north parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Thursday. He will interact there with representatives of various non-political, socio-cultural-religious and farmers organisations at a government guesthouse in Kalpetta town of the district from 9.30 am to 10.30 am. The former president is on a two-day visit to ahead of the Assembly elections in the state scheduled for April-May. Several other programmes are lined up for the lawmaker, including the inauguration of 12 houses built by INCAS Qatar at Panamaram, Koolivayal. He will be returning to Delhi by a special aircraft late in the evening today. On Wednesday, Gandhi interacted with the students of Vandoor government girls higher secondary school. "This message is for young ladies. The most important thing for you is independence. You have to be able to thrive, survive on your own that will include financial and psychological independence," Gandhi had said. Earlier, he was on a three-day visit to the western belt in Tamil Nadu where he interacted with farmers, weavers and the general public. During his visit, the MP talked about Congress' alliance with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled to happen in April-May and said that he has full faith in it. (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 competition regulator is considering enforcement action against tech giant Google over allegations it is wielding its dominance in the $3.4 billion digital advertising technology market to stifle rivals. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is also examining whether further regulation is needed to address concerns Google is leveraging its power to self-preference its own products and further consolidate its business. ACCC chair Rod Sims said the regulator was weighing up whether to pursue enforcement action against Google amid allegations it was abusing its market power in the ad tech market. Credit:Louie Douvis Many companies are complaining that Google is marking its own homework regarding the effectiveness of the ads it supplies, ACCC chair Rod Sims said. This includes Google very often acting on behalf of both publishers and advertisers for the same ad sale across the ad tech supply chain, while also selling its own ad inventory. WASHINGTON In the most ambitious U.S. effort to stave off the worst effects of climate change, President Joe Biden issued executive orders Wednesday to cut oil, gas and coal emissions and double energy production from offshore wind turbines. The orders target federal subsidies for oil and other fossil fuels and halt new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. They also aim to conserve 30 percent of the country's lands and ocean waters in the next 10 years and move to an all-electric federal vehicle fleet. Biden's sweeping plan is aimed at slowing human-caused global warming, but it also carries political risk for the president and Democrats as oil- and coal-producing states face job losses from moves to sharply increase U.S. reliance on clean energy such as wind and solar power. "We can't wait any longer'' to address the climate crisis, Biden said at the White House. "We see with our own eyes. We know it in our bones. It is time to act.'' He said his orders will "supercharge our administration's ambitious plan to confront the existential threat of climate change." Biden has set a goal of eliminating pollution from fossil fuel in the power sector by 2035 and from the U.S. economy overall by 2050, speeding what is already a market-driven growth of solar and wind energy and lessening the country's dependence on oil and gas. The aggressive plan is aimed at slowing human-caused global warming that is magnifying extreme weather events such as deadly wildfires in the West and drenching rains and hurricanes in the East. Biden acknowledged the political risk, repeatedly stating that his approach would create jobs in the renewable energy and automotive sectors to offset any losses in oil, coal or natural gas. "When I think of climate change and the answers to it, I think of jobs,'' Biden said. "We're going to put people to work. We're not going to lose jobs. These aren't pie-in-the-sky dreams. These are concrete actionable solutions. And we know how to do this.'' In a change from previous administrations of both parties, Biden also is directing agencies to focus help and investment on the low-income and minority communities that live closest to polluting refineries and other hazards, and the oil- and coal-patch towns that face job losses as the U.S. moves to sharply increase its reliance on wind, solar and other other energy sources that do not emit climate-warming greenhouse gases. Biden pledged to create up to a million jobs building electric cars, as well as installing solar panels, wind turbines, "capping abandoned walls, reclaiming mines, turning old brownfield sites into the new hubs of economic growth.'' Even so, Republicans immediately criticized the plan as a job killer. "Pie-in-the-sky government mandates and directives that restrict our mining, oil, and gas industries adversely impact our energy security and independence,'' Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "At a time when millions are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing Americans need is big government destroying jobs, while costing the economy billions of dollars,'' she said. Biden also is elevating climate change to a national security priority. The conservation plan would set aside millions of acres for recreation, wildlife and climate efforts by 2030 as part of Biden's campaign pledge for a $2 trillion program to slow global warming. President Donald Trump, who ridiculed the science of climate change, withdrew the U.S. from the Paris global climate accord, opened more public lands to coal, gas and oil production and weakened regulation on fossil fuel emissions. Experts say these emissions are heating the Earth's climate dangerously and worsening floods, droughts and other natural disasters. Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb called the executive orders an "excellent start" for the new administration. "If this Day 7 momentum is representative of this administration's four-year term, there is every reason to believe that we might achieve carbon neutrality sooner than 2050," even as key roadblocks lie ahead, Cobb said. Biden's actions came as his nominee for energy secretary, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, faced deep skepticism from Republicans as she tried to pitch the president's vision for a green economy. "The last Democratic administration went on a regulatory rampage to slow or stop energy production," said Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a leading Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "I'm not going to sit idly by .. if the Biden administration enforces policies that threaten Wyoming's economy.'' Granholm, as the leader of a state devastated by the 2008 recession, said she knew what it was like to "look in the eyes of men and women who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own." She promoted emerging clean-energy technologies, such as battery manufacturing, as an answer for jobs that will be lost as the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels. Granholm and other officials said the investment in cleaner energy national will net millions of jobs. But that probably will take years to happen, and the orders will face intense opposition from oil and gas and power plant industries, as well as from many Republican and Democratic lawmakers. "The environmental left is leading the agenda at the White House when it comes to energy and environment issues," said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, which represents oil and gas drillers in Western states. The group filed a legal challenge soon after Biden signed the orders. Biden is seeking to double energy production from offshore wind after the Trump administration slowed permit review of some giant offshore wind turbine projects. Significantly, he is directing agencies to eliminate spending that acts as subsidies for fossil fuel industries. "The fossil fuel industry has inflicted tremendous damage on the planet. The administration's review, if done correctly, will show that filthy fracking and drilling must end for good, everywhere,'' said Kieran Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that has pushed for the drilling pause. Oil industry groups said Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. "Do not be fooled, this is a ban'' on drilling, said Dan Naatz of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. "The Biden administration's plan to obliterate the jobs of American oil and gas explorers and producers has been on clear display.'' The pause in onshore leasing is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states. It also will not affect existing leases and could be further blunted by companies that stockpiled enough drilling permits in Trump's final months to allow them to keep pumping oil and gas for years. The order exempts tribal lands, mainly in the West, that are used for energy production. Biden also will direct all U.S. agencies to use science and evidence-based decision-making in federal rule-making and announce a U.S.-hosted climate leaders summit on Earth Day, April 22. ___ Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe and Brian Slodysko contributed to this report. Prime Minister will address the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Dialogue on Thursday via video conferencing. The Prime Minister would be addressing the forum at 5:30 pm IST. In a tweet on Wexdnesday, the Prime Minister said: "Will be addressing the @wef's Agenda at 5:30 PM tomorrow, 28th January. Looking forward to speaking on a wide range (of) subjects relating to India's reform trajectory, increased usage of technology and other issues." The WEF annual meeting in engages the world's top leaders to shape global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of the year. More than 400 top industry leaders from across the globe will attend the session, wherein the Prime Minister will be speaking on the Fourth Industrial Revolution - using technology for the good of humanity, read a release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The Prime Minister will also interact with the CEOs during the event. The Davos Dialogues agenda marks the launch of the World Economic Forum's Great Reset Initiative in the post COVID world, the PMO 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.) The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Detroit-area businessperson Viktor Gjonaj for allegedly defrauding members of the Albanian-American community out of approximately $26.4 million, some of which he spent playing the Michigan State Lottery. According to the SEC's complaint, from at least mid-2016 to 2019, Gjonaj raised approximately $26.4 million through the fraudulent offer and sale of investment contracts to at least 24 investors, most of whom were members of the Albanian-American community in Detroit. As alleged, Gjonaj falsely represented to investors that their money would be used to purchase, develop, and sell real estate projects. Instead, Gjonaj allegedly used at least $10 million of the investors' funds to play the Michigan State Lottery, at times buying as much as $1 million worth of lottery tickets in a single week. Gjonaj also allegedly directed millions of dollars of investors' money to his personal checking account. As alleged, in order to maintain the fraud, Gjonaj repaid investors with lottery winnings, which Gjonaj falsely claimed were proceeds from real estate investments. According to the complaint, by August 2019, Gjonaj had lost all of his own and his investors' money, and owed the investors approximately $19 million. The SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in Detroit, charges Gjonaj with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement with pre-judgment interest, and civil penalties. Gjonaj consented to the entry of a judgment permanently enjoining him from violations of the charged provisions, with monetary relief to be determined by the court at a later date. The settlement is subject to court approval. In addition, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan filed criminal charges against Gjonaj on January 28, 2021 in a parallel action. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Marlene Key-Patterson, James O'Keefe, and Wilburn Saylor, Jr., and supervised by Steven Klawans in the Chicago Regional Office. The SEC's litigation is being led by Daniel Hayes. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) - Senators expressed dismay with the absence of the top brass of Philippine National Police (PNP) in Thursday's hearing on the spate of killings. The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights secretariat reported that PNP Chief General Debold Sinas did not give any reason for his absence. The committee noted at least 20 killings year-to-date, including a lawyer, priest, politician, and teacher. This is a very serious meeting. As you can see, several senators, practically all, have come up with resolutions or bills expressing their concerns on these killings. Pakiabot lang kay General Sinas (Please relay this to General Sinas), committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon said. PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management chief Major General Marni Marcos said he was the official representative of the PNP Chief. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said he was frustrated with Sinas absence. Sinas and other members of the PNP command group also failed to attend Dela Rosas Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee hearing. Pag akoy pinatawag ng Senate hearing, dala-dala ko pa ang buong command group ko at saka aking directorial staff...dahil alam ko how important the Senate hearing. Yung kredibilidad natin as an organization ay nakataya palagi, said the former PNP chief. Pag hindi mo nasagot ng substantially ang mga tanong dito sa hearing e masisira ka agad sa tingin ng taumbayan. [Translation: Whenever Im called for a Senate hearing, I have the whole command group with me as well as my directorial staff...because I know how important the Senate hearing is. The credibility of our organization is always at stake. If you failed to answer the queries here substantially, your image will be damaged in the eyes of the people.] Sinas virtually showed up later in the hearing after Marcos informed him about the senators sentiments. Independent IAS, SOCO Gordon said there should be a speedy resolution of administrative cases. He cited the case of Staff Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who shot in broad daylight a mother and son in Paniqui, Tarlac. Gordon said Nuezcas dismissal could have been made faster if the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has the power to implement its findings. Sinas supported the suggestion. Based on the current setup, IAS investigates and tries administrative cases, and recommends sanctions to the PNP chief. National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Vice Chairman and Executive Director Vitaliano Aguirre suggested that the IAS and the Scene of the Crime Operations Unit must be independent by removing them from the PNP organizational structure and become attached agencies of the NAPOLCOM or the Interior department. Motorcycle plates Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) also received a dressing down from the senators after its officials initially reported that they have only manufactured a thousand motorcycle plates that are compliant with Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Law. Gordon, Justice Committee chairman and principal author of the law, said he will also call for a Blue Ribbon committee investigation on the implementation of the law. Gordon also chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee. One thousand plates? Shame on you! Shame on the LTO! Mahirap sumagot ano (Is it hard to answer)? Is LTO a do-nothing agency?, Gordon exclaimed. He said most crimes are committed by motorcycle riders, so the bigger, more visible, and technologically advance plates would help curb these crimes. In the course of the hearing, Mercy Jane Leynes, LTO Operations Division chief, clarified that a million motorcycle plates were already manufactured. Despite the correction, Gordon still questioned the LTO's ability to achieve its target to manufacture 13 million plates by May 2022. He said he will write to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and LTO chief Edgar Galvante to explain the slow implementation of the new motorcycle plates law. U.S. supermajor Chevron is discussing with the U.S. Department of State the possibility that the United States ease some of the sanctions imposed on Venezuelas oil industry by the Trump Administration, sources familiar with this weeks meetings told Bloomberg on Thursday. Chevron, which has been operating in Venezuela for decades, has been repeatedly given a waiver to operate in the country sitting on the worlds biggest oil reserves. The latest extension from the U.S. Department of Treasury came in November 2020, allowing Chevron to remain in Venezuela until June 3, 2021. The U.S. supermajor is not leaving Venezuela, but it is complying with the U.S. Administrations requirements, chief executive officer Michael Wirth said last year. Several months later, Chevron fully impaired its $2.6 billion investment in Venezuela because of uncertainties over the current operating environment and overall outlook, while reporting its worst loss for decades for the second quarter of 2020. Now Chevron, as well as Indias Reliance Industries, are reportedly talking to officials from the U.S. Department of State to request a more lenient sanctions regime from President Joe Bidens Administration. The first order of business, according to a Bloomberg source, would be requesting from the Administration to allow the so-called oil swaps with Venezuela under which companies get crude oil from Venezuela in exchange for supplying it with diesel. Those oil swaps were sanctioned in October 2020, one source told Bloomberg. Chevron is constantly talking to the U.S. Administration to make sure it is in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, Ray Fohr, a spokesperson for Chevron, told Bloomberg in response to the report. Days before President Bidens inauguration, Reuters reported that importers of Venezuelan crude oil, executives from companies supplying fuel to Venezuela, and humanitarian groups also planned to ask the new Administration to allow the crude oil-for-diesel swaps. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: On Friday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had complete faith in the TGAs assessment. I understand that Professor Adam Field, the member of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation in the United Kingdom said they have no concerns about the safety of the vaccine in any age group, and they will continue to do that. So, countries will take different approaches. Our approach will be led by what we believe will be the best medical regulator in the world, the Therapeutic Goods Administration. A spokesperson for the TGA said all matters are being carefully considered as part of its assessment process, including the evidence supporting immunisation in various age groups. The TGAs decision will also be informed by the Advisory Committee on Vaccines, an independent group of clinical and technical experts, the spokesperson said on Friday. The British-Swedish pharmaceutical company giant has acknowledged over 65s represented a small proportion of trial participants but insists the jab will provide a strong shield against serious illness and death in all age groups. Millions of elderly residents in the United Kingdom have already been given the vaccine and work is under way to assess its efficacy outside the trials. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he did not agree with Germanys decision. He said British authorities think the AstraZeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious and gives a high degree of protection after one dose and even more after two doses. Brian Pinker, 82, receives the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Credit:Getty Images Hunt has previously described the AstraZeneca vaccine as the ace in the hole of the countrys inoculation strategy. Any restrictions on using AstraZeneca for over 65s will complicate government rollout strategies because older people are due to be prioritised given their vulnerability to COVID-19. Loading If the TGA made a similar finding to Germany, the Morrison government would have to rely more heavily on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the initial rollout. Australia has secured 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough to protect 5 million people given the requirement for two doses per person. About 3.9 million Australians are aged 65 or older, according to census data. One option available to the TGA is to wait for more data from AstraZenecas rollout in Britain before making a final decision on use in Australia. In a statement, AstraZeneca insisted its product would protect older age groups. The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group, a spokesperson said. We await a regulatory decision on the vaccine by the European Medicines Agency in the coming days. Loading German Health Minister Jens Spahn noted the vaccine committees recommendation was not a final decision, but said the lack of trial data for those aged over 65 was a well-known issue. It was to be expected that this would have an influence on the decision of the regulatory authorities and then the vaccine commission, Spahn said. We just dont know yet how concretely, so lets wait for the decision tomorrow on clearance and then the final recommendation from the vaccine commission. The German committee analysed trial data where people aged 65 and over represented less than 6 per cent of the 11,636 participants. One group of 341 people aged over 65 was given the vaccine and another group of 319 people injected with a placebo. One person in each group subsequently tested positive to COVID-19. The small number of older participants meant the German experts were unable to reach a reliable estimate of how effective the jab was for over 65s. AstraZeneca has previously explained that the trial featured a low number of older volunteers because they were recruited later, once researchers were confident the vaccine was safe with younger participants. The companys chief executive officer Paul Soriot told Italys La Repubblica newspaper this week that its researchers had been finalising new analysis of the vaccines impact on over 65s. Essentially, because Oxford started vaccinating older people later, we dont have a huge number of older people who have been vaccinated, Soriot said. So thats what the debate is. But we have strong data showing very strong antibody production against the virus in the elderly, similar to what we see in younger people. Its possible that some countries, out of caution, will use our vaccine for the younger group. But honestly, it is fine. Theres not enough vaccines for everybody. So if they want to use another vaccine for older people and our vaccine for younger people, whats the problem? AstraZeneca shares closed 1.6 per cent lower after the announcement. - with Marissa Calligeros [January 28, 2021] Avicanna Launches RHO Phyto Topical Gels in Canada and Initiates Clinical Studies RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels will be initially available on the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers Drug Mart online platform and expanded into specific consumer retail channels in February 2021. Initiation of osteoarthritis preclinical trials in Canada in addition to the enrollment of the products into the UHN MC-RWE study to evaluate the effectiveness on pain, sleep, anxiety, and depression. TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avicanna Inc. (Avicanna or the Company) (TSX: AVCN) (OTCQX: AVCNF) (FSE: 0NN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products is pleased to announce the launch of the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels (the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels) through Medical Cannabis by Shoppers Drug Mart as well as through additional adult use channels. The Company is also pleased to announce the initiation of pre-clinical osteoarthritis evaluations after successful in vitro studies and the enrollment of the Deep Tissue Gels in the Medical Cannabis Real World Evidence (MC-RWE) study. The MC-RWE study is led by the University Health Network (UHN) with the goal to evaluate the effectiveness of medical cannabis on pain, sleep and other related comorbidities. About the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels The RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels synergistically combine natural clove oil and menthol with cannabinoids and natural polyphenols in advanced emulsions which are optimized for faster absorption and deeper delivery. The RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gel formulations are also designed for long term cannabinoid shelf-life stability and accurate dosing with cooling sensation, and pleasant mint aroma. The deep tissue technology has been developed and optimized by Avicannas research and development team. Over the last 3 years, the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gel formulations have been validated by a series of preclinical studies where both stability and enhanced absorption into the deeper layers of the skin were shown. The Cannabis and Pharmaceutical Market Opportunity The launch of the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels comes at a time when patients and consumers are seeking cannabinoid-based topical products and, despite the regulatory changes in October 2018 (Cannabis 2.0), there has been a limited number of topical products available in the projected $3B Canadian cannabis market. In a 2018 Cannabis Report by Deloitte, 53% of users suggested they would try topical products in view of the new regulations. Additionally, 79% of these new users would like to use a topical product for potential pain relief. Additionally, further clinical development of the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gel formulations is progressing with the goal of eventual registration as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in legally permissible markets for relief of local pain associated with inflammation. The RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gel product line is designed to compete with the current gold standard products such as Voltaren. Avicannas CEO, Aras Azadian commented: With the launch of our topicals in Canada, we continue to validate our scientific capabilities of developing, optimizing and commercializing industry leading products and are extremely optimistic about their potential in the Canadian market. Additionally, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to our evidence-based approach with our recent results and initiation of further trials. As a cannabinoid-based biopharmaceutical company we are in a truly unique place to be able to commercialize these products through cannabis channels while we continue to make progress in their clinical development towards pharmaceutical drugs in parallel. Clinical Development Expanding on existing evidence1,2, the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gels are formulated to deliver a synergistic combination of cannabinoid and other active ingredients including Beta Caryophyllene in a topical formulation to address joint and muscle pain related to inflammation. To demonstrate potential efficacy, the products have been enrolled in Canadian preclinical studies to their efficacy in addressing localized pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. The studies also seek to compare the efficacy of the RHO Phyto Dep Tissue Gels, with varying cannabinoid ratios, to Voltaren. In addition, the RHO Phyto Deep Tissue Gel will be available in the MC-RWE studies led by UHN. This observational trial will evaluate the effectiveness of medical cannabis products on chronic pain, sleep, anxiety and depression through the completion of validated questionnaires over a 24 week period. [1] Hammell DC, Zhang LP, Ma F, Abshire SM, McIlwrath SL, Stinchcomb AL, Westlund KN. Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. Eur J Pain 2016;20: 93648. [2] Lowin T, Schneider M, Pongratz G. Joints for joints: cannabinoids in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2019;31:2718. About Avicanna Inc. Avicanna is a diversified and vertically integrated Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products for the global consumer, medical, and pharmaceutical market segments. Avicanna is an established leader in cannabinoid research and development, which it primarily conducts at its R&D headquarters in the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre, JLABS @ Toronto, Canada and in collaboration with leading Canadian academic and medical institutions. In addition to its developing pharmaceutical pipeline, Avicannas team of experts have developed and commercialized several industry leading product lines, including: Pura Earth or Pura H&W: an advanced and clinically tested line of CBD consumer derma-cosmetic products; and, RHO Phyto: an advanced line of medical cannabis products containing varying ratios of CBD and THC currently available nation-wide across Canada in partnership with Medical Cannabis by Shoppers, a subsidiary of Shoppers Drug Mart. RHO Phyto is the first strictly medical formulary of advanced Cannabis 2.0 products, containing oils, sprays, capsules, creams, and gels, all 2 developed with scientific rigour, manufactured under GMP standards and supported by pre-clinical data. With ongoing clinical trials on its derma-cosmetic (branded as Pura Earth or Pura H&W), medical cannabis (branded as RHO Phyto) and a pipeline of pharmaceutical products, Avicannas dedication to researching the important role that cannabinoids play in an increasingly wider scope of products has been at the core of the Companys vision since its inception. Furthermore, Avicannas commitment to education is demonstrated through its annual medical symposium, the Avicanna Academy educational platform, and the My Cannabis Clinic patient program through its subsidiary company. Avicanna manages its own supply chain including cultivation and extraction through its two majority-owned subsidiaries, Sativa Nativa S.A.S. and Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S., both located in Santa Marta, Colombia. Through these sustainable, economical, and industrial scale subsidiaries, Avicanna cultivates, processes, and commercializes a range of cannabis and hemp cultivars dominant in CBD, CBG, THC, and other cannabinoids for use as active pharmaceutical ingredients. Avicannas Avesta Genetica program specializes in the development and optimization of rare cultivars for commercial production along with feminized seeds for global export. In June 2020, Avicanna made history with a shipment of hemp seeds to the United States of America by completing the first ever export of hemp seeds from Colombia. SOURCE Avicanna Inc. Stay Connected For more information about Avicanna, visit www.avicanna.com, call 1-647-243-5283, or contact Setu Purohit, President by email at info@avicanna.com. The company posts updates through videos from the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5yBclNIsNf7VrE34iwt8OA. Please join the conversation on our Avicanna supporters telegram group at https://t.me/Avicannainc. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and includes statements with respect to the availability of the Deep Tissue Gels in the adult use markets in February 2021, the synergistic combination of the ingredients of the Deep Tissue Gels, the ability of the combination of the ingredients of the Deep Tissue Gels contributing the faster absorption and deeper delivery of cannabinoids, to the effectiveness and stability of the Deep Tissue Gels, the ability of the Company to register the Deep Tissue Gels as OTC products. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to current and future market conditions, including the market price of the common shares of the Company, and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated April 15, 2020 and final short form prospectus dated November 27, 2020, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d56c89f-5afd-4940-a81a-f740d9332ca2 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WOOD RIVER Its a busy time at the Madison County Health Department. This week the department began COVID-19 vaccinations for the 50,000 people eligible under Phase 1b. Next week it will launch an appointment schedule, both online and by phone, for qualified people who live or work in Madison County. Please be patient, said Madison County Health Director Toni Corona. Vaccine distribution is just starting. Supplies should continue to increase to meet demand. This vaccination process will take several months to accomplish, she said. There will be plenty of vaccine available for anyone who wants to receive it. It will just take some time to get to everyone. Corona said Phase 1b vaccinations will be by appointment only, following up on the work already done for Phase 1a. During Phase 1a, 11,434 total doses of vaccine were administered in Madison County as of Jan. 27, Corona said. Phase 1b includes people 65 and older and frontline essential workers in one of the following occupations: first responders, educators (congregate child care, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade,) food processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services and agriculture, manufacturing, correction workers and inmates, grocery store workers and shelters/adult day care. Weekly vaccination clinics will be held by appointment only at locations that will include Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey and the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Hospitals, local medical providers and federally qualified health centers will support vaccination efforts during Phase 1b by offering clinics to vaccinate essential workers and support health department efforts. Smaller clinics will be scheduled in vulnerable areas of Madison County where access might be a barrier. With nearly 10,000 educators in the county, the health department has collaborated with the Madison County Regional Office of Education, public school superintendents, and private and parochial schools to coordinate appointment-only clinics. Starting in mid-February, these clinics will be held on Saturdays at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Corona said educators will receive information about the clinics from their districts. School nurses will assist in providing vaccines at the clinics. Vaccination information also will be posted online at www.madisonchd.org and shared across the health departments social media channels Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For additional vaccine locations visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location. Corona said the amount of vaccine is limited, and the number of dates and times for appointments will reflect the vaccine available on hand. We will be in Phase 1b for some time, Corona said. There are more than 50,000 people in Madison County who are eligible for Phase 1b. As more vaccine arrives, the health department will add more dates and times. A special phone number will also be launched for people who need help scheduling an appointment. Information will be listed on the health departments website and on its social media channels when the online scheduler and phone number are operational. Individuals eligible for Phase 1b and who completed the Madison County Vaccination Registration Survey by Jan. 20 will receive a scheduling link for an appointment. People who only provided a phone number will receive a call. (Natural News) Earth could be facing a ghastly future that could eventually threaten human survival because of the ignorance and inaction of world leaders. That, in a nutshell, is the summary of a report published on Jan. 13 in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science. With over 150 studies to work with, 17 scientists from Australia, Mexico and the U.S., including Paul Ehrlich from Stanford University in California, warned that the planet is in a far worse state than experts understood. The report underscored three major issues that have put the planet in such a state: the destruction and loss of the worlds plants and animals on an unprecedented scale; the exponential growth of the human population and the demand on global resources; and climate disruption due to environmental changes caused by humans. Ehrlich and his colleagues also pointed out that although these issues are grounded in science, people still fail to grasp their magnitude. Moreover, some of our leaders pursuit of wealth and political interests in other words, ignorance and short-term self-interest prevent them from taking action to curb these issues. Without understanding the scale of the problems, and identifying and implementing solutions, society will likely fail to achieve even modest sustainability goals, the authors wrote. Thus, scientists need to speak out candidly and accurately when informing leaders or authorities of the scale of these pressing environmental issues and detailing the solutions needed. Humans face sixth major extinction The authors of the report did not mince words when they said that humans are facing a sixth major extinction. They defined extinction as a loss of roughly 75 percent of all plant and animal species on the planet. Throughout recorded history, at least five major extinction events have already occurred. The most recent one took place 66 million years ago, towards the end of the Cretaceous period. Experts noted that the extinction rate since then has been 0.1 extinction per year, if one followed the fate of one million species. However, experts who analyzed recorded vertebrate extinctions since the 16th century found that the current rate actually stands at 1.3 extinction per year. This is more than 15 times the initial rate. And there is evidence that puts that scale into perspective. For instance, the France-based conservation group International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said that roughly 20 percent of all species will face extinction over the next decades. That corresponds to an extinction rate that exceeds the current one. In May 2019, the United Nations (UN) released a report on Natures unprecedented and dangerous decline. It found that about one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction. Biodiversity and natures contributions to people are our common heritage and humanitys most important life-supporting safety net. But our safety net is stretched almost to breaking point, said co-author Sandra Diaz of Argentinas National University of Cordoba. Moreover, Ehrlich and his colleagues pointed out that the global population has doubled since 1970. Today, it stands at nearly 7.8 billion and is projected to increase to 9.9 billion by 2050. Population growth is an important issue to look at because more people means more food and resources used. In fact, due to the massive increase in global population, experts estimate that about 700800 million people are starving, while another one to two billion are malnourished. More people also means more waste, which leads to worse pollution. In addition, a large population is more likely to have pandemics that fuel more hunts for resources. To cope with the demand for resources to feed and house a booming population, more than a third of the land surface globally and nearly 75 percent of freshwater resources are devoted to crop or livestock productions. Humans have also begun harvesting resources at a much larger scale. Every year, about 60 billion tons of both renewable and nonrenewable resources are extracted globally. (Related: Researchers develop eco-friendly catalysts that can be used to produce renewable raw materials for plastic products.) Overall, the authors hope that their report, though distressing, will provide world leaders with a better perspective about the state of the planet. That we are already on the path of a sixth major extinction is now scientifically undeniable, they wrote. Still, it may not be too late to turn things around. Leaders can start working towards healing the planet by making fundamental changes to resource management. Learn more about biodiversity loss, frequent flooding and other environmental issues at Environ.news. Sources include: EcoWatch.com UN.org Chinese rights activist Guo Feixiong has begun a hunger strike at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport after police prevented him from leaving the country to nurse his wife Zhang Qing -- who is seriously ill with cancer -- in the United States. Guo, 54, started his protest on after border guards prevented him from boarding a United Airlines flight to Washington. He spoke to RFA's Mandarin Service while packing for his Shanghai strip on Jan. 27: RFA: What action can you take [if denied boarding]? Guo Feixiong: I only have two very simple ways to resist. After the ministry of public security imposed personal restrictions on me and prevented me from boarding my scheduled flight, I immediately began an indefinite hunger strike. The other is that I will keep releasing information to the rest of the world, and writing open letters to China's leaders and citizens, so everyone will know what is really going on, and how unreasonably these people, who appear to have lost touch with their conscience, are behaving. Guo Feixiong: The fact that I made a successful passport application shows that [premier] Li Keqiang ... to whom I wrote an earlier letter ... didn't stand in my way. The Guangdong Provincial police department and the Guangzhou city police department asked me to write an application report for going abroad, and they allowed me to go abroad before my new passport arrived. With the help of some humane officials from the U.S. Consulate, I managed to get my [U.S.] visa in just a couple of days. But around noon [on Jan. 26], the Guangzhou branch of the state security police told me face to face that while Guangzhou had agreed that I could go overseas, the ministry of public security in Beijing had imposed a travel ban and ordered border guards to stop me at the airport. This situation is completely inconsistent with the life-threatening situation of my family and the time-sensitive nature of my trip. Guo Feixiong: It's a total mystery to me why they are treating me like this, I really don't know. I have no hatred. I have always been a gentle, restrained and self-reflective person. I just care about my family; I have no agenda for my own personal gain. Guo Feixiong: Facing the upcoming 24-week chemotherapy, as you can imagine, her life is on the line. This is the time when she needs me more than ever before, when she is in immediate danger. It will be totally unbearable to me if I am unable to get there in time. It will be on my conscience. Our kids are still young, and my wife needs me to look after them very, very urgently. There is really nobody else who can do it instead. My presence or absence has a direct bearing on her chances of survival. Guo Feixiong and his wife, Zhang Qing, in undated photo. Credit: Guo Feixiong RFA: What support can the international community, human rights institutions, and the U.S. government offer right now? Guo Feixiong: I hope to get the media to call on the U.S. State Department and human rights officials to extend a helping hand, and to express solidarity with me through legal diplomatic channels and press statements, and to ask the Chinese government to face up to this violation of law and discipline by a few officials in the ministry of public security. This is a serious humanitarian incident. RFA: You have gone on hunger strike many times before, right? Guo Feixiong: Previously, I went on hunger strikes for 297 days, cumulatively. I am weak now, and my hunger strike is in danger. The state security police could kidnap me . If my phone goes offline, it will mean that either they have sent me to hospital, or I am in danger. I am older, now, and physically and mentally exhausted and in severe grief. I wind up seriously injured or even dead in their hands, but I must resist. I must defend the bonds of family love, freedom to travel and basic humanity in the simplest and most basic way possible. It will be worth it. RFA: In 2013, you were detained for ... resisting media censorship, and you suffered torture and abuse, including beatings, electric shocks, intubation and forced feeding during hunger strikes. How did your six-year prison term change you? Guo Feixiong: When I was in jail, I did not accept any ill-treatment from anyone. I resisted all the way. Finally, my conditions improved. We have to stay rational and restrained. The most important thing is to show the spirit of struggle. We can't be weak. RFA: What have you been doing since your release from prison? Guo Feixiong: I set up a website, called the World Constitutional Democracy Forum (http://xzmz.org/). I also quietly provided significant legal advice for important human rights cases. Political tensions are very high in China right now, and it's not necessary for me to give details of individual cases. Reported by Xue Xiaoshan for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. 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 Biden administration has placed a temporary hold on certain foreign arms sales prepared by the former Trump administration, including major transfers planned to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. As is typical during the transition of US presidential administrations, the Department is temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending US defense transfers and sales to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review, a State Department spokesperson told Al-Monitor via email. "As we've said, we very much support the Abraham Accords," Blinken said when asked about the arms sale freeze during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. "We're also trying to make sure that we have a full understanding of any commitments that may have been made in securing those agreements, and that's something we're looking at right now," he said. The UAE's ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, responded to news of the freeze with a statement posted on Twitter on Wednesday, saying his government would work closely with the Biden administration "on a comprehensive approach towards Middle East peace and stability." Al Otaiba added that the F-35 sale would give the UAE a "strong deterrent to aggression" and enable "the UAE to take on more of the regional burden for collective security, freeing US assets for other global challenges." Bloomberg first reported that the freeze includes the Trump administrations controversial sale of 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to the United Arab Emirates and munitions to Saudi Arabia. President Joe Biden promised on the campaign trail that if elected, he would end US support for the Saudi-led coalitions war against Yemens Houthi rebels. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed that position to during his confirmation hearing Senate last week, saying the administration would examine planned sales to the Gulf. The UAE finalized the $23 billion deal for 50 F-35s and 18 armed MQ-9B drones with the Trump administration just hours before Biden was sworn in last week. That agreement was struck after officials in Abu Dhabi agreed to establish formal ties with Israel as part of the Trump administrations Abraham Accords initiative. The former administration also advanced a handful of other last-minute arms deals with Gulf countries. Early wind of the freeze came yesterday as Raytheon executives told investors in a phone call that they expected the Biden administration to put a halt to a government license allowing the company to sell some 7,500 guided Paveway bombs directly to Saudi Arabia; the license was granted despite protests from Democrats in Congress last year. The Trump State Department under former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019 bypassed a congressionally ordered halt to major sales to the UAE and Saudi Arabia due to the coalitions targeting of civilians in Yemens civil war. Still, the Biden administration has said it will continue to build on the Abraham Accords, which Washington sees as an opportunity to shore up security cooperation between Arab states and Israel in order to deter Iran as the United States shifts focus to China. Blinken spoke Wednesday with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi about "regional strategic matters," according to the ministry. Since at least 2011, neighbors have been complaining about a dilapidated two-story house on Patterson Street in historic Algiers Point. They called 911 repeatedly to report disturbances involving tenants there, and informed city officials about broken windows, trash and exposure to lead paint. In July 2018, a city administrative hearing officer ruled that the owner, state Sen. Troy Carter, had committed 14 code violations and ordered him to pay $7,075 within 30 days. The problems continued. In November 2019, a fire broke out in the second floor of the two-story structure, leaving a blackened eyesore that remains unoccupied. Until this week, the front door was unsecured. Carter owes $24,160 in penalties and taxes on the property, according to the city. All of this has prompted more complaints by neighbors, and they are especially angry now that Carter, a Democrat, is making lofty campaign promises while running for the congressional seat that U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond has vacated. He doesn't care about his community, said Hank Drennon, an artist who lives two doors from Carters blighted property. He just cares about the photo ops and his next election. Carter said thats an unfair comment and pointed to years of work to benefit his constituents as a state representative, a city councilman, and now as a state senator. Im not running from my responsibility, he said. Carter said the city assessed violations against him in 2018 -- even though, he said, he had addressed some of the problems -- because he missed an administrative hearing held on July 31 of that year. He said he had informed a senior city official, Chad Dyer, that legislative business in Baton Rouge would force him to be absent. More recently, Carter said he began work on a full-scale renovation that will make the neighbors proud. He would have undertaken the work earlier, he said, but he was slowed by delays in the citys permitting process. He said those were caused in part by disruptions from a December 2019 cyberattack and the pandemic. I want this property back in commerce, Carter said in an interview. And I've done everything in our power to play by the rules, to go step by step to deal with the process. Unfortunately, the process is flawed. But the city stands by its permitting process and says it afforded Carter every opportunity to resolve the problem. It also said the Historic District Landmarks Commission rejected Carters initial design for a renovation in 2020 and rejected the idea that his permits were delayed. I would never want to have a property that was not done right, Carter said. That's why I'm going through the measures of doing, of taking care of and really restoring this to a point where not only would it be good for me, it's going to benefit all the adjacent property owners because it's going to improve their property values. Carter owns three other properties nearby, including the Tout de Suite Cafe. He lives in the gated English Turn development and is managing partner of a consulting firm called Policy and Planning Partners that assists business, nonprofit and governmental entities. His Patterson Street property, a two-story, double shotgun with brackets that faces the levee, has two units on each floor, a total of 3,990 square feet. It includes a vacant lot next to it that until this week was overgrown with weeds and occupied by a dumpster. +8 One of Louisiana's richest men buys a Four Seasons penthouse in record New Orleans condo deal Another big Louisiana name has nabbed a luxury condominium in the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences, and this time it's a The day after reporters and photographers from The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and WWL-TV came to interview neighbors, crews cleaned the lot and prepared the house for construction. Carter bought the property in 1996 for $98,000, according to the Orleans Parish assessors website. It is now assessed at $338,700, down from $445,000 before the fire on Nov. 4, 2019. In 2009, Carter received $59,000 in federal Hurricane Katrina recovery funds for the property, which required him to rent two of the four units to low- or moderate-income residents. He must continue that practice for several more years under the Road Home Small Rental Program rules in order to keep the grant. 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 Carter has a $510,000 contract with Metro Service Group and has hired Ray Manning Architects to restore the property in accordance with historic district requirements. Tighe Kirkland, a partner at Manning, said the permitting process has been arduous, with the application in March 2020 finally receiving approval in November. But the property had problems long before the fire, which Carter said the fire department said was caused by a tenant smoking in bed. There were 27 calls for 911 service from 2011 through 2018 for disturbances or other complaints, according to city records. Ryan Hughes, a chef who lives next door, said he began complaining to city officials as early as 2014 about the state of the house. Hughes provided photographs -- taken in April 2018, he said -- that show plastic sheeting covering broken windows, holes in asbestos siding, detached gutters and a broken exhaust pipe dangling from the back porch. A broken-down refrigerator sat on the back porch. Part of the back fence had collapsed. Hughes said he and other neighbors tried to reach Carter without success. He said they began asking city officials to take action. On Sept. 6, 2017, the citys Historic District Landmarks Commission cited the property for demolition by neglect. In June 2018, a code enforcement inspector cited more than a dozen violations. The city assessed Carter $7,205 in fines. He accepted some of the violations but refuted others. As you can clearly see this property is not blighted and is fully occupied, Carter wrote in a July 17, 2018, email to city officials that included photos of the remedial work he was carrying out. In an administrative hearing two weeks later, hearing officer Karen Longon determined, after code enforcement officials and three neighbors testified, that Carter had committed 14 violations for such things as failing to remove trash, repair or replace fencing, maintain the structure and fix cracks in windows and door frames. He was fined $500 for each infraction. In an interview, Carter said he didnt follow up on those findings because Dyer had told him he would take care of it. But Carter acknowledged that he didnt get anything in writing to back that up. Carter said he attempted to resolve the issue at another administrative hearing, in July 2020, but the hearing officer said he had to pay the original fine, with additional penalties for not addressing the problem. By December, the amount had reached $24,160. Carter said he doesnt believe he owes anything. I was told that once the renovations were done, because we're doing such substantive work, that they would roll off, he said. Otherwise, if I thought they would stay, then I would have paid them. Carters understanding is clearly not in line with the citys. When he paid his 2020 property tax bill, on time, the city applied it as a partial payment on the code enforcement fines, in accordance with city ordinances. And now hes been assessed a fine for $545 in delinquent taxes. In response to questions from the two media outlets, city officials provided a series of documents relating to inspections from 2017, 2018 and 2019, along with dozens of photos showing problems. Code Enforcement inspectors appropriately inspected the subject property, the city said in an email. Carter said he hired Manning within weeks of the fire to renovate the structure but didnt receive the necessary city permit until November. He said he is planning to spend $400,000 to overhaul the structure and wishes the citys process would have allowed him to go faster. We're as much a victim as any other citizen who finds themselves caught in the clutches of trying to get permits, he said. Permits are not easy to get. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Future Market Insights Upcoming reports a market which provides an in-depth analysis of the current and future potential of the Thermal Cleaning System Market. The report highlights the key factors that are expected to influence the overall dynamics of the Thermal Cleaning System Market including the current trends, growth opportunities, restraints, and market drivers. Thermal Cleaning System Market, both at global and regional levels. The analysts have used numerous industry-wide prominent business intelligence tools to consolidate facts, figures, and market data into revenue estimations and projections in the Thermal Cleaning System Market. Extensive rounds of primary and a comprehensive secondary research have been leveraged by the analysts at Future Market Insights to arrive at various estimations and projections of the, both at global and regional levels. The analysts have used numerous industry-wide prominent business intelligence tools to consolidate facts, figures, and market data into revenue estimations and projections in the Thermal Cleaning System Market. The insights and analytics on the Thermal Cleaning System Market span several pages. These are covered in numerous sections, including, drivers and restraints, challenges and opportunities, regional segmentation and opportunity assessment, end-use/application prospects analysis, and competitive landscape assessment. Key stakeholders in the Thermal Cleaning System Market including industry players, policymakers, and investors in various countries have been continuously realigning their strategies and approaches to implement them in order to tap into new opportunities. Many in recent months have overhauled their strategies to remain agile in the backdrop of worldwide disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To remain ahead of your competitors, Request for a Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4230 Regional Segments Analyzed Include: North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Mexico. Brazil) Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain) Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia) Asia-Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand) Japan The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, S. Africa, Northern Africa) The Report Covers Exhaustive Analysis On: Market Segments Market Dynamics Market Size & Demand Current Trends/Issues/Challenges Competition & Companies involved Technology Value Chain Request for Methodology here @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-4230 Why Our Clients Trust Future Market Insights? One of the leading market research firms in the Indian sub-continent Methodical and up-to-date approach towards curating insightful market reports Successfully delivered high-quality market reports to domestic and international clients We deploy cutting-edge market research and analytical tools to provide highly accurate market projections 24/7 customer service to address client queries without any delays Critical Data Enclosed in the Report: Recent developments in terms of technology and innovation Current and projected market trends in each regional market The growth potential of each major regional market Country-wise assessment of the Thermal Cleaning System Market during the forecast period Y-o-Y growth of each market segment and sub-segment To receive extensive list of important regions, ask for TOC here >> https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4230 Why Choose Future Market Insights? Strong focus on delivering quality market reports Round the clock customer service Methodical and systematic approach while curating reports Our aim is to help our clients meet their business targets Customized reports available at affordable prices. About FMI Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMIs latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact Us Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative A Moderna Covid vaccine is delivered in Germany, where authorities have declined to recommend the jab from AstraZeneca for older people Europe's row with AstraZeneca worsened Thursday after Germany declined to recommend the firm's COVID vaccine for older people, while the more contagious South African variant of the virus was detected for the first time in the already hard-hit United States. With countries worldwide again tightening anti-virus restrictions after months of stop-and-start measures, the economic toll so far was coming into focus with the US seeing its sharpest contraction in growth since 1946. UN data released Thursday also said the global tourism sector, battered by border closures and bans on mass gatherings, lost $1.3 trillion in revenue in 2020. Given the world's weariness over the pandemic that has now killed some 2.2 million people and infected more than 100 million, countries have been anxious to expedite vaccination campaigns. The European Union's efforts were hit by an announcement from British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca that it could only supply a quarter of the doses it had promised for the first quarter of 2021. The EU has demanded the drug maker meets its commitments by supplying doses from its UK factories, but Britain insists it must receive all of the vaccines it orderedand there are simply not enough to go round. Adding to the row on Thursday was an announcement from Germany's vaccine commission that it could not recommend AstraZeneca's vaccine for those over 65 since there was not enough data to assess its efficacy. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a Covid testing lab in Scotland AstraZeneca and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson immediately defended the jabs, which have already been widely used in Britain on older people. The controversy comes as the European Medicines Agency is expected on Friday to announce whether to recommend authorisation of AstraZeneca's jab, after the body has previously approved the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Virus variant found in US The virus has killed more than 430,000 in America, by far the highest absolute toll, and more troubling news came Thursday when authorities announced they had found two people in South Carolina infected with a strain first detected in South Africa that health authorities suspect is more transmissible. Scientists are worried about this mutation because it seems able to elude some of the effects of current vaccines and synthetic antibody treatments, though firms Moderna and Pfizer said their vaccines still work against the variant. A more contagious form of the virus could nonetheless mean more people get sick, a portion of whom could end up hospitalized or in the most severe cases dead. The economic pain over the last year in the US was clear in data out Thursday that showed the world's largest economy shrunk by 3.5 percent in 2020. With herd immunity still a distant dream, the most powerful tools for policymakers remain social-distancing measures, enforced mask wearing, curfews, lockdowns and travel bans The figures underscore the job awaiting President Joe Biden, who took office just over a week ago promising to get the country back on track with a $1.9 trillion spending proposal. At the same time, a long-delayed effort to probe the virus's origins creaked forward for a World Health Organization team of experts in Wuhan, China. "So proud to graduate from our 14 days... no-one went stir crazy & we've been v productive," tweeted team member Peter Daszak after the investigators left their quarantine hotel wearing masks, peering out of their bus window at the gathered media. India's vaccine diplomacy China has sought to deflect blame by suggestingwithout proofthat the virus emerged elsewhere. "It's imperative that we get to the bottom of the early days of the pandemic in China, and we've been supportive of an international investigation that we feel should be robust and clear," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday. Relatives of those who died in Wuhan have accused Chinese authorities of deleting their social media group and putting pressure on them to keep quiet. Employees at lab in India that produces Covid vaccines The virus has continued to hammer countries despite the onset of mass vaccination programmes that have seen more than 82 million doses injected, according to an AFP count compiled from national figures. Pfizer, which developed its vaccine with German firm BioNTech, has also faced EU criticism for delays in deliveries but has now revised its production target for this year up from 1.3 billion doses to two billion. In another boost to vaccine efforts, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country will supply more locally made inoculations to other countries. Indiahome to the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institutehas embarked on a form of vaccine diplomacy, gifting millions of doses to its neighbours. Concerns have been deepening over rich nations dominating vaccine supply, and the WHO said Thursday that Africa can expect to see at least 30 percent of its population immunised by the end of this year. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Source: Reuters One week into the job, US President Joe Biden has sent a clear warning to Beijing against any expansionist intentions in East and Southeast Asia. In multiple calls and statements, he and his top security officials have underscored support for allies Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, signalling Washington's rejection of China's disputed territorial claims in those areas. On Wednesday, Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that his administration is committed to defending Japan, including the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed both by Japan and China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands. That stance was echoed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who told Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi on Saturday that the contested islands were covered by the US-Japan Security Treaty. Austin affirmed that the United States "remains opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea," according to a Pentagon statement on the call. Meanwhile, three days into the Biden administration, State Department spokesman Ned Price warned China about menacing Taiwan after it repeatedly sent more than a dozen military fighters and bombers through the island's air defense zone. "We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity security and values in the Indo-Pacific region -- and that includes deepening our ties with Democratic Taiwan," Price said in a statement. "Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid." And Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday that a mutual defense treaty obliging the US to defend the Philippines against attack in the Pacific also applied to the disputed South China Sea -- -- something the Obama administration did not specify. Those comments and others sought to emphasize that the new Biden administration will not deviate from the firm security stance towards China that it inherited from ex-president Donald Trump. 'A free and open Indo-Pacific' Washington has long sided with allies such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in rejecting disputed Chinese territorial claims in the East China Sea and South China Sea. The Trump administration raised the tone when then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo declared last July that most of Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea were "completely unlawful." In his first overseas contacts after taking office, Austin included not only Japan but also counterparts in Australia, South Korea and India. Over the past three years, Washington has expanded defense cooperation with India, which sees China posing a military threat both on its northern border and in the seas to the south. In a call with Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, Austin observed that the two countries' defense partnership "is built upon shared values and a common interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. A similar China-directed refrain echoed through Austin's call with Australian defense minister Linda Reynolds on Tuesday. Austin "emphasized the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, founded on existing international law and norms in a region free of malign behavior," Kirby said. To underscore the unchanged US stance in Asia, on January 24, the fourth day of the new Biden administration, the US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a so-called "freedom of navigation" mission in the South China Sea, sailing in or close to waters that China claims to underscore Washington's rejection of those claims. In addition, even as his initial focus for the US Defense Department is battling the coronavirus, Austin is expected to make Asia his first destination on an international trip. Only 53 new cases of COVID-19 were reported Wednesday for Schuylkill County by the state Department of Health. A day earlier, there were 90 cases reported. The additional cases Wednesday push the total for the county to 10,925 since the pandemic began last March. An additional two deaths attributed to COVID-19 were reported for Schuylkill, increasing that total to 326. Statewide, 5,874 new cases were reported for Wednesday, raising the total to 818,369. As of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, there were 222 new deaths reported. The total now stands at 21,105 deaths attributed to COVID-19. According to state numbers online Wednesday, there were 44 patients hospitalized in Schuylkill County for COVID-19, with 12 in intensive care. No patients were on ventilators. Statewide, there were 3,768 people hospitalized, with 759 of those patients in intensive care and 447 on ventilators. Switch at Marian Marian Catholic High School has switched to virtual instruction after three positive test results at the school this week, the Diocese of Allentown said in a news release Wednesday. In-person instruction at the school near Hometown will resume Monday, the diocese said. According to the release, the school will be deep cleaned while students are learning virtually. The cases were reported to the Health Department, the diocese said. Medical workers disinfect a neighborhood in the northern Quang Ninh Province after a person was confirmed infected with Covid-19, January 27, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Cuong. The Health Ministry confirmed two community transmissions of Covid-19 in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh Thursday morning. The cases break the 55-day break from community transmissions that Vietnam had enjoyed. "Patient 1552" is a 34-year-old woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co., Ltd. in Hai Duong Town. A resident of Hung Dao Commune in the province's Chi Linh Town, she had come into close contact with another female worker who was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus when arriving in Japan last week. It's not clear how the woman who left Vietnam for Japan on January 17 was infected with the virus. Hai Duong health authorities have launched a contact tracing campaign to track down all people whod come in contact with the woman. "Patient 1553" is a 31-year-old employee at the Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province. He lives in Hong Ha Ward of the province's Ha Long Town. The airport received many repatriation flights amid the pandemic, and many arrivals on these flights have been confirmed Covid-19 patients. Recently, he went to a local hospital for a health check after developing fever, cough and a sore throat. He was confirmed positive with the novel coronavirus once on Wednesday night. The second test results confirmed early Thursday that he was positive. Both patients are being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. Vietnam now has recorded 1,553 cases, including 85 active patients. Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said at an urgent meeting late Wednesday night that experts would be sent to Hai Duong from Hanoi to conduct mass testing in the area where "Patient 1552" lives. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam noted that with the Lunar New Year festival coming close, Hai Duong has to make all efforts to locate the infected areas within 10 days and contain the outbreak as soon as possible. Mumbai: A documentary on the violent protest in Washington, in which thousands of supporters of outgoing US President Trump stormed the Capitol Hill building, has started streaming on streamer Discovery Plus from Thursday. Titled Storming the Capitol: The Inside Story", the documentary aims to piece together the incident of January 6, 2021, when scores of Trump supporters clashed with police, interrupting a constitutional process by Congress to affirm the victory of the then President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the election. It captures the disastrous consequence of a divisive and false narrative being fed to an increasingly radicalised set of people", Discovery Plus said in a statement. ITVs Robert Moore, producer Sophie Alexander and cameraman Mark Davey were the only news team inside the building when the protests turned violent. In the documentary, Moore narrates the unprecedented events of that day with unseen footage from his time inside the Capitol. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died in the protests. The documentary is currently streaming on Discovery Plus. 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 India on Thursday urged Japan to green light proposals to boost health care in its northeast including a hospital in Nagaland and a cancer specialty and research centre in Mizoram under the aegis of the Japan India Act East Forum. The two countries also discussed other areas of cooperation besides reviewing the status of projects under implementation in Indias sensitive northeast including roads, water supply and hydel power. The discussions took place under the framework of the Act East Forum which is headed by foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on the Indian side and the ambassador Suzuki Satoshi on the Japanese side. Established in 2017, the Act East Forum frames, evaluates and facilitates Japan-India collaboration in connectivity and developmental projects in and with the North Eastern region of India. Ongoing projects in the region are worth 231 billion yen or approximately 1,600 crore, according to the Japanese embassy in New Delhi. According to the Indian foreign ministry agriculture, fisheries, agro-industries, promotion of tourism, urban development forestry and connectivity are potential areas of cooperation. In his remarks, Shringla pointed out that healthcare is another important area and I would request for your attention to the pending proposals, which are the establishment of 400 bedded teaching hospital in Kohima and a Super Speciality Cancer and Research Centre in Mizoram, besides the project on Strengthening of Health Systems and Excellence of Medical Education in Assam." On its part, Japan attaches great importance to the cooperation for the development of Indias North East, anchored by its historical ties, trust and friendship. The North East stands at a place strategically important to realise a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific; and Japan is proud to have been a partner with the people of North East in their aspirations for a better and sustainable future," a Japanese embassy official said. Japan is one of few countries to be involved in development activity in the region one of the others being Singapore. New Delhi views the region as a natural link with Southeast Asia. New Delhi has been looking to step up cooperation between its northeast and countries around it like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar besides the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the aim of raising the living standards of people given that the region has been as under-developed and a hotbed of militancy and separatists groups. In recent years, the Indian government has signed peace pacts with key militant and separatist groups, which has brought peace to the region. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The 83rd WCO Fellowship Programme, intended for French-speakers, was launched on Monday 25 January 2021. Mr. Ebenezer Gebding Tafili, Deputy Director Capacity Building, welcomed the 12 Fellows very warmly during his opening address. This introduction serves as a prelude to a series of conferences given by WCO experts and to an in-depth study on a technical subject of their choice, which they will prepare under the supervision and guidance of a WCO tutor. This research work will include recommendations to their respective administrations for possible subsequent implementation. This Programme forms part of the WCOs initiatives to develop the management capacities of Member administrations in support of Customs Reform and Modernization programmes. It is designed to provide promising managers from Member administrations with access to and further familiarization with WCO and international standards, tools and instruments, but also with training in supervisory and management techniques, so as to help them carry out reform and modernization within their respective administrations in a dynamic and sustainable manner. In view of the COVID-19 situation, new delivery arrangements have been designed, following a blended learning approach (combining online and face-to-face sessions). This first component, with a 3-week duration, will be delivered entirely remotely. As for the other components (i.e. the Leadership and Management Development workshop and the field study trip within a partner administration), they will be delivered in a face-to-face mode and scheduled as soon as health and travel restrictions allow. The French-speaking Fellowship Programme is funded by the Customs Administrations of Japan and France and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Korea. List of countries participating in the 83rd Fellowship Programme: Algeria, Brazil, Burundi, Cap Verde, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Moldova, Senegal and Togo. For more information please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org Chinese President Xi Jinping hears a work report delivered via video link from Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on the Macao SAR government's work in 2020 and Macao's current situation, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2021. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping on Wednesday heard a work report via video link from Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on the Macao SAR government's work in 2020 and Macao's current situation. Xi highlighted the work of Ho and the SAR government to tame the COVID-19 epidemic in Macao in a fairly short period, as a result of quick response and forceful measures. No new local infections have been reported in Macao for more than 300 days, an achievement highly appreciated by local society, according to Xi. "While preventing and controlling the COVID-19 epidemic, effective measures have been taken to restore the economy and overcome the people's difficulties. These measures have achieved positive results and promoted social harmony in Macao," Xi told Ho. "The central authorities fully acknowledge the work you and the Macao SAR government have done," Xi said. He said the central authorities will continue to give full support to Macao in coordinating epidemic response with economic and social development. Xi also highlighted support to the SAR in improving its legal system for safeguarding national security and corresponding enforcement mechanisms, moving faster in promoting an appropriate level of diversity in its economy, better integrating into the country's overall development, and further advancing the successful "one country, two systems" practice with Macao characteristics. Ho expressed his sincere gratitude for the care and support provided to Macao by the central authorities. Ho said he will continue to lead people in Macao to break new ground for the practice of the "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics. Senior leaders including Han Zheng attended the event. Chinese President Xi Jinping hears a work report delivered via video link from Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on the Macao SAR government's work in 2020 and Macao's current situation, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2021. [Xinhua/Liu Bin] Chinese President Xi Jinping hears a work report delivered via video link from Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on the Macao SAR government's work in 2020 and Macao's current situation, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2021. [Xinhua/Wang Ye] (Source: Xinhua) Its hard to believe, but today marks seven years since the winter storm thats often referred to as Snowmaggedon in Alabama. The date was Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, and it wont be easily forgotten by those that were caught up in it. The winter storm spread snow and ice across parts of central and south Alabama, snarling traffic and trapping Alabamians in their cars, homes, schools or businesses with no way to get home. Snow totals ranged from zero to 3 inches, but it was the ice that really caused the problems. Isabelle, left, and Tristan Vuijik sled through the snow Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) AL.COMAL.COM The first layer of snow that fell that day melted and then refroze on roadways, turning interstates into skating rinks and causing 731 car wrecks across the state, according to the National Weather Service and Alabama State Troopers. Nine people were killed in car accidents during the storm, according to the weather service. It was a forecast nightmare for meteorologists. Temperatures days before the storm struck were balmy for January, with highs in the 50s and 60s. But then came an arctic front, which sent temperatures plummeting. It also brought a lot of drier air with it. MARGARET, Alabama -- St. Clair County residents in Margaret try to dig out and clear roads near there homes. Road crews are busy dealing with major highways so neighbors use whatever they can to clear roads so stranded vehicles can be moved. A puppy plays in the snow on Old Margaret Road. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comal.com Forecasters knew that precipitation was on the way, but the drier air in place led to lots of uncertainty about how long it would take for precipitation to get going across Alabama. There were also questions about how far north the wintry precipitation would make it and how cold it would get. Then the worst happened: Wintry precipitation started much sooner than forecasters anticipated. Temperatures fell faster and lower than they were supposed to. Snow fell farther north than expected, which was bad enough, and those warmer surface temperatures caused the earliest snow to melt once it hit the ground and then refreeze, turning roadways to sheets of ice. And that was just central Alabama. South Alabama got socked with heavy sleet and snow as well. The National Weather Service office in Mobile measured 1.3 inches of sleet at its west Mobile office on Jan. 28, and roads were deemed impassable across a large part of southwest Alabama. Macy Tobias, 6, makes a snow angel as she and several other children play in the ice on Fernway Street in Mobile as temperatures remain below freezing on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2014.(Sharon Steinmann/ssteinmann@al.com) Sleet covered the Interstate 10 bridge over Mobile Bay, according to the weather service and ice was at least an inch thick on bridges and overpasses in the Mobile metro area. Temperatures hovered near freezing the next day and led to slushy conditions on Mobile Bay and other local bodies of water, with icicles were observed on the pier at Dauphin Island. There are no signs of any snow on the horizon for Alabama anytime soon, according to the National Weather Service. There will be some rain over the weekend, but temperatures stay warm enough to erase any snow concerns. Paris, France, January 27th 2021 -- COVID-19 vaccine distribution has begun across the globe, while many countries are still struggling with the rampant rise of infections. Owkin, a French-American startup pioneering AI and Federated Learning in medical research, has been focusing it's COVID-19 research efforts on aspects of the pandemic that still require much public health attention, despite the arrival of an effective vaccine. Efforts to support frontline health systems as they devote their resources to the influx of COVID-19 related hospitalizations, have resulted in the AI-Severity Score, published in Nature Communications this week . This machine learning model, trained on multimodal data sets that include CT scans of the lungs (a routine procedure upon admission), is plug and play and able to predict the severity of a patient's disease prognosis with a performance that surpasses all other currently published score benchmarks. Use of these scores supports hospital resource management and planning, a sometimes overlooked function that, when managed well, saves lives. This research was made possible through a consortium, called ScanCovIA, made up of Institut Gustave Roussy, Kremlin-Bicetre APHP, Owkin, and Digital Vision Center of CentraleSupelec and INRIA. Additionally, Owkin has been developing other machine learning models to discover more coronavirus epitopes that are most likely to be effective in future vaccines As the virus continues to mutate, we don't yet know how long the current vaccines will remain efficacious or if, like the flu, they will require annual or semi annual development. Furthermore, it may be possible to develop vaccines for genes within the virus's DNA that are more stable, and less likely to mutate. Epitope prediction can speed vaccine development by narrowing the field of epitopes to test in the lab, and it can diversify our defenses against the virus's future mutations. Furthermore, these models can be deployed outside vaccine research; they can also be used in oncology research. The ultimate aim of machine learning for epitope discovery is to have a better understanding of the immune response--these features of the model have their place across the spectrum of precision medicine research. ### About Owkin The French-American startup specialises in AI and Federated Learning for medical research. It's multidisciplinary team of 100 people has expertise in the analysis of real-world data and experience leveraging advanced machine learning technologies on multimodal cohorts. Co-founded in 2016 by Dr Thomas Clozel M.D., a clinical research doctor and former assistant professor in clinical hematology, and Dr Gilles Wainrib, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence in biology, Owkin has recently published ground breaking research at the frontier of AI and medicine in Nature Medicine, Nature Communications and Hepatology. The Owkin platform connects several of the largest medical research centres and pharmaceutical companies in Europe and the US within a federated research ecosystem. Owkin unlocks medical insights from siloed datasets to help life science companies discover new drugs, identify novel biomarkers, optimise clinical trials and accelerate patient diagnosis. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Mining and manufacturing must be supported for ensuring a sustained turnaround in the economy With the Union Budget 2021-22 just around the corner, there is room for optimism. Going by market reports, green shoots may already be sprouting, indicating an economic turnaround is taking place. In fact, in its December State of the Economy report, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revealed that the nation is emerging from the economic slump much faster than anticipated. Meanwhile, the Centre is aware that the Budget needs to provide a robust push to ensure that the turnaround momentum is sustained. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has already given strong indications that the upcoming Budget will surpass any other presented during the past century. Leveraging opportunities To ensure a complete recovery from the pandemic, the Centre should continue its efforts to boost domestic production for making Atmanirbhar Bharat a ground reality through the requisite incentives and policy measures. Sitharamans all-important Budget should focus on providing greater momentum to the recovery process. To begin with, the government needs to increase its spending on infrastructure and other core sectors in driving a sustained growth momentum across India. The proper mix of progressive policies and select incentives are imperative to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in mining, which can pave the way for adopting modern exploration technologies fostering sustainable practices. In the meantime, just as in the case of coal, more metals and minerals must be opened for exploration. The government should also ensure that restrictions on the pricing and marketing of minerals are lifted across all states, including the e-auction regime in Karnataka for iron ore. Besides boosting exports, this will provide parity across states, giving the economy a fillip. Opening up mining and incentives for the manufacturing sector will also benefit MSMEs. Contributing 30 percent to the Indian gross domestic product (GDP), the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been described as the backbone of the country by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Furthermore, MSMEs have also created 110 million jobs. Reforms in core sectors Given these facts, mining and manufacturing must be supported for ensuring a sustained turnaround in the economy. No doubt, till date the Centre has initiated many measures in supporting industries allied with natural resources, which includes mining and oil. Nevertheless, the deep disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic mean more policy reforms remain the need of the hour for fast-tracking economic recovery. For example, policy reforms are essential to conduct speedier auctions and ensure environmental approvals are granted in a time-bound, transparent manner. Additionally, the mining industry should be branded along similar lines as that of manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission. Mining being a capital-intensive sector, vibrant branding backed by tax stability as well as predictability of returns will help in attracting domestic investments and FDI. Moreover, taxes without any input credit must be avoided and retrospective tax issues, as well as disputes under the previous tax regime, need to be resolved on a war footing according to merit. Another important policy reform lies in lowering the tax rate to a flat 15 percent for investments in oil, mining and manufacturing. Such a measure will ascertain there are adequate investments, including FDI, both in mining as well as oil and gas exploration. This will augment domestic supplies while saving foreign exchange. Presently, the nation imports almost 85 percent of its crude oil despite having 75 million-plus barrels of oil. This is the equivalent of in-place resources sufficient for meeting Indias needs for 25 to 30 years. Steps such as the lowering of cess from a steep 20 percent to around 68 percent on domestic crude oil, the timely extension of contracts, on the same terms, and a global fair price for crude would benefit all stakeholders while increasing investor confidence too. Therefore, Union Budget 2021 should announce financial allocations and incentives for attracting greater national and global investments in mining and hydrocarbon exploration. MSMEs in ancillary sectors will also benefit from this, expanding GDP growth as around 60 million units in this segment contribute to 45 percent of Indias industrial production and 40 percent of the total exports. The Budget must also announce an enabling policy framework focussing on production rather than revenue. In the days ahead, higher production will automatically generate greater revenues. Finally, one expects the Budget to rationalise the tax regime for mining, including crude oil. While offering the sector much-needed relief, it will also help in advancing a quicker economic bounce back. The writer is Group CEO and Chief Safety Officer, Vedanta Ltd The death has occurred of Katherine (Kitty) Flynn (nee Woulfe) of Curragh, Castlemahon, Limerick. Died on 27th January 2021, peacefully at UHL. Predeceased by her husband Jim and sister Nancy. Deeply regretted by her nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours, relatives and friends. In accordance with government guidelines, a private family funeral Mass will take place at Castlemahon Church this Saturday 30th of January at 12 oclock. Burial afterwards in the local cemetery. The death has occurred of Helena (Nellie) Doherty (nee O'Dwyer) of Greenfields, Rosbrien, Limerick and late of Milford Nursing Home. On January 27th 2021 peacefully in the wonderful care of Milford Care Centre. Beloved wife of the late Jim. Dearly loved mother of Bill, Kathryn, Martina and Helen. Sadly missed by her daughter-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandson, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, relatives and friends. The funeral cortege will pass Helenas residence in Greenfields at approx. 9.30am this Saturday (30th January), en-route to a private Requiem Mass for family at 1.00pm in Faithlegg Church, Co. Waterford followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Helenas requiem Mass will be live steamed. The death has occurred of Michael Hayes of Farnane Franklin, Cappamore, Limerick. On January 28th 2021 peacefully at Millbrae Lodge Nursing Home, Newport, Co. Tipperary. Deeply regretted by his loving sister Catherine, niece Carmel, cousins, neighbours, relatives and friends.Arriving on Monday 1st February at St. Michaels Church Cappamore for requiem Mass at 11.30 am., followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium at 2pm. The death has occurred of Margaret (Peggy) Hayes of Castle Erkin, Pallasgreen, Limerick. Peggy, passed away (peacefully) in the tender care of the staff of St. Michael's Nursing Home, Caherconlish. Predeceased by her siblings John,Tommy and Noreen. Deeply regretted by her brother Tim, sister-in-law Eileen, nephews, niece, all other relatives and friends. A private requiem Mass, for family only, will take place in Arch Bishop Dermot O'Hurley Memorial Church, Caherline, on Saturday (January 30th) at 11.30am. Mass will be live streamed (please note due to poor Internet coverage in the area, Mass will be available to view from 1.45pm on Saturday) with funeral afterwards to Abington Cemetery, Murroe. The death has occurred of Arthur Murphy of Bloodmill Road, Singland, Ballysimon, Limerick. Late of Irish Rail, Arthur died (peacefully) at his residence. Very deeply regretted by his loving wife Mary, son Tony, daughter-in-law Sinead, grandchildren Karen, Jack and Lorna, sisters Kathleen Harte and Lillian O'Rahilly, the extended Murphy and O'Connor families and friends. A private requiem Mass, for family only, will take place in St. Johns Cathedral, on Tuesday (February 2nd) at 11am and will be streamed live. Funeral afterwards to Mount St. Lawrence (extension) Cemetery. In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. House private, please. The death has occurred of Marie O'Connor (nee Canty) of Lynwood Park, Ballysimon Road, Limerick City. Late of McGovern's Menswear, William Street. Marie, died (peacefully) at Millbrae Lodge Nursing Home, Newport. Beloved wife of the late John (Sean) O'Connor. Dearly loved mum of Valerie and Leo. Sadly missed by her cherished grandchildren Niall, Avril, Ciara, Jordan, Alannah and Sean, son-in-law Kieran Compton, daughter-in-law Jennifer O'Connor, sister Dolores Rice, brothers Eddie and Gerard, nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, extended family and many friends. A private requiem Mass, for family only, will take place in St. Brigid's Church, St. Patrick's Road, on Friday (January 29th) at 11am. Mass will be live streamed. Funeral afterwards to Mount St. Oliver Cemetery. Marie's funeral cortege will pass the family home after Mass on Friday, to enable neighbours and friends to pay their respects. In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. The death has occurred of Christy Stenson of Kilnasoolagh Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare / Burke Avenue, Limerick. Peacefully, at home, in the care of his loving family. Predeceased by his daughter Sinead. Deeply regretted by his cherished wife Veronica, his sons Keith, Ian, his sons in Canada Mark and Alan, their partners, his brother in laws, sister in laws, nieces and nephews, grandson Jace, granddaughters Bea and Jessie and all of his relatives and dear friends. Arriving at Shannon Crematorium, on Sunday, 31st of January, at 1pm. Due to HSE Covid-19 guidelines - the house is strictly private. The death has occured of Martin Carey, Tankardstown, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. On January 27th 2021. Peacefully in the care of all at Caherass, Nursing Home, Croom. Very deeply regretted by his family and friends. Due to the current government best practice guidelines, Martin's Funeral which will be confined to family and close friends only, please, will arrive Saturday, the 30th, for 12 noon Requiem Mass at S.S Peter and Paul's Church, Kilmallock with burial afterwards in Patrickswell Cemetery, Lough Gur. Martin's Funeral will be live streamed on www.kilmallockparish.ie Vancouver: Public condemnation has grown over a wealthy Vancouver couple who allegedly flew to a remote Indigenous community in Yukon Territory to get vaccinated for the coronavirus. Marc Miller, Canadas federal Indigenous Services minister, said he was disgusted by the purported actions of Rodney Baker and his wife, Ekaterina, who have been issued tickets under Yukons Emergency Measures Act and face fines of up to C$1000 Canadian ($1020) plus fees. Baker resigned on Sunday as Great Canadian Gaming Corporations president and chief executive after a media report of his actions. Former casino chief executive Rodney Baker and his wife, actress Ekaterina Baker. Credit:Facebook That is maybe the dumbest thing Ive seen in a long while, Miller said. I dont know what went through those peoples minds. There is extreme scarcity of the doses and for some reason people tried to game the system. Its unfair. Its wrong. They need personal reflection. LINCOLN PARK, MI -- A pizza delivery driver is recovering from an assault that left him laying in the middle of the street and his car being stolen. According to WXYZ Detroit, Michael Suave was attacked Monday night while delivering a pizza to a home on White Avenue. While waiting on the porch of the home he was supposed to deliver to, a man yelled out to him that Suave was at the wrong house. When Suave walked back toward the street, that man and three others attacked him. Suave said one of the men pulled out a shotgun and the others started beating on him. One of the men used a stun gun on Suave, so he was unable to defend himself. Suave suffered injuries in the attack including needing 18 stitches to close a gash in his head. The men then stole the 2010 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor that Suave had purchased just days prior to the attack. Police spotted the stolen vehicle shortly after the assault and pursued the car, however speeds eventually reached 100 MPH leading police to call off the chase. The car was eventually found abandoned in Dearborn Heights. Suave said that police told him a similar incident also happened in Inskter Monday night. Anyone with information regarding the assault is asked to contact Lincoln Park Police at 313-381-1800. READ MORE: Man dead, woman critically injured after double shooting in Flint Missing Bay City family found dead in northern Michigan Michigan man says he surveilled Gov. Whitmers home in kidnap plot Ant Group Co. is planning to turn itself into a financial holding company overseen by Chinas central bank, responding to pressure to fall fully in line with financial regulations, according to people familiar with the matter. Chinese regulators recently told Ant, which is controlled by billionaire Jack Ma, to become a financial holding company in its entirety, subjecting it to more stringent capital requirements, the people said. Ant, in response, has submitted to authorities an outline of a restructuring plan, they said. The plan represents a significant turnaround by a digital-payments juggernaut that has in recent years tried to shed its image as a financial-services provider and fashion itself as an internet-technology company, which helped it command lofty valuations. Before its blockbuster initial public offering was called off in November, Ant had been on track to go public at a valuation north of $300 billion, well above the market capitalizations of the worlds biggest banks. Designating Ant in its entirety as a financial holding company wasnt something earlier envisioned by the companys executives and stakeholders. In its listing prospectus last year, Ant said it intended for one of its subsidiaries to become a financial holding company and house its licensed financial businesses such as asset management and consumer lending. Doing this at the group level will subject Ant to a thicket of regulations similar to those that govern banks, and affect its growth and profitability. The restructuring plan, still under deliberation, could be finalized before China goes on a weeklong Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February, people familiar with the matter said. Any final plan will need a signoff from the Financial Stability and Development Committee, a superregulator chaired by Vice Premier Liu He, two of the people said. An Ant spokesman declined to comment. The Peoples Bank of China, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission and the State Council Information Office didnt comment. Ant owns Alipay, a payments and lifestyle app with more than one billion users in China. It handled more than $17 trillion of digital payment transactions in the year to June 2020, originated unsecured short-term loans to roughly 500 million people, and sells many insurance policies, mutual funds and other investment products. Ants payments business and other financial services have been subject to some regulations, but the group as a whole has long been spared from the stringent capital requirements and rules that banks, insurers and other traditional financial institutions have been subject to. In December, four Chinese regulators summoned Ant executives to a meeting and demanded the company rectify what they said were problems in its businesses. In a statement after it, Pan Gongsheng, a PBOC deputy governor, chastised Ant for despising" regulatory compliance and engaging in regulatory arbitrage," without providing specifics. Mr. Pan said regulators have laid out five demands for Ant, telling it to return to its payment roots, safeguard personal data in its credit business, set up a financial holding company, improve corporate governance and exercise more disciplines in its securities and asset-management businesses. Putting all of Ants businesses under a financial holding company would give regulators oversight of all its activities, and eliminate the potential for regulatory arbitrage, according to one of the people familiar with the plan. The new structure will make it harder for Ant to shuffle its overall portfolio among its constituent units, which has allowed it to disguise risks by shifting them to more lightly regulated parts of the conglomerate, said Eswar Prasad, a former head of the International Monetary Funds China division and a professor of trade policy and economics at Cornell University. Financial regulators were concerned that Ants regulatory arbitrage had allowed the company to provide a rosy picture of its overall financial position and hide the financial risks engendered by its aggressive expansion into new lines of business," he said. Ant has formed a working group, led by Chief Executive Simon Hu, to work with regulators on how to rectify its businesses. The company has appointed a chief compliance officer to oversee day-to-day compliance and restructuring work. Top Chinese financial regulators recently hinted they are happy with the progress being made at Ant. On Tuesday, when asked during a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum if Ant would revive its IPO, PBOC Gov. Yi Gang said that if laws and regulations are followed, you will have the result." He said consumers are broadly satisfied with Alipay, but Ant has to resolve issues such as complaints over data privacy before getting back on track. Ant is working on segregating customer data that is currently shared across its business units to put in place protocols that are common at banks, according to people familiar with the matter. Alipay has amassed a trove of data on many peoples spending habits and payment patterns, and has been leveraging it to provide loans and sell investment products to its users. It is a key reason the company has been able to grow quickly and diversify its business in recent years. Chinas new rules for financial-holding companies, released last fall, apply to large conglomerates holding two or more financial businesses. They took effect on Nov. 1. and affected companies have one year to submit applications to become a regulated financial holding company to the PBOC. The new measures for financial-holding companies include regulatory requirements on shareholders, management, sources and uses of funding, risk management and corporate governance. They also require injecting additional capital into financial subsidiaries whenever necessary. If Ants overhaul is implemented, the companys revenue and profit growth could be significantly curtailed. Ant may also have to raise substantial capital to meet the regulatory requirements, and the companys lofty valuationwhich was premised on its profitability and growth potentialcould also take a hit. Ant has already moved to cut borrowing limits for individual users of its digital lending services, a sign it is downsizing its business to comply with regulations. It is unclear how the restructuring would affect Ants nonfinancial businesses such as blockchain-technology development, digital-lifestyle services and artificial-intelligence technology, areas the company has previously identified as growth drivers. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 27th January 2021 Runtime 2:07:22 4 mining company CEO's joined us from around the world for an excellent Natural Resources Investor Briefing, the first London South East event of 2021. An online audience of 542 saw interesting and informative live presentations from Brad George, CEO at Orosur Mining (LSE:OMI), the Columbian gold explorer, George Bennett, CEO at Rainbow Rare Earths (LSE:RBW), David Archer, CEO at Savannah Resources (LSE:SAV) who are developing Lithium projects in Portugal and Mozambique, and Werner Klingenberg, CEO at Goldplat (LSE:GDP) the gold recovery specialist. Each presenter took live questions from the audience after updating their business plans. To be sent alerts to our company content please subscribe to London South East YouTube or follow us on Twitter @LondonSouthEast. Here is the full video of the evening, with timings for each presentation below. Brad George: Presentation 02:17 - Q&A 18:11 George Bennett: Presentation 34:17 - Q&A 53:15 David Archer: Presentation 1:00:39 - Q&A 1:21:08 Werner Klingenberg: Presentation 1:32:04 - Q&A 1:59:29 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. Mining near Yaganti led to damage to a stone beam in the temple. DC Image Kurnool: The south zone director of Archaeological Survey of India, Dr G. Maheshwari, has advised the Andhra Pradesh government to show seriousness in protecting heritage buildings threatened by indiscriminate mining activities. The Yaganti temple in this district, which was damaged recently, is a nationally protected monument and the rock stone cannot withstand seismic vibrations from mining blasts, she noted here on Thursday. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle from her Bengaluru office, Dr Maheswari said: We are deeply shocked at the damage caused to the temple due to mining blasts in the proximity of the temple. It is the duty of the government to protect heritage and preserve such buildings for posterity," she said. Yaganti temple rocks cannot withstand impactful vibrations. They are feeble rocks and must be protected from external damage, she said. Dr Maheshwari said the area in and around the temple has limestone deposits of high quality. "We are not objecting to the government exploiting mineral resources but what is appalling is that the heritage of this nation is being destroyed by such policies of governments. Narrating the experience of preserving the Shiva Parvathi Karthikeya temple in Ballari district of Karnataka where iron ore was mined, she said the ASI prevailed upon the state government to use latest technologies like lower-pressure blasting without vibrations, as is developed by the National Institute of Rock Mechanics. I appeal to the government of Andhra Pradesh to deploy such systems when mining is done near the Yaganti temple too. She thanked Deccan Chronicle for highlighting the plight of the temple damaged by mining blasts. "The government of AP is not supposed to do mining in ways that would damage national heritage. They should stop open mining systems." Dr Maheshwari said some 15 years back, a bridge was built by locals connecting the Shiva temple and Vishnu temple. This was against the rules of protection of monuments though they argued that this would help pilgrims move between the two temples. Later, the bridge collapsed. Again we had to do a lot of conservation to bring it back to operation, she said. Brussels: The European Unions top migration official urged Hungary to change its approach to asylum policy and respect the rights of migrants after the blocs border agency, Frontex, took the unprecedented step of suspending operations in the country. Frontex said Wednesday, local time, that it is ceasing work in Hungary until the nationalist government brings its laws into line with a ruling by the EUs top court in December, which said the country is denying people entering without authorization the right to apply for asylum and unlawfully detaining them in transit zones. A sign reading: State Border is attached to a fence at Hungarys border with Serbia near the village Asotthalom, Hungary. Credit:AP The right to apply for asylum is a fundamental human right, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters after a videoconference between the 27-nation blocs interior ministers. This is what we need to defend and protect. I expect Hungary to change their policy and to let people to apply for asylum on their territory, she said. We cant have an agency like Frontex helping Hungary on stopping people to come to Hungary if they are not complying with their fundamental rights and EU law. Representative image Of all the pandemic questions bedeviling scientists, the one that Juan Perilla is asking might be among the strangest: If a shrunk-down hand were to squeeze the coronavirus, would it squish, or would it shatter? Viruses like HIV tend to be on the softer side, smooshing down like a foam ball, whereas the ones that cause influenza are more brittle, prone to cracking like an egg, said Perilla, a biophysical chemist at the University of Delaware in Newark. Coronaviruses, he suspects, are somewhere in the middle, a sort of tactile Goldilocks in the world of infectious disease. Its something you never consider when you talk about viruses, Perilla said. But its part and parcel, he added, of trying to understand how a virion is strung together. Like many other microbes, viruses are known best as malady-toting motes of misfortune obvious grist for biologists keen to understand the inner workings of infection. But in recent years, physicists too have joined the field, eager to decipher how viruses cobble themselves together and move from place to place despite lacking most of the machinery that enables cells to replicate and run. Some physicists, like Perilla, are teasing apart the mechanical properties of virus particles, while others monitor the forces that bring the bits and pieces of viruses together or tear them apart. Some are even enlisting physics to design the next generation of COVID-19 treatments, whether by disrupting the forces that assemble viruses inside human cells or by creating a suite of self-replicating vaccines. 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 Once you understand how something works, you can understand how to sabotage it, said Jodi Hadden-Perilla, a biophysical chemist at the University of Delaware. (Perilla and Hadden-Perilla, a married couple, are professional collaborators.) Physics and virology are now so academically intertwined that their union has acquired a formal name: virus physics (or, to some, physical virology). And the data its pioneers produce can have consequences far beyond the microbial world. At the end of the day, said LaNell Williams, a virus expert and physicist at Harvard University, were trying to figure out what physics viruses already know. Simply complex Viruses are both absurdly simple and dizzyingly complex. Many are composed of little more than a tangle of genetic material stuffed into a protein coat not even enough for some scientists to consider them alive. They are entirely dependent on the inner workings of cells, and cannot make more of themselves without help from the life-forms they infect. And yet, under the right conditions, basic viral components can accomplish what many natural phenomena cannot: a process called self-assembly, combining their bits into neat, structured particles without any external forces to guide them, like cake ingredients mixing themselves into batter or snowflakes sprouting spontaneously out of room-temperature water. Its a beguiling question, Williams said: Why do ordered things form without any assistance? Scientists can recreate this mysterious process in laboratory test tubes. They swirl together hunks of genetic material and proteins in salty chemical soup, and watch the viruses erupt forth. Its remarkable, said Vinothan Manoharan, a biophysicist and engineer at Harvard University and Williams adviser. You have these pieces spontaneously coming together, without any active intervention: It just happens. Bill Gelbart, a physical-chemist-turned-virologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said it was this astounding buildability that drew him to viruses 20 years ago an unexpected midcareer transition. Other diseases, like cancer, could not be boiled down to their base components and assembled or disassembled at will. Even bacteria, some of the simplest and best understood life-forms, cant reform once ripped apart. Viruses are different. I was powerfully fascinated by the idea that an infectious virus particle can be made from scratch from purified components, Gelbart said. I think the Dr. Frankenstein in me got the better of me. I thought, I have to do that. That same desire has seeded dozens of virus physics labs around the globe (several of which cite Gelbart as an inspiration). Manoharans lab is one, focused on the assembly of bacteriophages, viruses that exclusively infect bacteria. The static pictures and diagrams in textbooks dont do viruses justice, Manoharan said. They tend to focus on the products of virus assembly. But the pieces within viruses the genomes and proteins start out as a dynamic jumble, and the chaotic motions are an obstacle for any virus that might organize itself into existence. Moreover, its components must find each other, without mistaking the cells cargo for its own. By and large, researchers dont yet have answers for how viruses solve this packaging problem. The process is especially complex for coronaviruses, which possess some of the largest known RNA-based genomes known to science. (RNA is a single-stranded cousin of the DNA that encodes the human genome.) But scientists have already figured out ways to spy on the coronavirus assembly process, and start to replicate it for themselves. A tight squeeze A crucial early step in the coronavirus construction is carried out by a protein called nucleocapsid, which wrangles the virus RNA into a tight conformation and holds it in place, so it can be more easily packaged. Jasmine Cubuk, a biochemist and biophysicist at Washington University in St. Louis, is using a microscopy technique called fluorescence resonance energy transfer, or FRET, to monitor these molecular tangos in real time. In a study that has not yet been published in a scientific journal, Cubuk and her colleagues showed that nucleocapsids are wiggly, which might help them shimmy around a host cell in search of their viral RNA partners. Cubuk compared the flexibility of nucleocapsids to fly casting, where the compliance of the line thats cast yields a larger capture radius and makes it easier to snare the target. Once nucleocapsid and RNA have partnered up, they cloister themselves from the surrounding molecules, like globs of oil separating out of a salad vinaigrette, Cubuk and her colleagues found. These movements appear to create concentrated pockets of viral material, and may help explain how the vast genome of the coronavirus gets packaged into something so tiny, Cubuk said. At the University of California, Riverside, a team led by physicist Roya Zandi has turned its lens to the next step of the process: bundling the virus newly condensed genome into its fatty, fragile outer coat, called the envelope. To accomplish this, the virus must steal some of its host cells greasy membranes, while interlacing proteins of its own. Zandi and her colleagues, using computational models and simulations, are testing how human and virus ingredients come together. One point of fascination, she said, is how the virus forces its outer packaging to curve around it, transforming the pathogen into an intricate, spike-studded sphere. The membrane has to bend quite a lot around such a big genome, she said. What kind of interactions between proteins can induce that? The knowledge contained within these experiments can teach scientists not just how to build viruses, but how to destroy them as well. Breaking a virus Decades of work have reaffirmed that the virus assembly process is extraordinarily fickle. Tweak one variable and the whole contraption falls apart, or never forms. That frailty is exactly what many researchers are counting on. Adam Zlotnick, a biophysicist at Indiana University Bloomington, specializes in disrupting virus assembly. An obvious strategy, he said, would be to introduce a drug or other treatment to slow or stop the building of new viruses. But he and his colleagues have found that using drugs to speed up the process can also prove disastrous. Unable to wriggle into the proper configuration, or to correct initial errors, the virus bits and pieces might glue together improperly, layering mistakes atop mistakes until the entire structure is malformed. If you make it go a little bit faster, thats bad, you get more virus, said Zlotnick, who compared the acceleration to the chaos that might unfold if an assembly line was moving too fast. But a lot faster? Its going to screw up and make defective particles. Zlotnick has spent much of his career working on the hepatitis B virus, and has helped to develop drugs that can foil the pathogens assembly process, some of which are now in clinical trials. Although the coronavirus is a very different beast, it could someday be vulnerable to the same general strategy, Zlotnick said. Other researchers are eyeing another step in the virus-building pipeline: the generation of virus genes, before they are packaged into their protein capsules. Carlos Bustamante, a biophysicist at the University of California, Berkeley, is set on sabotaging a protein called polymerase, which copies the coronavirus genome. The polymerase zooms over a stretch of RNA and replicates it letter for letter, a process that requires an intimate connection between the molecules and enough force to propel the protein. That force can be measured with a tiny set of optical tweezers a laser that hooks on to one end of the polymerase, using a microscopic glass bead, and pulls in the direction opposite the proteins path. We are playing tug of war, Bustamante said. Every time it moves, it has to pull us. The hope, he said, is to understand the tug well enough to design a drug that blocks the RNA-copying process. In Delaware, Perilla and Hadden-Perilla are studying a moment even earlier in the process, when the coronavirus enters a human cell and unravels its genome. This transforms the virus from a hardy infectious particle, which must move through the air and evade immune cells, into a naked and vulnerable template, unspooling itself for evaluation. The coronavirus is a shape-shifter, Hadden-Perilla said. But scientists dont fully understand how the virus can tell when its time to disrobe. Perilla said he suspected that some sort of signal inside human cells might trigger the virus shell to pop open and release its RNA. Thats the case for the Ebola virus, he said: It wants to open. Stopping that process could be vital to halting an infection before it spirals out of control. A more viral vaccine In his laboratory in Los Angeles, Gelbart is tackling a construction project of his own: the next great coronavirus vaccine. His vaccine, designed in collaboration with virus expert Otto Yang, contains two main ingredients, both inspired by ultrasimple viruses that consist of only RNA and protein. The first is an empty protein shell, derived from a harmless plant virus, studded with ready-made coronavirus spike proteins. This viruslike particle is, in a sense, a caricature of the coronavirus. It is not infectious in itself, but can teach the immune system to recognize the actual virus and fight it off, should it try to invade the body. The Gelbart teams vaccine also includes a second, spike-free virus shell containing RNA that can instruct human cells to churn out a second wave of coronavirus proteins. Shots developed by the companies Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use similar technology, and are already finding their way into arms around the world. But the RNA in these vaccines is fragile, capable of persisting for only a couple of days after injection, which limits the period when the immune system is exposed to the coronavirus spike protein. To prolong the RNAs tenure in the body, Gelbarts next-generation vaccine comes packaged with another molecule to copy the genetic material a few times over, with the hope that the body will both strengthen and lengthen its memory of the coronavirus. Early experiments in the lab suggest that the teams vaccine, which is still in its infancy, appears to elicit a more vigorous response from certain immune cells. No infectious virus would be produced, only a lengthy lesson for immune cells to learn from. At the heart of his teams idea is the ingenuity of viruses, which have already found success at entering their hosts unharmed and delivering their contents to cells. That process, Gelbart said, doesnt need much modification to become a safe and sustainable option to ward off future disease. Were learning from the virus, he said. How to protect RNA, and get it where you want it. For him and others in the field, the simplicity of viruses is the source of their appeal, and their strength one that humankind has yet to fully match. Cells want to kill them, societies want to kill them, Perilla, of the University of Delaware, said. And yet, they survive. By Katherine J. Wu c.2021 The New York Times Company Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris has re-affirmed Governments commitment to a Technological University for the South East. Minister Harris was speaking at a new Regional Engagement Advisory Group, attended by Presidents of IT Carlow and WIT and business leaders for the area. It is a significant priority for Government, myself as Minister and my Department that the South-East attains technological university status this year," he said. "This region is the only one without any university presence and that is a situation that is not good for the region and which must and will be rectified. The benefits of a TU are significant the ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment, to retain and create skills and employment in the region and to give students the highest quality education across all qualification levels, from apprenticeship to doctoral degrees, whilst residing in their own locality. I want the TU that emerges in the South-East to be a magnet for investment, a driver of regional access and development of all types and a catalyst for innovation and change. Tom Boland, a former Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), is the independent Programme Executive Director for the TUSEI consortium comprising the Carlow and Waterford Institutes of Technology. Minister Harris has met Mr Boland regularly about the project. This region has suffered greatly in successive global economic and financial crises and is crying out for an anchor within the higher education and enterprise landscape that can deliver real change and prosperity; I firmly believe this is what the new TU will do," said the Minister. I want also to emphasise that this is a TU for everyone in the region not just for Waterford or for Carlow but also for Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Laois and Kildare." The Midland Historical Society has worked with the Midland Community Theatre to create an exhibit celebrating the history of MCT. Last year, would have been MCTs 75th anniversary, but celebration plans and some plays were put on hold due to the pandemic. Society President Jim Collett said the exhibit has taken some time due to funding, then the museum being closed because of the pandemic and other delays. The society first started working on bringing all the resources together in October 2019. He expects the exhibit will open at the downtown museum 200 N. Main St. at the beginning of February. Im a historian by avocation and I have written two books on Midland, Collet said. However, Im not an actor and I didnt know a lot about theater. It has been fun to learn so much about MCT and see their archives that feature all their plays and programs. The exhibit heavily focuses on MCT founder Art Cole, who was also executive director for 37 years. At the beginning of the exhibit, there is a replica of Art Coles desk with programs and sketches that he made. Art Cole was a class to himself, Collett said. He was an actor, he was a director, obviously an artist and had great technical skills. He was also great at selling the plays. How many people can do all of those skills? Cole also created miniature 3D models of how sets should look, and MCT saved the minatures. Models from plays such as Hello Dolly, A Delicate Balance and Rodgers and Hart: A Musical Celebration are on display at the Midland County History Museum. There is also information about how Cole and his wife, Ruth, met Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. MCT has had three executive directors in its history and sections about past Executive Director Don Backman and current Executive Director Tim Jebsen also will be part of the exhibit. The Midland Community Theatre set people actually built some of the walls which mimic what a backstage area would look like, Collett said. When we open, we would like any volunteers of MCT to sign their names on the white walls and how they participated in different shows. We will also have a couple of journals where people can put their thoughts and those will become a permanent piece of our history. He said he hopes the backstage wall will be filled up to show the power of volunteers supporting community theater. Of course MCTs biggest fundraiser Summer Mummers is featured throughout with a TV playing scenes from old plays, Summer Mummers programs and a life-size cutout of Gigi the card lady, who held that position for 20-some years. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Romanian Border Police will host an operation organised by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency FRONTEX that will take place at the border with Serbia, designed to prevent and combat against illegal migration, the Romanian General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) reported on Thursday. According to an IGPF press statement, the joint operation called "Flexible Operational Activities Land 2021 (JO FOA Land 2021), will take place at the border with Serbia, in the jurisdiction of the Timisoara Border Police Inspectorate. The operation takes place at the level of nine sectors of the Border Police located on the land border, designed to prevent and combat against illegal migration at the external borders of the European Union. For the joint operation, 33 officials of the Frontex Agency and border authorities from Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Hungary will be deployed in 21 patrol vehicles. In various phases of the operation, according to IGPF, Romanian border police officers from the nine sectors of the Border Police which jurisdiction covers the border with Serbia will also participate. The entire JO FOA Land 2021 action takes place on the soil of several countries, with its implementation set at one year counting from January 27, 2021. "The purpose of the operation is to implement in a coordinated manner the operational activities carried out at the EU's external land borders to control illegal immigration flows to the member states of the European Union, to fight against cross-border crime, and to strengthen European cooperation," the release points out. IGPF also says that joint measures will be taken to prevent and counter the migration phenomenon at the land borders of the community, increase the efficiency of data and intelligence exchange among law enforcement authorities in these countries, as well as the efficiency of experience exchanges among European border guards. The operation will be fully funded by the FRONTEX Agency. Geological and grade continuity demonstrated for all 63 mineralized zones of the Beaufor mine Beaufor mine contains a Measured resource of 121,000 tonnes grading at 5.62 g/t Au for a total of 21,900 ounces of gold and an Indicated resource of 310,100 tonnes grading at 7.10 g/t Au for a total of 70,800 ounces Inferred resource estimated at 134,600 tonnes grading 6.96 g/t Au for a total of 30,100 ounces Mineral resource estimated using the polygonal method, based on muck samples and diamond drill hole data Resource estimate developed for an underground scenario using a cut-off grade of 3.20 g/t Au Additional diamond drilling would likely upgrade some of the Inferred resource to the Indicated category and would likely identify additional resources down-plunge and in the vicinity of known mineralization MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / MONARCH MINING CORPORATION ("Monarch" or the "Corporation") (TSX:GBAR) is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate for its advanced, wholly-owned Beaufor Mine project, 20 kilometres northeast of Val-d'Or. The Beaufor mine began commercial production in the early 1930s and over the years has produced over 1.1 million ounces of gold. The mine is currently on care and maintenance, which has given Monarch an opportunity to complete a 3D compilation and targeting program to identify, define and drill exploration targets throughout the mine area. In June 2020, the Corporation initiated a 42,500-metre diamond drilling program to test two types of targets: the areas around historical high-grade intersections near the existing underground infrastructure, and isolated resource blocks, which are typically defined by a single drill intersection. These "near-mine" exploration targets can be tested from the existing underground workings or by shallow holes drilled from the surface. Currently, 275 exploration holes are in the process of being drilled or are planned, and if they produce positive results, additional holes will be drilled to allow the zones in question to be converted into resources and ultimately reserves, for inclusion in a future mine plan. Along with the surface drilling, the underground portion of this exploration program has been ongoing since June 2020 with four underground drill rigs. The first series of underground assay results were reported in a press release dated October 1, 2020, while the first series of shallow, near-surface drill results were reported in a press release dated January 19, 2021. These recent drill results were not part of the current resource estimate. The current mineral resource estimate was prepared by Christian Tessier, P.Geo., of Monarch and reviewed and validated by Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., of InnovExplo Inc. of Val-d'Or (Quebec), using all available information. The 2020 mineral resource estimate included information up to October 27, 2020. The effective date of the 2020 MRE is December 18, 2020. The 2020 mineral resource estimate area covers an approximate strike length of 1.5 km by a width of 900 m, down to vertical depth of 1,200 m below surface. The project database used for the 2020 mineral resource estimate contained 10,009 drill holes (882,544 m) and 178,242 assays as at October 27, 2020. It comprises 63 distinct mineralized zones that generally follow east-west trending corridors in the granodiorite, generally in the vicinity of a contact with mafic volcanic rocks. The gold mineralization occurs predominantly in the quartz veins and sometimes with disseminated pyrite in the altered granodiorite in the wall rock of the quartz veins. The table below presents the results of the 2020 mineral resource estimate for the project at a 3.20 g/t Au cut-off grade for potential extraction methods as at December 18, 2020. Category Tonnes Grade (g/t Au) Gold (ounces) Measured 121,000 5.62 21,900 Indicated 310,100 7.10 70,800 Total M+I 431,100 6.68 92,700 Inferred 134,600 6.96 30,100 Mineral Resource Estimate notes: The independent and qualified person for the 2020 MRE, as defined by NI 43-101, is Carl Pelletier, P.Geo. (InnovExplo Inc.), and the effective date is December 18, 2020. These mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The mineral resource estimates follow CIM Definition Standards and Guidelines. A capping of 68.5 g/t Au on assays was applied for zones 8, B, M, M1 and Q, and 34.25 g/t for all other zones. The DDH intercepts (min. 2.4 m) were capped at 16.5 g/t. The estimate method was polygonal on cross-sections with a minimum width of 2.4 m using a density of 2.75 t/m3 for the 63 mineralized zones. Measured resource polygons extend 8 m above and below development and up to 10 m laterally. Indicated resource polygons extend up to 20 m from DDH intercepts, along dip and along strike and a minimum of 2 polygons need to be in contact. Inferred resource polygons extend up to 40 m from DDH intercepts, along dip and along strike where a drill spacing ranges from 20 m to 40 m and/or in areas of isolated drill holes where mineralization is known. The reasonable prospect for an eventual economical extraction is met by having a reasonable minimum width for the polygons, a cut-off grade of 3.20 g/t Au, application of constraining volumes on the blocks (potential underground scenario) below a 30 m crown pillar. The cut-off grades inputs are: a gold price of USD1,612/oz, a CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.34; a mining cost of $100/t for the long hole method and $145/t for the room and pillar method; a processing cost of $50/t; and G&A and environment of $13/t and includes the royalty of 1.0% and a refinery charge of $5/t. The cut-off grades should be re-evaluated in light of future prevailing market conditions (metal prices, exchange rate, mining cost, etc.). Results are presented in situ. Ounce (troy) = metric tons x grade / 31.10348. The number of tonnes and ounces was rounded to the nearest hundred. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations as per NI 43-101. InnovExplo Inc. is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issue that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate. "Monarch Mining continues to advance the Beaufor property in order to return it to commercial production," said Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch. "The resource estimate confirms that there is still significant mineralization in the mine. We plan to continue with our current exploration program aimed at identifying and drill-testing high-grade veins and vein extensions, with the ultimate goal of growing this resource and restarting gold production at the Beaufor Mine within 8 to 14 months to take advantage of the very favourable gold market." The technical and scientific content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Christian Tessier, P.Geo., the Corporation's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. About Monarch Monarch Mining Corporation (TSX: GBAR) is a gold mining, development, and exploration company, focused in the prolific Abitibi mining camp in Canada. The Corporation owns four advanced gold properties including the fully permitted past producing Beaufor Mine, which has produced over 1 million ounces of gold over the last 30 years. Other advanced assets include the Croinor Gold, McKenzie Break and Swanson properties, all located in the vicinity of its wholly owned and fully permitted 750 tpd Beacon Mill. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Monarch's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jean-Marc Lacoste President and Chief Executive Officer 1-888-994-4465 jm.lacoste@monarchmining.com Mathieu Seguin Vice President, Corporate Development 1-888-994-4465 m.seguin@monarchmining.com Elisabeth Tremblay Senior Geologist - Communications Specialist 1-888-994-4465 e.tremblay@monarchmining.com SOURCE: Monarch Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626428/Monarch-Mining-Updates-Mineral-Resource-at-the-Beaufor-Mine (Natural News) The authoritarian, criminal elites now control the Democrat Party and the upper echelon of the Republican establishment. With President Trump out of the way censored and framed for inciting insurrection the authoritarian Left now desire complete ideological control and surveillance over every American. In order to achieve complete subservience over the minds of Americans, the authoritarian criminal elite in the CIA, the FBI, the ATF and the NSA are now threatening the beliefs of 80 million Trump voters and classifying their motivations for freedom and justice as domestic terror. The Left have even considered rounding up the children of Trump supporters and putting them in re-education camps. John Brennan and the surveillance state to create KGB-style police state to control and intimidate Former CIA Director John Brennan is using the Capitol riot as an excuse to launch a new war-on-terror against American citizens. Former Hawaii Representative, Tulsi Gabbard is sounding the alarm over the Democrats new plan to launch a domestic War on Terror against American citizens, complete with surveillance of American insurgents which includes targeting religious extremists, fascists, bigots, the alt-right, racists, anti-government groups, health freedom advocates, white nationalists, truther groups, anti-LGBT conservatives, pro-life extremists, Constitutionalists, nativists and Libertarians. The Capitol riot is just one out of many riots that took place in the past year; however, almost every other riot that took place involved left-wing violence initiated by Antifa and Black Lives Matter. These riots were openly encouraged by the Left; the political violence was embraced by Democrats as a tool for political gain. Some Democrats, like Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters, openly called for violence against Trump supporters. As Democrats move forward with impeachment and continue to cast false blame on Trump for inciting insurrection at the Capitol, a case could be made that these democrats actually did incite insurrection throughout 2020. Nevertheless, its these authoritarian leftists who now dictate public policy, and they are now actively targeting their political opposition, starting with censorship on social media, mass surveillance, refusal of services throughout society, demonetization and de-banking, and now they are swiftly moving toward criminal charges and persecution for anyone who doesnt follow their authority. Tulsi Gabbard stands up to her authoritarian party, but she wont get far fighting against the Biden regime Tulsi Gabbard made a very important point: The mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6 to try to stop Congress from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities were behaving like domestic enemies of our country. But lets be clear, the John Brennans, Adam Schiffs, and oligarchs in Big Tech who are trying to undermine our constitutionally-protected rights and turn our country into a police state with KGB-style surveillance, are also domestic enemies, and much more powerful, and therefore dangerous, than the mob that stormed the Capitol. Gabbard, a registered Democrat, is calling on both parties in Congress to denounce Brennans effort to shred the constitution and take away civil liberties of all Americans. She is urging Joe Biden to condemn Brennans remarks. The former congresswoman declared, If you dont stand up to these people now, then our country will be in great peril. Now President Biden, I call upon you and all members of Congress from both parties to denounce these efforts by the likes of Brennan and others to take away our civil liberties that are endowed to us by our Creator and guaranteed to us by our Constitution. In October 2019, Biden supported putting people on a terror watch list if they oppose same sex marriage and transgenderism, so its safe to say that Gabbard is crying out to the wind when she appeals to Biden. If she continues to speak out of line, Gabbard may soon be put on a government watch list, too and be subject to social ostracizing and criminal indictment. H.R. 350 is already in the pipeline. This Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021 goes hand-in-hand with the Lefts plan to deprogram and persecute conservatives and Trump supporters while giving the authoritarian elite the power they crave to target anyone who doesnt fall in line with Biden regime. Sources include: GenZConservative.com NaturalNews.com Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, says the COVID-19 vaccine is still "on track" despite new drugmakers' threat to Europe's exports. Canada seeks reassurance as Europe impose export controls The European Union warned Tuesday that it might impose controls on European-made COVID-19 vaccines. Like Cana, Europe is being shorted on Pfizer deliveries this month as the drugmaker slows production in expanding its plant in Belgium. According to Global News, all of Canada's COVID-19 vaccine doses from Modern and Pfizer-BioNTech were manufactured in Europe and could pinch vaccine deliveries even further. But Prime Minister Trudeau is still confident that there will be no effect saying he spoke to both drugmakers recently to assure him delivery totals and timelines will be followed regardless of Europe mulling export controls. At a news conference in Ottawa, Trudeau told reporters that he spoke to Moderna's CEO regarding the recent deliberation of Europe. Canadian contract that was signed and the delivery schedule laid out will be followed, he claimed. The Prime Minister added, "political concerns" linked to COVID-19 vaccines rose specifically around the AstraZeneca manufacturing candidate. The EU accused AstraZeneca of failing to ensure the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines without valid explanations. Besides, it expressed displeasure over vaccine delivery delays from Pfizer, as per Global News. Read also: Four Men Caught in Human Trafficking of Vietnamese in the UK, Charged for Manslaughter Canada aims to get enough COVId-19 vaccines for all Canadians who want to be vaccinated by September. The target doses depend on the approval of other vaccines. Simultaneously, Moderna and Pfizer's planned delivery shots will make a crucial portion of the total required to meet the goal, including vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines were mainly produced in the U.K. Europe's initial doses. However, it is expected to come from Belgium and Germany, where there is a current delay. Although Health Canada has not yet approved, Trudeau said the country is currently doing plans to source its 20 million AstraZeneca COVId-19 vaccines from the European manufacturers. Earlier Tuesday, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, said in a tweet that the world's largest trading bloc would build "a vaccine export transparency system." Von der Leyen told the World Economic Forum's virtual event in Switzerland that Europe has invested billions in developing the world's first COVID-19 vaccines. Companies must deliver now and honor their obligations. Read also: Addam App: Tinder-Style App in Australia With Unique Feature for Parents Wannabe Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine deliveries have been delayed As Pfizer temporarily slowed vaccine production due to Belgium plant expansion, Europe also gets smaller vaccine doses shipments. AstraZeneca warned the region that vaccine shipments would be smaller than expected due to production issues. However, Europe, which invested over CA $4 billion in COVId-19 vaccine development, demands the companies to fulfill their contracts on time, The Globe and Mail reported. Europe is determined to contribute to the global common good, but it means business, von der Leyen said. International Trade Minister Mary Ng has spoken to her European counterpart, Valdis Dombrovskis, regarding the situation and keeps working with Europe to maintain the supply chain. European Union will not block COVID-19 vaccine exports to Canada According to the Montreal Gazette via MSN, the Trudeau government is urged to follow Europe's health minister, who accused a vaccine company of not living its moral and legal obligations due to delivery delays. There will be a shortfall in the 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses the European Union expects this winter, the company said. Trudeau said earlier today that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured him that requirements on COVID-19 vaccine exports wouldn't hit Canada's COVID-19 vaccine shipments from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech. Von der Leyen reiterated they were enacting an export transparency mechanism to ensure that European countries were aware of how many doses of COVID-19 vaccine made in Europe were being exported. Read also: Moderna CEO Believes COVID-19 is Here to Stay 'Forever' @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As digital reading and social media in China become more dominant in daily life, fewer people are reading books. This trend has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Retail book sales dropped by 5.08 percent in 2020, the first fall in two decades. Moreover, at the start of this year, at least 17 newspapers around the country announced their demise. At such a time, the launch of a literature app Xiao Niao ("little bird") Aves seems both timely and risky. The design is simple and neat. Its logo is a flying bird in paper-cutting style, with the slogan "in the name of literature". The articles are divided into five categoriesfiction, nonfiction, archive, column and poetry. Each article is presented with a picture, and basic information; title, author's name, the section it belongs to, a short sentence that provides a glimpse into the article and the publishing date, one article following another. Users can roll directly down to see them all. There are also different sections run by different editors or writers, such as Story Archipelago that carries the latest Western short stories edited by Peng Lun, Novelists that publish fictional works edited by Li Jingrui, and Going to the Best University That I Know, a series of essays created by journalist and writer Yang Xiao. One can read a part of the articles but will have to pay 12 yuan ($1.85) each to read the first three pieces. The price for access to a whole year's articles is 588 yuan, which many consider quite expensive. Comparatively, classic literary magazines are much cheaper. China's top literature bimonthly Harvest charges 180 yuan for a year's subscription, and now is offering 50 percent discount on online shopping platforms. However, Yang Ying, Xiao Niao Aves' editor-in-chief, says subscription levels during the first month after the app was launched in December are better than expected. "I actually don't know whether we have a promising future, but the reader base of simplified Chinese language is large enough, so even if one out of 10,000 readers is willing to pay for serious literature, the outlook for us is optimistic," she says. The introduction to Xiao Niao Aves states that the aim of this app is to "introduce good writers to good readers". There are universal standards about "good writers", just like what has been discussed in the essays by Italian writer Italo Calvino or American literary critic George Steiner, Yang says. "Good writers should be able to stand the test of time. In the internet age, seemingly every one can write online. Because publishing has become so easy, it is not as valued as it once was. Especially in the time of multimedia. If we still want to emphasize the power of literature, we must think about whether literature has adapted itself to such a change, and how we can attract new readers with new value," she says. "In terms of imagination or narration, among other perspectives, should literature follow the old styles, or we can find new methods to attract readers' attention back to text, which is a question that we can explore. As a result, 'good writers' or 'good readers' refer to people who are interested in such an exploration," Yang says. Xiao Niao Aves is fundamentally about literature, Yang emphasizes. "It's not only something that you can read on to kill time, or you can't even talk about with your relatives during Spring Festival, but something that can reflect the reality, including the past, the present and the future," she says. "If we can do it well, readers will realize that Xiao Niao Aves has mirrored the world broadly." The situation in Ukraines gas market, which is largely controlled by oligarchs in the network of regional suppliers, needs government intervention. "Efficient [energy] market needs a strong role of the state," Acting Energy Minister of Ukraine Yuri Vitrenko said during a video conference organized by the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council on January 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. According to him, the steps already taken by the Government to resolve the situation in the gas market are not enough. "When prices drop, mainly in the summer, it will seem that the problem is over. However, as soon as prices start to rise, the problem will become obvious. And that's why the Government should intervene," Vitrenko stressed. In this context, he said that his team is working, including with the International Monetary Fund, to find a systematic solution to the situation. "They [IMF] only say that the current measures taken quickly [by the Government] are not a sustainable solution. Now we and the IMF are working to develop a reliable solution," the official said. Vitrenko stressed that in order to achieve a stable situation in the energy sector, it is first necessary to ensure the rule of law, as well as transparency and integrity of the Ukrainian energy market. He also noted that systemic corruption, which poses a threat to the national security in general, remains a serious problem. "Very often, as we could see, corruption in Ukraine was stimulated and promoted by Russia. This is one of the examples of Russia's malicious influence, because they need a weakened and corrupt Ukraine," Vitrenko stressed. He added that the most corrupt officials in Ukraine were often backed by the Kremlin. Therefore, according to him, anti-corruption measures should also remain a top priority of Ukraine's agenda. As reported, on January 18, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decision to reduce the maximum gas price to UAH 6.99 per one cubic meter of gas. If suppliers refuse to provide gas to the population at such a price, their consumers will switch to the NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine as a supplier of last resort. At a meeting on January 19, the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities set the maximum tariff for gas distribution at UAH 1.79 per one cubic meter of gas. ol Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 18:55:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cabinet ministers in Uganda have approved the borrowing of 31.64 million U.S. dollars from the African Development Fund to boost the country's COVID-19 response measures. A government statement issued here Thursday said the ministers met Monday and agreed that the money would be used to finance the revenue shortfalls to strengthen the pandemic outbreak response mechanisms. The statement said laboratory testing capacity and diagnosis would be scaled up by at least 5 percent through provision of testing kits, consumables and accessories. The current Intensive Care Units (ICU) would be increased by an additional 140 ICU beds distributed equally to 14 regional referral hospitals across the country. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment would be distributed in areas of mass gatherings including border points and at Entebbe International Airport, according to the statement. Uganda, according to the Ministry of Health, is grappling with the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases since the first case was registered in March 2020. As of Jan. 26, the country had a cumulative total of 39,314 COVID-19 cases, 14,114 recoveries and 318 deaths since March last year. Enditem Passenger traffic at the Colorado Springs Airport fell to a 37-year low of 363,845 in 2020, but the arrival of Southwest Airlines in March and expansion by other carriers is expected to double that total this year. Southwest will begin service to Colorado Springs on March 11 with 13 flights to Chicagos Midway International Airport, Love Field Airport in Dallas, Denver International Airport, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Stephen M. Keller, 2020 There was the Air Force veteran inside the Senate Chamber during the Capitol riot wearing tactical gear, and the New Jersey reservist who works at a naval weapons station. There was the Air Force veteran shot and killed by beleaguered Capitol police as she shoved through a shattered window. The presence of service members and vets at the Capitol riot should have come as no surprise to a Pentagon that has long downplayed the problem of white nationalism and far-right activism in the ranks despite warnings for decades. The number of service members involved on Jan. 6 is still unclear, but National Public Radio reported Jan. 21 that of more than 140 rioters charged to date, nearly 20% were serving or former military. The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies. But we cant do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks, the new defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, warned Congress. The Biden team is now scrambling to assess the threat of domestic extremism, a threat inflamed by the Trump White House. Suggestion: Take a look at the approach of another country facing far-right infiltration of its armed forces. Despite the differences in their history, America can learn from Germanys response. READ MORE: Biden's first foreign policy test will be fixing the vaccine mess | Trudy Rubin So argues Cynthia Miller-Idriss, author of Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right and head of the Polarization and Extremism Lab at American University. U.S. officials must take this threat to national security as seriously as their German counterparts have done, she writes in the December issue of Foreign Affairs, or they risk imperiling the constitutional protections that law enforcement and the military are sworn to uphold. Of course, Germany has a history that has made the country especially sensitive to right-wing violence. Even there, the authorities long viewed such extremism in the military and security services as individual bad apples. No more. Last year, Germany uncovered networks of rank-and-file sympathizers in the countrys security services. Germanys domestic intelligence service recorded more than 1,400 cases of suspected far-right extremism among soldiers, police officers, and intelligence agencies in the three years prior to March 2020. Spurred by hostility to the arrival of 1.5 million mostly Muslim refugees in 2015-16, German police and military have been joining far-right chat rooms and sharing neo-Nazi propaganda and talking of Day X the mythical moment when Germany will collapse and the far right take over. A whole company of Germanys elite special forces was disbanded last year after explosives, weapons, and SS memorabilia were stolen. German officials are still learning how to cope with far-right infiltration of law enforcement, but their methods of response provide (controversial) food for American thought. We have a better idea of the scope of the problem, I was told by Daniel Koehler, director of the German Institute on Radicalization and De-Radicalization Studies in Stuttgart. Germany has a huge number of governmental and nongovernmental programs aimed at preventing and combating violent extremism known by their acronyms as PVEs and CVEs. PVE programs include a long tradition of civic education, said Koehler. They offer basic knowledge about rule of law, and the meaning of pluralism, along with lessons on fake news, and debates on current political issues. PVEs also include health and family counseling. German intelligence tracks extremists, even those who havent committed criminal acts. A military intelligence bureau identifies all extremists in the armed services. This is possible, said Koehler, because Germany has a clear definition of extremism, how it affects democracy and human rights. Without a clear definition, you cant confront it. If someone believes people should have different rights because of religion or race that is extremist. You have to screen attitudes in the military because extremists dont believe in rule of law. The upshot of this surveillance is that Germany has very robust data on extremists of any ideology. That enabled German officials to report last year a more than 50% increase in the number of right-wing extremists since 2014. The head of Germanys domestic intelligence identified far-right extremism as the biggest danger to Germany democracy today. Of course, the identification of extremists before they commit a crime would be seen here as a First Amendment violation. Yet the German approach clarifies something the United States must do to confront radicalism in the military and in society at large. We have to define as a society what is anti-democratic and what ideology is within democratic boundaries, Miller-Idriss told me. What is against minority rights, what is freedom of speech, what promotes violence for political gains. That means defining whether activities such as joining a racist chat room or involvement in a militia calling for civil war cross a red line. READ MORE: The violence Trump fueled will threaten America long after he leaves I Trudy Rubin Unless we reach consensus on what constitutes anti-democratic behavior we will struggle to uproot it, in the military and outside it. Perhaps it requires a bipartisan national commission to investigate the roots of the Capitol riots, and the risks from right-wing militia movements and conspiratorial groups such as QAnon -- along with the crazy media that support them. Germany may provide an imperfect example, but it at least doesnt shy from facing the threat to democracy head-on. LONDON/BERLIN/PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th January, 2021) The United Kingdom welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty between the United States and Russia, a Foreign Office representative told Sputnik Wednesday. "We welcome the US proposal to extend the duration of the START treaty with Russia. The treaty has made an important contribution to strategic stability, transparency and confidence-building. We support the continuation of the treaty and its robust verification mechanism," the representative said. Germany also commended the nuclear treaty's extension as "big news." "The new US administration is thereby making an important initial gesture. Extension of the treaty between the United States and Russia to limit the number of strategic nuclear warheads truly benefits security, also for Europe," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. According to the diplomat, Germany now expects "further encouraging steps." "The setbacks of recent years, for the INF Treaty on intermediate-range nuclear forces and the Treaty on Open Skies, must urgently be reversed," he stressed. Given "the quantum leaps" in technology over the past few years, Maas also called for "broader negotiations with international actors, for the purpose of strengthening global arms control and shoring up the disarmament architecture. " France has joined the UK and Germany by welcoming the extension of the New START Treaty. "We acknowledge that the first steps of the US administration show the return of the United States to a multilateral approach. The Paris Agreement, the return to the World Health Organization, the desire to return to the Vienna agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, the agreement with the [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin to extend the New START Treaty for five more years ... This is very important news," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said, addressing the French Senate. The minister also stressed the need to normalize the EU-US relations in the economic field and put an end to the trade war. Hours earlier, Russia's upper house ratified the agreement's extension the day after the Russian and US leaders, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden respectively, agreed on the treaty extension in their first official phone call. Immediately upon taking office, the Biden administration signaled its intention to extend the nuclear arms reduction treaty, reversing a policy of evasion and protraction by the previous occupant of the Oval Office. The extension comes at the 11th hour since the treaty was set to expire on February 5 of this year. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Kazakh authorities drop a lawsuit against an independent labor union, saying the case is a violation of workers' fundamental rights to organize and associate. In a statement on January 28, HRW accused the Kazakh authorities of trying to have the operations of the Industrial Trade Union of Fuel and Energy Workers suspended. According to the statement, a court in the southern city of Shymkent will decide on February 1 on the city administration's lawsuit against the union claiming violations of the union law. "This brazen attempt to have the activities of an independent trade union suspended is unjustified and should be stopped in its tracks," HRW senior Central Asia researcher Mihra Rittmann said, "Less than a year ago Kazakhstan took necessary steps to amend its highly restrictive 2014 trade union law, but now the authorities are cracking down on yet another independent trade union," it added. The lawsuit filed against an independent industrial trade union representing workers in Kazakhstans oil and gas sector claims that the union violated registration provisions in the trade union law. The claims are unsubstantiated or based on legal provisions that either no longer exist or do not apply to the union, HRW said, calling on the court in Shymkent to drop the case. Rights activists and labor leaders have said the government has steadily increased pressure on unions since a series of protests staged by oil workers in western Kazakhstan in 2011. The protests culminated in violent clashes with police in December 2011 that left at least 16 workers dead in the oil town of Zhanaozen. In July 2019, a court in Shymkent sentenced to seven years in prison independent union leader Erlan Baltabai, who advocated for energy company workers, after finding him guilty of embezzlement, a case he and his supporters called politically motivated. Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, French Secretary of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the delegation headed by him. The Armenian Prime Minister and the French Secretary of State had private talks, followed by an extended meeting. Greeting the French delegation, the Premier said: Our meeting follows up on the agreement reached with President Macron. It reflects the privileged relations between France and Armenia. There has traditionally been a sincere top-level dialogue between our two countries, and I want to express our gratitude to President Macron and Foreign Minister Le Drian for showing personal concern from the very first day of the war. Of course, we went through a highly challenging war; we have bitter feelings about it; we had a lot of casualties, and we are facing a very difficult situation. This visit is extremely important in terms of using the opportunities we have to meet the emerging challenges. Our discussions and the agenda also have economic and humanitarian aspects, and I would like you to convey my deep appreciation to President Macron for such a prompt response to our conversations and agreements. Thankful for the warm welcome, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne noted that his delegation comprised representatives from the French Treasury, the French Development Agency, and their visit followed up on the agreements and discussions held between the Armenian Prime Minister and the French President:. It was very important for our President to respond to each of your needs as quickly as possible. It was a matter of urgency in December as several charitable planeloads arrived in Armenia, which transported several tons of cargo owing to the joint efforts of different French charities and local authorities, which once again came to testify to the friendship between our two nations. After a period of urgent intervention, as you mentioned, medium and long-term economic programs are being prioritized now. In this regard, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in intensive meetings in branch offices for a week now. Issues related to the development of Armenia-France relations, including in terms of attracting investments and providing financial assistance were discussed at the meeting. The agenda of economic partnership was touched upon. The parties considered promising interaction in the spheres of transport, reservoir construction, agriculture, high technologies, digital innovations, public sector digitization, as well as cooperation in the development of regional communications. In this regard, Prime Minister Pashinyan suggested considering the possibility of developing partnerships between the Armenian National Interest Fund (ANIF) and the French Development Agency, which was accepted by the French side. Nikol Pashinyan next referred to the possibility of expanding the scope of educational cooperation, stressing that the activity of the French University in Armenia is a successful example of such interaction. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne noted that as represented by President Macron, the French side considers promising cooperation in the field of higher education and believes that efforts should be continued in that direction. The interlocutors exchanged views on the prospects of the academic settlement. An agreement was reached to set up an interagency communication platform for continued contacts, as well as to continue working closely on mutually advantageous projects. Courtesy Daniel JeneiBy DRAGANA JOVANOVIC, ABC News (MOSCOW) -- A skier in Romania had a lucky escape when he was chased by a brown bear down the slopes this week with onlookers saying the skiers quick thinking probably saved his life. Video of the dramatic moment at the Predeal mountain resort in Romania, where there have been multiple bear sightings in recent years, was captured by eyewitnesses. During the chase, onlookers tried to distract the bear by whistling and screaming but the skier was saved by his own ingenious maneuver. He did a pretty cool move, which is a really safe one when you want to get away from the bear, Angel Somicu, who had spotted the bear an hour earlier along with another skier, Daniel Jenei, told ABC News. He dropped his bag off, and, well, the bear was dragged towards the bag. Other video shot at the scene from a ski lift shows the bear chasing the skier down at speed before he eventually shook his tail. The bear chase sparked panic amongst the skiers on the mountain, after the authorities informed them of the sighting. Ski patrol stopped us told us there was a bear at the bottom of the slope, Jenei said. All the people that were down there threw their skis down and ran from the slope. After the bear was scared away, the authorities have now reportedly promised to investigate the situation and relocate the bear to a safer area. Local police told ABC News that they received three emergency calls about the bear being spotted at various points in the day. The skier did the right thing, Ion Zaharia, a police spokesperson in Brasov, Romania, told ABC News. The bear was distracted by things inside his backpack. We are considering to relocate the bear, who should be hibernating now, anyway, but in recent years, we have more bears confronting skiers in the winter." Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. IMF sees Indian economy growing at 11.5% in 2021 Indias economy is expected to recover at a faster pace of 11.5 per cent in 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its latest World Economic Outlook report, while scaling down the projected contraction in the current fiscal year. And, despite the prevailing uncertainty, IMD projects the global economy growing 5.5 per cent in 2021 and 4.2 per cent in 2022. The 2021 forecast is revised up 0.3 percentage point relative to the previous forecast, reflecting expectations of a vaccine-powered strengthening of activity later in the year and additional policy support in a few large economies. The Fund revised India's growth rate for 2021-22 to 11.5 per cent from 8.8 per cent projected in its October report, while revising outlook for the current fiscal's contraction to 8% from 10.3%. "The notable revisions to the forecast include the one for India (2.7 percentage points for 2021), reflecting carryover from a stronger-than-expected recovery in 2020 after lockdowns were eased," the Fund said in its report. The IMF's latest projection is in line with the Indian government's assessment of a strong `V shaped revival in the coming months, especially after the recent Covid-19 vaccine approvals. The vaccine approvals coupled with government measures have raised hopes of a sharp turnaround later this year. Earlier this month, the Indian drug regulator gave emergency use approval to vaccines by AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech. The government has started vaccinating healthcare workers and plans to inoculate over 30 million people in the coming months. The IMF expects the global economy to grow 5.5 percent in 2021 and 4.2 per cent in 2022. After an estimated 3.5 per cent contraction in 2020, the global economy is projected to grow 5.5 per cent in 2021 and 4.2 per cent in 2022. The estimate for 2020 is 0.9 percentage points higher than projected in the October WEO forecast. This reflects the stronger-than-expected recovery on average across regions in the second half of the year. The 2021 growth forecast is revised up 0.3 percentage points, reflecting additional policy support in a few large economies and expectations of a vaccine-powered strengthening of activity later in the year, which outweigh the drag on near-term momentum due to rising infections, IMF stated in its report. The upgrade is particularly large for the advanced economy group, reflecting additional fiscal supportmostly in the United States and Japantogether with expectations of earlier widespread vaccine availability compared to the emerging market and developing economy group, it added. Emerging market and developing economies are also projected to trace diverging recovery paths. Considerable differentiation is expected between China where effective containment measures, a forceful public investment response, and central bank liquidity support have facilitated a strong recovery and other economies. Oil exporters and tourism-based economies within the group face particularly difficult prospects considering the expected slow normalisation of cross-border travel and the subdued outlook for oil prices. As noted in the October 2020 WEO, the pandemic is expected to reverse the progress made in poverty reduction across the past two decades. Close to 90 million people are likely to fall below the extreme poverty threshold during 202021. Consistent with recovery in global activity, global trade volumes are forecast to grow about 8 per cent in 2021, before moderating to 6 per cent in 2022. Services trade is expected to recover more slowly than merchandise volumes, however, which is consistent with subdued cross-border tourism and business travel until transmission declines everywhere. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Portugal on Thursday reported twin COVID records with 303 new deaths and 16,432 cases in a 24-hour period, prompting a decision to limit foreign travel to "special cases". Of the total 11,608 deaths recorded so far in the country of some 10 million people, more than 3,000 have come during the last two weeks. Travel abroad will be limited for two weeks starting Sunday, Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita told parliament. "Except for special cases, for the next two weeks, national citizens' departures by air, land or sea will be limited," he said. According to data compiled by AFP, Portugal over the last two weeks has recorded the largest number of infections and deaths relative to its population of any country in the world, aside from the nearby British enclave of Gibraltar. One hospital in the Lisbon suburbs had to urgently transfer more than 100 patients between Tuesday and Wednesday due to problems with its oxygen supplies. "Clearly things are going very badly," Prime Minister Antonio Costa said in an interview on national television Wednesday evening. "We have seen an exponential growth in new cases, and that leads to new hospitalisations which in turn put giant pressure on the national health service," he said, adding: "This tension will certainly last several weeks." Nevertheless the number of people in hospital decreased on Thursday, to 6,565 including 782 in intensive care, for the first time since the start of the year. Portugal went into a second nationwide lockdown on January 15. Costa said the virus has surged since the beginning of the year due to the spread of the new, more infectious variant that initially emerged in Britain as well as an easing of measures over the Christmas holiday. "If we had learned in time of the existence of the British variant, we would surely have taken different measures for the Christmas period," Costa said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP The 635-million-year-old pyritized fungus-like microfossils found in the Ediacaran-period Doushantuo Formation in China provide direct fossil evidence for the colonization of land by fungi. The Ediacaran-period fungus-like fossils were found in small cavities within well-studied sedimentary dolostone rocks of the Doushantuo Formation at Wengan, South China. It was an accidental discovery. At that moment, we realized that this could be the fossil that scientists have been looking for a long time, said Tian Gan, a Ph.D. student at the Virginia Tech. If our interpretation is correct, it will be helpful for understanding the paleoclimate change and early life evolution. The Doushantuo microfossils are pyritized but contain trace amount of organic matter. They include branching filaments of two morphological types and associated hollow spheres. The filaments are hundreds of microns in length at the minimum, and can be straight, curved, or bent. The teams analysis indicates that they likely represent fungal microorganisms that colonized karstic environments sometime between 635 and 632 million years ago. They may have played a role in catalyzing atmospheric oxygenation and biospheric evolution in the aftermath of the catastrophic snowball Earth event. About 635 million years ago, when the Ediacaran period began, our planet was recovering from the Cryogenian global glaciation, the researchers said. At that time, ocean surfaces were frozen to a depth of more than a kilometer and it was an incredibly harsh environment for virtually any living organism, except for some microscopic life that managed to thrive. Scientists have long wondered how life ever returned to normalcy and how the biosphere was able to grow larger and more complex than ever before. With this new fossil in hand, we are certain that these microscopic, low profile cave dwellers played numerous roles in the reconditioning of the terrestrial environment in the Ediacaran time. Although previous evidence stated that terrestrial plants and fungi formed a symbiotic relationship around 400 million years ago, the teams discovery recalibrates the timeline of when these two kingdoms colonized the land. The question used to be: Were there fungi in the terrestrial realm before the rise of terrestrial plants?, said Professor Shuhai Xiao, also from the Virginia Tech. And I think our study suggests yes. Our fungus-like fossil is 240 million years older than the previous record. This is, thus far, the oldest record of terrestrial fungi. The discovery is reported in a paper in the journal Nature Communications. _____ T. Gan et al. 2021. Cryptic terrestrial fungus-like fossils of the early Ediacaran Period. Nat Commun 12, 641; doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-20975-1 A Spanish chef engaged in kitchen banter took offence at a Polish colleagues comment about his fiancee and punched him ten to 15 times in the head. 27-year-old Klaudjo Alushaj of St. Lucia Place, Passage West, was never in trouble of any kind before this incident. But now at Cork District Court he has pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Michal Zabinski on July 15 2020. Judge Olann Kelleher convicted and fined him 750 for the assault. Sergeant Gearoid Davis said the incident occurred at Barrys in Douglas last July. The injured party and the defendant were in the kitchen when they began to engage in conversation that had a sexual content. The injured party, Mr Zabinski, made some comment about the defendants fiancee. Mr Alushaj responded by punching Mr Zabinski on the nose. The injured party said he was punched ten to 15 times in the head and he had bruising after it, Sgt. Davis said. Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said the defendant was a young man in good standing in his employment but lost his job following this incident. Mr Buttimer said that before the assault there was banter between the parties. On one reading of it the banter was amusing but the injured party made a comment to my client which involved saying something about his fiancee which was probably banter as well but was close to the edge. He struck the injured party as a consequence. This man lost his temper which he should not have done. Unfortunately, the two men fell out as a result. My client did lose his employment because he stepped over the bounds. He is with his fiancee in court. He secured employment elsewhere since but this is not currently available to him because of Covid. He gathered 1,000, which is a considerable sum for him, as a gesture of apology, Mr Buttimer said. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Dominique Altner, Senior Program Specialist at IIEP (International Institute for Educational Planning), spoke to VietnamNet about the development of Vietnams education system in the last five years. Dominique Altner, Senior Program Specialist at IIEP Asked if she thinks the educational sector needs higher investments to reach its goals, the expert said that while Covid-19 has led to a decline in the global economy, Vietnam still had positive growth rate in 2020. If the current proportion of expenses on education are maintained, the total investment in the sector will increase year after year. She is more concerned, however, about how to manage resources to serve reforms in the near future: upgrading training quality, raising teacher standards, improving teaching and learning methods, and developing courseware and ensuring credit transfer between education levels, thereby promoting opportunities to access education at all levels. This means the major challenge lies in investment resource management and allocation, rather than total investment capital. The expert stressed that Vietnam has defined the issues it needs to focus on and is on the right way to development. She suggested that in the time to come, it should emphasize diversification of ways to access post-secondary education, and improve vocational training so as to satisfy requirements form the labor market. The country also needs to build plans to prepare for changes in the future in the population structure. In addition, the internationalization of education may lead to a brain drain, with students not returning to Vietnam after study abroad. Vietnam has a new general education program associated with basic changes in student assessment methods, teaching methods and materials, and changes in criteria for teacher assessment. All these efforts show strong determination and commitments to improve education quality. Altner is a lead advisor to the project of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) that supports the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in developing Vietnams education strategy in the 2021-2030 period. She said that many changes in Vietnams education sector have been made in the last five years. Vietnam has paid importance to social issues related to education, especially the expansion of the preschool system and higher education. For example, it set the goal of universalizing preschool and secondary education. The rate of children not attending school is low, which is great progress that Vietnam has made compared with many other countries, she noted. However, she is most impressed with the educational system's focus on quality. Vietnam has a new general education program associated with basic changes in student assessment methods, teaching methods and materials, and changes in criteria for teacher assessment. All these efforts show strong determination and commitments to improve education quality. These are the results of efforts to complete the specific approach followed by Vietnam, and are also attributed to applying international experiences. Unlike OECD (the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, which have developed their systems over a long period, Vietnam has to both expand the system and improve training quality at the same time in order to satisfy the requirements of the changing labor market. The increase in number of informatics and foreign language centers in recent years is clear evidence of the flexibility, encouragement and contribution of the non-state sector in the educational system. She noted MOETs role in improving general education quality, especially secondary education in the last 10 years, increasing opportunities for different groups in society to access education. She warned that Vietnam will face a teacher shortage as an inevitable result of urbanization and increased attention to services and industries. In the future, when Vietnam joins the group of high income countries, its population growth rate is expected to decline. This means that the number of students at different education levels will be decreasing. Migration and urbanization will also lead to an unequal allocation of teachers in different economic zones. In some areas, such as the suburbs or large cities there will be teacher shortage, while in other areas, a student shortage will occur (remote areas and disadvantaged areas). As a specialist at IIEP, Altner is in charge of researching operation policies and ability promotion projects in order to consolidate domestic and regional training establishments in education planning and management. She designs and provides training courses on professional development at the national level, focusing on a comprehensive approach in analyzing and planning educational sector development, including models for simulating and analyzing the education management functions of ministries. Dong Ha Teacher in remote area honored for dedication to improve educational facilities For the last 26 years working as an upland teacher, Truong Thi Nhuong, a teacher at Tan Thanh Primary and Secondary School in Ha Giang province, spent 23 years working in remote branches. Immigration, a wit has said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This dispirited nation needs some of that, so President Joe Biden has wisely made immigration reform his initial legislative proposal. The nation also needs a healthy opposition party, and the impending immigration debate will give the Republican Party an early opportunity to rehabilitate its reputation by adopting policies unlike those of Bidens predecessor, who propelled his ascent to the presidency by stoking anxieties about immigration. Congressional Republicans will have to choose between aligning with the animosity of constituents who misunderstand how this nation has prospered by assimilating 100 million immigrants, or with the generosity of the United States majority. David J. Bier and Alex Nowrasteh of the Cato Institute report that, for the first time in Gallups 55 years of polling on the subject, more Americans support increasing immigration than decreasing it. Support for decreasing it has plummeted from 50% in 2009 to 28% today. Last year, 77% called immigration a good thing, and a similar majority today favor a path to citizenship for dreamers, those who were under 16 when brought here before 2007 by parents who were not lawful residents. About 40% of unauthorized immigrants came not through porous borders but on visas they overstayed. Of the approximately 11 million (down from 12.3 million in 2007), 62% have lived here at least 10 years, 21% at least 20 years. Of the more than 5 million children under age 18 living with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent, more than 4 million, having been born here, are citizens. The 11 million are not going home. They are home. And Americans decency would prevent the police measures necessary to extract them from their communities. Bidens predecessor said our country is full, although there are 145 countries and territories with greater population densities. Two-thirds of Americans live in cities that occupy 3.5% of the land. In 80% of Americas counties, the number of prime-age workers (25-54) declined between 2007 and 2017. As a candidate, Biden proposed a new visa category to allow cities and counties to petition for higher levels of immigrants for economic reasons. Bier and Nowrasteh report that Americas per capita immigration rate today is as close to zero as it has ever been. The nation now has a declining birthrate and an aging population that is retiring, at a rate of 10,000 a day, into Social Security and Medicare systems that are unsustainable without a workforce replenished by immigrants. Furthermore, a steady influx of them will enable the U.S. economy to regain, late in this century, its place as the worlds largest economy as Chinas workforce shrinks, a debilitating echo of the 1980-2016 one-child policy. The debate about immigration that Biden is reigniting, and especially his proposed path to citizenship for the 11 million, implicates the nations understanding of itself. And it will roil a dark current of 21st-century politics, concerning which some 19th-century history is germane. The years 1845-55 produced the largest single-decade increase in the foreign-born percentage of the U.S. population. Three million immigrants arrived in a nation whose population was 23 million the equivalent of 42 million arriving between 2000 and 2010, when 14 million actually did. In 1858, when Abraham Lincoln said that half the Americans then living were born elsewhere, immigrants were one-third of the approximately 9,400 residents of Springfield, Illinois. Seven years later, Lincoln was buried there after a nation-saving Civil War victory that had been substantially aided by immigrant soldiers. There are those damned green flags again, said Confederate Gen. George Pickett as he watched an Irish unit prepare to attack. Irelands potato famine helped to doom the Confederacy. Recruiting posters were printed in foreign languages, and the 1862 Homestead Act was publicized around the world to attract immigrants, 800,000 of whom came during the war. Historian Jay Sexton in A Nation Forged by Crisissays about 25% of Union soldiers and 40% of seamen were foreign-born. Union officials cast the war as an episode in a larger struggle for republican government, here and elsewhere, thereby, Sexton says, decoupling the idea of the nation from Anglo-Saxon Protestantism. Today, anti-immigration sentiment is disproportionately concentrated among recent Republican voters who are timid nationalists dismayed by the decoupling of the nation from their conceptions of it. Strangely, they fear that the United States cannot be itself if it is as welcoming to immigrants as it was when they were making the United States the success that it is. (Will is a writer for The Washington Post) Autumn Spikes, an ex-girlfriend of billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, said she was insultingly offered $15,000 and another $2,500 monthly by the African richest man to keep quiet over their affair. Ms Spikes, who disclosed this in a post via her Instagram handle, @allounda1, on Monday, is instead, demanding $5 million in exchange for the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) requested by Mr Dangote. I was insultingly offered 15k and 2,500 a month to sign an NDA but I declined, Ms Spikes stated in the post. She did not disclose how long Mr Dangote allegedly offered to pay her the monthly $2,500, but went further to state, I gained legal counsel in which we countered his offer. Mind you his first initial offer wasnt disclosed in the terms of his proposed NDA. Therefore I was pressured and influenced to sign which was already a violation of his own NDA, she added in the post which PREMIUM TIMES saw on Thursday. Affair The affair between the former lovers came to limelight on January 1 when Ms Spikes shared a viral video clip showing her seated beside Mr Dangote who was lying down on the same couch, with part of his buttocks exposed. Mr Dangote recently ended the affair that lasted about10 years and asked for an NDA in return, one of Ms Spikes lawyers, Paul Petruzzi, said in a January 13 email to the billionaires lawyer, Bruce Fleisher. PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported on Wednesday how Mr Dangote sued Ms Spikes in a U.S. court in Florida, accusing her of trying to extort $5 million, (about N1.9 billion at official exchange rate), from him. Mr Dangote, who instituted the legal action using a pseudonym, John Doe, to escape public attention, alleged in the suit filed on January 22 that Ms Spikes had threatened to embarrass him by taking the details of their affairs to the social media and media talk shows in violation of an existing NDA between them. He is demanding excess of $30,000 (about N11.4 million) in damages against Ms Spikes. Instagram post Ms Spikes shared a part of a page of Mr Dangotes court documents filed at a Miami-Dade County Court in Florida, through her Mondays Instagram post. She denied threatening Mr Dangote with blackmails on the social media or through media talk shows as claimed by the billionaire businessman in his suit. The lady maintained that she had kept her affair with Mr Dangote private. She expressed surprise that she could be sued for extortion by the wealthy businessman. He denied knowing me and our relationship to his lawyers and were asked for proof of our affairnow Im being sued for extortion? This is such a manly egotistical move. Ive kept it private but you made it public with the lawsuit. All these claims of interviews and talk show threats will have to be proved in court so & I havent spoke (sic) to anyone regarding our relationship. Ive not been served Mr Dangotes suit She also stated in her Instagram post that she had not been served Mr Dangotes suit. ADVERTISEMENT In the post asking her followers to express their thoughts about the billionaires suit, Ms Spikes said she brought it up for discussion because the matter had become a public record. I have not been served. Since this is a public record, lets discuss it. What are your thoughts? Dangotes suit will be dismissed Responding to a comment by an Instagram user, @buy2day_wear, Ms Spikes expressed confidence that Mr Dangotes suit against her would be dismissed by the court because of lack of evidence. In the comment posted to boost Ms Spikes morale to stand up to Mr Dangote, the Instagram user, stated, Dont let anyone bully you into submission. The commentator added that Nigerian wealthy elites are used to getting away with treating women like they are disposable toys. The Instagram user also stated, Set a precedent with Aliko in the U.S. so they are all aware that the justice system cannot be twisted for their selfish interest. Ignore Nigerian losers typing rubbish here, they are ignorant at best. Nine is a long time to be with someone. The least he can do is settle privately and move on. I wish you luck. Replying the comment, Ms Spikes posted: actually this is going to get dismissed immediately there is a thing called discovery where you have to provide proof. But one of her Instagram followers warned, Dayummmm Gurlllll you are in for this! A billionaire? You are innnnn for this ! All the best to you. [January 28, 2021] Michael Stars Selects CGS BlueCherry Enterprise Suite to Increase Speed to Market NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CGS, a global provider of business applications, enterprise learning and outsourcing services, today announced that Michael Stars, the apparel and lifestyle company, selected BlueCherry Enterprise Suite of cloud-based solutions, including BlueCherry Merchandise Planning, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), BlueCherry Next Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and BlueCherry B2B and B2C eCommerce API. The BlueCherry suite provides end-to-end capabilities for apparel, footwear and consumer lifestyle brands. Michael Stars is a Los Angeles-based apparel and lifestyle retail company that offers womens and mens fashion, including t-shirts, bottoms, dresses, sweaters, jackets and accessories. The brand is best known for its t-shirts, which have been worn by celebrities for decades. The company conducted a comprehensive review of supply chain management providers to support the companys global growth across its business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) channels. With extensive expertise and resources in the fashion and apparel market, the CGS BlueCherry suite of cloud solutions will support Michael Stars current and future business. BlueCherry enterprise will handle the brands manufacturing process from garment dye, to cut and sew through wholesale and eCommerce channel support. From designer-friendly integrated PLM to robust, integrated planning tools, our changing business requires a seamless solution said Jeff Busse, CFO, Michael Stars. With the BlueCherry solutions comprehensive features that are essential to current and future needs, and a team with extensive industry knowledge and experience, Michael Stars has found a partner in CGS to help deliver our apparel and accessories from design-to-consumer. Todays apparel brands continue to be challenged by the pandemic and changing consumer demands, wanting to minimize disruptions and requiring technology to seamlessly move products from concept to digital marketplaces, said Paul Magel, president, Business Applications and Technology Outsourcing division, CGS We are excited to welcome Michael Stars to the BlueCherry community of fashion and apparel customers and look forward to building a long-lasting relationship with the team. The CGS BlueCherry Enterprise Suite provides clients with comprehensive digital supply chain management solutions, available both in the cloud and on-premises, to drive their fundamental business processes. With a focus on the needs of high-growth organizations operating in consumer lifestyle products, retail and apparel, BlueCherry is a unified platform that provides supply chain visibility with the latest digital technologies. The BlueCherry Suite addresses the needs of the end-to-end supply chain, from planning and product development to manufacturing and sales. To learn more about BlueCherry Next PLM for global retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers visit the BlueCherry Next PLM page. About Michael Stars Michael Stars is a world-famous clothing brand out of Los Angeles that was formed by husband-and-wife team Michael Cohen and Suzanne Lerner. What started with an iconic, one-sized tee that created a fashion movement, and has evolved into a collection of contemporary and quality essentials. For over 20 years, the Michael Stars Foundation has been supporting and funding grassroots organizations providing critical pathways to equality in the United States and around the world. To learn about their current efforts which include tees that benefit Gloria Steinems Ms. Foundation and Patricia Arquettes Give Love organization, visit: https://www.michaelstars.com/ About CGS For more than 35 years, CGS has enabled global enterprises, regional companies and government agencies to drive breakthrough performance through business applications, enterprise learning and outsourcing services. CGS is wholly focused on creating comprehensive solutions that meet clients' complex, multi-dimensional needs and support clients' most fundamental business activities. Headquartered in New York City, CGS has offices across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit www.cgsinc.com and follow us on Twitter at @CGSinc and @BlueCherryCGS and on LinkedIn. Media Contact: Susan Sweeney, CGS newsroom@cgsinc.com Kate Connors (for CGS) kconnors@pancomm.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week called for trying harder to keep schools open. On that issue, Republicans have been more right than many Democrats. But half a century ago we didnt need the racist George Wallace wing of the Democratic Party, and today we dont need the wing of the Republican Party that embraces conspiracy theories and winks at violence. The grand question: Without that wing of todays G.O.P., whats left? One glimpse of the conundrum: The G.O.P. representation in Congress is losing Rob Portman, a widely respected senator who announced he will step down, and just gained Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, an extremist who in 2019 endorsed the idea of shooting Nancy Pelosi in the head. When a party loses a statesman and gains a kook, thats a bad omen. Meanwhile, the Hawaii G.O.P. this week recommended the high quality commentary of a Holocaust denier. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich warned on Fox News that Democrats are trying to exterminate the Republicans. Sure, Democrats sometimes say and do dumb things, too, but theres no symmetry. As I see it, the last, best hope is twofold. First, Republican leaders must learn that extremism is a losing strategy. Only one G.O.P. candidate for president has won the popular vote in the last three decades, and the loony Arizona Republican Party has lost about 10,000 members since the riot in the U.S. Capitol and its censure of party elders like Cindy McCain. If Trump is further discredited through prosecutions or scandals, it is possible (though far from certain) that his malign influence on the party will diminish. Second, to dampen that extremism, advertisers should stop supporting networks that spread lies and hatred, and cable companies should drop channels that persist in doing so. As a start, dont force people to subsidize Fox News by including it in basic packages. Is this a slippery slope? Yes, and it makes me queasy. But we all recognize that there are red lines: Neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan grand wizards have First Amendment rights, but we shouldnt pay to give them microphones, nor should commentators on the left or the right get megaphones to promote violence. Extremists enjoy free speech but shouldnt be buttressed by advertisers or our cable fees. The number of people who have recuperated from the novel coronavirus surged to 1,03,73,606 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.94% New Delhi: With 11,666 fresh COVID-19 infections being registered in a day, India's overall count crossed 1.07 crore on Thursday, said the Union health ministry. The total infections have mounted to 1,07,01,193, while the toll increased to 1,53,847 with 123 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the novel coronavirus surged to 1,03,73,606 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.94 percent. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 percent. Active cases remained below 2 lakh for the ninth consecutive day. There are 1,73,740 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprise 1.62 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on 23 August, 40 lakh on 5 September and 50 lakh on 16 September. It went past 60 lakh on 28 September, 70 lakh on 11 October, crossed 80 lakh on 29 October, 90 lakh on 20 November and surpassed the one-crore mark on 19 December. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 19,43,38,773 COVID-19 samples have been tested up to 27 January, with 7,25,653 samples being tested on Wednesday alone. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Jubilee Party leadership at the Nairobi County Assembly has distanced itself from Mike Sonko over his remarks that he and Kibicho planned poll chaos in 2017. Led by the Assembly majority leader Abdi Guyo, Nairobi MCAs said Sonko acted on his own volition and should be charged accordingly. Let it go on record that Sonko was acting on his own behalf and not on behalf of Jubilee and for political expediency and because he has already incriminated himself, then he needs to be charged on his own account, said Guyo. We are convinced that Sonko incriminated himself by making the utterances on Sunday and as such he should be charged for the atrocities he committed to the people of Nairobi, the ward reps said. Guyo further challenged Sonko to make public the names of those he claims are part of the deep state. The Matopeni ward MCA also urged the Directorate of Criminal investigations (DCI) to expedite investigations given the seriousness of Sonkos claims. I am urging the DCI to take the shortest time possible in concluding the investigations. If Sonko is not going to produce any evidence against PS Kibicho, then another charge should be levelled against him which is providing false information to the investigative authorities, said Guyo. The Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), Govt. of Karnataka, Chitradurga District, has called for online applications from eligible and interested candidates (women only) for filling One Twenty-Nine (129) Anganwadi Jobs in capacity as Anganwadi Helpers and Anganwadi Workers in WCD through direct selection to be posted in Chitradurga district, Karnataka in India on a fulltime basis. The online application-cum-registration process towards the same started on January 27, 2021 and closes on February 26, 2021 by 5:30 pm. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Anganwadi Jobs in capacity as Anganwadi Helpers and Anganwadi Workers in DWCD Organisation Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD) Educational Qualification Passed Class 4 (minimum) to Class 9 (for Anganwadi Helper post); SSLC/Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent (for Anganwadi Worker post) Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Chitradurga District Salary Scale As per the Govt. of K'taka norms Industry Govt. of Karnataka Application Start Date January 27, 2021 Application End Date February 26, 2021 WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Jobs 2021 through WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021 must have attained 18 years of age and not be more than 35 years, with relaxation (upper age limit) for OBC (2A/2B/3A/3B) and SC/ST/PWD candidates are per the Govt. of Karnataka reservation policy as specified in the WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Notification 2021. For details regarding application fee for WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Jobs 2021 under WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021, refer to the official WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Notification 2021 given at the end of the article. Also Read: Union Budget 2021: Expectations For Education Sector In Union Budget 2021-22; NEP, EdTech To Be Focus Areas WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021: Chitradurga Anganwadi Jobs 2021 Details Post Name No. Of Vacancies Aanganwadi Helper 110 Aanganwadi Worker 19 Total 129 WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021: Educational Eligibility Desirous candidates applying for Chitradurga WCD Anganwadi Jobs 2021 through WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Recruitment 2021 must have passed Class 4 (minimum) to Class 9 (for Anganwadi Helper post); SSLC/Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent (for Anganwadi Worker post) from a recognised Board/School as specified in the WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Recruitment 2021 Notification. WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates to Chitradurga WCD Anganwadi Jobs 2021 through WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting and Written Test/Interview as mentioned in the WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Recruitment 2021 Notification. Candidates selected as Chitradurga WCD Anganwadi Jobs 2021 through WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument as per the Govt. of K'taka norms. Also Read: India Post Recruitment 2021 For 3,679 Gramin Dak Sevaks In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana And Delhi Postal Circles WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021: How To Apply Candidates applying for e through WCD Chitradurga Anganwadi Recruitment 2021 must register online on the Karnataka DWCD website and submit their applications on or before February 26, 2021 by 05:30 pm. Download WCD Chitradurga Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Anganwadi Helpers and Anganwadi Workers posts When it comes to eating meat, beef, pork and chicken are the overwhelming favorites for home cooks and barbecue pitmasters in America. Other proteins we may find on barbecue-joint menus are turkey, duck, the occasional seafood dish, and lamb. Lamb, or more generally sheep (mutton), has a long history in American barbecue. Domestic sheep are a hearty breed well-suited to the varied climates and geography of the Americas. In the earliest history of Texas barbecue, starting in the mid-1800s, communities would gather to celebrate special occasions like crop harvests and political rallies. Local farmers would contribute cattle, pigs, goats and sheep to be cooked on grates over coal fires set into underground trenches. As Texas barbecue commercialized, consumers voted with their wallets and proclaimed beef, pork and later chicken as their favorite menu items. Sheep and goat became also-rans in the great Texas barbecue boom. Why? There are anatomical as well as cultural reasons. Beef and pork have milder flavors than sheep and goat. In general, the American palate seems to prefer milder, rather than gamier, meats. Also, sheep and goat have less meat per animal that can be sold for a profit. The yield of sellable meat from a sheep or goat is about 50% of the animal, as opposed to about 60-65% for cattle and pigs. Harlem Road Texas BBQ 9823 Harlem Rd, Richmond; 832-278-2101 Lamb on Fridays only. Call ahead for availability See More Collapse Lamb, of course, is a young sheep, specifically one that is less than a year old. Lamb meat tends to be more tender and mild than that of older sheep, whose meat is known as mutton. Similarly, young goats are known as cabrito or kid and are the preferred choice on restaurant menus, rather than older goats whose meat is also referred to as mutton in some countries. You will occasionally see lamb as a special on barbecue menus. In greater Houston, chef Ara Malekians Friday special of smoked lamb chops (lamb pops) has become something of a cult favorite among the customers of his Harlem Road Texas BBQ restaurant in Richmond. I can confirm they are worth the drive and price. Malekian sources his racks of lamb from New Zealand, a country famous for the quality of its grass-fed lamb. The rack is frenched meaning the rib bone is trimmed of all fat and meat so that it becomes almost like a handle that can be used to then eat the big disk of meat at the top of the rib. Its a natural version of the meat-on-a-stick tradition. Malekian marinates the whole rack in sweet onions for 48 hours, covers the outside in a salt-and-pepper crust and then smokes them until medium-rare. The resulting meat is a remarkable balance of flavors: the relatively lean lamb meat absorbs just enough sweetness from the marinade which is balanced by the sharper, spicier outside bark and then infused with the subtle flavor of post oak smoke. The anatomy of the lamb rib is like a mini version of a beef tomahawk rib-eye steak. Theres a sweeping piece of bone that is topped with a cut of meat that includes the eye or center portion of the rib-eye, which is wrapped with a fattier, darker piece of meat known as the cap or spinalis. Theres some debate among pitmasters about which types of meat are best suited for the smoking process. The flavor of beef, in particular, pairs well with the mild fragrance of post oak for which Texas barbecue is known. Id argue that lamb is a close runner-up, with the mild, tender lamb meat a perfect complement to the smoking process. Thats certainly the case with Malekians addictive lamb pops. jcreid@jcreidtx.com twitter.com/jcreidtx Confidence seemed to be in robust supply on Monday when Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt set out their hopes to have most Australians vaccinated by October. It only took a few days for some of that confidence to run low, just like the vaccines the Prime Minister and Health Minister want to bring in from Europe. No Australian vaccines i.e. vaccines destined for Australia have been diverted anywhere else, Morrison said on Monday. That is not what the European Union wants, if its talk about export controls turns into hard action. Timing will be critical in Australias vaccine rollout. Credit:AP Hunt also projected a sense of certainty. He said Australia had secured 140 million vaccines one of the highest dosing rates in the world. But what looks secure on paper can disappear in the blink of an eye when vaccine nationalism takes over. And Hunts number included the Novavax vaccine, which is months away from results showing whether or not it works. Morrison and Hunt were right to want to shore up confidence in what will be a mammoth health program, giving something like 60 million jabs over the course of this year if things go well. House Bill 133 aims to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible new mothers. The House version of the bill calls for a one-year extension, whereas the Senate version calls for a six-month extension. Advocates say the bill could reduce the states maternal mortality rate. Currently, the state offers Medicaid for two months after giving birth. Should Texas extend Medicaid for eligible new mothers for six months or one year? You voted: 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. Well folks, it turns out the leader of the Proud Boys, the far-right extremist group currently under investigation for their involvement in the Capitol attack, once stood back and stood by -- to help law enforcement during several heists, according to a new Reuters investigation. Following Enrique Tarrio's 2013 arrest, where he faced federal fraud charges for participating in a scheme attempting to resell stolen diabetic test strips, the Proud Boys chairman helped the FBI and Miami police prosecute "more than a dozen people in various cases involving drugs, gambling, and human smuggling," sometimes even going undercover, according to court transcripts. Continue Reading Below Advertisement "From day one, he was the one who wanted to talk to law enforcement, wanted to clear his name, wanted to straighten this out so that he could move on with his life," an attorney told the judge at the 2014 hearing, following Tarrio's guilty plea, in an attempt to get the future hate-group leader a reduced sentence. "He has in fact cooperated in a significant way," they added, noting his involvement helped prosecute 13 people. It seems the lawyer's shot at swaying the judge worked -- Tarrio's 30-month prison sentence was reduced down to 16 months. Even with an abundance of evidence proving his cooperation with law enforcement, Tarrio has aggressively contested these reports, which first emerged in the media on Wednesday. "I don't know any of this," he told Reuters when asked about the transcript, in what may be the least-convincing denial in all of human history. "I don't recall any of this." Sure you don't, Tarrio. Sure you don't. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Furthermore, the federal prosecutor involved with the case spoke to the publication, further contradicting Tarrio's half-assed statement. "He cooperated with local and federal law enforcement, to aid in the prosecution of those running other, separate criminal enterprises, ranging from running marijuana grow houses in Miami to operating pharmaceutical fraud schemes," Vanessa Singh Johannes explained of Tarrio's role in the cases. Dude, seriously, who do you think you're fooling? As NBC News pointed out, Tarrio's work with law enforcement comes before his involvement with the hate group, which was founded in 2016, and there is no proof indicating officers were aware of his involvement with these organizations. Yet even if they did know, their willingness to work with him would be duly unsurprising. The close ties between hate groups and law enforcement are no new phenomenon, rather a disturbing trend that has existed for decades. Last year, further evidence of this alarming connection was detailed in a new report from ex FBI agent, Michael German, arguing that law enforcement's responses to "known connections of law enforcement officers to violent racist and militant groups" are "strikingly insufficient." Illinois College senior Jordan Hall is used to making sure others are in the spotlight. Now its his turn. Hall was recognized during the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for his excellence in leadership and theatrical lighting design. Hall attended the regional Kennedy Center program virtually from his hometown of Fairview Heights. He was chosen as the recipient for the Aspire Leadership Fellowship Program after competing against students from across the Midwest. He will gain national recognition for the honor as he represents Illinois College this spring during the national conference, which will be held virtually. Overwhelmed is the only word I can use to describe it, Hall said about the moment his name was announced as the winner. I was excited that they could see my passion for my work and what I was trying to achieve. I was absolutely thankful and filled with gratitude. Hall also received the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award for Excellence in Technology and Design. That honor came with an invitation to attend a master class in lighting design in Las Vegas. He was chosen as runner-up for the Theatrical Excellence for Lighting Design award for his work on ICs fall production of Shakespeares The Tempest. The experience was memorable because work began on the play in the spring, but pandemic restrictions interrupted progress and brought uncertainty about whether the show would be completed. The production, directed by Aasne Daniels, IC assistant professor of theater, was staged in the fall in front of a small audience of IC community members. The performance also was streamed for an online audience. Hall had a role on stage in the play and served as lighting designer behind the scenes. My favorite thing about working on The Tempest was that its in a completely different world, so with the light and with the set, everything that we created in this world was unique, not just a reflection of what we see in our everyday lives, he said. I wanted to make this world our own, something new that we envisioned. The chance to be so involved in the theater program from his first years at IC was what initially drew the theater and business administration major to the Jacksonville campus. At IC, Hall grew as a performer and embraced a new love for the technical aspects of theater production. He was able to be on stage starting as a freshman. Working in the ICEBOX theater, he began learning the nuances of lighting design and assisting on student productions. During his four years on campus, Hall has designed lighting for a variety of productions. Eventually he was given free reign over lighting for everything held in ICs Sibert Theatre, including faculty-directed productions, convocations and dance recitals. Hes had roles in several productions and has worked painting sets. In the fall, he completed an internship with The Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield and helped bring to life a live performance of Dracula: A Radio Play, which was streamed online, serving as lighting designer. Halls passion for theater started in high school, when he saw a production of Phantom of the Opera and was in awe of how so many elements came together perfectly onstage. He will direct another show at IC in March and complete his senior capstone this spring by directing a play that he wrote titled The Picking. After graduation, he plans to continue honing his technical skills at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he has been accepted with a full-tuition scholarship and stipend into a masters program with a focus on lighting design. NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched Union Budget Mobile App ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2021-22 on February 1. The newly launched Union Budget Mobile App will ensure hassle-free access to Budget documents to the lawmakers and the general public. The budget app has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). The budget documents will be made available on the mobile app after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman finishes presenting the Union Budget 2021 in the Parliament on February 1, 2021. This newly launched Union Budget Mobile App can be downloaded from the Google Play Store on Android devices and from the Apple App Store on iOS devices iPhone and iPad. One can also download it from the Union Budget Web Portal. On the occasion, Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman also launched the Union Budget Mobile App for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience. (4/9) pic.twitter.com/tS4pkSm4HK Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) January 23, 2021 Heres how the app will be beneficial to users: The app will help the users to get complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc. as prescribed by the Constitution. Users can choose languages on the interface English and Hindi. The user-friendly interface will allow the users to download, print, zoom in and out, and search details. The app will be available on both Android and iOS platforms. All the Budget documents will be accessible for users of the app after the completion of the Budget speech by the Finance Minister on February 1. For the first time since independence, the Union Budget 2021 is going to be completely paperless. In the wake of the ongoing pandemic, the budget papers will not be printed. The decision has been taken as nearly 100 people would be required to stay at the printing press for around a fortnight amid the pandemic fear. Both the houses of Parliament have given permission for the same to the Central Government. Live TV NORTH CHARLESTON South Carolina legislators are looking to borrow up to $550 million to help pay for a pair of projects that would help move cargo at the Port of Charleston and its newest shipping terminal. The spending plan calls for up to $400 million toward construction of a rail yard at the former Navy base in North Charleston. The State Ports Authority would operate the rail yard on roughly 120 acres near Hobson Avenue and Viaduct Road. Palmetto Railways, a division of the S.C. Commerce Department, would own the site, where CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern trains would haul cargo to and from the nearby Leatherman Terminal that's nearing completion. Another $150 million would pay for a barge program to move shipping containers by water between the SPA's Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant and the Leatherman Terminal. The containers could then be taken to and from the rail yard via a private road. The work would include a 700-foot extension of the wharf at Wando Welch and a second wharf at the Leatherman site. A joint resolution supporting the bond debt was introduced Wednesday by Sen. Hugh Leatherman, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the new terminal's namesake. A hearing on the matter was held Thursday by the committee's Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee, which plans to make a recommendation to the full Finance Committee on Tuesday. Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the State Ports Authority, said the projects "are crucial for the continued competitiveness of the Port of Charleston, which supports the ongoing economic development success and job creation for South Carolinians." Newsome said the barge project "would reduce the number of trucks on roads and highways, complementing long-term road improvements and significantly enhancing air quality for the Lowcountry." Construction for both projects is expected to take about two years. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! The rail yard has received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers, but has struggled to get financing. It and the barge facility would round out roughly $2 billion in improvements at the Port of Charleston, including the new terminal, equipment, and the deepening of the Charleston Harbor shipping channel. Like other legislation, a joint resolution must be approved by the House and Senate before moving to Gov. Henry McMaster for approval or veto. A spokesman for McMaster did not respond to a request for comment, but the governor said in his recent State of the State speech that he opposes more borrowing. Rick Harmon, research director for the Joint Bond Review Committee, said the proposal is well within South Carolina's borrowing capacity of about $5 billion. Such general obligation bonds for economic development have been approved in the past to provide incentives for Boeing Co., Volvo Cars and other employers as they were considering South Carolina for manufacturing sites. The $1 billion first phase of the Leatherman Terminal will include five 169-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes, 25 rubber-tired gantry cranes that operate on hybrid power and a terminal operating system with facial recognition technology. The barge project has been in the works for a couple of years as a way to help reduce traffic on Interstate 526. Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here WEST HAVEN A 37-year-old local man was arrested and charged with sexual assault over the weekend, police said. Antoine Smith is charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts risk of injury to a minor, West Haven police said in a release Wednesday. This investigation was completed by the Special Victims Unit which uncovered Smith (allegedly) had multiple sexual encounters with a juvenile victim, the release said. Police did not release the victims age, or say how Smith was able to have contact with the juvenile. Smith was arrested on a warrant. That charging document, which typically includes an affidavit detailing the police investigation, was not immediately available Wednesday. Police said Smiths arrest was processed and he is currently being held awaiting an appearance at Superior Court in Milford. Its unclear when he is due to appear in court. Smith had been out on bond after being arrested and charged with manslaughter from an incident that occurred on March 17, 2019, in West Haven, police said. That case is still pending, and Smith has pleaded not guilty to that charge, according to the states judicial branch website. The airline remains flexible to meet consumer demand whenever it picks up easyJet PLC ( ) has said it expects capacity to drop by 90% in the second quarter as it burns of cash 40mln per week. The budget airline said the European slot waiver mechanism in place for this winter allows it to match capacity against the lower demand, while the EU and UK authorities are discussing a revised slot waiver for the Summer 2021 season. The FTSE 250 group said it is focused on cash generative flying to minimise losses and cash burn as well as retaining the flexibility to ramp up capacity quickly when demand picks up. Moreover, it forecasts legacy carriers will free up capacity around Europe as they are dramatically scaling back their short-haul operations, so competition will be lower in a post-coronavirus pandemic world. Holidays for Winter 2021/22 were launched in December and are experiencing very positive demand while bookings for Summer 2021 are currently significantly ahead of last year but many customers are waiting for further clarity on quarantine rules. In the quarter to December 31, 2020, easyJet said its passenger numbers plummeted by 87% to 2.9mln as capacity dived 82% to 4.4mln seats. As a result, group revenue was 88% lower at 165mln. As of January 25, 2021, easyJet had access to 2.5bn of liquidity. Group headline costs excluding fuel were reduced by 52% after the firm let go a third of its staff and made seasonal contracts for its UK-based pilots, as well as furloughing employees in several countries. The airline also secured new ground handling contracts at London Gatwick and at all its Swiss and Spanish airports and took steps to make fuel usage more efficient. The money issue Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, noted that the airline "is still enduring real pain" with the inability to pad rocketing costs with passenger revenue, so it has to continuously borrow money. And talk of pent-up demand could be moot if most of us are prevented from jetting off on holiday this summer as governments prioritise getting the pandemic under control. Another problem for EasyJet is that some of its rivals, namely Wizz Air and Ryanair, operate with lower costs and therefore have greater flexibility to put capacity back online when demand does eventually return," he commented. For now, the market seems confident air travel will eventually recover to its pre-Covid levels. easyJet could be treated quite differently by creditors and shareholders if that assessment changes and a more permanent impact on the sector is expected. Shares shed 2% to 702.63p early on Thursday. --Adds analyst comment, shares-- COLUMBUS, OhioNew unemployment claims in Ohio have gone up each of the past three weeks, in a clear sign that the states economy is still struggling to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, 49,974 Ohioans filed first-time jobless claims, according to data released Thursday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Thats the fourth-highest jump of any state in the nation last week, and the most new claims filed in Ohio since early May of 2020, when most businesses were ordered closed during the initial weeks of the viral crisis. Meanwhile, ongoing traditional unemployment claims in Ohio have remained above 200,000 for three weeks -- their highest level since October, statistics show. However, overall, continuing claims have dropped for weeks, as ongoing pandemic emergency unemployment claims have fallen each week from 101,506 in mid-December to 55,460 last week. Taken together, the numbers show that while Ohio isnt as bad off economically as it was in the spring of 2020, the states job market still isnt in a great place, said Zach Schiller, research director for Policy Matters Ohio, a left-leaning think tank. Even though those numbers arent as high as they were in the surge and during the lockdown, its heading in the wrong direction, Schiller said. To have, you know, almost 50,000 unemployed people in a week is not a good thing. Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst for the financial news site Bankrate.com, said the high number of claims is likely the result of a lot of different factors, including a catch-up from the usual holiday lull in claims and people refiling because of the new stimulus package signed late last month that extends emergency benefits through March. But the reality is that, whatever all those dynamics or contributors or variables are, [the number of unemployment claims] is still remarkably elevated both for the state of Ohio and for the nation, Hamrick said. The most important thing is the absolute level of claims that youre seeing that are still quite elevated and will likely be unabated until the economy truly begins to heal upon administration of vaccines and the resumption of purchases of services and goods more fully. In all, 2,228,112 Ohioans have applied for jobless benefits since the coronavirus crisis arose in mid-March more than the number of claims filed during the previous five years combined, according to ODJFS. That includes both traditional unemployment claims and claims for extended benefits. In the last 45 weeks, ODJFS says it has distributed more than $8 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 908,000 Ohioans. An additional $8 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments have been made to more than 831,000 recipients in the state. Nationally, 847,000 people filed new unemployment claims last week, down 67,000 from the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Read more Ohio politics and government stories: Senators grill Ohios Rep. Marcia Fudge at her confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Self-described militia members trained in Ohio before storming U.S. Capitol, indictment says Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley has banked more than $500,000 for his possible run for Ohio governor Read the Ohio coronavirus public health order reducing the overnight curfew by 1 hour Ohio National Guard deploys 150 military police to Washington, D.C. for ongoing security Binky Felstead's mum Jane has received her first COVID-19 vaccination. The Made In Chelsea star excitedly FaceTimed her beloved mum, who also stars in the E4 show, as she headed to hospital on Thursday to receive the jab. Jane, 68, was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis in 2017 and has been isolating on her own, away from Binky, who is expecting her second child. Happy news: Binky Felstead excitedly FaceTimed her beloved mum Jane, who also stars in the E4 show, as she headed to hospital on Thursday to receive her COVID-19 vaccination Sharing a screenshot of her FaceTime with her mum on her Instagram Stories on Thursday, Binky wrote: 'This little sauce pot is at hospital having her vaccination!!!!!' The photo showed Jane wearing a facemask as she spoke to her daughter, giving a thumbs up, while a beaming Binky returned the gesture. Jane was diagnosed with MS in 2017 after years of believing she had fibromyalgia following a misdiagnosis from her doctors. During the latest lockdown she has been living alone in her London flat, while Binky recently moved into her new home with fiance Max and her daughter India, three, while she announced she is expecting her second child later this year. Reunited soon: Jane, 68, was diagnosed with MS in 2017 and has been isolating on her own, away from Binky and her granddaughter India, three Earlier this week Jane revealed the challenges of her illness, telling her Instagram followers she had been turned down for three flats, because, she believes, she's a 'more than a bit wobbly.' Giving an update, Jane wrote that it had 'been a dodgy week,' explaining: 'Had some sort of cold thing going on and struggled to drag myself off the sofa. Deffo on the mend which is fab as Im only good with being poorly for a day or two max, and Ive got plans for a few changes.' She revealed she has been searching for a new flat to rent but 'imagine my shock/horror when I was turned down! Errr - this doesnt happen into me. I go in, and make my decision and voila- jobs a goodun! Not now it seems. I have lost my 3 faves and Im convinced its because I am a bit ( well actually more than a bit) wobbly!' Expecting: While Jane has been living alone in her flat, Binky recently moved into her new home with fiance Max and India and is expecting her second child later this year Bumping along: Binky later shared a snap of her displaying her bump in the mirror WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS? Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body and causes nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. It is an incurable, lifelong condition. Symptoms can be mild in some, and in others more extreme causing severe disability. MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide - including around one million in the US, and 100,000 in the UK. It is more than twice as common in women as it is in men. A person is usually diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. The condition is more commonly diagnosed in people of European ancestry. The cause isn't clear. There may be genes associated with it, but it is not directly hereditary. Smoking and low vitamin D levels are also linked to MS. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and problems with thinking, learning and planning. The majority of sufferers will have episodes of symptoms which go away and come back, while some have ones which get gradually worse over time. Symptoms can be managed with medication and therapy. The condition shortens the average life expectancy by around five to 10 years. Advertisement 'I might ask for a ramp.. a grab rail or a shower! I have never suffered any sort of discrimination and let me tell you it sucks!' she said. 'All the agents were perfectly sweet, and embarrassed - and struggled to find a reason for my rejection, when I was going in well over the asking price! thing is I cant really be cross as I can understand it, and if my dream of renting - where I call a landlord to fix my probs doesnt work out I shall have to buy.' 'But still it was a bit of a lesson in what life must be like for those who arent my age and have less ability to sort it and its sad.' Jane mused: 'Ive always felt that MS came to me to provide the challenges that would grow me. Dont get me wrong, I dont necessarily want to be grown but its not a bad thing for somebody like me hes never really touch the sides of life.' Jane told Good Morning Britain in 2018 that she doesn't plan on living past the age of 85, as she doesn't want to lose her 'dignity and independence' in old age. She revealed that her MS battle has made her dread becoming infirm and reliant on her children as she ages. Jane chose the age of 85 because her children and grandchildren would be grown up and independent by then. She said: 'If I get to 85, if I'm upright and able and valuable in some way, I've done my grandchildren, they'll all be in their 20s and my kids will be in their 50s and late forties, and I'm kind of thinking that's quite a nice time to bow out. 'The next stage, and I've witnessed it, is for you to lose your dignity and your independence and for me that would be the worst thing in the world.' She continued: 'I would rather be gone than for any of the children I adore to have to take me to the bathroom.' She also explained that her faith meant she was looking forward to an afterlife. She said: 'I'm really excited about the next stage, a whole different subject this I know you don't want me to go into it now. I have massive belief and I think the next stage is so exciting. I've had a ball and I'm going out on a high.' A 20 year old security man who allegedly defiled a 12 year old girl in a wooden structure at East Legon, Accra has been discharged by an Accra Circuit Court. The court discharged Ebenezer Asare after the complainant had written to the court withdrawing the matter. When the Judge asked her why she was withdrawing the matter, the complainant said she was relocating to Tarkwa to take care of her sick mother and therefore could not be coming to court for the trial. The Judge, Mrs Christaina Cann then warned the accused to stay away from trouble. Asare, charged with defilement, pleaded not guilty. Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the victim resides at East Legon with the parents, while accused a security man has no fixed place of abode. Prosecution said on November 17, last year at about 1830 hours the victim was sent to go and buy baby diapers and kenkey. Prosecution said on her way the victim saw the accused who lured her into a wooden structure and had sex with her from behind. Mr Atimbire said after the act the accused warned the victim not to disclose the act to anyone. However, Prosecution said, the victim informed her parents and Police investigations led to his arrest at East Legon. Prosecution said the Police then issued the victim with a medical report form to seek medical attention. 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 DUSHANBE -- Tajik opposition politician Mahmurod Odinaev has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of hooliganism and "calling for extremism." The Rudaki district court in Dushanbe convicted and sentenced Odinaev, a deputy head of the Social Democratic Party, on January 28. Odinaev's son Habibulllo Rizoev was also convicted of hooliganism and fined 58,000 somonis (more than $5,000). Both men pleaded not guilty during the trial, which started on January 25. Mahmurod Odinaev went missing on November 20 after he asked Dushanbe Mayor Rustam Emomali in a Facebook post to allow him and supporters of the Social Democratic Party -- the only opposition party functioning in Tajikistan -- to stage a demonstration over food-price hikes. On December 5, the Tajik Prosecutor-General's Office acknowledged that Odinaev had been arrested in Dushanbe. According to the authorities, he allegedly conducted an act of hooliganism in late October in a military draft office where prosecutors say he confronted officials over the conscription of Rizoev. That came after the Interior Ministry said in November that another son, Shaikhmuslihiddin Rizoev, was charged with hooliganism over his alleged involvement in a brawl. Odinaev said that unknown attackers had severely beaten his son as part of a pressure campaign imposed on him for his political activities. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who has tightly ruled the former Soviet republic since 1992, has been criticized for cracking down on opposition political groups, rights defenders, and independent journalists. Smart Building Certification is the first to measure the 'smartness' of buildings Integrated building technology will enhance users' wellbeing LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MiddleCap, the real estate-focused investment group, announced today that its Southworks development in London has been awarded a Platinum Smart Building Certification. The 70,000 sq ft office scheme, which completes later this year, is the first in the UK to achieve the certification. The Smart Building Certification, which has been developed to promote wellbeing, sustainability, performance, innovation, and health and safety in the built environment, recognises buildings that have smart tech infrastructure in place to evaluate a building's behaviour and performance. The first building awarded Platinum Smart Building Certification was EDGE Olympic Amsterdam. The Smart Building Certification is the first programme to objectively evaluate the 'smartness' of buildings by assessing six core areas: building usage; user behaviour and collaboration; building performance; building environment; integrative design and connectivity, and health, safety and security. "It's a big achievement that our first scheme on the UK market received Platinum Smart Building Certification. Our commitment is to bring to the market offices that are enhancing wellbeing, building performance, sustainability and health and safety," said Miroslav Vyboh, Chairman & Partner at MiddleCap. Southworks is the first building to be evaluated in the UK using the Smart Building Certification framework, and has achieved Platinum certification for Core & Shell. Its technology-first approach and number of integrated design and management features will create a responsive and productive environment that enhances users' wellbeing. Some of these include: A single 'digital backbone' - created through applied bGrid technology - links a series of sensors to the IoT, which connect, measure and deliver feedback to building users. A dedicated app (OfficeApp) through which occupiers will be able to directly control heating and lighting to their own preferences and book meeting rooms, creating the optimum working environment. Technology optimised for risk management in the support of longer-term social distancing by monitoring the flow of people throughout the building together with real time information about indoor and outdoor air quality. The certification highlights Miroslav Vyboh's and the whole MiddleCap team commitment to delivering state of the art buildings as the business looks to expand its UK commercial office portfolio. "We are proud to award Southworks with a Platinum Smart Building Certification. A Core & Shell building with this extensive of an IT infrastructure is quite rare. We rarely see a Core & Shell building go this far to improve health, performance, sustainability, indoor environment, and a user's ability to interact with the space," said Elizabeth Nelson, Head of Research and Innovation at Smart Building Certification. "This is also a big commitment for the whole team at MiddleCap. Our aim is to find a way how to overachieve current status on our next projects and deliver a building even more oriented towards innovations, wellbeing and sustainability. And this is one of the reasons why I am looking forward for our next project Seal House," added MiddleCap's Chairman Miroslav Vyboh. About MiddleCap MiddleCap Partners and Mayfair Assets merged in 2018 under its new holding structure in Luxembourg. Since then the holding is operating under the brand MiddleCap Group. MiddleCap became a well know investment and consulting company with headquarter in Luxembourg and offices in London, Berlin, Bratislava, Prague, Dubai and Monaco. Partners of the group are Miroslav Vyboh, Matus Vyboh, Michal Kviecinsky and Roman Gunis. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428878/MiddleCap_Southworks.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428879/MiddleCap_Miroslav_Vyboh.jpg The United States is closely monitoring the situation around Alexei Navalny, analyzing meddling in the U.S. elections, and other acts by Russia. New United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he does not rule out that new restrictive measures may be introduced against the Russian Federation. He announced this at his first press briefing in Washington, D.C., on January 27, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Read alsoUkraine doesn't align itself with third package of EU sanctions against Belarus Asked what are the redlines under which the U.S. will consider sanctioning Russia if there is any harm that comes to detained Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Blinken said: "We're reviewing all of these actions that are of deep concern to us, whether it is the treatment of Mr. Navalny, and particularly the apparent use of a chemical weapon in an attempt to assassinate him. We're looking very urgently as well at SolarWinds and its various implications. We're looking at the reports of bounties placed by Russia on American forces in Afghanistan. And of course, we're looking at these questions of election interference." "So all of that, as the President and the White House have indicated, are under review. I don't want to get ahead of where we are on those reviews," he said. "[We are] not ruling out anything. But we want to get this full review done and then we'll take it from there," he added. Navalny poisoning: Background Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny felt sick on board the plane he was flying from the city of Tomsk to Moscow on August 20, 2020. His rapidly deteriorating condition forced the captain to perform an emergency landing in Omsk. Navalny was evacuated from Omsk to Berlin's Charite hospital on an ambulance aircraft for further medical treatment on August 22, 2020. On September 4, 2020, it was announced that experts with the Bundeswehr laboratory had found traces of poison from the Novichok group in Navalny's body. In this regard, Berlin called on Moscow to explain the circumstances of the poisoning of the Russian opposition figure. On September 10, 2020, it was reported Navalny had made further progress in his recovery and was able to speak again. On September 14, 2020, French and Swedish laboratories independently confirmed Navalny had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group. On September 23, 2020, he was discharged from Charite. On October 1, 2020, speaking in an interview for Germany's Der Spiegel, Navalny said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally behind the attempt to poison him with Novichok. In a prank call late December 2020, Navalny duped a Russian secret agent into disclosing details of the botched plot to kill him and had been told that poison had been placed in his underpants. On January 17, 2021, the opposition leader returned to Russia from Germany and was arrested at the airport. His arrest is to last until February 15. Reporting by UNIAN 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. Being said its fourth-quarter revenue from commercial airplanes decreased to $4.7 billion from $7.5 billion a year earlier, down 37.3%, driven by lower widebody delivery volume due to Covid-19 impacts as well as 787 production issues. The losses were partially offset by higher 737 deliveries and a lower 737 MAX customer consideration charge in the quarter compared to the same period last year. Fourth-quarter operating margin decreased to (161.8) percent, primarily driven by a $6.5 billion pre-tax charge on the 777X program, lower delivery volume, and $468 million of abnormal production costs related to the 737 program, partially offset by a lower 737 MAX customer consideration charge. The commercial airplanes production rate assumptions reflect the continued impacts of Covid-19 on commercial demand, and the company will continue to assess them on an ongoing basis. The 737 program is currently producing at a low rate and expects to gradually increase production to 31 per month in early 2022 with further gradual increases to correspond with market demand. The 787 program plans to transition its production rate to five per month in March 2021, at which point 787 final assembly will be consolidated to Boeing South Carolina. Boeing said it expects first delivery of the 777X to occur in late 2023 and has recorded a $6.5 billion reach-forward loss on the 777X program. Among the factors contributing to the revised first delivery schedule and reach-forward loss are an updated assessment of certification requirements based on ongoing communication with civil aviation authorities, an updated assessment of market demand based on continued dialogue with customers, resulting adjustments to production rates and the program accounting quantity, increased change incorporation costs, and associated customer and supply chain impacts. The production rate expectation for the combined 777/777X program remains at two per month in 2021. Boeing captured orders for 75 737 aircraft from Ryanair and eight 777 freighters from DHL, as well as a commitment for 23 737 aircraft from Alaska Airlines. The company delivered 59 airplanes during the quarter (79 in Q4 2019), and backlog included over 4,000 airplanes valued at $282 billion. TradeArabia News Service [January 28, 2021] UnionPay adds ASB Bank to its list of partners WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International has added close to 15,000 merchants to its network through its latest partnership with ASB Bank Limited (ASB). Local cardholders can now use their UnionPay card to pay at ASB acquired POS terminals across the country, increasing UnionPay's network to 81,000 merchants across the country. One of the major banks in New Zealand, ASB employs more than 5,000 people, and provides a range of financial services to its more than 1.2 million customers. It also supports payment acceptance for a large portion of New Zealand business. "At ASB, we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of payment options for our customers so they can choose to pay how they like, and partnering with UnionPay is another way for us to do that," says ASB GM Global Transaction Banking Greg Beehre. "We're looking forward to the opportunities this partnership will provide for our customers." UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure paymen services to the world's largest cardholder base, with an increasing number of New Zealand consumers and businesses joining the network every day. Dr Jian Jiangtao, UnionPay International South Pacific region representative, says the company's success is due to the exclusive value and opportunity it presents to partners and consumers alike. "Partnering with ASB provides a range of unique opportunities for New Zealand businesses, including access to UnionPay cardholders from around the world, particularly for local residents and international students that are based in New Zealand." The partnership with ASB means UnionPay acceptance via POS terminals has increased to 90%, meaning UnionPay cardholders can enjoy their shopping experience at the majority of merchants. It also increases UnionPay's QuickPass (NFC/contactless payments) acceptance base in the New Zealand market to almost 65%. "We welcome ASB into the UnionPay payment network, and we're excited to team up with them to help us improve UnionPay's acceptance coverage," Dr Jian said. About UnionPay International UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay, focused on the growth and support of UnionPay's global business. In partnership with more than 2300 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has enabled card acceptance in 179 countries and regions with issuance in 61 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world's largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants. In New Zealand, UnionPay has partnered with more than 81,000 merchants, with 90% of ATMs and 90% of POS accepting UnionPay cards. Among the merchants UnionPay has collaborated with, about 47,000 POS terminals accept UnionPay QuickPass, and more than 1500 E-commerce websites accept UnionPay online payment. SOURCE UnionPay International [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Its been a while since Twitter did something that got everyone talking and didnt involve the former president of the United States. On Tuesday, the social network managed to do just that when it announced that it has acquired a company called Revue, which specializes in helping journalists and other writers set up their own email subscription newsletters. If this sounds familiar, thats because its the exact same business model as Substack, which has become a darling of both venture-capital investors and journalists for its ability to turn newsletters into cash. As Ben Smith, the New York Times media writer, pointed out in a recent column, Substack has helped Heather Cox Richardson turn her knowledge of US political history into a subscription business that is said to be worth about $1 million in annual revenue, and a number of leading journalists with various publications have quit recently to set up shop on the platform, including former Intercept writer Glenn Greenwald, Andrew Sullivan, Matt Yglesias, Anne Helen Peterson, and Casey Newton. Does this mean Twitter is going to be competing head-to-head with Substack? Yes, in the sense that every company that offers subscription email newsletter services is a competitor, including MailChimp, TinyLetter, and others. And according to a Times report, Twitter tried to acquire Substack at some point last year, but was rebuffedwhich suggests that it very much wants to be in that business. Whether Substack should be worried or not is harder to answer. On the one hand, it is much larger than Revue, a small Dutch company with just six employees: Substack has raised more than $17 million and says it has more than 250,000 subscribers generating more than $7 million in revenue (of which Substack takes 10 percent). Attracting writers like Yglesias and sociologist Zeynep Tufekci has also given it a lot of brand recognition. For his part, Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie tweeted: General Motors announces the Bolt following the Twitter announcement, referring to the automakers attempt, dismissed as square and boring, to compete with Tesla. Twitter does have even more resources than Substack: the company is worth $38 billion in terms of stock-market value, and its sister company Square (which is also run by Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey) is a payment-processing service that would probably come in very handy when dealing with subscription revenue and payment. In addition, Twitter says in the blog post announcing the Revue acquisition that it has a lot of plans for things it can offer to boost the service and make it more appealing to Twitter usersincluding allowing people to sign up for newsletters from those they follow, and even paying writers with newsletters in return for converting Twitter users to subscribers. As an additional sweetener right out of the gate, the company dropped the amount the service charges from 6 percent of subscription revenue to 5 percent, which is half what Substack takes. Ben Thompson, an independent analyst who writes a subscription newsletter called Stratechery (which he publishes and distributes himself, not through Substack) said that the acquisition of Revue is the smartest thing that Twitter has done in ages the acquisition may be small, but the vision it potentially represents is massive, if Twitter can execute. As he points out, the single biggest factor in whether a subscription newsletter works or not is user acquisitiongetting people to read it, and hopefully eventually pay you for it. In most cases, journalists and other writers do this through Twitter, because thats where their colleagues and potential audiences spend a lot of time. In other words, Twitter has a massive audience funnel built in, which it can easily direct towards newsletters, handling the authentication and payment processing behind the scenes with all of the information it has on its users. But analysts like Thompson and Gigaom founder Om Malik also pointed out that the company has a history of making acquisitions or starting new services that seem to have a bright future, only to fail on the follow through. Malik mentioned Vine, the video-sharing service that theoretically could have become as successful as TikTok if Twitter hadnt neglected it. Despite his enthusiasm for the deal, Thompson said, I am wary of declaring Twitter the winner of the newsletter wars. Buying a company is easy; actually realizing that companys potential requires vision and execution. Heres more on newsletters: Old flaws : In a piece she wrote for CJR, Clio Chang wrote about the rise of Substack and asked whether the company had actually created a more equitable media system, or merely replicated the flaws of the old one, since many of the star journalists invited and in some cases paidto join the platform are male, white, and were already in positions of power within the industry. When you look at the list of top newsletters, she says, something becomes clear: the most successful people on Substack are those who have already been well-served by existing media power structures. Most are white and male; several are conservative. : In a piece she wrote for CJR, Clio Chang wrote about the rise of Substack and asked whether the company had actually created a more equitable media system, or merely replicated the flaws of the old one, since many of the star journalists invited and in some cases paidto join the platform are male, white, and were already in positions of power within the industry. When you look at the list of top newsletters, she says, something becomes clear: the most successful people on Substack are those who have already been well-served by existing media power structures. Most are white and male; several are conservative. Free speech : On a New York Times podcast with Kara Swisher, Substack co-founder Chris Best was asked about whether the service would host or distribute newsletters written by Trump or other right-wing elements. Our general approach is were kind of strongly free speech and free press, he said. We have a strong default towards allowing people to say what they want to say. But he added that the company has a content policy that prohibits a variety of material. We definitely would kick someone off if they violated those things. You cant do porn on Substack. You cant do hate. You cant incite people to violence. You cant do illegal stuff. : On a podcast with Kara Swisher, Substack co-founder Chris Best was asked about whether the service would host or distribute newsletters written by Trump or other right-wing elements. Our general approach is were kind of strongly free speech and free press, he said. We have a strong default towards allowing people to say what they want to say. But he added that the company has a content policy that prohibits a variety of material. We definitely would kick someone off if they violated those things. You cant do porn on Substack. You cant do hate. You cant incite people to violence. You cant do illegal stuff. Predatory: Media entrepreneur Rafat Ali said that buying Revue and lowering the cut to 5 percent was a such a smart, predatory-ish move for Twitter. Newsletter services, he predicts, will become generic, low-margin. So much for Substack valuations. John Gruber, author of the Apple-focused Daring Fireball blog, said that it would make sense for Twitter to sell access to newsletter content inside Twitters app. See a tweet with a link to an article from a subscriber-only newsletter? Subscribe to the newsletter in two taps, right in the app, just like buying apps from the App Store. This seems rather obvious, and a good idea, so Im sure Twitter wont do it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories: Jennifer Barnett, a former staffer at The Atlantic magazine, wrote about her experiences in a Medium post that she titled: I Left My Career in Prestige Media Because of the Shitty Men in Charge and They Are Still In Charge and Still Fucking Up. She describes how she left her job at the top of the magazines masthead because I blew the whistle on my boss for doing something unethical then abusing the staff and undermining the editorial process during which time I was assured he would be fired but instead he was promoted and after threatening me privately in his office, he marginalized me to the point of being completely invisible. My career was over. magazine, wrote about her experiences in a Medium post that she titled: I Left My Career in Prestige Media Because of the Shitty Men in Charge and They Are Still In Charge and Still Fucking Up. She describes how she left her job at the top of the magazines masthead because I blew the whistle on my boss for doing something unethical then abusing the staff and undermining the editorial process during which time I was assured he would be fired but instead he was promoted and after threatening me privately in his office, he marginalized me to the point of being completely invisible. My career was over. In the wake of Marty Barons recent announcement that he is stepping down as executive editor of the Washington Post , the rumor mill about his potential successor is going into overdrive. Sources tell Axios that The Post has eyed both internal and external candidates, including Steven Ginsberg (the Post s national editor during the Trump administration), former Post managing editor Kevin Merida (now at ESPN) and National Geographic Editor in Chief Susan Goldberg (who helped lead that newsrooms successful digital transformation). , the rumor mill about his potential successor is going into overdrive. Sources tell Axios that The has eyed both internal and external candidates, including Steven Ginsberg (the s national editor during the Trump administration), former managing editor Kevin Merida (now at ESPN) and Editor in Chief Susan Goldberg (who helped lead that newsrooms successful digital transformation). Gabriel Snyder, CJRs public editor for the New York Times , writes about a recent incident in which Lauren Wolfe, a freelance editor, was told she would not be getting any more work from the Times after a tweet she posted about Joe Bidens inauguration drew criticism. The union representing staff at the Times is negotiating on behalf of Wolfe. , writes about a recent incident in which Lauren Wolfe, a freelance editor, was told she would not be getting any more work from the after a tweet she posted about Joe Bidens inauguration drew criticism. The union representing staff at the is negotiating on behalf of Wolfe. A Reddit community knownn as WallStreetBets pushed up the share price of GameStop, a video-game retail chain. It was part of an online argument with short sellers, investors who purchase stocks in such a way that they profit from a fall in prices. And the same forum is now pushing up other stocks, including the AMC movie-theater chain. Alex Stamos, former Facebook security chief, said on Twitter: I dont know if any laws were broken this time, but Reddit now has a problem: it is the home for a community of hundreds of thousands of people who have demonstrated the ability to move billions of dollars based upon the urging of, at most, a couple dozen anonymous accounts. Will Oremus writes for the technology publication One Zero about how NextDoor, a popular app that lets homeowners connect with others in their neighborhood, is replacing many of the functions that were once performed by local newspapers. Anecdotally, Nextdoor has gone from being kind of sub-Facebook to actually being the main platform you hear people discussing as a vector for local news and events and discussions, said Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. The company now operates in some 268,000 neighborhoods globally and has reportedly considered going public at a valuation of $5 billion. Federal authorities in New York City arrested a California man on Tuesday and charged him with sending threatening messages to a family member of George Stephanopoulos, the ABC News anchor and former White House communications director under President Bill Clinton. The man texted the relative to say that the journalists words are putting you and your family at risk. We are nearby armed and ready. The same man also sent similar threatening texts to the brother of Representative Hakeem Jeffries. Right-wing outlets remained the fastest-growing news websites globally in December, according to an analysis of web traffic by Press Gazette. In an updated global ranking of the top 50 English-language news sites prepared for the magazine, pro-Trump right-wing title The Epoch Times made it into the ranking for the first time after seeing 421 percent growth since December of 2019 more than any other site in the top 50. Reportedly backed by the Falun Gong religious sect, Epoch Times has become a home for anti-China conspiracy theories around coronavirus. made it into the ranking for the first time after seeing 421 percent growth since December of 2019 more than any other site in the top 50. Reportedly backed by the Falun Gong religious sect, has become a home for anti-China conspiracy theories around coronavirus. The Myrtle Beach Post & Courier wrote about Joshua Dawsey, a member of the Washington Posts investigative team and a former White House correspondent who grew up in the small town of Aynor and became editor-in-chief of a South Carolina weekly newspaper while he was still in high school. Im not someone from New York or Washington. Im back in touch pretty regularly with the salt-of-the-earth people who are hardworking, care about their country and see things a lot differently than Washington, for better or worse, Dawsey said. Many of my colleagues who grew up in different places were really stunned the first time they went to a Trump rally. I was not. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. New Delhi: Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat will visit Sikkim on Thursday in the backdrop of a standoff between Indian troops and Chinese army along the Sino-India border in the sensitive sector which is threatening to further strain the bilateral ties. The Army chief will take stock of the operational matters and interact with top commanders in the formation headquarters of the force in the border state. Gen Rawats visit to Sikkim comes amid mounting tension between the two armies along the border in Sikkim following a scuffle between Indian troops and the personnel of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army in a remote area earlier this month. The genesis of the latest face-off is understood to have had a link to Donglang, a narrow but strategically important tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan. Official sources described Gen Rawats visit as routine. ALSO READ: Army chief praises security forces for doing a great job in Kashmir During the two-day-long visit, Gen. Rawat will travel to a number of other formation headquarters in the Northeast and review various operational matters in the regiona strategically key region having most of the 3,488-km-long-border with China. Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. China has accused Indian troops of crossing the boundary in the Sikkim section and demanded their immediate withdrawal, while asserting that it has shut down the Nathu La pass entry for Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar because of the border standoff. China also said that it has lodged diplomatic protests with India, both in New Delhi and Beijing, alleging that the Indian troops trespassed into Chinese territory in the Sikkim sector. The Indian Army has not commented on the face-off. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said on Monday that recently China has begun the construction of a road in Donglang region, but was stopped by Indian troops crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. After receiving his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the National vaccination program of the country against coronavirus, the coroner of Orange County now is investigating the alleged COVID vaccine death of a Santa Ana healthcare worker. Orange County Register identified that the healthcare worker who died behind the alleged COVID vaccine death as 60-year-old Tim Zook, who is an X-ray technician at a Santa Ana medical facility, South Coast Global Medical Center. The report also states that Zook had an upset stomach and breathing problems before going to the hospital, Radio reported via MSN. Moreover, after the observation done to the 60-year-old X-ray technician, his blood pressure soon dropped, which prompted his transfer to the UC Irvine Medical Center. The healthcare worker's wife, Rochelle Zook shared to the Orange County Register that on Friday she got a call regarding the status of his husband, as the kidneys of Tim are failing and he needs to be on dialysis because if not he could die. However, despite undergoing dialysis, there is also a chance that he might have a heart attack or stroke on dialysis because his blood pressure is so low. Despite the X-ray technician's coronavirus results coming back negative, his wife has mentioned that he had suffered from high blood pressure, but was already taking medication for the disease The wife of the victim of the alleged COVID vaccine death, Rochelle Zook also shared that she does not blame the pharmaceutical company for the death of his husband. On the other hand, Pfizer-BioNTech's spokesman also reached the Orange County Register and stated that the company is aware of the death of Zook and they are currently reviewing the matter, thoroughly. Meanwhile, Pfizer reached out to the bereaved family and stated that their thoughts are with them according to an e-mail that was sent to the Orange County Register. The vaccine maker also added that they are closely monitoring all such events and collect relevant information to share with global regulatory authorities. Read also: China Starts to Use Rectal Swabs for COVID-19 Tests, 'Invasive Procedure' Draws Flak On the results of the ongoing safety reviews performed by Pfizer, BioNTech, and health authorities, the vaccine remains a positive benefit-risk profile for the prevention of coronavirus infections. In addition, serious adverse events, which include deaths that are unrelated to the vaccine, are unfortunately likely to happen at a similar rate as they would in the general population. COVID Vaccine Deaths in Norway Meanwhile, COVID Vaccine deaths have also been controversial earlier this month after 23 people in Norway who got the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine died. In a statement by health authorities, at least 13 of those who died were patients from nursing homes, and the deaths were said to be related to the side-effects of the vaccine. According to The New York Post, Norwegian Medicines Agency chief physician, Sigurd Hortemo said that nausea and fever, which are common reactions to the vaccine may have played a part in the COVID vaccine deaths, especially in patients with weak immune systems. Related article: Wisconsin Anti-Vax Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Trying to Destroy Hundreds Of COVID Vaccines @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Emily Schoenbaum said she chose a political theme for her 1009 Montegut St. float house because the Marigny neighborhood is Krewe du Vieux and krewedelusion territory. And even though those two parades arent hitting the streets this year, on account of the coronavirus, she wanted to preserve the spirit of irreverent satire and wackiness that they represent. Schoenbaum conceived her float house, titled "Trump's Da-mise," back in December, after it was clear the president had been voted out, but before some of his supporters laid siege to the Capitol. The tone of her parody is good natured though it is a bit, uh, biting. +3 Trying to find those fabulous Mardi Gras float houses? Weve got a map for you! The coronavirus put the kibosh on this years Carnival parades. But fear not, the virus was no match for the Crescent City creative spirit. Fr The bachelor party-style, inflatable, vinyl girl doll affixed to Schoenbaums roof holds a fishing pole from which dangles a plywood cellphone displaying the Twitter logo that has caught the attention of a plywood version of the 45th president, who has lost his balance and is tumbling toward the gaping jaws of the enormous plywood alligator below. Munchy, munchy, Schoenbaum said, laughing. With pride of prescience, Schoenbaum pointed out that the joke was born even before Mr. Trump lost his Twitter privileges. Schoenbaums intention to lampoon Trumps Twitter dependency is clear, but what do the three plywood possums climbing along the porch rails have to do with anything? Its because I have a family of them living under my house, Schoenbaum said. Some onlookers might view the presence of the possums as a visual non sequitur, but others would probably agree that an inflated female angler, a ferocious reptile, a tumbling president and a family of marsupials all somehow fit the surreal 2020 gestalt perfectly. Likewise the plywood Bernie Sanders meme that is a recent addition to the scene. As all social media devotees well know, a photo of the seemingly withdrawn, mitten-wearing senator from Vermont became an internet sensation soon after Joe Bidens chilly inauguration. And Schoenbaum saw to it that he appeared at her Montegut Street float house too. The Sanders meme seemed to represent anyone whos ever felt theyd been left out in the cold. But most of the time, Schoenbaums Bernie cutout is kept inside behind a window because shes afraid hell be swiped. Schoenbaum moved to New Orleans from West Virginia in the 1980s in order to attend Tulane University, where she majored in sociology and womens studies. These days shes a house restorer and developer who is not averse to dumpster diving for antique lumber and other materials for use in her restoration projects. I like to maintain both the integrity and original materials of our unique New Orleans homes, she said. Schoenbaum said that during a usual Carnival season shed probably take in a couple of Uptown parades, as well as the neighborhood marches, and would spend Mardi Gras under the I-10 overpass on Claiborne Avenue with the Nine Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club. When she heard about the home decorating craze spreading through the city, she said, Hey, I have an artistic friend who could pull off a house float. Three artistic friends, as it turns out. Linden Keal, Kay Kay Fantasia, and Maya Pen all contributed to the project. The house has been a crowd pleaser. I really think its boosting peoples spirits, she said. Its distracting in the hum drum. On Mardi Gras, she said, she plans to toss mini possum toys to passersby from her porch. +3 Carnival enthusiasts turning homes, businesses and dog houses into 'house floats' The Covington Krewe of House Floats has been created for those who want to decorate their homes or businesses as a Mardi Gras float in order t Schoolchildren in Northern Ireland are likely to remain out of the classroom until the second week of March at the earliest and could be facing the prospect of no school before Easter. The Education Minister is due to deliver two papers to the NI Executive on Thursday, focusing on both the current school closures and the arrangements for the transfer of pupils from primary to secondary education. And Peter Weir also said universities should be doing more to help students, many of whom have been paying rent for accommodation they havent been staying in as the universities moved to remote learning. Health Minister Robin Swann said he is unwilling to speculate on what decision will be made, saying there are several options on the table, but Mr Weir has said its very unlikely in the short term that there will be a very swift return to face-to-face teaching, The minister said that there is a hope for some face-to-face teaching before Easter, but following Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing that schools in England will remain closed to the majority of pupils until March 8, the NI Executive is expected to reach a similar decision today. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph the minister said that it remains his aim to see a return to the classroom as soon as possible, but that it will be guided by health recommendations. At this stage I have to speak in generalities as there will be discussions at the Executive on Thursday, but it would be the case that were unlikely to see a swift return to face-to-face teaching, but that is something the Executive will have to decide on, said Mr Weir. Schools will be closed for a minimum three-and-a-half weeks, but as always we have to look at the overall picture and assess the health concerns. It goes without saying that I want to see school children back in the classroom as soon as possible, but obviously taking the situation we are facing into consideration. I will present the options to the Executive. They will decide whats best by looking at the whole situation in the country. A range of issues will be discussed further. I think the way Covid has worked out is that those who have been most adversely affected are the very old and the very young,the Minister dais. I have a lot of sympathy for the position that young people have been put in. School have contingency plans. They were told to have them in place for the start of the academic year in September and there has been a lot of good work done by schools, teachers and parents in delivering remote learning. But none of that is as good as face-to-face learning. But we have to factor in giving schools at least two weeks notice of any potential return, he said. They need to know whats coming ahead. The sooner we can get back to face-to-face learning, the better. But were all depending on the very fluctuation public health situation, and that comes first. He also said that universities should be going more to help students through the Covid pandemic. Universities come under the Department of the Economy and I know my colleague Diane Dodds is looking at what level of package of additional support can be provided to students from a financial point of view, he said. In many ways students at universities are not getting the full experience, both socially and from a learning perspective. Universities need to step up to the mark to provide additional support. He also said he would like to see the University of Ulster following the example of Queens University in trying to support students. It would be perfectly reasonable for Ulster University to match what Queens has been doing to support students by allowing them to leave accommodation, he said. A lot of what Queens has done has been perfectly reasonable. I want to see all universities being fair to all their students. The minister said he will be in a position to make a statement on examinations by next week. There will be an announcement, he added. That will be largely based around the assessments teachers are making, moderated by the exam regulator to make sure it's fair for everybody. Its important that exams and qualifications are seen at that merit. Weve got to make sure that when our students get their grades, they're going to be comparable with everywhere else in the UK. It will not be question of what happened last year. There has been planning. There will be no algorithm. The NI Executive is expected to announce the decision on school closures this afternoon. European Commissioner in charge of Health Stella Kyriakides addresses the AstraZeneca vaccine controversy in Brussels The rate of Covid-19 vaccination in the UK is now nearly four times higher than in Ireland, amid fears a shortage of supplies from Oxford AstraZeneca will slow down the roll-out to the over-70s here. It comes amid the bitter row between the European Commission and AstraZeneca and demands that 75 million jabs be diverted from the UK for member states. The EU is expected to receive only 31 million doses in the first quarter, around 60pc less than initially agreed, with knock-on shortages for Ireland. Promised The latest data shows the doses administered in the UK per 100 people stood at 10.79 yesterday, with 7.3 million vaccines given. The Republic of Ireland is fourth in the table after the UK, Malta and Denmark. The number of doses given here per 100 people was 2.9. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said around 300,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine are promised in February and March - down from the expected 600,000 - but he hopes that can improve. The plan is to start the roll-out of the vaccine - due to be approved tomorrow by the European Medicines Agency - in the middle of next month in GP surgeries and vaccination centres, starting with over-85s. But there are still questions about whether the EMA will authorise it for older age groups. Residents over 65 in nursing homes and other residential centres, as well as staff and frontline health workers, will be given the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. It could be the middle of March before all frontline healthcare workers get a second dose. AstraZeneca chief Pascal Soriot said his contract with the UK meant that doses coming from its factories would go to Britain first. He insisted the EU contract did not commit the company to a specific timetable for deliveries. The vaccines meant for the EU were produced in four plants in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. But Stella Kyriakides, the EU's health commissioner, said: "We reject the logic of first come, first served. That may work at the neighbourhood butchers, but not in contracts. United "Let me be crystal clear: the 27 European Union member states are united that AstraZeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreement. "We are in a pandemic. We lose people every day. "These are not numbers. They are not statistics. These are persons, with families, with friends and colleagues. "Pharmaceutical companies, vaccine developers, have moral, societal and contractual responsibilities which they need to uphold." New Delhi, Jan 28 : Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday broke down at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur farmers protest site, alleging that the administration was trying to crush their movement. Tikait, who has been named in the Delhi Police FIR in connection with the violence at several parts of the city during the 'Kisan Gantantra parade' on Republic Day, made his appearance at the protest site two days later, saying: "We were ready to surrender peacefully but the BJP's local MLAs have been called to beat the protesting farmers." "There is a conspiracy against us. Now, I will not surrender even if the police fires bullets at us," he announced from the dais of the farmers' protest site. Tikait also said that he will hang himself but he will not surrender now and urged the farmers to save their tents that have been in place since November 26 last year. Speaking to media, an emotional Tikait said that the administration was trying to conspire against the farmers to end their peaceful movement. "We had come here to protest against the three farm laws demanding their repealing," he said. He alleged that the people of the BJP are trying to kill the farmers. "This is injustice to farmers of the country. The three laws must be repealed and our movement will keep on going till the time the three laws are not rerpealed," he said. "I will keep on fighting for the farmers' right," he added. The Ghaziabad administration has served notice to farmers to vacate the protest site. Earlier in the day, there was heavy deployment of police personnel and security forces at the Ghazipur protest site, where the farmers have been camping since November 26 last year. Susan Bro embodies the dilemma that may very well define Joe Bidens presidency: can there be peace without justice? Bro is the mother of Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old woman who was killed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, by far-right activist James Alex Fields. Fields deliberately ran his car over a group of peaceful protesters who were marching in opposition to a group of neo-Nazis, Klansmen and white supremacists who had gathered from around the country for what they called Unite the Right Rally. In commenting on these tragic events, the US president at the time, Donald Trump, famously stressed that there were very fine people on both sides of the protest. Joe Biden has said that what happened in Charlottesville convinced him to run for president. Biden has rightly divined that progress requires that the divisions that now fragment the country and block important decision-making be curtailed Susan Bro worries that, in the pursuit of unity, Joe Biden may sacrifice justice. She told The New York Times, healing requires holding perpetrators accountable. Unity follows justice. Biden offers another perspective: We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace only bitterness and fury. The list of emergencies that the new president must deal with is overwhelming. The pandemic, its catastrophic economic consequences, climate change, a deeply unequal and polarized society and dozens of international crises are just some of the urgent problems facing the Biden administration. If responding effectively to just one of these challenges is immensely difficult, tackling them all at the same time is daunting. But there is no alternative: the threats are real, they have been getting worse and they demand immediate attention. Biden has rightly divined that progress in fighting any of these threats requires that the divisions that now fragment the country and block important decision-making be curtailed. Unity was the theme of President Bidens inaugural address and is the message he reiterates every time he addresses the nation. Biden is an experienced politician and knows how difficult it will be to unite partisan Democrats and Republicans. Moreover, leading Americans to cut the vitriol and coexist in more harmony with their compatriots who support leaders and causes that they find unpalatable is as urgent as it is difficult. Biden also knows that while 82 million Americans voted for him (or against Trump) another 74 million did so for Trump (or against the current president) and that more than a third of Americans believe that he is an illegitimate president. Clearly, the national unity that Biden advocates is necessary. But, is there a contradiction in aiming to bring polarized Americans together while at the same time arresting and jailing those who invaded the Capitol or the Republican politicians, lawyers and bureaucrats who actively engaged in staging a coup that aimed at keeping Trump in power? The political tension between peace and justice is already causing problems in Washington. Leading Americans to cut the vitriol and coexist in more harmony with their compatriots who support leaders and causes that they find unpalatable is as urgent as it is difficult Just one day after the start of the Biden administration, and in reaction to the decision to proceed with the impeachment of Donald Trump, Republican Senator Ted Cruz urged Democratic Party leaders to put aside what he described as their partisan hatred of Donald Trump, and added: It seems that Senate Democrats [...] want to start the new Congress [...] with a vindictive and punitive impeachment trial. That same day, a journalist asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic head of the House of Representatives, if prosecuting Donald Trump did not contradict the calls to unify the country. The fact is that the president of the United States committed an act of incitement, of insurrection, replied Pelosi, adding, I dont think its very unifying to simply say lets just forget it and move on. Thats not how you unify. It is our responsibility to protect and defend the constitution and that is what we are going to do. Referring to Trump, the Democratic leader affirmed that: You dont say to a president, Do whatever you want in the last months of your administration and youre going to get a get-out-of-jail card free, because people think we should make nice-nice and forget that people died here on January 6, that the attempt to undermine our election or to undermine our democracy, to dishonor our Constitution. No, I dont see that at all. I think that would be harmful to unity. The peace versus justice debate is not new in the United States or the rest of the world. In fact, it is frequently found in many of the societies that are beginning to recover from war, prolonged periods of violence and serious human rights violations. Truth and Reconciliation commissions played an important role in South Africa, Sri Lanka and Colombia. This, of course, is not the case in the United States. Nonetheless, recent events show that it is not prudent to take for granted that Americas institutions (Congress, the media, the military and especially its judicial system) have the strength, resources and tools needed to cope with a political environment where those who demand redress and justice constantly clash with those who advocate magnanimously looking ahead for the sake of social peace. Follow me on Twitter @moisesnaim A Fianna Fail TD has apologised for saying Ireland should buy anti-Covid vaccine from the Ku Klux Klan if necessary. Marc MacSharry made a reference at the Fianna Fail parliamentary party yesterday evening to sourcing vaccine if necessary from the Ku Klux Klan, but promptly withdrew it and said it was an extreme analogy. When contacted by Independent.ie, Mr MacSharry acknowledged he made reference to the KKK, but said the comment had been withdrawn and clarified straight away. I abhor the very existence of such organisations, he added. Read More Others at the meeting confirmed the remark, and that it was withdrawn immediately. One said: He should have said we would buy vaccines from the devil himself, which was his point. Mr MacSharry made the reference while arguing that Ireland should ditch EU solidarity and opt for the Russian Sputnik vaccine against Covid-19. The Sligo-Leitrim TD asked: Whats the attitude to the Sputnik Russian vaccine? Are EU prejudices going to prevent the consideration of it? He said Hungary had done a unilateral deal for the supply of the Sputnik vaccine, although doubts have been expressed about its efficacy. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his children have taken the Sputnik vaccine and it has also been tried in South America. My view is if it works lets get it. No matter who has a vaccine that works we should be buyers, Mr MacSharry told the Taoiseach and fellow TDs. He said the EU had failed us on the vaccine and anecdotal evidence suggested the bloc put all its faith in the development of a French-based vaccine which didnt materialise. As a result it had come late to the queue for Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson one-jab vaccine, the latter of which the Taoiseach said was only scheduled to be potentially approved by the EMA in late April. Read More Mr MacSharry said that as the EU dithered, other countries were in quicker and paid higher prices. It was basic supply and demand economics, he said, adding there was currently no visibility on vaccine deliveries. Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan said he would like a zero Covid approach to be taken. One of those in attendance at the meeting said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had waffled on about Covid issues without giving real answers to members concerns. Carey Mulligan has responded after Variety issued an apology to her over the sexist language used in their review of her film Promising Young Woman, reacting to the apology in a conversation with fellow actress Zendaya as part of the publications Actors on Actors series. Mulligan initially called out the review in a profile for the New York Times, pointing out the way it focused on her looks drove [her] so crazy. Mulligan, a fine actress, seems a bit of an odd choice as this admittedly many-layered apparent femme fatale, the original Variety review of Promising Young Woman wrote. Margot Robbie is a producer here, and one can (perhaps too easily) imagine the role might once have been intended for her. Whereas with this star, Cassie wears her pickup-bait gear like bad drag; even her long blonde hair seems a put-on. It made me concerned that in such a big publication, an actress appearance could be criticized and that could be accepted as completely reasonable criticism, Mulligan told Zendaya. It stuck with me, because I think its these kind of everyday moments that add up that mean that we start to edit the way that women appear on screen, and we want them to look a certain way. We want to airbrush them, and we want to make them look perfect. Or we want to edit the way that they work, the way they move, and the way that they think and behave. And I think we need to see real women portrayed on screen and in all of their complexity. So I felt that it was one small thing to point out that could be helpful. Mulligan admitted that it was nerve-racking to rock the boat with a big publication but said that she was really surprised and thrilled to have received an apology. I kind of found it moving, in a way to draw a line and know that had an impact. Mulligan said she believed the review implied she was not hot enough to pull off this kind of ruse, and she was right to speak out about it. The implication, whether intentional or not, that someone is not hot enough to be sexually assaulted or harassed by men is a dangerous notion that perpetuates rape culture by both overlooking the fact that nearly every woman has had to deal with predatory men in her life in some form or another, and further, implying that those who dress more overtly sexy are asking for it. The sad reality is that every 73 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted, and one out of every six women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. You dont need to be Margot Robbie to encounter sexual predators. (You dont even need to be a grown woman: 63,000 victims of sexual abuse a year are children.) Dennis Harveys Variety review fails to grasp how the movie drives that point home that rape can happen to anyone, regardless of who they are or how theyre dressed by outfitting Cassie with a different, distinctive manner of address each time she goes to the club to catch would-be predators. Sometimes shes glammed up in what Harvey referred to as bad drag, but other times shes dressed conservatively, in business-casual attire, as if she had gone out straight from work. And yet every time, without fail, shes picked up and taken home by a man who thinks shes too drunk to stand and subsequently attempts what Harvey problematically refers to as predatory hijinks. Hijinks implies some good-natured, mischievous fun. The word he was looking for to describe when a man has sex with a woman who is too impaired to consent is rape. Since Mulligan spoke out, Variety has subsequently added an editors note at the top of the review. Variety sincerely apologizes to Carey Mulligan and regrets the insensitive language and insinuation in our review of Promising Young Woman that minimized her daring performance, it reads. Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter. The post Carey Mulligan Responds to Apology From Variety Over Sexist Promising Young Woman Review appeared first on InsideHook. Time to grok some graphics. . . The Biden-Harris Administration is determined to be anti-energy, the opposite of Alexander Hamiltons hopes for energy in the executive. They want to start by ending fossil fuel subsidies. This first chart is hard to make out (you may be able to enlarge it), but it shows that renewables receive ten times the amount of subsidies as fossil fuels. Roy Spencer comments: But federal subsidies on fossil fuels represent less that 3% of the revenues of the fossil fuel industry. This action will have essentially no impact on an economy that still runs on fossil fuels. That 3% will be voluntarily paid by the consumer, just directly rather than through subsidies. In contrast, renewables currently enjoy 25 times the level of subsides per unit of energy produced as do fossil fuels, and the market penetration of EVs is still only 1.2%. One can see that massive government meddling in the energy market is the only way that people will at least for the foreseeable future choose renewables over fossil fuels. So, while environmentalists might applaud Bidens decision, the effect on the energy markets will be barely measurable, if at all. Meanwhile, as Holman Jenkins points out in the Wall Street Journal today that if the Harris-Biden Administration was actually serious about climate change, theyd push nuclear power. Instead: Heres what technological innovation and cheap natural gas have produced: Prediction: the Harris-Biden Administration will propose to raise gasoline taxes at some point. Violent weather is getting worse! Oh, wait: Fact: There are no high-income, low-energy nations. Biden the taxman: Compare and contrast: It is a commonplace that American manufacturing has been in a long decline, but thats not quite accurate. What has declined is manufacturing employment. You can thank (or destroy) a robot. Some animal are more equal than others: The residue of Communism? Looks scientific to me: 40 of the 50 least affordable housing markets in the nation are in California. Lisa Curry and ex-husband Grant Kenny reunited on Australia Day this week to spend some quality time with their family after the tragic death of their daughter Jaimi. Former competitive swimmer Lisa, 58, shared a sweet and equally rare picture of her ex on Instagram this week as he doted on their grandsons. 'Pa and his grandsons,' Lisa captioned one image where Grant cuddles their grandchildren Flynn, two, and Taj, two months. 'Pa and his grandsons': This week, Lisa Curry shared a rare picture of ex-husband Grant Kenny as he doted on their grandchildren at a family gathering - after the tragic death of their daughter Jaimi The boys are their daughter Morgan's children, who she shares with husband Ryan Gruell. Lisa also shared another image of former Ironman Grant, 57, cradling Taj. 'My Australia Day... celebrating what's great. Family, inspiring people, love of our country and lifestyle,' she wrote. Family: Lisa also shared another image of former Ironman Grant, 57, cradling Taj Downtime: Lisa Curry and ex-husband Grant Kenny reunited on Australia Day this week, to spend some quality time with their family It comes after their daughter, Jaimi, tragically died in September at the age of 33. Lisa announced Jaimi's death in an emotional social media post on September 15. 'Our beautiful daughter Jaimi has lost her battle with a long-term illness and passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday morning with her loving family by her side,' she wrote at the time. Tragic: It comes after their daughter, Jaimi, tragically died in September at the age of 33 'Our hearts are broken and the pain is unbearable but we cherish every wonderful moment we got to share with our treasured and so loved first child.' It was later reported that Jaimi had battled alcoholism and an eating disorder before her death at a Sunshine Coast hospital. Lisa and Grant are parents to son Jett, 27, and daughter Morgan, 29. For confidential support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au. Alternatively, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 A 13-year-old schoolgirl died from taking an 'extremely high level' of ecstasy - as her family insist the Lucozade she bought from a local shop was 'laced' with the party drug. Eboney Cheshire died after suffering a seizure at home in Rainhall, Merseyside, in December 2018, an inquest heard. Hours earlier, Eboney bought Lucozade, Monster Munch crisps and noodles from a local convenience store. Her mother Kerry Williams has insisted that her daughter didn't take the Class A drug herself, instead claiming her 'bottle was laced'. Mrs Williams blasted the police investigation into the death - which identified no suspects - and insisted the circumstances were 'suspicious'. Detective Inspector Leanne Hobin described Ebony's death as a 'tragedy' but said 'despite pursuing every line of enquiry' no one was arrested on suspicion of spiking her drink. Eboney Cheshire, 13, (left) died from taking an 'extremely high level' of ecstasy - as her mother Kerry Williams (right with Ebony) insists the Lucozade the teen bought from a local shop was 'laced' with the party drug Eboney - a pupil at Rainhill High School - was suffering cold-like symptoms and was kept off school by her mother in the days leading up to her death on December 2, 2018. She had been given paracetamol for her condition and appeared to improve - but was grounded at home while not attending school, the inquest at Bootle Coroner's Court heard. Mrs Williams left for work on December 2 and when she returned to their home that evening there was a slight 'verbal altercation' about the lack of tidying up at the house. The family went to sleep, but mother-of-two Mrs Williams was woken up by a noise and found Eboney having a seizure in her bed, with her eyes rolling back. An ambulance was called and it was initially believed she was having a seizure due to her raised temperature linked to her cold-like symptoms. Eboney Cheshire (left, as a young girl, and right) died after suffering a seizure at home in Rainhall, Merseyside, in December 2018, an inquest heard. Hours earlier, Eboney bought Lucozade, Monster Munch crisps and noodles from a local convenience store. At Whiston Hospital, it was established that Ebony's condition was drug-induced and she tragically died. Merseyside Police Detective Inspector Hoban confirmed that police had not identified any offenders for drugs supply crimes. The enquiry into Eboney's death has now been concluded, it was added. Mrs Williams previously told how she believed her daughter must have come into contact with the drug when she went to the local shops on the evening before she died. She has questioned whether she met a friend - or someone else - who dared or pressured her into taking the drug, or whether someone spiked her. A post mortem examination conducted by Dr Brian Rogers said Eboney had a temperature of 41.2C. Mrs Williams had noted how Eboney's arms were tensing and she was also sweating. Toxicology reports revealed an 'extremely high level of MDMA, or ecstasy, in a level lying above the range of which fatalities have been reported.' A cause of death ecstasy toxicity was given. Coroner Julie Goulding said an 'extensive investigation' had led to no arrests for the supply of drugs to Eboney and the 13-year-old had taken the substance herself. Peter Williams, Ebony's grandfather, told the hearing: 'I don't agree with this,' and indicated his wish to appeal the coroner's ruling. Mrs Williams also spoke in court about her dissatisfaction with the police investigation, and added: 'She didn't do this to herself. Who puts ecstasy into a drink?' Her mum claimed: 'Her bottle was laced with drugs. You don't realise how suspicious this is.' Ms Goulding said there was no other conclusion she could reach other than a drug-related death. Eboney (pictured as a young girl)- a pupil at Rainhill High School - was suffering cold-like symptoms and was kept off school by her mother in the days leading up to her death on December 2, 2018 In December 2019, Mrs Williams described her daughter as 'a very popular and bubbly character, forever making people laugh.' She added: 'Eboney oozed confidence, parents have praised me for the way I raised her, because their children had got bullied and Eboney was the one who took them under her wing and protected them. 'Nobody would really argue with Eboney as they all wanted to be her friend, she had so many good qualities. 'She was very clever, at the age of five or six she used to know every capital in the world, she even knew Madagascar. 'She'd have the teachers in laughter, once when aged three she used the word "procrastination" and said, "my granddad taught me that". 'She was very bright and looking forward to her GCSEs. She wanted to be a doctor. 'It's the not knowing what happened, not having her in the house.' Detective Inspector Leanne Hobin said: 'Working closely with the Coroner's Office, a full and thorough investigation was carried out into the circumstances surrounding Eboney's death. 'Despite pursuing every available line of enquiry, unfortunately, no arrests or charges were made in connection with the supply of drugs which took Eboney's life. 'The death of Eboney was absolutely tragic, and I can only begin to imagine how difficult the past two years have been for her family. 'I offer them my sincere and continued condolences. We will continue to support them in any way we can going forward.' New Delhi, Jan 28 : The specialised units of the Delhi Police, such as the Crime Branch and the Special Cell, have started collecting evidence against the violent protesters and those named in the FIRs filed in connection with the violence in the national capital on Republic Day, which include video and CCTV footages captured on January 26 when the farmers' tractor rally turned violent. The police have now started collecting video recordings made by the police staff on the day of the protest as well as those captured by other mobile cameras, including footages aired on different television channels. At least 394 police personnel were injured in the violent clashes that broke out on the Republic Day after the proposed tractor rally by the protesting farmers went awry. Many of the protesters carrying spears and swords attacked the cops following which the injured were admitted to various hospitals in the national capital. Violent clashes between the protesters and the policemen were also reported from ITO, Red Fort, Nangloi, Mukarba Chowk, Gazipur and NH-24. Earlier, Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava said that those behind the violence would be identified through facial recognition technology. DCPs have also been keeping a close watch on the evidence of the violence in their respctive areas. "Action will be taken against all those involved in the illegal acts," said Deepak Yadav, DCP (East). Many of the injured cops admitted to the facilities would be the prime witnesses in the case. Delhi Police have also issued a lookout circular against the farmers' leaders named in the FIRs in connection with the violence. Officials also added they would ensure that those behind the violence do not leave the country. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Three military veterans charged in the Capitol riots started a recruitment drive for potential violence within days of the 2020 election and later held training camps before descending on DC in a bus filled with heavily armed comrades on January 6, authorities say. The new allegations, outlined in a federal indictment Wednesday, have been made against Jessica Marie Watkins, 38, and Donovan Ray Crowl, 50, of Ohio, and 66-year-old Thomas Caldwell of Virginia, according to the Washington Post. The trio, who are all US military veterans and affiliated with the extremist Oath Keepers group, are accused of conspiring to obstruct Congress and other counts, punishable up to 20 years in prison. According to the indictment, Watkins began tapping up potential recruits six days after the election for a training camp in Columbus, Ohio, to make people fighting fit for Inauguration Day, telling them to prepare to 'kill and die for our rights'. Crowl, a former Marine mechanic, allegedly attended a different training camp in North Carolina, in December, prosecutors said. And Caldwell, a retired Navy officer, meanwhile, is accused of pre-plotting and coordinating the movements of a group of 40 rioters from afar as they stormed the Capitol seeking to disrupt Congress certification of the Electoral College vote. Around 140 other members of the January 6 mob been arrested so far and more than 400 additional suspects have been identified. Five people were killed during the insurrection, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher. Two other officers who responded to the siege, Jeffrey Smith and Howard Liebengood, have also since committed suicide. Scroll down for video The new allegations, outlined in a federal indictment Wednesday, have been made against Jessica Marie Watkins (left), 38, and Donovan Ray Crowl (right), 50, of Ohio, and 66-year-old Thomas Caldwell (not pictured) of Virginia According to the indictment, Watkins is said to have begun tapping up potential recruits six days after the election for a training camp in Columbus, Ohio. Crowl, a former Marine mechanic, allegedly attended a different training camp in North Carolina, in December (Pictured: Watkins and Crowl inside the Capitol on Jan. 6) In the 15-page indictment unsealed Wednesday, prosecutors said Watkins, Crowl and Caldwell all began plotting their incursion of the US Capitol in November 2020, and continued communications until January 19, when Caldwell was arrested. Watkins, Crowl, and Caldwell are all reportedly affiliated with the anti-government extremist group Oath Keepers, while Watkins and Crowl are also members of the Ohio State Regular Militia. Their frequent exchanges varied in topics from a call to action to logistics, including lodging options, coordinating calls to discuss the plan, and joining forces with other Oath Keeper chapters, prosecutors say. In their planning, prosecutors claim, the group said that they were working under the perceived directions of Donald Trump, embracing his claims of election fraud and readying themselves for bloodshed. According to the indictment, Watkins began contacting recruits for the plot on November 9 six days after the election for a basic training camp outside of Columbus, Ohio, in early January. Watkins, a veteran of Afghanistan turned bartender, allegedly organized the training to ensure recruits would be fighting fit by inauguration. When asked by one recruit what to expect, Watkins allegedly wrote that if Biden became president our way of life as we know it is over. Our Republic would be over. Then it is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights. If Biden get the steal, none of us have a chance in my mind. We already have our neck in the noose. They just havent kicked the chair yet,' she continued, according to prosecutors. Then on December 29, Watkins is quoted as writing Trump wants able-bodied Patriots to come [to Jan. 6 riots]. If Trump activates the Insurrection Act, Id hate to miss it. Prosecutors further claim that she participated in a leadership only conference call via an encrypted app and that Caldwell arranged for at least one full bus 40+ people coming from N.C to be in DC for January 6. Watkins (above) is a 38-year-old Army veteran and bartender. She is a member of the anti-government extremist group Oath Keepers and also a member of the Ohio State Militia Watkins (right) is pictured with other rioters and was an organizer of militia groups According to the indictment, Watkins began contacting recruits for the plot on November 9 six days after the election for a basic training camp outside of Columbus, Ohio, in early January Who Are the Oath Keepers? Founded by Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers is an American far-right anti-government militia organization composed of current and former military, police, and first responders who pledge to fulfill the oath that all military and police take in order to 'defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.' The group describes itself as non-partisan, though several organizations that monitor domestic terrorism and hate groups describe it as extremist or radical. Mark Pitcavage of the ADL describes the group as 'heavily armed extremists with a conspiratorial and anti-government mindset looking for potential showdowns with the government.' Advertisement Crowl, a former Marine mechanic, also attended a training camp in December in North Carolina. Its currently unclear how many people attended either of the two training events. Prosecutors have not yet responded to a DailyMail.com request for comment. At around the same time as the North Carolina training camp, Caldwell allegedly invited Watkins and her partner to stay at his Virginia farm. In one undated exchange between Caldwell and Watkins, Caldwell wrote: Dont know what [Person One] is cooking up but I am hearing rumblings of another MAGA march 12 December. I dont know what will happen but like you I am very worried about the future of our country . . . I believe we will have to get violent to stop this.' Caldwell added: You are my kind of person and we have to fight next time. In previous charging documents, prosecutors have identified Person One as Stewie a possible reference to Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers. Then on December 30, Caldwell messaged Watkins again, writing: If [Person One] isnt making plans, Ill take charge myself, and get the ball rolling. I dont know if [Person One] has even got out his call to arms, but its a little friggin late. This one we do on our own. This is one we are doing on our own. Caldwell allegedly told Watkins the leader of another group, who wasnt named but referred to as Paul, had promised to help organize a busload of upwards of 40 people and weaponry to help their cause. [Paul] is too broken down to be on the ground all day and . . . he is committed to being the quick reaction force and bringing the tools if something goes to hell, Caldwell is said to have written. That way the boys wont have to schlep weps on the bus. Hell bring them in his truck the day before. In a December 31 post to Facebook, Caldwell reportedly wrote: THIS IS OUR CALL TO ACTION, FREINDS! SEE YOU ON THE 6TH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ALONG WITH 2 MILLION OTHER LIKE-MINDED PATRIOTS. Two days later, he added: It begins for real Jan 5 and 6 on Washington D.C. when we mobilize in the streets. Let them try to certify some crud on capitol hill with a million or more patriots in the streets. This kettle is set to boil Later, according to prosecutors, Watkins and Crowl arrived at the Capitol with communication devices, reinforced vests, camouflage helmets and goggles. They 'forcibly' entered the Capitol 'with a line of individuals wearing Oath Keeper clothing, patches, and insignia,' the indictment alleges. Crowl (above), a former Marine mechanic, also attended a training camp in December in North Carolina. Its currently unclear how many people attended either of the two training events Watkins, Crowl, and Caldwell are all affiliated with the anti-government extremist group Oath Keepers (above) In a statement to the Washington Post Wednesday, Caldwells defense attorney Thomas Plochan called his client a highly decorated veteran, who expects to have charges dismissed or be acquitted at trial. Plochan continued to the Post that Caldwell is not a member of the Oath Keepers and never entered the Capitol that day. The attorney added Wednesdays charging documents contained no factual assertion that he coordinated any activity aimed at entering the Capitol, disrupting any procedure, or taking any action against any person. An attorney for Crowl, who had served as a helicopter mechanic on an amphibious assault ship in the Persian Gulf, in 1990, has not yet spoken publicly on the matter. However, his mother gave an interview to the New Yorker, in which she said his alleged racist, right-wing views and decision to join the capitol riot made her 'sick to my stomach.' 'Its stuff he heard from that psychopath Alex Jones and those echo chambers on the Internet,' his sister Denissa Crowl added. 'I fear him. Hes very skilled in firearms. He was an expert sharpshooter.' Earlier this month, Watkins told the Ohio Capitol Journal: I didnt commit a crime. I didnt destroy anything. I didnt wreck anything. Her boyfriend, Montana Siniff, told Buzzfeed the former firefighter and EMT started to believe 'America was coming apart' following the COVID-19 outbreak and widespread national injustice protests last year. Watkins, according to Siniff, also began regularly watching videos on Infowars, the far-right conspiracy-driven website run by Alex Jones. It was there that she saw an interview with Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, and decided to join the group. Joyce Siniff, Siniff's mother, added: 'I think it got out of hand for her,' describing Watkins as a 'good and kind person'. She said she did not know her to be affiliated with any national militia groups, only a local organization who would 'protect police' during any unrest. When asked by one recruit what to expect, Watkins (above) allegedly wrote that if Biden became president our way of life as we know it is over. Our Republic would be over. Then it is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights' The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to 'fight' on his behalf Five people were killed during the insurrection, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick (left), who was bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher. Two other officers who responded to the siege, Jeffrey Smith (center) and Howard Liebengood (right), have also since committed suicide In previous filings against the trio, prosecutors detailed the groups alleged communications over the walkie-talkie-style app Zello during the riot. '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.' One unknown man said: 'You are executing citizen's arrest. Arrest this assembly, we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud.' Caldwell also allegedly told an Oath Keepers leader he was ready to attack Ohio's capital of Columbus. 'We need to do this at the local level,' he allegedly messaged. 'Lets (sic) storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!' The complaint reports one male voice is heard on an audio recording near Watkins exhorting: 'Get it, Jess,' and that the Capitol breach is everything we f***ing trained for. Watkins also posted photos of herself and with Crowl on social media and captioned a photo with: Me before forcing entry into the Capitol Building. #stopthesteal2 #stormthecapitol #oathkeepers #ohiomilitia. She later uploaded a video inside the Capitol captioned: 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. Members of the Oath Keepers are seen among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol during a protest on January 6 Federal authorities say that Caldwell also sent Facebook messages during the attack, in a group chat named Stop the Steal J6. '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.' In the group chat, Watkins stated: We have a good group. We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan, the release says. An unknown person responded: Well see you soon, Jess. Airborne, according to prosecutors. 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. Watkins and Crowl handed themselves in to police in Ohio on January 18. Caldwell was apprehended the following day. All three are charged with counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business, destruction of government property, and now conspiring to obstruct Congress. The last charges came as part of an eight-count indictment returned by a grand jury Wednesday. The FBI is continuing to search for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind during the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol. Now, the large-scale survey, conducted in fall 2019 by Mr. Urban and Brinnen Carter, an archaeologist at the National Park Service, discovered electromagnetic anomalies that revealed the forts perimeter and matched the shape and dimensions recorded by the Russians in the 19th century, Mr. Urban said. Something is different underground where the fort was, he said. It may be that they would have had to have had a ditch and wood. The ground is compacted differently, so theres some physical property thats different around the perimeter of the fort. The forts location had long been thought to be in a clearing within the park called the fort clearing, Mr. Urban said. But the survey revealed that the fort extended beyond the clearing into the surrounding forest, about 20 feet in each direction, he said. The survey spanned 40 acres, which Mr. Urban said was meant to rule out the possibility of an alternate location. Theres no other location in the park that has any type of geophysical signature like that, he said. The Tlingit built the fort, called Shisgi Noow, which means sapling fort in the Tlingit language, in a strategic location at the mouth of the Indian River, adjacent to shallow tidelands to prevent the Russians from moving their ship-based artillery near the forts walls, effectively neutralizing its military advantage, according to the Park Services website. First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill pictured at the Executive news conference at the Hill of the O'Neill venue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. First Minister Arlene Foster has said she has raised concerns over Covid breaches at ten republican funerals and "shows of strength" with the Policing Board and PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne. Mrs Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill were questioned over the issue at a press conference in Dungannon on Thursday. It comes after a further 13 deaths and 592 cases were reported by the Department of Health, with 768 Covid patients in hospitals and 67 in intensive care. Arlene Foster also revealed that the R number of the virus has fallen to between 0.65 and 0.8, but hospitals are still facing "incredible pressures" and the number of Covid patients in intensive care was at its highest-ever level this week. The First and Deputy First Minister were asked about the controversy surrounding the funeral of IRA man Eamonn McCourt in Londonderry earlier this week, where large crowds gathered as part of the cortege. Police said was "likely" to be in breach of Covid regulations. The DUP leader said she, alongside the party's Policing Board representative Mervyn Storey, met with Simon Byrne over the funeral and other issues on Thursday morning. "We wanted to raise various issues - we've raised around ten breaches now through the Policing Board in terms of Covid and either republican funerals or shows of strength and we haven't really had much back from either the Policing Board or the chief constable, so we are looking for clarity in relation to that," she said. "This goes to the very heart of credibility, you cannot have a select group of people who are above the law or not being treated the same as everyone else, and I want everyone to be treated the same in terms of Covid restrictions. "I think it is not helpful at all in terms of messaging if you have these people who appear to have these funerals without fear or favour." Mrs Foster added she has not been able to attend many funerals due to the pandemic, the latest being on Sunday. "The law should apply equally to everyone and that's what I said to the chief constable today... there is anger in the unionist community at the moment and I think it is important that we talk to him about that and ask him what he's going to do about it," she added. Michelle O'Neill said it is important to note that, when speaking about a funeral, you are speaking about a family's loss of a loved one. "In terms of the funeral [of Eamonn McCourt], Sinn Fein was not involved in the organising of the funeral and we held our own online celebration of his life as mark of respect," she said. "The PSNI have a job to do, everyone should follow the public health advice, and they should get on with doing their job. It's important that we let the PSNI do their job." Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.s Founder and Managing Equity Partner Patrick A. Salvi has been inducted into the Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame. The 2021 inductees include just 34 attorneys from across the country, including the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who was honored posthumously. According to Lawdragon, the lawyers inducted to the Hall of Fame are among the most acclaimed of their generation, having led Americas signature law firms to unprecedented heights, achieved civil rights advances and changed our world for the better. Prior to being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Patrick A. Salvi was named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America list for four years in a row. Mr. Salvi founded Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard in Lake County, Illinois in 1982. Under his leadership the firm has obtained more than $1.5 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients. Mr. Salvi concentrates his legal practice in cases concerning catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death. He has obtained a number of record-breaking jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including serving as lead counsel in obtaining an Illinois record-high $148 million jury verdict and a Lake County record $33 million jury verdict. For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com. With her distinctive Berkshire accent, rosy cheeks and humorous verse, Pam Ayres conjures up a cheerful image for her many fans. In real life, however, the poet has revealed that she's haunted by a terrifying incident that she witnessed outside her home. Asked what keeps her awake at night, Ayres, who was dubbed the People's Poet, discloses: 'About 18 months ago, my neighbour's burglar alarm went off one afternoon. I went out to have a look and was confronted by three men in balaclavas, armed with axes and hammers, and carrying pillowcases stuffed with valuables.' Ayres, who has performed her one-woman stage show for the Queen, adds: 'They didn't say anything, but it still gives me nightmares. As they drove off, I hoped and prayed they would never come back.' With her distinctive Berkshire accent, rosy cheeks and humorous verse, Pam Ayres conjures up a cheerful image for her many fans It's clearly not a subject fit for her comic verse. Ayres, 73, who is married to theatre producer Dudley Russell, and has two sons, James and William, lives in the Cotswolds having downsized after almost 30 years from her eight-bedroom Gloucestershire mansion, Norcote House, set in 20 acres. She described moving as a 'massive trauma as I didn't want to go.' At Norcote, she kept sheep, pigs and chickens, and her small holding inspired her to write about her love of animals. In real life, however, the poet has revealed that she's haunted by a terrifying incident that she witnessed outside her home The poet, who shot to fame after appearing on Opportunity Knocks in 1975, tells Saga she would have second thoughts about going on a TV talent show today. 'It makes me uncomfortable to see people being judged so harshly but if you want to be a performer, you need to show what you can do. And, let's face it, there aren't many platforms for poets out there. 'I'm not sure I would want all the 'celebrity' nonsense, though. I had a couple of years of that when I won Opportunity Knocks when I was 28, but I was glad when life went back to normal.' Asked what keeps her awake at night, Ayres, who was dubbed the People's Poet, discloses: 'About 18 months ago, my neighbour's burglar alarm went off one afternoon.' Stock picture Heartbroken Sienna Miller need look no further than her big sister for ideas on how to lift her spirits. Fashion designer Savannah, who took the 39-year-old actress under her wing in the Cotswolds following her split from her fiance, literary editor Lucas Zwirner, last year, claims exercise and cocktails are ideal mood boosters. 'I took up running for my New Year's resolution. This stuff is a game-changer,' says Savannah, 42. 'The endorphins are a vital source of sanity. 'Smiling also releases endorphins and makes us feel better so, even if you don't feel like it, smile. Or better still, run and smile at the same time. 'Failing that, there's always negronis.' Heartbroken Sienna Miller need look no further than her big sister for ideas on how to lift her spirits Film producer Sadie Frost, who has three children with Hollywood star Jude Law and one with Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp, spoke of suffering from empty-nest syndrome last year. Now she is grieving another loss following the death of her beloved bichon frise, Rosie. ' Our lovely white cloud had to be put to sleep. She had fought too many little battles recently,' says Sadie, 55. 'She had a long and wonderful life and was a huge part of our family, but she will be happy now as she joins her best mate, Ringo, in doggie heaven.' Gordon Ramsay may be hot tempered in the kitchen, but his former protegee, Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, claims he is a softie at heart. 'He shouted at me a few times, it has to be said, but Gordon did like me and we still talk a lot and he's a great mate,' says Angela, 52, who joined Ramsay's first restaurant, Aubergine, in 1994. 'Everyone sees the TV side of him the shouty side but there are lots of things you don't see about Gordon. One thing he taught me was to really know your staff know when they're going on holiday, know when their mum's not well, know if they've got a boyfriend, girlfriend, and what their dog's name is. And then they'll really feel a sense of loyalty to you.' She has not, however, developed his fiery demeanour. 'I don't scream and shout. I can be sarcastic, but I always have smiles in my eyes.' Former Bond girl Rosamund Pike admits she has become more outspoken since playing the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie. 'I've got bolder through my encounter with Marie Curie, and it's given me the courage to call people out,' she says. 'If I see bulls***, I call it now, rather than just say it in private.' Actress Bessie Carter, daughter of thespians Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter, has revealed the lengths she had to go to keep her period costume spotless while filming the hit Netflix drama Eating on the set of Bridgerton was no piece of cake. Actress Bessie Carter, daughter of thespians Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter, has revealed the lengths she had to go to keep her period costume spotless while filming the hit Netflix drama. The 27-year-old, who plays husband-seeking aristocrat Prudence Featherington in the show, shared a picture of herself tucking into mashed potato and green beans. To keep her outfit spotless, she had to wear a plastic wrap on top and netting over her carefully styled hair. Sir Rod Stewart's ex-wife, model Rachel Hunter, stopped talking for 19 days last year as part of a spiritual retreat in India Sir Rod Stewart's ex-wife, model Rachel Hunter, stopped talking for 19 days last year as part of a spiritual retreat in India. Now she has discovered just how powerful words can be after bursting into tears at an airport in her native New Zealand last week. 'I was asked a question at the border that meant the world to me: how is your mental health?' says the mother-of-two, 51, who was travelling back to Auckland from the U.S. 'Tears welled up in my eyes, tears kept coming. This is so important as we all know. Please take care of yourself and be there for others. 'I am forever grateful to all the Border Frontline incredible humans and New Zealanders for doing what you all did.' Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 04:23:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday reiterated his call for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. "I want to utilize this vital platform today to once again urge all countries, economies, and manufacturers to work with - and through - the COVAX facility to realize the commitments of equitable access, especially for the most vulnerable," the UN chief said in his pre-recorded video message to the High-level Webinar on the African COVID-19 Vaccine Financing and Deployment Strategy. "We must ensure that vaccines are seen as a global public good - people's vaccines - accessible and affordable to all," said the secretary-general. "We must work together to prioritize those most at risk in all countries and close the financing gap." The top UN official commended the African Union's efforts through the COVID-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Force to secure an additional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, complementing the cooperation with COVAX. "We applaud the African Export-Import Bank initiative to avail financing for countries to access the new vaccines and the recent efforts by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) to meeting your ambition of reaching at least 60 percent of the population as quickly as possible," he said. "Vaccine equity is in every country's self-interest. It is also the fastest way to reopen the global economy and start a sustainable recovery," said the UN chief. He expressed his regret that inequities are growing in COVID-19 vaccine access and use. "We cannot have a world divided between vaccine haves and have-nots," Guterres stressed. The secretary-general pointed out that "while we all know that COVID-19 vaccines bring a much-needed source of hope, we must not neglect existing interventions and services." "We need to continue strengthening essential health services and systems and routine immunization programs," he said. Enditem Mississippi-based telecom firm C Spire today announced it will spend $1 billion - $500 million in Alabama - over the next three years to speed 5G wireless technology and all-fiber Gigabit broadband Internet in markets in Alabama and Mississippi. That means faster Internet services to more than 200,000 homes and businesses in the two states within the next four years, the company said. Its also a significant step for 40% of the states population, which lives in rural communities with inadequate online access. The project is the largest capital spend in the companys history, officials said. C Spire is the sixth largest wireless provider in the U.S. The project will create about 250 jobs in Alabama, officials said at a virtual news conference this morning. C Spire CEO Hu Meena said the project would allow Alabama to play catch up, as surrounding states are further along with fiber technology. That gap was illustrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything from businesses to schools suddenly needed wireless communication and high speed Internet access, particularly in rural areas. This project is all about speed, Meena said. And fiber networks are a must to deliver speed. Meena said the firm will make the initial investment in three years, with another $500 million in capital spending over a five-year period. Meena said C Spire plans to move aggressively in 2021 on the project. Gov. Kay Ivey, who took part in the virtual event, said the pandemic has underscored the need for faster and better data access for work places, school districts and telemedicine providers, among others. The project will help eliminate the digital divide, she said. Ultimately, less than a third of Alabamians enjoy access to broadband today, placing Alabama behind all of its neighboring states, Ivey said. Broadband Internet connectivity should be available to every Alabamian, regardless of where their home is located or what their level of income may be. Alabama Business Council President and CEO Katie Boyd Britt said the upgrade will significantly impact existing businesses, as well as Alabamas ability to attract new ones. In order to create 21st century jobs and attract a 21st century work force, we must have 21st century infrastructure, Britt said. When it comes to attracting business and industry to Alabama, we at BCA have seen that broadband Internet can be a make-or-break in determining whether or not to decide to bring a company here or expand existing resources. An Arkansas judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the early closing time for bars and some restaurants that was temporarily imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The lawsuit argued Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state officials did not have authority to order bars and restaurants to close by 11 p.m. Hutchinson announced the order in November in response to a surge in coronavirus cases, and in December it was extended to Feb. 3. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen, who dismissed the suit, called the rational basis for the early closing time obvious given the number of people who have died from COVID-19 nationally and in the state. Public health and safety concerns is a rational basis for regulating how and when people gather to dine and drink alcoholic beverages in commercial establishments, he wrote. Hutchinson said he was glad Griffen dismissed the suit, but said a decision had not yet been made on whether to extend the early closing time. An attorney for the group of Fayetteville bars and restaurants challenging the early time said they were discussing whether to appeal the decision. We still believe this is an infringement on their rights to operate a business without government interference, B.C. Pickett said in an email. Hutchinson said he was pleased by the Biden administrations announcement that it would increase vaccine deliveries to the states by 16% for at least three weeks. That gives us not only an increase in doses that well receive, but it also gives us a lead time that we can plan better, Hutchinson told The Associated Press after the announcement. So all of that is very good news. Hutchinson said the Biden administration also indicated on a call with governors that it would continue to distribute any increase in vaccine capacity to the states based on population. Thats important to the rural states particularly that have more challenges in the distribution, Hutchinson said. The state said 234,120 doses of the 459,575 Arkansas has received have been administered as of Jan. 26. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Restaurant Arkansas Prime Minister will address the rally of the Cadet Corps (NCC) at Cariappa Ground in Delhi on Thursday. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three armed services Chiefs will be present on the occasion. Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour, review March Past by contingents, and witness cultural performance during the event, stated the press release by the Prime Minister's Office. Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi will address the World Economic Forum's Davos Dialogue via video conferencing. (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.) BERWYN, Pa., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Triumph Group (NYSE: TGI) announced that its Systems & Support business has finalized a low-rate initial production (LRIP) order from Sikorsky for the CH-53K King Stallion rotorcraft. The contract consists of LRIP 1 and 2 deliverables, including spares, for the U.S. Marine Corps next generation heavy-lift platform that is being produced to replace the CH-53E Super Stallion. "LRIP is a critical milestone for any new platform, and we are pleased Sikorsky has chosen Triumph Group to support the innovative CH-53K from development to production and through the entire aircraft life cycle," said William Kircher, Executive Vice President of Triumph Systems and Support. "We take great pride in our demonstrated expertise in systems integration and the development of complex hydraulic systems and components. We are confident our solutions will help improve the efficiency of this next-generation cargo helicopter and look forward to strengthening our long-term partnership with Sikorsky through this contract." According to the contract Triumph will provide the blade fold actuation and dampening systems for the CH-53K. These systems were designed and qualified for the extreme environment required by the U.S. Marine Corps. LRIP 1 and 2 deliveries for the program will run through 2021. Work in support of the contract is being performed at the Triumph Systems & Support facilities in Redmond, Washington and Valencia, California. Triumph Group, Inc., headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems, components and structures. The company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators. More information about Triumph can be found on the company's website at www.triumphgroup.com. SOURCE Triumph Group Related Links www.triumphgroup.com Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. A person was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries following a shooting Wednesday night in southwest Birmingham, police said. Authorities have a person in custody for questioning in connection with the shooting, said Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Rod Mauldin. Police responded around 7 p.m. Wednesday to the 1700 block of Jefferson Avenue Southwest, where they found a person shot, he said. The victim, who was not immediately publicly identified, was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Further information was not immediately available. A driver who forced pedestrians to flee as he drove at high speeds through Melbournes Bourke Street Mall has evaded police and remains on the run. Police said the mans car was found abandoned in Albert Park about 6.40pm on Thursday. A chase unfolded just before 5pm. Witnesses described seeing a green sedan speed down the mall with police following close behind. They said the driver hit a metal bollard in the mall, did a U-turn, and then headed down Swanston Street and St Kilda Road. During the manoeuvre a man jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle and fled on foot, before the car accelerated through the mall. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The deadline to extend the Nuclear treaty is close at hand. Before the end of the deadline, both Russia and United States must hammer out a deal or else. Time is running out, and the clock stops on February 5 at midnight; by this time, both leaders of the superpowers need a deal. Without an agreement, the prospect of controlling nuclear warheads would be impossible. A New START Treaty extension Called the New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), which has already gotten the ball rolling on January 26, both Washington and the Kremlin are working on the details which would be acceptable to both nations. A transcript of the call was released by the White House, reported NTD. Putin and Biden were on the call with a mutual agreement that the nuclear deal will be extended for five years more-at one point, assuring each other that teams on each side will have formulated a decent proposal by February 5. Another aspect of the nuclear talks is to cover new issues on arms control. Some security issues need to be dealt with as emerging nuclear powers are on the rise. Just keeping a cap on the number of nukes will not be enough. START Treaty its beginnings and today Initially signed in 2010, the nuclear deal keeps a constant cap on the US and Russia's nuclear arsenals. The agreement states a limit to the number of strategic nuclear warheads possessed by either nation at only 1,550. The total number of missiles deployed and strategic nuclear bombers will be 700. Without the Nuclear treaty to regulate the number of nukes owned by the superpowers, nuclear arms' proliferation would be a danger. Also read: Pentagon Gauging How Fast Nukes Can Be Armed If New START is Not Renewed Everything is different when the treaty was made eleven years ago. After 2010, the Russians have developed newer missiles made to beat even America's advanced anti-missile systems. Sources cite a nuclear-powered nuclear missile with a claimed almost unlimited range, call the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Another development is the Avangard, which is a glide vehicle used in conjunction with a hypersonic missile. Russian commitment to extending the New START Treaty At the tail end of 2019, the Kremlin wanted to extend the nuclear deal with no attached preconditions. According to Petr Topychkanov, whose concern is Nuclear Disarmament, Arms Control, and Non-proliferation, with the Nuclear Disarmament, Arms Control, and Non-proliferation Programme, there might be no way to demand anything from renewing the nuclear pact. He added that Russia would agree to a new deal of the START Treaty with no preconditions related to several aspects of arms control. They are issues like short- and medium-range missiles, ballistic missile defense, and outer space relevant to arms control. Trump's administration bided their time until the last year to initiate talks and related the agreement's extension based on demands to follow after months of discussions. Trying to reach a deal failed to achieve anything. Agreeing on the extension Last Tuesday, both leaders of the two superpowers exchanged documents, said the Kremlin. Sources say the transcript showed both Putin and Biden were ready to have the Nuclear Treaty extended. But, new aspects will need to be negotiated. Related article: Communists Demand US to Reduce Nuclear Warheads While Increasing Their Nukes Before Joining Talks @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In just a few words, it looks like some Android phones are restarted every single time they are connected to Android Auto, all for a reason that nobody can figure out right now.The problem is rather new, and users on Googles forums claim it affects phones from all brands, including the Google Pixel and Samsung devices.So basically, every time the Android phone is plugged into the head unit, the device automatically reboots, no matter how many times you try. Resetting the phone doesnt seem to make any difference, as the restart still happens on a clean install.And yet, someone has discovered a workaround that brings things back to normal, and it is as efficient as it is unexpected.According to several posts in the linked discussion thread, simply removing the Chrome updates on the Android device prevents the phone from restarting when connected to Android Auto. While its not yet clear how Chrome triggers the reboot, it looks like a recent update the app received on Android introduced this behavior, so theoretically, downgrading to a previous release fixes everything.Several users have confirmed that restoring Chrome to the original version does the trick, though the shortcoming is that users are now stuck with an older version of the browser.In the meantime, Google is already investigating the problem, though, for the time being, theres no ETA as to when a fix could land. But by the looks of things, its not the Android Auto team that needs to take care of the whole thing, but the Chrome developers, as the latest browser update is to blame for the unexpected reboot happening all of a sudden.You can find both the old and new versions of Chrome on this page right here should you be interested in a manual installation of the browser. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The city of San Francisco has hired Dr. Hillary Kunins to lead serve as the city's director of behavioral health, overseeing Mental Health SF, the city's overhaul of the mental health and substance use system, Mayor London Breed said Wednesday. Kunins, an expert in addictions, currently serves as executive deputy commissioner of mental hygiene at the New York City Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene. She was tapped by the city through a nationwide search. "This is a critical time for behavioral health care in San Francisco," Breed said in a statement. "As we emerge from this pandemic and move towards recovery, we have an opportunity to transform how we deliver services and care to better serve those in need in our city. With a leader of national caliber like Dr. Kunins, we can build on our work to reform mental health services, continue our work to implement Mental Health SF, and find innovative ways to address the overdose crisis in our city." Supervisors and Breed approved Mental Health SF in 2019, and despite challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the city's Department of Public Health has begun implementing Mental Health SF, serving some 30,000 San Franciscans. Kunins is set to start her new role as director of behavioral health services and of Mental Health SF in March. "Just as San Francisco faces an historic crisis in overlapping mental health, substance use and homelessness concerns, the city also leads the country with its Mental Health SF blueprint and commitment to innovation in behavioral health care," Kunins said. "I am honored to join this team and bring my experience to envision and implement an equitable, comprehensive and respectful public health approach to serving San Franciscans with mental health and substance use needs." In her role with the New York City Department of Health, Kunins helped implement Healing NYC, an initiative that aimed to revamp the city's substance use and overdose response. When Kunins begins her new role in San Francisco, current acting Director of Behavioral Health Margo Simmons will return to her duties as deputy director of behavioral health. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A curfew will go into effect tonight in Fultondale where three people have already been arrested for looting following Mondays EF-3 tornado. Mayor Larry Holcomb on Thursday issued an official proclamation for a state of emergency and launched the curfew to stop looters and curious onlookers who are impeding recovery efforts. The curfew is not citywide but will be enforced in all areas hit by Mondays storm. It is nightly from 6 p.m. until 5 a.m. and will remain in effect until Feb. 9. The tornado hit the northern Jefferson County city about 10:30 p.m. Monday, cutting a quarter-mile wide swath after touching down near Interstate 65. It moved northeast toward Fultondale High School where there is substantial damage. Multiple businesses - such as Hurst Towing and the Hampton Inn were destroyed, as well as most everything in between. Roughly 200 structures were destroyed, but authorities are still assessing the site and dont yet have a monetary estimate of the damage. Here is full coverage of the Fultondale tornado A 14-year-old boy Elliott Hernandez was killed and 30 others injured, including a father of three who had to have his leg amputated after he was injured while protecting his youngest daughter. Arnoldo Vasquez-Hernandez remained in a medically induced coma on Thursday. Fultondale Police Chief D.P. Smith said police have arrested one juvenile and two adults on burglary charges stemming from looting in storm-ravaged areas. They are all from Mexico, but currently living in Tennessee. Josue Villa, 21, and Ignacio Ramirez, 18, both of Chattanooga, are charged with third-degree burglary in a theft from a house that was damaged in the store. Jewelry and other valuables were stolen but have since been recovered. Officers from cities throughout Jefferson County are assisting Fultondale in patrols of the damaged areas. Smith said Trussville police officers caught the alleged looters in the act. We have zero tolerance for this,' Smith said. They will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He said there is a large volume of traffic in the damaged areas which is hampering recovery efforts. Were clamping down,' he said. In addition to the curfew, police have checkpoints set up where someone must show a drivers license proving they live in the neighborhood or a business license showing theyve contracted to do work to gain access. A custom built DJI s1000 Drone in operation at Palm Beach in Sydney, Australia, on July 4, 2014. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) Register Commercial Drones or Face Fine, Australian CASA Warns Australian businesses are being warned to immediately register any commercial drones or risk incurring a hefty penalty. From Jan. 28, operators of commercial or non-recreational drones who have failed to register their drones with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority face fines of up to $11,100. Public liability insurance could also become void as operating an unregistered commercial drone will be illegal, CASA warns. Recreational drones which are flown just for fun or sport are not currently required to be registered. Drones can be registered for free on the CASA website until June 30 and the registration will remain valid for 12 months. Its understood a registration fee that will apply after that date has not yet been set by the federal government but is likely to be more than $100. People flying commercial and non-recreational drones must also hold a drone pilot licence or accreditation from CASA. CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson said anyone using the services of a commercial drone operator should check all relevant documentation. By making these checks you are establishing if the operator understands and respects safety, Gibson said. This is crucial because things can and do go wrong when flying drones and they have hurt people and damaged property. The Australian Association for Unmanned Systems has expressed concern about the plans to eventually impose registration costs which could have a serious impact on the viability of the sector. CASA has previously indicated that the cost to register commercial drones would be based on a flat fee model of approximately $100 $160 per drone per annum, AAUS said in a submission to a Senate committee last year. This flat fee cost recovery model has the potential to be unfair to operators that operate many small drones for modest revenue compared to an operator that operates a low quantity of large drones for high revenue. AAUS believes that there are fairer systems that could be explored. Perth AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine should only be for people aged between 18 and 64 years, Germany's main public health body Robert Koch Institute's Standing Vaccine Commission said in an update to its vaccine recommendation. A statement by the independent commission on its vaccination policy said there was "insufficient data currently available to ascertain how effective the vaccination is above 65 years." The commission also recommended that the AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine only be used for people aged 18 to 64 years. The statement added that the two vaccines approved by the EU authorities, one developed by BioNTech-Pfizer and another by Moderna, were "equivalent in terms of safety and efficacy". The European Medicines Agency is expected to give its long-awaited approval to AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. Also Read: COVID cess--India's 10th--could grow cess revenue to over Rs 3 lakh crore Also Read: BT Insight: Simplicity, liquidity key features of IRDA's Saral Pension Yojana Also Read: Airtel conducts successful demonstration of 5G; ready for commercial rollout WASHINGTON - If confirmed as secretary of housing and urban development, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, will confront the immediate challenge of keeping millions of Americans from losing their homes during the coronavirus pandemic while ending discriminatory housing policies as part of President Joe Biden's push to dismantle systemic racism. Fudge, 68, appeared remotely before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs for her confirmation hearing Thursday, from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland with her family, including her 89-year-old mother, behind her. During the 75-minute hearing, Republican senators chastised Fudge on what they called her past "intemperate" comments about race and the GOP over policy disagreements, accusing her of dismissing the party's concern for Black Americans and other communities of color. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., mentioned the Biden administration's focus on examining domestic policy through the lens of racial equity, asking Fudge to define the difference between racial equity and racial equality, "From my own perspective, the difference is one just means you treat everybody the same. Sometimes the same is not equitable," Fudge said. "Equity means making the playing field level. . . . The same is not always fair." The long history of discriminatory housing policies - such as "redlining," a policy under which the federal government and banks denied mortgages to people in minority neighborhoods or charged those borrowers more - have directly contributed to the gap between White and Black Americans in wealth, income, homeownership and other economic measures. The government should directly address the racial wealth gap by offering down payment assistance to residents of previously redlined neighborhoods, given that coming up with cash for down payments is the biggest impediment for Black homeownership, Fudge said. "It's like us being in a race with people who already have a head start." Fudge said she expects to make homeownership - and the wealth creation that comes along with it - a reality for more Americans. Forty-six percent of Black families owned homes, compared with 75% of White families in 2020. That homeownership gap has widened since 1976, according to Pew Research Center. Boosting Black homeownership, she said, "will require us to end discriminatory practices in the housing market, and ensure that our fair housing rules are doing what they are supposed to do: opening the door for families, especially families of color who have been systematically kept out in the cold across generations, to buy homes and punch their ticket to the middle class." Fudge, the former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus who served as Warrensville Heights's first African American and first female mayor, said that in addition to bolstering fair housing protections and expanding access to affordable housing, her most urgent task is providing rental assistance to households at risk of eviction. "My first priority as secretary would be to alleviate that crisis and get people the support they need to come back from the edge," Fudge told committee members. Tens of millions of Americans are behind on rent, according to Fudge, and almost 3 million homeowners are in forbearance; another 800,000 borrowers are delinquent. Fudge said the $25 billion that Congress has provided in rental assistance and the government's extension of the eviction moratorium are not enough. Latinos and Black Americans are more likely than White people to have reported job losses during the recession induced by the coronavirus pandemic, and people struggling to pay rent continue to be served with eviction notices despite moratoriums. Cecilia Rouse, Biden's nominee to head the Council of Economic Advisers, appeared jointly with Fudge during Thursday's confirmation hearing, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., the acting committee chairman who presided over the hearing, said he hopes Congress will be able to work with Fudge and Rouse to develop appropriate responses to help those suffering the most from the pandemic-induced economic crisis. "We are in a different place in our economy than we were back in March," he said, adding that it's become clear "targeted" groups are being hit much harder by the recession than the "universal catastrophe" in the spring. Toomey expressed concern about Fudge's intent to undo HUD regulations put in place by the Trump administration that Republicans said addressed costly and time-consuming Obama-era fair-housing requirements and that Toomey said also discouraged the construction of much-needed affordable housing. Biden, in executive orders pertaining to racial equity this week, sought to strengthen these anti-discrimination housing policies that the Trump administration had rolled back. Fudge, as HUD secretary, would be expected to reinstate a 2013 rule aimed at barring the housing industry from enacting policies that, while seemingly race-neutral, have an adverse effect on Black and Latino Americans. The rule had codified a decades-old legal standard known as "disparate impact," but the Trump administration issued a new rule in September that housing advocates said would make it harder to prove such forms of bias. Biden is also pushing for the reinstatement of another Obama administration regulation that required communities to identify and address barriers to racial integration and disparities in access to transportation, jobs and good schools - or risk losing federal funds. Housing advocates say they expect Fudge to do more than reverse the Trump administration's evisceration of President Barack Obama's housing policies. Julian Castro - the housing secretary under Obama who recently helped prepare the "New Deal for Housing Justice," a playbook for federal policy change focused around racial equity - said in an interview that the new administration should invest in boosting the agency's fair-housing staff and funding local housing and civil rights nonprofit organizations so reports of housing discrimination can be investigated and fair-housing laws better enforced. Black homeownership and net wealth were devastated during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, in part because of predatory lending practices, and have yet to recover. "If we can create greater homeownership for everybody, but particularly for people of color that have lagged behind, then we can close that wealth gap," Castro said. "I'm confident that it is more realistic today than it was 10 years ago to get big things done on housing, because more people are feeling the pinch right now." Other recommendations for the first 200 days of the Biden administration include reinstating protections for transgender homeless people, solidifying the right of families of mixed immigration status to access federally subsidized housing, expanding access to housing vouchers, considering the treatment of people with criminal records who seek federal housing assistance, creating a refundable renter's tax credit, and establishing a presidential commission on reparations to Black Americans for the legacy of discriminatory federal housing policy. Catering facilities announced to be reopened from February 1, 2021, in Azerbaijan will also provide on-site services on weekends, Spokesman for the Cabinet of Ministers Ibrahim Mammadov said. According to Mammadov, there is no exact information about the work of public transport on weekends, and this will be announced later. As earlier reported, in pursuance of the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers dated January 16, 2021, the local catering facilities, which since December 14 of last year provided their services online will resume their onsite services from 00:00 (GMT+4) on February 1. Snowfalls and blizzards will persist, meteorologists warn. An active snow cyclone has moved into Ukraine from the, bringing collapse on motorways and city streets. That's according to the Ukravtodor road management agency. Moving in a northeastern direction, the cyclone also brought blizzards and severe wind gusts. The increase in snow cover in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions was from 30 to 40 cm, while some snowdrifts exceeded 1 meter in height, the road service reported. Read alsoUkraine sees up to 35 cm of snow over past daysIn Kirovograd, Cherkasy, Poltava, Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions, the snow cover went up two to six cm. Odesa snowstorm aftermath The State Emergency Service warns that during the day on January 28 in some regions of Ukraine further deterioration in weather conditions and heavy snowfalls are expected, including snowstorms in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions (hazard level red), as well as heavy wet snow in Kirovohrad region (hazard level orange). Wet snow is also expected in Cherkasy, Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions up to 10-15 cm. Ukravtodor has warned drivers of icy roads, possible interruption of intercity traffic, and blackouts in the affected settlements. Reporting by UNIAN 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. Legendary producer Norman Lear is set to receive the Carol Burnett Award at the upcoming 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards, which will air on February 28th. The 98-year-old industry magnate will be honored for his numerous contributions to the television industry. Lear will be the third overall recipient of the award; it was previously given to Ellen DeGeneres in 2020 and Burnett herself in 2019. Being recognized: Legendary producer Norman Lear will be honored with the Carol Burnett Award at the upcoming 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards In a press release, Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Ali Sar explained: 'Norman Lear is among the most prolific creators of this generation.' 'His career has encompassed both the Golden Age and Streaming Era, throughout which his progressive approach addressing controversial topics through humor prompted a cultural shift that allowed social and political issues to be reflected in television,' he continued. The HFPA President finished his statement by writing: 'His work revolutionized the industry and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is honored to name him as the 2021 Carol Burnett Award recipient.' Major credits: The industry magnate will be given the distinction for his numerous contributions to the television industry; he is seen in 2020 Lear has had a longstanding history of pushing the boundaries of the television medium. His first major television production was the series All In The Family, which premiered on CBS in 1971. The sitcom became popular for frequently confronting subject matter that was considered difficult to handle at the time of the show's run. The cast and crew of All In The Family won numerous Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Awards during its eight years on the air. Breaking boundaries: Lear's first television hit was the sitcom All In The Family, which often dealt with difficult subject matter; the main cast is seen together in 1976 Lear's second television hit was the series Sanford And Son, which debuted in 1972. The program was based on the British series Steptoe and Son and is considered a predecessor for African-American-led television programs. Lear went on to develop multiple groundbreaking series for decades afterwards, including Good Times, The Jeffersons and Maude. Making moves: The industry figure is well known for his contributions to various progressive political efforts; he is seen in 2019 In addition to his body of work, the producer is also known for his longstanding involvement in promoting progressive efforts. Lear was also a member of the so-called Malibu Mafia, a group of wealthy Los Angeles-based individuals who funded and donated to various liberal causes. In 2004, the industry figure founded Declare Yourself, which was a campaign to encourage voter registration among young people; it eventually merged with the nonprofit organization Our Time. The producer has been the recipient of other awards recognizing his contributions to television, including a Peabody Lifetime Achievement Award that was granted in 2016. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. exchange4media has joined hands with Infobip today (January 28, Thursday) for a two-session webinar on the Financial Sector racing to keep up with the technologies and innovations that help meet the customer expectations, with some of the sharpest minds in the industry. The first session titled "Harnessing the Power of Digitalization in BFSI will feature a fireside chat with Ashish Gupta, CTO, Max Bupa Health Insurance and Milind Kadam, Regional Business Head - West, Infobip India Pvt Ltd. The second session will be a panel discussion on "Future of Indian Financial Sector in a Hyper-Connected Era with Aalok Bhan, Director & CMO, Max Life Insurance; Lakshman Velayutham, CMO, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank; Ravi Santhanam, CMO, HDFC Bank; Sachin Vashishtha - AD & Head, Digital Marketing, Paisabazaar.com; Harsha Solanki, MD-India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Nepal, Infobip (Session Chair). Join us today on 28th January 2021 between 4:00 to 5:00 PM for some expert insights on driving continued digital engagement, aligning messaging across channels, devices, and locations, leveraging the benefits of omnichannel marketing, and how Infobip can enable newer innovations and disruptions in the BFSI. To join the webinar, register here. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Much of my 5-year-old sons experience of virtual kindergarten can be defined by what he and his classmates do not do together. There is no hot potato. No duck, duck, goose. They never sing songs. They sit in living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms across town, at their desks, tables, and cardboard boxes. They try to identify the staccato P sound the teacher makes, puffing out her barely audible puffs of air. They hold white boards and pieces of paper, and try again and again to make the number three, while reciting, Around a tree, around a tree, this is how you make the number three. Toby often sighs and looks out the window. It can be a struggle to keep him online. Advertisement But the days when it is Tobys turn for show-and-tell feel different. Sometimes he plans ahead, setting an object of interest next to his desk in his bedroom the night before. Occasionally, he waits to minutes before showtime, lifting different items from the floor of his room, studying them with an appraising gaze. Toby has shown: a fake X-ray of his hand made out of construction paper, cooking oil, and crayon; a papier-mache volcano; and a Spider-Man doll. When he stepped away from the screen for a moment to use the bathroom, he left Spidey standing up in his place. While class went on, I remained on my stool just out of range of the camera and eyed the doll, Tobys proxy in a skin-tight suit with molded plastic muscles. Who is this child? I wondered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While much of Tobys Zoom time with his kindergarten class is dedicated to the development of skillsand the occasional Floor Is Lava dance partyhis teacher also sets aside two short sessions a week for the discursive, messy activity of show-and-tell. Depending on whose turn it is, the class swerves between science and sentimentality, consumerism and the category I think of as things to cuddle with. Although it may seem silly to watch a 5-year-old model a princess crown or get licked by her dog, the longer the pandemic goes on, the more I realize that show-and-tell has the potential to combat the soul-killing quality of the virtual classroom. Why should show-and-tell matter so much? After all, the weekly bring-and-brag, albeit done remotely, seems to differ little from when I, as a 5-year-old in the 1980s, sat on a worn rug and held up a Cabbage Patch doll for all to see. So much else about kindergarten has changed. While I spent my mornings fingerpainting in an art corner or playing dress-up, most of my sons education seems to be about learning to manipulate a series of interchangeable partsmoving pennies onto the squares of a ten frame, creating a chain of words that end in the letters -ox. Show-and-tell feels special. Advertisement Advertisement But the history of education tells me it wasnt always a parade of toys. As a pedagogical practice, show-and-tell has moved with the times. At its best, it offers students of all ages the opportunity to demonstrate enthusiasm and nerve, the underappreciated ability to read a room, all while describing an object of interest. In 1954, a science coordinator for New York Citys public schools advocated for show-and-tell based on your fathers occupation. The fifth-grade daughter of a plumber might bring in copper tubing, small Stillson wrench, solder, for example. I like to imagine the drab postwar classroom, the dusty textbooks and newsreels run on a creaking projector, and the students excitement at the chance to examine real instruments from toolboxes and workrooms. After all, in a few short years the Soviets would launch Sputnik, the first human-made object to orbit the Earth, and politicians and educators would demand more science instruction for all grade levels, even kindergarten that sanctuary of [s]ong, dance, rest and milk, as one journalist described it. After all, Sputnik, a 184-pound aluminum sphere with four antennas that looked like whiskers, was probably made with a humble soldering iron, not so different from the ones found in a plumbers case. Advertisement Advertisement By 1973 the mood in schools had changed, and one educator, annoyed with a rigid approach to show-and-tell, made the case for spontaneous show-and-tell happenings, borrowing the word from the avant-garde art scene. Her pedagogy reflected the educational movement of the time toward open classrooms, where students did not sit at desks and receive direct instruction but mostly ranged about the room, free to let their interests drive learning. Sometimes a cabin built out of blocks (Its George Washingtons house!) or a mouse drawn on paper might give the student an a-ha! momentsimilar to the kind any artist might haveprompting the teacher to call the kids together to witness the fumbling efforts and newfound mastery of a friend. Advertisement Show-and-tell also offers immutable benefits. Since revealing to peers what interests us and why involves vulnerabilityWill they laugh at me? Will they not like what I like?show-and-tell has the power to prepare students for the tightrope walk that is every sustained act of expression. Even shy students, my sons teacher tells me, can benefit from having the stage and time to share with others what is special to them. Tobys teacher does not require students to do show-and-tell, but almost all want to, and over time she has seen how even the least confident child can grow more adept and at ease while speaking in front of the class. Advertisement Just as one student might be changed by show-and-tell, so might the group as a whole. In 2020, a team of scholars noted that over the course of a year of participating in the ritual, students seemed more masterful in their presentation, more apt to capture the interests of the class, and interactions became more complex. Advertisement It can also relieve the loneliness of the remote learner. More than anything else, my son misses being a child among many. Not since Toby was a toddler has he been with me so much. Toby and I use the same computer and we draw from the same lot of human experience. Lately, our books gathered from curbside pick-up at the library tend toward geology and geography, the history of the world written in the landscape. We take drives to look at road cuts. To make up for not allowing him to attend school in person, I offer him stones and names of stonespyrite, limestone, granitedoing what parents have always done, making experiences out of what is available. Most days it doesnt seem like enough. Advertisement From my stool somewhere near him during the hours he spends online with his class, I worry about how his social skills might atrophy. But then, Toby holds a white, palm-sized rock up to the camera of my laptop, and says, Its quartzite. His teacher squints, murmurs approval, and asks for him to describe it. It sparkles, he says, and tries to think of the word refraction but gives up. Instead, he launches into the story of how he found it: the lonely river bank, the pile of broken rocks a rogue geologist might have left behind. He points out the stripe of dried algae down one side. Nearly out of breath with excitement, he looks at his teacher, the faces of a few of his classmates. All are silent, waiting for him to say more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love that, his teacher says finally. And somehow, after all these weeks of school, I know she means it. After all the children have had their chance, my sons teacher introduces three-dimensional shapesso much physics for kindergarteners!and asks the students what she is holding up, starting with a sphere. Toby doesnt raise his hand. Im letting someone else answer, he whispers to me. After a new friend names the shape correctly, he says loud enough for all to hear, That looks like a plastic meteor. The year ahead hopefully will allow for a return to school almost like we used to know it, but for now, my son, and all the other children learning at home like him, have thisthe intimacy of offering up what they love for the amusement of others. Of course, until the connection turns unstable, and someone calls out, Hey, do-I-sound-like-a-robot? and the kids all laugh their own robot laughs. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Residents in the Hohoe Municipality, have expressed their views on the appointment of the number of sector and regional Ministers under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's second term. They also lauded the appointment of Dr Joseph Makubu, a Person With Disability (PWD) as the Regional Minister-designate for Oti, while others expected an increase in the slot for women Ministers. Madam Mabel Amegbo, an IT Instructor told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that although the appointment of women into such positions were laudable, "eight is insignificant out of the number of appointees." She said it was good that the number had however decreased since it would pave way for accountability and good monitoring as the Ministers discharged their duties. Madam Amegbo appealed to the President to consider appointing more women to other leadership positions. Mr Elolo Agyei, Chairman, Hohoe Branch of Ghana Federation of the Disabled, described the appointment of Dr Makubu as a plus for the disabled community and the decision by the President showed that he had the physically challenged in mind and aware that they could also play part in decision making in the development of the country. Mr Agyei said Dr Makubu was appointed due to his hard work and efforts and called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the Minister-designate to bring the best out of him. He called on the President to also appoint more capable persons with disability into other departments adding that "We will deliver, we can do it and we will be able to do it." Mr. Prosper Kumi, Deputy Communication Officer of the Hohoe Constituency, National Democratic Congress (NDC), said, "as a country, the only option is to move from worst to the best of our lives describing some appointees as "non-performing" Ministers, who should not have the opportunity to serve in the second tenure of government. The GNA also interacted with some residents on their views of the new portfolio of Mr John-Peter Amewu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe Constituency and minister designate for Railway Development. Mr Reginald Appaloh Kota, a businessman, said the portfolio would see Mr Amewu spearhead and fast-track developments in the sector and however believed the designation was a challenge for the Minister to exhibit hard work and competency just as he did in his previous positions. Mr Kota said the position would also enable the Volta and Oti regions to develop since Mr Amewu was going to see to it that plans to build railway lines in the regions were fulfilled. Mr Kofi Bentil, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communication Director of the Hohoe Constituency, said Mr Amewu was a performer and demonstrated so in his previous ministries under the Akufo-Addo led government. He congratulated the MP with the hope that he would deliver on his mandate adding that "it is always victory upon victory, success upon success, anywhere he finds himself." 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 New Delhi, Jan 28 : Hollywood star James Marsden says shooting a project about a fictional pandemic amid the ongoing Covid outbreak was eerie. Marsden shot parts of his latest show "The Stand", which is based on Stephen King's bestselling novel of the same name, over the past months. Asked how it feels to be part of a story that was written some 40 years back and yet bears resemblance to the current situation, Marsden said: "Surreal is the adjective I was looking for. It's true. "He wrote the book in 1978, and it is like he had a crystal ball. He has always been curious about the choices that humans make, and what gets under their skin and the psychology of, good versus evil and what scares us. I don't think he anticipated that we would be making the series right in the middle of what we are going through. It is unfortunate timing," he added. The star continued: "You know, we were in Vancouver, shooting for the show in September (in 2019), and we started hearing about Covid in December, and the January (2020). It wasn't until the end of February that we started seeing masks popping up on set and hand sanitizers, and everything. It was an eerie feeling." In the series, Marsden plays the role of ordinary guy Stu Redman, who gets caught in the midst of an apocalyptic pandemic. "These are two completely different things, but it is impossible to ignore the parallels," he said, comparing the show with the pandemic in real life. Also starring Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgard and Amber Heard, "The Stand" offers a peek into Stephen King's apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in a struggle between good and evil. "I never felt that the real core of the story is about a pandemic. The pandemic is the catalyst for the bigger story to be told... It has much more to do with the instincts of a man and what we do in the face of this sort of apocalyptic crisis, and what it reveals about ourselves," said Marsden, who is known for roles in films like "The Notebook", "X-Men", "Superman Returns", "Enchanted", "27 Dresses" and "Death at a Funeral". The show streams in India on Voot Select. Several allies and supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been detained in Moscow after protests last weekend demanding his release from prison drew tens of thousands to the streets in more than 100 Russian cities. Mr Navalnys top ally Lyubov Sobol, Anastasia Vasilyeva from the Alliance of Doctors union, and Maria Alyokhina from the Pussy Riot punk collective have been detained for 48 hours along with Mr Navalnys brother Oleg. All four are reported to be suspects in a criminal investigation into alleged violations of coronavirus regulations during the mass rally in Moscow. The raids came four days before new protests Mr Navalnys supporters have called for Sunday. Police at the apartment where Oleg Navalny lives in Moscow (Mstyslav Chernov/AP) Mr Navalny, 44, the most well-known critic of President Vladimir Putins government, was arrested on January 17 on his return from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusations. The overnight detentions of his supporters came after more than a dozen raids on apartments and offices of his family, associates and supporters, including Mr Navalnys flat, where police detained his brother, and a rented apartment where his wife Yulia has been living. Also on Thursday, Russias Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal probe against Mr Navalnys top strategist Leonid Volkov, accusing him of encouraging minors to participate in unauthorised rallies. In a further challenge to Mr Putin, two days after Mr Navalnys arrest, his organisation released an extensive video report on a palatial seaside compound allegedly built for the president. It has been viewed more than 98 million times, further stoking discontent. Police clash with demonstrators in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) Demonstrations calling for Mr Navalnys release took place in more than 100 cities across the nation on Saturday, a strong show of rising anger toward the Kremlin. Nearly 4,000 people were reported arrested. Mr Navalny fell into a coma while aboard a domestic flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20. He was transferred from Siberia to a Berlin hospital two days later. Labs in Germany, France and Sweden, and tests by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, established that he was exposed to the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent. Russian authorities have refused to open a full criminal inquiry, citing a lack of evidence that Mr Navalny was poisoned. His arrest and the harsh police actions at the protests have brought widespread criticism from the West and calls for his release. 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. India has always respected the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control but the has been the "defaulter", Northern Command chief of the Lt Gen Y K Joshi said on Thursday. He said3,824 ceasefire violations in 2019 and 5,426 such cases in 2020 clearly indicate the intent of The Army commander said that Indian troops' punitive response and a robust counter-infiltration grid supported by technology and troop presence has literally dried the flow of infiltration of terrorists from across the border. "We believe in upholding the ceasefire agreement arrived at by Indian and Pakistani armies and we have always respected it. However, has been the defaulter," Lt Gen Joshi told PTI in an interview here. He also said security forces are adopting a three-pronged strategy to sustain peace in Kashmir. The security strategy is aimed at ensuring a law and order situation wherein the common people and government functionaries are free of fear and the civil administration is able to functions with efficiency. The Army commander said that since most of the ceasefire violations are aimed at abetting infiltration, India's response has been against the terrorist launch pads and other terror infrastructure. "Moreover, Pakistani posts have also been hitting our villages along the LoC and causing loss to the lives and property of innocent civilians. Our response to such ceasefire violations are aimed at inflicting punishment on the errant Pakistani posts," he said. In Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Gen Joshi said, the Army's people-friendly initiatives have been going on for the last three decades covering various aspects affecting the youth or people in general. "Over a period of time, these initiatives have grown in magnitude and value. Through 36 Army Goodwill schools and public schools in J&K, scholarships to 1,500 students, schemes in health, sports, skill development, building entrepreneurship and so on, the Army has been reaching out to the people at humongous scales," he said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, spreading awareness on preventive measures, distributing masks, sanitiser and other essentials in remotest areas, 1,00,000 tests of samples of locals at Army hospitals in support of civil administration, establishment of two major quarantine centres within the UT and conduct of over 250 medical camps are just a few examples of the Army's outreach efforts. "The Army is with Awam and Awam is with the Army" is the reality and no amount of propaganda by Pakistan can dent it, he added. Replying to a question on Pakistan's strategy in terms of intensifying terrorism, separatism and agitational dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, he said, "As far as terrorism is concerned, you all have witnessed how the security forces have been successfully eliminating their cadres including the top leadership." He said that this year even stone-pelting incidents have drastically reduced compared to previous years. "Since abrogation of Article 370, the effort of the central as well as UT governments has been to bring about development and to strengthen the democratic institutions," he added. Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated in August 2019. (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 recent surge in coronavirus cases in London, UK, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Portugal, Brazil and South Africa were linked to more infectious new variants of SARS-CoV-2. The common feature of these variants is the N501Y mutation in the spike protein. Studies from Imperial College estimate that the new variant in the UK infects 50% more people or increases the reproduction rate by 50%. Laboratories reported higher copy numbers in samples taken from people infected with the new variant. There is an observation of higher mortality rate, but it is unknown whether it is specifically linked to the new variant. "The AzureSeq N501Y assay provides health officials, clinical labs, and hospitals the ability to quickly identify and monitor this important SARS-CoV-2 variant," stated Joe Dunham, CSO of SeqOnce. "We decided to also target the N1 gene so the assay can be used in front-line detection, as well as identification of samples that have previously tested positive." Several European countries have a small number of identified new variants detected and infections show a downward trend. Early monitoring of the appearance and progress of the new variants can help authorities to keep or implement the necessary non-pharmaceutical interventions. The AzureSeq-200 CE IVD kit is a one-step detection kit that can be used with or without RNA extraction for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The benefit of AzureSeq-200 CE IVD includes reduced turn-around time of 90 minutes in direct mode. The new extension enables the monitoring of the progression of the 2 variants in and report it as a first line estimation to the authorities to take appropriate decisions For further details on our AzureSeq-200 CE IVD kit or quotes do not hesitate to contact us at azureseq.support@omixon.com or call +36-70-67-27-551 About Omixon Omixon is a global molecular diagnostics company headquartered in Budapest. Omixon is the exclusive distributor of the AzureSeq-200 CE IVD extended kit in Europe, Middle East and Africa. About SeqOnce Biosciences, Inc. SeqOnce Biosciences is a life science genomics company developing innovative products for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and technologies that address critical needs in the research and clinical markets. Learn more at http://seqonce.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428016/Omixon_Biocomputing.jpg SOURCE Omixon Biocomputing Ltd. Even as active COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate decreases in Cayuga County, the worst of the pandemic continues to affect local residents. The Cayuga County Health Department said four nursing home residents died on Tuesday. Two of the residents, a man in his 90s and a man in his 70s, had tested positive for the virus and were hospitalized at the time of their deaths. Two other nursing home residents, a woman in her 90s and a man in his 70s, died after testing positive for COVID-19. No other information was released by the health department. The nursing home wasn't identified, but there have been 48 COVID-19 deaths at The Commons on St. Anthony in Auburn. There is an outbreak at Auburn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, but no deaths have been reported. Cayuga County has 80 COVID-related deaths during the pandemic, including 56 in January. The previous record for virus-related fatalities in a month was 14 in December. The health department reported 325 active cases and 1,512 people in mandatory quarantine, both of which are at the lowest levels since early December. After the county had 1,095 active cases on Jan. 7, the number of residents in mandatory isolation, which is required for positive cases, has decreased over the last few weeks. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks at the start of an industry forum held in Mok-dong, southwestern Seoul, Thursday afternoon. Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul A few weeks before the planned final ruling of the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on the battery trade secrets dispute between LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation (SKI), a top Korean government official urged the two firms to settle the case. "Simply, I can say you don't have to fight for small stakes. I hope the two companies settle the issue immediately and join forces for the global market. As far as I understand, U.S. politicians are hoping the companies will address the dispute at the earliest possible date," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at an industry forum, Thursday. The senior government official also added he directly approached top management of both LG Energy Solution and SKI and urged them to settle the case. "I told them to resolve the issue sometime soon. I've heard the two companies paid a few billion won in fees to attorneys. This is simply embarrassing," Chung reportedly said. He also mentioned that Chinese competitors would benefit a lot from the continued dispute between the two South Korean companies. This is the first time that a senior government official has mentioned the issue directly. Since the beginning of the dispute, LG has been saying this is an issue between two private companies. But SK said the dispute would hurt President Moon Jae-in and his economic team's K-Battery Alliance initiative after Cheong Wa Dae identified batteries, biotech, the internet and games (BBIG) as the country's next growth engines. The USITC is set to issue its final ruling Feb. 10 in the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets by SKI. In 2019, LG Chem filed a suit with the USITC accusing SKI of gaining illegal access to trade secrets by hiring LG Chem's former researchers. LG Chem has since spun off its battery business, founding LG Energy Solution in late 2020. LG believes SKI used them in developing its battery technology, which led to it winning more orders from major car manufacturers. SKI denied the allegation, although the USITC issued a preliminary ruling in favor of LG saying SKI might have been involved in the destruction of documents, which was widespread throughout its organization. Initially, LG thought to file a permanent injunction on SK products, but changed its stance toward seeking "proper compensation for the possible infringement" of its intellectual property. LG was asking SKI to pay a "few billion dollars," while SKI was seeking to pay a "few million dollars," according to sources directly involved with the issue. Contacted by The Korea Times, senior LG and SK executives said the two companies don't want to see "the worst-case scenario." In a press release after Chung's remarks on the matter, SKI said, "We feel very sorry to the public for not closing the case properly. We understand PM Chung's remarks as the public's wish for an end to the case. We will try to resolve the dispute through discussions and relevant efforts." In a separate statement, LG Energy Solution said, "We are on track to settle the case before the USITC's planned final ruling." New Delhi, Jan 28 : Sixteen political parties have decided to boycott President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint session of Parliament on January 29 on the issue of farm laws. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said, "The only issue of the boycott is farm laws and 16 parties have decided to jointly boycott the Address". The joint statement said, "India's farmers have been collectively fighting against the three farm laws, arbitrarily imposed by the BJP government that threatens the future of the Indian Agriculture which sustains over 60 per cent of India's population and the livelihood of crores of farmers, sharecroppers and farm labour. "Lakhs of farmers have been agitating at the gates of the National Capital of Delhi braving biting cold and heavy rain for the last 64 days for their rights and justice. Over 155 farmers have lost their lives. The Government remains unmoved and has responded with water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charges," the statement said. It added, "Every effort has been made to discredit a legitimate mass movement through a government sponsored disinformation campaign. The protest and the agitation has been largely peaceful. "Unfortunately, there were a few acts of violence on January 26, 2021 in the National Capital of Delhi which was condemned universally and unequivocally. "We also express our sadness over the injuries sustained by Delhi Police personnel while handling the difficult situation. But, we believe that an impartial investigation will reveal the Central Government's nefarious role in orchestrating those events. The three Farm Laws are an assault on the rights of the states and violate the federal spirit of the Constitution," said the statement. "If not repealed, these Laws will effectively dismantle the edifice of National Food Security that rests upon MSP, government procurement and Public Distribution System (PDS)." "The farm bills were brought without any consultations with states and farmer unions and lacked national consensus. Parliamentary scrutiny was bypassed and the Laws were pushed through muzzling the Opposition, in brazen violation of Parliamentary rules, practices and conventions. "The very constitutional validity of these laws remains in question. The Prime Minister and the BJP Government remain arrogant, adamant and undemocratic in their response. Shocked by this insensitivity of the government, the following opposition political parties, reaffirming the collective demand for the repeal of the anti farmer laws and in solidarity with the Indian farmers, have decided to boycott the President's address to both the Houses of Parliament on Friday, January 29, 2021." The opposition parties include the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Kerala Congress-M, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), DMK, Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Kerala Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report 31 December 2020 Adelaide, Jan 28, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resolution Minerals Ltd ( ASX:RML ) locked in a 30% interest in the 64North Project by successfully completing the Stage 1 expenditure requirements and issuing 10m shares and US$50,000 cash to Millrock (Vendor).The Company has taken charge as Operator of the 64North Project Alaska removing the requirement to pay the 8% Operator fee to Millrock which totalled US$480K in 2019-20.The Company has appointed Ms Rebecca Gower as VP Exploration Alaska. Ms Gower is relocating to Fairbanks, Alaska, permanently from Perth. Ms Gower has been working in gold and nickel exploration for the past eight years in based in Western Australia. Ms Gower is a US citizen and has previously worked in Alaska across multiple seasons and elsewhere in the Americas through a 15-year career in the mineral exploration industry.The Company executed a binding term sheet to acquire a 100% interest in the Benmara Project covering 663km2 along-strike from the Walford Creek Cu-Ag-Pb-Zn-Co and Westmoreland U Deposits on the Fish River Fault in the Northern Territory.o RML has an Option to purchase the project outright within 12 months and has issued 2.5m shares to Strategic Energy Resources Ltd. The Outright Purchase cost of $250,000 can be paid in RML shares or cash, at Resolution's election.The AGM was held virtually on 27 November and all resolutions passed.Non-executive Director, Mr Craig Farrow, transitioned to Chair after the AGM on the retirement of Mr Len Dean after 45 years in the mining industry. The Company thanks Mr Dean for his contribution as a founding Director of RML and wishes him well in retirement.The Company is considering a corporate transaction with the Snettisham Project, Alaska, which is prospective for Ti-V-Magnetite and also has historic gold production c1905.The Company is considering a number of pathways available to progress the copper / battery metal Wollogorang and Benmara Projects in the Northern Territory.Cash balance as at 31 December 2020 is $1.13m.RML plans to seek a United States OTCQB listing in the first half of 2021 to provide potential North American investors with enhanced trading accessibility and liquidity. The listing, if approved would provide RML with access to one of the largest investment markets in the world at nominal cost, with minimal additional compliance requirements. The Company's primary listing would continue to be the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX"), with shares dual-listed on the OTCQB Market in the United States.To view quarterly report, please visit:About Resolution Minerals Ltd Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) is a mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and battery metals - such as gold, copper, cobalt, and vanadium. The company is led by Managing Director Duncan Chessell and an experienced team with proven success in corporate finance, marketing, metallurgy and geoscience. This equips Resolution Minerals with the tools to meet the changing demands of the mining markets. Resolution Minerals Ltd Listed on the ASX in 2017 with a focus on the exploration of the Wollogorang Copper Cobalt Project. It has since aquired the Snettisham Vanadium Project and more entered into a binding agreement witth Millrock Resources to earn up to 80% of the highly prospective 64North Gold Project. A Falkville man is being held in the Morgan County Jail on more than $1 million bond after police say he broke into a Decatur home and raped a minor. Decatur police say Trenton Turner Reed, 26, has been charged with second degree rape, first degree burglary and obstructing justice using a false identity. According to police, the investigation began Jan. 19, after they were notified of a possible domestic violence and rape incident involving a minor. According to court records, investigators believe Reed entered a residence in the southwest section of Decatur with a crowbar. Then, armed with a knife and a rope, he grabbed the 14-year-old victim and dragged her through the house by her feet. He also took the victims phone. Then, records said, he gave a false name to an investigator on Tuesday. Reed was booked into the Morgan County Jail with bond set at $1,052,500. Police say the investigation is still ongoing. The incidence of Covid-19 in Laois continues to decline but the number of new cases around Ireland has crept up to nearly 1,500 while almost 50 more lives have been lost by the devastating third wave. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) report published on Thursday, January 28 shows that 15 more people in Laois have contracted the virus. This is just below the daily average over five days of 16 new cases. The latest figures bring to 427 the number of new cases in the past two weeks meaning Laois now has an incidence of 504.2 per 100,000 of the population. It brings to 2,564 the number of cases officially recorded in Laois since last March. The Laois incidence is below the 621.9 cases per 100,000 on the back of 29,614 since mid-January. In its daily statement from the NPHET said the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) had been notified of 47 additional deaths related to COVID-19. Of these, 46 deaths occurred in January. It said the median age of those who died is 85 years and the age range is 55-99 years. It adds that there have now been a total of 3,167 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. NPHET says that as of 2pm today, 1,567 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 216 are in ICU. 69 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of midnight, Wednesday, January 27 the HPSC has been notified of 1,466 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 192,645*, (*three cases denotified), confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. New cases reported have been falling consistently since a peak of more than 8,200 on January 8. The figures for January 27 mark the second consecutive day of increases since new cases dropped below 1,000 for the first time in weeks on January 25. The 5-day moving average remains above 1,000 a day at 1,294. NPHET says the 5-day moving average of the number of new cases provides an appropriate indicator of current daily case numbers within a county. NPHET says it takes account of any validation of cases for previous days and smooths out daily/weekend fluctuations in case numbers. NPHET says the seven-day incidence is 225.8 per 100k of population. Of the cases notified today NPHET highlighted 472 in Dublin, 106 in Galway, 103 in Cork, 77 in Waterford, 70 in Limerick and the remaining 638 cases are spread across all other counties. See full table at end of story. Other points raised today show that 697 are men / 764 are women, 55% are under 45 years of age and the median age is 41 years old. A Syrian research centre said in a widely publicised report on 17 January that a meeting had taken place between Israeli and Syrian officials at the Hmeimim military base in Latakia in western Syria that is being used by Russia as an air base. The report, published by the Jusoor Centre for Studies based in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, said that the meeting took place in December 2020 between Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and an Israeli security official. It was attended by Russian military and intelligence officers, Commander of the Russian Forces in Syria Alexander Tchaikov, Syrias National Security Bureau Chief Ali Mamlouk and Syrian Special Adviser on Security and Strategic Affairs Bassam Hassan. Israel was represented by former army chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot and former Mossad intelligence agency director Ari Ben-Menashe. During the meeting, the Syrian delegation said it wanted to see Syria return to the Arab League, receive financial aid to help pay off Syrias debts to Iran, which would open the door to expelling Iran from Syria, support for Al-Assads remaining in power, a restoration of Syrias relations with the Arab Sunni axis, economic support for Syria, and the ending of the international sanctions against Syria and those put in place by the US Caesar Act, the report said. The Israelis demanded the dismantling of the axis of resistance and opposition to its policies in the region, the full withdrawal of Iran from Syria, the expulsion of forces under the command of Lebanese Shia group Hizbullah and other foreign militias from Syria, the formation of a new Syrian government in association with the Syrian opposition, the overhaul of Syrias security and military institutions and the reinstatement of dissident Syrian officers with Russian-US-Israeli guarantees. The report said that although the meeting did not conclude in specific agreements, it was the beginning of a track that Russia is strongly pushing for and will likely expand this year. Moscow believes that building a direct relationship between the Al-Assad regime and Tel Aviv will be a lifeline for the regime in obtaining global support for its plans for a political solution to the crisis in the country. The Syrian regime later adamantly denied the report, breaking its habit of ignoring reports not published on official websites. Remaining silent could have put the regime in a difficult position with Iran or made it look as if Damascus had leaked the news. Reports of the meeting were lies promoted by hired media outlets, it said, with a source at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs saying Syria adamantly denied the reports, describing them as attempts to cast doubt on Syrias steadfast positions on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. Syria was clear in its policies towards the Palestinian cause and the full liberation of the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights, the source said. However, Syrian businessman Firas Tlass, the son of a former Syrian defence minister, said the meeting, while it had not included Al-Assad, had been attended by Mamlouk who had met with Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen who is close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Tlass said meetings routinely take place between Israeli and Russian military officers, though these are not attended by Syrian regime officials. Previous leaked reports have discussed meetings between the two sides, and there have been reports that an indirect offer by Israel was delivered to Al-Assad one month ago that included Israeli and US guarantees that Turkish forces would leave northern Syria and the northern Idlib province would return to full Syrian regime control. The offer apparently also included the withdrawal of US forces from eastern Syria and the handing over of the whole East Euphrates region to the Syrian regime. There would be a return of Syrias influence in Lebanon in return for a peace agreement with Syria without Israels withdrawing from the Occupied Golan Heights, it said. Al-Assad would also commit himself to expelling Iranian and Hizbullah forces from Syria under the offered agreement. The practice of offers, counter-offers and deals of various kinds has long been a feature of Al-Assads policies, and there may have been meetings of this kind taking place despite official denials. In the wake of the reports of the Hmeimim meeting, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a television speech that Iran, not Russia, had prevented the collapse of the Al-Assad regime, seen as a way of reminding the Damascus regime that Tehran was its protector and that it could destabilise the country further should it wish to do so. Also in the wake of the alleged Hmeimim meeting and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian militia bases in Deir Al-Zor in Syria, Tehran has begun talking about imposing a new defence treaty on the Syrian regime. According to the Iranian Fars news agency, Deputy Chairman of Irans Islamic Shura Council Abul-Fadl Abu Turabi has said a draft defence and security treaty for the resistance axis is being prepared in Tehran. This says that if the usurping Zionist entity [Israel] attacks the land of any of the resistance countries signatory to this treaty, then all the parties to it are obliged to provide comprehensive economic, military and political support to ward off the danger, Abu Turabi said. The Israeli army has said it carried out more than 50 air strikes across Syria during 2020, mostly against Iranian military positions or camps or Hizbullah weapons depots, amid its repeated insistence that Iran will not be allowed to retain its foothold in Syria. Making peace with Israel may be an ideal solution for the Syrian regime to the diplomatic and economic siege it has been under for almost a decade. Peace with the Syrian regime would also be attractive for Israel, since it believes the continuation of the Al-Assad regime would be better for its security, explaining Israels earlier actions in helping to prevent the collapse of the Al-Assad regime. Tehran is worried that the Syrian regime could look to other solutions to the crisis in the country that have nothing to do with Iranian support. It understands that the relationship of the Al-Assad regime with Tehran is a purely pragmatic one, which is why it is determined to retain its influence in Syria. Al-Assad believes he can take a step towards Israel while ignoring the lack of legitimacy of his regime in the eyes of much of the international community and demands by the US and Europe that progress towards a solution to the Syrian crisis must involve more than normalising relations with Israel. But Israel knows that even if it succeeds in negotiating with the Al-Assad regime, there is no guarantee that an agreement with Damascus will not be void if the regime collapses and another one comes to power in Syria. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: On Indias permanent council seat, here is what Bidens US pick said International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Washington, Jan 28: US President Joe Biden's pick for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday did not explicitly commit the support of the new administration for India to be a permanent member of the Security Council. Three previous administrations, that of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, had publicly said that the United States supports India's bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. As Biden admin dials New Delhi, India-US pledge to boost defence ties However, Thomas-Greenfield, who has spent more than 35 years in foreign service before being nominated to the position, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told lawmakers that this is a matter of ongoing discussion. "Do you think India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council)," Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon asked during her confirmation hearing for the position of the US Ambassador to the UN. Biden has named it as a Cabinet-ranking position. "I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that," she said. "But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion," she said in an apparent reference to the Coffee Club or United for Consensus. Comprising countries like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, the Coffee Club has opposed the permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. President Biden in his campaign policy document last year had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. "Recognising India's growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for India's membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council," Biden Campaign's policy document on Indian-Americans had said last August. Thomas-Greenfield, in response to another question, favoured reforms in the UN Security Council. India is currently its non-permanent member for a two-year term that began in January this year. "I think there is general agreement across the board that reforms are needed in the Security Council. What those reforms will be and how they will be implemented, I think remains to be decided but you know changing the number of members that happened we move from 11 to 15 some years ago and there are efforts to push for more permanent members, and those discussions are ongoing," she said. She was responding to a question from Senator Merkley. "I wanted to start by asking about the Security Council itself. At the same time that China and Russian often stymie actions in the Security Council. The Security Council is decreasingly representative of the geopolitical landscape with key powers like India, Germany, Japan not included as permanent members," he said. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News "How do you approach the question of the Security Council? How do you consider that perhaps it needs to be reformed? How do you believe it can be made more effective and functional," Merkley asked. Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. View of Ribeira Beach, Cascais, Portugal. From sunny beaches to humid rainforests, ILs team looked at every type of region that each country has to offer, preferring those where retirees have some choicetropical beaches, cooler highlands, even mountains in some spots. Scoring a country on its climate is not an easy task, because everyone has their own ideas about what makes for perfect weather, says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, International Living. For every person that wants the heat of a sunny beach 12 months a year, theres another that enjoys throwing a sweater on in the evenings and would prefer spring-like weather year-round. Thats why, in ILs 2021 Annual Global Retirement Index, weve awarded our highest climate scores to the destinations that offer a range of options to suit a variety of tastes. In looking for the countries with the best climate, International Livings editors assessed not only the hard datatemperatures, rainfall, and humiditybut also the comfort level of each destinations climate by talking to the expats and our own correspondents on the ground in each country. From sunny beaches to humid rainforests, ILs team looked at every type of region that each country has to offer, preferring those where retirees have some choicetropical beaches, cooler highlands, even mountains in some spots. The five countries that scored the highest marks for the Best Climate in the World in International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index 2021 are as follows. Note that this year, three countries tied for the #2 spot. 3. Mexico Overall, because of the countrys varied topography, Mexico has one of the worlds most diverse climate systems. Mexico is about three times the size of Texas. And across the country, youll find a wide variety of landscapes and climates to go along with it, from steamy jungles to arid deserts to cool mountains to temperate highlands to hot and humid beaches, says Jason Holland, IL Roving Latin America Editor. You have the spring-like year-round climate of colonial highland towns like San Miguel de Allende. In beach towns like Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen, its always warmand humid too, although sea breezes help. On the northern shore of the largest lake in Mexico are a string of small towns and villages like Chapala and Ajijic. This is the oldest retirement haven in Mexico and still quite popular, especially with folks who escape winter weather up north. For dry heat, head to arid Los Cabos. Further up on the Baja Peninsula you have towns like Rosarito, with a nearly identical climate to that of Southern California." 2. Ecuador (tie) Ecuador lies right on the equator, so the entire country enjoys 12 hours of direct equatorial daylight, 365 days a year. However, the climate you will experience depends largely on where you are in Ecuador, since there are four distinct geographical areasthe Sierra (mountains), the Oriente (eastern rainforests), La Costa (Pacific coastal plains), and the Galapagos Islands. For example, Ecuadors capital, Quito, lies between the Andean Mountains eastern and western ridges. The equator is less than 20 miles north of the city, yet at an altitude of 9,250 feet (2,900 meters), Quitos climate is spring-like year-round: 50 F at night and 69 F during the day. The beaches and rainforests, on the other hand, enjoy the tropical temperatures that one would expect from equatorial lowlands, with highs ranging between 80 F and 90 F. The climate is probably the number one reason I moved to Cuenca, Ecuador, and the freedom to enjoy being outside just about any time of the day has provided me time to hike, walk the dog, go shopping, and eat at outdoor restaurants any time I want, says Donna Stiteler, IL Ecuador Correspondent. Its sweater weather in the morning, by noon youre walking around in t shirts, and by night you may need a jacketbut the weather here is pretty much in the 50s F in the morning and reaching the high 70s F during the day most of the year. 2. Peru (tie) With Perus diverse landscape of endless mountains, sprawling coastal deserts, and vibrant Amazon jungle covering more than half the country, it is no surprise that there is a climate for everybody. It can suit people looking for year-round sunshine just as well as those who prefer distinct seasons. On the coast, summer can begin as early as November and last into April or May. Temperatures reach the high 70s F or even low 80s F during the peak summer months (January and February) and rainfall is unheard of. The southern half of the coast is a different story. Although temperatures stay mild throughout the year, Lima can be clouded over for months during the South American winter. The best of both worlds is found in the northern colonial city of Trujillo and the nearby surfing village of Huanchaco, says IL contributor Steve LePoidevin. Here, the sun shines most of the year. Winters can be cooler and cloudier but temperatures rarely drop below 60 F. Even in the heart of the winter, there will be at least a couple of sunny days each week. There is no need for heating or AC. And mosquitos and other flying pests are few and far between. Doors and windows can be left wide open for much of the year. In the Andes, climates are reversed. When it is warm and sunny on the coast, the rainy season is invading the mountains. Temperatures are still mild (65 F to 70 F) and the tropical suns rays can be very strong at high altitude but nights are chilly. While much of the coast is clouded over from June to August, the mountains are enjoying clear blue skies. But the southern city of Arequipa is a bit of an anomaly. While located on the edge of the Andes, it enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year. 2. Colombia (tie) Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, offering a real variety in climates. This country sits at four degrees north latitude, practically on the equator. As a result, it has an equal 12 hours of daylight and darkness with very little variation during the year. The climate ine ach zone is stable, too, meaning January looks and feels like May or October. In some ways I appreciate the consistency of temperatures, says IL Colombia Correspondent Nancy Kiernan, it means I dont have to buy more than one season of clothes. Gone are the days of having boxes and bins of off-season clothes stuffed under my bed or stashed on the top shelves of my closet. Warm, tropical weather in the Caribbean coastal cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta offers average daytime highs touching 90 F and evening temps in the upper 70s F. Although it can be humid, afternoon and evening sea breezes make being out and about quite delightful. The hot, direct sun during the day can take its toll. Living here expats report their entire wardrobes consist of shorts, bathing suits, t-shirts, and sandals. With the three ranges of the Andes Mountains running down its spine, Colombia also has areas with a much more temperate climate. Medellin, Colombias second largest city and its fastest growing expat haven, sits at 5,000 feet above sea level. The climate at this altitude gives Medellin its nickname City of Eternal Spring with daytime highs in the upper 70s F to mid-80s F and evening temps that dip down to the mid-60s F every day of the year. No need to wear anything heavier than a light jacket. Polo shirts, jeans, or khakis are the daily uniform. Medellin has been my adopted hometown since 2012, Kiernan says. I am thrilled to enjoy the perfect spring-like days sitting on my terraza, sipping tea or a glass of wine, relaxing as the gentle breezes and warm sunlight melt my cares away. In the southern part of the country, the Amazonian rainforest occupies 35% of Colombias total land mass. The Colombian city of Leticia is located at the crossroads of the countries of Peru, Brazil, and Colombia. With relative humidity averaging 86%, lightweight, cotton or other breathable material clothing is a must, as is a raincoat. While this is not an area of the country where expats tend to live, it is a wonderful place to visit to experience Colombias biodiversity. Winner: Portugal What Portugal lacks in size it makes up for in its variety of weather that changes with just a short drive. When we lived on the outskirts of Caldas da Rainha, on the Silver Coast we merely had to drive 10 minutes to see the change, says Terry Coles, IL Portugal Correspondent. While temperatures at our home may have been near 50 F on a winter morning, just 10 minutes down the road, the farmers field sparkled a frosty white. And when we drove three hours south to the Algarve, we would trade in the cool 65 F temperature at our house for a balmy 85 F along the coast. The coldest part of Portugal is the North Coast, from the Spanish border to the city of Porto. Summer temperatures range from 70 F to mid-80s F, with low humidity and plenty of sunshine. During the fall, temperatures in this area drop into the 50s F and 60s F with some rain showers. The center of Portugal includes the city of Caldas da Rainha on the Silver Coast to the capital city of Lisbon. Summers tend to stay cool here with daytime highs reaching only into the 70s F to low 80s F. The rain begins in the fall when temperatures drop into the 60s F and 70s F. The rains help to make this region green and lovely. Rolling hills, verdant farmland, and colorful wildflowers cover much of the landscape. Head south to the Alentejo and Algarve region for the summer heat. The Alentejo is known for its extreme weatherfrom scorching hot summers to cold, windy winters. The city of Evora typically reaches summer highs of 100 F or more. Then, during the winter, temperatures drop to the mid-40s F with a dry, cool wind blowing across the plains. Farther south is the famed Algarve region, which boasts of having over 300 days of sunshine per year. Summer temperature are hot and dry with 12 hours or more of sunshine daily. Temperatures range from 80 F to 90s F during the day and cool off into the 70s F at night. During the winter, this is the mildest part of Portugal with cool temperatures dropping only into the 40s F at night then rising in the daytime to the mid-60s Fwhich explains (at least in part) why its such a draw for retirees from colder climates who winter over here. More details on the top six countries in the Climate category of International Livings Annual Global Retirement Index 2021 can be found here: 5 Places to Retire to With the Worlds Best Climate. International Livings complete 2021 Annual Global Retirement Index can be found at: The World's Best Places to Retire in 2021. Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com. Further information, as well as interviews with expert authors for radio, TV or print, is available on request. Photos are also available. For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact Editorial Director for Web Content, Social Media, and PR, Donal Lucey, dlucey@internationalliving.com. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internationalliving/ Twitter: @inliving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/International.Living/ About International Living Since 1979, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has contributors traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment. GREENWICH Interactive Brokers Group, one of the worlds largest electronic brokerages, is imposing new restrictions on its clients trading of stocks and options in response to the market frenzy surrounding companies such as video-game retailer GameStop. Greenwich-based Interactive announced Thursday it would only allow liquidation a reference to selling for options of GameStop, movie theater giant AMC Entertainment, software company BlackBerry, fashion retailer Express and consumer-electronics specialist Koss due to the extraordinary volatility in the markets. Options represent contracts that give buyer the right to buy or sell shares at a specific price by a certain date. In addition, Interactive said that clients long stock positions will require 100 percent margin and short stock positions will require 300 percent margin until further notice. Margin requirements relate to customers account deposits and equity. We do not believe this situation will subside until the exchanges and regulators halt or put certain symbols into liquidation only, Interactive said in the announcement of the changes. We will continue to monitor market conditions and may add or remove symbols as may be warranted. Other brokers such as Robinhood have also announced similar restrictions. Connecticuts largest investment firms are also tracking the market upheaval. Point72, the Stamford hedge fund founded by billionaire investor and Greenwich resident Steven Cohen, announced this week a $750 million investment in the Melvin Capital Management hedge fund. Melvin is led by Gabriel Plotkin, who worked as a portfolio manager at Point72s predecessor firm. Melvin has been acutely affected by some of its short investments, which had anticipated declining prices in the likes of GameStop. Undermining the short sellers strategy, GameStop shares have surged in recent days. Its shares closed Wednesday at about $348, catapulting 135 percent from Tuesday. Melvin closed out its short position in GameStop on Tuesday after sustaining a large loss. The recent trading frenzy has been driven in large part by a Reddit message board, WallStreetBets, whose participants have rushed to invest in those companies. Until the recent fluctuations, Melvin had ranked among the top-performing funds on Wall Street. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott Beto O'Rourke might be ready to hold public office in Texas again. The former congressman from El Paso told a radio station that he's considering running for Texas governor in the next election, Houston Chronicle's Jeremy Wallace reports. TEXAS POLITICS: Ted Cruz encounters his first burned bridge of 2021 You know what, its something Im going to think about, ORourke said in an interview with El Paso radio station KLAQ. O'Rourke's political action committee Powered By People is publicizing the interview. I want to make sure we have someone in the highest office in our state whos going to make sure that all of us are OK, ORourke said. And especially those communities that so often dont get the resources or attention or the help, like El Paso. O'Rourke narrowly lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 U.S. senate race, coming closer to winning a seat in the red state than any Democrat has in 40 years. He also ran for president in 2020 but lost the Democratic nomination to President Joe Biden. Republican Sen. John Cornyn heard the news, retweeting a tweet from his communications director acknowledging O'Rourke's possible run. "A gift," Drew Brandewie wrote on Twitter. "Poll after poll last cycle showed there was no Democrat more unpopular statewide than Beto." Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will run for his third term as Texas governor in 2022. Kenyan developers are upping their game when it comes to house designs. Were seeing a steady shift from the old boring designs to new contemporary ones, or something in the middle. The rise of the internet and the exposure that comes with it has shown potential homeowners the kind of raw deal weve been getting as a country for decades. There are countless channels on YouTube that tour beautiful houses, which has left many Kenyans of means wanting the same. Today we look at a house in Muthaiga listed by realtor Pam Golding. It is a 5 bedroom semi-contemporary luxury house in Old Muthaiga that sits on about half an acre, on the market now for Ksh250,000,000. Heres a video tour. Check out the pics and be the judge on whether its worth the hefty price tag. NEW DELHI: Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said Indias ties with China were truly at a crossroads" given the tensions triggered by tens of thousands of troops standing eyeball to eyeball along their common border. Any expectation on the part of Beijing that relations will continue normally in the absence of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests" were unrealistic, Jaishankar said. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal Speaking at the opening session of the 13th All India Conference on China which he addressed virtually, the minister said: Obviously each state will have its own interests, concerns and priorities but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided. At the end of the day, relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature," he said in remarks seen as plain speak from New Delhi against the backdrop of tensions simmering since May 2020 and a seeming lack of progress in many rounds of military and diplomatic talks that have taken place to resolve the matter. As rising powers (India and China) each will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit too cannot be ignored," the minister said noting that there will always be divergences and differences but their management is essential to our ties." As civilizational states, India and China must always take the long view" of their relationship, he said in implicit criticism that Beijing was taking a short term view of dealing with India. According to Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, this is the first articulation of (Indias) China policy in strong and stiff manner" since June last year. In June, Jaishankar had warned of consequences for the bilateral relationship after a violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh, the first since 1975. Twenty Indian soldiers and unknown number of Chinese troops were killed on 15 June at Galwan, one of the friction points in Ladakh. According to Kondapalli, Jaishankars comments could have been triggered by a lack of progress in talks between the two sides to stabilize the situation. It also came against the backdrop of indications from Washington that the new Biden administration would not be jettisoning the previous Trump administrations China policy completely, he said. In his remarks, the minister noted that rebuilding ties after the short but bloody clash in 1962 was actually a very painstaking and arduous endeavour." This in itself was paradoxical given that India was one of the first countries to recognize the Peoples Republic of China, he said. Ties however grew steadily with China becoming a major trade partner, a significant" source of investment and technology, a participant in projects and infrastructure building and a very substantial destination for tourism and education. All this happened as the two countries put in place a set of pacts to manage the border while talks continued to resolve the boundary dispute, he said. While negotiations carried on, we obviously did not see significant progress on arriving at a common understanding of the alignment of the LAC in the India-China border areas. But, at the same time, there was also increasing construction of border infrastructure, especially on the Chinese side," he said. For all the differences and disagreements that we may have had on the boundary, the central fact was that border areas still remained fundamentally peaceful," the minister said. What happened in Ladakh last year so profoundly disturbed the relationship" as they signalled not only a disregard for commitments about minimizing troop levels, but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquility." Prior to last year, China had on many occasions shown insensitivity to Indian concerns, the minister said referring to Beijing blocking Indias aspirations to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council and member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. While Chinese companies were cleared to enter lucrative parts of the Indian market like power and telecom, Indian firms did not receive reciprocal market access, he said. Far from mitigating differences, the events of 2020 have actually put our relationship under exceptional stress," he said. Till date, Beijing has not given any credible explanation for the change in Chinas stance, he said. The issue before us is what the Chinese posture signals, how it evolves, and what implications it may have for the future of our ties," Jaishankar said warning that India could not continue to be sensitive to Chinese interests when Beijing disrespected New Delhis concerns. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. TORRINGTON The Board of Education wants to hear from parents. To accomplish that, the board will issue a survey within the next week, asking parents what type of learning program they will support for their children. The board and members of the school administration discussed the survey this week, including how the choices all-remote, hybrid and full distance learning are being handled by the community. To date, the district is using hybrid model a combination of distance and in-person learning as well as full remote instruction. Elementary schools are in-person. But the district is looking for more guidance from the community. Were asking people to commit to one mode of instruction in the survey, Superintendent of Schools Susan Lubomski said. We cant do a buffet menu, she said. However, while hybrid learning is ongoing in the citys elementary, middle and high schools, many families are still keeping their children at home and using remote services daily, Lubomski said. She did not say how many families are using this model of learning. But if a family decides they want to change from hybrid to distance learning, or vice versa, the district is asking them to wait two weeks, she said. We encourage parents to commit to one or the other, if they want to change, wait two weeks, so we can prepare for them. On the secondary grade level, were doing the same. Its just as important for consistency. Based on her conversations with members of the Torrington Area Health District, Lubomski said she was feeling confident that the schools could move to a full in-person learning model. Its a positive measure, Lubomski said. The Centers for Disease Control is saying that in the schools, theres been minimal transmission (of COVID-19) throughout the nation. There has been no (recent) transmission with our students; weve been very fortunate. Were in a good place, and we would like to try and move forward. School board Chairwoman Fiona Cappabianca asked about connecting with families who are not sending their children to school and are either home schooling on their own or using the remote plan. Have you gotten feedback from families who wont come back? she asked. Our last survey said that some parents didnt want their child to go to school in person, Lubomski said. So the middle and high school has worked it so (a students teacher) doesnt change, with in-person or distance learning. Sometimes they have to change physical classroom, but they have the same teacher. Were trying to have as minimal changes as possible, she said. I think were getting back to a sense of normalcy, Lubomski said. Thats good. Thats what we want. The school board also discussed learning gaps caused by the pandemic. Were looking at filling in the gaps caused by COVID-19, Assistant Superintendent Susan Fergusson said. Summer learning camps are a possibility. Parents can find information about the schools latest decisions and surveys on the districts website, http://www.torrington.org/ New Delhi: Opposition presidential candidate Meira Kumar on Wednesday spoke exclusively to News Nation before filing her nomination paper for presidential election. She said that the presidential election is not a Dalit vs Dalit fight. "No, it is not Dalit vs Dalit fight. I want that we should wrap caste and bury it deep inside the ground and our society should move forward," she said. On offering tributes at Rajghat before filing her nomination she said, I get strength here, this strength helps me to fight for the rights of Dalits, women, poor and underprivileged. On asking how she sees NDA presidential candidate as a competitor, she said, I have a lot of respect for Kovind ji. ALSO READ | Presidential poll 2017: Meira Kumar files her nomination in presence of Sonia Gandhi, other Opposition leaders For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The EU's powerful antitrust authorities opened an in-depth probe on Thursday into allegations of price-fixing by Mondelez, the global confectioner of major snack brands, including Toblerone, Oreo and Cadbury. "We are opening a formal investigation to see whether Mondelez, a key producer of these products, might have restricted free competition in Europe," EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Mondelez is one of the largest producers of chocolate, biscuits and coffee in the world, with sales worth tens of billions of euros every year, the European Commission said. The EU alleges that the global giant has schemed to limit the sales of its iconic products from one European country to the other in an infringement of the bloc's single market rules. The EU executive said it suspected Mondelez had used contracts to ban traders from making these products available to other countries at potentially cheaper prices. This would have allowed the company to charge higher prices, but also limit the availability of the products on offer elsewhere. The suspicions led EU investigators to carry out a series of raids in Mondelez offices across Europe in November 2019. In a statement, the company said it "will work constructively with the European Commission as it conducts its review." Beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev was recently convicted of using similar methods by ensuring that cheaper beer from the Netherlands and France could not be sold in Belgium. The world's biggest brewery group was fined 200 million euros for the practices, which included changing the design and size of beer cans to make them unavailable for cross-border sales. In 2019, Mondelez sales reached $25.9 billion worldwide and the company is due to unveil its financial results for 2020 later on Thursday. Mondelez also owns Philadelphia cream cheese, Tang drink, and Tuc salty biscuits. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 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. Dhaka, Jan 28 (UNI) The second Consular Dialogue between Bangladesh and India was held in New Delhi on Thursday. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Indian delegation was led by Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary (Consular, Passport & Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs of India. The Bangladesh delegation included high-level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, Bangladesh Police, BGB and Prison authorities. Subway describes its tuna sandwich as freshly baked bread layered with flaked tuna blended with creamy mayo then topped with your choice of crisp, fresh veggies. Its a description designed to activate the saliva glands - and separate you from your money. It's also fiction, at least partially, according to a recent lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges the ingredient billed as "tuna" for the chain's sandwiches and wraps contains absolutely no tuna. A representative of Subway said the claims are without merit. Not only is its tuna the real deal, the company says, but it's wild-caught, too. The star ingredient, according to the lawsuit, is "made from anything but tuna." Based on independent lab tests of "multiple samples" taken from Subway locations in California, the "tuna" is "a mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by defendants to imitate the appearance of tuna," according to the complaint. Shalini Dogra, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, declined to say exactly what ingredients the lab tests revealed. "We found that the ingredients were not tuna and not fish," the attorney said in an email to The Washington Post. Two plaintiffs are identified in the complaint: Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin, both residents of Alameda County in the Bay Area. But attorneys for Dhanowa and Amin hope to get their claim certified as a class action, which could open the case up to thousands of Subway customers in California who purchased tuna sandwiches and wraps after Jan. 21, 2017. Dhanowa and Amin are suing Subway for fraud, intentional misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and other claims under federal and state laws. Among other accusations, the plaintiffs argue they "were tricked into buying food items that wholly lacked the ingredients they reasonably thought they were purchasing" based on Subway's labeling, packaging and advertising. What's more, the plaintiffs argue, Subway is "saving substantial sums of money in manufacturing the products because the fabricated ingredient they use in the place of tuna costs less money." They argue they paid premium prices for an ingredient that they prize for its health benefits (although the government suggests certain people limit their intake of tuna because of mercury contamination). In suburban Washington, for example, the price of a foot-long tuna sandwich at a Subway outlet costs $7.39. The same size cold-cut combo sandwich, by contrast, runs $6.19. "Consumers are consistently misled into purchasing the products for the commonly known and/or advertised benefits and characteristics of tuna when in fact no such benefits could be had, given that the products are in fact devoid of tuna," the lawsuit claims. According to Subway's nutritional information page on its website, the tuna salad for its sandwiches contains flaked tuna in brine, mayonnaise and an additive to "protect flavor." A spokeswoman for Subway said the nutritional information is up to date. "Tuna is one of our most popular sandwiches. Our restaurants receive pure tuna, mix it with mayonnaise and serve on a freshly made sandwich to our guests," said Katia Noll, senior director for global food safety and quality at Subway, in a statement to The Post. Over the years, Subway has been a frequent target for lawsuits, some more serious than others. In 2013, plaintiffs in a class-action complaint accused the chain of selling $5 foot-long sandwiches that were only 11 to 11 1/2 inches long. (The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago eventually threw out a settlement in the case, calling it "utterly worthless.") The sandwich chain recently had to defend its bread, too, after Ireland's Supreme Court ruled that, as part of a protracted legal and tax battle, Subway's hoagie-style rolls did not meet the country's definition of a staple bread. Over the years, franchisees have sued the company, too, claiming Subway's regional structure and arbitrary inspection process unfairly pushed some owners out of business. In 2017, Subway filed a lawsuit of its own against the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., arguing that the Canadian public broadcaster defamed the chain in a report that claimed the company's poultry products contained only 50% chicken DNA. The Ontario Superior Court dismissed Subway's lawsuit, saying the CBC's investigation met the "public interest test." The plaintiffs in the current case are seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys fees. They also want Subway to end its alleged practice of mislabeling its tuna sandwiches and surrender profits it earned from the practice. The plaintiffs have retained the services of the Lanier Law Firm, a firm with offices in several cities, including Los Angeles. Lanier has been involved in several high-profile lawsuits, including a case in which 22 women claimed Johnson & Johnsons talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer. A jury awarded the plaintiffs $4.69 billion in damages in 2018. Opinion Article 28 January 2021 Much has been written over the summer of COVID-19 about the resurgence of the Great American Road Trip, as millions were forced to rediscover the hidden gems of their own state or nation, instead of taking an international flight. Now with the virus continuing to plague our news cycle and our ability to open borders, it's not unreasonable to assume that many travelers will perpetuate the drive-to hotel trend we've seen thus far. Advertisements Many of you may initially scoff at this as the whole idea of the long cross-country drive is traditionally predicated on warm weather to make for a pleasant journey. But times have changed since the inception of this concept around when Kerouac wrote his seminal novel or Steinbeck his travelogue. Besides a yearning to travel as a means of escaping the hardships of an ongoing pandemic, there are many reasons to help motivate travelers to venture forth this winter. Four of these that have nothing to do with hotel operational adjustments or marketing include: Cars have better handling than decades past (think SUV's with higher ground clearance and AWD) meaning that there's less risk while driving on slippery streets or potentially snowclad freeways. Better overall roads and weather forecasting for faster snow clearance ensure that driving conditions are as safe as ever. The in-car experience is top notch with satellite radio, comfortable cushions, heated seats, noise dampeners, video screens in the back for the kids and a host of other features to make the trip enjoyable. With a mobile phone on nearly every rider, no one is ever bored, and no one ever feels lost or afraid to push forward due to not knowing anywhere for a good pitstop. GPS and WAZE add further road travel enhancements. Mind you, when I say winter, I mean more 'three seasons' as many northern travelers will be more inclined to act as snowbirds to escape the cold. Then again, if you can dress your property up to be a winter wonderland then you may still be able to draw in some local, or even national, crowds. Knowing that this may be a trend, it's next a matter of preparing your team and operations accordingly. Every hotel has a unique situation. Capitalizing on these sorts of vacations to help buffer off-peak occupancy numbers is not necessarily the silver bullet! There are many seasonal properties for which previous travel behavior would dictate closing for the winter as there just aren't enough guests willing to come to recoup costs. Take some time to review your guest profile data and your CRM from this past summer. What can you infer about the likelihood of customers from nearby markets being eager to visit your hotel when the weather isn't on your side? Next, are you planning any onsite events or are there any happening in the region that you can utilize as a core reason to visit in any winter packages? Should you decide to stay open, you may not have much time to promote, so looking at the last-minute traveler behavior is important. For those properties' further south, the approach is widely different. You know the snowbirds will be coming and it's more a matter of creating a distinct value proposition so that they choose you ahead of the competition. How are you planning your rack rates so that you can stay ahead of the comp set and without years of data to bank upon? Next, ask yourself what guests who are driving to your property from long distances would want versus those arriving by air - perhaps something as simple as complimentary road snacks or bundled tickets to a popular attraction that's close by. We all know that sanitization is critical during COVID-19, but much more along the lines of 'privacy' is needed to motivate top-of-funnel consumers. Finally, while it may seem that this article is only meant for an American readership, know that many of the principles underpinning how to draw in guests over the quieter winter months may also apply to your own territory, wherever that is. People all over the world will be in search of a staycation this winter; it's just a matter of using the tools at your disposal to find them and give them a good offer. Look to create experiences and unique points of difference that will encourage travelers in spite of the weather, or even specifically because it's frigid outside. And, of course, chime in with your own hotel's situation so that we can perhaps give you some ideas that may work. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has accused the Republican leader of the House, Kevin McCarthy, of being controlled by QAnon-supporting members of Congress, claiming the party has had an influx of 'legitimate white supremacists' into its ranks. The New York congresswoman appeared on MSNBC on Wednesday night and was asked about shocking behavior by Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene, who openly supports the QAnon conspiracy theory - the idea that Donald Trump was sent to save the world from a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles, working in the 'deep state' - has found herself in the spotlight for her social media posts. The Georgia congresswoman, a vehement defender of the Second Amendment, claimed that the February 2018 Parkland school shooting was carried out by actors, in a bid to usher in gun control. AOC appeared on MSNBC on Wednesday night to criticize McCarthy's response to Greene Greene, a Georgia congresswoman who arrived in DC in January, has made provocative posts CNN unearthed video of her following one of the teenage survivors on foot, yelling at him and accusing him of being part of a 'false flag' plot. They also found numerous examples of Greene endorsing and openly calling for assassinating prominent Democrats on her social media feeds, among them Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi on treason charges. In one case, she liked a comment that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' than removing Pelosi from her speakership. She also liked a comment about Pelosi that said 'through removal or death, doesn't matter, as long as she goes.' Greene did not deny the chilling posts were genuine, but then claimed without evidence that unnamed others were managing her social media - and has since deleted them. Greene can be seen hounding David Hogg, Parkland survivor, in 2018 for seeking gun control Greene chased after him following a hearing in DC to discuss preventing school shootings Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, ridiculed McCarthy's promise to have a word with Greene, deriding it as feeble and insufficient, given her rhetoric. 'It increasingly seems, unfortunately, that in the House Republican caucus, Kevin McCarthy answers to these QAnon members of congress, not the other way around,' she said. 'I've seen Kevin McCarthy pull someone aside before for a talking to. 'And that representative that I saw him do that to was representative Ted Yoho of Florida.' Yoho called AOC a 'f****** bitch' and 'disgusting' in front of reporters. 'What Kevin McCarthy did was that he pulled him aside to essentially excuse his behavior, to allow it, and to abet it.' The 31-year-old said McCarthy was unwilling or unable to discipline his own party members, and had allowed a culture of racism and misogyny to flourish because it was politically beneficial. 'What is he going to tell them? Keep it up?' she said. 'Because there are no consequences in the Republican caucus for violence. There's no consequences for racism. No consequences for misogyny. No consequences for insurrection. And no consequence means that they condone it. It means that that silence is acceptance, and they want it because they know that it is a core animating political energy for them.' Ocasio-Cortez spoke after Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat congressman for California, announced on Wednesday that he will put forward a House resolution to call for the expulsion of Greene for her open advocacy of political violence. Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat congressman for California, said he wants Greene expelled Jimmy Gomez's statement on Marjorie Taylor Greene 'As if it weren't enough to amplify conspiracy theories that the September 11 attacks were an inside job and the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was staged, a string of recent media reports has now confirmed that Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had previously supported social media posts calling for political violence against the Speaker of the House, members of Congress, and former President Barack Obama. 'Such advocacy for extremism and sedition not only demands her immediate expulsion from Congress, but it also merits strong and clear condemnation from all of her Republican colleagues, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. 'Her very presence in office represents a direct threat against the elected officials and staff who serve our government, and it is with their safety in mind, as well as the security of institutions and public servants across our country, that I call on my House colleagues to support my resolution to immediately remove Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from this legislative body.' Advertisement 'Such advocacy for extremism and sedition not only demands her immediate expulsion from Congress, but it also merits strong and clear condemnation from all of her Republican colleagues. including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell,' Gomez said. 'Her very presence in office represents a direct threat against the elected officials and staff who serve our government, and it is with their safety in mind, as well as the security of institutions and public servants across our country.' Greene's behavior before entering Congress, and her lack of remorse since, have sharply divided her party. 'Over the years, I've had teams of people manage my pages. Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views. Especially the ones that CNN is about to spread across the internet,' Greene wrote on Facebook in anticipation of the story coming out. She did not explain why, as a private citizen in 2018 - before launching her bid for Congress - she had 'a team' working for her on social media. 'They are taking old Facebook posts from random users to try to cancel me and silence my voice,' Greene wrote. In a tweet, Greene, parroting Trump, called the CNN reporters who exposed her posts 'the enemy of the American people.' Clinton responded to CNN's reporting by recommending that Greene should be on a terror 'watch list.' 'This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress,' Clinton tweeted Wednesday. Greene then replied: 'Actually @HillaryClinton, you should be in jail. #LockHerUp.' Greene has established herself as one of the most high-profile QAnon believers in Congress Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted and used Facebook to push back on CNN's reporting, suggesting the journalists were trying to 'cancel' her Adam Kinzinger, a 42-year-old Illinois congressman, condemned Greene's actions. 'She is not a Republican. There are many who claim the title of Republican and have nothing in common with our core values,' he said. He accused her of being a RINO - a Republican In Name Only. 'They are RINOS. She is a RINO,' he said. McCarthy on Wednesday, in a call with his caucus, berated them for attacking each other. He told members of his caucus to 'cut that c**p out,' adding: 'no more attacks to one another,' including on Twitter. McCarthy's spokesman, Mark Bednar, said the House Minority Leader would speak with Greene. Rep. Adam Kinziger said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had 'nothing in common with our core values' responding to CNN's reporting that the Georgia lawmaker had expressed support for executing prominent Democrats Kevin McCarthy said he would speak to Greene about her urging the killing of Democrats 'These comments are deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congressman about them,' he told Axios. McCarthy does have the ability to punish Greene should he decide her comments were serious enough to do so. In 2019, McCarthy stripped former Rep. Steve King of his committee assignments for sharing white supremacist views. King predicted in an interview with The Dispatch last year that McCarthy would use the threat of similar punishments to keep lawmakers like Greene in line. 'He'll hang the sin that he committed against me out in front of her like the sword of Damocles,' said King, who lost his seat following a June 2020 primary, at the time. Gun control activist David Hogg recommended that punishment. 'Take her Committee assignments away,' he tweeted Thursday. Hogg, who survived the Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting, also retweeted a video that had been going viral of Greene running after him on Capitol Hill asking him why he supported 'red flag laws that attack our Second Amendment.' During the two-minute video, Greene charges Hogg with 'using kids as a barrier' and taking money from George Soros. 'If school zones were protected with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings, did you know that?' she tells Hogg. Greene had previously labeled the Parkland shooting a 'false flag' operation. At Wednesday's White House press briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki chose not to wade into the controversy. Asked if she had a response, she replied: 'We don't. And I'm not going to speak further about her, I think, in this briefing room.' A handful of House Democrats have spoken out and said Greene should resign. 'Words have consequences. @RepMTG should resign. If she doesn't, Congress needs to expel her. If you don't understand that calling for the murder of political rivals is a threat to democracy, you shouldn't be allowed to represent one,' tweeted Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democratic member in the same freshman class as Greene. Actor Prabhas is all set to shoot for his much-anticipated film, Salaar, from January 29. Last year, the Baahubali star surprised fans by announcing that he will be teaming up with KGF director Prashanth Neel for a pan-India film. He also unveiled the first-look poster, which became a massive hit on social media. Today I take a leap into the world of #SALAAR. Shoot commences from Jan 2021. An Indian Film by @hombalefilms @VKiragandur @prashanth_neel - #Prabhas via Instagram pic.twitter.com/RZ8pTqXBHf Prabhas (@PrabhasRaju) December 2, 2020 Now, as per the latest reports, the highly anticipated film is likely to go on floors from tomorrow and it will be a 10-day schedule. What We Know About Salaar The reports suggest that the makers of the film have decided to shoot an introduction scene and an intense action sequence at Khammam district in Telangana for the next few days. A huge set has been erected by them and major portions will be shot there. Meanwhile an official announcement regarding the film's schedule will be made soon. Interestingly, the Salaar team has initiated talks with many actors down South including Vijay Sethupathi for the antagonist's role. However, nothing has been finalised yet. Earlier this month, the makers organised a muhurat puja at Hyderabad which was attended by the entire cast and crew. Hombale Films, which produced the KGF, is bankrolling this magnum opus as well. Director Prashanth Neel, Prabhas and Yash were seen greeting each other at the launch and their pictures went viral on the internet. Prabhass Role & The Story Prabhas will be sporting a beefed up avatar for his role in the film and it will be an intense one. Speaking about the puja ceremony, Prabhas said, "I'm really excited to start the shoot of the film post the Muhurat Puja in Hyderabad and reveal my look to the fans." Salaar is touted to be an action-thriller and it will be released in multiple languages. Shruti Haasan Roped In Too This will be the first time that Shruti Haasan will be working with the Baahubali actor. Shruti, who is fresh from the success of her film Krack with Ravi Teja, has been extremely busy with films and music. This will be the second time that she will be associated with a Kannada team. She had sung one of her first playback songs for the Puneeth Rajkumar starrer Prithvi over a decade ago. Other Details After working on this project, Prabhas will shoot for Adipurush and Nag Ashwin's project in the second half of 2021. Om Raut's Adipurush will be completely shot in green mat and the project requires only a few days of his call sheet. Adipurush will hit the screens on August 11, 2022. Besides, Prabhas upcoming film, Radhe Shyam, is likely to release in April. An announcement on the release date will be made soon. We are totally excited about this one. What about you? Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A University of Otago study explored factors which influence Americans' levels of concern over climate change, providing discussion on how those factors could impact mitigation efforts. A key thread of the research examined the ability of people to visualize the future. Results showed that while 74 percent of respondents were concerned about climate change, only 29 percent discussed lower carbon options when asked to describe travel in the year 2050. "This suggests actively envisioning a sustainable future was less prevalent than climate change concern. So while the majority were concerned, there was a disconnect with expectations of what the future might hold," says lead author Jean Fletcher, who completed the study as part of her Ph.D. in Otago's Centre for Science Communication. The study discusses how mitigation efforts such as greater adoption of low carbon systems could be more widely accepted and happen sooner if expectations of a low carbon future were more prevalent. "For example, if people expect vehicles will, rather than might, switch from petrol to electric, the uptake of electric car purchasing would likely increase sooner," Miss Fletcher says. The study also describes how the abstract nature of 'the future' may inspire procrastination as people wait for more information before making a decision. "This has important implications for climate change. The cumulative nature of carbon emissions means the longer we wait to reduce emissions, the more drastic the emission reduction needs to be," Miss Fletcher adds. Study supervisor Professor Nancy Longnecker of Otago's Centre for Science Communication says that the study's finding of a link between technological optimism and climate change concern suggests that individuals are hoping for technological fixes rather than making personal lifestyle changes. She notes that individual action, collective action and policy are all necessary components in global response to climate change. "For policy makers, knowing drivers behind people's thinking can help communicate measures to mitigate climate change in ways that lead to action, instead of people either seeing the problem too far away to worry about, too difficult to fix, or being someone else's responsibility," Professor Longnecker says. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ISLAMABAD Pakistans Supreme Court ordered on Thursday the release of a Pakistani-British man convicted and later acquitted in the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. The court also dismissed an appeal of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikhs acquittal filed by Pearls family and the Pakistani government. A minister in the Sindh province where Sheikh is being held said the government had exhausted all options to keep him locked up an indication Sheikh could be free within days. The Supreme Court is the court of last resort, Murtaza Wahab, Sindhs law minister, told The Associated Press. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The Pearl family is in complete shock by the majority decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to acquit and release Ahmed Omer Sheikh and the other accused persons who kidnapped and killed Daniel Pearl, the Pearl family said in a statement released by their lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi. The brutality of Pearls killing shocked many in 2002, years before the Islamic State group began releasing videos of their militants beheading journalists. An autopsy report told the gruesome details of the Wall Street Journal reporters killing and dismemberment. Sheikh was convicted of helping lure Pearl to a meeting in the port city of Karachi, during which he was kidnapped. Pearl had been investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard C. Reid, dubbed the shoe bomber after his attempt to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes. Pearls body was discovered in a shallow grave soon after a video of his beheading was delivered to the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. The Pentagon in 2007 released a transcript in which Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, said he had killed Pearl. I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew Daniel Pearl, the transcript quoted Mohammed as saying. Mohammad first disclosed his role while he was held in CIA custody and subjected to waterboarding, sleep deprivation and other forms of torture. He remains in the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay and has never been charged with the journalists death. Sheikh had long denied any involvement in Pearls death, but the Supreme Court on Wednesday heard that he acknowledged writing a letter in 2019 admitting a minor role raising hopes for some that he might remain behind bars. Sheikh has been on death row since his conviction even after his subsequent acquittal and is currently being held in a Karachi jail. A three-judge Supreme Court ruled 2 to 1 to uphold Sheikhs acquittal and ordered him released, according to the Pearl family lawyer. A lawyer for Sheikh said the court also ordered the release of three other Pakistanis who had been sentenced to life in prison for their part in Pearls kidnapping and death. The three Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib all played lesser roles, such as providing a laptop or internet access to send pictures of Pearl, with a gun to his head, with demands that all prisoners at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay prison be released. Yet at the original trial all four were charged with the same crimes. These people should not have been in prison even for one day, Mehmood A. Sheikh, who is not related to his client, said. He warned the Sindh provincial government against delaying their release, as it has done in the past with his client, even after being slapped with a contempt charge. I expect the Sindh government will not make a mockery of justice by continuing to not release them for no good reason whatsoever, he said. Washington previously said it would seek Sheikhs extradition to the United States to be tried there, if the acquittal was upheld. Its not clear whether Pakistan would support his extradition or even under what grounds it could go ahead. In a statement Thursday, acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said the Justice Department was deeply concerned by the Pakistani court ruling and that Sheikh must be held accountable. While we remain grateful for the Pakistani governments opposition to these acquittals on appeal, in light of the Supreme Courts decision, the Department of Justice reiterates that the United States stands ready to take custody of Sheikh to stand trial here on the pending charges against him, Wilkinson said. Sheik was indicted in the U.S. in 2002 for hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, resulting in the murder of Pearl, as well as the 1994 kidnapping of another United States citizen in India, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The case seems certain to test the new Biden administrations skill in dealing with Pakistan, considered a key ally in getting peace in neighboring Afghanistan. The Pearl family urged both the U.S. and Pakistani governments to take action to correct this injustice. Todays decision is a complete travesty of justice and the release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan, the familys statement said. Later Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. was outraged by the Pakistani Supreme Court decision to affirm the acquittals of those responsible for Pearls slaying and underscored the administrations commitment to secure justice for Pearls family. This decision to exonerate and release Sheikh and the other suspects is an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan, she said, calling on the Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options, including allowing the United States to prosecute Sheikh for the brutal murder of an American citizen and journalist. Siddiqi, the Pearl family lawyer, said the only legal avenue available now is to ask for a review of the courts decision to uphold Sheikhs acquittal. However, he said the review would be conducted by the same court that made the decision. In practical terms, that means the case is closed in Pakistan, he said. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard Sheikh admit to a minor role in Pearls kidnapping a dramatic turn of events after he had denied any involvement for 18 years. Siddiqi, the Pearl family lawyer, had expected it would advance his case. Still, Siddiqi had previously said winning was an uphill battle. Sheikh and the three other men ordered released Thursday were all acquitted in April by the Sindh High Court on the grounds that the initial prosecutions evidence was insufficient. During the appeal of that acquittal, Siddiqi tried to convince the Supreme Court of Sheikhs guilt on at least one of the three charges he faced, specifically the kidnapping charge, which also carries the death penalty in Pakistan. The court is expected to release a detailed explanation for Thursdays decision in the coming days. ___ Associated Press writers Adil Jawad in Karachi, Pakistan, and Ben Fox, Eric Tucker and Ken Guggenheim in Washington contributed to this report. TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZoomerMedia Limited (TSXV:ZUM) (the Company), the leader in serving the interests of the 45+ Zoomer market in Canada, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended November 30, 2020. Consolidated Results For the three months ended November 30, 2020 the Company generated revenues of $13.2 million, operating expenses of $9.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $3.5 million from its continuing operations. Net income for the same period was $1.9 million. For the comparative three months ended November 30, 2019 the Company had revenues of $14.7 million, operating expenses of $12.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.7 million from its continuing operations. Net income for the three months was $1.6 million. On August 19, 2020 the Company closed the sale for substantially all of the net assets comprising the operations of Darwin CX, the Companys Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) division to Irish Studios LLC. For comparative purpose, the financial results of Darwin CX for the prior year is presented separately from the Companys continuing operations in the consolidated financial statements. Darwin CXs net loss for the three months ended November 30, 2019 was $0.35 million. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS earnings measures which do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA presented by other companies. EBITDA represents earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA excludes the gain on sale of property and the unrealized gain or loss on equity instruments. These measures are important to management since they are used by potential investors to evaluate the Companys operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. Investors are cautioned that this non-IFRS financial measure should not be construed as an alternative to other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. Additional Information Detailed financial information and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended November 30, 2020 can be found on SEDARs website at www.sedar.com. The financial information included in this release is qualified in its entirety and should be read together with the interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2020, including the notes thereto. About ZoomerMedia Limited ZoomerMedia is a multimedia company that serves the 45plus Zoomer demographic through television, radio, magazine, internet and trade shows. ZoomerMedias television properties include; Vision TV, a multi-faith, family friendly specialty television service; ONE: Get Fit, offering 24 hours of fitness and healthy living programs; JoyTV in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey and the Fraser Valley, and FAITH TV in Winnipeg, both devoted to broadcasting Christian and local programming; and TVL Channel 5, a linear television channel guide available to Rogers households in Ontario and New Brunswick. ZoomerMedias radio properties include CFMZ-FM Toronto - The New Classical 96.3FM, CFMX-FM Cobourg The New Classical 103.1FM, CFMO-FM - Collingwood The New Classical 102.9FM, Canadas only commercial classical music radio stations serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), eastern Ontario and Collingwood, CFZM-AM 740 Toronto and CFZM-FM 96.7FM Toronto - Zoomer Radio, Torontos Timeless Hits Station. ZoomerMedia also publishes ZOOMER Magazine, the largest paid circulation magazine in Canada for the mature market; On The Bay Magazine, a regional lifestyle magazine published quarterly for the 20 towns and villages of Southern Georgian Bay; as well as Tonic Magazine, a regional health and wellness magazine published every two months and distributed across the City of Toronto. ZoomerMedia is Canadas leading provider of online content targeting the 45plus age group through many properties, the key one being www.EverythingZoomer.com. ZoomerMedia has trade show and conference divisions that produce the ZoomerShows, annual consumer shows directed to the Zoomer demographic and ideaCity, an annual Canadian conference also known as 'Canada's Premiere Meeting of the Minds'. Cautionary note on forward looking statements The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Certain statements made in this report are forward-looking statements which may include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words believe, anticipate, expect, estimate, project, will be, will continue, will likely result or similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in filings by ZoomerMedia Limited with provincial securities commissions. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the risks inherent in magazine publishing; the risks inherent in the operation of Internet media properties; the risks inherent in the operation of television broadcast properties; the risks inherent in the operation of radio broadcast properties; the risks inherent in the operations of affinity partners with respect to royalty revenue; the risks inherent in the operation of consumer shows generally, the competition within the media industry for the baby boomer generations business; the risks associated with governmental regulation of the publishing, internet, radio broadcasting and television broadcasting businesses; the results of legal claims made by or against the Company; the dependence of the business on the continuing operation of its computer systems; the dependence of the business on key personnel; and the emergence of public health crisis and emergencies, such as Covid-19 Given these risks, and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. ZoomerMedia Limited does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For further information, please contact: A former New York teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually molesting a 16-year-old student during a class trip to Hershey was sentenced to prison by a Dauphin County judge Thursday. Judge Richard A. Lewis sentenced Joseph A. Gallagher, 29, of Smithtown, to 9 to 23 months behind bars for the May 2019 incident at a hotel in Swatara Township. Gallagher, who also was hit with student sex charges in New York, was accompanying students from Bethpage School District on the trip. Joseph Gallagher, 28 Investigators said he began having sexual conversations with the student several months before the trip and had sexual contact with her. Gallagher and the girl texted each other while at the central Pennsylvania hotel and arranged to meet in his room, where they engaged in sex, police said. They said the teen told officers she tried to wait until her roommates were asleep before leaving to meet Gallagher, but that one saw her departing from the room. Gallagher was fired from his teaching job in the Bethpage district, which is on Long Island. His sentencing occurred three months after he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual contact with a student, unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communication facility and corruption of minors. Records show Gallagher also has pleaded guilty to student sex charges in Nassau County, New York, and is awaiting sentencing there. 1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone. 2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea. 3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials. 4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied. Vote View Results The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Following the successful launches of DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth Rum Cask Finish and DEWAR'S Ilegal Smooth Mezcal Cask Finish, the third edition in the brand's double-aged blended Scotch cask-finished series reflects the brand's passion for harmoniously bringing together unexpected flavor traits for a richer taste and experience. Perfect for both whisky aficionados and amateurs alike, DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth features flavor notes of freshly sliced ripe apricots, honeydew melon, red cherries and black currants drizzled with heather honey all enveloped in rich creamy notes of vanilla. "The whisky category has a certain mythology of its own, replete with traditional conventions. We created the DEWAR'S cask-finished series to break the mold and evolve those traditions by bringing two product elaboration cultures together in this case from Scotland and Portugal to create something richer. Though we can't travel to the Highlands of Scotland or the Douro Valley of Portugal this year, we crafted DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth to engage all those with wanderlust and curiosity. The brand has long been driven by a natural curiosity and, with 2021 ringing in our 175th anniversary, we hope that DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth will inspire people to look beyond the obvious, or their 'usual tipple', and to discover a new whisky that will enthrall the senses and delight the palate. It is about enjoyment, not rules, and through this we are certain that this great whisky will challenge some pre-conceived notions of what standard blended scotch whisky is about," says Brian Cox, Vice President, DEWAR'S Scotch Whisky, North America. "With its full bodied yet refined mouthfeel and unique flavor profile which features subtle notes of stone fruits, dark red fruits and honey DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth is designed to be a veritable celebration of the two cultures of Scotland and Portugal. Thanks to a unique production process where the 8 year old scotch is double aged for extra smoothness and then finished in casks that previously held fine ruby port wines, DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth has a satisfyingly unusual, yet super smooth, taste that is ideally enjoyed anyway you like be it neat, on the rocks, in a highball or as a great alternative to beer and wine for food pairings. It's really about your mood, time, place and company be it in person or remotely," says Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for DEWAR'S. Signature cocktails include The Spiced Tonic Highball and The Ginger Highball which reimagines the classic highball with a refreshing blend of stone fruit and baking spice flavors. DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth 8 year old port cask finish will be available in a 750ML bottle with an SRP of $21.99 and will retail in all fine wine & spirits retailers nationwide. For more information on DEWAR'S Portuguese Smooth and the rest of DEWAR'S whisky products, please visit www.dewars.com or on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. DEWAR'S PORTUGUESE SMOOTH SIGNATURE SERVE: SPICED TONIC HIGHBALL Ingredients: 2oz Dewar's Portuguese Smooth Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic Glass: Highball Garnish: Orange wedge Method: Add whisky to chilled highball glass, fill with ice and top with soda. Garnish with the orange. DEWAR'S PORTUGUESE SMOOTH SIGNATURE SERVE: GINGER HIGHBALL Ingredients: 2oz Dewar's Portuguese Smooth Fever Tree Ginger ale Glass: Highball Garnish: Lemon peel Method: Add whisky to chilled highball glass, fill with ice and top with ginger ale. Garnish with lemon. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY 2021 DEWAR'S BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY 40% ALC. BY VOL IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR'S & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL About DEWAR'S Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR'S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR'S WHITE LABEL, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR'S 12-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 15-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 18-Year-Old, DEWAR'S Double Double Series, DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth and the exclusive DEWAR'S 25. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR'S oak marrying ageing process, which involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR'S the world's most awarded blended Scotch. The DEWAR'S brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. About Bacardi Limited Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 158 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi currently employs nearly 7,000, operates more than 20 production facilities, including bottling, distilling and manufacturing sites in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow @BacardiLimited. Media Contacts: Eva McGarry Katarina Damree, PR Director Nike Communications Bacardi-Martini Ltd. 609.273.0756 +44 (0) 7971 508667 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE DEWAR'S Related Links http://www.dewars.com This article appears in the January 29, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. The Artemis Program, A Global Science Driver, Has Unexpected Support [Print version of this article] NASA Jan. 23With the new Biden administration already slashing several of the development policies initiated by the Trump presidency, such as the Keystone XL Pipeline, on his first day in office, and Biden promoting the anti-growth, de-industrialization insanity of the Green New Deal by committing the U.S. to rejoining the Paris carbon limitation treaty, the question remains regarding what will happen to Trumps Artemis space exploration initiative. The Artemis Moon-Mars exploration program, which has set a deadline for bringing astronauts back to the Moon by 2024, is the most important science driver since JFKs declared intention, in a 1961 joint session of Congress, that This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. Enormous science projects invigorate the economy by creating new technologies and new scientific discoveries. But more importantly, they invigorate the culture as a whole, by challenging and inspiring our youth to participate in these scientific and technological developments, an effect that was dramatically evident during the Kennedy administration. We have recently witnessed the results of just such a crash scientific effort, with the development of Covid-19 vaccines just 12 months after the target part of the virus, the spike protein, was identified and characterized. This crash effort, spearheaded by support from the Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed, involved tens of thousands of researchers and lab technicians around the world, and tens of billions of dollars of investment. The result is not just a vaccine, but the development of techniques that can be rapidly applied for producing vaccines against new infectious diseases, as well as for treatments of a huge variety of other diseases that involve abnormal proteins or abnormal genes. Since most of the major causes of death in the U.S. have at least a partial inheritable pattern, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, the techniques of protein and gene therapies have the potential to radically improve treatments and preventions for these chronic diseases. (See Science Driver Medicine: RNA Vaccine Technology Expands Into Broader Disease Treatment, Ned Rosinsky, EIR, August 14, 2020.) This scientific crash program must be defended from the anti-science mob, since the issues of treatment and prevention of major diseases are fundamental to the needs of the population. Unexpected Support for Artemis In this context, it is most interesting, and important, that several British Intelligence-associated U.S. establishment think tanks, including the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), have recently come out publicly urging the new administration to continue the Artemis program commitment to space research and exploration. DoD/Lisa Ferdinando The CFR issued a report on November 18, 2020, titled Space Exploration and U.S. Competitiveness, an update of a report by Steven Markovich originally published in 2013. Markovich, a Contributing Editor at CFR, notes that the Obama administration killed the Constellation human space exploration program developed under the prior Bush administration, which was intended to replace the aging Shuttle program. This left the U.S. with no rocket transport ability, and therefore required any travel to the International Space Station to be done using a Russian transport rocket. Trump reversed this policy in 2017 with his Presidential Directive to NASA to plan a human Moon landing, followed by human flights to Mars. No specific date for this mission was initially indicated in the Presidential Directive. In 2018 the Chinese announced their timetable for a human Moon landing in 2028, at the annual meeting of the international Committee on Space Research. The following year, 2019, Trump revised the NASA time schedule to plan for a human landing on the Moon by 2024. Clearly there is a competition in these timetables. This competition appears to be the reason for the timing of this CFR report. The U.S. establishment is going through a Sputnik-type response, but in this case in regard to China, with the result being parallel to what happened after 1957, when the U.S. establishment launched a crash science driver to catch up with the Soviet space program. We are therefore in a period in which there are two huge science drivers that must be defended against the kinds of attack we saw after the Kennedy Apollo Moon mission and after the LaRouche-Reagan SDI initiative in 1983. Intrinsic Benefits of Artemis The cited CFR report, in addition to referencing the Chinese program, goes further, pointing out some of the intrinsic benefits of Artemis. First, regarding the cost, the article notes that President Trump requested $25 billion for the coming year, but Congress appropriated only $22.6 billion, which would short the funding required for the Moon landing module component. The report notes that this total funding amount is only half of one percent of the Federal budget. View full size NASA The CFR article then points out two major benefits of the Artemis program: the launching of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and spinoffs. Regarding STEM, the article states: The space race of the 1960s and 1970s captured the American publics imagination like few other endeavors. A 2009 study in the journal Nature found that the Apollo program had inspired half of the scientists surveyed, and almost 90 percent believed that manned space exploration inspired younger generations to study science. Some evidence supports this. According to the National Science Foundation, the percentage of graduates holding bachelors degrees in science and engineering fields peaked in the late 1960s, around the time of the Moon landing, but then declined slowly for several decades before recent administrations began to reemphasize the importance of funding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Left: cc/Ed g2s; right: pixabay Regarding the issue of spinoffs, the CFR report states: Since 1976, technologies originally developed for space exploration have led to more than two thousand spinoffs when they were transferred to the private sector. Some are obvious, such as communications satellites, but other transfers are less well known. Many medical advances are derived from space technologies, such as refinements in artificial hearts, improved mammograms, and laser eye surgery. Space exploration drove the development of new materials and industrial techniques, including thermoelectric coolers for microchips; high temperature lubricants; and a means for mass producing carbon nanotubes, a material with significant engineering potential. Household products such as memory-foam mattresses, Bluetooth headphones, programmable ovens, vacuums, and ski apparel all trace their origins to NASA. Most importantly, the report states: Space can also inspire international cooperation. In 1963, during what would be his final speech before the United Nations, President Kennedy asked, Why should the United States and the Soviet Union, in preparing for such expeditions, become involved in immense duplications of research, construction, and expenditure?. In May 2020, NASA announced the framework for the Artemis Accords, a series of bilateral agreements with other space agencies that want to participate in the Artemis program, based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. CFRs David P. Fidler praised the accords, writing that they embrace rules and principles developed through multilateralism rather than a scofflaw version of American unilateralism. It is noted that the Artemis Accords pledge to use space for peaceful purposes only. Despite the emphasis on peaceful cooperation, there are some doubts about this from the Russians. According to an article from October 19, 2020 in Universe Today, titled NASA and Seven Countries Sign the Artemis Accords for the Exploration of the Moon. Russia Declined to Participate: Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russias space program Roscosmos, called the Accords too U.S.-centric while speaking at a forum sponsored by the International Astronautical Congress [in October 2020]. The most important thing here would be to base this program on the principles of international cooperation that weve all used regarding the ISS, Rogozin said. If we could get back to considering making these principles as the foundation of the program, then Roscosmos could also consider its participation. So far, the Artemis Accords have been signed by the following nations: Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, The United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. CSISArtemis and the Wolf Amendment Regarding the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a CSIS project called Defense 360 issued a report on December 11, 2020 titled, Bad Idea: Halting or Reversing Trump-Era NASA Programs in a New Administration, by Makena Young, a research associate with the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS. The report reviews Trumps Space Policy Directive-1, which began the Artemis program, and concludes by stating, With international momentum building, it would be foolish to decrease commitment of funding to this program integral to the future of space exploration. Another CSIS report titled, Bad Idea: The Wolf Amendment (Limiting Collaboration with China in Space), dated December 4, 2019, is also written by Makena Young. The Wolf Amendment, introduced in Congress by Representative Frank Wolf in 2011, was added as an amendment to the annual CJS (Commerce, Justice, and Science) appropriations bill. As summarized in the CSIS report: The Wolf Amendment says that no government funding for NASA, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), or the National Space Council can be used to collaborate with, host, or coordinate bilaterally with China or Chinese-owned companies without certification from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI must certify that there is no risk of information sharing and that none of the Chinese officials involved have been determined by the United States to have direct involvement with violations of human rights. This Amendment has been added to the CJS appropriations bill each year since 2011. View full size CAS The CSIS report argues that this restriction on collaboration with China has been detrimental to the U.S. space effort: Being left out of U.S.-led international missions has not deterred China in space, but instead has pushed China to develop parallel capabilities on its own. Without a way to contribute to the International Space Station (ISS), China began development and testing its own modular space station. China launched the Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 space laboratories in 2011 and 2016, respectively, as testbeds for a permanent space station. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced that the permanent Chinese Space Station (CSS) should be fully operational by the year 2022. With the ISS slated for retirement in 2024, other countries that want a long-term human presence in low Earth orbit may be lured into partnering with China on the CSS. Closing China off from these projects could be a strategic mistake. The Biden Administration Several of Bidens science advisors on his transition team have advised him to engage in collaboration with China in space science. The Washington journal Politico published on December 20 an article titled Biden Space Advisors Urge Cooperation with China. The article states: The debate gained more urgency recently after China became just the third nation to retrieve samples from the moon, the latest in a series of major achievements for its ambitious space program. Trying to exclude them I think is a failing strategy, Pam Melroy, a former astronaut who is serving on Bidens NASA transition team and is among those being considered to lead the space agency, told POLITICO before the election. Its very important that we engage. One of the top priorities for the Biden administration should be modifying the Wolf amendment to allow for limited space engagement with China in areas such as scientific research and robotic space exploration, according to a recommendation by the nonprofit Secure World Foundation. The Space Force A related issue that undercuts international cooperation in space was the creation in 2019 of the Space Force as the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Space Force was initially made part of the Air Force, but the law that created it specifies that after one year it is given its own representative on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, similar to the Marine Corps, which is part of the Department of the Navy. Initially the Space Force will be consolidating space missions from the other departments, particularly those involving information gathering and transferring. It is hoped that as the Artemis program develops, alongside parallel programs of non-participating nations, that a spirit of cooperation and collaboration will develop, mirroring the 1975 outer space handshake between American Brigadier General Thomas Stafford and Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. The Chinese have repeatedly asked the U.S. to join in their Belt and Road program of worldwide infrastructure development, but so far, the U.S. has not agreed to do so. A peace based on cooperation in economic and scientific development, a peace that benefits all parties, is a stable peace. A peace based on military force is inherently unstable, and increasingly dangerous as weapons of mass destruction proliferate. Bidens space advisors are urging cooperation. He would be wise to follow their advice. Beijing, Jan 28 : China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with Asad Qaiser, Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, via video link. Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Wednesday said the two sides should take this opportunity to carry out higher-level, broader and deeper cooperation, reports Xinhua news agency. The countries should strengthen high-level exchanges, promote anti-epidemic cooperation, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Li said. The two sides should jointly build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and turn the corridor into a demonstration project for high-quality development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), he added. Pakistan and China should also deepen multilateral coordination, jointly maintain the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguard multilateralism and the basic norms of international relations, uphold fairness and justice to promote regional peace and prosperity, he said. Li stressed that the NPC is willing to continue to strengthen friendly exchanges with Pakistan's National Assembly to promote the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state as well as bilateral cooperation agreements. Thanking the Chinese people for their selfless assistance to Pakistan in fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, Qaiser said Islamabad stands firmly with Beijing on issues of core interests. The National Assembly of Pakistan is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the NPC to provide a sound legal environment for the joint construction of the BRI and the CPEC to actively contribute to the development of bilateral relations and enhance the friendship between the two peoples, Qaiser added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Two top officials of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan. In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Batan confirmed MRT-3 General Manager Rodolfo Garcia and MRT-3 Director for operations Michael Capati have contracted the virus, but he refused to disclose more details regarding their current condition. "Iyong additional details, we would like to withhold comment na rin para sa privacy and respect sa lahat ng ating COVID-19 patients sa MRT-3," Batan said. [Translation: For additional details, we would like to withhold comment for the privacy and respect of all COVID-19 patients from the MRT-3.] Earlier reports said Transportation chief Arthur Tugade also confirmed that Garcia tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently in the intensive care unit. On Wednesday, the Transportation Department announced 36 personnel of the MRT-3 depot tested positive for COVID-19. The management has implemented an "enhanced access control" since last week, meaning workers shifted to a work-from-home arrangement and only essential workers with negative swab test result will be allowed to be physically present. Business insurance broker Keystone Insurance has been fined and reprimanded by the Central Bank of Ireland for breaches including overcharging customers between 2012 and 2017. Keystone Insurance Limited was fined 41,385 by the Central Bank of Ireland for breaches of the Consumer Protection Code 2012 resulting in overcharging customers and providing unclear communication on fees to customers Keystone has admitted to all six breaches and the overcharged customers have been repaid, the Central Bank said. Read More The overcharging was discovered as a result of a Central Bank inspection. The investigation found that Keystone failed to have adequate systems and controls to allow it to correctly apply fees in accordance with its terms of business, and communicate clearly on fees to its customers in order for them to make informed financial decisions. Over a five-year period, 62 customers were identified as having been overcharged, and 190 customers received unclear communications. The Central Bank determined the appropriate fine to be 59,121, which was reduced by 30pc to 41,385 in accordance with a settlement discount scheme. The purchase of everyday financial products by consumers can be a complex and daunting process, said the Central Banks director of enforcement and anti-money laundering, Seana Cunningham. "Many consumers rely on professionals, in this case an insurance intermediary, to assist them. Insurance intermediaries are required to recommend the most suitable product(s) to meet their customers needs and to always act in their best interests. Virgin Hyperloop. Months after its first passenger testing in which Tanay Manjrekar was the first Indian to ride hyperloop Virgin Hyperloop on January 28 unveiled its vision for the future hyperloop experience. The company released a concept video that takes the viewer step-by-step through a hyperloop journey, from arriving at the portal to boarding the pod. Virgin Hyperloop conducts first successful human passenger test This comes after NITI Aayog formed a panel to explore the viability of the Virgin Hyperloop technology in India. Two major hyperloop projects are planned in India the Mumbai-Pune route and the MoU with the Bangalore International Airport to connect Bangalore City. "Showing the passenger experience of Virgin Hyperloop is a glimpse of the future, following the success three months ago when people rode in a hyperloop pod for the first time," Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop and Group Chairman and CEO of DP World Sultan Bin Sulayem said. "We have demonstrated the maturity of our technology. We are getting closer to commercialization of what will be the first new mass-scale transportation mode in a century," he added. Designing a new mode of transportation from scratch is both an opportunity and a responsibility, said Sara Luchian, Virgin Hyperloops Director of Passenger Experience and one of the first people to ride the hyperloop in November. Hyperloop technology and what it enables is paradigm-shifting. It follows that the passenger experience should be nothing short of extraordinary, she added. Virgin Hyperloops Managing Director of Middle East and India Harj Dhaliwal said they were committed to bringing this vision to life in Maharashtra and beyond and were working closely with their partners, investors, and governments to do that. The new-concept video showcases the designs that are indicative of what global hyperloop systems would look like, including for operations in India. For bringing the concept into reality, Virgin Hyperloop worked with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) for the portal designs, Teague for the pod designs, SeeThree for the video and animation, and Man Made Music for the score and sonic identity. "Virgin Hyperloop can accelerate the future of mobility on land. The new mode of travel at supersonic speed rethinks transportation and the perception of space, landscape, time, and distance," said BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Founder and Creative Director Bjarke Ingels. Virgin Hyperloop claims accessibility will be a key pillar in passenger experience, ensuring that this new form of transportation will expand opportunities for the masses. Though ticket prices will vary depending on the exact route, a study says hyperloop fares would be more akin to the cost of driving, rather than flying. Despite the fact that each vehicle carries only about 28 passengers, Virgin Hyperloop claims that its hyperloop system would be able to transport thousands of passengers per hour. The firm is aiming to achieve safety certification by 2025, with commercial operations such as those depicted in this video beginning in 2030. Here's the concept video: The company is working on the Mumbai-Pune hyperloop project, which would connect the cities in under 25 minutes with zero direct emissions. It recently announced a partnership with Bangalore International Airports Limited (BIAL) to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed hyperloop corridor from BLR Airport. Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda D Pittman (pictured) on Thursday recommended that the fencing erected around the Capitol after the January 6 MAGA riots should be left up permanently The acting Capitol Police Chief has recommended that the fencing erected around the Capitol after the January 6 MAGA riots should be left up permanently. Acting Chief Yogananda D Pittman made the recommendation in a statement on Thursday regarding her department's efforts to 'harden' security around the Capitol to prevent another insurrection in the future. Pittman, who was promoted to lead the force after former chief Steven Sund stepped down in the wake of the riots, also voiced support for permanently keeping 'ready, back up forces in close proximity to the Capitol'. Following the insurrection, more than 25,000 National Guard troops were drafted in from all 50 states and a Baghdad-style 'Green Zone' perimeter was set up in the heart of DC to prevent a repeat attack on Inauguration Day. While the day passed without significant issue, army officials have confirmed more than 5,000 National Guard troops will remain in Washington DC through mid-March amid concerns that the threat of domestic violent extremism will linger for some time. Pittman's statement came two days after she apologized to Congress on behalf of her department for stunning security failures on January 6 and acknowledged that the agency had been forewarned of a 'strong potential for violence' but failed to take adequate steps to prevent it. Meanwhile Democratic lawmakers are pushing for additional funds for security under an effort led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. National Guardsmen are seen outside the Capitol on Tuesday. Earlier this week army officials confirmed more than 5,000 troops will remain in Washington DC through mid-March Pittman's statement came two days after she apologized to Congress on behalf of her department for stunning security failures on January 6 and acknowledged that the agency had been forewarned of a 'strong potential for violence' but failed to take adequate steps to stop it Pittman's Thursday statement read: 'In the days following January 6, 2021, with the assistance of our Federal and local law enforcement partners, and our Congressional stakeholders, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) has hardened the physical security across the Capitol Complex in order to further protect the Congress. 'Upon becoming the Acting Chief on January 8, 2021, I immediately directed my staff to conduct a physical security assessment of the entire Capitol Complex. This assessment is in addition to the USCP's Inspector General's review of the events of January 6, 2021, and the third-party review of the Complex's physical infrastructure, processes, and command and control being conducted at the behest of Speaker Pelosi by retired Lt Gen Russel Honore. 'I welcome each of these reviews, and am ensuring that the Department will provide all of the information that is necessary to facilitate these studies. In the end, we all have the same goal - to prevent what occurred on January 6 from ever happening again. 'As I noted earlier this week, even before September 11, 2001, security experts argued that more needed to be done to protect the U.S. Capitol. In fact, a 2006 security assessment specifically recommended the installation of a permanent perimeter fence around the Capitol. 'In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol. 'I look forward to working with Congress on identifying the security improvements necessary to ensure the safety and security of the Congress and the U.S. Capitol.' DC Mayor Muriel Bowser chimed in soon after, writing on Twitter: 'Based on conversations with federal partners, there are some potentially volatile events upcoming that will require extra security. Fencing and the presence of troops will be a part of that.' However, Bowser added: 'But we will not accept extra troops or permanent fencing as a long-term fixture in DC. 'When the time is right, the fencing around the White House and U.S. Capitol, just like the plywood we've seen on our businesses for too long, will be taken down.' DC Mayor Muriel Bowser chimed in on the security discussions soon after Pittman released her statement Around the time Bowser released her statement, authorities announced that they had arrested a 71-year-old Trump supporter who was found parked near the Capitol with a gun, 20 rounds of ammunition, a list of lawmakers and 'Stop the Steal' paperwork. Dennis Westover, of West Virginia, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon, according to a police report obtained by the Daily Beast. Westover was described by the outlet as being obsessed with unfounded theories that the 2020 election was fraudulent. He pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of unregistered ammunition and unlawful possession of a firearm in DC Superior Court on Thursday afternoon and was released. Authorities have not said which lawmakers were on Westover's alleged list, but the incident underscored arguments by Pittman and Democrats that Capitol security needs to be amped up. The statement released by Pittman on Thursday is shown in full above National Guard members outside Capitol Hill on Tuesday as more than 5,000 stay behind to defend DC A massive nonscalable fence was erected outside the White House following the MAGA riots Pittman's statement on Thursday marked the second time this week that she has emphasized the need for increased security around the White House. On Tuesday she testified before the House Appropriations Committee and acknowledged failures by her agency when a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to block the certification of Joe Biden's election victory. 'On January 6th, in the face of a terrorist attack by tens of thousands of insurrectionists determined to stop the certification of Electoral College votes, the Department failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours,' Pittman told the committee, which oversees funding for USCP, in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com. 'Although the Department fulfilled its mission of protecting Members and democracy ultimately prevailed, the insurrectionists' actions and the Department's inability to immediately secure the U.S. Capitol emboldened the insurrectionists and horrified millions of Americans.' 'Let me be clear: the Department should have been more prepared for this attack,' she continued. 'By January 4th, the Department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020. 'We knew that militia groups and white supremacists organizations would be attending. We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. We knew that there was a strong potential for violence and that Congress was the target. 'The Department prepared in order to meet these challenges, but we did not do enough.' Pittman's extraordinary admissions came nearly three weeks after a mob of Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to block the certification of Joe Biden's election victory The statement offered the most detailed account yet of the USCP's preparations for the insurrection, which led to the deaths of five people, including one of its officers. Pittman confirmed for the first time that the Capitol Police Board had denied a January 4 request from Sund to declare a state of emergency and authorize the deployment of National Guard troops for support. Once the violence began to unfold, the Board delayed sending in troops for an hour after receiving a second request from Sund. Describing the few preparations that were made beforehand, Pittman said the USCP required all available officers to be on call, activated its SWAT team and increased the number of Civil Disturbance Units scheduled to work that day. But she said the more than 1,200 officers stationed at the Capitol were 'no match for the tens of thousands of insurrectionist (many armed) attacking the Capitol and refusing to comply with lawful orders'. Two out of three members of the elusive Capitol Police Board - House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C Stenger - have already resigned. The third member, Architect of the Capitol J Brett Blanton, is still on the board. She said she personally ordered a lockdown of all Capitol entrances when the 'mob' edged closer to the building, but said her order 'may not have been consistently followed'. Pittman said many officers are now suffering from PTSD, 'particularly after the loss of two of our officers directly and indirectly as a result of the events of January 6th' Three police deaths linked to Capitol riots The deaths of three police officers have been linked to the January 6 MAGA riots. The first was that of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was allegedly bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher during the insurrection and died from his injuries two days later. Fellow Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood died by apparent suicide four days after the riots. And Jeffrey Smith, a 12-year veteran of DC's Metropolitan Police, died on January 15, nine days after the violent insurrection, the department's chief revealed on Wednesday. In a court filing on Monday, the Department of Justice revealed that 81 USCP officers were assaulted during the chaos, along with 58 members of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. And at least 38 Capitol cops have tested positive for COVID-19 in the nearly three weeks since, though it is unclear how many of them were on duty during the assault. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith Advertisement Pittman acknowledged the monumental challenges her agency faced during the chaos, noting that some resources had to be diverted away from the Capitol with the discoveries of a vehicle filled with explosives and a pipe bomb at the Republican National Convention headquarters and a vehicle. 'In my experience, I do not believe there was any preparations that would have allowed for an open campus in which lawful protesters could exercise their first amendment right to free speech and at the same time prevented the attack on Capitol grounds that day,' she said. But she added: 'I do believe certain challenges the Department faced the day of the attack could have been overcome with additional preparation.' She said that officers were not adequately supplied with crowd control munitions and there were issues with communication because they couldn't hear their radios over the commotion. Pittman said many officers are now suffering from PTSD, 'particularly after the loss of two of our officers directly and indirectly as a result of the events of January 6th'. Officer Brian Sicknick was killed during the insurrection when he was allegedly hit over the head by a fire extinguisher. Officer Howard Liebengood died by apparent suicide four days later. In a court filing on Monday, the Department of Justice revealed that 81 USCP officers were assaulted during the chaos, along with 58 members of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. And at least 38 Capitol cops have tested positive for COVID-19 in the nearly three weeks since, though it is unclear how many of them were on duty during the assault. Pittman concluded her statement by saying: 'As the Acting Chief, I take responsibility for the mistakes that were made by the Department, and I pledge to this Committee, the Congress, the American people, and my USCP colleagues, that we will do better going forward, but we need to make changes. 'We know the eyes of the country and the world are upon us. The U.S. Capitol Police remain steadfast in addressing the new challenges that we face head on.' Acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy P Blodgett also addressed the appropriations committee on Tuesday and echoed Pittman's assertions, saying it's 'clear there was a failure of preparation'. 'Whether it was insufficient or conflicting intelligence, lacking ability to translate that intelligence into action, insufficient preparation or an inadequate ability to mobilize partner agencies for immediate assistance, a series of events, once thought unfathomable, unfolded allowing our most sacred halls to be breached,' Blodgett said. Like Pittman, Blodgett said his entire team is committed to fixing what went wrong to prevent future attacks. Disturbing footage from the riots has shown dozens of officers being crushed by crowds, dragged down steps, and struck with projectiles as the MAGA mob overwhelmed law enforcement to breach the legislature nearly three weeks ago. One officer, Daniel Hodges, was filmed screaming for help as he was being crushed against a metal door frame, with blood pouring from his mouth. He has since recovered and returned to duty. More than 150 of the thousands-strong crowd have since been arrested, with more suspects still being sought by federal authorities. At least 31 officers in law enforcement agencies across 12 states are also currently being investigated over their suspect role in the riots. Nancy Pelosi calls armed Republican members of Congress 'the enemy within' and accuses them of threatening Democrats as lawmakers demand more cash for security Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives on Thursday as lawmakers asked for additional funds for security amid increasing threats to their safety. 'We will probably need a supplemental for more security for members when the enemy is within the House of Representatives,' she conceded at her press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday. Asked to specific who she meant by the enemy within, Pelosi forcefully responded: 'It means that we have members of Congress who want to bring guns onto the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress.' She was referencing GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who, before she was a member of Congress, liked Facebook posts that expressed support for executing top Democrats, including Pelosi. The speaker also was referring to several Republican lawmakers who want to carry guns in the Capitol. Republican Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland is being investigated for trying to bring a gun onto the House floor last week. Lawmakers are allowed to carry guns in their offices and on the Capitol grounds but they are forbidden from bringing firearms into the House chamber. Pelosi set up metal detectors to keep members from bringing weapons - violators face a $5,000 fine. Republicans have objected to the new security measures and have argued they have a right to bear arms. But other lawmakers are concerned about colleagues being armed. It's not just Harris. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has been adamant about wanting to carry her gun in the Capitol and GOP Congressman Madison Cawthorn claimed he was armed on the day of the MAGA riot. Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives Several members of Congress wrote to Pelosi and other House leaders on Thursday, asking for the flexibility and funds to hire armed guards and upgrade security measures in their districts as they are terrified of threats against them. 'Reflecting the tense and troubling times we live in, Members of Congress have reported receiving a significant uptick in threats of violence and even death,' states the letter, a copy of which was obtained by DailyMail.com. The lawmakers ask for greater flexibility to use their taxpayer-funded office expenses for security measures at their homes - which would presumably include items such as bullet proof glass and alarms - in addition for personal guards for the lawmakers when they are in their districts. They also want their addresses kept a secret. Pelosi expressed sympathy to the lawmakers concerned about their safety but noted: 'Most of the items on their list have already been done. Perhaps they were not aware and I take responsibility for them not being aware.' She also pledged to look into additional funding, saying 'they shouldn't have to have that money is there for them to meet the needs of their constituents.' She noted the House Sergeant at Arms would send a letter to members on Thursday outlining security options and that she would meet with retired General Russel Honore later in the day. Pelosi tasked Honore with reviewing Capitol Hill security procedures in the wake of the riot. 'He is looking at members here and members at home and in between,' she said, adding they want to 'have a scientific approach to help protect members.' The two-page letter from the concerned lawmakers argues that the internet makes information about lawmakers' lives much more accessible, including home addresses, photos, personal details about lawmakers' families, and real-time information on lawmaker attendance at events - which puts them at greater risk. It asks for more funding to their Member Representational Allowance - the taxpayer money lawmakers receive to run their offices - and for greater flexibility on how that money can be spent on security matters, specifically when they are home. They point out they have protection at the Capitol but not when they are back in their districts - which is where they spend the majority of their time. 'While the U.S. Capitol is protected by the United States Capitol Police with the support of strong security measures, including vehicle barriers and metal detectors, most Members spend the majority of their time in their Congressional Districts where security is often sparse,' the lawmakers note. Specifically they ask for: 1) Greater flexibility for the use of MRA funds for security purposes, especially in Members' Districts. These steps could include allowing MRA funds to directly reimburse additional capital security upgrades at District Offices; the hiring of local law enforcement or other security while Members are in their Districts; and the purchase of security items that would protect members in soft target locations, including their homes. 2) Concerted efforts to keep Members 'personal information, such as their home addresses, private and off of publicly accessible websites and databases; Members should have legal recourse available if their personal address is published without permission. 3) Regular, bipartisan security briefings for Members on the actions that U.S. Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms are taking to keep Members, their families, and staff safe at the Capitol and in their Districts. 4) Conduct a full outside, independent review with recommendations of security protocols for Members both at the Capitol and in their Districts; provide more specific guidelines on the best security practices Members should take to ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and staff members. 5) Provide designated supplemental funds to this year's MRA to address additional security needs, given the increased threat level. 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. (Natural News) A large crowd of violent Antifa rioters gathered in Tacoma on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 24 to launch a demonstration against the Tacoma Police Department. This was supposedly in response to an incident the previous night when a police officer was left with no other choice but to drive through a crowd that had threatened his life. On the evening of Jan. 23, several police officers responded to an illegal street racing event that was blocking an intersection at around 6:19 p.m. One officers vehicle was surrounded and threatened by the rowdy crowd. The officer, fearing for his safety, tried to back up, but was unable to do so because of the crowd, stated the department in an incident report. The officer had his lights and sirens activated. While trying to extricate himself from an unsafe position, the officer drove forward, striking one individual and may have impacted others. The officer stopped at a point of safety and called for medical aid. Footage of the incident has been widely shared on social media showing the police officers vehicle knocking multiple people to the ground. At least two people were hospitalized, but doctors say their injuries are not life-threatening. The incident is being investigated by the Pierce County Force Investigation Team. The team is made up of a mix of law enforcement officials recruited from different agencies around the country and non-law enforcement individuals acting as representatives of the community. Though the department believes the use of force was justified, it has still placed the officer responsible, a 58-year-old man who has been with the Tacoma police for the past 29 years, on paid administrative leave. In a statement released early Sunday, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said that the previous nights incident is being taken very seriously and that she has tasked both the police chief and the city manager to ensure that everyone involved is held accountable. She has also called for Tacoma residents to respond to the incident in a peaceful manner. For those who woke up this morning feeling outrage, frustration, grief, heartbreak or confusion, I understand and honor your feelings. I, too, am deeply saddened by what we saw last night. I continue to be proud of Tacomas long-standing reputation as a place of strong, non-violent advocacy and activism, she added. I continue to support your right to use your voice to advocate and demonstrate peacefully during this time of heightened tension. While Woodards was calling for calm after an emotionally charged incident, Antifa agitators have instead responded by capitalizing on it. At least 200 people gathered to march through downtown Tacoma on Sunday night. (Related: The left-wing hate media and Democrats created a MONSTER, and now the radicalized, terroristic Left is turning against Bidens governmental regime.) Antifa carved path of violence through downtown Tacoma The Antifa crowd began gathering at Frost Park in downtown Tacoma at around 7 p.m., near the area where the police officers vehicle hit the people in the previous nights illegal street race. Multiple demonstrators held signs such as Defund TPD and Justice for Manuel Ellis. Ellis was a person who died while in the custody of the Tacoma police last year. We want to see the officer actually fired and charged, said one lifelong Tacoma resident who held one of the Defund TPD signs. Paid vacation isnt a punishment. At least one person was spotted carrying an Antifa flag, and another person was seen carrying a rifle. A large portion of the demonstrators wore all-black clothing, distinguishing them as part of the black bloc, or members of Antifa who engage and start fights with police officers and counter-protestors. The crowd began marching around downtown by 8:15 p.m. As they marched, they could be heard chanting multiple slogans, including No cops, no prisons, total abolition. This is a common chant for Antifa, which opposes the American criminal justice system. Immediately after they began marching, the crowd began getting rowdy and riled up. Some in the crowd were witnessed breaking windows and spray-painting graffiti on the sides of buildings. As soon as the crowd passed by the Pierce County Jail, they started banging on the fence and rousing the correctional facilitys inmates by shouting at them. At one point they began chanting slogans like Free them all and Whose lives matter? Black lives matter. By 9:30 p.m., the crowd at the jail was pushed back after Tacoma police officers on bicycles formed a line to block them. This was one of the first few instances when the police interacted with the mob, preferring to instead observe them from a distance and document their criminal activities. Other incidents of criminal activity include three people armed with a handgun and knives breaking into a secure building on Commerce Street. Two of the individuals were arrested on the spot, while the third was able to escape. According to Tacoma police, the riot ended just before midnight, when the crowds dispersed of their own accord and the roadways were finally cleared. There are no known injuries in relation to the demonstration, reported the police department. Learn more about the ongoing Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots and demonstrations in Washington, Oregon and other parts of the country by reading the latest articles at Rioting.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com SeattleTimes.com Page Content The City's bonds JOHANNESBURG has, since 2004, successfully launched four municipal bonds.With the executive mayor, Amos Masondo, hailing the launch in April 2004 as an historic moment, the first bond received an overwhelming, positive response. The bonds, all listed on the Bond Exchange of South Africa, are: COJ 01 - A R1-billion, unsecured bond maturing in six years. Launched in 2004, it won the coveted Bond of the Year Award from Besa in that year. COJ 02 - A R1-billion, partially guaranteed bond maturing after 12 years. It is partially secured by the International Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. It was issued in June 2004. COJ 03 - A R700-million, unsecured bond maturing after eight years of issue. It was the first to be issued as part of the City's Domestic Medium Term Note programme. It was issued in April 2005. COJ 04 - A R1,2-billion, unsecured bond maturing in 12 years from issue and the second to be issued as part of the Domestic Medium Term Note programme. It was issued in May 2006. COJ 05 - A R1,8-billion, unsecured bond maturing in 15 years from issue; June 2023. The bond was tapped December 2008 for R468-million. COJ 06 - A R90-million, unsecured bond maturing in December 2015. The Domestic Medium Term Note programme allows the City to issue up to R6-billion in municipal bonds up to 2010, without having to provide additional documentation ahead of each new issue. Municipal bonds are debt obligations issued by government entities to members of the public to generate income to meet capital expenditure. The issuer of the bond guarantees to pay interest (coupons) at set periods and to repay the principal debt on a specified date. The interest paid on the bond in tax deductible. Issuing bonds is standard practice for cities in the developed world. Johannesburg is rated by two multinational credit agencies. Improved credit ratings help reduce debt servicing costs as a percentage of overall expenditure. Joburg uses most of the funds raised by the bond issues to finance its capital expenditure backlog. The City's capital expenditure backlog is estimated at R8-billion. Find out more about the City's bonds: Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The traditional owners of the land set to be inundated by raising the walls of the Warragamba Dam have launched a federal bid for the protection of the area with Environment Minister Sussan Ley. The application, made by Gundungurra elder Sharyn Halls, claims the controversial NSW government plan to raise the dam walls by up to 17 metres to cut flood risks to downstream communities will erase landscape features recorded in the Burragorang Valleys creation story, as well as intersecting songlines. Traditional owners Sharyn Halls (right) and Kazan Brown stand beside Lake Burragorang. Credit:Wolter Peeters The area contains the landscape features from the story of the chase of Gurangatch by Mirrigan, which explains how the landforms were made. The $1 billion project, which has lost the support of Australias biggest insurer, IAG, because of the loss of cultural sites, would destroy Gundungurra culture and the spirit of the people, but also all other Aboriginal people in the region that are interconnected to this story, and how it relates to the creation of their own Countries, the application says. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. London: A bitter row which threatens to disrupt vaccine shipments to Australia has morphed into a post-Brexit stand-off, with European Union officials demanding immediate delivery of tens of millions of doses manufactured in Britain. The salvo was a new escalation in a dispute between the EU and vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca triggered by revelations the pharmaceutical giants were unable to supply the bloc with as many vials as first agreed. Under growing pressure to explain the sluggish vaccine rollout in the EUs 27 member countries, officials insisted on Wednesday they were contractually entitled to vials produced at factories in Britain to make up for a shortfall on the Continent. EU officials also brushed aside arguments from AstraZeneca that the United Kingdom was only getting a reliable supply because it signed deals three months earlier than the EU. India carried out the fifth highest number of COVID-19 vaccinations by inoculating 2.03 million people till January 26, the said as the number of beneficiaries who received the shots across the countrycrossed28 lakh till Thursday 7 pm. Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that India was the fastest country to reach 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations in six days, while the US took 10 days, Spain 12, Israel 14, the UK 18, Italy 19, Germany 20 and UAE 27 days. "As per'Our World in Data' till January 26, India, which launched its nationwide vaccination drive on January 16, had carried out the fifth highest number of vaccinations in the world by vaccinating 2.03 million people. The important point is many other countries are showing their progress for over 50 days while India is showing its vaccination on January 26 after just 11 days," Bhushan said. Till January 26, the US had administered 23.54 million doses, the UK 7.64 million doses, UAE 2.76 million doses, Germany 1.99 million doses, Italy 1.58 million dose, Spain 1.36 million doses and France 1.14 million doses. Bhushan highlighted that Lakshadweep (83.4 pc), Odisha (50.7 pc), Haryana (50 pc), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (48.3 pc), Rajasthan (46.8 pc), Tripura (45.6 pc), Mizoram (40.5 pc), Telangana (40.3 pc), Andhra Pradesh (38.1 pc), Karnataka (35.6 pc) and Madhya Pradesh (35.5 pc) are among the better performing states with over 35 per cent vaccination coverage of healthcare workers, he said. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu (15.7 pc), Delhi (15.7 pc), Jharkhand (14.7 pc), Uttarakhand (17.1 pc), Chhattisgarh (20.6 pc) and Maharashtra (20.7 pc) have less than 21 pc vaccination coverage and need to improve, he said. Thirteen states and UTs have each vaccinated more than 1 lakh beneficiaries (accounting for 83.31 per cent of the total), the said in a statement. A total of28,47,608healthcare workers were vaccinated through52,667sessions till Thursday7 pm in the country, as per the provisional report, the ministry said. "4,91,615 beneficiaries were vaccinated through9,994sessions till7 pm on Thursday. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight," the ministry said. "293 AEFIshave been reported till 7 pm on day 13of the vaccination drive," it said. On January 16, 3,374 sessions were organised which increased to 9,994 sessions being held on January 28. On January 16, little over two lakh beneficiaries were vaccinated, but on Thursday, the number of beneficiaries has crossed 28 lakh, Bhushan said. India's cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate is 5.51 pc and is declining, and the active cases are less then 1.75 lakh after seven months and are declining, Bhushan stated. Two states, Kerala and Maharashtra, account for 67 per cent of total active COVID-19 cases in the country, he said. Over the growing number of cases in Lakshadweep, Bhushan said till three weeks ago the UT was free from COVID-19. The one positive case came from Kochi in a ship and it spread to the close contacts of this person. Bhushan said 23 close contacts were identified by the local administration, they were tested and 14 were found positive. "The original patient and the 14 persons who tested positive have all been physically isolated and ithas not spread further. So there is no cause for worry," he underlined. Responding to a question on how vaccine wastage is being dealt with across the country, the health secretary said the ministry has issued detailed guidelines to states and Union territories to ensure that there is no wastage and for that purpose, vaccinators at the session sites have been allowed to add additional beneficiaries, apart from the 100 scheduled for the day, in case some do not turn up. "When the vaccination programme was rolled out, 10 per cent wastage was factored in. We have issued detailed guidelines to states and Union territories on how to avoid wastage of vaccines. We have made our digital platform more flexible and have permitted that apart from the scheduled 100 beneficiaries, the person handling the vaccination session at a particular site can add additional people as long as they are part of the database. This is being done to ensure that there is lesser wastage of vaccines. "Going ahead, we would also be sharing the data of vaccine wastage as we analyse it," he said. The total number of beneficiaries who were vaccinated till Thursday 7 pm since the drive was rolled out include1,70,910 in Andhra Pradesh, 1,06,824in Bihar,1,06,393in Kerala, 2,84,979in Karnataka,1,67,838in Madhya Pradesh,88,467in Tamil Nadu,48,008in Delhi,1,54,234in Gujarat and1,84,596in West Bengal, according to the provisional report. (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.) Company will receive $1.6 Million to develop a qPCR probe manufacturing platform to enable the fast detection of highly pathogenic viruses and bacteria DNA Script, a leading pioneer in enabling DNA synthesis on demand, today announced a partnership with the French Defence Innovation Agency, in liaison with the French Armament General Directorate (DGA), to develop a prototype for rapid mobile manufacturing of DNA primers and probes, key components of detection and diagnostic tests for pathogens. The joint project will employ DNA Script's novel enzymatic synthesis platform to quickly generate high-fidelity nucleic acids. The prototypes to be developed by DNA Script will be evaluated by the DGA. As part of the agreement, DNA Script will receive $1.6 million in funding. In an emerging biothreat, like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, conventional sources of supply for key reagents (qPCR primers and probes in particular) become a limiting factor. Therefore, it is essential to enable an on-demand, agile source for custom reagent manufacturing. The DGA identified DNA Script's SYNTAX platform, a benchtop instrument that synthesizes high-quality, custom nucleic acids in hours, a key capability that enables scientists to iterate faster in response to emerging biothreats, as a potential solution. The underlying core technology, enzymatic DNA synthesis, mimics the enzymatic process used by nature, thus avoiding the use of harsh organic solvents or the need to avoid the presence of air or water as required by conventional chemical approaches commercially available today. DNA Script will adapt its SYNTAX platform to enable the synthesis of the DNA reagents such as Taqman probes, required in PCR-based molecular biology diagnostics. SYNTAX is the world's first instrument to use an enzymatic process for nucleic acid synthesis. "We are thrilled to collaborate with the French Ministry for Armed Forces on this important initiative to rapidly detect, characterize and mitigate threats from newly emerging or engineered pathogens," said Thomas Ybert, Chief Executive Officer of DNA Script. "We believe that the speed, efficiency and ease of use of our SYNTAX nucleic acid printer and underlying enzymatic synthesis technology will be critical in addressing future pandemics." About DNA Script Founded in 2014 in Paris, DNA Script is a disruptive DNA synthesis company engineering biology to accelerate breakthroughs in life science. The company is pioneering an alternative to traditional DNA synthesis called enzymatic DNA synthesis, or EDS, making this technology accessible to labs with the world's first benchtop enzymatic synthesis instrument, SYNTAX. By putting DNA synthesis back in the lab, DNA Script is transforming life science research through innovative technology that gives researchers unprecedented autonomy. www.dnascript.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127005926/en/ Contacts: Press in the US Seismic Eric Schubert 415-939-4366 eric@teamseismic.com Press in Europe ALIZE RP Caroline Carmagnol +33 6 64 18 99 59 caroline@alizerp.com DNA Script publicrelations@dnascript.co The Tennessee Department of Human Services awarded Erlanger Health System with a 2Gen grant to fund the formation of a new community health program, Nurse-Family Partnership, to help first-time, low-income mothers in the Chattanooga region.Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based, community health program that serves women and teens who meet specific income requirements and who are expecting their first children. Each mother is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives regular home visits until the child reaches two years of age (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all NFP visits are virtual for the time being).During these visits, an NFP nurse can help an expectant mother learn more about personal and environmental health (both during pregnancy and after delivery), infant and toddler health and development and parenting skills.This program is a very exciting venture for Erlanger Womens Services, said Elizabeth Morton, Erlanger NFP program coordinator. We want women in our communities to feel knowledgeable and confident while preparing for, delivering and caring for a first child. It can be a very intimidating time, especially if you dont have very many resources available to you, and we can now help ease that burden for many families in our region.NFP was founded in 1977 and the model of the program, which was developed by David Olds, Ph.D., is committed to investing in motherhood. According to NFP, the program is scientifically proven to awaken the caretaker within mothers, strengthen families and break intergenerational cycles of poverty.As we in healthcare know, the partnership between a nurse, a mother or family and a child is a great combination, especially for a new mother said Erlanger Womens Services Director Traci Josephson. With this program, that partnership can go beyond the hospital and delivery room. Offering nursing services to mothers within their homes, whether in person or virtually, along every step of the journey is a great front door to a lifetime of care for both mother and baby. Were very thankful to have been given the opportunity to form this program.To be eligible, the participant/family must be at or below the 200 percent poverty level and the participant may enroll during early pregnancy up to 28 weeks. Women can refer themselves or receive a referral from their obstetrics provider. To make a referral, please call 423-680-8911 or 423-218-6101.The Nurse-Family Partnership is funded by a 2Gen grant contract with the state of Tennessee. TDHS launched the 2Gen grant program in 2014 as part of its nationally recognized two generation approach to addressing the needs of both parents and children simultaneously. Since then, TDHS has awarded grants to fund programs of more than 60 organizations and educational entities across the state. Government has commended various stakeholders including the media and the general public for the varied roles they played in commemorating the final funeral rites of late President Jerry John Rawlings. Speaking at the Ministers press briefing in Accra on Thursday, January 28, 2021, Information Minister Designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said government is pleased with the public compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols during the event as well as the media's cooperation, a show of excellence and professionalism in covering the final funeral rites. He said: the government of Ghana wishes to thank the Ghanaian public for its cooperation during the activities commemorating the final funeral rites of former President Jerry John Rawlings. In particular, we note the public's compliance with the COVID-19 preventive etiquettes and the public's heed to the call to as much as possible to follow the event virtually which resulted in the avoidance of large crowds at the event. Government also commends the media for their cooperation, professionalism and in-depth coverage of the activities. No doubt, their extensive coverage and analysis contributed to the public's ability to comply and follow everything that happened he added. It will be recalled that the former President died on Thursday, November 12, 2021, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital In Accra. This followed the announcement of series of events to commemorate his final funeral rites and burial service from 24th to 26th January 2021. Before that, concerns were rife as to the admission of large crowds to observe the funeral rites given the recent surge in active COVID-19 cases in the country. This the Minister appealed to Ghanaians to watch the event virtually on TV and social media platforms. However, the Minister took the opportunity to admonish Ghanaians to continue to adhere to the safety protocols such as intermittent washing of hands with soap and under running water and the wearing of nose masks. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Korea should strike balance between US, China President Moon Jae-in's phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Tuesday, has raised more worries than hopes. It came at a delicate time when new U.S. President Joe Biden is seeking to strengthen America's alliances with other countries, including South Korea, to counter the rise of China. The positive aspect of the call is that Xi gave his support for Moon's efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Xi also underlined the importance of diplomacy in resolving the North Korea nuclear issue during their 40-minute talks, according to Cheong Wa Dae. A presidential source quoted Xi as telling Moon, "Realizing denuclearization is in line with the common interests of Korea and China." Xi also said that he supports inter-Korean dialogue and talks between the U.S. and North Korea. For its part, South Korea wants China, the sole ally of the North, to play an active role in prodding Pyongyang to move toward denuclearization and peace. Maintaining better relations with China is crucial for South Korea to defend its national interests. The country is heavily dependent on its largest trading partner for its economic growth. Yet the flip side is that closer Seoul-Beijing ties might undercut the traditional alliance between Seoul and Washington. The presidential office said that the Moon-Xi phone talks were part of their New Year greetings to each other. It declined to reveal who initiated the call. However, some pundits argued that the conversation was part of Xi's efforts to lure South Korea to the Chinese side before Moon has a phone conversation with Biden who was inaugurated as the 46th president of the U.S. on Jan. 20. Considering the mounting rivalry between Washington and Beijing, the Moon administration should be more careful to strike a diplomatic balance between the G2 countries. Moon needs to pay heed to claims by some critics that the call has more to do with China's strategic competition with the U.S. rather than bilateral issues. As Moon and Xi pointed out, the two countries have more to cooperate with each other on such issues as the fight against COVID-19, South Korea's hosting of a trilateral summit with Japan, and the Chinese leader's visit to Seoul at an early date. They can also speed up the discussion of a bilateral free trade agreement and the launch of the South Korea-China Year of Cultural Exchanges in 2022 to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. Xi's call was made a day after he participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he warned against a "new Cold War" that will only push the world into division. His warning was interpreted as a thinly-veiled attack on Biden's move to create global alliances to stem China's growing influence. Unfortunately, the Sino-U.S. rivalry is expected to become intensified under the Biden administration. Biden is certain to inherit his predecessor's Into-Pacific strategy to check a more assertive China. South Korea's dilemma lies here, as the country could someday be forced to choose between the U.S. and China. For this reason, the Moon administration should go all-out to avoid being caught in the crossfire. South Korea has so far employed "strategic ambiguity" to avoid getting involved in the superpower rivalry. But this will not work anymore if a new Cold War confrontation stirs between Washington and Beijing, leaving Seoul to walk a diplomatic tightrope. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has addressed a message on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress. The message runs as follows: From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, We extend Our Blessings to the officers and soldiers of our Armed Forces, and all our people, on the occasion of Armed Forces Day. Over the centuries, the Armenian soldier has shown great courage and devotion in all our struggles, heroically defending the Homeland and its native people. In the wars for the defense of Artsakh; the brave commanders and soldiers of the Armenian Army; including the intrepid sons of the national minorities; fought heroically for the Homeland with the same courageous spirit, and many of them gave their lives for their love towards the Homeland and nation. This year we celebrate the Armed Forces Day with the pain of the tragic consequences of the war in our souls. Ahead of the new challenges; we believe, that the Armenian nation around the world must forge new successes and achievements with the spirit of our past victories, restore the prosperous and productive life in Artsakh and Armenia; for the virtuous memory of our sons who died in honour of the Fatherland. With prayers to Almighty God We ask to protect our beloved sons - the defenders of the Fatherland under His care; and grant them secure service. May the Heavenly Lord shed His Blessings and mercy to all our people in the Homeland and in the Diaspora; today and always. Amen. South Korea's imports of Japanese beer plunged nearly 86 percent in 2020 due to a local boycott of goods from the neighboring country, data showed Thursday. Seoul brought in US$5.67 million worth of Japanese beer last year, down 85.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service and the liquor industry. The tumble follows a drop to $39.76 million in 2019 from a peak of $78.30 million a year earlier. South Koreans launched the boycott in protest of Japan's export restrictions of some key industrial materials to South Korea in August in 2019. Tokyo made the move as the top court in South Korea ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor in 2018. Last year, Japan was the ninth-largest exporter of beer to South Korea, down from the No. 2 spot in 2019 and the top status in 2018. The Netherlands clinched the top spot with $40.70 million, followed by the United States with $34.95 million and China with $32.34 million. Industry sources said it will likely be difficult to expect a recovery in imports of Japanese beer for the time being, despite a slight upturn in recent months. South Korea's full-year beer imports sank 19.2 percent on-year to $226.92 million last year due to the plunge in imports of Japanese beer, according to the data. (Yonhap) CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - A Mason City man is facing a felony drug arrest after he allegedly lost methamphetamine in a gas station. Ronald Bakkum, 53, was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on Wednesday relating to drugs being found earlier this month. Bakkum was at a gas station in Clear Lake when he was going to pay for a donut when he began searching for something. The clerk asked what he was looking for and he said a coin. Court documents said Bakkum went to look around on the pavement. The clerk then saw a baggie containing methamphetamine. Bakkum has more than three prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance. The internet is one of the best places to know more about anything business-related. In particular, there are sites dedicated to discussing business or finance-related matters, be it news, editorials, or success stories. Hundreds of business media sites can be found online, but not all of them can be reliable, so you need to look for something that is verified and knows its facts well. If you're considering subscribing to one, here are the top five business websites you can consider. Bloomberg One of the popular business sites you probably know or heard of is Bloomberg. It is a private financial and data company based in New York that offers different financial services such as analytics and trading. They also have a 24-hour news service through radio, television, website, and physical newsletters and magazines. Bloomberg's website has several services you can access upon subscription. One of them is the Bloomberg Businessweek, a weekly magazine that provides news and opinions of the economy's affairs. Other sections you can find on the website are regular news about politics, the international economy, and even the environment. There are also podcasts you can listen to. Another feature of Bloomberg that requires subscription is the Bloomberg Professional Services, also known as the Bloomberg Terminal. With this, you can analyze financial data in real-time and place trades. This feature is for those who want to take a deeper dive into business and trading. Bloomberg has gained several awards in its almost 40 years of inception. Some of the recent awards they got last year were from the Inside Reference Data and Inside Market Data Awards 2020. They received four recognitions: Best Reference Data Provider, Best Market Data Provider, Most Innovative Regulatory Solution, and Contract Win of the Year. The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal, or WSJ, is one of America's long-running newspapers, spanning over 131 years. It is a daily international newspaper with a particular focus on finance. It is also one of the largest newspapers in circulation, with an average of three million for both print and digital as of June 2020. Their website has been going since its launching in 1996. While the WSJ covers daily news, they are also known for their takes on business and finance. They were founded to cover news on different businesses and any related affairs. It still is the case in the present day, as two of the newspaper's sections focus on the market and finance. Regarding their writing style, they write their articles in a way that is informative but easy to understand at the same time. For a hundred years' service, the WSJ has many awards. Their most prestigious awards are Pulitzer Prizes, awards that acknowledge the best people in journalism, literature, and music. The WSJ already has 37 Pulitzer Prizes, the most recent one being from 2019. Entrepreneur Entrepreneur is a magazine based in Irving, California. As the name suggests, it discusses matters about business and news related to said topic. It was founded in 1977, and twenty years later, the company expanded, launching its website in 1966. They make ten issues a year and currently have a circulation of about 510,000. It also has international publications in different countries. The magazine is mostly recommended for readers interested in setting up a business or those who want to be more successful. Besides some business-related news, they also post articles about advice on startups, business ideas, technology, tips in smartly earning and investing your wealth, and stories about successful entrepreneurs. They also have a podcast with affluent guests in business or finance to discuss certain topics. Another thing that's worth noting for this magazine is that they acknowledge several people who made a great feat with their businesses to help inspire aspiring entrepreneurs to succeed in their way. Entrepreneur hosts different kinds of awards that recognize different entrepreneurs in various business fields, such as those for food, tech, gaming, and payment services. Forbes If you were to name a very popular magazine, this would be on your list. Forbes is a magazine based in the United States that features discussion on finance, business, marketing, and anything else related to it. They also feature other news such as technology, politics, and science. Forbes is also known for its rankings and is used as a reference for the different personalities, institutions, establishments, or products that had the opportunity to get a good mention by it. It was founded in 1917, and the website was launched in 1996. There are also overseas publications of the magazine. The Forbes site employs several contributors who can write and publish their content on the site. They have several contributors, some of which were being paid to write for their site. This applies to many of the site's sections, as long as the article meets certain conditions it has to fulfill. However, when it comes to the rankings, it's the staff who does the work. Forbes has several rankings, which are acknowledged by several other mass media companies. The order of ranking, depending on the category, is typically dependent on gathered data. A good example is Forbes 400, or the 400 wealthiest Americans. Currently at the top of that list is Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon. Other popular Forbes rankings include the world's real-time billionaires and America's top colleges. Financial Times The Financial Times is another international daily newspaper that places a business value a bit more than your usual paper. It is based in London, England, and founded 133 years ago in 1888 but is owned by Japanese company Nikkei since 2015 after buying the paper for an estimated worth of $1.32 billion. As of 2019, the Financial Times has over one million subscribed readers for print and digital content. It is known for its pink sheets, and even the website keeps its screen pink in homage to the print paper. The newspaper's content discusses news, both national and international, something you will see in your typical newspaper. It also includes editorials, including opinions on politics and economics. However, the paper's star is mostly news on finance, business, the market, and additional data. The website is accessible, with all the data you need in one section that can be reached with one click. Updates on today's market are easy to spot, as it is right above the paper logo as a small black tab. Some data is also presented, with a button found at the rightmost part, allowing you to see more. The Financial Times also recognizes individuals and franchises on the market by hosting awards ceremonies. One of the recent awarding ceremonies they held was FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards, which collaborated with the International Finance Corporation. You can watch the ceremony here. Takeaway There are many ways to learn more about business and how to begin and develop your own. With the internet being accessible to almost everyone, the knowledge you need to succeed is just a fingertip's reach away. With more than 2.5 million health workers vaccinated so far, 11 states have given the first jab to over 35 per cent of its healthcare workforce and another six have achieved about 20 per cent or less vaccine coverage, health ministry data showed. India is the fastest in the world to reach one million vaccinations within the first six days US took 10 days and Germany 20. While Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh have administered the first dose to almost 21 per cent of healthcare workers, states including Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand have managed less than 16 per cent coverage. ... Even after the pandemic ends, many small and midsize businesses that were forced to send their employees home to work may choose not to bring some or all them back. Unfortunately, the ongoing transformation of American office life has presented a golden opportunity for cyber criminals. Hackers have taken advantage of businesses that weren't able to provide laptops for their workers or offer them tools to secure their home networks. As a result, last year saw an unprecedented wave of ransomware attacks, malware, and high-profile corporate data breaches. Small businesses were already especially vulnerable prior to the pandemic: Roughly two-thirds of companies with fewer than 1,000 employees have experienced a cyberattack, according to a 2018 report by the Ponemon Institute. "The shift to telework has been a really long time coming. In some ways, it's really great to see how really quickly the global corporate community has been able to adapt to the changing requirements. But the bad guys adapted too," said Rick Passero, Solutions Architect at cybersecurity firm IPM. Passero was speaking Wednesday at a virtual event on IT modernization hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where cybersecurity experts shared their insights from working with small businesses. Luckily, companies can take steps to protect their remote workforces from nefarious actors. Here are a few helpful insights from the event. 1. Start with a risk assessment and identify your weaknesses. Many companies still neglect to perform a simple cybersecurity risk assessment. As a small-business owner, it's crucial to figure out what data you need to protect, how you're doing it, and what you can do now to address vulnerabilities. Risk assessments should also be prescriptive. In the event that something goes wrong, what is the company's next step? Kiersten Todt, managing director of the Cyber Readiness Institute, said that many small businesses outsource responsibilities to third-party vendors. But you must also take additional steps on your own and be proactive, she warned: "When it comes to ransomware, it's making sure that you've got the backups on a separate network, that you are prepared for those things that could take you down, that keeps you alive." Risk assessments don't have to be expensive, Todt noted. Many cybersecurity vendors now offer them to companies for free. 2. Concentrate on endpoint security. Leaving the office also means giving up the secure corporate infrastructure that houses all of its proprietary data and functions. Employees who use the same device for personal and work-related purposes are potentially opening up your company to all manner of new risks. Passero said that going into 2021, there will be a big focus on endpoint security--that is, security related to the devices themselves--as well as on worker education. Todt noted that while issuing new devices to employees for work is the most preferable route, not all small businesses have the budget to do so. You should be prepared to walk employees through any security protocol you expect them to take. 3. Take a zero-risk approach to cybersecurity. Does every employee in your organization need access to customer data or other highly sensitive, proprietary information? Probably not. Passero suggested taking a zero-risk approach to securing your network, which requires being selective about the levels of access you grant to staff. "Don't configure your network to trust someone just because they gained access," Passero said at Wednesday's event. By default, all users inside and outside an organization's enterprise network should not be trusted. Users should be authenticated and authorized at every level. Before granting access to the most secure information, companies should evaluate the safety of the employee's device. Limit permissions to one specific service or server, rather than giving every employee access to the entire network. 4. Make sure your firmware is up-to-date. When was the last time you updated your router's security firmware? The biggest vulnerability in your organization may end up being an employee whose home router is inadequate. A report from the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication found that 90 percent of routers were made by manufacturers that failed to update the firmware with the latest patches and fixes. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. While uncertainty surrounding the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the Watches and Wonders Geneva Exhibitor Committee to rethink the format of the Salon, scheduled April 7-13, 2021, the need remains for a large-scale event that brings watchmakings professionals and principal stakeholders together in a single location, both to ensure business continuity and to connect brands, retailers and international media. In the face of an uncertain health situation, Watches and Wonders shows its agility and is initiating a powerful momentum that will take place both online and offline. This gets under way April 7-13 when Watches and Wonders Geneva hosts 38 brands on the new watchesandwonders.com platform. Next, in China, where a few days later, some 15 brands are exhibiting at the second edition of Watches and Wonders Shanghai inside the West Bund Art Center. Watches and Wonders Geneva, welcoming the great names in watchmaking All the brands that confirmed their presence at the physical Salon, including Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Hermes, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor and Ulysse Nardin, will be joined by new arrivals, among which are Bulgari, Carl F. Bucherer, Hublot, Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer and Zenith. This will be the first time that so many of the most prestigious names in watchmaking have united around this initiative: namely a vast but exclusive online event for retail and media professionals, as well as brands VIP customers who are invited to preview the new releases for 2021. Watches & Wonders 2021 To facilitate interaction and enable visitors from around the world to enjoy the full Watches and Wonders experience, the watchesandwonders.com platform successfully introduced in April 2020 launches with additional features. More interactive, more functional and focused on services and exchange, this upgraded version is designed to favour synergies, communication and networking. Visitors become actors, not just onlookers, in a robust program that includes multiple opportunities to directly interact with the brands through live chats and streams. On the agenda: product launches and major partnership announcements by the brands, online press calls, a live Morning Show bringing daily analysis of whats new at the Salon, plus panels and talks led by key industry figures and influential personalities. Curated by the participating brands and by specialists at the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, the organizer of the Salon, this wealth of content will run throughout the full seven days in a celebration of the creativity and expertise of watchmaking excellence. Watches & Wonders 2021 Watches and Wonders Shanghai, the physical fair returns Carrying on the momentum from the Watches and Wonders Geneva digital Salon will be an exclusive event, held in Shanghai. Coming after the successful inaugural edition of Watches and Wonders Shanghai in September 2020, and observing full health and safety measures, the West Bund Art Center will welcome some 15 brands for its second edition, including new arrivals such as Chopard, Rolex, Tudor and Ulysse Nardin. The event will be open by invitation only to media, retailers and watch enthusiasts who will be first to see, in the metal, the new releases unveiled just days before on the watchesandwonders.com platform. They can look forward to a rich and varied program that emphasizes the art and culture of watchmaking. Workbench demonstrations, talks and discussions, interactive experiences and decoding of the latest technological innovations from the exhibiting brands inside the LAB will surround visitors with the wonders of watchmaking excellence. This unique date in the calendar further anchors Watches and Wonders in the dynamic Chinese market and confirms its position as a must-see event for the watch community in Asia. Depending on how the COVID-19 situation evolves, more Watches and Wonders physical events may be added, to provide professionals and enthusiasts with an opportunity to discover the new releases for 2021 along with a hands-on experience. For 2022, the leading names in the watch industry are looking forward to gathering, in person, at the next Watches and Wonders Geneva, which will be the biggest watch Salon ever held in Geneva. This already highly anticipated event will take place in spring 2022 at Palexpo. BRANDS ON THE WATCHESANDWONDERS.COM DIGITAL PLATFORM PARTICIPATING BRANDS | A. LANGE & SOHNE | ARNOLD & SON | BAUME & MERCIER | BVLGARI | CARL F. BUCHERER | CARTIER | CHANEL | CHOPARD | CHRONOSWISS | CORUM | FERDINAND BERTHOUD | GREUBEL FORSEY | H. MOSER & CIE. | HERMES | HUBLOT | IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN | JAEGER-LECOULTRE | LOUIS MOINET | LOUIS VUITTON | MAURICE LACROIX | MONTBLANC | NOMOS GLASHUTTE | ORIS | PANERAI | PATEK PHILIPPE | PIAGET | PURNELL | REBELLION TIMEPIECES | RESSENCE | ROGER DUBUIS | ROLEX | SPEAKE-MARIN | TAG HEUER | TRILOBE | TUDOR | ULYSSE NARDIN | VACHERON CONSTANTIN | ZENITH BRANDS EXHIBITING AT WATCHES AND WONDERS SHANGHAI EXHIBITING BRANDS | A. LANGE & SOHNE | BAUME & MERCIER | CARTIER | CHOPARD | IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN | JAEGER-LECOULTRE | MONTBLANC | PANERAI | PIAGET | ROGER DUBUIS | ROLEX | TUDOR | ULYSSE NARDIN | VACHERON CONSTANTIN 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. Dramatic footage shows the moment a truck narrowly avoided crashing into a food van before tipping over on a country road. The white vehicle appears to take a bend too fast, forcing another driver to swerve off the road to get out of its path. The incident was caught on a driver's dashcam in Lyon County, Nevada, 60 miles east of Carson City. Dramatic footage shows the moment a truck narrowly avoided crashing into a food van before tipping over on a country road in Lyon County, Nevada, 60 miles east of Carson City. In the video, taken last Thursday, a driver is seen following a van delivering supplies to a food bank down a country lane. Ahead in the distance, a truck carrying karaoke equipment travelling in the opposite direction is seen pulling towards a sharp bend in the road. But as it tries to make the turn, the vehicle appears to be going too fast, and the driver loses controls as it lifts up onto its left wheels. With only a second's notice, the food van swerves out of the road, clipping itself on the back of the truck as flips over and slams into the road. A motorist records the moment a truck carrying karaoke equipment travelling in the opposite direction pulls around a sharp bend in the road and loses control Other drivers rush to the truck and help two men, who appear to be unharmed, out of the cabin. The motorist following the van said: 'The truck took the turn too fast, turning right from Aiazzi Lane onto Miller Lane in Lyon Country Nevada. 'The truck driver said to me he was going about 25-30 mph taking the turn and was carrying karaoke equipment. 'No injuries and the food bank van was barely clipped on the back rear quarter and brake light.' Farmers protesting at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur have been reportedly asked to end their protest and vacate the roads. The Ghaziabad administration, which gave the order, plans to clear the road by tonight, as per reports. AP Uttar Pradesh Police personnel conduct a flag march at the Ghazipur border Visuals from the border area pic.twitter.com/NzLqWyFawI ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2021 Ultimatum to farmers Issuing ultimatum to farmers to clear the Ghazipur protest site, Ghaziabad administration on Thursday said it is prepared to vacate the site. A meeting of senior officials of the police, PAC and administration is currently underway near Ghazipur to decide the course of actions. The farmers have been camping at the Delhi-Ghazipur border in protest against the three contentious farm bills. As per India Today report, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government had asked all DMs and SPs to get the farmers' protest sites cleared out. Farmers have been protesting at the Delhi-UP Ghazipur border for more than two months. The Ghazipur border had been sealed since the protest by farmers demanding the repeal of the started on November 26. On Tuesday, the farmers had broken barricades and taken out their tractor rally. ANI R-day rally violence Chaos was unleashed across the city as the farmers deviated from the designated route. Violence broke out in parts of the city as the police tried to stop them using tear gas shells and lathi-charge. A group still made its way to the Red Fort, in what they said was a message to the Central government. Uttar Pradesh has taken a hard line on the farmers protesting against the farm laws since. ANI On Wednesday night, the Baghpat administration got a protest site vacated in the district, but denied using force. "We did not use any force to remove the protesters. The elderly people, including a mentally unsound person, were sent to their homes," said Baghpat Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar Singh. The administration said it had received a request from the National Highways Authority of India, over its pending construction work in the area. Protesters were asked to dismiss smaller protests in Mathura and Fatehpur as well. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 16:02:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A new Chinese medical team has arrived in Uganda on a tour of duty aimed at boosting the country's healthcare. The medical team, the 21st batch since the first group in 1983, consists of seven doctors from various specialist departments, as well as a translator and a chef. "We are focusing on general surgery, acupuncture and massage, respiratory medicine, anesthesiology, otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, urology and gastroenterology," Xie Dazhi, the team leader, told Xinhua in an interview late Wednesday. Xie said the team will share experience with its Ugandan counterparts. Previous teams have had skill transfers with their Ugandan colleagues. The team, which will be based at the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in the capital Kampala, will also assist the country in the battle against COVID-19. "China did a great job in controlling COVID-19 and has gained a lot of experience of treating patients. Before we came here, all our team members have taken seven weeks of training in ward management and care," Xie said. The team will also donate medical equipment, including respirators, oxygenators, oxygen saturation monitors, sputum excretion machines and electrocardiographs, to the hospital. Emmanuel Batiibwe, director of the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, told Xinhua in a separate interview that the medical teams are crucial for promoting cooperation between the two countries' health sectors and specialists. Batiibwe said the relations can be boosted further by bringing in more specialists to work with their Ugandan counterparts. Enditem Credit: CC0 Public Domain Advances in DNA sequencing have uncovered a rare syndrome which is caused by variations in the gene SATB1. The study, co-authored by academics from Oxford Brookes University (UK), University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Radboud University (The Netherlands), University of Oxford (UK), University of Manchester (UK) and led by Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (The Netherlands), discovered three classes of mutations within the gene SATB1, resulting in three variations of a neurodevelopmental disorder with varying symptoms ranging from epilepsy to muscle tone abnormalities. Recognition of disorder will increase understanding and diagnosis An international team of geneticists and clinicians from 12 countries identified 42 patients with mutations in the gene SATB1 who were all displaying a range of similar symptoms, albeit of varying severity. Variations, or mutations, of SATB1 were found to have different effects in the cell. For example, some variations led to increased activity of the protein which causes a more severe type of disorder, while other variations cause loss of function of the gene and lead to less severe difficulties. The SATB1-syndrome is characterised by neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability, muscle tone abnormalities, epilepsy, behavioural problems, facial dysmorphism and dental abnormalities. Dr. Dianne Newbury, Senior Lecturer in Medical Genetics and Genomics at Oxford Brookes University said: "Previously, just one or two cases of patients with SATB1 variations had been described but it was not recognised as a specific syndrome. Patients displaying these characteristics and their families, will have known that they had an undefined neurological condition, but they wouldn't have known any specific detail about the condition, or why they had it. "We hope that the recognition of this new disorder, and the information about the molecular pathways contributing to it, will help the families and individuals affected understand more about the condition and achieve a diagnosis they would not have had previously." Three classes of mutation have different effects in the cell The mutations found in the genome of the patients were found to belong to three different classes. The first mutation class, identified in eight patients, caused a loss of function of the SATB1 gene and halved the production of the encoded protein. This leads to a less severe syndrome characterised by diminished cognitive function, visual problems and facial dysmorphism. The second class contains four mutations, which encode shorter proteins that are less efficient as they are not positioned correctly in the cell. This second mutation shows as an intermediary syndrome, characterised as more severe than the first, but less severe than the third. The third class of variation encompasses the mutations found in the last thirty patients. These modify the encoded protein, making it more active. This altered protein is 'sticky' and binds better to DNA, diminishing the expression of genes it regulates and causing a more severe type of disorder, characterised by severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, a motor speech disorder (dysarthria) and specific facial features. Understanding mutations is key to discovering the origin of genetic diseases Dr. Alexandre Reymond, Director of the Center for Integrative Genomics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland said: "These results demonstrate that each mutation is different and that is essential to understand their mode of action in order to explain the origin of genetic diseases. "We must go beyond sequencing, which is only a first step." The paper, Mutation-specific pathophysiological mechanisms define different neurodevelopmental disorders associated with SATB1 dysfunction, has been published in The American Journal of Human Genetics. Explore further Breakthrough discovery in gene causing severe nerve conditions More information: Joery den Hoed et al, Mutation-specific pathophysiological mechanisms define different neurodevelopmental disorders associated with SATB1 dysfunction, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2021). Journal information: American Journal of Human Genetics Joery den Hoed et al, Mutation-specific pathophysiological mechanisms define different neurodevelopmental disorders associated with SATB1 dysfunction,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.01.007 Provided by Oxford Brookes University 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. Several states showing significant drops in births amid pandemic, new data show Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment New data released by a number of states across the country show significant drops in birth rates, pointing to signs of what could be a broader baby bust amid the pandemic. Last month, a Brookings Institution report reiterated an initial projection that the coronavirus pandemic would result in at least 300,000 fewer births in 2021. Data recently gathered by NBCLX from December 2020, when the first babies conceived during the pandemic would be born, are already showing signs of significant decline. Compared to the same period a year earlier, a number of states that keep track of their births in near-real-time, such as Florida, reflected significant birthrate declines in December 2020. Ohio showed a decline of 7%, the Arizona birth rate fell by 5%, while in Florida, the drop was 8%. This is a bad situation, Philip Cohen, a sociologist and demographer at the University of Maryland, told NBCLX. The declines we're seeing now are pretty substantial. Cohens research also shows declines in Google searches for pregnancy and sex-related topics and predicts the decline will likely last for months due to the economic uncertainty and other factors fueled by the pandemic. People make longterm decisions when they have confidence about the future, and if there's anything that undermines confidence about the future, it's this massive pandemic, the demographer said. In 2019, the U.S. birth rate fell to its lowest level in 35 years and Cohen said that one of the reasons for that is because more women have been working outside the home. One of the reasons we have falling birth rates is because women are deciding to spend less a percentage of their total lives raising children, Cohen said. So they have one or two children instead of three or four children. And they do a lot of other things in their lives which is great for reducing gender inequality. (But) it comes with some challenges. Lyman Stone, a research fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and an adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, who also predicted a pandemic induced decline in births, told the Catholic News Agency that he was not surprised by the data. Lockdowns communicate worry and a negative outlook on society, which motivates pessimism about fertility, Stone told the publication, noting that he does not see any reason to be optimistic about the birth rate. If early data on January births shows a decline above 10-15% for that month, that would be a negative surprise, he said. Alternatively, if births remain far below trend after October 2021, that would also be very worrying, he added. He urged people not to allow the pandemic to dictate when they decide to become parents, however, because, Its always a good idea to have a kid. Page Content Key part of buying or selling property as far as your interaction with the City is concerned is the clearance process. As a property owner, you need to know that before you can sell your property you are legally required to get a Clearance Certificate from the municipality. The seller is responsible for making sure that all rates and services have been paid and that the municipal account is up to date before selling the property. This is also the case if a tenant has leased the property. Sectional Title owners will receive their first rates account, under the new Municipal Property Rates Act, from 1 July 2008. In the past these accounts were sent to the bodies corporate. Like other property owners, sectional title owners will, therefore, need to apply for Clearance Certificates on assessment rates when selling their properties. Once this is done a Clearance Certificate can be issued. This certificate shows that there are no outstanding municipal charges. The Deeds Office will only register the change in ownership once the Clearance Certificate has been received. The City processes up to 5 000 Clearance Certificates in any given month. It takes up to 30 days from the time the City receives your application, for your property to be cleared. Account issues must be resolved and account arrears paid before your request for a Clearance Certificate will be accepted by the City. If you have an account problem, please log a query with Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874. The Clearance Process The appointed conveyancing attorney must apply for a Clearance Certificate from the Citys Clearance Unit by filling in the required clearance application form. propertyThe seller, in turn, has to fill in a cancellation of consumer agreement form to have the water and electricity account finalised, and to apply for the deposit to be refunded. In the case of a tenant leasing the property, a cancellation of consumer agreement form must be completed by the tenant. All arrear amounts for the two years proceding the date of application on the owner and tenant accounts will be included in the clearance figures. Once the Clearance Unit has verified all the information, the conveyancing attorney is informed of the clearance figures. This can take as little as five working days if there are no problems or queries on the account. The clearance figure is the final amount to be paid to settle the account before the City will issue the Clearance Certificate; the certificate indicates that no amount is outstanding on the account and that the account may be closed. If the sellers account have arrears older than 2 years, the City will issue clearance figures as per the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, section 118, which states that amounts owing for the last 2 years have been paid. The arrear debt older than the 2 year period remain due and payable by the seller upon registration, if not paid, legal action might be instituted against the property. The conveyancer arranges for full and final payment of the account, either in cash or with an attorney trust cheque. The Clearance Certificate is issued within 24 hours of payment and is valid for 60 days. If the sale of property is delayed over the 60 days, the conveyancer has to re-apply for a certificate.Download clearance form here Disputes on clearance amounts If you disagree with the clearance amount on your account you must log a query with Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874. Once your query is resolved you can re-submit your application for a Clearance Certificate. Sectional Title property owners Applying for a Clearance Certificate on a Sectional Title property is different from the process for a freehold property. Sectional Title brochure From 1 July 2008, holders of Sectional Title properties will receive individual property rates accounts, and they will, therefore, be expected to apply for a Clearance Certificate individually and not through their body corporate. Developers of Sectional Titles When a Sectional Title scheme is registered at the Deeds Office, a rates account is automatically opened at the City of Johannesburg. To install a new water or sewer connections, go to your nearest Customer Service Centre to fill in an application form. The same should be done for electricity connections. Go to your nearest Customer Service Centre In both instances an official will visit the property before giving a quote on a connection fee. The police has registered 25 FIRs for rioting, robbing, attempt to murder and other criminal offences A farmer waves a flag along with others as they gather at Red Fort during their tractor parade on Republic Day, in New Delhi, Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Farmers have been agitating against new farm laws. (PTI/Arun Sharma) New Delhi: A day after the national capital saw unprecedented violence during the farmers Republic Day tractor rally, Delhi police commissioner S.N. Shrivastava said on Wednesday some farmers leaders were also involved in the violence and that all those involved will not be spared. A Special Investigation Team, including officials from Special Cell, Crime Branch and the district police, has been constituted to investigate the incident. The police has registered 25 First Information Reports (FIRs) for rioting, robbing, attempt to murder and other criminal offences across against several people, including some farmers leaders, and 19 people have been arrested while around 200 other were detained and 50 were questioned. The Delhi police has named 37 farmers leaders, including Medha Patekar and Yogendra Yadav, in an FIR registered at the Samaypur Badli police station in connection with the violence. According to the FIR, the protesters also robbed an official pistol with 10 rounds of ammunition along with two gas guns. The farmers leaders named in FIR include Rakesh Tikait, Medha Patekar, Yogendra Yadav, Darshan Pal, Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Satnam Singh Pannu, Joginder Singh Ugraha, Surjeet Singh Phool, Jagjeet Singh Dalewal, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Harinder Singh Lakhoval, Gurnam Singh Chanduni. The police chief also said by January 25 evening, it became clear that the farmers unions were not keeping their word as they brought forward the aggressive and militant elements who occupied the stage at protest sites and delivered provocative speeches. He said that after five rounds of talks with the farmers union regarding the tractor parade on Republic Day, there was mutual agreement on the parade routes from the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders. The police laid down the conditions, which were agreed by the farmers and the first was a time that was fixed for the tractor rally at all borders from 12 noon to 5 pm. The second condition was that the tractor march will be led by farmers union leaders, and with every jatha their leader should lead the rally and tractors should not exceed more than 5,000 in the rally. The police also put a condition to not bring any kind of weapon. The farmers gave an undertaking and agreed on the route, the police chief added. The farmer protesters from the Singhu border started their rally around 6.30 in the morning, hours before the time allotted, and despite requests from police officials they did not stop and broke the barricades, the CP added. Farmer leader Satnam Singh Pannu, who was with the farmers from the Singhu border, was stopped by the police at Mukarba Chowk after they deviated from the route. Pannu sat on dharna and gave inflammatory speeches, following which the protesters got agitated and broke past the police-installed barricades towards ITO, the police chief said, adding that Darshan Pal Singh, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha leader, also sat on a dharna with others when Mr Pannu delivered the speech. The farmers march from Tikri and Ghazipur also started at around 8.30 am. The farmers from the Tikri border also broke barricades at Nangloi to move ahead towards the Red Fort. They overturned trailers and also vandalised vehicles, said the CP. The farmers leaders were instigating farmers and they were the ones who were refusing to move on the predetermined routes. We have videos showing how the leaders were instigating farmers. From Ghazipur, many from Rakesh Tikaits team broke barriers and marched forward, he said. He also said not a single life was lost as the Delhi police showed extreme restraint. As many as 25 FIRs have been registered so far. Police teams are using the facial recognition system and taking the help of CCTVs and video footage to identify the accused. Strict action will be taken against those identified. No culprit will be spared, said the CP. He said that 394 police personnel were injured while 30 police vehicles were damaged in the violence on Wednesday. Six Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses were also damaged in the violence that broke out at ITO during the farmers tractor parade. The tractor march turned violent as the protesters broke barricades and violated the agreed routes of the rally. The rioters entered Central Delhi and clashed with the police and laid siege to the Red Fort, where they hoisted flags. The capitals ITO area became the main clashing point, where several police personnel and protesters sustained injuries. Boris Johnson tries his hand at one of the tests as he visits the French biotechnology laboratory Valneva in Livingston, Scotland, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Wattie Cheung-WPA Pool/Getty Images) UKs Johnson Urges End to Pointless Calls for Scottish Independence Vote Scottish nationalists should put an end to its pointless constitutional wrangling and stop its endless calls for a second referendum on independence, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday while on a one-day visit to the region. I dont think that the right thing to do is to talk endlessly about another referendum when, I think, what the people of the country want, and I think the people of Scotland want in particular, is for us to fight this pandemic, he said while visiting a factory in Livingston, West Lothian, where CCP virus vaccines are being manufactured. Its great to see everything that Scotland is contributing to the national effort to fight the pandemic, he said. Its quite amazing and I think what people want to see is us bouncing back more strongly together. I dont see the advantage of getting lost in pointless constitutional wrangling when, after all, we had a referendum not so very long ago. In a referendum held in 2014, Scottish voters rejected independence by 55 to 45 percent. Johnson said the independence referendum should be a once-in-a-generation event. But the Brexit vote in 2016 put the union of the United Kingdom under considerable strain. Though the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU by 52 to 48 percent, Scotland voted 62 to 38 to remain. Since the UK formally exited the EUs single market on Jan. 1, many Scottish fishermen have halted exports to EU markets as post-Brexit bureaucracy shattered the system that used to put fresh langoustines and scallops in French shops just over a day after they were harvested. The pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), which runs the semi-autonomous Edinburgh executive, demanded on Jan. 10 that the UK government pay billions of pounds in compensation to Scotland for the mounting costs and disruption of Brexit. The SNP also laid out plans on Jan. 23 for a new referendum if, as expected, it wins Scottish elections in May. Talking to the media on Thursday, Johnson called the Brexit disruption teething problems. Be in no doubt, over the medium term and much more over the long term, the changes are very, very beneficial for Scottish fishing, he said. My focus is on defeating the pandemic, he said, adding that he believes in the power of doing things together. He said we dont actually know what that referendum would set out to achieve and what the point of it would be. I think what people do want is to focus on the issues that really matter, such as jobs, education, fighting crime, and drugs, he said. Reuters contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 05:03:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Protesters set fire to a guard room of security forces in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Jan. 27, 2021. The Lebanese Red Cross announced on Wednesday evening that 74 protesters and nine security forces members were injured in clashes in Tripoli, MTV local TV Channel reported. (Photo by Khaled/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Red Cross announced on Wednesday evening that 74 protesters and nine security forces members were injured in clashes in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, MTV local TV Channel reported. The channel reported that one of the security forces members was seriously injured while 63 protesters were treated on site and 11 others were transferred to nearby hospitals. This is the third consecutive day of protests in Tripoli against the total lockdown imposed by the authorities to curb the COVID-19. Security forces issued a statement saying that protesters insist on breaking into the headquarters of the Tripoli government by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the forces. "We will use all the means allowed by law to disperse demonstrators," it said. The outbreak of the pandemic has exacerbated the economic and financial crisis in Lebanon as the total anti-virus lockdown measures increased poverty in the country. Enditem Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda Summit on Thursday via video conferencing, where he will be speaking on a wide range of subjects, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, India's reform trajectory, technology and will also interact with the CEOs during the event. PM Modi took to Twitter on Wednesday to confirm that he will be addressing the summit. More than 400 top industry leaders from across the globe will attend the session. The ongoing summit was also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping on January 25. READ | PM Modi Likely To Virtually Address World Economic Forum On Jan 28; Xi Jinping To Attend Will be addressing the @wefs #DavosAgenda at 5:30 PM tomorrow, 28th January. Looking forward to speaking on a wide range subjects relating to Indias reform trajectory, increased usage of technology and other issues. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2021 The Davos Dialogues agenda has marked the launch of the World Economic Forums Great Reset Initiative in the post-COVID world. The ongoing online summit has been addressed so far by Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, among other global leaders. WEF's Davos 2020 summit was the last major global event that took place before the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world. READ | Amid Pandemic, Davos Event To Be Held In Singapore Next Year The Forum has scheduled an extraordinary annual meeting in Singapore, that will be held between May 13 and 16 his year. The decision was taken considering the situation after the COVID-19 outbreak in Asia and Europe. In 2022, the Forum is expected to be able to convene again face-to-face in Davos. On January 19, the Founder and executive chairman of WEF Klaus Schwab had said that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to reset priorities and the urgency to reform systems have been growing stronger around the world. "Rebuilding trust and increasing global cooperation are crucial to fostering innovative and bold solutions to stem the pandemic and drive a robust recovery. This unique meeting will be an opportunity for leaders to outline their vision and address the most important issues of our time, such as the need to accelerate job creation and to protect the environment", he had added. READ | 'Strong India Following Netaji's Footsteps, From LOC To LAC': PM Modi The venue of the event changes The WEF summit is an annual event held at the ski resort of Davos in Switzerland, which sees the participation of world leaders, politicians, economists, and business leaders every year. However, the organizers of the Forum in Davos, Switzerland later changed their planned venue, announcing it will take place in Singapore in May, giving a sign that the COVID-19 crisis has played havoc with planning. READ | PM Modi To Interact With Beneficiaries, Vaccinators Of COVID Inoculation Drive In Varanasi (With Agency Inputs) YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan has addressed a message on the occasion of the Army Day, the Parliament told Armenpress. The message says: 29 years ago, at the most difficult period for our newly-independent state, the formation of Armenian Armed Forces has started which became the backbone of our statehood. Today when our state is facing one of the most difficult stages of our history, the formula is again the same to have a combat-ready Armenian Armed Forces. Certainly, we must not spare anything for the reconstruction of the Army, increasing the combat preparedness of the Armed Forces and upgrading the ammunition which must allow to guarantee the security of the citizens of Armenia and the Armenian people. At the same time I want to assure that the social issues of the representatives of our Armed Forces, the military disabled and the families of fallen soldiers are under the states spotlight, and all efforts will be made for solving them. Respectful Generals, officers and soldiers, We are going to have a strong Army because no one can take your bravery and dedication to the Homeland from you. I congratulate you on the 29th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Army. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Wildlife conservationists have again traveled through crocodile infested waters of Lake Baringo in Kenya to rescue an endangered giraffe trapped on the flooding Longicharo island. The daring rescue is the third made by the non-profit Save Giraffes, local community members and other organizations, which vowed to save a total of nine giraffes that became stranded following bouts of intense rainfall. The recent mission brought an endangered Rothschild's giraffe, named Lbarnoti, to the mainland by loading him into a massive barge made of steel and empty drums and then transported him a mile down the river to the Roku Conservancy. As the crew opened the front door of the barge, Lbarnoti quickly took off to find the other two giraffes, Asiwa and Pasaka, which were rescued in December all three have now been reunited. The daring rescue is the third made by the non-profit Save Giraffes, local community members and other organizations, which vowed to save a total of nine giraffes that became stranded following bouts of intense rainfall The remarkable rescue was organized by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) who joined forces with the US-based non-profit Save Giraffes Now and an African non-government organization. Conservationists with KWS, Save Giraffes Now and Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) collaborated with local community members to undertake the monumental task of moving the massive animal to Ruko Community Wildlife Conservancy, a protected wildlife reserve. David O'Connor, president of Save Giraffes Now, said: ' 'It's heartening to have three safely moved, but we won't rest until the other six are safe at Ruko Conservancy, as we.' 'Giraffe are undergoing a silent extinction, and each one matters greatly to the survival of these animals.' Lbarnoti walked voluntarily onto the custom-made steel barge and sat calmly within the confines of the barge, snaking on acaia seed pod treats. Lbarnoti had to leave behind his young calf, Noelle, which was just born in December to mother Nkarikoni The area has been plagued with intense rain, which increased water levels of Lake Baringo that is surrounded by the peninsula. But due to the rising river, the piece of land that connects the island to the mainland is completely submerged. Lbarnoti walked voluntarily onto the custom-made steel barge and sat calmly within the confines of the barge, snaking on acaia seed pod treats. However, Lbarnoti had to leave behind his young calf, Noelle, which was just born in December to mother Nkarikoni - but the team is set to return for the young giraffe. As the crew opened the front door of the barge, Lbarnoti quickly took off to find the other two giraffes, Asiwa and Pasaka, which were rescued in December all three have now been reunited The area has been plagued with intense rain, which increased water levels of Lake Baringo that is surrounded by the peninsula. But due to the rising river, the piece of land that connects the island to the mainland is completely submerged 'We must finish these rescues as quickly as possible,' said Susan Myers, Save Giraffes Now founder and CEO. 'We're thankful Noelle is healthy, but we must keep her safe until she is big enough and we can move her to safety.' These giraffe arrived to the mainland from Longicharo Island, a rocky lava pinnacle studded with acacia trees. Another giraffe named Asiwa was the first to be rescued in December and unlike Lbarnoti, she was not as willing to make the walk onto the barge. The team had to place a covering over her eyes and wrap ropes around her body in order to lead her to the boat They were originally reintroduced to the peninsula in 2011, in hopes the isolated location would provide shelter from poaching and increase the population in their native Western Kenyan range. Another giraffe named Asiwa was the first to be rescued in December and unlike Lbarnoti, she was not as willing to make the walk onto the barge. The team had to place a covering over her eyes and wrap ropes around her body in order to lead her to the boat. However, she remained calm while floating down the river and eventually made it to the sanctuary. The animals are Rothschild's, or Nubian, giraffe, which is a critically endangered subspecies of the Northern giraffe that once roamed the entire western Rift Valley in Kenya and into Uganda. Today, fewer than 3,000 are left in Africa, with only about 800 in Kenya. Mike Parkei, a ranger at Ruko Conservancy, said: 'These giraffe are the heart of our homeland. 'We knew we had to come together and do everything possible to save them.' As the lake water slowly claimed the peninsula, the giraffe were forced onto a shrinking slice of land on which to forage. Conservancy rangers have been taking supplemental food to the island for them, as well as conducting routine health checks. Ruins of two moated cities dating back some 4,000 years have been found in a relics site in central China's Henan Province, local authorities said. Archaeologists discovered two juxtaposed square-shaped cities, each surrounded by a moat, at the Yusi site in the city of Mengzhou. The one located on the east covers an area of about 60,000 square meters while the one on the west measures some 20,000 square meters, according to Zhang Xiaohu with the Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology of Henan. "It is worth noting that the depth of the moats exceeds 12 meters, which is too deep for normal defensive functions, indicating the importance of the two cities at that time," said Liu Haiwang, director of the institute. An excavation drive was launched last April on the Yusi site, which covers an area of 1.5 million square meters and boasts cultural relics of various ancient dynasties. With the discovery of the two cities, Erlitou cultural relics have been found for the first time in northern and western Henan Province, experts noted. Erlitou culture could be traced back 3,500 to 3,800 years in ancient China's late Xia (around 2070 BC-1600 BC) or early Shang (around 1600 BC-1046 BC) dynasties. It was named after the Erlitou relics site in the city of Yanshi, Henan Province. The culture spread widely throughout Henan and Shanxi provinces and later arrived in Shaanxi and Hubei provinces. Frances Savencia Fromage & Dairy has reportedly decided to close one of its factories in Hungary, a move said to affect more than 80 jobs. Multiple reports in Hungary said Paris-listed Savencia is to shut its plant in the western city of Zalaegerszeg. just-food has contacted Savencia on a number of occasions to confirm the news and comment on the reasons for the closure. Savencia insisted the factory has been unprofitable in recent years amid falling demand for Emmental cheese, Hungarian weekly business publication hvg.hu reported. Some 83 staff are to lose their jobs in two stages, first in April and then July, hvg.hu added. Media outlets, including hvg.hu and Hungarian news agency MTI, said Savencia plans to invest in another factory in the country, around 60 miles further east in Veszprem. Savencia has a third manufacurting facility in Hungary, located in the town of Repcelak, 45 miles north of Zalaegerszeg. Savencias Hungarian plants serve markets outside the country, predominantly the Balkan states but also North America. Savencia markets cheese in Hungary under brands including Medve, Milkana and Karavan. In September, Savencia reportedly announced plans to close a factory in central France in 2022, sparking criticism from union officials. The most recently-published sales figures from Savencia cover the first nine months of 2020, during which the company generated sales of EUR3.7bn (US$4.47bn), up 0.1% on the corresponding period in 2019. Savencia said its sales inched up 0.9% on a like-for-like basis and, without providing details, added its international operations did not experience the same growth due to that side of the business seeing a higher chunk of sales coming from foodservice. ISLAMABAD Pakistans Supreme Court ordered on Thursday the release of a Pakistani-British man convicted and later acquitted in the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. The court also dismissed an appeal of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikhs acquittal filed by Pearls family and the Pakistani government. A minister in the Sindh province where Sheikh is being held said the government had exhausted all options to keep him locked up an indication that Sheikh could be free within days. The Supreme Court is the court of last resort, Murtaza Wahab, Sindhs law minister, told The Associated Press. The Pearl family is in complete shock by the majority decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to acquit and release Ahmed Omer Sheikh and the other accused persons who kidnapped and killed Daniel Pearl, the Pearl family said in a statement released by their lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi. The brutality of Pearls killing shocked many in 2002, years before the Islamic State group began releasing videos of their militants beheading journalists. An autopsy report told of the gruesome details of the Wall Street Journal reporters killing and dismemberment. Sheikh was convicted of helping lure Pearl to a meeting in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, during which he was kidnapped. Pearl had been investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard C. Reid, dubbed the shoe bomber after his attempt to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes. Pearls body was discovered in a shallow grave soon after a video of his beheading was delivered to the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. The Pentagon in 2007 released a transcript in which Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, said he had killed Pearl. I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew Daniel Pearl, the transcript quoted Mohammed as saying. Mohammad first disclosed his role while he was held in CIA custody and subjected to waterboarding, sleep deprivation and other forms of torture. He remains in the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay and has never been charged with the journalists death. Sheikh had long denied any involvement in Pearls death, but the Supreme Court on Wednesday heard that he acknowledged writing a letter in 2019 admitting a minor role raising hopes for some that he might remain behind bars. Sheikh has been on death row since his conviction even after his subsequent acquittal and is currently being held in a Karachi jail. A three-judge Supreme Court ruled 2 to 1 to uphold Sheikhs acquittal and ordered him released, according to the Pearl family lawyer. A lawyer for Sheikh said the court also ordered the release of three other Pakistanis who had been sentenced to life in prison for their part in Pearls kidnapping and death. The three Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib all played lesser roles, such a providing a laptop or internet access to send pictures of Pearl, with a gun to his head, with demands that all prisoners at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay prison be released. Yet at the original trial all four were charged with the same crimes. These people should not have been in prison even for one day, Mehmood A. Sheikh, who is not related to his client, said. He warned the Sindh provincial government against delaying their release, as it has done in the past with his client, even after being slapped with a contempt charge. I expect the Sindh government will not make a mockery of justice by continuing ... to not release them for no good reason whatsoever, he said. Washington previously said it would seek Sheikhs extradition to the United States to be tried there, if the acquittal was upheld. Its not clear whether Pakistan would support his extradition or even under what grounds it could go ahead. The case seems certain to test the new Biden administrations skill in dealing with Pakistan, considered a key ally in getting peace in neighboring Afghanistan. The Pearl family urged both the U.S. and Pakistani governments to take action to correct this injustice. Todays decision is a complete travesty of justice and the release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan, the familys statement said. Later Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. was outraged by the Pakistani Supreme Court decision to affirm the acquittals of those responsible for Pearls slaying and underscored the administrations commitment to secure justice for Pearls family. This decision to exonerate and release Sheikh and the other suspects is an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan, she said, calling on the Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options including allowing the United States to prosecute Sheikh for the brutal murder of an American citizen and journalist. Siddiqi, the Pearl family lawyer, said the only legal avenue available now is to ask for a review of the courts decision to uphold Sheikhs acquittal. However, he said the review would be conducted by the same court that made the decision. In practical terms, that means the case is closed in Pakistan, he said. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard Sheikh admit to a minor role in Pearls kidnapping a dramatic turn of events after he had denied any involvement for 18 years. Siddiqi, the Pearl family lawyer, had expected it would advance his case. Still, Siddiqi had previously said winning was an uphill battle. Sheikh and the three other men ordered released Thursday were all acquitted in April by the Sindh High Court on the grounds that the initial prosecutions evidence was insufficient. During the appeal of that acquittal, Siddiqi tried to convince the Supreme Court of Sheikhs guilt on at least one of the three charges he faced, specifically the kidnapping charge, which also carries the death penalty in Pakistan. The court is expected to release a detailed explanation for Thursdays decision in the coming days. Associated Press writers Adil Jawad in Karachi, Pakistan, and Ben Fox, Eric Tucker and Ken Guggenheim in Washington contributed to this report. Michael Debije standing next to part of the Solar Noise Barrier project, which stood in Den Bosch 2015-6. Credit: Eindhoven University of Technology To help commercialize so-called luminescent solar concentrators, TU/e researcher Michael Debije along with experts in Italy and the UK propose specific measurement protocols as a new golden standard. Solar panels convert light to electricity but have limited efficiency, although this can be improved with bright, colorful, light-trapping slabs of luminescent materials called luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Unlike solar panels, LSCs can be favorably integrated into urban settings to create a sustainable, visually appealing environment. Despite being around since the late 1970s, LSCs have struggled to have the same commercial impact as solar panels, partially due to a lack of measurement standards. TU/e researcher Michael Debije is on the case though, and with collaborators from the UK and Italy, has devised a set of LSC measurements whose adoption could ease commercialization of LSCs. We artificially light our homes, we transmit data using light in photonic devices, and we harvest energy from light using solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Our dependency on light is there for all to see. Although solar PV panels are almost omnipresent in society and contribute to the energy transition, there are drawbacks. "The dark color of solar panels is not pleasing to the eye," says Michael Debije, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at TU/e. "They also exhibit reduced performance in shaded areas and under cloudy conditions, are only available in limited shapes and sizes, and can only collect light from one side. And solar PV panels only respond to certain wavelengths of light." Enter luminescent solar concentrators Another light-based technology can address some of the aesthetic and operational limitations by complementing solar PV panels, thus allowing solar PV panels to be used in almost any location. Enter luminescent solar concentrators. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) consist of luminescent materialsluminophorescoated on the surface of a polymer or glass plate. Light is captured by the luminophores at one wavelength, and then re-emitted at a longer wavelength. Unlike PV panels, LSCs are sensitive to diffuse light, visually pleasing, and are not limited to use on rooftops. Critically, LSCs can increase the sensitivity of PV panels to more wavelengths of light. LSCS to the rescue Semiconductor-based solar PV panels are limited by their sensitivity to certain wavelengths of light. When photons with sufficient energy hit the semiconductor materials, they generate electrons. However, if the photons have too much energy, any electrons generated have too much energy to be properly harvested. That's where LSCs come to the rescue. High-energy photons are captured by luminophores, transported through the material via total internal reflection, and then re-emitted at longer wavelengths. PV cells beside the edges of the LSC then absorb the longer wavelength light. "LSCs can't compete straight up with solar panels on electricity output. But they can provide solar panels with more useable light," says Debije. Credit: Eindhoven University of Technology LSCS need an identity Currently, LSCs lack proper identity, and that's not good for the technology. "The field of LSCs has been around for 40 years, but has failed to gain industrial momentum," says Debije. While their functionality is impressive, there is a critical issue with LSCs. Debije: "It's great that LSCs improve the efficiency of PVs, but this has led to a problem with standards. Currently, it's difficult to compare the performance of different LSC devices alone because many researchers evaluate LSCs in the context of PV technologies." An additional problem is that some researchers view LSCs as photonic devices. The lack of consensus has been damaging to their widescale use, an issue that deeply concerns Debije. "Progress has been slowed by the lack of standard reporting methods for LSCs, meaning it has been impossible to compare data collected for the past 40 years. This is problematic." Motivated by the lack of proper protocols to classify LSC technologies, Debije, along with Rachel Evans (University of Cambridge, UK) and Gianmarco Griffini (Politecnico di Milano, Italy), have devised a series of measurements that can be carried out by any laboratory. These measurement approaches are presented in a recent paper in the journal Energy & Environmental Science. "Our aim is to make things easy for the LSC community to compare different LSC designs. Prior to this, standardized measurement approaches were unavailable," notes Debije. In addition to presenting measurement approaches for LSC, Debije and his collaborators propose that moving forward LSCs must be treated as photonic devices. Time is of the essence "If we're going to legitimize LSCs, these measurements should be followed for all LSC devices," says Debije. "This technology could have a huge impact in urban design, energy production, chemical processing, and hydrogen production. There are an increasing number of labs working on LSCs, but there is also an increasing number of detractors who highlight the absence of standardization." Luminescent solar concentrators can move beyond complementing solar PV panels, they must. The protocols devised by Debije, Evans, and Griffini can tilt the balance in favor of rapid and standardized deployment. Nevertheless, LSCs must step out of the shadow of solar PV panels. It's LSCs time to shine, but time is of the essence. Explore further Incorporating solar harvesting into the side of buildings could enhance energy sustainability More information: Michael G. Debije et al. Laboratory protocols for measuring and reporting the performance of luminescent solar concentrators, Energy & Environmental Science (2020). Journal information: Energy & Environmental Science Michael G. Debije et al. Laboratory protocols for measuring and reporting the performance of luminescent solar concentrators,(2020). DOI: 10.1039/D0EE02967J Cardi B has offered $10K in return for information on a man whom she claims pulled a gun on her cousin and robbed him as she said the police are 'not moving fast enough.' The 28-year-old rapper - real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar - took to Instagram on Wednesday night to share an image of the alleged robbery suspect with her over 81million followers. She captioned the image: 'Anybody knows this man from New York? Im looking for himYou tried it BUDDY!!! Im giving TEN THOUSAND for any info on this man!' Fellow rapper T.I. - as well as others - encouraged her to take it down as he commented: 'Take this down sis.' Taking a stand: Cardi B - seen in April 2019 - has offered $10K in return for information on a man whom she claims pulled a gun on her cousin and robbed him as she said the police are 'not moving fast enough' She eventually did take the post down but released a pair of follow-up videos late at night to reveal why she was taking the matter into her own hands. Cardi said: 'So I want to make this clear for the dumb people in the back. 'Theyre not that bright. So OK, the reason why I posted a photo of that man is because I want information on that man because I feel like the cops is not moving fast enough.' She went on to describe her cousin saying that there are good people in the world but he is even a notch above that. Cardi explained: 'But then theres people who are just extremely sweet, extremely nice. So my cousin, hes a Christian and hes a really nice person, so this man was stuck on the highway or something, and this guy flagged my cousin. 'Im giving TEN THOUSAND for any info on this man!': The 28-year-old rapper - real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar - took to Instagram on Wednesday night to share an image of the alleged robbery suspect with her over 81million followers. 'He was like, "I need a ride cause Im stuck" and everything. So my cousin said, "OK, Im gonna drop you at the gas station." When my cousin was giving him a ride, he put a gun on his head, he started putting the gun on his chest and he robbed them and he made them continue driving for like around 30 minutes, just driving him around for no reason.' Obviously frustrated, the Bodak Yellow hitmaker posted a second video as she explained the value of having a social media platform for situation and that all she wants is justice for the alleged incident and made blatantly clear that she didn't want a retaliation. Cardi said: 'My cousin gave the pictures to the cops and everything, but I just feel like theyre taking a long time and everything. Its like f***ing social media, you can find anything and anybody and no, Im going to get the guy beat up and killed and this this and that. 'The reason why I posted a photo of that man is because I want information on that man because I feel like the cops is not moving fast enough': She eventually did take the post down but released a pair of follow-up videos late at night to reveal why she was taking the matter into her own hands 'If my cousin needs the information, Im gonna give him the information so he can give to the boys. Im a million dollar woman with a kid and responsibilities like Im not that f***ing dumb.' She then compared the situation to all of the domestic terrorists at the Capitol earlier this month who have been identified by the FBI through surveillance footage and social media. Cardi said: 'I mean, Yall was doing the same s*** with the Capitol rioters, right? Yall was f***ing putting they information all of that. So, whats wrong? Somebody that almost killed my cousin and hit my cousin with a f***ing gun. 'Yes, Im gonna be upset and Im gonna be hurt, because people take advantage of nice people, really nice people. And I hate that that s*** happened to him. Its like sometimes you cant even be f***ing nice in this world, bro. People just take advantage of nice people.' It seems as if she has already received some tips as she captioned the second video: 'Thanks for the info and if you have any more info please contact me. I wouldnt want this to happen to nobody else.' Action! Despite concern for her family, Cardi's career is reaching new levels as earlier this month, the Grammy-winning artist confirmed she signed on to star as small-time crook forced to go undercover in Paramount Pictures' comedy Assisted Living Exciting times ahead: The Bronx-born musician, real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, revealed the news by retweeting @hosthetics' post, which read: 'WAP = working at Paramount' ''Work & life is about to become 10x harder but I'm overwhelmed with happiness': The media personality shared her delight over her new stint Despite concern for her family, Cardi's career is reaching new levels as earlier this month, the Grammy-winning artist confirmed she signed on to star as small-time crook forced to go undercover in Paramount Pictures' comedy Assisted Living. The Bronx-born musician, real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, revealed the news by retweeting @hosthetics' post, which read: 'WAP = working at Paramount.' Assisted Living marks the media personality's first leading role in a major motion picture promising to be in the same vein as Tootsie, Nuns on the Run, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Sister Act. According to Variety, the Me Gusta rapper's character Amber disguises herself as an elderly woman so she can hide out in her estranged grandmother's nursing home after a heist gone wrong. The former Love and Hip Hop star - who boasts over 144 million social media followers - wrote: 'Work & life is about to become 10x harder but I'm overwhelmed with happiness. When you have opportunities in your hands TAKE THEM ALL!' (sic) This Is Us writer Kay Oyegun - who penned the original script - added: 'My God no be small small. Grateful for the sheer joy this has been. Leggo!' (sic) Lori Van Buren ALBANY - An Oneida County man is accused of making phone threats to Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center this month, federal prosecutors said Thursday. The criminal complaint against Robert Seifert, 62, of Utica alleges that on Jan. 14 he made repeated calls to employees at the VA, and leaving threatening voicemails in which he used demeaning and offensive language that caused the employees to fear for their safety, officials said. The charge filed against Seifert is a class A misdemeanor and he was arraigned Jan. 22 in Albany, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - BELGRAVIA HARTFORD CAPITAL INC. (CSE: BLGV) ("Belgravia" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Deepak Malhotra, Ph.D., as Advisor to the Company. Dr. Deepak Malhotra has over four decades of mining industry experience and is a world-renowned processing expert. He has a Ph.D. in Mineral Economics and MS in Metallurgical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines and is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada. One of Dr. Malhotra's many edited works, "Politics of Mining: What They Don't Teach You in School" is published by SME. Dr. Malhotra is an advisor to leading international Private Equity Funds and Financial Institutions and sits on the Boards of a number of public mining companies including Canagold Resources Ltd. (formerly, Canarc Resource Corp.), Cardero Resource Corp., Gold Play Mining Inc. and Magellan Gold and is the former Board Chairman and founder of Blackrock Gold. Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO, Belgravia Hartford, said, "The experience and wide scope of industry knowledge that Dr. Malhotra brings to Belgravia will be instrumental in order to successfully evaluate and acquire the desired assets for Belgravia Hartford Gold Assets." Core Holding Highlights: Belgravia Hartford three core portfolio holdings: Blackrock Gold Corp 9,300,000 common shares 1,000,000 Warrants priced at $0.30 expiring January 20, 2022 Imperial Mining Group 11,515,153 common shares 1,818,181 Warrants at $0.055 expiring July 23, 2022 4,666,667 Warrants at $0.11 expiring September 10, 2022 Nexus Gold Corp. 9,509,091 common shares 1,895,653 Warrants at $0.18 expiring February 26, 2021 1,500,000 Warrants at $0.15 expiring October 7, 2022 1,863,636 Warrants at $0.075 expiring November 30, 2022 2,890,909 Warrants at $0.075 expiring December 31, 2022 2,360,000 Warrants at $0.07 expiring July 3, 2023 200,000 Warrants at $0.24 expiring September 12, 2023 8,000,000 Warrants at $0.07 expiring January 31, 2025 Azodi further stated, "Belgravia's growth strategy is now a combination of two distinct paths; an investment portfolio with key holdings and direct asset ownership through the recently announced subsidiary, Belgravia Hartford Gold Assets. The objective remains to build both of these platforms. Regular updates on core holdings will be made available." About Belgravia Hartford Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. is a Canadian publically traded investment holding company which invests in public and private companies in legal jurisdictions and under the rule of law. Belgravia and its investments are high risk business ventures and expose shareholders to financial risks. For more information, please visit www.belgraviahartford.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding planned investment activities & related returns, the timing for completion of research and development activities, the potential value of royalties, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, changes in market trends, the completion, results and timing of research undertaken by the Company, risks associated with resource assets, the impact of general economic conditions, commodity prices, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory, environmental, and governmental approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. 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 statements. For More Information, Please Contact: Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. (250) 763-5533 mazodi@blgv.ca To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73091 Armed with banners and placards, AAPSU condemned the nefarious activities of China and slammed the Centre for remaining 'silent' over the issue Itanagar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) on Thursday staged a protest over China reportedly establishing a village in the Upper Subansiri district of the state. The apex students' body of the state along with 16 of its federal units and community-based organisation staged a sit-in at Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, demanding the Centre to"act tough" on the issue. The union, armed with banners and placards, condemned the nefarious activities of China and slammed the Centre for remaining "silent" over the issue. Speaking to reporters, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang blamed the Centre for its "failure in protecting" the state from "foreign incursion". "The AAPSU is ready to fight against the Chinese military if the central government authorises," Bagang said. Bagang urged the MPs from the state to be vocal on such matters, concerning the interest of Arunachal Pradesh and its people. He also appealed to the Central Government for road and telecommunication connectivity in the border areas, besides releasing developmental packages and increasing military deployment in the frontier state. "The symbolic protest is a message to the Centre that the indigenous people of the state reject the repeated claim of China over the state's territory," AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said. The people of the state are frustrated against the lackadaisical attitude of the Centre towards such serious issues, he said. Stating that China's claim over the state's territory is an old issue, Dai blamed the successive central governments led by the Congress and the BJP for not taking the matter seriously. North East Students' Organisation (NESO) coordinator Pritam Bhai Sonam urged the government for collective measures and not to play the blame game when the issue is of national interest. Social Development Specialist, Islamabad, Pakistan Organization: The World Bank Country: Pakistan City: Islamabad, Pakistan Office: World Bank in Islamabad, Pakistan Closing date: Monday, 8 February 2021 Social Development Specialist Job #: req10691 Organization: World Bank Sector: Social Development Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Islamabad,Pakistan Required Language(s): English and Urdu Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 2/8/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. The Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) GP team in Pakistan is responsible for: (i) undertaking social analysis during project preparation and implementation to mainstream social sustainability and inclusion issues throughout the Banks work in Pakistan; (ii) ensuring compliance with the Banks social safeguards policies and the implementation of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF); (iii) undertaking analytics in the form of thematic studies on social development issues; (iv) leading the preparation and supervision of lending operations that promotes inclusion of vulnerable groups including women and youth, and (v) facilitating partnerships and dialogue with civil society through outreach and engagement. A key responsibility of the group is to provide professional expertise and operational support to other GPs to implement the WB safeguards policies and the ESF to deliver sustainable development results that ensure that any adverse impacts of WB interventions are limited and mitigated and to promote opportunities for social inclusion and benefit sharing. The work on inclusion of vulnerable and excluded groups covers, among others, issues related to Gender, LGBTI, Disability, ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and displaced populations. Work on gender is aligned with the implementation of the World Bank Group Gender Strategy (FY 2016-2023) and guidelines on including gender in operations and the "Gender Tag" system. The South Asia SSI Unit (SSAS1) is recruiting a local Social Development Specialist for ESF/social safeguards, based in Islamabad, Pakistan to provide support on in meeting the Banks expanding and complex social safeguards and ESF requirements. S/he will report directly to the SSAS1 Practice Manager, be part of the SSI team in Pakistan, and work closely with the task teams s/he supports. Duties & Responsibilities: As a member of project teams related to preparing and implementing and supervising projects in Pakistan, the specialist will be responsible for providing ESF/social safeguards related input and direction so that projects comply with the World Banks ESF/social safeguard requirements. More specifically, s/he will: Work closely with task teams and other colleagues to identify and address social safeguard and ESF related challenges and issues as well as provide support on corporate commitments on citizen engagement and gender; Support efforts to build capacity among colleagues and counterparts including understanding and significance of Social Impact Assessment, vulnerability and inclusion, stakeholder engagement/ citizen engagement, grievance redress, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, cultural heritage, and other requirements for management of social sustainability and inclusion issues in relation to projects; Support efforts to reach the corporate requirements on gender by reviewing attention to gender in project documents and providing direct support to operational teams. Support efforts towards management of Gender-Based Violence Risks (especially Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) in Bank operations; Provide operational support on social risk management including undertaking regular operational missions to assist task teams to review social safeguard documentation and implementation to ensure that social issues have been adequately addressed and that projects are in compliance with the Social Safeguard Policies or the ESF; Prepare Environmental & Social Review Summaries (ESRS) for new projects and relevant social sections of Project Appraisal Documents and complete necessary administrative activities used by the Bank to track and monitor social safeguard implementation; Where appropriate, promote and contribute substantively to analyses and efforts to strengthen country systems for social risk management; Review and guide the preparation of terms of reference for social assessments and other assessments, and other analytical tools required for investment design and implementation. This will require helping the client to assure the quality of project documentation and supporting analysis and participation in training sessions and other capacity building exercises; Undertake analytical work on land acquisition, resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, vulnerability and inclusion, and other social risk management issues; Engage in the Bank-wide professional community of staff in social sustainability, social standards and safeguards by participating in thematic groups, exchanging best practices, and drafting technical notes. Participate in the broader social sustainability and inclusion work of the team; Perform other ad-hoc duties and support other staff as assigned by the Practice Manager and others in the Unit. Selection Criteria Advanced university degree (Masters) in a relevant social science discipline (e.g., social anthropology, sociology, human geography, political science, social policy, etc.) or other related discipline. A minimum of five years of working experience in social sustainability, social risk management, gender, and social development in the context of international development projects, including specific experience working on the above-mentioned topics in Pakistan. Knowledge and experience in addressing issues covered by social risk management policies (social impact assessments, land acquisition and involuntary resettlement, indigenous people, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, and stakeholder engagement and grievance redress). Experience in reviewing potential social impacts of development projects and promoting social sustainability aspects of operations. Ability to develop innovative approaches to mitigate social risks or overcome difficult challenges across a range of investment projects. Team oriented professionals with proven ability in managing complex tasks as part of multi-disciplinary teams. Ability to operate in a multi-cultural environment, manage multiple tasks, identify and respond to needs as they arise, and remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment. High level of energy, initiative and self-motivation; willingness to travel extensively. Excellent communication skills with demonstrated ability of making effective presentations to diverse audiences. Fluency in English and Urdu is a prerequisite. Excellent communications and writing skills in English are essential. In addition, the successful candidate is expected to exhibit the following core competencies: Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders. Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of the sector. Analytical Tools for Social Sustainability - Proven ability and substantial experience to conceptualize, design and implement major projects and to produce major/complex reports or studies. Participation and Consultation - Substantial experience in conducting social development consultative and participatory approaches and applying the approaches in the course of an operation. Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge. Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the Client. Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables. Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Demonstrated professional ability to work in a team of professionals. Demonstrated ability to actively seek and consider diverse ideas and approaches. Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG and brings differing ideas into the forefront. Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions. Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. ODESSA A day after President Biden signed an executive order placing a moratorium on oil and gas leasing on federal lands, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to Odessa for a roundtable discussion with local oil and gas executives and workers. And a day after President Biden signed that order, the governor signed an executive order of his own, one that directs every state agency to use all the power and tools at their disposal to challenged federal action that threatens the vitality of the energy industry in Texas. That can range from opportunities to comment on proposed regulations to opportunities for litigation, he said. Abbott noted he filed 31 lawsuits as Texas Attorney General before becoming governor against the Obama administration and will use that same tactic to support the industry. One of the main things he heard during the discussion was from those workers on the front lines of oil and gas production who need to know theyll continue to have jobs. Its wrong for this president or anyone else to act like they can end a persons job today and that person will get another job. Thats not how the real world works, Abbott said. Clint Walker, general manager at Cudd Energy Services, which hosted the roundtable discussion, noted that the company had had a rough year due to the pandemic and oil market crash, having to resort to layoffs and furloughs to survive. RELATED: Abbott on Paytons criticisms: Economy was marginally impacted by COVID He said the industrys impact, while well understood throughout the Permian Basin and the state, extends even further. Referring to a large truck sitting behind the participants, he noted that the radiator was made in Houston and the pumps in Fort Worth. But the transmission was manufactured in Indiana and other parts came from Wisconsin and Michigan, among other states. Travis Stice, president and chief executive officer of Diamondback Energy, told the governor that the Permian Basins surging oil and gas production had presented a generational gift of energy independence. But, he said, as we produce those barrels, we try to keep in mind those men and women who actually do the work and honor them for the fact we have energy independence. Abbott said its not just actions from the federal government but from local governments that could threaten that independence. He cited as an example San Franciscos ban of natural gas from new construction. He called for the Texas Legislature to propose and pass legislation prohibiting Texas cities from banning the use of natural gas. Abbott also called for a bill as quickly as possible to provide civil liability protection to any business that opened and operated safely during the pandemic so theyre not in the crosshairs of lawsuits that could put them out of business. The governor also called for an end to what he called double or triple regulations similar regulations at the local, state or federal level, that make it harder for energy companies to operate. He praised the efforts of Midland and Odessa and other cities in the region to work with the Texas Department of Transportation to address road needs in the region. Those infrastructure needs, whether roads or broadband, was top-of-mind for Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. He told the governor meeting those needs was important to maintaining the Permian and the states prosperity. Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, traveled to Odessa from Austin to participate. He said as important is Permian Basin infrastructure needs are, extending that infrastructure from the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast so product can be moved to market is also important. We need a fair eminent domain process that doesnt hinder job creation and growth as pipelines are expanded and built, he said. Staples also cited the need for tax policies that encourage job creation and investment, which is why he wants to see Chapter 313 of the tax code reauthorized to encourage investment in large-scale projects. He supported the governors call for prohibiting a ban on natural gas use, saying natural gas is the reason US air quality is the best its been in a generation. Natural gas is important to national security and the global environment. Abbott concluded the discussion by saying to all the field workers he heard from today and those he hadnt I want them to know the governor has their back. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Three Sinn Fein local representatives attended the latest funeral in Derry, where a tricolour surmounted the remains of Eamon Peggy McCourt Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is demanding that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and border TD Pearse Doherty stop their party members organising crowded funeral processions without social distancing. Mr Varadkar spoke out in the Dail after a Republican funeral in Derry for a former IRA man where a large crowd following the tricolour-decked coffin. He asked Pearse Doherty, a TD for Donegal, to use his influence to put a stop to republican funerals. He added: I know the deputy does not organise them but the attendees are his party's people, members and supporters. He and deputy McDonald have to tell people to stop these funerals. They are a bad idea. Read More The Tanaiste referred to last years Belfast funeral of former IRA commander Bobby Storey which involved a large crowd lining the route. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald later expressed regret at the lack of social distancing at that event, which was criticised by the PSNI. Under pressure at Stormont, Sinn Feins Northern leader, Michelle ONeill, later apologised. Three Sinn Fein local representatives attended the latest funeral in Derry, where a tricolour surmounted the remains of Eamon Peggy McCourt (62), who reportedly died with Covid-19. Sinn Fein spokesman Gerry Kelly, a former Maze escaper, said two or three party councillors had attended. The deceased, a former Provo, was wounded when the SAS opened fire on a car in 1981, killing IRA men George McBrearty and Charles Pop Maguire. The PSNI had said the latest funeral involved a significant number of people and did not accord with lockdown restrictions. Mr Varadkar made his remarks after Padraig MacLochlainn raised an opinion poll, published by the Sunday Times, that demonstrates a majority of the people of the North, are in favour of a referendum on Irish unity within the next five years. Mr Varadkar said he saw the opinion poll, which indicates that a majority of people in Northern Ireland (excluding undecideds) are in favour of holding a border poll. But he added: It also shows that a majority of people in Northern Ireland, excluding the undecided, would vote to stay in the Union. So people are in favour of a border poll for different reasons. Some because they want a united Ireland, and others because they want to demonstrate that the majority of people in Northern Ireland do not want a United Ireland. Unity was a legitimate aspiration aspiration and one that he shared, he said, but the settled position for Ireland was the Good Friday Agreement. It says that a referendum can take place when it appears that a majority of the people in Northern Ireland would vote for a united Ireland, Mr Varadkar said. I think it's fair to say that we're not currently at that point. So what we need to do in the meantime, is to make the Good Friday Agreement work to try and get the Northern Ireland Executive working better and to intensify North-South cooperation. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Composite Master Alloy Market report offers a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future opportunities. This report is responsible for quantitative estimation and foreseen future for upcoming years based on the recent companies strategic moves and historical data. Further, the market report is categorized into different segments, regions, and countries level. This report also provides competitor analysis with its market share and developments. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Composite Master Alloy market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Composite Master Alloy Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-31439 According to this study, over the next five years, the Composite Master Alloy market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Composite Master Alloy business, shared in Chapter 3. This Composite Master Alloy market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Composite Master Alloy market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. AMG Hebei Sitong New Metal Material KBM Affilips Reading Alloys SLM Aleastur Saru Aikoh Minex Metallurgical Bamco Avon Metals Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-31439 This study considers the Composite Master Alloy value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Aluminum Based Master Alloy Copper Based Master Alloy Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Packaging Energy Building and Construction Others In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Composite Master Alloy Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-31439 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Composite Master Alloy consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Composite Master Alloy market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Composite Master Alloy manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Composite Master Alloy with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Composite Master Alloy submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-composite-master-alloy-market-report-2020-by-regions-upcoming-trends-industry-analysis-and-global-demand-till-2025/ 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. Page Content Exhibitions Big four conference centres| Forty top-class venues JOHANNESBURG is the country's top exhibitions venue, landing more than half the number of all exhibitions held in South Africa, and way ahead of rivals CapeTown and Durban. Research shows that of the 1 900 exhibitions held in South Africa every year, 51 percent are held in the Johannesburg area, with Cape Town taking 15 percent of exhibitions, and Durban coming in at 11 percent. In 2003, a strategic alliance was formed between the Johannesburg Tourism Company and the Exhibition Association of Southern Africa (Exsa), with the aim of promoting Johannesburg as a prime destination for national and international exhibitions, conventions and special events. The following list includes exhibitions taking place in various venues around the city and has been arranged chronologically. Chandigarh: Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who has been accused by farm bodies of trying to defame their agitation and termed a "traitor", has hit out at farm leaders for allegedly spreading false propaganda and hatred against him. The 36-year-old Sidhu, who is in the eye of a storm for being among the protesters who put up a religious flag atop the Red Fort on Republic Day, claimed that youth did not agree to follow the route which was decided by farmer leaders and the Delhi Police. Deep Sidhu He claimed people on their own marched towards the Red Fort from all the Delhi borders on January 26 and that not many people took the route as decided by farmer leaders. Slamming the farm leadership for accusing him of being a BJP and RSS man, he said, Will RSS or BJP's man put up the 'Nishan Sahib' and a farmer flag at Red Fort? At least think over it". Sidhu was present at the Red Fort when a religious flag and a farmer flag were put at the flagpole at the historic monument, triggering massive outrage. He sought to dismiss the claims of several farmer leaders who accused him of inciting protesters to head towards the Red Fort during the farmers' tractor parade January 26. Photo I am seeing that false propaganda and hatred is being spread against me, Sidhu said in the latest video uploaded on his Facebook post. Sharing details about what happened on the night of January 25, Sidhu said youth and many people had told farmer leaders that they (farm leaders) had invited them to hold a protest inside Delhi on January 26 and that they had now changed their stand at the last moment. Sidhu said he reached the Red Fort after its gate was broken. Thousands of people had reached there, but there was "no farmer leader" present there, said Sidhu while claiming that nobody indulged in violence or damaged any public property. Tractor rally They put up the 'Nishan Sahib' and a farmer flag at the flagpole to register their protest, said Sidhu adding that many people were carrying 'Nishan Sahib' flags, farmer flags and the tricolour. If you say by doing so I have turned traitor then those who were present there were traitors too, said Sidhu. If you impose all these things on one person and give him a certificate of traitor then I think you should be ashamed of yourself, said Sidhu. Photo Had our farmer leadership and each person taken a stand and said that look, what our farmers had done and if the rights of these farmers are not given, then these farmers can do anything, there would have been a huge pressure on the government, he said. But I was given a traitor certificate by our own men, he rued. Farmer leaders on Wednesday had called Sidhu as a traitor and had given a call for his boycott in the state. They had also dubbed him as an agent of the government. Advertisement Rush-hour traffic congestion in London reached its highest level of the third national lockdown so far this morning with 216 traffic jams totalling nearly 90 miles as Britons continued to travel into work. TomTom data put congestion at 36 per cent at 7am and 37 per cent at 8am today with both the highest levels of the lockdown by far, beating previous highs of 31 and 33 per cent set for the same time periods only yesterday. The congestion level is the extra travel time for drivers on average compared to baseline uncongested conditions - so a 37 per cent level means a 30-minute trip will take 11 minutes more (or 41 minutes in total) than with no traffic. The trend was replicated in other UK cities at 8am including Liverpool (40 per cent), Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield (all 25 per cent) which also recorded their highest level of congestion for at least the past week. Heavy traffic on the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach road in South East London this morning TomTom data put congestion in London at 36 per cent at 7am and 37 per cent at 8am today (as shown on the far right) Cars queue on the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach road towards the London skyscrapers of Canary Wharf this morning Cars and vans queue on the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach road in South East London during today's morning rush hour LIVERPOOL: The city had a congestion level of 30 per cent at 7am and 40 per cent at 8am - both the highest of the past week LEEDS: The West Yorkshire region had 23 per cent congestion at 7am and 25 per cent at 8am, also its highest of the past week SHEFFIELD: The city had its highest congestion of at least the past week, with 20 per cent at 7am and 25 per cent at 8am NEWCASTLE: The city had its highest congestion of at least the past week, with 20 per cent at 7am and 25 per cent at 8am However Birmingham and Manchester only had 8am congestion levels of 21 per cent and 24 per cent respectively, which in both cases were lower than other days in the cities earlier this week. Meanwhile Underground platforms and trains for the Jubilee line in East London were again busy today with photographs at Canning Town showing large numbers of passengers congregating as they waited for trains. TomTom congestion data for London in lockdown 3 7am today: 36% w/c Jan 25 Wed: 31% / Tue: 28% / Mon: 29% w/c Jan 18 Fri: 21% / Thu: 25% / Wed: 28% / Tue: 27% / Mon: 29% w/c Jan 11 -- Fri: 21% / Thu: 29% / Wed: 25% / Tue: 28% / Mon: 25% w/c Jan 4 -- Fri: 19% / Thu: 20% / Wed: 22% / Tue: 22% (third lockdown begins) / Mon: 18% 2019 average 52% 8am today: 37% w/c Jan 25 Wed: 33% / Tue: 30% / Mon: 32% w/c Jan 18 Fri: 23% / Thu: 25% / Wed: 29% / Tue: 28% / Mon: 30% w/c Jan 11 Fri: 22% / Thu: 30% / Wed: 27% / Tue: 29% / Mon: 27% w/c Jan 4 Fri: 20% / Thu: 21% / Wed: 23% / Tue: 23% (third lockdown begins) / Mon: 19% 2019 average 65% Advertisement While most Tube trains are currently almost empty for much of the day, pinch points at some stations have led to overcrowding which last week prompted Transport for London to ask local firms to stagger start times. It comes after Boris Johnson said yesterday that lockdown measures will remain in place until at least March 8, as he earmarked that date to begin the reopening of England's schools. The Prime Minister confirmed that hopes of all pupils returning to class after the February half-term have been abandoned as the battle with coronavirus remained 'perilous'. Government figures showed a further 1,725 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of yesterday, bringing the UK total to 101,887, while there were a further 25,308 lab-confirmed cases. The March reopening target is based on progress in vaccinating the most vulnerable groups in society by mid-February and then giving the jab time to take effect. So far 7,164,387 people have received a first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines - a rise of 311,060 on the previous day's figures - although Mr Johnson acknowledged a 'sense of frustration' about the patchy nature of the rollout. Based on the latest figures, an average of 412,401 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the Government's target of 15 million first doses by February 15. The Government will publish a strategy for the 'gradual and phased' easing of lockdown in the week beginning February 22, with schools expected to be the first to reopen. England's schools are currently closed to all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers. The Government has warned that the emergence of a vaccine-resistant new variant could derail its strategy and Mr Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel set out plans for tougher controls on international travel to reduce the risk of importing mutant strains. Commuters wait to board a Jubilee line train at Canning Town Underground station in East London this morning Passengers wait for the doors to close on a Jubilee line train at Canning Town London Underground station this morning Commuters sit and stand on a Jubilee line train as it travels through East London towards Central London this morning Police officers monitor commuters as a Docklands Light Railway train is seen at Canning Town station in East London today The measures include a ten-day quarantine in hotel for travellers from 30 high-risk countries which are currently subject to travel bans including South Africa, Portugal and many South American nations. UK nationals and residents who cannot be refused entry when returning home 'will be met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine', Mr Johnson said. Similar measures are expected across the UK, although Scotland and Wales have both indicated they could go further than Mr Johnson's plan for England. People wishing to travel abroad will also be required to make a declaration stating why they need to make the journey, which will be checked by carriers prior to departure. The heartbroken family of a four-year-old boy who died after being hit by a garbage truck have paid tribute to their 'little angel boy'. Bronson Williams was riding his bike outside his Launceston home when tragedy struck at about midday on Wednesday. He died at the scene. Four-year-old Bronson Bannister (pictured) was killed when he was hit by a garbage truck while riding his bike on the street The little boy's mother, Belinda Bannister, was at home when the incident unfolded. 'Of all the special gifts of life, however great or small, to have you as our son, was the greatest gift of all,' Ms Bannister wrote in a Facebook tribute. 'A special time, a special face, a special son, we can't replace. With an aching heart, we whisper low, we miss you Bronson and love you.' 'RIP our baby boy love always and never forgotten. We hold you in our hearts till the end.' Family including his mother Belinda Bannister (pictured right) and sister have since paid heartbreaking tributes to the little boy (pictured left) sharing pictures and messages on social media His family has launched an appeal to help pay for the costs of Bronson's funeral. 'We had just taken him to school to get his new clothes he had tried them on just 30 minutes before the horrible accident took place,' Bronson's sister Jaime Denman wrote on Facebook. 'He was so excited to start big school with his brother and sister. Bronson was very smart and had a bubbly personality and was loved very much by his siblings.' Tasmanian Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the state government would help provide counselling to people affected. 'I could not think of a greater tragedy. Our heart goes out to his loved ones,' he told reporters. Tasmania Police Inspector Ruth Orr, who attended the scene, said it was one of the most distressing she had encountered in 25 years on the job. Police are unclear as to how the accident happened but they say there are several witnesses to the crash. Investigations into the circumstances around the crash are ongoing. NEW CANAAN A New Jersey man was apprehended when he crashed a stolen vehicle while fleeing from officers who caught him burglarizing other cars in town early Wednesday morning, police said. Louis J. Cruz, 30, of 6th Avenue in Newark, N.J., was charged with possession of burglar tools, third-degree criminal trespass, second-degree larceny, third-degree larceny, two counts of sixth-degree larceny, two counts of interfere with an officer/resisting arrest and three counts of evading responsibility. Officers responded to the area of Urban Street on a report of two men entering and burglarizing cars around 5 a.m. Wednesday, police said. Callers reported the suspects were driving a red vehicle with a loud exhaust, police said. While heading to the scene, officers saw the vehicle driving north on Smith Ridge Road with a New Jersey license plate, police said. Officers later discovered the older model Subaru was reported stolen out of New Jersey the previous night, police said. The vehicle was found on Canoe Hill Road after the driver crashed into a tree and both suspects ran away, police said. Police said investigators learned the suspects stole items, which were found in the stolen Subaru, from at least two vehicles. Due to the fresh snow, officers observed the footprints of the suspects fleeing the scene of the crash, police said, adding that a K-9 unit from Norwalk police responded to help search for the two individuals. The track led police from Canoe Hill Road near Rosebrook Road to Brushy Ridge Road. Police said officers found Cruz had tried to get into several vehicles on Brushy Ridge Road, ultimately stealing a BMW SUV parked outside a home on that street. The SUV was unlocked and the keys were left inside. As Cruz tried to flee the area in the BMW, he nearly hit officers at the intersection of Brushy Ridge and New Norwalk roads, police said. Officers found the BMW in the area of West Road near Oenoke Ridge Road after Cruz crashed, police said. Another track of footprints in the snow led officers to Cruz, hiding behind a bush at a Lambert Road home, police said. When officers told Cruz to surrender, he led them on a brief foot chase before he was taken into custody, police said. He was taken to police headquarters and processed on the charges. Officers were unable to find or identify the second suspect. The New Canaan police have continued for multiple years through media and social media campaigns to remind residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables, police said. We continue to ask the public to consider this incident as an example of how brazen and reckless these criminals can be. Police said Cruz was released after posting 10 percent of his $10,000 bond, which was lowered from the initial $100,000. A man is on the run and another has been charged after a young woman was allegedly held captive in her apartment while they stole her belongings. The 22-year-old was allegedly threatened by the strangers at a supermarket in Wolli Creek, in Sydney's west, at about 6pm on Wedneday. They allegedly forced the frightened woman to lead them to her unit on Levey Street, before ransacking the home and stealing her possessions. She managed to contact a friend who alerted police. Eight police cars and four riot squad trucks arrived on the scene, closing the street off to pedestrians and storming the apartment block with a battering ram, The Daily Telegraph reported. A man is on the run and another has been charged after a young woman was allegedly held captive in her apartment while they stole her things The woman was found in the foyer and a 37-year-old man was arrested, but the other man fled the scene. Police have been unable to find him and continued their investigation on Thursday. The 37-year-old was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with detain for advantage and robbery while armed in company. He was refused bail and will appear in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday. Confused residents from the apartment block documented the scene on social media. The 37-year-old was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with detain for advantage and robbery while armed in company 'Will be locked out for hours apparently,' one person wrote. Another said: 'My poor wife is stuck outside in this awful weather hoping they find the person soon.' 'No one in or out. 2.5 hrs still waiting ' someone else said at 8:30pm. Christie Clinic Nurse Practitioner Kelly Bryant, left, talks with Henry Kaczmarski, Mahomet, before giving him his vaccine at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Departments COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the I Hotel Convention Center in Champaign on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INV Metals Inc. (INV Metals or the Company) (TSX:INV) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) of common shares (Shares) at a price of $0.45 per Share for gross proceeds of approximately $6.1 million. The Company issued 4,848,287 Shares to IAMGOLD Corporation to maintain its 35.5% interest and 8,805,962 Shares to Dundee Precious Metals Inc. which increased its position from a 19.4% to a 23.5% interest. The proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for the advancement of the Loma Larga Project and for general corporate purposes. The Private Placement is considered to be a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) since both IAMGOLD Corporation and Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (collectively, the Insiders) hold more than 10% of the Companys Shares. The Company is exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the Insiders participation in the Private Placement in reliance of Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. A material change report will be filed in connection with the participation of Insiders in the Private Placement less than 21 days in advance of the closing of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of potential financing opportunities and to complete the Private Placement in an expeditious manner. About INVTM Metals INVTM Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INVTM Metals primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold property in Ecuador; and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina. The Companys significant shareholders are IAMGOLD Corporation which holds a 35.5% equity interest, and Dundee Precious Metals Corp. which holds a 23.5% equity interest. For further information on INV Metals please email the Company at info@invmetals.com. Corporate presentations, press releases and other relevant information is available on the Company website at www.invmetals.com. For more information please contact: Sunny Lowe Chief Financial Officer Phone: (416) 703-8416 E-mail: slowe@invmetals.com Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the use of proceeds in respect of the Private Placement. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, may, shall, will, or would. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions made by management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believe are appropriate in the circumstances. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include the risk that the Company may not obtain project financing on favourable terms or obtain project financing at all and risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to grade or recovery rates, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory, capitalization and liquidity risks. Please refer to managements discussion and analysis, the Companys Annual Information Form dated April 14, 2020 and other disclosure documents filed and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for other risks that could materially affect the Company. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Companys forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. With Thursday marking National Lego Day, Matt Laramie is continuing the effort he started with Matts Lego Drive for Kids with Cancer by dropping off 100 Lego sets to pediatric cancer patients in Worcester and other children who are in need. Laramie, of Worcester, is hoping the national day will draw some more attention to programs for children in need and encourage people to donate a favorite childhood toy. On Thursday, Laramie is planning to drop off 50 Lego sets to Why Me/Sherrys House and another 50 sets to the UMass Child Life Program, where he has previously donated 100 sets to pediatric cancer patients. Laramie started the Lego drive inspired by his friend, Amanda, a child life specialist at the Childrens Hospital at Saint Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He had asked how he could support young patients. Amanda responded with a wish list of Legos, Barbies and art supplies. The impact of the donation didnt hit Laramie until he heard about how much of an impact a Lego set had on a 6-year-old patient. It was a great feeling that something so small made a difference that day, Laramie said in a statement. On National Lego Day, Matt Laramie, the founder of Matts Lego Drive for Kids with Cancer, dropped off Lego sets to Why Me/Sherrys House. Courtesy photo. Since then, Laramie has donated more than 300 sets of Legos. To me, Legos are nostalgic as they bring many of us back to our childhoods, Laramie said. They are the first building blocks for many of our lives. We learn to be creative, imaginative, and some of us even learn to follow instructions through building with them. These kids are at the hospital many times and sometimes for very long days, and building with Legos can help keep their minds off of the anxiety, fear, and pain they are experiencing. Initially, Laramie decided he would set up a drive with a goal of filling the back of his truck, which he expected would require about 200 Lego sets. Following support of the community, Laramie now aims for 500 sets. More information about the lego drive can be found on Facebook. Laramie works for North End Motor Sales in Worcester, where anyone interested in donating can drop off Lego sets. The expert said the fiscal deficit in the current fiscal is likely to be between 6.5-7 percent, adding that the government could relax the target but should keep a close eye on debt-GDP ratio projection New Delhi: The scope for tax concessions in the upcoming Budget next week is very limited, and the finance minister may prefer to inject stimulus into the economy through increased expenditure, mainly in infrastructure, EY India Economist DK Srivastava said on Wednesday. In the pre-budget session on 2021-22 Budget, EY India Chief Policy Advisor Srivastava said the fiscal space available to the finance minister is extremely limited and therefore if she has to choose the most optimal route to support growth and any possible concessions on the tax side, that would be quite limited. "If that (tax concession) happens possibly some of the sectors can be related to, could be the real estate sector and construction sector broadly where some of the incentive measures could yield positive benefits. But I feel the scope is very limited. On the other hand, the preferred stimulus injection may be through the expenditure route," he said. Srivastava said the fiscal deficit in the current fiscal is likely to be between 6.5-7 percent. He said in crisis years the Government could relax the fiscal deficit target, but keep a close eye on the projection of debt-GDP ratio. The government has to raise spending, especially capital expenditure, to an "unprecedented" level, he noted. "Therefore, in our projection, we have said that capital expenditure must grow at rates not below 20 percent for current and next year in order to come back to the plan of National Infrastructure Pipeline. "Unless we really expand our infrastructure, the growth story would not be sustained. Therefore, the appropriate use of scarce fiscal resources should be to get maximum multipliers. Any stimulus on the taxation side should be very limited," he added. The government's fiscal deficit soared to Rs 10.75 lakh crore, or 135.1 percent of the 2020-21 Budget Estimates (BE), at the end of November 2020, mainly on account of low revenue mop up. The 2020-21 Budget had pegged the fiscal deficit for the current financial year at Rs 7.96 lakh crore or 3.5 percent of the GDP. These figures, however, may have to be revised significantly in view of the economic disruptions created by the coronavirus pandemic. Fiscal deficit had soared to a seven-year high of 4.6 percent of the GDP in 2019-20. Meanwhile, French firm Valneva has begun large-scale vaccine manufacturing in Scotland The row between PLC ( ) and the EU over COVID-19 vaccines has continued through to Thursday, when Germany's Robert Koch Institute, the country's main public agency, released its recommendation on the jab. Researchers said it should only be used in people aged 18 to 64 because there isn't enough data to prove its efficacy on over 65s. They also said the inoculations produced by /BioNTech and Moderna are equivalent in terms of safety and efficacy, the FT reported. This is a helpful (and apolitical) analysis of the German decision on Ox/AZ vaccine from Adam Barker at Shore Capital: pic.twitter.com/2jJYgS5n4S Jonathan Eley (@JonathanEley) January 28, 2021 The drugmaker was meant to provide 80mln doses of the jab in the first quarter of 2021 but informed the bloc on Friday that there would be significant shortfalls on the schedule and it would be able to deliver around half of the agreed quantities. The two parties met on Wednesday night, following some confusion over a potential cancellation of the meeting, where an EU official suggested the FTSE 100 group delivered some supplies that were assigned for the UK to make up for the shortfall. "We reject the logic of 'first come, first served' - that may work at the neighbourhood butchers but not in contracts," Brussels's health commissioner Stella Kyriakides was reported as saying by Sky News. "There is no hierarchy of the factories. You are aware in the contracts there are four factories listed but it does not differentiate between the UK and Europe. "The UK factories are part of our advance purchase agreements and that is why they have to deliver." We regret the continued lack of clarity on the delivery schedule and request a clear plan from for the fast delivery of the quantity of vaccines that we reserved for Q1. We will work with the company to find solutions and deliver vaccines rapidly for EU citizens. Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) January 27, 2021 On Thursday, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said there will be no interruption to UK vaccine supplies. The critical thing is we must make sure that the schedule that has been agreed and on which our vaccination programme has been based and planned goes ahead, he told the BBC. "It is the case that the supplies that have been planned, paid for and scheduled should continue, absolutely. There will be no interruption to that." Meanwhile, Belgium has launched an investigation into the pharma companys plant near Brussels to understand whether EU-produced batches have been diverted to the UK. Chief executive Pascal Soriot said earlier this week the delays are because the bloc signed up supply contracts three months after the UK, therefore Britain had more time to sort out teething problems. The jab, developed by Oxford University, has still not been approved in Europe. Shares in were trading 2% lower at 7,614p on Thursday afternoon. Valneva starts mass production in Scotland French firm Valneva has begun large-scale vaccine manufacturing at its Livingston site in Scotland. It will pump out up to 60mln jabs before the end of the year if the vaccine, now at the first stage of clinical trials, is approved. London has already secured 60mln doses with options acquire a further 130mln after the authorities green light. --Adds statement by Robert Koch Institute, shares-- (This story has been updated with comment from the office of Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud.) FLINT, MI -- Attorneys for Rick Snyder say Flint water prosecutors have acknowledged they did not use a special taint or filter team in the course of their investigation of the former governor and are asking a Genesee District Court judge to stop the clock on certain filing deadlines until after their motion to dismiss the indictments is decided. Snyder, 62, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of willful neglect of duty for his role in the Flint water crisis -- misdemeanors that are punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. We take this step after Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud acknowledged that her team failed to use a taint or filter team in the course of its investigation of former Gov. Snyder, Brian Lennon, Snyders attorney, said in a statement issued Wednesday, Jan. 27. This admission raises questions about whether the evidence presented to the single-judge grand juror may have been tainted by this fundamental breach of investigative protocol. A taint team is a team of prosecutors and agents that is not connected to a criminal investigation and which reviews seized materials to determine whether the information is privileged. Lennons statement called the lack of the investigative protocol a stunning admission in light of the fact Solicitor General Hammoud has publicly acknowledged searching and seizing documents and electronic devices belonging to Gov. Snyder and his executive office staff in June 2019. In a statement issued to MLive-The Flint Journal, Hammouds office said, The court is the appropriate forum to litigate this case, and that includes any necessary response to defense counsels continued meritless attacks. The new court filing by Snyders attorneys says that electronic devices seized by prosecutors had been stored by the Department of Attorney General -- reportedly on the opposite side of what they have called a conflict wall separating employees who have worked on the criminal investigation from others who have defended state employees against civil litigation in state and federal courts. Snyders devices contained a significant amount of privileged information; specifically attorney-client communications, attorney-work product, and executive-privileged information, the court filing says. At a Jan.19 pretrial conference with prosecutors, attorneys for Snyder said they were told to our surprise and dismay that no taint team was used to manage information taken by prosecutors, the new motion says. Hammoud confirmed the information a day later in an email filed with the court by Lennon. In the email, the solicitor general also said, in part, As we have already said, we will try this case in court and not anywhere else ... we look forward to continuing to litigate this case in (a) zealous and professional manner. Snyders court filing Wednesday is the second this week in Genesee District Court. A motion filed Monday, Jan. 25, asks Judge William H. Crawford to quash -- or dismiss -- the indictments against the former governor because of lack of jurisdiction by the one-man grand jury that indicted him, claiming that the case was filed improperly. Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy have led the criminal investigation of the water crisis since 2019, following the election of Attorney General Dana Nessel. That same year, Hammoud fired Todd Flood, who had led the criminal investigation of Flint water under former Attorney General Bill Schuette. By June 2019, Hammoud dismissed eight pending criminal cases brought by Flood and announced the investigation of crimes tied to Flint water would be restarted. Criminal charges against seven other state and city of Flint employees had earlier been resolved through plea agreements that resulted in no jail time or fines. Nine defendants -- six of whom had been charged previously -- were arraigned earlier this month on indictments that came from the restarted investigation and the one-man water crisis grand jury. Read more on MLive: Snyder attorney makes it official, asks judge to dismiss Flint water charges against ex-governor Former Gov. Snyder, 8 others criminally charged, accused of trampling trust of Flint people Flint residents express hope and skepticism at water crisis forum 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. BOSTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Brattle Group is pleased to announce that four experts were recently promoted to Principal: Daniel Gaynor, Fabricio Nunez, Nicholas Powers, and John Tsoukalis. "These incredible professionals support clients through their expertise in competition, industrial organization, international arbitration, wholesale energy markets, and other areas," shared Brattle President & Principal David Sunding. "They are extraordinary examples of the next generation of Brattle's leadership team, and we look forward to many more years of shared successes." Our new Principals: Daniel Gaynor Dr. Gaynor, a former FTC economist, has extensive experience in antitrust and competition matters, with a focus on analyzing the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions as well as various horizontal and vertical restraints. Fabricio Nunez Dr. Nunez is an economist with corporate and consulting experience in finance, valuation, securities, and trading. He has prepared expert testimony on valuation matters before the ICSID and the ICC, and has advised clients in international arbitration proceedings and in litigation in US federal and state courts. Nicholas Powers Dr. Powers specializes in conducting econometric and economic analysis and applying concepts from industrial organization and regulatory economics to competition, regulatory, and other litigation matters. In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Powers led the project that later became BGreen, our firm-wide sustainability initiative. John Tsoukalis Mr. Tsoukalis has broad experience helping clients respond to a range of issues related to wholesale power markets. He is an expert in electric market modeling, analyzing regional market participation, transmission rate design, market design, detection of market manipulation and damages analyses, and strategic planning. About The Brattle Group The Brattle Group analyzes complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts, which include leading international academics and industry specialists. Brattle has over 400 talented professionals worldwide, with 11 offices across three continents. For more information, please visit brattle.com . SOURCE The Brattle Group Related Links http://www.brattle.com remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. [January 28, 2021] City of Reno Rolls out Free Mental Health Services for 200k+ Residents to Help With COVID-19 Crisis Over 200,000 residents in Reno, ages 13+, now have access to free virtual mental health support in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Talkspace, a leading provider of tele-mental health services, and the City of Reno. Funded directly through CARES Act dollars unanimously approved by the Reno City Council, the program offers residents unlimited private messaging (text, voice, video) and one monthly video appointment with a private therapist from Talkspace. The support arrives at a critical juncture as Reno residents confront a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic that threatens lives and families and upends schools and the local economy. "People are crying out for help in this moment of crisis as they experience loneliness, anxiety, grief and more. Amid this public health pandemic, we face a mental health epidemic too, and expanding access to mental health care is absolutely vital," said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. "No one should be denied access to mental health care based on ability to pay and I strongly encourage our city's residents to take advantage of these free services from Talkspace." With an increasing number of Nevadans reporting mental health concerns, accessible support options have become crucial. Shortly after the vote to approve funds for the program, Talkspace's services were made available to city employees, including police and firefighters. Within the first weeks, hundreds signed up with a significant portion looking for anxiety-related services. Reno residents can register for Talkspace through a 2-step process. First, visit talkspace.com/reno to complete an access request form. Within 1-2 business days, residents who have submitted the request access form will receive an email response from Talkspace with a unique user link to complete registration. Talkspace is not a crisis service. For an emergency or life-threatening service, residents should call 911. "As the pandemic takes its unrelenting toll on people's mental and physical health, it's clear that help is urgently needed and access is more important than ever," said Talkspace Chief Medical Officer Dr. Neil Leibowitz. "With this partnership with the City of Reno and Hopeful Cities, Talkspace continues its quest to make critical mental health care accessible to all. We are honored to serve the people of Reno when it matters most." Local therapists have also been invited to join the Talkspace network to help them connect to new clients and provide care through a secure, virtual platform. Interested providers can visit talkspace.com/join-our-network/therapist for more details. For more information about Talkspace's online mental health treatment options, please visit this page. About Talkspace Talkspace is a digital platform that connects thousands of licensed therapists and psychiatrists with people seeking mental healthcare. As a digital healthcare company, all care is delivered through an easy-to-use and HIPAA-compliant web and mobile platform. Today, the need for care feels more urgent than ever, and when seeking treatment, whether it's psychiatric, adolescent, or couples therapy, Talkspace has treatment options for almost every need. With Talkspace, clients can send their dedicated therapists text, video, and voice messages anytime, from anywhere, and engage in live video sessions. To date, over 2 million people have used the service, and over 40 Million lives are covered for Talkspace through insurance. For more information about Talkspace commercial relationships, visit https://business.talkspace.com. To learn more about online therapy, please visit https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy. About the City of Reno The City of Reno government's mission is creating a community that people are proud to call home. In order to achieve that purpose, the Reno City Council has established six Tier 1 priorities and seven Tier 2 priorities. To learn more about the City of Reno, visit Reno.gov or call 775-334-INFO (4636). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005240/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Dubai s stock index slumped as the city imposed further restrictions on air travel and hospitals amid another record surge in coronavirus cases. The Middle East business hub reduced the validity of PCR virus tests to three days from four irrespective of the country they are coming from," according to a statement issued late on Wednesday. It is also now mandatory to have prior appointments for hospital visits. The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is the second-largest emirate, is battling a rise in infections as it opened up for air travel and eased movement restrictions. On Wednesday, the country reported a record 3,939 cases. Dubais DFM General Index fell as much as 1.9% on Thursday, before trimming the drop to 1.1% at the close, the biggest decline in the Gulf. Emaar Properties PJSC and Emaar Malls PJSC, which have risen on hopes of improving prospects for tourism in the emirate, retreated 1.8% and 0.6%, respectively The UAE has already approved shots developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, as well as Chinas Sinopharm and Russias Sputnik V. So far, almost 2.76 million doses have been administered and the UAE has the second-highest per-capita inoculation rate in the world after Israel. The government aims to cover 50% of its population of about 10 million by April. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. [January 28, 2021] Advisor Joins Ameriprise and Nearly Doubles Assets Within the First Month Financial advisor Mitchell Rock recently joined Ameriprise Financial, LLC (NYSE: AMP) from Wells Fargo (News - Alert) in New York City. Rock transitioned to Ameriprise and nearly doubled his assets within the first month from existing relationships and introductions to serve new clients. Rock manages in excess of $250 million in assets and credits his Ameriprise transition team, and the firm's reliable technology, and culture of service and integrity for helping him quickly scale up the size of his practice. Rock explored various firms for three years before deciding to join the Ameriprise Advisor Group. After a 35-year career working for wirehouses, Rock was attracted to the intense focus Ameriprise has on delivering advice to clients. "Because Ameriprise has a singular focus on sophisticated wealth management and comprehensive financial planning, the client response to moving assets was extraordinary. The deep relationships I've built with clients, coupled with the strong leadership and growth resources of the firm, give me confidence that I will continue to serve my affluent clients and their families well here," said Rock. "Clients see the value I'm able to offer at Ameriprise, which has helped me transfer more accounts early on." Reflecting on his first month, Rock said, "The integrity and commitment of Ameriprise's people toward business transition and development has been incredble. Leadership and support teams are committed to advisors' and clients' success, and I'm excited to tap into their expertise as I look to continue to provide for my clients and grow my business." Todd Hubley, Ameriprise complex director, supports Rock. "We're excited to support Mitchell," said Hubley. "He's focused on growth by delivering consistently stellar client service, which is aligned with our focus as a firm. His early success points to the deep level of trust he has with clients, and how passionate he is about finding efficiencies in his business to help him continue to grow." Rock's practice operates under the name Rock Financial Strategies Group and primarily serves families of current and former business owners. More than 4,300 financial advisors have joined Ameriprise since 2008.1 To find out why experienced financial advisors are joining Ameriprise, visit ameriprise.com/why. About Ameriprise Financial At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive advisory, asset management and insurance capabilities and a nationwide network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors' financial needs. For more information, or to find an Ameriprise financial advisor, visit ameriprise.com. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Company data as of Q2 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005746/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Vedix, Indias first customized Ayurvedic beauty regime offers personalized hair care products to fix all the hair related problems by designing the product that is just meant for you and your hair. Popular television star and a mother Sanjeeda Sheikh who was struggling with severe hair fall has finally managed to arrest the problem with Vedix personalized hair care regime. All she had to do was answer a few questions that helped Ayurvedic doctors at Vedix design a formulation which was specific to her prakruti A television star who has played different roles and characters on and off screen, Sanjeeda uses harsh chemical products, tongs and hair color to make her directors vision a reality. Heres what the actor had to say about her experience Sanjeeda Sheikh shares, I am extremely fortunate to pursue my passion for acting. Playing different looks excites me and audience adulation is the cherry on the cake. But the only drawback is that to look good I am compelled to use all sorts of products on my hair. The result is that my hair became dull and brittle. I tried everything under the sun, but the hair fall problem worsen with each passing month. In Vedix, Sanjeeda found her solution. Vedix offers holistic remedy to fix hair fall problems. The brand is guided by Ayurvedas principles of dosha and one has to answer a set of questions which analyses the doshas in the body basis which a hyper-personal customized solution is designed to address hair related problems. Vedix offers 100% Ayurvedic products made using no harmful chemicals. Its use of Ayurvedic herbs such as Bhringaraja, Brahmi, Amlaki, Yashtimadhu, Datura and many others play an important role in arresting hair fall & dandruff and promoting healthy hair growth. Jatin Gujrati, Business Head, Vedix, says, Our everyday life is increasingly becoming stressful. Celebrity or not, hair are the first thing which shows sign of stress our bodies go through. At Vedix, we believe that Ayurveda if used in the correct proportion can solve all the hair and wellness related problems. We are happy to see our customers endorsing the brand so strongly and actively recommending it to their peers. Vedix offers a subscription based service to its customers who are looking to address their hair problems. GLEN CARBON Parking and fire district coverage were issues trustees questioned Tuesday regarding the proposed Magnolia Commons assisted living center. Previously, owner Scott Runyon requested a special use planned development procedure (PDP) for Keystone Place at Magnolia Commons and it has worked its way through various village committees leading to its final stop at the board. Tuesday, an ordinance for the PDP was unanimously approved, contingent on adding at least 20 additional parking spaces on the sites west side. Runyon and his developer, Keystone Senior Living, plan to erect a four-story assisted living center with a mix of 155 apartments independent living, assisted living and memory care, at 245 Magnolia Drive. The site, which is currently vacant, is bounded by Magnolia Drive on the north, Evergreen Lane on the east and Auerbach Place on the south. It covers 4.86 acres and is bounded by San Gabriel Memory Care on the west side. Runyon requested several variances: a zoning amendment from general commercial to multi-family residential; a special use permit to develop Magnolia Commons; approve the area and site plans; a variance on number of required parking stalls; and a few other minor variances. Runyons group requested 126 parking slots. Trustee Ben Maliszewski fretted about there not being enough parking for staff, residents and visitors, which would push visitors to park on the surrounding streets. You have 66 assisted living units and I cut that in half, so 73 plus 33 is 106 and you said you have 16 staff that need parking so thats 122 [parking spaces]. Where will the overflow parking go to? Lee Beckman, an engineer with Milano and Grunloh Engineering, answered. The developers for this project have developed several of these developments in multiple locations [including Shiloh] and the parking that is proposed for this is working in those locations and has excess parking in those locations, Beckman said. The developer would not spend $35 million and not have enough parking to provide for its constituents and visitors. Beckman and Viren Gori, the firms architect, said he saw data on parking lot ratios that he tracked from the National Transportation and Parking Demands for Senior Housing. Gori thinks it will be one car per independent living unit and none for the rest. He notes the average age at Magnolia Place would be about 75. It works out to .5:1 for residents; by the time you add visitors and staff youre close to .75:1 for the entire building, Gori said, adding that their parking demands fell into the 130-140 stall range. Beckman and Gori said the Shiloh location uses the same formula. Your application is asking for 126 parking spaces and youre saying 130 that you want to back down to, said Maliszewski. The numbers dont add up. This is what Im getting at. This is whats going to happen and its our fault for letting it happen. These people are going to park on the streets. Can the streets accommodate additional parking that the parking lot cannot? Gori and the trustees had opposing opinions on how many cars independent living and assisted living residents would have. The trustees believe that only the memory care residents would be without vehicles and the other categories would have at least one car per unit; and in most cases, there would be two cars per unit. Beckman offered a compromise; adding 25 to 30 parking spaces on the developments west side that is currently grass and soil. The reason youre having parking issues is because youre trying to put too much building on too little land, Maliszewski said. He added that a contingency that ensured additional on-site parking versus street parking would be the only way he would vote yes on this. As far as getting fire truck apparatus to the building, Village Administrator Jamie Bowden met with both deputy fire chiefs about access and the chiefs said their trucks will fit on the site. They said they can get in and provide coverage but the northwest corner of the building would be tight and the service drive in the back would also be tight, Bowden said. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735 The stock market fiasco centered around GameStop continues to twist and turn. In the latest leg of the saga, a number of apps used by the general public to trade stock in public companies have blocked the ability to buy some shares, preventing smaller-scale investors like the folks at r/WallStreetBets from continuing to buy up GameStop stock and fuel losses for stock market short sellers that bet on declining share value. News broke earlier this morning that Robinhood was no longer allowing its users to pick up shares of many companies targeted by Reddit's WallStreetBets group this week, including GameStop, AMC, BlackBerry, and Nokia, though selling features remain uninterrupted. The action has had a noticeable impact on GameStop's share prices for WallStreetBets faves. While still up significantly from where the price started the year, GameStop currently sits around $225 a share, down 35.25 percent from its $265 open and down sharply from its value the day before. According to Gizmodo, Robinhood is now also facing a class action lawsuit from its users over the sudden restrictions which the suit alleges are a violation of its customer agreement. In a blog post, Robinhood says that the decision was made out of of a desire to help its users "navigate this uncertainty" and that it "fundamentally [believes] that everyone should have access to financial markets" seemingly despite its own restrictions on what Robinhood users can trade. "We continuously monitor the markets and make changes where necessary," reads a portion of that blog. "In light of recent volatility, we are restricting transactions for certain securities to position closing only." GameStop's share price has soared over this last week, though the surge has little to do with the health or operations of the actual company itself. Rather the surge is the result of efforts from groups like WallStreetBets that drove an increase in GameStop's stock value and put short sellers betting against the company's success on the line for billions in the process. (More on that here.) The ride has so far caught the attention of the White House and the SEC, with politicians like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (and, to a lesser degree, Senator Ted Cruz) joining in on the discourse today with their own condemnations of Robinhood's restrictions. New Delhi: Vaccination programme for the fight against coronavirus epidemic has already begun in India. India is also working to provide vaccines to help other countries. In this order, India, as a trusted partner, has sent the Covishield vaccine to Bahrain and Sri Lanka on Thursday. Earlier, vaccines have also been delivered to Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives from the Indian side. Under the vaccine friendship campaign, India has sent a consignment of 50,400 doses to Sri Lanka. Bahrain has been given 10,800 doses. Covishield, developed by Serum Institute of India (SII), was loaded into a cargo plane from Mumbai and, according to schedule, left for Manama. The consignment to Colombo was late for 15 minutes and was flagged off at 9 o'clock in the morning. Earlier, Bahrain had given the green signal to the Covishield to vaccinate the people who faced the complications of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, India has supplied corona vaccine to neighbouring countries Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh under the earlier policy of neighbours. Also Read- Indian Executives expect larger workforce to operate remotely post pandemic: Deloitte report Mamata To Move Censure Motion Over 'Jai Shri Ram' Slogans, Congress-CPI(M) To Oppose It Earthquake hits Delhi amid farmers' agitation Amazon India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Karnataka to help drive e-commerce exports from the state. As part of the MoU, Amazon will train and onboard MSMEs from the state on Amazon Global Selling, its Exports Program, enabling them to sell their unique Made in India products globally to millions of Amazon customers across 200+ countries and territories. Amazon Global Selling lowers the entry barrier for motivated Indian MSMEs to expand their business and launch their brands globally from anywhere in India. With this program, homegrown businesses get instant access to global markets from Day 1, benefiting from Amazons distribution capabilities and global footprint to scale rapidly, creating a sustainable exports business. Amazon will conduct trainings, webinars and on-boarding workshops for exporters from key MSME clusters like Bellary, Mysore, Channapatna and others. The workshops will focus on sharing knowledge and imparting trainings to MSMEs about B2C e-commerce exports and selling worldwide through Amazons 17 international marketplaces to over 300 million customers worldwide. These workshops aim to enable MSMEs with the knowledge and tools to launch their brands and grow their business in international markets through Amazon Global Selling. Shri Jagadish Shettar, Honble Minister for Large and medium scale Industries, Government of Karnataka said, Karnataka has a vibrant automobile, agro, aerospace, textile and garment, biotech, and toys / handicraft sectors which is held together by lakhs of MSMEs. Our partnership with Amazon India will encourage our MSMEs to leverage Amazons global presence and showcase their products to customers across the world. This is also an effort to display the strength of the states manufacturing and innovation prowess and our government remains committed to make Karnataka an attractive business and investment destination. Abhijit Kamra, Director Global Trade, Amazon India said, This partnership with the Government of Karnataka is a step towards elevating lakhs of MSMEs from across the state to a global level. The Amazon Global Selling program has enabled more than 70,000 Indian exporters to cross $2billion in cumulative exports, which showcases crores of Made in India products. The program, which had hit cumulative exports of $1billion in 2019, saw a 100% increase in the next 18 months to cross the $2billion milestone. We remain committed towards making exports easy for Indian businesses and empower them to tap into their true potential, thus contributing to the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The program is rapidly boosting exports from India and helping build global Indian brands. In January 2020, Amazon had pledged to enable $10 billion in cumulative exports by 2025 helping Indian businesses grow by selling online worldwide. Reaffirming its commitment to the value of transparency, accountability and integrity while maintaining an exceptional financial track record, Union Assurance PLC was awarded among the 10 Best Integrated Reports at the 2020 CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards, organized by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. The Awards are based on a detailed evaluation of Annual Reports, conducted across the whole gamut of Sri Lankas Private and Public Sector Organizations. The evaluation criteria, carried out as per the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) framework, assesses how well an organization has consolidated its strategy, governance, performance and prospects to create long lasting and sustainable value that accounts for all stakeholder needs. Union Assurance is the oldest private life insurer in Sri Lanka, and is a member of the John Keells Group, Sri Lankas largest listed conglomerate. Union Assurance completes over three decades of success in the industry with a market capitalization of Rs. 18 Bn, a Life Fund of Rs. 41 Bn and a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 447% as at November 2020. Set to empower the Sri Lankan Dream, Union Assurance offers Life Insurance solutions that cover education, health, protection, retirement, and investment needs of Sri Lankans. With 76 branches and an over 3000-strong workforce, Union Assurance continues to invest in people, products, and processes to remain agile and responsive to emerging changes in the Life Insurance industry. Amit Sadh and Amrita Puri open up about sharing screen space after #KaiPoChe and how difficult it was to portray real-life characters in Zee5's Jeet Ki Zid Amit Sadh has played roles of army personnel in Operation Parindey, Avrodh: The Siege Within, and of a police officer in Breathe: Into The Shadows, however, he agreed to play an army officer once again in recently released Jeet Ki Zid currently streaming on Zee5. "It's an honour to play any character from the armed forces. Wearing the uniform changes you and your mindset. Yes, playing an army man is not new to me but this time I'm playing a different character altogether. I'm playing Major Deep Singh Sengar. It's a completely different mindset, different story, a different era of communication when the Indian army operated differently, it's a different terrain and different mental status. Also, there is so much to learn from the Indian Army and its stories. As an actor and an Indian, I feel privileged to be a part of Jeet Ki Zid, said Sadh who proved his mettle in his debut Kai Po Che followed by Sultan, Shakuntala, Gold, and more, and further made a mark in the digital space with several web shows (not to forget his first Filmfare trophy for Breathe: Into The Shadows.) Directed by ad film director Vishal Mangalorkar and produced by Boney Kapoor, Arunava Joy Sengupta, and Akash Chawla, Jeet Ki Zid follows the true story of Special Forces officer Major Sengar who was left paralysed waist below during the Kargil War, but his relentless attitude helped him bounce back in life. Sadh is cast as the protagonist while Amrita Puri plays his wife. The series also features Sushant Singh, Ali Goni, Mrinal Kulkarni, and Gagan Randhawa. "This isn't just a story about a mission. The backdrop is of the Indian army but it is a story about two beautiful, inspiring, and strong-willed people. How an injured soldier comes home and how his wife takes the baton and lives with him. How she supports him throughout his journey. It is because of his determination that he managed to be where he is. She did not let him give up and helped him to continue fighting. It was all happening because of the wife, and a large part of the series is about how she helped him go through it all. I am really enjoying making such great movies and this one is more special, this is beyond me, beyond my acting, the message the story gives is incredible. It was both, physically and mentally challenging and in these times, when mental health is an important topic, this real story with the backdrop of the Kargil War was needed to be told, said Sadh. While for Sadh it was performing difficult stunts in tricky regions, a challenge besides battling disability, Amrita Puri had to struggle with the emotional graph that she had to portray, Because the storyline is not linear, it jumps back and forth in time in a span of seven to eight years. Also, it is based on a real-life story so I felt a kind of responsibility. I play a strong woman who not only holds her life but also her familys life together. My producer also met Jaya maam and told me that she is exuberant and full of life. This has been one of the most fulfilling characters for me to play, said Puri who feels that the real-life stories are far more compelling to be told. Such stories are more dramatic, the stakes get far higher and the audience gets far more invested in the story when they know it is true. I guess the series will teach you to have faith. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but it is important how you deal with a situation you face, she says. Sadh, who grew up in a military environment, had to perform high-octane action sequences and various army missions to play a soldier in the series. I will give credit to many of the athletes I know, I learned a lot from them. One of my closest friends is Stefan Voormans, a German athlete who has won medals in the Paralympics. I also did my own homework but the research and writing by the show's team have been great. The weather conditions were really hard, there were days when we were shooting in Khoksar in Himachal Pradesh which is at 12,000-13,000 feet. But once I donned the uniform, in my mind I was representing the Indian Army and I was deep into my character, said Sadh. The actor also said that being restricted on a wheel-chair made him realise the struggle of people who live with such a reality in life. Having no sense of walking free is something I could have never imagined. You almost become either invisible or way too visible to the sympathetic eyes," he says. Sadh and Puri reunited with Jeet Ki Zid after seven years when they worked together in the 2013 film Kai Po Che, however, they didn't have many scenes between them in that film. It was a long time back, and, of course, enough time for us to change and evolve which both Amit and I have. In Kai Po Che we were not opposite each other and we didnt have many scenes together but we stayed in touch since then. It is nice to see a very mature version of Amit, he has become very popular on the OTT platform and has done a lot of work in the past seven years as a result he has become extremely sure of his craft and I got to see all of that on set. He is also a great team player and very giving as an actor, said Puri. It was great working with Amrita. We had some intense and emotional scenes on screen but it was fun hanging out with her, she is full of life and a great person to have around, added Sadh. Both Sadh and Puri are enjoying the roles that are coming to them with the growth of OTT space. "OTT has helped me stay in the business and tell different stories. I want to do varied work and not the same thing that I have done or just because I was good in a certain role," said Puri who debuted with Aisha (2010) and was recently seen in Judgementall Hai Kya, and web series Four More Shots Please! and Made In Heaven. "2020 was a difficult year but it has also been a year of opportunities. I got to work on some great projects and I am excited to find out what this year has in store for me. I am looking forward to 2021 with much hope and aspirations," said Sadh. Lets start with the good news, which is that Australias economy has held up remarkably well over the summer period against both the Treasury and Reserve Banks expectations for it. Jobs figures provided some comfort, as do consumer confidence levels. There is even talk among some economists that we are out the other side of this COVID recession and that a progressive relaxation of some of our central banks more extreme levels of support for the economy will soon be on the cards. Illustration: Matt Davidson Credit: Such talk is premature. Understandable, but premature. Such optimism finds its roots in the sooner-than-expected availability of a wider-than-expected choice of vaccines to fight COVID-19. Emerging news this week of production problems in Europe are cause for concern, of course. But overall, progress towards a full vaccine rollout appears better than assumed in last Octobers budget update, when Treasury assumed that: A population-wide Australian COVID-19 vaccination program is fully in place by late 2021. The violence on was unfortunate, but it would not end the farmers' movement against the Centre's new agriculture laws, Delhi Chief Minister said on Thursday. He said strictest punishment must be given to those responsible for the violence. Addressing the ninth Council meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal said the farmers' protest against the farm laws is a battle of existence for them. The violence on was unfortunate and whoever is responsible for it must be given strictest punishment, he said. But the violence will not lead to the end of the farmers movement, the issues still remain so the movement cannot end. We have to peacefully extend our support to the protesting farmers, he said. The chief minister asserted that whoever is responsible for Tuesday's violence should be punished. Whoever is responsible for the turn of events, and I am not referring to the ones against whom police have registered fake cases, deserves to be punished. Whoever is responsible, whichever party is responsible, should be acted against. "A nation where farmers are unhappy can never prosper. We all have to support them in our states, and our support should be non-violent. Whenever you do that, leave your party caps and flags at your homes. The support should be non-political, and you should support them as a common man, he underlined. The AAP's convenor also claimed that farmers of the country are in distress and that they have been deceived by all parties in the last 70 years. "They were promised loan waivers that did not happen they were promised jobs to their children that did not happen. Over 3.5 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 25 years. Now, these three bills will snatch their livelihood, that is farming, and give it to the corporates," he said. "For the farmers, it is a question of existence. How will the farmers feed their families if farming is taken away from them? If they do not sit in the biting cold, they would not be able to retain their livelihoods," Kejriwal added. Addressing a press conference, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called the violence during the farmers tractor rally part of a "conspiracy". "The violence has been done under a conspiracy to discredit the farmers movement, and the real culprits of this violence are not being acted upon. The three agriculture laws must be repealed," he said. The ruling AAP in Delhi has strongly come out in favour of the farmers protesting against the agri-marketing laws. The party had, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the Centre allowed the situation to deteriorate. It had said the violence has certainly weakened the movement, which was peaceful and disciplined over the last two months. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the capital on Republic Day, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. (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.) BAR RESCUE: Rep. Moffitt files bill to rescind penalties State Rep. Tim Moffitt State Rep. Tim Moffitt stepped in on Wednesday to help bar owners who had their ABC licenses revoked because of overdue fees during pandemic restrictions that had forced the businesses to close altogether or greatly reduce their hours and capacity. The bill Moffitt filed Wednesday is in response to news that many bar owners had their liquor permits revoked unexpectedly by the ABC Commission due to delinquent fees, the legislator said in a news release. The bill clarifies an existing emergency relief law passed in 2020 to allow bar owners to defer their permit fees until their business is operating at full capacity. Its an honor to file this bill on behalf of struggling bar owners across North Carolina, Moffitt said. This bill will provide desperately needed relief to private bars who are fighting to stay afloat during a pandemic that has drastically limited their ability to conduct business. In the meantime, Im happy to say I have an agreement in principle with ABC Chairman Guy to reinstate liquor permits that were erroneously revoked and pause revocations until 90 days after Gov. Coopers emergency orders expire. In response to health and public safety concerns from the Covid-19 pandemic, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 118 on March 17 prohibiting North Carolinas more than 19,504 restaurants and bars from offering any indoor accommodations. The order included 6,000 bars in the state. Since then, the Cooper administration gradually allowed bars to reopen at limited capacity in accordance with social distancing guidelines. To provide financial relief to the establishments, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing ABC permittees to defer their permit fees for 90 days, a period which would begin on the date the Cooper signs an additional executive order rescinding the prohibition on those permittees' operations. Despite that language, on Jan. 4, the ABC Commission revoked the liquor permits of numerous bars across North Carolina on account of nonpayment of fees. Moffitt spoke with Chairman Guy of the ABC Commission and reached an agreement to reinstate licenses revoked in error and defer fee payments until 90 days after bars are able to reopen at full capacity, Moffitt's office said. 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled on Wednesday, that it would give an accelerated hearing to a suit challenging the appointment of a consultant to monitor the spending of the $311million repatriated loot of the late former Head of State, Sani Abacha. The suit filed by PPP Advisories Consortium, which claims to be better qualified as the monitoring consultant, is challenging the choice of CLEEN Foundation to execute the contract. The judge, Inyang Ekwo, after issuing the order of accelerated hearing on Wednesday, also warned the parties not to do anything to frustrate the subject matter of the suit. The defendants, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Akpata, (sued as Chairman Ministerial Tenders Board) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have all filed their notice of preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court to adjudicate on the matter. Oyin Koleosho, the lawyer who represented the AGF on Wednesday, moved an application for his court filings to be regularised. The plaintiffs lawyer, Daniel Bwala, and Mohammed Nuhu who appeared for the BPP, did not oppose the application. The application was granted by the judge. Although Mr Bwala had intended to move his motion for an injunction against the defendants, the judge said it was better to give the matter an accelerated hearing. With all the lawyers agreeing, the judge granted the order of accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter till February 16 and 17. The suit About $311million of Abacha loot was repatriated from the United States of America and Bailiwick of Jersey to Nigeria in February 2020. Part of the conditionalities for the release of the fund to Nigeria was that the spending which must be on agreed public projects must be monitored by independent bodies. In line with the tripartite agreement between the governments of Nigeria and the two foreign countries, the Federal Government earmarked the money for three landmark projects the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano Expressway, and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It also set up a bidding process among 17 organisations which showed interest in monitoring the spending of the fund. On December 24, 2020, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), announced that a civil society organisation, CLEEN Foundation, won the contract. But one of the bidders, the PPP Advisories Consortium, through its suit filed before the outcome of the bidding process was made public, is challenging the selection process. The claimant in the suit filed on November 3, 2020, maintained that it was denied the contract despite that it secured the highest combined technical and financial scores in the bidding exercise. It contended that the Federal Government arbitrarily disqualified it and recommended the firm that came 4th (CLEEN Foundation) as the preferred bidder to be awarded the contract. It added that the Federal Government chose to award the contract to CLEEN Foundation which got the least combined technical and financial score among the four prequalified consultants. ADVERTISEMENT (NAN) 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. Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 28 January 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company", "Qingdao Haier" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) has recently completed relevant matters in relation to Equity Allocation of Employee Stock Ownership Scheme (the equity or shares involved refer to A shares, the same below). The details are as follows: I. Details of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme (I) Details of Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme The Company held the 2015 Annual General Meeting on 31 May 2016, considering and approving the Proposal on "Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (Draft)" and its Summary (referred to as the "Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme", "Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme" or "Draft of Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme"). For details of the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme, please refer to the announcement published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange (www.sse.com.cn) and the relevant statutory disclosure media by the Company on 29 April 2016. Pursuant to the requirements of the Draft of Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme, the Administrative Measures of Phase I Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. and the relevant requirements, there are 515 employees participating in Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme, holding 247,900,000 shares (RMB) in total. Pursuant to the Announcement regarding the Completion of Share Purchase in Phase I Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (L2016-062) disclosed by the Company on 30 November 2016, as of 29 November 2016, the Designated Asset Management Plan of Phase I Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. has accumulatively bought 24,255,140 shares of the Company via the secondary market, with an average transaction price of approximately RMB10.02 per share and the transaction amount of RMB242,939,165.22. The above shares purchased are to be locked up in accordance with the requirements with a lock-up period of 12 months since the disclosure date of this announcement, being from 30 November 2016 to 29 November 2017. Pursuant to the Draft of Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme, the equity interests of the underlying stocks in the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme shall be vested to their holders in two phases, the specific vesting time would be after the lock-up period ends, which should be determined by the Management Committee. The assessment indicators and vesting arrangements under the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme are as follows: (1) The assessment indicators and vesting arrangements of the holders under the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme who are directors, supervisors, senior managements of Qingdao Haier and the personnel of the Company's platform are: if the holders were assessed by the Management Committee in 2016 with an up-to-standard result and the Company's net profits vested in shareholders of the parent company with deduction of non-recurring profits and losses in 2016 increased over 10% (inclusive) than those of the 2015, then 40% of the equity interests of underlying stocks in the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme under their name would all be vested to the holders; provided that the increase rate is between 8% and 10%, the percentage of vesting shall be determined by the Management Committee and the vesting shall then be proceeded after reporting to the Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Board of Directors of the Company and obtaining approval from them; provided that the increase rate is below 8% (not inclusive), then the equity interests would not be vested in 2016. If the holders were assessed by the Management Committee in 2017 with an up-to-standard result and the Company's net profits vested in shareholders of the parent company with deduction of non-recurring profits and losses in 2017 increased over 15% (inclusive) than those of the 2016, then 60% of the equity interests of underlying stocks in the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme under their name would all be vested to the holders; provided that the increase rate is between 10% and 15%, the percentage of vesting shall be determined by the Management Committee and the vesting shall then be proceeded after reporting to the Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Board of Directors of the Company and obtaining approval from them; provided that the increase rate is below 10% (not inclusive), then the equity interests would not be vested in 2017. (2) The holders under the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme excluding the holders in item 1 were assessed by the Management Committee with up-to-the standard results in 2016 and 2017, being vested with 40% and 60% of the equity interests, respectively. (II) Details of Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme Pursuant to the requirements of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme, the Company held the 4th meeting of the Ninth Session of the Board of Directors on 27 February 2017, on which the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (draft) and its Summary (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft of Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme") was considered and approved. For details of the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme (referred to as the "Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme"), please refer to the announcement published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange (www.sse.com.cn) and the relevant statutory disclosure media by the Company on 28 February 2017. Pursuant to the requirements of the Draft of Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme, the Administrative Measures of Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. and the relevant requirements, there are 576 employees participating in the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme, holding 266,100,000 shares (RMB) in total. Pursuant to the Announcement regarding the Completion of Share Purchase in Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (L2017-006) disclosed by the Company on 29 March 2017, as of 28 March 2017, the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme has accumulatively bought 22,820,787 shares of the Company via the secondary market, with an average transaction price of approximately RMB11.43 per share and the transaction amount of approximately RMB260,768,338.35. The above shares purchased are to be locked up in accordance with the requirements with a lock-up period of 12 months since the disclosure date of the aforementioned announcement, being from 29 March 2017 to 28 March 2018. Pursuant to the Draft of Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme, the equity interests of the underlying stocks in the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme shall be vested to their holders in two phases, the specific vesting time would be after the lock-up period ends, which should be determined by the Management Committee. The assessment indicators and vesting arrangements under the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme are as follows: (1) The assessment indicators and vesting arrangements of the holders under Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme who are directors, supervisors, senior managements of Qingdao Haier and the personnel of the Company's platform are: if the holders were assessed by the Management Committee in 2017 with an up-to-standard result and the Company's audited net profits vested in shareholders of the parent company with deduction of non-recurring profits and losses in 2017 increased over 25% (inclusive) than those of the 2016, then 40% of the equity interests of underlying stocks in Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme under their name would all be vested to the holders; provided that the increase rate is between 20% and 25%, the percentage of vesting shall be determined by the Management Committee and the vesting shall then be proceeded after reporting to the Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Board of Directors of the Company and obtaining approval from them; provided that the increase rate is below 20% (not inclusive), then the equity interests would not be vested in 2017. If the holders were assessed by the Management Committee in 2018 with an up-to-standard result and the Company's audited net profits vested in shareholders of the parent company with deduction of non-recurring profits and losses in 2018 increased over 10% (inclusive) than those of the 2017, then 60% of the equity interests of underlying stocks in Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme under their name would all be vested to the holders; provided that the increase rate is between 8% and 10%, the percentage of vesting shall be determined by the Management Committee and the vesting shall then be proceeded after reporting to the Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Board of Directors of the Company and obtaining approval from them; provided that the increase rate is below 8% (not inclusive), then the equity interests would not be vested in 2018. (2) The holders under Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme excluding the holders in item (1) were assessed by the Management Committee with up-to-the standard results in 2017 and 2018, being vested with 40% and 60% of the equity interests, respectively. (III) Details of Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme Pursuant to the requirements of the Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme, the Company held the 13th meeting of the Ninth Session of the Board of Directors on 24 April 2018, on which the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (draft) and its Summary (hereinafter referred to as the"Draft of Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme") was considered and approved. For details of the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme (referred to as the"Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme"), please refer to the announcement published on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange (www.sse.com.cn) and the relevant statutory disclosure media by the Company on 26 April 2018. Pursuant to the requirements of the Draft of Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme, the Administrative Measures of Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. and the relevant requirements, there are 635 employees participating in the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme, holding 271,300,000 shares (RMB) in total. Pursuant to the Announcement regarding the Completion of Share Purchase in Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd. (L2018-032) disclosed by the Company on 23 May 2018, the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme has entrusted Industrial Securities Assets Management Co., Ltd. to establish the "Designated Asset Management Plan of Phase III Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.", pursuant to which the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme has accumulatively bought 16,063,800 shares of the Company via the secondary market, with an average transaction price of approximately RMB16.72 per share and the transaction amount of RMB268,586,736.00. The above shares purchased are to be locked up in accordance with the requirements with a lock-up period of 12 months since the disclosure date of the aforementioned announcement, being from 23 May 2018 to 22 May 2019. Pursuant to the Draft of Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme, the equity interests of the underlying stocks in the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme shall be vested to their holders in two phases, the specific vesting time would be after the lock-up period ends, which should be determined by the Management Committee. The assessment indicators and vesting arrangements under the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme are as follows: (1) The assessment indicators and vesting arrangements of the holders under the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme who are directors, supervisors, senior managements of Qingdao Haier and the personnel of the Company's platform are: if the holders were assessed by the Management Committee in 2018 with an up-to-standard result and the Company's audited net profits vested in shareholders of the parent company with deduction of non-recurring profits and losses in 2018 increased over 10% (inclusive) than those of the 2017, then 40% of the equity interests of underlying stocks in the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme under their name would all be vested to the holders; provided that the increase rate is between 8% and 10%, the percentage of vesting shall be determined by the Management Committee and the vesting shall then be proceeded after reporting to the Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Board of Directors of the Company and obtaining approval from them; provided that the increase rate is below 8% (not inclusive), then the equity interests would not be vested in 2018. If the holders were assessed by the Management Committee in 2019 with an up-to-standard result and the Company's audited net profits vested in shareholders of the parent company with deduction of non-recurring profits and losses in 2019 increased over 21% (inclusive) than those of the 2017, then 60% of the equity interests of underlying stocks in the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme under their name would all be vested to the holders; provided that the increase rate is between 16.64% and 21%, the percentage of vesting shall be determined by the Management Committee and the vesting shall then be proceeded after reporting to the Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Board of Directors of the Company and obtaining approval from them; provided that the increase rate is below 16.64% (not inclusive), then the equity interests would not be vested in 2019. (2) The holders under the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme excluding the holders in item 1 were assessed by the Management Committee with up-to-the standard results in 2018 and 2019, being vested with 40% and 60% of the equity interests, respectively. II. Details of Previous Vesting According to the achievement of the performance indicators set by the Employee Stock Ownership Scheme in each phase, the Management Committee has made vesting several times between 2017 and 2020, and as of this vesting, a total of 22,472,102 shares have been vested in the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme, a total of 20,966,219 shares have been vested in the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme and a total of 10,509,984 shares have been vested in the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme. For details of the vesting, please refer to the Announcement on Quota Distribution and Equity Allocation of Phase I Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.(No.: L2017-046) dated 7 December 2017, the Announcement on Quota Distribution and Equity Allocation of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.(No.: L2018-026) dated 12 May 2018, the Announcement on Second Quota Distribution and Equity Allocation of Phase I Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.(No.: L2018-081) dated 15 December 2018, the Announcement on Quota Distribution and Equity Allocation of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd.(No.: L2019-033) dated 30 May 2019 and the Announcement on Quota Distribution and Equity Allocation of Core Employee Stock Ownership Scheme of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (No.: L2020-038) dated 30 July 2020 disclosed by the Company. III. Details of the Current Vesting Phase I Employee Stock Ownership Scheme, Phase II Employee Stock Ownership Scheme and Phase III Employee Stock Ownership Scheme all provide that: "The equity allocation in shares of the Stock Ownership Scheme: in the duration period... for shares without future vesting objects due to various reasons such as substandard performance assessment and employee departure, the Management Committee will determine the equity allocation companies of the underlying stocks or incentivize other employees with greater contribution", pursuant to which the Committee determined on 15 January2021 that: (1) according to the vesting under the Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme, the number of 1,783,038 shares has been vested to 33 employees who passed the assessment; (2) according to the vesting under the Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme, the number of 1,132,832 shares has been vested to 116 employees who passed the assessment; (3) according to the vesting under the Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme, the number of 179,351 shares has been vested to 32 employees who passed the assessment. There are 6 directors, supervisors and senior managements of the Company participating in the current vesting. A total of 1,339,483 shares are vested this time (see the table below for details). Any changes in the shares they hold shall be subject to relevant provisions of the Rules Governing the Holding of Shares in the Company by Directors, Supervisors and Senior Managements of Listed Companies and Changes thereof. No. Name Position Total number of A shares vested (share) Total number of A shares held after vesting (share) 1 Liang Haishan Chairman 647,127 15,570,174 2 Tan Lixia Vice Chairman 517,702 9,053,622 3 Wang Peihua Chairman of the Board of Supervisors 21,334 182,401 4 Ming Guoqing Supervisors 13,938 119,449 5 Gong Wei Chief Financial Officer and Deputy General Manager 88,180 1,812,495 6 Ming Guozhen Secretary of the Board of Directors and Deputy General Manager 51,202 1,326,497 Total 1,339,483 28,064,638 The Company has completed the transfer of relevant shares at Shanghai Branch of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited on 27 January 2021 based on the aforementioned resolutions, with a total of 3,095,221 shares, and the transfer of shares has been completed. IV. Status quo and follow-up arrangement of the Stock Ownership Scheme 1. After the current vesting, all shares held by Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme has been vested, and Phase I Stock Ownership Scheme has been terminated. Subsequently, the property liquidation and distribution work will be carried out. 2. As of the date of this announcement, Phase II Stock Ownership Scheme holds 721,736 shares of the Company, and Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme holds 5,374,465 shares of the Company. The duration of Phase II and Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme shall not exceed 60 months and 36 months respectively, calculated from the time when the underlying stocks are registered to Phase III Employee Stock Ownership Scheme (registration completed on 28 March 2017 and 22 May 2018 respectively). According to the Draft of Phase II and Phase III Stock Ownership Scheme, upon the expiration of the lock-up period of the Stock Ownership Scheme and when all assets of the Stock Ownership Scheme are monetary funds, the stock Ownership Scheme may be terminated in advance. If the vesting of shares held under the Stock Ownership Scheme is finished and the assets of the Stock Ownership Scheme are only monetary funds, the Stock Ownership Scheme would be terminated in advance. About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized mass production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as smaller household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. IR contact: Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany T: +49 6172 9454 143 F: +49 6172 9454 42143 M: +49 160 9469 3601 Email: y.sun@haier.de Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday night delivered her third annual State of the State address, honing in on her plan to aid the states economic recovery while getting COVID-19 under control, and she asked the Legislature for help. Based on the political environment this past year, you might think Republicans and Democrats in Lansing cant find much common ground on anything. But the reality is, despite all these crises, and the gridlock in Washington, we took real bipartisan action to get things done for you and your family, Whitmer said, addressing Michiganders directly from her capitol office, instead of the traditional venue in the House Chambers. She announced two new initiatives: a series of future economic development and job growth efforts under her new Michigan Back to Work initiative, and making the states $2-per-hour hazard pay increase for front-line workers permanent. The legislature previously put in place the $2-per-hour pay increase for direct-care workers, like nurses and respiratory therapists, and has extended it. Whitmer proposed making it permanent. Its not enough to say thank you. We need to show support, Whitmer said of the proposal. The Michigan Back to Work initiative, which includes projects to be announced throughout the year, will aim to protect, grow, and create more good-paying jobs, Whitmer said. She highlighted vaccination as one of the ways Michigan can return to normal, both in terms of economic performance and daily life. She urged people to get the vaccine when it becomes available to them, and to continue taking cautionary measures like wearing masks and avoiding indoor gatherings. She also recapped her $5.6 billion COVID-19 relief plan, which sends largely federal emergency funding into areas like vaccine distribution, schools and small business assistance. The plan includes $90.2 million for vaccine distribution, $225 million to help small businesses through three new Michigan Economic Development Corporation programs, $574.8 million for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, $660.9 million for emergency rental assistance, $2 billion for additional food assistance and $1.66 billion for schools from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Republicans have countered with their own, $3.5 billion plan, which puts $22 million toward vaccine distribution, $144 million toward COVID-19 testing and $415 million to assist businesses affected by the shutdown orders. It would also tie $2.1 billion in education assistance to a law that would wrest the power to open and close schools during the pandemic away from the Whitmer administration and seat it, instead, with local health departments. Related: House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Despite the differences between the proposals, Whitmers speech struck a bipartisan tone, highlighting things the legislature and governors office had accomplished together. She urged policymakers to put aside their differences and continue working together to address COVID-19 as a problem both for both public health and the economy. While roads didnt take the starring role they have in previous State of the State speeches, Whitmer did address what she called the long infrastructure saga in Michigan. Whitmer famously staked her gubernatorial bid on a pledge to fix the damn roads, though full funding to accomplish that has been elusive. During her first year in office, the Republican-led legislature rejected her plan to hike the fuel tax by 45 cents per gallon, which would have gotten 90% of roads into good or fair condition by 2029. Related: Whitmer tells Michigan she hasnt forgotten about roads in State of the State speech Shes since taken smaller bites at the apple. In early 2020, she secured $3.5 billion in bonding through the State Transportation Commission to start fixing state roads and has celebrated those improvements even during the coronavirus pandemic. The funding picture for local roads, however, remains unchanged. In Wednesdays address, she announced she was open to negotiating a funding solution for the roads, referencing previous legislation that would have given local government options to levy local fuel taxes or add onto registration fees. She also re-upped a call for revamping Michigans water infrastructure, the Michigan Clean Water Plan, something she highlighted as something that would create 7,500 jobs in Michigan. Its time for the legislature to pass these bills so we can start rebuilding Michigans water infrastructure, Whitmer said. She ended the speech on a hopeful note, saying she would launch a fixing the damn road ahead tour to listen to concerns from everyday Michiganders and find common ground. Addressing lawmakers, she said, Our job now is to fix the damn road ahead, together. Read more on MLive: Lawmakers react to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers call for bipartisanship in State of the State address House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Michigan economy, COVID-19 response completely intertwined, says Whitmer ahead of State of the State address One thing Whitmer has to address in Wednesdays State of the State? The state of Michigans economy. Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery Read Whitmers $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus recovery for Michigan schools, economy Republicans in Massachusetts are seeking to censure Gov. Charlie Baker for supporting a second impeachment of former President Donald Trump. The Boston Herald reports that Geoff Diehl, the former co-chair of Trumps campaign in Massachusetts, wants the Republican governor to retract his stance. Republican Adam Lange said the state GOP needs to unite but Baker is causing division. Lange and other supporters of the censure say the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol wasnt representative of Republicans or Trump supporters. Five people died. The U.S. Senate is expected to open Trumps impeachment trial the week of Feb. 8. Bakers office didnt respond Wednesday. Baker, a moderate and longtime Trump critic, has said he supports a second impeachment because former Vice President Mike Pence declined to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. I said at the time that I believe that Vice President Pence should be empowered to manage the transition to a new administration, and I continue to believe that, Baker previously said, according to the Herald. I also said that there were a number of means and mechanisms that were available to deal with that at that point in time. Since then, several have been taken off the table. New Delhi: Police Commissioner SN Srivastava on Thursday (January 28) wrote to Delhi Police staff applauding them for their patience in tackling the tractor rally violence on Republic Day. In his letter, Srivastava said, "I would like to tell you that the coming days can be very challenging for us. So, we will have to be alert. We will have to remain patient and disciplined. I thank you for your patience and restraint." The Delhi Police Commissioner further wrote, "You showed great patience despite the farmers' agitation turning violent...394 of our friends were injured in the violence and some are in hospital. I met some of them, they are being given proper treatment." Delhi police commissioner writes to Delhi Police staff. His letter reads, "You showed great patience despite the farmers' agitation turning violent...394 of our friends were injured in the violence & some are in hospital. I met some of them, they are being given proper treatment" pic.twitter.com/8qcgWPZN4q ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 In a media briefing on Wednesday, the Delhi Police chief said, "Farmer leaders were also involved in the violence that broke out during tractor rally," adding that the farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the rally that was supposed to be held between 12 pm and 5 pm. SN Srivastava told the media, "Farmer leaders have betrayed, they did not follow conditions set for the tractor parade," adding "Some farmer leaders like Satnam Singh Pannu and Darshan Pal gave inflammatory speeches, following which the protesters breached the barricades." Meanwhile, lookout circulars have issued against farmer leaders who have been named in FIRs registered in connection with the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor rally in the city on Republic Day. Live TV The booked farmer leaders have been asked to surrender their passports. The decision to this effect was taken following a series of meetings chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah since Tuesday when the large scale violence took place in the national capital during the farmers' tractor rally. Thirty-seven farm union leaders, including six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have been named in an FIR registered at the Samaypur Badli police station, in Outer Delhi. Notably, the Delhi Police had held five rounds of meetings with the farmer leaders before the tractor rally. Britain's official development institution CDC Group on Thursday announced a USD 30 million credit facility to Tata Cleantech Capital - an arm of - under its green lending facility. This is the first such green loan facility extended by the British impact investor. The facility will enable Tata Cleantech to offer loans to businesses across the country that focus on e-mobility solutions as well as water and energy efficiency, thus help mitigate the effects of climate change, a statement said, adding this is CDC's first directed green lending facility. Tata Cleantech is a joint venture between and the International Corporation (IFC) and is the first of its kind private sector green investment bank with a focus on climate and advisory services. In 2019, it secured USD 100 million line from the Green Climate Fund to develop a roof-top solar market. India is the fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions and is among the top 10 water consuming countries in the world. The CDC loan aims to address the financing barriers by directing lending to specific sub-sectors, incentivising rapid deployment of capital at scale thus helping achieve the four of the sustainable development goals -- clean water and sanitation (goal 6), affordable and (7), responsible consumption and production (12) and climate action (13). Tata Cleantech's managing director Manish Chourasia said they will help develop the nascent cleantech sectors -- e-mobility, energy and water efficiency through this directed green lending facility. Srini Nagarajan, managing director and head of Asia at CDC, said this pioneering facility is the first of its kind for CDC and helps address some of the most important climate and resource challenges India is experiencing. Tata Cleantech has financed over 220 projects and has contributed to the generate 7.7 gw of renewable energy. It has a loan portfolio value of USD 850 million. (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 Illinois attorney generals office and secretary of state say malware could be placed on the victims device if they click the link in this latest scam, or they could be tricked into providing personal information. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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 daughter-in-law of late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is suspected of ramming her car into police and pedestrians in a road rage attack in Damascus. Arab media reported that Aline Skaf is wanted by Syrian security agents after witnesses described a 4x4 running into crowds in the country's capital. The former model is said to have flown into a rage after being pulled over by a police patrol, crashing into three policemen and two civilians before being stopped - with reports of weapons being fired from another vehicle that was escorting her car. Anger grew further on social media after rumours that she had been spirited away by a sympathetic Syrian official who saved her from being arrested. But Damascus security forces are now said to have issued an order for her arrest, according to UK-based paper Asharq al-Awsat. Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife Aline Skaf, who is suspected of running her 4x4 into police and pedestrians in the Syrian capital Damascus Pictures circulated on Arab social media showing the aftermath of the alleged collision in Damascus, with Syrian security forces now said to be seeking her arrest Skaf is the wife of Hannibal Gaddafi, and opposition activists in Syria claim that she enjoys a privileged status in the country. 'No one cares for the innocent victims, all that matters is that Gaddafi's daughter-in-law remains happy that there is someone to support her,' one resident said. Hannibal, 45, is the former dictator's fifth son and was among the Libyan regime figures sanctioned by the US in the final months of the Gaddafi dictatorship. In 2008, he was briefly arrested by Swiss authorities in Geneva on charges of mistreating two domestic servants. The charges were soon dropped in an out-of-court settlement, but Libya reacted angrily by cutting oil supplies and withdrawing $5billion from Swiss banks. Two Swiss businessmen working in Libya were also arrested, one of whom later received a visit from Hannibal in prison. Hannibal also sued the Geneva authorities over a police photograph following his arrest that was published on the front page of a Swiss newspaper. In 2009, police were called to a top London hotel over claims that Hannibal had attacked his wife in a luxury suite on Christmas Day. Three of Hannibal's security staff were arrested at the scene for obstructing police officers, according to reports at the time. But Hannibal able to slip away in an embassy car after calling the Libyan ambassador, who informed officers that he had diplomatic immunity. The aftermath in Damascus after the former model is said to have flown into a rage after being pulled over by a police patrol, crashing into three policemen and two civilians These pictures of Hannibal Gaddafi and Aline Skaf were discovered in a villa after the Gaddafi regime fell from power Hannibal is the fifth son of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, pictured, who fell from power in 2011 and was killed by opposition fighters later that year When his father's regime collapsed in 2011, Hannibal fled to Algeria, before later moving on to Oman where he was granted asylum. Muammar Gaddafi was killed two months later after being captured in his hometown of Sirte while it was overrun by anti-government fighters. Another son, Mutassim Gaddafi, was killed in the same bloody encounter, having led the doomed military defence of Sirte. In 2015, Hannibal was arrested in Lebanon in a case relating to a cleric's 1978 disappearance. His arrest came just days after he had briefly been kidnapped by an armed group in the country who were apparently loyal to the missing cleric. A report last year said that Hannibal was still in Lebanese detention for allegedly concealing information about the case. The late colonel had several other sons and one biological daughter, Aisha, who was also given asylum in Oman despite being wanted by Interpol. The eldest Gaddafi child, Mohammed Gaddafi, also fled to Oman, while two other sons, Khamis and Saif al-Arab, were both killed in the 2011 civil war. Another son, Saadi, had an obscure career in Italian football before fleeing to Niger during the war, only to be extradited back to Libya in 2014. In 2018 he was cleared of murdering a fellow footballer, but still faced other charges and was still thought to be in custody in Tripoli last year. Meanwhile Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was once regarded as his father's heir apparent, is thought to be lying low in Libya after being freed in 2017. Saif was once hailed as a reformer who had helped bring about Libya's 2000s reconciliation with the West. But during the war he came under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged murder and persecution of civilians. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Anti-government protesters are again rallying at Republic Square in Yerevan, demanding the resignation of the Pashinyan Administration and the formation of an interim government. The demonstration began with a prayer, and then a moment of silence was held in honor of fallen troops as the rally is taking place on January 28 Army Day. A prominent filmmaker in attendance, Arshak Zakarian, announced that this gathering has no affiliation with any political party. Of course, here I saw people representing various political parties. But weve all come here as Armenians, as citizens of Armenia. Representatives of national minorities are also here, he said, adding that the demonstrators will march down the street to continue protesting outside the prosecutors office. Renowned artist, actor Hrant Tokhatyan, who was also in attendance, told reporters: Many of my colleagues are here. Some of them are not, I dont know why they arent here, perhaps they support the incumbent government. Some of them think that going out to the streets is unnecessary. Photos by Hayk Manukyan Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan "George and Juan were instrumental in guiding us in the negotiations and eventual purchase. With their industry experience, expertise and professionalism, the transaction went smoothly." Jeff Hinchcliff Performance Brokerage Services, a Harley-Davidson and new car dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Denneys Harley-Davidson in Springfield, Missouri from The Denney Family to Steve and Jeff Hinchcliff. The Denney Family has a long history with Harley-Davidson. Their legacy began in Fort Smith, Arkansas in when they opened their first dealership in 1976. In 1989, they opened their second location in Springfield, Missouri and later sold the Arkansas location. The dealership is located on the outskirts of Springfield allowing riders to escape to the backroads and enjoy the Ozark Mountains where lakes, rivers, valleys, and national forests abound. It is safe to say that The Denney Family has had a long road and weathered the highs and lows during their long tenure. Through it all, the customer service and community involvement has been instrumental. Denneys Harley-Davidson celebrated their 17th H.O.G.S. for Dogs charity amid the pandemic of 2020, one of their biggest events they host. The only thing bigger than the motorcycles are the smiles the riders have when they purchase a bike. Customer service and the family atmosphere have paved the way for the new owners. Mark Denney commented, George Chaconas and Juan Pardo of Performance Brokerage Services reached out to me several years ago about selling as they had several buyers that wanted to buy our familys Harley-Davidson business. They stayed in touch, and as we got older, and with the pandemic and the changes at the Motor Company, we finally decided to sell and retire. The ultimate buyer they brought to us was great! We want to thank George and Juan, and highly recommend them when you are ready to sellout and retire! Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has represented for sale over 250 automotive and motorcycle dealerships making it the highest volume automotive and motorcycle dealership brokerage firm in North America. George C. Chaconas, the exclusive advisor for the buyer in this transaction and the head of the National Harley-Davidson and Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services commented, I want to thank Mark Denney, his brothers and Amanda Stehle for the opportunity to help the family sellout and retire. Amanda and her husband, Brian, have been instrumental employees and will be staying on with the new ownership. After selling Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln, Nebraska to Steve and Jeff Hinchcliff, it was an honor and privilege to advise them on the purchase of their second Harley-Davidson dealership, Denneys Harley-Davidson in Springfield, Missouri. Good luck to you and your team! Steve and Jeff Hinchcliff own several automotive dealerships in Omaha, Nebraska, though they are no strangers to the Harley-Davidson brand. They have owned Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln, Nebraska since March of 2018. Prior to their purchase, it went through a relocation, four expansions, major remodeling and two additions. Steve and Jeff know how to keep the wheels greased while providing superior customer service backed by a team of professional sales members, finance experts, service technicians, and a knowledgeable parts and accessories staff to support their customers. It was a natural fit for both sides who pride themselves on the same vision and strive for customer satisfaction. Jeff Hinchcliff commented, Since Steve and I acquired Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln, Nebraska from George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services, we had always envisioned buying another dealership. We reached out to George and hired him to help us identify dealerships for sale. After looking at several stores, we decided to target Denneys Harley-Davidson as it was a great opportunity! George and Juan were instrumental in guiding us in the negotiations and eventual purchase. With their industry experience, expertise and professionalism, the transaction went smoothly. If you are in the market to acquire a Harley-Davidson dealership, I would highly recommend George and Performance Brokerage Services! The dealership will be renamed and operate as Renegade Harley-Davidson, remaining at its current location of 3980 West Sunshine Street in Springfield, Missouri. Steve and Jeff Hinchcliff have plans to eventually relocate the dealership and build a brand-new state of the art facility. The seller was represented by Robert Bass of Bass Sox Mercer. The buyer was represented by Paul R. Elofson of Fitzgerald Schorr, P.C. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is the nations highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in intermediary services to buyers and sellers of automotive, motorcycle, commercial truck, RV and equipment dealerships. Performance Brokerage Services offers a unique approach by providing complimentary dealership assessments, no upfront fees, no reimbursement of costs and is paid a success fee only after the transaction closes. Clients benefit from utilizing an extensive network of industry related accountants, attorneys, hundreds of registered buyers and longstanding relationships with most of the automotive and powersport manufacturers. With corporate offices in Irvine, California, and 5 regional offices in Utah, Florida, Texas, Virginia and New Jersey, Performance Brokerage Services provides its clients national exposure with local representation. After 25 years, 700 transactions and with a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct, integrity and transparency. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Taos Ski Valley instructor Orlando Torres reacts to the sound of an explosive Sunday (March 15,) signaling that the mountain was clear and the 2019-20 season was officially over. "It's hard but I'm grateful," Torres said. "I know it's going to be better for everyone." Morgan Timms/Taos News 'Arrest Randeep Hooda' trends on twitter after his 'sexist and casteist' joke video on Mayawati goes viral Post marriage, Varun Dhawan thanks fans for love India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Mumbai, Jan 28: Actor Varun Dhawan expressed gratitude to his fans for sending their best wishes to him and fashion designer Natasha Dalal after they got married. The Bollywood star and his fiance tied the knot in an intimate ceremony, attended by family and close friends, at Alibaug's luxurious resort The Mansion House on January 24. Taking to Twitter, Dhawan said both him and Dalal were touched by the blessings coming their way post the wedding. Varun Dhawan marries Natasha Dalal in intimate ceremony "The last few days me and Natasha have received so much love and positivity from everyone so just wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart," the 33-year-old actor wrote. Dhawan was planning to tie the knot with Dalal in May 2020 but due to COVID-19 pandemic the wedding was pushed to 2021. Soon after the wedding ceremony, the "Coolie No 1" star shared two photographs from the wedding ceremony on his Instagram account. "Life long love just became official," he captioned the pictures. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News On the work front, Dhawan will next be seen in Jug Jug Jeeyo , alongside Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Kiara Advani. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 12:43 [IST] Welcome Guest! You Are Here: NEW DELHI: Noted actor Deep Sidhu, a name that has been in news for all the wrong reasons, has now refuted all the claims saying that he has not instigated the crowd to become violent towards policemen. He further denied removing the national flag. Initially, after admitting that he was allegedly present at the incident, the Punjabi actor reiterated that hoisting the Nishan Sahib flag, was not meant to demean the countrys national flag and had put up the flag as a "symbolic protest." "To symbolically register our protest against the new farm legislation, we put up 'Nishan Sahib' and a farmer flag and also raised the slogan of Kisan Mazdoor Ekta," news agency PTI quoted Sidhu as saying. This comes in the backdrop of massive protests over farm laws which turned violent on Tuesday and led to severe clashes between policemen and farmers. This incident drew sharp criticisms from political leaders, with the Congress' Shashi Tharoor saying he supported the farmers' protests from the start but cannot condone "lawlessness". "Most unfortunate. I have supported the farmers protests from the start but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on #RepublicDay no flag but the sacred tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort," the former union minister said on Twitter, tagging a tweet that carried a video of the incident. Sidhu, who seems to be sharing a good rapport with BJP has been accused of sympathizing with pro-Khalistan supporters. However, he had categorically said that this incident is unfortunate and should not be given any communal colour or dubbed as fundamentalists or hardliners. Sidhu was an aide of actor Sunny Deol when the latter contested from Gurdaspur seat in Punjab during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Deol, now a BJP MP, had distanced himself from Sidhu in December last year after he joined the farmers' agitation. As it promised last year, China is turning its COVID-19 vaccines into a global public good, contributing to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. The country has granted conditional marketing authorization for its first self-developed COVID-19 vaccine. Its several other vaccines for COVID-19 are currently undergoing phase-3 clinical trials in many foreign countries. At present, Chinese vaccines are winning recognition, orders, and users from more and more countries. On Jan. 2, Egypt granted official permission for emergency use of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), and decided to purchase 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China. Thailand announced on Jan. 3 that it had signed an agreement for purchasing two million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (Sinovac). On Jan. 6, Peru said that it had reached a purchase agreement with Sinopharm, and that the first one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine would arrive in the country this month. On the same day, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced that the country had received three million doses of COVID-19 vaccine it purchased from Sinovac and had started to distribute the vaccine across the country. Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan received his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm on Jan. 10, and urged all people in the country to get the injection. As the COVID-19 pandemic is still causing havoc throughout the world, vaccines play a critical role in humanitys efforts to secure a complete victory against the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at a WHO press briefing on Monday that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was going to reach 100 million this week. Quoting two latest reports, the WHO chief pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused global losses equivalent to several trillion U.S. dollars, and that the world would have to face not only a catastrophic moral failure, but also an economic failure if equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines could not be ensured. China signed an agreement with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) on Oct. 8, 2020, officially joining the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), an initiative that aims to accelerate the development and manufacturing of vaccines for the COVID-19 and ensure that every country enjoys equitable access to the vaccines. The initiative intends to provide two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for higher-income self-financing countries and lower-income funded nations by the end of 2021. Even though China is leading the world with several vaccines in advanced stages of R&D and with ample production capacity, it still decided to join COVAX. We are taking this concrete step to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines, especially to developing countries, and hope more capable countries will also join and support COVAX, said Chinese Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Hua Chunying at a press conference. Joining COVAX represents an important step China has taken to uphold the concept of a shared community of health for all and to honor its commitment to turn COVID-19 vaccines into a global public good, Hua noted. Once the Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are developed and put into use, China will fulfill its commitment to make the vaccines global public goods and provide them to the world at a fair and reasonable price, said Shen Bo, deputy director-general of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Foreign Ministry, at a press conference held on Dec. 31, 2020. China has always attached importance to the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries, Shen said, adding that China has considered providing vaccines to developing countries in various ways, including donations and free aid. China National Biotec Group (CNBG) affiliated with Sinopharm has established two high-grade biosafety workshops for producing inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in central Chinas Wuhan and Chinas capital city Beijing. Both workshops have started large-scale production of the vaccine. Sinopharm would be able to produce nearly 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020, according to Liu Jingzhen, chairman of Sinopharm, noting that the groups production capacity would probably surpass 1 billion doses in 2021. Sinovacs first inactivated COVID-19 vaccine production line completed and put into use last August has an annual production capacity of around 500 million doses, and the companys second production line for the vaccine is ready to be put into service soon, said Yin Weidong, chairman and CEO of the company. Sinovac is capable of producing one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine per year, thus guaranteeing supplies of vaccine for 500 million people (two doses per person), Yin said, adding that production of relevant products in the company is in full swing 24 hours a day. At present, 18 enterprises in China have started to build up their production capacity of COVID-19 vaccine, according to Mao Junfeng, an official from Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Its believed that with further improving production capacity of the vaccine, China will be able to meet the domestic demand for large-scale vaccination while contributing to the global fight against the pandemic by making its vaccines a global public good, Mao noted. A New Jersey appeals court has affirmed the 2018 firing of a Trenton police officer terminated for pepper spraying a suspect inside a jail cell. The former officer, Anthony Villanueva, was indicted by federal government for the 2017 incident on accusations he deprived the man of his civil rights. That case is pending in federal court. In November 2017, Villanueva fired a can of chemical spray at Quaree Singletary inside a Trenton police holding cell while the cell door was closing, and then 24-year-old Singletary was inside. The department found Villanueva violated policy, and charged him internally with conduct unbecoming a public employee and misconduct for the improper use of the spray, and later submitting a false report about the incident. He was fired in June 2018. Villanueva appealed his firing to the states Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which in May 2019, following testimony against him from fellow officers, upheld the termination. That decision was then adopted by the states Civil Service Commission. The former officer and his attorney, George Dougherty, then went to the state courts Appellate Division, which on Thursday sided with the OAL judges 40-page decision. In proceedings in the OAL and the appeals court, the judge found Villanuevas reporting on the incident was starkly different from parts of the incident caught on police security cameras. Villanueva claimed Singletary assaulted him during a phone call from jail, then had a long struggle to get him back in a jail cell and handcuffed, forcing him to use pepper spray. But there was no long struggle, the OAL judge found. Video of the incident showed Singletary strolling unaccompanied down the hall leading to the jail cells and entering the cell. As the cell door began to close and was almost shut, Villanueva sprayed the chemical agent inside. He was also seen walking coming down the hall shaking the pepper spray as he approached Singletarys cell. Villanueva argued in his appeal, among other arguments, that the OAL erred by finding that he violated state policy on using pepper spray, and Trenton police failed to conduct an adequate investigation before terminating his employment. The appeals court fully backed the OAL judge, Jeff Masin, in his findings that Villanueva was properly terminated. Dougherty believes the city made a pile of mistakes investigating Villanueva, including not interviewing his client or his supervising sergeant. He plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Villanueva has several other issues pending from his four years on the Trenton police force, which all occurred in 2017. The Singletary incident was included in a federal civil rights case the U.S. Attorneys Office brought against Villanueva and Trenton police officer Drew Inman. Both Villanueva and Inman were charged in April 2019 with aiding and abetting each other in depriving the civil rights of Chanzie Washington in April 2017. Washington ran from police during a traffic stop and when officers caught up with him at a fence, they ordered him to raise his arms and then climb over the fence, authorities allege. While Washington was complying, Villanueva punched him in the face. Inman then charged at Washington and tackled him from behind, and joined Villanueva in repeatedly punching Washington in the face, according to the indictment against them. The incident was recorded on other officers body cams. Inman is not charged in the Singletary incident. The federal case against them was initially scheduled for trial in 2020, but has been repeatedly postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Villanueva also faces three civil lawsuits from Washington, Singletary, and Salaam Felton. Villanueva arrested Felton in March 2017 following a foot pursuit following a reported shooting. As Felton was walking on a street, not running, Villanueva ran up behind him and punched him in the head several times before tackling him to the ground. The video also captured Villanueva bragging about the arrest later on a phone call. I snuck up from behind him and just punched him, he just fell, Villanueva says, mocking Felton by quoting him, You didnt got to punch me man. Felton said in suit that he was beaten so badly during his arrest he suffered bleeding on the brain and other injuries. All the charges against Felton were later dropped. The three civil suits, which name Villanueva, police officials and the city, are all pending, according to attorney Robin Lord who filed them with Clifford Bidlingmaier. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Harris Countys 23 felony judges are no longer being sued over uneven bail practices that plaintiffs say discriminate against poor defendants. The civil rights lawsuit against the county and its reform-minded sheriff will move forward without them. The federal judge presiding over Russell v. Harris County ruled Wednesday that once the bulk of the state district judges withdraw an appeal of one of her earlier rulings, they will be automatically removed as defendants in the case. Lawyers for poor defendants say the mechanics of who is listed as a party will not prevent them from pursuing their goal of full adversarial bail hearings. The judges were not part of the original lawsuit, but were added at Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthals request. Their removal was precipitated by an appellate court ruling in a similar challenge to the bail system in Dallas County, in which the 5th U.S. Circuit found the judges were cloaked by immunity and should therefore be excluded from the Dallas lawsuit. The 2019 Harris County lawsuit, from lawyers at Civil Rights Corps in Washington, D.C., and pro bono counsel at Susman Godfrey, contends the bail system discriminates against people who cant afford sometimes arbitrarily high pretrial release rates. The same team of lawyers brought the misdemeanor bail challenge that ended in a seven-year consent decree requiring that the majority of people arrested be released on general order bonds. The vast majority of inmates at the Harris County Jail are awaiting trial on felony charges. And the notion of tinkering with the felony bail process has stirred up deep emotions among law enforcement and Gov. Greg Abbott, who issued an executive order many say it was prompted by the bail reformers in Harris County prohibiting releases of inmates during the pandemic who had prior convictions or current allegations involving violent crime. Rosenthals virtual courtroom for much of the past year has offered a rare gathering for all the key players in Harris Countys judicial system along with representatives from Attorney General Ken Paxtons office to weigh the reality at the jail amid the pandemic and what it might take to tackle bail hearings for inmates. gabrielle.banks@chron.com Together we will redefine what it means to live and work in uncharted territory while unlocking the opportunities the new normal has to offer. - Rex Kurzius, CEO of Asset Panda On January 21, 2021, 51 Innovation Awards finalists and their supporters attended a virtual event hosted by D CEO and Dallas Innovates to celebrate 13 individuals and companies leading Dallas Fort-Worth into what D CEO Magazine is calling The Golden Age of Innovation. Of this richly diverse group, Rex Kurzius, CEO of Asset Panda won the highly prestigious Startup Innovator of the Year Award. I share this honor with my incredible team whose passion for helping our clients solve complex problems inspires me to nurture an environment that celebrates creativity and fuels innovation, said Kurzius. Together we will redefine what it means to live and work in uncharted territory while unlocking the opportunities the new normal has to offer. D CEO magazine released the list of winners the day after the event acknowledging the contributions they have made to fortify Dallas Fort-Worths journey through the aftermath of last years events. 2020 created a global demand for innovative new products and solutions never before seen, wrote Kelsey Vanderschoot, Associate Editor of D CEO Magazine. Many have risen to the challenge, working tirelessly to meet new needs, ease complex processes, and create a new way forward. The second annual Innovations Awards ceremony honored outstanding companies, CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, entrepreneurs, and other leaders driving innovation and disrupting business in North Texas. About Asset Panda Founded in 2012, Asset Panda is a powerful and flexible cloud-based asset management platform designed to help the world work smarter. The platform is designed with flexibility in mind, which allows Asset Panda to be configured to work the way the user does, for any kind of company. The company is committed to providing its customers with outstanding customer service and a constantly improving product. To learn more, visit https://www.assetpanda.com/ About Dallas Innovates Dallas Innovates is a collaboration of D Magazine Partners and the Dallas Regional Chamber. The publication, launched in 2016, covers the ideas and innovators that make Dallas-Fort Worth a hub for innovation and business growth. It covers whats new and next in the regiononline and in printfrom startup to enterprise, education to invention, and creative to social innovation. You can get the daily email here. About D CEO Magazine D CEO is a national award-winning magazine that covers Dallas-Fort Worth companies by writing about the executives and entrepreneurs who lead them. 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. After a day of giving coronavirus vaccinations, Michael Weber and his team were headed back to Grants Pass, Oregon, to administer their last doses on Tuesday when traffic suddenly came to a halt. Authorities had closed the snow-covered highway because of a car accident, and it would be hours before traffic could resume. But Weber and his team of 20 staff members and volunteers didnt have that much time to use the six Moderna doses they had left before the vaccines expired. Healthcare workers administered the Moderna vaccine to stranded drivers in Oregon. Credit:Josephine County Public Health Thats when Weber had an idea: If he couldnt make it to the clinic on time, he could bring the clinic to six other drivers stranded on the highway. I decided to start going door-to-door, car-to-car, offering [the vaccine], Weber, who is Josephine Countys public health director, told The Washington Post. The Challenge: Double Agents is heating up with the drama, and a ton of attention has been thrown toward Fessy Shafaat and Tori Deal this season. Deal got engaged on the show to Jordan Wiseley, but theyve since called off her engagement. And shes raised eyebrows after being seen on vacation with Shafaat. Now, a cast member from Double Agents is saying he always knew Shafaat was trying to flirt with Deal. Heres what happened. Tori Deal and Fessy Shafaat from The Challenge: Double Agents appeared to vacation together Mikala Thomas and Tori Deal attend the Are You The One? New York Premiere at 1515 Broadway on June 2, 2016, in New York City | John Lamparski/WireImage There have been plenty of rumors to suggest Deal and Shafaat are romantically involved. Photos surfaced in early 2021 seemingly showing Deal with Shafaat in Turks and Caicos. This raised plenty of questions, as both Deal and Shafaat recently exited long-term relationships. Shafaat insists nothings going on between him and Deal. He told his fans and followers that he and Deal are great friends, and nothing was bound to change. As for Deal, she doesnt appear to be denying the rumors that shes involved with Shafaat. And her friend and co-star, Aneesa Ferreira, also called her out on their podcast. Ive been trying to lay low, Deal told Ferreira on MTVs Official Challenge Podcast. You mean, laying low in Turks? Ferreira noted. Youre gonna call me out right now? Deal said back. I thought we were friends. I thought this was a safe space. This cast member said he knew Shafaat was getting flirty when Deal was engaged Perhaps Shafaat and Deal thought they were being sneaky regarding their alleged attraction toward one another. But a Double Agents cast member saw right through it. Nelson Thomas is a regular on The Challenge, and he went up against Shafaat in a hall brawl elimination round. He then spoke with Ferreira and Deal on the Challenge podcast and the topic of Deals possible romance with Shafaat came up. Now, when it came down to you, Tori I thought you and Fessy had a thing going on at that time, so yall were rocking with each other, Thomas said. But what is a thing? Deal asked. What is a thing going on? I knew Fessy was attracted to you last season we all knew that, Thomas continued. Then, Ferreira and Deal noted they didnt know that, so Thomas rephrased to say he and Cory Wharton knew. Cory and I knew that, Thomas added. And going throughout this season, watching him make his moves, youre like, man, youre really pushing it, Fessy, between you and Tori. We dont know what was going on or what was said, so I cant speak on that. But from the outside looking in, this is what I see. Deal and Jordan Wiseley broke off their engagement recently RELATED: The Challenge: Tori Deal Gave a Clue Her Broken Engagement to Jordan Wiseley Isnt as Amicable as it Seems Deal denied any flirtation that happened between her and Shafaat prior to this season but it seems outsiders had an inkling something couldve been going on. However, up until recently, Deal was happily engaged. She and Wiseley got engaged on the show, and they broke off their engagement in November 2020. I thought I knew love when Jordan and I were together, but there is a different kind of love that two people feel when they decide its time to experience life apart, Deal posted to Instagram. Even though Jordan and I are going to be moving forward in separate ways, our love, support, and connection with one another only grows stronger and deeper. Well have to wait and see if anything really is going on between Deal and Shafaat, but Thomas certainly isnt helping the rumors cease. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2021 ) :EU demands that AstraZeneca make up delays of its Covid-19 vaccine by supplying doses from its UK factories on Wednesday risked setting the bloc and Britain on a post-Brexit collision course. Both the European Union and former member Britain insisted the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company uphold contractual delivery promises to each of them -- even as the company said there was not enough to go around. "The 27 European Union member states are united that AstraZeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreements," EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides told a Brussels media conference. In London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he expected AstraZeneca to honour its commitment to deliver two million doses a week to the UK from its plant in north Wales, where a bomb scare paused production for a few hours on Wednesday. "All I can say is that we're very confident in our supplies, we're very confident in our contracts and we're going ahead on that basis," Johnson told a news conference. The row was triggered last Friday when AstraZeneca informed the EU that it could only supply a quarter of the vaccine doses it had promised for the first three months of this year. That infuriated the European Commission, which is planning this week to add the AstraZeneca vaccine to two others it has already authorised -- from BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna -- to help reach a goal of inoculating 70 percent of adults in the EU by the end of August. The anger became incandescent when AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot on Tuesday gave an interview saying his company was prioritising supplies to the UK, which had signed its contract three months before the EU did, and was required only to make a "best effort" to supply the bloc. Kyriakides said that went against the terms of the contact AstraZeneca signed with the European Commission. "The view that the company is not obliged to deliver because we signed a 'best effort' agreement is neither correct nor is it acceptable," she said. "We reject the logic of first-come, first-served. That may work at the neighbourhood butcher's but not in contracts, and not in our advanced purchase agreements. " - Focus on UK plants - She noted that AstraZeneca had four operating vaccine plants in Europe -- two in Britain and two in the EU -- and the contract made no distinction between them in terms of the contractual volumes to be supplied. EU officials briefing journalists on condition of anonymity stressed the European Union had allocated 336 million Euros ($406 million) to AstraZeneca to permit it to expand production. Explanations from the company for the delay had varied and the main one, talking about a "yield problem" in one of the EU-based plants, was unsatisfactory, the officials said. "We are not told what the real problem is," one of the officials said. As AstraZeneca's other plants -- notably in the UK -- were unaffected, "their story is slightly inconsistent". "The real issue is that we are not having clarity on the path ahead," the official said, adding: "Which plants are they going to use to fulfil the contract?" - EU-UK tensions - Should AstraZeneca start diverting vaccine supply from the two UK plants, however, that could jeopardise Johnson's commitment to have 15 million Britons vaccinated by mid-February. Already, thanks mainly to the AstraZeneca vaccine, Britain is one of the leading countries for the pace at which it is inoculating its population -- doing so at five times the rate of EU member states collectively. A sudden slowdown in those doses would be dramatic, especially as Britain has suffered the highest death toll from Covid-19 of any European country and Johnson is counting on the vaccinations to stem deaths Tensions between the EU and Britain remain high in the wake of Brexit, with British traders and consumers suffering as they cope with higher costs and bureaucracy outside of the European single market. The EU, meanwhile, plans to grill AstraZeneca further in a meeting with its executives later Wednesday. There was some confusion, though, over the videoconference, with one EU official saying the company had abruptly pulled out but AstraZeneca saying it would attend. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 10:22:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia will soon launch a mask-wearing campaign in schools nationwide amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ethiopia Ministry of Education said on Wednesday. The campaign, dubbed "No Mask No Service in Schools," is aimed at boosting awareness of wearing masks to fight the virus in schools across the country, the ministry said in a statement. According to Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia's Minister of Education, the upcoming nationwide initiative, which will be held early next week, also seeks to recruit teachers and students as "Mask Bearer Ambassadors" to promote mask wearing in their communities. Last October, the Ethiopian government distributed about 50 million face masks to about 46,000 schools across the country as classes resumed after months of closure. As Africa's second most populous nation, Ethiopia is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem Kinani Ahmed can still hear customers laughing and talking. He can picture them packing tables inside Sextant Coffee Roasters, his South of Market cafe, and filling the back patio under green umbrellas. He remembers when he employed 15 people to staff a business that often stayed busy for 11 hours every day. All thats gone now for Ahmed, who founded the Folsom Street cafe in 2014. Now the shop and patio sit empty, the tech workers who served as his customer base working remotely. Just a slow trickle of people purchase a to-go cup at the front counter. But like coffee with no cream or sugar, City Hall is doing little to take the bitterness off his misery. On top of struggling to stay afloat, Ahmed is dealing with graffiti, vandalism and attempted break-ins. His phone is filled with photos of puddles of shattered glass and tagged exteriors. Security camera footage caught a man trying to light his door frame on fire. And help from City Hall is nowhere in sight. The city is not really helping small businesses, Ahmed said. Its just talk. And he needs a lot more than talk. Previous big customers, including Twitter and Facebook, arent buying his coffee for their cafeterias because theres nobody in the office to drink it. Revenue is down about 50%, he said, and it would be worse if he hadnt pivoted to online sales, coffee subscriptions and signing up with delivery companies like Uber Eats. In 2016, Starchefs Magazine named the native of Ethiopia, who imports coffee beans from his homeland, a rising star. Five years later, hes stuck. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle While city officials acknowledge its a bad time for small businesses and announce grant and loan programs here and there, there doesnt seem to be an all-hands-on-deck effort to try to save them even though theyre a crucial part of the citys beloved neighborhoods and its future economic recovery. Ahmed applied for the citys African American Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, which Mayor London Breed announced last year on Juneteenth, pledging zero-interest loans of up to $50,000 to Black-owned businesses. He didnt get it. Gloria Chan, a spokesperson at the citys Office of Economic and Workforce Development, said Ahmed didnt score high enough to secure a loan. Applicants were prioritized for being in business for at least 15 years, if their business was ordered shut due to the pandemic, which coffee shops werent, and for being in a historically African American neighborhood, which SoMa isnt. Joaquin Torres, director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, said the need among San Franciscos small businesses is acute and that the federal, state and city governments need to do more. He said its also confusing for small business owners to navigate the applications for various loans and grants, and his office tries to answer questions in multiple languages through webinars. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Were trying to give information so youre not losing your mind, he said. The last thing we want people to do is give up. Ahmeds cafe was included on a list of Black businesses, and around that time he started getting racist, harassing phone calls from a stranger calling him racial epithets and telling him to go home. He said he called the police, who told him to block the number. He received a $10,000 grant from Salesforce in December one of 180 grants to small businesses in San Francisco. Ahmed praised Salesforce for the help, but regretted having to spend some of the money on repairing shattered windows. Replacing the glass in one door cost him $800, he said. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Salesforce did a really good job in my opinion seeking out these small businesses they could help, he said. I havent gotten anything from the city. Period. Nothing. In fact, what Im getting from the city is bills. Aside from all the regular tax bills, hes referring to the Nov. 8 notice from Public Works that he was responsible for cleaning a vandals huge amount of graffiti on the side wall of his shop within 15 days or hed face at least $400 in city cleaning fees and up to $1,000 in administrative fees. Rachel Gordon, spokesperson for Public Works, said Ahmed didnt clean the tags within 15 days, but that the department sent him a courtesy reminder and waived all fees after he cleaned it. Gordon said the department waived graffiti fees for property owners at the start of the pandemic, but implemented them again as businesses re-opened and complaints about tags spiked. The department has cleaned graffiti for free in some particularly hard-hit neighborhoods including Chinatown, the Mission, the Haight and the Tenderloin. We are always willing and eager to work with property owners to combat graffiti, she said. Sharky Laguana, president of the citys Small Business Commission, said hes heard a constant stream of reports of criminal activity from small business owners since the pandemic started. He attributes it to a number of factors. Tourists, usually easy pickings for thieves, are gone, so local businesses are more of a target. More people are out of work and desperate. And the city has failed to address the drug and mental health crisis on its streets. And, he acknowledged, City Hall and the criminal justice system are busy blaming each other rather than solving the problem. He invited District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Deputy Police Chief David Lazar to the last small business commission meeting so they could hear from small business owners themselves. They attended but were too busy to stay for public comment, he said. What should be clear to everyone is this isnt just a case of small businesses feeling like crime is higher it is higher, Laguana said, adding a lot of crime isnt reported. We see that reflected throughout the city with people giving up and losing hope. San Franciscos crime during the pandemic is a mixed bag, with some categories up and others down. Burglary has increased by 50% compared to a year ago, and 571 reports of burglary were made to San Francisco police in the first 3 weeks of this year alone. The city doesnt even know how many of its small businesses have shuttered for good. Laguana launched a survey to track how many small businesses have closed during the pandemic and hopes to have data soon. He said hes grateful for a new round of federal assistance for small businesses and believes the citys business outlook will improve this year as more people are vaccinated and tourists and customers begin to return. If businesses can find a way to hold on, theyll be glad they did, he said, adding hes more optimistic about neighborhood commercial corridors rebounding than downtown. And hes especially worried for businesses like Sextant Coffee that relied on tech companies for their customer base. A recent report from sf.citi, a San Francisco business group representing tech companies, found 63% of tech companies had already downsized or plan to downsize their Bay Area office space and that 76% had changed their plans for Bay Area growth due to the pandemic. For now, Ahmed is determined to hang on. Im a fighter, he said. Im hopeful that Ill survive. My heart is here. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight usually appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf Molly Wright has been homeless numerous times in her life and in various cities, including San Antonio, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Now 48 and employed by a nonprofit agency, shes managing precariously to stay sheltered. Its impossible on her modest salary alone, so she shares a space with someone who pays half of the monthly $875 rent and utilities. If something happens to him, she says, shes potentially back on the street. EXPRESS-NEWS APP: Breaking news, Spurs scores, COVID updates and more at your fingertips She knows how to live on the streets and has managed to remain safe. Having a dog helps. Shes an advocate for the homeless struggling not to be homeless again. She knows exactly what they face the requirements of local shelters, the lack of public housing, the way government tweaks at change, the evictions that have never ceased. Shes on a hunger strike to bring attention to these issues. Today is the ninth day of her fast. Her list of demands from the city and Mayor Ron Nirenberg begin with safe overnight parking lots for those living in their cars. She has been drinking juice and water and taking vitamins. She has studied what happens to a human body when its being starved. By Day 5, she says, you stop feeling hunger and your body begins to consume the protein in muscle. When the body attacks fat, it begins to lose weight. Because her latest job provides health insurance, her doctor is monitoring her. On Wednesday, she was experiencing chills. On Thursday, she was happy to report she doesnt have neuropathy. Wright has read about those whove gone on hunger strikes, including labor leader Cesar Chavez, who brought attention to the plight of farmworkers; Dreamers, young immigrants fighting to stay in the only country they know; and political prisoners pressing for social justice. People become homeless for so many reasons. Wright, a San Antonio native, has been alone in the world for some time. She lost her father as a teen, her mother later, and then her husband. Her siblings live in other cities. She has experienced depression and grief. Shes largely alone in life, lacking a family support system. She has made some bad decisions, but mostly has had a lot of bad luck. She speaks about her hardships without emotion and isnt looking for sympathy. Shes angry. Shes angry that people living in tents are run off, and that the city of San Antonio has focused on workforce development rather than stopping evictions. She has little but criticism for Haven for Hope, where she has lived, and the San Antonio Housing Authority. Shes upset the city fails to provide safe, overnight parking for people who sleep in their vehicles. Theyre needed in all parts of the city, she says, so people can get to work on time and save what little they can spare on fuel. Wright and other housing activists say the same thing: The problem is the shortage of affordable housing. Its hard to dispute her. She is not wrong, said District 1 City Councilman Roberto Trevino. Shes pointing out something thats real, very real. Almost half of the citys residents are renters, Trevino said. In the end, what Molly is saying is we dont have enough tools in the tools box for half of the city, he said. Even the citys Emergency Housing Assistance Program has cut back on its eligibility, he said, artificially reducing the number of people eligible to apply. These issues werent caused by Covid, he said. They were highlighted by the pandemic. Wright sees homeless people in two ways: Those whod rather be homeless than hungry and those whod rather be hungry than homeless. Shes in the second camp. Homelessness can result from mental health, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorders that go unrecognized and untreated. Domestic violence and poverty can lead to homelessness, too. Wright has worked at call centers most of her life, earning about $10 an hour. When housed, rent swallowed up most of her monthly take-home pay. Bank overdrafts sometimes ate up the rest. It was a vicious cycle. She says the pandemics forced isolation has helped her cut down on costs and save money. She has no quick answer for one question. Its when I ask if her life is a little better now that she has a better job and shares a living space. No, it isnt. The only reason Im making it is because I have a roommate. She also has a plan in case her situation changes for the worse. He wants to get a van as a back-up living space. She counts other homeless advocates among her blessings, among them former City Councilwoman Maria Antonietta Berriozabal and Rebecca Flores, a retired leader of the United Farm Workers. Some of them will join her virtually from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Sunday. Some will fast with her for a day. Theyll hear her and meet her in solidarity. eayala@express-news.net Alfredo Climaco, owner of the popular Northeast Portland cocktail bar Tropicale, has died of complications from COVID-19, according to family and friends. He was 32. Last July, Climaco made the jump from a roving pina colada stand known for serving iced drinks in hollowed out shells at festivals throughout the city to a brick-and-mortar bar in The Ocean micro restaurant development at 2337 N.E. Glisan St and quickly drew fans. Climaco had dreams of expanding his bar into a growing cocktail empire, according to a statement on a GoFundMe page set up to pay for funeral and medicals costs by Climacos sister, Vivi Climaco-Reyes. Alfredos generosity was bottomless, the statement reads. He loved making people feel happy and welcome. He worked hard to make Tropicale a friendly, inviting and inclusive escape for all. According to Eater PDX, which wrote about Climacos death Wednesday, the bar is currently closed as family and coworkers grieve. Climaco, who previously went by Alfredo Reyes (he switched surnames to honor his mother, who lives in Mexico), began working at a young age. Born in Puebla, a city of more than 1.5 million people about 80 miles southeast of Mexico City, he took a job working for a butcher and carnitas vendor at 9 years old, working from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. His first bartending job was at a nightclub at age 17. He moved to the United States in 2010. He founded Mexirican, the Pacific Northwests first mobile Caribbean bar as a table set up at Portland Mercado in 2015, with a name designed in part to honor his Puerto Rican best friend, Ignacio Falcon. Two years later, Mexiricans pina coladas made enough of a splash at 2017s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta that Climaco decided to devote his attentions to the business full-time. Soon, Mexirican was appearing at 45 festivals and street fairs each year. The company was founded on the inspiration of two cultures, Mexico and Puerto Rico, Climaco told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year. I really am dedicated to expressing the beauty of both places through the drinks. -- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell 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. Police are still hunting a driver who caused chaos by speeding down Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall, driving erratically and sending pedestrians fleeing. Officers had tried to pull over the green Mitsubishi Lancer on Swanston Street just before 5pm on Thursday, but the car sped away before turning down Bourke Street. A male passenger got out of the car and ran away, as police drew their firearms in a bid to stop the driver. But he did a U-turn back along Bourke Street and escaped. Officers found the car on Ashworth Street in Albert Park just before 7pm without number plates. There were no reports of injuries from the incident, and police believe the driver was trying to escape arrest and did not intend to hurt people. He was last seen in the St Kilda area, and police are urging anyone who has seen the car to call triple zero. 'The vehicle was followed by the Victoria Police Air Wing and last sighted in the St Kilda area,' a Victoria Police spokesman said. Pedestrians were forced to dive out of harms way after a driver tore through Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall while trying to escape police (people walk along a busy Bourke Street Mall in November) The driver remains on the run, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward (pictured, police at the scene on Thursday afternoon) Shattered glass was seen on the floor after the car slammed into bollards on Bourke Street Mall (pictured) 'Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and the vehicle remains outstanding.' Witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came 'tearing down' the street. A musician who was performing in the street claimed he watched as a man clambered out of the car after it collided with a bollard. 'I saw screeching tyres and then slam... it was nuts.' Another witness said 'folks were running in every direction, into the shops,' as the car sped through the streets. He said the officers were 'stymied' in trying to effectively stop the car in its tracks by a tram which cut them off, appearing to 'miss the sound of the sirens'. Shane Lowe, who saw the incident as it unfolded, told The Herald Sun the driver appeared alone and the front section of the car appeared damaged. 'He was really flooring it, everyone was running up against the walls and into shops,' Mr Lowe said. Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came 'tearing down' the street Police are seen on Bourke Street Mall on Thursday afternoon a car was seen tearing down the busy shopping street A police helicopter was spotted hovering above the area. Police reportedly initially attempted to pull the driver over after running the number plates and realising they were stolen. They now hope to trace the number plates to see if they can determine the identity of the driver. The incident was reminiscent of the devastating Bourke Street rampage of 2017, when James Gargasoulas ran down and killed six people in the busy CBD - including a baby boy and a young girl. Gargasoulas injured dozens of others, knocking them to the ground and into walls while driving in a drug-induced psychosis. Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured in the incident, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came 'tearing down' the street. Pictured: People are seen at Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne wearing face masks He was sentenced to life in jail at Victoria's Supreme Court on February 22, 2019 with a non-parole period 46 years making him eligible for parole in 2063. The non-parole period of 46 years is understood to be the longest handed down in Australia. In 2018, Somali-born terrorist Mohamed Khalif stabbed three people, killing one, during a rampage down the same famous street. He was shot dead by police after his Holden Rodeo loaded with gas cylinders hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb and exploded near Swanston Street. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The incident was reminiscent of the devastating Bourke Street rampage of 2017, when James Gargasoulas ran down and killed six people in the busy CBD - including a baby boy and a young girl Gargasoulas used a stolen car to mow down pedestrians on the busy Bourke Street mall in Melbourne 's CBD on January 20, 2017, claiming the life of six people (pictured) According to reports, Rafale is set to be the most capable fighter jets in India (Image: Dassault Aviation/Representative image) The third batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed in India after flying non-stop from France. This is expected to further boost the strike capability of the Indian Air Force as India and China are engaged in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh. With the arrival of the new batch, the number of the Rafale aircraft has increased to 11. "The third batch of three Rafale aircraft landed at an IAF base a short while ago. They flew over 7000Km with in-flight refuelling. The aircraft got airborne earlier in the day from #IstresAirBase in France. IAF deeply appreciates the tanker support provided by UAE Air Force," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet. The Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) of the United Arab Emirates provided mid-air refuelling to the three Rafale jets. "Three more #Rafale jets take off from France for a non stop flight to India with mid air refueling by UAE MRTT; Adding more strength to India's air power. Wishing our amazing pilots smooth flight&safe landing with superb fighter jets," the Indian embassy in France tweeted earlier. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, 2020, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The second batch of three Rafale jets arrived in India on November 3. The Rafale jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The newly fleet of Rafale jets has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. The IAF is also procuring a new generation medium-range modular air-to-ground weapon system Hammer to integrate with the Rafale jets. Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a precision-guided missile developed by French defence major Safran. The missile was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy. Meteor is the next generation of BVR air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. The first squadron of the Rafale jets is stationed at Ambala air base while the second one will be based at Hasimara base in West Bengal. Geological phenomenon widening the Atlantic Ocean An upsurge of matter from deep beneath the Earth's crust could be pushing the continents of North and South America further apart from Europe and Africa, new research has found. The plates attached to the Americas are moving apart from those attached to Europe and Africa by four centimetres per year. In between these continents lies the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a site where new plates are formed and a dividing line between plates moving to the west and those moving to the east; beneath this ridge, material rises to replace the space left by the plates as they move apart. Conventional wisdom is that this process is normally driven by distant gravity forces as denser parts of the plates sink back into the Earth. However, the driving force behind the separation of the Atlantic plates has remained a mystery because the Atlantic ocean is not surrounded by dense, sinking plates. Now a team of seismologists, led by the University of Southampton, have found evidence of an upwelling in the mantle - the material between the Earth's crust and its core - from depths of more than 600 kilometres beneath the Mid Atlantic ridge, which could be pushing the plates from below, causing the continents to move further apart. Upwellings beneath ridges are typically thought to originate from much shallower depths of around 60 km. The findings, published in the journal Nature provide a greater understanding of plate tectonics which causes many natural disasters around the world, including earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Over two research cruises on the RV Langseth and RRV Discovery, the team deployed 39 seismometers at the bottom of the Atlantic as part of the PI-LAB (Passive Imaging of the Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary) experiment and EURO-LAB (Experiment to Unearth the Rheological Oceanic Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary). The data provides the first large scale and high-resolution imaging of the mantle beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is one of only a few experiments of this scale ever conducted in the oceans and allowed the team to image variations in the structure of the Earth's mantle near depths of 410 km and 660 km - depths that are associated with abrupt changes in mineral phases. The observed signal was indicative of a deep, sluggish and unexpected upwelling from the deeper mantle. Lead author, Matthew Agius, a former post-doctoral fellow at the University of Southampton and currently at Universita degli studi Roma Tre said: "This was a memorable mission that took us a total of 10 weeks at sea in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The incredible results shed new light in our understanding of how the Earth interior is connected with plate tectonics, with observations not seen before." Dr Kate Rychert and Dr Nick Harmon from the University of Southampton and Professor Mike Kendall from the University of Oxford led the experiment and were the chief scientists on the cruises. The experiment was funded by NERC (Natural Environment Research Council, UK) and the ERC (European Research Council). Dr Harmon said: "There is a growing distance between North America and Europe, and it is not driven by political or philosophical differences - it is caused by mantle convection!" As well as helping scientists to develop better models and warning systems for natural disasters, plate tectonics also has an impact on sea levels, and therefore affects climate change estimates over geologic times scales. Dr Rychert said: "This was completely unexpected. It has broad implications for our understanding of Earth's evolution and habitability. It also demonstrates how crucial it is to gather new data from the oceans. There is so much more to explore!" Professor Mike Kendall added: "This work is exciting and that it refutes long held assumptions that mid-ocean ridges might play a passive role in plate tectonics. It suggests that in places such as the Mid-Atlantic, forces at the ridge play an important role in driving newly-formed plates apart." ### Notes to editors For further information and interview requests, please contact Steve Bates, Media Relations Officer, University of Southampton; s.d.bates@soton.ac.uk, 07342 060429. Explainer videos and images of the research trips are available here. Please credit to University of Southampton. This story has been published on: 2021-01-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close ALBANY James Bonet can remain free as he faces misdemeanor federal charges for his conduct in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. But the Glens Falls man will not be free to use marijuana or to post images of himself smoking it online, as he allegedly did while inside the Capitol. A federal judge made both points to the 29-year-old Bonet during his appearance in U.S. District Court in Albany on Wednesday. Bonet formally turned himself in several hours earlier. I think you understand how serious the charge is, Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart, appearing virtually, told the defendant as he sat beside his lawyer, Tim Austin. Stewart told Bonet if he violated any conditions of his release -- such as using controlled substances -- he would find himself appearing before the judge at another hearing where the judge could order Bonet be jailed pending trial. I want to emphasize and point out to you that marijuana is a prohibited substance federally, the judge told Bonet. Youre not authorized to use marijuana. If you post pictures of yourself using marijuana on Facebook, if you get tested (and it's positive) you are going to be right back in front of me. Do we understand? Yes sir, Bonet responded. Bonet, who faces random drug testing, cannot use CBD oil because it would lead to a positive test. He also cannot commit any new alleged offenses, must appear at scheduled court dates and, the judge noted, must not leave the 32-county Northern District of New York. Bonet must avoid Washington D.C. outside of court appearances. His case will be transferred to a federal court district in the nation's capital. Stewart said while Bonets charges -- knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds are both federal misdemeanors at issue was the extreme significance to our system of government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rosenthal asked to allow electronic monitoring of Bonet. He said Bonet was accused of a serious crime that involved a "obvious disregard for law enforcement and the law" and was a possible risk not to appear in court in the future. Austin, in turn, said his client did not need electronic monitoring and had turned himself in voluntarily. The judge declined to impose the monitoring but did order Bonet to have a curfew. Bonet's Facebook account, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, showed him stating We made it in the building bitches! Were taking it back! We are taking it back, we made it in the building! The complaint said Bonet works as a shift manager of an unidentified business in Saratoga Springs. It said Bonet openly talks about government conspiracy theories at work and attempted to convince co-workers that former President Donald J. Trumps re-election was stolen. Co-workers tipped off the FBI after they saw Bonet share a photo of himself smoking in the Capitol on Jan. 6. That day, supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress as lawmakers were certifying the results of President Joseph Bidens November election victory. The complaint said FBI, using license plate reading technology, matched Bonet's vehicle to one traveling south through Baltimore on Interstate 95 late on Jan. 5. On Jan. 7, the same vehicle moved north on Interstate 95 from Baltimore through Albany County. In a statement Wednesday, the Albany field office of the FBI said: 'We will continue to diligently track down and hold accountable any individual who chose to break the law that day and make sure they are brought to justice." The FBI asked anyone with information that could assist them to call l 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov. Bonet is scheduled to appear virtually in court in Washington D.C. on Feb. 21. Some version of such passes will become part of our lives for the coming years, for the simple reason that there will not be a return to the status quo ante, certainly not anytime soon. There are valid objections around privacy and the risk of exacerbating inequalities. Fortunately, good technology and sound policy should be able to surmount both. Unequal experiences, as a group of academics noted in the Lancet last October, have rarely been cited as a good reason to bar health care treatments altogether, and sound public health measures should not hurt more people than they have to. Governments have time to focus, for example, on catering to often-marginalized groups first, not last; speeding up access to jabs; and ensuring that initiatives facilitate, rather than limit, access. How to repair Indo-China ties: Jaishankar outlines 8 broad principles India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday outlined eight broad principles for repairing ties between India and China that included strict adherence to all agreements on management of the Line of Actual Control, mutual respect and sensitivity, and recognising each other's aspirations as rising Asian powers. In an address at an online conference on India-China ties, Jaishankar said the events in eastern Ladakh last year have profoundly disturbed the relationship and asserted that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the LAC is "completely unacceptable". What is Tibetology, the Indian Army is eyeing to counter China The external affairs minister said any expectation that the situation at the border "can be brushed aside and life can carry on undisturbed" is simply not realistic. Jaishankar said the India-China relationship is truly at the crossroads today and choices that are made will have profound repercussions not just for the two nations but for the entire world. He said the Chinese actions in eastern Ladakh not only signalled a disregard for commitments about minimising troops level but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity. "Significantly, to date, we have yet to receive a credible explanation for the change in China''s stance and massing of troops in border areas," he said at the All India Conference on China Studies. Elaborating on eight points for moving forward in bilateral ties, the external affairs minister said agreements already reached on management of the LAC must be adhered to in their entirety and in letter and spirit. "Whether handling of the border areas is concerned, the Line of Actual Control must be strictly observed and respected. Any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable," he said. While both nations are committed to a multi-polar world, Jaishankar said, there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential consequences. "Obviously each state will have its interests, concerns and priorities, but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided. At the end of the day relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature," he said. Jaishankar said as rising powers, each nation will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit to it cannot be ignored. He said peace and tranquillity in border areas is the basis for development of ties with China in other domains and if it is disturbed, "so inevitably is rest of the relationship". The external affairs minister said far from mitigating already existing differences, events of 2020 have actually put the relationship under "exceptional stress" Next round of Indo-China talks to focus on Depsang, entire Eastern Ladakh region Any expectation that the situation at border can be brushed aside and life can carry on undisturbed is simply not realistic, he said. He said if ties are to progress, policies must take into account the learnings of the last three decades. Chicago Booth Columbia Business School (CBS) Harvard Business School (HBS) Kellogg MIT Sloan Stanford GSB Wharton We at are proud to present our latest offering: the Stratus Admissions Guides to getting into top-ranked schools! After nearly 15 years as a premier admissions counseling company, we have revamped our look and our publications, but our focus remains unchangedto offer our clients the most up-to-date information and guidance to help them streamline the often-intimidating business school application process. Along with our restructured blog and new website, our new guides are among the completely free offerings intended for this purpose.You can download our FREE guides here Our new guides include a snapshot of what each school has to offer, from the general atmosphere of the school to its curriculum and most interesting extracurricular activities. Interested in HBS? Learn about its FIELD program, Innovation Labs, and the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship before deciding whether HBS is the right school for you. Curious about MIT Sloan? Perhaps the Action Learning Labs, the MIT $100K Competition, or the Sloan Innovation Period will seal the deal for you. Not to mention Whartons Field Application Projects, Kelloggs Ski Trips, or Booths LEAD programall of which are discussed in the guides.Right now, we offer guides for the following schools:If youre interested in schools beyond these seven, however, do not worrythe next batch of guides will be available shortly! We hope these guides will provide some clarity in your application process and help you get to know the schools a bit better. We also invite you to participate in a free 30-minute consultation to learn how Stratuss team approach can help you earn admission to your top-choice schools. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A couple of weeks ago, the British left-leaning magazine The Guardian breathlessly proclaimed, [E]xperts are warning the US is facing a wave of rightwing Christian nationalist legislation in 2021, as the religious right aims to thrust Christianity into everyday American life. And what nefarious legislation will thrust Christianity in everyday life? Prolife laws designed to protect the unborn, religious liberty protections for Christian organizations, and other things advocated by Christians long before anyone had ever heard of Christian Nationalism. That this term, Christian Nationalism, has become a one-size-fits-all label for whole swaths of the country, especially since the violence in the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, shouldnt surprise anyone. As images from that day reveal, there were plenty of Christians flags and symbols flying alongside Old Glory and pro-Trump banners. The symbology was heavy and indicative, as Andrew Walker told me on a recent BreakPoint Podcast, of a fusion of Christianity and the nation. For many on the right, the connection seems obvious, especially those who think of America as Gods primary agent in the world. And, for many on the left, it seems just as obvious: Christianity is bigoted, dangerous, and outdated in modern society. In a sense, this kind of conflict isnt unusual. Throughout history, nations have tied their faith, secular or religious, to their flag. Ancient kings draped their wars in divine sanction, medieval monarchs cried God wills it! and 20th century dictators claimed that an overarching History or Science was on their side. America isnt even the only Western nation whose founding documents and hymns are full of biblical references and appeals to God for protection. Even so, much of the American story makes our own experience distinctive. From the City on a Hill language of the first Puritan colonists (an idea often misunderstood by both Christians and antagonists), to the revolutionary fervor of 1776, to the religious revivals in both camps during the Civil War, to the world wars of the 20th century and our overtly atheistic foe of the Cold War, to American Christianitys focus on the End Times, to the strong sense of Divine destiny, Americas history is very religious. All together, this history has left America with a civil religion, something profoundly helpful for social cohesion but not always good for theological orthodoxy. Whenever the truth of the gospel is watered down for the sake of political or national unity, it isnt long before politics and nationality are all that matters. Lets be clear: no nation, no party, and no politician is indispensable for the advance or well-being of Kingdom of God. God works through individuals and nations, but His plans endure regardless of the success of nations and worldly kingdoms. This leaves Christians with a two-fold problem. First is the often well-meaning but always-misguided tendency to conflate our nation and our faith. Any time the good of our country is the ends and the Kingdom of God is the means, we are guilty of idolatry. Especially in an age such as ours, Christians must check and recheck (and re-recheck) our hearts and words to make sure we only render to Caesar what belongs to him, and always reserve for God what is His. Our second problem is when the scare label Christian Nationalism, is used to dismiss any policy or person more conservative than whoever is using the term. As seen in The Guardian, were all but guaranteed for the near future that anything vaguely traditional or moral, and any appeal to anything higher than the latest cultural fad, will be smeared with this label. Its silly. Even more, its dangerous. Even so, Christians must not abandon the public square just because people say mean things about us. Our God-given call to be faithful to Him above our nation also means Hes called us to be faithful to Him in our nation, at this time and in this place. Neither the excesses in the name of Christ or those who attempt to ban His people from public life remove this calling from us. Also, and this will be tougher, we mustnt let the animosity leave us embittered or in despair. As Richard John Neuhaus said, Christians have not the right to despair, for despair is a sin. And we have not the reason to despair, quite simply because Christ is risen. Originally posted at breakpoint.org Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. North Koreans leave after paying respect to the bronze statues of their late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill Grand Monument in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. As the North Korean people shiver in darkness during a severe energy shortage this winter, many are angry that authorities are keeping statues of the countrys dynastic leaders illuminated through the night, sources living near the border with China told RFA. Rolling blackouts are very common in North Korea, especially in rural areas, but even in the relatively affluent capital Pyongyang, people expect that they will go without electricity from time to time. In cold Siberian winters, power generation from hydroelectric plants becomes less reliable, and the countrys coal-fired plants are insufficient to pick up the slack, leading to dark cities across the country, which looks entirely black at night in satellite photos. But even though the country fails to supply electricity to households, authorities still spare no expense to keep alit every major citys statues of deified former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the grandfather and father of current leader Kim Jong Un. Both are the center of a decades-old cult of personality. The authorities emphasized self-reliance at the eighth party congress, but they did not even manage to provide electricity to the residents, so many are still shivering in the dark, a resident of North Hamgyong province, in the countrys northeast, told RFAs Korean Service Monday. During the rare meeting of the Korean Workers Partys leadership, held Jan. 5 to 12, Kim Jong Un said that only through self-reliance could North Korea overcome its economic woes brought on by international nuclear sanctions and coronavirus-related import bans. This effectively meant that he was calling on the people to solve their own problems making a living. The residents expected something to change in their lives after the party congress, but now they are just disappointed and angry, the source said. Undated NASA handout picture of North Korea (the dark area) and South Korea as seen from the International Space Station. NASA/Handout via Reuters Widely distributed satellite photographs of the Korean peninsula at nighttime show stark differences between the brightly lit South and the almost entirely blacked-out North. The source said that in North Hamgyongs largest city Chongjin, authorities manage to at least keep the major thoroughfares lit. But even the dim specks of light that denote only North Koreas largest cities when viewed from space are disappearing in the power shortages. Here in Chongjin, when darkness falls, the entire city becomes a completely dark world. Until last year signboards of companies along arterial roads were illuminated, but they have all been turned off this year, the source said. The source said the entire city is shrouded in darkness, but in one city square, statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il stand bathed in bright lights. If you go outside at night, its pitch black. The residents do not have any electricity at all, but that doesnt stop them from lighting up the statues in Pohang Square, the source said. The night is long and there are no lights even in the early evening these days the recent emergency quarantines also keep people off the streets, so the city is like a ghost town, said the source. Chongjin gets much of its electricity from hydroelectric power, but freezing temperatures prevent its operation. Still, last winter, they supplied us with electricity for one or two hours each day. But this year were not even getting that. So the residents are very unhappy, said the source. Another source, a resident of North Pyongan province in the countrys northwest, told RFA that since the party congress, the supply of electricity has been at its most unreliable. The power distribution department is not supplying electricity for residential use at all, so Sinuiju is enveloped in darkness at nighttime. Even the regional electricity that they supplied for an hour in the morning and evening has been cut off, said the second source, who requested anonymity to speak freely. Even in the new luxury apartments, where they collected U.S. $700 from each household for a guarantee that they would supply electricity 365 days per year, electricity is only available at certain times. Only the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are lit up brightly 24 hours a day, the second source said. According to the North Pyongan resident, the Sinuiju municipal government had been telling residents that after the party congress, the electricity and tap water situation would improve. However, even after the congress we still have no tap water or electricity, so the residents are heaping criticism on the party officials, said the second source. The entire city is in the dark, and only the statues are brightly lit like they are in broad daylight. This is what is stoking the anger of residents, the second source said. Beyond the cold and the inconvenience, the blackouts are pinching food supplies in a country where most residents struggle with food insecurity. Due to the lack of electricity, its impossible to operate noodle factories or process any food, and this is the most important part of residents food supply. So seeing lights wasted on statues when no one else is around is most distressing. Using statistics from 2019, the CIA factbook reported that only 26 percent of North Koreas population had access to electricity, meaning about 19 million of the countrys 25.6 million had no access at all. Electrification had reached 36 percent of urban areas and only 11 percent of rural areas in 2019. Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, takes questions on the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center where the Illinois House hosted its lame duck legislative session from Jan. 8-13. Harper was the sponsor of several economic equity measures backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. by Melani Manel Perera Solidarity protests are held in 12 Sri Lankan locations to show solidarity with Indian farmers fighting against agricultural reform. In a globalised world that exploits those who have less resources, the struggle of Indian farmers is valid for all, an all-out fight against the neo-liberal policies of international trade organisations. Colombo (AsiaNews) Sri Lankan activists, workers and civil society groups took to the streets in 12 different locations in the island nation yesterday, Indias Republic Day, to show their solidarity with Indian farmers who are protesting against their governments agricultural reform. This is a battle not only in India but also ours too, shouted the Sri Lankans (pictured) who took part in the protest action organised by the Indian-Sri Lankan People's Solidarity movement. This protest organised by us all over the country is aimed at publicly expressing our strong opposition to the steps taken by the Indian government to destroy the lives and lands of farmers, said Kumara and Chinthaka Rajapaksa, coordinators of the movement, speaking to AsiaNews. The demonstrations touched various regions and the main cities, including Jaffna, Trinco, Hambantota, Ampara, Gampaha, Hatton, Negombo, Nuwaraeliya, Maskeliya, Vavunia, Hindurakgoda and Panama. For Herman Kumara, who is also the national coordinator of the National Fisheries Solidarity Organization (NAFSO), This is one of the decisive campaigns against globalisation and global capital which destroy people, their livelihoods and the environment. So, we decided to launch a campaign in solidarity with them as concerned Sri Lankan citizens. According to his colleague Chinthaka Rajapaksa, moderator of Monlar (Land and Agricultural Reform Organization), the Indian struggle clearly shows that the government machinery is deliberately deviating from the process of protecting its citizens. This is happening not only in India, but especially in the international arena, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, which are constantly trying to create space for the global market to operate freely. This campaign, Kumara adds, is a way to awaken producers and allow them to join forces in this battle. We all fight united against injustice, human rights violations and discriminations against [the weak part of] humanity. Speaking about the campaign Our support for the battle of the Indian farmers, the Indian-Sri Lankan People's Solidarity movement made it clear that we are no longer victims of the neo-liberal project. We [. . .] fight together on a global scale, not just Indian or Sri Lankan. Accordingly, their struggle is not only theirs but also ours. Before the pandemic began, the second location of The June Motel, a 24-room boutique hotel in Sauble Beach, Ontario, was set to open late last spring. To be fully ramped up for Lake Hurons 2020 beach season was the goal. Construction stopped in mid-April, however, leaving the propertys restaurant with half-installed floor tiles and guest rooms that hadnt yet been coated in cheery blush-colored paint. April Brown and Sarah Sklash, the Junes co-owners, weighed three scenarios: not open at all; open as a rooms-for-rent Airbnb model without amenities; or push the opening until Labor Day. A lot of it came down to: Can we financially wait three months to open? Ms. Brown said of their decision to delay. The reason we were able to do that is that we got a lot of subsidies. We got grants; we kept several employees on payroll. There was a lot of support from the Canadian government for the tourism and hospitality sector. Over the past decade, tourism destinations around the world saw record hotel development. In 2019 alone, a global construction binge increased the number of hotel rooms by 8 percent compared to the year before. But in 2020 and, now, 2021 the lodging industry has faced almost unbelievable challenges: increasingly complicated restrictions on domestic and international travel, virus safety protocols that require resources and training, and strict testing mandates and quarantine requirements for travelers. The on Thursday ordered Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to appear before it within the next seven days with a written response to the cases of contempt of court filed against him. Two separate cases of contempt of court were filed against Oli at the Apex court on Tuesday, for his alleged remarks on 95-year-old senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, calling him "a grandpa lawyer". Hearing the writ petitions filed against Oli on Thursday, the single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma asked the prime minister to be present in person to explain in written "why should he not face action under contempt of court". Advocates Kumar Sharma Acharya and Kanchan Krishna Neupane had filed the two contempt of court cases. Prime Minister Oli, 68, had dissolved the Parliament on December 20, amidst a political tussle with Communist Party (NCP) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. Last week, Oli was expelled from the general membership of the NCP led by Prachanda. A petition was filed at the on Sunday last to verify the authenticity of the gazette dissolving the House of Representatives. Nonagenarian lawyer Bhandari was set to participate in the hearing. At a public event on Friday last, Oli had allegedly described the hearing at the apex court as "a drama". On Bhandari's participation in it, Oli had allegedly derided him as "a grandpa lawyer". Advocates Acharya and Neupane have condemned Oli's remarks and filed for contempt of court proceedings. Bhandari, participating at the hearing on Sunday, had termed Oli's move to dissolve the House of Representatives as coup against the Constitution". He had said the prime minister does not have the right to dissolve the House in the present circumstances. Meanwhile, the apex court has also ordered four former chief justices and one former speaker of Parliament to be present in court on separate cases of contempt of court. The former chief justices facing the contempt charges are Anup Raj Sharma, Meen Bahadur Rayamajhi, Sushila Karki and Kalyan Shrestha. Former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana faces the same charge. (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 South Korean carmakers Urban Air Mobility division has teamed up with UK-based Urban Air Port as its priority infrastructure partner The first airport for flying cars will open in Coventry later this year in a partnership between Hyundai, a UK developer and the UK government agencies. Urban Air Port, a UK company set up in 2019 by former Foster & Partners architect Ricky Sandhu, will receive a 1.2mln grant after being chosen as the winner of UK Research and Innovations Future Flight Challenge to develop aviation infrastructure and systems that enable the next generation of electric and autonomous air vehicles. Urban Air Port Air-One, as the site is to be known, aims to be the worlds first fully-operational hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, including air taxis and cargo drones. The company says the physical footprint of its sites is 60% smaller than a traditional heliport and thanks to innovative construction can be installed in a matter of days with zero carbon emissions. Hyundai Motor Company, which has previously set out plans to invest US$1.5bn over the next five years to create its first eVTOL vehicles, has been calling for the necessary ground infrastructure for these vehicles. The South Korean carmakers Urban Air Mobility division has teamed up with Urban Air Port as its priority infrastructure partner to support the growth of this new sector, Urban Air Port said. It added that Hyundai is supporting the development of the Coventy Air-One site, with the location chosen for the first site due to its Midlands location and its history as a hub for the automobile and aerospace industry. The midlands city was last month named the best mainland location in the UK for electric cars, based on its strong ratio of charging points per plug-in car. Pamela Cohn, operations chief for Hyundais Urban Air Mobility division, said: As we advance our eVTOL aircraft programme, development of supporting infrastructure is imperative. Air-One is a unique project that is set to help lead the way in developing a robust, accessible and intermodal infrastructure network for future mobility. We are excited to be part of this partnership in the UK and look forward to working together to create community impact and opportunity through safe, affordable, and human-centred mobility solutions. Sandhu, who is the founder and executive chairman of Urban Air Port, a wholly-owned subsidiary of his Six Miles Across London Ltd (small) architecture agency, said: Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs will need Urban Air Ports. He added: Flying cars used to be a futuristic flight of fancy. Air-One will bring clean urban air transport to the masses and unleash a new airborne world of zero emission mobility. Hyundai last year showed off a four-passenger flying taxi concept in partnership with Uber and aims to have a range of flying cars that to carry people within metropolitan areas and bigger versions to fly between cities, but does not expect to enter the market until 2028. But the first flying car has already hit the road, the PAL-V Liberty autogyro, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2018 and is meant to be starting full production in India this year. has had difficulty predicting how big the flying car market could grow, with its forecasts ranging from US$2.9trn down to $615bn by 2040. Also working on the Coventry project are two other of Sandhu's companies: Urban.AV, in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, and Urban.MASS, partnered with Shildon in the Northern PowerHouse, along with design firm Arup and Partners and electric charging providers and other manufacturers. In the eye of the Red Fort violence storm, Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu has gone missing since the tractors rally turned aggressive after a section of farmers strayed from the planned route on Republic Day. He was last seen in the January 26 chaos, among the crowd that deviated to Delhis iconic Red Fort and planted a Nishan Sahib flag on an empty rampart. In a video footage from the incident, Sidhu was caught fleeing from the spot as the situation aggravated. He jumps onto a motorbike and escapes. While farmer unions alleged it was fringe elements like Sidhu who instigated protesters and turned the agitation violent, he defended his actions, saying they did not remove the national flag at the Red Fort, but only put up the 'Nishan Sahib' as a symbolic protest. Meanwhile, the NDTV reported that Sidhu has been named in a case filed by the Delhi Police in connection with the violence that broke out on Republic Day. Sidhu had conducted a Facebook live while hoisting the pennant from the ramparts of the Red Fort. "We have only hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag on the Red Fort while exercising our democratic right to protest," Sindhu could be heard in the video. The violent turn of events after two months of farmers' agitation has exposed the movement, even as unions and leaders continue to disassociate themselves from the faction that stormed the Red Fort. While there have been calls for an investigation into the role of Sidhu and Lakhana Sidhana in Tuesdays violence, there have been reports linking the former to the BJP and the partys MP Sunny Deol. However, Deol has categorically denied having any connection with Siddhu, who himself has said that he does not have any association with the BJP. Meanwhile, social media has broken into raging post, slamming Sidhu for perverting the tractors rally intentionally, as part of a conspiracy against the farmers. However, on the other hand, a section of people have dismissed such allegations against Sidhu. The Indian Express on Wednesday reported that the call to break away from the designated tractor rally route began on Monday, when for about six hours - from 6pm to midnight - some fringe elements took over the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) stage at the Singhu border. They opposed the route agreed upon between SKM leaders and Delhi Police, and their call was also webcast live on some Punjabi web channels and individual social media accounts. While it was first unknown faces who took up the state, Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, 40, and Sidhu later addressed the crowd. Sidhana is a gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation, Indian Express reported. Sidhu had also held a prolonged protest at Shambu border between Punjab and Haryana before moving to Singhu border. Accusations of Khalistani elements running the protests at Shambu have also been previously made. Reports say he was also involved in breaking barriers at Shambu border in November last year, after which Haryana Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the group of protesting farmers trying to enter Delhi. Sidhu and his brother, Mandeep Singh, were also among those summoned by the NIA earlier in January in connection with a case filed against the banned outfit 'Sikhs For Justice'. Sidhana was acquitted in several cases before contesting the 2012 assembly polls as a candidate of the Peoples Party of Punjab, floated by Manpreet Singh Badal. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American Right now to start #TBT classic hottie Candice panty promo for upcoming V-Day celebrations of love, merch & consumerism inspire this peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. Reps Power KC Tech KC Tech Council's apprenticeship program launches with job growth hopes from Davids, Cleaver A freshly launched partnership between KC Tech Council and Apprenti - designed to cultivate tech skills and offer first-hand experience for apprentices - is a solid fit for Kansas City's talent needs, two members of the metro's U.S. congressional delegation agreed. Building Boom Redux?!? New River Market apartment building planned for 4th and Broadway KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A pair of builders are returning to the River Market with plans for a nine-story multifamily development on an infill site just east of the current ramp onto the Buck O'Neil Bridge. Developers George Birt and Taylor McKee seek to build 303 Broadway, with 76 apartments, at the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Broadway. Cowtown COVID Fades Local physicians encouraged as Kansas City metro adds less than 500 new COVID cases The Kansas City metropolitan area added more than 400 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths on Wednesday. The area encompassing Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas gained 437 coronavirus cases for a total of 130,507 to date. Panties In Bunch Of Lawsuits L Brands Executives Face Derivative Suit As we move into 2021, shareholders of public corporations continue to seek to hold corporate executives accountable for workplace discrimination and misconduct, a trend that began in connection with the Me Too movement and does not show any signs of stopping. Social Media Stock Market Manipulation Sparks Crisis In 11 Hours of Pure Mania, 100% Stock Gains Popped Up Everywhere (Bloomberg) -- Cooped up at home, glued to Reddit and Stocktwits chat forums, empowered by Robinhood accounts, funded by massive government money-printing and emboldened by a bull market that has turned reckless risk-taking into a virtue, America's new band of day traders is frantically bidding up a wide range of OBAMACARE COMEBACK!!! Biden to sign executive orders expanding access, strengthening ObamaCare through special enrollment period President Biden is expected to sign executive orders Thursday aimed at getting more Americans signed up for health care by reopening the federal Health Insurance Marketplace during a special enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act. Prez Biden Owes Twitter The greatest gift Biden ever received was Trump getting booted off Twitter "The President spent two years ignoring Trump's distractions and staying focused on the message he wanted to deliver, and it paid off with a commanding win," a White House official said in a statement to POLITICO on Wednesday. Russia Lockdown After mass arrests at protests, Moscow jail space in short supply Anti-Kremlin protester Filipp Kuznetsov was detained in Moscow on Saturday and found guilty by a court on Monday of taking part in an illegal protest. But it was only late on Wednesday that the authorities were able to find a jail cell for him. Kansas City Seoul Food Debuts Dish & Drink KC: Two new Korean pop-ups to try in KC, plus two one-time-only takeout options you won't want to miss The brisket bibimbap from Smoke n Seoul. Courtesy Smoke n Seoul. Worth checking out: Sura Noodle Bar and Smoke n' Seoul Sura Noodle Bar Just in time to battle the aggressive persistence of February cold, chef Keeyoung Kim is ramping up his selection of snacky, filling Korean comforts - all of which are designed to warm you up. Tech Cash Shared Will Small Biz Despite Kansas City Delivery App Dispute DoorDash committing $150,000 to help Kansas City restaurants KANSAS CITY, Mo. - DoorDash has committed $10 million to help restaurants in select cities across the U.S. and Canada, and Kansas City is one of them. The food delivery service will spread $150,000 in relief grants across Kansas City. The money will go to support small restaurants, like mom-and-pop shops, struggling through the pandemic. Cinema Selling Point Kansas City lands on 'Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker' - Kansas City Business Journal When it comes to film production, two cities that typically come to mind are New York and Los Angeles. Now there's a rising star in the mix: Kansas City. It earned a spot on MovieMaker magazine's 2021 list of the "Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker." Cowtown Cold Contd Staying mostly cloudy & cold today with a warmer day tomorrow The sunshine comes out late in the day today & tomorrow with warmer temperatures expected The weather will improve for a couple of days with a storm looming on Saturday The Saturday storm looks like rain, with maybe a few flurries lingering Sunday KANSAS CITY'S MOST ACCURATE FORECAST Thursday: It will be a cold start to the day. The Chicks - Landslide is the #TBT song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Keep going for more local links . . . Local Small Biz Starts COVID Courtroom Fight Several Kansas City area small businesses file lawsuit against their insurance company KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The pandemic has devastated small businesses owners as many struggle to recoup heavy financial losses. Some of those owners thought all-risk insurance policies would help ease that financial burden but some of those insurance claims have not been paid out, and the businesses have taken their fight to the courtroom. Newspaper Speculates On Gunfire Consequences Former Jackson County deputy who shot woman could get lighter sentence than most A former Jackson County sheriff's deputy who shot a woman in the back and made false statements about the circumstances may spend just 120 days behind bars, according to a plea agreement announced earlier this week. It would be a lighter sentence than most receive for that crime and, some say, evidence that law enforcement officers get more lenient treatment when they face charges. Rock Chalk Tenure Endures Most Kansas universities won't use new dismissal policy LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The University of Kansas is the only one of six public universities in the state that will consider using a new policy that makes it easier to fire, suspend or dismiss employees, including tenured faculty. COVID Nextgen Spreads In Kansas Clink COVID-19 variant looked for as culprit of prison outbreak TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas health officials on Wednesday sought to determine whether a coronavirus variant might be fueling a new outbreak at a minimum-security state prison where inmates regularly work in surrounding communities. More Deets On Missouri Politicos Cutting In Vaxx Line Reports: Missouri lawmakers receive COVID-19 vaccine shots meant for others ST. LOUIS (KMOV.con) -- Some Missouri state lawmakers had their first COVID-19 vaccine shot but it's unclear if they were supposed to. Multiple reports say rumors of vaccinations at the Capitol Plaza Hotel spread to Jefferson City lawmakers. Some lawmakers, along with their staff, were able to receive the first dose. Show-Me Tuition Break Bill would help low income students attend private schools TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand a program that uses tax credits to help low-income students attend private schools. Supporters of the bill told House and Senate committees Tuesday the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the disparity between private schools, which are mostly operating with in-person classes, and public schools, which are offering online or hybrid education, The Wichita Eagle reported. Golden Ghetto Blog Hypes Winning Strategy State of the Site 2021: 4,000 subscribers (and growing!); high satisfaction, value scores 2020 saw the site's business model continue to shift toward a focus on subscription revenue over advertising, a development that allowed us to add reporting and editing resources to even more fully cover the community. Learn more about that here. Disputing Dull Designs Starr Homes sues Overland Park homeowners for copyright infringement - Kansas City Business Journal Stilwell-based Starr Homes LLC is suing a pair of Overland Park homeowners, plus their architect and builder, claiming they infringed on copyrighted home designs. The home in question is at 10950 W. 192nd Place in Overland Park. Owners Allen and Amanda Schlup hired DeGasperi & Associates Architecture in Overland Park to design the home and Carson Development Inc. Raytown Remembers Victim Reward increased to $15,000 in 2001 Raytown homicide RAYTOWN, Mo. - Authorities have announced a reward increase for anyone who can help them solve a 2001 cold case murder. Craig Lasley was found dead inside of his home in the 8600 block of Oxford Avenue in Raytown on Nov. 15, 2001. The Greater KC Crime Stoppers announced Wednesday that the reward in the [...] Liberty Needs More Cops Liberty Police Department seeking new officers LIBERTY, Mo. - The Liberty Police Department has three positions open for officers. Applicants need to apply by Feb. 5 and face an in-depth interview, testing and background check process. "We have to have the best officers. Kansas City Jazz Man Sounds Off In EPIC Interview A Q&A with Eddie Moore Jazz pianist, educator and composer Eddie Moore was raised in Houston and began playing the piano at the age of 4. The local jazz musician and frontman of Eddie Moore & The Outer Circle admits that he hated practicing the piano as a child. "My mother used to make me practice like a chore," Moore said. Best Bores Kansas City Constant greatness is boring, but it doesn't mean it's not great There's a thing in baseball circles called "prospect fatigue." A player suffering from prospect fatigue is essentially a player who has been around long enough for the excitement surrounding that player's name fades. Generally speaking, the best players avoid prospect fatigue, only spending a few years, if that, in the minor leagues. Developing . . . [January 28, 2021] mdf commerce announces date of conference call for third quarter of fiscal 2021 financial results MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- mdf commerce inc. (TSX:MDF), a leader in SaaS commerce technology solutions, will hold a conference call to discuss third quarter 2021 financial results. Date: Thursday, February 11, 2021 Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) Length: 30 minutes Dial-in: (877) 407-0782 (toll free) or (201) 689-8567 (international) A replay of the teleconference will be available until Thursday, February 25, 2021, at midnight Eastern Time through the numbers provided on the Investor Relations section of our website. Please visit our site on February 10, 2021, to view the earnings release prior to the conference call. About mf commerce inc. mdf commerce inc. (TSX:MDF), formerly known as Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc., enables the flow of commerce by providing a broad set of SaaS solutions that optimize and accelerate commercial interactions between buyers and sellers. Our platforms and services empower businesses around the world, allowing them to generate billions of dollars in transactions on an annual basis. Our strategic sourcing, unified commerce and emarketplace platforms are supported by a strong and dedicated team of more than 600 employees based in Canada, the United States, Denmark, Ukraine and China. For more information, please visit us at mdfcommerce.com, follow us on LinkedIn or call at 1-877-677-9088. For further information: mdf commerce Andre Leblanc Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs Phone: +1 (514) 961-0882 Email: aleblanc@mdfcommerce.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Last year to end-December, earnings came in at $11,749,391, which was a 3.1% increase compared to 2019 On January 22, the board agreed to increase the quarterly dividend to $0.130 a share with effect from March 1, this year, payable on or before March 15 Chesapeake Financial Shares Inc ( ), the parent of Chesapeake Bank and Chesapeake Wealth Management, said that asset growth and a strong mortgage market helped it post record earnings for the 2020 calendar year, leading it to increase its quarterly dividend. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, last year to end-December, earnings came in at $11,749,391, which was a 3.1% increase compared to 2019. Fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $2.395 as against $2.292 in 2019, said Cheseapeake Financial. "We have worked diligently over the last 25+ years to diversify our revenue stream and this is reflected in our earnings," said the chief executive and chairman Jeffrey M. Szyperski in a statement. "A strong mortgage market as well as record-breaking asset growth were the primary contributors to the record-breaking year. "Of the roughly $3 million in Paycheck Protection Program fees earned, only $770,000 were recognized into income in 2020. In addition to our strong earnings, American Banker named us one of the Top 200 Community Banks' in the United States for the thirteenth consecutive year and one of the Best Banks to Work For' for the eighth consecutive year," he added. On January 22, the board agreed to increase the quarterly dividend to $0.130 a share with effect from March 1, this year, payable on or before March 15. Chesapeake Financial Shares ended the year with total assets of $1,207,714,231, a 26% increase over year-end 2019. "This large increase was largely fueled by economic stimulus and Paycheck Protection Program funds as part of the CARES Act," Szyperski continued. "We strengthened our loan loss reserve in 2020, and it represented 1.34% of total loans (excluding PPP) at December 31, 2020. Nonperforming assets were 1.034% as of December 31, 2020 compared to 0.881% on December 31, 2019 representing a 17.4% increase. Given the level of economic disruption in 2020, we feel thankful for being able to maintain such strong asset quality," he added. 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. Chesapeake Wealth Management Inc is an independent wealth management firm offering brokerage, trust, and estate management services. Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com Levels of Covid infection among people aged 85 and over are exceptionally elevated, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned. In a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on January 21 he said Ireland remains in a very vulnerable position due to Covid-19 levels. He also said the R number measuring the spread of the virus will drift upwards. Dr Holohan expressed concern about the ability of people to maintain the current low level of social contact and also warned about the impact of the more infectious UK variant. It will become increasingly difficult to maintain the level of suppression seen since the New Year in the coming weeks. Although disease incidence is falling, it remains very high overall across all age groups. Incidence in those aged 65 and older continues to rise and is a cause of particular concern with exceptionally elevated levels in those aged 85 and older. He said he expects the rise in deaths to continue for the coming weeks. Read More It is likely the daily number of new cases of the virus will be in the region of 400 to 700 at the end of next month. He said there were 14 outbreaks in nursing homes notified in a single day in the week the letter was written. He recommended the HSE resume the testing of all close contacts of confirmed cases. Dr Holohan pointed to the advice from the European Centre for Disease and Control (ECDC) about the need for caution in relaxing measures in light of the new more infectious forms of the virus, as well as the need to control the risk of people bringing them here. The ECDC wants an acceleration of vaccination campaigns and a rapid escalation in the measures needed to reduce the risk of spread of the new variants. He said the age profile of patients in hospital in this wave is broadly similar to the first wave. Between 59pc and 63pc were over 60 and 35pc-36pc were aged 20-59 2pc-6pc were aged under 19s. In critical care, up to 64pc were over 60 and 35pc to 45pc were in the 20-59 age group. There is no evidence to show the UK variant is more deadly. The number of people in hospital has begun to fall but the numbers in intensive care remain at elevated levels. Also a significant amount of critical care is being given outside of the intensive care setting. The expectation is that the numbers of people needing hospital care will decrease very slowly. This will depend on the rate the infection in the community falls as well as the persistence of infection in older and vulnerable people. It will also depend on the control and the rate of containment of outbreaks in hospitals themselves. Ameriprise Financial Services (AMP) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.53 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.44 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.20 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 2.03%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this financial services company would post earnings of $1.35 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.47, delivering a surprise of 8.89%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Ameriprise, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry, posted revenues of $3.14 billion for the quarter ended December 2020, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.75%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.29 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Ameriprise shares have added about 8.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 2.6%. What's Next for Ameriprise? While Ameriprise has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Ameriprise was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $4.50 on $3.12 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $18.97 on $12.65 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Investment Management is currently in the top 20% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AMP) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. If there is anything scarier than contracting coronavirus, it is getting an anal swab test done to identify if one has contracted the virus. Yet, here we are. The Chinese people might have been mistaken to think that they have seen it all but they were not likely prepared for this atrocity. China will now conduct anal swab tests for those under quarantine. Chinese state media outlets announced the new protocol, prompting discussions and outrage in equal measure. Chinese doctors have said that some recovering patients have continued to test positive through swabs from the lower digestive tract days after nasal and throat swabs showed negative results. Nevertheless, people are not gung-ho about the government's intrusive measures. In a Weibo poll, 80 per cent of respondents said that they would not accept the invasive method, as mentioned in a report in The Washington Post. Even doctors who support the new tests say that it is an inconvenient way and should be used only for select groups, including at quarantine centers. Li Tongzeng, an infectious-disease specialist at Beijing You'an Hospital said that anal swab testing can raise rate of identification but since it is an inconvenient method, only key groups should undergo the testing. China tried testing the procedure in small groups last year. A group of Chinese researchers published a study in the Future Microbiology journal in August that said that some recovering patients tested positive through anal swabs but negative through throat swabs. "We propose anal swabs as the potentially optimal specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection for evaluation of hospital discharge of covid-19 patients," they had said. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published instructions on the tests saying that stool samples should be taken from patients for testing. If that is not possible, then a cotton-tipped stick of 3-5 cm should be inserted into the rectum. Meanwhile, some doctors have opined that throat and nasal swabs are more effective since coronavirus is a respiratory infection. Yang Zhanqiu, a pathologist at Wuhan University said that there is no evidence of coronavirus transmitting through the digestive system. This measure comes as China gears up for the Lunar New Year next month that sees some 3 billion trips made over the holiday. It is often called the world's largest annual migration. Authorities are losing sleep over the holiday season that could set in motion millions of coronavirus cases around the country. Meanwhile, the country is also trying to vaccinate 50 million people before the holiday. However, that only amounts to 4 per cent of their population -- way too less to prevent mass transmission. Also read: MHA issues fresh guidelines for COVID-19 containment: Here's all you should know Also read: Scientists identify new COVID-19 drug that's '27.5 times' more effective than remdesivir Police have issued a warrant for a boarding home employee charged in the 2020 death of a resident who developed a fatal infection at a southeast Houston property after having his hands tied as punishment, according to court records. The warrant, filed Monday, identifies John Grant as an employee and resident of the one-time Blessed Hands boarding home in the 5800 block of Schevers Street an unlicensed facility whose operator, prosecutors said, was behind the Harris County home where authorities in September found dozens of people in deplorable conditions without food or medical care. Grant, 56, is charged with injury to an elderly individual. As of Thursday, Grant has not been arrested. Prior court records listed him as homeless. The death which medical examiner records have classified as a homicide happened May 3 following injuries at the home, where Grant lived and worked, documents show. A former resident of the boarding home told Houston Police Department homicide investigators that he had earlier seen Grant use a bunjee (sic) type cord to tie and restrain a man, identified in court records as Clifton Barber, to a chair as punishment. He also punched the man, the witness said. A week later, Barber, 65, died of sepsis due to left wrist cutaneous abscess(es) associated with restraint, records show. The witness said Grant did this to Barber on two other occasions. He would untie him so that he could rest at night, investigators wrote in probable cause documents. Grants employment history with the Blessed Hands home and other facilities was not known. His criminal history in Harris County dates back to 1983, starting with a conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child, records show. He was sentenced most recently in 2019 to nine months for felony possession of cocaine. Unspeakable acts Another Blessed Hands employee whom authorities described as an unlicensed caregiver told police that Barber had been unwell for at least three days. He first noticed a bump, which appeared like a tiny bite mark, on Barbers arm and cleaned the wound. On the day of Barbers death, his condition had not improved and the employee decided he would take him to Ben Taub Hospital. A man the employee knew as John helped Barber into the car, investigators wrote. The employee made it as far as the 12900 block of Cullen Boulevard about 4 miles south of the Schevers home before calling 911 because Barber had gone into cardiac arrest, court records continued. He died at the hospital. The employee, when reached by phone, said he no longer works with the boarding home and declined to comment further. Police said in court documents that the employee refused to cooperate after their initial interview in May. A boarding operation no longer operates at Schevers, residents there said Thursday. A neighbor, who declined to be identified, recalled seeing at least 10 residents at the home at one time and that he often saw nurses. On one occasion, the neighbor saw a man trying to leave in a wheelchair and an employee dragging him back. What happened with our complainant is unspeakable, Kristina Roberts, head of the Harris County District Attorneys Office Elder Abuse and Exploitation Section, said. These cases are being reported more, and theres been more and more attention to whats going on in these homes. District Attorney Kim Ogg urged relatives of those with elderly or disabled loved ones in nursing homes or boarding facilities to check on them regularly. Weve seen a dramatic increase in the amount of abuse in this vulnerable population, Ogg said. Its been made worse by the pandemic because it has limited visitation. Long Meadow home Investigators also tied Grant to the disturbing discovery at the 14000 block of Long Meadow Drive in Harris County last September, when police found 37 residents most of whom were diagnosed with mental or physical disabilities forced to live together in an estimated 2,700-square-foot home. Some of the residents were confined to the garage without air conditioning. One resident, a 64-year-old man, died of natural causes at the home, also known as the Caring Hands Group Home. Investigators from Harris County Precinct 7 Constables Office said Grant was among the employees detained and released from the boarding home. The operator of that residence, Carroll Shelton Richardson, who also ran the Schevers home, remains under investigation, according to prosecutors. He has not been charged in connection to either of the boarding homes, and his attorney could not be reached for comment. The witness from the Schevers home told authorities that he was later relocated to the Long Meadow residence and that he was among those rescued, according to court records. In the city, Richardson has been on the radar of HPDs Boarding Home Enforcement Unit for at least three years for seven other properties, for which he had been cited more than 200 times, according to police. The citations ranged from failure to provide access to medical records to lacking a certificate of occupancy. But that enforcement stopped at the city limits because, until recently, the county lacked similar boarding home regulations. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday passed new regulations on boarding homes in unincorporated areas that allows for site inspections, health enforcement, standard of care and occupancy levels. I think it will dramatically make a difference in the quality of life for the elderly in those settings, said Jay Aiyer, of the Harris County Attorneys Office. The regulations and permitting process goes into effect March 1, he continued. State Sen. Borris Miles (D-Houston) also plans to introduce bills aimed at making unlicensed boarding facilities a criminal offense in some communities. nicole.hensley@chron.com twitter.com/nkhensley Kristen Stewart is currently shooting for the most talked-about Princess Diana biopic titled Spencer in Germany and now, the makers have unveiled her first look from the film. Fans were shocked to see Kristen look like a spitting image of Princess Diana in the film's first look. The film directed by Pablo Larrain and written by Steven Knight, follows Princess Diana over a weekend in the early '90s, when she decided her marriage to Prince Charles wasn't working. The film that takes place over three days will also focus on Diana's decision to move out of the path that had put her in line to one day be queen. When the film's casting was first revealed many were skeptical about Stewart taking up the role of Princess of Wales but are convinced that she was, indeed, the right choice. Take a look at fans' reactions to Kristen's first look from the film Spencer, wait omg i had trouble reconciling kristen stewart with diana but here she looks exactly like her??????? my mind is blown https://t.co/nthGwmq6Qs ava | check pinned! (@anyacottgewhore) January 27, 2021 Everything about this project screams "Kristen Stewart's Oscar win" and let me say I am HERE FOR IT https://t.co/0G0WSEHrSJ David Mitchell-Baker (@DavDav1228) January 27, 2021 Imma give Kristen Stewart her things cause that screenshot is giving Diana hopefully shes good cause I will be judging pic.twitter.com/ZCODYu2zgi bri (@bigshitxtalker) January 27, 2021 Oh my god Kristen Stewart as Diana is too good pic.twitter.com/VqsqYgoCDn Anna Peele (@bananapeele) January 27, 2021 Stewart during an interaction with Jimmy Kimmel had talked about playing the character and said, "I feel sort of the same way about her, and it happened really quickly. I didn't grow up with her maybe in the same way. I was really young when she passed away...it's hard not to feel protective over her. I mean, she was, like, so young and obviously she comes out to here." Talking about the film, she had revealed to Deadline, "Spencer is a dive inside an emotional imagining of who Diana was at a pivotal turning point in her life. It is a physical assertion of the sum of her parts, which starts with her given name; Spencer. It is a harrowing effort for her to return to herself, as Diana strives to hold onto what the name Spencer means to her." The cast including Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins and Sean Harris will soon move to the UK for their next schedule. The producers are yet to reveal who will play Prince Charles and their two children- Prince William and Prince Harry. ALSO READ: Kristen Stewart To Play Princess Diana In Pablo Larrain's Spencer ALSO READ: Kristen Stewart On LGBTQ Kids Finding Representation In Her Bisexuality: I Love The Idea Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Two Catholic bishops on Thursday said they are willing to receive a coronavirus vaccine publicly to urge their followers to get vaccinated against a disease that has already killed over 10,000 in the Philippines. Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines President Romulo Valles said in a press briefing he would get the anti-coronavirus shot in public. If Pope Francis could do the same and if it would help raise the public confidence in vaccines, he is willing to take the dose before the people. Valles, who is also the Davao archbishop, added he wants to pick the brand of vaccine he would get if given the chance. If I could choose, I would choose, the prelate said. For his part, CBCP Vice President and Caloocan Bishop Pablo David said in the same press conference: We are partnering with our local government units in this vaccination program. Anything that can allay the fears of vaccination, we will offer in the church. He also underscored the importance of listening to scientific advice on COVID-19 vaccines. It is important to depoliticize vaccines. We need to listen to our scientists on what their advice would be, he added. Meanwhile, Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez said the bishops' offer would be a big help since the Church has a huge following in the Philippines -- a predominantly Catholic country. He also said he, too, is willing to be vaccinated with them in public. Pwede po akong shoulder to shoulder with priests and bishops. I will volunteer na magkakasama po tayo, he said. [Translation: I can be inoculated shoulder to shoulder with priests and bishops. I will volunteer for us to be vaccinated together.] The country has been dealing with vaccine hesitancy that was triggered by the Dengvaxia controversy. Over 100 deaths have been linked to the anti-dengue vaccine, but experts have said there are no findings that the drug has caused these deaths. The Pennsylvania Human Relation Commission announced today they are offering their support to current and former Biglerville High School students who recently launched a social media campaign sharing stories of racist incidents at the school. We would like these students and families as well as the general public to know that anyone who feels they have been discriminated against may file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter said via press release. We stand ready to investigate these complaints as well as provide relevant training and guidance. The PHRC firmly believes that Pennsylvanians have the right to work, live, and be educated in an environment free from discrimination. Officials at the states leading civil justice enforcement agency said they saw the Facebook and Instagram accounts dubbed Racism at Biglerville High School, which invited individuals who felt discriminated against to publicly share their experiences, as well as a list of demands for school administrators. Over the past few days, the accounts have received roughly 100 stories from current students and alumni detailing what they claim racist encounters at the Adams County high school. Most of the posts are anonymous, due to threats of violence, organizers said. Since they are anonymous, they could not be verified by PennLive. Superintendent Wesley Doll said during an interview over Zoom with PennLive on Wednesday that the district did not condone any of the behaviors described on those social media pages. When you start to see some of the items and messages that are posted, its very disheartening, Doll said. Were dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for all of our students thats free of racism, discrimination or bullying. Page organizers are encouraging students, former students, and alumni to share their stories by sending an email to RacismAtBHS@gmail.com or messaging them on any of the platforms they are present on. Read more from PennLive Students use social media to share stories of racism at central Pa. high school, demand change Superintendent addresses students concerns over racism at central Pa. school: video Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain AstraZeneca and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday defended the effectiveness of the company's COVID-19 vaccine after regulators in Germany said it should not be given to over-65s. A spokesperson for the UK-based company said the latest clinical trial data for its vaccine, developed with Oxford University, "support efficacy in the over 65 years age group". The company is awaiting a decision from the EU's medicines regulator, the spokesperson added. Johnson meanwhile told reporters that the UK's own regulator had established "that they think the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious, gives a high degree of protection". A panel of scientific experts in Germany said the vaccine should only be used for "persons aged 18 to 65 years old based on available data", citing "insufficient data" to assess its efficacy for older people. Britain has been using the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab along with another developed by Pfizer/BioNTech across all older age groups as it bids to immunise the most vulnerable 15 million people by mid-February. Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at the government agency Public Health England, also backed the AstraZeneca vaccine for older recipients. "Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are safe and provide high levels of protection against COVID-19, particularly against severe disease," she said. "There were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group, but data on immune responses were very reassuring," Ramsay added. "The risk of severe disease and death increase exponentially with agethe priority is to vaccinate as many vulnerable people as possible with either vaccine, to protect more people and save more lives." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP The trilateral working group on Karabakh will discuss the restoration of the transport infrastructure in the region at the first meeting scheduled for January 30, its co-chairman from the Russian side, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk said. The group is co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev from the Azerbaijani side, and Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan from the Armenian side. "The topics are determined in the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. First of all, let's look at the problems of development and restoration of transport infrastructure," TASS cited him as saying. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister could not answer the question of how often meetings at the level of deputy prime ministers would be held, whether it will always be held in Moscow. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister recalled that only the first meeting is ahead, so "nothing can be said yet." In turn, Mher Grigoryan said that the meeting will discuss the issue of unblocking transport communications in the South Caucasus. According to the politician, the parties plan to consider a joint statement of the three leaders on January 11, while no details are known yet. "For the formation of a detailed agenda, a meeting still needs to be held. At the moment, it is only known that the discussion will focus on the 4th point of the statement [on unblocking transport links between Azerbaijan and Armenia]," Sputnik Armenia cited Grigoryan as saying. The Deputy Prime Minister assessed such unblocking as extremely difficult work, since, according to him, there are many-many issues that should be resolved and settled. Nevertheless, Grigoryan pointed out, it is quite possible to solve the task. Advertisement How did the UK end up as one of the world's leading countries on the vaccine roll-out? The UK is one of the world's leading countries when it comes to the speed of the roll-out of its coronavirus vaccination programme - a fact made all the more impressive given where the nation started when the pandemic hit early last year. At that point the country had just one vaccine manufacturing site - a facility in Liverpool which made flu jabs. But the Government quickly set up a vaccine task force in April to make sure the UK was well-positioned to benefit from medical breakthroughs. The experts appointed to the task force reportedly recommended seven projects for investment within its first two weeks, according to The Times. Advance purchase orders were hammered out by the task force with suppliers despite the fact there were no guarantees that any of the vaccines would work or that they would be signed off by regulators. That early work meant the UK was in pole position to receive the jabs, if and when they were shown to be effective and safe. The task force's strategy means two companies have been relied upon to do much of the heavy lifting during the UK's vaccine roll-out: Pfizer and AstraZeneca. The UK ordered 40 million doses from the former and 100 million doses from the latter. Agreements are also in place with a handful of other would-be suppliers should their products get the green light. The speed with which the UK moved on vaccines was perhaps best illustrated this week when Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, revealed the deal with Britain was agreed three months before the EU's. The UK's supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine is made at sites in Oxford and Staffordshire before it is put into vials at a facility in Wrexham, while the Pfizer jab is made in Belgium. Every new batch of vaccine in the UK has to be safety tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control in Hertfordshire before it can be sent for delivery. This process takes about four days and once each batch has been rubber-stamped it is taken to secure Government warehouses where the NHS takes over the process and decides where the doses will be sent. The physical roll-out of the vaccine is headquartered from an NHS office in London, with doses sent to more than 1,400 vaccine sites across the country. It is easily the biggest vaccination drive in the history of the health service and many believe it will become an annual programme. Advertisement Nicola Sturgeon was accused of taking the EU's side in the bitter vaccine row today as she vowed to publish details of the UK's supplies despite Boris Johnson ordering her to keep them secret. In an extraordinary move, the First Minister risked undermining Britain's position, with Brussels heaping pressure on firms to give the bloc a bigger share of the stocks. Despite the PM warning that the information must be confidential to protect the rollout, Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood she will release it from next week 'regardless of what they say'. The timing of Ms Sturgeon's intervention was particularly provocative given that it came as Mr Johnson was on an official visit to Scotland to make the case for the Union. Tory MPs vented fury at Ms Sturgeon - who wants Scotland to be independent and rejoin the bloc - saying she is 'obviously more inclined to help the EU than she is the UK'. Tory MP Peter Bone told MailOnline: 'The simple truth is she has a tendency to support the EU rather than the United Kingdom. 'It is wrong, her behaviour. I would have thought she would praise the success of the UK because Scotland shares in that. If she was in the EU and not part of the UK she would still be waiting for her vaccines. Get behind the UK government and stop playing petty politics.' The row erupted as tensions between Britain and Brussels over vaccine supplies escalated again as the EU warned drug companies it will use all legal means to block the export of jabs from the continent unless manufacturers deliver the shots they have promised. The EU's vaccination rollout continues to lag far behind the UK's, with the bloc now desperately scrambling to boost supplies - but deliveries have slowed due to production problems. Brussels has publicly slammed AstraZeneca for failing to deliver on its contract with the bloc and has even asked the firm to divert jabs from Britain. Now it has emerged that European Council President Charles Michel has said in a letter to four EU leaders that the EU should explore legal means to ensure it receives the jabs it has bought. 'If no satisfactory solution can be found, I believe we should explore all options and make use of all legal means and enforcement measures at our disposal under the Treaties,' he said in the letter sent yesterday. EU officials said that exports could be blocked if they were deemed to violate contracts between drugs firms and the EU. Earlier, MEPs had threatened a 'trade war' with the UK over the issue while there were claims officials have been sent from the medicines agency to the AstraZeneca plant in Belgium to check it genuinely has problems producing doses. The bloc continues to pile the pressure on the UK-based pharma giant to bail out its shambolic vaccine rollout. European politicians warned the 'consequences' of refusing to divert stocks of the UK-made jabs to EU would be a ban on exports of the Pfizer version from Belgium - suggesting 3.5million doses due to arrive soon could be at risk. EU chiefs want more of the Oxford jabs - made in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire - to be handed over to make up for a 75million shortfall on the continent. The European Commission said the Anglo-Swedish firm was obliged to meet its contractual obligations despite production issues at its Belgian site. So far both AstraZeneca and Pfizer look to be holding firm against the sabre-rattling from Brussels. It comes after MEPs warned that the UK would 'suffer' for denying the EU, and the bloc's health commissioner insisted Britain should not receive priority even though it signed a contract with AstraZeneca three months before Brussels did. Stella Kyriakides said: 'We reject the logic of first come, first served. That may work in a butcher's shop but not in contracts and not in our advanced purchase agreements.' Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the UK will discuss 'how we can help' the EU's vaccination effort. But asked if the UK might lose out because the EU has not got enough doses, Mr Gove said: 'No. The programme of vaccination has been agreed and assured and the supplies were fixed some time ago and we will make sure that the vaccine programme proceeds exactly as planned.' He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'Of course it is the case that we will want to talk with our friends in Europe to see how we can help, but the really important thing is making sure that our own vaccination programme proceeds precisely as planned.' While AstraZeneca has committed to 'even closer' co-ordination with EU officials, the company stuck firmly to its guns, saying it had been 'open' with the bloc about the 'complexities' of scaling up its vaccine production. The firm also left a small but poignant sting in the tail, with a reminder to European leaders of its commitment to provide millions of vaccines to people across the continent 'at no profit' during the pandemic. It comes as sources said Britain has enough vaccines to last this year and meet its targets and could end up distributing them to other countries anyway. Meanwhile an industry insider rubbished fears Brussels may try to divert the UK's vaccines as 'political rhetoric', but warned if it did it 'would be a human rights issue for millions of people'. In other developments: Germany 's vaccine commission has recommended that the AstraZeneca jab only be used for under-65s because there is not enough evidence about whether it works on the elderly; Mr Johnson insisted he is not concerned by the recommendation in Germany, saying the UK regulator concluded the jab 'provides a good immune response across all age groups'; Covid-19 case rates are continuing to fall in all regions of England, according to the latest weekly surveillance report from Public Health England; German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a high-level meeting with vaccine manufacturers next week after her health minister warned its shortage of jabs will stretch into April; Boris Johnson is visiting Scotland despite Nicola Sturgeon insisting that his trip is not 'essential' amid coronavirus lockdown; French firm Valneva has started manufacturing a new vaccine in Scotland that is expected to deliver up to 60 million doses for the UK by the end of this year if it wins approval; The PM has announced schools will not reopen until at least March 8, with ministers plotting a phased exit from lockdown that could see non-essential shops back up and running in April, and pubs in May; There is confusion over Priti Patel's plans for all Britons to produce a written declaration that they are going for 'essential' reasons before leaving the country; Mr Gove revealed that ministers will review today what countries are covered by new 'quarantine hotel' rules, even though they were only announced yesterday; Latest figures showed 7.16million people have had a coronavirus jab in the UK, with over 1,400 sites in operation; The Children's Commissioner warned mental health services for young people were hopelessly overstretched. Boris Johnson met armed forces personnel at a youth centre in Castlemilk, Glasgow today, as he thanked people for their efforts on the coronavirus response Boris Johnson is shown the Lighthouse Laboratory, used for processing PCR samples for coronavirus, during a visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow today EU chiefs demanded that AstraZeneca jabs made in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire be diverted to make up for a 75million shortfall on the continent. Pictured: European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen In an extraordinary move this afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon risked undermining the UK's position by announcing she will publish details of the country's vaccine supplies from next week It comes as the German press (pictured inset: An article in Die Zeit) turned on Brussels yesterday as it denounced the EU's shambolic vaccine rollout as the 'best advert for Brexit' Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the UK will discuss 'how we can help' the EU's vaccination effort. But asked if the UK might lose out because the EU has not got enough doses, Mr Gove said: 'No.' PM and UK health chiefs insist AstraZeneca vaccine IS effective for ALL age groups after Germany claims jab should not be used on over-65s yet Boris Johnson and UK health chief insisted the AstraZeneca vaccine works for all age groups today after German scientists said they will not recommend it for over-65s because they believe there is not yet enough evidence. The PM and Public Health England struck a bullish note after a Berlin commission said there was 'insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older'. British regulators, by contrast, have approved the jab for all age groups - with AstraZeneca pointing to data published in a medical journal showing that 100 per cent of older adults generated antibodies in trials. Germany's stance comes amid an angry row between the EU and AstraZeneca over vaccine supplies, with the bloc lagging far behind Britain in immunising its population against Covid-19. Although it is possible the position could change with more evidence, it raises the prospect of splits between the UK and EU on what vaccines are regarded as effective - with speculation that in the future travel to some destinations could be contingent on having been inoculated. On a visit to Scotland this afternoon, Mr Johnson said he was not worried about the news from Germany. 'No, because the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford-AstraZeneca is very good and efficacious and gives a high degree of protection after just one does and even more after two doses,' he said. The PM said the MHRA concluded the vaccine is 'effective across all age groups' and 'provides a good immune response across all age groups'. He added on the German conclusions: 'So I don't agree with that.' Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE, said there had been 'too few cases' of coronavirus in older people in Phase 3 clinical trial to determine efficacy in this age group, but other data on immune response had been 'reassuring'. AstraZeneca said: 'The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group.' Advertisement Ms Sturgeon's comments came as she was grilled by Tory Ruth Davidson at First Minister's Questions thus afternoon. Pushed on why Scotland's vaccinations were happening more slowly than England's, Ms Sturgeon dismissed claims that the authorities north of the border were sitting on supplies. And she referenced a previous row with Westminster when the Scottish government published information about supplies, only to be told to withdraw the material. Ms Sturgeon complained that despite the orders the UK government has been 'briefing' the details out, adding: 'I've said to my officials actually, regardless of what they say, I think we will just go back to publishing the actual supply figures from next week so we all have transparency around that.' According to reports, the Belgian federal medicines agency completed an inspection at the AstraZeneca production site in Seneffe, Hainaut. Samples and records are said to have been taken and another visit is due in the coming days. The firm has blamed a production problem at the site, owned by a French life-sciences company, for the reduction in how much supply the EU can expect. However, there is scepticism in Brussels over the explanation, with un-evidenced claims the UK is being given stocks. A prominent German MEP warned the UK would 'suffer' unless it agreed to the EU's demands to share more vaccine. Peter Liese, who is in Angela Merkel's CDU party, suggested Brussels could block shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, which is made in Belgium. He said: 'The BioNTech vaccine, which is only produced in Europe and has been produced with the aid of the German state and European Union money, has been shipped to the United Kingdom. 'If there is anyone thinking that European citizens would accept that we give this high quality vaccine to the UK and would accept to be treated as second class by a UK-based company, I think that the only consequence can be immediately stopping the export of the BioNtech (vaccine) and then we are in the middle of a trade war. 'So the company and the UK better think twice. When we see Europe is not treated well, not by the United States and not by the UK, then we have to show our weapons. 'We need to tell the other companies in the world if we treat the Europeans as second class, you will suffer for this.' To add to the complications, Germany's top vaccine panel said today it is not recommending the AstraZeneca jab only for over-65s because there is not enough evidence on whether it works for the elderly. The panel of scientists said the Oxford/AstraZeneca product was 'considered appropriate' for 18-65 year-olds but should not be used for older people 'based on available data'. 'There is currently insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older,' it said. The commission did not lend any credence to the sensational claim published by German media on Monday that the jab was only eight per cent effective among over-65s, a theory debunked by the manufacturers and German health ministry. Instead, it said there was not enough data to make a decision either way - after AstraZeneca's boss said the 'very ethical' Oxford scientists had slowed down trials on older people until the vaccine was proved to be safe. Germany admits vaccine shortage until APRIL amid fury at EU bungling Germany's health minister has warned its shortage of coronavirus vaccines will stretch into April as the backlash against the EU's bungling gathered pace. The grim message came as Germany's top-selling Bild newspaper described the problems around procuring supplies as a 'scandal'. Jens Spahn said he wanted to invite pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers for a summit to make sure that Europe gets its fair share of doses. 'We will still have at least 10 tough weeks with a shortage of vaccine,' he tweeted. Mr Spahn said he recognised that producing vaccines was very complicated and building up production could not just be done in a few weeks if quality standards were to be upheld. Earlier this week Germany supported EU proposals to set up a register of exports of COVID-19 vaccines, as tensions grow with AstraZeneca and Pfizer over sudden supply cuts just a month after the bloc started vaccinating citizens. Advertisement Downing Street has refused to rule out giving UK vaccines to the European Union once the most vulnerable in the country have been inoculated. The Prime Minister's official spokesman was repeatedly asked by reporters whether Number 10 was considering the idea. The spokesman said it 'remains our priority to vaccinate the most vulnerable people across the UK to ensure we can give those who are at clinical risk protection against the virus'. Pushed on whether that left the door open to sending vaccines to Europe once the most vulnerable had been jabbed, he added: 'Phase one includes those who are most vulnerable to the virus that remains our priority to make sure we get vaccines to all those as quickly as possible. 'Phase one is groups one to nine (on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation suggested priority list). The mid-February target is the first four groups within that.' Put to him that after the first nine cohorts had been vaccinated, vaccines could then be shared, the spokesman added: 'I didn't say that.' AstraZeneca warned Brussels last week the problems in Belgium meant the bloc would receive only a quarter of the 100million doses it had expected by April. A spokesman last night told MailOnline: 'Our CEO Pascal Soriot was pleased to participate in a meeting this evening with the EU's Vaccine Steering Board. 'We had a constructive and open conversation about the complexities of scaling up production of our vaccine, and the challenges we have encountered. 'We have committed to even closer co-ordination, to jointly chart a path for the delivery of our vaccine over the coming months as we continue our efforts to bring our vaccine to millions of Europeans at no profit during the pandemic.' Government sources insist only once the AZ factories in Oxford and Newcastle-under-Lyme had fulfilled their commitment to the UK will they be free to supply other countries. The UK signed a deal with AstraZeneca last May to supply 100million doses of the vaccine it developed with Oxford University. EU nations placed a joint order for 400million doses from AstraZeneca three months later, in August, to be made at two sites on the continent, as well as the two UK sites. Vaccines WILL limit the spread of coronavirus but we won't know how by much until mid-February, experts say Britain's vaccine roll out will limit the spread of coronavirus, but by exactly how much will not be made clear until mid-February, experts say. Providing a boost to the UK's hopes of ending lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said jabs 'couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission'. He said it was less a question of 'will they?' and rather 'to what extent' will inoculation help to reduce the spread. But Boris Johnson and his chief scientists tonight said experts won't know much effect the coronavirus vaccines are having on the country's epidemic until mid-February, The PM said the impact of the jabs won't be felt in hospital and deaths data until then due to the lag in time it takes between getting injected and developing immunity. He told a Downing Street press conference tonight that he would not consider lifting lockdown restrictions until he'd seen concrete 'evidence that those graphs are coming down'. The immunisation drive has only really got up to speed in the last few weeks and it takes between a fortnight and a month for a person to build up immunity. Both the Pfizer and Oxford University vaccines have been proven to block severe illness, so experts hope they'll start to make a dent in the death and hospitalisation rates in the coming weeks. No10's scientists will be monitoring those metrics, specifically in the most vulnerable groups - including the over-80s, over-75s and care homes residents - who are currently receiving the jabs. So far 6.8million, or one in 10, people in Britain have received at least one dose of the vaccines. In three weeks time, when most of those people have protection, experts will expect to see a near 10 per cent drop in hospital admissions. Not all of the people vaccinated will be immune, however, because the jabs are not perfect. Pfizer's is 95 per cent effective at blocking severe disease, while Oxford's is around 70 per cent. Advertisement The resultant 75million shortfall in the first three months of this year has caused a major row between the two sides. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'The fact is that we ordered the vaccine three months before the EU. 'The EU are coming out with a very strange excuse for botching their procurement of vaccine at the moment. 'They're saying that the reason it took them three months longer than the UK to order the vaccine is because they were negotiating for better prices for and better value for money, which is ludicrous when the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, our own UK vaccine, is being produced at cost at 3 a dose subsidised by the UK taxpayer. 'I don't know how you get better value for that. 'The EU then insisted on the contract that they did sign with AstraZeneca that they get delivery at the same time as the UK, which had ordered it three months before. 'Obviously that's going to be produced in Belgium at a new facility they're setting up. 'AstraZeneca made the EU aware that was going to be very difficult but they promised to make best efforts, that was in the contract.' Aaron Bell, a Tory member of the Commons science committee, said: 'I understand and sympathise with the EU's disappointment that AstraZeneca is having yield issues at its Belgian plant, but the suggestion that the UK's supply should be diverted to the continent is clearly inappropriate.' Tensions rose when Astra chief Pascal Soriot told European newspapers in an interview on Tuesday that the supply schedule for the EU was not a 'commitment' but agreed as a 'best effort'. He said that as Brussels had signed its supply contract three months later than the UK it had left less time to sort out production 'glitches' at sites on the continent. 'The contract with the UK was signed first and the UK, of course, said 'You supply us first', and this is fair enough,' he added. But yesterday, Miss Kyriakides flatly rejected the argument and demanded the vaccines being made in the UK for domestic use be exported to the EU. At a briefing in Brussels, she said: 'There is no hierarchy of the factories. 'You are aware in the contracts there are four factories listed but it does not differentiate between the UK and Europe. 'The UK factories are part of our advance purchase agreements and that is why they have to deliver.' The commissioner said the EU was losing people to the pandemic every day, adding: 'These are not numbers. They're not statistics. These are persons with families with friends and colleagues that have been affected as well. 'We reject the logic of first come, first served,' said Stella Kyriakides (pictured). 'That may work in a butcher's shop but not in contracts and not in our advanced purchase agreements' EU officials have today demanded that Covid vaccines made in the UK be exported to Europe to help plug shortfalls in its own jabs roll-out, which is among the slowest in the world and is lagging well behind Britain The EU's health commissioner last night insisted that Britain should not receive priority even though the UK signed a contract with Astra-Zeneca three months before the bloc did. Pictured: AstraZeneca office building in Brussels Johnson & Johnson's one-shot Covid vaccine could soon be added to Britain's arsenal Johnson and Johnson will publish results from phase three trials of its one-shot coronavirus vaccine next week, the company announced last night. The jab uses similar technology to the Oxford University vaccine, making it just as easy to transport and store, but requires just a single injection to protect against Covid. Government scientists expect the vaccine, made by Janssen, the Belgian arm of the US pharmaceutical giant, could be given emergency authorisation and rolled out in Britain by mid-February. The UK has already struck a deal for 30million doses, with the option of ordering 22million more. If approved, it would be the third Covid jab in the UK's arsenal and could significantly speed up the programme which has been held back by supply shortages. A fourth jab, made my US firm Moderna, sealed approval earlier this month but doses won't arrive until March because of an exclusive deal with the American Government. Developed by Janssen, the vaccine uses a harmless adenovirus to deliver genetic material that tricks the human body into producing proteins known as antigens, normally found on the coronavirus's surface, helping the immune system develop an arsenal against infection. Like the Oxford jab, which also uses adenoviral vectors, it can be stored and transported in normal fridges. However the key difference is that the J&J jab is designed to be effective as a single dose, whereas Oxford and Pfizer's is given in two shots three or more weeks apart. If trials show it is effective at blocking Covid, it will become the first approved jab to work in a single injection and could rapidly speed up mass immunisation plans. The 30million doses already ordered by the UK could be enough to reach almost half of the population. Advertisement 'Pharmaceutical companies, vaccine developers, have moral societal and contractual responsibilities which they need to uphold. 'The view that the company is not obliged to deliver because we signed a best effort agreement is neither correct nor is it acceptable. 'The 27 European Union member states are united that AstraZeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreements.' Following talks with AstraZeneca last night, Miss Kyriakides tweeted: 'We regret the continued lack of clarity on the delivery schedule and request a clear plan from AstraZeneca for the fast delivery of the quantity of vaccines that we reserved.' It was also reported last night Britain had ordered enough vaccines for the year - of 367million doses, enough for 5.5 per person - and could end up dishing them out to other countries anyway - meaning EU countries would benefit. A source told the Times: 'There is plenty of vaccine. It exceeds what the government wants to do.' The industry insider also told the newspaper the demands from Brussels were 'political rhetoric' and would be a 'human rights issue' if they did try to divert doses. They said: 'They cannot stop vaccines that are contracted for delivery. Some of these vaccines have already been given to people who are due to receive their second dose. It would be a human rights issue for millions of people if that process was stopped.' Mr Johnson said it would have been a 'great pity' if the UK had stayed in the EU's vaccine programme rather than set up its own plan. 'I do think that we've been able to do things differently, and better, in some ways,' the Prime Minister told MPs. More than a tenth of the UK population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. This compares to just 1.75 per cent in France, 1.96 per cent in Germany, 2.50 per cent in Spain and 2.15 per cent in Italy. Meanwhile experts revealed how Britain's vaccine roll out will limit the spread of coronavirus, but by exactly how much will not be made clear until mid-February. Providing a boost to the UK's hopes of ending lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said jabs 'couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission'. He said it was less a question of 'will they?' and rather 'to what extent' will inoculation help to reduce the spread. But Boris Johnson and his chief scientists said last night that experts won't know much effect the coronavirus vaccines are having on the country's epidemic until mid-February. These set of graphs show the number of vaccines ordered by the UK and the EU. The EU has also ordered a number of other vaccines, including 300million Sanofi-GSK doses and 405million CureVac doses The PM said the impact of the jabs won't be felt in hospital and deaths data until then due to the lag in time it takes between getting injected and developing immunity. He told a Downing Street press conference tonight that he would not consider lifting lockdown restrictions until he'd seen concrete 'evidence that those graphs are coming down'. The immunisation drive has only really got up to speed in the last few weeks and it takes between a fortnight and a month for a person to build up immunity. Both the Pfizer and Oxford University vaccines have been proven to block severe illness, so experts hope they'll start to make a dent in the death and hospitalisation rates in the coming weeks. No10's scientists will be monitoring those metrics, specifically in the most vulnerable groups - including the over-80s, over-75s and care homes residents - who are currently receiving the jabs. So far 6.8million, or one in 10, people in Britain have received at least one dose of the vaccines. In three weeks time, when most of those people have protection, experts will expect to see a near 10 per cent drop in hospital admissions. Not all of the people vaccinated will be immune, however, because the jabs are not perfect. Pfizer's is 95 per cent effective at blocking severe disease, while Oxford's is around 70 per cent. Another burning question which will determine how gung-ho ministers can be with easing restriction is to what extent the vaccines stop people from spreading Covid. The Government has commissioned a study to investigate the vaccines and their role on transmission, which is being overseen by Public Health England. It is focused on frontline healthcare workers who've been jabbed. England's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told tonight's Downing Street press conference: 'I think you've got to be extremely cautious and wait until we've got proper data. 'It's too early to say what's happening in the UK. It's being looked at very, very carefully. You shouldn't expect to see nobody getting ill who's been vaccinated. Vaccines are not 100 per cent effective. We will still see people who get disease. 'We will still see people who get severe disease, but it will be much, much reduced with the vaccine, and we need to wait and look at the data and get proper estimates of that rather than try to make early cuts and guesses as to what this is showing.' A female factory worker who tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Japan on Tuesday after leaving Vietnam over a week earlier has been found carrying a coronavirus variant originating in the UK, with the source of her infection still unknown. The 31-year-old woman left the northern Vietnamese province of Hai Duong for Osaka, Japan on January 17 and tested positive for the mutant coronavirus strain on January 26, the Ministry of Health quoted Japanese authorities as saying during a meeting on Wednesday evening. She had previously worked at an industrial park in Hai Duong. Her direct contacts have been quarantined for coronavirus testing. The coronavirus mutation, which is said to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the old one, was first discovered in the UK in mid-December and has so far spread to over 70 countries. Vietnam first detected the strain in a 44-year-old woman returning to Vietnam from Britain who was quarantined upon arrival and confirmed positive for the virus on December 24. Regarding the worker in Hai Duong, competent authorities have not been able to identify the source of her infection. The health ministry will continue working with their Japanese counterparts for further updates on the case. On Thursday morning, the health ministry confirmed two local COVID-19 infections, one of whom had been in contact with the factory worker. The patient, the countrys 1,552nd case, is a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Hai Duong. The other patient is a 31-year-old Vietnamese employee at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh Province. The man had a fever, dry cough, and sore throat so he went to the hospital for a check-up. He was tested for the novel coronavirus and the result later returned positive. Vietnam has documented 1,553 coronavirus patients as of Thursday morning, with 1,430 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Novel approach for minimizing investment risks and stretching limited budgets has 375 innovations targeting infectious diseases under development NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The public-private initiatives that contributed to COVID-19 vaccine and drug development have showcased a model for accelerating biomedical innovation. However, the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in fighting global health threats had emerged long before this pandemic hit. Over the last decade, such alliances have produced a wide assortment of life-saving technologies targeting diseases that afflict billions in low-income countries, according to a new report from a group of 12 product development partnerships (PDPs) that assesses their impact and future potential. The report, "Keeping the Promise," finds that, since 2010, these 12 PDPs have developed and brought to market 66 new drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and other technologies for a number of diseases-including tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, meningitis and sleeping sickness. These innovations have reached and benefitted more than 2.4 billion people in low-income countries. On limited budgets, PDPs build alliances between public, private, academic and philanthropic partners, enabling the sharing of financial risks and coordination of diverse expertise and experience. "It's an unfortunate, but obvious reality, that relying solely on market incentives to drive medical innovation results in neglect of the needs of large portions of the world," said Willo Brock, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for TB Alliance, one of the PDPs behind the report. "PDPs have made tremendous advances in global health and our best is yet to come with so many new innovations in late stages of development, but we must stay focused on securing the support we need-from all of our partners-to ensure we build on the momentum of the last decade and realize the promise of our pipelines." The report notes the stark contrast between the neglected disease product development space before and after the ascent of PDPs around the turn of the century. For example, from 1975 to 2000, a mere 16 of some 1400 newly developed medicines targeted diseases that mainly affected least-developed countries.1 Since their inception, PDPs have marshalled industry, government and philanthropic investments and generated new political capital to pack a once-barren global health R&D pipeline. Currently, the cumulative pipeline of the PDPs behind the report contains more than 375 new innovations, 25 percent of them now in late-stage development. That is three times the size of the 2010 pipeline, which itself was many times larger than it was at the turn of the century.1 Examples of innovation delivered by PDPs since 2010 include: A new drug from TB Alliance , pretomanid, for highly drug-resistant forms of TB is the first treatment regimen approved for extensively drug-resistant TB-the deadliest form of the disease. Pretomanid is to be used as part of a three-drug, six-month, all-oral regimen. , pretomanid, for highly drug-resistant forms of TB is the for extensively drug-resistant TB-the deadliest form of the disease. Pretomanid is to be used as part of a three-drug, six-month, all-oral regimen. A drug developed by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) called tafenoquine that requires only a single dose to prevent relapse of P. vivax malaria. This species of malaria is particularly debilitating since it can lie dormant in the liver and relapse multiple times causing new episodes of disease in the absence of a mosquito bite. in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) called tafenoquine that to prevent relapse of malaria. This species of malaria is particularly debilitating since it can lie dormant in the liver and relapse multiple times causing new episodes of disease in the absence of a mosquito bite. A new medication, fexinidazole, from the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DND i) that provides the first all-oral cure for sleeping sickness , a disease that is usually fatal without treatment. Before the development of fexinidazole, the only treatment available was complicated to distribute and administer in the poor communities of rural Africa where outbreaks still occur, often prompting the use of a toxic medication that killed one in 20 patients. that provides , a disease that is usually fatal without treatment. Before the development of fexinidazole, the only treatment available was complicated to distribute and administer in the poor communities of rural where outbreaks still occur, often prompting the use of a toxic medication that killed one in 20 patients. An affordable oral cholera vaccine from the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to combat a disease that kills 100,000 people every year and sickens 2.5 million. from the to combat a disease that kills 100,000 people every year and sickens 2.5 million. The first meningitis vaccine developed specifically for Africa . Known as MenAfriVac, the heat-stable, low-cost vaccine from PATH was introduced in 2010. By 2019, mass immunization of 340 million people had virtually eliminated the deadly disease wherever it was used across Africa's "meningitis belt." . Known as MenAfriVac, the heat-stable, low-cost vaccine from was introduced in 2010. By 2019, mass immunization of 340 million people had wherever it was used across "meningitis belt." A discreet, woman-controlled vaginal ring from the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) that slowly delivers an antiretroviral drug, dapivirine, over one month to offer women the first long-acting HIV prevention option . (IPM) that slowly delivers an antiretroviral drug, dapivirine, over one month . Bed nets from the International Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), Interceptor G2 , that can protect against insecticide-resistant mosquitoes that carry malaria, addressing a major threat to one of the most critical tools for fighting the disease. Interceptor G2 that can that carry malaria, addressing a major threat to one of the most critical tools for fighting the disease. A new drug, moxidectin, that could accelerate elimination of onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness). The non-profit biotech PDP Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH) achieved approval in the U.S. as its sole sponsor. Meanwhile, the current PDP pipeline includes a number of promising innovations. For example, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is developing broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV that are infusing new promise into the quest for an HIV vaccine. PDPs, including the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI), have reinvigorated the TB vaccine pipeline, having contributed to the development of 13 of the 20 candidates currently under development, seven of which are in late-stage development. In 2000, there was no TB vaccine in any stage of development. The European Vaccine Institute (EVI) is supporting the development of a vaccine against a chronic form of leishmaniasis that causes debilitating and disfiguring lesions on the face, limbs and trunk for some 100 million people annually in poor communities across 100 countries. The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and DNDi are part of an effort to develop a self-administered test for hepatitis C. The report finds that a key factor in the success of the PDPs is that they are developing products that are both affordable and easy to administer-like oral versus injectable products and heat-stable innovations versus those with significant refrigeration needs. It also reveals that PDPs are cost effective. For example, DNDi estimated their cost to develop and bring fexinidazole to market at between at US $70 to $225 million, compared to the $1.3 billion estimated by Tufts Center for Study of Drug Development as the average cost for for-profit pharmaceutical developers to develop a novel chemical entity.2 Tapping PDPs to Fight COVID-19 Meanwhile, the report documents how PDPs have helped build global capacity to conduct cutting-edge medical research, including working with 550 clinical trial sites in some 80 mostly low-income countries. It notes that this global infrastructure has been tapped to speed the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and that PDPs have contributed in many other ways to fighting the pandemic. For example: IVI has supported the development of COVID-19 vaccines, including work to prepare clinical sites in four African and Asian countries to potentially participate in Phase 3 efficacy trials. EVI is also participating in the development of COVID-19 vaccines via its work with the TRANSVAC initiative, which offers free scientific, technical and other services to accelerate the development of urgently needed vaccines for global health. IAVI has contributed its considerable expertise in developing broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV to a collaboration that has identified two monoclonal antibodies with the potential to protect against SARS-CoV2. They will soon advance to clinical trials. DND i and MMV dispatched Pandemic Response Boxes free of charge to researchers in low-income countries, which included 400 compounds active against bacteria, viruses, or fungi, allowing them to be tested for potential use in the COVID-19 response. MMV then launched the COVID Box of 160 compounds with known or predicted activity against SARS-CoV-2. and MMV dispatched Pandemic Response Boxes free of charge to researchers in low-income countries, which included 400 compounds active against bacteria, viruses, or fungi, allowing them to be tested for potential use in the COVID-19 response. MMV then launched the COVID Box of 160 compounds with known or predicted activity against SARS-CoV-2. FIND is co-leading the Diagnostics Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a global collaboration to ensure equitable access to the tests, treatments and vaccines needed to defeat the pandemic. The report cautions that in order to continue this impressive track record, the future success of PDPs will require a strong focus on late-stage research and efforts to ensure access to recently launched technologies, given the rapidly maturing pipeline of new products. For example, the report points out that there is a need to ensure funding for research, manufacturing and distribution as well as training health service providers. The report concludes that "with more products approaching and reaching the market than ever before, the need to invest in research and access is increasingly critical and urgent." 1 Grace C. Product Development Partnerships (PDPs): Lessons from PDPs established to develop new health technologies for neglected diseases. DFID Human Development Resource Centre. June 2, 2010. https://www.heart-resources.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/276502_UK-Report-on-Wider-Applicability-of-Product-Development-Partnerships-_PDPs__Report1.pdf 2 DiMasi JA, Grabowski HG, Hansen RA. Innovation in the pharmaceutical industry: new estimates of R&D costs. Journal of Health Economics, vol 47, 20-33, May 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167629616000291?via%3Dihub 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. JSM & Associates, LLC, (Associates or JSM) is pleased to announce the formation of a new subsidiary, JSM Airport Services, LLC (Airport Services or JAS). JSM establishes its wholly owned subsidiary, JSM Airport Services to distinguish and broaden its brand and market position for delivering high quality maintenance services to airports worldwide. JSM Airport Services vision is to be the preferred choice for maintenance programs for Baggage Handling Systems and Passenger Boarding Bridges within the aviation industry. As air traffic begins to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate airports will look for customized, higher-value maintenance services to support the technological innovations being implemented within their baggage handling systems and passenger boarding bridges. Airport Services is uniquely positioned to meet those needs. Owner / CEO John Majewski noted that as an entire organization, JSM already holds strong market share in our two core competencies: professional services and technical maintenance services. The success of our professional services division has at times shielded the growth and maturity of our maintenance division. The formation of JSM Airport Services assures our airport clients of our focus, commitment, and partnership in the round-the-clock support of their daily operations. Our new subsidiary more tightly concentrates our expertise and experience in Operations & Maintenance. For both existing and new clients, our new organization ensures flexibility and rapid response to their maintenance needs. JSM Airport Services combines an army of mission-focused, highly skilled maintenance technicians with a robust support network. This infrastructure and our culture are the result of listening to our clients tell us what they really want in a service partner. Its what JSM refers to as The Power of Partnership. We have leveraged the talent of a hand-selected management team to build that client-focused culture from the ground up. Whether it is just a few boarding bridges or the entire BHS for a Cat X airport, JSM Airport Services comes fully equipped to custom build and sustain a high-quality support program for the life of the equipment. For more information on JSM & Associates and JSM Airport Services, please follow on the link, http://www.jsmandassociates.com About JSM & Associates, LLC Founded in 2008, JSM & Associates is a premier provider of professional & technical services to the aviation industry, specializing in BHS design and consultancy as well as Baggage Handling System / Passenger Boarding Bridge operations and maintenance. Leveraging a long, successful history in the aviation community, our value comes from its experienced and highly skilled employees as well as the management teams more than 200 years of combined engagement in the design, manufacturing, engineering, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of BHS and PBBs for airports around the world. A JUDGE was told on Wednesday a man accused of stealing over 10,000 worth of equipment would not be appearing at Tullamore District Court because he was living in a tent in Dublin. Defence counsel Suzanne Dooner said 34-year-old Robert Kelly was homeless and had slept in that morning in the Phoenix Park. Ms Dooner asked for a further remand for the accused, who though he had addresses at 52 Fr Paul Murphy Street and 146 Greenwood Park, Edenderry, had family in Dublin. Judge Catherine Staines said it was the second time he had not turned up in court. She made a peremptory adjournment to next Wednesday, February 3, saying Mr Kelly would have to come to Tullamore the night before. Sergeant James O'Sullivan told the court the book of evidence in the case was ready. Mr Kelly is accused of stealing electronic equipment worth 10,150 from Fone Geek, Edenderry, between September 17 and September 18 last year. On January 6 the court heard he was not present because his solicitor had told him he did not have to attend. A tough test of the Morrison governments environment credentials looms after a major report on national conservation laws called for urgent reforms to prevent further extinction of Australias wildlife. Former competition watchdog Graeme Samuel handed down his final report from his review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act on Thursday afternoon and highlighted the situation facing the government. To shy away from the fundamental reforms recommended by this review is to accept the continued decline of our iconic places and the extinction of our most threatened plants, animals and ecosystems, he said in the reports introduction. Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen. Since colonisation about 100 of Australias unique flora and fauna species have been wiped off the planet. The rate of loss, as comprehensive as anywhere else on Earth, has not slowed in the past 200 years. Page Content For Immediate release Media Advisory 13 July 2020 HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING PLANS TO DE-DENSIFY HIGHLY POPULATED AREAS The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo together with the MMC for Housing, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso will tomorrow, 14 July 2020, commence with plans to move thousands of residents of Rabie Ridge in Midrand, who will be beneficiaries of Temporary Relocation Areas (TRA's). This follows the desperate cry for the City to address the issue of overpopulated informal settlements. An estimated 6000 residents are expected to be moved from informal settlements to TRA's across the City made with prefabricated material as an alternative to stop the spread of Covid-19. This is being done in the hope that through improved and better living conditions, the rate and pace in which Covid-19 is spreading within the province, will be curbed. The City has a number of high-density areas with a significant population located in informal settlements, which warrants the implementation of drastic yet responsible interventions to prevent a potential rapid spread that could affect millions in a short space of time and with devastating effects to the City and the Country. Members of the Media are invited to attend as follows: Date: 14 July 2020 Venue: Cnr Modderfontein and Freedom Drive, Rabie Ridge, Midrand Time: 9:30 am For more information and confirmation of attendance please contact: Mildred (Milly) Matlou Media Specialist: Mayoral Communications 063 257 0030 Or Neo Goba Deputy Director: Communications and Stakeholder Management Housing Department Cell: 073 246 8008 New Delhi: The spread of COVID-19 variants is not an immediate problem but its time already for next-gen preventives to tackle them, say scientists as countries fine-tune their vaccine dissemination programmes and the race to put more vaccines in the market gathers pace. Work on vaccines will have to continue on parallel tracks one to tackle the SARS-CoV-2 virus with first-generation vaccines and the other to prepare for possible mutations and new variants say experts as they map the future course of the infection. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal Responding to concerns on the effectiveness of current vaccines in the face of emerging variants, immunologist Satyajit Rath said vaccine-resistant virus variants are either not present or not spreading in sufficient scales and rates to be an immediate problem. And though the present vaccination campaign will indeed contribute to slowing the pandemic, next-generation vaccines to deal with the most vaccine-resistant of the emerging variant viruses will need to be developed from now even as we begin to vaccinate communities with the first-generation vaccines", the scientist from New Delhis National Institute of Immunology told PTI. An editorial in the journal Virulence earlier this week noted that a threat to vaccine effectiveness comes from emerging strains, both existing -- such as the ones reported from the UK, South Africa and Brazil -- as well as those yet to come. The variants found so far have undergone changes or mutations that mean they can infect human cells more easily than the original version of the novel coronavirus that started the pandemic. A recent study by researchers, including those from The Rockefeller University in the US, suggests that mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 may need to be updated periodically to avoid potential loss of clinical efficacy against the newly arising variants. The study, posted on the preprint repository BioRxiv, is yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a journal. An mRNA vaccine uses a synthetic RNA (genetic material) encoded with instructions to make specific proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus so the body can generate an immune response without getting the disease. In some good news, studies have suggested the mRNA vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer appear to work against some of the variants they were tested for. A small study involving scientists from Moderna found the US pharmaceutical companys COVID-19 vaccine appears to work against new, more infectious variants of the pandemic virus found in the UK and South Africa. The yet to be peer-reviewed study suggests that antibodies triggered by the vaccine can recognise and fight the new variants. Another research released last week suggests the Pfizer vaccine provides protection against the UK variant. According to experts, the current COVID-19 vaccines are directed at the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and expect to trigger the formation of antibodies that prevent the spike protein of the virus from sticking to human cells during infection. The effectiveness of these vaccines is likely to be affected most by changes in the cell-binding part of the viral spike protein. According to immunologist Vineeta Bal, with time the effectiveness of current vaccines will decrease as the coronavirus will mutate even in the future. A single new mutation in the currently prevalent virus is unlikely to be sufficient," Bal, from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune, told PTI. The virus, for its persistence, needs to maintain the ability of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein to bind to the ACE2 receptor intact. The angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2, or ACE2 receptor, is the protein that provides the entry point for the coronavirus to hook into and infect a wide range of human cells. RBD is a key part of a virus located on its spike domain that allows it to dock to body receptors to gain entry into cells and lead to infection. Bal noted that in the long run, vaccines may provide lesser protection due to the evolution of the virus. That is expected and is also a concern. More than vaccines, monoclonal antibody therapy is likely to be adversely affected," said Bal. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune systems ability to fight off harmful antigens such as viruses. Monoclonal antibodies bind to a very small portion of the RBD and a mutation in that small portion can inhibit binding and hence the utility of that monoclonal antibody as therapy. But vaccines are likely to trigger many antibodies which together will cover a larger portion of the RBD surface as compared to a monoclonal antibody," she explained. There are currently two variants for which there are insightful data sets. One is the British variant, B.1.1.7, and the other is the South African variant, B.1.351. Florian Krammer, a professor at the Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said the British variant may not have a significant impact on vaccine-generated immunity. It does not look like B.1.1.7 will have a significant impact on vaccine-induced immunity. There might be some monoclonal antibodies that may not bind/neutralise anymore, but post-vaccination serum seems to do just fine," he wrote in a tweet. However, it is important that high antibody titers are induced and not all vaccine candidates do that. The lower the initial titers, the higher the impact of these variants might be and I do find that worrisome," the scientist noted. An antibody titer is the level of antibodies in the blood as determined by a test. Commenting on the time it could take to modify vaccines to suit future variants, Rath said it could be much easier and quicker to come up with next-generation vaccine variants since it took the global community less than a year to come up with multiple vaccines to a new virus. Bal said this may be relatively easier for some vaccines such as the ones based on the viral mRNA than others. The mRNA vaccines are possibly easiest to modify, but other vaccines such as adenovirus-based or protein subunit vaccines can also be modified. A regulatory process for the fresh approval of these vaccines will have to be evolved," she added. Although the new variants are cause for concern, Rath said the real practical question is, how much 'extra' protective capacity do vaccines generate, and does that 'extra' amount compensate reasonably for the 'drop' in efficiency? It is this evidence that we should be looking for." A major question that will arise and is not yet being asked is; how well will such a 'variant' vaccine work in an individual who has already been immunised with one of the 'original' vaccines? The pandemic is not done with us quite yet," he added. Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, is effective against the UK variant of COVID-19, according to a study on 26 participants, shared by the company on Wednesday. India has clocked more than 100 cases of the UK variant. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Pakistan will kick start its Covid-19 vaccination drive across the country from next week with the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) unveiling a comprehensive plan to administer the life saving jab. This was revealed by Planning Minister Asad Umar, who stated that the "frontline health workers would be among the first recipients of the vaccine". "God willing, the vaccination of frontline health workers will start next week," Umar tweeted. "The system for vaccination is in place. Hundreds of vaccination centres in the country will be administering covid vaccine. Inshallah the vaccination of front line health workers will start next week," he said in another tweet. The vaccination drive is starting in Pakistan after China pledged to donate at least 500,000 doses of the vaccine, made by the Chinese firm Sinopharm. The first batch of the vaccines will be flown into Pakistan by Saturday. Moreover, Pakistan will get more doses of Covid vaccine through other global sharing platforms under the World Health Organization (WHO). "The forum would have 25 million doses for the Eastern Mediterranean region by March, rising to 355 million doses by December," said a WHO official. The NCOC, which is the nerve centre for Covid-19 handling in Pakistan, has prepared a plan to administer the vaccine across the country. The plan has been formulated after detailed consultation between the federation and the provinces and all the stakeholders. As per the plan, vaccination centres have been established across the country, whereas staff training and other arrangements have also been completed to initiate the inoculation process. "The National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) will run the drive at the national level through the National Vaccine Administration and Coordination Cell (NVACC), which has been set up in the NCOC," read a statement issued by the NCOC. "All citizens, including frontline healthcare workers, will be able to register by sending their ID card number to 1166 via SMS or NIMS website. The goal of the vaccine strategy is to vaccinate people under the integrated system," the statement added. New Delhi: As many as 25,07,556 beneficiaries have been vaccinated for COVID-19 till 2 pm on Thursday across the country, Union Health Ministry informed. In the press briefing, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan informed that there is an increase in COVID-19 vaccination sessions per day. "On January 16 when vaccination session started, 3,374 sessions were organised which has increased to 7,764 sessions on January 26. By January 16, over two lakh beneficiaries were vaccinated, but today, the number of beneficiaries has crossed 25 lakhs," he said. He said India was the fastest to reach the first 1 million vaccinations. 'We achieved this within 6 days, US did this in 10 days, Spain in 12 days, Israel in 14 days, UK in 18 days, Italy in 19 days, Germany in 20 days and UAE in 27 days," Bhushan stated. The Health Secretary also expressed 'deep appriciation for' states and Union Territories like -- Lakshadweep (83 per cent heathcare workers vaccinated), Odisha (more than 50 per cent beneficiaries vaccinated), and Haryana (59 per cent beneficiaries vaccinated) anong others for covering a large number of beneficiaries in a short time. He also said states and Uinon Terratories like Jharkhand (14 per cent healthcare workers vaccinated), Delhi and Tamil Nadu (more than 15 per cent healthcare workers vaccinated), Uttarakhand, (17 per cent healthcare workers vaccinated), among other states need to impove their vaccination drive. The Union Health Secretary further informed that there are 1,75,000 active cases in the country currently. "Number of active cases are declining, there are 1,75,000 active cases in the country as of now - a steady and declining trend is being exhibited. Two states still have 40,000 or more active cases - Kerala with 72,000 active cases and Maharashtra with 44,000 active cases," he stated. According to the Union Health Secretary there is a declining trend in daily deaths due to Coronavirus, and after eight months, India is reporting less than 125 deaths per day. "India reported 123 deaths in the last 24 hours", he added. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Health on Wednesday said there were 2,944 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the state, making the seventh consecutive day of hospitalizations under 3,500, which means the state is due for a change in the overnight curfew. The last time the number has been above 3,500 was on Jan. 20, when there were 3,556 COVID-19-related hospitalizations. The states overnight curfew could be soon changed to 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Currently, its from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Tuesday that the curfew change could take place on Thursday. Were going to issue an order tonight or tomorrow morning that moves the curfew starting tomorrow night to 11 p.m., said Dan Tierney, the governors spokesman, on Wednesday afternoon, after the most recent hospital numbers came in under 3,500. In other data from the pandemic, there were 75 newly reported deaths, bringing the death total to 10,931. Another 5,366 cases brought the total cases during the pandemic up to 878,284. The state follows the federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventions definition of a case, which includes those diagnosed through genetic PCR or antigen tests, or people diagnosed in a clinical setting -- experiencing symptoms who are linked to a confirmed COVID-19 case, among other criteria. Other figures from the outbreak: -22,128 new molecular and PCR coronavirus tests were reported as having been completed between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the total tests conducted to 8.8 million. -10.8% of coronavirus tests came back on Monday positive. The seven-day rolling average positivity rate from Monday was 9%. -26,488 doses of coronavirus vaccine were reported as having been administered between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. This brings cumulative doses to 682,705. This represents 5.84% of the states population that have received one or two shots. Gov. Mike DeWine has tied Ohio's overnight coronavirus curfew to consecutive days of hospitalizations, eliminating it entirely as the hospitalizations ratchet down. (Ohio Governor's Office) DeWine has warned that although he wants to loosen the curfew restrictions, he could reverse that if spread increases, which is possible due to mutations that have been documented in Ohio that appear to be more contagious. The so-called Columbus strain of COVID-19, similar to one seen in the U.K., could become the dominant form of COVID-19 in two months. One thing weve learned about this virus is its extremely unpredictable, DeWine said Tuesday. We dont know where its going to go. We do have a new variant. More coverage: Ohio Supreme Court to decide limits of Marsys Law in kidnapping, rape trial Gov. Mike DeWine announces tens of thousands of leftover vaccines will go to older Ohioans Ohio reports 4,262 new coronavirus cases, 29,768 new vaccines given: Tuesday update With Ohio giving lowest vaccine doses per capita among neighbors, Gov. Mike DeWine to give a coronavirus update: Watch live Read the latest Ohio coronavirus public health order, extending the overnight curfew Press Release January 28, 2021 SENATE TO CONDUCT PROBE ON SPATE OF KILLINGS IN RP The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon, is set to conduct a public hearing on the series of killings in the country today. On January 18, Gordon delivered a privilege speech at the Plenary and condemned the continued acts of violence perpetrated by criminals including riding-in-tandem gunmen. Gordon, who has always stood up against the killings in the country, also called for immediate action to end the assassinations, and appealed to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice. "One killing is one too many. Alas, there are too many. They have no qualms shooting people in front of their family. They are not even afraid to shoot them in front of their children," he said in his speech. Gordon noted that there have been 19 people killed from January 1 up to date composed mostly of civilians based on the news monitoring of his office. Some of these killings happened in broad daylight and some took place at their own homes. The killings of mother-son Sonya and Frank Gregorio in Tarlac on December 20, 2020, and barangay tanod Joseph Labonera in Floridablanca, Pampanga last January 4 were among the recent reported crimes which caused public outrage. Gordon stressed that there are too many killing incidents but very few cases are being solved and pointed out that that these assassinations will not stop if the public, especially the government, will not act on it. Aside from the Committee on Justice, the hearing will be jointly conducted by the Committees on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Finance. Among the resource persons who were invited are from the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and other agencies. The third prize of 1,000, for a rectangular design, went to Boissevam and Osmond, Gray's Inn, London. Quantitative assessors estimate that the second prize design would cost 5,400,000, to erect, and the third design, 7,800,000. The winning design is for a three-storey building with two auditoria on the third floor, seating 3000 to 3500 persons and 1200 persons. In addition there are two meeting rooms, each seating 100 persons, rehearsal areas, restaurants and bars. Designed for sandstone The building is designed to be built of Sydney sandstone. The tallest of the cement and tile roof shell vaults, which are interlocking, house the high stage. The audience enters the auditoria from behind the stage. Mr. Utzon's design consisted of a series of sketches was the least "finished" work in the competition. Mr. Utzon, who is noted for his design of houses in Denmark, did not furnish a perspective drawing showing how the opera house would appear when completed. A member of the architectural staff at the University of Sydney prepared a perspective drawing so that visitors to the National Art Gallery, where the entries are on exhibition, could gain some idea of how it would look. The Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney, Professor H. Ingham Ashworth, one of the four judges in the competition, said last night that quantitative surveyors had examined the plans of the 10 leading entries and the winning entry was by far the cheapest to build. Joern Utzon inspects the Opera House site, 1 August 1957. Credit:Noel Herfort Mr. Cahill, in a speech before he announced the winning design, said; "I must point out that the competition was for a National Opera House. "In other words it was thought that the project would be of a national rather than a parochial or State-wide significance." Many of those present interpreted the Premier's remarks to mean that Federal aid would be sought in erecting the opera house. "One of the great buildings of the world" The judges were: Professor Ashworth; Mr C Parkes, NSW Government Architect; Professor J L Martin, Professor of Architecture of Cambridge University (who designed the London Festival Hall); and Mr Eero Saarinen, of America. Of the winning design they said: "The drawings submitted are simple to the point of being diagrammatic. "Nevertheless, as we have returned again and again to the study of these drawings we are convinced that they present a concept of an opera house which is capable of being one of the great buildings of the world. "Because of its very originality, it is clearly a controversial design. We are, however, absolutely convinced about its merits. "A massive base emphasises the character of Bennelong Point. "The auditoria are arranged like Greek theatres in this rising base and are approached either underground from cars or externally along a magnificent ceremonial approach. "This approach and the auditoria steps form a rising plateau in which the highest point of seating is about 40 feet above the ground. Loading Movable Walls Planned 'This conception solves by elimination all the complex needs of (emergency) escape which form so much dead space in a multi-storeyed building." The judges said that the dressing-room and rehearsal areas would need some rearrangement. The designer had envisaged movable walls which could be raised when the weather permitted to allow the auditoria to be opened. The judges in their report stated: "While this scheme substantially conforms to the conditions laid down, we are aware that it is open to many points of detailed criticism and a number of corrections would have to be made, but we feel that, at this stage, the general breadth of the imaginative concept is an over-riding consideration." In announcing the award, Mr Cahill said: "The assessors have already stated that they expect some criticism of the design they have chosen. "It is not my intention to enter the lists on that score at any time. I shall leave controversy of that nature to those better qualified than myself. Dramatic drone footage shows the moment a heroic paddleboarder saved four horses from drowning in a flooded field. The animals were trapped when the River Dee burst its banks near Chester Meadows following days of heavy rain. Frantic residents living nearby feared the horses had drowned until a neighbour's drone showed their heads bobbing inches above the rising water. It came as the the city of Chester was put on a flood alert and the Dee peaked at almost 33 feet deep. They spotted Jeff Polton, 45, who was on his paddleboard nearby who said he would try and help the stricken animals which were trapped behind a locked gate. Chester residents have praised a heroic paddleboarder after he saved four horses from drowning in a locked field near Chester Meadows Footage shows the dramatic race against time as Jeff desperately tried to open the gate before the horses became completely submerged. After 40 minutes he finally managed to slice off a chain securing the gate with a pair of bolt cutters before prising it open to allow the terrified animals to escape. It is understood the meadows, which is a flood plain, became flooded in a matter of hours last Friday. Rob Sidwell, 51, who filmed the rescue, said: 'I was concerned about the horses and drove round to the other side of the river where from 20 metres away (66ft) I could see the horses standing there in shoulder-high water. 'Another neighbour had been searching for them with his drone and we met up once we had located them. Jeff Polton, 45, was on his paddleboard nearby when frantic residents asked him if he would try and help the stricken animals which were trapped behind a locked gate 'I had been preparing myself to swim out 100 metres (330ft) to open the gate to let the horses out. 'Luckily we saw a paddleboarder who had come down to the field with his family. 'We asked him if instead of paddling he could take a key out to open the gate. We commandeered him and he was happy to oblige and help out. 'We couldn't see the horses from where we were standing, having moved to the other bank, so we showed him what the drone was seeing. 'He paddled out through the water which was 5ft deep and we could see him approach the gate. 'It was almost totally submerged and the horses were 10 metres (33ft) behind it. After 40 minutes he finally managed to slice off a chain securing the gate with a pair of bolt cutters before prising it open to allow the terrified animals to escape The horses, which had been in the freezing water for seven hours, followed Jeff to dry land. 'On the first attempt he couldn't use the key under water, so he came back and we sent him out with a set of bolt cutters.' After 40 agonising minutes the horses, which had been in the freezing water for seven hours, followed Jeff to dry land. Rob, a construction worker, added: 'It would've been curtains for them if he hadn't opened the gate. 'They looked fine but very cold and they ran into a field and started grazing on grass immediately. 'They are healthy and strong horses but pneumonia can't have been far off. Rob, a construction worker who watched the rescue, said: 'It would've been curtains for them if he hadn't opened the gate. They looked fine but very cold and they ran into a field and started grazing on grass immediately' 'You can now see where they'd been biting the gatepost trying to get through. It was a wonderful feeling when they ran back onto dry land.' The Environment Agency placed Chester and Whitchurch under a flood alert last Friday, following persistent overnight rain as a result of Storm Christoph. They had warned of possible flooding affecting the River Dee's catchment area over the weekend, with water levels estimated to have reached almost 33ft, seven feet higher than the usual maximum. Other parts of the country including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire also suffered serious flooding, with hundreds of people having to be evacuated from their homes. The Met Office is now warning that snow could return to Scotland, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in the coming days. A top Taliban negotiator discussed Afghan peace talks with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday, the group said, a week after the Biden administration announced it would review Washington's 2020 deal with the insurgents. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the deputy head of the Taliban negotiating team that is holding peace talks with the Afghan government, met Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and other foreign ministry officials during the Moscow visit. "The ongoing situation of the intra-Afghan negotiations and subjects concerning the full implementation of the Doha agreement were discussed during the meeting," Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said on Twitter, referring to the US-Taliban deal signed in the Qatari capital in February 2020. "Russia assured its support for restoring peace in Afghanistan." Taliban representatives visited Russia several times before entering into talks with the Trump administration which finally culminated in the landmark February 2020 deal. This latest visit to Moscow comes just a week after President Joe Biden's administration said it was reviewing that deal, to determine whether the Taliban has reduced attacks in Afghanistan, in keeping with its side of the agreement. The deal paved the way for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan by May this year -- in return for the insurgents offering some security guarantees and agreeing to hold peace talks with Afghan government. The peace talks began on September 12 but violence has surged in Afghanistan. High-profile assassinations have increased in recent months, particularly in Kabul, where several journalists, activists, judges and politicians have been murdered in brazen daylight attacks. Officials blame the Taliban for the killings, though the group has steadfastly denied any involvement. During the talks in Moscow on Thursday, the Russian side "spoke in favour of the early launch of meaningful and constructive inter-Afghan negotiations, leading to an end to the bloody civil war," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. Despite months of discussions, the peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government in Doha have largely stalled, according to Kabul's negotiating team. Short link: STOCKHOLM, Jan. 28. 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- January 28, 2021, Scan Global Logistics Group signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Air and Ocean activities of one of the largest transportation and logistics companies in the U.S, Werner Enterprises. Together, they enter into a new strategic relationship to offer comprehensive international logistics solutions to Werner's existing and future North American customers. Throughout the global pandemic, Scan Global Logistics Group (SGL Group) has been on an expansive journey. Entering markets in new countries, increasing existing and new activities in Austria, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Sweden - as the SGL Group has stayed committed to delivering uncomplicated solutions around the world. "After working with the SGLT team and understanding their core values and capabilities, I am excited for WGL's international customers, associates and transportation partners worldwide," said Werner's Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Derek Leathers. "We are proud of the global operation WGL has built and are confident it will continue to succeed as part of the SGLT family." "And the feeling is mutual," says Allan Melgaard, Group CEO of SGL Group: "We are very excited to welcome our new colleagues and customers. The acquisition is perfectly aligned with our corporate growth ambitions." "With this acquisition, we can grow our network and presence in Mexico, China and North America even more for the benefit of our customers. For us, every challenge is an opportunity to unlock potential, and we will use all our abilities, exploring and understanding our clients' needs to find the right solutions at the right time," Mr. Melgaard noted. CONTACT: For additional information, please contact: Allan Melgaard, Group CEO +45 3248 0045 [email protected] or Julien Ranzato, COO North America, Trans Group Tel: +1 954 643 3887, email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com SOURCE Scan Global Logistics A/S The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. A 77-year-old Washington woman died Wednesday after being rescued Saturday morning from a fire in her home, the Warren County prosecutor said. Mary Frey was trapped on the second floor of her home on Youmans Avenue when four Washington Township police officers went inside in an effort to get her out, authorities said. The officers were stymied by heavy smoke and as firefighters arrived, the officers backed out and the firefighters reached and brought out the injured woman, said township police, who cover the borough. Frey was breathing on her own when she was flown by Atlantic Air Ambulance to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, police said. She died four days later. An autopsy was planned for Thursday, but Prosecutor Jim Pfeifer said it appears she died from smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire will be listed as undetermined because investigators couldnt conclude if candles in a room or an electrical failure in a surge protector started the blaze, Pfeiffer said. The fire was not suspicious, he added. The four police officers were treated at an area hospital and released, authorities had said. 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. New Delhi, Jan 28 : 'Forgotten Kashmir' examines the evolution of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over the past seven decades. It includes major milestones like the tribal invasion in 1947-A48, the Sudhan revolt in the 1950s, the Ayub era, the Simla Agreement, the adoption of the Interim Constitution of 1974 and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is not simply a historical account but one that analyses the events in PoK against the background of developments in Pakistan's polity and the situation within the area to better understand Pakistan's motivations for its policies in the region. The book, published by HarperCollins, delves into contentious issues, such as the right of self-determination that is distinct from the concept of plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir debated in the UN Security Council (UNSC). For a fuller understanding, the issue is examined considering the positions of principal actors, particularly the United Kingdom up to the 1950s, as well as the subsequent evolution of the right of self-determination. More recently, Chinese presence in the region has grown with the development of the CPEC that runs through the Northern Areas, now renamed Gilgit-Baltistan. The book also covers internal developments in that remote area. The author, Dinkar P. Srivastava, a seasoned diplomat, provides a wealth of information that comes from his involvement in the Kashmir issue at India's Ministry of External Affairs and discussions at the UN, his stint in Karachi, and as a member of bilateral working groups on counter-terrorism with the US, EU, UK and Canada. "Much has been written about Jammu & Kashmir. However, very little is known about the other side of the Line of Control (LoC). The purpose of writing this book is to look at Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in terms of the aspirations of its people and the policies of Pakistan. The yardstick is not the Indian stand, but Pakistan's international commitments and the context of contemporary Pakistan. For better or worse, the destiny of the people of the territory is tied to the evolution of Pakistan's polity. If so, the people of PoK deserve to be treated at least on par with the people of Pakistan," Srivastava says. "Kashmir is often in the news, though we in India do not often hear about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. As a result, it could be called 'forgotten' - not in the sense of memory but the absence of a specific strategic perspective. This is the gap that Ambassador Srivastava seeks to fill with this crucial book," said Swati Chopra, Executive Editor, HarperCollins India. Srivastava joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1978. In 1993-A94, as Director (UNP), he was part of successful Indian lobbying efforts against four Pakistani attempts to have resolutions on J&K adopted in the UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights. He was involved in the drafting of the National Human Rights Commission statute. As Joint Secretary (UNP), he participated in Indian lobbying efforts to contain the diplomatic fallout of the Pokhran II nuclear tests and prevent the internationalisation of the J&K issue during the 1999 Kargil war. He dealt with Indian candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, UN peacekeeping and the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. He was a member of Indian delegations to the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, and the International Court of Justice in the case of the Aerial Incident of 1999 (Pakistan vs India). In 2011-A15, as Indian Ambassador to Iran, he negotiated the MoU for Indian participation in Chabahar port. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. LONDON - Facebooks quasi-independent oversight board issued its first rulings on Thursday, overturning four out of five decisions by the social network to take down questionable content. FILE - In this April 14, 2020 file photo, the thumbs up Like logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebooks quasi-independent oversight board issued its first rulings on Thursday Jan. 28, 2021 overturning four of five decisions by the social network to take down questionable content. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) LONDON - Facebooks quasi-independent oversight board issued its first rulings on Thursday, overturning four out of five decisions by the social network to take down questionable content. But critics called the announcement largely irrelevant given the flood of misinformation, extremism and racism that remains on Facebook despite the company's efforts over the past years. The whole thing is kind of like putting new windows on a house in which the roof has caved in," said Gautam Hans, a Vanderbilt University expert on civil liberties and intellectual property. The (oversight board) cant do very much it selects a tiny percentage of potential cases to fix a company with so many systemic and in my opinion unfixable problems." Nonetheless, Hans said he respects the effort and believes there are some clear distinctions between what the oversight board thinks the standards should be and what the company does. The social media giant set up the oversight panel to rule on thorny issues about content on its platforms, in response to furious criticism about its inability to respond swiftly and effectively to misinformation, hate speech and nefarious influence campaigns. Facebook regularly takes down thousands of posts and accounts, and about 150,000 of those cases have appealed to the oversight board since it launched in October. The board is prioritizing the review of cases that have the potential to affect many users around the world. In its initial batch of rulings, the board ordered Facebook to restore posts by users that the company said broke standards on adult nudity, hate speech, or dangerous individuals. One case, in which a Brazilian user's Instagram post about breast cancer was automatically removed because it included images of female nipples, should have been allowed because the platform makes an exception for breast cancer awareness, the board said. A Myanmar user's Burmese-language Facebook post about Muslims that included two widely shared photos of a dead Syrian toddler was offensive but did not rise to the level of hate speech, it ruled. The human rights group Muslim Advocates lambasted the decision, saying the board bent over backwards to excuse hate in Myanmar a county where Facebook has been complicit in a genocide against Muslims." It is clear that the Oversight Board is here to launder responsibility for (Facebook CEO Mark) Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg," said Eric Naing, spokesperson for Muslim Advocates. Instead of taking meaningful action to curb dangerous hate speech on the platform, Facebook punted responsibility to a third party board that used laughable technicalities to protect anti-Muslim hate content that contributes to genocide. Facebook admitted in 2018 that it did not do enough to prevent its platform from being used to incite violence in Myanmar. In addition, a post with a quote falsely attributed to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, was cleared after the user told the board the intent was to compare the sentiment in the quote with Donald Trump's presidency. The board said a fourth post in French about COVID-19 that had been taken down because it breached standards on misinformation should be restored, saying it didn't pose imminent harm. Among other things, the post called hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin a harmless drug that is being used to save lives." Claims that hydroxychloroquine is effective in treating the coronavirus have been widely debunked by top health officials after several studies found it ineffective in serious cases of COVID-19. The decisions are binding, meaning CEO Mark Zuckerberg can't do anything to change them. The board agreed only with Facebook's decision to take down a post with a slur used to describe Azerbaijanis, stemming from last year's conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Still to come is the panel's most high profile case - the decision to indefinitely suspend former President Donald Trump's account. It will be the biggest test yet for the panel, which faces criticism that Facebook set it up primarily to stave off regulation or even an eventual breakup of the company as it faces antitrust scrutiny. Co-chair Michael McConnell said the panel had started working on the Trump case but was only at an extremely early stage." All this has happened extremely recently so they're at the very beginning of their work, he told an online press briefing. The oversight board will start accepting public comments on the Trump case on Friday. Facebook took down Trump's account after he encouraged his supporters to not accept the election result and they stormed the U.S. Capitol in a deadly assault on Jan. 6. But the company referred the matter to the oversight board for what it called an independent judgment on upholding the decision. Ortutay reported from Oakland, California. For all of APs tech coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/technology Follow Kelvin Chan at https://www.twitter.com/chanman (Natural News) Space aliens may already be spying on Earth using bugged space rocks, according to an alien researcher. James Benford, a physicist and independent search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) researcher, posited the idea in a paper published in the Astronomical Journal. In his report, he said that man should at least take a look at the Earths co-orbitals, just to see if extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) planted advanced technology on space rocks to monitor Earth. Co-orbitals are space objects that orbit the sun at about the same distance as the Earth. Theyre basically going around the sun at the same rate the Earth is, and theyre very nearby, Benford said, adding that the co-orbitals could be a way to detect alien activity that occurred before humans even evolved. Because co-orbitals such as Earths Closest Companion an asteroid about 38 times as far away from Earth as the moon stick by our planet for centuries, it makes them the perfect location for alien surveillance devices. These near-Earth objects provide an ideal way to watch our world from a secure natural object. That provides resources an ETI might need: materials, a firm anchor, concealment. These have been little studied by astronomy and not at all by SETI or planetary radar observations, Benford said in his paper. Robotic probes or lurkers could have been sent to observe Earth long ago. Benford noted that such lurkers, if they existed, could have stayed hidden, waiting for the moment when their subjects our civilization developed technology that could find and hopefully converse with them in real-time. Because such probes and lurkers would have likely remained in their locations long after their energy supply ran out, scouting for proof of their existence would be more akin to extraterrestrial archeology than anything else. Benfords proposal is built on an idea first presented by Stanford radiophysicist Ronald Bracewell who, in 1960, suggested that superior galactic communities could have dispersed autonomous probes as hypothetical feelers throughout space in order to observe, monitor and maybe even communicate with other life-formsincluding those on Earth. In his paper, Benford said that scientists can start by observing Earths co-orbitals with optical and radio telescopes, as well as sending a signal via radar to any extraterrestrial civilizations that might still be keeping tabs on our planet. In addition, Earth can also send out small spacecraft to check its co-orbitals, noting that this would be relatively cheap and easy to do. (Related: Study: There are 36 other ALIEN CIVILIZATIONS in our own galaxy, but humanity is too far away to communicate with them.) Other physicists, however, think that while Benfords goal is interesting, it is still highly unlikely that man will find signs of intelligent alien life on these mysterious co-orbitals. How likely is it that [an] alien probe would be on one of these co-orbitals? Obviously, extremely unlikely, Paul Davies, a theoretical physicist and astrobiologist from Arizona State University, said. Davies, who wasnt involved with Benfords research, noted however that because it is relatively cheap to send out small spacecraft, it might still be rewarding to send out one into the cosmos. But if it costs very little to go take a look, why not? Even if we dont find E.T., we might find something of interest, Davies noted. For more interesting stories about alien life, head over to UFOs.news. Sources include: LiveScience.com EarthSky.org ScienceAlert.com Mary Louise (MaryLou) Unguren passed away December 25, 2020 at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County following a brief illness. She was born on May 21, 1930, the oldest daughter of Rudolph and Louise (Shuster) Anselmi. She attended schools in Rock Springs and graduated as valedictorian with the Rock Springs High School class of 1948. After high school she attend the University of Wyoming where she studied business and was affiliated with the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. MaryLou then returned to Rock Springs where she was the bookkeeper for the Miner's Mercantile Company; a department sto... The firm had signed a deal with the European Commission to supply 400 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine, which is expected to get EU approval Friday. The two sides had been scheduled to meet again Wednesday, to further discuss the issue but there are conflicting reports. EU officials had said the company backed out of the meeting and that it had been rescheduled for Thursday, but a company official later issued a statement saying the meeting was going to be held as scheduled Wednesday. Tensions escalated Wednesday between the European Union and the British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca regarding the company's failure to meet a target to deliver 400 million doses of its COVD-19 vaccine to the regional bloc. But last week, AstraZeneca told the EU that due to a production shortfall in the firm's European plants, the firm will miss its target, while still meeting a separate contract it signed with Britain. EU officials this week said that explanation was inadequate and demanded details on the company's vaccine production. In an interview late Tuesday with the Italian Newspaper La Repubblica, AstraZeneca CEO Pascale Soriot said Britain had signed its contract three months before the EU and that had given the firm time to iron out "glitches" in British plants. He said they were three months behind in making those fixes at their European plants. Soriot also said that in its agreement with the EU, AstraZeneca would only make its "best effort" to deliver the vaccines. An EU official told the Reuters news agency Wednesday that "best effort" was a standard clause in a contract for a product that does not yet exist. The official said that the clause means the signee must still show "over all" effort to deliver its product and they would hold the company to its contract. The EU's medical regulatory body, the Europe Medincines Agency was expected to give its approval to the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use by the end of this week. ADVERTISEMENT Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday recieved 300 female soldiers deployed to boost security situation along the Kaduna-Abuja highway where several cases of kidnappings and killings were reported. The first batch of the troops, who are of the Nigerian Army Women Corps (NAWC), were formally received by Governor El-Rufai at their Kakau base on the highway. The role of the women soldiers is to compliment the existing operations along the Abuja-Kaduna highway and its environs. Speaking on the occasion, Governor El-Rufai expressed optimism that, with the deployment of the female soldiers, the insecurity along the Abuja-Kaduna highway will soon be a thing of the past. Governor El-Rufai expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for deploying the troops and assured them of the continued support of the Kaduna State Government as they work towards securing the entire State. Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major-General Usman Mohammed acknowledged the support the Kaduna State government has provided to the military in its internal security operations. Major-General Mohammed thanked governor El-Rufai and his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, for personally coming to receive the female troops. New Delhi, Jan 28 : There was heavy deployment of security personnel at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur border, where farmers from Uttar Pradesh have been protesting against the three farm laws for last two months. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who has been named in the Delhi Police FIR for the January 26 violence during the 'Kisan Gantantra parade' also made his appearance at the site and said that he will raise the issue of snapping of water and electricity supply at the site with the administration. On Thursday afternoon, there was a heavy deployment of Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rapid Action Force in the area. The police also pressed drones for surveillance at the Ghazipur protest site, where the farmers have been sitting on protest against the three farm laws since November last year. Addressing media, Tikait said: "I will meet the police and administration as they have cut the electricity supply and also stopped the drinking water facility since last night. And when there is no electricity and water supply, then it will affect our movement." The Ghazipur protest site has seen several people leaving the protest site after the January 26 violence at several places in the national capital. On Thursday, there were around 500 farmers and over 100 tractors, against the thousands there for last two months. Across Rich Nations, Disadvantaged Children Do Better When Work-Family Balance Is a Policy Priority Matthew A. Andersson, Michael A. Garcia, and Jennifer Glass Introduction Childrens health disparities have been well-documented across wealthy nations, including in the United States. Children in well-off families experience better health than those in economically disadvantaged families. These disparities widen between infancy and adolescence and if not substantially improved, they might compound to even larger inequalities in adulthood. However, the rates at which health disparities widen as children grow up vary substantially across societies, including rich countries. Work-family conflict is consistently linked to declines in parental health and well-being, which in turn can deteriorate well-being throughout the family. In contrast, workers with ample paid time off for parenting, illness and/or vacation are better able to attend to their childrens needs. Indeed, flexible work arrangements and paid time off help to reduce parents daily stress. Workers who control their own schedules are better able to mesh their childrens school, sleep, and play time with their own work schedule, enabling closer supervision of childrens schoolwork, friends, and leisure activities. While policy mandates that support reconciling conflicts between the demands of work and those of family also known as work-family reconciliation policies cannot eliminate all the financial difficulties of economic disadvantage, they can quite possibly provide more opportunities for quality parenting, reduce family or marital strain, and lessen economic burdens by reducing the need to take unpaid time off. These work-family reconciliation policies specifically parental leave, work schedule flexibility or control, and combined paid sick and vacation leave are likely to reduce childrens health disparities. However, existing evidence is focused on workplace interventions or single countries such as the United States or Norway, leaving unclear whether national work-family policy mandates might make a difference. In many countries including the United States, policy mandates are limited or completely absent. This makes families rely on their employers to deliver work-family support. Because these benefits are market-driven, they tend to go to advantaged families, thus widening gaps in childrens health in the absence of policy intervention. National policy mandates may serve to benefit disadvantaged families the most by leveling the playing field among working parents. Paid leaves and work flexibility enable parents to continue working and supporting their children both financially and emotionally. Conversely, when mandated work-family reconciliation support is absent, families must draw on their own economic resources to parent effectively, leaving disadvantaged families behind. State subsidization of childcare is a cash transfer policy lever that might also impact health disparities between rich and poor children. However, because parents utilize childcare in such differing ways depending on center quality, proximity, availability, and other factors, cost subsidies alone may not make a significant difference in narrowing childrens health disparities across developed nations. Indeed, while cash transfers may lower family economic strain in the short-term, they do not impact parental working conditions or hours, nor are they likely to facilitate bonds between parents and children in the same way that extended time off work might allow. For these reasons, the authors hypothesize that childrens health disparities between disadvantaged and advantaged families will be lessened significantly in countries with more generous work-family reconciliation policies whereas cash transfer policies will not be associated with reduced disparities in childrens health. In order to estimate the impacts of work-family reconciliation and cash transfer mandates in reducing childrens health disparities, the authors analyze child-level data from the 2006 and 2010 rounds of the World Health Organization Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study. The HBSC is a cross-national, representative survey focused on the health and well-being of early adolescent girls and boys ages 11, 13, and 15 in 20 industrialized nations: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States. Policy data are gathered from a variety of sources including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) database. The authors analyze the impact of three policies on inequalities in young adolescents psychological health complaints, life satisfaction, and general health: 1) paid vacation and sick leave, 2) work flexibility, and 3) paid maternity leave. Based on the assumption that policies may operate more effectively as a complementary package of resources that consistently increase time and resources for parenting across childhood, the authors also analyze a comprehensive policy index based on the three policies listed above. Key Findings Across 20 OECD countries, economically disadvantaged children report more psychological health complaints, lower life satisfaction, and worse general health compared to their more advantaged peers . This inequality in childrens health and well-being may be linked to national work-family policy. For example, the United States scores lowest on work-family reconciliation mandates and shows the greatest inequality in childrens self-rated health. . Across all levels of disadvantage, higher amounts of paid vacation and sick leave, work flexibility, and a comprehensive work-family policy index are all associated with better self-rated health for children . Work flexibility is also associated with higher life satisfaction. . Work flexibility is also associated with higher life satisfaction. At the same time, these country-level policies show stronger links to the health of children within disadvantaged families, thereby reducing inequalities in childrens health and well-being . For paid vacation/sick leave, the disadvantage gap in self-rated health is reduced by 69% . See Figure, below. For the country policy index, the gap is reduced by 60% . For work flexibility, the gap is reduced by 59% . . Similar though weaker trends for life satisfaction were found, with the gap in childrens life satisfaction reduced by 25% in countries with the most generous work-family reconciliation policies. Notably, cash transfer programs, including family benefits spending and childcare costs, were not associated with the size of childrens health disparities across OECD nations, suggesting the unique importance of work-family reconciliation policies. These bars show the predicted probabilities of children reporting fair or poor health by the paucity (e.g., those in the bottom policy quintile) or generosity (e.g., those in the top policy quintile) of their countrys paid vacation/sick leave policies. While children in families with both high and low socioeconomic disadvantage show improvements in general health (i.e., lower probability of reporting fair or poor health) as paid vacation/sick leave policies become more generous, the reduction for children in families with high disadvantage is greater. Overall, the health disparity between children from advantaged and disadvantaged families is reduced by 69% from the bottom policy quintile to the top policy quintile. Note: See published paper for additional results, including the policy impacts on self-rated health by work flexibility and a comprehensive work-family policy index, as well as confidence intervals for all results. Policy Implications Taken together, these results suggest the singular value of better national work-family accommodations, rather than any generic cash allowances, for lessening inequalities in childrens health and human capital development. Because disadvantaged adolescents gain more well-being linked to work-family reconciliation than do advantaged adolescents, national work-family policies may be especially beneficial for children whose parents have less power to bargain for paid time off and consistent work schedules and hours. These policies, in turn, help to level the playing field among working parents and reduce the negative impact of economic disadvantage on childrens health. Reference Andersson, M.A., Garcia, M.A., & Glass, J. (2021). Work-family reconciliation and childrens well-being disparities across OECD countries. Social Forces. Published online ahead of print. Suggested Citation Andersson, M.A., Garcia, M.A., & Glass, J. (2021). Across rich nations, disadvantaged children do better when work-family balance is a policy priority. PRC Research Brief 6(2). DOI: 10.26153/tsw/10942 About the Authors Matthew A. Andersson, Matthew_Andersson@baylor.edu, is an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor University; Michael A. Garcia is a PhD student in sociology and a graduate student trainee in the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin; and Jennifer Glass is the Barbara Bush Professor of Liberal Arts in the Department of Sociology and a faculty research associate in the Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P2C HD042849) and T32HD007081, Training Program in Population Studies, both awarded to the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Major newspapers in Laos have published articles highlighting the opening ceremony of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). An article of the Pasaxon (Peoples) Newspaper highlights the 13th National Party Congress (Screenshot photo: VNA) The Pasaxon (Peoples) Newspaper wrote on January 27 that the opening ceremony of the 13th National Congress of the CPV was held solemnly on January 26 with the attendance of 1,587 delegates representing over 5.1 million Party members nationwide, under the chair of 17 members of the Presidium. It stressed that the congress has the theme Strengthening the building and rectification of the Party and the political system into purity and strength; rousing the will and determination for national development and promoting the strength of the great national unity bloc in combination with the power of the era; continuing to comprehensively and synchronously accelerate the cause of reform; constructing and firmly safeguarding the Fatherland and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; and striving to turn Vietnam into a developed, socialist-oriented nation by the middle of the 21st century. The paper said the congress will review the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, 35 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, 30 years of implementing the 1991 Political Platform, 10 years of implementing the amended Political Platform (supplemented and developed in 2011) and the National Socio-economic Development Strategy 2011-2020; setting out socio-economic development orientations and tasks for 2021-2025 (the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification), and determining goals and orientations to 2030 (the 100th founding anniversary of the Party) and a vision for national development to 2045 (the 100th founding anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Meanwhile, the Lao Phathana News quoted Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong as saying that the 13th National Party Congress is a political event of extreme importance in the process of carrying forward comprehensive and synchronous reforms for global integration and national development. The Vietnamese people believe in and look forward to sound policies being adopted at the congress. The Pathet Lao Newspaper of the Lao News Agency (KPL), said that, in his opening speech, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong highlighted Vietnams achievements last year, with economic growth of 2.91 percent - one of the highest worldwide. The article said Vietnam has outlined major orientations for the countrys key issues for the next decade, adding that the 13th tenure will mark a new development step in the cause of renewal. It quoted the top leader as saying that past lessons will lay an important foundation for the Party to firmly overcome new challenges and complete harder tasks during the new tenure. The Vientiane Times, the only English-language newspaper in Laos, also covered the opening of the congress in its January 27 issue./.VNA San Antonio Police Department San Antonio police have arrested a third man in connection with a "vicious" beating outside a Northeast Side gentlemen's club earlier this month that left one man hospitalized, the department said. Jonathan Pena, 27, was arrested near Loop 1604 and Culebra Road on Thursday by the Lone Start Fugitive Task Force and charged with aggravated assault serious bodily injury. Police have already arrested Zachary Taylor Wiatrek, 23, and Aurelio Elizondo Jr., 27. Both are facing aggravated assault charges, stemming from the Jan. 7 attack on 26-year-old Cosmo Rodriguez. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 08:00:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A pedestrian walks past the wall of the Old Jewish Cemetery in Frankfurt, Germany, on Jan. 27, 2021. The 286-meter-long wall contains more than 11,900 small steel blocks, which recorded the names of Frankfurt's Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. (Xinhua/Lu Yang) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 [January 27, 2021] New York City Slip, Trip and Fall Injury Lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter Explains Causes of Accidents in New York Manhattan, NY, Jan. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Slips and falls are a leading cause of serious injury in the United States. In fact, 1 out of 3 Americans over the age of 65 slip and fall every year. Sidewalks can be hazardous in the winter months. When the snow starts flying, icy conditions can lead to slips and falls. This is especially dangerous for people who might be carrying bags, umbrellas, or other items. New York City is home to over 12,000 miles of sidewalks, and ice and snow can make them dangerous. If you have been injured in a slip and fall on icy sidewalks in New York City, its important to discuss your case with a NYC slip and fall injury lawyer as soon as possible. There are time limits for filing a claim, and your case could get time-barred if you fail to file a claim before the statute of limitations runs. For information on slip and fall injuries visit the website: https://www.jcreiterlaw.com/newyorkcity-slip-trip-fall-lawyer/ Who Is Responsible for Keeping Sidewalks Clear? WINTER SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY While ice and snow are inevitable during the wintertime, hazardous sidewalks dont have to be. In fact, New York City has strict rules that require property owners to maintain their sidewalks when ice and snow build up. The purpose of these rules is to make sidewalks as safe as possible and to reduce personal injuries. According to the New York City Administrative Code, businesses and other property owners whose property abuts a sidewalk must clear their sidewalks in according with the following rules: Within four hours if the snow stops falling between 7:00 a.m. and 4:49 p.m. Within 14 hours if the snow stops falling between 5:00 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. By 11:00 a.m. the next day if the snow stops falling between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. For example, if the snow stopped at 7:00 p.m., the property owner would have until 9:00 a.m. (14 hours later) to clear the snow and make sure the sidewalk was maintained. What Are Your Options If You Slip and Fall on a Snowy Sidewalk? If you are injured in a slip and fall accident on a snowy or icy sidewalk in New York City, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, economic losses, and other damages. Furthermore, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the property owner under a theory of premises liability. This requires property owners to take reasonable steps to keep their property free of hazards. This mans that a store owner or other business owner that fails to clear the ice and snow from their sidewalks could be held liable for any damages you incur as a result of a slip and fall on their property. How to Reduce Your Chances of Getting Hurt in a Slip and Fall Accident Slips and falls are a leading cause of serious injury in the United States. In fact, 1 out of 3 Americans over the age of 65 slip and fall every year. Falls also account for more than 8 million visits to the emergency room annually, with fractures being the most serious form of injury after a fall. There are things you can do to help prevent a slip and fall during the winter. Some of these tips are applicable throughout the year, but others are especially important to keep in mind when the weather makes sidewalks and other surfaces icy and slippery. Wear proper footwear Choose shoes made for icy and snowy weather, and avoid footwear with smooth soles that can make it harder to gain traction on the ice. Instead, opt for something with a textured sole. A sturdy pair of winter boots are a lot better on snowy sidewalks than high heels or dress shoes. Be aware of your surroundings Stay alert as you walk. Always look a few steps ahead, keeping an eye out or snow or patches of ice. Avoid talking on your phone or reading or sending texts when you walk. Distracted walking can increase the risk of being involved in a serious slip and fall accident. Take your time Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. If needed, leave early so you have some extra time in case your route is icy or slippery. That way, you dont feel like you have to hurry, which can increase the risk of a slip and fall. Avoid going out in a snowstorm Keep in mind that City administrative rules give business owners time to clear ice and snow from their property. If the weather has reached blizzard conditions, property owners are unlikely to have the ability to keep up with snow removal. Its safer to wait until the snow stops and sidewalks have been cleared before going out. Discuss Your Case with a NYC Slip and Fall Lawyer If you have been injured due others negligence in New York City, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Protect your rights by discussing your case with a knowledgeable New York City slip and fall lawyer. When these accidents happen in New York City, injury victims rely on NYC slip and fall accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter to make things right. Jonathan C. Reiter New York City Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Located in Manhattan and serving clients throughout the city and the rest of New York, slip and fall accident attorney Jonathan C. Reiter has a strong track record of success with complicated personal injury accidents. Our law firm represents clients in all five boroughs of New York. Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as Suffolk County & Nassau County on Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, and throughout the State of New York. Sources: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/docs/about_snow-removal-responsibilities_0815.pdf https://nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/ https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/sidewalkintro.shtml Media Contact and Legal Intake: 212-736-0979 # Attorney Advertising Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future case. Recoveries always depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case, the injuries suffered, damages incurred, and the responsibility of those involved. All content present on this PR is owned by Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC and is not to be used or curated for any other purposes or by any other parties without permission. # This news has been published for the above source. Jonathan C. Reiter New York City Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer [ID=16637] 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 New York City Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lucknow, Jan 28 : Absconding IPS officer Arvind Sen has surrendered before a Lucknow court in a criminal case related to duping a Madhya Pradesh businessman. The court remanded him to judicial custody till February 9 after he surrendered on Wednesday evening. Arvind Sen is slated to retire from the police services on January 31. On January 6, the police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of suspended deputy inspector general, Arvind Sen, who had been evading the police since his name figured in a multi-crore tender scam in the state animal husbandry department. A 2013 batch IPS officer, Arvind Sen, was declared a "proclaimed offender" by a Lucknow court in December 2020. A resident of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, Sen was suspended by the state government after his name cropped up during the investigation into the alleged duping of a Madhya Pradesh-based businessman Manjeet Singh Bhatia. In June 2020 Bhatia had lodged an FIR with the Hazratganj police against 12 people and their unidentified associates, accusing them of duping him of Rs 9.72 crore by floating a fake tender in the name of the Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department between March 2017 and 2018. Police have so far arrested 13 people, including journalists, for allegedly duping the businessman. It is alleged that Sen had called Bhatia to his office in 2019 and threatened him with dire consequences for pursuing his complaint in connection with the scam. Sen was then Superintendent of Police posted at the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). New Delhi: India on Thursday sharply reacted to Pakistan Supreme Court acquitting Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the main accused in the killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002, calling it "travesty of justice". Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava highlighted the "very low conviction rate in Pakistan" when it comes to sentencing of terror accused. He said, "This case truly demonstrates Pakistans intent on taking action on the terror front. It is a travesty of justice not to find Omar Saeed guilty of any charges in this heinous act of terror." Saeed was acquitted by Sindh High Court, but the case was put on appeal, which was dismissed by Pakistani Supreme Court. Two out of the three judges on the bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam ruled in favour of upholding the Sindh High Court verdict. India while reacting to the development called for Islamabad to take "sustained, verifiable, credible and irreversible action" against terrorism and terrorist funding "emanating from all territory under its control remain unchanged". Sheikh was one of the terrorists released when in the infamous Indian airlines plane IC 814 hijacking case of 1999. A Pakistani British national, he was in the 1990s arrested by India for kidnapping western tourists. The mother and father of Daniel Pearl, Ruth and Judea Pearl also strongly reacted to the development, saying the "release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan", urging US government to take all "necessary actions under the law to correct this injustice". Incidentally, after the 26/11 terror attacks, Omar Sheikh pretended to be the then Indian foreign minister late Pranab Mukherjee and made a hoax called to then Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari leading to the country being put on high alert. He did so while being in jail, using UK sims. In a bid to contain the steadily rising Covid-19 infections, Beijing has introduced anal swabs, a type of coronavirus test that the Chinese authorities deem could detect the novel virus more accurately than the nasal swabs that have been used till now. Caught in the throes of the resurgence of the deadly virus in small pockets of the country, China has been struggling to control its spread ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations. However, this new method of testing has prompted widespread outrage with medical professionals questioning the efficacy of such a procedure. What is the Anal Swab Test? The test involves inserting a cotton-tipped swab about 1-2 inches into the rectum, which will then be tested for the virus. However, as per reports, some have complained of inconvenience, since it is a much more invasive procedure than the usual nasal or throat swab. Who are the Recipients? The anal swab tests are mainly being conducted on residents in China's northern regions and Beijing where there has been a surge in Covid-19, for high-risk cases and those in quarantine facilities. However, there have been reports of surprise testing as well. This includes passengers arriving in Beijing. According to local officials, a group of more than 1,000 schoolchildren and teachers believed to be exposed to the virus were made to take this test. Also read: A Covid-19 Nasal Swab Test Punctured Woman's Brain Lining and Leaked Brain Fluid From Her Nose Earlier this week, passengers on a flight from Changchun to Beijing were told to disembark after officials discovered that someone from a hotspot area was on board. They were then subjected to anal swab tests, Bloomberg reported. How Effective is the Test in Detecting Coronavirus? This new technique was rolled out after a study conducted by Chinese authorities revealed that the virus lasts longer in the anus or excrement than in the respiratory tract. Anal swab tests could be more accurate than the nose or throat tests, said Li Tongzeng, deputy director of the respiratory and infectious diseases department at Beijing You An Hospital, in an interview with state media. This claim was further backed by numerous doctors on the basis that recovered patients have continued to test positive through samples from the lower digestive tract days after nasal and throat swabs came back negative. The Global Times quoted Zhang Wenhong of Huashan Hospital in Shanghai as saying that such swabs could be useful in helping minimize the risk of relapse after recovery. Critics Yang Zhanqiu, a pathology expert at Wuhan University, told Chinas Global Times that nose and throat swabs are the most efficient tests for Covid-19. "There have been cases concerning the coronavirus testing positive in a patient's excrement, but no evidence has suggested it had been transmitted through one's digestive system," Yang said. CCTV said on Sunday, anal swabs would not be used as widely as other methods, as the technique was 'not convenient'. Chinese Officials are fixated on rooting out all vestiges of the virus. In order to keep the virus from spreading, China has been imposing stricter requirements on international travelers, with people arriving in China needing to have multiple negative test results and quarantine for at least 14 days in a designated hotel upon arrival. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget 2021 in Lok Sabha on February 1 at 11 AM. Union Budget 2021 will go paperless as the Finance Ministry has decided not to print the budget documents amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Touted to be a historic move, it will be for the first time in the history of independent India that the budget 2021 papers will not be printed. Where to watch Union Budget 2021? The Budget 2021 will be telecast LIVE on Lok Sabha TV. Zee Media will also run a live blog on Budget 2021. Website: https://zeenews.india.com/ Zee Media Social channels You can also watch the Budget at the video below. Our channel will livestreamed on our website Live TV #mute Alternatively, you can also follow our social media handles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeeNews/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZeeNews The Economic Survey 2020-21 is all set to be tabled in the Parliament on Friday (29 January) ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2021. The survey, also regarded as the official report card of the union government, gives a roadmap for the country's economy and spells the way forward. The Narendra Modi government has arranged an all-party meeting on Saturday (January 30) to hold discussions ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget in parliament on Monday (February 1). The proposed meeting will start at 11.30 am on a video conference. The centre has invited all the political parties from both the Houses to attend this meeting. Coronavirus pandemic has altered everything and the budget is no exception. This year Parliament's budget session will be held in two phases, Phase one will start from January 29 to February 15, Phase two will take place from March 8 to April 8. After violence witnessed at Red fort by many farmers protesting against the Centre's agri reforms, a group of villages in Haryana's Rewari have asked protesters to vacate a nearby highway. Farmers have been camping on the Delhi-Jaipur highway near the Masani barrage in Karnal, Rewari in protest against the farm laws for nearly two months. But now, locals have stepped up and asked them to leave due to problems faced in supply of electricity and water. ALSO READ | Police Lodge Case of Sedition in Connection with Red Fort Violence on Republic Day NDTV reports that on Wednesday, residents of 15 villages around the Masani barrage held a panchayat on the issue. They reached the area and demanded that the farmers leave. Later, police had to intervene and stop the argument. A senior police officer told NDTV that some sarpanches from Rewari had come with objections about farmers jamming the highway. He said the police held talks with both sides and it was suggested to locals that they take the NH-17 if they wished to travel to Delhi. The villagers have complained of "endless trouble" due to the protests. They say their supply of electricity and water is hindered along with their freedom to move due to the blockade on the highway. Locals say the standing crop in fields is also suffering. ALSO READ | Delhi Police Issues Notices to 20 Farmer Leaders Over Violence During Tractor Rally on Republic Day They also termed the events of Republic day as "shameful". The farmers' tractor rally turned violent on Republic Day when farmers reached Red Fort, broke barricades, climbed the ramparts of the monument and hoisted a religious flag. Over 300 cops were injured in the incident and 22 FIRs were filed. The Delhi Police has also named actor Deep Sidhu and gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in an FIR in connection with the incident. The founder of UK-based St Peter's Brewery has sold the company to a group of investors led by a former SABMiller sales & marketing director. Suffolks' St Peter's Brewery produces a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers John Murphy, who started St Peter's 23 years ago, said yesterday that the brewer has changed hands for an undisclosed sum. Murphy is a former branding consultant who founded marketing company Interbrands in 1974. In his 2017 autobiography, Murphy writes that he coined the term 'branding'. St Peter's new owners include Derek Jones, who spent 17 years at SABMiller in a number of roles around the world. Jones will assume the position of CEO. "This is an incredibly exciting new chapter for St Peter's Brewery," Jones said. "St Peter's has strong roots and a very distinctive identity. It is a powerful platform from which to grow the business into the future." Among other roles, Jones spent two years in Russia with SABMiller and five years in Hong Kong as the brewer's regional commercial director. His most recent job was in Australia with Molson Coors Beverage Co as a senior regional marketing director. St Peter's, which is based in Suffolk, produces a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers including Suffolk Gold and Farmers' Flagon. In 2019, the brewer launched zero-alcohol fruit beer Without Elderberry & Raspberry. What's coming up in beer in 2021? - Predictions for the Year Ahead - Click here for a just-drinks comment Madrid, Jan 28 : The region of Spain's capital Madrid has temporarily suspended the coronavirus vaccination drive for two weeks due to a shortage in the number of doses. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Ignacio Aguado, the deputy leader of the region with more than 6 million inhabitants, said health authorities would use its remaining BioNtech-Pfizer doses to give the administer the second jab to people who had already received the first one, reports Xinhua news agengy. "Unfortunately, as we suspected, the pace of deliveries was interrupted," he said, adding that the region would "not leave people without the very necessary second dose" of the vaccine. "If we don't do that (administer the second dose), there is the chance that the virus could mutate and become resistant, and that would lengthen the fight against the pandemic," added Aguado. Last week, Enrique Ruiz Escudero, who is responsible for the Madrid region's health authority, confirmed that it had suspended its vaccination plan for frontline health workers. The Spanish Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported that 1,356,461 doses have been administered. The government had said it hopes to inoculate 2.9 million people by the end of March and around 20 million people by June. One of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, Spain has so far registered 2,670,102 confirmed coronavirus cases and 57,291 deaths. Omar Saeed Sheikh pictured outside a Karachi court in 2002 - AP The Home Office should cancel the citizenship of a UK-born militant acquitted in Pakistan of killing an American reporter, to prevent his return to Britain, a think tank has said. Pakistan's supreme court on Thursday ordered the immediate release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh after dismissing appeals to reinstate his conviction for killing Daniel Pearl. The family of the Wall Street Journal bureau chief decried the decision as a travesty and the ruling is expected to be condemned by Washington. Sheikh spent 18 years on death row after being convicted of the murder of Mr Pearl, until Sindh High Court last year quashed his conviction because of discrepancies in the original prosecution case. Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society foreign policy think tank, said: Sheikh is amongst the most dangerous terrorist militants anywhere across the world - so many global plots had a link to him. As a British citizen with ties to Wanstead, Sheikh has, of now, the right to board a plan straight to London where he can continue his lifelong crusade. The Home Secretary must immediately strip Sheikh of his citizenship. The consequences of allowing this man to return to the UK are too dangerous to contemplate. A portrait of Daniel Pearl outside a Fleet Street memorial in 2002 - Reuters A three-judge bench upheld the acquittal of Sheikh and three accomplices, ordering them to be released forthwith. His lawyer, Mahmood Sheikh, no relation, said: According to the supreme court, these people should not have been imprisoned for one day. Mr Pearl's family said they were in complete shock after Sheikh's release and said it was a complete travesty of justice and the release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan". Mr Pearl was kidnapped and then beheaded while reporting in Karachi on militant networks in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The reporter had been investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard Reid, dubbed the "Shoe Bomber" after trying to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes. Story continues Sheikh's trial heard he had been in contact with Mr Pearl and promised to introduce the reporter to a religious leader in Karachi. Mr Pearl was instead kidnapped at a rendezvous outside a restaurant and held in a compound on the city's outskirts. Sheikh was born in the UK and went to a private school before studying at the London School of Economics where he is believed to have become radicalised. He later went to South Asia and linked up with Pakistani militant groups. He was jailed in India in 1994 for helping to kidnap three Britons and an American in India and five years later released as part of a hostage swap with Pakistani militants who had hijacked an Indian airliner. Sheikh's lawyer has said in the past that the 47-year-old has no intention of returning to the UK. For years Sheikh had denied any involvement in Mr Pearl's killing, until he used a handwritten note last year to acknowledge he had minor role in the death. He did not detail what the role was. His lawyers have argued he was made a scapegoat during the trial as Pakistan was under intense pressure from the American government to find the culprit. Last month, the then US attorney general, Jeffrey Rosen, said Washington was "ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial here" after labeling the acquittal "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere". Dr. Ryan Durbin, alumnus of Trident's Doctor of Business Administration program For law enforcement to build and maintain community trust and perceptions of equity, building a police force that best reflects the members of that community is critical. - Dr. Ryan Durbin Dr. Angie Cox, a faculty member in Trident University Internationals (Trident) Glenn R. Jones College of Business, and Dr. Ryan Durbin, a graduate of the Universitys Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, have co-authored the paper, Signaling Diversity: A Study of Recruitment Strategies for Female and Minority Police Candidates, which appears in Volume 8, Issue 4 of World Academics Journal of Management. In this paper, Dr. Cox and Dr. Durbin identify how organizations can develop strategies designed to attract diverse candidates to their respective organizations and help to increase the number of female and minority candidates. To achieve these objectives, the research points to having an awareness of the demographics of a community and the concerns and desires of the members of that community. For law enforcement to build and maintain community trust and perceptions of equity, building a police force that best reflects the members of that community is critical, explains Dr. Ryan Durbin. Our research suggests that a thorough understanding of the perceptions of diverse candidates can allow agencies to craft messaging that properly addresses concerns or highlights attractions for female and minority candidates. Dr. Ryan Durbin works with the Washington State Patrol where he currently supervises the Criminal Investigate Units for the western Washington region. He has held numerous supervisory roles, including time in the Special Operations Division where he was responsible for the safety of the State Capitol campus, as well as criminal investigations for all crimes occurring on the 468-acre campus. Dr. Durbin holds a DBA and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Trident. Dr. Cox served as his Doctoral Studies Project Chairperson. With over 20 years of military service, Dr. Cox has a background in the computer, information systems, cybersecurity, and technology fields in both tactical and leadership roles. Her research interests include business philosophy, information systems, information technology, research methods, cyber, and communication methods. She received Tridents Teaching Excellence Award for the Spring 2019 quarter. Dr. Cox is a graduate of Tridents Ph.D. in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration programs. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from University of West Florida. About Trident University International Founded in 1998, Trident University International is a member of the American InterContinental University System, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Trident uses the EdActive learning approach, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills designed to enhance the lives and education of students. Trident offers quality associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs and certificates, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Trident has nearly 27,000 alumni, of which more than 22,000 have a military affiliation and has received acknowledgements from Washington Monthly, Military Times, and Military Advanced Education & Transition for their dedication to student success. Visit http://www.trident.edu or call at (855) 290-0290 to learn more about Trident's wide range of educational options. Broadest Medical Cannabis Product Range in Australian Market NYSE |TSX: ACB EDMONTON, AB, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the "Company" or "Aurora") (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian company defining the future of cannabinoids worldwide, today announced it has entered into a strategic agreement with MedReleaf Australia ("MedReleaf"). The companies have signed a five-year supply agreement, which provides for MedReleaf to act as the exclusive supplier in Australia of Aurora's MedReleaf, CanniMed and Aurora brands. Products covered by the agreement will be EUGMP certified and include dried flower, oils, and soft gels, as well as future products employing new delivery mechanisms. The agreement does not require or include any capital investment by Aurora. MedReleaf Australia, in which Aurora holds a 10% ownership stake, is a fully licenced, private company operating in the Australian medical cannabis sector since 2016. MedReleaf and Aurora currently supply products to the Australian medical cannabis system. This agreement will advance that offering and extend availability of high-quality, medical cannabis to patients. MedReleaf is one of the six founding members of the trade association Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia (MCIA). "We are pleased to have established a long-term strategic relationship with MedReleaf to exclusively distribute the Aurora, CanniMed and MedReleaf brands in Australia," said Miguel Martin, CEO of Aurora. "The team at MedReleaf have created an asset-light, sustainable growth platform in Australia to assist physicians, pharmacists and patients across the country in accessing the high-quality range of Aurora cannabis medicines." Russell Harding, CEO of MedReleaf added, "Australia's medical cannabis system is well designed, well regulated, and among the fastest growing in the world. Our strategic supply agreement with Aurora ensures that our patients will have reliable access to cannabis medicines with a worldwide reputation for quality and in accordance with the stringent requirements of Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration. To support our companies' shared objectives in the Australian market, we will focus with diligence and discipline on continuing to expand our patient and prescriber base." About Aurora Aurora is a global leader in the cannabis industry serving both the medical and consumer markets. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora is a pioneer in global cannabis dedicated to helping people improve their lives. The Company's brand portfolio includes Aurora, Aurora Drift, San Rafael '71, Daily Special, AltaVie, MedReleaf, CanniMed, Whistler, and Reliva CBD. Providing customers with innovative, high-quality cannabis products, Aurora's brands continue to break through as industry leaders in the medical, performance, wellness and recreational markets wherever they are launched. For more information, please visit our website at www.auroramj.com. Aurora's Common Shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "ACB" and is a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Forward Looking Statements This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include statements regarding the supply of cannabis products to MedReleaf Australia. These forward-looking statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions, estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected developments at the date the statements are made, such as current and future market conditions, the ability to maintain SG&A costs in line with current expectations, the ability to achieve high margin revenues in the Canadian consumer market, the current and future regulatory environment and future approvals and permits. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances could cause actual events, results, level of activity, performance, prospects, opportunities or achievements to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks associated with: entering the U.S. market, the ability to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the acquisition of Reliva, achievement of Aurora's business transformation plan, general business and economic conditions, changes in laws and regulations, product demand, changes in prices of required commodities, competition, the effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks, uncertainties and factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated September 24, 2020 (the "AIF") and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and filed with and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, any of which could cause the Company to change its use of proceeds from the Offering. The Company cautions that the list of risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc. For further information: For Media: Michelle Lefler, VP, Communications & PR, [email protected]; For Investors: ICR, Inc., Investor Relations, [email protected] Related Links https://auroramj.com/ UPD Mental Health Officer Jessica Kinney smiles for a photo, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in the lobby of the Texas State University Police Department. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand on Jan. 26, 2021. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) New Zealand Signs Deal With China to Upgrade Free Trade Treaty New Zealand and China have signed a preliminary deal to upgrade the two countries existing Free Trade Agreement. The deal, signed on Jan. 26, comes as Beijing seeks to establish itself globally as an advocate of multilateralism while trade disputes continue with Australia, New Zealands closest neighbour. In a virtual signing ceremony, New Zealands Trade Minister Damien OConnor said the upgraded deal expands the existing trade deal making it fit for purpose for another decade. This upgraded agreement comes at a time of considerable global economic disruption due to COVID-19. The upgraded free trade agreement is part of the governments Trade Recovery Strategy, in response to the economic shock of COVID-19, OConnor said. China is one of New Zealands most important relationships. Signing this agreement today builds on the significant benefits both countries have enjoyed as a result of our existing FTA. The deal provides for tariffs to be either removed or cut on many of New Zealands mostly commodities-based exports, ranging from dairy to timber and seafood, while compliance costs will also be reduced. The deal will also open up sectors such as aviation, education and finance. Environmental protections and not lowering standards to gain a trade or investment advantage are included in the deal. In return, New Zealand will increase visa quotas for Chinese language teachers and tour guides. War of Words Across the Tasman Sea While the deal will see a rise in annual two-way trade worth approximately NZ$32 billion (AUS$30 billion), trade disputes across the Tasman Sea between Australia and China have pushed the diplomatic relationship to its lowest point. According to the South China Morning Post, Australia engaged in a war of words and accused the Chinese regime for not honouring the letter and spirit of free trade amid a bitter political and commercial conflict that escalated in April. Chinas current trade sanctions on Australian industries are believed to be in response to the Australian governments call for an independent investigation 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. Despite the sanctions, Australia recorded its fourth-highest trade surplus in December 2020. On Nov. 15, 2020, Australia and 14 other Indo-Pacific countries signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is set to diversify trading opportunities with other markets. The RCEP includes New Zealand and China. In reference to the upgraded deal with China, New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern said the modernised trade with China remains one of the island countrys most important trading partners. However, Opposition Leader Judith Collins said China holds incredible sway over New Zealand reported TVNZ. Anywhere where there is increased opportunities for trade is good, Collins said. I also understand New Zealand, with around a third of all our exports going to China, that China has an incredible sway over New Zealand because of that financial dependency. It is really important that, yes, we want to keep those Chinese markets working well. But we also need to build other trading relationships, she said. New Zealands Parliament will now consider the agreement for ratification before it enters into force. The Epoch Times reached out to New Zealands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. Reuters contributed to this report. (TNS) - Older Massachusetts residents are struggling to secure COVID-19 vaccination appointments through a state-run website, prompting Gov. Charlie Baker to urge patience and caution that demand for the immunization still outpaces supply.A day after Baker pointed adults 75 and over toward the state's vaccine map website to book vaccines that will soon become available, several lawmakers in that age range slammed the system as confusing and "ineffective."Both the Boston Globe and WBUR reported numerous accounts of older residents who could not navigate the website or waited hours only to find that all slots were already full.During a press conference where he also cautioned that specific details about expanded federal shipments are still unknown, Baker said it will take time to get vaccines to everyone who qualifies."We expect that by the start of Phase 2, there will be a large number of residents trying to secure a limited number of appointments," Baker said. "If you can't secure an appointment right away, you need to be patient about that. We understand the difficulty that's attached to that, but keep checking the website and going back to check again on the sites that make the most sense to you. More and more time slots will be added on a rolling basis as we get additional supply."The second phase of the administration's vaccine rollout plan will begin next week, making doses available to residents 75 and older to start.In his State of the Commonwealth address Tuesday night, Baker said residents could start using the state's website mass.gov/covidvaccine to check their eligibility and book appointments for vaccines.Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler, who is 84, and Sen. Patricia Jehlen, who is 77, tweeted nearly identical messages Wednesday that they "personally struggled" to use the vaccination website now that they both are set to become eligible."My office has heard from dozens of frustrated constituents, and I expect that is only the tip of the iceberg," Chandler said in her tweet. "We are trying our best to help, but this website is simply ineffective."Baker said Wednesday that it is "hard for us to answer" specific questions about issues with the website. He urged younger residents to help their older friends and family navigate any technological hurdles while hinting that the administration "is working to create additional resources" to make appointments.Asked why New Hampshire runs a single centralized online system for vaccines but Massachusetts does not and whether the difference in populations is a factor, Baker replied, "I don't know, but I will see if we can get an answer to that question."He added that there are more than 1 million Massachusetts residents over the age of 75 who will gain eligibility to receive vaccines starting Monday, meaning the single group that will kick off Phase 2 outnumbers the state's entire vaccine haul so far."We've gotten less than a million doses since this thing started in December. We've had more than a million hits on the state's website since this was announced on Tuesday," Baker said. "If you have a million people who are eligible and you have only received a million doses since this all began in December, you are going to be constrained by supply."Federal officials plan to boost the amount of vaccines distributed to states, territories and tribes by roughly 17 percent for the next three weeks, up to a minimum of 10 million doses per week in that span.However, according to Baker, the Biden administration stressed during a Tuesday call with governors that the additional supply might vary by state."The conversation we had with the administration was about a national number, but they said we should be careful about projecting that national adjustment to our own states," Baker said, referencing the call organized by the National Governors Association. "We haven't heard officially what that will mean for Massachusetts.""I'm hoping by tomorrow, certainly by Friday, we'll know what the answer to that is," Baker added. "I heard the same 17 percent number, but they made very clear to us: don't just assume that means you're going to get 17 percent (more) of what you have."One day after the NGA call, the Biden administration's COVID-19 Task Force held its first public briefing Wednesday to discuss the status of the virus, concerns about new variants and steps that were being taken to increase vaccine supply."I know that many American are anxious and eager to get vaccinated. I want you to know we're taking this issue on with incredible urgency and purpose, despite not inheriting a fully-developed strategy or the infrastructure to make vaccines readily available to Americans as quickly as they need to be," said Andy Slavitt, senior advisor to White House COVID-19 Response Team.Slavitt said the federal government is no longer holding back any supply for second doses, shipping doses to states as they become available and holding only a two- to three-day supply to smooth out any manufacturing variations."Any stockpile that may have existed previously no longer exists," Slavitt said. He added, "We are passing doses directly on to states very much in real time as they order them."President Joe Biden has set a goal of administering at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in his first 100 days, and officials said they are currently on pace to meet that goal.In Massachusetts, state officials plan to increase the number of open public vaccination sites to 103 this week, which could administer 242,000 doses per week. By mid-February, the capacity should rise to 305,000, officials said.So far, the state has only been receiving about 80,000 doses per week, and Baker said Wednesday that it "won't be very long from now" until the state's capacity to administer the vaccine reliably outstrips its supply.In another part of the Biden administration's plan, the U.S. agreed to purchase an additional 200 million doses this year from Pfizer and Moderna, which Slavitt said will ensure enough supply to vaccinate everyone over the age of 16, but those doses are not expected until the summer.Slavitt also called on Congress to pass the president's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which includes funding for vaccination sites, and said the administration was exploring all options to use the Defense Production Act to boost vaccine manufacturing."Even so, it will be months before everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one," he said.Officials said the Federal Emergency Management Agency had obligated $1 billion to support vaccination sites, and Pfizer and Moderna are committed to delivering 200 million doses by the end of March, with much of it getting delivered at the end of the first quarter.This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Site, supply struggles complicate Gov. Baker's vaccine push___(c)2021 Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass.Visit Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass. at www.telegram.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. After providing coronavirus vaccines to several countries including Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, India on Thursday established its position as a reliable partner in COVID-19 assistance by dispatching Covishield vaccines to Bahrain and Sri Lanka. A consignment of 50,400 doses of coronavirus vaccines will be provided by India to Sri Lanka under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, while Bahrain will receive get 10,800 doses. The Covishield vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India (SII) was loaded to the cargo aircraft at Mumbai and left as per schedule at 7:55 am for Manama. The vaccine consignment for Colombo was delayed for 15 minutes and is scheduled to leave at 9:00 am. Bahrain had earlier approved Covishield to support its efforts towards vaccinating members at risk of developing complications from COVID-19. Meanwhile, India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh under Neighbourhood First policy. India's Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday had announced vaccine rollout for several countries from January 20. India sees international cooperation in the area of fight against COVID-19 pandemic as its duty; New Delhi has played the role of the first responder in the region. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Burma Myanmar Election Body Rejects Military Allegations of Electoral Fraud A Yangon polling station on Nov. 8, 2020. / The Irrawaddy YANGON The Union Election Commission (UEC) has rejected all of the militarys claims of electoral fraud in the November general election, a day after the military threatened a possible coup if its complaints were ignored. In response to the militarys attempts to discredit the election results, the UEC said there is no evidence of voting malpractice or people voting more than once, as the military claimed. The UEC said underage people and the deceased could have been added to voter lists but COVID-19 travel restrictions would have stopped people from traveling easily to numerous polling stations. The application of indelible ink to voters hands prevented multiple voting with the ink taking a week to be removed, the commission said. While it has yet to produce on-the-ground evidence, the military claimed that it found 8.6 million irregularities which could lead to potential voter fraud in all 314 townships where voting took place. The UEC dismissed claims of electoral fraud, saying each vote was counted transparently and witnessed by election candidates, election staff, the media, observers and other civil society organizations. The military called on either the government, UEC or outgoing parliamentarians to prove the general election was free and fair before the new parliament sits on Feb. 1. However, parliamentary speaker T Khun Myat rejected the militarys demand to hold a special session, saying the UEC was constitutionally responsible for the general election. The UEC said Article 4 of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution states the sovereign power of the union is derived from the citizens who elect representatives in each constituency. It said the Constitution states that the publics will should be not compromised by other parties. If the military wanted to change the publics will, it will violate the Constitution, electoral law and the will of the electorate, the UEC said. The commission said it received 287 election complaints, 94 from voters and 193 from candidates, including about irregularities in voter lists. It said it has formed a tribunal to investigate the complaints. The UEC said it has already opened several court hearings for objections to the general election. You may also like these stories: A Military Coup in Myanmar Is Unlikely, But. Myanmar Military Refuses to Rule Out Coup as It Presses Claim of Fraud in Nov. Election Updated Timeline: Tracing Militarys Interference in Myanmar Election A construction worker died Thursday when the excavator he was operating tumbled into the chilly Arthur Kill in Linden and trapped him inside, authorities said. Rescue crews freed the man from the cab in water that separates New Jersey and Staten Island, New York after about an hour and brought him to Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, where he was pronounced dead. His identity was not released, pending family notification. The man was part of a crew working at a construction site on the 4900 block of Tremley Point Road shortly after 8 a.m. when the excavator toppled and landed in the water, Linden police said in a statement. He was pulled from the 40-degree tidal strait by an NYPD Aviation dive team, along with the Linden Fire Department, rescuers and a Zodiac boat, WABC-7 reported. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is leading the investigation, identified the construction company as Simpson and Brown in Cranford. The company has an open OSHA case related to an employee injury involving a fall at an excavation site on Aug. 25, officials said. The United States Coast Guard, the State Police Marine Unit, the New York Police Departments Air Search & Rescue Unit, members of the New Jersey Marine Task Force as well as fire departments from Elizabeth, Rahway, Union, Cranford and Perth Amboy assisted. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close In a last goodbye to their leader, members of the armed forces of Colombia paid tribute to Minister of Defence Carlos Holmes Trujillo, who passed away on Tuesday after a two-week battle with COVID-19. President Ivan Duque along with members of Colombia's high command, accompanied the family during a mass at a cadet military academy north of Bogota. Following the religious ceremony military honours were paid in the form of an Honour Guard, representing all branches of the armed services and a 24-cannon salute. Trujillo became defence minister in November 2019, after serving as foreign minister. He was also the mayor of Cali from 1988-1990 and held several ministerial and diplomatic positions during his decades-long political career. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Press Release 28 January 2021 With travelers dreaming of new discoveries in 2021, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is ready to welcome them as it unveils the initial hotels around the world exemplifying the brand's new vision: Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, USA; Sheraton Denver Downtown, USA; Sheraton Tel Aviv, Israel; Sheraton Grand Dubai, UAE; Sheraton Guangzhou, China and Sheraton Mianyang, China. Advertisements Following Marriott International's announcement in 2018 of its plans to refresh the iconic brand for today's travelers, the completion of the renovations at these hotels is an important milestone in the brand's reinvention journey. There is now momentum building for the transformation, with over 40 hotels around the world expected to reflect the new brand vision by the end of 2022. "This is a pivotal moment for Sheraton as we see hotel owners embracing the new vision and bringing it to life for the first time," said Amanda Nichols, Senior Director and Global Brand Leader of Sheraton Hotels. "Over the past 80 years, Sheraton has always offered guests the time-honored assurance of a welcoming community. We're proud to have built on this legacy in the new concept, creating an environment where guests can enjoy all the familiar comforts of the Sheraton brand, but with fresh, contemporary updates. As travel resumes, we look forward to welcoming guests into this new chapter for Sheraton." Drawing on its roots as a community hub for locals and guests at flagship locations globally, the new approach for Sheraton creates an intuitive and holistic experience with places to connect, be productive and feel part of something. The layered design approach, balancing a sense of timelessness with a fresh and modern feel, aims to create an environment where guests feel comfortable and at ease, whether working, meeting or relaxing. A Modern-Day "Public Square" At the heart of the new Sheraton experience is the lobby. This has been re-imagined as the "Public Square" of the hotel; a holistic, open space that invites people to join together or be alone amongst others, creating a sense of energy and belonging. With a flow that is natural, intuitive and uncomplicated, guests have what they need within arm's reach, all set against an inviting backdrop that feels warm and comfortable yet refined. Built into the new design are signature elements such as the Community Table, an inviting, purpose-built workspace that will anchor each hotel's lobby and allow guests to work, eat and drink while soaking up the energy of the space. Following Sheraton's philosophy to embrace both form and function, these tables are custom designed with amenities to keep guests productive, including built-in lighting, outlets and wireless charging stations. The Studios, flexible gathering spacesavailable to book whenever a guest needs it, celebrate collaborative working and connecting with others in a less formal setting. Built on raised platforms and enclosed with glass, the tech-enabled Studios welcome guests to contribute to the energy of the public space while also providing privacy and focus for everything from small group meetings to private dining experiences. Soundproof booths are also strategically placed throughout the lobby, perfect for a spontaneous phone call to connect privately with friends, family or colleagues from afar. Built with its global, productivity-focused guest in mind, Sheraton's new elevated food & beverage philosophy creates a focal point in the lobby experience. Part bar, part coffee bar, part market, the Coffee Bar Bar is a central pillar of the new Sheraton vision, transitioning guests seamlessly from day to night with food & beverage options that are locally-sourced, easy to consume while working and customizable to accommodate all tastes and time schedules. Guest Rooms & Club Lounges That Champion Productivity In the new guest rooms, guests are welcomed into a bright, well-lit space with warm, residential appeal, comprised of soft finishes and light wood tones accentuated with black metal accents. The rooms have been reimagined with new tools for productivity, such as a height-adjustable work table, integrated power and charging and layered lighting; while still retaining some of the classic Sheraton signature amenities, including the luxurious Sheraton Sleep Experience platform bed. The guest bathroom has also been completely redesigned with new and modern walk-in showers and bath amenities by Gilchrist & Soames. The Sheraton Club Lounge, an exclusive space for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and Sheraton Club level guests, has also undergone an upgrade as part of the transformation. The new design ensures the space is welcoming, elevated and purposefully designed for a layered and engaging experience that transitions seamlessly with activations from morning to evening. Guests will find updated food and beverage offerings, premium amenities, enhanced connectivity, and 24/7 access to provide a private environment. Commitment to Clean Sheraton Hotels are following Marriott International's Commitment to Clean protocols, created in partnership with leading experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations. These protocols include mandated mask wearing for all associates within the hotel, and the use of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in the country/region where the hotel operates and the World Health Organization to sanitize surfaces in the hotels. A Continuous Journey There are currently 446 Sheraton hotels in 74 countries and territories around the world, making it Marriott International's most global brand. In 2021, Sheraton Hotels will continue on its transformation journey, with the brand expecting to showcase new guest experience programs and complete renovations in locations including Nashville, USA; Toronto, Canada; Nice, France; Kiev, Ukraine; and Xi'an, China. To find out more about the new Sheraton experience, visit: https://sheraton.marriott.com/experience/new-sheraton/ FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Salient CRGT (SCRGT), a leading provider of health solutions, data analytics, cloud, agile software development, cyber security, program management, and infrastructure solutions, is pleased to announce a contract award under the Pool 1 of the GSA One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) vehicle. OASIS is a Multiple Award, IDIQ contract that provides Government agencies with total integrated solutions involving Program Management, Management Consulting, Scientific, Engineering, Logistics, and Financial disciplines. OASIS is designed to support any and all mission spaces of the U.S. Federal Government, including Government organizations focused on Protection and Defense, Quality of Life, Commerce, and Natural Resources. The contract has a period of performance of five years, with 1 (5-year) option that may extend the cumulative term of the contract to 10 years. "We're excited to add OASIS Pool 1 to our portfolio of contract vehicles," said Salient CRGT CEO Tom Ferrando. "This award enables SCRGT to continue to execute its growth strategy and deliver critical technologies and advance capabilities to help address government challenges." OASIS is designated as a Best in Class solution by the Office of Management and Budget and our team will be eligible to provide a wide range of professional and technical services to federal agencies. SCRGT is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, and employs more than 2,600 professionals who provide support to public sector customers. About Salient CRGT Salient CRGT provides agile software development, health solutions, data analytics, mobility, cyber security, program management, and infrastructure solutions. We support these core capabilities with full lifecycle IT services and trainingto help our customers meet critical goals for pivotal missions. We are purpose built for IT transformation supporting federal civilian, health, defense, homeland, and intelligence agencies, as well as Fortune 1000 companies. We use the most innovative talent delivery model in the industry, scientifically providing exactly the right people for the customers' most pressing requirements. Salient CRGT has earned a record of success with integration and operations of largescale, highvolume solutions. Visit our newsroom and explore www.salientcrgt.com . Tweet: @Salient_CRGT Announces GSA OASIS Pool 1 Award. http://bit.ly/1MGSz5l SOURCE Salient CRGT, Inc. Related Links http://www.salientcrgt.com The apex court dismissed the special leave petitions (SLPs) filed by the state government challenging the High Court directives in two different cases. (Representational Photo:PTI) Hyderabad: The state government once again lost its cases on the Hafeezpet lands in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The apex court dismissed the special leave petitions (SLPs) filed by the state government challenging the High Court directives in two different cases. One of the cases pertained to granting of building permission and the other to registration of properties in Survey No.s 78 and 80 of Hafeezpet. On six earlier occasions, the apex court had dismissed the state governments contention of ownership of the Hafeezpet lands. Deccan Chronicle had reported on Monday on the governments discriminatory approach against common people and in favour of the super rich in granting building permissions in the controversial Sy No. 78. (Hafeezpet Sy No. 78: HC initiates contempt case, January 25). The Supreme Court division bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul dismissed the SLP filed by the government challenging the High Court order directing the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to sanction building permission to one A. Shalivahana Reddy who had applied to construct a house in 300 sq yds. We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order, the Bench said while dismissing the SLP. In another case, the state government had approached the apex court challenging the High Courts interim order issued on October 1, 2019, directing the authorities concerned to delete Sy No. 78 to 80 from the prohibitory register. The HC made a clear observation that the copy of the gazette notification issued by the government on September 26, 2013, including Sy No.s 78 to 80 in the prohibitory register under Section 22A of the Registration Act was not furnished by the Special GP. The High Court asked the government to file a counter and posted the case for further hearing on October 17, 2019. The government instead of pursuing the case in the High Court preferred an SLP in the apex court for reasons best known to it. The impugned order being in the nature of an interim order, and that too passed on 01.10.2019, we are not inclined to interfere under Article 136 of the Constitution of India, the SC said. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Intero Integrity Services, backed by First Reserve, has announced the completion of a merger with Pipetel Technologies, an innovative service provider to the gas utility industry specialising in robotic inline inspection of challenging pipelines. Pipetel Technologies, founded in 1999 in Toronto, specialises in difficult to inspect gas pipelines, combining advanced technology and engineering with innovative robotic solutions. These services are critical to enabling its utility customers to reduce methane emissions and enhance the safe operations of their pipeline infrastructure, said a statement. As a result of their successful research and development programme, in partnership with the Northeast Gas Association/NYSEARCH, Pipetel deploys the most technologically-advanced robotic inline inspection fleet in the world, it said. Global company Rienk de Vries, Interos CEO, highlighted the strategic importance of this merger. This merger creates a global company, with state of the art and unique solutions for the most difficult to inspect pipelines in the world, whether natural gas or liquid, or requiring ultrasonic or magnetic flux leakage technology. Pipetels experience, technology, and credentials, together with Interos, opens new possibilities to provide multiple inline inspection solutions to both current and new clients operating critical pipeline infrastructure in the energy and transportation industries. Paul Laursen, CEO of Pipetel Technologies, said: Intero Integrity Services provides Pipetel Technologies with an extensive global network and access to many new customers outside North America. Our team is pleased to join strengths with Intero, and to continue to grow our services worldwide. There is a strong synergy between Pipetel and Intero within the unpiggable pipeline inspection market, including the sales and agent network, training, R&D, and data analysis. Pipetels excellent track record and innovative technology can now reach significantly more customers around the world. Mike Scardigli, Managing Director of First Reserve, commented: This transaction highlights First Reserves continued support of companies playing a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of critical infrastructure. The aging pipeline asset base and heightened focus on ESG necessitate innovative solutions and the combined company is well positioned to continue developing these cutting-edge technologies for its customers. Intero Integrity Services is the leading specialist for keeping downstream oil, gas and petrochemical infrastructure clean, safe, well maintained and highly productive. The company provides customers globally with an extensive range of inspection, industrial and environmental service solutions. Intero employs nearly 400 people and is headquartered in The Netherlands. They serve their customers through 19 offices around the world. In 2017 Intero was acquired by First Reserve, a leading global private equity investment firm focused on energy, including related industrial markets. First Reserve has cultivated an enduring network of global relationships and raised $32 billion of aggregate capital since inception. - TradeArabia News Service Restaurant and retail workers are sharing the best, pettiest revenge they've had on rude customers, from crop dusting them to switching their espresso to decaf. TikTok user Darron Cardosa posed the question on the app this weekend, asking other users: 'What's something you've done to a customer after they've been rude to you?' Dozens have replied, revealing the petty, ridiculous ways they've minorly inconvenienced customers who could have been more police. Share time! TikTok user Darron Cardosa asked other users: 'What's something you've done to a customer after they've been rude to you?' While some stories reveal fireable offenses, others could never reasonably be blamed on the employee. Darron, for example, never technically did anything wrong he just went a little out of his way to make his customers' experience slightly less pleasant than it might have been. 'As a server, sometimes when rude customers ask for butter, I give them cold butter, even though I have room temperature butter, because I know the cold butter will rip up their bread,' he divulged. Ebony Mallinson, meanwhile, confessed: 'I under-blend their smoothies, so the little chunks block their straws.' McKenzie Morrison had a similarly petty tactic, which the customers may not even noticed but at least it made McKenzie feel better. 'As a deli worker, when a customer is being a Karen, I'll squish the cheese together after I slice it, so it's impossible to separate later,' she said. Feel better? People are responding with stories of petty revenge that are mostly harmless Accountability: Another woman reported a police officer who refused to wear a mask in her store 'I work at a grocery store,' said a woman named Rachael Hendrick in her video. 'When rude customers don't wear a mask, I will spray fart spray in the aisle.' User @bree_ann_uhh, meanwhile, said she and her fellow servers opted for the real thing. 'Shout out to all the servers,' she wrote. 'For rude customers, we crop dust especially if it's busy and loud and the music's going and they definitely won't hear you. We crop dust.' Canadian flight attendant Helena Handbasket said: 'For rude customers, I book their airplane seat on a 10-hour flight next to the bathroom.' A TikToker named Sammie didn't just get revenge for rudeness, but she held a police officer accountable. 'A cop came into my store with no mask in his uniform,' she said. 'I said, "Sir, next time you come in, I need you to put on a mask." He looks me dead in the eyes and said, "I have a medical condition. What are you gonna do about it?" 'I looked at his badge, and then I later called the police department and told them. Ever since then, every time he comes in, he's wearing a mask. Every time.' 'For rude customers, we crop dust especially if it's busy and loud and the music's going and they definitely won't hear you. We crop dust,' said one user Some of the behaviors, though, likely would have gotten the employees in a bit of trouble if their bosses had learned about them. Stephanie Crnkovich said that when she worked as a barista, she'd give rude customers decaf espresso instead of regular. Geza Daniel Molnar said that while working at a hotel, he encountered late arrival guests who didn't tip him when he helped with their luggage. 'So I phoned them in the middle of the night,' he said. User Chelsea Dickinson spilled her devilish trick, revealing: 'I used to double charge them, so they had to go wait in the customer service line to get a refund.' And user @heather.blr did something similar at the grocery store where she worked, 'There were a bunch of rude customers I had people even throw food at me and laugh about it,' she said. Deserved! Perhaps one of the best revenge stories came from Javier Sanchez who in the late '90s worked for a cable company and dealt with a racist customer on the phone 'I had to ring up every single thing manually. Basically, if they were rude to me, if it was 99 cents, I'd ring it up as $2.99. The receipts were so long that they didn't check. I wound up charging them $30-$40 more, just for how rude they were.' Perhaps one of the best revenge stories came from Javier Sanchez, who in the late '90s worked for a cable company and dealt with a racist customer on the phone. 'There was an Oscar De La Hoya fight on that night,' he said. 'A customer called in saying they ordered all this food and had all these people over to watch the pay-per-view fight, but it wasn't working. 'So, I eventually fix it for them. I hear the entire party cheer. The man on the phone goes, "Thank you! What's your name?" and I told him, "Javier." He goes, "Thank you," and then calls me a racial slur and hangs up. 'So, I turn the fight off on his TV and leave notes for other employees to not turn it back on. The next day, I see that he had been calling all night to get the fight back on, and no one turned it on for him. I win.' Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Press Release 28 January 2021 As the governments of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and the European Union broaden or impose quarantine periods for international travelers, the Global Business Travel Association issued the following statement on COVID-19-related travel policies around the world. "The business travel industry and its millions of jobs globally continue to support all necessary and practical measures to make travel safe again," said Dave Hilfman, interim Executive Director of GBTA, which represents more than 9,000 members worldwide. "These measures, put in place to mitigate risk, protect travelers and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, should continue to be science-based and to strike the appropriate balance between public health and protecting the global economy." "However, the move towards quarantines despite multiple studies that question their effectiveness is a real problem. The science suggests that quarantines rank far down the list of effective COVID-19 mitigation measures, " said Hilfman. "Pre-departure testing can help ensure the safety of travelers and residents, while allowing essential international travel to take place without compromising public health. At a time when the business travel industry continues to fight for its existence, a comprehensive approach that does not embrace quarantines can help stop the pandemic and stop the further proliferation of job losses and financial ruin." An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the cause of death of Catalina Cervantes. A pair of families have filed separate lawsuits accusing a funeral home in San Antonio of mistakenly sending the wrong bodies of two elderly women to each others viewings. The two women, lifelong local residents Catalina R. Cervantes, 85, and Mary Lou Salinas, 88, died 10 days apart in November. Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries prepared them for family viewings and then delivered each to the wrong service, the lawsuits says. The lawsuits describe a pair of awkward discussions with funeral directors, only one of which prevented a burial in the wrong cemetery. To the families horror, the two women had to be re-identified, including one who was exhumed weeks after burial, said attorneys representing both sets of plaintiffs, their surviving children. The suits seek damages in excess of $1 million. Its hard to imagine an event that would cause as much trauma, shock and horror that families suffer, than in a funeral home body mix-up case, plaintiffs attorney Mark Greenwald said. It should never happen. An attorney for MPII, which does business as Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries, issued a statement late Wednesday that said it took immediate action when the mix-up became apparent. The Cervantes family called Mission Park on Nov. 11 to prepare their mothers body for a funeral, including a Catholic rosary and public viewing at Mission Park South. The funeral home did not have a chapel available for two weeks, and when family members arrived Nov. 24, they told the funeral director that the body in the casket did not look good, one lawsuit said. The funeral director did not reply, and closed the lid to the casket, the suit states. The family members assumed that their mothers appearance had changed because they couldnt visit her in the hospital and then her body was embalmed and in storage for two weeks, the lawsuit says. And so the next day, Nov. 25, the Cervantes family members said goodbye to a woman they thought was their mother, dressed in her clothes and buried near her husband at Chapel Hill Memorial Park, according to the lawsuit. The Salinas family members, meanwhile, was mourning their matriarch and making preparations for her rosary and viewing at Mission Park South. Salinas, who died Nov. 21, was to be buried with her husband of 42 years at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. On ExpressNews.com: Parents remember daughter whose body went missing Mission Park subcontracted with the Beyer and Beitel Mortuary Service to transport Salinas to its separate embalming and storage facility and return her to Mission Park South for the viewing and rosary, the second lawsuit states. Because the Salinas family members were battling COVID-19, and due to a backlog at Fort Sam Houston, the earliest date available for the service was Dec. 7. When they arrived to prepare for the rosary, they immediately confirmed the body in the coffin was not their mother, the lawsuit states. They reported it to the funeral director, whose general manager, Michael Hoffman, told them he believed their mother had been accidentally buried on Dec. 2, under the name of another deceased mother, the lawsuit said. Mr. Hoffman repeatedly and callously suggested that since all family and friends were present at the funeral home, the rosary should continue, the lawsuit states. Dick Tips, the owner of MPII, met with the family and admitted that Mission Park made a mistake, and they would do everything they could to make it right, but the Salinas family left that evening still not knowing the location or state of their mothers body, the suit said. According to the lawsuits, on Dec. 8 the Cervantes family consented to let Mission Park exhume the body they thought was their mother from Chapel Hill, and it became clear to the Salinas family that the companys initial calculation that their mother had been mistakenly buried Dec. 2 was incorrect, as Mission Park now believed that Mrs. Salinas was buried as the mother of the Cervantes family on Nov. 25. Nearly a month after her death and two weeks after her burial, Mission Park exhumed Salinas body from the Cervantes plot and the Salinas family positively identified her. They fired Mission Park, and Porter Loring Funeral Home arranged new services, a rosary and a Mass. As it has since 1907, Mission Park served families in our community during the difficult months of 2020, including the Salinas and Cervantes families, Mission Parks statement said. After a positive identification, an open casket visitation and funeral service were held for the Cervantes family. When the identities of the remains later came into question, Mission Park took immediate action to address the issue, and requested the Salinas family confirm the identification. Cervantes was buried at Chapel Hill on Dec. 12, and Salinas was reburied, this time at Fort Sam, on Dec. 17, the lawsuits state. It wasnt the first time a local funeral home has been accused of such a mix-up. The family of Dolores Gutierrez DeLeon, 78, who died in April, settled a lawsuit filed against the Castillo-Mission Funeral Home for switching her body with another woman before her service. Mission Park settled a lawsuit in 2019 for losing the body of Julie Mott, 25, in August 2015. It still has not been located. These types of mistakes, while so easily preventable, inflict untold damage and suffering on the surviving families, said Alex Katzman, who with Greenwald is representing both families. ezavala@express-news.net [January 28, 2021] Wayfair Earns Top Score on Human Rights Campaign's 2021 Corporate Equality Index Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W), one of the world's largest online destinations for the home, today announced that it earned a score of 100, the highest possible rating, on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. "At Wayfair, we want to foster an environment where LGBTQ+ employees can happily and safely bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We continually strive to be a company that our people are proud of and committed to, where all employees have an opportunity to contribute, learn, grow and advance," said Kate Gulliver, Global Head of Talent, Wayfair. "We're proud to earn a top score on HRC's Corporate Equality Index and will continue to work closely with our LGBTQ+ community at Wayfair to roll out new initiatives and ensure we continue to make positive changes across the company." Wayfair is focused on ensuring LGBTQ-inclusive benefits for all employees, including domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, and supportive policies for gender transitions. Additionally, Wayfair's established LGBTQ+ employee resource groups focus on supporting and empowering Wayfair employees globally. These ERGs create opportunities for connection and advocate internally on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community at Wayfair. Wayfair is committed to embedding DEI across all aspects of its organization. In addition to offering inclusive benefits that support the LGBTQ+ community, Wayfair requires all employes to participate in DEI-focused trainings. New hires complete non-discrimination training their first day on the job, which explicitly states both verbally and in writing Wayfair's policy that the company does not tolerate direct or indirect discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and all other protected classes. In addition to new hire training, Wayfair offers a Certified Interviewer Program and Culture & Inclusion trainings that discuss dimensions of diversity and impacts to belonging regarding sexual orientations and gender identity in addition to other dimensions of diversity. "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do-but the best business decision." The results of the 2021 CEI showcase how 1,142 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 57% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad. Wayfair's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality. For more information about the 2021 Corporate Equality Index, please visit www.hrc.org/cei. About Wayfair Wayfair believes everyone should live in a home they love. Through technology and innovation, Wayfair makes it possible for shoppers to quickly and easily find exactly what they want from a selection of more than 18 million items across home furnishings, decor, home improvement, housewares and more. Committed to delighting its customers every step of the way, Wayfair is reinventing the way people shop for their homes - from product discovery to final delivery. The Wayfair family of sites includes: Wayfair - All things home, all in one place. Joss & Main - Stylish designs to discover daily. AllModern - The best of modern, priced for real life. Birch Lane - Classic home. Comfortable cost. Perigold - The widest-ever selection of luxury home furnishings. Wayfair generated $13.0 billion in net revenue for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with operations throughout North America and Europe, the company employs more than 16,700 people. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005329/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 21 runners killed during mountain race in northwestern province of Gansu; Indian variant of Covid-19 found in Guangzhou; Beijing willing to arrange for vaccines to be sent to Taiwan May 28, 2021 08:15 PM The St. Tammany Parish School Board is taking a 10-year legal battle over the rape of a 4th grader by a school janitor to the Louisiana Supreme Court, asking the state's highest court to overturn an appellate court's ruling holding the school system responsible. At stake is $460,000 in damages and medical expenses awarded to Justin Bleker, now 24, and his family by 22nd Judicial District Judge Raymond Childress. After a five-day trial in 2018, Childress ruled that the school system had failed to exercise reasonable care in hiring Dino Schwertz as a temporary janitor at Abney Elementary School in Slidell. His family filed the lawsuit in 2011. Schwertz is serving a life sentence plus 20 years for sexual crimes against Bleker and another student in 2007. The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate does not typically name victims of sex crimes, but Bleker consented to his name being used when his civil suit went to trial. The School Board appealed Childress' ruling to the state First Circuit Court of Appeal which last month upheld the lower court decision. Now, the School Board is asked the state Supreme Court to reverse that decision. The School Board's petition says the lower courts erred in finding that the board liable for what it called Schwertz's "malicious, willful and deliberate conduct" that was intended to do bodily harm to Bleker. The fact that the assaults happened on school grounds during school hours is not enough to hold the School Board liable, the filing said. Schwertz's actions were so far outside the course and scope of his employment that a finding of vicarious liability where one party is held partly liable for the illegal actions of another party is a legal error, the School Board argues. The School Board's petition also says that the likelihood of a janitor sexually assaulting a student on a school campus is not a foreseeable risk. Schwertz was hired before the School Board received the results of his criminal background check, which included criminal convictions for bank fraud and violating protective orders. He had falsely stated on his job application that he had not been convicted of any crimes. 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 Kathleen Manning, the attorney for Bleker and his family, said that she will file a response next week. "I'm not totally surprised, because they have fought at every turn," Manning said of the School Board's appeal. She said that her client wants to have his say and that the family remains disturbed by what they see as a lack of accountability by the school system. Bleker and his mother, Becky Hickman, both spoke during the public comment period at a School Board meeting last week. Bleker, dressed in a suit, recounted Schwertz's attacks and threats but was cut off as he began talking about the failure of his schools and teachers to teach him to read. The School Board had shut off his microphone and moved the camera that was recording the meeting off of him. He was escorted out of the meeting by a police officer. Bleker's mother, Becky Hickman, addressed the board immediately after her son, her voice sometimes rising in anger as she accused board members of not doing their job. "I'd like somebody to tell me, why did you fail my child? How could you let this happen...not one of you has stepped forward to tell my child, my family, that you're sorry for what you've done," she said. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name for Bleker's mother. KITOV ONE "KITOV ONE allows manufacturers to easily deploy a trainable system that leverages both deep learning and traditional machine vision techniques to inspect any type of product, says Kitov's Corey Merchant, Vice President, Americas. Israeli-based smart visual inspection company Kitov.ai introduces its KITOV ONE inspection system to North America. A novel, hybrid approach combining 3D image acquisition and classic vision technology with deep learning image processing technologies, the system is trainable to inspect virtually any product without the need for expertise in vision programming, robotics, or optics, all while boosting overall quality and driving ROI. Many OEMs currently use automation and quality assurance systems, but leveraging these traditional machine vision technologies, customized for a specific product may not be possible when dealing with highly variable, multicomponent products, for example, says Kitovs Corey Merchant, Vice President, Americas. KITOV ONE allows manufacturers to easily deploy a trainable system that leverages both deep learning and traditional machine vision techniques to inspect any type of product. Setting up a new inspection plan for a product is simple and intuitive and begins with either a CAD file or a full 3D scan of a reference part. The Kitov system then generates a 3D model, a digital twin of the physical product. Kitov.ais system uses a camera with multiple lighting elements to capture multiple images and cope with different types of material and shapes. Based on spatial data collected by the camera, KITOV ONE software automatically dictates camera position, robot arm movement, and rotating table for an optimal inspection plan. Kitov also provides optional software tools to support the production process including the Kitov Smart Planner, Kitov Review Station, and Kitov Analytics. The Kitov Smart Planner enables preparation of new inspection plans offline. The Kitov Review Station supports the flow of faulty products and provides a remote inspection review tool from a central location. Kitov Analytics meanwhile, collects data on inspection results, images of defects as well as defect-free products for post-inspection analysis, identifying trends and providing quality insights. KITOV ONE can be deployed into disparate inspection applications in various markets, including high-end electronics, automotive, defense & aerospace, and medical devices. For more information, visit http://www.kitov.ai or email Corey Merchant at: corey.merchant@kitov.ai. About Kitov.ai Kitov.ai develops smart visual inspection solutions for a broad range of production lines and markets, including high-end electronics, automotive, medical devices, defense, and aerospace. Kitov.ais advanced technology helps manufacturers leverage the Industry 4.0 revolution to drive smart manufacturing while dramatically improving quality, reducing manufacturing costs, and rapidly introducing new products. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), alongside GIC, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for an acquisition of a 19.9 percent interest in Duke Energy Indiana (DEI), a subsidiary of Duke Energy, by an affiliate of GIC Private Limited, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund and an experienced investor in U.S. infrastructure. Duke Energy today also announced its 2021 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance range of $5.00 to $5.30. The transaction with GIC bolsters the company's growth potential and supports its increased long-term adjusted EPS growth rate of 5 to 7% through 2025, based off of a 2021 adjusted EPS midpoint of $5.15. This is up from the previously stated 4 to 6% rate. Under the terms of the agreement, GIC will acquire a 19.9 percent indirect minority interest in Duke Energy Indiana for a total purchase price of $2.05 billion, a significant premium to Duke Energy's current public equity valuation. Proceeds from the transaction will fund Duke Energy's increased $58 to $60 billion capital plan a five-year plan that will accelerate its clean energy transition and redeploy capital to support increased growth investments within its portfolio of regulated utilities. With this source of capital and increased financial strength, Duke Energy will continue providing reliable service and investing in important energy infrastructure while maintaining affordable rates for customers. Given the innovative transaction structure, Duke Energy will receive proceeds in two, separate phases to efficiently align with the company's capital needs. The transaction allows Duke Energy to forego its previously announced plan to raise $1 billion of common equity. Duke Energy will continue to operate DEI with its best-in-class workforce and will remain the majority owner, with an 80.1 percent stake in the business. "We are pleased to have GIC as a long-term investor in DEI," said Lynn Good, Duke Energy's chair, president and chief executive officer. "This agreement with GIC allows Duke Energy to not only partner with a highly respected global investor, it also strengthens our confidence as we increase our long-term adjusted EPS growth rate to 5 to 7 percent. With this agreement, Duke Energy is well positioned to effectively finance our robust investment plan in a clean energy future and continue delivering sustainable value to our investors." "Our agreement with GIC highlights the value and growth potential of DEI and recognizes the continued hard work and commitment of our people," said Stan Pinegar, DEI state president. "Delivering safe and reliable service to our customers and serving our communities remains our top priority." Ang Eng Seng, GIC's Chief Investment Officer of Infrastructure, said, "As a long-term investor, GIC strongly believes that companies focused on meaningful sustainability practices will create better risk-adjusted returns over the long term. Duke Energy's proven management team and clear commitment to a clean energy transition make this an attractive partnership opportunity for GIC. This capital will help create long-term value by directly supporting Duke Energy's ability to capitalize on their stated ESG and decarbonization goals. We look forward to a successful transaction and long-term investment." Transaction structure The $2.05 billion in proceeds will be received in a staggered, two-phase closing, structured in evenly split payments. The first closing is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2021. Under the terms of the agreement, Duke Energy has the discretion to determine the timing of the second closing, but it will occur no later than January 2023. GIC will invest in a newly formed intermediate holding company of which DEI will be a wholly owned subsidiary. GIC will receive certain limited rights commensurate with the minority stake. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and completion of review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as Duke Energy's lead financial advisor, and Centerview Partners also served as a financial advisor. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as Duke Energy's legal advisor. Barclays served as GIC's exclusive financial advisor. Sidley Austin LLP served as GIC's lead legal advisor alongside Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Ice Miller LLP. Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 29,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities and 2,300 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit. Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve 7.8 million retail electric customers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to 1.6 million customers in five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects. Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. About GIC GIC is a leading global investment firm established in 1981 to manage Singapore's foreign reserves. As a disciplined long-term value investor, GIC is uniquely positioned for investments across a wide range of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and infrastructure. GIC invests through funds and directly in companies, partnering with its fund managers and management teams to help world-class businesses achieve their objectives. GIC has investments in over 40 countries and has been investing in emerging markets for more than two decades. Headquartered in Singapore, GIC employs over 1,700 people across 10 offices in key financial cities worldwide. For more information about GIC, please visit www.gic.com.sg. Non-GAAP Reconciliation Duke Energy Corporation's (Duke Energy) materials for the GIC Investment in Duke Energy Indiana include a reference to the forecasted 2021 adjusted EPS guidance range of $5.00 to $5.30 per share, with a midpoint of approximately $5.15 per share. The materials also reference the long-term range of annual growth of 5% - 7% off the midpoint of the 2021 adjusted EPS guidance range, revised up from 4% - 6%. The forecasted adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure as it represents basic EPS available to Duke Energy Corporation common stockholders, adjusted for the per share impact of special items. Special items represent certain charges and credits, which management believes are not indicative of Duke Energy's ongoing performance. Management believes the presentation of adjusted EPS provides useful information to investors, as it provides them with an additional relevant comparison of Duke Energy's performance across periods. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for planning and forecasting and for reporting financial results to the Duke Energy Board of Directors, employees, stockholders, analysts and investors. Adjusted EPS is also used as a basis for employee incentive bonuses. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for adjusted EPS is reported basic EPS available to Duke Energy Corporation common stockholders. Due to the forward-looking nature of this non-GAAP financial measure for future periods, information to reconcile it to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is not available at this time, as management is unable to project all special items for future periods, such as legal settlements, the impact of regulatory orders or asset impairments. Forward-Looking Information This document includes 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. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and can often be identified by terms and phrases that include "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "continue," "should," "could," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "will," "potential," "forecast," "target," "guidance," "outlook" or other similar terminology. Various factors may cause actual results to be materially different than the suggested outcomes within forward-looking statements; accordingly, there is no assurance that such results will be realized. For details on the uncertainties that may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements, see our 2019 Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's website at sec.gov. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than described. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Duke Energy expressly disclaims an obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Duke Energy Media contact: Catherine Butler 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 Duke Energy Analyst contact: Jack Sullivan 980.373.3564 GIC Media contact: Katy Conrad 212.856.2407 SOURCE Duke Energy Not just COVID-19 has exponential growth. The Gospel does too. AEs home-based evangelism strategy encourages individuals across Africa to make use of their own social networks to share the Gospel. So far, over 2,500 people have been trained to share their personal testimonies via social media. Nancy from the African Enterprise Kenya team has been so passionate about this opportunity that shes shared the Gospel with over 300 people! In Africa, amongst people so passionate for the Gospel, there truly is an exponential impact. Like no other place on earth, this passion has seen our young evangelists preach in buses, hospitals, marketplaces and wherever they find themselves. This is why, in the past year, we saw 1.3 million people reached with the good news of Jesus in Africa. Even during lockdown, people are trying to make sense of what is happening, and are still so receptive to the Gospel. Together, we aim to reach 900,000 people and train 6,000 evangelists to reach out in a COVID-safe way. Even during these times, we estimate that for every dollar we receive, we are able to reach at least three people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is all through the efforts of 11 small teams based across Africa, who multiply the Gospels impact by mobilising churches, volunteers and evangelists to reach into their cities in unity and strength. This is the way that we will grow the Kingdom of Heaven. As yeast makes its way through dough. Or as seed sown in good soil. The potential for growth is boundless. May He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: HBE) (the "Company") announces that it has received payment of $2,500,000 from Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd., representing the balance of the $5,000,000 purchase price from the sale of the Company's 5% net smelter return royalty on the Copper Mountain mine located in southern British Columbia near the town of Princeton. In addition, further to its press releases of December 3, 2020 and January 6, 2021, the Company wishes to provide an update on the proposed transaction between the Company, Frank Guillemette, Jonathan Girard and Jean-Francois Girard (collectively, the "Vendors") pursuant to which the Company will purchase from the Vendors all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of 9396-1217 Quebec Inc. ("Holdco"), whose sole asset is 100% of the common shares in the capital of 9220-5392 Quebec Inc. (the "Proposed Transaction"). The Company has filed a geological report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, with respect to the Philibert property located in Quebec's Chibougamau mining camp, which is the sole asset of Holdco. Additional information regarding the geological report and the Proposed Transaction will be disclosed in a filing statement being prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction and is expected to be ready when required. In addition, the Company has made the determination that in connection with the Proposed Transaction it will apply for a waiver of sponsorship requirements pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. For further information, please contact: Fred Leigh President & CEO of Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. Phone: (416) 861-5933 Email: info@hornbybay.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. Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and, if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. The Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Further details of the Proposed Transaction contemplated by the definitive agreement with respect to the Proposed Transaction will be included in subsequent news releases and disclosure documents to be filed by the Company. 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 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/73087 New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) has sought financial waivers, a loan moratorium for the sector along with easing of income tax norms in the upcoming Union Budget. In its budget recommendations, the industry body has also sought restructuring of GST norms to strengthen the retail and shopping centre industry. "Input tax credit limitations are against the fundamental objects of GST implementation and real estate sector seeks full input tax credit profits as opposed to GST on forecast lease receivable for retail shopping centres, commercial workplaces along with IT/ITeS parks/SEZs and logistics, warehousing, and industrial initiatives," a statement by SCAI said. It has also sought clarification with respect to defaults by MSME vendors regarding filing of GST returns. SCAI Chairman Amitabh Taneja said: "The overall recovery of the industry could have been much better; however, the current recovery rate is not helping the sector financially. We have been urging the government to extend support to the industry with a long-term beneficial plan." He said that by providing adequate financial reliefs in GST, loan waivers, income tax, relaxations in compliance timelines, additional deductions in CSR, and by incentivising digitisation, the government can help shopping centres, modern retail, and associated sectors in recovering and reaching the pre-Covid level. "Another moot point that we feel requires immediate attention is around the retail policy. The policy has to go beyond the current situation or indeed the past 10 months. It should include structural issues like getting set-off on GST in construction activities against GST on rentals," Taneja added. Representative image A total of 23,28,779 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 41,599 sessions held till the evening of January 27, the twelfth day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry. On January 27, 2,99,299 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 7.00 pm through 5,308 vaccination sessions, the ministry said. The ministry said 79 percent of beneficiaries vaccinated on Wednesday are from five states -- Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Till date, there have been a total of 16 hospitalizations, which is0.0007 percent of the total people vaccinated so far, additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry Dr Manohar Agnani said. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic 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 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 (SII) - 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. Here are all developments related to the COVID-19 vaccine in India: > As many as 5,179 of the targeted 7,700 healthcare workers were administered COVID-19 vaccine shots at 11 centres in Mumbai on January 27, the city civic body said. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said out of 7,700 targeted healthcare workers selected for vaccination, only 68 percent (5,179) were inoculated. > Over 6,500 healthcare workers received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on the day in the second week of the vaccination drive, as the city recorded a turnout of 80 percent. After a sluggish start, since the exercise was kicked off January 16, the inoculation drive has picked up pace in the last several days. > Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that more COVID-19 vaccines are on their way to be introduced in India after the country launched the world's biggest vaccination drive with two made-in-India shots earlier this month. > As many as 47,470 health workers or 77 percent of the targeted workers for the day were administered COVID-19 vaccine doses across 528 centres in Maharashtra on the day, a senior official said. > As many as 83,645 health workers have so far been administered the Covishield vaccine, including 11,115 on the day, Health Minister KK Shailaja said. > South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has said thet a million coronavirus vaccine doses will arrive from India in the country on February 1. States Total Beneficiaries Andhra Pradesh 8,491 Bihar 606 Chhattisgarh 10,906 Karnataka 33,124 Kerala 11,115 Madhya Pradesh 60,194 Tamil Nadu 4,316 West Bengal 33,263 Chandigarh 285 Odisha 1,195 Punjab 4,636 Haryana 5,353 Rajasthan 71,632 Here is the state-wise vaccination on January 27: (With inputs from PTI) Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here The company has been advised of the progress of the metallurgical test-work, and that it will be completed with DRA Global supervising, on-budget as scheduled. European Lithium is developing the Wolfsberg Project to be the first local lithium supplier into an integrated European battery supply chain ( ) (FRA:PF8) (VSE:ELI) (NEX:EUR) is on schedule to achieve another key milestone of the definitive feasibility study (DFS) at its advanced Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria. Dorfner/Anzaplan (Dorfner) has been appointed for the complex metallurgical test-work, part of the DFS, and has received samples from the companys bulk sample stockpiles. Dorfner has advised the company of the progress of the metallurgical test-work, confirming it will be completed with DRA Global supervising, on-budget as scheduled. High-quality battery-grade lithium hydroxide producer European Lithium chairman Tony Sage said: European Lithium has the major advantage of an existing permitted working mine in central Europe, to provide Dorfner with the tonnage needed to build a pilot plant and produce samples for met testing. Successful metallurgical test work progresses our strategy toward the DFS that will see the company advance towards becoming a near term, high-quality battery-grade lithium hydroxide (LiOH) producer. Metallurgical test work European Lithium previously sent ore to Dorfner from the 1,500 tonnes bulk sample stockpile of raw material from its Wolfsberg mine. This has allowed the complex metallurgical test-work to be undertaken before any final design of the hydrometallurgical production facility takes place, providing significant cost savings and a unique opportunity to optimise the future production facilities. The final results from the remaining locked cycle tests will be considered as a Q&A process applied to future production lines. It also serves as a strong risk mitigation factor as potential suboptimal process lines can be finalised before construction starts. The company will update the market once Dorfner completes the full and final report, expected within months. This report, together with all other work, will be collated and used to prepare the final DFS. Wolfsberg Project European Lithium is in the process of developing the Wolfsberg Project and aims to become the first local lithium supplier into an integrated European battery supply chain. These final tests are an integral part of risk mitigation to ensure a consistent, high-quality battery-grade lithium hydroxide final product. European Lithium is ideally placed to have an advanced stage project scheduled to commence operation in 2023, central to most major European electric vehicle (EV) automakers. With a favourable mining environment and existing mining permit, European Lithium will be well placed to meet the EV battery demand for high-grade lithium. The company also plans to make use of the projects by-products, quartz and feldspar, supplying the European glass and ceramics industry. Malibu, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 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, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. James C. DiPrima as the new corporate Chief Executive Officer. Green Stream Holdings To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/73027_0e518535b4f65845_002full.jpg The global solar energy market is projected to grow at an average of 20% per year, surpassing $220 billion by 2026, according to Allied Market Research. Mr. James C. DiPrima has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. His career includes 40 years of finance and accounting in both the public and private sectors beginning his career at Deloitte & Touche. He has held various positions with start-up companies, was comptroller of a manufacturing company, founded and operated an accounting and tax consulting firm focused on medical practice management and investment and tax planning. He has served as chief executive officer of MBD Midwest, a holding company for national pack and ship franchises where he managed the development of retail outlets in multiple states. Mr. DiPrima was founder and President of a construction company providing various services to the United States Postal Services. Mr. DiPrima has been working in various positions with publicly traded companies since 1995. His accomplishments included guiding several companies through the reverse merger process, raising capital and consulting on various mezzanine financings. Most recently he has served as CEO of PAO Group, Inc. a publicly traded holdings company dedicated to operating businesses within the medical cannabis sector focused on medical research and the development of treatments derived from its patented cannabis extraction process. He has also served as CFO for Solar Integrated Roofing, Inc. a public traded company that provides residential solar energy solutions in southern California. Additionally, Mr. DiPrima provides various financial services to micro-cap publicly traded companies on a contract basis. "Green Stream's recent press highlights the move to New York City as the solar utility services ramp in 2021. We are excited to bring Mr. James C. DiPrima on board to take the helm. His intimate knowledge of the public market space along with strong solar industry experience makes him the perfect candidate to fulfill our business plans moving forward," stated outgoing CEO Eric Fain. "I am eager to expand the already existing opportunities that Green Stream's innovative solutions will provide to commercial solar energy markets on the East Coast. There is unlimited potential in this segment of the renewable energy space," commented James C. DePrima, CEO. GSFI - Strategic Moves To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/73027_0e518535b4f65845_003full.jpg 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/73027 Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has re-enacted predecessor Campbell Newmans 2004 election campaign stunt, filling potholes with bitumen as he revealed Moorooka, Pinkenba and Coorparoo as the worst suburbs for the traffic hazards. Wearing a high-vis fluoro vest at Paddington with a shovel in hand, Cr Schrinner said the wet season from December to January led to almost 700 urgent requests for pothole repairs. Potholes in Paddington are being fixed by Brisbane City Council crews. Credit:Jocelyn Garcia Rainfall is great for our gardens, but heavy downpours can quickly cause potholes of all shapes and sizes to appear on our road network, he said. The last 12 months weve had our diligent crews out there and theyve filled more than 78,000 potholes across the city. Following the violence at the Wistron facility at Narasapura in Kolar district last month, the iPhone 12 mini production that should have commenced by now has been delayed. The production of the recently launched Apple iPhone 12 mini should have started by now, but the recent violence incident at the Wistron plant has put the plans on hold, indicated an industry source. While the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 continue to be the best-selling models for the company, the recently launched iPhone 12 mini has been in great demand in the country. Launched at Rs 69,900, it was available for Rs 63,900 after a Rs 6,000 cashback offer with HDFC Bank credit card. "As the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE 2020 are already being assembled in India, manufacturing iPhone 12 mini in the country is the logical progressions. Usually, manufacturing of the new entry-level iPhone beings in India three to four months after the global launch. iPhone 12 mini would have already on the assembly line if the commotion would have not happened at the Wistron facility last month," says a source familiar to the matter. Apple found Wistron in violation of its 'Supplier Code of Conduct' and had put Taiwan-based manufacturer on probation. "Our preliminary findings indicate violations of our Supplier Code of Conduct by failing to implement proper working hour management processes. This led to payment delays for some workers in October and November. We have placed Wistron on probation and they will not receive any new business from Apple before they complete corrective actions," Apple had said. This also meant that while Wistron could continue to assemble iPhone 7 and iPhone SE 2020, it was restricted from receiving any new business from Apple before corrective actions are completed. "This also included the iPhone 12 mini assembly," the source added. Also read: Workers go on rampage at Wistron's iPhone manufacturing plant in Karnataka; 80 held The plant damaged in the violence is yet to resume operations. Even the reopening has been delayed due to some internal audits. But this hasn't impacted the sales of iPhone SE 2020 as most of the sales had happened during the festive season and there is already enough stock in the market. And to avoid the complete shut-down of its supply chain in similar instances, Apple does not solely rely on domestic production and continues to import certain number units of every model. Over the last few years, Apple's supplier partners have been aggressive and scaling up production in India. Currently, iPhone XR and iPhone 11, two of the largest-selling models for Apple, are being assembled at the Foxconn plant. Whereas, the iPhone 7 along with iPhone SE 2020 is assembled at the Wistron facility. While the iPhones assembled in India primarily cater to the domestic demand, Apple also exports 'made in India' iPhones to other countries as well. Even the reports suggesting that Apple is shifting manufacturing of the new Phone 12-series from China to India is unlikely as no country has the ecosystem or bandwidth to cater to the demand of the millions of units new iPhones. The Cupertino-based giant is yet to start assembly for its Pro and Max variants in India. Also read: iPhone factory in Karnataka ransacked: Wistron assesses damage at Rs 437 crore Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. AI in Drug Discovery Market Landscape One of the years most prominent market stories: Global AI in Drug Discovery Market 2020, illustrates some hopeful signs of repositioning as the investors have dwelled in rising stocks. The stocks of AI in Drug Discovery, after the end of the lockdown period, imposed owing to deadly Coronavirus, wavered with a bang as most of the vendors have started businesses all over the world. On this note, Market Research Future presents a report on the market in which it stated that the global AI in Drug Discovery Market market would make a benchmark with 40.8% growth from 2019 to 2025. At this pace, the global market will generate revenue of USD 2,015.1 Million by the end of the year 2025. FREE SAMPLE COPY OF AI in Drug Discovery Market Research Report- Global forecast till 2025@ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ai-drug-discovery-market-9393 AI in Drug Discovery Trends and Opportunities Artificial Intelligence (AI) is projected to provide productive avenues in the healthcare industry. The implementation of AI has helped with reducing the researches and development gap in the drug manufacturing process and also in the targeted manufacturing of the drugs. Owing to these aspects, biopharmaceutical industries are tending towards AI to enhance market share. This is an influential factor fueling the growth of the global AI for drug discovery market. The escalating pressure on the drug manufacturer to reduce drug prices is yet another factor expected to boost the AI for drug discovery market. This is all due to Al reduced the failure rate of clinical trials, and eliminated research and development costs in drug discovery. Apart from this, there has been a regular increase in the number of patients suffering from chronic diseases globally, and pharmaceutical companies are investing high in the development of various drugs. Artificial Intelligence has been able to assist manufacturers by offering a solution to complex situations. In the current scenario, AI is providing many novel analytical approaches for the design and development of novel products, which is another reason behind the markets exponential growth. More factors, such as the flourishing healthcare sector coupled with manufacturers approach towards lowering the manufacturing cost associated with drug development, have also recorded to be reasonable for the markets growth. Besides, escalating investment by significant players in biopharma companies and rising public and private partnerships for R&D activities are more critical factors expected to boost the growth of the target AI in Drug Discovery market in the future. In the case of point, back in the year 2019, GlaxoSmithKline plc, a multinational pharmaceutical company, invested US$ 300 Mn in 23 and Me, a gene testing company. The deal, in the current time, is expected to facilitate the company to access the database related to DNA related to relations between genes and diseases. This factor will further help in the development of novel products as well as the AI drug discovery market. On the contrary, the factor of the scarcity of skilled healthcare professionals has been considered as a hindering factor and anticipated to slow down the growth of the global AI for the drug discovery market in the future. AI in Drug Discovery Market Segment Review By the segment of product type, the market has included software and services By the segment of molecule type, the market has included Large Molecule and Small Molecule. By the segment of technology type, the market has included machine learning, deep learning, and others. By the segment of indication type, the market has included Immuno-oncology, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, Metabolic Diseases, and others. By the segment of the application, the market has included target identification, candidate screening, drug optimization and repurposing, de novo drug designing, and preclinical testing. By the segment of End-User, the market has included pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, contract research organizations, research centers, and academic & government institutes. AI in Drug Discovery Market Regional Landscape Americas and its Countries such as the US and Canada have been at the vanguard of the healthcare industry over the years. The rising number of big AI platform developers in the region is one of the primary reasons for the express growth of the AI in the drug discovery market in the region. Some top AI platforms such as Google AI, Microsoft Azure, and TensorFlow have adopted the Big Pharma companies for utilization in the drug discovery procedure. Europe is the second-largest market for AI in drug discovery after the Americas. Rising R&D activities in the pharmacy sector and high demand for AI solutions by Big Pharma companies are other factors expected to boost the augmentation of the regional market. Peak pharma companies have made partnerships with AI service providers to integrate AI technologies into the drug discovery process. The growth of the Asia-Pacific AI In Drug Discovery Market is attributed to the escalating demand for effective drug discovery solutions. Many startups are working to integrate AI applications in drug discovery. Some of these startups are Adagene, Mozi, Accutar, Xbiome, Elucidata Corporation, Deep Intelligent Pharma, CaroCure, and Interprotein, among others. With the rapidly upward pharmaceutical market in the Asian region, probably, the approval of the AI technologies in the majority drug discovery protocols will take place in the forecast period. Top Players The top players are Microsoft Corporation, Google (A Subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.), IBM Corporation, Atomwise, Inc., Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BenevolentAI, Cyclica, Bioage, Envisagenics, Owkin, Inc., Verge Genomics, and Berg LLC. Obtain Premium Research Report Details, Considering the impact of COVID-19 @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ai-drug-discovery-market-9393 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. JCB announces jobs boost as factories gear up for surge in production This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 28th, 2021 Hundreds of new jobs are to be created at JCB after the company announced it was gearing up for a surge in production. JCB says the market for construction equipment has rebounded sharply after the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Spring 2020, which halted production at its factories around the world. Yesterday the company, which has a factory on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, confirmed it was recruiting more than 400 additional agency employees in a variety of jobs including assembly, welding and fork lift truck drivers. In addition, JCB is giving permanent JCB contracts to up to 300 existing agency employees, including welders, fabricators and CNC machinists. JCB Chief Operating Officer Mark Turner said: In March 2020 our orders dramatically disappeared overnight when the Covid-19 pandemic took hold and while we were able to protect our shop floor workforce, regrettably many staff positions were impacted. It took more than six months for the business to recover to production levels we last saw in March 2020. This year has started strongly and our forecasts predict a continued solid recovery, with strong demand from mainland Europe and North America. This means we are now in a position to recruit many more shop floor colleagues and offer permanent JCB contracts to a large number of existing agency employees. After a tumultuous 12 months, this really is good news. India has developed two vaccine against coronavirus. India is not protecting only to its citizens but also helping other countries in the fight against the deadly virus. India on Thursday established its position as a reliable partner in COVID-19 assistance by dispatching Covishield vaccines to Bahrain and Sri Lanka. Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, a consignment of 50,400 doses of coronavirus vaccines will be provided by India to Sri Lanka, while Bahrain will receive get 10,800 doses. The Covishield vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India (SII) was loaded to the cargo aircraft at Mumbai and left as per schedule at 7:55 am for Manama.The vaccine consignment for Colombo was delayed for 15 minutes and is scheduled to leave at 9:00 am. Bahrain had earlier approved Covishield to support its efforts towards vaccinating members at risk of developing complications from the corona. India is helping other countries by supplying corona vaccines. India has provided corona vaccines to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh under Neighbourhood First policy. India's Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday had announced vaccine rollout for several countries from January 20. Also Read: Survivors get a vaccine on Holocaust Remembrance Day in Austria and Slovakia Philippines authorises emergency use of AstraZeneca corona vaccine Malaysian court orders release of Pakistani plane TAKE OUR SURVEY ~~TELL US HOW WE ARE DOING The American carmaker has been the driving force behind autonomous driving , even if the Autopilot has been repeatedly slammed for not being a fully autonomous tech, but rather a (very smart) collection of driver assistance systems.But when it comes to the number of autonomous technology patents filed over the past decade, its not Tesla (the American company is not even on the top ten list), nor is it Toyota, or anybody else, in the lead. The honor belongs to American carmaker Ford , at least as far as Google Patents is concerned.Google's search engine is used to sniff through patents filed with some 100 of the biggest organizations of their kind in the world, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). And sniff they did, the guys over at British dealership network Bristol Street Motors As per their findings, Ford is the leader when it comes to the related technology patents filed over the past decade: over 14,000 of them. Next up is Toyota, with over 12,000, and, far behind the two, Honda with close to 4,000.The list, available as the main photo of this piece, also includes Volkswagen, Hyundai, Audi, Land Rover, Nissan and Volvo, but theres a surprise entry at the bottom of the list: its Ferrari, which filed over 1,000 autonomous driving-related patents this past decade.As for why Tesla is missing from the list, well, we're not sure thats important. Whats important is that, as you might remember, theres an All Our Patent Are Belong To You policy in effect from all the way back in 2014. Parents are being encouraged to send their children for an eye test after many spent large portions of 2020 behind computer screens and glued to other digital devices. Online learning and home schooling became commonplace last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading a number of optometrists to reveal an increase in children with short-sightedness. 'When you are young, your eye gets feedback from your environment and keeps growing until the middle of childhood,' Melbourne based optometrist Sophie Koh said. 'Studies have shown that natural daylight for at least one to two hours a day stops the eyeball from elongating. Optometrists across Australia are recommending students get their eyes tested before school starts in 2021 (stock image) The Covid pandemic saw children away from the classroom for extended periods in 2020 (stock image) 'And generally speaking, if kids are having more screen time at home, there is less time spent outside.' Ms Koh also recommended that parents encourage regular breaks from devices such as iPads, iPhones, laptops and TVs, because 'human beings were not designed to stare at screens every day for hours on end.' Karen Makin, an optometrist with Bupa, said vision problems which are not diagnosed early on can be linked to educational, physical and social development difficulties. Children have spent more time out of the classroom than ever before thanks to the pandemic (stock image) 'The Covid-19 pandemic changed the way children learnt, socialised and entertained themselves, with many exposed to screens for many hours a day learning, socialising or relaxing in front of the TV,' she told news.com.au. 'Parents who suspect their child has developed a vision impairment or is experiencing a deterioration of an existing condition should visit an optometrist immediately. 'Something as simple as a pair of glasses or contacts can make a significant and immediate difference to a child's day-to-day life and give them the best chance at succeeding at school.' Optometry Australia professionals also suggest eye examinations for children from the age of four and then repeatedly later in life. MATRIXX Go DigitalTM provides industry-leading BSS supported by Salesforce technology to help reduce time to market and deliver a seamless omnichannel experience for customers MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry, today announced that Three UK's new Pay As You Go offering is powered by the Go Digitalsolution, which combines MATRIXX Digital Commerce with Salesforce Communications Cloud and other technologies tailored for mobile providers. Pay As You Go is an omnichannel pre-pay offering built from scratch with transformative technology to power a reinvented customer experience. The new Pay As You Go service was launched on Three's new cloud-based IT infrastructure, as part of the operator's goal of delivering better connectivity, every day for every customer. Designed with a customer-centric approach, the new service leverages MATRIXX Digital Commerce to provide real-time usage tracking, enhanced personalization and full customer control over their experience through a new full-featured mobile app. Delivering a right time, right place, omnichannel experience, Three's website, call center and retail interactions leverage Salesforce Communications Cloud, Service Cloud and Experience Cloud applications to provide customers with an efficient experience across all channels. "At Three, our mission is to provide a better-connected life for our customers. Our new Pay As You Go offering is the first launch on our new IT systems which will allow us to deliver better service through a fully digital experience. We selected Go Digital from MATRIXX and integrated it with Salesforce because they present technologies capable of providing our customers with the truly digital offering they deserve." Susan Buttsworth, Chief Operating Officer, Three UK As part of its digital transformation efforts, Three UK deployed the Go Digital solution, using technologies from MATRIXX and Salesforce, which provides cloud native customer engagement and BSS applications purpose-built for the needs of digital service providers. Go Digital is a market solution providing omnichannel engagement and monetization capabilities to match Three UK's customer-centric vision. "As the digital revolution continues, mobile operators need flexible, cost-effective, scalable solutions that improve their existing capabilities while building for the future of 5G devices. Three UK has a strong, customer-first vision designed to enable an enhanced customer experience. We are proud to collaborate with Salesforce to help Three UK succeed as a digital disrupter." Glo Gordon, CEO, MATRIXX Software "We're excited and honored to be part of the solution supporting Three UK's digital transformation program, along with MATRIXX. Three UK's successful launch showcases the power of Go Digital and how it can be a game changer for digital disrupters." Dan Ford, SVP General Manager, Communications Media Industries, Salesforce For more information about Go Digital, visit: https://www.matrixx.com/go-digital-matrixx-vlocity/ Salesforce, Communications Cloud, Service Cloud and others are among the trademarks of Salesforce.com, Inc. For more information about Salesforce, visit www.salesforce.com. About Three UK Three launched in 2003 as the UK's first 3G only network, laying its foundations as the network that was born to be different. Today Three is a connectivity company that connects people to people, people to things and things to things and has 9.5 million customers. An average Three customer uses 3.5 times more mobile data than the industry average and Three's network today covers 99% of the UK population. Three launched 5G in August 2019 and also has the UK's leading 5G spectrum holdings with more than the rest of the industry combined. Three is the only operator able to meet the International Telecoms Union (ITU) 2020 standard for full 5G services. Three is the official shirt sponsor of Chelsea FC men's and women's teams. Three was voted the Best Network for Data at the Mobile Choice Consumer Awards, as well as Best Network for Roaming by uSwitch, and the Best High Street Retailer at the Mobile Industry Awards. Three UK is part of the CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd group of companies which has mobile operations in 11 countries. We employ more than 4,800 people across our offices in Maidenhead, Glasgow and Reading and our 311 retail stores. About MATRIXX Software MATRIXX Software is the global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry. Serving many of the world's largest operator groups, regional carriers, and emerging digital service providers, MATRIXX delivers a cloud native digital commerce solution that enables unmatched commercial and operational agility. Unifying IT networks, MATRIXX delivers a network-grade converged charging system (CCS) enabling efficient hyper-scaling of infrastructure to support consumer services, wholesale and enterprise marketplaces. Through its relentless commitment to product excellence and customer success, MATRIXX empowers businesses to harness network assets and business agility to succeed at web scale. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005042/en/ Contacts: Jennifer Kyriakakis mediainquiry@matrixx.com [January 28, 2021] Four-Star General Barry R. McCaffrey Joins Juvare Board of Directors The appointment supports Juvare expansion of Department of Defense solutions and services ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ -- Juvare LLC, the leader in enhanced situation awareness and common operational picture software, announced today that retired U.S. Army General Barry R. McCaffrey has joined the organization's board of directors. The appointment of General McCaffrey will provide guidance as Juvare expands its leading role as a program of record across the federal and defense space. "We couldn't be more excited to have General McCaffrey join the board at Juvare," said Bob Watson, President and CEO of Juvare. "As a highly decorated general, his reputation, experience, and service to our country will be enormously helpful to our decision making. General McCaffrey's appointment to our board is a clear signal of our commitment to the warfighter as we further expand our capabilities with joint domain data sharing through Juvare Exchange and push the bounds of what is possible by creating the next generation of WebEOC Command and Control (C2). We believe we are well positioned to support DoD leadership and bridge the gap between critical support functions and warfighter operations with this appointment and support from our new investor, Five Arrows." Upon his board appointment with Juvare, General McCaffrey said, "Situational awareness is the driver of effective command and control and is critical to decisive response and mission assurance. With the inherent risks and challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, national security threats, and natural disasters facing our country, every minute counts. The ability to make strategic data-based decisions in real-time is the key to protecting people and mission-critical assets. Juvare has proven itself a leader in the space, and I'm honored to join such a credible and forward-thinking organization." General McCaffrey is president of his own consulting firm, BR McCaffrey Associates. He also serves as a national security and terrorism analyst for NBC News. General McCaffrey served in the United States Army for 32 years and retired as a four-star General. At retirement, he was the most highly decorated serving General, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals (wounded in combat three times), two Distinguished Service Crosses (the nation's second highest award for valor) and two Silver Stars for valor. For five years after leaving the military, General McCaffrey served as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Upon leaving government service, he served at West Point as the Bradley Distinguished Professor of International Security Studies from 2001- 2005; and an Adjunct Professor of International Security Studies from 2006- 2010. He previously served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences from 1973-1976 teaching American Government and Comparative Politics. General McCaffrey is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is Emeritus Chairman of the Addiction Policy Forum Advisory Board. He has served on the Board of Directors of several corporations in the engineering design, technology, healthcare, and services sectors. General McCaffrey attended Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.; and graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned a master's degree in American Government from American University and attended the Harvard University National Security Program as well as the Business School Executive Education Program. Juvare's suite of crisis response software and solutions, which includes the industry-standard WebEOC and the revolutionary Juvare Exchange, empower all response stakeholders, including federal, state and local agencies, first responders, emergency medical personnel, and corporate clients to work together to serve their communities and organizations in critical incidents of all types. ABOUT JUVARE Juvare is a worldwide leader in emergency preparedness and critical incident management and response software. Juvare solutions empower government agencies, corporations, healthcare facilities, academic institutions, and volunteer organizations to leverage real-time data to manage incidents faster and more efficiently, protecting people, property, and brands. For more information, visit www.juvare.com. ABOUT FIVE ARROWS Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI) and Five Arrows Capital Partners (FACP) (together, "Five Arrows") are the European and US corporate private equity arms, respectively, of Rothschild & Co. Five Arrows is focused on investing in middle-market companies with highly defensible market positions; business models with high visibility of organic unit volume growth and strong free cash flow conversion; and multiple operational levers that can be used to unlock latent value. The sector focus at Five Arrows is limited to healthcare, data & software and technology-enabled business services. For more information, please visit https://www.rothschildandco.com/en/merchant-banking/corporate-private-equity. PRESS CONTACT: Josh Byrd VP, Marketing (866) 200-0165 josh.byrd@juvare.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-star-general-barry-r-mccaffrey-joins-juvare-board-of-directors-301217229.html SOURCE Juvare [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Palestinians on Thursday replanted hundreds of trees in the occupied West Bank, a day after Israel's army uprooted thousands of trees in the area, saying they had been illegally planted in a military zone. Carrying spades and pickaxes, dozens of Palestinian activists and staff from the Palestinian agriculture ministry worked to plant seedlings in a valley near Khirbeit Einoun, in Tubas governorate, an AFP journalist said. An estimated 500 trees were planted on Thursday and the operation is expected to continue for several days, agriculture ministry official Jaafar Salahat told the official Wafa news agency. Palestinian activist Moataz Bisharat, who works to oppose Israel's occupation of the West Bank, told AFP the army had destroyed about 10,000 trees, including hundreds of olive trees, on Wednesday "on the grounds that the area is a restricted military zone". The Israeli military branch responsible for civilian affairs in the West Bank (COGAT) said it had "carried out an enforcement activity to evacuate an illegal agricultural invasion in a fire zone". In response to a query from AFP, COGAT said "the enforcement activity was carried out in accordance with the procedures of the region's authorities according to the law applicable in Judea and Samaria", using biblical names for the West Bank. Palestinian activist Khairi Hanoun said the tree planting was aimed at sending "a message to the occupier". "Trees are our roots, our history, our heritage, our identity," he said. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. There are currently about 475,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank living in communities considered illegal by most of the international community, alongside some 2.8 million Palestinians. Short link: The Detroit City Council voted five to four at a meeting on Tuesday to approve funding for a counter-lawsuit against members of the anti-police violence protest organization Detroit Will Breathe (DWB). As reported earlier by the World Socialist Web Site, attorneys representing the City of Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit Police Chief James Craig and several police officers filed a countersuit against DWB protesters for civil conspiracy, inciting riots, destroying public property and other illegal acts on September 25. Protesters march in a rally in Detroit, Wednesday, June 3, 2020 (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The countersuit was part of the citys response to a lawsuit filed by DWB in August that resulted in the imposition of a temporary restraining order against the use by Detroit Police Department (DPD) officers of excessive force against demonstrators. The countersuit and the vote by the City Council approving funds for it are significant because it shows that there is little to no difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party regarding the protests against police violence and the use force against them by the state. All nine members of the Detroit City Council and Mayor Duggan are Democrats. City counsel Lawrence Garcia made the obvious point that the city would require an attorney to represent itself in the court case filed against it by DWB whether there is a counterclaim or not. However, the statements made by the council members in the course of the Tuesday meeting have exposed the class standpoint of the local politicians in a very direct manner. The council members who voted in favor of the funding measure were Roy McCalister Jr., Andre Spivey, Janee Ayers, Scott Benson and Council President Brenda Jones. In moving to support the funding contract, McCalister said, I am for peaceful protesters. My issue is with those people that came in and wanted to destroy or cause another (1967). McCalisters reference was to the rebellion by city residents between July 23 and 28, 1967, which turned into a confrontation with the DPD that led President Lyndon Johnson to send active-duty US Army 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions into Detroit. The council members who voted against the funding proposal skirted the questions of basic democratic rights posed by the countersuit. For example, Councilman James Tate blamed city attorney Garcia for a lack of good faith and for being very evasive with his answers to questions about the case. Following the approval of the measure, Julie Hurwitz, one of the lawyers representing DWB in civil litigation said, Its of grave concern that our city council is authorizing the payment of that amount of money to a private law firm to take this legal step, which is to a large degree just a chilling effect on First Amendment rights to this community. In a letter addressed to council members before the Tuesday meeting, a legal team from the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan explained the background to the original case filed by DWB protesters: The underlying lawsuit, Detroit Will Breathe et al. v. City of Detroit et al., involves allegations that protesters were confronted with unconstitutional police violence and mass arrests during racial justice protests occurring between May and August of 2020. The DPD attacked protesters repeatedly and unnecessarily, the ACLU document says, with rubber bullets, batons, chemical mace, sound cannons, vast amounts of tear gas, chokeholds, detention in overheated and unventilated buses, and the kettling of protesters followed by violence against and suspicionless arrests of trapped protesters. These same tactics were used against protesters in cities across the country during the same time frame that they were used in Detroit. The ACLU also explains that it was calling on the Detroit City Council to reject the funding proposal because the City has elected to go far beyond defending against this lawsuit. Calling the citys counter claim stunning, the ACLU says that the lawsuit against the DWB protesters is seeking to hold them civilly liable for injuries allegedly suffered by police officers at a few of the protests. Because the city could not possibly do so in good faith, the ACLU says the countersuit does not claim that any of the protesters engaged personally in acts of violence against the police. Instead, the Citys counterclaim seeks to hold the protesters liable for the alleged acts of other protesters. In order to carry through this contortion of the law, the city countersuit relies almost exclusively on the constitutionally protected speech of protesters. Among the speech that is attacked in the extraordinary legal claim are allegations that protesters did things such as call for DPD Police Chief James Craigs ouster, complain to the media of being placed in chokeholds, and issue tweets urging fellow citizens to come join protests against police killings of Black Detroiters. The ACLU statement concludes by stating that the citys counterclaim is meritless and flouts core First Amendment principles protecting protesters right to freedom of speech. It is bedrock constitutional law that protesters cannot be held liable for damages caused by other protesters, absent extraordinary circumstances that are not present in this case. The ACLU also argues that the citys positionthe attempt to hold organizers responsible for violence and destruction of property that occurs during protestshas been repeatedly rejected by the US courts going back to the civil rights movement. This tactic was used in the 1960s by white supremacists in an effort to silence protests against segregation by imposing civil liability on them for violence that was regularly instigated by law enforcement. The September 4 decision by Eastern District Court Judge Laurie J. Michelson to impose a restraining order blocking the use of excessive force by the DPD on protesters represented a limited judicial victory for the DWB activists since the police violated it almost immediately and it would have been in force for only a few weeks in the first place. While the DWB protesters have every right to pursue court protection from police use of excessive force against themas well as defend their rights to free speech and assemblythe struggle for democratic rights is a fundamental task of the entire working class. The courts, like the police department, are part of the state apparatus and political establishment that exists for the purpose of defending the property and wealth of the capitalist ruling elite. The fact that the Democrats and Republicans are both slandering the protests across the country last summer as violent and riots, shows that the path forward in the struggle against police violence must proceed independently of the two-party system. Putting a stop to the repressive attacks on protestersand halting the descent of capitalist society into a fascist dictatorshiprequires the unification of all workers and young people in a common struggle for socialism. Angel Quiros, Gov. Ned Lamonts pick to oversee the states prisons, outlined Thursday his post-pandemic vision for the Department of Correction that includes the closure of two facilities within the year. At a legislative hearing on his confirmation as commissioner of the correction department, Quiros said a sharp and sustained decline in the prison population is behind the move. Due to the dramatic reduction of individuals in our custody, it is my obligation to identify corresponding cost-saving options,' Quiros told lawmakers. I plan on closing two correctional facilities this budget year, [fiscal year] 2021.1/4 u2033 The closures likely would have happened already but the coronavirus pandemic put those plans on hold because officials needed more space to accommodate social distancing and other public health efforts to limit the spread of the virus. Quiros said he currently is consulting with correction staff, elected officials and advocates for incarcerated people about which facilities to close. A decision could come next month, he said. The only correctional facilities that are not under review for possible closure are the Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport correctional centers and York Correctional Institution in Niantic, the states only facility for incarcerated women. The states prison population has fallen steadily from its 2008 high of nearly 20,000 incarcerated people. There are currently about 9,000 people in the departments custody. During the two-hour hearing, Quiros touched on a number of topics, including the departments response to the pandemic, which has come under criticism from both its unionized employees and advocates for people who are incarcerated. He also reviewed his plans to bolster educational offerings and workforce training programs for those in the departments custody. I will be reforming and enhancing our restrictive status program to reduce unnecessary restrictions while providing more rehabilitative programming in a manner that continues to prioritize the safety and security of our staff and the incarcerated population, he said. Story continues Quiros, a 32-year veteran of the department, has been acting commissioner since his predecessor Rollin Cook stepped down on July 1. A native of Hartford who grew up on Park Street and graduated from Bulkeley High School, Quiros has held almost every position in the department, from correction officer to deputy warden. He spoke of his own familys experience with the criminal justice system. Some have [had] long-standing stays in corrections custody, during which they dramatically turned their lives around and became outstanding and contributing Connecticut residents,' he said. Some unfortunately still continue to have contact with the criminal justice system and are struggling. Quiros appeared to have enough votes to win the unanimous support of the legislatures executive and legislative nominations committee, although the tally will not be official until later Thusrday. Rep. Edwin Vargas of Hartford praised Quiros qualifications and noted that he is one of the states highest-ranking Latino leaders. As a proud Latino and specifically as a proud Puerto Rican, which we both are, its an important day for both of us to know that ... we have one of our own in such a key position, he said. Its been a struggle to have the kind of role models that our kids need to look up to, so I congratulate you. Daniela Altimari can be reached at dnaltimari@courant.com. It is not a secret to readers of the World Socialist Web Site that Senator Bernie Sanders is a fervent defender of American imperialism. His claims to be a democratic socialist notwithstanding, the Vermont senators foreign policy views have nothing to do with genuine socialism, which is based on internationalism, the fight to unite the world working class against the capitalist system. In his campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sanders generally confined his criticisms of rivals to domestic policy, while embracing the foreign policy consensus of the Democratic establishment. In his first presidential campaign, in 2015-2016, when asked about whether anti-terrorism policies of a Sanders administration would include the use of Special Forces and drone missiles (i.e., kidnapping and assassination), he replied, All that and more. In his 2020 campaign, he hailed the US armed forces as the best military in the world, criticized Trump for overly friendly talks with North Koreabut not for his militaristic threats against Venezuela and Iranand endorsed US military retaliation if China was to attack Taiwan, a response that could lead to nuclear war. After both campaigns fell short of the nomination, he folded his tent and embraced more conventionally right-wing defenders of US militarism: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, and former Vice President Joe Biden, the one-time chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in 2020. Throughout his three-decade career in Congress, Sanders has been a reliable supporter of imperialist foreign policy, backing the US-NATO bombing of Serbia, the US invasion of Afghanistan, and the funding of US military operations all over the globe. Despite his nominal independence, he backed every twist and turn of the Democratic Obama administration in the Middle East and Afghanistan, called for the prosecution of whistleblower Edward Snowden, who exposed global US spying, and endorsed the CIA-backed fascist putsch in Ukraine, which installed a right-wing anti-Russian regime. Under the Trump administration, Sanders embraced the anti-Russia campaign mounted by the Democratic Party establishment, sections of the military-intelligence apparatus, and much of the corporate media, which sought to channel popular opposition to Trump in a rightward direction, into support for a more confrontational US policy toward Moscow. While presenting himself in the 2020 primary campaign as the most consistent opponent of the US war in Iraq, Sanders nonetheless indicated his support for preemptive military strikes against Iran and North Korea. This foul history is generally covered up by the pseudo-left apologists for Sanders, like Socialist Alternative and the Democratic Socialists of America. But under the new Democratic Party administration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the alignment of Sanders with American imperialist foreign policy is becoming harder and harder to conceal. It is worth noting the votes Sanders has cast over the past week to confirm Bidens nominees for the key positions in the national security apparatus. On Tuesday, Sanders joined all 50 Democrats in confirming Antony Blinken as secretary of state. A majority of Republicans backed Blinken as well, giving him a 78-22 margin. Anthony Blinken during a January 27 press briefing (Source: CSPAN) Last week, Sanders was one of the 50 Democrats who joined 43 Republicans in confirming retired General Lloyd Austin as secretary of defense. There was also a unanimous Democratic vote to confirm Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, the top spy post, with only 10 Republicans in opposition. Sanders actually staked out a position to the right of many of his Democratic colleagues in a roll call vote that preceded the confirmation of Austin. That was on a resolution to waive the legal requirement a military officer be retired for at least seven years before assuming the top civilian job in the Pentagon. Fourteen Democrats opposed the waiver, but not Sanders. This requirement was enacted 70 years ago to reinforce civilian control of the military. It was violated for the first time by Donald Trump, who sought a waiver to name retired General James (Mad Dog) Mattis as secretary of defense in 2017. A number of Democrats agreed to the waiver then, making two arguments: that Mattis would be an adult in the room and exercise restraint on Trumps foreign policy decisions; and that this was a one-time-only exemption that they would never repeat. No such arguments can be made this time around. Biden is clearly not a foreign policy novice, and there is no claim that General Austin, retired only four years, is an indispensable figure from that standpoint. Instead, the argument was based on identity politics, and the importance of the first African-American military chief, with the added urgency of putting a Biden loyalist into the Pentagon in the wake of the January 6 fascist coup attempt, which was aided by the reluctance of Trumps Pentagon lackeys to send national guard troops in response to urgent pleading from the Capitol Police. Sanders voted against the waiver for Mattis but for the waiver for Austin. In other words, he favors civilian control of the military under a Republican administration but is prepared to dispense with it when the commander-in-chief is a Democrat. So much for his independence from the capitalist two-party system. On Wednesday afternoon, the newly confirmed Secretary of State Blinken gave his first press briefing at the State Department. His remarks demonstrated the high degree of continuity between the foreign policy of the Trump administration and that of Biden. Blinken praised the Abraham Accords (the Trump-brokered recognition of Israel by several Arab monarchies) and said the new administration hoped to build on them. These agreements have involved US bribery of bloodstained regimes like Morocco, whose seizure of the former Spanish Sahara was recognized in return for its rapprochement with Israel. Blinken announced that the Biden administration was retaining Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad as the US representative in talks with the Afghan government and the Taliban, so that he could continue the vital work hes carrying out. Khalilzad is one of the neo-conservative architects of the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and has served as a US pro-consul in Afghanistan for much of the past two decades. In response to a question from NBCs Andrea Mitchell, Blinken emphasized a more confrontational position towards Russia, involving such provocations as the claims that Moscow had poisoned right-wing opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and the completely concocted charges of Russian bounties to Taliban fighters for killing US soldiers in Afghanistan. One day after Sanders cast his vote to confirm Blinken, the new secretary of state showcased the Biden approach to foreign policy: a low-key presentation of highly belligerent and inflammatory measures, including endorsing the outgoing Trump administrations charge that China is engaged in genocide against the Uighur population of Xinjiang. He made no such charge in relation to Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is engaged in systematic starvation of the population to back its invasion of the country, merely suggesting that the Biden administration didnt want to get in the way of humanitarian assistance. RICHMOND, Mass. Firefighters from multiple communities were called for a structure fire on Church Lane at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. The blaze was largely put out by 1:30 p.m., and Richmond Fire Chief Steve Traver said the fire was caused by a wood stove in the 51 Church Lane home. "Luckily everything went well for once," Traver said. Traver said flames were "rolling out" of the back window when firefighters arrived at the scene. He said upon seeing the flames, he "panicked a little bit" so called in various departments for mutual aid. The fire chief said there were no injuries, and the family within the home were able to escape unharmed. One occupant was on the roof of the home upon arrival. Firefighters did have to make one rescue to evacuate an older woman on oxygen in the home next door. The woman also was unharmed and simply could not get out. Her home was a few feet away from the structure fire. Firefighters had to tear the ceiling down to extinguish the blaze. Although multiple departments were called, Traver said they were not needed. The house is now uninhabitable, and the power has been shut off. The family was offered assistance by the Red Cross. Many of the vehicles left the scene shortly after arriving. As of 2 p.m., Richmond firefighters were still there cleaning up The Richmond Fire Department requested mutual aid from Lenox, Great Barrington, and Lanesborough. Firefighters from Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, New Lebanon, N.Y., East Chatham, N.Y., and the Red Rock Volunteer Fire Company of East Chatham were also on scene. Doctors at Xanh Pon Hospital in Hanoi will be able to consult experts from Korea University Anam Hospital in South Korea as per a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by representatives from both the Embassy of Vietnam in South Korea and the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam. Pursuant to the MoU, the two hospitals, along with V-Health Social Enterprise for Health Co. Ltd., will participate in a program allowing patients from Xanh Pon Hospital to access medical consultation services, examinations, and treatment options offered by Korea University Anam Hospital. The South Korean side will also provide training and research opportunities for medical professionals from Xanh Pon Hospital. According to director of Xanh Pon Hospital Nguyen Dinh Hung, the Hanoi-based infirmary offers more than 1,000 beds operated by nearly 2,000 employees and receives some 114,000 patients each month. The telemedicine cooperative agreement will give patients increased access to a variety of examination, diagnosis, and treatment services, Hung said. Remote health care services in Vietnam have been rapidly developing since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country in early 2020, with 1,500 remote examination and treatment points connected to the countrys current telehealth system. That number is expected to rise to 2,000 in the future. Currently, Xanh Pon Hospital is the only hospital in Vietnam that regularly connects with an overseas hospital for telemedicine. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Earn your Associate of Applied Business in Business IT (BIT) degree online from the University of Cincinnati. This program can be completed fully online, with curriculum customized to fit your schedule, interests and how quickly you want to complete your degree. Application deadline July 1, 2021. Learn More A new mobile processor announced by Qualcomm Technologies Monday is expected to spawn a wave of economically priced 5G smartphones. Phones with the Snapdragon 480 5G Mobile Platform will be in the $125 to $250 price range, Qualcomm President Cristiano R. Amon predicted on Twitter in September. Great question. We expect to see prices ranging from $125 to $250 USD. Lots of phones . In China, 5G price points can already address 60% of the market. With the new Snapdragon 4 in Q121, the transition from 4G to 5G will significantly accelerate globally. Cristiano R. Amon (@cristianoamon) September 3, 2020 "The 400 series is designed for phones that go into low-priced markets outside the U.S. -- China, India, places where price sensitivity is a bigger issue," explained Bob O'Donnell, founder and chief analyst with Technalysis Research, a technology market research and consulting firm in Foster City, Calif. "This gives vendors of those phones the ability to bring 5G to their customers," he told TechNewsWorld. "In China, for example, where there's a huge amount of 5G, it's a big deal." "This is about bringing 5G to the world," he said. Upper Tier Features, Lower Tier price Kedar Kondap, vice president for product management at Qualcomm maintained in a statement that the 480 will exceed OEM and consumer expectations in delivering high- and mid-tier features at an affordable price. The platform's capabilities include: Support of both mmWave and Sub-6 GHz bands of the 5G spectrum; Improved CPU and GPU performance over the previous generation of the chip of 100 percent, and 70 percent improvement in AI performance; Inclusion of Quick Charge 4+ technology; Support for capturing a still image in ultrawide, wide and telephoto cameras all at once or three 720p videos through those cameras simultaneously; and Support for 120fps FHD+ displays and Qualcomm aptX audio. "The process node is also now eight nanometers versus eleven nanometers which translates to an even smaller and more efficient chip," Anshel Sag, a senior analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy, told TechNewsWorld. "The inclusion of Fast Charge is a nice feature," added Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research, "because 5G is a bit more aggressive in battery usage so it's nice to be able to top off the phone more quickly, especially since low-end phones have smaller batteries." However, he questioned how noticeable the performance improvements would be to users. "You won't see night and day difference in terms of throughput, particularly on the Sub-6 GHz spectrum," he told TechNewsWorld, "but over time, in a year or two, you will see improvements as the carriers optimize their networks." Solis, though, believes the performance of phones based on the 480 won't disappoint most consumers. "The performance should appear pretty good," he said. "It's not going to be as snappy as a 700 or 800 series phone -- just because it's a 5G phone doesn't mean the whole phone is going to be super powerful -- but for most of the ways that people use their phones, it's going to be fine." Consumer Benefits Consumers will benefit from the new chip, noted David McQueen, a research director, at ABI Research. "It will enable smartphones to be sold at much lower price points, helping to bring 5G smartphone models to market quickly and democratize the 5G experience," he told TechNewsWorld. "Many leading OEMs are expected to push deeper into the lower-priced 5G smartphone segment, and this will be the main growth driver for accelerating adoption in 2021 and beyond, aided by the continuing availability of more affordable 5G chipsets, notably those from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Unisoc." Even if a consumer doesn't take advantage of the performance and feature improvements offered by the 480, they can benefit from its 5G capabilities, observed Phil Solis, a research director at IDC. "The more devices that are on 5G, the more efficiently the network will run," he told TechNewsWorld. "New generations of cellular technology are more efficient than previous ones because they can move data faster and have lower latency," he continued. "Not everyone needs a high-powered smartphone that can do complex tasks fluidly, but connectivity is important to everyone." He added that the pricing predictions for new phones based on the 480 seemed reasonable. "There are phones in the market now that use the 600 series 5G Snapdragon processor that are selling for $250," he said. Ecosystem Play By bringing more consumers into the 5G fold, Qualcomm's new chip will help accelerate 5G commercialization, McQueen maintained. "Having more users on 5G improves network efficiency and speeds and allows operators to accelerate their 5G adoption," added Sag. With the introduction of the 480, the price of 5G phones is going to drop further and faster than a lot of people predicted, noted O'Donnell. "It's indicative of how quickly and how aggressively the market is moving to 5G, in terms of phones being available at a wider range of price points," he continued. "It's going to be hard to sell even cheap 4G phones going forward because there are going to be so many inexpensive 5G options". This latest move by Qualcomm is part of a huge, long-term ecosystem play for the company, he asserted. "They want to drive more usage of 5G because they have some strong technologies that are unique to them," he observed. It also gets people to upgrade their phones. "The phone market has declined over the last year so there's a strong desire to get people to upgrade," he explained. "One of the best ways to get people to that is to get a 5G phone." Emerging Market Appeal Phones based on the 480 will probably be most popular in emerging markets, McQueen noted. "It will drive volume in large markets, such as China and India, creating even greater demand for 5G devices in the low-to-mid range, accelerating affordability and adoption," he said. "This seismic shift to lower price tiers means that 5G will undoubtedly be good news for smartphone replacement cycles and subscriber technology migration, and not just for the benefit of these emerging markets," he added. With the 480, Qualcomm is also making a statement to competitors like MediaTek, which has been a low-cost modem supplier for a long time and has had some low-cost 5G options available since the second half of last year. "MediaTek recently became the highest volume producer of smartphone chips, in part, because they have 5G available in the value segment of the market," Rubin observed. The 480 would appear to have an edge over MediaTek's 5G Sub-6 GHz-only chips because Qualcomm's platform supports mmWave. But O'Donnell cautioned, "Just because the 480 supports mmWave doesn't mean mmWave support will be enabled because it's more expensive to add the other pieces you need to make mmWave work." "It's about offering choices for the handset makers, particularly if they're a Qualcomm customer, and they have a broad range of phones," Rubin explained. "They'd prefer to get all their chips for all their phones from a single supplier." "If you're a smaller handset maker," he continued, "that's not as important to you so you might go to a MediaTek, especially if the geographies you sell into aren't implementing high-speed mmWave." 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. Impeachment Panel Makes Filings Open for Review By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - A legislative panel reviewing a petition to impeach Kentucky's governor has made filings from both sides open to the public.Deliberations on the matter were being conducted behind closed doors, however.The Republican-led committee voted to make the petition by four Kentuckians public Wednesday.It then went into a closed-door session.It calls for Gov. Andy Beshears impeachment for his restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19.The Democratic governor has said there are zero grounds for his removal.Beshear submitted a response to the impeachment petition.The committee chairman says three of the petitioners then offered a written reply. New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor has sought to ease tensions with his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan after he suggested Australia should speak with a little more diplomacy and respect towards China. Senior Australian government officials are infuriated at Mr OConnors comments, which they see as a continuing pattern of New Zealand not joining other allies in standing up to Chinas growing assertiveness in recent months. NZ Trade Minister Damien OConnor and Chinas Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, sign an upgraded free-trade deal via video-link on Tuesday. Mr OConnor called Mr Tehan on Thursday to reiterate that he did not intend to speak for Australia when making the comments. Appearing on American business channel CNBC on Wednesday, Mr OConnor said New Zealand had a mature relationship with China and weve always been able to raise issues of concern. Shaking things up! Clare Crawley is going on a mountain getaway with her sister after her split from Dale Moss earlier this month. Read article Can I be any more bundled up? Crawley, 39, asked her followers in an Instagram Story video on Wednesday, January 27, showing off her cold-weather wardrobe. Right now, my sister and I are going up to the snow for a little bit. The former Bachelorette admitted that its easier for me to want to stay in sweats right now and just stay home, but shes pushing herself to get moving. Courtesy of Clare Crawley/Instagram Im getting out, fighting it, getting some fresh air, and hopefully I dont regret it, she continued. I hate being cold. The hairstylist revealed that the drive is kind of enjoyable thanks to the playlist she was making based on fans sending suggestions. Im seriously listening to all the music, she said. There are so many awesome and empowering songs on there. Read article Moss, for his part, landed in Florida on Wednesday for a quick reset. He shared a photo of himself surrounded by palm trees on his Instagram Story just hours after Crawley posted about her snow trip. Us Weekly confirmed on January 19 that the Bachelor in Paradise alum and the former athlete, 32, called off their engagement after meeting on The Bachelorette in July 2020. Moss proposed to Crawley after less than two weeks of filming, and the pair left the Palm Springs, California, shooting location together. The model confirmed their split in a since-deleted Instagram post on January 19, later expanding on the breakup in an Instagram Story. I finally feel comfortable getting on here after having some time to process everything thats gone on. I know a lot yall have seen me smile on social media and say I dont seem as hurt or burdened by this. But thats the farthest thing like, this time sucked, he said on Monday, January 25. Thank God I have the friends and the family that I have, because theyve literally had to carry me through the last two-plus weeks. Moss claimed that the separation didnt come out of nowhere following their whirlwind romance. The South Dakota native concluded: I love Clare and respect Clare enough to let her know how I feel, even if thats against the expectations of everybody else, and its gonna take time. I wanted nothing more than to make this relationship work, and I put my heart and soul into it each and every day. And I wanted nothing more than to build a healthy relationship. Craig Sjodin/ABC Crawley, for her part, spoke out about the split on January 21, claiming she was made aware of a mutual statement at the same time as fans learned of her broken engagement. Our relationship was not perfect, but I can say that I was genuinely invested with all of my heart, she wrote via Instagram at the time. I may not have the answers, but I do know this I will continue to show up, stand by my word and be committed to love. XO Clare. Bachelor Nations Ben Higgins and Andi Dorfman later weighed in on the breakup after watching the relationship unfold on season 16 of the ABC series. Read article The Clare and Dale thing seems super messy, Higgins, 31, exclusively told Us on Tuesday, January 26. And I feel like there were things going on that were not fair and were not right. And as a result, like, somebody ends up getting hurt deeply. Dorfman, 33, appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen the same day, and revealed that she tries to not get in anyones business. She did, however, say, I wouldnt say Im surprised or not surprised. I come from a failed engagement from that show [with my ex Josh Murray], so I try to kind of support whether it fails or succeeds, to be honest. Vietnam still needs to mobilize an additional US$35 billion to respond to consequences triggered by climate change from now until 2030, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said during the virtual Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS) 2021. In his remarks delivered to the international summit, which was organized virtually on Monday and Tuesday, the premier said that Vietnam is one of the countries suffering the most adverse effect from climate change, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Aside from restructuring its economy toward a low-carbon model and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, Vietnam has pledged to strengthen the resilience and adaptation of communities, economic stakeholders, and the ecosystem. We will step up disaster risk reduction and mitigation of climate-related damage," PM Phuc elaborated. "Climate adaptation will be further mainstreamed into our national strategies and planning. "We will also invest more in human resources, scientific research, and development and application of advanced technologies. Despite such efforts, Vietnams economy has only met 30 percent of its climate adaptation demand, he continued, adding that the Southeast Asian country needs another $35 billion in 2021-30 for response measures. Ba Tri Reservoir in Ben Tre Province is one of Vietnams works aimed at responding to climate change. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre There is a need to bolster the adaptation of communities, the participation of the people, and the resilience of all industries and sectors against the adverse impacts of climate change, PM Phuc said. Climate adaptation should go hand in hand with sustainable development, gender equality, and poverty eradication, with no one being left behind, he added. The premier took the occasion to ask for further cooperation and support from the international community toward Vietnams efforts. The CAS 2021, hosted by the Netherlands, was held online to discuss urgent measures in response to increasing climate change impacts worldwide. At the event, leaders of participating developed nations pledged their commitments to prioritizing climate-change assistance in their aid granted to developing countries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 'Covid factory' restaurant has been stripped of its licence after hosting parties of up to 170 people during lockdown. Melin restaurant and nightclub in Chigwell, Essex, is popular with reality stars from the TV series The Only Way Is Essex. But the venue has had its licence revoked after breaching lockdown restrictions on at least 13 occasions between May and November. At one party, broken up by police in November, 170 people were partying while the windows were blacked out and fire escapes were blocked. Former TOWIE star Lauren Goodger pictured with venue co owner, Mikey Melin, before lockdown last March Melin restaurant and nightclub in Chigwell, Essex, has now had its licence revoked Owner Ali Melin is currently in Dubai where he is opening another restaurant - and urged his followers to 'get your flights tomorrow' to visit his new restaurant in the UAE Lauren Goodger enjoyed a night out at Melin in March and Bobby Norris and Saffron Lempriere were spotted having a heated argument outside the venue in August. Owner Ali Melin is currently in Dubai where he is opening another restaurant and regularly poses with models and influencers on his Instagram account. On Wednesday, despite travel overseas currently being banned, he posted a story urging his followers to 'get your flights tomorrow' to visit his new restaurant in the UAE. Licencing committee councillor Paul Canal slammed the restaurant for 'operating a Covid-19 factory' during the pandemic. He said: 'I wish to call [Melin] a nightclub because that's how they were operating. I believe a premises of this size with over 100 people inside is a Covid-19 factory. 'The way in which Melin has been run demonstrates that the owner is not in a position to act responsibly, and is unlikely to change.' Mr Melin refused to hand over CCTV footage to officers after it took them ten minutes to barge through the doors to break up a party of more than 100 people on November 3. Councillor Namreen Chaudhry said: 'We find that Mr Ali has no intention to operate the premises in a lawful manner. 'His failure to comply with the existing licensing conditions or pay any heed to previous regulatory intervention leaves us with no option but to revoke the licence.' In September, it emerged Ali Melin sent his staff a voice message warning he would 'take them to the basement' if they were caught taking tips. TOWIE star James Argent (pictured left with Ali Melin in 2013) has also been pictured enjoying nights out at the club Licencing committee councillor Paul Canal slammed the restaurant (pictured) for 'operating a Covid-19 factory' during the pandemic On Wednesday, despite travel overseas currently being banned, Melin posted a story urging his followers to 'get your flights tomorrow' to visit his new restaurant in the UAE According to the Sun, he told workers, 'you take money from me, I'll take something from you'. He warned he had more than 50 CCTV cameras watching the restaurant, adding: 'You are not paid any tips whatsoever. Nobody has the right to put tips in their pocket whatsoever. 'I can hear everything and I can see everything. If I see again, yes again, that someone has put money in their pocket from a customer I will either 1.) report it to the police or 2.) take them into the basement.' The Leader of Redbridge Council Cllr Jas Athwal said: 'This should send out a strong message to those who think they can flout licensing conditions and COVID guidelines. 'We have many licensed premises in the borough, the large majority of which have worked hard to follow the pandemic guidelines and keep local people safe. 'And then we have Mr Melin, who has consistently shown a flagrant and arrogant disregard for his patron's safety and the wider community's health. 'Redbridge has one of the country's highest infection rates, so it is truly shocking that a local business was willing to jeopardise people's health and safety purely for financial gain. 'When you consider the sheer number of incidents that took place in a relatively short period, it's no wonder the committee reached the decision they did. Mr Melin only has himself to blame for being in this position.' Belgian health authorities have inspected the pharmaceutical factory at the heart of a vaccine war row between the UK and the European Union. Glitches in production at the Novasep plant in the Belgian town of Seneffe have been blamed for a dramatic cut in pharmaceutical giant AstraZenecas planned supply of coronavirus vaccine to the EU. Brussels demanded on Wednesday that doses produced by AZ in the UK should be diverted to the EU to make up for the shortfall. Amid fury from the European Commission over the reduction from 80m to 31m in AZs projected delivery over the coming weeks, the companys chief executive Pascal Soriot said that the Novasep plant had experienced low yields in a glitch which was to be expected as worldwide production was scaled up to billions of doses over a short period. Novasep said today that its teams had worked hard to meet its obligations to AstraZeneca with unprecedented speed and commitment. The company added: Manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine is a pioneering process in terms of scale, complexity and quantity. We have worked closely with AstraZeneca and conducted regular and coordinated reviews of the production processes to ensure the active drug substance was delivered on time and met the highest standards for quality and stability." France Dammel, a spokesperson for Belgium's health minister, said experts from the federal medicine agency inspected the Novasep site at the request of the European Commission. They will now work with Dutch, Italian and Spanish experts before delivering a report in the coming days. Michael Gove today insisted that the UK must receive the coronavirus vaccines it has ordered, as the government continued to resist EU pressure to allow doses to be rerouted to Europe. An emergency meeting between AZ and the EUs vaccine steering board - which includes representatives from the Commission and member states - concluded last night without agreement, but with both sides promising to be constructive. The Anglo-Swedish giant insists that its contract with the UK gives Britain first claim on doses produced at plants in Oxford and Keele. But EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Wednesday that the UK factories were included in an advance purchase agreement with AZ for 300m doses. We reject the logic of first come, first served, she said. That may work at the neighbourhood butchers but not in contracts. And German MEP Peter Liese warned of a trade war, saying that the company and the UK had better think twice. Today, Mr Gove hit back by insisting that the UKs contract for 2m weekly doses of the vaccine must be met in full. "I think we need to make sure that the vaccine supply that has been bought and paid for, procured for those in the UK, is delivered," the Cabinet Office minister told LBC radio. Asked repeatedly by the BBC Radio 4 Today programme if the government would prevent supplies going from Britain to the EU, Gove said the crucial issue was that Britain received its orders as planned and on time. "It is the case that the supplies which have been planned, paid for and scheduled should continue," Gove told the BBC. "Absolutely, there will be no interruption to that. "But again, I think that the right approach to take with our friends in Europe is to make sure that we foster cooperative dialogue to see how we can do everything we can to help." Pressure on EU politicians to speed up supplies has been intense as the 27-nation bloc lags badly in its vaccination programme, with just 2 per cent of its population protected compared to 10 per cent in the UK. Following Wednesday evenings meeting, Ms Kyriakides said that the EU remained united and firm in its belief that contractual obligations must be met, vaccines must be delivered to EU citizens. She characterised the tone of the meeting as constructive, but added: We regret the continued lack of clarity on the delivery schedule and request a clear plan from AstraZeneca for the fast delivery of the quantity of vaccines that we reserved for Q1 (the first quarter of 2021). We will work with the company to find solutions and deliver vaccines rapidly for EU citizens. AstraZeneca said: We had a constructive and open conversation about the complexities of scaling up production of our vaccine, and the challenges we have encountered, the company said. We have committed to even closer co-ordination to jointly chart a path for the delivery of our vaccine over the coming months as we continue our efforts to bring this vaccine to millions of Europeans at no profit during the pandemic. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the issue should be resolved through increased production rather than UK doses being diverted to the EU. I dont want to interrupt the supply of vaccines into the United Kingdom, he told LBC Radio. But we do need to resolve this, it is a war of words, it has got to be resolved and there is no interest in other countries not getting the vaccine because unless this is dealt with globally, we will simply reintroduce variants across the world. The AZ vaccine has not yet been cleared for use in the EU, with approval expected from the European Medicines Agency on Friday. Germany's health minister Jens Spahn said he expects the current shortage to continue well into April, tweeting: We will still have at least 10 tough weeks with a shortage of vaccine. Volunteers sort recall mail, hoping to oust California Gov. Gavin Newsom at Capital Campaigns Inc. in Newport Beach, Calif., on Jan 4, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Recall Campaign Approaches Number of Signatures Needed for Vote The effort to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom is continuing to gain traction, with at least 1.25 million signatures collected out of the nearly 1.5 million verified signatures required to call a special election. Anne Hyde Dunsmore of Rescue Californiathe organization behind the efforttold The Epoch Times that the campaign expects to reach 1.3 million signatures by Jan. 29. With seven weeks to go before the March 17 deadline, Rescue California ultimately hopes to see about 1.8 million signatures, as many are often removed during the process of validation. During validation, signatures can be removed because of duplicates, if the person is not a registered voter, or for other reasons. Dunsmore said the county registrars office has found an 84 percent validity rate so far, based on the last reported number in early January, but that direct mail-in signatures have been at around 98 percent validity. Once submitted to the registrars office, these mail-in petitions will help to increase the validity rate. Dunsmore, Rescue Californias campaign manager and finance director, said she believes Newsom lifted the stay-at-home order to increase popularity with voters who could potentially sign the recall petition. No question about it, she told The Epoch Times. Thats exactly the kind of thing he ought to be doing right now is looking over his shoulder at how people feel, not at political options. He knows hes in trouble. It was a reckless choice; he made it by the seat of his pants, and now hes going to get criticized for it [by other Democratic leaders]. So, hes doing it to get himself out of trouble, and then he digs himself deeper into a hole. Theres no rhyme or reason for [lifting the order]. It was an inconsistent decision and was yet another contradiction. According to Dunsmore, supporters of the campaign are happy with the results achieved so far. They love it. Its inspiring whenever [Newsom] runs scared, she said. He doesnt know what hes doing. Dunsmore said that if the governor continues to make mistakes while leading the state, she is pretty confident that he will be replaced if a special election is called. My big concern was that people would forget [Newsoms scandals] as time went on, but he keeps adding things in every week, she said, adding that one of his latest scandals is the Employment Development Department fraud scam. As far as the recall campaign goes, its not only Republicans supporting the cause. Democrats are also unhappy with what they see as Newsoms overextending his orders, Dunsmore said. So far, the Recall Gavin Newsom campaign has sent out 3.1 million mailers to potential signers and will be putting out another 400,000 next week. If the special election does occur, the winner will be whichever candidate is able to score the most votes. Dunsmore said that people looking to sign the petition can do so on Rescue Californias website. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode. Almost a year after the pandemic forced much of K12 education online, the new president, Joe Biden, is pushing to get kids back in school, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is saying it can be safe. But how do the kids feel about that? On Thursdays episode of What Next, I spoke to Jan Desmarais-Morse, a school counselor in Goshen, Indiana, where students are transitioning from remote learning to in-person school. She sees her kids struggling with both the isolation of being stuck at home and the anxiety of being indoors with their peers, and shes worried about the psychic toll the pandemic has taken, is taking, on their young lives. A portion of our conversation is transcribed below, condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris: Theres a lot of focus on just getting the kids back to school. Thats seen as an endpoint, a good unto itself, which you could argue it is. But maybe its just the first step. Jan Desmarais-Morse: Right. [The kids] havent put anything else behind them. Theres still students struggling with anxiety. Anxietys been off the chart. Theres still students who have those traumas going on within the home that they cant even escape from. You have kids who are still battling traumatic past history. Or just not being able to get out and do anything, or theyre sucked into this vortex of the internet that they cant escape from. So its good on one hand, but its so not on the other. Advertisement Your school provides laptops and iPads for each kid, so when they went remote last year, at least they had access to technology. But they were still dealing with all the challenges everyone else wasfamilies who had no internet or not enough internet, families too overwhelmed to get their kids online. So you and your colleagues started going door to door. Advertisement I believe our families, our parents, always do the best they can with the tools they have. One family I went to had six or seven children in the home that need to be on their devices at the same time, and their Wi-Fis not working to handle the demands of all that. We never want to scold a family because we want to embrace them. If we scold, then thats just going to push them further away from us. So we have to find ways to connect with them in whatever way possible. Going and knocking on the doors would find: what do families need? Advertisement And then we would have other families that would not answer the door. They would not be receptive to us because they just, for whatever reason, needed to maintain that barrier. So we would just have to keep trying. You have to keep trying because you cant give up. You cant say were going to write them off because its getting too hard to work with. No, these are human beings were talking about. These are kids were talking about. And we have to keep trying and keep leaving the door open. Advertisement Youre used to meeting in the middle ground of the school. Its like a neutral territoryeveryone goes there, no one lives there. But Zoom school opened up this whole new way of seeing each other and seeing your students. Advertisement You see into their lives. Youre invading someones private space. And you get a different, a fuller picture of whats going on for our students, which in some ways is a good thing for our teachers because it just helps them understand what our kids are dealing with that you may not pick up on in the school setting. Is there any way that you look at this pandemic time and this window into the kids worlds and think itll make you a more perceptive counselor moving forward, or make the teachers see the students differently in the years ahead? Gosh, I hope so. I have one teacher who has driven by the home of every single one of her students because she wants to have a window into their world. And she just understands her kids better. She just has a better picture of them. Advertisement Through the pandemic and through the online class structure, theres an awakening and an awareness of the importance of doing something that helps connect our students in that social, emotional peace of just having fun. Oh, my gosh, weve lost the ability to have fun at school. And I think when we come back into the normal life of school, I hope that peace does not go away because that makes all the difference. Subscribe to What Next Get more news from Mary Harris and her team every day. Subscribe Your sixth grade students have been back in the building for a few weeks now. The older kids just joined them. So the building is pretty full. But the kids have to wash their hands and use sanitizer on their way in and out of classrooms, and the teachers have to wipe everything down every time classes change. And as kids come back to the school building, they are bringing new anxieties with them. Advertisement With our seventh and eighth graders coming back in, we had some kids [whose] anxiety level was really, really high. Because they were worried that there would be more kids in the school and it would be more dangerous? More kids in the school, more exposure, and then the anxiety of having been isolated for so long and coming back in with large groups of people and being surrounded by people, that upped the anxiety level as well. So my colleaguesits been a revolving door in their office with the seventh and eighth graders coming back, some due to anxiety. I had one colleague who said, First student in my office today, he has never accessed a school counselor in his life, and he just had to talk to somebody because he just had to talk to somebody. He hasnt talked to anybody for the longest time, and he needed an adult who could just listen to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to get to a point where we cant hold off any longer from bringing students back. Jan Desmarais-Morse Thats heartbreaking. It is heartbreaking. So many things we forget about and we take for granted. And then there are other kids who want a hands-offDont even talk to me. Just leave me alone. But other students are just hungry, hungry for that human connection, hungry to be in the same room with a caring adult as opposed to having a computer between you. I think of middle school as being this time of tremendous change, when kids are kind of pupas again, and their environment is so important, and their environment is school. I wonder how you think all this might change the teachers and the kidsbut mostly the kids, because theyre at such a tender agehow it could change them permanently. Advertisement Theyre missing out on some very key developmental opportunities, things that help them grow into the human beings theyre going to be eventually. And there are all these trials and errors that youre supposed to experience that theyre not exposed to, just in the balancing of relationships and the conflicts that arise and how to work out those conflicts face to face or with people that are in your presence. And the fact that our students are so isolatedwill they become so comfortable with being isolated that they dont even know the importance of community because theyve never experienced it? Advertisement Do you think school is going to open up in the fall the way it used to? Advertisement I hope so. I think were going to get to a point where we cant hold off any longer from bringing students back into schools and trying to have life as normal. I think theres going to come a time when we just have to say, We have to keep moving forward. Theres only so long that we can continue to do it the way were doing it right now. A long time ago, I heard a story about a polar bear. The polar bear was in a zoo, some kind of confined setting. And they were worried about the polar bear because it had started to have some very erratic behavior where it would just swim in a figure-eight pattern. Thats all it was doing. And they didnt know what was happening because it was different behavior and it was prolonged behavior, and they were basically worried about the mental health of this polar bear. What they ended up doing was they would allow the polar bear to hunt. And it changed everything for the polar bear. Like, it was manic when it was doing the figure eights. It was going crazy. Advertisement Advertisement So youre seeing your middle schoolers swimming figure eights right now. I feel that we are getting to the point where they will be swimming in figure eights. Theyre not there yet. But I feel like if we keep isolating our kids, if we keep isolating human beings, theyre all going to be swimming in figure eights, and I feel like at some point were going to have to get back into school to preempt that. And I say that knowing that there are people and friends that I have who do not want to go back to school because they are afraid, and maybe theyre at high risk, and I am not going to tell them that thats how they should feel. But I just feel like at some point its going to come to critical mass, and were going to have to do something and were not going to like it. Were just going to have to push through it. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez issues of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, obtaining a vaccine, and trade and economic cooperation. This was discussed during a phone conversation between the leaders on Thursday, January 28, the press service of the head of state reported. "Spain is one of Ukraine's main trading partners in the European Union and maintains its position as Europe's largest importer of Ukrainian grain. We are ready to continue being a reliable strategic supplier of grain products to Spain," Zelensky said. The interlocutors noted the importance of holding the fourth meeting of the Ukrainian-Spanish Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Industrial Cooperation in Kyiv this year. They agreed to intensify cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure, digitization and cybersecurity. The leaders also discussed the fight against COVID-19 and the possibility of providing Ukraine with a vaccine licensed by Western countries. The Spanish prime minister stressed that he would assist Ukraine in obtaining the vaccine both at the level of bilateral relations and at the EU level. In addition, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Spain's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and, at the request of the Spanish party, briefed on the security situation in Donbas and Ukraine's peace initiatives. ish Union Home Minister on Thursday will visit two hospitals to enquire about the health of policemen injured in the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the capital on Republic Day, officials said. Nearly 400 policemen were injured during the tractor parade of the farmers who have been protesting against three central farm laws at Delhi's borders since November. The home minister will visit two hospitals -- Shushrut Trauma Centre and Teerath Ram Hospital -- to enquire about the health of the injured police personnel, an official from the Home Ministry said. Both the hospitals are located in Civil Lines. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the parade that was supposed to be held from 12 pm to 5 pm with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. From Rajpath to Red Fort, the day unfolded in scenes of contrasts. One that Indians have seen for seven decades and the other that seared itself into collective memory with its imagery of protesters demanding a repeal of the three farm laws storming the Mughal era monument, the centrepiece of India's Independence Day celebrations. Clashes broke out in multiple places, leading to violence in well-known landmarks of Delhi and its suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day. A protester died after his tractor overturned near ITO, one of the major flashpoints of trouble. (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.) Googles Advertising Dominance Now in the Crosshairs of Australian Regulators Googles dominance of the multibillion-dollar online advertising space is now under scrutiny by Australias competition watchdog, opening a new front in its battle to regulate the tech giant. The Australian Competition Consumer Commissions (ACCC) released the report (pdf) amid an ongoing effort to implement the News Media Bargaining Code, which will compel Google and Facebook to pay news media companies for displaying their content. The ACCC interim report estimates that Google controls 50 to 100 percent of the supply chains (depending on the service) that underpins the AU$3.4 billion digital advertising (excluding classifieds and search) market in the country. Advertising technology, or ad tech, has significantly transformed the way that advertising is delivered to consumers online, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement. Google logo on a tablet in Lille, France, on Aug. 28, 2019. (Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images) But there is a real lack of competition, choice and transparency in this industry. These issues add to the cost of advertising for businesses, which will ultimately impact the prices paid by consumers, he said. Googles significant presence across the whole ad tech supply chain, combined with its significant data advantage, means Google is likely to have the ability and the incentive to preference its own ad tech businesses in ways that affect competition, he added. What Determines The Ads You See Online? Typically, when you load a website on your computer or smartphone, the split second before the website is loaded, a series of mini transactions occur to decide what sort of ad will appear on the site. The ads can include images or videos, and they can appear either next to the content you are reading, or they can be inserted in a video you are watching. This entire process is the supply chain the ACCC is examining. The supply chain includes four different services: advertising ad servers; demand-side platforms; supply-side platforms; and publisher ad servers. Different companies, big and small, will provide each service. However, the ACCC believes that Google has expanded its control of the supply chain through acquisitions and development of its own ad tech. ACCC estimates Googles share of revenue and impressions for particular ad tech services in Australia for 2019. (Supplied ACCC) During this inquiry, we have heard concerns from parties about potential conflicts of interest from Googles various roles in this industry, Sims said. This includes Google very often acting on behalf of both publishers and advertisers for the same ad sale across the ad tech supply chain, while also selling its own ad inventory, he added. In fact, all ads appearing on major video-sharing website YouTube are sold exclusively through a Google-owned supply chain. YouTube logo on display during LeWeb Paris 2012 on Dec. 4, 2012. (Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images) Supply Chain Control Means Poorer Outcomes for Users and Businesses Small business owners or major companies wishing to advertise online, will generally opt to use Google ad tech due to the broader reach and integration with other services it owns. The ACCC has outlined additional concerns that Googles supply chain dominance has allowed it to accumulate an unrivalled amount of personal user data. While for outsiders, there is little transparency on how the supply chain decides which ads are displayed for web users. The competition watchdog is seeking public feedback on a range of proposals including stricter laws to manage conflict of interest; making data portable between companies; or mandating the breakup of datasets, making it easier for smaller competitors to enter the market. The Epoch Times reached out to Google Australia for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. The Google logo is projected onto a man on in London on Aug. 9, 2017. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Dr. Rob Nicholls, associate professor at the University of New South Wales and competition law expert, said it was important the ad tech market was not dominated by one major player, as this would lead to poorer outcomes for users. The key issue to consumers is that advertising costs are recovered in selling prices. If ad tech is inefficient, then you and I are paying for that inefficiency, he told The Epoch Times. A regulatory arrangement that provides greater transparency will improve efficiency and is likely to lead to a higher level of confidence in the value for money of Google and Facebook as ad tech platforms, he said. Ongoing Battles Down Under to Regulate Big Tech The latest inquiry follows in the footstep of the Digital Platforms Inquiry, also spearheaded by the ACCC. The inquiry examined the market power of Google and Facebook in respect of the news media industry, resulting in the introduction of the News Media Bargaining Code. The Media Code will regulate how the tech giants pay news companies for displaying their content. Google Australia Managing Director Mel Silva in an online statement on Jan. 22, 2021 in Sydney, Australia (Screenshot) For years, the tech giants have generated large amounts of web traffic and engagement from displaying news content at no cost. In turn, they monetised the traffic by selling advertising. In 2019, Google generated AU$4.3 billion of its total $4.8 billion Australian revenue from selling advertising services. However, Google and Facebook have remained defiant in the face of the new laws with Google running a months-long public campaign criticising the Media Code. Last week, the company went a step further. It said it was prepared to remove Google Search entirely from the country, prompting a sharp rebuke from Australian parliamentarians and government ministers. The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine asks Volodymyr Zelensky to take personal control over Ukraine's fulfillment of the memorandum obligations between the country's government and renewable energy investors, which were legislatively enshrined in 2020. Such a request is contained in a letter from President of the American Chamber of Commerce Andy Hunder to the head of the Ukrainian state dated January 26. "We ask you to take personal control over the implementation of the provisions of Law No. 810-IX and the fulfillment of obligations under the current legislation and refrain from taking decisions that undermine earlier agreements between the state and investors," the text of the letter said. As Hunder recalled, on August 1, 2020, the law on the amendments to certain laws of Ukraine on improving the conditions of support for electricity production from alternative energy sources (No. 810-IX) came into force. Adoption of Law No. 810-IX was aimed at improving the feed-in tariff's sustainability and electricity market liquidity by enshrining in law the provisions set out in the Memorandum of Understanding, signed on June 10, 2020 by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Energy Ministry, the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) and renewable industry associations. Inter alia, the provisions of Law No. 810-IX envisaged 20% co-financing from the state budget and issuance of government domestic loan bonds to cover the deficit in payments to renewable energy producers. However, none of these mechanisms was implemented either in the state budget for 2021 or using debt financing instruments. "Accordingly, the American Chamber of Commerce members expected that the government will fulfill its obligations under the legislation and the memorandum by allocating at least UAH 9 billion from the attracted UAH 10.25 billion of credit funds to pay off 40% of the debt to renewable energy producers accumulated as of August 1, 2020 in the amount of UAH 22.4 billion. However, on January 16, 2021, the NEURC issued the Guaranteed Buyer an instruction to allocate not less than 50% of the funds received from Ukrenergo under the loans provided by state-owned banks for repaying other debts," Hunder said. He said that such NEURC decision combined with a lack of actions by the government to implement Law No. 810-IX is a clear sign of Ukraine's unwillingness to fulfill its commitments to private investors. The filing season for 2020 Pennsylvania personal income tax returns begins Feb. 12. The start of the filing season for income tax returns at the state level will mirror the same date the IRS established to begin accepting and processing 2020 federal tax returns. The Department of Revenue is informing taxpayers that a new, state-only filing option is available at mypath .pa.gov. myPATH is a free, user-friendly system that allows taxpayers to seamlessly file the Pennsylvania Income Tax Return (PA-40) and make income tax payments, as well as offering other services. However, taxpayers interested in filing their Pennsylvania returns can do so by visiting mypath.pa.gov. MyPATH is accepting 2020 returns and payments. All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2020 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by April 15. The enterprise tech startup sector is packed with companies capitalizing on growing demand even amid the disruptions caused by the pandemic for tools in the world of big data, devops, cloud, mobility, the internet of things and cybersecurity. According to Gartner, global IT spending is expected to grow by 6.2% this year, with total spending projected to hit $3.9 trillion. The unprecedented acceleration of digital transformation in 2020 to satisfy the move to remote work, changes to education and new social norms presented by lockdowns has largely offset the early hit to IT spending caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. (A report by Crunchbase showed that global venture funding in the first half of 2020 was down about 6% compared to 2019, totalling $130 billion the lowest figure recorded since 2017.) Despite a rocky year, funding hotspots emerged from during the pandemic, with Massachusetts in the US, India, Indonesia, Israel, Australia and New Zealand, France, Belgium, and Brazil all reporting above average levels of funding. COVID-19 has shifted many industries techquilibrium, said John-David Lovelock, distinguished research vice president at Gartner. Greater levels of digitalization of internal processes, supply chain, customer and partner interactions, and service delivery is coming in 2021, enabling IT to transition from supporting the business to being the business. The biggest change this year will be how IT is financed, not necessarily how much IT is financed. In this list, we highlight some of the hottest startups building software and services aimed at large enterprise customers, who their customers are, their funding so far and how close they might be to initial public offerings (IPOs) or acquisition in 2021. Cockroach Labs Cockroach Labs is a software firm that develops commercial database management systems. Founded in 2015 by three ex-Google employees, it's best known for CockroachDB, a cloud-native, distributed SQL database that provides next-level consistency, ultra-resilience, data locality, and massive scale to modern cloud applications. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Cockroach Labs saw its revenue more than double in 2020, thanks in part to wide-spread cloud adoption. The startup expects to see similar levels of growth this year and claims to be on track to double its workforce from 200 to 400 employees by the end of 2021. Funding: Cockroach Labs raised $160 million Series E funding on Jan. 12, 2021. The round comes just eight months after the startup brought in $86.6 million Series D funding and leaves the company valued at about $2 billion. Cohesity There are a lot of factors that make Cohesity a 'hot' enterprise startup: unique technology, a founder on his second act after co-founding the now public software company Nutanix and $250 million in funding from SoftBank's Vision Fund. The startup was originally pitched as a cheaper way for enterprises to store what it calls "secondary data" backups, files, test/dev and analytics data all monitored using a single cloud platform. It has since expanded into other areas of enterprise data management, including analytics, security and rapid recovery. Funding: In April 2020, Cohesity raised $250 million in Series E funding, bringing its total funding to $660 million. This put the company value at $2.5 billion. Confluent Founded by the creators of open-source Apache Kafka, Confluent is a commercial version of the software that helps developers manage system and application messaging at high volume and add real-time streaming data to their apps. Kafka has proved popular with companies like LinkedIn, which uses the technology for activity stream data and operational metrics; Netflix for real-time monitoring and its event-processing pipeline; and Spotify, where it's used as part of the company's log delivery system. The idea behind Confluent is to make it easier for companies that don't have a surfeit of developer power to harness Kafka. Funding: The company announced a $250 million Series E funding round led by Coatue Management in April 2020, with participation from Altimeter Capital, Franklin Templeton, and existing investors Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital. This brought total funding in the company to $456 million and a valuation of $4.5 billion. Front Front was founded by French nationals Mathilde Collin, who is now CEO, and Laurent Perrin who is CTO after coming through the famed Silicon Valley startup accelerator Y Combinator. Front evokes the sort of evangelism often reserved for consumer apps instead of enterprise software, drawing the inevitable comparisons to Slack. The original Front app is for any team that shares an email inbox. It is particularly handy for customer support, sales, and even PR teams. It allows emails to be assigned to team members and for teams to collaborate in a shared space, increasing response speeds. Now, the company is looking to transform the email experience for all office workers after receiving a serious cash injection. Funding: Front raised a $59 million Series C funding round in early 2020, led by fellow software founders like Atlassian cofounder Mike Cannon-Brookes and president Jay Simons; Okta cofounder Frederic Kerrest; Qualtrics cofounders Ryan Smith and Jared Smith; and Zoom founder Eric Yuan; and existing venture capital investors Sequoia, Initialized Capital, and Anthos Capital. Funnel Swedish software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup Funnel specializes in combining and tidying marketing and advertising data for clients, regardless of where it resides, to get better insights into customers. The software is priced on a tiered basis depending on monthly ad spending, starting at $499 a month. Reference customers include Skyscanner, Samsung, and Ubisoft. Visualization is done well in existing business intelligence tools once the data is properly prepared," Funnel co-founder and CEO Fredrik Skantze told TechCrunch. "Automating the collection and preparation of the data has proven to be a very hard thing to do right and we wanted to make sure we were the best at this, which we now confidently can say we are as we hear that again and again from customers." Funding: Funnel secured a $47 million Series B funding round in January 2020, led by Eight Roads Ventures and F-Prime Capital, with participation from existing investors Balderton Capital, Oxx, Zobito, Industrifonden, and Kreos Capital. It is planning to expand into the US. GitLab GitLab is an open-source Git-repository manager built by Dmitriy Zaporozhets and Valery Sizov. Not to be confused with developer code repository GitHub, this Bay Area startup has had a big couple of years as enterprises and investors have taken a keen interest in devops. The company has evolved from being just a git repository to helping developers track, manage, and collaborate on code with built in CI/CD functionality. Funding: GitLab closed $268 million funding round in September 2019 led by existing investors Goldman Sachs and Iconiq Capital. As of January 2021, the company is valued at $6 billion. Graphcore UK startup Graphcore develops processors specifically designed for AI workloads, which it calls intelligent processing units (IPUs). Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bristol, it produced the world's first graph tool chain (in 2016) designed for machine intelligence called Poplar Software Stack. In 2017, the startup added the Colossus GC2 chip to it product library and in July 2020, it unveiled hardware using a second-gen processor called GC200. GC200 is a 59-billion transistor, 823-square-millimeter integrated circuit with 1472 computational cores and 900MB of local memory. Funding: Graphcore raised a massive Series E funding round in December 2020 of $222 million, led by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board with participation from funds managed by Fidelity International and Schroders, along with existing investors Baillie Gifford and Draper Esprit. The firm has now raised more than $700 million. Hopin London-based virtual events startup Hopin had a better 2020 than most. Founded in June 2019, Hopin wants to reimagine virtual events from the ground up and make them so good that they become no longer a sideline option but a mainstream destination. Investors and customers alike clearly believe Hopin has achieved its aim, with the company raising the fourth-largest European Series B round of 2020. The pandemic undoubtedly had a hand in Hopins success in 2020; as of November, it was claiming 3.5 million users at more than 50,000 organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, the Atlantic, UCLA, and Miro. Hopins workforce has also experienced high levels of growth over the past 10 months, starting 2020 with a team of 23 people and ending the year with 215. Funding: Hopin raised a $125 million Series B round, for a $2.1 billion valuation. Launched just eight months ago, it has now raised $170 million in total making it one of the fastest-growing startups in Europe. Hopin counts Slack, Salesforce, and Northzone amongst its investors. Snyk Combining some favorite buzzwords for investors security and open source Snyk has skyrocketed to a $1 billion valuation since it was founded in London in 2015. Created by software engineers Guy Podjarny, Danny Grander, and Assaf Hefetz, Snyk effectively helps developers automatically spot vulnerabilities in the open-source code they run. Funding: Snyk raised a $200 million investment round in September, led by investment firm Addition. That followed a January 2020 fundraise of $150 million, putting total funding at $450 million and a private valuation of $2.6 billion. Tanium Cybersecurity specialist Tanium was founded in 2007 by father-and-son duo David and Orion Hindawi who went on to sell their first business, BigFix, to IBM in 2010. It was at BigFix the pair developed a way to map and manage complex networks; with Tanium, they focused on securing large enterprise networks of connected devices. Instead of firewalls and pre-packaged security software, Tanium takes a network-first approach, mapping an organization's network endpoints any internet-enabled piece of hardware on a company network and then monitoring for breaches at device level. Funding: Tanium shelved any IPO plans after a $200 million fundraising in October 2018. It went on to raise more funding in the subsequent years, totaling more than $1 billion to date, including investments from Salesforce Ventures and VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, with Ben Horowitz, the latter's co-founder, sitting on the Tanium board. Tessian Formerly known as CheckRecipient, Tessian is a UK startup helping organizations avoid risks from with mis-sent emails. The platform analyzes millions of data points across an organizations email network to detect patterns of behavior and mis-addressed emails. If the machine-learning algorithm spots an unusual email address or detects potentially sensitive information in the content, it will prompt the sender to double-check before sending. Organizations including Schroders, Man Group, Dentons, and more than 70 British law firms use the platform to protect their email networks. Funding: Tessian raised $42 million in a Series B funding round led by Sequoia in February 2019, with involvement from previous investors Balderton Capital and Accel. The money is being earmarked for global expansion, particularly into the US. The company has now raised $60 million. TripActions Founded in 2015, TripActions wants to be the Expedia or Kayak of corporate travel, offering a consumer-grade platform for employees to search and book travel, while allowing managers to set granular thresholds for travel class or hotel type. It also offers employees Amazon gift cards when they save the company money on travel by booking a cheaper hotel. Funding: On Jan. 21, the Silicon Valley-based startup raised $155 million in Series E funding, leading to a valuation of $5 billion. Right now pro-model hottie Sommer inspires us to continue our search for pop culture, community news and top headlines. Kansas City Fights COVID Local hospitals stepping up effort to get public vaccinated for COVID-19 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Metro hospitals are now stepping up efforts to get the public vaccinated. Jenny Tucker's coming off a crazy, hard year. First the pandemic, then a crushing breast cancer diagnosis. Both coming on the heels of adopting her 5-year-old granddaughter. Rolling Against Plague Truman Medical Centers deploys COVID-19 vaccine mobile clinic KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Truman Medical Centers/University Health is making it easier for seniors to get vaccinated by going into their communities to deliver the critical shot. "It's a great day to amplify awesome calls to be able to get the COVID vaccine, to share with the community that it's safe and to trust the science," Darron Edwards, pastor at United Believers Community Church, said. Rock Chalk Upgrade Kansas' unemployment agency going offline for up to 3 days for security upgrade by: Nexstar Media Wire Posted: / Updated: TOPEKA, Kan. - The Kansas Department of Labor is going offline starting Saturday to install a new security system to fight identity theft. The agency announced a partnership with LexisNexis to get new identity verification software for the state's unemployment claim process. Show-Me Line Cut Missouri lawmakers receive COVID-19 vaccines intended for other state employees Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum, D-St. Louis, said she received a dose of the vaccine after receiving a group text from Quade. Appelbaum said she waited in line at the hotel, where there were "many" who worked in the Legislature lined up to get shots, she said. INSTA NEWSWORTHY HOTTIE WORKOUT SHARED!!! Sommer Ray Highlights Apple Bottom Cheeks With 360 Views SommerRay/Instagram Sommer Ray just clocked 1.5 million views in under 24 hours, parading her massive apple bottom around and doing it in the skimpiest, cut-off shorts known to man. Impeachment 2.0 Troubled As the numbers suggest a Trump acquittal, Senators explore censure and brace for impeachment trial WASHINGTON - After a vote Tuesday suggested the Senate may likely acquit former President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial, Democratic senators searched Wednesday for ways to make their case against him. Many Republicans and Democrats conceded a Trump conviction seemed unlikely given the vote. Insurrection Aftermath Sparks Po-Po Blame Game 'Unconscionable': Capitol Police Union Says Leadership Failed Officers In Riot The union representing U.S. Capitol police officers says the force's leadership failed to adequately relay the known threat of violence ahead of the Jan. 6 deadly riot, calling the acting chief's recent admission of prior knowledge of the threat to Congress "a disclosure that has angered and shocked the rank-and-file officers." Fmr. Veep Suffers Harsh Times Mike Pence is 'homeless' and 'couch surfing' after leaving VP role Mike Pence has not owned a home in more than a decade, Business Insider reports The ex VP is currently thought to be staying either with his brother or at the Indiana Governor's vacation cabin Pence has teased a move back to Indiana, but some say he may rent a Goodbye Cloris Oscar-winning, 'irreplaceable' Cloris Leachman dies at 94 LOS ANGELES (AP) - Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in "The Last Picture Show" and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blucher in "Young Frankenstein" and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," has died. She was 94. Zoom In On Trash Talk Kansas City, Tampa mayors talk smack, Super Bowl and COVID-19 ahead of game KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There was some smack talk going on Wednesday between Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. The two talked about the upcoming matchup between the Chiefs and Buccanners and the impacts of COVID -19 during Super Bowl LV. Kansas City Sees Red Chiefs to wear red jerseys against Buccaneers in the Super Bowl KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- While the AFC champions were designated as the Super Bowl's road team this season, the Kansas City Chiefs will be wearing the red jerseys against Tampa Bay. The Chiefs' Instagram account posted photos of their jerseys shortly after 6 p.m. Tampa Bay at times wears their white jerseys at home. Warmup Awaits More sunshine, warmer for your Thursday LEAST ON THE COOLEST SIDE, EVENING FORECAST STILL HAS A CLOUD A COUPLE BREAKS HERE AND THERE BUT STILL CLOUDS ARE WINNING OUT 23 AT 8 P.M. 22 AT 10:21 AT MIDNIGHT. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Loading the player... Aditya Birla Fashion buys 51% stake in Sabyasachi for Rs 398 crore Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) has signed a definitive agreement to buy 51 per cent stake in designer brand Sabyasachi for Rs 398 crore. The deal is expected to be closed in late-February or mid-March, the company said in a regulatory filing. Meanwhile, the ABFRL platform will complement brand Sabyasachi on its journey to becoming a global luxury house out of India Reliance signs $15 million deal with Israeli firm for rapid COVID-19 test kits Reliance Group has signed a $15 million deal with Israeli company Breath of Health to distribute the firm's COVID-19 breath testing system. The tests conducted by the company provide results in less than a minute, said Arie Laor, CEO of Breath of Health (BOH). Indian app Chingari to hire pink-slipped TikTok employees As Chinese video sharing platform hands over pink slips to over 1,000 employees following the permanent ban by the government of India, Indian app developer Chingari plans to hire some of the fired employees. Similar to TikTok, Chingari is an Indian video-sharing social networking platform where users could record and share short video clips. Bill Gates draws strategy to stop the next pandemic Microsoft co-founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates sketched out an ambitious plan to prevent the next pandemic, insisting on a global alert system, massive testing, tens of billions of dollars of annual spending, and a body of 2,000 "first responders". Gates added that the entire cost to safeguard the world sounds huge, though not compared with the $28 trillion approximate cost of COVID-19. YES Bank founder Rana Kapoor arrested by ED in another money laundering case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested YES Bank founder Rana Kapoor in another money laundering case related to Mackstar Group and PMC Bank. Kapoor is the third person to be arrested in the case. Kapoor, who was arrested in March last year by the ED in a money laundering case, is already in judicial custody. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 14:00:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Joanna Wronecka and Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council Reform of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, through video link in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Joanna Wronecka and Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council Reform of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, through video link Wednesday. Wang congratulated Wronecka and Al-Thani for serving as IGN co-chairs and said China would fully support their work. Wang said the reform of the Security Council concerns the future development of the UN and the vital interests of its member states. The reform should reflect fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, give more small and medium-sized countries the opportunity to participate in the decision-making of the Security Council, and correct historical injustices against Africa. He said the reform must follow the rule of law and maintain the IGN, the only legitimate platform authorized by the UN General Assembly for member states to discuss Security Council reform. The reform should reflect the leadership of UN member states, adhere to extensive democratic consultations, and gradually accumulate consensus, so as to find a "package" solution acceptable to all parties, said Wang. He also highlighted that the reform must be carried out in a stable and orderly manner, and effectively safeguard the unity of member states as well as the prestige of the UN. Wronecka and Al-Thani, who are permanent representatives to the UN of Poland and Qatar, respectively, said they appreciated China's efforts to safeguard multilateralism and strengthen the role of the United Nations. After introducing the first round of negotiations of the IGN, they expressed their willingness to continue to widely listen to member states' opinions, keep in close communication with member states including China, and strive to build consensus in order to promote the reform in a manner that best suits the interests of the majority of the UN member states. Enditem On Jan. 14, an unseasonably warm and clear Thursday in Yosemite National Park, Anna Horn went for a solo hike up Yosemite Falls. Horn lives close to the park and works as a bartender in the gateway town of Mariposa, allowing her to visit frequently. Partway up the steep climb to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America, she encountered another solo hiker, a middle-aged Asian woman with a green backpack. I passed her on the trail and we said hi, and I thanked her for letting me pass, Horn says. Then when I was about to leave at the top, I saw her come up. She kind of waved at me and I said hi again. The woman was all smiles, Horn says, and she felt a camaraderie with her, a moment of connection. As the only other woman alone up there, I feel like she focused on me and I focused on her. Two days later, Horn saw the womans face again, in a photo on the National Park Services Instagram account. Underneath, a caption read, Missing Person: Alice Yu Xie. Courtesy of the National Park Service The news was deeply troubling to Horn, who knew in her bones that the woman likely fell off the cliff. I am pretty sure I was the last person to interact with her, Horn says. Its just so tragic. Although the womans body was discovered at the base of Upper Yosemite Fall on Jan. 16, a week went by before the Park Service announced her death. Yosemite Information Officer Scott Gediman did not respond to requests for an explanation for the delay. The missing-persons post states that Xie, a 41-year-old Chinese national living in the United States is believed to have gone on a day hike to the Upper Yosemite Fall overlook on Jan. 14 or the morning of Jan. 15, 2021 She traveled to Yosemite from Mariposa on the YARTS bus on Jan. 14. The post instructed anyone who had taken the trail to the top of Yosemite Falls on Jan. 14 or 15 to call the Yosemite Emergency Communications Center. After seeing the post, Horn called right away. In the initial conversation, authorities asked Horn about Xies appearance, clothing and location. She told them she had last seen Xie at the top, and seemingly headed toward the bridge over Yosemite Creek, which leads to Yosemite Point. According to the Yosemite Hikes website, the strenuous hike to the top of the falls is the equivalent of taking the stairs up the Empire State Building, twice. Extending the hike for a little under a mile to Yosemite Point rewards hikers with highly desirable views of Half Dome, along with panoramic views of other peaks. Courtesy of Anna Horn My theory is she crossed over to Yosemite Point to get away from the crowd, says Horn, who remained at the top of the waterfall with about 10 other hikers. The time stamps on her photos suggest she last saw Xie about 3 p.m., Horn says, and everyone was supposed to be out of the park by 5 p.m. It seemed like most people chose to stop where I was instead of taking more time to continue on, Horn says. I didnt continue to Yosemite Point because I thought it would be icy and because I wanted to make it down in time for sunset. What happened to Xie next isnt clear, and the Park Service has not revealed where her backpack was found. But on Jan. 16, Horn says her roommate hiked up Yosemite Falls and saw search-and-rescue flags along the side of the falls that Horn believes were likely evidence markers. As soon as I heard that, I knew they found her body, Horn says. I was a wreck. The whole thing really messed with my head. Authorities announced on Jan. 24 that Xies body had been discovered at the base of Upper Yosemite Fall. The drop from the top of the waterfall to the base is approximately 1,400 feet, according to a video on the parks website. People tend to want to get as close as they can to the edges of waterfalls. I guess to experience that rush, that energy of the water going from a placid little stream to a raging, freefalling torrent, hydrologist Jim Roche says in the video. Sometimes its hard to know where that limit is. Xie is not the first person to lose her life while hiking Upper Yosemite Fall, but according to Michael Ghiglieri, co-author of "Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite," she is the first woman. Out of a total of about 1,200 deaths since the parks establishment in 1890, 53 have involved incidents with waterfalls, Ghiglieri says. Some lost their lives after attempting to swim above the falls, others inadvertently ended up in the water or were posing for photographs when they fell. Some committed suicide. Most, but not all, got wet, Ghiglieri says. The reality is that a lot of these falls are from so high up, they hit terminal velocity, he says. They explode when they hit. Theres nothing romantic about it. During his research for the book, Ghiglieri came across six deaths involving Upper Yosemite Fall. All were young men. In 1964, 16-year-old John Bernard Thomas II climbed down to the falls and accidentally slipped in. In 1968, 19-year-old James William Gibson Jr. walked off the trail, away from his friends, and was later found at the base. In 1970, a similar thing happened with 19-year-old Nichoals Michael Cordil, and in 1989, it happened to 20-year-old John Eric Ofner. In 1991, Austrian rocket scientist Werner Beinstingl was trying to take a vertical photo down the cliff of the fall when he slipped. And in 2005, a 21-year-old Irishman named Shane Michael Kinsella drank a considerable amount of wine, Ghiglieri says, and posed for a photo as if he were falling into the water. Then he actually fell. Courtesy of Anna Horn What these people have in common, Ghiglieri says, in addition to being relatively young and male, is a lack of recognition of the danger inherent in visiting the top of a waterfall. They dont evaluate it and conclude, Id be better off riding a grizzly bear, he says. In agreement with that assessment is Jason Torlano, a former search-and-rescue employee in Yosemite who was born and raised near the park. I think one of the reasons Yosemite has a lot of rescues and a lot of people getting hurt is that its a really visited park, Torlano says. Also, its close to the city. People come up for the day who dont hang out in the mountains. They want to get a little closer to that river. A little closer to the edge of that mountain. My own opinion is, a lot of people are not living in the reality of how dangerous it is when they go up the mountain. According to the results of a Freedom of Information Act submitted by Outforia, an outdoors website based in Oslo, Norway, Yosemite is the second-deadliest national park in the United States, with 126 deaths recorded from 2010 to 2020. Only the Grand Canyon had more. Falls accounted for 45 deaths at Yosemite. Spots such as Taft Point, Nevada Fall and Half Dome have all seen deaths over the last few years, often when people were trying to capture the perfect photo without being fully aware of the dangers of their surroundings, the website reported. Across the country, falls accounted for 245 deaths in national parks in the past decade. Unfortunately, while the rugged mountain terrain of the countrys national parks is what makes them so spectacular and popular with visitors, it also contributes to the number one cause of deaths, the website states. During their investigation of Xies death, investigators reached out to Horn a second time to ask whether she noticed the woman carrying a cellphone. She didnt. They also wanted to know what Xies mood was like, Horn says. She seemed happy that day to me, Horn wrote in a Facebook post. In awe of the falls, views, etc. I am of the opinion that she fell by accident Breaks my heart. 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. Tata Consultancy Services has been honored with the CIO Choice 2021 in the category Digital Transformation Enabler. The CIO Choice 2021, organized by CORE Media, celebrates the best Information and Communications Technology (ICT) brands for their innovation and excellence. Winners are determined through an independent survey where CIOs and ICT decision makers from across the country vote for their preferred and trusted brands. A distinguished advisory panel, comprising of seasoned CIOs from across industry verticals, guides the entire process. Nominees were voted on product performance, customer satisfaction and continued customer service. TCS was recognized for its investments in research and innovation, strong domain knowledge across industries, rigor in service delivery, and comprehensive portfolio of services and platform solutions including IT and advisory services, and digital workplace. TCS partners with some of India's largest corporations in their innovation, growth and transformation initiatives. In the past year, it has expanded and deepened relationships, deploying very impactful solutions, and winning some of its largest deals till date. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Joe Biden and his team staked out early opposition to Chinese territorial claims in a series of calls to Asian allies, as Beijing warned that trying to contain the country was "mission impossible." Biden reaffirmed in a telephone call with the Japanese prime minister the U.S.'s commitment to defend uninhabited islands controlled by Japan and claimed by China that have been a persistent point of contention between the Asian powerhouses. Meanwhile, newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected Chinese territorial claims in a call with his Philippine counterpart and emphasized U.S. alliances in talks with top Australian and Thai officials. While some observers had anticipated a ratcheting down of U.S.-China tensions under Biden, the series of calls didn't indicate any softening of security policies in Asia. Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this week called for the world to abandon "ideological prejudice" and shun an "outdated Cold-War mentality" as he signaled in his first international address since Biden entered the White House that Beijing would continue to forge its own path regardless of criticism. Over the weekend, China sent an early warning to the new U.S. administration by flying 13 warplanes into the Taiwan Strait. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian told a regular news briefing Thursday that trying to contain China was "mission impossible" and urged the U.S. military to use the "new starting point" to bring relations back on track. Biden's pledge to Japan, which was made in his first call since taking office with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, poses the risk of the U.S. becoming embroiled in any potential conflict arising in the dispute between China and Japan, the U.S.'s biggest ally in Asia. Suga and Biden spoke in the early hours of Thursday Japan time, according to a statement issued by Foreign Ministry. "President Biden expressed his unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan, including the application of Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty to the Senkaku islands," the ministry said. Biden also expressed a commitment to "extended deterrence," both governments said, a term that refers to the potential use of nuclear weapons to defend an ally. Vessels from Japan and China often come into close contact around the East China Sea islands -- called the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China -- raising concerns of a bigger confrontation. China this month passed a law allowing its coastguard vessels to fire on foreign ships, in a development that could ratchet up tensions with several of its Asian neighbors. The White House said in its statement that Biden and Suga discussed "the United States' unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan," specifying that this covers the Senkaku islands. Japan, whose pacifist constitution limits the activities of its military, seeks regular assurances from the U.S. -- its only defense ally. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have made similar comments on island defense in talks with their Japanese counterparts in recent days. Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration was approaching its relationship with Beijing with "patience" and plans to review hard-line policies that were a hallmark of Donald Trump's presidency. Blinken told Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin the U.S. rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea if they exceed the maritime zones that China is permitted under international law, and pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of Chinese pressure. Malaysia and Vietnam are among other countries embroiled in similar disputes with China, which claims about 80% of the resource-rich South China Sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its claims to territory in the East and South China seas in response to questions Thursday about the U.S. diplomatic calls. "We hope non-regional countries will fully respect China and regional countries' efforts to properly handle maritime differences and disputes and safeguard peace and stability," ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing. Blinken also discussed with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai the importance of working together to "advance our shared prosperity, security, and values across the free and open Indo-Pacific region." In a call with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Blinken reaffirmed his commitment to the so-called Quad. This is a grouping of the U.S., Australia, India and Japan that became elevated under the Trump administration and has been admonished by China as a "clique" that could stoke a new Cold War. Volkswagen AG and a German auto supplier on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower-court ruling that said two counties could seek financial penalties over excess diesel emissions that could total billions of dollars. The German automakers U.S. unit and Robert Bosch LLC asked the U.S. high court to reverse a unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that said Utahs Salt Lake County and Floridas Hillsborough County could seek staggering damages over updates made to polluting diesel vehicles after they were sold. Volkswagen Group of America told the high court the appeals court decision threatens to throw one of Americas largest industries into regulatory chaos, to the detriment of manufacturers, dealers, consumers, and the environment. On Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the states lawsuit against Volkswagen over emissions damages from 14,000 Ohio-registered cars. VW said in court papers Ohios claims could total $350 million per day, or more than $127 billion per year, over a multi-year period. Ohio said VW engaged in deceptive recalls after vehicles were sold and it seeks to hold Volkswagen responsible for modifying its customers cars cars that the customers had already purchased and used to evade emissions laws. In September the Environmental Protection Agency announced a $1.5 billion settlement with Daimler to resolve allegations it engaged in emissions cheating. Volkswagen noted Hillsborough County has since sued Daimler and Bosch and cited a county document that it could also bring an emissions-cheating lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler, which is now known as Stellantis. Volkswagen settled U.S. criminal and civil actions prompted by the emissions scandal for more than $20 billion, but that did not shield it from local and state government liability, the appeals court found, noting they were mindful that our conclusion may result in staggering liability for Volkswagen. The court added it was due to conduct that could not have been anticipated by Congress: Volkswagens intentional tampering with post-sale vehicles to increase air pollution. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who ruled in VWs favor in 2018, noted the automakers potential penalties could reach $30.6 million per day and $11.2 billion per year in the case involving the two counties. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington Editing by Matthew Lewis) Top Photo: In this Monday, April 27, 2020. file photo, The Volkswagen logo stand on the top of a VW headquarters building in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Swen Pfoertner/dpa via AP) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 22:29:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Staff members work at Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 28, 2021. China kicked off its annual travel rush, known as "chunyun," on Thursday, with hundreds of millions starting to head home for the Spring Festival that falls on Feb. 12 this year. Known as the world's largest annual human migration, the travel rush lasts 40 days from Jan. 28 to March 8 this year. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Sorry! This content is not available in your region The dispute over the borderline was existing for the past one and a half-decade after the previously set borders were destroyed by mining companies. The illicit mining of 29 lakh tonnes of rich quality iron ore from reserved forests had caused damage to border areas between both states. (Representational Photo:DC) ANANTAPUR: The survey to fix the boundaries between AP and Karnataka in areas closer to rich deposits of iron ore has been halted following lack of tri-junction and bi-junction points and raising of objections by mining companies. The Survey of India could not continue survey at the controversial mining area of Obulapuram on the AP- Karnataka border for want of required information such as latitude-longitude coordinates of each GCP and for interstate boundary coordinates finalised as per Bellary RF Map of 1896, officials explained. The dispute over the borderline was existing for the past one and a half-decade after the previously set borders were destroyed by mining companies. The illicit mining of 29 lakh tonnes of rich quality iron ore from reserved forests had caused damage to border areas between both states. The survey remained stopped for the past three months following poor response from connecting wings of AP. The 1896 RF Map could enable a check on the correctness of the work of erection of boundaries. Sources told Deccan Chronicle that the Ballary district administration wrote at least three letters seeking information to complete the survey process. Completing the survey works was of utmost priority, as per the apex court order. There however was poor response from the AP authorities in providing information while the Ballary district administration stated it was fully supportive and wanted to complete the activity at the earliest, the sources said. The Karnataka authorities have informed AP in December: The Supreme Court has concluded that interstate boundary shall be as per the Bellary Reserve Forest Map of 1896 which is available in original with Karnataka. Based on that, it was agreed between Karnataka and AP to erect boundaries as per RF Map of 1896. Erection of pillars was undertaken on alignment coordinate approved by the Supreme Court. But, a document from the apex court granting approval to the Survey of India or a committee appointed by the apex court for this purpose, has not been received by the SoI teams to verify the correctness of the pillars and the stones erected. However, 76 pillars have already been erected. With objections raised by a group of mining companies, the authorities have, in a letter in December last, stated that documents claimed to be the basis for undertaking the erection work were not available, and suggested that these documents be furnished to the survey team. The process of fixing borders in between AP and Karnataka through Kodalu village in Sandur taluk of Bellary district and Malapanagudi village of the erstwhile Rayadurg taluk in Anantapur district was halted following the objection raised by the mining owners. T. Syamsundar, a mining company owner from the border area observed that the present system to fix the border pillars wasnt genuine. He said the mineral and non-mineral zones were not marked out in the survey. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Reba Zolecki, a lover of reading and storytelling who currently lives in West Virginia with her husband, has completed her new book Mission: Survive: a gripping and potent story of survival in the face of attacks from enemy forces. Published by Page Publishing, Reba Zoleckis energetic tale follows Mark, who, in search of a simpler lifestyle away from the drama of a heated divorce and an escape from the stress of a military career, moves to a ranch. Hope Ranch is owned and operated by a friend and her ranch hands. Mark quickly becomes accustomed to life on the ranch and finds inner peace in the many jobs the ranch has to offer. When strange attacks and other events start happening in the area, Mark learns that the world is starting to fall apart. With mankinds existence threatened, Mark and his group find out that simply living is not the only thing at risk. Even though Mark, with his extensive military experience, is slightly more prepared than others, some dangers are not what they expect in the new world in which they must survive. Readers who wish to experience this gripping work can purchase Mission: Survive 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. An aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe has cautioned against the impression that is being created pertaining to the 2020 election petition that justice will not be served at the end of the trial. According to him, it will be wrong for some people to say that due to time-bound as indicated in the CI99, the process of the 2020 election petition trial should be rushed through by the Supreme Court to give its ruling. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the private legal practitioner who is not happy about the comment that the lawyers of John Mahama are deliberately delaying the trial said that the petition is about the mandate of the people and not a land litigation trial. He added that at the end of the trial, the ruling of the Supreme Court must serve the interest of the people and not give room for anyone to think that justice was not served, as that impression if materialised may encourage people to scheme something during elections. He alleged that the 2020 general election happened to be the only election in the country where the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) declared the Presidential Election results without seeing a single pink sheet to support the results declared. Inasmuch as the lawyers of former President John Dramani Mahama are not asking the Supreme Court to use 8 months to decide the 2020 election petition, lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe insisted that the rejected applications filed by the election Petitioner were allowed in the 2012 election petition. It is the same election petition or are we saying that when it comes to Nana Addo, there should be different rules? The CI99 did not state that no one can apply for interrogatory or review as well as request for facts to be admitted. The CI99 did not also state that one cannot apply for stay, he argued. He was of the view that, if the rule-maker intended to stop all the applications we have filed, at least they had the benefit of what happened in the past; they could have explicitly forbidden that conduct. The rule maker knowing the effect of amendment wrote clearly that you cannot amend to alter or add to your grounds. The rule maker knows what went on in the past so they wrote it down explicitly that you cannot do this. If it is the intention that you cannot apply for stay, interrogatory, request for a document, he could have written them down as law in the CI99, he posited. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 01:10:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam on Thursday warned illegal immigrants against taking part in criminal acts. Aboubakar Kunenge, the Dar es Salaam regional commissioner, made the remarks following the arrest of 84 illegal immigrants who reportedly engaged in robberies and land grabbing. "The 84 illegal immigrants were among 314 aliens arrested in a special crackdown conducted by law enforcement agencies on January 24 and January 25," he told a news conference. Kunenge said after they were screened it was found out that 84 of them were staying in the country without valid residence permits. "Most of them were arrested in Mabwepande area on the outskirts of the business capital," he said, adding that 79 of the arrested illegal immigrants were from Burundi, two from Malawi, two from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Mozambique, adding that they were expected to be charged in court. Enditem [January 28, 2021] Emergn Partners with University of Arkansas on Product Management Training Course Emergn, a leading global professional services firm helping transform the way people and companies work and deliver solutions to their customers, today announced the company has partnered with the University of Arkansas (U of A) to provide a product management training course designed to help product managers and product owners with any level of experience acquire the skills needed to define, develop and launch products, services and features that fully satisfy the needs of their customers. Understanding the latest thinking in product management via textbooks doesn't cut it when it comes to navigating the complexity of transforming an idea into a value proposition and product that users love. Emergn designed this course to help participants apply what they learn outside of the classroom so they can bring a structured approach to managing products within their organizations and become more involved in product strategy and leading Agile (News - Alert) teams. Participants will learn from real-life examples the most effective strategies for building better relationships with their stakeholders-from bosses and teams to the all-important customer. The practical, facilitator-led online course includes techniques and tools from modern schools of management, including Design Thinking, Lean and Agile, and aligns them with the outcomes of Value, Flow, Quality (VFQ), Emergn's own action-learning education program focused on outcomes. VFQ is used by hundreds of organizations globally, including Fortune 500, FTSE 100 and Global 2000 companies. The virtual (live-online) course, offered through the U of A Global Campus, is split across eight one-hour work-based classes, two dedicated one-on-one sessions with Emergn product management experts and two to three hours per week of practical application and additional study-allowing participants to learn anytime, anywhere. Participants will receive access to the Emergn online education platform for one year and a physical copy of Emergn's VFQ product management book. "Everyone involved in product management is after the same thing-creating a highly successful product," said Alex Adamopoulos, Emergn CEO. "At Emergn, our primary focus is helping people improve the way they work so they can craft, design and build great solutions customers love. Partnering with the University of Arkansas on this course allows us to support more people who want to learn and adopt new ways of working to deliver value and products customers love." U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas, which provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs, among its top American public research universities. This partnership with the University of Arkansas is just one way Emergn has engaged with the Arkansas business community. In addition to placing its first U.S. office in Bentonville, Emergn is a co-founding member of the Northwest Arkansas Product Management Guild. The Guild's mission is to lead the product management procession in developing and promoting vendor-neutral product management approaches, industry best practices, body of knowledge expertise and educational services. To learn more about the course and to register, visit the course page. To learn more about Emergn, visit www.emergn.com. About Emergn A leading expert in digital transformations, Emergn's mission is to improve the way people and companies work. Forever. The global professional services firm blends agile and lean principles to help enterprises solve their complex organizational and IT business problems, and optimize the way they develop and deliver solutions across the enterprise. Emergn works with companies to adopt a customer-centric mindset that enables them to create innovative solutions that solve real and valuable problems for their customers. Through its educational program VFQ, the industry's only work-based learning approach to scaled digital transformation, Emergn supports enterprises and individual learners who want to adopt modern ways of working so they can deliver better products and services, compete more effectively in the digital economy or bring new ideas to market. Emergn has a strong presence in over a dozen countries, with its U.S. headquarters in Boston and EMEA headquarters in London. For more information, visit Emergn's website and follow us on Twitter. About the University of Arkansas Global Campus: The U of A Global Campus supports U of A colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online, distance and workforce education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, technology services and assistance with marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development. Workforce programs are showcased on the U of A Professional and Workforce Development website. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005167/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] DETROIT, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GM plans to be carbon neutral by 2040 in its global products and operations GM aspires to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035 GM has committed to the Business Ambition Pledge for 1.5C Today, GM announced that it plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and has committed to setting science-based targets to achieve carbon neutrality. The company has also signed the Business Ambition Pledge for 1.5C, an urgent call to action from a global coalition of UN agencies, business and industry leaders. "General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world," said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. "We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole." In addition to GM's carbon goals, the company worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to develop a shared vision of an all-electric future and an aspiration to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035. GM's focus will be offering zero-emissions vehicles across a range of price points and working with all stakeholders, including EDF, to build out the necessary charging infrastructure and promote consumer acceptance while maintaining high quality jobs, which will all be needed to meet these ambitious goals. "With this extraordinary step forward, GM is making it crystal clear that taking action to eliminate pollution from all new light-duty vehicles by 2035 is an essential element of any automaker's business plan," said Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp. "EDF and GM have had some important differences in the past, but this is a new day in America one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward." A Science-Based Approach General Motors is committed to reaching carbon neutrality in its global products and operations by 2040, supported by a commitment to science-based targets. To reach its goals, GM plans to decarbonize its portfolio by transitioning to battery electric vehicles or other zero-emissions vehicle technology, sourcing renewable energy and leveraging minimal offsets or credits. Electrification The use of GM's products accounts for 75 percent of carbon emissions related to this commitment. GM will offer 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade and 40 percent of the company's U.S. models offered will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025. GM is investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles in the next five years up from the $20 billion planned before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment includes the continued development of GM's Ultium battery technology, updating facilities such as Factory ZERO in Michigan and Spring Hill Manufacturing in Tennessee to build electric vehicles from globally sourced parts and investing in new sites like Ultium Cells LLC in Ohio as well as manufacturing and STEM jobs. More than half of GM's capital spending and product development team will be devoted to electric and electric-autonomous vehicle programs. And in the coming years, GM plans to offer an EV for every customer, from crossovers and SUVs to trucks and sedans. The company will also continue to increase fuel efficiency of its traditional internal combustion vehicles in accordance with regional fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations. Some of these initiatives include fuel economy improvement technologies, such as Stop/Start, aerodynamic efficiency enhancements, downsized boosted engines, more efficient transmissions and other vehicle improvements, including mass reduction and lower rolling resistance tires. Renewable Energy To address emissions from its own operations, GM will source 100 percent renewable energy to power its U.S. sites by 2030 and global sites by 2035, which represents a five-year acceleration of the company's previously announced global goal. Today, GM is the 10th largest offtaker of renewable energy in the world and in 2020, the company received a 2020 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Carbon Offsets and Credits To account for the expected remaining carbon emissions, GM expects to invest in carbon credits or offsets. The company will assess credit and offset solutions in the coming years as the most efficient, equitable and inclusive ideas mature. The company recognizes that offsets must be used sparingly and should reflect a holistic view of mitigating the effects of climate change and helping people thrive around the world. Supply Chain and Infrastructure GM's carbon neutral commitment applies to its global product portfolio and owned operations. The company is implementing plans today to reduce the impact associated with its supply chain while supporting grids and utilities to power electric vehicles with renewable energy. GM has worked with some of its largest suppliers to create a sustainability council to share best practices, learn from each other and create new standards for the industry. In addition to the council's work, GM is collaborating with suppliers to set ambitious targets for the supply chain to reduce emissions, increase transparency and source more sustainable materials. While electric vehicles themselves do not emit tailpipe emissions, it is critical that they be charged with electricity generated from renewable sources like wind and solar. GM has worked with utilities and developers to support investments in renewable energy found in and around communities that have GM facilities via power purchase agreements and green tariffs. The company is also working with EVgo to triple the size of the nation's largest public fast charging network by adding more than 2,700 new fast chargers by the end of 2025, a move set to help accelerate widespread electric vehicle adoption. The new fast chargers will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. GM believes that the energy sector is well on its way to a decarbonized grid and that an all-electric future will be supported by renewable infrastructure and technology. General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com. Carbon neutrality is defined as achieved when anthropogenic CO2 emissions are balanced globally by anthropogenic CO2 removals over a specified period. [Source IPCC SR15] Science-based targets provide a clearly defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change and future-proof business growth. Targets are considered 'science-based' if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement limiting global warming to well-below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. Decarbonize: In this case, companies seek to mitigate their impact on the climate by eliminating the sources of emissions within the boundary of the target. This is often achieved by avoiding activities that generate emissions (e.g. avoiding combustion of fossil fuels) and/or by preventing the release of emissions that continue to be generated (e.g. through the capture and permanent sequestration of emissions before they are released into the atmosphere). Carbon credits and offsets: In the context of corporate climate neutrality, offsetting refers to the balancing of emissions within the target boundary with an equivalent amount of carbon credits originated from activities that avoid or remove emissions somewhere else. Carbon credits are often issued from two types of project activities: A. Carbon removal projects: Activities that remove and sequester atmospheric carbon as a result of a specific intervention (e.g. reforestation projects). In this case, a carbon credit is issued for every ton of carbon dioxide effectively removed and sequestered over a predefined period; B. Avoided emission projects: Activities that result in a lower emissions scenario compared to a hypothetical business-as-usual scenario as a result of a specific intervention. A carbon credit is issued for every ton of carbon dioxide equivalent effectively avoided, in comparison to the hypothetical business-as-usual scenario, over a certain period. Some project activities can remove and avoid carbon as a result of the same intervention (e.g. REDD+ programs or projects). SOURCE General Motors Co. Related Links http://www.gm.com 1K Shares Share Of all the unsung heroes of this plague-time, perhaps those who have endured the most are resident physicians. After graduation from medical school, resident doctors spend three to seven years in intensive specialty training before they can practice independently. Residency is a vestige of apprenticeships from a bleaker past. It is chapter in life when ones time and energy are mostly spent in hospitals or clinics, when 80-hour workweeks are common, when self-care dwindles, when exhaustion and stress stalk even the strongest and brightest. This is true during the best of times. As we descend through the worst public health crisis in a century, residency demands have sharpened while normal supports systems fail. Most residents are young, often in their mid to late 20s, having spent years ensconced in libraries, research labs, and classrooms learning pathophysiology and pharmacology. Upon graduation from medical school, they are now drafted to the front lines of a generational pandemic, working long hours, often in cities where they are strangers (the process of matching into a residency program is one where residents are not in full control of their destiny or geography). They do so while putting their own health in jeopardy. The residents experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unlike any other, because on average, residents spend almost twice as much time at work as other providers. Residents are allowed to work 80 hours a week on balance, which means its fine to log 90 hours in the ICU if the following week is a mere 70. In short, residents are young, isolated, and working more than anyone else. Salaries can shake out to less than $20 an hour, depending on a monthly schedule. Residents manage this while fighting tooth and nail for the most vulnerable lives in emergency departments, intensive care units, hospital wards, operating rooms, and clinics. Without their labor and expertise, many hospital systems could not function. We have suffered through the deadliest year in our nations history, with over 400,000 people perishing from COVID-19. Perversely, many are doing so away from their loved ones, surrounded by masked strangers in hospitals. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, most hospitals are not allowing visitors. This is excruciating for patients and their families. Amidst this tragedy, residents provide a crucial link between their patients and the outside world. Not only are they caregivers, but counselors, who treat the sick and later spending hours on phone, updating concerned families. Entangled in the heartbreak and loss of millions of Americans, residents do their work heroically. We are humbled by your dedication, your selflessness, your example. We see your sacrifices. Our debt to you is profound. We thank you for the deceased you cared for with dignity and love and for the many thousands of lives saved by your tireless efforts. John P. Murray is an internal medicine physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Peter Dutton has slammed Annastacia Palaszczuk after she asked the federal government to extend JobKeeper for struggling Queensland tourism businesses. In a savage put-down, the Home Affairs Minister told Nine's Today show: 'Obviously we don't take economic advice from the Queensland premier.' Ms Palaszczuk had asked for more economic support from taxpayers as international border closures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 keep out overseas travellers and state border uncertainty weighs on domestic tourism. The picturesque Gold Coast (pictured) has been crippled by the lockdown in Queensland - with interstate travellers banned for months and thousands of holidays cancelled Queensland has had one of the toughest border stances throughout the pandemic, repeatedly closing to other states at short notice when coronavirus cases are identified. Mr Dutton pointed out that Ms Palaszczuk's hard line has contributed to the struggle faced by Queensland's tourism industry. 'It is made harder where these snap decisions are made to close borders, bookings are cancelled, restaurants have ordered food, they've employed staff, they've got bookings but they need to close that night with no warning at all. So we just need to get that balance right,' he said. Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said Ms Palazczuk's closure to Greater Sydney over Christmas and January cost the state more than $200million. Mr Dutton said the premier's call for federal support was politically motivated but did not rule out handing over more cash. 'If we need to provide further assistance we'll look at that,' he said. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg urged Ms Palaszczuk to provide more state support to the tourism sector. Annastacia Palaszczuk has asked for taxpayer support for tourism businesses He said the Commonwealth has pumped $27.9billion into Queensland in coronavirus support measures but the state government has only spent $8.8billion. Asked if the federal government was considering extra support for the tourism sector, Mr Frydenberg told Sky News: 'We will continue to monitor the situation, but we also point out how much support we have already provided.' It came after NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet slammed Ms Palaszczuk for her request to extend JobKeeper - which pays the wage bill of struggling businesses- beyond March 28. 'Queensland, closed one day, asking someone else to pick up the tab the next,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'People in NSW have not only been banned from entering Queensland, but Queensland wants the taxpayers of NSW to pay for that decision.' Meanwhile, Queensland's decision to re-open the border with New South Wales on Thursday has seen demand for holidays up north surge. 'If anyone's down there in NSW or Victoria and you're thinking about having a holiday, come up to Cairns,' Ms Palaszczuk told the Today show on Thursday. The usually bustling Gold Coast (pictured on August 4) resembled a ghost town at the height of the pandemic and when the government banned residents from Greater Sydney 'Everyone is here, ready and willing to welcome you with open arms and a friendly smile.' Queensland had closed the border after an outbreak of Covid-19 on Sydney's Northern Beaches on December 16 and subsequently in the western suburbs on December 29. The Queensland government has a policy of shutting out travellers from declared hotspots until the area goes 28 days without a mystery case of COVID-19. 'The hotspot program has been working very well, especially when we had the lockdown in greater Brisbane, where I put to the National Cabinet everyone else should declare greater Brisbane a hotspot because I did,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'Credit to NSW, they got on top of their cases.' You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited (KBRA) assigns a rating to the Series 2021-1 Class A Notes relating to the Oban Card 2021-1 PLC transaction, a 451.3 million securitisation of United Kingdom ("UK") non-prime credit card receivables originated by Vanquis Bank Limited ("Vanquis Bank"). Vanquis Bank offers a range of credit card products, unsecured personal loans and savings products. Vanquis Bank is a leading issuer of credit cards in the UK non-standard credit market, offering credit cards to customers who have typically been declined by mainstream credit card providers. Vanquis Bank has been active in the credit card market in the UK since 2003 and is wholly-owned by Provident Financial PLC ("Provident"), which was established in 1880. This transaction, Oban Cards 2021-1 plc, Series 2021-1, represents the Company's first term ABS. As of 30 September 2020, the initial portfolio had a weighted average APR of 34.5%, an average balance of 1,041 (excluding zero balance accounts), average credit line of 2,469 and average utilization rate of 54.5%. Additionally, the loan pool is geographically diverse within the United Kingdom with the largest region (London) accounting for only 13.0% of the total portfolio based on current balance. The Vanquis Card represented 59.7% of the pool balance, Chrome Card 31.2%, Argos 4.8% and Aquis 4.3%. The Series 2021-1 transaction will issue two classes of notes in an aggregate principal amount of 453.1 million. Credit enhancement on the Class A notes consists of i) subordination and ii) excess spread generated by the pool of credit card receivables. The transaction has a liquidity reserve of 10.03 million (4.3% of Class A balance) at inception and includes a minimum transferor interest of 0.75%. Click here to view the report. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here Related Publications Credit Card ABS Global Rating Methodology Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology Disclosures Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above. A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here This credit rating is endorsed by Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited for use in the European Union. Information on a credit rating's endorsement status is available on its rating page at KBRA.com. Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com About KBRA UK Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Temporary Registration Regime. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK is located at Augustine House, Austin Friars, London, EC2N 2HA, United Kingdom. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005794/en/ Contacts: Analytical Contacts John Hogan, Senior Director (Lead Analyst) +44 20 8148 1005 john.hogan@kbra.com Adam DeJong, Associate +353 (1) 588 1270 adam.dejong@kbra.com Killian Walsh, Director +353 (1) 588 1184 killian.walsh@kbra.com Eric Neglia, Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair) +1 (646) 731-2456 eneglia@kbra.com Business Development Contact Mauricio Noe, Senior Managing Director +44 (208) 148 1010 mauricio.noe@kbra.com The main culprit in cancer is healthy cells that have gone rogue and acquire the ability to divide uncontrollably. These cells acquire growth advantages over normal cells and manipulate their environment by altering the cellular pathways involved in growth and metabolism. Over the past few decades, various altered pathways and proteins have been identified as targets for therapeutic interventions. However, what remains challenging is selectively targeting cancer cells and ensuring that the drug reaches the tumor in adequate amounts, without severely affecting normal cells. And in this regard, biocompatible delivery vehicles (which are non-toxic to normal cells) can be useful. One such potential candidate is "porphyrins," a group of organic cyclic compounds that form the functional center of several proteins in the human body. Porphyrins are known for their "photosensitizing" effects, that is, their ability to release reactive oxygen species upon light stimulation. These reactive species are what gives porphyrins their anticancer activity. Porphyrins have another advantage: structurally, they are composed of four subunits called "pyrrole subunits," which give them specific electronic properties. These electronic properties, in combination with receptors on cancer cells, facilitate the selective accumulation of porphyrins in cancer cells, thereby serving as an effective drug delivery system. But how the steric position (atomic arrangement) of the functional groups bound to porphyrins favors maximum accumulation and distribution of porphyrin-conjugated drugs in cancer cells hasn't been well studied. To answer this question, researchers at Tokyo University of Science, including Asst. Prof. Toshifumi Tojo, Mr. Koshi Nishida, Assoc. Prof. Takeshi Kondo, and Prof. Makoto Yuasa, dug deeper into how the structure of porphyrin derivatives can affect tumor accumulation. Their findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports. Explaining their motivation, Dr. Tojo, who led the study, says, "Porphyrins are used as the basic skeleton of new drugs for cancer treatment due to their ability to accumulate in cancer cells. They possess different functional group modification positions for drug conjugation. Whether these positions confer different physical properties and membrane permeability remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate how these differences impact drug delivery." In their study, the researchers explored the (third) and meso (middle) position of functional groups in porphyrins. First, using a breast cancer cell line, they looked into how these functional positions affect the time-dependent accumulation in cancer cells, ranging from 2- to 24-hour time points. They found that meso-derivatives accumulated in cells at 3-fold higher amounts than -derivatives and that derivatives with smaller functional groups allowed better aggregation than the larger ones. Next, they investigated how these functional group positions influence the pathway by which porphyrins enter cancer calls. They found that porphyrin conjugates form complexes with plasma proteins that facilitate their transport via endocytic vesicles. Additionally, the compounds could also diffuse into the cytoplasm through the cell membrane. Moreover, considering their electron-rich nature, porphyrins likely interact with serum proteins that transport them to the cells. The researchers, therefore, measured how different positions influence the affinity of these porphyrin conjugates with serum proteins and how increased affinity may enhance tumor accumulation. They found that while the meso-position improves intracellular accumulation of porphyrin conjugates, it did not have a major effect on the movement of small functional groups into the cell. Concluding their findings, Dr. Tojo remarks, "Our study reveals that the functional group modification position of porphyrin greatly affects the membrane permeability and intra-cellular tumor accumulation. We are hopeful that our findings can help inform guidelines for the structural design of novel porphyrin drugs." Overall, their study gives insight into how the structure of drug delivery systems like porphyrins must be considered to achieve maximum efficacy, hopefully paving the way for advancements in cancer drug delivery. ### About The Tokyo University of Science Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field. Website: https:/ / www. tus. ac. jp/ en/ mediarelations/ About Dr. Toshifumi Tojo from Tokyo University of Science Dr. Toshifumi Tojo is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science. He has completed his PhD from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. His research areas of interest include medicinal chemistry and drug delivery systems, and he has authored several peer reviewed articles in this domain. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. It appears that a drug which mimics antibodies being developed in Hungary is effective in preventing serious complications arising from Covid-19, a scientist at Budapests Eotvos Lorand University said, reporting on tests carried out on animals. Imre Kacskovics, an immunologist who heads the universitys science faculty, told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio that a team from pharmaceutical firm Richter Gedeon has managed to produce the compound which was formulated last March. The drug is designed to make the body resistant 12 hours after the jab. The animal experiments conducted so far show that hamsters infected with the coronavirus do not develop severe symptoms after being administered the drug. Human clinical trials are scheduled to be carried out in the late autumn after a sequence of further tests. Kacskovics said the drug was preventative rather than curative and should be used in the early stages of infection. Photo courtesy: Eotvos Lorand University New Delhi, Jan 28 : He stood firm and looked straight in the eye of the old man in a turban who raised his sword above his head, ready to strike him, at the NH-24 on January 26. Delhi Police Sub-Inspector Dayachand's photo went viral where he is seen facing an angry protester with a raised sword. Dayachand who was posted in Mandawali police station of East Delhi was on duty at NH-24 as hundreds of protesters swarmed in and started attacking the picket staff on duty. Just as the sword was about to hit Dayachand, constable Nitin who was witnessing the confrontation acted with lightning speed and blocked the blow of the sword with his baton. "It was horrific. As I saw the man with the sword attacking my senior SI Dayachand, I blocked his sword with my baton wasting no time. The sword hit my baton. Then the angry mob turned towards me and attacked me," said Nitin, also posted at Mandawali police station in east Delhi. Nitin recalls how the angry protesters then hit him with lathis and blows till he fell down. Other policemen later came to his rescue and took him and Dayachand to safety. The Delhi Police has started the search for the protester with the sword and his photographs are being circulated to get some information on him. A man with a sword was also seen standing at the picket in east Delhi on the barricades. "Action will be taken against all those indulging in illegal acts," said Deepak Yadav, DCP, East Delhi. On January 26, as the farmers' protest took an ugly turn as thousands of protesters entered the capital, clashes between police and protesters were seen in several parts of Delhi near the border areas and in the heart of the city at ITO and Red Fort. (Zafar Abbas can be reached at zafar.a@ians.in) An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the cause of death of Catalina Cervantes. A pair of families have filed separate lawsuits accusing a funeral home in San Antonio of mistakenly sending the wrong bodies of two elderly women to each others viewings. The two women, lifelong local residents Catalina R. Cervantes, 85, and Mary Lou Salinas, 88, died 10 days apart in November. Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries prepared them for family viewings and then delivered each to the wrong service, the lawsuits says. The lawsuits describe a pair of awkward discussions with funeral directors, only one of which prevented a burial in the wrong cemetery. To the families horror, the two women had to be re-identified, including one who was exhumed weeks after burial, said attorneys representing both sets of plaintiffs, their surviving children. The suits seek damages in excess of $1 million. Its hard to imagine an event that would cause as much trauma, shock and horror that families suffer, than in a funeral home body mix-up case, plaintiffs attorney Mark Greenwald said. It should never happen. An attorney for MPII, which does business as Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries, issued a statement late Wednesday that said it took immediate action when the mix-up became apparent. The Cervantes family called Mission Park on Nov. 11 to prepare their mothers body for a funeral, including a Catholic rosary and public viewing at Mission Park South. The funeral home did not have a chapel available for two weeks, and when family members arrived Nov. 24, they told the funeral director that the body in the casket did not look good, one lawsuit said. The funeral director did not reply, and closed the lid to the casket, the suit states. The family members assumed that their mothers appearance had changed because they couldnt visit her in the hospital and then her body was embalmed and in storage for two weeks, the lawsuit says. And so the next day, Nov. 25, the Cervantes family members said goodbye to a woman they thought was their mother, dressed in her clothes and buried near her husband at Chapel Hill Memorial Park, according to the lawsuit. The Salinas family members, meanwhile, was mourning their matriarch and making preparations for her rosary and viewing at Mission Park South. Salinas, who died Nov. 21, was to be buried with her husband of 42 years at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. On ExpressNews.com: Parents remember daughter whose body went missing Mission Park subcontracted with the Beyer and Beitel Mortuary Service to transport Salinas to its separate embalming and storage facility and return her to Mission Park South for the viewing and rosary, the second lawsuit states. Because the Salinas family members were battling COVID-19, and due to a backlog at Fort Sam Houston, the earliest date available for the service was Dec. 7. When they arrived to prepare for the rosary, they immediately confirmed the body in the coffin was not their mother, the lawsuit states. They reported it to the funeral director, whose general manager, Michael Hoffman, told them he believed their mother had been accidentally buried on Dec. 2, under the name of another deceased mother, the lawsuit said. Mr. Hoffman repeatedly and callously suggested that since all family and friends were present at the funeral home, the rosary should continue, the lawsuit states. Dick Tips, the owner of MPII, met with the family and admitted that Mission Park made a mistake, and they would do everything they could to make it right, but the Salinas family left that evening still not knowing the location or state of their mothers body, the suit said. According to the lawsuits, on Dec. 8 the Cervantes family consented to let Mission Park exhume the body they thought was their mother from Chapel Hill, and it became clear to the Salinas family that the companys initial calculation that their mother had been mistakenly buried Dec. 2 was incorrect, as Mission Park now believed that Mrs. Salinas was buried as the mother of the Cervantes family on Nov. 25. Nearly a month after her death and two weeks after her burial, Mission Park exhumed Salinas body from the Cervantes plot and the Salinas family positively identified her. They fired Mission Park, and Porter Loring Funeral Home arranged new services, a rosary and a Mass. As it has since 1907, Mission Park served families in our community during the difficult months of 2020, including the Salinas and Cervantes families, Mission Parks statement said. After a positive identification, an open casket visitation and funeral service were held for the Cervantes family. When the identities of the remains later came into question, Mission Park took immediate action to address the issue, and requested the Salinas family confirm the identification. Cervantes was buried at Chapel Hill on Dec. 12, and Salinas was reburied, this time at Fort Sam, on Dec. 17, the lawsuits state. It wasnt the first time a local funeral home has been accused of such a mix-up. The family of Dolores Gutierrez DeLeon, 78, who died in April, settled a lawsuit filed against the Castillo-Mission Funeral Home for switching her body with another woman before her service. Mission Park settled a lawsuit in 2019 for losing the body of Julie Mott, 25, in August 2015. It still has not been located. These types of mistakes, while so easily preventable, inflict untold damage and suffering on the surviving families, said Alex Katzman, who with Greenwald is representing both families. ezavala@express-news.net Saudi Aramco Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, on Thursday said that Saudi Aramco will sell more shares as part of plans to bolster the country's main sovereign wealth fund. Aramco, the world's biggest oil company, completed the world's largest initial public offering in late 2019, raising $25.6 billion and later selling more shares to raise the total to $29.4 billion. The proceeds of that offer were transferred to the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Prince Mohammed's vehicle of choice to transform the Saudi economy and diversify away from oil revenues. "There will be Aramco share offerings coming in the coming years, and this cash will be transferred to the Public Investment Fund," said Prince Mohammed, speaking at the kingdom's Future Investment Initiative conference. He said the PIF would invest the proceeds locally and overseas. The prince also said that apart from further Aramco share sales proceeds, mega projects PIF is backing in Saudi Arabia such as Red Sea tourism project and the $500 billion business zone NEOM are at zero book value on PIF's books and will generate returns, boosting the fund's asset size. On Tuesday, the head of Saudi Arabia's PIF said Aramco may consider selling more shares if market conditions were right. Aramco's shares were down 0.14% on Thursday at 34.75 riyals ($9.26), above its IPO price of 32 riyals. Thursday's closing price valued the company at $1.86 trillion. The Aramco initial public offering was seen as a pillar of economic diversification plans aimed at attracting foreign investment. The $400 billion PIF plans to increase its assets to $1 trillion by 2025, a move that would make it one of the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds. The fund plans to invest 3 trillion riyals ($799.83 billion) in new sectors over the next 10 years and, under a five-year plan, it will create 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs by 2025, from 331,000 by the end of the third quarter of 2020. Analysts and bankers have said that PIF's investment and development plans will require huge amounts of external funding. Saudi Arabia has attracted tens of billions of dollars in financing from international banks and debt investors over the past few years, but foreign direct investment has been lagging. The kingdom's economy suffered a sharp contraction last year due to the coronavirus crisis and lower oil prices, with oil exports still accounting for more than half the kingdom's income. FIORE GOLD Drills 19.8 Metres of 1.33 g/t Gold and 12.2 Metres of 1.75 g/t Gold, Continues to Expand Oxide Mineralization at Its Gold Rock Project, Nevada Posted by Publisher Internet FIORE GOLD LTD. (TSXV: F) (OTCQB: FIOGF) (?Fiore? or the ?Company? https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/fiore-gold-ltd/) is pleased to report additional results from the ongoing drilling program at its Gold Rock project in Nevada (Figure 1). These latest results continue to demonstrate strong intervals of oxide gold mineralization both within and outside of the current resource pit shells. We view this as encouraging in our efforts to upgrade Inferred resources and expand the overall resource envelope as part of the ongoing Feasibility Study (?FS?) of the federally permitted Gold Rock project. Highlights from the twenty-nine holes reported here include: 2 m of 1.14 g/t gold and 18.29 m of 0.84 g/t gold in hole GR20-069 8 m of 1.33 g/t gold in hole GR20-076 2 m of 1.61 g/t gold in hole GR20-079 2 m of 1.75 g/t gold in hole GR20-081 4 m of 0.46 g/t gold in hole GR20-097 In the central part of the deposit (cross-section 1, Figure 2) hole GR20-069 intercepted 15.2 metres of 1.14 g/t gold and 18.3 metres of 0.84 g/t gold, hole GR20-099 intercepted 16.8 metres of 0.71 g/t gold, and GR20-097 intercepted 27.4 metres of 0.46 g/t gold, all from areas near the base of the current northern pit shell from the 2020 Preliminary Economic Assessment (?PEA?). Hole GR20-069 also intercepted 32.0 metres of 0.37 g/t gold below the base of the current design pit shell. Cross-section 2 (Figure 3) is located in the southern part of the deposit and shows stronger mineralization in the eastern limb of the Easy Junior anticline. Intercepts included 10.7 metres of 0.96 g/t gold in GR20-071, 19.8 metres of 1.33 g/t gold in GR20-0076 and 12.2 metres of 1.61 g/t gold in GR20-079.? Mineralization in this area remains open to the east. Tim Warman, Fiore?s CEO stated, ?These holes reported today are primarily infill holes targeting gaps in the existing resource. The results are consistent with previous drilling and continue to show strong, continuous mineralization and excellent opportunities to expand the current resource envelope going into the Feasibility Study. Work on the FS is progressing well: logging of the large diameter metallurgical core holes and the HQ core holes is underway and should move even faster once our new core logging facility is complete in the coming weeks. We are also looking forward to results from several exploration holes drilled at the Jasperoid Creek target approximately 1.05 miles (1.7 km) north of the former Easy Junior pit (Figure 1).? The holes from the current program, including those in this release, are all reverse circulation (?RC?) holes and represent 66,390 feet (20,236 m) of a drilling program consisting of a mix of HQ and PQ diamond core holes as well as RC and sonic holes. Total planned footage for the drilling program to support the FS will be approximately 198,000 ft (60,000 m), with approximately 115,000 ft (35,000 m) focused on resource expansion to add Measured and Indicated resources for inclusion in the FS. Gold Rock Project and PEA Highlights The federally permitted Gold Rock gold project (\Gold Rock\, or the \Project?) is located approximately 8 miles southeast of the Pan Mine in White Pine County, Nevada. The recently released Gold Rock Preliminary Economic Assessment (?PEA?) provides an updated mineral resource estimate and a base case assessment of developing the Project as a satellite open pit operation that will share significant infrastructure and management with the adjacent Pan Mine. The PEA also identifies a considerable number of opportunities to enhance the project economics as Gold Rock advances to the Feasibility stage by drilling to increase the mineral resource, further metallurgical testing aimed at optimizing recoveries, and geotechnical drilling aimed at reducing the stripping ratio. Further updates will be provided as we progress work in these areas. The PEA was prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators\-\- National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (?NI 43-101?). A Technical Report with the details of the PEA is available on SEDAR under the Company\-\-s profile. Gold Rock Mineral Resource Estimate The Company\-\-s updated Gold Rock Mineral Resource Estimate (\MRE\; effective date of March 31, 2020) was completed by APEX and forms the basis for the PEA. A summary of the MRE is highlighted in the table below. Technical Report & Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information relating to Fiore Gold?s properties contained in this news release was approved by Paul Noland (AIPG CPG-11293), Fiore Gold?s VP Exploration and a \Qualified Person\ under National Instrument 43-101. References to the Gold Rock project PEA are taken from the ?Technical Report on the Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Gold Rock Project, White Pine County, Nevada, USA? (the ?Technical Report?).? The Technical Report, which is dated April 30, 2020 with an effective date of March 31, 2020, was prepared in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 ? Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects (?NI 43-101?) and is available under Fiore?s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company?s website at fioregold.com. The report is authored by Michael B. Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., Gregory B, Sparks, B.Sc., P.Eng., Sam J. Shoemaker, Jr., B.S., SME Registered Member, Warren E. Black, M.Sc., P.Geo., and Steven J. Nicholls, BA.Sc., MAIG. Corporate Strategy Our corporate strategy is to grow Fiore into a 150,000 ounce per year gold producer. To achieve this, we intend to: grow gold production at the Pan Mine while also growing the reserve and resource base; advance exploration and development of the nearby Gold Rock project; and acquire additional production or near-production assets to complement our existing operations 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 Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains ?forward-looking statements? and ?forward looking information? (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management?s best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to any future mining operations at Gold Rock, including those described in the PEA, upgrading the Gold Rock inferred resources and expanding its resource envelop, plans for a Gold Rock Feasibility Study, enhancing the Gold Rock project economics at feasibility stage, including by drilling to increase the mineral resource, further metallurgical testing aimed at optimizing recoveries, and geotechnical drilling aimed at reducing the stripping ratio, future updates regarding progress of feasibility work, anticipated results and expectations that the Company will advance the Gold Rock project to feasibility, , the Company?s future gold production,? corporate strategy, goal to become a 150,000 ounce producer, goal to acquire additional production or near production assets, and other statements, estimates or expectations. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ?expects?, ?expected?, ?budgeted?, ?targets?, ?forecasts?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?aims?, ?will?, ?believes?, ?projects? and similar expressions (including negative variations) which by their nature refer to future events. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Fiore Gold?s control. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, as well as a number of assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company concerning, among other things, anticipated geological formations, potential mineralization, future plans for exploration and/or development, potential future production, ability to obtain permits for future operations, drilling exposure, and exploration budgets and timing of expenditures, all of which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fiore Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward looking statements include, but not limited to, risks related to the Pan Mine performance, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including government restrictions impacting the Company?s operations, risks the pandemic poses to its work-force, impacts the virus may have on ability to obtain services and materials from its suppliers and contractors; risks related to the company?s limited operating history; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current or future exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in market prices of mining consumables; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results, test results and the estimation of gold resources and reserves; failure of plant, equipment or? processes to operate as anticipated; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work programs; availability of financing; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained, renewed or amended in a timely manner or at all; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and other factors identified in Fiore Gold?s filings with Canadian securities authorities under its profile at www.sedar.com respecting the risks affecting Fiore and its business. Although Fiore has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause 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. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fiore disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. In this Tuesday, May 26, 2020 photo released by Nucleus Network/ABC, clinical trial participants are monitored during Novavax COVID-19 vaccine testing in Melbourne, Australia. On Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, Novavax said its vaccine appears 89% effective based on early findings from a British study and that it also seems to workthough not quite as wellagainst new mutated strains of the coronavirus circulating in that country and South Africa. (Patrick Rocca/Nucleus Network/ABC via AP) Novavax Inc. said Thursday that its COVID-19 vaccine appears 89% effective based on early findings from a British study and that it also seems to workthough not as wellagainst new mutated versions of the virus circulating in that country and South Africa. The announcement comes amid worry about whether a variety of vaccines being rolled out around the world will be strong enough to protect against worrisome new variantsand as the world desperately needs new types of shots to boost scarce supplies. The study of 15,000 people in Britain is still underway. But an interim analysis found 62 participants so far have been diagnosed with COVID-19only six of them in the group that got vaccine and the rest who received dummy shots. The infections occurred at a time when Britain was experiencing a jump in COVID-19 caused by a more contagious variant. A preliminary analysis found over half of the trial participants who became infected had the mutated version. The numbers are very small, but Novavax said they suggest the vaccine is nearly 96% effective against the older coronavirus and nearly 86% effective against the new variant. The findings are based on cases that occurred at least a week after the second dose. "Both those numbers are dramatic demonstrations of the ability of our vaccine to develop a very potent immune response," Novavax CEO Stanley Erck said in a call with investors late Thursday. Scientists have been even more worried about a variant first discovered in South Africa that carries different mutations. Results from a smaller Novavax study in that country suggests the vaccine does work but not nearly as well as it does against the variant from Britain. The South African study included some volunteers with HIV. Among the HIV-negative volunteers, the vaccine appears 60% effective. Including volunteers with HIV, overall the protection was 49%, the company said. While genetic testing still is underway, so far about 90% of the COVID-19 illnesses found in the South African study appear due to the new mutant. "These are good results. There is reason to be optimistic" about the 60% effectiveness, said Glenda Gray, head of the South African Medical Research Council. Even against the new variant that now causes more than 90% of new cases in that country, "we're still seeing vaccine efficacy," she said. More concerning is what the study showed about a totally different questionthe chances of people getting COVID-19 a second time, said the leader of the South African study, Shabir Madhi of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Tests suggested that nearly a third of study participants had been previously infected, yet rates of new infections in the placebo group were similar. "Past infection with early variants of the virus in South Africa does not protect" against infection with the new one, he said. "There doesn't seem to be any protection derived." Novavax said it needs some additional data before it can seek British authorization for the vaccine's use, sometime in the next month or so. A larger study in the U.S. and Mexico has enrolled slightly over half of the needed 30,000 volunteers. Novavax said it's not clear if the Food and Drug Administration will need data from that study, too, before deciding whether to allow U.S. use. Meanwhile, it is starting to develop a version of the vaccine that could more specifically target the mutations found in South Africa, in case health authorities eventually decide that updated dosing is needed. Vaccines against COVID-19 train the body to recognize the new coronavirus, mostly the spike protein that coats it. But the Novavax candidate is made differently than the first shots being used. Called a recombinant protein vaccine, the Maryland company uses genetic engineering to grow harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in insect cells. Scientists extract and purify the protein and then mix in an immune-boosting chemical. 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. A kosher slaughterhouse in southern Hungary has increased its exports to Belgium since the European Union's highest court last month upheld a law in the country's Flanders region that outlawed slaughtering animals without first stunning them into unconsciousness. Jewish law forbids injuring an animal before it is killed, so the Belgian stunning requirement renders meat and poultry non-kosher. The European Court of Justice ruling may have given the Hungarian facility a short-term business boost, but it has provoked fears of an eventual EU-wide prohibition on the production and sale of kosher meat. Animal rights groups which pushed for the Flanders law argued that ritual slaughter without stunning is tantamount to animal cruelty. But Slomo Koves, the Chief Rabbi of the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities which owns the slaughterhouse in Csengele, Hungary, told The Associated Press that the increasing interrelatedness of European Jewish communities means the court's decision will reverberate beyond Belgium's borders and that he fears the next step after banning ritual slaughter will be a Europe-wide prohibition on the sale of kosher meat. "This court decision, which right now affects only Belgium doesn't only affect the Belgian Jewish community," he said. Passed in the name of animal rights, the 2017 Flemish law - and a similar one in the Wallonia region of Belgium - joins a list of regulations in another six European countries which ban slaughter without stunning or sedation, which is most often performed through electric shock or a bolt gun to the animal's skull. The practice, which often kills or irreparably injures the animal, is not permitted under Jewish law which forbids injury or damage to animals' tissues before slaughtering them for food. Muslim groups have argued that the stunning requirements in Flanders and Wallonia preclude halal ritual slaughtering as well, and allege the laws have come from efforts by Belgium's Islamophobic far-right to harass their communities. But according to Reineke Hameleers, CEO of the Brussels-based animal protection organisation Eurogroup for Animals, scientific bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority have demonstrated that animals "suffer tremendously" when they are slaughtered while conscious. She believes that reversible stunning is the bare minimum to protect animals and that animals should be rendered unconscious before being killed, using a temporary, non-fatal stunning procedure. Some Muslim religious authorities consider permissible in the production of halal meat but Jewish authorities do not. Rabbi Koves believes that the kosher slaughter method, known as shechita, is no less humane than the methods used in conventional meat production. The method uses a sharp knife and is performed by a 'shochet' trained to make the cut in a single smooth motion, severing the animal's nerves and draining the blood from the brain in seconds. Laws requiring the pre-slaughter stunning of animals appeared in some European countries as early as the late 19th century, with the EU requiring the pre-stunning of animals since 1979 while allowing member states to make religion-based exceptions. Most do, but lawmakers across Europe have been increasingly open to either curtailing or doing away with the exemptions. Slovenia, Denmark and Sweden, as well as non-EU members Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, make no religious exceptions, forcing their religious communities to import kosher and halal meat from abroad. Jewish and Muslim groups challenged the Flanders law in Belgium's Constitutional Court, which referred it to the European Court of Justice for a ruling on its compatibility with EU law. The Court of Justice's advocate general advised the court to strike it down, arguing it violated the rights of certain faiths to preserve their essential religious rites. But the court disagreed, finding the law "allow(s) a fair balance to be struck between the importance attached to animal welfare and the freedom of Jewish and Muslim believers to manifest their religion," since it limits only one aspect of ritual slaughter but not the slaughter itself. Now religious groups worry the decision could lead to other European governments introducing similar restrictions affecting ritual slaughter, and make challenges to such laws unlikely to find redress in the court. Rabbi Koves said: "it's a shock for us that the European court would put the so-called animal rights above human rights." (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A Rochester Institute of Technology professor is helping to develop drone imaging systems aimed at empowering farmers to better manage the nutrients in their vineyards. Professor Jan van Aardt from the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science is receiving more than $357,000 in funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to help grape growers make data-driven nutrient-management decisions. Van Aardt is part of a large consortium, led by Washington State University, working together to develop the novel approach. Farmers ideally need to analyze the levels of nutrients such as nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, and others to optimize fertilization efforts and subsequent yields, but current methods are expensive, time-consuming, and require destructive chemical analysis of leaves. The ultimate goal is to provide practical sensing tools that can help farmers improve vineyard productivity, berry and wine composition and quality, environmental sustainability, and business profitability. "The goal is to use the traditional chemical analysis of in-field leaf tissue samples to develop drone-based solutions," said van Aardt, who is on the sensors/engineering team working on ways to detect the health levels of the grapevines. "We can collect hundreds of spectral channels (or colors) and then distill the problem into a handful of channels that are necessary to estimate, say nitrogen levels, and then design an operational solution for a farmer or service provider to assess the nutrients. We'll also look at what the flight parameters should look like - what time of year we should fly, how frequently, how fast, what the pixel size should be, and so on." Van Aardt is leveraging the expertise from RIT's Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory, including Research Scientist Nina Raqueno and Senior Lab Engineer Timothy Bauch. Rob Chancia, an imaging science MS student from Utica, N.Y., has already conducted several test drone flights over vineyards near Lake Erie using hyperspectral and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) imaging systems in conjunction with collaborators from Cornell (Professor Justine Vanden Heuvel and Senior Research Associate Terry Bates), who collected field samples of leaves at the same sites. The RIT College of Science researchers are using the data collected to develop algorithms this winter in preparation for more regular flights once the growing season resumes. ### Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday outlined eight broad principles for repairing ties between India and China that included strict adherence to all agreements on management of the Line of Actual Control, mutual respect and sensitivity, and recognising each other's aspirations as rising Asian powers. In an address at an online conference on India-China ties, Jaishankar said the events in eastern Ladakh last year have profoundly disturbed the relationship and asserted that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the LAC is "completely unacceptable". The external affairs minister said any expectation that the situation at the border "can be brushed aside and life can carry on undisturbed" is simply not realistic. Jaishankar said the India-China relationship is truly at the crossroads today and choices that are made will have profound repercussions not just for the two nations but for the entire world. He said the Chinese actions in eastern Ladakh not only signalled a disregard for commitments about minimising troops level but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity. "Significantly, to date, we have yet to receive a credible explanation for the change in China's stance and massing of troops in border areas," he said at the All India Conference on China Studies. Elaborating on eight points for moving forward in bilateral ties, the external affairs minister said agreements already reached on management of the LAC must be adhered to in their entirety and in letter and spirit. ALSO READ | China Insists India Withdraw Troops From Pangong Tso's South Bank First Before PLA Pulls Back Soldiers "Whether handling of the border areas is concerned, the Line of Actual Control must be strictly observed and respected. Any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable," he said. While both nations are committed to a multi-polar world, Jaishankar said, there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential consequences. "Obviously each state will have its interests, concerns and priorities, but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided. At the end of the day relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature," he said. Jaishankar said as rising powers, each nation will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit to it cannot be ignored. ALSO READ | 'Minor' Face-off Between India, PLA Troops in Sikkim's Naku La, Resolved by Local Commanders: Army He said peace and tranquillity in border areas is the basis for development of ties with China in other domains and if it is disturbed, "so inevitably is rest of the relationship". The external affairs minister said far from mitigating already existing differences, events of 2020 have actually put the relationship under "exceptional stress" Any expectation that the situation at border can be brushed aside and life can carry on undisturbed is simply not realistic, he said. He said if ties are to progress, policies must take into account the learnings of the last three decades. The corps commander level talks between India and China recently did not lead to any agreement for disengagement from the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, but officials told News18 that both sides have agreed in principle to withdraw troops after a nine-month standoff. The 9th round of talks between GoC, Lt General PGK Menon-led Indian delegation and the Chinese delegation led by Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang Military Region, lasted for over 15 hours at Moldo. An official statement by the defence ministry stated that the two sides had a "candid and in-depth exchange of views on disengagement" and they "agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops". Lets agree that total lockdown is the most ruinous of all options, and the one wed like to use least. We have tools we could deploy to avoid it, but wed need to start quickly. One is rapid, at-home testing. The technology exists to produce tens of millions of cheap, at-home antigen test strips each day. These strips are highly accurate during the period that matters most when we are infected and contagious. Used widely, theyd let all of us check, daily, if we were potentially infected, so we could then isolate and avoid infecting others. This is a public health issue and if we dont empower the public to deal with it we wont be able to defeat it, Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at Harvard, told me. The problem here is the Food and Drug Administration. They have been disastrously slow in approving these tests and have held them to a standard more appropriate to doctors offices than home testing. The F.D.A. needs to catch up to the science, Mina said, frustration evident in his voice. They are inadvertently killing people by not following the science. On my podcast, I asked Vivek Murthy, President Bidens nominee for surgeon general, whether the F.D.A. had been too cautious. I do think weve been too conservative, he told me. Murthy went on to argue that theres a difference between the diagnostic testing doctors do and the surveillance testing the public could do and that the F.D.A. had failed to appreciate the difference. Speeding the F.D.A. on this issue will be an early, and crucial, test for the Biden administration. In this case, Democrats need to deregulate. Biden has proposed spending $50 billion on testing, and a chunk of that money will go to genomic sequencing. This is crucial, because the virus is mutating, and we need to know how, and where, and we need to know it quickly. Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida, told me that this moment feels to her like a year ago, when we knew the coronavirus was spreading, but we didnt have the basic testing to map the problem. Given that we dont have adequate genomics surveillance, we have the same deja vu that there is something out there circulating and were not appropriately measuring it, she says. Congress needs to pass Bidens plan, right now. Better masking would also make a difference. Many of us and I include myself here are wandering around in cotton masks whose construction we know little about. Thats better than nothing, but a year into this pandemic, we should have stronger guidance on choosing the most effective masks. I want to see very direct guidance from the C.D.C. of masks people should be wearing in different contexts, Jha told me. He said that with the new strains, he wont go into a grocery store unless hes double-masked, or wearing an N95, or the South Korean equivalent, a KF94. In September, we learned the Trump administration had scrapped the United States Postal Services plan to send masks to every American residence. During our conversation, I asked Murthy if having the government produce and directly distribute high quality masks is an idea worth revisiting. I think so, he said. Then, of course, theres vaccination. We live in an age of marvels. That we already have two vaccines, both of them over 90 percent effective against the virus, is a wonder. Early testing shows the vaccines easily neutralize the B.1.1.7 variant, and while there is a South Africa strain that shows some resistance to the vaccine, the level of antibodies the vaccine produces should still be sufficient. If it isnt, BioNTech says they could produce a targeted booster in about six weeks. Biden first promised 100 million shots in the first 100 days of his presidency. Now, he is suggesting that we could reach 150 million. Romers calculations suggest that two million vaccinations a day could keep us ahead of the new strains, and blunt their impact almost entirely. I recognize the political appeal of underpromising and overdelivering, but the danger of a modest goal is that you can fool yourself into believing youve succeeded when in fact youve failed. Biden has said the Trump administrations vaccination rollout was a dismal failure, and he was right. But if were delivering 1.3 million shots a day now, even before the Biden administration has implemented their new distribution program, then two million per day seems like a reasonable goal to reach for. There is an end in sight. But this could end with 300,000 more deaths, or it could end with a fraction of that. What we do these next few months will make all the difference. Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said that Europe is more determined than ever to make the Paris climate accord a success and insisted that the deal is not negotiable while predicting difficult talks on the issue at next weeks Group of 20 summit. Merkel also said she hopes for a clear signal in favour of free markets and the multilateral trading system from the July 7-8 meeting in Hamburg, arguing anew that protectionism cant solve the worlds problems. Merkel addressed Germanys parliament ahead of a meeting with European participants in the G-20 summit. The Trump administrations America first approach to trade and other issues has caused widespread concern elsewhere, as has its decision to withdraw from the Paris accord on climate change. The European Union will implement swiftly its commitments under that deal, Merkel said. Since the decision by the United States of America to leave the Paris climate accord, we are more determined than ever to lead it to success, she added. She declared that the Paris agreement is irreversible and it is not negotiable. We cannot expect easy talks in Hamburg on the matter, Merkel said. The disagreement is obvious, and it would be dishonest to gloss over it. I wont do that, in any case. As the G-20, we cannot ignore the challenge that climate change poses to all of us in the world, she said, adding that leaders must bear in mind the concerns of countries such as island nations most at risk from rising sea levels. Merkel said the talks in Hamburg must serve the substance and aims of the Paris accord. More broadly, she said, anyone who thinks that they can solve the problems of this world with isolationism and protectionism is making an enormous mistake. She argued that the G-20 a forum that rose to prominence in the wake of the global financial crisis is needed more than ever because countries working together can change things far more effectively than with uncoordinated national policies. My aim is for the G-20 to send a clear signal for free markets and against isolation, and a clear commitment to the multilateral trading system, Merkel said. Hamburg is mounting a huge security operation to protect the summit in the heart of Germanys second-biggest city. We know that the summit and the days before are a big challenge for the citizens of Hamburg, Merkel told lawmakers. We know that there will be protests, and that is more than legitimate in a democracy. But I hope ... that these protests will be peaceful. The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Also attending the summit will be the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Guinea, Senegal, Singapore and Vietnam. Also read: Paris climate deal: UN chief expresses disappointment at Trumps decision, world leaders term it historic error Also read: White House: Donald Trump has 'fairly unbelievable' relationship with German Chancellor Angela Merkel For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Libya: 1,300 soldiers take part in 'Turkish' training After training in Turkey with another 1,000 sailors and pilots (ANSA) - CAIRO, 28 GEN - A group of 1,300 Libyan military members completed "training focused on combat under the supervision of the Turkish armed forces" as part of a security deal between Tripoli and Ankara, said the website Libya Observer, citing official sources from the Libyan defence ministry. It said another group of 1,100 military members is still being trained in Libya by the Turkish, with 18 programmes that include demining and anti-terrorism. About 1,000 Libyan navy sailors and air force pilots meanwhile returned home after completing training courses in Turkey, while another 200 are still training in the country, which is an ally of the Government of National Accord of outgoing prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj, said the site, indirectly citing Libyan Defence Minister Salah al-Namroush. (ANSA). ALEPPO, Syria International air traffic has resumed at Aleppo International Airport, with the first departing plane touching down in Beiruts Rafic Hariri International Airport on Jan. 15, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported. The resumption of flights to neighboring countries contribute to setting the wheel of the economy back in motion and restoring the glory of the touristic city of Aleppo, Bassem Mansour, director of civil aviation in Syria, told SANA. Air traffic had first resumed at the airport on Feb. 17, 2020, after an eight-year hiatus due to the war, with the arrival of the first domestic flight from Damascus. On Feb. 23, 2020, a ministerial delegation arrived from Damascus. Commercial flights, however, were suspended again last year with the Syrian government citing the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 13,600 cases have been registered in the regime-controlled areas so far, with 890 deaths and 7,121 recoveries, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Aleppo International Airport is located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of the city. It serves the city of Aleppo and its countryside, an area seen as Syrias economic capital. The airport, however, fell under the control of Iranian forces and their affiliated militias in mid-2012 after the Free Syrian Army entered Aleppo. Iranian forces turned the airport and its surroundings into an area of influence to transport their recruits and weapons to fight alongside the regime forces. The Nairab military airport is located near Aleppo International Airport and had been also used by the Iranian forces, notably the 80th Brigade, as an air defense battalion for the protection of both airfields. The area witnessed fierce battles between the Syrian opposition forces and the regime and its allies from 2012 to 2016. Despite the regime retaking control of Aleppos eastern neighborhoods with the oppositions departure at the end of 2016, Iranian forces continued to hold both airports. The Iranian sites have also been subjected to Israeli airstrikes. It is unknown whether the Iranian forces have now evacuated both airports and their surroundings and how the regime decided to promote the return of air traffic at Aleppo International Airport at this time. Bilal Sattouf, a researcher who studies jihadi groups residing in the countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, It is unlikely that the Iranian forces will abandon the Aleppo International Airport and the nearby Nairab military airport. Both airports are seen as important air bridges between Iran and Syria and are relatively far away from the Israeli border. The resumption of commercial flights at the airport cannot be seen as demonstration of the Assad regimes ability to restore stability in Syria. The airport is fully managed by Iran so far, with the Syrian government present just for appearances, he added. Younes al-Karim, a Syrian researcher and economic analyst who lives in France, told Al-Monitor, Aleppo International Airport and the adjacent Nairab military airport located on the outskirts of Aleppo serve as a station and a gathering point for the Iranian forces and their allied militias. Through these two airfields, they transport their mercenaries and weapons from Iran to Syria. The Iranian forces cannot simply give up these gains. Since it regained control over the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo at the end of 2016, the Syrian regime has been trying to come up with a deal to ensure the resumption of operations at the airport. The Chinese may have been the preferred option for the regime, which is trying to reduce Russian-Iranian control over the Syrian state. Yet the offer did not seem to appeal to the Chinese, he added. Aleppo is also seen as the industrial hub of Syria, and the improvement in activities gives an impression of an improvement in the economy as a whole, which attracts investment an urgent need for the regime to save its ailing economy, he added. Karim explained that reopening the airport is also a kind of courtesy to the components and minorities in Aleppo, such as Armenians and Assyrians. The regime is trying to convey a message that the most important vital facility is back in business, and another message to Turkey, Russia and the Syrian Democratic Forces that it has not given up on the northern part [of Syria], which is back under its control. Ahmad Abdel Qader, a political activist based in the northern countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, Resuming operations at the airport at this timing is an attempt by the regime to send a message that it is on top of things, especially with presidential elections set to take place in a few months. It appears that it is in the regimes interest to have the Iranian militias out of its vital facilities so it alone can benefit from their financial returns. But in reality, the regime can do nothing to eject them. Iran, on the other hand, despite coming under pressure from all sides, continues to seep deeper into the fabric of the Syrian state and society through its militias and by commanding personal loyalties in many state institutions and positions in accordance with their importance to the Iranian project, he added. Abdel Qader does not believe Iran will completely withdraw its forces from the Aleppo airport despite the Israeli airstrikes. The flood gates sit within the U.S.-Mexico border fence west of Naco, Arizona, on May 8, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Bidens Halt to Border Wall Construction to Cost About 5,000 Jobs, Billions of Dollars: Former CBP Acting Commissioner The halt to build new border wall systems ordered by President Joe Biden will mean the loss of some 5,000 construction jobs, according to the most recent former chief operating officer and former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Conservatively, its going to cost about 5,000 jobsconstruction workersright now, Mark A. Morgan told Breitbart News. Its gonna cost them their livelihood. Biden, just hours after his inauguration as the 46th U.S. president on Jan. 20, signed an executive order to terminate the emergency declaration on the southern border and halt border wall construction. Former President Donald Trump had previously extended the emergency declaration on the border until February 2022. It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall, the order reads. Congress had recently appropriated $1.4 billion for border wall construction in the 2021 National Defense Authorization package. Morgan told Breitbart that those in the steel, concrete, and technology industries who supply the materials for the border walls will also be affected. Now, keep in mind, theyre going to be paid for what they produced so far, he said when referring to union members in the steel industry that produce the bollards. But for the 350 miles that Congress funded for construction the money they are counting on to feed their families and pay their mortgage, all that goes out the window. He said that there are about 270,000 tons of steel bollard fencing that have already been produced but not assembled. Think about that. We are not only going to have to pay the contractors for that, but then were gonna have to pay the additional money to either destroy it, which is unconscionable, or store it, he spoke of the costs, adding that there are other partially completed areas that will have to cost to undo, such as paying the contractor to pull out pieces of rebar previously laid. Conservatively were looking at costing taxpayers billions of dollars, he told the outlet. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. Alejandro Mayorkas, Bidens pick to head the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said he hasnt looked at what hed do with the current border wall, including the possibility of removing portions of it. I look forward to studying that question, understand the costs and benefits of doing so, he told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 19. More than 450 miles of border fencing were constructed along the U.S.Mexico border during the Trump administration. Much of the construction replaced old or ineffective barriers. The National Border Patrol Council, which endorsed Trump for president, previously said that border fencing is essential to slow illegal crossings and keep agents safe. The White House announced on Jan. 23 that Bidens plan included increasing resettlement capacity and lawful alternative immigration pathways, as well as improved processing at the border for immigrants claiming asylum. Biden has brought other immigration changes to the White House, including suspending the remain in Mexico program for asylum seekers, revoking a travel ban on terror-prone countries, continuing the DACA program, and suspending deportations for illegal aliens for 100 days. Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report. The President of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, joins calls for the government of India to release Fr Stan Swamy, the 83-year-old Indian Jesuit priest and social activist who has been imprisoned for over 100 days on unfounded charges of sedition and terrorism. By Lisa Zengarini In an open letter published on Indias Republic Day, 26 January, the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and Fr Damian Howard SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain, urge Indian authorities to release Fr. Stan Swamy, SJ on bail, on humanitarian grounds. They make this plea, so that he can receive the medical attention he needs and challenge the manifestly unjust charges brought against him. Fr Swamy suffers from Parkinsons disease, and requires assistance with eating and dressing. 'Arbitrary arrest' Reminding Indian officials that the elderly priest has committed his life to working for the Constitutional rights of the most impoverished and marginalised people in India and that many Jesuits have already given their lives in this cause, the letter stresses that he is now "at grave risk of contracting COVID in an over-crowded prison in Mumbai." Cardinal Nichols and Fr Howard also point out that UN representatives too have expressed concern about "the arbitrary arrest of Fr Swamy and the way in which the Indian state is seeking to delegitimise his peaceful work for human rights. Repeatedly denied bail Father Swamy was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the federal anti-terror agency, in his residence in Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand State, on 8 October along with other 16 people, on charges of having planned and executed the violence in the Bhima Koregaon area of Maharashtra on 31 December 2017, in which one person was killed and many others injured. They are also accused of cooperating with outlawed Maoist rebels and conspiring against the State. The charges have been consistently denied by the priest who, in his five-decade-long ministry, has worked for poor tribals (Adivasi) and other impoverished people in Jharkhand and other places. However, he has been denied bail several times as the NIA claims it has serious evidence against him. Mounting calls for release Since his arrest many people and Church organizations in India and abroad have appealed for his release, including the Indian Bishops Conference (CBCI), the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), and the Jesuits of India. The case was brought up during a meeting last week between three Indian Cardinals and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said that, though he is aware of the situation, the government does not want to interfere in the matter. Earlier this month, Bishop Declan Lang, chair of the Department for International Affairs of the CBCEW, raised Fr Swamys case directly with the UK government. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Patriot Party Leader Calls for Public Support, Would Welcome Trump A leader in the burgeoning Patriot Party said the movement needs support from the public and would welcome backing from former President Donald Trump. Trump has reportedly floated starting a third party revolving around the idea of patriots, or dedicated Americans. The Patriot Party already exists, though its efforts are in the early stages. Weve just been moving collectively as a group online for the last several months to talk about what this movement even looks like, what it would look like to have a valid third party and viable candidate that have conservative constitutional values, William Johnson, chair of the Idaho Patriot Party political action committee (PAC), told The Epoch Times. There is no national Patriot Party. Johnson is working with Patriot Party PACs in other states to build a movement that could eventually become a national party, like the Republican National Committee. In order to be recognized by the Federal Election Commission, a party has to have a certain number of people who have run and won under their banner. Thats the stage the party is at now. Johnson and others are working on finding candidates to run for various offices, including in mayoral races and for city council positions. The movement is backing David Richter in the New Jersey gubernatorial race and Mindy Robinson in a bid for a House seat representing Nevada. Robinson told The Epoch Times via email that starting the Patriot Party PAC in Nevada was in response to what I realized was a crooked, incompetent, gutless GOP. Its a return to the Constitution and the restoration [of] the personal freedom and rights of ALL Americans. The establishment is never going to push for term limits, pay cuts, or less power for themselves but the people will, she said, adding that she hopes to see honest conservatives hold offices at the city, state, and federal levels to reclaim a government that has forsaken its people. Mindy Robinson attends the Unplanned Red Carpet Premiere in Hollywood, Calif., on March 18, 2019. (Maury Phillips/Getty Images for Unplanned Movie, LLC) The movement is aimed at attracting both disenfranchised Republicans and Democrats, according to Johnson. Organizers are trying to figure out how to support conservative constitutional values while not drifting too far right. Organizers would welcome support from Trump, who recently disavowed a different Patriot Party that tried to present a linkage to his team. All of us that are working on this would welcome any support from former GOP or former Dems, quite honestly, because I think that both parties have gone extreme left and extreme right, Johnson said. While no Patriot Party organizers have been in touch with Trump or his team, wed be foolish not to welcome support from people that have gone and won campaigns and served this nation well, he added. Johnson, Robinson, and others involved in the movement are planning on attending the Conservative Political Action Conference 2021 to try to network with prominent conservatives, in part to identify candidates that can run. Police officers, nurses, and firemen are among those Johnson would like to see run. Weve had way too many decades of career politicians and not enough statesmen that have come out of the people that are just regular people, he said. A patriot, he added, is someone whos willing to stand up for the values of their country. A coalition of restaurant and winery owners who filed a lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Public Health Officer Tomas Aragon announced Thursday that they are voluntarily dismissing their lawsuit given the announcement Monday that outdoor dining could resume. The group warned, however, that they aren't going away. Cynthia Ariosta, owner of Pizzeria Tra Vigne in St. Helena, helped spearhead the lawsuit efforts and said they will refile if necessary. "The guns are loaded and ready to go if they try to do this again without any data or science to back up that this is a risky activity," she told SFGATE. "The up-down up-down roller coaster has been really, really hard to deal with I mean, to bring employees back and lay them off again, and bring employees back and lay them off again, and never have any certainty on what you're going to be able to do," Ariosta said of the situation with the state. "And every time we've done something to pivot, to meet guidelines and meet mandates, and then be told, 'Oh wait, nope, that's not good enough. You have to do more, you have to do more, you have to do more.' No other industry has been asked to do as much as we have to try to keep people safe. And yet it's still not good enough. "So it still always feels like we're just on the edge. We can celebrate right now, but what's going to happen tomorrow? Maybe they're going to take it away, or maybe tomorrow they're going to say some other things. So there's no certainty for us," she added. The lawsuit by the Wine Country Coalition for Safe Reopening, made up of more than 50 restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and suppliers across Napa and Sonoma counties, is just one of a handful of lawsuits across the state that sprung up after California decided to shut down outdoor dining in December. Another lawsuit was filed against Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and State Public Health Officer Erica Pan in December by restaurant Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill in Sherman Oaks, Calif. which had a viral video moment when owner Angela Marsden voiced her frustration with film shoots being allowed while outdoor dining was not still seems to be in place. In fact, hair and nail salons also joined in that suit last week. Mark Geragos, an attorney in the Pineapple Hill lawsuit and also notably a fellow restaurant owner, called the shutdown "government overreach at its worst," the New York Times reported. Mentioning that other businesses such as "big box stores" like Home Depot were allowed to remain open for business, Ariosta argued that outdoor dining at her restaurants were at least well-ventilated, while customers at businesses indoors have masks "down under their nose" or "hanging off their ears." "The lawsuit was brought on because there was no science or data to substantiate an outdoor dining ban," Ariosta said. "And the ban just was arbitrary. It was like, 'Nope, we're going to choose this, but we're not going to choose that' there was an unequal application of this law or edict. ... So while indoor activities were allowed to continue to still go on, and we weren't." Newsom has been routinely criticized for not showing the data that necessitated the closure of outdoor dining since December. "I said it Friday, I said it Monday, I'll say it again today," Newsom said, back in December, "I'm deeply empathetic and deeply committed to advancing the cause of supporting our small businesses in this challenging and trying time." California's unemployment rate went up to 9% in the month of December, which the New York Times noted was the state's first unemployment increase since April and perhaps tied to restaurant and hotel closures. When asked Monday about whether lifting the stay-at-home order was done for political reasons, Newsom told reporters that was "complete, utter nonsense." Although outdoor dining has been allowed once again across California, Ariosta feels that's just a start to what the restaurant industry needs at the moment. Beyond wanting financial help from the government to help the restaurant industry in recover financially and figuring out what to do with a devastated work force a number of restaurant employees have since moved on to other work or industries, she said Ariosta says restaurants now have to work on getting their reputation back. "Not only do we have to recover financially, but we do have to recover our reputations as caregivers, right? We have always taken care of public, that's what hospitality is: It's taking care of people, it's nurturing their lives and enriching their lives," Ariosta said. "And so much of the mandates have, unfortunately because of the arbitrariness, it's like the government has pointed their finger at us and said, 'Oh, these are the bad guys, this is where it's spreading, so we're going to shut them down.' And there's a lot of segments of the population that still believe that and so vilified us in a way that we're going to have to recover from that. ... So this is one small victory, but we have a lot of work to do." Pakistans highest court on Thursday ordered the release of the man who had been convicted of being the mastermind behind the 2002 kidnapping and death of the American journalist Daniel Pearl, in a ruling that experts say shows the weakness of terrorism prosecutions in the country. In its ruling, the Supreme Court in Islamabad upheld a lower courts decision to acquit and release the man, Ahmed Omar Sheikh, a British national and militant. Mr. Sheikh has long denied any involvement in Mr. Pearls abduction and murder, but the Supreme Court on Wednesday heard new evidence that he had acknowledged writing a letter in 2019 admitting a minor role. That had raised hopes for some that he might remain in jail. Instead, the new ruling could bring to an end an 18-year case in which all four men originally arrested and charged with Mr. Pearls abduction and murder have now been acquitted. Washington, D.C. and surrounding area. Credit: Johannes Uhl Cities are not all the same, or at least their evolution isn't, according to new research from the University of Colorado Boulder. These findings, out this week in Nature Communications Earth and Environment and Earth System Science Data, buck the historical view that most cities in the United States developed in similar ways. Using a century's worth of urban spatial data, the researchers found a long history of urban size (how big a place is) "decoupling" from urban form (the shape and structure of a city), leading to cities not all evolving the sameor even close. The researchers hope that by providing this look at the past with this unique data set, they'll be able to glimpse the future, including the impact of population growth on cities or how cities might develop in response to environmental factors like sea level rise or wildfire risk. "We can learn so much more about our cities about and urban development, if we know how to exploit these kinds of new data, and I think this really confirms our approach," said Stefan Leyk, a geography professor at CU Boulder and one of the authors on the papers. "It's not just the volume of data that you take and throw into a washing machine. It's really the knowing how to make use of the data, how to integrate them, how to get the right and meaningful things out there." It's projected that by 2050, more than two-thirds of humans will live in urban areas. What those urban areas will look like, however, is unclear, given limited knowledge of the history of urban areas, broadly speaking, prior to the 1970s. This work and previous research, however, hopes to fill that gap by studying property-level data from the property management company, Zillow, through a property-share agreement. This massive dataset, called the Zillow Transaction and Assessment Dataset or ZTRAX, contains about 374 million data records that include the built year of existing buildings going back over 100 years. Previously, the researchers then used these data to create the Historical Settlement Data Compilation for the United States (HISDAC-US), a set of unique time series data set that's freely available for anyone to use. For this new research, which were funded by the National Science Foundation, the Institute of Behavioral Sciences and Earth Lab, the researchers applied statistical methods and data mining algorithms to the data, trying to glean all available information on the nature of settlement development, particularly for metropolitan statistical areas, or high-density geographic regions. What they found is that not only were they able to learn more about how to measure urban size, shape and structure (or form), including the number of built-up locations and their structures, they were also able to see very clear trends in the evolution of these distinct categories of urban development. In particular, the researchers found that urban form and urban size do not develop the same as previously thought. While size generally moves in a single direction, especially in large cities, form can ebb and flow depending on constraints, such as the geography of places as well as environmental and technological factors. "This (the categorization) is something that is really novel about that paper because this could not be done prior to that because these data were just not available," said Johannes Uhl, the lead author of the paper and a research associate at CU Boulder. Credit: University of Colorado at Boulder It's remarkable, according to the researchers, that the two articles are being published by different high-impact journals on the same day. While the Nature Communications Earth and Environment piece discusses the substantive application of the data, the Earth System Science Data discusses the data themselves, the methods to create them, and the limitations with them. "There's so much potential in this current data revolution, as we call it," Leyk commented. "The growth of so-called data journals is a good trend because it's becoming more and more systematic to publish formal descriptions of the data, to learn where the data can be found, and to inform the community what kind of publications are based on these data products. So, I like this trend and we try and make use of it." This research, however, is still far from finished. Next, the researchers hope to further examine the categories, and, in particular, the different groups of cities that emerged in the process of this research to hopefully determine a classification system for urban evolution, while also applying the data approach to more rural settings. "The findings are interesting, but they can of course be expanded into greater detail," Uhl said. The researchers are also working with other researchers in different fields across the university to explore the applications of these data on topics as far reaching as urban fuel models for nuclear war scenarios, the exposure of the built environment to wildfire risk, and settlement vulnerability from sea level rise. "The context is a little different in each of these fields, but really interesting," Leyk said. "You realize how important that kind of new data, new information, can become for so many unexpected topics." Explore further Research empowers efforts to plan smarter, more resilient cities More information: Johannes H. Uhl et al, A century of decoupling size and structure of urban spaces in the United States, Communications Earth & Environment (2021). Johannes H. Uhl et al, A century of decoupling size and structure of urban spaces in the United States,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-020-00082-7 Johannes H. Uhl et al. Fine-grained, spatiotemporal datasets measuring 200 years of land development in the United States, Earth System Science Data (2021). DOI: 10.5194/essd-13-119-2021 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. A group of congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, has reintroduced a bill decriminalizing illegal border crossings. Pramila Jayapal is a member of the so-called "Squad," a group of progressive House Democrats. The representatives reintroduced the legislation known as the "New Way Forward Act," which has been stalled in Congress after being introduced in Dec. 2019. Jayapal and Garcia announced a renewed push to pass the bill during a Facebook live event on Tuesday. The bill reportedly has more than 30 co-sponsors, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, apart from Jayapal and Garcia. Pramila Jayapal said it is not enough to simply reverse the "hateful" immigration policies of former President Donald Trump's administration, Fox News reported. She further noted that they have to "deliver on a real, humane reform" of the immigration system. "America's racist, xenophobic... immigration system has been broken for decades," Pramila Jayapal said in the report. She added that the measure would promote racial justice, protect due process for everyone, and keep families together. Related story: Trump Signs Executive Order Expanding US Immigration Restrictions What's in the Bill Aside from Decriminalizing Illegal Border Crossings Under the proposed bill, it would end mandatory detention of immigrants without bail release and ban non-profit immigration jails. The automatic deportation of immigrants who had contact with the criminal legal system for things like drug indictments will no longer be allowed. The local police would also be prohibited from acting as deportation agents or conducting mass deportations. It would decriminalize border crossings with broader goals of restoring due process to the immigration system and dismantling the so-called prison-to-deportation pipeline. The legislators' announcement comes hours after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a 100-day moratorium on most deportations. Biden's Deportation Moratorium The judge blocked Biden's moratorium from taking effect on Tuesday. The decision came a few days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the first major lawsuit against the Biden administration. According to a Forbes report, it was a major early blow to President Joe Biden's immigration agenda. U.S. District Court Judge Drew Tipton signed a temporary restraining order, which forces the Department of Homeland Security to hold off on Biden's plan to halt deportation for most immigrants for the first 100 days of his administration. This order would mean that deportations could theoretically resume for 14 days while Texas' lawsuit against the federal government makes its way to the federal court system. Tipton was a federal judge appointed by Trump. He was also known to lend some support for Texas' claim that pausing deportation violates federal laws on how quickly people are removed after a deportation order is issued. "We're confident that as the case proceeds, it will be clear that this measure was wholly appropriate in ordering a temporary pause to allow the agency to carefully review its policies, procedures, and enforcement priorities," a White House spokesperson said in the report. Meanwhile, some immigration advocates were disappointed by Tipton's order. The American Civil Liberties Union said the decision is hasty and incorrect, adding that they are confident it will be set aside as the case continues. Read also: Joe Biden Plans to Reverse Trump's Immigration Policies Once He's in Office Diana Vondra The meme of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and his viral hand-knit mittens continues to make splashes across the Internet. You can now find the meme crocheted on a bollard, vertical posts used to control traffic and mark boundaries, at Port Aransas beach. Diana Vondra, an organizer of the Yarn Bombing & Bollard Buddies in Port A, said it took four days to crochet Sanders. On Tuesday, she added the piece to her more than 200 yarn bomb collection currently spread across bollards at the beach. For the People Act deserves support Voting rights are among the most fundamental rights in a democratic society. Recent events, like the Jan. 6 U. S. Capitol riots, showed just how fragile voting rights are in society. Despite an absence of evidence, hundreds of people breached the Capitol in Washington, D.C. to protest legitimate election results. This is truly frightening because a democracy cannot function without the peaceful transition of power. The events of Jan. 6 demonstrate there is much we need to do as a country to protect voting rights and restore faith in the voting process. An immediate action we could take is to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act. We applaud Missouris Congresswoman Cori Bush and Congressman Emanuel Clever for co-sponsoring H.R. 1, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 4, 2021. This sweeping reform package would protect every eligible Americans fundamental right to vote and strengthen our democracy. The Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity strongly favors the measure and urges all members of Missouris congressional delegation to support the For the People Act and push for its immediate passage. ADVERTISEMENT The Missouri Voter Protection Coalition wrote a letter to Missouris Congressional Delegation advocating for the passage of H.R.1. They argue that H.R.1 would ensure that Missouri voters have access to absentee voting regardless of their reason for needing to cast an absentee ballot. It would ensure early voting opportunities. It would update and streamline voter registration. It would restore voting rights for returning citizens who have served their time. For all these reasons, we urge Congress to pass H.R. 1. Nancy Solomon Desloge, Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity Traitor should not be eulogized I was puzzled by your decision to run a lengthy (250 words) obituary in the Jan. 13 edition for the odious British traitor, George Blake, yimakh shemo (May his name be erased). Blake likely caused greater harm to the West and the cause of liberty than even the notorious Cambridge Five. His betrayal of British and American intelligence led to the barbaric torture and execution of scores of courageous freedom-loving Eastern Europeans, including Maj. Pyotr Popov, who was one of the highest ranked assets this country had inside Moscow. Blake, however, lived out the last 60 years of his life in comfort in Moscow after escaping British justice. A true believer in only Marx (and sporadic dabbler in various forms of Christianity) with but scant ties to Judaism via his fathers side, and none to St. Louis, he is unworthy of a lengthy eulogy in your newspaper. Matthew Grad, Creve Coeur Relief funds for health needed If I could teach members of Congress about one aspect of Judaism, it would have to be tikkun olam. Our world could use some repairing. Congress is in a unique position to do this, and not just for our own country. The most recent COVID-19 relief bill included a historic $4 billion investment in access to vaccines globally, warranting celebration. But outside of this, so far Congress has done virtually nothing to respond to the pandemic outside our borders a failing that must be corrected as soon as possible. The World Food Program projects that global hunger will double. UNICEF estimates 80 million children are at risk of preventable diseases like measles and polio. AIDS, TB, and malaria deaths are projected to rise to levels we havent seen in years. Im calling on our senators and Congresswomen Cori Bush and Ann Wagner to get to work passing an emergency COVID-19 package that includes $20 billion for global relief to mitigate the secondary impacts of COVID-19, including hunger and malnutrition in low-income communities. That $20 billion should include at least $4 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in order to strengthen health systems and the fight against infectious diseases. Yara Changyit-Levin, Town and Country An end to fences that divide Reflecting upon newspaper images depicting the National Guard patrolling a hastily erected fence around the U.S. Capitol: As Jews, we are instructed, at Pirkei Avot 1:1, to build a fence around the Torah. Yet, some fences are opposed to Jewish principles. Historians will surely write less about Donald Trumps unfulfilled border fence than about barriers he did build not only that little fence in Washington, but the higher walls he influenced, eroding that fragile one between good sense and myth, while (saddest, most dangerous of all) bolstering the several walls separating Americans, including Jewish Americans, from each other, walls for which many of us share responsibility. It remains for us to tear them down. Robert Taxman, Chesterfield Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Pregnant women are much more likely to have poor outcomes from COVID-19 than similarly-aged people who are not pregnant, a new study suggests. Researchers found that expectant mothers infected with the virus were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with complications. What's more, mothers-to-be were nearly 14 times more likely to die than Americans within the population who were in their 20s and 30s. The findings comes one day after the World Health Organization recommended the pregnant women not receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, just three weeks after issuing a similar warning for the Pfizer vaccine, due to a lack of safety data. But the team, from the University of Washington, Seattle, told DailyMail.com that its study shows exactly why pregnant women should get the shot and why they should not be excluded from vaccine trials and recommendations. Researchers looked at 240 pregnant women with COVID-19 in Washington state between March 1 and June 30, 2020. Pictured: Nurse Janil Wise (left) inserts a nasal swap during a COVID-19 test for patient Sarah Bodle, who is 31 weeks pregnant, at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Calfiornia, July 2020 Expectant mothers were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 13.6 times more likely to die than non-pregnant residents of Washington state who were in their 20s and 30s (above) 'We wanted to come together very quickly to understand the impact of the disease on our pregnant patients and their outcomes,' senior author Dr Kristina Adams Waldorf, an obstetrician-gynecologist with the University of Washington School of Medicine, told DailyMail.com 'We were having weekly calls, starting back in March, to share what we knew.' For the study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the team followed 240 pregnant women with COVID-19 in Washington state between March 1 and June 30, 2020. More than half of the cases - 56.3 percent - were detected in the third trimester. Researchers compared hospitalization and fatality rates in pregnancy to those of similarly aged adults, between ages 20 and 39, in Washington State. Results showed 24 expectant mothers, or 10 percent, were hospitalized specifically for coronavirus symptoms. That is about 3.5 times higher than the COVID-19- associated hospitalization rate of similarly-aged adults, which sat at 2.8 percent. In addition, one-third of the hospitalized patients were admitted to the ICU. In addition, there were three deaths among the pregnant patients for a maternal mortality rate of 1,250 out of 100,000 pregnancies, or 1.2 percent, This rate is 13.6 times higher than the 91.7 deaths out of 100,000 patients, or 0.09 percent, of the non-pregnant 20 to 39 year olds. 'We were shocked that we had so many women who died of COVID-19 because maternal deaths are really very rare in the state,' Adams Waldorf said. 'We only have a handful a year and these are three that happened in just a few months...and in spite of all the best care there is to provide.' What's more, the three women who died of COVID-19 were from minority ethnic groups and had other health conditions such as obesity and hypertension. The team's future research plan to focus on some reasons why pregnant women face higher risks of coronavirus-related hospitalization and death. The World Health Organization recently recommended pregnant women not receive Moderna's or Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine due to a lack of safety data. Pictured: A health worker administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 at Clalit Health Services, in Tel Aviv, January 23 The researchers say they are opposed to this recommendation and are calling on pregnant women, especially, frontline essential workers, to be vaccinated. About one million people are being vaccinated every day The findings come just one day after the WHO warned pregnant women, of whom there more than three million in the U.S., are against receiving a coronavirus vaccine. The group added that mothers-to-be should only be immunized if they are at risk of high exposure. No vaccine trials to date have included pregnant women - and they are not expected to until after the first quarter of 2021 - meaning there is no safety data, the WHO says. 'We are completely puzzled by this new statement from the World Health Organization,' Adams Waldorf said. 'And no one quite understands where this recommendation comes from. We have excellent animal safety data, we understand biologically how this [disease] works and we know front and center the risk that pregnant patients are facing, 'One in 80 face a chance of dying. That's real.' Adams Waldorf said the findings provide even more impetus to push for vaccines and that pregnant patients should have been given the option to enroll in vaccine trials. 'It was a mistake for Pfizer and Moderna to not include pregnant patients in their trials, but now it's done' she said . 'We are standing firm [in our recommendation] that frontline essential workers who are pregnant should be offered the chance to have this vaccine and they should speak with their OBGYN about the risks and benefits.' Armenian police have arrested at least 21 people during protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over his handling of a six-week war with Azerbaijan. Several thousand demonstrators rallied outside the government's headquarters in the capital Yerevan on January 28, with some clashing with police. Pashinian has refused calls to step down but raised the possibility of holding early parliamentary elections. Pashinian, who was swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018, has come under fire since agreeing to a Moscow-brokered deal with Azerbaijan that took effect on November 10, 2020, ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh that saw ethnic Armenian forces suffer battlefield defeat. A coalition uniting 16 opposition parties has been holding anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and other parts of the country in a bid to force Pashinian to hand over power to an interim government. Despite facing a united opposition front, Pashinians My Step bloc maintains an overwhelming majority in parliament. Under the Moscow-brokered cease-fire, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by Armenians. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population reject Azerbaijani rule. They had been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region and seven adjacent districts in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994. Based on reporting by AP and TASS 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. Denton, TX (76205) Today Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 77F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered district administrations to clear all protest sites on the state's borders with Delhi currently being blocked by farmers. The state government has ordered all DMs and SSPs to ensure the end of all the farmers' agitations in the state, news agency ANI quoted officials as saying. The District Magistrate at the Ghazipur border told CNN-News18: "We have given them a notice...it is not for arrest. The notice is for causing public nuisance." "A notice has been served to them (farmers) under Section 133 of CrPC (conditional order for removal of nuisance)," ANI quoted Ghaziabad ADM City Shailendra Kumar Singh as saying. The "verbal" communication from the Ghaziabad administration to Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), agitating at Ghazipur, came after three farmers union's withdrew their protest against the central farm laws over the violence in Delhi on January 26 that left 394 security personnel injured and one protestor dead. "Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protesters camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them," said a district official. The orders, which signal a hard line taken by the government, came two days after violence during the tractor rally on the occasion of the Republic Day at several locations in the national capital. The farmers at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border had been sitting on protest against the three farm laws since November 26 last year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws and ensuring the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. A senior police official wishing not to be named told IANS: "Yes, we have received orders from the government to get all the farmers protest site on the borders of the state vacated." Earlier in the day, there was heavy deployment of security personnel, comprising the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Rapid Action Force at the Ghazipur protest site. The farmers have blocked the Delhi-Meerut highway from one side since November 26 last year. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who has been named in the FIR by the Delhi Police in connection with the Republic Day violence also made a presence at the Ghazipur border, after going underground for last two days. A team of senior officials of the Ghaziabad police and administration also arrived at the Ghazipur border to apprehend him. Cybersecurity Hassan, Cornyn try again with cyber Guard bill Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) reintroduced their bill to allow states to utilize the National Guard to improve their cybersecurity, citing the SolarWinds Orion and a noticeable uptick in cyberattacks connected to the ongoing pandemic. "We have seen unprecedented cyberattacks throughout the country this past year -- most notably the SolarWinds attack, but also cyberattacks on schools, hospitals, and state and local governments amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Hassan. "The National Guard fights to protect Americans from cybersecurity threats every day, and it is essential that they have the authority to provide support to state agencies and local governments working to keep us safe online," Cornyn added. The senators introduced a similar bill in October which stalled after being referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act included several provisions on cybersecurity developed by the congressional Cyberspace Solarium Commission, including a measure pushed by Hassan and Cornyn to establish a cybersecurity state coordinator position in each state. The National Guard during the 2020 elections also took a more extensive roll assisting states with cybersecurity measures. In Washington state, FCW reported, Guard members help monitor local election systems and prepare organizations with better network hygiene. About the Author Justin Katz covers cybersecurity for FCW. Previously he covered the Navy and Marine Corps for Inside Defense, focusing on weapons, vehicle acquisition and congressional oversight of the Pentagon. Prior to reporting for Inside Defense, Katz covered community news in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas. Connect with him on Twitter at @JustinSKatz. "A lot of this work, and in fact, most of it is done over the shoulder of the secretary of state's team, their own IT staff, [to] teach them how to do these things as well," Air Force Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, the Washington National Guard's assistant adjutant general, told reporters in October. "But again, just another extra set of eyes." Joseph Sonnabend opened his medical practice in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City in 1977, on the cusp of what would become one of the most consequential battles of modern medicine. At the time, what is now known as AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - had not yet been identified, and scientists were years away from isolating HIV as its cause. "Fate," Dr. Sonnabend once said in an interview with BuzzFeed, "put me at the beginning of this epidemic." He was a gay physician who treated predominantly gay men at a time when they were often regarded as outcasts. Receiving his patients after they looked in vain for compassionate care elsewhere, he became one of the first physicians to recognize the emergence of AIDS and went on to play a critical, if at times controversial, role in slowing its spread. "He was very devoted to the clientele" at a time when "there was still a lot of prejudice, bias, hostility to people who were gay," Robert Gallo, an American virologist who is credited as a co-discoverer of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), said in an interview. Sonnabend died Jan. 24 at a hospital in London, where he had lived since 2005. He was 88. The cause was complications of a heart attack he had suffered three weeks earlier, said David Kirschenbaum, a friend and co-executor of his estate. Born in South Africa and trained in England, Sonnabend brought to his medical practice a background in infectious diseases that helped him understand before many others the nature of the illness that in its earlier years was stigmatized as a "gay cancer" or the "gay plague." "I was seeing kinds of morbidity amongst sexually active young gay men that could not be adequately accounted for," he recalled in 2000 when he received an honor from Amfar, a research organization that he helped found in 1983 as the AIDS Medical Foundation. These illnesses included Kaposi's sarcoma, a rare cancer that produces purple skin lesions, and a form of pneumonia that generally occurs only in people with severely compromised immune systems. "The other doctors who were treating AIDS didn't have the research experience or the instincts," he told POZ, a publication that caters to people affected by HIV/AIDS, in 1998. "And the academic researchers - the top immunologists, virologists and so on - who had the expertise, didn't have the patients. I had both the background and the patients. And that was an amazing discovery. I mean, it was as if I had jewels." "I had patients who liked me, who were willing to give me blood, who would participate in anything," he continued. "The one thing I didn't have was a freezer. I couldn't afford a freezer, so I kept the blood in a refrigerator that had a little freezing compartment." Like many researchers at the time, Sonnabend struggled to understand the new syndrome and its cause, initially linking AIDS to repeated hits to the immune system from multiple sexually transmitted diseases and other infections. By the mid-1980s, scientists including Gallo and the French virologists Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier demonstrated that AIDS was caused by a virus, HIV. In those early days and later, including when he challenged prevailing views about the antiviral drug AZT, Sonnabend at times found himself at odds with the medical establishment, which he said dismissed him as "just a VD doctor" ("VD" refers to venereal, or sexually transmitted, disease). "I desperately wanted to help," he said, "but I was basically told to mind my own business and just take care of my patients." He helped form what became Amfar to pursue community-based clinical trials. As chairman of the scientific committee at the AIDS Medical Foundation, Sonnabend also served as a medical consultant for a publication that was widely read within the gay community: "How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach." The booklet, written by activists Richard Berkowitz and Michael Callen, was first printed in 1983, just as scientists closed in on the discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS. Under Sonnabend's guidance, the authors challenged sexually active gay men not necessarily to limit their number of partners, but rather to change their sexual practices - including by using condoms - to protect themselves and others from the spread of disease. "We brought the ire of the gay community down on us for even daring to suggest that behavior spreads germs," Sonnabend told POZ, recalling the reaction to the explicit booklet, which they distributed in places such as gay bars. "We became hated people." They produced the booklet, Sonnabend reflected in POZ 30 years after the volume was released, because "the three of us shared a belief in the importance of sexual expression as a vital human need. It was particularly important, that at a time when it could be associated with the possibility of such dreadful consequences, sex itself be defended as one of life's joys." Callen died of AIDS in 1993. Berkowitz, now 65, and living with AIDS for years, was depicted in the 2008 documentary "Sex Positive." He credited Sonnabend, who was his physician, with saving his life on multiple occasions and with instilling in him the message - which he and Callen sought to share through their booklet - that "it's never too late" to discard old habits and begin having safer sex. Joseph Adolph Sonnabend was born in Johannesburg on Jan. 6, 1933, and grew up in Bulawayo, in what is now Zimbabwe. His mother was a physician, and his father was a sociologist. Both parents were Jewish immigrants from Europe. Sonnabend studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he graduated in 1956. He later trained in microbiology and immunology in England, where he worked with Alick Isaacs, who helped discover the antiviral protein interferon. Sonnabend later examined overproduced interferon as it might relate to the development of HIV/AIDS, a contribution that Gallo described as "real and lasting." In 1969, Sonnabend became a professor at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York. He joined the city health department, advocating programs to reduce sexually transmitted disease among gay men, and volunteered at a clinic for gay men in Greenwich Village before opening his own practice. "It was in a small apartment, crowded from floor to ceiling with magazines, posters, medical supplies and furniture that wasn't worthy of a low-rent garage sale," Sean Strub, the founder of POZ, wrote in a profile of Sonnabend. "Patients in the waiting room sometimes rearranged the order of seeing Joe, based on our collective assessment of who needed to see him first," Strub recalled. "Those of us with insurance remind him to send out bills; those without often helped in his office, cooked him dinner or volunteered with the organizations Joe started. Over the years, his patients have redecorated, filed, cleaned and helped in the management of his practice." Sonnabend was married once and had two children from other relationships, according to Kirschenbaum, but complete information on his survivors was not available. When he received the honor from Amfar, Sonnabend remarked that he had felt "the burden of history." "My involvement has been as a laboratory scientist, as a physician, as a clinical researcher, as a community activist, and as a sexually active gay man," he said. "And all these involvements have been intertwined over time, and it has been burdensome." "I've witnessed so much failure," he said. But there were also profound, meaningful successes. Strub, who has AIDS, described himself as "one of the dying" people Sonnabend had kept alive. "Not through some magic combination of pills he urged me to take," Strub wrote, "but through an intangible conveyance of hope, respect [and] trust." A senior BBC producer today lost a court battle to slash her unemployed ex-husband's share of their 2million fortune. Tessa Finch, who founded The One Show and has earned 160,000-a-year as head of development at the corporation, separated from Barry Baker between 2012 and 2013. London's Civil Appeal Court heard that former journalist Mr Baker, 69, had 'not worked for some time' and had run up 66,000 worth of debts - while Ms Finch accumulated a substantial BBC pension valued by a court at 2million. During divorce proceedings, Mr Baker was awarded a 733,650 sum of the couple's assets and was even handed a one-third share of Ms Finch's pension. Though Ms Finch, 57, retained 1.58million in assets and two-thirds of her pension, she decided to challenge the size of the payout in the Court of Appeal. Her lawyers told Lord Justice Moylan that Mr Baker had made a 'significantly negative' contribution to the family fortune during the marriage, and claimed he should not have got the payout that he did. But Lord Justice Moylan, sitting with Lord Justice Lewison and Lord Justice Nugee, today threw out the challenge, upholding an earlier ruling that the 733,650 and pension share would meet Mr Baker's 'needs'. Tessa Finch (left), who founded The One Show and has earned 160,000-a-year as Head of Development at the corporation, separated from Barry Baker (right) in 2012-13 London's Civil Appeal Court heard that Mr Baker had 'not worked for some time' and had run up 66,000 worth of debts - while Ms Finch accumulated a 2million BBC pension Tessa Finch: From local news to launching The One Show Tessa Finch is a high-flying BBC broadcasting executive. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a 'multi-award winning TV programme maker, commissioner and creative leader, currently Head of Development for BBC TV Productions'. She began her career as a writer for the Cable TV Guide before joining the Mid Somerset Newspaper Group as a newspaper reporter in 1986. A year later, Ms Finch joined the news desk at the Daily Express and went on to find employment at the BBC in 1992. She worked her way up BBC Television before founding the popular BBC1 series The One Show in 2006. In 2010, Ms Finch became Head of Development at BBC TV Productions and earned around 160,000 per year as of September 2017 filings. Advertisement The judge said the couple met in 1990, started living together in 1991 and married in 1993. They had two children and separated in 2012-13 when Mr Baker left the former matrimonial home. Ms Finch and their children continued to live there but by the time their fight over money came before a divorce judge, the husband was living as a lodger in a friend's home. 'The husband has not sought to have any real contact with the children since the separation,' said Lord Justice Moylan. 'The wife has, for many years, worked for the BBC. The husband has not worked for some time. The extent to which he was employed during the marriage was an issue between the parties,' he added. In the Family Court in Bristol in November last year, Judge Richard Bromilow handed Mr Baker the 733,650 sum plus the share of his ex-wife's pension. Their fortune consisted mainly of the former matrimonial home, a string of investment properties and Ms Finch's pension. That sum was less than that Mr Baker received at an initial divorce hearing before Judge Myles Watkins in January 2019, where Mr Baker had been given 814,000 and 48.6 per cent of the pension. This was successfully reduced by Ms Finch's legal team. The broadcasting executive's lawyers argued before the Court of Appeal that the financial split made by Judge Bromilow was still unfair, calling the ruling 'seriously flawed and wrong'. Ms Finch's lawyer criticised Mr Baker's conduct, saying he had made a 'significantly negative' contribution to the couple's fortunes. But Lord Justice Moylan upheld an earlier ruling that the husband had in fact made 'a modest contribution' and that the 'conduct' on his part that his ex complained about was 'not a relevant issue' in splitting up their fortune. The Court of Appeal threw out Ms Finch's bid to slash her ex-husband's large payout He said: 'All the parties' non-pension assets were matrimonial property... [and] the wife's BBC pension was generated during the marriage. 'A significant departure from equality was justified to enable both parties to meet their needs. All the assets in this case comprised marital property. 'Once Judge Watkins had determined that conduct was not a relevant issue, the determinative principle in this case was that of needs, not sharing. 'It is clear that the assets were no more than sufficient to meet the financial needs of the parties and the children. 'Accordingly, I reject the wife's contention that the judge's evaluation of the parties' respective needs and the net effect of his order were flawed. 'The judge's assessment of the husband's capital and income needs was one which was plainly open to him. 'The judge can be seen to have considered the wife's housing and income needs and determined that she would have sufficient resources to meet them,' he concluded. The European charter for robots and humans working together has been officially released by the European Engineering Industries Association (EUnited). The document defines 10 focus areas to shape the future of work. The charter supports the UNITED NATIONS Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. "The transition to an increasingly automated and data driven economy requires changes in work arrangements that need to be adjusted by employers, their workers and government," says Nobel Prize laureate, Sir Christopher Pissarides, Co-Chair at the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW). "Industry can help by ensuring that their workers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the new economy." Focus area one puts the human in the centre: The charter wants robots to relieve workers of the dull and low-interaction work that is not well suited for human nature employees should work like humans and not like machines. Focus area two makes it clear that robots must assist humans, not the other way around. Therefore, the European robotics industry advocates a "human-in-command approach". The other focus areas deal with skills development, human-robot collaboration, the ease of machine use, initiatives especially for young people and strategies tackling demographic change. "2.7 million industrial robots in use worldwide and the increasing use of service robots outside factories rapidly change the way we work," says EUnited Robotics Chairman, Wilfried Eberhardt. "To actively manage this transition, the European robotics industry has developed the 'Good Work Charter' and identified 10 focus areas that we need to address now. It is essential to understand that humans will always play a central role in the workplace." Downloads Press release Graphic: https://www.eu-nited.net/eunited+aisbl/resource-center/press-releases/index.html About EUnited Robotics EUnited Robotics is a sector of EUnited AISBL based in Brussels, established to serve the robotics industry in Europe. We aim to develop, advocate, and communicate topics of industrial relevance to support our members, expand Europe's competitive edge and boost its global economic standing. www.eu-nited.net/robotics View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127005826/en/ Contacts: econNEWSnetwork Carsten Heer +49 40 822 44 284 newsroom@econ-news.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 04:11:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States is ramping up COVID-19 vaccine rollout as January marks the deadliest month yet since the onset of the pandemic in the country. In face of growing frustration over vaccine shortages, U.S. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday a roughly 16 percent boost in vaccine deliveries to states over the next three weeks. The country expects to provide enough doses to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer or early fall, according to Biden. Biden, calling the push a "wartime effort," said the administration was working to buy an additional 100 million doses of each of the two approved coronavirus vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. "The brutal truth is it's going to take months before we can get the majority of Americans vaccinated. Months. In the next few months, masks, not vaccines, are the best defense against COVID-19," he said. Shortages have been so severe that some vaccination sites around the United States had to cancel tens of thousands of appointments with people seeking their first shot, according to media reports. "We appreciate the administration stating that it will provide states with slightly higher allocations for the next few weeks, but we are going to need much more supply," said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. With nearly 80,000 reported deaths through Jan. 26, the first month of 2021 is the deadliest month yet since the pandemic hit the United States one year ago. The grim January toll surpassed the previous high set in December with five days remaining in the month, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The spread of coronavirus variants added to public fears. The first U.S. case of a coronavirus variant discovered in Brazil was confirmed in Minnesota earlier this week. Another strain, first discovered in Britain, has been detected in more than 20 U.S. states, according to data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The threat of variants has made reopening the state a greater concern in California, a recent epicenter of the pandemic in the country, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. "We do need to move through the next few weeks with caution. At many other points where we've been reopening our sectors, we in fact have seen a bump up in our cases we can't really afford that," she said. Just weeks into California's rollout of the coronavirus vaccine, evidence is emerging of inequities in who is getting the medicine, the Los Angeles Times reported. Los Angeles County officials said they are concerned about low vaccination numbers among healthcare workers in South Los Angeles and other communities of color. The United States has recorded more than 25.5 million COVID-19 cases with over 427,000 related deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Enditem WASHINGTON When marine biologist Stuart Sandin talks about sharks, it sounds like he's describing Jedis of the ocean. "They are terrific predators, fast swimmers and they have amazing senses they can detect any disturbance in the ocean from great distance," such as smells or tiny changes in water currents. Their ability to quickly sense anything outside the norm in their environment helps them find prey in the vastness of the open ocean. But it also makes them especially vulnerable in the face of increased international fishing pressure, as global fishing fleets have doubled since 1950. "You drop a fishing line in the open ocean, and often it's sharks that are there first whether or not they're the primary target," said Sandin, who works at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Scientists have known for decades that individual shark species are declining, but a new study drawing on 57 global datasets underscores just how dramatically worldwide populations have collapsed in the past half century. Globally, the abundance of oceanic sharks and rays dropped more than 70 percent between 1970 and 2018, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. And 24 of the 31 species of sharks and rays are threatened with extinction, while three species oceanic whitetip sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks and great hammerhead sharks are considered critically endangered. "The last 50 years have been pretty devastating for global shark populations," said Nathan Pacoureau, a biologist at Simon Fraser University in Canada and a co-author of the study. Sometimes sharks are intentionally caught by fishing fleets, but more often they are reeled in incidentally as " bycatch," in the course of fishing for other species such as tuna and swordfish. Sharks and rays are both fish with skeletons made of cartilage, not bone. In contrast to most other kinds of fish, they generally take several years to reach sexual maturity, and they produce fewer offspring. "In terms of timing, they reproduce more like mammals and that makes them especially vulnerable," said Pacoureau. "Their populations cannot replenish as quickly as many other kinds of fish." The number of fishing vessels trolling the open ocean has risen steeply since the 1950s, as engine power expanded ships' range. And while climate change and pollution also imperil shark survival, increased fishing pressure is the greatest threat for every oceanic shark species. "When you remove top predators of the ocean, it impacts every part of the marine food web," said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University, who was not involved in the study. "Sharks are like the lions, tigers and bears of the ocean world, and they help keep the rest of the ecosystem in balance." By Emilie Munson | Times Union, Albany Washington The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to pay New York $934 million to cover the projected statewide costs of administering the Covid-19 vaccine. On Tuesday, FEMA advanced half the funds, $467 million, to New York, recognizing the state has been hard-hit by the virus and is struggling financially. The money will pay for transportation, storage, medical staff, personal protective equipment and public awareness campaigns associated with vaccine distribution. The funding comes as the state is attempting to inoculate over 7 million people in the current phase. Supplies of vaccine doses remain limited, and that is prompting cancellations, confusion and frustration in some parts of the state. Under the previous administration in Washington, FEMA indicated vaccine costs were not eligible for reimbursement, said Freeman Klopott, press officer in the New York State Division of Budget. Now, they are saying costs will be eligible and they are advancing reimbursement. Since we are only in week seven of the vaccination program, and the state has received about 1/17 of the vaccines necessary to immunize New Yorkers, actual costs are unknown, however making vaccine costs FEMA eligible is welcome news. In the Covid-19 relief bill passed by Congress in December, New York also received $135 million in direct funds to support vaccine distribution, along with an additional $135 million for New York Citys distribution efforts. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has estimated that the total vaccination effort by the end could cost the state as much as $1 billion for public education campaigns, outreach and distribution, and he called for additional funding from the federal government. That estimate does not include vaccine distribution in New York City. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D- N.Y., has been pressing the administration of President Joseph R. Biden over the past few days to provide more help, a source close to the senator said. Schumer has a call scheduled with Jeff Zients, Bidens White House Covid-19 coordinator, to urge the administration to accelerate vaccine distribution to New York and other states. Federal support of the states vaccine distribution system is critical to delivering vaccines to New Yorkers as quickly and safely as possible, Schumer said Wednesday. As state and local officials complain about vaccine shortages and other hurdles, Biden on Tuesday announced that the federal government will distribute 15 percent more vaccine to states over the next few weeks and has placed orders to obtain 200 million more doses this summer. The federal government has also promised to give governors more reliable multi-week forecasts of vaccine shipments to help them plan for deliveries. In the administrations first White House coronavirus task force briefing this week, officials stressed the importance of speeding up vaccination, as cases remain high across the nation and new highly infectious variants of the virus are spreading in the U.S. The administration is pressing Congress for more money to support vaccine distribution, Covid-19 testing and other emergency relief as part of its $1.9 trillion package. Democrats will attempt to pass the package by mid-March, preparing to push the legislation through a budget process called reconciliation to pass it without Republican votes if needed. While many Republicans believe much of Bidens $1.9 trillion bill is superfluous, more vaccine funding is an area with bipartisan support. Biden has also ordered FEMA to reimburse state and local governments for 100 percent of eligible emergency Covid-19 costs, up from 75 percent. That change will result in about $2 billion in additional reimbursements for New York, Schumers office said. On Tuesday, FEMA obligated more than $1.2 billion for six states, two territories and the District of Columbia, with New York receiving the most funds. The agency is expected to dole out more funding to other states this week. At his annual budget address last week, 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 and possibly half the sum cited by Cuomo. A vocal advocate for more federal aid to states, Cuomo has blamed the Trump administration for New Yorks budget woes. Unless the federal government under Biden restores that budget gap, Cuomo has threatened to sue the federal government for Covid-19s spread in New York, and the states ensuing budget problems. With a limited supply of doses, the state is pushing to vaccinate over 7 million in the first two phases of the distribution, including health care workers and nursing home residents. More than 1.2 million New Yorkers have received their first dose of the vaccines, while 564,600 people have received their second doses, according to state data. 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. [January 28, 2021] CarePort Patient Event Notification Solution Now Available in Epic App Orchard Marketplace CarePort, powered by WellSky, a market leader in care transitions, today announced that its interoperability solution, CarePort Interop, is now available within the Epic App Orchard marketplace. CarePort Interop (News - Alert) satisfies the patient event notification requirement in the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and this end-to-end integration allows providers to comply with the Medicare CoPs by the April 30, 2021 deadline. Through CarePort's integration with Epic's electronic health record (EHR), acute care providers can now access CarePort Interop directly from the patient record, leveraging FHIR APIs to transfer information between the two applications to maintain patient context. Through existing networks and channels, CarePort Interop helps eliminate the need for new workflows and technology, and doesn't require any onboarding for post-acute providers and physicians. "Our integration with Epic allows hospitals to efficiently identify and notify post-acute providers, physicians, and suppliers within CarePort's expansive national network, and easily send notifications regarding patient admissions, discharges, and transfers," said Dr. Lissy Hu, CEO and founder of CarePort. "This goes beyond simply complying with CMS's new requirements. Notably, the new integration also helps health sysems by meeting them within their own familiar workflows, which is critical for streamlining care coordination processes and, ultimately, driving better outcomes." CarePort Interop leverages CarePort's national database, which consists of more than 110,000 post-acute providers - including skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and hospices - as well as 850,000 direct-enabled physicians on ONC-certified EHRs and suppliers including durable medical equipment (DME), infusion therapy, or home infusion therapy. More than 30% of hospital discharges to post-acute providers in the United States flow through the CarePort platform every year. CMS's patient event notification CoP requires all hospitals with an EHR to send electronic patient notifications for patient admissions, discharges, and transfers to post-acute providers, primary care providers, physicians, and suppliers. Hospitals that do not comply risk future Medicare funding. CarePort Interop is equipped to send real-time electronic patient event notifications to all in-network and out-of-network providers. These providers include post-acute facilities and suppliers that have recently treated the patient or to whom the patient is being discharged, as well as the physicians primarily responsible for the patient's care - whether an established primary care provider or practice group or other practitioners such as endocrinologists or oncologists. CarePort Interop is now available in the Epic App Orchard marketplace, and this is the third CarePort application listed in App Orchard. CarePort Guide and CarePort Transition Extender are also available within the marketplace. To learn more about CarePort Interop, please visit App Orchard or CarePortHealth.com. About CarePort, powered by WellSky CarePort is the leading care coordination network with thousands of providers connected across the U.S. The end-to-end platform bridges acute and post-acute EHR data, providing visibility into the entire patient journey for providers, physicians, payers and ACOs. With CarePort, healthcare professionals can efficiently and effectively coordinate patient care to better track and manage patients as they move through the continuum. CarePort helps providers meet and comply with the patient event notification Condition of Participation, as part of the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access final rule, and the IMPACT Act. Read more about CarePort on careporthealth.com, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Epic and App Orchard are registered trademarks of Epic Systems Corporation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005192/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX The Arizona Legislature is fast-tracking a proposed law that would strip state utility regulators of their power to require electric utilities to get more of their power from solar and other clean energy power sources. But Republican lawmakers who control the Senate and House are not proposing to enact any standards of their own to replace those now being considered by the Arizona Corporation Commission. Instead, GOP lawmakers emboldened by a state Supreme Court decision that called the commissions powers into question simply will bar any new requirements above the existing standards requiring utilities to get 15% of their power supply from renewable supplies by 2025. The commission has proposed requiring regulated utilities to get half their power from solar, wind and other renewable sources by 2035 and 100% from clean energy, including nuclear, by 2050. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who has been critical of the commissions adoption of renewable energy standards, has backed the effort to block the commissions power. I want to see the Corporation Commission setting rates. And I want to see the state Legislature setting energy policy, Ducey said during an Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry event on Jan. 8. And I hope we can straighten that out this legislative session. On Wednesday, a Senate committee dominated by Republicans approved the proposal on a 5-4 party-line vote. A House committee approved a mirror proposal on a 6-4 vote Tuesday with no Democratic support. The votes set the identical bills on track to swiftly move to debate and passage and then head to Duceys desk. Democrats railed against the proposal, noting that blocking the commissions proposal means there will be no mandate to grow renewable power, which is increasingly important in controlling carbon emissions that are blamed for climate change. Our job should be to listen to what the people of Arizona want they are crystal clear on this topic, Democratic Rep. Aaron Lieberman said at Tuesdays House hearing. They dont get to choose their power company, but they sure want renewable energy and they like a corporation commission that is actually standing up and fighting for them. Commissioners adopted the proposed standards on a 4-1 vote in November and can vote on final rules after a public comment period closes. That vote came after an extensive review with hours of hearings and thousands of public comments. Major utilities signed off on the plan. If the proposal now being debated in the Legislature passes as appears likely, those rules wont take effect, barring a court fight. Republican lawmakers have adopted Duceys mantra that the commission acted outside its constitutional authority when it enacted the 15% mandate in 2006 and in proposing the new rules. It confirms the Corporation Commissions intended function at inception, GOP Sen. Sine Kerr said at a hearing Wednesday. That is, exercising ratemaking authority to protect captive consumers against corporate abuse, while restoring the Legislatures paramount authority to regulate the public health, safety and welfare as recently affirmed by the Arizona Supreme Court. In that unrelated July 2020 Arizona Supreme Court ruling, the high court took pains to decipher the complicated history of legal rulings about the commissions power. The ruling noted that setting rates was a power granted by the state constitution when the framers created the commission but other authority it held was only with the permission of the Legislature. Democratic Sen. Kirsten Engel said the GOP proposal was twisting the logic of the state Supreme Court ruling because it wasnt proposing any health and safety standards. This is all about pre-empting their permissive authority, Engel said. Two corporation commissioners, Democrats Anna Tovar and Sandra Kennedy, presented testimony in oppositon to the plan at the hearings, with Kennedy calling the plan constitutional overreach. The Republican who opposed the new energy standards in November, Commissioner Justin Olson, backed the legislative proposal, saying the commission had been overstepping its bounds. The plan to strip the commissions power was opposed by environmental groups and some business interests. It received backing from small-government groups such as the Goldwater Institute and the Free Enterpise Club. Sandy Bahr, director of the Arizona chapter of the Sierra Club, said the proposed law would gut standards that would help Arizonans save money and fight climate change. The benefits of clean energy are clear, for our air and water, for our climate and for our economy, Bahr testified Wednesday. I will also add they are cheaper consistently than fossil fuels. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Following Cabinet Minister Navdeep Bains' resignation controversy over his alleged involvement in corruption cases, the Liberal Party has removed parliamentarian Ramesh Singh Sangha from the Liberal caucus. Reportedly, for speaking against Khalistani elements within the Liberal Party. He continues to be an MP, but as an independent one. According to a report by the Canadian media outlet The Star, a party source confirmed that Sangha was removed after he made extensive comments in a Punjabi-language interview on Jan. 21, in which he said he doubted his fellow Liberal MP Navdeep Bains quit cabinet and won't run in the next election because of family. The news platform also mentioned that Sangha criticised Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan for his extremist sentiments and his connection with the Khalistani elements. Speaking to Punjabi channel Y Media last week, Sangha had taken on Liberal MP Navdeep Bains and Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan for their extremist sentiments. Earlier, in an interview given to a Canada based Punjabi news channel 5AAB he had stated There is no doubt, there cannot be two opinions that the Liberal party is pandering (to) Khalistan supporters. Further he said One thing is for sure, when we raise this issue, it will raise an anti-India slogan or demand the division of India on some ground. In that, ultimately our relations, the Canada-India relationship will certainly develop cracks.Most importantly, on being asked by the interviewer whether his party had a soft corner for Khalistanis or not, he responded It does! Sangha's removal from the party caucus had rejoiced a number of Canadian leaders with pro-Khalistani connections even outside the Liberal Party. Speaking to CTV, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh supported the move and argued, There's no reason to be building on baseless claims, what he was regurgitating were claims from Indian sources that had no basis, no foundation and it simply erodes trust for no reason. Lawmaker Sangha is known as a vocal critic of Khalistani extremism and has been voicing his views across the world with great audacity. During his India visit in December 2018, Sangha, then a sitting MP, had highlighted that Khalistan extremism in Canada was only Facebook-based and there was nothing much on ground in Canada. There are just about 1 to 2 percent of Punjabis settled in Canada who talk of Khalistan. It is just that they are able to make a lot of noise that gives a perception around voices regarding the demand of Khalistan emerging from Canada, he had added. Just like the abrupt and implausible logic officially stated as the reason behind Navdeep Bains resignation, there is much more that lies underneath the official reasons behind Sanghas removal from the caucus. An Ontario-based news platform Chronicle Journal has stated that though Government Whip, Mark Holland, in an interview regarding Sanghas removal argued that conspiracy theories will not be tolerated or dangerous and unfounded rhetoric about parliamentarians or other Canadians, he declined to specify what Sangha said to merit his removal from caucus. On similar lines, the Ottawa Sun wrote In an interview, Holland declined to specify what Sangha said to merit his removal from caucus. This one-way communication by the Canadian government has compelled the free speech activists to criticise the Trudeau government for presenting the one side of the story and silencing the victim to present his perspective. The Canadian media has also reported that Holland confessed about consulting with Trudeau before taking the necessary steps. It is being argued that it is due to Trudeau's involvement in the decision that nobody in the Liberal Party is standing in favour of Sangha and supporting him. Further, as soon as he criticised Bains and other leaders with a Khalistani tilt, Khalistani elements were quick to launch a campaign for character assassination of Sangha. However, besides arguing his allegations to be baseless, they have not been able to come up with any tangible and credible argument against Sangha and logical rebuttal to dismiss his allegations over Bains and other Khalistanis are entirely missing. A newly propped news portal Baaz News launched early this month which articles has pro-khalistani views, has come up with ambiguous content to attack Sangha.At the time when there is a furore against Navdeep Bains on his alleged corruption charges, the timing of launching the website is also interesting. However, another burning question remains unanswered what made Trudeau take such a strict action on a two-time Liberal MP who won twice with popular support? Arguably, Sangha had to pay the price for speaking out against Khalistani extremism and bringing up the issue of promotion of such elements within the Liberal Party. Harminder Singh, father of Navdeep Bains, is a prominent leader of extremist outfit World Sikh Organisation (WSO) and is believed to be controlling the management of numerous religious bodies in Canada. Reportedly, WSO, along with a couple of other Khalistani outfits made complaints to Trudeau's government in attempts to create pressure to remove Sangha. In addition, the influence that Darshan Singh Saini Bains father-in-law enjoys amongst the Khalistanis is also considered to be a causative agent behind the pressure mounted on Justin Trudeau to remove Sangha. In fact, Darshan Singh Sainis name appeared in the investigations of RCMP regarding Air India Kanishka bombings of 1985 in which 329 individuals, mostly Canadians (268), were killed. During debate on an anti-terrorism legislation in the House of Commons in 2007, the then Prime Minister Stephen Harper commented that Bains opposition to the bill was an attempt to save his father-in-law from terror charges. On the development, the WSO commented It is unfortunate that Mr. Sangha repeatedly parroted Indian narratives aimed at smearing Sikhs in Canada. His allegations were baseless and shocking. Now here lies an important observation. The statement issued by the WSO and Baaz News on Sangha's removal are almost identical! Input from Canadian Agencies revealed that Baaz News is being run by another pro-Khalistani element, Jaskaran Singh Sandhu, who also claims to be the Director of Admin of the WSO. The content uploaded by the news site is also being shared in large numbers with Pakistani origin Canadians with close ties to the Pakistani Embassy as well as a couple of proxy social media handles. Hence,it would be apt to argue that an organised nexus and a propaganda army has facilitated the exit of Sangha. A similar campaign was launched against lawmaker Ujjal Dosanjh in 2010, who has been calling out Khalistanis and their separatists. The social media campaign launched against him aimed at his character assassination and instigating Khalistanis to murder him.The social media platform were flooded with comments like- Someone shoot him-ASAP. He has himself been a victim of multiple lethal attacks by such extremists and nearly lost his life in the attack at his car parking in 1985. In his statement cum interview, Holland had also commented: The Liberal caucus continues to stand firm against racism and intolerance . However , his statement is being termed as extreme irony and absolutely paradoxical as the step to remove Sangha due to his critical views is itself an intolerant move. Experts have expressed their disappointment over the development and commented, While they use the liberal democratic systems themselves, they have been trying to silence the voices not conforming to them. The vote-bank politics of the Trudeau government had provided them a huge scope to suppress their opponents. Sangha had also earlier criticised the Trudeau government for removing the term Sikh Extremism as one of the five major threats to national security of Canada from the government report titled 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada. Counter terror experts have been stressing that Canada government will have to realise sooner that Khalistani extremism is a global threat and thousands of innocent lives have succumbed to terrorist attacks by the Khalistani extremists. For example: only between 1981-1995, Khalistanis butchered at least 11,696 civilians and martyred at least 1,746 security force personnel in India, precisely, in Punjab. According to the data of South Asia Terrorism Portal, between 1981 and 2015, at least 12,000 civilians have lost their lives in Punjab due to Khalistani terror in Punjab. A sociological expert we spoke to argues that this should also be seen as a Political party succumbing to nepotism as most of the Khalistanis that Sangha has been criticising, happen to be second or third generation Canadians enjoying the political influence of their respective families. On the other hand, Sangha, a self-made man who moved to Canada in 1994, rose through the ranks of the Liberal Party after earning a law degree, establishing himself as a successful attorney, and gaining an immense popularity amongst citizens of Brampton, is seen as a threat to their hegemony in the Brampton region. The development has invited unfathomable criticism for the Liberal Party, domestically as well as globally. A couple of Hindu and Sikh Canadians that I spoke to have termed the move as an authoritarian one and expressed that the Liberal Party is soon going to lose popular support amongst these communities through such moves. It is pertinent to note that those communities have been traditional Vote banks for the Liberal Party. Pollsters have argued that the move might take five lakh Hindu voters and an equal number of Sikhs, who are critical of the idea of Khalistan, away from the Liberal Party, if this continued exodus of anti-Khalistanis from the Liberal Party does not stop. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Dubai, Jan 28 : A five-year-old Dubai-based Indian boy has set a new record for being able to read 20 books in an hour, the media reported on Thursday. Originally from Kerala, Aayush K. S. has made it to the 'India Book of Records' as an appreciative entry, said the Gulf News report. A kindergarten student at the JSS International School also has a YouTube channel on reading books, called "Reading Room by Aayush". "Aayush gets calls from authors from around the world asking him to read their books on his channel. He loves to reads all books and he even reads the newspaper. We have to buy him a lot of books; last time we bought him a bundle of 40 books together. He is going through that quickly," the Gulf News report quoted the boy's father, Supal K.G., as saying. Survivors and many others joined a World Jewish Congress campaign which involved posting photos of themselves and #WeRemember. They were broadcast at Auschwitz on a screen next to the gate and a cattle car representing the way camp inmates were transported there. The online nature of this years commemorations is a sharp contrast to events marking last years anniversary, when some 200 survivors and dozens of European leaders and royalty gathered at the site of the former camp. It was one of the last large international gatherings before the pandemic brought normal life to a halt.
In this Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 file photo, survivors of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz arrive for a commemoration ceremony on International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism inside Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland. The commemorations for the victims of the Holocaust at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945, will be mostly online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, file) A local activist has been given The Social Injustice Award for her community work in Dundalk at the 2021 Hero Awards which were announced following a virtual ceremony last week. The Hero Awards look to identify the exceptional stories of fortitude, courage & kindness in 2020, honouring the ordinary individuals who went beyond the call of duty to make an extra ordinary impact on their community. Sonja Van Kalkeren has been running the Dundalk Save Our Homeless Group from her News and Deli shop on Cross Street for over six years which all began following the loss of her father. I know what it is like to have nothing, she stated. I lost my dad a few years ago and that is how it all got started. I just could not hack his death, so I closed the shop. I came back four months later and owed a small fortune. Some weeks I may have had only a tenner in my pocket, but I paid it off. I decided that what I was going to do was help people and weve been doing it here ever since. The Save Our Homeless campaign began by providing hot meals to those in need, but has branched out to provide even more services such as helping the elderly by providing somewhere for them to have a chat if they are lonely, help with their weekly shop or just by picking up their prescription. However, Sonja and her team have also stepped up by getting involved in the process to rehome those in need and making sure they are available to make the change in lifestyle as streamlined as possible. We work closely with families that have absolutely nothing, when they get their first home or if they need something, we just put it up on our page and get it for them. We continue to support them as when you are after coming out of homelessness you need time to readjust to normal life. You cant just hand them a key and say there you go heres your new home. It doesnt work like that, nine times out of ten they fall flat and lose the house and they are back into a catch 22 situation. We are there as a support network for them. The nomination for The Hero Award came from an unlikely source in Orla Halpin, who despite not knowing her personally believed Sonja and her work needed more publicity. As soon as I read what this award was about her name just immediately came into my head and I had to put her down recalled Halpin. I just felt she deserved to have her work recognised. I wanted her to see that somebody noticed her good work. I only met Sonja a few times briefly as I was dropping things in, but I am delighted for her as she does so much for the town. There is a lot of people who would have been in a bad way only for this woman and I just think she is amazing. I admire her and would love to be able to do what she does. Van Kalkeren was humbled to have received the award but was keen to praise all those involved in the project, from her team of volunteers to the many people who continue to donate to the cause. This award is for our community, it's for every single one of the team, the unsung heroes. It's for every single one of you who help us day in, day out ,leaving food ,coal and clothes with us to help people, it's you that make what we do possible and we can truly never thank you enough. Van Kalkeren was the joint winner of the award along with Lucky Cambule, who is a campaigner for the rights of asylum seekers in Ireland and was involved in the formation of the Movement for Asylum Seekers Ireland that advocates on their behalf. [January 28, 2021] Nintex Named a Leader in The Aragon Research Globe for Digital Transaction Management, 2021 Independent research and advisory firm identifies Nintex as a market leading software provider of advanced Digital Transaction Management (DTM) solutions, also referred to as Workflow & Content Automation (WCA), in its latest report LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation, today announced it has been named a leader in The Aragon Research Globe for Digital Transaction Management, 2021 based on a review by the independent research and advisory firm of 21 major providers in the market. To download the report, visit https://www.nintex.com/resources/aragon-globe-dtm-report-2021/ Within this year's analysis, Aragon recognises that COVID-19 has been and continues to be a key driver accelerating digital transformation initiatives across every industry. According to the firm, "the pandemic has created a situation in which paper can no longer be relied upon as a safe medium" while employees work remotely. Aragon also believes that "organisations that have deployed DTM continue to outperform their competitors" by providing streamlined and modern digital experiences. "At Nintex, we recognise that every business and government leader is facing increasing pressure to meet (and ideally exceed) the ever-increasing digital demands of their customers, employees and constituents," said Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. "We appreciate being named a Leader with our easy-to-use and affordable platform for powerful automation solutions that turn manual, paper-based and repetitive processes into fully digital experiences for more than 50 per cent of the Fortune 500 and in over 10,000 organisations worldwide today." Aragon Research examines the complete capabilities of the Nintex Process Platform to eliminate paper within the report. With Nintex, customers can automate the assembly and digital distribution of documents by leveraging the platform's integrated eSignature and document automation capabilities, including Nintex Drawloop DocGen which is an app avalable within Salesforce AppExchange. The firm also notes the Nintex Process Platform offers advanced process management capabilities including easy-to-use visual process mapping with Nintex Promapp, and its built-in Nintex Workflow Generator capability, to create workflow scenarios including document generation with nearly touchless automation design work. Industry leaders like Flight Centre Travel Group, EG A/S, and SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, as well as government agencies like the Ministry of Health Denmark and Food Standards Agency, all report significant results and customer/stakeholder satisfaction leveraging Nintex to easily manage, automate and optimise simple to complex business processes and workflows. To re-imagine your own business processes and put automation to work - from workflow to document or robotic process automation (RPA) - within your organisation, request a Nintex demo at www.nintex.com/request-demo. Media Contact Kristin Treat Nintex kristin.treat@nintex.com cell: (215) 317-9091 About Nintex Nintex is the global standard for process management and automation. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Aragon Disclaimer Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organisation and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427618/Aragon_Research_Globe_Digital_Transaction_Management_DTM_2021_button.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700078/Nintex_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This time last year, we took overseas travel for granted. We may never do so again. Anyone thinking of a holiday, or a non-essential trip overseas, now risks a 500 fine for breaching their 5km limit, must splash out for up to three PCR tests, and needs to quarantine on return. "Do not travel is the clear message, and while Ireland's restrictions are subject to ongoing review, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said its possible that non-essential overseas trips may not resume before Christmas. So what about the 400,000 or so overseas holidays that people postponed last year, kicking them forward to summer 2021? Or those who have booked since? When might overseas travel resume? We have no idea. I think we can firmly say Easter is gone; I'd be afraid to make a prediction on anything beyond that, says Pat Dawson, CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA). "I think October is probably the earliest, says Linda Jones of The Travel Boutique in Bray, Co Wicklow. Im hoping against hope that we'll get something in the summer, but that's my gut feeling. Optimistic Irish hoteliers hope hospitality might reopen around Easter; pessimistic ones feel they may remain shut into May or even the June Bank Holiday weekend. Any significant overseas travel is likely to lag behind. Vaccines are coming, but with delays. We don't know when (or if) Government will relax its new quarantine-for-all requirement. And remember, holidays depend on destinations like Spain, France, Portugal and Italy easing restrictions too (see reopen.europa.eu). The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation has said it hopes inbound tourism could resume in Quarter 3 (ie from July), but even that feels hopeful now. Travel agents are ready to move as soon as it is safe to do so, but right now, theres a huge question mark hanging over summer travel overseas. So should I cancel my overseas holiday? You have time; theres no need to rush the decision. Depending when and on what terms your booking was made, if you cancel now, you may pay a cancellation fee, lose your deposit or even more. If you wait, and the operator makes a significant change or cancels, they will then be obliged to offer you a replacement or refund. "I think its better to hold off for now," advises Linda Jones. I think by March or April, when holiday balances are due, there should be more clarity and more decisions made. Dont panic and cancel now, because it may be that you will get to go. However, you may prefer to just be done with it, or to put your money into a staycation. If you booked through a travel agent or tour operator, talk to them first. Find out what your specific options are (holiday T&Cs can vary widely was yours DIY, a traditional' or dynamic' package, for example?). Then decide whether to wait, reschedule, or cancel. Many Irish tour operators have gone to great lengths to introduce more flexible booking policies, but these differ from case to case, so query what any new "guarantees" mean. What if you have to cancel due to Covid? What is the latest change date before travel? Will there be refunds or vouchers offered? Travel agents are experts and have a history of helping people in stressful situations, but they are bound by their suppliers' T&Cs too if you cancel a dynamic package now, for instance, and the flight portion is still going ahead, then you may not be able to recover that part of the money. Read More Is anyone actually booking holidays? Bookings are minimal, the ITAA says. Uncertainty prevails, airlines have pared back their schedules, and though some 15,000 passengers arrived into Irish airports last week, this is a tiny fraction down over 90pc of normal numbers. If I do book, what should I bear in mind? With so much uncertainty, booking travel now however far ahead is risky. For maximum protection, however, book with a licensed travel agent or tour operator established in Ireland (thus subject to Irish consumer law), and carefully read all terms and conditions. If you book your own flights and hotel, you do not have the same package holiday rights (read more from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission here). Remember that different airlines have different policies. Aer Lingus has waived its flight change fee up to September 30, for instance; Ryanair has to the end of October (but for bookings made before the end of March). If you cancel a flight, you generally forfeit the money. If the airline does, under EU Regulation 261, it is obliged to offer you the choice of a rerouting or rescheduled flight at a later date. You will also need to think about coronavirus insurance. Many travel insurance policies exclude it, but some destinations, like the Canaries, or airlines like Emirates, now provide it for free as a confidence-boosting measure. It's pre-trip research we're all going to need to get familiar with as travel returns. So its staycations for 2021, then? Presuming we can travel beyond our 5km, this certainly looks like the way of it at least until early summer. Already, enquiries are on the rise for self-catering and popular resort hotels in Ireland, and the Irish Camping and Caravan Council has reported phenomenal demand for its sites during peak season. Beware predictions about a potential surge in demand later on this year. It isnt so much that a surge in demand wont happen but it might not deliver as strong a return in employment as many would hope. Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf flagged how the Irish economy could bounce back strongly in the second half of 2021. And he may be right. But the economic impact the pandemic will leave on some parts of the country is likely to last a lot longer. Figures compiled by Central Bank economists for the Irish Independent and published earlier this week showed that Kerry had the highest proportion of workers on three key State benefits towards the end of last year. These were the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), wage subsidy and job seeker benefits. Kerry is one of the countrys most vibrant regional economies but in many respects they have had to do it on their own. The county was suffering hardest because of its reliance on tourism and hospitality, but also the fact that it is not a major beneficiary of foreign direct investment. What Kerry has achieved, it has managed to do using the raw materials of its natural landscape and the abilities of local entrepreneurs. Other counties to show a high dependency on State supports were Donegal, Dublin, Louth and Wexford, all with over 40pc on income supports. When it comes to actual unemployed numbers, as opposed to other ongoing supports, the impact on parts of the west coast has been significant. At the end of November the unemployment rate among west coast counties was above 20pc except Sligo and Donegal, which tend to get fewer tourists than further south. Read More Exports have bolstered the Irish economy during this pandemic. A lot of those exports are tech, pharma and medical devices, and come from foreign multinationals with high concentrations in places like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Similarly, regions with large numbers employed in food production and processing have remained a little more insulated. The county with the lowest unemployment rate in the country at the end of November was Kilkenny. The food industry is a big part of the local economy with the presence of Glanbia. It is big farming county and it also has a pretty good foreign direct investment presence. Financial services giant State Street has over 600 employees and is growing it to 800. Glanbia is investing 140m in a new cheese plant located near another major facility the group has at Belview. Economically, Kilkenny ticks all the boxes an Irish multi-national, growing FDI, food production and a good tourism base. Take away tourism, and the others are still there. Another country which stayed below 20pc unemployment was Cork, again a place with a sizeable FDI presence. Other counties with traditionally low tourism numbers and not a lot of foreign direct investment, have remained surprisingly resilient with their base of local businesses. Counties with the lowest numbers on state supports included Roscommon, Laois and Offaly with approximately 30pc or less of their workforces reliant on benefits. These counties have not fallen back so much because they were not big employment hotspots to begin with and they have their own resilience to this kind of economic shock. Take Monaghan and Cavan. They were never major centres for inward investment and dont feature on the countrys biggest tourism hotspots. But these counties have built up a solid base of local manufacturing and services firms. Unemployment in Co Monaghan was running at 15.1pc in November, while in Cavan it was 14.8pc among the lowest. When the surge in demand comes, what will people buy? The demand for housing will definitely be there and many more people will have saved enough for a mortgage deposit during the pandemic. We should see a ratchet up in housing construction but that will benefit Dublin most. People will most likely holiday at home in Ireland again this summer, assuming hospitality can reopen. This should bring a real boost to tourism hotspots on the west coast, but it will only be temporary. Tourism-dependent local economies need to know when Ireland will get back to attracting 10m visitors from abroad and that still looks quite far away. The staycation boost could be just a two-summer phenomenon. Ireland will have to compete around the world to attract foreign visitors back again and that will take time. We should see a demand for dining out when it is safe to do so, which will help the hospitality industry in many of these regions. However, unless there is a dramatic improvement in the unemployment figures, it is hard to see how people will spend the same amount of money dining out as they did in 2019 when unemployment was lower. Much of the surge in big spending is likely to be on big ticket items like a new car, new home furniture, TVs and various other electronic gadgets. None of these are made in Ireland. They would all bring a boost to retail and distribution channels but not a jobs boost in places where it is badly needed. The switch to online shopping during the pandemic is likely to remain to some degree. The buying spree might mainly benefit Jeff Bezos and courier companies. Lots of firms are hanging on with the state supports and their future is dependent on the speed of the vaccine rollout and curtailing new variants. There is every reason to be hopeful the second half of 2021 will see a recovery. But many regions face a long hard road back. - : ! - - ! : : . The Guardian 21 / 2021 . 47 16 / . . Hamshahri (74 ) (81 ) . 10 . . : ( ). . Hamshahri : . . : . . . . . : .. . : https://www.kolalwatn.net/?p=413170 Two more exceptions were granted Wednesday to the citys tree ordinance that requires developers to preserve 100 percent of heritage trees and at least 80 percent of significant trees in environmentally sensitive areas and 100-year floodplains. The Planning Commission approved requests for Crescent Hills subdivision on the Southwest Side, whose plan calls for keeping only 42 percent of significant trees in an environmentally sensitive area; and East Gate Industrial Park on the East Side, whose plans keep only 17 percent of significant trees on the same type of land. Commissioners approved the requests in the public meeting held virtually without discussion. City staff had recommended approval. The decision wasnt unusual; a San Antonio Express-News report recently revealed that all 206 tree ordinance variance requests made in the past two years have been approved. On ExpressNews.com: Everything was there and then it wasnt - developers skirt tree ordinance Newly elected Planning Commission Chair Connie Gonzalez noted there arent many requests for variances spokeswoman Ximena Copa-Wiggins said only 2 percent of the thousands of permits regarding trees received by the city annually are requests for a variance. We are treehuggers and we want to make sure to do our part to hold the city staff accountable, Gonzalez said. Significant trees are trees that have a trunk diameter of 6 inches or more, with certain species such as mesquite and ashe juniper trees protected at different trunk sizes. Heritage trees are larger, with trunks of 24 inches in diameter or more. However, some tree species can qualify as heritage with diameters between 12 inches and 24 inches, including Texas persimmons and hawthorn trees. The Crescent Hills variance was requested by Richard Mott, vice president of land development with Lennar Homes of Texas, a home construction company. The subdivision is an 84-acre site located southwest of the intersection between Southwest Loop 410 and Old Pearsall Road. The proposed project would preserve 91 percent of the trees in the floodplain and 42 percent of trees in the riparian buffer, an environmentally sensitive area. To make up for removing trees from the buffer, the developer proposed increasing the size of its 43 streetscape trees. On ExpressNews.com: Developer challenges San Antonios tree preservation ordinance East Gate Industrial Park is a 342-acre lot located on the East Side of San Antonio, near Interstate-10 and Foster Road. The land is owned by Plack Carr, a managing principal with Milam Real Estate Capital. After construction is complete, the industrial park will have seven industrial buildings, four retail buildings, parking lots and a new public road connecting E. Houston St. to I-10. East Gate plans to preserve all of its heritage trees, but only 70 percent of significant trees in the flood plain and only 17 percent of significant trees in the riparian buffer. The plan calls for keeping 70 percent of significant trees in the flood plain. Developers for both sites claimed they couldnt make reasonable use of their properties if they had to comply strictly with the ordinance. liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway [January 28, 2021] Ecommerce's Rising Tide? More Like a Tsunami: Signifyd's Top 500 Customers More Than Doubled Their Revenue in 2020 As a measure of the depth and breadth of the consumer shift to digital commerce, each of Signifyd's top 500 customers more than doubled their ecommerce revenue in 2020. The combination of their own agility and Signifyd's AI-driven innovation allowed them to power through pandemic disruptions and fulfill consumer orders at record-breaking volume and speed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005307/en/ The top 500 represent the best in retail - enterprises that seized opportunity in the midst of disruption to offer curbside pickup, expand buy-online-pick-up-in-store, turn to virtual shopping sessions and launch direct-to-consumer initiatives. Their collective success speaks to the value of convenience - those customer experiences truly represent the path forward for retail in the 21st century. "As consumers, we take seamless ecommerce experiences for granted. For the merchant, sustaining that quality through 100-percent-plus growth, massive supply chain disruptions and highly volatile consumer demand is just remarkable," Signifyd CEO Raj Ramanand said. "We are inspired by our clients' resilience and creativity, and glad that our platform scaled flawlessly alongside them." Like its customers, Signifyd scaled up amid a COVID-19 pandemic that changed the shape and future of shopping and commerce in an instant. Inspired by the bold thinking of those customers and the retail market, the company launched products, programs and an expanded global presence to better serve the new world of commerce. 2020 was a year that a whole new cohort of enterprises with fresh ideas and global ambitions joined the Signifyd network. Open and wide-ranging discussions followed, leading Signifyd to develop its Commerce Protection Platform, Decision Center, Authorization Rate Optimization solution and its Business Continuity Package aimed squarely at pandemic disruptions. Signifyd's customers' success was reflected in record revenue for Signifyd. The company was able to invest in expanding its global workforce and opening its Latin American headquarters to better serve its growing base of customers, such as Walmart Mexico, in the region. As ecommerce exploded in popularity due to pandemic lockdowns and a general unease with visiting physical stores, Signifyd's customers rose to the challenge, turning to Signifyd's advanced automated order flow to tackle massive online order surges. The platform also protected them from the dual threats of professional fraudsters and "friendly fraud" - committed by typical customers worn down by financial strain and months of sheltering at home. Lynn Carbine, head of trading for CurrentBody, a direct-to-consumer electronic beauty device company, said Signifyd has been crucial to the brand's ability to keep up during the pandemic. "It simply would not have been possible for us to review incoming orders manually without Signifyd," she said. Had CurrentBody not replaced its previous fraud protection provider with Signifyd in advance of the pandemic, Carbine added, "we would have had a significant challenge ahead of us." Of course, Signifyd is successful when its customers are successful and in 2020, Signifyd doubled its annual sales, a testament to the determination and alacrity of those clients. As Signifyd's customers experienced rapid growth they were faced with decisions about how to best future-proof their enterprises. Signifyd expanded its roster of partners with specific ecommerce expertise to ensure that the clients within its network were ready for whatever lies ahead. In 2020, Signifyd added firms such as Born, CTI Digital and supercharged commerce to its list of partners. Signifyd also became a partner in the Shopify Plus Certified App program, expanding enterprise access to liability-shift fraud and consumer abuse protection by offering it on one of the world's biggest ecommerce platforms. The unparalleled growth in every aspect of the business puts Signifyd in a prime position to continue to work with the world's most successful brands and retailers. Signifyd starts its second decade of existence with a bold new look and logo and a bold new vision. The next chapter will feature bold new initiatives, too, including an ecommerce leader awards program that will introduce some of the commerce professionals who performed the heroic feats behind the incredible success stories of 2020. You'll hear more about the program soon. After all, behind every successful company are the brilliant thinkers who make the company run. They propel their companies forward and they inspire partners like Signifyd, even - or maybe especially - in a year for ecommerce like no other. About Signifyd Signifyd provides an end-to-end Commerce Protection Platform that leverages its Commerce Network to maximize conversion, automate customer experience and eliminate fraud and customer abuse for retailers. Signifyd counts among its customers a number of companies on the Fortune 1000 and Internet Retailer Top 500 lists. Signifyd is headquartered in San Jose, CA (News - Alert) ., with locations in Denver, New York, Mexico City, Belfast and London. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005307/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] President Joe Biden has sent an immigration bill to Congress that proposes major overhauls to the system, including making undocumented immigrant farmworkers immediately eligible for green cards. Biden Sent an Immigration Bill to Congress Pres. Biden sent a comprehensive immigration bill to Congress with a provision to grant legal status to over 11 million undocumented people in America. Biden's proposal allows them to apply for a temporary legal status when they pass the background checks and paying taxes. According to a published report in Fox News, this bill is expected to have provisions that aim to clear the employment-based and family-based green card backlogs to speed up the process and keep families together during the application process. Furthermore, the bill would have an 8-year path to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants, which includes a 5-year path to a green card and then a 3-year path to citizenship. Read also: Biden's Executive Orders Put American Workers Last, Sen. Tom Cotton Says Benefits of the Immigration Bill The bill is an avenue to reunite families who were forcedly separated during former President Donald Trump's administration. Thus, this would reverse the recent administration's policy. Retrospectively, during Trump's administration, parents and students who were under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA experienced anxiety when Trump's incendiary anti-immigrant rhetoric and his administration's attempt to rescind DACA, the New York Times reported. DACA was created during the administration of former president Barack Obama in 2012. Over the years, DACA recipients have enjoyed the protection they deserve. They could go to school, advanced their careers, and some of them get enlisted in the military. Thus, Biden's bill aims to give back the protection that "Dreamers" and their families deserve. Biden's proposal is perceived as the most ambitious immigration redesign passed since 1986. Read also: Biden Administration Orders DHS to Pause Deportation for 100 Days Negative Effects of the Bill if it Becomes a Law Meanwhile, critics say the bill gives an open invitation to all people who would attempt to come to the U.S., alarming some government officials because of the possibility of more drugs entering the country and more crime might occur. The bill did not include the enhancement of security for the country, and it focuses only on giving eligibility to illegal immigrants. However, it did not hinder the bill from gaining numerous support. Despite being discriminated against during the Trump administration, being perceived as harmful to the nation, devaluing their contributions, and not counting immigrant families' upward mobility demonstrate, they are still consistent in abiding by the law and giving a significant contribution to the U.S. economy. Some advocates argued that Americans can now see the importance of immigrants who mostly work despite the pandemic. Immigration attorney David Leopold said that the ones who stepped up to the plate when most people locked inside their house and put their lives on the line are the undocumented workers. Hence, immigrants contributed to the U.S. in many ways. Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J, leads the push to pass the legislation in the Senate. Though he said it is a Herculean task, he is optimistic about pursuing the bill and getting it through Congress. He believed that passing the bill through Congress would be successful, adding that the partnership of Pres. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are strong enough to get everything done for the country. Parents are calling for pupils to repeat a whole school year or have summer holidays cancelled as 75 per cent of teachers believe their students have fallen behind due to remote learning in lockdown. Boris Johnson today admitted that it could take a year for children to catch up from the impact of Covid school closures, claiming online learning is having a 'huge impact' on the education of millions of pupils. A survey by education publication TES found that three quarters of British teachers feel their students are lagging behind previous year groups. Chesterfield High School headteacher Kevin Sexton said his students are 'significantly behind' as remote learning is 'not the same as face-to-face teaching'. Concerned parents feel the uncertainty about schools returning - coupled with the need to play catch up - could create a 'lost generation' of students. They are calling on Mr Johnson to scrap the plan to reopen schools on March 8, and instead pull children out of this academic year all together. Others said summer holidays should be cancelled to make up for lost learning. Chesterfield High School headteacher Kevin Sexton (pictured) said his students are 'significantly behind where they would be expecting to be' as remote learning is 'not the same as face-to-face teaching' Boris Johnson (pictured today) today admitted that it could take a year for children to catch up from the impact of Covid school closures, claiming online learning is having a 'huge impact' on the education of millions of pupils Tom Madders, Director Campaigns at YoungMinds said, 'This worrying report highlights the scale of the challenge services will face as we emerge from the pandemic. 'We hear every day from young people who are deeply anxious about the future, self-harming or struggling to cope, and who will need ongoing support over the coming months and years. 'As the report shows, young people have historically found it too difficult to access to mental health support. 'The Government must take urgent action not just to accelerate improvements to NHS services, but to ensure that early support is available through schools and local communities. 'Without a clear plan, we risk letting down a generation of young people.' Reacting to the study - conducted for Good Morning Britain - one Twitter user asked 'if so much school work has been lost repeat the year and have them all leave a year later'. Lisa Pickett echoed their concerns, writing: 'Why is there a rush for children to return to school? 'Why does the Government not just make the children repeat the year.' Concerned parents feel the uncertainty - coupled with the need to play catch up - could create a 'lost generation' of students Someone else wrote: 'Repeat the school or university year or accept a widening gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged. 'Academic year 2020/2021 can be written off. 'Increase capacity in reception years, support university students, private school fees with an extra year's funding? 'Please listen, let the children re-sit this academic year. For all children's, teachers' and parents' mental health and wellbeing.' Others called on the Government to cancel summer holidays in a bid to claw back lost face-to-face teaching time. One furious Briton said: 'Why don't we cancel the school six-weeks holiday now. Others called on the Government to cancel summer holidays in a bid to claw back lost face-to-face teaching time 'Get it out there, no need for a summer holiday, been in lockdown on and off for the last year. Cancel them, sow the seed, queue the outrage.' Eric Sylvester said: 'Cancel the six-week summer school holidays so children can catch up on lost education.' Stuart Burns added: 'Cancel the summer holidays since they missed so much school last year and this year now, also not as if we can go on holiday.' Pete wrote: 'I've got an idea. As teachers haven't been doing much work of late, why not cancel the summer holiday and have children in school instead so they can make up for the lost learning.' Phil Penhaligan added: 'They should cancel the summer holidays for schools and keep them open.' Some parents disagreed with allowing children to skip a year. Some parents disagreed with allowing children to skip a year (tweets pictured) Kerry Dixon wrote: 'Definitely not for everyone's mental health. 'Most of our kids have worked hard this year, they don't deserve to be punished by being forced to repeat the year. 'You would also be telling a full year group of four year olds that they now can't start school. 'My son has done four years at university he has had enough. I get your drift but it's not a one size fits all.' There are still anxieties about a return to school, with Stevie Goulding, Parents Helpline Manager, saying: 'We know that some young people were worried about going back to school after the first lockdown due to fears about catching the virus and giving it to family or because of the impact of the pandemic on their school work. 'Those who found school hard prior to the pandemic, because of bullying, learning difficulties or difficult relationships, might have found it particularly difficult to return. 'These experiences will vary from child to child, and some will need more time to adjust that others.' Speaking on Good Morning Britain this morning, Liverpool headteacher Mr Sexton said: 'I think [students] are significantly behind where they would be expecting to be. 'We are working very hard to provide remote learning like all the schools are - but its not the same as face-to-face teaching.' When asked about the March 8 return date, Mr Sexton said: 'I think what we're more interested in is the details of that return, rather than the actual date. A survey by education publication TES found that three quarters of British teachers feel their students are lagging behind previous years (pictured: Library image of a pupil working from home) 'I think the date is a hopeful date. And my concern is that we need to make sure we rebuild trust. Let all of our parents and students feel that schools are safe. 'And when we open we know that it's sustainable and ensures that they can continue their study for the rest of the year.' A report yesterday revealed that one in six children are suffering difficulties with mental health as a result of the lockdowns and school closures. It said teenagers and children are losing their way in the pandemic as parents attempt to help with online learning while doing their own jobs. The report from Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield urged the Government to set out a roadmap to help schools reopen. It said: 'A staggering one in six children now have a probable mental health condition... it is highly likely that the level of underlying mental health problems will remain significantly higher as a result of the pandemic.' The Children's Commissioner said there had already been a spike in referrals to NHS services in the autumn and called for a rapid re-opening of schools. The analysis came amid wrangling between the Government and opposition parties over the lack of any timetable for children to return to their classrooms. The report continued: 'The major disruption to two years of education, alongside the limited opportunities to see friends and wider families, to play and enjoy activities and the worry about the impact of Covid on their families, will have taken a heavy toll on some children.' 'Even before this crisis, children's mental health services were far from meeting the existing level of need. In the year before the pandemic, referrals to children's mental health services increased by 35 per cent while the number of children accessing treatment increased by just four per cent.' The report's projections were based on an NHS study carried out last summer, following the spring lockdown, which found that clinically notable mental health conditions amongst children had risen by half on levels recorded in 2017. Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield (left) urged the Government to set out a roadmap to help schools reopen Director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, said the Government must provide funding to 'stop a generation of children from suffering in silence' He added: 'The government needs to wake up to the mental health crisis that's threatening to engulf a generation. 'Nearly a year of lockdowns, fear and anxiety, disruption to education and uncertainty about the future has added to the already shocking numbers of young people who have nowhere to turn for professional help. 'We know from our services young people are struggling at home without their usual support networks, having to cope with the pressures of remote learning, family health fears, loneliness and pressure in the home all the while being bombarded by social media and depressing headlines.' Miss Longfield called for the NHS to place a mental health adviser in every school to cope with the flood of troubled children likely after they re-open. She also said there should be online mental health support and advice available to children who are currently using their laptops and mobiles to try to keep up with classroom learning. She said current levels of NHS help for children with mental health difficulties extend to only one in 25 children, far below numbers who need it, and in many cases children have to wait weeks to be seen by specialists. Miss Longfield said: 'Even before the pandemic, we faced an epidemic of children's mental health problems in England and a children's mental health service that, though improving significantly, was still unable to provide the help hundreds of thousands of children required.' Lockdown, she added, 'will be causing even more damage to many children's mental wellbeing and putting even greater strains on mental health services, potentially for years to come. The Prime Minister this week put an end to weeks of speculation and wrangling by announcing schools would not reopen until at least March 8. He last night conceded to fellow MPs that the closures were having a 'huge impact' on the education of millions of pupils. In a bid to mitigate against further damage by extending the current school closures beyond half-term, Mr Johnson yesterday announced a 300million support package. The money, he said, would be used to help fund targeted tuition. However last night it emerged the decision to extend school closures was one pushed through by Mr Johnson himself, amid a split in his cabinet. According to the Times, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had wanted to reopen at the end of February - straight after half-term. Last night it was revealed that the decision came amid a split in the cabinet. According to the Times, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) had wanted to open schools, but Mr Johnson overruled him insisting it was the right time to 'buy the extra weeks we need' to vaccinate the UK's most vulnerable residents Teaching unions push for an EVEN LONGER schools closure as they warn even March 8 could be 'too early' to return to the classroom Teaching unions today blasted Boris Johnson's decision to start reopening schools in March as they warned that coming out of the third lockdown 'too early' could ultimately lead to a fourth national squeeze. The PM told the Commons this afternoon that schools will not reopen until at least March 8, in a devastating blow for millions of children and parents struggling with balancing work and home-schooling. Though Mr Johnson also ruled out a phased reopening of schools after the February half-term, unions are calling for an even longer closure as they claim March 8 could be too soon for getting children back into classrooms without causing a spike in Covid cases. They jumped on the PM's announcement fast progress was being made on vaccinations, with doses given to nearly seven million people and the NHS being on track for covering the four most vulnerable groups by February 15 - and the jabs giving them full protection three weeks after that. Unions claimed there are 'too many unknowns, such as the effectiveness of the vaccine and the pace at which infections are falling' to set a March 8 deadline for reopening schools and suggested that Mr Johnson's 'roadmap' out of lockdown would lead to failure. They warned that the vaccination of the elderly and most vulnerable in society 'does not protect parents' and 'fails completely to recognise the role schools have played in community transmission'. And setting a date 'runs the risk of creating false hope', the unions added, as they hinted easing the shutdown too soon could lead to a fourth - and accusing the PM of being 'immune to the embarrassment of U-turns'. The announcement - which means many children face missing at least 111 days of school - came after the UK's death toll hit the grim milestone of 100,000, with scientists claiming the victims could have been reduced by tougher government action. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'If we come out too early, we will end up in lockdown again.' 'We all want schools to open, but like the Prime Minister we want them to open when it is safe to do so. This has to be done sustainably and safely,' she continued. Advertisement But Mr Johnson is said to have overruled him, insisting the continued closure of schools would 'buy the extra weeks needed' to vaccinate the UK's most vulnerable residents. One source told the Times: 'Gavin was pushing very hard. He wanted schools to reopen after February half-term and believed it could be done safely. But in the end the data on hospitalisations and infection rates won the argument.' Yesterday the PM delivered the grim news - which means the worst-hit school years in some areas will have had only 73 days of lessons since the pandemic began last March - to millions of children and struggling parents in a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon, saying he knew how 'frustrated' they will be. He made clear there is no hope of any lockdown easing until well after the mid-February review date - finally ruling out the idea that some more pupils could return to classrooms after half-term. Currently only the offspring of key workers are in schools, with everyone else remote learning. Mr Johnson said fast progress was being made on vaccinations with doses given to more than 6.8million people - 13 per cent of the adult population - and the NHS is on track to hit the goal of covering the four most vulnerable groups by February 15. The jabs should give them full protection three weeks after that, he insisted. 'We hope it will therefore be safe to begin the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March,' the premier said - while warning that even that is contingent on pressure on the health service easing. However, fronting a Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Johnson warned parents March 8 was the 'earliest' date that was 'sensible' and safe for children to go back, adding: 'It depends on lots of things going right.' In a statement to the House of Commons he accepted the closures would be disruptive to the education of millions of children, adding: 'We recognise these extended school closures have had a huge impact on children's learning, which will take more than a year to make up. 'So we will work with parents, teachers and schools to develop a long-term plan to make sure pupils have the chance to make up their learning over the course of this parliament.' He pledged that the Government would continue funding free school meals during the closures, and announced a 300million package to support extra tuition and summer schools to help children catch-up with their learning. The money is on top of the 1billion announced in November for the funding to support children and young people - with 350million set aside to be spent on a National Tutoring Programme. Mr Johnson has earlier rejected calls from Sir Keir Starmer to allow teachers to jump the vaccine queue as he told the Labour leader to 'explain which vaccines he would take from which vulnerable groups to make sense of his policy'. Meanwhile, teaching unions warned that coming out of the third national lockdown 'too early' could ultimately lead to a fourth national squeeze. US Senator Bernie Sanders' mitten-clad look on President Joe Biden's inauguration day, spiralled a memefest on Twitter. So loved is the look that it has raised $1.8 million (Rs 13,16,07,900) for charity over the past five days through sales of merchandise featuring him wearing knit mittens and a parka. Sanders said in a statement on Wednesday "Jane and I were amazed by all the creativity shown by so many people over the last week, and we're glad we can use my internet fame to help Vermonters in need," Sanders' office said the groups receiving charitable funds include the Vermont operations of Meals on Wheels and the Vermont Parent Child Network. After Sanders' look trended on the internet for days, an American woman, Tobey King put her crocheting skills to use and tapped into the memefest, creating a doll resembling Sanders' inauguration day look. That doll fetched a whooping price of $20,300, with King donating all proceeds towards Meals on Wheels in Vermont. The first batch of the 'Chairman Sanders' merchandise sold out 30 minutes after the items including sweatshirts and T-shirts were made available online on Thursday. There is now a weeks-long backlog of orders. The image of a cross-legged Sanders wearing a light blue mask and seated alone at the inauguration was captured by AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski. According to Sanders' office, as part of the licensing agreement to put the image on apparel and stickers, Getty Images, the agency that distributes AFP images in the United States, will donate its proceeds from the license to Meals on Wheels America. Also read: Another COVID-19 strain? White House warns of 'USA variant' of coronavirus Also read: Four passengers on Air India's London-Delhi flight test COVID-19 positive 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). Ross Brawn has rubbished reports that he may be stepping down as Formula 1's managing director. Some had predicted that Brawn would follow hot on the heels of the departure of F1 CEO Chase Carey, who has now been replaced at Liberty Media by Stefano Domenicali. "I have no idea where the rumours came from," Brawn told the Dutch publication racingnews365. "But no, I am really looking forward to the new challenges that await us at the moment. It would have been frustrating not to be able to see the new cars," he added, referring to the sweeping new regulations for 2022. "The challenges posed by the coronavirus also continue to motivate me to continue. There will come a time when I will stop, but I have no plans for that yet," he added. Brawn admitted he would work closely with Domenicali, but denied that their past relationship at Ferrari is any indication of potential bias. "I'm trying to do what's right for Formula 1," he insisted. "Sometimes that's in favour of Ferrari, sometimes in favour of Mercedes, sometimes not at all. It doesn't affect the decisions we make. We are professional enough to be able to put that past aside." Brawn also played down reports that F1 teams on Monday voted down Red Bull's proposal of an engine development freeze. "I don't think there was a vote planned," he insisted. "Sorry for the misunderstanding, but as ever in Formula 1, there is always plenty to discuss." (GMM) BCC and MCLA To Pilot College Program For Homeless Youths PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Community College (BCC) and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) are working together as part of a new statewide effort to help teens who are homeless those classified as "unaccompanied homeless youth" enroll in college and earn the degrees prove to help people move beyond levels of poverty. The statewide initiative, piloted at various public community colleges and four year institutions across the Commonwealth, is called the "Moving to College" program. The application deadline for the Moving to College Scholarship program is March 1, 2021. The application, as well as eligibility requirements, can be found at https://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/ edstability/mtc.html. The Moving to College program will provide rooms in its residence halls, meal plans and case management to support those teens who are eligible. MCLA will play a pivotal role, one of four residential campuses in the Commonwealth selected by Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago to pilot the program. "BCC is proud to partner with MCLA and our local youth service organizations and partner agencies across the Berkshires to help youth facing homelessness enter into higher education with housing and the opportunities to build a different future," Ellen Kennedy, President of BCC said. "Individuals struggling with homelessness struggle to capitalize on higher education as a pathway to a different life BCC is committed to supporting these college-bound students through this important pilot program that will help our most underserved thrive." The Berkshire team will be composed of campus staff from MCLA and BCC working in partnership with school liaisons and counselors, and a local non-profit youth services provider. The goal is to provide the supports that these students need so that they can stay on track to earn their degrees. "We see over and over that higher education is a viable path out of poverty," MCLA President James F. Birge said. "Many MCLA students come from low-income families or are first-generation college students. They go on to secure well-paying jobs, maintain successful, fulfilling lives, and contribute to their communities. I am thrilled MCLA will be part of this pilot program and will be able to offer this opportunity to students impacted by homelessness." The Moving to College Scholarship is a pilot program designed to support Massachusetts unaccompanied homeless youth as they transition to, progress through, and complete a college education. Scholarships for up to 20 students across Massachusetts are funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Moving to Work program, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, with additional support provided by the Department of Higher Education, the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and Young Adult Commission and participating campuses. The colleges' responsibilities include reserving up to five beds in dorm housing for students; covering the cost of meal plans for Pilot students; developing and maintaining an ongoing schedule of communication of this Pilot with Youth Service Providers (YSP) as full partners; working with YSPs to create a success plan for each student; designating a single point of contact for students on campus; developing a campus orientation plan for students; and connecting students to campus resources, both academic and residential life resources. Participating Colleges in this pilot program include: (Baton Rouge, LA.) - Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is pleased to announce two Louisiana-based filmmakers have been selected for the Hindsight Project a fascinating new initiative focused on supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) filmmakers living in the American South and U.S. Territories. LPB, working in conjunction with Firelight Media, Reel South, and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), will work with the Louisiana filmmakers selected for participation as they create short films for a new digital series. The series will explore the lived experiences of communities of color in the South and in Puerto Rico that reflect the migrations and movements throughout the complicated history of these regions. Each film will eventually premiere on Reel Souths public media and LPB platforms. The two Louisiana-based filmmakers selected and the projects they are working on are: Kiyoko McCrae, Untitled Motherhood Documentary This documentary follows a group of New Orleans mothers as they struggle to care for their families and themselves throughout the pandemic. Utilizing video diaries, it provides an intimate portrait of mothering during a time of crisis. Zac Manuel, Trust Trust explores the perilous relationship between Black Americans and the medical industry. As Black New Orleanians are faced with taking the experimental COVID-19 vaccine, they must question whom to trust within an atmosphere of historical and contemporary medical abuses. Its important for LPB to help guide emerging filmmakers and encourage them on their journey, says Beth Courtney, President of LPB. Louisiana filmmakers are the people most qualified to tell Louisiana stories, so keeping them in our state and providing them with an environment to grow and share their stories, adds to greater cultural understanding of Louisiana, both statewide and beyond. This effort aligns perfectly with LPBs ongoing mission. In total six filmmakers from across the south will work closely with Firelight Media, Reel South, and CAAM through all stages of production and will each receive financing up to $20,000 to produce short films that seek to disrupt mainstream narratives and illuminate the issues, communities, and identities of their regions. The filmmakers will receive production and distribution mentorship by veteran independent filmmakers. In addition, each filmmaker selected will be paired with a public media station mentor for additional editorial guidance focused on local expertise and audiences. LPB Digital Studios will be working closely with both Louisiana filmmakers to guide them from storytelling to streaming. For more information contact: Colleen Spillane | LPB Public Information cspillane@lpb.org | 225-767-4453 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. FBI agents have arrested Huntington Beach activist, Mark Simon, in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (FBI) The FBI on Thursday arrested a Huntington Beach man who posted images of himself involved in the breach at the U.S. Capitol on social media. Mark Simon, who is known locally for his far-right views, was taken into custody during a dawn search of his home on federal charges of entering the restricted grounds of the Capitol and disorderly or disruptive conduct for allegedly being part of the incursion by supporters of former President Trump. Simon is alleged to be part of the group that forced its way into the building on Jan. 6, seeking to block Congress from certifying President Bidens victory over Trump in the November election, according to the criminal complaint. Five people died, including a Capitol Police officer. More than 160 people have been charged, and hundreds more remain under investigation, according to federal authorities. Federal prosecutors say a video showed Simon passing through the "threshold of the U.S. Capitol building." An FBI agent wrote in a sworn statement that a video "showed numerous individuals pushing their way into the U.S. Capitol .... As the individual filming the video approached the doorway to the U.S. Capitol, law enforcement officers inside the U.S. Capitol could be seen attempting to remove individuals from the building." The agent said that at one point in the video, the man later identified as Simon "turned the camera on himself and said, 'In the Capitol baby, yeah!' Shortly thereafter, the individual turned the camera on himself again and said, '2021 Donald Trump!'" The FBI identified Simon after he was recognized by a Huntington Beach police detective from a blog post image as a "known activist in Huntington Beach." Simon, 49, was also featured in a story by the Epoch Times, a far-right newspaper, saying he attended the rally in support of Trump and to ensure a free and fair election. He said police began pushing back against the mob at the Capitol doors to keep them out, adding that very minor destruction took place considering the number of people in attendance. Story continues The worst I saw there was a couple patriots on top of some type of government vehicle on the roof. That was about it. There was no damage to the vehicle, Simon said in the Epoch Times. Simon said the mainstream media was editing shots out of context to make the protesters look more violent and destructive than they actually were. Simon is the latest person from Southern California to be charged with participating in the attack on the Capitol. FBI agents have swept up a crew of characters known locally for their opposition to pandemic orders and support for Trump. They include a Beverly Hills beautician, a Beverly Hills concierge physician, an aspiring actor and the grandson of Glendoras former mayor. Last Friday, FBI agents arrested a Federal Aviation Administration employee who lives in Beaumont on charges of taking part in the siege. And on Tuesday, Victorville gym owner Jacob Lewis, who defied the state's pandemic restrictions by reopening his business during the shutdown, was arrested on charges of violent entry to the Capitol. When FBI agents questioned him on Jan. 15, prosecutors say, Lewis acknowledged that he entered the Capitol, but claimed he was never told that he could not be permitted to do so, despite the hundreds of police officers who fought to keep the mob out. Lewis claimed in the interview that he was "escorted" into the building by police officers and denied being involved in any violence, according to a complaint. On Wednesday, the FBI arrested Jeffrey Alexander Smith in Coronado on suspicion of taking part in the attack. During an interview with authorities, Smith admitted to entering the Capitol during the siege and to deleting his Instagram account afterward, court records show. According to prosecutors, Smith messaged an acquaintance, "There is no way in hell I was going to drive 38 hours from San Diego and not walk right through the front" door of the Capitol. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. New Delhi: The Delhi Police will issue look out circulars against farmer leaders who have been named in FIRs registered in connection with the violence that broke out during farmers' tractor parade in the city on Republic Day, officials said on Thursday. The farmer leaders who have been named in the FIRs will also be asked to surrender their passports, they said. FIR registeredThe decisions were taken following a series of meetings chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah since Tuesday when the large scale violence took place in the national capital during the farmers tractor rally, an official from the Home Ministry said. Shah has been continuously monitoring the situation in Delhi and held meetings even late in the night on Wednesday and again early on Thursday, the official said. Directives have been given to the Delhi Police to take immediate actions against the accused farmer leaders, he said. Tractor rally A look out circular is issued against an accused from preventing for travelling abroad. The Delhi Police has registered 25 FIRs, including against over 30 of the 40 farm union leaders who were involved in talks with the central government. Thirty-seven farm union leaders, including six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have been named in an FIR registered at the Samaypur Badli police station, in Outer Delhi. PhotoOne of the FIRs, on the Red Fort incident, names Punjabi film actor Deep Sidhu and Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the rally that was supposed to be held from 12 PM to 5 PM with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Stakeholders' Panel 15 December 12:00-13:30 (CET) The OECD commemorated the 60th anniversary of the signature of the OECD Convention. As part of the occasion, this Stakeholders' panel brought together high-level representatives from subnational governments, international organisations, private sector, civil society and academia, including former government leaders to broaden the discussion and complement on the outcomes of the discussions from the Leaders' Event on 14 December. The discussion focused on multilateralism and the need for collective action across a wide range of stakeholders to build back better in the aftermath of the worst health, economic and social crisis the world has known since the Second World War. This includes addressing challenges and opportunities raised by climate change, inequalities, or the emergence of digital technologies, including the tax challenges of the digital economy. Agenda 12:00-12:05 (CET) OPENING REMARKS Mr. Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD Ms. Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain 12:05-12:45 (CET) PANEL 1 RETHINKING AND REINVIGORATING MULTILATERALISM IN THE POST-COVID WORLD The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed the worst global health, economic and social crisis at a time when the multilateral system was already strained. It is costing many lives and threatening the stability of democracies, economies and societies, with developing countries likely to be hit the hardest. It has also revealed entrenched social, cultural and economic inequities and injustices, which can no longer be overlooked. Under this backdrop, this first panel discussion focused on how effective multilateralism, including through the OECD, can ensure a strong, inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery, and be reinvigorated for the post-COVID world. Ms. Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London Mr. Enrique Iglesias, Former President, Inter-American Development Bank Ms. Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and Former President, Chile Mr. Pascal Lamy, President, Paris Peace Forum and Former Director-General, World Trade Organization Moderated by Ms. Karen Tso, Anchor, CNBC Europe 12:45-13:25 (CET) PANEL 2 FOSTERING COLLECTIVE ACTION BEYOND GOVERNMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS The COVID-19 is a global crisis that knows no borders and have affected every country and community. The crisis has also intensified weaknesses that were confronting the world even before the pandemic struck: slow economic growth, widening inequalities in income, wealth and opportunities, and the breakdown of trust. Panelists exchanged experiences regarding different initiatives to foster a strong, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery and discuss how the crisis and the recovery provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to join forces and contribute to economies and societies that leave no one behind. Ms. Julie Sweet, CEO, Accenture Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, Activist and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ms. Christy Hoffman, General Secretary, UNI Global Union Ms. Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director, Oxfam Moderated by Ms. Karen Tso, Anchor, CNBC Europe 13:25-13:30 (CET) FINAL REMARKS Mr. Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD Find out more Leaders' Event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the OECD Convention The OECD's 60th Anniversary 60th anniversary events organised by the OECD Forum Tackling Coronavirus (COVID-19) - browse OECD contributions 'SoHo Karen' Miya Ponsetto has had a charge for public intoxication dropped after a drunken altercation at a hotel in California, while her 42-year-old lookalike mom received 100 hours of community service. Miya, 22, became infamous in December after video footage showed her accusing an innocent 14-year-old black boy of stealing her phone before allegedly attacking him at an NYC hotel. But Thursday's court decision in California was related to a separate incident involving an altercation with police at The Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills. According to previous reporting, the mother and daughter were drunk and refused to leave the five-star Peninsula hotel on February 28 last year, prompting staff to call the police on them. When officers responded to the hotel and tried to remove Miya and Nicole Ponsetto from the premises, the mother pushed and kicked a cop. The officer sustained injuries but refused medical attention. According to prosecutors, Nicole believed she was defending her daughter when she kicked the officer in the knee. Miya Ponsetto's mother, Nicole Ponsetto (right), is pictured in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, in connection to a February 2020 public intoxication case Nicole, 42, pleaded no contest no contest to battery on a police officer and public intoxication Nicole (left) was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and entered a 12-month diversion program. Her daughter Miya (right) had a public intoxication charge against her dismissed by a judge Miya's mother Nicole Ponsetto pleaded no contest to battery on a police officer and public intoxication. She was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and entered a 12-month diversion program. Nicole, wearing a tight, midriff-baring light-brown sweater, black cargo pants and a pair of flat sandals, declined to comment on the plea deal as she walked out of the courtroom. If she complies with the conditions of her sentence and keeps out of trouble with the law for a year, the case against her will be dismissed, reported New York Daily News. Miya was not in court Thursday, but a judge reportedly agreed to drop a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication against her, after prosecutors noted she had 'no criminal history' before the hotel incident. But legal woes followed in the months after the 22-year-old's first arrest, including two separate DUI arrests. The first arrest was in Los Angeles County on May 28, a day after Miya celebrated her 22nd birthday. She pleaded no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 per cent or higher and was sentenced on September 28 to three years of probation, 30 hours of community service and a first-time offender DUI program. Ponsetto returned to Los Angeles after being freed on supervised release following her arraignment in New York City If Nicole complies with the conditions of her sentence and keeps out of trouble for a year, the case against her will be dismissed. She is seen walking out of court on Thursday A week later, Miya was caught on video hitting out at officers during a DUI arrest in Ventura County, California. She can be heard screaming 'there are gang members killing people right now and you're arresting a girl?' while the officers attempt to cuff her and get her in the back of a police car. Ponsetto was charged with DUI, resisting arrest and obstructing/delaying a peace officer or EMT. Her blood alcohol levels were twice the legal limit. She is due back in court in that case on April 16. Earlier this month, Miya was charged in New York City over the December 26 incident involved 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. at the Arlo hotel in Manhattan. In October 2020, Miya was caught on video getting arrest in Ventura County, California, on DUI charges (left and right). She can be heard screaming 'there are gang members killing people right now and you're arresting a girl? She had been extradited back to New York after she was filmed attacking the teen, who is the son of Grammy-winning jazz musician Keyon Harrold, at the high-end hotel after falsely accusing him of stealing her iPhone. The Harrold family have claimed the incident was racially motivated but Ponsetto has denied this. In a video recorded by the teen's father, Ponsetto was seen pushing and grabbing both father and son. She was recorded demanding the teenager's phone, claiming he had stolen it from her. Harrold Sr can be heard in the recording telling Ponsetto to leave his son alone. Miya made national headlines when she was filmed on December 26 allegedly assaulting a black 14-year-old after accusing him of stealing her phone. The incident took place at the Arlo hotel in Manhattan The victim of the attack was Keyon Harrold Jr, 14 (left), the son of Grammy-winning jazz musician Keyon Harrold (right) Miya Ponsetto, dubbed 'SoHo Karen,' is pictured in a 'wanted' poster as the NYPD searched for her after the hotel assault Security video later released by the NYPD shows Ponsetto frantically grabbing at the teen as he tried to get away from her through the hotel's front door. She's seen clutching him from behind before both tumble to the ground. Moments after the scuffle ended, her missing phone was found in an Uber and returned to her by the driver, Harrold Sr has said. NYPD detectives flew to California to help locate her after Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance signed off on charges of attempted robbery and felony fugitive from justice. Earlier this month, Ponsetto was flown back to New York to face charges of attempted robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, attempted grand larceny, and attempted assault The 22-year-old, who described herself as part Italian, Greek and Puerto Rican, denied being racist and apologized to the teen for 'making him feel inferior' during a rambling interview with CBS This Morning's Gayle King. Ponsetto was charged with four felonies of attempted robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, attempted grand larceny, and attempted assault, and was freed on supervised release, allowing her to return to California. After Thursday's court decision in California, the women's defense lawyer Sharen Ghatan told the Daily News: 'Were thankful and were grateful Miyas matter was dismissed. And Nicole will be earning a dismissal.' Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. MotherPod Innovations Private Limited, a first-of-its-kind Shared Mobility Solutions provider managed by ex-servicemen, and Electrodrive Powertrain Solutions Private Limited (Electra EV), launched the SainikPod Sit & Go mobility service in Bengaluru. SainikPod Sit & Go is Indias first all-electric Sainik-managed app-free mobility solution for last-mile commuting. Starting today, the SainikPod Sit & Go cars will be available in the city. The service has a Triple Safety policy that includes: a safer riding experience for passengers, healthier and pollution-free rides, and stringent sanitisation protocols. The service has two major USPs. First, it makes local commuting extremely simple for people who find app-based ride-hailing services cumbersome and/or time-consuming. With SainikPod Sit & Go, all one needs to do is flag down an available car (evident from its green rooftop indicator). Once inside, the passenger books their ride by making a missed-call to a number provided in the vehicle. And thats it! The passenger can then sit back as (s)he is safely escorted to their specified location. The second USP of SainikPod Sit & Go is its painstaking attention to safety. Each specially-customised electric vehicle is outfitted with features including: A secure acrylic partition to maintain social distance between the driver and passenger(s) A Smart Meter to help MotherPods Sainik Control Room track the vehicle A Panic Button A Speed Governor to ensure a safe and comfortable ride SanikPod Sit & Go follows stringent social distancing and safety protocols. The passenger-side interiors will be completely sanitised after each journey. Designed to maximise safety and affordability for passengers, SainikPod Sit & Go also furthers the Indian governments mission of slashing vehicle-based emissions and ameliorating the air quality in our congested metros. SainikPod, a unique Ex-servicemen (ESM) driven initiative, provides end-to-end Zero Carbon Footprint mobility solution. In addition to offering safety and security, this solution also achieves a major social objective of dignified resettlement of our exemplary Sainiks and their spouses, said Shri. Rama Subramaniam, Promoter of MotherPod, and Managing Trustee, Sushil Swabhiman Trust. We are proud to be strategically associated with MotherPod, whose niche fleet solution is unique and useful to urban commuters and imbued with noble intent, providing employment to ex-servicemen, said Mr Samir Yajnik, Executive Director, Electra EV. The company also plans to build a network of charging stations for its fleet. Currently, the SainikPod Sit & Go cars can travel around 120 kilometres on a single charge. Armed with the mission of fast-tracking its progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals for 2030, the Indian government is pushing for more electric vehicles on Indian roads. As a company managed by ex-servicemen, MotherPod is proud to fulfil its duty towards the nation by unleashing an electric-vehicle revolution across India. With that very goal in mind, MotherPod plans to launch the SainikPod Sit & Go solution in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad in the near future. MOSCOW -- A Russian court has rejected opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's appeal against his arrest as authorities stepped up their campaign against the Kremlin critic with new detentions of his associates and warnings by police they will crack down on protesters expected to take to the streets this weekend in support of the 44-year-old lawyer. Judge Musa Musayev said at a court hearing on January 28 that Navalny will remain behind bars until February 15, upholding a previous ruling ordering Navalny be incarcerated to allow a different court to decide in early February on converting a suspended 3 1/2 year sentence into real jail time in relation to an embezzlement case that is widely considered trumped up and politically motivated. Navalny, who took part in the hearing via a video link, called his arrest a sign of the lawlessness that has become commonplace in Russia with a goal to frighten me and everyone else. They want to muzzle people like me," Navalny said, adding that Russia's current authorities "are not masters of our country and they will never be." "Yes, the power now is on your side, but that will not last forever," Navalny said. After the judges ruling, Navalnys team announced that it planned to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Navalny was arrested on January 17 upon returning to Russia from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning by a military-grade nerve agent in August 2020 he accuses President Vladimir Putin of ordering, a claim the Kremlin denies. The day after his arrest, a makeshift court set up in a police station just outside of Moscow ruled the anti-corruption campaigner should be held until the other court makes its decision. WATCH: A Russian doctor kept her cool as her home was searched by police at 3 a.m. -- playing Beethoven's Fuer Elise on her piano while officials looked on. During the appeal hearing, Navalnys defense argued that because of his rehabilitation in Germany, he was unable to register with authorities as required by probation terms during the period. His lawyers also contested his arrest, charging that due process was repeatedly violated. The ECHR ruled in October 2017 that the case that put him on probation was "arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable." In connection with the peaceful processions on January 23, more than 20 criminal cases have been initiated under seven articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In connection with the poisoning of Navalny with the prohibited military poison 'Novichok' five months ago, zero cases have been initiated, Navalny aide Leonid Volkov said in a tweet after the court ruling. Navalny's arrest and the detention ruling sparked the largest mass nationwide protests in years on January 23 when tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets in his name. Police detained almost 4,000 people in the demonstrations. Navalny's team has called for another round of demonstrations on January 31, prompting Russian officials to step up their campaign to stop the dissent. Moscow police warned on January 28 that any attempts at holding the unsanctioned public event and any provocative steps on the part of its participants will be viewed as a threat to public peace and stopped immediately, while perpetrators will be held liable consistent with the law." A day before the appeal hearing, Navalny's two leading allies were detained for 48 hours for alleged violations of sanitary and epidemiologic regulations. Navalny's brother, Oleg, and Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer at Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), were told on January 27 that they will be held in detention for two days until a court decides on their pretrial restrictions. Sobol was detained after police searched her apartment. Her lawyer Vladimir Volkov tweeted that during questioning, police ran through a list of more than three dozen people -- including activists and actors who openly supported Navalny after his arrest earlier in January -- asking whether she knew them. Sobol refused to answer the questions, saying it was her constitutional right, after which she was taken to a police station. Oleg Navalny was detained after he refused to open the door for the police when they came to his brother's apartment in Moscow on January 27. Police subsequently broke the door down and entered the residence. Also, on January 27, a leading member of the Pussy Riot protest group, Maria Alyokhina, was detained for 48 hours on similar charges of allegedly violating coronavirus regulations during the mass rally in Moscow. According to the FBK, at least 15 homes of Navalny's associates and relatives were searched in Moscow on January 27, with police explaining the searches as a probe launched into "violation of sanitary and epidemiological regulations" stemming from mass rallies in Moscow last weekend. On January 28, the Investigative Committee said it had launched a probe against Volkov, accusing him of calling on minors to take part in the rallies to support Navalny. On January 27, Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, said social networks -- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and YouTube -- will face fines for failing to delete posts that encourage young people to take part in opposition protests. The Navalny affair has also struck a chord outside the country. In a joint statement on January 27, the foreign ministers of the G7 group of rich nations -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. -- described Navalny's detention as "deplorable" and called for his "immediate and unconditional release." Moscow rebuffed the call, accusing the West of interfering in the internal affairs of Russia. With reporting by TASS, Reuters, dpa, and Interfax OAK LAWN, IL Oak Lawn public schools are in line to receive a cut of $2.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds that the U.S. Department of Education has allocated to the states public elementary and high school districts. The second round of COVID-19 relief funding for schools through the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund $2,250,804,891 is four times more than the amount the state received last year under the first round of ESSER. The funds are being distributed by the Illinois State Board of Education. Funds will be distributed as urgent needs for "mitigating learning loss through supplemental learning opportunities, closing the digital divide and addressing the mental health needs of our students," ISBE Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala said in a letter to district superintendents. The state board of education is also encouraging districts to consider extending the school year to make up for months of remote learning, by adding before and after-school programs, and summer learning opportunities. Oak Lawn school districts receiving funding, including estimated amounts: Oak Lawn Community College Dist. 229 - $1.5 million CHSD 218 - $5 million Oak Lawn-Hometown Dist. 123 - $3 million Ridgeland Dist. 122 - $3 million Alsip-Hazelgreen-Oak Lawn Dist. - $1.2 million Atwood Heights Dist. 125 - $523,300 Supt. Dr. Michael Riordan, of Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229, said hes only had brief discussions on how to use the funding with the school board. We are anticipating a greater need in our summer school program as well as our after-school credit recovery programs, so I believe we will put a good amount toward those programs to help catch kids up. Riordan said in an email. I believe we will also use the funding to upgrade and enhance our technology infrastructure and to replace aging technology devices for students and staff. But like I said, this is all very preliminary. Story continues CHSD 218 Supt. Ty Harting said a meeting was scheduled to discuss ways in which to spend the funding. We are both appreciative and excited to have these additional funds to help move forward with educating our students during this pandemic, Harting said. This has been an extremely challenging year, and we will take all the help we can get to help our kids be successful in our classrooms. Supt. Dr. Paul Enderle, of Oak Lawn-Hometown Dist. 123 said they were aware of the allocation, but were still in the process of determining how to best use the funds to D123 students. Other school districts can be found online as well. Not all Illinois school districts received the funding. The allocation for districts that did not receive funding will eventually get it from a "set-aside," at approximately $63 per student, according to a letter from the ISBE. This article originally appeared on the Oak Lawn Patch 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. A witness to a Troubles shooting who was believed to have subsequently died could still be alive, a coroner has been told. West Belfast teenager Leo Norney was shot by the Army in disputed circumstances in Turf Lodge in September 1975. Soldiers from the Black Watch regiment claimed the 17-year-old was a gunman who had opened fire on them. This account was rejected by people in the area who insisted Leo was an innocent victim of an unprovoked attack. Soldiers involved in the shooting were later convicted in relation to separate incidents in west Belfast related to fabrication of evidence involving planting of ammunition. A new inquest has been ordered into the teenagers death after the original coroners probe in 1976 returned an open verdict. A pre-inquest hearing on Thursday, a lawyer representing the Norney family told coroner Patrick McGurgan, sitting at Belfast Coroners Court, of the development in relation to a previous witness list. Fiona Doherty QC told the court: We may have some information that suggests that the penultimate witness listed in the civilian witness section may not be dead. What we can do is provide that information to coroners service and it can be followed up. Mr McGurgan responded: You can feed back in about the witness who we think may be deceased if any further light is shone on that situation. Ms Doherty also alerted the court to archive broadcast footage from the time of the shooting that could also assist the fresh coroners probe, particularly an expert engineer who is drawing up maps of how the scene would have looked in 1975. There is video material in the BBC archives, which actually I looked at again yesterday, from 1975 and 1977 related to this death which shows the path and the surrounding area very, very clearly, she said. The substantive inquest is scheduled to commence on May 24 and last for four weeks. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor New Delhi, Jan 28 : Jairam Ramesh is emerging as a key troubleshooter in the Congress for reaching out to prospective allies and acting as a go-between among different factions within the party, sources said. Ramesh, who has been rural development minister in the UPA government, is close to 10, Janpath as well as Rahul Gandhi whom he advises on policy matters. Congress leaders admit privately that Ramesh's clout is growing but when asked Ramesh just laughed it off. The Congress is battling multiple crises since the recent death of veteran party insider Ahmed Patel and the party is struggling hard to find his replacement as on several occasions Sonia Gandhi has had to step in to talk to leaders of other parties while for party matters Priyanka Gandhi has been active, but no official arrangements have been announced. The Congress is mulling many names, from Kamal Nath who played a significant role in arranging a meeting of dissenting leaders of the party with Sonia Gandhi, to Ashok Gehlot who is also considered a 10, Janpath loyalist but both leaders are not willing to leave state politics at this juncture. Nath is state party chief in Madhya Pradesh and Ashok Gehlot is Rajasthan Chief Minister who fought off a revolt by his former deputy Sachin Pilot. Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, also has vast experience but he was one of the 23 dissenting leaders who wrote a controversial letter to interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi asking for sweeping reforms within the party. Congress has declared presidential elections for May after polls in the states and it is unlikely that Sonia Gandhi will announce any major appointments in the party and all arrangements will be interim till a new party President is elected and chooses a new team. The Congress is trying to take on the BJP by uniting all other parties who are opposed to BJP but is finding it hard to take everybody along. On Thursday, it managed to get 16 parties to boycott the President's address but AAP and Akali Dal who are opposing the farm laws, are not part of the joint statement. The BJD and TRS which opposed the farm laws in Parliament are also not with the joint opposition much like the BSP and JMM which is the Congress' ruling ally in Jharkhand. The JD-S which had an alliance with the Congress in Karnataka is also not a signatory to the joint statement. The Congress needs a troubleshooter and a leader of the stature of Ahmed Patel who can reach out within the party and to outsiders simultaneously but the party is yet to find one. Sligo- Leitrim Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry has apologised for saying Ireland should buy Covid-19 vaccines from the Ku Klux Klan. Mr MacSharry's comments came during a parliamentary party meeting last night, according to breakingnews.ie The Sligo-Leitrim TD said he was calling for the country to get vaccines from any source necessary when he made the remarks. "I used an appalling analogy which, as soon as I had the opportunity to speak at the meeting, I withdrew and apologised. "I very much regret that, but the essence of the point was to absolutely prioritise our ability to secure vaccines as quickly as possible so we can put the restrictions that the entire country is living with at the moment to an end." Mr MacSharry's comments follow disputes between the European Union and drugmakers regarding the provision of vaccines due to manufacturing delays. The EU had criticised AstraZeneca after the company confirmed they would not be able to meet the committed number of doses for EU member states. The issue means Ireland is expected to receive half of the 600,000 doses due by the end of March. RTHK: Court upholds acquittal in Daniel Pearl murder case Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a series of appeals against the acquittal of the British-born militant convicted of masterminding the kidnap and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl, paving the way for his release along with three other accomplices. "The court has come out to say that there is no offence that he has committed in this case," said Mahmood Sheikh, who represented the accused, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. The ruling follows an international outcry last year after a lower court acquitted the 47-year-old of murder and reduced his conviction to a lesser charge of kidnapping, overturning his death sentence and ordering his release after almost two decades in prison. Pearl was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about Islamist militants. Nearly a month later, after a string of ransom demands were made, a graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate. Lawyers for Pearl's family have argued that Sheikh played a crucial role in organising the abduction and detention of the journalist, before ordering his captors to kill him. Defence lawyers, however, say he has been used as a scapegoat for the murder and was sentenced on insufficient evidence. Sheikh and the three other men convicted of involvement in the kidnapping have been held under emergency orders by the Sindh provincial government, which has argued that they are a danger to the public. There was no word on when they will be released following Thursday's decision. Pearl's family called the top court's ruling "a travesty of justice" and pleaded for US intervention in the case. "The release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan. We urge the US government to take all necessary actions under the law to correct this injustice," the family said in a statement. In a statement last month, the then-US acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said that America "stands ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial here" after labelling the acquittal "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere". (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. In a blistering attack, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah "must resign". CM Mamata Banerjee said that they should "either repeal farm laws or quit the government". CM Banerjee added that the person who hoisted the flag at the Red Fort is "BJP ka chamcha". "He has pictures with Amit Shah. He has pictures with PM Modi. This is BJPs plan. PM Modi and Home Minister must resign. Either repeal farm laws or quit the government," said the West Bengal CM. READ | Delhi borders to be emptied after nearly two months? Major stir at Singhu and Ghazipur farmers' protest sites She said, "Sad that there is none to stand by farmers. I decided I will stand by them. Everyone was scared, I said this is the mistake of Bharat Sarkar (Centre). See what is happening over farmers agitation. Is it okay to brand them as terrorists? This is not right. What happened the day before yesterday (January 26), so many farmers went to Delhi. They were granted permission also." Calling the violence on January 26 in the national capital as 'small incidents', she said, "Some small incidents took place. Neither any house was torched, vandalised or anyone died. But this BJP party, they are burning down the country. They dont burn but they torch everything. I dont want them also to burn. I want them to have a long life. But I remember Amit Shah had once said in Rajasthan, I have a document also, that we have 50 lac WhatsApp groups. If I want to spread wrong information to provoke public and make it viral, I can do it." She added, "If a countrys home minister or a BJP senior leader can say this, imagine why we witnessed this in Delhi. Kisan who is innocent, they are slamming charges of terrorism on them. They want to break this movement by spreading lies. Today, Punjabs farmers are fighting and we stand by them. They have lost in Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal also they will lose and they cannot hold on to Bihar for long." "If you lose all states what will you do? I have seen many governments--Rajiv Gandhi govt I have seen, Indira Gandhi govt I could not see as I was a student then. I have seen Manmohan Singhs govt. Rajiv Gandhi got 400 seats, BJP got 300 seats and you all know they got it. Look at their audacity, they made Adanis house before passing the farm bills. You will not get rice, potatoes. They snatched the Essential Commodities Act. They didnt consider voting on the bill, they brought in an ordinance and passed it. None had such audacity," she said. "Every state has given Prime Ministers and Presidents to the country. But I have never seen such attempts to humiliate people like this govt. Kill if you dont like. They raise slogans like goli maro, if this is your slogan, then I will say go from here. They dont know me, Im a street fighter. And they have purchased media. I want to ask the Bihari people who reside here, has there ever been a problem residing here?" asked the CM. She added, "After Hindu-Muslims, BJP is now engaging in Bengali-non Bengalis. The responsibility is now on you, TMC should get more votes from you than Bengalis. In the coming days, we can show what we can do for all of you. I felt bad Hemant Soren came here to campaign. I went to attend his swearing-in ceremony. Even Bengalis reside in Jharkhand, then I will also contest there. Do I go to Rajasthan to seek votes? Then I can also go. I felt bad that he did this." WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Organizers of the Indiana Small Farm Conference remind farmers that its never too early to gain new insights ahead of the growing season. The longer and busier days will be here soon enough, says Tamara Benjamin, assistant agriculture and natural resources program leader and diversified agriculture specialist for Purdue Extension and a conference organizer. The Indiana Small Farm Conference is a great way to learn whats new and whats next in production, marketing and other areas to make the most of your efforts in 2021 and for years to come. Featuring keynote speakers Richard Perkins and Dan and Julie Perkins, the ninth annual conference and trade show will take place March 4-6, with live and on-demand content delivered through the interactive Microsoft Teams application. All content will remain available to participants after the conference is over. Registration is open, and the fee to attend all three days of the conference is $35 per person. This years conference offers several tracks, from which attendees can choose sessions that best align with their farming operations and goals: Advanced Livestock, with a focus on pasture renovation and management, as well as breakout sessions on beef, goats, sheep and poultry. Advanced Vegetable Production, with panels on leafy greens, soil health and cover crops, and on-demand crop-update/growing technique content. Beginning Farmer, which will help newcomers set themselves up for success through sessions on developing farm stands and diversifying enterprises. Farm Business & Marketing Plans, with suggestions from successful vendors to increase sales, presentations on e-commerce and tax benefits and more. Regenerative Agriculture, featuring a grower panel and a presentation by Ray The Soil Guy Archuleta, a soil scientist with over 30 years of experience. Urban Agriculture, with a variety of sessions covering urban farms, soil health, pest management and community engagement. A youth track will offer sessions on careers in agriculture and small farms to middle school and high school audiences. On March 5, an Exploring Agriculture and Small Farm Careers panel will showcase interactive discussions about careers in horticulture, organic farming, livestock farming, agricultural entrepreneurship and more. Saturdays Show-and-Tell sessions will feature presentations on beekeeping, horticulture, livestock management and more. The Purdue Ag Ambassadors and Purdue chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) will discuss their collegiate agriculture experiences. Its exciting to see the next generation, including Purdue Agriculture students, take the lead on Saturday, Benjamin says. The future of farming depends on inspiring young people to consider what they can achieve now and in the years ahead. The Purdue Extension Farm Stress Team also will provide pre-recorded on-demand videos and resources related to mental health, including resources specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the unique challenges of 2020 added to existing stress for agriculture professionals, it was essential to offer focused content about mental health and well-being, Benjamin says. The 2021 Indiana Small Farm Conference begins March 4, with on-demand availability for virtual tours of such Indiana farms as Four Flags Farm, Freedom Valley Farm and Maple Hills Farm. Testimonials from farmers about how they have persevered through COVID-19 also will be available on demand. Keynote speakers for the 2021 conference are: Vendors also can participate in a virtual trade show, for which they will receive their own designated channel to engage with attendees for the entirety of the conference. Vendor registration is $70, which includes access to all conference sessions. Vendors interested in exhibiting can sign up here. Due to the popularity of the Indiana Small Farm Conference, credit card payment is strongly recommended. Attendees will receive Microsoft Teams login information for the conference only after payment is received. If you have a question about registration, email edustore@purdue.edu. If you require special accommodations to participate in the conference, or have questions about the conference itself, email welsh@purdue.edu or call 765-494-8490. A detailed conference schedule will be available several days before the event, and currently scheduled sessions are subject to change. For more information, or to sign up, visit the Indiana Small Farm Conference website. Follow the conference on Twitter and Instagram at @SmallFarmPurdue or on Facebook at @PurdueExtensionSmallFarms, with the hashtag #PurdueSmallFarms. Writer: Nick Rogers, 765-494-0948, rogersn@purdue.edu Sources: Tamara Benjamin, 765-496-1930, tamara17@purdue.edu John Hawley, 812-926-1189, hawley4@purdue.edu James Wolff, 260-481-6826, jmwolff@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page It looks like Pamela Anderson celebrated Christmas and the New Year with a happy heart after she got married again on Christmas Eve. The Daily Mail detailed that the 53-year-old model had an intimate wedding ceremony in her Canadian home, which she bought from her grandparents 25 years ago. Her parents got married in the same area, and she noted that they are still together after all these years. So for her, holding her wedding on the property felt like she has "come full circle." "I'm exactly where I need to be-in the arms of a man who truly loves me," Anderson confessed to the news outlet. Meanwhile, People Magazine confirmed that Anderson married her bodyguard, Dan Hayhurst. Anderson and Hayhurst have been publicly sharing intimate moments since the third quarter of 2020. In September, a source confirmed to People that the Playboy model had been dating him for a while. "She's very happy. And they've been together for the entire pandemic," the insider said. "She's super happy and he's been helping her fix up her home on Vancouver Island." Currently, Pamela Anderson's husband is the fourth one with whom the actress shared her "I do." Pamela Anderson's Past Relationships Before Pamela Anderson's bodyguard, she got married to different men four times. In 1995, the "Baywatch" star married Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. However, they decided to split in 1998. The two share two sons: Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger. In 2006, she married--and divorced--Kid Rock. In the following year and 2013, she married producer Rick Solomon twice. However, both marriages to Solomon also ended up getting dissolved. Movie producer Jon Peters became her las groom prior to Hayhurst. In early 2020, she announced that she and Peters tied the knot. However, the model announced their split 12 days after. They also failed to obtain a valid marriage certificate and the necessary legalities to make their union formal. "We have mutually decided to put off the formalization of our marriage certificate and put our faith in the process," Pamela said that time before thanking everyone for respecting their privacy. The two ended up becoming estranged, as Peters accused her of using him to pay her almost $200,000 worth of debt. In an e-mail he sent to Page Six, Peters said that the actress was too broke and only needed someone who could pay off her debts. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles The Latest COVID-19 International Travel Requirements: What You Need to Know As of January 26, 2021, all air passengers arriving to the U.S. from an international destination must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from the virus. In addition, President Biden has announced a new COVID-19 response plan, including the requirement for travelers to comply with [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines for self-isolation and self-quarantine upon arrival. While both announcements represent a major shift in international travel requirementsfor visitors and citizens alikethe decisions align with a global trend towards requiring a negative COVID-19 test prior to international travel and quarantining after arrival. Heres a breakdown of the new Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the requirements other countries have implemented for inbound travelers, and what you need to know in order to comply. Who does this Order apply to? All air passengers two years of age and older arriving to the U.S. from an international destination must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recoveryi.e., a combination of a positive COVID-19 test and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you have been cleared for travelbefore boarding. This includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as those passengers transiting through the U.S., as well. What kind of documentation do I need to provide? The CDC requires that air passengers arriving in the U.S. have a paper or electronic copy of their test result or documentation of recovery for review by the airline before you board and for potential review by public health officials after you arrive in the U.S. Those passengers who do not comply will be denied boarding by the airline operating the flight to the U.S. Read more: What Travelers Need to Know About Digital Health Passports When do I need to get tested? All travelers flying into the U.S. will need to present either a negative COVID-19 viral or antibody test that was performed within three days prior to boarding. Alternatively, you must present your documentation of recoverythat is, evidence of having contracted and recovered from COVID-19 within 90 daysbefore boarding. Do I need to present a negative test result if Ive received the COVID-19 vaccine? All travelers will need to comply with the new Order, regardless of whether you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or not. How long do I need to quarantine for after arriving in the U.S.? The CDC currently encourages travelers to self-isolate for at least seven days after travel. At the time of publication, they recommend: Getting tested three to five days after travel and staying home for seven days after travel. This includes: Staying home for the full seven days, even if you test negative. If you test positive, isolating yourself to protect others from getting infected. If you dont get tested, staying home for 10 days after travel. Avoiding being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. What else do I need to know about international inbound travel to the U.S.? Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. They are also required in all U.S. transportation hubs, including airports as well as rail and bus stations. Have other countries instituted similar COVID-19 travel requirements? Countries around the world are instituting similar COVID-19 travel requirements for inbound travelers, however, policies vary by country. Heres a look at some of those policies (as of publication): Canada As of January 7, 2021, all air passengers five years of age or older are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline prior to boarding international flights bound for Canada. The test must be performed using one of two types of COVID-19 testseither a molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) testand must be conducted within 72 hours of your scheduled departure to Canada. Travelers will be required to present this information at the time of boarding. Those who fail to do so will be denied boarding by the airline operating the flight to Canada. In addition, all travelers are required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine, unless exempted under the Quarantine Act. South Korea As of January 8, 2021, all foreign passengers seeking entry to South Korea must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR result (in English or Korean) obtained within 72 hours of departure. All travelers to South Korea are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entry, as well. Australia Australia announced on January 8, 2021 that all incoming international passengers must return a negative COVID-19 test before boarding, with limited exceptions. This is in addition to an ongoing travel ban on all non-residents and non-Australian citizens entering the country. In addition, travelers arriving in Australia by air or sea must go into mandatory quarantine for 14 days from arrival (with some exceptions). You must quarantine in the city you arrive in for 14 days, even if you plan to travel elsewhere in Australia. United Kingdom As of January 15, 2021, all travelers (with limited exemptions) arriving by ship, plane, or train need to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours before departure to the U.K. Children age 11 and younger are exempt from the testing requirement. In addition, travelers must quarantine for 10 days upon entering the country. Travelers to England, however, may reduce their 10-day quarantine period if they test negative for COVID-19 after five full days of self-isolation. Ireland As of January 16, 2021, all passengers arriving into Ireland are required to present a negative result from a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in the country. Children aged six and under are exempt from this requirement. All passengers who have arrived from the U.K., South Africa, or any countries in South America must self-isolate for 14 days following their arrival into Ireland. Passengers arriving from countries outside of the EU are also requested to self-isolate for 14 days. Those arriving from the EU are subject to the traffic lights approach and should follow those guidelines accordingly. France As of January 18, 2021, travelers entering France from outside the EU are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test that was taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Travelers are also required to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival and re-test seven days after arrival, as well. How can I keep track of COVID-19 travel requirements and guidelines? TripIt now shows you the latest COVID-19 travel guidelines, restrictions, and requirementsalongside infection ratesfor more than 200 countries and territories. Once youve booked a trip, youll be able to easily see the latest information on COVID-19 for the destinations youre visiting. This will include testing requirements, current infection rates, quarantine rules upon arrival, and other information travelers need to know before visiting the area. Naftogaz informs Ukrnafta's minor shareholders about plan to hold shareholders' meeting as soon as possible source NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, owner a 50% and one share stake in PJSC Ukrnafta sent a letter to its minority shareholders, that filed a claim against Ukraine in the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce to recover $6 billion, about the plan to hold a meeting of Ukrnafta's shareholders, the source familiar with the content of the document told Interfax-Ukraine. According to it, Naftogaz intends to hold the meeting "as soon as possible" and plans to initiate its holding in accordance with the requirements of the legislation. According to the information on the Ukrnafta website, the last meeting of the company was held on November 28, 2019, at which the auditor was elected - PricewaterhouseCoopers (Audit). At the end of last year, Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska said that the final decision of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce on the suit initiated with Ukraine can be made already in February 2021. According to the minister, this decision may carry risks for Ukraine. As reported, in June 2015, minority shareholders of PJSC Ukrnafta Littop Enterprises Limited, Bridgemont Ventures Limited and Bordo Management Limited filed a lawsuit in the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce against the state of Ukraine. The annual count of the regions homeless population takes place every year on the last Thursday in January. Officials at the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition say the count spanning Hamilton County and ten surrounding counties is expected to be higher than average due to consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent years have brought in record numbers of volunteers to conduct the count, but this year only outreach workers and other specified employees will be counting. The federally mandated Point-In-Time Count takes place simultaneously across the country once a year to provide lawmakers with a detailed understanding of the status of homelessness. The data from the count shows the government and agencies where improvements need to be made and helps the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development know where to allocate funds. "In 2020, the economic effects of the pandemic compelled lawmakers to pass temporary legislation that protects those at risk of being homeless from being evicted and gives landlords incentives and subsidies to help those in crisis," officials said. "But those laws are tenuous and uncertain. Higher unemployment and economic uncertainty have led to an unprecedented crisis for those seeking stable and affordable housing. Calls made into the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalitions helpline are up 150 percent from last year. The helpline answered by staff trained in crisis and trauma response provides resource information to those in or close to a homelessness situation." Coordinated Entry Manager Jamie Ascarate said of the helpline, When someone calls in, theyll find an empathetic listener utilizing motivational interviewing skills to listen carefully to their story for the strengths and barriers regarding the crisis they are going through. We work with the caller to come up with a plan to hopefully keep them from hitting the homelessness system or to review housing options for those already experiencing homelessness. Executive Director Wendy Winters said COVID-19 is to blame for the increase in calls to the helpline. People that hit homelessness now will have a harder time finding homes because there is such little housing available, Ms. Winters said. It will be really interesting to see what the homeless numbers are to give us an idea of the impact of COVID. Weve never had a situation like this before. I suspect the data will be eye-opening. The data from the count will take about one month to be compiled before being released to the public. The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition serves as the coordinating agency of Southeast Tennessees homeless response system. To learn more about how to support these efforts, visit homelesscoalition.org. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Thursday rescinded a regulation that barred U.S. foreign aid from being used to perform or promote abortions. His decision, while expected, was cheered by abortion-choice advocates and some humanitarian groups and denounced by anti-abortion groups. The move also included a restoration of American funding to the U.N. Population Fund and withdraws the U.S. from an international accord that promotes anti-abortion policies. The steps came just a week after he was inaugurated and fulfills a campaign pledge to reverse a policy that previous Republican presidents, including his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, had instated immediately on taking office. The policy known as the Mexico City rule, after the place where it was first announced at an international population conference, or the global gag rule has been a political ping-pong ball, bouncing back and forth between Republican and Democratic presidents since it was first enacted in 1985 during President Ronald Reagans second term. These excessive conditions on foreign and development assistance undermine the United States efforts to advance gender equality globally by restricting our ability to support womens health and programs that prevent and respond to gender-based violence, Biden said in a memorandum to his Cabinet. The expansion of the policy has also affected all other areas of global health assistance, limiting the United States ability to work with local partners around the world and inhibiting their efforts to confront serious health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, among others, he said. Such restrictions on global health assistance are particularly harmful in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Accompanying Bidens determination was a decision to restore funding to the United Nations Population Fund, which Trump had ended over its alleged support for forced abortions and sterilizations in China. The fund has denied those allegations. The year before Trump terminated the funding, the U.S. had provided $69 million to the UNFPA. READ MORE: Biden opens sign-up window for uninsured in time of COVID-19 In addition, Biden directed the State Department and Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw from the so-called Geneva Consensus, an October 2020 document signed by 34 countries that sought to promote anti-abortion policies and others deemed pro-family worldwide. The consensus had been co-sponsored by the U.S. and was signed by numerous nations critics consider to be undemocratic or authoritarian. Critics of Trumps policies say they had hurt womens reproductive health care and contributed to poverty worldwide. Supporters argue they are essential to preserve the sanctity of life. Trump had expanded the Mexico City rule to include nearly all federal health funding, but its effects were felt most abroad, where U.S. assistance can be an essential part of a countrys health care spending. Although supporters of the policy argue that the overall amount of U.S. health care aid was not affected, critics maintain it contributed to a rise in pregnancy-related complications as well other issues by forcing some clinics to reduce broader health services, including for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases, if they wanted to retain funding. Reaction to Bidens decision was swift and sharp, even before it was officially announced. Abortion-rights groups and Democratic lawmakers hailed it as key to improving womens lives, while anti-abortion groups denounced it as immoral and unnecessary. The Global Gag Rule has had a sweeping effect on lifesaving health care in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is shameful that the Trump administration chose to not only implement but exponentially expand this ill-conceived policy to historic proportions. She called it an important first step to restore access to family planning services and mitigate the damage caused by an administration that pursued this dangerous policy without regard for its impact. Doctors Without Borders, which has spoken out against the Mexico City policy, welcomed the move but said more must be done to address the global health care crisis. While we are relieved to see a halt to this dangerous policy, there is much more work to do to mitigate the damage we have witnessed. Rescinding the Global Gag Rule is just a first step, it said. Millions of women still dont have access to safe abortion care because of restrictive laws, cost, stigma, a lack of trained providers, or other unnecessary barriers, such as mandatory waiting periods or misleading information. Anti-abortion groups and lawmakers were equally as strident in their condemnation. U.S. foreign policy and the foreign entities we fund with billions of dollars in grant money should consistently affirm, care for, and tangibly assist women and children including unborn baby girls and boys, said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who has been one of the most vocal abortion opponents in Congress. Funneling U.S. tax dollars to abortion groups overseas is an abhorrent practice that flies in the face of the unity Joe Biden and Kamala Harris promised to inspire, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which seeks to elect anti-abortion candidates to Congress and other offices. Echoing the comments of others, she blasted the Biden administration for once again allowing taxpayer money to fund abortions, maintaining the move was payback for a group of abortion industry giants that support the presidents campaign for president. Pushing abortion on other nations is not compassion, it is ideological neo-colonization, said Lila Rose of Live Action, a national anti-abortion group. This decision is a dark day for our nation it will lead to more deaths of more children and for that, Joe Biden should be ashamed. If all goes to plan, Turkey will soon have a new ambassador in Washington. Murat Mercan, a founding member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP), is poised to become the first ever political appointee to hold the most coveted position in Turkish diplomacy. Mercans appointment to Washington came as a big surprise. Relations between Washington and Ankara are at an all-time low over a range of seemingly intractable issues. But none has proved as toxic as Turkeys acquisition of Russian S-400 missiles. The fallout has been huge. Turkey has been kicked out of the consortium to produce 5th generation F-35 fighter jets, which the S-400s are designed to shoot down. Its state defense procurement agency was slapped with sanctions by the previous US administration. It was therefore expected that Turkey would send an experienced career diplomat to replace the current ambassador, Serdar Kilic, who has been in Washington since 2014. The Turkish ambassador to London, Umit Yalcin, was together with Mercan on a short list drawn up by Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, well-placed sources told Al-Monitor. But Erdogan will have had the final say. So why did he plump for Mercan? And what can Mercan realistically achieve? The conventional wisdom is that Erdogan wanted someone he fully trusted, a like-minded Islamic conservative who shared his worldview but also had experience of the United States and of foreign relations, too. Moreover, a political appointee with a direct line to the Turkish leader might carry added weight, or so the thinking goes. Gonul Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institutes Turkey program, believes Mercan has his work cut out for him. The problems are too deep to be resolved by a new ambassador, especially if Turkey stays on course with its current policies, and particularly the S-400s." Second, Tol noted, If it's Erdogans way of saying, I am sending a political appointee for the first time and lets keep things personal, as he did with Donald Trump, its not going to work. The [Joe] Biden administration values institutions and has pledged to rebuild the credibility of institutions. Alan Makovsky, a leading Turkey expert and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, concurred. Mercans challenge is immense if not insuperable. Washington Congress, and now the administration as well has made up its mind that bilateral relations are stuck and will only get worse unless Turkey divests itself of the S-400s or does the functional equivalent thereof. Makovsky believes that Mercans assumed in with Erdogan may prove useful, though. If hes perceived to have a pipeline directly to Erdogan and especially if he can influence decision-making at the top, his status as a political appointee will be seen as a plus, Makovsky told Al-Monitor. Mercan has in fact long been associated with Abdullah Gul, the former Turkish president and Erdogans chief rival within the AKP, another reason many were surprised to see Erdogan pick him for Washington. Unlike Erdogan, whose hero is Necip Fazil Kisakurek, an anti-Semitic dilettante turned Islamist firebrand, Mercans views hew closer to those of Sezai Karakoc, another highly influential Islamist poet, though markedly less radical and far more intellectual. If you want to understand who [the disciples of Karakoc] are, think not like the Islamic State, explained Levent Gultekin, a prominent Turkish commentator and former Islamist. Islamic intellectuals like Karakoc are not as dogmatic when it comes to Sharia, to women. Mercan has always had a foot in both camps from the days since Gul and Erdogan were members of the now defunct Islamist Welfare Party. Mercan worked with Erdogan on his election campaign in 1993, when he became Istanbuls first Islamist mayor, a critical marker in his meteoric ascent. In the mid-1990s, Mercan accompanied Gul, then a Welfare party lawmaker, on foreign trips, including to the United States, where Turkeys militantly anti-Islamist generals were held in high regard. Tensions between Turkey's secularists and Islamists spilled over to the United States when Welfare took power in 1996 in a coalition with a center-right party. Guls job, with Mercan in tow, was to persuade the Bill Clinton administration and Congress that Welfare was hostile to neither the United States nor Israel. Cevik Bir, Turkeys then-deputy chief of staff, would make the same rounds to argue the opposite. In February 1997, Welfare was pushed out of office in the generals so-called Velvet Coup. The need to present a Western-friendly face critics call it pure deception endured. When the AKP first came to power in 2002, Mercan would scold foreign journalists who described the AKP as Islamists in their stories. We are conservative democrats you know, like the Christian Democrats in Germany not Islamists, he would snap, then throw in a joke to disarm his prey. He is personable and approachable. The previous ambassador [Kilic] was terrible. He only spoke to people who repeat the AKP line and at places like SETA, Tol said. She was referring to a pro-government Ankara-based think that frequently organizes panels in Washington. The DC think tank community could use a more personable ambassador. Murat Mercan is a different personality and he will have a different approach, she predicted. After an era where Ankara almost seemed to want to antagonize Washington, taking a more diplomatic approach to diplomacy is still a good sign, even if it wont be enough to restore US-Turkish relations, commented Nicholas Danforth, a non-resident senior research fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy. Mercan will also have to navigate the toxic world of Turkish-American politics, which is polarized much along the same lines as Turkey itself. There will be no lack of pro-Erdogan snitches eager to undermine him if he proves to be unmalleable. The 62-year-old former academic honed his diplomatic chops chairing the Turkish delegation at the Council of Europe, where Turkey is under constant attack over its shoddy human rights record. Mercan went on to become president of the parliaments external relations commission. In 2012, he became deputy energy minister. Mercan quit when Erdogan was elected president in 2014. In 2017, Mercan landed his first ambassadorial gig in Tokyo, where he was extremely active, hosting numerous events at the residence with his wife, Inci. The Japanese like their drinks, and they were always on offer save for during Ramadan and other Muslim holidays. He proved a big hit, particularly among children. Two of his own, a grown daughter and son, are American citizens. The Mercans had them while he earned a doctoral degree in information science at the University of Florida in Gainesville, in the mid-1980s. His wife earned an MBA at Cleveland State University. She will be the first Turkish ambassadress to Washington who wears an Islamic headscarf. While secularists back in Turkey air disapproval, Tol believes her headgear will be irrelevant, especially for this administration that places great value on racial, ethnic and religious diversity. Makovsky agreed it's largely a "non-factor," but said it could occasionally even prove to be a plus. For some contacts aware she's a 'first' it might increase her interesting quotient and might even make some people solicitous of her, he said. As for her husband, Makovsky concluded, Murat knows a lot of people and has friends here from his past work. His problem is the product that he's sent here to sell. Right now there arent many buyers in Washington. Editor's note: Jan. 29, 2020. This article has been updated since its initial publication to correct Makovsky's quotes. Slovak investors, representatives of Vi Group UA LLC, announce an illegal takeover of Frunze 69 LLC, which owns an office building located at 69, Kyrylivska Street in the Podil district of Kyiv. A partner of the Miller Law Firm, which defends a foreign investor, Masi Nayyem, said at a press conference on Wednesday that in October 2019, Vi Group UA and its beneficiaries Richard and Juraj Duska became the owners of Frunze 69 LLC and the real estate belonged to the company. However, a year later, the ownership was re-registered by a private notary to Investohills Vesta financial company LLC. "We filed complaints with a panel of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine for fighting illegal takeovers, and, as a result, the complaint was satisfied the property was returned to its rightful owner," Nayyem said. However, according to him, on January 23, the property was re-registered to Investohills Vesta financial company. "Our company on this case is accompanying about 10 proceedings only in economic courts. In addition, investigative actions are underway in three criminal cases. In one of these proceedings, suspicion notices will soon be handed over, I hope," the lawyer said. Attending the press conference, Head of the temporary ad-hoc commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the protection of investors' rights MP Halyna Yanchenko said that the commission intends to re-consider the case, inviting interested parties and representatives of the authorities. According to her, in the first six months of the commission's work, it was possible to return investment projects worth about UAH 5 billion. According to the data from the register of court decisions, Investohills Vesta financial company, in turn, through the court renewed the registration records on the ownership of the company and canceled the seizure of property. Financial company Investohills Vesta LLC was established in 2017. According to the information on the company's website, it provides services in the field of investment banking, financing and trading. The founders of the company with a charter capital of UAH 7 million are Investohills Partners Ukraine LLC (99%) and Ukrainian citizen Andriy Volkov (1%). Konstantinos Antoniou (Cyprus) is indicated as the beneficiary of the company. According to the unified public register of legal entities and private entrepreneurs, as of January 28, 2021, the owners of Frunze 69 LLC are Vi Group UA LLC. The beneficiaries are citizens of Slovakia Juraj and Richard Duska. Li Jinbin, Party chief of Anhui province and head of the Standing Committee of the Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress, chairs the opening ceremony of the 4th Session of the 13th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress in Hefei on January 28, 2021. (Photo by Liu Weixin) Li Guoying, governor of Anhui province, delivers an annual government work report at the 4th Session of the 13th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress in Hefei on January 28, 2021.(Photo by Liu Weixin) The 4th Session of the 13th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress opened on Thursday in Hefei, capital of East Chinas Anhui province. Li Jinbin, Party chief of the province and head of the Standing Committee of the Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress, chaired the meeting. Governor Li Guoying delivered an annual government work report at the opening meeting. The legislators examined the provinces draft 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035. The agenda also included examining a report on the implementation of the annual plan on economic and social development in 2020 and a draft plan on economic and social development in 2021, and examining a report on the implementation of the local budgets in 2020 and the draft budgets in 2021. More than 700 deputies from around the province attended the meeting. The 4th Session of the 13th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress opens in Hefei on January 28, 2021.(Photo by Liu Weixin) The 4th Session of the 13th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress opens in Hefei on January 28, 2021.(Photo by Liu Weixin) J ason Bourne star Matt Damon has listed his tropical home for sale for 15.4 million ($21,000) in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles county. The actor, his wife Luciana Barroso and their daughters currently in quarantine in Byron Bay before Damon joins the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney have reportedly decided to sell the southern California property to make their Brooklyn Heights penthouse in New York their main home. Located in the exclusive Upper Riviera district, Damons seven-bedroom retreat now for sale is a stones throw from best friend Ben Afflecks home. Surrounded by trees, with covered terraces and walkways, the extraordinary 13,500sq ft home set in less than an acre offers maximum privacy for famous residents and guests. Living spaces have plenty of natural light through huge floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights, and the family room opens to a chefs kitchen. The showstopper master suite opens to a private terrace but real highlights come in the form of two dressing rooms, a massage room and spa-style bath. As well as the propertys private cinema and wine cellar with tasting area, other suitably glamorous features include the gym, swimming pool, outdoor dining terrace and cascading waterfall. It's for sale through Eric Haskell of The Agency at a price of 15.6 million. Matt Damon fans planning post-pandemic getaways might like to know the Dalkey mansion where the actor and his family spent Lockdown 1 is now available to rent. Near Dublin, and formerly the home of Formula One icon Eddie Irvine, the 5,000sq ft residence has five bedrooms, a pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-27 22:51:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 27, 2021 shows the burial ceremony of three senior officials at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Wednesday officiated the historic triple burial of three senior officials who succumbed to COVID-19 last week. The three were veterans of the liberation struggle who fought for Zimbabwe's independence against British colonial rule in the 1970s. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) HARARE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Wednesday officiated the historic triple burial of three senior officials who succumbed to COVID-19 last week. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo, Transport Minister Joel Biggie Matiza and former prisons chief Paradzai Zimondi were laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre in the capital Harare. Moyo, 61, died last Wednesday, while Matiza and Zimondi both died on Friday. The three were veterans of the liberation struggle who fought for Zimbabwe's independence against British colonial rule in the 1970s. Their burial follows the double burial last week of Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba and veteran nationalist Morton Malianga who also succumbed to COVID-19 related complications. Four Zimbabwean cabinet ministers have died of the virus, highlighting a resurgence of the contagious disease in the southern African country. The burial ceremony was conducted under strict World Health Organization safety guidelines, with all attendees required to be tested for COVID-19. Speaking while officiating at the burial of the three national heroes, Chiwenga, who is also Zimbabwe's health minister, said like all countries in the global community, Zimbabwe is grappling with the pandemic. "The country has witnessed in the past three or so weeks a surge in the COVID-19 variant which has claimed the lives of many of our citizenry, including the lives of three national heroes we are laying to rest today at this national shrine," he said. "One would expect that when tragedy strikes, it would gradually abate, this has not been the case with the COVID-19 pandemic as it is still fiercely with us, and only God knows the day that it will end," he said. Chiwenga said the government was in the process of securing COVID-19 vaccines for the country, as it intensifies the fight against the pandemic. Zimbabwe has seen a spike in COVID-19 infections and fatalities since the start of the year. The southern African country has reported 32,004 COVID-19 cases to date, including 1,103 deaths. Enditem America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American The UK produced fewer than 1m cars as Covid meant factories were severely disrupted by lockdowns and social distancing measures UK car production fell 30 per cent last year in the industrys worst 12 months since 1984. The UK produced fewer than 1m cars as the pandemic meant factories were severely disrupted by lockdowns and social distancing measures. Brexit played a role, as a deal went down to the wire. The last time under 1m cars were produced was 2009. But the industry has held off calling for government help, which has helped to sustain sales in France and Germany. The industry is the UKs largest exporter, turning over 78.9billion a year and employing 180,000 people. Mike Hawes, at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: These figures are the worst in a generation. The industry faces 2021 with more optimism, however, with a vaccine being rolled out and clarity on how we trade with Europe, our biggest market. There was optimism though as electric cars continued to be rolled out in 2020. A robber in Slovakia was caught by police after a woman performed a sex act on him - delaying him long enough for officers to reach the scene. The man, a 24-year-old Serb, had been attempting to rob a petrol station on the outskirts of Bratislava overnight on Tuesday when the incident took place. While trying to get money from the safe, a 36-year-old Czech woman began to perform a sex act on him, before officers found the pair half-naked on the floor. A 24-year-old Serbian was arrested at this petrol station in Slovakia overnight Tuesday after he tried to rob it - but was delayed by a 36-year-old Czech woman performing a sex act on him The bizarre incident began when the man ran into the petrol station and demanded that staff hand over money, reported local news station Noviny. The robber punched a staff member behind the counter multiple times, before taking money from the cash register. He then went to the back office, where a second member of staff was sitting, and demanded that they open the safe. While the safe was being opened, the first member of staff ran outside and called police, who raced to the scene. Meanwhile, the 'mystery' woman appeared and began performing a sex act on the man, delaying his escape. In the meantime police turned up, and were able to arrest the suspect. Officers said the man 'put up stiff resistance' and that 'coercive measures were used against him'. Noviny said it is not clear how the robber and the woman ended up in the intimate situation, and that investigations are ongoing. The man is currently being held in jail, pending the results of the investigation. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has recently indicated the government is considering introducing more flexibility to the nations retirement saving system . (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) CCP Leaders Words Dont Match Regimes Actions: Australian Politician Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Wednesday that the actions of the Chinese regime do not match the words of its leader, Xi Jinping, who told the World Economic Forum that large nations should not bully small ones. Well we agree with that sentiment, that big nations should not bully small ones but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between the words and the actions, Frydenberg said. He pointed out that Australia had been on the receiving end of the pretty harsh actions by the Chinese regime when it comes to trade but reiterated Prime Minister Scott Morrisons stance that Australia wont compromise on its national interest or its values to appease the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Frydenberg also categorically declared that the 14 grievanceswhich he described as demandsreleased by the Chinese embassy in Canberra in November 2020 were non-negotiable issues Australia wouldnt be drawn on. These issues include the rights of politicians to speak as they see fit about the CCP. In its list, the regime had also sought to curb the freedom of Australias press and wanted the government to rescind its call for an inquiry in the origins of COVID-19, along with its ban on Huawei from Australias 5G network. It also mentioned Australias foreign investment policies and new foreign interference laws as a grievance. Frydenberg asserted that Australia makes its decisions on foreign investment in line with its national interest, and of course on human rights, we continue to speak out when there are injustices as weve done in the past, as well do in the future, he said. But New Zealands trade minister thinks Australia should follow his country in speaking with a little more diplomacy to the Chinese regime. Appearing on CNBCs Squawk Box Asia program on Wednesday, New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor said his country had a mature relationship with the Chinese regime and has always been able to raise concerns. I cant speak for Australia and the way it runs its diplomatic relationships, but clearly if they were to follow us and show respect, I guess a little more diplomacy from time to time and be cautious with wording, then they too could hopefully be in a similar situation, he said. This comes after New Zealand was notably absent earlier this month from a joint Five Eyes statement condemning the CCP over the mass arrests of 55 politicians and activists in Hong Kong. Instead, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta wrote on Twitter on Jan. 7: Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply concerned by the recent arrest of a number of pro-democracy advocates in #HongKong. This represents another effort to erode the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and further undermine the one country two systems framework. Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply concerned by the recent arrest of a number of pro-democracy advocates in #HongKong. This represents another effort to erode the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and further undermine the one country two systems framework. Nanaia Mahuta (@NanaiaMahuta) January 7, 2021 Two weeks later, New Zealand signed a preliminary deal to upgrade its existing Free Trade Agreement with China. Australias and Chinas diplomatic relations are currently at an all-time low after Foreign Minister Marise Payne successfully called for an independent investigation into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Since then representatives of the CCP have issued public threats in the Australian media, leaked confidential transcripts between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and made derogatory statements on social media about the Australian military. Beijing has also implemented trade bans and tariffs on eight of Australias major exports to China, including cotton, coal, lamb, beef, barley, wheat, wine, and timber. Frydenberg is the second politician in the past week to reiterate Australias tough stance on China, which has at times gained international support from like-minded nations including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Canada. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Playfair Mining Ltd., (TSXV: PLY) (FSE: P1J1) (OTC: PLYFF) using modern technology to explore its 100% owned RKV Project in a large historic mining area in south-central Norway, has identified eight Target Areas under consideration for 2021 drilling programs. The first two targets identified, Storboren (November 07, 2020 and December 05, 2020 News Releases) and the second, Sterfjellet, (News Release January 06, 2021) were reported by Playfair. The recently defined targets at Kletten North and Kletten South are described here. Map 1 To view an enhanced version of Map 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7302/72994_8b42ef74f4aa49d3_002full.jpg In the central part of the RKV Project, Playfair has discovered two significant MMI Cu anomalies at Kletten, as shown on the detailed map. The Kletten North anomaly is open to the northeast, along the general strike of the principal geological units, and contains 4 values of MMI Cu greater than 50 times background in an area 125 metres long by 50 metres wide. The widest part of the anomaly is on the most northeasterly line and the anomaly limit has not yet been defined. Approximately 300 metres to the south, along the regional strike, lies the Kletten South target, defined by 9 MMI Cu values greater than 50 times background. This sinuous anomaly occurs in an area of about 200 metres by 100 metres. Kletten North and South correlate regionally with the significant copper occurrences at Brsjh located about 12 km to the southwest. As at Sterfjellet, there is no record of any previous exploration work in the immediate area of the MMI Cu anomalies. Don Moore, CEO of Playfair, comments, "Playfair's approach of applying modern technology to exploration of a historic mining district continues to discover compelling new drill targets in unexplored areas. We are confident that ongoing work will generate additional targets." Map 2 To view an enhanced version of Map 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7302/72994_8b42ef74f4aa49d3_003full.jpg Map 3 To view an enhanced version of Map 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7302/72994_8b42ef74f4aa49d3_004full.jpg A detailed drone aeromagnetic survey was completed over the Kletten target area. The Kletten North and South target areas are located peripheral to and separated by a discontinuous series of north-easterly-trending, weak to moderate magnetic highs as illustrated on the detailed map. The MMI Cu target areas at Kletten clearly do not have a high magnetic signature. Of note, the known sulphide mineralization in the historic copper mines of Kvikne and Rstvangen, both located on strike-parallel, high similarity CARDS trends, are associated principally with pyrite which is non-magnetic. Work to date has allowed Playfair to reduce the exploration area to 201 square kilometers with a primary focus on the eight Target Areas shown on the RKV Project map. Playfair is continuing to interpret and compile its recent survey results with the goal of developing additional drill targets. A property-wide target assessment of the multi-phase MMI surveys and drone magnetic maps will be provided in due course. The technical contents of this release were approved by Greg Davison, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. There is no green future without minerals. The road to a cleaner environment includes batteries. Batteries use copper, nickel, and cobalt. For further information visit our website at www.playfairmining.com or contact: Donald G. Moore CEO and Director Phone: 604-377-9220 Email: dmoore@wascomgt.com D. Neil Briggs Director Phone: 604-562-2578 Email: nbriggs@wascomgt.com Forward-Looking Statements: This Playfair Mining Ltd News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to Playfair which are based on the beliefs of Playfair management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Playfair management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72994 President Joe Biden's nominee for Veterans Affairs secretary pledged to measure all things put before him by two metrics: whether it will give greater access to services for veterans, and whether it will improve outcomes. In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Wednesday, Denis McDonough, nominated to helm the federal government's second largest department, laid out his priorities if he gets confirmed. Read Next: U.S. Plans to Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan Up For Reconsideration, SecDef Says McDonough would be only the second non-veteran to serve as VA secretary, after David Shulkin, a medical doctor who served the department under the administrations of former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Citing a connection to troops that he forged during visits to Afghanistan and Iraq and time spent at military hospitals at home and abroad as Obama's chief of staff, McDonough pledged to "fight like hell" to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned. "I'm a fighter and I'm relentless, particularly about things I have a passion for. Having the professional experience of the last 20 years since Sept. 11, 2001, and having witnessed up close the experience and sacrifice of our veterans, I have a passion to treat them as well as they have treated us," McDonough said. Covering the three primary functions of VA, McDonough said his top priorities will be to provide veterans with timely, "world-class" health care, timely access to benefits and honoring veterans in their final resting places. He also said that Biden has asked him to ensure that veterans are receiving the best care and support through the COVID-19 pandemic; have opportunities for education and job training commensurate to their skills and talents; ensure that VA continues to broaden services for all veterans, including women and minorities; and strive to reduce homelessness and suicide among vets. "The first and most important thing that I will do, if confirmed, is underscore that comprehensive health care for our veterans includes mental health," McDonough said. To do this, he added, he would continue to increase access to mental health services, which include using grants and connections signed into law last year by Trump to access community organizations and programs that address veterans' mental health and wellness. "The VA does a very, very good job and works really hard at this crisis. On the other hand, there are so many entities in communities [that are] also doing a very good job and are ready and willing," McDonough said. A VA report published in November showed a slight uptick in suicides among young veterans in 2018 -- the last year the department has analyzed the numbers. The suicide rate among veterans was 17.6 per day in 2018, up from 17.5 a day in 2017. Regarding health services, McDonough was quizzed repeatedly by senators about VA's community health care services -- first introduced by Obama as the VA Choice program in response to lengthy appointment wait times at VA medical centers nationwide and expanded under the Mission Act by the Trump administration. In response to a question about community services from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, McDonough said he did not support "privatization" of health care and said community care would continue to be part of VA health services. "At the same time, we have to ensure that this integrated health model continues to draw on the success and excellence that is obvious in [VA's] workforce," McDonough said. In light of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 -- an event in which roughly 20% of those arrested were veterans -- McDonough fielded questions on "cyber-hygiene," ensuring that veterans have the tools and awareness needed to deflect disinformation and propaganda, and he said VA may have the opportunity to highlight to vets the threats they may face online. "It would be my intention to work with my interagency colleagues, the National Security Council and others to make sure that's receiving appropriate consideration," McDonough said. McDonough served as deputy national security advisor and later as White House chief of staff during the Obama presidency. He played a pivotal role in advising Obama during the scandal over VA medical appointments and turmoil over VA Secretary Eric Shinseki's resignation. He was also key to helping develop the Veterans Choice Act in response. Fraught with issues that included delays in care for veterans and payments to providers, the Veterans Choice Program eventually was allowed to expire and replaced with the VA Mission Act -- overarching legislation designed to improve access to community physicians and expand the eligibility pool of veterans. Montana Democrat Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and ranking member Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, pledged support for McDonough's nomination during the hearing, with Tester predicting he would "be successful" if he put veterans' "well being above all else." "In the end, we all want you to succeed because veterans across this country need you to succeed," Tester said. "I look forward to working with you and your commitment is evident to me," Moran said. Tester said he expects the committee to vote on McDonough's nomination Tuesday, followed by the full Senate. McDonough told lawmakers that if approved, he would 'fight like hell' to take care of veterans. "I have seen and internalized [veterans'] excellence and know that a basic requirement of the VA secretary is to have their backs," McDonough said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Five Years After Nationwide Scandal, Department Still Struggles to Track Wait Times Photo: (Photo : Facebook/Angels by Your Side) A woman from Wexford, Pennsylvania started a nonprofit, so she could help other families who lost their loved ones after her husband died. She says that it helped her move on with life. Six years ago, Tracy Kovacic's husband, Mike, died after running a ten-mile race. She said the sudden and unexpected death of her husband still feels baffling. She explained that Mike collapsed and died at the finish line after his heart had arrhythmia. The unexpected death of a young and healthy spouse Kovacic still feels it was surreal because her husband was just 32 years old at that time. She explained that Mike was in great shape and worked out all the time, so she believed nothing could have possibly caused that. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Couple Adopts Abandoned Brothers, Biological Parents Obviously Unable to Care for Them Two months after that, Kovacic's friends helped her decorate her home to celebrate Christmas. She had a hard time during that season because she was grieving the loss. Even though she wanted to celebrate the holiday with her children, Calvin and Josie, she felt sad. Grieving and support systems The 37-year-old mom said that she would not have wanted to decorate their home due to their loss, but after her friends have helped her with the decor in their home, she and her kids felt better. She later found that not everyone has a strong support system like her. After her friend's help, the mom-of-two decided to help others who have lost a loved one. Kovacic told TODAY that she called her friends to help a grieving woman after her spouse had died. One day, they went over to give the woman a good overhaul on her yard. READ: Mom Compiles Videos of Children's Milestones After Learning She was Terminally Ill Honoring her loved one's memory The mom that started the nonprofit believes that helping others is a great way to honor her late husband. She said that Mike was a helpful person and would do anything for anybody. Helping others has helped Kovacic move on with her loss. Kovacic started an extended group, Angels by Your Side, together with Joseph Guzzetti, the parents of one of Mike's friends. The Pittsburgh community could fill up a form to seek help and get a response within 48 hours. READ: Georgia Teen Who Walks Miles Everyday Receives New Car from Good Samaritan The friends would help anyone with a task that they could easily do. Now, the group is hoping that more professionals would donate their services or provide work at a discounted price. Kovacic said they want to form partnerships with other companies to help grieving families. She explained that if they have more volunteers and partners, they could help more families in need. She also said she feels glad her children would know the importance of helping others. The mom-of-two said that her kids learned that you have to help people when tragedies happen. Kovacic is thankful to her late husband and Joe's friends for helping others as she does. She said that they have been helping her provide help to others because they have also felt the pain of losing someone. BANGKOK Thailands Parliament has voted to make abortion legal in the first trimester, while keeping penalties in place for women who undergo it later in their pregnancies. Lawmakers in the Senate voted 166 to 7 on Monday to amend a law that had imposed prison terms of up to three years for anyone having an abortion, and up to five years for those who perform one. The new version allows any woman to end a pregnancy in the first 12 weeks. Advocates say the measure doesnt go far enough: Anyone in Thailand who has an abortion after 12 weeks, except under conditions set by the countrys Medical Council, still faces potential fines and up to six months in prison. For us, this law is not a real development, said Matcha Phorn-in, the executive director of Sangsan Anakot Yawachon, a nonprofit organization in Thailand that advocates womens rights. NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kering Americas is pleased to announce that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the United States' foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. Kering Americas joins the ranks of more than 760 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year. The results of this year's CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 57% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad. At Kering, LGBTQ equality and inclusion are a key part of our values. This recognition by HRC reinforces our commitment to foster and maintain a supportive and inclusive work environment for our employees around the world, including our LGBTQ community. Given the challenges we have all faced over the past year, it is more important than ever that we continue our work to promote inclusion and diversity, said Kalpana Bagamane, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Talent Officer at Kering. "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria falling under five broad categories: Non-discrimination policies Employment benefits Demonstrated organizational competency and accountability around LGBTQ diversity and inclusion Public commitment to LGBTQ equality Responsible citizenship Kering Americas' efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality. "We believe that diversity and equality are essential to a sustainable and creative company. It is our priority to foster an environment where everyone can be their most authentic selves at work. We want to ensure that all employees, including our LGBTQ community, not only feel accepted but included. We are also very proud of the accomplishments of Kering's employee affinity group, ALL, which was founded to support LGBTQ communities around the world," said Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas. The full report is available online at http://www.hrc.org/cei. About Kering A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry and Watches: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, as well as Kering Eyewear. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its Houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression while crafting tomorrow's Luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. We capture these beliefs in our signature: "Empowering Imagination". In 2019, Kering had nearly 38,000 employees and revenue of 15.9 billion. About Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. SOURCE Kering Related Links http://www.kering.com AstraZeneca PLC was sued by a pension fund on behalf of investors who it says suffered losses because of flaws in the companys testing of its coronavirus vaccine. For much of last year, the Cambridge, England-based pharmaceutical company was touting strong progress on the development of its traditional-style vaccine and announced that it had signed contracts to provide 400 million doses. But in November, questions emerged about the vaccine when the company released initial test results. Among other things, experts and health officials faulted the testing for a lack of data on the vaccines effectiveness for those 55 and older. They also raised questions about results from one trial that found the vaccine 90% effective for subjects who got a half a dose but only 62% effective for those who got the full dose. In the three days after the release of the test results in late November, AstraZenecas stock price dropped 5%, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday by the public employees retirement system in Monroe County, Michigan. Alleging wrongful acts and omissions by the company and its chief officers, the pension fund is asking to be allowed to sue on behalf of a class of all investors injured by the share price decline. AstraZeneca didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The companys vaccine is being administered in the U.K. but has yet to be approved for use in the EU or U.S. The case is Monroe County Employees Retirement System v. Astrazeneca PLC, 21-cv-00722, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). Top Photo: Vials of the AstraZeneca Plc and the University of Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at the Royal Health & Wellbeing Centre in Oldham, U.K., on Thursday, Jan. 21, 202. Photographer: Anthony Devlin/Bloomberg Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. 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. LOS ANGELES Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in The Last Picture Show and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died. She was 94. Leachman died in her sleep of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California, publicist Monique Moss said Wednesday. Her daughter Dinah Englund was at her side, Moss said. A character actor of extraordinary range, Leachman defied typecasting. In her early television career, she appeared as Timmys mother on the Lassie series. She played a frontier prostitute in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a crime spree family member in Crazy Mama, and Blucher in Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein, in which the very mention of her name drew equine commentary. Every time I hear a horse whinny I will forever think of Cloris unforgettable Frau Blucher, Brooks tweeted, calling Leachman insanely talented and irreplaceable. Salutes from other admiring colleagues poured in on social media. Steve Martin said Leachman brought comedys mysteries to the big and small screen; Nothing I could say would top the enormity of my love for you, posted Ed Asner of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Applause on every entrance and exit, said Rosie ODonnell. There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh till the tears ran down your face, Juliet Green, her longtime manager, said in a statement. In 1989 she toured in Grandma Moses, a play in which she aged from 45 to 101. For three years in the 1990s she appeared in major cities as the captains wife in the revival of Show Boat. In the 1993 movie version of The Beverly Hillbillies, she assumed the Irene Ryan role as Granny Clampett. She also had an occasional role as Ida on Malcolm in the Middle, winning Emmys in 2002 and 2006 for that show. Her Emmy haul over the years totaled eight in all, including a trophy for Moores sitcom. In 2008, she joined the ranks of contestants in Dancing With the Stars, not lasting long in the competition but pleasing the crowds with her sparkly dance costumes, sitting in judges laps and cussing during the live broadcast. Although she started out as Miss Chicago in the Miss America Pageant, Leachman willingly accepted unglamorous screen roles. Basically I dont care how I look, ugly or beautiful, she told an interviewer in 1973. I dont think thats what beauty is. On a single day, any of us is ugly or beautiful. Im heartbroken I cant be the witch in The Wizard of Oz. But Id also like to be the good witch. Phyllis combines them both. Im kind of like that in life. Im magic, and I believe in magic. Theres supposed to be a point in life when you arent supposed to stay believing that. I havent reached it yet. During the 1950s, Leachman became busy in live TV drama, demonstrating her versatility, including in roles that represented casting standards of that era. One week Id be on as a Chinese girl, the next as a blond cockney and weeks later as a dark-haired someone else, she recalled. In 1955, she made her film debut in a hard-boiled Mickey Spillane saga, Kiss Me Deadly I was the naked blonde that Mike Hammer picked up on that dark highway. She followed with Rod Serlings court-martial drama, The Rack and a season on Lassie. She continued in supporting roles on Broadway and in movies, then achieved her triumph with Peter Bogdanovichs The Last Picture Show, based on the Larry McMurtry novel. When Leachman received the Oscar as best supporting actress of 1971, she delivered a rambling speech in which she thanked her piano and dancing teachers and concluded: This is for Buck Leachman, who paid the bills. Her father ran a lumber mill. Despite her photogenic looks, she continued to be cast in character parts. Her most indelible role was Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Phyllis often visited Marys apartment, bringing laments about her husband Lars and caustic remarks about Mary and especially about her adversary, another tenant, Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper). Phyllis was so unexpectedly engaging that Leachman starred in a spinoff series of her own, Phyllis, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1977. With Young Frankenstein, Leachman became a member of the Mel Brooks stock company, also appearing in High Anxiety and History of the World, Part I. Her other films included Bogdanovichs Daisy Miller, and Texasville, repeating her role in The Last Picture Show. In 2009, she released her autobiography, Cloris, which made tabloid headlines for her recounting of a wild one-night stand with Gene Hackman. From 2019: Mel Brooks on Young Frankenstein musical at Walnut Street Theatre Cloris Leachman grew up on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, where she was born in 1926. The large family lived in an isolated wooden house with no running water, but the mother had ambitious ideas for her children. Cloris took piano lessons at the age of 5; since the family could not afford a piano, she practiced on a cardboard drawing of the keys. Im going to be a concert pianist, the girl announced, and her mother encouraged her with bookings at churches and civic clubs. Her mother arranged for Cloris to ride on a coal truck to Des Moines for an audition for a Drake University student play. She was given the role and appeared in other plays at a local theater. After high school, she won a scholarship to study drama at Northwestern University. Admittedly a poor student, Leachman lasted only a year. As a lark while in the Chicago area, she tried out for a Miss Chicago beauty contest and was chosen. She competed in the 1946 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, qualifying as a finalist. Her consolation prize: a $1,000 talent scholarship. With new ambition, she went directly to New York, where she worked as an extra in a movie and understudied Nina Foch in the hit play John Loves Mary. More understudy jobs followed, and she enrolled at the Actors Studio to hone her craft. I finally quit because of the smoking, she said later. I couldnt stand that blue haze. In 1953, Leachman married George Englund, later a film director and producer, and they had five children: Adam, Bryan, George, Morgan and Dinah. The couple divorced in 1979. Son Bryan Englund was founded dead in 1986 at age 30. It turns out that Big Tech doesnt need to sell privacy to make money. Selling useful hardware that does what people want is good business, too, which is why Apples just reported its most profitable quarter in company history. A new (Apple) world record Youve read the statement, and may have access to the transcript, so I wont bore you with repeats, other than observing that more than $15.8 billion in services sales, massive iPhone 12 sales and growth in every product category conspired to create the companys $111.4 billion quarter. The COVID-19 pandemic has generated huge problems for everybody, but Apple certainly seems to have benefitted from it in the sense that weve all been investing in the kind of computing and mobile kit we need to struggle through the story. This also helped Apple beef up services attachments. Apple in the enterprise Apple confirmed what we all felt: That people have been spending on Macs and iPads to help them work and learn from home. The company also discussed its growing place in the enterprise and alluded to the work it has been doing to expand in that space. Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed: Weve been on a multi-year effort in the enterprise and have gained quite a bit of traction there. Were very optimistic about what we can do in that space. Apple CFO Luca Maestri talked about, all time highs in the enterprise market, noting that many businesses have been shifting their technology investments in response to COVID-19. While Maestri didnt offer many specifics, though he did discuss how businesses are replacing hundreds of millions of desk phones while employees are working remotely. Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, one of the largest banks in the world, announced that it will be replacing 75% of its fixed phones with iPhones, he said. By doing so, it expects to realize significant cost savings by providing a secure mobile platform to employees. He also alluded to the growing implementation of employee-choice programs across enterprise IT: We're also pleased with the rapid adoption of the Mac employee choice program among the world's leading businesses, he said. Maestri went on to describe what we know to be true of such schemes, which reward those business who put them in place with improved productivity, increased employee satisfaction and talent retention. The decision to introduce Apple silicon M1 Macs may extend its reach into the enterprise, particularly in times of increased remote working, he said. iPads and Macs As noted, people are purchasing Apples highly productive iPads and Macs in large numbers to support home working and home learning during these times. Apple noted that it is seeing many customers adopting iPad as their primary device, and saw high customer satisfaction across both categories. 451 Research measured customer satisfaction at 93% for Mac and 94% for iPad. Apples Mac sales generated a December quarter record, revenues rose 21% year over year and the company set all-time revenue records in Europe and APAC, along with December quarter records in the Americas, China and Japan. Revenue reached $8.7 billion. The company was completely clear that this performance was driven by strong demand for the new M1-powered Macs. Apples decision to introduce the fantastic iPad Air was also well-starred. iPad sales surged 41%. It's clear that some people are using these as laptop replacements, said Cook. Others are using them as complimentary to their to their desktop, but the level of growth there has been phenomenal 41%. And yes, part of it is work from home and part of it is distance learning. But I wouldn't underestimate how much of it is the product itself in both the case of iPad and Mac, and of course our share of the Mac is quite low in terms of the total personal computer market and so there's lots of headroom there. He noted that around half of customers purchasing a Mac or iPad are completely new to those platforms, signifying an expanding user base. iPhone 12 seems to be a supercycle ecosystem Apples iPhone 12 series has been well received. Apple claimed a record number of device activations during the last week of the quarter. iPhone sales climbed 17% year-on-year and the company noted it saw the largest number of upgraders it has ever seen in a quarter. The latest survey of consumers from 451 Research puts iPhone customer satisfaction at 98% for the iPhone 12 family. Apple surpassed 1.65 billion devices worldwide in the\ quarter. The company confirmed the installed base of iPhones is now over 1 billion, meaning almost one in every six people alive on the planet now uses one. Services Apple has exceeded targets on services, but did warn that it may see a slowdown in segment growth in the coming quarter, as interest was boosted by lockdown orders in 2020. Achievements? Apple now has more than 620 million paid subscribers across its services, up 140 million since the 2019 December quarter. And 90% of U.S. stores now accept Apple Pay. Maestri seemingly confirmed that services revenue was strongest in the App Store, cloud services and Music. Services brought in more than $15 billion to revenues in the quarter. Wearables and more Wearables, home and accessories climbed 30%. Apple said that almost 75% of those who purchased an Apple Watch during the quarter were new to the product. The company also claimed new revenue records for each subgroup, but said nothing specific about HomePod sales, beyond relating significant demand for the mini. Its wearables business is now the size of a Fortune 120 company. The company claimed it saw the highest volume of FaceTime calls ever seen across the socially-distanced 2020 holiday quarter. Apple in China, emerging markets While theres no doubt that protectionist trade policy and other disagreements have placed stress on Apples Chinese connection, the company saw phenomenal response to the new iPhones, confirming pent up demand for a 5G device. Cook said China saw a record number of iPhone upgrades, which he speculated meant people had held back pending introduction of 5G support. China is one market where 5G networks are well established. What makes this even more interesting in the current quarter is that March is typically one of Apples strongest quarters for services and App Store, in part because of the Chinese New Year. China locked down in response to the pandemic at that time in 2020, which drove apps and games sales, but this may not be repeated this year. Elsewhere, Apple confirmed it achieved double-digit growth and new all-time records in every geographic segment and nation where it does business. Cook said: There's a lot more headroom in those markets. If you take India as an example, we doubled our business last quarter compared to the year ago quarter. But our absolute level of business there is still quite low relative to the size of the opportunity and you can kind of take that and go around the world and find other markets that are like that. Retail went online While many of Apples retail stores needed to close during the quarter as the COVID-19 threat remains, the company still achieved an all-time revenue record in its retail segment, driven by its online store. There were casualties, however. Apple said its AppleCare business suffered as a result of these closures, and admitted that its advertising business (which isnt the hugest operation) had a tough time as ads revenue declined in response to falling economic activity across the board. Doing the right thing One good thing about Apple is that it manages to talk and walk simultaneously. Its long association with Product (RED) persists, and the company is not at all fearful to engage with the great matters of our time, from the need to protect the environment to the challenge of systemic racism, and how to build back better once the COVID-19 threat recedes and thoughts can turn back to the broken global economy. Of course, statements like those are relatively easy for a multi-billion dollar company to make, and the depth to which wealth inequality has fractured most nations will take a great deal of time and effort to repair. All the same, it was good to learn that Apple employees have donated almost $600 million and 1.6 million hours in volunteer time to more than 34,000 voluntary organizations. In an early step that recognized that the impact of COVID-19 would most be felt across the most disadvantaged groups in global (and national) society, Apple and Product (RED) adapted to provided PPE to healthcare providers as well as support and medicine to help in the struggle against HIV. How Apple does business One strange question that cropped up during the call asked Apple to shed a little light on what internal tools it uses when deciding on new products and initiatives in its business. Cook naturally focused on Apples customary mantra: Is this a product or service we would want to use ourselves? If it is, is the market big enough to justify the effort? Or is the product or service a good fit to an existing offering, in which case to what extent does it improve the customer experience? The customer experience is the final filter. Cook also explained, Taking into account all of those things the kind of things that we love to work on are those where there's a requirement for hardware software and services to come together because we believe that the magic really occurs at that intersection. The CEO also said: If you look at our share in some of the other products, whether you look at iPhone, or Mac, or iPad, you find that the share numbers leave a fair amount of headroom for market share expansion. And this is particularly the case in, in some of the emerging markets where we're proud of how we've done." Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill group on MeWe. (Natural News) The people of France, once pioneers of vaccination, are now becoming more skeptical of efforts to inoculate them against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). An Ipsos poll conducted in December involving 15 countries found that France ranked at the bottom in terms of willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In the poll, only 40 percent of the French population said that they wanted the shot. Polls also show that more than three-quarters of nursing home workers among the governments first target groups to be vaccinated dont want to take it. I have a brain. Im capable of forming my own ideas, said Anna Courreges, a nurse who works at a care home in the southern French town of Beziers. There is some mistrust of the authorities on my part, when you see how the crisis has been managed in France from the start. Immunization in France off to a slow start Frances mass vaccination campaign is off to a slow start. Only 422,000 people have received the vaccine in the more than three weeks since European regulators authorized vaccine use, far behind other developed nations. One of the main reasons for this is that French officials are running up against deeply ingrained opposition that has made the French some of the worlds top vaccine skeptics. This is something that has roots in the 19th century, when anti-vaccination groups campaigned against the modern vaccination techniques pioneered by Louis Pasteur. This sentiment has been fueled even more in recent years by widespread distrust of the government run by President Emmanuel Macron. Macron has faced years of protest from the antiestablishment yellow-vest movement. Part of the reason why the French people are not keen on getting vaccinated is the newness of the technology behind COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna rely on so-called messenger RNA (mRNA), which are molecules that carry instructions on how to make proteins. The mRNA used in the new vaccines are derived from the coronavirus itself. While this technology has been studied for years in clinical trials, it has never been used in mass vaccination. Some of the leading voices of skepticism toward mRNA vaccines are nursing home workers, many of whom feel that the mRNA technology hasnt been adequately tested or proven to be effective. Their fears are further compounded by reports of deaths linked to Pfizers mRNA vaccines that have surfaced in other European nations. (Related: At least 23 people have died from coronavirus vaccines in Norway (so far).) Scandals have fueled distrust Previous medical scandals in the country may have also deepened the French peoples distrust of vaccines, according to Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Larson points to the governments management of different health scandals in the past, which has either confused or disappointed the public at different points. After large health scandals, there is a decline in confidence in vaccines, said Lucie Guimier, a geopolitical expert specializing in public health at the University of Paris Institute of Geopolitics. One example of these scandals is the infected blood scandal that happened in the 1990s. According to reports, more than 1,000 hemophiliacs in France had received HIV-infected blood. This discovery led to four French ministers going to trial and three being convicted. Another controversy involved a possible link between the hepatitis B vaccine and multiple sclerosis. A media storm forced the French government to halt its vaccination campaign in 1998. Politically, the crisis was managed very badly, said Guimier, who noted that the abrupt end to the campaign made the vaccine seem dangerous to the public despite authorities finding no link between it and multiple sclerosis. But the scandal that had the largest impact on vaccine confidence happened in 2009, when the government purchased an oversupply of H1N1 vaccines. While the country ordered 94 million doses of the vaccine, less than six million were vaccinated. According to Larson, this event led to public sentiment that the government was in bed with big business. Larson has previously told Euronews that the governments reliance on big businesses was the weak point in the vaccine trust chain. Follow Vaccines.news for more on efforts to deploy Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines worldwide. Sources include: WSJ.com EuroNews.com BAY COUNTY, MI The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward for information in the investigation of a dog found wandering a Bay County road after suffering numerous puncture wounds. Meanwhile, the dog in question is continuing to heal and improve, though his veterinary bills keep rising. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible for cruelly and repeatedly stabbing the dog, now named Tank. The egregious, intentional and prolonged violence inflicted on this animal is unconscionable, said Molly Tamulevich, the HSUS Michigan state director. We are hopeful that anyone with information about this terrible crime will come forward so that the abuser can be brought to justice. We hope our reward helps find the person who committed this cruel and despicable act. The link between animal abuse and other forms of violence is well-established. Identifying the person who committed these crimes will help protect the entire community. Craig Goulet, director of Bay County Administrative Services and supervisor of Bay County Animal Services and Adoption Center, seconded Tamulevichs desire for Tanks abuser to be identified, adding some progress has been made. Were pretty confident with the history of the dog, where he was originally from and how he got up here, Goulet said. He was not originally from this area. Investigators believe Tank originated from the Holt-area in Ingham County, then stayed in the Flint-area before he was found in Bangor Township. Were very confident its the same dog as Tank has some distinct markings, Goulet said. Unfortunately, hes been in different homes and in different situations. On Friday, Dec. 11, a person driving on Bangor Road saw the pit bull, bulldog mix and called Tasha Erickson, dog fosterer for the Humane Society of Bay County, or HSBC. Erickson ended up taking the dog, whom she dubbed Tank, home for the night. Tank subsequently received immediate treatment at several veterinary offices. It was the consensus of the veterinarians that this was not the act of an animal attack, but torture at the hands of a human, said Abby Fauble, communications chairperson for HSBC. There were cuts and stab wounds old and new, bruises old and new, and it seems that this dog had been subject to torture for the majority of his time on earth. Tank on the mend after having received veterinary treatment. Veterinarian Dr. Bruce W. Francke of Bay Animal Hospital reiterated Tanks injuries were inflicted by humans. None of us thought it was the result of an animal fight or attack, Francke said. The (wounds) werent consistent with that. They were more linear cuts in quite a few different stages of healing. It looked like it had happened over a period of time. There were slashes, lacerations, and stab wounds. The stabs resulted in significant damage to Tanks muscles, prompting him to be sent to BluePearl Pet Hospital in Auburn Hills. Francke has said Tanks case is one of the saddest hes seen in his 30 decades as a veterinarian. Ive seen a lot of really bad things over 30 years, Francke said. What kept me up at night last night was thinking about how all those wounds are in different stages of healing. You can somehow wrap your head around a dog being injured in a single incident, but when you think about all those wounds not being caused at one time, its disturbing. This is something that happened over time. Fauble said Tank is still living with Erickson. He is an incredibly happy dog, Fauble said. He loves to play, go for walks, and snuggle with his foster mama. He is still being cared for by the wonderful staff at Bay Animal Hospital. While Tanks health is improving, there have been some hiccups, Fauble said. He has been on cycles of three different antibiotics because some of his wounds are still infected, she said. If the current antibiotic he is on doesnt help, he will have to be put on a topical cream. On top of this struggle to find antibiotics that will clear up his infection, he often fights for breath when hes playing, running, or walking. He had a heartworm test and will also receive chest X-rays and be tested for pneumonia. Regardless of the results, Tank will still require additional treatment for his breathing issue. His veterinary costs so far have exceeded $11,000, Fauble said. Donations can be made via the HSBCs website and by in-person drop-offs at the nonprofits office at 1607 Marquette St. in Bay City. Once Tanks health is up to snuff, Erickson plans to adopt him out. She said its going to be so hard for her, but worth it to see him in the perfect home, Fauble said. Goulet said Animal Control officers have been in conversation with Bay County Sheriffs deputies and other animal welfare agencies regarding Tanks case. Were talking to everybody, Goulet said. Our interest is in finding the person responsible for this dog. Were working diligently trying to gain this information. Goulet urged anyone who knows what happened to Tank to call Animal Control at 989-894-0679 to submit tips, anonymously or otherwise. No animal should have to endure the injuries that this dog was subjected to, Goulet said. An investigation is ongoing and we need the publics help to identify the person who did this so we can help ensure that this doesnt happen again. Read more on MLive: Abused dog found with severe injuries along Bay County road Rescued pigs dubbed the Saginaw Six find new homes at sanctuaries as owner faces criminal charges Woman pleads to animal cruelty in starvation of 12 racehorses in Saginaw County Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. MORE than 2,100 passengers flew into Dublin Airport from Spain last week, new figures from the Department of Transport reveal. Spain topped the list for arrivals into Dublin Airport last week and was followed by Britain in second place with 1,920 arrivals. The new figures show 1,300 people arrived from the Netherlands, 1,174 from France and 1,055 from Romania. Read More They were followed by passengers from Portugal (991), Poland (972), Moldova (663), Turkey (591) and the United Arab Emirates (537) Figures for Cork Airport show 151 people arrived last week from Britain while 182 people landed in Shannon Airport with the vast majority (135) travelling from Algeria. In total, 14,757 passengers arrived in Ireland between Monday January 18 and Sunday January 24. This was down on the previous week when 18,226 people flew into Ireland - while 33,808 arrived in the first week of January. Read More Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 17:06:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Fiji signed here on Thursday the Emissions Reduction Payment Agreement to enter into carbon trading. Fiji's Minister for Economy and Minister responsible for climate change Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the signing marks Fiji's entry into carbon trading and this step is taken by Fiji with the support of the World Bank which, through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will act as trustees of this new Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. The world is warming, nations like Fiji are bearing the most serious consequences, he said, adding that the island nation is committed to cutting carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. The emission reduction program area includes over 37,000 hectares spread over 20 districts on the three islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni with the potential to expand to other areas that express interest. The contracted volume of greenhouse gases that Fiji is expected to sequester from these forest activities in the next five years is 2.5 million tons, for which a result-based payment of 12.5 million U.S. dollars will be paid upon verification by the World Bank. The program covers a number of activities including the forest protection and the planting of forests on degraded land, the sustainable management of designated timber production forests, the incorporation of trees into farming and agricultural systems and the promotion of forest-based livelihood ventures as an alternative to forest extraction such as eco-tourism, bee keeping, agro-forestry, aquaculture, resin tapping and nurseries of high valued native species. Enditem Farmers have been camping at the border areas of the national capital for almost two months as part of their protest against Centre`s three agriculture laws. Meanwhile, security has been heightened at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) after the violence broke out during a tractor rally in various parts of the national capital on Republic Day. Protesting farmers did not follow the marked route for their tractor march on Republic Day and forcibly entered central Delhi by removing police barricades. They clashed with the police and also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts. Several public and private properties were damaged in acts of vandalism by the protestors, while one farmer died after his tractor overturned at ITO. Singhu border: The government has taken a tough stand after the violence during the tractor parade of farmers on January 26 (Republic Day). The deployment of police has been increased at all the picket sites of farmers including the Singhu border and Ghazipur border. Police and agitators have come face-to-face on the Singhu border. RAF personnel have also been deployed on the Singhu border. Police have started removing barricades with the help of cranes. They were used to remove concrete blocks from the road and two cranes are at work. There is heavy deployment of police at the site. #WATCH: Delhi Police has deployed a JCB machine to dig a road at Singhu border that connects Delhi to Haryana. pic.twitter.com/3T8SaWTlZR ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Heavy Police presence seen at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) as they attempt to barricade a portion of the road in order to restrict the protesters from coming to one side of the road from the other side. The protesters are opposing the barricading being done by Police. pic.twitter.com/d3Yjx7snXk ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Locals raise slogans to vacate Singhu border: As per news agency ANI, a group of people claiming to be locals of the Singhu border gathered and raised slogans, demanding the area to be vacated. People were raising slogans including 'will not tolerate tricolour`s insult', 'vacate Singhu border', 'Delhi Police we are with you' and 'Khalistan murdabad'. At the Singhu border point, a 'sadbhawana march' was taken out by protesting farmer unions. #WATCH | Delhi: Group of people claiming to be locals gather at Singhu border demanding that the area be vacated. Farmers have been camping at the site as part of their protest against #FarmLaws. pic.twitter.com/7jCjY0ME9Z ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Flag march of police on Ghazipur border: The police force has also been increased at the Ghazipur border and the police is conducting flag march at the border. According to information received from sources, the facilities being provided by the Municipal Corporation at Ghazipur border have been removed. The facilities that were provided include sweepers, water facilities, and restrooms. Now only two toilets have been kept. Uttar Pradesh Police personnel conduct a flag march at the Ghazipur border Visuals from the border area pic.twitter.com/NzLqWyFawI ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2021 Delhi Police: Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava said held a meeting with the special commissioner of police (Intelligence) and other senior police officers at the police headquarters. In a written message to Delhi Police personnel on Thursday, Shrivastava said that coming days can be more challenging and they will have to be alert. "You have shown great patience despite the farmers' agitation turning violent...394 of our friends have been injured in the violence during the farmers' agitation," he said in his message. "The Delhi Police has issued lookout notices against farmer leaders named in an FIR in connection with the violence during the tractor parade," said the police commissioner. Police have named 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav and Medha Patkar, in the FIR that mentioned charges of attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy. Other farmer leaders who have been listed in the FIR are Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Chanduni, Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Satnam Singh Pannu, Joginder Singh Ugraha, Surjeet Singh Phool, Jagjeet Singh Dalewal, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harinder Singh Lakhoval. Ghaziabad District Administration has ordered those who are holding the sit-in protest without permission at Ghazipur border (Delhi-Ghaziabad border) to vacate the area by late evening today: Official Sources ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2021 Delhi Police has registered a sedition case in connection with the violence at Red Fort during a tractor parade by farmers on Republic Day, officials said on Thursday. According to a senior police officer, a case under section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered and the incident is being investigated. Earlier, Delhi Police had named actor Deep Sidhu and gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in an FIR lodged in connection with the Red Fort incident. Farmer unions: Those protesting against the three farm laws alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the violence, which left 394 police personnel injured and one protestor dead. Delhi: Latest visuals from Ghazipur border where farmers are protesting against #FarmLaws. pic.twitter.com/SkmcsquBZk ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Thousands of protesting farmers, who reached ITO from the Ghazipur border, had clashed with the police on January 26. Many of them, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protestors even hoisted flags on the domes and placed the flagstaff at the ramparts of the national monument, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day. #WATCH: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait says that farmers will head to the local Police stations around Ghazipur border if the electricity is cut in the area, warns that the onus of what happens next would lie on the govt. (27.01.2021) pic.twitter.com/tFeDPkoSth ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Meanwhile, Delhi border points remained under heavy police deployment on Thursday in the aftermath of the violence. Security personnel have also been deployed at the Red Fort. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points, demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws. At least 19 people have so far been arrested and over 25 criminal cases registered by Delhi Police in connection with the violence. 394 police personnel sustained injuries in the violence and several of them are still admitted to hospitals. Some of them are admitted to ICU wards, informed Police Commissioner (CP) SN Shrivastava. 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. New Delhi, Jan. 28 (UNI) India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines to its neighbouring countries and in its extended neighbourhood. While Bhutan was gifted 1.5 lakh doses, Maldives received one lakh doses, Nepal was given ten lakh doses and Bangladesh 20 lakh. Similarly, Myanmar got 15 lakh doses, Mauritius one lakh, Sri Lanka five lakhs, Bahrain one lakh and Syechelles was given 50,000 doses of vaccines. Addressing the weekly virtual media briefing on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry's official spokesperson Anurag Srivastav said these supplies were based on requests from these countries. ``Over the next few days, we plan to gift further quantities to Oman (1 lakh), CARICOM countries (5 lakh), Nicaragua (2 lakh) and Pacific Island states (2 lakh) doses,' he added. The spokesperson said that external supplies of vaccines, whether as gifts or on a commercial basis, are based on domestic availability, licensing issues and regulatory approvals in the countries concerned. Commercial exports of Covid-19 vaccines have taken place to Brazil, Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies on a commercial basis are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mongolia. ``Further, we are going to supply one crore doses to Africa and 10 lakh to UN health workers under GAVI's COVAX facility,' he added. He said that India will continue to supply vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. Decisions on these supplies will be calibrated against the requirements of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine at home, he added. UNI VT 2008 1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone. 2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea. 3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials. 4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied. Vote View Results Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Manchester Center, VT (05254) Today Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High around 50F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low around 40F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. A Royal Navy sailor was today convicted of sexually assaulting a junior colleague after a drunken night out. Able Seaman Sean Bramwell, 25, said 'morale was high' among the crew following a visit from Prince Charles, and some of the sailors decided to go out that night for a few drinks in Tokyo, Japan. A court martial heard that when he got back to his ship, AB Bramwell, from Plymouth, crept into the bed of one of his colleagues, got undressed and began kissing her neck before she woke up and kicked him out. The victim told the court she woke to find him touching her stomach and kissing the back of her neck. She began kicking him and told him to get out of her bed before he stood up and began trashing her room and swearing at her, the court heard. AB Bramwell, based at HMNB Devonport, claimed he must have been drugged before the alleged assault as he 'couldn't remember three or four hours from that night'. But at today's hearing in Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, he put his head in his hands and began sobbing after a board of four men and one woman took just two hours to find him guilty. Giving evidence at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, Able Seaman Sean Bramwell, 25, said 'morale was high' among the crew following a visit from Prince Charles, and some of the sailors decided to go out that night for a few drinks in Tokyo, Japan The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: 'I heard banging and felt someone kissing my neck and I was really confused. 'He was in my bed and he wrapped his arms around me. He started kissing my neck and his hands were going towards my shorts.' Giving evidence, AB Bramwell had said: 'When we moved to Tokyo we had Prince Charles visit and we did the guard for that. 'Everyone was in quite high morale after that; it's not every day that happens.' He told the court that he and a few other members of the crew went out after and started the night by having a couple of Amstel beers at a 'robot show' in the Shinjuku district of the Japanese city. He said the group then headed to a nearby Hooters bar where he proceeded to knock back two gin and tonics and two double vodka oranges. They then went onto another bar where he drank four more double vodkas. The engineering technician claimed he must have been drugged before the alleged assault. AB Bramwell continued: 'A crew-mate bought a margarita and said 'that seems a bit off, what do you think?' 'I tried the margarita and then I remember five minutes later sitting down thinking 'that's disgusting' and saying as much to everyone around. Then it was blackout basically.' He claimed the next thing he remembered was walking along a road and convincing his two friends to get a taxi back to the ship. He added: 'I managed to hail down a cab and managed to get myself and the other two gents in the cab... Then I don't remember anything until the next morning' The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has told the court: 'At 3am I heard banging and felt someone kissing my neck and I was really confused The engineering technician, based at HMNB Devonport, claimed he must have been drugged before the alleged assault as he 'couldn't remember three or four hours from that night' 'He was in my bed and he wrapped his arms around me. He started kissing my neck and his hands were going towards my shorts.' She told the court he then told her to 'shut up you stupid c***' and began knocking items off the drawers in her cabin before slumping down naked in a chair. She helped him put his boxer shorts back on before going to find the duty officer who helped remove the drunken sailor from her cabin. After waking up in his room the next day AB Bramwell completed a few early morning duties before reporting to the medical office claiming to be unwell. He said: 'I felt horrible. I felt like I had been punched about 100 times. 'It was like my whole body was aching. My eyes felt like they were about to fall out of my head. I had a headache but it's not like any hangover I have ever had.' Prosecuting, William Peters said there was no evidence of any drugs in a urine sample AB Bramwell provided, but he accepted that 'not every single drug' had been tested for. Prince Charles had been visiting Japan on a two day tour of the country to promote UK-Japanese relations and visited the ship while it was docked at Harumi Pier. AB Bramwell denied but was convicted of one count of sexual assault by touching. He will be sentenced at a later date. Inspired by those without a voice, NU Media Founders and longtime friends are on a mission to help businesses with promotion. Especially in these unprecedented times, marketing services are needed now more than ever. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2021 / Integrity and ingenuity are regularly at the forefront of the minds of NU Media Founding Partners, Ada Hu and Eva Jiang. Established only one year ago and with a team of 30, they have garnered over 2 million dollars in revenue in 2020; a record breaking number. "We shifted our thought process to exclusively our clients. We redirected our efforts and effectively implemented digital solutions. We base our success off of our clients' success," stated partner Ada Hu. "We are very proud of the work we accomplished in 2020 and look forward to how we can help our clients even more in 2021." NU Media's purpose is to help companies broadcast their services. COVID-19 has made even the most successful companies in need of more updated advertising resources, which NU Media supplies. They strive to provide the highest level of digital media services. Their expertise helps businesses grow and prosper. In these times especially, marketing services are so important to businesses everywhere. Now more so than ever, marketing is vital to maintaining customer relationships and support. When communities are emotionally and financially insecure, they need reassurance. Even from their local restaurants and neighborhood nail salons, it's important to stay connected and stay safe. The welcoming jingle of the front door bells or the chorus of jolly "hello's" are, unfortunately, not enough anymore. Businesses need to reach further and metaphorically touch more people. Every business needs guidance on how to spend their marketing dollars. No matter how big or small the company, they need help with progressing their businesses. Media agencies spread the word about company information and updates and in turn, businesses can pay attention to other facets of their company when they know they do not have to worry about digital coordination. NU Media is on the front lines of cutting-edge marketing trends and techniques. Their in-house developed "NU Media Business Ecosystem" is built from their strong relationships and niche services. Major platforms, media, influencers, and all sorts of business vendors provide the most complete digital solutions for clients. If it takes a village to raise a child, how many people does it take to manage a company and their image? Through employing members from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, their team has a wide variety of knowledge and expertise. Their clients receive that same structure of diversity and knowledge. In the naturally lit office of the NU Media team, the clacking of keyboard keys are heard in procession with the voices of people speaking a variety of different languages. Laughter spreads throughout the office often because a well functioning team comes from authentic happiness in the workplace and a drive to give the best to their clients, many of whom are women-run as well. Full service marketing doesn't have to cost more than what your profit margin comes out to. NU Media knows that everything starts small. With a marketing team backing your business, growth comes naturally. Like a flower, businesses flourish when they receive a consistent amount of care and fertilization in the form of great marketing strategy and the nourishing light of a wide open future. For more information about NU Media and their services, visit nu.marketing About NU Media NU Media is an international digital agency and investment firm headquartered in New York City. They work to combine disruptive digital platforms with proven and cutting-edge digital marketing solutions for all of their valued clients. NU Media's mission is to combine proven digital marketing solutions and innovative development services, to build a comprehensive, cost-effective, and powerful digital platform for their valued clients. Contact: Nicole Gnafakis nicole@nxtfactor.com (713) 865-1552 SOURCE: NU Media View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626173/Women-Owned-Marketing-Company-NU-Media-Promotes-Businesses-in-the-Midst-of-COVID-19-Pandemic Feature Article Brookhaven Lab Interns Study Airborne COVID-19 Spread Interns contributed to aerosol modeling research to better understand airborne virus DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory When Cathrine Hamilton and Alison Robey, fall interns at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, first signed on to collaborate with their mentor Laura Fierce, an associate scientist in the Environmental and Climate Sciences Department, they didn't imagine they would be contributing to widespread research tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of collaborating on climate models, the interns supported the development of simulations in order to study the probability of infection by tiny virus particles traveling in the air. The research, which is among several COVID-19-focused efforts at Brookhaven Lab, aims to connect the tools of mathematical modeling with aerosol expertise and the expanding body of coronavirus literature. The goal is to provide more accurate insights on the effects of particle size, evolution, and behavior on the chances of infection, which could lead to the design of more effective airborne virus protections. Hamilton, a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) participant, and Robey, a Supplemental Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) member, welcomed their unexpected dive into respiratory aerosol modeling, acknowledging the feeling that they've contributed to an important and timely mission. Both internship programs are managed by Brookhaven Lab's Office of Educational Programs (OEP). "I realized I was really grateful to be able to get up every day and do something that could potentially help anyone and everyone around the world to help combat this virus, to stay safe, to not get sick," said Hamilton, a chemistry major at Indiana Pennsylvania University. "It's just been invaluable to do something like that." Robey first joined Fierce as a summer intern after graduating from Williams College in May with a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and environmental studies, and continued with the project this fall. "This research has provided an amazing opportunity to expand my scientific abilities while collaborating in an area of immediate importance, hopefully developing research that will save lives during the spread of this and future airborne diseases," Robey said. Both interns learned to use the programming language Python to code deposition models that simulate how virus particles spread under different conditions, such as when people breathing the same air are wearing masks--or not. A lack of studies based in the principles of aerosol creation, behavior, and deposition has hindered efforts to best protect the public, and their research will help fill that knowledge gap, Robey said. "Our rapid progress on this project would not have been possible without Alison and Catherine's help," Fierce said. "We were all able to collaborate effectively, even without ever meeting in person." Hamilton and Robey collaborated with Fierce remotely, meshing their respective science backgrounds in chemistry, math, and physics throughout the fall. In the process, the interns have reviewed and summarized available literature to check their group's hypotheses against others. "It's worked really well to bring together people who think differently and have been trained to think differently," Hamilton said. Learning to code is a valuable part of her internship that will help her organize and analyze information in her advanced chemistry labs as she completes her degree, she said. Beyond refining her technical and research skills this fall, Hamilton said her experience with the Lab has shown her to follow through on her dreams. As someone who worked to earn a GED and a non-traditional undergraduate student juggling kids at home and working while going to school, she hasn't let anything stand in the way of pursuing her goals in science. She took to heart something that Noel Blackburn, manager of university relations and DOE programs for Brookhaven Lab's OEP, recently told a group of interns. She even wrote it down to remember: "Don't let your dreams be dreams. Let your interests and passions expedite them so they are actions." "I just really want to encourage anyone and everyone who is even thinking about applying for an internship to just go ahead and do it," Hamilton said. "With the support at Brookhaven Lab and the encouragement here, you can't ask for better people to be surrounded by." Robey, who will move on to the spring SULI program, said she's gained problem-solving experience in addition to programming skills essential to the mathematical aerosol models. The collaboration with Hamilton and Fierce gave her the opportunity to learn about chemistry and physics quickly, she said. She said the internship solidified her interest in research, motivating her to apply for ecology Ph.D. programs. As Robey began her internship, two of her grandparents were fighting COVID-19, putting the potential impact of her experience at the Lab further into perspective. "They recovered, thankfully, but this has been something that's been so relevant in my life and everyone's lives," she said. "It's been nice to do something impactful." This research is supported by the DOE Office of Science (BER) through the National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), a consortium of DOE national laboratories focused on the response to COVID-19, with funding provided by the Coronavirus CARES Act. Student participation in this project was supported through SULI, a program funded by the DOE Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS), and SURP, a program run by Brookhaven Lab's Office of Educational Programs with funding from Brookhaven Science Associates--a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University--which manages Brookhaven Lab. Author Christian Daniel releases Welcome Home, Mohammed, the first book in a series focused on different faiths around the world today. In the first book, the first faith to be covered is Islam. As an established theologian, the author has done deep research into the history of religions. The book has recently passed Amazons vetting process and is approved for sale on Amazon. Religions mainly contain writings from the past, which may contradict scientific truths or have bits and pieces be disproved over the course of time. This is particularly apt in todays world as we move forward in a society that is increasingly more scientific and technology-based. One aspect that has been singled out of late is the cult-like movements in certain sub-segments of religions. Quoting Christian Daniel: In some ways, its similar to peer pressure. It may be good in some instances and not so good in others. Hence, this led to the authors determination to write an entire series around various faiths. He examines 10 potential flaws, intended to spark the readers critical thinking. The author wants to challenge the readers understanding of his (or her) own faith - so much so that he/she may finish reading the book being more devout or do a 180 and consider leaving their religion. Christian Daniel is an American writer of eastern European Christian orthodox background, with an interest in theology and history of religions. This is the first book of a series of books focused on different faiths around the world today. While he takes a fact-based approach in his books, he is a devout Christian and hopes to spread the good word of Christianity. Interested readers can purchase the book from Amazon. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is demanding answers and will absolutely strengthen laws, if needed, after a Brisbane bayside couple died when they were struck by a 4WD allegedly stolen and with an intoxicated teenager at the wheel. A 17-year-old male was accused of driving a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, which clipped a vehicle before rolling and hitting Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field as the pair were crossing the road while walking their dogs. Matty Field, 37, and Kate Leadbetter, 31, both Alexandra Hills locals, were hit and died at the scene. Credit:Facebook The teen, from Waterford West, faces a string of charges over the incident in Alexandra Hills on Australia Day, including two counts of murder and dangerous operation of a vehicle while affected by an intoxicating substance. He appeared in the Brisbane Childrens Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody to reappear on March 24. For legal reasons, he cannot be named. John F. Kennedy once said, The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. The Iran nuclear deal, also known as the JCPOA, is often touted by its advocates as the crown jewel of diplomacy, restraining a dangerous regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. This assessment is a persistent, persuasive and unrealistic myth. A sober assessment, detached from the partisan affiliations so customary in Washington today, confronts a stubborn fact: the Iran deal did nothing practical to prevent a nuclear armed Iran. Lets consider the most recent example. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Jan 14th that Iran has begun installing equipment for the production of uranium metal. Uranium metal is one of the key materials used at the core of a nuclear warhead. As part of the nuclear accord, the Iranian regime agreed not to engage in the production of uranium metals for 15 years, and to seek approval if it sought to initiate research and development after 10 years. But now, it has started that process without such approval. The regime is now stockpiling more than 10 times as much low-enriched uranium as the accord allows, meaning it currently has enough enriched uranium to further enrich to weapons usable level and make at least one bomb. Tehran is also using advanced, more efficient centrifuges prohibited under the deal. In mid-January, the regime also announced that it had resumed enriching uranium by up to 20 percent at its Fordow site, which is buried deep inside a mountain. Under the deal, Tehran had agreed to only enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent, and even that was forbidden in its Fordow facility. Why was the regime allowed to have such capabilities? What mechanisms were in place to prevent a 20 percent enrichment? And why has it been so easy for Tehran to do it? The deals advocates would argue that had the U.S. not withdrawn in 2018, all this would never have happened. The question is not whether or not it would have happened, but how and why it did happen. In reality, Tehran never abandoned its nuclear weapons program, nor did it address an array of questions about possible military dimensions, of its nuclear program. Tehrans violations speak volumes about the structural flaws of the JCPOA. The deal did not dismantle the machinery of the regimes bomb-making, leaving Tehran holding all the instruments required to resume its nuclear weapons program at a moments notice. These are not undetected technical loopholes; they are enormous openings for a regime that has consistently pursued nuclear weapons. No wonder the mullahs are so eager for the U.S. to rejoin, so they can start receiving huge economic relief while preserving and advancing their nuclear weapons capabilities. More troubling, the recent violations are merely those visible to the public. There is a significant secret dimension. There is much evidence that Tehran has always been in violations of the nuclear dear by hiding its nuclear weaponization program, and expanding its weapons related activities after the JCPOA. Most recently, in October 2020, it was revealed that since 2017, the regime has developed a new facility near the military complex of Khojir, focused on preliminary explosions to build nuclear weapons. The source of the information, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has said that Tehran is also engaged in the secret and illicit purchase of military-grade seismometers from Russia in order to record the results of those explosions. The NCRIs President elect Maryam Rajavi was not wrong to predict back in 2015 that by circumventing six UN Security Council resolutions, an unsigned agreement will not close the mullahs path to deception and access to a nuclear bomb. That said, Tehran is clearly trying to coerce the Biden administration to quickly rejoin the agreement and lift the sanctions. The mullahs want to prevent the U.S. from closing the agreements loopholes, including steps to deny it any enrichment capability, dismantle the regimes nuclear weapons program, its ballistic missile program, its state-sponsored terrorism, and its destabilizing activities in the region. Their eagerness also reflects the increasingly vulnerable and crisis-riddled state of the regime domestically. Facing internal divisions, systematic and widespread corruption, an enraged public and the very real prospect of another nationwide uprising, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is closing ranks, not opening up, both domestically and internationally. Over the past two months, Tehran has increased its destabilizing activities in the region, taken dual nationals hostage, tested missiles and made overt threats, all with the intention of coercing rapid concessions from the U.S. It is a trap into which the Biden administration should not fall, and must not give up its significant and unprecedented sanctions leverage. History has shown that caving in to a bullys demands only emboldens it. Tehran must be forced to abandon its nuclear weapons pursuit, end its missile ambitions, halt its sponsorship of terrorism, cease its menacing regional activities and end the killing of its own citizens. The only policy that can do that is one that prioritizes firmness and resolve. Such a policys best ally is the vast majority of the Iranian public. The regime is at the weakest point in its history. It should not be given another cheap lifeline. Alireza Jafarzadeh is the deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which is credited with revealing Irans clandestine nuclear program in 2002. He is the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan; New York 2008). She recently caused controversy after sharing sexy topless snaps of herself to Instagram. And Elizabeth Hurley defiantly returned to Instagram on Thursday as she shared a sizzling throwback snap from a previous holiday. The actress, 55, looked sensational as she flaunted her figure in a taupe bikini while pining for a sunny getaway. Beach babe: Elizabeth Hurley, 55, defiantly returned to Instgarm on Thursday as she shared a sizzling throwback bikini snap from a previous holiday The sexy snap saw Elizabeth larking around on an idyllic beach, displaying her slender pins as she kicked into the air. She rocked a huge smile as she flung her arms into the air, with the sunglasses-clad beauty wowing with her jaw-dropping physique. Captioning the snap, Elizabeth penned: 'Pretend vacation! Im so fed up with being at home, Im pretending Im away and am living vicariously through my camera roll for the next 10 days #pretendvacation.' It comes after Piers Morgan apologised to Elizabeth for branding her latest topless shoot 'creepy' amid confusion over who took the pictures. Drama: The actress recently caused controversy after sharing sexy topless snaps of herself to Instagram On Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, the host, 55, said sorry to the actress in the wake of her clarification that her 80-year-old mother was the photographer rather than her son Damian, 18, as Piers first thought. Despite his apology, Piers backtracked and claimed he did not believe her claims that her mother was behind the lens, based on previous comments from the star in 2018 that confirmed Damian often takes her sexy snaps. He said: 'Apparently, it was her mum... how long did you keep your 80-year-old mother out in the snow to take these pictures? I'm not buying a word of this, I reckon it was Damien... it is creepy if your teenage son took these photos.' After Piers' initial comments on Tuesday, later that day Elizabeth clarified that her mother was the photographer behind her latest slew of sizzling Instagram snaps. Shocker: It comes after Piers Morgan apologised to Elizabeth for branding her latest topless shoot 'creepy' amid confusion over who took the pictures She reposted the photos on her Twitter feed, after Piers accused her of being 'thirsty and creepy' and getting her son Damian to photograph her. In the post, Elizabeth revealed on this occasion her mother Angela was behind the camera. Following up on her comments the next day, Piers responded defiantly, saying: 'I would like to apologise to Elizabeth Hurley. I called her thirsty... the point is, I inadvertently followed the newspaper lead that it was her son.' When Susanna asked why it would be creepy for Damian to take the pictures, he said: 'That would be creepy... you don't believe anything you're saying... Shocker: On Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, the host, 55, said sorry to the actress in the wake of her clarification that her 80-year-old mother was the photographer rather than her son Damian, 18, as Piers first thought 'Apparently, it was her mum. How long did you keep your 80-year-old mother out in the snow? Susanna, you wouldn't do that... I'm not buying a word of this, I reckon it was Damien. It is creepy if your teenage son took these photos.' Susanna went on: 'I don't mind who did them, she looks phenomenal', while Piers echoed: 'She looks great, don't get me wrong.' Elizabeth revealed last year that her mother had moved into her Herefordshire mansion so they could spend the lockdown together. The model stripped off to just a pair of white bikini bottoms for the images, as she went topless and covered her modesty with a monochrome jacket. Close bond: The star clarified that her mum was the snapper for her latest sizzling shoot Oh dear! Piers took aim at Elizabeth on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, hours after she first shared the images online Piers took aim at Elizabeth on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, hours after she first shared the images online. Despite his co-host Susanna Reid, 50, defending Elizabeth - claiming she looked 'fabulous' - and insisting Piers was in fact 'thirsty' himself, he maintained the pictures were inappropriate and demanded she 'put clothes on'. Elizabeth is known for sharing sexy snaps and back in 2018, she revealed it was often Damian who is behind the lens when she poses for the saucy shots. Meanwhile, Ulrika Jonsson claimed Elizabeth's topless Instagram snaps are 'wholly inappropriate' after they caused a stir on social media on Monday. Snapper: Elizabeth is known for sharing sexy snaps and back in 2018, she revealed it was Damian, 18, who is behind the lens when she poses for the saucy shots The presenter, 53, said it 'doesn't sit well with her' that the actress would enlist family members such as her 80-year-old mother to take the images as it feels like 'crossing a boundary.' Writing in her column for The Sun, Ulrika said she would usually champion an older celebrity who is proud to flaunt their body, and praised Elizabeth for looking so incredible at her age. The mother-of-four admitted the main reason she opposes the photos is that Elizabeth enlists her loved ones such as her mother and son Damian, 18, to take the pictures. She said: 'But would I ask my 73-year-old mum or 26-year-old son to take pictures of me in just my underwear? Not on your nelly. 'Firstly, it would never happen because I think my the would both be mortified at the thought. But secondly, it just feels wholly inappropriate.' Ulrika added that getting family involved in a racy photo shoot is 'crossing a boundary, and it's a boundary that 'doesn't sit well' with her. EUGENE, Ore. -- Wearing masks during the pandemic may be an important precaution, but it can also be a pimply pain for plenty of people who are experiencing "maskne." Oregon Medical Group dermatologist Dr. Rie Takahashi said that many of her patients have maskne on the mind, complaining of extra facial irritation under the two-thirds of their face that are covered by a mask. "I would say almost 100% of patients mention it during their visits," she said. "People do get ulcers and wounds on their nose because of the rubbing." If facial mask friction is causing you pain, Takahashi recommends first taking a second look at your mask to make sure it's fitting comfortably around the bridge of your nose. Finding time to safely take a short break from wearing the mask throughout the day may also help. "It just gives you a better overall mental well-being anyways to be freed from the mask-wearing. I think it will free your skin as well," she said. Some people also experience oily skin and clogged pores under their masks. For that, Takahashi said that making sure you clean or dispose of your mask at least once a week can save you some sores and pimples. Adding a gentle facial cleanser to your skincare routine can also be helpful. Anything from bar soap to name-brand products can do the trick. "It's really anything that's been working for you. So there's no need to change anything, ramp up or complicate things. it's anything that fits into your daily lifestyle," said Takahashi. A moisturizer can be another beneficial addition to your routines, but make sure that whatever product you use is labeled "noncomedogenic." Otherwise, it may simply make your acne worse. A major breakthrough from a pharmaceutical giant based in Ireland could see a Covid-19 treatment administered through a pill. MSD Pharmaceutical, which is known as Merck & Co. in the United States and Canada, are in the 'advanced' stages of producing a tablet treatment for the virus. Deputy PM Leo Varadkar told his Fine Gael parliamentary party about the development on Wednesday night. The drug is Molnupiravir, which is taken orally and works by triggering errors in the virus's RNA during replication. This hinders its ability to make more viruses, limiting its ability to spread to others. It is currently in stage 2/3 trials with the first results on effectiveness expected between January and March this year. The treatment was initially developed to fight off influenza. The company had previously discontinued two experimental vaccines after early trial data showed they failed to generate immune response comparable to a natural or existing vaccine. The US drug giant has extensive operations in Ireland across six sites in Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Tipperary and Meath. The company employs 2,700 people in the States. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (pictured) told his Fine Gael parliamentary party about the development that MSD Pharmaceutical are in the 'advanced' stages of producing a tablet treatment for Covid-19 on Wednesday night WHAT IS COVID-19 DRUG MOLNUPIRAVIR? Molnupiravir is a drug that could offer hope to coronavirus patients when given to them after they positive. It is currently being tested by MSD Pharmaceuticals in the US and the UK on hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients suffering from the disease. Early results are expected between January and March this year, with final results due in May 2021. How does it work? The drug attacks the RNA of the virus - a type of genetic material - when it starts to make copies of itself. This triggers mistakes in the code, leaving the virus struggling to produce more viruses. The reduced number of viruses could then lead to a less severe illness, and mean those who are infected are less likely to pass it on to others. What do studies show? A study on ferrets published last month showed the drug was 'efficacious' at blocking the transmission of the virus 24 hours after it was administered. Trials are being undertaken in humans in the US and UK, with early results expected by March this year. When might the drug be available? It won't clear stage 2/3 trials until May 2021, meaning it is unlikely to be available until the second half of this year. Scientists are waiting for data from these tests, to show whether the treatment works against Covid-19. Advertisement Meanwhile a row between the European Union and drugmaker AstraZeneca escalated yesterday over a delay in coronavirus vaccine deliveries. AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot addressed the dispute for the first time, rejecting the EU's assertion that the company was failing to honour its contractual commitments. Mr Soriot said vaccine delivery figures in AstraZeneca's contract with the 27-nation bloc were targets, not firm commitments, and added that the company was unable to meet them because of problems in rapidly expanding production capacity. 'Our contract is not a contractual commitment, it's a best effort,' he said in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. After a third round of talks aimed at resolving the dispute last night, Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety said that there was a 'continued lack of clarity on the delivery schedule'. She urged AstraZeneca to come up with a clear plan for a quick delivery of the doses reserved by the EU for the first quarter. However, in a message posted on Twitter, Ms Kyriakides noted 'a constructive tone' in the discussions with Mr Soriot. AstraZeneca said last week that it planned to cut initial deliveries in the EU to 31million doses from 80million due to production problems at its manufacturing plants on the continent. But the EU has claimed that it will receive even less than that just one quarter of the doses that member states were supposed to get during January-March 2021. The Government is currently projecting to have 1.1million vaccine doses into the country by the end of March. However, this is due to step up considerably in the months after with 1.5million doses arriving in April and 2million arriving in May. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that September remains the 'aspiration' to have every person in the country vaccinated, despite issues around supply. He added that the vaccination programme is 'going well', but delays to the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine could hamper the Government's timeframe. 'September is absolutely still the aspiration,' he told RTE's Today With Claire Byrne yesterday. 'We can't promise... because it's a projection based partly on vaccinations that haven't even been applied for authorisation, and on delivery schedules that still have to be fully agreed.' MSD Pharmaceutical (known as Merck & Co. in the United States and Canada) are in the 'advanced' stages of producing a tablet treatment for the virus. Pictured: MSD in Dublin Vaccinations for the over-70s are due to get under way in the next two weeks, he added Meanwhile Mr Varadkar told a Fine Gael party meeting last night that data from Israel where almost half of the population have received their first jab was 'encouraging'. Earlier this week, a study published in Israel found that fewer that 1% of people in a group of fully vaccinated patients have developed the virus. MSD Pharmaceutical has confirmed that the drug is Molnupiravir. Australia is presently embroiled in two major showdowns with superpowers. One is with China. The other is with Google and Facebook. And in the space of a week, weve glimpsed the implications of both. Google has threatened to pull out of Australia if the Morrison government proceeds with plans to force it to pay news outlets when it links to their content. And China (which has been conspicuously shutting the door on Australian businesses) has just upgraded its free-trade deal with New Zealand (which has been conspicuously shutting its mouth about Chinas behaviour). Security officers walk past a display of Australian wines and other agricultural products at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Credit:AP Plenty of smarter people than me seem to think that Googles threat wont be fulfilled. And while Chinas message to Australia from the New Zealand deal is clear, its possible Chinas current belligerence will be temporary as well. But lets take them at face value for a moment and consider a question: which superpowers threat would be a bigger problem for us? A precise answer isnt really the point. The point is that its even debatable. In fact its remarkable how closely the two scenarios mirror each other. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Car making in the UK fell by almost a third to less than 1 million vehicles in 2020 - the biggest year-on-year plunge since the financial crisis and the lowest total output since 1984, new figures have revealed today. Industry bosses said around 10,000 jobs in the sector had been lost so far, and predict more could follow as businesses declare further redundancies and the furlough scheme ends. Production fell by 29.3 per cent compared to the previous year, down to 920,928 cars. The loss of 382,207 vehicles came at cost of 10.5billion to the sector. The significant decline in car manufacturing last year was predominantly as a result of the coronavirus crisis and combined with uncertainty for most of 2020 about a Brexit trade deal. UK car makers hit 36-year low: Production of new models slipped to 920,928 units in 2020 - the lowest annual manufacturing figure since 1984 And with Honda Swindon -the fifth biggest car maker in the UK making almost 70,000 vehicles last year - due to close in 2021 and other factories potentially at risk - including Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant - the chances of outputs exceeding 1,000,000 units this year could be hampered. The SMMT confirmed on Thursday that a fall in car production of 2.3 per cent in December rounded off a 'dreadful year' for the sector. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, estimated that 'declared' job losses by car makers and firms in the supply chain were around 10,000, but warned that figure could rise in the coming months. He said manufacturing operations were 'severely disrupted' throughout 2020, with lockdowns and social distancing measures restricting factory output, Brexit uncertainty continuing until Christmas Eve - when the UK 'crucially avoided a no-deal scenario' - and depressed overseas demand all taking a toll on the sector. Despite the impact on trade of the global pandemic, more than eight in 10 of all cars - accounting for 749,038 in total - made in the UK were shipped overseas, with the EU remaining the biggest export destination, taking a 53.5 per cent share of all motors built here. Combined production of battery electric (BEV), plug-hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid vehicles (HEV) increased to 18.8 per cent of all cars made in this country, up from 14.8 per cent a year before. Just under 173,000 alternatively-fuelled vehicles were built last year, with four out of five exported, the figures show. The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on car makers. As well as factories being shut for months from the end of March, sites have been unable to return to full production due to requirements for social distancing Figures released on Thursday morning confirmed that a fall in car production of 2.3% in December had rounded off a 'dreadful year' for the sector Bosses described 2020 as a 'very challenging year', but he said there was optimism for 2021 because of the coronavirus vaccine, more clarity on technology and the last-ditch Brexit trade deal, even though it left exporters facing some extra costs The last time car production fell by a magnitude of around 30% was in the height of the financial crisis in 2009, records show More than 8 in 10 cars built in Britain are exported, and more than half are sent to EU countries, records show Mr Hawes described 2020 as a 'very challenging year', but he said there was optimism for 2021 because of the coronavirus vaccine, more clarity on technology and the benefit of the last-ditch Brexit trade deal, even though it left exporters facing some extra costs. That said, vehicle manufacturing could suffer more blows this year, with concerns growing for some production sites across the country. Honda's Swindon factory, which produces the Civic hatchback, will close for good in the summer - as confirmed by the Japanese company a year ago. And, more recently, bosses at Vauxhall's new parent group, Stellantis, stressed that the Ellesmere Port facility's future is also not secure. Speaking earlier this month, Carlos Tavares - boss of the newly merged brand combining Groupe PSA and FCA Automobiles - said the fate of the company's Astra-making plant in the North West will be decided 'within weeks'. In a worst-case scenario, this could wipe over 100,000 new cars off the books a year, based on last year's 36-year low outputs. Honda Swindon produced 69,366 vehicles last year, almost 40,000 fewer than in 2019 The Swindon plant is due to close in July, with production of the Civic away from the UK Bosses at Vauxhall have recently said that the future of the Ellesmere Port factory - where the Astra is built - will be decided 'within weeks' Reports of a surge in positive Covid cases at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant in recent weeks - which has required the redeployment of workers from the Castle Bromwich factory - is already likely to be impacting production outputs in January. Commenting on the slump in manufacturing, Mike Hawes said: 'These figures, the worst in a generation, reflect the devastating impact of the pandemic on UK automotive production, with Covid lockdowns depressing demand, shuttering plants and threatening lives and livelihoods. 'The industry faces 2021 with more optimism, however with a vaccine being rolled out and clarity on how we trade with Europe, which remains by far our biggest market. 'The immediate challenge is to adapt to the new conditions, to overcome the additional customs burdens and regain our global competitiveness while delivering zero emission transport.' Andrew Burn, head of automotive at KPMG, says he has a less optimistic outlook for 2021 figures. He told said: 'Given the ongoing sales levels and with social distancing being here to stay for some time, it is likely that this volume will be lost forever. My concern now is that overlaying on top of these issues at present is the impact of getting to grips with the rules of origin for parts and the latest lockdown. 'Arguably the next couple of months could be the hardest for the sector as this will be the first quarter where we have had a lockdown in the run up to a number plate change.' Jaguar Land Rover retained its status of the UK's biggest car maker, though outputs fell by almost 37% in 2020 Production levels remain lower than usual as UK car factories can only have reduced staff numbers onsite at a time to allow for social distancing and more extensive cleaning JLR still UK's biggest car maker and Nissan Qashqai is most popular export The production figures show that Jaguar Land Rover retained its crown as the UK's biggest car maker in 2020 - though an output of 243,908 vehicles across its three manufacturing sites was 37 per cent lower than production in the 12 months prior. Mini Oxford posted the most stable results, though assembly lines completed 21 per cent fewer new cars in 2020 than they did the year previous. The SMMT also confirmed that Nissan's Qashqai was the car produced in highest volumes for the export market. Independent forecasts say UK car production will partly recover in 2021 to 1 million, but Mr Hawes said much will depend on the continued impact of the virus, the speed with which showrooms can reopen, and how quickly manufacturers can come to terms with new trading arrangements with the EU, which he described as 'much more complicated'. He hoped today's production figures would reflect the 'lowest ebb', but added that significant investment would be needed to return to the figure of 1.7 million reported in 2016. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BYD plans to launch a standalone upscale new energy vehicle (NEV) brand in 2022, according to a local media outlet. The vehicles will reportedly ride on an all-new platform and be sold via an independent dealership network. BYD's management considered that the existing dealership capability is unable to support the high-end essence in hardware and services for building an upmarket brand, thus it decided to enlist new investors for dealerships and develop new distribution channels, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. BYD Han EV; photo credit: BYD The vehicles under the new brand will be built on the EV2.0 platform, according to the person. The first model is internally named Dolphin and is said to hit the market in 2023. According to previous report, industry insiders surmised that BYD would spin off its Dynasty vehicle series as an individual brand. In 2015, the company applied for the registration of the trademark Dynasty with the term of exclusive right starting from 2018 to 2028. BYD closed its year of 2020 with an annual sales volume of 426,972 units, a decrease of 7.46% compared to the previous year. Its monthly sales were showing year-on-year growth through the second half of the year. In December, BYD saw its NEV sales surge 120.18% over the prior-year period to 28,841 units, posting increase for the fourth month in a row. The monthly sales of the BYD Han, the flagship NEV model hitting the market in last July, exceeded 10,000 units in both November and December. By the end of 2020, the cumulative sales of the Han EV and the Han DM reached 28,773 units and 11,783 units respectively, said BYD. BYD launched earlier this month its DM-i super hybrid technology that focuses on ultra-low fuel consumption. The DM-i can enable an EV-only range of up to 120km, according to Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD. The vehicles equipped with the DM-i system are available for both slow charging and fast charging. NASHVILLE The latest jobless numbers show unemployment increased in each of Tennessees counties during December 2020, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). There were six counties with an unemployment rate of less than 5% in December, 88 counties had rates greater than or equal to 5%, and one county had a rate higher than 10%. Williamson County recorded Decembers lowest unemployment rate among Tennessees 95 counties. The rate did increase 0.9 of a percentage point during the month to 4.2%. One year ago, Williamson Countys jobless rate was 2.1%. Lake County had the states highest unemployment rate for the month. At 10.6%, the countys rate increased by 2.5 percentage points in December. The new rate is 5.5 percentage points higher than it was in December 2019. A complete analysis of Decembers county unemployment data for Tennessee is available here. Statewide, unemployment increased in December. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for December came in at 6.4%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from Novembers revised rate of 5.2% Nationally, unemployment held steady between November and December at 6.7%. Tennessee employers are searching for employees to keep their businesses moving forward as the states economy continues to rebound. There are currently more than 230,000 open positions posted on the states workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov. TDLWD also offers the Tennessee Virtual American Job Center (VAJC). The new website located at www.TNVirtualAJC.com allows Tennesseans to research different programs, from different state agencies, that can help them remove barriers to employment so they can move back into the workforce. The state of Tennessee will release the statewide unemployment rate for January 2021 on March 11, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. CT. Local News By Long Island Published: January 26 2021 Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced that the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) will extend the property assessment grievance deadline from March 1, 2021 to Friday, April 30, 2021 by providing an additional 60-day grace period With many residents still struggling from the devastating repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, at my request, ARC Chairperson Robin Laveman has extended the grievance filing period with a 60-day grace period ending on April 30. This will provide additional breathing room for those who want to fight their property assessment, said County Executive Curran. I will continue to protect the rights of homeowners and do everything I can to ease tax burdens whenever and wherever possible. I encourage homeowners to consider the possible benefits of the grievance procedure. Tentative assessed property values for the 2022-2023 assessment roll for every Nassau County property have been finalized and are being mailed out this month. In addition to being mailed, notices of tentative assessment are also posted online at mynassauproperty.com. Homeowners who believe that their assessed value for the 2022-2023 assessment roll is inaccurate can file an Application for Correction of Assessment with ARC before the close of the grievance filing period, which is extended from March 1 to April 30, 2021. Due to the instability of Nassau Countys real estate market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the continued economic hardships homeowners and businesses face, County Executive Curran has paused property valuation updates for the 2022-2023 assessment roll. Therefore, unless a homeowner has since received a correction of error, an assessment reduction, or physically altered an improvement, their notice of tentative assessment should reflect the same property assessment as the previous assessment roll, which protects against updates based on the current chaotic real estate market. Challenging your assessment is a simple process that can be done directly by the property owner in just a few minutes. There are many resources, including a five-minute instructional video, How to Appeal Your Assessment, to walk filers through the process. We are also holding virtual community meetings with the County Legislators to take homeowners through the filing process and to address and answer questions, said Chairperson Laveman. Homeowners can find the calendar of virtual legislative meetings online at www.nassaucountyny.gov/arc and can easily file their grievance on this site. There is no fee to file an Application for Correction of Assessment with Nassau County. For individuals who do not have internet access, the application can be obtained in person at ARC located at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, or by contacting ARC at (516) 571-3214. The extension of the grievance period will be highlighted on ARCs website. Property owners are encouraged to check ARCs website for up-to-date information. (@FahadShabbir) BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Stanislav Zas arrived in Kyrgyzstan to attend the inauguration of the country's president-elect, Sadyr Japarov, the republic's Foreign Ministry told Sputnik. The inauguration of Japarov, who won the first round of early presidential elections on January 10, will be held in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday. "In the city of Bishkek, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbayev met with Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Stanislav Zas, who arrived to take part in the inauguration ceremony for President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov," a spokesman said. [January 28, 2021] Absen Deliver Overwhelming LED Display Solutions for Kaisa Prosperity SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ -- Kaisa Prosperity, a large real estate developer in China, utilized cutting edge digital signage technology from Absen (SZSE: 300389) to unlock the full potential of Guangzhou Kaisa Baiyun City Plaza, its newly developed premises. Absen, the leading LED display manufacturer, worked with Jiake Intelligent, a company well experienced in providing advanced intelligent solutions, to customize a complete suite of breath-taking LED solutions for the new property. The stunning Absen LED displays were installed inside and out of the sales center on the Guangzhou Baiyun Kaisa City Plaza, including a customized 3D naked-eye OOH display, a bespoke immersive LED cave, a seamless LED video wall and four LED strips in the hall inside the building. 3D Naked-eye OOH display Mounted on the exterior of the building, the custom trapezoid-shaped LED wall of 274.89sqm has become an integral part of the whole building. With creative 3D content, it hastransformed the building into a unique landmark with a combination of art and technology. Interactive LED wall + LED strips in the hall Entering the sales center, visitors will get astounded by the innovative LED strips mounted on the ceiling above the architectural model and the large-format LED video wall. The videowall playing images and commercials of Kaisa Prosperity communicates the real estate information. The LED strips, visually intermingled in a picturesque disorder, are playing various content such as floral images, creating a relaxing atmosphere. LED cave Having delivered multiple LED cave solutions successfully, Absen is capable of realizing a 720 LED cave for Guangzhou Baiyun Kaisa with ease. Lying right behind the interactive LED video wall, the cave is an immersive space where the customer can play creative, futuristic content and real-estate commercials to visitors, introducing its residential and commercial properties. The product utilized here is the PL lite series. Commenting on this project, Qin Yi said, "We chose Absen as it is a public listed company and recognized LED manufacturer, with a renowned reputation of providing high quality products. The cooperation and support we received from the Absen team were invaluable. The team are professional; they paid great attention to detail and were quick in response during this project. Especially in this urgent project, they worked hard to deliver the perfect solutions." View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/absen-deliver-overwhelming-led-display-solutions-for-kaisa-prosperity-301217066.html SOURCE Absen.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] VENICE, JAN 28 - Italian police on Thursday said they had identified and cited the alleged authors of an anti-semitic Zoom attack on Venice's Jewish community in November in which the hackers displayed a swastika. The hackers were found in the province of Bergamo. Police seized equipment allegedly used in the attack. (ANSA). COVID-19 has killed more than 430,000 Americans, and infections have continued to mount despite the introduction of a pair of vaccines late in 2020. USA TODAY is tracking the news. Keep refreshing this page for the latest updates. Sign up for our Coronavirus Watch newsletter for updates to your inbox, join our Facebook group or scroll through our in-depth answers to reader questions. New U.S cases of the coronavirus have fallen 35% from their Jan. 11 peak, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. The average number of daily cases has fallen to about 162,000, from 249,000. And there are positive signs for hospitalization: The COVID Tracking Project said Wednesday that "the number of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is decreasing in every major US region." About 107,000 Americans were hospitalized because of the virus Tuesday, down from a peak of more than 130,000 three weeks ago. Dr. Anthony Fauci said this week that the improvement in numbers appears to be the result of natural peaking and then plateauing after a holiday surge, rather than an effect of the rollout of vaccines that began in mid-December. Ogbonnaya Omenka, an associate professor and public health specialist at Butler University in Indianapolis, called the decline in new cases encouraging but warned that it might not be permanent. The daily death toll remains close to the record highs set earlier this month: The United States is still averaging about 23,000 deaths per week. Recorded deaths lag the infection rate. But the CDC says it expects deaths to decline over the next four weeks. "This is the time to take advantage of the window and strive even harder to sustain the downward trend as we gradually tap into the supporting act of vaccines," Omenka said. "It is still possible for the increase in new cases to return if we prematurely let go of the public health efforts that have been helping us all along." Story continues Mike Stucka In the headlines: U.S. airline executives expressed disdain about the idea of passengers being required to pass a coronavirus test before boarding domestic flights -- which the CDC is considering calling the notion "wholly impractical'' and "a real goat rodeo.'' The South Africa variant of the coronavirus has reached the U.S.: Two cases were identified in South Carolina. There is no evidence infections from the variant cause more severe disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, adding that "preliminary data suggests this variant may spread more easily and quickly than other variants." There's also concern vaccines might be less effective against this variant. Public health officials in some states are clamoring for more vaccine doses, while at the same time 16 states have failed to use even half of their allotment, as the mass vaccination program in the U.S. continues on an uneven course. Biden administration officials say it will get better. Nine Roman Catholic nuns in southern Michigan have died in January because of a COVID-19 outbreak at their retirement home, which had gone months without a single case. The nuns, ranging in age from 79 to 97, lived at the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Adrian, 75 miles southwest of Detroit. Today's numbers: The U.S. has more than 25.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 432,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: More than 101.3 million cases and 2.18 million deaths. About 48.4 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S. and 26.2 million have been administered, according to the CDC. What we're reading: $15 minimum wage? Another round of checks? Resistance to key pieces could derail Biden's COVID relief plan. People line up for COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga. New vaccine by Maryland company nearly 90% effective in UK A COVID-19 vaccine by Novavax showed nearly 90% effectiveness in late-stage clinical trials in the United Kingdom and robust protection against the variant now rampant in England, the Maryland biotech company said Thursday. The vaccine was only about 50% effective against the variant now circulating in South Africa, according to results from a middle-stage study conducted in that country. Two cases of that variant have just been identified in South Carolina, the first instances of it detected in the U.S. Still, the emergence of another vaccine would boost the chances of all eligible Americans getting protection from COVID-19 sooner, provided the Novavax candidate gets FDA authorization. The U.S. government has spent $1.6 billion to buy 100 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, which should be ready later this year. UN head warns against 'vaccine nationalism' in African countries United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling attention to the wide disparity in distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, referring to it as a global emergency and saying less than 20,000 of the 70 million doses so far administered have gone to people in African countries. Guterres warned against vaccine nationalism, pointing out the coronavirus will inevitably mutate if it continues circulating in parts of the globe. New variants could be more deadly and more transmissible and threaten the effectiveness of current vaccines, prolonging or risking to prolong the pandemic significantly, he said. New York state undercounted nursing home deaths by 50%, probe reveals COVID-19 deaths of nursing home residents in New York state have been undercounted by about 50% as poor infection-control practices and understaffing fuel the coronavirus crisis, New York's Attorney General reported Thursday. The investigation found the state Department of Health's controversial policy to only publicly report COVID-19 deaths of residents inside nursing homes and withhold deaths of residents transferred to hospitals hindered attempts to fully understand the scope of the the crisis and improve conditions inside the facilities. The true COVID-19 death toll of nursing home residents is closer to 13,000, as opposed to the 8,677 reported to date by the Health Department, according to the investigation's findings. As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate, Attorney General Letitia James said. David Robinson Oregon ponders prioritizing people of color for vaccine To combat the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on people of color, Oregon may prioritize racial and ethnic minorities for the shots. A COVID-19 advisory committee will vote Thursday on whether people of color should be vaccinated next. Other groups, such as those with chronic medical conditions, essential workers, refugees and inmates, are also being considered. The committee, which includes members of color and people from marginalized communities, was created to focus on equity in the vaccine rollout process and provide recommendations to the governor. This comes as new data has shown Black and Latino communities are getting vaccinated at half the rate of white people, even though Blacks and Latinos in the U.S. are three times as likely to die of the virus. Kaanita Iyer Justice Department watchdog: Staff shortages hurt federal prison response Federal prisons in North Carolina and Michigan struggled to contain outbreaks of the coronavirus as staffing shortages and insufficient quarantine space compromised the response, an internal Justice Department review found. At the Bureau of Prisons complex in Butner, North Carolina, where 26 inmates and one staffer have died since June, authorities were unable to fully restrict staff movements to guard against cross-contamination while social distancing measures proved difficult to enforce because of the open design of the housing facilities, the Justice inspector general concluded. As COVID-19 spread throughout two of the complexs institutions, these institutions were not able to quarantine all inmates meeting the criteria for quarantine, largely due to a shortage of space, the report concluded. In a written response, federal prison officials disputed the quarantine problems, asserting that despite the high volume of infections, authorities met guidelines. Kevin Johnson Mass clinics could hold key to vaccinating nation As part of President Joe Biden's COVID-19 strategy, mass vaccination clinics will soon become familiar to millions of Americans. The Federal Emergency Management Agency could begin running up to 100 high-volume sites nationwide within a month to help reach the administration's goal of giving 1.5 million shots a day during Biden's first 100 days in office. "It's complicated, it's challenging, but we want to get vaccine out the door and into arms as fast as we possibly can," San Francisco Mayor London Breed said. Read the full story. WHO team in China to research origins of pandemic A World Health Organization team completed a two-week quarantine in Wuhan, China, on Thursday to begin a fact-finding mission on the origins of COVID-19. The researchers are attempting what has become a politically charged mission as China seeks to avoid blame for alleged missteps in its early response to the outbreak. A major question is where the Chinese side will allow the researchers to go and whom they will be able to talk to. White House press secretary Jen Psaki expressed concern Wednesday about what she called misinformation coming out of China, adding that the U.S. supports a robust international investigation. Its imperative that we get to the bottom of the early days of the pandemic in China, she said. Staying at home leads to open roads and more traffic deaths The rate of traffic deaths jumped in the first half of 2020, and safety experts blame drivers who sped up on roads left open when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses and limited commuting. The new research also showed that even small increases in speed led to much deadlier outcomes in vehicle crashes. A crash that is easily survivable at 40 mph can be fatal at 50 mph or more, according to the study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Small changes in speed when youre involved in a crash can really increase your chances of getting a severe injury," IIHS President David Harkey said. "It's a huge problem." Nathan Bomey Vaccines: So far, so good and safe About 22 million Americans have been vaccinated and the few reported allergic responses have been treated successfully, according to the CDC. No other serious problems have turned up, the CDC says. Although it may not be possible to prove something is completely safe, data from multiple tracking systems suggest the vaccines are not causing large numbers of unusual or dangerous results. Read more here. Karen Weintraub Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID news: South Africa variant; South Carolina; Michael Strahan Amit Shah_BJP Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday will visit two hospitals to enquire about the health of policemen injured in the violence that broke out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on Republic Day, officials said. Nearly 400 policemen were injured during the tractor parade of the farmers who have been protesting against three central farm laws at Delhi's borders since November. The home minister will visit two hospitals -- Shushrut Trauma Centre and Teerath Ram Hospital -- to enquire about the health of the injured police personnel, an official from the Home Ministry said. Both the hospitals are located in Civil Lines. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the parade that was supposed to be held from 12 pm to 5 pm with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. From Rajpath to Red Fort, the day unfolded in scenes of contrasts. One that Indians have seen for seven decades and the other that seared itself into collective memory with its imagery of protesters demanding a repeal of the three farm laws storming the Mughal era monument, the centrepiece of India's Independence Day celebrations. Clashes broke out in multiple places, leading to violence in well-known landmarks of Delhi and its suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the day. A protester died after his tractor overturned near ITO, one of the major flashpoints of trouble. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. Follow this search Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The ancient Caddo Indians along the Red River in East Texas would have looked to the sky during January, watching for purple martins returning to their villages. Like other tribes, the Caddo would have strung hollowed-out gourds around their villages to offer the sleek, blue-black swallows nesting homes safe from predators. Purple martins would have returned the favor by devouring flying insects and chasing off crows trying to pillage stores of corn. When European settlers displaced Indians with their own villages and farms, they adopted the tradition of hanging gourds to attract nesting martins. Craftsmen would later design wooden nest boxes containing multiple compartments to suit martin colonies. But before people erected hanging gourds and nest boxes, purple martins found shelter in abandoned woodpecker tree holes and tree cavities. Once the birds began relying on nesting abodes supplied by people, they virtually abandoned their historic tree holes. During December, the birds begin heading north from winter homes in Brazil and other parts of South America east of the Andes. Their journey traverses Central America up to Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula and directly across the Gulf of Mexico to North America. Some birds follow a route across the Caribbean Islands on the way to North America. Purple martins breeding west of the Rockies follow a route through Mexico. Purple martins Purple martins are the largest North American swallows at about 8 inches long with about a 15-inch wingspan. Adult males are entirely iridescent purplish-blue, females are gray beneath, and first-year males have purple splotches beneath. They feed on flying insects, especially dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, flying ants and bees, but they rarely eat mosquitoes. Attract nesting birds with a preconstructed aluminum, gourd-style or wooden-style martin house. For information about martin houses: birdwatching.com/tips/purplemartin_landlord.html See More Collapse They move quickly. The vanguard are adult males arriving in Texas during January, followed by females and yearling males in February. The young males will search for new or unoccupied martin houses to attract females for a nesting colony. The females will select males for mating they make the final decision about where to nest, regardless of sites staked out by males. Theyll usually select boxes where they nested the previous year. But not always. They can be finicky about nest locations for reasons that elude human understanding. They may return to the same location year after year, only to abandon it another year. Breeding pairs eventually take up communal residence in compartmentalized housing. They may use some compartments for roosting or as space for alternative nests should house sparrows invade their first nesting compartment. Meanwhile, Im watching for male purple martins to perch on the nesting gourds in my yard and later be joined by females in a nesting colony. But weve had no nesting colony since 2015. Maybe this year. Gary Clark is the author of Book of Texas Birds, with photography by Kathy Adams Clark (Texas A&M University Press). Email him at Texasbirder@comcast.net. Amanda Gorman created history when she became the youngest poet to perform at the United States presidential inauguration. The poem, The Hill We Climb, offered a promising vision for a divided country. The 23-year-old joined the ranks of previous inaugural poets, Elizabeth Alexander, Maya Angelou and Robert Frost, with her performance at the swearing-in ceremony of US President Joe Biden, and Vice-President Kamala Harris. Sharing her future ambitions during a virtual chat on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, Amanda said that she hoped to be present at another inauguration in the future. However, it would be as the president taking an oath of office. She said that she has dreamed of becoming president for years. Watch Amanda talk about her president dreams here: Amanda, wearing a mosaic-style outfit and yellow headband, was pictured sitting in front of a shelves full of books during the virtual chat. This was a dream that I think came into existence around 6th grade, she said, adding that the idea was born after her maths teacher jokingly said that she could run for president as she was a very passionate and feisty girl. Smilingly she added what she told her teacher: You know what? That tracks. Lets put that on the bulletin board for the future. Talking about her familys reaction, she said that they took it very seriously because, according to her, whatever she says, she means business. Even her sister was cautious about being photographed at college parties. Amanda said: Shed say, Dont get a photo of me. My sister is running for president 25 years from now. I cant have an image coming up then. DeGeneres seemed inspired and told Amanda that they were behind her and even gave an official endorsement by displaying a t-shirt with the message Amanda Gorman 2036 for President printed on it. Had a few other smaller fake campaign materials. Amanda had suffered from a speech impediment but didnt let it come in her way. When she was 16, she was named the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles. On January 22, two days after Biden took oath as the 46th president of the United States, an elated Amanda posted on Instagram stating, What a life. Her surging popularity has even started to reflect in the sales of her books. On January 20, she tweeted: I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words. As Yeats put it: "For words alone are certain good: Sing, then (sic) Matt Tunseth posted this image of a Hummer he spotted in Anchorage that adorned a license plate that reads 3REICH to Twitter. Gov. Mike Dunleavy removed Anchorage Assembly member Jamie Allard from the Alaska Commission on Human Rights for comments made defending the use of Nazi terminology on two state-issued plates. Matt Tunseth photo/Twitter YOU step into the typical 1950s shebeen at MuseuMAfricA in Newtown, down town Johannesburg, and an automatic motion monitor churns out a Marabi tune. You are instantly transported back in time and spontaneously overwhelmed with emotion. For those whose collective cultural memory is embedded in the permanent exhibition, the museum is pregnant with nostalgia. And complete with mannequins in Stetson hats, the gumba-gumba record player and the inescapable bar atmosphere, the shebeen comes alive. MuseuMAfricA: telling stories that had not been told before. (Photo: Anton Hammerl, MuseuMAfricA) Such exhibits, laying bare, as they do, the heart and soul of inner city Johannesburg, make a trip to the museum a worthwhile experience. However, the museum has also put together special displays to showcase specifically to visitors across the globe, tourists and delegates to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The FNB Vita Crafts Now Awards Exhibition, in association with Association of Potters of Southern Africa's African Earth, is an adjudicated exhibition, thus putting only the best on display. Judging the exhibitions will be professors Ian Calder of Natal University and Karel Nel of the University of the Witwatersrand. Sponsored by the First National Bank, the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the City of Johannesburg's Cultural and Heritage Services, the exhibition carries prizes totalling more than R80 000, and includes entries from the rural areas and disadvantaged craftspeople from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The biggest craft show the country has ever seen, the exhibition will be opened, on August 17, by veteran journalist and documentary artist Denis Beckett. The awards will be presented by the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo, who will honour the role of women in ceramics in recognition of the fact that most of the potters in the exhibition are African women. Bonani Africa is a festival of South African Photography, showing photographic essays by 40 of the country's best photographers. To mention even one photographer, however tempting it may be, will be grossly unfair. But the exhibition covers all major issues affecting South Africa today, from poverty, HIV/Aids to questions of identity. The exhibition is accompanied by a conference entitled "Photography: Identity and History in Africa", bringing together leading academics, documentary photographers and students across the continent. Making an argument for the World Summit to pay attention to the impact of poverty and globalization on developing countries like South Africa, the exhibition is organized by South African History Online, and curated by Omar Badsha. Lori Waselchuk, a freelance photojournalist and documentary photographer with a special interest in Africa and South Africa, will exhibit her work African Nights. "Two years ago," Waselchuk says, "I began to document the life at night in the villages and cities I visit in Africa. As a journalist I often photograph the tragic and the extraordinary. But African Nights is one attempt to document ordinary life, ordinary people. I am drawn to the colours and textures of artificial light. Light is minimal, often the only light source is a single candle or lightbulb. Yet this low light creates unexpected colours and shadows." African Nights is a collection of 50 images taken from the African countries of Angola, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya and Zambia. Housed in what used to be the city's main fruit and vegetable market, MuseuMAfricA is Johannesburg's major history and cultural history museum. The structure of the original building, erected in 1913, has now been imaginatively built into a modern arch building, with new pillars driven into the clay soil to support the several floors, without connecting to the original outside skin of the building. Its collections have been accumulated and preserved since 1933, when an impressive collection of Africana was bought by the Johannesburg public Library from J C Gubbins, turning the museum into Africana Museum in Progress, with most exhibitions showing collections of black traditional culture. With funds from the City of Johannesburg, the Africana Museum reopened in 1994 as MuseuMAfricA with new displays and a mission, according to curator Diana Wall, "to tell stories that had not been told before". And the sight of the building from outside simply invites you to discover "life" as depicted by the museum. And once inside, you will discover that over and above the special Summit showcases, themes for the permanent displays are chosen to reflect the complex geological, social, political and economic history of South Africa, with a particular emphasis on urban life in Johannesburg since the discovery of gold. In total, there are seven permanent displays. Gold considers the monetary, decorative and symbolic importance of the precious metal that spawned eGoli, the city of Johannesburg. What about the Workers? Recreates the noise and confusion of a rockfall in a mine tunnel. The display also contrasts the living conditions in a mine compound with a mine manager or randlord's house. It looks at the pertinent world of domestic work in South Africa and the stormy interaction of capital and labour that has influenced the country's political landscape. Perhaps by far the most culturally evocative of the displays, Sounds of the City traces South African music from the Marabi music and dance of the 1920s slum yards to the township jazz of a Sophiatown shebeen. Born in the city's slumyards in the 1920s, the Marabi gave birth to many kinds of music in the 40s and 50s, including the "kwela", "tsaba-tsaba", "mbaqanga" and township jazz. This mockup of the country's truly first cosmopolitan setting, Sophiatown, takes your breath away. Then there is the Birds in a Cornfield, which deals with the fight for adequate housing for all. Here an actual shack from Alexandra township, previously used as a shebeen, with real sounds, shouts, conversations and music recorded during the shebeen's "happy hour", complete with a baby's wail in the background, is featured in the display. "There he is, Nelson Mandela, taking his first steps of freedom after 27 years in prison," unexpectedly bellows out of the speakers as you enter The Road to Democracy, a display that plays out the two roads taken by formal white politics and black resistance movements that finally met in the first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Nostalgic stuff here as well. An interesting dimension of the politics of race in South Africa comes alive around the figure of Indian-born lawyer, Mahatma Gandhi and his resistance to discrimination. Gandhi's Johannesburg shows over 30 Johannesburg buildings and places associated with Gandhi. His experiences in Johannesburg from 1903 to 1913 shaped his philosophy of Satyagraha, passive resistance. It was from here that Gandhi's ideas of peaceful struggle spread across the world. The final permanent display is named Tried for Treason, after the four-year trial of 156 people opposed to apartheid, including Nelson Mandela. The trial was a turning point in the consolidation of racial discrimination and of resistance to it, with many of the eventually acquitted trialists being prominent politicians and leaders of South Africa today. Other displays capture fossil evidence of early human, stone and iron age communities in the Johannesburg area, as well as the first white settlers. The highlight of these exhibitions, as evidenced during the Centenary of the Anglo-Boer War in April this year, has to be the real leather jacket and pants worn by a Boer commander. Entrance at MuseuMAfricA is R7 for adults and R2 for children, students and pensioners. Exhibition hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 09h00 to 17h00. The museum is closed on Mondays. Maid and 'master' ... apartheid South Africa re-examined (Photo: Anton Hammerl, MuseuMAfricA) Gramophone meets cowskin drum(Photo: Anton Hammerl, MuseuMAfricA) T he entrance to MuseuMAfricA The interior of MuseuMAfricA, converted from the old fruit and vegetable market For those who want the top Android phone on the market, this is now it. Ive spent a week testing it and the 6.8-inch S21 Ultra beats all Android rivals, both as a total package and in many specific features. It has the best screen, the joint-best cameras and the best engine. Its also very nicely designed to hold in the hand. Here is why Ive come to these conclusions. 1. Cameras It is the cameras that Samsung regards as the key feature making this an Ultra model rather than just a regular old S21. And the improvements here are significant and laudable. The biggest difference is that Samsung has added a fourth separate lens an extra optical zoom to the rear array. So it now has an ultra wide (12mp), regular wide (108mp), 3x optical zoom (10mp) and 10x periscope zoom (10mp). To add even more, theres a fifth camera cutout hole for a laser-focusing unit to help make photos sharper. And obviously theres a front-facing selfie camera too, which now goes to 40 megapixels if you want resolution that high. I can see why some may think that this is all getting a bit ridiculous, but believe me: what Samsung has done makes a qualitative difference to the range and accuracy of the photos you can take. Photos are generally sharper and more consistent than last years model (which, despite some criticism, I found to be excellent). The array of features Samsung gives you is exhaustive, from slow motion (and super slow motion) to an excellent night mode. Furthermore, it now records in 4K at 60 frames per second from every lens a real bonus. Is it perfect? No. Despite improving its long zoom (which is superb up to about 30x), the 100x Space Zoom is still mostly useless. Yes, on a very sunny day you might capture something usable. But three times out of four, my shots were either blurry or missed; its quite hard to get it to settle on a focus point, despite new software that aims to let you do just that. I also dont really see the point of its 108-megapixel mode, which is only available on its wide lens. Yes, it gives you more detail when you zoom in, but because the sensor is so small, the details tend to be a little noisy anyway. Id be surprised if many people use it, especially as it has to be manually selected. The same goes for its 8K video mode, which records at 24 frames per second. This is functionally useless, as virtually no-one has a screen that shows 8K content (and they wont have for years to come). Samsung has added a feature that lets you take a still snap while filming in 8K, but I found these images to be far inferior to the shots in its still camera mode. 2. Ergonomics and design Now that it doesnt have any distinctive curved glass, Samsung faces the same issue that almost every other Android manufacturer has how do you make this stand out? In the case of the S21 Ultra, its mainly by embracing the huge camera bump on the back. Samsung has done it in a way that (I think) makes it look like a feature rather than something to accommodate. My test model was matte black, which looks great. If youre considering an Ultra, this is the one to get. Its quite easy to handle, too: despite its very large 6.8-inch display, its slightly more ergonomic than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, although the squared-off look to the new iPhones is still a slightly nicer shape to look at. Expand Close Sleek: Samsung made the camera bump a feature, rather than something to accommodate. Photo: Adrian Weckler / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sleek: Samsung made the camera bump a feature, rather than something to accommodate. Photo: Adrian Weckler 3. Screen Here, there isnt really much doubt: the Ultra has the all-round best display that you can get on a smartphone. This is for a number of reasons, but the biggest one is its ability to be set at its maximum 1440p, high resolution at the same time as using its 120hz high refresh rate. Samsung hadnt allowed this in previous high-end models as it leads to a faster drain on battery life. But the company has shoved a giant 5,000mAh battery in there to help remediate against this. Its 1,500-nits maximum brightness complements all of this really nicely, meaning you can see things on even bright, sunny days. 4. Price The S21 Ultra has one non-technical feature that makes it a better buy than last years S20 Ultra its price. Last year, the Ultra started at 1,379 for the 128GB variant. This years version costs 1,299. You could say that this reflects the non-inclusion of a charging plug (following Apples lead with the iPhone 12 in October), as well as no longer including any external memory card support. But anyone thinking of this as a purchase will appreciate it. 5. Power Samsung has saved its strongest muscle for its top model. You can choose between three variants 128GB with 12GB of Ram, 256GB with 12GB of Ram or 512GB with 16GB of Ram. As most reading this will know, 16GB is usually what you get in a high-end work laptop. As with last year, Samsung is putting its own Exynos 2100 processor in the S21 Ultra models we get in Ireland and Britain, compared to the Snapdragon 888 in the US variants. While theres no problem with power or battery efficiency overall, theres still a sneaking suspicion that the Snapdragon models are slightly better. 6. Other things There are two other main things worth mentioning: its battery and its underscreen fingerprint reader. The former has been bumped to 5,000mah, which is a blessing: mine never ran of juice on me any day. As for the underscreen biometric scanner, its a lot bigger than last years version and generally works very well. Its also a relief to have it in a Covid era when were wearing masks so much of the time. As with most flagship Galaxy phones now, the S21 Ultra comes with reverse wireless charging. 7. Verdict Are any of these features knockout blows to rival flagships? Individually, no. Cumulatively, yes; they combine to make this the best Android phone on the market, bar none unless you really want one of those large folding-screen models, which dont have the same power, camera or screen specifications. What about a comparison with Apple? Does it leave the iPhone 12 Pro Max behind? Not quite, as that device still has a stronger, simpler ecosystem of controls and services around it. Its A14 chip is also a little faster than the S21 Ultras chip, although Samsung gives you twice the amount of Ram. But technically, the S21 Ultra is about the best overall package you can get for any handset on the market. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Price: from 1,299. Pros: Best screen on the market, great camera system, future-proof engine. Cons:100x space zoom still over-sold, no plug charger in the box. Rating: 4/5. The crowd at the protest sites in Delhi s Singhu and Tikri borders was visibly thin on Thursday, two days after the tractor parade turned violent, even though farmer unions said it was because the protesters, who had come to the national capital to take part in the 26 January march, have returned home. Additional police personnel were deployed at the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur bordersthe three main sites where farmers have been protesting the Centres new farm lawsas a preventive measure in the view of the violence on Republic Day that left 394 cops injured and one protester dead. The Singhu border, one of the major protest sites that has been home to thousands of farmers for over two months, was noticeably less populated on Thursday than what it used to be before the Republic Day, or even before that. The number of tractors have reduced, and so have the protesters. There is no dearth in our spirit to continue our fight against the farm laws. The fact that Singhu looks empty is a mere optical illusion. Just because there were too many people in the run-up to the parade, now that they have gone back, it looks like this," said Baldev Singh, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, however, on the eve of R-Day had announced that all the farmers, who would join the tractor march, would stay back and living arrangements would be made for them. According to Baldev Singh, the protest site also appeared to be less crowded because there were protesters who had been camping here since the very first day, and had waited till Republic Day before returning home. The agitation to demand the repeal of the laws was their single-point agenda" and they were not going to move until they are met, said Ashwini Kumar, district chief, Punjab Kisan Union. As far as the future of the farmers protest is concerned, the 1 February farmers march to Parliament stands postponed, and leaders are chalking out their further strategy. Meanwhile, a fast would be observed on 30 January, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, said Baldev Singh. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 In a State of the City address Thursday, Mayor London Breed tried to rally a struggling and exhausted city by claiming a brighter future is ahead, where people can see Steph Curry on the basketball court, dance to live music, drink at the best bars and watch the Giants from a kayak. Yes, it has been hard, and no, we are not out of the woods yet, she said. But I believe we are at the start of an incredible recovery. Breeds address came as San Francisco flickered back to life Thursday, as small pleasures like outdoor dining and haircuts in a salon were allowed to resume after weeks of lockdown. Still, the citys current situation is dire. In addition to struggling with the pandemic over the last year, San Francisco continues to grapple with skyrocketing property crime, a growing homeless problem, an escalating drug overdose crisis, a massive budget deficit, empty storefronts, shuttered schools and a rocky vaccine rollout. The mayor acknowledged that San Francisco faces many challenges, several of which existed long before the pandemic. But her mission Thursday was to express a vision for how the city can and will recover, as some residents flee to cheaper cities and businesses downsize their footprints. We arent just going to repair. We are going to reinvigorate. To come back even stronger, she said. Businesses will flourish, opportunities will expand. The mayors annual State of the City address is often a showy affair, with political insiders, supervisors and department heads gathering at venues like the National LGBTQ Center for the Arts or under the City Hall rotunda. This year it was relegated to a YouTube live stream broadcast from Moscone Center, the hub of the citys COVID command center. Breed has been hailed nationally for her response to the pandemic, as she and the public health department swiftly shut down the city in March and kept an outbreak at the huge Laguna Honda hospital from spiraling. San Francisco has the lowest death rate of any major U.S. city. Years from now people will look back at what weve done, and I hope they will not remember the frustration and pain we feel now, but the love weve shown and the lives weve saved, she said. However, Breed made no mention of an epidemic that claimed three times as many lives in 2020 as COVID-19: fatal drug overdoses. The medical examiner counted 59% more overdose deaths in 2020 than the year prior 699 sons, daughters, parents and loved ones lost to an epidemic the city has long failed to control. Experts largely attribute the increase in deaths last year to fentanyl, a dangerous opioid that has permeated the citys drug supply, and the pandemic, which has forced many people to use alone. Breed did mention the citys new street crisis teams, a small cadre of first responders who will answer 911 calls about people in distress on the streets. She also noted her homelessness recovery plan, which includes a goal of creating 1,500 new units of permanent supportive housing. But months after that goal was announced, its unclear how much progress has been made. When (demand) goes back up and thats a when, not an if lets be ready with more supply of housing, so everyone can afford to live here, she said. Breed has also called for more housing in every State of the City address she has given as mayor. Meanwhile, she said the city is working on reforms to make it easier for small businesses to operate. She said Proposition H, a November 2020 ballot measure that streamlined the permitting process for small businesses, is already working. One small immigrant-owned business that wanted to convert a nail salon to an ice cream shop saw their approval time cut from the normal six to nine months down to one day, she said. One day. Still, more than 50% of the citys storefronts have been dark since the pandemic began, according to the Chamber of Commerce. And many San Franciscans can likely name a beloved bar or restaurant thats closed for good. But despite all the woes of the last year, Breed assured the 300-or-so people watching her address that things will get better. It will just take some time. My fellow San Franciscans, there is light, she said. Lets be proud. Lets be hopeful. Lets be brave. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani Joe Biden paused along the parade route just before entering the White House on inauguration day to answer a question from a journalist about how he felt: It feels like Im going home. With just one full week in the Oval Office under his belt, the new president did not hesitate making the place his own, rolling out at least 100 noteworthy executive actions, policy proposals and memorandums designed to shape the White House agenda over the next four years. Not to mention that the West Wing was given a facelift before Mr Biden even arrived to sign his first suite of 17 executive orders, with redesigned interior decorations including new drapes and artwork. Mr Bidens initiatives were plentiful in both quantity and variety, from a sweeping coronavirus plan and a set of executive orders expanding testing, distribution of vaccines to rooting out inequities in the US healthcare system. Plus the authorisation of the Defence Production Act, the overturning of his predecessors Muslim ban which has symbolic significance as well as a notable impact on current travel restrictions and a host of other immigration measures. But some critics said the new president was exceeding the power of his office, including Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who previously filed a controversial lawsuit against battleground states which Mr Biden won against former president Donald Trump. Read more: 100 steps the Biden administration has taken to build a new era The suit was later tossed out by the Supreme Court, and conspiracy theories promoted by the former president of a rigged election were repeatedly debunked and proven false by his own federal agencies, as well as the national court system. Mr Paxton filed a lawsuit against the new administration over a temporary deportation pause Mr Biden enacted through an executive order, temporarily blocking the 100-day moratorium and writing in a tweet: This was a seditious left-wing insurrection. And my team and I stopped it. The lawsuit was decried by government watchdog groups like Accountable.US, with spokesperson Jeremy Funk saying in a statement sent to The Independent: Ken Paxton failed to overturn the election results, so hes going to court to try to overturn the elections consequences. He added: While Paxton spends all his resources on pleasing his donors, millions of families in Texas and across the country continue to live in fear as they struggle to survive in this ongoing crisis. Kerri Talbot, deputy director of the immigrants rights group Immigration Hub, said in a statement to The Independent that Mr Biden was well within his rights to review the immigration enforcement system, pause Trumps harmful policies and create a fair and functional immigration system. The deportation pause is an important opportunity to review and reset immigration priorities to align with our values, her statement continued. The American people want to turn the page on the Trump administrations xenophobia and voters overwhelmingly agree with Bidens immigration actions announced last week, including the pause on deportations. But the new administration also had some historic accomplishments that were celebrated across the country, including Mr Bidens executive order repealing a ban on transgender military service. The LGBTQ+ nonprofit organisation Lambda Legal heralded the move as a significant and hopeful moment for the country. In a statement sent to The Independent, staff sergeant Cathrine Schmid said: Over the last three years, we've fought to prove that transgender people are not a burden, a hindrance, or a distraction we are an equal and contributing part of this society just as much as any other group, and this development vindicates that basic principle. Ms Smith continued: This harmful and backwards policy will now be put where it belongs: in a very short, shameful chapter of US military history. Mr Biden also introduced a robust set of climate change policies and executive orders, including rejoining the Paris climate accord, one of the presidents longtime campaign promises. He also began swearing in the most diverse Cabinet in American history, with newly-confirmed members including treasury secretary Janet Yellen, the first woman to hold the job, and Lloyd Austin, the nations first black defence secretary. Even first lady Dr Jill Biden was making her presence known on the national stage, surprising National Guard troops to thank them for their service, rolling out her own initiatives and tapping former US Ambassador to Uruguay Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon to serve as her chief of staff. A government advert on controlling coronavirus was withdrawn last night following a backlash from women. The controversial infographic urging the public to stay home showed one picture of a woman reclining in a mans arms followed by three images of women looking after children and doing housework. The only man depicted was relaxing on a sofa. The advert, promoted by the Government, went viral with MPs and magazines condemning it as 'shocking' The image, promoted by the Government on Facebook, went viral on social media and attracted a torrent of criticism. Labour MP and former Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper condemned it as 1950s sexism. Fellow Labour MP Bridget Phillipson said the message appeared to be trying to put women back in their place. She added: How out of touch can this Government get? Glamour magazine, which raised concerns over the advert with the Government, described it as shocking. The Prime Ministers official spokesman made no effort to defend the advert. It has been withdrawn and removed from the campaign, he told reporters. I will make clear that it does not reflect the Governments view on women. Asked whether the infographic was checked before being produced, the spokesman said: We have provided and have produced information throughout the pandemic to try and ensure that we can communicate our key messages, specifically around the importance of staying at home to protect the NHS and to save lives. Toy, a 1989-batch IAS officer, took charge as the chief secretary of Nagaland in March 2018. He is survived by his wife and four children Kohima: Nagaland chief secretary Temjen Toy passed away on Thursday evening at his residence in Kohima after a brief illness, family sources said. He was 57 and survived by wife and four children. Toy, a 1989-batch IAS officer, took charge as the chief secretary of Nagaland in March 2018. He was diagnosed with a liver problem in mid-2020 and was under constant medication. He was also flown to the US for medical treatment but returned without much improvement, family sources said. Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang condoled the demise. The IAS Association of Nagaland and other tribal organisations also expressed their grief. In his tribute, the governor said that Nagaland has lost an able administrator and one of the finest human beings. "Extremely sad and shocked to know that Temjen is no more with us. May his soul rest in peace and may God give strength to the family to bear with this devastating tragedy," the official handle of Raj Bhavan tweeted. The chief minister said that his demise is a huge loss for the Government of Nagaland and for the Nagas as a whole. "I am extremely saddened at the passing away of Temjen Toy, Chief Secretary of Nagaland. He was a humble, upright and dedicated government servant," Rio tweeted. Singapore detains boy for planning to attack mosque Singapore police say the boy planned to carry out an attack on the anniversary of the Christchurch killings. File image: Shutterstock Singapore has detained a 16-year-old for allegedly intending to attack two mosques, plans authorities said were inspired by the killing of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019. The boy, an unnamed Christian of Indian ethnicity, had purchased a tactical vest online and had intended to also buy a machete at the time of his arrest in December, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said in a statement on Wednesday. He had conducted reconnaissance of the mosques near his home, intended to livestream his attack and prepared statements that referenced Christchurch attacker Brenton Tarrant who is serving life imprisonment for killing 51 Muslim worshippers and injuring dozens of others on March 15, 2019. "He could only foresee two outcomes to his plan: that he is arrested before he is able to carry out the attacks, or he executes the plan and is thereafter killed by the Police," the ISD said, adding he planned to carry out the attack on the anniversary of the Christchurch killings. The boy is the youngest person to be detained under Singapore's colonial-era Internal Security Act, which allows authorities to detain anyone seen as a threat to security for up to two years. He is also the first in the low crime island nation to be detained for far-right extremist ideology, while there have been a number of cases involving Islamic extremism including a 17-year-old arrested for supporting Islamic State last year. It was not immediately clear for how long the 16-year-old would be detained. Home Minister K. Shanmugam said on Wednesday that he would be given psychological counselling and will be able to continue his education while in detention but may not face criminal charges. "It would be said in a court of law, that he was only thinking about it. He has planned it, but he hasn't actually taken a step yet. So, in many countries, without laws similar to the Internal Security Act, you can't move early until there is some further act of preparation," Shanmugam told local broadcaster ChannelNewsAsia. (Reuters) The family of Tobias Molloy who was shot dead by a British soldier in Strabane almost 50 years ago have requested a fresh inquest into his death from the Republic's Attorney General. The 18-year-old was struck in the chest by the soldier of the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers firing rubber bullets at the 'Camel's Hump' checkpoint on the Lifford Road in July 1972. He was taken to the nearest hospital across the border in Lifford where he was later pronounced dead. An inquest was held into his death six days after the incident in Lifford by the Deputy Coroner for East Donegal. There was no inquest held in Northern Ireland at the time. An application was made by the Molloy family to the Attorney General in Northern Ireland and he determined in 2019 that it was less likely that Mr Molloy died in Northern Ireland than he died in Ireland and therefore could not grant a fresh inquest. Padraig O Muirigh of the Pat Finucane Centre says the original inquest proceeded in the absence of an investigation into the death of Mr Molloy by An Garda Siochana or the RUC. He added that holding the inquest six days after his death meant there was not a sufficient amount of time for an investigation to be properly conducted. Mr O Muirigh confirmed that new evidence has been lodged with the Attorney General of Ireland Paul Gallagher to support the application. "New evidence, including multiple new statements recorded after a press appeal by the Pat Finucane Centre, media reports, a draft HET report and an expert report from Dr Laurence Rocke have been lodged with the Attorney General to support this application," he said. "A fresh inquest could also benefit from the evidence of the potential lethality of the baton round which was addressed in Judge Sherards findings in the Francis Rowntree inquest. "I would submit, in the circumstances, that this new evidence makes the holding of a new inquest advisable." Mr Molloy was the second of three people to die from the use of rubber bullets during the Troubles. The first was Francis Rowntree (11) who died in April 1972 while the third was Thomas Friel (21) in May 1973. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei takes part in the meeting of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiaries of the CIS Member States On January 28, 2021 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, took part in the meeting of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiaries of the Member States of the CIS under the statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth, which was held in Minsk at the headquarters of the CIS Executive Committee. This year, which is marked by the 30th Anniversary of the creation of the CIS, the Republic of Belarus assumed the Presidency of the Commonwealth. In his statement, the head of the Foreign Ministry stressed that Belarus was at the origins of the CIS creation and was actively participating in the development of the Commonwealth. Currently, the CIS is a modern regional organization and a unique dialogue platform that takes into account the interests of the member states with no alternative to it. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus briefed the meeting participants on the Concept of our country's Presidency of the CIS in 2021. In particular, V.Makei named the expansion of trade and economic cooperation, further economic integration, strengthening of the free trade zone in goods, reduction of barriers and restrictions in mutual trade, creation of the common markets for energy resources and agricultural products as priority goals of the Presidency. Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of finalizing the Free Trade in Services Agreement, increasing the interaction in solving problems caused by globalization and new challenges, strengthening cultural, humanitarian and scientific ties. Special attention will be paid to the synergy between the CIS and the EAEU in the economic sphere, the expansion of cooperation of the CIS with the CSTO and SCO in the field of security. print version Cases of Covid-19 could fall to between 200 and 400 per day by the end of February if current efforts are maintained, public health chiefs have said. Hospital numbers could reduce to between 600 and 800 people in hospital in the same time period, and between 60 to 80 people in intensive care units. While those figures remain too high, it would represent huge progress on the situation in January, a briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) heard. Dr Philip Nolan, chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said the decline in the incidence rate is more rapid that I might have expected. #StayHome aIncidence is falling and by working collectively to reduce contacts, we have achieved suppression of transmission with the R number estimated at 0.4-0.7. We are maintaining an extraordinary effort but still we have a long way to go."@President_MU #COVID19 Department of Health (@roinnslainte) January 28, 2021 He added: Thats because of the sustained effort everybody is making to reduce their contacts. Irelands R-number the rate at which the coronavirus spreads has dropped to between 0.4 and 0.7. The R number represents the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average. The seven-day average as of Wednesday this week was 1,700 cases per day compared to the peak in early January of 6,005 cases per day. Prof Nolan praised the publics efforts to stick to health measures, which he said had also slowed the spread of the more-transmissible UK variant. He added: The population has worked incredibly hard to reduce transmission of the virus. Not only have they succeeded in reducing transmission, theyve also slowed the progress of the B117 or UK variant. This is the reason why case numbers continue to decline so rapidly and why the reproduction number is so low, because people are sticking with the measures Professor Philip Nolan Because there are so few opportunities to transmit, that variant is finding it more difficult to become dominant. It will become dominant, but its doing so more slowly than it otherwise might have. Prof Nolan said that during previous lockdowns, early in the restrictions people adhered strictly to the public health measures, but this reduced over time. He added: Were not seeing this. This is the reason why case numbers continue to decline so rapidly and why the reproduction number is so low, because people are sticking with the measures. All of the indications that we can see are confirming that all of us, collectively, are making an enormous effort to keep our mobility low, our contacts low and the risk of infection low. That translates into a maintained, rapid decline in the new cases per day, at a rate of minus seven to minus nine per cent per day. He said the trend could have a very positive effect on the number of people in hospitals, which could reduce to between 600 and 800 per day by the end of February. Thats a very high number, theres still a long way to go after that, but nonetheless, it will be huge progress over where we are. Expand Close Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said Covid-19 incidence rate remains to high to consider easing restrictions, despite progress (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said Covid-19 incidence rate remains to high to consider easing restrictions, despite progress (Brian Lawless/PA) Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the incidence rate of Covid-19 remains too high but to contemplate easing restrictions. He added: If we keep this level of compliance up as a population, we can continue to express optimism about the likely protection that will offer us in terms of public health, which is our primary objective. Then to be able to move on to objectives that society will have, to see the provision of the essential public services that we see as most important. Dr Nolan said it should be our societal goal to keep the R number as close as possible to 0.5, which would give us strategic options. Thursday saw 47 further deaths linked to Covid-19 over the previous 24 hours, the Department of Health said. There were 1,466 additional confirmed cases and the number of people in intensive care units is down one, to 216. To date in the month of January, there have been 878 deaths associated with Covid-19. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 NEW DELHI : The domestic air traffic in India is expected to reach pre-Covid level by the end of this year, said Boeing India president Salil Gupte on Thursday. "We expect the domestic demand to recover in India first to 2019 levels probably by late this year. The international air traffic (in India) will return to the pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels by 2023," he said at a press conference. "Overall, the demand in India will return to its baseline growth rate and double by 2030," Gupte mentioned. Scheduled domestic flight services were suspended in India during March 25-May 24 period last year due to the lockdown. Currently, Indian carriers are permitted to operate maximum 80% of pre-Covid domestic flights. Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 last year due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. However, special international passenger flights have been operating in India under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble arrangements formed between India and other countries since July. Gupte said during the conference that Boeing is working with each regulator and each customer airline globally to bring Boeing 737 Max aircraft back to service. "We are in touch with the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) to ensure they have all the information required for this to happen," he added. On March 13, 2019, all Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded in India by the country's aviation regulator DGCA after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max plane on March 10 near Addis Ababa, wherein 157 people were killed, including four Indians. Most of the regulators around the world had suspended Max aircraft in the first half of 2019. SpiceJet is the only airline in India who has Boeing 737 Max planes in its fleet. On Wednesday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) gave the green light to Max aircraft. US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had given the green light to Max in November last year. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: CSUSB associate vice president appointed vice chair of the board of directors for Leadership California Kimberly Shiner, the associate vice president for University Development at Cal State San Bernardino, has been appointed vice chair for the executive board of Leadership California, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the representation and influence of diverse women leaders across the state of California. Shiner, who joined CSUSB in 2014, was part of the leadership team to implement and close the universitys largest comprehensive campaign, raising $54 million, exceeding its $50 million goal. The campaign included CSUSBs single largest cash gift of $10 million to name the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration. I am grateful for the boards confidence in me as I expand my service to Leadership California in this new role as part of the executive committee, said Shiner. We are at a critical moment in our history, and I look forward to bringing my continued passion and energy to increasing the influence of diverse women leaders across our state. ADVERTISEMENT This is a well-deserved appointment and tribute to Ms. Shiners experience and leadership in higher education and nonprofit management, said Robert J. Nava, vice president for University Advancement at Cal State San Bernardino. Kim has distinguished herself in fundraising and developing programs to promote equity and inclusion in higher education and her extensive experience will complement the mission of Leadership California. Shiner, who has spent nearly 20 years as a professional in fundraising, public relations and community outreach, is passionate about service to the community, volunteerism and mentoring, having been inspired by her late great uncle, Los Angeles City Councilman Gilbert Lindsay, and her grandmother, Ozie B. Gonzaque, commissioner and former chair of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). She has also worked to advance her leadership skills, and is an alumna of the African American Board Leadership Institute (AABLI), and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) Regional Leadership Academy. Prior to leading University Development at Cal State San Bernardino, Shiner was senior director for corporate and foundation relations and chief advancement officer for the then-CSUSB College of Business and Public Administration. Prior to CSUSB, Shiner spent 13 years at the University of Southern California (USC) in various leadership positions during two historic fundraising campaigns for $2.2 billion and its current one for $6 billion. While at USC, she managed fundraising programs for the Keck School of Medicine, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and Civic Engagement. She also provided leadership for the USC employee giving campaign, USC Good Neighbors, which enjoyed three-record breaking years raising more than $1 million annually for community university initiatives. ADVERTISEMENT Prior to her fundraising career, Shiner worked for top public relations firms including Lages & Associates, Ruder Finn and Carl Byoir and Associates. She also worked on the first museum of news, the Newseum (part of the Freedom Forum) in the Washington, D.C., area while living there and attending Howard University. Shiner received her bachelors degree in journalism and masters in public administration from California State University, Northridge. Leadership California, through its flagship California Issues & Trends program, moves women from success to significance. Its programs provide a critical foundation and experiences to help women positively impact their workplaces and communities. Ultimately, the organization motivates and inspires accomplished women to reach higher aspirations and to have the knowledge, confidence, and connections to act to improve Californias future, according to its website. Since 1992, Leadership California has fostered a diverse network of more than 1,700 women leaders and more than 3,000 supporters, including speakers, sponsors, and advisors, dedicated to advancing the leadership role of women in California. Franklinton On Wednesday, January 27, 2021, shortly before 6:00 pm, Louisiana State Police Troop L began investigating a fatal crash on LA 10 just west of the Franklinton city limits in Washington Parish. The crash claimed the life of 54-year-old Shane D. Hunt of Franklinton. The initial investigation revealed that Hunt was eastbound on LA 10 in a 2007 Ford Focus when a westbound 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 38-year-old Christina L. Goings crossed the center line in front of him. The vehicles impacted and exited the roadway. Debris from the collision was thrown towards and impacted an eastbound 2019 Lexus 350. Hunt was restrained during the crash and transported to a local area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Goings was unrestrained during the crash and transported to a local hospital for her injuries. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash. As part of the ongoing investigation, blood samples were taken from Hunt and Goings for scientific analysis. Goings will be booked into the Washington Parish Jail after she is released from the hospital. Charged with No Seatbelt, Driving Left of Center, and Negligent Homicide. A 44-year-old man who survived a crocodile attack in a far north Queensland river after forcing the animals jaws off his head has been discharged from hospital. The man had been swimming at Lake Placid, about 11 kilometres north-west of Cairns along the Barron River, about 12.45pm on Thursday when he felt a sudden clasp on the top of his head. A file image of a crocodile in the Daintree River, north of Cairns. Credit:Paul Rovere Critical care paramedic Paul Sweeney said the man recognised it to be a saltwater crocodile about 1.5 metres to two metres in length, before putting his hands into the jaws to prise them off his head. The jaw then snapped shut onto a finger on his left hand. There was definite evidence of puncture wounds through his scalp to the right side of his head from either the upper or lower jaw, Mr Sweeney 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. The First and Deputy First Ministers will not be visiting the White House on St Patricks Day this year (Niall Carson/PA) The First Minister and Deputy First Minister will not travel to Washington for St Patricks Day this year due to the pandemic. The Executive Office confirmed on Thursday that the annual visit would not proceed this year, amid ongoing public health concerns. A spokesperson said: Due to the ongoing public health emergency, Executive Office Ministers will not be travelling this year to the United States over the St Patricks Day period. Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill also cancelled last years visit, at the outset of the pandemic. Expand Close The First and Deputy First Ministers will not travel to Washington DC this year due to the pandemic (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The First and Deputy First Ministers will not travel to Washington DC this year due to the pandemic (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye) However, in the Republic, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has signalled his intention to proceed with the visit. Despite criticism in some quarters, ministers have defended the decision. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told Today FMs The Last Word on Thursday: The economic and political benefits of the ongoing engagement that we have had with the US is so important to our country. If I was to look at what the definition of essential travels are one of them would be meeting the US President for the betterment of our country. If that event is happening the Taoiseach, I believe, should be at it. Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister said recently he believes the traditional St Patricks Day visit to the White House by the Taoiseach will go ahead this year. Simon Coveney said the Government would have to figure out a way of visiting the US safely, because of the global pandemic. Last years visit by then taoiseach Leo Varadkar to former president Donald Trump was cut short amid the first coronavirus outbreak in Ireland. Expand Close Leo Varadkar (left) and Donald Trump (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar (left) and Donald Trump (Niall Carson/PA) Asked if this years visit would go ahead, Mr Coveney replied: I think it will. But we have to figure out how we do St Patricks Day this year safely. As we know, parades have already been cancelled. But we will reach out in the most appropriate way we can, in the most impactful way we can, obviously while being sensitive to public health perspectives. He told RTEs News At One: St Patricks Day is an extraordinary and unique opportunity that Ireland has. We make the most of it every year, and I have no doubt that the interaction between the Taoiseach and the new Irish-American presence in the White House, well have a very close and detailed interaction over that period. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received French Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, the PMs Office told Armenpress. The private talk of the Armenian PM and the French Minister of State was following by an extended-format meeting. Welcoming the French delegation members, the PM said: Our meeting is taking place in continuation of the agreement reached with President Macron and is reflecting the unique relations of France and Armenia. High-level and warm dialogue exists and has existed traditionally between our countries, and I want to express our gratitude for the personal involvement of President Emmanuel Macron, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian demonstrated from the very first day of the recent war. Of course, we have passed through a very heavy war, had many losses and have a very complex situation as a result. And this visit is very important in terms of resisting the current challenges and also using the existing opportunities. Our discussions and agenda also have economic, humanitarian aspects, and please convey my gratitude to President Macron for our talk and such a rapid response to our agreements. In his turn the French Minister of State thanked the Prime Minister of Armenia for the warm welcome and stated that his delegation includes representatives from the French treasury, the French Development Agency, adding that his visit is the continuation of the Armenian PMs agreements and discussions held with the French President. It was very important for our President to be able to respond to each of your needs as quickly as possible. In December the talk was about the urgency, and the arrival of several planes delivering aid to Armenia was conditioned by that, which once again shows the friendship between our countries and peoples. After the urgency, currently, as you said, the economic projects in the mid-run and long-run are important, and in this respect I want to thank everyone who are having intense meetings in different agencies for a week. Issues relating to the development of the relations between Armenia and France, including the possible support to attracting investments, were discussed during the meeting. The meeting also touched upon the agenda of the bilateral economic partnership. The sides highlighted transportation, water reservoir construction, agriculture, high technologies, digital innovation as prospective spheres. In this context the Prime Minister proposed to consider the cooperation opportunities between the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and the French Development Agency, and the French side shared this view. Pashinyan also talked about the expansion of education cooperation, the successful example of which is the activity of the French University in Armenia. An agreement was reached to form a bilateral inter-agency working communication platform and continue the works over programs of mutual interest. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. MUMBAI, India, Jan 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pursuant to applicable provisions and regulations, SVP Global Ventures Ltd, one of the largest compact cotton yarn manufacturers in the world has announced it's intention to issue upto 2,23,80,952 Convertible Equity Warrants to it's parent company, Shri Vallabh Pittie Ventures Private Pvt. Ltd. The aggregate value of the transaction will stand at Rs. 235 Crs. for cash and the allotment of warrants will be completed within 15-day period from the date of shareholders approval. The Warrant holder has the option to convert Equity warrants into equivalent number of fully paid up equity shares of face value of Rs.1/- each, in one or more tranches within 18 months from the date of allotment of warrant, at an issue price of Rs 105/- per Equity Share and is subject to interim adjustments by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves demerger, rights issue or any consolidation/reclassification activities. On the announcement of the Preferential Issue of Equity Warrants, Mr Chirag Pittie, Director, SVP Global Ventures Ltd. stated "The Issue of Equity warrants and its conversion at 37% premium over current market price would help in strengthening the capital structure of the company. The company is committed to deliver long-term sustainable growth to its stakeholders by continuous reduction in overall debt and expansion in high-margin compact yarn business." As on date, the Pre Issue Shareholding of the Promoter and Non Promoter stood at 68.71% and 31.29% respectively. Post issue the promoter and promoter group shareholding will be 73.41%. The stock opened at Rs 79.85 and closed at Rs 76.90 per share and witnessed a weekly delivery quantity of approx. 9.5L shares Recently, the company declared its Q3FY21 and 9 month ended results where it has reported a 210% increase in its QoQ Consolidated PAT and 55% increase in its EBIDTA QoQ; resultant of better operational efficiencies, better product mix and cost rationalisation efforts. Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this document relating to future status, events, or circumstances, including but not limited to statements about plans and objectives, the progress and results of research and development, potential project characteristics, project potential and target dates for project related issues are forward-looking statements based on estimates and the anticipated effects of future events on current and developing circumstances. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are not necessarily predictive of future results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results changed assumptions or other factors. For more information, Please contact Shahab Shaikh, Concept PR - shahab@conceptpr.com Amruta Desai, Concept PR - amruta@conceptpr.com About SVP Global Ventures : Shri Vallabh Pittie Group (SVP Group) established in 1898 by late Shri Vallabh Pittie, as a textile trading house, has now become one of the largest compact cotton yarn manufacturers in the world. The Company is headquartered in Mumbai and is primarily engaged in the business of manufacturing polyester, polyester & cotton blend, and 100% cotton yarn across state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, Ramnad, Coimbatore and Sohar, Oman. The company expanded its manufacturing operations in 2017 by setting up and starting commercial operations from state of the art, most modern and automated, 150,000 spindles and 2,400 rotors cotton yarn manufacturing facility in Jhalawar, Rajasthan. Further, between 2018-2019 it commenced set up and commercial operations of a manufacturing unit of 3500 rotors and 150,000 spindles in Oman. As on date the company has an aggregate manufacturing capacity of 4,00,000 spindles and 5900 rotors in India and Oman and has 2 international offices based in US, Georgia and Europe, Lithuania and currently exports to China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Portugal and Turkey. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1390118/SVP_Global_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer--Features may vary depending on the regions; subject to change without notice.) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart, the leading online grocery platform in North America, today proudly announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. "At Instacart, we're deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive culture shaped by values, practices, and policies that allow our employees to thrive," said Christina Hall, Chief Human Resources Officer at Instacart. "We're honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality and are dedicated to continuing to further invest in meaningful actions and programs that create a sense of belonging and community in the workplace." The results of the 2021 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad. Instacart's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality. The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families Supporting an inclusive culture Corporate social responsibility "From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to dobut the best business decision." Instacart has five active employee resource groups (ERGs) that contribute to building a more inclusive culture and business. The Rainbow Carrots, Instacart's LGBTQIA+ ERG, is dedicated to celebrating diversity in the LGBTQ+ community, driving improvements in the work environment, and providing support and opportunities for queer Instacart employees. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. About Instacart Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with nearly 600 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including unique brand names, to deliver from more than 45,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart's delivery service is available to 85% of U.S. households and 70% of Canadian households. The company's cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the ecommerce platforms of some of the world's biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership that includes reduced service fees and unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information, visit www.instacart.com . For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart.com/ . About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. SOURCE Instacart Related Links http://www.instacart.com A stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the CCP virus outbreak, is seen in San Antonio, Texas, on April 23, 2020. (Eric Gay/AP Photo File) Fewer Stimulus Checks Suggested Because Wealthy Americans Didnt Spend Theirs: Study A nonpartisan nonprofit is recommending the federal government consider sending fewer stimulus checks out in a pending round of CCP virus relief because wealthy Americans were less likely to spend the money than poorer ones. Congress approved and then-President Donald Trump late last year approved and signed a bill that included $600 checks for most Americans. The nonpartisan nonprofit Opportunity Insights found that households earning more than $78,000 were likely to spend just $45 from the checks over the first month after receiving them. People with lower incomes spent at least $90 from the checks, the analysis found. Based on these results, we estimate that households earning more than $78,000 will spend only $105 of the $1,400 stimulus check they receiveimplying that $200 billion of additional government expenditure will lead to only $15 billion of additional spending, Opportunity Insights, located at Harvard University, stated (pdf). Targeting the next round of stimulus payments toward lower-income households would save substantial resources that could be used to support other programs, with minimal impact on economic activity. President Joe Biden and many Democrats in Congress are pushing for a fresh stimulus package that would include $1,400 checks. Lawmakers tried amending the checks last year to $2,000 but were blocked by Senate Republicans. President Joe Biden speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington on Jan. 25, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and others said they didnt support sending checks to so many people, including those who hadnt lost their jobs during the pandemic. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics, said in a Jan. 15 research note that the most costly part of Bidens $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal was sending more checks out. Though there is considerable political momentum for this, it is not the most effective type of support, he wrote. Much of the money goes to households that do not need the funds and will save a lot of it, at least initially. Biden told reporters on Monday that the details of his proposal might be altered during negotiations with Congress. For example, you know I proposed that webecause it was bipartisan, I thought it would increase the prospects of passagethe additional $1,400 in direct cash payment to folks. Well, theres legitimate reason for people to say: Do you have the lines drawn the exact right way? Should it go to anybody making over X-number of dollars or why? Im open to negotiate those things, Biden said. Republicans this week said the amount of the proposal was too high. A bill to provide $900 billion of relief was signed just in late December. President Biden now wants to double that amount of funding, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on the Senate floor. Tribute: The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Jim Montgomery, is joined by Consul General of the Republic of Poland Mr Pawel Majewski, to lay wreaths at the new Holocaust Memorial Site at Monkstown Jubilee Community Centre The Polish Consul General has said it is a "moral duty" to remember those who died in the Holocaust as he laid wreaths at a new memorial site in memory of the millions of people who lost their lives. Pawel Majewski joined Antrim and Newtownabbey Mayor Jim Montgomery at Monkstown Jubilee Community Centre yesterday, Holocaust Memorial Day. There, they commemorated the 6m Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Mr Montgomery said: "The Holocaust was a defining period of the 20th century, which undoubtedly changed the course of history. I hope the Holocaust Memorial site will offer solace to our Jewish community. We must all 'Stand Together' to promote and enjoy a peaceful and stable society where diversity is embraced and celebrated." Mr Majewski thanked the council for it "strong commitment to remembering the victims of the Holocaust, alongside the millions of others killed under Nazi Persecution". "It is our moral duty to acknowledge and remember all those who suffered and we have to make sure that it must never happen again" he 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. Our mission is to provide the highest standard of dental care in a rewarding and relaxing atmosphere. We are pleased to receive this impressive award from Find Local Doctors, as patient satisfaction is always our main goal, says Dr. Devan Dalla Ora Dental Implant Studio is located at 2733 Elk Grove Boulevard, Suite 170 in Elk Grove, California. This specialized dental practice offers compassionate, patient-centered dental care in a comfortable environment. Ora Dental Implant Studio has recently been named a 2020 Top Patient Rated Elk Grove Dentist by Find Local Doctors. Find Local Doctors selects an elite group of dentists who have consistently earned five-star ratings and reviews from their patients. Well-known for providing healthy smiles, the experienced dental team at Ora Dental Implant Studio offers high-quality dental care that you and your family deserve. Dr. Devan Dalla is an experienced and respected dentist who brings years of knowledge in implantology. Ora Dental Implant Studio provides a full menu of implant procedures for patients to help them achieve optimum oral health and a beautiful smile. Dr. Dalla offers start-to-finish dental implants, utilizing cutting-edge technology, such as the CBCT 3D imaging system for accurate dental implant placement and the All-on-4 implant denture system. The practice offers the convenience of same day 3D printing of your teeth at their in-house dental lab. Dr. Dalla also provides advanced bone grafting procedures and same day teeth and implants. Patients travel from all over the country for Dr. Dallas expertise in full mouth reconstruction and other treatments. Ora Dental Implant Studio also accommodates patients in their scheduling and budget needs, providing same day dentistry, evenings and Saturday appointments and accepting most dental insurance plans. Ora Dental Implant Studio takes pride in offering the best in dental implant services and providing them in a manner that is earth-friendly. With biocompatible materials and a commitment to environmental stewardship, you can be assured that your dental procedures will be the healthiest available. Our mission is to provide the highest standard of dental care in a rewarding and relaxing atmosphere. We are pleased to receive this impressive award from Find Local Doctors, as patient satisfaction is always our main goal, says Dr. Devan Dalla More About Dr. Devan Dalla: Dr. Devan Dalla is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry and has been in practice since 2008. While at NYU, Dr. Dalla was awarded honors in Implantology as well as the Dr. Bernard E. Rudner Memorial Award. Prior to moving to the United States, Dr. Dalla earned a bachelor's degree in dental surgery from one of the leading dental schools in India and graduated top of his class. Dr. Dalla is an active member of multiple dental affiliations including the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). Dr. Dalla also proudly served in the US Army Reserves to help our men and women in uniform. For more information or to schedule an appointment at Ora Dental Implant Studio, please visit oradentalimplantstudio.com or call (916) 546-7911. 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. 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 were 36 new confirmed coronavirus cases and two new deaths reported in the Upper Thumb by the state Jan. 28. According to the state report, Huron County saw an increase of 13 confirmed cases and no new deaths, bringing the county total to 1,531 confirmed cases and 52 deaths. Tuscola County saw an increase of eight confirmed cases and one death, bringing the county to 2,668 confirmed cases and 117 deaths. Sanilac County saw an increase of 15 confirmed cases and one death, bringing the county to 1,698 confirmed cases and 69 deaths. According to the states testing data, Huron County saw a test positivity rate of 12.4% Jan. 27, with 15 positive tests out of 121 processed. Tuscola County saw a test positivity rate of 9.8%, with 14 positive tests out of 143 processed. Sanilac County saw a positivity rate of 4.5%, with 14 positive tests out of 313 processed. According to the states latest outbreak reporting, as of Jan. 25, health officials in preparedness Region 3, which includes the Upper Thumb, were monitoring 11 public outbreaks, five of which were located in K-12 schools. Statewide there were 1,872 confirmed cases and 80 deaths reported Jan. 28. However, according to the state 67 of the deaths were determined during a vital records review. Since the start of the pandemic there have been 556,109 confirmed cases and 14,491 deaths in the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 1 p.m. Jan. 28 there were 155,504 new confirmed cases and 4,107 deaths reported across the country. Since the start of the pandemic nearly 25.5 million cases and 427,626 deaths have been reported in the country. For more information on the coronavirus and vaccine efforts visit www.michigansthumb.com/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-huron. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Geophysicists develop innovative seismic technologies Wits geophysicists have invented cost-effective and environmentally friendly seismic technologies that will contribute to sustainable mining exploration. The innovation, a project led by the Wits Seismic Research Centre in the School of Geosciences, is a response to the Advanced Orebody Knowledge call titled, Developing technologies that will be used to obtain information ahead of the mine face such as Tunnel Seismic Prediction (TSP). Led by Professor Musa Manzi, Director of the Wits Seismic Research Centre, this innovative active-passive seismic approach is envisaged to revive the seismic mining methods in the country and will contribute to sustainable mining activities. Manzi says that this innovation, born in November 2020, seeks to address challenges of sustainable exploration of mineral resources that are vital to the economy and technological advancement within the African continent and in the world. For economic and environmental reasons, the use of traditional active seismic methods has been slowly abandoned in South Africa. Our innovative seismic approach is bringing some hopes to revive this activity and bring solutions to mining industry, says Manzi. The project aims to combine active and passive seismic methods, using a combination of innovative instruments, for exploration in noisy, near-mine environments at 300-3500 m depths. Our project has access to underground gold and platinum mine sites in South Africa. The test sites were chosen based on existing data for validation purposes, but also for the prospects of new exploration targets. Last year, the team tested their seismic method at an underground platinum mine in Rustenburg to address the challenge of deep minerals explorations in South Africa. The experiment aimed to reduce drilling costs, lower exploration costs, maximise mine safety, increase the possibility of finding new prospects, and increase the life of mine. The equipment used in this innovation is flexible and versatile. The wireless recording systems are easy to operate because they require less field logistic than cabled systems. These systems are also autonomous and can be left on the ground or inside the mine tunnel to record for the time life of the battery, which can be around a month. Manzi adds that their innovation is also easier to adapt to a small scale seismic survey inside the mine where space is limited and conditions are challenging. The land streamer saves time as it eliminates the need to plant traditional geophones on the ground, which can also be difficult to do in mine tunnels says Manzi. The team is collaborating with local and international researchers to improve the passive seismic imaging resolution of the innovation. This will boost the power of the resolution to ensure that the seismic innovation is sufficient for all mineral exploration projects. The limited research and innovative initiatives on mining explorations in the world have presented an opportunity for the team to develop and test seismic technologies using Deep South African mines, says Manzi. He adds that it has also contributed to seismic knowledge building and the development of human capacity in South Africa. For example, the project involved more than 25 young professionals (honours, masters, PhD, early-career researchers and technology developers), who will help meet the urgent need for mineral exploration specialists in Africa. The data collected will continue to be used for research purposes at postgraduate level at Wits. Manzi believes this project has the potential to enrich exploration geophysics in Africa with a wide range of innovations, ranging from new instruments and survey design methodologies that allow us to acquire and process the data better. The two key elements in our success are the strong collaboration between industry and the academy, and the multidisciplinary approach that integrated mineral exploration objectives with concerns for safety, the environment and society. The project involves partners from research institutions, mining companies, and high-tech small- and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa and Europe, all interested in advancing sustainable mining exploration initiatives. These include Wits University, Mandela Mining Precinct, Smart Exploration, University of Pretoria, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Geolinks, Tesseral Technologies Inc., HiSeis Pty Ltd, Engineering and Exploration Geophysical Services CC, and Open Ground Resources. Vietnam recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh on January 28 morning after two locally-infected cases were confirmed late January 27. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the meeting Among the new cases, 72 were detected in Hai Duong, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, at an urgent meeting between the committee with permanent Government members this morning. According to him, the infections in Hai Duong are related to the female worker who tested positive for the new and more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 after arriving in Osaka, Japan. Therefore, he asked leaders of the two provinces, the Health Ministry and relevant forces to take stronger prevention and control measures, and ensure the absolute safety for those involved in the work. The remaining 10 cases were recorded in Quang Ninh. Earlier, two locally-infected cases of COVID-19 were confirmed late January 27 in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh province, and the Health Ministry has immediately taken drastic actions to quickly stop the spread of the virus. Of those two cases, the female patient found in Hai Duong is related to the woman patient found positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Osaka, Japan. The other is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city, northern Quang Ninh province, who is a staff member of Van Don airport. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam requested leaders of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, the Ministry of Health and related forces to implement "stronger" disease prevention and control measures. He emphasized that as the first case in Hai Duong is infected with the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 (according to information from Japan), special care should be taken to ensure maximum safety for the anti-epidemic forces. Mr. Luong Ngoc Khue talked with reporters on the sidelines of the 13th National Party Congress. In Quang Ninh, related forces locked down Van Don international airport, where the first Covid-19 case detected. The province has also deployed strong anti-epidemic measures throughout the provinces such as closing schools and restricting transportation activities. Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that the Ministry had sent a special working group to Chi Linh district, Hai Duong, to help the local agencies in epidemic control. On the sidelines of the 13th National Party Congress this morning, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment under the Ministry of Health Luong Ngoc Khue said that the Ministry of Health had asked for the Prime Ministers approval on the blockade of Hai Duong. Mr. Khue said that the newly-detected case in Hai Duong is related to the new strain, so the risk of disease spreading is high. Regarding the infectious mechanism and the incubation period in the newly discovered cases, Mr. Khue said that the source of infection in Hai Duong has not been identified the source of transmission. Tran Thuong - Thu Hang - Pham Hai Health ministry takes action following confirmation of two community COVID-19 cases Two locally-infected cases of COVID-19 were confirmed late January 27 in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, and the Health Ministry has immediately taken drastic actions to quickly stop the spread of the virus. North Adams Has Openings on City Boards, Commissions NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Anyone interested in serving on a governmental committee or board can find out about vacancies and make out an application to serve through the city's website. City Councilor Marie T. Harpin has been advocating for some time to encourage new board members. "I believe it was almost two years ago I had asked the mayor if there was a way that we could communicate to the public to let them know what was available on our boards and our commissions," she said Tuesday's meeting. "So people that are interested know exactly what boards are available and when they're available." The conversation came up with the confirmation of reappointments to boards and commissions: Dean Bullett to the Airport Commission, for a term to expire March 1, 2024; Rebecca Choquette to the Human Services Commission, for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2024; Jason Moran to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Cultural Development Commission, for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2024; and Kyle Hanlon and Brian Miksic to the Planning Board, with terms to expire Feb. 1, 2026. "There's some appointments in here that are fairly new people that haven't been on boards for quite some time, but there are a few on here that have had people on for decades and it's a concern that I have voiced," Harpin said, adding she's faced criticism for speaking on the issue. She said she was pleased to see the update on the city's new website for boards and commissions. Mayor Thomas Bernard said it took time to get the page done and that it was a method that he took seriously and knew the councilors did as well. Resident Bryan Sapienza, speaking during open forum, noted that anyone could send a communication to the mayor's office expressing interest in serving. "That's how I got onto the public Arts Commission," he said. "I just let the people involved know that I was interested in willing to serve and I think anybody in the city that's willing to serve could do the same thing." The listing of boards and openings shows that there are vacancies on the Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, Human Services Commission, Mass MoCA Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, Public Arts Commission, Redevelopment Authority, Traffic Commission, the Windsor Lake Recreation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Both the Tree Commission and the Youth Commission have no members. The mayor said residents could call or email his office or make out the application on the website. "We want you to put your name forward, we want you to look at the boards and commissions that are available," he said. "And blend the experience of people who have done this work for a long while with new voices, new perspectives that reflect our community and give people a chance to participate." In other business during the brief meeting, the council approved an order to install a "slow, children at play" signs at the intersections of Autumn Drive and Route 2 and Autumn and Birchwood Terrace and a 25 mph speed limit sign at Autumn and Birchwood. Council President Paul Hopkins also presented the committee assignments for the year. The court transcript, which documents a hearing in 2014 where Mr. Tarrio sought to reduce his own sentence in a fraud case, shows that he helped law enforcement officers in his home state, Florida, to investigate and prosecute criminal enterprises, including an illegal gambling business, a marijuana grow lab, an operation that sold anabolic steroids and an immigrant smuggling ring. Mr. Tarrio did not respond to messages from The New York Times seeking comment, but he denied to Reuters that he had ever worked undercover or cooperated with law enforcement. I dont know any of this, he said. I dont recall any of this. Mr. Tarrio, 36, has been a focus of the F.B.I.s enormous inquiry into the Capitol attack, which has led so far to more than 150 arrests, including those of at least six members of the Proud Boys. The group of self-described Western chauvinists has a history of scuffling in street fights with left-wing antifascist activists and has made a name for itself in recent years for its vocal and often violent support of former President Donald J. Trump. Although Mr. Tarrio went to Washington earlier this month, he was arrested by the local police on suspicion of burning a Black Lives Matter banner torn from one of the citys Black churches during a separate round of protests in December. After he was thrown out of the city by a judge, he posted messages online encouraging the Proud Boys to attend the rally on Jan. 6, not in their typical black-and-yellow polo shirts, but instead incognito. Federal agents cited the messages in their criminal complaint against one of Mr. Tarrios top lieutenants, Joseph Biggs, who was arrested last week. HOLLAND, MI -- Health officials in Michigans fastest growing county say the current amount of vaccine doses it receives isnt cutting it. The health department in Ottawa County, home to nearly 300,000 residents, has administered 6,683 vaccine doses, according to local health leaders. When you take into account healthcare providers and the health department, 23,100 doses have been distributed to Ottawa County, according to state data. This is far less than where wed like to be at this point, but we are so glad that everyone who received a vaccine was able to get it, Kristina Wieghmink, spokesperson for the Ottawa County Health Department, said of the vaccines administered by the health department. Wieghmink said the county health department currently receives about 975 Pfizer vaccines each week from the state for first doses, and then another 975 for second doses. The county last week also received 1,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but those have since been administered. Wieghmink said the state plans to start distributing vaccines next week based on population size and that health officials in Ottawa County are hopeful theyll receive more than they currently get. She didnt say how much the county might get each week under the new formula. As of Wednesday afternoon, the state has not announced a change in the way it allocates vaccines to counties. We have almost 300,000 people in Ottawa County and about 45,000 people are those 65 and older, she said Everybody needs a second dose. As you can see, doing the math, we have a long way to go, but were very thankful for what weve received so far. During the current phase, those eligible for a vaccine are healthcare workers, staff and residents at long-term care facilities, essential workers and first responders, and residents who are 65 or older. The countys vaccine clinic is located on Grand Valley State Universitys campus in Holland, and the work there is being supported by the Michigan National Guard. Appointments, due to the supply of vaccines, are limited. Those eligible for this round of vaccinations can sign up online by filling out the registration form located here. Those who dont have access to the internet can call 2-1-1 for assistance registering. Registration is not a guarantee for an immediate appointment, but each week the county selects a random group of people who are registered to receive the vaccine. These people are notified of their selection for vaccination. Wieghmink also encouraged residents to visit vaccinatewestmi.com, where people can find information on other vaccination clinics in West Michigan. Included in that list is the clinic at DeVos Place convention center in downtown Grand Rapids. The clinic opened Monday, Jan. 25, through a partnership between the Kent County Health Department, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health. Related: COVID-19 vaccinations kick off at DeVos Place convention center in Grand Rapids New COVID-19 cases have decreased in Ottawa County since November, when the county and state experienced a large spike. The county reported 8,253 new COVID-19 cases in November and then another 4,501 new cases in December. So far in January, 2,368 new cases have been reported. Were very hopeful, but we dont want to let our guard down, Wieghmink said. We want to make sure that we practice all those prevention measures to ensure our safety through this pandemic and help it to come to an end. Read more: Michigan man says he surveilled Gov. Whitmers home in kidnap plot House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal How Michigan compares to other states on COVID-19 cases, deaths, hospitalizations, testing, vaccinations By Makini Brice and David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday urged U.S. lawmakers to add permanent fencing and back-up security staff at the Capitol building after a deadly Jan. 6 attack. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would also probably need more funding for security as the "the enemy is within" the House, following a warning by the Department of Homeland Security of heightened threats. The Senate is preparing to conduct its second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on a charge of inciting insurrection in a fiery speech Jan. 6 before hundreds of his supporters stormed the seat of Congress in a bid to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's election victory. Five people, including a police officer, died as a result of the violence. Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman noted a 2006 security assessment specifically recommended the installation of a permanent perimeter fence around the Capitol. "I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol," Pittman said. But Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, told CNN it was "premature to determine what are the appropriate steps that need to be taken to better secure the Capitol." Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote on Twitter that "we will not accept extra troops or permanent fencing as a long-term fixture in DC," but said "potentially volatile events" would require temporary extra security. The Department of Homeland Security did not cite specific threats in its bulletin, which was issued Wednesday, but said some "domestic violent extremists" may feel emboldened by the Capitol rampage. "We will probably need a supplemental for more security for members, when the enemy is within the House of Representatives," Pelosi said. Story continues Asked what she meant when referring to the "enemy within," Pelosi said: "It means we have members of Congress who want to bring guns on the floor and who have threatened violence against other members of Congress." More than 30 lawmakers signed a letter on Thursday calling for greater protection in their districts, noting that threats against members of Congress spiked to 4,894 in 2018 from 902 in 2016. While top members of Congress have security details, most lawmakers do not. Most changes members sought, including allowing them more flexibility in using their office budgets to cover security expenses, had already been made, Pelosi said. She said that more probably needed to be done. Ahead of Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration, 8-foot-high (2.4 m high) fencing went up around the Capitol building and more than 20,000 National Guard troops descended on Washington. Thousands of the troops are expected to stay in the capital through March. Some lawmakers have bristled under the increased security measures, such as a metal detector put in place for lawmakers to go through on the House floor. Last week, Republican lawmaker Andy Harris was found carrying a concealed gun while trying to enter the House floor. (Reporting by Makini Brice, David Shepardson, Doina Chiacu and David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman and Rosalba O'Brien) COHOES One of the first things Joe Ritchie does when he walks out of his home in the morning is wipe away the green dust that accumulates overnight on the windshield of his car. He does the same thing each night. His apartment at Saratoga Sites is next to the Norlite aggregate plant and incinerator. "I make sure that I clean it every single day before I go inside. When I go out it's all crappy again," said Ritchie, a college student who created the group Saratoga Sites Against Norlite Emissions. Now, he's learned the dust that has settled over the area for years could be hazardous to his health. On Thursday, a group of activists and local residents raised alarms about what they said is the revelation that unhealthy silica quartz dust is the substance that has long coated the surrounding area with grime and raised fears about lung disease. The news is really unsettling, Ritchie said of a recent analysis of the dust. Dave Walker, a retired Columbia University geology professor who examined the powder, said it is characterized by tiny glass-like shards that can be a respiratory irritant. More for you News Cohoes approves tax for Norlite hazwaste The dust is dangerous, he said. It is no secret that the quartz or silica dust has come from Norlite: It has been listed for years in state safety records filed by the facility. And some have noted that silica quartz is not uncommon in dust. The Norlite plant is also on the edge of the small city of Cohoes and sits next to a rail line. But this dust, Walker noted, shows up under microscopes as volcanic glass, suggesting it came from an incinerator, rather the general atmosphere. Worries about the dust, which some neighbors say has been appearing for decades, have been renewed in the last year after revelations that Norlite had in 2019 and 2018 incinerated 2.4 million pounds of firefighting foam that contained potentially toxic PFAS or per- and polyfluoroctanoic acid, a suspected carcinogen. PFAS incineration has since been banned in New York. Thursdays talk also came less than two weeks after a small fire broke out but was quickly contained at the facility. Ritchie, in an earlier interview, said he believed the residents of Saratoga Sites, which is a federally subsidized housing complex, should get briefings or information about emergency or contingency plans established in the event of a larger accident at the facility. Norlite accepts materials including hazardous wastes such as solvents that it uses to help fuel its kilns. The kilns process rock mined on-site into construction and road-building aggregate. Norlite is also paid to accept and dispose of hazardous waste. Prince Knight, Norlites environmental and regulatory compliance manager, said they operate under strict emissions permits issued by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agencies confirm and enforce our compliance through regular inspections of our emissions-control equipment and data, which are accessible to regulatory personnel at all times. Norlite has invested heavily in state-of-the-science environmental control technology, he wrote in an email. While there have been worries about the smokestack emissions from the kiln, participants in Thursday's conference said the dust is likely blowing from the large open-air aggregate piles of materials at the plant. Some of the piles are less than 100 feet from Saratoga Sites, they said. Nearby resident Chris Sevinsky spoke of a woman he knew who lived 800 feet from the plant and had endured dust storms at family picnics for years. She recently died of pulmonary fibrosis, but Sevinsky said it would be impossible to prove it was caused by anything from Norlite. DEC in a prepared response said the agency will review the information from Walker. They also will deploy additional air monitoring equipment at Saratoga Sites. Additionally, Ritchie said the state is bringing in a new on-site monitor to Norlite. The previous DEC monitor, who had been there for years, raised eyebrows late last year when he told the City and State news site that he wasn't that concerned over the burning of PFAS chemicals, saying Ive been using that stuff on my furniture, and my car seats, and my camping equipment, since I was a kid. Theresa Bourgeois, operations director for Cohoes noted that Mayor Bill Keeler has asked why the aggregate piles aren't covered. DEC is conducting its own dust study at the mayor's request. Housing Authority Chairman Mark Pascale said they are working to move the approximately 70 families at Saratoga Sites to another location and have applied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for permission to close it. No one should have to live there under these circumstances, he said. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU 21 runners killed during mountain race in northwestern province of Gansu; Indian variant of Covid-19 found in Guangzhou; Beijing willing to arrange for vaccines to be sent to Taiwan May 28, 2021 08:15 PM 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By Syed Raza Hassan, Asif Shahzad and Charlotte Greenfield KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of an Islamist convicted of beheading American journalist Daniel Pearl, a decision that shocked his family and drew condemnation from Washington. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter, was acquitted by a panel of three judges. "By a majority of two to one, they have acquitted all the accused persons and ordered their release," a provincial advocate general, Salman Talibuddin, told Reuters. Pakistan's attorney general said in a statement that authorities in Sindh, the southern Pakistani province where Pearl was abducted, would file a petition "at the earliest" asking the Supreme Court to review its decision. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the decision "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan". He noted Pakistan's plans to launch a review and said Washington was also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the United States. Pearl, 38, was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped. A video of his beheading emerged weeks later. Sheikh and his co-accused are to be released immediately if they are not required in any other case, the head of the court panel, Justice Mushir Alam, said in a court order. A high court last year commuted the death penalty of the British-born Sheikh into a life sentence and acquitted his three co-accused, citing lack of evidence. The government and Pearl's parents challenged that decision and pleaded to the Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty. The Supreme Court turned down both pleas on Thursday. "The Pearl family is in complete shock by the decision," the familys lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi, told Reuters. "No amount of injustice will defeat our resolve to fight for justice for Daniel Pearl." Story continues Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Matt Murray said the decision was "infuriating and unjust". The ruling comes at a delicate time diplomatically as the new U.S. administration takes office and is reviewing Afghanistan's peace process, in which Pakistan is a key player. "This couldn't have come at a worse time for Pakistan and U.S. relations because we have a new administration and the Pakistanis have been trying to establish contact with them ... this is going to complicate the relationship," said Shuja Nawaz, a distinguished fellow at the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council. Experts said the case against Sheikh had been flawed from its early stages and the Supreme Court had likely made its decision on legal procedural issues. "We have to contextualise it in the 'war on terror phenomenon' where many countries especially in South Asia and the Middle East ... (were) not fulfilling rule of law principles or terrorists were not tackled via the criminal justice system," said Hassan Abbas, an international security professor at National Defense University in Washington and a former Pakistani police officer. The media wing for Pakistan's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment during a press briefing, adding the ministry would wait to see the court's detailed judgement. (Reporting by Syed Raza Hassan in Karachi and by Asif Shahzad and Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay in Washington DC; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Nick Macfie and Giles Elgood) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States is "a long way" from lifting sanctions imposed on Iran and will resume its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement that President Joe Biden's intends to resuscitate. "We are a long way from that point. Iran is out of compliance on a number of fronts and it would take some time should it make a decision to do so... and time for us then to assess whether it was meeting its obligations. We are not there yet to say the least," Blinken said during a press briefing on Wednesday. Blinken noted Biden had pledged to resume the United States' obligations under the nuclear agreement, which was ditched by former President Donald Trump, if Iran comes back into full compliance with it. "And then we would use that as a platform to build with our allies and partners what we call a longer and stronger agreement and to deal with a number of other issues that are deeply problematic in the relationship with Iran," Blinken said. On the issue of Afghanistan peace process, he said Zalmay Khalilzad was offered to stay in his capacity of United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in the Biden administration, which is conducting a review of previous agreements reached with the Taliban. "Yes, we have asked him to continue the vital work that he is performing," Blinken said. Blinken also said that agreements the United States reached a year ago with the Taliban opposition movement are currently being studied by the new Biden administration. "One of the things we need to understand is exactly what is in the agreements that we reached between the United States and the Taliban to make sure that we fully understand the commitments that the Taliban has made as well as any commitments that we have made," Blinken said. The deal kick-started an intra-Afghan reconciliation process and allowed the United States to reduce its military presence in Afghanistan to 2,500 servicemen. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Texas man who recently applied but was denied a volunteer position at the Children's Medical Group is now at the center of what authorities dubbed as the 'Austin Standoff.' The man identified by authorities as 43-year-old Bharat Narumanchi, who was reportedly terminally-ill with cancer, killed another doctor and himself within the premises of a medical office in Austin on Tuesday. Five Individuals Held Hostage According to Fox News, Narumanchi went to the firm on West 35th Street at around 4:30 in the afternoon. Upon arriving, the perpetrator immediately showed a gun based on the report by the Austin Police Department. Moreover, during a news conference on Wednesday, Lt. Jeff Greenwalt of the Austin Police stated that five individuals were present inside the office when the hostage-taking took place. Greenwalt also mentioned that no children or patients were present during the incident. The 43-year-old pediatrician then ordered his hostages to tie themselves, NPR reported. The Police also shared in a news release that four among the five hostages identified as employees of the medical office were released by Narumanchi or were able to escape before the authorities' arrival. However, one hostage was not able to escape the perpetrator and remained as the only hostage. Authorities later identified her as Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson. Greenwalt also mentioned that after the arrival of the SWAT units at the crime scene, they could not establish any communication with someone inside the office. Read also: DHS Warns Possible Domestic Terrorist Threat Through Federal Alert System They did not hear any noise, disturbing sounds, or even a call for help or a gunshot in the area. By the time the SWAT units were able to get eyes inside the firm after several hours of surveillance, they were stunned by what they saw as both subjects of the Austin standoff were already dead. Before the SWAT had their eyes on the subject and had entered the office, a negotiator called the terminally-ill doctor and stated that the authorities want to help him in what he is going through. The negotiator also showed appreciation that the perpetrator had saved a lot of lives. Before the SWAT team decided to go inside, the victim was identified by a robot sent in by the Austin police. Based on the Police's initial assessment of the Austin Standoff, the terminally-ill pediatrician fatally shot a fellow doctor, Dodson, and shot himself afterward. On the other hand, investigators are still investigating the connection of Narumanchi to the Children's Medical Group. But based on a report, Narumanchi had applied at the medical office. However, he was turned down for a volunteer position just a week earlier before the Austin standoff, People reported. Despite the information regarding the previous visit of the perpetrator at the office, the Police are still digging into some information and statements as to why Narumanchi had also targeted Dodson. Greenwalt also mentioned that Narumanchi has been recently diagnosed with cancer and was only given weeks to live. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FM Kuleba slams PACE decision not to sanction Russian delegation On January 28, PACE decided to turn down the initiative of the Ukrainian delegates to apply restrictions to the Russian delegation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has criticized the decision made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to confirm the credentials of the Russian delegation and refuse to impose sanctions against it. "This PACE has broken down long ago. The new one has not been brought in," he wrote on Twitter on January 28, 2021. Read also PACE suggests not to apply sanctions to Russian delegation Russia in PACE: Previous developments In April 2014, PACE stripped the Russian delegation of the right to vote and expelled its representatives from all governing bodies of the Assembly over the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. Russia then refused to pay contributions to the Council of Europe as of June 2017. Many PACE members and politicians called such actions of Russia blackmail. On June 25, 2019, PACE adopted a resolution that canceled the existing mechanism for imposing sanctions against delegations. On June 26, 2019, PACE voted to ratify the credentials of the Russian delegation without imposing any sanctions. This allowed Russia to return to the Assembly's session hall, and it reportedly resumed paying its contributions. On January 25, PACE backed Ukraine's initiative to appeal the credentials of the Russian delegation. On January 28, PACE decided to turn down the initiative of the Ukrainian delegates to apply restrictions to the Russian delegation over the actions breaching the principles of the Council of Europe. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Photo: The Canadian Press As the federal government prepares to slap new restrictions on international travel, Health Canada data suggests a worrying uptick of infections directly connected to foreign arrivals. While travel exposures account for less than two per cent of all Canada's COVID-19 cases, the number of cases in recent travellers, and people they came into close contact with after arriving, shows continual growth in recent months. In December, 486 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in recent travellers, the most since March and up from 312 in November and 204 in October. Despite mandatory two-week quarantines for international travellers, there were 1,258 COVID-19 cases confirmed in people who had close contact with a recent traveller in December, up from 744 in November and 704 in October. In the first three weeks of January, 384 travel cases and 607 traveller-contact cases were confirmed. The figures also correspond with a recent rise in the number of people travelling, at least by air. Land-border arrivals are typically fewer in the winter because of the weather in much of the country, but more people arrived from the U.S. by air in December than any month since March. Arrivals from other international locations were higher in December than any month except August. Reports of notable Canadians ignoring pleas not to travel during the pandemic in favour of sun-kissed days on foreign beaches angered much of the country in the weeks after Christmas, and led to several high-profile provincial and federal politicians and health officials being fired, demoted or reprimanded. Between Nov. 30 and Dec. 27, 86,953 people flew into Canada from the United States, and 184,260 arrived by air from other international locations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been promising for more than a week that the government will bring in stronger measures for international arrivals, as Canada fears the impact of new variants of COVID-19 that have arisen in other countries. That is on top of a mandatory two-week quarantine for all arrivals, which has been in place since last spring, restricting international flights to just four airports, and a more recent requirement for foreign travellers to provide proof of recent negative COVID-19 tests within three days of boarding planes to Canada. A spokesman for Health Minister Patty Hajdu said "Canada has some of the strongest border measures in the world" and all future measures will be guided by both science and evidence. Cole Davidson said 6,500 phone calls are made daily to verify travellers are in quarantine, and that 99 per cent of nearly 50,000 checks on quarantine made by police have found people are where they are supposed to be. There are more than 50 cases of the new coronavirus variants from the United Kingdom and South Africa now confirmed in Canada, most, but not all of them, in people who recently travelled into Canada from those countries. The variants are believed to spread more easily, and in recent days concerns have arisen about whether they are more likely to cause serious illness or death. Conservative Health Critic Michelle Rempel Garner said while community spread within Canada still accounts for the vast majority of this country's cases, Canada has to do more at the borders. She said the most effective option is to impose a mandatory rapid COVID-19 test on all arrivals, and have that test repeated midway through the two-week quarantine period. Rempel Garner said Canada can't "hermetically seal" our border as island nations like New Zealand have done, so testing all travellers for the virus, screening them all for the variants, and maintaining the quarantine would be effective and more efficient than requiring travellers to quarantine at a hotel for two weeks at their own expense. 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). Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Saturday hold a mega public meeting in Thakurnagar, an area dominated by people belonging to the Matua community, amid their discontent over delay in implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in West Bengal. Shah will reach Kolkata at around 11 pm on Friday, and on early Saturday, meet with CRPF officers. At 10.50 AM he will visit the ISKON temple in Mayapur in Nadia district to offer his prayers. Then, he will visit Thakurnagar in North 24-Parganas to address a public rally around 3.50 pm. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, refugees, particularly the Matuas helped the Bharatiya Janata Party secure nine to 10 seats out of 18 constituencies the party won. The seats then won by the saffron party were Cooch Behar; Alipurduar; Jalpaiguri; Darjeeling; Raiganj; Balurghat; North Malda; Ranaghat; Bongaon; Barrackpore; Hooghly; Jhargram; Midnapore; Purulia; Bankura; Bishnupur; Burdwan-Durgapur; and Asansol. Out of these seats the community played an important role in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Raiganj, Balurghat, North Malda, Ranaghat, Bongaon, Burdwan-Durgapur and Asansol. Now, all the seats combined consist of nearly 70 assembly segments and this is the area where BJP is looking to reach the magic figure of 148 seats (out of total 294 elected and 1 nominated) in 2021 Assembly Polls in Bengal. The refugees, particularly the Matuas, were a major political force behind Mamata Banerjee in the 2011 assembly polls when she ousted the states Left Front government after 34 years. Since then, in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and in the 2016 Assembly election, its only with the blessings of Binapani Devi Thakur (an influential Matua leader who died on March 5, 2019) that TMC is ruling the area with the support of Matuas. However, the winds have changed since the 2019 polls, when BJP managed to snatch the seat from the ruling TMC by playing the card of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Party insiders feel that Amit Shahs public rally in Thakurnagar is an attempt to appease the community ahead of the crucial Assembly polls scheduled to be held in April-May in the State. CAA is crucial in Bengal and this was precisely one of the reasons that Prime Minister Narendra Modi - armed with the Citizenship Amendment Bill kicked off his campaign in Bengal near the Matua headquarters at Thakurnagar under Bongaon Lok Sabha constituencies (won by BJPs Shantanu Thakur) on February 2, 2019. At the time, Modi had said, During partition people from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan fled amid communal violence. Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Parsis faced utmost atrocities. Now you tell me, after so many years dont you think they have every right to live with dignity here in India? Therefore, we brought this Citizenship Amendment Bill but I would like to ask Mamata jis stand on this. I would like to assure you (Matua community) that our government is with you in this issue. As per Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanway Samiti (NBBUSS) a refugee welfare organisation there are approximately six crores refugees in India while in West Bengal alone the figure is around three-and-half crores a key factor for any political parties in the state. Party leaders of both the TMC and BJP camps feel that refugees card will undeniably be the key factor which could turn the tables in this upcoming elections. Recently, Shantanu Thakur the BJP MP from Bengals Bongaon and a prominent Matua leader from Thakurnagar had asked Shah for the Centre to clarify its stand over the implementation of CAA in the state. Thakur - who won the Bongaon seat while riding the waves of BJPs citizenship promise to the Matua community - has now found himself in an odd situation due to the delay in implementation of the act. I personally think that the Union Home Minister should clarify its stand on CAA which is directly connected with the sentiments of the Matua community people. I think it is certainly going to have some impact in the coming polls, he had said. Thakurs reaction came after Amit Shah during his last visit to Bengal had said, The act has been passed. We are committed to implementing it. The entire process got delayed due to the corona pandemic. The rules of the CAA are yet to be framed. I would like to assure all that we will certainly implement it. First, lets get over with this pandemic and the vaccination process. On January 31, Shah will visit Bharat Seva Ashram Sangha at 10.45 am and at around 11 am, he will pay tribute to Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in Kolkata. At 12.45 pm, he will address a rally at Dumurjala in Howrah district and will also lunch with a Bagdi (dalit) family at Khalisani village in the same district. At 3.20 pm, he will hold a road show from MCD office to SDO office in Uluberia, Howrah. SACRAMENTO California will freeze evictions for some struggling tenants for five more months as it prepares to give out billions of dollars in rent relief. State legislators on Thursday approved SB91, extending the states partial eviction moratorium through the end of June and creating a program to distribute $2.6 billion in emergency rental assistance that California received through the coronavirus aid package that the federal government passed last month. The plan was broadly criticized as imperfect. Lawmakers worried that its voluntary terms would shortchange many vulnerable tenants of its full benefits and expressed doubt that it included enough money to meet the needs of property owners who have gone months without rent payments. But they agreed that urgent action was needed to prevent the current moratorium from expiring at the end of this month. At this deadliest of moments in the pandemic, we cant have tenants pushed out onto the streets or into overcrowded settings, said Assembly Member David Chiu, a San Francisco Democrat who had pushed for a longer extension of the moratorium. The bill passed with bipartisan votes of 71-1 in the Assembly and 34-0 in the state Senate. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who helped negotiate the measure, is expected to sign it soon. The rules for getting aid are complicated, however, and do not not cover every California renter. Here are answers to questions about how the law works. I havent been able to pay my rent. Can I get help from the state? The rental assistance from the federal government is meant to benefit low-income tenants who are experiencing financial hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic. If you or someone you live with qualifies for unemployment benefits, has lost earnings or has significant costs related to COVID-19, such as medical bills, you could benefit from the program but only if your household makes 80% or less of the median income for your county, a figure determined annually by the state housing department. It sounds like Im eligible. Will this money clear my rental debt? That depends on the person who owns the property you rent. The amount you receive ultimately hinges on whether the property owner wants to participate. The state will cover 80% of the rent you missed from April 2020 through March 2021, as long as the property owner forgives the rest of what you owe and does not pursue an eviction. But owners do not have to agree to those terms. If you apply for the program and your property owner declines to participate, you will receive only 25% of your back rent for that 12-month period. That would still be enough to prevent you from being evicted for nonpayment of rent when the moratorium expires. Under the moratorium law, property owners would have to pursue the rest of the rent debt in small claims court. If there is funding left, you could also get money to cover a quarter of your rent for up to three more months or to pay off utility debts. So how soon can I get this assistance? It will be at least several weeks. The first step is to allocate the money to communities across the state, which the law dictates must happen by Feb. 19. Cities and counties with more than 200,000 people will receive about $1.1 billion in rent aid directly from the federal government, but the state has an additional $1.5 billion to hand out. It plans to set aside $150 million for counties with fewer than 200,000 people, and then distribute the rest based on population. Large local governments can choose to manage the rent relief themselves or hand over the responsibilities to the state. California officials will also run the program for small counties. The state is supposed to have an online portal to accept applications for rental assistance no later than March 15. Even then, this may require patience. There will be three rounds of funding: The first will go to households that make less than half the median income in their area and people who have been unemployed for at least 90 days. The second round will be directed at neighborhoods that have been hit disproportionately by the pandemic. Then all remaining eligible households making less than 80% of the median income in their area can apply. The law requires that the state use up all the money by Aug. 1. What happens if I dont qualify for the rent program? Even if you make more than the income threshold for the federal rent assistance, you may still benefit from the states partial eviction moratorium. The new law extends the existing moratorium by five months, through the end of June, preventing property owners from evicting tenants who cant pay their rent because of a financial hardship related to the pandemic. If you declare your financial hardship to your property owner and then pay at least 25% of your total rent that you owe from September 2020 through June 2021, the owner cannot evict you. You can pay in monthly chunks or a lump sum by June 30. The rest of the back rent for that period will become civil debt, which your property owner can sue to recover in small claims court. Your property owner cannot charge you late fees on that missed rent or take your security deposit to pay down the debt. But if you cant pay that minimum 25% of rent, your property owner could file to evict you starting in July. The law also does not block evictions for other reasons, such as breaking the terms of your lease. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose will retire March 31 after working 34 years in local law enforcement and overseeing several reforms among the city police. Ambrose was named the citys first public safety director in late 2015, when the police, fire and emergency management departments were consolidated under Mayor Ras Baraka. His departure announcement comes less than a month after the city appointed Lee Douglas as acting police chief when Darnell Henry retired. Theres still a lot of work to be done by my successor, but Im pleased to be leaving the Police and Fire Divisions and the Office of Emergency Management in a better place than it was when I arrived five years ago, Ambrose said in a statement Wednesday. Mayor Baraka has been my strongest supporter, a great boss and will remain a good friend. He joined the Newark police in 1986 as an officer and was promoted to chief in 1999. In 2006, he became the police department director while also working as an Essex County undersheriff. He was hired as chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutors Office in 2008. His service to the City of Newark has been paramount. I appreciate all that he has given, and I hope for nothing but the best in his retirement, Baraka said in a statement. Newark in 2013 had the nations third-highest murder rate among other large cities with about 111 homicides, but that number has steadily decreased under Ambroses tenure. There were 52 homicides reported in Newark in 2020, according to department data, and overall crime in the city reached a 50-year low in 2018. Ambrose has been recognized by U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito for his collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce crime. But hes also been known as a reformer. The director has been at the helm when the city and police division entered into a list of reforms about five years ago called a consent decree. The police division has been under federal monitoring since then. The consent decree was reached after the U.S. Department of Justice issued a scathing report in 2014 that found a pattern of unconstitutional practices among the citys police. Since then, Ambrose has supported the mayor and city councils decision to divert $11 million from the police department to social services in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis. The police department has also instituted guidelines for interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. Police body cameras were also rolled out under Ambroses tenure. His retirement announcement comes just a day after Ambrose expanded the use of body cameras to plainclothes officers in the wake of a fatal police-involved shooting. As an innovator and collaborator, Director Ambrose set an example for law enforcement throughout New Jersey, and indeed across the nation, said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. James Stewart, the Newark Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 12 president, said Ambrose built a good relationship with the union, resulting in fewer grievances that saved both sides money. He praised the director for the way he handled the protests in Newark after Floyds death, too. People looking in dont realize everything he manages, how much he accomplishes, the knowledge he brings to the table, Stewart said. But they will when he is gone. Its unclear if Ambrose intends to work after retirement. But Newark Fire Officers Union President Anthony Tarantino hopes to see him continue to work for the city in some capacity. I believe hes a good man, Tarantino told NJ Advance Media. I believe hes added a lot of structure to the fire department. Pension records show Ambrose makes $260,000 annually. It was previously reported that his salary was paid for by Essex County through a shared services agreement. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. A married Texas police chief has been placed on administrative leave after he was accused of having ongoing romantic relationships with at least two different women in addition to his wife. When the Stinnett Police Department in northern Texas named Jason Collier, 39, as its new chief in February of 2020, the Facebook announcement said that he was married with four children. Yet according to one of his alleged girlfriends, Collier has been living a 'double/triple life,' proposing to at least two other women despite already being legally married. Big yikes! Stinnet, Texas police chief Jason Collier, 39, is on administrative leave amid accusations that he has proposed to several women despite already being married Psychotic behavior: Collier's now ex-girlfriend Cecily Steinmetz (pictured) called him out publicly on Facebook for leading a 'double/triple life' Devastating: Steinmetz said she'd been in a long-term relationship with Collier and has since found out that he is dating other women, too According to the Stinnett Police Department, Chief Collier is a married father of four, as well as an ordained minister. But the 'married' part came as news to his now ex-girlfriend Cecily Steinmetz. On January 26, she took to Facebook to accuse Collier of being a cheater, saying that he not only had a serious relationship with her, but was also dating at least one other woman. 'Chief Jason Collier is living a double/triple life. I was his girlfriend until yesterday,' she wrote in a post that has quickly gone viral. 'He lied to me and presented me with fake annulment documents when I found out he was married. 'I also found out about a 2nd girlfriend, Kirsti, last night. He has lied to us, our children, and asked us both to marry him.' She went on to call him a 'poor representative' of the town he served, alleging that he would drive to visit her an hour away in Amarillo when he was on shift. Love rat: Collier is married and has four children, but that apparently hasn't stopped him from allegedly dating around Uh-oh: Steinmetz called him a 'poor representative' of the town he served, alleging that he would drive to visit her an hour away in Amarillo when he was on shift Found him! Collier has an online dating profile, and several other women have come forward to say they dated him How was that going to work out? One of Collier's other alleged girlfriends, Kristi Shaffer, said they had actually been engaged since December 'We just returned from vacation in Taos on Sunday meanwhile, his other GF was told he was on work assignment in Portland, OR,' she said. According to Heavy.com, Steinmetz learned of the deception after posting photos of herself with Collier on Facebook. One of Collier's other alleged girlfriends, Kristi Shaffer, saw the post and commented, saying that she was dating him, too and in fact, they'd been engaged since December. Steinmetz then confronted Collier about his wife, to which he produced a fake document saying they'd annulled the marriage. But Steinmetz didn't buy it, and shared her story on Facebook. 'Chief Jason Collier worked his way into my life, the life of my children and family,' she wrote. 'Spent the weekend with me on vacation in Taos this past weekend. Told me all weekend how he cant wait to marry me. Turns out, Im not the only one. 'He took me on shift with him last week as well, but wouldnt introduce me to the ladies in the office since according to him, "theyre b****** and one is mad I wont date her sister." Sneaky: Collier is married and an 'ordained minister' who doesn't appear to have gone to great pains to hide his double life Pants on fire: When he was confronted about his wife, he produced a fake annulment document In jeopardy: With accusations still coming in, the City of Stinnett placed Collier on administrative leave pending an investigation on January 27. 'He clearly has no morals or ethics,' she added, according to Heavy.com 'Not only has he hurt me, he has hurt my children with his lies The jig is up, Jason.' The situation has spiraled from there. Several other women have come forward making their own claims about Collier, with some saying they'd met him on dating apps and and one saying she was also dating the chief. With accusations still coming in, the City of Stinnett placed Collier on administrative leave pending an investigation on January 27. 'The City of Stinnett is aware of the current situation surrounding the Chief of Police Jason Collier,' a statement from City Manager Durk Downs read. 'As per city policy, we will refrain from commenting on any personal issues of personnel in a public forum.' Topics in Anti-Cancer Research covers new developments in the field of cancer diagnosis and drug therapy. Novel drugs as anticancer agents include natural and synthetic phenazirines and other anti-cancer compounds. The series also covers information on the current understanding of the pathology and molecular biology of specific neoplasms. The diversity of research topics published in this book series give broad and valuable perspectives for cancer researchers, clinicians, cancer professionals aiming to develop novel anti-cancer targets and patents for the treatment of various cancers. The topics covered in ninth volume are: Recent Patents on Exosome-Derived Therapeutic Agents Serrated Lesions of the Colon and Rectum: An Overview of Pathology and Emphasis on a New Classification Introducing the 188W/188Re and 144Ce/144Pr Plaques for Eye Cancers Brachytherapy ShcA Family of Adaptor Proteins: Dual Role in Cell Growth Hormones Management as Anticancer Treatment and Protection: Functions and Mechanism of Action ### About the Editor: Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Cambridge University (1968) has 1,232 international publications (45 international patents and 341 books). He received the following awards: Fellow Royal Society (FRS) London (2006), UNESCO Science Prize (1999), Honorary Life Fellow Kings College, Cambridge University (2007), Academician (Foreign Member) Chinese Academy of Sciences (2015), Highest Civil Award for Foreigners of China (Friendship Award, 2014), High Civil Award Austria ("Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande") (2007), Foreign Fellow Chinese Chemical Society (2013), Sc.D. Cambridge University (UK) (1987), TWAS (Italy) Prize (2009). He was the President of Network of Academies of Sciences of Islamic Countries (NASIC), Vice President TWAS (Italy), Foreign Fellow Korean Academy of Science & Technology, President Pakistan Academy of Sciences (2003-2006) and (2011 -- 2014). He was the Federal Minister for Science and Technology of Pakistan (2000 -- 2002), Federal Minister of Education (2002) and Chairman Higher Education Commission/Federal Minister (2002-2008), Coordinator General of COMSTECH (01C Ministerial Committee) (1996-2012), and the Editor-in-Chief of Current Medicinal Chemistry. Keywords: Cancer, molecular biology, neoplasms, drug therapy, Anticancer Treatment, Cell Growth, Pathology, cancer research Crouched behind a concrete barrier, Staff Sgt. Jimmy Moriarty waited for his assailant. Just minutes before, a Jordanian soldier, armed with an M16 rifle, had gunned down Moriarty's two fellow Green Berets at a security gate at King Faisal Air Base in Jordan. "My son sees him coming and stands up in open view and opens fire at him with his Glock," said Moriarty's father James, describing a surveillance video that shows Jordanian 1st Sgt. Marik al-Tuwayha then shooting the young Green Beret, mortally wounding him. Moriarty's bravery gave a fourth Green Beret enough time to flank the gunman and empty his pistol into his side, ending the murderous Nov. 4, 2016, attack. Read Next: Navy Destroyer CO Fired After Trying to Make His Crew a Plaque with Seized AK-47 More than four years later, two Green Beret generals traveled to Houston, Texas, on Wednesday to honor Moriarty's courage by presenting his family with the Silver Star. "Today marks a special day of the very best we have in our nation," said Maj. Gen. Miguel Correa, who presented the nation's third-highest award for valor to Moriarty's family in a livestream video of the ceremony. "If you were to call him a hero, I would venture that he would disagree and tell you that he was doing what he was supposed to do. ... He would tell you that he was doing the right thing despite being outgunned and all the odds stacked against him. "This nation will always be indebted to Staff Sgt. Jimmy Moriarty," he added. In 2016, Correa, then a colonel, was the investigating officer on the 15-6 investigation into the deaths of Moriarty, Sgt. 1st Class Matthew C. Lewellen and Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe. The three Green Berets were assigned to 5th Special Forces Group from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and were among about 2,000 U.S. troops serving in Jordan in 2016. On Nov. 4, the three Americans were in a four-vehicle convoy attempting to enter the gate at the air base, about 150 miles south of the capital, Amman. Another group of U.S. vehicles had earlier passed without incident. When the second group of vehicles approached, a guard raised the gate and al-Tuwayha opened fire with his M16 at close range, killing McEnroe and Lewellen almost instantly, James Moriarty told Military.com, describing a video of the scene. Moriarty watched his son and another soldier try to communicate with the Jordanian soldier in the video, but the gunman continued to shoot at them. Watching his son then stand and face the gunman was the bravest act he had ever seen, he said. "I have the single most unique perspective of that video because I am his father and I have been in combat," said Moriarty, a former U.S. Marine helicopter door gunner who served three tours in Vietnam. "I loved Jimmy beyond my ability to describe, but even setting that aside ... I recognized his leadership and his quick action and his protection of the other Green Beret that survived. But those last moments of his life -- watching him willingly, deliberately, intentionally risking his life to save the other Green Beret was as heroic as anything I have ever known." A military court in Jordan convicted al-Tuwayha in July 2017 in the shooting deaths of the three Green Berets and sentenced him to life in prison with hard labor. But the families of the slain Green Berets claim that a life sentence in Jordan typically lasts 20 years. In July, they appealed to U.S. lawmakers to call on the king of Jordan to publicly apologize for the murders and explain why his country harbors terrorists. Moriarty's father credited former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller and his staff for working to approve his son's overdue Silver Star. Miller, a former member of 5th Special Forces Group, retired on Jan. 20. Military.com reached out to the Pentagon to inquire why it took four years to present the award to Moriarty but did not receive an answer. Brig. Gen. Kevin Leahy, Moriarty's former commander, said the young Green Beret epitomized the Special Forces motto "De oppresso liber," which he translated to mean "liberate the oppressed." He described it as a "calling for all Green Berets." "It was this calling that brought Moriarty to the 5th Special Forces Group," Leahy said at the ceremony. "That calling put Jimmy in harm's way four years ago. Jimmy stood up to the oppressor ... and paid the ultimate price. He did it with tremendous valor. Surprised and outgunned, he stood toe to toe with the oppressor." Jimmy Moriarty's sister, Becky, said she was incredibly grateful that her younger brother is now recognized for his bravery. "I may be his older sister, but to this day I still look up to him," she said during the ceremony. "Jimmy was by far my most favorite person on this planet and, when he passed away, I made a list of traits that made Jimmy, Jimmy. "He was trustworthy, undeniably funny, kind, unassuming, annoyingly smart, friendly -- he could talk to literally anyone. ... Him being gone obviously leaves a giant hole to fill," she said. After some reflection, Moriarty's father said that it is important that his son was recognized for doing the right thing in a terrible situation. "We all need people to look up to, we need people to respect, we need to emulate," James Moriarty said. "We need heroes because heroes make us better people." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@miliary.com. Related: Fathers of 3 Green Berets Killed in Jordan File Lawsuit Alleging Cover-Up BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday heard a work report delivered via video link by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on the HKSAR government's work in 2020. Vice Premier Han Zheng also attended the event. Noting that 2020 was a challenging year for Hong Kong, Li said Lam has led the HKSAR government in fighting COVID-19, reviving the economy, addressing people's difficulties, stabilizing society, and actively seeking policy support from the central authorities to help Hong Kong better integrate its development into the overall development of the country. "The central authorities fully acknowledge your performance and the performance of the HKSAR government in fulfilling duties," Li said. Li expressed his hope that the HKSAR government will continue its work on epidemic prevention and control, address people's most pressing concerns, among others. Lam said that the HKSAR government will make continuous efforts to fight the virus, restore the economy and improve people's wellbeing. She also pledged efforts to link up Hong Kong's development with the national development strategy, consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international hub for finance, trade and shipping, and develop the HKSAR as an international center for innovation in science and technology. Love Lives by Carol Dyhouse (OUP 20, 288pp) Disney's 1950 adaptation of Cinderella was a smash hit which rescued the studio from bankruptcy. In 2013, it released another princess film, Frozen, which became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. The differences between these stories, Carol Dyhouse argues in this social history, demonstrate the transformation of British women's lives in those 63 years. Cinderella's rag-to-riches tale resonated with women struggling with post-war austerity as it suggested that all they need do was marry and bibbidi bobbidi boo! they would live happily ever after. The proportion of brides under the age of 21 increased from 14.9 per cent in 1921 to 40 per cent in 1965. Carol Dyhouse takes a look at the social history surrounding different fairy tales. Pictured is Frozen which was released in 2013 For young women, marriage was the most viable 'career' option. A 1956 survey, in which schoolgirls were asked about their aspirations, showed the majority planned to marry and have children as soon as possible but, shockingly, over a third fantasised about their future husbands dying young. After a man had facilitated financial security and fathered children 'the girls could imagine little use for him'. Married life was often more pumpkin than horse-drawn carriage. Many women felt that by marrying early they had wasted their youth. Depictions of discontented housewives proliferated in medical journals alongside adverts encouraging doctors to prescribe them mood-altering drugs. In the decades that followed, however, women's lives were changed forever, not by the wave of a fairy godmother's wand but by the advent of legal abortions, expanded educational opportunities and the contraceptive pill. Dyhouse describes how the transformation of British women's lives is reflected in fairy tales. Pictured is Cinderella which was released in 1950 In the 1970s, the trend for young marriage dramatically reversed. By the 1990s, most girls wanted to stay in school to improve their job prospects. But the Cinderella concept of romance was difficult to shake off. Phenomena such as Sex And The City and Bridget Jones showed women struggling with the seemingly competing demands of work and relationships. Love Lives by Carol Dyhouse (OUP 20, 288pp) There still remained a huge market for 'princess culture': after the introduction of a Princess line, global revenue for Disney Consumer Products went from $300 million in 2001 to $3 billion in 2006. But Disney princesses, says Dyhouse, 'are more personable and have more about them these days'. In 2009, The Princess And The Frog featured the first African-American Disney princess who, rather than hoping to meet a dashing prince, longed to open her own restaurant. And in Frozen, Elsa is saved not by true love's kiss but, refreshingly, by her sister, Anna, who puts herself between Elsa and the evil Prince Hans's sword. The 'belief in a happy ending, with the simple discovery of one's True Love, dies hard'. Dyhouse is professor of History at the University of Sussex and this is certainly an academic text. Her argument is most compelling when she discusses the reflection and stimulation of societal changes through films but, sadly, few are mentioned. One she does include is the 1990 hit Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Although sex worker Vivian has gumption, she's still saved by a wealthy man. I mentioned this idea to a well-educated female friend. 'Women shouldn't need to be rescued,' she said. 'But I do think I'd be a prostitute if it meant I'd end up with Gere.' If any sentiment sums up the contradictions of modern womanhood, it might just be this. (Photo : Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times) Bill Gates described the pandemic conspiracy theories as 'crazy' and 'evil.' Bill Gates is Surprised with the News Even Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was shocked by a lot of "crazy and "evil" pandemic conspiracy theories about him on social media. Rumors know no boundaries when it comes to people, especially when the news began flooding amidst the pandemic scare. In an interview with Reuters, the 65-year-old philanthropist told that the surge of social media posts about the pandemic involving him has stormed the people in the online disturbance. It might be a bolt in the blue for Gates to be a subject of the rumor, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the president. Still, he hopes that the issue will now go astray. "Nobody would have predicted that I and Dr. Fauci would be so prominent in these really evil theories," Gates said. When the news about the novel coronavirus erupted in China in January 2020, the pandemic has been closely watched by the nations. With the internet that is now at our fingertips, one-click could spell a truth - or misinformation regarding the origin of the COVID-19 which already claimed more than 2 million lives worldwide. The rumors said that Gates and Fauci connived to take over the business of controlling people during the pandemic. This means that they have been earning money from COVID-19 by inserting detectable microchips to the people who got vaccinated. However, Gates cringed to the make-shift idea and questioned its impact on the behavior of the people who are likely siding on the theory. Also Read: Pet Cats, Dogs May Need COVID-19 Vaccine, New Study Suggests Regardless of the pandemic conspiracies, Gates has already pledged at least $1.75 billion for the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped for the vaccine development, treatments, and other medical responses. The American magnate has been thankful that he felt great after receiving his first COVID-19 vaccine, CNET reported. More Conspiracy Theories to Come According to New York Times and Zignal Labs, the pandemic conspiracy theories involving Gates were uttered 1.2 million times on social media and television. The count was intended for the duration of February to April last year. The theories were linked with Gates' throwback speech in 2015, where he forewarned the public about the risk of a contagious disease that could wipe humanity in the upcoming years. The conspiracies have even reached TikTok, a Chinese video site, as per First Draft News. Besides, his alleged connection to Fauci, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was believed to carry out vaccinations in India and Africa, leading to thousands of children's deaths. Gates was also rumored to have brought tetanus vaccine and abortion drugs in Kenya. There was also a video involving Gates to the Chinese communist group with an aim of eradicating humanity through abortion and botched vaccination. However, the anti-disinformation team of BBC reported that the rumors were all false. Meanwhile, China claimed that the United States was in charge of spreading COVID-19. According to the claims, the US has been operating in clandestine laboratories which China state media said are the breeding grounds of the vaccine that is made to kill the elders. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment You would think Americans would have learned the lesson by now, but it appears we have not. Instead, every four (or 8) years we elect a new president with great fanfare, breathlessly praising (or criticizing) their first moves in office. Surely they will turn the tide of the nation, we think to ourselves. Everything will change under their administration. Except that is not reality. But our memory is short, and soon enough were thinking that the next president will be the man (or, the woman). Barack Obama was the chosen one, depicted by Newsweek with a halo over his head, the man whose speeches caused Chris Matthews to feel a thrill going up his leg. Next was Donald Trump, drawing massive crowds to his rallies, a man prefigured in biblical-prophecies, with a cultlike power over his followers. Even Trumps opponents attributed god-like powers to him. As Tom Gilson wrote sarcastically, Donald Trump is powerful. Amazingly powerful, if you believe what his opponents say. Indeed, the most magically powerful man the world has seen in generations. They know well the wizardry he wielded, especially in his final months as president. They know he led a vast array of people against that great god, Karl Marx, and all the lesser deities emanating from him, the academics, bureaucrats, and politicians whove brought us todays reigning elite cult of cultural Marxism. Yet, as exaggerated (and even ridiculous) as it was to look to either Obama or Trump as savior figures, they did, at least, have a certain charisma. Obama was not just our first black president. He was (and is) a great orator, able to inspire a sense of hope in his followers, even if the hope was false. Trump, for his part, knew how to push the right buttons and appeal to his populist base. He alone could be trusted. He only could do the job. At least that is the impression he gave. As for Joe Biden, he is a career politician who, towards the end of his career, is now our president. He is neither Obama nor Trump, and even in the best of times, it is highly unlikely that he would have drawn massive crowds, let alone motivated them. Yet he is now the darling of the mainstream media, the new hero, the political savior, the truly anointed one. He is even being hailed as a super-saint, a devout Catholic (in contrast with a controversial Catholic like Justice Amy Coney Barrett). As Newsbusters tweeted, What bias? The liberal media are talking about Joe Biden as if he is some Saint of Catholicism instead of the President. Piers Morgan couldnt resist taking a shot, writing that, The non-questioning hero-worshipping treatment of Joe Biden and his administration is gut-wrenching and needs to stop immediately. And the media needs to start doing its job properly. As reported by Fox News, Morgan cited numerous examples of journalists being overly partisan from the ousted New York Times editor Lauren Wolfe who said she had chills at the sight of Biden's arrival to Washington D.C. ahead of his inauguration to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper describing Trump as an obese turtle on its back flailing in the hot sun. RT.com also drew attention to this obvious media bias, also pointing to the way we glorify our political leaders, noting that, The cover for the winter edition of Jacobin, which was previewed hours after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US president, mercilessly mocks the US' habit of treating its politicians like celebrities. Taking the next logical step, it reimagines the new president as a messiah, borrowing imagery from traditional Christian iconography. (Note that Jacobin describes itself as a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture.) Yes, The issue of Jacobin magazine covering the inauguration features a mock icon, complete with a halo around Biden's head, seraphim-like Clintons and angelic killer drones in the sky. Some don't seem to realize it is satire. Did you get that? As extreme and ridiculous as the cover was meant to be, not everyone got the point. Thats the degree to which the mainstream media has been fawning over President Biden. But if it is not for his great charisma or oratory skill or cult-leader powers, why has he become so exalted by the left? It can only be because he is the anti-Trump, the one to replace Orange Man Bad, the leader who unseated the menace. Is there any other explanation? If he was simply hailed a decent human being calling for unity (a description which many would still challenge), that would be one thing. But 78-year-old Joe Biden, the latest demigod? Really? The real irony is that, despite our lofty expectations and the great hype we entertain every four years, theres only so much our presidents can do. And while their policies certainly do matter and their decisions can have generational repercussions, they will not destroy or rebuild the heritage of the nation in one or two terms. Instead, broadly speaking, one president from one party makes progress in one direction and then, before long, a president from the other party comes along and undoes what his predecessor did, making progress in the opposite direction. Without being cynical, this cycle reminds me of Ecclesiastes 1:4-7, where it is written, Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. Just think of the Mexico City abortion policy, which blocks U.S. federal funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide abortion counseling or referrals, advocate to decriminalize abortion, or expand abortion services. It was implemented by the Reagan administration, rescinded by Bill Clinton, reinstituted by George W. Bush, rescinded by Barack Obama, reinstituted by Donald Trump, and soon to be rescinded by Joe Biden. Yet, depending on our point of view, we either hail or condemn each decision, as if it were fixed in stone forever. Much of the Trump administration was devoted to undoing the Obama agenda, and now the Biden administration is trying to undo Trumps agenda. And around and around it goes. But that doesnt stop us from pinning our expectations on each new president, as if he (or, at some likely point, she), was the hope of the nation. Perhaps now, as we watch the left fawn over President Biden, we can have a reality check. There are no political saviors. Lets try to remember that four years from now. Pennsylvania has opened a handful of pop-up COVID-19 testing sites this week, part of a plan to have temporary testing sites in 61 counties total. The state Department of Health on Thursday opened the regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics in Armstrong, Cumberland, Jefferson, Monroe, and Wayne counties. The drive-thru testing site in Monroe County is at Pocono Mountain West High School Sullivan Trail Campus Lot A, 181 Panther Lane, in Pocono Summit. The clinics, which are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., will operate through Monday, Feb. 1. They offer nasal passage swab PCR tests, and can test up to 450 patients per day. The free testing is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is open to all, not just county residents. Patients must be ages three and older, and are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. The turnaround time for testing results is two to seven days after testing. Individuals who test positive will receive a phone call from AMI, the company conducting the testing, while individuals who test negative will receive a secured-PDF emailed to them from AMI. Testing is still a critical part of our #COVID19 response as we work to get more vaccine doses into arms. Tomorrow through Monday, there will be a drive-thru testing site in Monroe County at Pocono Mountain West High School. No appointment required. pic.twitter.com/fz2PpKpBPD Matt Cartwright (@RepCartwright) January 27, 2021 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. The Biden Administration has asked Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as a Special US Representative for Afghan reconciliation under the previous Trump Administration, to continue with his peace talks, a top American diplomat said on Wednesday. At the same time, the Biden Administration has started the process of reviewing the peace deal with the Taliban, Secretary of State Tony Blinken told reporters at his maiden news conference here. With regard to Afghanistan, one of the things that we need to understand is exactly what is in the agreements that were reached between the United States and the to make sure that we fully understand the commitments that the has made as well as any commitments that we've made, Blinken said in response to a question. And, with regard to Ambassador Khalilzad, we've asked them to continue the vital work that he's performing, Blinken said in response to a question. (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.) Burnt out cars lined the streets of Tripoli on Thursday after violent confrontations took place between protesters and security forces in northern Lebanon. The confrontations left a 30-year-old man dead and more than 220 people injured, the state news agency said on Thursday. Frustrations boiled over amid deteriorating living conditions and strict coronavirus lockdown measures that have exacerbated a severe economic and financial crisis, the worst in the Mediterranean country's history. On Thursday, people in Tripoli expressed desperation at the current situation, with one resident saying "people are dying of starvation." The violence in Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city and the most impoverished, marked a serious escalation in protests that began Monday. The protests have continued for three straight days into Wednesday night. Dozens of young men have been taking part in the nightly protests, throwing rocks at security forces and in some cases torching vehicles. On Wednesday, protesters repeatedly tried to break into the municipal building. Some lobbed hand grenades at security forces, who responded with water cannons, volleys of tear gas and finally, live ammunition. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Yves here. While the plural of anecdote is not data, my brief experience in the South gives considerable support to the notion that identifying as a Christian, whether it rises to the level of evangelicalism or not, is a much stronger force than people in coastal cities want to believe. And remember, not only is Birmingham a post-Civil War city built on coal and steel and now has the medical industry as its biggest employer, but the suburb I am in has one of the highest levels of BAs per capita in the US and is heavy on university and hospital employees (profs, MDs and managers), lawyers, accountants, and business owners. Even when I call businesses out of state (like in Missouri), I often hear have a blessed day on the voicemail message, and that is sometimes the sign-off in stores. In Dallas, despite having lots of transplants due to big companies moving regional operations there, churches (and often big ones) are a big deal. I hear young people (mid-late 20s) in my gym discuss their Bible study group and the details of the weeks lesson. Our former New York City taxi driver turned aide, who moved to the South only 4 years ago, had been told by her doctor after a car accident that her spine was severed in a car accident and shed never walk again. She spent three years in a wheelchair. She attributes her recovery having had enough of that, plus prayer and divine intervention. She loves recounting how her doctor, who forgotten her, reacted when she strode into his office, said shed been a patient, had him pull her file and have him unable to explain how she could be standing, let alone walking. Consistent with the thesis of this post, the formerly paralyzed aide prays regularly and leads a prayer group but does not attend church. By Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Eastern Illinois University. Originally published at The Conversation The death spiral of evangelicalism has long been written about in both the religious and mainstream press. The assumption is that evangelicalism has weathered the storms of secularization and politicization poorly. Journalist Eliza Griswold, writing for The New Yorker, chalks this up to the theological rigidity of evangelicals: that they have been structurally incapable of changing course quickly enough to stem the tide. Others have suggested that the alliance between white evangelicalism and Republicanism is largely to blame for the decline of evangelicals. They believe that becoming so intertwined with the polarizing figure of former President Donald Trump has marginalized evangelicals in the public arena, making it even less likely for them to win over new converts. While the share of Americans who identify as evangelical by religious tradition does seem to be falling from 19% to 16% for white evangelicals, according to a recent Pew survey that does, I believe, obscure a bigger and possibly more important story. Looking at the data from a slightly different angle suggests that the share of Americans who self-identify as evangelicals has not changed in any meaningful way over the past decade. In fact, larger shares of Americans have said that they have had a born-again experience in 2018 than at any point since 1972, according to the General Social Survey. Moreover, as someone who analyzes religious data, I believe the link with politics may in fact be a central reason evangelicals are not declining significantly as a share of the U.S. population. Evangelicalism Is Not Toxic In both the General Social Survey, which has been asking questions about religion since 1972, and the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, which interviews tens of thousands of Americans every year, respondents are asked if they consider themselves born-again or evangelical. In 2008, 1 in 3 people who responded to the CCES said that they do see themselves as evangelical. In 2019, that number was 34.6%. In the GSS, the share who said that they had experienced a born-again experience has risen four percentage points during the same period. These self-identification measures are so important because they allow researchers a window into the mind of the average person. If the term evangelical has become as radioactive as many people suggest, then it would seem reasonable that smaller percentages of the public would willingly take on the label but they are not. Just the opposite, in fact. But just because the share of Americans who identify as an evangelical has not changed in a statistically meaningful way doesnt mean that the composition of that group has not. A crucial part of this story is that the term evangelical has, I believe, become somewhat detached from its theological roots and morphed into a term that seems to capture political sensibilities as well. As political scientist John Green notes, [evangelicals have] become very strongly associated with Republican and conservative politics, because since the days of Ronald Reagan up until today, that group of believers have moved in that direction politically. Theres evidence of this move from the theological to the political. In 2008, 59% of evangelicals said that they attended church at least once a week. Just 16% said that they attended services seldom or never. By 2019, those percentages had shifted significantly. The share who were weekly attenders declined a full seven percentage points, to 52%. On the bottom end of the spectrum, nearly a quarter of self-identified evangelicals said that they attended church seldom or never (24.2%). The share who never attended nearly tripled from 2.7% in 2008 to 7.3% in 2019. The implication is that for many of those who self-identified as evangelical, it is not just about devotion to a local church, but to a general orientation to the world. As Republicanism and the religious right have become more enmeshed, it seems logical to assume that these less religiously devout people may consider their evangelicalism to be a question of political identity, rather than religious beliefs and customs. And this is apparent from another angle, as well. Respondents were asked to describe how important religion is in their daily lives. In 2008, over 80% of evangelicals said that religion was very important to them. But, as each year passed, that share began to decline. By 2019, 73.7% of evangelicals said that religion is very important a decline of over seven percentage points in just 11 years. Religious evangelicals may look at these numbers and think, This is not what the term evangelical means. The assumption is that the term describes those who place high value on the teachings of the Bible and strive to evangelize other people into their faith. However, that understanding of the term seems to be fading, replaced with a more amorphous concept that melds together religious doctrine and an affinity for conservative politics that experts are only beginning to understand now. For instance, in her book From Politics to Pews, scholar Michele Margolis argues that people are choosing their religious affiliation based on their political partisanship with greater frequency now than in prior decades. No one gets to claim ownership over a word especially one that is so fraught as the term evangelical. The data offer some insight into how the definition might be evolving, not how it is defined in theological texts and social science manuscripts. Japan's Toyota reclaimed the title of world's top-selling automaker in 2020, according to data released by the firm on Thursday, pushing Volkswagen into second place for the first time in five years. Toyota said it had sold 9.53 million vehicles around the world last year, overtaking the 9.3 million sales made by its German rival. The Japanese giant took the lead despite a decline in global sales of more than 10 percent as the auto industry suffered the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. "Despite the Covid-19 pandemic... Toyota was able to continue corporate activities through comprehensive implementation of various infection prevention measures, and by working together with partners including suppliers and dealers," it said in a statement. That was still better than the more than 15 percent drop in sales Volkswagen announced earlier this month. Toyota said it had benefited from a jump in sales in China, which were up over 10 percent year-on-year, and a better-than-expected performance globally in the October-December quarter. The last time Toyota held the top spot was in 2015, with VW edging it out in the following years. "Toyota's recent strategy of pursuing quality over quantity has... satisfied consumers", especially in North America and China, Koichi Sugimoto, an auto analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, told AFP. "Improved ties with the Chinese government, partly thanks to China's interest in Toyota's green tech as well as brand-building in the Chinese market by Japanese carmakers in general, also contributed" to sales growth, Sugimoto said. Short link: Among the many tech giants, Apple is one of the few that strongly advocate protecting their users privacy and data. In their upcoming iOS and iPadOS update, Apple is bringing two new features called the Privacy nutrition label and App Tracking Transparency that will bring powerful controls to users over their data. The privacy nutrition label, as the name suggests, will function similarly to the nutrition labels that you can find on the back of food and consumables. For all apps on the App Store, Apple will require developers to detail their privacy practices to the user in an easy-to-view summary. Users will be able to see whether the data is used to track them, linked to them, or not linked to them. The second and more important feature is App Tracking Transparency. It will require apps to get a users permission to be allowed to track their data across apps or websites owned by the apps company. At the moment, this control is not available to the user, which means companies are already tracking user data this way. With this new update, users will have far more explicit control over their data, and it should be arriving to all iOS and iPadOS users sometime early spring. Understandably, companies such as Facebook, who heavily depend on tracking user data for their advertisement, is extremely unhappy with the new privacy features. Google, on the other hand, has already begun preparing their developers and advertisers in the iOS ecosystem to bring their services in line with Apples upcoming App Tracking Transparency policy. In a blog post, Google is encouraging their developers to upgrade to the Google Mobile Ads SDK v7.64 and the latest version of Google Analytics for Firebase, which contain support for new features such as SKAdNetwork. Google will also stop tracking data such as Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) in their iOS apps, to keep in line with Apples ATT policy once it goes into effect. Apples App Tracking Transparency and Privacy nutrition label will be coming first to iOS and iPadOS in the beta channel and later to the stable release for global rollout. Colombo: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday received 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine donated by India under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. India last week announced that it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Sri Lanka and seven other countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, Afghanistan and Mauritius. Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have already received India's COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy. President Rajapaksa was at the Colombo international airport to receive the consignment of free Indian COVID-19 vaccines which arrived on a special Air India flight. The consignment was packed in 42 boxes. Rajapaksa was joined at the airport by the Indian envoy in Colombo Gopal Baglay. "The arrival of 500,000 doses of COVISHIELD vaccines happens on blessed Poya Day, which marks the 1st visit of the Buddha to Lanka. High Commissioner offered prayers at the sacred Gangaramaya Temple for the health and well being of the people of Lanka on auspicious Duruthu Poya Day," the Indian High Commission here tweeted. The consignment came after the country approved emergency use of Oxford AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine. The vaccination programme is to be launched in the country on Friday at six hospitals around the capital Colombo, health officials said. A total of 250,000 people, mostly health frontline workers, members of the security forces and police and the vulnerable aged, will get the vaccine on a priority basis. The government said the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation would be this week ordering 3 million doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine from India's Serum Institute. Sri Lanka has recorded more than 60,000 coronavirus cases so far with 288 deaths. India is one of the world's biggest drug-makers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. DGAP-Ad-hoc: Grand City Properties S.A. / Key word(s): Share Buyback/Real Estate Grand City Properties S.A. launches public tender offer for up to 12,500,000 shares 28-Jan-2021 / 08:57 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THE AD-HOC RELEASE. Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Art. 17 Sec. 1 of the Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation - MAR) Grand City Properties S.A. launches public tender offer for up to 12,500,000 shares Luxembourg, 28 January 2021 - The board of directors of Grand City Properties S.A. (the "Company") (ISIN LU0775917882 / WKN A1JXCV) resolved today to utilize the authorization of the annual general meeting of 24 June 2020 in order to buy back up to 12,500,000 shares of the Company (corresponding to up to 7.27% of the Company's share capital) by way of a public tender offer with a purchase price in the range of EUR 20.00 to EUR 21.25 per share (excluding ancillary acquisition costs). The final purchase price per share will be determined by the Company after the expiration of the acceptance period in accordance with the final terms of the offer document. The final purchase price will be determined by the Company on the basis of tenders received from shareholders and will be equal to the lowest price within the given purchase price range at which the Company can, based on the tenders received, purchase such number of shares as to be determined by the Company in accordance with the terms of the offer. Shareholders may tender all or part of their shares in the Company by either specifying a price within the purchase price range or with no specified price, in which case they commit to sell their tendered shares at the final purchase price as determined by the Company. The final purchase price, which will be identical for all shares tendered into the offer, will be calculated in accordance with the terms of the offer document on the basis of the number of shares tendered and the tender prices set by shareholders. If and to the extent the shares tendered into the offer at a price equal to, or lower than, the final purchase price exceed the number of shares to be acquired by the Company under the offer, tenders will be accepted on a pro rata basis. It is expected that the offer document for the tender offer will be published on 29 January 2021. The acceptance period is intended to start on 29 January 2021, 00:00 (CET) and to end on 12 February 2021, 24:00 (CET). To the extent necessary and legally permissible, the tender offer can be extended, suspended and also resumed at any time. The Company reserves the right to amend the offer, including an extension of the offer period and an increase in the purchase price range. Further details on the public tender offer will be made available in the offer document which will be published on the Company's website (www.grandcityproperties.com) under "Investor Relations - Equity/Share-buy-back" prior to the commencement of the acceptance period. Contact: Grand City Properties S.A. 1, Avenue du Bois L-1251 Luxemburg T: +352 28 77 87 86 E: info@grandcity.lu www.grandcityproperties.com Press Contact: Katrin Petersen Grand City Properties S.A. T: +49 (30) 374-381 5218 E: katrin.petersen@grandcity.lu Disclaimer This release may not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. This release is not directed to or intended for distribution 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. Neither this release nor its content may be published, dispatched, distributed or disseminated to or within the United States of America, and in each case neither by means of utilization of any postal service nor by any other means or instruments of business communication between single states or foreign trade or any facilities of a national stock exchange of the United States of America. This includes, among others, submission by fax, electronic post, telex, telephone and the internet. Copies of this release or any other documents related to this release may also not be distributed or submitted to or within the United States of America. This announcement is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an invitation to sell, nor an offer to purchase, securities. The final terms and further provisions regarding the public tender offer will be disclosed in the offer document. Investors and holders of securities of the Company are strongly recommended to read the offer document and all announcements in connection with the public tender offer as soon as they are published, since they will contain important information. To the extent any announcements in this document contain forward-looking statements, such statements do not represent facts and are characterized by the words "will", expect", "believe", "estimate", "intend", "aim", "assume" or similar expressions. Such statements express the intentions, opinions or current expectations and assumptions of the Company. Such forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and forecasts, which the Company has made to the best of its knowledge, but which it does not claim to be correct in the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and usually cannot be influenced by the Company. These expectations and forward-looking statements can turn out to be incorrect and the actual events or consequences may differ materially from those contained in or expressed by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume an obligation to update the forward-looking statements with respect to the actual development of incidents, basic conditions, assumptions or other factors. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 05:23:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIYADH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Future Investment Initiative (FII), Saudi Arabia's flagship financial forum, called on Wednesday for excellent credit solutions to avoid the accumulation of a large number of debts as in 2020, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The fourth edition of the FII opened on Wednesday under the theme of The Neo-Renaissance, with the participation of more than 140 prominent speakers. In his opening remarks, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) that organizes FII and chairman of FII Institute, said that as the depth of change brings social and economic challenges and various opportunities, it requires a fundamental rethinking of the ways in which economies and societies can work to unite all nations, peoples and companies. The COVID-19 pandemic does not distinguish any geographical boundaries regardless of strength or the wealth of the country, he noted. The two-day FII forum attracts more than 8,000 virtual and in-person participants, with speakers and audiences joining physically and virtually in New York, Paris, Beijing and Mumbai to reimagine the global economy amid the pandemic. Enditem If the provincial governments goal was to give Manitobans hope that life could return to something close to normal by the end of August, they did a pretty good job of it Wednesday. If the provincial governments goal was to give Manitobans hope that life could return to something close to normal by the end of August, they did a pretty good job of it Wednesday. Fresh projections released by public health officials show that if new vaccines are approved by Health Canada (as expected in the coming months), about 70 per cent of Manitoba adults could be immunized by the end of August. Experts say herd immunity is typically achieved when 60 to 70 per cent of the population is vaccinated. It wouldnt necessarily mean people could start crowding into Bell MTS Place or doffing their masks by late August. But it may allow people to gather in small- to medium-sized groups again, play sports, frequent bars and restaurants or catch a live band. MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Herd immunity doesn't mean people could start crowding into Bell MTS Place by late August. The projections are based on a "high supply" scenario, where Manitoba would receive 700,000 doses of currently unapproved vaccines (such as the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines) by the third quarter of 2021. If it does, and the province gets its expected allotment of vaccines already approved, the final cohort of Manitobans (aged 18-29) could be inoculated by Aug. 31. There are a lot of "ifs" in that scenario, but it is the most realistic projection so far. The province also has a "low supply" scenario, the one presented earlier this month, where 70 per cent of eligible Manitobans could be vaccinated by Dec. 31. That one presumes no new vaccines will be approved in 2021, which is highly unlikely. Manitobans could use some hope right now. The Aug. 31 projection gives people a tangible timeline they can look forward to as they slog through what is likely to be several more months of shutdowns and government restrictions. The social isolation and economic hardship caused by the pandemic have taken their toll. The new timeline may provide a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is a distant one. There are many factors that could derail Manitobas latest immunization projection. The most obvious is the federal governments ability to secure the vaccines it has procured. The recent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine setback was a stark example of how easily the supply chain can be disrupted. Still, there is no reason to believe those shipments wont be back on schedule by the end of March, as committed to by Pfizer. The other potential factor is how well the province can organize an immunization campaign of this magnitude. The first few weeks were not promising: the Pallister government stumbled out of the gates, falling well behind other provinces in getting needles into arms. The only reason theyre now catching up is because of the Pfizer delay. More than a month after launching the program, the province is still assembling its immunization team and figuring out the logistics of distributing some 1.5 million doses in under a year. There is no timeline, for example, on when residents in personal care homes who missed the first round of shots will get their second dose. Its an appalling oversight for such a high-risk group. Thats not to say the province wont eventually get it right. The Pfizer delay is giving them time to plan and they appear to be making progress. People are tired of pandemic politics. They just want governments to deliver. Manitobans need an endgame. If the government wants continued compliance with public health orders, it needs to clearly communicate how and when it plans to roll out its vaccination program. It needs to do it without the politically charged language weve heard so far (including self-serving claims by provincial officials that Manitoba is doing better than other provinces on its rollout). And it needs to stop pretending all its problems are tied to the Pfizer slowdown or shortcomings in Ottawas procurement efforts. People are tired of pandemic politics. They just want governments to deliver. The Aug. 31 projection, while not set in stone, is a good start. It may be the shot in the arm many Manitobans need right now. Northern Ireland's health workers are set to receive a 500 special recognition payment, Health Minister Robin Swann has said. Subject to Department of Finance approval, the payment will be made to all health and social care workers including doctors, nurses, care home workers, domiciliary care workers, administrative staff and estates teams. Mr Swann also announced a flat rate, one-off special recognition payment of 2,000 for all qualifying students who have been on clinical placement between October 1 2020 to March 31 this year. The qualifying courses are nursing and midwifery, allied health professional, social work and physician associate pre-registration programmes commissioned from Queen's University, Belfast and the Ulster University by Stormont's health department. A one-off award is also set to be made to carers, but Mr Swann said more work is to be done on this before further detail can be announced. It follows calls from some political parties and health unions for staff to be recognised for their efforts. A similar payment has already been announced in Scotland. Speaking at a press briefing at Stormont yesterday, Mr Swann said simply thanking health workers for their work during the pandemic through Clap for Carers is not enough. He asked his officials to work on plans for a "one-off, pro-rata payment" for all health and social care workers. "There are no words to properly convey what they have done for us - we will never be able to repay that debt," he said. "Last spring we stood on our doorsteps every Thursday evening and clapped for our heroes. And whilst it was a thoughtful display of support, I think we all knew that is was never enough and that they deserved more than just our thanks and well wishes." Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew welcomed the payment going to those who have been "at the heart" of looking after people and saving lives, but called on the minister to support nursing students by increasing the nursing bursary and giving final year placement students the opportunity to get paid. SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said he is delighted Mr Swann has taken up his proposal to award the payment, adding: "I know this will be a huge morale boost to our incredible health workers. "I raised the idea of a one-off extraordinary payment at the health committee and in the Assembly and it is fantastic it has come to fruition. "While this is not everything our amazing staff deserve, it is a small but significant token of our deep appreciation." DUP health spokesperson Pam Cameron said she looks forward to the payment progressing and said she awaits details on a similar payment for carers. Health trade unions in Northern Ireland said they wished to acknowledge the role staff play to ensure the best possible care is received during the pandemic. "We also note the Minister's commitment that this proposed payment will have no bearing on any pay deal for Agenda for Change (AfC) staff," said a statement from four joint trade union leads. "Trade Unions caution that any such payments made to workers can impact detrimentally on workers entitlement to universal credits, family tax credits and any pension tiering. We note the Minister has taken steps to try to mitigate against any financial detriment," they said. Crash Sends Calloway Deputy to Hospital By West Kentucky Star Staff CALLOWAY COUNTY - A deer is to blame for a crash Wednesday night that sent a deputy with the Calloway County Sheriff's Office to the hospital.The accident took place at approximately 10:30 pm on Highway 641 South, near the Midway community. The sheriff's office said Deputy Nicholas Dues was on duty and traveling north on Highway 641 when he swerved to avoid striking a deer in the roadway.Dues' vehicle exited the roadway, overturned and struck a telephone pole.Dues was transported by ambulance to Murray-Calloway County Hospital for treatment of injuries received during the crash. Normandy four leaders' advisers discuss Donbas settlement - Ukrainian Presidential Office Kiev, Jan 28 (Sputnik) Political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Four countries (France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine) held talks via videoconference and discussed steps to boost the peace process in Donbas, the Ukrainian Presidential Office said in a statement. "Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office the President of Ukraine, took part in a meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Four, held in the format of a videoconference on Wednesday. During the meeting, the sides discussed steps that could intensify the process of establishing peace in Donbas," the statement said. The sides agreed to continue consultations at next meetings at the level of advisers. LEWISTON - More people visited Idaho State Parks in 2020 than in any year before by a margin of more than 1.2 million guests. 7,671,582 people frequented the parks last year, obliterating the prior record set in 2019. Its a mind-boggling number, said Brian Beckley, chairman of the Idaho Parks and Recreation Board, which oversees the department. Never before have we had so many people come out to our parks. But with the pandemic keeping people indoors and isolated, outdoor recreation became one of the few things people could do responsibly to beat COVID cabin fever. The visitation figure accounts for day users and campers. The previous record stood at 6,468,159 visitors and capped off several years of steady-but-not-dramatic growth. Beckley said it is great to see so many people experiencing some of Idahos most special places, but it also meant more strain and wear on park facilities and staff. No doubt, its been tough keeping up with the demand, he said. But our people did their best under some trying circumstances to give the public recreational opportunities. The numbers show the parks are most heavily used for day visits (7 million) but also host a large number of campers (647,743). The camping figure was below the 2019 number but the slight dip was more than offset by the rush of day visitors. Part of the camping decrease in 2020 was due to the two-month campground closure at the outset of the pandemic. No park experienced the visitation crush more than Lucky Peak State Park in southern Idaho, which hosted one million visitors for the first time. Hells Gate State Park, in Lewiston, saw an increase of 22.23% in visitation. Nearby Dworshak State Park saw an increase of 26.17%. We have an amazing staff that got us through it, said Gary Shelley, manager of Lucky Peak and Eagle Island state parks. Im also proud of our visitors and our community for being so generally understanding and cooperative with the need for COVID-19 precautions. It could have gone badly, but they came out, stayed safe and had a good time. AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Leaf Home Solutions has announced it has earned the 2021 Top Workplaces USA award, issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. This is the inaugural year for Top Workplaces USA, built on the program's 14-year history surveying more than 20 million employees across 54 markets for the regional Top Workplaces awards. Additionally, the Leaf Home Solutions' leadership team is honored to be recognized with a Culture Excellence award in the Clued-In Leaders category. Top Workplaces USA offers national recognition for large organizations, those with more than 150 employees, and those that may have operations in multiple markets. Several thousand organizations from across the country were invited, and more than 1,100 participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks, such as strong values, strong communication, and an emphasis on innovation and effective operation. Leaf Home Solutions has long placed an emphasis upon employee satisfaction, and it strives to create an interconnected, family-like atmosphereeven while its employees made the switch to virtual operations to combat the hurdles presented by a global pandemic. "It is amazing to see that we have maintained such a strong, people-first culture while working from home," comments Jeff Beck, CEO at Leaf Home Solutions. "Through virtual communication platforms like Slack and Zoom, our team has continued to focus on its strengths: communication and teamwork. It is an honor to be recognized by Top Workplaces for our culture, as we truly believe that is what makes our company special." "It's all about our people, and how we work together to solve problems and innovate." Parent brand Leaf Home Solutions encompasses several sub-brands, including LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Leaf Home Safety Solutions, and Leaf Home Water Solutions. The company boasts more than 100 local offices across the U.S. and Canada, with a team of more than 2,000 employees supporting its operations. ABOUT LEAF HOME SOLUTIONS Leaf Home Solutions is North America's leading direct-to-consumer provider of branded home solutions. Our innovative products enhance the safety, enjoyment, and comfort of homeowners and their families and protect the condition and enhance the appearance and value of their homes. Customers value our quality products and the exceptional service we deliver through our end-to-end DTC sales and service model. Our proprietary data-driven platforms for marketing, customer service, field services and talent management, combined with our action-oriented culture fueled by our "today-not-tomorrow" mantra, are our major sources of competitive advantage and continue to underpin our rapid growth. ABOUT ENERGAGE Making the world a better place to work together. Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 22 million employees surveyed across more than 66,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com. For more information, contact: [email protected]. SOURCE Leaf Home Solutions Britain's longest-suffering Covid patient has revealed he may be forced to declare bankruptcy because his condition means he's unable to work. Ali Sakallioglu, 57, from Catford, south east London is the UK's longest-suffering Covid patient. He spent a total of 222 days in hospital after contracting the virus in March. During his time in hospital he had a heart attack, suffered a stroke, collapsed lungs, multiple organ failure and sepsis, and his children were told to say their last goodbyes three times. Grandfather-of-nine Ali, who is also a poker player, was discharged from hospital in November, and told how he came home to a mountain of bills. Ali Sakallioglu, 57, from Catford, south east London is the UK's longest-suffering Covid patient and admitted today he may be forced to declare bankruptcy because he can't work to pay his outstanding bills Ali spent a total of 222 days in hospital after contracting the deadly virus in March last year Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, he admitted the situation is 'very difficult', adding: 'We're all writing them letters and whatnot, I'm thinking about going bankrupt because I have no other choice. 'I can't afford to pay my bills, I'm not working. I take life day by day, breath by breath, that's the only way to do it. I don't think about the future because I don't know what the future's going to bring.' Ali said he struggles to dress himself and can't even cook or walk up the stairs. While battling Covid, which has now claimed more than 100,000 lives in the UK, he told how he suffered lung failure, liver failure, kidney failure, a stroke, sepsis and gangrene in his lungs. During Ali's time in hospital he had a heart attack, suffered a stroke, collapsed lungs, multiple organ failure and sepsis, and his children were told to say their last goodbyes three times Ali was later rushed to King's College Hospital, in Camberwell, for surgery after suffering a heart attack and was placed into an induced coma Ali, who has Type 1 diabetes, developed Covid-19 symptoms at the end of March - when Britain was first plunged into a national lockdown. After following the government advice at the time, which was to call 111, he was told to self-isolate. But he was rushed to hospital at the beginning of April after his symptoms got worse and put on a ventilator after reaching University Hospital Lewisham, where he tested positive for Covid-19. Ali was later rushed to King's College Hospital, in Camberwell, for surgery after suffering a heart attack and was placed into an induced coma. After three months in a coma Ali was eventually moved to a nursing home to help with his rehabilitation, including regaining his ability to walk Taxi driver Ali said he now struggles to dress himself and can't even cook or walk up the stairs 'I managed to ring my daughter and I said look, they're going to put me in a coma and tell everyone I love them and hopefully I'll see you on the other side,' he told the BBC. 'And obviously when I woke up it was three months later... They told my kids I wasn't going to make it.' His children Ali, 38, Seniz, 36, Ayse, 34, Jay, 32, and Yasemin, 31, all wore full PPE as they said goodbye to their father, but against all the odds he pulled through. After three months in a coma he was eventually moved to a nursing home to help with his rehabilitation, including regaining his ability to walk. Ali's daughter Seniz said it was 'incredibly hard' seeing him fight for survival in hospital. During the 56-year-old's time in hospital, he had a heart attack, suffered a stroke, collapsed lungs, organ failure and sepsis. His family (pictured here with Ali) were told three times that he was going to die Ali's daughter Seniz (pictured) said it was 'incredibly hard' seeing him fight for survival in hospital 'It was like watching him in pain, take every single breath and watching somebody go through not not being able to breathe, almost drowning in their own fluids. 'To have to watch that and know that they're going through that every second of the day, it was incredibly hard,' she told the BBC. 'He continued to stay strong, for us.' Today scientists warned coronavirus cases are still rising in parts of England and are falling too slowly in others to relieve the pressure on hospitals - but said the brutal national lockdown is still working. Professor Paul Elliot, the director of the Imperial College London study, said infections rose slightly in the East Midlands over the first three weeks of the national shutdown and flattened in the West Midlands and the North. By Ammu Anil As I am entering college after receiving a public education in New Jersey, one aspect of the education framework in New Jersey concerns me. I can calculate the time at which train A and train B will meet if they travel at different speeds. I can easily write an essay about the literary elements Shakespeare utilized in his plays. I can even list all of the conditions of the Marshall Plan that I had memorized for my AP U.S. History exam. However, I was never able to describe how a bill becomes law or who my local representatives were until I voluntarily took a civic education class in high school. Therefore, I am writing as a concerned citizen to urge the New Jersey Legislature to mandate, not only offer, civics education within our schools. I had the rare privilege of being a student of the mere, 39 percent of schools in the state [that] voluntarily offer a civics course to all students. What if I was a part of the other overwhelming 61% of schools without any civics education? For starters, I probably wouldnt be a registered voter because I wouldnt know how to register. Secondly, I wouldnt feel the need to write about this issue because I wouldve never realized the necessity of a civics education. The first lesson my civics teacher, Mr. Uplinger, taught me was about a simple word that 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin used to reply to a womans question as he was walking out of Independence Hall in 1787: Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy? A Republic, if you can keep it, Dr. Franklin replied. Mr. Uplinger pointed out how a linguistically gifted-man like Franklin used a basic word to describe civic duty: keep. He could have said maintain or conserve. But he said, keep. Out of curiosity, I pulled out an old dictionary to find a definition. H. I. J. K. Kaleidoscope. Keen. Keep (verb): to provide for the sustenance of (someone, something). I finally understood why Franklin chose that word. He knew that our participation was necessary to sustain a democracy. With a voter turnout in the last presidential election of 61.4%, how could we keep our democracy? More importantly, with a voter turnout of only 8% in this years primary election, how could we keep our democracy? Currently, high school students in New Jersey are required to take three years of history. We learn about the new nation that successfully freed itself from a tyrannical empire; about the womens suffrage movement that led to the 19th Amendment and about African Americans who fought for equal opportunities in the Civil Rights movement. But we never learn the how. How did a new nation successfully free itself? How did women gain the right to vote? How did African Americans fight for their rights? These are all questions left unanswered by history textbooks. The simple answer is participation but what does that mean? A civics course can educate students on the complexities of the American government and the freedoms of the democracy that we are lucky to have. Students can be taught how to create change, how to be a good citizen. Democratic values are rooted in the idea of participation and if this generation is stripped of their ability to learn how to participate, then our Republic is in true danger. Citizens and the government are supposed to have a mutual relationship by the social compact theory. Our rights are protected by the government, but in return, we must follow certain rules and be good citizens. How can we be good citizens if we are not even taught how to vote? Senate Bill S854, also known as Laura Wootens Law, requires civic instruction in middle school. It was first introduced a year ago, and just passed the state Senate just today. The bill has yet to be moved to the Assembly Education committee. The slow movement of this highly important bill concerns me. Are we going to let down the younger generation again? Cuts to civics education were made during the Cold War with the intention to expand Americas goal of scientific advancement. Those cuts were a misguided government move. Civics courses should once again become a requirement like they were before the 1960s. Therefore, I once again urge that this legislation be approved and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy quickly. The youth of America must learn how to use their rights and to help keep our democracy. Ammu Anil is a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University studying Business Administration and Decision Science. As The Lesniak Institutes Service Specialist Intern, she hopes to gain valuable experience in government to initiate a career in politics. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. AP Credit scores in San Antonio rose more than in all but two other major metros in 2020, a Lending Tree study found. And if that shocks you, you should know that it probably wasnt difficult. San Antonio also had one of the lowest credit scores in 2020 landing at 49 just above New Orleans according to a Lending Tree study that examined credit scores in Americas 50 largest metros. In fact, San Antonios 2020 score is just fair ranging from 589 to 669. The average score rose 10 points from 655 in 2019 to 665 in 2020, according to the study released Jan. 28. Chile on Thursday received its first shipment of CoronaVac vaccines from the Chinese drugmaker Sinovac.Ten containers holding almost two million doses were unloaded from a plane that landed in Chile's capital Santiago. There to welcome the precious cargo was Chile's president Sebastian Pinera. "Today is a day of joy, emotion and hope," said Pinera at an airport arrival ceremony. Pinera stated his government expects a "massive vaccination process" to begin next week, following certification from the health ministry.Another two million doses of the Sinovac vaccine are expected to arrive next Sunday.The vaccine was approved for emergency use a week ago by the Chilean Institute of Public Health.The jab has already been licensed in China, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil.In addition to Sinovac, Chile is already inoculating health personnel and elderly home residents with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.On Wednesday the health authorities gave the green light to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. So far, more than 56,000 people have been inoculated and 10,315 of those have already received the second dose, according to health authorities.Chile has reported 709,888 coronavirus cases and 18,040 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Despite a state requirement that providers must sign on how to distribute unexpectedly unused coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine before it expires, there are still reports of sought-after vaccine doses getting tossed in the trash. Nearly five million New York City residents are currently eligible for vaccinations and appointments on Staten Island, and citywide, are filling up within minutes of becoming available -- however, there are still reports of doses that have not been administered at the end of the day. The Advance/SILive.com has been contacted by numerous readers about rumors that those unused vaccine doses have been trashed, and some reports around the city exist, including a local physician who said doses were being tossed because the provider was afraid of being fined for deviating from the states eligibility list. Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded the states vaccine eligibility on Jan. 11 to include first responders, education workers, public transit workers, and those aged 65 and older after reports of vaccines winding up in the trash were first reported. Still, state guidance says only eligible individuals or public-facing employees can get vaccinated even if there are extra doses. A spokesman for New York City Health + Hospitals, which runs Staten Islands only mass vaccination site at the Health + Hospitals Gotham Health/Vanderbilt clinic in Clifton, told the Advance/SILive.com that, despite rumors, the facility has not thrown out any doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Every last vaccine dose at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt has gone into the arm of a Staten Islander or New Yorker, the spokesman said. The city is treating the vaccine like gold. The city said it follows state guidance in the event there are extra vaccine doses left over, which includes identifying a healthcare worker or patient who might be eligible. But what happens if there are no eligible people around? PROVIDERS SHOULD HAVE A STAND-BY LIST Healthcare providers administering the vaccine are being asked to plan carefully to ensure each dose allotted for the day was administered to alleviate extra doses at the days end. Providers should confirm that the exact number of recipients from eligible populations is available to be vaccinated before drawing the first dose from a new vial, the states guidance says. Providers are asked to keep a daily list of stand by eligible individuals that could be notified of an open vaccination appointment on short notice. These providers must sign a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the state to join the vaccination program, which says they will follow all state guidance --including the standby list. As soon as providers are aware that there are more doses than people to be vaccinated, standby eligible individuals should be called, or other steps must be taken to bring additional eligible recipients to the facility or clinic before the acceptable use period expires, the guidance says. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines need to be used within six hours after a vial has been punctured. In the event there are no individuals from priority populations that can be vaccinated, the state says other public facing employees can be vaccinated. The guidance also says local health departments should be contacted to determine if any eligible individuals can be contacted to receive the vaccine before discarding any vaccine. A city Department of Health (DOH) spokesman said vaccination sites work with local partners such as community-based organizations that serve seniors to assist in creating the stand-by lists. Should an appointment become available on short notice, they would be contacted via phone. All of these measures are intended to ensure that every dose is administered to a New Yorker, the spokesman said. However, the Advance/SILive.com called several of the vaccinations hubs on Staten Island and only two said they were aware of the states stand-by list recommendation. MAYOR: WEVE GOT TO BE REALLY SMART ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT NO DOSE GOES TO WASTE Earlier this week Mayor Bill de Blasio commended a city vaccination site worker after hearing that she vaccinated the sites volunteers and security guards when there were extra doses at the end of the day. She did exactly the right thing, and I commend her as a leader for making sure that every dose was used, de Blasio said. The mayor has repeatedly said the city needs to be really smart about making sure that no dose goes to waste and said the states flexibility -- which says extra doses should first be used for site staff before other public-facing employees -- has helped that happen. However, there have been instances where rumors of extra doses led to New Yorkers waiting on line outside of vaccination sites only to not get vaccinated. Two weeks ago, hundreds of New Yorkers lined up outside the Brooklyn Army Terminal after hearing leftover vaccines would be used to vaccinate people on a first-come, first-served basis. De Blasio said the incident highlights the importance of appointments and ways to reach people on stand-by lists. I dont love the notion of people showing up for a line and having no guarantee youre going to get the vaccine. I dont like people being in lines together to begin with, unless theres a reason. I dont like the opportunity, you know, that seems like maybe theres going to be hope, but then there isnt, I dont like that reality, de Blasio said. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Federal prosecutors have opened an investigation into the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes use of COVID relief funds, MassLive has learned. A federal grand jury issued the tribe a subpoena on Wednesday requesting documents related to the receipt, administration and disbursement of money from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the federal pandemic relief established through the CARES Act. The federal stimulus package, signed into law by former President Donald Trump on March 27, set aside $8 billion in relief for tribal governments. Prosecutors have requested documents dating back to March 1 to the present, they said. Federal authorities are requesting all bank records from the tribe or any tribe-affiliated entity, as well as records detailing dates and amounts tied to the disbursements, who received them and why, the subpoena states. Authorities are also asking for all documented tribal communications with the U.S. Treasury Department, including related contracts and agreements with all persons and entities, including but not limited to REDW LLC, retained to assist and/or consult with the Tribe with regard to the administration or disbursement of (Coronavirus Relief Fund) funds, prosecutors wrote. The subpoena comes as the tribes former chairman, Cedric Cromwell, is facing federal charges in an alleged bribery scheme with a business partner involved in the tribes multi-million-dollar casino project. Cromwell is accused of extorting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes with alleged co-conspirator David DeQuattro, the owner of an architecture-and-design form originally picked to oversee the tribes casino and resort project in Taunton. Cromwell and DeQuattro, a Warwick, Rhode Island resident, were each indicted on two counts of accepting or paying bribes as an agent of an Indian tribal government and one count of conspiring to commit bribery, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lellings office. Both Cromwell and DeQuattro filed motions to dismiss the charges last week. After the charges were made public in November, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council ousted Cromwell from power. Related Content: The White Tiger Star Adarsh Gourav Recalls His Days Of Flaunting His Jamshedpur Connection With Priyanka Chopra Netflixs original film The White Tiger is earning praises across the globe for its brilliance and it has certainly catapulted lead actor Adarsh Gourav to international stardom. The 26-year-old actor from India is being praised the world over for his impressive portrayal as Balram, a driver from a small town looking to raise his ranks in the social hierarchy. The actor in fact recently got nominated for the Independent Spirit awards for his praiseworthy performance in the Ramin Bahrani film alongside actors like Riz Ahmed [Sound of Metal], late Chadwick Boseman [Ma Raineys Black Bottom], Rob Morgan [Bull] and Steven Yeun [Minari]. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adarsh Gourav (@gouravadarsh) His character was strongly supported by Bollywood stars like Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra in the film and Adarsh couldnt have asked for more. The young actor speaks about sharing screen space with the two popular stars Adarsh told India Today, To work with Raj and Priyanka, I have seen their cinema while growing up. The films that Raj has done are the kind of films that I would want to do eventually. With Priyanka, I have this connection as both of us are from Jamshedpur. Both of us are Jharkhand babies. I told her that in Mumbai I would tell people that I and Priyanka are from the same city." The White Tiger is based on Arvind Adigas Man Booker Prize winning novel of the same name and right from Hollywood to Bollywood stars cant stop raving about it. The film hit Netflix on 22 January 2021. McCourt (pictured) a leading member of the IRA in Londonderry, died aged 62 after reportedly battling Covid-19 The BBC apologised to the families of IRA murder victims yesterday after describing a former member of the terror group as a veteran. Relatives of those killed in the Troubles were angered by the use of the word in a news report on the funeral of Eamon Peggy McCourt, pictured. The families said the term suggested the former gunman was a member of a legitimate military organisation. McCourt, a leading member of the IRA in Londonderry, died aged 62 after reportedly battling Covid-19. He was jailed during the Troubles and is said to have once accidentally shot dead a fellow IRA member. McCourt was himself shot and seriously wounded by the British Army in 1981. The BBC used the word veteran in an online report about large crowds that caused Covid controversy at McCourts burial in Londonderry on Monday. Police said a significant number of people gathered in a manner likely to be in breach of virus rules. The first line of the BBC report read: Police have begun an investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the funeral of an IRA veteran in Londonderry. It also used the word veteran in a post on Twitter. Mark Tipper, whose brother Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, said the use of the term was beyond belief. He said: They have just glorified the IRA with the word veteran. My God, it stinks... it should be IRA man terrorist. Pictured: British soldiers in riot gear detain a man during the troubles in Londonderry. The BBC used the word veteran in an online report about large crowds that caused Covid controversy at McCourts burial in Londonderry on Monday Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee and a former captain in the Royal Green Jackets, said: Its an accolade to be called a veteran. A tribute to serving your country. It should never be used to champion terrorism. The BBC apologised and amended the report, using man instead of veteran. In a statement, it said: We used the term IRA veteran to describe Eamon McCourts long involvement in Irish republicanism... No offence was intended and we regret any misunderstanding or upset that may have been caused. "We are not alone on the Great Way and the whole world is one family (). After a year of hardship, we can understand more than ever the significance of a community with a shared future for mankind," President Xi Jinping said in his 2021 New Year address. As the world struggles against the onslaught of the second wave COVID-19 with faster transmission rate and increased fatality, President Xi's New Year address is indeed a timely reminder that the world must stand united, be caring and sharing in the fight against our common enemy the coronavirus. Mankind are members of the global village with a shared future. Unilateral actions and sealing of national borders will not rid the world of the virus. President Xi first put forth the notion of mankind as "a community of common destiny" in his 2013 speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. "Mankind, by living in the same global village within the same time and space where history and reality meet, have increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in himself a little bit of others," he said. "A community with shared future" has since been promulgated by China as its concept of global governance, embodying its worldview in the new era and its vision for a fair, equitable and just global order built upon the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect and love for mother earth. "A community with shared future" is also the guiding principle of China's international relations. It underlies China's strategic thoughts on long-term development of its bilateral ties with other countries. It is a manifestation of China's foreign policy goal of peace, equality, development and win-win cooperation. In October 2017, "a community with shared future for mankind" was written into CPC's constitution and included in the preamble of China's constitution the following year. The concept was endorsed by UN and written into several UN resolutions including resolution 2344 related to promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the surrounding region, and two resolutions by the UN Human Rights Council on "Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights", and "Right to food". Build a community of shared future for mankind "A community with shared future" has often been the subject of President Xi's speech at international events. In September 2015, President Xi laid out the roadmap for building "a community of shared future for all humankind" at a United Nations summit. In his speech at the UN Office in Geneva on January 18, 2017, he explained comprehensively why, what and how to build "a community with shared future". "A community with shared future" is China's answer to the call of the time of a world beset by a myriad of challenges and risks, ranging from terrorism, slow growth, climatic change, protectionism to anti-globalization. In his speech, President Xi underscored China's commitment to uphold world peace and to build a world of lasting peace through dialogue and consultation. China cherishes peace and advocates common security for all, which can only be achieved through joint efforts and unity. China envisioned a world of common prosperity built through win-win cooperation. Economic globalization and multilateral trade regime promote trade and development. "China's development has been possible because of the world, and China has contributed to the world's development. We will continue to pursue a win-win strategy of opening-up, share our development opportunities with other countries." "The Belt and Road Initiative I put forward aims to achieve win-win and shared development," President Xi highlighted. President Xi recognized that diversity is inherent in civilizations of the world. No civilization is more superior than others as each civilization has its profound heritage and unique charm. "Diversity of human civilizations not only defines our world, but also drives progress of mankind," said President Xi. Civilizational exchange and mutual learning promote harmony, bond and mutual respect that will help in building an open and inclusive world. Mother earth is the only home of all mankind. "Clear waters and green mountains are as good as mountains of gold and silver. We must maintain harmony between man and nature and pursue sustainable development", said President Xi in his speech in Geneva. He emphasized that to protect the earth, we should pursue green, low-carbon development and advance the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development in a balanced manner. A concept of global governance rooted in Chinese civilization The notion that mankind is a community with shared future is rooted in Chinese civilization. President Xi has on many occasions called for the innovative development and enrichment of "a community with shared future" as the concept of global governance by actively exploring the positive aspects of the way of life in the Chinese culture. "Tianxia in great harmony ()" is the ideal world pursued by Confucianism in which people live in peace and help each other, akin to the notion of "a community with shared future". Tianxia is Chinese depiction of the world with no well-defined geographical borders in the ancient days. Confucius said, "When the Great Way prevails, Tianxia belongs to everyone ()." Tianxia is an all-inclusive world that excludes no-one. Tianxia belongs to everyone. Perhaps, "Within the four seas, all men are brothers ()" is a simple yet overarching Confucius saying that best summarizes and explains the concept and spirit of Tianxia, i.e. the world is one family. Confucianism advocates harmony in diversity, as the saying goes, "Gentleman aims at harmony, not uniformity; mean man aims at uniformity, not harmony ()." To everyone, the understanding of the concept of Tianxia might not be the same. But mutual respect, seeking commonalities while retaining the differences () is the way to achieve harmony. Caring and sharing are in the DNA of Chinese culture. As the oft-quoted saying goes, "Take care of yourself well when you are poor, share the benefits with the world when you become better off ()." It amply exhibits this spirit. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 is a mammoth transcontinental development initiative that aims at creating new drivers of common development. It is China's offer of public good to the world as an emerging economic power by sharing its technology and development experience, as well as providing the necessary financial support. It is the vivid manifestation of the spirit of "share the benefits with the world when you are better off" in the realm of international cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative is the platform to realize the objective of building a community with shared future, President Xi said. Western perception of China's rise China's ascent to the position of the world's second largest economy was described by the World Bank as the fastest sustained expansion by a major economy in history. However, its rise on the global stage has drawn both admirations and fears. China's success stories are inspirations and encouragements to leaders of the developing world who see in China an alternative development model, and an important trade partner and a source of foreign investments. However, it has also stirred fears and concerns of the West which pride themselves as the architect of the current global order, which has brought prosperity to the post WWII world. The meteoric rise of China is deemed as a threat to the liberal international order. In particular, the U.S. views China as a revisionist power that poses an imminent challenge to its global supremacy, a rising power with the ambition of changing the world order it leads. A strong sense of displacement anxiety now permeates America's political mainstream. China's vision of the new global order The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the change in global power dynamics. China is the only major economy that registered positive GDP growth in 2020 and expected to overtake the U.S. as the largest economy by 2028. Meanwhile the U.S. remains mired in the struggle against the pandemic and its global image plummeted. According to a recent pan-European survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations, more than 60 percent of those polled believe that the political system of the U.S. is now "broken". One third of the respondent believe President Joe Biden will not be able to save the country from the decline. The majority of Europeans believe China will be more powerful than the U.S. within the next ten years, the survey conclusively showed. As we enter the third decade of the 21st century, the world is at the cusp of a new era. With the changing international geopolitical landscape brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, many are asking the question: What is the world China wants? China has global ambitions, boosted by its confidence in successfully combating the COVID-19 pandemic, Oxford History Professor Rana Mitter asserted in a newly published article entitled "The world China wants". "A state of that size cannot be expected to participate in the global order solely on the terms of its rivals," he highlighted. He also said that "China is not seeking to impose a replica of its own system on other states." Nadege Rolland, Senior Fellow for Political and Security Affairs at the National Bureau Asian Research, the United States, wrote shared similar views. "Like all fast-rising powers, the People's Republic of China seeks to reshape the international system in a way that reflects both its values and interests, aligning institutions and norms according to its own worldview and to serve its own purpose," she pointed out in the 2020 Special Report "China's Vision for a New World Order". Unquestionably, a rising China that accounts for more than 16 percent of world GDP, one that has contributed 30 percent to global growth in the last 10 years and is expected to overtake the United States to become the largest economy within the next 10 years, would want to have a bigger say in shaping the global order. China sees inequities and unfairness tinted with historical prejudice in the current global order. Nevertheless, China has benefited and realized its development within the current world order and it has no intention of destroying it, less supplanting it. China's approach is reformative, not transformative. Its vision of the new global order and the prevailing liberal international order are not mutually exclusive. In his special address at the Devos World Economic Forum on January 25, 2021, President Xi reiterated that "We should uphold the common values of humanity, i.e. peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, rise above ideological prejudice, make the mechanisms, principles and policies of our cooperation as open and inclusive as possible, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability." China envisions a world order based on the concept of "a community with shared future", a world order that is fair, equitable and just, built upon the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect and love for mother earth. It wants a world of common prosperity built through consultation, joint efforts and mutual benefits. Koh King Kee is President of Centre for New Inclusive Asia and President of ASEAN Research Center for a Community with Shared Future. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. Citroen has started commercial production in India, rolling out the first Citroen C5 Aircross SUV from its plant in Thiruvallur, near Chennai. The flagship SUV is the first product for Indian customers from the Citroen brand and is slated to be launched this quarter. Production of the new SUV in India started after testing of the vehicle for over 250,000 kilometres in different terrains and varied weather conditions, said the French car maker. Emmanuel Delay, Executive Vice President, Stellantis & Chairman, PCA Automobile India Pvt Ltd & PSA AVTEC Powertrain Pvt Ltd., said Citroen C5 Aircross SUV will be the first of many differentiating products for India from the brand. Earlier the French automaker, which is re-entering India, said it will launch a C-Cube platform globally from India, from which at least one car will be rolled out every year. There is a great deal of buzz in the market about the new Citroen C5 Aircross SUV, which will set a benchmark in style, comfort and innovation in its segment in India, he said. Recently, Citroen announced its first phygital showroom in India. The urban retail concept 'La Maison Citroen', unveiled in Paris in 2017, is currently present in over 100 locations worldwide. Indias first La Maison Citroen showroom in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, will aim to at make the car buying experience engaging and digitally immersive, said the company. To start with, the company will launch 10 showrooms across 10 top cities, said Roland Bouchara, senior vice presidentSales & Marketing, Citroen India. Joel Verany, vice presidentSales & Network Development, Citroen India. added that work on the second phase of expansion of dealerships will commence soon. The showrooms are coming ahead of the company's first C5 Aircross SUV launch in Q1CY 2021. The car will be positioned as a premium SUV, said Bouchara. European auto major Groupe PSA, which is going to kick-start its journey with the premium SUV, said it is working on a new platform and India will be the first market to have products from it. The company is planning to launch at least one car every year on this new platform. To start with, the C5 will have a diesel engine. Going forward, vehicles based on the C-Cube platform will have gasoline engines. Bouchara said localisation would be 90-100 per cent. Saurabh Vatsa, senior directorMarketing and PR Operations, Citroen India, said the diesel engines are assembled in India. The company is setting up a production capacity of 100,000 units a year, in the first phase at its Thiruvallur plant, which is a JV between PSA Groupe and the CK Birla Group. The new capacity will cater to products from the new platform starting this year. The vehicles will specifically cater to the Indian market. Most of the mainstream segments will be covered in the new platform, said Bouchara, who refused to share specific details about the new products and segments the company is looking at. Citroen is looking at one new model every year at least, from this platform for 4-5 years, starting 2021. Speaking about the company's strategy in India, Bouchara recently said the focus would be on profitable growth, driven by good positioning -- while not chasing volumes or market share or expanding too much -- localisation (would be over 90 per cent on the new platform) and profitability of dealers. The company, which formally announced its entry into the Indian market with the Citroen brand in 2019, is looking to create a seamless digital experience for prospective customers of its first model -- C5 Aircross SUV. Citroen has lined up ATAWADAC (Any Time, Any Where, Any Device, Any Content), a seamless digital consumer experience, which will be piloted in a few markets, including India. It will be the second innings for PSA in India. The company signed a partnership with the erstwhile Premier family for a JV, Peugeot PAL India, but pulled out in 2001. In 2017, PSA Groupe announced a partnership with CK Birla Group to re-enter the Indian market. Europe's leading car maker, Groupe PSA, officially announced its re-entry in India in April 2019 with the Citroen brand. Citroen C5 Aircross SUV will challenge the likes of Mahindra XUV500, Tata Harrier, Hyundai Tuscon, Jeep Compass and the upcoming MG Hector. The C5 Aircross will be the first of several differentiated products from the companys vehicle manufacturing unit in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. It will also churn out powertrains from its PSA-AVTEC Powertrain JV at Hosur. The company has signed a MoU with Tamil Nadu to invest Rs 2,400 crore. WASHINGTON - Barack Obama offered "hope and change." Donald Trump vowed to "Make America Great Again." George W. Bush promised "compassionate conservatism." And for President Joe Biden, the slogan comes down to one word: "unity." Biden campaigned on - and came to office promising - the ineffable concept of unity, a feel-good catchall that proffered bipartisan bonhomie, but with few tangible specifics. Now, Biden and his team are working to implement that amorphous goal, which has already been weaponized by Republicans who disagree with Biden's policy aims and challenged by some fellow Democrats. Facing a deadly coronavirus pandemic and a troubled economy, as well as the slimmest of congressional majorities, Biden and his advisers are attempting to implement a blueprint of unity for a country that can only seem to agree on how much it disagrees. Even coming up with a common definition for what unity should mean has proved impossible to unify around. "I do think it means a lot of different things," said John Anzalone, a top Biden adviser and campaign pollster. "When we would ask people in polls what was Joe Biden's message, they understood it was unity. They would say 'bringing people together' or 'unity.' " "It may have meant different things to them," Anzalone added. "Maybe it was bringing the different parties together. Or healing the country by using a different tone and demeanor." Republicans - citing various Democratic initiatives that Biden is putting forth - have already sounded anti-unity alarms, claiming that the fact Biden is governing as a Democrat means he is not committed to his campaign mantra. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., defined "unity" differently still, arguing Sunday on CNN's "Inside Politics" that the phrase perhaps should mean Democrats being "unified against insurrection," a reference to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of angry Trump supporters. The upcoming Senate impeachment trial of Trump over his alleged role in inciting that riot underscores the riven nature of the nation's politics, with all but five Republican senators voting Tuesday to challenge the constitutionality of impeaching a former president. Biden and his aides have offered broad, and sometimes conflicting, definitions of what unity entails. The president told reporters Monday that it means trying to "eliminate the vitriol," "trying to reflect what the majority of the American people - Democrat, Republican, independent - think," and trying to "stay away from the ad hominem attacks on one another." But Biden also said consensus should not be confused with bipartisanship, and left open the possibility muscling through his coronavirus relief package over the objections of congressional Republicans. "Unity also is trying to get, at a minimum, if you pass a piece of legislation that breaks down on party lines, but it gets passed, it doesn't mean there wasn't unity," Biden said. "It just means it wasn't bipartisan." White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing Monday that unity signifies "approaching our work on legislative issues through a bipartisan lens," but also "projecting that he is going to govern for all people and address all of the issues that the American people are facing." "Unity is about the country feeling that they're in it together," Psaki said, "and I think we'll know that when we see it." Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., echoed the same phrase, which is often associated with the definition of obscenity famously offered by then-Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. "I'll know it when I see it," Hickenlooper said when asked how to recognize unity. "Isn't that what they say about pornography?" Early polling indicates that most Americans agree with Biden's call for bipartisanship, with 71% saying they would rather see congressional Republicans work with Biden than focus on keeping him in check, according to a new Monmouth University poll conducted in the days after the inauguration. About 6 in 10 Americans have some confidence that Biden will be able to get Washington to be more cooperative, and nearly 8 in 10 said it was very or extremely important that the federal government address the lack of unity in the country. But Republicans argue that by pursing policy goals with which they disagree, the new president is spurning his own appeals for unity. The stance is arguably disingenuous, but also potentially politically effective, allowing Republicans to undercut Biden's entire organizing principle. In a tweet, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, linked to a story on Biden's move to end Trump's ban on transgender soldiers serving in the military, writing: "Another 'unifying' move by the new Administration?" Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., criticized Biden's aspirations, as well. "I just wish that his actions matched the words of his inaugural in terms of being unifying and healing," Johnson said this week. "I'm not seeing his initial actions being that, which is disappointing." And Mark Levin, a conservative talk radio and Fox News host, used his show to lambaste what he said were Biden's false claims of unity. "Joe Biden made much of the word unity," he said last weekend. "Nothing that Joe Biden has done since his inauguration speech demonstrates any form of unity." Writing online, Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to Obama, moved to temper the realm of the possible: "The 'unity' conversation is going to be constantly distorted with unfair expectations, bad faith arguments, and general stupidity." Natural partisan disagreements, he wrote, should not be misconstrued as disunity, and one metric for success should be consensus from a majority of the country, not a majority from the opposing party. "Joe Biden won the election. Republicans lost. Joe Biden doing the things Americans elected him to do is not divisive. The Republicans may not like it, but that's their problem," Pfeiffer wrote. "A majority of Americans voted to rejoin the Paris Accords, repeal the Muslim ban, implement more comprehensive pandemic measures and so on. Pushing forward on agenda items supported by the majority of Americans is not divisive just because [Republican Sens.] Ted Cruz and Ron Johnson find it irksome." At the same time, even some of Biden's Democratic allies have struggled to articulate the exact meaning of the word in a Biden administration, often defining it by what it is not. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., said unity can be observed and felt, but not necessarily measured. "Unity to me simply means finding common ground - it doesn't mean unanimity," he said. "I don't know why people think you can't be unified unless you're unanimous. That's all Biden is talking about: trying to find common ground." Clyburn liked it to his 58-year marriage to his wife, who died in 2019. "There was never any disunity to our marriage," he said. "But there was a whole lot of difference of opinion. We were seldom unanimous in what we did and what we thought, but there was always unity." Still, Clyburn added, though he believes Biden's main goal is seeking common ground, the concept can also be warped - and even dangerous. "I don't want to be unfair about this, but one of the reasons I don't like this unity argument is because I've been Black all my 80 years and in the South," he said. "The South was unified against me. There was Southern unity for segregation. So you have to be relative about this. You can be unified and be inhuman. Unity is to me something we have to be careful about." Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., who often talks with Biden and spoke to him as he prepared the foundation of his campaign, said that some of the symbolic actions in the early days of Biden's presidency - a day of service shortly before his inauguration, a memorial for coronavirus victims and a bipartisan invitation to lawmakers to join him for a church service - were designed with unity in mind. "It doesn't mean uniformity, it doesn't mean conformity or unanimity, it doesn't mean we're all going to agree on everything," Coons said. "Bringing unity to the country starts with telling us the truth, having a real and concrete plan. It's not just brave words. It's actually doing the job of being president." Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado, laughed out loud when confronted with the question of how unity can be measured. "I'm not sure how you measure when you're there," he said. "But I do think that what President Biden is putting out is a road map." The concept has been a guiding force for Biden since the earliest days of his campaign, when he was meeting with advisers at a home he was renting in McLean to sketch out his fledgling bid. "We choose unity over division," Biden said, again and again, in the climax of almost every stump speech. On the campaign trail, he frequently used unity and civility interchangeably, often while mentioning the lesson imparted to him by the late former Democratic senator Mike Mansfield: "It's always appropriate to question another man's judgment, but never appropriate to question his motives." Biden's rhetoric was generally cast as naive in a Democratic primary in which candidates often engaged in partisan warfare, as Biden trumpeted his ability to work with Republicans. "I kept talking about unity, and everybody said, 'No, you can't have unity any longer. It's changed so fundamentally, Joe. It can't be put back together again,' " he said during a 2019 fundraiser. "Well, if that's the case, we're all dead. We're in real trouble, because our constitutional system requires consensus." Late in the campaign, Biden delivered a major speech in Gettysburg, Pa. - a place chosen to highlight the perils of division, and the merits of unity. "The closing argument is that we need to unify the country," Mike Donilon, Biden's chief strategist, said at the time. "He won't represent just Democrats or Republicans; he'll represent everyone." In his inauguration speech, Biden mentioned "unity" more than a half-dozen times, at one point citing other challenges that tested the nation - the Civil War, the Great Depression, two world wars and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "In each of these moments, enough of us came together to carry all of us forward," he said, referring not to an end of partisanship but an idealistic joining of the nation. "And, we can do so now. History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity." One example of Biden's approach occurred at the end of a brief question-and-answer session with reporters Monday. As Biden's aides began to wrap up, ushering the media out of the room, the president paused and turned to Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy, who as a reporter covering the campaign often rankled Biden and his team with his pointed questions. "I know he always asks me tough questions, and he always has an edge to them," Biden said. "But I like him anyway." "So," the president continued, addressing the reporter from a network whose prime-time hosts frequently propagate false conspiracy theories against him, "go ahead and answer - ask the question." AFL great Billy Brownless' model daughter has revealed how the once fractured family came together for a Christmas dinner, five years after her parents split and mother Nicky began a new relationship with Billy's former best mate and Footy Show co-host Garry Lyon. The marriage break-up that shocked the AFL world had caused what seemed an irreparable rift between Brownless and Lyon, but time had apparently healed the wound sufficiently for the three of them, plus children, to break bread together at Christmas. In 2016, Lyon left his wife and started a relationship with Brownless' wife of 18 years, Nicky. Both men's marriages had ended before Nicky and Lyon announced they were a couple, but Brownless still felt betrayed because they had assured him they were nothing more than 'just good friends'. Billy Brownless spent Christmas Day with his children, ex wife and her new partner - his former best mate Garry Lyon - five years after the relationship destroyed the duo's friendship (Pictured clockwise around the table from bottom left, Max, Lucy, Nicky, Garry, Jan Smith, Ruby, Billy, Oscar) After five years of bad blood, Brownless and Lyon (pictured, second from left and third from right) seemed to have reconciled earlier in 2020, with Brownless saying they were in a 'good spot' Brownless posed with his four children Ruby, Lucy, Max and Oscar in Geelong on Christmas Day (pictured, the four kids with their dad, centre) After five years of bad blood, Brownless and Lyon began steps toward reconciliation earlier this year when Brownless said they were in a 'good spot', before spending Christmas Day together. Brownless' daughter Lucy described the lunch between the blended families as 'really special'. 'It worked really well and that was all very positive. We're all happy and happy to be all together. It was a great day. We were all really excited about that,' she told the Herald Sun. Also at the Christmas Day celebration was Lucy's siblings Ruby, Oscar and Max, who she spent lockdown with last year. 'We really enjoyed it and made the most of it. My grandma was with us, Oscar was in Queensland with Geelong for the footy and Ruby and Max and I got that time together which was really nice,' Lucy said. Brownless' daughter Lucy described Christmas Day lunch between the blended families as 'really special' Lyon was also featured in some of the happy snaps from the lunch in Geelong, illustrating that the men really have seemed to bury the hatchet - years after he quit the Footy Show when the scandal erupted. Brownless, 53, addressed the issue with fellow AFL greats Sam Newman and Don Scott on an episode of the pair's You Cannot Be Serious podcast back in September. 'You know I'm going to ask you this - people want to know how you and Garry Lyon are going on,' Newman said at the tail end of the podcast. 'At the time you go through all different emotions of course,' Brownless responded. ''Why me?' and a bit of hatred. 'But now mate, it's been four or five years, I've come around and everyone is in a good spot to be honest. Garry and Nicky are - that's fine - and the kids are. 'That was the other big problem. Young Maxy was about 10, Oscar was about 14, the girls [Lucy and Ruby] were 16, 17.' Billy Brownless and Nicky Brownless (left) with Garry Lyon and Melissa Lyon (right) in 2012. Lyon famously started a relationship with Nicky - Billy Brownless' wife of 18 years Brownless with his daughters Lucy and Ruby at Flemington Racecourse in 2017. Brownless said in a podcast the break-up had been more difficult by the young age of his children. 'Young Maxy was about 10, Oscar was about 14, the girls were 16, 17,' he said Brownless conceded though he had not fully regained the friendship with Lyon they once had - saying the pair 'might be' able to be mates like before at some point. 'There's no Christmas cards yet but we have spoken a couple of times,' he said. 'The kids live with Garry and Nicky and things like that.' When probed on how long it had taken for him to move on from the split, Brownless said two years was too short, but five years may be more accurate. 'There's no problems, we're in a good space, he's in a good space, Nicky is, the kids are and so am I. But that has taken time. It has,' Brownless said. Opinion Elon Musks Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) network has been awarded US$885 million over 10 years to build out rural internet access in the U.S. This was the fourth largest amount awarded under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). Testing of preliminary Starlink service recently began. This is a billion-dollar (almost) vote of confidence in a service that is at the preliminary consumer testing stage. For rural and remote Canadians, does this mean that competitively priced high-speed broadband access will finally be available anywhere? For others, new technologies will compete against todays cable Telco, and independent internet service providers. But the new LEO services are still a year, two years or more away from full-scale commercial operation, depending on who you ask in the satellite industry. When Musk first announced his plan several years ago, he said he was targeting 30 per cent of the global broadband access market by the 2030s. How? And what makes LEO satellites different from the GEO (geostationary) satellites that have been in service since the 1960s? What makes them different from existing LEO networks such as Iridium and Globalstar? With thousands of satellites, the unit cost is projected to drop because theyre produced by normal industrial processes, whereas geostationary satellites are built one by one, making them comparatively expensive. The LEO satellites only have to be launched a few hundred kilometres above the Earth, so launch costs are much lower than for a GEO satellite that has to travel 35,000 km to geostationary orbit. LEO satellites have much lower latency than GEOs because theyre so much closer to Earth. Latency refers to how much time it takes for a signal to travel to its destination. LEO satellites are projected to have latency as low as terrestrial fibre networks and even lower in some situations. GEOs take more than 600 milliseconds to make the trip from Earth to the satellite and back. The new LEO networks are broadband, providing much more capacity (higher speeds) than the earlier-generation Iridium narrow band capability that has delivered satellite phone service and short data messages since the 1990s. Amazons Kuiper program and Starlink are getting most of the press, but theyre not the only entrants in the broadband LEO market. O3B (meaning the other three billion people who didnt have good internet access) has been operating for several years in mid-Earth orbit (MEO), a little higher up than LEO. It turns out that it has been successful in higher-priced niche applications, such as communications to super yachts, than its name implied was its original target. Nevertheless, O3B is operating successfully. The new entrants have added satellite-to-satellite communications, which should greatly reduce costs by reducing the need for ground stations and double hops. An email going from Canada to China can go up to one satellite and then transfer to other satellites in orbit to arrive at its destination. OneWeb has also been launching LEO satellites and building ground stations. Recently it went into bankruptcy, and was reorganized and refinanced, with the help of the United Kingdom government as well as private sector participants. Now, OneWeb is building and launching satellites again. Telesat Canada, founded with federal government participation in 1969, was long described as Canadas domestic satellite communications carrier. By combining operations with Loral in 2006, it became one of the big four global GEO satellite companies. Telesat also has a major LEO system on the drawing boards and has launched several demonstration satellites. Canadas federal government has invested heavily in this venture with cash and commitments to purchase service in the future. There are four or five entrants (if you want to include O3B) chasing the same market with highly capital-intensive technology. Are there too many players for the size of the market? Has the glamour and romance of space attracted too many players? Will there be more big bankruptcies like those in the narrow-band LEO sector in the early 1990s? To remain viable, Iridium had to be reorganized with virtually the whole of the original investment written off and still required a major commitment from the U.S. Department of Defense for future service. OneWebs reorganization is an indication of the risk, even though it emerged successfully. Mergers arent really a practical solution if it turns out that there are too many participants. They cant merge the networks because the technology of each company is incompatible with the others. With the exception of O3B, we have yet to see pricing for commercial enterprise and residential services. Although there are still some unanswered questions, these are exciting times in the satellite industry. The emerging LEO systems will be disruptive, shaking up both the traditional satellite industry and challenging terrestrial fibre-optic communications. It could put an end to the digital divide. Roland Renner is a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. A former employee of Bell and Telesat, he assists companies competing with Telco, cable, and satellite incumbents, including Hunter Communications, owner of a GEO satellite beam with high-power northern Canadian service capability. Troy Media 18+ FOR.kg search news service (news aggregator, media aggregator) Read first Agreement on the use of the FOR.kg search site When using materials from the FOR.kg - reference to the source is required For all questions please contact customer support ADVERTISEMENT Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned that unequal global access to coronavirus vaccines risks protracting the pandemic and resulting in continued hotspots around the world. Mr Putin gave the warning in his virtual address to the World Economic Forum in Davos. As we can see, mass vaccination today is accessible mostly to those who live in developed countries. At the same time, there are hundreds of millions of people in our world who cannot even hope to get such protection. In reality, such inequality could result in a common threat because the pandemic will drag on and uncontrolled epicentres will remain, Mr Putin said. The president went on to back the development of a streamlined system of disease monitoring to avert such future outbreaks. We need to learn the lessons from the current situation to come up with measures to make the global system for monitoring the emergence of such diseases more effective, Mr Putin said. The Russian leader said that the era of protracted attempts to build the unipolar world order had come to an end. It is clear that an era associated with attempts to build the centralised, unipolar world order is over. The reality is that there are truly different sides to development in the world, with distinctive political systems, political models, social institutions, and today it is extremely important to create many mechanisms for coordinating the interests. The diversity is natural, Mr Putin said. (Sputnik/NAN) (Source: Reuters) Bahrain has received its first delivery of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, state media said on Thursday. The vaccine will be free to citizens and residents of the Gulf Arab state, state media said. Follow our LIVE blog for latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also prime minister, thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "and our friends in India for working with us to secure the delivery of" the vaccine, his court said in a Twitter post. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here We call on all educators, parents and students in Chicago and across the country to join the national network of educators rank-and-file safety committees and to attend our next meeting on Saturday, January 30, at 1 p.m. EST (12 p.m. CST). In the face of a national campaign by the Biden administration and the media to reopen schools, Chicago teachers and support staff are leading the resistance of educators across the US against the resumption of in-class instruction as the pandemic enters a new and deadlier phase. Last Saturday, Chicago teachers voted by 71 percent not to return for in-person instruction, which Chicago Public Schools (CPS) resumed January 4, and to strike if the district retaliated against teachers defying orders to return to classrooms on Monday. Confronting a direct battle with 23,000 educators in the nations third largest school district, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and school officials backed off threats to punish teachers for illegally striking and set a new deadline for K-8 teachers to return to classrooms on Wednesday. CPS was forced to backtrack again on Wednesday and cancel Thursdays return to classrooms. January has been the deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, with more than 80,000 deaths so far. More infectious and lethal variants of the virus have been detected in 28 states and are forecast to become dominant by March. The new CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, reported Wednesday that the death toll would hit the horrifying mark of half a million by February 20. Teachers in Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood march against the unsafe reopening of Chicago Public Schools (Twitter/@rcoppo1) With vaccine shortages delaying the widespread inoculation of the population until late summer or the fall, the shutting down of schools and nonessential workplaces is the most essential measure to save lives. But Biden, who said there would be more than 600,000 deaths before the US begins to turn the corner in a major way, has declared that he wants all K-8 students back in school by mid-April. This is critical, he said, to put millions of people back to work, including [a]ll those mothers and fathers that are home, taking care of their children rather than go to work, even when they can work. Biden, whose wife hosted the leaders of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) at a White House meeting last week, is counting on the unions to facilitate school reopenings so his administration can avoid a direct confrontation with teachers, which would further expose the anti-working class character of his administration and the Democratic Party. Throughout this week, the corporate media have released a barrage of news reports and editorials claiming schools are safe and denouncing the Chicago teachers, with the Wall Street Journal insisting they are holding students hostage. But scientific studies in the US and throughout the world have proven that schools are major contributors to the spread of COVID-19, and that children can suffer death or lifelong damage if infected. An NBC Nightly News segment Wednesday reported a new spike among four- to six-year-olds of COVID-19-related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), which has already killed dozens of children and left others with severe organ damage in 47 states. Mayor Lightfoot is engaged in frenzied behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) to reach a deal before the districts February 1 deadline for the return of 10,000 educators and 71,000 K-8 students. For their part, CTU officials have called for a mediator to intervene in negotiations and have outlined a series of meager demands as the basis for a return-to-work agreement. According to a post on the unions web site, these include a health metric based on CDC guidance, a phased reopening, access to vaccinations for educators, and enforceable safety standards in school buildings, which have struggled to meet even basic needs for PPE, adequate ventilation and clean facilities. But such a deal would jeopardize both teachers as well as children and their families. It is far from guaranteed that Chicagos 23,000 educators will be able to get even one vaccine dose given the fact that the city has been receiving only 34,000 per week and there are roughly 660,000 health care, transit and other essential workers in the same vaccination priority group as teachers. Even if that is the case, returning students who are not being vaccinated will still be able to infect one another, accelerating the spread of the virus throughout working class communities. The CTU gave the district weeks to blackmail teachers back to work and a free hand to victimize many of the 900 pre-K and cluster teachers who refused to return on January 4 by docking their pay and locking them out of their computer accounts, preventing them from teaching remotely. Jake, an elementary school teacher and one of the approximately 150 teachers locked out by CPS, told the WSWS, We were just their test animals. It was like, Lets see if they dont get sick. But I dont want to be their experiment. How can they deep clean every school like they say they are going to do, when they dont even have soap, paper towels or working hand dryers. Jake contracted COVID-19 early last month and said, I couldnt leave the bed for ten days. I had trouble breathing. It sucked. Theres so many at risk. The kids. The adults. No one should get sick. The only way to contain this is not to go back right now. Addressing educators across the US and internationally, he added, We go there every day and fight for the kids. The people higher up are just playing with us. And theyve caused division between us teachers. Were doing whats right. Whether were in the school district where we have to be back in person, or whether we are locked out at CPS, were in it together, he said, adding, Were in for a long battle. Another Chicago teacher commented, Last night the mayor explained that its not fair that teachers arent in-person because so many others have been at risk of exposure at work for so long. What? What good does spreading the risk of exposure to educators, students and by extension all involved families do except to protect businesses that should be liable for putting workers at risk of exposure? Its just a bad and corrupt plan on so many levels. She added, Teachers are literally fodder for the economic mill. In Chicago, teachers must live in the cityso teachers are funding banks through home loan interest, the city through property taxes, the food corporations when they spend money for food and essentials here, and recently minted teachers are owned by their student loans. The picket line is a terrible way to spend the day but if you or a loved one dies or is permanently disabled because of COVID, the day becomes infinitely worse. A high school teacher in Connecticut told the WSWS, I support Chicago teachers. This whole situation has been very ugly across the country. The shame is so real for me as an educator. Im embarrassed at how poorly were valued. Protests, sickouts and other job actions took place this week in New Jersey, Alabama, Georgia and other states. In Montgomery, Alabama, after weeks of protests, rank-and-file teachers organized sickouts Monday, forcing the district to adopt remote-only learning starting February 1 after four state educators died from COVID-19 in the space of 48 hours last week. The Democratic-led district, however, is already reneging on plans to order teachers back into schools so their remote instruction can be monitored. In Montclair, New Jersey, protests by teachers, parents and students forced the district to scrap plans to resume in-person instruction Monday. Educators in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, along with Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, California and Michigan have formed rank-and-file safety committees to take the conduct of the fight out of the hands of the unions, which are allied with Biden and the Democrats. This is part of the international resistance of educators, parents and students to the homicidal reopening of schools. Rank-and-file committees have also been established in Germany, the UK, Australia and other countries, while educators in Ontario, Canada, have begun to mount protests against school reopenings. In every country, these committees are fighting for the preparation of general strikes to demand the closure of all schools and non-essential workplaces, full income protection for workers and small businesses, and the reallocation of the trillions amassed by the pandemic profiteers to instead fully fund remote learning, rapidly distribute vaccines globally and put an end to poverty and inequality. JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE:EGP) (the "Company") announced today the income tax treatment of its 2020 distributions as described below. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of EastGroup Properties distributions. Common Stock: Ticker Symbol EGP, CUSIP #277 276 101 Record Dates Payment Dates Total Distributions Per Share (1) Ordinary Dividends Capital Gain Distributions Unrecaptured Sec. 1250 Gain (2) Nondividend Distributions (3) Section 199A Dividends (4) 12/30/19 01/15/20 $.37695 $.37695 $.00000 $.00000 $.00000 $.37695 03/31/20 04/15/20 .75000 .75000 .00000 .00000 .00000 .75000 06/30/20 07/15/20 .75000 .75000 .00000 .00000 .00000 .75000 09/30/20 10/15/20 .79000 .79000 .00000 .00000 .00000 .79000 12/31/20 01/15/21 .66173 .66173 .00000 .00000 .00000 .66173 TOTALS $3.32868 $3.32868 $.00000 $.00000 $.00000 $3.32868 Form 1099-DIV box 1a 2a 2b 3 5 (1) Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Section 857(b)(9), cash distributions made on January 15, 2021 with a record date of December 31, 2020 are treated as received by shareholders on December 31, 2020 to the extent of 2020 undistributed earnings and profits. (2) Unrecaptured Sec. 1250 Gain (box 2b) is a subset of, and is included in, the Capital Gain Distributions amount reported in box 2a of Form 1099-DIV. (3) Return of Capital (4) Represents qualified REIT dividends that may be eligible for the 20% qualified business income deduction under Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that is available for non-corporate taxpayers and is included in "Ordinary Dividends." The Company did not incur any foreign taxes in 2020. Of the total distributions during 2020, none are considered qualifying dividends for purposes of the federal 15% income tax rate. EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP), an S&P MidCap 400 company, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 15,000 to 70,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 47 million square feet. EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net. SOURCE EastGroup Properties Related Links http://www.eastgroup.net The Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, on Thursday met with the British Ambassador to Romania, Andrew Noble, among the topics discussed being the settlement of European arrest warrants issued on the name of businessmen Alexander Adamescu and Gabriel Popoviciu, which Romania is trying to extradite from UK. According to a press release of the Ministry of Justice, during the meeting, the two officials discussed the relations between Romania and the United Kingdom in the field, voicing their appreciation on how bilateral cooperation works between the two countries, including in the judicial field. Also, both sides expressed their belief that the recent EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the United Kingdom will provide a solid basis for continuing bilateral law enforcement dialogue.The two officials also addressed the cases of Romanian businessmen Alexander Adamescu and Gabriel Popoviciu, for whom European arrest warrants have been issued and who are currently in the UK."With regard to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, the Minister of Justice thanked for the very good cooperation with the British authorities, especially in the context of the execution by the judicial authorities in the United Kingdom of arrest warrants issued by Romanian courts. This field is regulated by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and, as the rules have not changed substantially, we believe that there will be no syncopes in the future. We also discussed the cases concerning the settlement of European arrest warrants issued on the names Adamescu Bogdan, Popoviciu Gabriel Aurel. We appreciate any information provided by British colleagues on concrete elements regarding the surrender of persons in respect of whom the judicial proceedings before the British courts have been concluded," reads the same press release.According to the Ministry, in the future, the actions of the two sides will focus on combating organized crime in all its forms and, in particular, human trafficking, the protection of minors and the fight against corruption.Businessman Gabriel Puiu Popoviciu has received a final sentence of 7 years in prison in the "Baneasa" case, and he was located in the UK, where a court ordered his surrender on July 12, 2019. Popoviciu filed an appeal, which is in now pending, with hearings to start on March 15.On the name of businessman Alexander Adamescu, the Bucharest Court of Appeal issued an arrest warrant on June 6, 2016, as he was investigated by anti-corruption prosecutors for committing two bribery offences. He was located and arrested in the UK in March 2018, and a British court ordered his surrender. Subsequently, Adamescu requested permission to formulate a question before the Supreme Court of UK and it cannot be handed over until this request is resolved. Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has vowed to continue speaking out against corruption after his release on bail following three weeks in detention. Chin'ono is facing charges of "peddling falsehoods" on social media charges he denies. Journalist Hopewell Chin'ono, who was released from Chikurubi Maximum Prison on Wednesday after paying about $2,000 in bail, is defiant and bitter about his 19 days in detention on a charge that carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. In the past six months have spent 80 days behind that filthy prison on trumped up charges, simply because I am talking about corruption, simply because I am making citizens understand the impact of corruption and how it is related to their suffering: to the failure by the government to put drugs in hospitals, to fix roads, to deliver water in peoples homes," said Chin'ono. "I am a journalist and I will continue doing journalism. I havent broken any laws of this country. It is political persecution, as I have been saying since day one when I was first arrested on the 20th of July. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights which is representing Chin'ono and two opposition leaders on the same charge says "peddling falsehoods was removed from the countrys statute books by the Constitutional Court in 2014. But the government says the law still exists. In an interview, Nick Mangwana, Zimbabwes information secretary, dismissed Chinonos claims of persecution for speaking about corrupt officials. Everybody talks about corruption. Open any paper, there are people talking about corruption," said Mangwana. "He knows he is breaking the law. Not speaking about corruption. We acknowledge that there is corruption in Zimbabwe, thats why we have ZACC, because we acknowledge that there is corruption. So he is talking nonsense. ZACC is the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. Tabani Moyo leads the Media Institute of Southern Africa in Zimbabwe. He says there is not much to celebrate about the release of Chin'ono who has been arrested three times in less than six months for his social media posts. This is strategy by the government to use different means towards ensuring that there are chilling effects on expressing online," said Moyo. "You start to self censor. That is the same situation that they are trying to ensure by arresting high profile opposition figures, like investigative journalists in the form of Hopewell Chinono. So this is a trial of expression. It is the right to express which is under siege, no matter which platform you are analyzing. The right to express is literally besieged. Chinono and opposition leaders Fadzayi Mahere and Job Sikhala were arrested early this month for commenting on a video in which citizens accused police officers of fatally assaulting a baby, who was on her mothers back at bus stop. Police later issued a statement saying both the mother and the baby were never assaulted. Chinono is on bail for two other charges. In July he was arrested for promoting an anti-government protest on social media. Then in November he was arrested for obstruction of justice, as well as demeaning the countrys National Prosecution Authority with his posts on social media. He denies any wrongdoing. The first round of Covid-19 vaccinations will be administered from 11 New South Wales hospitals from the end of February. Vaccination hubs for Phase 1a of the Pfizer jab will include Sydney's Prince Alfred hospital, Westmead hospital, Liverpool hospital, Hornsby hospital, St George hospital and the Nepean hospital. Doses will also be administered at rural hospitals in Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga. The AstraZeneca is also 'on track' to roll out shortly after, but German scientists have warned it shouldn't be given to patients over 65 - a claim disputed by UK medical authorities. The first round of Covid-19 vaccinations will be administered from 11 New South Wales hospitals from the end of February. Pictured: A woman receives a Covid vaccine in Finland With limited doses available until mid year in Australia, the first round of vaccines will go to healthcare, aged care and quarantine workers as well as those living in aged care and nursing homes. Who gets Phase 1a vaccine first? Quarantine and border workers - 70,000 doses Frontline health care staff - 100,000 doses Aged care and disability care workers - 318,000 doses Aged care and disability care residents - 190,000 doses Total initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine: 678,000 Advertisement 'Once more vaccine doses become available from Phase 1b, it is expected that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be available for the wider population through usual immunisation providers, including GP practices, GP respiratory clinics and Aboriginal health services,' NSW Health said. Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd said the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored below -70C, making it difficult to transport. Outreach teams will be set up at each hub to oversee the rollout and bring recipients into the hospitals. Australia is scheduled to receive 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine manufactured in Belgium. But Pfizer Australia and New Zealand managing director Louise Graham is hopeful a ramp up in production will result in even more. 'As Pfizer is now scaling up and looking to produce far more than was originally expected, we expect to be in future discussions about the ability to increase that (allocation),' she told a Senate committee on Thursday. Meanwhile, 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca compound is also set to roll out in March. With limited doses available until mid year in Australia, the first round of vaccines will go to healthcare, aged care and quarantine workers as well as those living in aged care and nursing homes But the UK-developed vaccine has been called into question by German scientists. 'There are currently insufficient data available to assess the vaccine efficacy from 65 years of age,' German health ministry's vaccine committee said. Australia has rights to 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford vaccine and has also biomedical giant CSL set up to begin producing the vaccine in Melbourne. The Therapeutic Goods Administration will make a final decision on the vaccine's approval in February. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UK health chief have rejected Germany's claims and insisted the AstraZeneca vaccine works for all age groups. 'There are currently insufficient data available to assess the vaccine efficacy from 65 years of age,' German health ministry's vaccine committee said. Pictured: Staff hand out face masks at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital British regulators have approved the jab for all age groups - with AstraZeneca pointing to data published in a medical journal showing that 100 per cent of older adults generated antibodies in trials. Germany's stance comes amid an angry row between the EU and AstraZeneca over vaccine supplies, with the bloc lagging far behind Britain in immunising its population against Covid-19. Although it is possible the position could change with more evidence, it raises the prospect of splits between the UK and EU on what vaccines are regarded as effective - with speculation that in the future travel to some destinations could be contingent on having been inoculated. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said if the European-made vaccines are held up over efficiency concerns it could put the government's plan to inoculate 4 million Australians by April in jeopardy. Boris Johnson is shown the Lighthouse Laboratory, used for processing PCR samples for coronavirus, during a visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow He said Australia should have secured a 'greater set of choices as to what vaccines to use in our initial rollout,' the Daily Telegraph reported. 'In particular, we don't have a contract for the Moderna vaccine, which is one that could have been approved in Australia right now in a similar time frame to the Pfizer vaccine,' he said. 'We have no information as to why the Australian government went with Pfizer over Moderna and why we were unable to achieve a deal with them.' NSW has now gone 12 days without any locally transmitted coronavirus cases. In 2010, while serving as an Army combat medic, I was stationed on a former Nazi-base in Western Germany. The history wasnt inconspicuous. In fact, white soldiers were often infatuated by it. Theyd sneak selfies beside a swastika embedded into a brick building not far from the barracks I called homeremnants of the Third Reich that hadnt been wiped clean in the decades since American forces had taken over the garrison. Read more American soldiers casually reading Hilters Mein Kempf, in uniform no less, were largely viewed as harmless. The pervasive use of Confederate symbols were simply an innocuous display of Southern pride. And right-wing talking points and conspiracy theories disguised as office banter were widely tolerated as inconsequential. So, it came as little shock when the identity of nearly one-fifths of those apprehended for the siege on the capitol earlier this month were revealed to be both present and former members of the military. The country watched in horror as images of white mobs dawning military-grade equipment and racist paraphernalia stormed a session of Congress as it sought to certify the 2020 election. Many of those leading the insurrection at the behest of Donald Trump were veterans whose radicalization had long-been forewarned, and whose loyalties had officially shifted. For years, rallying cries from veteran-advocates citing a rise in white-nationalism within the ranks coincided with mounting efforts by extremist groups to recruit soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen for their weapons training and combat expertise. It all came to a violent head within the halls of Congress on Jan. 6. The insurrection has left little doubt that white supremacist extremists remain the deadliest domestic terror threat in the United States. And while racism is an ever-present undercurrent in our nations military, leaders at the Department of Defense continue to downplay the rise and breadth of right-wing ideology among troopspreferring to paint incidents of racial hatred as fringe, not systemic. The siege of the capitol has shattered that lie. For many service members, the tenor of the events of Jan. 6 were not unfamiliar. As early as 2017, 1 in 4 reported having white nationalist sentiments espoused within their units. Congressional efforts to address this were thwarted in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, as a provision calling for the screening of new recruits for white nationalist sympathies was vetoed by President Trump. In the military, unchecked white nationalism places a tax on Black service members psychological safety, said Timothy Berry, a graduate of the United States Military Academy West Point and former Field Artillery Officer. It is a cancer to unit cohesion and military readiness. An honest reckoning around race has been historically avoided by the Department of Defense, an institution whose bureaucracy and public relations machine has been its scapegoat from accountability. But, Black veterans are beginning to fight back, forcing the DoDs hand by compelling the release of confidential survey data that paints a grim picture of the state of racial affairs across the military. Though the singular survey, made public this past December after staunch advocacy by the Black Veterans Project, fails to capture the full scope of the problem across years-in-service, nearly one-third of Black troops cited experiencing racial harassment in 2017 alone and believed formally reporting these incidents would result in negative reactions from leadership and adversely affect their ability to be promoted. A history of bad paper discharges and racial disparities in military justice give cause for concern. Military leaders are too willing to give the benefit of the doubt to people who look like them. This problem is not new said Coretta Gray, a former Air Force judge advocate who now works extensively to bring light to stark racial disparities in military justice. Black service members often operate in work environments that are hostile and feel powerless to change it. Last week, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) announced efforts to work with congressional colleagues on legislation to provide U.S. troops the same legal protections against discrimination as civilian employees by extending Title VII protections under the Civil Rights Act to the service members. Presently, no federal statutes bar discrimination in the military, leaving wide room for the D.O.D to use its own discretion around tackling issues of racial discrimination. Retired General Lloyd Austin, who was confirmed as the nations first African American secretary of defense Friday and whose appointment has been widely viewed as a gesture of good faith by the Biden administration to diversify top military brass, has vowed to root out racism and extremism. It remains unclear how he intends to accomplish this mission and whether hed support the legislative efforts to reshape the militarys equal opportunity policies and procedures proposed by Senator Gillibrand. One thing is certain, if serious and transformative steps are not taken, the military risks further exacerbating the threat posed by right-wing extremists by allowing its ranks to be a training ground. And safety and careers of Black service members will continue to be collateral damage. Richard Brookshire is the co-founder and executive director of the Black Veterans Project. The plastic wheels of an elderly man's walker scraped across the rough pavement of the parking lot Friday as he made his way across P Street t Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Ship Liferafts Market report offers a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future opportunities. This report is responsible for quantitative estimation and foreseen future for upcoming years based on the recent companies strategic moves and historical data. Further, the market report is categorized into different segments, regions, and countries level. This report also provides competitor analysis with its market share and developments. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Ship Liferafts market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Ship Liferafts Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-31425 According to this study, over the next five years, the Ship Liferafts market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Ship Liferafts business, shared in Chapter 3. This Ship Liferafts market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Ship Liferafts market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. LALIZAS Survitec SHM Shanghai Youlong Rubber Products VIKING FUJIKURA COMPOSITES Shanghai Star Rubber Products Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-31425 This study considers the Ship Liferafts value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Large Liferaft Middle Liferaft Small Liferaft Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Maritime Rescue Rivers Rescue In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Ship Liferafts Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-31425 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Ship Liferafts consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Ship Liferafts market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Ship Liferafts manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Ship Liferafts with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Ship Liferafts submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/ship-liferafts-market-2020-analysis-by-latest-trends-growth-opportunities-with-potential-impact-of-covid-19/ DENVER, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cherry Creek Mortgage, a nationwide, full-service mortgage lender, today announced that Tara Healy, CMB, has been promoted to chief compliance officer. She had been vice president of compliance. Healy has 20 years of experience within the mortgage industry, with a special focus on originations, operations management and compliance. Before joining Cherry Creek in 2016, Healy worked for 15 years at LenderLive, where she was most recently director of corporate compliance. Before that she was director of operations and operations manager at LenderLive, the company founded by Rick Seehausen, who was named president and COO of Cherry Creek Holdings in December. Healy is the youngest female president of the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association and a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association's legal issues and regulatory compliance committee. She was awarded the prestigious Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation in 2018. Healy was recently named a "Woman with Vision" for 2020 by Women with Vision magazine. The award is granted to women professionals in the mortgage space who exemplify a forward vision of leadership and excellence in their field. "I know from experience working with Tara here at Cherry Creek and previously at LenderLive that she is a true mortgage professional," Seehausen said. "Tara is a highly talented individual and certainly deserving of this promotion." "I truly am honored about the opportunity," Healy said. "The company has experienced fantastic growth and is continuing to expand. To be part of the Cherry Creek family during this time of growth is exciting!" Founded in 1987, Cherry Creek Mortgage provides a robust offering of FHA, conventional and jumbo purchase and refinance mortgage loans utilizing a highly advanced, proprietary technology platform. The company originates loans through more than 70 retail branches, a highly efficient consumer direct channel, wholesale, and a number of highly successful joint ventures. About Cherry Creek Mortgage, LLC Cherry Creek Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #3001, has a 33-year tradition of serving the needs of home buyers across the country. With a reputation built on a passion for responsible lending and dedication to personal relationships, Cherry Creek Mortgage has helped thousands of customers realize their goal of home ownership. Cherry Creek Mortgage's specialized internal processes and proprietary technology deliver a digital mortgage experience with a personal touch. The company is headquartered in Colorado and is licensed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Learn more at cherrycreekmortgage.com. Press Contact Mike Murray Director of Communications Strategic Vantage Marketing & Public Relations (240) 498-0863 [email protected] SOURCE Cherry Creek Mortgage MEXICO CITY, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The President and Chairman of the Board of The American Society of Mexico, Larry Rubin, outlined today that the approval of the Outsourcing Reform project proposed by the Mexican President will make it difficult for U.S. companies and all corporations of different sizes to operate in Mexico, and in particular risk American investments in the country. "A reform of the law like it is proposed, will endanger U.S. companies plus put millions of SMEs and workers at risk at the worst possible time," Rubin said. U.S.-Mexico trade accounts for 628 billion dollars in 2019. Mexico's congress will discuss, starting next week, a bill that, if passed, will ban outsourcing as a way of hiring workers and place heavy burdens on all domestic and multinational companies. The practice of outsourcing, recognized as strong and useful by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), is a tool used by all companies when entering other markets and operating both in the United States and elsewhere. "Outsourcing is a crucial instrument for entrepreneurs. It guarantees quality employment and security for workers, but also legal certainty for companies, and that is what is really at stake," Rubin explained. The United States leads foreign direct investment in Mexico, especially in automotive, technology, science and aerospace, companies that use outsourcing and insourcing as a major tool. U.S. companies represented by The American Society, see the outsourcing law reform as a direct affect to Mexico's relations with the United States at a critical time, especially after the effects of the pandemic. "The signal that Mexico will send to the world with this reform, will be poisonous, and contrary to the spirit of free enterprise.Mexico is in no position to send signals of this kind. It's a terrible decision, at the worst possible time," Rubin remarks. "U.S. companies have alternatives to choosing other countries over Mexico when crafting foreign investment strategies", Larry commented. The passing of the bill will affect job generation in Mexico, according to a number of business chambers and associations including The American Society. "The reality is that Mexico can't afford to lose millions of jobs because that is what it will cost Mexico to pass the proposal," Rubin said. Larry Rubin is the President of the influential American Society of Mexico, which since 1942 represents the interests of two million Americans living in the country, American companies and NGOs from the United States. A non-profit, non-partisan organization, it was established in its original charter to represent all U.S. private interests in Mexico. Larry has been a leading American voice in Mexico and advocates about Mexico-U.S. relations for over 20 years. He is a former CEO of The American Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of the association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America. He has been key to supporting critical legislative proposals, and a critical voice with those trying to hurt Mexico-US relations. He is former General Director of American Airlines in Mexico, Vice President of the umbrella group of industrial chambers CONCAMIN, the Confederation of Industrial Chambers. The mission of The American Society of Mexico is to foster friendship, cultural, business, and civic ties between The United States and Mexico and other countries that have diplomatic relations with both nations. AmSoc, as it is also known, is an advocate for Americans in Mexico and Mexicans in the United States, collaborate in the bilateral agenda set forward between both Mexico and the United States, and defend bilateral interests. New York, Jan 28 : Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan discussed continuing close co-operation in the Indo-Pacific region and promoting regional security, according to the White House. During their phone conversation on Wednesday, Sullivan "reaffirmed President (Joe) Biden's commitment to a strong and enduring US-India strategic partnership based on our shared commitment to democracy", the White House said in a statement. "Renewing efforts to collaborate on global challenges, including Covid-19 and climate change" also figured in their talks, it said. Climate change figuring in their discussion shows the elevation of climate change to a matter of national security involving intelligence agencies by Biden. Biden's Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, said that under the President's executive order on climate change issued on Wednesday "our 17 intelligence agencies are going to come together and assess exactly what the danger and damage and potential risks are". Former President Donald Trump had raised the strategic importance of India to the US in dealing with the aggressive rise of China in the region and redesignated the military's Pacific Command as the Indo-Pacific Command to reflect the broader ambit and made that nomenclature a key element in strategic discussions. Sullivan mentioning cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in talks with Doval and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also referring to it and the cooperation with the Quad, which is the roup of India, the US, Japan and Australia, in his talk with Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne appears to affirm Biden's commitment to at least the outlines of the regional strategy. A trusted Biden aide, Sullivan had been his NSA when he was Vice President and, on his election, brought him along to the White House in a similar capacity. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Fraud charges have been laid almost two years after a criminal investigation was launched into the alleged misappropriation of more than $100,000 from the Kleefeld Recreation Association. Fraud charges have been laid almost two years after a criminal investigation was launched into the alleged misappropriation of more than $100,000 from the Kleefeld Recreation Association. On Wednesday, St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP announced Nicole Rempel, 44, of Kleefeld had been charged Jan. 15 with fraud over $5,000, as well as using a forged document. Rempel who had served, at various times, as the association's president, secretary and treasurer is to appear in St. Pierre-Jolys provincial court in March. The RCMP said the misappropriation occurred between 2011 and 2018. In a statement, Rural Municipality of Hanover Reeve Stan Toews said auditors first found a number of suspicious transactions at the KRA, during its annual financial year-end review in 2018. As a result, Toews said, the RM commissioned a forensic review of the association's books from 2011 to 2018. The completed report was submitted to both the municipal insurance program and RCMP in February 2019. "In July 2019, the municipality received $102,029 as a cash settlement from the municipal insurance program resulting from the losses that the forensic audit identified," he said. "The RM of Hanover, the growing community of Kleefeld, and the current KRA board, have essentially moved on from this unfortunate ordeal by implementing stricter policies to protect taxpayer dollars and the hard-working volunteers appointed to our five community centre boards," the reeve said. "We are letting the provincial courts bring this matter to a close." Rempel could not be reached for comment. She served as the association's secretary from 2012 to 2014, its president and treasurer from 2015 to 2016, and treasurer and secretary from 2017 to 2018. A lawsuit into the matter was also filed by the RM of Hanover and the Kleefeld Recreation Association in November 2019. That statement of claim said while Rempel had the authority to sign cheques, it was alleged she forged the second board member signature needed. It is also alleged she made out the cheques both to herself and to others. As well, to hide the payments, Rempel allegedly discontinued the association's relationship with a bookkeeper and claimed to the association its financial books were now being handled by another bookkeeper. The second bookkeeper allegedly does not exist. The lawsuit also claims it cost the RM and the association more than $26,000 to pay for the forensic review of the financial records. In September 2020, a Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench justice ordered Rempel to pay more than $133,000, while her husband, Chris, and their company, Guardian Property Services, were ordered to pay more than $46,000 apiece. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ApiJect Systems, Corp, a public benefit corporation based in Stamford, CT., announced today the creation of its new Leadership Advisory Board, along with the appointment of the Board's initial six outside members. They will join ApiJect's co-founder and Chairman, Jay Walker, and company CEO, Franco Negron, on this new Board. Mr. Walker and Mr. Negron will serve as ex-officio board members. ApiJect Systems, Corp., is a global injectable technology company. The company is building the world's largest pharmaceutical fill and finish manufacturing facilities in Durham, North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. The ApiJect campus is projected to produce up to 3 billion doses annually of injectable medicines. ApiJect has also built, using a $138 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, an emergency manufacturing capacity in Columbia, South Carolina to produce monthly up to 45 million single-dose prefilled syringes. ApiJect's new Leadership Advisory Board members are: Professor Heidi J. Larson , Ph.D., Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project, Professor of Anthropology, Risk and Decision Science, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Clinical Professor, Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle , USA . Professor Larson previously headed Global Immunization Communication at UNICEF, chaired the Gavi Alliance's Advocacy Task Force, and served on the WHO SAGE Working Group on vaccine hesitancy. Ph.D., Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project, Professor of Anthropology, Risk and Decision Science, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Clinical Professor, Global Health, , . Professor Larson previously headed Global Immunization Communication at UNICEF, chaired the Gavi Alliance's Advocacy Task Force, and served on the WHO SAGE Working Group on vaccine hesitancy. Dr. Regina M. Benjamin , M.D., MBA, served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States from 2009-2013. She was also chair of the National Prevention Council, composed of 17 cabinet-level heads of federal agencies that released the first-ever National Prevention Strategy, whose goal was to change our healthcare system from one based on sickness and disease to one of wellness and prevention. Dr. Benjamin serves on several corporate boards, including two publicly traded healthcare companies. As a family physician founder of Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, Dr. Benjamin is one of the nations leading voices on population and preventive health issues. M.D., MBA, served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States from 2009-2013. She was also chair of the National Prevention Council, composed of 17 cabinet-level heads of federal agencies that released the first-ever National Prevention Strategy, whose goal was to change our healthcare system from one based on sickness and disease to one of wellness and prevention. Dr. Benjamin serves on several corporate boards, including two publicly traded healthcare companies. As a family physician founder of Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, Dr. Benjamin is one of the nations leading voices on population and preventive health issues. Dr. Edward Kelley , Chief Global Health Officer for ApiJect Research Foundation. Dr. Kelley most recently served as Director of Integrated Health Services with the World Health Organization, leading WHOs work on primary health care and patient safety. Prior to his joining WHO, Dr. Kelley served for nearly a decade as Director of the U.S. National Healthcare Reports for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chief Global Health Officer for ApiJect Research Foundation. Dr. Kelley most recently served as Director of Integrated Health Services with the World Health Organization, leading WHOs work on primary health care and patient safety. Prior to his joining WHO, Dr. Kelley served for nearly a decade as Director of the U.S. National Healthcare Reports for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Michael J. Free, OBE, devoted 32 years serving as the Vice President for Technology at PATH. He led PATH's team of more than 100 scientists, engineers, product designers, public health and commercialization experts to a track record of success in bringing new technologies and products to resource-challenged populations. In 2011, Dr. Free was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for services to global health. OBE, devoted 32 years serving as the Vice President for Technology at PATH. He led PATH's team of more than 100 scientists, engineers, product designers, public health and commercialization experts to a track record of success in bringing new technologies and products to resource-challenged populations. In 2011, Dr. Free was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by for services to global health. Rueben M. Stokes , former Vice President of Global Diversity & Inclusion for Thermo Fisher Scientific, and former corporate senior executive in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). Mr. Stokes' DEI experience addresses talent acquisition, multicultural marketing, supplier diversity and community involvement. He is a former member of the 100 Black Men of America and a former member of the Board of Advisors at the Boston Museum of Science. former Vice President of Global Diversity & Inclusion for Thermo Fisher Scientific, and former corporate senior executive in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). Mr. Stokes' DEI experience addresses talent acquisition, multicultural marketing, supplier diversity and community involvement. He is a former member of the 100 Black Men of America and a former member of the Board of Advisors at the Boston Museum of Science. Dr. Marietta Vazquez, M.D., Professor, Yale University School of Medicine , attending, Yale Pediatric Primary Care Center. Dr. Vazquez is the first Latina to serve as a voting member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; she was appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Vazquez studies the clinical epidemiology of infectious diseases, with a focus on assessing the efficacy of vaccines. ApiJect CEO, Franco Negron commented: "ApiJect is indeed privileged to welcome its first members of our Leadership Advisory Board. We see this Board as an essential part of our company's mission to be world leaders in the technological advancement of injectable devices. These are individuals who dream big and seek aggressive change in global and U.S. public health." Mr. Negron continued: "In Rueben Stokes, we have a Fortune 500 veteran who knows global sales and how to navigate access to new markets. Rueben's work on behalf of diversity, equity and inclusion also gives ApiJect a powerful voice supporting a value system and culture that will help us attract and retain a workforce with pride in our company and its mission. Dr. Marietta Vazquez brings to us a deep and wide-ranging perspective on public health. Her unique combination of expertise in clinical epidemiology of infectious diseases and a decade long public health collaboration with the Dominican Republic adds to ApiJect's understanding of working in regions and communities with limited resources and underdeveloped health networks and infrastructure." ApiJect Chairman, Jay Walker commented: "Companies always benefit when they look beyond their day-to-day management team for additional leadership and strategic guidance and advice. Our Leadership Advisory Board has been created in recognition that identifying and associating with independent advisors with wide-ranging expertise and experience will be a significant asset for our company." Mr. Walker continued: "In Professor Heidi Larsen our Board has one of the world's most recognized experts on vaccine hesitancy. Her work with the WHO, the European Union, FDA, and other global health agencies in the design and support of vaccination campaigns will inform ApiJect as we seek to establish our role in global health. Dr. Regina Benjamin is an American original. Her passion for improving access to quality health care for all Americans has taken her from service at the highest levels of our federal government, as our nation's 18th Surgeon General, to her work supporting community health needs. Dr Ed Kelley and Dr Michael Free are two of the world's leading experts on global health. Ed created the WHOs first public-private collaboration working directly with the pharmaceutical and the medical device industries to improve health services and patient safety. Michael helped pioneer the operating model of nonprofits in public and global health working cooperatively with private enterprise." About ApiJect Systems, Corp. ApiJect Systems, Corp., is a global medical injectable technology company that seeks to change how medicines and vaccines are packaged and delivered to the world. Its platform is centered around the combination of two globally trusted technologies: pen needle-style hubs and Blow-Fill-Seal drug packaging, or BFS for short. The ApiJect platform's first device, the Prefilled Injector, allows a healthcare professional to twist on an IM Needle Hub onto a BFS prefilled container, creating a simple, safe and convenient-to-use prefilled injector that reliably delivers a single dose of medicine or vaccine. The ApiJect team is led by a seasoned group of senior employees in pharma management, operations, engineering, production, quality and sales. By creating a domestic and global network of partners that can package medicines and vaccines in BFS containers at high-speed, and providing them with interlocking Needle Hubs, the ApiJect platform can potentially supply healthcare markets with billions of single dose, ready-to-use prefilled injectors. ApiJect, along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a founding member of the RAPID Consortium, a public-private partnership dedicated to giving the U.S. and the world the surge drug packaging capacity it needs for addressing future pandemics and bio-emergencies. ApiJect was awarded a $138 million contract from the Department of Defense, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to create a high-volume domestic capacity to supply prefilled injectors. The U.S.-based capacity ApiJect has built through this emergency program aims to provide approximately 45 million prefilled injectors per month to America's population through 2021. ApiJect has also recently been approved by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation for a $590 million loan to construct a multi-facility campus enabling the U.S. to more quickly package high volumes of injectable medicines and vaccines in the event of a national emergency, beginning with COVID-19. Located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, this 1.2 million square foot campus will be home to the ApiJect Gigafactory, featuring one of the world's largest pharmaceutical fill-finish facilities, which is expected to have an annual production capacity of up to 3 billion single-dose prefilled injectors. Learn more about ApiJect at www.apiject.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in these materials that address activities, events or developments that ApiJect expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "believe", "expect", "may", "estimates", "will", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "foresee", "should", "would", "could", or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statement contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, and objectives of ApiJect. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of ApiJect, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. SOURCE ApiJect Systems Corp. Related Links https://apiject.com Egypt sent on Thursday 31 tons of medicine and medical supplies to Lebanon to the countrys health sector amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to an official statement, Health Minister Hala Zayed arrived at Beirut with a medical aid shipment which was delivered on board three military jets. The aid includes 16 tons of baby formula and 15 tons tonnes of protection supplies, including surgical masks, gloves, and others, and coronavirus protocol medication to support Lebanons health sector during the crisis. Zayed also delivered the third shipment of 7.6 tons of medical equipment in response to the demand by the Arab League to deliver a shipment of the needed equipment to Lebanon. Egypt has taken several steps over the summer to provide assistance to Lebanon, including launching an airlift to offer humanitarian aid and relief supplies and a sealift to help in the reconstruction of the country after a massive blast at Beirut Port in August that killed hundreds and displaced over 300,000. The blast-hit countrys crisis was exacerbated by the pandemic, as rising infection rates in the country led to a coronavirus lockdown nationwide earlier this month in a bid to stem the spread of the virus. The lockdown has led to several protests this week, as frustration over the restrictions grew. Lebanon has recorded over 285,000 coronavirus cases and more than 2,470 deaths since the outbreak. Short link: A plan to close four of Camden Citys 19 schools is being touted by the district as a cost-saving measure, but the union says the plan wont save money and will only feed the growth of charter and renaissance schools in one of the poorest cities in the state and nation. Its not over just because the superintendent said she wants to close the schools, said Keith Benson, president of the Camden Education Association, which represents 1,100 district workers including teachers. The math does not work because you will risk losing students. You risk losing money that goes along with it. The Camden school district was taken over by the state in 2013. McCombs needs approval from the state commissioner of education for decisions like school closures. The local school board only acts in an advisory position. McCombs said her decision to close the schools, three of which are over 100 years old, was made after consulting over 500 parents and community leaders and 750 community surveys. I know the pain of seeing a school close, McCombs said Wednesday. I was born and raised in this city and graduated from Camden High School. I grew up in these buildings, worked as a teacher, vice principal and a principal. We need to do this in order for us to move from surviving to thriving. When children feel valued they soar. Her plan includes closing Sharp Elementary, Wiggins College Preparatory Lab School, Cramer Elementary, and Yorkship Elementary. Enrollment in district-run schools has declined by nearly 60% since 2013, from 15,161 to just over 6,000. The district is projecting it will have a $40 million deficit in the next fiscal year and McCombs thinks the school closures can help bridge the gap. She said district staffing and facilities needed to be adjusted to reflect the decline in students. McCombs estimated up to 150 jobs could be eliminated in the consolidation, including some teaching positions. The district splits $307 million in public school financing, mostly from the state, with eight charter ($55,916,250) and nine renaissance schools ($100,105,609), which are publicly owned and privately administered. The district also pays $19,424,832 for out of district placement of students, including trade schools. Benson said the district gets about $21,000 in funding per pupil. He thinks the closures may encourage parents to try to enroll their children in charter schools in the neighborhood which may be closer than their newly assigned school. The declining public school enrollment will likely affect Bensons union, as well. He said only one of the citys 17 charter and renaissance schools have employee unions. Benson said the district pays about $76 million in salary and benefits to his 1,100 members, including teachers and building staff. He said he doesnt know how eliminating 150 positions will bridge a projected $40 million budget gap. Our people looking at this have no earthly idea what she is talking about, he said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day. Story Highlights Lowering cost of insurance and drugs highest healthcare priorities Democrats more optimistic than pessimistic costs can be reduced Most think U.S. is moving in wrong direction in curtailing costs WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Seven in ten (70%) U.S. adults say lowering health insurance premiums should be a high priority for President Joe Biden and his administration among key healthcare issues, followed closely by lowering drug costs (66%) and reducing the uninsured rate (63%). These results are based on a new study conducted by West Health and Gallup. Public Prioritization of Key Healthcare Issues, by Political Party How high of a priority should each of the following be for the U.S. government in the first 100 days of the Biden Administration? Highest, high, medium, low, or lowest priority? (% Highest + High Priority) Total Democrat Independent Republican % % % % Lower health insurance premiums 70 79 71 61 Lower drug costs 66 72 65 62 Reduce uninsured rate 63 90 60 30 Expand care for older adults 58 65 56 49 Expand child-care for working parents 55 73 53 32 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey, Dec. 14, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021; n=3,100 Gallup Panel Democrats are more likely than Republicans to prioritize lowering health insurance premiums and the cost of prescription drugs, but majorities of both groups agree these cost reduction goals are high priorities. In contrast, 90% of Democrats (and 60% of independents) but only 30% of Republicans regard reducing the uninsured rate as a high priority. These results come at a time when 26% of adults report there has been at least one time in the prior 12 months that someone in their household did not pursue care due to the cost, matching levels measured in early 2019. This survey was conducted by web from Dec. 15, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021, with 3,100 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia via the Gallup Panel, a scientifically populated, non-opt-in panel of about 110,000 adults nationwide. Reducing prescription drug prices is a higher priority among older than younger age groups, dropping from 74% among those 65 years or older to 57% among those under the age of 30. Optimism for New Policies Greatest Among Democrats, Women, Minorities While the cost of healthcare continues to be of high importance to Americans, 28% are optimistic that the Biden administration and new Congress will be able to enact policies that will successfully reduce costs, while 49% are pessimistic. Similar results are found for policies relating to lowering the costs of prescription drugs, underscoring a public sentiment that is more doubtful than hopeful and the challenges that lie ahead for the Biden administration. Optimism for Biden and Congress Reducing the Cost of Healthcare, Prescription Drugs Are you optimistic or pessimistic that the Biden Administration and Congress will be able to enact policies to bring down the cost of healthcare/prescription drugs? Reduce cost of healthcare Reduce cost of prescription drugs % % Optimistic 28 27 Neutral 22 25 Pessimistic 49 48 Net Difference -21 -21 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey, Dec. 14 2020-Jan. 3, 2021; n=3,100 Gallup Panel These sentiments are not uniform, however. At the time of the survey, conducted immediately prior to Democrats winning both Georgia U.S. Senate runoff elections, about half of Democrats were optimistic about Biden achieving both cost reduction goals, compared with about two in 10 independents and less than 5% of Republicans. These responses may be somewhat different now that the Democrats have retaken the Senate, giving them control -- albeit narrowly -- of both chambers of Congress. Optimism that the costs of healthcare will be reduced among Black (41%) and Hispanic (38%) respondents outpaces that of White respondents (24%). Also, over one-third (35%) of women are optimistic compared with 21% of men. Optimism is also higher among Americans with more formal education than among those with less. Optimism for Biden and Congress Reducing the Cost of Healthcare, Prescription Drugs by Poltical Indentity and Key Demographics Are you optimistic or pessimistic that the Biden Administration and Congress will be able to enact policies to bring down the cost of healthcare/prescription drugs? (% Optimistic) Reduce Cost of Healthcare Reduce Cost of Prescription Drugs % % U.S. Total 28 27 POLITICAL IDENTITY: Democrat 52 50 Independent 22 20 Republican 3 4 RACE/ETHNICITY: Black adults 41 43 Hispanic adults 38 33 White adults 24 23 GENDER: Female 35 33 Male 21 21 EDUCATION: Grad School Degree or Education 36 34 College Degree 32 27 Some College/Technical School 29 28 High School Degree or Less 24 23 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey, Dec. 14, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021; n=3,100 Gallup Panel Most See Country Moving in Wrong Direction on Key Issues Amid the muted confidence that the Biden administration and Congress will make substantive inroads into the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, few Americans view the country as moving in the right direction across an array of topical issues. Leading this list is the cost of healthcare, viewed by 8% of U.S. adults as moving in the "right direction" compared with 70% who believe it is moving in the "wrong direction," including 65% of Republicans and 73% of Democrats. The cost of prescription drugs, in turn, is viewed similarly unenthusiastically, with 12% reporting that the country is headed in the right direction compared with 68% saying it's going in the wrong direction. A somewhat greater partisan divide is found here, with 22% of Republicans reporting that the country is heading in the right direction compared with 10% of Independents and 8% of Democrats. The issue with the least negative perception is the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which -- despite a massive increase nationally in confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths since November 1 -- is possibly being bolstered by the release and early-stage administration of vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. In this case, 27% of U.S. adults feel the country is moving in the right direction. Still, 53% think it is moving in the wrong direction. Direction Country Is Headed by Key Issues In general, do you think the country is headed in the right or wrong direction for each of the following: (% Right Direction) U.S. total Democrat Independent Republican % % % % The cost of healthcare 8 8 5 12 The cost of prescription drugs 12 8 10 22 Offering high quality K-12 education 14 14 11 17 Climate change 15 12 12 23 Immigration reform 18 11 13 32 The economy 23 15 20 39 Managing the COVID-19 pandemic 27 28 21 34 West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey, Dec. 14, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021; n=3,100 Gallup Panel Implications As the Biden administration prioritizes its policy goals for its first 100 days, the importance of the cost of healthcare to Americans remains substantial. Research conducted by West Health and Gallup that preceded the election showed that the cost of care was considered as important as the pandemic itself in how U.S. adults intended to cast their votes, highlighting how this issue has remained critical in the minds of voters. And then-candidate Biden's trust advantage over then-President Donald Trump in managing the healthcare system amid the pandemic likely played a role in his election victory. With at least two-thirds of respondents currently citing the reduction in health insurance premiums and the reduction of prescription drug costs as having either high or the highest priority for the Biden administration, these issues will continue to play a major role in the minds of voters as the 2022 midterm elections approach. And making real, tangible and noticeable inroads into the cost of care in the U.S. is likely to be a decisive factor in the voting decisions of many Americans. Against this backdrop, optimism is mixed that the rising costs of healthcare and prescription drugs will be curtailed in the near future, although it is somewhat higher among Democrats (and is potentially higher now since Democrats won control of the Senate in the time since the survey was conducted). And with such a substantial number believing that the country is moving in the wrong direction across the cost of care issues, elected officials throughout the federal government will be challenged to prove them wrong. Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works. New Delhi: The Delhi Police has issued lookout circulars against farmer leaders who have been named in FIRs registered in connection with the violence that broke out during farmers' tractor rally in the city on the Republic Day on Tuesday. The farmer leaders who have been named in the FIRs have been asked to surrender their passports, news agency ANI said quoting officials. The decisions were taken following a series of meetings chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah since Tuesday when the large scale violence took place in the national capital during the farmers' tractor rally, an official from the Home Ministry said. Delhi Police issues Lookout Notice (LOC) against farmer leaders with the help of immigration: Delhi Police ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 Shah has been continuously monitoring the situation in Delhi and held meetings even late in the night on Wednesday and again early on Thursday. Directives have been given to the Delhi Police to take immediate actions against the accused farmer leaders, he said. A lookout circular is issued against an accused to prevent him from travelling abroad. The Delhi Police has registered 25 FIRs, including against over 30 of the 40 farm union leaders who were involved in talks with the central government. Thirty-seven farm union leaders, including six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have been named in an FIR registered at the Samaypur Badli police station, in Outer Delhi. The six SKM spokespersons who have been named are Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president, BKU (Sidhupur); Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, BKU (Rajewal); Darshan Pal, president, Krantikari Kisan Union; Rakesh Tikait, president, BKU; Kulwant Singh Sandhu, general secretary, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha; Yogendra Yadav, president, Swaraj Party India. Others who have been named in the FIR are Boota Singh Burjgill, president, BKU Dakaunda; Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, president, Kirti Kisan Union; Ruldu Singh Mansa, president, Punjab Kisan Union; Inderjit Singh, president, Kisan Sangharsh Committee among others. One of the FIRs, on the Red Fort incident, names Punjabi film actor Deep Sidhu and Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the rally that was supposed to be held from 12 PM to 5 PM with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. Live TV Should employers mandate their employees get a COVID-19 vaccine? The idea has been discussed nationwide with vaccines available from Pfizer and Moderna, but county business leaders and lawmakers said this week they think it should not be mandatory. If it is, there should be reasons for requiring it. State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Township, said as a private business, companies have the right to offer incentive programs to encourage employees to get vaccinated, but he doesnt feel receiving one should be mandatory. State Rep. Joe Kerwin, R-125, Lykens, said he believes there are possible legal ramifications if businesses make getting a COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. They could face lawsuits from employees who question the legality of making them mandatory, Kerwin said. Kerwin said it is more difficult to control what a private business does than a government agency when it comes to distributing a vaccine, adding there is less constraint on activities of private business. He said employees should be exempt from receiving a mandatory one for legal, moral or ethical reasons. State Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Township, said he would defer to medical experts on whether employers could, should or would demand employees get vaccinated. State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, of Rush Township, said making vaccines mandatory for employees depends on the situation. For instance, if one works at a nursing home, he said he could see the rationale behind making them get it. However, he would question if a park ranger working with little human contact was mandated to be inoculated. Kerwin, Twardzik said Argall agreed the rollout of the vaccine in the state has been problematic. I find fault with the governor (Tom Wolf) and his administration with the vaccine rollout for the shortages, Kerwin said, adding they should have planned earlier to anticipate the shortages. Argall said the problems with the rollout have been raised by legislators of both political parties, adding the problem with the vaccine rollout is one of supply and demand. With a population of 13 million people in the state, everyone wants a shot, he said. Twardzik said it was very disheartening to see the governors administration not work with or take input from the state Legislature or public health workers. The commonwealth is rated 42nd in efficiency of getting individuals vaccinated, he said. When you look at Florida and West Virginia, theyve gotten much more timely vaccinations. Argall said Wolfs nominee for state secretary of health, Alison Beam, will have to answer some difficult questions about the states COVID-19 vaccination program when she comes before the state Senate for a hearing on her nomination. The governor nominated Beam, his deputy chief of staff, to replace outgoing Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, who was nominated by President Joe Biden to be the U.S assistant health secretary. Twardzik said he is hopeful she will focus on implementing the vaccine, adding that he wants to see a uniform rollout of the vaccine that benefits all Pennsylvanians. Knowles said despite the challenge with demand, health care facilities have been working to keep up with getting people inoculated. The vaccine is an important tool in our fight against this virus. Hospitals and medical facilities in the 124th District are doing a good job trying to keep up with the demand for people who qualify for the vaccine. It is not an easy task, as at this point there is not enough vaccine to meet their needs, he said in an email Wednesday. Experts have said employers can take safety measures, including vaccinations. While it doesnt mean an employee is fired if they refuse, they might need to sign a waiver or agree to work under specific conditions to limit risk of exposure to the disease. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has allowed companies to mandate the flu and other vaccines, and has indicated they can require COVID-19 vaccines, according to The Associated Press. Chamber head, IU leader weigh in Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Robert S. Carl said he is a big proponent of the vaccine, but should an employer make it mandatory, they would have to show a reason for making employees take it. It would have to be on a case-by-case basis, he said. They would want to know why it is mandatory. He said while he knows of some organizations outside the county giving bonuses to employees if they get the vaccine, he isnt aware of any employers in the county mandating employees get it or offering bonuses. Educating the public, as well as encouraging people to get it, and the vaccine being available are important, Carl added. In the meantime, Carl said businesses have been doing the right thing in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by having employees wear face masks, practice social distancing, educating employees and encouraging them to get it when the time comes. The business community is doing a good job on that front, Carl said. Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Executive Director Gregory S. Koons said while the topic of mandatory vaccinations has been raised during weekly meetings with the countys superintendents, it cant be mandated in schools and at the IU and Schuylkill Technology Center campuses unless required by the state. Educators are listed among the essential workers to be inoculated under Phase 1B of the states vaccination plan. Its up to the individual whether they would like to get the vaccine, he said, adding the superintendents are working together to maximize the safety and health of staff and students. Armie Hammer is stepping down from the Paramount Plus series The Offer, which tells the behind-the-scenes story of creating The Godfather, according to Variety. Hammer was reportedly set to lead the 10-episode show as Godfather producer Al Ruddy, which follows his work on the iconic '72 film. The 34-year-old actor is accused of a host of shocking allegations recently with the leak of social media messages which included acts of cannibalism, graphic sexual experiences, abuse and a BDSM fetish. Out: Armie Hammer is stepping down from the Paramount Plus series The Offer, which tells the behind-the-scenes story of creating The Godfather, according to Variety Hammer began trending online earlier this month after a series of sexually graphic Instagram DMs that he allegedly wrote to a woman were leaked publicly by an anonymous, now-private account, House of Effie. Amid multiple accusations, Armie has since dropped out of his latest film Shotgun Wedding with Jennifer Lopez and, broke his silence about the rape fantasies, BDSM and cannibalism accusations waged against him in a statement to DailyMail.com. 'I'm not responding to these b******* claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for 4 months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic,' he told DailyMail.com. Armie's ex-lover, Paige Lorenze, told The Kyle and Jackie O Show that he allegedly wanted to remove one of her ribs and eat it. Revenge is a dish best served cold: Hammer was reportedly set to lead the 10-episode show as Godfather producer Al Ruddy, which follows his work on the iconic '72 film Yikes: Amid multiple accusations, Armie has since dropped out of his latest film Shotgun Wedding with Jennifer Lopez and, broke his silence about the rape fantasies, BDSM and cannibalism accusations waged against him in a statement to DailyMail.com 'In non-sexual settings he asked me on multiple occasions to remove my ribs,' she said. 'He wanted to find a doctor in LA to like, remove the ribs that I don't need. And he wanted to, like, he has a smoker at his house in L.A. and he wanted to smoke it and eat it.' The model admitted that she took it as 'dark humor' at first, before he made the request 'five times' to the point that she believed it was more of a 'serious thing.' 'He would always say, "I wonder what it tastes like, I bet it tastes good," stuff like that,' she claimed. When asked if she thought the Call Me by Your Name actor would have really eaten her ribs, Lorenze responded firmly: '100 percent.' 'In non-sexual settings he asked me on multiple occasions to remove my ribs,' she said. 'He wanted to find a doctor in LA to like, remove the ribs that I don't need. And he wanted to, like, he has a smoker at his house in L.A. and he wanted to smoke it and eat it.' The actor often tied up Lorenze, hit her with paddles and planned out 'high protocol nights' of painful sexual moves, which often left her covered in bruises. Hammer's ex-girlfriend, Courtney Vucekovich, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that the Call Me By Your Name star was into 'master-slave fetishes' and told her he wanted to break and eat her ribs. The Dallas-based app founder said she met Hammer in June through mutual friends, and from the beginning he was 'intoxicating.' 'He's a very charming, intense human being. But once you start talking to him, he's pretty aggressive right from the start. Not violent, but just sexually aggressive in the way he speaks,' she said. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Generic Gold Corp. (CSE: GGC) (FSE: 1WD) (OTCQB: GGCPF) ("Generic Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Bernard Dionne has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Bernard Dionne has more than 36 years of experience in the investment brokerage industry. Mr. Dionne has been involved with three different firms as a financial adviser, including working 11 years as a branch manager and vice-president. Mr. Dionne is a graduate of Universite du Quebec where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in finance, giving him the experience to provide advice to his clientele and through his experience, has trained other advisers in the mining sector. Mr. Dionne has had many successes in the mining industry and strongly believes in the future growth of the gold sector, specifically the prospect of new discoveries. Generic Gold also announces the grant of an aggregate of 700,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.40 per share for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant, to certain directors and consultants of the Company. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the original date of grant. About Generic Gold Generic Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold projects in the Tintina Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada and the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada. The Company's Yukon exploration portfolio consists of several projects with a total land position of greater than 35,000 hectares, all of which are 100% owned by Generic Gold. Several of these projects are in close proximity to significant gold, including Goldcorp's Coffee project, Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold project, White Gold's Golden Saddle project, and Western Copper & Gold's Casino project. The Company's Quebec exploration portfolio consists of three properties covering 8,148 hectares proximal to the town of Normetal. Generic Gold's board of directors and management team is led by experienced mining industry professionals, with expertise in exploration, finance, capital markets, and mine development. For information on the Company's property portfolio, visit the Company's website at genericgold.ca. For further information contact: Richard Patricio, President and CEO Tel: 416-456-6529 rpatricio@genericgold.ca NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. We seek safe harbour. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73098 Melissa Gonzalez, a young college graduate who had dreams of becoming a lawyer, was shot dead last January while driving on Interstate 95, and her grieving family is on a quest for justice. Gonzalezs mother was flanked by Miami-Dade police officers at a news conference Thursday to announce a $7,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of her daughters killer. If you have any information, please help me to resolve this case which is obviously the most difficult case of my life, said a tearful Sheilla Nunez, through a Spanish interpreter. Its the worst thing a mother can go through. I have been suffering, she said, while clutching her younger daughter. My life is almost over. Gonzalez, 22, was shot dead the evening of Jan 3, 2020, as she drove south on I-95, near the Northwest 79th Street exit. The gunfire erupted at about 8:30 p.m., and a split second before the bullet struck Gonzalez it narrowly missed hitting her boyfriend, Julian Veliz Cortina, who was in the passenger seat. She was driving and I had to take the wheel, Cortina said. It was so difficult. It was terrible. It was just a few seconds but, for me, it felt like years. Police also released surveillance video from a parking lot near the scene that shows a person getting in the rear passenger-side door of a dark car. The vehicle sped west across Northwest Seventh Avenue shortly after the shooting, police said. Investigators want to identify that individual and find out why they were in such a rush to leave the area. Our hope is that somebody seeing that [video] will be able to call us with [a tip], Detective Juan Segovia said. Investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the person, the car, or has other information to contact Detective Segovia at 305-471-2400. Anonymous tips can be given to Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-847 or 866-471-8477, or online at CrimeStoppers305.com, facebook.com/crimestoppers305, or visit the app store, get P3 and sign in to Miami for tips. Wayne K. Roustan can be reached at wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 561-379-6119 or on Twitter @WayneRoustan Douglas isnt a bad man, hes just a bland one. Hes a biochemist-turned middle manager, a man of lists and spreadsheets, of maps and itineraries and order. If you were feeling uncharitable youd say he was a killjoy; if you were being generous youd call him a wet blanket. Adapted by David Nicholls from his 2014 novel, the four-part BBC series Us is a portrait of a marriage in crisis, though it tries hard to straddle the line between comedy and drama, with a whopping dollop of travelogue for seasoning. Its about a family in crisis too, as Douglas struggles to find a way to talk to his 17-year-old son Albie (Tom Taylor), whose permanently attached headphones function as a kind of protective shield. Its Connie (Saskia Reeves) who sets the wheels in motion when she wakes husband Douglas (Tom Hollander) on the eve of a family jaunt through Europe with the words, I think our marriage might be over. But the journey that follows is all Douglass. Connie is (or was, until motherhood came along) an artist. Though we never see her work, we are meant to assume her worldview allows for a little more chaos and a lot more fun. In flashback sequences (where he is played by Iain De Caestecker and she by Gina Bramhill), we learn how they came to be together, and the triumphs and tragedies that formed their unlikely marriage; in the present day, we mostly see them drifting apart. After 20-plus years of marriage these opposites no longer attract at least as far as Connie is concerned. Its not that shes repulsed exactly, but with Albie soon to leave the nest she feels an impending sense of emptiness. Despite the imminent collapse of a life, its all very civilised and a bit too bloodless to be truly compelling. The decision to push on (itself so very English) with the planned trip may be pure plot contrivance, but thank goodness: watching this mid-life crisis play out in Surrey would have been a special kind of torture. Seeing it unfold in Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona and the rest at least offers a balm to their souls, and to our eyes. In a travelless time, its a bitter-sweet reminder of what were missing. Two companies are embarking on an exciting joint venture. The Koyo Store and Skullz have partnered to offer esports enthusiasts a treasure trove of merchandise. With two shopping destinations, both companies will sell products that range from pins and coins to hoodies and jerseys. The Koyo Store, which was founded in 2018, offers a diverse catalog of products based on premium properties, including PUBG, the popular Rainbow Six Siege, Street Fighter, Dragon Ball Z, Warhammer, World of Tanks, Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet, to name a few. Skullz apparel and accessories, including backpacks, chairs, jerseys, hoodies, and more will be sold on Koyos website. The partnership with Skullz will help Koyo expand its reach in the ever-growing esports/gaming world of merchandise, particularly in the U.S," says Lee Townsend, CEO of The Koyo Store. "One barrier in purchasing for many people involves postage costs. Having a partner based in the U.S will help reduce this cost to our customers." Skullz, a company known for its high-end merchandise, will offer inventory provided by Koyo on its website, including pins, coins, key chains, and an array of metal collectibles to customers within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Our partnership with Koyo is key to our global expansion plans," says Wes Byrd, CEO of Skullz. "While Koyo will assist us in the distribution of Skullz products in the UK and EU, we plan to take full advantage of the products and services that Koyo has to offer. The quality and attention to detail in the products that Koyo produces matches our own standards. Townsend and Byrd met during an Esports Leadership Summit, hosted by the team from Esports Awards. Recognizing their respective companies shared similar aspirations and brand integrity, the two discussed a partnership, and a new venture was born. The Esports Leadership Summit is a monthly leadership gathering which involves panel discussions with industry experts, discussing the landscape of the esports industry. This partnership would not have been possible without the Esports Leadership Summit, says Byrd. Over the past few years, Esports Awards has developed the Esports Leadership Summits, physical events taking place across Europe and America with discussion shaped by endemic and non-endemic leaders in their respective industries. In 2020, Esports Awards strived to create an all-encompassing space for esports businesses in the B2B space to be able to have a voice, network and share thought leadership. Esports Awards Managing Director, Michael Ashford, says, This new partnership exemplifies everything we stand for with two great brands with strong offerings and identities coming together. These offerings provide an enhanced platform encompassing physical product and bespoke services, globally. Having worked with the Koyo Store over the past few years and Skullz throughout 2020, we are incredibly excited to see what is in store throughout 2021. http://www.skullz.com http://www.thekoyostore.com JUNCTION CITY, Ore. -- The Lane County District Attorney's office added 14 new charges, including nine new felonies, to the case of a Junction City man accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend and her therapy dog. RELATED: JUNCTION CITY MAN ARRESTED IN VANCOUVER, ACCUSED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Notably, two charges of first-degree rape were included in the new charges, along with three counts of sexual abuse. Juan Mejia was arrested in Vancouver, Washington, after a multi-state investigation led by the Junction City Police Department. He was originally charged with one count of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor assault. According to the newly-filed charges, Mejia began abusing the victim in November. On one occasion, he allegedly used steel-toed boots to assault her. In an earlier charge, he was accused of punching the woman in the abdomen while she was pregnant. Mejia also allegedly tortured the victim's German Shepherd therapy dog. Oil declined as a slide across financial markets overshadowed the positive signal from the biggest draw in U.S. crude stockpiles in six months. Futures in New York slid 0.3% as negative sentiment rippled through markets amid concerns over earnings, the resurgence of the pandemic, and a cautionary outlook on the U.S. economy from the Federal Reserve. A stronger dollar also reduced the appeal of commodities priced in the currency. There are signs that the Covid-19 outbreak is continuing to crimp fuel consumption. Chinas flight and road travel has declined ahead of the Lunar New Year, which typically sees a seasonal boost to demand, while traffic in Los Angeles slumped over the past month. The bearish tone eclipsed an almost 10 million-barrel decline in U.S. crude stockpiles and shrinking inventories at the key storage hub of Cushing. The initial euphoria sparked by the inventory data has quickly evaporated, said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. The tone in the oil market is more pessimistic again. A resurgent virus has stalled a rally in crude with many parts of the world still locked down. The U.S. Fed signaled the fight against Covid is far from over, and the economy still needs massive support. Still, strict production curbs by OPEC and its partners could supersede the drag on demand and send Brent crude past $70 a barrel by the end of this year, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. The oil markets futures curve is also strengthening into a bullish structure called backwardation, when nearer contracts are more expensive than later-dated ones. Its being supported by Saudi Arabia and Iraqs supply cuts, and lower Russian exports next month. While U.S. crude stockpiles fell for the sixth time in seven weeks, gasoline inventories increased by about 2.5 million barrels, according to government data. Thats almost double the median estimated gain in a Bloomberg survey. South Africa: Provisional tax filing season deadline extended The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has extended the filing season deadline for provisional taxpayers from 29 January to 15 February. In a statement, the revenue collector said the decision was based on the unprecedented health challenge of COVID-19. In line with SARS communication on steps taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect both the taxpayers and SARS staff, taxpayers are encouraged to use eFililng or the SARS MobiAp, SARS said on Thursday. In the statement, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the decision to extend the filing season was taken with due consideration of the traumatic effects being experienced by taxpayers who have lost loved ones, as well as businesses who have lost staff, during the devastating second wave of COVID-19. The Commissioner urged taxpayers who received auto-assessment notices last year but who have not yet accepted the auto-assessments, or edited and filed a return in response to the notice, to make use of this opportunity to do so. Kieswetter, however, urged taxpayers to comply with their legal obligations by 15 February 2021, as it is vital that all taxpayers remain compliant. Failure to comply with their legal obligations will result in administrative penalties being levied, he said. He added SARS has a legislative mandate to collect revenue due and to ensure compliance across all segments of taxpayers, as well as traders in the customs arena. While SARS believes that most taxpayers and traders comply voluntarily and want to do the right thing, we also have measures we can use to enforce compliance. However, such enforcement always remains a last resort, the Commissioner said. The revenue collector also expressed condolence to those that have lost loved ones to the virus and a speedy recovery to those who are recovering at home or in hospital. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. LEHI, Utah, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading anti-money laundering (AML) and ID fraud specialist SmartSearch U.S. is launching enhanced protection for businesses, in light of the latest AML legislation to pass through Congress on January 1st. The RegTech experts say its digital fraud checks with data referencing and triangulation will give firms the confidence that they are compliant with the new raft of AML regulation, as well as protecting against potential fraud. Chad Rawlings, national sales director at SmartSearch U.S., says the enhancements have been made in response to the rising threat of money laundering and financial fraud due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. He said: "At the start of this year some of the most significant anti-money laundering legislation was introduced in the country. At SmartSearch we're in a position to be able to import the most cutting-edge technological solutions to comply with that legislation from SmartSearch in the UK, which is the most heavily regulated country in the world. "We have the solution now to ensure businesses in the U.S. can be ready for the new law and it makes compliance simple." The SmartSearch platform makes use of various digital elements (DEs) such as mobile phone numbers, email and IP addresses, to create robust and easy-to-understand fraud risk indicators and deliver an overall risk score. A dashboard provides detailed information to support additional due diligence, enabling further investigation of high-risk events. The SmartSearch technology then 'triangulates' this information, matching the DEs to the individual's terrestrial address and enabling the CRA data, ID document and life liveness video imaging to be bound together to create a unique Composite Digital Identity (CDI). Rawlings adds: "We've seen several high-profile cases including the FinCEN leaks in September last year which shone a light on the sheer scale of money laundering by criminals exploiting the global banking system. "That's why at SmartSearch U.S. we've developed and enhanced our AML solution, not only to respond to the growing threat but to stay one step ahead. "We are now able to place the most sophisticated technology on the market in the hands of law firms, accountants and real estate agents, to make quick and simple checks that protects them against money laundering. "By combining the three sophisticated verification processes into one powerful tool, namely ID, sanction & PEP checks, document and facial recognition and digital fraud checks, we have created the most powerful, robust and reliable all-in-one AML platform on the market." About SmartSearch SmartSearch is a leading UK provider of anti-money-laundering software. Its anti-money-laundering verification platform conducts individual and business searches, both for the UK and international markets with automatic worldwide sanction and PEP screening. It is the only organisation in the UK with the ability to verify individuals and companies in the UK and internationally all in a single platform via a browser or API, with full Sanction, PEP and adverse media screening, and then ongoing monitoring. Headquartered in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, SmartSearch's very latest technology delivers an unrivalled user experience to over 4,500 client firms and 40,000 users, enabling them to comply with the latest AML regulations and fulfil their AML, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance obligations. With no requirement for clients to provide identity documents, SmartSearch's automated verification approach is significantly more convenient for both users and their end customers, with individual AML checks taking two seconds from start to finish, while business checks take less than three minutes. For more information, please visit www.smartsearch.com Media contact: Jennifer Fugel [email protected] 845-657-4202 SOURCE SmartSearch Related Links http://www.smartsearch.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. [January 28, 2021] Nuveen Municipal 2021 Target Term Fund Announces Liquidation Details The Nuveen Municipal 2021 Target (News - Alert) Term Fund (NYSE: NHA) today announced new details concerning its liquidation. Consistent with its investment objectives and organizational documents, the fund plans to terminate its existence and liquidate on or about 1 March 2021. As the fund approaches liquidation, its common shares will continue trading on the New York Stock Exchange through 23 February 2021 and will be suspended from trading before the open of trading on 24 February 2021. The fund will not declare its regular monthly distribution in February 2021. The fund anticipates making its final liquidating distribution on or about 1 March 2021. As previously announced, the fund entered its wind up period in anticipation of its termination date. Leading up to the final distribution date, as the fund's portfolio securities continue to mature and are sold, the fund may deviate from its investment objectives and policies, and its portfolio will continue to transition into high quality, short-term securities or cash and cash equivalents. Also as previously announced, due to recent market conditions, NHA has increased risk associated with achieving its objective of returning the Original NAV at its termination. The investment objective relating to Original NAV is not a guarantee and is dependent on a number of factors including the extent of market recovery and the cumultive level of income retained in relation to cumulative portfolio gains net of losses. Shareholders may recognize gain or loss for U.S. tax purposes as a result of the liquidation. Nuveen does not provide tax advice; investors should consult a professional tax advisor regarding their specific tax situation. For more information, please visit Nuveen's CEF homepage www.nuveen.com/closed-end-funds. About Nuveen Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, offers a comprehensive range of outcome-focused investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors. Nuveen has $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of 31 Dec 2020 and operations in 27 countries. Its investment specialists offer deep expertise across a comprehensive range of traditional and alternative investments through a wide array of vehicles and customized strategies. For more information, please visit www.nuveen.com. Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. The information contained on the Nuveen website is not a part of this press release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain statements made or referenced in this release may be forward-looking statements. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These include, but are not limited to: market developments, including the timing of distributions and other events identified in this press release; legal and regulatory developments; and other additional risks and uncertainties. EPS-1501298PR-E0121X View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006112/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the cause of death for an oil heir found dead in San Antonio. John Gilbert Getty, 52, the grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, died on Nov. 20. The cause was cardiomyopathy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, complicated by fentanyl toxicity, officials said Wednesday. The manner of death was an accident. Getty was found at 136 E. Grayson Street, the address of Hotel Emma, a luxury hotel within the Pearl district. "John was a talented musician who loved rock and roll," a representative for the family said in November. "He will be deeply missed." John's daughter, Ivy, shared a tribute to her father on Instagram, writing, "My father was awesome-coolest man to ever land on this planet and I will forever be the proudest daughter." She added that San Antonio was one of his favorite American cities. John was predeceased by his mother, Ann, and brother, Andrew. Ann, a publisher and arts patron, died in September after suffering a heart attack. Andrew, 47, was found dead in 2015 at his Los Angeles home. J. Paul Getty, John's grandfather, was a wildcatter who built an empire in the United States and struck an oil deal with Saudi Arabia in the 1960s. His son Gordon, John's father, sold Getty Oil to Texaco for $10 billion in 1984. In 2015, Forbes magazine estimated the Getty family fortune at $5.4 billion. SANTA ROSA, Calif. and DENVER, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- La Tortilla Factory, Inc. (LTF) announced today that Flagship Food Group, LLC (Flagship) has agreed to make an investment into the company to support its future growth strategy. Flagship will become the majority stake holder in the company while the third generation Tamayo family members continue to remain valued partners. "We are excited and eager to embrace Flagship Food Group and its entire family of companies and brands as supporters of La Tortilla Factory's strategic growth plan," said Jeff Ahlers, CEO. "Their investment acumen and broader experience in the food industry will support and accelerate our strategy, especially given their success and enthusiasm within the Mexican food category." Majority owned by CREO Capital Partners, Flagship is a diversified food company that sells a wide range of food products and services under the 505 Southwestern, Lilly B's, TJ Farm's and other brands. Most of Flagship's brands are rapidly expanding, having experienced double-digit growth in recent years. "As we embark on our 43rd year in business, we are excited to have Flagship Food Group as partners. It was very important to our family that a new partner shared our core values and were genuinely interested in our people, our brand, and our culture," said Sam Tamayo, third generation family member and Chairman of the Board. "We feel fortunate to have found a match with Flagship and CREO." The Tamayo family started La Tortilla Factory in 1977 to serve local Northern California restaurants and retailers. Today, the Company is the largest nationally-distributed tortilla brand whose product portfolio is focused on true better-for-you, organic, and low carb categories. "As Flagship has continued to focus on premium-oriented food brands, and in particular in the Hispanic foods sector, it became clear to us that La Tortilla Factory was a perfect addition to our platform. Being one of the leading brands in the better-for-you segment of the tortilla and Mexican food space, LTF further enhances our ability to execute on our growth strategy," said Rob Holland, the Founding Partner at CREO Capital Partners. Patrick Moulder, a partner at CREO added, "We've gotten to know Jeff, Sam, and the broader LTF family of executives and ownership over the past year and half, and our passion for helping them to build their business is very high." The new partnership will build on the outstanding reputation that La Tortilla Factory has cultivated within the food industry and community since 1977. Its 300 employees will remain in place and focused on the company's vision to be the innovative brand leader in premium Mexican food. The transaction closed on January 27, 2021. Terms of the transaction are confidential. Cascadia Capital represented and advised La Tortilla Factory on this transaction. Nixon Peabody advised Flagship Food Group. About La Tortilla Factory: Headquartered in Santa Rosa, CA, La Tortilla Factory is one of the leading makers and distributors of premium and better-for-you tortillas and Mexican food products. Since 1977, when founders Jose and Mary Tamayo opened the doors of La Tortilla Factory, they were dedicated to creating authentic recipes with premium ingredients. Three generations later, that vision has led La Tortilla Factory to become one of the largest and fastest-growing brands in its core markets and product categories. The Company offers a wide range of corn, flour, and specialty tortillas, such as Grain-Free Cauliflower, Low Carb, and Protein along with side dishes, sauces, and snacks. La Tortilla Factory operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Northern California and operates distribution facilities in multiple cities on the West Coast. About Flagship Food Group: Flagship Food Group is a diversified food company that manufactures, sells, and distributes food products under the 505 Southwestern, Lilly B's, TJ Farm's, La Tortilla Factory, and Hatch Kitchen brands. The Company also partners with leading food retailers to develop R&D-driven private label programs, and provides food logistics, warehousing, and freight management services within the food industry. The Company operates facilities and offices in Boise, ID, Denver, CO, Albuquerque, NM, Santa Rosa, CA, San Francisco, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Indianapolis, IN. Flagship is majority owned by CREO Capital Partners, LLC. About CREO Capital Partners: CREO Capital Partners is a Denver, CO-based investment firm exclusively focused on the food and consumer products industry segments. Founded in 2005, the firm has successfully invested in over 20 food companies in the USA and the UK, and focuses on partnerships with outstanding management and premium brands. Investments have spanned the branded retail, private label, food logistics, and food distribution industry sub-segments. With most of its investments held via its diversified food business, Flagship Food Group, CREO actively seeks dialogue with food companies that have an interest in joining in the Flagship journey. Media Contact: Holly Perez, Marketing Manager, [email protected] SOURCE La Tortilla Factory Related Links www.latortillafactory.com A 'high level' drug dealing father whose body was found in a wheelie bin in a dam was allegedly murdered five days before the grisly discovery, a court has heard. Todd Nathan Kiernan, 28, was charged with the murder of Dinh Lam Nguyen and faced Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon. The charge read to Mr Kiernan by Magistrate Joe Randazzo alleges he murdered Mr Nguyen at Mahogany Creek on January 20, the last day Mr Nguyen was seen alive. It was also revealed the pair were allegedly drug business partners and had met in jail when they were both serving time for meth dealing offences. Police are still investigating if the business associates had been in a dispute over money, which resulted in Nguyen's death. The 28-year-old man has been charged with murder after the body of Dinh Lam Nguyen (pictured) was found in a wheelie bin at Glen Brook Dam in Perth on Monday A 'foul smell' led a group of teenagers and an adult to open the wheelie bin, which contained Nguyen's decomposing body wrapped in pink plastic (pictured) After Nguyen, 51, was last seen in Balga, north of Perth's CBD, on January 20, he was then reported missing two days later by his roommate. On January 25, his rotting remains were discovered dumped in the Glen Brook Dam. A 'foul smell' led a group of teenagers and an adult to open the wheelie bin, which contained Nguyen's decomposing body wrapped in pink plastic. On Thursday, WA Police confirmed a 28-year-old man had been charged with murder following an investigation into Nguyen's death. Detectives were led to Nguyen's missing car - a blue Mazda 3 sedan - following a press conference where they appealed for information on Wednesday. The vehicle was allegedly found burnt out in bushland in Chidlow, about 45km east of Perth. Acting Detective Inspector Sean Wright on Wednesday said Nguyen had left behind children, some based in Perth. 'They are going through the grieving process, they are very distraught,' he said. 'They are going to give us some lifestyle [information]... so we [can] know more about him. 'Mr Nguyen is known to police. We need to identify what caused his death and who did it.' Acting Detective inspector Wright also confirmed members of the public were alerted to the wheelie bin due to its foul odour. 'The circumstances surrounding human remains [found] in a bin at a picnic site in a dam is highly unusual,' he said. Gruesome images show the father-of-three's body (pictured) being pulled out of the dam after being discovered in a wheelie bin on Monday Police on the scene (pictured above) after Nguyen's remains were discovered in a wheelie bin The Vietnamese national is a convicted drug dealer who was sentenced to three years in jail after he was caught with ice in 2016, The West Australian reported. Nguyen was found with 27 grams of the illicit drug when he was pulled over by police in South Greenough, around 380km north of Perth, in August 2016. A large dagger was also found in his car. The father had been on bail at the time for being caught with 16.88g of ice with the intent to sell or supply - as well as possessing a knife. He was sentenced to three years behind bars in 2017 and during his hearing he was labelled a 'higher level' drug dealer. Nguyen also had violence, traffic, damage and dishonesty convictions. He moved to Australia in 1990 to avoid army conscription. Kiernan was remanded in custody to face court again on February 24 via video link. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Jan, 2021) The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai, headed by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today announced updates to Dubais travel protocols for inbound passengers, effective from Sunday, 31 January. The updates are part of the Committees keenness to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on COVID-19 precautionary measures put in place to safeguard everyones health and wellbeing. As part of the revised protocols, UAE residents, GCC citizens and visitors are required to do a PCR test prior to departure for Dubai irrespective of the country they are coming from. The Committee has also mandated that arrivals from certain countries (based on the pandemic situation in those countries) require an additional test on arrival in Dubai. Protocols will remain the same for UAE citizens returning to the country from overseas, which exempt them from undergoing a PCR test prior to departure, regardless of the country they are coming from. They will only be required to conduct a PCR test on arrival in Dubai. The Committee has also decided to reduce the validity period of PCR tests from 96 hours to 72 hours. The Committee has directed Dubai Airports Company to provide Rapid PCR or Rapid Antigen testing at Dubai airports, in cooperation with relevant authorities, to facilitate travel procedures for passengers departing from Dubai to countries that require this type of pre-travel test, in accordance with the time-frame specified. Regular revision of protocols The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the updated travel protocols are part of a regular process of revising and optimising precautionary measures based on the latest local, regional and international developments. They are also aimed at enabling the city to continue serving as a global commercial hub and a bridge for travel and trade between the east and west. The fifth round of the Constitutional Committee has failed to make any progress, with disagreements, differences and arguments persisting writes Alsouria Net. The third day of the meetings of the Syrian Constitutional Committee began in Geneva on Wednesday. No progress worth mentioning was achieved. Sources from the civil society bloc told Alsouria Net that the fifth round, which is currently being held in Geneva in the presence of the delegations of the regime, the opposition, and civil society, has not achieved the desired goal, which is to discuss the basic principles of the Syrian constitution. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that the regime is still beating around the bush, talking about national constants ad nauseam, and avoiding engaging in any discussion related to the constitution. According to the same sources, the opposition delegation, headed by Hadi al-Bahra, submitted to UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen, a proposal to discuss preliminary articles in the constitution. The regimes delegation, however, rejected the proposal and insisted on lingering on what has already been discussed in the past four rounds. The regimes delegation is still calling for discussions of several matters, most notably national sovereignty and the rejection of occupations and economic sanctions, which some consider an intentional waste of time, aimed at avoiding discussions about constitutional principles. The fifth round of the Constitutional Committee meetings in Geneva started on Monday, and is considered one of the most important rounds, as it is supposed to discuss, for the first time, the early stages of the new constitution and the constitutional principles. The fifth round is scheduled to last until Jan. 29, 2021. Whats behind the visit of the Astana trio? Coinciding with the start of the fifth round, Russian, Iranian, and Turkish delegations visited Geneva, on Tuesday, to discuss developments in Syrian politics, in a remarkable move by the Astana trio. Although the objectives of the visit were not officially announced, it comes at a time when many have been talking about the lack of progress in the fifth round, indicating that the move aims at preventing any possible failures. Western countries and the other countries concerned with the Syrian issue are trying to hold on to the Constitutional Committee as the only effective political track at the moment, especially since the Astana talks were interrupted last April and never resumed. 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. Police arrested a Sudanese woman in Budapest after images of child pornography were discovered on her phone and drugs were found in her home, the National Investigation Bureau (NNI) said. The immigration authority alerted the police after finding the pictures during an asylum procedure, NNI said. During the investigation, the police found cocaine capsules at the 45-year-old womans residence. Police estimate the street value of the capsules at 30 million forints (EUR 84,000). Photo courtesy: police.hu New Jersey health officials on Thursday reported another 3,962 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 82 additional deaths as hospitalizations continued to decline and vaccine doses administered topped 680,000. The seven-day average for new confirmed cases declined to 4,306, down 4% from a week ago, but up 5% from a month ago. Hospitalizations declined to 3,121, the lowest since Nov. 30. I think were beginning to see light, but we need everyone to stay strong and stay vigilant, Gov. Phil Murphy said at event on a solar project in Perth Amboy. New Jersey has now lost 21,301 residents in the nearly 11 month outbreak with 19,172 confirmed fatalities and 2,129 considered probable. The death toll for January rose to 2,191 confirmed fatalities, the most in any month since May. Murphy said the most recent positivity rate for tests conducted on Sunday was over 13%. The rate of transmission is 0.91, the same as Wednesday and down from 0.92 the prior day. Any number under 1 indicates that the outbreak is slowing. The total number of confirmed cases is now 610,324 out of more than 9.2 million PCR tests. Several more cases of the highly-contagious variant of the virus that was first discovered in the United Kingdom have been identified in New Jersey, with at least one death associated with the variant. The first two cases of the variant were announced last week. Officials have discovered six additional cases, state Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said on Monday. Four of the cases have been found in Ocean County, two of them in Essex County and two in Morris County, Persichilli said. They were discovered in people between ages 10 and 65 years old and linked to the death of one person who had significant underlying conditions, she said. One of those infected with the variant had a history of international travel. It is more important than ever, with the variants in our state, to continue to mask up, Persichilli said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage VACCINATIONS There have been 680,601 vaccine doses administered in New Jersey so far, according to the states dashboard. Of those, 557,175 were the first of two doses people will receive. Thats out of more than 1.2 million doses the state has received from the federal government, according to a running tally by the federal Centers for Disease Control. All six of the states vaccine mega-sites have now opened along with about 200 other locations statewide. New Jersey has faced criticism for having a slower rollout than dozens of other states, according to data from the CDC. Murphy said on Wednesday that the state can now expect about 130,000 doses from the federal government over the next three weeks, up from 100,000, but demand is still far outpacing the supply in the state. We still have a big supply-demand imbalance. Were still going to be chopping to that for weeks to come, Murphy said during a CNN interview. VACCINATIONS BY COUNTY ATLANTIC COUNTY - 20,208 doses administered BERGEN COUNTY - 74,099 doses administered BURLINGTON COUNTY - 33,467 doses administered CAMDEN COUNTY - 39,708 doses administered CAPE MAY COUNTY- 9,958 doses administered CUMBERLAND COUNTY - 10,585 doses administered ESSEX COUNTY - 54,575 doses administered GLOUCESTER COUNTY - 23,197 doses administered HUDSON COUNTY - 32,019 doses administered HUNTERDON COUNTY - 9,747 doses administered MERCER COUNTY - 17,276 doses administered MIDDLESEX COUNTY - 50,553 doses administered MONMOUTH COUNTY - 52,031 doses administered MORRIS COUNTY - 49,893 doses administered OCEAN COUNTY - 41,156 doses administered PASSAIC COUNTY - 31,962 doses administered SALEM COUNTY - 4,124 doses administered SOMERSET COUNTY - 26,457 doses administered SUSSEX COUNTY - 10,862 doses administered UNION COUNTY - 33,256 doses administered WARREN COUNTY - 6,942 doses administered UNKNOWN COUNTY - 22,189 doses administered OUT OF STATE - 26,337 doses administered COUNTY-BY-COUNTY NUMBERS (sorted by most new cases) Bergen County: 59,029 confirmed cases (447 new), 2,193 confirmed deaths (268 probable) Ocean County: 43,705 confirmed cases (445 new), 1,547 confirmed deaths (90 probable) Hudson County: 55,587 confirmed cases (394 new), 1,684 confirmed deaths (171 probable) Essex County: 58,554 confirmed cases (385 new), 2,275 confirmed deaths (255 probable) Middlesex County: 58,352 confirmed cases (380 new), 1,682 confirmed deaths (217 probable) Monmouth County: 43,608 confirmed cases (269 new), 1,132 confirmed deaths (108 probable) Passaic County: 46,525 confirmed cases (233 new), 1,427 confirmed deaths (163 probable) Morris County: 26,942 confirmed cases (219 new), 841 confirmed deaths (207 probable) Union County: 43,933 confirmed cases (181 new), 1,476 confirmed deaths (186 probable) Camden County: 35,827 confirmed cases (170 new), 930 confirmed deaths (69 probable) Atlantic County: 16,861 confirmed cases (132 new), 440 confirmed deaths (22 probable) Gloucester County: 18,785 confirmed cases (129 new), 471 confirmed deaths (22 probable) Burlington County: 27,398 confirmed cases (125 new), 633 confirmed deaths (48 probable) Mercer County: 23,270 confirmed cases (115 new), 773 confirmed deaths (38 probable) Somerset County: 15,994 confirmed cases (101 new), 644 confirmed deaths (96 probable) Sussex County: 6,744 confirmed cases (53 new), 198 confirmed deaths (55 probable) Cumberland County: 10,549 confirmed cases (52 new), 282 confirmed deaths (14 probable) Warren County: 5,347 confirmed cases (43 new), 183 confirmed deaths (15 probable) Hunterdon County: 5,217 confirmed cases (30 new), 93 confirmed deaths (54 probable) Cape May County: 3,153 confirmed cases (22 new), 140 confirmed deaths (20 probable) Salem County: 3,818 confirmed cases (18 new), 128 confirmed deaths (11 probable) HOSPITALIZATIONS There were 3,121 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys 71 hospitals as of Wednesday night. Thats 70 fewer than the previous day. That included 563 in critical or intensive care (15 fewer than the previous night), with 406 on ventilators (the same as the previous night). There were also 395 COVID-19 patients discharged Wednesday, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard. Murphy has said any hospitalizations over 5,000 patients would likely trigger new rounds of restrictions. But the number of people being hospitalized has mostly ticked down slowly in recent days after hitting a more than seven-month high of 3,873 people on Dec. 22. The state hit a high of more than 8,000 hospitalizations in April. Hospitalizations as of 1/27/21 SCHOOL CASES At least 629 students and staff in 131 school districts in New Jersey have caught COVID-19 through in-school outbreaks, according to the latest update from state health officials. Thats an increase of 10 districts from the previous weekly report. There are now confirmed in-school outbreaks in all 21 counties, though the state does not identify the individual school districts. Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that cant be confirmed as in-school outbreaks. Though the numbers keep rising every week, Murphy has said the school outbreak statistics remain below what state officials were expecting when schools reopened for in-person classes. New Jersey defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school. AGE BREAKDOWN Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents who have caught the virus (31.2%), followed by those 50-64 (23.7%), 18-29 (19.3%), 65-79 (11.1%), 5-17 (7.5%), 80 and older (5.4%), and 0-4 (1.6%). On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with preexisting conditions. Nearly half the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (47%), followed by those 65-79 (33%), 50-64 (15.6%), 30-49 (4%), 18-29 (0.4%), 5-17 (0%), and 0-4 (0%). At least 7,713 of the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. That number has been rising again at a steeper rate in recent months, with deaths at the states nursing homes nearly tripling in December. There are currently active outbreaks at 435 facilities, resulting in 7,338 active cases among residents and 7,929 among staffers. GLOBAL NUMBERS As of Thursday morning, there have been more than 100.9 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 2.17 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications. The U.S. has reported the most cases, at more than 25.5 million, and the most deaths, at more than 429,100. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. US electric vehicle start-up Lucid Motors is reported to be in talks with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund about building an electric vehicle plant in the kingdom. The news was reported by the UK's Financial Times earlier this week, with the newspaper citing an interview with the head of the sovereign fund, Al-Rumayyan. Bloomberg subsequently reported the two parties had discussed setting up a plant in the Saudi city of Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast. The Public Investment Fund reportedly invested over US$1bn in Lucid Motor's in 2018 on the understanding the carmaker would build a manufacturing plant in the country. The Saudi government has been investing heavily in recent years to diversify the economy away from the oil sector and is seeking to attract international companies to set up operations in the kingdom. Lucid Motors last month announced it had completed construction of its first electric vehicle plant in Arizona. The AMP-1 (Advanced Manufacturing Plant) is scheduled to begin commercial production of the Air passenger car early this year with a second model the Gravity to be added later in the year. Bahrain is witnessing strong growth in its non-oil economy, which is now representing around 90% of the Kingdoms GDP, up from 55% in 2000, a senior government official said. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, was speaking at the 4th edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA). He took part in the international conference alongside panelists Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance for Saudi Arabia, Jason Greenblatt, former White House Special Envoy to the Middle East, and Thomas Barrack of Colony Capital. He went on to highlight the important role economic diversification plays in supporting and meeting the aspirations of the regions youth, noting their desire to benefit from opportunities, not hand-outs. Looking to the future as well as Bahrains existing Fiscal Balance Program, the Minister outlined the need for a recalibration of the relationship between economic growth and government revenues. He called for efforts to create a positive correlation between economic growth and government revenues leading to greater economic stability, innovation, and increased opportunities for all. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Taoiseach has been accused of adopting a do as I say, not as I do attitude to foreign travel. Massive fines could now apply to citizens who take a trip abroad that is deemed non-essential. However Micheal Martin reserves the right to plan a trip to Washington within weeks to see President Joe Biden in order to present him with a bowl of shamrock. The Taoiseachs insistence on his St Patricks Day trip to the White House is negligent of his responsibilities to set a good example, a TD has claimed. Read More That Mr Martin would not to rule out this years St Patricks Day trip to Washington was incomprehensible, said Tipperary Independent Mattie McGrath. To plough ahead with the 2021 St Patricks Day White House trip is completely irresponsible as a global pandemic runs riot, he said. It is essentially a case of do as I say, not as I do. He said the Government was confining the freedoms of Irish citizens while planning a lavish and contradictory trip themselves. Such a trip would send out the completely wrong message and risk undermining the hard work of healthcare and frontline workers at home, Mr McGrath said. The magnitude of mixed and contradictory messaging by this Government is the worst experienced by any Irish government in history, at a time when the Irish people deserve so much better, he said. The decision by the Taoiseach and his Government to proceed with a St Patricks Day trip, in the midst of this crisis, represents more of the misplaced approach. "It is sucking the morale from every community. If the Government was anxious to proceed with meeting the new US president, it could be done in an online capacity instead, he said, just as parents and children were left to work or learn from home using various technology platforms. I am calling for the Taoiseach and Government to cancel the St Patricks Day trip to Washington, said Mr McGrath. "To travel to the US on an official visit at this time would be reckless. The Taoiseach should try to repair relationships and implement adequate Covid strategies on the island, rather than heading off to the States to rub shoulders with the new US President, he said. True leadership should always begin at home. A Government spokesperson told the Irish Independent: The relationship between Ireland and the United States of America is an important and historic one. While arrangements for marking the traditional St Patricks Day celebrations are not finalised, any arrangements will take account of Covid-19 related measures, both here and in the US. 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. Sen. Mitch McConnell admitted it was all a big lie. The emperor had no clothes. Most everyone knew it. All but a vocal cabal of Charleston County GOP members knew it too, yet continued denying reality, insisting he is still the emperor. If anyone dares to disagree, he is accused of being a RINO. After stating, at the Jan. 11 Charleston County Republican Party meeting, that blind obedience to former President Donald Trump should not be the litmus test for being a Republican, I was met with a chorus of boos, RINO and, my personal favorite, Lock him up. (Rather ironic, considering Republicans are howling against so-called cancel culture.) Fortunately, the reaction from Republicans who reached out, including current and former elected Republican leaders, was overwhelmingly positive. But therein lies the rub: They cannot openly say so. This must change. There is an ideological chasm separating the vocal cadre of Republicans regularly attending the local meetings, demanding blind obedience to a man, and the majority of Republican voters who adhere to conservative principles. Regrettably, the chasm is not being bridged, and the party may fracture or devolve into the Party of Trump. If that happens, Republicans should take heed that we have yet to feel the wrath of voters who witnessed the storming of the U.S. Capitol. As recent arrests show, these rioters were not antifa, despite what fringe conspiracies claim. For Republicans seeking to chart a path forward, it starts with the basics. It takes 50% plus one vote to win an election. Swing and younger voters are crucial. Republicans must recognize their concerns, abandon failed approaches and stop stoking national division. Those who have reached out to me with support agree that the anger and rhetoric must be reduced. That we must stop saying the liberals." No political organization exhibits unanimity within its membership on any issue. It is false to paint all liberals as anti-American, socialists and forces of darkness (to quote U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz) and all conservatives as racists, fascists and religious hypocrites. Swing voters often float between the two sides. Vilifying those who are not lockstep, imperial Republicans is a losing strategy. Sign up for our opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! Likewise, a civics reminder is in order: There are three separate and co-equal branches of government. The legislative branch was established to act independently and to serve as a check against executive overreach. Senators and representatives take an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Party affiliation must always yield to this fundamental principle. We seem to have forgotten this since the Nov. 3 election. Demands that our U.S. senators and representatives exhibit blind fidelity to a president of the same party is the greatest domestic threat to democratic governance. Yet, the local Republican cabal insists upon it. As the minority party, we can be the party of no, or we can participate in governing, working to find agreement where possible to shape the final result. Regrettably, the local party moves to censure fellow Republicans who demonstrate the slightest degree of bipartisanship. This practice is wrong. Can we not accept that there can be sensible ideas articulated by those with a "D" next to their names? No party has a monopoly on wisdom or love of country. The pandemic also has shown that Republicans cannot simply wish away science by calling COVID-19 a hoax. On Republicans' watch, voters witnessed 400,000 Americans die in a year. That's more than the combined battlefield deaths of World War I, World War II and Vietnam. We must shed the moniker of science deniers and that includes acceptance of the science of climate change. The water is rising, and when septic tanks stop working, voters are going to turn on the party that denied climate change. They are already turning on us. The majority of swing, younger and even half of Republican voters accept climate change as scientific fact. To younger voters, it is the nonnegotiable issue. With existing bipartisan support for action, Republicans should seize the initiative on corrective action before options are lost. The undeniable fact is that in four years, the Republican Party has lost the House, Senate and Oval Office. And with lack of involvement, the local Republican majority has allowed itself to be silenced by a myopic minority demanding continued fidelity to a person, not a platform. While it is still too early to say where the Republican Party is ultimately heading, one thing is certain. Without a change in trajectory, many Republicans foresee it heading to hell in a handbasket. David Savage is a Charleston attorney, former Marine Corps officer and a member of the Charleston County GOP. He is a former James Island Republican Precinct 5A committeeman. A potentially life-saving treatment for his COVID-19-stricken mother is the only gift a South Texas teen is hoping to receive in time for his 15th birthday. Emilian Sosa, a 14-year-old from McAllen, told Gov. Greg Abbott in a letter that the only family he has left is his mom, and she's "hanging on for dear life" after spending the last month battling COVID-19. Erika Calderon, the teen's mom, is the Emilian's go-to for guidance, he wrote. Now, he's watching her health deteriorate via Zoom. With no other options, Sosa is asking Abbott to help his mom receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. RELATED: Popular UTSA-area bar cited twice in two days for violating COVID-19 orders Sosa's painful letter to Abbott was shared on Twitter by Naxi Lopez, a reporter for The Monitor in the Rio Grande Valley, on Tuesday. Since the RGV does not have a hospital equipped to perform ECMO, Sosa is asking for help to transport Calderon to a larger city, like San Antonio, Houston or Dallas for a better chance at survival. "Her lungs have not been able to recover because the virus damaged them too severely," the teen wrote. "At this very moment, she is on a ventilator, hanging on for dear life, at the DHR Health COVID Unit in Edinburg, Texas." He said the treatment is her "only hope." ECMO adds oxygen to a patient's blood in order to give damaged lungs time to rest. "My mother has worked diligently all her life to raise me," Sosa wrote. "She is a hard-working single mother, and she is the only family I have left." Sosa is relying on Zoom calls to help keep his mom motivated by playing hymns and violin, but he is watching her condition worsen, he wrote. READ MORE: S.A. COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: One shot COVID-19 vaccine gives Gov. Abbott hope Neither Sosa nor Abbott's press office were immediately available to comment, but Lopez tweeted that she was in communication with both Tuesday night. Twitter users keyed into the story asked how they could help Sosa. She pointed to a GoFundMe fundraising campaign which is just $500 shy of the $20,000 goal to airlift Calderon to a larger city. The funds were raised in less than 24 hours. Lopez updated Twitter again on Tuesday, saying she spoke to the governor's office and Sosa "might just get the help it needs." San Antonio, the closest option to Sosa and his mom, has seen a decline in hospitalization rates recently. Though the number of admitted patients are decreasing, more people are hospitalized now than they were during the summer surge. During these spikes, already highly limited resources like ECMO are stretched thin. Patients must qualify and an ECMO machine must be available. The high-risk therapy is typically reserved for patients who have the highest chance of survival, San Antonio Express-News reporter Lauren Caruba told mySA.com. Caruba pointed to a case of a 42-year-old woman who was unable to receive ECMO treatment because of unavailability during the summer surge. That patient died. Despite the hurdles, Sosa is giving his all to fight for his mom to survive. He pleaded with Abbott to make his request a reality by his birthday on Feb. 1. Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye Law enforcement agencies from as many as eight countries dismantled the infrastructure of Emotet, a notorious email-based Windows malware behind several botnet-driven spam campaigns and ransomware attacks over the past decade. The coordinated takedown of the botnet on Tuesday dubbed "Operation Ladybird" is the result of a joint effort between authorities in the Netherlands, Germany, the U.S., the U.K., France, Lithuania, Canada, and Ukraine to take control of servers used to run and maintain the malware network. "The Emotet infrastructure essentially acted as a primary door opener for computer systems on a global scale," Europol said. "What made Emotet so dangerous is that the malware was offered for hire to other cybercriminals to install other types of malware, such as banking Trojans or ransomware, onto a victim's computer." More Than a Malware Since its first identification in 2014, Emotet has evolved from its initial roots as a credential stealer and banking Trojan to a powerful "Swiss Army knife" that can serve as a downloader, information stealer, and spambot depending on how it's deployed. Known for being constantly under development, the cybercrime service updates itself regularly to improve stealthiness, persistence, and add new spying capabilities through a wide range of modules, including a Wi-Fi spreader that was recently added to identify and compromise fresh victims connected to nearby Wi-Fi networks. Last year, the malware was linked to several botnet-driven spam campaigns and even capable of delivering more dangerous payloads such as TrickBot and Ryuk ransomware by renting its botnet of compromised machines to other malware groups. "The Emotet group managed to take e-mail as an attack vector to a next level," Europol said. 700 Emotet Servers Seized The U.K.'s National Crime Agency (NCA) said the operation took nearly two years to map the infrastructure of Emotet, with multiple properties in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv raided to confiscate computer equipment used by the hackers. The Ukrainian Cyberpolice Department also arrested two individuals allegedly involved in the botnet's infrastructure maintenance, both of whom are facing 12 years in prison if found guilty. "Analysis of accounts used by the group behind Emotet showed $10.5 million being moved over a two-year period on just one Virtual Currency platform," the NCA said, adding "almost $500,000 had been spent by the group over the same period to maintain its criminal infrastructure." Globally, Emotet-linked damages are said to have cost about $2.5 billion, Ukrainian authorities said. With at least 700 servers operated by Emotet across the world now having been taken down from the inside, machines infected by the malware are set to be directed to this law enforcement-infrastructure, thus preventing further exploitation. In addition, the Dutch National Police has released a tool to check for potential compromise, based on a dataset containing 600,000 e-mail addresses, usernames, and passwords that were identified during the operation. Emotet to Be Wiped En Masse on April 25, 2021 The Dutch police, which seized two central servers located in the country, said it has deployed a software update to neutralize the threat posed by Emotet effectively. "All infected computer systems will automatically retrieve the update there, after which the Emotet infection will be quarantined," the agency said. According to a tweet from a security researcher who goes by the Twitter handle milkream, Emotet is expected to be wiped on April 25, 2021, at 12:00 local time from all compromised machines. Corroborating the findings, Malwarebytes researchers said the payload to remove the malware ("EmotetLoader.dll") will be pushed via the same channels that were used to distribute the original Emotet, with the uninstaller deleting the service associated with the malware and its autorun Registry key. The April deadline also means that the update doesn't entirely prevent Emotet ("X.dll") from being installed on a system. But with the command-and-control servers now sinkholed and under law enforcement's control, the malware will be stymied in its efforts to download further modules onto the infected host. "The lengthy delay for the cleanup routine to activate may be explained by the need to give system administrators time for forensics analysis and checking for other infections," Malwarebytes' Threat Intelligence Team said. Given the nature of the takedown operation, it remains to be seen if Emotet can stage a comeback. If it does, it wouldn't be the first time a botnet survived major disruption efforts. As of writing, Abuse.ch's Feodo Tracker shows at least 20 Emotet servers are still online. "A combination of both updated cybersecurity tools (antivirus and operating systems) and cybersecurity awareness is essential to avoid falling victim to sophisticated botnets like Emotet," Europol cautioned. "Users should carefully check their e-mail and avoid opening messages and especially attachments from unknown senders. If a message seems too good to be true, it likely is and e-mails that implore a sense of urgency should be avoided at all costs." Helping people to self isolate after testing positive for covid-19 must now be a top priority for the UK government, argue experts in The BMJ today. Dr Muge Cevik at the University of St Andrews and colleagues say the focus should be on those working in high exposure occupations, living in overcrowded housing, or without a home, and should include free and safe accommodation alongside adequate income support, job protection, and help with caring responsibilities. Most countries have used testing as a tool to interrupt transmission chains by encouraging isolation of contacts, they explain. However, the ability to quarantine until test results are available, and to isolate if positive, depends on people having the space and resources to do so. They point to UK survey data suggesting that less than one in five people are able to adhere to isolation protocols. Notably, lower rates of adherence have been reported among men, younger people, key workers, those living with dependent children, and those in lower socioeconomic groups. Although willingness to self-isolate was high across all respondents, the self-reported ability to isolate was three times lower among those earning less than 20,000 a year or who had less than 100 saved. This finding is consistent with reports that lost wages are the primary reason for not following isolation guidelines. However, several well described models have been shown to enhance compliance with quarantine and isolation, they write. For example, in the United States schemes offer people with positive results a menu of supportive services, including free deliveries of food and medicines, transport, and even dog walking, to help them quarantine either at home or in free hotel accommodation. "These interventions have led to high rates of test uptake, number of contacts identified, and adherence to self-isolation, contributing to reducing total household and community transmission," say the authors. As vaccines are rolled out, even small improvements in people's ability to quarantine and isolate can have an important effect on slowing transmission, hospital admission, and death, especially among those most at risk of covid-19, they add. "The next phase of the public health response must align testing strategies with people's lived realities," they argue. "Ultimately, people need to be able to isolate without fear of a substantial damage to their work, income, family, or caring responsibilities." And they conclude: "We can't wait for vaccine mediated decreases in morbidity and mortality to manifest. Too many lives have been lost or destroyed. Integrating equitable support services for those most at risk for covid-19 is a national emergency and governments should act accordingly." Dr Fiona Godlee, Editor in Chief of The BMJ said: "The UK's political leaders seem to have their heads in the sand while waiting for the vaccine to rescue us. Unless they take other effective action to control the spread of the virus, they will be judged to have been fatally negligent." She added: "Huge sums have been spent on test and trace, but even if this were being well managed, it works only if those who test positive are able to self isolate. Action is urgently needed to support people to self isolate, to break the chain of infection, move us safely out of lockdown, ease the strain on the NHS, and prevent more avoidable illness and death." ### Peer reviewed? No Evidence type: Data Analysis; Opinion Subjects: People WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden will reopen the nations online health insurance marketplace for people who cannot obtain coverage through their employers, the White House said on Thursday. Biden, who took office last week, will restore access to healthcare.gov with an executive order on Thursday afternoon, the latest in a blizzard of moves by the Democratic president to quickly reverse the policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. The order will allow people to sign up for insurance through the government exchange from Feb. 15 to May 15, the White House said in a policy fact sheet. The program is normally accessible for just six weeks a year. The action was expected. Biden has vowed to shore up the healthcare.gov and other programs created under former President Barack Obamas sweeping 2010 Affordable Care Act. He has argued that the changes are more urgent because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 Americans. Republicans have long opposed the healthcare restructuring law, criticizing the cost and quality of care as well as extensive government involvement in healthcare markets. Biden also plans to direct federal agencies to re-examine" Trump-era policies like work requirements that made it more difficult for people to qualify for Medicaid, the government-run health insurance program for the poor. In another action, Biden will rescind the Mexico City Policy" that bans U.S. funding for international non-profit organizations that provide abortion counseling. Biden is set to sign the executive actions around 1:30 p.m. ET (1830 GMT). Iraq said today it had killed an ISIS commander who had claimed to be the leader of the terror group in the country and had declared himself its 'deputy caliph'. Abu Yaser al-Issawi was killed in a military strike which Iraq's prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi described as an 'intelligence-led operation'. Paying tribute to Iraq's 'heroic armed forces', Kadhimi said: 'I gave my word to pursue [ISIS] terrorists, we gave them a thundering response'. The jihadists were driven out of their last remaining territory in Iraq more than three years ago but still pose a threat in the country, as demonstrated by an attack in Baghdad last week which killed 32 people and for which ISIS claimed responsibility. Iraq said today it had killed an ISIS commander who had claimed to be the leader of the terror group in the country and had declared himself its 'deputy caliph' - answering to ISIS leader Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, pictured Little is known about the Iraqi figure whose death was announced today, but ISIS figures have often been known to use noms de guerre to mask their true identities. A similarly-named 'Abu Yasser al-Ithawi' was listed in a 2018 report as an ISIS operations commander in Iraq and a member of the terror group's 'delegated committee'. The former ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Bahgdadi, also operated in Iraq and made his only known public appearance there when he declared the 'caliphate' in 2014. He was killed in a US operation in Syria in late 2019, blowing himself up with a suicide vest after special forces pursued him into a dead-end tunnel. The US government has identified Baghdadi's successor as Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, previously affiliated to al-Qaeda in Iraq. Washington says he 'helped drive and justify the abduction, slaughter, and trafficking of the Yazidi religious minority in northwest Iraq'. ISIS fighters had been driven from all the territory they held in Iraq by 2017 and lost their last patch of land in Syria in 2019. But they have continued to wage a low-level insurgency against Iraqi forces and attack officials, mainly in northern areas. Last Thursday they said they were behind an attack that killed at least 32 people in a crowded Baghdad market, Iraq's first big suicide bombing for three years. A man is treated in hospital after a bomb attack in Iraq last week for which ISIS claimed responsibility, more than three years after they lost their last territory in the country ISIS used a communications channel on Telegram to claim that two of their operatives had blown themselves up in Tayaran Square in the centre of Baghdad. Health authorities said at least 110 people had been wounded after the attack, which left pools of blood and discarded clothes strewn over parts of the city. One street vendor who witnessed the attack said a bomber had fallen to the ground and feigned a stomach problem before detonating his weapon. Suicide attacks were once a regular occurrence in the Iraqi capital but normal life has largely returned, the pandemic aside, since ISIS fighters were driven away. However, Iraq is now struggling through its worst economic crisis in years, deepened by last year's collapse of oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic. Last Thursday's attack took place in the same market that was struck in the last big atrocity, in January 2018, when at least 27 people were killed. Such suicide attacks against civilians were also a near-daily tactic of insurgents during the US occupation of Iraq after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. They were later employed by Islamic State, whose fighters swept across a third of the country at their peak in 2014. Just one in 100 Government Covid-19 contracts worth an eye-watering 17.3billion was awarded by competitive tender raising more questions about whether the taxpayer has been getting value for money during the pandemic, it was revealed today. Companies with no experience of supplying masks, gloves and aprons won lucrative Government deals in the 'shambolic' scramble for contracts - with critics calling it the 'Wild West'. The Institute for Government (IfG) says it has found 'little evidence' of competition for deals handed out between March and last July at the height of the scramble for PPE for the NHS. And today it emerged that out of 17.3 billion of new contracts, 10.5billion were 'direct awards' and 6.7billion went to businesses on the Government's list of approved firms. Just one per cent were awarded following competitive tenders, according to The Times. The IFG said there was clear evidence that when firms battled for a contract it cost the Government less, shaving 2.5 per cent off the deal on average. There was NO competition for 99% of Covid contracts including vital PPE for the NHS (pictured) An IFG spokesman said: 'There is no evidence that the use of direct awards at the start of the crisis has waned as the crisis has gone on. Even though many of the Test and Trace contract awards have come later in the pandemic, those contracts have been just as likely to be direct awards.' Tim Durrant, author of the new 'Whitehall Monitor 2021 report', added: 'Boris Johnson and his ministers need to learn from the repeated U-turns, the poor-value-for money schemes and the other mistakes of 2020, as well as from what has gone well, to make a success of 2021'. The Government has insisted it followed 'robust' processes when handing out contracts to battle the pandemic. A spokesman said: 'We needed to procure contracts with extreme urgency to secure the vital supplies required. We have robust processes in place to ensure we get critical equipment to where it needs to go as quickly as possible, while ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.' The pandemic has seen the Government dole out an extraordinary number of contracts - and claims of a large number of blunders. Millions of pounds were put into the wrong bank account when the government frantically rushed to source PPE, it was revealed last year. Boris Johnson (pictured yesterday) and his ministers have been urged to 'learn from the repeated U-turns, the poor-value-for money schemes and the other mistakes of 2020 to make a success of 2021' During a 'shambolic gold rush' to plug shortages of vital equipment as the pandemic swept Britain and hospitals cried out for protective clothing, contracts worth 5.5bn were agreed at speed without a competitive tender process. It emerged last summer that a staggering 830m worth of PPE has 'never materialised' three months after it was ordered. Shadow Health Secretary Justin Madders said the race to bag a multi-million pound PPE contract was 'like a gold rush in the Wild West.' The government opened its portal inviting tenders for PPE on its website on March 27, the 500-person buying team reportedly received 24,000 offers from 16,000 suppliers by August. So far, the government has published details of around 100 contracts worth 1.7bn - the largest of which was 252.5m awarded to family investment firm Ayanda Capital for face masks. Officials have since revealed however the total is more than three times higher at 5.5bn, with 600 contracts awarded to 200 companies. Brian Juncker Named Owner & Manager Our principled focus on aligning our clients talent and business strategies informs absolutely all of our consulting work, says Brian Juncker. STS (Strategic Talent Solutions) founded in 2004, is pleased to announce Brian Juncker, PhD and Ben Fearing, PhD, as the Owners and Managers of this Chicago-based talent management consulting firm. Their leadership of the firm also heralds the launch of a comprehensive rebranding effort, featuring a new STS logo and website (http://www.stsconsulting.com). Both Brian and Ben joined STS more than a decade ago, became partners in 2016, and as they recognized their mutual passion for creating lasting impact that drives business results, they stepped into ownership and took on the shared management responsibilities. Our principled focus on aligning our clients talent and business strategies informs absolutely all of our consulting work, says Brian Juncker. This time-honored orientation and approach allows us to forge enduring partnerships with our clients who rely on our pragmatism, our wisdom, and our impact on the effectiveness of their leaders and the performance of their business. Brian and I are honored to carry STS forward in the next chapter for the firm. We are building upon a strong foundation that includes an excellent team and amazing clients, says Ben Fearing. Our impact as managers is not about fundamentally changing STS, but rather to ensure the firm continues on the path towards excellence in all that we do. While STS holds true to the timeless principles of its founder, Ed Gubman, author of the thought-leading book, The Talent Solution, the time to refresh the brand has arrived. STS is proud to reveal its new logo illustrating the firms belief in the importance of aligning talent with business strategies, forging trusted partnerships with our clients, and collaborating closely across our team of consultants and staff. The new website prominently showcases our team and services while also bringing focus to the STS leadership model, The Five Disciplines of Leaders. This framework provides a practical yet powerful way for leaders to think about the work they need to do to achieve exceptional results for their organizations. At the heart of the Five Disciplines is the creation and skilled implementation of a credible strategy that guides leaders in their approach to mobilizing stakeholders, building and developing winning teams, driving results, and evolving their strategic plan. STS is a Chicago-based, talent management consulting firm. Since our founding in 2004, we have distinguished ourselves as business astute and organizationally savvy consultants who drive meaningful business results for our clients. Our work focuses on the central idea that we must align our clients talent strategy with their business strategy to deliver high levels of impact and value. We use The Five Disciplines of Leaders framework to ground our perspective and fortify our services. http://www.stsconsulting.com Algeria: sentences upheld for two former prime ministers Ouyahia and Sellal, 15 and 12 years respectively for corruption (ANSAmed) - ALGIERS, JANUARY 28 - A court in Algiers upheld the sentences of two former Algerian prime ministers who served under former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, a judicial source said. Ahmed Ouyahia was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Abdelmalek Sellal was sentenced to 12 years in prison, after being convicted in December 2019 for corruption. The trials regarded scandals that came to light in the automobile sector and the financing of Bouteflika's failed candidacy in elections that year.(ANSAmed). (ANSA). BAKER CITY -- Starting about a year from now, people who visit Baker County to learn about the Oregon Trail will have to go somewhere other than the interpretive center that has stood atop Flagstaff Hill for almost three decades. But only temporarily. The Bureau of Land Management, which owns and operates the center, is planning a major renovation of the building to make it more energy efficient. The center, which has lured nearly 2.4 million visitors since it opened on May 23, 1992, about five miles east of Baker City, will be closed during the approximately 2 1/2-year project, which will cost at least $3 million, said Larisa Bogardus, acting director for the center. During the closure, the BLM will have a temporary Oregon Trail Experience in Baker City, Bogardus said. BLM officials are working on plans for the temporary facility, including its location, she said. It will absolutely be in Baker City, said Bogardus, who is also the public affairs officer for the BLMs Vale District, which manages the interpretive center. Were very cognizant of the economic role of the interpretive center in Baker County. Bogardus said the current plan is to put the renovation project out for bid in July or August of this year. Construction will start on March 1, 2022. The center will likely be closed for at least a couple of months before that to allow workers to move artifacts, Bogardus said, and for a couple additional months after the renovations, to allow staff to prepare for reopening. The impetus for the project, by far the largest since the center opened, was a nationwide survey comparing the energy efficiency of BLM buildings, Bogardus said. That survey, which included an inspection of the interpretive center in May 2018, earned the center the dubious distinction of being the agencys least efficient building, she said. Among the findings is that the centers Energy Use Intensity a measure of its inefficiency was 170 kilo-British Thermal Units per square foot. The average for BLM facilities is 84, according to the survey. The center, which operates solely on electricity (natural gas isnt available on Flagstaff Hill), runs up a monthly power bill averaging about $1,000, Bogardus said. Its location contributes to the centers energy gluttony. The crest of the hill that gives visitors a panoramic view of the Baker Valley and the Elkhorn Mountains also exposes the center to the summer sun and to year-round winds that often gust above 25 mph. The siding takes a beating up there, Bogardus said. She said todays building materials, including insulation, are more effective at protecting buildings from heat and winter chill. Heating and air-conditioning systems have also become more efficient since 1992, and all of the centers HVAC equipment will be replaced during the renovation project. The work will be extensive. The contractor will replace the siding and roof, in effect stripping the outside of the building and installing all new materials, Bogardus said. Although the center itself will be closed, a portion of the trail system on Flagstaff Hill, including the Oregon Trail ruts, will remain open. Bogardus said BLM officials are working on the details. The upper sections of trail will be closed for safety reasons, since workers will be removing and replacing large parts of the building. Although the extended closure of the center and the need to set up an alternate Oregon Trail experience for visitors is a daunting challenge, Bogardus said the renovations will ensure the center remains a major attraction in Baker County for decades to come. Its very exciting to see the agency make the commitment to the longevity and efficiency of the Interpretive Center, she said. Bogardus said that about 30% of the money for the renovation will come from the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on Aug. That law includes up to $1.9 billion a year for five years for maintenance on public lands, including national parks and national forests. Shelly Cutler, executive director of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, said the Interpretive Center is a vital part of the countys tourism industry. She estimated that at least 70% of visitors include the center on their travel itinerary. People are fascinated with the Oregon Trail and the Old West, Cutler said. Although Cutler said the extended closure will have an effect on the countys tourism sector, shes thrilled that the BLM will operate a temporary satellite visitor center in Baker City. She said that will help preserve Baker Countys reputation as a destination for people interested in the Oregon Trail. Cutler said visitors, even while the Interpretive Center is closed, will be able to see wagon ruts and explore trails below Flagstaff Hill. Timothy Bishop, the countys contracted tourism marketing director, said the centers extended closure presents significant marketing challenges. Most notably, Bishop said, the county, working with Travel Oregon and other partners, will have to figure out the most effective way to ensure that travelers understand that although the center on Flagstaff Hill will be closed, the BLM will have an alternate facility open, and that they can experience the Oregon Trail in other ways, such as hiking to the wagon ruts below the center. Bishop said he expects many prospective visitors will be receptive to that marketing message because, although the Interpretive Center is sure to be on their itinerary, they also want a broader experience, and Baker County can offer that despite its biggest attraction being temporarily closed. He said hes super excited to work with Bogardus on preparations for the closure period. She is really passionate about finding a way to make sure the center has a presence in Baker City during that time, Bishop said. The temporary closure also creates a chance for the BLM to work with other local entities, such as the Baker Heritage Museum, to potentially display some of the exhibits from the center. That could bring more visitors to the county-owned museum, Bishop said. More casual tourists present another sort of challenge, he said. Bishop said some of those travelers stop at the Interpretive Center not as part of a weeklong itinerary, but because theyre looking for a place to stretch their legs during a long freeway journey. That category of traveler is more likely, he said, to drive past Baker County without stopping once they learn the Interpretive Center is closed. Bogardus said BLM is also preparing to hire a full-time director for the Interpretive Center. Former director Sarah LeCompte retired in December 2019, and three BLM officials, most recently Bogardus, have served as acting directors since. The new manager could be hired by this summer, she said. [January 28, 2021] TE Connectivity honored with fifth annual ranking as a Best Place to Work for the LGBTQ community SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectivity and sensors, has again earned the highest score on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, ranking among the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality in the United States for the fifth year in a row. "An inclusive and diverse company is a better company," said CEO Terrence Curtin. "Our global team is filled with people from all different backgrounds who feel empowered to bring their varied experiences and voices to work to ensure that we're fulfilling our purpose of creating a safer, sustainable, productive and connected future." TE's score of 100 places it in the upper echelon of companies earning the HRC designation this year. TE maintains policies ensuring antidiscrimination and equal medical benefits in theU.S and provides related training and education to employees. The company continued its philanthropic support of LGBTQ organizations over the past year, including the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania and the Out & Equal Workplace Summit. TE's LGBTQ-focused employee resource group, ALIGN, includes allies and self-identified members of the LGTBQ community across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. HRC honored TE last month with the HRC Equidad MX 2021 certificate for the company's inclusivity and diversity efforts in Mexico, which also earned a top rating. TE is committed to engaging with its employees around the world and making TE a great place to work by emphasizing development and training, creating a safe work environment, embracing diversity and inclusion, and supporting uncompromising values. Learn more about career opportunities at TE at careers.te.com. About TE Connectivity TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With approximately 80,000 employees, including more than 7,500 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/te-connectivity-honored-with-fifth-annual-ranking-as-a-best-place-to-work-for-the-lgbtq-community-301217117.html SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ltd. will accelerate hiring in the US and Europe, after Trump-era immigration curbs forced the Asian tech-services giant and its rivals to overhaul their traditional reliance on serving global clients with Indian talent. Asias No. 2 IT services company has recruited 2,000 college graduates outside of India in the past 12 months and will only hire more over the next year, Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh told Bloomberg Television. Thats despite expectations that President Joe Biden will adopt a more relaxed view on immigration in general than his predecessor. Weve taken a localisation approach, Parekh said in an interview. That helps us build a more resilient approach for the future which can work for different policies, different scenarios. Thats our hope. As new policies emerge, we have the building blocks which can work in multiple scenarios. Infosys, larger rival Ltd. and their American peers have long warned immigration barriers would undermine a business model used to supply highly skilled talent to clients from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Key for the tech industry are H-1B visas used by workers from India and other countries to fill vital roles. The visa system was conceived so could hire overseas workers to fill a shortage of high-skilled talent in technology services and product development. The fact that Indian outsourcers collect a substantial share of the visas each year has made the program controversial, with critics arguing that abuse the system by replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor. While the bulk of Infosyss recruitment remains in India -- with 15,000 grads enlisted over the past 12 months -- is laying the foundation for more hiring abroad at a rapid clip. Its built six research centers from Rhode Island to Indiana, which will act as magnets for American talent, Parekh said. After the new Brazilian COVID-19 strain was detected in the U.S. this week, Houston doctors are raising concerns over the aggressive, highly transmissable variant. Health officials confirmed the first U.S. case of the Brazilian variant in Minnesota on Monday, according to the Washington Post's Joel Achenbach. The Brazilian P.1. variant is of significant concern to doctors since it's linked to a surge in infections in the Brazilian city of Manaus, according to a recent study in the journal Science. The P.1. variant of of the virus is estimated to have infected nearly 76 percent of the population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Brazilian strain has 17 unique mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies. VACCINES IN HOUSTON: Harris County vaccine portal working again after opening day crash The pressing concern for doctors in Houston is that the mass vaccination process will not occur rapidly enough to protect Houstonians from these new COVID-19 variants. In an interview with Chron, internationally-renowned infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez describes what the risk is with this new Brazilian variant and why it's critical to push forward and speed up the process with mass vaccinations to create herd immunity now. What's the real risk with this Brazilian COVID-19 variant and why is it raising concerns within the Houston medical community? There are several variants nowthe variant in the UK, South Africa, the Brazilian variant, a new one in California. There are also the unknown ones because we have not done surveillance. The UK is concerning because it's really starting to take off in the U.S, according to the CDC. They're saying it's going to become a dominant type in the U.S. So if that happens, what that means is transmission will go way up again. So that creates new urgency. With the South African one, it seems less susceptible to the vaccine, and then you have the Brazil variant. Do you think we will see this strain eventually emerge in Houston? I think they're all inevitable. You will have all of these different variants here, and it's more of situation of which one will be dominant. I don't think we know. I feel strongly that we have to accelerate our timetable to vaccinate. I think when the Biden administration took office, they had a plan--100 million vaccines in 100 days. That was good for the old plan, but for this new variants now, I don't think it's adequate. What do you think would be the adequate daily vaccination plan for the Houston-area to protect us from the virus? To get ahead of this new variant, we would have to vaccinate 3/4 of the population to lower transmission which is roughly 3.6 million residents. You want to do this over 6 months. We would need 40,000 immunizations a day to get ahead of this in Harris County. The fall is too far away. We need something now. That's why I want to look into the AstraZeneca vaccine, and I would like the federal help with our vaccine as well. Speculation is rife that Mr Sharma could be named the home minister or even deputy chief minister of UP The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is strengthening its drive against unaccounted foreign assets and benami properties with a slew of steps. It has launched a new online facility to encourage informants to tip off tax sleuths on black assets abroad. Further, it has started creating special Foreign Asset Investigation Units (FAIUs) in its 14 directorates across the country. Already, sources say, some 70 investigators have been transferred to these units to kickstart their operations. Sources say that CBDT has also put in a request for more Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers. Since this requires additional resources, the CBDT has sought more allocation in the Union Budget to fund the drive. The FAIUs will function under director-general ranked income tax officers, and depending on how these units are grouped, they will also have directors, additional directors and sufficient support staff to perform their mandated job. All these units will be directly monitored by the CBDT, though it is unclear at this stage how this will be achieved. Sources also reveal that the CBDT is not averse to hiring the services of experts like data analysts and chartered accountants from outside the government if required. The FAIUs will also probe cases of Indian entities named in global tax document leaks, such as the infamous Panama Papers. It does appear that the IRS cadre, often eclipsed by the other more high-profile civil services. may get their moment in the sun. Dont keep vigilance cases pending, says CVC In a significant move, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has urged cadre controlling authorities, including the Union home ministry and the department of personnel and training (DoPT), to facilitate and approve vigilance clearance of IAS, IPS and IFS officers if the state government or relevant department fails to respond within three months on vigilance queries. The communication from chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari also states that in all instances where the authorities fail to provide details of vigilance cases against babus within three months, the officers will be considered as clean and fit for promotion. Sources say that this order is consequent to the commission discovering that often cadre-controlling authorities do not adhere to the rule, leading to long-pending and unresolved complaints shown against the officers names. Apparently, in some instances, even the concerned officers were unaware of a complaint pending against them! If the CVC has its way, this could put an end to the many frivolous vigilance cases that are kept pending for months (and years in some cases) and give deserving officers their career dues. Sharma to spearhead Modis UP plan The advent of Arvind Sharma, a former Gujarat cadre IAS officer and Prime Minister Narendra Modis trusted lieutenant, in the hurly-burly of Uttar Pradesh politics is being watched keenly. Mr Sharma recently joined the BJP after having retired as MSME secretary at the Centre. He is to join the state legislative council. Speculation is rife that Mr Sharma could be named the home minister or even deputy chief minister of UP. But many see a larger plan for Mr Sharma in UP politics. They feel that Mr Modi wouldnt depute his trusted ex-babu to simply become an MLC or minister. It is believed that Mr Modi will start the partys campaign for the 2022 Assembly elections through Mr Sharma. So, it is quite likely that Mr Sharmas role will be to help chief minister Yogi Adityanaths government implement government schemes in the state before the polls. The move also reiterates Mr Modis oft-seen penchant for introducing his trusted bureaucrats in politics. Retired bureaucrats and technocrat professionals are his first choicebringing R.K. Singh, Hardeep Puri and S.K. Jaishankar into politics is an example. Share a babu experience! Follow dilipthecherian@Twitter.com. Lets multiply the effect. In its long and esteemed history as one of the most respected newspapers in the world, the New York Times apparently has a blind spot: Texas lingo. It's not necessarily shocking. We can't expect New York city slickers to understand all of our intricacies. But this one seemed like a weird and obvious oversight. Texas Monthly editor Forrest Wilder found a gem in a story from the New York Times chronicling President Donald Trump's visit to Alamo, Texas (not to be confused with the Alamo in San Antonio). The writer referred to the Rio Grande, Texas's major border river, as "the Rio Grande River." NOT THAT ALAMO: Twitter has field day with Trump's visit to Alamo, Texas I didn't take Spanish in high school or grow up in a community where Spanish was as widely spoken as it is in other parts of Texas (shout out to rural suburban Fort Worth), but I do know "rio" means "river." So according to the New York Times, Texas is on the banks of the "Big River River." Repetitive, no? Like how people say "shrimp scampi," even though scampi literally means shrimp. This isn't the paper's first faux pas in covering the Lone Star State, as Texas Monthly writer Dan Solomon has pointed out. The New York Times once referred to San Antonio as being part of "a swath of south-central Texas called the Alamo." Like many Texans, I have never referred to a region of Texas as "the Alamo." The Alamo Region was not included in my fourth-grade map project showing the Texas region varieties. I'd like to note that the Times has several writers and reporters based in Texas. They are respectfully excluded from this observation, and I hope their New Yorker colleagues start calling them up more. This year will come to mark ten years since the outbreak of the unrest in Syria and subsequent civil war, referred to by various appellations in Arabic, such as 'ahdath' ('events'), 'izma' ('crisis') and 'thawra' ('revolution'). In this post, we present an interesting guest contribution by a source 'Odoacer' from the originally Druze village of Qalb Lawza in the Jabal al-Summaq area of north Idlib countryside (the site of the infamous 2015 massacre). Of course, the opinions expressed in this article are solely his own and do not represent our views or those of anyone else. - editors Return to the law of the jungle from Idlib In the beginning I write this article from an independent basis and far removed from the narrow and personal accounts and in an objective way to a certain extent. It has been 10 years since the beginning of the demonstrations fighting against the ruling governments in the Arab homeland and what they have come to from bad results and lack of attaining their desired aims for transition to a free, developed and fair society that leads the land to a better situation. And we find this in Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Tunisia, after the demonstrations overthrew the ruling systems in them, and after they became affairs of bloodshed in Syria and Iraq, with the interference of the religious demands to establish the states on an Islamic foundation, and the destruction of these lands by these causes after the Arab peoples looked to Turkey as a sponsor for them through the Justice Party in it and its attaining of authority, but that process did not occur in the Arab countries This failure may be because of the interventions by the active regional states like Iran and Turkey or the great powers like America and Russia, or because of the nature of these peoples that have not understood the religion and have not translated its true teachings into rising to become an active nation on the international stage. Let us stop here with the case of Syria and what it has come to, we find that it is among the most complicated international cases because of the geographic position or the nature of the multi-sect Syrian society and the system of rule that has continued for decades. You find a great class of the educated and wealthy who did not applaud the idea of the revolution or regime change for accounts that they know in that the alternative will be worse. And among them are those who have chosen to flee to a safe place as they believe also in the difficulty of achieving justice in this land, or through a good reading of history and understanding of the reality. You notice with me also the overlap of the demands of the Syrian people with the demands of the surrounding states, so you have found that to be a reason for intervention, not for the sake of the people but also for the sake of protecting their interests. After 10 years and much change of faces and the death of the other, we find that the case is still heading to a place we expect to be most like Iraq or Lebanon and it may be Afghanistan. We find foreign armies and we find interim governments and cartoon governments and personalities working for the interest of foreign agendas whose aim is to gather money and flee. What if this state of affairs were to remain in Idlib and northern Syria and in Syria generally speaking and just as we expect that they have agreed to prolong the Syrian crisis for the long-term? It means more ignorance, more poverty, and a new generation will come out, not knowing anything about matters except some of the hadiths and photos. A people using the Internet a lot and very afraid. Incapable and not innovating. Inactive. And not able to improve their situation. And we have in the Palestinian situation an experiment in that. And we have in the lack of the formation of the national government in Lebanon as well examples of that. The Gulf is turning inwards and does not concern itself with regional distance. Therefore, perhaps we have understood what they want and what is happening. The will of God remains and it is what will lead to us what is determined and ordained. And perhaps the will is connected with work. If we wish to rise again, we must: Forget what has happened and begin again. Stand with each other as Syrians whatever their orientations. Be rid of those who sow corruption and the ignorant and give the opportunity to the educated and people of specialisations and non-partisans in terms of tribe, sect or place. We must be pragmatic and not dogmatic. Let us make our country rise to a prosperous future before it is too late. And God is the One behind the intention. May you be well. Video surfaced Wednesday showing U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican QAnon promoter, following David Hogg near the U.S. Capitol, harassing him and trying to goad him into responding. Hogg became a gun control activist after the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre that killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at his school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Greene, a Republican, was elected in November to a Georgia congressional seat. Shes promoted the QAnon conspiracy, and people combing through her social media history have found bizarre utterances from her past, including her assertion that the Stoneman Douglas massacre was a false flag operation, something that is either faked or in which an attacker is pretending to be someone else. Greene also liked a Facebook comment calling for a bullet to the head of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The video of Greene going after Hogg was highlighted Wednesday on Twitter by Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was one of the 17 people killed at the school. Guttenberg also has become a prominent activist against gun violence in the aftermath of his daughters murder. The original video, posted on Greenes YouTube page, is dated Jan 21, 2020. The video shows both of them in Washington, were theyd been separately making their cases on gun-related issues. She complained that he was able to secure appointments with U.S. senators, but she wasnt able to get in to see any. Greene trails Hogg, making comments and asking him questions as he walks down a sidewalk, demanding to know how he managed to see elected officials. Howd you do that? How did you get major press coverage on this issue and how did you get kids? Why do you use kids, why kids? Hogg ignored Greenes taunts, prompting her to claim he cant defend his views because he wont engage her while shes chasing him. She also labeled him a coward for not responding to her bait. On Wednesday, he tweeted about the video. Its so frustrating that we have people like @mtgreenee in Congress that would rather spread conspiracies about mass shootings than confront the reality people are dying everyday from gun violence. I just want to do the work and help end gun violence, Hogg wrote, adding, You think we want to be doing this? @mtgreenee No Id much rather be able to be a college student but I & others cant & you know why? Bc corrupt politicians like you have made it so its on the survivors of Gun violence to end gun violence bc you cant do your damn job. With Hogg not engaging with Greene, the audio is entirely her talking. He has nothing to say because there really isnt anything to say you guys. He has nothing to say because hes paid to do this, she said, complaining that he got to speak with senators and was covered by the news media while she didnt get to talk to any senators and didnt get any media coverage. I had zero. Guess what, Im a gun owner. Im an American citizen and I have nothing. But this guy with his George Soros funding and his major liberal funding has got everything. I want you to think about that thats where we are and hes a coward he cant say one word. Part of Hoggs response on Wednesday: After surviving gun violence this is just 1/10 of 1% of the harassment advocates for gun control have to deal with, Hogg wrote. Everyday we are forced to act and fight through all our trauma to fight for those that cant because they were killed due to people like you refusing to do your job and protect kids not guns. Greene demands to know why Hogg is supporting so-called red flag gun laws. Red-flag laws, formally known as extreme risk protection orders, allow the government to seize firearms of people deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Red-flag laws have widespread support among Democrats and Republicans; after the Stoneman Douglas massacre, Floridas Republican-controlled Legislature and Republican governor enacted a red-flag law in the state. One of the comments Greene directs at Hogg is a claim that he is being financed by the liberal billionaire Soros. Conspiracy theorists on the right have for years been advancing the idea that Soros is behind just about everything they dont like. The Soros conspiracy notion is especially popular among anti-Semites. Hogg ridiculed her assertion that hes getting financial support from Soros. For the 8 millionth time Could someone PLEASE tell me where the millions Ive been paid by Soros is? Id love to have the rest of college and if I go grad or law school paid for, a nice place for my parents and therapy paid for the rest of my life,he said, adding, Ive never gotten a dime from Soros. Hogg, one of the founders of the gun-control advocacy organization March for Our Lives founded after the massacre, didnt respond to a text message Wednesday, but posted extensive comments on Twitter. He expressed frustration that President Joe Biden hasnt publicly addressed gun violence prevention during his first week in office. Guttenberg also addressed Greene on Twitter, asking, is this you harassing @davidhogg111 weeks after the Parkland shooting, that my daughter was killed in & he was in? Calling him a coward for ignoring your insanity. I will answer all of your questions in person. Get ready to record again. QAnon, which Greene has promoted, is a conspiracy theory that Trump was leading a fight against Satan-worshiping pedophiles and cannibals, whose leaders supposedly include Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Pope Francis. In 2018 and 2019, Greene indicated support for executing Pelosi and other prominent Democratic politicians, CNN reported Tuesday. She liked a Facebook comment that said a bullet to the head would be quicker to remove Pelosi and liked comments about executing FBI agents who she believed were part of the deep state working against then-President Donald Trump. Republican leaders havent distanced themselves, so far, from Greene. A spokesman for House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told Axios that her comments about executing Pelosi and FBI agents were deeply disturbing and that McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them. Before CNN reported about her support for executions, Greene issued a statement that didnt dispute the accuracy of the report or disavow the comments. She said it was yet another hit piece on me focused on my time before running for political office. I will never back down to the enemy of the American people and neither should you. Greene said she hasnt always managed her own Facebook account and Some [likes and shares] did not represent my views. When U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said her comments were dangerous and unacceptable for a member of Congress, she responded on Twitter, calling him a heretic. Before the election, he was senior pastor of the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was the church led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Greenes office didnt respond to a request for comment on Wednesday about the video or whether the congresswoman had any second thoughts or regrets about what she was shown doing in the video with Hogg. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-West Boca, urged Hogg and others from the Stoneman Douglas community to persevere. I saw the pain this tragedy brought & the trauma that continues even today in our community. I encouraged the survivors to come to DC to confront Members of Congress about their cowardice and failure to act. I know theyll be back to confront these cruel, despicable lies, he said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said on Twitter the House needs to take action on Greene. Prior to her election, @mtgreenee spent her free time harassing Parkland survivors, calling the #MSD shooting a hoax, and endorsed executing Congress members. Her blatant lies and irresponsible acts are dangerous, repulsive and demand swift consequences from the U.S. House. ___ (c)2021 the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Steve Lyons wont return to NESNs Red Sox coverage in 2021, a network spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. Lyons had been with the network since 2014 and was a member of the studio crew in 2020. We are thankful for all that Steve brought to our broadcast during his time with us, the spokesperson said. NESN has not yet finalized its studio crew for the upcoming season. In 2020, host Tom Caron was joined by Lyons, Tim Wakefield and Jim Rice as analysts for pre- and post-game coverage. On Tuesday, The Boston Globes Chad Finn reported that NESN had parted ways with sideline reporter Guerin Austin. Jahmai Webster will take over that role on an extended basis with Dave OBrien, Dennis Eckersley and Jerry Remy once again making up the broadcast team. Lyons, 60, spent four stints with the Red Sox as a player between 1985 and 1993 and also played for the White Sox, Braves and Expos. Since 1996, he has been in television, working for FOX from 1996 to 2006 and serving as a Dodgers analyst on Prime Ticket and KCAL from 2005 to 2013. Since joining NESN in 2014, Lyons has worked both as a studio analyst and occasional color commentator. Related links: Jahmai Webster replaces Guerin Austin as NESN Boston Red Sox full-time sideline reporter Guerin Austin out as NESN Boston Red Sox sideline reporter; two sides part ways Baseball Hall of Fame results: Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds fall short as no player is inducted by BBWAA for first time since 2013 Curt Schilling asks to be removed from Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2022: I will not participate in the final year of voting Will Boston Red Sox prospects Tanner Houck, Bryan Mata begin 2021 at Worcester? Projecting who will play for WooSox during inaugural season Boston Red Sox in on Mitch Moreland, Marwin Gonzalez as they hunt for left-handed hitting first base complement to Bobby Dalbec Curt Schilling asks to be removed from Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2022: I will not participate in the final year of voting Baseball Hall of Fame results: Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds fall short as no player is inducted by BBWAA for first time since 2013 Dustin Pedroias time on Boston Red Sox roster could come to end this week as club clears 3 spots for free agent additions Spot Money recently launched its new open banking platform in South Africa, offering a digital bank account with no monthly fees. This account is managed purely through the Spot Money mobile application, which allows users to sign up simply by scanning their ID and taking a selfie. Their debit card is then delivered to their door and they automatically receive two digital bank accounts one for standard transactions and another for cashback rewards. Spot Money joins a number of other bank accounts in South Africa which offer no monthly fees or card charges, including one apiece from major banks Nedbank and FNB. Other no-monthly-fee bank accounts in South Africa include TymeBank and Bank Zero both of which are branchless banks that interface with customers through mobile banking and, in the case of TymeBank, presences at till points in Pick in Pay and Boxer stores around the country. The digital bank race Digital banks with no monthly fees have taken off in recent years in South Africa, with players such as TymeBank launching early and seeing impressive growth. Traditional banks have followed suit and begun building their own digital accounts as other players such as Bank Zero prepare to launch. Bank Zero is a much-anticipated digital bank with no monthly fees founded by Michael Jordaan. The bank was initially set to launch in the second half of 2020 but has since been delayed to go live at some point in 2021. Bank Zero CEO Yatin Narsai said they will not be doing a big bang launch. Instead, Bank Zero will learn from customer feedback and incorporate such feedback before opening the gates. The bank is currently in a closed beta phase and is expected to become available to the public later this year. It will, however, have to compete with an increasingly saturated market, with FNB notably launching a similarly named EasyZero account before Bank Zero could get off the ground. Spot Moneys local launch has also increased competition in the local digital banking space with its unique offering of an open financial services marketplace that is integrated with other financial service providers. Fee comparison Below is an outline of the comparable fees charged by the TymeBank, Nedbank Pay-As-You-Use, FNB EasyZero, Bank Zero, and Spot Money accounts in South Africa. The EFT charges in the table below refer to payments made to external bank accounts. Additionally, the native and other cash withdrawal fields refer to withdrawing cash via the banks preferred medium and another banks ATM, respectively. Transaction FNB Easy Zero Nedbank Pay-As-You-Use Spot Money Bank Zero TymeBank Monthly Account/Card Fee Free Free Free Free Free Card payments Free Free Free Free Free Withdrawal Fee (Native) R8 per R1,000 up to R1,500pm, R2 per R100 after R7 per R1,000 R6 + 0.5% of cash withdrawal value R2 R2 Withdrawal Fee (Other) R12 per R1,000 up to R1,500pm, R10 + R2 per R100 after R10 + R2 per R100 R6 + 1.4% of cash withdrawal value R9 per R1,000 R8 per R1,000 Transfer between your own accounts Free Free Free Free Free Deposit cash Free up to R1,500pm, R1.10 per R100 after R1 per R100 Free (in-store) R8.50 (SendMoney to self at stores) R4 (Till point at PnP or Boxer) EFT Payment R1 R2.20 R5 Free R2 Prepaid airtime or data Free R1 Free Free Free Prepaid electricity R2.70 R2 Free Free Free DStv R7 R5 Free Free Free Lotto R2.70 R2.60 Free Free Free Declined Transaction R8.50 R8.60 R1.50 R2 R2 Card Replacement R60 (Retail) R120 (Branch) R140 R125 R79 (Clicks pick-up) / R139 (Delivery) R40 Now read: FNB virtual card launched for all customers America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has voiced his commitment to shoring up close ties with NATO ally Germany that were strained under the Trump administration, and suggested that the plan to withdraw 12,000 U.S. troops from the country is open to discussion. In a phone call to his German counterpart, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Austin "expressed his gratitude to Germany for continuing to serve as a great host for U.S. forces, and expressed his desire for a continued dialogue on U.S. force posture in Germany," according to a Pentagon readout of the call released Wednesday. He also sought "to reinforce the value the United States places on the bilateral defense relationship with one of our closest NATO Allies," the readout from Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby states. Read Next: Army Rolls Out Army Green Uniform Wear Guidelines, Renames Combat Patch The phone call is the latest sign of the Biden administration's intent to reverse or water down the policies of former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly questioned NATO's worth to the U.S. and rattled allies with demands for more defense spending. Last July, Trump made the surprise announcement that about 11,000 of the 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany would be withdrawn. Then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper later said that the number to be withdrawn was 12,000, adding that about half would be sent back to the U.S. and the other half redeployed further east in Europe under a long-term plan. However, there has been little movement thus far on the withdrawal plan, according to German officials. U.S. Africa Command headquarters, which was to have been moved elsewhere in Europe or possibly back to the States under that plan, is still in Stuttgart. It's not clear if any troops have been withdrawn from Germany yet. The Germany withdrawal plan drew bipartisan opposition in Congress, and the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, passed over Trump's veto, includes a provision directing that troop levels in Germany be kept at 34,500 unless the defense secretary provides cost estimates and assessments of the impact of a withdrawal on NATO and military families. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Congress Moves to Block US Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan and Germany The state Criminal Justice Commission would create a new public database that captures reports on the use or threatened use of force by each police or corrections officer, under a bill heard by an Oregon House subcommittee Wednesday. State Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland, a proponent of House Bill 2932, argued that it would help create a culture of accountability and transparency that would improve the performance of officers. Others in support said they believe it would deter more officers from using excessive force than training would, help provide a true accounting of police actions and identify problematic officers. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Janelle Bynum, D- Clackamas, is one of a number of police reform and criminal justice proposals introduced this legislative session and supported by a 12-member Black, Indigenous and People of Color Caucus. A House subcommittee on equitable policing, which Bynum chairs, held Wednesdays hearing. Police lobbyists questioned the objective of the proposal and said they worried the officers names in such a database would be used to vilify officers or physically endanger them or their families. Michael Selvaggio, who represents the Oregon Coalition of Police and Sheriffs, made up of rank-and-file officers and sheriffs deputies, called the bill too broad, arguing that tracking officers threats of force was unnecessary, as those sometimes are helpful de-escalation strategies to prevent actual use of force. There is no public database in the state that tracks officers widespread use of force. Police agencies now are required to report police use of deadly force to the Oregon Department of Justice. A national FBI database was created in January 2019, collecting reports on police use of force involving serious physical injury, death of a person or shots fired at or in the direction of a person. Currently, its voluntary for police agencies to provide the data to the FBI. The state Department of Public Safety Standards & Training has a database of all officers names, dates of their certification and training that the public can access. It also recently added an online database that tracks if the state agency is reviewing an officers state certification for alleged misconduct, and if the certification was suspended or revoked. Proponents seeking a state use of force database contend the FBI database is inadequate because agencies arent required to share their use of force reports. The Oregon Commissions on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Black Affairs, Hispanic Affairs and Commission for Women issued a joint statement in support of the bill. Without this type of reporting, tracking, and analysis there can be no full understanding of the systemic violence that have blighted our communities, and harmed our citizens, too often to death where other means of de-escalation and other modalities lead to better outcomes for all, the statement said. The database also will help track officers who routinely use force or are disciplined for over-use of force, if they tend to move from one agency to another, the commission said. HB 2932 would require law enforcement agencies to provide information describing the circumstances when a police officer or corrections officer uses any physical force or threatens to use physical force against an individual. Criminal defense lawyer Rachel Phillips urged that any database on police use of force in the state contain the officers names, and not allow officers to be identified by a non-traceable number. Phillips said the information on officers use of force would be helpful to defense lawyers in challenging cases against their clients, information that she argued isnt always turned over as required. We need to make sure this information is getting to the defense and the public to ensure a fair trial, she said. Jim Ferraris, Woodburn police chief and president of the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, said money shouldnt go toward supporting another database, when theres a national one in place that the state can rely on to conduct force analyses. Ferraris and Brian Wallace, Marion Countys chief civil deputy who sits on an advisory task force for the FBI national use of force database, recommended instead that the state require all Oregon law enforcement agencies to enroll and report data to the FBI database. We really believe funding that would go to this could be more effectively invested in use of force and de-escalation training so it could give us more tools so we can use less force, Ferraris told the committee. In 2020, 74 out of 171 agencies in Oregon participated and provided use-of-force data to the FBI. The officers employed by these agencies represent 71% of sworn law enforcement officers in the state. Brian Hunzeker, president of the Portland Police Association, urged police union members to write to lawmakers in opposition of the bill. The notice to union members said the bill ambiguously-defined uses or threats of force, unnecessarily conflates cases of alleged misconduct with standard procedures and could dangerously expose officers personal information. State Rep. Rick Lewis, R-Silverton, said he had concerns about requiring reports on threatened use of force by police. If an officer threatens to send a police dog in and the person voluntarily surrenders instead or threatens to use a Taser to gain compliance and the result is no one gets injured, Im concerned that officer is going to go into a database when hes actually de-escalating a situation, Lewis said. Juan Chavez, an attorney with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, and other supporters of the bill noted that officers names and the agencies they work for already are in the state public safety standards database. We cannot condone having secret police with secret identities and secret tactics, he said. Thats not what our communities want. Ken Sanchagrin, executive director of Oregons Criminal Justice Commission, said the agency is still calculating how many additional employees and how much funding would be required to create such a database. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian 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. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussed future cooperation and potential joint ventures in a phone call, Turkey's Presidential Communications Directorate said. According to a statement by the directorate, the conversation between Erdogan and Musk mainly focused on space technologies, as they discussed cooperation between Turkey's public and private sectors with Musk's aerospace company SpaceX. Shortly after the statement, Erdogan personally shared a few details about his talk with Musk, Daily Sabah reported. "We will continue to follow the developments in technology, both in our country and in the world, and continue to support any move that will benefit our people," the president wrote on his social media accounts. The call came weeks after Turkey launched its communication satellite Turksat 5A into orbit using SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. Turkey will have seven active satellites in space once Turksat 5A comes into orbit. Of the satellites currently in space, three are used for communication, namely, Turksat 3A, Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B, while the other three, Gokturk-1, Gokturk-2 and Rasat, are for observation. Nancy Pelosi is on a hatred rampage. The proximate cause is Donald Trump, but he, like Melville's white whale, is only the trigger. Captain Ahab will die rather than look at the hatred festering inside of him. And he will destroy the entire ship, just as Pelosi is doing to Congress. She has hunted President Trump for four years. Impeaching Trump after his presidency is unconstitutional, without cause, and crazy. Our history books will excoriate the House during her reign. A Russian hoax and two fake impeachments are more important than getting COVID relief to American citizens. Pelosi is driving the Republic to destruction. She spent our $32 million for the Mueller investigation, on a fake Steele dossier leaked by Hillary Clinton. Trump's Russian collusion, it turned out, was all a lie. Yet Joe Biden's Ukraine and China collusion, it turns out, are very real. Biden daily threatens our national security with his compromised position and earned wealth from these two countries, but the left ignores that real and present danger. Pelosi had a presidential election stolen in plain sight. There is a mountain of evidence to bury, so she pretended the Capitol protests were different from all of the other violent protests happening for months in our country. The vast majority of the Jan 6 protesters were there to support objections to the electors, not to shut it all down. They wanted the evidence of election fraud to see the light of day. But Democrat congresspeople saw the opportunity to pretend they were at risk, even though the overwhelming amount of political violence has come from the left. Nancy Pelosi has been inciting political violence for four years and all because she did not like a president. She never accepted the 2016 election, so she and the Democrat machinery made sure that We the People would not be trusted with another election. She is not working for We the People. She despises us. She doesn't care if we can't make a living in a lockdown, or actually need her to pass the COVID relief bill so we can have basic groceries, not designer ice cream. She doesn't care that voting is our right. We displeased Her Highness by voting "wrong" last time, so we cannot be trusted with our voting rights anymore. She is, in Dick Morris's phrase, a "vicious winner," still hunting Donald Trump down, still not passing relief bills, and now demanding that half of the country be deprogrammed so it thinks like her, docile and compliant while she becomes even richer. Congress needs to stop aiding and abetting Pelosi's malignant hatred before she, like Captain Ahab, takes the entire ship down with her. Image: Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service. The thesis that the Abraham Accords are a partial realization of the Trump administrations deal of the century is gaining momentum, as by the close economic ties emerging between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, and through them, Saudi Arabia, too. The first steps were taken by the governments of these countries, which signed agreements allowing for trade. There is good reason that one of the first Israeli delegations to the UAE in September was a senior business delegation. During that visit, the chief economist in Israels Finance Ministry signed a series of agreements allowing for investments between the two countries. These involved the kind of banking agreements that opened the financial pipeline, as well as agreements to promote cooperation in finance and investment. In this context, the parties are now discussing advancing financial service cooperation and the removal of financial barriers to investments between the countries. Furthermore, they will promote joint investments in the market. In October, the US State Department announced the creation of the Abraham Fund, an economic investment fund encompassing Israel, the UAE and the United States, which will invest as much as $3 billion in various projects. Through this fund, the US Division for Financial Cooperation will provide funding for investments in the private sector and for advancing regional cooperation. The Biden administration has already announced that it will continue to support and promote the Abraham Accords. Israel attracts considerable foreign investment, particularly in high-tech, due to its reputation as the start-up nation. It is considered to be an important incubator for innovation and development in all sorts of fields. Investors from the Gulf want to participate in these investments, too, but in their own way, by investing in those fields that would benefit their own countries. That way, they would also profit from their investments. The secretary-general of the UAE International Investors Council for Investors Abroad, Jamal Saif Al Jarwan, discussed this during a video conference call with one of the Knessets committees. He said that the UAEs investment funds plan to invest significantly in Israel, and that these funds already began conducting market research in Israel in the months right after the signing of the agreements. He listed his groups fields of interest as agro-tech, food security, fintech, water treatment and efficiency, cybersecurity and clean energy. And in fact, on Jan. 19, the Masdar investment fund in Abu Dhabi, which specializes in clean energy, announced the first major UAE investment in renewable energy in Israel. The investment amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars to develop renewable energy projects in Israel. Its partner in Israel is the French energy company EDF Renewables (Israel branch), which currently has 18 solar projects in place in Israel and is planning several dozen more, valued at 5 billion Israeli shekels $1.52 billion. Masdar is a branch of Mubadala Investments, a strategic investment company based in Abu Dhabi, which focuses on investments in renewable energy. It is one of the biggest independent investment funds in the world (known as wealth funds), managing an estimated $4 trillion. The funds income is derived from petroleum profits. It is connected to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, who played a major role in the Abraham Accords signed in Israel last year. The fund is considered to be an active player in the international investment market, with a focus on technological innovation. The connection with the companies was established as a result of collaboration between Masdar and other subsidiaries of EDF, Frances national electric company, operating in countries around the world. Masdar and EDF Renewables are already partners in a number of projects in the Middle East and North Africa. Having signed the Paris Climate Accords, the Israeli governments stated target is to produce 30% of energy in Israel from renewables by 2030, 13% more than its previous target. It also plans to stop the use of coal. In order to meet this new target, it will be necessary to produce another 15 gigawatts of energy from clean energy sources by 2030. Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi told the press, The UAE and Israel are opening a new era of cooperation in renewable energy and advanced technology, which will benefit both peoples and support our targets for clean energy. This investment may be one of the first of its kind in this field, but based on the relationships between the two countries, it certainly will not be the last. Last week, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) announced that one of the eight new offices it is opening around the world will be located in Tel Aviv. This reflects the close relationship emerging between Israel and the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular. The other offices will be opened in New York, San Francisco, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Beijing and Seoul. ADIO recently joined forces with Group 42 (G42), an artificial intelligence and cloud computing company based in Abu Dhabi, in setting up an office in Tel Aviv. The ADIO-G42 office is further evidence of how Emirati investors are focusing on Israeli high-tech companies. ADIO Director General Tariq Bin Hendi told Al-Monitor that the launch of a new office in Israel should open the door to Israeli companies, which have yet to win serious attention from investors from the Gulf. He said that ADIOs investment managers are looking for wise long-term investments that focus on advanced technological solutions to the needs of the UAE, the Gulf states and the Middle East at large. Emirati investments will be provided to joint initiatives in which we are involved and which show progress to the benefit of both parties. Chairman of the Israel Export Institute Adiv Baruch told Al-Monitor that ties with the UAE and the ensuing investments are one of the most important developments to advance the Israeli economy. These countries are centers of international finance and trade, which connect us with regional giants like Saudi Arabia and the enormous business world in the Far East. He went on to warn that too many Israelis seeking investments from the Gulf states fail to recognize these investors particular needs. They [the Israelis] lack the necessary etiquette and fail to understand the business culture of the Gulf, and are therefore rejected out of hand. Nevertheless, he also pointed out that the Export Institutes estimates for the last two months of 2020 alone show $1 billion in investments between Israel and the UAE. Most of these investments are in fields important to the UAE, such as agro-tech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and fintech. One of the biggest investments is by Mubadala Investments and Israeli companies involved in advanced agricultural technologies, such as computerized irrigation for desert environments, computerized oversight of plant growth and diseases, etc. The purpose is to develop and extend these technologies to the vast agricultural lands owned by the UAE in North Africa, Eastern Europe and South Africa. The link between capital from the Gulf, Israeli technology and their common needs is only natural. Israeli and Gulf leaders are gambling on the economy, in the hope that it will advance other diplomatic interests. This is beginning to seem like the right approach. A car bomb has exploded in Tel Abyad killing three civilians, in the latest attack to hit a Turkish held area reports Zaman Al-Wasl. Three civilians were killed in a car bomb attack in the northeastern town of Tel Abyad, the Turkish Defense Ministry has said. Two more civilians were injured in the bomb attack, the ministry said in a statement. The wounded have been transferred to a hospital in Akcakale district in Turkeys southeastern Sanliurfa province, according to the Anadolu Agency. Turkish troops and Turkey-backed Syrian National Army in October 2019 took control of Tel Abyad and other border towns from Kurdish forces, after US troops, who were protecting the Kurds, pulled out, according to the BBC. Car bombs have become the new attack tactic by Kurdish militias to target pro-Turkey fighters but this deadly tactic has claimed the lives of tens of people, with blasts hitting marketplaces and bus terminals in the Turkish-held areas in northern Syria. 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. WUHAN, China (AP) A World Health Organization team emerged from quarantine in the Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday to start field work in a fact-finding mission on the origins of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers, who were required to isolate for 14 days after arriving in China, left their quarantine hotel with their luggage including at least four yoga mats in the midafternoon and headed to another hotel. The mission has become politically charged, as China seeks to avoid blame for alleged missteps in its early response to the outbreak. A major question is where the Chinese side will allow the researchers to go and whom they will be able to talk to. Yellow barriers blocked the entrance to the hotel, keeping the media at a distance. Before the researchers boarded their bus, workers wearing protective outfits and face shields could be seen loading their luggage, including two musical instruments and a dumbbell. Hotel staff waved goodbye to the researchers, who were wearing face masks. The bus driver wore a full-body white protective suit. They drove about 30 minutes to a lakeside Hilton resort-like hotel. Former WHO official Keiji Fukuda, who is not part of the team in Wuhan, has cautioned against expecting any breakthroughs, saying it may take years before any firm conclusions can be made about the viruss origin. This is now well over a year past when it all started, he said earlier this month. So much of the physical evidence is going to be gone. The memories of people are imprecise and probably the physical layouts of many places are going to be different than they were. Among the places they might visit are the Huanan Seafood Market, which was linked to many of the first cases, as well as research institutes and hospitals that treated patients at the height of the outbreak. It hasnt been disclosed whether they will leave Wuhan. One possible source of the virus is bats in caves in rural Yunnan province, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) southwest of Wuhan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the experts would have talks, visits and inspections in China to carry out virus-tracing exchanges and cooperation. He did not provide any details. The mission only came about after considerable wrangling between the two sides that led to a rare complaint from the WHO that China was taking too long to make the final arrangements. China, which has strongly opposed an independent investigation it could not fully control, said the matter was complicated and that Chinese medical staff were preoccupied with new virus clusters in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. While the WHO was criticized early on, especially by the U.S., for not being critical enough of the Chinese response, it recently accused China and other countries of moving too slowly at the start of the outbreak, drawing a rare admission from the Chinese side that it could have done better. Overall, though, China has staunchly defended its response, possibly out of concern over the reputational or even financial costs if it were found lacking. Chinese officials and state media have also tried to cast doubt on whether the virus even started in China. Most experts believe it came from bats, possibly in southwest China or neighboring areas of Southeast Asia, before being passed to another animal and then to humans. The origins search will try to determine where and exactly how that happened. White House Press Secretary Zen Psaki expressed concern Wednesday about what she called misinformation coming out of China, adding that the U.S. supports a robust international investigation. Its imperative that we get to the bottom of the early days of the pandemic in China, she said. Zhao responded that any negative speculation and politicized interpretation of the mission is inappropriate. We hope the U.S. can work with the Chinese side in a responsible manner, respect facts and science, and respect the hard work of the international expert team in tracing the origin of the virus, he said, so that they can conduct scientific research on the virus tracing without any political interference. Members First Credit Union is excited to introduce the newest member of its leadership team, Tamara McGovern, the vice president of finance. McGovern is filling the role previously occupied by Chuck Otto. MFCU would like to thank Otto for his dedication to the credit union, its members and teams. Otto lead the charge over the finance department for 13 years, ensuring that the credit union always remained in a sound and stable financial position. Otto was passionate about doing what was best for members and always brought creative ideas to the table of how MFCU could best serve them. While Otto has transitioned into his retirement, MFCU would like to publicly thank and celebrate him for his efforts and dedication to the credit union. They are delighted for Otto to enter this new phase of his life, and are excited to welcome McGovern to the team. EDWARDSVILLE Charges against two suspects in the shooting of an SIUE nursing student/Army ROTC cadet were upgraded to murder Thursday after the victim died in a St. Louis hospital. Jacob S. Godoy, 16, of Woodson Terrace, and Jimmy R. Ortiz, 19, of Hazelwood, were each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Class M felonies, in amended charges filed Thursday. Moneer Damra, 26, of Chicago, died Wednesday morning at Barnes Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis after being shot in the neck on Jan. 14 on the ramp from Illinois 157 to Interstate 270 in Glen Carbon. Godoy, who is being charged as an adult, was the alleged shooter while Ortiz is described as one for whose conduct he is legally accountable. Godoy had originally been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, and Ortiz with aggravated battery with a firearm, all Class X felonies. Bail for the two was also increased from $250,000 to $1 million each. Both are currently in custody. The amended charges were signed by Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. Damra was studying to become an Army nurse. Friends and fellow students have described him as a beautiful soul, compassionate, a good motivator, and a friend they could count on for encouragement and positivity. Lt. Col. Timothy Clark, SIUE ROTC professor of military science, said Damra possessed the uncommon balance of compassion and drive. Details are being finalized for funeral arrangements and an SIUE memorial service. 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. UW Offers Free COVID-19 Tests to Public Starting Feb. 1, the University of Wyoming will offer a limited number of free COVID-19 diagnostic tests to members of the public who arent displaying symptoms of the infection. The saliva-based tests, developed for the universitys surveillance testing program for students and employees, are processed by UWs Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory and typically produce results within 24 hours. Theyre being offered as a service to the Albany County community, particularly those who are uninsured or unable to afford COVID-19 tests from other providers. From the beginning, we have wanted to be able to provide COVID-19 testing as a public service. Thanks to the great work of our vet med lab in developing our own in-house program, I am pleased to say that we are now able to make this testing available to members of our local community, UW President Ed Seidel says. Following the lead of the governors office and state Department of Health in providing free testing through Vault Health to the people of Wyoming, were offering these locally processed tests to help our local community navigate this pandemic. Starting Feb. 1, UW is offering to test up to 375 asymptomatic members of the public per week on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who want to be tested must sign up for appointments by going online to www.uwyo.edu/alerts/covid-19/public-testing. Tests will be administered from 3-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Those who sign up will see information directing them to a specific location; theyll receive their results online. People must be age 8 or older to take the test, which involves producing a small saliva sample through a straw into a test tube. Minor children may be assisted by a parent or legal guardian in the collection process; however, those who are unable to spit or follow testing instructions should seek other testing alternatives. UW is collaborating with a number of organizations to notify the public about the testing availability, including Albany County School District 1; Laramie Interfaith; Laramie Main Street Alliance; Laramie Chamber Business Alliance; Laramies Downtown Clinic; and UWs Family Medicine Residency Centers. Public health experts say testing is essential in helping slow the spread of COVID-19 by identifying those who have the virus, including close contacts of people documented with the infection, and enabling treatment or isolation. Testing also is crucial to learn more about how the virus spreads and how prevalent it remains in a given community. UWs COVID-19 test is part of the Shield program developed by the University of Illinois. Its an RT-PCR test, which detects the viruss genetic material. All UW students and employees who spend time on campus are required to take the test -- undergraduates twice per week and others once per week. We hope members of the public will take advantage of this test availability to help them make informed decisions related to COVID-19, Seidel says. Combined with efforts to widely administer vaccines and a continued commitment to physical distancing, wearing of masks and hygiene measures, testing is a tool that will help us emerge from the pandemic as quickly as possible. Its all the talk of the town: Miami is quickly emerging as the new tech epicenter. As Brian Breslin, director of The Launch Pad at the University of Miami pointed out, theres been an influx of New Yorkers and Silicon Valley expats coming to Miami during the pandemic, likely in the thousands. Folks are fleeing small apartments, high costs of living, state income taxes, and coming to Miami to be able to spend more time outdoors, he said. The realization that many came to while in quarantine is that they didnt need to be face-to-face with folks anymore as the remote work culture has taken hold. So, why not come to Miami and earn what they made before but with a 40 percent lower cost of living. Mayor Francis Suarez has been vocal about fostering a tech boom in the city, and now companies are considering relocating to Miami. Its no surprise that Miami has become so desirable in the eyes of these companies. Breslin noted that a mix of lifestyle and financial and cultural appeal is drawing folks to the area. Major tech companies have indicated that they will allow employees to work remotely moving forward, so the geographic boundaries related to big tech have changed, added Norma Kenyon, the Universitys vice provost for innovation and the chief innovation officer at the Miller School of Medicine, which is located in the Miami Health Districta major contributor to the regions innovation ecosystem. But, according to Breslin, this unique moment in Miamis history didn't come out of the blue. It's something the city has been preparing for over the course of many years. The local tech ecosystem down here has been building for over 15 years now, so there are already tens of thousands of folks working here on building a solid base that makes Miami much more viable as an option than it was a few years ago, said Breslin. This is a collective effort on behalf of numerous industries, governments, and institutions to get us to this place. South Floridas rising tech boom sets the University of Miami at the forefront of this exciting time for our community, said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. There is a symbiosis between our responsibility in providing the highly qualified workforce of the future and outgrowth of new and innovative industries that provide opportunities for university engagement, collaborative research, and learning that will help seed investment and grow the thriving exchange of ideas, information, and best practices. Great tech hubs are built around great university partners, as weve seen in Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas. We can do that here because we are that great university partner. As outlined in the Roadmap to Our New Century, the universitys strategic plan, becoming the hub for hemispheric innovation has been a priority. The University of Miami was one of the early advocates of entrepreneurship by starting The Launch Pad in 2008, which has fostered more than 5,000 entrepreneurs who have laid a foundation for our current tech ecosystem, explained Breslin. Weve seen numerous entrepreneurs start high tech companies here in Miami and outside of Miami as well. This culture of innovation has permeated the entire University and inspired some of our graduates to come back to Miami after years away. As Duerk pointed out, this moment could present an even bigger opportunity for students at the University of Miami. And Breslin agreed. As the founder of Refresh Miami, the largest entrepreneurial support organization in South Florida, I have seen students from all of our local institutions express a desire to stay in town but been forced to leave due to a lack of opportunities, said Breslin. The sudden influx of venture capital dollars and seasoned entrepreneurs means that were going to have more opportunities blossoming here in the coming months and years, he added. There should be a major boost in the number of internships and jobs available to our students from the new companies created, he continued. Additionally, the influx of capital means more of our students will be able to raise the funds needed to start new and innovative companies right here in the Magic City. In addition, Kenyon noted that prominent business newcomers to Miami are interested in hearing about the innovations at the University of Miami. Specifically, they are interested in scalable innovations and how they might help guide our innovators or investors, she said. Biomedical companies that need wet lab space and our collaborators in Converge Miami have shared that the labs in the Cambridge Innovation Center space are in high demand. According to Devin Rogan, associate director of employer engagement at the Universitys Toppel Career Center, the one consistent message that these new companies share is the need and desire to keep talent from Miami in Miami. They believe that if they can do that, then this ecosystem has the potential to really thrive in the future, said Rogan. If you look around at the other cities that have become hot spots for businesses in the past 15 yearsAustin, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolinathey are all located near elite institutions, which allows the companies to hire local talent efficiently and feeds into the market for new and emerging start-ups. Rogan noted that this moment is crucial for the University to keep the momentum going and actively pursue new partnerships. It is imperative that the companies moving here develop a pipeline of talent from local universities. If companies are confident that they will have a consistent and strong hiring pool, then they will feel secure in moving and keeping their offices in Miami, he explained. Because of our balanced ratio of in-state and out-of-state students, Miami has already been the top location for UM students after graduating over the last five years, and that number will only increase with more opportunities, he added. I think one direct impact of alumni staying local is the long-term connection to the school. Since alumni will be close, they can remain involved with the University in a variety of ways, which pushes forward the lifelong Cane commitment, Rogan acknowledged. Although this is a great movement for the city on a macro level, there will be micro level challenges that need to be addressed, Breslin indicated. More capital coming into the city will raise wages for white collar workers across the board, said Breslin. For every tech job created, four additional jobs are created in the local economy. This does run the risk of causing rents to rise and cost of living to increase, so its a topic the city leadership needs to be very cognizant of, and they need to make strides to continue supporting workforce housing and up-skilling as well. Tech brings jobs with above average salaries and the increased demand for goods and services will drive further job growth, added Kenyon. The potential downsides are augmentation of our already famous traffic and higher housing prices. Increases in housing prices have already occurred, as the number of people relocating to Miami as a consequence of the pandemic goes beyond tech. As Breslin and Kenyon pointed out, theres a lot Miami can learn from other cities that have experienced this type of accelerated growth. The reality is few other cities have seen such a rapid influx of capital and talent in such a short time. Austin is the other city seeing a surge in growth in the last year, but theyve had a much more robust or well-established tech industry for quite some time, Breslin remarked. Its exciting to have the buzz. But questions like: How do we plan for rapid growth and sustain our quality of life and natural resources? How do we remain inclusive and ensure that others are not edged out due to rising cost of living? and, How do we make the Miami area safer and keep it that way? need to remain top of mind, said Kenyon. According to Breslin, it's critical at this juncture for the University of Miami to establish relationships with the companies in town to make sure curriculum is up to date and flexible enough. We need to make sure our students are learning the frameworks and the systems needed to adapt as tech evolves, he said. Luckily the U already has one of the leading engineering schools in the region and is also well regarded in entrepreneurship education. Breslin said he expects to see more students in the arts and business majors learning to code and learning the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. He also expects to see students develop and launch new, innovative companies. According to Kenyon, we should see a strong core of educational activity, innovation, and growth in our tech capabilities and output, including connections to companies that drive tech. This is truly key to the future for our students, as well as our staff and faculty, she said. NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who took charge on Wednesday, has indicated that President Joe Biden will continue with the policies of the Trump administration vis a vis China, including issues related to the maritime disputes over Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea, the Indo-Pacific and the strategic approach to step up defence ties with the Quad member countries, comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia. China considers the Quad as an anti-Beijing alliance. Blinken made this clear in a series of telephone calls to his counterparts in the Phillipines, Thailand and Australia overnight Thursday, the US state department said in a statement. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal Considering that the first calls after assuming office were made to countries in the Indo-Pacific region was significant in itself, and indicates that Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific are likely to remain high on the priority list of the Biden Administration. During his conversation with Filipino counterpart Teodoro Locsin, Blinken said America rejects China's maritime claims by violating territorial claims of countries in the South China Sea region. Secretary Blinken pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of PRC ( Peoples Republic of China) pressure," the readout added. Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the mutual defense treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea." The South China Sea is important to India considering that 50-55% of its east-bound trade uses the waterway. Doubts were raised over whether the new US government would continue with the Trump administration's critical stand on China vis a vis its actions against smaller neighbours, and whether it would continue to recognize the Indo-Pacific as a strategic region. The Trump administration had conducted the freedom of navigation operations patrolling the waterways to ensure the sea lanes of communication were kept open for international commerce. China, which claims most of the waterway, has been threatening vessels of other countries, such as the Phillipines, saying they were trespassing into Chinese waters. In a call to Thai foriegn minister Don Pramudwinai, a US state department readout said Blinken discussed the importance of working together to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values across the free and open Indo Pacific region." The statement department said in his call to the Australian foreign minister Marise Payne Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of cooperation, including through multilateral organizations and mechanisms like the Quad, to tackle shared challenges such as climate change, COVID-19, and global health security. The ministers also discussed the need for close coordination on mutual global foreign policy priorities promoting human rights, rule of law, and regional security . Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Something really interesting is happening right now but looking out across the sea of floating headlines in these echo-filled virtual waters of ours, you'd never know it. In fact, as far as most of the tech-watching world is concerned, the news right now is that Google's in the midst of rolling out an insignificant-seeming update to an unimportant operating system. Goog almighty, are folks missing the boat. More than a Chromebook story Let me take a second to let everyone off the hook a little: It's easy to see why this news isn't getting the attention it deserves. First off, the development in question is connected to Chrome OS and as we've established plenty of times over the years, lots of tech-lovin' folk have a distorted view of that platform's reach (remember, way more people bought Chromebooks than Macs in the most recent reported quarter) and its potential (long story short, we've come a looooooooong way from the basic "browser in the box" concept Chrome OS launched with nearly a decade ago). And beyond that, I'll be honest: The story itself really does seem like a moist, slightly mildewy puddle of nothing at least, on the surface. I mean, come on: At first glance, what we're talking about here is the fact that Google's adding a new screensaver option into Chromebooks as of the Chrome OS 88 update that's on its way to current devices this week. A screensaver, you say? EXAGGERATED GASP! Big frickin' deal, right? [Get fresh Googley insight in your inbox every Friday with JR's Android Intelligence newsletter. Exclusive extras await!] So, yeah: I get it. None of this seems like much certainly not like anything more than a mild (and fairly overdue) added convenience for one specific Google platform. But when you start to think beyond the surface and consider the bigger-picture implications of what this addition represents, you realize it's more than just a Chromebook story. And it could could end up being far more consequential than you'd initially expect. We'll get into the specifics of why in a second. First, some basic info to establish the framework of this conversation: The new Chrome OS screensaver which, in typical Google form, isn't always immediately available after receiving the main OS update (grumble, grumble, fist shake, wretch) integrates seamlessly with Google Photos and lets your Chromebook show off images from your cloud-synced photo gallery whenever your computer's inactive. It adds in info like current weather conditions and a music player, too, when applicable. Google Looks kinda familiar, doesn't it? It should: The setup is awfully reminiscent of what you get with an Assistant-connected Smart Display only here, instead of requiring separate, standalone hardware, it's built directly into the laptop you're already totin' around all day. Heck, Google itself even refers to the new feature as a "personalized smart display" (lowercase, somewhat notably) for your Chromebook. Remember, too, that most current Chromebooks treat Google Assistant as a system-level feature an all-purpose interface that's built into the recently rebranded Chrome OS "Everything button" and able to be activated with your voice, using the same "Hey Google" hotword you'd whisper seductively to your Android phone or (uppercase) Smart Display. Now, to be sure, the Chrome OS screensaver setup isn't quite at the same level as what we see in those other environments yet. But it's a hefty step in that direction. And that brings us to the broader significance of this, tying back into a theme we've talked about countless times in these quarters: the way the lines between Google's different device categories are growing increasingly blurred and the way that could eventually shake up the way we think about all this technology. The bigger Google Assistant picture All right, so Chromebooks are getting a built-in screensaver that integrates with Photos and looks and acts like a (lowercase) smart display almost like a simpler version of what you see with the (uppercase) Smart Display, the standalone Assistant-in-a-physical-form product. And it wouldn't take much to bridge that gap and turn the Chromebook into a full-fledged (uppercase) Smart Display, thereby giving what's already become the "everything device" yet another category-defying role. So what about Android phones? Shouldn't they be a part of this transformation, too, and also be getting a similar sort of dual purpose as an on-demand Smart Display during their downtime? Indeed, they should and you know what? It wouldn't take much at all to make it happen. In fact, Google's already tantalizingly close. The progress has thus far just been limited to a small-scale accessory that's available only for one specific Android line and that's gone mostly ignored by the masses. I'm talking about the Pixel Stand a special stand that transforms any idle Pixel phone into a stationary interface for interacting with Assistant. It's a similar sort of concept to this new Chromebook screensaver thingamajigger, only more advanced and even closer to the full Smart Display experience. Google The Pixel Stand's Assistant mode has its own Assistant-centric interface, y'see one that's complete with contextual info and other Assistant-specific features. And since it runs on an Android phone that's already capable of handling always-on listening, it's always standing by and ready to respond to your spoken commands. It turns your phone into a Smart Display, in other words, in everything but name. And that's a powerful perk both for people who own the device and for the company that makes it. Speaking of which: It's pretty obvious why all of this would be a positive for us, but why would Google want to give us a Smart Display experience on our existing devices instead of encouraging us to buy more hardware? That's actually quite simple, too: One of Google's biggest goals right now is getting everyone to use Assistant as much as possible, no matter where we are or what manner of device we've got around us. That's why I've dubbed this the post-OS era because more than any individual app, operating system, or device type, the Google of today wants to get you invested with Assistant. And for good reason: By many counts, the future of the company more or less depends on it. Assistant, in many ways, is becoming the nucleus of Google's business. And Google hasn't been shy about admitting that, either: The company's head hardware honcho, Rick Osterloh, has outright described his main mission as looking for ways "to get Google Assistant in front of people and build a sustainable business around it" (as paraphrased from a 2018 profile). Well, you know what's easier than getting everyone to buy standalone gadgets for interacting with Assistant in all areas of their lives? Yup, you guessed it: creating simple software that expands the gadgets we've already got and turns them into those same sorts of Assistant-centric portals whenever they're resting. The Smart Display could become less of a device category and more of a cross-platform feature Right now, the pieces to this puzzle are scattered and unfinished, and the bigger picture is a teensy bit tough to envision. But make no mistake about it: Google's got all the elements in front of it. And if it manages to maintain its focus for long enough to push all the pieces forward in the right sorts of ways enhancing the new Chrome OS smart display setup into a more fully featured Smart Display experience and transforming the accessory-requiring Pixel smart display mode into a more universal Android-wide option goodness gracious, we could see these blurred lines come into focus in no time. At a certain point, the type of device you're using becomes almost irrelevant. The label "Smart Display" becomes less of a device category and more of a cross-platform Google feature. And the pieces of hardware around you become mere vessels for the increasingly connected Assistant-centric ecosystems within 'em. Having every Chromebook and every Android phone double as a Smart Display would be one heck of a significant step and with this latest Chrome OS update, the foundation is officially in place. All that remains to be seen is if Google can make the most of what's there and build it up into something special. Want even more Googley knowledge? Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get next-level tips and insight delivered directly to your inbox. Living through years of Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter protests and watching nothing change can make one angry beyond words. Especially after last years protests when things looked like they might actually change, as politicians seemed to care about ending police violence, but instead gave us watered-down police reform bills. A recent Homeland Security "National Terrorism Advisory" bulletin proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that absolutely nothing has changed. In fact things might just have gotten worse for police violence protesters and activists. The very first paragraph of the bulletin warns first responders that police should be on the look out for people who object to government authority and more. "The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration. Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence." What do the Feds mean by "ideologically-motivated violent extremists as well as other perceived grievances" and "could continue to mobilize"? Well for one thing, using 'could mobilize as a reason to justify leaving a military presence in and around our Capitol until March should concern everyone. As journalist Glenn Greenwald said, "It is hard to overstate what an extreme state of affairs it is to have a sustained military presence in American streets." "Why was the idea of troops in American streets so grotesque and offensive in June, 2020 but so normalized now? Why were these troops likely to indiscriminately arrest and murder black reporters and other journalists over the summer but are now trusted to protect them? And what does it say about the current climate, and the serious dangers it poses, that the public is being trained so easily to acquiesce to extreme measures in the name of domestic security?" It appears that things have gone from bad to worse as DHS seems to be using the Capitol riot as an excuse to paint non-violent protesters and protesters against police violence as extremists. "Throughout 2020, Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) targeted individuals with opposing views engaged in First Amendment-protected, non-violent protest activity. DVEs motivated by a range of issues, including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force have plotted and on occasion carried out attacks against government facilities." Non-violent protesters and protesters against police use-of-force are to be considered Domestic Violent Extremists? What world are we living in? DHS also appears to want law enforcement to target people like BLM activists who are trying to put an end to government sanctioned police violence. "DHS remains committed to preventing violence and threats meant to intimidate or coerce specific populations on the basis of their religion, race, ethnicity, identity or political views." How will the Feds accomplish their new goal of painting peaceful protesters and activists as DVEs? By using DHSs If You See Something, Say Something talk to the police program or contact the FBI and last but not least, contacting your local police/Fusion Centers. "We ask the public to report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online activity, to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or their local Fusion Center." The bulletin also provides a link to a DHS "Homeland Threat Assessment" program run by disgraced Trump appointee Chad Wolf. How does DHS determine who is and who is not an extremist? By trusting DHS employees to make those decisions of course. "The men and women serving in our operational Components are the experts in their national security and homeland security missions, making their insights critical in threat identification and prevention," acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said. Trusting Trump inspired government employees to determine who is and is not a violent extremist is disconcerting to say the least. DHS has no qualms about painting Black Lives Matter protesters as anti-government violent extremists. "During the course of developing the HTA we began to see a new, alarming trend of exploitation of lawful protests causing violence, death, and destruction in American communities. This anti-government, anti-authority and anarchist violent extremism was identified by DHS in September 2019 when we published our Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence." DHSs Homeland Threat Assessment report is beyond troubling, it is filled with similar calls like the ones quoted above that encourage police violence by treating peaceful BLM protesters or anti-government activists like terrorists. Sadly, it seems like President Joe Biden will not only continue in Trumps footsteps of police violence but might accelerate its growth by introducing new domestic terrorism laws. Shiv Sena has joined Congress and 15 other opposition parties which have decided to boycott President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, in solidarity with the farmers protesting the Centre's farm laws. "We are going to boycott the President's speech tomorrow. This is the call of all the opposition parties. We won't attend the session tomorrow," Sanjay Raut told CNN-News18. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had earlier said that the parties also want a probe into the Centre's role in violence on Republic Day in Delhi. He was speaking to the media with Congress' chief whip in Lok Sabha, K Suresh, by his side. The Congress on Wednesday had held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the violence that shook the national capital on Republic Day and said he should be sacked immediately. The Congress had also accused the Modi government of being part of a concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers' agitation by allowing some miscreants to enter the Red Fort complex and hoist a religious flag, in their bid to ensure that the farmers bury their demand for the repeal of the three new agri laws. President Ram Nath Kovind would address the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on January 29. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Until recently, the deconsecrated place of worship was used as a film set and a wedding hall. The destruction violates President Erdogans statement on the protection of sacred places. Meanwhile, abuses against Christians continue. Istanbul (AsiaNews) Armenian Christians in Turkey have suffered another blow to their religious and cultural heritage. A few days ago, the 17th century Church of Surp Toros (San Toros) in Kutahya, Western Turkey, was demolished by its owner. The place of worship had been deconsecrated and abandoned for some time. Garo Paylan, an Armenian Christian member of Turkeys parliament for the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), strongly condemned the act. In a parliamentary question to the Minister of Tourism and Culture he asked why authorities allowed this to happen. Although used as a film set and a wedding hall, the centuries-old former Armenian church had been classified as an immovable requiring protection by the Kutahya Regional Board of Cultural Heritage Protection. Dating back to 1603, the church had an important place in the city's memory, said MP Paylan in his question to the minister. The church was considered to be an important site of memory as it was the church where musicologist Gomidas was baptised. Sadly, the authorities remained indifferent to the Armenian community's calls for its restoration or, at least, its use as a cultural centre. Lasty, the lawmaker cited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said, We did not, do not and will not interfere with the belief, worship or the sacred [sic] of anyone. Thus, this demolition, despite Erdogan's remarks, has deeply saddened and hurt all Christians, especially the Armenian citizens. From the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Paylan wants to know if an investigation has started on the church demolition, why the ministry was silent while this outrage by a private citizen was taking place, and whether any action has been taken to ensure that the Church will be rebuilt to its original. According to the Armenian scholar Arsag Alboyacyan, the church was famous for a rock kept inside, on which the imprint of the horse of San Toros was imprinted. According to tradition, sick women sat on the stone and, through the reading of the Bible, invoked healing. Before 1915, about 4,000 Armenians lived in Kutahya, served by three local Armenian churches; after the genocide, only 61 were left by 1931 and, over time, the few who remained moved to Istanbul or emigrated abroad. Recently, another ancient Armenian church went on sale on the Internet, another example of a series of controversial episodes showing disrespect, if not contempt for the countrys Christian religious and cultural heritage. The list includes a barbecue held at the historic Sourp Asdvadzadzi Armenian church and the conversions of the ancient Christian basilicas of Hagia Sophia and Chora into mosques. The latter were turned into museums under the founder of modern Turkey Ataturk. Such actions have been controversial but they fit in the nationalism and Islam policy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a way to hide the countrys economic woes and help him stay in power. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, publishes a new edition of its list in which no more than 5% of all the practicing attorneys in the United States are listed. For many years, the publication has listed Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP attorneys; in the 2021 edition, the Los Angeles-based firm continues this tradition of being recognized in the famously selective publication. Super Lawyers attempts to showcase a premier legal professional population that is equally representative of small, medium, and large firm attorneys who help clients in more than 70 legal practice areas. In curating the list, Super Lawyers deems only those attorneys who have been nominated by a third party or identified by the Super Lawyers Research Team as valid candidates for consideration. The reasoning is that it only wants to list the "best of the best" attorneys for whom peers and clients will vouch. Next, eligible attorneys are put to an exhaustive review that delves into a dozen different aspects of their careers, some of which are experience, verdicts and settlements, representative clients, bar and professional activity, and pro bono work. After this, they are reevaluated before a Blue Ribbon Panel of top-rated lawyers from their respective practice areas, resulting in the final selection of that year's Super Lawyers listees. Although the selection process is intense, members of Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP's legal team have been previously listed in the publication. Thus, they have passed this review repeatedly a rather impressive feat considering previous listees are removed from the list should their careers fall below the publication's high standards. In 2021 Super Lawyers, the Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP attorneys whom obtained listings for Southern California were as follows: Moreover, four of these individuals Attorneys Broillet, Quigley, Spagnoli, and Wells were further listed in the Top 100: 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers list, which is reserved for the highest-scoring Super Lawyers candidates. As the name (and nature) of the list implies, only a select few earn this level of recognition from Super Lawyers. These achievements of the Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP team are worth celebrating, and it is a great privilege to kick off 2021 in this manner. Members of the team have also won acclaim from U.S. News Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms," The Best Lawyers in America, Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), and the exclusive Inner Circle of Advocates. Several attorneys at the firm hold membership to the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well. Passionate about helping injured residents of Southern California with high-stakes injury cases, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP is committed to only fighting on the side of the plaintiff. To date, the firm has recovered billions of dollars in compensation for clients and is known to obtain many cases by peer referral. To learn more, visit the firm online at gbw.law. To visit Super Lawyers online, kindly go to superlawyers.com SOURCE Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says now is the time for families divided by border closures to reunite, although the government can not guarantee how long the border will stay open. Queensland will remove all interstate border restrictions with NSW on Monday after late-night discussions between the chief health officers in both states. Father Larry McConnie is reunited with his daughter Kim McConnie after the borders reopened in December. Credit:Jessica Hromas It is the third time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic that Sydney has had its hotspot status revoked. Sydneysiders have remained locked out of Queensland for much of the past 12 months. Each time the border has reopened, an outbreak has flared up and Queensland has battened down the hatches. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Liu Yu (R), minister counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy to Ethiopia, and Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia Minister of Education, attend a donation ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Jan. 26, 2021. The China Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia (CCCE) on Tuesday donated 500,000 washable masks and 10,000 thermometers to the Ethiopia Ministry of Education (MoE). (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The China Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia (CCCE) on Tuesday donated 500,000 washable masks and 10,000 thermometers to the Ethiopia Ministry of Education (MoE). The COVID-19 medical supplies donation ceremony was held in the MoE's headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, in the presence of high-level Ethiopian government officials and representatives from the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia. Wen Yingzheng, Chairperson of the CCCE, said the COVID-19 medical supplies donation is part of corporate social responsibility activities being undertaken by the 70 Chinese companies' strong association. "The CCCE voluntarily raised funds from member companies to donate medical materials to the MoE, including a total of 500,000 washable masks for children and 10,000 thermometers," said Wen. "Our member companies have also actively participated in cooperation with the MoE to fulfill social responsibility through funding education by building schools, donating study materials, living and sporting goods and son on," he further said. Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia minister of education, commended the COVID-19 medical supplies donation as a testament to strong Ethiopia-China ties. "When Ethiopia was hard hit with the COVID-19 pandemic, the first country which stood with us, with the Ethiopian government, with the Ethiopian people, is the Chinese government, Chinese people and the Chinese business community in sending medical team to train our medical personnel in Ethiopia in handling the pandemic and also in provision of medical supplies and test kits," said the minister. "The heart of the Chinese government and Chinese people are always with the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian people," he further said. Ethiopia has as of Tuesday afternoon confirmed 134,132 COVID-19 cases and 2,071 COVID-19 related deaths. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the east African region. The Chinese government as well as Chinese private firms have given several rounds of COVID-19 medical supplies to Ethiopia to help the east African country fight the spread of the pandemic. Liu Yu, minister counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy to Ethiopia, emphasized the five decades old ties between the two countries, has become one of people to people ties on top of the pre-existing strong government level ties. "The cooperation between our two countries isn't just only government to government, but also people to people, and we support each other at all possible levels," said Liu. "The CCCE not only encourages its members to do business in Ethiopia in a legal and honest way. It is also more importantly encourages its members to fulfil social responsibilities, achieving a prosperity target together with the Ethiopian people," she further remarked. Mumbai, Jan 28 : An innocuous tweet by BJP's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis taking a swipe at the Maharashtra government on the Mumbai Metro, ignited another war of words in the state on Thursday. Late on Wednesday, Fadnavis took a ride on the Delhi Metro, and posted his photos with a mocking comment on Twitter targeting the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance government back home. "I travelled in Delhi Metro today to return back to the airport and reached in a very short span as compared to travel by road!" Fadnavis tweeted. He added: "Don't know when will I be able to travel in Mumbai Metro 3 to the airport, looking at the things messed up by the MVA on car shed issues." The sarcasm was not lost on the ruling MVA partners - Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and Congress which hit back vigorously and unitedly. Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said he was glad that Fadnavis appreciated the "Delhi Metro, developed by the Congress government." "The only metro (in Mumbai) completed was also by the (erstwhile Congress-NCP) government. Your government could not meet 2019 deadline," Sawant said. The Congress leader assured that with vast experience in governance, "the MVA will surely do what your (BJP-led Fadnavis government) could not, if the hurdles created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government are removed." Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's media advisor Harshal Pradhan cajoled Fadnavis to "feel proud of Maharashtra first" before lavishing praise on others. "You should feel proud that India's best CM (Thackeray) has saved and given a forest to Mumbai in Aarey Colony. We are a growing state with a visionary leadership. Be proud of the fastest developing state," Pradhan suggested. Turning the tables on the opposition, NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase asked Fadnavis to help clear the obstacles allegedly created in the Mumbai Metro project by the BJP at the Centre. "We want that these hurdles should be cleared, the state and Centre must jointly contribute to give a well-deserved Metro project to the citizens of Mumbai," urged Tapase. In an oblique reference to Fadnavis' remarks, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar assured that "the work on Mumbai Metro is proceeding satisfactorily" as per schedules. Environmentalist Zoru Bhathena, crusading for the protection of the Aarey Colony forests, had a poser for Fadnavis: "Did you find any Metro depots being built in the city forests inside Delhi". Bhathena's query pertained to the MVA-BJP state-Centre tug-of-war over the location of the proposed Mumbai Metro car shed at Aarey Colony - now declared a 'forest' - or at the new Kanjurmarg site, a few kilometres away. The BJP and Fadnavis are keen to retain the site at Aarey Colony, while the MVA wants to take it to the Kanjurmarg site, which has now been claimed by the Centre, and failing this, the MVA is eyeing a site in Bandra Kurla Complex where the proposed Bullet Train terminus is planned, giving palpitations to many. Hammering Fadnavis on this, Sawant said: "It was your government that messed up by doing a deal with Shapoorji Pallonji builders. It was your government that favoured private builders over a public metro. If you want to look for someone to blame for this mess, do look into the mirror." The CM's aide Pradhan added that actually Fadnavis should feel "sad" that he missed the opportunity to be a part of the golden era of Maharashtra especially since "the Sena and Thackeray were once in alliance with BJP". A hospital system gave COVID vaccine shots to about two dozen wealthy donors, trustees and people who were related to executives and supervisors at a time when only health care workers and nursing home residents were eligible, according to a published report. The report, published by New Jersey 101.5, alleged that Hunterdon Medical Center gave out vaccines to people connected with the hospital as the rollout in the state was getting underway in December and early January. The report, based on a vaccine registry document provided to the news organization by a whistleblower, indicated that the young-adult children of hospital executives and supervisors were also able to get the shot at a time when only front-line healthcare workers and long-term care residents were eligible for vaccines. The hospital said some of the people received shots because there were extra doses left over at the end of the day. In the early days of vaccine administration, when we had extra doses at the end of a clinic day because of no-shows or because our pharmacists had successfully extracted more doses from each vial than expected, we did our best to make sure those doses went into someones arm rather than go unused, Kathleen Seelig, a spokeswoman for Hunterdon Healthcare System, told NJ Advance Media. She said the facility first looked first for clinicians and made sure that every healthcare worker throughout the system who wanted the vaccine received it. If doses remained available after all available healthcare workers were vaccinated, then and only then did we reach out immediately to others, which first included family members of clinic workers followed by volunteers, which included some board members, community members, and executives, she said. We believed, and still believe, that it was better to vaccinate someone available to us than to allow any vaccine go to waste. We also confirmed this protocol with the Department of Health who repeatedly directed healthcare organizations to get vaccine into arms. Hunterdon Healthcare said it has administered more than 8,000 doses of vaccine to health care clinicians, seniors and at-risk individuals as of this week. It said it can deliver as many as 7,000 doses per week once the supply is available. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage When Gov. Phil Murphy was asked about the report during his Wednesday coronavirus briefing, he said he hadnt read the report, but said bad actors could lose their supply of the scarce vaccine. If that turns out to be the case, and they volitionally did that in the face of guidance that was crystal clear - thats incredibly offensive, Murphy said. If people monkey around like that, its going to impact the number of doses they get from us moving forward. The governor and health commissioner have said in the past they dont want to see doses wasted, noting that there was some confusion at the start of the vaccine program as to whether hospital board members, for example, should receive a vaccine with other health care workers. The report also said that on the day before seniors and those with medical conditions became eligible for vaccines, the hospital system sent a letter to donors. While the timeline for an individual to receive that vaccine may be complicated, the Foundation is here to help you. This does not mean you will receive the vaccine prior to the category under which you fall but rather, that we will assist you in navigating a process that is rapidly changing and can sometimes be complex, said the Jan. 13 letter by the Hunterdon Healthcare Foundation, the report said. Who can get the vaccine and when needs to follow strict guidelines set by the State of New Jersey and the Center for Disease Control. Tell us your COVID-19 vaccination stories, send us a news tip or questions about the vaccination process on our tip form. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Police have issued a warrant for a boarding home employee charged in the 2020 death of a resident who developed a fatal infection at a southeast Houston property after having his hands tied as punishment, according to court records. The warrant, filed Monday, identifies John Grant as an employee and resident of the one-time Blessed Hands boarding home in the 5800 block of Schevers Street an unlicensed facility whose operator, prosecutors said, was behind the Harris County home where authorities in September found dozens of people in deplorable conditions without food or medical care. Grant, 56, is charged with injury to an elderly individual. As of Thursday, Grant has not been arrested. Prior court records listed him as homeless. The death which medical examiner records have classified as a homicide happened May 3 following injuries at the home, where Grant lived and worked, documents show. A former resident of the boarding home told Houston Police Department homicide investigators that he had earlier seen Grant use a bunjee (sic) type cord to tie and restrain a man, identified in court records as Clifton Barber, to a chair as punishment. He also punched the man, the witness said. A week later, Barber, 65, died of sepsis due to left wrist cutaneous abscess(es) associated with restraint, records show. The witness said Grant did this to Barber on two other occasions. He would untie him so that he could rest at night, investigators wrote in probable cause documents. Grants employment history with the Blessed Hands home and other facilities was not known. His criminal history in Harris County dates back to 1983, starting with a conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child, records show. He was sentenced most recently in 2019 to nine months for felony possession of cocaine. Unspeakable acts Another Blessed Hands employee whom authorities described as an unlicensed caregiver told police that Barber had been unwell for at least three days. He first noticed a bump, which appeared like a tiny bite mark, on Barbers arm and cleaned the wound. On the day of Barbers death, his condition had not improved and the employee decided he would take him to Ben Taub Hospital. A man the employee knew as John helped Barber into the car, investigators wrote. The employee made it as far as the 12900 block of Cullen Boulevard about 4 miles south of the Schevers home before calling 911 because Barber had gone into cardiac arrest, court records continued. He died at the hospital. The employee, when reached by phone, said he no longer works with the boarding home and declined to comment further. Police said in court documents that the employee refused to cooperate after their initial interview in May. A boarding operation no longer operates at Schevers, residents there said Thursday. A neighbor, who declined to be identified, recalled seeing at least 10 residents at the home at one time and that he often saw nurses. On one occasion, the neighbor saw a man trying to leave in a wheelchair and an employee dragging him back. What happened with our complainant is unspeakable, Kristina Roberts, head of the Harris County District Attorneys Office Elder Abuse and Exploitation Section, said. These cases are being reported more, and theres been more and more attention to whats going on in these homes. District Attorney Kim Ogg urged relatives of those with elderly or disabled loved ones in nursing homes or boarding facilities to check on them regularly. Weve seen a dramatic increase in the amount of abuse in this vulnerable population, Ogg said. Its been made worse by the pandemic because it has limited visitation. Long Meadow home Investigators also tied Grant to the disturbing discovery at the 14000 block of Long Meadow Drive in Harris County last September, when police found 37 residents most of whom were diagnosed with mental or physical disabilities forced to live together in an estimated 2,700-square-foot home. Some of the residents were confined to the garage without air conditioning. One resident, a 64-year-old man, died of natural causes at the home, also known as the Caring Hands Group Home. Investigators from Harris County Precinct 7 Constables Office said Grant was among the employees detained and released from the boarding home. The operator of that residence, Carroll Shelton Richardson, who also ran the Schevers home, remains under investigation, according to prosecutors. He has not been charged in connection to either of the boarding homes, and his attorney could not be reached for comment. The witness from the Schevers home told authorities that he was later relocated to the Long Meadow residence and that he was among those rescued, according to court records. In the city, Richardson has been on the radar of HPDs Boarding Home Enforcement Unit for at least three years for seven other properties, for which he had been cited more than 200 times, according to police. The citations ranged from failure to provide access to medical records to lacking a certificate of occupancy. But that enforcement stopped at the city limits because, until recently, the county lacked similar boarding home regulations. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday passed new regulations on boarding homes in unincorporated areas that allows for site inspections, health enforcement, standard of care and occupancy levels. I think it will dramatically make a difference in the quality of life for the elderly in those settings, said Jay Aiyer, of the Harris County Attorneys Office. The regulations and permitting process goes into effect March 1, he continued. State Sen. Borris Miles (D-Houston) also plans to introduce bills aimed at making unlicensed boarding facilities a criminal offense in some communities. nicole.hensley@chron.com twitter.com/nkhensley Following Joe Biden's inauguration coupled with actions implying totalitarianism, people Christians included, are weighing in on the future of American religious freedom - and some are already warning Christ-followers to prepare for persecution. CBN News noted how Biden's inauguration was closely protected by 25,000 National Guard members. The report said this "rare" action can only be seen in totalitarian countries. Despite that, Biden's inauguration wasn't the first to require such a sizeable force to provide peace and security - CBN News also noted how then-president Abraham Lincoln's inauguration was also guarded with troops along the inaugural route and with sharpshooters on the rooftops, as he made his way to the Capitol in a carriage. A few weeks after Lincoln's inauguration, Civil War broke out. Similarly today, some people believe that the country, currently divided, is hanging on the possibility of a second civil war. But not just any civil war -- "Live Not By Lies" author Rod Dreher believes that America is possibly on the verge of a "Father Kolakovic moment." A "Father Kolakovic moment" Dreher's book tells about an anti-Nazi priest called Father Stjepan Tomislav Kolakovic, a teacher at Slovakia's Catholic University during the Second World War. The priest warned his students about the upcoming persecution, predicting the Germans' defeat in the war and the communist rule afterwards. "He told his students, 'the good news is the Germans are going to lose this war. The bad news is the communists are going to be ruling this country when the war is over," Dreher wrote of Fr. Kolakovic in the book. The priest further warned the students that the communists will come after the church and thus, he organized student prayer groups in preparation for the incoming suffering. The book said that Kolakovic's group became the backbone of the underground church in Eastern Europe. Dreher "firmly" believes that America is now in a similar moment and he urges the people who identify themselves as Christians, including Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox, to take advantage of the current moment of freedom and "get our networks in place" in preparation for persecution. However, Dreher believes that what awaits America is "soft totalitarianism," unlike the styles of the Soviets and "Eastern Bloc communism." Dreher explains that persecution will be done by "Big Tech" which would limit access to the economy and keeping it so that only those who could participate are people who would conform to the wishes of the ruling regime. Amazon's shutdown of Parler and censorship of social media speech may give hints of what could be coming, CBN News noted. Some civil libertarians and Dreher predict that the U.S. Congress members may bring back domestic anti-terrorism legislation using the recent events as a legitimate reason, which could "potentially target innocent Americans." Dreher also thinks that the coronavirus pandemic is "pushing an already-dependent American society toward a willingness of being controlled." "It has put us in a position and a mindset of fear and control and where we can be open to being told what to do by the government. And I think that this has been a dry-run, if you will, for greater control," he added. He said that these things are already happening in the communist government of China wherein it implemented a social credit system enforcing the people "to conform to what the government wants" and those who do are given full access to the economy, higher education, travel and good jobs. He continued saying that America will have its own informal version of it and that "the hammer is going to come down on conservatives and traditional Christians." Voice of the Martyrs Radio host Todd Nettleton also added, "Maybe it will affect your employment, maybe it will affect your opportunities for promotion - your advancement in your job." Dreher concluded his statement warning Christians to prepare. "We in the American church know nothing about suffering. We have had it good for a long time. The people who grew up under communism - I talk to in my book Live Not By Lies - they know what it's like to suffer for the faith. We have to start learning from their experience and we have to be prepared to be steadfast and to suffer without hating our enemy," he said. Nettleton, on the other hand, cited Jesus in the Bible warning his followers that they would be persecuted for their faith. "Christ said the world hates me, if you follow me the world will hate you too. We haven't as American Christians really experienced that much. That may be changing and we may be seeing the day where it really does cost someone to follow Jesus Christ boldly, even right here in the United States," the radio host stated. According to Religion News Service, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins also warned his conservative Christian followers saying that Biden and his allies would rule America to "new levels of radicalism" in which liberals would be canceling those who disagree and Christians would be persecuted. Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot Photos from Chicago Bears rookie minicamp, including a first look at quarterback Justin Fields. NPCI let WhatsApp go live on UPI after full compliance, RBI to SC The Reserve Bank of India has told the Supreme Court that the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) allowed WhatsApp to "go live" on UPI only after ensuring it was fully compliant with its circular. The central bank also stressed the onus is on the NPCI to respond on the status of compliance of WhatsApp, Google and Amazon with the system rules/procedural guidelines governing the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). In an affidavit, the RBI said: "NPCI is the system provider of UPI and, therefore, comes under the regulatory radar of the RBI. Since it was NPCI that allowed Amazon, Google and WhatsApp to operate under UPI, the responsibility to ensure that these entities comply with all the rules/regulations/guidelines governing UPI lies with the NPCI." The RBI added that the NPCI was advised not to permit full scale operations of WhatsApp till the time they are fully compliant with the requirements of the RBI directions. "NPCI subsequently allowed 'go live' of WhatsApp on UPI only after ensuring that WhatsApp was fully compliant with the circular," it said in the affidavit. The RBI issued directions through a circular on April 6, 2018 on storage of payment system data and not data sharing or privacy. It said it has not issued any instructions on data sharing by Third-Party App Providers (TPAPs) or the participants of UPI, and matters related to data privacy and data sharing come under the domain of the Centre. "It may also be noted that Amazon was permitted by NPCI to operate as an UPI TPAP only after compliance with the RBI circular dated April 6, 2018. Whereas the other two TPAPs, i.e. WhatsApp (Beta Mode with a cap of one million users) and Google, were already functioning as UPI TPAPs at the time of issuance of the RBI circular," the affidavit said. The central bank emphasised that it has not issued any instructions on data sharing by TPAPs or the participants of UPI. "Accordingly, as WhatsApp and Google were already functioning as TPAPs and providing customer services at the time of issuance of the circular, no disruptive action against them was contemplated in the interest of the general public," it said. The RBI denied the allegations that it has turned a blind eye and compromised with the interest of the Indian users. "It is also denied that the RBI has responsibility to conduct audit of the members of UPI ecosystem," it said in the affidavit. The central bank added that the NPCI had, vide letter dated June 5, 2020, informed that they had reviewed the Post Change Review Report-III from the CERT-In empaneled auditor (Deloitte) of WhatsApp certifying the compliance with the remaining three items and found the same to be in order. The NPCI had stated that as WhatsApp has fully complied with the requirements of the RBI circular dated April 6, 2018, they are giving ICICI Bank (being the sponsor bank for WhatsApp) the approval to go live of WhatsApp on UPI. "Subsequently, the NPCI had, vide letter dated November 20, 2020, informed that they had approved WhatsApp to go live on UPI for a maximum registered base of only twenty million to start with," the RBI added. The response from the RBI has come on a plea by Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam, through advocate Sriram Parakkat, seeking protection of data of transactions made over UPI. The plea contended that the RBI and the NPCI instead of fulfilling their statutory obligations are compromising the interest of Indian users by allowing the non-compliant foreign entities to operate its payment services in India. The plea seeks response from the RBI and the NPCI to ensure that the data of Indian citizens collected on UPI platforms was not misused by WhatsApp, Google and Amazon. On Thursday, the top court adjourned the matter for further hearing on February 1. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. The ambassador provides gift packages to homeless people staying near St Peter's, urging people to heed the invitation in Fratelli Tutti, the encyclical that encourages greater human brotherhood and solidarity. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Taiwans Ambassador to the Holy See Matthew Shieh-Ming Lee personally donated gift packages for more than 50 homeless people staying near St Peter's Basilica. They include woollen caps, neck warmers, surgical masks, gloves, hand sanitiser, and hand warmers. Last Sunday, after the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis urged the faithful to pray for Edwin, a homeless Nigerian man who died from exposure, alone, overnight on 20 January, a few metres from St Peter's Square. Moved by the story, the pope stressed that Edwin died ignored by all, abandoned, even by us. He suggested that Romes homeless should receive more care. This inspired the small loving gesture from the Taiwanese embassy. Taiwan is always at the forefront of helping and assisting the most vulnerable people, Ambassador Lee said. We are always looking for new ways to help the needy, according to the invitation in Fratelli Tutti, the encyclical that encourages greater human brotherhood and solidarity. During periods of extreme lockdown, the embassy also helped several homeless people and some religious communities in quarantine. VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlocPal International, a leading global fintech and blockchain technology company, is proud to announce and welcome Sushant Trivedi as the company's new Chief Marketing Officer. Sushant brings over a decade of extensive global strategy, brand management, advertising, go-to-market and leadership experience having worked on multi-billion-dollar brands at Procter & Gamble. BlocPal International With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Sushant spearheaded the identification of white space expansion opportunities, drove revenue generation strategies from existing business units and launched disruptive products to the market. As co-founder of Gillette TREO he gained recognition as TIME Magazine's 2018 Innovation of the Year. Fast Company called TREO "A Masterpiece of Inclusive Design". "We are excited to have Sushant Trivedi on the team. Not only does Sushant bring a strong marketing background but also a business acumen in revenue maximization, growth strategies and global expansion. He is an entrepreneur at heart and with BlocPal expanding to several key markets around the world, Sushant will play a key role in that expansion" said Nick Mellios, CEO of BlocPal. Sushant Trivedi has won numerous Cannes, Effie and Clio awards. He is noted as an inventor for disruptive products and business models. Sushant's global experience includes the development and execution of marketing and customer acquisition strategies in North and South America, Asia, and Europe. Sushant will help drive BlocPal's presence and growth as it expands in major markets in the US and around the world while strengthening our existing business strategies. "I am very excited to be working with the BlocPal team and help provide a strong value proposition for consumers and business partners around the world. BlocPal has an important role to play in today's digital economy and I'm looking forward to being a part of the next phase of the company's growth" said Sushant. About BlocPal: BlocPal's vision is to provide the world a simple, fast, and secure digital transaction platform that allows anyone to transact in their currency or asset of choice. A leader in the emerging digital economy, BlocPal empowers consumers, merchants, and enterprise customers to participate now in this digital economy, which includes both fiat and cryptocurrencies. At the core of BlocPal's service is its decentralized blockchain transaction technology, which enables any currency or asset to be digitally signed and traded while complying with established financial regulations. With its suite of applications, BlocPal's ecosystem supports a range of solutions for point-of-sale, e-commerce, white label enterprise solutions, loyalty rewards, financial network integrations and robust consumer digital wallets. Forward-looking statements This communication contains forward-looking statements that are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "will," "expect," "would," "intend," "believe," or other comparable terminology. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For further information, please contact: BlocPal International Mike Edwards, President +1 866-256-2725 [email protected] SOURCE BlocPal International SEBI headquarters (Representative image) SEBI has barred Vishwas Stocks Research, Dalal Stocks Advisory and Devki Stocks as well as their directors from the capital markets for providing unauthorised investment advisory services to investors. Besides, they have been prohibited from acting as investment advisors till further directions, the regulator said in an interim order. SEBI found that the three companies held themselves as investment advisors and collected subscription fees from investors for providing stock recommendations without obtaining a registration in their own names as required under the Investment Advisers (IA) norms. By virtue of providing unregistered investment advisory services, SEBI said Dalal Stocks collected Rs 2.12 crore, Devki Stocks (Rs 1.19 crore and Vishwas Stocks (Rs 93.89 lakh) during the period January 2018 to August 2020. The regulator noted that one of the common directors in the three companiesHimanshu Bharatkumar Bhavsar has in his individual capacity a registration certificate to act as an investment adviser. As per the websites of these three firms, they started operating prior to him making an application for registration to SEBI. Bhavsar has prima facie, provided a false declaration in Form-A to SEBI while applying for registration as IA and was prima facie, conducting unregistered IA activities prior to getting registration, the regulator noted. In the Form A which is the form of application for grant of registration certificate, there is a separate section for firm to fill its details. Moreover, there are separate requirements for investment advisers when it comes to an individual and firm. Further, total Rs 9.76 lakh has been prima facie, collected by him from clients for offering investment advice prior to SEBI registration and the amount has been received in the bank accounts of the three companies. By indulging in such activities, they violated the provisions of IA Regulations, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said in an interim order passed on Monday. Accordingly, the capital markets watchdog asked the three companies and their directors to "cease and desist from acting as investment advisors until further orders. They have been asked to immediately withdraw and remove all advertisements in relation to their investment advisory activity until further orders. Further, the regulator prohibited them from diverting any funds raised from investors and restrained them from disposing of any assets, whether movable or immovable, including money lying in bank accounts, except with the prior permission of SEBI. SEBI asked them "not to access the securities market and buy, sell or otherwise deal in securities in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, until further orders. In a separate interim order, SEBI has barred Simply Earn Research and its partnersAnimesh Parida and Parth R Trivedi from the capital markets for providing tips without obtaining a registration from the regulator as required under IA norms. Also, they have been restrained from acting as investment advisors till further directions. The total amount of money, prima facie, observed to have been collected by Simply Earn Research is a little over Rs 2 crore, SEBI noted. By Joe Guzzardi If there's one thing that President Joe Biden has made abundantly clear, it's that he will grant an amnesty to an unknown number of illegal immigrants. Not a single individual knows what the exact illegal immigrant population is, and that's the first problem that the new Biden administration faces. Nevertheless, Biden has made immigration his chief legislative priority. Biden has repeatedly referred to the alien population as 11 million, a total that's plenty big enough. But others, perhaps closer to the ground than the new president, have put the alien total at more than 20 million. From an administrative perspective, a 9 million difference is huge. To qualify for Biden's amnesty, which the Washington Post reported as an eight-year path to citizenship that begins with a five-year temporary legal status, followed by Green Card issuance pending background check and tax reviews, aliens must have resided in the U.S. by Jan. 1 this year. Millions of background checks and tax reviews will be an insurmountable task for immigration officials, and ones from which they'll quickly seek relief, i.e., an expedited approval process. President Ronald Reagan's 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which then-Sen. Biden voted against, covered a comparatively modest 2.7 million aliens. Many amnesty hopefuls won't have official government identification. Biden's final legislation may end up designating (in cautiously worded language) rent receipts, utility bills, school enrollment forms or even library cards as adequate residency proof. But if more substantive IDs are mandated, the applicants might end up paying underground counterfeiters to obtain high quality, but still phony, documents to confirm their amnesty eligibility. Biden's plan offers much more to migrants expanded refugee resettlement, looser asylum guidelines and more immediate citizenship to Temporary Protected Status holders. For aliens and other migrants who may not have had employment authorization before, Biden's plan will include it. Millions of new workers will enter a workforce that has about 25 million unemployed or underemployed Americans. Conspicuously missing from Biden's expansive immigration plan is an olive branch for congressional Republicans and the millions of Americans opposed to an outright amnesty gift. Biden could learn something from Reagan's Immigration Reform and Control Act, which offered a bone to its detractors. First, employers had to attest to the legality of their workforce. Hiring or recruiting illegal aliens, allowed pre-1986, was barred and should have weaned employers off cheap labor. And to ensure that employers followed the new law, Congress promised stronger interior and border enforcement. Within just a few years, those promises were broken, and Reagan's act was on its way to becoming the amnesty that's remembered as a failure: Congress delivered amnesty, but reneged on enforcement. Few who favor commonsense immigration that is, a policy that works for native-born and immigrants alike are swayed by Biden's commitment to study the causes of migration and work to solve them. Those are familiar, but empty, words. In 2015, President Barack Obama sent Biden to Central America to resolve what the Associated Press described as a "migrant crisis." Today, nearly six years later, Central American migrants continue to head north. Biden has more than amnesty on his immediate agenda. He hopes to reinstate a program that grants temporary legal residence to Central American minors. He also wants to set up a reunification program for Central American relatives of U.S. citizens that would expedite their admission. If Biden's immigration dreams become a reality, American workers will have millions more to compete with in a tough labor market. Joe Guzzardi (jguzzardi@pfirdc.org) is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. His article was distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group With India slowly recovering from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian business tycoon Kumar Mangalam Birla is all set to revive investments. His Aditya Birla Group has unveiled plans to invest in about $2.4 billion across businesses in the past few weeks as according to Birla the vaccines roll out, and governments and central banks provide stimulus, India will be among economies to rise above pre-pandemic levels. Economists were throwing many letters at us - V, W, X - all sorts of things to describe the possible economic recovery. For us, its pretty much been a V, said Birla in a Bloomberg Television interview on January 27. Its been a very sharp recovery, a very huge surprise for all of us, he added. India has been able to restore activity faster than many economies: Gita Gopinath, IMF Chief Economist 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 Though the Indian economy is set to contract 7.7 percent in FY21, Birlas expectations for a rebound stem from the fact that the Reserve Bank of India expects the Indian economy to sharply rebound going ahead, as some of the country' key indicators, including manufacturing, demand for loans and consumer purchases, showed signs of strengthening. Barring a second wave, the worst is behind us with India kicking off a vaccination drive against COVID-19, the RBI said in its January bulletin. Aditya Birla Group, which employs over 120,000 employees across 36 countries, earns more than 50 percent of its revenues from overseas. Birla, however, said the recovery of the Indian economy will be "little patchy", adding that China may surpass European Union this year. He added that the US, Japan and some countries in Europe are unlikely to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels this year. Grasim Industries, Birlas flagship firm, said last week that it was entering the paints business and plans to invest Rs 50 billion ($685 million) over three years. UltraTech Cement said in December that it will spend Rs 54.77 billion to increase capacity by 12.8 million tons annually while the groups metals unit, Hindalco Industries Ltd will spend Rs 70 billion to double its aluminum downstream capacity over the next few years. We are looking to grow very large in these companies, he said, adding that he was open to growing them organically or through acquisitions. For Aditya Birla Group, the fizz is back. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 00:12:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A worker of Moroccan authorities packs Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines for distribution in Casablanca, Morocco, on Jan. 27, 2021. Morocco received on Wednesday its first shipment of Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, the ministry of health said. The first batch of vaccines developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (Sinopharm) arrived at Casablanca airport and will be dispatched to the vaccination locations throughout the country, the ministry said in a statement. (Photo by Chadi/Xinhua) RABAT, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Morocco received on Wednesday its first shipment of Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, the ministry of health said. The first batch of vaccines developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (Sinopharm) arrived at Casablanca airport and will be dispatched to the vaccination locations throughout the country, the ministry said in a statement. The North African country will launch in the coming days a mass vaccination campaign, as it has secured acquisition of 66 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinopharm and Britain's Oxford University/AstraZeneca, health officials said. A total of 3,000 locations around the country are prepared to host this campaign. Morocco on Friday approved the emergency use of Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. "The vaccine meets all the conditions of quality, efficacy and safety, and does not present any potential side effects," the health ministry said. Enditem company that creates advanced and practical legal courses, LawSikho on Thursday said it has signed an agreement with Management and Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) to co-brand practical legal online programmes with Skill India and MEPSC. Under the Memorandum of Understanding in the first phase, LawSikho and MEPSC will launch three one year diploma programmes in Advanced Contact Drafting Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, Mergers and Acquisitions - Institutional Finance and Investment (PE and VC Transactions) and Cyber Law, Fintech Regulation and Technology Contracts, according to a statement. Each of the courses' duration is 12 months and will require one to commit to 8-10 hours a week. * * * * * NMIMS Hyd partners with T-Hub to foster collaborative startup environment * B-school NMIMS Hyderabad on Thursday said it has inked an agreement with innovation intermediary and business incubator T-Hub for industry outreach and partnership programme. According to a statement, the collaborative partnership will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and provide students with industry exposure in case studies, capstone projects, research papers, mentorship, and developing a better understanding of startup dynamics. T-Hub will also provide industry assistance in curriculum building, particularly in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and other allied areas. (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.) Police fear a lethal batch of tainted crack cocaine is being illicitly sold locally after several drug overdoses including one that killed a Rotterdam woman Wednesday have occurred in recent days. Rotterdam Lt. William Male said Thursday that police found the dead woman and an unconscious male, both apparent drug overdoes, after answering an emergency call for a reported drug overdose. Those overdoses occurred as police in neighboring Schenectady investigated a rash of overdoses caused by adulterated cocaine. Related: 2 Delmar overdose deaths in 24 hours Three fatal overdoses over 48 hours in Rensselaer County Thirty overdoses rock Capital Region over 24 hours Male said though police are unsure what drug the pair, who lived together in Rotterdam. was using or if it was laced with any substance, they suspect it was some form of crack cocaine. Police recovered narcotics at the scene, which will be sent to a lab for testing, Male said. Asked if it was rare to have multiple overdoses in one day, Male acknowledged it was, but that he had seen it over the years in Rotterdam. He said the man was taken to the hospital and as of Thursday morning was still alive. Male also said police suspect another man overdosed Wednesday evening. He was also taken to a hospital. If you need help: The Living Room- Provides an alternate to visiting Emergency Room for mental health crises https://rehab.org/.../schenectady-living-room-crisis.../ Conifer Park - Provides in-patient, out-patient, MAT, and Family Support services http://www.coniferpark.com/ New Choices - Provides in-patient services, out-patient services, MAT, COTI Project, Tele-Medicine, Friends of Recovery, and Family Support http://www.newchoicesrecovery.org/ Catholic Charities/Project Safe Pointe - 24/7 Health Hub toll free #, harm reduction services, overdose prevention, treatment readiness and referral, syringe exchange, HIV and Hepatitis C Screening http://www.projectsafepointcc.org/ Hometown Health Schenectady - Health Center that also provides MAT, employs CRPAs, and their nurses are trained in SBIRT http://hometownhealthcenters.org/ Ellis Emergency Department- Now providing MAT and referrals to treatment, and also provides CRPAS: Mon-Fri 8-4 with referrals to either Conifer Park or Catholic Charities outside of those hours http://www.ellismedicine.org/emergency/24-7emergency.aspx The Schenectady Cares Program at the Schenectady Police Department- 24 hour, walk-in program which helps individuals connect with services throughout the region. Source: Schenectady Police Department See More Collapse "We did not recover any drugs in this incident so it's unknown if he took the same substance as the victims in the initial incident," Male stated. Meanwhile, Schenectady police on Wednesday posted a message on the departments Facebook page that they had been informed by our partners in Public Health that there have been 8 overdoses today in Schenectady County likely due to adulterated cocaine. Schenectady police did not return a call Thursday seeking more information. But Mayor Gary McCarthy said Thursday that four overdoses occurred on Division Street in the Central State Street and two happened in the city's Woodlawn section. Narcan - the brand name of Naloxone, used to counter the effects of opioid overdose - was administered, and everyone survived. Assistant Schenectady Fire Chief Don Mareno said Thursday that two people were found unconscious inside a Division Street home and two others were discovered in a car outside in the area around the dwelling Tuesday evening. A fifth individual, who had also overdosed, was located at a residence on Coniston Road in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood. The Schenectady Police Department Facebook post, which did not provide any additional details, lists and features links to several agencies a person in need of addiction services can contact for help. These include Conifer Park, New Choices, Hometown Health, and the departments Schenectady Cares Program that connects individuals with a variety of support services. Advertisement How does the Novavax vaccine work? How does the Novavax jab work? The Novavax vaccine works like other vaccines by teaching the immune system to make antibodies to the coronavirus spike protein. Researchers inserted a modified gene into a virus, called a baculovirus, and allowed it to infect insect cells. Spike proteins from these cells were then assembled into nanoparticles which, while they look like coronavirus, cannot replicate or cause Covid-19. These nanoparticles are then injected into the body via the vaccine where the immune system mounts an antibody response. If the body encounters coronavirus in the future, the body is primed to fend it off. Are there advantages of the Novavax vaccine? Yes. While the jabs from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures, the Novavax jab is stable for up to three months in a normal fridge. The jab should be available in the second half of this year and is being manufactured in Teeside. Was the jab tested in the UK? Yes. More than 15,000 people in the UK took part in the clinical trial, which was supported by the UK National Institute for Health Research. Some 27 per cent of those in the UK were over the age of 65. The study assessed how effective the vaccine was when transmission of Covid-19 was high in the UK, and with the variant strain identified in the UK circulating widely. The analysis, based on the first 62 cases of Covid-19 identified in the trial, reported 56 cases in people given a placebo (dummy) vaccine while six cases were in those given the vaccine. More than 50 per cent of cases related to the UK strain of the virus, with the vaccine offering 86 per cent protection against this strain. Against the original strain that has circulated since the start of the pandemic, the vaccine was 96 per cent effective. What about the South Africa strain? Data from more than 20,000 people, including a trial in South Africa, has now been reported. In the South African arm of the trial, where most cases of Covid-19 were the South African strain, the jab was 60 per cent effective in preventing mild, moderate and severe coronavirus among those without HIV. Including the HIV positive participants, whose immune systems are compromised, overall the protection was just over 49 per cent. Scientists continue to be concerned about the South African strain of the virus and one that emerged in Brazil, with the expectation that these strains will not work as well with current vaccines. Novavax plans to immediately begin development on a vaccine specifically targeted to the South African variant. Advertisement Britain was on course to secure another 60million Covid jabs last night after the latest UK-backed vaccine cleared a crucial hurdle. US biotech firm Novavax announced its vaccine had successfully completed its phase three clinical trials in the UK, paving the way for regulators to give final approval in the coming weeks. Under a deal with the Government, 60million doses of the vaccine will be produced on Teesside for use in this country, in what could prove to be another triumph for Britain's world-leading vaccine programme. Novavax, which will be made at the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies factory in Stockton-on-Tees according to local reports, last night said the trials had shown its vaccine was 89.3 per cent effective The trial is the first to be completed since the emergence of the new variant of the disease in Kent. Preliminary analysis suggests the vaccine was 85.6 per cent effective against this mutation. The two-shot vaccine still requires final approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. But Whitehall sources said that, if the regulatory process goes smoothly, the jabs could start coming on stream this summer, allowing a huge acceleration in the drive to inoculate all adults by the end of September. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the 'spectacular' results, adding in a tweet: 'Good news that the Novavax vaccine has proved effective in UK trials. 'Thank you to all the volunteers who made these results possible. Our medicines regulator will now assess the vaccine, which will be made in Teesside.' Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: 'Having taken part in Novavax's vaccine trial myself, I am particularly thrilled to see such positive results.' Vaccines taskforce chief Kate Bingham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's a fantastic result because it shows that the Novavax vaccine is effective against both the UK variant as well as the South African variant and has shown phenomenal efficacy and it's made in Teeside - so not only have we trialled the vaccine to show that it's safe and effective, but we're also making it too, so we'll be able to save lives in the UK.' The progress of the Novavax vaccine represents another success for the UK's Vaccines Task Force, which has left the EU scrambling to catch up. A sluggish regulatory process in Brussels has meant only the Pfizer vaccine has so far been approved for use in the EU. The bloc's vaccine drive has been plunged into crisis, with Brussels embroiled in a bitter stand-off with Astra-Zeneca after the Anglo-Swedish firm said it could only supply a fraction of the 100million does it had allegedly promised. On another dramatic day: The PM flatly rejected Germany's decision not to give the AstraZeneca jab to people over 65; The EU ordered a raid on AstraZeneca's Belgian plant in a bid to prove it was lying about vaccine production problems; Brussels prepared to unveil powers that could see the shipment of millions of vaccine doses to Britain blocked; The British Government warned the EU it would not share its supply until everyone aged over 50 has been vaccinated here; Nicola Sturgeon was accused of undermining efforts to prevent the EU from taking British vaccines by threatening to publish details of confidential supplies; French health authorities suggested they were already struggling with shortages; Figures showed cases continuing to fall across England and among all age groups; It emerged the tier system could be scrapped after lockdown under plans to ease restrictions on a national basis; Models and social media influencers were among thousands of British travellers facing a desperate race home to avoid being stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; A sensational 1.25million in a single day was raised for Mail Force to help pupils; Health leaders warned social care was in danger of an imminent collapse without a government action plan; It emerged children could be invited to take part in summer schools to help them catch up on months of missed education. Pictured: Boris Johnson tried his hand at one of the tests as he visits the French biotechnology laboratory Valneva in Livingston, Scotland, where they will be producing a Covid-19 vaccine on a large scale on Thursday Pictured: Pharmacist Bhaveen Patel gives a dose of the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Brian Bourne at a coronavirus vaccination clinic held at Junction Pharmacy in Brixton, London, on Thursday US biotech firm Novavax announced its vaccine had successfully completed its Phase Three clinical trials in the UK, paving the way for regulators to give final approval in the coming weeks (stock image) Novavax, which will be made at the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies factory in Stockton-on-Tees, last night said the trials had shown its vaccine was 89.3 per cent effective Novavax, which will be made at the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies factory in Stockton-on-Tees, last night said the trials had shown its vaccine was 89.3 per cent effective England, Wales and Northern Ireland gave out 284,954 Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday, official figures show, as the drive to immunise the UK is off its 400,000-a-day target needed to reach 15 million by mid-February How did the UK end up as one of the world's leading countries on the vaccine roll-out? The UK is one of the world's leading countries when it comes to the speed of the roll-out of its coronavirus vaccination programme - a fact made all the more impressive given where the nation started when the pandemic hit early last year. At that point the country had just one vaccine manufacturing site - a facility in Liverpool which made flu jabs. But the Government quickly set up a vaccine task force in April to make sure the UK was well-positioned to benefit from medical breakthroughs. The experts appointed to the task force reportedly recommended seven projects for investment within its first two weeks, according to The Times. Advance purchase orders were hammered out by the task force with suppliers despite the fact there were no guarantees that any of the vaccines would work or that they would be signed off by regulators. That early work meant the UK was in pole position to receive the jabs, if and when they were shown to be effective and safe. The task force's strategy means two companies have been relied upon to do much of the heavy lifting during the UK's vaccine roll-out: Pfizer and AstraZeneca. The UK ordered 40 million doses from the former and 100 million doses from the latter. Agreements are also in place with a handful of other would-be suppliers should their products get the green light. The speed with which the UK moved on vaccines was perhaps best illustrated this week when Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, revealed the deal with Britain was agreed three months before the EU's. The UK's supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine is made at sites in Oxford and Staffordshire before it is put into vials at a facility in Wrexham, while the Pfizer jab is made in Belgium. Every new batch of vaccine in the UK has to be safety tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control in Hertfordshire before it can be sent for delivery. This process takes about four days and once each batch has been rubber-stamped it is taken to secure Government warehouses where the NHS takes over the process and decides where the doses will be sent. The physical roll-out of the vaccine is headquartered from an NHS office in London, with doses sent to more than 1,400 vaccine sites across the country. It is easily the biggest vaccination drive in the history of the health service and many believe it will become an annual programme. Advertisement Last year, Novavax said pre-clinical trials showed its potential vaccine produced 'robust antibody responses'. The firm announced plans for the critical phase three trials in the UK in September last year. It recruited 15,000 volunteers across Lancashire, the Midlands, Greater Manchester, London, Glasgow and Belfast. Of these, around a quarter were aged over 65 a far higher proportion than tested in trials of the Oxford vaccine. Half the volunteers were given two shots of the vaccine, while the rest were given a placebo. Last night, the firm said some 62 people in the study came down with Covid-19 with symptoms after receiving either the vaccine or placebo. Of these, six had received the vaccine and 56 had the placebo. Among sick patients, about half were infected with the new variant. Experts believe both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are also effective against the Kent variant. A separate Novavax trial in South Africa found the vaccine was only 49.4 per cent effective against the dangerous new variant which has emerged there. The vaccine works like other vaccines by teaching the immune system to make antibodies to the coronavirus spike protein. Researchers inserted a modified gene into a virus, called a baculovirus, and allowed it to infect insect cells. Spike proteins from these cells were then assembled into nanoparticles which, while they look like coronavirus, cannot replicate or cause Covid-19. These nanoparticles are then injected into the body via the vaccine where the immune system mounts an antibody response. If the body encounters coronavirus in the future, the body is primed to fend it off. If approved, the Novavax vaccine would be the fourth jab given the green light in the UK. British regulators have also approved the US-made Moderna vaccine, which is expected to come on stream this spring. Under the terms of the Novavax deal, UK supplies will be manufactured at the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies factory in Billingham. The site has the capacity to ramp up production to 180million doses. It came as the PM flatly rejected Germany's decision not to give the AstraZeneca Covid jab to over-65s. In an unexpected move, Germany's vaccine advisory committee declared yesterday there was insufficient data to show that the AstraZeneca jab worked on older people. The Prime Minister and health experts immediately challenged the recommendation, with Mr Johnson suggesting it would be contradicted by the EU's own medicines regulator. He insisted the AstraZeneca jab, developed jointly with Oxford University, was 'a good vaccine and so I'm very confident about it'. He added: 'The evidence that they've supplied is that they think that it is effective across all age groups. It provides them a good immune response across all age groups, so I don't agree with [the German decision].' The Prime Minister was backed by British health experts who acknowledged that a low number of over-65s had taken part in trials for the vaccine, but insisted it had been shown to be safe and there was no reason to think it would not work on older people. Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England, said: 'Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are safe and provide high levels of protection against Covid-19, particularly against severe disease. 'There were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group, but data on immune responses were very reassuring.' Dr June Raine, chief executive of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said: 'Current evidence does not suggest any lack of protection against Covid-19 in people aged 65 or over. The data shows that the vaccine produces a strong immune response in the over-65s.' The AstraZeneca jab is central to Britain's vaccination programme, with 100million doses ordered. However, Europe has become involved in a bitter stand-off with the pharmaceutical giant after the Anglo-Swedish firm said it could supply only around 25million of the 100million doses it had allegedly promised to the EU. Boris Johnson met armed forces personnel at a youth centre in Castlemilk, Glasgow today, as he thanked people for their efforts on the coronavirus response EU chiefs demanded that AstraZeneca jabs made in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire be diverted to make up for a 75million shortfall on the continent. Pictured: European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen PM and UK health chiefs insist AstraZeneca vaccine IS effective for ALL age groups after Germany claims jab should not be used on over-65s yet Boris Johnson and UK health chief insisted the AstraZeneca vaccine works for all age groups today after German scientists said they will not recommend it for over-65s because they believe there is not yet enough evidence. The PM and Public Health England struck a bullish note after a Berlin commission said there was 'insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older'. British regulators, by contrast, have approved the jab for all age groups - with AstraZeneca pointing to data published in a medical journal showing that 100 per cent of older adults generated antibodies in trials. Germany's stance comes amid an angry row between the EU and AstraZeneca over vaccine supplies, with the bloc lagging far behind Britain in immunising its population against Covid-19. Although it is possible the position could change with more evidence, it raises the prospect of splits between the UK and EU on what vaccines are regarded as effective - with speculation that in the future travel to some destinations could be contingent on having been inoculated. On a visit to Scotland this afternoon, Mr Johnson said he was not worried about the news from Germany. 'No, because the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford-AstraZeneca is very good and efficacious and gives a high degree of protection after just one does and even more after two doses,' he said. The PM said the MHRA concluded the vaccine is 'effective across all age groups' and 'provides a good immune response across all age groups'. He added on the German conclusions: 'So I don't agree with that.' Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE, said there had been 'too few cases' of coronavirus in older people in Phase 3 clinical trial to determine efficacy in this age group, but other data on immune response had been 'reassuring'. AstraZeneca said: 'The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group.' Advertisement In retaliation the EU ordered a raid on AstraZeneca's Belgian plant in a bid to prove it is lying about production problems. The European Medicines Agency will today announce its decision on whether to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was authorised in the UK by the MHRA for all adults at the end of December. The Prime Minister said yesterday he understood the EU regulator would make the same decision as its British counterpart, which he said would be 'very sensible'. But even if the EMA approves the vaccine for all ages, different countries on the Continent can make their own rules. Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination is expected to recommend today that the vaccine is not given to over-65s. A draft statement reportedly states that there is 'insufficient data currently available to ascertain how effective the vaccination is above 65 years'. But there is more data from large clinical trials in Britain and Brazil which is set to be published by the EMA today, and the UK regulator has suggested it has seen enough to reassure it on older people. Professor David Salisbury, head of immunisation at the Department of Health until 2013, said: 'Countries can, based on expert advice and the quality of evidence, use vaccines differently from the guidelines from manufacturers and regulators. 'The UK has done so by giving the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine later than the licence recommends. So Germany can decide not to give the vaccine to over-65s, even if there is no age restriction when it is approved by the EMA. 'But if it were to do this with no alternative vaccine to provide to older people, when they are at the highest risk, there would need to be a strong justification for doing so.' Oxford University, which partnered with AstraZeneca to develop the vaccine, has said its jab offers high protection against severe disease and prevents people needing to go to hospital. AstraZeneca said: 'The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group. We await a regulatory decision on the vaccine by the EMA in the coming days.' Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, pointed to the MHRA's report, which said there were two cases of Covid-19 in the over-65s. The MHRA said: 'There is limited information available on efficacy in participants aged 65 or over, although there is nothing to suggest lack of protection.' A Phase 3 Lancet study which was published in December said older age groups had been recruited later into the study so 'efficacy data in these cohorts are currently limited by the small number of cases, but additional data will be available in future analyses'. Meanwhile Brussels will unveil dramatic new powers today that could see the shipment of millions of vaccine doses to Britain being blocked within days. As the row over the EU jabs shortage intensifies, the European Commission will establish a mechanism to allow member states to refuse vaccine exports. The move will heighten fears about whether Britain's expected supply of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine which is manufactured in Belgium could be disrupted. Britain has ordered 40 million doses. EU officials have demanded that Covid vaccines made in the UK be exported to Europe to help plug shortfalls in its own jabs roll-out, which is among the slowest in the world and is lagging well behind Britain These set of graphs show the number of vaccines ordered by the UK and the EU. The EU has also ordered a number of other vaccines, including 300million Sanofi-GSK doses and 405million CureVac doses Germany admits vaccine shortage until APRIL amid fury at EU bungling Germany's health minister has warned its shortage of coronavirus vaccines will stretch into April as the backlash against the EU's bungling gathered pace. The grim message came as Germany's top-selling Bild newspaper described the problems around procuring supplies as a 'scandal'. Jens Spahn said he wanted to invite pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers for a summit to make sure that Europe gets its fair share of doses. 'We will still have at least 10 tough weeks with a shortage of vaccine,' he tweeted. Mr Spahn said he recognised that producing vaccines was very complicated and building up production could not just be done in a few weeks if quality standards were to be upheld. Earlier this week Germany supported EU proposals to set up a register of exports of COVID-19 vaccines, as tensions grow with AstraZeneca and Pfizer over sudden supply cuts just a month after the bloc started vaccinating citizens. Advertisement It came as Belgian health authorities revealed they had been sent into an AstraZeneca factory in the town of Seneffe where doses of its vaccine are being made. The commission requested the inspection due to doubts over the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm's explanation for its shortfall in deliveries to the bloc. 'We want to see if what we are being told is correct or not,' one EU official said. The EU has been left furious by AstraZeneca's announcement that it would have to cut deliveries of its Covid-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent because of production problems. Brussels has raised questions about whether doses from the factory have secretly been shipped to Britain. That has led to the EU to reconsider whether jabs being manufactured on the continent should be allowed to leave while it is suffering a supply crisis. As a result, under the proposals to be finalised today, customs authorities in EU countries will have to notify the commission every time jabs are being sent outside the bloc. An EU official said: 'There is a possibility in certain circumstances not to allow the export to move forward. We want to ensure we have a say about where these vaccines are ending up.' The official insisted that a refusal would happen only in 'rare cases' when companies were failing to fulfil their contractual commitments to the EU. 'In an ideal world, we would not be here. In an ideal world, the whole story of vaccination would run smoothly without any problems. 'But unfortunately we are not in an ideal world, and we have seen over the last weeks that not all works well,' the official said. 'That's why, and given the circumstances around with certain states around the world, even in our neighbourhood, acting in terms of restrictions of exports, even banning exports for certain products, I think we need to be up front, and we need to react.' 'We reject the logic of first come, first served,' said Stella Kyriakides (pictured). 'That may work in a butcher's shop but not in contracts and not in our advanced purchase agreements' The European Commission will establish a mechanism to allow member states to refuse vaccine exports tomorrow -threatening Britain's order of 40million doses from Pfizer. European Council president Charles Michel, who chairs meetings of EU leaders, has backed the use of legal measures to protect the bloc's vaccine supply Belgian health authorities were sent to AstraZeneca's European production site in Seneffe on Thursday after the European Commission demanded an inspection of the site. They were sent in after AstraZeneca told the EU it would only receive a quarter of the jabs it expected by April due to delays in production The criteria for blocking exports will be published today, with the mechanism expected to come into force within days. European Council president Charles Michel, who chairs meetings of EU leaders, yesterday backed the use of legal measures to protect the bloc's vaccine supply. In a letter to the leaders of four member states, he wrote: 'The EU needs to take robust action to secure its supply of vaccines and demonstrate concretely that the protection of its citizens remains our absolute priority.' The EU is facing a shortfall in supply of vaccines after AstraZeneca warned Brussels last week that problems with production in Belgium meant the bloc will receive only a quarter of the 100 million doses it had expected to receive in the first three months of this year. Vaccines WILL limit the spread of coronavirus but we won't know how by much until mid-February, experts say Britain's vaccine roll out will limit the spread of coronavirus, but by exactly how much will not be made clear until mid-February, experts say. Providing a boost to the UK's hopes of ending lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said jabs 'couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission'. He said it was less a question of 'will they?' and rather 'to what extent' will inoculation help to reduce the spread. But Boris Johnson and his chief scientists tonight said experts won't know much effect the coronavirus vaccines are having on the country's epidemic until mid-February, The PM said the impact of the jabs won't be felt in hospital and deaths data until then due to the lag in time it takes between getting injected and developing immunity. He told a Downing Street press conference tonight that he would not consider lifting lockdown restrictions until he'd seen concrete 'evidence that those graphs are coming down'. The immunisation drive has only really got up to speed in the last few weeks and it takes between a fortnight and a month for a person to build up immunity. Both the Pfizer and Oxford University vaccines have been proven to block severe illness, so experts hope they'll start to make a dent in the death and hospitalisation rates in the coming weeks. No10's scientists will be monitoring those metrics, specifically in the most vulnerable groups - including the over-80s, over-75s and care homes residents - who are currently receiving the jabs. So far 6.8million, or one in 10, people in Britain have received at least one dose of the vaccines. In three weeks time, when most of those people have protection, experts will expect to see a near 10 per cent drop in hospital admissions. Not all of the people vaccinated will be immune, however, because the jabs are not perfect. Pfizer's is 95 per cent effective at blocking severe disease, while Oxford's is around 70 per cent. Advertisement French health authorities are already struggling with shortages. A number of regions across the country yesterday cancelled first-jab appointments that were due to be held in early February, postponing them by at least a month. German health minister Jens Spahn said the country was likely to face a shortage of vaccines until at least April. Spain's Madrid and Cantabria regions have also stopped first vaccinations and are using remaining doses to administer second shots to those who have had the first one. Portugal, where infections and deaths have spiked to record levels after Christmas, said delivery delays meant that people who have top priority including health professionals will all be fully vaccinated by April, around two months later than initially planned. The Netherlands will also struggle to execute its vaccination programme. But Britain last night warned the EU that the country will not share its jabs stocks until all over-50s had been vaccinated. Cabinet minister Michael Gove insisted yesterday there would be 'no interruption' to UK supplies from AstraZeneca after Brussels demanded doses from British factories in the row over shortages. Mr Gove said the 'first and most important thing' was that the delivery schedule agreed with the UK-based pharmaceuticals giant was honoured so the domestic vaccine rollout can be delivered before neighbouring nations are aided. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said Britain had an 'absolute assurance' that supplies promised by AstraZeneca would be delivered in full. More than 40million doses are expected before April. Mr Gove told Radio 4's Today programme: 'The supplies that have been planned, paid for and scheduled should continue, absolutely. There will be no interruption to that.' Downing Street declined to rule out vaccines being sent to the EU once the over-50s have received the jab, to help the bloc address its supply shortages. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the Government still aims to 'vaccinate the most vulnerable across the UK' by spring and all adults by September. In a break from protocol on Thursday Nicola Sturgeon stood accused of undermining efforts to prevent the EU from taking British vaccines by threatening to publish details of confidential supplies. The Scottish First Minister said she would defy Westminster and once again start releasing data on how many doses are being delivered. The Government wants this information to be kept secret amid tensions with other nations struggling to secure vaccines. It came as Boris Johnson dismissed calls for a fresh vote on Scotland breaking away from the UK as 'completely irrelevant' to most people as he made a controversial trip north of the border yesterday. Earlier this month the Scottish devolved administration was forced to change vaccination documents it had published online when the Government claimed that setting out how many doses are expected and when could breach commercial confidentiality. But Miss Sturgeon has now threatened to go back to publishing the data from next week after coming under fire about the vaccine rollout in Scotland. In an extraordinary move this afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon risked undermining the UK's position by announcing she will publish details of the country's vaccine supplies from next week Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the UK will discuss 'how we can help' the EU's vaccination effort. But asked if the UK might lose out because the EU has not got enough doses, Mr Gove said: 'No.' Johnson & Johnson's one-shot Covid vaccine could soon be added to Britain's arsenal Johnson and Johnson will publish results from phase three trials of its one-shot coronavirus vaccine next week, the company announced last night. The jab uses similar technology to the Oxford University vaccine, making it just as easy to transport and store, but requires just a single injection to protect against Covid. Government scientists expect the vaccine, made by Janssen, the Belgian arm of the US pharmaceutical giant, could be given emergency authorisation and rolled out in Britain by mid-February. The UK has already struck a deal for 30million doses, with the option of ordering 22million more. If approved, it would be the third Covid jab in the UK's arsenal and could significantly speed up the programme which has been held back by supply shortages. A fourth jab, made my US firm Moderna, sealed approval earlier this month but doses won't arrive until March because of an exclusive deal with the American Government. Developed by Janssen, the vaccine uses a harmless adenovirus to deliver genetic material that tricks the human body into producing proteins known as antigens, normally found on the coronavirus's surface, helping the immune system develop an arsenal against infection. Like the Oxford jab, which also uses adenoviral vectors, it can be stored and transported in normal fridges. However the key difference is that the J&J jab is designed to be effective as a single dose, whereas Oxford and Pfizer's is given in two shots three or more weeks apart. If trials show it is effective at blocking Covid, it will become the first approved jab to work in a single injection and could rapidly speed up mass immunisation plans. The 30million doses already ordered by the UK could be enough to reach almost half of the population. Advertisement Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson had challenged her on the 'slow vaccination rate', stressing that there is 'genuine concern across Scotland at the pace of the rollout'. The First Minister said that when her officials initially published the expected supply details, she had 'the UK Government demanding we took that out of the public domain'. But at the same time, she said, Westminster politicians were 'quite happy to brief these figures through spin to the media'. As a result of this, she added: 'I have said to my officials that, regardless of what they say, I think we will just go back to publishing the actual supply figures from next week, so that we all have transparency around that.' This came despite the fact that the Scottish government was urged by Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, to withhold vaccine supply numbers from its rollout plan. Ministers and government scientists are concerned that publishing the figures could lead to pressure on manufacturers from other nations which have fewer doses. During his visit to Scotland yesterday, the Prime Minister said: 'We're in favour of the maximum possible transparency that is compatible with security of supply. That's the crucial thing, we've got to ensure we continue to have national security of supply.' Alberto Costa, a Tory MP, said: 'Can I suggest that those SNP representatives focus on working with the British Prime Minister in encouraging all Britons to take the vaccine as soon as it is offered and not seek to divert valuable attention from this all-important vaccination effort.' The Prime Minister yesterday said it was wrong to 'talk endlessly about another referendum' during the fight against Covid, as he visited a vaccination centre, a testing lab and a vaccine manufacturing factory in Scotland. He said it would lead to 'pointless constitutional wrangling' and accused the Scottish National Party of using the repeated independence calls to divert attention away from its domestic record. Mr Johnson defended his decision to fly up from London at a time when non-essential cross-border travel is banned. But his mission to defend the Union ran into fresh trouble when Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg repeatedly referred to Miss Sturgeon as 'Moanalot'. Asked about the jibe, Mr Johnson said: 'I don't want to be distracted by any kind of petty, personal, political issues.' Polls show a majority in Scotland now favour going it alone, after Scots voted 55 to 45 to remain part of the UK in 2014. The PM is focusing on the pandemic at the moment which yesterday saw cases continuing to plummet in every English region and among all age groups. Weekly infections have fallen by nearly a third, while the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 is decreasing in every NHS region. Yesterday another 28,680 cases and 1,239 deaths were recorded in the UK, down from 37,892 cases and 1,290 deaths last Thursday. The country's seven-day infection rate is 346 per 100,000, the lowest figure since December 20 and almost half the peak of 642 on January 4. All but five local authorities in England saw coronavirus infections fall last week, official data shows in the clearest sign yet that cases are trending downwards across the country during lockdown The above graph shows the number of people testing positive for the virus. The dark blue bar shows those who tested positive under pillar 2 - tests carried out in the community - and the light blue represents those who tested positive under pillar 1 - swabs in hospitals The data shows the average number of Covid-19 cases caught on wards has dropped from 553 on January 10 to an average low of 369 on January 25 across England Ministers forced to ditch 'sexist' advert A government advert on controlling coronavirus was withdrawn last night following a backlash from women. The controversial 'infographic' urging the public to stay home showed one picture of a woman reclining in a man's arms followed by three images of women looking after children and doing housework. The only man depicted was relaxing on a sofa. The image, promoted by the Government on Facebook, went viral on social media and attracted a torrent of criticism. Labour MP and former Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper condemned it as '1950s sexism'. Ministers have been forced to ditch a 'sexist' advert Fellow Labour MP Bridget Phillipson said the message appeared to be trying to put women 'back in their place'. She added: 'How out of touch can this Government get?' Glamour magazine, which raised concerns over the advert with the Government, described it as 'shocking'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman made no effort to defend the advert. 'It has been withdrawn and removed from the campaign,' he told reporters. 'I will make clear that it does not reflect the Government's view on women.' Asked whether the infographic was checked before being produced, the spokesman said: 'We have provided and have produced information throughout the pandemic to try and ensure that we can communicate our key messages, specifically around the importance of staying at home to protect the NHS and to save lives.' Advertisement The infection rate among over-80s, almost all of whom have now been vaccinated, fell by 26 per cent in the past week. Daily hospital admissions have fallen steadily for a fortnight. The number of Covid-19 hospital patients is at its lowest level since January 9. Public Health England's (PHE) weekly infection report said the epidemic shrank in all regions last week. London has the most new cases 435 per 100,000, down from 658.7 in the previous week. The West Midlands was next worst at 416. Dr Yvonne Doyle, PHE medical director said: 'We should expect deaths to remain high for some time.' Hospitals are still under extraordinary pressure, with patient admissions more than 36,000 far above the first wave. But in a glimmer of hope for locked-down Britons, the Covid tiers system could be scrapped after lockdown under plans to ease restrictions on a national basis. Mr Johnson is looking again at whether the country should go back to a system of regional tiers, which was credited with slowing the spread of the virus but ultimately failed to head off a third national lockdown. A return to a national system of restrictions would result in a slower release from lockdown, as areas with low numbers of cases would be forced to wait for others to 'catch up' before being allowed to open up. But some ministers believe that, by removing the risk of transmission from Covid hotspots to other areas, it would be likely to prove more sustainable. Some also believe it could be less politically divisive than the tiers system, which saw ministers clash with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham amid claims the North was being locked down to protect the South. A Cabinet Office taskforce started work yesterday on a new exit plan after Mr Johnson pledged a 'road map' out of lockdown would be published in the week beginning February 22. It will draw up a series of 'metrics' for easing of different parts of the lockdown, such as vaccination numbers, Covid cases and hospitalisations. A Public Health England study into the effectiveness of vaccines in slowing transmission of the virus is also said to be critical as is continuing work on the threat posed by new variants which may be resistant to the vaccines. The seven-day average of new cases was down by 29.4 per cent yesterday, but hospital numbers remain at a record high and a further 1,239 deaths linked to the virus occurred in 24 hours. Government sources yesterday denied reports a three-stage plan had been agreed, with schools opening in March, shops in April and the hospitality sector in May. But one source acknowledged it could be 'early summer' before pubs can open their doors again. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Wednesday the Government would 'try to make use of the tiered system' when devising its exit strategy. But Mr Johnson ducked questions about whether there would be a return to tiered restrictions. Boris Johnson is looking again at whether the country should go back to a system of regional tiers, which was credited with slowing the spread of the virus but ultimately failed to head off a third national lockdown. Pictured: Oxford Street during England's third lockdown on January 6 Johnson ducked questions about whether there would be a return to tiered restrictions during a press briefing on Wednesday (pictured) Some believe a return to the national lockdown system - as opposed to a tier system - could be less politically divisive, which saw ministers clash with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham amid claims the North was being locked down to protect the South Police could be powerless to stop people flying off on holiday during coronavirus lockdown, top officer warns Police may be powerless to stop tourists leaving the country, a top officer suggested yesterday. Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said forces will carry out extra Covid patrols at airports and ports. But he suggested officers may not have the power to stop holidaymakers getting on flights. He spoke out as figures revealed that just 3 per cent of travellers investigated for flouting self-isolation have been fined. Of the 11,003 examined so far, only 335 were penalised. The others were either uncontactable or obeyed the restrictions. Home Secretary Priti Patel announced this week that anyone attempting to holiday abroad will be stopped at the border, sent home and risk a 200 fine. Travellers will be expected to fill out a 'declaration' form explaining why they need to go abroad before they leave home which will then be checked by airlines, police and Border Force officers. Mr Hewitt said yesterday the detail had yet to be worked out, adding he did not expect officers to be able to bar holidaymakers from leaving the country. The Cabinet Office is to review all travel exemptions to permit them only for the 'most important and exceptional reasons'. People will only be allowed to travel for essential work that cannot be done from home or for education, a medical emergency or a bereavement. Exemptions for hauliers vital to trade and for staff to maintain critical infrastructure, medical, military, diplomatic or scientific work are expected to continue but those for elite sports are being reconsidered. Some 15,000 people a day are currently entering the UK with all being checked from this week by Border Force and airlines to ensure they have negative Covid tests within 72 hours of departure and locator forms for during quarantine. Liability for outgoing checks to weed out non-essential travellers will rest with airlines who will face potential 2,000 fines if they fail to do so. Advertisement And a Government source last night confirmed a rethink was underway. The insider said: 'We do think the tier system was effective for the situation we faced last year, but we may face different circumstances this spring. 'Tiers are still an option but we are also looking at whether it would be better to exit from lockdown on a national basis. 'It will depend to an extent on the geographical spread of the pandemic in a few weeks' time when we will be able to see if there is still value in trying to do things on a regional basis.' The original tiers system was designed to contain Covid outbreaks within regions and bring them back under control. But critics said the restrictions had little effect, with large swathes of the North remaining under virtual lockdown for months on end. Eventually, the tiers also failed to halt the revival of the virus across the country. Even Cornwall, which was the only significant area in Tier One at one point, eventually succumbed. Local officials blamed the tiers system for outbreaks in the area, with the director of public health saying a 120 per cent rise in case numbers was 'directly related to the relaxing of the restrictions that we had under Tier One in early December.' The tiers system also proved politically toxic, with Tories in so-called Red Wall seats in the North complaining that it fuelled perceptions that ministers did not care about the North-South divide. However, a return to national restrictions could see ministers come under intense pressure from MPs in areas with low cases of the disease, whose businesses would have to remain shut. The starting point for the new road map will be the reopening of schools, which Mr Johnson said this week he 'hopes' will begin on March 8. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is pushing for a full return on this date and is said to have argued it was safe for all schools to go back immediately after half-term on February 22. However, contingency plans have been drawn up that would see primary schools return on March 8 but most secondary classes remaining at home, with the exception of those in exam years. The Cabinet Office taskforce will use the original road map out of the first lockdown as its starting point. But sources said the speed of the exit could be different this time, with the new variant making the lockdown less effective and Government scientists pushing for an assessment of each phase of unlocking before going ahead with a further easing of restrictions. Elsewhere models and social media influencers were among thousands of British travellers facing a race home last night to avoid being stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It came after ministers added the United Arab Emirates to the so-called red list of countries from where travel to the UK is prohibited. They acted following evidence that the more infectious South African strain of Covid-19 had been detected there. The ban on direct inbound passenger flights from the UAE to Britain into comes into effect at 1pm today. Hard graft: Yazmin Oukhellou told fans she was, '[In Dubai] for work purposes, for business', but added: 'Obviously we'll make the most of it while we're here as well.' Right, Laura Anderson was met with a furious backlash when she moaned about how hard it was to be an 'influencer' Chloe Ferry, who travelled out to Dubai at the end of last year - before lockdown measures were introduced, originally claimed she had hoped to stay for 'two months' James Lock and his girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou posed for a snap while lapping up the sunshine in Dubai last week Sheridan Mordew, 24, from Sunderland, arrived in Dubai on January 2, just a few days before the third national lockdown Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' with the government asking UK residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Pictured: Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei in Dubai Love Island star Georgia Steel (pictured left) was in Dubai but has recently been posting snaps beside crystal blue waters in The Maldives. Pictured right: Molly Mae Hague posted snaps in the Maldvies, but is now back in the UK Fines for holidays with police checking your passport at the airport How can the Government stop Britons from going on holiday? Lockdown rules already ban people from international travel unless it is for work. Leaving home is only permitted for a small number of reasons. Under the lockdown laws introduced at the start of January and which will run until March 31, people in England are allowed only to leave the house for a very slim range of activities. But the rules, which are largely the same as for the second lockdown in November, also ban foreign leisure travel, just as they prohibit domestic leisure travel. What happens if I want to travel abroad? People wanting to leave the UK will have to fill out a form giving the reason for their trip. Anyone who turns up at ports and airports without a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home and may face a fine. Priti Patel said today: 'Going on holiday is not a valid reason, so we will introduce a new requirement so that people wishing to travel must first make a declaration as to why they need to travel. 'This reason for travel will be checked by carriers prior to departure.' Travel operators are also expected to face fines if they fail to inspect these forms. What will I have to prove if I went to travel? Work trips are allowed, so you will have to show some proof that your flight or sea crossing is vital for your employment. However, there are a range of other reasons for 'essential travel. These are the same at the reasons for leaving your house: medical care, to escape harm, compassionate visits - for example a funeral - and weddings. The list of travel exemptions will be urgently reviewed so that only the most important and exceptional reasons are included. Who is going to enforce these rules? It is not clear whether airlines and other travel operators will have the unilateral ability to decide whether someone has given a genuine reason for a trip on their forms, or it will end up being referred to police. There will also be an increased police presence at ports and airports, fining those in breach of the stay at home regulations. Why is this being highlighted now? The Home Secretary lashed out at social media influencers who have been posting images of themselves in sunny parts of the world like Dubai during the lockdown. Many have claimed they were travelling for work, but have attracted a backlash from people stuck at home after also enjoying the nightlife and beaches. Ms Patel also singled out people 'turning up with their skis' at London's St Pancras station to catch the Eurostar to European resorts, adding: 'That is clearly not acceptable.' Advertisement Up to 10,000 UK residents are thought to be in the country, which is popular with wealthy winter sun-seekers for its luxurious hotels and beaches. Scores of social media influencers and millionaires have flocked there recently. Ministers announced the move at 5pm yesterday, giving holidaymakers less than 24 hours to scramble for tickets on the handful of direct flights scheduled to arrive in the UK before the deadline. Britons will still be allowed to come back on indirect flights. Business trips to the UAE will no longer be considered essential. Thanks to other rules introduced on Wednesday, adding the UAE to the red list means Britons returning from there face having to quarantine in airport hotels for ten days. It was still unclear yesterday when this will come into force, but officials are thought to be considering the week beginning February 8. Arrivals from countries not on the red list will still be required to quarantine, but at home instead. In addition to the ban on direct flights that comes in from 1pm, another set of restrictions came into force today from 4am. UK residents must self-isolate at home with all members of their household for ten days if they return from the UAE, and non-UK residents are banned from entering Britain if they have been in the UAE within ten days. The latter does not apply to British, Irish and foreign nationals with UK residence rights. Former Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry, 25, is among the scores of influencers who have flocked to Dubai in recent weeks. Others include Sophia Peschisolido, 23, the daughter of Tory peer Karren Brady, who posted Instagram snaps of herself in Dubai. Love Island stars such as Laura Anderson, who has since flown back, were also among those to jet off to the Gulf state before the third national lockdown began. One influencer caused fury this week by claiming to be there as an essential worker. Sheridan Mordew, 24, who has been in Dubai since the start of January, said she was there for an 'essential work trip' to provide sunny content for fans in lockdown and 'motivate them'. Home Secretary Priti Patel criticised influencers in the Commons on Wednesday as she unveiled the measures for quarantine hotels. She blasted them for setting a bad example by holidaying in the sun when Britons have been told to stay at home. The UAE joined the existing red list of 30 countries mainly in South America and southern Africa along with Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa. It could have a much wider impact for British travellers returning from further afield because Abu Dhabi and Dubai are also major international transit hubs. Thousands more planning to travel back from Asia and Australasia will now see onward flights axed. Asked yesterday what now constitutes essential travel, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think if it's an essential humanitarian reason, if there is a powerful business reason, we can look at specific case by case reasons why people should travel. 'But we're very clear that people should not be travelling abroad to go on holiday, to boost their Instagram profile... for anything other than essential reasons.' The travel industry warned yesterday that the UAE move raised fears of more countries being added to the red list. Paul Charles, chief executive of The PC Agency, said: 'The Government will need to be clear on why countries are being added. 'If it grows each week it will sap consumer confidence in future travel.' The Home Secretary was accused of launching a broadside at Instagram influencers and holidaymakers after being 'humiliated' over her attempts to close the UK border completely to foreign arrivals Love Island star returns from UK..and is banned for driving after being caught at 101mph Love Island star Ellie Brown has been slapped with a six-month driving ban and fined 1,660, after she was clocked speeding at 101mph. The TV personality, 22, was caught breaking the 70mph speed limit as she drove a Mercedes-Benx GLC on Cudworth, Warwickshire section of the M42 on June 5, 2019. And as she addressed the bench in Coventry Magistrates Court on Monday, Ellie pleaded that a ban from the road would cause 'exceptional hardship', as her work as an influencer requires her to transport herself all over country. However, her plea was ultimately rejected, and she received six points on her license, bring her total to 12 and resulting in an automatic six-month ban. Speeding: The TV personality, 22, was caught breaking the 70mph speed limit as she drove a Mercedes-Benx GLC on Cudworth, Warwickshire section of the M42 on June 5, 2019 Ellie, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, had already plead guilty at an earlier hearing, and the case was adjourned to allow her time to present her case for a potential loss of income, as she works self-employed through an agency. It was revealed Ellie earns 2,000 a week after tax, and that a driving ban would not result in others losing their jobs, led to the decision to give her the points. Addressing the bench, she said, according to Metro: 'I have been self-employed for the past two-and-a-half years. I was on a TV show and when I came out I moved to Manchester to do modelling and different kinds of media. 'I do a lot of travelling to shoots and it could be anywhere from London, Scotland, Leeds or all over the UK. My fashion brand's factory is in Leicester and I have to go there carrying a lot of stock.' Ellie, who moved from Newcastle to Cheshire after her appearance on Love Island, added: 'I've learned my lesson and I haven't had any other offences. I've held my hands up and I'm really sorry.' Chairman of the bench Neil Gallagher, enquired if her ban would impact jobs at the factory in Leicester, to which she replied: 'The employer, I couldn't work with him because I can't travel to Leicester.' But after deliberation, the chairman told her: 'Exceptional circumstances is a very high hurdle and I'm afraid in the circumstances we find it does not apply in your case.' He added: 'You're on a good income at the moment. You have done well but I'm afraid we can't avoid the ban and you will have to make other arrangements to travel around the country.' At the time she was clocked speeding, Ellie said that she had been severely delayed during a five-and-a-half-hour drive south from Manchester. As well as receiving six points, Ellie was fined 1,660, ordered to pay court costs of 110 and a victim surcharge of 167. Advertisement Meanwhile health leaders warned social care is in danger of an imminent collapse that also risks 'breaking the NHS'. Experts believe the failure to reform the crumbling care system is a major reason Britain has suffered Europe's worst death toll. Of the 103,000 people in the UK who have died from Covid-19, one in three 31,000 lived in care homes. Fifteen medical bodies today join forces to demand Boris Johnson 'drastically overhauls' social care after the broken system was 'brutally exposed' by the pandemic. The report warns social care spending has fallen by 12 per cent in the past decade, with 1.4million adults missing out on vital support. This has devastating consequences for the NHS, as vulnerable patients end up in A&E needlessly and become 'stranded' in hospital beds. Today's report from the Heath for Care coalition warns: 'The Government must fix social care or risk breaking the NHS too.' The new coalition which is led by the NHS Confederation and includes the Royal College of GPs, Royal College of Physicians and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said reform cannot be delayed any longer. Their major intervention comes 18 months after Mr Johnson pledged to 'fix social care once and all' in his first speech as Prime Minister, following a major Daily Mail campaign on the crisis. But his Government is yet to publish a plan for the sector. The report urges the Government to provide a long-term funding settlement, to extend the eligibility criteria so many more patients can receive support, and to fix the workforce crisis. Currently there are an estimated 112,000 empty social care posts. The report says: 'Unpaid carers bear the brunt, often at great cost to their own health wellbeing. Free care is tightly rationed and the financial costs can be catastrophic for families.' Lead author Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'When Boris Johnson delivered his first speech as prime minister on the steps of Downing Street 18 months ago, he promised to 'fix the crisis in social care once and for all' but despite decades of delay, the Government has not made any visible or tangible progress on this issue. 'Without social care reform, with a clear and transparent timetable for delivery set out, and backed up by a long-term funding settlement, not only will the NHS and social care continue to run at near breaking point through the pandemic, but they will struggle to address the long-term health and social care issues the pandemic leaves in its wake.' A Daily Mail campaign, launched 18 months ago, exposed the injustice of how dementia patients have to fork out billions of pounds for care. In England adults are forced to pay the full cost of social care until their assets including the value of their home fall below 23,250. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: 'The current system creates an enormous disparity between people with some health conditions who are treated for free on the NHS, and others who struggle to access care at all and are charged when they do.' A Government spokesman said: 'Delivering a care system that is fit for the future, in which people are treated with dignity and respect, remains a top priority and we will bring forward proposals for sustainable improvements to the system later this year.' But in a boost for parents children could be invited to take part in summer schools under plans to help them catch up on months of missed education. Ministers are looking at whether to provide funding for catch-up classes over the summer holidays aimed at those children who have fallen furthest behind, the Mail understands. Most catch-up funding so far has gone to pay for one-to-one or small group tutoring. But Whitehall sources said officials were examining whether a model used by some Harris Academy schools to offer half-day classes last summer could be deployed more widely. The Harris Federation is a trust of 48 schools in London. Any move to require teachers to work during the summer is likely to meet resistance from unions. The proposal emerged as it was revealed that next month the Department for Education now expects all schools to close completely during half-term, with even most children of key workers asked to stay at home. Yesterday Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield warned that it could take some children up to five years to catch up the schooling lost in the pandemic. Mr Johnson pledged a further 300million in catch-up funding for schools on Wednesday, when he announced that classrooms would stay shut to most pupils until at least March 8. But, in an interview with the Spectator magazine, Mrs Longfield said more support would be needed. Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street yesterday, is said to be planning to ease England's lockdown in three stages She added that there would be a cohort of children who will need support for the next three to five years 'both in learning but also in that wider socialisation and confidence in their lives'. She added: 'Yes, there's a catch-up programme, yes there's some mental health support coming. But it's not on the scale of the emergency that we're talking about.' Government sources acknowledge they face a huge task in helping pupils catch up. Classrooms across England were closed for months during the first lockdown last year and many children faced serious disruption during the autumn. Schools had to close again at the start of this month, with only the children of key workers encouraged to attend. During the original lockdown last year, they continued working through the Easter holidays to provide classes for the children of key workers. But education sources said they were expected to close their doors completely during half-term next month. A source said that, unlike last year, parents had other childcare options. Although schools will be encouraged to offer 'some cover' in emergency cases, most children will be expected to stay at home. 'Schools need a break,' the source said. 'Working parents would normally expect to have their children over school holidays.' Today a report says children should be allowed to do the entire academic year again. The study by the Education Policy Institute think-tank warns teacher assessment of exam grades could mask serious learning losses. The Education Department's spokesman said it was 'working closely with Ofqual and the sector on arrangements to make sure young people can receive a grade that reflects their hard work.' The former owner of Trout's Nightclub in Oildale failed to appear at his scheduled felony arraignment in Tuolumne County Superior Court on Friday. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High near 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain diminishing to a few showers by morning. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., received an update from Person-to-Person CEO Nancy Coughlin about food pantry operations and home delivery procedures Thursday at the Norwalk facility. Person-to-Person is a nonprofit charitable agency dedicated to providing food, clothing, financial assistance, scholarships and more to families in need. As the country grapples with a historic rise in food insecurity, the congressman recently supported a bipartisan spending package that makes critical investments in federal nutrition programs and expands online SNAP benefits. Her grandmother, Wells daughter, didnt dwell on her mothers accomplishments, Duster says. She asked about our lives. If when Ida came up, it was more about values. Speak up for yourself, understand that are deserving of respect. Idas family would become a family of educators, social workers. Dinners were focused on politics and current events with the expectation that you hold your own during them. My family are all strong personalities and you will get run over if you dont hold your own. Of Idas many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, more than a dozen stayed in Chicago. About 30 years ago, the family established the Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation tp promote the legacy of Wells; today, the foundation partly provides scholarships at Rust College in Mississippi, Wells alma mater. For years, her father was its driving force, until he got tired, which I get now this is a lot of paperwork, a lot of taxes, endless forms. Duster, 57, wonders often about passing the legacy on herself. Car making in the UK fell by almost a third to less than 1 million vehicles in 2020 - the biggest year-on-year plunge since the financial crisis and the lowest total output since 1984, new figures have revealed today. Industry bosses said around 10,000 jobs in the sector had been lost so far, and predict more could follow as businesses declare further redundancies and the furlough scheme ends. Production fell by 29.3 per cent compared to the previous year, down to 920,928 cars. The loss of 382,207 vehicles came at cost of 10.5billion to the sector. The significant decline in car manufacturing last year was predominantly as a result of the coronavirus crisis and combined with uncertainty for most of 2020 about a Brexit trade deal. UK car makers hit 36-year low: Production of new models slipped to 920,928 units in 2020 - the lowest annual manufacturing figure since 1984 And with Honda Swindon -the fifth biggest car maker in the UK making almost 70,000 vehicles last year - due to close in 2021 and other factories potentially at risk - including Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant - the chances of outputs exceeding 1,000,000 units this year could be hampered. The SMMT confirmed on Thursday that a fall in car production of 2.3 per cent in December rounded off a 'dreadful year' for the sector. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, estimated that 'declared' job losses by car makers and firms in the supply chain were around 10,000, but warned that figure could rise in the coming months. He said manufacturing operations were 'severely disrupted' throughout 2020, with lockdowns and social distancing measures restricting factory output, Brexit uncertainty continuing until Christmas Eve - when the UK 'crucially avoided a no-deal scenario' - and depressed overseas demand all taking a toll on the sector. Despite the impact on trade of the global pandemic, more than eight in 10 of all cars - accounting for 749,038 in total - made in the UK were shipped overseas, with the EU remaining the biggest export destination, taking a 53.5 per cent share of all motors built here. Combined production of battery electric (BEV), plug-hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid vehicles (HEV) increased to 18.8 per cent of all cars made in this country, up from 14.8 per cent a year before. Just under 173,000 alternatively-fuelled vehicles were built last year, with four out of five exported, the figures show. The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact on car makers. As well as factories being shut for months from the end of March, sites have been unable to return to full production due to requirements for social distancing Figures released on Thursday morning confirmed that a fall in car production of 2.3% in December had rounded off a 'dreadful year' for the sector Bosses described 2020 as a 'very challenging year', but he said there was optimism for 2021 because of the coronavirus vaccine, more clarity on technology and the last-ditch Brexit trade deal, even though it left exporters facing some extra costs The last time car production fell by a magnitude of around 30% was in the height of the financial crisis in 2009, records show More than 8 in 10 cars built in Britain are exported, and more than half are sent to EU countries, records show Mr Hawes described 2020 as a 'very challenging year', but he said there was optimism for 2021 because of the coronavirus vaccine, more clarity on technology and the benefit of the last-ditch Brexit trade deal, even though it left exporters facing some extra costs. That said, vehicle manufacturing could suffer more blows this year, with concerns growing for some production sites across the country. Honda's Swindon factory, which produces the Civic hatchback, will close for good in the summer - as confirmed by the Japanese company a year ago. And, more recently, bosses at Vauxhall's new parent group, Stellantis, stressed that the Ellesmere Port facility's future is also not secure. Speaking earlier this month, Carlos Tavares - boss of the newly merged brand combining Groupe PSA and FCA Automobiles - said the fate of the company's Astra-making plant in the North West will be decided 'within weeks'. In a worst-case scenario, this could wipe over 100,000 new cars off the books a year, based on last year's 36-year low outputs. Honda Swindon produced 69,366 vehicles last year, almost 40,000 fewer than in 2019 The Swindon plant is due to close in July, with production of the Civic away from the UK Bosses at Vauxhall have recently said that the future of the Ellesmere Port factory - where the Astra is built - will be decided 'within weeks' Reports of a surge in positive Covid cases at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant in recent weeks - which has required the redeployment of workers from the Castle Bromwich factory - is already likely to be impacting production outputs in January. Commenting on the slump in manufacturing, Mike Hawes said: 'These figures, the worst in a generation, reflect the devastating impact of the pandemic on UK automotive production, with Covid lockdowns depressing demand, shuttering plants and threatening lives and livelihoods. 'The industry faces 2021 with more optimism, however with a vaccine being rolled out and clarity on how we trade with Europe, which remains by far our biggest market. 'The immediate challenge is to adapt to the new conditions, to overcome the additional customs burdens and regain our global competitiveness while delivering zero emission transport.' Andrew Burn, head of automotive at KPMG, says he has a less optimistic outlook for 2021 figures. He told said: 'Given the ongoing sales levels and with social distancing being here to stay for some time, it is likely that this volume will be lost forever. My concern now is that overlaying on top of these issues at present is the impact of getting to grips with the rules of origin for parts and the latest lockdown. 'Arguably the next couple of months could be the hardest for the sector as this will be the first quarter where we have had a lockdown in the run up to a number plate change.' Jaguar Land Rover retained its status of the UK's biggest car maker, though outputs fell by almost 37% in 2020 Production levels remain lower than usual as UK car factories can only have reduced staff numbers onsite at a time to allow for social distancing and more extensive cleaning JLR still UK's biggest car maker and Nissan Qashqai is most popular export The production figures show that Jaguar Land Rover retained its crown as the UK's biggest car maker in 2020 - though an output of 243,908 vehicles across its three manufacturing sites was 37 per cent lower than production in the 12 months prior. Mini Oxford posted the most stable results, though assembly lines completed 21 per cent fewer new cars in 2020 than they did the year previous. The SMMT also confirmed that Nissan's Qashqai was the car produced in highest volumes for the export market. Independent forecasts say UK car production will partly recover in 2021 to 1 million, but Mr Hawes said much will depend on the continued impact of the virus, the speed with which showrooms can reopen, and how quickly manufacturers can come to terms with new trading arrangements with the EU, which he described as 'much more complicated'. He hoped today's production figures would reflect the 'lowest ebb', but added that significant investment would be needed to return to the figure of 1.7 million reported in 2016. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that vaccine shortages could threaten global financial stability. While developed countries like the UK have bought millions of doses, shortages in other parts of the world may threaten any economic recovery. As the organisation, which fosters economic cooperation, released an update to its Global Financial Stability report, it urged governments to keep providing financial support and 'contain rising vulnerabilities' caused by unequal distribution of vaccines. While developed countries like the UK have bought millions of doses of vaccines, shortages in other parts of the world may threaten any economic recovery It said: 'Delays in tackling the pandemic in [emerging market] countries may bode ill for the global economy. Supply chain disruptions could affect corporate profitability even in regions where the pandemic is under control. 'And because growth is a crucial ingredient for financial stability, an uneven and partial recovery risks jeopardising the health of the financial system.' It added that 'inequitable distribution of vaccines risks exacerbating financial vulnerabilities'. Emerging markets have rallied by 7.6 per cent this year, according to an MSCI index tracking the sector, and are above pre-pandemic levels as investors risk putting in money to try to make a return. Tobias Adrian, of the IMF's capital markets division, said some traders may not have priced in the risk of 'broader infections in a resurgence of the virus', which could cause an economic shock. Despite its worries, the IMF said the global financial system, as a whole, looked relatively healthy. Social distancing measures have been implemented in the northern Vietnamese province of Hai Duong as the locality has documented 73 local COVID-19 infections since Thursday morning. Social distancing was reinstated in the province from noon on Thursday, Secretary of the Hai Duong Party Committee Pham Xuan Thang told the press. The official had attended an urgent meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc earlier the same day following the announcement of COVID-19 patients No. 1,552 and 1,553. The meeting was convened at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, where the 13th National Party Congress is taking place. Patient 1,552 is a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Cong Hoa Ward, Chi Linh City, Hai Duong Province. She had come into contact with a woman who left Vietnam for Japan on January 17. That woman tested positive in Japan on Tuesday for the new variant, which has raged in the UK and been confirmed to be 70 percent more transmissible than the old one. By noon on Thursday, 72 more COVID-19 patients, who were in direct contact with patient 1,552, had been confirmed by the health ministry. According to Secretary Thang, a total of 2,374 workers at Vietnam Poyun Electronics have been tested for COVID-19. Local authorities are coordinating with the health ministry to track and test other people who came into contact with these workers. Cong Hoa Ward and some other areas at high risk of infection have been sealed off, Thang stated. Strict social distancing measures have been applied in Chi Linh City in accordance with the prime ministers directive No. 16, the official stated. Under this directive, all residents are required to stay home and can only go outside to buy food, supplies, medicine, and other essential goods and services. People are also allowed to leave their homes in emergency cases, to seek medical examinations and treatment, or to go to work at state agencies, armed forces, or diplomatic bodies. People must wear face masks when leaving their houses and keep a two-meter distance from one another, while the gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, and hospitals is forbidden. The rest of Hai Duong Province will undergo more relaxed social distancing rules in accordance with the prime ministers directive No. 16, which bans all crowded activities. Competent authorities will inspect all factories in the province, Thang stated, adding that these factories will be suspended if they fail to comply with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations. All K-12 students in Hai Duong are also allowed to enter their Lunar New Year holiday one week earlier than the original plan. Fireworks shows celebrating the Lunar New Year will be canceled, while Tet fairs must apply social distancing measures. All residents in the province are required to wear face masks in public, the official added. Vietnam has documented 1,635 coronavirus patients as of Thursday afternoon, with 1,430 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The ministry announced 84 local infections, including 73 in Hai Duong and 11 in northern Quang Ninh Province, from Thursday morning to noon. The nation had not detected any community case since December 2. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Thai Lawmakers voted on Monday 166-7 to amend a law that criminalizes abortion beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy based on set conditions. Reuters reported that the amendment will allow abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy if " there is a high risk of fetal impairment, danger to the life of the mother, or if a pregnancy was the result of rape, deception or coercion." Violations would lead to a six-month imprisonment, a fine of 10,000 baht (about $333), or both. "This mean abortion is conditional and can only be done by doctors according to the law," Senator Wanlop Tangkhananurak said. The decision came after a February 2020 court ruling that said it was unconstitutional to criminalize abortion besides being a human rights violation, Reuters said. Human Rights Watch expounded that the Thailand Constitutional Court ruled in February 2020 that its existing criminal code provision is unconstitutional. In particular, this is sending people who have undergone an abortion and their abortionists to a three-year imprisonment. The ruling gave the Thai government until February 12, 2021 to repeal its provisions, which was done by the said amendment. The amendment, as per Human Rights Watch, "falls short of ensuring reproductive rights protected by international human rights law." They reported that Thailand should fully decriminalize abortion since government restrictions will continue to drive women to have more dangerous abortions citing a 2011 United Nations figures that show "unsafe abortion rate was more than four times greater in countries with restrictive abortion policies than in countries with liberal ones." Echoing this sentiment, pro-choice activists in the country expressed their dissatisfaction on the amendment since "retaining penalties would maintain the stigma of abortion." "We want all penalties to be revoked because it is a person's right to abort a pregnancy without being punished. The penalties will impede on a person's access to safe services and also tarnish the dignity of those women," said pro-choice group Tam Tang Councilor Nisarat Jongwisan. The amendment will only become effective after announcement on the Royal Government Gazette, Khaosod English raised. Nevertheless, Khaosod reported the amendment already garnered condemnation from the Catholic Church in Thailand for being "immoral." "Our standpoint is clear. We oppose all forms of abortion since we hold that life is born after a zygote is formed. We must think about the rights of the unborn children as well," stated Catholic Bishop of Thailand Director of Pastoral Care Rev. Fr. Pairat Sriprasert. "People may argue that women want to get an abortion because they're not ready to raise a child or are financially unstable, but there are solutions to these problems," he added, "People get abortions because they want to get around the problem, they don't want to solve the problem." Even though only one percent of the Thai population follow Christianity, Khaosod English said that priests are already gathering signatures for a petition that "urges lawmakers to reconsider the bill" alongside public awareness campaigns on abortion. However, Sriprasert clarified, "We will not go as far as staging a protest. But we will keep standing up for our belief. Although the law may eventually pass, the conscience prevails in this world. Actions have to be taken even though we are outnumbered in this Buddhist's majority country." Wildflower project set to boost biodiversity at university campus this summer This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 28th, 2021 A team of Wrexham Glyndwr University staff and students have added fresh green shoots to their local environment with the help of Keep Wales Tidy and Incredible Edibles Wrexham. As part of the Welsh Governments Local Places for Nature project, a 30 metre square donation of wildflower turf was given to the university by Keep Wales Tidy. University staff, student Green Champions, and volunteers from the Incredible Edibles Wrexham project all worked together during a socially-distanced event last autumn before current lockdown regulations came in to build a wildflower verge on the universitys Plas Coch campus on Mold Road in Wrexham. The verge, which runs between the university campus and the Racecourse Ground, has now been planted with the wildflower turf. Wrexham Glyndwr University Senior Health, Safety and Environment officer, Jenny Thomas, said: While it may not look like much at the moment, the turf is another reason for us all to look to the coming months with hope. All being well, in the summer it will be a riot of colour and attract lots of pollinators like bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Wildflowers not only provide food to a wide range of insects in the summer but their seeds can also provide a food source to birds and small mammals over the winter when food is scarce. In addition, an area of taller plants will provide cover for larger animals, including hedgehogs, to help them move safely from one area to another to find food. Wrexham Glyndwr University is among dozens of universities across the UK who have signed up to the Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative. A team of staff and students is working towards securing Hedgehog Friendly Campus status for Glyndwr as weve had reports of hedgehogs at both the Plas Coch and Regent Street campuses. Once the wildflowers develop, this area will be a boost for our staff and students, for our local community and of course for our hedgehogs and other wildlife! Wed like to thank our partners at Incredible Edible Wrexham and Keep Wales Tidy for all their help planting the site up. Everyone put in a fantastic effort to get the area cleared and the turf planted on a wet autumn day while of course maintaining a safe social distance. Find out more about Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys sustainability work here. Court blocks Vermont from barring religious school students from tuition program Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Catholic high school students who sued Vermont over a policy barring students who attend religious high schools from accessing a high school tuition program. The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency injunction pending resolution before a three-judge panel, barring the state from preventing students who attend religious high schools from accessing the states Town Tuitioning Program. The program provides students living in towns that dont have access to public high schools with tuition funds to use at a private school of their choice. But the state has prevented the use of those funds to pay for students to attend faith-based institutions. The 2nd Circuit ruled last Friday that the appellants have established a substantial likelihood that they will prevail on the merits of their Free Exercise claims against the School Defendants. School Defendants denied tuition reimbursement payments to RMHS solely because of its religious affiliation, the order authored by Court Clerk Catherine OHagan Wolfe states. The case, A.H. v. French, was brought on by four Catholic high school students, their parents and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. They are represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a prominent national legal nonprofit that focuses on religious liberty and free speech cases. ADF Legal Counsel Paul Schmitt argues that people of faith deserve their equal share of generally available public benefits. Because Vermont decided to provide funds for private education when public schools arent readily available, it cannot refuse to allow families to use those funds at some schools just because they are religious, Schmitt said in a statement. The government cant discriminate against religious students and their families by refusing to give them the same benefit that their neighbors receive. Schmitt contended that the order is consistent with the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in the 2017 case of Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer. The Supreme Court ruled by a vote of 7-2 that Missouri could not prevent a church daycare from accessing a secular aid program to help make playgrounds safer for children because it is a religious organization. [This] helps ensure that Vermont families who choose a faith-based education can enjoy the same publicly available opportunities as other families while this lawsuit moves forward, Schmitt said. Last June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that religious schools can qualify for a state tax credit program even when the state constitution prevents tax dollars from going to religious institutions. A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion. Vermonts tuition program is the oldest publicly funded school choice system and dates back to the early 1800s. Last October, the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Maine parents who sued the state over a policy that excludes religious schools from its state tuition program despite the Supreme Courts earlier ruling that year striking down similar restrictions in Montana. Maines tuition program is the second-oldest in the country. [T]he Supreme Court of the United States has decided two cases that the plaintiffs contend require us now to reverse course. Even accounting for that fresh precedent. However, we see no reason to do so, the panels ruling, authored by Judge David Barron, an Obama appointee, reads. In December, another lawsuit was filed against Vermont, the states secretary of education, the state board of education and four of Vermonts public school districts by parents represented by the Chicago-based Liberty Justice Center. The nonprofit focuses on legal cases related to school choice. The lawsuit argues that the program is unfair because it allows children residing in certain school districts to attend the schools of their choosing, while it denies this same right to students in other school districts. Vermonts Town Tuitioning system works well for the favored few who happen to live in a location where it is available, Brian Kelsey, senior attorney at the Liberty Justice Center, said in a statement. Unfortunately, only 17 percent of Vermont school children are afforded some form of choice under the present system. Those who are ineligible are at a distinct, and unconstitutional, disadvantage. [January 28, 2021] Hyperquake's Neuropulse Program Measures Brain Response to Help Companies Connect With Audiences Hyperquake introduces The Neuropulse Program to track emotional engagement that can be used to enhance a broad range of business-building creative content, including consumer product development, marketing, communications, digital or in-person experiences, and other applications to optimize engagement and influence purchase behavior. "Businesses large and small can finally test excitement for new products, and nonprofits can measure the efficacy of messaging in real time. The potential use for the technology, like the study of neuroscience itself, is limitless," stated Colin Crotty, CEO of Hyperquake. "By measuring what people's brains value, we can provide insights to enhance experiences, optimize messaging, measure engagement, track leadership and sales readiness, and influence purchases or behavior." For example, a company could test consumer reactions to a commercial's message before spending millions airing it on TV. Or a company could test messaging for employee training or corporate brand building before investing in it company wide. Hyperquake lets businesses go beyond what consumers choose to or are capable of telling them -- to sense the unsaid. The program is a cloud-based solution using proprietary technology developed in partnership with Immersion Neuroscience and Dr. Paul Zak, the neuroscientist and Immersion CEO who pioneered the quantification of the neurochemical oxytocin to predict decisions and outcomes. Attention and emotional resonance are the key indicators of future actions such as intent to buy a product, adoption of a leader's vision, ability to remember a message, or to advocate for a brand. Neuropulse combines real-time tracking of what people value with data-driven expertise to predict human actions that will move businesses forward with over 80 percent accuracy. Neuropulse is the product of twenty years and millions of dollars in research by Zak and the Immersion team, combined with Hyperquake's expert insights on what causes customers to act. Hyperquake clients Salesforce, NetApp, and T-Mobile (News - Alert) /Sprint already use the Neuropulse Program's new technology to optimize emotional engagement and deliver the best experiences for their audiences. "With Neuropulse, we were really getting into what our audience is thinking, especially when we can't see them in person," said Sara Cattanach, senior manager, Corporate Messaging at Salesforce. "It was just so seamlessly well done." The versatility of Neuropulse's cloud-based collaboration tools and compatibility with most wearable devices comes at a time when brands are searching for safe and effective ways to track the pulse of their consumers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Neuropulse can be deployed 100 percent virtually with better accuracy and lower cost than traditional market research," Crotty noted. "At Immersion, we measure love and help our users create more of it," said Scott Brown, CEO of Immersion. "We are very excited to expand our work with the Hyperquake team and support the Neuropulse solution. By combining Hyperquake's brand, business & consumer insights with our distributed Neuroscience as a Service platform, the Neuropulse solution is a perfect fit for companies that want to understand and connect with their audience." Hyperquake is a Cincinnati-based strategic firm that grows businesses through stories and experiences for a mix of clients such as Allergan, Castellini Produce, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Honeywell (News - Alert) , Mike Albert Leasing, Nike, Pure Romance, P&G, P&R Communications, and Verizon. For images of The Neuropulse Program in use, visit the press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005332/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Arguments about architectural significance and the efficiency of heating and cooling a giant atrium of an office building aside, having the state office building named for a former governor across the street from the joint Chicago City Hall and Cook County Building offered a level of accessibility to those in power that will be lost in the move. You can learn a lot by watching whos moving to and from those buildings in the Pedway or keeping your ears open in the lower-level food court. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Filipino prelates are offering Catholic Church facilities as vaccination centers in a bid to help the government in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout set for next month. The bishops decided to offer, if needed, Church facilities to be vaccination centers or facilities related to vaccination program, especially in difficult areas, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines President Romulo Valles said Thursday in a briefing. We can offer our church facilities to help in this massive and quite complicated and very challenging program of vaccination, added Valles, who is also the Davao archbishop. The country aims to start its COVID-19 vaccine rollout by next month or in early March. Only jabs that have been approved for emergency use will be included in the COVID-19 immunization program. American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer was the first to receive emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine from the Philippines, followed by British firm AstraZeneca. There are pending EUA applications at the Food and Drug Administration. The government is targeting to inoculate against COVID-19 up to 70 million Filipinos this year in a bid to achieve herd immunity, in a bid to get most of the countrys population immunized against the highly contagious coronavirus. A much-campaigned for road improvement scheme in Co Down has been given the green light by the Department of Infrastructure (DfI). Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon announced on Thursday that the A1 Junctions Phase 2 road improvement scheme will progress. The A1 Junctions Phase 2 scheme was developed by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to provide further safety improvements along the stretch of the notorious road between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland. More than 50 people have been killed on the A1 between Sprucefield's Belfast Road roundabout and Newry's Dublin Road roundabout since 1998. A public inquiry into the scheme was held last March, as well as three public consultations. Read More Minister Mallon said she had carefully considered and accepted the outcome of the public inquiry and was now confirming progression of the scheme in readiness of funding becoming available. Ms Mallon said: I am delighted to announce this key step in the development of the A1 Junctions Phase 2 scheme, which aims to address safety issues along a 25km stretch of the A1 between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland. "I am very aware of how important the A1 improvements are for the many people who have expressed their support for the scheme, especially to all those who have lost loved ones." She continued: "Progressing a scheme of this scale represents significant investment in this strategic road which links Belfast and Dublin and carries around 40,000 vehicles per day. "The provision of the upgrade will greatly improve road safety for all of these motorists as well as providing more reliable journey times for the thousands of travellers using the route daily." The Minister added: "My announcement to proceed with the scheme also delivers on promises made to our citizens in the New Decade, New Approach agreement, to improve connectivity and safety on this strategically important transport corridor for our island, helping to improve the lives of all our citizens. The Department will now publish an environmental impact assessment: notice to proceed. Consultation will continue with key stakeholders particularly landowners affected by the scheme proposals to minimise any related impacts. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Youth justice and bail laws are constantly reviewed, Queenslands Police Minister says as community and political pressure mounts over the alleged murder of a couple on Brisbanes bayside by a teen accused of driving a stolen car. Alexandra Hills couple Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter, who was pregnant at the time, were hit by the Toyota Landcruiser while they crossed at an intersection on Tuesday evening after the 4WD allegedly ran a red light, collided with a truck and rolled. The Waterford West teen, 17, who cannot be identified for legal reasons and is accused of being behind the wheel of the vehicle while intoxicated, appeared in the Brisbane Childrens Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody to reappear next month. Speaking later alongside Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, Police Minister Mark Ryan said there would be a full coronial investigation into the case along with police investigations underpinning the matter now before the courts. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Another youth romance drama is about to air this summer, starring CNBLUE's Lee Jung Shin and ex-Gugudan member Kang Mi Na. Your summer is bound to be more exciting with this upcoming drama "Summer Guys." Continue reading to know more about this exciting series that is bound to kick off this coming March. Set in the beautiful province of Jeju, "Summer Guys" will be meeting the international audience in no less than two months. Fresh new faces and interesting plot is expected to gain attention, as it will revolve in the story of five different people enjoying their youth who get together to bring back again an old cocktail bar at the beach. Joining CNBLUE's Lee Jong Shin and Kang Mi Na are Kwon Hyun Bin, Im Na Young, Lee Jung Sic, and Kim Dong Jun. These five characters will surely accommodate you throughout your extravagant vacation at home! Lee Jung Shin will be playing the role of Seon Woo Chan, the youngest son of a famous construction company in Korea. Other characters are yet to be revealed. Further, this will be Kang Mi Na's small screen comeback following her previous drama "Hotel Del Luna" "Summer Guys" will be helmed by director Heo Chan, who also directed the drama "My Runway." He already worked with director Bong Joon Ho in the project "Snowpiercer." He shared that all the cast of the upcoming drama are the perfect fit to play their respective characters. Korea Creative Content Agency exclusively chose "Summer Guys" to be produced for their 2021 new media project. The exciting journey of these young people is about to start on March 30, at KZ Seezn, which will be aired every Tuesday and Wednesday. It will also be available in Japan thru ABEMA. "Summer Guys" will also air in more than 20 countries in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and North Africa through Viu TV. Each episode will have a running time of 30 minutes. International audiences are already looking forward to seeing this thrilling drama and meet the newest summer squad! The series is expected to give a light and humorous vibe from its main cast. Are you excited to meet the squad of "Summer Guys"? Who among them are you most looking forward to? Share your comments with us below! 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 Roy Healys first tattoo wasnt the kind people usually regret, like a future exs name or a quotation in a language one cant read. Still, he was nervous about it. He had asked the artist to ink a QR code on the inside of his wrist, directing to a website he owned, and he wasnt confident it would scan. Over the course of a two-hour session in September 2019, he prepared himself to accept the tattoo as a statement about the hubris of trying to mix technology and organics. To his pleasant surprise, though, the code worked. Now, Mr. Healy, a 33-year-old software engineer in Cork, Ireland, can change the link it points to his personal blog, the rules of a card game, his LinkedIn profile at his whim. Such body art is not particularly common, Brian Greenberg, a 48-year-old Linux system administrator whose own QR code tattoo directed, at one point, to a GIF of the word soup, wrote in an email. And over the years, the codes themselves have fallen in and out of favor with the general public; Comscore, an analytics firm, found that U.S. consumers use of QR codes for purchases declined between 2018 and 2020. Subscriber content preview By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany An international debate over how countries tax big U.S. technology companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook is heating up, presenting a challenge for President Joe Biden's new administration. A mid-year deadline is on the horizon for talks about a global deal to defuse trade disputes with France and other countries that are imposing go-it-alone digital taxes that the United States views as discriminatory. . . . Kerry Group is preparing to pull the trigger on the sale of its consumer food brands, including Denny, within weeks, according to market sources. The company is expected to initiate a formal sales process to flush out buyers by the end of the first quarter and possibly as early as its annual results on February 16. Goodbody estimates the value of the business to be 650m, although a sale could see it split into Irish and UK components. Several sources named private equity firm CapVest as a strong candidate to bid for the Irish part of the business, which houses chilled meat brands such as Galtee and Richmond. CapVest already owns ambient food group Valeo and chilled protein specialists Eight Fifty Food Group, both of which have made bolt-on acquisitions in recent months. Eight Fifty is considered a likely purchaser after buying Tipperary-based Carroll's Cuisine just before Christmas. Read More The more UK-facing convenience meals business is believed to be more challenged and therefore less attractive to acquirers. Other companies such as Greencore, Bakkavor and Samworth dominate the UK chilled consumer market, as Kerry has focused instead on growing its leading taste and nutrition business. While sources said one of those three, or possibly Two Sisters or McEvoy, could try to consolidate the sector, trade acquisitions in convenience foods are relatively rare. Industry sources speculated that Kerry's consumer food brands would therefore most likely be broken up and sold piece by piece to regional buyers seeking food factories near their existing production facilities. However, it is understood ambient and frozen food businesses are more attractive at the moment, especially to private equity, due to their defensive qualities and steady revenue streams. The anticipated development follows weeks of speculation about the future of Kerry's consumer foods business after Bloomberg reported the group was considering its strategic options. The sale of the division is now widely expected to proceed once Kerry seals an agreement to spin out its dairy business into a joint venture with Kerry Creameries Co-op. Last week the board of the Kerry Co-op agreed to bid for a majority stake in the division. Selling consumer foods would fulfill a long-term ambition of CEO Edmond Scanlon to turn Kerry Group into a pure global ingredients company, unlocking substantial value for shareholders. DENVER, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver native, Michael Rieger, today announced a major photo etching exhibition and community event to honor the heroes of the response to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. It is called, Remember the Love. Work on the exhibition is underway and it is slated to open to the public in September 2021. It is being funded initially via a Kickstarter campaign. NY, NYC September 2001 Colorado Task force 1 member Julie Noyes with her lab Hoke wait at ground zero to conduct a search. NY,NYC -September, 2001 FDNY firefighter keeping an eye on his team as they search voids on ground zero. Rieger was one of two official FEMA photographers who worked at Ground Zero in the early days of the response. His images were uploaded daily to media outlets throughout the world and remain part of everyone's collective memory of that day and its aftermath. "The way everyone pulled together in response to the 9/11 attacks is a model for this moment in America. We need to remember and celebrate that we can set aside our differences and do great things together," Rieger said. Local responders from communities all over the country played a pivotal role in search and rescue effort in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Rieger was there with them on the pile, documenting the men and women clawing through rubble looking for survivors. He says firefighters, police, federal rescue teams, clergy, and volunteers were the obvious heroes during those challenging days, but he says it was the support, appreciation and love he felt from the people he passed on the street walking to and from Ground Zero each day that inspired the Remember the Love name for the upcoming exhibition. "Today we are grappling with multiple crises, a global pandemic, a reckoning on race and social justice, and the aftermath of an election that has left the nation shaken," Rieger said. "This exhibition and the events planned around it will celebrate the heroes of 9/11 and celebrate our nation when it pulled together, cried together and healed together in the same way we need to again today." The 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City features Rieger's work as a part of its permanent collection. His work is also part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Rieger hopes to launch multiple exhibitions simultaneously in cities around the country where people from all walks of life can see them. He is focusing on the states that include federal Urban Search and Recues teams he worked with. This includes Colorado, New York, Washington State, Utah, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, California, Florida, and Washington DC. Rieger's work has been shown in galleries, festivals and museums throughout the United States. His photos have been published all over the world. To schedule an interview with Michael Rieger, contact Jim Chesnutt at (303) 513-2389. Preview photos of the etchings in progress as well as historical images from the response to the 9/11 attacks are available to accompany this story. SOURCE Michael Rieger Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkeys biggest takeaway from Gov. Gretchen Whitmers State of the State speech was her choice to not wear a mask, he said in two radio interviews Thursday morning. In interviews with Michigan Radio and WJR Thursday morning, Shirkey, R-Clarklake, said the most important thing about Whitmers address was not something she said, but something she did: address Michigan residents without a mask on. Its not that Im saying masks are evil, but symbols and gestures matter, he told Michigan Radio. I think it was a great opportunity for her to help us move from this notion of fear and control into a trust and hope mode. Whitmer delivered her State of the State speech directly from her Capitol office and broadcast it virtually instead of addressing lawmakers directly in the Michigan House chamber due to COVID-19 concerns. In her speech, she focused largely on her plan to aid the states economic recovery while getting COVID-19 under control and asked the legislature to work with her on achieving those goals. On WJR, Shirkey said Whitmer looked delightful and delivered her message well, adding that she addressed many issues in her speech that he thought Republicans could agree on. But what we have to do now is talk to each other, so that we can resolve how to address that problem, or how to exploit that opportunity, he said. And that conversation has not been very effective and very efficient in the last 10 to 12 months. The Michigan Democratic Party and several Democratic lawmakers were quick to criticize the remarks that they said focused more on Whitmers appearance than her policy positions. Once again, Senator Shirkey proves that his superpower of missing the point is still intact, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement. On Twitter, Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, wrote: STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW WOMEN YOU WORK WITH LOOK. We're still in the throes of a global pandemic that's upended all of our lives a few weeks after an insurrection attempt at a critical moment in our history to determine how we bridge divides to get through this. STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW WOMEN YOU WORK WITH LOOK. https://t.co/nz55DDguQy Mallory McMorrow (@MalloryMcMorrow) January 28, 2021 Shirkey and House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, were scheduled to formally respond to the governors remarks in a press conference later Thursday morning. Related coverage: Whitmer calls for bipartisan COVID-19, economic progress in State of the State address Whitmer tells Michigan she hasnt forgotten about roads in State of the State speech Michigan economy, COVID-19 response completely intertwined, says Whitmer ahead of State of the State address One thing Whitmer has to address in Wednesdays State of the State? The state of Michigans economy. House Republicans unveil $3.5B COVID-19 plan to counter Whitmer proposal Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery Read Whitmers $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus recovery for Michigan schools, economy LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Commonwealth of Dominica is building twelve new health centres as part of a broader mission to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure and provide citizens with higher quality services. Construction on the Bagatelle Health Centre is the latest to be nearing completion after the government invested $2 million into the project utilising funds from its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Aside from commissioning several new health centres, Dominica is also in the process of constructing a state-of-the-art hospital, scheduled to be completed in April 2021, also funded by the CBI Programme. The Programme previously sponsored the repair of several hospitals and health facilities following a hurricane in 2017 and supported the overseas medical treatment of 16 children. Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit highlighted this commitment to grow the island's healthcare offering: "This can also be translated into better care for our citizens and residents. There will be no complaints about the quality of services or the quality of equipment. I am happy about this investment here, and we will have a series of openings for such facilities in Dominica in just a few weeks." With the COVID-19 pandemic reiterating the importance of having a robust health care system in place, Dominica remains one of the least impacted by the virus. A recent report from 4,000 scientists ranked the island as one of the few in the "green zone", meaning Dominica is tackling the virus well and has recorded no local transmissions for over 14 days. Established in 1993, Dominica's CBI Programme has been fundamental to the future of the island's healthcare services. The Programme enables foreign investors and their families to become citizens of the nation once investing in either a government fund or buying into selected real estate options. Once all due diligence checks are passed, successful applicants gain visa-free access to over 140 destinations, the right to live and work in the country and the ability to pass down citizenship down for generations to come. Investments generated under the Programme are injected into important sectors in Dominica, from healthcare and education to tourism and infrastructure development. The Programme also supports the construction of over 5,000 climate-resilient homes for citizens impacted by Hurricane Maria. Dominica is a progressive and safe country for investors who choose to reside there with a burgeoning healthcare system that is anticipated to be one of the strongest in the Caribbean. pr@csglobalpartners.com, www.csglobalpartners.com A man is facing a string of firearms and police assault charges after allegedly shooting at a St Kilda backpackers hostel owned by underworld associate Danielle McGuire. Ms McGuire, the former partner of underworld figures Tony Mokbel, Toby Mitchell and Mark Moran, was ordered to give evidence at a compulsory hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, where details of the case against alleged Endeavour Hills shooter Morty El-Hassan, 26, were publicly revealed for the first time. She told the court her daughter Brittany McGuire, formerly linked to murder accused Abdullah El Nasher, had arrived at Melbourne Hostel in St Kilda shortly after 6pm on September 1 upset and sporting a broken nose following an alleged assault. Danielle McGuire in 2011 Credit:Angela Wylie While recovering upstairs with her mother, they reported hearing a loud bang and when confronted by concerned backpackers about 11.25pm she said she found a large hole had been blown through the back door. Workforce Can better data improve federal hiring? Ninety percent of competitive, public-facing federal job postings rely on a self-assessment of qualifications followed by a human resources review of applicants' detailed resume, according to a data dashboard released by the General Services Administration last week. That approach isn't working only 53% of these self-assessments result in a job offer. When you add in one other type of assessment, like a multiple choice exam, the percentage ending in a job offer being made still sits at 53%. "We want to improve those numbers," said Amy Paris, a product manager and digital service expert at United States Digital Service (USDS) who helped collect the data for the new interactive report. "How do we do that? There's data that can help us figure out." Last year, then President Donald Trump issued an executive order that instructed agencies to reform hiring standards for competitive positions. A section of the order called on agencies not to rely solely on self-evaluations. So far, the order is still in place. Self-assessments are exactly what they sound like: asking applicants if they think they're qualified for the job they're applying for. The use of these self-evaluations and long resumes can sometimes result in qualified job-seekers being eliminated from the process and a less diverse final pool of new hires, Paris said. After applicants make it to the "certificate" stage where they're deemed eligible for a certain type of competitive job, though, other factors can also lower the number of people that actually move into a job in the federal government, Paris said. Federal hiring often has lengthy "time-to-hire," which can result in applicants taking other job offers before they get to the end of the process. There are practices that could help more qualified applicants be selected for jobs, though. Hiring managers could open up the qualified people at the certificate stage to be hired at other agencies, Paris said, by asking applicants if they'd like to be available for positions in other agencies when they apply. That could increase the number that get job placements. There are other kinds of hiring assessments that can improve the yield of new hires. One is the use of subject matter expert qualification assessments, known as SME-QA. USDS has been piloting the program with Office of Personnel Management. SME-QA involves subject matter experts in the hiring process, where they help human resources personnel identify what proficiencies and competencies a given job listing involves. The SMEs also help review resumes, and help conduct written tests or interviews. On the data dashboard, job postings that used SME-QA assessments resulted in a 100% selection rate, or job offer being made to an applicant. There have been several SME-QA pilots. Now, work is being done to scale the program, said Paris. The other is USA Hire, a competency-based assessment. It's automated, so it doesn't have the same burden of effort as the SME-QA process. When combined with a self-assessment and additional assessment, it also had a 100% selection rate on the data dashboard. For now, the plan is to update the data dashboard on a monthly basis, beginning in March. The dashboard allows users to parse the data by categories like agency and job type. The hope is that the transparency will help agencies find the best paths forward to improving hiring practices, Paris said. 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. "We can see there are some things that are really successful," Paris said. "We need to look at which are the assessment paths that are providing us with the most success." Reconstructed Vilevolodon with depiction of ossicles. Credit: Sarah Shelley In a study published today in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, researchers from Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), and the Inner Mongolia Museum of Natural History in China announce a surprising clue in the puzzling evolution of the mammalian middle ear. Despite increased access to fossils preserving the auditory apparatus, the evolution of the middle ear bones (ossicles) of living mammals has proved elusive to scientists. John Wible, curator of mammals at CMNH, Sarah Shelley, a postdoctoral researcher at CMNH, and Shundong Bi, a professor at IUP and research associate at CMNH, describe a new fossil specimen of a haramiyidan (a now-extinct mammal group that thrived during the Mesozoic Era, or "Age of Dinosaurs") from China's Middle Jurassic epoch that represents an evolutionary "stepping stone" between Mesozoic fossils and living mammals. This animal, Vilevolodon diplomylos, was a gliding mammal resembling a southern flying squirrel in size and external appearance. Scientists know that the ossicles in extant mammals' close non-mammal relatives were attached to the lower jaw and functioned with it, serving in both chewing and hearing. In many mammal lineages, the ossicles eventually detached from the lower jaw and came to serve only auditory functions. The details of this transition have been mysterious. Wible, Shelley, and Bi analyzed computed tomographic (CT) images of the new haramiyidan's well-preserved malleus and incus, two of the three middle ear ossicles, and found them remarkably similar to those of modern monotremes (egg-laying mammals). Since haramiyidans and monotremes are not thought to be closely related, this resemblance demonstrates a surprising instance of convergent evolution. "Although separated by 160 million years of geologic time, it is remarkable how similar these bones are in Vilevolodon and the living monotremes, the platypus and echidna," notes Wible. "The preservation of these ossicles in the fossil is amazing; the incus is just a little over a millimeter across." Credit: Carnegie Museum of Natural History The malleus and incus of monotremes have long been considered to be unique adaptations as they are wholly unlike these bones in the remaining living mammals, marsupials and placentals. Reanalysis of Mesozoic fossils with preserved middle ear ossicles led the researchers to conclude that this type of malleus and incus represent an evolutionary stage between fossils with ossicles attached to and functioning with the lower jaw and those where the ossicles are detached from the lower jaw and exclusively function for hearing. The researchers hope the discovery advances the understanding of how mammals, including humans, developed their unique sense of hearing. Explore further New Cretaceous Jehol fossil sheds light on evolution of ancestral mammalian middle ear More information: Junyou Wang et al. A monotreme-like auditory apparatus in a Middle Jurassic haramiyidan, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Junyou Wang et al. A monotreme-like auditory apparatus in a Middle Jurassic haramiyidan,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-03137-z Page Content Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden unveiled legislation Jan. 20 that would create a pathway to citizenship for the roughly 10 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, offering expedited green card eligibility to "Dreamers"undocumented immigrants brought into the country as childrenas well as to those under temporary protected status and farmworkers. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 would also attempt to clear the employment-based visa backlog, eliminate per-country visa caps for green cards, codify work authorization for the spouses of H-1B visa holders, incentivize higher wages for H-1B workers so as not to displace U.S. workers and encourage ways to improve the employment verification process. The expansive proposal, which would need to be approved by Congress, is the most sweeping immigration reform package introduced since 2013. If it passes, it would usher in the biggest changes for immigrants since 1986, when President Ronald Reagan signed legislation granting legal status to 3 million people who were in the country without documentation. Under Biden's plan, undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, would have a five-year path to permanent residence if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other requirements. From there, it's a three-year path to naturalization if they pursue citizenship. The Department of Homeland Security may waive the presence requirement for those deported during the years of the Trump administration if they were physically present for at least three years prior to removal. For some immigrants without legal status, the road to legalization would be quicker, including for the approximately 1.3 million "Dreamers," of which about 650,000 are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. "This proposal could offer a long-awaited solution for these individuals who have been stuck in limbo while the DACA program has been challenged by opponents and have been without a status that would allow them to live and work indefinitely in the U.S.," said Diane Hernandez, an attorney in the Denver office of law firm Hall Estill. "Currently, only some 'Dreamers' are eligible for green cards, and typically they must have entered the DACA program before reaching 18.5 years of age to be considered for such benefits. For the proposal to be truly equitable, it should include a way for all 'Dreamers,' regardless of age when entering the program, to apply for a green card." The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups have voiced support for some of the measures in the Biden plan, including putting DACA recipients and "Dreamers" on a path to citizenship, reforming the country's visa system and easing pandemic-related travel restrictions. "As workplaces evolve, securing the country's global talent pipeline so workers educated and trained in the U.S. can contribute their talents to the American economy is more important than ever," said Emily M. Dickens, SHRM's chief of staff, head of government affairs and corporate secretary. "We look forward to working with the Biden administration and new Congress to shape policy solutions that provide critical, work-authorized talent; protect American workers; and modernize workplace immigration." Bill Breakdown The legislation contains several measures important to employers, including: Clearing employment-based visa backlogs by recapturing unused visas and eliminating per-country visa caps. "It is the intent of Congress that unused employment visas are reallocated to other categories so the total number of authorized visas in any year is actually issued," said Susan Cohen, an attorney with Mintz in Boston. "That has not happened over the years, and we have lost a number of unused visas due to lack of oversight. The bill would seek to recapture those visas to help clear up the backlog." It is not yet known how far back the recapturing mechanism may go. The Biden administration may also exempt spouses and dependent children from the green card quotas to open up available numbers. Currently, about 40 percent of the employment-based green cards go to the primary beneficiaries' spouse and children. It is not yet known how far back the recapturing mechanism may go. The Biden administration may also exempt spouses and dependent children from the green card quotas to open up available numbers. Currently, about 40 percent of the employment-based green cards go to the primary beneficiaries' spouse and children. Making staying in the U.S. easier for graduates of U.S. universities who have earned advanced science, technology, engineering and math degrees. This is another group that could be exempted from the employment-based visa quotas. Improving access to green cards for workers in lower-wage sectors. Codifying work authorization for spouses of H-1B visa holders (those with H-4 visas). This group was awarded work authorization by regulation under the Obama administration, but that benefit was scheduled for the chopping block during the Trump years. Creating a pilot program to stimulate regional economic development. "This can stimulate depressed areas and incentivize revitalization through a legal immigration structure," Cohen said. Establishing a commission to make recommendations for improving the employment verification process. Increasing penalties for employers of seasonal foreign workers who violate labor laws. "Given his labor agenda, there is reason to believe that President Biden's Department of Labor will be tough on wages for foreign nationals and that he will continue that agency's scrutiny of worker rights," said Rebecca Bernhard, a partner in the Minneapolis office of law firm Dorsey and Whitney. Seeking higher wages for guest workers to prevent unfair competition with U.S. workers, which is similar to what the Trump administration has been promoting with several final rules in its last weeks. "That's the big question right nowwhat will Biden do with Trump's recent H-1B rules?" Cohen asked. "I think the new president will be hard-pressed to support the Trump rule eliminating the lottery in favor of wage-based selection, and I'd be surprised if the Biden administration defended the recently reissued H-1B regulations." The White House announced Jan. 20 that the recently issued rules will be frozen and will undergo a 60-day review. "They probably won't survive scrutiny, but that does not mean that new, perhaps more-tailored rules will not be issued in a similar vein," Cohen said. Partisan Divide The fate of Biden's plan is uncertain. The president has already cautioned that his administration and Congress may not be able to pass a large-scale immigration overhaul in the first 100 days of his term. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who became the Senate majority leader Jan. 20, vowed to act quickly on the proposal, but the measure would need at least 10 Republicans to join all 50 Democrats to overcome a filibuster in the Senate. "There are many issues I think we can work cooperatively with President Biden, but a blanket amnesty for people who are here unlawfully isn't going to be one of them," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow in law and policy for the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said, "A further economic downturn could imperil the prospects for the bill. The unemployment rate in Dec. 2020 was 6.7 percent, and more than 56 million working-age Americans were not in the labor force. Tens of thousands of businesses have closed permanently as a result of the pandemic. Popular support for legalizing millions of people unlawfully present and allowing them compete with those currently in the legal workforce may not be that strong and would likely fall if the economy does not reverse itself or if it gets worse." Executive Actions On his first evening in office, Biden signed immigration-related executive orders, which require no congressional action, to reinstate the DACA program and end travel restrictions on 13 countries that were deemed to have failed to meet U.S. security and information-sharing standards. The measure directs the State Department to resume visa processing for the affected countries: Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela and Yemen. The travel restrictions first went into effect in January 2017 and became one of Trump's signature immigration policies. Biden also announced that Trump's COVID-19-related public health bans for Brazil, the European Schengen countries, Ireland and the United Kingdom will stay in place. The outgoing president had lifted the bans starting Jan. 26. The restrictions affect foreign nationals who were physically present in one of these countries within 14 days of travel to the United States. In addition, the new administration will review the temporary protected status programs for various countries to see which programs ended by the Trump administration could be reinstated. Mason scientists employ a rapid-result, saliva-based test that significantly expands testing capacity, and an antibody test that can track vaccine response. George Mason University announces it is introducing a rapid-result, saliva-based COVID-19 test that will greatly expand testing capabilities on its campuses this spring. The effort, led by Mason's faculty, is part of a comprehensive program to better track and control the virus on campus. Mason scientists, who are pushing the boundaries of technologies that are keeping Mason's campuses safe, are also developing an antibody test that can track a body's response to the virus and vaccine. See more in this video. The use of the saliva test with the recently acquired Fluidigm system, designed to analyze large numbers of test samples, will help Mason increase testing capacity from 1,000 tests per week to a goal of 10,000 by March, said Lance Liotta, co-director and co-founder of Mason's Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, who leads the CAP CLIA laboratory in which the COVID testing takes place. CAP CLIA accreditation--from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)--ensures laboratories provide precise test results and comply with professionally and scientifically sound laboratory operating standards. "The more we test, the more we are able to identify people who are positive at the earliest stages of the infection and therefore stem the spread of infection," said Ali Andalibi, senior associate dean for the College of Science. "That's what we're striving toward." Liotta leads the multidisciplinary team that is internationally recognized for its expertise in diagnostic testing. The team pivoted from its primary work in cancer research to take up the fight against COVID-19, following the start of the global pandemic last spring. Mason was a model during the Fall semester for its efforts to combat the spread of the virus, with some of the lowest COVID-19 case numbers among Virginia's largest higher education institutions, and no known transmission in its classrooms. "I've been very gratified to see the enormous amount of effort being put forth by Mason scientists in all the colleges toward the COVID crisis," Liotta said. "We collaborate with scientists in many different sectors of Mason, as we work together to develop these new strategies all the way from testing, to the methods, to how you collect samples, and how you care for patients." The saliva test, which received an Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, will help track symptomatic and asymptomatic cases on campus and will be available at five sites across Mason's three university campuses. The samples will be analyzed at Mason's Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, Virginia, in the CAP CLIA laboratories directed by research professor Virginia Espina. Turnaround time for results will be two days or less. Julie Zobel, Mason's associate vice president for Safety, Emergency and Enterprise Risk Management, and her team led efforts to set up the campus infrastructure for testing. That entailed construction of five testing sites with card scanners, check-in counters and private saliva-collection booths. About 50 people, including 20 licensed medical professionals, were hired to staff the sites. "It's been a challenge but we've had a large team of medical professionals, emergency and risk managers, researchers and lab personnel, and IT and finance professionals working tirelessly over the past five months to get us to this point," Zobel said. "I am proud to be part of such a high-performing and driven team all working towards keeping our community safe." Liotta's team is also validating a novel test that measures a body's antibody response to the virus and COVID vaccine. The test will help researchers understand a person's post-vaccination response, how long individuals will remain resistant to the virus and how a person's immune system fights the virus. "The antibody test is going to be the future because everyone wants to know, did the vaccine work for them?" Liotta said. "Somebody who has immunodeficiency syndromes gets the vaccine. Did the vaccine work for them? We can answer that question. We can also tell whether a patient should be donating their plasma to treat others." ### About George Mason University There are many pay systems used to set pay throughout the Federal government. Each is applied to a specific type of employee. The 3 most commonly used pay systems are the following: Federal Wage System (FWS) -- which applies to employees who work in trades, crafts, and skilled and unskilled laborer positions, also known as "Blue Collar" jobs. -- which applies to employees who work in trades, crafts, and skilled and unskilled laborer positions, also known as "Blue Collar" jobs. General Schedule (GS) -- the pay system used to set pay for employees who work in positions classified in administrative, clerical, professional, and technical occupational categories, also known as "White Collar" jobs. -- the pay system used to set pay for employees who work in positions classified in administrative, clerical, professional, and technical occupational categories, also known as "White Collar" jobs. Senior Executive Service (SES) -- covers most managerial, supervisory, and policy positions which do not require U.S. Senate confirmation. These are often appointed by the executive branch. For the sake of this discussion we will focus on how a college degree affects the more familiar GS pay system. The GS system is comprised of 15 grade levels - GS-1 through GS-15. Each of these pay grades has education and experience requirements. For example an employee with a High School diploma and limited experience can expect to start out at GS-2 and, even with more experience, employees can generally go no higher than GS-5 without a degree. Professional and administrative entry level positions generally start at GS-5 and require a college degree. To qualify for jobs at the GS-7 and higher, your background must have included experience closely related to the work to be performed in the job for which you are applying and more education. You can qualify for GS-9 positions on the basis of a master's degree, and for GS-11 if you hold a doctorate. Note: These requirements may vary depending on the position and the level of responsibility. They may also be adjusted by geographic location. Additionally certain hard-to-fill jobs, usually in the scientific, technical, and medical fields, may have higher starting salaries. Each Federal job vacancy posting will specify the particular requirements. Additionally each grade level has a salary range of ten steps. Federal employees can advance to each higher step within the grade when they meet the specific time and performance requirements. GS pay may also determined by location, this is known as a "Locality Payment." Depending on the geographic location the employees pay may be increased by as much as 26%. The following charts are an example of the 2021 pay GS annual scale for the pay grades previously mentioned: Grade Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 GS-2 $21,974 $22,722 $23,457 $24,078 $24,349 GS-5 $30,414 $31,428 $32,422 $33,456 $34,470 GS-7 $37,647 $38,930 $40,186 $41,442 $42,698 GS-9 $46,083 $47,619 $49,155 $50,691 $52,227 GS-11 $55,756 $57,615 $59,474 $61,333 $63,192 As you can see by the charts above there is roughly a $7,000 to $10,000 yearly difference for each level of education for Step 1 employees. Remember these numbers don't reflect the locality payment. Some examples of salaries with the locality payment for a GS-7 Step 1 are: Atlanta metro area: $46,023 Denver metro area: $47,895 Washington DC metro area: $49,157 The key here is to take advantage of your education benefits get your degree, so you can open doors to more pay and more opportunities. # # # # Visit Military.com's Veteran Career Center to explore your job opportunities in the Federal Government - or - the Education Center to learn how to take advantage of your education benefits. Find the Right Veteran Job Whether you want to polish your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox. 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. WASHINGTON - Joe Biden had long promised to become the climate president, and on Wednesday he detailed far-ranging plans to shift the U.S. away from fossil fuels, creating millions of jobs in renewable energy and conserve vast swaths of public lands and water. "This is not a time for small measures," Biden said at the White House, adding that the nation had already wasted too much time in dealing with the climate crisis. But as he detailed his plans, the gas, oil and coal industries were already mobilizing on all fronts. From an oil patch in Alaska to state capitals to the halls of Congress, the industries and their allies are aiming to slow Biden's unprecedented push for climate action and keep profits from fossil fuels flowing. Republican attorneys general from six states wrote to the new president, warning him not to overstep his authority. GOP lawmakers attacked his executive orders as "job killers." And the petroleum industry revived television ads promoting drilling on federal lands. Industry executives expressed dismay at the scope, speed and direction that Biden is heading, saying he is going much further than President Barack Obama ever did, while environmentalists said the danger that Earth faces is far more dire now than it appeared during Obama's tenure and requires an extraordinary response. Last year essentially tied with 2016 as the hottest year ever recorded, and scientists say the planet is speeding toward irreversible damage. In barely a week in office, Biden has moved to rejoin the Paris climate accord, halt the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, impose new limits on oil and gas production and mandate climate change as a priority across every federal agency. On Wednesday, he promised to use the government's purchasing power to fund a federal clean-car fleet - and the jobs that would come with it. He pledged to help low-income and minority communities that have historically suffered the worst pollution. And he insisted the nation must set about preparing for the inevitable impacts of climate change, even as it tries to stave off the worst future outcomes. He also said the U.S. will lead the world in the global effort to cut greenhouse gases that are driving climate change. Biden's aggressive proposals won broad praise from environmental activists and many fellow Democrats while setting off an intense battle with the U.S. fossil fuel industry, which has underpinned the nation's economy for more than a century. "This is a radical departure from almost any other administration, and I would even say, President Obama," said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, echoing the sentiments of several others in his party and in the fossil fuel industry. "Our states have led the charge in successfully challenging unauthorized and unlawful executive actions, as you know from your years as vice president," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and five other Republican attorneys general wrote in a letter to Biden. Morrisey sued to block the Obama administration's rule curbing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. "You can be assured that we will do so again, if necessary." American Clean Power Association CEO Heather Zichal, who served as one of Obama's top climate advisers, said no one should be surprised by Biden's approach, given the mounting scientific evidence of the Earth's continued warming and advances in recent years that have helped make renewable energy cheaper. "If we're going to remove 51 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually and get to zero [emissions] in 30 years, this is going to require drastic action," she said, adding that her members are prepared to invest $1 trillion in the coming years on clean energy projects. "We see nothing but opportunity." Biden's special envoy on climate, John Kerry, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that the scientific reality gives the president little choice. "It is now cheaper to deal with the crisis climate than it is to ignore it," Kerry said, noting the massive sums taxpayers have spent recovering from increasingly devastating hurricanes in recent years. "We're spending more money, folks. We're just not doing it smart. We're not doing it in a way that would actually sustain us for the long term." In a nation that remains heavily reliant on oil and gas but is shifting toward cleaner energy, the president and his deputies are aware they must take steps to blunt the short-term economic fallout on those impacted by the transition, or else having them unravel. To that end, the White House is establishing an interagency working group headed by climate coordinator Gina McCarthy and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese that will help communities grappling with the shift away from coal and other fossil fuels. "We're going to make sure that nobody is left behind," McCarthy told reporters Wednesday. "We need to put people to work in their own communities. That's where their home is. That's where the vision is. So we are creatively looking at those opportunities for investment so that we can get people understanding that we are not trying to take away jobs." Federal fossil fuel leasing generated nearly $8.1 billion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2020, according to the Interior Department's Office of Natural Resources Revenue, a sum shared among federal, state, local and tribal governments. The practice also accounts for nearly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. "Over the years, right or wrong, state budgets and social service provisions have become insidiously entangled with fossil fuel energy profits," said Chase Huntley, who directs the Wilderness Society's energy and climate program. On his first day as president, Biden rescinded the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline - a project that enjoys the support of some building trade unions - and on Wednesday, he announced an indefinite halt to new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. In an interview just after the November election, the American Petroleum Institute's senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs, Frank Macchiarola, said his group was aware of Biden's plan to impose a leasing moratorium. "But we also recognize that that was a campaign proposal, and campaigning is often different from governing," he said at the time. This week, Macchiarola said he was surprised that Biden would block a major pipeline in the midst of an economic downturn. "When you launch your campaign, and the unemployment rate is between 3.5% and 4%, and you take office and the unemployment rate is 6.7 %, should your policies be the same when a project means thousands of jobs?" Some oil crews have suspended work in reaction to news out of Washington. Dave Cruz's construction crew had already traveled 100 miles by snow trail to "the middle of nowhere" on the Alaskan tundra last week and were getting ready to prepare a five-acre well pad made of ice when they learned of the tighter restrictions under the Biden administration. "I hate to tell you guys, we've got to let you go," Cruz said he told his nearly 50-person crew on the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, the nation's largest swath of public land. The Interior Department is poised to issue the permit soon, which would allow the crew to return. The fossil fuel industry also has encouraged tribal, state, local and labor leaders to weigh in. Biden's aides clarified this week that any restrictions on new leasing or permitting does not apply to Indian Country, since federal officials would first have to engage in formal consultations with those sovereign nations. "A delay in energy permitting in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic would have been devastating to our economy and the health and safety of our tribal members," said Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee Chairman Luke Duncan, whose tribe has a drilling operation in Utah. Biden has taken office at an inflection point in U.S. energy policy, where fossil fuels dominate transportation and electricity generation, even as they are starting to lose ground to both market forces and shifting public opinion. David Slater, chairman of the board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, told reporters Tuesday that natural gas accounted for the largest source of U.S. electricity in 2019, at 38%, and the Energy Information Administration projects America's overall natural gas consumption will "grow slightly" by 2050. At the same time, the oil and gas industry has suffered a series of recent economic setbacks. Tom Sanzillo, director of finance at the Institute for Energy Economics, noted these companies accounted for 28% of the U.S. stock market in 1980, but just 2.3% of it as of this month. "The oil industry doesn't have a plan for its future. They want to drill wherever they want, whenever they want," Sanzillo said. "What Biden is doing is saying, 'We need to reduce the supply, because the industry is not doing it.' " The Trump administration offered more than 103 million acres of oil and gas leases, according to Interior, of which just 10.6 million acres sold. The industry has a considerable stockpile of leases: 53% of those onshore are unused on not producing, along with 77% of those offshore. And in December alone, the Bureau of Land Management signed off on 847 drilling permits, a rate roughly double what it had approved each month between June and November. Rystad Energy's head of shale research, Artem Abramov, said that the pause in new federal leasing would have "little impact" on oil and gas production in federal land, including in New Mexico's gas-rich Permian Basin. Taylor McKinnon, senior public lands campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity, noted that federal leases sold since 2017 would release 1.9 billion tons of greenhouse gases alone. All of the oil, gas, coal, oil shale and tar sands the U.S. government has leased holds more than 20 times that warming potential, he added. Whatever legislative, lobbying and legal battles lie ahead, those who have long hoped for strong climate action from the federal government cheered Biden's actions Wednesday, saying he is pursuing the right path for the country - and for the planet. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has delivered a "Time to Wake Up" speech about climate change nearly every week the Senate has been in session for the past nine years, frustrated that the U.S. government wasn't acting more purposefully. On Wednesday, he delivered his 279th speech. It would be his last, he said, because President Biden was forcing the country to finally act. "So instead of urging that it's time to wake up," he said, "I close this long run by saying now it's time to get to work." NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / In a world of many niches, Brandon Henry has taken a different approach. A self-proclaimed "extreme generalist", Brandon is a true jack of all trades, master of none - except when it comes to mastering his time. "I was dead set on mastering time. Most people don't view time as a valuable asset in life until it's too late, and they're stuck wondering how much they've lost, instead of putting to work every bit of knowledge they've acquired in order to be a self-sustaining, productive member of society," Brandon says. From an early age, Brandon knew time was the important factor when it came to business and beyond. He spent many years trying to understand it, expanding his pool of knowledge, who when the time came, he would be ready to mobilize his skills. That chance has luckily come many times - from age 15 to now, in 21 years, Brandon has had 10 self-deemed failed businesses, and 3 wildly successful versions of those failures. Currently, Brandon runs multiple businesses, all centered around his "Busyworkin" brand, which licenses intellectual property acquired over the years to be leveraged across other networks. "Most people would refer to this as consulting in some manner, or fashion. I think of it more as daily possibilities: Each day I have the opportunity to engage myself with something I truly enjoy because each business I choose to involve myself in is a passion project. Sure, there's a system in place to grow and scale many different types of businesses, but these days, I'm focused on helping my friends and family break their own wheels to become independent of 'the system'," Brandon says. Brandon's motivations to get involved with business was plain and simple: a desire to be unlike anyone else, and a need to follow his true self. "My mom always encouraged me to be who I felt like being, every day. I've always been mystified by how others embrace their personalities, not paying attention to how others react in their presence, knowing that the work being done had a goal in mind that wasn't inherently selfish, and whose outcome would be a benefit to all those who decided to be positively affected by its creation. It wasn't until my late twenties, early thirties, did I finally put all of the pieces of the puzzle together," Brandon outlines. It's in this true-to-self nature that Brandon finds his most powerful mindset, which he outlines as one of the most important aspects of starting and running your own business. In the business industry and beyond, knowing yourself is a vital part in working towards success. "Full transparency with yourself is one of the most difficult things to achieve; Some call it 'ego-death'," Brandon says. When Brandon came to this same realization, he realized that he had the power and means to change the world around him, being able to change it for the good of others, as well as himself. While it may seem simple when stated so clearly, Brandon acknowledges that nothing is that easy. Regardless of this fact, Brandon encourages those looking to start their own business to keep going and moving forward, using the metaphor of climbing a mountain to illustrate the journey to the top. "It is an incredible mountain to climb. And don't let it fool you, it is a mountain. Some would say it's very hard to live with no money, but choosing to wake up everyday and make money for yourself, in your own business, your own way, is also very hard. But, once you have a path laid out, and you have a map to your personal treasure, you are the only one who can stop you. Don't give up before you reach the top of the mountain," Brandon says. In 2021 Brandon plans on limiting his clientele in order to focus on quality and scalability of each project. Matthew Lee Morgan, famed Cannabis Operator and Entrepreneur, and his mentorship has led to Brandon's focus, growth, and redefined his leadership abilities inside the digital marketplace. As such, both Brandon and Matthew have taken on roles with new and exciting companies who possess the critical skills necessary to grow and scale their personal brands. Brandon warns everyone to be on the lookout for the Xtract Energy team in 2021, as well as, the introduction to more of his personal passion projects inside the animal conservation space. To follow these exciting projects to fruition, be sure to stay up to date on Brandon's Busyworkin Instagram and website. CONTACT: Paula Henderson 646-736-2071 phendersonnews@gmail.com About VIP Media Group: VIP Media Group is a hybrid PR agency. Their diverse client base includes top-class entrepreneurs, public figures, influencers, and celebrities. SOURCE: VIP Media Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626276/How-Brandon-Henry-Manages-Multiple-Businesses-And-Grows-New-Ones-Through-Cultivating-Many-Skills Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Jailed self-styled godman Asaram on Thursday moved a trial court in where he is facing rape charges, seeking a 30-day temporary bail to attend to his ailing wife. The temporary bail plea was filed before the court of Additional Sessions Judge S N Solanki in Gandhinagar. The court fixed January 30 to hear the plea. The 79-year-old controversial religious preacher, who is behind bars since 2013, is facing trial in a rape case before the sessions court in the capital. Currently, Asaram is lodged in a Rajasthan jail after conviction in a separate rape case. Asaram sought bail for a period of 30 days on the ground that his 77-year-old wife, Lakshmi Devi, is severely ill and needs to undergo bypass surgery. As per the bail application, doctors at UN Mehta Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad had asked Lakshmi Devi to get herself admitted for a bypass surgery when she visited the hospital a few weeks ago when her heart condition started deteriorating. However, since there was no one to look after her, she had informed the doctors that she will get herself admitted to the hospital on February 1, said Asaram's plea. According to the plea, Asaram needs to be with his ailing wife during and after the heart surgery. Two Surat-based sisters, who lived in Asarams ashram in Motera area of Ahmedabad between 1997 and 2006, lodged had separate complaints against him and his son Narayan Sai, accusing them of rape and illegal confinement, among other charges. Asaram is in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan ever since his arrest in 2013 after a minor girl lodged a case of rape against him. He was convicted by a Jodhpur court in that case of sexual assault in 2018. The Jodhpur court had sentenced the self-styled godman to life in prison. India has flattened its COVID-19 graph and146 districts have reported no new case of the viral disease in the last seven days, 18 in 14 days, six in 21 days and 21 districts in the last 28 days, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday. This has been achieved due to pro-active testing with more than 19.5 crore COVID-19 tests conducted in the country so far, Vardhan, who chaired the 23rd meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 through a video-conference, said, according to a statement issued by the health ministry. The current testing capacity is 12 lakh tests per day, the minister added. "With the 'Whole of Government' and 'Whole-of-society' approach envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, India has successfully contained the pandemic. Less than 12,000 cases were reported in the last 24 hours and the active caseload has reduced to just 1.73 lakh," he said. Vardhan informed that a meagre 0.46 per cent of the 1.73 lakh active COVID-19 cases is on ventilators, 2.20 per cent is in the ICU and 3.02 per cent is on oxygen support. The minister stated that 165 cases of a new UK variant of the virus have so far been reported in the country and the patients are kept under supervised quarantine and surveillance. India has flattened its COVID-19 graph, he said. A total of 146 districts across the country have no new cases for the last seven days, 18 for the last 14 days, six for 21 days and 21 districts have not reported fresh cases of the infection in the last 28 days, Vardhan said. The health minister proudly mentioned that India has supported other countries with the supply of the COVID-19 vaccines during this global public health crisis and trained the personnel of several nations in vaccine administration. "By being a 'mitra' to the global community, India has earned global trust by supplying indigenously made vaccines at this crucial hour," he was quoted as saying in the statement. Dr Sujeet K Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), presented a detailed report on the current and future scenario of COVID-19 in India, drawing a comparison with the trajectory of the confirmed cases and growth rates of the viral disease in other countries. India has reported a seven-day growth rate of 0.90 per cent, amongst the lowest in the world, he stated. Singh presented a granular analysis of the trajectory of the pandemic in India, pointing towards critical parameters like day-wise confirmed new cases with the growth rate, recovery rate, case-positivity rate, trend of active cases, concentration of cases in particular districts and other trends such as fatality and the spread of the new UK-variant cases across different states. India's Case Fatality Ratio is showing a declining trend from 3.4 per cent in mid-June 2020 to the current rate of 1.4 per cent due to effective clinical management, he said. The NCDC director also informed that Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have the highest recovery rate of 99.79 per cent, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (99.58 per cent) and Odisha (99.07 per cent), while Kerala has a recovery rate of 91.61 per cent because of its present high active caseload. He added that Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kozhikode are the top five districts in the country currently in terms of reporting the highest number of active cases. Maharashtra and Kerala account for 70 per cent of the active cases in India at the moment, Singh said. He advised caution in the coming months, based on the nature of the transmission of the virus being witnessed in other countries and due to its mutant strain being reported throughout the world. Through a detailed presentation, Dr Vinod K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, apprised the GoM of the progress of the development of vaccines in the country and the vaccination drive launched by the prime minister on January 16, the statement said. The health secretary showcased the logistics of the vaccination exercise and the gains made so far. He said over 1.12 crore doses of the vaccines were distributed among the states and Union territories within three days (from January 12-14) prior to the start of the exercise and an additional 1.15 crore doses were supplied to the states and Union territories by January 20. A total of 69,000 programme managers, 2.5 lakh vaccinators and 4.4 lakh other team members have been trained so far and 93,76,030 healthcare workers and 53,94,098 frontline workers are now registered on the Co-WIN portal. Dr Paul informed that India currently occupies the sixth spot in the world in providing vaccination coverage and will move to the third place in the next few days. He said 16 AEFI hospitalisations out of 23 lakh vaccinations so far translate to just 0.0007 per cent with no case of severe or serious AEFI or death due to vaccination reported so far. The GoM also discussed issues regarding balancing domestic requirements vis-a-vis requests from other countries for Indian vaccines. The GoM meeting was joined by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya. (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.) Advertisement Coronavirus outbreaks in the city where a Brazilian variant emerged suggest it may be able to dodge vaccine-triggered immunity, scientists say. Around 75 per cent of the population of Manaus, located in the heart of the Amazon rain forest, was thought to have been infected by the virus when it first spread across the globe. This should have sparked 'herd immunity', scientists said. Typically, if such large share of a population has been infected previously, those people will be immune and prevent the virus from spreading. But after the variant - called P.1 - appeared in December, cases spiked again, indicating its mutations may be able to evade immune system antibodies that were developed in response to previous infections. Scientists say this could make the vaccine less effective because they rely on the same types of antibodies, and were designed based on the first virus identified in Wuhan, China, which did not have mutations present in the new variants. Brazil's variant is thought to be 50 percent more infectious than more common variants, and it has been detected in at least two other countries: Japan and the US. The first American case was confirmed on Monday, in a person who had recently traveled to Brazil. But with US labs doing scattershot testing for new variants, it's hard to gauge how many or how few cases there may be. The crisis in Manaus has Brazilian Americans worried for their families and themselves, according to NBC News. Health care worker Theresa Frade told NBC that despite being infected this summer, she's afraid she could get COVID-19 again with the arrival of the variant wreaking havoc in her family's home country. The variant has key mutations on its outer spike protein, which the virus uses to bind to human cells, changing its shape and making antibodies less likely to attack it and block infection. The changes are similar to those seen in the South African variant, which one study suggested could slip past the immune responses of half of people who get the jabs. But scientists have said this is not the 'full picture', and they are confident other parts of the immune system will still be primed by the shots to fight off the variant. There are growing warnings, nonetheless, that at some point a variant may appear which can 'get around' immunity triggered by vaccinations. No cases of the Brazilian variant of the virus have been identified in the UK, but there have been at least 105 cases of the South African strain. 14 cases of a different Brazilian variant, which scientists are less concerned about, has been confirmed in the UK. Moderna and Pfizer are both already working on 'booster' shots to their vaccines, to protect against future variants of the virus. And a team at Imperial College London that got a Covid-19 vaccine to stage 2 trials is also looking at how to spark immunity against future strains. Above are the number of Covid-19 infections in Brazil. They show a third spike around the new year after the new variant emerged. This spike was so large that scientists suspect reinfection became common among people who recovered a long time ago from different variants of the virus Brazil has had one of the worst outbreaks in the world, with around 9million confirmed Covid cases to date P.1 was discovered in four Brazilians who landed at Haneda airport on January 2, all of whom had recently come from Manaus or other parts of Amazonas, which has a landmass six times the size of the UK. That variant is believed to have evolved in the Manaus population as a way to get around the herd immunity that was developing in the city. What variants are causing panic around the world? Kent variant Real name: B.1.1.7 When was it discovered? The variant was first found in the South East of England and can be traced back to September 2020. What mutations does it have? It has 23 mutations, some of which change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main mutation is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. Why is it causing worry? UK studies have shown it is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the regular strain, which has made it harder to control. Preliminary studies also show it is about 30 per cent more deadly than previous versions. How many people have caught it in the UK? It is the dominant strain in Britain and accounts for the majority of new cases. Brazil variant Real name: P.1 When was it discovered? In Tokyo, Japan, in four travellers arriving from Manaus, Brazil, on January 2. What mutations does it have? P.1 has 17 mutations, three of which are particularly concerning to scientists. Like the Kent variant, it also has the N501Y mutation which suggests it's more infectious and possibly more lethal. It also has a spike alteration named E484K, which scientists believe may be associated with an ability to evade parts of the immune system called antibodies. Researchers suspect this is the case because strains with this mutation have been shown to reinfect people who caught and beat older versions of Covid. Another key mutation in the variant, named K417T, has the potential to 'possibly escape some antibodies', according to British experts. This mutation is less well-studied and the ramifications of this are still being researched. Why is it causing worry? There have been a number of proven cases of people catching this variant after beating older versions of the virus. It strongly suggests the variant can evade natural immunity and possibly even vaccines. How many people have caught it in the UK? It's not. Public health officials and scientists randomly sample around 1 in 10 coronavirus cases in the UK and they have not yet reported any cases of the variant, but this doesn't rule it out completely. South African variant Real name: B.1.351 When was it discovered? Nelson Mandela Bay, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, in mid-December. What mutations does it have? The South African variant carries 21 mutations, including E484K and N501Y. Why is it causing worry? Those two mutations suggest it is more infectious than the older version of Covid and raise the possibility of antibody resistance. However, Sir Patrick Vallance has said there is no reason the South African or Brazilian strains would become dominant in the UK, because they don't have any evolutionary edge over the Kent strain currently plaguing the country, which is just as transmissible. How many people have caught it in the UK? At least 77 Brits have been infected with this variant, though the number is likely to be far higher because PHE is only testing random positive samples. Advertisement Studies have suggested that around 75 per cent of people in Manaus caught Covid-19 during the first wave of the virus in spring. This may have put evolutionary pressure on the regular Covid strain to adapt to be able to slip past natural immunity to the original version, according to Professor Wendy Barclay, a top virologist at Imperial College London. Researchers say Manaus is particularly vulnerable to Covid because it has high levels of social deprivation, with workers living in crowded, multi-generational housing. It is also a free-trade zone and one of Brazil's largest exporter cities, with frequent traffic from Europe and Asia. Because the virus naturally mutates as it jumps between people, Manaus provided the perfect breeding ground for the virus to evolve. Nationally, Brazil's death rate has been hovering around 1,000 for the first time since the first wave peaked in the Southern Hemisphere winter. In Manaus, there have been reports of dead bodies having to be dumped in freezer trucks and patients being flown to different states due to a chronic shortage of oxygen and hospital beds. Professor Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, has warned: 'While we don't know exactly why this variant has been so apparently successful in Brazil, none of the explanations on the table are good.' Scientists are particularly concerned because the variant has three key mutations that may make it more infectious and increase the possibility of it being able to dodge immunity. It has the same N501Y mutation as the Kent strain, which is thought to make it the UK variant at least 50 per cent more infectious. Early data from UK studies has suggested the Kent strain is also 30 per cent lethal. N501Y make the stains better at infecting human cells. The better viruses are at grabbing onto receptors, the more effectively they can take over our cell machinery and churn out more copies of itself. The more copies they can fill a host's body with, the more likely the host is to 'shed' those viral particles - meaning an infected person's sneeze, cough or even breath is much more loaded with virus, increasing the odds it will be passed on to someone else. But that doesn't make the strain any less recognisable to antibodies that sound the alarm for the immune system to mount a defense. N501Y is unlikely to pull one over on the immune system. However the Brazil stain has a further mutation to a location on the viral genome known as E484K - which is also present in the South African strain. This is 'the site of most concern for viral mutations,' according to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers in Seattle, because it could make the new virus harder for the immune system to recognise and keep antibodies from neutralizing it by blocking the receptors that would otherwise latch onto other human cells. A vaccine that is pretty good at teaching the body to identify this variant - but not perfect - will still be worthwhile, likely still preventing most people from becoming seriously ill with the virus. What makes the Brazil variant even more worrying is a third mutation called K417T, that is less well researched. But early studies suggest it has the potential to give it the possibility to 'escape some antibodies', according to the UK Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK). Britain has banned all travel from South America, Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde in a bid to stop the variant from wreaking havoc in the UK. Officials here are already trying to bring the super-infectious Kent variant under control. Studies are currently ongoing into P.1 and results are expected in the coming weeks - but for now research into the South African strain offers hints at the effect the Brazilian version may have on vaccines and natural immunity. Tests on blood samples from volunteers who had previously suffered a coronavirus infection on the South African variant revealed it could get past antibodies in 48 per cent of cases. Lead researcher Professor Penny Moore, from the Wits University and National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa, claimed people who were sicker with coronavirus the first time and had a stronger immune response appeared less likely to get reinfected. 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 WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE TWO BRAZIL VARIANTS? The only similarities between the two Brazil variants is that they share crucial a mutation on their spike protein known as E484K. E484K may be associated with an ability to evade parts of the immune system called antibodies. Researchers suspect this is the case because strains with this mutation have been shown to reinfect people who caught and beat older versions of Covid. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VARIANTS? Variant 1 Name: P.1 Date: Discovered in Tokyo, Japan, in four travellers arriving from Manaus, Brazil, on January 2. Is it in the UK? No. Public health officials and scientists randomly sample around 1 in 10 coronavirus cases in the UK and they have not yet reported any cases of B.1.1.248, but this doesn't rule it out completely. What other mutations does it have? P.1 has 17 mutations, but E484K are two others are seen to be problematic. The N501Y mutation makes the spike protein better at binding to receptors in people's bodies and therefore makes the virus more infectious. Exactly how much more infectious it is remains to be seen, but scientists estimate the similar-looking variant in the UK is around 56 per cent more transmissible than its predecessor. Even if the virus doesn't appear to be more dangerous, its ability to spread faster and cause more infections will inevitably lead to a higher death rate. Another key mutation in the variant, named K417T, has the potential to 'possibly escape some antibodies', according to COG-UK. This mutation is less well-studied and the ramifications of this are still being researched. Variant 2 Name: P.2 Date: Unclear. It's thought to have emerged in or near Rio de Janeiro State. Is it in the UK? Yes, COG-UK revealed it had been spotted in 11 genomes in Britain. MailOnline understands it was first picked up on November 14 at a Government lab in Glasgow. Laboratories in Cheshire, Milton Keynes and Cambridge have also spotted the variant. What other mutations does it have?COG-UK says that, other than E484K, P.2 'does not contain a constellation of mutations of interest' and 'does not contain the other important mutations carried by lineage P.1'. The group says at the moment it is not deemed a 'variant of concern', even though it has been linked to two cases of reinfection. Advertisement She told a scientific panel meeting this month: '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.' In a major boost to the world's immunsation efforts, Pfizer/BioNTech said today its coronavirus vaccine is only slightly less effective against the super-infectious South African and Brazilian variants. Researchers behind the jab took blood samples from vaccinated patients and exposed them to an engineered virus with three worrying mutations found on the South African and Brazilian variants, including E484K. They found there was about a noticeable reduction in the production of antibodies, which are virus-fighting proteins made in the blood after vaccination or natural infection. The team said the number of antibodies produced was still high enough to kill the mutant strain. This is possible because the immune system generally makes so many antibodies that it creates enough to hit the threshold needed to neutralise or kill the virus, and then many more on top, which are expendable. For comparison, a similar study by Moderna found its own jab was still effective enough to kill the South African strain despite a six-fold reduction in antibodies. While the Pfizer results are promising, they are limited because the study did not look at the full set of mutations found in the new South African variant. The company said earlier this week that it had started work on a booster jab to make sure it could cope with new variants in case a mutation seriously affected its vaccine. AstraZeneca, which makes one of the other major vaccines, has not published studies testing its own jab against different variants but says it is confident it will still work and is monitoring the effectiveness. At least 105 cases of the South African coronavirus variant have been spotted in Britain, Public Health England revealed today. PHE said that, as of January 28, the B.1.351 strain had been picked up 105 times through genomic sequencing analysing the genetics of different samples of the virus since December. It is likely to be far more widespread because UK officials only analyse 10 per cent of random positive samples from the Government's national testing programme. PHE said it still had not detected any cases of P.1. But experts say just because the strain has not been picked up yet, does not mean it is not already here. A separate Brazil variant, known as P.2, had been picked up 11 times through routine testing in Britain. The first positive sample was taken on November 14 at a Lighthouse Laboratory in Glasgow, MailOnline understands. Laboratories in Cheshire, Milton Keynes and Cambridge have also spotted the variant, it is believed. At least two nurses in Brazil have been infected with P.2 despite catching and beating Covid in the spring, which has raised fears the new variant can slip past vaccines and undo natural immunity. Both Brazilian variants share the E484K mutation on their spike proteins, however, P.1 has two other problematic mutations K417T and N501Y which P.2 does not have, making it more infectious and more likely to slip past the immune system than the version found in Britain. They both evolved separately, with P.1 emerging in Manaus, the capital city of Amazonas, and P.2 emerging in Rio de Janeiro State in the North East. COG-UK says P.2 is 'not at present considered sufficient to designate it as a "variant of concern".' Flowers line the railing placed their by visitors at the Space Mirror Memorial during a ceremony to honor fallen astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The memorial displays the names of astronauts that lost their lives furthering the cause of space exploration. (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA leaders, retired launch directors, families of fallen astronauts and space fans marked the 35th anniversary of the Challenger disaster on Thursday, vowing never to forget the seven who died during liftoff. The pandemic kept this year's remembrance more muted than usual. Barely 100 peopleall masked and seated or standing far apartgathered in front of Kennedy Space Center's Space Mirror Memorial. The late morning ceremony was held almost exactly the same time as the accident shortly after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986. Among the attendees: Donna Smith, visiting from Florida's Gulf Coast to "make sure they're never forgotten." She was a high school student when the crew was lost; the sky was so clear that frigid morning that she could see the doomed launch all the way across the state. The widow of Challenger commander Dick Scobee quietly observed the anniversary from her home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In a recent interview, June Scobee Rodgers said the presence of teacher Christa McAuliffe on the flight added to the crew's lasting legacy. Scobee Rodgers, herself a longtime educator, said her husband was assigned the teacher-in-space flight because of her own career. NASA figured "he would have compassion for a teacher," she told The Associated Press. The sun illuminates the seven names of the astronauts killed in the 1986 Challenger shuttle disaster as a wreath is laid at the base of the Space Mirror Memorial during a 35th anniversary commemoration ceremony at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Thursday, January 28, 2021. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP) A social studies teacher in Concord, New Hampshire, McAuliffe was going to perform experiments and offer lessons from space. Scobee Rodgers helped establish the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in the wake of the accident, along with the other Challenger families. She said that helped all of them heal and "move forward." "In their loss, somehow, their mission continues in many, many different ways," she said. Flags flew half-staff at NASA centers around the country Thursday, with small ceremonies also held at Johnson Space Center in Houston and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The U.S. Mint is offering a new commemorative silver dollar honoring McAuliffe. This year's observance focused on the Challenger crewMcAuliffe, Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair and Gregory Jarvis. But it also paid tribute to the 18 others whose names are carved into the massive granite mirror at Kennedy's visitor complex. Retired Army Colonel Cynthia Watkins places a flower at the Space Mirror Memorial during a ceremony to honor fallen astronauts at the at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Seven were killed during reentry aboard shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003. Three died in the Apollo 1 fire on the launch pad on Jan. 27, 1967. Another was killed in a Virgin Galactic test flight in 2014. Plane crashes claimed the rest. "We honor these heroes and remind ourselves of the lessons that the past continues to teach us," said Kennedy's deputy director, Janet Petro. Petro noted that SpaceX is now flying astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA, and more new spaceships are on the horizon. Many of the newcomers were not around for the shuttle accidents, she said, and so the hard lessons must be shared. Poor management and a stifling culture contributed to both shuttle accidents. Challenger was brought down by eroded O-ring seals in the right solid rocket booster, Columbia by a chunk of foam insulation that broke off the fuel tank at liftoff and pierced the left wing. A wreath placed at the base of the Space Mirror Memorial stands during a ceremony to honor fallen astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The memorial displays the names of astronauts that lost their lives furthering the cause of space exploration. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Crissy Sokol places a flower at the Space Mirror Memorial during a ceremony to honor fallen astronauts at the at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Retired launch director Mike Leinbachwho was at Kennedy for both shuttle tragediessaid his one wish is for no more names to be added to the memorial. "It's already too full." Explore further 1st of Christa McAuliffe's lost lessons released from space 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A daring swimmer is lucky to be alive after being attacked by a crocodile that had his head in its jaws before he was able to prise himself free and swim slowly to shore. Paramedics were called to the popular tourist spot of Lake Placid tourist park in Cairns about 12.40pm on Thursday. Critical care paramedic Paul Sweeney said the 44-year-old man was treated for multiple lacerations to his head, hands, and shoulder but was lucky that crocodile's teeth had not severed one of the arteries in his neck, which could have been fatal. A man has been rushed to hospital after he was attacked by a crocodile in Queensland's north (stock image) Lake Placid Recreation Park (pictured) is in suburban Cairns and is a popular tourist spot Mr Sweeney said the man was conscious when paramedics arrived. 'There was definite evidence of puncture wounds through his scalp to the right side of his head from either the upper or lower jaw,' he said. 'There were additional puncture wounds, then, to the left angle of the jaw, the cheekbone there and the jaw, corresponding to a bite which the the animal has bitten his head with jaws either side'. He was transported to Cairns Hospital where he was in a stable condition. Rangers from Queensland Parks and Wildlife are investigating and have travelled to the area to locate the crocodile. The man was doing swimming training in the water, Mr Sweeney said, when he felt a 'sudden impact clasp on the top of his head'. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Officers were at the scene investigating on Thursday afternoon (pictured) 'He put his hands into the jaws to prise them off his head, and when he did so and let go, the jaw snapped shut onto his left forefinger, which wasn't broken or severed thankfully,' he said. He said the 'fit' man had the presence of mind to swim slowly back to shore so as to prevent alerting the crocodile to his continued presence, and was able to drag himself out of the water. He was then helped by bystanders. Warning signs were recently put up at the popular tourist spot after sightings of a two metre crocodile in the area. The man will require stitches but is expected to make a full recovery and claimed he would return. 'Hes quite a robust individual who insisted that hed be back swimming there soon, so a braver man than I,' Mr Sweeney said. Minister of Education Tarek Shawki issued a ministerial decree on 20 January allowing unlimited foreign ownership of international and private schools in Egypt. According to the decree, schools must be owned by a company registered in Egypt. The company, however, could be owned by other companies, funds or individuals of any nationality. The minister was amending a previous ministerial decree that was issued in 2019. Over the past decade, Egypt has been witnessing a steady increase in private equity funds and investors interested in education. This was the case until the November 2019 ministerial decree was issued thus bringing the unprecedented, speedy increase of private sector investments in the education industry to a halt. The 2019 decree limited the ownership of foreigners in the capital of private schools, and schools applying an international curriculum in Egypt, to 20 per cent. According to Reda Hegazi, deputy to the Ministry of Education, private sector investments are essential to the educational process. Egypt needs LE130 billion to establish new schools, while the budget allocated for this purpose does not exceed 10 per cent of the countrys education budget, which amounts to LE158 billion. Some 94 per cent of the total is spent on salaries, five per cent on building new schools, and one per cent on developing education. We need 250,000 classes annually but what is being built are only 15,000 which is insufficient and being eroded by the countrys overpopulation, Hegazi said, referring to a population growing by 800,000 people a year. Hegazi noted that the number of international schools in Egypt which are owned by foreigners or in which foreigners have a share is around 260 out of 56,569 public, language (private) and experimental schools. Most of these schools adopt the foreign curricula along with the Egyptian system. Education expert Kamal Moghith believes the decision to allow unlimited foreign ownership is not being thought through carefully. This decree will destroy future generations, as schools will be owned by a company registered in Egypt but it could be other companies, funds, or individuals whose policies could be against ours, or they have a nationality which might be a threat to our national security, Moghith said. Moghith told Al-Ahram Weekly that the ministry should protect the minds of the future generation against the foreign invasion which controls them. The minister must not allow foreigners to own Egyptian schools because they will set up a previously prepared curricula to form the coming generation in a way that serves their needs, not ours, he argued. The ministerial decree has however stipulated that the concerned authorities would have the right to refuse granting a licence to any educational entity if the ministry sees that it does not add any value to the educational process, or represents a threat to the countrys national security. Meanwhile, education investors are satisfied with the new ministerial decree as they believe it is a step towards re-attracting serious investors to the education industry. Ahmed Wahbi, CEO of GEMS Education Egypt, a private sector education provider, said the new ministerial decree will boost investment in the education sector and help current operators improve their services and meet the demand for education services. The company, which is a joint venture with investment bank EFG Hermes, intends during the next two years to invest $300 million in building 30 private schools, with a capacity of 25,000-30,000 students, Wahbi said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Rabat, Jan 28 : Morocco received on Wednesday its first shipment of Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines, the ministry of health said. The first batch of vaccines developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd (Sinopharm) arrived at Casablanca airport and will be dispatched to the vaccination locations throughout the country, the ministry said in a statement. The North African country will launch in the coming days a mass vaccination campaign, as it has secured acquisition of 66 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China's Sinopharm and Britain's Oxford University/AstraZeneca, health officials said. A total of 3,000 locations around the country are prepared to host this campaign, the Xinhua news agency reported. Morocco on Friday approved the emergency use of Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. "The vaccine meets all the conditions of quality, efficacy and safety, and does not present any potential side effects," the health ministry said. VERONA, Miss. (WTVA) - Police identified the suspect accused of assaulting an officer at a store in Verona. According to Verona Police Chief Marsenio Nunn, a police officer responded the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 23 to a report of someone lying in the roadway near the Papa Vs store. The officer found no one outside the store and went inside. There the officer confronted a man whom the stores manager had previously filed complaints about, Nunn said. Nunn identified the man as Percy Banger, 22, of Greenwood. The police chief said the officer asked Banger to leave, but the 22-year-old began assaulting the officer. Nunn said Banger reached for the officers gun. The officer's gun fired during the struggle; however, no one was shot. Previous Article - Officer-involved shooting at Verona convenience store Nunn said the officer did suffer facial injuries. Investigators later charged Banger with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Nunn said the police officer remains off the job until the investigation is complete and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the district attorneys office clear the officer to return to work. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Moscow (Russia) Jan 28, 2021 (SPS) - The resumption of war between Morocco and the Sahrawi Republic is not a "surprise" considering the failure of the influent international parties to deal with Western Sahara issue and the procrastination of the international community in getting Morocco to come back to the negotiation table, political analyst Sidi Mohamed Benjaafar said. In an interview with Russian radio Sputnik on Monday, Benjaafar said "the prevailing tension is not a surprise as the Frente POLISARIO had warned, two years ago, that if Morocco did not return to the negotiation table, all relevant UN agreements would fall apart." The specter of war was threatening for several months, he said, adding that "Western Sahara people have understood that Morocco does not want to negotiate," hence the escalation. According to him, "if the situation becomes worse, the international community will certainly take action for a ceasefire and a settlement, but Morocco is betting on the time factor." In addition, the Sahrawi political analyst said, Morocco's position over Western Sahara "is inconsistent with the international resolutions calling for a referendum on self-determination, as Morocco has submitted its own autonomy plan that is rejected by the Sahrawi people." Western Sahara people are betting on international and African resolutions that stress the necessity of decolonization and the recognition of the borders inherited from the colonial era." SPS 125/090/TRA 7th Pay Commission: Why the TA for CG employees will not increase despite rise in DA 7th Pay Commission: Expect good news on DA, DR, TA soon India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: The government is likely to take a decision soon with regard to the 7th Pay Commission and is likely to hike the DA and DR soon. The first would be a 4 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA), expected this month itself and the second would be the Dearness Relief (DR), which was approved by the Union Cabinet with effect from January 1 2020. The government is working on the same and is expected to make an announcement soon. The increase of the DA by 4 per cent would mean Central Government employees will get more salary. 7th Pay Commission latest news: Big relief on LTC announced for CG employees This would mean that the DA would be hiked from 17 to 21 per cent. While reports say that the hike in DA would come into effect this month, the government is yet to announce the date officially. The finance ministry had announced that there will be an increase of 4 per cent over the existing rate of 17 per cent of the Basic Pay/Pension to compensate the employees for the rise in price. This would cost the Centre's exchequer Rs 12,150 crore per year for the DA. In the case of the DR, the exchequer would be burdened by Rs 14,595 crore in FY 2020-21 for the period between January 2020 and February 2021. This would benefit around 48.34 lakh CG employees and 65.26 lakh pensioners. In another development relating to the 7th Pay Commission, the government decided to extend the Disability Compensation for all serving employees. This decision would go a long way and especially provide relief for those in the central armed police force (CAPF), personnel of the BSF, CISF, BSF etc. In another major relief to the Central Government employees, the Modi government has decided to give one time reimbursement under the 7th Pay Commission linked LTC allowance. This is to make for the heavy cancellation charges for air/train tickets meant for their Leave Travel Concession due to the COVID-19 lockdown. "During the months of March - May, 2020, a Nation-wide Lockdown was implemented across the country in view of the prevailing Covid-19 epidemic. During this period, all domestic flights within India were cancelled but certain airlines have charged the cancellation charges against the pre-booked air tickets. In such a situation, many Government employees who had booked LTC tickets in advance for that period are facing financial difficulties in view of the high cancellation amount charged by the airlines. In this regard, requests are being received in this Department for grant of one-time relaxation for reimbursement of the cancellation charges.," the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said an Office Memorandum. It has been observed that many airlines have not refunded the ticket amount for the air tickets booked in advance for the LTC journey scheduled during the lockdown period. This is causing hardship to the Government employees as the LTC advance along with the penal interest is required to be returned if the journey is not undertaken. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 16:25 [IST] The apps for Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple with the reflection of a binary code are displayed on a tablet screen in Paris on April 20, 2018. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images) Debate Heats Up Over How Countries Tax Big Tech Companies FRANKFURT, GermanyAn international debate over how countries tax big U.S. technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook is heating up, presenting a challenge for President Joe Bidens new administration. A mid-year deadline is on the horizon for talks about a global deal to defuse trade disputes with France and other countries that are imposing go-it-alone digital taxes that the United States views as discriminatory. France imposed a 3 percent tax on digital revenue for large tech companies, in effect singling out the U.S. tech giants. The French government has said it would withdraw the tax in favor of an international solution being negotiated under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based international organization of 37 advanced economies. Experts and officials say time is getting short. Manal Corwin, a tax principal at professional services firm KPMG and a former Treasury Department official in the Obama administration, said digital taxes multiplying outside the OECD process are threatening to trigger a trade war. U.S. trade officials have called unilateral digital taxes unfair and threatened trade retaliation against French goods, but have held off imposing sanctions. Finance officials from more than 130 countries convened online on Jan. 27 to resume negotiations over how best to make sure multinational companies dont avoid taxation by shifting their activities and profits among countries. One key question is how to appropriately tax companies such as tech firms that may have no on-the-ground presence in a country but nonetheless do substantial digital business there in the form of online advertising, the sale of user data, search engines, or social media platforms. The talks were about how to allocate part of a companys revenue to the country where its services are used so the government there can benefit from the taxes. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said in an opening speech that it was crucial to reach a deal by mid-2021. The importance of reaching an agreement is increasing by the day, Gurria said. Over 40 countries are considering or planning unilateral digital taxes, and if they impose them, there will be this retaliation, we will turn a tax tension into a trade tension, maybe into a trade war when we need the opposite, he said. The coronavirus pandemic has only put a sharper edge on the issue of digital taxation. The pandemic has accelerated digitalization through remote work and contactless activities, and in some cases led to strong profits for digital companies; meanwhile, government budgets are strained by added spending and less tax revenue. A lot of the countries have said, Were holding for the OECD to get to an agreement, but the combination of the politics on the ground of wanting to impose these taxes, as well as the fiscal demands of the financial fallout of the pandemic, is increasing the pressure for governments to act, KMPGs Corwin said. Most participants want an international agreement rather than runaway unilateral measures, she said, but the politics and the fiscal demands are creating an inability to wait much longer than June. There is no agreement in several key areas. One open question is whether technology companies should be singled out, since digital technologies are spreading throughout the economy? Under U.S. pressure, the talks expanded to potentially include other kinds of consumer-facing businesses that also reap profits across borders, such as luxury brands. Barbara Angus, global tax policy leader for professional services firm EY, said the question of exactly whom the new digital tax applies to was the single biggest political issue to be resolved in the talks. If you bring in other consumer-facing businesses, the U.S. as a big market would gain taxing revenue from some of those foreign consumer-facing businesses that serve the U.S. market while potentially losing some tax rights over U.S.-headquartered digital businesses, she said. Karan Bhatia, Googles vice president for government affairs and public policy, said in a blog post that the need to update the international tax system isnt limited to the technology sector. Almost all multinational companies use data, computers and internet connectivity to power their products and services. Bhatia said Google strongly supported the OECDs work and opposed discriminatory unilateral taxes. Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg has said the company wants the OECD process to succeed so that we have a stable and reliable system going forward. Amazon said in a statement that we continue to strongly and consistently support and contribute to the OECDs work and called for a broad international agreement that would limit distortive unilateral measures. Separately, the OECD talks also aim to establish that multinationals pay at least a minimum amount of tax. That part of the talks appears less controversial. The digital tax might turn over taxing rights on up to $100 billion on profit to market countries, leading to a modest increase in tax revenues, according to OECD estimates. Taken together, the digital tax and the global minimum tax could increase global tax revenues by $60 billion-$100 billion, or a 4 percent increase. Both are part of ongoing international efforts to reduce incentives for big companies to shift profits to low-tax countries. New U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, when asked about the talks during her Senate confirmation hearings, didnt stake out a detailed position on the key undecided issues. She said the Biden administration was committed to the multilateral effort through the OECD and to stop the race to the bottom on corporate taxation. By David McHugh Sabey Sasser Data centers, carrier hotels and server farms are a big business, one that's getting even larger due to the pandemic-driven surge in online commerce. Accordingly, Sabey Data Centers announced the recent promotion of its John Sasser to chief technology officer; he's been with the firm for 18 years, most recently as senior VP of operations. His new charge is data center operations, new data center delivery, sustainability and information security. That Sabey company is led by Robert Rockwood, who said in a statement, John's promotion to CTO recognizes his 18 years of exceptional service and limitless potential. John has distinguished himself as a creative thinker, a disciplined planner, and an inspiring leader. Sabey has data centers in Seattle, Quincy and Columbia (both near the Columbia River), Virginia, Manhattan and beyond. 2020 ended with a strong three months for Apple the company shipped the most iPhones ever in a single quarter, specifically 81.8 million units, according to data from Canalys. This pushed Apple to the top spot in terms of market share. Samsung failed to defend its position as shipments declined 12% year-on-year (YoY), down to 62 million units. But the Apple/Samsung fight wasnt the highlight of the quarter. Huawei fell out of the Top 5 smartphone makes for the first time in six years. Competitors from China were quick to gobble up its market share with Xiaomi growing an impressive 31%, up to 43.4 million units shipped. Huaweis numbers include Honor shipments, both of which suffered due to US sanctions. Honor was split off towards the end of 2020, so analysts will be keeping an eye on its performance now that it has regained access to components suppliers. This independence comes with hurdles, however. First, Honor needs to expand to fill the niches previously reserved for the parent company (Honor was more youth oriented, Huawei held the premium position). Second, it needs to sign its own deals with carriers and retailers. The pandemic caused a small 2% decline in total smartphone shipments for the final quarter of this year (359.6 million). However, makers had a game plan and beefed up online sales channels, so they fared better than they did at the start of the pandemic. Interestingly, analysts note that Apples decision to drop the charger from the retail package gave it an edge the smaller, lighter boxes are easier to ship, which is vital at a time when freight expenses are higher than normal. Looking at 2020 as a whole, Samsung was the biggest player with 20% market share, followed by Apple and Huawei (which had a lot of inertia early on). The outlook for 2021 is positive, especially now that vaccination efforts have started. As for Honor, analysts expect that it will be an uphill battle to reclaim lost market share. Vendor 2020 shipments (million) 2020 Market share 2019 shipments (million) 2019 Market share Annual growth Samsung 255.6 20.00% 298 22.00% -14.00% Apple 207.1 16.00% 198.1 14.00% 5.00% Huawei (incl. Honor) 188.5 15.00% 240.6 18.00% -22.00% Xiaomi 149.6 12.00% 125.5 9.00% 19.00% Oppo 115.1 9.00% 120.2 9.00% -4.00% Others 348.9 28.00% 384.3 28.00% -9.00% Total 1264.7 100.00% 1366.7 100.00% -7.00% Note: percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding Source: Canalys estimates (sell-in shipments), Smartphone Analysis, January 2021 Source The embattled Sarkin Fulani of Igangan, in Ibarapa Local Government of Oyo State, Salihu Abdulkadir, on Thursday resurfaced in Ilorin, Kwa... The embattled Sarkin Fulani of Igangan, in Ibarapa Local Government of Oyo State, Salihu Abdulkadir, on Thursday resurfaced in Ilorin, Kwara State. Addressing newsmen at a press conference, Abdulkadir said Given the conspiracy by the police with the natives of Igangan, I and my people will not feel comfortable returning to Igangan. We have learnt that the government had deployed over 200 Amotekun personnel to the forests in Oyo. Who will these Amotekun men meet in the forests other than the Fulani? he asked. Sarkin Abdulkadir denied conniving with kidnappers operating in the Igangan area as alleged by Mr Sunday Adeyemo, (aka) Sunday Igboho and knowledge of the killing of Dr Aborode. On the issue of the killing of one Dr Aborode, I dont know anything about it. Where Dr Aborode was killed is very far from my village, he declared. Abdulkadir, said, all the allegations against him were concocted by Sunday Igboho with the sole aim of getting the Fulani out of Igangan and other parts of Yoruba land. He asserted that I and my family have been living in Igangan for over 50 years without any challenges from the people or any other places. The sarkin Fulani appealed to emirs and other traditional rulers in the 19 Northern states to come to the rescue of the Fulani residents in the South West. He equally called on the Federal government to probe the burning of his house, vehicles and the killing of seven of his men in Igangan by alleged agents of Sunday Igboho. Recall that the Sarkin Fulani of Igangan was recently sent packing from Igangan by Sunday Igboho over the alleged kidnapping of some indigenes and other criminal acts levelled against him and his people. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday summoned India's acting Deputy High Commissioner over the alleged ceasefire violation by Indian troops in Kashmir which it claimed to have killed a civilian. Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said in a statement that Indian forces resorted to firing in Nikial Sector on Wednesday, resulting in the death of a 22-year-old civilian Abdul Wahab of Dothilla village. Four other civilians were injured. The Director General (SA & SAARC), Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Acting Indian Deputy High Commissioner, S Raghuram and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations", the FO said. Also Read | J&K: Pakistan violates another ceasefire in Poonch sector along Line of Control; 2 Army personnel sustained minor injuries It further said that "the deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws". The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC, according to the statement. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Supporting Canada's economic recovery by providing in-demand tech skills to Canadians VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's Digital Technology Supercluster ('Digital Supercluster') is proud to announce its largest investment to date in developing in-demand digital talent through its Capacity Building Program. The Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator project is a total investment of $8.7 million, with $7.3 million invested by industry and other partners and $1.4 million of co-investment by the Government of Canada's Innovation, Science and Industry through the Digital Supercluster. This project supports Canada's future by providing in-demand technology skills to young Canadians underrepresented in our economy, preparing them for the digital workforce and supporting Canada's economic recovery. NPower Canada is collaborating with Microsoft Canada and Blueprint to launch the Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator: a 15-week online skills training and job placement program that will equip 2,500 underrepresented youth (18 to 29 years old) for in-demand digital careers across Canada. This project also further supports the scaling of NPower Canada as a pan-Canadian workforce development initiative, expanding to British Columbia in mid-2021 while growing its impact in Calgary, Halifax and the Greater Toronto Area. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered Canada's economy and labour market. The increase in the need for digital skills has widened the 'digital divide' and skills gap, contributing to higher unemployment - especially for more vulnerable Canadians. In response, through this project, the Digital Supercluster is making a strategic investment in re-skilling Canada's workforce. "By partnering with industry players like Microsoft we better understand the challenges they face in identifying skilled talent as we continue to drive technology adoption across our economy. Through this project we continue to support scaling digital companies and saving and creating jobs for all Canadians" said Sue Paish, CEO of Canada's Digital Technology Supercluster. "The pandemic has accelerated the world's digital transformation creating an even greater need for people to learn new skills", said Microsoft President Brad Smith. "We are committed to providing tools and resources to ensure those currently in the workforce, jobseekers and future leaders have the opportunity to acquire in-demand digital skills. Our collaboration with the Digital Technology Supercluster and NPower Canada will help ensure Canadians, particularly those in underserved communities, have access to these opportunities." This project also follows the launch of the Government of Canada's 50-30 Challenge, focused on increasing representation and inclusion of diverse groups in the workplace, and a $1.5 billion investment in the Workforce Development Agreements that will help Canadians in underrepresented groups quickly access supports to re-enter the workforce. "Canada's Digital Technology Supercluster is taking action to foster a digital-savvy workforce through the Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator. This project is designed to deliver digital job training to underrepresented communities across Canada. This innovative approach will ensure that a wider range of Canadians have the necessary skills to match the demands of our growing digital economy," says the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. The project's curriculum will adapt to employer's skill requirements and once completed, students will earn industry certification and receive support to find a technology position. "This program aligns with the work being done under B.C.'s Economic Recovery Plan to ensure that British Columbians have every opportunity to get good jobs," said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, Government of British Columbia. "Connecting youth to programs that will prepare them for future work is vital. This training provides a platform for young people to gain the skills and confidence needed to participate in our digital economy." More information about the project can be found here. Information about the Capacity Building Program can be found here. About Digital Technology Supercluster: The Digital Technology Supercluster solves some of industry and society's biggest problems through Canadian-made technologies. We bring together private and public sector organizations of all sizes to address challenges facing Canada's economic sectors including healthcare, natural resources, manufacturing, and transportation. Through this 'collaborative innovation,' the Supercluster helps to drive solutions better than any single organization could on its own. The Digital Technology Supercluster is led by industry leaders such as D-Wave , LifeLabs , LlamaZOO , Lululemon , MDA , Microsoft , Mosaic Forest Management , Sanctuary AI , Teck Resources Limited , TELUS , Terramera , and 1Qbit . Together, we work to position Canada as a global hub for digital innovation. A full list of Members can be found here . About the Capacity Building Program: The Capacity Building Program invests in innovative projects to help Canadian enterprises build job ready, world-class, digital talent and teams. By investing in rapid skilling systems, leadership development and the growth of regional talent pools, Canadians can secure well-paying digital jobs. This includes the creation of opportunities for Indigenous Peoples, women, and citizens in remote and rural communities to become part of the digital workforce. In addition to funding from the Government of Canada's Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry, the B.C. government is a key partner in the Capacity Building Program. SOURCE Digital Technology Supercluster For further information: Media Inquiries: For more information, please contact Elysa Darling at [email protected] or 587-890-9833. For media assets, click here. Interview opportunities with Sue Paish, CEO, Digital Technology Supercluster, are available upon request. Delhi government to launch new scheme to empower women in various parts of city Fuel price hike: Satyendar Jain says Delhi govt in favour of bringing petrol, diesel under GST If BJP makes drinking age 25 yrs in other states, we will make it 30 in Delhi: AAP Farm law protests: AAP to boycott President's address to joint sitting of parliament India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 28: A day before the start of the Budget Session of Parliament, sixteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, on Thursday said they have decided to boycott the president's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the farm laws. President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting on Friday. "The three farm laws are an assault on the rights of the states and violate the federal spirit of the Constitution," the statement said. "If not repealed, these laws will effectively dismantle the edifice of National Food Security that rests upon - MSP [minimum support price], government procurement and Public Distribution System." The AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Thursday said his party will boycott the president''s address to the joint sitting of both houses over the ongoing farmers protest. Singh said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demands complete roll back of three agri laws. He alleged the "anti-farmer" legislations were aimed at benefiting a few industrialists. "The Aam Aadmi Party is opposing these anti-farmer laws from the very first day and our protest will continue. This is why it has decided to boycott the President''s address tomorrow at Parliament. "AAP Lok Sabha MP Bhagwant Mann and all the three Rajya Sabha MPs will not attend the President''s address tomorrow," he said. While Bhagwant Mann is a member of the Lok Sabha, Sanjay Singh, N D Gupta and Sushil Gupta are the AAP''s Rajya Sabha MPs. Centre provoked farmers to discredit anti-farm law protest: Shiv Sena Apart from the AAP, 16 opposition parties have also decided to boycott President Ram Nath Kovind''s address on Friday in solidarity with the farmers protesting the new farm laws. The 16 parties are the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, National Conference, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Indian Union Muslim League, RSP, Peoples Democratic Party, MDMK, Kerala Congress (M) and the All India United Democratic Front. These opposition parties have demanded an independent probe into the Centre''s role in the violence that shook the national capital during the farmers'''' tractor parade on Republic Day. They also demanded the repeal of the three farm laws and criticised the central government for remaining unresponsive to the demands of lakhs of farmers protesting against the agri laws. A deal brokered between the Department of Energy and a Nevada senator to remove a cache of plutonium from the state still stands and will be pursued, President Joe Bidens pick for energy secretary confirmed Wednesday. The departments National Nuclear Security Administration plans to have a metric ton of plutonium currently kept at the Nevada National Security Site, near Las Vegas, relocated by the end of 2026, Jennifer Granholm indicated in comments to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The material, an ingredient for nuclear weapons, was clandestinely dispatched from the Savannah River Site years ago. The plan is to follow the agreement that you negotiated, Granholm, the energy secretary nominee, told Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-N.V., who initially asked questions about Yucca Mountain. The plutonium-removal agreement was publicly revealed in 2019 in the wake of Silver State furor and legal action by then-Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. In writing to Cortez Masto, Perry pledged relocation efforts would begin this year, 2021, and wrap by the end of 2026. At the time, Cortez Masto hailed the compact as a win: Nevadans didnt create this waste, and we shouldnt be on the hook for storing it in our state against our will. While I thank Secretary Perry for working with me on this issue, make no mistake that we will have additional fights ahead of us. On Wednesday, the senator said she appreciated Granholms remarks. If confirmed, Granholm would be the third energy secretary involved with repositioning the metric ton, officially described as not nuclear waste and vital for national security missions. Dan Brouillette, Perry's successor, publicly pledged at least twice to follow through. The plutonium in question was moved from the Savannah River Site to the Nevada National Security Site in 2018, part of a broader now complete campaign to satisfy a federal court order in South Carolina. The shipment was foreshadowed in a lengthy environmental review published by the National Nuclear Security Administration in July 2018. The same review said the plutonium would be staged outside South Carolina until it could be used in New Mexico for plutonium pit production, the crafting of nuclear weapon cores. We thought we were ready. We told ourselves we were. Then we told this lie to the world. We are open for business. We are COVID-free! Read more ST. LOUIS Aerial surveillance in Baltimore led to a small improvement in solving serious crimes during its six months of operation last year, researchers said Wednesday. But the preliminary report issued by the RAND Corp. said its too soon to draw conclusions about the overall effectiveness of the pilot program, which is similar to one under consideration by St. Louis aldermen. A final report wont be issued until April 2022. Our report outlines a few preliminary findings based on case outcomes to date, but some of these outcomes may change as the Baltimore police continue to investigate crimes that occurred during the pilot period, said Andrew Morral, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND. Our evaluation of how crime and police investigations changed in Baltimore from before to during and then after the pilot (program) will require another year to complete. The preliminary report says the research conducted so far suggests that the aircraft cameras may have helped police solve an additional 11 serious crimes during the program, which ran from May through October. That was a rate 7 percentage points higher than similar cases with no overhead evidence, the report said. RAND was paid to do its study by Arnold Ventures, a Texas-based philanthropy that also funded the Baltimore surveillance program. The Arnold organization announced Tuesday that it had decided not to pay for any future aerial surveillance efforts, including the one proposed for St. Louis. The Board of Aldermen last week gave first-round approval to a bill that would direct Mayor Lyda Krewson or her successor to contract with Ohio-based Persistent Surveillance Systems for an 18-month trial program. The bill, which requires the company to come up with private contributors to cover the estimated $5 million cost, could come up for passage as soon as Friday. The sponsor, Alderman Tom Oldenburg, said the preliminary RAND findings are encouraging. He also reiterated that such a program needs a longer test period such as the one proposed here. An opponent, Alderman Christine Ingrassia, said the small increased case clearance rate is not that impressive given the $3 million cost of the Baltimore program. The preliminary report said the Baltimore program provided evidence on just 10% of the crimes it was designed to help investigate, in part because the planes there operated only in daytime. The St. Louis proposal calls for day and night flights. ___ Mark Schlinkmann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote this story. (c)2021 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Vietnam's Ministry of Health announced two local COVID-19 infections on Thursday morning, one of whom had had contact with a patient already testing positive in Japan after leaving the Southeast Asian country over a week ago. The two patients were the first domestic cases to be confirmed since December 2, according to the health ministrys data. They were registered in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh Provinces, both located in northern Vietnam. Patient 1,552 is a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Hai Duong. She had come into contact with a woman who left Vietnam for Japan on January 17. That woman tested positive in Japan on Tuesday for the new variant, 70 percent more transmissible, that has raged in the UK recently. Patient 1,552 was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday evening. She is being treated at the Dong Anh District branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. The other patient is a 31-year-old Vietnamese employee at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh. He had a fever, dry cough, and sore throat so he went to the hospital for a check-up. The man was tested for the novel coronavirus and the result returned positive at the Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control on Wednesday evening. He is isolated for treatment at the Dong Anh District branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the Vietnamese capital. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam demanded at a meeting on Wednesday night that aggressive contact tracing be conducted to contain the new infection chain within ten days. Vietnam has documented 1,553 coronavirus patients as of Thursday morning, with 1,430 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Volunteer fire departments increasingly are finding themselves on the growing list of pandemic-related casualties, but west-central Illinois departments are finding ways to survive, including strong community support and creative fundraisers. While Chapin Volunteer Fire Department postponed its spring pork chop fry in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it eventually borrowed an idea from others, hosting a drive-through pork chop fry in September, Chief Scott Pahlmann said. We were able to purchase two thermal-imaging cameras and two gas meters that detect four different gases using the funds raised, Pahlmann said. We were able to take care of what we needed as far as fuel for the trucks, replacing equipment. Thermal-imaging cameras cost around $500 each and the gas meters cost $800, he said, adding that the department wouldnt have been able to afford any of those things, if not for the pork chop fry. The department had another fundraiser in December, a drive-through Breakfast with Santa that served pancakes and sausage. A free-will donation was suggested. Were grateful for everyone that did come out, Pahlmann said. Without their support we wouldnt be where were at now. It was quite humbling to see the cars and number of people that came to both fundraisers. Pahlmann said they plan to do the same two fundraisers later this year and hope to buy at least two more thermal-imaging cameras. Franklin Volunteer Fire department has had similar fundraising problems since the pandemic began. The department usually has a silent auction during the communitys Fourth of July celebration that brings in around $2,400, said Amy Moeller, a lieutenant with the department. A November chili supper typically raises $500 or $600. Along with buying necessary tools and equipment for the department, money raised is funneled back into the community, whether to help a family get back on its feet after a house fire or to provide a small gift for school children during Octobers Fire Safety Week, she said. But while the traditional fundraisers were canceled, it didnt stop the community from rallying behind the fire department, Moeller said. The Green Wall Bar and Grill donated $1 for every drink sold to the department. We want to thank them so much for that, Moeller said. They came up with that on their own and did that the whole month of September. Country Financial also donated to the department through the companys Helping Heroes program. The money helped the department buy new gear, she said. Still, it hasnt been easy for the department. Its a struggle, Moeller said. Were just so lucky that we have a good community thats supporting us still or attempting to support us through this pandemic. While the department is optimistic that its fundraisers will be able to happen this year, worries remain, including whether small businesses that typically have donated items for the silent auction will be able to do so. It is hard and everyone is struggling right now, Moeller said. And even if the silent auction does happen, its not yet clear if it's feasible to plan on having it the Fourth of July. If this (pandemic) is still going on then were going to have to put our brains together and see if theres something else that maybe we can come up with, Moeller said. Five out of six fire departments in the United States are staffed by volunteer firefighters who protect nearly one-third of the population of the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Stripping Legislators of Power GOPs Internal Divisions Three important committees in the Georgia Senate redistricting, transportation and insurance and labor will have new chairs this year. Its not due to retirement, turnover or term limits. Instead, three chairs were ousted from their positions by GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as punishment for their efforts to overturn the presidential vote in the state.Members of this body aided and abetted the spread of information, said Democratic Sen. Jen Jordan . They gave oxygen to a lie.Recriminations about the presidential election and its aftermath are continuing in states across the country. As in Georgia, legislators who questioned the result or participated in stop the steal or storm the capitol rallies have been stripped of committee posts and face calls for their expulsion.On Wednesday, the federal Department of Homeland Security issued a warning about a growing risk of attacks by domestic violent extremists angered by President Biden's inauguration and perceived grievances fueled by false narratives.Legislators were already facing a tough year, between ongoing budget problems, the pandemic, redistricting and other issues. Their ability to do their jobs has been hampered by the coronavirus, which has forced many chambers to shut down or go virtual. Working conditions are not helped by concerns about safety with nearly every state capitol closed or under heavy guard during the presidential inauguration.Cooperation will be that much harder to come by, given the current level of acrimony. How do we find common ground when we have people who wont say the election was fair? asked Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz In Oregon, GOP state Rep. Mike Nearman has been stripped of his committee assignments as punishment for his actions on Dec. 21, when he allowed armed demonstrators into the Capitol who then clashed with police. Oregons Capitol has been closed to the public due to COVID-19.A variety of progressive groups have called for Nearmans expulsion, while Democratic Speaker Tina Kotek has said he should resign.Rep. Nearman put every person in the capitol in serious danger, Kotek said. The consequences could have been much worse had law enforcement not stepped in so quickly.On Monday, the Minnesota House passed a resolution condemning violence and expressing support for democracy and the 2020 presidential election result. It was not unanimous, with eight representatives voting in opposition. Several legislators had participated in a St. Paul rally on Jan. 6, protesting the presidential result.The violence we witnessed in Washington, D.C., has no place in our nation, nor does the rhetoric that encouraged it, incited it, and celebrated it including at an event at our state capitol, said Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman. The Republican members who attended this event must renounce the violent rhetoric used at the rally they attended and renounce the seditious rhetoric and insurrection that occurred in Washington, D.C.Some legislators who have questioned the results of the presidential vote are unrepentant, despite numerous court decisions and assurances from federal, state and local officials that the election was not marred by voter fraud.I think its completely ridiculous, Virginia GOP state Sen. Amanda Chase told WRIC, referring to a resolution to censure her for participating in a Jan. 6 rally and accusing her of instigating insurrection. I think its political because Im running for governor.Democrats have indeed highlighted infractions. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has launched a website called RepublicanInsurrectionists.com . Meet the 508 and counting Republican state legislators who aided and abetted a movement to overthrow our democracy and hand Donald Trump another four years in the White House, the site states.Republicans have objected to the heated language directed their way. Some have said that while they denounce political violence, they support the right to protest and note that constituents continue to question the presidential outcome, despite the lack of evidence of fraud. (A Monmouth poll released Monday found that 72 percent of Republicans believe Bidens win was due to voter fraud.) Many also point out that racial justice protests also on occasion led to violence over the past year.We call on (Minnesota Democratic Party chair) @kenmartin73 to apologize for this quote: You're either on the side of Nazis, white supremacists & far-right groups, or you're on the side of democracy, liberty, freedom and our Constitution, tweeted Minnesota GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan . Language like this does nothing but create division and flame tensions.Democratic lawmakers insist they must question whether some of their colleagues hold the same views about basic questions of democracy and public safety.The fact of the matter is a president that your caucus fully supported asked for a rebellion against the United States, Walz, the Minnesota governor, said during an online panel with top legislative leaders. But wed rather do both sides-ism.In some cases, the legislators being punished were already on the outs with leadership. Burt Jones, one of the Georgia senators stripped of a chairmanship, had challenged Butch Miller for the post of Senate president pro tem last year. Another, Brandon Beach, backed Jones bid.Chase, the Virginia senator, quit the Senate Republican Caucus back in 2019, in the wake of a leadership election. No Republican objected when she was stripped this month of her last committee assignment. She was censured by the Virginia Senate on Wednesday, by a 24-9 vote.Chase confronted a Virginia capitol police officer in 2019 and spoke at Trumps rally near the White House on Jan. 6. Chase had her Facebook account suspended after she praised the rioters as patriots. She had earlier called for Trump to declare martial law.On Jan. 5, three Virginia GOP delegates wrote to Vice President Mike Pence, calling on him to nullify the states electoral vote. They have been stripped of their committee assignments. One of them, state Rep. David LaRock , told thehe is considering legal action.If I had been taken off the committee and given no reason, that would be within her power, LaRock said, referring to Democratic Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn. Being removed from a committee as retaliation for exercising my freedom of expression is an abuse of power.The attempted coup has exposed deep divisions within the Republican Party.Last Saturday, the Arizona Republican Party approved a resolution condemning Gov. Doug Ducey, former Sen. Jeff Flake and Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Sen. John McCain, for critiquing Trump or, in Duceys case, not blocking certification of the states vote for Biden.That same day, the Oregon Republican Party passed a resolution condemning the 10 GOP members of Congress who voted for impeachment, while claiming that the Jan. 6 attack on Congress was a false flag perpetrated by leftists attempting to make Trump and his supporters look bad.Republicans who voted for impeachment, such as Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Fred Upton of Michigan, have been formally condemned by their state or local parties. An effort to condemn Sen. Mitch McConnell, who said Trump provoked the Capitol Hill mob, was blocked by his allies in the Kentucky Republican Party.A number of major corporations have announced theyll withhold political donations from politicians who objected to certifying the presidential election result or otherwise backed the false claims that the election was stolen.In Texas, a coalition of progressive groups have called for lawmakers who voted against certifying the election to resign, along with state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who spoke at the Jan. 6 rally and filed a lawsuit seeking to dismiss the presidential vote in four states. (His suit was immediately dismissed by the Supreme Court.)This is about the foundation of our democracy, Candice Matthews of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats told the. If we sanction these traitors to go back to work and normalize this behavior, we will never get past what happened on January 6.Some Republicans who have been accused of undermining democracy have sought to portray themselves as martyrs.My press release was issued to address the leftist lying attack that claimed they had a picture of me at the U.S. Capitol, Pennsylvania GOP state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe complained on Facebook. Listen up patriots, this is not the time for unity with those who want to destroy America.Anyone who thought that the threat posed by the attack on Congress might help cool partisan tempers has been quickly disabused. Back to school is usually a time of excitement, a flurry of bag packing and uniform ironing, and maybe some sadness that the holidays are over. For our family, living in Liverpool in western Sydney one of Sydneys hottest suburbs its also a time of worry about the dangerous impacts of extreme heat on my childrens health. My 11-year-old daughter Caitlin will be starting secondary school on the same block as Sydneys hottest school, Liverpools All Saints Catholic College primary school campus. Anneliese Alexander and daughter Caitlin. Caitlins campus thankfully has some tree cover and is built in shade, but 40 degree days are nevertheless becoming more frequent in Liverpool. This is what climate change looks like, and kids in urban areas such as ours and regional towns are paying the price. Prolonged exposure to heat has obvious dangers for children. Extreme heat also leaves them agitated and unable to focus. Joe Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20 as our nations 46th president. But the insurrection at the Capitol aimed at derailing this process made clear that our new chief executives first order of business will be overcoming a historic divide. President Biden must breach seemingly intractable differences over values, priorities and even facts themselves if he is to tackle the countrys growing crises of inequity, poverty, the economy and a raging pandemic. Fortunately, there is an issue around which he can rally almost all Americans: The well-being of our nations 74 million children. Our childrens welfare has the power to unite voters across political and demographic divides. A pre-election survey by Lake Research Partners found 81% of voters regardless of political affiliation said federal policy and budgets should be set according to a best interest of the child standard. A similarly overwhelming majority in the nationwide survey of 2,400 registered voters said all children should have health insurance . American voters also strongly support establishing a child poverty reduction target and improving and expanding the child tax credit, a measure President Biden has endorsed. By announcing from the Inaugural podium that he will prioritize and invest in Americas children, President Biden will not only breach our differences, he will also deliver economic benefits to the country now and in the future. As a nation, we have continuously underinvested in children. In fiscal year 2020, the share of the federal budget devoted to children was just 7.48% the lowest level since First Focus on Children began this analysis 15 years ago. Yet study after study confirms that investing in children through early childhood education, health care and other mechanisms often pays for itself, or even delivers a profit. In a 2020 study on policy changes, Harvard economists calculated that on average, each $1 of initial expenditure on children repaid $1.78 to the government by raising future wages and reducing future need for government assistance. By committing just one additional percentage point of federal spending to children in his first budget, President Biden would restore the U.S. investment in children to its pre-2016 levels and catalyze an upward trajectory. This one percent for kids would also offer the president an opportunity to act on his oft-repeated phrase: Dont tell me what you value show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value. The country could also cut $1 trillion a year in costs by reducing child poverty. The nonpartisan National Academy of Sciences provided a roadmap for halving child poverty within a decade in its 2019 landmark study, but so far lawmakers have failed to act. President Biden must leverage the newly Democratic Congress to pass the Child Poverty Reduction Act and harness the growing bipartisan support for measures that combat child poverty. We will need a White House Office on Children and Youth and an independent Childrens Commissioner to examine policy choices, and improve coordination and efficiency across the hundreds of programs, agencies and departments that touch childrens lives. A White House Office on Children and Youth was endorsed by my organization and more than 350 others and an independent Childrens Commissioner has yielded economic and competitive success in dozens of our peer nations, including Australia and the United Kingdom. Canadian lawmakers also recently introduced legislation to establish a childrens commissioner. Investing in our kids is a win for all Americans, one that will unite our countrys warring factions, and offer economic, political and social benefits to the United States, both now and in the future. Bruce Lesley is president of First Focus on Children, a bipartisan nonprofit working to make children a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. LONDON (Reuters) - The number of COVID-19 infections in England is starting to fall, possibly reflecting the impact of a new lockdown, but cases are not coming down quickly enough and prevalence remains very high, a large study showed on Thursday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday indicated that the COVID-19 lockdown in England would last until at least March 8, dashing any lingering hopes that schools would be able to fully reopen in February. The Imperial College London study found that the numbers infected with coronavirus are at their highest since the study began last May. The authors of the study, which is known as REACT-1, said they had found that any effect of the English lockdown, introduced on Jan. 5, had been slow in lowering prevalence of infections, with the impact uneven across regions. "It seems to be coming down in the last few days so we are heartened by that," Professor Paul Elliott, director of the programme at Imperial, told reporters, after interim results published last week found no evidence of decline in the first days of lockdown. "But ... we really need to get prevalence down more quickly, because the pressure on the NHS (National Health Service) is very extreme right now." For the study for the period of between Jan. 6 and 22, national prevalence was 1.57%, or 157 per 10,000 people infected, with prevalence highest in London at 2.83%. But by the end of the period, London and other areas of the South were showing declines in prevalence, whereas there was clear evidence of a growth in cases in the East Midlands. The pattern in other regions was that prevalence was flat. Health Minister Matt Hancock said the findings were "a stark reminder of the need to remain vigilant". The United Kingdom as a whole has recorded 101,887 deaths from COVID-19 - the world's fifth-highest official toll. (Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Giles Elgood) 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. A former Scranton group home worker who made a developmentally disabled woman eat food off the floor while she and another employee filmed it will serve out her sentence at home. Lisa Ann Wall, 42, who was originally sentenced to eight to 23 months in the Lackawanna County Prison, will spend 12 months on house arrest under the new sentence handed down by county Judge Michael J. Barrasse. Wall and another woman, Eileen Dougherty, 40, were arrested by city police last January after they were accused of humiliating a 62-year-old woman at the Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania group home where they worked as direct support professionals. According to police, the workers forced the resident to eat chicken they tossed onto the floor of the bathroom and into a bush outside while capturing the incidents on video. After pleading guilty to engaging in a course of conduct or acts that serve no legitimate purpose and communicating lewd, lascivious, threatening or obscene language, the women were sentenced in November to identical eight- to 23-month jail terms, followed by eight years plus one month of probation. Both defendants asked the court to reconsider their sentences. Barrasse initially resentenced Wall to house arrest last week but brought her back for another hearing Wednesday to clarify that the probationary part of her sentence remains intact. Lisa is doing very well on house arrest, her attorney, Shane Scanlon, told the judge. We thank you for the opportunity. Barrasse granted Dougherty home detention after a hearing last month. The COVID-19 death toll in Uttar Pradesh rose to 8,642 on Thursday with six more fatalities, while 251 new cases pushed the infection tally to 5,99,624, an official here said. "The state recorded 251 fresh cases in the past 24 hours while 380 patients were discharged in this period. There are 6,230 active cases while the total number of those discharged stands at 5,84,752," Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters. With six more fatalities, the death toll in the state has increased to 8,642 and the total number of cases stands at 5,99,624. Prasad said of the total active cases, 1,722 are in home isolation, 534 are in private hospitals and the rest are undergoing treatment in government facilities. So far, over 2.75 crore samples have been tested in the state, with more than 1.12 lakh tests conducted on Wednesday, he said. Elaborating about the COVID-19 vaccination undertaken in the state, Prasad said 1,12,264 people have been given the vaccine on Thursday across the state till 3 pm. "No serious issue has been reported from anywhere in the state so far and the vaccination drive is going on smoothly," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two locally-infected cases of COVID-19 were confirmed late January 27 in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, and the Health Ministry has immediately taken drastic actions to quickly stop the spread of the virus. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chairs the urgent meeting. (Photo: VNA) Two locally-infected cases of COVID-19 were confirmed late January 27 in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, and the Health Ministry has immediately taken drastic actions to quickly stop the spread of the virus. After being informed by Japan about a Vietnamese woman from Hai Duong province testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon entering Osaka, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long on January 27 sent a working team to the northern province to assist the local authorities in deploying epidemiological investigations and urgent epidemic controlling measures. Late January 27, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control Vu Duc Dam convened an urgent meeting with health authorities. Following the meeting, Deputy Health Minister Do Xuan Tuyen went to Hai Duong to directly instruct epidemic control work. The health ministry will send testing experts of several central hospitals to Hai Duong to help with testing work on January 28 morning. (Photo: VNA) After the two community cases were confirmed, Deputy PM Dam and Health Minister Long held an online meeting with the Health Ministrys working team and local epidemic control authorities of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh to get updates on the progress of the situation. At the meeting, the Health Minister said the ministry will send testing experts of several central hospitals to Hai Duong to help with testing work on January 28 morning. Deputy PM Dam requested that Hai Duong must focus all resources on epidemic control, so as to isolate any outbreaks within 10 days. He noted that extra caution must be taken to ensure safety for frontline forces as the Japanese side said the infected case in Osaka involved the new variant of the virus. Deputy PM Dam requested at an online meeting that Hai Duong must focus all resources on epidemic control, so as to isolate any outbreaks within 10 days. (Photo: VNA) The newly confirmed case in Hai Duong, a female worker, is related to the woman patient found positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Osaka, Japan. The other is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city, northern Quang Ninh province, who is a staff member of Van Don airport. He displayed symptoms of fever, cough and sore-throat, and went to hospital for medical check-up himself. His test result turned out positive on January 27. Both are now under treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No. 2 in Hanois outskirts district of Dong Anh. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam increased to 1,553./. VNA A simple headstone at Ardmore Cemetery in Derry commemorates the dates five former residents of the Good Shepherds Laundry died. They, along with hundreds of others, worked in the local laundry without pay. Some women spent a lifetime in the institution, died and were buried from there in unmarked or communal' graves. This week these women and girls, along with thousands more, were described as the voiceless who will finally have their stories heard following the announcement of an independent investigation. The Good Shepherd St Marys Laundry and Refuge was situated off the Dungiven Road in the Waterside area of Derry. It was amongst eight Mother and Baby Homes, a number of former workhouses and four Magdalene Laundries researched by a team of academics from Queens University Belfast and Ulster University. Almost one thousand women and girls worked at the Derry laundry between 1922 and 1982. PORT CITY A local solicitor purchased the residence known as Bellevue with one of the sisters saying of their arrival that there were concerns about female sexuality in a port city that became temporary home to large numbers of military personnel during the First World War. This was said to be a cause for concern amongst the local Catholic hierarchy. A woman, who was identified as Sister 2, gave her testimony in the research report saying: If I remember rightly, 1919 we we were asked to go to Derry by the local bishop because of the war situation and all the Army that were there and all the poor girls from the Bogside you know. So that is why they were asked to provide protection for these women. The laundry was outfitted and the local Catholic community mobilised to help recoup funds. Fancy fairs were held, concerts and comic operas, coal was donated and affluent Catholics from both sides of the border made donations. In 1923, the Bishop of Derry, Charles McHugh, noted during Mass the significant expenses the Good Shepherd Sisters incurred in order to establish an industry for the employment of the inmates and to help in maintaining the institution. The Good Shepherd Convent built a reputation for hosting musical events with girls from the home performing. In 1975 Bishop Edward Daly preached at a mass, held in the Good Shepherd Convent, for the Catholic Nurses Guild. The report says: Taking up the theme of questionable medical ethics, the Bishop opined that Catholics needed to take a stance against abortion and sterilisation. FINANCES According to the report, financial records do not suggest that extensive profits were made from the laundries. However, one file does reveal that an extensive bank balance was amassed in the Derry convent by the early 1970s. During the Second World War, lucrative military contracts resulted in a major increase in profits. For example in 1942, it generated a total income of 11,437.8s.3d - the equivalent of about 450,000 today. In September 1942, between sixty and seventy St Marys home women and girls worked unpaid in the laundry. Money was also generated by other means, such as needlework and embroidery. In 1940, Derry City wore a new team shirt with a crest artistically done by the sisters of the Good Shepherd Convent. Following the development of the Welfare State, after 1948, regular payments were also received by St Marys Derry for girls placed in the institution by the state. Files dealing with the finances of the Good Shepherd convents were patchy, researchers say, but one that offers detail on the financial status of St Marys Derry for 1973 reveals it held bank reserves of 41,000 - around 320,000 in todays values. It indicates that over 1,000 was earned that year from interest on investments made by the Good Shepherd Sisters in Derry. The report states that it is not possible to assess whether this money was accumulated over several decades or whether there were particularly rewarding financial periods in which the Good Shepherd Sisters were in a position to build up the Orders cash reserves. Criticism of the practices at these laundries dated back to at least the 1890s on the grounds of exploitation and the institutionalisation of women and girls who were there for long periods. During the 1970s the women began to receive a modest amount of pocket money which they could spend on themselves. PHOTO: A boarded up building on the site of the former Good Shepherd Covent on Dungiven Road. REFERRALS Individuals were sent to St Marys by their families, others were referred by priests and religious institutions, moved from childrens homes, ordered there by the courts and it also housed those suffering domestic abuse. A number of teenage girls who were the victims of incest or sexual assault were also placed there. The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI), which was published in 2017, found that placing such victims there amounted to punishment. Reasons for referrals ranged from having learning difficulties and mental health problems, being socially inadequate, having alcohol problems and being unmarried mothers - but records didnt show what happened to their babies. New arrivals declined slowly in the 1950s and 1960s before dropping sharply in the 1970s. However, a number of girls and women deemed to be in a crisis situation arising from the Troubles were sent to St Marys Derry. In 1972, one person who gave an oral testimony known as A., aged 18 at the time, was brought to the Good Shepherd Convent by the police who had rescued her from being tarred and feathered. It is not clear why she was under threat of this communal rough justice. The following year a woman arrived at the convent accompanied by a Protestant clergyman. She had a Catholic boyfriend and the UDA had threatened her. In 1976, a 16-year-old known as C. was placed in St Marys Derry by her Parish Priest because an army officer had complained to her mother that she had been frequenting an army base. Other referrals arose from the breakdown in family relationships brought about by the Troubles. Over a quarter of the women and girls were from Derry City, thirty per cent were from the Republic of Ireland and the rest from other parts of NI. Seventy-one per cent of the women and girls who entered the institution were under 23 years of age. In addition, 77 girls aged between 10 and 14 were sent to St Marys Derry. The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) concluded that their accommodation in the St Marys home was inappropriate and that there were instances where they worked in the laundry. The HIAI report concluded that this should not have been permitted by the Good Shepherd Sisters and considered it to amount to systematic abuse. TREATMENT The women and girls had a regimented culture and a long monotonous work regime. This was particularly true for the period before the mid-1960s when few of the longer-standing Sisters had social work qualifications. In evidence to the HIAI the Good Shepherd Sisters explained how their policy was to offer mentorship and support for girls and women in the St Marys homes. But, researchers say, this task must have been undermined by the policy of re-naming new arrivals, imposing silence at meal times and punishing infringements of their rules in a cruel and demeaning fashion as judged by the HIAI. Sisters dropped the practice of giving class names to new arrivals in 1970. There were also increased educational opportunities at that time but their lives were still regulated and restricted. Newcomers to the Derry laundry feared theyd spend a lifetime in the institution like some of the elderly residents around them and were given limited explanations about their personal histories. Sisters who worked there and priests familiar with the home maintain that the women lived mainly happy lives. Most testimonies differ from that perspective. Women gave accounts of being slapped, hit on the knuckles and locked in a dark room, being made to scrub floors or eat meals standing up and apologise on their knees for perceived wrongdoing. One woman had her hair cut off as punishment. Another woman referred to as ID - she attended two homes in the North - remembers being taken to hospital and given injections on a number of occasions. She doesnt know what they were for and cant remember giving consent. ID speculated that it was a procedure carried out on young unmarried women who had two children or more. The research notes that a couple of testimonies share common perspectives with the Sisters. However, the HIAI highlighted systemic failures on the part of the Good Shepherd Sisters including forcing young girls to perform industrial work, punishing St Marys girls and women for misdemeanours and accepting children under school-leaving age into an institution that was not completely child-centred. In addition, it found that the state, namely the Ministry of Home Affairs/Department of Health and Social Services and the Social Work Advisory Group were also responsible for failing to carry out inspections of the Good Shepherd Homes, to take steps to ensure that school-age girls were not in Good Shepherd homes for long periods and to detect the absence of a system of monthly visits to the Good Shepherd homes. ARDMORE Over half of the women and girls departed in under a year but 108 women remained for over five years and a significant number of women remained for very long periods suggesting the institutionalisation of these individuals. Many of the 1,000 women and girls went back to their families, were sent out, left for other convents or orphanages, 80 of them were placed in hospitals - 19 of whom ended up in Gransha Hospital. Others left for work and some ran away. Ardmore Cemetery was the only site of burial for women who died while working at the Good Shepherd Laundry in Derry. A number of plots contain the remains of St Marys women buried in groups of four and five. A larger plot hosts headstones recording the names of 19 women who died between 1978 and 1999. On the smaller plots, it appears headstones were added in more recent years to mark deaths that took place in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. According to the research some St Marys womens burial sites are unknown at this time including that of a woman who died after an accident at the laundry in 1945. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 5:00 pm A set of three bills designed to keep essential functions of the state running during the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies passed unanimously on Jan. 22 in the first virtual roll call vote the House of Representatives held this legislative session. They were: HB 1056, which establishes that governing bodies may meet remotely in an emergency and requires the public access to these remote meetings, HB 1095, which exempts businesses from paying taxes on emergency assistance grants from the state or federal government and HB 1007, which allows social workers to receive their training virtually. All three were brought forward with bipartisan support from their respective committees. HB 1056 requires the government to post agendas online prior to remote meetings and allow the public real time access as meetings take place. As of now, this is only able to happen because of a proclamation of the governor. We are now trying to move ahead so we do not have to continue to rely on proclamations, but to adopt these principles that the public's business should be conducted openly and in public and observable, said Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle. When necessary to be online, it will be conducted where everyone can observe it, which is vitally important. Certain agencies in small districts and towns are exempt for equity as the online capabilities may not be feasible. HB 1095, the tax exemption, was passed to assure concerned business owners they would not face additional taxes from receiving government aid. Lawmakers explained how small business owners from their districts were reaching out to them unsure of whether they could utilize the entirety of their grants or whether they needed to set aside a portion for eventual taxes. These are struggling families who are facing incredible challenges and by voting for this bipartisan effort, this does demonstrate and send a message to everybody across Washington, said Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick. We do care about you. The final bill passed of the meeting, HB 1007, removes limits on social workers to receive training virtually. Previously, online training for social workers was limited to no more than 60 hours. The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org. With the expansion of our Special Projects and self-perform teams, the new office space allows Swinerton to better serve our local market and continue to provide growth opportunities in a modern, creative environment that reflects our top talent and culture. Swinerton is pleased to announce the company has moved its Hawaii office a few blocks to 841 Bishop Street, Suite 500 located in the Davies Pacific Center in downtown Honolulu. This move enables Swinerton to deliver enhanced services to our clients and business partners, and provide best-in-class facilities for our employee-owners. Swinertons new Hawaii office provides the additional square footage, amenities, virtual and physical conferencing capabilities, and creative workspace to support this vision. Swinertons refreshed Hawaii identity comes at a time where adaptability is a necessity. With the expansion of our Special Projects and self-perform teams, the new office space allows Swinerton to better serve our local market and continue to provide growth opportunities in a modern, creative environment that reflects our top talent and culture, said Vice President, Division Manager Aaron Yamasaki. Much like the clients we serve, we wanted our new office to reflect Swinertons unique company culture. To meet our vision, Swinertons Special Projects teamwhich focuses on small to midsize projects, interior renovations, tenant improvements, and a multitude of other unique and specialized project types in Hawaiiand in-house drywall group partnered with design firm RIM Architects to build-out the 10,000-square-foot space. Building out our own space showcases the combined strength and expertise of our Special Projects and self-perform drywall teams. Multiple times throughout this project, our drywall experts brought up opportunities for constructability improvements, improving the quality and decreasing the cost below initial projections. This mindset is a value add to our clients as well, demonstrating how Swinerton brings peace of mind on projects of all sizes and specialties, said Project Executive George Denise, who leads Swinerton Special Projects in Hawaii. About Swinerton Swinerton provides commercial construction and construction management services throughout the United States and is a 100% employee-owned company. Recognized nationally since 1888, Swinerton is the preferred builder and trusted partner in every market it servesproudly leading with integrity, passion, and excellence. For more information please visit: https://swinerton.com/ Posted Thursday, January 28, 2021 4:02 am - Washington State Journal A person who unlawfully summons the police on someone could face a civil action lawsuit under a proposed law that is gaining traction in the Legislature. Senate Bill 5135 would allow an individual to pursue civil action against a person who called the police without having evidence of a public safety risk. Senators voted along party lines with Democrats in favor in a 5-4 decision Jan. 21 to give SB 5135 a do-pass recommendation, and it was sent to the House Rules Committee. Democratic Sen. Mona Das, one of the bills sponsors, said in a Jan. 21 interview she pursued this bill after she noticed how often police are weaponized against people of color. Das said she saw many viral videos over the summer depict a common pattern: two people cross paths in a public place, some sort of verbal altercation starts and escalates, and the police are called to a scene that never posed a risk to public safety. Das said this happens more when the perceived threat of an individual is evaluated not through their actions, but racial bias. Racial equity and equality is no longer a fringe concept, Das said. This is the time to pass bills like this. Sakara Rammu, a member of the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance, told the Senate Law & Justice Committee on Jan. 19 she supported the bill because it offers options for people to protect themselves after being unfairly targeted. We need to be empowered to seek our own remedies of accountability from the individuals who harm us, Rammu said. Republican Sen. Mike Padden said he wanted to clarify the language of the bill, saying people may avoid calling police even in an appropriate situation because they think they will face a lawsuit for it. We dont want to make the situation worse, Padden said. One of the things law enforcement says helps them solve crimes is citizens making reports. Das said she wanted to pursue this bill in part because of Christian Cooper, a Harvard University graduate who had New York police officers called on him by Amy Cooper when he asked her to leash her dog at Central Park in May 2020. Christian Cooper, a Black man, was accused by Amy Cooper, a white woman, of physically assaulting her. As he filmed from several feet away, she made the claim to police over the phone: There is an African American man. I am in Central Park. He is recording me and threatening myself and my dog. The threat was clear: because you are Black, the police will believe me, Rammu said. Its not just that law enforcement officers are likely to believe a Black person is breaking the law or is an imminent threat to the safety of others. Its that Amy knows that most, if not all, Black people are terrified of law enforcement in this day and age because they tend to respond with unnecessary, excessive or lethal force. The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org. A $5 million government unit set up to investigate halving the number of district health boards comes at the same time some boards are appointing younger people as observers to learn about DHB governance. The unit, with 25 staff, is a waste of money according to National deputy leader and health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti, who wants the government to ditch the health sector experiment and focus the funding toward COVID-19 vaccinations or vulnerable patients such as those with rare disorders. But Health Minister Andrew Little says money being spent on the transition unit will ensure all New Zealanders have good quality care. Reti says reducing the number of DHBs from 20 to between eight and 12 through amalgamation, as recommended in the Health and Disability System Review last year, will take away the voice of patients in small towns and regions. In his ministerial answers last month, Little confirmed the Health and Disability Transition Unit had been set up with an initial budget of $5m. The 25 staff were either seconded departmental employees, or specialist contractors. Last year's health system review recommended reducing the number of DHBs within five years, appointing rather than electing board members, and creating a new entity to focus on the operational and financial side of DHBs, along with a standalone Maori Health Authority. The two-year review cost taxpayers $7.8m. Shane Reti. Reti told Local Democracy Reporting another $5m in administration costs for the next phase, expected to take another two years, would not directly benefit patients. Rather than spending millions on the unnecessary amalgamation of DHBs, this money would be much better spent in areas that will actually help New Zealanders. He says $5m would cover the cost of vaccinating New Zealands 10,000 managed isolation and quarantine border workers, and is the same amount National had set aside each year for four years to fund Pharmac medicines for children and adults with rare disorders. At the end of the four years, the fund did not continue under the Labour government, he says. Rare Disorders New Zealand chief executive Lisa Foster says planning for the future is important and necessary. But when it comes to looking at what we could do with that money, obviously that would pay for life-changing medicine so that is a challenge. Reti predicts smaller DHBs such as those in Wairarapa, Tairawhiti and Northland will disappear in any mergers. We wont support a reduction of DHBs that removes the local voice and doesnt deliver a better model. But Little says all New Zealanders will benefit from the money being spent on the transition unit. "There is a clear case for change to improve access to health care for more New Zealanders. "There is always a cost to change and we have met that cost separately to the health system. "The real cost we face is the catch-up after nine years of serious under-funding by the previous National government. Reti's concerns came as the Auckland DHB yesterday agreed to appoint three observers to its board under a new DHB governance programme known as Seat at the Table. The scheme, funded by the Ministry of Health, is aimed at younger people with a particular focus on Maori and Pacific candidates and candidates with disabilities. It allows for two observers to be appointed to a DHB where they will have speaking rights but not voting rights. The observers will learn about health governance and be paid $250 per meeting, capped at 10 meetings per year. Each observer will have a mentor from within the board and the total cost allocated to each observer is $4000, including $500 each for travel, catering and diligent access. The ministry will fund two observers in each DHB and any extra would be funded by the DHB, with the programme already implemented at Waitemata and Counties Manukau DHBs. Other DHBs interested in the initiative are Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay. If each of the 20 DHBs appointed two observers the cost to taxpayers would be up to $160,000 per year. Little says the Seat at the Table health governance programme is a good idea. "We need to do everything we can to build skills in the health sector including in governance. "The most important thing is that we have health services that are responsive to community needs. "It is not necessarily true that this is achieved through DHBs." Auckland DHB deputy chairman Tama Davis says the board is delighted to endorse the programme. "The programme will grow our future leaders by providing opportunities for young people from some of our diverse communities to develop governance skills, while also benefiting the DHB with their own unique perspectives and experiences." Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: US President Joe Bidens inauguration as the 46th president of the United States was a spectacle that will not be forgotten by the 330 million Americans and the billions of others around the world who witnessed the presidential inauguration. The event was held amidst an unprecedented ramping up of thousands of US National Guard soldiers to protect it, as well as by the absence of former president Donald Trump, who had announced he would not be attending the inauguration. His vice-president, Mike Pence, did attend it. Trumps refusal to do so was the first instance of its kind for nearly 150 years. The US capital Washington was locked down on the day of the inauguration for fear of attacks by far-right militias that staunchly believe that the presidential elections in November 2020 were rigged in favour of Biden. There were also fears of attacks by Antifa groups made up of individuals who can best be described as rebels without a cause or hooligans and who do not really need an excuse in order to spread anarchy and mayhem on any given day. Close to 21,000 National Guard soldiers were deployed in Washington, with 15,000 of them around Capitol Hill where the presidential inauguration was to take place, after the FBI had issued warnings of possible attacks by far-right militias and others furious at the results of the elections. To put these numbers in perspective, they are nearly four times the number of US troops currently stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. The inauguration ceremony went smoothly despite the very limited public attendance due to the extreme conditions that the Covid-19 pandemic has imposed in the US. Only a select group of politicians and celebrities attended the ceremony, which seemed well-organised considering the circumstances. Most of the speeches stressed the importance of unity and harmony in a divided nation. The irony was that these speeches were delivered by the same politicians who had earlier planted the seeds of such divisions by stereotyping the supporters of former president Trump as fascists or racists out to destroy the fabric of the American nation. It was also ironic that the same TV networks, such as CNN and a large number of national TV news networks, that had never hesitated in sending out the message that the nation was doomed if it did not vote Trump out, were now the very same ones calling for unity, harmony and the need to look forward to the future. It was the same anchors, such as CNNs Jake Tapper, Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, along with talk-show hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden, who had projected doom and gloom in the years to come should Trump be allowed a second term in office. They literally dictated to the American public who they should vote for, tossing out all notions of media objectivity or impartiality in a manner unprecedented in the history of US presidential elections. Why is this history so important now, given that Biden won the elections and Trump lost them? The reason is simple: these propaganda machines have sowed extreme divisions that are now looking almost irreparable in the years ahead. Democratic Party politicians and the Democratic-dominated media in the US have also upped the ante for their candidate to produce a stellar performance while he is in office and show Americans as a whole that he has the magic solutions needed for the myriad crises that have overtaken the nation. The astronomical numbers of infections with Covid-19 in the US have reached 25.6 million, meaning that 7.6 per cent of the US population has been infected. Biden has said that there is nothing to be done to change the trajectory of the pandemic over the next few months and that the number of deaths may reach some 600,000 people. This will be the first brush with reality that the new president and his supporters will have to deal with. Similar to what has been happening in almost every country on the planet, the mutations that have been taking place in the virus will be unstoppable in a highly populated country such as the US. Biden has signed an executive order that stipulates the mandatory wearing of masks in US airports and on certain modes of transportation, including many trains, airplanes, maritime vessels and intercity buses. International travellers must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test prior to travelling to the US. This is one step among several others that may help to curb the number of infections in the US. However, given the current rate of infection, it will not be a magic solution. Among the 30 executive orders signed by Biden in his first 48 hours in office was one that may stir up a lot of controversy. This was the cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline that extends from Alberta in Canada into the US. On completion, the project is expected to tap nearly 168 billion barrels of oil and add over 800,000 barrels a day to US consumption. Bidens decision to cancel the project was based on studies saying that the pipeline is an environmental hazard because the crude oil it taps is from tar sand. However, as important as that consideration is, banking on only alternative energy at the moment to supply US energy needs may not be exactly prudent given the reality that oil is still the king of energy resources and the United States can never have too much of it based on its huge consumption rates. This is not counting the thousands of jobs that will be lost with the cancellation of the project. This was a decision that Biden took hastily, not factoring in all its benefits as it was a project that Trump was eager to complete. Reversing many of Trumps executive orders seems to be Bidens modus operandi and a way of saying that he is serious about making changes. However, this will not necessarily have successful results. One of Trumps executive orders, the ban on certain nationalities from entering the US, colloquially known as the Muslim ban, in fact included bans on obtaining visas for citizens of countries including North Korea. The next few steps that Biden will take in the Middle East, especially on the Iran nuclear deal, will be instrumental in securing the region and the security of the US itself. Welcoming the Iranian regime with open arms given its track record of supporting terrorism and violence in the region just to spite Trump would be a disaster in the making and would resemble former president Barack Obamas signing of the disastrous Iranian nuclear deal that enabled Iran to rapidly regain its economic balance and unleash its aggression across the Middle East. Bidens baptism by fire as the countrys new president may be costly to the United States and the Democratic Party media machine, which has showered the American public with promises that are likely to be beyond his means or capabilities as president. This is all the more the case as in its present situation the United States cannot afford to entertain political decisions that are based on showmanship and partisanship. The sooner that Biden grasps this, the better for everyone it will be. The task of uniting the United States will likely be more arduous for Biden than for any US president since Abraham Lincoln, given the damage that has been done by politics and the media in the country over the past few years. The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Established in 1976 with a distinct mandate to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people, the OPEC Fund's member countries are: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. While the organization works directly with partner countries, it also collaborates with other development finance institutions, regional development banks and the specialized agencies of the United Nations to maximize its development impact. The 45th anniversary coincides with a demonstration of steadfast support from the organization's member countries. The OPEC Fund's Governing Board recently endorsed a second tranche of US$400 million to be contributed by member countries over the next four years. The Ministerial Council approved a US$1 billion Fourth Replenishment of the OPEC Fund's resources in 2011, of which this second tranche is a part. The first tranche of US$600 million was contributed over the past eight years. Abdulwahab A Al-Bader, Chairman of the OPEC Fund's Governing Board, said: "The organization's development operations are self-sustaining, due to prudent management and a long history of positive operational income. This second tranche of contributions signifies member country determination to strengthen the OPEC Fund's ability to meet development challenges that have become even more urgent as a result of COVID-19." OPEC Fund Ministerial Council Member and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan outlined the unique role the organization plays in international development: "The OPEC Fund has been playing a distinguished role in promoting global development, and it is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries only. All developing countries, with the exception of its own members, are eligible for assistance." The OPEC Fund's Ministerial Council member and Indonesia's Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said: "A new strategy introduced in 2019 and backed by member countries means that the organization has become more agile and can respond without delay to the changing needs of partner countries. We can now move quickly and effectively to ensure finance reaches those who need it most, as low-income communities around the world attempt to recover from the pandemic." OPEC Fund Director-General Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "Thanks to the foresight and dedication of our member countries, the OPEC Fund continues to demonstrate solidarity and play its part in reducing global inequality. During the year ahead, we will focus on delivering in line with our clear and ambitious Strategic Framework to further expand our development impact and secure our future for many years to come." To date, the OPEC Fund's public sector operations have supported the development of 15 GW of electricity generation capacity; contributed to the construction and development of 11,360 km of roads and railways; and provided 11.5 million households with access to water and sanitation. Since launching in 1998 and 2006, the organization's private sector and trade finance operations have directly supported over 350,000 MSMEs; helped generate 15 million tonnes of annual handling capacity in ports; and contributed to the development of 750 MW of renewable capacity generation. For further information on the OPEC Fund's achievements since 1976, please see the special edition of the OPEC Fund Quarterly. About the OPEC Fund The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The organization was established by the member countries of OPEC in 1976 with a distinct mandate: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. The OPEC Fund's work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all. SOURCE OPEC Fund for International Development 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. HELSINKI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Optomed has established an international scientific advisory board. The board consists of globally recognized and scientifically merited medical doctors specializing in ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology, with advanced experience on artificial intelligence applied to detection of ophthalmic conditions. The scientific advisory board consists of the following members: Robert Chang, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University Medical Center, USA Nina Hautala, MD, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Oulu University Hospital, Finland Dan Milea, MD, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Head, Visual Neuroscience Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore Tunde Peto, MD, PhD, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Queen's University Belfast, UK Daniel Ting, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Head, AI and Digital Innovation, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore The main goal of the advisory board is to guide and assist Optomed with research on retinal imaging, focusing on the use of handheld fundus cameras and artificial intelligence in eye disease screening. Other goals of the advisory board cooperation include supporting Optomed's product development, education of company's stakeholders and raising awareness on handheld cameras and artificial intelligence solutions. This cooperation supports Optomed's strategy to take eye screenings to primary care, closer to the customer, to improve the access of care. Optomed Plc Additional information Petri Huhtinen, Clinical Director, petri.huhtinen@optomed.com, +358 40 526 5789 Optomed in Brief Optomed is a Finnish medical technology company and one of the leading providers of handheld fundus cameras. Optomed combines handheld screening devices fundus cameras with software and artificial intelligence with the aim to transform the diagnostic process of blinding eye-diseases such as rapidly increasing diabetic retinopathy. In its business Optomed focuses on eye-screening devices and software solutions related R&D in Finland and sales through different channels in over 60 countries. The company has an extensive portfolio of 56 international patents protecting the technology. In 2019, Optomed's revenue reached EUR 15 million and Optomed employed 108 professionals the end of 2019. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/optomed-oyj/r/optomed-has-established-a-scientific-advisory-board,c3275058 A Chinese restaurant in Perth has gone viral after bizarrely choosing to feature some of their negative reviews on their own flyers. Flyers for the Foo Hua Chinese Restaurant in Wanneroo, in the city's north, show a string of positive feedback about the venue's 'excellent' food and service, with many customers saying they wouldn't dine anywhere else. But not all the comments were as encouraging with some diners demanding a refund while others labelled the food as 'bland and tasteless'. A photo of the hilarious flyer was shared to Reddit on Wednesday and has already garnered more than 52,000 votes. Flyers for the Foo Hua Chinese Restaurant in Wanneroo, in Perth's north, have gone viral after featuring not only positive reviews but some very critical ones as well 'I ordered fried rice without prawns but I got a lot of prawns in my rice. I need a refund,' one review read. 'Food is bland and tasteless, will not order here again,' another said. 'Waited for over an hour, where is my food?' a third review said. Despite the unexpected criticism, the flyer was otherwise covered in positive comments from customers. In one bizarre review, one customer admitted the restaurant's food wasn't the only thing they enjoyed. 'Food arrived early. Very tasty and fresh. Thank you so much. And the delivery boy is cute too,' they wrote. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, 17-year-old Daniel Vojnovic who has been working at Foo Hua for close to two years, said the flyer had done wonders for the business. 'Staff have been told (the flyer) is a true reflection of our restaurant. We don't filter out any reviews,' he said. 'We aim for the flyer to only be positive at the end of the day.' The employee said he believed the store had seen an increase in business since the flyers went viral. 'It's turned out pretty well, I do believe it's worked in our favour,' he said. 'It's put us out in the public and people are interested to come and try our food.' Staff at the restaurant in Perth (pictured) said the flyers had actually worked in their favour and prompted many locals to try out their food Many Reddit users echoed Daniel's beliefs, admitting they would be keen to try out the restaurant. 'I can appreciate honesty and transparency. I'd at least give it a try to find out for myself,' one wrote. 'They aren't scared of their haters,' another said. 'Foo Hua does delicious food. It's my go to Chinese restaurant!' Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Recently, the Kansas City Star offered a shameless spate of navel-gazing coverage that earned widespread celebration among journalists and nobody else. An apology from the Star for a legacy of racism earned coverage across the globe and from nearly every major American media outlet. Never mind the reaction from the community was underwhelming and several African-American journalists and leaders simply rejected the overture outright. Tonight . . . THE KANSAS CITY STAR 'RACIAL RECKONING' CONVERSATION EARNED ONLY A HANDFUL OF WITNESSES!!!! Online stats can be rough and it's hard to predict what will resonate on Youtube. For instance and just for context regarding the global video sharing website, the iconic clip of a cat playing the keyboard has garnered 61 MILLION views and counting . . . And that cat has been dead for years. The only thing we know for sure is that the racial drama from Kansas City's so-called paper of record hosted fewer people than most bus stops on a cold January night. To be fair, they garnered a bigger crowd than the turn out to protest in support of Prez Trump at state capitols. A screenshot for evidence . . . Don't take TKC's word for it. Check out the conversation and notice there are actually more people participating in it from the staff than viewers. And none of this is to say that a winter's night online meetup isn't worthwhile . . . Then again, a common refrain from biz people often scolds co-workers: This could have been an e-mail. You decide . . . Credit: Wits University Wits geophysicists have invented cost-effective and environmentally friendly seismic technologies that will contribute to sustainable mining exploration. The innovation, a project led by the Wits Seismic Research Centre in the School of Geosciences, is a response to the Advanced Orebody Knowledge call titled "Developing technologies that will be used to obtain information ahead of the mine face such as Tunnel Seismic Prediction (TSP)." Led by Professor Musa Manzi, Director of the Wits Seismic Research Centre, this innovative active-passive seismic approach is envisaged to revive the seismic mining methods in the country and will contribute to sustainable mining activities. Manzi says that this innovation, born in November 2020, seeks to address challenges of sustainable exploration of mineral resources that are vital to the economy and technological advancement within the African continent and in the world. "For economic and environmental reasons, the use of traditional active seismic methods has been slowly abandoned in South Africa. Our innovative seismic approach is bringing some hopes to revive this activity and bring solutions to mining industry," says Manzi. The project aims to combine active and passive seismic methods, using a combination of innovative instruments, for exploration in noisy, near-mine environments at 300-3500 m depths. "Our project has access to underground gold and platinum mine sites in South Africa. The test sites were chosen based on existing data for validation purposes, but also for the prospects of new exploration targets." Last year, the team tested their seismic method at an underground platinum mine in Rustenburg to address the challenge of deep minerals explorations in South Africa. The experiment aimed to reduce drilling costs, lower exploration costs, maximize mine safety, increase the possibility of finding new prospects, and increase the life of mine. The equipment used in this innovation is flexible and versatile. The wireless recording systems are easy to operate because they require less field logistic than cabled systems. These systems are also autonomous and can be left on the ground or inside the mine tunnel to record for the time life of the battery, which can be around a month. Manzi adds that their innovation is also "easier to adapt to a small scale seismic survey inside the mine where space is limited and conditions are challenging." The land streamer saves time as it eliminates the need to plant traditional geophones on the ground, which can also be difficult to do in mine tunnels says Manzi. The team is collaborating with local and international researchers to improve the passive seismic imaging resolution of the innovation. This will boost the power of the resolution to ensure that the seismic innovation is sufficient for all mineral exploration projects. The limited research and innovative initiatives on mining explorations in the world have presented an opportunity for the team to develop and test seismic technologies using Deep South African mines, says Manzi. He adds that it has also contributed to seismic knowledge building and the development of human capacity in South Africa. "For example, the project involved more than 25 young professionals (honors, masters, Ph.D., early-career researchers and technology developers), who will help meet the urgent need for mineral exploration specialists in Africa. The data collected will continue to be used for research purposes at postgraduate level at Wits." Manzi believes this project has the potential to enrich exploration geophysics in Africa with a wide range of innovations, ranging from new instruments and survey design methodologies that allow us to acquire and process the data better. "The two key elements in our success are the strong collaboration between industry and the academy, and the multidisciplinary approach that integrated mineral exploration objectives with concerns for safety, the environment and society." Explore further Proposed seismic surveys in Arctic Refuge likely to cause lasting damage A group of international cyberpolice and judicial authorities have taken down Emotet, a malware dubbed as the 'most dangerous' menace on the internet. Police from Netherland, Germany, Lithuania, France, Canada, the USA, UK, and Ukraine are among participating law enforcement authorities. In a press release, Europol calls the operation one of the essential botnets of the past decade. Known as 'Operation Laybird,' security researchers managed to disrupt Emotet's command-and-control infrastructure. "Once this unauthorised access was established, these were sold to other top-level criminal groups to deploy further illicit activities such data theft and extortion through ransomware," the PR says. As noted from Wired, the Ukrainian law agency released a video of a raid where computers, cash, and rows of gold bars were seized from alleged Emotet operators. The authorities are now yet to identify the hackers. Read also: WhatsApp Lost Millions of Users, Company to Change Privacy Terms. What Is Emotet Botnet? A working Emotet is a heavily perplexing system. Believed to originate in Russia, the malware strain was first detected in 2014 before gaining popularity in 2018 through 2019. One of the most notable attacks is when the malware held a mysterious campaign to mass-harvest millions of user emails in 2018. As ZDNet reported, despite seeming harmless, such sensitive emails could open the gate of cyber heists or ransomware deployment at some large corporations. Emotet operates as a banking trojan in a very gentle system to steal its victims' login credentials and spy on their desktops. Basically, the strains lure its victims by sending what seems like an important document in Word, but a button to 'Enable Macros' would appear when opened. Although it may look like an innocent built-in feature, it actually opens up their computers to criminals. What makes Emotet resilient against any takedown attempts is its vital infrastructure, which built-in "several hundreds of servers located around the world." How to Protect Against Emotet Botnet? Since Emotet lures its victims by sending a link or a program via email and marking them as "important," always make sure to double-check everything before clicking on a link or downloading an attachment. If it's a link, you will see a part of its URL address on your screen's left button if you aim your pointer towards it. That way, it helps you ensure that the link you're about to access is safe. Whether it's social media or bank login, it's also essential for you to use stronger passwords. To check if your email has been used to deliver malicious programs, click on this Dutch National Police portal. The government provides a weekly-updated database of email addresses and usernames stolen by Emotet. In another related news, the Ukrainian Cyberpolice Department arrested two suspects involved in the infrastructure maintenance. If found guilty, the two are to face 12 years in prison. Related post: What Is a Man-in-the-Middle Attack and How Can You Prevent Them?. Researchers in the United States have warned that recently emerged variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have become worryingly resistant to monoclonal antibody therapies, plasma from convalescent patients and sera from vaccinated individuals. The team says that both the B.1.1.7 variant that has emerged in the UK and the B.1.351 variant that has emerged in South Africa have become resistant to neutralization by many of the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target a surface protein on SARS-CoV-2 called the spike (or S) protein. This spike protein is the primary structure the virus uses to bind to and infect host cells. The study also found that compared with wildtype SARS-CoV-2, both variants were more than twice as resistant to neutralization by plasma from convalescent individuals. Furthermore, the variants were more resistant to neutralization by sera from vaccinated individuals, particularly the B.1.351 variant, which was up to 8.6 times more resistant than wildtype virus. B.1.351 and emergent variants with similar spike mutations present new challenges for mAb therapy and threaten the protective efficacy of current vaccines, says the team from Columbia University in New York and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. A pre-print version of the research paper is available on the bioRxiv server, while the article undergoes peer review. Bringing the pandemic to a halt relies on affective interventions Whether the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage the globe can be brought to a halt depends on the effective of interventions such as mAb therapies and vaccines that protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some single and combination mAb therapeutics have already received emergency use authorization, as have several vaccines, including two that have demonstrated a protective efficacy of around 95%. However, these interventions were designed to target the initial wildtype SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in 2019. The virus has mutated and evolved new strains since then, such as the D614G variant, which was dominant throughout much of 2020, although strains with this mutation alone do not appear to be antigenically distinct from the wildtype virus. SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 are raising concerns By contrast, the SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 are raising concerns, not only because of their increased transmissibility, but also because of their extensive mutations in spike that could lead to antigenic changes detrimental to mAb therapies and vaccine protection, explains David Ho and colleagues. In addition to the D614G mutation, variant B.1.1.7 contains 8 other spike mutations. These include two deletions (69-70del & 144del) in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike protein, one mutation (N501Y) in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), and one mutation (P681H) near the furin cleavage site. The B.1.351 variant contains 9 spike mutations in addition to D614G, including a cluster in the NTD, three mutations (K417N, E484K, & N501Y) in the RBD, and one mutation (A701V) near the furin cleavage site. What did the researchers do? The team created SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses that contained each of the individual spike mutations, as well as one containing all 8 mutations found in variant B.1.1.7 variant (UK8) and one containing all 9 mutations found in variant B.1.351 (SA9). A total of 18 mutant pseudoviruses and a wildtype (WT) pseudovirus (D614G mutation) were then tested for susceptibility to neutralization by 30 mAbs, plasma from 20 convalescent individuals, and sera from 22 vaccinees. The vaccinated individuals included 12 phase 1 trial participants who had received two doses of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine and 10 healthcare workers who had received two doses of the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine. What did the study find? Compared with WT, both UK8 and SA9 were more resistant to neutralization by many mAbs designed to target the spike NTD. Pseudovirus UK8 was also modestly resistant to a number of mAbs targeting the RBD and was around three times more resistant to convalescent plasma. It was also around two times more resistant to vaccinee sera. The team says the findings for SA9 were more worrisome. As well as being more resistant to neutralization by most mAbs against the NTD, SA9 was also resistant to a major group of potent individual mAbs that target the receptor-binding motif on the RBD, including two mAbs that have been authorized for emergency use. Moreover, SA9 was a remarkable 11 to 33 times more resistant to neutralization by convalescent plasma and 6.5 to 8.6 times more resistant to neutralization by vaccinee sera. Notably, the B.1.1.28 variant that has been spreading in Brazil contains three mutations (K417T, E484K, and N501Y) at the same RBD residues as B.1.351, says Ho and colleagues. Much of our findings on SA9 would likely be similar for this emergent variant, they warn. What do the authors advise? The researchers say the recent emergence of variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.1.28 clearly demonstrates SARS-CoV-2 antigenic drift, since many of the spike mutations tested in this study conferred resistance to antibody neutralization. Mutationally, this virus is traveling in a direction that could ultimately lead to escape from our current therapeutic and prophylactic interventions directed to the viral spike, warns Ho and colleagues. If the rampant spread of the virus continues and more critical mutations accumulate, then we may be condemned to continually chasing after the evolving SARS-CoV-2, as we have long done for the influenza virus, they add. Finally, such considerations require that we stop virus transmission as quickly as is feasible, by redoubling our mitigation measures and by expediting vaccine rollout, concludes the team. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Apple's worldwide sales has grown by 21 percent year-on-year (YoY), the iPhone 12 maker announced during its financial results for fiscal 2021 that ended on December 26,2020. The company generated over $111.4 billion in sales during the last quarter, 64 percent out of which came from international markets. The US tech giant had its best quarter yet in India, having shipped 1.5 million iPhones in the country for the quarter ended December 2020. It marked a 100 percent growth YoY, as per data from CyberMedia and Counterpoint. Our December quarter business performance was fuelled by double-digit growth in each product category, which drove all-time revenue records in each of our geographic segments and an all-time high for our installed base of active devices, Apple CFO Luca Maestri said. Apple CEO Tim Cook told Reuters that the company now has an active installed base of 1.65 billion devices, compared with 1.5 billion devices a year ago. A company spokesperson told The Verge that Apple counts a device as active if it has engaged with an Apple service within the past 90 days. Cook has also said Apple now has an installed base of more than one billion iPhones, an increase over the 900 million the company most recently disclosed in 2019. China proved a strong market for the Apple iPhone, with overall sales rising 57 percent to $21.31 billion. Apple also managed to double its India market share to 4 percent. This was due to improved sales of the Apple iPhone 12, older units such as iPhone 11, and the iPhone XR, and new models like the iPhone SE. "India is one of the markets where our share is quite low. It did improve from the year-ago quarter. Our business roughly doubled over that period of time. And so we feel very good about the trajectory. We are doing a number of things in the area," Cook said. He further said that the Apple Online Store in India launched in September 2020 was the first full quarter and has got a "great reaction", helping Apple achieve the results that it got to last quarter. "We're also going in there with retail stores in the future. And so we look for that to be another great initiative and we continue to develop the channel as well," Cook said. There have been talks of Apple opening its first retail store in Mumbai later this year. Apple is also manufacturing some of its iPhone models in India, including the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE. Mac sales hit expectations at $8.68 billion. Sales of iPads, services and wearable topped Wall Street targets. The iPad revenue was $8.44 billion and the services business, which includes its new Apple One bundle of television, music and cloud storage services, had $15.76 billion in revenue. Apples wearables and accessories segment, which includes the Apple Watch Series 6 Apple Watch SE , and AirPods product lines, hit $12.97 billion in revenue. Anti-China measures are being stoked up in the UK in response to the human and economic catastrophe caused by the global Covid-19 pandemicwhich has seen Britain record amongst the highest death ratesand the inauguration of US President Joe Biden. A sign of how advanced this is was indicated by the government only narrowly defeating an amendment last week that would have required it to reconsider a trade deal with any country deemed to be committing genocide. The amendment to the government's post-Brexit trade deal legislation originated in the House of Lords with cross-party support. Though not mentioned explicitly, it was devised to support measures against China over allegations that it is responsible for genocide against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. It would have enabled the British High Courtrather than any international bodyto determine if a country is guilty of genocide. Despite an 80-seat majority, the government only defeated the amendment by 319 to 308, after 34 Tory MPs voted with the opposition. The narrow result means it is expected that the Lords will return the amendment to the House. This is part of internationally co-ordinated moves. As the debate in parliament was underway, outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared, I have determined that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China], under the direction and control of the CCP [Chinese Communist party], has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uygur and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. His declarationpart of a US-led economic warfare and military build-up against China under the cynical pretext of human rights abuseshas the full support of the Biden administration. The Democrats are continuing the Trump administrations reckless provocations, with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group entering the South China Sea on Saturday. In addition to cross-party backing, the anti-China campaign in Britain has the support of the Conservative Muslim Forum, the International Bar Association, the Jewish Board of Deputies, and a host of think-tanks. These include the neo-con Henry Jackson Society, the newly created Conservative Human Rights Commission, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China and the Intraparty China Research Group. In addition to human rights abuses, they accuse Beijing of concealing and enabling the spread of Covid-19. But those denouncing China on these spurious grounds are the greatest advocates of letting the virus rip. Nigel Farage of Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party, has pronounced stopping China is the next big battle to fight. He champions the murderous Great Barrington Declaration and the eugenicist policy on which it is based, courting fascists such as Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon and neo-Nazis across Europe. But the lead role in the anti-China measures is played by the Labour Party. The amendment was pioneered in the Lords by Labour peers Ray Collins and Helena Kennedy, and overwhelmingly backed by the party in parliament as it seeks to outflank the Tories on the issue. Especially significant given this right-wing line-up is the support of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour left for the amendment. Corbyn now sits as an independent after the party whip was removed from him over bogus allegations of anti-Semitism. Given these trumped-up charges, one might assume Corbyn would exercise some caution as to allegations of ignoring or abusing human rights. But Corbyn voted in favour of the amendment as did Labour's so-called left in the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, including Diane Abbott, Richard Burgon and John McDonnell. The Labour lefts stance has nothing to do with defending the rights of Uighur Muslims, much less the super-exploited Chinese working class. It articulates the interests of a layer of the upper middle class, represented by the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, which advocate economic protectionism as a means of defending British capitalism. This was summed up by Labour apologist Owen Jones in the Guardian. Writing two days after the vote under the headline, The right condemns China over its Uighur abuses. The left must do so too, Jones acknowledged that western hawks, such as Pompeo, were playing global power games, and that the oppressed [in this instance, the Uighur Muslims] are mere chess pieces in a global power struggle. Owen Jones (credit: Creative Commons-Marc Lozano) For this reason, some people worry that condemning a rival powers human rights abuses risks providing cover for those aiming to foment a new cold war, he wrote, before accusing such people of sacrificing oppressed Muslims on the altar of geopolitics. The left must not cede a defence of Chinas Muslimshowever disingenuousto reactionaries and warmongers, he insisted, but must show it is possible to walk and to chew gum; to oppose western militarism and to stand with victims of state violence. Jones' claims are an apologia for imperialism. No reference is made to the Iraq war, and the criminal invasion and destruction of that country by the US/UK, nor the host of similar illegal actions under the cover of human rights abuses. The omission is deliberate because Jones is writing to prepare the way for worse crimes. The genuine left opposes western militarism and stand with victims of state violence, based on the independent mobilisation and unity of the working class against capitalism and imperialism. They do so in irreconcilable hostility to the likes of Corbyn and Jones and their efforts to subordinate this class unity to the warmongering of Tory and Labour alike, and bourgeois institutions from parliament to the United Nations. On this occasion, the Lords amendment was opposed by the Foreign Office, officially on constitutional grounds. More pressing were fears of capital flight given that, over the last years to counter its declining global position, the UK had actively sought out Chinese investment. China now ranks as the UK's fourth-largest trading partner, its second-biggest investment destination and London is the world's biggest offshore trading centre and the second-largest offshore clearing centre for Renminbi, worth more than 50 trillion yuan ($7.74 trillion). But a sharp shift is underway. Notwithstanding differences within the ruling elite, the UK is increasingly lining up with the US and its confrontational stance in the Pacific. This is not only driven by the need to strengthen the so-called special relationship post-Brexit. Just as imperative is the vast growth in social inequality, accelerated by the pandemic, and the efforts of the ruling elite to direct class tensions outwards, against an external enemy. UK foreign policy is now officially for a tilt to the Indo-Pacific backing US efforts to assemble a new coalition of the willing against China. The UK is hosting the G7 summit that will incorporate India, South Korea, and Australia. It has signed trade and security deals with Japan and is anticipated to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as part of a US-led bloc aimed at economically isolating China. In the next months, it will publish its post-Brexit integrated Foreign, Defence, Security and Development policy review, with China at the centre. The only way to halt the descent into a bloody global conflagration is the international unification of the working class against trade and military war, and the connected policy of herd immunity, in a common struggle against capitalism and for socialism. It's been one month since Luxembourg inoculated its first resident. How is the vaccination campaign progressing, and what are the next steps? On Tuesday 26 January, Luxembourg has vaccinated 8,280 people, of which 1,245 have received their second dose. According to calculations by our colleagues at RTL 5minutes, and without taking into account the fact that some people already vaccinated are cross-border workers but employed in the health sector in Luxembourg, approximately 1.32% of the population has been vaccinated today. With this vaccination rate, Luxembourg is currently lagging behind its European neighbours. Germany is approaching 2% of its entire population, France and Belgium are around 1.8%. On Monday evening, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Health Paulette Lenert reiterated their preference for guaranteeing the second dose. "Some countries have already used up their doses and are not sure they can give the second to the first people vaccinated within the allotted time. This is why Luxembourg is not well ranked, but we are maintaining our strategy" said Xavier Bettel. Luxembourg therefore chooses not to enter the numbers race and prefers to ensure that it has a sufficient stock of vaccine. Le Luxembourg l'a promis: la deuxieme dose du vaccin sera garantie pour ceux deja vaccines. / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP France on Tuesday ruled out the extension of the injection time between both doses. Minister of Health Olivier Veran, in spite of opposing opinions by health authorities, underlined that the deadline of "three to four weeks" would be maintained, raather than extending it to six weeks. What's next? Following the first phase, underway and reserved for employees in the health sector, the second phase will focus on vaccinating all people aged 75 and over. "At the same time, highly vulnerable residents, without age restrictions, will also be eligible for vaccination," the health ministry said. Read also: Disabled people to be vaccinated at the end of the first phase On Tuesday, MP Marc Hansen (Dei Greng) said he felt that too much false information was circulating about vaccination. In fact, only a third of those contacted made an appointment. But according to Hansen these figures should be put into perspective, because the willingness seems to be there all the same. There could have been technical difficulties, Hansen suggested. A third phase has not yet been defined. The government simply specified that the campaign will be expanded once more vaccines are available. Vaccination centres have been selected by the government, but they will also not open prior to that moment. 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. BHP and its partner Vales troubled Samarco joint venture in Brazil has been hit with a $1 billion-plus lawsuit from noteholders who claim their requests to restructure their debt have been largely ignored. Bank of New York Mellon filed the claim in the Southern District of New York in December on behalf of noteholders holding $US700 million of Samarcos bonds. The claim has created more headaches for Samarco which has been struggling to complete its long-awaited $US3.8 billion debt restructuring. The collapse of the Fundao dam in 2015 killed 19 and poured roughly 40 million cubic metres of mining waste into communities. Credit:AP Samarcos operations in Brazil were halted in 2015 after a dam collapse killed 19 people, destroyed nearby villages and poured mine waste into the local river. Samarco first defaulted on the debt owned by the noteholders in 2016 and has not made a payment since then. NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) India discussed joint projects in its northeast with Japan during their fifth annual Act East Forum (AEF) on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs reported. The meeting was co-chaired by Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Japanese Ambassador in New Delhi Satoshi Suzuki. "The AEF reviewed progress of ongoing projects in the North Eastern Region of India in various areas including connectivity, hydropower, sustainable development, harnessing of water resources, and skill development. They discussed several new projects being undertaken under India-Japan bilateral cooperation and also exchanged views on cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, agro-industries and SMEs, bamboo value chain development, smart city, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," the ministry said. The two countries launched the AEF in 2017 to streamline their cooperation in developing India's northeast. Cooperation is in line with India's "Act East Policy" and Japan's vision for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific." New Delhi, Jan 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary, saying his contribution to the fight for independence would inspire people across generations. "Remembering the great Lala Lajpat Rai Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to India's freedom struggle is indelible and inspires people across generations," Modi tweeted. Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the 'Lal, Bal, Pal' trio: Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. Born on January 28, 1865, Lala Lajpat Rai was popularly known as 'Punjab Kesari'. He led a silent march against the Simon Commission in Lahore on October 30, 1928. He was injured in a lathi-charge by police and died on November 17 that year of heart attack. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The milestones include commercializing infectious disease diagnostics, clinically validating transdermal and sublingual drug formulations and continued investment in psychedelic medicine The company is running four clinical studies in neurological indications in 2021 XPhyto Therapeutics Corp ( ) (OTCQB:XPHYF) (FRA:4XT) outlined a number of strategic initiatives for 2021 that will see the bioscience accelerator advancing its drug manufacturing, drug formulation and psychedelics business lines. The Vancouver-based company said Thursday that its German subsidiary Vektor Pharma TF GmbH will focus on developing and manufacturing drug formulations for major mental health disorders. Vektor, a narcotics manufacturer and researcher, is looking forward to a transformative 2021, its managing director Thomas Beckert said in a statement. We will be building on significant momentum from 2020 as we advance our drug formulation, contract development, and psychedelic business," Beckert told shareholders. "The addition of scalable in-house manufacturing capability creates the potential for significant growth across virtually all of our development and commercialization programs." Vektor is planning to build a new commercial drug manufacturing facility in Germany in 2021, it told investors, having secured property in the district of Biberach near its current laboratory. The facility has a maximum laboratory capacity of around 3,000 square metres, according to the company. XPhyto told shareholders that the addition of in-house, scalable commercial drug manufacturing capability is expected to add significant value and optionality to XPhyto's drug formulation business. On the formulations front, the company will zero in on neurological indications by advancing four clinical studies to treat Parkinsons via a transdermal patch, and epilepsy, anorexia and multiple sclerosis using an oral/sublingual strip. Biosensors and psychedelics XPhyto also said it plans to continue development and validation of its biosensor products, with the goal to bring at least one biosensor product to the European market by the end of the year. The firm added that Vektor will begin planning and development work to incorporate psychedelic compounds into its drug formulations. The initiative is facilitated by Vektor's drug delivery platforms, as well as XPhyto's agreements for the development of industrial scale biotechnology processes for the production of psilocybin in Germany, and for the research and development of a broad range of psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, MDMA, DMT, in Canada. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas Lalla Essaydi is an artist originally from Morocco whose experiences have inspired her to create politically astute work that deconstructs and reimagines stereotypes of Muslim womanhood. "My work is highly autobiographical," Essaydi said. "In it, I speak my thoughts and talk directly about my experiences as a woman and an artist, finding the language with which to speak from those uncertain zones between memory and the present, East and West. "The models I use are often women who have had the same relation to the physical spaces as I've had. But we also work with younger women so that the setting becomes a platform for the creation of new memories and understandings." When Martin Baron announced his upcoming retirement from The Washington Post on Tuesday, it made clear what is either a crisis or opportunity for American journalism: Several major media organizations are all looking for new leaders at the same time. The Los Angeles Times needs a replacement for Norman Pearlstine, 78, who has stepped aside as executive editor. And the New York Times is almost certainly facing the looming retirement of Dean Baquet, its 64-year-old executive editor. As of yet, there is no named successor at any of those major newspapers. And it's the same situation at Reuters, Wired, Vox, HuffPost, and the Center for Public Integrity, all actively seeking new leadership. The departure of a top editor has historically been a tumultuous time in newsrooms, especially for those devoted to daily journalism. In past generations, it could involve a showdown between a paper's most ambitious talents, with room for only one to ascend, followed by a months-long reshuffling down through the middle ranks. Yet the generational turnover happening now comes as the obvious pool for top managerial talent has shifted - with many of these papers said to be chasing the same candidates - at a time these once-coveted jobs have become more challenging than ever. "When the news media industry was more stable, it was easier to have an orderly transition," said John Harris, the founding editor of Politico. But at a time of "extraordinary flux" for media, "I think you're seeing all these news organizations face a demand for new leadership that's very different for what they would have faced 10 to 20 years ago." The challenges include the demands of running newsrooms that have become 24/7 multiplatform entities; diminished trust in the mainstream media; the pandemic's brutal impact on already shrinking advertising revenue; and concerns that the end of Donald Trump's presidency will lessen readers' interest in the news. But publishers assessing the next generation of editors willing to tackle these challenges are coming up against limited horizons: Some of the industry's most promising stars abandoned journalism as the industry grappled with cutbacks. And the pipeline of talented managers from regional papers has slowed now that so many of those papers have weakened or folded. Each paper faces its own set of issues. Pearlstine - who previously ran the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Time Inc., SmartMoney, and Bloomberg Businessweek - was recruited to the Los Angeles Times by its new owner, billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, and asked to repair a newsroom in turmoil after years of cutbacks. Originally cast in the role of an interim editor, he ended up staying for three years. "The Los Angeles Times needed 18 to 24 months just to get to the starting line," said Pearlstine. Now, he's helping recruit his replacement - at a time that his staff, like many others in journalism, have expressed frustration with a failure to cultivate and promote more women and minorities over the decades to better reflect a diverse city. "I don't see how you can seek to fill the top job at any of these publications without being mindful of the ways in which the protest movement in 2020 migrated from the streets into newsrooms," said Pearlstine. "It will be interesting to see how much of what we learned this summer is going to carry over into these searches." Managing editor Kimi Yoshino has been floated as a possible contender, despite a brief suspension during a leak investigation conducted by prior management in early 2018. Editorial page editor Sewell Chan and deputy managing editor Julia Turner are also said to be in the running. The paper has also reached out to Anne Kornblut, a Facebook executive and a former editor at The Post. Hillary Manning, a spokeswoman at the Los Angeles Times, declined to comment on candidates or timing but said "the search is ongoing." In October, the Media Guild of the West, which represents Los Angeles Times journalists, urged Soon-Shiong to pursue "diverse candidates from outside the newsroom," making a pitch for a "fresh perspective." "Whoever becomes the next editor in chief will need the respect and the support of our membership in order to truly succeed," said Matt Pearce, a national correspondent who leads the newsroom's union. "Everybody benefits from a strong Los Angeles Times." Nikki Usher, an associate professor at the University of Illinois who studies the news industry, said newspapers need to start looking in nontraditional venues - podcasts, digital start-ups, radio or television. "People who've climbed the ladder of a news organization and won certain awards - that's indeed a successful model for hiring. But the long and the short of it is, news organizations are bastions of Whiteness and there hasn't been a lot of movement [in a long time]." Though Baron's retirement had long been expected to come at some point after the 2020 election, many inside the newsroom were surprised this week when he announced he would leave in just a little over a month. Publisher Fred Ryan said in a memo to staff that he will conduct a search both inside and outside the newspaper. The Post, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, historically chose its top editors from within, but Baron and his predecessor, Marcus Brauchli, came from the Boston Globe and the Wall Street Journal, respectively. Rumored candidates include Kevin Merida, a former Post managing editor who is now the editor in chief of ESPN's the Undefeated. But according to people familiar with the search, ESPN, which is owned by Disney, is eager to keep him. Merida is in his mid-60s, which would suggest he would not serve as a long-term replacement for Baron, who is 66. Ryan has told employees at The Post that he is dedicated to finding a successor who can lead The Post forward for a decade or longer. But The Post has not started a search in earnest, and Ryan has not indicated how he plans to bridge the gap between Baron's retirement date and the start of a new and permanent candidate. Baron declined to comment on the upcoming leadership changes. "Fred has made clear that Marty will be the executive editor until his last day," said Kris Coratti, The Post's vice president for communications. "It's possible that the search could go beyond Marty's retirement date, and if so, an interim editor will be named closer to that time." The Times's search for a successor to Baquet has been discussed since almost the time he became the paper's top editor in 2014. A celebrity gossip tabloid, OK magazine, reported earlier this week that Baquet had purchased a home in Los Angeles, speculating that he may be in line to run the Los Angeles Times, a job Baquet left in 2006 to return to the New York Times. Baquet didn't respond to questions about the timing of his retirement from the Times but noted that he and his wife bought a home in Los Angeles because his son lives there, and they had rented an apartment for years. "I plan on being in the newsroom in New York the day it opens," he told The Post in an email. The most likely successor is Joe Kahn, his current managing editor. That selection has been winnowed from an initial pool of candidates that included the paper's former editorial page editor James Bennet, who left after uproar over an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). Cliff Levy, another rumored candidate, was recently named to a top masthead position in charge of the Times's audio efforts, which include "The Daily" podcast. Marc Lacey, the paper's national editor, and Carolyn Ryan, deputy managing editor, are also considered long-shot candidates. - - - The Washington Post's Jeremy Barr and Paul Farhi contributed to this report. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Influencers boasting of sunshine foreign breaks amid the global pandemic are now facing a furious public backlash after they were slammed by the Home Secretary. As they shared photos from sun loungers, lockdown had appeared not to apply to so-called influencers and models who 'used loop-holes' to jet off the sunnier climes under the guise of work. But yesterday they came under fire for setting a bad example. Amid mounting public anger, Priti Patel criticised those who have been holidaying in the sun when they have been told to stay at home. She said going on holiday was 'not an exemption' as she unveiled a strict borders clampdown to slow the spread of the virus, telling the Commons: 'People should simply not be travelling. 'We see plenty of influencers showing off where they are mainly sunny places.' As the criticism intensifies, members of the public appear to be taking umbrage with their tone deaf posts from Dubai - now dubbed 'Covid Cosablanca.' Hostile messages on Instagram and Twitter pages are accusing them of recklessly spreading the virus and putting the NHS under increasing strain. Many claim they jetted off for 'unavoidable work trips' - with some even going so far as to suggest that their social media posts should make them 'key workers'. Laura Anderson, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, moaned about how 'hard it was to be an influencer' after she was met with a backlash about her Dubai trip, before claiming she went as a 'coping mechanism' to deal with Covid. Members of the public have hit out at reality TV stars for taking trips abroad, despite their insistence it was 'for work' So-called 'influencers' have been mocked for their trips and their own suggestions that they should be considered essential workers While celebrities are boasting about their sunshine trips, fans appear to be less than impressed Love Island star Georgia Steel (pictured left) was in Dubai but has recently been posting snaps beside crystal blue waters in The Maldives. Pictured right: Molly Mae Hague posted snaps in the Maldvies, but is now back in the UK Laura Anderson, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, has faced a backlash in the wake of her trip to Dubai Scores of reality TV stars 'used loop holes' to flee to Dubai to lounge in luxury hotels, pose for pictures with cocktails on sun loungers and enjoy beach parties. Love Island stars 'lose THOUSANDS of fans' after flaunting their lavish Dubai work trips as fed-up Brits hit back Love Island stars who jetted to Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic have reportedly lost thousands of Instagram fans. It is thought fed-up Brits have hit back by unfollowing the stars accounts with Anton Danyluk, 25, and Laura Anderson, 31, dropping a combined 26,000, reports The Sun. Anton, who is thought to have lost 14,000 followers, shared that he was heading to Dubai on December 10 and has since posted glimpses of his impressive hotel views and dips in the pool with his 1m fans. While Laura Anderson, who has reportedly dropped a sizeable 12,000 followers, sparked a backlash when she said it was 'really hard' to be an influencer following unimpressed comments on her Dubai snaps. Others thought to have taken a hit in the Instagram numbers include Kaz Crossley, 27, who has reportedly lost 7,000 followers since touching down in the city. While Gabby Allen is thought to have lost 2,000 and Josh Ritchie 8,000. TOWIE star James Lock, who is in Dubai with his girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou is also said to have seen 1,000 people disappear from his followers. Advertisement Expats working in Dubai have accused them of 'taking the f***ing p***' by claiming they are in the city for work, and risking spreading the virus to residents by partying and flouting social distancing. And government sources told MailOnline people have been 'exploiting grey areas', with 'high profile people getting away with it,' adding, 'what they are claiming as work is not.' The Prime Minister yesterday warned that Brits leaving the UK will be quizzed at the border to make sure they are not jetting off for a holiday. Addressing MPs yesterday, Boris Johnson warned: 'I want to make clear that under the stay home regulations, it is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure purposes. 'We will enforce this at ports and airports by asking people why they are leaving and instructing them to return home if they do not have a valid reason to travel.' Molly-Mae Hague, Maura Higgins, Amber Davies, Anton Danyluk, Georgia Harrison and Kady McDermott were among those to jet off before the third national lockdown. Sophia Peschisolido, 23, daughter of Tory peer Karren Brady, has also shared pictures of herself in Dubai. One influencer in Dubai sparked fury this week by claiming to be an essential worker. Sheridan Mordew, 24, who has been there since the start of January, told This Morning on ITV it was an 'essential work trip' to provide sunny content for fans and 'motivate them'. Dubai had been an ideal choice for many as visitors at the time weren't required to quarantine upon their return to the UK. Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' with the government asking UK residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Expats in Dubai have told MailOnline they are furious about the number of celebrity influencers coming to the city 'for work'. One expat told MailOnline: 'They're taking the f***ing p***'. Laura Anderson claims flying to Dubai was 'a coping mechanism' By Laura Fox for MailOnline Laura Anderson has insisted that flying to Dubai was 'a coping mechanism' during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Love Island star, 31, said she 'felt guilty the whole time' she was away after claiming she'd flown to the UAE for a 'business trip' following backlash towards influencers bending travel restrictions to fly abroad. During an Instagram Q and A, after being asked whether she felt guilty about being in Dubai, she said: 'I felt guilty the whole time. I don't think anyone realised how bad the strain would get, and how quickly. So hearing people upset, I felt horrific.' Advertisement Lauren Morgan, who moved to the city with her husband in January 2020, said: 'All the 'influencers' coming out to Dubai for 'work' has made me so angry, using loop holes to holiday and potentially spreading the virus.' Ministers are understood to have been increasingly concerned about social media 'infuencers' and other celebrities turning up in exotic destinations while the rest of the country is in lockdown. One government source told MailOnline people appeared to have been exploiting grey areas about what counts as 'essential' work trips. 'It is quite clear there are some high profile people getting away with it and what they are claiming as work is not,' they said. Ms Morgan moved to the UAE with her husband in January 2020, returning to the UK once to see her family. She added: 'I have booked a flight back to the UK at the end of April. 'With these new rules possibly coming into place, I have to choose between not going home to see my parents who are in their late 70s or going back for the three weeks and spending 10 days of those and potentially a small fortune to quarantine. 'All I want to do is go home to visit my family. 'Moving here in January 2020, this was not the deal I made with my husband, I was supposed to be able to travel home to visit family as much as I wanted to. 'People holidaying/partying is just delaying that for a lot of people from happening and it's infuriating. 'Rules are not always being followed by people from the UK (and I'm sure many others) who have not had to follow the same strict rules as we have in Dubai since March 2020 and is now a way of life to wear a mask and keep your distance and minimise socialising/large group gathering.' Social media users have compared the 'work' done by influencers, models and reality TV stars to that done by NHS staff Laura Anderson is facing criticism after sharing updates from her isolation What pandemic? Love Island couple Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott jetted off to the Maldives for a month before Christmas The Home Secretary slammed reality TV stars for bragging about their holidays and people 'turning up with their skis at St Pancras Station', adding, 'Going on holiday is not an exemption.' Tough day at work: Chloe Ferry, who travelled out to Dubai at the end of last year - before lockdown measures were introduced, originally claimed she had hoped to stay for 'two months' Hard graft: Yazmin Oukhellou told fans she was, '[In Dubai] for work purposes, for business', but added: 'Obviously we'll make the most of it while we're here as well.' Right, Laura Anderson was met with a furious backlash when she moaned about how hard it was to be an 'influencer' Anton Danyluk (pictured left) shared that he was heading to Dubai on December 10. He is since thought to have lost 14,000 followers on Instagra. And when approached by the Guardian about his so-called work trip, a publicist for Anton - who has been in Dubai since 10 December - asked if the Love Island star would receive a fee in return for a comment. James Lock (pictured) and Yazmin Oukhellou have been out in Dubai with James regularly posing with a laptop Reality stars who fled to Dubai before England's third lockdown began look set to be returning to 10-day compulsory quarantine stay at hotels near Britain's airports. Kady McDermott (left) and Maura Higgins (right) were among the stars to travel to the UAE before lockdown began Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' with the government asking UK residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Pictured: Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei in Dubai Who has gone where? The hard working 'influencers' on 'essential businesses' Scores of reality TV stars have been sharing photos from their sunny 'work' breaks, including; Kimberley Garner (she was in Barbados and is now in Miami) Lottie Moss (in Mexico) Love Island stars; Amber Davies Joe Garratt Anton Danyluk Georgia Harrison (claiming she lives in Dubai now) Kaz Crossley Elle Brown Amber Gill Montana Brown (in Barbados) Kady McDermott who jetted to the Maldives before going to Dubai Geordie Shore's Sophie Kasaei Georgia Steel (was in Dubai and is now in The Maldives) The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) stars; James Lock and Yazmin Oukhellou Ella Rae Wise Chloe Sims (Mexico) Some have since returned to the UK, including; Danny Williams, Michael Griffiths Sophia Peschisolido, 23, daughter of Tory peer Karren Brady Francesca Allen Kady McDermott jetted to the Maldives before going to Dubai Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews (they flew to St Barts. late last year) Sophie Piper (it was reported she'd jetted to the Maldives apparently breaking the rules) Sam Faiers (she flew to The Maldives for her 30th earlier this month) Wes Nelson Ferne McCann Chloe Ferry Laura Anderson, recently returned to Glasgow Malin Andersson Amber Turner Tiffany and Lucy Watson (were in Barbados) Molly Mae and Tommy Fury visited early December and then squeezed in a trip to the Maldives before returning to the UK Maura Higgins and Christopher Taylor, now back in the UK Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy, who celebrated Christmas there Rochelle and Marvin Humes, who enjoyed a family winter vacation there in mid-December, before lockdown rules came into force Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott jetted off to the Maldives for a month Advertisement Love Island's Laura Anderson was forced to delete some of the comments on her bikini snaps after receiving backlash for sharing her exploits in Dubai. Insisting her job was 'hard' to do, she moaned: 'This whole thing about everyone hating influencers, I'm just like f**k.. this is what I do for a job at the minute. I don't want to feel c**p.' Yesterday, she revealed she had ordered a Covid test after suffering with a blocked nose upon returning to Glasgow where she is self isolating. And when approached by the Guardian about his so-called work trip, a publicist for Anton Danyluk - who has been in Dubai since 10 December - asked if the Love Island star would receive a fee in return for a comment. Earlier this week, it was revealed private flights into a Dubai airport soared by 78% at the end of last year compared to 2019, as travellers, including Love Island stars, rushed to escape lockdown and spend Christmas there. MailOnline has been inundated with emails from people in Spain, the USA, Canada, Pakistan and South America worried that they may be caught up in the new quarantine scheme and admitting they may rush home to avoid it. The Home Secretary heralded a huge squeeze on 'non-essential' journeys as she revealed that even during lockdown individuals have been flouting the rules - including by turning up at borders carrying skis. In a statement to MPs, she said they now face being turned away, swiping: 'Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel.' Ms Patel also declared that Britons returning from around 30 'red list' Covid countries will be forced to quarantine in hotels for 10 days at their own expense. MailOnline understands that hundreds of arrivals each day are expected to be escorted directly from airports to rooms, where they will have to stay for the duration of their isolation and pay a bill estimated at 1,500 - although ministers hope the numbers will 'fall through the floor' as people avoid coming to the UK. It will only affect British travellers, as foreign citizens who have been in the countries are already banned from entering altogether. Ms Patel herself is believed to have been pushing for a much tougher regime alongside Matt Hancock and Michael Gove, but was overruled after resistance from Rishi Sunak, Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps, and warnings it would 'kill' the aviation industry. The government is facing the prospect of a revolt from UK nations, with Nicola Sturgeon threatening to impose her own more brutal curbs in Scotland, and Wales saying they do not go far enough. Labour said ministers were 'behind the curve' in protecting the country's borders. But making the case for the government in a Commons statement, Ms Patel said: 'It is clear that there are still too many people coming in and out of our country each day. 'And today I am announcing further action to strengthen the health measures we already have at the border, but to reduce passenger flow so that only a small number of people for whom it is absolutely essential to travel are doing so and therefore reducing the risk to our world-leading vaccine programme.' Under the push to clamp down on travel, airlines are expected to be fined if they fail to enforce non-exemptions properly after influencers were accused of 'taking the p***' by jetting out to Dubai, claiming their Instagram updates constituted work. 'Even at St Pancras people have been turning up with their skis,' Ms Patel said. 'We see plenty of influencers on social media showing off about which parts of the world they are in... 'Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel.' The limited Australian-style quarantine scheme follows concerns about new Covid variants entering Britain - but ignores a plea from Ms Patel and Health Secretary Matt Hancock to apply the diktat to all arrivals. Working hard: James Lock and his girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou posed for a recent snap while lapping up the sunshine in Dubai Which influencers have defended trips abroad? Kady McDermott Former Love Island contestant has hit back at a number of followers who criticised her decision to continue posting sun-soaked snaps from the Maldives Former Love Island contestant has hit back at a number of followers who criticised her decision to continue posting sun-soaked snaps from the Maldives, while Britain is in lockdown On one of pictures, showing her stepping out of a crystal blue sea, a follower remarked: 'Breaking the rules again - don't see this as a business trip!' But Kady hit back: 'Oh so because you don't see it as a business trip it means it isn't? Oh ok lol.' Replying to another follower on a different picture, she said: 'This is how I pay my bills!' Gabby Allen Former Love Island contestant Gabby Allen moved out to Dubai on December 7 Former Love Island contestant Gabby Allen moved out to Dubai on December 7. She too faced criticism but, unlike many other influencers, she quickly set out her argument for the move - saying that her boyfriend, Brandon Myers, had a business. In a post on Instagram, she said: 'Hey guys, just to let you know, we made the decision to fly out to Dubai as my boyfriend's business is based here & luckily allows us to travel,' she wrote. 'We were both fit to travel with negative PCR tests [for COVID-19]. I wanted to come on here and acknowledge this to my followers as it was a difficult decision for me. 'I really hope you can understand that it was an opportunity I had to take.' Amber Gill Perhaps one of the more bizarre defences came from former Love Island star Amber Gill Perhaps one of the more bizarre defences came from former Love Island star Amber Gill. The former reality show winner jetted off to Dubai in December following news that London and much of the south East would be affected by the new rules. But she said she 'no idea' what she was doing and claimed she was confused by the Tier 4 rules. In a staggering Instagram post, she wrote: 'Just want to put it out there that I had no idea Tier 4 was a thing. 'The flight here was booked way before. I thought the only changes were being made on the 16th meaning I was still allowed to travel for work.' Laura Anderson Laura Anderson has insisted that flying to Dubai was 'a coping mechanism' during the COVID-19 pandemic Laura Anderson has insisted that flying to Dubai was 'a coping mechanism' during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Love Island star, 31, said she 'felt guilty the whole time' she was away after claiming she'd flown to the UAE for a 'business trip' following backlash towards influencers bending travel restrictions to fly abroad. During an Instagram Q and A, after being asked whether she felt guilty about being in Dubai, she said: 'I felt guilty the whole time. I don't think anyone realised how bad the strain would get, and how quickly. So hearing people upset, I felt horrific.' Holly Hagan Geordie Shore's Holly Hagan - who has remained in the UK - weighed in on the widely-discussed issue of reality stars jetting to Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic Geordie Shore's Holly Hagan - who has remained in the UK - weighed in on the widely-discussed issue of reality stars jetting to Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic. During an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday evening, the TV personality, 28, was quizzed over her thoughts on the vast amount of celebrities, including her MTV co-stars and Love Islanders, heading to Dubai amid restrictions and rules. She was quick to defend her peers and pals, and while she admitted it is 'frustrating' for social media users to see their lavish antics, she personally would prefer 'people to be happy in Dubai than suffering at home'. Holly remained at home during the pandemic, while many of her pals - including Chloe Ferry and Sophie Kasaei - upped and left to Dubai. Sheridan Mordew The fitness influencer sparked a backlash earlier this week when she defended her decision to leave the UK for Dubai on This Morning. The 24-year-old, from Sunderland, who has a following of around 11,000 on Instagram, arrived in Dubai on January 2, just a few days before the third national lockdown. Since then, the social media star, who runs 'Shape Up With Sher,' has been sharing glamorous, sunshine-filled content with her Instagram followers as she enjoys relaxed restrictions in the United Arab Emirates. The 24-year-old, from Sunderland, who has a following of around 11,000 on Instagram, arrived in Dubai on January 2, just a few days before the third national lockdown But as she tried to justify her travels to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, the influencer failed to win over viewers. They called her 'selfish' and 'disgraceful' for trying to imply her work - sharing sun-soaked selfies and outdoor fitness classes - was essential. 'The reason I came to Dubai was purely for business,' Sheridan started during a video call with the This Morning duo. A cynical Phil told Sheridan: 'A lot of the fitness stuff, this could be in your garage in Bolton, you don't have to be in Dubai to do that.' The influencer claimed she had travelled to the United Arab Emirates because she was struggling with her mental health, adding that 'clients depend on me to bring them happiness'. She said her thought process was: 'The only way I'm gonna get out of this is to find an opportunity to get out of here on a plane to Dubai. She said the travel was 'the opportunity to get good content,' and stressed she has no children and no ties 'I'm not going to get content at home watching Netflix,' she said. 'It is all about the whole aspect of content, getting clients, all that kind of stuff.' Advertisement Love Island star returns from UK..and is banned from driving after being caught at 101mph By Ryan Smith for MailOnline Love Island star Ellie Brown has been slapped with a six-month driving ban and fined 1,660, after she was clocked speeding at 101mph. The TV personality, 22, was caught breaking the 70mph speed limit as she drove a Mercedes-Benx GLC on Cudworth, Warwickshire section of the M42 on June 5, 2019. And as she addressed the bench in Coventry Magistrates Court on Monday, Ellie pleaded that a ban from the road would cause 'exceptional hardship', as her work as an influencer requires her to transport herself all over country. However, her plea was ultimately rejected, and she received six points on her license, bring her total to 12 and resulting in an automatic six-month ban. Speeding: The TV personality, 22, was caught breaking the 70mph speed limit as she drove a Mercedes-Benx GLC on Cudworth, Warwickshire section of the M42 on June 5, 2019 Ellie, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, had already plead guilty at an earlier hearing, and the case was adjourned to allow her time to present her case for a potential loss of income, as she works self-employed through an agency. It was revealed Ellie earns 2,000 a week after tax, and that a driving ban would not result in others losing their jobs, led to the decision to give her the points. Addressing the bench, she said, according to Metro: I have been self-employed for the past two-and-a-half years. I was on a TV show and when I came out I moved to Manchester to do modelling and different kinds of media. 'I do a lot of travelling to shoots and it could be anywhere from London, Scotland, Leeds or all over the UK. My fashion brands factory is in Leicester and I have to go there carrying a lot of stock.' Ellie, who moved from Newcastle to Cheshire after her appearance on Love Island, added: 'Ive learned my lesson and I havent had any other offences. Ive held my hands up and Im really sorry.' Chairman of the bench Neil Gallagher, enquired if her ban would impact jobs at the factory in Leicester, to which she replied: 'The employer, I couldnt work with him because I cant travel to Leicester. But after deliberation, the chairman told her: Exceptional circumstances is a very high hurdle and Im afraid in the circumstances we find it does not apply in your case.' He added: 'Youre on a good income at the moment. You have done well but Im afraid we cant avoid the ban and you will have to make other arrangements to travel around the country.' At the time she was clocked speeding, Ellie said that she had been severely delayed during a five-and-a-half-hour drive south from Manchester. As well as receiving six points, Ellie was fined 1,660, ordered to pay court costs of 110 and a victim surcharge of 167. TOWIE hotspot restaurant in Essex is stripped of its licence after hosting party for 170 people in November that was raided by police and breaking Covid rules at least 13 times A 'Covid factory' restaurant has been stripped of its licence after hosting parties of up to 170 people during lockdown. Melin restaurant and nightclub in Chigwell, Essex, is popular with reality stars from the TV series The Only Way Is Essex. But the venue has had its licence revoked after breaching lockdown restrictions on at least 13 occasions between May and November. At one party, broken up by police in November, 170 people were partying while the windows were blacked out and fire escapes were blocked. Former TOWIE star Lauren Goodger pictured with venue co owner, Mikey Melin Melin restaurant and nightclub in Chigwell, Essex, has now had its licence revoked Owner Ali Melin is currently in Dubai where he is opening another restaurant - and urged his followers to 'get your flights tomorrow' to visit his new restaurant in the UAE Lauren Goodger enjoyed a night out at Melin in March and Bobby Norris and Saffron Lempriere were spotted having a heated argument outside the venue in August. Owner Ali Melin is currently in Dubai where he is opening another restaurant and regularly poses with models and influencers on his Instagram account. On Wednesday, despite travel overseas currently being banned, he posted a story urging his followers to 'get your flights tomorrow' to visit his new restaurant in the UAE. Licencing committee councillor Paul Canal slammed the restaurant for 'operating a Covid-19 factory' during the pandemic. He said: 'I wish to call [Melin] a nightclub because that's how they were operating. I believe a premises of this size with over 100 people inside is a Covid-19 factory. 'The way in which Melin has been run demonstrates that the owner is not in a position to act responsibly, and is unlikely to change.' Mr Melin refused to hand over CCTV footage to officers after it took them ten minutes to barge through the doors to break up a party of more than 100 people on November 3. Councillor Namreen Chaudhry said: 'We find that Mr Ali has no intention to operate the premises in a lawful manner. 'His failure to comply with the existing licensing conditions or pay any heed to previous regulatory intervention leaves us with no option but to revoke the licence.' In September, it emerged Ali Melin sent his staff a voice message warning he would 'take them to the basement' if they were caught taking tips. TOWIE star James Argent, left, has also been pictured enjoying nights out at the club Licencing committee councillor Paul Canal slammed the restaurant (pictured) for 'operating a Covid-19 factory' during the pandemic On Wednesday, despite travel overseas currently being banned, Melin posted a story urging his followers to 'get your flights tomorrow' to visit his new restaurant in the UAE According to the Sun, he told workers, 'you take money from me, I'll take something from you'. He warned he had more than 50 CCTV cameras watching the restaurant, adding: 'You are not paid any tips whatsoever. Nobody has the right to put tips in their pocket whatsoever. 'I can hear everything and I can see everything. If I see again, yes again, that someone has put money in their pocket from a customer I will either 1.) report it to the police or 2.) take them into the basement.' What IS a 'valid reason' to leave the UK, what forms do I need to fill in and what is happening with quarantine hotels? Vital Q&A on latest foreign travel rules By James Gant for MailOnline Lockdown-weary Britons are dreaming of being on an exotic beach or taking a city break on the Continent to escape the daily grim Covid news in the UK. But taking a trip away in the next few months is going to be tricky, with travellers needing to have a 'valid reason' to leave their homes. Only today Home Secretary Priti Patel warned those trying to leave country on fake work jaunts they will be turned back at airports. Meanwhile Boris Johnson said legitimate travellers returning from 'red list' countries will be sent to quarantine hotels for 10 days. The limited Australian-style quarantine scheme follows concerns about new Covid variants entering Britain. Confusingly, Boris Johnson told the House of Commons earlier 22 countries will be on the quarantine list. But the current 'red list' of countries from where only British nationals can come to the UK is much wider than that. Here, MailOnline answers some of the key questions on the latest foreign travel rules that would-be passengers need to know: A man is pictured pushing his luggage at Heathrow airport in west London on Wednesday For what reason can I travel to another country? You can only travel internationally when you have a legally permitted reason to leave home. Work trips are allowed, so you will have to show some proof that your flight or sea crossing is vital for your employment. However, there are a range of other reasons for 'essential travel'. These are the same at the reasons for leaving your house: medical care, to escape harm, compassionate visits - for example a funeral - and weddings. The list of travel exemptions will be urgently reviewed so that only the most important and exceptional reasons are included. People are also advised to consider the public health advice in the country they are visiting before they go. Anyone who does not have a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home and may face a fine as their reason for travel will be checked. The Home Office said there will be an increased police presence at ports and airports fining those in breach of the stay at home regulations. Priti Patel said: 'Going on holiday is not a valid reason, so we will introduce a new requirement so that people wishing to travel must first make a declaration as to why they need to travel. 'This reason for travel will be checked by carriers prior to departure.' Travel operators are also expected to face fines if they fail to inspect these forms. How can the Government stop Britons from going on holiday? Lockdown rules already ban people from international travel unless it is for work. Leaving home is only permitted for a small number of reasons. Under the lockdown laws introduced at the start of January and which will run until March 31, people in England are allowed only to leave the house for a very slim range of activities. But the rules, which are largely the same as for the second lockdown in November, also ban foreign leisure travel, just as they prohibit domestic leisure travel. These are the daily average of cases per million people in the countries on the UK quarantine list Who is going to enforce these rules? It is not clear whether airlines and other travel operators will have the unilateral ability to decide whether someone has given a genuine reason for a trip on their forms, or it will end up being referred to police. There will also be an increased police presence at ports and airports, fining those in breach of the stay at home regulations. Why is this being highlighted now? The Home Secretary lashed out at social media influencers who have been posting images of themselves in sunny parts of the world like Dubai during the lockdown. Many have claimed they were travelling for work, but have attracted a backlash from people stuck at home after also enjoying the nightlife and beaches. Ms Patel also singled out people 'turning up with their skis' at London's St Pancras station to catch the Eurostar to European resorts, adding: 'That is clearly not acceptable.' What does the hotel quarantine mean for arrivals in the UK? Priti Patel said Britons returning from around 30 'red list' Covid countries will be forced to quarantine in hotels for 10 days at their own expense. Hundreds of arrivals each day are expected to be escorted directly from airports to rooms. They will have to stay there for the duration of their isolation and pay a bill estimated at 1,500. It will only affect British travellers, as foreign citizens who have been in the countries are already banned from entering altogether. It has not kicked in yet. What are the 30 places that require a ten-day quarantine in a hotel after? Angola Argentina Bolivia Botswana Brazil Cape Verde Chile Colombia Democratic Republic of Congo Ecuador Eswatini French Guiana Guyana Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Panama Paraguay Peru Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) Seychelles South Africa Suriname Tanzania Uruguay Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe What will happen on arrival at the hotel? Travellers who face enforced quarantine will be taken by bus to a hotel where they will have to remain for ten days. Officials have begun talks with hotel groups about block-booking rooms that can be used for isolating. In Australia, people are required to stay in their room the entire time with security guards patrolling the corridors. Hotel staff are forbidden from cleaning the rooms during a person's stay. Can you upgrade your hotel? Travellers will not get a choice of hotel, meaning it does not matter if you paid for a more expensive trip away. In Australia, people do not know in advance where they will be staying and are warned there is no guarantee of access to a balcony or open window. What are you supposed to do all day? In Australia, exercise outside is not allowed so guests are encouraged to do stretches or yoga in their room. A guide given to travellers to help prepare for hotel isolation suggests planning different activities to break up the day. Examples given include getting in contact with different friends and family, learning a foreign language on a mobile phone app, trying out a new hobby such as knitting and calligraphy, and catching up on 'life admin'. The advice recommends planning 'rewards' to look forward to such as a phone call with a loved one or the delivery of a treat. People sharing rooms with partners and family members are encouraged to set ground rules for the stays such as scheduling a time each day when everyone does a 'quiet' activity to help avoid disagreements. Last summer an outbreak of coronavirus in Melbourne was blamed on security guards having sex with guests at one of the quarantine hotels. Mr Johnson is expected to sign off on plans this evening to divert travellers entering the UK from high-risk Covid countries into hotels to stop new mutant strains of coronavirus like the ones from Brazil and South Africa entering the UK. Who pays the hotel bill? The Government will arrange transport for travellers to their accommodation, but they will have to cover the cost of their hotel room, estimated to be about 1,500. The cost of 14 days in a quarantine hotel is 1,692 for an adult in Australia, 1,630 in New Zealand and 642 in Thailand. What if I am a Brit abroad now? UK residents currently abroad do not need to return home immediately. But you should check with your airline or travel operator on arrangements for returning. What should foreign nationals in the UK do to get home? Foreign nationals are subject to the 'Stay at Home' regulations. You should not travel abroad unless it is permitted. This means you must not go on holiday. If you are visiting the UK, you may return home. You should check whether there are any restrictions in place at your destination. What do I need on return to the UK? Passengers arriving in the UK need to provide evidence of a negative pre-departure Covid test from up to 72 hours before travelling. People arriving from abroad also have to self-isolate on arrival and they have to complete a passenger locator form, with fines for those who do not. What is a passenger locator form? Earlier this month the government announced passengers had to complete online passenger locator forms to tell officials where they are staying after arriving in the UK. It has to have the person's address on it where they will isolate for ten days or five days if they take another test which comes back negative. Coming back to the UK without a locator form will result in a 1,000 fine. What do I need for a passenger locator form? You will need: your passport details, Your travel details, including times and dates, the address where you will stay in the UK (if applicable), a booking reference number and the name of the test provider, if you're using Test to Release to find out if you can end self-isolation early. You can include multiple journeys in your form if you'll enter the UK more than once in a 48-hour period. Where can I get one? Passenger locator forms are available to download from gov.uk here. What happens then? After you complete the form you will receive a QR code via email. You can print this out or show it on your phone as proof of completion. What if you are travelling with other people? Each adult must complete their own form. You can include someone under 18 years old who is travelling with you on your form, if you are staying together at the same UK address. If you're entering Scotland, they must be under 16. When do you not need to fill one out? If you are travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and were there for more than ten days. Passenger locator forms are available to download from the UK government website Do any jobs qualify for travel exemptions? Yes, if you do one of the following you may qualify for an exemption from one or more of the travel restrictions. Aerospace engineers Aircraft pilots and crew BBC broadcasting transmission network and services Border security duties UK officials and contractors Border security duties - non-UK officials and contractors Bus and coach drivers Channel Tunnel system workers Civil aviation inspectors Clinical trials or studies Crown servants or government contractors Data infrastructure maintenance Defence personnel, visiting forces and government contractors Diplomatic missions, international organisations and conferences Downstream oil facility workers Drivers of goods vehicles Electronic communications networks Elite sportsmen international Elite sportsmen domestic Medical examinations for elite sportsmen Environment Agency relating to flood and coastal erosion risk management Eurostar International workers Eurotunnel workers Government contractors the conduct of negotiations High-speed rail workers International prison escorts IT and telecoms workers Medical evacuation Medical treatment Urgent medical treatment Medicines human and veterinary Network Rail workers Nuclear personnel Nuclear emergency responder Offshore oil and gas workers OPCW and IAEA inspectors Postal workers Quality assurance inspectors for human and veterinary medicines Registered health or care professionals Regular work abroad Regular work in the UK, living abroad Representatives of a foreign country or territory or British overseas territories Seamen and masters and inspectors and surveyors of ships Seasonal agricultural workers Seasonal poultry workers Specialist technical workers - sub-sea telecommunications infrastructure Specialist technical workers - goods and services Specialist technical workers waste Specialist technical workers power infrastructure Specialist technical workers space infrastructure Transiting airside through the UK Transporting human cells or blood Water supplies and sewerage services workers For more information visit gov.uk What about the so-called vaccine passports? At least eight companies have been awarded government grants to develop vaccination passport schemes, it was reported earlier this week. The projects, worth a total of 450,000, could allow users to securely carry digital proof that they have received an approved Covid-19 vaccine. It is hoped such a scheme would help get people back to work and also allow for the reopening of international travel. The government on Sunday denied such a scheme was being considered, and cabinet minister Michael Gove said they were 'not the plan'. But ministers have contradicted each other on the issue, including Boris Johnson's vaccine tsar Nadhim Zahawi who said they were 'looking at the technology'. The scheme is being considered by many countries, including Cyprus and the Seychelles, who hope their use would open up society for people who have received a jab. EU officials have demanded vaccines made in the UK be exported to Europe to help plug shortfalls in its own jabs roll-out, which is among the slowest in the world Should I book a holiday abroad this spring? There are two factors to consider. The first is whether concern over new strains of coronavirus will lift enough to allow quarantine-free travel - and if you can afford to come back to ten days in isolation. The second is where can you go. It is not clear what destinations will be open to Britons, where the virus is still a major problem. What about in the summer? Ministers have warned in recent days that it is 'too early' to speculate around future holiday plans. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously said: 'I think we're going to have a great British summer.' Whether he meant a great summer at home in the UK or abroad is unclear. A deserted Levante beach in Benidorm today as the Government urged Britons not to book summer holidays in yet another blow for struggling airlines and holiday companies What about ski season? Most resorts have already cancelled the ski season in February, with Inghams, Ski Total, Esprit Ski and Flexiski among those to halt bookings until after the 27th. Some are open with the hope government rules will change after the school half term. How about a staycation in Britain this summer? It is hoped restrictions will have given way enough by July for people to stay somewhere in the UK. A surge in bookings for resorts, hotels and self-catered accommodation is anticipated. Center Parcs, Haven and Butlins have all hiked their prices for Easter as they plan to reopen in March despite concerns that the national lockdown will still be in place. Are lorry drivers bringing trade facing the same measures? Hauliers are exempt from quarantine to keep trade flowing across the border. What do airlines say? Airline bosses have demanded that the Government provides an 'urgent road map for the reopening of air travel'. What do public health experts say? Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said quarantine hotels are 'absolutely essential' and suggested the lack of quarantine measures earlier in the pandemic had been 'a major factor' in contributing to the current situation. When will this all end? The government says the list of travel exemptions will be urgently reviewed so only the most important and exceptional reasons are included. The law under which the holiday ban falls lasts until March 31, unless it is renewed. It is reviewed every two weeks. Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 5:05 pm On Tuesday evening, the Centralia City Council received an update on the Centralia Streetscape project, which is aimed at improving the citys roadways both functionally and aesthetically. Patty Page, the city engineer, presented the Streetscape projects that the city is hoping to complete. The Streetscape Committee is currently reviewing the proposed plans, and the final proposal will be presented to the city council in February. After it is approved by the council, design and construction will proceed soon after. The streetscape project improvements will be funded through the citys real estate excise tax (REET funds) which were approved at the end of 2019. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is designing a portion of the citys projects as they work on another project on state Route 507. On 507, WSDOT is going to be installing a pedestrian safety median, some sidewalk replacements with the stamped brick buffer, decorative concrete intersection at Yew and Mellen, doing some asphalt paving at Alder and Washington, along with decorative concrete crosswalks and ADA ramps, Page told the council. Page said that the Streetscape committee has had involvement in the WSDOT projects. The intersections are designed to match the streetscape in Centralias downtown area. Page said WSDOT plans to go out for construction bids in April or May and start construction this summer. The total estimated costs for WSDOT's portion of the Streetscape Project is $700,000. The city-designed portion of the project is estimated to cost about $1.22 million, which includes a 15% contingency. Projects include installing wayfinding signs around town, painting streetlight poles black, making safety improvements on Harrison Avenue, improving the Main Street crosswalk and painting the Harrison Avenue overpass. Knowing that we do have a budget, we are trying to move forward with the highest rated elements that came from the committee, the walkthroughs, and the community, Centralia Public Works Director Kim Ashmore said. If there are leftover funds to put toward Streetscape projects, the committee proposed using the funds for the installation of a gateway sign over Harrison Avenue. NEW DELHI: India will supply 10 million doses of vaccines to fight the covid-19 pandemic to Africa and another one million shots to the United Nations for its health workers under a global health partnership arrangement known as GAVI. New Delhi, which has so far gifted 5.5 million doses to its immediate neighbours and some of those in its extended neighbourhood like Mauritius and Seychelles, will also send some more consignments as gifts to Oman, Caribbean states, Nicaragua and Pacific Island states, the Indian foreign ministry said. There is interest in many countries in accessing vaccines from India. In line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement that India sees international cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as its duty, we have played the role of the first responder in our neighbourhood as well as undertaken supplies to countries beyond," foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said. Besides gifts to neighbouring countries, some amounts of commercial exports have taken place to Brazil, Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies on a commercial basis are likely to take place" to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada and Mongolia, Srivastava said. Our external supplies, whether as gifts or on a commercial basis, are based on domestic availability, licensing issues and regulatory approvals in the countries concerned," he said when asked if the vaccines supplied to countries so far were manufactured by the Pune based Serum Institute of India (SII) or the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech. The SII manufactured vaccine was developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca while the Bharat Biotech vaccine is a homegrown one, developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research. We will continue to supply vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. Decisions on these supplies will, of course, be calibrated against the requirements of the roll-out of the covid-19 vaccine at home," Srivastava said. India began its inoculation drive against covid-19 seen as the worlds largest such exercise -- on 16 January. And days later on 20 January, New Delhi started sending vaccines abroad to its immediate neighbours and those in its extended neighbourhood. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Children could be invited to take part in summer schools under plans to help them catch up on months of missed education. Ministers are looking at whether to provide funding for catch-up classes over the summer holidays aimed at those children who have fallen furthest behind, the Mail understands. Most catch-up funding so far has gone to pay for one-to-one or small group tutoring. Children could be invited to take part in summer schools under plans to help them catch up on months of missed education. Children are seen learning from home But Whitehall sources said officials were examining whether a model used by some Harris Academy schools to offer half-day classes last summer could be deployed more widely. The Harris Federation is a trust of 48 schools in London. Any move to require teachers to work during the summer is likely to meet resistance from unions. The proposal emerged as it was revealed that next month the Department for Education now expects all schools to close completely during half-term, with even most children of key workers asked to stay at home. Yesterday Childrens Commissioner Anne Longfield warned that it could take some children up to five years to catch up the schooling lost in the pandemic. Boris Johnson pledged a further 300million in catch-up funding for schools on Wednesday, when he announced that classrooms would stay shut to most pupils until at least March 8. But, in an interview with the Spectator magazine, Mrs Longfield said more support would be needed. The proposal emerged as it was revealed that next month the Department for Education now expects all schools to close completely during half-term, with even most children of key workers asked to stay at home She added that there would be a cohort of children who will need support for the next three to five years both in learning but also in that wider socialisation and confidence in their lives. She added: Yes, theres a catch-up programme, yes theres some mental health support coming. But its not on the scale of the emergency that were talking about. Government sources acknowledge they face a huge task in helping pupils catch up. Classrooms across England were closed for months during the first lockdown last year and many children faced serious disruption during the autumn. Schools had to close again at the start of this month, with only the children of key workers encouraged to attend. During the original lockdown last year, they continued working through the Easter holidays to provide classes for the children of key workers. But education sources said they were expected to close their doors completely during half-term next month. A source said that, unlike last year, parents had other childcare options. Although schools will be encouraged to offer some cover in emergency cases, most children will be expected to stay at home. Schools need a break, the source said. Working parents would normally expect to have their children over school holidays. Today a report says children should be allowed to do the entire academic year again. The study by the Education Policy Institute think-tank warns teacher assessment of exam grades could mask serious learning losses. The Education Department spokesman it was working closely with Ofqual and the sector on arrangements to make sure young people can receive a grade that reflects their hard work. Baiju Bhatt and Vladimir Tenev founded Robinhood in 2013, saying they were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests. Robinhood is a free stock trading app that allows users to easily load cash and buy and sell stocks and options. The popular app boasts 13 million users, and reportedly about half of them own shares of GameStop. On January 28, Robinhood restricted the purchase of shares in GameStop and several other stocks popular on the Reddit forum WallStreetBets. Baiju Bhatt (left) and Vladimir Tenev (right) founded Robinhood in 2013, saying they were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests Traders who own the stocks were still able to hold or sell them on Robinhood, but no users were allowed to purchase new shares. The move drew furious condemnation across the political spectrum, and accusations that Robinhood is coming to the aid of hedge funds at the expense of small investors. Legal experts say brokerages have broad powers to block or restrict transactions. Bhatt and Tenev met while they were students at Stanford University, and had previously collaborated to start a high-frequency trading firm and a company selling software to professional traders. Both have an estimated net worth of about $1 billion, thanks to their stakes in Robinhood, which is valued at $11.7 billion. Last month, the SEC ruled that Robinhood had misled its customers about how it was paid by Wall Street firms for passing along customer trades and that the start-up had made money at the expense of its customers. Robinhood agreed to pay a $65 million fine to settle the charges, without admitting or denying guilt. Bhatt, 36, is the son of Indian immigrants, and earned a bachelor's degree in physics and master's in mathematics from Stanford. Tenev, 34, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US with his family when he was five. He earned a bachelor's in mathematics from Stanford and dropped out of a PhD program to team up with Bhatt. (TNS) Oklahoma County officials almost lapsed roughly $5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding last year until an extension to spend the money was approved by Congress in late December.Now, officials have until the end of 2021 to spend those dollars, known as CARES Act funds.The county received about $47 million in April 2020 to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, and officials were in a frenzy last fall debating how to spend the money before the original December deadline."It is frustrating because, especially with our small business program, we would not have done it in such a rush had we known the deadline was going to be extended," said Commissioner Carrie Blumert. Commissioner Kevin Calvey, who pushed to give all the county's relief funding to the county jail, predicted an extension, but his counterparts said they couldn't rely on assumptions."We didn't get any directives," Commissioner Brian Maughan said. "Calvey turned out to be 100 percent correct about it, but we didn't know that was going to be the case until the last minute."It's likely the Oklahoma County Jail Trust might make an additional request for some of the remaining funds. The county's rental assistance program could vie for some funding, as well.It's also possible the county might get requests from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department as Oklahoma tries to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of residents in the coming months.Commissioners have the final vote on where the money can be spent."For the remaining $5 million, I don't think any of the elected officials are in a hurry to spend it," Blumert said.In 2020, over $40 million went toward county jail repairs, additional cleaning crews, working-from-home technology upgrades and programs to provide rental assistance and small business relief.Of the programs started by the county, the small business relief program was lauded as an efficient use of the roughly $20 million it received.Less than a week after starting, over 800 businesses and nonprofits had applied. So far, nearly 300 were approved to receive a share of $16.5 million.Now that there is an extension for spending the money, the program is hoping to allocate the roughly $2.5 million it didn't have time to spend to an additional 100 businesses, according to program coordinator Cathy O'Connor.County Treasurer Butch Freeman said the program has been "nothing but a success."The county has already dipped into the $5 million to pay for several months of additional cleaning, said budget official Cody Compton. There has also been preliminary approval to extend paid COVID-19 leave for county employees, which might be covered with the CARES money.More federal dollars are likely to flow into the county in coming weeks.Congress approved another $25 billion in rental assistance to be provided to local and state governments, and Oklahoma County applied to receive some of the funding earlier this month.And President Joe Biden's proposed new $1.9 trillion relief package includes another round of funding for local governments, which is supported by the National Association of Counties. That package has not yet passed through Congress. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- STP Network has announced that its new iteration of its protocol will feature the synthetic tokenization of assets on Polkadot. STP 2.0 will facilitate the issuance and trading of synthetic assets (ST-Assets) that track assets on other blockchain platforms. It will also give users access to multi-chain assets and new financial products on different blockchains, without expensive bridge fees or heavy overcollateralization. STP Network The launch of STP 2.0 is planned for the end of Q1 2021 and the new Standard Tokenization Protocol is expected to be fully functional by Q3 2021. Key features of STP 2.0: Cross-chain tokenization Multi-chain index Built on the Polkadot infrastructure STP 2.0's new cross-chain tokenization will facilitate the issuance and trading of ST-Assets between major blockchain platforms, providing users with more opportunities in decentralized finance including a wider range of products and increased liquidity. The new Standard Tokenization Protocol will also allow users to issue and access multi-chain indices that track the performance of a group of assets across multiple blockchain platforms. Users will be able to leverage this index and employ a range of tools to interact with other decentralized protocols, such as automated market makers (AMMs) and lending protocols. STP 2.0 will be entirely built upon the existing Polkadot platform and will take advantage of its cross-chain capabilities and parachain infrastructure. The goal of this is to allow for increasingly faster and cheaper transactions in the crowded Ethereum ecosystem. Polkadot's parachains will give STP 2.0 a significant advantage when it comes to the issuance and trading of synthetic assets on the platform. About Polkadot Polkadot is a platform built to connect private and consortium chains, public and permission-less networks, and other technologies. The platform facilitates an Internet where independent blockchains can exchange information and complete transactions in a trustless way via Polkadot relay chains, making it easier to create and connect decentralized applications, services, and institutions. The Polkadot platform is the flagship project of the Swiss Web3 Foundation, a company founded to facilitate a fully functional and user-friendly decentralized Web. Polkadot is at the core of the company's vision for a Web where users are in control and free from centralized authorities. About STP Network Standard Tokenization Protocol is an open-source standard for defining how tokenized assets are issued and transferred. Tokens built on top of STP use the protocol's on-chain validator to verify compliance with all necessary regulations and issuer-specific requirements. STP-tokenized assets are fully transferable across any blockchain platform. To learn more about Polkadot, visit: https://polkadot.network For more information on STP Network, visit: https://stp.network Contact person: Richard Lee [email protected] Related Images image1.png SOURCE STP Network Related Links https://stp.network/ 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. Representing the ITUC, which promotes and defends the rights of workers worldwide, will be General Secretary Sharan Burrow, who says in a video message that the continued existence of leprosy "points to the vulnerability of our health systems, the underfunding, the lack of attention to diseases that overwhelmingly affect the poor more than the rich." Among others who have recorded messages of support are WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the UN Special Rapporteur on leprosy and persons affected by leprosy from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia and India. While leprosy is completely curable, prejudice and discrimination based on outdated notions of the disease linger and can result in marginalization and loss of livelihood. "People affected by Hansen's disease still suffer heavy social stigma in Brazil, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and misery, because those people are not given work opportunities," says Faustino Pinto, the national vice-coordinator of Brazil's Movement for the Reintegration of People Affected by Hansen's Disease. "We are having difficulties in getting jobs or being treated unfairly in the workplaces," says Vagavathali Narsappa, chairman of India's Association of People Affected by Leprosy. "For some cases, it is because of deformity caused by leprosy, but for other cases, people are denied just because they or their family once had leprosy, even though they are cured and capable." International labor standards uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and through Global Appeal 2021 ITUC underlines "the right of every individual seeking work to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect." Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative a strategic alliance between WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa, The Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Health Foundation to achieve a world without leprosy is being represented by the Goodwill Ambassador at the ceremony. "The denial of the right to work is one of the most serious issues facing persons affected by leprosy," Sasakawa says in a recorded video message. "A diagnosis of leprosy can mean loss of livelihood, but a cure is no guarantee that making a living will be possible even for someone who is able and willing to work. So, I am hopeful that by launching Global Appeal 2021 with ITUC's support, we will draw attention to this issue and, by doing so, help protect the rights of workers affected by leprosy." For more information, visit the Global Appeal 2021 website, https://gasasakawa.org. Text of Global Appeal 2021 To End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy (Endorsed by the International Trade Union Confederation) As the International Trade Union Confederation, our mission is to promote and defend the rights and interests of all working people. Although leprosy is completely curable, prejudice and discrimination based on old perceptions linger. The stigma of leprosy can result in ostracism and job loss. Even family members of a person affected by leprosy may find doors closed to them, despite being eager and willing to work. International labor standards uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. ITUC supports the efforts of persons affected by leprosy who want to earn a living. We believe in equality and non-discrimination. We uphold the right of every individual seeking work to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect. SOURCE Sasakawa Health Foundation 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. Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis has revealed her desire to have children. The 32-year-old influencer, who is dating co-star Michael Brunelli, says she hopes to become a mother one day. 'I definitely want kids,' Martha told her Instagram followers during a Q&A session on Wednesday night. Hopeful: Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis revealed her desire to have children during an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday night. Pictured here with her boyfriend, Michael Brunelli When asked by a fan if she was worried about 'getting too old for children', Martha said she was considering IVF as an option if she can't conceive naturally. She explained: 'I have faith that everything that's meant to be will be. 'If it doesn't work work out for me then modern medicine has come so far when it comes to fertility.' 'I have faith': When asked by a fan if she was worried about 'getting too old for children', Martha said she was considering IVF as an option if she can't conceive naturally It comes after Michael, 30, spoke candidly about the couple's relationship struggles. The pair have been dating since meeting on the 2019 season of Married At First Sight, but have had their share of ups and downs. 'When the show first came out and our relationship was public, it was a lot for us to handle,' he wrote on Instagram. 'Fake articles, rumours and bulls**t DMs were hard to deal with and probably caused a few arguments in the early days.' Lovebirds: Michael and Martha have been dating since meeting on the 2019 season of Married At First Sight, but have had their share of ups and downs. He spoke candidly about the couple's relationship struggles in another Q&A session on Instagram earlier this month 'But we would always talk them through and move on. Now we're at a point where we give zero f**ks about the crap that gets written,' he added. The former school teacher also revealed the reason why he decided to apply for Nine's social experiment in the first place. 'I had been single for four years. I was sick of using dating apps. I wanted something more,' he said. Relationship: 'When the show first came out and our relationship was public, it was a lot for us to handle,' Michael said. 'Fake articles, rumours and bulls**t DMs were hard to deal with and probably caused a few arguments in the early days' 'I was also growing stale in my teaching career. So I applied for MAFS and I applied for a teaching job in Dubai. 'I said to myself whichever one I get first, I'll do it. Two years later, here we are.' They are one of three couples still together from the show, alongside Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant, and Bryce Mohr and Erin Bateman. BANGALORE, India, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market is Segmented by Type (Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Context Awareness, NLP), by Application (Semiconductor and Electronics, Energy and Power, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile, Heavy Metals and Machine Manufacturing, Food and Beverages, Textile and Aerospace), by Regions & Key players: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2026. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the AI Technology Category. The global Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing market size is projected to reach USD 4798 Million by 2026, from USD 840 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 28.1% during 2021-2026. Major factors driving the growth of Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market size are the increasing number of large and complex datasets, evolving Industrial IoT and automation, improving computing power, and increasing venture capital investments. The incorporation of AI in manufacturing offers added value and helps in predictive maintenance which results into reducing operational costs and increasing productivity. Request a Sample Copy of the Report For COVID-19 Impact Analysis on AI in Manufacturing Market: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-30G2102/Global_Artificial_Intelligence_in_Manufacturing TRENDS INFLUENCING THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MANUFACTURING MARKET SIZE The evolution of industrial IoT and automation is expected to drive the growth of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market size. In the manufacturing sector, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) plays a key role in implementing AI-based technology. By allowing an architecture that provides real-time information on operational and business systems, industrial IoT makes industrial processes efficient. The AI-based system takes less time and can operate without errors hence. Manufacturing performance is improving, which further contributes to business growth. Furthermore, the growing use of deep learning technology in the manufacturing industry is expected to drive the growth of the AI in manufacturing market size. Investments from government and private institutions fuel the growth of global artificial intelligence in manufacturing market size. In smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence is most widely used in factory automation, order management, and automated scheduling. During the forecast period, an increasing number of AI technologies will be used for quality monitoring and fault management, supported by advancements in computer vision technology. On the contrary, it is anticipated that disinclination among manufacturers to implement AI-based technologies and the risk of unemployment caused due to robots replacing humans jobs would impede the market growth. View Report Details Before Purchasing: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-30G2102/global-artificial-intelligence-in-manufacturing ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MANUFACTURING MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS The hardware segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the AI in manufacturing market. For a long time, most AI hardware manufacturers have been in the business of supplying other technologies such as connected vehicles, machine vision cameras, and IoT with the same hardware components. This will allow companies to easily move the technology. In addition, the growing involvement of startups in AI hardware complements the growth of the hardware market. Based on Application, the quality control segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR in the AI in manufacturing market. AI in manufacturing helps provide real-time updates about the various stages of the manufacturing process. The computer vision segment is expected to hold the largest manufacturing market share during the forecast period. Using computer vision, robots can better understand and safely navigate in the factory environment and around humans. The implementation of AI-based computer vision in smart factories helps detect faults and flaws in the outcome of the product. The automotive sector is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Growing demand for autonomous vehicles, the adoption of innovative automotive technologies for quality control, increased demand for production tracking, predictive maintenance, and inspection of machinery is driving the market growth. Based on the region, the APAC region is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2026. The presence of a large number of manufacturing companies in China and Japan, together with the strong presence of automotive, electronics, and semiconductor companies, is driving the growth of AI in manufacturing market size. The rise in AI adoption in China's manufacturing sector has been boosted by favorable policies, ample funds, and the potential for AI implementation. Inquire for Regional Data: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-30G2102/Global_Artificial_Intelligence_in_Manufacturing ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MANUFACTURING MARKET SEGMENTS Based on regional and country-level analysis, the Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing market has been segmented as follows: North America United States Canada Europe Germany France UK. Italy Russia Nordic Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China Japan South Korea Southeast Asia India Australia Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Mexico Brazil Middle East & Africa Turkey Saudi Arabia UAE Rest of Middle East & Africa Inquire for Customized Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/QYRE-Auto-30G2102/Global_Artificial_Intelligence_in_Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Breakdown Data by Type Deep Learning Computer Vision Context Awareness Natural Language Processing. Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Breakdown Data by Application Semiconductor and Electronics Energy and Power Pharmaceuticals Automobile Heavy Metals and Machine Manufacturing Food and Beverages Others (Textiles & Aerospace). Key Players Siemens Intel Corporation NVIDIA Corporation Alphabet IBM Corporation Microsoft Corporation General Electric Company DataRPM, Sight Machine General Vision Alphabet Cisco Systems Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Oracle Corporation SAP SE Preferred Networks Vicarious Skymind Citrine Informatics CloudMinds Technologies Ubtech Robotics. Buy Now for Single User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-30G2102&lic=single-user Buy Now for Enterprise User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-30G2102&lic=enterprise-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS : Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market size is projected to reach USD 22590 Million by 2026, from USD 1943 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 41.5% during 2021-2026. size is projected to reach by 2026, from in 2019, at a CAGR of 41.5% during 2021-2026. Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market size is projected to reach USD 1300.4 Million by 2026, from USD 1076.2 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 19.8% during 2021-2026 size is projected to reach by 2026, from in 2020, at a CAGR of 19.8% during 2021-2026 Artificial Intelligence in the Energy Market is Segmented by Type (Machine Learning, NLP), by Application (Load Research & Forecasting, Transmission & Distribution) and by various regions. is Segmented by Type (Machine Learning, NLP), by Application (Load Research & Forecasting, Transmission & Distribution) and by various regions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education Market is segmented by Product Type - Machine Learning and Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Application - Virtual Facilitators and Learning Environments, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Content Delivery Systems, Fraud and Risk Management, by key players, by Regions - North America , Europe , China and Japan , etc. is segmented by Product Type - Machine Learning and Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Application - Virtual Facilitators and Learning Environments, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Content Delivery Systems, Fraud and Risk Management, by key players, by Regions - , , and , etc. Artificial Intelligence for Automotive Market is Segmented by Type (Machine Learning, Neural Networks), by Application (Autonomous Driving, Driver and Passenger Personalization and Enhancement, Enhanced Ability to Capture Data) and by various regions. is Segmented by Type (Machine Learning, Neural Networks), by Application (Autonomous Driving, Driver and Passenger Personalization and Enhancement, Enhanced Ability to Capture Data) and by various regions. AI In Telecommunication Market size is projected to reach USD 13450 Million by 2026, from USD 773 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 49.8% during 2021-2026. size is projected to reach by 2026, from in 2019, at a CAGR of 49.8% during 2021-2026. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Medicine market was valued at USD 719 Million in 2017 and is estimated to reach USD 18,119 Million at a CAGR of 49.6% from 2018 to 2025. was valued at in 2017 and is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 49.6% from 2018 to 2025. Artificial Intelligence Market size is expected to reach USD 169411.8 Million in 2025, from USD 4065 Million in 2016, growing at a CAGR of 55.6% from 2018 to 2025. Click Here To See Related Reports On Artificial Intelligence Market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. CONTACT US: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) has announced that the return journey of its asteroid-sampling OSIRIS-REx probe is being delayed by two months. In a statement on Tuesday, the American space agency said that the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft will leave asteroid Bennu and begin its journey back to Earth on May 10, 2021. Earlier, the spacecraft was supposed to leave the asteroid on March 3, 2021. NASA also mentioned that in the sample collection event that took place on October 20, 2020, the spacecraft collected a substantial amount of material from Bennus surface that exceeded the missions requirement of 60 grams. OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will finally touch down on earth on September 24, 2023. Michael Moreau, OSIRIS-REx deputy project manager at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland said in a statement that leaving Bennus surface in May will give them an apt chance when the departure manoeuvre will take up the least amount of the spacecrafts onboard fuel. He also mentioned with over 265 meters per second of velocity change, this will be the largest propulsive manoeuvre conducted by OSIRIS-REx since the approach to Bennu in October 2018. Also Read: NASA Spacecraft Successfully Stows Asteroid Bennu Sample, Set to Land on Earth Soon The spacecraft will remain close to asteroid Bennu and enter its Earth Return Cruise phase on May 10, 2021. OSIRIS-REx will jettison the Sample Return Capsule (SRC) as it will come closer to Earth in 2023. The SRC will then travel through the Earths atmosphere and land under parachutes at the Utah Test and Training Range. NASA will transport the capsule with asteroid samples to the curation facility at the agencys Johnson Space Center in Houston and distribute it to laboratories worldwide. The scientists will then study the formation of the solar system and Earth as a habitable planet. Scientists will also investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve the understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth. NASAs OSIRIS-Rex will join the two other missions: Japans Hayabusa 2 that brought samples from asteroid Ryugu and Chinas Chang'e 5 mission that will bring samples from the lunar surface. Also Read: Asteroid Bennu Promises Pristine ET Material From Space, Might Reveal Signs of Alien Life: NASA Japans Hayabusa2 mission returned to earth six years after it was sent on the mission. The spacecraft reached its stationary position above the asteroid Ryugu in June 2018 after travelling 3.2bn km on an orbit around the sun for more than three years. Meanwhile, Chinas Chang e 5 mission will be collecting samples from the moon and also test technologies that will be needed for future missions to the Moon as well as Mars. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 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 United Nations is working with Egypt to include migrants and refugees in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, with priority given to frontline workers and other vulnerable groups, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the secretary-general of the UN. According to the UN, migrants and refugees are among the social groups most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, as they are at the forefront of the pandemic, providing essential services and ensuring the continuity of supply chains across the Arab region. The UN spokesman described the Egyptian COVID-19 vaccination campaign as one of the largest among Arab States, he stated in a press briefing on Wednesday. Egypt has already started its massive vaccination campaign this week with technical support from UN experts, said Dujarric. The UN conducted a risk assessment as part of the COVAX programmes requirements, he added. COVAX is co-led by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the WHO in partnership with the European Union, to assist African and Asian countries in acquiring the vaccine. Dujarric stated that the UN team also coordinated with Egypt in terms of procurement and distribution of vaccines, as well as supply-chain management and healthcare waste management. Moreover, Dujarric said that the UN is working with Egypt on a communication strategy and community engagement in order to curb the spread of the virus and misinformation accompanying it and ensure widespread public vaccination. Egypt began inoculating medical staff on Sunday as a priority group, as the government is prioritising the medical teams at the isolation, fever, chest, and screening hospitals; followed by kidney failure and cancer patients; then the elderly, as they are at a higher risk of getting infected with COVID-19. The vaccination roll-out would see each person receiving two shots administered 21 days apart. Egypt detected 632 new COVID-19 cases and 48 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total infections toll in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic last year to 163,761 and the death toll from the virus to 9,115. Short link: A dozen states are reporting drops of 25% or more in new covid-19 cases and more than 1,200 counties have seen the same, federal data released Wednesday shows. Experts say the plunge may relate to growing fear of the virus after it reached record-high levels, as well as soaring hopes of getting vaccinated soon. Nationally, new cases have dropped 21% from the prior week, according to Department of Health and Human Services data, reflecting slightly more than 3,000 counties. Corresponding declines in hospitalization and death may take days or weeks to arrive, and the battle against the deadly virus rages on at record levels in many places. Health officials, data modeling experts and epidemiologists agreed it's too early to see a bump from the vaccine rollout that started with health care workers in late December and has, in many states, moved on to include older Americans. Instead, they said, the factors involved are more likely behavior-driven, with people settling back home after the holidays, or reacting to news of hospital beds running out in places like Los Angeles. Others are finding the resolve to wear masks and physically distance with the prospect of a vaccine becoming more immediate. A single reason is hard to pinpoint, said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She said it may be due in part to people hoping to avoid the new, more contagious variants of the virus, which some experts say appear to be deadlier as well. She also said so many people got sick in the last surge that more people may be taking precautions: "There's a better chance you know someone who had it," Casalotti said. Eva Lee, a mathematician and engineering professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, works on models predicting covid patterns. She said in an email that the decline reflects the natural course of the virus as it infects a social web of people, exhausts that cluster, dies down and then emerges in new groups. She also said the national trend, with even steeper drops in California, also reflects restrictions in that state, which included closing indoor dining and a 10 p.m. curfew in hard-hit regions. She said those measures take a few weeks to show up in new-case data. "It is a very unstable equilibrium at the moment," Lee wrote in the email. "So any premature celebration would lead to another spike, as we have seen it time and again in the US." Four California counties were among the five large U.S. counties seeing the steepest case drops, including Los Angeles County, where new cases declined nearly 40% in the week ending Jan. 25, compared with the week before. Dr. Karin Michels, chair of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said the lower numbers in L.A. after the virus infected 1 in 8 county residents likely mirror what happened after New York City's surge: People got very scared and changed their behavior. "People are beginning to understand we really need to get our act together in L.A., so that helps," she said. "The big fear [now] is 'Is it really going in this direction, is it plateauing, or where is it going to go?' We need to go further down, because it is really high." Michels said herd immunity would not explain the declines, since we're nowhere near the level of 70% of the population having had the disease or been vaccinated. She said the declines may also reflect a drop in testing, as Dodger Stadium has been converted from a mass testing site to a mass vaccination center. Officials with the California Department of Public Health acknowledged that testing has fallen off, but overall rates of positive covid tests are falling, suggesting the change is real. New cases also fell significantly in Wyoming, Oregon, South Dakota and Utah, with each state recording at least 30% fewer new cases. Each of those states reported having vaccinated 8% or more of their adult population by Tuesday, putting them among the top 20 states in terms of vaccination rate. Alaska leads the states currently, at nearly 15%, according to HHS. It's also logged a new-case drop of 24% in recent days. Yet experts aren't willing to say yet that the vaccines are driving cases down. "Most people in public health don't think we'll see the benefit of the vaccine until a few months from now," said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The number of deaths continues to remain high weeks after high case rates as the virus variably attacks the heart, kidneys, lungs and nervous system. Many patients remain unconscious and on a ventilator for weeks as doctors search for signs of improvement. The death rate fell by only 5% in the data posted Wednesday, reflecting 21,790 patients who died of the virus Jan. 19-25. Anxiety about new strains of the virus from the U.K., Brazil and South Africa remains high in Portland's Multnomah County, Oregon, which saw a drastic 43% new-case decline in recent days. The concern is that everything could change," said Kate Yeiser, spokesperson for the Multnomah County Health Department. Shoshana Dubnow contributed to this story. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Trump to Be Actively Involved in GOP Politics, Has No Third-Party Plans: Former Adviser A longtime adviser to Donald Trump said the former president will continue to be actively involved in Republican Party politics. The president continues to have enormous support and approval among Republican primary voters. He continues to have hundreds of millions of dollars in his campaign account, which he can utilize. And he will continue to be actively involved in recruiting candidates and holding elected officials accountable for their votes, Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager, told Fox News on Jan. 28. Lewandowski, who managed Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, said Trump wont form a separate party, after there were rumors and reports saying he might start his own Patriot Party. I dont think the president has any interest in being part of a third party, he said. Trumps political team disavowed any affiliation with a newly formed political committee called the MAGA Patriot Party. We are not supportive of this effort, have nothing to do with it, and only know about it through public reporting, campaign adviser Jason Miller told The Epoch Times several days ago. However, Lewandowski said the former president would be involved in supporting primary challenges against the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump earlier this month. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski at the U.S. Capitol on March 8, 2018. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) They will all get primary challenges in my opinion, Lewandowski said. I dont know at what level the presidents going to weigh in on each of those races, but I think he will be involved in a number of them. Among them is Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), a member of the House GOP leadership, who is receiving a primary challenge for her seat in 2022. Wyoming state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, a Republican, filed a statement of candidacy earlier this month. Wyoming was President Trumps best state both times he ran. Thats because Wyoming voters are strong conservatives who want our leaders to stand up for America, defend our freedoms, fight for our way of life and always put working people first as President Trump did, Bouchard said in a statement on Jan. 20. Were going to see how much influence the president wants to exert going forward, Lewandowski told Fox in his interview. I dont think anybody knows that yet. Polling shows that Trump remains very popular with Republicans, even as members of his party made critical comments following the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered all people in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh not to travel to other localities, to contain the spread of the coronavirus following the confirmation of over 80 community transmitted cases of COVID-19 in the two provinces. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the urgent meeting this morning. The PM convened an urgent meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control work on January 28 morning at the National Convention Hall where the 13th National Party Congress is taking place. PM Phuc spoke highly of the drastic and prompt actions taken by the Health Ministry, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and Hai Duong and Quang Ninh to trace people having possible contact with patients and to zone off newly-detected outbreaks. He asked ministries, sectors, and localities to carry out stricter measures, continue screening, and identify the reason and the root for the outbreaks. Publicizing information is essential but should not make people overly concerned, PM Phuc stressed, highlighting the need to promote prevention and control measures. Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam spoke at the meeting Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the steering committee, asked for the activation of the pandemic prevention and control mechanism and system in a hypothetical situation of there being tens of thousands of infections. He requested that all localities review their prevention measures, especially on the threshold of the Lunar New Year holiday, with a focus on airports, public transport, medical facilities, schools, offices, and markets. Vietnam has reported 84 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, including 73 in Hai Duong and 11 in Quang Ninh. Of the total, two were confirmed late on January 27 and the remainder on the morning of January 28. Of the two cases on January 27, a female patient in Hai Duong is related to a woman patient who tested positive for a new variant of the coronavirus upon arrival in Osaka, Japan. The other is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward in Quang Ninhs Ha Long city, who works at the provinces Van Don International Airport. Quang Ninh suspends public transport, closes schools after community cases detected Quang Ninh has decided to suspend transport services and closed schools. All land and waterway transport services coming in and out of the province will be temporarily suspended, according to an urgent telegram issued by the provincial Department of Transport. The decision took effect as from 06.00am on January 28 until further notice, said the telegram. The local administration also asked transport companies to soon complete trips, disinfect buses and boats, and keep a close watch on the health of drivers and conductors. For those who are currently on board buses or boats are required to make health declarations, don face masks and observe safe distance regulations. Van Don Airport closes following new virus clusters Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh has just closed after dozens of virus infection cases were reported. The Northern Airport Authority decided to temporarily close the airport for 24 hours from midday on January 28. On January 27, a 31-year-old security officer at the airport was confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. On the morning of January 28, 10 more people including his mother and nine colleagues were confirmed to have the virus. Speaking with Dantri, director of the Northern Airport Authority, Tran Hoai Phuong, said that the temporary suspension was to prevent the virus spreading and to carry out sterilisation work at the airport. "All flights scheduled to land or take off at Van Don Airport have been instructed to move to surrounding airports," he said." Director of Van Don International Airport, Pham Ngoc Sau, said that they had always conducted tight Covid-19 prevention measures so were very shocked by the virus case. "It has not yet been identified where the staff got the virus from," he said. "Were co-operating with the concerned agencies to trace the viral sources following instructions from the Ministry of Health. All of our staff have also taken viral tests." Hai Duong closes schools following Covid-19 outbreak Hai Duong has also decided to close all of its schools from tomorrow, January 29, due to a Covid-19 outbreak. Luong Van Viet, director of the Hai Duong Department of Education and Training said that all of 40,000 students in Chi Linh City had to stay at home from today, January 28, after 72 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed in the locality. Viet added that from Friday, all schools of different levels in the province with around 500,000 students would be temporarily shut for Covid-19 prevention efforts. The provincial peoples committee has requested strong Covid-19 prevention and control measures. Schools have been asked to prepare to teach students online in necessary cases. Sterilisation has been conducted at local schools. Drilling companies are struggling to fill gigs on mines thanks to coronavirus border closures and JobKeeper payments - despite offering $100,000-a-year salaries. Some exploration rigs in Western Australia have been left idle due to the labour shortage, causing concern for junior miners. There are fears the lack of workers will force investors to take their money elsewhere - despite an emerging boom in mineral commodities. Drilling companies are struggling to fill gigs on mines thanks to coronavirus border closures and JobKeeper payments despite offering $100,000 a year positions (stock image) 'There's a time now where people are pushing things and the money is there,' AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce told The West Australian. '(If) you push that back six or 12 months, maybe the appetite from investors and the companies starts to disappear.' Mr Pearce said the money is there and 'ready to go into the ground' but workers are needed to drill rigs to begin with. Drilling companies also blamed WA's hard border closure for the lack of workers, as it is hard to use FIFO employees, who would be required to endure 14 days of quarantine upon entering the state. Entry-level jobs into the mining industry - such as drilling offsider roles - typically offer $100,000-a-year salaries but interest has reportedly dwindled following the introduction of the JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments. DDH1 Drilling, which employs about 900 workers and has 96 rigs, typically received about 350 applications a month when advertising for offsiders before the coronavirus pandemic. The labour shortage has meant some exploration rigs in Western Australia have been left idle, causing concern for junior miners. Pictured: A driller and drill rig at work on a mine site in outback Australia But the drilling company said they only had 38 applicants in April 2020, when the government first introduced the wage subsidies. DDH1 co-founder and director Murray Pollock said they are struggling to find suitable candidates despite easing their application requirements. Mr Pearce said the drilling offsiders are hard to attract. 'It's a difficult job in remote locations, it's not necessarily the work of work people are looking for. But gee, it's a good starting salary,' he said. There are numerous job advertisements for drillers in Western Australia online here. Applicants do not require a tertiary education to be suitable for the gig but must be physically fit due to the demanding nature of the job. A HR licence is also required, while experience in the industry and a First Aid certification is desirable. Foreign Minister nominee Chung Eui-yong speaks to reporters as he arrives at a temporary office in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap South Korea's 'neutrality tactic' faces challenges By Kang Seung-woo A further deepening Sino-U.S. rivalry under the presidency of Joe Biden is putting Korea's "tightrope" diplomacy between the two key partners to the test. The United States is Korea's long-time security ally, while China is its top trading partner. Since taking office last week, Biden and his team have called on America's allies, including Korea, to work together to strengthen their alliances, which many view as a call to form an anti-China coalition. During Wednesday's phone conversation between Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the top U.S. diplomat said the alliance between the two countries is the "linchpin" of peace, security and prosperity for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and across the world an indication that Washington wants to use the military alliance to contain Beijing. "The Donald Trump administration failed to form a united front with its allies against China due to its unilateral and disorganized foreign policy, as evidenced by the former president picking trade fights with friends and foes alike. However, the Biden administration plans to implement its anti-China policy in a diplomatic and polished manner, enough to convince allies to follow it," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University. Citing Trump's fifth-generation (5G) ban that urged the U.S. and its allies to restrict Huawei from building their 5G networks, the U.S. government failed to provide relevant evidence despite requests from Korea, Japan and European countries. But the Biden administration may provide detailed evidence. In his contribution to Foreign Affairs magazine last year, Biden wrote, "The United States does need to get tough with China. If China has its way, it will keep robbing the United States and American companies of their technology and intellectual property." In response to the U.S. move, China has also stepped up efforts to loosen the "linchpin" by approaching Korea, which Beijing perceives as the weakest link in the U.S. alliance network. "China stands ready to strengthen coordination with Korea on international affairs, and to jointly contribute to safeguarding multilateralism and free trade," Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Moon Jae-in over the phone, Tuesday, according to reports by Chinese media. Given their phone conversation took precedence over a phone call between Moon and Biden, which is being arranged between the two governments, it was seen as China's move to neutralize Korea before Korea-U.S. cooperation can be strengthened. In addition, there are also concerns that a series of acts by the Moon Jae-in administration are raising speculation among U.S. government officials and observers that Korea is leaning toward China rather than sticking with the U.S. In response, Foreign Minister nominee Chung Eui-yong on Thursday called Korea's alliance with the U.S. the cornerstone of the nation's diplomacy, in what seemed to be a move to dispel concerns. "I think one of the most important tasks for our diplomacy is to continue developing our alliance with the United States in a sound and mutually beneficial manner," he told reporters. Citing rapid communications between the ministers of defense and foreign affairs and the national security advisers of the two countries, Chung said, "All of this proves that the two governments fully recognize and share the value and importance of the alliance." Park said the Korean government needs to establish a principle and take pre-emptive steps, rather than continuing to maintain an ambiguous stance. "South Korea recently made a rapid decision to join the Biden-proposed Summit for Democracy and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Both of them are anti-China coalitions, but the Chinese government did not take issue with it," the professor said. Park said the government needs to learn a lesson from the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, a U.S. missile defense shield that drew harsh retribution from China, which claims that the powerful radar of the system can be used to spy on its military maneuvers and hurt its security interests. In 2016, the Park Geun-hye administration remained ambiguous about the presence of THAAD on the Korean Peninsula, sounding as if Korea would not approve its deployment. But Park changed that stance abruptly and deployed the missile defense system here, angering the Chinese government which punished Korea by imposing an unofficial boycott on Korean products and enforcing tourism restrictions. Photo of the prisoner Nikolai Vavilov. Credit: The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (CC0) As public health experts feared, COVID-19 cases and deaths surged in the US following the Thanksgiving holiday, when millions of Americans ignored pleas to forego traditional gatherings. In a new Essay published 28th January in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, "Anti-science kills: from Soviet embrace of pseudoscience to accelerated attacks on US biomedicine," vaccine and infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez explains how the richest country in the world allowed the pandemic to spiral out of control. The unprecedented politicization of biomedical science in the US combined with an explosion of anti-science activities cloaked in rightwing rhetoric are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans, argues Dr. Hotez, professor of pediatrics and molecular virology, and dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. "This year of COVID19 exposed our vulnerabilities to pandemic threats, but also how a rising tide of anti-science can dramatically expand its devastating impact," said Dr. Hotez, who codirects the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital, which is helping to develop a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine. "We are learning a harsh reality that anti-science may represent almost as big a threat as the virus itself." For most of the pandemic the US has led the world in cases and deaths because the government refused to launch a coordinated national response or promote face masks, social distancing and other evidence-based safety measures, Dr. Hotez argues in the Essay. Instead, he writes, "the White House and its coronavirus task force, and famously the President himself, organized a campaign of disinformation." President Trump and his political associates promoted a rotating roster of conspiracy theories, false claims, and pseudoscience to inflate the curative properties of unproven treatments, dismiss the severity of the disease, and attack safety precautions as assaults on liberty, he argues. Trump's sustained assault on facts and evidence echoed similar anti-science campaigns by Brazil's Bolsonaro and Duterte of the Philippines, populist autocrats Trump has openly praised. These activities were further amplified by home-grown antivaccine and anti-science groups in the US. Starting in the summer of 2020, US attacks on evidence-based biomedicine spread to Europe, where they were amplified by far-right, and QAnon groups, Dr. Hotez writes. What began as "homegrown medical freedom protests against vaccines" in the US spread through Russian cyberattacks and rightwing protests in Europe. He calls for the establishment of a US Government inter-agency task force that includes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) but also Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Justice. Globally, the UN agencies must also look at similar options. Dr. Hotez revisits a dark chapter in the history of the Soviet Unionthe "Great Purge," when Stalin persecuted and executed scientists and millions of other so-called enemies of the stateto remind readers of the terrible fate that can befall citizens when their government leaders exploit science for political gain. More information: Hotez PJ (2021) Anti-science kills: From Soviet embrace of pseudoscience to accelerated attacks on US biomedicine. PLoS Biol 19(1): e3001068. Journal information: PLoS Biology Hotez PJ (2021) Anti-science kills: From Soviet embrace of pseudoscience to accelerated attacks on US biomedicine.19(1): e3001068. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001068 The new Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, a major general, has taken over the mantle of leadership of the Nigerian Army in an elaborate handing over ceremony by his predecessor, Tukur Buratai, on Thursday in Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Tuesday, announced the appointment of Mr Attahiru alongside other service chiefs. In line with the Nigerian Army tradition, the outgone army chief decorated his successor with the insignia of the office and handed the flag of office to him. The pulling out parade for Mr Buratai, a lieutenant general, will take place on Friday. Mr Buratai, while handing over the mantle of leadership, thanked God for a successful service to the nation and Mr Buhari for finding him worthy. He urged the new army chief to ensure that the Nigerian Army remains professionally responsive in the discharge of its constitutional duties. Mr Buratai said the army under his watch had ensured that democracy was supported and protected, urging his successor to ensure that the army continued to be loyal and professional. He also urged Mr Attahiru to remember him for improved professionalism of the Nigerian Army, improved responsiveness of the army in the area training administration and logistics needs of the army and responsiveness to Nigerias democratic imperativeness. I am proud to say that Nigerian Army has transformed to become a professionally responsive in the defence of democracy with utmost loyalty. Today, we have a professionally responsive army and we have achieved a lot in many areas over the years as well as interagency cooperation, he said. He commended the principal staff officers, corps commanders, commandant and directors for their cooperation during his time as the army chief. He also appreciated all the troops serving in all operations both home and abroad, especially the operation Lafiya Dole, Sahel Sanity, and Delta Safe, among others. Mr Buratai said as a COAS, he was proud to have defended the nations democracy and called on officers and men of the Nigerian Army to make it their duty to defend and protect democracy. READ ALSO: PROFILE: Meet the new Service Chiefs Premium Times Nigeria Responding, the new COAS pledged to sustain the giant stride of Nigerian Army under Mr Buratai, adding that he considered himself lucky to have been given the opportunity to succeed the outgone general. Earlier, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Lamidi Adeosun, a lieutenant general, said the former CoAS came, saw and conquered, adding that working with Mr Buratai was a rewarding experience. Mr Adeosun, while extolling the virtues of Mr Buratai, said he had achieved so much for Nigerian Army in terms of operational efficiency, personnel welfare and establishment of new units and formations. He said the army under Mr Buratai had also progressed well in the area of research and development, especially in the area of manufacturing of hardware locally. ADVERTISEMENT He expressed the confidence that the new army chief had what it would take to carry on with the big show left by his predecessor. Mr Adeosun commended Mr Buhari for appointing a worthy successor in the person of Mr Attahiru and congratulated Mr Buratai on successful bowing out of service after years of meritorious service to the nation. (NAN) Indianapolis, IN (46208) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low near 45F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/27/2021 -- The march towards greater electrification of Singapore's transport has gathered speed with big plans in the pipeline for 2021 and beyond. Singapore, as a global financial hub, has jumped into the fray in a big, bold way as it marches towards greater electrification throughout the transport sector by declaring it aims to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040. From the obstacles presented by the need to tackle COVID-19 to the influence of technology and disruption as a result of competition, those operating within the infrastructure sector have seen plenty of bumps in the road. However, infrastructure remains at the heart of progress in Singapore. LVI Associates has an extensive history working with businesses and people in Asia, identifying opportunities for both to develop and thrive. When it comes to Engineering and Infrastructure the firm has expertise in a wide range of different areas including; building services, construction, renewable energy and transportation. Engineering careers in Singapore cross through many of these areas and involve working for a broad spectrum of organisations, from agile enterprises to internationally renowned names in business and development. As the leading specialist recruitment agency for the infrastructure sector in Singapore, LVI Associates designs and delivers a range of permanent, contract and multi-hire solutions that take into account local need, as well as global conditions. The firm's team of expert consultants works with the most up to date recruitment technology and engages in constant ongoing training to keep service standards high. As well as the knowledge and insight that comes from being Singapore based for years, LVI Associates is also part of the Phaidon International Group, which is the recruitment partner of choice to 70+ world-leading companies. LVI Associates has an acute understanding of just how crucial infrastructure is and how important engineering careers are, both to the individuals who make them and the organisations where those people work. There is also the wider consideration that infrastructure has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of everyday people, whether that's through the construction of more energy efficient transport networks or ensuring a clean supply of water for everyone. No matter what the global conditions it's essential that infrastructure continues to evolve and develop and that means ensuring that the right connections are made between the people in this industry and the organisations that shape it. "Like many sectors, 2020 marked a defining moment for recruitment. Challenged by uncertainty, but unwavering in our commitment to our clients, we enter 2021 with a sense of duty to clients and candidates", commented Luis Rolim, Global Marketing Director at LVI Associates. He went onto say, "as we reflect on the challenges of virtually securing and retaining talent, we're inspired by a team who have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and continue to help all our clients secure top talent on a global scale." To find out more information about Engineering careers in Singapore visit https://www.lviassociates.sg/. For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital 020 7100 0726. For all other enquiries please contact LVI Associates Singapore: +65 3165 1400. For more information about LVI Associates Singapore services, please go to https://www.lviassociates.sg. About LVI Associates Singapore LVI Associates Singapore is the leading specialist recruitment agency for the infrastructure sector. Reimagining recruitment for this fast moving and innovative industry has enabled the firm to bring together the brightest talent and key enterprises to help continue to drive the sector forward. GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Climbing despite UKs Coronavirus Vaccine Woes Investors continue to buy the British Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate today, pushing the pair higher and higher. This is due largely to global market sentiment dampening demand for assets more correlated with trade and risk, as analysts believe the Pounds outlook is not entirely optimistic either. For now, investors are still awaiting developments in Britains coronavirus situation and tomorrows Canadian growth rate data. Since opening this week at the level of 1.7430, GBP/CAD has been trending with an upside bias. GBP/CAD continues to climb today, pushing ahead into multi-month highs despite concerns over Britains coronavirus outlook. At the time of writing, GBP/CAD is trending near highs of 1.7569 - the best level for the pair since August. Part of the pairs resilient performance has been due to lingering demand for the Pound, which continues to rise against riskier currencies on coronavirus vaccine hopes. Britains coronavirus vaccine programmes are further along than those of most other major economies, with millions having already received their first doses. Markets generally expected the vaccine rollout will continue to improve, which is keeping the Pound more appealing than other major currencies. However, the Pounds outlook is still filled with uncertainties. Despite investor optimism around the vaccine, some analysts are still expressing concern over Britains still-high infection rates and the possibility of months more lockdown and restrictions. According to You-Na Park-Heger, Strategist at Commerzbank: We consider Sterling optimism to be excessive and we see the risk of disappointed expectations. We therefore urge caution about betting on further Sterling gains, The markets are clearly ignoring that the current infection situation in the UK is still very tense, There is a high degree of uncertainty as it is difficult to say how the pandemic is going to develop short-term and when and how quickly the restrictions can be eased, Whats more, recent UK data continues to show the nations economy is struggling under the pandemic. As a result, the Pounds resilient strength in recent sessions is being perceived as volatile and limited. Canadian Dollar (CAD) Exchange Rates Weighed by Markets Coronavirus and Oil Price Jitters The Canadian Dollar is a currency that is more commonly correlated to market risk and trade sentiment than the Pound. As a result, it is being hit more by the markets shift in sentiment over the coronavirus pandemic than the Pound is. Coronavirus infection rates remain high in many major economies, with many still seeing lockdowns and struggles in securing vaccines. On top of these factors, big losses in riskier assets like stocks and oil prices weighed on the Canadian Dollar. According to Michael Goshko, Corporate Risk Manager at Western Union Business Solutions: The Canadian has pulled back in what could be the slight unwinding of a very crowded trade; long risk, short US Dollars Prices of oil, Canadas biggest commodity export, have been jittery and slipping from highs over fears that the worse than hoped coronavirus situation will continue to weigh on oil demand. GBP/CAD Forecast: Risk-On and Strong Canadian Data Could Knock Pair Lower The Pound to Canadian Dollar exchange rate is still climbing, but the Pounds appeal is limited. Investors may be more hesitant to keep buying the Pound if concerns about Britains coronavirus outlook start to take more focus. Whats more, if the Canadian Dollar sees a jump in demand soon this could also knock GBP/CAD lower. Tomorrow will see the publication of some of this weeks most influential Canadian data. Canadas November growth rate results will be particularly influential. If Canadian growth beats forecasts, it could boost hopes for the Canadian economys resilience to the coronavirus pandemic. If the global coronavirus or vaccine outlook shows any signs of improvement, this could also boost oil prices and the Canadian Dollar. Amid a lack of notable UK data due until next week, the Pound to Canadian Dollar exchange rate will be driven more by coronavirus news and Canadian data. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Runu Veronica Costa, a nurse, becomes the first person in Bangladesh to receive a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, at the Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka, Jan. 27, 2021. Bangladesh kicked off coronavirus vaccinations on Wednesday, while Thailand and the Philippines said they would begin inoculations next month, even as they await their first shipments from vaccine developers. Inoculations already are underway in Indonesia, where authorities said the general public would start receiving the jabs next month. Meanwhile, neighboring Malaysia kicked off its first COVID-19-related clinical trials. In Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the launch of the coronavirus vaccination drive, as health authorities inoculated the first Bangladeshi citizen, Runu Veronica Costa. She is a senior nurse at the Kurmitola General Hospital, a facility dedicated to the treatment of patients stricken with the disease. Are you afraid, Runu? Hasina asked the nurse, as the prime minister joined the ceremony online from her official residence in the capital. Not at all, Runu replied, as she was injected with the first of two doses required of the Covishield vaccine, part of a gift of 2 million doses from India. Covishield was developed by Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and produced by the Serum Institute of India. In addition to Indias gift, the government has also received a shipment of 5 million of the 30 million doses of Covishield it agreed to buy from the Indian institute. The state-run Bangladesh Television and private TV channels telecast the vaccination launch live, in a bid to allay peoples fear about the vaccine. Bangladesh expects to inoculate 16 million people with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine by June, as it pursues efforts to obtain more vaccines from other producers, Minister of Health Zahid Maleque said. Currently we have 70 lakh (seven million) doses of Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine in hand. We can vaccinate 35 lakh (3.5 million) people with the current stock, Maleque told BenarNews. By June, we can vaccinate 1.6 crore (16 million) people with the 3.2 crore (32 million) doses of vaccine. Our target is to administer vaccines to every citizen of Bangladesh in phases. So, we have been exploring all sources to buy safe vaccines from all producers, and we are getting a good response. On Wednesday, Hasina told Parliament that Bangladesh would get 68 million doses of vaccines free of cost from the World Health Organization-backed COVAX/GAVI vaccine sharing platform. Maleque said these vaccines may arrive in Bangladesh by May. The vaccines obtained via COVAX would inoculate 34 million Bangladeshis. When completed, the COVAX and Covishield vaccines would have inoculated 50 million people, of a total population of 165 million. Bangladesh has been seeing steady declines in new coronavirus infections since Dec. 10. Still, it has a cumulative caseload of more than 530,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 8,000 related deaths. There is a huge demand for vaccines in the world. We have been in negotiations with different stakeholders Russian and U.S. vaccine producers. We are serious, but not worried about the availability of [more] vaccines in the coming months, Maleque said. Indonesia to get 54 million free vaccine doses In Indonesia, the country with the most cumulative COVID-19 cases in East Asia, vaccinations began earlier this month with CoronaVac, a drug developed by Chinese state-owned Sinovac. Still, Southeast Asias most populous nation, with 270 million people, topped 1 million infections on Tuesday. President Joko Jokowi Widodo had some good news about vaccinations on Wednesday, though. First, health workers are prioritized. [For the general public], I think we can do it [vaccinations] starting mid-February, Jokowi said, adding that 250,000 health workers had been vaccinated so far. About 181 million people are expected to be vaccinated over 15 months, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said this month. Thats the number of people that need to be inoculated to achieve herd immunity, Indonesias Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani told CNBC on Monday. Indonesia so far has received 18 million doses of Sinovacs vaccine. The government had also signed deals to buy a total of 279 million doses of vaccines from various developers, Budi said. A deal to purchase 50 million doses of the vaccine developed by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer with its German partner BioNTech was still being finalized. Indonesia also hopes to get 54 million doses of vaccines through COVAX, he said. The current COVAX/GAVI figure stands at 54 million [doses] and there is a possibility they could increase it to 108 million [doses], Budi said. Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center) receives the countrys first COVID-19 vaccine jab at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Jan. 13, 2021. [Handout from Indonesias Presidential Palace/AFP] V-Day in February Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Thailand and the Philippines expect to begin COVID-19 vaccinations next month. Thailand has placed orders for 61 million doses of AstraZenecas vaccine and 2 million doses of the one produced by Sinovac. These orders will inoculate 31.5 million people by the end of this year, according to Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul. He said the orders were enough to cover about 63 percent of the targeted population of 50 million. The countrys total population is 66 million. The first 50,000 doses from AstraZeneca will be delivered in the first half of February and the first vaccines will be administered on Feb. 14, to health personnel, Anutin said at a conference on Monday. Thailand had been among the least affected by the global pandemic but the COVID-19 caseload shot up after a wave of infections in December, largely among migrant workers. The country now has more than 14,000 cases and a total of 75 virus-related deaths. Meanwhile, the Philippines is the worst affected country in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia, having recorded more than half a million coronavirus infections and more than 10,000 virus-related deaths. The country is expecting around 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccines by February from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinovac Carlito Galvez, head of the countrys COVID-19 vaccine procurement program, said Wednesday. More or less, we may have an early rollout [of the vaccines] in February, Galvez told a press briefing, noting that more than one million doses would likely be administered then. He didnt say how many doses each the country would get from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinovac. Earlier this month, Chinas foreign minister promised to donate half a million vaccine doses to the Philippines, but it wasnt clear which vaccine Beijing would donate. Only Pfizer has secured approval from Philippine food and drug regulators for emergency use in the country. The aim is to administer vaccines to about 70 million people of the countrys total population of 109 million, Galvez said. According to him, inoculating 70 million people was enough to achieve herd immunity. Malaysias first clinical trials Meanwhile, Malaysia on Wednesday kicked off a clinical trial with a little-known COVID-19 vaccine developed and sponsored by the Institute of Medical Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science Academy (IMBCAMS). The Phase 3 clinical trial involves 3,000 volunteers in nine hospitals in Sarawak, Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Selangor, and will run for 13 months, Minister of Health Adham Baba said. The name of the Chinese institutes vaccine wasnt disclosed. Malaysia has been chosen as the first country outside China to participate in this phase 3 clinical trial of this vaccine, the institutes head of Research and Development, told Chinas Xinhua news agency. On Tuesday, Malaysia inked deals with domestic pharmaceutical companies Pharmaniaga and Duopharma, to procure a total of 18.4 million doses of vaccines from Sinovac and from Russias Gamaleya Research Institute. This is in addition to purchase agreements with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and an agreement with COVAX. Malaysia now has agreements to procure 56.2 million doses of vaccines, which would be enough to cover 88 percent of the countrys 32.7 million population. Malaysia had said it was planning to vaccinate 70 percent of its population. The country is on track to receive the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of February, as agreed with Pfizer in November last year, Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation said on Jan. 14. The government of Malaysia will start the vaccination programs rollout on Feb. 26, the health minister told Arab News on Saturday. Kamran Reza Chowdhury, Ronna Nirmala, Hadi Azmi, Wilawan Watcharasakwet and Basilio Sepe contributed to this report from Dhaka, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Arshad Madani said on Thursday that Chief Justice of India SA Bobde's observations while hearing the Muslim body's plea earlier in the day had "validated its contention that the media did not act responsibly in Tablighi Jamaat Markaz case". The JuH had petitioned the court against several TV channels and print media outlets for allegedly linking the spread of coronavirus with the congregation of Jamaat followers at its Nizamuddin headquarters in February 2020 and thus deliberately conspired to tarnish the image of Muslims, especially those from the Jamaat, and to spread hatred between the Hindus and Muslims. "What we have been saying since day one on this matter has been reiterated by the Chief Justice of India in his comments that he is not against anyone's right to speak, nor they are in favour of banning anyone from speaking, but they are against the fake news published in media and the way in which an individual or a sect is targeted," Madani said. He lamented that unfortunately for the last few years, the media, especially the electronic media, had been "deliberately" doing all this to provoke heated debates and harass a particular community, and trying its best to convince the people that what they said or showed was true, as was the case with the Tablighi Jamaat. "We too are not against the freedom of speech, but we want that what the biased media is showing nowadays is not only against the Constitution and laws of the country, but also hurtful to a certain section of society. And today's comments by the Chief Justice make it clear like a crystal that our position is 100 per cent correct," the Muslim leader added. Hearing a JuH petition against what it called "fake and motivated news" disseminated during the Jamaat congregation in February 2020, the Supreme Court cited the Internet ban as a preventive measure to contain violence which was also done by authorities during the farmers' protest in Delhi on January 26. A bench headed by the Chief Justice emphasised that at some point in time, the central government has to control news and cited the suspension of Internet services in various parts of the national capital following violence on Republic Day. The Chief Justice emphasised that "fair and truthful reporting is normally not a problem; but the problem begins when it is used to agitate others and target a particular community". Tanzania's President John Magufuli has warned health officials against acquiring Covid-19 vaccines saying - without giving evidence - that they could harm the population. "The ministry of health should be careful, they should not hurry to try these vaccines without doing research, not every vaccine is important to us, we should be careful. We should not be used as guinea pigs'," Mr Magufuli said. Vaccinations are dangerous. If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for Aids, cancer and TB by now. BBC health reporter Philippa Roxby says vaccines are rigorously tested in trials involving thousands of people before being assessed by regulators, who look at all the data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines before approving them for use on a wider population. The aim of vaccines is to save lives by protecting people from deadly diseases, she says. President Magufuli urged Tanzanians to continue taking precautions, saying prayers and traditional medicine, including steam inhalation, were the way to deal with coronavirus. Many countries have lockdown, but in Tanzania there are no plan of lockdown and well never introduce lockdown because our God is alive and he will continue to protects us. The president, a devout Catholic who last year declared the country free of Covid-19, did not comment on the Catholic Church's concern about the recent spike in deaths in its urban parishes. After successfully containing the spread of the virus last year, Tanzania was now facing a new wave of the virus spread, the church said in a statement on Tuesday. Our country is not an island. We have every reason to take precautions and pray to God so that we can be saved from this pandemic. Over the weekend, Bishop Yuda Thadei Ruwaichi of Dar es Salaam said: "Covid is not finished, Covid is still here. Let's not be reckless, we need to protect ourselves, wash your hands with soap and water. We also have to go back to wearing masks. The president also failed to address reports from Denmark that two of its citizens - who had visited Tanzania - had tested positive for the new Covid-19 strain from South Africa. He instead blamed citizens who travel out of the country for "importing a new weird corona". Tanzania stopped publishing official data about coronavirus in June last year. 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 Social care is in danger of an imminent collapse that also risks breaking the NHS, health leaders warn today. Experts believe the failure to reform the crumbling care system is a major reason Britain has suffered Europes worst death toll. Of the 103,000 people in the UK who have died from Covid-19, one in three 31,000 lived in care homes. Fifteen medical bodies today join forces to demand Boris Johnson drastically overhauls social care after the broken system was brutally exposed by the pandemic. The report warns social care spending has fallen by 12 per cent in the past decade, with 1.4million adults missing out on vital support. This has devastating consequences for the NHS, as vulnerable patients end up in A&E needlessly and become stranded in hospital beds. Todays report from the Heath for Care coalition warns: The Government must fix social care or risk breaking the NHS too. Experts believe the failure to reform the crumbling care system is a major reason Britain has suffered Europes worst death toll. Of the 103,000 people in the UK who have died from Covid-19, one in three 31,000 lived in care homes. Pictured: Support Workers perform a physiotherapy treatment on a care home patient in May, 2020 The new coalition which is led by the NHS Confederation and includes the Royal College of GPs, Royal College of Physicians and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said reform cannot be delayed any longer. Their major intervention comes 18 months after Mr Johnson pledged to fix social care once and all in his first speech as Prime Minister, following a major Daily Mail campaign on the crisis. But his Government is yet to publish a plan for the sector. The report urges the Government to provide a long-term funding settlement, to extend the eligibility criteria so many more patients can receive support, and to fix the workforce crisis. Pictured: NHS staff assist a patient outside of the Royal London hospital in London, Britain, 25 January 2021. Fifteen medical bodies today join forces to demand Boris Johnson drastically overhauls social care after the broken system was brutally exposed by the pandemic Currently there are an estimated 112,000 empty social care posts. The report says: Unpaid carers bear the brunt, often at great cost to their own health wellbeing. Free care is tightly rationed and the financial costs can be catastrophic for families. Lead author Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: When Boris Johnson delivered his first speech as prime minister on the steps of Downing Street 18 months ago, he promised to fix the crisis in social care once and for all but despite decades of delay, the Government has not made any visible or tangible progress on this issue. 'Without social care reform, with a clear and transparent timetable for delivery set out, and backed up by a long-term funding settlement, not only will the NHS and social care continue to run at near breaking point through the pandemic, but they will struggle to address the long-term health and social care issues the pandemic leaves in its wake. The Office for National Statistics said there were 1,705 deaths in English care homes reported to the Care Quality Commission in the seven days to January 22, up from 661 a fortnight ago A Daily Mail campaign, launched 18 months ago, exposed the injustice of how dementia patients have to fork out billions of pounds for care. In England adults are forced to pay the full cost of social care until their assets including the value of their home fall below 23,250. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: The current system creates an enormous disparity between people with some health conditions who are treated for free on the NHS, and others who struggle to access care at all and are charged when they do. A Government spokesman said: Delivering a care system that is fit for the future, in which people are treated with dignity and respect, remains a top priority and we will bring forward proposals for sustainable improvements to the system later this year. In November, Andrei Doroshin, 22, confidently introduced himself to City Council members as the person they could count on to run a massive injection site that would quickly get the coronavirus vaccine into the arms of thousands of Philadelphians. At a meeting of Councils committee on public health and human services centering on vaccines, Doroshin shared his vision for how Philly Fighting COVID could activate a crucial public-health project, one that would require hundreds of people and millions of dollars. Everybody is going to want to get a vaccine, the Drexel University graduate student told the committee, and its going to be a huge problem. The Nov. 19 meeting was framed as an informational meeting for council members to hear updates on the citys vaccine-distribution preparedness from members of the Health Departments Vaccine Advisory Committee, which included medical professionals and community leaders. Doroshin, who was a member of that group, asked for the committees assistance, and guidance. Already, his group had budgeted $2.7 million to construct five sites that would handle 10,000 patients a day. In previous interviews, Doroshin has said he funded Philly Fighting COVID with his personal finances and donations. He told council his group had begun training staff, implementing a plan to hire about 500 people in 60 days, bringing on educators, and launching a marketing campaign in line with city planning. During that meeting, no council member pressed Doroshin about his groups health-care qualifications. For about 10 minutes on a video call, Doroshin assured council members that his group, which consisted of himself and college friends, was up to handling one of the most crucial city responses to the pandemic. Two months later, it has all fallen apart as the city has severed ties with the organization. Councilmember Bobby Henon, vice chair of the committee, said he was aware of Doroshin through his companys work running coronavirus testing sites and viewed the group as a trusted partner. He said he viewed the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium similarly, as the group had also been testing the community and Dr. Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon who founded the group, also spoke at the November meeting. They already had a history of COVID testing Philadelphians so they had somewhat of an infrastructure, Henon said on Wednesday, referring to both groups. I was always under the impression that those two groups had significant influence as a partner working with the Health Department to help support vaccinating the entire city. I never questioned either one of them. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas remembers watching the testimony about Philly Fighting COVID and thinking it seemed more like a pitch of the organization, rather than offering expert testimony. He didnt come off to us as the experts who we needed to be inquisitive towards to galvanize for information, Thomas said about Doroshin. He called the partnership a huge mistake. At the time of the November council meeting, Philly Fighting COVID was known for having run coronavirus testing sites through a city contract for months, and Doroshin landed a spot on the citys Vaccine Advisory Committee. He has since been removed from the committee. We did the job and what we promised. The only thing that got in the way was city politics, Doroshin said in a text message. We did what we said we would. After that, why do my credentials matter? James Mussalem, who had been listed as the groups chief of staff earlier this week, told The Inquirer that Philly Fighting COVID will hold a news conference on Friday. Documents obtained by The Inquirer show the Kenney administration awarded more than $190,000 to Philly Fighting COVID. Doroshin provided The Inquirer with copies of the contract and applications. The Inquirer requested this information through a public records request to the city last week that has gone unfilled. A Health Department spokesperson confirmed it ultimately authorized more than $111,000 in invoiced charges for testing services by Philly Fighting COVID. The city has not awarded the group any funding for vaccinations. This week, the city severed its partnership with Philly Fighting COVID, saying the group failed to promptly disclose its switch to a for-profit business and its privacy policy, which outlines ways private information could be sold. Councilmember Cindy Bass, the public health and human services committee chair, says she felt duped and plans to call for hearings. Many residents who got their first shot from Philly Fighting COVID are confused about where to get their second, though the Health Department says it will fill this gap. And Doroshin says he has been unfairly blamed for a debacle that has destroyed an initiative that was supposed to set Philadelphia on a path toward safety and normalcy. Philly Fighting COVID was created to help low-income communities with access to free medical care and testing, he said during the November committee meeting. I was called here to discuss the administration of this vaccine. Henon asked Doroshin about logistics. Doroshin assured Henon that his group was aiming to get people vaccinated at sites where they are in and out within a matter of minutes. The only other pushback he heard was from Councilmember Helen Gym, who asked him not to interrupt Dr. PJ Brennan, the chief medical officer for Penn Medicine. It is unclear if Doroshin had plans, at the time of the meeting, to drop Philly Fighting COVIDs nonprofit status. Three weeks later, Doroshins for-profit arm, Vax Populi, a privately held corporation, was established with the state. A recent application for a contract to administer vaccines shows how Philly Fighting COVID was planning on rebranding itself as Vax Populi a for-profit company solely focused on vaccines and leveraging its past relationship with the city through testing and creating face shields for health-care workers. This month, the Health Department, along with other city officials, steered Philadelphians to Philly Fighting COVIDs vaccine preregistration website, encouraging people to Pre-Commit to Getting Vaccinated. On the site, users were asked to fill out a form with their date of birth, cell phone number, occupation, race, ethnicity, number of people in their household, and medical conditions that may increase the severity of the virus. The site said it would contact them once they were eligible for a vaccine. By Jan. 8, the group was running the citys mass vaccination site at the Convention Center and Doroshin has said the group gave first doses of the vaccine to nearly 7,000 people. The Philadelphia City Council seal was originally included on Philly Fighting COVIDs website. However, the group was never authorized to use the seal, City Council President Darrell L. Clarkes spokesperson Joe Grace told The Inquirer earlier this week. It was removed last week at Councils request. ADVERTISEMENT The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Nasiru Gawuna, says about 20,000 farmers in the state have benefited from a special Federal Government agriculture enhancement programme. The federal government introduced Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project to boost food production in the country. Mr Gawuna stated this at the inauguration of the Pre-6th Implementation Support Midterm Review of the APPEALS Project and Zonal Wrap-Up meeting on Wednesday in Kano. He said more than 10,000 rice, wheat and tomato farmers would be trained on modern techniques to encourage productivity, processing and farmer enterprising skills to add value to the produce. The deputy governor said that 6,344 farmers were also trained while 1,700 youth and women as well as persons with disabilities were exposed to poultry and fishery productions. The trainees, he said, would be supported with economic strengthening equipment to enable them to set up their businesses, encourage agricultural activities and boost the states revenue base. APPEALS is designed in line with the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) of the Federal Government, it is contributing to the agriculture policy thrusts of the Kano State Government. It is centered on food security, support to local production, job creation, economic diversification and improved revenue generation through agriculture. Kano State Government is committed towards supporting local production through provision of improved inputs to achieve increased productivity and marketing of agricultural produce, he said. He urged the beneficiaries to use what they learnt to improve their production. Mr Gawuna reiterated the continued government support to the programme to enable it to achieve its objectives. Meanwhile, the APPEALS National Project Manager, Salisu Garba, said the programme being implemented in six states across the country was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the World Bank. Mr Garba said the project has recorded significant successes in terms of technology adoption and farmer support services in Kano state since inception in 2016. He explained that the five-day meeting was designed to appraise project implementation in all components, adding that the participants were drawn from Cross River, Kano and Kogi states. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deputy governor accompanied by the project officials inspected a 50-tonne capacity preservation facility at Tomato Aggregation Centre, Kwanar Ungogo. They also visited a wheat bakery cluster in Dala Local Government Area of the state. (NAN) The number of people who have tested positive for the new UK variant of Covid-19 in India has climbed to 165, the government announced on Thursday. This comes as Pfizer and BioNTech, makers of a Covid-19 vaccine, today said that their product is effective against the coronavirus variants that have emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Pfizer-BioNTech's statement comes after US biotech firm Moderna this week announced that its coronavirus vaccine also appears to work against the new and more infectious variants of Covid-19 found in the UK and South Africa. Meanwhile, India on Wednesday extended the temporary restrictions imposed on flights originating from the UK to India till 14 February. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal In a letter to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airlines, the Civil Aviation Ministry said that the restrictions on flights between India and Britain have been extended till 14 February (23.59 hours). However, the restrictions do not imply a ban on flights between the two countries but rather seek to limit the number of flights permitted to operate. As per the restrictions in place, as many as 30 flights will be allowed per week. Fifteen of them will be operated by Indian carriers and 15 by British ones. Currently, flights to Britain are operating out of only New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The country reported 11,666 fresh Covid-19 cases in a span of 24 hours, as the tally rose to 10,701,193, the government data showed on Thursday. The death toll rose to 153,847 with 123 new fatalities in the last 24 hours. With agency inputs Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Sir, You might have had an experience where you asked someone a question relative to their field of profession and all of a sudden they go on with all kinds of verbiage, esoteric terms showing you how much they know or how clever they are. In schools subjects, pupils are taught using language, and the subjects are understood by understanding the language that expresses them. A great teacher would begin by seeking to understand the mind of his pupil as to what it comprehends and what it does not yet comprehend. Language The next thing he would seek to use the language most suitable for the pupil. For he knows that in order to impress his lessons or ideas, it is critical that he uses not only the language understood by him, but also understood by the learner. But responsibilities to communicate and learn rest not only with the teacher, but learners too have a share in this. Thus the teacher will also encourage his learners to be industrious in seeking to learn the language with which the subject is being conveyed to them. He may also encourage his learners to tell him what language is most suitable to their learning - a language that will impress his ideas to them in a manner that such ideas will be remembered by the pupils. Humble The teacher should be humble enough to take the advice of his learners on what language is most suited to them. For at the end of the day, it is not the teacher we are most concerned about, but it is the pupils who should have the learning. It is very bad for the teacher, standing before pupils, to think he is teaching them only to find that he is talking to himself, because he uses a language understood by only himself. It is very easy for a teacher to go to his pupils and show them how clever and learned he is by using big and strange words that wows or stuns his learners but leave them confused. This has a tendency to lead the pupils celebrating the teacher and not celebrating the teachings which they are at school for. Majority Sometimes when the majority of the pupils dont understand, because he uses a language they dont understand, he says; Ngihamba nala bahambako, a very irresponsible attitude. Therefore, as Brigham Young says; How precious is the gift of communication. How delightful it is to a person whose mind is stored with rich ideas to have power to communicate them to his fellows, to his family, friends and the acquaintances with whom he associates. Therefore, teachers, males or females, please use a language that your pupils will understand. M Nkambule Boris Johnson defended his decision to visit Scotland during lockdown today as he defied nationalist demands for a new independence referendum. The Prime Minister said he travelled 'in my capacity as Prime Minister of the whole country' after visiting Glasgow to highlight the UK-wide fight against coronavirus. His comments came after it was revealed separatists had reported him to Police Scotland over his flight from London this morning - with officers clearing him to undertake the 'working visit'. He used the trip to slap down demands from Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP for a new referendum to capitalise on a surge in support for independence. A series of surveys have put backing for breaking up the UK at up to 57 per cent - with the nationalists demanding a fresh referendum as early as this year and threatening to hold a 'wildcat' vote if Mr Johnson does not give permission. But speaking to broadcasters today Mr Johnson said 'the very same people who go on and on about another referendum also said only a few years ago in 2014 that this was a once in a generation event'. 'I don't think that the right thing to do is to talk endlessly about another referendum when I think what the people of the country want, what the people of Scotland want in particular, is for us to fight this pandemic,' he said. 'It's great to see everything that Scotland is contributing to the national effort, it's quite amazing. I think what people want to see is us bouncing back more strongly together. 'I don't see the advantage in us getting lost in pointless constitutional wrangling when, after all, we had a referendum not so very long ago.' The SNP responded to Mr Johnson's trip by tweeting a picture of him arriving at Glasgow Airport, with the caption: 'Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.' Meanwhile Jacob Rees-Mogg called Ms Sturgeon 'Moanalot' following her remarks that Boris Johnson's trip to Scotland is not an essential journey. Boris Johnson visited a coronavirus testing hub in Glasgow today as he defied Nicola Sturgeon by heading to Scotland Boris Johnson is shown the Lighthouse Laboratory, used for processing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) samples for coronavirus, during a visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow Police Scotland said it had received several complaints after the Prime Minister flew from London in an RAF jet to Glasgow in defiance of Nicola Sturgeon's warning to stay away Boris bump: The Prime minister later met British Army soldiers setting up a vaccination centre in Castlemilk Rees-Mogg brands Sturgeon 'Moanalot' Jacob Rees-Mogg has called Nicola Sturgeon 'Moanalot' following her remarks that Boris Johnson's trip to Scotland is not an essential journey. The House of Commons leader insisted the Prime Minister's visit is 'something we should be proud of as a nation'. He told MPs: 'Well, I used to think that Moanalot was a fictional character, but it turns out it's actually the First Minister of Scotland. 'All Ms Sturgeon can ever do is moan a lot. She moans when distinguished royal personages visit Scotland, she moans when the Prime Minister visits Scotland, people doing their duty, doing their job. 'And the visit to Livingston is something we should be proud of as a nation, visiting a vaccine factory, a factory that has made enormous strides to develop, produce a vaccine that is waiting approval to help in the fight against Covid.' Advertisement Mr Johnson is extolling the virtues of the union amid alarm that the separatist case has been gaining traction, with polls showing Ms Sturgeon is seen as having handled the pandemic much better. He was shown around the 'Lighthouse' hub for PCR samples at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital this morning and later met British Army soldiers setting up a vaccination centre in Castlemilk. The SNP decried the trip as that of 'a Prime Minister in panic', but Number 10 defended the visit, with a spokesman saying such trips were a 'fundamental part' of his job. The PM insisted the UK's response to the pandemic - including the huge vaccine rollout - showed the value of the union as he travelled north of the border despite the First Minister swiping that it is not an 'essential' trip. As the government hammers home the case for staying together, it has been announced that a vaccine plant is getting up and running in Scotland that could supply the UK with 60million doses by the end of the year. Police Scotland said it had received several complaints after the Prime Minister flew from London in an RAF jet to Glasgow in defiance of Ms Sturgeon's warning to stay away. But it said that Mr Johnson's trip was a 'working visit in his official capacity as Prime Minister' of the United Kingdom, and officers were 'policing the event appropriately'. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove batted away criticism of the jaunt this morning, saying Mr Johnson wanted to thank frontline workers who were battling the virus. 'He is the Prime Minister of the whole United Kingdom,' Mr Gove said. Meanwhile, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg branded the SNP leader 'Moanalot' - pointing out she had also complained about Royals going to Scotland. Downing Street plans to stress the benefits of being in the UK for Scotland, with Mr Johnson highlighting the support afforded Scots during the Covid-19 crisis. A new poll by Savanta ComRes has found 57 per cent of Scots back independence while 43 per cent back staying part of the UK The survey suggests the SNP is on course for a crushing victory at Holyrood elections in May Nicola Sturgeon (pictured at FMQs today) has attacked Boris Johnson over his visit to Scotland Officials said the UK Government had delivered more than one million rapid lateral flow test kits to Scotland so far and is funding testing sites across the country - including seven drive-through centres, 27 walk-through sites and 21 mobile testing units, along with the Lighthouse Lab in Glasgow. Westminster cash has provided 62 per cent of testing kits in Scotland, Number 10 added. Speaking ahead of his visit to Scotland, the Prime Minister said: 'The great benefits of co-operation across the whole of the UK have never been clearer than since the beginning of this pandemic. 'We have pulled together to defeat the virus, providing 8.6 billion to the Scottish Government to support public services whilst also protecting the jobs of more than 930,000 citizens in Scotland. 'We have a vaccine programme developed in labs in Oxford being administered across the United Kingdom by our armed forces, who are helping to establish 80 new vaccine centres across Scotland. 'That's how we are delivering for the people of Scotland so we can ensure the strongest possible recovery from the virus. 'Mutual co-operation across the UK throughout this pandemic is exactly what the people of Scotland expect and it is what I have been focused on. 'The people of the UK have stood together during this pandemic: from our doctors and nurses in our hospitals to our shop workers, scientists, lorry drivers and teachers - working together as one truly United Kingdom is the best way to build our Covid recovery.' In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Gove defended Mr Johnson's trip to Scotland during lockdown restrictions. He told Sky News: 'The Prime Minister has a responsibility and a role to make sure the vaccine roll-out is proceeding appropriately, to thank those on the front line, NHS professionals and those in the British Army who are making sure things work well. 'It's also important the Prime Minister hears from those on the front line what is going well and what needs to improve. 'When the Prime Minister visits other parts of the United Kingdom, other political leaders don't criticise him, indeed there is a welcome for the Prime Minister and other ministers who are rolling up their sleeves and are getting in touch with those on the ground who are making a difference.' He insisted all UK nations are 'stronger together when we work together', highlighting the vaccine roll-out. The visit comes as the SNP ramps up calls for a second independence vote - even though the previous one in 2014 was billed by both sides as 'once in a generation'. Ms Sturgeon is arguing that should her SNP group win a majority at the Holyrood elections - due to happen in May - it would be grounds for a new border poll. She has accused the Conservative Party leader of being 'frightened of democracy' in his refusal to back another poll on the union, following 2014's independence defeat. The government announced today that large-scale manufacturing of a coronavirus vaccine candidate expected to deliver up to 60million doses to the UK by the end of this year if approved has begun in Scotland. Clinical trials are still ongoing for the Valneva vaccine candidate but manufacturing has started at the French biotech company's site in Livingston, West Lothian. As well as the 60million initial doses, the UK has the option to acquire a further 130 million if it is approved. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove batted away the criticism this morning, saying Mr Johnson wanted to thank frontline workers who were battling the virus The candidate is currently in phase one/two trials and will need approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it is rolled out. Initial results from the ongoing clinical study, involving 150 participants at testing sites in Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham and Newcastle, are expected in April. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said that manufacturing the vaccine now means it can be rolled out quicker if it receives regulatory approval. It follows a joint investment in the Livingston facility by the Government as part of an agreement to secure early access to the jab, according to the Government. The Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are currently being rolled out across the UK, with Government data showing more than 7.1 million people have received their first vaccine dose. Valneva will potentially have the capacity to supply up to 250 million doses of the inactivated whole virus vaccine containing whole bacteria or viruses which have been killed to the UK and internationally if successful. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: 'By starting manufacturing, we will have a running start at rolling these out as quickly as possible to protect the British public if it receives regulatory approval. 'This facility in Scotland, backed by millions from the Government, will help us beat coronavirus and boost our resilience against future pandemics.' The facility will establish a permanent UK ability to manufacture inactivated viral vaccines, a type which is also used for flu, polio and rabies jabs, according to the BEIS. Valneva chief executive Thomas Lingelbach said: 'Our team in Scotland have done an amazing job to get manufacturing started so quickly. 'We believe that our vaccine, assuming successful development, can make a major contribution in the UK and beyond.' SNP depute leader Keith Brown said the PM's trip was evidence that he was in a 'panic' about the prospect of another referendum. The MSP said: 'Clearly, Boris Johnson is rattled. By branding this campaign trip as 'essential', this is clearly a Prime Minister in panic, who knows the Tories are losing the argument on independence. 'Twenty polls in a row have shown that a majority of voters believe Scotland's future should be in Scotland's hands - not Boris Johnson's.' A dozen people who flew from New Zealand to Australia may have been exposed to the South African Covid super-strain, which could be 200 times more infectious. The travellers completed quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, where the new strain leaked to three others, on January 14 before they flew to Sydney. 'Three of these people have travelled on to Hong Kong and the authorities there have been advised,' acting chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd said on Thursday. He said the travellers who remained in NSW will be tested, and health advice around New Zealand arrivals is being updated to reflect the new information. The travellers completed quarantine at the Pullman Hotel (pictured) in Auckland, where the new strain leaked to three people, on January 14 before they flew to Sydney Two people who completed 14 days of hotel quarantine at the Pullman Hotel (pictured) in Auckland's CBD have tested positive HOW INFECTIOUS IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN STRAIN OF COVID? Known as B1351, the strain was discovered in South African in October. Acting chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd said studies initially showed the strain was 50 per cent more infectious than the original strain. 'This new variant is more transmissible and so presents a heightened level of risk. It has been reported in at least 26 countries, including among 13 people who have arrived in Australia and who have been in hotel quarantine,' he said. 'This variant is being reported as being 50 per cent more transmissable than previous strains of Covid-19.' But scientists in South Africa believe the strain is 20 to 200 per cent more infectious. Advertisement 'On Monday, I advised that anyone who had arrived in Australia on a flight from New Zealand on or since 14 January should isolate and arrange to get tested and remain in isolation until their results are known,' he said. 'I am now extending that advice: Anyone who has arrived in Australia on a flight from New Zealand on or since 9 January is asked to isolate and arrange to get a test and remain in isolation until they've received a negative test result. He said people who were at the Pullman Hotel between January 9 and 14 should isolate immediately, get a Covid test and follow the advice of state health authorities. Health authorities in New Zealand revealed on Sunday a 56-year-old woman had tested positive after completing her 14-day isolation after returning from overseas. The woman, who had travelled to Spain and the Netherlands before arriving back in the country, was confirmed to have the dangerous South African mutant strain of the virus. She returned two negative tests while staying at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland and was released on January 13, before visiting 31 venues. Australia has not recorded a case of coronavirus in the community since January 17 when six cases were reported in Western Sydney. The South African strain, known as B1351, has delayed hopes quarantine-free travel across the Tasman. Australia won't allow quarantine-free travel from New Zealand for at least another three days after two more community cases of Covid-19 were found. 'This allows continuing protection of the people of Australia while the extent of the situation in New Zealand continues to be clarified,' Dr Kidd said, apologising for any disrupted plans. Pictured: People wear face masks on public transport in Auckland, New Zealand, on January 28 Pictured: People in Auckland lining up for a bus. One woman wears a face mask as residents are urged to be on alert for Covid symptoms Despite the positive tests at the Pullman Hotel, there is still no evidence of community transmission in New Zealand, and the government has no plans to raise alert levels. The travel suspension will last until 2pm AEDT on Sunday, by which time a further decision will be taken. Earlier in the week, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested Australia's move was a setback to the goal of a trans-Tasman bubble, saying she had confidence in her health authorities to keep the cases under control. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a press conference at Parliament on January 26 On Thursday, Ms Ardern reaffirmed her commitment to opening a bubble - which would see people moving freely across the Tasman in both directions without quarantine - by the end of March. 'We still hold that ambition,' she said in Auckland. Ms Ardern says New Zealand will pursue quarantine-free travel with individual states if a whole-of-Australia approach cannot be found. Artists often but not always picture Jesus Christ with longer hair. The earliest artistic depictions of Jesus do the same. In those depictions, His hair appears to be black or dark brown. Of course, what hair looked like and meant in biblical times are far different from what it can look like and mean today. We see this when it comes to colors, lengths, and abundance. We also see this when it comes to the phrase the hairs on your head. We might just encounter a few surprises about the Lord God and us along the way! The Meaning of Hair Color in Bible Times As a toddler, I had bright blonde hair. By kindergarten, however, my hair had turned dark brown. I got my first noticeable patches of gray hair when I was 26. As I got older, I kept wanting a full head of gray hair in order to look more distinguished, or so I thought. My wife, Renee, disagrees. She has beautiful red hair and wants to keep it until shes at least 70. I dont mind! Of course, hair colors have expanded greatly in recent decades. Countless times Ive seen orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink. Ive also seen a number of colors I cant even name. Again, I dont mind. In biblical times, hair colors were pretty limited. Jesus cautioned His followers, Do not promise by your head. You are not able to make one hair white or black (Matthew 5:36 NLV). Throughout the Bible, we find a couple of dozen verses referring to hair color: black, gray, and white. What did the hair colors signify? Black hair was the rule. Gray hair was a glorious crown of the old (Proverbs 16:31 and Proverbs 20:29). White hair meant one was aged and likely to die sooner than later (Genesis 44:29-31 and Ecclesiastes 12:5). Jesus had black or dark brown hair during His 33 years on earth, but since ascending back to heaven has brilliant white hair (Revelation 1:14). He probably had the same bright white hair on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2, Mark 9:2-3, and Luke 9:28-29). Such hair strongly suggests Jesus truly is Gods Son (Daniel 7:9). So, in biblical times, hair color could but didnt always mean something. Looking to the future, Im not sure hair color will mean much for most of us in heaven, let alone in the new heavens and new earth. The Significance of Long Hair in the Bible As a young boy, my mom made sure my hair was kept short. Then the Beatles and other bands rocked new lengths. I asked for longer and longer times between haircuts and not too short, please! For three of those childhood years, we lived on a remote island, which helped. Of course, not everyone was happy about variable hair lengths for men or women, for that matter. Mostly, I just wanted to be comfortable. In Bible times, hair length was variable too. That is unless you were dedicated to the Lords service. Since the days of Moses, Jewish men and women who took Nazirite vows never cut their hair, at least not until they completely finished their vows (Numbers 6:5). Their long hair was a symbol of their separation to God (Numbers 6:7 NLT). This was true of Samson all of his life (Judges 13:5) ...that is, until Delilah got ahold of him (Judges 16:17-19). This also was true of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11). Both were dedicated to the Lord from before birth. One other Old Testament leader, Absalom, was known for his long hair. He wasnt a Nazirite, however, and cut his hair when it grew too heavy and uncomfortable (2 Samuel 14:26). During his insurrection against his father King David, Absaloms thick long hair led to his downfall and death (2 Samuel 18:9-15). Again, some of the best early depictions of Jesus Christ show Him with longer hair. I can imagine John the Baptist (another lifelong Nazirite, Luke 1:13-15) had even longer hair. Then again, Paul favored the Greek and Roman styles of medium to somewhat short hair for men and longer hair for women. Im pretty sure hair lengths wont matter much in heaven. The Abundance of Hair in Bible Times The prophets were eclectic. Like Esau (Genesis 25:25), Elijah was a particularly hairy man (2 Kings 1:8). His assistant, Elisha, was bald (2 Kings 2:23). And, at one point the Lord told Ezekiel to cut off his hair and beard (Ezekiel 5:1). Again, lets picture Jesus with abundant shoulder-length black or dark brown hair here on earth. What did He mean when He talked about the hairs on your head? United Monarchy The use of this phrase as a metaphor dates back to 1000 B.C. and the start of the united Israelite monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon. A Metaphor for Safety Example #1 (Jonathan): But the people broke in and said to Saul, Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today. So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death (1 Samuel 14:45 NLT). Example #2 (Absolom): Then she said, Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you wont let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed. As surely as the Lord lives, he replied, not a hair on your sons head will be disturbed! (2 Samuel 14:11 NLT). Example #3 (a son of David): Solomon replied, If he [Adonijah] proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die (1 Kings 1:52 NLT). A Metaphor for Huge Number Example #1 (David): For troubles surround me too many to count! My sins pile up so high I cant see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage (Psalm 40:12 NLT). Example #2 (David): Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didnt steal (Psalm 69:4 NLT). Babylonian Exile Centuries later, during the Babylonian captivity, the use of this phrase became literal. Literal meanings included safety. Example (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego): Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didnt even smell of smoke! (Daniel 3:27 NLT). Time of Jesus During His public ministry here on earth, Jesus Christ used this phrase literally and metaphorically. His literal meanings included divinely known in exact detail. Example #1: And the very hairs on your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30 NLT). Example #2: And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So dont be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows (Luke 12:7 NLT). Jesus Christs metaphorical meanings included safety. Example: But not a hair of your head will perish! (Luke 21:18 NLT). Like Jesus, Paul also used this phrase metaphorically to mean safety. Example: Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish (Acts 27:34 NLT). Bottom line: Jesus uses the phrase the hairs on your head in two different but connected ways. Literally, He speaks of divinely knowing in exact detail. The Lord can and does the humanly impossible, all the time. Its what the Triune God does and will do for all eternity. Metaphorically, Jesus speaks of safety. The Lord alone is our Savior, Rescuer, Protector, Guardian, and Deliverer, now and forever. Again, its what He does and will do eternally. Worry about the future? Remembering Jesus Christs brilliant white hair in heaven should calm our hearts and minds, wouldnt you agree? Photo Credit: Unsplash/Element5 Digital David Sanfords book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His newest book is Life Map Devotional for Men published concurrently with his wife Renees new book, Life Map Devotional for Women. Witness recalls Eritrean troop brutality in Tigray conflict: 'They would kill you for crying' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Survivors of the ongoing Tigray conflict in Northern Ethiopia are now speaking out about the horrors of what they and their communities experienced after hundreds of citizens were reportedly killed and millions of others are in dire need of assistance. Witnesses who spoke with The Associated Press have detailed killings, looting and other abuses committed by Eritrean soldiers in Tigray, a predominantly-Christian northernmost region of the East African country. Known as the Tigray War, the armed conflict has been ongoing since last November between the Tigray Regional Government (led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front) and forces supportive of the Ethiopian government which include military forces from Eritrea. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that there have been a series of fatal assaults committed against citizens in the area. They would kill you for trying, or even crying, a woman named Zenebu, a 48-year-old healthcare worker who lives in Colorado but was trapped in Tigray for weeks while visiting her mother, told AP. The witness said that some Eritrean soldiers went from door-to-door, killing Tigrayan men and boys as young as 7 years old. Zenebu detailed how she looked on as she saw Eritrean soldiers loot the belongings from residents' homes. She said their pockets were filled with stolen jewelry and recalled some troops trying on looted clothing. They were focused on trying to take everything of value, she added, saying that they even stole diapers. She detailed that trucks were loaded with boxes of looted items that were to be delivered to places in Eritrea. Estimates suggest that thousands of Eritrean soldiers have fought in the Tigray War on the side of the Ethiopian government. However, the Ethiopian government has denied the involvement of Eritrean soldiers in the conflict. Zenebu said she first remembered seeing Eritrean soldiers in Tigray around mid-December. She fled with others into nearby mountains as fighting approached. But she returned less than two weeks later to check on her mother. She told the AP that she stumbled over bodies when she returned and later realized that she knew about 70 of those who had been killed. I couldnt tell the difference between human and animal bodies, she said. She added that one body was that of a 12-year-old boy who had been recruited by soldiers to run errands but was later killed. I saw his body, Zenebu said. They just, like, threw him away. Another witness who escaped from the Tigray region and fled to the U.S. this month told the AP that Eritrean soldiers were everywhere. He confirmed accounts about their killings and looting. Same blood, same language, he was quoted as saying of the troops close ties with Tigrayans. I dont know why they killed. Zenebus account comes after an unconfirmed report from earlier this month indicated that as many as 750 people were killed in an attack on an Orthodox Church in Aksum that some believe contained the Ark of the Covenant as described in the book of Exodus. The Belgium-based nonprofit European External Programme with Africa reported on the alleged massacre in astatement. But the news we get from those who have been able to visit the area is terrible. Lynch says that while her organization has not been able to verify the details of the reported church massacre, the organization has received confirmation of a series of killings and attacks on innocent people in many parts of the region and also in the Aksum area. The population is terrified, she said. Lynch noted that Aid to Church in Need had received additional information indicating there might have been another massacre with more than a hundred victims in the church of Maryam Dengelat in December. Lynch said that nobody knows how many people have been killed in the Tigray conflict but stressed that among the deceased are priests and church leaders. Shops, schools, churches and convents have been robbed and destroyed, she said. Thousands of people have fled their homes. Many have crossed the border into Sudan, but others have sought refuge in remote areas, in the mountains, without water or access to food. According to the Joshua Project, about 96% of the Tigray region's population adheres to some form of Christianity. But sources told Lynch that the violence is motivated by politics, not religion. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said earlier this month that the international body has received reports of civilians killed and injured in Tigray. The U.N. estimates that as many as 2.3 million people in the region need life-saving assistance. Humanitarian assistance continues to be constrained by the lack of full, and safe, unhindered access to Tigray, caused by both insecurity and bureaucratic delays, Dujarric said. The U.N. and its humanitarian partners in Ethiopia urgently call on all parties to allow the immediate safe passage of humanitarian personnel and their supplies to the Tigray Region to be able to reach all people who desperately need assistance. Eritrean soldiers have also been accused of targeting Eritrean refugees taking shelter in Ethiopia. One doctor who is among the refugees in Tigray told the AP that he, too, heard reports of Eritrean forces killing young men. One woman survivor who left Tigray to go to the U.S. questioned why the Eritrean military troops are in the region. Theres no [military] camp in Aksum, just monasteries, she was quoted as saying. Why are they there? The U.S. government has called for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Ethiopia. In December, a State Department spokesperson called Eritrean involvement in the conflict a grave development. The comedy and tragedy faces on Gwen Medley and Will Taylors Mardi Gras flags are taking COVID-19 precautions and wearing masks. Medley and Taylor decorated the porch of their home with flags, lights, tulle and beads and plan to be a part of the Krewe of Saints House Float Parade. Medical teams will be sent to aged care homes to vaccinate almost 500,000 residents and staff under a federal plan to deliver the jabs outside hospitals and major hubs. The Morrison government has opened talks with medical companies to set up a surge workforce that will fan out to thousands of aged care homes as soon as the Pfizer vaccine becomes available. The plan takes federal responsibility for delivering help to the sector after costly mistakes between federal and state authorities last year. Credit:Getty Images The teams will have up to five days to transport the Pfizer vaccine in standard refrigeration to ensure safe and stable distribution beyond the deep-freeze storage centres that must store it at minus 70 degrees. The plan takes federal responsibility for delivering help to the sector after costly mistakes between federal and state authorities last year, when 678 people died from COVID-19 in residential aged care. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor SALEM, MA The push to have educators move up the coronavirus vaccination priority list may not be over in Massachusetts. A week after Gov. Charlie Baker responded to a request from 29 North Shore district superintendents and teacher union presidents to have educators moved into phase 1 of vaccine eligibility by actually ticking them down behind certain age brackets in the revamped phase 2, which set to begin Monday, Salem Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said during his weekly Facebook Live session on Wednesday that he was told there will be "more information from the state" coming by the end of the week on the issue. "Certainly, our teachers and staff are eagerly awaiting more information and we'll be sharing that with them as soon as we know it," Zrike said. Zrike reiterated the "North Shore Superintendents' Round Table" letters assertion to Gov. Baker that teachers should be considered "essential workers" and receive vaccine prioritization. "We are advocating, as you have seen on the news, for all of our staff to be moved up on the priority list," he said on Wednesday. "We think our staff are essential employees and they all should be eligible for the vaccine as soon as possible if we are going to be able to safely keep in-person school going, which we know all of us believe is essential." Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: Teachers Blast Updates To Massachusetts Vaccination Plan North Shore Push For Teachers To Move Up Coronavirus Vaccine List This article originally appeared on the Salem Patch In the past, right-wing extremism incidents mostly took place in rural parts of the United States. They include when right-wing extremists occupied a federal bird sanctuary in Oregon in 2016. In 1992, there was a conflict between white separatists and federal agents in Ruby Ridge, Idaho. And in 1995, extremist Timothy McVeigh bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City and killed 168 people. But the attack by rioters on the U.S. Capitol targeted the heart of American government. It also brought together large numbers of people who belong to extremist groups, giving them the chance to establish links to each other. One expert said the incident might let them work together toward other violent actions. The events have a radicalizing effect, said Brian Michael Jenkins. The battle of Capitol Hill is now part of mythology, he added. Jenkins is a terrorism expert and adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation research center in California. Mary McCord is a former acting U.S. assistant attorney general for national security. She said the environment for the attack had been building throughout the term of former President Donald Trump. She listed the 2017 Unite the Right white supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia in which one person was killed. She also listed demonstrations at state capitols by armed protesters angry about COVID-19 public health safety orders and mass shootings by people expressing racial or anti-government hatred. All have led to this moment, said McCord in an email to the Associated Press. She is now a visiting law professor at Georgetown University Law Center. The Southern Poverty Law Center watches U.S. extremist groups. It has recorded a 55 percent increase in the number of what it calls white nationalist hate groups since 2017. Among those who attacked the Capitol on January 6 were members of the Oath Keepers. They are an extremist group that seeks members among the military and police. The Proud Boys were there too. There were followers of QAnon, which spreads conspiracy theories, and people who are angry about race, religion and other issues. January 6th was kind of a Woodstock of the angry right, Jenkins said. Woodstock was a 1968 rock music performance that brought thousands of young people together. The mere fact those groups were coming togethersharing this angerit is going to have effects, he said. Many extremists being held The Federal Bureau of Investigation warned of planned armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington for President Joe Bidens swearing in ceremony. That proved false. Some wonder if the groups have become less involved. Also, Trump is no longer president and his social media reach has been blocked. Twitter has banned him. But now, some are clearly angry that Trump condemned the attack. They are also angry that he failed to come to the rescue of rioters who were arrested while he was still president. Many are still being detained and face serious charges. On the internet, some people who were members of the Proud Boys appear to have turned against Trump. As an outgoing president, Trump did not pardon any of the many Capitol attackers. No pardons for middle class whites, one angry extremist wrote on Telegram, a private messaging service. Another said: I cannot wait to watch the GOP completely collapsea true nationalist movement will arise. GOP stands for Grand Old Party, a popular name for the Republican Party. Believers in QAnon are also surprised that Trump left office without doing anything about their belief that the U.S. government is filled with evil people. Among them was Ron Watkins, who helps run a website about QAnon conspiracy theories. We gave it our all. Now we need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able, Watkins wrote on Telegram. Jenkins said he hoped extremist groups and other people who saw Trump as a leader would become a national movement. But the widespread condemnation of the Capitol attack could cause the movement to decrease. I think given the events of this past year, and especially what weve seen in the last couple of months, this puts us into new territory, Jenkins said. And you dont put this back in the box that easily. Im Susan Shand. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story sanctuary n. a place where someone or something is given shelter radical adj. having extreme political or social ideas conspiracy theories n. a theory that explains an event or situation as the result of a secret plan by powerful people or groups mythology n. ideas that are believed by some people that are not true; ancient stories mere adj. showing that something is small or unimportant We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. An independent report commissioned by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) says there is evidence of "systematic corrupt and unethical conduct" by the former leadership of the sport's governing body in a decade-long cover-up of Russian doping cases. The report, published on January 28, says that former IBU President Anders Besseberg and ex-Secretary-General Nicole Resch "have cases to answer for breach of the IBU's rules, based on their apparent protection of Russian interests, particularly in the anti-doping context, without good justification," between 2008 and 2018. Norway's Besseberg and the German Resch stepped down in 2018 after Austrian police raided the IBU's headquarters in the city of Salzburg amid a criminal investigation into whether the pair had accepted benefits for covering up Russian doping cases. They haven't been charged with any crime. The report by the External Review Commission accuses Besseberg, who led the IBU for 25 years, of intensely lobbying for Russia's interests, saying he "appears...to have had no regard for ethical values and no real interest in protecting the sport from cheating." The commission says Besseberg has been taken on hunting and fishing trips for free in Russia and had IBU employees transport his trophies. It also cites evidence from a police investigation that he admitted that he "received the service of a prostitute" while staying in Moscow, which he believed had been paid for by a third party. The report also takes aim at Resch, who is accused of having failed to request extra testing of Russian athlete Yevgeny Ustyugov at the doping-tainted 2014 Olympics in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi after indications of "highly abnormal values" in his blood. Ustyugov won an Olympic gold medal but was stripped of the honor last year after a ban over a separate allegation of past doping violations. The report also says that Resch offered "undercover" help with doping appeals by three Russian athletes, and tried to influence an anti-doping panel considering a case the IBU had brought against another Russian. "We are shocked by the wrongdoing" described in the report, IBU President Olle Dahlin said in a statement, adding that owing to reforms "we now have the safeguards in place to ensure this kind of wrongdoing does not happen again." World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka called the allegations in the report "abhorrent to all who care about sport integrity." "However, it is to the credit of the IBU that in the wake of this scandal, it has taken significant steps to enhance the integrity of its anti-doping program," Banka said in a statement. With reporting by AP and dpa She's a linguistics professor who studied at numerous universities but one word in particular was new to Dr Barbara Siller when she moved to Cork 'langer'. However, Dr Siller, the programme director of Applied Linguistics at University College Cork, was more than capable of deciphering the meaning from the context. She was commenting on Netflix show History of Swear Words, hosted by Nicholas Cage a loud and proudly profane series that explores the history and cultural impact of curse words. Through interviews with experts in etymology, rappers, historians, and comedians, the series dives into the origins of 'bad language' or swear words. There's an episode on some of the most widely-used 'bad' words around. The first one is on the word 'fuck'. Dr Siller first moved to Cork in 2003 and notes that Irish people don't actually swear much more than any other nationalities. She does point out that connotation and denotation are hugely important however. However, a regionalised version of the show could indeed be in order: Gowl, gombeen, eejit, langer... some classic Irish swears that have a wealth of meaning behind them. An appropriately placed 'gobdaw' or 'bollocks' can really sum up a situation or character. And many would argue that there is a world of nuance between a 'fecker' and a 'hoor' and a 'wagon'! Dr Siller grew up in a German-speaking area of northern Italy and remarks that many there would use Italian curse words for emphasis. On the Netflix show, Nicholas Cage relishes this chance to say fairly taboo words as much as possible. And he really does savour the various inflections you can get on a single word. He murmurs it, he roars it, he uses it as punctuation. Barbara Siller is Lecturer in the Department of German/University College Cork and is the Director of the MA Applied Linguistics Programme. Cage presents the show from a very clean and carefully curated study which aims to give an air of erudition to his 'research' but the leather armchair, olde worlde globe and gilt-edged books all seem a bit too contrived. Experts range from comedians Jim Jefferies, Zainab Johnson and Nikki Glaser to the excellently named Kory Stamper, a lexicographer and author. Ms Glaser used to write dictionary definitions at Merriam Webster and one of her roles there was to work on profanities. All their expertise and opinions are interspersed with movie clips featuring loud or inventive cursing: think Pulp Fiction and Scarface for starters. There are also episodes dedicated to 'shit', 'bitch', 'dick', 'pussy' and 'damn'. It's reminiscent of a Horrible Histories for grown ups really. Does swearing in response to pain or shock actually do anything other than let people know how upset or hurt you are? Apparently so and the science behind this is briefly explained. Myths are debunked and some of the more prudish rules around swearing are skewered too. Other episodes focus on scatological terms, pure insults and words with double meanings. And, of course, there are words that still sound so wrong but why is that? The experts here delve into why this might be the case. The US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which is manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany's BioNTech, now considers each vial contains six doses compared to five previously. Until recently, each vial of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine was considered to officially contain five doses. In order to obtain that sixth dose medical a special syringe is required with a low 'dead space'. The dead space is the amount of the product left in the syringe when the plunger is completely pushed down. After being thawed, the contents of each vial are diluted with 1.8 ml of saline solution, creating a total of 2.25 ml of injectable solution. With each dose 0.3 ml, in theory there are just over seven doses. But theory and practice are different. Medical personnel are unable to measure so precisely the doses to get seven doses they can inject into people. But the found they could -- with the right equipment -- reliably get six doses out of the vials. To get the sixth dose of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine syringes with very low dead spaces are needed, but medical device manufacturer Becton Dickinson (BD) says there is a supply crunch for them. Vaccination centers across the country will receive special syringes that will enable a sixth dose to be extracted from vials of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. Previously only five doses per vial Low dead space syringes (left) prevent extra vaccine from getting trapped between the plunger and needle 'Low dead space syringes are niche products and there has... traditionally been minimal market demand based on health care provider needs,' a company spokesman said. Manufacturing capacity of these syringes is limited and it will take time to boost production. Both US and EU regulators now consider that the vials contain six doses and have authorized the use of the sixth dose. However health officials noted that this sixth dose depends on the availability of specific syringes. Tammie Smith, a spokesperson for Virginia's health department, told CBS News: 'We have a mix of what they have available to send to us. The 1 cc syringes (the really skinny ones) that you see in the news have become short in supply, and we've had to move to larger syringes,' . 'However, we are pulling extra doses out of some vials in every clinic that I know of,' added Smith. The progress of vaccinations across the U.S. has been increasing as the month has progressed Dean Coleman, right, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from graduate student Nina Cruz, left, at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Hospital Out 286 million total syringes ordered by the U.S. government last year, only 40 million will be low dead space syringes. 'There was no discussion that low dead space was going to be a priority, or that it was going to be a need. You know, the vaccine companies weren't talking about that,' Troy Kirkpatrick, spokesperson for syringe-maker BD, told CBS News. 'We were pulling out all the stops and saying okay we can give you 'x'-million of this type and 'x'-million of this type, and it looked like we're going to have 40 million dead space syringes available. And so that's how that got thrown into the mix,' said Kirkpatrick. As 'the world's largest producer of injection devices,' New Jersey-based BD has already supplied 150 million syringes to the U.S. Pfizer has revised higher its production target for this year from 1.3 billion doses to 2 billion. While part of that reflects plans to further increase output, it also reflects the effect of the label change on vials. Pfizer said its contracts specify the delivery of a certain number of vaccine doses and not vials. This means customers are now receiving fewer vials than they did before regulators approved the change. The White House is now pledging to use Defense Production Act to ramp up manufacturing of 'low dead volume' or 'low dead space' syringes Over the course of the pandemic, the Trump administration wielded the act's powers to force suppliers to prioritize a variety of orders to combat the pandemic including at least three contracts for syringes. President Biden said Tuesday, that the administration had 'already identified suppliers' to move forward. He said: 'We're going to be working across the government, with private industry, to ramp up production of vaccine and protective equipment the syringes, the needles, the gloves, the swabs, and the masks everything that's needed to protect, test, vaccinate, and take care of our people.' New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who has been named in the Delhi Police FIR in connection with the violence during the tractor rally on Republic Day, said that the Uttar Pradesh Police has come to arrest the agitating farmers. The Uttar Pradesh Police officials reached the Singh border to arrest the BKU leader but failed to nab him as he was surrounded by a large number of his supporters. He told media persons that he would not surrender before the police and threatened to hang himself if the police tried to use force. The report coming in says that the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered district administrations to clear all protest sites on the state's borders with Delhi currently being blocked by farmers. The state government has ordered all DMs and SSPs to ensure the end of all the farmers' agitations in the state, news agency ANI quoted officials as saying. Condemning the Uttar Pradesh government and police for the ultimatum, he said, "No violence has taken place at the Ghazipur border but still the UP government is resorting to policy of suppression. This is the face of the UP government." The "verbal" communication from the Ghaziabad administration to BKU came after three farmers union withdrew their protest against the three central farm laws over the violence in Delhi that left 394 security personnel injured and one protestor dead. Earlier making an address from the dais of the farmers` union at the Ghazipur protest site, Tikait said, "Uttar Pradesh Police is trying to arrest us. Even the Supreme Court has favoured peaceful protest. There was no violence at the Ghazipur protest site." Tikait said, "Despite no violence at the Ghazipur protest site, the government is trying to crush the farmers' movement. This is the real face of Uttar Pradesh government," adding that no farmers have disrespected the Indian national flag. His remarks came after there was heavy deployment of police and security personnel at the Ghazipur protest site. He also demanded for a Supreme Court-monitored probe against Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu, who was one of the persons who hoisted a pennant from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Tikait said that people in Punjab have boycotted Sidhu. "A conspiracy is being hatched to end the farmers' protest. The BJP is indulging in violence to end the farmer's protest," he alleged. ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor officials have kicked off a new round of talks about allowing higher-density development outside of downtown along major transit corridors. The city Planning Commissions Ordinance Revisions Committee discussed the idea of creating a transit-oriented development district at its meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 26, following up on a recent City Council directive. Council voted 10-1 in November to ask the commission to make zoning recommendations by June 15 to potentially densify corridors such as Plymouth Road, Fuller Road, State Street, Jackson Avenue and Washtenaw Avenue. Some of these corridors are under-utilized, often with single-story strip malls without any housing, the council resolution stated, asking the commission to explore allowing bigger buildings, decreasing or eliminating parking requirements and possibly requiring mixed-use developments such as new housing above ground-floor commercial spaces. Housing people near bus lines and employment centers encourages residents to drive less, the resolution stated, noting thats in line with the citys A2Zero carbon-neutrality strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Ordinance Revisions Committee gave some initial feedback to city planning staff Tuesday night, deciding to start by focusing on the South State Street/Eisenhower Parkway area, said Planning Commission Chair Sarah Mills. All of our discussion last night was focusing just on that corridor, she said, suggesting biting off an individual corridor at a time will work better than trying to come up with zoning rules that can be applied to several corridors at once. The thinking now is that just recommendations for the State/Eisenhower area will go to council in June, and then they can discuss other corridors after that, she said. 24 Ann Arbor developments to watch in 2021 One of the things the committee suggested was mixed uses should not be required, City Planner Alexis DiLeo said. The thinking is that not every single lot or development must provide all of the answers to all of the problems, she said. A uniform requirement and a one-size-fits-all approach might actually do more harm than good. Instead, we should encourage and incentivize where it is needed and makes sense but not require everywhere every time. Thats the thinking so far and planning officials remain open to other suggestions, she said. Mills further explained the rationale for not wanting to require mixed-use developments, saying we want these areas as a whole to be mixed used, but we arent starting from a blank slate. They are currently dominated by office and some commercial and whats really missing is residential, she said, adding she personally wouldnt mind seeing a new development with a mix of uses, but what the South State Street corridor really needs is more housing. Residential development is already allowed along the corridor, but the city isnt really getting it, so the city may need to make ordinance changes to encourage it, Mills said. In addition to talking about creating zoning premiums to do that, there also was some discussion Tuesday night of whether there should be height limits. The height talk last night was about how it is something we will need specific community engagement on, as well as parking requirements and trying to incentivize certain land uses like residential, DiLeo said. For background, the idea of creating new zoning to implement city master plan goals of more housing choice, more affordable housing, more sustainable developments, more density to support transit and a more accessible and inclusive community first came up in 2017, DiLeo said. Work on it has ebbed and flowed ever since, she said, noting a first draft of an ordinance to create a new transit district was presented to Planning Commission in October 2019. City Council hit pause on the effort last year. After five new council members took office this past November, it became a priority again. The city now needs to figure out what uses to allow or require in the proposed zoning district and what the development standards should be to further the master plan goals, DiLeo said, mentioning area, height, setbacks, parking, buffers and design as issues to be hammered out. The discussion is expected to continue at a Planning Commission work session Feb. 9, when there will be a discussion of both the transit corridor zoning and changes to accessory dwelling unit regulations, DiLeo said. The proposed transit corridor zoning ordinance needs to be refined and officials are looking for robust community engagement to help do that, she said. It then needs a formal Planning Commission vote in early May for City Council to consider it in June, she said. Ordinance changes require two readings at council with a public hearing before final approval. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor wants to have 20-minute neighborhoods. So what are they? New aligned living campus in Ann Arbor offers fresh digs for tech-savvy professionals Ann Arbor streamlining police oversight process after two years of hurdles Ann Arbor seeking participants for new virtual Community Academy New drawings offer closer look at 22 townhomes proposed on Ann Arbors Main Street Niagara Falls, Ontario: January 28, 2021 - EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies Corp. (TSXV:EHT) ("EHT") is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to acquire Windular Research and Technologies Inc. ("WRT") on January 22, 2021, and its plans to concomitantly consolidate its shares 20-for-1 (the "Share Consolidation"), convert its existing debentureholders' debts (the "Debt Conversion"), and raise up to $18 million in financing by way of a private placement of EHT shares (the "Private Placement"), all subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). WRT is a privately held renewable energy technology company whose origins were founded in telecom tower engineering, design and implementation. WRT provides reliable, cost-efficient, disruptive renewable technology solutions to the global telecom tower industry, significantly reducing or eliminating its reliance on costly, dirty diesel fuel. WRT has state-of-the-art wind and solar tracking systems designed for the global telecom tower industry. Faced with ever-increasing operating costs, the push to expand connectivity into remote corners of the globe, and a strong global effort to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mobile network operators are in need for an alternative to their reliance on costly, dirty diesel fuel. The traditional diesel-powered tower has become increasingly costly due largely to rising fuel costs and the logistics associated with fuel delivery, and generator maintenance and replacement to remote locations. WRT's wind and solar technology applications provide the solution. There are currently over four million telecom towers around the globe with another one million expected to come online in 2021-22. More than one million of the world's existing towers rely solely on diesel fuel as a source of power. The combined EHT and WRT will offer a comprehensive suite of clean energy technology solutions to the world's "Tower" market. Subject to WRT shareholder approval and successful completion of the Private Placement, EHT will acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of WRT in an all-share transaction valued at $15 million (the "WRT Acquisition"). Concomitantly with the Share Consolidation and Debt Conversion, and subject to the closing of the Private Placement, EHT will issue 21,428,572 EHT common shares to WRT shareholders (which group does not include any insiders of EHT) at a deemed price of $0.70 per share (the "Issued Shares"). 50% of the Issued Shares will be subject to a lock-up for a period of four months plus a day, and the remaining 50% will be subject to a lock-up of eight months. Commensurate with the Share Consolidation, EHT will ask all its debentureholders (which group does not include any insiders of EHT) to participate in the Debt Conversion by converting their outstanding principal debt and accrued interest into EHT shares at the same price and with the same escrow terms as the Issued Shares in the WRT Acquisition. EHT has initiated discussions with several of its major debentureholders, with favourable response. Also commensurate with the Share Consolidation, the Debt Conversion, and the WRT Acquisition, EHT is planning to finalize a financing with a well-respected Bay Street financial advisor and agent to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $18 million to fund the ongoing projects of EHT and WRT. The Private Placement will consist of the issuance and sale of up to an additional 25,714,286 common shares (the "Additional Shares") at a price of not less than $0.70 per Additional Share. The Private Placement is expected to close in late February 2020. EHT will ask the TSXV to continue to halt its stock until the Share Consolidation, Debt Conversion, Private Placement and WRT Acquisition are completed. EHT will provide transactional updates as they are warranted. John Gamble, EHT's CEO, commented: "This is a very special day for EHT and its shareholders. With completion of these transactions, we will have achieved the necessary capital to build out the projects we have contracted to complete and thereby drive our revenues up." Jerry Foster, President of WRT added, "WRT is very excited to be joining forces with EHT at this crucial time in clean energy markets. Both WRT and EHT bring unique and disruptive wind and solar technology applications to the traditional clean energy markets and we are now very well positioned to execute on existing and new opportunities." About EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies EHT delivers proprietary, turn-key energy solutions which are intelligent, bankable and sustainable. EHT's expertise includes the development of its ENERTEC module structures with full integration of smart energy solutions. Using a proprietary skin and foam core that is stronger than traditional wood or steel structural insulated panels, EHT provides exceptional thermal energy efficiency in modular homes, cold storage facilities, residential/commercial out buildings and emergency/temporary shelters. EHT works with its partners worldwide to erect the buildings on-site utilizing EHT staff and local crews. In addition to traditional support to established electrical networks, ENERTEC buildings excel where no electrical grid exists. About ENERTEC The EHT advanced ENERTEC Modular Wall and Roof System uses a proprietary skin and foam core that is stronger and more energy efficient than traditional wood or steel structures providing the highest ratings for energy efficiency. EHT works with its partners worldwide to erect the buildings on-site utilizing EHT staff and local crews. After installation, each structure can be furnished and finished to meet the customer's requirements including siding, tile, kitchens and bathrooms or segregated commercial rooms. The finished wall product can be shipped on pallets and delivered via rail, truck or water in standard formats. At the core of the ENERTEC product line is the ENERTEC Embedded Solar Roof Module. Solar cells can be embedded in a proprietary fire proof skin resulting in substantial cost savings by eliminating heavy glass panels and aluminum racking required for traditional solar panels. Two barriers to greater adoption of solar energy are weight limitations of the roof on which solar panels could be deployed and onerous shipping and labour costs. A lighter product at a better price point will open a larger market for solar due to the faster return of capital investment especially for rural and remote users looking to go off-grid. Furthermore, the entire EHT embedded solar roof becomes a massive solar panel capable of producing significantly more energy than the home requires, allowing the structure to then become an important source of power for the local micro grid or large battery storage systems. About Windular Research and Technologies WRT is a renewable energy technology company whose origins were founded in telecom tower engineering, design and implementation. WRT provides reliable, cost-efficient renewable power to the telecom tower industry, significantly reducing or eliminating its reliance on costly, dirty diesel fuel. WRT has state-of-the-art wind and solar tracking systems designed for the global telecom tower industry. WRT's wind and solar technology applications are installed on telecom and other tower assets, thereby eliminating the need for additional infrastructure, permitting and land leases. WRT's unique rail-and-carriage system and proprietary power electronics allow its systems to circumnavigate the tower seeking out the most efficient solar and wind resources available. With smart-tracking technology, WRT's systems achieve power production that's unmatched by traditional ground/fixed-mounted applications and, more importantly, the systems are protected when weather conditions become too extreme. WRT's innovation technologies enable telecom companies to harness wind and solar energy using their own tower assets. 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. The statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information relating to sales of the products (the "Opportunities") involves risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, for the Opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although EHT believes that the assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking information on the Opportunities outlined 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. EHT disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: John Gamble CEO & Director (289) 488-1699 jgamble@ehthybrid.com info@ehthybrid.com Website: www.ehthybrid.com SOURCE: EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626619/EHT-Announces-Agreement-to-Acquire-Windular-Research-and-Technologies-and-Concomitant-Plans-to-Consolidate-Its-Shares-Restructure-Its-Debt-and-Raise-Additional-Financing Robust financial position and lower net debt in 2020 thanks to the success of the adaptation and cost reduction plan Cash breakeven before debt servicing lowered below $30/bbl as a result of cost reduction efforts in 2020 Net debt of $455 million at 31 December 2020, down from the previous fiscal year ($469 million at 31 December 2019) Cash position of $168 million at 31 December 2020, after debt repayments of $77 million during the year M&P working interest in 2020: 26,076 boepd M&P working interest production on the Ezanga permit in Gabon of 16,896 bopd, down 15% from 2019 due to production cuts related to OPEC quotas M&P working interest production of 3,933 bopd in Angola and 31.5 MMcfd in Tanzania Sales of $330 million in 2020, down sharply as a result of the drop in crude prices Average sale price of oil $40.1/bbl, down 40% from 2019 ($67.2/bbl) Valued production (income from production activities, excluding lifting imbalances): $324 million, down 37% from 2019 ($519 million) 2P reserves for M&P working interest at 31 December 2020: 183 MMboe Reserves stable after being restated for 2020 production Regulatory News: Olivier de Langavant, Chief Executive Officer at Maurel Prom (Paris:MAU), stated: "In a year marked by a particularly difficult economic environment, Maurel Prom demonstrated its responsiveness by taking immediate action to address the difficulties encountered. Despite a sharp drop in crude prices and reduced output due to OPEC quotas, we managed to reduce net debt during the year, thereby proving the effectiveness of the action plan introduced in March. We are now looking to keep up these efforts, as well as initiatives enabling us to take advantage of this period to put Maurel Prom in the best possible position for its long-term development.? Key indicators for 2020 Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Q3 2020 Q4 2020 12 months 2020 12 months 2019 Change 2020 vs 2019 M&P working interest production Gabon (oil) bopd 19,594 16,675 16,245 15,096 16,896 19,828 -15% Angola (oil) bopd 4,213 4,003 3,793 3,725 3,933 1,879 109% Tanzania (gas) MMcfd 30.7 25.4 33.1 36.7 31.5 33.8 -7% Total boepd 28,916 24,919 25,549 24,937 26,076 27,340 -5% Average sale price Oil $/bbl 56.5 23.0 46.6 45.0 40.1 67.2 -40% Gas $/BTU 3.32 3.33 3.31 3.31 3.32 3.26 2% Sales Gabon $m 83 37 65 57 242 454 -47% Angola $m 13 7 10 10 40 31 30% Tanzania $m 8 9 11 16 43 34 26% Valued production $m 103 52 85 83 324 519 -37% Drilling activities $m 5 1 0 0 6 12 Trading of third-party oil $m 0 0 0 0 0 7 Restatement for lifting imbalances and inventory revaluation $m -28 8 -15 34 -1 -34 Consolidated sales $m 80 62 70 117 330 504 -35% 4,484 bopd for M&P working interest during the asset-holding period (1 August to 31 December 2019). M&P's working interest production for 2020 stood at 26,076 boepd, down 5% from 2019 (27,340 boepd). This decline was largely due to production cuts on the Ezanga permit in Gabon (16,896 bopd for M&P working interest in 2020 versus 19,828 bopd in 2019) after OPEC established new quotas. The average sale price of oil was $40.1/bbl versus $67.2/bbl in 2019, a drop of 40%. The Group's valued production (income from production activities, excluding lifting imbalances) was $324 million, down 37% from 2019. The restatement of lifting imbalances net of inventory revaluation had a neutral effect overall and resulted in a downwards adjustment of $1 million. After inclusion of the $6 million earned from the activities of the drilling subsidiary (Caroil), Group consolidated sales for the year totalled $330 million. Production activities Gabon M&P's working interest oil production (80%) on the Ezanga permit was 16,896 bopd (total production: 21,120 bopd) in 2020, down 15% from 2019. The company took advantage of the period of low crude prices to temporarily suspend production at certain wells, starting in May 2020, in order to improve reservoir conditions for the long term. This effort has subsequently continued under the quotas established by OPEC, of which Gabon is a member. In January 2021, production at the Ezanga field was still limited to 19,000 bopd (or 15,200 bopd for M&P working interest). It is expected that this constraint will be gradually relaxed during the first half of 2021. Tanzania M&P's working interest gas production (48.06%) on the Mnazi Bay permit stood at 31.5 MMcfd (total production: 65.5 MMcfd) in 2020, a slight drop of 7% compared to 2019. This decline was offset at the sales level by the allocation of additional rights to M&P. These rights related to corporate income tax now being charged to the partner TPDC, pursuant to the production sharing contract. Consequently, M&P sales in Tanzania rose by 26% to $43 million, versus $34 million in 2019. Angola M&P's working interest production (20%) in Block 3/05 in 2020 was 3,933 bopd (total production: 19,663 bopd). Despite the drop in crude oil prices, valued production was up by 30% ($40 million versus $31 million in 2019) due to the asset being included over the entire period (versus just five months in 2019). Group reserves as at 31 December 2020 The Group's reserves correspond to the volumes of technically recoverable hydrocarbons representative of the Group's share of interests in permits currently in production plus those revealed by discovery and delineation wells that can be operated commercially. These reserves were certified as at 31 December 2020 by DeGolyer and MacNaughton in Gabon, Angola and France, and by RPS Energy in Tanzania. The Group's 2P reserves stood at 182.9 MMboe at 31 December 2020, including 120.1 MMboe of proven reserves (1P). The change from 2019 was due to production in the year just ended, with no significant revision in 2020. 2P reserves for M&P working interest: Oil (MMbbl) Oil (MMbbl) Oil (MMbbl) Gas (Bcf) MMboe Gabon Angola France Tanzania 31/12/2019 138.6 14.8 0.8 225.4 191.9 Production -6.2 -1.4 0.0 -11.4 -9.5 Revision 0.0 1.3 -0.6 0.1 0.7 31/12/2020 132.4 14.6 0.2 214.0 182.9 O/w 1P reserves 89.0 11.8 0.1 115.3 120.1 or 67% 81% 46% 54% 66% Note that these figures do not take into account the 20.46% interest held by M&P in Seplat, which is one of Nigeria's main operators listed on the London and Lagos stock exchanges. For the record, Seplat's 2P reserves stood at 509 MMboe at 1January 2020 (or 104 MMboe for the 20.46% stake held by M&P). In addition, due to the international sanctions against Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, the activity of M&P, relating to its stake in the company PRDL, is limited for the time being to operations related solely to the safety of staff and assets, and to environmental protection. Consequently, no reserve to date has been retained as regards this share. Financial position The Group's cash position at 31 December 2020 stood at $168 million, versus $212 million at 30 June 2020 and $231 million at 30 September 2020. Net debt fell in 2020 from $469 million to $455 million after a $77-million debt repayment ($75 million for the Term Loan and $2 million for the Shareholder Loan). The $43 million debt of the Gabon Oil Company (GOC) associated with its entry on the Ezanga permit in 2019, and corresponding to the amount owed to M&P in respect of the pre-2018 carrying cost, has now been validated through a procedure to obtain an expert opinion from the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce). These $43 million, which are not included in the cash position of $168 million at 31 December 2020, are subject to procedures in order to obtain them quickly. The cost-cutting initiatives that began in March 2020 and the asset impairments recorded during the first half of 2020 significantly lowered the Group's breakeven in terms of net income. The breakeven is now $45/bbl (excluding exceptional items and share of Seplat's earnings) based on current production figures. As far as the cash breakeven is concerned, this is less than $30/bbl before debt servicing. Francais Anglais pieds cubes pc cf cubic feet millions de pieds cubes par jour Mpc/j mmcfd million cubic feet per day milliards de pieds cubes Gpc bcf billion cubic feet baril B bbl barrel barils d'huile par jour b/j bopd barrels of oil per day millions de barils Mb mmbbls million barrels barils equivalent petrole bep boe barrels of oil equivalent barils equivalent petrole par jour bep/j boepd barrels of oil equivalent per day millions de barils equivalent petrole Mbep mmboe million barrels of oil equivalent For more information, visit www.maureletprom.fr This document may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial position, results, business and industrial strategy of Maurel Prom. By nature, forward-looking statements contain risks and uncertainties to the extent that they are based on events or circumstances that may or may not happen in the future. These projections are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which may prove to be incorrect and which depend on a number of risk factors, such as fluctuations in crude oil prices, changes in exchange rates, uncertainties related to the valuation of our oil reserves, actual rates of oil production and the related costs, operational problems, political stability, legislative or regulatory reforms, or even wars, terrorism and sabotage. Maurel Prom is listed for trading on Euronext Paris CAC All-Tradable CAC Small CAC Mid Small Eligible PEA-PME and SRD Isin FR0000051070/Bloomberg MAU.FP/Reuters MAUP.PA View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127005931/en/ Contacts: Maurel Prom Press, shareholder and investor relations Tel: +33 (0)1 53 83 16 45 ir@maureletprom.fr NewCap Financial communications and investor relations/Media relations Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Nicolas Merigeau Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 98 53/+33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 maureletprom@newcap.eu She's spent the past several days keeping her fans entertained with a slew of snaps from her sun-kissed winter getaway. And Helena Christensen kept the visual delights coming on Thursday, when she took to Instagram to share shots of herself posing in a bikini on the beach. The supermodel, 52, looked sensational as she took to the shores of the undisclosed location in a frilled red-and-white striped bikini. Beach time: Helena Christensen kept the visual delights coming on Thursday, when she took to Instagram to share shots of herself posing in a bikini on the beach Teaming her eye-catching halterneck number with a white crocheted top, the brunette beauty opted to accessorised with a delicate pendant necklace. With her lustrous raven locks partially obscuring her face in voluminous beachy curls, the star kept things glam with a bold palette of makeup. Days earlier, the star was seen wearing a selection of vibrant swimwear as she enjoyed her getaway with her beloved pet pooch Kuma. Showcasing her sensational figure, the catwalk queen was dressed in a floral print bikini as she cuddled her beloved pooch in one image. Sensational: The supermodel, 52, looked sensational as she took to the shores of the undisclosed location in a frilled red-and-white striped bikini Crocheted: The Danish beauty teamed her eye-catching number with a white crocheted top For another outfit, the media personality enhanced her lean legs in a colourful swimsuit by Audrey Louise Reynolds. The Danish photographer ensured focus remained on her patchwork ensemble as she opted for minimal make-up while her tresses were drenched in water. Helena's modelling career was launched when she won the Miss Universe Denmark title in 1986. The bombshell went on to become one of the original 1990s supermodels alongside Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer. In her element: Helena treated fans to a glimpse of her sunny getaway with her pet dog Kuma to Instagram on Sunday Commanding attention: The supermodel, 52, slipped into a selection of vibrant swimwear as she posed on the sandy shores Since her break into the fashion industry, the clothing designer also has become an accomplished photographer and was a co-founder of Nylon magazine that published from 1999 to 2017. In 2019, the former Victoria's Secret Angel spoke to Daily Mail about some of her fitness secrets. The brunette, who shares son Mingus, 21, with her former partner Norman Reedus, detailed how she likes to swim in 'rivers, lakes and oceans' in a bid to maintain her sensational figure. She shared: 'I think it's important to shake it up and do as many different forms of workout as possible, but also to incorporate nature into them. 'Swim in the ocean, swim in rivers, swim in lakes. Hiking, trekking, chopping wood it's the best way of working out, because it doesn't really feel like a workout. It feels like you're alive.' Turning up the heat: For one outfit, the media personality enhanced her lean legs in a colourful swimsuit by Audrey Louise Reynolds Ferne McCann has hinted her new romance with Jack Padgett isn't so new after all, describing him as an 'old flame'. The former TOWIE star, 30, recently confirmed she is in a relationship with the model after they were pictured kissing in South Africa in December. Speaking on FUBAR Radio's Access All Areas, Ferne admitted she and Jack have known each other for years and reconnected during lockdown. Loved-up: Ferne McCann has hinted her new romance with Jack Padgett isn't so new after all, describing him as an 'old flame' Chatting to hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng, she said: 'I'm happy and it's very early days, although I've known him for years. 'I actually met him five years ago. In Marbs, would you believe it Bob. Of course, but yeah, it's early days and I'll just see where it goes.' The reality star and mother to Sunday, three, has been single since May when she split from her New York-based boyfriend Albie Gibbs. When asked how her new relationship has gone from five years of friendship to now romance, Ferne revealed: 'I feel like everyone these days can keep in contact with people via social media and Instagram. Romance: The former TOWIE star, 30, recently confirmed she is in a relationship with the model after they were pictured kissing in South Africa in December 'Like, you can see what people are up to. You don't have to be texting every so now and then. 'But you know, these circles are quite small in London and Essex and the surrounding areas. So, you know, you might bump into old flames from time to time.' Suggesting that the pair might have been romantically involved in the past, Ferne added: 'You're not going to meet anyone in lockdown for goodness sakes so we're having to tap up some old flames!' While things may be going well for Ferne and Jack, the First Time Mum star insisted she has no plans to walk up the aisle in the near future. Spark: Ferne admitted she and Jack have known each other for years and reconnected during lockdown She said: 'You know you get people who use Pinterest boards to plan their wedding and their interior design, quote of the day and all that nonsense. I'm definitely not getting married any time soon, let's face it!' Ferne recently admitted that she's sought therapy for the past three years to help her with personal issues, and the change in the star was very clear. She said: 'Of course I have wobbles and I've definitely had my fair share of struggles, but I just know what it takes to pick myself up quick.' 'Whereas before, if I didn't know these sort of things, and that's a case of exercise and fueling my body with goodness, simple things, like making sure that I'm drinking enough water. And wine, obvs. I've got to strike a good balance there guys.' She said: 'I actually met him five years ago. In Marbs, would you believe it Bob. Of course, but yeah, it's early days and I'll just see where it goes' The beauty revealed the changes that she's making in 2021 too to continue working on herself, saying: 'I'm big into meditation, mindfulness and counting my gratitudes every night. And I've started journaling, which is like a 2021 resolution of mine. 'But just by doing all of these things and creating almost like your own little rituals and small daily disciplines can really, really help, even though it might seem like a big task.' Speaking of the year ahead, Ferne admitted that she's 'actually welcoming the uncertainty' and wants to try and be more positive. She said: 'You don't know what's going to happen, like we can't plan for goodness sake because our plans seem to go out the window and we can't really do a lot. Ferne added: 'You know, these circles are quite small in London and Essex and the surrounding areas. So, you know, you might bump into old flames from time to time' 'So I'm just like, do you know what, I'm here for it, what will be will be, and I don't want to drum too much about it but I'm literally so into manifesting and meditating and making vision boards that I'm just hoping for the best guys!' Ferne told MailOnline in October last year she had been using celebrity-dating app Raya to meet her next partner after turning 30 months earlier and asking herself: 'Am I going to be single forever?' She said at the time: 'Turning 30 I had that whole moment where I'm still single as a female, when you're single at 30 you really start to question yourself and you think "am I ever going to find anyone?" This isn't what I planned.' PARIS and GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Just Over The Top ("JOTT"), one of the most successful French casual outerwear brands, today announced that L Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm, has acquired a controlling interest in JOTT. The Gourdikian family, which founded and manage JOTT, will continue to hold a significant equity interest in the business. Founded in Marseille in 2010, JOTT is a leading French urban casualwear brand offering functional, comfortable, and versatile clothes, most notably its distinct line of light down jackets. With significant brand awareness and visibility in France, JOTT currently distributes its comprehensive collections of casual outerwear and accessory products through a network of concept stores as well as wholesale clients. The brand has been a forerunner in the advent of the premium urban casualwear concept through stylish, high-quality, and affordable products that can be worn in multiple occasions, and is well positioned to accelerate its growth across Europe and Asia. Patrick Gourdikian, JOTT President, said, "We are thrilled to partner with L Catterton to further develop JOTT as a leading omnichannel brand with an expanded footprint across Europe and Asia. L Catterton shares the same vision for JOTT and passion for building distinctive brands in the apparel segment. With L Catterton's support and expertise in scaling and operating apparel brands globally, we will continue to capture JOTT's strong brand loyalty among customers and drive our business through its next phase of growth." In conjunction with this announcement, Didier Lalance has been named CEO of JOTT. He brings nearly 30 years of management experience and a strong track record of growth at leading apparel and luxury brands, including Lacoste, Kering and ASICS. Eduardo Velasco, Partner of L Catterton Europe, said, "Partnering with JOTT, its visionary founders, and staff is a fantastic opportunity to further develop one of France's most iconic brands in the premium casual outerwear space. In just a few years, JOTT has become a leader in its market segment with distinctive and colourful clothing, and an efficient multichannel distribution strategy, which will all continue to be key pillars of its business model going forward. We are excited with Didier joining this amazing project alongside us to support JOTT's future growth." Mr. Lalance said, "For more than a decade, the entire JOTT team has been committed to building a brand with the power to span across categories, geographies, and generations. I am excited to join the JOTT family and partner with L Catterton to expand the JOTT brand globally." L Catterton has significant experience investing in apparel brands globally. Current and past apparel investments include GANT, SMCP (Sandro Maje Claudie Pierlot), ba&sh, Sweaty Betty, GANNI, Charles & Keith, and Rhone, among others. About JOTT Founded in 2010 by two cousins, Nicolas and Mathieu Gourdikian, who sought to create the best light down jacket ever designed, JOTT is an inclusive brand that has developed quickly by combining comfort and style without compromise. The brand's product designs are both functional and in line with today's versatile way of life, catering to all occasions, ages and lifestyles. JOTT is distributed through 100 concept stores across France, Spain, Portugal, Benelux, Switzerland and China and is present in more than 1,000 point of sales globally. JOTT has become the category champion in the light outerwear jacket segment in France and is on track to become an iconic global brand. For more information, please visit justoverthetop.com. About L Catterton With over $22 billion of equity capital across its fund strategies and 17 offices around the world, L Catterton is the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm. L Catterton's team of nearly 200 investment and operating professionals partners with management teams around the world to implement strategic plans to foster growth, leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence, and a broad partnership network. Since 1989, the firm has made over 200 investments in leading consumer brands. For more information about L Catterton, please visit www.lcatterton.com. Media Enquiries L Catterton Andi Rose / Tim Ragones Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher +1 212-355-4449 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428831/L_Catterton_JOTT.jpg RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces that the law firm filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against Restaurant Brands International Inc. (Restaurant Brands) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Restaurant Brands (NYSE: QSR) common stock between April 29, 2019 and October 28, 2019, inclusive (the Class Period). Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 19, 2021 Website: https://www.ktmc.com/restaurant-brands-international-inc-securities-class-action?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=restaurant_brands#overview Contact: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 Adrienne Bell, Esq. (484) 270-1435 Toll free (844) 887-9500 Restaurant Brands is one of the worlds largest restaurant chains with over 27,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, and Popeyes restaurants in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. On April 24, 2018, Restaurant Brands announced a new strategy designed to improve performance within its Tim Hortons brand. Specifically, the Winning Together Plan would focus on three key pillars: restaurant experience; product excellence; and brand communications. Then, on March 20, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced Tims Rewards a new loyalty program for Tim Hortons customers in Canada. On April 10, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced that it was expanding the Tims Rewards program to include customers in the United States. On October 29, 2019, the truth about Restaurant Brands execution of its Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program was revealed when the company announced disappointing financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported a 0.1% system-wide year-over-year sales decline for Tim Hortonsrepresenting a 1.4% same-store sales declineon system-wide sales of $1.774 billion. Following this news, the price of Restaurant Brands common stock declined $2.59 per share, or approximately 4%, from a close of $68.45 per share on October 25, 2019, to close at $64.86 per share on October 28, 2019. Restaurant Brands investors may, no later than February 19, 2021 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class members claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). T For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP James Maro, Jr., Esq. Adrienne Bell, Esq. 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 (844) 887-9500 (toll free) (610) 667-7706 info@ktmc.com Skedulo, the leader in deskless productivity software, for BioReference Laboratories has been declared the winner of the Cloud Project of the Year this week in the international Cloud Computing Awards program, The Cloud Awards. Skedulo was awarded for its work with BioReference Labs in mass scheduling COVID-19 tests with an implementation timeline of just two weeks. Categories for the 2020-21 Cloud Awards include Security Innovation of the Year, Best Software as a Service, and Cloud Project of the Year. It is a special honor to be recognized for being at the pinnacle of innovation and success in this years international Cloud Awards, said Skedulos executive vice president of marketing, Miles Kelly. Skedulos high capacity scheduling solution has had a tremendously positive impact on COVID-19 testing and will continue to be beneficial for the future of testing infectious diseases in the healthcare industry. Head of Operations for the Cloud Awards, James Williams, said: Skedulo for BioReference Laboratories is a deserving winner of the 2020-21 Cloud Awards. In our field, solutions have ranged from cloud-based systems which empower research and development of the virus, through to whole industries simply having to deal with a rapidly accelerated pressure to stop using paper. Organizations and individuals which operate in the cloud have risen to all these trials, from colossal to minor, and whether directly or indirectly related to this global crisis. The final winners of the 2020-21 Cloud Awards deserve a small place in history for their sheer belligerence and commitment to excellence in the environment of a devastating pandemic. This award comes off the heels of California Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing the states COVID-19 vaccination strategy will include a partnership with Skedulo, as well as Salesforce and Accenture, for the states MyTurn program which will enable Californians to sign up for text or email alerts for when they are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Skedulos high capacity scheduling technology will assist in efficient and effective scheduling for both doses of the vaccine statewide, which encompasses nearly 40M people. Hundreds of organizations entered the Cloud Awards, with entries coming from across the globe, covering the Americas, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. You can view the full shortlist here: https://www.cloud-awards.com/2020-shortlist/. Contact details For the Cloud Awards James Williams Operations http://www.cloud-awards.com james@cloud-awards.com About the Cloud Awards The Cloud Awards is an international program which recognizes and honors industry leaders, innovators and organizational transformation in cloud computing. The awards are open to large, small, established and start-up organizations from across the entire globe, with an aim to find and celebrate the pioneers who will shape the future of the Cloud as we move into 2021 and beyond. The Cloud Awards currently offers two awards programs, the Cloud Computing Awards and the Software-as-a-Service Awards. Categories for the Cloud Computing Awards include Most Promising Start-Up, Best SaaS, and Best in Mobile Cloud Solution. Finalists were selected by a judging panel of international industry experts. For more information about the Cloud Awards, please visit https://www.cloud-awards.com/. About Skedulo Founded in 2013, Skedulo is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Australia, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Skedulos leading Deskless Productivity Cloud solution powered by AI and machine learning empowers organizations to manage, engage and analyze their deskless workforce, supporting the 80% of global workers who dont work in a traditional office setting. Skedulos platform helps enterprises intelligently manage, schedule, dispatch, and support deskless workers on the go, whether they are in fixed location facilities or mobile field workers on the frontline. Skedulo has enabled hundreds of organizations, including The American Red Cross, DHL, and Sunrun, to seamlessly schedule and service over 5 million appointments worldwide. The company has secured over $40 million in funding to date, led by Microsoft's venture firm M12, Costanoa Ventures, and Blackbird. For more information, please visit http://www.skedulo.com, or our blog, @Skedulo, Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Blue Thunder Mining Inc. (TSXV: BLUE) (OTCQB: BLTMF) ("Blue Thunder" or "the Company") announces that it has granted to a recently appointed director, 250,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company ("Options"). The options have an exercise price of $0.10 per share, have a five-year term from the date of grant and vest one-half on the date of grant and one half on the 6-month anniversary of the date of grant. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73043 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Aging and lifestyle-related metabolic imbalances, such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative-stress, cause the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), including pentosidine (PEN, crosslinked type) and carboxymethyl-lysine (CML, non-crosslinked type). Osteoporosis is a widespread metabolic skeletal disease characterized by diminished bone mineral density (BMD) or bone strength, which increases the risk of fractures. To date, the association of PEN and CML with osteoporotic fracture has been reported, and the accumulation of AGEs in bone tissue is thought to contribute to bone vulnerability via the deterioration of bone matrix proteins, especially collagen. However, the precise mechanisms of PEN and CML in fracture occurrence are unclear and remain controversial, while no studies to uncover why CML associates with fractures have been attempted. There have been no reports investigating the implications of both PEN and CML on bone metabolism, BMD, and fractures in the same patients. Accordingly, a team of doctors from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine et al. examined the levels of urinary PEN and serum CML to assess and compare the impacts of those AGEs on bone status and prevalent osteoporotic fractures in a cohort of postmenopausal women. The group found that PEN as well as CML was significantly associated with prevalent vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women. The mechanism of PEN might be independent of lumbar BMD, while that of CML could be BMD dependent. It would appear that PEN, a crosslinked type of AGE, associated independently with the occurrence of fracture via collagen network deterioration, leading to impaired bone quality without affecting BMD. On the other hand, as a non-crosslinked type of AGE, CML could have contributed to fracture occurrence through lowered BMD. Both AGEs therefore appear to impact bone status and health, although possibly via different mechanisms. Corresponding author of the study, Associate Professor Yukio Nakamura states, this study assessed the impacts of both PEN and CML on a number of bone turnover-related markers, BMD, and fractures in the same postmenopausal outpatients who visited a primary care institution and demonstrated possible different mechanisms of those AGEs for the occurrence of fracture. Since this investigation was just a cross-sectional study, the team could not identify a causal relationship of AGEs with osteoporotic fractures. Therefore, the pathophysiological importance of AGEs in fractures requires confirmation by a longitudinal prospective study design with general population, such as community-dwelling participants. Together with the laboratory experiments, we would like to uncover the epidemiologic and mechanistic associations between AGEs and fractures. Finally, the team hopes to provide an effective intervention for the AGEs accumulation in bone tissue leading to bone health retention in the elderly. Explore further Sleep apnea linked with higher spine fracture risk among women More information: Masaki Nakano et al, Pentosidine and carboxymethyl-lysine associate differently with prevalent osteoporotic vertebral fracture and various bone markers, Scientific Reports (2020). Journal information: Scientific Reports Masaki Nakano et al, Pentosidine and carboxymethyl-lysine associate differently with prevalent osteoporotic vertebral fracture and various bone markers,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78993-w Provided by Shinshu University Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 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. PRAGUE, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of International Data Protection Day on Thursday 28 January, Avast, a global leader in digital security and privacy products, is calling on all online users to take back their privacy across their digital lifestyle. The purpose of Data Protection Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices. "It's important to not be apathetic when it comes to online privacy and to regularly look at how you can stay in control over your privacy and the personal data you share online, including on social media and apps that many of us use every day," said Shane McNamee, Chief Privacy Officer at Avast. "Next week on February 4, it will be 16 years since Facebook launched and while it wasn't the first social network, it has changed how willingly we are to share personal data about ourselves online. Platforms like Facebook and Google have developed complex advertising networks which rely on personal data for targeted advertising, which can seem ever-present at times. However, there are ways you can take back some control and limit the access that websites, social media platforms, and apps have to your personal data. You have more control than you think when it comes to deciding who can see your data and what they are allowed to do with it." Here are six simple steps that you can take in order to get some of your privacy back from social media and apps. 1. Manage advertising You can restrict what data advertisers use to target you on different social media platforms. Have a good look through your privacy and advertising settings and make sure you remove interests that the platform can use to target you, which you can do, for example, on Facebook and Twitter. Where possible, toggle off or remove any personal data that can also be used for ad targeting. You can also limit tracking and ad targeting by these platforms based on your browsing off social media, such as by turning off 'Off-Twitter Activity' on Twitter and removing 'Ads Shown off of Facebook' on Facebook. 2. Turn off location tracking Location tracking and history, even location metadata in your photos, can allow social media platforms and apps to track and catalogue your precise locations and then serve you personalised ads. A good privacy-protecting move is to turn off your Location Services on your phone for all social media apps and your camera. If you have an iPhone, you can find this in Settings, Privacy, then Location Services. On Android, go to Settings, then Location to turn off Location Sharing, Location History and adjust location access for apps. 3. Don't log in On certain social media platforms, like Twitter and TikTok, you don't need to log in to view content. By choosing not to log in, it takes away a really big amount of data that they could potentially collect, such as your user journey through the network, including content you search and engage with, and ads you click. 4. Revoke app and game permissions If you're like most people, you've probably signed into other apps and websites with your Facebook or Google login details. While this is super convenient, it also gives those sites access to your data and gives the platform you use to log in more information about you. Through your Facebook settings you can revoke permissions or you can choose what data the apps and games you still use have access to. Similarly, you can manage third-party access to your Google account through your security settings. 5. Don't click on ads Many social media platforms and apps track not only which ads you click on but also how long you spend looking at them or swiping through them. If you don't want social media platforms or apps to have information about your interests, then get in the habit of really ignoring ads all together and don't use the Shop feature you can find in Instagram and on Google, for example. If you see something that you like, you can search for it via your browser whilst using a VPN, like Avast SecureLine VPN , which makes it harder for third-parties to track your online activities. 6. Create a burner email address If you're going to truly take back some of your privacy, you can start from square one by creating a burner email address. A burner email which is an email address that you only use for specific things and that isn't linked to you elsewhere makes it much more difficult for companies to track you. You can easily create one for free on Gmail, but just be sure not to link it to your main account. Even better, use a different email service than the one you usually use, so you don't accidentally link them up. For more tips around how to protect your online privacy, check out Avast's Privacy Refresh blogs for Facebook , Instagram , TikTok and Twitter . About Avast Avast (LSE: AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is a global leader in digital security and privacy products. With over 400 million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Visit: www.avast.com Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE Avast Related Links https://www.avast.com/ Australian stocks sagged by as much as $55 billion on Thursday in the worst day of trading for the sharemarket since the end of September. However, analysts are undecided whether the ASX 200 is merely taking a breather or poised for heavier losses in coming days. The ASX 200 dropped 1.9 per cent on Thursday. Credit:AFR Investors scurried for the sidelines on Thursday as a poor Wall Street performance spilled into local trade, taking the ASX 200 further away from the 11-month highs it hit on Monday. The local benchmark fell by as much as 2.7 per cent before trimming losses to close 1.9 per cent lower at 6649.7. Household names were hammered, with iron ore giants BHP and Rio Tinto in the doldrums and Commonwealth Bank the worst of the major lenders. Of the 20 biggest companies, only packaging firm Amcor gained ground. In all, $40 billion was wiped from the boards in the worst session since the ASX began its year-ending bull run through the US presidential election. Analysts said investors were likely spooked by an overnight sell-off in big US tech names such as Apple, Tesla, and Facebook, while a dovish tone from the US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell did little to boost confidence in equities. Further muddying the waters was the ongoing war between Reddit-guided retail investors and short-selling hedge funds. Citron Capital and Melvin Capital closed out of their short positions on red-hot GameStop after retail investors had defiantly piled into the games seller and jacked up the price. EY partner and investment banking veteran Duncan Hogg said the targeting of institutional investors by online trading groups had traditional market participants looking over their shoulders. Theres a general nervousness around what it means in terms of hedge fund behaviour, Mr Hogg said. Theyre nervous about this happening to them. With a shorted stock there are unlimited potential losses on a share price rise. He also said it was unclear whether Thursdays ASX decline was a natural progression after a strong start to 2021 or a sign that further falls were coming. There is always a point where the market takes a view - and we always see this in bull markets - where essentially it runs hard then comes back a bit, Mr Hogg said. So it could be a short-term correction, but it could also be something larger. Denver, the premium fragrance brand for men, has recently signed up Kannada Superstar Sudeep as its new brand ambassador. Through this association, Denver aims to explore and leverage the massive untapped opportunities for fragrance brands in the Karnatakaand nearby market. It alsoplans to launch a TVC featuring Sudeep to further strengthen its positioning as a premium player in the Deodorant & Men Grooming category across Karnataka. Denver is a leading brand from the manufacturing hub Vanesa Care, and offers a wide array of perfumes and deodorants under male grooming category. By collaborating with Sudeep, not only itendeavours to become a brand that connects with the aura and style of todays millennial generation, but it also strives tocement its stance as a leader in this space, showcasing international standards of perfumery. Baadshah Kichcha Sudeepa is one of the most admired celebrities in Karnataka, and this synergy is expected to augment Denvers brand recall value to another level among its target audience. Speaking on the appointment, Saurabh Gupta, Director (Marketing &Sales) Denver, said, We have been fortunate enough to create deep inroads within Hindi-speaking and Telugu markets by associating withleading stars like Shahrukh Khan and Mahesh Babuas our brand ambassadors. This time also, we were on the lookout for an equally loved celebrity fromKarnataka to further enhance our footprint within the region. Mr. Gupta further added, We are delighted to announce thatKichchaSudeepa, one of the most well-known superstars within the Sandalwood film industry, is now on boardwith Denver as its new brand ambassador. As an icon and an idol for the regions youth, he stands out as the perfect fitfor the brand. We are confident that this association will enable us to reach out to and capture a muchlarger audience, thus significantly accelerating our growth in Karnataka. Baadshah Kichcha Sudeepa said, Since its inception, Denver has strived to be a niche player in a competitive market. It has been making consistent efforts to be unique, especially when it comes to relating and connecting with its young target audience. I am happy to be the face of a leading brand like this, and excited to be a part of its growth trajectory. I look forward to a successful and long-standing synergy with Denver, and hope to catapult this brand to new heights going forward. SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Republican Party condemned the 10 Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump and called the Jan. 6th insurrection a "false flag." The state Republican party says there is growing evidence that the violence at the U.S. Capitol was a "false flag" operation designed to discredit Trump, his supporters and "all conservative Republicans." Oregon GOP Condemns Betrayal by the Ten House Republicans Who Voted to Impeach President Trump pic.twitter.com/sL2pjAXT8u Oregon GOP (@Oregon_GOP) January 19, 2021 There is no evidence to support the Oregon Republican Party's claims. The Oregon State Democrats released a statement saying in part, "In the era of Trump, the Oregon GOP has seemingly given up on any effort to appeal to a majority of Oregonians." The Democratic Party of Oregon also said the Oregon Republican Party leadership has increasingly aligned itself with far-right conspiracy theories, and is now passing resolutions that falsely suggest the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol was a "false flag" operation, likening it to the Reichstag Fire in Germany in 1933. A civil rights activist has warned the government it must class right-wing extremism as terrorism or risk a 'Christchurch'-style attack on Australian minority groups. Fifty-one people died in Christchurch in 2012 when Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant went on a shooting rampage through a busy mosque. Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said Australia could soon fall victim to a similar attack. His comments come after pictures surfaced of a group of far-right activists enjoying a weekend away over the Australia Day weekend in western Victoria. The group of about 30 young men appeared to perform the Nazi salute and sing chants promoting white power in the Grampians National Park. Dr Abramovich told The Age the event should have sparked greater state and federal responses, and he hopes governments will move to proscribe such groups as terrorist organisations. Photos taken at the 'boys trip' show the group burning a cross - a ritual most commonly associated with the Ku Klux Klan 'We do not need to wait for a Christchurch [terror attack] in Melbourne to act,' Mr Abravomich said. 'Who would have thought in 2021 Australia, in a week in which we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the modern face of Hitler would reveal itself in our state without consequence?' Dr Abramovich warned that this particular group and others that are similar spew vitriol online and recruit vulnerable members of the community. 'This group are... taking full advantage of their virtual audience to feed and amplify their vitriolic fantasies about an Aryan Australia, without Jews, Muslims, Aboriginals, the disabled, immigrants, members of the LGBTQI community and anyone else they deem 'inferior'. The modern face of Hitler 'I call on our state and federal governments to lead the fight against the growing problem of racially based extremism by candidly characterising it and advocating that these groups be added to the terror list,' he said. Photos taken at the 'boys trip' show the group burning a cross - a ritual most commonly associated with the Ku Klux Klan. Police are reportedly investigating the group and their activities. Nate Hart was hiking through the Grampians with a friend on Saturday when he passed the group gathered in a cave singing 'Waltzing Matilda'. Pictured: A group of white supremacists at the Grampians National Park, performing the Seig Heil The avid hiker thought the behaviour was strange, but didn't see it as too out of place because it was the weekend before Australia Day. It wasn't until he saw a younger member 'proudly throw up the Sieg Heil' that he realised the group was more than singing patriots. Upon closer inspection, Mr Hart realised most of the men were wearing black shirts with the Celtic Cross - a symbol commonly used by white supremacists. They looked like Nazis from a Hitler movie As he walked away, the men 'aggressively yelled 'power of the white man!',' Mr Hart wrote on Facebook. 'It was clear we were in the presence of a group of actual fascists, indeed Nazis, out for a training camp and bonding exercise,' he said. 'Young blokes coming together over their shared hatred of others.' 'They looked like Nazis from a Hitler movie,' a cafe owner said. 'And they were.' One resident told the publication a group member said, 'we are the Ku Klux Klan'. Someone else heard the group drunkenly chanting racist slogans while camping illegally at Lake Bellfield - an idyllic spot with panoramic views of the national park. A local known only as James said he was greeted with the Nazi salute as he rode through Halls Gap on his mountain bike. 'There were 40 white males, many with skinheads, some chanting 'white power'. That is intimidating for anyone, let alone the young Asian families sharing the barbecue space,' he said. Victoria Police would not comment specifically on the activity in Halls Gap, but told Daily Mail Australia it monitors the behaviour of far-right groups closely. 'Victoria Police works closely with its state and Federal partners and our Joint Counter Terrorist Team has undertaken a number of investigations covering extremism,' a spokeswoman said. Pictured: A man wearing a black t-shirt with a Celtic logo, which has been used symbolise white supremacy 'We encourage anyone who has been a victim of a prejudice-related crime to reach out to police for assistance. Every Victorian has the right to feel safe and secure in the community and in pursuing their values, beliefs and interests.' On Wednesday, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg - who is Jewish - said far-right groups that attended Invasion Day rallies was 'frightening for us all'. Extremists were also condemned by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, though he refused to be drawn on individual matters. 'I would make the point as well, that many would argue, and the international evidence is very clear, and indeed the local evidence, that anti-Semitism is on the rise,' he admitted on Thursday. 'There is no place for that kind of anti-Semitism in our state, there is no place for that sort of bigotry and hatred. There is no place for violence. 'It's an evil thing, it's a wicked thing, and I just take this opportunity to send a message to the Jewish community across Melbourne and Victoria, you have and continue to make a profound contribution to our state.' You are here: World Flash Nine people were killed and two others injured in a wagon-bus collision in Afghanistan's western Herat province on Wednesday, a local government spokesman said. The accident happened when a wagon hit head-on into a long-distance bus coming from the opposite direction along a provincial highway in Herat's Adraskan district at mid-day, spokesman Jilani Farhad told Xinhua. Those killed, including three women and a child, were passengers aboard the wagon, the official said. Road mishaps are frequent in the mountainous country and occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... HOUSTON A Houston police officer indicted for murder following a deadly 2019 drug raid in which a couple was killed is being targeted by a district attorney looking to score political points in the wake of last years nationwide protests against police brutality, his attorney alleged on Tuesday. Officer Felipe Gallegos became the second officer who was indicted for murder following the January 2019 drug raid in which Dennis Tuttle, 59, and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas, 58, were killed. Rusty Hardin, Gallegos attorney, said the officer was a hero who saved the lives of other officers who were being shot at by Tuttle and who had nothing to do with an alleged faulty search warrant that had wrongly led authorities to the couples home. In a brief statement during a news conference, Gallegos told reporters he hasnt been awarded the opportunity to tell my side of the story, to be able to explain that Im not the bad person that Im being painted to be. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Gallegos, whos been with the police department for 12 years and whose father is a homicide detective with a suburban Houston police agency, did not comment on the shooting. Prosecutors have alleged that another officer, Gerald Goines, lied to obtain the warrant to search the couples home by claiming that a confidential informant had bought heroin there. Goines later said there was no informant and that he had bought the drugs himself, they allege. Five officers, including Goines, were injured in the raid, including four who were shot. Goines was indicted last year on two counts of felony murder in the deaths of the couple. Gallegos was indicted on Monday in the killing of Tuttle. Hardin said that when Tuttle started firing at officers, he stopped being an innocent victim. Friends of Tuttle and Nicholas say they were not criminals and have suggested that the couple might have thought they were being attacked by intruders. Michael Doyle, one of the Nicholas family attorneys, said in a statement that their ongoing independent investigation is questioning the police version of how the shooting took place. The indictments of Gallegos, Goines and other officers is part of an ongoing investigation into the Houston Police Department narcotics unit behind the raid. In all, a dozen current and former officers tied to the unit have been indicted, with most for charges related to lying on search warrants, putting false information on offense reports and lying on time sheets as part of a scheme to get overtime. An audit made public in July of the narcotics unit found that officers often werent thorough in their investigations and overpaid informants for the seizure of minuscule amounts of drugs. Hardin said in the wake of last years death of George Floyd, who was pinned to the ground under a white Minneapolis officers knee before he died, efforts to right past wrongs over racial injustice should not be anti-police. If you make police officers feel they are the besieged minority in the United States now, who are not going to be judged on their conduct but are going to be judged on the conduct of others you are subjecting police officers to the same type of prejudice that minorities have experienced, Hardin said. At a separate news conference, Houston Police Officers Union President Douglas Griffith defended the indicted officers, calling the work by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and her office nothing more than TV justice. The union was paying the legal fees of all the indicted officers except for Goines. In a statement, Ogg said a grand jury determined that Officer Felipe Gallegos is not in fact a hero, but a murderer. In 2013, a truck driver accused Gallegos and another officer of punching and putting him in a chokehold while they searched for a burglary suspect. Hardin said Gallegos denied using excessive force and a complaint against the officer was not sustained by internal affairs. The truck driver later filed a lawsuit alleging injuries and the city of Houston settled it in 2018 for $200,000. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 The news that Kristen Stewart will play Princess Diana in a new biopic for acclaimed Chilean director Pablo Larrain (Gloria, Jackie, No) proves the peoples princess has found new life in the public imagination almost 25 years after her death in a car accident in Paris. The first image from the movie Spencer, in which the former Twilight star turned indie darling will play the Princess, was released on Thursday. It shows the 30-year-old actor, who has in the past been mocked for her emo-goth tendencies, transformed into a passable facsimile of the one-time Princess of Wales, who was 36 when she died in August 1997. First look at Kristen Stewart in the new Princess Diana drama Spencer. Written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and due for release towards the end of the year, Spencer is set over a single weekend in the early 1990s when Diana came to the realisation that her marriage to Prince Charles was over. The title refers to the notion of her reclaiming her pre-marriage identity. But Juliet Rieden, editor at large at The Australian Womens Weekly and a long-time Royal watcher, is a little sceptical at the prospect of an American playing Diana, no matter how convincing the physical transformation. SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EDMO Distributors, a global leader in the distribution of avionics and installation supplies, has signed a distribution agreement with AvMap Satellite Navigation. The AvMap company has built a solid reputation as a value-oriented navigation system, with the first units fielded in 1994. The EKP V is a stand-alone moving map display that can be carried on or panel mounted. Customers can add ADAHRS functionality to the EKP V with the A2 ADAHRS upgrade module. Through continued innovation, the company has produced more products such as EngiBOX and Ultra EFIS systems. These multi-function avionics provide versatile primary display, navigation and monitoring systems for Experimental and Light-Sport aircraft utilizing the ROTAX powerplant. EDMO will augment the North American market through its expansive dealer network. Bjorn Nagelhout, AvMap Sales Manager, said: "We are very pleased to re-engage with EDMO Distributors as they helped launch the original EKP kneeboard system over 20 years ago. With our increased product line, we see EDMO as the most capable partner to promote our products with a high level of support." The AvMap lineup can be interfaced to many 3rd party accessories such as autopilots, video cameras, CAS, EVS, and real time weather display services. Although the systems are not TSO certified, AvMap maintains a robust quality system and superior US and European based customer support capabilities. Jeffery Geraci, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for EDMO, said: "The AvMap line has matured significantly in recent years. The line offers a unique blend of capability and value for not only the experimental pilot but also can provide reference and back-up situational awareness for certified flyers. We like the scalability of the system for enhanced vision, autopilot interfaces, and other desirable add-ons." About AvMap Satellite Navigation, Inc AvMap Satellite Navigation, Inc is the North American Branch company of AvMap founded in Carrara, Tuscany, within TWS holding. AvMap is an Italian manufacturer of navigation systems since 1994. AvMap manufactures assisted navigation solutions and smart electronic devices for automotive, marine, avionics, and intelligent farming. AvMap Group has been serving OEMs for 30 yearsdedicated to the Sport / Ultra-light and General Aviation market. AvMap avionic products are 100% Made in Italy and used by private pilots, aerobatic teams, as well as by armed forces, governmental agencies, rescue teams, civil defense. Visit avmap.us for more information. About EDMO Distributors EDMO Distributors, Inc is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Based in Spokane, Washington, they've secured a reputation as one of the most reliable sources for aircraft electronics, test equipment, installation supplies, wire and cable, tooling, and pilot supplies. EDMO's commitment to providing the best service and the largest selection possible has made it a company that customers count on and trust. EDMO maintains a stringent quality control system and is an ISO 9001:2008/AS9120 registered company. Visit edmo.com for more information. SOURCE EDMO Distributors Inc. Related Links https://www.edmo.com/ The states first COVID-19 vaccination sites have been revealed, showing health authorities will run 11 vaccine hubs concentrated at the largest hospitals across NSW. Royal Prince Alfred, Westmead, Liverpool, Hornsby, St George, Nepean, John Hunter in Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga hospitals will be the first sites to offer Phase 1a priority groups the Pfizer vaccine from next month. The announcement comes as Queensland confirmed it would open its borders to all of NSW from February 1, in a move welcomed by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian as the best outcome. NSW Health on Thursday said it expected limited doses of the Pfizer vaccination in the first few months of the rollout, which will see ambulance and patient transport staff, emergency department staff and critical care ward staff among the first eligible for the jab. (Natural News) 5,000 of the over 26,000 National Guard troops sent to Washington, D.C. to provide security for President Joe Bidens inauguration will remain in the capital, after the rest have been sent home or redeployed. Now, a retired military intelligence officer has commented that these units are turning into an occupation force, and that their continued presence is unacceptable. As of Jan. 26, there are currently around 7,000 National Guard units remaining in D.C. A spokesperson for the guard said that these numbers will be whittled down to just 5,000 by mid-March, which means that thousands of Guardsmen will be sticking around the Capitol for nearly two months longer than they were initially told. Retired Lt. Steven Rogers, a former member of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Joint Terrorism Task Force, believes that the continued presence of significant numbers of National Guard troops in D.C. is a cause for concern. The purpose of the National Guard is to supplement law enforcement agencies, to help them with crowd control, to help them with enforcing laws. Just to supplement their manpower. That job was done, said Rogers during an interview with NTD. Unfortunately, what the message the American people are receiving is that this is slowly becoming an occupation force that is absolutely necessary. Tens of thousands of National Guard troops were sent into the nations capital following the unrest that occurred at the Capitol building on Jan. 6. But a spokesman from the National Guard said that their troops did not have to deal with any security concerns on Inauguration Day.(Related: 15,000 members of National Guard to be deployed in Washington, D.C. as security for Inauguration Day.) It appears that the National Guard is acting on tips given to them by the FBI. Acting Army Secretary John Whitley said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned the National Guard about possible unrest in the coming weeks. But Rogers doesnt believe this. He said that the troops continued presence in the capital is political, especially given the fact that there continues to be civil unrest in other parts of the country perpetrated by far-left organizations like Antifa and Black Lives Matter. These events, Rogers believes, are what actually require the National Guards presence. Right now, I can only say this is political, what kind of message is being sent, its not a good message for our world leaders, said Rogers. Its not a good message for the American people Its time for these troops to come home. Theyre not cops, they have to be combat-ready. They have to be ready to fight wars, and I may add, they have to be ready to go to areas of the country when theyre called upon to help law enforcement agencies. Trump impeachment being used to justify troops The only upcoming event in Washington that may trigger potential civil unrest is the upcoming second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. According to the Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the trial is expected to begin on the week of Feb. 8. Federal law enforcement officials state that the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate poses enough of a security risk to justify keeping 5,000 National Guard troops in Washington. Officially, the National Guard troops that will stay in D.C. will stand by in case local and federal law enforcement units need their numbers supplemented. The order to remain in Washington covers all members of the D.C. National Guards 74th Troop Command at the rank of captain and below and aviation entities that are the rank of sergeant first class and below. The 113th Wing of the D.C. Air National Guard will remain as well, including mission support and medical staff. All in all, the affected units constitute around 3,400 troops. Additional guardsmen will be brought in from Maryland. These troops will remain on duty until at least March 15. To help its troops respond to threats, the National Guard is establishing a Quick Reaction Force made up of 500 Guard members that will be drawn up equally from both the Army and the Air National Guards. The Quick Reaction Force will stand guard in certain portions of the city every day from midnight until noon of Feb. 28 to supplement the numbers of the D.C. Metropolitan Police. Learn about what the government believes are threats to national security and the actual threats that they refuse to engage with by reading the latest articles at NationalSecurity.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Politico.com Reuters.com (Natural News) One of the key investigators probing the true origins of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) has been exposed as someone who helped channel federal funding from the United States directly into the Wuhan Institute of Virology WIV. WIV has long been suspected as being ground zero for the Chinese virus. The school had apparently been working on genetically modifying bat coronaviruses when one of them escaped from the lab, eventually triggering a global pandemic. Peter Daszak, a British infectious disease expert, is part of the 10-member World Health Organization (WHO) team that is supposedly investigating where and how these Chinese germs originated. Daszak is also the president of the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, an organization that claims to be a global environmental health nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and public health from the emergence of disease. While working at EcoHealth, Daszak led scientific inquiries into the pathogenicity of bat coronaviruses. He was also recently given $3.4 million in taxpayer money from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the origin, diversity, capacity to cause illness, and risk of spillover of said coronaviruses. As we previously reported, EcoHealth was also discovered to have been involved in projects at WIV to genetically manipulate coronaviruses. EcoHealth also led a propaganda mission to dispel the notion that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found at Pandemic.news. Is Daszak an information gatekeeper whose job is to keep a lid on the true origins of COVID-19? Just prior to the plandemic, WIV was engaging in a controversial practice known as gain-of-function that involves intentionally manipulating viruses, including coronaviruses, to increase their infectiousness. Back in 2019, EcoHealth was conducting experiments using infectious clone technology, in vitro and in vivo infection experiments and analysis of receptor binding in order to test the hypothesis that % divergence thresholds in S protein sequences predict spillover potential. Last year, an NIH spokesman the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), of which Anthony Fauci is the head, is a branch of the NIH denied that EcoHealth was a participant in these gain-of-function experiments. The World Health Organization (WHO) flat-out refused to answer questions about whether or not it looked into Daszaks background before hiring him to play a prominent role on its COVID-19 research team. Peter Daszak is a disease ecologist whos spent 20 years analyzing the origins, causes and trends in emerging diseases like SARS, Nipah, MERS, avian flu and COVID-19, the organization said in a canned statement. All experts participating in WHO expert groups are signing declaration of interest. When questioned directly, Daszak did not provide a response delineating what his role is on the WHO COVID-19 research team. Earlier this month, officials from the State Department issued a report claiming that workers inside the WIV lab where coronavirus research was taking place fell ill with the novel virus weeks before the plandemic was officially announced. Communist Chinese officials have of course denied that this is the case, as well as denied that WIV is where the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) originated. The official story is that the Chinese virus originated in bat meat at a local Wuhan wet market, located just a few miles away from WIV. Viruses are exosomes, wrote one of our own commenters, adding that vaccines are evil. Neither the WHO nor the CDC has released the full sequence of their SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) bioweapon, thus making the PCR test irrelevant be it positive or negative, wrote another. More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: JustTheNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Vaccines currently available require two doses, so residents will make two appointments. However, they will be prevented from going through the full vaccination process multiple times because every vaccine administered is entered into a statewide computer system, Calvillo said. The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday charged New Jersey insurance agent Ivan Ramos with fraud in connection with two securities offerings that raised over $1 million from his insurance clients and other investors. According to the SEC's complaint, from approximately August 2017 to July 2020, Ramos, an insurance agent at a large, well-known insurance company, lured several of his clients and other acquaintances into investing approximately $1 million through a pair of firms, Invexperts, LLC and Wealth Seeds Capital, LLC. The complaint alleges that Ramos falsely promised investors in Invexperts - a company wholly owned by a friend of Ramos's - a conservative, safe investment, with a guaranteed 5% return. The complaint further alleges that the investors from whom Ramos solicited funds were inexperienced and put their trust in Ramos as an agent of the well-known insurance company. As alleged, however, Ramos actually intended to use funds he solicited for Invexperts to finance a restaurant venture that he knew involved significant risk, and in fact used investors' funds to operate the restaurant, purchase real estate, and pay his personal expenses. The complaint alleges that when the restaurant failed to turn a profit, Ramos created and solicited investments in Wealth Seeds. According to the complaint, Ramos falsely pitched Wealth Seeds as a safe investment, but used funds invested in Wealth Seeds to repay Invexperts investors. The SEC's complaint, filed in federal district court for the District of New Jersey, charges Ramos with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Ramos has consented to the entry of a judgment that imposes a permanent injunction, with monetary relief to be determined at a later date. The settlement is subject to court approval. In a parallel action concerning the same conduct, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey today announced that Ramos pleaded guilty. The SEC's investigation, which is ongoing, is being conducted by Liora Sukhatme and Adam Grace of the New York Regional Office and supervised by Lara S. Mehraban. The SEC's litigation is being handled by Ms. Sukhatme and Jack Kaufman. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Since his 2016 mini-series, Streets of Your Town, became the most watched ABC arts program of that year, comedian/radio host turned architecture advocate, Tim Ross, has been making a follow-up documentary that delves into the lives lived inside iconic walls. As with its predecessor, the humour in Designing a Legacy is of a whimsical nature. Ross wears his heart on his sleeve as he crosses hallowed thresholds from Queensland to Tasmania, of houses designed by the likes of Robin Boyd, Gabriel Poole and Ken Woolley. Radio host turned TV architecture advocate, Tim Ross Credit: Architecture can affect peoples lives and not just the people who grew up in those homes, says Ross. Great architecture inspires people to do interesting things and form a broader point of view. Two of the houses featured in the film had that impact on the young Ross. Growing up in Mount Eliza on Victorias Mornington Peninsula, Chancellor and Patricks 1955 Dromana Butterfly House and Roy Grounds' 1937 Ramsay House were part of his childhood landscape. There was always a house around the corner that was far more interesting than your own and it was always the modernist ones. Being around it all, it sinks in. Its like how you wake up one morning without ever owning an album of Burt Bacharachs but you love every song. (Modernist architecture) has a way of getting under your skin, if you let it. Tourism industry heavyweights are pushing for federal and state leaders to agree on how to manage future COVID-19 outbreaks, as Queensland continues to shift the goalposts on border decisions. A surge of southern visitors was expected to boost ailing tourism operators around Queensland in the lead-up to Easter, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Thursday border restrictions would ease next week. Vehicles arriving from New South Wales queuing to cross the Queensland border at Coolangatta in December. Credit:Dan Peled Queensland has changed its border policy a number of times throughout the pandemic, including time frames for unlinked cases. Queensland Health has not detailed the reasoning behind its latest decision to revoke hotspot status for greater Sydney. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. ASEAN members should make it clear that any use of force by China in their waters would be considered an act of war, experts say. On January 22, China passed a law that breaks precedent by explicitly allowing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels. According to draft of the Coast Guard Law published earlier, the coast guard would be allowed to use "all necessary means" to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels. It also allows coast guard forces to demolish other countries' structures and to board and inspect foreign vessels on reefs and in waters claimed by China. A China Coast Guard vessel at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in 2017. Photo by Reuters. "Any use of force by China's Coast Guard is not a mere law enforcement action, it is an actual use of force by the state, which can be considered as an act of aggression, or use of force contrary to the United Nations Charter, or tantamount to war, if it is employed in the waters of other countries that China claims as its own," Professor Jay Batongbacal, Director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, University of the Philippines, told VnExpress International. China's Coast Guard is not a civilian agency; it falls directly under the Central Military Commission, and therefore is or should be considered a military agency, he explained. Despite the fact that coast guards all over the world do have law enforcement powers that can include the use of force, the problem is China's Coast Guard has not been operating only in its own waters but has also been encroaching the waters of other countries. That is what makes it different from others, Batongbacal said. Therefore, the principal challenge now is that China has delegated the authority to decide whether or not to use force to operating units at sea. This means that the probability of an incident involving the use of force is higher than before. Batongbacal stressed that this is a common challenge facing all Southeast Asian countries around the South China Sea whose waters are claimed by China. The South China Sea is known as the East Sea in Vietnam. Threat to civilians For the civilians of related countries in the region, there is now an actual threat that Chinese vessels can fire upon them, even if they are operating within their own country's waters, said Batongbacal. Even military vessels of such countries may actually be fired upon while they're carrying out their normal functions in their own jurisdiction. Consequently, the private sector is more likely to be wary and start to keep away from areas they know Chinese vessels are operating. If that happens, China will have attained another victory in its slow and incremental campaign of gaining control over the South China Sea. Civilian activity will be forced to comply with Chinese regulations in order to avoid hostile action, and government vessels will be the only ones left operating in the areas. Eventually, they will also be surrounded by Chinese vessels. It would be a very bad situation for them. The islands that they occupy will also be surrounded by Chinese vessels that may be fired upon. It's like China winning a war without firing a shot, he said. A warning for ASEAN? Gregory Poling with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S., said that with the new law, Vietnam will face the same challenges it already does. Chinese law enforcement and other vessels are willing to create risks of collision and otherwise harass Vietnamese civilian vessels in order to prevent Vietnams lawful activities in its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, larger and more numerous, present a threat that Hanoi cant overcome with direct competition, Poling said. Vice Admiral Yoji Koda, former Commander-in-Chief of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, said that for Vietnam, as well as Japan, the most dangerous situation is not China Coast Guards use of weapons under the law. Rather, China's use of the law as a key element of its "lawfare" to expand its territories "peacefully" is the real problem. Koda took an example: When there is a eye-to-eye confrontation between Vietnam and Chinas coast guard ships, if Vietnam ship, even reluctantly, withdraws from the area, China is able to send troops to "peacefully" seize long-disputed reef without using weapons or military forces. Thus, China establishes its national objectives. "What China wants to do is that China makes domestic law as a mean to solve international dispute/confrontation favorably to China, thus to establish Chinas national objective." Collin Koh, a research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, made a similar argument. Koh said the law constitutes an implied warning to ASEAN parties in the South China Sea against seeking to challenge Chinas actions or undertaking measures Beijing would deem counter to its national interests. Ironically, then, the onus is placed squarely on the ASEAN parties in the South China Sea to avoid provoking China, even if the actions are legitimate measures carried out in accordance with rights and duties enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). For example, the ASEAN parties would, in effect, be deprived of their right to explore and exploit energy resources as well enforce fisheries control in their respective EEZs. This would be particularly true of ASEAN members keen to avoid escalating tensions with China. The new law may compel them to think twice about undertaking legitimate actions. While avoiding any potential untoward incidents with China, such self-deterrence would play into Beijings hands. China typically exploits the desire of other parties, especially smaller and weaker countries in Southeast Asia that are economically beholden to it, Koh said. "This is yet another type of lawfare that Beijing plays in the disputed waters." He stressed that the other downside of the calculation is that even if the concerned ASEAN party chooses to go ahead and disregard the new Chinese coast guard law, theres always a risk that provokes a greater reaction from China that may spiral out of control. On the whole, the law just doesnt bode well for ASEAN countries because its potentially destabilizing, in no small part due to the ambiguous language used in the provisions; e.g. "waters under national jurisdiction" that isnt properly defined and could only be left to China as the sole, final arbiter on what it means, depending on its own interests in a particular situation. Rogue practices While Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying has said the law was in line with international practices, Batongbacal emphasized the notion of what is normal. A normal situation is when a state limits itself to its own jurisdiction. The problem is China does not do that. It imposes itself on other countries' jurisdictions, he noted. According to Batongbacal, the ability to use force in law enforcement is part of international law. There are some prohibitions in the UNCLOS and some rulings of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) that come into play. It's only through practice that the limits to the use of force in law enforcement have been developed. "But China does not mention any of that, meaning they're doing so besides the standards," he said. China's past actions have not followed the standards and practices of other nations. Therefore, countries cannot have any confidence that China will use or implement the law in the same way that other countries do in their own waters. Poling agreed. He said China's new law by itself isn't out of line with international standards but its vague definition of Chinese waters and the trend of increasingly aggressive behavior by the Chinese Coast Guard makes it likely that the law will be used as an excuse for further coercion off the shores of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. "For that reason, the region is understandably nervous about how the new law will be implemented," he said. In a January 26 webinar titled Asia Forecast 2021, Bonnie Glaser, Senior Adviser for Asia and Director, China Power Project, CSIS, said that when countries look at China's past practices, how it uses law enforcement vessels to control activities within the nine-dash line where it claims it has jurisdiction and historical rights, they can expect that there will be a continuation or even an uptick in some of those coercive activities. Furthermore, China continues to turn out really large law enforcement vessels in greater numbers than any other claimant in the region. She said China's attempt to control activities within other countries, in exclusive economic zones that intersect with China's infamous nine-dash line, is definitely growing. Possible reactions Poling said that there were already complaints by neighbors about China's law, including a formal diplomatic protest from the Philippines on January 27. Countries are also going to hear anxiety from interested parties like the U.S., but the level of criticism will depend on how China implements the law. "The only options are to combine military deterrence with a diplomatic strategy to rally international opinion in the hopes of moving China toward compromise," he said. Japan's Vice Admiral Koda said countries like Japan, the U.S. and Australia that support free use of sea as seafaring nations would, most likely, not support China Coast Guard law. They will express some sort of disagreement, uneasiness and concerns to the law. "In a physical incident, especially incident caused by use of weapons by CCG law, firm condemnation from these nations will be expected. If the incident is a casualty-associated one, some nation may send its CG units the area." Koh said that where ASEAN countries are concerned, there are several possible reasons for the muted reaction so far. They need time to look at the new Chinese law and consider its potential legal, political, and operational implications. The current atmosphere in the South China Sea remains somewhat stable, and especially after recent developments wherein China has reached out to ASEAN countries to promote economic and pandemic cooperation, some regional governments prefer to not rock the boat at this juncture. In addition, he said, ASEAN countries are more focused on pandemic containment and recovery and do not want to let this new law and reactions thereof be a distraction. There might not be an open public reaction, but this doesnt preclude the possibility that at least some ASEAN governments might have directed their concerns to Beijing via diplomatic channels. Countries may expect this issue to emerge in the discussions on the Code of Conduct (COC) once the negotiations restart, Koh said. People may also expect navies and coastguards to strengthen inter-agency coordination to respond in a coherent fashion in the future against Chinas actions in the South China Sea. In fact, there is already some progress on this front in some ASEAN countries. There is also the possibility that this new Chinese law may in fact compel concerned ASEAN countries to ramp up intramural coordination and info-sharing between their coastguards, and expand cooperation with extra-regional parties in this regard. If Beijing has been seeking to exclude extra-regional presence in the South China Sea, this law may achieve the opposite effect, Koh said. Batongbacal surmised that related countries in the region are trying to get a copy of the actual legislation before making a formal communication on the issue. There's a vague description of the law on the website of the National People's Congress of China. The report on its content came from The Global Times, an official publication. He hoped that other countries would come up with a consistent and unified position on this issue. That's the only way to get China to withdraw the law or keep the country from implementing it in the jurisdictions of other countries. Ideally, all claimants should have the same perspective and attitude, that the imposition of the Chinese law on their waters is an act of aggression. Batongbacal said that that key powers should make a clear statement of policy about how they would react if China does indeed attempt to use force against vessels in waters China claims but do not have legal jurisdiction over. They have to make it very clear that this will not be accepted. He said countries in the region can object to China's law implementation in their own jurisdictions. They should also make it clear that any coast guard legislation is only valid in a countrys sovereign waters, not outside it. Any attempt by China to apply its laws in the waters of other countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia or Indonesia "should be considered as an act of war," he 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. A federal lawsuit lays out allegations of extreme bullying against a special needs student at Huntsville's Mountain Gap Elementary School. The lawsuit was filed by the mother of a student identified in court documents only as John Doe. Image from the Mountain Gap Elementary School Facebook page Image from the Mountain Gap Elementary School Facebook page This suit against the Huntsville City school board and five school system employees alleges three classmates brutally bullied an 8-year-old John Doe in late 2016 and early 2017. The lawsuit states John Doe suffers from Asperger's syndrome as well as Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, which impacted his motor and sensory abilities. The lawsuit alleges the young boy was hit in his private area several times. The lawsuit says in January 2017, John Doe learned that he had been injured so badly by the assault that his right testicle would have to be removed. Doe will have to undergo treatment for his injuries for the rest of his life. The lawsuit alleges Does mother complained to school leaders both by email and in person but got no response until 2017, when school leaders required Doe to meet with one of the alleged bullies and they were made to shake hands. Attorneys for Mary Doe are asking for a jury trial as well as compensatory and punitive damages. WAAY 31 reached out to Huntsville City Schools, but a spokesman said that per their policy they could not comment on pending litigation. With Queensland's tourism industry in dire straits, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pleaded with the federal government for a multi-million dollar JobKeeper extension. The remarkable plea for tax-payer funded help prompted NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet to come out swinging, accusing the Queensland government of asking taxpayers to bail the state out for the economic hit from its own border closures. The ongoing closures also saw thousands of businesses crippled financially in the Sunshine State, with holidays cancelled last minute after borders were slammed shut not one but three times. 'Queensland, closed one day, asking someone else to pick up the tab the next,' Mr Perrottet said. 'People in NSW have not only been banned from entering Queensland, but now Queensland wants the taxpayers of NSW to pay for that decision.' The picturesque Gold Coast (pictured) has been crippled by the lockdown in Queensland - with interstate travellers banned for months and thousands of holidays cancelled Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured above) has called on the federal government to extend JobKeeper beyond March as her state struggles economically Closing Queensland's borders to Greater Sydney during the Christmas period alone is estimated to have cost the state's economy $200million. Meanwhile, after taking a proportionate response to the pandemic, $7billion was saved by NSW avoiding a hard lockdown. On Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk stunned many by calling for the federal government to extend JobKeeper to industries including tourism operators 'as a matter of urgency'. She then outlined how vital the NSW market was to Queensland businesses, just weeks after shutting out Greater Sydney residents to her state over the Christmas-New Year period. Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind estimated that the state lost more than $200million by closing the border to Greater Sydney from December through to January, according to the Daily Telegraph. She originally closed the state border back in March, before opening it and swinging the doors shut again on August 1. QUEENSLAND VS NEW SOUTH: IN NUMBERS $200million: The cost of the Christmas border closure to New South Wales $6.5million: The cost of border closures to Queensland tourism $7billion: Money saved by NSW avoiding hard lockdown $1.5billion: The weekly cost of extending stay-at-home orders across Sydney $3billion: The amount tourists from NSW spend in Queensland annually Advertisement In a stream of endless yoyoing, the border was later opened to many states before strict closures came in again right before Christmas. With the Queensland border finally open again to Greater Sydney residents from February 1 - after 11 days of zero new local cases in NSW - Palaszcsuk is encouraging those in the Harbour City to head north in droves next month. 'There are going to be a lot of people in that Greater Sydney region that want to come back and see family and friends,' she said. 'Perhaps Scott Morrison and the federal government could look at those industries like tourism that are doing it tough. Maybe JobKeeper does need to be extended for some industries beyond March.' Mr Perrottet said the Queensland request proved the value in NSW adopting a measured response to outbreaks. 'It's very easy to have a blanket decision to shut borders but there are economic downstream consequences and Queensland are seeing that,' he said. 'She (Palaszczuk) is asking us to pay for her decision to lock us out.' The usually bustling Gold Coast (pictured on August 4) resembled a ghost town at the height of the pandemic and when the government banned residents from Greater Sydney Border closures in Queensland (pictured, the border at Coolangatta on December 21, 2020) have frustrated many and have been labelled 'draconian' The Palaszczuk government has often been accused of playing politics with the pandemic, closing borders after just handfuls of cases popped up. There have also been numerous incidents when innocent Australians were banned from the state or forced into quarantine despite desperately trying to see sick family. Ms Palaszczuk said she was 'delighted' the border would open after the state's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young gave the all-clear on Thursday. 'If anyones down there in NSW or Victoria and youre thinking about having a holiday, come up to Cairns,' she told the Today show. 'Everyone is here, ready and willing to welcome you with open arms and a friendly smile. Queensland has enjoyed relative normality for many months (pictured, a Brisbane shopper on January 22) but Christmas border closures cost them $200million Queensland had instituted the border closure after an outbreak of Covid-19 on Sydney's Northern Beaches and subsequently in the western suburbs. The Queensland government had previously held firm to a policy of shutting out travellers from declared hotspots until they went 28 days without a mystery case of COVID-19. 'The hotspot program has been working very well, especially when we had the lockdown in greater Brisbane, where I put to the National Cabinet everyone else should declare greater Brisbane a hotspot because I did,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'Credit to NSW, they got on top of their cases.' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) saved $7billion by avoiding plunging her state into a hard lockdown - unlike her Queensland counterpart whose decisions have cost millions She said her government's decision would hopefully signal the full re-opening of state borders across Australia. JobKeeper, a financial support program set up to help businesses keep staff on the books during the pandemic, has been extended several times but is now due to end on March 28 - a year after it was introduced. The scheme gives eligible workers $1,000 fortnightly payments if their industry has seen a significant downturn - deemed a 30 per cent revenue loss for small businesses and 50 per cent for large ones. It helps to cover the cost of keeping staff employed despite income dropping. The United States ordered that all soldiers from Eritrea should leave Ethiopias embattled Tigray region immediately. In an email, a spokesperson told the Associated Press that credible reports of looting, sexual violence, assaults in refugee camps and other human rights abuses. He added, There is also evidence of Eritrean soldiers forcibly returning Eritrean refugees from Tigray to Eritrea. UNHCR expresses concern Earlier, the head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said that he is deeply alarmed by the overwhelming reports of Eritrean refugees in the Ethiopian region of Tigray being killed, abducted and forcibly returned to Eritrea. In a statement, Filippo Grandi said that if such acts were confirmed, it would be a major break of international law. He added that the forced return of Eritrean refugees to these camps was also completely unacceptable. Read: UN Alarmed By 'overwhelming' Reports Of Killings Of Eritreans Refugees In Tigray The Ethiopian forces have been battling the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) in the region since early November. The government had said that it is in control of Tigray and the conflict is over. However, the TPLF said they are still fighting on various fronts. The military confrontation in the region sparked after forces of the ruling TPLF party attacked a military base of the federal forces on November 4, following which, the Ethiopian army launched an offensive. On November 28, in an official announcement, Ethiopias army asserted that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF's) military operations have concluded with the government's "full command" of Tigray, adding, ENDF had managed to rescue thousands of Northern Command officers held captive by TPLF and had taken control of the Northern Command camp. Read: 'More Inclusive': US Army Changes Uniform Rules For Women To Allow Ponytails, Nail Polish TPLFs repeated military offensives against Ethiopia's ally led to regional instability in the Horn of Africa region. Since the conflict began earlier this month, the telephone and internet lines in the regional state capital of Tigray had been discontinued. As the Ethiopian army entered Tigray, Maj. Gen. Hassan Ibrahim warned that his "armed forces officers will be tasked to hunt down and capture these criminals one by one. Read: 'Potentially Dangerous': US FDA Regulators Warn About 'toxic' Mexico Hand Sanitisers Also Read: 'Committed To Working Together': Biden And Suga Agree To Strengthen US-Japan Alliance (Image Credits: AP) File image of police deployment outside Pakistan's Supreme Court Pakistans Supreme Court on January 28 dismissed the Sindh provincial government's appeal against the High Court's decision to overturn conviction of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in the 2002 beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl, said local news reports. The three-judge bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam also directed the suspect to be released. One member of the bench opposed the decision, Dawn reported citing the verdict. Sheikh was one of the three terrorists that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had freed in exchange for the hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. He had served jail time in India for 1994 kidnappings of Western tourists in the country. On January 27, Sheikh told the apex court that he had played a "minor role in the killing. Daniel Pearl (38), then the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, was reportedly researching on religious extremism in Karachi, Pakistan, when he was abducted in January 2002. A month later, a graphic video of his decapitation was sent to the US consulate. Sheikh was arrested later in 2002 and sentenced to death by a trial court. However in April 2020, the Sindh High Court overturned Sheikhs conviction. The High Court had also acquitted three other men who had been earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi. The Sindh government and Pearls parents had later filed separate appeals against the High Court's verdict in the top court. SHEFFIELD, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In February 2021, the award-winning maker of a select line of premier craft spirits, Berkshire Mountain Distillers (BMD), will release a trio of whiskeys in partnership with three brewers in the Northeast as part of their Craft Brewers Whiskey Project (CBWP). The five-year collaboration includes the distilling of a dozen different popular beers from a limited group of the country's top craft brewers across five states. Each addition to the American whiskey collection is the product of a single-sourced craft brew distilled into a unique Berkshire Mountain Distillers whiskey. "We were thrilled to collaborate with all of our brewer-partners and are excited these whiskeys are finally ready to be enjoyed by beer and whiskey aficionados alike," said Chris Weld, founder and proprietor of Berkshire Mountain Distillers. "This fun collaboration has been an exceptional project-in-the-making involving 12 brewers, 12 beers, 12 whiskeys and 80 barrels of spirits -- we're eager to release each one to the public." Produced by the region's first legal distillery since prohibition, each whiskey will be blended to 86 proof using BMD's proprietary historic spring water in Sheffield and packaged in custom bottles with brewer-designed labels. Aged at the distillery since 2015, the whiskeys will be released in the order in which they were distilled. Being a limited collection, each whiskey will be sold in the BMD tasting room and then distributed to select stores and restaurants. The first release will feature three whiskeys distilled from UFO White Ale from Mass. Bay Brewing Co., Spencer Brewery's Trappist Ale and Big Elm Brewing's 413 Farmhouse Ale located in BMD's hometown of Sheffield. Scheduled to be released later in 2021, whiskeys will highlight beer from Samuel Adams, Berkshire Brewing Company, Jack's Abby Craft Lagers, Brewery Ommegang, Captain Lawrence Brewing, Smuttynose Brewing, Long Trail Brewing Company, Two Roads Brewing and Chatham Brewing. For a listing of release dates and events, visit craftbrewerswhiskeyproject.com and follow BMD on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The distillery, located at 356 South Main Street in Sheffield, is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to find out where products are available, visit the BMD website. Click here for a copy of the CBWP poster. Additional photos available upon request. SOURCE Berkshire Mountain Distillers Related Links http://www.berkshiremountaindistillers.com Through the end 2020 property/casualty insurers have paid or reserved $7.7 billion on claims of all types in Louisiana through the end of 2020 from Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta, the state insurance department reported. This data represents the first measure of damage from all three hurricanes that struck the state in the record 2020 storm season, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Policyholders filed 290,847 claims of all types from the three storms as of Dec. 31. Of those, 161,704 claims, or 56%, were closed with collective payments reaching $5 billion. The information was generated from a data call to all authorized property/casualty insurers, including surplus lines insurers, to submit their claims data on hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta. The figures include claims from personal and commercial insurance. They do not include claims or payments from the National Flood Insurance Program, which is not regulated by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. FEMA recently reported that the NFIP has paid out more than $110 million in flood claims to 3,249 Louisiana policyholders for damage resulting from Delta and Laura alone. Laura Policyholders have filed 169,891 claims from Hurricane Laura, which struck Southwest Louisiana on August 27 as a Category 4 storm. Calcasieu, Rapides, Beauregard, Ouachita and Vernon parishes had the most claims from the storm. As of Dec. 31, 2020, insurers had closed 77% of the claims from Hurricane Laura, 59% of which were closed with payment. Total paid losses plus reserves on reported claims from all surveyed lines of insurance for Hurricane Laura at the end of 2020 were $6.6 billion, accounting for the vast majority of damage from the record 2020 hurricane season in Louisiana. Delta Policyholders have filed 71,945 claims from Hurricane Delta, which made landfall in Southwest Louisiana on October 9 as a Category 2 storm. Calcasieu, Lafayette, Acadia, East Baton Rouge and St. Landry parishes filed the most claims from the storm. At the end of 2020, insurers had closed 82% of all Delta claims, and 53% of those claims were closed with payment. Insurers have paid or reserved $556 million to cover losses from reported claims from all surveyed lines of insurance for Hurricane Delta at the end of 2020. Zeta The data call results also included the first claim figures from Hurricane Zeta, which made landfall in Terrebonne Parish on October 28 as a Category 2 storm. Policyholders have filed 49,011 claims through the end of the year. Most of the claims came from Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Lafourche parishes. Insurers closed 79% of reported Zeta claims, and 46% of those claims were closed with payment. Total paid losses plus reserves on reported claims from all surveyed lines of insurance were $499 million for Hurricane Zeta at the end of 2020. Data for the 2020 hurricanes through Dec. 31 can be found at www.ldi.la.gov/datacallresults. The LDI said it will continue to collect data from property/casualty insurers to monitor the claims process. The final deadline for data is Oct. 8, 2021. Source: LDI Top Photo: Layla Winbush walks over the debris of her familys destroyed auto detailing business in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Whenever leftists get their way, there are always unintended consequences. It's not just the disasters of socialism, or the nightmare of social engineering; it's also in the smug, self-satisfied smirks of techno-punks, who shut President Trump's Twitter account down, proudly playing censor. Here's the latest unintended from that: President Trump's stature is rising. According to The Hill: Former President Trump's standing among Republicans has slightly improved since leaving office, with about half of GOP respondents indicating in a new poll they'd like to see him play a significant role in the party's future. Fifty percent of Republican voters polled in the new Morning Consult survey said Trump should play a "major role" in the party, an increase of 9 percentage points since his supporters rioted at the U.S. Capitol after he addressed them and repeated unproven claims of election fraud. Women drove the uptick with a 15-point surge among likely GOP female voters who say they wish to see Trump as a key player in the party's future. Wednesday's survey also found 81 percent of Republicans have positive views of Trump, with more than half saying they hold strong feelings on the issue. On the night before his second impeachment by the U.S. House over his role in the rioting, 76 percent of Republicans said they viewed him favorably. Sure, that's just Republicans, but since Trump came along, it's not your father's Republicans. And it may be a trend that extends to at least independents. Yes, the little punks who run Twitter were mighty proud of themselves for shutting the leader of the free world down. Their trained seals in the press beat their flippers in approval. Their outrageous act against Trump not only drew blasts of condemnation from quarters as diverse as German chancellor Angela Merkel, the ACLU, and Russian dissident Alexey Navalny, but drove the value of their stock down. Yet it left them unperturbed. With Trump shut down, and Twitter's coevals in the social media world following, it seems they really did what they always wanted to do, which was silence Donald Trump, fully expecting they could make him go away and get forgotten. Well, they were in for a surprise. A silenced Trump, and sure enough, his stature rises. It calls to mind that much of what had been written about Trump during the 2020 campaign was that voters liked his program but couldn't stand his tweets. Half his presidency was spent in handwringing about his tweets, and let's face it: Trump's tweets oftentimes did get pretty uncontrolled. While many appreciated this, because it was raw and real and unclouded by creepy public relations spin, others hated those tweets a lot and sometimes would withhold their vote. Wild and crazy tweetstorms were sort of an Achilles heel of Trump's, given that they were the reasons at least some voters refused to vote for him. This was especially true among suburban women, who found him just too crude and impolite. Well, he's offline, and suddenly he's growing popular. No tweets, just silence, and all of a sudden, people are looking at his record. They like it. They like him. Sans the tweets, it's suddenly pretty clear that Trump as president was a hell of a lot better than the Joe Biden socialist nightmare now coming down the pike. That, in fact, can also be seen in public opinion polls showing a lack of optimism in the future. Notice where the rise is most pronounced sure enough, it's among women, the very group who complained loudest about Trump's tweets. With no tweets, all that's left is the Trump record, and it's stellar. Seems the big boys at Twitter who shut the president down kind of gave Trump an important gift. Instead of making Trump go away, they've only made him more popular. We hope they are proud of themselves; they can even call it an in-kind 2024 election contribution. In shutting Trump down, they stepped on a rake and just made him more popular. Thanks, Twitter! Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. The contract is for an initial 3,750 metres of diamond drilling and will target iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) copper mineralisation in the style of Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and BHPs recent Oak Dam discovery. Mobilisation to site is expected to occur in late February 2021 ( ) has executed a drilling contract for an initial 3,750 metres of diamond drilling at its Murdie Copper Project in South Australia, which involves drilling five holes to an average depth of 750 metres. The drilling program will target iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) copper mineralisation in the style of Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and BHPs recent Oak Dam discovery. Argonaut will also proceed with a major exploration drilling program around the western shoreline of Lake Torrens and Andamooka Island. Drilling Targets The Murdie exploration licence covers two largescale, regional gravity anomalies Murdie and West Lake Torrens. These anomalies represent locations with significant volumes of high-density rock that could contain economic IOCG deposits. Drilling will target specific residual gravity anomalies, which are volumes of rock with a particularly high density that can be found within broader, regional anomalies. Details of residual gravity anomalies in the area of Carrapateena Well will be released once final processing and modelling have been completed. Drilling Equipment and Mobilisation The track-mounted Sandvik DE740 drilling rig is capable of drilling cored holes to 1,800 metres and the contractor is currently sourcing the specialist equipment required for drilling in an environmentally sensitive location and mobilisation to the site is expected to occur in late February 2021. The drilling rig will sit on fit-for-purpose, heavy-duty, interlocking mats to protect the salt crust. Vehicles will access the drilling rig via temporary tracks covered by ground protection mats. Ground Gravity Survey Argonauts geophysical crews are conducting a detailed ground gravity survey over selected areas to improve the accuracy of drill-target modelling. To date more than 7,000 gravity stations have been surveyed including over the area of several confirmed drilling targets and a further 1,800 gravity stations will be surveyed in the coming weeks. The company is pleased with both the results of the survey and the resolution of the data. Murdie project South Australia Argonaut Resources holds two highly prospective South Australian exploration licences, EL5937 and EL5945 and they are contiguous with the companys Torrens project in South Australia. The licences cover an area of 1,015 square kilometres and are located immediately south and east of the Torrens project and east of the Carrapateena mine, and it covers a confirmed IOCG target in an area known as Murdie as well as a second anomaly at West Lake Torrens. There are 54 known residual gravity targets within the area. Despite hospitality facing hugely damaging restrictions, never been a 'big risk' Industry rippled financially during Covid crisis under almost all tiered levels Directors of public health in Sheffield and Staffordshire made comments today Pubs, restaurants and cafes have never been coronavirus hotspots, local public health directors claimed today. Despite hospitality venues facing hugely damaging restrictions, there has never been a 'terribly big risk' of someone catching the disease in them, they said. ADVERTISEMENT Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield, and Dr Richard Harling, his counterpart in Staffordshire, said the bulk of transmission has always been in people's homes. The hospitality industry has been crippled financially during the Covid crisis and heavily penalised under almost all lockdown tiers. Under the current national shutdown, venues have been forced to close for everything except takeaways. In Tier 3 areas the rules were just as tough, and in Tier 2 alcohol could only be served with 'substantial meals', pubs and bars were forced to close unless operating as restaurants and last orders were at 10pm. Mr Fell and Dr Harling made the comments at a virtual House of Commons Science and Technology Committee today, where they were quizzed about the failings of NHS Test and Trace. They claimed Britain's Covid crisis would be 'in a better place' now if the centralised system used local contact tracers sooner instead of focusing on call centres. Mr Fell described the relationship between local health officials and the national system earlier in the year as 'fundamentally broken' and, although it has improved, it still 'has a long way to go'. Dr Harling warned he expects to be 'dealing with cases of coronavirus throughout the 2020s and into the 2030s' and that test and trace measures will be needed for decades as the country learns to live with the virus which may be around forever. Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield Dr Richard Harling, his counterpart in Staffordshire Despite hospitality venues facing hugely damaging restrictions, there has never been a 'terribly big risk' of someone catching the disease in them, they said Asked about the risk of transmission in hospitality venues, Mr Fell told MPs on the Commons committee: 'Most of the transmission events are households, within households, or household to household transmission. ADVERTISEMENT 'Hospitality doesnt crop up as a terribly big risk on our risk radar. 'Certainly when we look at the common exposure dataset, hospitality certainly isnt a huge risk. 'There will have been transmission in hospitality, but its certainly nowhere near the top of my risk radar.' Dr Harling added: 'Back in the summer and autumn, once you put transmission between household members aside, the next most important one was transmission between different households. Hospitality did feature but much lower down the list. At the moment, with hospitality closed, our main one now is other businesses, other workplaces.' Click here to resize this module The pair were brought before the Science and Technology Committee to discuss the successes and failings of NHS Test and Trace. The system has come under huge fire for struggling to meet its target of isolating 80 per cent of close contacts of infected patients for most of 2020. Mr Fell said the UK would 'probably be in better place' if local officials had been 'consulted earlier'. When Test and Trace launched last May it relied solely on call centres to track down Covid carriers and their close contacts. Local public health officials were eventually brought on board in autumn and physical contact tracers were deployed when performance dipped. Dr Harling echoed Mr Fell's comments, adding: 'Our staff are invested in this, if they are successful in isolating contacts it affects them directly. Its their community and their families. That's not quite true with the remote system.' Asked about the relationship between local health officials and the NHS Test and Trace scheme, Mr Fell said it was 'improving', but 'still has a long way to go'. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's not as fundamentally broken as it was six to eight months ago,' he added. Dr Harling added: 'It has improved but it's still relatively remote.' He said queries with Test and Trace have a 'long chain of command' and it often takes too long to get a reponse. 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. Boris Johnson will today use a visit to Scotland to argue that the Union has been integral in administering the coronavirus vaccine, providing Covid testing and giving economic support north of the border during the pandemic. The Prime Minister has spoken before about the "great benefits of co-operation" that the Union has brought while dealing with the coronavirus crisis, which has claimed more than 100,000 lives in the UK. The visit comes as calls grow for a second independence vote for Scotland. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is arguing that should the SNP win a majority at the Holyrood election - scheduled for May - then that would be grounds for a new border poll. Speaking ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister said: "The great benefits of co-operation across the whole of the UK have never been clearer than since the beginning of this pandemic. He added: "The people of the UK have stood together during this pandemic: from our doctors and nurses in our hospitals to our shop workers, scientists, lorry drivers and teachers - working together as one truly United Kingdom is the best way to build our Covid recovery." Even the most casual observer could discern the nostalgia for a time when the National Party was a power to be reckoned with as the conservative political establishment farewelled one of its giants, Doug Anthony, on Thursday. Mr Anthony, the longest-serving deputy prime minister in Australian history and one of the longest-serving leaders of the Country Party/Nationals, was a man who exuded many excellent qualities, former Prime Minister John Howard declared. Doug Anthony in 1986. Credit:Bruce Milton Miller The two that shone through to me were the qualities of strength and decency, Mr Howard said. He was a very strong man: he didnt bully people, but the strength of his personality, the strength of his arguments, shone through. ADVERTISEMENT Many Pakistanis do not want to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new survey that came out on Thursday, as authorities announced a roll-out plan from next week. In the Gallup Pakistan survey, 49 per cent of respondents said they would opt out of the jab, as they considered the coronavirus threat to be exaggerated. Gallup shared the outcome as the government announced nearly half a million health workers would start getting the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine from next week. China last week said it would donate half a million doses of the vaccine by this Sunday. The Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has also approved the vaccine by European manufacturer AstraZeneca and the Russian Product Sputnik V. Only 38 per cent of Pakistanis surveyed said they would take the vaccine. The survey reflects similar doubts that have hindered the countrys fight against polio, which has been stamped out from the rest of the world, but is still prevalent in Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan. I think my family doesnt need a vaccine for coronavirus. I havent seen many people getting infected, said Rizma Bibi, a mother from the northern town of Mansehra, who works delivering polio vaccine jabs. Mian Asif, a businessman from the north-western city of Peshawar, was convinced vaccines provide a safeguard against COVID-19, but said would not opt for the Chinese one. More than half a million people have been infected by the pandemic in Pakistan so far, with around 11, 000 deaths. (dpa/NAN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hoping to avoid an immediate clash with President Biden over Iran, will give dialogue a chance, Israeli officials say. Why it matters: Biden intends to try to resume the 2015 nuclear deal, which Netanyahu vehemently opposes. The two are on a collision course, and memories are fresh of the crisis in U.S.-Israel relations when Netanyahu was publicly campaigning against Barack Obama's attempts to reach a deal including in a speech to Congress. Between the lines: A senior Israeli official who is well-informed of Netanyahus thinking draws a clear distinction between the two cases. Obama went behind Israel's back to hold secret talks with the Iranians, the official said, while Biden's team has earned goodwill by saying from day one that they intend to consult with Israel before making any decisions on Iran. The senior official added that Netanyahu's warm personal history with Biden over four decades could be used as a shock absorber to help overcome difficulties and misunderstandings. Two other Israeli officials said Netanyahu was hesitant to pick a fight with Biden from the start for another reason: Unlike Obama in 2015, he has Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, which will make it harder to exert pressure. What they're saying: A senior Israeli official close to Netanyahu said that while the prime minister wants to begin with a stance of cooperation and consultation toward the Biden administration, he intends to stand firm in his opposition to a U.S. return to the deal. He doesnt want to tweak it. He thinks the agreement is flawed to its foundations and that the Iranians will agree to compromise only if pressure continues," the official said. Worth noting: On Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Aviv Kohavi aligned himself with Netanyahu, coming out publicly against any U.S. return to the previous deal or even a deal with cosmetic changes." Kohavi said he ordered the IDF to prepare several new plans to strike Irans nuclear facilities should Israeli leadership decide to use that option. That's a major shift in the position of Israels most senior security official. In 2015, then-IDF leader Gadi Eizenkot didn't oppose the deal and Kohavi himself, then chief of military intelligence, thought it had strategic advantages for Israel. The Obama administration used such arguments from the Israeli defense establishment to counter Netanyahus campaign. Now, Netanyahu has the head of the military on his side. And while former IDF chiefs of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Benny Gantz were opposed when Netanyahu considered striking Iran between 2009 and 2012, Kohavi is now on the record in support. The other side: Now foreign minister, Ashkenazi called on Tuesday for a much more cautious approach. He said Israel must hold quiet talks with the Biden administration on Iran and avoid the sort of confrontational media campaign it launched in 2015. Ashkenazi has argued that the past approach only sidelined Israel and can't be repeated if Israel wants to remain relevant to the process. Driving the news: On Saturday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke for the first time with his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat. Israeli officials said the call was very good and were satisfied by the White House readout that stressed the U.S. would consult Israel and enter into a strategic dialogue. Whats next: Israeli officials told me they expect talks with the Biden administration on Iran to start in the very near future, most likely in secured video conferences due to COVID restrictions. 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. Shahid and Mira Kapoor are having some magical moments at the shores of Goas beaches. The 26-year-old has been sharing pictures from her Goa getaway on Instagram these days and her recent post even got husband Shahid to take a moment to flirt with her. In her latest Instagram post, Mira is seen wearing a red and blue striped summer dress with the beaches of Goa in the background. Mira mentioned that she is seeking for magic in every moment. The post has garnered over 183,588 likes and a wooing comment by husband Shahid. The 39-year-old actor replied to Miras caption as he wrote, I see it in your eyes. Shahids reply to Mira has received over 1,685 likes as fans swoon over his digital romance. Mira had visited Shahid in Goa who is currently shooting for a web series with actor Raashi Khanna. She has now returned to her home in Mumbai and is with her kids, Misha and Zain. In an earlier post from last week, Mira shared another photograph from Goa where she is seen in a black and white shirt with golden chunky necklace. Wearing a House of Masaba creation, she accessorised her look with a Studio Metallurgy necklace. With black sunglasses, and black and white umbrella, Mira completed her glamorous look. The post has been liked by over 172,087 Instagram users. Commenting on the post, Shahid wrote, Poser alert. Looking swish my love. Effortless. Besides Shahid, fashion designer Masaba Gupta also commented on Miras post and wrote, Showwwww me the dress full! It is quite clear from Miras Instagram posts that she did have rejuvenating time during her stay in Goa. Here are some other captures from Miras dreamy visit to Goa to give some company to her husband. On the work front, Shahid's sports-drama film Jersey releases on Diwali. NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SEEDS Access Changes Everything (SEEDS) is pleased to announce a new, multi-year partnership with Eagle Pharmaceuticals that will provide educational funding for 12 high-achieving students over the course of two years, while also supporting existing students within SEEDS' Scholars programs. "On behalf of SEEDS Access Changes Everything, we are excited to partner with Eagle Pharmaceuticals to further propel our mission of providing educational access to remarkable students from low-income families," stated John F. Castano, SEEDS President and CEO. "Our students have the academic ability, focus, grit, and resilience to succeed at the nation's top schools, but don't have access to the same level of education that students of higher socioeconomic statuses do. SEEDS levels that disparity by providing challenging academic curriculums through our Scholars programs, which in turn helps to place them into competitive schools and colleges." He continued, "We are grateful for this partnership with Eagle Pharmaceuticals, whose support will ensure that deserving students are able to not only change their own lives, but those of their families and the generations to follow through educational opportunities that would have otherwise been beyond their reach." SEEDS offers three Scholars programs: Young Scholars, a 14-month program that begins the summer after fourth or fifth grade Scholars Program, a 14-month program that begins the summer after seventh grade College Scholars, a 17-month program that begins in a student's junior year of high school As a privately funded entity, SEEDS relies on partner support in order to achieve its mission. Annually, SEEDS spends approximately $17,000 to educate each student, which often yields more than $450,000 in high school and college scholarships. Approximately 350 students will be served by SEEDS' academic program during the 2020-2021 year, with more than 570 additional students receiving support through SEEDS' Guidance department. To date, more than 3,000 scholars have graduated from SEEDS programs. For more information on SEEDS Access Changes Everything, please visit seedsaccess.org. About SEEDS Access Changes Everything Founded in 1992, SEEDS Access Changes Everything, formerly New Jersey SEEDS, is a nonprofit organization that provides motivated, high-achieving, low-income students with access to top-tier education that would have otherwise been unattainable due to socioeconomic status. Through three challenging academic programs, SEEDS aims to prepare students for eventual placement into competitive private schools and colleges across the country. SEEDS has been recognized locally and nationally by leading organizations including the Althea Gibson Foundation, Bank of America, Jersey Cares, Mutual of America, Oprah's Angel Network, the Partnership in Philanthropy and Rutgers University. In addition, Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of the financial health and efficiency of nonprofit organizations, has awarded SEEDS four consecutive 4-star ratings, its highest rating. Media Inquiries: Jasmine L. Guerra E: [email protected] P: 862.227.9150 SOURCE SEEDS - Access Changes Everything Related Links http://www.njseeds.org LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Britishvolt, the UK's foremost investor in battery technologies, has further strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Timon Orlob as Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 February 2021. Reporting directly to CEO, Orral Nadjari, Orlob will be responsible for delivering the skills and systems required for Britishvolt to construct and operate the UK's first battery gigaplant, from the end of 2023. Timon Orlob joins Britishvolt from Sunseeker International Ltd, the globally renowned luxury motoryacht manufacturer, where he was COO and formerly Operations Director. Previous roles have included three years at PwC, where he was a global manufacturing and supply chain specialist. He began his career in his native Germany at Bosch in its automotive division and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. Britishvolt CEO, Orral Nadjari: "Britishvolt is rapidly maturing as a business and Timon's appointment as Chief Operating Officer underpins our progress. He will be a crucial component in our essential mission to deliver a fully operational battery gigaplant in the North East of England at the end of 2023. We remain on track in every way to develop and manufacture strategically important lithium-ion batteries. Timon's skills and experience will make us even more steadfast, I am looking forward to working closely with him." Britishvolt COO, Timon Orlob: "Joining Britishvolt at this time is an exciting challenge and one that I am relishing. I am looking forward to helping deliver the UK's first battery gigaplant. Putting into place the skills, talents and systems that we need to start seamlessly delivering world-class lithium-ion batteries at the end of 2023. This is a hugely important project and I am proud to be able to contribute to the UK's electrified future." The Britishvolt Gigaplant is set to begin construction in Summer 2021. It will be subject to 2.6BN investment, one of the UK's biggest-ever industrial investments. When fully operational it will be providing 3000 jobs in the North East of England. SAFE HARBOR Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectation intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the U.S. Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, competition including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, equipment procurement, wage increases, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time contracts or time and material construction contracts, customer concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage international operations, reduced demand, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages related to battery service agreements, the success of the companies in which Britishvolt has made strategic partnerships, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies and unauthorised use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. In addition, please note any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. About Britishvolt Britishvolt is Britain's foremost investor in battery technologies. It is dedicated to supporting the future of electrified transportation and sustainable energy storage, producing world-leading lithium-ion battery technologies. Britishvolt's aim is to establish the UK as the leading force in battery technology. It is working with leading partners and suppliers to achieve this because it is of paramount importance to the future of the UK automotive industry and the overall economic and industrial health of the UK. The company believes that the UK is the right place for its investments because of the strength of its automotive and energy industry, its expertise and history of industrial and academic battery research and development. Quarter four of 2023 has been targeted as the start of production in Britain's first gigaplant in Blyth, Northumberland. SOURCE Britishvolt Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 00:53:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Following a 5.0 percent slump in economic output in 2020, the German government is expecting gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 3.0 percent this year, according to the annual economic report for 2021, which was approved by the government on Wednesday. In October, one month before Germany entered a partial lockdown due to the second wave of COVID-19, the government still expected GDP to grow by 4.4 percent this year. "The upswing will continue in 2021, albeit with less momentum," said German Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier in a statement, adding that the "picture is divided" as the industry currently remained robust, while the service sector was particularly affected. As the initial partial lockdown failed to reverse the trend of COVID-19 infection and death rates, Germany further tightened restrictions on public and economic life that included the closure of schools, restaurants, and non-essential shops, as well as for contact. The tougher lockdown caused a "significant slowdown in economic momentum," resulting in a weak outcome for the final quarter of 2020 and also dampening the start of this year, the annual government report said. Once the pandemic situation had "stabilized," the German economy would "pick up speed again in the course of the year," according to the government. However, pre-crisis economic output was not expected to be reached again until mid-2022. Enditem Vodafone Ghana has announced an exciting customer promo to mark the joint anniversary of its multi-purpose My Vodafone App (MVA); and TOBi, the virtual customer service assistant. The anniversary promotion, which commences this week and runs for a month seeks to reward customers who continue to use MVA and TOBi for their everyday transactions and service requests. Customers who remain active over the anniversary period stand to win a plethora of exciting giveaways including a brand new iPhone 12, fuel coupons and shopping vouchers. Commenting, Angela Mensah-Poku, Director of Digital Transformation and Commercial Operations at Vodafone asserted: We are very excited about this milestone and want to celebrate with our customers, who are at the heart of our journey to become a technology communications company. They have indeed been very supportive and continue to provide useful feedback to enable us improve the app and enhance TOBis suite of abilities to serve them better. This is why we are rewarding them with exciting giveaways. These two pioneering digital assets have been very critical to our outstanding success in delivering seamless customer service since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of Vodafones ongoing digital transformation agenda the company launched an overhauled version of My Vodafone App, a year ago. The App was integrated seamlessly with the Telcos full repertoire of customer services including Vodafone Cash, TOBi and Fibre Broadband services among others. The Apps ergonomic design makes it even more intuitive and easily navigable, customer-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. Vodafone continually improves the app to add improved functionalities, giving customers an increasingly enhanced digital service experience. Besides accessing Vodafones various offerings, the app enables customers to make payment for broadband services with MasterCard/Visa; send money and make payments with Vodafone Cash; borrow credit (SOS), view data usage and check WI-FI and data speed. The app has empowered customers to manage their Vodafone accounts on the go and carry out virtually all Vodafone transactions conveniently from the comfort of their smartphone, anytime and anywhere without having to visit a retail shop to cater to their every need or request. Two years ago, Vodafone Ghana introduced its virtual digital customer assistant code named TOBi; a chatbot who interacts with customers in real time and responds to their concerns and queries. TOBi is also empowered through the infusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning competencies to assist customers with simple transactions and run customers through simple troubleshooting techniques as required. 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 A U.S. congressional hearing on human rights violations under the ban is also in the offing. The Joe Biden administration has started a comprehensive review of Asia policy, and the government here is afraid that the leaflet ban, which has been slammed as an infringement of free speech, will come under scrutiny. The government has hired heavyweight U.S. lobbyists to defend its widely condemned ban on sending propaganda leaflets to North Korea. According to the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday, the South Korean Embassy in Washington hired Denver, Colorado-based lobbying and law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP. The firm's advisors include former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce and former Democratic senator Mark Begich. Royce and Begich will be paid US$30,000 a month until June to lobby on behalf of the South Korean government. The Trump administration's State Department had already criticized the ban indirectly by reminding Seoul of its obligation to respect free expression, while the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House of Representatives has given notice of a hearing on the matter. After Republican hawks in the House like Michael McCaul and Christopher Smith voiced concerns over the ban, the South Korean government launched a full-court press to block them. Moon supporters in the U.S. have rallied around the embassy in Washington to defend the ban against American politicians. Royce is a well-known pro-Korean politician with extensive connections after serving 26 years as a representative. Begich has access to both Congress and the White House after serving as a senator when Biden was vice president. DENVER and MANCHESTER, England, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Matillion, the leading provider of data transformation for cloud data warehouses (CDWs) announced today a strategic partnership with InterWorks for the Australia Market. This partnership will enable quick delivery and deployment of modern cloud-native data solutions to help enterprises scale data analytics projects for insights-driven decision making. The partnership between Matillion and InterWorks helps enterprises reduce time spent on manual tasks and gives data teams the solutions and technologies to move quickly on cloud data projects. Together, Matillion and InterWorks enable customers in a wide range of industries such as public sector, transportation, healthcare and mining to accelerate data innovation with leading implementation services and data integration software. Companies like Linktree, Salvation Army AU, BlueStar Logistics, and more have seen success with the partnership of InterWorks and Matillion. "Enterprises are looking to achieve faster time to value and increase innovation with data using cloud platforms and solutions. Along with InterWorks, we are excited to help deliver insights to these organizations and look forward to providing strategic solutions that allow our joint customers to become even more data-driven in their business efforts," said Daniel Shah, consulting partner director at Matillion. "We are a firm believer in partnering with solutions that provide extraordinary value to our clients and we only advocate for leading, best-in-class solutions. In our joint endeavors, Matillion has shown time and again that they quickly provide value to our clients. We are excited to continue doing great work with them in the Australian market," said Robert Curtis, regional director, Asia Pacific at InterWorks. To learn more about how Matillion and its partner ecosystem support faster time to insights within the enterprise, visit: https://partners.matillion.com . For further data transformation industry updates and perspectives, follow Matillion on Twitter @Matillion and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/matillion-limited/ . About Matillion Matillion is data transformation for cloud data warehouses. Only Matillion is purpose-built for Snowflake, Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Microsoft Azure Synapse, enabling businesses to achieve new levels of simplicity, speed, scale, and savings. Trusted by companies of all sizes to meet their data integration and transformation needs, Matillion products are highly rated across the AWS, GCP and Microsoft Azure Marketplaces. Dual-headquartered in Manchester, UK and Denver, Colorado, with a presence in New York City and Seattle. Learn more about how you can unlock the potential of your data with Matillion's cloud-based approach to data transformation. Visit us at www.matillion.com . About InterWorks InterWorks is a people-focused tech consultancy delivering premier service and expertise in collaboration with strategic partners. Organizations in virtually every industry trust InterWorks to guide them toward the best solutions to maximize their data's potential. InterWorks empowers people at every step of the analytics experience, from management and storage to communicating insights with visualization. Media contact: Ashley Lozito Global Communications Manager, Matillion [email protected] SOURCE Matillion Ltd Related Links http://www.matillion.com The Michigan Senate rejected more than a dozen Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointees to various boards and commissions Wednesday as a show of disapproval against her COVID-19 response, hours ahead of her scheduled State of the State address. The Republican-led chamber voted 19-14 along partisan lines to reject 13 of Whitmers appointments, including Childrens Ombudsman appointee Suzanna Shkreli. The governor has the authority to appoint people to hundreds of state board and commission positions, although the Senate has 60 days to reject certain appointments by majority vote in a process known as advice and consent. Historically, that power isnt used much. But since Whitmer took office, her appointees have been subject to more scrutiny and in February 2020, the Senate voted to reject two appointments to the Natural Resources Commission, Anna Mitterling and George Heartwell. Michigan GOP Senate scrutinizes Whitmer appointments under partisan power split Whitmer natural resources appointee was smeared by Michigan Senate rejection, critics say The Whitmer appointees rejected Tuesday include: - Kristin Totten, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board - Suzanna Shkreli, Childrens Ombudsman - Erin Kricher, Rural Development Fund Board - James Pearson, Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System Board - Emily McDonough, Data Collection Agency Governing Board - Ronald Campbell to the Barrier Free Design Board - Terry Gilligan, Board of Mechanical Rules - Dennis Mowbray, Board of Mechanical Rules - Richard Corriveau, Michigan Civil Rights Commission - Thomas Baird, Natural Resources Commission - David Cozad, Natural Resources Commission - Cheryl Kobernik, Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development - Amy Cox, Michigan Travel Commission In a floor speech, Senate Advice and Consent Committee Chair Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, said he was disappointed to recommend the rejections, but said advice and consent was a tool to pressure her into working with the legislature. He specifically criticized the administrations pandemic-related public health orders issued by the Health and Human Services director after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Whitmer didnt have the authority to unilaterally continue the state of emergency. Throughout this governors time in office, our governor has done everything possible to avoid working with elected members in this chamber as our founders intended, he said. If the governor will not even listen to the courts, we must use every tool, granted to us, to the Senate, to encourage her to put the tough work necessary to compromise with the peoples representatives. Several Senate Democrats denounced the move, calling it a partisan attack that had nothing to do with the experience or fitness of the appointees chosen by Whitmer to serve in those roles. This is rank politics, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said. Were in divided government. Maybe you havent gotten the memo, but Im going to let you know. It takes compromise, it takes a two-way street, not just getting up here whining. The Senate didnt take up all of the Whitmer appointees currently within the 60-day advice and consent window. One notable recent appointee subject to Senate review is Elizabeth Hertel, who last Friday was named director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services after former Director Robert Gordon abruptly resigned. Republicans first floated the possibility of rejecting Whitmers appointments after she announced a continuation of the statewide, indoor restaurant dining ban through Feb. 1. The administration has since announced restaurants will be allowed to reopen with capacity limits and curfews on that date, but Republicans have remained concerned about the parameters of that reopening and the ongoing ban on certain high school sports. Senate Republicans mull rejecting Whitmer appointees until coronavirus restrictions are lifted The Senate vote comes ahead of Whitmers annual State of the State address, which will be broadcast virtually at 7 p.m. Her address is expected to focus heavily on the states economy. On Tuesday, Whitmer told MLive Michigans economic recovery and the states efforts to contain COVID-19 are completely intertwined. ... You cant fix the economic crisis without fixing the health crisis and so the plan to recover has got to have strategy on both fronts. And I think thats why this moment and this recovery plan is so important, and its also why Im hopeful that we can find common ground, and that this will transcend the usual partisan arguments, Whitmer said. Related: How to watch Gov. Gretchen Whitmers State of the State address tonight One thing Whitmer has to address in Wednesdays State of the State? The state of Michigans economy. Michigan economy, COVID-19 response completely intertwined, says Whitmer ahead of State of the State address The application portal is open to applicants worldwide between the ages of sixteen to eighteen who will be entering grade eleven and/or twelve in September 2021 and each year forward. Key program components encompass specialized academic courses, internships and work experience, including shadowing corporate board executives. Scholarship recipients will attend top caliber private schools with unique academic programs geared for aiding students to accomplishing their best self. J Addison School in Markham has been selected as the first participating school for the program launch. Auxiliary programs for younger students, twelve to fifteen years old, include summer camps for civics & careers, sports, fashion & film, music, leadership. While the programs are open to all, Vince Carter strongly encourages the Black community, Indigenous community, people of colour and young women to apply. Statistics show that there are lower numbers of minorities and women within the named employment sectors, executive positions associated with the noted program fields but more noticeably in the STEM sector. Under represented minority groups and females consistently state that the lack of experience, exposure, opportunity keeps them from gaining access to career and executive board opportunities. Providing these students with access to specialized career education and training is the program's first step in leveling the playing field. The aim is positive change emerging from the collective commitment to transform communities. The scholarship criteria requires applicants to possess a passion in any of the mentioned academic pathways; reviews of academic scores, personal character, community service; a 500 word essay. Applicants are directed to the exclusive application portal www.parismedia.org/community/ or email [email protected]. Beyond the focus age groups of 16-18 and 12-15, the Vince Carter Scholarship program could also help the GTA post secondary students at York University; Seneca College; Ryerson University currently pursuing careers in the identified scholarship program fields. Summer jobs and internship opportunities for these students will become available as auxiliary spin offs. Follow the Paris Media Group instagram account to learn more about Vince Carter and Paris Media community initiatives. SOURCE Paris Media Group Related Links https://parismedia.org/ Sailajanath said Jagan and Chandrababu are not having the guts to question Prime Minister Modi while Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan has become a pawn in the hands of the BJP. (Photo:DC) Kadapa: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Sake Sailajanath said on Wednesday that the Congress party will prove its strength in the local body elections if the poll process is done in a fair manner and no violence is indulged in by the ruling party. If the ruling YSRC engages goons in this election, we will resist such actions, he said and urged the officials to hold the elections in an impartial manner. Addressing the media at the district Congress office here, the Congress chief said that the ruling party had committed irregularities and intimidated the nominees of other political parties in the last polls. The YSRC government is planning to make the elections unanimous by use of force, he alleged. Sailajanath said he would meet the state election commissioner soon to seek smooth conduct of the polls. The BJP and the Janasena are not speaking out against attacks on Dalits. The BJP is trying to tie the country to corporate powers, he said. He said Jagan and Chandrababu are not having the guts to question Prime Minister Modi while Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan has become a pawn in the hands of the BJP. He appealed to the people to vote for the party that protects the interests of the peasantry. Development of the poor and weaker sections is possible only with the Congress in power, he said. The Congress chief said the BJP at the Center had encouraged corporate houses and brought in laws to the detriment of farmers. The state government must immediately avoid actions like fitting electricity meters to agricultural pump sets. He said only the Congress would be able to fulfill the aspirations of the people and check divisive tendencies. The YSRC government has completely failed in resolving public issues since its inception and the Jagan government is facing fierce opposition from the people over its style of functioning. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee working president Dr N.Tulasi Reddy and district Congress president Neeli Srinivasa Rao were among those present at the press conference. Meanwhile, Jana Sena Rayalaseema Parliamentary joint convener Sunkara Srinivas said the Election Commission was working hard to ensure that local body elections are held smoothly. Speaking to reporters at the Janasena party office in Kadapa, he said, "We urge the Election Commission to accept nominations online as well." The Janasena, he said, would discuss with the BJP and announce joint candidates for the local body elections. He called on the youths and women to use the election platform to seek faster development of the villages. We would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against the police officials who acted unilaterally on behalf of the ruling party. He appealed to the collector and the SP to ensure smooth conduct of the elections. Meanwhile, Kadapa district collector Chevuru Harikiran directed officials to ensure holding the panchayat elections in a transparent manner. "The Model Code of Conduct is mandatory. He had a meeting with the election nodal officers on Wednesday after a video conference with the Election Commissioner, the DGP and other officials. He directed officials to carry out the tasks assigned to them in compliance with the Covid-19 rules and regulations. Earlier, collector C Harikiran told the state election commissioner N Ramesh Kumar that all arrangements were being made for panchayat elections in the district. The meeting was attended by district SP Anbu Rajan, JCs M Gautami (Revenue), CM Saikant Verma (Development), Dharmachandra Reddy (Welfare), DRO Malola, ZP CEO Sudhakar, DPO Prabhakar Reddy and other district officials. Kurnool district collector G Veera Pandian said elections for 970 grama panchayats and 9,948 wards would be held across the district. Addressing the media at his conference hall on Wednesday, the district collector said all arrangements would be made soon for the conduct of polls in a smooth and fair manner. Some 17 committees have been formed to shoulder the poll-related responsibilities. The collector said as many as 21,15,243 voters would cast their votes to elect the village sarpanches and ward members. As per the Covid-19 protocol, all steps have been taken to conduct the elections in a smooth manner. District SP K Fakeerappa, district panchayat officer Prabhakar Rao and others were present. Britain's Houses of Parliament at sunrise in London on Dec. 31, 2020. (Niklas Halle'n/AFP via Getty Images) With a Nod to Chinas Organ Harvesting, UK Lawmakers Tweak Medicines Bill With a nod to Chinas forced organ harvesting, UK lawmakers have added an amendment to legislation on medicines that may require proof of consent for the use of human tissues obtained from overseas. Proponents of the measurewhich tackles only the use of human tissue in medicinesacknowledge that it is largely symbolic, but describe it as a small but important first step in the United Kingdom to tackling potential complicity in overseas crimes. Its the first time UK lawmakers have enacted any legislation that addresses the issue of consent on human tissue from overseas. The amendment, which was introduced in the House of Lords by Lord Hunt and passed the House of Commons on Jan. 27, is expected to become law next month. The Medicines and Medical Devices Bill was intended as a post-Brexit replacement for the EU regulatory framework. Lawmakers who hold concerns about organ trafficking took the opportunity to try to squeeze in an amendment specifically on tissue consent. During debates, many cited at length concerns over the origins of plastinated bodies exhibitions, and evidence from a tribunal that concluded state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting is still occurring in China. More to Do The amendment gives the government the powerbut doesnt compel itto regulate to demand proof of the origin of human tissue used in medicines. It gives Ministers the powers to do the right thing, MP Marie Rimmer told the House of Commons. It is important to stress that this amendment has NOT dealt with the issue of organ transplant tourism, nor the issue of plastinated, unclaimed bodies being imported and commercially displayed that we saw in Birmingham, she said. While this amendment is a welcome start, it is only the beginning. There is much more to do. That opinion is echoed by Adnan Sharif, a kidney transplant surgeon who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in educating his medical peers, lawmakers, and the public on the evidence of forced organ harvesting. Sharif, who works at the QE Hospital in Birmingham, acknowledges that the material impact of the legislation is minimal. You could count on one hand the medicines which use human tissue, he told The Epoch Times. I think this [legislation] is a bit more of a bark than a bite just now. (L-R) Dr. Adnan Sharif, consultant nephrologist and secretary for DAFOH, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Ethan Gutmann, and Benedict Rogers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, at a Parliament briefing in April 2018. (Justin Palmer) Nonetheless, he still regards it as a very positive symbolic step. This is not the end goal, he says. China Tribunal Findings Most significantly, he says, the amendment provided an opportunity for lawmakers to raise their broader concerns at length in the House of Lords and in Parliament. Notably, Sharif says, many members of the House of Lords cited the 2020 findings of the China Tribunal. After an 18-month investigation, the tribunal concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience had taken place for years in China on a significant scale, and is still taking place. The main organ supply came from imprisoned practitioners of the persecuted spiritual group Falun Gong, according to the tribunal. The independent panel was chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, who previously led the prosecution of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal. Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, chair of the China Tribunal, delivers the tribunals judgment in London on June 17, 2019. (Justin Palmer) Sharif said that after the tribunal, which was held in London, Lords and MPs seemed to be more aware of the issue. But theres still not enough awareness, he said. Even within the transplantation community, theres a lot of people who still do not quite understand what the allegations are, and what the evidence is, who may still not heard of the China Tribunal. Sharif says that currently theres no legislation or mechanism that would prevent one of his patients from going to China and returning with a kidney transplant from a prisoner of conscience and just slipping back into the health care system. Some countries, including Spain, Taiwan, Italy, and Israel, have passed legislation aimed at preventing their citizens from traveling abroad for transplants. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - UK car production declined to the lowest in 36 years in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, or SMMT, reported Thursday. Car production decreased 29.3 percent to 920,928 units in 2020. This was the lowest output since 1984. Production for local market fell 30.4 percent and that for exports decreased 29.1 percent from the last year. The EU remained the UK's biggest export destination, taking a 53.5 percent share. Shipments to the US, Japan and Australia logged double-digit declines, while exports to China, ended the year up 2.3 percent. Car production was down 2.3 percent to 71,403 in December, with some firms affected by border closures and thus component supply issues. The lobby noted that manufacturing operations were severely disrupted throughout last year, with lockdowns and social distancing measures restricting factory output, Brexit uncertainty continuing until Christmas Eve and depressed market demand in key export destinations. According to the latest independent production outlook, UK car production will partly recover in 2021 to one million units. However, much will depend on the extent of Covid measures here and abroad and the speed with which showrooms can reopen, the agency added. 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. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York City public schools have seen a decline in enrollment by at least 4%, or a loss of 43,000 students, compared to last school year, according to preliminary and unaudited data from the city Department of Education (DOE). The preliminary data, released Wednesday, shows enrollment trends for students in 3-K to 12th grade during the 2020-2021 school year so far, when compared to the previous school year. Across the fifteen grades, 12 of them saw a decline in enrollment. The net loss of 43,000 students brings the total number of enrolled students in New York City public schools to approximately 960,000, the DOE stated. The DOE explained that there has been a decline in enrollment every year since 2016, but the size of this years decline tracks with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and reflects national trends, which were also impacted by the pandemic. The city has also seen a falling birth rate in the last 13 years in New York City. Nationally, the 10 largest school districts have all experienced a decline in enrollment this year, ranging from 2% to 8% losses, the agency added. Given the current circumstances of the pandemic it is no surprise that we are seeing greater fluctuations in enrollment this year, said Katie OHanlon, spokeswoman for the DOE. However, no school district has stabilized its school system the way we have, which means that we can and will continue to offer the gold standard in health, safety, and learning in a completely transformed educational environment to our students. The DOE said non-mandatory early childhood grades are mostly responsible for enrollment shifts this school year, and there could be COVID-19 related enrollment loss. The drop in 3-K (down 8%) and pre-K (down 13%) represents about 10,000 students out of the citywide decline, the unaudited figures show. Enrollment in elementary school grades has been declining each year since 2014-2015, the DOE stated, and data this year follows the same direction. Overall, elementary schools have seen a 6% decrease in enrollment compared to the 2019-2020 school year. Broken out by grade level, when compared to the 2019-2020 school year, unaudited data shows: Kindergarten enrollment declined by 9% 1st grade enrollment declined by 6% 2nd grade enrollment declined by 8% 3rd grade enrollment declined by 4%, same as last year 4th grade enrollment declined by 6% 5th grade enrollment declined by 5% Middle school grades experienced a slight decrease in enrollment: sixth-grade enrollment was down 3%; seventh-grade was down 5%; and eighth-grade enrollment didnt change. The DOE said high school enrollment has been trending downward each year since 2016-2017, and this year, enrollment remained almost the same overall compared to the 2019-2020 school year. Enrollment in grades nine to 12 declined by 0.5%, compared to a 1% decline between the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years. Broken out by grade level, when compared to the 2019-2020 school year, unaudited data shows: 9th grade enrollment declined by 4% 10th grade enrollment increased by 2% 11th grade enrollment increased by 2% 12th grade enrollment declined by 1%, same as last year The data for K-12 is current as of Nov. 12, when schools had to submit their registers for auditing. The data for 3-K and pre-K is current as of Dec. 18, as these programs have a different registration deadline per the state, and families can continue to enroll. The loss in enrollment comes after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered all schools across the country and students moving to remote learning. Only some school districts, including New York City, have reopened for some in-person instruction. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** The Advance/SILive.com reported in October that many Staten Island parents were making the switch out of the citys public school system to private and Catholic schools. They cited various concerns at the time, which included the delay in reopening campuses, random coronavirus testing, and no guarantee of live instruction for blended learners on their remote days. Some borough private and Catholic schools told the Advance/SILive.com they received an uptick in enrollment inquiries in the first few weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. Only some said they were able to accommodate new students, explaining that when the remote students are able to come back, there was space for them to return in-person. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Researchers from Western University, Indiana University, and Washington State University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that uses the idea of psychological distance as a way to leverage qualities of existing consumer-brand relationships. The study, forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing, is titled "They're Just Not That Into You: How to Leverage Existing Consumer-Brand Relationships through Social Psychological Distance" and is authored by Scott Connors, Mansur Khamitov, Matthew Thomson, and Andrew Perkins. Marketing managers want consumers to form strong connections with their brands. This is reflected in the prevailing brand-management approaches that seek to continually move consumers from weak relationships to stronger ones where the consumer is more attached, connected to, or in love with a brand. But a scan of the marketplace and the branding literature makes it clear that such relationships are rare and that many consumers are relationship-averse or content with the status quo. That is, many consumers likely are unreceptive to marketers' relationship-strengthening tactics. The implication is that marketers are often fixated on building the types of relationships that countless consumers simply do not want, in essence choosing a potentially wasteful relationship-upgrading strategy unaligned with consumer preferences. This study highlights the value for marketers to embrace the relationship status quo. As Connors explains, "We are the first to show advantages, like increased consumer spending, by employing communication tactics tailored to consumers' existing relationships with the brand. We focus on the idea of psychological distance as a way of conceptualizing how close to or far from a brand that consumers themselves feel. We build on the idea that nearly all current approaches to assessing the strength of consumer-brand relationships are tied to this psychological distance." Because it is such a pervasive idea, and because it can be measured robustly with a single, theoretically-informed item, psychological distance has exceptional practical power. For example, the research shows that if managers understand the psychological distance between consumers and brands, they can match that distance with different kinds of language in their marketing communications to form a mindset congruency. When the psychological distance to a brand and choice of language are congruent, information about that brand is more easily processed, which improves outcomes like brand spending and charitable donations. Khamitov adds, "Specifically, if consumers feel psychologically distant to a brand, we find they respond better to abstract, high-level language, whereas we find that concrete language is preferred among consumers who feel very close to a brand." As an example, one of the studies finds that for more distant brands, donations were 67% higher when an advertisement featured high-level, abstract (compared to low-level, concrete) language, whereas for closer brands, donations were 88% higher when the ad featured low-level, concrete (as compared to high-level, abstract) language. Another study documents that for more distant brands, consumers paid 35% more for a product when they saw an ad featuring abstract (versus concrete) language, but for close brands, consumers paid 28% more when the ad featured concrete (versus abstract) language. The research also identifies conditions that make these mindset-congruency effects more or less likely to emerge. For example, the mindset congruency effect operates only in conditions where consumers are at least modestly involved with a particular product category. "We surmise that consumers who are very uninvolved with a category simply do not care enough to pay attention to marketing communications about associated products. Similarly, if a brand already has a deeply entrenched position in the marketplace, such as where the brand is thought of as extremely competent or extremely warm, we find that consumers' perception of the brand resists updating. In those instances, no strategic alteration of marketing communications is likely to break through consumers' robust prior beliefs about the brand," says Thomson. Perhaps most interesting, for brands characterized predominantly by search attributes--those where qualities of the brand can be determined prior to purchase (versus experience attributes that require a consumer to use a brand to properly evaluate it)--the mindset congruency effect is reversed. In those instances, marketers should focus on abstract (concrete) language for close (distant) search brands. Overall, the study's combination of field and lab studies presents a simple, yet powerful, theoretical and empirical account that allows marketers to leverage qualities of existing consumer-brand relationships rather than attempting the expensive and often ineffective strategy of 'upgrading' consumers into new and ever more committed relationships. ### Full article and author contact information available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1177/ 0022242920984492 About the Journal of Marketing The Journal of Marketing develops and disseminates knowledge about real-world marketing questions useful to scholars, educators, managers, policy makers, consumers, and other societal stakeholders around the world. Published by the American Marketing Association since its founding in 1936, JM has played a significant role in shaping the content and boundaries of the marketing discipline. Christine Moorman (T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University) serves as the current Editor in Chief. https:/ / www. ama. org/ jm About the American Marketing Association (AMA) As the largest chapter-based marketing association in the world, the AMA is trusted by marketing and sales professionals to help them discover what is coming next in the industry. The AMA has a community of local chapters in more than 70 cities and 350 college campuses throughout North America. The AMA is home to award-winning content, PCM professional certification, premiere academic journals, and industry-leading training events and conferences. A case of twin murders where two young girls were brutally killed by their parents in an occultist ceremony in Andhra Pradesh has led to widespread outrage and speculation. The incident occurred in Madanapalli on Sunday night and according to reports, the parents, who were dubbed "mentally disturbed" by media and police, were reportedly in a trance and believed that their two daughters - whom they bludgeoned to death with dumbells and a trishool (trident) - could be brought back from the dead. As more and more details regarding the strange case are divulged by AP police, it became increasingly clear that the killings were part of a religious or occultists ritual. According to reports, the couple remained in a trance even when cops arrived at their home on Sunday night. While the father, V Purushottam Naidu, came out of the trance, the mother, Padmaja, continued to dance and shout around the bodies. While believing that the daughters would be able to be brought back to life, reports claimed that the mother also held misinformed beliefs about the coronavirus originating not in China but was instead a creation of Gods to get rid of "bad elements" in "Kali Yug". On Sunday when cops arrived at the Naidu residence, Padmaja allegedly screamed, "Corona did not come from China...it came from Shiva. I am Shiva and corona will be gone by March". This, however, is not the first time that such an incident has shocked the nation. Crimes with occultist angles surface every now and then and leave many questions in their wake. The brutal murder is oddly reminiscent of the ritualistic death of eleven members of a family in Burari in 2018 and several other such cases that surfaced in the past five years. While some were related to occultist rituals, others were traced back to mental health illness. Here are some of the most prolific of those cases: Burari mass deaths, 2018 In July 2018, eleven members of the Bhatia family were found hanging from the ceiling of their home in Delhi's Burari. The deceased including the apparent matriarch - 77-year-old Narayani Devi - and her two sons and their wives, her daughter, and five grandchildren. Many of the bodies were found with their limbs and mouths tied and eyes blindfolded. Ten of the bodies were found hanging in the hallway while Narayani Devi was found on the floor of an adjacent room with ligature marks around her neck. While there were no immediate explanations for the deaths, investigators and forensic experts later found 11 notebooks containing incantations and instructions for the ritual. Police found evidence of a "hawan" being performed right before the hangings. The family even ordered food from the outside and eight of their cellphones were found taped to a drawer inside the house. According to police reports, the family had purportedly been sure that each would survive the ritualistic hangings. While initial investigations recorded the case as a murder, further findings established the fact that the plan had been masterminded by one of Narayani's sons, Lalit Bhatia who had taken over the role of his father - the patriarch - since the latter's death in 2007. Later forensic reports found that there were no signs of foul play and that the deaths were not suicides but accidental mass death during a ritual. Human sacrifice in Kanpur, 2020 In November 2020, on the occasion of Diwali, a young man and his accomplice in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, hacked a seven-year-old schoolgirl from their neighborhood to death. They went on to extract the liver and other organs of the minor girl and presented them to the young man's uncle and aunt to eat as part of an occultist ritual. It was believed that eating the organs of the deceased child would help the childless couple conceive a baby. While police initially ruled that the murder was the result of the girl's resistance to sexual violence. But after interrogation, the chief accused broke down and confessed that the killing was part of a human sacrifice ritual. Dayalbagh hangings, 2018 Months from the Burari mass deaths, an eerily similar case surfaced in Dayalbagh in Faridabad when four members of a family were found hanging from the ceiling of their home. The Mathews consisted of four siblings - a brother and three sisters - all of whom were found hanging in a similar fashion. The deaths were discovered after a considerable time and only after a neighbour found blood seeping out from below the main entrance of the Mathews' residence. Police, however, ruled out occultism or foul play on the basis of suicide notes recovered from the house in which the deceased claimed they took their own lives due to financial instability and the pain caused by the death of their parents and youngest brother. In the suicide note, the family also demanded that their belongings be sold to fund the funerals of the four. Astral projections killings in Kerala, 2017 In April 2017, Thiruvananthapuram resident Cadell Jeanson Raja, 30, killed his parents, his sister as well as a relative and tried to burn their bodies as part of an experimental astral projection ritual. After being nabbed by cops, the man claimed he had been experimenting with astral projection techniques that are believed to bring forth a "soul out of body" experience. The bodies of the parents and sister were found completely burnt while the body of the relative, an elderly aunt, was found chopped up and covered inside the Rajas' residence. Raja, who was arrested for the killings, told the police that performing astral projections gave him extra strength which helped him push his physical and intellectual limits. He also said that by conducting the experiment, Raja had been trying to "speak to their souls". The case led to a fresh debate about the prevalence of religious and occultist practices driven by superstition in India and the lack of competent laws to tackle them. Kolkata House of Horrors, 2015 In a case that went down in history as s real-life reincarnation of filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho', a man named Partho De was found to be living with the bodies of his deceased sister and two deceased pet dogs for six months in Kolkata. Police stumbled upon the discovery while investigating the death by suicide of Pratho's septuagenarian father Aurobindo De who was found charred in the second floor of Partho's house in June 2015. Further investigations revealed that Partho had been living for six months with the skeletons of his sister and two dogs. Psychological evaluations and forensic investigations revealed that Partho had been living with mental illness and had a distinctly disturbing family history, riddled with sexual meted out to him and his sister by the hands of his deceased mother. While occultism was ruled out, investigators found that Partho's sister Debjani had been a religious person and killed herself with a systematic cycle of fasting. Both Partho and their father watched her wither away but did not take her to the doctor, After the woman and the dogs' deaths, Partho was said to have offered the decomposing bodies food and even sat at the same table to eat breakfast with them. In February 2017, Partho killed himself by setting himself on fire in the toilet of his then flat, just like his father. Since its creation in 1946, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has supported the early-career research of more than 60 Nobel laureates. ONR, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, is proud to add two more names to that illustrious list--Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Paul Milgrom of Stanford University, who recently won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. The professors shared the accolade for their research in Auction Theory, which designs innovative formats for auctioning goods and services that are difficult to sell in traditional ways--including radio frequencies, minerals, energy, electricity rates and cell phone bandwidth. In addition to helping lay the foundation for the modern telecommunications industry, Wilson's and Milgrom's work improved how the U.S. Navy selects bidding contractors to build ships and submarines. "The Office of Naval Research congratulates Dr. Wilson and Dr. Milgrom in celebrating their outstanding achievement," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Lorin C. Selby. "This accomplishment illustrates how ONR basic research sponsorship can drive discoveries and breakthroughs benefiting both the Department of the Navy and the nation." "ONR was instrumental in the development of Auction Theory," said Wilson, who teaches at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. "Its support was vital at a time when other funding sources were on a shoestring." In the 1960s and 1970s, Wilson first formulated Auction Theory with the idea of common value--a value that is uncertain beforehand but ends up being the same for all bidders at an auction. He showed that participants often placed bids below their best estimate of the common value to avoid the "winner's curse" of paying too much. In the 1980s and 1990s, Milgrom--who was Wilson's graduate student in the 1970s--expanded this work to demonstrate that bidders did better when they learned more about each other's estimated values during the bidding process. In 1994, the U.S. government used an auction format invented by Wilson and Milgrom to sell radio frequencies to telecommunications operators--a blueprint still used today for cellular networks. During the 1970s and early 1980s, ONR sponsored Wilson's research to improve how the Department of the Navy chose contractors to construct naval ships and submarines. As Wilson's graduate student, Milgrom benefited from this support, which influenced his own future research. "Back then, the Navy procurement office was interested in using auction procedures for shipyards," said Wilson. "For example, you had one shipyard that performed well and another that usually ran late and over budget. The Navy wanted an auction design to deal with incentive problems and possible ways of penalizing or remedying these differences in performance." Today, Wilson and Milgrom are studying how to apply principles of Auction Theory to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic--specifically, the distribution of scarce medical supplies like respirators and personal protective equipment. "Auction Theory could potentially improve resource allocation to overcome defects in the current system," said Milgrom, who teaches at Stanford's School of Humanities and Science. "We've seen states stockpile ventilators for future outbreaks as other states suffer immediate critical shortages--instead of moving ventilators to where they are needed at the moment. "Ethical priorities must be set on who needs to be served when," he continued, "and we must find ways to help those with the greatest need to invest in capacity to benefit themselves and others." ### Learn more about Wilson's and Milgrom's win at https:/ / www. nobelprize. org/ prizes/ economic-sciences/ 2020/ summary/ . For a list of Nobel laureates supported by ONR, visit https:/ / www. onr. navy. mil/ en/ About-ONR/ History/ Nobels . Warren Duffie Jr. is a contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications. A man has been arrested in North Dublin after another man was rushed to hospital following an assault in Baldoyle. Gardai are currently at the scene of the incident which occurred at approximately 1pm this afternoon. A man in his 30s, who was arrested, is currently being held at Clontarf Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The scene is currently preserved for a technical examination. Expand Close The scene / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene Read More Meanwhile, the injured man, aged in his 50s, was taken to Beaumont Hospital for treatment, with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Gardai say investigations are ongoing. Gardai are currently at the scene of a serious assault in Baldoyle, Dublin 13 which occurred at approximately 1pm this afternoon, Wednesday 28th January 2021, a spokesperson revealed. A male, aged in his 50s, was taken to Beaumont Hospital for treatment, with serious but non-life threatening injuries. A male, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained at Clontarf Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. "The scene is currently preserved for a technical examination. Hero Capitol Officer Eugene Goodman Hails from Washington, DC U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is a hero from Washington, D.C., who deserves the Congressional Gold Medal for bravery and quick thinking. ADVERTISEMENT That statement sits at the heart of a resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lawmakers are seeking to honor Officer Goodman for his actions that may have saved the lives of many people, including members of Congress, during the deadly insurrectionist attack at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Hes a hero. The United States Capitol was under attack by armed, violent extremists, and Officer Eugene Goodman was the only thing standing between the mob and the United States Senate, Florida Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist declared. I shudder to think what might have happened had it not been for Officer Goodmans fast thinking and commitment to his duty and his country. While some will remember [that] Wednesday for the very worst in our country, the patriotism and heroics of Officer Eugene Goodman renew my faith and remind us all what truly makes the United States great. Congressman Crist, Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) announced H.R. 305, a bipartisan bill to honor Officer Goodman. This will show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy, Congressman Cleaver added. ADVERTISEMENT Many watched in horror as the mob of Trump-supporters confronted Officer Goodman near a stairwell inside the Capitol. It first appeared that officer Goodman was retreating in fear, hesitating because no other law enforcement seemed nearby. The amazing video shows Officer Goodman engaging the mob, at times raising his nightstick to keep them at bay as they gave chase. But it all proved strategic, and a close look at the video revealed that Officer Goodman merely was offering a distraction because Congress members were nearby and moments from harms way. After reaching a landing, Officer Goodman intentionally draws the mob to the left of the stairway. What the violent mob did not know was just to the right was a gaggle of lawmakers seeking safety. When he was the only thing standing between Members of Congress and the violent mob, he quickly and selflessly redirected their fury upon himself, so those Members could escape, Congressman Mace stated. Thanks to his valor, we are here today. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank him enough for his bravery and his dedication to the call of duty. The resolution to award Officer Goodman with the Congressional Medal reads, in part, Officer Goodman alone, delayed the mobs advance towards the United States Senate Chamber and announced the location of the incursion. Upon reaching the second-floor corridor, Officer Goodman noticed the entrance to the Senate Chamber was unguarded. As the mob approached, Officer Goodman intentionally diverted attention away from the Senate entrance and led the mob to an alternate location with additional awaiting officers. Officer Goodman, 40, served in the Army from 2002 to 2006, deploying with the 101st Airborne Division to Iraq for a year. His awards include a combat infantryman badge, indicating he was in ground combat. During the assault on the U.S. Capitol, five people, including a police officer, died, and dozens more were injured. Officer Goodmans courageous action probably saved the lives of others, including members of Congress. In moments of crisis, there are always individuals who rise to the occasion and put themselves in harms way in defense of others. On January 6, 2021, Officer Eugene Goodman was one of those individuals, Congressman Cleaver said. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Airtel has announced that it recently became the first telecom company to successfully demonstrate live 5G services in the country. The New Delhi-based telco did the 5G demonstration over a commercial network in Hyderabad. The firm stated that it operated 5G and 4G simultaneously over the existing spectrum in the 1800MHz band. It did so through the Non-Standalone (NSA) technology. Airtel 5G is expected to provide internet speed which would be 10 times faster than existing technologies. This would allow users to download entire movies in seconds on a 5G compatible phone. For building its 5G network in the country, Airtel has been working with its equipment partner Ericsson. Earlier, the telco had claimed that it had the technology to run 5G over its existing technology-neutral spectrum. It would operate 5G in mid bands which are at 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2300MHz frequency. These are alongside sub-GHz bands which are available at 800MHz and 900MHz. "The transition to 5G is available through software upgrades over the existing network infrastructure," the operator said. Airtel has stated that if it receives the nod of Department of Telecom (DoT), it will be able to operate 5G and 4G network dynamically within the same spectrum block and should be able to start commercially running 5G in a matter of months. However, Airtel is yet to announce any official timeline for the rollout of its 5G network. "The moment we receive government approvals, and we have the right spectrum bands and in adequate quantities, we'll be able to roll this [5G] out immediately," said Gopal Vittal, MD and CEO, Bharti Airtel, during a virtual media briefing. The operator has stated that over 20 5G phones currently available in the market will be ready for Airtel 5G. The firm used Oppo Reno 5 Pro and Oppo Find X2 Pro for the demonstration. Also Read: 5G spectrum's 'reasonable' pricing critical for future of telecom Ho Chi Minh City among investors Vietnam detects 82 more COVID-19 infections Vietnam recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh on January 28 morning after two locally-infected cases were confirmed late January 27. Among the new cases, 72 were detected in Hai Duong, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, at an u Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaking at the meeting. (Photo: VGP). rgent meeting between the committee with permanent Government members. According to him, the infections in Hai Duong are related to the female worker who tested positive for the new and more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 after arriving in Osaka, Japan. Therefore, he asked leaders of the two provinces, the Health Ministry and relevant forces to take stronger prevention and control measures, and ensure the absolute safety for those involved in the work. Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that the ministry had sent experts to Chi Linh city of Hai Duong to help the province contain the spread of the virus. The remaining 10 cases were recorded in Quang Ninh. Earlier, two locally-infected cases of COVID-19 were confirmed late January 27 in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh province, and the Health Ministry has immediately taken drastic actions to quickly stop the spread of the virus. Of those two cases, the female patient found in Hai Duong is related to the woman patient found positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Osaka, Japan. The other is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city, northern Quang Ninh province, who is a staff member of Van Don airport. Source: NDO JP Morgan is launching a digital bank in the UK America's largest lender JP Morgan is launching a digital bank in the UK to poach customers from traditional high street institutions. The Wall Street giant's bank, under its Chase brand, will be accessed through a mobile phone app. It is its first banking product in the UK for normal current account holders, and it follows in the footsteps of its major rival Goldman Sachs, which launched its Marcus bank in 2018. JP Morgan said the bank has already created 400 jobs in the UK, and it has more hires planned. Co-president Gordon Smith said: 'The UK has a vibrant and highly competitive consumer banking marketplace, which is why we've designed the bank from scratch to specifically meet the needs of customers here.' Dubais stock index slumped the most in a week as the city imposed further restrictions on air travel and hospitals amid another record surge in coronavirus cases. The Middle East business hub reduced the validity of PCR tests to three days from four irrespective of the country they are coming from," according to a statement issued late on Wednesday. It is also now mandatory to have prior appointments for hospital visits. The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is the second-largest emirate, is battling a rise in infections as it opened up for air travel and eased movement restrictions. On Wednesday, the country reported a record 3,939 cases. Dubais DFM General Index fell as much as 1.9% on Thursday, underperforming a benchmark for emerging-market equities globally. Emaar Properties PJSC, Emaar Malls PJSC and Damac Properties PJSC, which have risen on hopes of improving prospects for tourism in the emirate, retreated between 1.5% and 2.6%. Validity period of PCR tests cut to 72 hours from 96 hours Pre-travel PCR test mandatory for UAE residents, GCC citizens and visitors arriving in Dubai Arrivals from certain countries -- based on the pandemic situation in those countries -- require an additional test on arrival in Dubai All appointments must be booked in advance and there should be a minimum interval of 20 minutes between appointments A minimum distance of two meters should be maintained by patients in waiting areas The UAE has already approved shots developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, as well as Chinas Sinopharm and Russias Sputnik V. So far, almost 2.76 million doses have been administered and the UAE has the second-highest per-capita inoculation rate in the world after Israel. The government aims to cover 50% of its population of about 10 million by April. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Amaravati, Jan 28 : The Andhra Pradesh government has written to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to ignore State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar's recommendation to compulsory retirement of two IAS officers, and also advise him not to exceed his domain. "I, therefore, request to refuse to take cognizance of the proceedings issued by the SEC against the member of services and also to advise the SEC not to exercise the power which is not in his domain and adhere to the guidelines in the matter," said an official in the letter addressed to the DoPT Secretary, which was shared on Thursday. According to the state government, Kumar censured Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Principal Secretary Gopal Krishna Dwivedi and Commissioner M. Girija Shankar for alleged dereliction of duty in their work related to the gram panchayat elections. The AP government highlighted that the SEC failed to follow due procedure prescribed under All India Service (AIS, D & A) rules, 1969. "SEC has written a very derogatory letter against the named officers to the Secretary, DoPT for their compulsory retirement. This step of SEC also doesn't fall under his competence and suffers from jurisdictional error," the official observed. He said that the Election Commission is empowered to suspend any officer working under the central government, public sector undertaking or autonomous body fully or partially funded by the government for insubordination or dereliction of duty, besides making recommendations to the competent authority for taking disciplinary action while engaged in the preparation of electoral rolls or election duty. "Censure is a penalty classified under minor penalties and the state government is the competent authority to impose the said penalty to member of service serving with the affairs of the state and it has to be imposed by following the procedure laid down under rule 10 of the said rules," observed the official. AP government pointed out that the SEC administering censure against the two IAS officers, including directing the same to form a part of their service record is bereft of competence and jurisdiction, transgressing into the powers vested with the state government. "Any instrument issued without competency is illegal and bad in law. Accordingly, state government had issued orders rejecting the censure proceedings of the SEC," the official noted in the missive. "Further, there has not been an iota of doubt regarding the conduct of officers during their past service," the missive asserted. Panchayat elections were originally supposed to have been held in 2018 when the tenure of the local bodies expired back then but Kumar chose not to hold them and waited until now. However, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy thought of going to the polls in March 2020 but Kumar refused the green signal, citing the Coronavirus pandemic, leading to a major standoff between the two. Reddy accused Kumar of acting at the behest of Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu during whose tenure he was appointed and even tried to replace him, which backfired as the SEC has Constitutional protection equal to a Supreme Court judge. With just two more months left as the SEC, Kumar is going ahead conducting the polls which the state government could not stop with their deferment appeal getting dismissed in the Supreme Court on Monday. After a long break, protests have been resumed in Armenia demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The opposition announced their start at 15.00 (14.00 Moscow time), but, according to the Telegram-channel Mediaport, a few hours earlier the terrorist group "Sasna Tsrer" (accompanied by police) held a rally on Republic Square in the city center. One can tell from the video there were several dozen protesters. In addition, according to the photographs posted on social media, many anti-Pashinyan leaflets were scattered around Yerevan today. EDWARDSVILLE U.S. News & World Report ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles School of Nursing (SON) among the top 50 in its 2021 Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs list released Tuesday, Jan. 26. The School is ranked 49th among 194 schools nationally and among the top four in Illinois. The School of Nursings online graduate degree programs include a family nurse practitioner doctor of nursing practice (DNP), post-masters DNP, and masters degrees in health care nursing administration (HCNA) and nurse educator (NE). ADVERTISEMENT Nigerian petroleum marketing company, Conoil, may soon acquire oil giant Chevrons stake in two Nigerian oil blocks. Conoil is close to acquiring the U.S. oil majors stake in both OMLs 86 and 88, S&P Global Platts reported Thursday, quoting a Chevron spokesperson. While the OML 86 has six fields with only two producing at very low levels, OML 88 is a shallow water block with two producing fields and significant gas reserves. Both blocks, with a combined potential of 60 million barrels in oil reserves, are located in the Niger Delta. Although negotiation is yet to be concluded, Ray Fohr, Chevron spokesperson, told S&P Global Platts that the process of divesting the companys 40 per cent interest in both OMLs is ongoing. Apart from Chevrons 40% stake, Nigerias state-owned oil firm, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), holds the remaining 60 per cent stake in both blocks. Earlier in 2016, Chevron offered to sell its interest in both blocks but the process slowed. On Thursday, S&P Global Platts quoted sources who claimed that Conoil emerged tops among the bids submitted for the acquisition of the 40 per cent interest held by Chevron in both blocks. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm these claims as of press time Thursday evening. Capital Efficiency Last October, Chevron Nigeria Limited announced a 25 per cent job cuts amidst plans to review its manpower requirements in the light of the changing business environment. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the company said it will continue to evaluate opportunities to improve capital efficiency and reduce operating costs. In this process, the company will be streamlining its workforce and improving service delivery and overall performance at all levels, the company said in a statement signed by Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs. Like Chevron, many oil producers have devised sundry means to reduce costs and shore up revenues in the wake of the crash in global oil prices due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a 21 per cent rebound in crude oil prices in 2021. About 500 Illinois National Guard members are being activated to help support continued security measures in the nations capital. Gov. J.B. Pritzker authorized the use Thursday at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense. The soldiers, along with a contingent of Illinois Air National Guard airmen, are expected to remain on duty in Washington, D.C., until mid-March. Guard members who had been deployed for the presidential inauguration have returned to Illinois, but about 50 people from that mission have volunteered to return. We are deploying these forces in support of civilian law enforcement based on threat-levels against the U.S. Capitol. These threats were assessed by the FBI and other federal agencies, said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard. Our soldiers and airmen are committed to the defense of both our nation and our state. We have asked a lot of them in the last year and each time these men and women have answered the call and upheld their oath to defend and support the U.S. Constitution. The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday issued a national terrorism bulletin that said a Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol could increase the risk of additional attacks. It did not cite any specific plots of anti-government violence by extremists but said a heightened threat environment across the United States could persist for weeks. The Illinois troops will be in Washington by the beginning of the week. Ultimately, we must root out the dark forces of racism, white supremacy and disinformation that have created this moment, but until we do that, our extraordinary troops will deploy with honor, Pritzker said. President Joe Biden's nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield has described as a strategic adversary and a threat to its neighbours, asserting that her highest priority will be to push against Chinese influence in the Security Council. The relations between the US and 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 Sea and human rights. At the United Nations, Chinese are undermining our valuesundermining our security, Thomas-Greenfield testified at her confirmation hearing held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday which was heavily dominated by questions from lawmakers on China. She said that she will be working aggressively against Chinese malign efforts in New York." China is a strategic adversary and their actions threaten our security, they threaten our values and they threaten our way of life. They are a threat to their neighbours and they are a threat across the globe. I have no doubts in my mind about that, Thomas-Greenfield said. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea with several countries. Beijing claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. China has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region which is rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and also vital to global trade. China and India are also locked in a military standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since May last year. She was asked by Senator Todd Young, Republican from Indiana, on how she will use the power of America's voice in the Security Council to hold China accountable for its behaviour within the and beyond. "I see that as my highest priority if I'm confirmed at the and that is to push against Chinese influence in the Security Council and it will mean working with our allies and bringing them on board and getting their support to push back against the Chinese and calling them out every opportunity that we have on their efforts to have greater influence on the and to bring a set of values to the United Nations that does not fit the organisation that we all support. When asked that America is still dealing with the same litany of challenges with China, such as intellectual property, technology transfer, human rights abuses, as during the Obama administration, she said fighting against China was a high priority of the Obama administration. The pivot to Asia was about addressing the situation with China. But how China is behaving now is very, very different than that period and they have become more aggressive." She vowed to work with the Foreign Relations Committee to counter China at the UN, to fight against all efforts by the Chinese government to add harmful language to UN resolutions and to resist Beijing's efforts to overfill key UN positions with Chinese citizens, adding that she hopes to use her very strong relationship across the African continent to push back on China's self-interested and parasitic development goals in Africa and will urge those leaders to support American values at the United Nations. When asked by Senator Ron Johnson, Republican from Wisconsin, on what kind of stronger language and tougher tactics will the Biden administration bring to deal with China, she said, the tougher language will be calling the Chinese out whenever we see them crossing lines, particularly as it relates to their aggressive tactics, both here in the United States and across the globe. Not giving them a pass, but making sure that the US voice is heard clearly on any issue where we have concerns about the Chinese. It also may mean that we have to use other instruments that we have, including the possibility of sanctions, including the possibility of flexing our muscles. "None of us want to encourage or support a conflict and that is not the intent here. The intent here is to encourage the Chinese to change their behaviour. In her opening remarks, she said when America exerts its influence in accordance with its values, the UN can be an indispensable institution for advancing peace and security. If instead we walk away from the table and allow others to fill the void, the global community suffers and so do American interest. In particular, we know China is working across the UN system to drive an authoritarian agenda that stands in opposition to the founding values of the institution, American values. Their success depends on our continued withdrawal. That will not happen on my watch. She said China is a strategic competitor and poses challenges to American security, prosperity. China has engaged in gross human rights violations and has authoritarian ambitions that go against our democratic values," she said and asserted that she is not at all naive about what the Chinese are doing and has called them out on a regular basis. She also underlined the need to ramp up US efforts to improve American diplomatic presence to ensure that we have people on the ground who can counter China all over the world and that the State Department has all the resources it needs so that it can be more aggressive in its response to China's aggressive actions across the globe. (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.) Advances in DNA sequencing have uncovered a rare syndrome which is caused by variations in the gene SATB1 Advances in DNA sequencing have uncovered a rare syndrome which is caused by variations in the gene SATB1. The study, co-authored by academics from Oxford Brookes University (UK), University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Radboud University (The Netherlands), University of Oxford (UK), University of Manchester (UK) and led by Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (The Netherlands), discovered three classes of mutations within the gene SATB1, resulting in three variations of a neurodevelopmental disorder with varying symptoms ranging from epilepsy to muscle tone abnormalities. Recognition of disorder will increase understanding and diagnosis An international team of geneticists and clinicians from 12 countries identified 42 patients with mutations in the gene SATB1 who were all displaying a range of similar symptoms, albeit of varying severity. Variations, or mutations, of SATB1 were found to have different effects in the cell. For example, some variations led to increased activity of the protein which causes a more severe type of disorder, while other variations cause loss of function of the gene and lead to less severe difficulties. The SATB1-syndrome is characterised by neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability, muscle tone abnormalities, epilepsy, behavioural problems, facial dysmorphism and dental abnormalities. Dr Dianne Newbury, Senior Lecturer in Medical Genetics and Genomics at Oxford Brookes University said: "Previously, just one or two cases of patients with SATB1 variations had been described but it was not recognised as a specific syndrome. Patients displaying these characteristics and their families, will have known that they had an undefined neurological condition, but they wouldn't have known any specific detail about the condition, or why they had it. "We hope that the recognition of this new disorder, and the information about the molecular pathways contributing to it, will help the families and individuals affected understand more about the condition and achieve a diagnosis they would not have had previously." Three classes of mutation have different effects in the cell The mutations found in the genome of the patients were found to belong to three different classes. The first mutation class, identified in eight patients, caused a loss of function of the SATB1 gene and halved the production of the encoded protein. This leads to a less severe syndrome characterised by diminished cognitive function, visual problems and facial dysmorphism. The second class contains four mutations, which encode shorter proteins that are less efficient as they are not positioned correctly in the cell. This second mutation shows as an intermediary syndrome, characterised as more severe than the first, but less severe than the third. The third class of variation encompasses the mutations found in the last thirty patients. These modify the encoded protein, making it more active. This altered protein is 'sticky' and binds better to DNA, diminishing the expression of genes it regulates and causing a more severe type of disorder, characterised by severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, a motor speech disorder (dysarthria) and specific facial features. Understanding mutations is key to discovering the origin of genetic diseases Dr Alexandre Reymond, Director of the Center for Integrative Genomics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland said: "These results demonstrate that each mutation is different and that is essential to understand their mode of action in order to explain the origin of genetic diseases. "We must go beyond sequencing, which is only a first step." ### The paper, Mutation-specific pathophysiological mechanisms define different neurodevelopmental disorders associated with SATB1 dysfunction, has been published in The American Journal of Human Genetics. With assist from Blue Ridge Health, Pardee resumes shots Pardee UNC Health drafted planners, administrators, community relations personnel and others to staff its Covid vaccination call center. Pardee UNC Health Care will continue vaccination appointments scheduled through Friday, Jan. 29, but will reschedule those who had received an appointment for a shot next week. As a result of recent diversion efforts by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Pardee, like many other vaccine providers in the region, will not receive a vaccine allocation for the upcoming week as originally anticipated. As a result, first dose vaccine appointments scheduled for the week of Feb. 1 will be rescheduled. All second dose appointments will be kept. We are grateful to Blue Ridge Health for their recent transfer of 500 doses to Pardees vaccine clinic, said Dr. David Ellis, chief medical officer for Pardee UNC Health Care. Their support enabled us to honor our commitment to patients scheduled this week. Patients scheduled for their first dose of vaccine on Feb. 1 will be rescheduled. These patients will be notified by the call center and should not call to reschedule. Pardee carefully manages vaccine allocations in order to ensure patients who receive a first dose with Pardee will also be able to receive their second dose with Pardee as well. Therefore, patients who were scheduled to receive their second dose the week of Feb. 1 will receive the second dose and those appointments will not be rescheduled. We remain committed to a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, said Ellis. As we continue to vaccinate people who fall within Groups 1 and 2, we are increasing our efforts to engage and reach communities who are historically marginalized and/or disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Ellis adds that Pardee is collaborating with community agencies, nonprofit organizations, and trusted leaders who work or live within these populations in order to increase access and understanding around vaccine efforts. Pardee will not be scheduling any new appointments via the call center or online scheduling system until vaccine allocations resume. The priority is to focus on rescheduling appointments previously scheduled. The community will be notified via news media updates and social media postings when new appointments will be available. As a reminder, appointment scheduling is dependent on receiving the allocation from the state. The state has assured Pardee that future allocations will be more predictable, but it does not mean Pardee is guaranteed the same amount previously received. Vaccine supply is distributed based on county demographics and numbers, said Ellis. As new vaccine providers are approved by NCDHHS, the same vaccine supply will be distributed among more providers. This does not translate into more vaccines for the community, just more locations. Ellis notes that the addition of more providers may have the adverse effect of reducing the vaccine allocated to Pardee. We understand and acknowledge that this is a frustrating situation for all concerned, Ellis said. Please know that we are doing everything we can to get vaccines into our community. Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is managed by UNC Health Care. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has several locations separate from the main campus, including a comprehensive physician practice network, a cancer center, four urgent care locations and six orthopedic clinics. For more information or to find a physician, visit www.pardeehospital.org. A judge who criticised Stormont for making a "significant error" when drafting coronavirus laws has hit out again - as he has to keep releasing people when "there isn't a hope in hell" of them obeying regulations. (stock photo) A judge who criticised Stormont for making a "significant error" when drafting coronavirus laws has hit out again - as he has to keep releasing people when "there isn't a hope in hell" of them obeying regulations. District Judge Michael Ranaghan slammed the health laws as two people appeared back in court exactly a week since they were released on bail for other alleged coronavirus breaches. Last week, Shania Devenney (21) of Kilmacormick Drive and Nathan Maguire (21) of Carnmore Lodge were arrested after police were alerted to anti-social behaviour. Both were charged with contravening restrictions and have had numerous fines handed out since last month. "There isn't a hope in hell of them abiding by Covid regulations," the judge noted. Police have been dealing with a series of parties at Devenney's address and since the beginning of January there have been 16 incidents, including people being taken to hospital with suspected overdoses. On January 18, officers discovered Devenney under the influence of drink and drugs. Maguire was found hiding behind a sofa, and said he had tested positive for Covid and was told to isolate - but had failed to do so. Both have been issued with Covid penalty tickets in the past. Five police officers had to self-isolate as a result of attending with Maguire. Devenney has been hosting regular large gatherings in her home, and has made it clear she has no intention of abiding by regulations. Despite police objections last week, Mr Ranaghan said: "I cannot consider remanding in custody, as these matters are fine-only. "The powers-that-be made a significant error when drafting legislation in making these fine-only offences. "Had I the power to do so I would definitely be remanding these two in custody." The pair were subsequently released with conditions. But on Tuesday, police again encountered them in apparent breach of regulations at Devenney's home. A lawyer for Maguire said he had been instructed to plead guilty to both breaches and accepted there had been: "Blatant disregard for the regulations." He was fined a total of 350. Police opposed bail for Devenney, who did not indicate how she intends to plead. An officer said: "She has stated she will not abide by the regulations and has proven that and also breached bail. She shows complete disregard for court conditions and the regulations." Mr Ranaghan said: "I'm not sure police can oppose bail. We are all in a difficult world here." Devenney's case was adjourned until next week. (@FahadShabbir) London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2021 ) :Manchester United on Thursday called for stronger measures to be taken against "mindless idiots" who post racial abuse after Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were targeted. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men fell to a shock 2-1 loss to the Premier League's bottom side Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday. That defeat sparked a torrent of online invective aimed at United's players, including racist abuse aimed at defender Tuanzebe, who inadvertently turned home Oliver Burke's winner, and forward Martial. Racist terms and monkey emojis were put on Instagram comments of the pair's most recent posts. "Everyone at Manchester United is disgusted by the racial abuse received by players via social media after last night's game," the club said in a statement on Thursday. "We utterly condemn it and it is encouraging to see other fans condemn this on social media also." United said they had zero tolerance of any form of racism or discrimination. "Identifying these anonymous mindless idiots remains problematic," the club said. "We urge social media platforms and regulatory authorities to strengthen measures to prevent this kind of behaviour." Tuanzebe and Martial also received support from their team-mates. Midfielder Scott McTominay posted a photo of Tuanzebe with a crown on his head alongside a heart emoji as well as black and white fists. "My brother," he said on an Instagram Story post. "Disgusted with what I have read this morning." United captain Harry Maguire wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of the players taking a knee: "UNITED against racism. We will not tolerate it."Sanjay Bhandari, chairman of anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out, said he hoped those responsible for the abuse would be removed by social media platforms. "We know that discriminatory abuse can have significant real world impact on the welfare of the victims," he added. Another police officer has committed suicide after responding to the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, according to Acting DC Police Chief Robert J. Contee. Second US Capitol Police Officer Commits Suicide Amid his Tuesday hearing in front of the House Appropriations Committee, Contee revealed in his testimony that Jeffrey Smith, who had served the Metro Police Department (MPD) for around 12 years, took his own life following the incident. The death of US Capitol police officer Howard Liebengood, who was a former Senate sergeant-at-arms' son, was earlier reported. MPD Chief Robert Contee did not get into specifics but merely stated Officers Smith and Liebengood were present at the US Capitol on January 6 and took their own lives in the aftermath of the violence. Officer Smith, 35, killed himself on January 15, according to Contee. According to Contee, "The costs for this insurrection - both human and monetary - will be steep," reported Huffpost. The death of Smith as an aftermath of the insurrection had not been disclosed prior to Contee's testimony. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, a third member of law enforcement, passed away due to injuries he sustained during the Capitol siege. Contee stated, "We honor the service and sacrifices of Officers Brian Sicknick, Howard Liebengood, and Jeffery Smith, and offer condolences to all the grieving families," reported Yahoo News. Smith was reportedly injured as he attempted to help contain the mob of former President Trump's supporters attempting to stop Congress from certifying President Biden's electoral victory. Contee remarked, "That was a very sad and tragic situation for us. He had been injured as a result of the confrontation that had occurred at the Capitol and a couple of days after that, the officer, he took his life," reported The Hill. Also Read: 45 Republicans Side Against Holding Trump Impeachment Trial This is the third law enforcement death and the second suicide by a Capitol police officer in the aftermath of the pro-Trump siege. Smith was among the 850 MPD officers who responded to the mob of former President Trump's supporters that disrupted Congress' certification of President Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral college votes. As Congress members voted to confirm Biden's presidential election victory, Sicknick collapsed and then died from his injuries upon being physically assaulted by Trump's supporters as they caused havoc in the building. Liebengood took his own life shortly afterward. The report of another officer's death shook Capitol Hill, wherein several of the staff and members are still reeling in the three weeks following the insurrection. Five individuals died in the aftermath of the riots. Alongside the two police officers who passed away due to suicide, the death toll has induced fear from lawmakers of both parties and prompted them to demand answers from Capitol security officials. Smith was assigned to Washington's northwestern neighborhoods of Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase, and Georgetown. At least 65 MPD officers were injured as in the aftermath of the siege. According to Contee, many more possibly did not report minor injuries. Over 850 officers were assigned to the Capitol complex that afternoon, and another 250 officers were deployed in the place. Related Article: Trump Gives First Remarks Since Leaving Office Prior to Impeachment Trial @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The government might come up with a Covid-cess to compensate for revenue shortfall in economy. Speculations are rife that the government may levy a Covid cess of around 4 per cent on high income earners to fund the coronavirus vaccination drive. At a time when the government is struggling to manage its fiscal deficit and tide over cash flow issues due to lower collections than budgeted, a Covid cess, if introduced, could provide a much-needed relief to the government by making available sufficient funds to finance vaccination drive without having to dip into its existing revenues, says Gunjan Prabhakaran, Partner and Leader - Indirect Tax, BDO India. Though the idea may sound plausible in short run, the government should keep in mind past experience when it tried to introduce a surcharge on the super-rich in Budget 2019, and ensure the incremental cess does not drive away investors and their much-needed investments from India, she adds further. A cess, which is an additional tax levied by the government to raise funds for a specific purpose, is not new to the system. Different types of cess have been introduced and abolished or subsumed over the years. Infact, the government abolished a number of cesses post the introduction of GST. Also read: Budget 2021 "There are currently around nine cesses that are being levied by the government as against 42 cesses that have been levied previously (abolished later or subsumed under GST)," highlights Prabhakaran. These include cess on crude oil, health and education cess, road and infrastructure cess, other construction workers welfare cess, national calamity contingent duty, duty on tobacco and tobacco products, the GST compensation cess, health cess of 5 per cent on imported medical devices - in the Finance Bill for 2020-2021. Cess is increasingly becoming a preferred source of revenue as Centre doesn't necessarily need to share it with states. The share of cess in total tax kitty increased from 7.9 per cent to 9 per cent in the past two years. The union government collected Rs 2,74,592 crore from cesses and levies in FY19 against Rs 2,14,050 crore in FY18. According to Bank of Baroda Economics Research, "With a 4.2 per cent decline in nominal GDP, centre's net revenues are estimated to fall by 6.7 per cent to Rs 15.7 lakh crore instead of budgeted Rs 20.2 lakh crore. On the other hand, spending is likely to increase by 13.3 per cent in FY21 to Rs 30.4 lakh crore." Also read: Bill Gates draws strategy to stop the next pandemic Also read: WHO meet: World close to defeating Covid-19, says Harsh Vardhan Also read: Budget 2021: How will govt fund COVID-19 vaccination? There's a cess coming! Israeli officials have cleared United Arab Emirates port operator DP World to move forward in the privatization of Israel's largest seaport but kept Turkey's Yildirim Holding under further scrutiny. DP World received security clearance to move forward in the bidding process for the port in the northern city of Haifa, according to two people familiar with the matter. Local representatives for Yildirim lodged a complaint about unfair treatment in the process, according to a letter it sent to Israeli officials that was seen by Bloomberg. The Government Companies Authority, which is running the privatization, said Israel is making necessary regulatory checks as part of confirming investors' participation in the Port of Haifa privatization and that it expects the sale to be completed in a few months. Representatives for Yildirim and DP World declined to comment. DP World's progress is an important indicator for Israel's new normalization agreement with the UAE, which the countries announced last summer. It marks a key nod of approval from Israel when it comes to Emirati involvement in strategic assets. Israel hopes to sell the facility for as much as 2 billion shekels ($612 million). "We look at Israel as a very important logistical place," DP World's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said Thursday in a Bloomberg TV interview. "We have approval like everyone else. We are still bidding." DP World, based in the UAE emirate of Dubai, is complying with local partnership requirements, he said. But while Israel draws closer to some Gulf Arab nations, relations with former close ally Turkey have been sour for years over Israel's policy toward the Palestinians. Turkey, which recalled its ambassador to Israel two years ago, is currently seeking to repair its ties but said barriers remain to improving relations. Economic links between Israel and Turkey have been resilient throughout the estrangement, but the port sale suggests that politics may still play a role. In a Jan. 11 letter sent to Israeli ministers overseeing the privatization, local representatives for Yildirim said the requirement "is very puzzling in our eyes." The company has previously been cleared by security services in Europe and the U.S., they said. Yildirim entered the process in a group with Israeli industry veteran Eli Tilles, U.S.-based GraeStone Logistics and cruise port operator Global Ports Holding. "This examination is even more puzzling since a partially governmental Dubai company is participating after the ink dried on the normalization agreement," Yildirim's representatives said in the letter. The sale has been shadowed by geopolitical jousting beyond the Middle East. The administration of former president Donald Trump pressed Israel to be wary of Chinese influence, as a second, Chinese-run port prepares to open in the same city. Israeli and U.S. officials sought American firms to participate in the contest, which has drawn expressions of interest from more than a dozen parties, including companies in India and Belgium. No Chinese firms joined the bidding. The port focuses largely on container shipping, and its new owners will have the opportunity to improve operations, according to London-based Drewry Shipping Consultants. While Haifa's productivity is in line with the industry average, a new concessionaire will be able to invest to improve its processes and equipment, Drewry said in an email. Officials from DP World and its local partner Israel Shipyards Industries Ltd. got access to in-depth data this week to support their bid, according to Shlomi Fogel, who co-owns Israel Shipyards. Fogel said the venture is currently an equal partnership between his firm and DP World. Police arrest former soldier for stealing food PHUKET: Police have arrested a former soldier for stealing food from a motorbike basket in front of a convenience store. The former soldier, who was wanted on an arrest warrant for drug use last year, said that he only wanted food for himself and his cat. crimepolice By The Phuket News Thursday 28 January 2021, 02:30PM Police arrested former Private First Class Watcharin Innoomphan, 38, originally from Kamphaeng Phet, at a house in Soi Thep Anusorn, Wichit, yesterday (Jan 27), explained Lt Col Chatchai Chunoo of the Wichit Police. The arrest came after a woman reported on Monday (Jan 25) that she had parked her motorbike in front of a SuperCheap store in Wichit at about 7:45am, and left bags of pork, fish and snacks, together valued at about B300, with her motorbike. She came back to find her bags of food missing. Through CCTV footage police confirmed that while the woman was in the store a man walked up to and around her motorbike and checked what was in the bags, before quickly grabbing the bags and taking off on a motorbike. Police tracked down the man to the house in Soi Thep Anusorn, where they arrested Watcharin and seized as evidence the clothes he wore while stealing the bags of food and the Satun-registered Yamaha Fino motorbike that he used to leave the scene. Watcharin confessed to the theft, saying that he did not have any money but wanted to buy some food for himself and for his cat, Lt Col Chatchai explained. Watcharin also confessed to committing a similar theft once before in front of Wat Thepnimit in Wichit, located right next to the Wichit Municipality offices, Lt Col Chatchai said. After checking Watcharains criminal history, police discovered that Watcharain was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court on Aug 31 last year for possession of a Category 1 drug (crystal meth), Lt Col Chatchai noted. In an unrelated case, Wichit Police yesterday also arrested a man for stealing a gas cylinder from a house in Moo 1, Wichit, Lt Col Chatchai added. Police arrested Eakkalak Theebamrung at a house near Muang Thong Circle on Pattana Thongthin Rd in Moo 1, Wichit, where he was found with an orange gas cylinder that was stolen from a house in the Phuket Villa Chao Fah 2 housing estate in Moo 2, Wichit, at about 7pm on Monday (Jan 25), he said. Again, after receiving the report of the theft, police had managed to track down the thief through CCTV, Lt Col Chatchai noted. Both Watcharin and Eakkalak were taken to Wichit Police Station and charged for theft, Lt Col Chatchai confirmed. Daftar Situs Judi Online Slot Online Terpercaya dan Terbaik - 77LUCKS Selamat datang di 77LUCKS, Salah satu situs penyedia situs judi slot online terpercaya di asia. Agen judi online terbaik 77LUCKS yang menyediyakan sarana buat bermain judi online terpercaya dengan memakai duit asli serta memakai aplikasi judi online maupun memakai browser lewat laptop ataupun smartphone kemudian kamu seluruh telah dapat langsung akses sebagian banyak opsi daftar judi online yang telah kami sajikan dan nikmati pula keseruan dalam bermain judi online terbaik. 77LUCKS merupakan sarana situs judi online terbaik yg mempermudah kamu supaya dikala taruhan lewat bermacam berbagai tipe permainan judi online yg telah disediakan. kami sebagai agen judi online dengan kapasitas judi online terbaik, 77LUCKS senantiasa menyediakan game judi online yg sangat bermutu dan teteap membagikan keamanan serta pula kenyamanan untuk para player yg telah memandang situs judi online 77LUCKS selaku bagian dari daftar situs judi online terpercaya se asia. pencapaian tersebut dapat sukses didapatkan berkat kerja keras 77LUCKS sebagian tahun belum lama ini selaku agen judi online terpercaya yang kerap sekali membagikan pelayanan handal buat judi online duit asli ataupun slot online. Tidak hanya Judi Slot Online, 77LUCKS pula mempunyai bermacam berbagai judi online slot berbeda yang kamu dapat seleksi buat selaku tempat kalian bermain dalam memperoleh duit. judi online terlengkap yg ada di 77LUCKS tersebut mencakup judi casino online terbaik kemudian terdapat pula slot online salah satu game judi yang banyak sekali peminatnya dari dahulu hingga dikala ini, untuk kamu jangan ketinggalan pula dari 2 jenis game judi online populer serta sangat disukai oleh segala warga yg terdapat pada situs judi online terbaik asia. Daftar Permainan Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya serta Terlengkap Situs judi online terpercaya serta terbaik telah tentu sangat harus mempunyai bermacam berbagai tipe taruhan yang menarik, perihal tersebut harus dicoba supaya para member yang bermain di agen judi online di 77LUCKS tidak hendak merasakan jenuh dan bosan dengan permainan yg monoton. saat ini dengan banyak nya opsi link judi online hingga harapan kemenangan bisa lebih gampang sekali dicapai sebab mereka bisa dengan leluasa memilah wajib diputar serta dimainkan pada tipe game judi online apa yg menguntungkan. Game judi slot online terlengkap ialah suatu bagian yang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari jenis - jenis judi online, serta telah terkategori dengan lumayan gampang buat dimainkan, dalam taruhan slot ini merupakan aspek keberuntungan sangat lumayan pengaruh buat memperoleh kemenangan dan pula keuntungan yang besar apa apabila taruhan online. 77LUCKS telah menyediyakan sebagian provider slot online, dan telah mempunyai banyak sekali tipe tipe judi slot online yg bisa kamu mainkan nantinya bila telah jadi member setia di 77LUCKS, serta yang lebih hebatnya lagi slot online 24 jam online duit asli telah tercantum dalam bagian jenis taruhan online yang gampang sekali menang serta memperoleh jackpot besar dengan modal dini yang tidak besar. Kuantitas terbaik dalam menyediyakan judi slot online merupakan dengan bekerja sama dengan provider slot terbaik, apa lagi beberap provider slot online ini telah sangat nyaman, dan telah terbukti dari segi kestabilannya. provider slot yang kami sajikan telah teruji sangat adil dan tidak adaa yang namanya memakai BOT serta pula tidak pelit dalam membagikan kemenangan besar berbentuk jackpot. Daftar 15 Provider Slot Online Terlengkap Serta Gampang Jackpot Provider PragmaticPlay Pragmatic Play merupakan salah satu penyedia game pada situs slot terpopuler yang telah lama di industri oleh igaming, Pragmatic Play banyak sekali menawarkan bermacam portfolio multi produk sangat inovatif, serta telah lumayan teregulasi yang mempunyai interface lebih dari lumayan mobile friendly. Provider Live22 Live22 ialah salah satu situs slot online game yang telah sangat banyak diketahui dan dikapasitas indonesia. apa lagi saat ini dapat dimaunkan dengan duit asli lewat situs judi slot online terbaik. tidak cuma itu pula kalau di judi slot live22 online sangat gampang buat dimainkan serta diakses memakai hp yang pakai. Provider Slot88 Slot88 merupakan game masuk dalam jenis baru di slot, tetapi bukan berarti slot88 tidak bagus buat kamu mainkan, mereka pula telah melaksanakan studi sepanjang bertahun tahun kemudian serta sekaranglah akhir menghasilkan sendiri tipe game slot88 mereka. Provider Spadegaming Spadegaming buat pertamanya kali dibentuk dari sekelompak wiraswastawan, dibagi dalam berbagai tipe latar belakang semacam perancang mempunyai bakat pula sebagian orang professional, spadegaming sudah tumbuh sebagai pengembang feature lunak terkenal di seluruhnya asia. Provider RTG slot RTG slot merupakan nama perdagangan Endon Technologies konsentrasi di Asia serta berbasiskankan di Pulau Man. Datang dari brand Realtime judi populer dibikin tahun 1998, RTG telah memperkenalkan permainan lebih dari pada 20 tahun. Dengan kantor di Hong Kong Pulau Man, RTG slot konsentrasi terbuat permainan inovatif serta memberikannya pengalaman baru buat pemain dari hari ke hari dapat mengoptimalkan nilai usia pemain serta lebih memajukan kenaikan keuntungan buat pelanggan kami. Judi Slot Flow Gaming Flow Gaming ialah organisasi kenaikan game serta diposisikan secara antik buat memberinya pelayanan angkatan berikutnya dalam judi casino dibagi buat pasar Asia. Judi Slot Microgaming Microgaming tawarkan portofolio slot sangat besar dari segala penyedia fitur lunak judi casino online. Alternatif slot Microgaming meliputi masing-masing topik dapat Kamu pikirkan dengan sebagian spesifikasi menarik dan bermanfaat. Kamu bisa pula memenangi duit buat mengganti nasib hidup kamu dengan bermain judi slot online dengan memperoleh jackpot progresif. Judi Slot Yggdrasil Yggdrasil senantiasa tidak berubah-ubah membagikan permainan berkinerja dengan seni-seni yang sangat bermutu sangat inggi di industri gaming. permainan tersebut didasarkan pada mekanisme inovatif dengan desain suara yang nyatanya sangat menarik. nikmati game slot online terlengkap, blackjack, roulette dan jackpot progresif yg sangt besar serta pastinya sangat luar biasa. Judi Slot One Touch Judi Slot One Touch mulai bekerja di tahun 2015 sehabis mengalami sela besar di pasar buat game meja mobile bermutu premium yang dengan penuh semangat dan cermat merengkuh pendekatan wujud yang menekankan mobile. Judi Slot CQ9 CQ9 mengerjakan lebih dari 200 anggota team, terkategori insinyur fitur lunak, seniman grafis, pendesain game, dan ahli matematika. Arahnya buat mendatangkan perjudian Online Slot luar biasa dan menghibur serta dapat dimainkan di seluruh fitur, terkategori desktop, netbook, telephone seluler, dan tablet. Situs Slot Joker123 Cuman vendor mesin slot Joker123 yang berani memberinya bonus dan bonus jackpot sangat besar terhadap masing- masing pemain yang sempat bermain, dan tidak hanya memiliki khasiat yg banyak, semacam deposit, penarikan melalui duit electronic dan bank lokal. tercantum game slot Joker123 senantiasa punyai typical game terbaru dan bisa makin ramai kala bermain game. Kamu bisa memperoleh kepuasan tanpa terdapat batas kala bermain dengan provider slot Joker123. Situs Slot Playtech Dengan basis modern, berbagai service serta update mendalam dimasukkan pada dalam masing-masing perihal usahanya, Playtech ialah pemain inti di dunia judi slot online. didirikan di tahun 1999, industri ini telah jadi pimpinan dalam situs website judi online indonesia. Playtech plc ialah merupakan industri pengembang feature lunak game judi yg didirikan pada tahun 1999. Industri ini mempersiapkan feature lunak buat live casino online, game bingo online, slot online sportsbook, serta game arcade fixed-odds online. Situs Slot Habanero Habanero merupakan pengembang mesin judi online permainan semacam Koi Gate dan betul-betul terpopuler di Eropa dan Asia. Mereka didirikan pada tahun 2012 dan miliki 4 kantor di Sofia, Kiev, Johannesburg, dan Manila, membagikan mereka kapabilitas buat bekerja di pasar website judi online penjuru dunia. Buat situs slot Habanero terdapat di mari. Situs Slot PG Soft PG SOFT merupakan industri pengembang game hp yang berbasiskan di Valletta, Malta. Terbuat pada tahun 2015, industri telah tumbuh jadi team yg lumayan kokoh mempekerjakan 200 pegawai dengan kantor yang berbasiskan di Eropa, Amerika Utara, serta Asia. Mengombinasikan luasnya keahlian banyak sekali pendiri dan dengan team seniman serta pembuat juara penghargaan. Buat situs slot PG Soft terdapat di mari. Situs Slot Playn Go Playn Go ini merupakan salah satu provider yang dapat cantumkan ataupun dibilang sangat kreatif serta betul-betul slot online anti mainstream serta gampang buat mendaptatkan bonus jackpot besar. Situs slot online disini pula buat tampilannya luar biasa menarik serta pula keren sehingga tidak membuat kamu seluruh bosan serta pula jenuh. Keuntungan Daftar Jadi Member Pada Situs Slot Online 77LUCKS Mau main slot online namun khawatir terserang tipu? Web agen slot online 77LUCKS ialah jawaban buat seluruhnya permasalahan kamu. Ayo gabung di 77LUCKS, disini kami jamin kamu hendak tidak berasa kuatir dan khawatir. Kalaupun kamu mempercayai duit terletak pada Website judi slot online 77LUCKS, tentu kami melindungi kepercayaan itu. 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa membagikan kenyamanan buat kamu dikala seluruh dikala memutar duit di judi slot online. Waktu bermain dengan tenang dan aman sebab itu ingatan kamu tambah lebih konsentrasi, dan kalaupun kamu bisa bermain permainan judi slot dengan tenang sebab itu kamu juga tentu lebih mudah dapat memperoleh kemenangan besar. Mana lagi dalam agen judi slot online bisa dipercaya yang jarang- jarang terdapat semacam 77LUCKS, udah disediakan sebagian berbagai game judi slot yang bisa kamu coba semenarik apa, ditanggung tidak ribet pula sebab cuma dengan 1 account slot online terpercaya yg udah terdaftar bisa kamu gunakan buat di banyak tipe taruhan online slot yg terletak pada 77LUCKS. Mau tahukan apa saja game slot online yg udah kami sajikan, ayo langsung dibaca ya postingan berikut ini. 5 Daftar Pelayanan Terbaik yang dapat kalian dapatkan pada situs 77LUCKS Pelayanan Situs Judi online 24 jam, Situs Judi online 24 jam dalam arti 77LUCKS ialah website judi online yang tidak rehat, agen judi 77LUCKS bisa dipercaya dan senantiasa professional serta siap melayani juga membantu segala kepentingan Kamu 24 jam tanpa henti-hentinya. 77LUCKS memiliki komitmen jadi situs agen judi online terhebat di segala asia, sebab itu 77LUCKS wajib 100% dalam soal melayani seluruh keluhan member setianya kala bermain di agen judi 77LUCKS. Provider Server Judi Online 77LUCKS Yang Sangat Bagus Server merupakan sisi sangat berarti, oleh karena itu buat kepentingan server dapat diyakini bila kami 77LUCKS pasti nyatanya memakai server yang sangat bagus supaya situs judi slot online 77LUCKS dapat senantiasa bekerja penuh sejauh 24 jam. Sebagian Bonus dan Promo Yang Menjanjikan Bicara tentang bonus mungkin hanya 77LUCKS saja sebagai agen judi online sangat royal dalam membagikan bonus ke membernya, baik itu bonus cash back, bonus turn over ataupun promosi menjanjikan lain nya hendak terus tertib kami bagikan pada member setia 77LUCKS. bonus ataupun promosi ini biasa kami bagikan dan berlaku buat seluruhnya model game yang terletak pada agen judi terbaik 77LUCKS mencakup slot online online, judi live casino terpercaya, judi bola terbaik, tembak ikan dan arcade. Informasi Diri Member Teruji Tentu Aman Sebagai satu antara lain situs judi online yang mempersiapkan slot online murah telah tentu udah menemukan sokongan dengan struktur keamanan terhebat yg memiliki struktur yg fairplay tidak memakai BOT, murni cuman PLAYER VS PLAYER dipatikan itu. Lumayan cuma dengan memakai 1 user id saja kamu dapat jalani judi online buat seluruh tipe game yang terletak pada 77LUCKS. Slot online Dengan Bermacam Bonus Jackpot, Bonus jackpot slot yang kami bagikan dapat menggapai nominal sebagian ratus juta rupiah, tidak butuh kamu khawatir apa apabila saldo dari hasil jackpot kalian seluruh tidak dibayar oleh agen 77LUCKS terpercaya. ingin berapapun nilai kemenangan kamu dan ingin jackpot sebesar apapun yang kalian seluruh miliki pihak 77LUCKS hendak senantiasa bayar lunas tanpa terdapatnya potongan sedikitpun. Thomas Edison's Early Life Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847. Edisons father, Samuel, was a shingle maker and land speculator, while his mother, Nancy, kept house and taught young Edison at home. Edison was the youngest of seven children, only four of whom lived past their childhoods. Because his siblings were more than 15 years older, Edison was the only child in the home and received the benefit of both parents dutiful attention. His family moved from Ohio to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1854. As a boy, Edison attended school only briefly. His education came in large part at home where his mother taught and his father kept a library. Edison was encouraged to read and developed a strong interest in reading, in subjects ranging from Western history to general science. Like many scientifically-minded boys of his era, Edison took a special interest in chemistry and assembled a home laboratory where he collected chemicals and experimented with them. The young Edison displayed a remarkable inclination for entrepreneurship. At age 13 he was employed by the Grand Trunk Railroad as a newsboy and concessionaire on the trains that ran from Port Huron to Detroit. He started a newspaper and sold it to passengers and at stations between the two cities. He transported produce, buying in Detroit and from farmers along the way, and employed another boy to sell fruits and vegetables in Port Huron. His daily trip to Detroit provided him with a layover during which he would visit the citys libraries to read scientific books and periodicals. Edison was allowed to keep a chemistry set onboard the train so he could conduct experiments during the layover, until one day when the train lurched and a bottle of yellow phosphorus immersed in water fell to the floor and broke. Exposed to air, the phosphorus spontaneously ignited, and a fire broke out. A conductor extinguished the fire, and the boy and his chemicals were ejected at the next station. He subsequently moved his chemistry lab back to his home. At this time, the railroad and telegraph were transforming the way of life across the U.S.rail transported goods and people across the vast distances, while telegraph lines conveyed news and information of the day. Through his job on the railroad, Edison was exposed to both. He acquired an early interest in telegraphy and took lessons informally at telegraph offices along his route. As he learned to operate a telegraph, Edison also expanded his technical knowledge in both mechanics and electrical science, and thus began the first of his many serious experimental operations. From 1863 to 1868, Edison moved around the country as a telegraph operator, improving his skills until he reached the elite corps of telegraphers who could quickly send and receive newspaper articles. He also found time to keep up his technical reading at libraries and to tinker with telegraph technologytransmitters and receivers, electrical systems, chemical batteries, and lines necessary to connect operator to operator across the network. Edison was exposed to leading technical communities in Cincinnati, Boston, and New York, where telegraph company officers encouraged the development of new technologies. While his inventions at first focused on electrical and mechanical areas of telegraph design, he was also exposed to the chemistry of batteries that powered the telegraph offices. This exposure to applied chemistry would benefit him later as his work moved towards chemical and material sciences. In 1869 Edison decided to quit work as a telegraph operator and focus on his experimental work. By this time he had developed a reputation as a skilled and creative inventor, having contributed innovations to printing telegraphs, facsimile telegraphs, automatic relays, stock tickers, and other devices. In addition, his work exposed him to the business and invention sides of telegraph operations and provided contact with journalists whose messages and articles Edison frequently received as an operator. The industry was an ideal environment for the young inventor, entrepreneur, and businessman. Back to top The 24-inch Ritchey refractor, now on display at the Smithsonian. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain You never know what new discoveries might be hiding in old astronomical observations. For almost a hundred years starting in the late 19th century, emulsion-coated dry glass plate photography was the standard of choice used by large astronomical observatories and surveys for documenting and imaging the sky. These large enormous glass plate collections are still out there around the world, filed away in observatory libraries and university archives. Now, a new project shows how we might bring the stories told on these old plates back to light. More than an estimated 2.4 million glass plates are out there in collections in North America alone. These were taken starting in the 1890s right up until the 1970s, when CCD (Charged Couple Device) detectors started to come online for astronomy. Of these, only an estimated 400,000 plates have been digitized to research quality, most notably by the DASCH (the Digital Access to the Sky Century at Harvard) and the international APPLAUSE (The Archives of Photographic Plates for Astronomical USE) projects. A team from the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the Kavali Institute for Cosmological Astrophysics wondered if there might be an easier way to bring these old plates into the modern digital era. "The plate scanning process is actually quite simple," Will Cerny (University of Chicago) told Universe Today. "After we select a plate, we make sure the surface is clean so that dust particles don't get mistaken for stars in the final image. Then, we set our scanner to the highest quality we can and produce an image file. In effect, we are considering the scanner to be a scientific instrument: for each small piece of information on the plate, we get a digital rendition of the amount of light transmitted through the photograph. From there, we upload the resulting file to a website which maps the celestial coordinates onto the image, which also creates a file in a standardized format for astronomical analysis." The 1903 plate (negative, with bright stars on a black background) showing the previously unnoticed supernova (circled). Credit: W. Cerny/Yerkes Plate Digitization Team The team turned to a nearby source, the Yerkes Observatory. For the study, the Yerkes Plate Digitization Team wanted a plate ideal for calibrating both stellar brightness and the sky background, covering a swath of sky located away from the galactic plane. The team also wanted plates taken under excellent sky conditions, with long exposures depicting a good variety of galactic and extragalactic objects in order to gauge limiting magnitude. Located on the shores of Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin and built by American astronomer and telescope maker George Ellery Hale in 1897, Yerkes Observatory also houses a collection of 150,000-200,000 glass plates. Though Yerkes is home to the Great 40" telescopethe largest operational refractor in the worldmost of the plates in the collection were taken using the 24-inch Ritchey reflector at Yerkes starting in 1901 or at the McDonald Observatory in western Texas. The era and utilization of glass plates for astrophotography was often tedious and cumbersome. Often, astronomers had to custom-shape the plates to fit specific cameras by hand using diamond cutters. What then followed was often a cold dark night at the eyepiece following a guide star, while the necessary exposures were made. These resulting plates, however, serve as a chronicle of the sky spanning nearly a century. A modern optical and x-ray image of NGC 7331, showing a supernova from 2014 (inset) and the region of the 1903 supernova (green circle). Credit: NASA/CXC/CIERA/R. Margutti Interpreting the magnitude scale on the scans and calibrating the plates for factors such as sky glow, surface brightness and saturation (artifacts often introduced by the photographic and scanning process) yield a limiting magnitude of +19, and the scanning process obtained a precision of better than a tenth of a magnitude in brightness. For context, a large backyard telescope can typically see down to about magnitude +14 on a clear night with good seeing, and modern ground all-sky surveys such as PanSTARRS-1 have a limiting magnitude of about 10,000 times fainter, at around magnitude +24. "The simplicity of the process makes it possible to digitize a large number of plates in a relatively small amount of time," says Cerny. "It also has the benefit of not requiring a custom scanner, making it accessible to teams without the wherewithal to design or purchase one. Custom scanners are prohibitively expensive. If our methods can be generalized, then photographic plate collections from multiple observatories could be rendered available for use in scientific research." In the end, the team selected about 50 plates that met the criterion for the study. The team used a commercially available Epson Expression 12000XL graphic arts scanner, greatly speeding up and streamlining the process. Files were initially scanned as positive .TIFF files (with black stars on a white background) then saved as FITS files, a format familiar to many modern astrophotographers. The targeted scan area resulted in a field of view 1.5 degrees wide, about three times the diameter of a full Moon. Amazingly, one of the very first plates scanned by the team (Ry60) taken in 1903 centered on the +10th magnitude galaxy NGC 7331 located 45 million light-years distant in the constellation Pegasus also turned up a surprise visitor: a guest 'star' or possible supernova, not visible in SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) comparison images. If confirmed, this would be the fourth known supernova observed in this galaxy. A 1903 Ritchey series plate depicting the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31). Note that when this was taken, it would have been referred to as the "Andromeda Nebula." Credit: W. Cerny/Yerkes Plate Digitization Team "Our team had actually scanned a number of plates before settling on this particular plate (Ry60) for our paper however, we had absolutely no idea at first that this plate was hiding this candidate supernova!" says Cerny. "We were going through the image of the galaxy on the plate as part of our analysis, which involved comparing the plate with a modern image of the same field of sky. At one point, we blinked (rapidly alternated) between the two pictures, and noticed what appeared to be a star present on the plate image." The team also eliminated other potential false positivessuch as an asteroid, dust fleck or a galactic classical novabefore measuring the object's brightness, consistent with a distant supernova. New Mysteries on Old Glass Plates What good are old glass plate images of the sky? Well, several recent studies have turned to the record documenting the sky back over a century ago. When astronomers noticed an anomalous dimming seen in Tabby's Star KIC 8462852, they looked at old glass plates of the same region to show that the strange star is actually fading over longer time scales. Another study looked at the nearby white dwarf named Van Maanen's Star and demonstrated that astronomers had potentially documented evidence for exoplanets waaaay back in 1917had they known to look for it. A scan from the 1903 Ritchey series of plates, centered on the Veil Nebula. The scan is light-to-dark inverted. Credit: W. Cerny/Yerkes Plate Digitization Team In addition to looking at the variability of stars over long periods of time, old plates open up the possibility of looking at stellar astrometry or the position and movement of stars via proper motion over a century-plus long baseline. The team used measurements from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission for comparison in the study to demonstrate this very technique. Gaia released its DR2 (Data Release 2) catalog with over 1.6 billion stellar position measurements in 2018, and just recently went public with EDR3 (Early Data Release 3) on December 3, 2020, with the full release set for late 2021. In the end, the team and the study demonstrated a low-cost but effective technique to easily scan astronomical glass plates for research level quality, using off-the-shelf commercially available equipment. The team also has long-term plans to make Yerkes plate scans and log books available online to the public via the University of Chicago Library website. It's definitely worth the effort to preserve those glass plate images of yore. Who knows what other astronomical discoveries are waiting to see the light of day. Explore further Using 19th century technology to time travel to the stars More information: Precise Photometric Measurements from a 1903 Photographic Plate Using a Commercial Scanner. Precise Photometric Measurements from a 1903 Photographic Plate Using a Commercial Scanner. arxiv.org/abs/2101.03699 (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Algerian counterpart, Sabri Boukadoum, discussed over the phone the delivery of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "The heads of the foreign ministries have discussed the most relevant issues of comprehensive bilateral cooperation. Particular attention has been paid to the cooperation in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus infection, including the delivery of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to Algeria," the ministry said in a statement. The ministers also focused on the situation in the Western Sahara and Libya, and agreed that the international community should promote the settlement of the conflicts on the basis of international law. "During the exchange of views on the situation in Western Sahara, a principled position has been expressed in favor of the settlement of this deep-routed conflict on a generally accepted international legal basis. The ministers have called for coordinated efforts of the international community in the interest of the promotion of the intra-Libyan dialogue with the participation of all prominent national political forces," the ministry said. In late December, Algeria signed a contract with Russia on the supply of Sputnik V and later became the first African nation to register the Russian vaccine. According to the spokesman of the Algerian Coronavirus Monitoring and Follow-up Committee, Jamal Furar, the country expects to receive about 500,000 doses of Sputnik V in January. Algeria has confirmed 106,359 COVID-19 cases, with 2,877 deaths. The country has registered 262 new infections over the past 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University. " Collaborations with global suppliers will also help buyers in cost-saving and ensure high-quality procurement in the forthcoming years in this dynamic market. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 1%-3%," says senior procurement analyst at SpendEdge. 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. The families of the victims of loyalist terrorist Michael Stone have spoken of their anger after his release from prison. Stone was released from HMP Maghaberry yesterday after he applied for parole last November. News of his release emerged last night but it is understood he was released earlier in the day after the decision to free him was made on Monday. The Milltown Cemetery killer infamously launched a gun and grenade attack, killing three, at the funeral of the Gibraltar Three IRA terrorists in 1988, who had been shot dead by the SAS as they tried to mount a car bomb attack in the British overseas territory. He was later released in July 2000, after 13 years, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, having previously been sentenced to 30 years for the attack. Expand Close Michael Stone takes aim during his attack on Milltown Cemetery / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Stone takes aim during his attack on Milltown Cemetery After his release, in November 2006, Stone launched another lone wolf attack on Stormont buildings armed with an imitation gun, having placed pipe bombs around the grounds of Northern Ireland's seat of power, before being restrained by security guards. In 2008 he was found guilty of trying to murder Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in the incident, however in court he claimed that it was "a piece of performance art replicating a terrorist attack". The family of Thomas McErlean ,who was killed by Stone at Milltown, took legal action in a bid to block the ex-UDA mans early release from prison, but failed. Read More In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Our family are denied the chance to heal whilst he refuses to answer questions about which parts of the state armed and assisted him with so many murders. "As a family we continue to love, miss and remember Thomas, and call for a proper investigation into his death that will reveal the truth about state collusion and loyalist paramilitaries. The victims families need to be the focus rather than Michael Stone." Expand Close Thomas McErlean was killed at Milltown Cemetery / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Thomas McErlean was killed at Milltown Cemetery After the Milltown attack, in which he also killed John Murray and Kevin Brady, Stone was subsequently found guilty of the murder of Dermot Hackett, who was found dead in his bread delivery van in 1987, Patrick Brady in 1984 and Kevin McPolin in 1985. Mr Hackett's family said in a statement: "Whilst Michael Stone served a prison sentence for the murder many questions remain unanswered, particularly around his relationship with the state. Michael Stone most definitely did not act alone, the role of the state and in particular RUC special branch and British Military Intelligence remain to be clarified." Stone had not been due for release until 2024 and had failed in an early bid for parole. However, it was agreed that he could apply again last year and an attempt to block his application failed on the grounds that it would "constitute an interference with the physical liberty of the prisoner" to keep him behind bars for another three years. It is understood Stone suffers from various medical conditions. On 12,000 square meters the new building offers space for current and future startups and spin-offs by both partners. (Photo: ZEISS) The ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT is a milestone in the longstanding partnership between ZEISS and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In the new building on KITs North Campus ZEISS enables high-tech and digital startups to move into the Hub, and is driving its own innovation and new business activities. The Hub has seen a number of successful collaborations and projects since it opened in early 2020. The ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT on the North Campus of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) commenced operations back in January 2020, but has not been able to hold an official opening due to the pandemic until yesterday, that is, when the opening was honored in a virtual ceremony. The President and CEO of the ZEISS Group, Dr. Karl Lamprecht, was accompanied by collaboration partners KIT and Nanoscribe as he welcomed representatives from politics, business and science. Speeches were given by Baden-Wurttemberg's Minister of Science Theresia Bauer, KIT President Professor Holger Hanselka and Chairman of the KIT Supervisory Board Professor Michael Kaschke. In his opening speech, Dr. Lamprecht said: "ZEISS invests over 10 percent most recently, 13 percent of its revenue in research and development work. As part of our innovation strategy, the Innovation Hub gives us the chance to shape future technologies in collaboration with our partners. The ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT allows us to network in creative, young and high-tech research environments, at one of Germany's most innovative sites with its unique energy and ambience." In his speech, Professor Michael Kaschke added: "The ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT allows the KIT and Carl Zeiss AG to pool their innovative prowess, thus laying excellent foundations for new ideas and innovations, and for their advancement. As Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the KIT and former ZEISS President and CEO, I am delighted with the project and the modern building, which is a beacon for successful public-private partnerships in Germany." KIT President, Professor Holger Hanselka, agreed: "We can only successfully take new technologies where they are truly needed to people and companies by merging the worlds of science and business, research and innovation. And that is exactly what we have spent many years preparing for with our partner ZEISS. The ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT has intensified these preparations, and given them new momentum. I am especially delighted that the first startups from the KIT high-tech incubator have found a home here. In many ways, therefore, the Hub is bolstering the innovation activities at the KIT and well beyond both the city and region." Minister of Science Theresia Bauer emphasized that "The world as we know it is changing. New consumer and communication habits, as well as new working and mobility trends, are calling established solutions and business models into question. These changes offer new opportunities and we want to make the most of them. To do this, we need creative minds that dare to try new things. This requires innovative partnerships between fresh and established companies, as well as closer collaborations between the science and business worlds. And these three things are coming together at the ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT. This creates a key and distinctive place in which startups are networked across regions, bringing science and business closer together. In other words, this place is a shining example of Baden-Wurttemberg as an innovation hub." Due to the pandemic, the opening was honored in a virtual ceremony in January 2021. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT) Looking back over the first successful year of the Innovation Hub Those using the new facility on the North Campus of the KIT, which is spread over 12,000 square meters, include ZEISS and the KIT, 3D printing and microfabrication company Nanoscribe, as well as current and future startups and carve-outs planned by both partners. At the ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT, the research university in the Helmholtz community also has the chance to rent new spaces for its own carve-outs and innovation activities, offering them long-term prospects at the site. Nanoscribe founder Martin Hermatschweiler; Thomas Neumann, who is in charge of the KIT high-tech incubator; and Max Riedel, ZEISS team leader at the Innovation Hub, shared their impressions of the facility and looked back over its first year. A lot has happened in this initial phase despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ZEISS Innovation Hub offers excellent opportunities for Nanoscribe to research and develop new, tailored solutions for microfabrication in research and industry contexts. The new production line for Quantum X, a maskless lithography system with nanometer precision, is currently housed at the Innovation Hub, and the first systems were shipped in 2020. This contributed significantly to the company's revenue growth. The first four startups (voxalytic, microworks, aquarray and HS-Analysis) have moved into the KIT high-tech incubator and the chem labs are now complete. The ZEISS team has launched a series of collaborations with academic partners in the areas of medical robotics and distance measurement with integrated photonics, and grew from two to 14 employees in its first year. There are already plans to focus on further topics and expand the team. Collaborations and projects at one of Germany's most innovative sites ZEISS has long been collaborating with Professor Martin Wegener from the KIT Institute for Applied Physics, whose lab spawned Nanoscribe over ten years ago. Wegener and ZEISS employee Stefan Richter reported on their joint project in a "tandem talk": they demonstrated how nano 3D printing can be used to create safety features, and provided information on the "nano factory of the future." Professor Franziska Mathis-Ulrich from the KIT and Christoph Hauger from ZEISS Medical Technology gave a second "tandem talk" in which they provided an overview of the latest developments and spoke about the future of medical robotics. The ZEISS Maker Space@KIT is a collaboration between ZEISS and the excellence cluster 3D Matter Made to Order. As soon as the COVID-19 situation permits it, it will be made available to schoolkids, students and to the employees of ZEISS and KIT so that they can create small prototypes. In the past year, Maker Space has been used in workshops with small groups of schoolkids and students, as well as for ZEISS projects. Jonas Wohlgemuth from the KIT Institute of Functional Interfaces briefly discussed the opportunities afforded by Maker Space, and the first activities it is working on. Niklas Borchers studied at the KIT and spoke about his experience with ZEISS through several hands-on units, which led to his current position as a postgraduate student, and much more. During this time, he worked on exciting topics like quantum sensors and on measuring tiny installation spaces Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Over millions of years, naked mole-rats have cast away everything underground which uses their energy and isn't necessary to survive. This includes their fur - but also results in surprising abilities. Credit: Felix Petermann, MDC Some people converse in Creole, while others speak Scots, but it's not only humans who can be identified by the diversity of language they speak. Naked mole-rats have their own dialects, too. Shared dialect also strengthens cohesion within a colony, a team led by MDC researcher Gary Lewin reports in Science. Naked mole-rats are very communicative creatures. If you stand outside their home and listen, you can hear the little rodents quietly chirping, squeaking, twittering or even grunting to one another. "We wanted to find out whether these vocalizations have a social function for the animals, who live together in an ordered colony with a strict division of labor," says Professor Gary Lewin, head of the Molecular Physiology of Somatic Sensation Lab at the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC). Foreign mole-rats unwelcome! Lewin worked with Dr. Alison Barker from his own team and other researchers from the MDC and the University of Pretoria in South AfricaProfessor Nigel Bennett and Dr. Daniel Hartto more closely analyze the chirps that the naked mole-rats use to greet one another. "In so doing, we established that each colony has its own dialect," reports Barker, lead author of the study published in Science. "The development of a shared dialect strengthens cohesion and a sense of belonging among the naked mole-rats of a specific colony." Foreigners are not welcome in an established naked mole rat colony. "You might even say that these animals are extreme xenophobes," says Lewin, who has been studying naked mole rats for around 20 years at the MDC. "This behavior is probably a result of the permanent shortage of food in the dry plains of the naked mole rat's East African habitat. Within their own colony, however, the rodents work together harmoniously. Each one knows its rank and the tasks it has to performand usually accomplishes them reliably. Naked mole-rats are very communicative creatures, they quietly chirp, squeak, twitter or even grunt to one another. The scientists wanted to find out whether these vocalizations have a social function for the animals. Credit: Felix Petermann, MDC Each mole-rat has its own voice In order to analyze the naked mole-rats' language, over a period of two years Lewin's team recorded a total of 36,190 chirps made by 166 individuals from seven naked mole-rat colonies held in laboratories in Berlin and Pretoria. Lewin and Barker's colleague, mathematician Grigorii Veviurko, who is now at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, used an algorithm to analyze the acoustic properties of the individual vocalizations. "That enabled us to collect and compare eight different factors such as the height or level of asymmetry in the sound spectrogram," explains Lewin. Veviurko also developed a computer program that, after an initial training period, was able to very reliably detect which chirps came from which individual naked mole-rat. "So then we knew that each naked mole-rat has its own voice," says Barker. "What we didn't know, however, was whether the animals could recognize one another from their voices." The computer program, which uses AI, didn't only identify the animals on the basis of their individual voices: "It also detected similarities in the types of sounds made within a single colony," says Lewin. The program was therefore also able to identify which colony a specific individual came from. "That meant that each colony probably had its own distinct dialect," says Barker. But at that point, the research team did not yet know whether the animals were aware of that, and whether they could recognize their own dialect and distinguish it from others. Naked mole-rats are eusocial animals. Within their colonies there is a strict hierarchy which affects how the rodents overtake each other in their tunnels. They also chirp constantly -- for example to greet each other. Credit: Colin Lewin A preference for kith and kin In order to find out both those things, Barker performed several experiments. In the first, she repeatedly placed one naked mole-rat in two chambers, connected via a tube. In one chamber the chirping of another naked mole-rat could be heard, while the other chamber was silent. "We observed that the animals always immediately headed for the chamber where the chirps could be heard," says Barker. If the sounds were made by an individual from the test subject's own colony, it would give an immediate vocal response, but if they were made by an individual from a foreign colony, the mole-rat would remain silent. "That enabled us to infer that naked mole-rats can recognize their own dialect and will selectively respond to that." To ensure that the test subjects were responding to the dialect and not to the voice of an individual known to them, the researchers deliberately created artificial sounds. These contained characteristics of each dialect but did not resemble the voice of a specific individual. "The naked mole-rats produced vocal response to the chirps developed by the computer," reports Barker. And the experiment worked even when the chamber where the familiar and trusted dialect could be heard was given the scent of a foreign colony. "That demonstrated that the naked mole-rats were responding specifically to dialect rather than scent, and that they have a positive reaction to hearing their own dialect," says Lewin. Credit: Felix Petermann, MDC Foster pups learn the dialect of their new colony In further experiments, the researchers placed three orphaned naked mole-rat pups in foreign colonies where the queenthe only female in naked mole-rat colonies that reproduceshad also recently had a litter. "That ensured that the new arrivals would not be attacked," explains Barker. "Six months later, our computer program showed that the foster pups had acquired the dialect of their new home." It was rather more by chance that the team discovered another interesting fact: a naked mole-rat queen isn't only responsible for reproduction in her colony, she also plays a decisive role in controlling and preserving dialect integrity. "During the course of the study, one of our colonies lost two queens within relatively quick succession," says Lewin. "In the anarchy that ensued, we observed that the vocalizations of the other naked mole-rats in the colony began to vary much more widely than usual. Dialect cohesiveness was thus greatly reduced and didn't return until a few months later, with the ascendance of another high-ranking female as the new queen." Insight into the basic workings of human culture "Human beings and naked mole-rats seem to have much more in common that anyone might have previously thought," concludes Lewin. "Naked mole-rats have a linguistic culture that developed long before human beings even existed. The next step is to find out what mechanisms in the animals' brains support this culture, because that could give us important insight into how human culture evolved." More information: A.J. Barker el al., Cultural transmission of vocal dialect in the naked mole-rat, Science (2021). A.J. Barker el al., Cultural transmission of vocal dialect in the naked mole-rat,(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.abc6588 Colony-specific dialects of naked mole-rats, Science (2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.abf7962 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). Welch has indicated he intends to be a more collaborative leader after Madigans decadeslong steely grip on the House. He has named chairs to the regular slate of House committees, and members will be able to say what committees they want to be assigned to. File image of police deployment outside Pakistan's Supreme Court Pakistans Supreme Court on January 28 dismissed the Sindh provincial government's appeal against the High Court's decision to overturn conviction of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in the 2002 beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl, said local news reports. The three-judge bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam also directed the suspect to be released. One member of the bench opposed the decision, Dawn reported citing the verdict. Sheikh was one of the three terrorists that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had freed in exchange for the hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. He had served jail time in India for 1994 kidnappings of Western tourists in the country. On January 27, Sheikh told the apex court that he had played a "minor role in the killing. Daniel Pearl (38), then the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, was reportedly researching on religious extremism in Karachi, Pakistan, when he was abducted in January 2002. A month later, a graphic video of his decapitation was sent to the US consulate. Sheikh was arrested later in 2002 and sentenced to death by a trial court. However in April 2020, the Sindh High Court overturned Sheikhs conviction. The High Court had also acquitted three other men who had been earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi. The Sindh government and Pearls parents had later filed separate appeals against the High Court's verdict in the top court. Poking through the hood of this GT , we find a roots-style 6-71 supercharger provided by The Blower Shop, working with a pair of 4-barrel carburetors, while that showerhead bug catcher scoop completes the work. Oh yes, we can almost hear this one idling its way through the car meet, as everybody in attendance pays attention to the beast, hence the nickname we used in the title.At the other end of the suck-squeeze-bang-blow adventure, there's a pair of side pipes masking the side skirt extensions. The latter are there to connect the widebody fenders, with the extra real estate coming from Shirokai.Speaking of the aero updates fitted to the 'Stang, the list also includes the front apron extension, with its pair of gaping intakes, as well as the goodies adorning the posterior: the massive diffuser is joined by an also-generously-sized wickerbill.Oh, and let's not overlook the louvers, which, as you can notice in the Instagram post below, extend past the rear window.Speaking of which, the design of the louvers somehow seems to fall in line with that of the three-piece wheels used by the Blue Oval machine - heck, those lips are generous enough to help the driver check his or her shoe polish before entering the vehicle.PS: In case you're wondering what Timothy Adry Emmanuel, the digital artist responsible for the digital build, is talking about in the second part of the post's description, you should know he's from Indonesia, where the import tax for such machines is prohibitive to say the least. Agra, Jan 28 : Principal of St John's College in Agra has lodged a complaint with the police here after an allegedly fake circular went viral on social media, asking the girl students to secure at least one boyfriend before Valentine's Day. Principal, Prof S.P. Singh, termed the circular "mischievous and fake" and denied having issued any such circular. The 'circular' was issued on the supposed letterhead of St John's College and stated that it was mandatory for all girls to have at least one boyfriend by February 14 for security purposes. The circular adds that single girls would not be allowed in the college. It also asks girl students to show a recent picture with their boyfriend. The issuing 'authority' is said to be "Prof Ashish Sharma, associate dean (Academic Affairs)". Professor S.P. Singh said that there is no faculty member named Ashish Sharma in the college. Singh said, "It is totally mischievous act, aimed to maligning the image of the college and those responsible for this, would be dealt with seriously. We have informed the Hari Parvat police station for required action against the guilty." Latest updates on Valentine's Day 2021 During the quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked a broad question on how Apple evaluates products and opportunities before entering the new markets. Apple posted a strong quarterly result this morning. The company hit $111.4 billion in quarterly revenue, with a profit of $28 billion. Sales of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even the home products increased significantly this year. Tim Cook was extremely happy with the results Apple achieved, but said that the company couldve done better if the pandemic wasnt there. During the earnings call keynote, Morgan Stanleys Katy Huberty asked Tim a question on how the company evaluates the new opportunities and when a new market might be attractive. Heres what Tim said: The framework that we use is we ask ourselves if this is a product or service wed want to use. Thats a pretty high bar. Is it a big enough market to be in? Unless its an advanced product, its about customer experience. Theres no set way that were looking at it, no formula kind of thing. Were taking into account all of those things. Tim said that Apple loves to work on products where hardware, software, and services intersect. The kinds of things we love to work on are those where theres a requirement for hardware, software, and services to come together. Magic occurs at that intersection. Apple CEO said that there are some good opportunities for Apple to explore and that Apple needs to work in the big markets where the companys market share is low (like India). He also said that the company is feeling good about the services area, which Apple has been working on for quite some time. Apples services sector revenue increased a whopping 41% this year, with the revenue increasing from ~$12 billion to ~$16 billion this year. Apple is reportedly working on a number of products. The company is said to be working on Apple Glass, a product that could offer various AR and VR features. The company is also expected to announce Apple AirTags, an object tracking product that is a new accessory category for Apple. The company is also expected to be working on the Apple Car project. Many leaks over the past couple of weeks have hinted that Apple is in finalizing stages of the project. Our Take This has been Apples mantra so far. The company has far beaten all the companies in optimizing its products. The kind of approach Apple takes to develop its products is unique, and the products say it all. What are your thoughts on Tims statements? Which category do you think Apple is working on? What are your thoughts on Apples Q1 2021 results? Do let us know in the comment section below! At museums, its not unusual for spectators to talk about the exhibits. The National WWII Museum is about to offer something different: a show in which the exhibit will talk back. The exhibit is Alan Moskin or, rather, a digital version of the soldier who, when he was 18, helped liberate the Gunskirchen concentration camp in Austria. The real Moskin, a retired lawyer, is 94 and lives in Nanuet, New York. The virtual version of Moskin that will be on display on a big flat-screen TV does more than just sit in a chair. He is the visible part of a sophisticated computer-driven system that, based on information Moskin provided over five days, is designed to answer just about any question a visitor can devise. To make the virtual Moskin less mechanical and more approachable, it has been programmed to blink occasionally and shift around in the chair as he fields questions. The real Moskin, who speaks frequently about the Holocaust and what he saw, described himself in a telephone interview as old school a man who likes to see and hug the people hes addressing. Id prefer to be face to face and see the reactions when I tell them what happened, he said. In discussing the exhibit in which he is the main attraction, Moskin said: I thought they did a great job. In 20, 30, 40 years from now, theyll be able to show me, and Ill have answers to their questions. Its amazing what the technology can do. The interactive exhibit, which will be on view at the New Orleans museum from Feb. 4 through July 25, was developed by the USC Shoah Foundation, which Steven Spielberg established in 1994 to collect and preserve testimony of people who survived and witnessed the Holocaust. Shoah, the Hebrew word for catastrophe, has become a synonym for the Holocaust, in which about 6 million Jews were slaughtered during World War II. So far, the foundation, based at the University of Southern California, has collected about 52,000 interview videos in 32 languages from 45 countries, according to its website. Going a step further by creating virtual, interactive representations of these people was the brainchild of Heather Maio, who became the producer of the foundation project known as Dimensions in Testimony. So far, 35 people have been interviewed for this initiative, said Stephen Smith, the foundations executive director. Even though the technology involved in producing the exhibit is state-of-the-art, Smith said Maio told him early on that each interviewee, not the gadgetry, should be the primary point of interest. She said, If we succeed with this, you should have an intimacy with the subject so that you dont recognize the technologys there, Smith said. Kimberly Guise, managing curator of the exhibit at the museum, can attest to that phenomenon, based on what she saw at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, where visitors chatted with a virtual version of Pinchas Gutter, a Holocaust survivor. A rapport between audience and subject developed in the session Guise saw, so much so that, when it was over and the participants were filing out, Guise said she heard one woman say, I feel bad leaving him. One of the things weve found (after these sessions) is that people wanted to say, Thank you, Smith said. When you converse with these people, you feel youve been in that persons presence. The process of preparing each interactive exhibit starts with questions hundreds of questions that, Smith said, should anticipate everything viewers might want to ask, from basic biographical details to the most gruesome memories of the death camps. Each potential interviewee goes through about 20 hours of questioning over five days. Smith said Moskin answered about 1,000 queries. Most interviewees are up to the challenge because they have been speaking for years about the Holocaust to groups large and small, he said. All of our interviewees told us they felt theyve made an accomplishment for the future, Smith said. Theyre exhausted but elated. Its like a gift theyve given to society. They have a great feeling of satisfaction. Their answers become content to be fed into a database. Artificial intelligence the power behind all this uses an IBM speech-recognition system to work out what it has heard and come up with an answer in a matter of seconds. The World War II Museum will be the first venue to put the virtual Alan Moskin and the system behind it on display, in a test of the system that will also train it. The focus of the interactive exhibit will be the events of May 4, 1945, when Staff Sgt. Alan Moskins infantry outfit liberated the Gunskirchen camp. This subcamp of Mauthausen concentration camp housed about 15,000 men, women and children. Although Moskin is Jewish, he said that had no bearing on the way he felt when he and his fellow soldiers entered the camp and were surrounded by stacks of corpses and cadaverous people who were barely alive. We didnt know who they were, Moskin said, until he saw a Star of David stitched onto one inmates striped uniform. These were human beings, he said. I just felt, my God, how can they treat other human beings like that? We saw combat I know what death is but these were civilians. Moskin is the first camp liberator and the first World War II veteran in this Shoah Foundation series. He was asked to participate after he was seen in Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses, a Discovery Channel documentary. I hope to go on speaking as long as God gives me the strength, Moskin said before heading out to another speaking engagement. Its a calling with me now. I want students to know about the Holocaust. Im bearing witness, and I want them to bear witness. +6 Japan's surrender ended World War II, and set off wild celebrations across New Orleans World War II officially ended on Sept. 2, 1945, when Japan surrendered to the United States and its allies on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri. +9 Young photographers captured vanishing Cajun culture during a trip from Chicago in the '70s Eager to escape Chicagos bitter winter, two young photographers jumped into a car and headed south in 1973. Douglas Baz and Charles Traub did More than a third of all Covid-19 cases in Africa have been in South Africa and numbers are surging with the emergence of a new variant of the virus. But unlike some other badly hit countries in the world, South Africa is yet to start its vaccination programme. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently accused wealthy nations of "hoarding" vaccine supplies. Has South Africa got Covid vaccines? South Africa has so far secured twenty million doses, due to be delivered in the first half of 2021, according to President Ramaphosa. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said that he expects the first batch to arrive by the end of January, with the vaccination programme beginning in February. South Africa has been seeking to source vaccines in three ways: -via the World Health Organization-backed Covax scheme -via arrangements made by the African Union -through bilateral contracts with vaccine manufacturers Covax is a global initiative in which countries pool their resources to support the development of vaccines with a view to ensure that all countries receive a fair supply of effective vaccines. South Africa expects to acquire doses for around 10% of the population through Covax and has been told it will receive them from April through to June. The African Union established the African vaccine acquisition task team last year to source vaccine doses for the continent. But it appears the vaccines won't be available for several months. 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 Coronavirus vaccine giants Pfizer and AstraZeneca are set to face a grilling from politicians hunting answers about Australia's immunisation effort. The Senate's coronavirus response committee will on Thursday hear from two of the companies the federal government has struck a deal with for a combined 63.8 million vaccine doses. 'Scott Morrison has made promise after promise to Australians about his Covid vaccine deals and how the vaccine will be rolled out in coming months,' Labor senator Katy Gallagher said. Pfizer and AstraZeneca will face an inquiry from politicians wanting answers about Australia's March vaccine roll out (pictured: stock of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine) Australia has ordered over 10 million doses of the Pfizer jabs which are expected to roll out in March (pictured: healthworker receiving covid vaccination) 'We will be looking closely at whether or not he will actually be able to deliver on his promise or if this was just another marketing exercise.' There are concerns the rollout could be delayed with the European Union locked in a dispute with the pharmaceutical companies over supplies. But the federal government insists the first Pfizer jabs will start late next month, with the company not flagging complications for the 10 million doses it is contracted to deliver to Australia this year. 'Australia is already lagging behind many other major countries when it comes to the roll out of a vaccine,' Senator Gallagher said. 'Australians deserve to know if the Morrison Government got the best deal it could have in order to keep our community safe.' Australia has struck a deal with both vaccine companies to distribute 63.8 million vaccine doses to the public In Europe, Pfizer is delaying deliveries, while AstraZeneca's initial shipments have been smaller than first promised. The EU is planning to slap export controls on vaccines produced within its borders, including Belgium where Australia's Pfizer order is being made. Pfizer Australia's medical director Krishan Thiru and market access boss Louise Graham will front the inquiry. AstraZeneca Australia's senior medical director Carla Swemmer and market access director Alice Morgan are also due to appear. Therapeutic Goods Administration boss John Skerrit will give evidence about vaccine approval after Pfizer received the green light on Monday. AstraZeneca is expected to become the second vaccine to be granted provisional approval. AstraZeneca's vaccines (pictured) are included in the Australian government's vaccine rollout The vaccine giants will front the inquiry on Thursday, a month before Australia's vaccine roll out begins (pictured: health worker receiving their first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 jab) Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy and the chair of the government's vaccines advisory committee Allen Cheng will also answer questions. It comes as a $24 million advertising campaign to encourage people to be vaccinated against coronavirus begins to hit the airwaves. Leaders from the Australian Medical Association, Pharmacy Guild and Royal Australasian College of Physicians are also listed to appear at the Senate hearing. Meanwhile, the federal government is waiting for more information from New Zealand health authorities before restarting quarantine-free travel to Australia. Two new cases have caused concern as the 2pm Thursday deadline approaches on a 72-hour pause to travel bubble arrangements. Australia's Acting Chief Health Officer Michael Kidd said more information about the new cases was needed before a decision on travel arrangements would be made. 'The situation is evolving rapidly,' he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. 'We will be following up the details of both of these cases with the New Zealand authorities once further details, including the results of additional testing, are known.' The survey found only 27% of Americans think the management of the pandemic is heading in the right direction - though it tops all other areas including the economy (23%), immigration reform (18%), climate change (15%) and the cost of healthcare, which only 8% of people think is going the right way. Credit: West Health-Gallup Healthcare Survey In his inaugural address, President Joe Biden vowed that "help is on the way" to a nation grappling with a pandemic that has already claimed over 420,000 lives and counting. However, despite the promise of a better future, a new survey from West Health and Gallup finds Americans remain largely skeptical that issues as varied as managing the COVID-19 crisis, lowering healthcare costs, improving the economy, fixing immigration and addressing climate change, will improve anytime soon. The findings from the monthly West Health-Gallup U.S. Healthcare Study are based on a nationally representative sample of 3,100 U.S. adults interviewed between Dec. 15, 2020, and Jan. 3, 2021, after the presidential election but before Biden took office and announced more detailed plans for his first 100 days. The survey found only 27% of Americans think the management of the pandemic is heading in the right directionthough it tops all other areas including the economy (23%), immigration reform (18%), climate change (15%) and the cost of healthcare, which only 8% of people think is going the right way. Notably, Americans are three times more likely to believe the COVID-19 pandemic is headed in the right direction than the cost of healthcare (27% vs. 8%), placing greater confidence in putting an end to a more than yearlong pandemic than reversing decades of high healthcare prices. "Unfortunately, the only direction prices for healthcare and prescription drugs has gone is up," said Tim Lash, chief strategy officer of West Health, a nonprofit dedicated to issues related to aging and lowering healthcare costs. "Years of high prices from drug companies and broken promises from politicians to rein them in have understandably made people skeptical. Nonetheless, President Biden may have the best opportunity yet for meaningful reform." The survey found when it comes to healthcare, the top three issues Americans want the U.S. government to focus on in President Biden's first 100 days are lowering insurance premiums (70%), cutting drug prices (66%) and reducing the uninsured rate (63%), followed by expanding care for older adults (58%) and childcare for working parents (55%). Across the board, Democrats were far more likely to place a higher priority on these issues than Republicans, particularly when it comes to lowering premiums (90% vs. 60%). Optimism for success, however, does not run high. Only 28% report that they think the Biden Administration and new Congress will be able to enact policies that will bring down the cost of healthcare compared to 49% who are pessimistic, and 22% who have no opinion one way or the other. Similar margins were found for policies related to lowering the costs of prescription drugs. This may explain why 80% of respondents felt healthcare costs will only continue to rise over the next two years. "President Biden and Congress can restore Americans' faith in the future of healthcare through quick, bold and decisive policy action that drives down costs. Years of promises to do so from previous politicians and policymakers have fallen flat and left Americans pessimistic and hurting from a high-priced health system," said Lash. The task of lowering healthcare and prescription drug prices is as daunting as the situation is dire for many Americans. Over 500 drugs have already seen a median price hike of 4.8% this month alone. Meanwhile, according to the West Health-Gallup survey, more than one-quarter of adults report that in the last year there was at least one time when someone in their household did not pursue care due to its cost and some 15 million Americans (6%) know someone who died in the last five years because they couldn't afford treatment. Another 40% say they are but one negative health event away from filing for bankruptcy. "Harnessing the rising costs of healthcare and prescription drugs are more important than ever to the American public," said Dan Witters, Gallup senior researcher. "And even as the federal government focuses on the pandemic response, dovetailing those efforts with alleviating the cost of care would certainly be expected to pay dividends with public opinion." Explore further Nine in ten Americans concerned pharma will use COVID-19 pandemic to raise drug prices Provided by West Health Institute Jennifer Aniston is the queen of setting hairstyle trends since the 90s. Her latest Instagram post gives us a look into the new style of her gorgeous tresses. The 51-year-old actor posted a selfie with her longtime friend and hairstylist, Chris McMillan on Instagram on Tuesday that showed her hair in a much blonder version than earlier. The updated look is being served for Jennifers Emmy-nominated series The Morning Shows second season. Captioning the fun photograph Jennifer wrote, Aaand, were back... In the two photographs shared by her, the actress is seen pouting into the camera as Chris stands behind her. The post has received over 3,241,413 likes as fans and celebrities go gaga over Jennifers latest highlights and signature layered haircut. Actor Robin Wright commented Hey beauty!! Meanwhile journalist Jessica Yellin declared Jennifers new look as, Best pandemic hair. Author and social media influencer Jay Shetty also commented on Jennifers post and said, Awesome. Jennifers co-star from The Morning Show, Reese Witherspoon also replied to her post in the comments section as she wrote, "YES WE ARE!! The Morning Show is an Apple TV+ series that debuted in 2019 and went on to win multiple nominations including Emmy Awards for the best drama. Meanwhile, fans of the actor were all praise of her new look and her friendship with Chris, who is the person behind Jennifers iconic looks since the 90's. RELATED NEWS Jennifer Aniston Enjoys a Ladies Night Dinner, See Pic i live for jennifer aniston and chris mcmillans friendship pic.twitter.com/7SGIWjzO1p isa (@lovatoaniston) January 26, 2021 In her recent Instagram story, Jennifer also shared a selfie taken by Chris and makeup artist Angela Levin and captioned it as Dream Team. TIME DOS SONHOS Jennifer Aniston | Instagram Stories pic.twitter.com/B87vjtrG5d Jennifer Aniston Brasil (@aniston_br) January 26, 2021 The Morning Show is inspired by Brian Stelter's book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV that talks about the inside working of American media industry. The show also stars Steve Carrell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass among others. Jennifer also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for the best actor in a drama series in 2020. The Morning Show airs on Apple TV+. Little House on the Prairie is still considered a fan favorite despite going off the air almost 40 years ago. Melissa Gilbert is still often identified as her character, Laura Ingalls, from the historical drama. Joining in on the viral Bernie Sanders meme mania following the presidential inauguration, Gilbert posted an image that placed Sanders back in time. Cast of Little House on the Prairie | Michael Landon, Lindsay or Sydney Greenbush, Karen Grassle, Melisssa Sue Anderson, and Melissa Gilbert | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Bernie Sanders made those mittens popular Sanders caused quite a stir when he attended the inauguration on Jan. 20. The buzz began when the Vermont Senator was photographed doing his best to stay warm on the brisk winter day in Washington, D.C. Decked out in a puffy parka and now-famous woolen mittens, Sanders was spotted sitting by himself in a folding chair, arms and legs crossed, in an effort to stay socially distanced. The photo ended up going viral, with the image of Sanders being injected into everything from historical events to classic movies. Sanders never expected the sudden popularity. I was just sitting there trying to keep warm, trying to pay attention to what was going on, he later told Seth Meyers. RELATED: Little House on the Prairie: Michael Landons Daughter Was in So Much Trouble After Saying This to Melissa Gilbert Little House star got creative on Instagram With the Sanders memes flooding the internet, Gilbert decided to get in on the action. The Little House alum posted a throwback picture of herself on the 1870s set with her former co-stars Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls), Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary Ingalls), Lindsay or Sidney Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), with Sanders bundled up by their side. Gilbert captioned the post with simply, Why not. Her followers were thrilled, mentioning some of the cast members by their characters names. Those mittens are just like the ones Mr. Edwards had when he was just a sprig in Tennessee! one fan wrote. Thats awesome! I bet Pa would get him off that chair & do some chores in a jif! another commented. Bernie knew Charles would adopt anyone at anytime, even a man in his 70s! I hope Bernie knows how to clean a chicken coop! one follower posted. I can hear Pas voice saying, Wont you stay for supper? Caroline made plenty! Everyone was always welcome at the Ingalls! another fan remarked. Melissa Gilbert praised Michael Landon for his leadership on Little House Gilbert clearly maintains a strong affection for her nine seasons on Little House. She spoke highly of her experience on the show as a young actor. It was like a really great summer camp, Gilbert told CBS Sunday Morning in July 2020. I also got to play the ultimate game of dress up, and be in those fantastic clothes, and the button-up boots. I dont remember it ever not being fun. Gilbert credited Landon Little Houses executive producer and star for creating a show of such strong integrity and substance. She considered his death in 1991 as a significant loss. RELATED: Why Melissa Sue Anderson Doesnt Think Little House on the Prairie Would Be Successful Without Michael Landon The shows values, I think, were absolutely a reflection of the values of our leader, of Michael Landon, Gilbert said. He was that man. He believed that people are always really good at heart. Its unfortunate, for so many reasons, that he passed away when he did, because I think his voice wouldve been an incredibly important voice to have today. Published: 28 January 2021 Debts of household-dwelling units with housing loans are more than double their annual income In 2019, household-dwelling units with housing loans had, on average, 220 per cent of their disposable annual monetary income in debts. Debts relative to income were highest for single-supporter families, 276 per cent, and household-dwelling units with one adult, 255 per cent. The indebtedness ratio of two-supporter families with children was also higher than average, 237 per cent. The average size of the housing loan per household-dwelling unit with a housing loan was EUR 102,240, which was 1.2 per cent more than in 2018. Rates of indebtedness of household-dwelling units with housing loans by type of family in 2002 to 2019, % In 2019, there were 1.45 million indebted household-dwelling units, that is, 53 per cent of all household-dwelling units. Their total debt amounted to EUR 126.9 billion, which in real terms was 2.1 per cent more than in 2018. Household-dwelling units' disposable monetary income grew by 1.6 per cent from the previous year. In 2019, the rate of indebtedness of all household-dwelling units was 111 per cent, as it was in the previous year. Of household-dwelling units' debts, EUR 89.6 billion were housing loans, EUR 8.9 billion were loans taken out for business purposes, and EUR 28.4 billion were other debts. Other debts include debts taken out for consumption and larger purchases and study loans. Debts taken out for business purposes grew most from the previous year, by 7.2 per cent. Other debts of household-dwelling units increased by 4.2 per cent and housing loans by one per cent from the year before. Two-supporter families with children were the most common housing loan holders. Seventy-one per cent of them had housing loans. The housing loans of families with children were larger than those of childless household-dwelling units. Two-supporter families with children had, on average, EUR 138,700 in housing loans and single-supporter families EUR 92,140. Childless household-dwelling units had smaller housing loans, but their indebtedness varied considerably by age. Childless household-dwelling units with two adults had, on average, EUR 89,300 in housing loans and one-person household-dwelling units EUR 69,520. Household-dwelling units with housing loans with a debt at least three times as high as their annual income numbered 246,000, or 28 per cent of household-dwelling units with housing loans in 2019. Large housing loans relative to income were found most among household-dwelling units in Aland, Greater Helsinki and elsewhere in Helsinki-Uusimaa. Forty-one per cent of the household-dwelling units with housing loans in Aland, 38 per cent in Greater Helsinki and 32 per cent elsewhere in Helsinki-Uusimaa had debts that were at least triple compared with their annual income. The number of large housing loans was lowest in Southern Finland and Northern and Eastern Finland, where under one quarter of household-dwelling units with housing loans had debts of at least three times as much as their annual income. Large debts relative to income were more common the lower the income of the household-dwelling unit was. Of the household-dwelling units belonging to the lowest income quintile, 41 per cent had debts that were at least triple compared with their annual income, while 24 per cent of the household-dwelling units in the highest income quintile had that much debt. On average, household-dwelling units with housing loans belonging to the lowest income quintile had EUR 63,720 in housing loans and those in the highest income quintile EUR 135,190. In 2019, household-dwelling units paid a total of EUR 1.6 billion in interests, which in real terms was two per cent less than in the year before. Of them, EUR 842 million were interest expenses for housing loans, five per cent less than in the year before. In 2019, interest expenses per household-dwelling unit with a loan were EUR 1,130, on average. Interests on housing loans per household-dwelling unit with a loan were EUR 960, on average. Source: Indebtedness 2019. Statistics Finland Inquiries: Auli Hamalainen 029 551 3615, Hannele Orjala Publication in pdf-format (172.7 kB) Updated 28.1.2021 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Indebtedness [e-publication]. ISSN=2489-3285. 2019. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.5.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/velk/2019/velk_2019_2021-01-28_tie_002_en.html The world's most prominent marine predator is facing a battle that not many know about. Their populations are facing a steady decline and have been doing so for a very long time. Since the 1970s, the population of high sea shares have drastically fallen by at least 71%. The numbers show that three-quarters of these species are at risk of facing extinction. "It's the first big picture" of the decline in sharks, says Nuno Queiroz, a marine ecologist at the Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources who was not involved with the research. The new global perspective, he says, "gives you an idea how pervasive the fishing has been." For centuries, sharks have been hunted by humans for a wide variety of reasons. Some have fixations for their meat, while others have found a way to utilize their fins. There are even a few who kill them and collect their bones as trophies. Shark consumption Aside from sharks, big fishes like rays and other aquatic giants are also caught for their gills, scales, and other organs, which are used to create traditional Chinese medicines. Because of the large-scale shark hunts, be it for consumption or anything else, many species of sharks all over the world, like the decline of hammerhead shark species in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. In the new study, shark experts took a look at 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays-all of the species that live in the open ocean. (The group is now analyzing coastal sharks and rays and reef-dwelling species.) With long-term data from fisheries and research surveys, the scientists calculated how populations have changed since 1970, a widely used benchmark. "Some of the declines are staggering," says Nicholas Dulvy, a conservation biologist at Simon Fraser University and co-leader of the effort. Dusky sharks, for example, have dwindled by 72%, the researchers report today in Nature. Back in the 1980s, only one-third of the 31 shark species were considered threatened or endangered. But, after looking at the recently collected and compiled data, the researchers were quick to see the staggering rate of decline. Now, shockingly, at least three-quarters of those 31 are at risk of being wiped out from existence. Related Article: Australia: Sharks Swim With Beachgoers at Surfers Paradise and Manly Beach Overfishing All gathered data and evidence points out to one major reason, overfishing. Shipping vessels are bigger, faster, and more efficient now compared to what they were back in the 70s. All the advancements mean they do more fishing, and their gears can catch sharks effortlessly. Fishing Regulations Fortunately, many great strides are now being taken to ensure that sharks get to live another day. Fishing regulations are currently being legislated around the world with haste, and they are strictly implemented. In the U.S., there are great efforts and initiatives in place to secure shark populations and fishing regulations. "The U.S. is one of the only countries that's been really successful in reversing sharp population declines through management," says co-author Sonja Fordham, president of Shark Advocates International. "It's difficult; there's intense pressure from the fishing industry to protect short term economic interests." According to experts, the sharks can still be saved. They hope that the data they collected is enough to serve as a wake-up call to the masses and help create and enforce safety measures that will keep both the fishing industry and shark population alive. ALSO READ: Scared of Shark Attack? Here's How to Survive It! For more news update about endangered species and the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Claire, an acronym for Clean Air for Everyone, is silent because she is a doll and wedged beside her are three electric sensors that measure the particulate matter that spews out of factories and car exhausts Out for an afternoon hike, Veerle Bonaers and a friend stop pushing their baby and look down to their map, suddenly aware they have taken a wrong turn. Their baby, Claire, dressed in pink slippers, doesn't make a sound, sitting snug in her blue buggy, winter sunlight touching her soft tuft of blonde hair. Claire, an acronym for Clean Air for Everyone, is silent because she is a doll and wedged beside her are three electric sensors that measure the particulate matter that spews out of factories and car exhausts. Her minders, though dressed for a trek, will walk 7.5 kilometres (4.5 miles)about 10,000 stepsfrom the Antwerp University campus through Belgium's notorious traffic, which makes this small EU country of 11 million one of the most harmful polluters in Europe. Referred to as the "silent killer", air pollution is responsible for about seven million premature deaths worldwide each year, according to the UN. In Europe, every year tens of thousands of city dwellers die prematurely, a study in "The Lancet Planetary Health" showed. Among European cities, Antwerp was the second deadliest after Madrid when it came to exposure to nitrogen dioxide, the poisonous gas emitted by diesel autos. It is also the gas made infamous in the Dieselgate scandal that exposed mass cheating by Volkswagen, the German auto giant that used a secret device in millions of cars to brazenly circumvent EU pollution norms. "I have a child myself and I'm very concerned about the effect of air pollution," Bonaers said as her friend Mariska Hendrickx redirected their stroll, traffic cruising by on the busy Prins Boudewijnlaan. Antwerp is the biggest city in Flanders, Belgium's densely populated and flatDutch-speaking region, with a notorious ring road, one of the most traffic-clogged arteries of Europe Toxic dreams Claire is the brainchild of Professor Roeland Samson whose research ropes in Antwerp citizens to help his team more widely measure exposure to air pollution. "We have hundreds of parents and grandparents willing to go on a walk with Claire," the professor told AFP as he gave the day's walkers their instructions. "This is very important because air quality varies a lot. If we just do one measurement in time we wouldn't have a complete picture," he added. When Claire is in her buggy, traffic-related pollution such as soot and particulate matter is logged every 10 seconds. Other parameters, such as wind speed and time of day, are also recorded. The plan is for Claire to go out daily until November, and volunteers are able to sign up on the university website dedicated to the project. Antwerp is the biggest city in Flanders, Belgium's densely populatedand flatDutch-speaking region, with a notorious ring road, one of the most traffic-clogged arteries of Europe. Cars here share the road with a never-ending flow of container trucks that roar to the city's massive port, the second largest in Europe, or to the biggest, in Rotterdam, that is just an hour away. Flanders is largely urban sprawl and most Belgians dream of a stand-alone house in suburbia, encouraging ever more construction. They also benefit from one of the world's most generous company car schemes, in which firms are incentivised to give their employees a car and free gas instead of a raise. The current Belgian government has initiated a plan to fully electrify the company car scheme away from fossil fuels This scheme, criticised by the EU and OECD, puts hundreds of thousands of cars on Belgium's congested roads, most often gas-guzzling late models, though car companies have started to clean up their act because of the climate crisis. Joeri Thijs of Greenpeace Belgium said the scheme "has pushed a lot of employees into a car even when they don't need it for their jobs." Scrapping it, he said, "takes political courage obviously because it is taking away a benefit that a lot of people get and have gotten used to." 'Spread the word' The current Belgian government has initiated a plan to fully electrify the company car scheme away from fossil fuels, which Thijs hoped would get the Belgian commuter to rethink their mobility and turn to bikes, public transport or even just walking. "Most people realise, even those sitting in the traffic jams, that we need to go for another kind of mobility," he said. This new awareness is pushing people to sign up to spend an afternoon with Claire. In Antwerp, where a conservative mayor has only recently made pollution a priority, several citizen-led initiatives have emerged. In 2016, for example, 2,000 residents installed low-cost captors to better measure the dirty air. "If people help build the data, they also better understand what is going on and they make the data their own," said Professor Samson. "It helps them to... spread the word to the world." Explore further New Delhi announces plan to combat winter toxic air 2021 AFP South Africa: Police saluted for COVID-19 fight commitment Police Minister General Bheki Cele has saluted police officers who continue to put their lives on the line each day as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic. Cele tipped his hat for the men and women in blue as the country celebrated National Police Day on Wednesday. Each year on January 27th, the South African Police Service pauses and remembers the sacrifices that the countrys officers have made in their quest for a safer South Africa, he said. This years event was marred by a global pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives around the country and hundreds within the police service. Since March last year, COVID-19 has so far infected 26 382 officers, with 501 succumbing to related illnesses. Over 22 000 have recovered and are back to their posts. Cele said while the message of Stay At Home was preached to fight the invisible enemy, police officers continue to go out there and confront this virus head-on when enforcing the law. Indeed it is a dark time for all of us in the SAPS as the pandemic continues to rob us of the opportunity to unite in our collective grief and give our fallen colleagues a befitting police send-off. However, as your Minister, Im calling on you all to unite in solidarity with the fallen members and continue to improve the service you provide to those who need it, he said. The Minister also sent heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the members who have succumbed and wished a speedy recovery to those who are in hospital. He said he remained encouraged that the impact of the virus has not slowed down the prevention, combating and investigation of crime. While you unite your efforts in ensuring maximum adherence to the lockdown regulations, dont lose sight of the enemy of crime, continue to work closely with community members to squeeze out criminality in whatever shape or form, said Cele. National Police Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole, has urged South African communities to intensify its support to the SAPS in its efforts to root out corruption, combat crime and flatten the curve. Sitole used the day to make this call and highlight the importance of community participation in the fight against crime. "Police officers across the country continue to ensure that the people of South Africa are and feel safe despite our organisation having lost over 500 members to the COVID-19 virus and thousands of our members infected since this outbreak hit our shores," said General Sitole. "While the greater majority of the people of the country stand in unity with the police against crime and this pandemic there are still many people who continue to put people in harm's way with approximately 13 000 people being charged for simply not wearing a mask. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. AstraZeneca Plc has told Japans health ministry it would produce more than 90 million coronavirus vaccine shots in the country, Japans top government spokesman said on Thursday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters it is very important for COVID-19 vaccines to be produced domestically. AstraZeneca is working with Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd and other Japanese partners to deliver a total of 120 million doses to the nation. The Union Health Ministry on Thursday claimed that India has nearly flattened its coronavirus infection curve with pro-active testing and vaccination drives along with a consistent rise in the cumulative recoveries across the nation. The Union Health Ministry on Thursday claimed that India has nearly flattened its coronavirus infection curve with pro-active testing and vaccination drives along with a consistent rise in the cumulative recoveries across the nation. In a press briefing, the health secretary also revealed that the recovery rate has reached nearly 97 percent, which is one of the highest globally. The ministry, however, advised caution regarding following of all COVID-19 health guidelines and spreading awareness about the vaccination programme, pointing out that around 78 percent of the new cases are still concentrated in five states and union territories, while two of these states accounted for more than 67 percent of the total national count. It also added that Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra have less than 21 percent vaccination coverage and need to improve. Over 28 lakh Indians immunised so far Sharing the details of the inoculation programme, the health ministry said that till 7 pm of 28 January, total of28,47,608 beneficiaries have been vaccinated. Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that India was the fastest country to reach 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations in six days, while the US took 10 days, Spain 12, Israel 14, the UK 18, Italy 19, Germany 20 and UAE 27 days. The ministry also released the state numbers, indicating that needed to improve their inoculation drives included Jharkhand, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Lakshadweep, Odisha, Haryana and Rajasthan were among the best performing states in terms of the vaccine reaching the intended beneficiaries since the kick-off. In a span of 24 hours, 3,26,499people were vaccinated across 6,102 sessions. A total of 42,674 sessions have been conducted so far, the ministry said. In a separate government event held Thursday, Dr Vinod K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said that India currently occupies the sixth spot in the world in providing vaccination coverage and will move to the third place in the next few days. The ministry also claimed that no severe adverse effects were reported among the recipients of the two vaccines, while mild side effects were noted in 293 recipients till 7 pm on day 13 of the vaccination drive,. Till date, there have been the total 16 hospitalisations which is 0.0007 percent of the total people vaccinated so far, additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry Dr Manohar Agnani had said. He said that between 26 and 27 January, one person who is suffering from bacterial sepsis has been hospitalised at the Apollo Hospital, Chennai. He was vaccinated on 23 January and was hospitalised on 24 January. "Total nine deaths have been reported so far. None of these deaths have been causally linked with COVID-19 vaccination," the ministry said. India's COVID recovery rate nearly 97% With a consistent rise in cumulative recoveries, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has reached nearly 97 percent which is one of the highest globally, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. With 14,301 patients being discharged in a span of 24 hours, the total COVID-19 recoveries have surged to 1,03,73,606. India's total number of active cases has dropped to 1,73,740 and now consists of just 1.62 percent of the total cases. Following the national trend of sustained decline in active cases, 31 states and union territories have recorded less than 5,000 active cases, the ministry said. It said that 78 percent of the active cases are concentrated in five states: Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal. Kerala continues to report the highest daily new cases at 5,659, followed by Maharashtra with 2,171, while Tamil Nadu reported 512 new cases. A total of 123 deaths were recorded in a span of 24 hours. Seven states and union territories account for 75.61 percent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (32). Kerala follows with 20 daily deaths and Punjab with 10. India flattened its COVID curve, says Harsh Vardhan India has flattened its COVID-19 graph and 146 districts have reported no new case of the viral disease in the last seven days, 18 in 14 days, six in 21 days and 21 districts in the last 28 days, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said. This has been achieved due to pro-active testing with more than 19.5 crore COVID-19 tests conducted in the country so far, Vardhan, who chaired the 23rd meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 through a video-conference, said, according to a statement issued by the health ministry. The current testing capacity is 12 lakh tests per day, the minister added. Of the over 700 districts in the country, around 20 percent have not reported any COVID-19 case in the last one week. "With the 'whole of government' and 'whole-of-society' approach envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, India has successfully contained the pandemic. Less than 12,000 cases were reported in the last 24 hours and the active caseload has reduced to just 1.73 lakh," he said. Vardhan informed that a meagre 0.46 percent of the 1.73 lakh active COVID-19 cases is on ventilators, 2.20 percent is in the ICU and 3.02 percent is on oxygen support. The minister stated that 165 cases of a new UK variant of the virus have so far been reported in the country and the patients are kept under supervised quarantine and surveillance. Dr Sujeet K Singh, director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), presented a detailed report on the current and future scenario of COVID-19 in India, drawing a comparison with the trajectory of the confirmed cases and growth rates of the viral disease in other countries. India has reported a seven-day growth rate of 0.90 percent, amongst the lowest in the world, he stated. Singh presented a granular analysis of the trajectory of the pandemic in India, pointing towards critical parameters such as day-wise confirmed new cases with the growth rate, recovery rate, case-positivity rate, trend of active cases, concentration of cases in particular districts and other trends such as fatality and the spread of the new UK-variant cases across different states. India's Case Fatality Ratio is showing a declining trend from 3.4 percent in mid-June 2020 to the current rate of 1.4 percent due to effective clinical management, he said. The NCDC director also informed that Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have the highest recovery rate of 99.79 percent, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (99.58 percent) and Odisha (99.07 percent), while Kerala has a recovery rate of 91.61 percent because of its present high active caseload. He added that Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kozhikode are the top five districts in the country currently in terms of reporting the highest number of active cases. Maharashtra and Kerala account for 70 percent of the active cases in India at the moment, Singh said. Govt endorses study claiming Covaxin effective against UK strain; AstraZeneca's shot runs into trouble in Germany The health ministry Thursday endorsed a study published on Wednesday claiming that Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is effective against the UK variant of the coronavirus strain. It is important to note here that the study was conducted by Bharat Biotech on 26 recipients only. Covaxin is India's totally indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology. The vaccine is currently under Phase 3 trials and is being used as part of the nationwide immunisation programme for healthcare workers after the Central Licensing Authority granted permission for the sale or distribution of Covaxin for restricted use in emergency situations. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is being produced in India as well by the Serum Institute of India, ran into some trouble in Germany. Germany's vaccine commission said Thursday it could not recommend the use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for older people, the latest twist in a row over the jab that has put Britain and the EU on a collision course. The panel of scientific experts, called STIKO, said the vaccine should only be used for "persons aged 18 to 65 years old based on available data". "There is currently insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older," said the panel. India plans to vaccinate people aged above 60 years and those with identified comorbidities in Phase-three of the vaccination. SII's vaccination is likely to be a part of that drive, although government has also kept other options open. Meanwhile, despite the German questions over the efficacy of the vaccine on older people, AstraZeneca's jab has already been authorised and used widely in Britain. Britain's MHRA regulator said in its consideration of the vaccine that "there is limited information available on efficacy in participants aged 65 or over, although there is nothing to suggest lack of protection". Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at the government agency Public Health England, also backed the AstraZeneca vaccine for older recipients. "Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are safe and provide high levels of protection against COVID-19 , particularly against severe disease," she said. "There were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group, but data on immune responses were very reassuring," Ramsay added. "The risk of severe disease and death increase exponentially with age the priority is to vaccinate as many vulnerable people as possible with either vaccine, to protect more people and save more lives." With inputs from PTI A man plunged into Lake Michigan this week when he thought he was walking on sand; it was shelf ice covering the lakes surface along the shoreline. Walking on shelf ice is extremely dangerous, Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, told The Times. At the same time, its difficult to know where the sand ends and the shelf ice begins. Johnny Jacobsen, of Chicago, learned that the hard way on Tuesday, Jan. 26, when he and his wife were walking along Loyola Beach. Jacobsens wife was recording a video when her husband unknowingly wandered onto the shelf ice and suddenly dropped into knee-deep water. The video shows Jacobsen fall in and then climb out the while he and his wife laugh off the scary moment. I... uh... fell in Lake Michigan today. "Whoa...this is really deep snow...wait a minute" *edit* We went to watch the... Posted by Johnny Jacobsen on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 We went to watch the waves crash today, Jacobsen said in his Facebook post. I thought I was walking on the beach. Nope, I was walking on the lake. At first, Jacobsen thought he was standing in deep snow, but then water began to fill his boots. Be careful out there, he said. Im lucky it was shallow. The hidden danger of shelf ice has cost lives, Benjamin told the Chicago newspaper. It can be impossible to know where the sand ends and the waterline begins, he said. Falling into waist-deep water can be deadly, Benjamin said. Its difficult to climb out and hypothermia can set in quickly. There have been 948 drownings in the Great Lakes since 2010, according to records kept by the GLSRP. The group urges people to avoid walking on shelf ice and to use caution around bodies of water during winter. READ MORE: Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A group of tourists, including some from Britain and America, have been filmed partying inside a police station after being arrested in Thailand for flouting Covid-19 rules. Thai police arrested 89 tourists and 22 Thais after breaking up a party at a beachfront bar on Kho Phangan island on January 26, which more than 200 people had gone to. Among the people arrested by police were six Britons, ten Americans and 19 from France. However, after having been arrested, the revellers were then recorded drinking and dancing inside the police station. The video footage shows the backpackers lounging on tables, smoking, playing music and ignoring social distancing rules. A group of tourists, including some from Britain and America, have been filmed partying inside a police station after being arrested on Kho Phangan island, Thailand, for flouting Covid-19 rules At one point, the person filming inside the police station wanders round to different groups of people whooping and saying: 'It's a jail party!' Police Colonel Suparerk Pankosol, superintendent of the provincial immigration office, said the revellers were detained because bars are not yet allowed to operate beyond 9pm during the pandemic. He said: Every venue has to follow the rules, even if it is their fifth anniversary. The event risked spreading Covid-19 and the organisers will be prosecuted.' It comes after police on the island of Koh Phangan stormed the Three Sixty Bar on Tuesday night. Among the locals arrests was the bar's owner and another who sold drinks there, according to police Col. Suparerk Pankosol, superintendent of the provincial immigration office. Video footage shows the 89 tourists and 22 Thais that were arrested, drinking, smoking and dancing both inside and outside of the police station and ignoring social distancing He said the gathering was illegal under a national state of emergency declared last March to combat the coronavirus. Thailand is currently has barred virtually all tourists from entering the country since April, with an emergency decree banning people from attending public gatherings and entering high risk areas. Those arrested were from more than 10 countries, including the U.S., Britain, Switzerland and Denmark, Suparerk said. Photos of the raid distributed by police showed a dark, crowded room with casually dressed partygoers, almost all wearing face masks. Police on the island of Koh Phangan raided the Three Sixty Bar on Tuesday night and discovered more than 100 people inside, including tourists from Britain, the US, Denmark and Switzerland Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province is a popular destination for young backpacking travelers and is known especially for its all-night Full Moon beach parties. However, Thailand has barred virtually all tourists from entering the country since last April. There have been 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Surat Thani out of a national total of 15,465. However, 11 of the 29 cases have been found in the last month as Thailand experienced a resurgence of the disease. The penalty for violating the state of emergency is up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to 40,000 baht ($1,330). Local police say they arrested 22 locals, including the bar's owner and another person who was selling drinks. Emergency Covid legislation in Thailand bans people from public gatherings The bar owner and worker could also be charged with violating the Communicable Disease Act, punishable by a one-year prison term and a fine of up to 100,000 baht ($3,330). Suparerk said the arrested people were being held at the Koh Phangan police station, where investigators were preparing documents to charge them. He said police had tracked the party plans on social media, where the bar was promoting the event to celebrate its fifth anniversary. Entry tickets were 100 baht ($3.30), with food and drink extra. Those arrested by police at the party will appear in court later today (January 28). A doctor with terminal cancer killed a female pediatrician and then himself after taking hostages at a children's clinic in Austin, Texas. Dr Bharat Narumanchi held hostages in a five-hour siege before killing Dr Katherine Lindley Dodson. Narumanchi had applied for a volunteer position at the clinic a week ago and was declined. He later came back carrying a pistol, a shotgun and two duffel bags. Police spokesman Jeff Greenwalt said Narumanchi had recently been given "weeks to live" after a cancer diagnosis. He said: "The case as far as who did this is closed. We know who did it. And we know that there's no longer a threat to the public. But we really, really want to answer the question of why." Dr Lindley Dodson, 43, was beloved by patients and their families. Karen Vladeck, whose two children were among her patients, told the Austin American-Statesman: "You saw her at your worst when your kid was sick, and she just always had a smile on her face. "She made you feel like you were the only parent there, even though there was a line of kids waiting." During the siege a SWAT team used a megaphone to communicate with the armed doctor. A hostage negotiator shouted: "Your life is very important to me. And I know life is very important to you. "You don't deserve to go through this. For all you have done for others. That is why I want to help you work through this. You have saved a lot of lives." Police first sent in a robot and then officers went into the medical office where they found two bodies. They did not comment on how the two doctors died. A police spokesman said: "The SWAT situation has ended. Two subjects have been located and were pronounced deceased." The last time Toyota held the top spot was in 2015 Japan's Toyota reclaimed the title of world's top-selling automaker in 2020, according to data released by the firm on Thursday, pushing Volkswagen into second place for the first time in five years. Toyota said it had sold 9.53 million vehicles around the world last year, overtaking the 9.3 million sales made by its German rival. The Japanese giant took the lead despite a decline in global sales of more than 10 percent as the auto industry suffered the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. "Despite the Covid-19 pandemic... Toyota was able to continue corporate activities through comprehensive implementation of various infection prevention measures, and by working together with partners including suppliers and dealers," it said in a statement. That was still better than the more than 15 percent drop in sales Volkswagen announced earlier this month. Toyota said it had benefited from a jump in sales in China, which were up over 10 percent year-on-year, and a better-than-expected performance globally in the October-December quarter. The last time Toyota held the top spot was in 2015, with VW edging it out in the following years. "Toyota's recent strategy of pursuing quality over quantity has... satisfied consumers", especially in North America and China, Koichi Sugimoto, an auto analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, told AFP. "Improved ties with the Chinese government, partly thanks to China's interest in Toyota's green tech as well as brand-building in the Chinese market by Japanese carmakers in general, also contributed" to sales growth, Sugimoto said. 2021 AFP Facebook's court-like Oversight Board overturned several of the company's decisions to remove content in its first set of decisions since the independent body began hearing cases last fall. The board, which has been called Facebook's version of a Supreme Court, announced Thursday that it overturned Facebook's decisions in four out of the five cases before it. The cases touched on issues of hate speech, nudity and Covid misinformation. Facebook's Oversight Board is intended to create a new way for users to appeal content decisions on both Facebook and Instagram, given previous criticism over how the company handles hate speech, violent extremism and graphic materials. The 20-person board includes a former prime minister, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the former editor-in-chief of The Guardian. Facebook says its decisions are final and binding. All five cases involved Facebook taking down posts for breaking its rules. In one case, Facebook removed a post from a Myanmar user who shared two photos of a Syrian toddler of Kurdish ethnicity who drowned attempting to reach Europe in 2015. The text accompanying the photo, according to the board's description, said there was 'something wrong with Muslims (or Muslim men) psychologically or with their mindset.' (Myanmar has faced international scrutiny for the persecution against Rohingya Muslims.) Facebook removed the post due to its hate speech policies. 'The Board found that, while the post might be considered pejorative or offensive towards Muslims, it did not advocate hatred or intentionally incite any form of imminent harm. As such, the Board does not consider its removal to be necessary to protect the rights of others,' the board posted on its website explaining the decision. Another case centered on nudity. The board reversed Facebook's removal of an Instagram post from a Brazilian user that was meant to raise awareness about breast cancer. 'The post included five photographs that showed women's nipples, which the board declared permissible in light of Facebook's own policy exception for 'breast cancer awareness,'' the board said. The first series of decisions come ahead of the most closely watched case yet for the board: whether former President Donald Trump gets to stay on Facebook. Earlier this month, Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram banned the ex-president's account from posting for at least the remainder of his term and potentially 'indefinitely' after a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol to protest the election results. Last week, Facebook said it referred its suspension of the former president to the independent board for review. The board will have 90 days from that referral to decide whether the Trump ban should be upheld or not, but a spokesperson for the board said it expects to 'act more quickly than that.' The decisions announced Thursday suggest that the board has no issue disagreeing with Facebook. Investigations editor Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine. The Junta de Andalucia will decide this Thursday, 28 January, which municipalities will face tighter restrictions to try to stop the third wave of the coronavirus. Depending on the Covid-19 incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, the Andalusian government can order the perimeter closure of municipalities and the closure of all non-essential activity of those cities and towns that exceed the set thresholds of 500 and 1,000 respectively. As a whole, the Andalusian region's incidence rate is 915.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, a figure that is 5.4 higher than the 909.4 figure on Tuesday the first day in which the rate fell since December - and 241 more than last Wednesday (674.3). The Junta de Andalucia evaluates the situation every Monday and Thursday and then updates the list of the municipalities that exceed the rate of 500 and 1,000 cases for the application of restrictive measures for a period of 14 days that come into force at midnight hours every Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. Therefore, if a municipality falls below 1,000 or 500 cases, the measures may be relaxed, provided that 14 days have elapsed since they were applied; while if it goes from more than 500 to more than 1,000 cases, the measures are tightened even if those two weeks have not passed, starting a new 14-day period. As of Wednesday, 27 January, the border closure measure extends to 489 municipalities in the region with an incidence rate of the coronavirus higher than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days For 265 of those 489 municipalities, the regional government has also ordered the closure of all non-essential activities for exceeding 1,000 Covid cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days. Estonias two biggest political parties came up with a deal to form a new government which will be led by a female Prime Minister for the first time in the countrys history. This comes after the previous cabinet collapsed due to a corruption scandal. Both the parties then voted in favour of joining a Cabinet headed by Reforms Prime Minister-designate and chairwoman Kaja Kallas. Current situation in Estonia Both the parties have agreed to have seven ministerial portfolios in addition to Kallas Prime Minister's post in the 15-member government. The joint statement by both the parties said that the Reform Party and the Center Party will form a government that will continue to effectively resolve the COVID-19 crisis, keep Estonia forward-looking and develop all areas and regions of our country. This comes after Estonia's Prime Minister resigned over a corruption scandal involving a key official of his Center Party. The official is also suspected of accepting a private donation for the party in exchange for a political favor on a real estate deal. Read: Estonia PM Ratas Resigns Over Corruption Scandal (Chairwoman of the Reform Party Kaja Kallas arrives at a polling station during a parliamentary elections in Tallinn, Estonia. President Kersti Kaljulaid said Thursday Jan. 14, 2021, in a statement that Kaja Kallas would now have 14-days to put together a new Cabinet, after Prime Minister Juri Ratas stepped down in the wake of a corruption scandal. Image Credits: AP) According to the reports by AP, earlier, President Kersti Kaljulaid said that the new governments immediate priority should be tackling the coronavirus situation and the economic turmoil which has been fueled by the pandemic. Kaljulaid is also expected to appoint Kallas Cabinet in the coming days. Kallas will become the first female head of government in Estonia. Read: Opposition Leader Urges UN To Halt Belarus Media Crackdown She is the daughter of Siim Kallas, who is one of the Reform Partys creators, a former prime minister and a former European Union commissioner. Also, the upcoming Prime Minister is a lawyer and a former European Parliament lawmaker. She took the reins at the Reform Party in 2018. Read: Tricolour To Fly High At UNSC As India Begins 2-year Tenure As Non-permanent Member Also Read: Dutch Cabinet Meets Amid Speculation Government Will Quit (Image Credits: AP) Budget Resolution to Hit House Floor Next Week, Setting Stage for Partisan Passage of Relief Bill: Pelosi House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Jan. 28 that while she hopes Republicans in Congress will back President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill, Democrats are ready to adopt the sweeping legislation unilaterally as part of a budget reconciliation process. She said a related budget resolution would be brought to the House floor next week. We will pass a reconciliation bill, if we need it, she told reporters at her weekly news conference, adding that were not taking any tools off the table. We would hope that we would have bipartisan cooperation to meet the needs of the American people, Pelosi said. We would hope that, but were not taking any tools off the table should they not. As a preliminary step to a potential reconciliation process, which would allow Democrats to avoid having to get Republican buy-in on Bidens relief bill and pass it by a simple 51-vote majority, Democrats will bring a budget resolution to the floor next week. By the end of the week, well be finished with the budget resolution, which will be about reconciliation, if needed, Pelosi said. Her remarks follow a letter to Democrats on Jan. 27, in which Pelosi said that committees are already working on coronavirus relief legislation as a basis for reconciliation, should that step be needed. Pelosis comments come as Democrats are signaling they dont intend to wait for Republican buy-in on Bidens sweeping relief bill proposal, which some GOP lawmakers have panned as an expensive, unworkable liberal wish-list. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), in a statement last week, warned Biden not to exploit the pandemic to push a laundry list of liberal causes in the relief package, characterizing the presidents bid as a big government take-over of the U.S. economy. Its reckless to borrow another $2 trillion on top of $4 trillion already in the pipeline. While more pandemic relief is needed, some of the line items are a political pipe dream for progressives, he said. The sweeping bill includes $400 billion to expand vaccinations and to reopen schools, $1,400 direct payments to households, as well as other priorities, including raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the incoming Budget Committee chair, is preparing a budget blueprint, which will contain instructions to certain authorizing committees to include in it pieces of the relief bill. The Budget Committee assembles these items into one big bill, which has a special status in the Senate and, like the budget, it cannot be filibustered, meaning it will not require the 60-vote threshold to pass. We are going to use reconciliation, that is 50 votes in the Senate plus the vice president, to pass legislation desperately needed by working families in this country right now, Sanders told CNNs State of the Union program on Jan. 23. In 2017, Senate Republicans used budget reconciliation to pass tax cuts, a move that Sanders sharply criticized, saying the GOP was abusing this process. Asked about his criticism of Republicans for what he was now proposing to do with the pandemic relief bill, Sanders told CNN that the dire circumstances brought about by the outbreak justify the move. Congress has approved some $4 trillion in emergency pandemic relief since the start of the pandemic last year, the largest rescue package in American history. Chloe Clarke has been located safe and well. Gardai have thanked the public and the media for their assistance in this matter, and say that no further action is required. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A woman has been interrogated by Russian police for building snowmen carrying anti-Putin slogans. Yelena Kalinina was ordered to an interrogation amid a police drive to suppress dissent following nationwide protests in support of jailed Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny. Individuals close to Navalny, and those supporting his message, are being targeted by police who are trying to crush their calls for democracy, and Navalny's release. Police today seized Navalny's brother Oleg and other close allies for allegedly violating coronavirus restrictions by organising Saturday's protests. Yelena's snowmen, which were built to look like a rally of protesters, hold placards reading: 'Tsar go away', 'Vova (Vladimir) it's all over between us', and 'This is our country'. Using a line by eighteenth century German dramatist Georg Buchner, she attacked President Vladimir Putin's alleged 1billion Black Sea palace in Gelendzhik, comparing it to a peasant's hovel. It reads: 'Peace to the huts! War on the palaces!' An eco activist from Russia is in trouble with the police after she built a rally of snowmen holding anti-Putin messages and posted images of them online In her snowmen rally, some of the placards held read: 'Tsar go away', 'Vova (Vladimir) it's all over between us', and 'This is our country' Russian eco activist Yelena Kalinina (pictured) said she thanks the police for helping to bring the pictures of the snowmen to millions of people She posted the pictures online but credits heavy-handed police with bringing them to millions of viewers. 'The police came and made a complaint against me that the snowmen were saying the wrong things,' she said. 'They gagged them, took the posters, and sent them for forensic examination.' She was ordered to the police station but used her constitutional right to remain silent. Yelena was released and told that officers were seeking to find a precedent that she had broken the law by building anti-Putin snowmen. 'I'm just an activist and the posts on my page were tracked by the authorities,' she said. One of the slogans attacked Putin for his alleged 1billion Black Sea palace in Gelendzhik, which Kalinina compared to a hovel of peasants 'The police did all the work to popularise the snowmen. I give them my thanks. We will make more.' She said there were no local complaints in her village, Zachyachye, 110 miles from Arkhangelsk, about the snowmen rally. A senior law enforcement official had ordered the raid, she said. 'They understand it is a stupid thing. This was not their initiative. It was not a complaint from local people that provoked them, nor their desire to suppress the snowmen. This was an order from above.' Putin has denied owning the spectacular palace with a pole dancing boudoir. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a session of the Davos Agenda 2021 online forum organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF), via a video link from the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday Yulia's interrogation comes amid a Kremlin crackdown on pro-democracy Russians and extensive police efforts to crush anti-Putin messages. Last week, police interrogated a 16-year-old girl for removing a portrait of Putin hanging in her classroom and posting a video of it on TikTok. Today, investigators announced they had opened a criminal case against Leonid Volkov, a close ally of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, accusing him of urging teenagers to take part in unauthorised protests last weekend. Volkov's arrest follows yesterday's searches of Navalny's Moscow properties for evidence he breached coronavirus restrictions by calling for the protests. Navalny, 44, was arrested on return to Russia following months of treatment for novichok poisoning in Berlin, which he maintains was an assassination attempt ordered by President Vladimir Putin. After his imprisonment, the Kremlin dissident called on pro-democracy Russians to protest and demand his release. On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of activists poured into 70 Russian cities to support the 44-year-old's cause. Police reported 3,900 arrests, including Navalny's wife Yulia, and were accused of employing 'brutal tactics' to 'suppress' the crowds, which left many demonstrators bloodied and injured. Interior ministry officials and sources close to Navalny today confirmed his home and offices are being searched as part of a criminal probe into whether the rallies' organisers had breached coronavirus protocol. Policemen leave the flat of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Russia today. The property is occupied at present by Navalny's wife Yulia, as her husband was jailed on return to Russia for allegedly breaching the terms of a suspended sentence A police officer is seen outside the Moscow apartment of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny today Police officers are seen preparing to search the offices of opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), in Moscow today A Russian police van is parked outside of the Moscow apartment building of jailed opposition leader Navalny today. Police searched the dissident's properties as part of a criminal probe into whether organisers of nationwide rallies on Saturday breached coronavirus restrictions A Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman today accused organisers of the protest of creating a 'threat of the spread' of coronavirus. Ivan Zhdanov, the head of the FBK Anti-Corruption Foundation, a non-profit formed by Navalny in 2011, said on Twitter that Navalny's wife Yulia was at one of the apartments as police were gaining entry to the home. She posted a video from inside where loud hammering could be heard outside the door. 'They are not letting in my lawyer. They broke my door in,' Yulia Navalny yelled to journalists from out of her apartment window, an AFP journalist reported. Navalny (pictured) maintains that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his assassination. The 44-year-old was admitted to a Berlin hospital in August for suspected novichok poisoning People clash with police during a protest against Navalny's detention, in St Petersburg, Russia on Saturday Riot police officers detain a participant in an unauthorized rally in support of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny by the Moscow Circus A supporter's face is bandaged and covered in blood after attending the unauthorised rally in Moscow on Saturday Zhdanov posted a screenshot from a security camera at the office of the foundation, showing several masked men there. The FBK is best known for its investigations into the wealth of Russia's political elite. Its most recent report suggested President Vladimir Putin was gifted an opulent property on the Black Sea Coast costing over $1.5 billion. The investigation was released days after Navalny was arrested on his return on January 17 from Germany, where he spent months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin. Russian police watch a fire during an unauthorised protest rally against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny People climb a monument during an unauthorized rally in support of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny Riot police officers guard the area during an unauthorized rally in support of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny As Moscow cracks down on its critics, the Kremlin said it plans to punish social media platforms which failed to delete posts to join in Saturday's protests. Social media platforms, most notably popular teenage platform TikTok, were flooded with thousands of posts calling on Russians to demonstrate ahead of Saturday. In response, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor warned platforms they would face fines for failing to delete such posts and said that several had removed a significant number. An injured participant reacts during an unauthorised protest rally against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny Roskomnadzor decided today that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Youtube, would be fined between 800,000 rubles (7,700) and four million rubles (38,600) for failing to comply with its requirements 'to suppress the spread of calls to minors to participate in unauthorised rallies'. Protests in Russia are banned if they are not approved by the authorities, as are calls for people under 18 to join demonstrations. Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin complained about the growing influence of large technology companies, which he said are 'competing' with states. Hashtags dedicated to Navalny have been trending on TikTok, where they have garnered more than 1.5 billion views, after the anti-corruption crusader was jailed on his return to Russia from Germany. His allies have called for a new round of demonstrations this Su The second-hardest job in America The New York City mayoral race is already heating up with more than 30 candidates. But what does the citys mayor even do, besides show up at ribbon-cuttings with a pair of absurdly large scissors? Well, the mayor, very generally speaking, is in charge of the citys various public services, including running the citys public schools, its police department and providing help to homeless people, just to name a few. The mayor also oversees all city legislation that is introduced or passed by the City Council and can either sign legislation into city law or veto it. And most importantly the mayor is in charge of the city budget which happens to be the largest municipal budget in the U.S. and prioritizes what programs are funded. Of course, given the current public health crisis, the mayors job has become considerably harder over the past year. The city is also in debt, looking for an equitable way to provide adequate health care to its many residents and trying to overcome the fallout from the summers Black Lives Matter protests. The person who emerges in this campaign will have the toughest job that I can remember, Sid Davidoff, who started his political career as an aide to then-Mayor John Lindsay, told The New York Times in November. This race should also play out differently because this will be the citys first year using a ranked-choice voting system. Instead of selecting just one candidate, voters will be able to select up to five candidates by order of preference. Proponents of the new system believe that it will lead to fewer negative campaign ads and more choices for voters. Its affecting how people are campaigning, and thus far we really havent seen people attack one another, Christina Greer, a political science professor at Fordham University, told Politico. I think it ultimately will devolve as people get desperate. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who is running for mayor, has been pushing to delay the use of the new voting system which he, as well as other local Black politicians, feel could disenfranchise Black and Latino voters. However, there is no evidence to suggest that would be the case. Whos in the running? The top 10 contenders for mayor While I would love to provide you with more than a brief rundown of whos vying for the role of mayor, Excelsior is only so big. Lucky for me and you, City & State senior reporter Jeff Coltin has already done most of the heavy lifting for us. (Thanks, Jeff!) Heres a super-speedy rundown of the top 10 current mayoral hopefuls: Eric Adams: The Brooklyn borough president and former NYPD officer and state senator has been appealing to the citys outer borough residents and hes also the author of a vegan cookbook. The Brooklyn borough president and former NYPD officer and state senator has been appealing to the citys outer borough residents and hes also the author of a vegan cookbook. Shaun Donovan: Donovan formerly worked as the senior strategist to Harvard Universitys president, he was the budget director under President Barack Obama, secretary of Housing and Urban Development and New York City Housing Preservation and Development commissioner under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, making him an ideal candidate to sort out the citys budget and housing crisis. Donovan formerly worked as the senior strategist to Harvard Universitys president, he was the budget director under President Barack Obama, secretary of Housing and Urban Development and New York City Housing Preservation and Development commissioner under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, making him an ideal candidate to sort out the citys budget and housing crisis. Kathryn Garcia: The citys former sanitation chief wants to run the city, but considering this is her first foray into electoral politics, she may not be able to pick up enough voters. The citys former sanitation chief wants to run the city, but considering this is her first foray into electoral politics, she may not be able to pick up enough voters. Ray McGuire: Looking to fill the billionaire void that Bloomberg left, the former vice chair of Citigroup is hoping to boost the citys bruised economy with his financial know-how. Looking to fill the billionaire void that Bloomberg left, the former vice chair of Citigroup is hoping to boost the citys bruised economy with his financial know-how. Carlos Menchaca: The Brooklyn council member worked as the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS community liaison to then-Council Speaker Christine Quinn and as the budget coordinator to then-Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Hes hoping to win over voters with his progressive campaign. The Brooklyn council member worked as the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS community liaison to then-Council Speaker Christine Quinn and as the budget coordinator to then-Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Hes hoping to win over voters with his progressive campaign. Dianne Morales: With demonstrated expertise in the citys nonprofit sector, having worked as the executive director and CEO of social services provider Phipps Neighborhoods, Morales is hoping to create participatory processes, such as community-led discussions around new housing. With demonstrated expertise in the citys nonprofit sector, having worked as the executive director and CEO of social services provider Phipps Neighborhoods, Morales is hoping to create participatory processes, such as community-led discussions around new housing. Scott Stringer: The citys comptroller, whose term will be up at the end of the year, is running on a progressive platform aimed at tackling climate change, affordable housing and policing reforms. The citys comptroller, whose term will be up at the end of the year, is running on a progressive platform aimed at tackling climate change, affordable housing and policing reforms. Loree Sutton: As a former brigadier general in the U.S. Army and city Veterans Services commissioner under de Blasio, Sutton is running a more centrist campaign aimed at creating bipartisan solutions to the citys biggest problems. As a former brigadier general in the U.S. Army and city Veterans Services commissioner under de Blasio, Sutton is running a more centrist campaign aimed at creating bipartisan solutions to the citys biggest problems. Maya Wiley: Wileys resume includes working as the senior vice president for social justice and professor of urban policy at The New School, an on-air political analyst for MSNBC, the chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board and a top counsel for de Blasio. Wileys resume includes working as the senior vice president for social justice and professor of urban policy at The New School, an on-air political analyst for MSNBC, the chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board and a top counsel for de Blasio. Andrew Yang: The former presidential hopeful, known for his universal basic income proposal, has promoted putting a casino on Governors Island and using ice cream trucks as mobile coronavirus vaccination sites in the early days of his campaign. Gang of New York Tammany Hall From 1789 into the 1960s, the political organization known as Tammany Hall played a dominating role in New York Citys politics, controlling the machinations of the citys Democratic Party. While Tammany Hall is now probably best known for the many charges of corruption brought against it and its leaders, it also aided many immigrants Irish immigrants, in particular by helping them acquire social services and adapt to urban life. When it came to mayoral elections and city elections in general the political machine was known for altering the outcomes to their liking. However, as the groups predilection for corruption became more well known and apparent to voters, its powers began to weaken. Fiorello La Guardias mayoral win in 1934 is said to have marked the beginning of Tammany Halls fall from power. Power Players NYCs most notable mayors Fiorello La Guardia: From 1934 to 1945, La Guardia served as the citys mayor, where he implemented New Deal policies that helped boost the citys economy and created many new public works, including playgrounds, health clinics, Flushing Meadows Park and everyones favorite airport. La Guardia is also credited with kicking Tammany Hall out of New York politics, though it was Mayor Ed Koch who finally eradicated the political machine and its influence. From 1934 to 1945, La Guardia served as the citys mayor, where he implemented New Deal policies that helped boost the citys economy and created many new public works, including playgrounds, health clinics, Flushing Meadows Park and everyones favorite airport. La Guardia is also credited with kicking Tammany Hall out of New York politics, though it was Mayor Ed Koch who finally eradicated the political machine and its influence. Ed Koch : Like La Guardia, Koch also served as mayor for 12 years, from 1978 through 1989, and was known for his big, brash, opinionated personality. While his time in office has received mixed reviews from historians over the years, hes widely credited with bringing the city back from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1970s to the prosperity of the 1980s. : Like La Guardia, Koch also served as mayor for 12 years, from 1978 through 1989, and was known for his big, brash, opinionated personality. While his time in office has received mixed reviews from historians over the years, hes widely credited with bringing the city back from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1970s to the prosperity of the 1980s. David Dinkins: While Dinkins only served one term as mayor before he lost to Rudy Giuliani, he made history as the citys first (and only) Black mayor. He was remembered after his death in November as a gentleman and a trailblazer who cherished the gorgeous mosaic of New York City. While Dinkins only served one term as mayor before he lost to Rudy Giuliani, he made history as the citys first (and only) Black mayor. He was remembered after his death in November as a gentleman and a trailblazer who cherished the gorgeous mosaic of New York City. Michael Bloomberg: The billionaire spent three terms one of which he finagled by convincing the City Council to extend the mayoral term limits from 2002 through 2013 running the city and introducing policies that have been viewed in retrospect as both beneficial and detrimental. He encouraged the New York City Police Departments widespread use of stop-and-frisk policing while he was in office, he also squashed peaceful protests and homelessness rose. Still, Bloomberg created groundbreaking public health and climate policies, and implemented new transportation initiatives. Everyone hates Bill Is de Blasio actually that bad? Bill de Blasio has become one of the most hated political figures in the city for a variety of reasons, ranging from the very serious his handling of Eric Garners death to the niche complaints by reporters when he arrives late for press conferences. And then theres his insistence on visiting his favorite Park Slope gym, despite living at Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side though the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted his daily gym routine. Throughout the past year, the mayor has become the subject of criticism for his mismanagement of Black Lives Matter protests over the summer and his slow handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, over 400 of de Blasios past and present staffers joined together to write an open letter to the mayor stating that he has failed to protect peaceful protestors and control the citys police force. De Blasio has done some good during his time in office, such as expanding paid sick leave, increasing the minimum wage and introducing universal child care. But unfortunately for the mayor, his triumphs in office have been outweighed by his shortcomings. Still, he cant be worse than Mayor Fernando Wood, who in 1861 proposed that the city secede from the U.S. so it could continue to do business with the South. Yikes. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Denton, TX (76205) Today Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 77F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. [January 28, 2021] BookJane Partners With the Ontario Long Term Care Association to Unleash Its Innovative Technologies to Address the Staffing Crisis and Improve Seniors' Care BookJane, a technology platform that helps long term care (LTC) and senior living facilities find, schedule and communicate with staff, has partnered with the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) to address the staffing crisis and improve seniors' care in Ontario. As a partner, BookJane will continue to support OLTCA by exemplifying how its innovative technology can be used by Ontario long term care and senior living organizations to better mobilize, engage and retain staff. BookJane is helping to solve the acute staffing challenges faced by LTC and senior living organizations, so that they can focus on what matters most: caring for their senior residents. J360, BookJane's all-in-one platform for workforce scheduling, allows LTC and senior living facilities to fill shifts, schedule and communicate with their internal or agency staff, or find extra staff resources with BookJane's marketplace of on-demand healthcare professionals. By partnering with the OLTCA, BookJane will provide important insights into how technology can drastically reduce administration time spent, and improve shift fulfilment rates and staff retention in Ontario's seniors' care sector. "The COVID-19 crisis has exposed how innovative methods are needed to tackle the staff recruitment and retainment challenges being faced by Ontario's senior care sector", says Curtis Khan, CEO of BookJane. "We are thrilled to partner with the OLTCA to help improve the quality of seniors' care in Ontario and drive the use of technology in the industry forward, with our innovative J360 platform." "Now more than ever, the focus on innovation and technology is critical to our success in meeting the needs of our residents," says Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association. "We are grateful to innovative leaders, like BookJane, whose spport and partnership allow us to continue to do the vital work for our homes and build a better future for our aging communities." BookJane's workforce scheduling software and on-demand marketplace of healthcare professionals is helping LTC and senior living facilities across North America solve their staffing challenges. To learn more: https://www.bookjane.com About BookJane Inc. BookJane is an award-winning and innovative workforce management software solution that helps over 700 healthcare facilities across North America digitally manage their internal and external workforces, so they can optimize staff fulfilment and deliver the very best client care. Learn more at BookJane.com, twitter.com/BookJaneInc, instagram.com/BookJaneInc, facebook.com/BookJane. Visit https://www.bookjane.com/contact or call 1-855-265-5263 to connect with us. About Ontario Long Term Care Association The Ontario Long Term Care Association is the largest association of long-term care providers in Canada and the only association that represents the full mix of long-term care operators - private, not-for-profit, charitable, and municipal. We represent nearly 70% of Ontario's 636 long-term care homes, located in communities across the province. Our members provide care and accommodation services to more than 70,000 residents annually. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005950/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Many people believe that they can't change their brains, or that their brain health will inevitably decline as they age. But the Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART) training protocol, created by researchers and clinicians at the Center for BrainHealth, has been demonstrated over the past two decades to improve cognitive function and psychological well-being in laboratory participants. Recent research suggests that SMART can even make long-lasting improvements to people's brain health when given outside of the lab in short, informal training sessions. A paper detailing these findings was recently published in Military Medicine. The research was a collaboration between Leanne R. Young, PhD, of Applied Research Associates, Inc. and researchers from the Center for BrainHealth, led by Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, founder and chief director, and Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC/SLP, head of clinical services. Participants included 74 police officers and 425 total veterans, reservists, National Guard members and active-duty soldiers. First responders like them face uncertainty and stress every day at their jobs and have demanding, unpredictable schedules, so SMART - normally delivered to participants in the lab over a 12-week period - was tailored to their schedules. The researchers wanted to test whether shorter workshops outside of the lab could have similar effects on participants' brain health. Trained clinicians delivered between six and ten hours of SMART over two to three days. As expected, participants' overall cognitive function improved after SMART; for instance, both police officers and military personnel demonstrated an average of 20% improvement in innovative thinking skills. Surprisingly, SMART improved participants' integrated reasoning abilities by about 20% if they were military personnel, but not if they were police officers. And SMART improved participants' strategic attention by about 16% if they were police officers, but not if they were military members or veterans. These differences in how SMART affects participants' cognitive function might be due to differences in their jobs. Our brains are really driven by our own experiences, and how you use your brain is what makes you good at some things." Jennifer Zientz, MS, CCC/SLP, Head of Clinical Services Still, the results suggest that various modes of SMART delivery can positively impact people's brain health. "Even in a training that doesn't take an inordinate amount of time, people can learn information, apply the information to their daily lives, and see a positive benefit from it," she continued. SMART empowered the participants to take charge of their own brain health, including their psychological well-being. Four months after training, military personnel reported less stress and depressive symptoms, as well as more satisfaction and resilience in their lives. This suggests that SMART can produce lasting results when applied in short programs outside of the lab. Young believes that SMART could even help save lives. "With the rising rates of suicide, both in civilian and military populations, perhaps the most exciting aspect of the study is the impact of the cognitive training on psychological health. I look forward to seeing this work continue as the military builds its arsenal of weapons against anxiety, stress and depression," said Young. They did it in three months a government that rose to the pandemic challenge. It can be done. It got done in Delaware County. Politicos new to the system there showed us Wednesday what resourcefulness and resolve look like. They unveiled an extraordinary pandemic achievement during a ceremony in the frigid parking lot of a sagging shopping center. Democratic elected officials who recently won control of Delco from the Republican machine that controlled it for decades revealed a major milestone in their cleanup job after inheriting the largest county in the United States without a health department. They cut the ribbon on 11,235 square feet of a former supermarket in Yeadon they had secured, gutted, and repurposed as a desperately needed public health site. Officials gave birth to the Delaware County Wellness Center. It opened by immediately doling out a smattering of COVID-19 vaccine shots. How much more they give out in the days ahead will rest upon how much the government sends their way. Their show of competence comes one week after the inauguration of President Joe Biden put to bed the under-performance of another Republican administration: that of pandemic-denier-in-chief Donald Trump. Perhaps Biden and his crew can take a page from the Delco Democrats get-it-done playbook. The national vaccine shortage against overwhelming demand requires nothing less than that level of performance. This is a really exciting time, Councilwoman Elaine Schaefer said from a podium, flanked by scores of officials whod worked to help make this happen. This is a historic moment. The wellness center opens as a mass vaccination site but will remain as a major clinical outpost once the countys ongoing plans to launch its own health department are completed in early 2022. She and others I spoke with this week said the county, as far behind as it entered the pandemic without a public health agency of its own, is ready with staff and facilities to ramp up vaccine administration as the fledgling Biden administration pledges to boost supplies soon. Currently, this wellness center will be serving as vaccine storage, as a vaccination center, and as a COVID-19 testing center for all residents in Delaware County, Schaefer said, and indeed inside there were vaccine-ready refrigeration systems plugged into electrical wiring that once kept supermarket freezers humming. We know that the need to offer adequate testing, timely test results, and vaccination is the most public health need right now in the county and right now in the nation. There is no greater public health need. The opening of a piece of commercial real estate is seldom a captivating storytelling moment. But as I stood among dozens of officials in that lot, I couldnt help but notice something symbolically powerful among the many masked faces. Standing off to the side of the speakers podium were a cluster of now-powerful officials who, as I thought about it, had not been in public office before the 2016 election of Trump. In just one spot alone I saw Councilwoman Christine Reuther, Council Chairman Brian Zidek, Council Vice Chairwoman Dr. Monica Taylor, U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, State Sen. Tim Kearney, and State Sen. John Kane. All Democrats elected either in 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020. They ran for office in reaction to Trumps shellacking of Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania. And they found themselves as neophytes running things during a pandemic, of all things. A global emergency that has required the might of government in ways we have not seen in generations. For months, their densely populated county of some 560,000 on Philadelphias western border has relied on the help of the Chester County Health Department against a contagion that has shut most public schools totally or partially for 10 months and counting. The new center, however, is the county showing that it is run by people who deliver on fixing things and running their own show. It opened Wednesday as the second mass vaccination site by the county in just the last few days. Two more are ready to roll once more vaccine becomes available. While were experiencing a shortage of vaccines right now, Schaefer said, we as a county are at the ready with adequate storage, with the locations we need and with the staffing we need to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. When we begin to get more doses, which we all hope will be very soon ... we are prepared and we are ready. At the risk of overhyping politicians of any stripe this is risky business we still must give this group even a little more credit. They are doing this repair job while also delivering on promises they made to pay close to attention to all constituents. Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins took pains to note that county officials had given more than lip service after winning their posts. Of all the zip codes in multiracial and economically diverse Delaware County, he said, they had chosen his normally overlooked borough as the site of their first major capital investment in public health. Yeadon is predominantly African American and often overlooked at times like these. They made good on their promise, Hepkins said from the same podium. For the first time in over 20 years, weve got investment in Yeadon! There is a long road ahead of us still. May it include many more bright moments as this. CleanSpark's EV Charging Solutions Set to Deploy Across California, Hawaii. Tweet this KIGT, an Ontario, California based firm, was founded as a reseller of EV charging equipment more than a decade ago. The principals of the company identified a need within the electric vehicle sector for a more efficient, faster charging and affordable solution. The team at KIGT successfully launched a proprietary platform and began manufacturing their own products in 2014. This Open ADR certification will enable KIGT to enter new markets, participating alongside other, older EV charging companies in serving entities including major California Utilities and HECO (Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.). We believe the electric vehicle market is poised for exponential growth. According to McKinsey & Company, "With consumer focus shifting towards sustainability, it is anticipated that expenditure on electric vehicles will double over the next 5 years." Paul Francis, Co-Founder of KIGT, said of the announcement, "OpenADR certification will be a key driver for our growth in 2021, allowing us to work with leading utilities' demand response and incentive programs. GridFabric made the process easy, as we were able to become fully certified much quicker and at a significantly lower cost than attempting the certification process alone." Zach Bradford, CleanSpark's President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "GridFabric's Plaid product is one of the fastest ways for a company like KIGT to achieve full OpenADR certification across their platform. This process allows them to participate in utility load shifting programs, rapidly. Alternatively, the process of achieving certification without this program can result in months-long delays and substantial capital expenditures. This project is yet another successful deployment of GridFabric's unique offering within the broader EV charging industry." Adding, "GridFabric, has continued to expand its network of customers since its acquisition by CleanSpark in 2020. Following President Biden's remarks this week committing to the replacement of the entire Federal fleet with electric vehicles, we believe the focus on rapid certification of EV charging systems is poised to accelerate over the course of the coming years." Executive Chairman Matthew Schultz will also be speaking today, January 28th at 12pm Eastern at the RenMark Virtual Roadshow. To view the live presentation, CLICK HERE. A recording will be available on the Company investor website a few days after the presentation. Parties interested in learning more about CleanSpark products and services are encouraged to inquire by contacting the Company directly at [email protected] or visiting the Company's websites at www.cleanspark.com or www.gridfabric.io. Investors are encouraged to contact the Company at [email protected] or visiting the Company's website at https://ir.cleanspark.com/ About CleanSpark: CleanSpark, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is in the business of providing advanced software and controls technology solutions to solve modern energy challenges. We have a suite of software solutions that provide end-to-end microgrid energy modeling, energy market communications, and energy management solutions. Our offerings consist of intelligent energy monitoring and controls, intelligent microgrid design software, middleware communications protocols for the energy industry, energy system engineering, and software consulting services. Through its wholly owned subsidiary ATL Data Centers LLC, CleanSpark owns and operates a data center that provides customers with traditional on-site and cloud-based data center services. The Company also owns and operates a fleet of over 3,400 ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) Bitcoin miners producing over 200 PH/s in mining capacity. Capacity is expected to increase to over 300 PH/s in mining capacity in early 2021. CleanSpark plans to apply its technologies with a goal of mining bitcoins at the lowest energy prices in the United States. For more information, visit https://ATL-DATA.com About KIGT Inc. KIGT is an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Manufacturer that also creates the operating software. KIGT helps Plug-in Car Drivers save time and money by providing faster charging for home, workplace, public and fleet with software that makes it easier to manage fueling and energy expenses. Learn more at https://kigtinc.com Forward-Looking Statements: CleanSpark cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on CleanSpark's current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by CleanSpark that any of our plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation: the successful deployment of energy solutions in the electric vehicle or other sectors, the fitness of our energy software and solutions for this particular application or market, the expectations of future revenue growth may not be realized, ongoing demand for our software products and related services, the impact of global pandemics (including COVID-19) on the demand for our products and services; and other risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Contact - Investor Relations: CleanSpark, Inc. Investor Relations (801)-244-4405 SOURCE CleanSpark, Inc. Related Links http://www.cleanspark.com The Martin Mc Guinness Peace Foundation has announced plans to hold a poetry competition in his memory. Spokesperson for the Foundation, Paul Kavanagh said: "Martins love of poetry was well-known, whether it was enjoying the work of others or writing his own on the rare occasions that his hectic schedule allowed him the time. "Therefore, it is very fitting that the Foundation has confirmed plans to hold a poetry competition to coincide with Martins anniversary and World Poetry Day on March 21. "As part of the Foundations objectives to promote Martins legacy through education, art and culture, we want to encourage all those with an interest in poetry to take part. "The competition will be in two sections, those under the age of 18 and those 18+ with a top prize of 1,000 being awarded to the winning entries with 500 going to the runners-up. "We're delighted to have Derry-born and internationally renowned poet, Colette Bryce, on the judging panel for the competition. "Entrants should pen a poem that reflects Martins legacy or his vision for a New Ireland and the poems can be in both Gaeilge and/or English." Poems should be submitted to mmpfpoetrycompetition@gmail.com by 12 noon on Friday, March 5. Colette Bryce, editor of Poetry Ireland Review and a native of Derry has been confirmed as one of the judges. The winning poem will be part of the memento given to those registering for the Chieftains Walk. 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. January 27, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - On January 6th, Jon Farina, photographer and videographer for Jordan Charitons Status Coup outlet, captured horrifying images. At the Capitol, a pro-Trump mob tried to burst into the building, and a police officer who attempted to intercede was caught in a door. He cried out in pain, but the crowd was indifferent, chanting, Heave, ho! as they tried to break in. Farina, in the middle of the physical mayhem as photojournalists often are, caught the scene up close while 30,000 people watched the live feed. Farinas footage rocketed around the world, and major press outlets celebrated his work as an example of hard-hitting reporting. CNN did a laudatory story about the freelance photojournalist, with Pamela Brown asking Farina to bring us inside the mayhem. Other outlets like USA Today quoted his recollections of that day, and the likes of Steven Colbert on CBS, as well as ABC News, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, the New York Post, the Daily Mail, and others used it as fodder for outraged coverage of the riot: For a week or so, Status Coup was feted for service on the front lines of responsible journalism. Nearly two weeks later, on January 18th, another Farina live stream was shut down by YouTube, thanks to policies that will make it very difficult for non-corporate media going forward to do live reporting. In fact, its not a stretch to say that if the incident from the 18th happened earlier, we may never have gotten the Capitol pictures. On the 18th, Farina was in Richmond, Virginia, where a significant rally of pro-gun protesters was expected. There had been widespread reports warning of unrest. CBS relayed FBI fears of credible threats of violence, while the Washington Post said officials were on edge ahead of the Martin Luther King Day protest, gearing up for a full-scale assault: Members of the National Guard are on standby. Plywood covers the windows of the State Capitol. Tall metal barricades surround Capitol Square, with police vehicles idling on pathways just inside locked pedestrian gates. Downtown streets will be closed; signs warning against carrying guns have gone up around the city. The violent, lawless insurrection and assault on democracy and its institutions that unfolded last week in Washington, D.C., will not be tolerated in the city of Richmond, Mayor Levar Stoney warned on Thursday. The threats may have been credible, but when Farina began live-streaming to an audience of 6,000, the event turned out to be peaceful and unremarkable, though not without interest from a news perspective. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Frankly, there might have been more press than protesters, Status Coups Chariton said later. And while it was live, it was pretty informative. Jon talked to 4-5 people, and they pretty much all made it clear that they werent Trump supporters, that they didnt support what happened in the Capitol. They were pretty relaxed compared to the propaganda ahead of time. Despite the seeming unremarkableness of the event, it shut down abruptly mid-feed. Chariton assumed something happened on Farinas end. Then I got an email from YouTube, telling me wed violated their Firearms Policy. I wasnt aware they had a firearms policy. Chariton went onto Twitter to announce what happened, and after a few well-known media figures like Krystal Ball and Ryan Grim complained, YouTube restored the content. Other independents covering the rally, however, like Andrew Kimmel, never had their content restored. The serious consequence of the Virginia episode was not so much the lost coverage of the rally, but what Chariton had to tell Farina after the event. Well-known for covering labor issues, homelessness, and especially the Flint water crisis, Status Coup had been growing, in large part because of live stream content. Now, however, the possibility that YouTube might issue a strike against his channel, or take it down altogether, forced him into a difficult decision. I had to tell [Farina] not to go live anymore, he says. One person at the same rally wasnt surprised by what happened. Videographer and well-known protest shooter Ford Fischer of News2Share, the first profile subject of Meet the Censored, was also in Richmond to shoot the event. He didnt get taken down by YouTube, but only because he didnt bother trying to go live. I was there on January 18th and didnt stream it, because I knew itd get banned, Fischer says. I filmed basically the same rally on January 17th and it did get banned. The January 17th rally Fischer referenced was a pro-gun rally in Columbus, Ohio, that in the wake of the Capitol riot garnered significant advance media coverage. Once again, headlines like FBI warns of Potential Boogaloo Violence During January 17th Rallies primed audiences to expect the worst, and also to make a direct connection with the January 6th events. In fact, Twitter cited the coming Ohio rally in its post announcing the closure of Donald Trumps account, describing the Ohio event as a possible secondary attack: Plans for future armed protests have already begun proliferating on and off-Twitter, including a proposed secondary attack on the US Capitol and state capitol buildings on January 17, 2021. According to Fischer, the Twitter announcement didnt exactly make sense, because the protesters in Ohio were more of a libertarian ilk, and, as Farina and Chariton discovered in the Virginia crowd, not so clearly aligned with Trump as Twitter and other media outlets may have imagined. Fischer has frequently covered events involving the gun-toting Boogaloos, whom he describes as anti-authoritarian and less likely to be Trumpists than to profess a pox-on-both-houses attitude to Trump and Joe Biden both (You might hear something like, Unless you put Ron Paul on the ballot, Im not voting, he says). Although theres significant national interest in the group, both among supporters and detractors, Fischer says Ive basically stopped trying to live stream rallies involving Boogaloos. Back on July 4th, 2020, he shot a live stream of a joint armed rally of Boogaloos and Black Lives Matter, protesting together against police violence here again, we see the significant political differences between Trump supporters and some of these pro-gun groups only to have the live stream interrupted, on the same grounds that it violated Googles firearms policy. Nonetheless, Fischer attempted to shoot the January 17th rally, among other things because of the obvious public interest in the event, which was heavily covered by the mainstream press. Local TV affiliates associated with networks like ABC and CNN covered the January 17th rallies in Columbus and in other locations, even broadcasting live. However, when Fischer tried to live stream, he was cut off in short order by a notice identical to the one received by Chariton. He was reminded that YouTube does not allow live streams showing someone holding, handling, or transporting a firearm. The policy presents obvious head-scratching issues. For one, as Fischer points out, virtually all police carry a firearm, so theres obviously some subjectivity in whats being enforced. Furthermore, the rule doesnt seem to apply to major corporate outlets, a double-standard problem thats a constant in this universe. In an even more bizarre recent incident, YouTube this past weekend removed video Fischer shot on January 6th not live footage, but still of the crowd listening to Donald Trump before the Capitol riot. This time, the grounds were that the content advanced false claims that widespread fraud errors or glitches affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Fischer supposes the issue has to do with the fact that the unedited, single-shot video which is focused mainly on the crowd reaction caught Trumps own words. This might make sense, except that Trumps speech that day is still on YouTube, as broadcast by several CBS affiliates, among others. As with Farina, Fischers Capitol protest footage was picked up by numerous major outlets, including CNN, NBC, CBS, BBC, and others, but the system seems to incentivize independent shooters to distribute footage through corporate outlets only, rather than conveying directly to their own audiences. I absolutely think theres a campaign against independent content creators, especially live, Fischer says. Major outlets face no such technical issues. This makes any attempt to build an alternative news outlet a steep uphill climb, even when theres a positive audience response, as Chariton has found out. Formerly with The Young Turks, Charitons niche is national news from a left/progressive perspective, with special emphasis on the area where corporate outlets once had a near-monopoly, e.g. on-location production of images and reporting. Typically, alternative media outlets cant afford to travel much and often have to rely on wire services and commercial coverage for primary source material, especially for expensive beats like the presidential election. Chariton emphasizes going to hot spots like Flint and to election campaign events to generate original images and video interviews, an innovative alt-media take on national news coverage. Live stream coverage had been a major part of their formula. The Ohio and Virginia incidents underscore two developments involving platforms like YouTube/Google, Facebook, and Twitter in recent years. The first is the campaign to stress what Google calls authoritative content, which up-ranks articles and videos issued by major corporate news outlets like CNN or CBS, while decreasing traffic for independent sites on the left, the right, and in between. The second has been an effort to close loopholes in the platforms content moderation regimes. In the wake of the Capitol riot, this trend intensified. After the insurrection, a series of trial-balloon stories appeared in the press, suggesting that Internet nooks and crannies where conspiracy theory and misinformation proliferate might need more aggressive cleaning. The AP warned that Apple and Google, among others, have left open a major loophole for this material: Podcasts. The New York Times meanwhile reported on an exodus of millions of users who, fearing a Big Tech crackdown, jumped to encyrpted sites like Signal and Telegram. The Times quoted the head of the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Louis Grever, as saying such sites allow groups that have an ill intent to plan behind the curtain. Noting the situation worried U.S. authorities, the piece suggested the migration might inflame the debate over encryption. Podcasts, encrypted apps: how about live programming? Pundits had long worried that live stream capability was allowing the broadcast of violence and hate speech. In the hands of alternative media, however, the tool posed another problem, in the form of simply showing offensive reality. In the cases of people like Fischer and Chariton, however, its unclear how platforms like YouTube understand the documentation of political demonstrations. If you film a neo-Nazi running his mouth, should you be banned for covering his hate speech? If you show a gun-rights activist carrying a gun, are you yourself engaging in pro-gun activism? For independent outlets like Status Coup, these questions pose a serious problem. Because theyre dependent financially on platforms like YouTube to reach subscribers, they cant afford to take the risk of being shut down. But how can alternative media operate if it doesnt know exactly where the lines are? Also, how can such outlets add value when its one advantage over corporate media flexibility, and willingness to cover topics outside the mainstream is limited by the fear of consequences from making independent-minded editorial decisions? Its pretty horrible, Chariton said, if we have to consider not doing our jobs, out of fear that YouTube is going to remove our content, or remove our channel without warning (like theyve begun doing to other, smaller channels)." The standard response to complaints about incidents like this is that YouTube and Google are private companies, and no one has a right to a platform on a private space. Chariton acknowledges this and concedes there are alternative platforms, like Rokfin, a video-sharing alternative to YouTube. For the foreseeable future anyway, however, it would be nearly impossible to build a successful alternative video-based channel without the assent of the small handful of major tech platforms that dominate media. People live on YouTube and Facebook, is how Chariton puts it. I asked him a few more questions about the future of live content, and what happened on January 18th: TK: How has the ability to produce live content affected your business? JC: Status Coup was up 20,000 subscribers since November, in large part because we were covering stories like the Stop the Steal movement and other issues related to the election. Id say 95% of that content was live content. Weve done a lot of stuff, from coverage of GMs decision to lay off 15,000 workers to the epidemic of homelessness in Seattle, to repeated reporting trips in Flint covering the ongoing water crisis. Its a major part of the business. It costs two to three grand for us to take a trip somewhere, and its already tight, but if were restricted in any way from doing live, thats a blow because it brings in a significant amount of our revenue (which we need to then fund future in-the-field reporting trips). TK: What happened in Virginia to affect your decision-making about live content going forward? JC: I had to tell my cameraman not to go live Theyve already shown theyre willing to take down some outlets entirely, without warning. The email YouTube sent me, I felt they could consider that a warning, and the next time, they could either give us a copyright strike, or remove us. I just cant afford to take that risk. TK: Do you see this as part of a wider effort to close informational loopholes at these platforms? JC: Its already documented that YouTube has been hiding independent channels in a cave, while elevating authoritative channels like according to YouTube CNN and Fox News. Thats Silicon Valley basically just saying outright, Were elevating some sources at the expense of others Unless youre a major outlet that has a line to YouTube, you dont have any way of clearing up these episodes. Its easier to talk to someone at the CIA than it is to actually reach a human being at YouTube. TK: What are the implications of an incident like this for alternative media? JC: First of all, its worth pointing out, the only reason my content was restored is that I threw a shit-fit on Twitter, and people like Krystal Ball and Ryan Grim complained. But people like Andrew Kimmel did not have their content restored, proving theres basically no rhyme or reason to this. Its arbitrary. Weve come to a place where youd almost have to clear your decisions with YouTube ahead of time to feel completely safe. I understand, there must be some limits. If someone like Alex Jones is saying, Go get your guns, get out there, thats really dangerous. But this, this is beyond a slippery slope. Its a cliff. If they start pulling live streams or issuing strikes like this, its basically a death sentence for outlets like ours. Sibi Sathyaraj's neo-noir thriller Kabadadaari released today (January 28, 2021). The film written and directed by Pradeep Krishnamoorthy has now joined the list of films that have been leaked online. Kabadadaari has been leaked on Telegram and other piracy based websites. The Sibi Sathyaraj-starrer revolves around a traffic SI (Sub-inspector), who is on a mission to resolve a murder mystery after he discovers the mortal remains of a person at a metro construction site. The film has been garnering a mixed response from the cine-goers. The nail-biting storyline and acting chops of actors including Sibi, is getting huge appreciation from the audience. Produced by G Dhananjayan and Lalitha Dhananjayan under their home production banner Creative Entertainers and Distributors, Kabadadaari is the official remake of the popular Kannada film Kavaludaari that release in 2018. Notably, the Telugu version of the film, Kapadadhaari was also shot simultaneously with the Tamil version. Interestingly, the Telugu film starring Sumanth has also been directed by Pradeep Krishnamoorthy. Featuring Nandita Swetha, Nassar, Jayaprakash, Suman Ranganathan, Pradeep Krishnamoorthy and J Satish Kumar in important roles, the film has music composed by Simon K King. On the other hand, the camera for the film has been cranked by Rasamathi, while the editing is carried out by Praveen KL. On a related note, though the film was earlier scheduled to hit the theatres in May 2021, the makers had to postpone the release date owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent delay, which delayed the post-production work of Kabadadaari. Also Read: Kabadadaari Twitter Review: Here's What Twitterati Feel About The Sibi Sathyaraj Starrer Also Read: Super Singer 8 Launched On Star Vijay; Here Is Everything You Need To Know! ELKO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Lithium Corporation (OTCQB:LTUM) ("LTUM" or "the Company"), a North American company focused on energy metals for the growing energy storage sector and high-tech industries, has recently entered into a purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (LPC), under which LPC has agreed to purchase up to $10.3 million dollars of LTUM's common shares. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, LPC made an initial purchase of $160,000 of LTUM's common stock at $0.42 per share. Going forward, subsequent to the satisfaction of the conditions of the purchase agreement, including an S-1 resale registration statement being filed and declared effective by the SEC, LTUM has the option, but not the obligation, to sell up to a further $10.14 million dollars of its common stock to Lincoln Park Capital over the next three years. The Company, at its sole discretion, will control the timing and amount of future sales of its common stock to LPC. There are no upper limits to the price LPC may pay to purchase common stock and the purchase price of the shares will be based on the prevailing market prices of LTUM's shares at the time of each sale to LPC. LPC has agreed not to cause or engage in any manner whatsoever, any direct or indirect short selling, or hedging of the Company's common stock. The Company retains the right to terminate the agreement at any time, without any additional cost or penalty. "Following considerable research, LTUM came to the conclusion that the timing for financing is ideal as the market for energy metals is rapidly becoming more bullish," states Tom Lewis, President and CEO of LTUM. "After discussions with numerous groups over the years the Company is of the opinion that the LPC purchase agreement provides a low-cost solution that minimizes dilution for existing investors and allows the Company to maintain control and issue shares as we execute on our plan. We welcome LPC as an investor and value their experience in the metal and mining sector." LTUM intends to primarily use the proceeds of funding to ramp up its exploration and development plans on its existing properties, to evaluate and possibly acquire other energy metal assets, and also to satisfy ongoing general, and administrative needs. A more detailed description of the agreement is set forth in Lithium Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in this offering, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer solicitation or sale are unlawful prior to registration or qualification under securities laws of any such jurisdiction. About Lithium Corporation Lithium Corporation is an exploration company based in Nevada devoted to the exploration for energy storage related resources throughout North America, and looking to capitalize on opportunities within the ever-expanding next generation energy storage markets. The Company maintains a strategic alliance with Altura Mining, an ASX listed Lithium explorer. Contact Info Tom Lewis, CEO Lithium Corporation 775-410-5287 info@lithiumcorporation.com www.lithiumcorporation.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of minerals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE: Lithium Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626417/Lithium-Corporation-Announces-up-to-103M-Purchase-Agreement-With-Lincoln-Park-Capital-Fund-LLC Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. What sovereignty, when the legitimacy of the prime minister of Armenia depends on how many times a week he can have a telephone conversation with the President of Russia, when your security directly depends on Russia? The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with several media outlets on Wednesday. "The term most used by the current government of Armenia has been "sovereignty." What do we have now in terms of sovereignty? (). Now that sovereign language has become a brush for cleaning shoes. What sovereignty?" added the second president. When asked to what extent Russia needs a weak Armenia, he answered. "I am convinced that its not beneficial. (). If you are an ally, you should not be in the role of a constant beggar, you should present value from yourself, and in that case, the bilateral relations are complete. We [Armenia] should not become a burden on the Russian budget, we have never been a burden on the Russian budget. We were the most reliable partner in this region, our interests coincided, we had the most combat-ready army. Robert Kocharyan stressed that Russia needs a strong Armenia. "It is possible to work with Russia in that direction, and here our interests will undoubtedly coincide," he said. Budget 2021 will be presented on February 1 in the backdrop of a pandemic that has profoundly changed the economic landscape not only in India, but globally. Having tackled the downturn head on, the government issued a slew of fiscal incentives, with the year seeing highest quarterly GST collections. However, direct tax collections have understandably slowed. With India Inc. looking upwards towards recovery from an overall economic slump, ensuring stability and impetus for growth should be key in this Budget. While the government is likely to incentivise each sector, as the global epicentre for information technology, performance of the Indian IT industry is likely to be crucial. The recent reductions in tax rates for domestic companies have been greatly appreciated, and they should be extended to non-corporate domestic taxpayers as well. Not permitting the claim of unutilised Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) paid in earlier years has been a dampener in opting for the 22 percent regime by those who have significant MAT credit accumulated and it is suggested that the restriction should be removed. The concessional corporate tax rate of 15 percent introduced for new domestic manufacturing companies should be extended to new service sector ones too, to place them on an equal footing. Further, it has been long expected that the provisions for carry forward of loss and unabsorbed depreciation on amalgamation would be extended to all players in the service sector to boost their competitiveness. Another expectation carried over from the past is relief on the applicability of buyback tax to listed companies. To provide employment hiring incentive during these difficult times, the government should further liberalise the additional tax deduction available for salary paid to new workforce. Considering the nature of work in this sector, the threshold for monthly emoluments should be raised to Rs 50,000 or more. The recently introduced tax withholding on sale of goods or provision of services facilitated by an e-commerce operator has various practical difficulties and should be rolled back. If not done away with, it is suggested that cancelled sales, incidental charges and GST are clearly excluded. The exemption threshold of Rs 5 lakh should be substantially raised and it should be clarified that the withholding requirement applies only on the incremental amount exceeding the threshold during the financial year. Moving to international tax expectations, it is hoped that the significant economic presence provisions are once again deferred. In any case, considering the intent of the provisions, the applicability should be clearly restricted to digital economy transactions. This is even more so considering the expansion of equalisation levy last year, in respect of which taxpayers lacked the opportunity of public consultation and the benefit of explanatory documents. This has sparked debate on the exact intention and on the applicability of the widely worded provisions to various types of businesses and operating models. Though the US Trade Representative has objected to the levy, the government has issued a reply in support of the fairness of the levy. Several representations have been made to the government, and the industry keenly hopes that the government will provide much-needed clarity in areas such as coverage of physical goods ordered online, quantification in commission models, mismatch in date of corresponding exemption from income-tax, applicability to correspondence over e-mail, and many others. It is also expected that all interest and penalties are waived until substantial clarity is brought in. In light of the effects of the pandemic, the government should clarify that extended stay of employees in India due to travel restrictions will not enhance permanent establishment and place of effective management risks for non-resident taxpayers. For transfer pricing safe harbour margins, it is suggested that these are continued for future years, the turnover threshold is increased and the rates are rationalised. Further, in cases where tax return filing has been dispensed with for interest, dividends, royalties and fees for technical services earned by non-residents on which taxes have been withheld at rates prescribed under domestic law, transfer pricing filings too should be dispensed with. Lastly, short term relaxations called for due to the pandemic include recognising costs incurred due to the pandemic as extraordinary for computing operating margins, making concessions for critical assumptions / margins as per advance pricing agreements not being met, permitting single year comparable data, etc. (Khushroo Patel, Senior Tax Professional, EY, contributed to the article). Pet Wants We are honored to have Pet Wants on this prestigious list, said Chris Seaman, Strategic Franchising President. There is no better time to invest in the growing pet care industry and we are so excited for this brands future. Pet Wants, the Cincinnati-based high-quality pet food and supplies franchise, recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazines Franchise 500, the worlds first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Placement in the Franchise 500 is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry making it one of the companys most competitive rankings ever. Pet Wants is listed at 490 after a year that included impressive franchise growth and record-breaking sales. Pet Wants, which is part of the Strategic Franchising Family, added 22 new locations in 2020. We are honored to have Pet Wants on this prestigious list, said Chris Seman, Strategic Franchising President. There is no better time to invest in the growing pet care industry and we are so excited for this brands future. Pet Wants was able to capitalize on a surge in pet adoptions during the pandemic increasing year-over-year sales by 25 percent! 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it was also a year of unusual opportunity, says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, well see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future. In Entrepreneurs continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the companys 42-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order. Over its 42 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Pet Wants position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity. To view Pet Wants in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2021 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 26th. About Pet Wants Pet Wants was founded in Cincinnati in 2010 to bring fresh, natural pet food to pet families. Their mission is to enhance the health, vitality and life of pets with high-quality food and honest advice from a Pet Nutrition Specialist on staff at each location. Pet Wants pet food is personally delivered to homes within weeks of being made, at the height of freshness. Their food doesnt sit in warehouses and on store shelves for many months getting stale and losing nutritional value like it does for most mass-produced, national brands. Pet Wants private label pet food formulas are slow-cooked in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced meal. Pet Wants only uses high-quality proteins and never uses added sugar, fillers, animal by-products, corn, wheat, soy or dyes. Pet Wants offers multiple blends of dog and cat food formulas as well as healing salve, calming balm, anti-itch spray, paw wax and more. Since 2015 Pet Wants has expanded into a national presence and grown to more than 100 locations. Learn more about Pet Wants at http://www.PetWants.com. About Entrepreneur Magazine Entrepreneur Magazine is a national business publication based in Irvine, California. For nearly 40 years, Entrepreneur has been the definitive guide to all the diverse challenges of business ownership. Published 12 times a year, the magazine is available by subscription and on newsstands in the United States and Canada, both in print and now a mobile app. PHOENIX, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Catholic Schools Week is January 31 to February 6, 2021. This is the time when families begin choosing the best school for their children and when schools connect with families, donors, educators and other community members. There are 36 schools in the Diocese of Phoenix that are served by Catholic Education Arizona along with St. Michael's Indian School and Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona. The Diocese of Phoenix Catholic High Schools boast: 99.4% graduation rate 97% of graduates matriculate to higher education or military service 1000s of hours of community service are conducted annually "We are fortunate to live in Arizona, one of only 19 states that has tax credit legislation to strengthen communities," stated Catholic Education Arizona's President and CEO Nancy Padberg, MBA. Catholic Education Arizona (CEA) partners with Arizona businesses and individual taxpayers to make private education affordable and accessible. CEA, a School Tuition Organization serving the Diocese of Phoenix, offers Arizona residents and businesses an opportunity to help change lives. Arizona tax credit legislation allows individuals and corporations to direct their tax dollars to families with demonstrated need. Corporate partners filing as S or C Corp, LLCs filing as S Corp and insurance companies collecting premiums can direct up to 100% of their state tax liability to Low Income and Disabled/Displaced scholarships through CEA. CEA partners with companies such as APS, Camelot Homes, Grand Canyon University, Earnhardt Auto Centers and BBVA as well as smaller firms such as attorneys, dentists, painters, and restaurants. Individual tax credits allow taxpayers in Arizona to contribute their state tax liability to education and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit. Cathy Tom, a parent at St. Michael's Indian School, said, "My child is the first out of our family to attend a private school and it would have been with great difficulty without the support of the CEA scholarship. By giving this opportunity, you have provided us security through my child's education." Deb Preach, Chief Development Officer of CEA, sent her 4 children through 12 years of Catholic education. She encourages families to learn about Arizona tax credit scholarships. "At Catholic Education Arizona, we want families to know if they believe a Catholic school is the best place for their child, but cost is a concern, we are here to help. Tax credit scholarships are truly a gift." Catholic Education Arizona is the largest provider of scholarships to underserved families attending private schools. Last year $18.3 million in tax credit donations was made to assist 45% of Arizona's Catholic school students. Since 1998, over $268 million has been raised to benefit students in the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix and 138,000 scholarships have been awarded. Learn more about how CEA is Changing Lives One Scholarship at a Time. www.ceaz.org 602-218-6542 Contact: Debra Preach Chief Development Officer Catholic Education Arizona [email protected] (602) 218-6542 SOURCE Catholic Education Arizona Related Links www.ceaz.org Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe. Pennsylvania delivered the presidency for Biden. It was Philadelphia and its suburbs that clinched the winparticularly the multiracial grassroots coalition of working class voters who we represent and champion that proved critical to both mobilizing votes and protecting the integrity of the results after election day. So now, in Bidens first 100 days, we expect him to deliver on his promises. Here are four areas where we expect Biden to offer concrete action for our constituencies. 1. Reform democracy It was not the principled Republicans too often praised by pundits who saved our democracy, but, as recently chronicled in the New York Times, the thousands of pro-democracy organizers and union members who put in uncountable hours of work the past year. Pennsylvanias community, faith, and labor leaders launched an effort to monitor the vote count in all 67 counties and beat back Trumps unfounded legal challenges in the courts. And as an angry minority harassed our election officials in Philadelphia, it was our movement, led by the Working Families Party, who countered with a deliberately joyful celebration to defend our democracy. READ MORE: Biden cant unite America, but he can tackle COVID-19, jobs, and student debt | Solomon Jones Its not a stable system that relies on this kind of massive volunteer organizing to save our democracy from collapsing. We expect Biden to quickly advance an ambitious reform agenda that protects the right to vote and champions new federal protections for voting rights. He must fight for legislation that restores and enhances the protections of the Civil Rights era, fights back against decades of Republican efforts to silence voters of color, combats gerrymandering, and reduces the influence of money in politics. 2. Tackle systemic racism This past year has revealed to many what was already clear to the Black community: systemic racism remains an insidiously powerful force in our society. Its a heavy weight dragging down Philadelphia and its people, most of whom are people of color. The summer uprisings and the protests to the murder of Walter Wallace Jr. in October were the reaction to generations of disinvestment, discrimination and violence toward Black people. The work to transform the institution of policing will primarily be fought in city councils and statehouses. Bidens responsibility is to invest in our communities. That means providing tangible investments to Black, working-class communities in the Presidents economic stimulus efforts--investments in our schools, housing and rental assistance, and job creation. It means canceling student debt. We also expect Biden to support Black leaders ongoing work to push the nation to finally begin confronting, reconciling, and repairing the centuries of injustice that have been perpetrated on the Black community. 3. Fund people, not corporations As PA Stands Up volunteers said in their post-election message to Biden: This isnt a time to go back to normal--normal left millions of us behind. The lack of income, child care and, most crucially, affordable health care experienced by millions of working families over the past year has been literally deadly. As Americas poorest big city, Philadelphia has been hit hard, with unemployment last June soaring over 18%, higher than ever recorded in government data and far higher than the national average. Biden must put the needs of working people first by pushing Congress for new, recurring stimulus payments, reinforcement for our frayed and failing unemployment system, and an eviction moratorium that will prevent hard-working people shut out from their jobs from sliding into homelessness. READ MORE: Philadelphias voter turnout disappointed this year, but these strategies helped raise it in the 21st Ward | Opinion Going forward, we expect the president to work to roll back Trumps tax giveaway to billionaires and do more to expand access to affordable, public health care. 4. Pursue climate justice The climate crisis cannot wait for the pandemic to be over, as the residents of Philadelphias flooded Eastwick neighborhood know all too well. While rejoining the Paris accord is welcome news, Biden must recognize that the accelerating pace of the climate crisis has already rendered the Paris targets insufficient. Any upcoming plans for investment in Americas infrastructure must mirror the proposals championed in the Green New Deal. Long-stalled rules for clean power and transportation need to go forward quickly. And new investments are needed in climate justice that steer the benefits of the green economy towards those communities who have been hit hardest by climate devastation. The working people of Philadelphia organized for this win for years. It belongs to us as much as it belongs to any campaign or candidate. Starting now, we are working to hold President Biden accountable to his promises. And we expect results. Kendra Brooks is an at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council. Hannah Laurison is the Executive Director of Pennsylvania Stands Up. The arguments in favour of a zero-Covid policy need to be taken seriously, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. He said he still hasn't heard solutions to some of the stumbling blocks in the way of such an approach. Mr Donnelly said there is no monopoly on wisdom on the issue and that he has heard all the arguments in favour of it. He said one of the biggest stumbling blocks remains unimpeded travel between the North and Republic, and how this could be addressed. I have yet to see a realistic answer, he said, adding that what the Cabinet agreed last Tuesday will go some way to addressing concerns around the border. These include mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine, an increase in Garda checkpoints along the border, and sharing of passenger location information. However, it is simply a reality that Northern Ireland is a different jurisdiction to the Republic, he said. Mr Donnelly was speaking as talks resumed between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Department of Health over specialists in public health medicine contracts. Read More Donnelly makes a series of blunders in Dail session Yesterday, the Irish Examiner reported on how a poorly resourced regional public health system could undermine any move to a zero-Covid approach. Mr Donnelly said public health doctors have done a bloody good job at constantly "stepping up" during the pandemic and that what the countrys 90 or so full- and part-time specialists in public health medicine are doing is essential. He said a properly funded regional public health system would absolutely help with tackling virus outbreaks in general. On growing calls for zero-Covid, he said: I have listened to the zero-Covid arguments. I have met experts advocating for zero-Covid. There are ideas there that need to be taken seriously. If you were to line up a policy platform for zero-Covid and compare it to what has been agreed in Cabinet in terms of the level 5 measures ongoing to suppress the virus, you will see a lot of commonalities. On the border issue, Mr Donnelly said: I have yet to see a realistic answer to [the question] how do you address the fact that there is unimpeded travel North to South on the island and unimpeded travel between Northern Ireland and Britain? "And, therefore, a route for unimpeded travel between Britain and the Republic. He said: Cabinet decided we are deploying several measures, including border controls. The requirements for mandatory quarantine will apply to those coming into the Republic from the North. That is new. And they are being put on a statutory footing, which is new. So that will deal with some of it. Were going to work closely with our colleagues in Northern Ireland on sharing passenger locator information, which will help with a single island approach. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the regulatory framework around the restrictions being brought in will be ready in a matter of days. However, some of the initiatives will require new legislation and that could take weeks. And while the Government may see the merits of increased Garda patrols along the border, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has its reservations. The GRA has called on the Government to explain how the force is going to be expected to police 300 border crossing between the North and South "without a clear plan". The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Former Acting General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh has paid tribute to the the first President of Ghana under the Fourth Republic, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. The late former President Jerry John Rawlings went home today, January 27. He was buried at the new Military Cemetery at Burma Camp in the Greater Accra Region. The Military led a procession carrying his mortal remains to the cemetery. James Kwabena Bomfeh touted the good leadership of Mr. Rawlings citing some of his legacies to be the rural electrification in the country, major improvement and adjustments to the education system and his transition from an autocratic rule to democracy.c Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, James Kwabena Bomfeh reminisced about the historic accounts of the late former President from his Military rule to constitutional government and his handing over to the next government. Kabila called on the nation to honor the late President by drawing good lessons from his death. "Let's draw good lessons from his death and also realize that death awaits all of us," he said. One significant lesson that Kabila wants to be drawn is for Ghana not to return to the unconstitutional rule. "The best tribute we can give to Mr. Rawlings is to say never again to that legacy that he overthrew a constitutionally elected government for it not to happen again. No matter how bad a constitutionally elected government may be, we should prefer that to the best Military dictatorship," he exclaimed. 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. Featured Video President Bidens international climate envoy John Kerry called on the world to get serious about the climate crisis at the virtual World Economic Forum on Wednesday (REUTERS) Joe Biden's climate czar John Kerry tried to quash concerns that the president's planned climate policies will kill jobs for Americans in traditional energy sectors. During a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Kerry said workers had been mislead by former President Donald Trump about the impact clean climate policy would have on their jobs. He was asked about his message to oil/gas workers who feel threatened by calls to phase-out industry and boost clean energy jobs. "Unfortunately, workers have been fed a false narrative, no surprise, for the last four years [on clean energy infrastructure]," Mr Kerry said. "They've been told that somehow dealing with climate is coming at their expense. No, it's not." Mr Kerry has been critical of America's role in the global fight against climate change under the Trump administration. He told reporters that Mr Trump's actions were "reckless" on the same day that Mr Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accords. "We know with pain and some embarrassment that, for the last four years, the leader of our country chose to pull out of the agreement and, frankly, engage in reckless behaviour, with respect to the future of people all over the world," Mr Kerry said. While Mr Biden's plan does include a focus on decreasing reliance on "dirty" energy, it also includes job-creation programmes aimed at increasing opportunities for work in the clean energy industry. Mr Biden will sign an executive order creating a White House interagency council that according to Mr Kerry will include every executive branch agency to focus on climate issues. The president's climate plan will also call on White House agencies to invest in minority and low-income communities that have long shouldered the burden of pollution. In total, 40 per cent of the government's sustainability investments will be directed to those communities. At the same time as Mr Kerry was speaking to the press, Mr Biden's nominee for energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, faced questions from the Senate about the impact the president's climate policies would have on jobs. Story continues Ms Granholm admitted that some jobs might be lost, but expressed confidence that the growth in clean energy sectors would outweigh those lost due to the policy. I think the presidents plan of building back better would create more jobs in energy, clean energy, than the jobs that might be sacrificed, she said. But I will say this, no job we don't want to see any jobs sacrificed, Read More John Kerry calls on the world to get serious on climate at Davos Two-thirds of people think climate change is a global emergency Kerry aims to talk US back into a lead role in climate fight John Kerry makes first remarks as Bidens climate envoy at UN summit John Kerry thanks Europe for keeping climate efforts going Republicans attack appointment of John Kerry as Biden climate envoy WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - The West Lafayette Police Department (WLPD) is investigating the death of Purdue University student Katie Cruz, who passed away earlier this week. According to Tim Doty of Purdue University, Cruz was a junior student studying Biochemistry. WLPD Investigations Commander Lt. Jon Eager says he does not expect foul play in her death. Dr. Katie Sermersheim, Associate Vice Provost & Dean of Students released this statement regarding Cruz's death: "We are saddened any time we experience a students death and offer our condolences and support to Katies family and friends." We will update the story as we learn more. Beijing: Amid the Sikkim standoff, the Chinese military on Thursday said it has conducted trials of a lightweight battle tank in Tibet near the Indian border. The 35-tonne tank has carried out trials in the plains of Tibet, PLA spokesman Col Wu Qian said in a media briefing in Beijing. He was responding to questions about media reports that the Peoples Liberation Army has carried out an exercise involving a new type of 35-tonne lightweight tank in Tibet. When asked whether it is targeted against India, the PLA spokesman said, The purpose is to test the parameters of the equipment and is not targeted against any country. Earlier on Tuesday, Lodging a protest with India over the alleged crossing of boundary by its troops in the Sikkim section, China demanded their immediate withdrawal. Beijing warned that future visits of Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar will depend on the resolution of the standoff. Suggested Read: China accuses India of having hidden agenda in Sikkim stand-off Our position to uphold our territorial sovereignty is unwavering. We hope the Indian side can work with China in the same direction and immediately withdraw the personnel who have overstepped and trespassed into Chinese border, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing Beijing. After the incident, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Thursday arrived in Sikkim in the backdrop of a standoff between Indian troops and Chinese army along the Sino-India border in the sensitive sector which is threatening to further strain the bilateral ties. (PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. After the Republic Day chaos which took place in tractor parade, over 30 leaders were booked for rioting, criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and robbery. Many protestors at the Delhi borders seem to have given up as the protest sites looked emptier. The Delhi Chalo farmers protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 63rd day today, with thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The protest started on November 26. After two months of peaceful protests at Delhis borders and 11 rounds of negotiations with the central government, the Republic Day tractor parade spiralled into chaos on Tuesday. One protester died when his tractor overturned while ramming a road barrier at ITO, many farmers and police personnel were injured, as mobs resorted to violence and vandalism while forcing their way to the Red Fort and hoisting their flag there. Over 30 leaders, who have been in talks with the Centre for the last two months over the three farm laws, were booked for rioting, criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and robbery. The police said the rioters/protesters and their leaders had a pre-planned objective of not following the mutually agreed route leading to the violence. At least 19 people have been arrested and 50 detained in connection with the violence so far. The accused, which include farmer leaders, may be asked to surrender their passports as well. This step is taken in order to prevent them from leaving the country. On Wednesday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, called off the march to Parliament House on February 1. However, it said the farmers agitation would continue and there would be public meetings and hunger strikes across the country on January 30. The Republic Day violence had a mixed impact, as the borders seemed emptier with many protestors having mixed opinions from admitting their fault to blaming mischievous elements and insisting it was a facade to defame protesters. Amit Shah also paid a visit to all the police personnel who were injured during the chaos on Republic Day saying We are proud of their courage and bravery, while Delhi CM & AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, Strict action should be taken against anyone who is actually responsible for it. Whatever happened on that day cannot stop this movement. We all should support farmers but in a peaceful manner. 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. LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh consecutive year, the last week of January is being recognized as Nebraska School Choice Week by the state's governor. Gov. Pete Ricketts has officially proclaimed Jan. 24-Jan. 30 to be Nebraska School Choice Week, joining more than 20 governors and hundreds of city, county, and town leaders who have issued similar proclamations so far. School Choice Week, in Nebraska and nationwide, seeks to raise awareness about opportunity in K-12 education and shine a positive light on great schools of all types: traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online and homeschool. This year the celebration is entirely virtual, and Nebraska parents, schools, and other organizers have planned 171 virtual or at-home activities. These events may be as large as a virtual multi-school fair or as simple as a family decorating placards about why they are grateful for choice. All activities aim to spark conversations about how different educational choices meet families' needs and help kids succeed. "Nebraska families can use this Week to celebrate the educational options and achievements that have already changed children's lives, and to speak up for the options they are still waiting for," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We are grateful to Gov. Ricketts for his proclamation and to Nebraskans for joining the National School Choice Week celebration." National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/nebraska . SOURCE National School Choice Week Related Links www.schoolchoiceweek.com Many health care workers view vaccines as the beginning of the end of the pandemic. But large numbers especially those who work in nursing homes and outside hospitals, who tend to have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy are refusing to be immunized. During a crisis that disproportionately threatens health care workers of color, one recent analysis found that they are getting vaccinations at rates far below those of their white colleagues. The unions find themselves treading a fine line between encouraging their members to get vaccinated and protecting them against policies that would force them to do so. There are still unanswered questions, said Karine Raymond, a nurse at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and a New York State Nurses Association official. The union believes that all nurses should seriously consider being vaccinated, said Ms. Raymond, who would not say whether she personally would accept the vaccine. But, again, its the individuals choice. The nurses and their unions do want to keep pressuring employers to safeguard workers and patients. Just because a vaccine is rolling out doesnt mean that we can let up on other important protections, said Michelle Mahon, a National Nurses United official, during a Facebook Live event last month. The past year has created conditions ripe for organizing to address longstanding issues like inadequate wages, benefits and staffing, a problem exacerbated by health care workers falling ill, burning out or retiring early for fear of getting sick. The unions have successfully been able to use the pandemic to rebrand those same conflicts as very urgent safety concerns, said Jennifer Stewart, a senior vice president at Gist Healthcare, a consulting firm that advises hospitals. They have also shifted many nurses view of their employers, she said. The perceptions and the experiences are being crystallized and starting to be viewed through a certain lens. And I think that lens is very favorable to unions. Although roundabouts were designed to speed up traffic by avoiding queues at red traffic lights, in practice they are a constant source of frustration and arguments between drivers and probably no more so than in Spain. A road safety survey by a Spanish association of logistics, transport and road safety training companies (Formaster) says that among the most common errors the incorrect positioning in lanes stands out, followed by the wrong use of indicators, cutting in front of other vehicles when trying exit the roundabout, or directly making across the roundabout as if it were a straight line. The association claims that 75 per cent of motorists are unaware of the correct use of each of the lanes, and 68 per cent drive in an inappropriate lane, impairing the flow of traffic. Formaster says that if we are going to leave a roundabout by the first exit to the right or go straight ahead, we will preferably take the right lane. If, on the other hand, we are going to exit the left or we are going to turn back on ourselves, we should always enter the right lane and gradually merge into the left lane and return to the right, with caution, for the exit. The survey said that more than half of the drivers do not use indicators to alert other road users they are going to leave the roundabout and 30 per cent of them usually use the left indicator to warn that they are still on it and immediately change the turn signal to the right when they are about to exit. The driving school said the indicator must be used to indicate our exit from the roundabout or to indicate our lane change within the roundabout. We should not use it to indicate that we are going straight or continuing in the roundabout. Spains national roads authority, the DGT, frequently publishes social media posts addressing the issue of navigating the road junctions but the debate about the issue is likely to keep going round and round. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 05:28:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's exports fell 9.3 percent in value in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported on Thursday. Mexico, Latin America's second largest economy after Brazil, generated 417.67 billion U.S. dollars in exports last year, according to INEGI's merchandise trade balance report. Despite the drop in exports, the sector still saw a record trade surplus of 34.476 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, as imports fell 15.8 percent last year, to 383.194 billion U.S. dollars, according to the report. Mexico's exports go mainly to the United States, its northern neighbor and leading trade partner, with almost 90 percent of its total exports consisting of manufactured goods such as automobiles, electronic equipment and appliances, among others. In responding to the report, Mexico's Monex financial group noted exports have been the driving force behind the Mexican economy's recovery in the second half of 2020. "The figures released today show that our country's foreign trade is in good shape heading into 2021 and is resilient in the face of the resurgence of COVID-19," it said. "Although we expect monthly variations in exports and imports to gradually slow down, we consider that the total volume for this year will be higher than 2020 and 2019, (with exports) being the first component of aggregate demand to recover," the group said. Enditem (Newser) Three teenage boys have been arrested in the Denver house fire that killed a family of five in August, after months without progress. Authorities say the two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old face 28 criminal counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder with extreme indifference, arson, and burglary, per the New York Times. The news came at a Wednesday press conference, where authorities declined to comment on a motive or say how the minors had been identified. But "we have a good understanding of the hows and whys on this," Police Chief Paul Pazen said. Authorities noted there was no evidence of a hate crime. The Colorado chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations had pushed police to investigate that possibility while supplying $10,000 of a $50,000 award for information, per the AP. story continues below Early in the case, police pointed to three masked and hooded suspects, seen on surveillance video in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood where the fire was set in the early hours of Aug. 5. Immigrants from SenegalDjibril Diol, 29; his partner, Adja Diol, 23; their 22-month-old daughter, Khadija; Djibril's sister, Hassan Diol, 25; and her infant daughter, Hawa Bayedied in the blaze. Three others escaped by jumping from the home's second floor. "We are grateful" for the arrests but "are still in pain" and "know it's not going to bring these beautiful people back," family spokesman Papa Dia tells the AP. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said he'd spoken with Senegal Consul General Elhadji Ndao about the arrests. Hancock calls the fire "one of the most heinous crimes I've ever seen or witnessed in our city, as mayor or otherwise," Hancock said. (Read more murder stories.) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The leader of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e Islam has been killed in a mine blast in neighboring Afghanistan, according to Afghan and Pakistani security sources. Mangal Bagh was killed on January 28 in the Nazyan district of Nangarhar Province, which borders Pakistans restive tribal areas, the sources said. The mine blast also killed Baghs 12-year-old daughter and two of his bodyguards. Afghan and Pakistani officials have yet to comment. Bagh, who is believed to be in his 40s, has been reported dead several times before. Lashkar-e Islam is believed to have links to Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, which has waged an insurgency against the Pakistani armed forces and the state since 2007. In 2018, the United States placed a $3 million bounty on Baghs head. The U.S. State Department said Lashkar-e Islam was involved in drug trafficking, smuggling, extorting taxes on trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and attacking NATO convoys transporting supplies to Afghanistan. Formed in 2006, Lashkar-e Islam was based in the Khyber district, located in Pakistans tribal areas, where Bagh was born. The region was a hotbed for extremist groups, including the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, before a major Pakistani Army operation in 2014 drove many militants across the porous border into Afghanistan. Bagh was believed to have relocated to Nangarhar. The militant group imposed its extremist interpretation of Islam in areas under its control, including forcing men to grow beards and pray fives times a day. Bagh studied at a madrasah, an Islamic school, for several years in Pakistan and later fought alongside militant groups in Afghanistan. With reporting by Pajhwok and Afghan Islamic Press New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after reaching Rajkot on Thursday, participated in a mega road show. BJP has begun its 'Mission Gujarat' with the 9-km long mega road show in Rajkot. PM Modi addressed the rally at Rajkot in which he talked about differently-abled children. Earlier in the day, PM Modi had earlier addressed nation from Sabarmati Ashram. Updates from the PM Modis speech during public rally in Rajkot: # We will provide houses to all the families by 2022 # I urge start-ups to look at ways through which innovation, technology can transform lives of differently-abled # By giving Re 1 per month, differently-abled can avail insurance # New innovations are helping differently-abled # We have taken many decisions in welfare of differently-abled # Our government is compassionate towards differently-abled # I appreciate all the people who have worked for differently-abled # We have organised 5,500 programmes for differently-abled children in 3 years of present govt # We have responsibility towards differently-abled children # Government is committed towards poor # I have seen ladies delivering differently-abled children # I started my political career from Rajkot # It is my honour that I got opportunity to address in Rajkot # PM Narendra Modi distributes assistive devices and aids at Samajik Adhikarita Shivir in Rajkot, Gujarat # Huge crowd assembled in Rajkot to participate in PM Modi's public rally # PM Modi begins road show in Rajkot For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. They were flown to Yerevan by a Russian plane and immediately taken to a military hospital for examination. A senior Karabakh official, Boris Avagian, told reporters that the five men were among 62 Armenian soldiers who were taken prisoner in early December when the Azerbaijani army seized the last two Armenian-controlled villages in Karabakhs Hadrut district occupied by it during the six-week war. Azerbaijani officials have branded those soldiers as saboteurs and terrorists, signaling Bakus intention to prosecute them on relevant charges. Yerevan has condemned those plans as a gross violation of international law and the Karabakh ceasefire agreement. According to Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, Azerbaijani authorities allowed all 62 prisoners to speak with their families by phone earlier on Thursday. Avagian stressed the importance of the release of the first group of these POWs. This means that the process is moving forward, he said. The truce agreement calls for the unconditional exchange of all prisoners held by the conflicting parties. Dozens of them were swapped in December. The latest repatriation raised to 59 the total number of Armenian POWs and civilians freed to date. More than 100 others are believed to remain in Azerbaijani captivity. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian discussed their fate with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during their January 11 talks in Moscow hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The three leaders announced no agreements on the issue. Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian again demanded on Thursday the unconditional release of the remaining Armenian prisoners. Azerbaijan should understand that this is a humanitarian issue and if this issue continues to be exploited it will become problematic for Azerbaijan as well, Ayvazian told reporters. "We are fortunate to have a proven leader already in market to succeed Patty," said Texas Market President Brian Foley. "David's diverse background in the financial services industry will be an asset in directing continued growth in Florida for Comerica." Kunik joined Comerica Bank in 2013 as the Florida Retail District Manager. Prior to Comerica, David's extensive career in banking included roles in wealth management, commercial banking, human resources, and training and development. An active member of the community, Kunik, has volunteered with several South Florida nonprofits including Junior Achievement, Boys and Girls Clubs, and SCORE. He also has served as the United Way campaign chair for the bank's Florida footprint for the past several years. Kunik earned a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Iowa. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $88 billion at December 31, 2020. SOURCE Comerica Incorporated Related Links www.comerica.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 13:09:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- World leaders participating in the World Economic Forum Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda have called for more global efforts to tackle the climate challenge. "The Earth is our one and only home. To scale up efforts to address climate change and promote sustainable development bears on the future of humanity," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his special address at the meeting on Monday. Pointing out that "no global problem can be solved by any one country alone," Xi called for "global action, global response and global cooperation." "We need to deliver on the Paris Agreement on climate change and promote green development. We need to give continued priority to development, implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and make sure that all countries, especially developing ones, share in the fruits of global development," said Xi. In his address on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted that the climate challenge is a top priority. "We have agreed on the Paris Agreement. At this point, we have not lived up to our commitments. Our top priority is to do our utmost to stay true to our commitments. There cannot be any freeloaders," said Macron. The next UN Climate Change Conference is scheduled to be held in November this year. "During the coming summit, we need to be able to negotiate the equivalent of the Paris Agreement for biodiversity," Macron said. "What we are doing for climate we need to do for biodiversity. This year we have to come up with common rules." Against the backdrop of the raging pandemic and economic recession, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday emphasized the importance of achieving an inclusive and green recovery. "First, we need an inclusive and equitable global recovery to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Second, we need a green recovery that will tackle climate change and biodiversity loss," said Guterres. Enditem Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Bahrain has received its first delivery of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, state media said on Thursday. The vaccine will be free to citizens and residents of the Gulf Arab state, state media said. Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also prime minister, thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ' and our friends in India for working with us to secure the delivery of" the vaccine, his court said in a Twitter post. Short link: Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Flash The UN said on Wednesday it will step up humanitarian support to Somalia in 2021 in order to achieve a stable, peaceful and prosperous society. Adam Abdelmoula, humanitarian coordinator for Somalia said the Horn of Africa nation began this New Year with a number of similar challenges that afflicted it in 2020. Abdelmoula said the so-called "triple shock" of climate change, conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic will worsen humanitarian needs this year. "The factors that went into the triple shock have not gone away. In fact, they will exacerbate humanitarian needs this year. With our partners, we will need to step up these efforts in reaching the most vulnerable people affected," he told a virtual press conference in Mogadishu. According to the UN relief agency, more than five million people are in need of aid through 2021 in Somalia because of climatic shocks, including floods and locust infestation, armed conflict and insecurity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Abdelmoula said when Cyclone Gati struck in November 2020, 120,000 people were affected in Puntland in northern Somalia as people lost their homes and livelihoods, all of which had a knock-on effect on their health and well-being. He added that the desert locust infestation has affected almost 700,000 people and close to 300,000 hectares of land across Somalia. "We have so far provided support to about 25,900 farming households and sprayed more than 110,000 hectares of land with biopesticides," Abdelmoula said. On the COVID-19 response, the UN official said, Somalia has a fragile health system that is still developing. Abdelmoula said the UN was able to buttress the government's health machinery with testing laboratories, specialized isolation centers, the training of more than 5,000 frontline health workers, and the distribution of thousands of PPE sets. "All of these steps have also had a longer-term impact. They have helped build and reinforce the health system - both improving the health of Somalis and helping train health ministry and medical personnel for the longer-term," he said. Last summer, the Supreme Courts conservatives handed down a 54 decision against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that was hailed as a conservative victory. In retrospect, it was also a huge gift to Joe Biden. The courts decision gave Biden unquestioned authority to oust Trumps corrupt CFPB director, which he did on Day One. It also pretty clearly gives him the power to fire three other Trump holdovers leading federal agenciesMark Calabria, Andrew Saul, and David Blackwho will continue to pursue the former presidents policies if allowed to remain in office. Curiously, Biden has not yet sacked these officials. His restraint will allow these men to undermine his agenda from within the executive branchexactly what the Supreme Court gave him the tools to prevent. Biden should remove these three officials immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Seila Law v. CFPB, the conservative majority by a 54 vote struck down a federal law that barred the president from firing the CFPB director, the head of a purportedly independent agency, over political disagreements. Unlike the CFPB, most independent agencies are run by a multimember board, which gives the president greater control over their leadership. Indeed, there are only two other regulatory agencies led by a single director who was previously shielded from termination by the president: The Social Security Administration, which runs the biggest government program in the country, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates the mortgage market. Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. These job protections, though, are no longer enforceable. In his opinion for the court in Seila Law, Chief Justice John Roberts indicated that his reasoning doomed the independence of these agencies directors. Roberts described the SSAs single-director structure as comparatively recent and controversial, noting that it was established in 1994 and that President Bill Clinton questioned [its] constitutionality, even inviting Congress to issue a corrective amendment. The chief justice also cast side-eye on the FHFA, describing it as essentially a companion of the CFPB, whose single-Director structure is a source of ongoing controversy. He pointed out that the agencys structure was recently held unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. Advertisement Advertisement That precedent plainly gives Biden the ability to terminate Calabria, the FHFA director, and Saul, the SSA commissioner, on Jan. 20just as he ousted Kathleen Kraninger, Trumps CFPB director. Start with Calabria, who was confirmed in 2019 to a term set to end in 2024. His agency, the FHFA, regulates the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as 11 government-sponsored banks. He formerly served as chief economist for former Vice President Mike Pence and worked at the libertarian Cato Institute. Calabrias chief goal has been to end the governments conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which allows his agency to manage both companies. By privatizing them, he would disrupt the housing-finance system, substantially raise the cost of mortgages, and cut off a massive source of revenue for the government. Pursuing that project is a largely ideological effort that threatens affordable housing, provides no benefit to homebuyers, and undercuts the very mission of the agency. Advertisement If Biden refuses to fire Trump holdovers, he will bear the blame for the policies they implement. Turn next to Andrew Saul, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, as well as his deputy commissioner, David Black. Trump appointed both men in 2019 to terms that wont end until 2025. Their reign over the agency has been nothing short of catastrophic. Saul previously served on the board of the Manhattan Institute, a conservative group that advocates for severe cuts to Social Security. Together, Saul and Black have launched an all-out war against the agencys nearly 60,000 employees, attempting to sabotage its union, hobble collective bargaining, and strip workers of the right to union representation. They abolished the agencys innovative telework program, which had dramatically increased efficiency, and forced employees to work in-person even as the pandemic surged last spring. At the end of 2020, the SSAs staff overwhelmingly voted no confidence in Saul or Black. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps men at the SSA havent just targeted their own employees; theyve also made it more difficult for qualified Americans to receive Social Security benefits. Currently, Americans who wish to claim disability benefits are guaranteed a hearing before an administrative law judgean independent arbiter who cannot be pressured by the government to rule against claimants. Saul and Black want to let attorney advisors, who answer to the agencys political appointees, hear disability cases instead. These attorney advisors have no guaranteed independence and, unlike administrative law judges, receive annual bonuseswhich their bosses can use to incentivize decisions against disability benefits. This unprecedented move, which may well be illegal, would effectively deny due process to people who have a right to these benefits by allowing political appointees to manipulate the adjudication of claims. It is past time for Biden to fire both of these officials. Advertisement There are a few reasons why Biden might be keeping Calabria, Saul, and Black around despite these atrocious track records. (The White House did not return my request for comment on their positions.) While Seila Law obviously spelled doom for each mans job protections, SCOTUS has not yet applied its decision to their agencies. The justices recently heard a case challenging the FHFAs independencethough the Trump administration conceded that its structure is unconstitutional. There is no real question that SCOTUS will soon say the president can fire Calabria at any time for any reason. Still, a Bloomberg report released shortly before Bidens inauguration suggested that Biden may still wait for the Supreme Court to confirm that he can terminate Calabria before pulling the trigger. The courts ruling will come down by June at the latest. Advertisement Advertisement That leaves Saul and Black. On his second day in office, Biden put Saul on a list of acting agency officials who will soon be replaced by Senate-confirmed appointees. This designation is puzzling, because Saul is not acting as SSA commissioner but serving a term that expires in 2025. The decision suggests that Biden views Saul as acting because he intends to replace him with a progressive in the near future. Its safe to assume that Biden would simultaneously replace Black, who has consistently supported Sauls destructive policies. Progressives in the new administration may hesitate to wield Seila Law against Trump holdovers. It was, after all, a conservative decision that spurred all four liberal justices to vigorously dissent. But Roberts opinion in Seila Law transformed the very nature of the presidency, whether Biden likes it or not. The chief justices watchword was accountability: Executive officials must be accountable to the president, he wrote, for the president, in turn, is accountable to the people. The people elected Biden on a liberal platform that leaves no room for reckless deregulation, devastating assaults on unions, or cuts to crucial government benefits. If he refuses to fire officials implementing these policies, he will bear the blame in the public eye. And in light of Seila Law, he will deserve it. Correction, Jan. 27, 2021: This article originally misstated that the FHFA provided a large loan on suspiciously favorable terms to the Kushner companies under Mark Calabrias leadership. The agency provided this loan shortly before Calabrias confirmation. [January 28, 2021] Strategic Partners Create Canada's Maritime Cyber Security Centre of Excellence Polytechnique Montreal, Neptune Cyber and Davie join forces in the fast-growing area of maritime cyber security The R&D partnership aims to develop and create and commercialise innovative cyber security systems and products for critical maritime infrastructures This multi-year investment is being made under Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Polytechnique Montreal, Neptune Cyber and Davie Shipbuilding, have today announced the start of a 5-year R&D partnership focussing on cyber security for maritime critical infrastructure. The partnership, which will create Canada's Maritime Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, aims to develop and commercialize cyber security solutions for the maritime industry. As in all spheres of life, the acceleration of digitization, automation and hyperconnectivity in the maritime domain has created new challenges for transport, cargo and naval ships as well port installations. All have become new targets for cyber criminals. Remotely taking control of a navigation system, deficient geolocalization of a ship, hacking of communications systems, computer viruses and ransomware are just some of the attacks that could affect electronic and computer systems used in the management of maritime and port operations. As of January 1, 2021, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires shipowners and operators to integrate the management of cyber risks in their security practices at the next annual validation of their IMO certification. It is the first-ever regulatory framework on cyber security in the maritime industry. Leveraging Polytechnique Montreal's Cyber Security Team At the heart of this unique partnership are two highly experienced researchers from Polytechnique Montreal, Professors Nora Cuppens and Jose M. Fernandez. Renowned for their research in the cyber security of critical infrastructure, cyber resilience and cyber defense, the Professors are enthusiastic about this step forward in maritime cyber security research a first in Quebec. In the past six years, Prof. Cuppens has focused her research on critical infrastructure protection. Recently arrived from France, where she was an active member of two relevant research chairs: one on critical infrastructure cyber security and the other on cyber defense of naval systems. She joined Polytechnique Montreal to conduct research on the cyber resilience of essential systems and the definition of cyber security metrics to support better decision making. Prof. Fernandez has for the past 12 years, conducted research on the cyber security of critical infrastructure in several domains including electrical networks, urban traffic control networks and aviation. Prof. Fernandez's and Polytechnique's overall expertise in risk evaluation and protection for cyber-physical systems in other types of critical infrastructure will be critical to the successful delivery of this project for the maritime industry. Neptune Cyber Neptune Cyber, a fast-growing Quebec cyber security start-up, is the only Cnadian company to date offering a full range of services exclusively conceived for the maritime domain. It assists the most important companies in the naval and maritime sectors in Canada and globally to face cyber threats. Its expertise in maritime cyber security will allow the project team to identify the most dangerous cyber attacks, which will be simulated in the experimental "co-emulation" platform that will be developed within this partnership. The use of the co-emulation approach developed at Polytechnique will allow the project team to measure with precision the impact of cyber attacks, develop and test the efficacy of defensive counter-measures, and the security of on-board maritime information systems. This multi-year contribution is being made through Davie's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitments to Canada. The Government of Canada's ITB Policy requires that successful bidders on defence contracts reinvest 100 percent of the value of their contracts back into Canada's economy. For the project, Neptune Cyber and Davie will contribute $1.7 million, of which $500,000 will be in cash and $1.2 million in support and equipment for the duration of this innovative project. For the partners, the development of a community of interest in the world of maritime cyber security is essential to address future threats. The collaboration is set to grow with other partners in the maritime domain and in cyber security, researchers from university and collegial centres of technology transfer (CCTT), in addition to training centres for maritime personnel in Quebec and worldwide. Thanks to this project, around 10 graduate students at master's and Ph.D. level will be trained to become the first wave of specialized experts in this emerging field. Through them, maritime cyber security best practices will be shared worldwide. They will also focus on areas that require standards and official certifications, as well as the provision of cyber security services and solutions to ensure the security of maritime operations globally. Quotes Jose M. Fernandez, Eng. Ph.D., Full Professor, Polytechnique Montreal "Getting such a partnership going, with the possibility of creating an innovation zone encompassing this hub of excellence on maritime cyber security along with with sectorial partners, constitutes a key step towards ensuring the national security and economic stability of Canada and of Quebec; it is key to protect our critical infrastructures and increase their resilience, in addition to training the next generation of highly qualified experts in a critical domain." Nora Cuppens, Doct. Full Professor, Polytechnique Montreal "We are privileged to be able to gain access through this partnership to Neptune's expertise on maritime cyber security, and also to the installations and marine expertise at Davie, which will allow us to develop solutions that truly address market needs in addition to training a new generation of experts in domain-specific cyber security, a rare asset for industry." Gwilym Lewis, Chief Executive Officer Neptune Cyber "Cyber Security in the Maritime industry has not kept pace with the technology sector. Therefore, with the rapid advances in integrated and connected systems onboard ships, and the resulting risk of attack, there is an urgent need for a better way to be able to understand, model, and plan for the risks that the industry is facing now and into the future. This project is a great step in that direction and a demonstration of our long-term commitment to creating positive change." James Davies, President and Chief Executive Officer Davie Shipbuilding "This is a unique development opportunity for Davie and our valued partners as well as a potential international leadership position for Quebec and Canada in the vital emerging cyber security space. Our significant investment in this R&D partnership is also indicative of Davie's strong commitment to taking maritime industry innovation to the next level." NOTE TO EDITORS: ABOUT POLYTECHNIQUE MONTREAL Founded in 1873, Polytechnique Montreal is a technological university, and one of Canada's largest engineering teaching and research institutions. It ranks first in Quebec in terms of the scope of its research activities. Polytechnique Montreal is located on the Universite de Montreal Campus, the largest Francophone university campus in the America. With more than 50,000 graduates, Polytechnique has trained 22% of all practicing members of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec. It offers over 120 training programmes. Polytechnique has 280 professors and more than 9,000 students. Its annual budget reaches $260 million dollars, including a research budget of $100 million dollars. ABOUT NEPTUNE CYBER Neptune Cyber is a Canadian cyber security company based in Quebec with international reach that works exclusively in the marine sector. The team combines experts in shipbuilding, maintenance, operations and cyber security testing and design. Neptune's services cover the maritime lifecycle from advising on how build and foster a culture of security within crew and shore-based teams to reviewing, testing and advising on the security of on-board systems and vessel IT design, to providing rapid response and advice in the event of a security breach or incident. ABOUT DAVIE SHIPBUILDING Based in Levis, Quebec, Davie is the first naval shipyard in Canada and a global leader in the delivery of essential and specialized ships to government and commercial clients. Founded in 1825, Davie is the oldest, most important and most efficient naval shipyard in Canada. Our world-class labour force builds and maintains complex ships that allow our clients to protect national and economic security or to respond to critical commercial needs. To know more visit the web site www.davie.ca. SOURCE Polytechnique Montreal [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] HOUSTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2015, National Diversity Council's DiversityFIRST program graduated its inaugural class of 23 Certified Diversity Professionals (CDPs) and to date, have graduated over 700. This year, the DiversityFIRST Certified Diversity Professionals (CDP) program will be offered virtually in 24 cities across the United States: Edwin Adside Testimonial - Diversity Certification Program Philadelphia, PA - February 8 - 12, 2021 - Cincinnati, OH - February 22 - 26, 2021 - Newark, NJ - March 8 - 12, 2021 Click here for additional dates and a virtual location nearest you: http://diversitycertificationprogram.org/sessions/2021-2 Graduates of the program are recognized as a National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional (NDCCDP). The National Diversity Council has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that our graduates receive the finest, timeliest, and most relevant knowledge available in the evolving Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) field. Our mission is to prepare you to create and implement highly successful D&I strategies for organizational excellence that give you and your organization a competitive edge in today's global marketplace. However, that is only part of our mission. You will also expand your horizon with the knowledge you acquire, the new colleagues you meet, and the experience you gain. Upon completion of the 5-day program, participants will: Recognize diversity and inclusion as drivers of business success and employee engagement in the 21st-century workplace. Possess a broad range of knowledge and skills to perform at a high level as D&I professionals and bring value to their organizations. Gain access to a reputable and reliable community of professionals through the DiversityFIRST Graduate Network to encourage continued learning as the D&I field evolves. Enhance credibility with the National Diversity Council's CDP designation to positively impact professional growth. To register and learn more about the National Diversity Council's DiversityFIRST program, please visit the website at: www.diversitycertificationprogram.org Media Contact: Jennifer L. Payne [email protected] (313) 451-5800 Related Images national-diversity-council.jpg National Diversity Council Related Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtY8YpkxZCg SOURCE National Diversity Council Delhi Police issue notice to 40 farmer leaders; ultimatum to protesters to vacate UP gate in Ghaziabad India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi/Ghaziabad, Jan 28: Delhi Police Thursday issued lookout notices against farmer leaders and announced a probe into the "conspiracy" behind the Republic Day violence, even as the Ghaziabad administration gave an ultimatum to the protesters at UP Gate to vacate the site by midnight. Bharatiya Kisan Union(BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, however, told reporters at the UP gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi that he would rather commit suicide than leave and end the protest against the farm laws, setting the stage for a confrontation with security personnel. Thousands of farmers from the BKU are camping at the protest site since November 28. Heavy security force presence was visible near the camp site, which faces a midnight deadline to vacate, even as it faced frequent power cuts in the evening. "I will commit suicide but won''t end protest until the farm bills are repealed," said Rakesh Tikait, who is the national spokesperson of the BKU. He also claimed a threat to his life, alleging that armed goons were sent to the protest site. However, the BKU appeared to be divided on the future course of action with Naresh Tikait, brother of Rakesh, saying the protest will get over. "Don''t be disappointed. Today the protest at Ghazipur will also get over. It''s better to vacate than getting beaten up police," he told a gathering in Muzaffarnagar earlier in the day. Condemning the Uttar Pradesh government and police for the ultimatum, Rakesh Tikait said, "No violence has taken place at the Ghazipur border but still the UP government is resorting to policy of suppression. This is the face of the UP government." The "verbal" communication from the Ghaziabad administration to BKU came after three farmers union withdrew their protest against the three central farm laws over the violence in Delhi on January 26 that left 394 security personnel injured and one protestor dead. "Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protesters camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them," a district official told PTI. Meanwhile, widening its probe in connection with the violent turn of events during which protesters also stormed the iconic Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh religious flag, Delhi Police said the role and conduct of organisations and individuals based in India as well as those out of the country will be investigated, a move that comes after police chief S N Srivastava warned no culprit will be spared. Farmers' protest: Crowd visibly thin at protest sites; leaders say agitation still strong It further said a criminal case has been registered and is being investigated under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of IPC dealing with sedition. The Delhi Police claimed that there was a "pre-conceived" and "well coordinated" plan to break the agreement arrived at with farmer leaders to bring international embarrassment for the government on Republic Day. The Crime Branch will probe the cases of violence at the Red Fort, ITO, Nangloi Crossing, and six other places during the farmers'' tractor parade on Republic Day, an official said. An ACP-rank officer will head each team that will investigate nine cases and there will be multiple officers assisting him or her, he said. PM Modi on what to expect from Union Budget 2021 | Oneindia News The official said the police have so far registered 33 FIRs in connection with the violence, adding that lookout notices have been issued against 44 people, which include most of the farmer leaders. "The Delhi Police has issued lookout notices against farmer leaders named in an FIR in connection with the violence during the tractor parade," Police Commissioner Srivastava told PTI. The police asked the 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Balbeer Singh Rajewal whose names have been named in an FIR in connection with the violence, to submit their response within three days, explaining why legal action should not be taken against them as they did not follow the conditions set for the parade. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha said it will not be intimidated by the notices sent to its leaders by the Delhi Police and alleged that the government is trying to put an end to the farmers'' movement against agri laws by blaming it for the violence during the January 26 tractor rally. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting against the Centre''s three farm laws at various border points of Delhi. Facing widespread condemnation, farmer union leaders during the day took out a "Sadbhavna rally" from the Singhu border to reinforce a sense of unity among the protestors. Several of their leaders, including Rajewal, Daljeet Singh Dallewal, Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni, who led the rally said the march was organised "to counter the forces trying to divide the protesting farmers along religious lines and as per states" and to show that they respect the tricolour. Several tractors and two-wheelers with the national flag took part in the 16-km-long rally which started from the stage at the Singhu protest site and went up to the beginning of the Kundli-Manesar Palwal highway. Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre''s three farm laws. Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day. "A preliminary assessment suggests there was a pre-conceived and well coordinated plan to break the agreement reached between Delhi Police and the leaders of farmers organisations, to indulge in violent confrontation with the security forces, to breach the sanctity of iconic and historical structures and monuments and to create an international embarrassment for the government on the occasion of the Republic Day," the police said in a statement. According to an FIR registered in connection with violence the Red Fort incident, two magazines with 20 live cartridges were snatched from two constables by protestors who also damaged vehicles and robbed anti-riot gears. The FIR has been filed at the Kotwali police station in north Delhi. It said 141 security personnel were injured during the violence at Red Fort. The FIR stated that the protestors tried to snatch the guns but both the constables saved their weapons. They, however, could not save the magazines. "The mob tried to snatch the MP-5 gun of constable Bhawani Singh. However, he managed to save the gun but could not save the magazine which had 20 live rounds. Similarly, the mob also snatched the magazine with 20 live rounds of constable Naresh''s SLR gun," the FIR stated. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at all the protest sites -- Singhu and Tikri -- with senior police officials saying that such arrangements have been made as part of measures in view of the January 26 violence. After the violence, the crowd at the Singhu and Tikri borders has visibly thinned amid heavy police deployment, even as farmer unions said it is because of protestors, who headed to Delhi for the January 26 march, returning home. The Singhu border, one of the major protest sites that has been home to thousands of farmers for over two months now, was on Thursday noticeably less populated than its pre Republic day version, or even before that. The number of tractors have reduced, so have the protestors, and the streets that were chock a block until last week, can now be walked through in no time. Farmers said it was because the protestors who had arrived specifically to participate in the tractor parade on January 26 had returned home. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 23:58 [IST] A banner at the University of the Philippines in Manila urges students and professors to defend academic freedom, Jan. 28, 2021. The Philippine defense secretary on Thursday sacked a senior military intelligence officer for publishing an erroneous list of former students of the University of the Philippines who had allegedly joined the outlawed communist movement. The list came from the office of the deputy chief of staff for intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. Earlier this month, the defense chief ended a pact barring troops from the universitys Manila campus over purported concerns about it being a haven for communist insurgents. I am relieving Maj. Gen. Alex Luna of his post as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence effective today, 28 Jan 2021, Lorenzana said. He said Luna was dismissed because of the list with names of people associated with the university including alumni who were suspected of having joined the New Peoples Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and later being captured or killed by government forces. The publication of an erroneous list, originating from his office OJ2, of alleged NPA killed by the military is an unforgivable lapse, Lorenzana said. His negligence only shows a lackadaisical attitude towards his job resulting in confusion and damage to reputation(s). We do not take these offenses lightly and I want to hold the people involved accountable. It was not immediately clear who would replace Luna. Lorenzana issued the statement days after the AFP apologized for the list, which contained the names of lawyers, activists, and journalists, among others. Lorenzana said the list was passed on to different military departments, made its way to the Department of National Defense, and was posted on government social media accounts. He did not say why his office did not scrutinize the list. Many members of the public called out the errors on the list and criticized the government for not investigating it thoroughly, despite having intelligence funds at its disposal. Protests were also held at the universitys Manila campus to denounce the erroneous list and the ending of the agreement, which was meant to protect students and professors from government persecution for their political beliefs. In his letter to the university dated Jan. 15, Lorenzana had said the university had been sympathetic to the cause of the outlawed CPP and NPA, therefore the Department of National Defense would terminate the agreement. Students outspokenness on issues, such as President Rodrigo Dutertes controversial war on drugs, had caused the campus to fall out of favor with his administration. Duterte had threatened to defund the university, and accused its students of spending more time away from their classrooms to protest in the streets. The countrys premier state university has become a safe haven for enemies of the state, Lorenzana said, a day after the agreements termination was announced. The Department of National Defense will neither renege nor shirk on its duty to protect the rights of the majority. It will not tolerate those who will violate the laws of the land in the guise of lawful public dissent, free assembly and free speech, Lorenzana said at the time. Danilo Concepcion, the universitys president, had said the government did not consult his office about terminating the agreement. He called Lorenzanas move totally unnecessary and unwarranted. 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. South Africa: COVID-19 vaccine free at point of service No person, insured or uninsured, will be expected to pay when they access the COVID-19 vaccination. This is according to Health Department Technical Adviser, Dr Aquina Thulare, who said 40 million South Africans need to be vaccinated in South Africa to ensure that the population has the immunity it needs to fight COVID-19, which has already claimed over 42 000 lives in the country. So, vaccination will be free at the point of service, she said on Wednesday during a webinar on COVID-19 vaccination. According to Thulare, out of 40 million people that require the jab, only 7.1 million are insured by private-sector medical schemes, while 32.9 million are uninsured. Meanwhile, 350 000 out of 1.2 million public servants are covered by medical aids. The vaccine itself has been designated as a public good and will be delivered free at the point of care and delivery is based on the principles of social solidary so that we look after each other in our society, she explained. Thulare said the funding for the vaccine will be predominantly from the fiscus but augmented by private funding sources. She reiterated the governments position of being the sole purchaser and driver of the vaccination programme. Government will ensure that well do this at the lowest possible price that we can negotiate, she added. Meanwhile, she said an identified entity will receive the vaccine and act as a central distributor for the vaccination on behalf of government and will recover costs on behalf of the State. Electronic Vaccine Data System She said the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS) will ensure that accredited facilities are captured to harmonise the supply of vaccines, pre-booking system and inoculation itself. The EVDS has been launched to enable the department to capture all relevant data associated with the administration of the vaccine. Also, Thulare said government will also look at ways of recovering costs from insured patients. The Adviser said that those who are covered by medical aid, funding will be derived from medical schemes, even though it will be administered for free at the point of service. In the private sectors and providers including pharmacies, that want to provide service for insured persons, they will procure the vaccine from the central distributor through their wholesalers using a single exit price. Prescribed Minimum Benefit She said the private sector providers will then bill medical schemes for the cost of the vaccines and administration fee, which will be paid through the Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB). Weve already declared the vaccination for COVID-19 as a PMB, which means schemes are obliged to pay for this service, she said, adding that the covered patients will also need to go through pre-registration and booking. Meanwhile, the 32.9 million people who are uninsured including the healthcare workers, government will provide funding. Our uninsured persons will need to have their identity documents if theyre not on the health patient registering system that is already in existence in our facilities. Herd immunity Businesses may also opt to contribute to ensuring that 'herd immunity' is achieved by covering a population of unemployed, for instance, said Thulare. According to the World Health Organisation, herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through the previous infection. If communities or employees are vaccinated, theyre going to receive their vaccination free at the point of service and the business or corporate will bear the cost. Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed that the first consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccines is expected to land on South African shores on Monday, which the healthcare workers will be the first in line to get vaccinated. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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. "Glitches all over the place" saw BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback put off the air on Thursday. The lunchtime current affairs phone-in show kicked off as usual with the noon news bulletin and host William Crawley giving a run-down of the programme's agenda. It then appeared to fall apart. "Little bit of a glitch there... Can you hear me ok," Mr Crawley could be heard saying before going on to introduce his first segment on a special payment for healthcare workers. Read More After a clip of Health Minister Robin Swann, a gasp could be heard before promotional ads for Radio Ulster and BBC shows cut in. Listeners were then treated to some classic rock and pop from Blondie, Bronski Beat and Oasis. However the Gallaghers' Songbird was cut short at 17 minutes past noon. "I think we are sorted out," Mr Crawley chirped in blaming a technical hitch. "Working from home and all of that." Some took to social media wondering if they could have a request. Others thought Connor Phillips - who hosts the show between Nolan and Talkback - may have attempted a takeover. "I'm really enjoying your tweets," Mr Crawley added, "actually given the pandemic, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. "We are sucking diesel now." There was then another momentary pause as he introduced his guests. "Glitches all over the place," added Mr Crawley. He apologised again for the disruption at the end of the show. The pandemic has re-shaped the broadcast media with the homes of familiar faces often used as make-shift studios. While some presenters do still present from Broadcasting House on Ormeau Avenue, Mr Crawley has presented his show from home almost throughout. A BBC spokesman added: "Talkback went off air due to technical difficulties in the studio, while William was broadcasting from home, as he explained on air. We apologise to our listeners for any inconvenience this may have caused. Ian Bailey has challenged the statutory right of gardai to process a drug-driving prosecution against him. The revelation came as Bantry District Court adjourned four charges against the 62-year-old freelance journalist and law graduate who last year successfully fought extradition to France over the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39). Mr Bailey has consistently protested his innocence in relation to the December 23, 1996 killing of the French mother of one at her west Cork holiday home. Read More The Manchester-born poet was convicted in absentia by a French court of the killing in 2019 but has repeatedly claimed that attempts were made to frame him for the crime. Mr Bailey described the Paris proceedings as "a farce" and "a show trial". The French have sought and failed to secure his extradition three times since 2010. The Bantry District Court adjournment was for legal reasons and the availability of the hearing judge. Last November, Judge John King heard detailed legal submissions on Mr Bailey's behalf from Emmet Boyle BL, instructed by solicitor Ray Hennessy. Written legal submissions are now being made on various matters arising. The counts all arise from an alleged incident on August 25, 2019 near Schull, Co Cork. Mr Bailey was stopped by gardai while driving at Skull townsland, outside the west Cork village, and was later taken to Bantry garda station. He was subsequently released without charge. Read More Mr Bailey later appeared before Bantry District Court on four summonses on the basis of samples taken by gardai and sent for further analysis. He faces one summons over allegedly driving while under the influence of cannabis, two summonses over the alleged possession of cannabis and one summons for allegedly allowing his vehicle to be used for the possession of drugs, namely cannabis. The court was told a small tin of cannabis was allegedly recovered after Mr Bailey had been stopped in his Toyota Verso car by gardai at a checkpoint. Three rolled-up joints were allegedly later found in his vehicle when it was searched the following day. Mr Bailey has pleaded not guilty to a total of four charges. Mr Boyle, on Mr Bailey's behalf, has challenged a number of issues in respect of the matter including how the alleged drugs were found, why the keys of Mr Bailey's car were retained by officers, why the vehicle was moved from the roadside field entrance where it was parked to the garda station, and why it was only searched the following day. The matter was adjourned for a month. Mr Bailey has published two successful volumes of poetry and is now the focus of a number of books and two high-profile documentaries. A television documentary by Academy Award-nominated director Jim Sheridan and investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre is scheduled to get its world premiere in April. Appropriately she chooses a glass of Alamos Malbec, an Argentinian wine, for the South American chapter of her life, accompanied by Den Miso glazed Canadian scallops and potato foam for starters. I choose a twice-baked French goat cheese souffle, and settle in for the story of the escape across the border into Uruguay. Singleton spent a year hitchhiking around South America in the 1970s (If my daughter had done it Id have died, she says now) before settling in Rio to write for the English publication as well as UK Financial Times and The Economist. Jane Singleton in Leichhardt. Credit:Wolter Peeters She arrived in Chile in September 1973, just days before that terrible fracas when Marxist Salvador Allende was killed. Although shes run her own business, directed or chaired boards including the NRMA, the then Australian Consumers Council, the Australian National Gallery, international aid agency ChildFund, the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance and the Sydney Peace Foundation, journalism is the job she loves the most. Being a journalist was always really great fun, she says, even when politicians banned her and she fell out with authority, including most of her bosses at the ABC and 2GB. Singleton was born in Victoria in 1947. Her businesswoman mother and artist father divorced when she was three, and her mother took her only child to Stanley in northwestern Tasmania, to live with her grandmother, who went blind early in life. They then moved back to Melbourne (South Yarra when it had hardware stores and wasnt posh), where her mother ran Heuston Fashion, a high-quality womens wear label. It was successful enough to send young Jane to the prestigious St Catherines School in Toorak then onto the University of Melbourne studying arts on a Commonwealth scholarship. The Singletons at home in Glebe. Jane and David Singleton with their daughter Jessica and son Thomas in 1986. Credit:Steven Holland My mother really wanted me to go to uni; her experience was that women needed work to support their family and being able to earn enough money to support a family was the most important thing for her. While still a university student, she went to China during the 1968 cultural revolution, along with fellow students Stephen Fitzgerald, who would become ambassador to China, and historian (now emeritus professor) Bob Reece, a chief cheerleader for Singletons interest in Langloh Parker because of his studies of Daisy Bates. Thanks to that China trip, she was banned from visiting many countries including the USA, which is how she ended up in South America for four years. As one of the first female graduate cadets on The Age in 1969, the then Jane Stoney escaped Australia in the 1970s for adventure, returning fluent in Spanish with some great stories and a husband, David Singleton. Theyd known each other in Australia and met again when he came to Brazil delivering sheep. He was the one driving the old Ford car she was in the boot of escaping Brazil because female foreigners were prevented from owning cars. Jane Singleton on air at radio 2GB, December 9, 1987. Credit:Trevor James Robert Dallen. They settled on a farm just out of Corowa, and Singleton joined ABC radio in Albury as one of the first female rural reporters. They moved to Longreach, where she was transferred with the ABC, before going to Brisbane, where she became Queensland compere for the ABC program Nationwide. Here, her tough torpedo-style interviewing upset Bjelke-Petersen but won her fans in viewers and ABC management. In 1984, she was brought to Sydney to present 702 Sydneys (then known as Radio 2BLs) City Extra, the influential 8.30am-to-noon slot. Moving onto mains, she chooses the ravioli of slow-braised lamb neck (Montes signature chicken and leek pie for me) as we get into the meatier part of her life story. She gained further notoriety after cutting short a radio interview with prime minister Bob Hawke in 1985. The Canberra press pack and cameras had descended on the radio studio, she was pregnant and Hawke was at the peak of his popularity. She took her usual tough line on a range of issues from the deficit to Hawkes reputation as a womaniser and boozer until he sidestepped a question about party factionalism. When Hawke refused to answer the question I asked, I told him this is a waste of taxpayers money, prime minister, Singleton says, and cut him off. The South African author Breyten Breytenbach, jailed for his opposition to apartheid, was also in the studio and the next guest on the show after Hawke, and witnessed the altercation. He told me you will be put in prison for that. She wasnt jailed, but soon after she pre-empted ABC management by announcing on air that she had been axed. In 1986, she started as the inaugural 7.30 Report presenter but was sacked from ABC TV in November 1987 when her then boss told her she was not seductive enough. Pru Goward, the then 7.30 Reports Canberra correspondent, had been dumped earlier that year too. Den Miso Glazed Canadian Scallops at Monte. Credit:Wolter Peeters. Singleton was snapped up by radio 2GB as their morning announcer but was sacked in 1988 only four months into a two-year contract. That saga came to a conclusion in the Commercial Division of the NSW Supreme Court, where she was awarded $251,000 in damages. Not long after she became federal vice-president of the journalists union and ran her own public affairs company, campaigning for causes including victims of James Hardies asbestos products to those impacted by apartheid. She co-ordinated Nelson Mandelas visit to Australia and was invited to his inauguration, where she met with Hawke again, who understood their differences were purely professional. She thinks on the whole things have got easier for women in media today, from better access to childcare to more women in management. Leigh Sales has been at the helm of 7.30 for a decade now; I lasted only two years ... but in management Michelle Guthrie seems to have had a very mixed response. Her experience on boards has shown her the blokey culture still reigns in many Australian quarters, and #metoo only touched the surface. It failed to get to the bottom of treatment of women like myself who are the main breadwinners in a family. When I lost my job, my family lost our income thats why women didnt speak out for so long. Twice-baked French goat cheese souffle. Credit:Wolter Peeters. Singleton divorced decades ago and now lives with German-born partner Charles Wyman, whom she met though the Sydney Peace Foundation. Her self-published book (I didnt have the confidence to try a mainstream publisher as I never thought of myself as a writer) came about when she realised her connection to the many Katie Langloh Parker books that had been in her home growing up. As a child, the legends had been read to her as bedtime stories. Receipt for lunch with Jane Singleton. They terrified me ... but like so many of my generation, that was about all I ever heard or read about Indigenous Australians, she said. Langloh Parker had been a familiar name to her since childhood but until she started delving further, she had not realised they were related. Katie turned out to be my great-great aunt by marriage. Her husband, Langloh Parker, was my great-great uncle. This explains all the books around her childhood home. Singleton drove the 1400 kilometres to Bangate to meet the Indigenous descendants of the Euahlayi tribe, including film-maker Frances Claire Peters-Little, daughter of musician Jimmy Little. They assured her that while they may have taken exception to some of Langloh Parkers description of Indigenous people, such as my darkie friends (considered patronising possibly even then), they were on the whole grateful she had recorded the language and the stories. In retracing her steps, Singleton saw the parallels between her own life as a fellow farmer and the squatters wife she has written about whose natural curiosity lead her to tell tales of people whose language she took the time to learn to explain to a wider audience. Technology & Energy Stocks Sectors Are Hot Are You Missing Out? We have seen some really big moves in various S&P sectors over the past 60+ days and these trends look like they may continue for a while. Near the end of 2020, in October and November, the markets seemed to stall a bit before the US elections, but they have really started to trend much higher over the past 60+ days. Technology and Energy seem to be leading the charge in some respects. The most important thing for traders is to find decent breakout trends in stocks and sectors that have a real potential for strong continued trending. When we find these types of longer-term trends, we can scale in and out of the typical up/down price trends, over time, to generate some incredible returns. Technology Heating Up Again The move in the IXN Global Technology ETF charted below, looks like it is starting to accelerate higher. It has already moved +17% over the past 60+ days, but there is a real potential that global investors are starting to pile back into technology ahead of the Q4:2020 earnings reports. This may prove to be one of the hottest sectors in 2021 so keep an eye on this new breakout rally. Energy and Exploration Setting Up For Another Move Higher One of the biggest movers over the past few months has been the recovery of the Oil/Gas/Energy sector after quite a bit of sideways/lower price trending. You can see from this XOP chart, below, a 44% upside price rally has taken place since early November, and XOP has recently rotated moderately downward setting up another potential trade setup if this rally continues. Traders know, the trend if your friend. Another upside price swing in the XOP, above $72, would suggest this rally mode is continuing. Recently, we published a research article suggesting a lower US Dollar would prompt major sector rotations in the US and global markets where we highlighted the fact that the Materials, Industrials, Technology, and Discretionary sectors had been the hottest sectors of the past 180 days, but the Energy, Financials, Materials, and Industrials had shown the best strength over the past 90 days. Technology, Healthcare, Financials, Energy, Consumer Products/Services, Foreign Markets have all been hot over the past 4+ months, but what is trending right now? We believe the best performing sectors are likely to be sub-sectors of the SPY and QQQ. My research team and I believe Technology and Energy still have lots of room to run. Financials could be a big winner too if the recent upside trend continues. We rely on the BAN Hotlist to rank the Best Assets Now and tell us when new trade entry triggers are generated. In short, 2021 is going to be an incredible year for BAN Trader subscribers because of the big trends, high volatility, stimulus, and policies with the Biden administration. The time is now to learn and trade the Best Assets Now Hotlist using our proven sector rotation strategy. Our BAN Trader Pro strategy is proving to be an incredible advancement that allows us to dominate and generate Alpha. We urge you to take advantage of the BAN Trader Pro technology and prepare for the big trends that we expect to continue throughout all of 2021 and into 2022 and beyond. I am teaching my BAN trading strategy in a 1-hour FREE webinar. The webinar is 100% educational and you will get everything you need to trade my powerful strategy on your own, with no proprietary trading tools or indicators, and with no strings attached. Learn this strategy now and join me in my webinar at https://joinnow.live/s/EPdGTI. Happy Trading! Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. shares traded 7 per cent higher to hit a fresh record high of Rs 1,190 on the BSE in an otherwise weak market on Thursday, on expectation of higher growth in the next few quarters due to a low base (lockdown quarters) and effect of price hikes. The fast moving electrical goods company's stock has surpassed its previous high of Rs 1,164, touched on January 22. In the past one month, has rallied 32 per cent, after the company reported a strong set of numbers for the quarter ended December 2020 (Q3FY21) with standalone net profit jumping 75 per cent year on year (YoY) to Rs 349 crore, on the back of strong revenue growth. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 1 per cent during the same period. Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margins expanded by 420 basis points (bps) at 16 per cent from 11.8 per cent in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. The companys revenue during the quarter increased by 40 per cent YoY at Rs 3,166 crore. The double digit sales growth came after a gap of seven quarters and on a favourable base (3QFY20 had seen 10 per cent YoY de-growth in sales). The company's management said the encouraging business performance with secular growth across divisions and regions was led by improvement in consumer sentiment, festive season and reduction in Covid-19 cases and increased penetration in smaller towns and a higher rural reach. The supply chain disruption faced by suppliers with high import dependence has further supported market share gains, it said. The companys Ebitda margin profile is likely to sustain at 14 per cent-16 per cent led by operating leverage as well as lower ad-spends and other expenses as a percentage of sales (even though they could rise in absolute terms). Havells intends to aggressively scale up overseas sales by becoming a manufacturing partner of large global brands (only in export markets). Factoring in higher value growth, better margin profile and international growth opportunities, we increase our FY21E-FY23E earnings estimates in 32 per cent- 40 per cent range, analysts at Nirmal Bang Equities said. Havells is also keen to benefit from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for export of ACs, lighting, etc. Also, it has tied up with a global company to export switchgear. Complete product offerings (ACs, washing machines, LED TVs, refrigerators, etc), network expansion and in-house production support our belief in bright prospects ahead for Lloyd, according to analysts at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers. New rules now apply to firms involved in moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Companies are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with these new actions and the free services that can help them manage the changes. HELPING HAND: Alan Lowrys Environmental Street Furniture company has signed up for the Trader Support Service Firms that are required to trade under the Northern Ireland Protocol should access the free resources available to help them prepare, including by signing up to the Trader Support Service (TSS). One firm that recognised the need for support was Environmental Street Furniture, based in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. Its managing director, Alan Lowry, was one of the first to sign up for the TSS scheme. We have been actively involved with the TSS from its inception, says Alan. We let them know about all our trading partners in Great Britain and they made contact with them directly to make them aware of what needed to be done. Since the end of the UK Transition period, we have been in contact with them on three occasions regarding EORI, commodity codes and VAT, and they have helped us on all occasions. We have found them to be accessible, helpful and knowledgeable. There are additional online resources that firms here can avail of such as Invest NIs EU Exit Resilience Tool to assess where firms will need to make changes. Businesses can also access the Brexit checker tool at gov.uk/transition to receive a personalised list of actions to take. Environmental Street Furniture has made good use of these services. We have made use of both of these tools and we found the online webinars the best tools to get acquainted with the new requirements and details," Alan says. Its allowed us to ensure all our paperwork and invoices are correctly set up with the new information required for processing, and also to register all our commodity codes that were needed for shipping to ensure there were no added delays. With his experience so far, his advice to other firms is to "familiarise yourselves with the necessary procedures as best you can". He adds: Try to use knowledgeable haulage companies and carriers. Ensure your logistics team is aware of what is needed for paperwork and processing. KEY ACTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS 1. Assess your exposure to changes: Use Invest NIs EU Exit Resilience Tool and access the UK Governments Brexit checker tool at gov.uk/transition. 2. Register for TSS: The TSS provides free training and support for businesses, and can complete declarations on your behalf. 3. Get an EORI number: If you trade with Great Britain, your business needs an EORI number. 4. Find out the commodity code for goods you buy or sell: If you buy from or sell to Great Britain, you need to know the commodity codes for these goods. 5. Consider if you should register for the UK Trader Scheme: While the UK-EU Free Trade Agreement delivers zero tariffs on imports and exports, there are some instances where duty may be due. The UK Trader Scheme allows you to declare goods you are moving into Northern Ireland that are not at risk of onward movement to the EU. 6. Speak to your haulier: If you move goods to or from Great Britain, ask your haulier what information they need from you. 7. Speak to suppliers: Ask what preparation they have made for Brexit and suggest they register for TSS. 8. Check your goods regulation: Check whether your goods must meet EU standards. Guidance and support is available from the Movement Assistance Scheme for agri-food products. 9. Check if you need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme: If you or one of your staff is an EEA national (excluding Ireland), you or they will need to apply to the EU Settled Status Scheme. 10. Check if you need to apply for an Immigration Sponsorship License: Youll usually need a sponsor licence to employ someone to work for you from outside the UK (excluding Ireland). This includes unpaid work like running a charity. "We couldn't be more excited to have General McCaffrey join the board at Juvare," said Bob Watson, President and CEO of Juvare. "As a highly decorated general, his reputation, experience, and service to our country will be enormously helpful to our decision making. General McCaffrey's appointment to our board is a clear signal of our commitment to the warfighter as we further expand our capabilities with joint domain data sharing through Juvare Exchange and push the bounds of what is possible by creating the next generation of WebEOC Command and Control (C2). We believe we are well positioned to support DoD leadership and bridge the gap between critical support functions and warfighter operations with this appointment and support from our new investor, Five Arrows ." Upon his board appointment with Juvare, General McCaffrey said, "Situational awareness is the driver of effective command and control and is critical to decisive response and mission assurance. With the inherent risks and challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, national security threats, and natural disasters facing our country, every minute counts. The ability to make strategic data-based decisions in real-time is the key to protecting people and mission-critical assets. Juvare has proven itself a leader in the space, and I'm honored to join such a credible and forward-thinking organization." General McCaffrey is president of his own consulting firm, BR McCaffrey Associates. He also serves as a national security and terrorism analyst for NBC News. General McCaffrey served in the United States Army for 32 years and retired as a four-star General. At retirement, he was the most highly decorated serving General, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals (wounded in combat three times), two Distinguished Service Crosses (the nation's second highest award for valor) and two Silver Stars for valor. For five years after leaving the military, General McCaffrey served as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Upon leaving government service, he served at West Point as the Bradley Distinguished Professor of International Security Studies from 2001- 2005; and an Adjunct Professor of International Security Studies from 2006- 2010. He previously served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences from 1973-1976 teaching American Government and Comparative Politics. General McCaffrey is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is Emeritus Chairman of the Addiction Policy Forum Advisory Board. He has served on the Board of Directors of several corporations in the engineering design, technology, healthcare, and services sectors. General McCaffrey attended Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.; and graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned a master's degree in American Government from American University and attended the Harvard University National Security Program as well as the Business School Executive Education Program. Juvare's suite of crisis response software and solutions, which includes the industry-standard WebEOC and the revolutionary Juvare Exchange, empower all response stakeholders, including federal, state and local agencies, first responders, emergency medical personnel, and corporate clients to work together to serve their communities and organizations in critical incidents of all types. ABOUT JUVARE Juvare is a worldwide leader in emergency preparedness and critical incident management and response software. Juvare solutions empower government agencies, corporations, healthcare facilities, academic institutions, and volunteer organizations to leverage real-time data to manage incidents faster and more efficiently, protecting people, property, and brands. For more information, visit www.juvare.com. ABOUT FIVE ARROWS Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI) and Five Arrows Capital Partners (FACP) (together, "Five Arrows") are the European and US corporate private equity arms, respectively, of Rothschild & Co. Five Arrows is focused on investing in middle-market companies with highly defensible market positions; business models with high visibility of organic unit volume growth and strong free cash flow conversion; and multiple operational levers that can be used to unlock latent value. The sector focus at Five Arrows is limited to healthcare, data & software and technology-enabled business services. For more information, please visit https://www.rothschildandco.com/en/merchant-banking/corporate-private-equity. PRESS CONTACT: Josh Byrd VP, Marketing (866) 200-0165 [email protected] SOURCE Juvare New York's Attorney General has accused the Cuomo administration of undercounting the number of people who died from COVID-19 in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent. In a report released on Thursday, AG Letitia James said that the New York State Health Department only ever counted people who physically died in nursing homes, rather than people who contracted the disease in nursing homes but then died in hospital too. According to the state department's data, 8,500 people died have from COVID in nursing homes to date. But when using the Attorney General's estimate that 50 percent more died, that number goes up to more than 12,000. The report also says that a March directive that nursing homes had to accept COVID-19 positive patients 'may' have contributed to a higher number of infection, but that it is impossible to directly attribute it to him. Instead, her office is focusing on whether the homes themselves are to blame for not containing the spread once the patients were already admitted. Twenty are now facing investigation from her office. They are not named in the report, which also say that understaffed facilities had higher COVID death rates. Cuomo did not schedule a press briefing on Thursday, as he does every other day. He has not commented on the report but the health commissioner released a lengthy statement defending the state, claiming they'd always counted the extra deaths but as hospital deaths and not nursing home ones. 'The word "undercount" implies there are more total fatalities than have been reported; this is factually wrong,' Dr. Howard Zucker said. Between March and May - when Cuomo reversed the directive after widespread criticism - 6,326 COVID-positive residents were admitted to 310 nursing homes. Of the approximately 600 public nursing homes in New York, at least 323 homes had never had any infections until afterward the order but there is no data on which accepted COVID-19 patients and which didn't. A report by the New York Attorney General Letitia James has revealed the state undercounted COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50%. The state and Gov. Cuomo has put the number at 8,500. By James' number, it's more than 12,000 The report cites data from 62 nursing homes across New York. The state only ever relayed the number of people who died physically in nursing homes and not nursing home residents who died in hospital which inflates the death toll dramatically James does not, in her report, criticize Cuomo personally and does not directly attribute the high deaths to it. All the report says is that the decision 'may' have contributed to it. COVID AND NURSING HOME TIMELINE IN NEW YORK March 25: Gov. Cuomo issues a directive that all nursing homes must accept COVID-19 patients and care for them if hospitals can't May 11: Cuomo reverses the decision amid widespread outrage July 6: Cuomo admin publishes internal report revealing 6,300 COVID patients were sent back into nursing homes They claimed that asymptomatic nursing home staff were to blame for the spread though August 20: The AP publishes a damning report about nursing home deaths in New York and says the number may be as high as 11,000 October: Cuomo publishes book about his response to the pandemic Jan 2021: AG releases her report into nursing homes, saying 20 are under investigation for failing to meet standards Advertisement 'While additional data and analysis would be required to ascertain the effect of such admissions in individual facilities, these admissions may have contributed to increased risk of nursing home resident infection, and subsequent fatalities (whether due to actual transmission of infection from new residents to incumbent residents, or due to the facilities poor self-assessment during the admission process that was followed by failure to provide appropriate care to that patient or other residents.)' the report reads. Instead, she says her office is now investigating 20 nursing homes which may not have met safety and cleanliness requirements. Cuomo's decision to send thousands of COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes has been widely blamed for the high number of deaths among elderly people in New York. In March, a directive was issued that said nursing homes had to accept the patients, even if they were COVID positive, and that they had to find a way to care for them while keeping other residents and staff safe from the virus. He later reversed it but between March and May, 6,326 COVID-positive residents were admitted to nursing homes. In May, the AP published the first report that New York was undercounting nursing home deaths and the AG's office launched an investigation. Every other state has counted both. Cuomo has resisted criticism for the directive and he has never apologized for it. The Governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday morning. The report points out that while widely criticized, the March 25 directive was in line with the federal guidance that had been given. The point of the directive, from the state's view, was to ensure nursing homes were up to scratch. But nursing homes and the families of their residents angrily demanded to know why COVID-19 positive patients were being admitted in the first place, especially when healthy visitors were not allowed. The report from James' office seems neither criticizes or excuses Cuomo for it. 'Many nursing home industry and other commentators have criticized DOHs March 25 guidance as a directive that nursing homes had to accept COVID-19 patients who were infectious.45 'At the same time, the March 25 guidance was consistent with the CMS guidance on March 4 that said nursing homes should accept residents they would have normally admitted, even if from a hospital with COVID-19, and that patients from hospitals can be transferred to nursing homes if the nursing homes have the ability to adhere to infection prevention and control recommendations,' it says. At the time, recovered nursing home patients were taking up much needed hospital beds because they were delays in them receiving testing results back and nursing homes were not accepting anyone from the hospital unless they'd been given a negative COVID test. New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) wearing personal protective equipment lift a man after moving him from a nursing home into an ambulance on April 16, 2020 The hospital system in New York never collapsed. There were individual hospitals that became overwhelmed but the system, overall, held. The field hospitals set up by Cuomo at the USNS Comfort and Javits Center were never used to their full capacity. They weren't set up until after the March 25 directive. The New York State Health Commissioner said the report was not damning, and 'confirmed' that they'd always counted all of deaths just not as nursing home fatalities. 'The New York State Office of the Attorney General report is clear that there was no undercount of the total death toll from this once-in-a-century pandemic. 'The OAG affirms that the total number of deaths in hospitals and nursing homes is full and accurate. New York State Department of Health has always publicly reported the number of fatalities within hospitals irrespective of the residence of the patient, and separately reported the number of fatalities within nursing home facilities and has been clear about the nature of that reporting. Indeed, the OAG acknowledges in a footnote on page 71 that DOH was always clear that the data on its website pertains to in-facility fatalities and does not include deaths outside of a facility. 'The word "undercount" implies there are more total fatalities than have been reported; this is factually wrong. In fact, the OAG report itself repudiates the suggestion that there was any "undercount" of the total death number,' Dr Howard Zucker said. Zucker also said the report highlights the wrongdoings of the nursing homes, and he raised the fact that 13 states do not report nursing home deaths. 'Ultimately, the OAG's report demonstrates that the recurring problems in nursing homes and by facility operators resulted from a complete abdication by the Trump administration of its duty to manage this pandemic,' he said. When the high street shut up shop as Covid-19 took hold, many of us moved online, browsing and ordering from our favourite stores websites. But since Brexit became official on January 1, Irish consumers have found themselves suddenly hit with customs charges on parcels arriving from the UK, as well as facing long delays on deliveries and abrupt cancellations from companies we shopped with hassle-free just weeks before. Some customers have found loopholes like ordering through a brands German site yet others are confused about whether to shop at all. While we wait for more clarity on what the UKs departure from the EU means for online retail, we asked shopping experts for their picks of the best Irish and European sites for womenswear, menswear and childrenswear. Read More Irish Although theres no shortage of homegrown talent, it can be difficult to find brands with accessible price points to replace your UK-based stalwarts. DunnesStores.com continues to expand its online offering, including its designer collaborations with Helen Steele and Paul Galvin, while Dublin site iClothing.com offers a huge range of trendy, inexpensive womens and mens clothing, with brands such as Vero Moda, Jack & Jones, Glamorous and Marc Angelo. Expand Close Superlight gilet, Dunnesstores.com, 14.76 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Superlight gilet, Dunnesstores.com, 14.76 McElhinneys.com, the family-owned department store in Donegal, sells clothes for all ages, stocking high street hits like Gant, SuperDry and Tommy Hilfiger alongside contemporary European brands such as Selected Femme, Marella and InWear. Stylist and fashion commentator Lorna Weightman recommends FridaysEdit.com, a Dublin womenswear site that she says offers customers similar pieces and trends to those of the British fashion giants at affordable prices. Expand Close Alice grey jumper, fridaysedit.com, 49.95 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alice grey jumper, fridaysedit.com, 49.95 We dont have an online retail colossus like Asos, but what we do have is a number of smaller retailers who have balanced a bricks-and-mortar shop with a successful e-commerce platform, she adds. When searching for clothes online, your page searches may be higher to find what you need. That being said, there is a wealth of stylish boutiques around the country selling covetable European and American brands. IndigoandCloth.com has the best range of contemporary menswear brands, while women are spoilt for choice: Lorna names Seagreen.ie as the top pick for high-end womens fashion, thanks to its user-friendly site, and she also likes SuszaBoutique.com in Fermoy or NylesandRafe.com in Dunboyne for their regularly updated collections and speedy delivery times. ScoutDublin.com stocks modern utilitarian pieces by YMC, Swedish rainwear by Stutterheim and Breton tops by Armor Lux, or check out Killarneys MacBees.ie for cool-girl favourites Stine Goya, Essentiel Antwerp and Rodebjer. Naass Gallery9.ie has cult denim brand Paige and Anine Bings California-meets-Copenhagen designs, and AtriumDublin.com curates beautiful clothing and shoes from independent names like Miista, Mother of Pearl and Natalie B Coleman. Fabiani.ie in Longford sells relaxed pieces from Isabel Marants Etoile diffusion line and J Brand jeans, while ErreEsse.ie in Carlow offers unique European labels such as Exquise and Suncoo alongside local designers like Fee G and Caroline Kilkenny. For minimal basics and loungewear, take a look at TheoAndGeorge.com and FreshCutsClothing.com. Galways OhhByGum.ie has understated clothes for everyone, or go to ethical brands grown.ie and DueSouth.ie for graphic printed T-shirts and sweatshirts for men and women. PocoByPippa.com is a favourite for ladies denim and casualwear, while Ilk.ie sells classic mens shirts and workwear. In childrenswear, fashion journalist Sarah Macken names TheLittleWoodenPeg.com as her top pick, offering clothes for babies and children up to age 14. Elsewhere, theres LittleLarksClothing.com and LinzyO.ie for traditional frocks, FarmyardLabel.com for timeless pieces made from natural fabrics, WeAreBarn.com for Scandi-style kidswear, Stork-Co.com for cosy daywear, or Babyboo.ie for organic cotton sleepwear. International While confusion remains over which high street stores will be affected by Brexit, Marks & Spencer confirms there will be no additional charges for in-store or online purchases for customers in the Republic of Ireland, while a spokesperson for H&M says it has moved its distribution to the Netherlands so that products sold in Ireland wont be charged with additional duties due to Brexit. It is also understood that consumers shopping on the Irish sites for brands in the Spanish Inditex group, which includes Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear, will not incur import taxes on delivery. Sarah Macken advises branching out from Zara and taking a look at its sister site Uterque.com. Its perfect for those looking for a high street fix with a difference. The price points are higher but the selection and the experience is more curated, she explains. Expand Close Uterque oversize shirt with matching stripes, 89 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Uterque oversize shirt with matching stripes, 89 Our experts most frequent recommendation was Zalando.co.uk, a Berlin-based platform showcasing over 2,000 brands, including high street staples like Topshop, New Look, River Island, Arket and Gap, right up to luxury designers such as Alexander McQueen, Victoria Beckham and Gucci, plus a huge number of under-the-radar labels. Zalando has logistic centres in Germany, Poland, France, Italy and Sweden, and two more due to open in Spain and the Netherlands, so customers wont face additional duties when ordering from the site. Read More Zalando has been my favourite online retailer for a couple of years now, even excluding Brexit, says stylist and mens fashion influencer Rob Kenny. Theyre leading the way in so many ways the site is so easy to use, and they also really push sustainable fashion, so they have a tab where you can filter brands that are the most sustainable. They have an amazing array of brands. For menswear, Rob likes the slightly higher-end French sites Sandro-Paris.com and TheKooples.com. Sandro Paris is my most bought brand. They deliver directly here. Its a gorgeous website, and such a fab brand clean, minimal, French, he says, adding that the size guide can take some getting used to, since French sizes tend to run small. Expand Close Wool cardigan, Sandro, 345 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Wool cardigan, Sandro, 345 I normally order a size above, particularly if its a French site because its probably going to be smaller anyway, and then I get it altered to make it perfect. For childrenswear, fashion editor and stylist Corina Gaffey recommends Vertbaudet.com, which she notes offers easy returns via DHL, and LaRedoute.com, a curated marketplace with more classic fashion pieces for men, women and children. Both are French brands. Expand Close Striped printed dress, Vertbaudet.com, 12 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Striped printed dress, Vertbaudet.com, 12 Another Gallic site, Sezane.com, is Corinas top choice for womenswear. She describes the range as quality French-girl fashion pieces at accessible prices, with fast shipping and easy returns. She also suggests Belgian boutique LesJumelles.be, which sells very reasonably priced clothing and accessories, and Anna-Nina.nl, a Dutch store offering vintage jewellery and mid-range contemporary womenswear from the likes of Ganni and Les Coyotes de Paris. Scandinavias leading e-commerce company Nelly.com is another favourite, stocking well-known names like Missguided, Nike and Levis alongside Scandi labels Samse & Samse, Gestuz, By Malene Birger and Filippa K. It has over 700 different brands covering swimwear to sportswear, and everything in between, says Corina. The pick of the bunch Best for childrenswear: Vertbaudet.com: This massive French marketplace caters to children from birth up to 14 years, and also sells toys, maternity clothing and homewares. Corina Gaffey likes that they offer simple returns via DHL. Best for affordable fashion: FridaysEdit.com: If youre looking for an Irish alternative to your favourite British fast fashion behemoths, Lorna Weightman recommends the trend-led range from this Dublin company. Best all-rounder: Zalando.co.uk: Stocking over 2,000 brands from high street heroes to luxury labels for men, women and kids, this German fashion platform is a real gem, says Rob Kenny, who notes the site is clear and easy to use. Australia has extended its suspension of the travel bubble with New Zealand for a further 72 hours after more community cases were reported there. The travel arrangements allowing people to travel from New Zealand to Australia without undertaking quarantine have been suspended until 2pm on Sunday after two new cases with the new highly contagious strain of COVID-19 were detected in Auckland this week. The initial suspension period was due to end at 2pm on Thursday. On Sunday, a woman infected with the highly transmissible South African variant tested positive after she was released into the community. She returned two negative tests while in quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. Two more people, who stayed at the same hotel as the woman, tested positive after completing their quarantine period. Ensign InfoSecurity (Ensign), one of the Asia Pacifics largest pure-play cybersecurity firms, and Cybereason, a leader in future ready attack protection, today announced a partnership to expand the suite of cybersecurity solutions and services that Ensign offers to protect its Asia Pacific customers from the evolving cyber threats and security vulnerabilities faced in todays new normal. This collaboration will enable Ensigns customers access to Cybereasons world-class Cybereason Defense Platform, a combination of endpoint detection and response (EDR) and endpoint protection platform (EPP) capabilities. Cybereason has built a powerful, extensible analytics platform capable of detecting modern cyberthreats, as demonstrated through their strong prevention, detection, and response offerings. Cybereasons offerings complement and extend Ensigns already well-established visibility, threat hunting and Managed Security Services portfolio. Customers will benefit as it allows them to detect threats faster, monitor activities across both networks and endpoints with actionable intelligence and guided remediation tailored specifically to organisations unique digital environment and cybersecurity requirements. With the rapid adoption of cloud, advent of IPV6 and 5G, and an increase in endpoint devices and applications that are connected to organisations network which reside both inside and outside of the traditional security perimeter, organisations face an expanding attack surface. Additionally, threat actors are launching increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks against organisations, including wateringhole attacks and polymorphic malware like Emotet. Yesterday, law enforcement agencies from the U.S., UK EU and Canada announced they had dismantled the Emotet network. Organisations today are exposed to an exponentially larger digital attack surface and increased vulnerabilities as the industry experiences convergence of on-premise work practices together with remote users on home networks. As organizations start looking at long-term cyber resilience strategies, we are seeing an increased demand among our customers for a transformed security operations model that allows them to optimize their cyber security capability, make faster response decisions and boost resilience through Managed Detection and Response, said Roland Lau, Vice President of Managed Security Services, Ensign InfoSecurity. We selected Cybereason as our partner because theyre a trusted name in Endpoint Detection & Response. This partnership provides us with the opportunity to leverage Cybereasons world-class EDR technology to bolster our existing capabilities. This will allow us to not only detect threats sooner, but respond to them more effectively, bringing more value to our customers. Cybereasons expertise, high customer satisfaction ratings and regional capabilities make them a great fit for our partnership added Ronald Lau. Partnering with Ensign, a premier and trusted cybersecurity leader enables cyber defenders to take the fight directly to the adversary across endpoints, the enterprise and everywhere cyber battles are fought. Ensigns visibility and reach provides Cybereason with the access we need to engage with organizations across Asia Pacific and are committed to delivering value with our leading endpoint protection platform, said Eric Nagel, Vice President of Business Development and Investor Relations, Cybereason. We see great synergy in our capabilities and alignment in our cybersecurity vision for this region. We are excited about how we can deepen our collaboration with Ensign. About Ensign InfoSecurity Ensign InfoSecurity is the largest pure-play end-to-end cybersecurity service provider in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, Ensign offers bespoke solutions and services to address their clients cybersecurity needs. Their core competencies are in the provision of cybersecurity advisory and assurance services, architecture design and systems integration services, and managed security services for advanced threat detection, threat hunting, and incident response. Underpinning these competencies is in-house research and development in cybersecurity. Ensign has two decades of proven track record as a trusted and relevant service provider, serving clients from the public and private sectors in the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit http://www.ensigninfosecurity.com or email marketing@ensigninfosecurity.com About Cybereason Cybereason is the champion for todays cyber defenders providing future-ready attack protection that unifies security from the endpoint, to the enterprise, to everywhere the battle moves. The Cybereason Defense Platform combines the industrys top-rated detection and response (EDR and XDR), next-gen anti-virus (NGAV), and proactive threat hunting to deliver context-rich analysis of every element of a Malop (malicious operation). The result: defenders can end cyber attacks from endpoints to everywhere. Cybereason is a privately held, international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 30 countries. Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/ Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook Media Contacts: Bill Keeler Senior Director, Global Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler@cybereason.com (929) 259-3261 Sherin Y Lee Head of Marketing Ensign InfoSecurity marketing@ensigninfosecurity.com Jane Goh IN.FOM (on the behalf of Ensign InfoSecurity) ensignpr@infom.asia Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OurFamilyWizard (OFW) is excited to welcome Ning Wang and Melissa Esmundo to its Board of Directors. Both leaders have driven outsized growth for mission-driven companies and bring a wealth of industry and leadership experience. OurFamilyWizard, Offensive Security and Teachers Pay Teachers have received growth funding by Spectrum Equity. Ning Wang is currently CEO of Offensive Security, the leading cybersecurity training and certification company. Wang has over 20 years of experience running fast-growing technology companies, including as CFO/COO at HackerOne, CFO/COO/CTO at Lynda.com, and CFO/COO/CTO at four other technology companies. Ning previously worked at McKinsey & Company and has a Ph.D. in Physics from UC Berkeley. "OurFamilyWizard has truly built an outstanding co-parenting solution. With the added stress brought on by COVID-19, it is even more critical to support families navigating the very difficult process of finding a new normal after separation or divorce. I am honored and excited to work with OurFamilyWizard as it strives to reach as many families impacted by divorce or separation as it possibly can, with the mission to achieve better outcomes for parents, kids and the entire family," commented Wang. Melissa Esmundo is currently the Chief Commercial Officer of Teachers Pay Teachers, an organization on a mission to unlock the power of the world's educators through the world's most popular online marketplace for original educational resources. Esmundo has over 20 years of experience driving growth for mission-driven brands including as the Chief Revenue Officer of ZocDoc and SVP of Marketing at ToughMudder. "I am thrilled to be a part of the exciting growth path OurFamilyWizard is on. The empathy the team has for supporting customers and the deep trust the market has for OFW's products and people are a strong platform from which to accelerate growth," noted Esmundo. "I am thrilled to welcome Ning and Melissa to our board," mentioned Nick VanWagner, CEO of OurFamilyWizard. "Ning has proven time and again her ability to accelerate growth of industry-leading companies while taking an authentic and compassionate leadership approach. Melissa has consistently built teams inspired to drive customer impact across B2B, B2C, and Marketplace models. Their experiences will be critical to our growth as we strive to serve the needs of co-parents, children, and professionals within the family law ecosystem. I am fortunate to continue to learn from them and, together, we are collectively stronger." About OurFamilyWizard Founded in 2001, OurFamilyWizard provides both families and the professionals who serve them with the tools necessary for more seamless and successful co-parenting. Over one million parents and professionals have leveraged OurFamilyWizard to share calendars, messages, journals, files, expenses, and important information such as health and school records. The platform has been recommended by courts in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. Press Contact Sara Klemp [email protected] 612-294-0431 SOURCE OurFamilyWizard When Daniel Verguizas lost his wedding band at the beach on Australia Day he was certain the beloved ring he'd purchased in Norway was gone forever. His beautiful wife Ingerlise Svaleng, 40, was far from impressed with his absent-mindedness, so he decided to employ the services of a Sydney treasure hunter in a last-ditch bid to find the ring. The bizarre move paid off and a day later the precious metal detective who goes by the name 'Big H' found the ring buried in the sand at Gunnamatta Beach in the Sutherland Shire. Pictured: Daniel Verguizas holds up his wedding ring which was found by 'Big H' (pictured) 'I couldn't believe it. I thought there was absolutely no chance we were going to find it,' Mr Verguizas told Daily Mail Australia. 'It started pouring rain and after about an hour and a half we were about to give up.' The 39-year-old had spent the public holiday lounging on the beach with his bride of six years, but when he went for a dip he took his ring off, put it in his wallet and slipped it into her purse. After arriving home and opening the wallet he realised it was no longer there. He said his wife 'actually handled the situation pretty well' but he 'could tell she was very sad'. Mr Verguizas wasn't 100 per cent sure he'd lost it at the beach or if it came out somewhere else, so he retraced his steps to a local chicken shop and to Coles, but the precious item was nowhere to be found. Daniel Verguizas and his wife Ingerlise (pictured together) got married in Norway six years ago The couple (pictured) spent the public holiday lounging on the beach at Gunnamatta in the Sutherland Shire Mr Verguizas snaps a photo of Ingerlise wading through the water on Australia Day The desperate couple upturned their bags and pockets dozens of times before posting a notice to the community Facebook page Everything Sutherland Shire, to ask if anyone in the area had seen it. That's when they first heard of the unique services of Shannon Hedgecoe - a heavily tattooed man with a flowing red beard armed with a metal detector who loves to search for long lost valuables. They drew up a 20-meter perimeter around where they had been sitting the day before and Mr Hedgecoe started the painstaking job of scouring the scene and listening for a beep. 'Because it was Australia Day the day before, there were bottle tops everywhere so he was getting sounds the whole time,' Mr Verguizas said. 'We'd hired him for two hours and the time was almost up when he dug something out of the sand and said: 'Is this your ring?'' Ingerlise said the needle in a haystack find meant much more than simply recovering the monetary value. 'It's funny - it's just a ring but what it symbolises is so important,' she said. 'We got the ring in Oslo where we got married, so it was special to us and part of our history.' A 20-meter perimeter was drawn up and Mr Hedgecoe (pictured) started the painstaking job of scouring the scene and listening for a beep 'Because it was Australia Day the day before, there were bottle tops everywhere so he was getting sounds the whole time,' Mr Verguizas said. Pictured: Mr Hedgecoe Ingerlise said the needle in a haystack find meant much more than simply recovering the monetary value The loving couple also got each other's names engraved on the inside of each other's wedding band, making it easy for Mr Verguizas to identify. The mysterious Mr Hedgecoe told Daily Mail Australia he was confident he'd eventually find the ring. 'If it's there, 100 per cent, I will find it,' he said. Mr Verguizas offered the 35-year-old 'some money' for finding the ring, but normally Big H offers his services for free. 'Sometimes people offer me a carton of beer or something but normally I don't charge them,' Mr Hedgecoe said. 'I just do it for the joy of helping people out.' After years of gold prospecting and metal detecting as a hobby, he's now started a service called Big H's Precious Recoveries. Just a day after finding Mr Verguizas's ring, he was back at it again recovering an 18-karat diamond wedding ring and returning it to an elderly lady free of charge. 'He is an absolute gem of a man!' Ingerlise said. RAMALLAH, Palestine, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Palestinian Authority issued a strong warning that Palestine's momentum towards the digital economy is falling behind due to Israel's control over access to the 4G/5G spectrum. This continued deprivation of access to the necessary spectrum will have negative economic and social consequences, especially as Covid-19 is transitioning the Palestine society to digital life across key sectors and the current broadband infrastructure is not enough. In a letter addressed to the international and donor community operating in Palestine, the Palestinian Authority reported the negative impact of such deprivation and the positive results of access to technology. The letter called for action by the international community and Palestine's development partners are helping to unlock this potential for Palestine to leap into the digital economy by releasing Israel-barred telecommunications spectrum. Fast-speed mobile Internet, data mining and application development are the backbone of the digital economy and the driving force behind an innovation ecosystem for entrepreneurs and start-ups. The unemployment rate is nearly 50% among university graduates, Palestinian youth are creating their own jobs in remote work and freelance, as well as through technology entrepreneurship and the "app" economy. Today, Palestine has a fragmented map of the telecommunications spectrum. The West Bank uses 3G, which is considered technologically outdated as the world moves to 4G/5G. While the Gaza Strip remains stuck with 2G, a technology that does not meet the aspirations of entrepreneurial youth, Israeli operators continue to infringe the area of jurisdiction of Palestinian operators by constantly incurring their market share through unlicensed and subsidized competition. Most recently, these Israeli operators have been able to market 4G/5G services at very low prices for massive data plans to Palestinian consumers, this is an existential barrier to survival of Palestinian mobile and fixed line Internet operators. According to a World Bank report for 2016, it was estimated that the total revenue loss for telecommunications operators from these intrusions could range from USD 436 million to USD 1.1 billion over three years, resulting in a fiscal loss of between USD 70 million and USD 184 million for the Palestinian Authority. These numbers could have been doubled by now. Palestinians have all the capabilities to take advantage of the leapfrog to the digital economy. They have the human talent, they have the know-how, they have a high mobile phone and Internet penetration rate, and there is an evolving eco-system, as such, is poised to make a solid leap into the "app" economy if 4G and 5G spectrum are allowed to make that moonshot. Palestine, like every other nation on earth, must meet its growing demand for broadband to support its new digital era. More than before, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, support for remote work, e-commerce, e-schools, e-health, meeting sustainable development goals and much more. The 4G/5G spectrum is all in dire need to power its digital broadband landscape. Our call for action today is threefold: first, the provision of 4G/5G spectrum to Palestinian operators on a non-sharing basis; second, the cessation of Israeli attacks on the telecommunications market; and third, allowing Palestinian operators to work in Area C in the occupied Palestinian territories. SOURCE The Palestinian Authority * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 11:44:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man takes part in a climate change protest in Times Square in New York, the United States, on Sept. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) - "There is only one Earth and one shared future for humanity. We need to work together because we are one community to face climate change," Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said. - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the preexisting problems and imbalances. GENEVA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The issue of how to save the planet from global warming and efforts to mobilize action against climate change came under the spotlight at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos Agenda on Wednesday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of weakening international institutions and the threats of conflicts. ONE EARTH, ONE SHARED FUTURE In the "Mobilizing Action on Climate Change" session, Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu urged a united front in tackling the climate crisis. "There is only one Earth and one shared future for humanity. We need to work together because we are one community to face climate change. This is the most powerful tool," Huang said. Aerial photo taken on Dec. 15, 2020 shows a solar thermal electricity project in Gonghe County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Hainan in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang) Meanwhile, during the "Financing the 'Net-Zero' Transition" panel, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said that "the world appears to be close to a new alignment to start flowing a mix of private and public investment funds" to enable the "net-zero" transformation of industries to zero carbon emissions. Swiss Re CEO Christian Mumenthaler stressed that even if companies may not know how to achieve "net-zero" by 2050, they should take "a leap of faith" and set the target that "I really feel we are at a tipping point in terms of action." Earlier on Tuesday, the WEF, the Energy Transitions Commission think tank, NGO Rocky Mountain Institute, and the We Mean Business coalition launched the Mission Possible Partnership in a bid to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industry and transport. The partnership, which brings together over 400 companies, builds on the work launched at the United Nations Secretary General's Climate Action Summit in 2019 to help seven heavy industry sectors cut their carbon emissions, the WEF announced during the Davos Agenda meeting. PUTIN SPEECH During his special address on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the preexisting problems and imbalances. "We have every reason to believe that the tensions might aggravate further," he said. "International institutions are weakening, regional conflicts are multiplying, the global security system is degrading." Referring to the 20th century and the "catastrophic World War II", Putin said that "nowadays, such a heated conflict is not possible. I hope that it is not possible in principle, because it will mean the end of our civilization." "But I'd like to reiterate that the situation might develop unpredictably and uncontrollably if we sit on our hands doing nothing to avoid it. There's a possibility that we might experience an actual collapse of global development that might result in a fight of all against all." Chinese medical team experts and Italian doctors pose for a photo in Padua, Italy, March 18, 2020. (Chinese Medical Team/Handout via Xinhua) Putin also called for more multilateralism, international dialogue and cooperation to tackle the current challenges. COVID-19 THREAT On Tuesday, Johns Hopkins University data showed that global COVID-19 cases surpassed 100 million. In his special address, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on the world to "further reinforce solidarity and collaboration" in the fight against the virus. "The economy is recovering, but the polarizations and inequities brought by the pandemic are growing even bigger. As COVID-19 is becoming more prolonged, inequality is widening a gap that we are witnessing both within countries and between countries," he said. A woman selects face masks in an open-air market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Jan. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) According to its latest World Economic Outlook on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund now forecasts the global economy to grow 5.5 percent this year and expand by 4.2 percent in 2022, but warned that COVID-19 variants pose risks to the post-pandemic recovery. A special address planned for Wednesday by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the WEF was cancelled following his resignation the day before. The virtual WEF Davos Agenda meeting, which usually takes place in the Swiss mountain town of Davos, lasts until Friday. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. I've been getting a lot of mail from critics lately asking if I'm happy with the Biden administration. They point to some of the new president's executive orders -- the one about the Keystone XL pipeline, or the one rescinding the "Mexico City" policy withholding funds from international organizations that perform or advocate for abortion. They ask, snidely, whether I'm proud of my vote for the Democrat. My answer is a resounding yes. It's not because I think Joe Biden will pursue a policy agenda I will agree with most of the time. It's because we just came within a whisker of losing our democracy, and this presidency is a chance to rebuild it. We may yet blow it. Matters like the Keystone pipeline and even the Mexico City policy are trifles by comparison. My correspondents won't understand this. Rightworld is in the process, once again, of bending reality to serve their leader, and in so doing, they are compounding the moral abdication that brought us Jan. 6. The immediate reactions to the attempted coup sound strangely mature and responsible now that the right has regrouped and settled back into its accustomed posture of Trump-excusing. The new narrative is that an impeachment trial would be 1) unconstitutional, 2) divisive or 3) helpful to Trump because it gives him a platform. How quickly they have capitulated. It's a mistake in this febrile era ever to assume you've taken the national temperature. In the days immediately following the attack on the Capitol, Sen. Pat Toomey said the president had committed impeachable offenses and was unfit to serve. "I want him out," Sen. Lisa Murkowski told The Anchorage Daily News. Sen. Ben Sasse said he would "definitely consider whatever articles" of impeachment the House might move. Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed his disgust on the Senate floor: "Count me out. Enough is enough." Sen. Mitch McConnell said Trump provoked the mob by feeding them lies, and McConnell signaled that he might be open to impeachment. Rep. Kevin McCarthy said Trump was responsible for the storming of the Capitol, and warned his caucus not to criticize members who voted for impeachment because it might endanger their lives. National Review published pro-impeachment articles, and The Wall Street Journal called for Trump to resign. Ten House Republicans, including a sulphuric Liz Cheney, voted to impeach. Even Ari Fleisher said: "At this point, I won't defend him anymore. ... He's on his own." Oh, but he's not. Just a few days later, Fleisher was retweeting a Wall Street Journal editorial suggesting that we really ought to move on, and that "Democrats and the press are addicted to Trump." The Oregon GOP's official position is that the assault on the Capitol was a false flag operation, mounted to "discredit" Trump. Graham was back onsides in a matter of days. Having weathered harassment by Trump fanatics at National Airport, he skittered back to the boss, telling Fox News that "I hope people in our party understand the party itself. If you're wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, you're gonna get erased." Like dominoes, the old gang began falling into line. Prof. Jonathan Turley, who's been saying that impeaching a non-incumbent is unconstitutional, was invited to the Senate GOP luncheon. All but five Republicans (Romney, Sasse, Murkowski, Collins and Toomey) voted for a resolution introduced by Sen. Rand Paul echoing the Turley view. Trump loyalists circulated a petition to remove Cheney from her House leadership post. National Review published a John Bolton piece arguing that the second impeachment was as "flawed as the first." Too partisan. Too hasty. It will give him a platform. You know the drill. Sen. Marco Rubio said the impeachment is "stupid." Oh, and did he mention "divisive"? The infinitely flexible Nikki Haley asks not whether former Trump attempted to steal the election, but how low the base would like her to sink. Appearing on the Laura Ingraham show, she offered up the expected persecution narrative: "They beat him up before he got into office. They are beating him up after he leaves office. I mean, at some point, I mean, give the man a break. I mean, move on." See how this works? It was Trump who was beaten, not Officer Sicknick. The persecution complex is eternal -- the sense that Democrats and "the media" are willing to do anything to "get" Trump and that therefore they must be ready to respond in kind. We've run the experiment and gotten our answer. There really is nothing Trump could do that would forfeit the support of the GOP. He didn't literally shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, but he sabotaged Americans' faith in elections, attempted to intimidate the secretary of state of Georgia into altering the election count and set a violent mob against the Congress (killing one officer and four others). He has blood on his hands. But in the words of his No. 1 toady, Lindsey Graham: "He's going to be the most important voice in the Republican Party for a long time to come." So, no regrets about voting for an honorable Democrat. I only pray that, with the reprieve we've bought, we can repair the awful breach in this country before it's too late. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM The and Left parties will hold a joint meeting today at 11 West Bengal chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will also be present at the meeting. Earlier, and the Left Front alliance on Monday announced that they will stay on the seats which they had won in the 2016 Assembly election while the sharing of the rest 217 seats will be concluded by January 31. The tenure of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal will come to an end on May 30, 2020. The upcoming state in West Bengal are slated to take place in 2021 for 294 Assembly seats. (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.) Visualization of cell wall patterns. Credit: Dr. Rene Schneider A genetic engineering method makes it possible to observe how woody cell walls are built in plants. The new research in wood formation, conducted by the University of Copenhagen and others, opens up the possibility of developing sturdier construction materials and perhaps more climate efficient trees. The ability of certain tree species to grow taller than 100 meters is due to complex biological engineering. Besides needing the right amounts of water and light to do so, this incredible ability is also a result of cell walls built sturdily enough to keep a tree both upright and able to withstand the tremendous pressure created as water is sucked up from its roots and into its leaves. This ability is made possible by what are known as the secondary cell walls of plants. Secondary cell walls, also known as xylem or wood, are built according to a few distinct and refined patterns that allow wall strength to be maintained while still allowing connecting cells to transport water from one to the other. How these wall patterns are built has been a bit of a mystery. Now, the mystery is starting to resolve. For the first time, it is possible to observe the process of woody cell wall pattern formation within a plantand in real-time no less. A team of international researchers, including Professor Staffan Persson of the University of Copenhagen, has found a way to monitor this biological process live, under the microscope. The scientific article for the study is published in the renowned journal, Nature Communications. This opens up the possibility of manipulating the building process and perhaps even making plant xylem strongera point that shall be returned to. A genetic trick makes it possible to observe wood formation in real-time Because wood forms in tissue that is buried deep inside the plant, and microscopes work best on the surfaces of objects, the wood-forming process is difficult to observe. To witness it in action, researchers needed to apply a genetic trick. By modifying the plants with a genetic switch, they were able to turn on wood formation in all cells of the plantincluding those on the surface. This allowed them to observe the wood formation under a microscope in detail and in real time. Cell walls consist mainly of cellulose, which is produced by enzymes located on the surface of all plant cells. Generally speaking, the process involves the orderly arrangement of protein tubesknown as microtubulesat the surface of the cells. The microtubules serve as tracks along which the wall producing enzymes deposit construction material to the wall. "One can imagine the construction process as a train network, where the train would represent the cellulose-producing enzymes, as they move forward while producing cellulose fibers. The microtubules, or rails, steer the direction of the proteins, just like train rails. Interestingly, during the formation of woody cell walls these 'rails' need to change their organization completely to make patterned wallsa process that we now can follow directly under our microscopes" explains Staffan Persson, of UCPH's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. Taller trees and sturdier building materials "We now have a better understanding of the mechanisms that cause the microtubules to rearrange and form the patterns. Furthermore, we can simulate the wall pattern formation on a computer. The next step is to identify ways that allows us to make changes to the system. For example, by changing patterns," suggests Persson. First author, Dr. Rene Schneider adds, "Changing the patterns can alter the ways in which a plant grows or distributes water within it, which can then go on to influence a plant's height or biomass. For example, if you could create trees that grow differently by accumulating more biomass, it could potentially help slow the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." In the longer term, Persson suggests that one of the most obvious applications is to manipulate biological processes to develop stronger or different woody construction materials. "If we can change both the chemical composition of cell walls, which we and other researchers are already working on, and the patterns of cell walls, we can probably alter wood strength and porosity. Sturdier construction materials made of wood don't just benefit the construction industry, but the environment and climate as well. They have a smaller carbon footprint, a longer service life and can be used for manifold purposes. In some cases, they may even be able to replace energy-intensive materials like concrete," says Persson, whose background as a construction engineer compliments his plant biology background. He also points to potential applications in the development of cellulose-based nanomaterials. These are gaining ground in medicine, where cellulose-based nanomaterials can be used to efficiently transport pharmaceuticals throughout the body. However, these applications would first require further knowledge in how we can manipulate secondary walls and implementation of the knowledge in trees or other useful crop plants as much of our research is conducted in model plant organisms, such as thale cress, underscores both Staffan Persson and Rene Schneider. Explore further Scientists study how wood is formed and how that process can help develop materials for the future More information: Rene Schneider et al, Long-term single-cell imaging and simulations of microtubules reveal principles behind wall patterning during proto-xylem development, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Rene Schneider et al, Long-term single-cell imaging and simulations of microtubules reveal principles behind wall patterning during proto-xylem development,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20894-1 WASHINGTON President Joe Biden began shifting the United States from fossil fuels through a series of executive orders Wednesday, carrying through on a campaign promise to fight climate change while protecting the economies of states such as Texas that have delivered the nations energy supply for more than a century. In doing so, he is putting to the test a notion championed by Democrats and climate advocates that hundreds of thousands of jobs in U.S. oil fields and coal mines can be replaced by new industries building electric cars, installing solar panels and developing technologies needed to transform the global economy to clean energy. Biden on Wednesday ordered a one-year moratorium on new leasing for fossil fuel extraction from federal lands and waters including the Gulf of Mexico while directing federal agencies to buy American-made zero-emissions vehicles and stop purchasing electricity generated from coal, oil and natural gas. He also ordered federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies as consistent with applicable law. Its unclear which subsidies would be affected since many of the industrys tax breaks were approved by Congress and would require legislation to repeal them. In the short term, those moves are likely to only shift energy use around the margins. But in the long run, they signal a larger shift that threatens to disrupt businesses and lives in places such as Houston the so-called energy capital of the world. Testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Wednesday, Jennifer Granholm, the former Michigan governor who is Bidens pick to lead the Department of Energy, pledged the new administration would leave no American energy workers behind in shifting the economy to clean energy. She described a SWAT team inside the federal government focused on communities that have powered America. The presidents plan on building back better would create more jobs in clean energy than the jobs that might be sacrificed, she said. The moratorium on public lands, I know, for those states that have those jobs in abundance, is something were going to have to work on. The executive order regarding federal lands and waters drew immediate backlash from Republicans and the oil and gas industry. They argued that the moratorium would not only result in massive job losses, but also force the United States to import more oil from abroad, going against decades of U.S. policy seeking energy independence from the Middle East. On HoustonChronicle.com: After long fight to thwart climate rules, oil industry seeks inroads with Biden More than 20 percent of the nations oil production comes from federal lands and waters. For now, the order is unlikely to have much effect on production, as it still allows the Department of Interior to issue permits for drilling and mining and companies have been buying up leases at a heightened pace in expectation of a ban. But as leases expire over the next few years, production will decline and tens of thousands of jobs will be lost in the Gulf of Mexico alone, said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association. You cant replace jobs along the Gulf Coast with jobs in Nevada and Massachusetts installing solar panels, he said. (Offshore drilling) is a very niche market, with people working in jobs like roustabouts and tool pushers. They trained and live on the Gulf Coast, in some cases with families working for generations in this business. In Texas, which has little federal land, the consequences are likely to be less severe than other oil and gas states, such as New Mexico and Wyoming. Still, the states oil and gas companies many of which drill in the New Mexico portion of the Permian Basin were irate at the prospect of having drilling opportunities restrained. Families lives in Texas have been dramatically improved by oil and gas, said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. We understand society has concerns about the climate, but our energy choices do not have to be an either/or. Even some members of Bidens own party are pushing back, with a group of four Texas Democrats including Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, of Houston and Rep. Henry Cuellar, of Laredo, calling on Biden to rescind the federal leasing order and work with them to develop a thoughtful policy that addresses climate change, protects American jobs and moves us forward. For Biden, who has pledged to listen to scientists regardless of political consequence, reducing the nations emissions to net zero by mid-century is not a choice, but rather a necessity to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. A longtime champion of American workers often to the criticism of climate advocates who argued he was not committed to the cause Biden has won endorsements from unions such as the AFL-CIO on promises to protect American workers through the energy transition. In my view, weve already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis. We cant wait any longer, Biden said at the White House Wednesday. Were talking about national security, about America leading the world in a clean energy future. Its a future of enormous hope and opportunity. In Houston, as in many cities in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Wyoming, the economy has long centered around oil and gas. But even before Bidens victory in November, efforts were underway in Houston to begin a transition towards clean energy. Later this year, the Massachusetts firm Greentown Labs is set to open its second clean energy incubator in Houston, with backing from oil majors Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell and the power company NRG Energy. Rice University has launched a climate accelerator out of its new ION building in downtown Houston, with financial backers including Exxon Mobil, BP and the Houston oil field services company Halliburton. The concept is to transfer the expertise of the oil and gas and power industries and apply it to developing and managing new forms of energy, from low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen to offshore wind farms. The energy industry is always changing. Its been happening since we went from wood to coal and coal to oil, said Michael Webber, a professor at the University of Texas. Who knows how to do hydrogen? The oil and gas industry. Who knows how to do offshore wind? The oil and gas industry has critical skills that are going to be needed as the energy sector transition. But with companies around the globe vying for a piece of a clean energy sector anticipated to be worth more than $20 trillion a year by 2040, competition will be fierce. So far, China has dominated the clean energy industry, manufacturing most of the worlds solar panels and moving briskly to do the same with electric vehicles and batteries. While some Texas companies and workers might transition to a new clean energy industry, many likely will not, said Peter Rodriguez, an economist and dean of Rice Universitys Jones Graduate School of Business. Over the long run its possible you can have more or as many jobs involved with clean energy and environmental mitigation as you do oil and gas. But usually those transitions arent clean or easy, he said. If you think about what happened to North Carolina and its textile mills when (the United States) opened up global trade you saw a lot of displacement. A lot of people didnt move over from the textile mills. The more immediate question facing the Biden administration as it seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions is its authority to do so. On HoustonChronicle.com: Biden suspends federal oil and gas leasing for 60 days Within hours of the executive orders announcement, the trade group Western Energy Alliance filed a lawsuit in a Wyoming federal court claiming Biden does not have the authority to put a moratorium on federal leasing. While that is a matter of dispute, even some environmental attorneys agree that federal law does not allow a president to permanently ban leasing, as Biden has signaled he plans to do once his government has completed its review of fossil fuel production on federal lands. In that case, Biden would need to convince Congress to change the law, which, with the Republicans holding 50 seats in the Senate, seems nearly impossible. Even were Democrats to do away with the rule requiring 60 votes on such legislation, several of their members in the Senate represent states with large fossil fuel industries, including Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia where coal and natural gas dominate. Manchin will soon become chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, giving him power over what legislation moves to the Senate floor for a vote. With COVID-19 keeping many Americans out of work, those politicians could be hard pressed to do anything that would further deplete jobs in their states. Now is not the time to jeopardize American jobs, or the critical tax and royalty revenues that federal leases generate for local, state, and federal government that need funds now, the Texas Democratic Congress members said in their letter to Biden Wednesday. james.osborne@chron.com twitter.com/@osborneja The signing ceremony of the Memoranda of Understanding on stock exchange (Photo: VNA) During the session held via video conference on January 25, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An noted despite impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two-way trade in 2020 increased considerably compared to that of 2019. Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs show bilateral trade last year hit 478.33 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 29.48 percent. Of the total, Vietnamese exports to Ukraine brought back 284.8 million USD, up 15.04 percent, while imports from Ukraine rose 58.81 percent to 193.5 million USD. An, who co-chaired the session, suggested that both sides work closely together to create a favourable legal framework for key Vietnamese farm products such as seafood, meat, and fresh fruits to access the Ukrainian market more easily, and similarly for key Ukrainian goods such as cereals, meat and milk on the other way. For his part, Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Taras Kachka proposed that both sides enter into a free trade agreement (FTA) to enable their businesses to enjoy tax preferences in their import-export activities. Ukraine and Vietnam should soon complete a feasibility study of the FTA based on a joint study done in 2014, he said. According to the official, in its foreign policy orientations in 2021, Ukraine plans to promote cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region and hopes to accelerate FTA negotiations with Vietnam, China and Indonesia. During the session, both sides also examined the potential for bilateral cooperation in other fields such as diplomacy, finance, industry, agriculture, science technology, especially space science, environmental resources and health. The two signed the minutes of the session and witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding on stock exchange and space research cooperation./. Job losses: Melrose is to close GKN Automotive's assembly plant in Birmingham The corporate raider that controversially bought GKN was accused of sending British jobs abroad last night after plans to close yet another factory emerged. Melrose bought the manufacturing giant for 8billion two years ago and promised to MPs that it would aim to make GKN 'a British manufacturing powerhouse'. But it has since slashed hundreds of jobs, with fresh outrage erupting yesterday as it emerged that a plant in Birmingham will now be shuttered as well. The decision to close GKN Automotive's assembly plant in Erdington, a site which dates back to the 1930s, puts 519 jobs at risk. GKN claimed the site was no longer viable because of 'an increasingly competitive global market' triggering claims it planned to move the jobs to its other sites in Europe. Workers were left 'shocked and angry' by the unexpected news, according to union Unite. A spokesman for GKN said: 'Proposing this closure is a difficult decision.' But Labour MP Jack Dromey, who represents Erdington, accused the company of breaking its promises, adding: Despite all the warm words, the cold reality three years on is that one of GKN's finest plants now faces closure.' Melrose promised a bright future to GKN's employees - a promise they have now broken. A Melrose spokesman said: 'Melrose has honoured every single promise and undertaking it made to Government at the time of the takeover. 'We are investing tens of millions every year into groundbreaking research and development projects in vehicle e-drive, hydrogen powered aircraft and other new technologies. 'Our new Global Technology Centre in Bristol and our Automotive Research Centre in Abingdon are two prime examples as well as our 10m Skill Fund, working hand in hand with Unite, and our apprentice scheme.' The percentage of hospital beds occupied by Covid-19 patients in Spain fell on Wednesday for the first time since December 31, 2020. According to the latest Health Ministry report, released on Wednesday evening, Covid-19 patients now occupy 24.03%, a marginal drop on Tuesdays figure of 24.10%. In total, 30,789 people are in hospital with Covid-19 in Spain, 26 less than on Tuesday. This trend, if confirmed, would indicate that Spain has overcome the peak of the third wave of the pandemic, after the spike in new coronavirus infections hit a record high last Thursday, when 44,357 cases were recorded. According to corrected data from the Carlos III Health Institute, the record was actually broken a few days earlier on January 15, given that the daily figures do not indicate the date of contagion. This would mean that it has been two weeks since Spain reached the peak of the third wave, which is precisely the time that it takes for a drop in new cases to be reflected in the number of hospitalizations. This delay is due to the fact that it can take several days for a patients condition to worsen after they first start showing symptoms. In the past seven days, 2,654 victims have died from Covid-19, the highest number since April last year According to the Health Ministrys report, 40,285 new coronavirus cases were recorded on Wednesday, down from 44,357 on January 21, but up from Tuesdays figure of 36,435. Whats more, in these recent weeks, the seven-day cumulative number of infections has been the highest seen since the first wave of the pandemic. A total of 257,784 new coronavirus cases were reported in the last week, down from 259,075 on Tuesday. As a result of the high number of new infections, Spains national incidence rate also continues to rise, albeit at a slower rate. According to Wednesdays report, the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants now stands at 899.93. But the rise over the past seven days is 22.3%, where one week ago it was 49.5%. The incidence rate also fell from Tuesday in seven Spanish territories: the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Extremadura, Murcia and the North African exclave city of Ceuta. However, only in the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Navarre and the Basque Country is the 14-day cumulative number per 100,000 inhabitants below 500. The European Union recommends against travel to areas with an incidence rate above the 500-threshold or for these territories to introduce their own travel restrictions. Intensive care units (ICUs) in Spain also continue to be under great pressure, with Covid-19 patients occupying 41.9% of all ICU beds. A total of 3,597 Covid-19 patients are currently in intensive care. The Health Ministry added 492 Covid-19 deaths to the official toll on Wednesday, the second-highest figure of the third wave, which began on December 10, if it is measured from the lowest incidence rate recorded. In the past seven days, 2,654 victims have died from Covid-19, the highest number since April last year. During the first wave, however, thousands of people died without being diagnosed, meaning they were not included in the official count. The official death toll since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 57,291. English version by Melissa Kitson. Delegates attended the opening of the 13th National Party Congress. (Source: VNA) The channelnewsasia.com website reported the opening session of the 13th National Party Congress. Accordingly, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong presented the Report of the Party Central Committee (term 12) on Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress before 1,587 delegates. Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed the outstanding economic development and the COVID-19 pandemic prevention are Vietnams great achievements over the past year. The website quoted General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong as saying that Vietnam has developed rapidly and steadily, reinforcing the peoples confidence in the Party, State and the socialist regime. On the same day, Thailands Bangkok Post website also highlighted Vietnams economic achievements in 2020. The newspaper quoted Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, highlighting Vietnam's GDP growth of 2.91% last year, in a region where many countries experienced economic slowdowns. According to the Bangkok Post, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that Vietnam is known as a bright spot for successfully curbing the COVID-19 pandemic in parallel with economic recovery and development. Meanwhile, the US Washington Post quoted Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong as pointing out that globalization and global integration are on the right track, but facing the rise of nationalism, strategic competition and economic competition. The Malaysias Star newspaper, citing Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs speech at the opening of the congress, said that the event took place in the context that Vietnam was facing many intertwined opportunities and challenges, and new strategic issues which need to be addressed./. This type of behavior seems to go on a lot in the hospitality industry, and I hope everyone suing will prevail because it should never be accepted. There's a trendy hotel in Chicago that got put on blast and sued recently for doing similar and worse. Edited at 2021-01-28 04:12 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Yep. My years in hospitality being Black and queer were the closest experiences I've had to repeated trauma since childhood lmao but not lmao Reply Parent Thread Link I believe them, take this place to the cleaners!! Reply Thread Link Judging by the messy white men who wax poetic about this place I'm not even a bit surprised. Reply Thread Link Yup! EXACTLY what I was thinking. This place has a reputation for a reason. Reply Parent Thread Link Im literally not at all shocked. Didnt that new borat movie expose a hotel in like Texas that was totally going to go along w the get me little boys thing? It seems to me like an industry where the wealthy and powerful can absolutely get away with everything. Like most industries Reply Thread Link Edited at 2021-01-28 04:18 pm (UTC) A Hollywood institution famed and prized among the cognoscenti for it's "classic" manners, it's willingness to go to any lengths to satisfy it's guests, and it's high degree of discretion to almost any guest behavior, is racist, sexist, and has a sexual harrassment problem? Reply Thread Link A+ gif useage. Reply Parent Thread Link Lana Del Reycist's favorite spot. Coincidence? I think not. Reply Thread Link Tear them apart! Reply Thread Link Remember when LiLo stole a Macbook Pro from them and then got mad that they charged her for it when she moved out and didn't give it back? Reply Thread Link Yes! And wasnt she living there for months/years for thousands of dollars a week? I kept thinking, just buy a house and pay a mortgage Reply Parent Thread Link One of the open secrets about "the Chateau" was that you could pretty much get any drugs you wanted, whenever you wanted, they were SUPER helpful. Think how convenient it must be to not have to wait for your dealer to call you back. Reply Parent Thread Link I just came in here to comment on Lilo. Whenever I hear about the Chateau Marmont, I think of an ONTD comment from years and years ago where a user didn't know it was a hotel and asked: "Why is Lindsay Lohan's house called the Chateau Marmont?" Reply Parent Thread Link expose the shitty clientele too tbh Reply Thread Link I'm surprised I haven't heard more lawsuits of this kind against the Chateau tbh. Reply Thread Link Racism in the hospitality industry? Colour my coloured-self shocked! Reply Thread Link What I wouldn't give for a tell-all about this shithole. Reply Thread Link Theres a book called The Castle on Sunset by Shawn Levy thats as close to a tell-all about this place as there is. Its really focused on how it changes ownership and talks about gossip thats already mostly known Reply Parent Thread Link They could also probably use an exorcism Reply Thread Link i just search on YT to see if there were any videos of the interiors and while it's nice, it seems wildly overpriced?? the first video that shows up to me shows a perfectly normal, non-fancy hotel room for like $415 (in 2011). is it expensive just because it's famous (or infamous)? Reply Thread Link Some students at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, were seen discarding their face masks and ignoring other COVID-19 safety protocols on Wednesday as soon as they passed through a health check at the university campus gate. A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, who monitored activities on the two campuses of the university, observed poor compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols by the majority of the students. University of Uyo, like most other universities in Nigeria, has just resumed for the 2019/2020 academic session after about nine months nationwide strike by university lecturers. Students are returning to classes amidst a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections across the country. At the UNIUYO entrance gate, both at the town campus and its annex, health officials, assisted by security officials, were at hand to run temperature checks and to ensure students wore face masks before they could get inside the campuses. But as soon as the students successfully passed through the check and were inside the campuses, they pulled off and pocketed their face masks, and then excitedly hugged one another, apparently to welcome themselves back from the long holiday. Except for one hall Onyema Ugochukwu Hall in the town campus where a public lecture on COVID-19 was going on, there was no social distancing in all the lecture halls visited. Students were seen reading in clusters and were chatting freely, without face masks, inside the lecture halls. There were no lecturers in any of the halls, indicating that lectures were probably yet to commence fully in the school. We are starting exams next week, so there wont be classes till after exams, said Aniedi Ekanem, a 200 level student in the Department of Education Technology. I have mine, I just took it off (because) it was a bit stuffy, Emmanuel Arinze, a 100 level student of the Department of Fine and Industrial Arts, responded when asked why he did not wear a face mask. Mr Arinze said he was yet to have lectures since school resumed on Monday. A lecturer in the Department of Communication Arts, Garvey Ufot, told PREMIUM TIMES he has observed many students on campus were not wearing face masks. He, however, said he was sure no lecturer would allow any student without a face mask to enter their office. Lectures yet to begin Mr Ufot, who said he had classes with his students on Monday, said non-payment of salaries could be the reason lectures were yet to begin in some of the departments. Who will teach someones children when his children are at home without going to school due to fees? Lecturers are penniless. Government wants to destroy education, they (government) have not honoured the agreements they signed but they continued to feed the media with lies, the lecturer said. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach a spokesperson for the University of Uyo, Blossom Okorie, for her comment, as she did not respond to the phone calls from our reporter. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases in Akwa Ibom is 783 as of January 27, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. ADVERTISEMENT Ten deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in the state, including that of high profile figures like a former military governor of the state, Idongesit Nkanga, and the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Udo Ekpenyong. There are 126,160 COVID-19 cases so far, in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday signed a law prescribing a six month-jail term for Nigerians who flout COVID-19 protocol, including wearing a face mask in public. Rio Tinto will create a new Australian chief executive role in an executive shake-up aimed at rebuilding trust in the company after nine months of reputational damage since the Juukan Gorge blast in May last year. The new role will be filled by the companys managing director of Pacific aluminium operations, Kellie Parker, who has held several leadership, safety and operational roles in its iron ore and aluminium businesses since 2001. Rio Tinto has appointed Kellie Parker into the newly created role of Australian chief executive. The companys chief commercial officer, Simon Trott, will take on the role of iron ore chief executive from interim boss Ivan Vella. Mr Vella took on that role after its former head Chris Salisbury stepped down alongside former chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques and head of corporate relations Simone Niven in September in the wake of the Juukan saga. Mr Vella, Rio Tintos former Pilbara rail and ports head, will move to Montreal to become aluminium chief executive while current copper and diamonds boss Arnaud Soirat will become chief operating officer. New Delhi: The pandemic has changed the equations and learning has shifted to online mode. YouTube has proved to be a great platform for all the students and learners. Not all make good use of such platforms. In an outrageous incident, an 11-year-old boy from Ghaziabad used YouTube to learn hacking tricks. The boy called for extortion to his own father and asked for a ransom amount of Rs. 10 crores. If the money is not given, he threatened him to publish private pictures and family's secrets all over the internet. As reported by India Today, the incident saw light when the Ghaziabad resident approached the police after receiving an extortion call from an unknown person. He told police that his email account was hacked and all of his private pictures from the account were used to blackmail him for the extortion money. According to the Ghaziabad victim, his email account was hacked on Friday (January 1). He further said that hackers not only accessed his pictures but changed his password and his phone number associated with the account. He received a mail asking for Rs. 10 crore and continuous harassment calls to his entire family from the hackers. Police started investigating the case carefully and came across a shocking thing. Police found out the IP address of hackers was identical to that of the victim's house itself. This gave clarity that threat email was sent by someone of his family. The 11-year-old boy from the family quickly confessed the crime to Police as they started the interrogation process. The Police said that the 11-year-old boy from Ghaziabad is in 5th standard. The boy attended an online session on how to avoid getting caught in cybercrime. He regularly watched online videos on YouTube to master the art of cybercrime. A case is registered under different sections of IPC including criminal intimidation, insulting the modesty of women and intentional insult to provoke breach of peace and section 66D of the IT Act in Ghaziabad. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday a million doses will arrive from India in the country on February 1. After the arrival of the vaccine doses via Dubai, these will undergo some processes for 10 to 14 days, after which these will be distributed among provinces, he said during a virtual press conference. Mkhize had earlier announced that would receive the first batch of a million vaccine doses form India by the January-end and a further 500,000 doses in February. The vaccine will be first administered to health care workers and other priority sector staff in the first phase of the campaign, which aims to vaccinate 67 per cent of South Africa's 58.5 million citizens to achieve herd immunity before the end of 2021. Receiving one million vaccines less than a year after first the COVID-19 infection was recorded is a massive achievement, the minister said as he commended the volunteers who participated in the vaccine trials. Officials said all health workers will receive the vaccine free of cost. Those who are insured will pay the cost through their medical aid schemes while the government will absorb the cost of vaccination for the uninsured workers, believed to be about 350,000. Businesses or corporates who may want to vaccinate their employees may also do so at their workplaces and bear the costs involved. Pharmacies with a guaranteed cold chain facility will be allowed to purchase the stock of the vaccine. They may then either claim the cost of vaccine doses administered from medical aid schemes or from the government for uninsured members. An electronic vaccine data system will be implemented as a control measure. (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.) UTICA, N.Y. -- Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente held a Facebook town hall meeting centering largely around the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines or lack thereof. Picente expressed frustration over the lack of vaccines being distributed to Oneida County and the Mohawk Valley by New York state. The week's shipment of 500 doses is expected to be administered Thursday at Mohawk Valley Community College and Griffiss International Airport, but appointments for the shots were gone almost as quickly as they were put online. "Five hundred is a number in which we can get out in one day at those two pods," Picente said. "And then that'll show again tomorrow. and we'll have to wait until next week to see what we get, you know, following that." According to Picente, the state run pods - including the site at SUNY Polytechnic - that at times has usurped the county-run sites have not been efficient enough in distributing the vaccine to those who need it most. "I'm not opposed to more pods in this community," Picente said. "Just very frustrated that (the state pod) came at the expense of ours, and should have came with ours remaining open so that we could address and deal with the population such as seniors in the drive thru pod, which was so accommodating and continues to be during the weather that we're seeing." Picente says the county is committed to working with seniors who have not had the capability to make vaccine appointments online. Those 65 or older who are unable to make an appointment online are encouraged to contact the county's Office for the Aging by calling (315) 798-5456. The Business Intelligence Market is poised to experience spend growth of more than USD 11.71 billion between 2021-2025 at a CAGR of over 8.97%. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Request free sample pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005580/en/ SpendEdge has announced the release of its Global Business Intelligence Market Procurement Intelligence Report (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 120-page research report with TOC and LOE on "Business Intelligence Market Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend." SpendEdge's reports now include an in-depth complimentary analysis of the COVID-19 impact on procurement and the latest market data to help your company overcome sourcing challenges. Our Business Intelligence Market procurement intelligence report offers actionable procurement intelligence insights, sourcing strategies, and action plans to mitigate risks arising out of the current pandemic situation. The insights offered by our reports will help procurement professionals streamline supply chain operations and gain insights into the best procurement practices to mitigate losses. Information on Latest Trends and Supply Chain Market Information Knowledge centre on COVID-19 impact assessment Insights into the Market Price Trends Suppliers in this market have moderate bargaining power owing to moderate pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants. Buyers can benchmark their preferred pricing models for business intelligence Market, Procurement, Management with the wider industry information and identify the cost-saving potential. Insights to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their Business Intelligence Market requirements. This procurement report answers the following questions: Am I engaging with the right suppliers? Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers? Which supplier selection criteria are relevant for? What are the Business Intelligence Market category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx? To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Insights into strategies that will help buyers optimize their category management practices. The report answers the following questions: What should be my strategic procurement objectives, activities, and enablers for the Business Intelligence Market category? What negotiation levers can I pull for cost-saving? What are Business Intelligence Market procurement best practices I should be promoting in my supply chain? Some of the top Business Intelligence Market suppliers enlisted in this report This Business Intelligence Market procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Microsoft Corp. Salesforce.com Inc. SAP SE SAS Institute Inc. IBM Corp. QlikTech International AB MicroStrategy Inc. Oracle Corp. ALTERYX INC. Sisense Inc. Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005580/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us India has announced a pledge of $150,000 to activities of the Peacebuilding Fund this year and said that 2021 provides the international community with an opportunity to look at peacebuilding in a more focused manner, especially in the context of the covid pandemic. According to PTI, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN ambassador T.S. Tirumurti pointed out that as the medium-term effects of the covid-19 pandemic become more apparent, it is more important than ever to ensure the fund is adequately and predictably resourced. For more updates, heres Mint Lite. Japarov sworn in as Kyryz president View Full Image Japarov sworn in as Kyryz president Populist Sadyr Japarov was sworn in as president of ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan Thursday, completing a remarkable transformation from prisoner to president in the space of a few months. Japarov, 52, was serving jail time on hostage-taking charges before he was freed during a political crisis over a parliamentary vote in October, beginning a dizzying rise to the top of the leadership. He won a January 10 presidential election by landslide with close to 80% of the vote. Japarov on Thursday swore to "preserve the integrity of the people and the security of the country" as he placed his hand on the Kyrgyz constitution, which is set to be overhauled in the coming months. Voters chose a presidential form of government over a parliamentary model in a referendum held in parallel to the presidential vote. He would make his first foreign trip as president to Russia, sources revealed to AFP. Polands new abortion rules View Full Image Polands new abortion rules Poland's government put into effect on Wednesday a constitutional court decision banning terminations of pregnancies with foetal defects, as conservative policies increasingly take root in one of Europe's most devout Catholic countries. The Oct. 22 ruling had led to weeks of massive protests, forcing the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government to delay its implementation, reports Reuters. Small protests gathered late on Wednesday following an announcement PiS would take the official step to enforce the decision imminently, and abortion rights activists announced more would take place on Thursday. Abortion has emerged as one of the most divisive issues since PiS took power in 2015, promising poorer, older and less educated Poles a return to a traditional society mixed with generous welfare policies. On Wednesday, officials said the government would now focus on assisting parents of disabled children, although has been accused by critics of not doing enough in that regard. Decision today on EUs vaccine exports View Full Image Decision today on EUs vaccine exports The European Commission will detail today a mechanism to require both notification and authorisation of covid-19 vaccine exports from the bloc, after drugmakers cut scheduled deliveries of doses to the EU's 27 countries. The EU, which has ordered vaccines collectively, learnt last week that AstraZeneca would reduce deliveries of its vaccine, set to be approved this week, by around 60% due to production problems. There have also been shortfalls in supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Commission, which has coordinated the orders, said on Tuesday it would propose that pharmaceutical firms be required to register their vaccine exports, insisting this was merely to increase transparency. On Thursday, the EU executive said that what it was proposing would involve both transparency and authorisation. Saudi plans to go the German way View Full Image Saudi plans to go the German way Saudi Arabia wants to emulate Germanys success with renewable energy and be a pioneer in hydrogen production, as the worlds biggest exporter of oil seeks to diversify its economy, reports Bloomberg. The kingdom is working with many countries on green and blue hydrogen projects and those to capture carbon emissions, he said. The green version of the fuel, which produces only water vapor when burned, is made with renewable energy, typically solar and wind power. The blue type is produced from natural gas, with the greenhouse gas emissions being captured so they cant escape into the atmosphere. While hydrogen is seen as crucial for the switch from oil and gas to cleaner fuels, the technology to make it is still comparatively expensive. Prince Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia planned to convert half its power sector to gas, while the remainder would be fueled by renewable energy. Rohingyas reported missing from camp View Full Image Rohingyas reported missing from camp Hundreds of Rohingya are missing from a refugee camp in Indonesia and are believed to have been trafficked to neighbouring Malaysia, officials and sources told AFP on Thursday. Just 112 refugees remain at the makeshift camp in Lhokseumawe on Indonesia's northern coast this week, well down from the almost 400 that arrived between June and September last year. Neither local authorities nor the UN could account for the whereabouts of the refugees from the stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar, who are feared to have enlisted traffickers to help them cross the Malacca strait into Malaysia. A Myanmar military crackdown in 2017, which UN investigators said amounted to genocide, forced 750,000 Rohingya to flee across the border into Bangladesh's southeast coastal district of Cox's Bazar, where many ended up in sprawling refugee camps. Thousands have since paid smugglers to get them out of Bangladesh, enduring harrowing, months-long sea journeys. Curated by Sohini Sen. Have something to share with us? Write to us at feedback@livemint or tweet to @shohinisen Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Irelands supply of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine could be halved after last nights meeting of the EU Commission and AstraZeneca failed to resolve a dispute over delivery dates. The pharmaceutical company insists it cannot deliver an agreed shipment of vaccines for February and March. Although the meeting was described as constructive by the EU, Commissioner Stella Kyriakides posted online afterwards: We regret the continued lack of clarity on the delivery schedule and request a clear plan from AstraZeneca for the fast delivery of the quantity of vaccines that we reserved for Q1." EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides bluntly rejected the idea that the UK should have a first-come, first-served claim on vaccines before the EU: 'That may work at the neighbourhood butchers, but not in contracts,' she said. Picture: John Thys/Pool Photo via AP AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said on Tuesday that the doses expected for February will be cut to 17m from about 40m, and that there would be another reduction in March. This would mean Irelands delivery of 600,000 could be cut to 300,000 or less. The commission has bluntly demanded that vaccines should be diverted from the UK to the EU to meet previously-agreed contracts. Commissioner Stella Kyriakides rejected the companys argument that, as the UK had signed its vaccine deal first, available vaccines should go there. We reject the logic of first-come, first-served. That may work at the neighbourhood butchers, but not in contracts. And not in our Advance Purchase Agreements. The vaccine was previously described as a game-changer by the health minister, Stephen Donnelly. However, production of the Pfizer vaccine is to speed up, as French company Sanofi announced it will assist in producing this vaccine. This week, 24,570 doses of Pfizer BioNtech vaccine were received, a HSE spokeswoman said yesterday. Another 32,760 doses from Pfizer and 6,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected next week. The Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, told his party last night the vaccine rollout will pick up in Q2, with half of health workers having already received the vaccine and the rest being prioritised, along with the over-70s, as per the sequencing. He said Ireland is in regular contact with companies to make sure we have a timely supply of the vaccine. Meanwhile, the health minister rowed back on an earlier commitment to have the entire country vaccinated by September. Mr Donnelly said his recent announcement in the Dail on the rollout of vaccines wasnt a promise as it was heavily caveated based on the schedule of advanced purchase. Stephen Donnelly rowed back on his announcement that the country would be vaccinated by September, saying his Dail statement was "heavily caveated" and that September remained an aspiration. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie I said September September is absolutely still the aspiration. Its not a promise, he said on Today With Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1. We cant promise for all of those reasons because its a projection based partly on vaccinations that havent even been applied for authorisation, and on delivery schedules that still have to be fully agreed. If the vaccines come through that we have advanced purchases for, theyre authorised, and if they come in on schedule, then it is reasonable to think that by September every adult could be vaccinated but with all of those very serious caveats. Mr Donnelly said the plan up to March 5 is a continuation of level 5 lockdown restrictions and, after that, he hopes to ramp up the vaccination programme. The news comes as a further 54 deaths related to Covid-19, and a further 1,335 confirmed cases of the virus, were reported by the Department of Health. Facebook is seeking to "turn down the temperature" on its sprawling platform by reducing the kind of divisive and inflammatory political talk it has long hosted. Facebook has been pounded with criticism that it not only hasn't done enough to curb misinformation and vitriol on its network, but that its algorithm actually tended to encourage such posts because of the attention they grab. The social media giant will no longer recommend politics-themed groups to users, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday, making permanent a measure put in place during the combative US election won by President Joe Biden. The Silicon Valley-based internet giant is also working on ways to reduce the amount of political content served up in users' news feeds by its automated systems. "We're still going to enable people to engage in political groups and discussions if they want to," Zuckerberg said. But he added the decision to reduce political content in users' main news feeds is part of a push "to turn down the temperature and discourage divisive conversation." The social media giant has long been a fertile ground for users to tangle over opposing views or surround themselves with those who agree emphatically. "But one of the top pieces of feedback that we are hearing from our community right now is that people don't want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our services," Zuckerberg said in an earnings call. "We plan to keep civic and political groups out of recommendations for the long term and we plan to expand that policy globally," he added. - Trump ban to stand? - These moves come as Facebook wrangles with whether former president Donald Trump's suspension from the network for "fomenting insurrection" should stand. Facebook and Instagram barred Trump after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, an attack on the seat of US democracy that led to Trump's unprecedented second impeachment. Story continues The platform is referring the matter to its independent oversight board, which is tasked with making final decisions on appeals regarding what is removed or allowed to remain on the world's biggest social network. "We believe our decision was necessary and right," Facebook vice president of global affairs Nick Clegg said in a blog post at the time. Members of the oversight board come from various countries and include jurists, human rights activists, journalists, a Nobel Peace laureate and a former Danish prime minister. Reaction to the Trump ban has ranged from criticism that Facebook should have booted him long ago to outrage over his online voice being muted. Facebook's stance was never meant to mean "that politicians can say whatever they like," Clegg said. - Healthful vs Hurtful - Facebook updated its mission a few years ago, from connecting the world to "bringing the world closer together." Letting people create groups devoted to topics, hobbies, ideas or interests was touted as enabling people to get to know one another in virtual clubhouses. More than 600 million of Facebook's approximately 2.6 billion monthly users take part in groups, according to Zuckerberg. "Our product focus now is to develop this community infrastructure beyond feeds and message boards to help people build and run full self-sustaining community institutions," he said. "As we continue to focus on this, we need to make sure that the communities people connect with are healthy and positive." Part of that effort involves building tools such as messaging and video chat into groups, and creating ways for groups to raise money from donations, membership fees, or merchandise sales, according to the Facebook chief. It also means taking down groups that break Facebook rules about promoting violence or hate, Zuckerberg said, noting that the social network has removed more than a million groups for policy violations in the past year. gc/jm/bfm She recently travelled to South Africa to introduce her boyfriend Ed Westwick to her family. And Tamara Francesconi set pulses racing in a chic blue bikini on Thursday after sharing a romantic moment with her boyfriend, 33, during their Maldives getaway. The model, 26, showed off her toned physique as she confirmed she burst her eardrum before travelling home to London. Stunning: Tamara Francesconi set pulses racing in a chic blue bikini on Thursday during her romantic getaway with Ed Westwick in the Maldives before confirming she burst her eardrum Tamara rocked a plunging pastel blue bikini top and matching thong from Parooz clothing. She swept her chocolate tresses over to the side in a beachy wave and wore flawless make-up. The South African beauty made sure to accessorise with gold hoop earrings, bracelets and a cream scrunchy. In a separate snap, Tamara stunned in a flowing pink skirt and a white crop top as she shared a kiss with Ed, who donned beige clothing. Love is in the air! The model, 26, stunned in a flowing pink skirt and a white crop top as she shared a kiss with her boyfriend, 33, before travelling home to London 'Couldn't love you more': Tamara declared her love for the Gossip Girl actor on Instagram 'Couldnt love you more,' she penned in the accompanying Instagram caption. A few hours later, Tamara rested on a bed with her arms outstretched and wrote: 'Burst my ear drum,' alongside a crying face emoji. 'So wish me luck for this flight. Ps my pose is completely over dramatic.' (sic) She managed to soldier on as she uploaded a photo from her business class seat, with her Rive Gauche tote bag by Yves Saint Laurent positioned next to her. Injured: A few hours later, the South African beauty rested on a bed with her arms outstretched and wrote: 'Burst my ear drum,' alongside a crying face emoji The brunette and her actor boyfriend Ed travelled down to her native country recently, just months after they celebrated their one-year anniversary. Tamara revealed the Gossip Girl star - who she has been dating since October 2019 - first approached her via her Instagram DMs as she treated her followers to a rare peek at their romance last year. The social media star also touched on whether she's jealous about his on-screen kisses, his love for her native country and being co-dependent during the coronavirus lockdown. Fans were curious to find out how the handsome pair crossed paths, and the influencer didn't hold back in revealing the details. Expensive taste! She managed to soldier on as she uploaded a photo from her business class seat, with her Rive Gauche tote bag by Yves Saint Laurent positioned next to her Tamara shared: 'Going to answer this first because it's my most asked question, and probably the reason a lot of you follow me. 'He direct message me out of the blue saying Hi and I nearly fell off my chair, we then chatted for a while and he asked me on a date, which I assumed would be a dinner. 'Instead he took me to a butterfly sanctuary in Mayfair, we thereafter spent the whole day exploring London together, and the rest is history. 'I feel like we have all become codependent with our partners this year (I know I have) I think it's really important to do things alone and for yourself, read a book, go for a walk, chat to a friend.' (sic) 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). 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. Ramallah, Jan 28 : Palestine has extended an official invitation to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to observe the general elections scheduled for May 22, an official statement said. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (PCEC) said in the statement that Chairman of the poll body Hanna Nasser handed the official invitation to OIC Representative in Palestine, Ali Safi, reports Xinhua news agency. The regional observation of the Palestinian elections "is important and will guarantee the election's results", Nasser said, urging other regional bodies to monitor the elections, according to the statement. Nasser said on Sunday that Palestine extended invitations to the European Parliament and the European Union to observe the Palestinian elections. On January 15, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting specific dates for holding the legislative and presidential elections, in addition to a vote for the Palestinian National Council. Under the decree, legislative elections will be held on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on August 31. The last legislative elections were held in the Palestinian territories in late 2006 when the Hamas movement won a majority. Abbas was elected as the president of the Palestinian Authority in 2005. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 09:54:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Zong Wa (L), Minister-Counselor for education of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, hands over the Spring Festival kits to a Chinese student representative in Canberra, Australia, Jan.27, 2021. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) "Although I am not able to go back home for the festival, I felt the care and support of our mother country for us," said Zhang Jiayuan, a Chinese student who received the Spring Festival kits from the Chinese Embassy in Australia. CANBERRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Containing disinfectant wipes, tea, and various Chinese handicrafts, some Spring Festival kits were given to Chinese students by the Chinese Embassy in Australia on Wednesday. "Although I am not able to go back home for the festival, I felt the care and support of our mother country for us," said Zhang Jiayuan, a student with the Australian National University. Like Zhang, several student representatives received the kits from the embassy, which they will distribute to their Chinese school mates. Wang Xiaoyong, father of an eleventh-grader, told Xinhua that he was happy to receive the kit because "it makes me feel the atmosphere of Spring Festival," and "we miss home at this time." Photo taken on Jan.27, 2021 shows the Spring Festival kits in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua). Xia Qichuan, 16, who has been in Canberra for nearly two years, is unable to go home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The teenager last year celebrated the Spring Festival at home in east China's Anhui Province. He said he was excited to know about the kits distributed by the embassy. "This year we will gather together with some other Chinese to make dumplings for the holiday," he said. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important festival for Chinese people, and also an important occasion for family reunion. Photo taken on Jan.27, 2021 shows the Spring Festival kits in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua). "We will make a feast with our friends and classmates for the eve of the Chinese New Year," he said. "I will also video-chat with my parents to let them know that I am safe here," said Zhang Jiayuan from Shanghai. Not only students received the kits. Miao Changxia, counsellor of consular affairs, also handed Spring Festival kits to representatives of Chinese people in Canberra. The embassy will also send some kits to the Northern Territory. "Inside the kits, we not only give them some personal protective stuff against the pandemic but also would like to convey our festive greetings with small gifts," the counsellor said. "It is our wish that in the year 2021, we could all stay healthy." (Newser) One of the world's fast-spreading strains of COVID has been detected in the US for the first time, reports the AP. The variant first detected in South Africa, known as B. 1.351, turned up in two cases in South Carolina. Worse, neither of the people has traveled recently, suggesting the variant has been spreading in the state undetected, reports the Washington Post. Variants from Brazil and the UK, also more contagious than the original strain, previously reached the US. Researchers are racing to learn more about the variants, including whether they're more resistant to the current vaccines now being administered. Preliminary studies by drug-maker Moderna suggest the South African variant is indeed more resistant, though the company is developing a new version of its vaccine that it says should control it. story continues below "At this time, we have no evidence that infections by this variant cause more severe disease," the CDC said Thursday in response to the news out of South Carolina. "Like the UK and Brazilian variants, preliminary data suggests this variant may spread more easily and quickly than other variants." The two new cases, both involving adults, showed up in different parts of the state and appear to be unrelated to one another, reports the State. "This is important information for South Carolinians to have, but it isn't a reason for panic," Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted. The variant has been detected in more than 30 countries. (Snowbound drivers got surprise vaccinations.) Poland instituted a new, near-total ban on abortion at midnight Wednesday, sparking protests in the streets of the overwhelmingly Catholic country. The ban prohibits abortion in instances of fetal abnormalities, such that abortion in Poland is now restricted solely to cases of rape, incest, or when the mothers life is in danger. The heightened restrictions were handed down in October by the countrys Constitutional Tribunal, which ruled unconstitutional a 1993 law that allowed abortion in instances of severe and irreversible fetal abnormalities. The ruling had not yet been implemented after mass demonstrations erupted. The far-right government, however, suddenly announced the ban would be entered into the government register Wednesday. Advertisement The new ban on abortion in instances of fetal abnormalities functionally eliminates access to abortion services in the European country because, as the New York Times notes, 1,074 of the 1,100 abortions performed in Poland last year were because of fetal abnormalities. After the October ruling, more than 400,000 people protested in hundreds of towns and cities across the country as part of a womens strike, the Guardian reports. Theoretically, the rulings of the court should come into effect immediately, but there have been a number of cases where there have been long delays for apparently political reasons, and there was a sense that the government had been alarmed by the size of the protests and wanted to back away from the ruling. Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The ban sparked criticism from European leaders and is yet another indication of Polands worrisome rightward swing under the ruling Law and Justice Party. Abortion has emerged as one of the most divisive issues since [the Law and Justice Party] took power in 2015, promising poorer, older and less-educated Poles a return to a traditional society mixed with generous welfare policies, CNN notes. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The World Health Organization's European branch on Thursday said it is too early to ease virus restrictions in Europe despite a drop in new cases in most countries. Hans Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, said 30 of the WHO European region's 53 countries had "seen a significant decrease in 14-day cumulative incidence." "Yet, transmission rates across Europe are still very high, impacting health systems and straining services, making it too early to ease up," Kluge told an online press conference. The regional director also noted that since only three percent of people in the region had already had a confirmed infection, areas that had been "hit badly once can be hit again." Kluge described the current situation as a "pandemic paradox", noting that while the rollout of vaccines offered "remarkable hope... newly emerging variants of concern are presenting greater uncertainty and risk." In the WHO's European Region, which includes Russia and several Central Asian countries, 35 states have started vaccinations, according to the WHO. As for the new variant first discovered in the UK, it has been confirmed in 33 countries and the variant first identified in South Africa has been reported in 16. According to AFP's own tally for Europe, which excludes some of the Central Asian countries in the WHO European region, new cases totalled 1,421,692 in the last seven days, down about 10 percent compared with the previous seven. Days away from the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Europe, Kluge said "breaking transmission chains is a clear priority." However he also stressed that the impact on mental health was now so severe that poor mental health had become a "parallel pandemic". Citing figures from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Kluge said half of people between 18 and 29, as well 20 percent of healthcare workers, were suffering from "anxiety and depression". Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP US states will get their first shipments of desperately needed special syringes to help them get every dose out of Pfizer's vials of COVID-19 vaccines this week, health department officials told CBS News. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave its go-ahead to clinicians to extract a sixth dose from Pfizer's vials after providers discovered they could often eke out six or even seven doses from the tiny glass bottles labeled to have just five. But the type of syringe - called 'low dead space syringe' - that make this possible to do efficiently is in short supply. Only a few manufacturers make these niche supplies, and typically on an as-needed basis because they are used for so few types of injections. President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act to funnel funds and assistance to companies that make low dead space syringes, like Becton Dickinson (BD), the largest manufacturer of them in the world. But there's a long way to go. Of the 286 million needles and syringes that BD is slated to deliver the US by March, only 40 million will be low dead space ones, the company told the Washington Post. And the firm warns that while it will do everything possible to increase production, doing so is neither simple nor instantaneous. Biden has raised the bar from his original goal of 100 million shots given in 100 days to 150 million in the same span of time. At this rate, a shortage of syringes to squeeze every possible dose from Pfizer's vials could further slow the rollout that has seen just six percent of Americans get one or more shots. US states will get their first shipments of desperately needed special syringes to help them get every dose out of Pfizer's vials of COVID-19 vaccines this week 'We are ready to support the U.S. government but we are trying to make sure everyone understands that those devices are not something we have infinite capacity to produce and bringing up new lines does take time,' said Troy Kirkpatrick, the company's senior director of public relations. It remains unclear exactly how many additional low dead space syringes BD or any other firm will be able to supply, or when they will be available. The vaccine rollout has been hampered by problems on all sides - rooted in issues at the state, federal, and private company levels. After the FDA greenlit the withdrawal of an extra dose of vaccine from its vials, Pfizer cut back the number of vials it would ship to states, by nearly seven million. States were dismayed to learn they would smaller shipments of the company's vaccine vials than they'd been originally promised. Pfizer defended the change, arguing that the states would get just as many doses as they were told, just in smaller package, in terms of the vial-count. It came after supply chain issues in December forced Pfizer to chop the number of doses it could supply the world by the end of 2020 in half. The company refused to specify by how much its US-specific supply was reduced. Low dead space syringes (left) prevent extra vaccine from getting trapped between the plunger and needle But the sixth dose changed everything on Pfizer's end. 'For Pfizer, the FDA approval of the overfill dose means it can fulfill its contract, which calls for doses, and receive full payment from the US with almost seven million fewer vials,' Sam Buffone, a partner with the law firm Black & Buffone, which represents whistleblowers, told the Washington Post. 'But many of those sixth doses might ultimately be discarded because distribution centers lack the proper tools.' It's not clear exactly how many low dead space syringes have reached clinics so far, but BD told the Post that the ones that have been sent out were just 'thrown into the mix' of other types of syringes, based on what the company was already set up to produce when it signed a $24.3 million contract with the US government in July. BD began scaling up syringe production months in advance of the vaccine rollout, before the US government or its partners knew that a niche type of syringe, known as low dead space, would be needed for getting more shots out of Pfizer's vaccine vials, an executive told Reuters in an interview. Its government contract includes only limited supply of the niche product, and a new factory that it is developing is focused on other types of syringes, the executive said. If healthcare providers can reliably extract the sixth dose it would allow supplies to be stretched 20 percent further and could be a financial boost for Pfizer, which is paid per dose. The US government has begun giving healthcare providers new syringe kits to extract six shots from each vial. Kits should allow clinics designated to receive mega-shipments of 975 PFizer doses to stretch those to 1,170 doses, according to the Washington Post. It said that three of the low dead space syringes in each six-needle kit would allow extraction, according to an email reviewed by Reuters. A CDC spokeswoman said the new kits would contain a 'majority' of low dead space syringes. Like needles, syringes - the plastic tube that vaccine is drawn into with a plunger - can only safely be used once. Both pieces have to be thrown out after one use, so there's no stretching the supply of syringes in a kit. Maryland health department spokesperson Charles Gischlar told the Post that the kits should include 1,000 low dead space syringes and 200 regular ones. Low dead space syringes are a niche product and BD had not discussed plans with the US government to substantially boost their output when they began preparing for the vaccine rollout last year, he said. The Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based company is the largest syringe and needle maker in the world, according to 360iResearch, and Kirkpatrick said it has boosted overall production capacity by about one billion syringes for 2021, with most of the capacity allocated. A new production line for syringes will be functional by July but was not designed to produce additional low dead space syringes, he said. Kirkpatrick said Becton Dickinson is also discussing plans with the US government to deploy pre-filled syringes, which negate the need for vials and can help get more out of existing vaccine supplies. The federal government has contracts with other manufacturers, and it was not immediately clear whether they could supply more of the specialty syringes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal organizer of the vaccination drive, told providers in an email reviewed by Reuters it has started giving healthcare providers packages including both types of needles. The email said early testing showed that three low dead space syringes used in combination with three standard syringes may yield the sixth dose. 'Every effort is being made to reconfigure the ancillary kits with syringes that enable the six-dose draw without impacting the availability or slowing the delivery of supplies to jurisdictions,' the email said. President Joe Biden has described the vaccine rollout so far as a 'dismal failure' and said he will use wartime powers to secure more supplies for the campaign, including low dead space syringes, but experts say that such efforts will still run up against production constraints. Healthcare distributor McKesson Corp is responsible for assembling the accompanying kits of vaccination supplies, including syringes, that are paired with each tray of Pfizer vaccines. The supplies themselves are procured by the U.S. government. Moderna Inc, which makes the other vaccine authorized for use in the United States, says it puts 10 doses in each of its vials, but New York State public health officials have said providers can extract 11 doses. Jammu, Jan 28 : A youth leader from north Kashmir's Handwara has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, asking for the development of the Mata Bhadrakali temple, expansion of spiritual tourism in the Union territory and the return of Kashmiri Pandits. In a letter by Mudasir Tantray, a youth leader from Handwara, asks for better infrastructure in Handwara, which is home to the Mata Bhadrakali temple, one of the oldest Hindu shrines in J&K. However, the letter states that due to lack of infrastructure and other facilities, devotees are reluctant to pay homage. Tantray has urged the government to explore the Bhadrakali shrine area like the Amarnath Yatra so that Handwara becomes a part of the spiritual tourism map of the country, which in turn will boost the area's economy, development and generate employment for the benefit of the unemployed youth who are the biggest sufferers of the insurgency. He said, "With the onset of Bhadrakali temple as a spiritual tourist destination, the nearby Bungus Valley can be developed holistically as an international tourist destination, thereby bringing the entire north Kashmir on the development map." In another letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi, Tantray wrote, "It is our earnest request that the Mata Bhadrakali Temple be developed at the earliest and its lost glory be restored without any further delay. Mata Bhadrakali Temple is witness to the brotherhood between different communities. 'Mother Kashmir' is incomplete without her children whose exodus has left her shattered, and the spiritual call from the temple of the 'Mata' must not go unheard. The return of Kashmiri Pandits with dignity should be facilitated as early as possible." "The Bungus Valley is famous all over the world for its unmatched and serene beauty but there are zero facilities for tourists and trekkers. The place has vast tourist attractions. Numerous historical, cultural, tribal and global memories attached with this majestic place have become the talk in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir," Tantray added. He also urged the Prime Minister and L-G Sinha to kickstart Pattan's infrastructure development at the earliest. Pattan (Shankarpora Pattan) is a historical town in Jammu & Kashmir. Once the capital of J&K, it is now the most neglected place in the valley even though it is famous for two majestic Shiva temples (locally known as Pandaw Mandir) built during the reign of Sankaravarman (833-900 AD). Tantray told IANS, "I request L-G Sinha to intervene and make Handwara's infrastructure world famous. Mata Bhadrakali's shrine is an example of our love and historical bond with our Kashmiri Pandit brethren, but due to a lack of infrastructure, Hindus don't visit the shrine much. We want our Pandit brothers and sisters to come back, we are doing everything we can and without them, Kashmir will always be imperfect and incomplete." If there was ever a case study in bringing out the big guns, surely designer Kim Jones debut for Fendi, which took place overnight in Paris, was it. Actress Demi Moore and supermodel Kate Moss and her daughter, Lila Grace, led the cavalry of stars that also included Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Bella Hadid in the closed-door presentation (thanks again, COVID-19). In echoes of J.Los stunning turn for Versace at Milan Fashion Week 18 months ago, Moore opened the presentation in a pant suit comprising an off-shoulder peplum top with oversized sleeves and sleek, black trousers, her look capped off with bosom-grazing earrings, which could be an early trend for Zoom dressing in 2021. This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round blue objects), also known as novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab which was isolated from a patient in the United States. (NIAID-RML/Handout via Reuters) Data Suggests Patients With UK Variant of CCP Virus More Likely to Show Symptoms Those who tested positive with the UK variant of the CCP virus are more likely to experience symptoms such as coughing than patients with the old variant, data from England suggests. The UKs Office for Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday published its latest CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus infection survey. Participants were asked whether they had experienced a list of possible symptoms in the seven days before their tests and the seven days before the survey took place. Data from hospitals, care homes, and/or other institutional settings are not included in the scope of the survey. Among those who had a strong positive test (cycle threshold value less than 30) between Nov. 15, 2020, and Jan. 16, 2021, 52.92 percent of patients with the UK variant reported having experienced symptoms, comparing to 47.7 percent in other variants. Patients with the UK variant are also more likely to experience classic symptoms, including cough and fever, but they are significantly less likely to only experience a loss of taste or smell. The largest discrepancy is seen in coughs, with 35.11 percent of UK variant patients and 28.27 percent of other variant patients having experienced coughs. Fever, headache, muscle ache myalgia, diarrhoea, and sore throat are also more common among UK variant patients. The percentages of patients experiencing abdominal pain, vomiting, and shortness of breath are almost the same. Loss of smell and taste, on the other hand, are significantly less common in new variant compatible positives, with 15.04 percent and 15.99 percent of the UK variant patients experiencing losses of smell and taste respectively, while 18.57 percent and 18.88 percent of other variants patients experienced these symptoms. Professor Richard Tedder, senior research investigator in medical virology at Imperial College London suggested that the increase of coughs may be a reason that the UK variant is more prevalent. Although there is some laboratory evidence that the variant viruses, as opposed to the first wave viruses, may show an enhanced ability to infect cells in the laboratory, it is not clear how or why this may increase the infectivity and transmissibility of virus between humans, Tedder said. The fact that it has been reported that the second wave viruses, usually called variants, are more likely to cause symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, i.e. coughs and colds, may indicate that a trivial difference in the way the virus may cause disease symptoms could cause more easy transmission between people. Lawrence Young, virologist, and professor of molecular oncology at the University Of Warwick said the change in symptoms could be a result of the higher virus load seen in the UK variant. Mutations in the UK virus variant could influence the symptoms associated with infection. This variant is more transmissible and infected individuals appear to have higher virus loads which means they produce more virus. This could result in more widespread infection within the body perhaps accounting for more coughs, muscle pain, and tiredness, he said. The virus has 23 changes compared to the original Wuhan virus. Some of these changes in different parts of the virus could affect the bodys immune response and also influence the range of symptoms associated with infection, he added. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The Indian government on Thursday extended the suspension of scheduled commercial international flights till 11.59 pm on February 28, 2021 in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic. This restriction, however, will not apply to international all-cargo operations. Issuing a modified order in this regard, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the "competent authority on a case-to-case basis". Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May, and under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with selected countries since July. Currently, India has bilateral bubble agreement with as many as 23 countries, which include countries like Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ukraine, the UAE, and the US. On the other hand, a total of 6.3 crore domestic passengers travelled by air last year, 56.29 per cent lower than 2019, DGCA said earlier. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be felt on the Indian aviation sector as the regulator said that only 73.27 lakh people travelled by air domestically in December last year, which was 43.72 per cent lower than in the corresponding period of 2019. Meanwhile, India's coronavirus caseload mounted to 1,07,01,193 with 11,666 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours. The country also recorded 123 new fatalities, pushing the death count to 1,53,847, the data updated at 8 am on Thursday showed. The coronavirus case fatality rate stands at 1.44%. There are 1,73,740 active cases of Covid-19 infection in the country, which comprises 1.62% of the total caseload, the data stated. Also, 1,03,73,606 people have recuperated from the killer virus so far with 14,301 new discharges, pushing the national recovery rate to 96.94%. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Repair works are to begin next week on the homes of two Syrian families who have been the topic of much online conversation this week. A meeting was held via Zoom this morning between Longford County Council, Respond Housing Agency, local TDs Joe Flaherty and Robert Troy and a family of Syrian refugees in Granard over the living conditions in their local authority housing. The meeting was held to discuss a number of issues, including insufficient heating and fumes, which resulted in a pregnant woman and her children spending the night in a car with the engine running. It was agreed that a new heating system will be installed in the two affected Granard apartments by next week. Huge electricity bills generated by the storage heaters will be paid by Respond and the council for a period of three months. It is understood the family has resorted to the use of kerosene heaters to keep warm as the heating bills generated by the storage heaters are too high. The story came to light on Monday afternoon when author, community worker, and former member of the Council of State Ruairi McKiernan posted a lengthy Twitter thread voicing his concerns for the families. The entire thread can be read by clicking the tweet below. Thread. I didn't want to have to tweet but needs must. I was recently contacted about Syrian (resettlement programme) refugees in Co Longford. Welcomed by community BUT their housing situation is dire incl case of "pregnant woman sleeping in a car with engine on to keep warm" January 25, 2021 Mr McKiernan has since written a letter, seen by this newspaper, to local councillors seeking support for the families who he says are suffering horrendous difficulties with their housing situation. "The issues concern alarming deficiencies concerning the standards and safety around housing provision provided by Longford County Council," he wrote. "Defects include damp, leaks, electrical issues and heating issues. I have been informed construction was being carried out in the house for up to two months when the families, with small children, moved in. I would question how this accommodation came to be provided in the first place. "Electronic records will reveal the councils housing department was first contacted about these issues over a year ago. I first became aware of the situation when a local person informed me about one of the people concerned, a woman who is six months pregnant, sleeping in a car (during freezing weather) to keep warm. Given all we know about Irelands history of Mother and Baby Homes and the mistreatment of vulnerable groups, it is harrowing to think this kind of thing is happening in our midst." The support agency Respond have been active on the ground and has more information on the specifics, Mr McKiernan stressed, adding that, as recently as Tuesday, the council appeared to deny responsibility and suggest Respond are responsible for property issues. "This is staggering and Respond were forced to issue a statement to deny this. The tenants pay rent directly to the council," he said. In their statement, Respond emphasised that their role is "to support the participation and integration of the families into their communities and wider society, ensuring independence and self-sufficiency". "Respond work closely with individuals and families, alongside the communities into which they have recently arrived, to assist them in their transition and resettlement in Ireland," the statement read. "We provide support around things such as learning English, translator services and community integration programmes. Respond are not responsible for providing or managing housing as part of this work." In a statement released this week, Longford County Council noted that it could not comment on individual cases but its role is one of support for refugees. "Like every other local authority, Longford County Council works with the Department of Justice and support agencies to provide services to refugees. The Council has successfully provided permanent housing to a number of refugee families in the county and continues to support their integration in to their new communities," a spokesperson stated. "While the Council cannot comment on individual cases, Longford County Council works with all individuals and families to ensure that their housing needs are met. "Longford County Council is aware of one family that has raised issues regarding their accommodation provided to them under the Refugee Resettlement Programme and has responded. "As you can appreciate, individuals under this programme can require additional supports and interventions. Longford County Council works closely with a range of organisations and agencies to ensure a smooth transition to life in Ireland and that their needs are met." Local TD Joe Flaherty rowed in behind the council, who he says are working hard to address the issues of the Syrian families living in local authority housing. "Longford County Council led the way in the resettlement programme for Syrian refugees and provided homes for 12 families and 60 people in Ballymahon and Longford," he told the Longford Leader this week. "The Council manages a stock of over 2,000 houses and a dedicated maintenance team strives to address issues and problems as they arise. I was alerted to the situation affecting two Syrian families on January 15th and discussed with the Council executive on January 18th. I am satisfied that the council are addressing the issues." Mr McKiernan, however, feels that there is not enough being done to help these families and has urged local councillors to push for more effort to be made. "While I am well aware everyone has a full plate at present, I wish to emphasise the particular vulnerability of the people concerned. Not just basic health and safety issues, but these are people who fled a war, lived in refugee camps, and were offered sanctuary by the Irish government under an EU funded UN resettlement programme," he argued. "The response, or lack thereof, from Longford County Council to their welfare has directly caused huge distress, what one war survivor calls 'a psychological war that I never expected'. "While a meeting (was) scheduled to explore the issues Im concerned at the potential for any further delays. Im in touch with ministers, TDs, Tusla, the Ombudsman for Childrens Office, various NGOs, the UNHCR and others on this but we still havent secured a solution. "There would appear to be fundamental deficiencies within the council in this area and huge questions over ethics and accountability. While I appreciate great work has been done around integration in County Longford, and the families generally feel well-supported by the community, bigger questions need to be asked here of those responsible. I know there are always complexities but some aspects of this are straightforward," Mr McKiernan continued in his letter to local councillors. "I am appealing to you to do anything you can do to ensure an adequate response to concerns and also to ensure similar issues dont occur in the future. For now, I will be continuing to campaign on this in an individual voluntary (non-party/organisation) capacity and sincerely hope that the families can receive due care and support in the coming hours or days." Eager to emphasise the seriousness of the situation, Mr McKiernan shared a testimony of one of the men living in the local authority housing, who said that this current "psychological war" he is fighting is worse than the real war he escaped in his home country. "I escaped from Bashar al-Assads missiles and murder, and I went to Lebanon, a country of racism and sectarianism, and I endured everything for the sake of my wife and children, fatigue, hunger and deprivation," said the man, who does not wish to be named. "A warm home because my daughter suffers from bedwetting and we came here and I dream that I will change my whole life and make my children and my wife happy, so I started here a psychological war that I never expected. I expect that it is harder than the real war. "My situation has changed for the worse. The failure from some sides because I suffer from a problem that is big for me, but it is a small problem for the Irish state, but I did not find a solution. I am tired and tired. I have found a glimmer of hope in this generous campaign," he concluded. Following this morning's meeting with council officials, the family is said to be optimistic, but cautious until issues are fully resolved. Scientists have sucked the life out of a theory suggesting Venus could be home to biological organisms. In September, researchers claimed to have detected trace amounts of phosphine gas in the planet's acidic clouds. Phosphine is often released by microorganisms on Earth that don't use oxygen to breath, which led scientists to speculate Venus could be harboring life. In a new study, however, scientists claim it wasn't phosphine that was detected, but 'ordinary' sulfur dioxide The team determined that the initial detection did not come from the hellish planet's cloud layer, but in the upper atmosphere 'where molecules would be destroyed within seconds' - blaming the confusion on a miscalibration of a radio telescope. Scroll down for video In September, researchers from Cardiff University claimed to have detected phosphine in the clouds above Venus. if correct, it could have been an indication the planet hosted microbial life. But a new study claims the gas was coming from the mesophere and it was actually sulfur dioxide On Earth, phosphine a colorless gas that smells like rotting fish is produced naturally, mainly by certain microorganisms that don't rely on oxygen. Small amounts can also be released during the breakdown of organic matter or synthesized in chemical plants. A team led by Cardiff University astronomer Jane Greaves first reported detecting phosphine in the clouds above Venus in the September 2020 edition of the journal Nature Astronomy. The report was labeled as one of the great scientific discoveries of 2020 by news outlets but since its release, there have been doubts about the findings. Astronomer Jane Greaves of Wales' Cardiff University observed Venus using both the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope at Hawaii's Mauna Kea Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile, pictured The surface of Venus, as interpreted by the Magellan spacecraft. Astronomers say a misconfiguration of the antenna at Chile's Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) led to Greaves team mistaking sulfur dioxide for phosphine Other scientists have claimed not to be able to find the same signal and members of Greaves team have admitted to a calibration error and downgraded the strength of their claims. Now researchers at the University of Washington say they have come to a definitive answer: The gas isn't phosphine, it's sulfur dioxide. 'Sulfur dioxide is the third-most-common chemical compound in Venus' atmosphere, and it is not considered a sign of life,' said co-author Victoria Meadows, a professor of astronomy at University of Washington. Modeling conditions within Venus' atmosphere using data from several decades' worth of planetary observations, the researches simulated signals from phosphine and sulfur dioxide at different levels of Venus' atmosphere. The team also analyzed how those signals would be picked up by radio telescopes like the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) at Hawaii's Mauna Kea Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, both of which Greaves used. The work done by the University of Washington maintains that sulfur dioxide doesn't only explain what Greaves observed, but it's more consistent with what's known about Venus' harsh upper atmosphere, which includes clouds of sulfuric acid. The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter passes by Venus. In a new report, astronomers at the University of Washington say it's not phosphine above the second planet, but rather sulfer dioxide Meadows and her team also allege the signature Greaves interpreted didn't come from the clouds but far above them, in the mesosphere, where phosphine molecules would be destroyed in seconds. 'Phosphine in the mesosphere is even more fragile than phosphine in Venus' clouds,' said Meadows. For the signal in the mesosphere to be from phosphine, she added, it would have to be delivered 'at about 100 times the rate that oxygen is pumped into Earth's atmosphere by photosynthesis.' The researchers who include scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center also say the original data likely significantly underestimated the amount of sulfur dioxide in Venus' atmosphere. 'The antenna configuration of ALMA at the time of the 2019 observations has an undesirable side effect: The signals from gases that can be found nearly everywhere in Venus' atmosphere like sulfur dioxide give off weaker signals than gases distributed over a smaller scale,' said co-author Alex Akins, a researcher at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Known as spectral line dilution, this phenomenon wouldn't have changed the JCMT data. 'They inferred a low detection of sulfur dioxide because of that artificially weak signal from ALMA,' said lead author Andrew Lincowski, a researcher with the UW Department of Astronomy. In September, researchers claimed to have detected trace amounts of phosphine in the planet's acidic clouds. The researchers detected a so-called spectral signature (pictured) that is unique to phosphine furthermore were able to estimated that the gas is present in Venus' clouds in an abundance of around 20 parts-per-billion 'But our modeling suggests that the line-diluted ALMA data would have still been consistent with typical or even large amounts of Venus sulfur dioxide, which could fully explain the observed JCMT signal.' Greaves' team originally reported a spectral signature they believed was unique to phosphine, determining the gas was present in Venus' clouds in an abundance of around 20 parts-per-billion. If accurate, it would have been a possible indicator the second planet from the sun hosted microbial life. They postulated other reasons for phosphine being present in Venus' clouds including micrometeorites, lightning, or even chemical processes happening within the clouds themselves. 'Phosphine could originate from unknown photochemistry or geochemistry or, by analogy with biological production of phosphine on Earth, from the presence of life,' they wrote. The team admitted it would be hard to sustain life in Venus's clouds, though, as the environment is 'extremely dehydrating, as well as hyperacidic.' 'However, we have ruled out many chemical routes to phosphine, with the most likely ones falling short by four to eight orders of magnitude.' Clara Sousa-Silva, a Harvard astrochemist and one of Greaves's co-authors, admits there's a lot of disagreement about what's floating above Venus. 'We disagree on how much signal there is in different places, and then we disagree on who is making that signal as strong as it is, and how,' Sousa-Silva told The Atlantic in November. 'It seems like these are huge disagreements, but they come down to teeny, tiny decisions and data-processing mechanisms.' Venus has an inhospitable surface temperature around 867F (464C) and pressure 92 times that of Earth. However, its upper cloud deck 3338 miles above the planet's surface is a more temperate 120F (50C), with a pressure equal to that at Earth sea level. To date, only the Soviet Vega 2 lander has ever reached Venus, back in 1985. NASA is presently considering two missions to the planet, 'DaVinci' and 'Veritas,' that would further study its atmosphere and geochemistry. Members of the Oath Keepers are seen during a protest against the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) 3 Linked to Oath Keepers Group Indicted for Conspiracy to Obstruct Congress on Jan. 6 Three people linked to the paramilitary Oath Keepers group were indicted on Wednesday for conspiring to obstruct Congress on Jan. 6. Jessica Marie Watkins, 38, and Donovan Ray Crowl, 50, both of Champaign County, Ohio, and Thomas Caldwell, 65, of Clarke County, Virginia, were indicted in federal court in Washington on charges including conspiracy, destruction of government property, and unlawful entry on restricted building or grounds. The trio each face decades in prison if convicted. According to charging documents, the three accused communicated with each other prior to Jan. 6 and coordinated their attack, the Department of Justice said. The exchanges included discussions about lodging options and joining forces with other Oath Keepers members. All three used social media to document their participation in the activities of Jan. 6. Caldwell, for instance, posted on Facebook: We are surging forward. Doors breached. Watkins posted pictures of herself and Crowl on Parler that stated, in part, We before forcing entry into the Capitol Building. In addition, the FBI obtained an audio recording of communications over Zello between Watkins and other suspected Oath Keepers members during the Capitol incursion. In one transmission, authorities said, Watkins told the others: We have a good group. We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan. An unknown male responds, Well see you soon, Jess. Airborne. Jessica Marie Watkins poses for a booking photograph at the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton, Ohio on Jan. 18, 2021. (Montgomery County Jail via Reuters) Donovan Ray Crowl poses for a booking photograph at the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton, Ohio, on Jan. 18, 2021. (Montgomery County Jail via Reuters) Watkins and Crowl in interviews with media after the breach stated that they are Oath Keepers members. They are also part of the Ohio State Regular Militia, which is described in an indictment as a dues-paying subset of the Oath Keepers. Caldwell is affiliated with the Oath Keepers. The three accused did not have attorneys listed on the court docket. The Oath Keepers didnt respond to a request for comment. Contact information for the Ohio State Regular Militia couldnt be found. The Oath Keepers describes itself as a nonpartisan group of current and former military members and law enforcement officers who pledge to fulfill the oath all military and police take to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.' Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin told reporters in a call earlier in the week that people linked to the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, and the Three Percenters have been charged in the breach. Some of the people who breached the Capitol were affiliated with groups, while some were operating in a vacuum, he added. Group links are not dispositive of what were looking at, he said. There are plenty of people, a balance of people probably, that were not affiliated with a group that were looking at. ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Tax & Accounting today announced a virtual event, Inspirational Leadership: Creative Solutions for the Challenges Ahead, to be held February 4, 2021. The event brings together tax leaders to discuss how they have developed creative solutions to successfully lead their tax departments and how they overcame the challenges they faced in 2020. For additional information and registration, please visit http://onb-tax.com/k2fS50DhFtq. The event begins with an interview with Sunita Lough, Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement for the Internal Revenue Service, who will discuss anticipated regulatory updates as well as organizational changes under the Biden administration. The event brings together tax leaders to discuss how they overcame the challenges they faced in 2020. Tweet this The next session, All-Star Corporate Tax Roundtable, features tax leaders who will share inspirational stories and creative solutions that might help others deal with the many challenges of our time. Panelists will discuss how the role of the tax department is changing within a business and how the wider discussions around social justice, diversity, and inclusion are influencing how tax departments work and operate today. Additional topics include relief measures, nexus, automation, audits, quarter closing, and much more. Panelists include Aditi Banerjee, Vice President and Corporate Counsel - Tax, Prudential; Denise Bee, Head of Tax, Slack; Linda Evans, Director Global Tax Policy and Government Affairs, IBM Corporation; and Kumar Nandan, Vice President, Global Tax, PPG. The event concludes with a keynote interview with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, who will discuss the Committee's agenda for the year ahead and discuss current and anticipated legislative initiatives. Panelists will join the audience in small breakout rooms in order to continue the discussion and dive deeper into topics addressed throughout the program. Attendees are invited to share their experiences with each other. "This interactive, virtual event offers tax professionals the opportunity to learn from tax administrators, tax policy makers, and corporate tax leaders and share perspectives and best practices with featured speakers and fellow event attendees," said Lisa Fitzpatrick, president, Bloomberg Tax & Accounting. "Attendees can expect robust discussion about lessons learned and creative solutions to address the big and small challenges corporate tax departments face today, including navigating continuing change due to Covid-19." About Bloomberg Tax & Accounting Bloomberg Tax & Accounting provides comprehensive global research, news and technology services enabling tax and accounting professionals to get the timely, accurate, and in-depth information they need to plan and comply with confidence. Our flagship Bloomberg Tax platform combines the proven expertise and perspectives of leading practitioners in our renowned Tax Management Portfolios with integrated news from the industry-leading Daily Tax Report, authoritative analysis and insights, primary sources, and time-saving practice tools. Bloomberg Tax & Accounting technology solutions streamline tax management processes and enable practitioners to tackle complex scenarios with up-to-date calculations, in-depth analytics, and projections so they can mitigate risk and maximize outcomes. For more information, visit pro.bloombergtax.com. SOURCE Bloomberg Tax & Accounting Related Links http://pro.bloombergtax.com Oil was obfuscated by the overall market yesterday and also the greenback which ironically rose after bearish remarks from the Fed about the US economy and also just how badly the country is handling the virus vaccination programme. WTI $52.85 +24c, Brent $55.81 -10c, Diff -$2.96 -34c, NG $2.76 +10c, UKNG 56.7p +3.55p Oil price Oil was obfuscated by the overall market yesterday and also the greenback which ironically rose after bearish remarks from the Fed about the US economy and also just how badly the country is handling the virus vaccination programme. In a story that you couldnt make up, Wall Street is transfixed by the fight between Hedge funds that are shorting GameStop and other similar plays and the retail market that have lined up on Reddit in order to take them on. It is clear that as is often the case that when the hedgies dont get things their own way they run to the regulator, as Corporal Jones would say they dont like it up em sir. This will run and run. In amongst all this a perfectly reasonable set of EIA inventory stats came and went, a big crude draw of 9.9m barrels including a decent chunk at Cushing, and commercial stocks down 11.7m was overlooked. The products were mixed, as is often the case at this time of the year as gasoline built 2.5m barrels but distillates still showed a modest draw. Genel Energy Genel has announced receipt of payments for oil sales in December from the KRG, for Tawke it was a net $10.5m and a welcome addition, a net $1.4m from Sarta. Union Jack Oil/ UJO has published a technical presentation in respect of the recently drilled West Newton B-1 and B-1Z wells on PEDL 183. The West Newton technical presentation contains new significant technical data that is material to the ongoing commercial evaluation of the project. The presentation identifies or contains the following new information, locations for the West Newton A-1, A-2, B-1, B-1Z and a proposed B-2 well, which has planning permission in place and is provisionally planned to be drilled in H2 2021, and a demonstration of where the B-1Z well represented a considerable 2.5 kilometre step-out to the south of the A-2 well. Good seismic calibration across the West Newton project area, highlighting both the Kirkham Abbey platform and slope formations which demonstrated hydrocarbon column of at least 118 metres with no hydrocarbon-water contact including a thick porous section identified in both A-2 and B-1Z wells suggesting a contiguous structure across the Kirkham Abbey formation. The B-1Z well de-risks the southern component of the West Newton licence area and crucially supports the accuracy of the seismic interpretation across the entire platform and the log results at B-1Z well were excellent, exceeding Union Jack`s pre-drill expectations. Good porosity is clear throughout the interval and the Kirkham Abbey interval hydrocarbon is saturated, mudgas concentrations where observed while drilling through the Kirkham Abbey formation at B-1Z well were as high as 9.8% total gas and 18 metres of core was cut and recovered from the B-1Z well. If all these points were not in themselves bullish enough, visible natural fracturing, micro fracturing and vuggy porosity demonstrated from core-lab inspection and analysis prove that if anything testing probably isnt even required which I will come back to. Something else I will add later is UJOs comments that numerous additional leads and prospects, including Ellerby and Spring Hill, have been identified across PEDL183. David Bramhill, Executive Chairman of Union Jack commented: Following the drilling of the successful B-1Z appraisal well, the technical summary of the West Newton project, provided on the Union Jack website, is the result of extensive evaluation by technical teams at Rathlin Energy, Reabold Resources and Union Jack, all whom have contributed additional materiality to our technical understanding of West Newton. There remains considerable upside in the opinion of Union Jack`s management especially with the Ellerby and Spring Hill Prospects being on-trend with West Newton. We look forward to reporting further progress on this compelling onshore conventional project in due course. Im trying to bring together data and information that has been published by both companies and presentations are available on both sites which I strongly advise perusal of. From Reabold obviously the data is the same but they point out that West Newton B-1 originally targeted the Kirkham Abbey slope (vs A-2 which made a discovery on the platform) and demonstrated hydrocarbon column of at least 118 metres, with no water contact. The subsequent B-1Z targeted the Kirkham Abbey on the platform, similar to A-2 but with a considerable step out to the South and thick, porous reservoir section identified in both the A-2 and B-1Z wells, suggest a contiguous structure. The B1-Z discovery both de-risks the southern part of the West Newton field and crucially supports the accuracy of the seismic anomaly across the entire platform. So we know from the data that this is as solid a discovery as one could find and I suspect that even those bears of the Zechstein cant get away from the fact that West Newton is already very substantial and this year is going to prove it. Now to come back to my earlier point about testing which the market is in a tizzy about, mainly as many investors worry that it has been delayed and still isnt publicly announced. Now if you go to the Reabold website and look at the presentation which is obviously almost identical to the UJO one, as you would expect, they actually spell out the timetable for the testing process and reasons for any further delay. From this one can detect that delays have been and remain as a consequence of Covid, ie that these operations require skilled international technical personnel but should be ready to start soon. So operations are planned to commence in February 2021 but subject to ongoing uncertainty around Covid based operational restrictions and will continue until half way through 2Q 2021. There is one more point that should be made before I look at the Reabold raise and that is that the discussions with regard to the testing of West Newton at all. By this I mean that of all the people I have spoken to with regard to this almost all have said that to be frank this testing isnt necessary and that going straight to the next phase would be sufficient for all concerned. Now obviously that aint going to happen as the market wants a flow rate so a flow that is what they will get but Im with them, the B-2 well with its horizontal into the Kirkham Abbey will do its job and as has been said reach the A wells 2.5km away. On to the Reabold raise now, they have brought in via placing and subscription 7.5m at 0.55p a 2.8% premium to the market place which is most impressive but maybe the recent 27% fall in the share price since 18th December tells you more. The company, who are always astute at raising money for key projects clearly want to be well financed for work at West Newton and this certainly ticked the boxes. The raise went very well as the Reabold fan club of institutional investors left it significantly oversubscribed with scaling back and now the company is set fair to fund the rest of the WN project in testing, drilling and in seismic as well as the costs of the Victory gas development via Corallian and sundry contingencies. Enough is enough and investors should make their own calls but Reabold has today risen in relief at the raise but UJO has actually fallen. Now either investors still do not believe in West Newton or they dont believe that UJO are fully financed, which they are. Go and read the presentation and take a look at the logs, this is a top quality onshore hydrocarbon discovery that doesnt need a testing programme to prove it, so if the market is disappointed that testing is delayed then they are barking up the wrong tree. How often can you buy a ten pound note for a fiver? Victoria Oil & Gas A Q4 2020 update from VOG this morning, average daily gross gas sales rate for the quarter of 5.1 MMscf/d (Q3 20: 4.7 MMscf/d) of natural gas plus gross 3,109 bbls (Q3 20: 2,438 bbls) condensate was produced safely and sold to industrial customers. La-108 Remediation work was completed mid November 2020 and during initial testing the well flowed at the 19 to 20 MMscf/d limit of the surface equipment, with a Flowing Well Head Pressure (FWHP) of 3,580 psig. The full potential of the well is highly likely to exceed the capacity of the plant, which is 20 MMscf/d A settlement was reached with Cameroon Holdings Limited to cease all legal action and cancel the CHL royalty agreement and GDC received, as operator, approval from the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development for the extension of the Matanda Block licence and we have commenced well planning. Roy Kelly, CEO of the Company, commented: We are very pleased with the resilience our Cameroon business has shown yet again under the challenges and restrictions posed by the pandemic. Looking ahead, we are delighted to have a number of growth opportunities to increase gas sales in Cameroon which remains resource rich but energy poor, especially around Douala, the countrys largest city and the economic engine of the country. The flowrate of the La-108 well obtained on short-term test was excellent, but such short-term deliverability is no measure of either long-term deliverability, or the ultimate reserves that may be recovered by the well, as the variations in the performance of the other wells has illustrated. We therefore require a period of sustained production from La-108 to determine how we can best use the well to serve the growing demand in the area. Finally, we are also pleased to have received an extension to the Matanda license for which we thank the relevant Government of Cameroon departments and we have started the well planning process for a shallow well to target one of the many Tertiary prospects, most of which are within a few kilometres of existing GDC infrastructure. This was a straightforward and simple update which I suspect is just what shareholders want at the moment. Economically the opportunities around Douala are plentiful and as in other parts of the sub-continent Governments are increasingly realising that using their own domestic power sources is not only cheaper but environmentally agreeable. Historically that has not always been the case, certainly not in the latter, burning any old fuel for power generation suited despots but things are changing albeit slowly in some cases. I know that the new team at VOG has been working flat to the boards on restructuring and that it is beginning to reap rewards in the domestic power market, with Matanda there is upside as well. And finally An interesting night in the Prem as the Red Devils lost 1-2 to the Blades and stayed 2nd in the table as the Foxes failed to win at the Toffees in a 1-1 draw. Burnley beat the Villa 3-2 and Chelski and Wolves drew 0-0 as did the Seagulls and the Cottagers. Tonight it is Spurs v Liverpool where a home win would take Spurs to 4th and Liverpool to 6th. Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Panaji, Jan 28 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the state government could only take a call on the auctioning of mining leases after the matter is decided by the Supreme Court. "The decision on auctioning of mining blocks could only be taken after the finalisation of the matter before the Supreme Court," Sawant said in a written reply to a question by independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar, at the ongoing winter session of the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister, who also holds the mines portfolio, said that the state government in consultation with the Centre has already filed review petitions in the Apex court urging it to take a relook at its 2018 order which had quashed 88 mining leases in Goa, citing irregularities in the lease renewal process. "The same are pending before the Supreme Court," Sawant told the Assembly.' The Chief Minister said that his government was not in a position to give a timeframe for atarting the state's beleaguered mining industry because the matter was in the domain of the apex court. The mining issue has been hanging fire in Goa, ever since the Supreme Court in 2018, citing irregularities in the processes adopted by the state government to renew 88 mining leases scrapped the leases. As a result of the order all fresh ore extraction activity has stopped, bringing the industry to a standstill. The stoppage in 2018 is the second time in less than a decade that all mining in the state has come to a standstill. It was banned the first time in 2012 after a judicial commission exposed a Rs 35,000 crore mining scam, indicting top mining companies as well as politicians and bureaucrats. According to the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs officials, Shah will be visiting the Sushruta Trauma Centre and Tirath Ram Hospital, both in the Civil Line area, to meet the injured policemen. New Delhi: Two days after the violent clashes with the agitating farmers during the 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' in which several police personnel were injured, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit two hospitals in the national capital here to meet them. According to official figures, 394 police personnel were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised while some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 accused have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained. On Wednesday, Shah had chaired a high-level meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava, Intelligence Bureau Director and CRPF Director General. On Tuesday also, after the violent clashes in several parts of the national capital, the Home Minister held an emergency meeting with the top officials at his residence. According to sources, the Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau and senior officers of the Delhi Police were present at the meeting. Delhi Police has so far registered 25 cases against 37 farmer leaders in connection with the violence on the occasion of Republic Day. These leaders include Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni. The police has also registered a case against Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and the gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in the Red Fort violence case. On Wednesday, while addressing a press conference the Delhi Police Commissioner said that police has taken a serious note of the Red Fort violence and everyone found involved would be taken to task. He also said that face recognition system would be used to identify those found involved in the violence. In a potential step forward for early pancreatic cancer diagnosis, a miniaturized brush was successfully tested as a possible technique for loosening cells from the walls of pancreatic cysts. If proven safe to use, the technique could dramatically increase the number of cystic cells available for analysis, a key advance given the scarcity of cells in cystic fluid drawn with a needle alone. Researchers at Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology proposed modifying endoscopicultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration with the addition of a loop brush which can be inserted into a cyst through the needle, says Wouter van der Wijngaart, professor of Micro and Nanosystems at KTH. In order to detect malignancy in a pancreatic cyst, the cells from the inner wall of the cyst need to be analyzed. You may find some of those released into the cystic fluid naturally; but sometimes you find none - that is why we try to brush them off." Wouter van der Wijngaart, Professor of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Western countries. With a survival rate of between 2 and 9 percent, early detection is critical. "Pancreatic cystic lesions are precursors of pancreatic cancers and a prime target for early diagnosis," van der Wijngaart says. However, he says, 20 percent of cystic fluid samples contain negligible amounts of cells, or no cells at all, hampering a proper diagnosis. To evaluate the functionality of the device, the researchers performed tests on models of cysts and intestines from pigs and cows. They fitted the aspiration needle with a 50 micrometer-thin nitinol wire shaped in a 1 cm diameter loop, which is fixated to a 280 micrometer-thick nitinol guidewire. The loop is compressed and inserted into a cyst through a fine needle with a diameter less than 0.5 mm. Once inside the cyst, the brush opens up and is rotated with low force to abrade the cells from the cyst wall. Then the loop is retracted and the cystic fluid is aspirated through the needle and collected for cytology. The cell content increased up to 54 times when using lowviscous water as fluid in soft tissue, softlike cavities; up to 174 times when using highviscous glycerol; and at least 10 times in cow ovary cysts. The project was initiated by co-author Francisco Baldaque Silva, surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital, and the experimental work was performed by PhD student Filipe Marques. Also contributing to the study were KTH researcher Niclas Roxhed and Urban Arnelo, a researcher at Karolinska Institutet. The project was sponsored by Region Stockholm. A driver who forced pedestrians to flee as he drove at high speeds through Melbournes Bourke Street Mall has evaded police and remains on the run. Police said the mans car was found abandoned in Albert Park about 6.40pm on Thursday. A chase unfolded just before 5pm. Witnesses described seeing a green sedan speed down the mall with police following close behind. They said the driver hit a metal bollard in the mall, did a U-turn, and then headed down Swanston Street and St Kilda Road. During the manoeuvre a man jumped from the passenger side of the vehicle and fled on foot, before the car accelerated through the mall. Sheriff and police in riot gear face off with protestors outside the County Courthouse during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. on Aug. 25, 2020. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images) Wisconsin Man Charged for Assaulting Police Officer During Kenosha Riots A Wisconsin man accused of assaulting a police officer during the Kenosha riots following the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in August last year has been indicted on two federal counts. Ashton Howard, 27, of Kenosha has been charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder and unlawful transport of firearms as a convicted felon, authorities announced on Wednesday. Howard is accused of throwing a heavy object at a police officer who was at the time attempting to move a damaged police vehicle. The officer was struck in the head and knocked unconscious on Aug. 23, 2020, according to court documents. Howard is also accused of possessing ammunition, despite a prior felony conviction. According to court records, Howard was convicted in a federal court in Louisiana for possessing stolen firearms. He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2016. There must be accountability for anyone who attacks a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger said in a statement. I commend the painstaking investigative efforts of the FBI and Kenosha Police Department to bring this case. FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes said the federal law enforcement agency will continue to work with its partners to aggressively investigate and hold those responsible who obstruct law enforcement during civil disorder. If convicted of the two charges, Howard faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Proctor. Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said the incident was not a case of legal protest but a felonious assault on a police officer. This type of conduct cannot and will not be accepted, Miskinis said. The destruction caused by rioters to city-owned property late August caused nearly $2 million in damage, Kenosha public works director, Shelly Billingsley, said at the time. The estimate was based on what it would cost to replace damaged items, including smashed lights and garbage trucks set ablaze. It did not include personnel costs. The destruction erupted after Blake was shot in the back on Aug. 23, 2020, while resisting arrest in a confrontation with police who were responding to a domestic incident. He suffered serious injuries from the shooting. According to police scanner audio, a woman called 911 to report Blake at her home when he wasnt supposed to be, and that he had taken her keys and wouldnt give them back. A dispatcher said that Blake had an arrest warrant for sexual assault issued in July. Blakes shooting sparked a wave of protests, some turning violent, with rioters torching half a dozen buildings, including a number of small businesses. On the third night of unrest, there was a shooting that resulted in one injury and two deaths. Authorities imposed a curfew in a bid to quell the unrest and minimize the threat to people and property. Authorities initially refused offers of federal assistance to help cope with the rioting. But after a shooting involving an Illinois teenager, the National Guard was sent in. President Joe Biden condemned the violence at the time, saying that burning down communities is not protestits needless violence. Violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses, and shutters businesses that serve the community. Thats wrong. Of Blakes death, Biden expressed his outrage. It makes me sick, he said. Once again, a black man, Jacob Blake, has been shot by the police in broad daylight with the whole world watching. Prosecutors said earlier this month that no police officer will face charges over Blakes shooting. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Regulatory News: Navya (FR0013018041- Navya) (Paris:NAVYA), a leading company in autonomous driving systems becomes a member of the Autoware Foundation, based in Japan and thus strengthens its technological leadership. Initiated in 2018 by Tier IV, Inc., Linaro 96Boards, and Apex.AI, Inc., the Autoware Foundation (https://www.autoware.org) is an organization supporting and promoting open-source autonomous mobility projects. Autoware is one of the most influential international organizations within the autonomous driving ecosystem. Alongside renowned players such as Macnica, Hitachi, Intel, LG and Velodyne Lidar, Navya will contribute to the influence of the Autoware Foundation by making available some of its applications. In return, Navya will benefit from the open-source projects undertaken by the foundation, providing additional know-how on autonomous driving activities, but also on other key elements such as passenger safety, fleet supervision and environmental control before vehicle start-up. These synergies should promote the Company's growth its integration into the global ecosystem of autonomous driving players and the recognition of its technological leadership. Shinpei Kato, President of the Autoware Foundation says: "We are excited about Navya's participation in the Autoware Foundation. Navya is one of the most successful autonomous driving technology players in the world. We are convinced that their achievements and the experience they have gained through numerous deployments will bring Autoware to the front of this emerging market." Etienne Hermite, Chief Executive Officer of Navya, concludes: "We are very delighted to join Autoware Foundation, which is a reference in the field of autonomous driving vehicles and software. We are proud to contribute to the improvement, development and democratization of autonomous and intelligent transport systems." About Navya Navya is a leading French name in the autonomous driving systems. With 280 employees in France (Paris and Lyon) and in the United States (Michigan), Navya aims at becoming the leading player for the supply of autonomous driving systems for passenger and goods transport. Since 2015, Navya has been the first to market and put into service autonomous mobility solutions. The Autonom Shuttle, main development axis, was launched in September 2015 and nearly 170 units have been sold as of 30 June 2020, notably in the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Australia. The Autonom Tract is dedicated to goods transport. Created in 2014 with the support of Robolution Capital, investment fund managed by 360 Capital Partners, his reference shareholder, Navya's shareholders also include the Gravitation fund and Paris Region Venture Fund (Region Ile-de-France) managed by Karista as well as Valeo and Keolis groups. Navya is listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013018041- Navya). For more information visit: www.navya.tech/en View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005767/en/ Contacts: Navya Marketing Communication Manager Albane Garnier albane.garnier@navya.tech +33 (0)6 66 58 71 46 CFO Benoit Jacheet finance@navya.tech NewCap Investor relations Thomas Grojean navya@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 NewCap Media relations Nicolas Merigeau navya@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 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. [January 28, 2021] Valneva Commences Manufacturing of its Inactivated, Adjuvanted COVID-19 Vaccine, Completes Phase 1/2 Study Recruitment Vaccine production initiated to optimize timeline for potential deliveries Phase 1/2 clinical study now fully enrolled; initial data read out expected in April 2021 Saint-Herblain (France), January 28, 2021 Valneva SE, a specialty vaccine company focused on prevention of infectious diseases with significant unmet medical need, today announced it has commenced production of its inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate in parallel to the ongoing clinical studies, in order to optimize the timeline for potential deliveries of the vaccine. The Phase 1/2 clinical study is now fully enrolled and is expected to report initial results in April 2021. VLA2001 is currently the only inactivated vaccine candidate in clinical trials against COVID-19 in Europe. A total of 150 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years have been recruited for the Phase 1/2 study which commenced mid December 20201. Thomas Lingelbach, Chief Executive Officer of Valneva, said, We are extremely pleased to have achieved these two important milestones in such a short period of time. Our team in Scotland have done an amazing job to get manufacturing started so quickly. I would like to thank the UK Vaccines Taskforce and National Institute for Health Research who have played vital roles in the rapid recruitment and enrollment of the volunteers for the clinical study. We believe that our vaccine, assuming successful development, can make a major contribution in the UK and beyond. In September 2020, Valneva announced a major COVID-19 vaccine partnership with the UK government for the supply of up to 190 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine VLA20012. Under this partnership agreement, if vaccine development is successful, Valneva will provide the UK government with 60 million doses in the second half of 2021. Valneva also announced in January 20213 it is in advanced discussions with the European Commission for the supply of up to 60 million doses of VLA2001. About the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Disease SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus identified in late 2019 and belongs to a family of enveloped RNA viruses that include MERS and SARS, both of which caused serious human infections of the respiratory system. The virus, which causes a disease named COVID-19, has never before been found in humans. Since this outbreak was first reported, the virus has caused over 2 million reported deaths globally. It has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) . About VLA2001 VLA2001 is Valnevas vaccine candidate against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. VLA2001 consists of inactivated whole virus particles of SARS-CoV-2 with high S-protein density, in combination with two adjuvants, alum and CpG 1018. This adjuvant combination has consistently induced higher antibody levels in preclinical experiments than alum-only formulations and shown a shift of the immune response towards Th1. VLA001 is produced on Valnevas established Vero-cell platform, leveraging the manufacturing technology for Valnevas licensed Japanese encephalitis vaccine, IXIARO. The process, which has already been upscaled to final industrial scale, includes inactivation with BPL to preserve the native structure of the S-protein. CpG 1018 is a component of the US FDA-approved HEPLISAV-B vaccine and received positive CHMP on December 10, 2020. VLA2001 is expected to conform with standard cold chain requirements (2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius). About VLA2001-201 VLA2001-201 is the first-in-human Phase 1/2 study evaluating three dose levels of VLA2001 (low, medium, high) for safety, tolerability and immunogenicity in a two-dose schedule with intra muscular vaccinations three weeks apart. Overall, 150 healthy young adults aged 18 to 55 years have been recruited. The study, which included an open-label dose-escalation phase, is now fully enrolled and is expected to report initial results in April 2021. VLA2001-201 is conducted in two parts: Part A (Day 1 to Day 36) and Part B (Day 37 to Day 208). Following an evaluation of Part A data (i.e., data up to Day 36) from the present study, further clinical studies may be initiated. About Valneva SE Valneva is a specialty vaccine company focused on prevention of infectious diseases with significant unmet medical need. The Company has several vaccines in development including unique vaccines against Lyme disease, COVID-19 and chikungunya. Valnevas portfolio includes two commercial vaccines for travelers: IXIARO/JESPECT indicated for the prevention of Japanese encephalitis and DUKORAL indicated for the prevention of cholera and, in some countries, prevention of diarrhea caused by ETEC. Valneva has operations in Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and the U.S. with over 500 employees. Investor and Media Contacts Laetitia Bachelot-Fontaine Director Investor Relations & Corporate Communications M +33 (0)6 4516 7099 investors@valneva.com Teresa Pinzolits Corporate Communications Specialist T +43 (0)1 20620 1116 communications@valneva.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of Valneva, including with respect to the progress, timing, design, data read-outs, anticipated results and completion of clinical trials for VLA2001. In addition, even if the actual results or development of Valneva are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of Valneva may not be indicative of future results. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "could," "should," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "aims," "targets," or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of Valneva as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of Valneva could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development and manufacture of vaccines, unexpected clinical trial results, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, competition in general, currency fluctuations, the impact of the global and European credit crisis, the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made during this presentation will in fact be realized. Valneva is providing the information in this press release as of the date hereof and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. 1 Valneva Initiates Phase 1/2 Clinical Study of Inactivated, Adjuvanted COVID-19 Vaccine 2 Valneva Announces Major COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership with U.K. Government 3 Valneva in Advanced Discussions with European Commission to Supply up to 60 Million Doses of Inactivated, Adjuvanted COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Attachment 2021_01_28_VLA2001_Manufacturing_Initation_Recruitment_Completion_PR_EN_Final [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEW DELHI : Covid-19 may be seasonal like flu, a global analysis of the pandemic by the University of Illinois, Chicago, has suggested. In a paper, published in Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Illinois researchers have suggested that covid-19 cases and mortality rates, among other epidemiological metrics, are significantly correlated with temperature and latitude across 221 countries. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal Early in the pandemic, researchers and public health officials had suggested SARS-CoV-2 may behave like other coronaviruses, many of which rear their heads in fall and winter. But data was lacking, especially on the global scale. The research aims to fill this specific knowledge gap. Researchers downloaded relevant epidemiological data (disease incidence, mortality, recovery cases, active cases, testing rate, and hospitalization) from 221 countries, along with their latitude, longitude, and average temperature. They pulled the data from 15 April, because that date represents the moment in a given year in which seasonal temperature variation is at its maximum across the globe. That date also coincided with a time during the early pandemic when covid-19 infections were peaking everywhere. The research team then used statistical methods to test if epidemiological variables were correlated with temperature, latitude, and longitude. The expectation was that warmer countries closer to the equator would be the least affected by the disease. "Our worldwide epidemiological analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between temperature and incidence, mortality, recovery cases, and active cases. The same tendency was found with latitude, but not with longitude, as we expected," said Gustavo Caetano-Anolles, professor in the Department of Crop Sciences, affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois, and senior author on the paper. While temperature and latitude were unmistakably correlated with covid-19 cases, researchers pointed out climate was only one factor driving seasonal covid-19 incidence worldwide. They accounted for other factors by standardizing raw epidemiological data into disease rates per capita and by assigning each country a risk index reflecting public health preparedness and incidence of co-morbidities in the population. The idea was that if the disease was surging in countries with inadequate resources or higher-than-average rates of diabetes, obesity, or old age, the risk index would appear more important in the analysis than temperature. But that wasn't the case. The index did not correlate with the disease metrics at all. "One conclusion is that the disease may be seasonal, like the flu. This is very relevant to what we should expect from now on after the vaccine controls these first waves of covid-19," said Caetano-Anolles. "Our results suggest the virus is changing at its own pace, and mutations are affected by factors other than temperature or latitude. We don't know exactly what those factors are, but we can now say seasonal effects are independent of the genetic makeup of the virus," Caetano-Anolles says. Caetano-Anolles notes more research is needed to explain the role of climate and seasonality in covid-19 incidences, but he suggests the impact of policy, such as mask mandates, and cultural factors, such as the expectation to look out for others, are key players as well. However, he doesn't discount the importance of understanding seasonality in battling the virus. Researchers also humans own immune systems could be partially responsible for the pattern of seasonality. For example, a person's immune response to the flu can be influenced by temperature and nutritional status, including vitamin D, a crucial player in immune defences. With lower sun exposure during the winter, one doesn't make enough of that vitamin. But it's too soon to say how seasonality and immune systems interact in the case of covid-19, the researchers said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! 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. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka's president on Thursday welcomed the first 500,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from India, which has donated the shots to eight countries in the region. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Sri Lanka said 150,000 health workers and 115,000 selected military and police troops will be the first to be inoculated at six hospitals in Colombo and its suburbs. One of the hospitals is reserved for COVID-19 patients while the others have separate wards for the coronavirus. The Health Ministry plans to expand the vaccination campaign to 4,000 hospitals and health centers in other parts of the country next week. Indias donation covers 250,000 people and Sri Lanka is making efforts to obtain more vaccines, either through donation or by purchasing them. The country has ordered 2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine and is planning to order 3 million more from India. It also expects some from the U.N. COVAX Facility to be able to vaccine 20% of the population. Sri Lanka has grappled with a fresh outbreak of the disease since October, when two clusters one centered on a garment factory and the other on the main fish market emerged in and around Colombo. Since then, it has reported more than 55,000 cases and 260 deaths. An average of 500-900 cases are being reported daily. India has played the role of the first responder in the region," India's foreign ministry said in a statement, as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the first batch of vaccines at the airport. India also said it has extended a $400-million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka to ensure the neighbor's financial stability during the pandemic. India's rival China on Wednesday announced it would provide 300,000 shots of its own vaccine Sinopharm next month after procedures are completed on both sides. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 06:46:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A bar providing outdoor seats is seen in New Orleans, Louisiana, the United States, on Jan. 27, 2021. U.S. southern city of New Orleans will ease some of its COVID-19 restrictions after COVID-19 cases declined for three consecutive weeks, an official said on Wednesday. (Photo by Lan Wei/Xinhua) HOUSTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. southern city of New Orleans will ease some of its COVID-19 restrictions after COVID-19 cases declined for three consecutive weeks, an official said on Wednesday. "The small strides we've made will allow us to inch back towards normalcy," local media quoted the city's Health Department Director Jennifer Avegno as saying. Starting from Friday at 6 a.m., New Orleans will enter the modified "Phase 2" of restrictions that will see restaurants and other businesses double their capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent over the next three weeks. However, indoor bar service will remain canceled until at least Feb. 19 even if the city's positivity rate stays below the 5 percent threshold the state has set. Meanwhile, New Orleans public school officials on Wednesday announced that public school buildings will reopen starting Feb. 1. Students in different grades will have specific schedules of in-person classes and students in all grades will continue to have the option of all-remote learning. Daily COVID-19 cases in New Orleans have dropped from its peak on Jan. 9 when 266 cases were added. The positivity rate dipped to 4 percent for the first time in weeks on Wednesday, following a Dec. 30 high of 10.4 percent. Enditem Leaders and influencers from across and beyond the global oil and gas sector will convene virtually next month to discuss the three defining challenges of the coming decade delivering a resilient recovery from the pandemic, universal access to energy, and getting on track for global net zero emissions. Held virtually from February 23 to 25, the speaker programme of the Energy Institutes IP Week 2021 conference includes the CEOs of major oil and gas operators alongside high profile figures from elsewhere in energy, NGOs, academia and government, including those involved in COP26. The urgency of action, together with the associated risks and opportunities in geographies around the world, will be at the heart of the weeks agenda. EI President Steve Holliday, who will open the conference, said: "IP Week has become the pre-eminent opportunity for thought leadership and building collaboration, and this year the discussions will focus on moving from crisis to low carbon opportunity over the next decade." Humanity has succeeded in tackling great environmental challenges in the past, and I believe we can do so again. But the true test is pace, and it starts now," he added. Speakers confirmed for IP Week 2021 include: Bernard Looney, Chief Executive Officer, BP; Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor; Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of Total; Andrew Griffith MP, UK Net Zero Business Champion; Carolina Urmeneta, Head of Climate Change Office, Ministry of Environment of Chile; Nick Walker, President and CEO; Lundin Energy; Dr Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy; Indrani Kaushal, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India; Mathios Rigas, CEO of Energean; Dr Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General, World Energy Council; Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO of Adnoc LNG; Dr Ayed Al Qahtani, Director of Research Division at Opec; Mohammed Al Qahtani, Senior VP (Downstream) Aramco; Andy Brogan, Global Oil & Gas Leader, EY and Manish Chawla, Global Managing Director, Energy, Resources, Manufacturing, IBM. Held virtually for the first time in the conferences long history, delegates at IP Week 2021 will move seamlessly from speaker sessions to networking and exhibition spaces in the IP Week Knowledge and Innovation Hub, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Germany's vaccine committee recommends only 18-to-64 year olds receive the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford coronavirus jab due to a lack of data in older adults. (Stock, Getty Images) Boris Johnson has insisted he is not concerned after German officials said the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be recommended for under 65s. The Prime Minister joined Public Health England (PHE) in defending the use of the jab after a draft recommendation from Germanys vaccination advisory committee (STIKO) on Thursday said there was insufficient data to recommend it for those aged 65 and over. The EUs European Medicines Agency (EMA) is expected to make a decision regarding the jabs roll-out on the rest of the continent on 29 January. Johnson said the evidence shows it provides a good immune response across all age groups. Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE, acknowledged there had been too few cases of coronavirus in older people in Phase 3 clinical trials to determine the level of efficacy in this age group, but said other data on immune response had been reassuring. Mr Johnson, during a visit to Scotland, said he did not agree with the German ruling, as he backed the advice from the UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). He said: The MHRA, our own authorities, have made it very clear that they think the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious, gives a high degree of protection after just one dose and even more after two doses. And the evidence theyve supplied is they think its effective across all age groups and provides a good immune response across all age groups. It comes after German coalition sources reportedly told the newspaper Handelsblatt the jab is expected to be just 8% effective in this older age group. Trial data have shown the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has around a 70% efficacy rate against the coronavirus, prompting the jab's approval in the UK. (Stock, Getty Images) The publication Bild later quoted anonymous sources saying the vaccine was not expected to be given the green light by the EMA, blaming a hotly disputed efficacy rate of less than 10% among the elderly. Read more: Complications common four months after COVID patient leaves hospital Germanys ministry of health has since dismissed the efficacy claims, while AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford called them completely incorrect with no basis. Story continues The latest news comes amid tensions between the UK and EU over the rollout, with Brussels threatening to block the export of millions of doses of vaccine to the UK. Michael Gove has reassured there will be no interruption to UK coronavirus vaccine supplies after the EU urged AstraZeneca to supply it with doses from UK plants. STIKO said its ruling on the AstraZeneca jab did not apply to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs. Every country is different In response to STIKOs recommendation, the chief executive of the UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Dr June Raine said: Current evidence does not suggest any lack of protection against Covid-19 in people aged 65 or over. The data we have shows that the vaccine produces a strong immune response in the over 65s. Professor Stephen Evans from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said it was reasonable for Germany officials to prioritise younger people with one jab and older people with another. Every country is in a different situation. Advice on the use of a vaccine will depend on its availability and the availability of other vaccines, he said. For the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, in Germany and the rest of the EU there is a shortage, as is well-known. It is in a context where supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, for which data in older people shows similar efficacy as in younger people, are relatively plentiful. With millions of Britons already receiving the AZ vaccines first dose, another expert has stressed it is highly likely they will have some immunity. I would say to anyone over 65 who has had the AZ [AstraZeneca] jab the same I would tell anyone who has had any COVID jab we already know no vaccine available is 100% protective against getting sick, and at the moment you should still behave as if you, and anyone around you, could be infected with COVID-19, said Professor Simon Clarke from the University of Reading. Watch: Can you catch coronavirus twice? We know the AZ jab provides some protection, but because the trials recruited only a few hundred over 65s, the data are not clear enough to say for sure exactly how effective it is. Dr Ramsay added the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has been shown to be safe and protect against COVID-19, much like the Pfizer-BioNTech jab. There were too few cases in older people in the AstraZeneca trials to observe precise levels of protection in this group, but data on immune responses were very reassuring, she said. The risk of severe disease and death increase exponentially with age. The priority is to vaccinate as many vulnerable people as possible with either vaccine, to protect more people and save more lives. An AstraZeneca spokesperson said: The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 [the disease caused by the coronavirus] vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group. Low efficacy clams make no sense Concerns over the poor efficacy of the AZ jab in the over-65s were first raised by the reports it could be as low as 8% in German media, though the countrys health ministry has since rubbished them. Around 8% of the volunteers in AstraZenecas efficacy studies were around 56 and 69 years old and 3-4% are above 70 years old, it said. However, this does not mean that it is effective only in 8% of older people. The clinical trial that led to the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine being approved in the UK reported an overall efficacy result of 70%. Surprisingly, the two-dose regimen was reported to have up to 90% efficacy when the first vaccine was given at a half dose, followed by a full dose 28 days later. When both jabs were full dose, efficacy was reported at 62%. The participants who received the low-dose then full-dose were not initially over 55 due to the first vaccine being administered early in the trial, before older adults had been recruited. The double full-dose regimen was given to participants of a range of ages. Writing in The Lancet, the studys authors said: As older age groups were recruited later than younger age groups, there has been less time for cases to accrue and as a result, efficacy data in these cohorts are currently limited by the small number of cases, but additional data will be available in future analyses. Read more: Teacher develops stammer after coronavirus Vaccinated people must still adhere to coronavirus regulations, like wearing a face covering in public enclosed spaces. (Posed by a model, Getty Images) AstraZenecas CEO has previously said the issue with the elderly data is not so much whether it works or not. Its that we have today a limited amount of data in the older population. The scientists behind the jab reportedly didnt want to vaccinate older people until they had accumulated a lot of safety data in the 18 to 55 group. Other companies took this risk, went ahead and vaccinated older people faster or earlier, said the CEO. We have strong data showing very strong antibody production against the virus in the elderly, similar to what we see in younger people. Its possible some countries, out of caution, will use our vaccine for the younger group. Read more: Hospice nurse says pandemic hit us like a brick wall This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Experts have generally dismissed reports of the low efficacy claims as having no basis. [I have] no idea where the 8% figure comes from, Professor Adam Finn from the University of Bristol previously said. Dr Hassan Vally from the La Trobe University in Melbourne called the claim completely false, adding it is not immediately obvious where this number has come from. Professor James Naismith from the University of Oxford said that when it comes to questionable efficacy results: Experimental evidence and reasoned debate, not over heated rhetoric, will resolve this issue. There is no need to impugn the quality or character of the German scientists [at STIKO] here; the UKs MHRA advised by scientists of equal calibre have come to a different conclusion, he said. Scientists often disagree about how much evidence is needed for any new advance and there is always more data to be secured. While data may be lacking, Dr Vally argued an efficacy result as low as 8% does not make theoretical sense. Given the relatively high efficacy estimates overall for this vaccine, an efficacy of less than 10% for those over 65 years does not make sense biologically, he said. It would mean that there is something dramatically different in the way the immune system responds to the vaccine to make the vaccine essentially almost completely ineffective in this older age group. One could completely understand if the studies showed a reduced efficacy in this older group, as the immune system clearly ages like the rest of the body. However, a result as substantial as this does not really fit in with what one might expect to see. Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna data, blood samples taken from older people who had the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine do not suggest there will be notably lower efficacy, added Professor Evans. Watch: What is long COVID? CSD bribe probe will extend to Thanathorns mum BANGKOK: The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) will summon Thanathorn Juangroongruangkits mother for questioning in connection with bribes given to an official at the Crown Property Bureau (CPB). By Bangkok Post Thursday 28 January 2021, 08:48AM Police want to speak Thanathorn Juangroongruangkits mother for questioning in connection with bribes given to an official at the Crown Property Bureau (CPB). Photo: Bangkok Post Mr Thanathorn is the former leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party and co-founder of the Progressive Movement. Pheu Thai Party MP and chairman of a House Committee on legal affairs, justice and human rights Chaiyan Phonsuwan said the panel met on Wednesday to consider a complaint from former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong, reports the Bangkok Post. The complaint was about prosecutors deciding not to indict Thanathorns brother, Sakulthorn Juangroongruangkit, who is CEO of the Real Estate Development Company in the Chit Lom land lease case. The committee invited assistant national police chief Permpoon Chidchob, a deputy chief of the CSD and a representative of the cases investigators, to the meeting. Pol Lt Gen Permpoon told the committee Mr Sakulthorn was not a suspect in the land lease case since he would be charged in a separate case. But he did not disclose the details. A Criminal Court ruling in November 2019 mentioned Mr Sakulthorn but he was not charged with any offence. Pol Lt Gen Permpoon said the investigation of Mr Sakulthorns case had made over 70% progress, and added that Somporn Juangroongruangkit, Mr Sakulthorns mother, would be summoned for questioning because at that time she was an executive member of the Real Estate Development Company. Police want to talk to her to see whether she was involved in the offence or not, he said. Mr Watchara also gave information related to the land lease case to the committee and the CSD, such as the companys plan to develop a land plot in the Chit Lom area. The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sentenced a CPB official and an accomplice to three years in prison for taking bribes and forging documents in the case. The company gave them B20 million for their help in giving it the right to rent the land without a bidding process taking place. Soon after a meme of Bernie Sanders at the inauguration went viral, the senator jumped on the trend selling T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers with the proceeds going to charity. He raised $1.8 million, the Associated Press reported. But hes not the only one using this popular and hilarious meme to raise money. Vermont teacher Jen Ellis, who made Sanders mittens featured in the meme, made three mittens to be auctioned off, benefiting Passion 4 Paws, Outright Vermont and her daughters college fund. I have heard your requests, and I am happy to tell you that I am making just a few more mittens today and tonight to be auctioned off for good causes, she tweeted. The auctions are still ongoing as of Thursday morning, however, one of the mittens is already nearly $4,500. She also announced on Wednesday that shes partnering with Darn Tough Socks to produce a sock inspired by Bernies mittens. 100% of the proceeds go to the Vermont Foodbank, Ellis tweeted. Ive seen a sneak peek of the design and its amazing! Stay tuned! So excited to announce my new collaboration! I'm partnering with Darn Tough Socks to produce a sock inspired by Bernie's mittens!! 100% of the proceeds go to the Vermont Foodbank! I've seen a sneak peek of the design and it's AMAZING! Stay tuned! @DarnTough @VermontFoodbank Jen Ellis (@vtawesomeness) January 27, 2021 Tobey King in Texas also helped raise money for charity using the meme as inspiration. She made the meme into a crochet doll, ABC news reported. She then sold it for $20,300, Reuters reported. But that wasnt all. eBay then matched the price for a total of $40,600 that was donated to charity, the news outlet reported. This could be my purpose; this is my new path, King told ABC. This is a new way of helping people in a way that Ive never been able to do before. Burton Snowboards also donated 50 jackets to the Burlington Department for Children and Families in Sanders name, the AP reported. Getty Images also said it will donate its proceeds as part of the licensing agreement to put the photo on the merchandise to Meals on Wheels of America. Jane and I were amazed by all the creativity shown by so many people over the last week, and were glad we can use my internet fame to help Vermonters in need, Sanders said according to the AP. But even this amount of money is no substitute for action by Congress, and I will be doing everything I can in Washington to make sure working people in Vermont and across the country get the relief they need in the middle of the worst crisis weve faced since the Great Depression. Related Content: On Friday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had complete faith in the TGAs assessment. I understand that Professor Adam Field, the member of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation in the United Kingdom said they have no concerns about the safety of the vaccine in any age group, and they will continue to do that. So, countries will take different approaches. Our approach will be led by what we believe will be the best medical regulator in the world, the Therapeutic Goods Administration. A spokesperson for the TGA said all matters are being carefully considered as part of its assessment process, including the evidence supporting immunisation in various age groups. The TGAs decision will also be informed by the Advisory Committee on Vaccines, an independent group of clinical and technical experts, the spokesperson said on Friday. The British-Swedish pharmaceutical company giant has acknowledged over 65s represented a small proportion of trial participants but insists the jab will provide a strong shield against serious illness and death in all age groups. Millions of elderly residents in the United Kingdom have already been given the vaccine and work is under way to assess its efficacy outside the trials. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he did not agree with Germanys decision. He said British authorities think the AstraZeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious and gives a high degree of protection after one dose and even more after two doses. Brian Pinker, 82, receives the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Credit:Getty Images Hunt has previously described the AstraZeneca vaccine as the ace in the hole of the countrys inoculation strategy. Any restrictions on using AstraZeneca for over 65s will complicate government rollout strategies because older people are due to be prioritised given their vulnerability to COVID-19. Loading If the TGA made a similar finding to Germany, the Morrison government would have to rely more heavily on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the initial rollout. Australia has secured 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough to protect 5 million people given the requirement for two doses per person. About 3.9 million Australians are aged 65 or older, according to census data. One option available to the TGA is to wait for more data from AstraZenecas rollout in Britain before making a final decision on use in Australia. In a statement, AstraZeneca insisted its product would protect older age groups. The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group, a spokesperson said. We await a regulatory decision on the vaccine by the European Medicines Agency in the coming days. Loading German Health Minister Jens Spahn noted the vaccine committees recommendation was not a final decision, but said the lack of trial data for those aged over 65 was a well-known issue. It was to be expected that this would have an influence on the decision of the regulatory authorities and then the vaccine commission, Spahn said. We just dont know yet how concretely, so lets wait for the decision tomorrow on clearance and then the final recommendation from the vaccine commission. The German committee analysed trial data where people aged 65 and over represented less than 6 per cent of the 11,636 participants. One group of 341 people aged over 65 was given the vaccine and another group of 319 people injected with a placebo. One person in each group subsequently tested positive to COVID-19. The small number of older participants meant the German experts were unable to reach a reliable estimate of how effective the jab was for over 65s. AstraZeneca has previously explained that the trial featured a low number of older volunteers because they were recruited later, once researchers were confident the vaccine was safe with younger participants. The companys chief executive officer Paul Soriot told Italys La Repubblica newspaper this week that its researchers had been finalising new analysis of the vaccines impact on over 65s. Essentially, because Oxford started vaccinating older people later, we dont have a huge number of older people who have been vaccinated, Soriot said. So thats what the debate is. But we have strong data showing very strong antibody production against the virus in the elderly, similar to what we see in younger people. Its possible that some countries, out of caution, will use our vaccine for the younger group. But honestly, it is fine. Theres not enough vaccines for everybody. So if they want to use another vaccine for older people and our vaccine for younger people, whats the problem? AstraZeneca shares closed 1.6 per cent lower after the announcement. - with Marissa Calligeros This is really worrisome, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine and the inventor of a coronavirus vaccine. We have to have the American people vaccinated by late in the spring or early summer to have any hope in preventing the South African and the U.K. variants from taking over. Drug makers could update their vaccines and offer new shots at regular intervals, similar to the flu vaccine. This virus is throwing us curve balls every day, so I think we just need to be prepared for that and realize that the first generation of vaccines may need to be updated, said Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University. Novavaxs trial in Britain tested how many volunteers developed symptoms of Covid-19 one week after receiving a second dose. The company said Thursday that its initial analysis showed that out of 62 participants who developed the illness, 56 had received a placebo and 6 had gotten the vaccine. The newer, more contagious variant first identified in Britain was found to have caused about 50 percent of the cases in the trial, Novavax said. If those results were to bear out in the larger clinical trial in the United States and Mexico, which has enrolled about 16,000 out of a goal of 30,000 people, then it would put the vaccine on par with the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which were shown to be about 95 percent effective. But the news in South Africa was not as encouraging. Novavaxs smaller trial found the vaccine to have a 49.4 percent efficacy overall. (The company reported that about 6 percent of the trials participants were positive for H.I.V., and for those who were not H.I.V. positive, the vaccine had a 60 percent efficacy.) The company said the trial began recording cases of Covid-19 from September through the middle of this month, when the more contagious variant was widely circulating. Novavax said 44 trial participants developed Covid-19, and it sequenced the genetic lineage of 27 cases. Of those, 25 cases were caused by the more contagious version of the virus. The company also said that about one-third of the trial participants in South Africa had previously developed Covid-19 after being infected by the original form of the virus, and that their results showed those previous infections did not protect them against the new variant. The company said its vaccine did provide some protection for those who had previously contracted the disease, but did not include this group in its analysis. A Stowe man charged in eight arsons that police say caused more than $1.5 million in damage to the resort community has been arrested by federal agents. Jeffrey Nolan, 62, made his initial appearance in federal court on Monday on a complaint of malicious damage or destruction, by means of fire, of property used in or affecting interstate commerce, federal prosecutors said. He was held pending further proceedings. The federal government plans to seek formal federal charges before a grand jury. A series of fires over more than five years in Stowe has caused millions of dollars in damages to structures, displaced several people from jobs, endangered the lives of residents and first responders and created an atmosphere of anxiety for the towns residents, the office of the U.S. attorney said. Nolan pleaded guilty earlier this month to eight state counts of arson. Nolan offered no motive for the fires, said Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Todd Ambroz, who said mental health and substance abuse appeared to be a factor, WCAX-TV reported. The judge ordered a mental evaluation. Detectives said he admitted setting a fire that damaged the Stowe Public Library on March 30, 2019, a fire on Jan. 7 at the Stowe Cable Systems building and at least seven other fires since March of 2019. Nolans federal public defender said he had no comment on the federal complaint. A series of fires like this has public safety and psychological impacts well beyond the costs of property damage, said U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan in a written statement. Nolan would face between five and a possible 20 years in prison if convicted of the crime charged in the federal complaint. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Agencies Abuse Molestation Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis talked by telephone today with the new Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs, Arnoldas Pranckevicius. The discussion focused on European and regional affairs. Mr. Varvitsiotis wished his Lithuanian counterpart every success in his new duties, highlighting that he looks forward to close cooperation between the two sides, including in the context of the EU General Affairs Council. In the context of European coordination on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of the Greek proposal for adoption of a common European vaccination certificate was stressed. Finally, they discussed topics related to the EU Social Agenda. Advertisement Brussels today stepped up its Covid-19 vaccine war with AstraZeneca by insisting their contract allows them to grab millions of doses made in the UK as the bloc unveils new powers that could stop Pfizer jabs destined for British arms crossing the Channel from Europe. Ursula von der Leyen, the German president of the European Commission, said the EU's deal with the pharmaceutical giant is 'crystal clear' that supplies would come from four factories including two in Britain. The UK signed a deal with AstraZeneca in May for 100million doses all made at labs in Oxford and Staffordshire and put into vials at a facility in Wrexham. The EU signed up for 100million doses of the British-designed jab three months later in August. Ms von der Leyen said today that AstraZeneca, who warned Brussels this week that its first delivery at the end of March will be down 60 per cent, has offered 'no plausible reasons' for production problems. She told Deutschlandfunk radio: 'There are binding orders and the contract is crystal clear.' She said the contract set out delivery amounts for December and the first three quarters of 2021, and also mentioned four production sites, two of which are in Britain. In a provocative move the European Commission decided to publish its contract with AstraZeneca as the bloc prepares to unveil new powers that could see the shipment of millions of vaccine doses to Britain being blocked within days. As the row over the EU jabs shortage intensifies, the European Commission will set out a mechanism to allow member states to refuse vaccine exports. The move will heighten fears about whether Britain's expected supply of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine which is manufactured in Belgium could be disrupted. Britain has ordered 40 million doses. It came as Belgian health authorities revealed they had been sent into an AstraZeneca factory in the town of Seneffe where doses of its vaccine are being made. The commission requested the inspection due to doubts over the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm's explanation for its shortfall in deliveries to the bloc. To add to the complications, Germany's top vaccine panel said it is not recommending the AstraZeneca jab only for over-65s because there is not enough evidence on whether it works for the elderly. Tory MP for Clwyd West, David Jones, said: 'German efforts to cast doubt on the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine make the EU's extreme eagerness to get their hands on it all the more perplexing'. The European Medicines Agency is today due to approve the AstraZeneca jab for use in the bloc but Germany expects the regulator to impose restrictions on who it can be given to. German health minister Jens Spahn told a press conference: 'We're not expecting an authorisation without limits.' Europe is facing increasing calls to back down over the vaccine row amid warnings that the continent's rhetoric is 'sounding like Donald Trump'. The bloc is facing fresh pressure over its roll-out after it emerged it is trailing behind the UK on ordering a new vaccine which has just cleared a major hurdle. US biotech firm Novavax said its vaccine has now completed phase three clinical trials in the UK with Britain having struck a deal back in August for 60million of the jabs. However, reports earlier this month suggested the EU was still in talks with the company about its own deal for up to 200million doses. One EU diplomatic source told The Times: 'When some Germans are sounding like Donald Trump it is time for everyone to take a deep breath and count to ten. A vaccine war between the EU and UK is one of the worst things that could possibly happen right now.' But an EU official defended the bloc's hardline stance, telling The Guardian: 'In an ideal world, we would not be here, the whole story of vaccination would run smoothly without any problems. 'But unfortunately we are not in an ideal world, and we have seen over the last weeks that not all works well.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that AstraZeneca, who warned Brussels this week that its first delivery at the end of March will be down 60 per cent, has offered 'no plausible reasons' for production problems and must deliver on time even if it is from British factories In a provocative move the European Commission decided to publish a redacted version of its contract with AstraZeneca Belgian health authorities were sent to AstraZeneca's European production site in Seneffe on Thursday after the European Commission demanded an inspection of the site. They were sent in after AstraZeneca told the EU it would only receive a quarter of the jabs it expected by April due to delays in production EU measures could threaten the delivery of Pfizer vaccines (pictured), as the bloc is said to be suspicious that doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been secretly shipped from Belgium to Britain How did the UK end up as one of the world's leading countries on the vaccine roll-out? The UK is one of the world's leading countries when it comes to the speed of the roll-out of its coronavirus vaccination programme - a fact made all the more impressive given where the nation started when the pandemic hit early last year. At that point the country had just one vaccine manufacturing site - a facility in Liverpool which made flu jabs. But the Government quickly set up a vaccine task force in April to make sure the UK was well-positioned to benefit from medical breakthroughs. The experts appointed to the task force reportedly recommended seven projects for investment within its first two weeks, according to The Times. Advance purchase orders were hammered out by the task force with suppliers despite the fact there were no guarantees that any of the vaccines would work or that they would be signed off by regulators. That early work meant the UK was in pole position to receive the jabs, if and when they were shown to be effective and safe. The task force's strategy means two companies have been relied upon to do much of the heavy lifting during the UK's vaccine roll-out: Pfizer and AstraZeneca. The UK ordered 40 million doses from the former and 100 million doses from the latter. Agreements are also in place with a handful of other would-be suppliers should their products get the green light. The speed with which the UK moved on vaccines was perhaps best illustrated this week when Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, revealed the deal with Britain was agreed three months before the EU's. The UK's supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine is made at sites in Oxford and Staffordshire before it is put into vials at a facility in Wrexham, while the Pfizer jab is made in Belgium. Every new batch of vaccine in the UK has to be safety tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control in Hertfordshire before it can be sent for delivery. This process takes about four days and once each batch has been rubber-stamped it is taken to secure Government warehouses where the NHS takes over the process and decides where the doses will be sent. The physical roll-out of the vaccine is headquartered from an NHS office in London, with doses sent to more than 1,400 vaccine sites across the country. It is easily the biggest vaccination drive in the history of the health service and many believe it will become an annual programme. Advertisement Boris Johnson could SCRAP 'confusing' regional Covid-19 tiers under plan to ease restrictions on a national basis The Covid tiers system could be scrapped after lockdown under plans to ease restrictions on a national basis, the Mail can reveal. Boris Johnson is looking again at whether the country should go back to a system of regional tiers, which was credited with slowing the spread of the virus but ultimately failed to head off a third national lockdown. A return to a national system of restrictions would result in a slower release from lockdown, as areas with low numbers of cases would be forced to wait for others to 'catch up' before being allowed to open up. But some ministers believe that, by removing the risk of transmission from Covid hotspots to other areas, it would be likely to prove more sustainable. Some also believe it could be less politically divisive than the tiers system, which saw ministers clash with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham amid claims the North was being locked down to protect the South. A Cabinet Office taskforce started work yesterday on a new exit plan after Mr Johnson pledged a 'road map' out of lockdown would be published in the week beginning February 22. It will draw up a series of 'metrics' for easing of different parts of the lockdown, such as vaccination numbers, Covid cases and hospitalisations. A Public Health England study into the effectiveness of vaccines in slowing transmission of the virus is also said to be critical as is continuing work on the threat posed by new variants which may be resistant to the vaccines. The seven-day average of new cases was down by 29.4 per cent yesterday, but hospital numbers remain at a record high and a further 1,239 deaths linked to the virus occurred in 24 hours. Government sources yesterday denied reports a three-stage plan had been agreed, with schools opening in March, shops in April and the hospitality sector in May. But one source acknowledged it could be 'early summer' before pubs can open their doors again. It is unclear when businesses such as hairdressers and gyms could be allowed to reopen. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Wednesday the Government would 'try to make use of the tiered system' when devising its exit strategy. But Mr Johnson ducked questions about whether there would be a return to tiered restrictions. And a Government source last night confirmed a rethink was underway. The insider said: 'We do think the tier system was effective for the situation we faced last year, but we may face different circumstances this spring. 'Tiers are still an option but we are also looking at whether it would be better to exit from lockdown on a national basis. 'It will depend to an extent on the geographical spread of the pandemic in a few weeks' time when we will be able to see if there is still value in trying to do things on a regional basis.' Advertisement In other coronavirus developments today: It emerged the Covid tiers system could be scrapped after lockdown under plans to ease restrictions on a national basis. Boris Johnson and UK health chiefs insisted the AstraZeneca vaccine works for all age groups after German scientists said they will not recommend it for over-65s because they believe there is not yet enough evidence. Britain is on course to secure another 60million Covid jabs after a UK-backed vaccine made by US biotech firm Novavax successfully completed its phase three trials, paving the way for regulators to give final approval in the coming weeks. Mark Drakeford announced that lockdown restrictions in Wales will remain in force for at least another three weeks as he also said that primary school pupils may start returning to classrooms after the February half-term. Data gathered in Israel showed almost all cases of Covid are prevented with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Thousands of British travellers face a race against time to get home from Dubai and Abu Dhabi after ministers said the UAE will be added to the banned 'red list' from 1pm today. The EU has been left furious by AstraZeneca's announcement that it would have to cut deliveries of its Covid-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent because of production problems. Brussels has raised questions about whether doses from the factory have secretly been shipped to Britain. That has led to the EU to reconsider whether jabs being manufactured on the continent should be allowed to leave while it is suffering a supply crisis. As a result, under the proposals to be finalised today, customs authorities in EU countries will have to notify the commission every time jabs are being sent outside the bloc. An EU official said: 'There is a possibility in certain circumstances not to allow the export to move forward. We want to ensure we have a say about where these vaccines are ending up.' The official insisted that a refusal would happen only in 'rare cases' when companies were failing to fulfil their contractual commitments to the EU. The criteria for blocking exports will be published today, with the mechanism expected to come into force within days. European Council president Charles Michel, who chairs meetings of EU leaders, backed the use of legal measures to protect the bloc's vaccine supply. In a letter to the leaders of four member states, he wrote: 'The EU needs to take robust action to secure its supply of vaccines and demonstrate concretely that the protection of its citizens remains our absolute priority.' The EU is facing a shortfall in supply of vaccines after AstraZeneca warned Brussels last week that problems with production in Belgium meant the bloc will receive only a quarter of the 100 million doses it had expected to receive in the first three months of this year. French health authorities are already struggling with shortages. A number of regions across the country cancelled first-jab appointments that were due to be held in early February, postponing them by at least a month. German health minister Jens Spahn said the country was likely to face a shortage of vaccines until at least April. Spain's Madrid and Cantabria regions have also stopped first vaccinations and are using remaining doses to administer second shots to those who have had the first one. Portugal, where infections and deaths have spiked to record levels after Christmas, said delivery delays meant that people who have top priority including health professionals will all be fully vaccinated by April, around two months later than initially planned. The Netherlands will also struggle to execute its vaccination programme. News of restrictions in Europe come after Nicola Sturgeon was accused of taking the EU's side in the bitter vaccine row as she vowed to publish details of the UK's supplies despite Boris Johnson ordering her to keep them secret. Despite the PM warning that the information must be confidential to protect the rollout, Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood she will release it from next week 'regardless of what they say'. The timing of Ms Sturgeon's intervention yesterday was particularly provocative given that it came as Mr Johnson was on an official visit to Scotland to make the case for the Union. Tory MPs vented fury at Ms Sturgeon - who wants Scotland to be independent and rejoin the bloc - saying she is 'obviously more inclined to help the EU than she is the UK'. Tory MP Peter Bone told MailOnline: 'The simple truth is she has a tendency to support the EU rather than the United Kingdom. 'It is wrong, her behaviour. I would have thought she would praise the success of the UK because Scotland shares in that. If she was in the EU and not part of the UK she would still be waiting for her vaccines. Get behind the UK government and stop playing petty politics.' Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said it would be 'deeply irresponsible' for Ms Sturgeon to publish the data. Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused Ms Sturgeon of 'showboating to try and curry favour' with the EU. Sir Iain told The Telegraph the SNP leader 'should for once in her life, thank the UK Government, for having vaccines so people in Scotland have a better chance of surviving coronavirus than if it was stuck in the EU, which is her dream'. Tory MP Mr Jones accused Ms Sturgeon of 'trying to ingratiate herself with the EU, in the hope that if she won a referendum, Scotland would be allowed to join'. Earlier, MEPs had threatened a 'trade war' with the UK over the supply issue as the bloc continued to pile the pressure on AstraZeneca to bail out its shambolic vaccine rollout. European politicians warned the 'consequences' of refusing to divert stocks of the UK-made jabs to EU would be a ban on exports of the Pfizer version from Belgium - suggesting 3.5million doses due to arrive soon could be at risk. So far both AstraZeneca and Pfizer look to be holding firm against the sabre-rattling from Brussels. It comes after MEPs warned that the UK would 'suffer' for denying the EU, and the bloc's health commissioner insisted Britain should not receive priority even though it signed a contract with AstraZeneca three months before Brussels did. Stella Kyriakides said: 'We reject the logic of first come, first served. That may work in a butcher's shop but not in contracts and not in our advanced purchase agreements.' Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the UK will discuss 'how we can help' the EU's vaccination effort. But asked if the UK might lose out because the EU has not got enough doses, Mr Gove said: 'No. The programme of vaccination has been agreed and assured and the supplies were fixed some time ago and we will make sure that the vaccine programme proceeds exactly as planned.' While AstraZeneca has committed to 'even closer' co-ordination with EU officials, the company stuck firmly to its guns, saying it had been 'open' with the bloc about the 'complexities' of scaling up its vaccine production. The firm also left a small but poignant sting in the tail, with a reminder to European leaders of its commitment to provide millions of vaccines to people across the continent 'at no profit' during the pandemic. Boris Johnson met armed forces personnel at a youth centre in Castlemilk, Glasgow on Thursday, as he thanked people for their efforts on the coronavirus response Boris Johnson is shown the Lighthouse Laboratory, used for processing PCR samples for coronavirus, during a visit to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow on Thursday EU chiefs demanded that AstraZeneca jabs made in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire be diverted to make up for a 75million shortfall on the continent. Pictured: European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen In an extraordinary move this afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon risked undermining the UK's position by announcing she will publish details of the country's vaccine supplies from next week It comes as the German press (pictured inset: An article in Die Zeit) turned on Brussels as it denounced the EU's shambolic vaccine rollout as the 'best advert for Brexit' Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the UK will discuss 'how we can help' the EU's vaccination effort. But asked if the UK might lose out because the EU has not got enough doses, Mr Gove said: 'No.' PM and UK health chiefs insist AstraZeneca vaccine IS effective for ALL age groups after Germany claims jab should not be used on over-65s yet Boris Johnson and UK health chiefs insisted the AstraZeneca vaccine works for all age groups after German scientists said they will not recommend it for over-65s because they believe there is not yet enough evidence. The PM and Public Health England struck a bullish note after a Berlin commission said there was 'insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older'. British regulators, by contrast, have approved the jab for all age groups - with AstraZeneca pointing to data published in a medical journal showing that 100 per cent of older adults generated antibodies in trials. Germany's stance comes amid an angry row between the EU and AstraZeneca over vaccine supplies, with the bloc lagging far behind Britain in immunising its population against Covid-19. Although it is possible the position could change with more evidence, it raises the prospect of splits between the UK and EU on what vaccines are regarded as effective - with speculation that in the future travel to some destinations could be contingent on having been inoculated. On a visit to Scotland this afternoon, Mr Johnson said he was not worried about the news from Germany. 'No, because the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford-AstraZeneca is very good and efficacious and gives a high degree of protection after just one does and even more after two doses,' he said. The PM said the MHRA concluded the vaccine is 'effective across all age groups' and 'provides a good immune response across all age groups'. He added on the German conclusions: 'So I don't agree with that.' Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE, said there had been 'too few cases' of coronavirus in older people in Phase 3 clinical trial to determine efficacy in this age group, but other data on immune response had been 'reassuring'. AstraZeneca said: 'The latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group.' Advertisement Britain is on course to produce 60million more Covid vaccines as UK-based Novavax jab passes phase three trial Britain was on course to secure another 60million Covid jabs last night after the latest UK-backed vaccine cleared a crucial hurdle. US biotech firm Novavax announced its vaccine had successfully completed its phase three clinical trials in the UK, paving the way for regulators to give final approval in the coming weeks. Under a deal with the Government, 60million doses of the vaccine will be produced on Teesside for use in this country, in what could prove to be another triumph for Britain's world-leading vaccine programme. Novavax, which will be made at the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies factory in Stockton-on-Tees according to local reports, last night said the trials had shown its vaccine was 89.3 per cent effective The trial is the first to be completed since the emergence of the new variant of the disease in Kent. Preliminary analysis suggests the vaccine was 85.6 per cent effective against this mutation. The two-shot vaccine still requires final approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. But Whitehall sources said that, if the regulatory process goes smoothly, the jabs could start coming on stream this summer, allowing a huge acceleration in the drive to inoculate all adults by the end of September. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the 'spectacular' results, adding in a tweet: 'Good news that the Novavax vaccine has proved effective in UK trials. 'Thank you to all the volunteers who made these results possible. Our medicines regulator will now assess the vaccine, which will be made in Teesside.' Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: 'Having taken part in Novavax's vaccine trial myself, I am particularly thrilled to see such positive results.' Advertisement Two Pfizer doses 'are 99.96 per cent effective': Double jab weeks apart prevents almost ALL cases of Covid-19, research in Israel suggests Almost all cases of Covid are prevented with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, research suggests. Data gathered in Israel which is leading the world in the vaccine rollout found that just 0.04 per cent of those vaccinated with both doses went on to develop coronavirus. Of 700,000 people who were vaccinated, just 300 later contracted the virus, with only 16 requiring hospital treatment, according to preliminary data released by Israeli health officials. The vaccine also protects against the more infectious UK variant of Covid-19, the research suggests. Professor Eyal Leshem, an Israeli infectious diseases specialist, said the reports were 'very good news'. He added: 'The initial findings are quite incredible. 'After one dose, the cases fell substantially and after two, there were just 0.4 per cent. 'Time will tell, we still need to accumulate data but these are very encouraging preliminary reports.' More than 30 per cent of Israel's population has received a vaccine, with several studies into its effectiveness under way. Professor Leshem added: 'On one hand, we're seeing very high community transmission rates with 1,000s of cases every day - the highest rates we've experienced since the beginning of the outbreak. 'But when we look specifically at these hundreds of thousands of Israelis that are vaccinated, they don't get infected. 'And even in those few cases that get infected, they experience a mild disease - only a handful need to go to the hospital, only a handful experienced severe disease and needed to be admitted to the hospital. 'It's what we call real life, ecologic evidence of vaccine efficacy - the high efficacy of the vaccine.' Advertisement Ms Sturgeon's comments came as she was grilled by Tory Ruth Davidson at First Minister's Questions yesterday afternoon. Pushed on why Scotland's vaccinations were happening more slowly than England's, Ms Sturgeon dismissed claims that the authorities north of the border were sitting on supplies. And she referenced a previous row with Westminster when the Scottish government published information about supplies, only to be told to withdraw the material. Ms Sturgeon complained that despite the orders the UK government has been 'briefing' the details out, adding: 'I've said to my officials actually, regardless of what they say, I think we will just go back to publishing the actual supply figures from next week so we all have transparency around that.' According to reports, the Belgian federal medicines agency completed an inspection at the AstraZeneca production site in Seneffe, Hainaut. Samples and records are said to have been taken and another visit is due in the coming days. The firm has blamed a production problem at the site, owned by a French life-sciences company, for the reduction in how much supply the EU can expect. However, there is scepticism in Brussels over the explanation, with un-evidenced claims the UK is being given stocks. A prominent German MEP warned the UK would 'suffer' unless it agreed to the EU's demands to share more vaccine. Peter Liese, who is in Angela Merkel's CDU party, suggested Brussels could block shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, which is made in Belgium. He said: 'The BioNTech vaccine, which is only produced in Europe and has been produced with the aid of the German state and European Union money, has been shipped to the United Kingdom. 'If there is anyone thinking that European citizens would accept that we give this high quality vaccine to the UK and would accept to be treated as second class by a UK-based company, I think that the only consequence can be immediately stopping the export of the BioNtech (vaccine) and then we are in the middle of a trade war. 'So the company and the UK better think twice. When we see Europe is not treated well, not by the United States and not by the UK, then we have to show our weapons. 'We need to tell the other companies in the world if we treat the Europeans as second class, you will suffer for this.' To add to the complications, Germany's top vaccine panel said it is not recommending the AstraZeneca jab only for over-65s because there is not enough evidence on whether it works for the elderly. The panel of scientists said the Oxford/AstraZeneca product was 'considered appropriate' for 18-65 year-olds but should not be used for older people 'based on available data'. 'There is currently insufficient data to assess the efficacy of the vaccine for persons aged 65 years and older,' it said. The commission did not lend any credence to the sensational claim published by German media on Monday that the jab was only eight per cent effective among over-65s, a theory debunked by the manufacturers and German health ministry. Instead, it said there was not enough data to make a decision either way - after AstraZeneca's boss said the 'very ethical' Oxford scientists had slowed down trials on older people until the vaccine was proved to be safe. Downing Street has refused to rule out giving UK vaccines to the EU once the most vulnerable in the country have been inoculated. The Prime Minister's official spokesman was repeatedly asked by reporters whether Number 10 was considering the idea. The spokesman said it 'remains our priority to vaccinate the most vulnerable people across the UK to ensure we can give those who are at clinical risk protection against the virus'. Pushed on whether that left the door open to sending vaccines to Europe once the most vulnerable had been jabbed, he added: 'Phase one includes those who are most vulnerable to the virus that remains our priority to make sure we get vaccines to all those as quickly as possible. 'Phase one is groups one to nine (on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation suggested priority list). The mid-February target is the first four groups within that.' Put to him that after the first nine cohorts had been vaccinated, vaccines could then be shared, the spokesman added: 'I didn't say that.' AstraZeneca warned Brussels last week the problems in Belgium meant the bloc would receive only a quarter of the 100million doses it had expected by April. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'Our CEO Pascal Soriot was pleased to participate in a meeting this evening with the EU's Vaccine Steering Board. 'We had a constructive and open conversation about the complexities of scaling up production of our vaccine, and the challenges we have encountered. 'We have committed to even closer co-ordination, to jointly chart a path for the delivery of our vaccine over the coming months as we continue our efforts to bring our vaccine to millions of Europeans at no profit during the pandemic.' Government sources insisted only once the AZ factories in Oxford and Newcastle-under-Lyme had fulfilled their commitment to the UK will they be free to supply other countries. The UK signed a deal with AstraZeneca last May to supply 100million doses of the vaccine it developed with Oxford University. EU nations placed a joint order for 400million doses from AstraZeneca three months later, in August, to be made at two sites on the continent, as well as the two UK sites. The resultant 75million shortfall in the first three months of this year has caused a major row between the two sides. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'The fact is that we ordered the vaccine three months before the EU. 'The EU are coming out with a very strange excuse for botching their procurement of vaccine at the moment. 'They're saying that the reason it took them three months longer than the UK to order the vaccine is because they were negotiating for better prices for and better value for money, which is ludicrous when the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, our own UK vaccine, is being produced at cost at 3 a dose subsidised by the UK taxpayer. 'I don't know how you get better value for that. 'The EU then insisted on the contract that they did sign with AstraZeneca that they get delivery at the same time as the UK, which had ordered it three months before. 'Obviously that's going to be produced in Belgium at a new facility they're setting up. 'AstraZeneca made the EU aware that was going to be very difficult but they promised to make best efforts, that was in the contract.' Aaron Bell, a Tory member of the Commons science committee, said: 'I understand and sympathise with the EU's disappointment that AstraZeneca is having yield issues at its Belgian plant, but the suggestion that the UK's supply should be diverted to the continent is clearly inappropriate.' Tensions rose when Mr Soriot told European newspapers in an interview on Tuesday that the supply schedule for the EU was not a 'commitment' but agreed as a 'best effort'. He said that as Brussels had signed its supply contract three months later than the UK it had left less time to sort out production 'glitches' at sites on the continent. 'The contract with the UK was signed first and the UK, of course, said 'you supply us first', and this is fair enough,' he added. But Miss Kyriakides flatly rejected the argument and demanded the vaccines being made in the UK for domestic use be exported to the EU. At a briefing in Brussels, she said: 'There is no hierarchy of the factories. EU officials have demanded that Covid vaccines made in the UK be exported to Europe to help plug shortfalls in its own jabs roll-out, which is among the slowest in the world and is lagging well behind Britain The EU's health commissioner last night insisted that Britain should not receive priority even though the UK signed a contract with Astra-Zeneca three months before the bloc did. Pictured: AstraZeneca office building in Brussels Britons dash for last flights home from Dubai before 1pm travel ban comes in TODAY Models and social media influencers are among thousands of British travellers facing a race home today to avoid being stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The scramble to get a flight comes after ministers added the United Arab Emirates to the so-called red list of countries from where travel to the UK is prohibited. Some British passengers including make-up artist Amy Wilson from Glasgow said they had just managed to get home just before the ban on direct inbound passenger flights from the UAE to Britain comes into effect at 1pm today. Ms Wilson tweeted: 'Can't believe how lucky me and Jack have been with flights. Got back from Turkey two hours before the quarantine deadline and getting the last flight home from Dubai before the UK closes its boarders to the UAE. Someone's looking out for me.' But others including Only Fans model Honey Evans from Leeds said they would stay out in Dubai. She tweeted: 'Flights from Dubai to the UK are banned. Guess I have no choice but to stay out here. Shame.' Emirates and Etihad Airways said all UK passenger flights from the UAE have been suspended, although British Airways told passengers that some were still running. Up to 10,000 UK residents are thought to be in the country, which is popular with wealthy winter sun-seekers for its luxurious hotels and beaches. Scores of social media influencers and millionaires have flocked there recently. Ministers announced the move at 5pm yesterday, giving holidaymakers less than 24 hours to scramble for tickets on the handful of direct flights scheduled to arrive in the UK before the deadline. Britons will still be allowed to come back on indirect flights. Business trips to the UAE will no longer be considered essential. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted last night: 'From Friday 29 January at 1pm, we're extending our travel ban with the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda all added to the UK's red list. 'This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at home.' Advertisement 'You are aware in the contracts there are four factories listed but it does not differentiate between the UK and Europe. 'The UK factories are part of our advance purchase agreements and that is why they have to deliver.' The commissioner said the EU was losing people to the pandemic every day, adding: 'These are not numbers. They're not statistics. These are persons with families with friends and colleagues that have been affected as well. 'Pharmaceutical companies, vaccine developers, have moral societal and contractual responsibilities which they need to uphold. 'The view that the company is not obliged to deliver because we signed a best effort agreement is neither correct nor is it acceptable. 'The 27 European Union member states are united that AstraZeneca needs to deliver on its commitments in our agreements.' Following talks with AstraZeneca, Miss Kyriakides tweeted on Wednesday evening: 'We regret the continued lack of clarity on the delivery schedule and request a clear plan from AstraZeneca for the fast delivery of the quantity of vaccines that we reserved.' It was also reported Britain had ordered enough vaccines for the year - of 367million doses, enough for 5.5 per person - and could end up dishing them out to other countries anyway - meaning EU countries would benefit. A source told the Times: 'There is plenty of vaccine. It exceeds what the government wants to do.' The industry insider also told the newspaper the demands from Brussels were 'political rhetoric' and would be a 'human rights issue' if they did try to divert doses. They said: 'They cannot stop vaccines that are contracted for delivery. Some of these vaccines have already been given to people who are due to receive their second dose. It would be a human rights issue for millions of people if that process was stopped.' Mr Johnson said it would have been a 'great pity' if the UK had stayed in the EU's vaccine programme rather than set up its own plan. 'I do think that we've been able to do things differently, and better, in some ways,' the Prime Minister told MPs. More than a tenth of the UK population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. This compares to just 1.75 per cent in France, 1.96 per cent in Germany, 2.50 per cent in Spain and 2.15 per cent in Italy. Meanwhile experts revealed how Britain's vaccine roll out will limit the spread of coronavirus, but by exactly how much will not be made clear until mid-February. Providing a boost to the UK's hopes of ending lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said jabs 'couldn't fail to have some effect on transmission'. He said it was less a question of 'will they?' and rather 'to what extent' will inoculation help to reduce the spread. But Mr Johnson and his chief scientists said last night that experts won't know much effect the coronavirus vaccines are having on the country's epidemic until mid-February. These set of graphs show the number of vaccines ordered by the UK and the EU. The EU has also ordered a number of other vaccines, including 300million Sanofi-GSK doses and 405million CureVac doses The PM said the impact of the jabs won't be felt in hospital and deaths data until then due to the lag in time it takes between getting injected and developing immunity. He told a Downing Street press conference tonight that he would not consider lifting lockdown restrictions until he'd seen concrete 'evidence that those graphs are coming down'. The immunisation drive has only really got up to speed in the last few weeks and it takes between a fortnight and a month for a person to build up immunity. Both the Pfizer and Oxford University vaccines have been proven to block severe illness, so experts hope they'll start to make a dent in the death and hospitalisation rates in the coming weeks. No10's scientists will be monitoring those metrics, specifically in the most vulnerable groups - including the over-80s, over-75s and care homes residents - who are currently receiving the jabs. So far 6.8million, or one in 10, people in Britain have received at least one dose of the vaccines. In three weeks time, when most of those people have protection, experts will expect to see a near 10 per cent drop in hospital admissions. Not all of the people vaccinated will be immune, however, because the jabs are not perfect. Pfizer's is 95 per cent effective at blocking severe disease, while Oxford's is around 70 per cent. Another burning question which will determine how gung-ho ministers can be with easing restriction is to what extent the vaccines stop people from spreading Covid. The Government has commissioned a study to investigate the vaccines and their role on transmission, which is being overseen by Public Health England. It is focused on frontline healthcare workers who've been jabbed. England's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told a Downing Street press conference earlier this week: 'I think you've got to be extremely cautious and wait until we've got proper data. 'It's too early to say what's happening in the UK. It's being looked at very, very carefully. You shouldn't expect to see nobody getting ill who's been vaccinated. Vaccines are not 100 per cent effective. We will still see people who get disease. 'We will still see people who get severe disease, but it will be much, much reduced with the vaccine, and we need to wait and look at the data and get proper estimates of that rather than try to make early cuts and guesses as to what this is showing.' Implementing an astute tax model that also caters to online education would be quite beneficial to students who wish to learn more and bolster their skills for a better future Year 2020 has been quite eventful in many respects. But in terms of the Indian economy, it has been quite challenging, if anything. The year has been an eye-opener for the dire requirement of skilled workers and professionals to further upskill and stay relevant in the dynamic economy of a post-COVID world. Not just lives but even the economy came to a standstill, leading people to lose jobs and stability. With the Union Budget 2021 all set to be announced soon, there are pertinent proposals to enhance the digital/online education sphere that edtech companies are waiting to hear about with bated breath. I hope the government will boost peoples confidence in online education and encourage them to acquire online degrees by extending its rule of allowing only 100 top universities to offer online courses under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's futuristic e-Vidya programme. Allowing more colleges to join the bandwagon of online education and conduct online courses would further enable collaborations between offline universities and edtech providers to eventually help amplify the reach of education. More and more educators in the edtech sphere can give students myriad choices and further open private-public partnerships (PPP) in this space. Also, with the right guidelines, a high quality, high scale ecosystem can be built for providing superior education. Many might be aware of the tax benefits for education that can be reaped in terms of availing an education loan and the interest paid. Predominantly, it works in such a way that the parent or the child, repaying the education loan, can start claiming the tax deduction benefits when filing for tax returns. While this is a very sought-after method used to avail tax benefits and enjoy a seamless education process too, there should be policy implementation to transpire the same in the online education space too. With the world going digital, planning, and implementing policies to drive the online education sphere with attractive tax deductions for courses would further propel students to opt for the medium and learn. It is a known fact that online education space enjoys the flexibility of being accessible from any part of the country. Implementing an astute tax model that also caters to online education would be quite beneficial to students who wish to learn more and bolster their skills for a better future. With the rise in the online education sphere and myriad edu-tech players offering an enhanced and immersive learning experience, the government should focus on augmenting the investment to better digital infrastructure. Special emphasis needs to be directed towards upscaling the online education experience and skill development process to be tantamount to the global standards. For the same, at least 12 percent to 15 percent higher budgetary allocation needs to be implemented in the coming Union Budget 2021. According to reports, the current expenditure on education in the country is merely around 4.4 percent of GDP. However, this needs to be marked up to at least 6-7 percent for better results. Further, edtech industry would require a sophisticated digital infrastructure to reach every nook and corner of the country and promote seamless education. A robust knowledge protection framework along with the implementation of tax-free education as well as skill development will help pave the way for more white-collar job opportunities in India. Edtech companies have proven to be a big asset in the education sector, owing to the pandemic and its effects in 2020. With numerous courses and emphasis on skill-based qualifications, these firms have actually fuelled the teaching engine to encourage more and more professionals to join the bandwagon. Not to miss, the sector has received acceptance from corporates across the globe and online learners with a thorough knowledge of new-age skills backed by industry-driven projects, to work on complex projects, thus receiving desired career outcomes. The government has also put forth its own ideas with the prime minister's futuristic e-Vidya programme to propel the spirit of education in everyone. Needless to say, the sector has enjoyed tremendous attention and growth opportunities following the pandemic, with speculated expansion in terms of its reach, product offerings, and employment opportunities. Edtech players in India have all validated the power of edtech and how it has enabled people to refurbish their skill sets and attract newer employment opportunities. Hence, much of the outcome of how the education sector and online education sphere benefits depend heavily on the 2021 Budget. Eventually, it is the professionals and the young bright crowd that would shape the future and economic growth of the country. They are an investment worth the value. The writer is Co-Founder & MD, upGrad Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has created a national holiday in a bid to honour the local dog breed. The holiday is aimed at praising the Alabai, which is the Central Asian shepherd dog. Turkmenistan prides itself in horses and dogs and honours its centuries-old herding traditions. Local dog breed honoured Gurbanguly has published a book and wrote a song about the breed. He presented it to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a puppy in 2017. In the year 2019, he handed an Alabai puppy to the then Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Read: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan Open New Infrastructure Projects (The statue of the Alabai, the Central Asian shepherd dog is seen in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. Turkmenistan's autocratic leader has established a national holiday to honor the local dog breed, media reports said Tuesday. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ordered the holiday praising the Alabai, the Central Asian shepherd dog, to be celebrated on the last Sunday of April when the ex-Soviet nation also marks the day of the local horse breed, according to the daily Neutral Turkmenistan. Image Credits: AP) Also, last year, in November, he unveiled a 19-ft long gold statue of his favourite dog breed, Alabai, in the capital city of Ashgabat. As per reports, the golden statue is mounted on a pedestal and it has a wraparound LED display screen that shows footage of real Alabais. The status unveiling video from the ceremony quickly when viral on social media. "Turkmenistan. The leader of this state, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, solemnly opened a monument for his favorite dog," tweeted Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut. As per reports, this is not the first time that the Turkmenistan President has honoured the breed. Read: Turkmenistan's Strongman Leader Says Country Has 'zero COVID-19 Cases' In another significant development, Turkmenistans leader in November announced that his country had zero coronavirus cases. According to health and human rights journal, the reclusive country reported 0 fatalities related to SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, the autocratic government denial was subjected to speculations after footages related to the COVID deaths circulated on social media. But the Turkmenistan strongman leader insisted in the press that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. Read: Turkmenistan President Berdymukhamedov Unveils 19-ft Golden Statue Of His 'favourite Dog' Also Read: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan Offer To Host Future Rounds Of Afghan Peace Talks (Image Credits: AP) Law enforcement agencies from several countries have teamed up in a coordinated effort against a ransomware called NetWalker. According to the US Department of Justices announcement, NetWalker was used to attack schools, hospitals, companies, government agencies and emergency services. Bad actors used it as a tool to target the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, taking advantage of the global crisis to extort victims. NetWalker uses the ransomware-as-a-service model, wherein developers are in charge of creating and updating the ransomware for affiliates. Meanwhile, those affiliates are responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victims. They spend weeks elevating their privileges in the victims network before sending a ransom note with the amount theyre demanding. The two groups then split the ransom victims pay to get their files unlocked. The DOJ says Bulgarian authorities seized a dark web site NetWalker affiliates use to tell victims how they can pay ransom earlier this week. That site now displays a banner with a notice that its been seized by authorities. A Canadian national from Gatineau named Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins was also charged in a Florida court, accusing him of obtaining over $27.6 million from NetWalker-related activities as an affiliate. Finally, on January 10th, authorities managed to get their hands on $454,530.19 worth of cryptocurrency, which is made up of payments made by three NetWalker victims. Thats just a tiny fraction of the money that changed hands due to the ransomware, though. As KrebsOnSecurity notes, Chainalysis traced more than $46 million worth of funds in NetWalker ransoms since it first popped up back in August 2019. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid is encouraging victims to come forward as soon as possible after an attack, because that could lead to significant results. He said: We are striking back against the growing threat of ransomware by not only bringing criminal charges against the responsible actors, but also disrupting criminal online infrastructure and, wherever possible, recovering ransom payments extorted from victims. Ransomware victims should know that coming forward to law enforcement as soon as possible after an attack can lead to significant results like those achieved in todays multi-faceted operation. The DOJs announcement came out on the same day Europol revealed that authorities in the US, Canada and several European countries have disrupted the infrastructure for Emotet. Its known as one of the most dangerous botnets in the world, seeing as its good at evading antivirus tools and can be used to deliver ransomware and other malware. The India on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of to help drive e-commerce exports from the state. As part of the MoU with the Department of Industries and Commerce, will train and onboard MSMEs from the state on Global Selling, its exports programme, enabling them to sell their unique Made in India products globally to millions of Amazon customers across 200+ countries and territories, it said in a statement. The company said that Amazon Global Selling lowers the entry barrier for motivated Indian MSMEs to expand their business and launch their brands globally from anywhere in India. With this programme, homegrown businesses get instant access to global markets from Day one, benefiting from Amazon's distribution capabilities and global footprint to scale rapidly, creating a sustainable exports business, Amazon said. As part of the programme, Amazon will conduct training, webinars and on-boarding workshops for exporters from key MSME clusters like Ballari, Mysuru, Channapatna and other districts. The workshops will focus on sharing knowledge and imparting training to MSMEs about Business-to-consumers e- commerce exports and selling worldwide through Amazon's 17 international marketplaces to over 300 million customers worldwide. The company quoted Jagadish Shettar, Minister for Large and medium scale Industries, as saying, " has a vibrant automobile, agro, aerospace, textile and garment, biotech, and toys / handicraft sectors which is held together by lakhs of MSMEs. A police officer speaks to youths on scooters at a roadblock in Amsterdam during a nationwide curfew (Peter Dejong/AP) Dutch police have said the fourth night of the Netherlands coronavirus curfew passed more peacefully than the previous three nights, which were marred by rioting. Even so, officers arrested 131 people, mainly for public order offences and incitement. It was calmer around the curfew on Tuesday night than the days before, police said in a statement. Underscoring the role of young people, who have been forced to stay home from school for weeks due to the countrys tough lockdown, police said that most suspects arrested for inciting riots using social media were aged under 18. Expand Close A man cleans up broken glass from the smashed windows in a fast-food restaurant in Rotterdam (Peter Dejong/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man cleans up broken glass from the smashed windows in a fast-food restaurant in Rotterdam (Peter Dejong/AP) The rioting has rocked the Netherlands, which has a caretaker government after Prime Minister Mark Ruttes ruling coalition resigned earlier this month over a scandal involving child welfare benefit fraud investigations. The pandemic is expected to be a key campaign issue before a general election scheduled for March 17. Neighbouring Belgium has expressed fears that the unrest could spread, with calls for protests against the countrys tough lockdown and its 9pm curfew mounting on social media. The Dutch curfew, which began on Saturday, also begins at 9pm. The violent demonstrations that degenerated in the Netherlands have apparently incited certain people to call, also in our country, for demonstrations against the health measures, Belgian interior minister Annelies Verlindens office said. Belgium, host of the headquarters for the 27-nation EU, has had one of Europes worst outbreaks. The nation of 11 million has seen more than 20,800 confirmed virus deaths. The Dutch confirmed death toll is approaching 14,000. Ukraine has launched a criminal investigation into attempts to interfere in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election. Andriy Yermak, the head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on January 28 that Ukraine would do everything in its power to bring to justice forces within the country and outside it who attempted to damage relations between Ukraine and the United States. "The State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal case," Yermak was quoted as saying in an interview to the Ukrainian news outlet NV that was posted on the presidential website. "The investigation is under way, and we are waiting for its results. The investigation must answer a lot of questions, Yermak added. The U.S. Treasury Department on January 11 imposed sanctions on several Ukrainian individuals and entities, accusing them of U.S. election interference and associating with a pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker linked to efforts by then President Donald Trump's allies to find compromising information on President Joe Biden and his son. Trumps request to Zelenskiy during a July 2019 call led the House of Representatives to charge him with two crimes. Trump was eventually acquitted by the Senate in early 2020, but the case damaged his administrations relationship with Kyiv. Among those blacklisted was Oleksandr Dubinskiy, from Zelenskiy's ruling Servant of the People party. Dubinsky denied interfering in the election. Servant of the People may vote to expel Dubinskiy from its parliamentary faction. President Biden, who oversaw Ukraine policy while serving as vice president from 2009 to 2017, including traveling to Kyiv six times during that period, has yet to speak with Zelenskiy since taking office on January 20. With reporting by Reuters 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. Serbia continues to reverberate with outrage and sympathy for young women who have come forward this month alleging they were raped as students by a veteran director at his private drama school, setting off an "avalanche" of #MeToo accounts that challenge Serbian society to fix a "broken system." The torrent came after a rising star of international cinema publicly accused the storied mentor and founder of the Stvar Srca acting studio, Miroslav "Mika" Aleksic, of repeatedly raping her beginning nine years ago, when she was 17. For decades, the 68-year-old Aleksic has worked and hobnobbed with many of Serbia's biggest celebrities. Through her actions, [Milena Radulovic] gave strength to other women to come forward and not allow them to remain victims of the man who abused their trust in the worst way." He was taken into police custody on January 17 and has reportedly been charged with eight criminal counts of rape and seven illegal acts spanning more than a decade. Aleksic is said to have denied any wrongdoing. Belgrade-born Milena Radulovic is the actress who first broke years of public silence about Aleksic, airing her accusations in an interview published by the newspaper Blic on January 16 along with word that she had pressed charges against him. Police have encouraged other alleged victims to come forward. Since then, at least four other young women and an underage girl have accused Aleksic of sexual abuse spanning 2008 to 2020. One of them who went public, actress Sara Zeljkovic, said Aleksic had touched her inappropriately after hed invited her into his office when she was "16, 17" years old. Culture Minister Maja Gojkovic has praised Radulovic for having "started an avalanche with her courage." She described it as Serbia's "Harvey Weinstein case." "We have a lot of challenges ahead of us," Gojkovic told the audience at a multi-industry State Of Equality In Serbia event on January 18. Radulovic's accusations come two years after another Serbian case arose to symbolize the pushback by sexual assault victims after revelations in the United States and Britain against Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer. The resulting debate, including multiple forums on social media for other Serbian women to speak out, suggest Gojkovic's emphasis on the challenges are not misplaced. Radulovic's testimonial has also spawned a deluge of "me too" accounts from women elsewhere in a Balkan region with a history of toxic masculinity and the abuses that it can engender. One of them, a Bosnian Facebook page called Nisam Trazila -- or "I didn't ask for it" -- has attracted particular attention. But Radulovic's blunt account of Aleksic's boldness which allegedly included forcing himself on her next door to a classroom -- shone like a damning klieg light on Serbia's problem. And the volume of public complaints and personal testimonies through traditional and social media this week speak to an ongoing problem that Serbian officials are suddenly scrambling to address. Long History Of Abuse? Probably best-known as a director for his films Soba 405 and Heart's Affair, Aleksic was a regular in the Radio Belgrade troupe during the 1980s who also made an unsuccessful stab at nationalist politics in the early 1990s. Aleksic has been ordered to remain in pretrial detention for at least 30 days. A judge with the high court in Belgrade cited the threat of witness intimidation, the danger of further crimes, and the seriousness of the charges against the defendant. These terrible phenomena should make us wonder what kind of society we live in and what we can do to make it a better place for our children's lives." The prosecution continues to investigate. It has underscored the gravity of the crimes, the status of the alleged victims as minors, and the suspect having "enjoyed the trust of the entire Serbian public." Radulovic is a 25-year-old actress who prospered in Serbian film before appearing in international thrillers like the American film An Ordinary Man in 2018 and last year's Russian film The Superdeep. She alleged in the Blic interview published on January 17 that Aleksic's abuses occurred nine years ago while she was in school, and that they were repeated. Since the original interview, she has declined to talk about specifics but reportedly gave a full account to police. "Through her actions, she gave strength to other women to come forward and not allow them to remain victims of the man who abused their trust in the worst way," the Women's Initiative of Serbia said of Radulovic. Another actress, Danijela Stajnfeld, alleged last year in a documentary film titled Heal Me that she had been raped by an influential man in Serbia's film industry. Stajnfeld has responded to Radulovic's statements by saying the accusers coming forward "are the heroines of our society." Artist Kristina Kovac said via Twitter that Radulovic and the other accusers had "put their necks on the line" by speaking out and possibly saved "all those children...from [falling victim to] a terrible, horrific experience and lifelong trauma." Writer Marija Radkovic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service it was essential that a public space be opened to condemn and prosecute perpetrators within a culture of violence. She credited Radulovic with "starting the demolition of that establishment -- saying the problem is something that all girls encounter." "Who knows how many [other] girls actually encounter that?" Radkovic said. 'What Kind Of Society' Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic, who presides over a national coordination body for gender equality, expressed "gratitude to the girls and women who found the strength and reported the violence" in the Aleksic case. "These terrible phenomena should make us wonder what kind of society we live in and what we can do to make it a better place for our children's lives," Mihajlovic said. The most widely followed Serbian prosecution of an abuser in a position of power arose in 2018, on the heels of the Weinstein case. It resulted in the conviction of local municipal leader Milutin Jelicic for sexual harassment and illegal acts toward his female assistant. He was sentenced to several months in prison. The victim in that case, Marija Lukic, spent two years suffering illness and nightmares that she blames on her former boss in the town of Brus, 250 kilometers from Belgrade. Two days after she complained, Lukic was fired from her job and her husband was ordered to vacate his place of business. Jelicic was eventually removed and prosecuted, but not before prosecutors had thrown out similar complaints filed by six other Brus women. Lukic expressed empathy for Aleksic's alleged victims. "The good thing is that he is in custody and he will probably remain in custody as long as the investigation lasts," Lukic added, "because other girls, since it probably happened for many years, will not have the pressure of his presence, so they'll be able to report their experiences that they, unfortunately, had with him." Changes Announced, But... In response to the public outrage, officials have proposed several measures to combat sexual abuse and the abuse of minors. Mihajlovic praised police and prosecutors. On January 19, she pledged to seek to broaden a register of sex offenders against children to include other kinds of violent or sexual offenders. But in the same breath, Mihajlovic acknowledged that the original list formed several years ago had run into "problems with whether it is filled in and how consistently." The original list also is closed to the public. The expanded one "should be public," Mihajlovic said. Serbia's ombudsman, Zoran Pasalic, announced on January 20 that he would launch an initiative to change regulations in order to restrict who is allowed to "work with children." One possible scheme would detail and better vet the provision of education and teaching services by individuals and legal entities beyond basic regulations. Pasalic said he didn't want remedies to fade once the current case "ceases to be interesting in the media...without solving the problem." Local media suggest that around 3,000 people attended Aleksic's acting school over the course of four decades, many of them aspiring youths. Vesna Stanojevic is the coordinator of Safe House, a growing network of women's shelters in Serbia that helps victims of domestic and other abuse. She expressed support for Radulovic and encouraged authorities to ensure a swift trial instead of allowing the case to drag out -- which she called the "No. 1" problem in many cases. "Believe me, we have women who spend more than half a year at a safe house and these court proceedings have barely started," Stanojevic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. In the meantime, there are few guarantees for the women who come forward. "There's no guarantee [of protection]," Stanojevic says, suggesting that statewide officials are overly reliant on lower-level officials to spot and tackle such problems. Only two of the 26 women who died as a result of domestic violence in Serbia during 2020 had reported prior violence, she said. "That means that they either didn't recognize the violence or were afraid to report it, which is also one of the big reasons why violence isn't reported," she said. Stanojevic also warned against using the capital, Belgrade, as a sole measure of progress throughout Serbian society. "There's a big problem here because you can hardly change the court in a small town, while in Belgrade you can always do something more," she says. In other regions, she says, "it's really a lot harder." Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by Maja Zivanovic, Branka Trivic, and Dusan Komarcevic of RFE/RL's Balkan Service With all of the challenges faced in 2020, were proud of the Magaya team and the effort put forth to support colleagues, customers, and partners - a true testament to our company culture, said Gary Nemmers, Magaya CEO. Magaya Corporation, the leading provider of end-to-end logistics and supply chain automation software, is proud to report substantial revenue growth at the close of 2020. Attributed to the addition of more than 1200 new logos and customer engagements combined, two strategic acquisitions, innovative product releases, expanded alliances, and industry recognition, Magaya is poised with the momentum needed for a successful start to 2021. As e-commerce continues to take hold of our everyday lives, the freight forwarding industry and logistics services sector are evolving at a rapid pace. In the face of new hurdles, logistics companies are turning to technology in record numbers as they seek to find new ways to architect resilience, reduce costs, and compete in a crowded market. Despite challenging economic conditions since the beginning of 2020, Magaya has accelerated its growth curve as companies realize the need for innovative technology that helps supply chain businesses boost visibility, better serve customers, and grow the bottom line. In 2020, Magaya announced a variety of enhancements to its comprehensive logistics technology platform, including an augmented reality app for the Dimensioner, a connector for QuickBooks Online accounting software, and an AMS Query extension for customs compliance, among many other product innovations. In Q3, Magaya announced a pair of strategic acquisitions, welcoming Catapult, an industry-leading rate management solution, and ACELYNK, a best-of-breed ACE-certified automated broker interface (ABI) customs compliance platform, increasing Magayas global footprint. Magaya also expanded its partnerships around the world, announcing a strategic alliance with Tsol in Mexico and collaborations with BlueX and CocoonFMS, adding value to the Magaya Ecosystem with new features and extending the companys presence in global markets. The industry has taken note of the companys success, with Magaya being named a Top Logistics IT Provider by Inbound Logistics in the Spring and three straight quarters of occupying the Leader quadrant in the G2 Grid Report on Warehouse Management Solutions. With all of the challenges faced in 2020, were proud of the Magaya team and the effort put forth to support colleagues, customers, and partners - a true testament to our company culture. Looking forward, were very excited about what the future has in store for us in 2021, said Gary Nemmers, Magaya CEO. We have ambitious plans to disrupt the industry with incredible new AI-assisted solutions, helping our valued customers reach new heights in productivity. Plus, were eager to welcome our first Customer Advisory Board cohort this quarter, fostering novel opportunities for collaboration, networking, and feedback. About Magaya Magaya Corporation develops the leading platform in logistics and supply chain automation. The Magaya Ecosystem consisting of Magaya Supply Chain and its collection of value-added apps and extensions, ACELYNK ABI, and Catapult Rate Management delivers flexible, interoperable, modular solutions for the supply chain industry. Whether used together as an integrated logistics software platform or independently, Magaya solutions are designed to enable businesses of all sizes to streamline complex and redundant processes, optimize productivity, reduce costs, and grow revenue. At Magaya, we are passionately devoted to ensuring our customers success through our innovative solutions and comprehensive array of related professional services. We take great pride in our people, experts in the field of logistics automation, who are always willing to go the extra mile for our customers. Visit magaya.com to learn more. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. This is the frightening moment a gunman opened fire at a hamburger joint in Brazil leading a pregnant woman to dive on top of her son to shield him. The incident took place in the Federal District town of Recanto das Emas, Brazil, on Sunday night while Rafaela Dantas was having a meal with her husband and friends after attending a local church service. Dantas, who is six months pregnant, told Brazilian news outlet G1 that she initially thought the two suspects had a disagreement with one of the customers before she found herself trying to protect the life of her four-year-old boy. Rafaela Dantas, who is six months pregnant, protects her four-year-old son before a gunman opened fired Sunday night at a hamburger joint in Brazil. The shooter's accomplice took two cellphones from Dantas' table and escaped. None of the customers were injured Rafael Dantas shields her four-year-old son during a shooting at a hamburger stand in Brazil on Sunday night. No arrests have been made The surveillance video showed the two assailants stepping into the eatery before one of them stopped a pair of diners from leaving the outdoor hamburger stand. While announcing their intent to rob the eatery and take the customer's belongings, the shooter aimed his gun at them, before a male customer rushed at his accomplice and tried to tackle him to the ground. The hero customer then finally let up and stepped back while raising both of his hands before the gunman fired a shot in his direction and missed. A gunman (pictured in the black hoodie) aims his weapon at a customer while he raided his hands before shooting at him during a robbery at a hamburger stand in Brazil on Sunday. Fortunately, the man was not struck. Authorities have not reported any arrests Rafaela Dantas attended a Sunday church service in Federal District, Brazil, and went with her husband and friends to have a meal at an outdoor hamburger stand when a gunman opened fire and his accomplice took two phones from Dantas' table before they both escaped Dantas can be see in the video lowering her son to the ground and placed him in a bearhug as the gunman's accomplice rushed to her seating area and grabbed two cellphones and took off running. 'It was a moment of terror. It is something we never expect to happen,' Dantas said. 'In the hour of despair there, the first reaction we have is quite impulsive.' Fortunately, none of the customers were injured during the robbery. Authorities recovered one of the cellphones after it was abandoned in a nearby bush and tracked by its owner. As of Thursday no arrests have been announced. Family of Red Fort flag hoister flees village India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: Jugraj Singh was a hero in his village, the day he hoisted the Nishan Sahib flag at the Red Fort on January 26, the day the violence broke out. Jugraj, 23 a resident of Wan Tara Singh in Punjab is believed to have hoisted the flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort. While Jugraj is now fearful of the police action, his parents allegedly fled the village, leaving behind his grandparents to face the media and police. Red Fort to remain shut for visitors till Jan 31 On the day the incident happened, Jugraj's grandfather, Mehal Singh said that he was happy. However a day later he said we do not know what or how it happened. He is a decent boy, who never gave us any reason to complain, Singh also said. The villagers said that the police had raided Jugraj's house, but returned empty-handed. A village elder, Prem Singh quoted by ToI said that the act was an unfortunate one, but this young and innocent boy did not know the consequences of hoisting a flag in such a manner at Red Fort. It was a spontaneous act and not a planned one, he also said. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 07:27:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday issued a domestic terrorism alert, warning that the country may face heightened threats from domestic violent extremists in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Domestic violent extremists (DVEs) have been "motivated by a range of issues, including anger over Covid-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force," said the department in a bulletin, noting that it is "concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021." "Threats of violence against critical infrastructure, including the electric, telecommunications and healthcare sectors, increased in 2020 with violent extremists citing misinformation and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 for their actions," the bulletin added. The bulletin, which will be in place until April 30, is the lowest-level type of advisory issued by the department, warning of general trends rather than specific credible threats, according to local media reports. Enditem MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Perfecto by Perforce, a leader in continuous testing solutions for web and mobile app testing, was named the Leading Vendor by the 2020 North American Software Testing & QE Awards. This is the second year in a row that Perfecto won the Leading Vendor award. The Leading Vendor award is the latest in a string of awards and industry recognition for Perfecto. Perfecto was also recognized as a Leading Vendor finalist for the European Testing Awards, as a Leader on G2 based on customer reviews and market presence, and as a Strong Performer in "The Forrester Wave: Continuous Functional Test Automation Suites" Q2 2020 report. "This award reaffirms the immense value Perfecto provides for customers and our commitment to their success," says Eran Kinsbruner, Perfecto's Chief Evangelist. "Organizations had to go entirely digital and provide exceptional user experiences across both web and mobile apps in 2020. Perfecto's enterprise-grade cloud platform was there to support them as they matured and excelled their testing." The North American Software Testing Awards honors organizations who have accomplished significant achievements in the software testing and quality assurance market. The Leading Vendor award is given to the vendor who receives top marks for their product and customer service. It's an award that recognizes not only top-tier technology, but also testing expertise and unmatched customer support. Vendors must prove their value and ROI with real customer results. Judges examined each vendor's commitment to customer satisfaction, as well as evidence of value, reliability, and flexibility. Judges also considered each vendor's contributions to the software testing industry. Perfecto customers were also recognized by the North American Software Testing Awards. The IBM Bell Canada Testing Centre of Excellence Program won the Best Use of Technology in a Project award. Rogers Communication, a Canadian telecommunications company, won the Best Mobile Testing Project award. And Lloyds Banking Group won Best Mobile Testing Project in this year's European Software Testing Awards. Learn more about the 2020 North American Software Testing & QE Awards here. Learn more about Perfecto here. About Perforce Perforce powers innovation at unrivaled scale. With a portfolio of scalable DevOps solutions, we help modern enterprises overcome complex product development challenges by improving productivity, visibility, and security throughout the product lifecycle. Our portfolio includes solutions for Agile planning & ALM, API management, automated mobile & web testing, embeddable analytics, open source support, repository management, static & dynamic code analysis, version control, and more. With over 15,000 customers, Perforce is trusted by the world's leading brands to drive their business critical technology development. For more information, visit www.perforce.com. About Perfecto Perfecto by Perforce enables exceptional digital experiences and helps you strengthen every interaction with a quality-first approach for web and mobile apps through a cloud-based test platform. comprised of real devices and real end-user conditions, giving you the truest test environment available. Our customers, including 50 percent of the Fortune 500 companies across banking, insurance, retail, telecommunications, and media rely on Perfecto to deliver optimal mobile app functionality and end-user experiences, ensuring their brand's reputation, establishing loyal customers, and continually attracting new users. For more information about Perfecto, visit perfecto.io. Media Contacts PERFORCE GLOBAL Colleen Kulhanek Perforce Software Ph: +1 612 517 2069 [email protected] PERFORCE UK/EMEA Maxine Ambrose Ambrose Communications Ph: +44 118 328 0180 [email protected] SOURCE Perforce Software Related Links http://www.perforce.com San Francisco: Facebook Inc`s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that the company would no longer recommend civic and political groups to users of the platform. The social media company said in October that it was temporarily halting recommendations of political groups for US users in the run-up to the presidential election. On Wednesday Facebook said it would be making this permanent and would expand the policy globally. On Tuesday, Democratic Senator Ed Markey wrote to Zuckerberg asking for an explanation of reports, including by news site The Markup, that Facebook had failed to stop recommending political groups on its platform after this move. He called Facebooks groups "breeding groups for hate" and noted they had been venues of planning for the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. Speaking on a conference call with analysts about Facebook`s earnings, Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that the company was "continuing to fine-tune how this works." Facebook groups are communities that form around shared interests. Public groups can be seen, searched and joined by anyone on Facebook. Several watchdog and advocacy groups have pushed for Facebook to limit algorithmic group recommendations. They have argued that some Facebook Groups have been used as spaces to spread misinformation and organize extremist activity. Zuckerberg also said that Facebook was considering steps to reduce the amount of political content in users` news feeds. Live TV Facebooks Oversight Board has issued its first five judgments on cases it selected to rule upon on December 1st. The topics cover hate speech, misinformation around COVID-19, and the right of uses to post non-sexual images of breasts without falling foul of moderation. The board has, in its initial findings, overturned four of Facebooks moderation decisions, upheld one, and issued nine policy recommendations. The board overturned four decisions where Facebook had taken down a post for contravening its policies. That included case 2020-002-FB-UA, where a statement made by a Myanmar-based user asking about a lack of outrage about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims was taken down. Moderators said that the post contained language that had been interpreted as contravening the sites policies on hate speech. The board, however, said that taken in context, while pejorative or offensive, did not advocate hatred or otherwise cause a direct incitement to violence. Similarly, Case 2020-004-IG-UA concerned a Brazilian user who posted eight images to their Instagram as part of Pink October. That is a campaign in Brazil to raise awareness of breast cancer, where the images depicted the symptoms of breast cancer and how to identify them. Several of the images depicted breasts and nipples, which Facebook has effectively outlawed as part of its nudity policy. When this case was selected for analysis, Facebook subsequently reversed its decision and asked the board to dismiss it. The board, however, said that it would continue to hear the appeal and said that a lack of proper human oversight raises human rights concerns with the sites automatic moderation. It added that the site should be clearer about its use of automated enforcement and revise its community guidelines to better explain the exception made for breast cancer images. On a call to discuss the judgments, director of oversight board administration Thomas Hughes and co-chair Michael McConnell both said that the gap between Facebooks public-facing community standards and its private moderation guidelines was too broad. Hughes said users need more clarity and more precision from the community standards. McConnell, meanwhile, said that Facebooks decision-making process was a bit opaque. Story continues One thing that is likely to change in future is a requirement for users to be clear about their intention when posting certain images. Case 2020-005-FB-UA featured a person publishing an image of Nazi Joseph Goebbels with an attributed quote describing how appeals to emotion, rather than logic, makes effective political communications. Facebook took the image down, citing the promotion of a dangerous organization, but the poster said the image was uploaded to mirror the similarities between the political discourse then and now. The board said that Facebooks rules needed to be clearer about its list of dangerous individuals and to better inform users how to make their intent clear when discussing dangerous individuals and organizations. On December 1st, the board outlined that it would select cases based on their potential to affect lots of users around the world. Other factors it would take into account included critical importance to public discourse and to raise important questions about Facebooks policies. Each instance would be ruled upon by a panel of five members, one of whom had to be from the region implicated in the content. When a ruling is made, the board passes it to Facebook, which has seven days to act upon the binding resolution, and respond to the boards policy recommendations within the next 30 days. The first case to be announced by the oversight board, coded 2020-001-FB-UA, was actually withdrawn from consideration on December 3rd, 2020. In a statement, the Board said that the original post, a comment beneath which had been removed for violating Facebooks hate speech rules, had been deleted. Because neither entry was still available on the platform, the Board opted to choose a new case. The case that replaced the first one, 2020-007-FB-FBR, relates to an image depicting a man holding a sheathed sword and a reference to drawing the sword in response to infidels criticizing the prophet. The text beneath referenced French president Emmanuel Macron, who is proposing laws to curb what he describes as Islamist separatism. The post was withdrawn based on Facebooks policy of incitement to violence, suggesting that it was an implied threat towards the president. This case has not, however, been dealt with today, and is expected to be published in the coming days. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Before the rulings were published, a group calling itself The Real Facebook Oversight Board decried todays judgments. The group, counts academics, researchers and civil rights leaders including the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League and president of the NAACP amongst its members. Other notable names associated with the Real Oversight Board include early Facebook investor (and subsequent critic) Roger McNamee and Yael Eisenstat, who previously led Facebooks election integrity efforts. In a statement, The Real Oversight Board said that the rulings were a distraction from real, independent accountability, and called the body a PR effort and oversight theatre. It added that Facebook repeatedly fails to tackle hate speech and disinformation across its platforms, enabling right wing domestic terrorists to organize themselves in the wake of the January 6th attack on the Capitol building. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. It added that the Boards make-up, of hand-picked experts, paid six-figures each, ruling on a limited set of harms in a non-transparent manner is hardly democratic. It says that the lack of true independence, private hearings and long lag time between action and judgment are all signs that the system is unfit for purpose. Not to mention that the board can only examine specific cases, rather than examining deep systemic flaws that allow harmful content to pervade Facebooks sites[sic]. Shortly after the boards judgments were published, Facebook VP of Content Policy Monika Bickert issued a response. She singled out one case where a French user had a post taken down due to COVID-19 misinformation since it was critical of Frances health policy. Bickert said that the ruling has highlighted concerns that Facebook should be more transparent about our COVID-19 misinformation policies. She added that revised guidelines will be published soon, and says that its important that clear guidance is available. Some of the policy recommendations will take longer than 30 days to implement, including the suggestion that automated moderation appeals be dealt with by a human operative. It will also work to tackle identical content with parallel context similar statements made in similar circumstances which can now be reinstated or withdrawn based on the decisions published today. The board also made it clear that we will not hear about the appeal made by the Trump campaign to overturn its account suspension for some time. On January 6th, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the dangers of allowing Trump access to his account would likely provoke further violence. The board accepted the appeal on January 21st, and board co-chair Michael McConnell said that the Trump campaign had yet to submit a written statement in support of its appeal. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. At the emergency meeting (Photo: the Ministry of Health) Quang Ninh - The Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention in the northern province of Quang Ninh held an emergency meeting on January 27 night to immediately activate disease prevention measures at the highest level in the locality after one locally-transmitted case of coronavirus was confirmed the same day. Chairing the meeting, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Tuong Van ordered local authorities to focus all human resources on contact tracing and screening to the F4 level, and carrying out testing for all those who are on the list.Schools at all grades will be closed for a week, beginning from January 28, and public gatherings must be minimized.Local authorities are requested to cancel unnecessary meetings, and pay heed to preventing the disease.The provincial Department of Transport will coordinate with relevant departments, sector and localities to immediately set up epidemic control stations along roads, especially those linking with Hai Duong province, where another new case of community infection was also recorded.Van stressed that all prevention measures must be implemented in the most drastic and proactive way, adding that medical supplies and equipment must be readied in order to cope with the worst case scenarios.The newly confirmed case in Quang Ninh is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city, northern Quang Ninh province, who is a staff member of Van Don airport. He displayed symptoms of fever, cough and sore-throat, and went to hospital for medical check-up himself. His test result turned out positive on January 27.The provincial transport department suspended all inter- and intra-provincial activities on land and waterway as from 6am January 28. Kabul, Jan 28 : In its latest report, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has revealed that more than 8,500 civilians were killed and wounded due to the war and violence in the country last year. According to the AIHRC report, civilian casualties in Afghanistan dropped 21 per cent in 2020 as compared to 2019, TOLO News reported. Unknown armed groups were the second highest cause of casualties after the Taliban, it said. Based on the report, the Taliban were responsible for 4,568 deaths and injuries of civilians during this period, while the unknown groups were responsible for killing and wounding 2,107, while the security forces were blamed for 1,188 deaths and injuries. "Civilian casualties are still very high, we can say that there is a catastrophe going on in Afghanistan," said Naeem Nazari, the deputy head of the AIHRC. "The Taliban in recent times has committed major crimes without taking responsibility for them. The Taliban have martyred thousands of our civilian compatriots," said Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. In 2018 and 2019, complex suicide attacks and car bombing incidents caused most of the casualties. However, in 2020 targeted killings, assassinations and magnetic mine explosions claimed the most civilian lives, and, more worryingly, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. According to statistics from Booking.com, Phong Nha, Hoi An and Ninh Binh are the three most welcoming cities in Vietnam, based on millions of reviews from service users. Ninh Binh, locally known as Halong Bay on Land, also attracts tourists with its magical riverine landscape and sheer limestone mountains rising from the paddies. Nearly 9,000 units in Vietnam were included in the ninth 2021 Traveller Review Awards from Booking.com. The awards aim to honour good quality resorts, which have received a lot of positive feedback from customers, with an average rating of 8.0 or higher (on a 10-point scale). According to the survey, Phong Nha (Quang Binh), Hoi An (Quang Nam), Ninh Binh, Sa Pa (Lao Cai) and Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) are among the Most Welcoming Cities and Regions in Vietnam, with local resorts having received the 2021 Traveler Review Awards outperforming other regions. The Booking.com page said that Phong Nha, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famous for being home to the worlds largest cave and Asias oldest karst mountains formed 400 million years ago. Ninh Binh, locally known as Ha Long Bay on Land, also attracts tourists with its magical riverine landscape and sheer limestone mountains rising from the paddies. Meanwhile, Hoi An, Sapa, and Mai Chau offer travellers an immersive cultural experience with their ancient towns and ethnic villages. The Booking.com Traveller Review Awards 2021 indicate that Vietnamese travellers appreciate staff, cleanliness, and comfort most when reviewing award-winning properties on the platform.. These preferences are consistent with global trends, which found staff to be the most important attribute amongst the Traveller Review Award 2021 winners, followed by cleanliness and location. With consumers becoming increasingly health and hygiene conscious, notably, on average, the winners had a cleanliness score 17% higher than the average for non-winners, suggesting it may be a decisive factor. Anthony Lu - Regional director of Booking.com in Vietnam said that this year's awards are a strong testament to the dedication and resilience of the sector. Those involved have worked to bring great travel experiences to people from all over the world during a challenging year for the industry as a whole. According to the report, while hotels remain the most-awarded accommodation type in Vietnam for 2021, four out of the five top-awarded accommodation types in Vietnam are unique places to stay such as homestays, apartments, guest houses and villas. Nhan Dan Detailed map for 404 caves of Phong Nha cave system created After some 30 years of research, experts from the British Royal Caves Association (BCRA) has created a detailed map for 404 caves that have staggering length of 231km in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province. Hoi An Farmers Market attracts visitors Visitors have the chance to shop for common and unique items alike at the Hoi An Farmers Market which will last from December 28 to 31. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes Jonavas membership of the Council of Europes Intercultural Cities Programme. Jonava is not only the first Lithuanian but also the first Baltic city to join the network. The CoE Intercultural Cities network provides expertise and support to cities to exchange experiences on how to better manage diversity and adopt inclusive migrant and refugee integration policies. This membership will be a valuable resource that Jonava can draw upon in developing a comprehensive intercultural strategy to manage diversity positively and realize advantages and benefits for all. Successful integration is very dependent on the efforts that are organized at the local level; where people live, work, study, or go to school and in the communities where people meet and make friends have a social life. Inclusion and cohesive societies at the local level are key drivers for social and economic development, innovations and fostering welcoming communities. It allows people with diverse backgrounds to fully explore their potential and contribute to the community and society they live in. This is essential for the city to thrive and to ensure that noone is left behind. Jonava is already a home for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and other countries. We thank Jonava for welcoming them and for its commitment to further strengthening its inclusion efforts. This will benefit the entire community, and I hope it will inspire other cities from Lithuania and our region to join and learn from this network of expertise, says UNHCR Representative for the Nordic and Baltic Countries Henrik M. Nordentoft. In 1750, Augustus III, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and King of Poland, issued the privilege to establish Jonava town with markets and shopping places and provide residence there to free people of different religions, Christians, Tatars, Jews. Today, 270 years later, Jonava, the ninth largest city in Lithuania, joins the Intercultural Cities network and commits to work on intercultural cohesion. UNHCR congratulates the Mayor of Jonava Mindaugas Sinkevicius, the City Council, and the community of Jonava on this progressive step rooted in history that sends a clear signal about its intentions for the future as a welcoming, understanding, and inclusive community, which will not leave anyone behind. UNHCR welcomes efforts of Lithuania to further strengthen the involvement of municipalities and communities in implementation of integration policy and the provision of integration support at the local level. As part of these efforts, UNHCR advocates for other Lithuanian cities to also join the Council of Europes Intercultural Cities Programme. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Washington: The US Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin, on Wednesday, local time, warning of the potential for lingering violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Joe Bidens election, suggesting the January 6 riot at the Capitol may embolden extremists and set the stage for additional attacks. The department did not cite a specific threat, but pointed to a heightened threat environment across the United States that it believes will persist for weeks after Bidens January 20 inauguration. The January 6, 2021 riot at Capitol Hill has increased urgency to tackle the domestic terror threat in the US. Credit:Parler via ProPublica It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins about the prospect for violence tied to a particular date or event, such as July 4. But this particular bulletin, issued through the departments National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable because it effectively places the Biden administration into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterise acts motivated by political ideology and suggests that it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism. Researchers have discovered a novel and druggable insulin inhibitory receptor, named inceptor. The latest study from Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, the Technical University of Munich and the German Center for Diabetes Research is a significant milestone for diabetes research as the scientific community celebrates 100 years of insulin and 50 years of insulin receptor discovery. The blocking of inceptor function leads to an increased sensitization of the insulin signaling pathway in pancreatic beta cells. This might allow protection and regeneration of beta cells for diabetes remission. Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease characterized by the loss or dysfunction of insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans, a specialist "micro-organ" in the pancreas that controls systemic blood sugar levels. Diabetes complications, such as chronic high blood sugar, systemic metabolic failure and, in the long-term, multi-organ damage, create enormous medical and social burdens and leads to premature death. Currently no pharmacological treatment can stop or reverse disease progression. Previous studies have demonstrated that intensive insulin therapy has the potential for improved blood sugar control and diabetes remission but also leads to unintended weight gain and even more severe side effects, such as an increased risk of deep drop in blood sugar causing unawareness. Heiko Lickert's research focuses on the development of regenerative approaches to treat diabetes complementary and alternative to the classical immunological and metabolic therapies. "Insulin resistance in pancreatic beta cells causes diabetes. Therapies that sensitize those cells to insulin may protect patients with diabetes against beta cell loss and failure", says Lickert. With the discovery of the insulin inhibitory receptor, his research group has found a promising molecular target for beta cell protection and regeneration therapy that does not carry the unintended side effects of intensive insulin therapy. In experiments with mice, the researchers showed that the function of inceptor is to shield the insulin-producing beta cells from constitutive insulin pathway activation. Remarkably, inceptor is upregulated in diabetes and by blocking insulin signaling it might contribute to insulin resistance. What happens if the function of inceptor is inhibited genetically or pharmacologically? The group explored this question by knocking out inceptor in beta cells and by blocking its function using monoclonal antibodies. "The result was exactly what we were hoping for: Insulin signaling and the functional beta cell mass was increased. This makes inceptor a very promising target to treat the root cause of diabetes, the loss and dysfunction of beta cells," says Ansarullah, one of the first-authors of the study published in Nature and diabetes researcher at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. "Frederick Banting noted already in his Nobel Prize lecture for the discovery of the life-saving drug insulin a hundred years ago that 'Insulin is not a cure for diabetes, but a treatment of the symptoms'. This has not changed in the last century. Our goal for future research is to leverage on the discovery of inceptor and develop drugs for beta cell regeneration. This could be beneficial for patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes and ultimately lead to diabetes remission", states Lickert. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 11:10:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- With more than 100 million people infected and more than 2 million dead, the fight between humanity and the COVID-19 pandemic has just reached yet another grim milestone. To turn the tide, vaccines are vital. But more important is global vaccination coverage. Now rich countries are clearing out the shelves, while poor countries are stuck at the end of the waiting line. The scene is all too familiar in history, and it should not be allowed to repeat. According to the People's Vaccine Alliance, a global coalition of organizations and activists, rich countries representing just 14 percent of the world's population have bought up 53 percent of eight leading vaccine candidates. Take Canada for example. If all its pre-orders were delivered, it could inoculate its residents five times. In stark contrast, poor countries are vaccine-starved. Guinea, the first low-income country in Africa to deliver any shots, has so far received only 55 doses. Many others have got none. Meanwhile, some rich countries are mulling over "vaccine passports." It sounds pragmatic, but it is truly problematic. Without global equitable distribution, such "passports" will only become yet another stamp of privilege and stigma of inequity. Sadly, it is not the first time that the better-off part of the world has left others in the lurch. For decades, many developing countries have been trying to improve their people's well-being and catch up with their former colonizers. But they face all kinds of hurdles, many of which are imposed by developed countries, such as trade barriers, technology gaps, out-of-reach loans, and unreasonable climate change obligations. On climate change, some developed countries are reluctant to take responsibility for their historical emissions, and trying to shift the burden to developing countries. By doing so, they are denying those developing nations equal access to future growth. Such inequity has led to unstable, unbalanced and unsustainable development across the world, and that is the root cause of today's increasing instability and uncertainty, including the growing threat of terrorism and the continuous waves of refugees. The pandemic has once again demonstrated that global problems need global solutions. If anyone is left behind, everyone is vulnerable. Enditem This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American Thousands of tourism jobs are on chopping block with the looming end of JobKeeper in March prompting calls for the federal government to extend the wage subsidy scheme as a matter of urgency. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Prime Minister Scott Morrison needed to help the states tourism industry in its hour of need after she announced all interstate border restrictions would be removed on Monday. Some Great Barrier Reef tours are running at 5 per cent capacity. We know in other industries they have bounced back after COVID and some industries are doing a lot better than others, she said. We know the tourism industry is hurting, especially those regions which rely heavily on international travellers. 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. Leo Varadkar said he agreed with a number of measures including aggressive test, trace and isolate, and mass antigen testing (Brian Lawless/PA) Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said there needs to be a debate and discussion around the different ways Ireland can reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in the country. Mr Varadkar said there should be talks between Government and opposition parties about the pros and cons of different measures, including the zero-Covid approach. Opposition parties have been calling for a more aggressive response to the virus, with many in favour of mandatory quarantining for all arrivals into Ireland. The public have had enough. We canat go through 2021 the same way as 2020 going up and down out of lockdown. @alankellylabour #DAil pic.twitter.com/NppObULRD0 The Labour Party (@labour) January 28, 2021 Labour leader Alan Kelly has backed a national aggressive suppression strategy, which he believes will give people in Ireland a chance of normality. I actually dont believe in the phrase zero-Covid myself, but I do believe in the tenets of it. I believe in the national aggressive suppression strategy, Mr Kelly told the Dail. The vaccine we now know wont be the panacea for 2021 that we thought it will be, its going to take a lot longer. So we need to work on suppressing the virus. Your Taoiseach (Micheal Martin) has said itll be a long-term suppression strategy. I want to get to the point of distinguishing what is the difference between the government strategy long-term and what many of us in the opposition are saying now. We need to give people a chance of normality, some form of normality in 2021, whether its funerals, weddings, communities, or whether its hospitality getting back up. I think we need to talk about the practicalities and I think we also need to talk about the pros and cons, and nobody should enter any discussion or debate on these matters ruling out any strategy or dismissing or rejecting any proposals or suggestions Tanaiste Leo Varadkar I want to clearly say that I believe that the public are ahead of us. Mr Varadkar said he agreed with a number of measures including aggressive test, trace and isolate, and mass antigen testing. But he ruled out a de facto hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. He said this would prevent people moving between the north and south, and turn border counties into buffer zones. But I do think there needs to be a debate and discussion on these things. I think it needs to be detailed, Mr Varadkar added. I think we need to talk about the practicalities and I think we also need to talk about the pros and cons, and nobody should enter any discussion or debate on these matters ruling out any strategy or dismissing or rejecting any proposals or suggestions. Thats very much my approach, and that of the Government. Self-isolation means staying indoors & completely avoiding contact with others. This includes the people you live with. If you live with other people, stay on your own in a room with a window you can open if you can. Learn more about self-isolation here: https://t.co/BzavMJhkul pic.twitter.com/T0EO8xnMhA HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 28, 2021 Mr Kelly called for a strategy for the border. He said that bringing in tighter measures would enable the Government to focus on where the virus was within communities. In doing so, with the vaccines coming up, we can give an opening to this country and our people and bring back their civil liberties, he added. Mr Varadkar said the Governments strategy was to get Covid levels down. We want to get numbers down as low as possible. I dont know how low that is, but as low as possible to between now and March 5, he added. In that period, we do want to bring about the phased reopening of schools, starting with those children with special and additional needs. German aviation firm Lilium is set to develop at least 10 hubs in Florida to house a fleet of jet-powered air taxis that will whisk passengers and travel over highway traffic to cut commutes down to 15 minutes or less. The so-called 'vertiports' will be built by Ferrovial SE, a Spanish transportation infrastructure company, which will support high speed, zero emissions and affordable air transportation services. The team plans to break ground for the first vertiport in South Florida, with an exact location being announced as early as spring 2021. The companies have signed a framework agreement to develop a network of vertiports in other locations, and Lilium plans to operate a regional air mobility service by 2025. Scroll down for videos German aviation firm Lilium is set to develop at least 10 hubs in Florida to house a fleet of jet-powered air taxis Dr. Remo Gerber, Chief Operating Officer, Lilium continues: 'Our strategy to bring high-speed transportation networks to an entire region is being brought to life in Florida, and Ferrovial is the ideal partner with their unrivaled expertise in airport construction and operations around the globe.' 'Nearly all 20 million Floridians will live within 30 minutes of our vertiports and the 140 million annual visitors to the Sunshine State will have a high-speed option available to travel to their destinations.' Lilium first conceived its eVTOL air tax in 2013, but officially unveiled a working flying vehicle in 2019. It boasts two fix wings and one main wing at the rear, along with a 'canard' wing at the front that has been compared to a duck. The craft can fit four passenger and a pilot, tops speeds of 186 miles per hour and has a range of 186 miles The craft can fit four passenger and a pilot, tops speeds of 186 miles per hour and has a range of 186 miles. Lilium notes that the vehicle is capable of changing the revolutions per minute (rmp) and angle the three sets engines to hit a precise trajectory there are 36 engines in total. The jet is also quieter than a helicopter, making it ideal for traveling over populate areas because it will not disturb residents below. And the quiet electric engines also deliver a more comfortable experience for passengers, the company said. 'Nearly all 20 million Floridians will live within 30 minutes of our vertiports and the 140 million annual visitors to the Sunshine State will have a high-speed option available to travel to their destinations,' said Dr. Gerber. 'Our strategy to bring high-speed transportation networks to an entire region is being brought to life in Florida, and Ferrovial is the ideal partner with their unrivaled expertise in airport construction and operations around the globe.' The so-called 'vertiports' will be built by Ferrovial SE, a Spanish transportation infrastructure company, which will support high speed, zero emissions and affordable air transportation services Ferrovial is well known in the transportation infrastructure business the firm owns 25 percent of London's Heathrow Airport and manages three other terminals in the UK. Rafael Fernandez, Ferrovial innovation director, said 'At Ferrovial, we are determined to conceptualize, design and build the future of transport and mobility infrastructures.' 'In this case, we partner with Lilium, one of the leading companies in this nascent urban air mobility ecosystem to deliver an innovative mode of transport that will shorten distances and improve quality of life for citizens.' Next Story : Moheys Wedding Collection Sets The Tone For The Bridal Season Sara Ali Khans seasonal Instagram aesthetic could well be described as bright colours, golden sand, and a ceaseless supply of #SaraKiShayari. The actors favourite holiday destination is the Maldives, and we love following her frequent visits to the tropical island with her family every year. These annual, sometimes biannual, trips are also great inspiration for all fashion aficionados.A few days ago, Sara took off to spend a week on Vommuli Island, and carried with her some swoon-worthy, FOMO-inducing outfits. The carefully-curated ensembles were a diverse mix of colours and silhouettes. From floral and geometric-printed bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, sarongs and retro orange-hued sunglasses to a kaftan dress, statement flats, layered jewellery and maxi dresses, Saras outfits made for stunning pictures against the sunlit beaches. Styled by Ami Patel and Tanya Ghavri, Saras wardrobe definitely nudged our longing for a prolonged getaway to a remote island.She rounded off most of her looks with beachy curls, only leaving it damp with her kaftan dress. The cut-outs, footwear choices and asymmetric hems showed off her toned body. The medley of vintage floral and technicolour prints was particularly fascinating, and gave familiar swimwear a new lease of life. The reimagination of the silhouettes of the kaftan and the maxi dress feminises the wardrobe even more.The crisscross detailing over the bust, the edgy sunglasses, the one-shoulder cuts and the enticing shades and tints had us swiping at our screens for more. Wouldnt you want to sit by a pool, in a designer number, sipping on a caipirinha right about now? Well, while you book those tickets, heres the low-down on what to wear while enjoying these activities.Scroll down to look at Sara Ali Khans holiday wardrobe for inspiration.Image: Instagram This kaftan dress by Verandah, with its asymmetric hem, is a vision in champagne. A pair of matching Tory Burch flats further elevated the look. If the theme of the night was bohemian chic, Sara definitely nailed it.If you decide to take the look from day to night, swap out the flats for platform heels, and add gold jewellery to adorn your wrists.Image: Instagram Sara stuns in a sarong and a bikini from Shivan and Narreshs latest collection Kurt. In this co-ord set of bold prints, the link-detailed top worn with high-waisted bottoms is a show stealer.Image: Instagram This Shivan and Narresh number with an eclectic print and saturated summer colours is exactly what dreams of warm tans are made of. Were adding this to our shopping carts right now; we suggest you do too!Image: Instagram Sara opted for a glittery maxi dress with gold accents by the label Verb for a fancy dinner. Layered, gold necklaces reflected the moonlight, giving her a natural glow.Add a pair of strappy flats, and top off the look with a side-swept hairstyle. Try statement earrings in place of the necklaces.Image: Instagram Its floral, it harmonises with the blue of the water, and it has a cut-out detail along the waist. This sustainable Veni Vedi Amavi monokini by Esha Lal Swimwear fits perfectly in this frame.Saras breezy and easy holiday wardrobe will be on our Pinterest boards until we find a getaway car or flight. What about you?Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About Natasha Dalals Wedding Attire She gave birth to her second child with husband Josh Brolin on Christmas Day. And on Wednesday, Kathryn Brolin posted a mirror selfie to Instagram in which she posed with infant daughter Chapel Grace in a sling on her tummy. The snap was taken in a very ornate full-length mirror in a living room with striped wallpaper and wood floors. Proud mom: Brolin's wife Kathryn posed for selfie in front of a very ornate full-length mirror on Wednesday, with her baby daughter Chapel Grace in a sling on her tummy The 33-year-old, who is the 52-year-old actor's third wife, was dressed in a black t-shirt and black tracksuit bottoms. Her long blonde hair was loose and she wore black trainers. Kathryn and Josh, who married in 2016, are also parents to two-year-old daughter Westlyn. The couple had announced they were expecting again back in July and they moved from Los Angeles to Georgia to be close to Kathryn's mom. They now live in a multi-million dollar mansion in the Atlanta suburbs. Home: Kathryn, 33, who used to be the actor's assistant, returned to her native Atlanta ahead of her second child's birth and the couple now reside in a multi-million dollar mansion there Big announcement: On December 27, the Brolins shared the news of their daughter's arrival. They are also parents to two-year-old daughter Westlyn And while Chapel Grace was a Christmas baby, they waited until December 27 to show her off to the world. 'Born at 6:20 pm on 12/25/20. Our little Christmas evening angel...Chapel Grace Brolin,' Kathryn posted to her Instagram. Brolin is the son of actor James Brolin, who is married to superstar Barbra Streisand. His most recent big screen credits include Avengers: Endgame, Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Deadpool 2. He is also dad to two adult children from his first marriage to actress Alice Adair. An illustration picture shows vials with COVID-19 vaccine stickers attached and syringes with the logo of French-Austrian vaccine firm Valneva on Nov. 17, 2020. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) Valneva Begins Production of COVID-19 Vaccine in Scotland French company Valneva has started commercial manufacturing of its COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland, the UK government announced on Thursday. The UK government has purchased 60 million doses of the vaccine, with an option to acquire a further 130 million if it is approved, the government said in a press release. Its brilliant that @ValnevaSE is starting the large-scale manufacture of its potential vaccine, creating 100 high-skilled jobs at their Livingston facility. Weve secured 60m doses due to be delivered by the end of the year if it is approved for use.https://t.co/4pDUbczlVl Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 28, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is on a one-day visit to Scotland on Thursday, welcomed the brilliant news on Twitter, which he said would create 100 high-skilled jobs at the site in Livingston, West Lothian. Valnevas COVID-19 vaccine candidate is currently undergoing trials and will need to receive regulatory approval before it is rolled out at the end of the year. The company said on Thursday that 150 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years have been recruited for a clinical study, which commenced mid-December and is expected to report initial results in April 2021. Valneva Commences Manufacturing of its Inactivated, Adjuvanted COVID-19 Vaccine, Completes Phase 1/2 Study Recruitmenthttps://t.co/kSvLriof9p pic.twitter.com/FwMIO2g8H9 Valneva (@valnevaSE) January 28, 2021 If the jab gets approved by UK regulators, the Livingston facility will be able to produce up to 250 million doses of the vaccine every year for shipment across the UK and around the world. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said that, by starting manufacturing before regulatory approval, the UK will have a running start at rolling these out as quickly as possible to protect the British public once approval is obtained. This facility in Scotland, backed by millions from the Government, will help us beat coronavirus and boost our resilience against future pandemics, he said in a statement. The Valneva vaccine will be another vital tool in our fight against the virus if approved The start of manufacturing in Livingston today is another fantastic example of the strength of our Union, as we work together as one United Kingdom to tackle the virus Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 28, 2021 UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock stressed the importance of national unity in the fight against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Set to deliver millions more jabs across all four nations, this is yet another fantastic example of the strength of our Union, as we work together as one United Kingdom to tackle the virus, he said. The UK has so far approved three COVID-19 vaccines developed respectively by Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Moderna. Apples delayed launch of its latest iPhones unleashed a holiday buying frenzy that propelled sales of the trendsetting companys most popular product to its fastest start in years. The apparently pent-up demand for four different iPhone 12 models highlighted Apples latest quarterly report on Wednesday (US time). Apple could be on its way to its biggest year of iPhone sales since its 2014 release of the iPhone 6. Credit:Bloomberg Apples iPhone sales during the October-December period totalled $US65.6 billion ($85.6 billion), a 17 per cent increase from the same time in the previous year. Part of the gain reflected pandemic-driven production problems that pushed back the release of the new iPhone until October and November. In past years, including 2019, Apple rolled out its new iPhones in late September, resulting in a spike in sales in an earlier quarter than how things unfolded last year. SIYASIZANA is a City of Johannesburg programme to help indigent households. Also called the Expanded Social Package, Siyasizana is a basket of benefits allocated to residents based on their level of poverty. It provides free basic services and poverty alleviation assistance. Questions and Answers City policy documents Expanded social package policy[PDF, 311kb] Expanded Social Package [PDF, 183,49 kb], Registration Sites [PDF, 65,03 kb] Poverty index [PDF, 141kb] Job pathways [PDF, 1Mb] 1. What is Siyasizana (also known as the Expanded Social Package)? The Siyasizana social package is a basket of benefits which the City allocates to citizens based on their level of poverty. It assists poor individuals and the households in which they live. 2. How is this different from the old municipal subsidy system? The Expanded Social Package is different in many ways (as these frequently asked questions explain), but probably the most important change is that you do not need to be an account holder to apply for subsidies. You just have to live somewhere that has an account with the City for water and/or electricity. You can also apply as a homeless person or as having no formal address (see question 15 below). 3. Who should register for Siyasizana? Any person earning less than R3 366,00 a month residing - as owner, tenant or lodger - on a property falling within the boundaries of Johannesburg, should register. People with different levels of need qualify for different levels of subsidy. This is done according to the City's measure of poverty - the poverty index ( see question 22 below). 4. What benefits does Siyasizana give me? Each individual who qualifies is eligible for specific benefits - these include subsidies on water, electricity, transport and rental and, for property owners, subsidies on rates, sanitation and refuse removal charges. Residents qualify for one of three different levels of benefits, depending on how high they score on the City's poverty index (see question 5 below). The subsidies for water, electricity, rates, sanitation and refuse removal that a person qualifies for will be applied through the City's billing system based on the person's declared home at the time of registration. Customers with prepaid meters will use a voucher system (see question 9 below). The amount of subsidies a household gets will be based on the number of people that have declared the household's account as their address when they register and their individual level of poverty (see question 5 on the three-band system). The subsidies for everyone who qualifies in the household are added together and the total is taken off the household's bill, up to a capped amount. The maximum amount of subsidy is higher for households whose members have very high scores on the City's poverty index (see question 5 below). Rental and transport subsidies will go directly to the individual (not through the City account). HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (the "Company"), a global container liner shipping company with over 75 years of experience, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering ("IPO") of 14,500,000 ordinary shares at a price of $15.00 per ordinary share. https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/827161/ZIM_Logo.jpg [https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/827161/ZIM_Logo.jpg] ZIM has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to additional 2,175,000 ordinary shares at the initial public offering price. The ordinary shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on January 28, 2021, under the ticker symbol "ZIM", and the offering is expected to close on February 1, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Citigroup, Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC., and Barclays are acting as global coordinators and Jefferies and Clarksons Platou Securities are acting as joint bookrunners for the proposed initial public offering. A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to these securities was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (File Number: 333-251822) and declared effective by the SEC on January 27, 2021. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov [http://www.sec.gov/]. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained from: Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone at 1-800-831-9146; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com[mailto:prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com]; and Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 1-888-603-5847 or by email at barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com[mailto:barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com]. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any 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 ZIM ZIM is a global, asset-light container liner shipping company with leadership positions in the markets where it operates. Founded in Israel in 1945, ZIM is one of the oldest shipping liners, with over 75 years of experience, providing customers with innovative seaborne transportation and logistics services with a reputation for industry leading transit times, schedule reliability and service excellence. Media: Avner Shats shats.avner@zim.com[mailto:shats.avner@zim.com] ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. Investor Relations: Leon BermanThe IGB Grouplberman@igbir.com[mailto:lberman@igbir.com] ZIM--F Logo -- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/827161/ZIM_Logo.jpg [https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/827161/ZIM_Logo.jpg] CONTACT: +972 4 8652520; 212-477-8438 Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The handover of a former Central African Republic (CAR) militia leader and war crimes suspect to the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sent a strong warning to rebel groups, political actors and others who thrive on impunity, a UN independent human rights expert said on Wednesday (Newser) "Theres never been a time when statehood for the District was more likely," Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said Wednesday after reintroducing a bill for statehood for Washington, DC in the House. Holmes, a Democrat, is DC's only representative in Congress and since the district isn't a state, she doesn't have voting rights. The bill, which passed a House vote last year, was also introduced by Senate Democrats led by Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, the Hill reports. It would give DCwhich has 700,000 residents, more than Vermont or Wyomingfull representation in Congress and authority on local issues. story continues below Norton said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has committed to bringing statehood up for another vote. President Biden has voiced support for statehood, but unless Democrats end the filibuster, the legislation has no chance of passing the Senate, NBC reports. The district is heavily DemocraticBiden took 92% of the vote in Novemberso the Senate's 50 Democrats would be unlikely to get 10 Republicans to vote in favor of statehood. Advocates including Carper, however, say the issue of fair representation for DC should not be partisan. They also note that if DC was a state with the power to activate its National Guard, there might have been a faster response to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. (Read more Washington, DC stories.) RapidScale's Senior Director of Operations Zack Wojenski Zacks leadership experience and technical expertise will greatly contribute to the teams mission in providing long-term cloud strategies and high-quality service for our customers. RapidScale, a Cox Business company, welcomes Zack Wojenski to the company as a senior director of operations. In this role, Wojenski is responsible for supporting the entire customer lifecycle including implementation, service delivery, client support, project management, and systems architecture. He will report to RapidScales General Manager and Vice President Duane Barnes. As our customer base continues to expand, its critical that we consistently provide a seamless cloud experience for our clients, said Duane. Zacks leadership experience and technical expertise will greatly contribute to the teams mission in providing long-term cloud strategies and high-quality service for our customers. Before RapidScale, Wojenski was the director of global SaaS operations and delivery at CA Technologies, serving customers across the globe. As a recognized barrier breaker technology leader, he was instrumental in building, scaling, and supporting the companys SaaS business through organic growth and acquisition, driving results for the organization and its clients. He has more than twenty years of leadership and technology experience managing data centers, cloud infrastructures, SaaS products, contact centers, and enterprise infrastructure environments across the globe. He held senior leadership positions at Exult, Hewitt Associates, Hosted Solutions, Bloodhound Technologies, and Verisk Analytics. My focus is to ensure the team scales and excels as RapidScale continues to grow and evolve our product portfolio, said Zack. Im thrilled to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to being true technology partners for our customers to fully understand and prioritize their business needs. Im looking forward to utilizing my skills to support our team members in continuing to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Wojenski has helped developed high-performing, geographically diverse organizations that provide exceptional customer service. He holds multiple industry and technical certifications, including AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, ITIL Service Management, and MCSE. Many clients from different industries trust his partnership as he is knowledgeable about many compliance regulations such as PCI, FedRAMP, Visa ACS, and HIPAA. Wojenski has proudly served our country as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps before beginning his IT career. He is based in Apex, North Carolina where he lives with his wife and two children. About RapidScale Flexible enough for the SMB and powerful enough for the enterprise, RapidScale, a Cox Business company, is a global managed cloud services provider helping organizations increase IT productivity, improve security, and empower remote workforces. Some organizations partner with RapidScale to manage portions of their IT, while others offload it all. Through our global network of data centers and our 24/7/365 high-touch support team, we obsess over creating an exceptional IT experience through a human approach to managed cloud. For more information on RapidScale, visit http://www.rapidscale.net. Cox Communications owns Cox Business and is a facilities-based provider of voice, video, and data solutions for commercial customers. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at http://www.cox.com. About Cox Business The commercial division of Cox Communications, Cox Business provides voice, data, and video services for more than 355,000 small and regional businesses nationwide, including health care providers; K12 and higher education; financial institutions; and federal, state, and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top-tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. For more information, please visit http://www.coxbusiness.com. Media Contact Nikki Salazar nikki.salazar@rapidscale.net For more than 15 years, researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas and their collaborators in the U.S., Australia, South Korea and China have fabricated artificial muscles by twisting and coiling carbon nanotube or polymer yarns. When thermally powered, these muscles actuate by contracting their length when heated and returning to their initial length when cooled. Such thermally driven artificial muscles, however, have limitations. Electrochemically driven carbon nanotube (CNT) muscles provide an alternative approach to meet the growing need for fast, powerful, large-stroke artificial muscles for applications ranging from robotics and heart pumps to morphing clothing. "Electrochemically driven muscles are especially promising, since their energy conversion efficiencies are not restricted by the thermodynamic heat engine limit of thermal muscles, and they can maintain large contractile strokes while supporting heavy loads without consuming significant energy," said Dr. Ray Baughman, the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry and director of the Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute at UT Dallas. "In contrast, human muscles and thermally powered muscles need a large amount of input energy to support heavy loads even when not accomplishing mechanical work." In a study posted online Jan. 28 in the journal Science, the researchers describe creating powerful, unipolar electrochemical yarn muscles that contract more when driven faster, thereby solving important problems that have limited the applications for these muscles. Electrochemically powered CNT yarn muscles are actuated by applying a voltage between the muscle and a counter electrode, which drives ions from a surrounding electrolyte into the muscle. But there are limitations to electrochemical CNT muscles. First, the muscle actuation is bipolar, which means that muscle movement - either expansion or contraction - switches direction during a potential scan. The potential at which the stroke switches direction is the potential of zero charge, and the rate at which the potential changes over time is the potential scan rate. Another issue: A given electrolyte is stable only over a particular range of voltages. Outside this range, the electrolyte breaks down. "Previous yarn muscles cannot use the full stability range of the electrolyte," said Baughman, a corresponding author of the study. "Also, the muscle's capacitance - its ability to store the charge needed for actuation - decreases with increasing potential scan rate, causing the muscle's stroke to dramatically decrease with increasing actuation rate." To solve these problems, the researchers discovered that the interior surfaces of coiled carbon nanotube yarns could be coated with a suitable ionically conducting polymer that contains either positively or negatively charged chemical groups. "This polymer coating converts the normal bipolar actuation of carbon nanotube yarns to unipolar actuation, where the muscle actuates in one direction over the entire stability range of the electrolyte," Baughman said. "This long-sought behavior has surprising consequences that make electrochemical carbon nanotube muscles much faster and more powerful." Chemistry doctoral student Zhong Wang, a co-first author of the study, explained the underlying science: "The dipolar field of the polymer shifts the potential of zero charge - which is where the electronic charge on the nanotubes changes sign - to outside the electrolyte's stability range. Hence, ions of only one sign are electrochemically injected to compensate this electronic charge, and the muscle's stroke changes in one direction over this entire useable potential scan range." Dr. Jiuke Mu, associate research professor in the UT Dallas NanoTech Institute and a co-first author, said the polymer coating helps solve the capacitance problem of electrochemical yarn muscles. "The number of solvent molecules pumped into the muscle by each ion increases with increasing potential scan rate for some unipolar muscles, which increases the effective ion size that drives actuation," Mu said. "Thus, muscle stroke can increase by a factor of 3.8 with increasing potential scan rate, while the stroke of carbon nanotube yarn muscles without the polymer coating decreases by a factor of 4.2 for the same changes in potential scan rate." The advances provide electrochemical unipolar muscles that contract to generate a maximum average output mechanical power per muscle weight of 2.9 watts/gram, which is about 10 times the typical capability of human muscle and about 2.2 times the weight-normalized power capability of a turbocharged V-8 diesel engine. The polymer coating used to produce these results was poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), which is approved for drug use and inexpensive enough for use in water softening. Incorporation of this polymer guest enabled practical operation of a carbon nanotube muscle from high temperatures to below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Wang said the team also discovered that unipolar behavior, without scan-rate enhanced strokes, could be obtained when graphene oxide nanoplatelets were incorporated within the yarn muscle using a biscrolling process that UT Dallas researchers created and patented. "Use of this guest to provide the dipolar fields needed for unipolar behavior increased the maximum average contractile mechanical power output from the muscle to a remarkable 8.2 watts/gram, which is 29 times the maximum capability of the same weight human muscle and about 6.2 times that of a turbocharged V-8 diesel engine," Wang said. "We also discovered that two different types of unipolar yarn muscles, each with scan-rate-enhanced strokes, can be combined to make a dual-electrode, all-solid-state yarn muscle, thereby eliminating the need for a liquid electrolyte bath," Wang said. "A solid-state electrolyte is used to laterally interconnect two coiled carbon nanotube yarns that contain different polymer guests, one having negatively charged substituents and the other having positively charged substituents. Both yarns contract during charging to additively contribute to actuation, because of the injection of positive and negative ions, respectively. These dual electrode unipolar muscles were woven to make actuating textiles that could be used for morphing clothing." ### The inventors have applied for a provisional U.S. patent on the technology. In addition to Baughman, Wang and Mu, study authors currently affiliated with UT Dallas include Dr. Shaoli Fang, associate research professor, and Dr. Jiyoung Oh, research scientist, both in the NanoTech Institute; Dr. Kyeongjae Cho, professor of materials science and engineering; Dr. Steven Nielsen, associate professor of chemistry; and doctoral students Patrick Conlin in materials science and engineering, and Kevin Alberto in chemistry. In addition to Baughman, corresponding authors are Dr. Jianning Ding of Jiangsu University and Dr. Jinsong Leng of Harbin Institute of Technology. The first author, Dr. Hetao Chu, is currently at Sichuan University. Additional author affiliations include the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Changzhou University, Hanyang University, Seoul National University, Deakin University, University of Wollongong, Opus 12 and MilliporeSigma. The research in the U.S. was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Welch Foundation, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's SHort-Range Independent Microrobotic Platforms (SHRIMP). An Iranian official accused the United States of prolonging the war in Afghanistan during a visit by the Taliban to Iran. A Taliban leader also told the Iranian government that the group will continue fighting US allies in the country even as peace talks take place. The secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council made the harsh criticism of US policy. The US is not after peace and security in Afghanistan. The US strategy is the continuation of war and bloodshed among various Afghan strata, said Ali Shamkhani, according to the state-run Tasnim News Agency. Shamkhanis comment came during a Taliban delegation visit to Tehran led by Taliban political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Iran has long-standing historic ties to its neighbor Afghanistan. Dari, a form of Persian, is widely spoken in Afghanistan. Some members of Afghanistans Shiite Muslim Hazara community fight in Syria in Iran-backed militias. Iran provides support to both the US-backed Afghani government and the Islamist Taliban that fights against the government and the US military. The government and the Taliban are currently holding talks in Qatar with the aim of ending decades of war there. The United States also supports the negotiations. The Islamic Republic is a vocal critic of the US presence in Afghanistan as part of its general opposition to US policies in the region. Baradar was in Iran to help speed up the peace negotiations. The Taliban leader told his Iranian counterparts that the group does not trust the United States, according to the state-run Press TV. We do not trust the United States an inch, and will fight any party that serves as its mercenary, Baradar was quoted as saying. US President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday rescinded former President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" border policy, which had lead to the separations of thousands of undocumented migrant families. According to a memo issued on Tuesday by Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson, federal prosecutors were directed to return to the previous policy of deciding whether to pursue individual cases, the Xinhua news agency reported. "Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualised assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding -- effective immediately -- the policy directive," Wilkinson wrote. He said that decisions to prosecute should be based on whether a person violated federal law and what evidence was available to prove a violation. "Today's action restores to prosecutors their traditional discretion to make charging decisions based on a careful review of the particular facts and circumstances of individual cases," a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement. Under the zero tolerance policy, effective from April 2018 to June 2018, all adults who illegally entered the US, including those with children, were referred for prosecution. Any children who had entered with those adults were separated from them and put into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. The widely criticised policy led to the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents, with no method for reuniting the children with their parents, some of whom were deported, according to a report. --IANS int/rs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men have denied murdering the brother of a Real Housewives of Cheshire star on Christmas Eve. Flamur 'Alex' Beqiri, 36, was shot in front of his wife and young child on the doorstep of his 1.5million family home in Battersea, southwest London, on December 24, 2019. Mr Beqiri, a Swedish national of Albanian heritage and the brother of former Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri, had been living in London for four or five years at the time he was shot. It is alleged the gunman was 23-year-old kickboxer Anis Fouad Hemissi. Alex Beqiri (Flamur) and wife Debora Krasniqi. The 36-year-old was targeted as he returned to his townhouse in Battersea, South London, with his wife and young son Mr Beqiri, a Swedish national of Albanian heritage and the brother of former Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Misse Beqiri (both pictured), had been living in London for four or five years at the time he was shot It is claimed he flew into the UK four days before with the sole purpose of killing Mr Beqiri in an organised hit, before travelling to Copenhagen. Hemissi, who has Tunisian heritage, was arrested at Copenhagen Airport last January and returned to the UK. At a virtual hearing at the Old Bailey on Thursday, he denied murder and possessing a prohibited firearm described as a self-loading pistol. He appeared at court alongside two other defendants. Tobias Andersson, 31, who was extradited from Sweden in November, denied a single charge of murder. Flamur 'Alex' Beqiri, 36, was shot in front of his wife and young child on the doorstep of his 1.5million family home in Battersea, southwest London, on December 24, 2019 Clifford Rollox, 30, of Islington, north London, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice by allegedly disposing of evidence. A fourth defendant, Estevan Alexis Pino-Munizaga, 34, who is charged with murder, was not present in court as he is self-isolating. Police have said another Swedish national, aged 22, is currently still subject to the extradition process after he was arrested on a UK European Arrest Warrant (EAW). During the hearing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said that a trial, originally scheduled for July, could now not be heard before October. The senior judge set a further hearing for March 19. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. How incredible is this! A geologist from Brazil has found a rare volcanic rock that has an incredible feature on the inside. From the outside it looks like any old rock, but inside bares a stunning resemblence to Sesame Street's Cookie Monster! "I didn't realize that Cookie Monster was so well known and part of the world cultural heritage!" the man who found the rock said. The actor behind Cookie Monster has even reached out to him, so who knows - the rocks might make their way on to TV sometime soon! Check out a video of the rocks below... The research group works shoulder to shoulder with small artisan dairies, as well as with the Idiazabal Protected Designation of Origin and producer associations. Credit: Lactiker / UPV/EHU The multidisciplinary research group Lactiker - Quality and Safety of Foods from Animal Origin, which is attached to the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), is working on (among other things) characterizing the biochemical, microbiological and technological processes involved in cheese manufacturing that have a direct impact on its technological, nutritional and sensory quality, as well as on its food safety status. The aim is to provide the cheesemaking industry with the information it requires to ensure safe, high-quality products. Of the many different research projects in which Lactiker is involved, of particular interest is its work on the Idiazabal cheese production process, which is based on grazing. The group works with small artisan dairies, as well as with the Protected Designation of Origin; it attaches great importance to sharing its knowledge with the industry and carries out studies designed to improve yield, quality and sensory differentiation and foster the sustainability of production systems. The group, which has been working in this field for 25 years, has conducted studies focusing on all aspects of the production of cheeses under the Idiazabal Protected Designation of Origin label: "For years we have researched how fermentation occurs; how to enable clotting using natural or commercial rennets; how cheese matures; why raw milk is used and what difference using pasteurized milk would make," explains Luis Javier R. Barron, lead researcher from the Lactiker group. Another of the group's principal scientific contributions is "The determination, characterisation and parametrisation of the sensory properties of Idiazabal cheese, so that it can be identified as such," he continues. To this end, the team works in collaboration with the UPV/EHU's Sensory Laboratory (LASEHU), which is authorized to carry out sensory quality controls for Idiazabal cheese. At the laboratory they analyze "whether cheeses comply with the sensory requirements of Idiazabal. There are sensory differences between cheeses, which is indicative of the fact that producers make cheeses with a variety of different nuances in terms of aroma, taste and texture; these nuances are highly valued by consumers," he adds. The importance of transferring knowledge The group works shoulder to shoulder with small artisan dairies producing Idiazabal cheese, "in which the role of the cheesemaker is crucial, because while the parameters of the production process are regulated, they are not automated. The cheeses produced in these small dairies are almost signature products. For example, we have observed the way in which they induce clotting, studying clotting times, the amount of rennet used, the type of cutting applied, the whey draining process, etc. All these are essential processes in cheesemaking, but they depend greatly on the cheesemakers," explains the professor from the UPV/EHU. In a recent study, they analyzed the relationships between cheese-processing conditions and curd and cheese properties, with the aim of improving yield while maintaining the high quality of the product. According to Prof. Barron, the results obtained "may help establish specific guidelines for clotting and whey draining processes, which in turn may help improve the production process of artisanal Idiazabal cheese." Another recent study carried out by Lactiker aimed to analyze the extent to which environmental or technological conditions affect the sensory differentiation of raw ewe milk cheeses produced in valley or mountain farms. In addition to working with small artisan dairies, the Lactiker group also collaborates with the official Protected Designation of Origin, as well as with producers' associations such as Artzai-Gazta. As a result of the doctoral thesis carried out by Ane Aldalur, the group has published and distributed a short leaflet targeted at small dairies and containing a series of recommendations for small-scale producers: "We aim to help dairies control their production processes better. We learn from the cheesemakers, and they from us. They have experience making cheese and we analyze the reasons behind certain things, identify possible improvements and come up with solutions to certain problems," explains the group's lead researcher. For some years now, the Lactiker group has been pursuing an avenue of research which aims to assess the sustainability of food production systems, particularly those based on grazing. This project, which is carried out in collaboration with other research groups, aims to "find ways of assessing the sustainability of systems based on grazing, which itself depends on economic and environmental factors, food quality and safety and social and cultural issues, among others. We need to determine whether, in the medium and long term, these systems are sustainable in the globalized world in which we now live. Providing they are sustainable, these small dairies can and should defend their livelihoods. We need to send this message out to the general public." We are eager to see how we can support small-scale producers who keep their own flocks of grazing animals, such as Latxa sheep. There are many problems and difficulties to be overcome, but one of the most significant, which can be found in many different areas of Europe and other Mediterranean countries, is the gradual decline of grazing systems. If we start to use milk that does not come from grazing sheep, then Idiazabal cheese will no longer have the characteristics and properties it has at the moment, and we will gradually lose the benefits provided by the grazing system in terms of the environment, biodiversity, culture and rural development," he concludes. Explore further The control of Idiazabal cheese is not limited to the absence of defects More information: Ane Aldalur et al, Relationships between cheese-processing conditions and curd and cheese properties to improve the yield of Idiazabal cheese made in small artisan dairies: A multivariate approach, Journal of Dairy Science (2020). Ane Aldalur et al, Relationships between cheese-processing conditions and curd and cheese properties to improve the yield of Idiazabal cheese made in small artisan dairies: A multivariate approach,(2020). DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18926 Gustavo Amores et al. Short communication: To what extent do environmental or technological conditions affect the sensory differentiation of raw ewe milk cheeses produced in valley or mountain farms?, Journal of Dairy Science (2020). DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18358 Journal information: Journal of Dairy Science A sex attacker who led a 15-year-old girl in school uniform into an alleyway and raped her has been jailed for nine years. Deangelo Brown, 23, targeted the teenager in Harlesden High Street, northwest London, as she waited at a bus stop on her way to school. He demanded his victim follow him, suggesting he may have a weapon, and took her to a nearby alleyway where he raped her. He gave her 10 as he left. The attack was witnessed by a horrified woman who heard the girls screams and recorded the incident on her mobile phone. Deangelo Brown, 23, who led a 15-year-old girl in school uniform into an alleyway in Harlesden High Street, northwest London, and raped her has been jailed for nine years She was able to call the police and comfort the victim until officers arrived. Brown was arrested nearby after the attack on March 10 last year. Brown, of Luton, Bedfordshire, was convicted of rape and sexual activity with a child following a trial at Harrow Crown Court. The woman who intervened during the attack was awarded 800 by the judge. Kerry McNulty, from the CPS, said: This was a horrific sexual attack in broad daylight on a child in school uniform. CCTV footage shows Brown of Luton, Bedfordshire, waiting for his victim in the street before the attack The prosecution case included CCTV evidence of Brown in the vicinity and mobile phone footage of the attack itself. The young victim was also able to pick out her attacker during an identity parade. Brown has shown no remorse and subjected his victim to the ordeal of going through a trial despite the overwhelming evidence against him. Throughout proceedings Brown claimed he had been a victim of mistaken identity, but the jury decided otherwise. The young victim in this case has shown immense courage by coming to court to give evidence against her attacker, and I hope this conviction goes some way in helping her move forward in her life. Victims who lose hundreds of pounds in online shopping scams will continue to be covered by an anti-fraud code after banks' calls to water down protections were rejected. The watchdog which oversees the authorised push payment scams code, signed by nine banks, said purchase scam victims should continue to have losses reimbursed in cases where they were blameless. Some banks have called for these scams to be excluded from the code as victims lose less money on average and cases take 'a disproportionate amount of time to assess', a review said, with banks wanting to focus on 'customers who have suffered larger monetary losses.' However, even those who lose larger sums appear not to being properly protected, as banks have reimbursed victims of push payment fraud in just 41 per cent of cases. Blameless victims of online shopping scams will continue to be covered by an anti-fraud code But while the 37.2million lost in these online shopping scams between May 2019, when the code was introduced, and July 2020 accounted for just 14 per cent of the 257million lost to push payment scams in total, they made up 59 per cent of cases. The Lending Standards Board said a significant number of people would be left unprotected and said it was 'not persuaded that purchase scams should be excluded from the Code simply on the basis that they represent the highest volume of cases being assessed.' The decision, which echoed comments made by the LSB to This is Money a fortnight ago, is a blow to the banks which had attempted to lobby the watchdog to remove purchase scam protections from the anti-fraud code. While banks' submissions to the 32-page review released on Thursday morning were kept private, the founder and chief executive of Starling, Anne Boden, had previously said in a blog post that reimbursing victims of these kind of scams, which often see shoppers tricked into buying non-existent goods through adverts on social media platforms, 'is not what the code was intended for.' She said 45 per cent of purchase fraud involved losses of less than 300. The review also revealed the majority of fraud victims are still not refunded if they fall victim to an authorised push payment scam, which occur when money is sent directly to a fraudster, despite the code stating victims 'should' be reimbursed if they are blameless. However just 41 per cent of money lost to these scams was reimbursed in 123,066 cases of fraud assessed under the code between May 2019 and July 2020, with victims getting back 106.5million out of 257million lost. Larger banks were the likeliest to hand push payment fraud victims back their money in full but still did so just 33% of the time Just 27 per cent of losses were reimbursed in full, with 41 in every 100 lost to fraud returned, with previous research last year finding some banks were reimbursing customers just 1 per cent of the time. Victims of purchase scams were also among the least likely to get their money back, according to separate figures published by the LSB, with money being fully or partially reimbursed to customers in just four in 10 cases. Larger banks like Barclays, HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds were more likely to fully reimburse customers, according to anonymised data covering the nine code signatories, but still gave back victims all of their losses 33 per cent of the time. Medium-sized banks however reimbursed customers just over 30 per cent of the time. Victims of purchase and romance scams were the least likely to get their money back The announcement follows previous findings from the LSB released last April which found 'the resumption that the victims should be reimbursed was sometimes reversed' and that banks were using ineffective and generic warnings to avoid refunding fraud victims. The review of the voluntary code, which banking trade body UK Finance has asked to be made mandatory and turned into legislation, also suggested banks were automatically reimbursing customers if their losses were below a certain sum, while some even suggested the code should be amended to exclude scams involving less than 250, with victims losing less than that automatically refunded. However, this was rejected by the watchdog, which said victims may get their money back but may not be 'supported appropriately' by banks. Emma Lovell, chief executive of the LSB, said: 'The responses we received from this consultation evidence that the purpose of the code is supported by the industry, and we know that when applied correctly, it is enhancing protections for customers, but there is more to do. A spokesperson for UK Finance said: 'Fraud has a devastating emotional impact on victims and its proceeds fund serious organised criminal activities which damage our society. The banking industry's primary focus is on stopping fraud happening in the first place. 'We will work closely with the Lending Standards Board on its recommendations to improve the voluntary code and ensure it is as effective as possible in protecting customers and preventing fraud. 'UK Finance continues to believe that legislation on APP fraud is needed to make the code mandatory across all providers and drive more consistent outcomes for consumers and firms. 'This should be combined with a stronger regulatory framework to ensure technology firms and other businesses take action to stop criminals exploiting their platforms to commit fraud.' We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Like all major airlines, Cathay Pacific has seen its business evaporate during the coronavirus pandemic Shares in Hong Kong's marquee carrier Cathay Pacific plunged on Thursday after the struggling airline unveiled a HK$6.7 billion (US$870 million) bond sale to try to stem its rampant cash burn. The firm's stock tumbled 9.7 percent as the market closed in Hong Kong, days after it warned new quarantine measures planned for passenger and cargo crew arriving in Hong Kong would further dent its finances. Cathay Pacific on Thursday said it would offer five-year bonds maturing in February 2026 that could also be converted into shares at a 30 percent premium above the previous day's close. Like all major airlines, Cathay Pacific has seen its business evaporate during the coronavirus pandemic but the Hong Kong carrier is especially vulnerable because it has no domestic market to fall back on. It has been burning through cash at a rate of up to HK$1.5 billion a month but executives fear this will spike if Hong Kong authorities make good on stricter quarantine controls for aircrew. Currently, most arrivals into the city must quarantine in dedicated hotels for three weeks, although aircrew and other vital logistic jobs have exemptions. But leaders have announced plans to enforce a two-week quarantine on all aircrew on long-distance cargo and passenger flights. On Monday, Cathay Pacific said those measures would increase its cash burn by HK$300-400 million a month and force it to cut its already limited flight capacity by almost two-thirds. The airline raised $5 billion last summerincluding a $3.5 billion bailout from the Hong Kong governmentto stay afloat during the pandemic. At the time, analysts said that money should last some 15 months. But Thursday's bond announcement shows the airline is still haemorrhaging revenue at a time when the global travel industry remains on its knees even as coronavirus vaccines are rolled out. Once one of Asia's largest operators, Cathay Pacific closed its Cathay Dragon subsidiary last year and made about 6,000 staff redundant in a bid to save cash. Passenger numbers have been some 98 percent below pre-pandemic levels since last April. In December, what would once have been peak season, it flew just 1,290 passengers every day with most flights that were just 18 percent full. But even before the pandemic, the carrier was in a tight spot. Months of huge and disruptive democracy protests in 2019 led to a plunge in customers, especially from the lucrative mainland Chinese market. The airline also found itself punished by authorities in Beijing because some of its employees joined or voiced support for the protests. By the time the pandemic hit at the start of 2020, Hong Kong was already in recession and Cathay Pacific in the red. Explore further Cathay Pacific to cut workforce by nearly a quarter 2021 AFP To read this article and more, including our archive of drinks industry news, analysis & comment pieces from the last 20 years, try just-drinks for 30 days for just 1* First Name Last Name Job Title Email Take a trial *plus VAT if applicable Already a member? Log in here Paul Rivas, a 64-year-old motorist accused of mowing down pedestrians, bicyclists and killing a 77-year-old woman Monday during an erratic 15-block rampage in Southeast Portland, gave detectives bizarre explanations for what occurred when questioned the next day, according to court documents. Rivas initially claimed his Honda Element was having brake problems and that he was searching for an auto repair shop. Other times, he suggested the injuries could have been inflicted by another, similar looking Honda car, not his; and he admitted at one point to striking a bicyclist but characterized the collision as an emergency maneuver he made to avoid a more serious crash with oncoming traffic, Multnomah County prosecutor Sean P. Hughey wrote in a probable cause affidavit. Rivas was arraigned Wednesday on murder and assault allegations. Rivas faces 14 felony allegations: second-degree murder, six counts of second-degree assault, six counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver after causing injuries, and one count of failure to perform the duties of a driver resulting in a death. Through a court-appointed attorney, Rivas pleaded not guilty to the charges. He asked if any of the charges were misdemeanors and questioned why news cameras and photographers were present in the courtroom. Hes accused of striking Jean Gerich, a longtime Portland resident, then making a U-turn and running her down again and dragging her, police said. A witness who had heard a loud crash and emerged from his home reported seeing Gerich sitting down near Southeast 19th Avenue and Stark Street, visibly injured and Rivas Honda driving away. But the car made a rapid U-turn and came back, jumped the sidewalk and ran over Gerich a second time and dragged her underneath the car, the witness told police, according to the affidavit. The man who watched told officers he believed Gerich was struck intentionally, the prosecutor wrote. Gerich, a 48-year resident of Portland, died of blunt force trauma at a hospital Monday night. The mother of two with six grandchildren had beaten cancer five years ago and was excited to be out walking after having just received her first COVID-19 vaccination last week, her family said. Numerous witnesses recounted to police that Rivas appeared to be deliberately attempting to strike vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians by swerving toward them while in the road or driving on sidewalks. He sped away after hitting people, without making any attempt to stop or render aid, according to police and prosecutors. Hes accused of using his vehicle as a dangerous weapon to kill Gerich and injure at least six other people. Police said earlier in the week that Rivas had injured nine others. Rivas did ultimately admit to detectives that he owned the Honda Element he was driving, and no one else was in the car, documents say. Travis Andrews, who was walking in the area, told police he saw the Honda Element driving on the sidewalk near Southeast Stark Street and 18th Avenue, appearing to head directly toward him. Andrews said he made eye contact with the driver, then stepped off the sidewalk to avoid getting hit, but the Honda turned toward him and drove at him in the road, striking him in the right foot and lower leg, the affidavit said. Andrews watched as the Honda turned around and headed eastbound on Stark and crashed. Rivas hit a black Chevrolet El Camino and ran off, witnesses told police. Andrews and other bystanders chased after Rivas and cornered him before police arrived and arrested him. Rivas was seen on video footage making the sign of a cross with his hands over his chest before he was taken into custody. Prudence Patricia Hayes said she was in her car when she saw Rivas Honda strike a bicyclist, sending the cyclist hurtling over the hood of the car, before the Honda collided with her own vehicle. She said she required staples to close head wounds she suffered from the collision, according to the affidavit. Donald Hinson was riding his bicycle on Southeast 18th Avenue when the Honda drove straight at him without slowing, sending him and his bicycle onto the hood of the Honda. He fell onto the street and suffered injuries to his leg and a cut to his nose, the affidavit said. Other described similar wild behavior by the Honda that seemed to target them. Raymond Chihak said he was on the sidewalk near Southeast 19th Avenue and Stark when he heard screaming. Thats when he noticed the Honda speeding directly toward him. It struck him as he stood on the sidewalk, he said, then sped off, according to the affidavit. Chihak also was treated for his injuries at a hospital. Bicyclist Juan Caicedo-Gomez was riding in the bike lane on Southeast Belmont Street when the Honda swerved into the lane and hit him from behind, throwing him off his bicycle, according to police. Pedestrian Faviola Palomera said she was walking in Laurelhurst Park and saw the Honda doing U-turns nearby. The next thing she knew she woke up in the hospital, with a head injury after she had been knocked unconscious when the Honda was seen driving out of the park and struck her while walking, according to her statement to police and a witness account, the affidavit said. Rivas appeared briefly before Multnomah County Circuit Judge Heidi Moawad. Hes due back in court Feb. 4. A community vigil is held for a woman who was killed Monday when an SUV struck her and nine others in a series of hit-and-run crashes.Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian The initial call to police Monday came in about noon about a motorists erratic driving near Southeast 26th Avenue and Stark. A witness reported seeing a car speeding and narrowly missing a pedestrian. An hour later, another caller reported a motorist driving recklessly near Southeast 36th Avenue and Southeast Oak Street. The call about a woman struck was made at 1:02 p.m. at Southeast 33rd Avenue and Pine Street, police said. Detectives said the crime scene stretched from Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard to Southeast 15th Avenue, and from East Burnside Street to Belmont Street. Rivas was arrested at Southeast 17th and Stark and taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation before he was booked into jail at 11 p.m. Tuesday. Detectives are continuing to investigate the deadly vehicle rampage and suspect Rivas is suffering from some type of mental illness or ailment. There was no sign of drugs immediately detectable in his system, police said. Rivas told court officials hes been living in a fifth-wheel trailer in Oregon City for 13 years. He has prior addresses in Washington. Rivas said hes divorced but has multiple girlfriends, according to court records. He told court officials he last drank alcohol six months ago and hasnt used hard drugs in four decades, according to the records. The court listed aliases of Rocket and Pablo for him. He told court officials he receives Supplemental Security Income for a disability and has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression in the past. He told court officials he was diagnosed with those mental health problems while in the Secret Service, but theres no record he was ever in the U.S. Secret Service. Rivas is originally from Kansas, married a woman 14 years younger than he at age 32 in Michigan, where he worked at one time as a design engineer for General Motors, according to a relative. They were married for 10 years and had a daughter before they got divorced. Rivas followed his ex-wife to Washington state, where she obtained a stalking order against him. Rivas had his license suspended for a brief time after a 2013 conviction for failure to obey traffic signals and failure to provide proof of compliance. Court records show it was reinstated on Dec. 8, 2014. He has three failure to obey traffic device convictions from 2007, 2011 and 2013, according to Oregon court records. Rivas also has a March 2019 conviction in Clark County for second-degree voyeurism. He was arrested at a post office in Vancouver on Aug. 14, 2018, after he was seen trying to use his phone to film under the skirt of a woman standing in line in front of him, according to court records. Another man waiting in line told Rivas to stop then got into a physical struggle with Rivas before police arrived and arrested him. He was ordered to spend 20 days in custody and undergo a psychosexual evaluation, according to court records. At the time, Rivas had an address in Woodland, Washington. The woman he was attempting to film obtained a protective order against Rivas, which requires him to remain at least 1,000 feet away from her. The order is effective through March 19 of this year, according to Clark County records. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian As global laptop manufacturers are shifting production out of China, Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam are repositioning to benefit, although some hurdles will have to be addressed for Vietnam to become a new laptop manufacturing hub. Analysts agree that Vietnam could become the next manufacturing hub for laptops and similar tech products. VIR Photo: Le Toan Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., a unit of Foxconn, the worlds biggest contract electronic manufacturer, was granted an investment certificates last week to develop a $270 million factory to produce laptops and tablets. Located in the northern province of Bac Ninh, the factory will be developed by Fukang Technology with an annual output of eight million units. Zhuo Xianhong, general director of Foxconn in Vietnam, said last month that the manufacturer has invested $1.5 billion in Vietnam, including $900 million in the northern province of Bac Giang alone, creating jobs for over 35,000 local workers. It aims to pour an additional $700 million and create 10,000 jobs in the country this year. It is not clear what brands of laptops and tablets Foxconn will produce in Bac Ninh, however, the group is moving some iPad and MacBook assembly to Vietnam from China at the request of Apple, a person with knowledge of the plan told Reuters in November, as the company diversifies production to minimise the impact of China-US trade tensions. In mid-January, a working group led by Xianhong visited the north-central province of Thanh Hoa to explore investment opportunities in the locality. At the reception meeting held by the provincial authorities, the representative of Foxconn Vietnam said that it is looking into a $1.3 billion investment in Thanh Hoa to produce electronics devices with export revenue of $10 billion per year. Another Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron also began establishing a new manufacturing base in Vietnam two years ago. In April last year, its Vietnamese subsidiary Wistron Infocomm Co., Ltd. received an investment certificate to develop a high-tech electronic products factory, called the Victory project, in Dong Van III Industrial Zone in the northern province of Ha Nam. The project will specialise in manufacturing and assembling various electronic computer devices and computer peripherals such as laptops, desktops, and computer monitors, among others. It is reported that Wistron will produce notebook PCs on behalf of US brands in Vietnam. With the total investment capital of $273.9 million, the initiative will produce 120 million units per year. Meanwhile, Pegatron Corporation established subsidiary Pegatron Vietnam Co., Ltd. in March last year. In October, the company was awarded an investment certificate to develop a $481 million factory to produce gaming equipment, phone accessories, smart speakers, game controllers, and varying types of computers in the northern port city of Haiphong. Microsoft, which began its foray into PC hardware in 2012, is scheduled to start producing its Surface line, including notebook and desktop computers, in northern Vietnam this year, as reported by Nikkei Asian Review. Avoiding overdependence According to Taiwan-headquartered Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute, global laptop and desktop computer supply chains are expected to shift significantly away from China over the next 10 years, with most key component makers moving into Southeast Asia. It is predicted that half of the worlds laptops would be assembled in the region by 2030, with Vietnam and Thailand pegged as the main manufacturing hubs. The institute found that Vietnam currently makes up for about 0.5-1 per cent of the global laptop market. However, the figure is set to increase as the escalating US-China trade dispute prompts more manufacturing giants to diversify production. June Le, marketing manager of ASUS Notebook, told VIR that ASUS sees promising potential in the Vietnamese market and would like to search for strong opportunities to increase investment and general business. Indeed, the Vietnamese market is one of the prioritised countries to have cargo of new products so that Vietnamese customers are those who can first enjoy new technology trends and innovations. According to experts, the movement of laptop manufacturing from China to Vietnam is part of a bigger movement of factories that produce many types of high-tech products to this country from its northern neighbours, driven by a surge in Chinese wages over the last 10 years and by the US-China trade war. COVID-19 has also accelerated the phenomenon because it shows many firms that they are overdependent on China as a production base. Many corporations in the US and Europe thought that they had a global supply chain, but COVID-19 exposed to executives of those corporations that they actually had a Chinese supply chain. For that reason, theres a growing consensus that about 20 per cent of the factories in China will leave the country over the next 5-10 years, according to on-the-ground foreign investment consultants weve spoken to, who helped multinational corporations set up factories in China 20 years ago, said Michael Kokalari, chief economist at VinaCapital. They are now helping some of those same corporations find alternative countries to relocate some of their factories in order to geographically diversify their production, he said. Relocation advantages According to Kokalari, it is not surprising that laptops will be one of the first high-tech products that manufacturers aggressively relocate from China to other countries, because they have become a commodity product with relatively low profit margins compared to other technology products, so manufacturers are under pressure to cut costs. The prediction that Vietnam will become a major laptop manufacturer is also not surprising, he added, because according to numerous surveys from Standard Chartered and others, Vietnam is the most preferred destination for manufacturers that wish to move their factories out of China. In addition, Vietnam is an attractive destination because factory wages are between one-half to two-thirds below those in China, and despite those lower wages, the quality of Vietnams workforce is comparable to Chinas, according to surveys by the Japan External Trade Organization and others. Although 20 per cent of factories in China are likely to relocate in the next decade, the remainder will stay put, meaning China will continue to be the worlds manufacturing powerhouse and manufacturers relocating to Vietnam will enjoy a favourable geographic proximity to those Chinese supply chains, Kokalari added. However, the lack of an efficient infrastructure and logistics system, as well as highly-skilled labour and high-tech expertise remain key challenges. The economist said that as observed in recent years, the sudden surge in trade orders and supply chain relocations at the height of the US-China trade war had resulted in a strain on existing infrastructure, pushing business costs up. Kokalari also pointed out the three biggest challenges for relocating laptop manufacturers. Firstly, supply chains in China are much better developed than in Vietnam, so most of the higher value-added components that current manufacturers of high-tech products in Vietnam require are imported, rather than manufactured by local Vietnamese suppliers - although there are signs that this will improve in the years to come. Secondly, theres a shortage of qualified middle managers and engineers in Vietnam, which means that manufacturers that set up factories in Vietnam that make technology products need to hire expensive expatriate employees to fill these mid-level positions, he went on. Thirdly, Vietnams physical infrastructure is sufficient for the countrys current manufacturing activity, but the government needs to improve in this area or the country will face physical bottlenecks that impede foreign-invested manufacturers within the next few years. VIR Thanh Van Manufacturing hub dreams manifesting with big moves Vietnam is pushing ahead in its mission to become the ideal manufacturing hub for overseas investors by taking advantage of a largely pandemic-free landscape and building on 2020s successes. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A prosecutor with the U.S. Air Force says Airman Calvin Cooper was negligent when he struck and killed pedestrian Angelica Baca in March 2019. But Coopers defense attorney says Baca was the one acting negligently by not using a crosswalk the night she was killed. Coopers trial by court martial began with opening arguments at Kirtland Air Force Base on Wednesday. He is facing charges of reckless driving, involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide for hitting and killing 39-year-old Baca near Louisiana and Ross SE. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Prosecutor Capt. Andrew Trejo said Cooper and three other airmen left the base the night of March 23, 2019, in Coopers 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX to go to a movie. He said Cooper began driving nearly 60 mph in a 35-mph zone on Louisiana. Baca, meanwhile, crossed Louisiana and decided to use the double yellow lines in the median as a safe haven before reaching the other side of the street. The nearest crosswalk was hundreds of yards away, Trejo said. Witnesses will testify that this is a common way to cross the street in this area, he said. These are the last moments of Angelica Bacas life, Trejo said. Cooper then struck Baca, instantly killing her, and crashed into the Rising Phoenix apartments. Capt. Victoria Clark, one of Coopers defense attorneys, said the crash was due to the negligence of Baca, who decided to cross five lanes of traffic. She has a choice to cross at the crosswalk, but chooses not to, Clark said. Anna Hall testified Wednesday that she and her boyfriend were going north on Louisiana when her boyfriend, who was driving, looked behind him and saw Baca get hit. Hall said she then called 911. His reaction made me not look back because I didnt want to add to the chaos, Hall said. Coopers fate is in the hands of an eight-member panel, which is similar to a jury but composed of active Air Force members. The prosecution will need to convince three-fourths of the panel that he is guilty to convict him. If the panel finds Cooper guilty, it is then responsible for determining Coopers sentence. The trial is expected to end next week. Before opening arguments, Lt. Col. Rebecca Schmidt, the presiding judge, denied a defense motion to dismiss the case. Defense attorneys asked for a dismissal because Coopers Impreza was not inspected during the investigation and was later destroyed. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 22:26:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday described the policy of Donald Trump's administration on Iran as "maximum failure," noting the United States blocked Iranians' access to food and medicine through sanctions, official news agency IRNA reported. Zarif made the remarks on social media after new U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Iran to "come back into full compliance" with the 2015 nuclear deal before Washington does "the same thing." It is Washington that violated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and punished by economic sanctions other countries that adhered to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, he said, referring to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. Terming Donald Trump's policy a "sordid mess," Zarif said Iran "abided by the JCPOA" and "only took foreseen remedial measures." "Now, who should take the first step (to come back into compliance with JCPOA)?" asked the Iranian top diplomat. On Wednesday, Blinken reaffirmed the Biden administration's declared policy that Washington would rejoin the 2015 international agreement on Iran's nuclear program if Tehran came back into full compliance. Earlier in the day, Iranian parliament's speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf visited the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant where Iran is enriching uranium at the 20-percent level as part of its Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions (SAPCS), a parliamentary decision approved last month. Qalibaf noted on the sidelines of his visit that Iran is "ahead of schedule" in its enrichment program, since 17 kg of 20-percent enriched uranium has been produced since Jan. 4, while SAPCS requires 120 kg a year to be enriched. Enditem Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows the container terminal of Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) At a time when the deadly coronavirus is still raging in many parts of the world and humanity is encountering a raft of global challenges and crises rarely seen in history, no one can survive without joining forces and working together with others. BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- In his special address at the World Economic Forum virtual event of the Davos Agenda, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for global action, global response and global cooperation to fix the world's problems. Xi's remarks on Monday resonate with all those across the world committed to upholding multilateralism and jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind. At a time when the deadly coronavirus is still raging in many parts of the world and humanity is encountering a raft of global challenges and crises rarely seen in history, no one can survive without joining forces and working together with others. Thus, an efficient way to jointly ride out the critical moment is to uphold multilateralism, in which all countries need to assume their due responsibilities and take concrete actions, instead of only making empty promises. China has walked the talk and devoted itself to the global fight against the once-in-a-century pandemic. Under immense pressure of epidemic prevention and control at home, it has offered urgently-needed supplies to others within its capacity. Members of a Chinese medical team assisting the Myanmar government's efforts in fight against COVID-19 board the plane before departure at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 8, 2020. (Photo by Chen Xinbo/Xinhua) Actions speak louder than words. So far, China has provided assistance to over 150 countries and 13 international organizations, and sent 36 medical expert teams to countries in need. It has also been actively engaged in global cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines and working hard to promote these life-saving tools to be more accessible and affordable. "It is especially important to scale up cooperation on the R&D, production and distribution of vaccines and make them public goods that are truly accessible and affordable to people in all countries," Xi said. Besides its efforts and actions in the anti-COVID-19 fight, China has made remarkable contributions to global causes aimed at alleviating poverty, tackling climate change and resuscitating the global economy. Because of the coronavirus and resulting economic recession, an additional population of about 100 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty, while the gap between rich and poor countries is very likely to grow. China, the first country to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control, has made historic achievements in eradicating absolute poverty despite the impact of the pandemic, contributing to over 70 percent of the global drive in this field. China has also continuously advanced South-South cooperation and made tangible contributions to poverty eradication and debt relief in the developing world. Women work at a poverty relief workshop of a relocation site in Fugong County of Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Nujiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Meanwhile, China has taken concrete actions to promote sustainable development, and stepped up its efforts in building a cleaner and better world. Notably, the country has announced its goal of striving to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Though meeting these targets will require tremendous hard work from China, the country, as Xi said, will "step forward, take action, and get the job done" when the interests of the entire world's population are at stake. Also, China has never stopped working to bolster economic globalization, by following through on its fundamental policy of opening-up, which has created more cooperation opportunities for other countries and accelerated global recovery and growth. Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows China-produced sedans at Tesla's gigafactory in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) For instance, despite the recession, China's foreign trade with countries along the Belt and Road totaled 9.37 trillion yuan (about 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars), up 1 percent year on year, official data showed. Charles Onunaiju, director of the Abuja-based Center for China Studies, said with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, China has in recent years become an increasingly open, inclusive and confident player on the global stage. In this globalized era, stronger multilateralism is the way forward to tackle tough global challenges. In this context, China, in both words and deeds, has boosted confidence in upholding multilateralism and injected impetus into a joint response to global crises. In the future, China will continue to join forces with the international community to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. Hyundai Motor seeks to solidify leadership through huge investment By Kim Bo-eun The market for hydrogen-powered vehicles is gaining momentum amid global interest in the fuel as a means of meeting carbon targets. Major economies have announced plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and have unveiled national roadmaps for building a hydrogen economy. These efforts are placing an increased focus on eco-friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The market for FCEVs remains a niche segment of the global car market but is seeing growth. According to energy market tracker SNE Research, 2,594 hydrogen-powered vehicles were sold worldwide in the third quarter of 2020, up 27.3 percent from the same quarter of 2019. Those in the industry state that FCEVs are more suitable than EVs for delivery trucks that carry heavy loads and travel long distances. Major vehicle makers are in a race to secure a major share of the market as it develops. Leading French carmaker Groupe Renault said earlier this month it will set up a joint venture with Plug Power, the leading U.S. firm in fuel cell systems and hydrogen-related services, in the first half of the year. Through the partnership companies aim to boost their competitiveness in R&D, manufacturing and sales of FCEVs. The joint venture is seeking to capture more than 30 percent of Europe's fuel cell-powered light commercial vehicle market. The announcement came shortly after Korean conglomerate SK Group unveiled investments of 1.6 trillion won ($1.5 billion) into both Plug Power and its own plan to establish a joint venture by 2022. With the investment, SK Holdings and its energy development affiliate, SK E&S, own 9.9 percent of the U.S. fuel cell company. Meanwhile, Japan's top carmaker, Toyota, acquired shares of the Portuguese bus manufacturer Caetano last month to manufacture fuel cell buses in Europe. Toyota has set up its Fuel Cell Business Group in Europe to oversee its global business and work with national and regional governments, as well as industrial partners. In October, the Japanese carmaker stated it would jointly develop hydrogen fuel cell trucks for the North American market with its subsidiary, Hino. Last month, Toyota launched the completely redesigned FCEV sedan, Mirai, and is targeting a 10-fold increase in global sales of the vehicle. German automotive group Daimler launched a truck fuel cell unit last year, which will transition into a joint venture with Volvo, to develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems for trucks. Daimler Trucks premiered the Mercedes-Benz fuel-cell concept truck with plans for customer trials in 2023 and aims to begin production in 2025. Hyundai Motor Group is a leading player in the global FCEV market, selling 73.8 percent of the 6,664 fuel cell vehicles sold globally between January and September last year, according to SNE Research. This sales success was attributed specifically to the sales of its fuel cell SUV, Nexo. Hyundai has unveiled plans to invest 7.6 trillion won into FCEVs by 2030, and to increase production to 500,000 vehicles a decade from now. Hyundai produced 11,000 FCEVs in 2020. The carmaker plans to roll out 1,600 of its XCIENT fuel cell trucks by 2025; and by 2030, Hyundai is expecting more than 12,000 vehicles to be exported to the U.S. 25,000 to Europe and 27,000 to China. Hyundai is also focusing on the production of fuel cell systems. The group said earlier this month it is setting up an offshore fuel cell system production facility in Guangzhou, China. Construction is set to begin next month and reach completion in the second half of 2022. The plant will be Hyundai's first fuel cell production base outside Korea, with a capacity to produce 6,500 fuel cell systems per year. "Carmakers are still in the early stages when it comes to hydrogen vehicles. Partnerships with global entities and getting the necessary infrastructure laid out are among their top considerations," said Moon Jong-chol, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET). "For hydrogen-powered vehicles, there is still lots to do in developing the technology. Difficulty and high costs of production remain challenges to work on," said Lee Hang-koo, senior researcher at the Korea Automotive Technology Institute. The government is seeking to boost the number of FCEVs on Korean roads to 6.2 million by 2040, up from 2,000 in 2018. By 2040, it is aiming to have 80,000 taxis, 40,000 buses and 30,000 trucks powered by hydrogen. To enable these numbers, the government plans to build 1,200 filling stations by that time. The number of registered FCEVs here stood at 10,906 as of the end of 2020, up 115 percent from a year earlier. These numbers are seen as being due to greater government subsidies, as well as lower prices and enhanced performance of the vehicles, backed by technological developments. The heartbroken father of a pregnant woman killed in a horror car crash with her boyfriend has been left so traumatised that he's unable to speak about her death. Kate Leadbetter, 31, and her boyfriend Matthew Field, 37, died after they were allegedly hit by a teenage driver in Alexandra Hills in Brisbane's east on the evening of Australia Day. The pair were out for a walk with their dogs when the 17-year-old - allegedly high on drugs and driving a stolen 4WD - ploughed into another car before rolling and hitting the couple. The teenager - who cannot be identified - was remanded in custody on numerous charges including two counts of murder at Brisbane Children's Court on Wednesday but even if found guilty could serve less than ten years behind bars. As the community grapples with the horrific incident, Ms Leadbetter's aunt revealed her father John is in a 'state of shock' after losing his beloved daughter, who was six months pregnant and excited to become a mother for the first time. Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field (pictured) were taking their dogs Frankie and Django for their usual afternoon walk when they were struck in Alexandra Hills on Tuesday night The aunt of Kate Leadbetter (pictured) revealed her father John is in a 'state of shock' after losing his beloved daughter who was six months pregnant 'John is just in shock - he can't even talk,' Danielle Leadbetter told the Courier Mail. 'The whole family is in exactly the same state. It's a state of shock.' Ms Leadbetter has been campaigning for justice since the fatal crash and bravely paid tribute to her niece during a moving vigil on Wednesday night. She said the toughest part was knowing her family never got to say goodbye to Kate. 'If someone is sick and you know that they're going to die, you can prepare for that. You can't prepare for a tragedy like this,' she said. In another blow for the family, leading lawyers have since revealed the 17-year-old could face just ten years behind bars if found guilty over the murders due to his young age. Under Queensland law, adults convicted of a double murder receive an automatic life prison sentence, but those under 18 can walk free in just ten years. However Queensland criminal lawyer, Bill Potts, said there was a chance prosecutors could argue for an extremely rare loophole. The Toyota LandCruiser that the teenager was allegedly driving lies damaged at the scene of the horror crash around 5.30pm on Tuesday. Moments earlier it had allegedly been used in a road rage incident on a nearby road The couple (pictured with their dogs Django and Frankie) had recently shared a photo of them holding an ultrasound of their baby The teenager (pictured, left and right) had shared boastful photos online of him including one posing next to what appeared to be a machete This would allow a judge to impose a life sentence on a young offender if the nature of their crime was 'particularly heinous'. 'He faces a sentence of up to ten years if convicted or if the court finds that the offending is heinous then he can receive a jail sentence of up to life imprisonment but they do not define what heinous is,' Mr Potts told the publication. The lawyer said that to his knowledge, no child in Queensland had been sentenced to life behind bars. Adults who are found guilty of a double murder in the state are given life sentences and must serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. Mr Potts said if the alleged driver reaches 19 before the case is finalised he could be tried as an adult. The 17-year-old's case will be heard again in court at the end of March. In one photo, the accused (pictured) stood shirtless holding a large bundle of $50 notes in front of the camera Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field (pictured) had been dating for more than four years and were expecting their first child Images have since surfaced from the teenager's Instagram account showing him posing with a bundle of $50 notes. In other photos, he can be seen posing with a drink in his hand next to a BMW and beside what appears to be the handle of a machete. Some showed him with a bumbag around his waist or with a large watch on his wrist. It's believed he was on bail for up to 50 unrelated offences at the time of the crash. The teen was also allegedly involved in another traffic incident just minutes before the fatal collision. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said even the most hardened members of the force had been rocked by the tragedy. 'We, the police department, along with our community, are hurting. Dealing with this sort of tragedy - which is preventable - is incredibly frustrating,' he told the Today show on Thursday. The shattered aunt and uncle of Ms Leadbetter, Danielle and Jason Leadbetter (pictured at the vigil on Wednesday), said they would always remember their 'beautiful' niece 'I'm limited by law [by what I can say]. I'm not going to compromise our investigation and prosecution. 'The reality of it is... It's something that does my head in. 'I am angry. I'm angry and my people are angry. They're frustrated and they're heartbroken... Can you imagine going and telling a family about the loss of a loved one? It has an impact on our people but we're providing them enormous support.' Locals banded together on Wednesday night at a vigil on the corner of Finucane and Vienna Road - the intersection where the parents-to-be tragically lost their lives. Countless bouquets of flowers and teddy bears were laid at the scene while loved ones bravely spoke out about the loss of the couple. Ms Leadbetter, who was six months pregnant, is understood to have been working as an interior stylist while her partner worked in fabrications. The young couple had recently shared a photo of their baby's ultrasound as they stood proudly in front of a Christmas tree. The pair were supposed to become parents for the first time in just a few months. Locals banded together on Wednesday night at a vigil on the corner of Finucane and Vienna Road - the intersection where the parents-to-be tragically lost their lives As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines gains momentum, officials in Houston-area suburbs have been releasing plans for how to get doses of the vaccine into the arms of those most in need. Here is a look at how different counties are providing vaccinations: Fort Bend Preregistration for vaccines is currently closed in Fort Bend County. Officials said they would not be re-opening registration this week because enough residents had already signed up to receive most of the latest shipment of vaccines. Once preregistration is reopened, those who meet the criteria of the Texas Department of State Health Services Phase 1A or Phase 1B categories can sign up at fbchealth.org. As we prepare for future allocations, we are developing a comprehensive system upgrade designed to improve residents registration process, the county said in a news release. We will communicate with the community and all stakeholders once this tool is ready. People who fall in the Phase 1A category include first responders and health care workers. Those in the Phase 1B category include persons age 65 or older and those 16 and older with an underlying health condition such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart conditions, obesity and pregnancy. Fort Bend County officials announced last week they had received a shipment of nearly 6,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which will allow them to proceed with shots for some 5,000 residents who had signed up to be vaccinated. Residents can monitor fbchealth.org and the social media pages of Fort Bend County Judge KP George for more information. They can also call the countys vaccination hotline with any questions at 832-471-1373. Galveston Galveston County officials announced Wednesday that eligible persons could sign up via a wait list to receive a vaccine at utmbhealth.com/vaccine Eligible people also must meet the requirements of Phase 1A and 1B; they were being prioritized based on their risk of severe disease or hospitalization from COVID-19. However, an individual does not have to be a resident of Galveston or a patient at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to register. County officials and UTMB also announced plans this month to collaborate on a mass COVID-19 vaccination hub at Walter Hall Park in League City. They held a Jan. 23 vaccination event at the site, where more than 700 people were vaccinated. Officials said on their website that they had invited 2,500 people from the sign-up list to schedule appointments on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Residents were encouraged to monitor UTMBs website for updates at www.utmb.edu/covid-19/vaccine. The Walter Hall Park site has a drive-thru format, with three to four lanes for vehicles. A greeter at the park entrance verifies a patients identity and ensures he or she has an appointment. Brazoria County Brazoria County residents eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines can register for appointments at four county health clinics. The Brazoria County Health Department was taking appointments for people who met the Phase 1A or 1B requirements for vaccinations. Appointments were available at four clinic locations: Angleton (979-864-1484), Alvin (281-585-3024), Lake Jackson (979-265-4446), and Pearland (281-485-5344). Qualified residents can also register online at us.pomelo.health/brazoriacountytx/forms/VJ Available slots were filled as of Thursday. Montgomery County Montgomery County officials said Friday that all available appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine were full but that residents should keep an eye on the county website for the next sign-up period. Residents were encouraged to visit the Montgomery County Public Health District website at https://mcphd-tx.org/, as well as monitor its Facebook page and Twitter account. The latter is @mctx_publichealth. County officials said Monday they had been allocated an additional 400 doses of the Moderna vaccine, which they were making available to those 65 and older or those 18 and older with one chronic medical condition. Preregistration for those doses filled up Monday, the day it was announced. The vaccinations were to be administered at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 9333 Airport Road in Conroe. Lone Star Family Health Center received an additional 2,000 doses of Moderna vaccine for distribution this past week, also at the fairgrounds. Those slots also filled up. Those interested should monitor www.lonestarvaccine.com for updates. Chambers County Preregistration opened Wednesday online for Chambers County residents to receive a vaccine on Thursday Jan 28. The county said that other vaccination sites were being planned and that preregistration would be announced as additional doses became available. Residents should monitor Chambers County Public Health departments website at www.co.chambers.tx.us/page/covidvaccine and follow its social media pages on Facebook and on Twitter, @cctxhealthdept. Nick Powell and Catherine Dominguez contributed to this report. A majority of the Northern Ireland public is in favour of mandatory quarantine for travellers from Great Britain, a new survey has found. The survey carried out by LucidTalk and IrelandThinks found almost two thirds (65%) would be in favour of a 10-day mandatory hotel quarantine for those setting foot on the island from Great Britain. Of the remaining respondents, 30% were opposed and the other 5% were unsure. The majority - nine in 10 - said travellers from the rest of the world should have to stay in a hotel for 10 days on arrival anywhere on the island. Less than one in ten (8%) were opposed and 2% said they weren't sure. The highest number of those opposed to the idea are people who voted for the UUP in the last Assembly election (18%). Those who voted for the DUP and the UUP were least likely to agree with the idea of a mandatory quarantine in a hotel for those arriving from GB, with more than half (59% for the DUP and 54% for the UUP) saying this should not be the case. More than half of Leave voters (57%) in the EU referendum also disagreed with mandatory quarantine. Meanwhile, more than nine in 10 Sinn Fein and SDLP voters (94% and 91% respectively) and eight in 10 Alliance voters agreed with mandatory hotel quarantine for those arriving from GB to the island of Ireland. Half of those surveyed who voted for the Green Party in the last election also agreed (57%). The results of the survey reflect similar numbers in Britain showing support for mandatory hotel quarantine for passengers arriving from outside Britain and Ireland. A YouGov survey, where almost nine in 10 respondents (87%) showed support for a ten-day mandatory quarantine while in the Republic of Ireland, an Ireland Thinks survey also showed majority support for the move (90%). Dr Kevin Cunningham of IrelandThinks said it shows significant support, although a minority within the unionist community, in favour of the move. Speaking to the BBC, he said there is often strong support for temporary measures. "The pandemic itself seems to be cutting across party lines," he said. "It seems that the public are in favour of extreme or at least significant measures to tackle new variants." Polling was carried out in January by Belfast-based polling and market research company LucidTalk surveying 1,704 respondents weighted by gender, community background and other demographics with a margin of error of +/-2.4%, at 95% confidence. It comes as Boris Johnson is set to announce that travellers coming into England will have to quarantine in hotels for 10 days at their own cost of 1,500, it's understood. The move is in response to concerns about new variants and the areas associated with them, including South America, Portugal and many countries in Southern Africa. It's also thought a ban on holiday travel will also be tightened, with travellers required to declare their reason for leaving the UK. The Irish government is also set to tighten its Covid-19 travel rules, which will see Existing Passenger Locator Form rules amended to ensure NI-bound passengers complete the full form by providing a forwarding contact address. Further plans announced by Taoiseach Micheal Martin include a "mandatory quarantine at a designated facility" for anyone arriving into Irish ports or airports without a proof of a negative test for Covid-19. "They will also be subject to a fine of 2,500 and/or six months imprisonment," Mr Martin said. Executive guidance states anyone travelling into Northern Ireland who plans to stay for at least 24 hours should self-isolate for 10 days, with the exception of people who routinely cross the border for essential purposes. Irish government advice states that any passengers who arrive from Great Britain, South Africa or any country in South America into the Republic are advised to self isolate for a period of 14 days following their arrival. Image via Getty/Gerald Matzka/picture alliance The tuna used in Subway's tuna sandwich is alleged in a new lawsuit to be, well, something else entirely. The company, however, has denied the suit's allegations. The suit, per the Washington Post, was recently filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and alleges that the ingredient in question is actually "a mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna." While a Subway rep quoted in the report said the claims of the suit are "without merit" and said the company's tuna is tuna, the suit cites results of independent lab tests that allegedly showed the "concoctions" are "blended together" by the company to "imitate" tuna's appearance. The plaintiffsKaren Dhanowa and Nilima Amin of the Bay Areahave sued the ubiquitous sandwich brand for fraud, intentional misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and additional claims. Attorneys are said to be aiming to get the claim certified as a class action to allow for potentially thousands of Subway tuna-consuming customers in the state to join the case, so long as they consumed that tuna after Jan. 21, 2017. In the description for the tuna salad option on its website, Subway says the dish includes "flaked tuna in brine" and additional ingredients. Complex reached out to reps for Subway for additional comment. A spokesperson offered the following statement: "There simply is no truth to the allegations in the complaint that was filed in California. Subway delivers 100 percent cooked tuna to its restaurants, which is mixed with mayonnaise and used in freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads that are served to and enjoyed by our guests. The taste and quality of our tuna make it one of Subway's most popular products and these baseless accusations threaten to damage our franchisees, small business owners who work tirelessly to uphold the high standards that Subway sets for all of its products, including its tuna. Given the facts, the lawsuit constitutes a reckless and improper attack on Subway's brand and goodwill, and on the livelihood of its California franchisees. Indeed, there is no basis in law or fact for the plaintiffs' claims, which are frivolous and are being pursued without adequate investigation. Unfortunately, this lawsuit is part of a trend in which the named plaintiffs' attorneys have been targeting the food industry in an effort to make a name for themselves in that space. Subway will vigorously defend itself against these and any other baseless efforts to mischaracterize and tarnish the high-quality products that Subway and its franchisees provide to their customers, in California and around the world, and intends to fight these claims through all available avenues if they are not immediately dismissed." Story continues In September of last year, Ireland's Supreme Court ruled the bread used in Subway sandwiches can't legally be referred to as bread due to its sugar content. The bread, per the ruling, is said to have used five times the amount of sugar Ireland determined in the VAT Act of 1972. According to the act, sugar in a bread product is now allowed to exceed more than two percent of the total weight of flour used in the dough. So, what's everyone doing for lunch today? Related Articles More Complex Sign up for the Complex Newsletter for breaking news, events, and unique stories. Follow Complex on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok Feb. 8 City Council Akron Margo Sommerville City Council Feb. 8 January 2020 City Council Russ Neal City Council Sara Biviano Merriman Valley LaDue Reservoir Akron Democratic Socialists of America (TNS) Beginningwill no longer read emailed public comments during its virtual meetings, and is instead requiring Akronites to leave a voicemail if they wish to address council.The change was initially not publicized by the city aside from a message on councils homepage Wednesday stating that the previous public comment email is being retired at this time.After cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer left emails and phone calls with thepress office about when and why the decision was made, Council Presidentissued a brief news release.Traditionally, members of the public would come to Council meetings on Monday nights and share their comments in person, Sommerville said in the release. Since that is not possible during this pandemic, the voicemail option is the best alternative. This gives residents an opportunity to still speak to Council in their own voice.Sincebegan holding virtual meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic, residents have been able to submit a public comment by leaving a voicemail at 330-375-2566 or emailing publiccomment@akronohio.gov . But beginning, however, that will no longer the case.We value public comment, so thats why we shifted to email submission [during the pandemic], Sommerville told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. We then got technology to be able to do voice recordings, which is really nice because people have the ability to call in and we can hear their voice.Sommerville said that the decision to eliminate the reading of emailed public comments had been in the works for some time and was not due to lengthy public comment periods.Inadded new requirements for people wishing to address council, including submitting a form with their subject matter, name and address prior to the start of the meeting. The changes passed 12-1, with Ward 4\u2032sdissenting, during a meeting which itself did not have a public comment period, despite the council website stating there would be one.But the changes werent in effect for long, sincebegan meeting virtually in March and Akronites began emailing and calling to submit remarks, rather than appearing in person.During virtual meetings, Deputy Clerk of Councilwould read the text of emails aloud and then play the recorded voicemails. When controversial issues have been before council, including the proposed developments inor proposed fracking under city-owned land at, the public comment periods have been notably long.On Monday, public comments were read and played for about an hour of the two-hour council meeting, most of which were about the fracking at LaDue.The citys decision to do away with emailed public comments has been concerning for some Akronites, including members of thechapter of theCity council has been hammered by the community about their decision to lease mineral rights to our land for a fracking deal with a company cozy with the city administration, Akron DSA tweeted. Theyve decided to remove another vital way to submit public comment via email to try and further separate themselves from accountability and action. Close Recent research shows that on nights leading up to the full moon, people go to bed a bit later and sleep for shorter amounts of time. The same differences in both the period of sleep onset and the length of sleep were found by US researchers among college students in urban settings and those living in rural settings. Over the 29.5-day lunar period, sleep periods usually. During this time, the moon steadily goes from becoming virtually unseen (a new moon) to a completely bright, shining sphere (full moon), then once again. The experts observed that nights going up to the full moon led to less sleep and falling asleep later, while nights heading up to the new moon resulted in longer sleep and early turn-ins. The analysis is published in Science Advances. Why Does It Matter? It can be sufficient to change the sleep period by such a considerable length of time influencing how much sleep people receive overall. It may have severe knock-on impacts on the well-being of people. Past research shows that an ideal amount of sleep is available, seven hours. Hence, an hour and a half of variation are necessary. Leandro Casiraghi is a professor at the University of Washington's Department of Biology and a co-author of the analysis. He told Inverse that he and his classmates were not yet ready to trust their own findings. They had this prior literature, Casiraghi says, claiming this was an actual reality. But they've never seen that in actual life before, so that's very amazing. ALSO READ: Health and Beauty: How Lack Of Sleep May Affect Your Appearance Does It Have to Do With Light? The experts agree that after sunset, evenings leading up to the full moon have more natural moonlight available, serving like something of a sunlight surrogate, yet our connection to energy will interrupt this. Simple lunar regulation of sleep, with sleep, declining and a later onset of sleep in the days preceding a full moon, was noted by study author Horacio de la Iglesia at Washington University. In areas lacking connection to power, while the impact is more robust, the effect is present in communities with energy, like college students. Human beings on Earth witnessed a new moon, a waxing moon (when the volume of light on the moon increases), a full moon, and finally, a waning moon over the 29.5-day lunar period (when its visible surface area is getting smaller). As it advances toward a full moon, the waxing moon gets gradually brighter and usually increases in the late afternoon or early evening, putting it high in the sky until dusk throughout the evening. As the moon rises too late in the evening at certain times in the solar cycle, the first part of the full moon period and fading moons often send off considerable light in the middle of the night. How They Did The Study Researchers monitored the sleep habits of 98 people living in three Toba-Qom indigenous groups in Argentina using wrist monitors. De la Iglesia told Healthline that Toba-Qom, who reside in neighborhoods with varying degrees of electricity connectivity, have been studied. Over the study period, these groups varied in access to electricity: One society didn't have electricity. Another had restricted access, such as a specific source of artificial light, to electricity. A third group existed in a metropolitan area where energy was completely available. For about 75 percent of the Toba-Qom respondents, researchers obtained data for one to two lunar cycles. As the moon went through its 29.5-day period, researchers noticed respondents in all three groups exhibited the same sleep rhythm shifts. On average, the last time people went to bed, they spent at least three to five days until the full moon. Then they also examined sleep-monitor data obtained for a different analysis from 464 Seattle-area college students to identify the same trend of sleep shifts. Is a Social Trend Playing a Role? Dr. Vsevolod 'Seva' Polotsky, director of Sleep Basic Science and a professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School, who is not involved in the study, told CNN that the genetics of humans and the social habits of a group may also play a role in the sleep cycle observed in this study. Our circadian rhythm, an internal clock that governs sleep for around a 24-hour cycle, influences people's sleep. However, certain people may have longer internal clocks, Polotsky said. An excellent example of the human body controlling itself over a prolonged period is the menstrual cycle of a woman, he said, which is about a month-long. Other species have seasonal circadian rhythms and, Polotsky observed, sleep for months at a time. Social calendars may also influence someone's sleep habits, he said, such as going to sleep later or staying on weekends for longer. De la Iglesia suggested minimizing bright lighting and screens throughout the nighttime hours for those who have difficulty getting to sleep and being more proactive before a full moon. Certain people are accustomed to having a later start to sleep and a night of shorter sleep. ALSO READ: Dermatologists Share Five Tips for Naturally Glowing Skin Check out more news and information on Sleep Study on Science Times. India on Wednesday inked a strategic partnership agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to strengthen cooperation in global energy security, stability and sustainability. This partnership will lead to an extensive exchange of knowledge and would be a stepping stone towards India becoming a full member of IEA, a power ministry statement said. "The Framework for Strategic Partnership between the IEA members and the Government of India was signed on 27th January, 2021 to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation & enhance global energy security, stability and sustainability," it said. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Power Secretary Sanjiv Nandan Sahai and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "The contents of the strategic partnership will be jointly decided by IEA members and India, including a phased increase in benefits and responsibilities for India as an IEA strategic partner, and building on existing areas of work within Association and the Clean Energy Transitions Programme, such as Energy Security, Clean & Sustainable Energy...Expansion of gas-based economy in India etc," it said. The IEA Secretariat will be responsible for implementation of the cooperative activities in India and for facilitating discussion between the IEA members and India to further develop the strategic partnership. Through this agreement, the Indian government endeavours to take necessary steps to encourage and promote strategic and technical cooperation in the energy sector in the identified areas, the ministry added. Also read: Branded petrol price crosses Rs 100-mark in Rajasthan; check out latest fuel rates A West Palm Beach condominium has unanimously voted to drop its Trump Plaza legal name in the wake of the January 6 storming of the Capitol. The Trump Plaza condo board voted on January 19 to change the name of the two luxurious towers which has paved the way for its residents to vote on a new name, the Palm Beach Post reported. 'It's been a long time in coming,' one Trump Plaza owner told the Post. 'Most of us are relieved that the name will finally be off the buildings.' Trump Plaza in Palm Beach has voted to change its name in the wake of the January 6 storming of the Capitol Giant letters adorning the top of the Palm Beach towers and at their base have also recently been removed DailyMail.com has reached out to the Trump Organization for additional comment about the condo vote. The condo snub comes as Palm Beach officials are conducting a 'legal review' of Donald Trump's use of nearby Mar-a-Lago as a residence because of a 1993 permit that restricts long-term stays at the resort. But Eric Trump, the former president's son and an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said his father is within his rights to stay at the exclusive club as long as he chooses. Officials recently announced an auction for the chance to push the button to demolish Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City Trump's former casino in New Jersey opened in 1984 and closed in 2014, and it was bought by billionaire investor Carl Icahn in 2016 The Trump Plaza was developed in 1981 by Armour Guider Development Corporation. Trump snapped it up after the bank foreclosed on it in 1986. Trump scrambled to sell units and ultimately handed the property over to his lenders in 1991, who chose to keep Trump's name in legal documents and in giant lettering decorating the top of the 32-floor towers. The Trump Plaza sign was removed for maintenance in 2017, and residents later voted not to put the sign back at the top of the towers. Signs at the base of the complex were removed in June after George Floyd protests, according to the outlet. Donald Trump and Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard are pictured at a Tyson vs Spinks press conference at Trump Plaza Casino Hotel in Atlantic City in 1988 The vote to remove the Trump Plaza name in Palm Beach comes as Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small gave a new date of February 17 for the implosion of Trump's long-closed Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.com reported. Small announced an auction last month, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, for the right to push the button to demolish the building. But the auction fell apart when its owner, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, objected to the auction over safety concerns, the outlet reported. The casino opened in 1984 and closed in 2014, and it was bought by Icahn in 2016. In 2019, it was revealed that the last of a trail of Trump Place buildings lining Manhattan's West Side Highway - which are not owned by Trump-- had decided to remove the former president's name from its building, The New York Times reported. A majority of the seven county commissioners in Palm Beach have preemptively turned down the opportunity to rename Palm Beach International airport after the former president, according to the Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach's Trump Plaza vote also comes as it was revealed the town of Palm Beach is reviewing a 1993 'special exception use' agreement made with Trump that allowed him to convert the historic Mar-a-Lago mansion into a for-profit social club. But the agreement includes a clause that limits stays to no more than 10 guests at one time, for no longer than seven days at a time, up to three non-consecutive visits a year. Neighbors have claimed that Trump has violated the agreement in the past, and Wednesday marks seven days since he flew there prior to President Joe Biden's January 20 inauguration. The agreement is 'under legal review' by Palm Beach's town attorney John Randolph, Town Manager Kirk Blouin said. Eric Trump argues that his father Donald, left, has a legal right to make Mar-a-Lago his permanent residence Donald Trump signed a 1993 permit that allowed him to maintain a private club at Mar-a-Lago Blouin added he has 'no personal knowledge of where ex-President Trump is living or intends to live.' The Town Council may discuss the 1993 permit and Trump's residency at a meeting on February 9, he said. If found to have violated the 1993 agreement, the town has the right to revoke the club's occupational license and can seek relief in civil courts, the signed document reads. But Eric Trump told DailyMail.com that his father has the legal right to live at his property. 'There's absolutely nothing that prohibits my father from living at the property,' he told DailyMail.com. 'My father has the absolute right to live at Mar-a-Lago.' Trump pointed to Section 134-2 of the town's municipal code, which defines private clubs and noted that Mar-a-Lago maintains its RAA-Large Estate Residential zoning. 'Within residential zoning districts, a private club may provide living quarters for its bona fide employees only,' the ordinance reads. The town ordinance also defines what constitutes an employee. 'Employee means any person generally working on site for the establishment and includes sole proprietors, partners, limited partners, corporate officers and the like,' the ordinance reads. Eric Trump added that in his father's 1993 application for the permit, he said the property usage would not change. 'The use of property is not permitted to have changed, and has to be used in the way Marjorie Merriweather Post had used the property,' he said, referring to the cereal heiress who built the estate in the 1920s. He also noted that the primary argument from critics points to a clause in the 1993 permit which states 'guest suites shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) non-consecutive seven (7) day periods by any one member during the year.' 'He's the owner and he's the director and this why these guys aren't gaining any traction,' Eric Trump said. He added: 'There is a big difference between a guest and an owner.' Eric Trump said that the 1993 agreement did not constitute a rezoning and that there are stipulations in his father's agreement with the town and zoning ordinances that mandate the property return to residential use, 'if for some reason the club didn't work or wasn't profitable.' '[The agreement] mandated that the property return to residential if for some reason the club didn't work or wasn't profitable,' he said. 'They didn't want to have commercial use inside Palm Beach,' Eric Trump said. Mar-a-Lago neighbors opposed to Trump's residence there in December delivered a letter to Palm Beach officials claiming the former president cannot live at the resort full-time, citing the long-term stay clause in the 1993 agreement. Reginald Stambaugh, a lawyer representing the DeMoss family, which has a property next to Mar-a-Lago, wrote in the letter that the president should find somewhere else to live. 'To avoid an embarrassing situation for everyone and to give the president time to make other living arrangements in the area, we trust you will work with his team to remind them of the use agreement parameters,' Stambaugh wrote. Trump has enjoyed numerous trips to Mar-a-Lago that lasted for longer than seven days in recent years, according to a HuffPost analysis of his schedule. He stayed eight days in a row in 2020, had a 16-day stay in 2019 and a 10-day visit in 2017, HuffPost claims. Trump, right, and Melania, second from left, are seated for dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe at Mar-a-Lago in 2018 Trump speaks to the press from Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 22, 2018 Eric Trump added that his father has been living there since 1992 and 'nobody has said anything.' He also noted that his family already owns two other houses nearby on Woodbridge Road. 'They are beautiful houses, and my father could live in either of those houses there on Woodbridge,' he told DailyMail.com. 'They're beautiful houses, but Secret Service would likely shut down the road. They would have bomb dogs. They would literally have gates. The neighbors should be very careful what they ask for.' Eric Trump said that his father plans to maintain Mar-a-Lago as his primary residence. 'He's going to be traveling and I'm sure there is going to be a lot of time he's going to be out of Palm Beach, but he plans on spending a lot of time there.' Michael Cohen, who served as Trump's personal lawyer, told Huffington Post that Trump 'cannot reside in Mar-a-Lago as a full-time permanent resident.' 'Now, he can go there every day. It's his club,' he said. DailyMail.com has reached out to Cohen, who began working for Trump in 2007, for additional comment. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. 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. EACH AND EVERY DAY, my colleagues and I hear about how New Hampshires high property taxes are an unsustainable burden on hardworking Granite Staters. According to a recent report from US News and WalletHub, New Hampshire has the third-highest property tax rates in the country. For young wor VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Legend Power Systems (TSXV:LPS)(OTCQB:LPSIF), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, today announced that the Company recently participated in an invitation-only Continuing Education Conference for a large facility management and franchise partner. Legend's VP of Engineering Mark Petersen was invited to present at the conference, which was attended by approximately 1,300 market-facing sales and energy services professionals. During Mr. Petersen's Business Impact of Power Quality presentation, he discussed: the obstacles facing building owners and operators due to power quality challenges, the impact on buildings, and the value of solving these with Legend's SmartGATE platform across multiple industries. Legend's SmartGATE platform for intelligent active power management represents a significant new tool for the partner and its franchising group to solve more commercial building power challenges than ever before. SmartGATE further achieves the common goals shared by the partner, its franchise group, and Legend Power. These goals include making buildings safer and comfortable for tenants, reducing GHG emissions and building operating costs, and increasing energy efficiency. "Partnerships like these extend the reach of Legend Power in a way that can't possibly be overstated," said Mike Cioce, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Legend Power Systems. "Access to our partner's extensive sales professionals, customer network, installation, and energy expertise, makes this arrangement a win for all stakeholders; Legend, the partner, and our mutual customers." The partner is a leading global provider of facility solutions with revenues over $4.0 billion. Their industry-leading capabilities include electrical & lighting, energy solutions, facilities engineering, HVAC & mechanical, and key facility operations for property owners and managers throughout North America and select global locations. About SmartGATE SmartGATE is an industry-leading, turnkey solution which identifies and fixes underperformance and waste in the electrical system of a commercial building. These performance issues often impact key areas of commercial real estate metrics including occupant safety and satisfaction as well as financial performance. This waste can also lead to higher operating costs, lower net operating income and other potential financial risks to the building owner, including adverse tenant experiences. About Legend Power Systems Inc. Legend Power Systems Inc. (www.legendpower.com) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. For further information, please contact: Steve Vanry, CFO + 1 604 671 9522 svanry@legendpower.com Sean Peasgood, Investor Relations + 1 647 503 1054 sean@sophiccapital.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements other than as may be required by applicable law. SOURCE: Legend Power Systems Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626450/Legend-Power-Presents-at-Major-Facility-Operators-Annual-Continuing-Education-Event It is the ghost story that has even skeptics asking questions. In 1956, in a semi-detached home in Battersea, south London, the Hitchings family began hearing strange, unexplained bangs and scratching sounds. Some of the noises were so loud, they could be heard by the whole street. Then, objects began moving without being touched. Pots and pans were thrown out of seemingly empty rooms; bedsheets flew off beds without warning and slippers were seen 'walking' across the floor. As time wore on - the haunting spanned a period of 12 years - the residents at 63 Wycliffe Road named the presence 'Donald'. The case became front page news, with much of the attention focused on Shirley, the teenage daughter of Wally and Kitty Hitchings who found herself at the centre of the seemingly paranormal activity. It was even discussed in the House of Commons. Scrawled writing appeared on the wall, fires were started out of thin air and a handwritten note was found inside a notebook. It read: 'Shirley, I come.' Now the case has captured the public's imagination once again with the release of the Battersea Poltergeist, a BBC R4 podcast which has become one of the broadcaster's most popular titles in the week since its release. Haunted: The semi-detached property at 63 Wycliffe Road that was 'haunted' by Donald for 12 years from 1956. Pictured, Kitty Hitchings, who lived there with her husband and family Key characters: The case became front page news, with much of the attention focused on Shirley, the teenage daughter of Wally and Kitty Hitchings who found herself at the centre of the seemingly paranormal activity. It was even discussed in the House of Commons. Pictured, Shirley (left) and ghost hunter Harold Chibbett, who investigated the case Unexplained happenings: The Hitchings family found these marks scrawled on the wall of the family home. The case is explored in BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist A note from the beyond? A handwritten message found in a notebook reading 'Shirley, I come' Presented by Danny Robins, the Battersea Poltergeist switches between a present-day investigation of the case, drawing on the knowledge of experts including psychology professor Ciaran O'Keefe and writer and parapsychologis Evelyn Hollow, and a dramatisation of the original events. Shirley, now 80, is voiced by teenage His Dark Materials star Dafne Keen, while Toby Jones plays Harold Chibbett, a respected ghost hunter and First World War veteran who dedicated the latter years of his life to investigating the case. It all began one night in early 1956 when a loud bang ricocheted through the Hitchings' house. Living at the property along with Wally, Kitty and their teenage daughter was Wally's mother, Ethel, and a male family member, who is referred to simply as 'Mark' in Shirley's memoirs. The noise was so loud that the neighbours came to complain, thinking the Hitchings were responsible. It became a nightly occurrence and soon scratching and tapping sounds could be heard, apparently following Shirley around the house. Spooky goings on: The Hitchings family in the front room of the property in 1957 Taking steps: Medium Harry Hank sits in the centre, Shirley and her father Wally are on the right. The family did all they could to try and rid the house of the seemingly evil spirit Front page news: A Daily Mirror article from 20 February 1956, the first time the case appeared in print. It went on to make national headlines and was even discussed in Parliament The Enfield Poltergeist: Sisters haunted by a ghost 20 years after Shirley Hitchings Some 20 years after the Hitchings' home was visited by what they believed to be a ghostly presence, the Hodgson family of Enfield found themselves at the centre of a story full of supernatural intrigue. Like the Hitchings, it was the daughter of the family who was the focus. Janet Hodgson, who was 11 at the time, was convinced she was possessed by a former resident of the house in Green Street, Enfield, a man called Bill Wilkins who had died there many years before. The case of the Enfield Poltergeist also involved levitation, furniture being moved through the air, and flying objects swirling towards witnesses. There were cold breezes, physical assaults, graffiti, water appearing on the floor, and even claims of matches spontaneously bursting into flame. It became the centre of a media storm, however, many reports of poltergeist activity have ultimately proved to be hoaxes. While believers say that adolescents are more 'susceptible' to hauntings, even psychical researchers have put forward the naughty little girl theory, saying that the activity impacts teenagers because theyre acting out for attention. According to research in anomalistic psychology, activity can be explained by psychological factors such as illusion and memory lapses. Attempts have also been made to scientifically explain poltergeist disturbances that are not apparently fraudulent. Skeptic and magician Milbourne Christopher found that some cases of can be attributed to unusual air currents, such as a 1957 case on Cape Cod where downdrafts from an uncovered chimney became strong enough to blow a mirror off a wall, overturn chairs and knock over objects. Advertisement Next came the objects. 'We're talking about a clock floating through the air. We're talking about pots and pans being thrown from a room that nobody was in,' said series expert Evelyn Hollow in an interview with the BBC. 'Rooms are trashed. The house must have looked like a bloody warzone. Its a truly wild case.' Mr Hitchings hired an exorcist and the media swarmed around the story. Shirley was interviewed on TV and some outlets claimed Donald was her 'ghostly boyfriend'. People thought Shirley was behind the unexplained happenings, but she insists she had nothing to do with them. 'Everybody was pointing the finger at me,' she said in a recent interview with the Sun. 'I knew I was not doing this. Id always been brought up to be honest and never lie. 'Dad asked me at one point if it was me and I told him no. He said, "Thats good enough for me".' Shirley, who still remembers the events clearly, told how her grandmother Ethel thought she was possessed and threw holy water over her in a bid to exorcise the spirit. She credits Mr Chibbett, who has been described as the 'Jay Gatsby' of ghosts, with helping to 'tame' Donald. Over time the poltergeist began writing to Shirley. He even made a bold claim about his identity, which is revealed in a later episode of the podcast. Mr Chibbett himself is an interesting character. A respected figure of the day, he was friends with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Arthur C Clarke, and magician Aleister Crowley. Determined to help the Hitchings, he made extensive notes about the case which were recovered by Shirley after his death and passed on to Danny and the team for the podcast. Fresh light: Presented by Danny Robins, pictured, the Battersea Poltergeist switches between a present-day investigation of the case, and a dramatisation of the hauntings Stars: Shirley, now 80, is voiced by teenage His Dark Materials star Dafne Keen (left), while Toby Jones plays Harold Chibbett, a respected ghost hunter and First World War veteran who dedicated the latter years of his life to investigating the case By the end of the series, the team put forward several theories about what actually took place at the property, which was demolished in the 1960s. These have not yet been made public. 'Every time you think youve a handle on this case it throws up something else,' Robins said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. 'I considered myself more of a sceptic. But in this case I find myself up against things I find hard to explain.' The Battersea Poltergeist is available on BBC Sounds January 28, 2021 The System Is Rigged - Episode 4537: Game Stop Corp Early this week a few amateur stock trading nerds decided to promote a stock that was heavily shorted by certain hedge funds. The idea was to raise the stock price of Game Stop Corp., a vendor for computer games, by having lots of small stock traders to buy into it. The hedge fund that shorted the stock, and thereby bet on a dropping stock price, would then make huge losses while the many small buyers would potentially profit. These people, who had joined up in the sub-reddit /r/WallStreetBets, were not driven by greed but by rage against the financial machine: Instead of greed, this latest bout of speculation, and especially the extraordinary excitement at GameStop, has a different emotional driver: anger. The people investing today are driven by righteous anger, about generational injustice, about what they see as the corruption and unfairness of the way banks were bailed out in 2008 without having to pay legal penalties later, and about lacerating poverty and inequality. This makes it unlike any of the speculative rallies and crashes that have preceded it. The movement was successful. The stock price of Game Stop Corp. rose from some $10 to over $400 within just a few days. The short seller had to take cover under a larger firm: Hedge fund Melvin Capital closed out its short position in GameStop on Tuesday after taking huge losses as a target of the army of retail investors. Citadel and Point72 have infused close to $3 billion into Gabe Plotkin's hedge fund to shore up its finances. Then the system hit back. Discord, the company which hosted the server for the sub-reddit /r/WallStreetBets suddenly found that there was 'hate-speech' in the threads. It unplugged the server. (Discord had previously unplugged the sub-reddit /r/The_Donald.) Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald - 0:53 UTC Jan 28, 2021 What an absolutely extraordinary coincidence of timing that Discord happened to decide the r/Wall Streetbets sub-reddit had too much hate speech to tolerate on the same day hedge fund billionaires declared them a huge threat for the crime of winning at their expense! Next the trading app Robinhood, which many of the amateur traders use, blocked further buys into the stock: Robinhood, the fee-free investment app that has helped Redditors and other retail investors pump dark horse stocks like GameStop, AMC, BlackBerry, and Nokia, has stopped allowing users to buy those stocks and others YOLO picks. According to screenshots shared on social media, on Thursday morning a notification appeared on Robinhood telling users that they could close their position on GameStop's stock, but not buy any additional shares. Redditors are currently panicking, looking for ways to transfer their shares of GameStop off of Robinhood to other platforms, and are generally furious at the platform. In a blog post, Robinhood confirmed that it has placed restrictions on several stocks due to volatility. "Volatility" = the prols are messing up Wall Street by doing legal stock transactions our overlords do not like. What an irony that a company named Robin Hood is protecting the rich from the poor. The many people who use Robinhood can now only sell their shares and not buy additional ones: This is likely to have a massive impact on Robinhood users and ultimately the company. According to a popup on the app's homepage, 56 percent of all Robinhood users own at least some GameStop stock. They are now unable to freely trade it; the app is only allowing users to close out their positions, meaning they can sell it but not buy more. This is potentially devastating for novice investors or those who simply want to follow the general marching orders of the r/WallStreetBets subreddit, which is to hold (and buy more) GameStop stock until further notice. After Robinhood stopped to allow further buys of Game Stop Corp the stock price crashed from above $450 down to $120. bigger That outright manipulation of the stock markets was noticed and may even have consequences. Unlike Joe Biden it united legislators across the aisle. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @AOC - 16:36 UTC Jan 28, 2021 This is unacceptable. We now need to know more about @RobinhoodApps decision to block retail investors from purchasing stock while hedge funds are freely able to trade the stock as they see fit. As a member of the Financial Services Cmte, Id support a hearing if necessary. --- Ted Cruz @tedcruz - 16:47 UTC Jan 28, 2021 Retweeting @AOC Fully agree. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will take care that nothing will comes from it. The system has proven again and again that it is rigged. No change to it will be condoned. As Glenn Greenwald noted yesterday: Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald - 13:49 UTC Jan 27, 2021 To review: - Politics is to be manipulated only by K Street. - The stock market is to be manipulated only by Wall St. - Dissemination of information is to be manipulated only by corporate media outlets. Those are the rules. The lesson they want us to learn: Don't even think of ever breaking those rules. Posted by b on January 28, 2021 at 18:05 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Anthony Albanese has announced a major shadow cabinet reshuffle and said he is determined to win power at the next election. Deputy Leader Richard Marles has taken a new position as shadow minister for National Reconstruction after the Covid-19 pandemic with Brendan O'Connor taking his role as Defence spokesman. Mr Males will also take the employment, skills, small business and science roles. Climate spokesman Mark Butler, a key left-faction ally of Mr Albanese, is swapping roles with Health spokesman Chris Bowen. Anthony Albanese has announced a shadow cabinet reshuffle and said he is determined to win power at the next election Clare O'Neil will serve as shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care services and Trade spokeswoman Madeleine King will also become Resources spokeswoman while incumbent Ed Husic takes on Innovation and jobs. Tasmanian Julie Collins has been appointed as shadow Agriculture minister after losing responsibility for aged care. Jim Chalmers will remain shadow treasurer, Penny Wong remains foreign affairs spokeswoman and Kristina Keneally keeps the home affairs portfolio while taking on a new role position focussing on government accountability. 'She's someone who calls things as they are and she will be holding the government to account across the board for the rorts, the abuse of process, for the fact that we have a government that thinks that taxpayers' money is the same as Liberal Party and National Party money,' Mr Albanese said. The 57-year-old, who is under pressure as Labor leader, said the reshuffle was about 'Australians getting the most out of Labor.' 'The easy choice to make is to not make many changes and just keep things as they are. 'I'm absolutely determined and events this year have reinforced my view that I will do the right thing, not necessarily the easy thing,' he said. 'This is the strongest team to form an Albanese Labor Government. I'm interested not so much in being in opposition and what titles people have, I'm interested in getting rid of the one word that's the bad word from the titles of the people I'm about to inform you. That one really bad word is Shadow. Education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek (pictured in May 2019), who many predict will one day lead the Labor Party, has laid out her vision for a post-pandemic future 'I want to remove that and I want to move us to the corridor down the end of this building,' he said. The labor leader insisted that removing Mr Butler, who has demanded strong action on climate change, from the climate portfolio did not mean he was taking it less seriously. 'There is no way that a Labor Government that I lead won't take action on climate change. Zero possibility,' he said. In an interview with ABC show 7.30 on Wednesday night, Mr Albanese said he was prepared for an election this year. The election is not due until May 2022, but Scott Morrison can call one sooner. 'When you look at the position we are in, going into what may well be an election year at the end of the year, in terms of all the polling, we're very competitive,' Mr Albanese said. Meanwhile, education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek, who many predict will one day lead the Labor Party, has laid out her vision for a post-pandemic future. Tanya Plibersek said the party should draw on the achievements of post-war Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley (second left) Writing in The Australian newspaper, the member for Sydney said the party should draw on the achievements of post-war Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who reduced unemployment to just two per cent and increase home ownership by 10 per cent. 'Just as Chifley promised full employment and a family home, today's leaders should aim higher as we rebuild after the pandemic: full employment, decent wages, job security, dignity in retirement, a strong safety net; a better quality of life for all Australians,' she wrote. 'We can expand cheaper, cleaner renewable energy to bring down power bills, boost manufacturing jobs and reduce pollution.' It comes after former leader Bill Shorten slammed Mr Albanese over his 'tiny' policy agenda. Launching a collection of essays by members of the Labor Right faction, Mr Shorten argued the party must 'stand for something' if it wanted to win. 'I have learnt the lessons of defeat and I have learnt, and the party has learnt, the dangers of taking too large or too cluttered a policy agenda to the electorate... But the polar opposite of a tiny agenda is not the right way either,' he said. BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xeriant, Inc. (OTC PINK: XERI), a new aerospace technology holding company, announced today that its strategic alliance partner, Xeriant Europe s.r.o., has signed a purchase agreement for its XERI lubricant products in Australia. The sales contract follows the successful testing of XERI s revolutionary anti-friction green lubricant on an Australian brand of electrically-powered scooters. The contract between Xeriant Europe s.r.o., based in Prague, Czech Republic, and Fatboy Scooters Australia, based in Queensland, Australia, outlines the terms of a minimum annual purchase of 4,000,000 CZK ($186,000 USD) of its XERI lubricants for use in its line of Fatboy Scooters and its electric bicycle and scooter repair and maintenance facility. These scooters are also sold in Europe. XERI lubricants have been applied on virtually every mechanical component of our scooters, from the bearings to the brake calipers, with great results. We have trialed XERI-MC and XERI-L in the main drive motor and found a reduction in noise, smoother operation and an increase in power due to less friction between parts, which has lowered battery consumption and increased the scooters range and speed. With our beachside location, XERI lubricants have preserved critical points where rust may start. We use XERI products exclusively on our premium line of scooters, in our repair shop, and for other equipment and vehicles, and are super impressed, commented Fatboy Scooters Australia CEO, Paul Milburn. Xeriant Aerospace and Xeriant Europe have been working together to source and secure high-potential environmentally responsible products and technologies in the Czech Republic and are finalizing the acquisition of Xeriant Europe by Xeriant Aerospace. Xeriant Europe s.r.o. recently launched a line of next-generation metal conditioners and lubricants under the brand names XERI-MC and XERI-L, which are in the process of being tested and sold worldwide to a broad range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, industrial manufacturing and maritime. The sale of our XERI eco-friendly lubricants in Australia is a testament to their effectiveness and indicates their potential as a major player in this growing segment of the lubricants market. We are planning a visit to the Fatboy Scooters manufacturing plant in China to discuss incorporating our XERI-MC and XERI-L lubricants in the fabrication and assembly process, stated Henry Biza, CEO of Xeriant Europe. According to a 2019 study by research firm Future Market Insights, the global two-wheeler lubricants market size was $13.7 billion in 2018 and is forecasted to grow an average of 4 percent annually for the period from 2019 through 2029. The emergence of electrically-powered two-wheeled vehicles which includes motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and bicycles, as a primary mode of transportation in developing nations has increased considerably, particularly in cities with traffic-related issues. The South Asia and Oceania regions are expected to account for more than half of the total share of the global two-wheeler lubricants market by the end of the forecast period. The Oceania region covers 14 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. Manufacturers are heavily investing in the development of technologies that not only ensure better fuel efficiency and emissions but also maintains high-friction hardware protection and durability. Our goal with the exclusive licensing agreements is to generate near-term revenue and profitability, each with enormous potential. The XERI brand of sustainable nanotech lubricants continues to demonstrate its effectiveness in a wide array of applications. We are looking forward to announcing the successful results from other tests of XERIs anti-friction formulas, stated Xeriant CEO, Keith Duffy. About Fatboy Scooters Australia Fatboy Scooters Australia is located in Queensland, Australia and imports a line of lithium battery powered electric scooters for distribution throughout Europe and Australia. The company also provides maintenance and repair services, and supplies spare parts, batteries, tires for Fat Tyre, City Co-Co and Fatboy Scooters brands of electric scooters, bicycles and mopeds at its facilities. About Xeriant Europe Xeriant Europe s.r.o., headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, was founded with the purpose of uncovering leading-edge green technologies with applications in aerospace, primarily from the Czech Republic, and promoting them on the world market, especially in the U.S. The companys focus is on unique products that are either already being sold or are close to commercialization. About Xeriant Xeriant, Inc. (d.b.a. Xeriant Aerospace) is a holding and operating company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing revolutionary, eco-friendly technologies with applications in aerospace, including innovative aircraft concepts targeting emerging opportunities within the aviation industry. In 2019, Xeriant acquired a unique, scalable, multi-purpose VTOL aerial platform called Halo, which is protected under a broad utility patent. Xeriant is located at the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida adjacent to the Boca Raton Airport. The Company is an OTC Markets public company trading under the stock symbol, XERI. For more information, please go to www.xeriant.com SAFE HARBOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Xeriant, Inc. is hereby providing cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements (as defined in such act). Any statements that are not historical facts and that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, indicated through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, will continue, is anticipated, estimated, intends, plans, believes and projects) may be forward-looking and may involve estimates and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, our expectations concerning our ability to attract investors. We caution that the factors described herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we make and that investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. XERIANT, INC. CORPORATE Investor Relations: Matt Chipman (818) 923-5302 IR@xeriant.com www.xeriant.com The Ministry of Finance is required to raise Shs 165 billion for the procurement of new vehicles for the 527 members of the 11th Parliament before the end of this month. However, its under the discretion of MPs to buy cars or use the money for other expenses. Under the Budget Frame work paper presented by the ministry of finance before the Parliament's Budget Committee, the expenditure on MPs cars will be funded through tax policy and administrative measures. "Vehicles of MPs are one of the items that are not funded. The whole basis of the budget of next financial year is actually the third National Development Plan (NDPIII). The NDP III has set out priorities and things which we believe are very critical for reviving the economy to address the impact of Covid-19. A totality of all those things has been reviewed and I believe that recommendations will be given. Financing of MPs will also be seen in that context," Mr Kenneth Mugambe, the director budget at Ministry of Finance told NTV on Tuesday. On average, each of the MPs will be given Shs313 million. This includes cars for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Parliamentary Commissioners. "There's no way members in the 11th Parliament cannot be facilitated with transport so they are going to consider that," said West Budama North MP, Mr Richard Othieno. In 2016, Parliament spent Shs7.9 billion in the same procurement with each MP's vehicle costing Shs150 million. According to projections, the Parliamentary budget is expected to rise from Shs667 billion in this financial year to Shs770 billion in the 2021/2022 financial year. On average, each MP earns between Shs25 million and Shs30 million every month, depending on how far their constituency is from the Parliamentary building in Kampala. Out of the monthly pay, Shs4.5 million is for subsistence allowance, Shs 1 million is for town running allowance, Shs1 million is for gratuity, Shs500,000 is for medical allowance while committee sitting allowance is Shs50,000. Additionally, each MP receives Shs150,000 for plenary sitting allowance. Each MP will also be given a new iPad after swearing in. In 2016, the House spent Shs3.6 million on each of the iPads totaling to Shs1.8 billion. As the numbers of MPs continue to surge, the House is expanding the parliamentary chambers at a cost of Shs206 billion, to accommodate over 600 legislators. Source: monitor.co.uk 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 Gift provides scholarship support for students at Flagler College Late last year, Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinnes godson, Eric Nelson, presented President Joseph G. Joyner with a $100k generous gift from Dr. Kinnes estate. The gift will be added to an endowed scholarship fund, established in 2003, which bears her name. A distinguished educator, Kinne was president of Jacksonville University from 1979-1989, Chancellor from 1989-1994 and Chancellor Emeritus until her death in 2019. She received her doctor of philosophy from University of Frankfurt, in Germany, and an honorary degree from Flagler College, for her exemplary service to the college. The recent gift to Flagler follows a long history of her fondness for and connection with Flagler and its administration, staff, faculty and students. A resident of St. Augustine since 1958, she reported eating with her husband in the Hotel Ponce de Leon dining room, years before the college was founded. The Frances Bartlett Kinne Endowed Scholarship is awarded to students who are entering their first-year and were members of their high school National Honor Society. Recipients must also have demonstrated exemplary character, service, and leadership while in high school. To date, eight students have benefitted from the Kinne scholarship. Kinne was the commencement speaker for fall graduates of Flagler in 1999. She continued to be active in Flaglers funding initiatives, in providing administrative cheerleading and in genuinely remaining connected to the students she helped through 2019 when she was 102. Mr. Nelson, her godson and cousin shared, Fran was a multi-talented pianist who could play by ear as well as play the ink as the saying goes. But for all her many talents and accomplishments, perhaps the most inspiring is how she treated everyone with the utmost respect and dignity, regardless of their position. She was genuinely interested in everyone around her, and always had encouraging words to share. For information on the Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne gift and scholarship, please reach out to Director of Major and Planned Gifts, Nicole D. Pece at npece@flagler.edu or by calling 904-819-6406. Tagged As BRUSSELS Frontex, the European Union agency responsible for monitoring the blocs external borders, announced on Wednesday that it was suspending operations in Hungary, which has ignored a court order to bring its asylum practices in line with European Union law. In a December 2020 ruling, the Court of Justice of the European Union determined that the Hungarian practice of denying asylum seekers protection and removing them to Serbia violated E.U. law. But Hungary has refused to end its policy, known as pushback, and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group based in Budapest, estimates that nearly 4,500 people have been expelled from the country since last December, in direct defiance of the courts ruling. Amid this standoff, Frontex decided to pull out of Hungary, the first time the agency has left an E.U. member state. Pioneering research into how our bodies manufacture the cells that make blood has moved us closer to regrowing tissues and organs. The findings also may let doctors grow the cells for transplantation into people to battle cancer, blood disorders and autoimmune diseases. Researcher Karen K. Hirschi, PhD, of the Department of Cell Biology and the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, has developed a simple and efficient way to generate "hemogenic endothelial cells." These cells are the first step in the production line of blood cells, and Hirschi's new findings provide a blueprint for creating them outside the body. "By studying how hemogenic endothelial cells develop normally, we gain insights needed to generate them in the lab," Hirschi said. "Now that we have established a method to produce human hemogenic endothelial cells outside of the body, we will continue to improve their production and function as we learn more about the mechanisms that promote their normal development." Building Blood-Making Factories Hirschi's latest work, published in a pair of scientific papers, offers important insights into how hemogenic endothelial cells form and how they ultimately give rise to the cells that directly manufacture blood throughout our lives. Writing in the prestigious journal Science, she and her team reveal a key trigger that causes the endothelial cells to "transdifferentiate," or turn into blood-making factories, during embryonic development. These blood-making (i.e. hemogenic) endothelial cells generate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) that have long been used for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Typically, they are taken from sources such as an individual's bone marrow, but doctors would like to be able to manufacture them quickly and easily for patients on demand. "Generating human hemogneic endothelial cells in the lab from each patient that needs HSPC is the first step toward patient therapies for blood disorders," Hirschi said. In a paper published nearly simultaneously in Cell Reports, Hirschi unveils a blueprint for creating the hemogenic endothelial cells, the source of HSPCs, outside the body. The secret is a substance called retinoic acid. You may have heard of retinoic acid in association with beauty products, but in this case its responsibilities include triggering genes to cause "hematopoietic transition" - to put more vascular endothelial cells in the business of making blood by producing HSPCs. The new insights provided by the work "will improve our ability to apply developmental insights to the generation of distinct endothelial cell subtypes for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine," the researchers write in their new paper. "In addition, our system could likely be developed further to optimize the generation of transplantable HSPCs from human hemogenic endothelial cells for clinical therapies." The approach offers several advances over existing means, including being quicker and less expensive, the researchers note. "We hope our continued efforts will move us closer to treating both vascular and blood disorders," Hirschi said. "These studies highlight the importance of basic cell and developmental biology research as a foundation for devising strategies for patient-specific clinical therapies." Hirschi was recruited from Yale in 2019 to join the faculty in the Department of Cell Biology, which has long been interested in addressing how embryos develop and applying this basic knowledge to the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues and organs. ### Findings Published The Science paper was authored by Dionna M. Kasper, Jared Hintzen, Yinyu Wu, Joey J. Ghersi, Hanna K. Mandl, Kevin E. Salinas, William Armero, Zhiheng He, Ying Sheng, Yixuan Xie, Daniel W. Heindel, Eon Joo Park, William C. Sessa, Lara K. Mahal, Carlito Lebrilla, Hirschi and Stefania Nicoli. The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants F32HL132475, U54DK106857, 1K99HL141687, R01HL130246, R56DK118728, R01HL146056. R01HL128064, R01DK118728 and R01GM049077) and the American Heart Association (grants 19PRE34380749 and19TPA34890046). The research team responsible for the Cell Reports paper consisted of Jingyao Qiu, Sofia Nordling, Hema H. Vasavada, Eugene C. Butcher and Hirschi. That work was supported by NIH grants HL128064, U2EB017103, R01-AI130471 and R01-CA228019; CT Innovations grant 15-RMB-YALE-04; Department of Veterans Affairs Merit Review award I01BX002919; the Swedish Society for Medical Research; and a Stanford Dean's Fellowship. [January 28, 2021] Clearlake Capital Completes Acquisition Of nThrive's Technology Division SANTA MONICA, Calif. and ALPHARETTA, Ga., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Clearlake"), today announced that it has completed its acquisition of nThrive's Technology Division ("nThrive Technology" or the "Company"), a leading healthcare revenue cycle management ("RCM") software-as-a-service ("SaaS") platform, from nThrive Holdings, LP ("nThrive"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. nThrive Technology is a leading healthcare RCM SaaS platform, offering patient access, charge integrity, claims management, contract management, machine learning & robotic process automation, data & analytics and education software solutions to more than 900 hospitals and health systems in North America, including 37 of the 40 largest healthcare providers in the U.S. The Company's end-to-end software platform helps healthcare organizations increase revenue, reduce costs, expand cash collections and ensure regulatory compliance. "We are excited to partner with Clearlake in our next stage of growth as an independent company," said Sloan Clardy, CEO of nThrive Technology. "Through this partnership, Clearlake will bring fresh capital and perspectives from their experience working with other high-performance SaaS companies. Through both organic and inorganic growth strategies, I believe this partnership will help position nThrive Technology as a market leader in the revenue cycle technology space, delivering innovation for our healthcare customers and users." "We are impressed by nThrive Technology's unparalleled SaaS platform, and we look forward to supporting Sloan and the management team as we build on the Company's strong foundation, both organically and through acquisition," said Behdad Eghbali, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and PaulHuber, Principal, of Clearlake. "nThrive Technology is an exciting addition to Clearlake's healthcare IT portfolio, and we continue to view the sector favorably as cloud-based, purpose-built vertical solutions automate provider and payer workflows, driving revenue and lowering spend. We look forward to leveraging our O.P.S. approach to support the management team and the Company's many talented employees in continuing to provide best-in-class healthcare RCM software solutions to the customer base." "Healthcare providers and payers are faced with an increasing amount of stringent and complex regulatory requirements, including the ongoing shift to value-based care, in addition to a challenging operating environment," said Vikram Abraham, Vice President at Clearlake. "We believe nThrive Technology's leading software solutions uniquely position the Company to address these market trends and accelerate its growth trajectory." About Clearlake Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is a leading investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with world-class management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are technology, industrials and consumer. Clearlake currently has approximately $25 billion of assets under management and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 200 investments. The firm has offices in Santa Monica and Dallas. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @ClearlakeCap. About nThrive Technology nThrive provides leading healthcare revenue cycle management SaaS solutions, offering patient access, charge integrity, claims management, contract management, machine learning & robotic process automation, data & analytics and education software solutions to more than 900 hospitals and health systems in North America, including 37 of the 40 largest healthcare providers in the U.S. nThrive Technology's end-to-end software platform helps healthcare organizations increase revenue, reduce costs, expand cash collections, and ensure regulatory compliance across the entire revenue cycle continuum. For more information on nThrive Technology, please visit https://www.nthrive.com/solutions/technology/ Clearlake Media Contact Lambert & Co. Jennifer Hurson 845-507-0571 jennifer@blicksilverpr.com nThrive Technology Media Contact Audra Murphy 717-476-4864 amurphy@nthrive.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clearlake-capital-completes-acquisition-of-nthrives-technology-division-301217014.html SOURCE Clearlake Capital Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] I encourage all film makers to find and engage with First Nations peoples whenever shooting your films, Taika Waititi writes on Instagram. Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth are working on Thors next film (Thor : Love and Thunder) and have both shared pictures of a Welcome to Country ceremony. Taika even encouraged other filmmakers to engage in meeting with indiginous people when filming in another country. Its worth it and its the right thing to do. Mauri Ora! Founded in Marseille in 2010, JOTT is a leading French urban casualwear brand offering functional, comfortable, and versatile clothes, most notably its distinct line of light down jackets. With significant brand awareness and visibility in France, JOTT currently distributes its comprehensive collections of casual outerwear and accessory products through a network of concept stores as well as wholesale clients. The brand has been a forerunner in the advent of the premium urban casualwear concept through stylish, high-quality, and affordable products that can be worn in multiple occasions, and is well positioned to accelerate its growth across Europe and Asia . Patrick Gourdikian, JOTT President, said, "We are thrilled to partner with L Catterton to further develop JOTT as a leading omnichannel brand with an expanded footprint across Europe and Asia. L Catterton shares the same vision for JOTT and passion for building distinctive brands in the apparel segment. With L Catterton's support and expertise in scaling and operating apparel brands globally, we will continue to capture JOTT's strong brand loyalty among customers and drive our business through its next phase of growth." In conjunction with this announcement, Didier Lalance has been named CEO of JOTT. He brings nearly 30 years of management experience and a strong track record of growth at leading apparel and luxury brands, including Lacoste, Kering and ASICS. Eduardo Velasco, Partner of L Catterton Europe, said, "Partnering with JOTT, its visionary founders, and staff is a fantastic opportunity to further develop one of France's most iconic brands in the premium casual outerwear space. In just a few years, JOTT has become a leader in its market segment with distinctive and colourful clothing, and an efficient multichannel distribution strategy, which will all continue to be key pillars of its business model going forward. We are excited with Didier joining this amazing project alongside us to support JOTT's future growth." Mr. Lalance said, "For more than a decade, the entire JOTT team has been committed to building a brand with the power to span across categories, geographies, and generations. I am excited to join the JOTT family and partner with L Catterton to expand the JOTT brand globally." L Catterton has significant experience investing in apparel brands globally. Current and past apparel investments include GANT, SMCP (Sandro Maje Claudie Pierlot), ba&sh, Sweaty Betty, GANNI, Charles & Keith, and Rhone, among others. About JOTT Founded in 2010 by two cousins, Nicolas and Mathieu Gourdikian, who sought to create the best light down jacket ever designed, JOTT is an inclusive brand that has developed quickly by combining comfort and style without compromise. The brand's product designs are both functional and in line with today's versatile way of life, catering to all occasions, ages and lifestyles. JOTT is distributed through 100 concept stores across France, Spain, Portugal, Benelux, Switzerland and China and is present in more than 1,000 point of sales globally. JOTT has become the category champion in the light outerwear jacket segment in France and is on track to become an iconic global brand. For more information, please visit justoverthetop.com. About L Catterton With over $22 billion of equity capital across its fund strategies and 17 offices around the world, L Catterton is the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm. L Catterton's team of nearly 200 investment and operating professionals partners with management teams around the world to implement strategic plans to foster growth, leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence, and a broad partnership network. Since 1989, the firm has made over 200 investments in leading consumer brands. For more information about L Catterton, please visit www.lcatterton.com. Media Enquiries L Catterton Andi Rose / Tim Ragones Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher +1 212-355-4449 SOURCE L Catterton COLUMBIA Richland One students have clarity about when theyll be head back into classrooms as a districtwide month of all virtual learning wraps up. The states ninth largest school district will resume in-person instruction Feb. 1, Superintendent Craig Witherspoon said Wednesday. Elementary school students get back behind desks four days a week, while middle and high school ones return to a schedule that has them in classrooms twice a week. As of Jan. 25, the district reported 37 active coronavirus cases among students and staff, and more than 1,700 have been quarantined since the school year began in September. Those numbers may seem comparatively small in a district with more than 26,000 students and staff, but commissioners said during a Tuesday night board meeting that rushing back could be detrimental in the long run. I think we have to do this responsibly and in the right order. When the vaccine supply is increased, Im pretty confident that well get there, and I just want to use caution about imitating these neighboring districts that are deciding to go back in person, commissioner Angela Clyburn said. Their teachers are responding, and not all of them good, so we have to be deliberate. Witherspoon said his decision to extend online learning through the first month of year was driven by disease transmission rates and staffing shortages that already existed prior to the winter recess. Officials hoped to resume a mix of in-person and online classes by Jan. 19. We know in some places there have been a number of teacher resignations, there's been some of those things so one of the reasons we're trying to be as deliberative as possible so that, how do we avoid some of those things if at all possible, Witherspoon said. We want to provide options and opportunity, but what's the side effect of that?" Administrators said Tuesday they explored the idea of a third option that would involve livestream classes in real-time and allowing students to learn from home, but the concept was eventually scrapped because of scheduling and logistical challenges. Area school districts are gradually returning to full-time classroom instruction. The 17,500-student Lexington-Richland 5 system launches five-day learning Feb. 1 marking the first time in nearly a year thats been able to happen. Meanwhile, Richland Two moved back to hybrid model on Jan. 19. Witherspoon said resuming normal operations is the goal, and waved off critics who have accused the district of acting too slowly. "We do have to look at this thing holistically. We don't an exodus of teachers, we don't want to close School A because staff isn't there and tomorrow, it's School B, he said. Its simply not the case administrators are avoiding a five-day return to classrooms, Witherspoon added. A fledgling system north of Tel Aviv has three drones making six test runs a day from a Pizza Hut to designated parking lots, where drivers pick up the meals and deliver them the "last mile." Why it matters: All signs point to a future in which systems like this are ubiquitous across America, with food and merchandise shuttled overhead to centralized landing hubs (as opposed to your doorstep or balcony). The big picture: UPS, Alphabet, FedEx, Amazon, Walmart and other giants are pressing forward with plans for delivery-by-drone, a market that Deloitte predicts will represent $115 billion annually by 2035 (if you include cargo drones and urban taxis). "We need flying burgers," Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was quoted as saying when Uber Eats and McDonald's tried drone delivery in San Diego in 2019. Momentum is building in the U.S., as are early-days experiments: Verizon and UPS plan to deliver goods by drone to The Villages in Florida. The FAA just gave its first approval to a Massachusetts company to fly fully automated drones (with no pilot steering from the ground). Companies are gearing up to deliver COVID-19 vaccines by drone. But, but, but: Axios readers aren't thrilled with our drone-filled future, judging from reactions to an Axios article and post that blew up my LinkedIn feed. People remonstrated about noise, privacy, government surveillance, and the potential for package theft, vandalism or even terrorism. How it works in Israel: For just over a month, Pizza Hut Israel has been working with a restaurant logistics company called Dragontail Systems to test delivery by drone from a single store in Bnei Dror. (The WSJ covered this first.) In June, they plan a commercial rollout involving 12 drones, each with two parachutes (lest they fall and bonk people on the head). So far, weather has been the biggest snag the drones don't fly in heavy wind or rain. For now, the drones can only carry about 5.5 pounds "It's about two pizzas and a Coke," Udi Shamai, president of Pizza Hut Israel, told me. The 'za gets packed in a thermal sleeve to keep it warm. On the plus side: When there's heavy traffic on the ground, the drones will get your pizza there faster, Ido Levanon, founder and CEO of Dragontail Systems, told me. Customers can use a tracker to follow their pizza's progress from oven to air to delivery bike (or car). Levanon envisions U.S. food deliveries soaring over bodies of water restaurants in New Jersey flying meals across the Hudson River to customers in Manhattan, for instance. What's next: Dragontail has delivery deals with Papa John's and Sweetgreen. New Zealand has managed the coronavirus pandemic best in the world with Australia in eighth behind the likes of Rwanda and Cyprus. Rankings by the Lowy Institute's Covid Performance Index judged 98 countries on their management of the pandemic after their hundredth confirmed case. New Zealand was ranked as the world's most effective handler, recording only 25 deaths and 2,295 cases. New Zealand has been ranked as the best country to manage the COVID-19 pandemic (pictured: cars lining up at a testing station in Auckland) Vietnam came in second place with a population of 70 million, followed by Taiwan, Thailand, Cyprus, and Rwanda. Australia was just ahead of Singapore, Finland and Norway - well ahead of most European countries that are gripped by a deadly second wave. The worst performing country was Brazil, with over 8.9 million cases and over 200,000 deaths to date. Brazil is just ahead of Mexico, Columbia, Iran and the United States, who together suffered more than 30 million Covid-19 cases. The research discovered that structural factors such as an advanced economy or political system did not give countries an advantage. Brazil was ranked as the worst country for their pandemic management, coming in at 98 (pictured: people wearing face masks in Rio de Janeiro) Brazil has over 8.9 million recorded cases of COVID-19 with over 200,000 deaths to date, causing for mass lockdowns across the country (pictured: Protestors in Brazil over new lockdown laws) 'The results basically show that neither democracies nor authoritarian states did better than the other,' Lowy Institute researcher Ms Leng told The Australian. Most notably the United States landed in 94th place, with more than 400,000 deaths and 25 million recorded cases. The Lowy Institute found a lot of 'quiet achievers' outperformed in their pandemic management, as countries with a population of less than 10 million generally came out on top. 'In general, countries with smaller populations, cohesive societies and capable institutions have a comparative advantage in dealing with a global crisis such as a pandemic,' Ms Leng said. Vietnam came in seconding place behind New Zealand for their management of the pandemic (pictured: Vietnamese doctors administering the 'Nano Covax' vaccine) With a population of 70 million, Vietnam was ranked in the top five countries for their response of Covid-19 (pictured: Vietnamese doctors preparing the 'Nano Covax' vaccine) Despite Australia's population surpassing 10 million, the ability to establish strict domestic and international borders was a feat not many countries could manage. Australian will continue its strict border policies, suspending the Trans-Tasman travel bubble on Monday. after New Zealand recorded three new cases. Health authorities will reach a decision whether to continue the exclusive travel bubble with New Zealand, that allows travellers to skip hotel quarantine. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said health experts are waiting on more details from New Zealand about the new cases before deciding to resume flights into Australia. Australia came in the top eight countries in the world for their management of the global virus, with restrictions now slowly being relaxed for public gatherings (pictured: plice patrolling gatherings at Gordon Bay) Australia's management of the pandemic saw multiple testing facilities built in designated 'hot spot' areas 'We'll be getting further advice, we expect, overnight from our colleagues in New Zealand and a decision will be made tomorrow,' he said. The Lowy Institute's study measured key indicators including confirmed cases, deaths, cases per million people, deaths per million people and cases a proportion of tests. China was not included because none of its testing rates are publicly available. A defense ministry spokesperson said Thursday the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will take all necessary measures to crush any attempt to split Taiwan from China, warning that "Taiwan independence" means war. "Those who play with fire will only burn themselves," Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference in a stern warning to separatist forces advocating "Taiwan independence." The PLA's recent military activities in the Taiwan Strait were a solemn response to interference from external forces and provocations from "Taiwan independence" forces, said Wu, adding that they were necessary actions amid the current security situation across the Strait to safeguard national sovereignty and security. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the Taiwan question falls under China's internal affairs and brooks no interference from any external forces, said Wu. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Griffon Corp. (GFF) on Thursday reported a surge in net income for the first quarter to $29.5 million or $0.55 per share from $10.6 million or $0.24 per share in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted earnings for the quarter were $0.56 per share, compared to $0.36 per share in the previous-year quarter. Net sales for the quarter rose to $609.29 million from $548.44 million last year. On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.32 per share for the quarter on revenues of $573.82 million. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. In November 2019, Griffon said it has developed a next-generation business platform for Consumer and Professional Products or CPP to enhance the growth, efficiency, and competitiveness of its U.S. operations. Griffon announced in November 2020 that it broadened this strategic initiative to include additional North American facilities, the AMES UK and Australia businesses, and a manufacturing facility in China. The company noted that expanding the roll-out of the new business platform from its AMES U.S. operations to include AMES' global operations will extend the duration of the project by one year, with completion now expected by the end of calendar year 2023. When fully implemented, these actions will result in annual cash savings of $30 million to $35 million, and a reduction in inventory of $30 million to $35 million, both based on fiscal 2020 operating levels. The company added that the cost to implement this new business platform, over the duration of the project, will include one-time charges of about $65 million and capital investments of about $65 million. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX GRIFFON-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de "We still expect a growth of 10% for this year . There will be a small downturn in February, of course, but the priority is public health, and all these preventive measures are geared towards such priority. The strength of the Peruvian economy is not under discussion," the minister commented. "As Cabinet members, we believe in the need to make an economic sacrifice to protect public health at this moment," he emphasized. He went on to say that the adopted measures respect the fiscal responsibility that the Government has stipulated so that the next administration can inherit a healthy economy. "We hope that the impact will be smaller, but the strength of the Peruvian economy ensures that the economic recovery will be as strong as it has been so far," he said. Vaccine effect The minister affirmed that the vaccine is the only element that will transcend the dichotomy between public health and the economy. "The vaccine not only leads to an improvement in public health, but also in the economic situation. The Government's objective focuses on this, and we are sure that if something concrete comes up, it will be disclosed by President Sagasti," Mendoza stated. According to the high-ranking official, the current administration works responsibly on different scenarios from the most moderate to the most pessimistic one as well as on actions and measures to be applied in each of them. So, "the population can rest assured." (END) VLA/SDD/RMB/MVB Loading... European law enforcement brought an end to the botnet Emotet this week after an international campaign took out the global infrastructure running the malware. In a statement, Europol said law enforcement agencies from around the world coordinated an effort codenamed Operation Ladybird to take control of the hundreds of servers running Emotet. The infrastructure that was used by Emotet involved several hundreds of servers located across the world, all of these having different functionalities in order to manage the computers of the infected victims, to spread to new ones, to serve other criminal groups, and to ultimately make the network more resilient against takedown attempts, Europol said. To severely disrupt the EMOTET infrastructure, law enforcement teamed up together to create an effective operational strategy. The infected machines of victims have been redirected towards this law enforcement-controlled infrastructure. Beginning as a banking trojan in 2014, Emotet spread through phishing emails containing malware-laden attachments. The botnet leveraged infected accounts and machines to grow and was often used by cybercriminals to steal credentials, escalate access, or drop ransomware. Germanys Central Office for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT) said 17 servers were seized in the country during the operation. The smashing of the Emotet infrastructure represents a significant blow against internationally organized internet crime and at the same time a significant improvement in cybersecurity in Germany, the ZIT said in a statement. Ukraines national police force released footage of their raid on an Emotet infrastructure site which shows dusty, run-down rooms filled with computer hardware and stacks of cash. Ukrainian police said the bad actors will face up to 12 years in prison. Other members of an international hacker group who used the infrastructure of the Emotet bot network to conduct cyberattacks have also been identified, they said in a statement. Measures are being taken to detain them. The dirty underbelly of Emotet malware. Source: Ukrainian National Police Dutch police said they used their hacking powers to infiltrate the Emotet infrastructure knocking out two of the botnets main servers located in the Netherlands. More than 1 million computer systems infected by Emotet are known worldwide, Dutch police said in a statement. In addition, 600,000 e-mail addresses with passwords were found in the investigation. Authorities in the Netherlands have released a tool you can use to check if your email address was compromised by Emotet. Emotet was discovered on the Australian Parliaments IT system in late 2019 as a wave of the malware activity wreaked havoc on Australian organisations and infrastructure. Last year, Emotet briefly became a laughing stock when someone changed its malicious payload to harmless gifs of James Franco. A program, under which senior people living alone take care of students who are not their grandchildren while the parents are still at work, has proved useful both in relieving the pressure of working parents and reducing loneliness of senior people. The charity program was initiated by a neighborhood in Chengdu, southwest Chinas Sichuan province. Besides picking up the students after school, the senior people also cook dinner for them and help them with homework. All services are not charged. Senior people take care of children whose parents are still at work. (Photo/Chengdu.cn) Yang Qiong, founder of the project, said the idea came from a personal experience of hers. The 33-year-old community worker has two children who would be unattended after school when she and her husband were still at work. One day, she asked a senior cleaner in her community to take care of the children and found that the three had a good time together. With both parents at work, some children become unattended after school, and some would even fall asleep on fitness facilities in our community while doing homework, Yang said, disclosing that several senior people told her that they wanted to do something for the community. Considering that many of the senior people may feel bored living alone, she decided to give the idea a try. After doing a rough calculation, she learned that 40 percent of students in the neighborhood were unattended after school, and their parents strongly hoped that this problem could be solved. When she proposed the project in July 2019, senior people actively applied for the job. In the end, more than 20 female seniors with plenty of free time, who were physically and mentally healthy and willing to help, joined the project. According to Yang, the female seniors take care of 30 to 40 children a day, providing services such as picking them up after school and helping them do homework. The community also arranged volunteers to help the senior people with the work. A senior person surnamed Zhang, who lives alone, was the first to sign up for the project. Though Im old, I still want to do things for the community within my capabilities, she said, adding that she has become happier after joining the program. Families receiving help have repaid the goodwill with greater kindness by visiting the senior people, buying vegetables and cooking dinners for them during the weekends. A protest in the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh was also vacated on Wednesday. Farmers at Baghpat accused the police of using lathicharge to disperse the agitators, but the police said that the site was cleared after talks with the farmers Tension prevailed at the Ghazipur farmers' protest site after the Ghaziabad administration ordered the protesting farmers to vacate the area by Thursday night. Reports said that personnel of the Rapid Action Force have been deployed at the site along with a "huge" contingent of the Uttar Pradesh Police. However, farmers have refused to adhere to the police's "ultimatum", with Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Rakesh Tikait saying, "We are ready to go to jail for this but the agitation should go on." He also said that the farmers are "ready to face bullets if needed", NDTV reported. "We'll continue our sit-in protest and will not vacate site till talks with government are held. Administration has removed basic facilities including water and electricity supply. We'll get water from our villages," he said. "The Supreme Court has justified the peaceful sit-in. There has been no violence on the Ghazipur border. Despite this, the government is adopting a repressive policy. It is the face of the Uttar Pradesh government," Tikait added. Additionally, farmer leader Jagtar Singh Bajwa was quoted by The Caravan as saying, "We are peaceful people, running this agitation peacefully. The police has tried to instigate us again and again." The Caravan report added that the Uttar Pradesh Police has "made its intention to vacate the site by Thursday evening clear". Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered all the district magistrates and senior police officials to ensure the end of all the farmers' protests in the state. #FarmerProtests Update | Hundreds of UP Police personnel have entered the Ghazipur site. The police has made clear its intention to clear the site this evening. Photographs by @shahidtantray and @cknotok. #Ghazipur #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/DkGH8HToDY The Caravan (@thecaravanindia) January 28, 2021 Reports also said that the Ghaziabad authorities have served a notice to the farmers under Section 133 of the CrPC, which is a charge of "conditional order for removal of nuisance". A protest in the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh was also vacated on Wednesday night. Protesting farmers at Baghpat accused the police of using lathicharge to disperse the agitators, but the police said that the site was cleared after talks with the farmers. The authorities' action comes two days after violence broke out in the National Capital during the farmers' pre-planned tractor rally on Republic Day. Some groups of farmers broke away from the designated route approved for the rally and broke barricades to enter Delhi. They also entered the Red Fort and hoisted their own flag. Around 400 police personnel were injured in the violence. The police has filed 22 FIRs in connection with the episode. Earlier on Thursday, the Delhi Police issued a notice for Tikait asking why legal action should not be taken against him in connection to the violence that broke out in the course of the farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day (Tuesday). Reacting to the notice, Tikait was quoted as saying as saying, "I'll read the notice. They've given me three days time to reply... Farmers came here as responsibility of farmer unions and they take their responsibility. We had photographed the route given to us in writing. Police barricaded it and kept the route to Delhi free." "Someone goes there and hoists a flag, why was no firing done? Where was police? How did he go there? Police allowed him to leave and didn't arrest him. Nothing has been done even now. Who was the person who maligned an entire community and organisation?" he added. Now a bunch of people have arrived at #Ghazipurborder , raising slogans and asking farmers to vacate the protest site. UP Administration has in any case has issued an ultimatum to farmers here to clear the protest site by tonight. #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/XiGTyszYWZ Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) January 28, 2021 Locals protest against farmers agitating at Singhu site A similar situation arose at the Singhu border protest site, which is one of the epicentres of the two-month-long farmers' protest. A group of people claiming to be locals staged a protest at the Singhu border, demanding that the area be vacated following the Republic Day violence in the city. Heavy security has been deployed and "all entry points to the protest site were barricaded by security personnel, with farmers on one side and the locals on the other," The Hindu reported. Hindustan Times quoted the locals as saying that the farmers "insulted the Tricolour during the Republic Day tractor parade". The report added, "Many locals, part of anti-farmer protests, also said that they are facing hardships due to the farmers' agitation and want the roads to be cleared. Protesters had gathered from around 10 nearby villages." Protesters at UP's Baghpat accuse police of using force to clear site A farmers' protest against three farm laws of the Centre, which was being held on a national highway in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district since 19 December 2020, has come to an end with the protesters alleging use of force by police. The police, however, claimed that the matter was resolved through deliberations and the protesting farmers were sent home on Wednesday night. The protesters have alleged that police personnel entered their tents late on Wednesday night, used force on the sleeping farmers and chased them away. Thamba Chaudhary, Brijpal Singh, Baljaur Singh Arya, Vikram Singh and other farmers who took part in the protest on Thursday said their agitation against the farm laws was going on on one side of the national highway, PTI reported. Late on Wednesday night, a large number of police personnel entered their tents, resorted to lathicharge on the sleeping farmers and chased them away, they told reporters. Charging the police with adopting repressive measures, they claimed that their tents were uprooted. About 40 farmers were present at the spot at that time. Refuting the charges, Circle Officer Alok Singh said the protest ended after deliberations with the farmers and the police did not resort to lathicharge on the protesters. "Whatever happened was in agreement with those present there," he said, adding that the protesting farmers returned home peacefully. Delhi Police says Special Cell to probe R-Day violence The Delhi Police's Special Cell will investigate the "conspiracy" and "criminal designs" behind the violence during the farmers' tractor parade on 26 January, PTI reported. The Delhi Police claimed that there was a "pre-conceived" and "well coordinated" plan to break the agreement arrived at with farmer leaders to bring international embarrassment for the government on Republic Day. "The Special Cell is investigating the conspiracy and criminal designs behind these unfortunate events of 26 January. A preliminary assessment suggests there was a pre-conceived and well coordinated plan to break the agreement reached between Delhi Police and the leaders of farmers organisations, to indulge in violent confrontation with the security forces, to breach the sanctity of iconic and historical structures and monuments and to create an international embarrassment for the government on the occasion of the Republic Day," the police said in a statement. It further said a criminal case has been registered and is being investigated under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of IPC dealing with sedition. "The role and conduct of organisations and individuals based in India as well as those out of the country is being probed. Investigation is in progress and further details will be communicated in due course," it added. Delhi Police issues lookout notices against leaders named in FIRs The Delhi Police also issued lookout notices against farmer leaders named in an FIR in connection with the Republic Day violence. It asked the farmer leaders to submit their response within three days, explaining why legal action should not be taken against them as they did not follow conditions set for the parade. PTI quoted sources as saying that around nine crack teams have been formed to locate all the culprits. The farmer unions protesting against the three farm laws alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the violence. Police have named 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav and Medha Patkar, in the FIR that mentioned charges of attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy. Other farmer leaders who have been listed in the FIR are Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Chanduni, Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Satnam Singh Pannu, Joginder Singh Ugraha, Surjeet Singh Phool, Jagjeet Singh Dalewal, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harinder Singh Lakhoval. Additionally, the Delhi Police has registered a sedition case in connection with the violence at the Red Fort. According to a senior police officer, a case under section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered and the incident is being investigated. Meanwhile, Delhi border points remained under heavy police deployment on Thursday in the aftermath of the violence. Security personnel have also been deployed at the Red Fort. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points, demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws. With the purchase of 67 miles of permanent trail easements, the connectivity of snowmobile and off-road vehicle trails in the western Upper Peninsula is secured for future generations. The Department of Natural Resources recently bought 30-foot easements on several trail segments, including 56 miles primarily for snowmobiling and 11 miles for multi-use, for $985,969. This certainly is good news, said Ron Yesney, U.P. trails coordinator with the DNRs Parks and Recreation Division. Having permanent trail easements is an important advance for our western Upper Peninsula trail network. 56 miles to play The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently acquired 56 miles of 30-foot trail easements in Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron and Ontonagon counties for $832,969. Most of the trail segments are designated for snowmobile use.Michigan Department of Natural Resources The 56 miles of mostly snowmobiling trails are in Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron and Ontonagon counties. The DNR purchased 30-foot trail access along the route from the Keweenaw Land Association of Ironwood for $832,969. The transaction was funded through the Michigan Permanent Snowmobile Easement Fund. The land will be managed by the DNR in collaboration with seven snowmobile clubs and three off-road vehicle clubs. We are excited to work with the DNR to ensure that trails in the western Upper Peninsula are permanently available for future generations to enjoy, said Keweenaw Land Association President Mark Sherman. We recognize the important economic role that recreational trails play in our communities and we care about the viability of our communities and people. While most of the 56 miles is currently for snowmobile use, Yesney said the trail segments could be multi-use in the future. However, that would require a trail proposal process and permission for neighboring landowners. 11 miles to ride The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently acquired 11 miles of 30-foot trail easements in Ontonagon County for $153,000. The trail segments are designated for multi-use by snowmobiles and ORVs.Michigan Department of Natural Resources In a second deal to acquire 11 miles of 30-foot trail easement in Ontonagon County, the DNR paid $153,000 to Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands LLC of Hanover, N.H., with funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The trail is designated for multi-use, including snowmobiles and ORVs. It will be managed by the DNR with the MI-TRALE ORV Club and the North Country and Superior snowmobile clubs. The trail segment, which has been enjoyed for a long time, is an asset to the public and supports tourism, said Lyme Timber CEO Jim Hourdequin. We are pleased to have worked with the DNR to provide people a permanent place to recreate and experience the beauty of our natural resources, he said. Hourdequin also hinted that his company may sell more U.P. trail easements to the DNR in the future. READ MORE: Opposition to removal of 63 trees delays construction of fish sorting channel U.P. airport selected as command center for Michigans rocket launch sites How this End of Earth: 2 miles road sign became a part of Upper Peninsula lore The same day that a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and tried to stop Congress from certifying President Bidens electoral victory, the brother of Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York received several troubling text messages. Your brother is putting your entire family at risk with his lies and other words, one of the messages read, according to a criminal complaint. We are armed and nearby your house. You had better have a word with him. We are not far from his either. The message included a picture of a home near where Mr. Jeffriess brother, Hasan Jeffries, a history professor, lives. The source of the threats on Jan. 6 remained unclear until Tuesday, when federal authorities in New York City arrested a California man and charged him with sending those messages, among others. WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Thursday rescinded a regulation that barred U.S. foreign aid from being used to perform or promote abortions. His decision, while expected, was cheered by abortion-choice advocates and some humanitarian groups and denounced by anti-abortion groups. Bidens move came just a week after he was inaugurated and fulfills a campaign pledge to reverse a policy that previous Republican presidents, including his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, have instated immediately on taking office. The policy has been a political ping-pong ball, bouncing back and forth between Republican and Democratic presidents since it was first enacted in 1985 during former President Ronald Reagans second term. Like memoranda issued by President Clinton and President Obama before him, it immediately rescinds the global gag rule, also referred to as the Mexico City Policy, which bars international non-profits that provide abortion counseling or referrals from receiving U.S. funding, the White House said. Critics of the policy say it hurts womens reproductive health care and contributes to poverty worldwide. Supporters argue it is essential to preserve the sanctity of life. Trump had expanded the rule to include nearly all federal health funding, but its effects were felt most abroad, where U.S. assistance can be an essential part of a countrys health care spending. Although supporters of the policy argue that the overall amount of U.S. health care aid was not affected, critics maintained it contributed to a rise in pregnancy-related complications as well other issues by forcing some clinics to reduce broader health services, including for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases, if they wanted to retain funding. Reaction to Bidens decision was swift and sharp, even before it was officially announced. Abortion-rights groups and Democratic lawmakers hailed it as key to improving womens lives, while anti-abortion groups denounced it as immoral and unnecessary. The Global Gag Rule has had a sweeping effect on lifesaving health care in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is shameful that the Trump administration chose to not only implement but exponentially expand this ill-conceived policy to historic proportions. She called it an important first step to restore access to family planning services and mitigate the damage caused by an administration that pursued this dangerous policy without regard for its impact." Doctors Without Borders, which has spoken out against the Mexico City policy, welcomed the move but said more must be done to address the global health care crisis. While we are relieved to see a halt to this dangerous policy, there is much more work to do to mitigate the damage we have witnessed. Rescinding the Global Gag Rule is just a first step," it said. Millions of women still dont have access to safe abortion care because of restrictive laws, cost, stigma, a lack of trained providers, or other unnecessary barriers, such as mandatory waiting periods or misleading information. Anti-abortion groups were equally as strident in the condemnation. Funneling U.S. tax dollars to abortion groups overseas is an abhorrent practice that flies in the face of the unity Joe Biden and Kamala Harris promised to inspire, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which seeks to elect anti-abortion candidates to Congress and other offices. Echoing the comments of others, she blasted the Biden administration for once again allowing taxpayer money to fund abortions, maintaining the move was payback for a group of abortion industry giants that support the presidents campaign for president. Pushing abortion on other nations is not compassion, it is ideological neo-colonization, said Lila Rose of Live Action, a national anti-abortion group. This decision is a dark day for our nation it will lead to more deaths of more children and for that, Joe Biden should be ashamed. 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 ADVERTISEMENT A former presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said one way to achieve restructuring of Nigeria is for all parties calling for it to compromise in the interest of unity, peace, security and development of the country. This compromise, he said, should be initiated by the executive through a constitutional amendment bill dealing especially, in areas where there already exists a clear national consensus. Some of these areas he said are: creation of state and local government police, side by side with the federal police to make policing more efficient and to bolster national security He stated this in a statement on Wednesday. Mr Olawepo-Hashims comment comes about a week after former president, Goodluck Jonathan, former INEC boss, Attahiru Jega and ex-minister, John Nwodo, gave different views on restructuring Nigeria. The trio spoke at the Daily Trust Dialogue last week in Abuja. Mr Jega said the clamour for restructuring was ill-informed as existing states would nearly never give up their autonomy, and it might plunge the country into another bout of ethnographic tensions. Mr Nwodo, however, said Nigeria needs to be restructured because the constitutional history of the country shows that the only constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made by all the ethnic groups, were those of 1960 and 1963. The 1999 Constitution, he explained, overthrew the sovereignty of the regions over their national resources and domestic security unleashing in the process an unprecedented fall of education standards, domestic security, and economic well being. Mr Jonathan said the only restructuring needed in Nigeria is that of the mind. Another view But in Mr Olawepo-Hashims statement, he said amendment to enable states government to have some control over the development of all mineral resources in the inland basins, amendment to ensure concurrent jurisdiction of federal and state government over electricity generation, transmission and distribution and electoral reform clause to include electronic transmission of results from all level of results collations are necessary to achieve restructuring. He said, A simple Executive sponsored constitutional amendment bill narrowed to the aforementioned clearly defined items may get a resounding support if properly managed with the 36 Governors in Nigeria, as well as Speakers of the States Assembly. The requirements for 2/3rd support from the States Assembly of the federation will be achievable in order to meet the constitutional requirement of a valid amendment. Nigeria must move forward together in peace and harmony. National building will not be completed in one day. There will still be life after 2023 and I am optimistic that Nigeria will survive and other issues can be looked into after 2023 elections by the grace of God. Let there be compromise where there exists clear National consensus. He further said the only area where he sees no compromise is the agitation by extremists forces to dismember Nigeria. This comes on the heels of calls by some Nigerians, especially sociocultural groups, for the nation to be divided into regions as it was in the past. District 47 - West TN Northern DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over SR 211 in Dyersburg will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH. DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over the South Fork Forked Deer River will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55/45 MPH. Restrictions: Beginning January 25, 2021, Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12 6 lane restriction. DYER COUNTY, SR-20: The repair of bridge on US 412 (SR 20) over Hogwallow Road will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH. HENDERSON COUNTY (New Lexington By-Pass): The grading, drainage, construction of bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving on US 412 (SR 459) from US 412 (SR 20) west of Lexington to near SR 22 south of Lexington. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. HENRY COUNTY, SR-54: The grading, drainage, construction of bridges, retaining wall and paving on SR 54 from near Rison Street to near Smith Road. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH. OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 3): Grading, drainage, construction of bridges and paving on future I-69 from west of SR 21 to US 51 (SR 3) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Bethlehem Road north from Clifford Rives Road to Lindenwood Road will be closed. Claude Tucker Road north from Cloys Road to Section Line Road will be closed. Detour routes are posted. WEAKLEY COUNTY, US 45E (SR-43): The repair of bridge on US 45E (SR 43) over the North Fork Obion River and Overflow will cause possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. TDOT District 47 MAINTENANCE: Wednesday, January 27 through Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis. District 48 - West TN Middle/Southern CROCKETT COUNTY, SR-20 (US 412) (Non-TDOT work): Wednesday, January 27 through Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on SR 20 (US 412) east and westbound in Bells, TN at SR 88, for the installation of a turning lane in the median and shoulder upgrades. HARDIN COUNTY, SR-69: The construction of a Bulb Tee bridge over Doe Creek along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 69 at LM 10.06. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. HARDIN COUNTY, SR-128: The grading, drainage and paving on SR 128 from south of Pyburns Drive (LM 3.11) to north of SR 226 (Airport Road) (LM 6.54). Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. HAYWOOD COUNTY, SR-19 (Brownsville Bypass): The construction of an I-Beam bridge along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 19 (Brownsville Bypass) from east of SR 87 to west of Windrow Rd. One lane will remain. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH within the project limits. Shaw Chapel and King Road are closed at SR 19 and a detour put in place. Haralson St (Old SR19) will be closed at SR19 Bypass beginning Wednesday 11-4-2020 and a detour put in place. HENDERSON COUNTY, S.R. 22: The repair of the bridges on S.R. 22 over Big Beaver Creek (L.M. 19.51) and Little Beaver Creek (L.M. 20.01). Restrictions: Beginning February 1, 2020 there will be a 12 width restriction put in place. Motorists should watch for crews and equipment in the roadways. One lane will remain open in both directions. MADISON COUNTY, I-40: The widening of I-40 east of US 45 (SR 5) MM 82.0 to east of US 70 (SR 1) MM 87.0 in Jackson, including bridges, retaining walls and installation of TDOT Smartway Intelligent Transportation System. Wednesday, January 27 through Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Campbell St. will be down to one lane in each direction over I-40 for Phase 1 bridge construction activities. Friday, January 29, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 east and westbound will have intermittent left lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for hydro blasting and placing of barrier rail. Monday, February 1 and Tuesday, February 2, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 east and westbound will have intermittent right and left lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for hydro blasting and placing of barrier rail. Closed until Summer of 2021: Old Henderson Rd. Bridge over I-40 will be closed to thru traffic for Phase 1 bridge demolition activities. Detours will be posted for traffic. Closed until Summer of 2021: Watson Rd. Bridge over I-40 will be closed to thru traffic for Phase 1 bridge demolition activities. Detours will be posted for traffic. LOOK AHEAD Wednesday, February 3 through Wednesday, February 10, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Campbell St. will be down to one lane in each direction over I-40 for Phase 1 bridge construction activities. MADISON COUNTY, SR-186 (US 45 Bypass) and I-40: Interchange improvements on SR 186 (US 45) north and southbound from the I-40 ramps to Old Hickory Blvd for paving and construction of retaining walls. Widening of I-40 from just east of Exit 79 to just east of Exit 82. Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities. Monday, February 1 through Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities. Monday, February 1, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 eastbound will have intermittent left lane closures from mile marker 80 to mile marker 82 for repair of streetlights in the median. (BACKUP DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.) LOOK AHEAD Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities. Monday, February 8 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities. TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE: Wednesday, January 27 through Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis. HQ BRIDGE REPAIR AND INSPECTION: Wednesday, February 3, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be temporary closures on SR 1 (US 70) east and west bound for deck sounding at LM 26.89. District 49 - West TN Southwest FAYETTE COUNTY, SR-193: Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29: SR 193 at log mile 7.71 the roadway will be closed for removal of poor concrete channel slabs and placing new ones. Detour route will be posted FAYETTE COUNTY, SR-196: The repair of bridge over Shaw Creek will cause a lane closure with temporary traffic signal near MM 7.0. SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14 : The grading, drainage, construction of concrete Bulb-Tee and I-beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 14 from east of Old Covington Pike to SR 385 will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH. SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14 : Construction on SR 14 for a widening project from SR 385 to east of Kerrville Rosemark Rd. There will be possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. Access to SR 14 from McCalla Rd West will be permanently detoured to Donnell Rd. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH. SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205 : The addition of turn lanes on SR 205 (Airline Rd) from Brooks River Drive to south of I 40 will have lane closures throughout the project. Thursday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 205 north and southbound from Brooks River Drive (LM 15.75) to just south of I-40 (LM 16.07) to perform temporary road widening work. There will be one lane traffic with flaggers present at times. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH. Weather Permitting. TIPTON COUNTY, SR-59 : The Emergency Slide Repair of SR 59 near MM 1.0 will cause a road closure with full detour signed. TDOT District 49 On-Call Signing on various Interstates and State Routes Wednesday, January 27 through Tuesday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures to install overhead signs in Shelby County on I-240 westbound EXIT 21 to SR 4 (Lamar Ave.) Weather Permitting. Wednesday, January 27 through Tuesday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime lane closures to install overhead signs in Shelby County on I-240 westbound, MM 20.6MM 22.0, one lane will be CLOSED. LOOK AHEAD Wednesday, February 3 through Tuesday, February 9, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures to install overhead signs in Shelby County on I-240 westbound EXIT 21 to SR 4 (Lamar Ave.) Weather Permitting. TDOT District 49 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair: Thursday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be daytime lane closures at various locations on SR 195, MM 3.0-MM 3.4 (Fayette County), SR 3, MM 10.0MM 24.0 (Lauderdale County), SR 206, MM 2.3 (Tipton County), and on SR 59, MM 20.6 (Tipton County). One lane will be closed. Flagmen will be used to direct traffic. Weather Permitting. Wednesday, January 27 through Tuesday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on SR 3 (Shelby County), SR 385 (Shelby County), SR 14 (Shelby County), SR 15 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Shelby and Fayette Counties), I-55 and I-240. One lane will be CLOSED to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting. Wednesday, January 27 through Tuesday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-55 southbound EXIT 6B to I-240 northbound, I-240 westbound EXIT 25A to I-55 southbound, and the SR 385 westbound On ramp from Hacks Cross. Weather Permitting. LOOK AHEAD: Wednesday, February 3 through Tuesday, February 9, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-55 southbound EXIT 6B to I-240 northbound, I-240 westbound EXIT 25A to I-55 southbound, and the SR 385 westbound On ramp from Hacks Cross. Weather Permitting. TDOT District 49 MAINTENANCE : Thursday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis. From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT . As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation lost three workers in the line of duty. All three were struck by passing motorists. Those tragedies bring the total number of TDOT lives lost to 112. We dont want to lose another member of our TDOT family. Were asking you to WORK WITH US. Click on the WORK WITH US logo to learn more. Mumbai: Indian stocks plunged after hitting a record high last week, with the benchmark indices declining nearly 5% in the past four trading sessions. Benchmark indices lost 2% on Wednesday to end trading at the lowest level in nearly a month as the approaching budget left investors increasingly nervous. Concerns around elevated valuations of stocks may have also triggered the fall, analysts said. View Full Image Source: Bloomberg The BSE Sensex fell 937.66 points, or 1.94%, to 47,409.93. The National Stock Exchanges broader Nifty index shed 1.91% to 13,967.50. The sell-off in Indian markets is largely due to caution ahead of the Union budget and as foreign portfolio investors turned sellers after being net buyers for the past 3-4 months, said Pankaj Pandey, head of research at ICICI Direct. However, he said the decline is healthy and is an interim consolidation phase before the markets begin the next leg of the rally. We continue to remain upbeat on Indian equities in the medium term, given the resilient economic and corporate recovery," Pandey said. Stocks in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed on Wednesday. The Nikkei index in Japan rose 0.31%; the Topix in Taiwan gained 0.65%; South Koreas Kospi closed 0.57% lower while the mainland Chinese Shanghai Composite rose 0.11%. The US Federal Reserve is due to announce results of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday night. Analysts expect the Fed to stick to its dovish tone to support the economic recovery, while the central banks outlook will set the direction for foreign institutional investors (FII) flows into equities. After a robust rally in 2020, Indian markets have turned negative this year following the sharp sell-off in the past few sessions. In both rupee and dollar terms, the Sensex is down about 1% in 2021 so far while MSCI Emerging Markets index is up 7% and MSCI World has gained over 2% in the period. However, analysts said the market correction is short-term and profit-booking by investors is temporary. Markets are looking oversold from a short-term perspective and could see some bounce-back in the next couple of days. Such corrections are healthy for markets, and we remain constructive on equities from the medium term outlook," said Gaurav Dua, head of capital market strategy and investments at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas. Meanwhile, in its latest update, the IMF projected an 11.5% growth rate for India in 2021, making India the only major economy likely to register double-digit growth in 2021. China is next with 8.1% growth. IMF said in 2020, India is estimated to have shrunk by 8%. All eyes are on the budget as the finance minister will unveil the governments plan for the year starting 1 April amid covid. Naveen Kulkarni, chief investment officer at Axis Securities, said the budget will be a tightrope walk for the government and negative surprises such as an increase in taxes cannot be ruled out. Needless to say, the market has become jittery. The valuations have become stretched, and most positives are factored in the price," he said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh has been charged with dereliction of duty and breach of trust, the state news agency reported on Thursday. Judge Ghada Aoun also brought charges against a money exchange company for breaching an administrative regulation, the agency said. It did not provide further details. Salameh was not immediately available for comment. Salameh has headed Lebanon's central bank since 1993. Aoun had been investigating his management of dollars that were allocated for subsidising basic goods. His role came under scrutiny after Lebanon's financial system collapsed in 2019, prompting a crash in the Lebanese pound and a sovereign default. Short link: A hoon completely shredded his tyres doing an huge burnout that covered a suburban street with smoke on Australia Day. The SS Commodore was filmed performing the noisy stunt on Cairnes Road in Glenorie, in Sydney's north west, about 4pm on Tuesday. Thick plumes of smoke blanketed the street, while the sedan's rear tyres were so badly destroyed the car's body to dropped to the road. Police were called to Cairnes Road in Glenorie, in Sydney's north west, at about 4pm on Tuesday after receiving calls about a Holden SS Commodore performing burnouts Thick plumes of smoke blanketed the street, while the sedan's rear wheels shredded causing the car's body to drop to the road CCTV footage showed four shirtless men helping the driver move the Commodore to a nearby street where the car was dumped. Police were called to the street by residents annoyed by the incredibly loud noise and irritating smell and sounds. Following an investigation, police charged a 28-year-old Pennant Hills man with aggravated burnout. He is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court in March. Police suspended the man's licence, and his car was confiscated for three months. Traffic and highway patrol commander Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said such behaviour was 'totally unacceptable'. 'It is alarming to see a person behind the wheel of a car - particularly at 4pm on a public holiday in a residential street - behaving in this manner,' she said. 'People should be able to celebrate Australia Day safely and acts like this put people at risk.' Blamed for the Jan 26 mayhem, Deep Sidhu goes missing India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: Even as two videos of the mayhem on Republic Day surfaced, Punjabi actor turned activist, Deep Sidhu, the man blamed for the violence has gone missing. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha have been projecting him as the villain and even branded him an RSS agent. On January 26, the chants of Raj Karega Khalsa were heard loud in Delhi as actor turned activist Deep Sidhu handed over a Kesri flag to a man to hoist on the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday afternoon. BJP planted stooge Deep Sidhu to create chaos in tractor rally: AAP Deep Sidhu has been attempting to take the leadership role of the movement, despite him being shun by the farmer unions at various stages. On Monday, Sidhu took over the main stage at Singhu along with gangster turned activist, Lakha Sidhana. They announced that they would hold the march inside Delhi. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee was in favour of sticking to the original plan of holding the parade on the Outer Ring Road. Deep Sidhu had a plan ready by Tuesday and first they started a march of their own before the official march of the farmer unions. They then positioned their henchmen in large numbers at a road turning towards Central Delhi. From there, they directed other tractors towards Red Fort instead of the agreed route. The volunteers who had tried to intervene were outnumbered by Deep Sidhu and The Sidhana group. In a video posted Facebook, he said that they had hoisted the Nishan Sahib at the Red Fort, while exercising their democratic rights to protest. He said that in such a protest, people's anger flares up and you cannot blame one person for inciting the protesters. He also said that they went to Red Fort as a symbolic protest and did not remove the National Flag. We hoisted the Nishan Sahib as a sign of unity in diversity. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News Do not see the incident in isolation as the farmers' protest has been going on for months. He also said that the protesters did not go to Delhi to harm anyone or damage government property. He also added that the protest was peaceful and symbolic and the emotions of the people should be understood and no one person should be blamed for the mobilisation of the people. Guwahati, Jan 28 : Two persons, including a woman, were gunned down and one villager shot and injured when suspected militants opened indiscriminate fire in a village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam that borders Nagaland, police said on Thursday. Police said that the armed men attacked Kharnaidisha village on Wednesday night and started firing, killing Amit Nunisa, 42, and Alota Maibongsa, 60, on the spot. Ashit Phonglosa, 25, sustained a bullet injury and was shifted to a hospital. Nunisa had surrendered to authorities along with several other Dima Halim Daogah extremists in 2003 after an agreement with the government. "We were asleep but woke up when we suddenly heard the sound of firing. When the villagers came out from their homes, they saw the gunmen leaving the village after killing two persons and injuring another," a villager told the police. A huge contingent of security forces led by Karbi Anglong District Superintendent of Police Debajit Deori rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation. Underground outfit Dimasa National Liberation Army, formed in 2019, was suspected to be behind the crime. Both the victims have participated in local 'Bisudima festival' in Karbi Anglong district in the past few days. STRATFORD A town man was sentenced this week to more than five years in prison on federal charges of drug distribution and possession of ammunition, according to federal prosecutors. Judge Alvin W. Thompson sentenced Luis Macho Martinez to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sentencing was held by video conference. During court proceedings, it was revealed that members of the FBIs Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport police started investigating individuals in the summer 2017 who were selling drugs in and around the Park City. The investigation led to federal charges against 19 defendants and the seizure of drugs, items to process and package drugs, eight guns and more than $360,000 in cash, authorities said. Federal prosecutors said Martinez, 55, was supplying another drug distributor with cocaine and opioid pills. Authorities said another investigation into an unrelated drug dealer showed that Martinez was also buying and selling heroin. Martinez was arrested on Nov. 6, 2018. When investigators searched his home, they seized boxes of .45-caliber hollow-point bullets and $11,132 in cash, authorities said. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Martinezs criminal history includes state convictions on charges of manslaughter, assault, weapons and larceny, federal prosecutors said. He also has a prior federal conviction for his role in a crack cocaine distribution ring. Thompson ordered Martinez to forfeit the cash and ammunition seized on the day of his arrest. He previously handed over more than $56,000 in cash that he had shipped to a drug supplier in California. That money was seized by law enforcement at a parcel delivery hub. Subscriber content preview EVERETT (AP) The manager of an Everett, Washington, call center pleaded guilty Tuesday to a scam that took $2.5 million from about 1,000 distressed homeowners who were facing foreclosure, according to federal prosecutors. Edwin Josue Herrera Rosales, 34, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. . . . January 28, 2021: Israel had a good year in 2020 when it came to security. There was a lot less terrorist violence and military threats. For example the terror attacks/Israeli dead for the last three years were 430/3 in 2020, 564/ten in 2019 and 581/sixteen in 2018. This trend may reverse in 2021 because of more violence in the West Bank. More major foreign aid cuts are threatened if the ruling Fatah party continues using aid money to reward jailed terrorists and the families of dead terrorists. These payments gave Palestinians an economic incentive to commit terrorist attacks and it worked, as it has done throughout the Arab world. The Palestinians are urging a newly elected American government to restore aid cuts made to the West Bank over this issue. Fatah has threatened more attacks be made as part of an effort to get aid restored. Another disruptive trend in the West Bank is the recent agreement between Fatah, which controls the West Bank and Hamas, which rules Palestinian Gaza, to put aside their feud and once more hold elections to select one government for both West Bank and Gaza Palestinians. While Fatah is dominant in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza, there are partisans of Fatah and Hamas in both areas and, if the election result is contested by either party there will be more violence, some of it directed at Israelis and the growing number, currently 100,000, of West Bank Palestinians who have jobs in Israel or in Jewish West Bank settlements. To get these jobs Palestinians have to pass an intense background check. Working in Israel means higher pay, better working conditions and more opportunities. Palestinians working in Israel peaked at about 140,000 in 2000 and fell after that because Fatah declared war on Israel. The cause of the war was an Israeli two-state peace proposal that many Palestinians wanted to accept (and still do) but the Palestinian radicals, who wanted Israel eliminated, rejected and threatened to attack Fatah and Israel if the peace proposal was accepted. As has happened so many times before, opportunities in the Middle East were lost because radical factions insisted it was not enough and an insult to Islam. That has long made it difficult for Middle Eastern governments to operate and still does. Israel defeated the 2000 Intifada terror campaign by 2005. But as long as Palestinians had free access to Israel, Fatah urged and encouraged them to attempt attacks inside Israel. The Israelis responded with tighter border controls and that kept the terrorist threat low in Israel. Fatah insisted they had a right to keep trying to kill Israelis and, for over a decade, Arab and Western nations kept providing aid to the West Bank and Gaza despite the fact that more and more of it was used to support and encourage more terrorism against Israel. Gradually more donor states, Moslem and non-Moslem, admitted the Fatah misuse of aid money and cut their aid, often to nothing. It was not just the Fatah support of terrorism but the growing Fatah corruption which meant a lot of the aid was stolen to enrich Fatah leaders. Palestinians also opposed the Fatah policy and Fatah was forced to tolerate more and more Palestinians renouncing terror to pass the background check and work in Israel. Jobs in Israel have now become a more crucial part of the Palestinian economy even more so than it was back in 2000. The post-2000 ban on Palestinian workers was unpopular with many Israeli employers, but the threat was so great that Israeli employers had to pay more to import and hire non-Moslem foreigners for as long as there was a threat that Palestinian workers were likely to try and kill Israelis. Both Israel and the former or potential Palestinian workers knew that a growing number of those Palestinian workers could be trusted to work in Israel. For those who violated that trust they faced prison or worse if they played any part in an attack. Anyone associated with these untrustworthy Palestinians would have a more difficult time getting a work permit. The growth of these trustworthy Palestinian workers was something neither Israel nor Fatah wanted to publicize lest the Islamic radicals declare war on Palestinians working or seeking to work in Israel. This might trigger a civil war in the West Bank, something Fatah did not want but the radicals were divided about. Hamas does not care about any form of collateral damage from forcing Palestinians working in Israel to cooperate with terrorists. Most Palestinians recognize that Hamas is hard-core about attacking Israel, which is why Hamas has a hard time gaining political traction in the West Bank. Palestinians know that Hamas policies produce more poverty and casualties for Palestinians. The only thing that got Hamas control of Gaza during the last Palestinian elections in 2007 was the belief that Hamas would be less corrupt than Fatah. That was true in 2007 but became less so ever since. Hamas forbids working in Israel and punishes anyone who protests about Hamas corruption. Iran With a new government in the United States, Iran sees a chance to get sanctions lifted and a return to the 2015 deal that halted Iranian nuclear weapons research in return for lifting of sanctions. The U.S. caught Iran cheating, which Iran is still doing, and invoked the cheating clause of the 2015 agreement to revive sanctions. That made foreign aggression more difficult for Iran and played a role in continuing public protests against the government that for decades has declared Israel must be destroyed and allies of Israel, like the United States, punished. Iran is now at war with most of the Arab Gulf states because Iran wants to take charge of the Moslem shrines at Mecca and the annual pilgrimage as well as leadership of the Moslem world. This sort of thing seems absurd to Arabs but Iran has shown itself capable of all manner of dirty deeds and devious plans against Arab states. A growing number of Arab states are making peace with Israel and those countries want the new American government to recognize this new alliance and its goals of containing Iranian aggression. China, Russia and a few Western European nations want to lift sanctions on Iran and restore the 2015 deal. If the United States rejoins this 2015 coalition, Israel threatens to attack Iran before Iran can attack Israel with nuclear weapons. Iran says it will respond to Israeli threats by firing ballistic missiles at Israel with conventional (high-explosives) warheads if nuclear warheads were not available. It is implied that Iran would also fire missiles at Israels new Arab allies, especially the UAE. The reality is that Iranian leaders dont want a war with Israel or the Gulf Arabs. Such a conflict would do enormous damage to Iran and Iranian chances of victory are slim to none. Iran prefers undeclared war, which it has waging more and more since the 1980s. This includes supporting a lot of terror attacks against enemy states as well as assassination of Iranian exiles who know, and say, too much. China and Russia dont care about this because Iran does not harm them. The Europeans are willing to do business with Iran if they receive the same immunity. The rest of the world has no such immunity and is not seeking any. Iran only backs off when it has to or, in place like Israel, has not been able to get into. Israeli threats are one thing but in Syria Iran is suffering more and more damage, and casualties, as it tries to establish itself on the Israeli border and at last carry out some deadly attacks. So far only Iran is taking losses but they are optimistic because they are slowly establishing a presence near the Israeli border. The sanctions make this effort more difficult because there is not as much money available since 2018 to mercenaries or offer as many bribes as Iran used to offer. Killing Israelis is expensive and Iran needs more cash for that, and to placate growing popular unrest back in Iran. The religious dictatorship used lethal force against the demonstrations in 2019 and killing over a thousand protestors reduced the size and ferocity of the protests. But the angry Iranians are still there and their numbers are growing as their standard of living continues to decline. These Iranians blame that on the billions Iran continues to spend each year on its war against Israel and the Gulf Arabs. It is no secret that the nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are very expensive, but there is more popular support for that sort of thing because most Iranians agree that Iran should regain its ancient status as local superpower and do it without impoverishing or endangering the Iranian people. January 27, 2021: The Middle East continues to be one of the most corrupt regions on the planet. The extent of this corruption c an be seen in the international surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. For 2020 the least corrupt nation in region was UAE (United Arab Emirates), which ranked 21st out of 180 nations. The most corrupt was Syria and many other Arab states were on the most corrupt end of the list. Corruption is measured annually in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. Corruption is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually Yemen/15, Syria/14, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/12) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (Finland, New Zealand and Denmark) are over 84. The current UAE score is 71 (same as 2019) compared to 61 (61) for Israel, 15 (15) for Yemen, 67 (69) for the United States, 33 (35) for Egypt, 25 (26) for Nigeria, 44 (44) for South Africa, 21 (20) for Iraq, 40 (39) for Turkey, 53 (53) for Saudi Arabia, 33 (30) for Ukraine, 47 (45) for Belarus, 56 (58) for Poland, 80 (80) Germany, 65 (65) for Taiwan, 40 (39) for Turkey, 40 (41) for India, 30 (28) for Russia, 61 (57) for South Korea, 42 (41) for China, 18 (14) for North Korea, 36 (37) for Vietnam, 85 (85) for Singapore, 74 (73) for Japan, 37 (40) for Indonesia, 38 (38) for Sri Lanka, 34 (34) for the Philippines, 31 (32) for Pakistan, 26 (26) for Bangladesh, 25 (26) for Iran, 19 (16) for Afghanistan, 28 (29) for Burma, and 25 (28) for Lebanon. UAEs corruption score has not changed much since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution when it was 68. The UAE achieved the most favorable corruption score in the region because it has long depended on foreign trade to survive and to make money in that business you must be known as a an honest trading partner. Israeli corruption is largely internal and less present when making trade deals. The UAE is also different in that it is a federation of formerly independent emirates that realized the wisdom of joining forces. Laws and customs vary somewhat among the emirates and some are more gangster than others. But overall the UAE is a place where foreigners, and locals, feel comfortable doing business. Before the recent peace deal with Israel, there was always some unofficial Israeli business being done in the UAE. January 25, 2021: In southern Lebanon six Israeli F-35s were seen in the air where they could be easily photographed. This F-35 mission was to demonstrate to Lebanese and Iran-backed Hezbollah that Israel still rules the skies. The F-35 usually fly at night where neither eyes nor radar can spot them, much less stop them. Operations over Lebanon and Syria are common for the F-35, which regularly carried out missile attacks on Iranian targets throughout Syria. Most of the missiles are launched from Israeli aircraft inside Lebanon, Israel or Jordan and, rarely, from inside Syria. Syrian and Russian air defense system keep trying to bring down an Israeli aircraft and keep failing. Russia has its latest S400 air defense systems guarding its bases in northwest Syria. The S400 radar can see almost all of Syria and into adjacent nations. The Russians have had a hard time detecting Israeli bombers, especially the F-35s. Syria is armed with the older S300 systems and they regularly fire lots of missiles at the Israelis and have yet to bring down an aircraft. The Syrians have shot down some Russian aircraft by accident. Syria urges Russia to at least try but the Russians know that if they try and fail it will a lot more difficult to get export orders for the S400. So Russia watches and tries to figure out how to defeat Israeli aircraft, January 23, 2021: In the south (Gaza) there was a large explosion in a northern Gaza house. The building was badly damaged and over thirty nearby civilians were injured. Incidents like this are increasingly common because Hamas is storing more and more rockets in homes or commercial buildings not prepared to handle such dangerous items. In Egypt police arrested several key members of a Moslem Brotherhood cell operating in Cairo. This network was led by and Egyptian member of the Moslem Brotherhood. January 22, 2021: In western Syria (Hama province) Israel launched another airstrike against Iranian forces. Five separate targets were hit, one of them a missile storage warehouse. There were over fifty casualties, most of them Syrian army soldiers, the rest Iranian mercenaries. There were some civilian casualties, caused by fragments of Syrian anti-aircraft missiles fired at the Israeli air-to-ground missiles. Syria claims the fatal fragments were from Israeli missiles destroyed by Syrian missiles. In the north (Lebanon) Israel shot down a UAV that crossed the border into Israel. Examination of the UAV wreckage will determine what model UAV is was and whether it was equipped for reconnaissance or attack (carrying explosives.) January 20, 2021: Foreign economists now believe that Egyptian GDP growth is expected grow faster in 2021 than earlier thought. In late 2020 the estimate was for two percent growth in 2021 but that has been raised to nearly three percent.. One reason for the improved recovery estimates is the unexpected growth of foreign tourists in late 2020. Earlier in 2020 tourism income fell by 80-90 percent from 2019 levels. Normally tourism accounts for 11 percent of the GDP and provides jobs (directly or indirectly) for 12 percent of the work force. There was no quick fix for the tourism problem although by mid-2020 some of the foreign tourists were starting to return. January 19, 2021: In the south (Gaza) a rocket was fired towards southern Israel. The rocket did no damage. Israel retaliated with tank cannon fire at Hamas positions in northern Gaza. Israeli airstrikes went after Hamas bases deeper inside Gaza. On the 17th two rockets were fired from Gaza out to sea. Israel suspects that a violent lightning storm over Gaza triggered the launch. Israel responded with airstrikes on tunnel construction projects in Gaza. In Egypt, for the second time since October, Egypt is hosting peace negotiations between the two rival government in Libya. The weaker government, the GNA, is backed by Turkey while the stronger government, the HoR, is backed by Egypt, most Arab states and Russia. The two Libyan factions are now seriously trying to work out details of a united, elected government. January 17, 2021: In the north (Golan Heights) gunfire could be heard across the border in Syria where unidentified gunmen attacked a Syrian army checkpoint and killed three soldiers. The attackers apparently were not Israeli or Iran-backed militia, which leaves rebels who controlled this area until 2018. Not all of the rebels left, usually because many of them were from this area. In Egypt (north Sinai) ISIL bombed a natural gas pipeline that carries Israeli gas to Egypt. The damage was quickly repaired and the customers did not notice any interruption for gas supply. ISIL has been attacking Sinai pipelines for years and the gas facilities in Sinai have been modified to resist these attacks. January 14, 2021: The U.S. designated Egyptian Islamic terror group HASM (Harakat Sawad Misr or Arms of Egypt Movement) as an international terrorist group whose leaders are subject to American sanctions that would hamper travel and use of the international finance system. A week later the U.S. identified two HASM leaders who were living in Turkey and applied the sanctions to them while also informing Turkey. Vietnamese researchers invent CO Vietnamese researchers invent COVID-19 vaccine patches, reusable face masks A group of Vietnamese researchers at the University of Connecticut in the US have invented COVID-19 high-tech biological face masks and patches to deliver vaccines into the human body easily. A member of the research team wears the prototype of disposable face masks invented from autolytic piezoelectric polymer sheet (Photo: vietnamnet.vn) Award winning Nguyen Duc Thanh, 37, and his research team, Nguyen Lab, used autolytic piezoelectric polymer sheets, which has been studied by themselves and applied in organ transplantation since 2018, to make a special type of face mask. The invention was launched to meet the urgent need in the US last year. Most medical masks are made of synthetic polymers similar to plastic bags which are unable to self dispose and pose a major hazard to the environment. Medical masks are unable to prevent bacteria, viruses and fine dust like KN95 or N95 masks. Meanwhile, N95 masks are very expensive and can be used only one time, Dr Thanh said. Thanhs team came up with the idea of using the autolytic piezoelectric polymer sheets that can filter the dust as effectively as N95 but can be reused after sterilising by autoclave or ultrasound. It is disposable after several years. Although the sheet has been applied in many medical products, this was the first time it has been used filtering dust, viruses and bacteria. Thanh said what made his masks different from others was the piezoelectric effect of the nano film. The film can create a small voltage layer when there is air flow (from breathing, sneezing or coughing). The voltage creates an invisible protection layer, preventing the penetration of charged droplets of water bringing viruses and bacteria. The polymer nano films filtering capacity is almost as much as N95 and higher than normal medical face masks, he said. The team is doing further research and packaging the product and plans to launch a start-up to bring the face masks to the market. It is expected that the face masks will be used widely in one to two years time, Thanh told vietnamnet.vn. After sterilisation or disinfection using high temperatures and pressure or ultrasonic vibrations, the piezoelectricity wont be lost. "This feature allows the masks to be reused for many times," he added. Thanhs research team is also studying a vaccine patch that can be applied to skin that helps deliver COVID-19 vaccines into the human body without infections from medical workers. The patch, like urgo patches, is expected to distribute the vaccine to the community so quickly that people no longer have to visit medical facilities during the lockdown. The research has been published in the medical journal Nature Biomedical Engineering and attracted the attention of international scientists. I believe that the pandemic will soon be wiped out globally thanks to great medical achievements like COVID-19 vaccine and public awareness of wearing face masks," Thanh said. "I hope that I will be able to make a contribution to that effort. Dr Thanh graduated from the Hanoi University of Technology and received a PhD scholarship from the Vietnam-US Education Fund in 2008. He completed his doctoral thesis in 2013 at the Princeton University. After that, he worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was appointed by Connecticut University as the assistant professor, lecturer of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering. Thanh is leading a research group in biomedical technology and biomedical materials at the university. The team conducts multidisciplinary research, focusing on medical applications, related to a wide range of fields including biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine and engineering, and medical electronics. Thanh has received a number of prestigious awards, including the National Institutes of Healths Trailblazer Award for Young and Early Investigator in 2017, 2018 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, top 10 inventors under 35 years old in the Asia-Pacific region voted by MIT, top 10 exemplary young Vietnamese faces in 2019. Source:VNA [January 28, 2021] HOME+ Launches "Buy One, Give One" Charity Goody Bag Programme to Benefit Society's Disadvantaged HONG KONG, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the disadvantaged members of the society continue to suffer adverse impacts on their incomes and quality of life under the COVID-19 pandemic, HOME+ today announced a Charity Goody Bag programme in collaboration with Kerry Logistics Network Limited ("Kerry Logistics Network") and St. James' Settlement People's Food Bank. To share a warm new year's blessing with the community's disadvantaged, HOME+ will donate 100 Charity Goody Bags ahead of Chinese New Year. In addition, for every self-use Charity Goody Bag (each priced at HK$200) purchased from HOME+, a matching bag will be donated to people in need*. Packed full of quality food items such as premium frozen products in addition to staples including rice and oil, each Charity Goody Bag will allow beneficiaries to enjoy the same heartwarming, delicious meals as HOME+ customers. "Buy one, give one" Charity Goody Bag is launched as a long-term programme*, serving up countless "pluses" to help the underprivileged in society. Starting today, customers will be able to purchase the Charity Goody Bag at HK$200 on www.home-plus.hk/charitygoodybag, and enjoy about 20% off the premium food combo while they give back to society. This programme is supported by St. James' Settlement People's Food Bank, who will contact the beneficiaries, HOME+ to donate goody bag on a "buy one, give one" basis, as well as Kerry Logistics Network, who will handle the goody bag delivery to the home of each beneficiary, eliminating their need to queue in these high-risk circumstances. June Lam, CEO of HOME+ said, "This long-term programme falls in line with the HOME+ philosophy of delivering 'Living with a Plus'. By utilising existing resources and strengths, w offer the socially disadvantaged food aid that includes not just food bank staples, but also a wider diversity of premium frozen products designed to deliver 'pluses' to their quality of life. We also invite merchants to join us to spread the love by donating their products to our Charity Goody Bag." Samuel Lau, Deputy Managing Director, Integrated Logistics of Kerry Logistics Network said, "Kerry Logistics is delighted to participate in this Charity Goody Bag initiative and ring in a prosperous New Year with the disadvantaged. As the logistics partner of HOME+, we are glad to leverage our extensive logistics network to deliver food items directly to the homes of the underprivileged, bringing much needed convenience during this time." Law Tik, Senior Service Manager (Charity Services), St. James' Settlement said, "Demand for short term food aid has soared under COVID, though many of our service users have been hesitant to make the trip to our food banks. We are thankful for HOME+'s sponsorship and the logistics support of Kerry Logistics, so that even the elderly, single-parent families and service users with disabilities can receive a well-stocked food pack without setting foot beyond their homes." Each Charity Goody Bag, available for HK$200, will contain rice, corn oil, oyster flavoured sauce, oat soya milk, frozen flounder filet, udon, chicken drumettes and fish rolls. The contents will be updated regularly. For details, please visit the HOME+ website (www.home-plus.hk). Merchants interested in joining the programme and donating to the Charity Goody Bag may email to: business@home-plus.hk. *Up to a limit of 200 goody bags per month. Terms and conditions apply. About HOME+ HOME+ is a brand-new online shopping platform created around the idea of "Living with a Plus". HOME+ brings merchants of all types and sizes under a shared economy platform, enabling them to share resources and strengths and forge fruitful partnerships. HOME+ brings a "plus" to modern home living with a diverse range of quality merchandise covering wholesome foods, in-the-trend appliances, health supplements, personal care goods, and many more. Shop now at: home-plus.hk About Kerry Logistics Network Limited (Stock Code: 0636.HK) Kerry Logistics Network is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia. It offers a broad range of supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal), industrial project logistics, to cross-border e-commerce, last-mile fulfilment and infrastructure investment. With a global presence across 59 countries, Kerry Logistics Network has established a solid foothold in half of the world's emerging markets. Its diverse infrastructure, extensive coverage in international gateways and local expertise span across China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations. Kerry Logistics Network generated a revenue of over HK$40 billion in 2019 and is the largest international logistics company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. About St. James' Settlement People's Food Bank St. James' Settlement operated the first food bank 'People's Food Bank' in Hong Kong in late 2003 to alleviate the problem of hunger by providing short-term food assistance. Since then, diversified services such as hot meal service, nutrition programs and Happy Shopping Fair have been in place to benefit more people in need and help them hedge against inflation. This actualizes our mission of 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' SOURCE HOME+ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] After a tumultuous 2020 that challenged even the most resilient students, how can parents help make the start of the new school year as smooth as possible? Educational and developmental psychologist Dr Christine Grove believes the first weeks of this term will be harder than usual for some students following a stop-start year riddled with uncertainty. Ying-Chia Eisenhut has been preparing her three children. Annie, Harry, and William, by getting them to do a little bit of schoolwork and mediation during their holidays. Credit:Chris Hopkins For some they cant wait to get back theyre ready and primed and jumping back into school. For others, it may be really hard to transition back into going to school, and back into that routine, she says. Creating a routine More sensors, missiles and other assets in the region will help deter China from a costly island invasion. The Biden administration faces a stark reality: Over the next four years its possible that China will try to take Taiwan. For the first time since 1950, Beijing may reasonably think it has a viable military option to force what it regards as a renegade province to heel. President Xi Jinping has said Taiwan must be part of Chinaand has signaled he intends to do something about it. Officials in Georgia said at least six people died and about a dozen people were hospitalized following a chemical leak at a food processing plant on Thursday. (Google Street View) At Least 6 Dead, Others Taken to Hospital After Chemical Leak in Georgia: Officials Officials in Georgia said at least six people died and about a dozen people were hospitalized following a chemical leak at a food processing plant on Thursday. A liquid nitrogen leak occurred at the Prime Pak Foods facility at 10 a.m. local time in Hall County, officials told WSB-TV. They said an explosion may have occurred. Other reports, including one from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said five people died and 10 people were injured. The Hall County Emergency Management Department issued a shelter-in-place order for the Lyman Hall Elementary School over the leak. This step was taken out of an abundance of caution. The leak is contained and not airborne. Memorial Park Highway is temporarily closed while law enforcement and emergency management officials resolve the situation. Please do not attempt to pick up your child as traffic may delay their efforts. All students are indoors and safe. We will notify parents once the shelter in place has been lifted, said the Hall County School District. The Gainesville Police Department wrote on Twitter that the entire roadway around Memorial Park Drive will be shut down over a HAZMAT situation. Officials added to WSB-TV that three Gainesville firefighters and one firefighter from Hall County were hospitalized. About 130 other people were taken to a nearby church for evaluation. Prime Pak Foods merged into Foundation Food Group, a company that takes raw chicken and processes it into products like chicken fingers and individual chicken cuts for restaurants and food service operations. The companys CEO did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Gainesville is the center of Georgias poultry industry, which is the nations largest, with thousands of employees working for multiple processing plants. The Associated Press contributed to this report. FAIRFIELD An arrest has been made in connection with graffiti that referenced socialism, now-President Joe Biden and China, according to police. Lt. Antonio Granata said Thursday that 65-year-old Emily Winters, of Pine Tree Lane, turned herself in on an active warrant for her arrest on Wednesday. Granata said investigating officers identified Winters as the suspect through several tips. Its our continued partnership with our community that allows the successful resolution in many of our cases, he said. Detectives learned that during the evening of Jan. 12, Winters defaced the exterior walls of TJ Maxx, the foundation of the Tunxis Hill Corner Plaza and the driveway of the McKinley Elementary School, Granata said. Granata said when detectives interviewed Winters, she confessed to the vandalism. Winters was charged with criminal mischief. She was released on a promise to appear and given a Feb. 12 court date. The graffiti at the school was reported by a member of the Board of Education on Jan. 13. The individual told investigators officers that someone vandalized the sidewalk with spray paint. Police said the graffiti read United States of China. The phrase was also spray-painted on a snow bank at the back of the school parking lot, Granata said. Before officers arrived, school officials had already removed Biden for socialism, spray-painted on the sidewalk, police said. School officials at the time told police they had concerns about the messages, describing McKinley as the most diverse school in Fairfield, Granata said. Similar graffiti messages on the TJ Maxx building and at the plaza were found later that day, Granata said. Flash U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday rescinded Former President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" border policy, which had lead to the separations of thousands of undocumented migrant families. According to a memo issued Tuesday by Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson, federal prosecutors were directed to return to the previous policy of deciding whether to pursue individual cases. "Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualized assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding -- effective immediately -- the policy directive," Wilkinson wrote. He said that decisions to prosecute should be based on whether a person violated federal law and what evidence was available to prove a violation. "Today's action restores to prosecutors their traditional discretion to make charging decisions based on a careful review of the particular facts and circumstances of individual immigration cases," a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement. Under the zero tolerance policy, effective from April 2018 to June 2018, all adults who illegally entered the United States, including those with children, were referred for prosecution. Any children who had entered with those adults were separated from them and put into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. The widely criticized policy led to the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents, with no method for reuniting the children with their parents, some of whom were deported, according to a The Hill report. More Than 1 Million Coronavirus Vaccinations Carried Out in Poland - Chief of Chancellery Warsaw, Jan 28 (Sputnik) - More than 1 million coronavirus vaccinations have been carried out in Poland, Michal Dworczyk, Chief of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, who is in charge of vaccinations, said. "We have passed the milestone of 1 million vaccinations as part of the national vaccination program," Dworczyk wrote on Twitter. He said about 150,000 people had already received both doses of the vaccine. As unemployment insurance fraud tops 1 million cases in Illinois, state officials are warning residents of the latest scheme targeting people through unsolicited text messages. The messages ask people to click on a link to update their drivers license or state ID to comply with federal Real ID requirements, which begin Oct. 1. Officials said scammers are most likely phishing for victims personal information in order to submit a fraudulent jobless claim. Meanwhile, in-person classes in Chicago Public Schools were canceled again Thursday as the district tries to hammer out a deal with the teachers union to avoid a strike by employees who are refusing to return to schools. CPS announced the decision Wednesday evening, making it the second day in a row that preschool and special education students who resumed in-person classes earlier this month were told to stay home. At the same time, parents across the city were left bewildered at how tensions between the school district and teachers union over reopening schools have escalated to this point. Additionally, on Thursday Illinois health officials announced 4,191 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 103 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 1,116,372 and the statewide death toll to 19,067 since the start of the pandemic. Heres whats happening Thursday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois: 8:50 p.m.: Blaming teachers union, CPS cancels Friday in-person classes Chicago Public Schools is continuing with remote learning on Friday, as pressure mounts to make a deal with the Chicago Teachers Union so that elementary schools can open Monday and preparations for a potential teachers strike become increasingly serious. District leaders still hope to reach a deal in time to welcome back kindergarten through eighth grade students on Monday, CEO Janice Jackson said Thursday afternoon on WBEZs Reset program. More than 3,000 prekindergarten and special education students returned to schools the week of Jan. 11, but in-person classes were called off Wednesday and Thursday in light of a CTU resolution to only work remotely. In an 8 p.m. Thursday announcement to families, CPS blame the union for the continued remote learning. Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) leadership continues to direct their members to remain home. Therefore, we must ask parents to continue keeping your children home as we are unable to guarantee adequate staffing levels to cover in-person learning, the announcement states. ... We will continue to work tirelessly to reach an agreement and will provide additional updates. Thank you for your patience. The union is collectively refusing to work in person, and has authorized its governing body to set a strike date if CPS broadly retaliates. With 86% of CTUs 25,000 members participating, about 71% voted in favor of the action, which took effect Wednesday. While most went along with it, among all elementary, prekindergarten and special education teachers required to work in person Wednesday, 1,922 of 12,292 did so, less than 16%. Read more here. Hannah Leone 7:40 p.m.: Arwady urges patience with teacher vaccines as some CPS principals push to get staffers shots ahead of full district rollout Chicago public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Thursday said the city cannot let Chicago Public Schools teachers be prioritized any earlier in the vaccination line, while some schools scramble to get their staff shots independently before the next phase of the districts school reopening plan, which remains in limbo. During a question-and-answer session with Deputy Mayor for Education Sybil Madison, Arwady responded to a viewer who asked why the citys 34,000-or-so first doses of vaccine cant be used to inoculate CPS teachers. CTU has repeatedly pushed for teachers to be vaccinated before reopening schools, among other coronavirus mitigation demands, during the unions heated return-to-classroom negotiations with the district that include a threat to strike. If we were like, Lets just get all the educators done, that would take about five weeks, Arwady said, but added, that would mean we would stop vaccinating everybody else for about five weeks. ... Although we know how critical schools are, thats why theyre in (the 1b vaccination stage), we wouldnt be actually vaccinating the people that will get us past COVID as a city, right? Teachers are among hundreds of thousands of front-line essential workers who became eligible for the vaccine this week in Chicago, but they along with the rest of the phase 1b population have reported confusion over how to access their doses. Read more here. Alice Yin 6:40 p.m.: A new way to track the pandemic in Illinois A group of Illinois COVID-19 researchers has launched a webpage to try to help residents see and make sense of the latest pandemic trends, including one of the easiest metrics to understand: the reproduction rate. Though its based on complicated math, the reproduction rate offers a simple gauge of the pandemics trajectory. A number above 1 means the epidemic is growing. Below 1 means its shrinking. One way to think of it is that the figure represents the average number of new people who are infected by one sick person before that sick person recovers or dies. So if 100 sick people collectively infect exactly 100 new people, the pandemic isnt growing or shrinking. But if those 100 sick people infect 110, the pandemic is growing, with a reproduction rate of 1.1. If those 100 infect just 90, the rate is 0.9 and the pandemic is shrinking. If the rate stays below 1 for good, the pandemic will die out. Currently, three different estimates from the modelers all show that, at last count, the pandemic was shrinking statewide, with the reproduction rate around 0.88 to 0.95. But not all regions were faring as well as others, with some hovering near a rate of 1, according to at least one teams projection. Read more here. Joe Mahr 5:50 p.m.: Local suburban libraries reopening with limited capacity Some local libraries that have been closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic have, or are scheduled soon to be, reopened. Limited capacity and services, along with modified hours, are the norm while libraries are open. Also, social distancing and wearing a mask is the protocol at this time. Read more here. Chuck Fieldman, Kimberly Fornek & Zareen Syed, Pioneer Press 2:41 p.m.: Illinois warns of Real ID text messaging scam targeting state unemployment insurance system As unemployment insurance fraud tops 1 million cases in Illinois, state officials are warning residents of the latest scheme targeting people through unsolicited text messages. Late last week, the Illinois Department of Employment Security discovered people are receiving text messages from identity thieves claiming to represent the unemployment agency, said Kristin Richards, acting director. The messages ask people to click on a link to update their drivers license or state ID to comply with federal Real ID requirements, which beginning Oct. 1 people will need to board flights or enter federal buildings like courthouses. Richards said scammers are most likely phishing for victims personal information in order to submit a fraudulent jobless claim. Read more here. Abdel Jimenez 2:01 p.m.: Chicagos yearly homeless count could help stem spread of COVID-19, officials say Officials say this years count will help them determine how the pandemic has affected Chicago residents and what resources are needed for those who have lost housing. It will also ensure that staff can engage with people without shelter and identify their possible locations to connect them with those administering the vaccine once it becomes available for them, said Quenjana Adams, spokesperson for the city Department of Family and Support Services. While homeless shelter staff and residents are next in line for inoculations, there is no clear plan for vaccine rollout for homeless people who dont use shelters. Once a plan is implemented, Adams said, her agency and its outreach specialists will serve as the access point to the residents. Because of the pandemic, the count of homeless people in Chicago will take place over three days, through Friday, rather than overnight on a single day. But the snapshot for a related federally mandated count will be based on Tuesday nights count. So one of the questions that residents must answer is where they spent the night that day. Homeless people staying in shelters were also counted on Tuesday. Read more here. Laura Rodriguez Presa 12:09 p.m.: 4,191 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 103 additional deaths reported Illinois health officials on Thursday announced 4,191 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 103 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 1,116,372 and the statewide death toll to 19,067 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 100,119 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide rolling positivity rate for cases as a share of total tests was 4.3% for the period ending Wednesday. Chicago Tribune staff 11:49 a.m.: With more working remotely, heres how to keep workplace communication free from internet troll behavior Gustavo Razzetti, who gets hired by companies to improve their work cultures, has noticed a change since the pandemic began last year: more political brawls, more managers losing control of their employees, a curious mix of hyperengagement and lack of empathy. Employees are turning their cameras off, hiding behind avatars, becoming disrespectful, said Razzetti, whose consultancy is called Fearless Culture. Theyre being aggressive among each other. Office conversation at some companies is starting to look as unruly as conversation on the internet. Thats because office conversation now is internet conversation. Many companies have been working online for nearly a year, with plans to continue well into 2021. And just as people are bolder behind keyboards on Twitter, they are bolder behind keyboards on workplace messaging platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack with all the good and all the bad, but with a lot more legal liability. Read more here. The New York Times 11:27 a.m.: First US cases of South Africa COVID-19 variant found in South Carolina A new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa has been found in the United States for the first time, with two cases diagnosed in South Carolina, state health officials said Thursday. The two cases dont appear to be connected, nor do the people have a history of recent travel, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said. Thats frightening, because it means there could be more undetected cases within the state, said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Its probably more widespread. Read more here. Associated Press 10:46 a.m.: Vaccine supply questions, answered: Why cant we just make more, and faster? With demand for COVID-19 vaccines outpacing the worlds supplies, a frustrated public and policymakers want to know: How can we get more? A lot more. Right away. The problem: Its not like adding more water to the soup, said vaccine specialist Maria Elena Bottazzi of Baylor College of Medicine. Makers of COVID-19 vaccines need everything to go right as they scale up production to hundreds of millions of doses and any little hiccup could cause a delay. Some of their ingredients have never before been produced at the sheer volume needed. Read more here. Associated Press 9:44 a.m.: $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package a first test for Biden, who doesnt want it split in two by Congress More than a sweeping national rescue plan, President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package presents a first political test of his new administration, of Democratic control of Congress and of the role of Republicans in a post-Trump political landscape. For Biden, the outcome will test the strength of his presidency, his unity agenda and whether, after decades of deal-making, he can still negotiate a hard bargain and drive it into law. For House and Senate Democrats with the full sweep of power for the first time in a decade, drafting, amending and passing a recovery package will show Americans if they can lead the government through crisis. And for Republicans, the final roll-call vote will indicate whether they plan to be constructive advocates of the minority party or just-say-no obstructionists without former President Donald Trump. Read more here. Associated Press 7 a.m.: New Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch signals pandemic housing, ethics, restorative justice are among legislative priorities Newly inaugurated Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch has signaled some of his legislative priorities with the creation of special committees on ethics and elections, restorative justice, and housing and immigration. We want to continue to be the voice of the most vulnerable, he said. But I also think one of the things that we need to focus on is rebuilding trust in the legislature and the legislative process. Welch also canceled most scheduled House session days in February but did set one for Feb. 10, when representatives will vote on whether to allow them to work remotely. Welch, of west suburban Hillside, made history earlier this month when he became the first Black Illinois House speaker and the first legislator other than Michael Madigan to lead the chamber in decades. The special housing committee Welch created for the spring session will take up issues related to the pandemic. People are struggling during the pandemic; rental assistance is desperately needed. Mortgage assistance is desperately needed, Welch said. People are struggling and were going to find ways to help them. Read more here. Jamie Munks 6 a.m.: Cook County Board to vote on suburban residential tenant, landlord ordinance strengthening renters rights Cook County Board commissioners are set to vote Thursday on a proposed suburban residential tenant and landlord ordinance that was hailed by proponents as a victory for hundreds of thousands of renters without such protections but was condemned by real estate groups. The legislation cements regulations for landlords throughout the county with the exceptions of Chicago, Evanston and Mount Prospect, which already have such codes. Should it pass, the entire county would have some form of an ordinance governing its leases starting in June. During a Tuesday committee hearing, commissioners cheered on the ordinances expected approval as a relief for the renters they said have turned out in droves during the pandemic to seek help in fraught housing situations. Their enthusiasm for the legislation was contrasted by gloom from Tom Benedetto, government affairs director at the Chicagoland Apartment Association, who spoke at the meeting. He said the ordinance, if passed, would cause landlords to be buried by excessive lawsuits and fines. Almost one year in (the pandemic), housing providers are at a financial breaking point, Benedetto said. This is pouring salt in the wound of housing providers. Make no mistake, the (ordinance) will come at a steep price for both tenants and landlords. Read more here. Alice Yin 6 a.m.: Spring break plans abroad? Heres how to get that COVID-19 test youll need to come back home. With fears of more virulent COVID-19 variants spreading, governments across the world are tightening travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. This is true even in the face of the rollout of vaccines. In general, the best advice remains to avoid nonessential international travel, especially since many of these changes are impossible to predict in advance and people have gotten stuck. But what if you have already made spring break reservations from, say, Chicago to Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean? Will you be able to get that required test easily and safely? Effective with arrivals Tuesday, U.S. authorities required travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a plane headed to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you need a viral test carried out within 72 hours of your flight and you must have documentation (paper or electronic) that you tested negative. Alternately, if you have recovered from a prior bout with COVID-19, you can show proof of that recovery in the form of a letter from a medical professional. Airlines are legally required to deny boarding to anyone who refuses to take such a test, or lacks the documentation at the check-in desk. Both nucleic acid amplification tests (which are generally more accurate but take longer to process; includes PCR tests) and antigen tests are acceptable ways to meet this requirement. And if you are flying back to, say, Chicagos OHare International Airport, you do not have to get the test from a government-approved list of providers, which is notably different from the more stringent requirements to enter the state of Hawaii. Tests taken abroad are acceptable, since that would be the only way to fulfill the 72-hour requirement for most travelers. Read more here. Chris Jones 6 a.m.: Lake County Health Department vaccinating about 600 a day, could handle 1,000 a day if doses were available, director says The Lake County Health Department will be vaccinating about 600 people a day in phase 1b by the end of this week, but could easily expand to 1,000 doses a day by next week, Executive Director Mark Pfister said Wednesday night during a board of health meeting. The county is using its indoor fairgrounds exhibition hall to allow about 20 cars in at a time, keeping people in their cars for safety, but could expand that to about 80 cars at a time, Pfister told the county board of health Wednesday. A major corporation Pfister did not name also will soon be able to vaccinate about 750 people a day, he said. Also next week, two school districts will open buildings for the vaccination of teachers and staff at pre-kindergarten through 12thgrade schools, Pfister said. In the short term, he said, Im less worried about having enough providers, but rather that we have enough vaccine. Phase 1b includes frontline essential workers and those over 65. Twenty-five percent of those vaccinated in Lake County do not live there, but work there. Pfister said its important to vaccinate both residents and visiting workers, to avoid having vaccinated residents working next to unvaccinated colleagues. The county asked for $10 million from the state to fund vaccination efforts, but got $1.75 million, Pfister said, noting he brought up the discrepancy with Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who toured the fairgrounds facility Wednesday. The county has also asked for 140 National Guard members to help, including 80 vaccinators. Officials also plan to hire 20 people to handle phone calls, since the county is being flooded with about 3,000 calls and emails each day from people trying to get the vaccine. Were in a very good place, Pfister said. We just need more people and more vaccine. Robert McCoppin 6 a.m.: Biden set to announce reopening of ACA health insurance markets President Joe Biden is set to take his first steps to reverse Trump administration health care policies. The White House said Biden plans on Thursday to sign orders on a range of issues including getting more Americans covered and removing curbs on abortion counseling. The most concrete short-term impact will come from Biden reopening HealthCare.gov insurance markets as coverage has shrunk in the economic turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic. Created under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, the marketplaces offer taxpayer-subsidized coverage regardless of a persons medical history, or preexisting conditions, including COVID-19. That new three-month special enrollment period could begin as soon as Feb. 15, according to a White House summary. Read more here. Associated Press In case you missed it A married couple and their two sons were found shot to death in the basement of their southeastern Pennsylvania home over the weekend in an apparent murder-suicide - two weeks after the husband had purchased a gun. Police in Chester County responded to the West Whiteland Township home after relatives from New Jersey called shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday to report being unable to contact the family in several days. Officers who responded to the family's home in 100 block of Mountain View Drive entered the residence through the garage and found the bodies of a man, a woman and their two sons in the basement, Detective Scott Pezick said. The Chester County coroners office identified them as Deepak Prabakhar Kulkarni, 50, Arti Madhusudan Adya, 47, Shubham Deepak Kulkarni, 14, and Sharvil Deepak Kulkarni, 7, all of West Whiteland Township. A family of four who were found dead from a murder-suicide in Pennsylvania on Sunday were identified as Deepak Kulkarni, 50; Arti Adya, 47; Shubham Kulkarni, 14, and Sharvil Kulkarni, 7 Police performing a welfare check at the request of a relative discovered all four family members shot to death in the basement of their West Whiteland Township home (pictured) Officers entered the home using a garage opener that was found in one of the parents' cars All four sustained gunshot wounds, but a final determination of the cause and manner of death are pending autopsies and further investigation, the coroners office said. 'This terrible tragedy has annihilated a family,' Coroner Christina VandePol said, expressing sympathy to relatives and neighbors. The family had lived in the Mountain View Drive residence for two years, although they had lived in the township prior to that, Pezick said. 'The initial investigation and evidence at the scene indicate that this incident is the result of a murder-suicide and that there is no threat to the community at large,' township police said in a statement. Police have not formally identified the gunman in the murder-suicide. But according to law enforcement sources talking to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Kulkarni had bought a gun just two weeks before the murder-suicide. Relatives and other people who knew the family said they had noticed a change in Kulkarni, saying that he seemed distant as of late. The family's neighbor told the Inquirer that Kulkarni was in the habit of taking daily walks to break the monotony of the coronavirus quarantine. Arti and Deepak met in India and had been married for 18 years. Both worked in tech A neighbor said that the usually friendly and talkative Deepak (right) seemed distant and 'not his usual self' in the days preceding the tragedy She told 6abc when she last saw Kulkarni a few days before the tragedy, the usually friendly and talkative man seemed 'not his usual self.' Arti and Deepak met in India and had been married for 18 years. They moved to the US to pursue careers in tech. According to the father's Linkedin profile, Kulkarni had worked for more than 10 years as a software analyst at Education Management Systems. His wife was employed by the University of Pennsylvania as an application developer. Both their sons attended Collegium Charter School - a tuition-free, K-12 public school in Exton. 'Shubham and Sharvil will remain as valued members of our school community and will be forever loved by their teachers and classmates,' the school said in a statement. 'We stand with those that grieve their loss and will miss their presence immensely.' Artis brother, Anand Adya, told the Inquirer that in the months leading up to the killings, Kulkarni had canceled planned family events without offering an explanation. 'It was obvious she wanted to meet, but he didnt let us,' he said. He also revealed that in December, Kulkarni, whom he described as friendly but secretive, asked him for a loan. Adya said whenever he asked his sister if anything was wrong, she would say no. He said Arti was a 'model citizen' and the most devoted wife, mother, sister and daughter. Shubham, 14 (left), and Sharvil, 7 (right), both attended Collegium Charter School - a tuition-free, K-12 public school in Exton He last saw his sister and her husband during a group Zoom call on January 17 celebrating their father's birthday. 'There was no inkling that things werent perfect,' he recounted. Adya became worried for his sister and her family when he had not heard from her in over a week, and so drove to their rental home to check on them. When he knocked on the door but got no reply, he called the police, leading to the grisly discovery in the basement. Shorting a stock involves selling a borrowed stock in the anticipation of buying the same stock back at a lower future price and pocketing the difference. Short selling is a normal part of an active traders plan as it presents traders with the ability to benefit from an advancing market and a declining one. This article makes use of examples to explain what short selling is, why it is important and lists the top things to consider when short selling stocks. What is short selling and why do it? Short selling is the process of borrowing shares via a broker, selling those shares at the current market price and later buying the shares back at a lower price in order to return the shares to the broker. Why short stocks? The answer to this question is multi-layered but in general, shorting stocks presents an opportunity trade a decline in a shares price. To some, short selling seems rather unethical because you are essentially taking a stance that a companys share price will fall, which could result in large scale retrenchments affecting many households in the process. To others, this represents an opportunity to speculate in on over-valued stocks or to benefit from the largescale selling of unscrupulous companies. Nowadays, in addition to retail traders, there are well-established hedge funds that focus on short selling, or shorting various companies. Some short sellers publish research on companies that are alleged to have reported misleading figures in the publication of financial statements or where there is sufficient evidence of corrupt business practices. Before diving into the world of short selling, we recommend you review the stock market basics. What does shorting a stock involve? At this stage it may be helpful to differentiate between short selling stocks in the underlying market (non-leveraged) and shorting (selling or taking a short position) via a broker offering leverage. The traditional approach has been set out above, where the short seller borrows shares from a broker, sells the shares and later buys the shares back at a discount to return to the broker. However, the emergence of leverage trading has simplified this process to the point where shorting a stock is simply a matter of clicking the sell button for the desired stock on an online platform. Shorting a stock in this way involves: A regulated broker : It is crucial to trade with a regulated broker offering little to no leverage. Liquidity/Borrow : In order to short a stock, the broker must have sufficient borrow. Borrow refers to having a pool of liquidity providers willing to lend the necessary shares to the broker for its internal hedging requirements. In the absence of borrow, brokers can no longer facilitate short selling and will disable the short selling function until sufficient borrow returns to the market. More liquid stocks tend to provide greater borrow than illiquid stocks. Set risk parameters : When there is sufficient borrow, carry out the necessary analysis, set stops and limits and hit the sell button on the online platform. How to short sell a stock The following steps can be followed when shorting a stock: Select the desired market Confirm a down-trending market Predetermine stop losses and limits ( risk-to-reward ratio ) Enter the short trade The trade is complete once the stop or limit is hit Traders can make use of the 200-day moving average or use trend lines to evaluate whether the stock is in a trending environment. The short selling process can be made clearer by using actual figures in the form of a practical example. Short selling example Lets say a short seller wishes to sell 10 shares of Apple Inc as he believes the share price is going to drop in the near future. If the price of Apple is $200 and the margin requirement is 50%, that means the trader would effectively be controlling $2000 ($200 x 10 shares) worth of Apple shares while only putting up $1000 ($2000 x 0.5) as margin. The short seller sets the target at a price of $170 and a stop at $210 to establish a 1:3 risk-to-reward ratio. If price hits the target, the short seller could gain near $300 ($30 x 10 shares), minus any financing fees and commissions. Nominal trade value = $2000 Margin = 50% ($1000) Gain after taking profit = $300 ($30 x 10 shares) Potential loss: $100 ($10 x 10 shares) This example also presents the ideal scenario but financial markets are often unpredictable and do not move as reliably as presented here. It is for this reason that traders should adopt sound risk management practices from the outset. What are the risks when short selling stocks? When learning how to short sell stocks it is crucial to keep the following in mind: Potential for unlimited losses - Short positions without stops, theoretically have the potential for unlimited losses. There is no limit to the price of a share can rise to which further underscores the importance of stops. Short squeeze A short squeeze occurs when short traders witness a rise in price (contrary to what was expected) leading to losses that eventually force traders to buy (to close the trade) at a higher price and take a loss . Price gains more upward momentum as more short sellers buy to close their positions. Below is an example of a short squeeze using the US 500 (S&P 500): Unborrowable stock In plummeting markets, even the most liquid shares can become unborrowable and therefore, prevent the opening of any new short positions. Traders need to keep this in mind but should also not allow this to force them into a rushed entry . Short Selling Stocks: Key Takeaways Shorting a stock has been made a lot easier with the advancements in technology and forms a part of a traders skillset. However, unlike the forex market, stock traders are faced with the unique problem of unborrowable stocks that prohibit any shorting of stocks. Traders should only consider initiating a short trade after conducting the necessary technical and/or fundamental analysis while adhering to sound risk management practices. As a reminder, the top 5 takeaways for shorting a stock are: Use a regulated broker: Consider using a highly regulated, reputable broker when short selling stocks. Trend: In the absence of a well-established downtrend, traders should set entry orders at favourable levels in the event the market gets there. Shares have the potential to trading gap down especially if negative information finds its way into the public domain. In such fast-moving markets, traders can miss a favourable entry when away from the trading screen and orders can help. Liquidity/Borrow: Is the stock trading on a major exchange with a healthy number of shares changing hands daily, otherwise known as free-float? Greater liquidity tends to translate into more borrow being made available to short sellers and greater flexibility to short the stock. Borrow charge: In addition to any overnight funding charges on open positions held overnight, there are often borrow charges that apply to short positions to allow short sellers to participate in the market. It is always a good idea to enquire about such a charge with your broker before placing a trade. Risk Management: Since short trades theoretically have unlimited losses with limited gain (price can only drop to 0), traders need to make use of stops and limits to rectify an inherently skewed risk-reward payoff. Short selling stocks FAQs What are the top stocks to short? Stocks that become attractive to short sellers vary by industry and sector. Therefore, there is no single stock that traders should target for a short trade. Short sellers apply a number of analysis techniques - mainly fundamental in nature - looking at revenue and debt to equity ratios but also looks at other aspects of the business like the corporate governance structure and calibre of senior management. All the major stock indices can be viewed on our major stock indices page. How long can you short a stock? There is no limit to the length of time traders can hold long positions. This is because shares are owned outright and do not involve borrowing someone elses shares. Shorting stocks on the other hand involves borrowing shares that can be recalled by the broker at any time. There is no set length of time that traders will typically be able to hold a short trade and this will depend entirely on the market conditions at the time and when the owner of the shares wishes to liquidate those very shares. The two airports of Bucharest last year recorded air traffic of over 4.46 million passengers, down 69.7% compared to 2019, while aircraft movements decreased by 53.5%, totaling 67,696, the Bucharest Airports National Company announced on Thursday. "The Bucharest Airports National Company registered, on Henri Coanda Bucharest International Airport and Bucharest-Baneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport, an air traffic of 4,468,906 passengers (decreasing by 69.7% compared to 2019) and 67,696 movements (landings and take-offs), decreasing by 53.3% compared to the previous year. Of this total, 4,456,577 passengers were registered at Henri Coanda Airport, decreasing by 69.7% compared to 2019, respectively 52,288 aircraft movements, decreasing by 57.6% compared to the previous year. Also in 2020, the Bucharest-Baneasa - Aurel Vlaicu International Airport was transited by 12,329 passengers (-51.70%), with 15,408 aircraft movements (-28.65%) having been operated here," reads a company's release sent to AGERPRES. Given that in the first two months of 2020, passenger traffic increased slightly, by 5.5%, compared to 2019, the decrease for the other 10 months of the same year (March - December) was over 81%, with a low of 19,118 passengers and 1,136 aircraft movements in April, respectively a maximum of 426,081 passengers and 5,218 aircraft movements in August. The overuse of antibiotics occurs due to the mistaken widespread belief that they are beneficial for a broad array of conditions and because many physicians are willing to prescribe antibiotics if patients ask for the medication, according to a Rutgers study. The study, published in the journal BioEssays, reviewed more than 200 peer-reviewed studies to examine the causes behind antibiotic overuse, which can lead harmful bacteria to become drug-resistant and cause harmful effects on the microbiome, the collection of beneficial germs that live in and on our bodies. Martin Blaser, director of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers and lead author, said the global use of antibiotics between 2000 and 2015 increased 39 percent, with a 77 percent increase in low- and middle-income countries. He discusses the study's findings. What health concerns result from the disruption of the microbiome by antibiotics? In children, improper antibiotic use can alter the microbiome while their immunological, metabolic and neural systems are developing. Epidemiological studies associate antibiotic exposure with an increased risk of disease of allergic, metabolic and cognitive disorders that have grown more common in children during the antibiotic era. In adults, there is increasing evidence that antibiotics may enhance risk for metabolic and neoplastic diseases, including diabetes, kidney stones and growths in the colon and rectum that can lead to cancer. What are the trends you found in antibiotic use? Studies in the United States, United Kingdom and China found numerous online pharmacies selling antibiotics without a prescription. This problem also is large in Iow- to middle-income countries, where 60 percent of antibiotics are sold without prescriptions, often by untrained medical practitioners. Perhaps of special concern during the COVID-19 pandemic is the finding that telemedicine services are another potential source of questionable antibiotic sales in the United States. A recent analysis found that patients with acute respiratory infections were more often prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics if they had a tele-health doctor visit, compared to an in-person visit. Worldwide, antibiotic use is highest in young children, especially in low-income areas. This is often in response to the fact that young children are prone to have four to six upper respiratory tract infections each year. Although most of these infections are treated by antibiotics, 80 percent are not caused by bacteria and would therefore derive no benefit from antibiotics. Are some practitioners more likely to prescribe antibiotics? Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that older physicians are more likely than their younger colleagues to prescribe antibiotics. For example, one study found that physicians over 30 were several times more likely to prescribe antibiotics for common respiratory conditions that do not necessarily require them. Another study found that physicians with over 25 years in practice were disproportionately likely to issue prescriptions of more than eight days. What misinformation did you find among the public? Many people believe that antibiotics are effective against bacterial and viral illnesses, lumping all types of pathogens together and adopting a "germs are germs" attitude. Others believe that taking antibiotics can't hurt. Across Europe, for example, 57 percent of people surveyed were unaware that antibiotics were ineffective against viruses, and 44 percent did not know that antibiotics have no effect against colds or influenza. What other reasons did you find for inappropriate prescription of antibiotics? Antibiotics are commonly used across the world to self-treat health problems for which they were never intended, such as in Nigeria, where women are increasingly using antibiotics to reduce menstrual cramps. In low- to middle-income countries, antibiotics are often seen as strong, magical medicines, capable of both curing and preventing a range of illness. In many countries people also take them to return to work or school when ill. One of the studies found that 63 percent of Chinese university students kept a personal antibiotic stock at home. Parents may appeal for an antibiotic for their children so that they can go to work or for the children to return to school or daycare. A U.S. study found that 43 percent of parents of a child with cold symptoms believed that antibiotics were necessary. In addition, some doctors are inclined to prescribe an antibiotic to maintain a good relationship with patients who expect to receive medication. Patients may not demand antibiotics outright, but rather infer their need for them by how they describe the severity of their illness or note that they worked in the past for a similar issue. People have become less willing to wait and let an illness run its course. The perception that there is a pill for ills of all kinds leads the public to demand immediate relief for symptoms from practitioners and to self-medicate. Every time an antibiotic is given, money changes hands. This is especially a problem in low- and middle-income countries, where pharmacists are happy to dispense without a prescription to their customers. The rural health practitioners in China are paid every time they dispense an antibiotic as well. Such monetary incentives favor the wide use of antibiotics. How can antibiotic overuse be addressed? Clinicians need to be better educated about the long-term effects on the microbiome and learn about better ways to speak with their patients about antibiotic risks and benefits. They also need to improve their communication about the consequences of antibiotic treatments and identify antibiotic alternatives. Advertisement A gorgeous baby siamang has celebrated its first lunar birthday at a zoo in China as heart-melting pictures show the gibbon looking cosy while snuggling up to his blanket. The little fellow named Lucky turned one-month-old on Wednesday after being born by C-section at the Nanjing Hongshan Zoo in eastern Jiangsu province on December 27. Weighing about 650 grams at birth, the baby ape has been growing vigorously in the past few weeks, now tipping the scales at 820 grams. A gorgeous baby siamang has celebrated its first lunar birthday at a zoo in China as heart-melting pictures show the gibbon looking cosy while snuggling up to his blanket. The picture taken on January 25 shows Lucky in his incubator in Nanjing The little fellow named Lucky turned one-month-old on Wednesday after being born by C-section at the Nanjing Hongshan Zoo in eastern Jiangsu province on December 27. Lucky is pictured at the Nanjing Hongshan Zoo in eastern China Weighing about 650 grams at birth, Lucky is growing vigorously in the past few weeks, now tipping the scales at 820 grams Lucky has also grown four teeth in that time while sporting 18-centimetre (seven-inch) long upper limbs that were 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) in length when he was born. Adorable footage and pictures show the baby siamang looking cosy while snuggling up to his blanket in his incubator or being fed by the zookeepers. Lucky was said to be the countrys first birth of a siamang by caesarean section as well as the first of its kind to be born at the Nanjiang zoo. Lucky has grown four teeth in the past month while sporting 18-centimetre (seven-inch) long upper limbs that were 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) in length when he was born. The picture shows the baby ape snuggling up to his blanket at the zoo A baby siamang named Lucky celebrated its one-month birthday yesterday at a zoo in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province Luckys mother, Purba, fell pregnant last year after mating with Luckys father, Bobi, according to a statement by the zoo. After more than seven months of gestation, Purbas estimated date of delivery drew near as the zookeepers paid close attention to monitor the expectant mother. On the morning of December 27, a staff member noticed a protuberance that appeared to look like 'a small arm in Purbas lower body, a sign that the siamang is about to give birth with an abnormal fetal position. Purbas delivery was particularly challenging as siamangs have arms longer than their legs, a characteristic causing the complication with Luckys birth. The little fellow named Lucky (pictured on Monday) turned one-month-old on Wednesday after being born on December 27 Adorable footage and pictures show the baby siamang looking cosy while snuggling up to his blanket in his incubator or being fed by the zookeepers at the Nanjing Hongshan Zoo in the city of Nanjing, eastern China's Jiangsu province Luckys mother, Purba (pictured), fell pregnant last year. She delivered a healthy male baby on December 27 by C-section A group of veterinary professionals were called to the zoo to assist the operation while the zookeepers prepared for isolation, midwifery and a possible birth by caesarean section. The team decided to carry out a C-section after first trying to correct the fetal position - but the attempt failed due to Luckys lengthy arms. After a 70-minute operation, Lucky was delivered successfully. Both mother and son were out of danger. Following his birth, the baby gibbon has been living in an incubator while being given round-the-clock care. As Purba struggles to produce a sufficient amount of breast milk, Lucky is mainly fed with milk powder, according to the zoo. Vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland-New South Wales border in Brisbane on April 15, 2020. (Patrick Hamilton /AFP via Getty Images) Tourism Industry Hopes Easing Border Restrictions on NSW Ends Border Merry-Go-Round Tourism and aviation industry leaders are hoping the announcements that Queensland and South Australia will now open borders to Sydney will bring an end to the instability the tourism industry has experienced over the past year after outbreaks of the CCP virus caused chief ministers and premiers to shut domestic borders. When the two states lift their travel restrictions on Feb. 1 (NSW) and January 31st (SA) respectively, it will spell the end of all hard border rules in Australia for the first time in five weeks. Related Coverage Queensland Border Reopening Welcome News: NSW Premier Once lifted, Chief Executive Graham Turner from the Flight Centre is hoping the borders stay open. This is welcome news, certainly for travel and tourism, Turner told Sky News on Thursday. Sydney being open is vital for Queensland and other states. So it is good news but lets hope they stay open because our major concern is that they keep opening and shutting on what it seems at a whim. Every state has a different policy. This has been a concern for the tourism industry for many months, with quick border closers creating uncertainty for travellers and losses for businesses. Australian Tourism Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway said the senseless border merry-go-round cannot continue. Frankly, we have in essence zero levels of community transmission of the virus, he told The Australian. Were inherently frustrated as an industry. Westaway told the Epoch Times that border closures are further decimating many tourism businesses. Our industry can only re-emphasise to State and Territory Governments the broader impacts of hard border closures, to be more consistent in response and to be committed to ensuring many livelihoods are more considered in these decisions, Westaway said. Perth Airport, in Western Australia on Jan. 8, 2021. (Matt Jelonek/Getty Images) Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner said he believed that each states differing policies showed a lack of trust in each states ability to handle any CCP virus outbreaks. Echoing Westaway, Turner said he supported federal Treasurer Josh Frydenbergs call for a national definition of virus hotspots after reiterating that closed borders cost jobs. NSW Travels Restrictions Different For Each State STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Pregnant women should not take the Moderna or the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) says, at least for now. While pregnancy puts women at a higher risk of severe COVID-19, the use of this vaccine in pregnant women is currently not recommended, the WHO said about the Moderna vaccine on its website. The Moderna vaccine is still recommended for pregnant women who are at risk of high exposure such as health-care workers, the WHO says. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also not recommended for pregnant women at this time due to insufficient data, the WHO said on its website, yet those at risk of higher exposure should discuss the vaccine with their health-care provider. Kate OBrien, director of immunization for the WHO, said there were no issues with the Moderna vaccine, but acknowledged that more data was needed, according to a report by Reuters. Both vaccines are mRNA vaccines, which do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 and, therefore, cannot give someone COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, mRNA vaccines do not interact with a persons DNA, because the mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell,' the CDC stated on its website. Yet, the actual risks of mRNA vaccines to the pregnant person and her fetus are unknown, because these vaccines have not been sufficiently studied in pregnant women, the medical agencies both said. Others who should avoid the mRNA vaccines include anyone who may be allergic to any of the vaccines ingredients and seniors who are very fragile. While vaccination is recommended for older persons due to the high risk of severe COVID-19 and death, very frail older persons with an anticipated life expectancy of less than 3 months should be individually assessed, the WHO said. And while the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available for children aged 16 and up, the Moderna vaccine is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18, the WHO said. The WHOs Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommended that the second shot of the Moderna vaccine be administered within 28 days, yet, the interval between the doses may be extended to 42 days, according to its website. Compliance with the full schedule is recommended, and the same product should be used for both doses, the WHO said. The Pfizer-Bio-NTech vaccine requires two doses. which the WHO recommends be administered with a 21- to 28-day interval. A s the reality of Brexit starts to hit home, with the disruption of trade between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland, trawlermen left with unsaleable fish, and that extra pound or so well have to pay for a bottle of French or Spanish wine, so profound political and constitutional effects are also making themselves felt. The UK is looking, and behaving, less and less like a united kingdom. It took Gordon Brown, a former prime minister and a fervent supporter of the Union, to tell it like it is. In the aftermath of Brexit and the pandemic, he told the BBC, the United Kingdom was in danger of becoming a failed state. There were problems of trust, structures and consultation. The way the UK was governed, he insisted, had to change. In fact, the risks had been sensed within hours of the polls closing in the EU referendum in 2016. First came the surprise and shock at the victory for Leave: positive or negative, depending which way you had voted. You will probably remember the agony on David Camerons face when he announced his resignation outside Number 10, and the almost appalled expressions on the faces of the Leave leaders, as well as their almost immediate falling out. The poster presentation given by Dr. Tung-Ming Tsai of the National Taiwan University Hospital will be featured in the WCLC's Screening and Early Detection session and is entitled " Circulating Nucleosomes in Lung Cancer Diagnosis following Low-Dose Computed Tomography ". The key message from the presentation is that, based on an interim analysis of a subset of subjects in an ongoing study, Nu.Q assays could help identify non-cancerous nodules following a scan thereby reducing unnecessary biopsies by as much as 32%. Watch a short interview where Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Jake Micallef discusses the results - https://youtu.be/QbC7eJKw3pQ Professor Chen Jin-Shing, Principal Investigator of the study said "The results of this interim analysis of a subset of our 1,200-subject study are very promising. Low-Dose Computed tomography (LDCT) is the widely accepted standard for screening of individuals at high risk of lung cancer. However, LDCT has several limitations including poor specificity (high false positives). Results from this study suggest that Nucleosomes and Histone PTMs may discriminate well between non-cancerous benign nodules versus early-stage lung cancer (stages 0, I and II) in non-familial lung cancer history patients. The ability to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous nodules could reduce both unnecessary biopsies and the frequency of radiation exposure from repeated LDCT scanning. To accomplish this result through a non-invasive blood test would be an important step forward in lung cancer screening. We look forward to completing the study and publishing our findings in the coming months." Dr. Jasmine Kway, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Volition said "Lung cancer remains the deadliest of all the cancers and there is a high unmet clinical need for improved diagnosis. We are hopeful that our Nu.Q assays can help identify non-cancerous nodules following a scan. We are delighted that our world-renowned collaborators are presenting this data at such a prestigious conference and share our collaborator's excitement to complete this study and share the findings at scientific conferences later this year." The abstract can be found here. To view the poster presentation video please register for the WCLC here About the Study A large-scale lung cancer study is being conducted under the supervision of Professor Chen Jin-Shing in the Department of Surgery of the prestigious National Taiwan University Hospital ("NTUH"). The study will include 1,200 subjects receiving LDCT scans, including 1,000 with lung cancer. Collection commenced in the summer of 2019 and will be completed in May 2021. This interim analysis is based on a subset of 220 subjects. For further details please contact [email protected]. About Volition Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company developing simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose a range of cancers and other diseases. Early diagnosis has the potential to not only prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of NucleosomicsTM, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition is primarily focused on human diagnostics but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics. Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with a small laboratory in California and additional offices in Texas, London and Singapore, as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market. For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website volition.com or connect with us via: Twitter: https://twitter.com/volitionrx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volitionrx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolitionRx/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VolitionRx The contents found at Volition's website address, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The addresses for Volition's website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are included in this document as inactive textual references only. Media / Investor Contacts Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release may be "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, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the timing of completion of studies and the release of data, the effectiveness of Volition's blood-based diagnostic and prognostic tests, and Volition's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer and other diseases. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic or prognostic products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in Volition's development pipeline or any other diagnostic or prognostic products Volition might develop; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition will face fierce competition and Volition's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics market and its rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Nucleosomics and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE VolitionRx Ltd Related Links http://www.volitionrx.com Thursday, 28 January 2021 16:21:05 (GMT+3) | Istanbul The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has announced the preliminary determination of its injury inquiry into imports of rebar from Oman and Russia. The CITT has found that the products under inquiry have caused injury or are threatening to cause injury to the domestic industry. This preliminary injury inquiry follows the notification on December 4, 2020, that the president of the Canada Border Services Agency had initiated an investigation into the alleged injurious dumping of imported rebar from Oman and Russia. Highlights Xiaomi likely to bring haptic feedback system to MIUI 12.5. New update will three feedback system. The update claimed to enhance your experience. Xiaomi is set to add a major update to its custom operating skin MIUI 12.5. The smartphone maker might soon add a new haptic feedback system in MIUI 12.5, the latest version of its operating system, according to a recent post on the Xiaomiui Telegram channel. The update is likely to bring a haptic feedback system which will provide realistic feedback to touch inputs, including several gestures. The post adds that the new update might include a demo and a bunch of screenshots, highlighting the capabilities of the new haptic feedback system. The update is likely to introduce three different types of haptic feedback Crisp, Base, and Pop. These will vary depending upon the action you perform on your device. The change will be added in the Settings menu under the "Natural touch" haptic feedback system. The update is claimed to provide an additional dimension to everything you see and touch on your phone's screen. As per the information provided in the post, the high frequency crisp feedback will be triggered when you do things like copy text, increase/decrease volume, or tap-and-hold on an icon on the home screen. When you perform any swipe gesture, the low frequency base feedback will be triggered. Lastly, the elastic Pop feedback will be activated when you open context menus. Not just this, there will also be a fourth feedback which will be triggered when you interact with notifications, unlock your device with the fingerprint scanner, or when you press the power button. Xiaomi is yet to make any official announcement around this update and there is no timeline on when it will be available for public roll out. At the end of the last year, the smartphone maker had introduced MIUI 12.5, which included several new features, including new live wallpapers, new system sounds, MIUI+, an updated Notes app, a few privacy changes, and more. The company had initially announced a list of 21 devices which will support MIUI 12.5. The skin will first arrive on devices sold in China, then the ones in other countries including India. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Court decision to cancel Cabinet's resolution on new edition of Ukrainian spelling to be appealed Justice Ministry The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine says that the decision of Kyiv District Administrative Court to cancel the government decree on the new edition of the Ukrainian spelling will be appealed. The Ministry of Justice considers the said decision of the District Administrative Court illegal and will appeal against it in the court of appeal, the press service of the Ministry of Justice reported with reference to the words of Deputy Minister of Justice Valeriya Kolomiyets. "The government has 30 days to file an appeal," a message posted on Twitter says. Earlier, the District Administrative Court of Kyiv declared illegal the government's decree on changes in Ukrainian spelling. As reported, on May 22, 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a new edition of Ukrainian spelling in order to ensure constitutional provisions on the state status of the Ukrainian language and unify the use of spelling norms. The Cabinet also annulled clause 1 of its resolution of June 8, 1992 No. 309 "Issues of Ukrainian spelling". The new edition of "Ukrainian Spelling" entered into force on June 3, 2019. From that moment it is recommended to apply the rules and regulations of this edition. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Only women need to "stay home" to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom - or at least that's how people interpreted a now-yanked National Health Services campaign. The National Health Service, Britain's publicly funded health-care system, released an ad Wednesday that ostensibly was created to encourage people to stay home as much as possible amid the pandemic. It showed four scenes: one with a woman relaxing on a sofa with her male partner and three in which women are home caring for children or cleaning the house. The stereotypical tone did not sit well with its targeted social media constituency. Social platforms were buzzing with accusations of sexism after the NHS posted the advert on its Facebook page Wednesday night. Among the most common reactions was "who thought this was okay?" Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the image in a statement: "I will make clear that it does not reflect the government's view on women which is why we have withdrawn it," Sky News reported. But the criticism was swift and continued to circulate even after the ad was removed. Labour MP Yvette Cooper addressed the ad Thursday morning, tweeting: "Turns out 1950s sexism is spread fast too." Health officials around the world have pleaded with people to stay home as much as possible to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In the U.K., the number of new cases has been declining since early January, but experts fear the emergence of new and more contagious variants could lead to another increase. The digital flier was an attempt to get citizens to stay at home as coronavirus cases slowly decline with a new variant discovered in the country contributing to more infection. Johnson is taking heat this week for claiming that his government had truly done "everything we could" to save the lives that were lost in the pandemic. While the country's vaccine rollout has been going relatively smooth, Johnson's critics pointed to a year-long pattern of bold promises followed by failures. More than 3.7 million cases and 103,000 covid-related deaths have been reported in the U.K., according to data tracked by The Washington Post. Globally, the pandemic has disproportionately affected women, causing their job losses to be 1.8 times greater than that of men. Women's voices and perspectives have also been marginalized in the coronavirus conversation, according to multiple studies. Women and people without a college education have been most affected by the U.K. lockdown restrictions, according to a University of Cambridge study. - - - The Washington Post's William Booth contributed to this report. An accused homophobe has pleaded not guilty to the 1988 murder of American man Scott Johnson whose naked body was found at the bottom of a cliff. Detectives stormed the Sydney apartment of Scott White, 49, in May 2020 and arrested him for the crime after receiving a tip-off. An original inquest in 1989 ruled the death was suicide, a second in 2012 could not confirm the cause, and a third inquest, however, ruled Mr Johnson was killed in a gay hate crime. Detectives stormed the Lane Cove apartment of Scott White, 49, in May 2020 and arrested him for the crime after receiving a tip-off from an informant Scott Johnson (pictured) was 27-years-old and had just finished his maths PhD when he was found at the bottom of cliffs in Manly Mr White faced court on Thursday over the 32-year-old cold case, one of the city's longest-standing murder mysteries, and plead not guilty, paving the way for a trial, reports the ABC. The third inquest in 2017 found that Mr Johnson fell from the cliff on Sydney's northern beaches 'as a result of actual or threatened violence' by an unidentified attacker who perceived him to be gay. This was followed by a $1million reward being offered by police for information which led to a conviction. This was later doubled to $2million with the additional reward offered by Mr Johnson's brother Steve, an American tech entrepreneur. Steve said in 2020 the arrest marked 'a very emotional day' in a video message shared by police Detective chief inspector Peter Yeomans, who led the investigation, said that without the evidence from the informant the case 'couldn't have been solved'. Steve Johnson said 'this is very emotional day'. He previously said he arrived in Sydney 36 hours after he heard of his brother's death. 'It was clear when I got to the police station, the Manly police station, that the police already assumed it was a suicide,' Steve told ABC's Australian Story. 'And I said, ''Impossible''. He'd just finished his PhD that he'd been working on for five years.' Scott Johnson (left), a Sydney-based American national, was found at the base of a cliff at Blue Fish Point, near Manly's North Head, on December 10, 1988. His brother Steve (right) spent decades fighting for justice Over the following years Steve hired an investigative journalist, and lawyers and others joined the cause to find answers, calling themselves 'Team Scott'. Among the leads followed by the team were whether Blue Fish Point was a known gay beat, where strangers in the gay community would meet for sex. Also unanswered was why Mr Johnson's clothes were neatly folded in a pile at the top of the cliffs. Steve said the arrest of his brother's alleged killer was important not only for his family but also for the wider gay community. 'Scott had come to symbolise the many dozens of other gay men who lost their lives in the 1980s and 90s,' he said. The arrest proved 'times have changed' and it recognised 'that all of us deserve equal protection and justice under the law', Steve added. It would be a sad day for Northern Ireland if money originally earmarked for health was handed back to the Treasury, Mark Taylor said (Royal College of Surgeons of England/PA). It would be a sad day for Northern Ireland if money earmarked for health was handed back to the Treasury, the Royal College of Surgeons has said. At the last count nearly 100,000 people were waiting to be admitted to hospital and the pandemic has exacerbated waiting lists, the RCS added. Inability to roll over funds into the next financial year forced the NHS to return 90 million to Stormonts central pot for reallocation between departments in the midst of the coronavirus emergency. Mark Taylor, Northern Ireland director of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: It would be a sad day for Northern Ireland and our Government if we had to hand back much-needed money when our situation is so dire. Patients expect us to take every opportunity we can to keep urgent surgery going during these difficult times and we want to do exactly just that. The RCS highlighted solutions including stronger access to the independent sector and equitable allocation of nursing, theatre and anaesthetic staff. College representatives also explained, during a meeting with Health Minister Robin Swann, the challenges staff were facing getting theatre space and a full surgical team for urgent and time-dependent operations. We have to try and get surgery going again, and give patients hope Mark Taylor Mr Taylor added: We know that the Executive are seeking flexibility from the Treasury to enable Stormont to roll money over to the next financial year and we sincerely hope they are successful, because our waiting lists are horrendous. At the last count, Northern Ireland had more than 327,000 patients waiting for their first outpatient appointment with a consultant, while nearly 100,000 were awaiting admission to hospital. The latest official waiting list figures are due out next month and surgeons expect them to be worse. Mr Taylor said Northern Ireland already had a backlog of surgery, adding: This legacy of waiting lists and system failures is nothing new. The challenge of fixing Northern Irelands health service was already in the pipeline before the pandemic. However we must act now. We have to try and get surgery going again, and give patients hope. Expand Close Robin Swann said if he had flexibility he could roll his budget into next year (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Robin Swann said if he had flexibility he could roll his budget into next year (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Swann said a few weeks ago that operations will take place for those most in need when available hospital capacity becomes available, and surgeons have welcomed the regional approach. He said if he had flexibility to roll his budget into next year he could have used unspent money for the health service five times over. She's a mom of two and has been enjoying a red hot new romance since filing for divorce last July. And on Wednesday, Jordana Brewster had her hands full as she juggled a phone call while holding on to purchases. The actress, 40, was spotted multitasking as she left the Brentwood Country Mart in West Los Angeles. Multitasking: Jordana Brewster had her hands full as she juggled a phone call while holding on to purchases Wednesday during a shopping trip in Brentwood in West Los Angeles The Fast & Furious star was dressed up in a black top and black pleated skirt for her shopping trip. She added a pale green jacket which she left undone and strode out in colorful patterned stiletto heels. Her long hair was loose and she sported spectacles and a black face mask. Stylish: The Fast & Furious star was dressed up in a black top and black pleated skirt for her shopping trip. She added a pale green jacket and strode out in colorful patterned stiletto heels Couple's errand: Earlier in the day, Brewster, 40, was seen out and about in a pale pink and gray ensemble, holding hands with new love Mason Morfit, 44, as they left a Farmshop together Brewster filed for divorce from producer husband Andrew Form last July 1 after 13 years of marriage and two children. They are parents to two sons, born via gestational surrogate - Julian, seven, and Rowan, four. She went public soon after with her relationship with tech entrepreneur Mason Morfit, 44. Inseparable: The actress has been enjoying a red hot romance with tech entrepreneur Morfit, since filing for divorce from producer husband Andrew Form on July 1 Divorce: Brewster and Form (pictured in 2019) met on the set of 2006 movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and they married in May 2007 Mom of two: The exes share sons Julian, seven, and Rowan, four, both of whom were born via gestational surrogate Brewster will next be seen on screen in F9, the latest installment in the Fast And Furious franchise that's slated to be released in May after being pushed back due to the pandemic. In October, it was announced that the film's director Justin Lin is set to helm two more movies which will wrap up the franchise after a 20-year run. Brewster is likely to be back along with series headliner Vin Diesel and castmembers Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris. Since the first film The Fast And The Furious premiered in 2001, the franchise has become the highest-grossing movie series in the history of Universal Pictures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the US decision to suspend the sale of F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will not affect Israeli ties with the UAE. "We have passed the point of no return," Netanyahu said during a press briefing broadcast on his Facebook page. "Everyone understands that there are huge benefits to having ties with Israel," he added, noting he believes the arms deal will finally go through. Netanyahu's remarks came after US President Joe Biden's administration announced the halt of a major sale of the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets. The deal was approved by the Trump administration after the UAE agreed last year to normalize its relations with Israel. Short link: Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A man receives a document from a medic after his sample was taken for coronavirus testing in Hanoi, April 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Thai Anh. Australian think tank Lowy Institute found Vietnam performed second best around the world in handling the Covid-19 outbreak. The Covid Performance Index compiled by the institute evaluated how 98 countries and territories have handled their own Covid-19 outbreaks based on the availability of data across six indicators: confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests and tests per a thousand people. While New Zealand took the top spot with 94.4 scores in total, Vietnam arrived second with an average score of 90.8 over 100, followed by Taiwan, Thailand and Cyprus. The U.S., the world's largest pandemic hotspot, was the fifth worst performing country. Mainland China was not included in this ranking due to a lack of publicly available data on testing. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Thailand are the only ones that have made it into the top ten. Also in the region, Indonesia was ranked lowest, at 85th. Brazil rocked the bottom, followed by Mexico and Colombia. The think tank said the period examined spans the 36 weeks that followed every countrys hundredth confirmed case of Covid-19, using data available to Jan. 9, 2021. Analysis proved that although the coronavirus outbreak started in China, countries in the AsiaPacific, on average, proved the most successful at containing the pandemic. By contrast, the rapid spread of Covid-19 along the main arteries of globalization quickly overwhelmed first Europe and then the U.S. In general, levels of economic development or differences in political systems between countries had less of an impact on outcomes than often assumed or publicized. Smaller populations, cohesive societies and capable institutions have proved to be bigger factors. Many developing countries were able to cope with the initial outbreak of the pandemic while advanced economies, as a grouping, lost their lead by the end of 2020 with infections surging again in many places that had achieved apparent success in suppressing first waves of the pandemic. Richer countries were quickly overwhelmed when the virus first emerged while many governments in developing countries had more lead time, and often a greater sense of urgency, to put in place preventative measures after the scale and severity of the global crisis became known, Lowy Institute determined. Thus, analysis suggests American political scientist Francis Fukuyama was reasonable when he said last year the dividing line in effective crisis response has not been regime type, "but whether citizens trust their leaders, and whether those leaders preside over a competent and effective state." "Systemic factors alone, a societys regional provenance, political system, economic development, or size, cannot fully account for the differences observed in global crisis response. The results point to some strengths and vulnerabilities stemming from the way different countries are set up to deal with a public policy challenge of this scale. But policy choices and political circumstances of the day appear to be just as important in shaping national responses to the pandemic," the institute said. Herve Lemahieu, director of Power and Diplomacy Program at Lowy Institute, told the ABC's Coronacast podcast that poorer countries would soon lose ground as they struggled to obtain Covid-19 vaccines for their citizens because "with the uneven distribution and hoarding of vaccines we may well see rich countries get a decisive upper hand in crisis recovery efforts." Vietnam on Thursday confirmed 84 community transmitted infections after it had gone 55 straight days without any infections. With a population of near 96 million, Vietnam recorded its first cases in late January last year and has so far registered a total 1,635, including 35 deaths. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 India will soon rollout many more coronavirus vaccines for the benefit of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his special address at World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda Summit on Thursday. The developments on vaccine front will rapidly change the economic scenario, he further stated. "India is saving the lives of citizens of other countries by sending the COVID vaccines to many countries of the world and by helping them build vaccination infrastructure. Only two Made-In-India coronavirus vaccine have been released as of now. Many more such vaccines will come from India in future. These vaccines will help the countries of the world on a much larger scale, at a higher speed," PM Modi said. In the beginning of his address, the Prime Minister said that several experts and institutions had predicted that India will be the worst-hit country during the pandemic. "It was said that India will face a tsunami of coronavirus cases. Some said 700-800 million Indians will be affected, while some predicted 2 million deaths. Considering the situation in major countries with advanced health infrastructure at that time, the world's concerns about a developing country like India were justified," he said. Despite the challenges, India moved ahead with proactive public participation, said the Prime Minister. The focus was on developing COVID-specific health infrastructure and training human resources to fight the pandemic, used technology in abundance for testing and tracking, and transformed the fight against coronavirus into a public movement, he said. India today is among the nations that have been the most successful in saving lives and where number of cases is rapidly declining, he said. The country has also managed to effectively contain the coronavirus, saving the world and mankind from a huge calamity. "At the onset of COVID-19, we used to import masks, PPE kits, testing kits. Today, we are not only fulfilling our domestic demand, but exporting them to other countries. World's biggest coronavirus vaccination programme is underway in India. We are vaccinating 30 million health and frontline workers in first phase. In just 12 days, we have already vaccinated 2.3 million people. In the next few months, we will vaccinate 300 million elderly persons and those with co-morbidities," the Prime Minister said. Emulating the ancient prayer of 'Sarve Santu Niramaya' India fulfilled its global responsibility during the crisis. PM Modi said. Not only did we repatriate over one lakh foreign nationals but also sent medicines to more than 150 countries even when the international airspace was closed, he said. "With India's success, I am also assuring the world that the conditions on the economic front will also change rapidly now. Even in the times of COVID-19, India has spent lakhs of crores on infrastructure, rolled out schemes for employment to maintain economic activity. Then we insisted on saving every single life, now every single life of India is fully dedicated to the progress of the country," PM Modi said. ALSO READ: WEF Davos Agenda Highlights: Industrial Revolution 4.0 to aid Atmanirbhar Bharat, says PM Modi ALSO READ: WEF 2021: 'In everyone's interest to grow businesses in sustainable manner,' says Anand Mahindra Company also releases new version for FTK and AD Lab with parsing support for Windows OS registry files Orem, Utah, Jan. 28, 2021, an Exterro Company and a leading provider of integrated digital forensics and e-discovery software, today announced the release of AD Enterprise 7.4.2, a new version of its software for managing internal forensic investigations and post-breach analysis that introduces remote data collection for endpoints outside of the corporate network, as well as the ability to collect data from sources in the cloud. COVID-19 has presented new challenges globally, but companies still need to be able to respond to a data breach or perform an internal data collection, even from employees who are now working from home. With AD Enterprise 7.4.2, users can collect and analyze data from remote Windows endpoints that are outside the corporate network with no VPN connectivity by using Site Server Integration. "We want organizations to stay in control of their data whether their employees are working from home or at the office," said Harsh Behl, director of product management at AccessData. "AD Enterprise not only allows for data collection from off-network endpoints, but it also provides industry-leading technology to collect the data faster, helping organizations to maintain business continuity and perform investigations no matter where their employees are." As employees continue to work remotely, organizations are also quickly adopting and relying on cloud tools like Google Drive and Microsoft Teams to stay collaborative, yet they must also be able to collect from these cloud data sources. AD Enterprise is the first forensic collection tool in the industry to offer a suite of data connectors, including from network shares, Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, OneDrive, Google Drive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams. Furthermore, as Mac adoption continues to rise across the globe, the new version of AD Enterprise also expands remote data collection capabilities to Mac devices that run on the macOS Big Sur operating system, in addition to macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave. "And we are proud to announce that AD Enterprise can now perform a live preview and remote collection from M1 chip Mac endpoints," said Behl. "With AD Enterprise 7.4.2, we offer the most types of data source connectors than any other forensic company. AD Enterprise is now the first forensic solution to offer in-network collection, superior Mac collection, off-network collection and cloud data source collection-all in one product. This offers our users a single solution for all their collection needs, allowing them to conduct faster and more comprehensive digital forensics investigations," said Behl. For more information about the AD Enterprise 7.4.2 enhancements, please click here. In addition, AccessData has also launched enhanced versions of its FTK and AD Lab products for digital forensics professionals. The release delivers parsing support for Windows OS data and presents it in an easy-to-read, reportable format in the new Enhanced Windows System Information Tab. Users can easily examine data from AmCache registry files, SRUM artifacts, and Windows timeline events to develop a clear picture of an endpoint user's actions and geolocations, helping to speed investigative work by eliminating the manual translation of Windows OS registry files. FTK and AD Lab 7.4.2 also feature parsing support for Microsoft Edge browser data. This release comes on the heels of Exterro announcing their acquisition of AccessData, which furthers Exterro's vision of empowering customers to proactively and defensibly manage their legal governance, risk and compliance (GRC) obligations while maintaining and ensuring the highest levels of data integrity. By combining forces with AccessData, Exterro can now provide companies, government agencies, law enforcement, law firms and legal service providers with the only solution available to address all Legal GRC and digital investigation needs in one integrated platform. ### About Exterro Exterro was founded with the simple vision that applying the concepts of process optimization and data science to how companies manage digital information and respond to litigation would drive more successful outcomes at a lower cost. We remain committed to this vision today as we deliver a fully integrated Legal GRC platform that enables our clients to address their privacy, regulatory, compliance and litigation risks more effectively and at lower costs. With software solutions that span privacy, legal operations, compliance, cybersecurity and information governance, Exterro helps some of the world's largest organizations work smarter and more efficiently. For more information, visit exterro.com. About Access Data Whether it's for investigation, litigation or compliance, AccessData offers industry-leading solutions that put the power of forensics in your hands. For more than 30 years, AccessData has worked with more than 130,000 customers in law enforcement, government agencies, corporations and law firms around the world, providing both stand-alone and enterprise-class solutions that can synergistically work together. For more information on AccessData, please go to www.accessdata.com. Tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, who was murdered and decapitated in his New York apartment last year, was worth $6million when he died, court records show. Saleh, 33, was allegedly dismembered by his executive assistant Tyrese Haspil, 21, who stole $90,000 from the businessman in the months leading up to his death, police say. Saleh's limbless body was found in his luxury apartment on the Lower East Side in July and Haspil has since been arrested and charged with first degree murder over the gruesome killing. Tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh (pictured), who was murdered and decapitated in his New York apartment last year, was worth $6million when he died Saleh, 33, was allegedly dismembered by his executive assistant Tyrese Haspil (pictured), 21, who was arrested and charged over the gruesome killing The Bangladeshi-US investor did not leave a will but papers filed by one of his sisters, Rifayet Saleh, in Manhattan's Surrogate Court, show his wealth at the time of his death. The tech CEO, who founded the Nigerian motorcycle ride-sharing company Gokada, had a $1.8million mortgage on his $2.2million East Houston Street apartment, but that was his only debt, according to the New York Post. Saleh had no wife or children and under New York law his money would go to his parents Raihana Saleh and Saleh Uddin Ahmed. Rifayet asked the court to be appointed as the administrator of her brother's estate so she could access the funds to take over operations of his businesses. Saleh's limbless body was found in his luxury $2.2million apartment on the Lower East Side where he had a $1.8million mortgage Police claimed Haspil, pictured during his arrest, was stealing money from Saleh and took more than $90,000 between 2017 and July 2020 A judge allowed her to collect $4million from the estate, the court records show. Documents said Saleh's 'parents and siblings desperately wish to preserve and cultivate the businesses in order to fulfill the decedent's ambitions, which were cruelty and prematurely denied to him'. Police claimed Haspil was stealing money from Saleh and took more than $90,000 between 2017 and July 2020, when the murder took place. In their submission to the grand jury, prosecutors described finding a Makita saw, demolition bags containing body parts, limbs and a Home Depot receipt inside Saleh's home. They say that over the course of three years, Haspil stole more than $90,000 from Saleh in PayPal and Intuit transfers, and that he kept transferring money to himself four days after Saleh had died. Haspil pleaded not guilty and remains in custody awaiting trial. Detectives started investigating Haspil after finding text messages in which Saleh accused Haspil of stealing the money, according to police sources. Saleh was tasered and then stabbed multiple times before being dismembered, police said. Police found Saleh's limbless body inside his apartment in the luxury Lower East Side building. An apartment in the building is shown above Police leaving the building on July 14. They found Saleh's limbs in trash bags Surveillance footage from inside the 265 East Houston apartment building showed Saleh was followed into the elevator by a man - believed to be Haspil - who was wearing a black suit and mask. Investigators say Saleh, who was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, appeared suspicious when the masked-man fumbled with the elevator, which requires the use of a key fob to operate. The footage shows the victim collapsing to the ground as the elevator doors opened directly into Saleh's full-floor apartment. The elevator doors then closed and obscured the camera's view of what happened next. Haspil's credit card was allegedly used after the murder to purchase a power saw and cleaning products at Home Depot. The card was allegedly also used to pay for travel to and from Saleh's apartment. Saleh was born to Bangladeshi parents in Saudi Arabia before moving to the US When police arrived at the scene, Saleh's torso was found in the corner of his living room and his head, arms, and legs had been separated into plastic bags. An electric saw that was still plugged in, a vacuum cleaner and cleaning products were found nearby. When the alleged killer returned the following day to clean up, police believe he may have been interrupted by Saleh's cousin who stopped by to check in on him. His cousin likely pressed the buzzer of Saleh's apartment before entering the building, alerting the killer and forcing him to abandon his efforts to dispose of the remains. The killer is believed to have fled the building through a fire escape while his victim's cousin rode the elevator up, police said. Police sources said initially they believed the murder was financially motivated and likely the fatal result of a soured business deal. Prior to the personal assistant's arrest, investigators had been looking into Saleh's business affairs for any possible motives or suspects. Haspil, who is from Elmont, New York, had worked for Saleh at his investment firm Adventure Capital. Image by the Gauteng Film Commission South Africa Development nodes across Joburg, integrated with its movement systems, are identified and upgraded by the City, to encourage economic and social investment. The City of Johannesburg has been described as "a developmental local government" that aims to improve the quality of life of all its residents. Vital to this are its on-going urban regeneration and renewal projects. Development nodes are identified and steps are taken to upgrade the area, supporting local business and encouraging economic and social development investments. The City intends to establish a clear structure of urban nodes well integrated with movement systems in Johannesburg, with an emphasis on new economic nodes in disadvantaged areas. Areas include the inner city, Soweto, Alexandra and Randburg. Inner city The regeneration of the inner city is one of the City's priorities. To this end, it has adopted an Inner City Regeneration Charter to accelerate transformation and boost investment and development. It works closely with private sector partners to ensure that the goals of the charter are being met. Successes to date include the regeneration of Mary Fitzgerald Square; Fashion District; Rockey / Raleigh Street in Yeoville; Doornfontein and New Doornfontein precincts; Ellis Park precinct; Ghandi Square; public environment upgrades in Berea, Hillbrow and Yeoville; new retail investment in Bree Street; Brickfields social housing; and Anglo Ashanti's Turbine Hall headquarters. Soweto In Soweto, the impact of urban renewal projects are conspicuous and visible: first and foremost has been the rebuilding of the beautiful calabash-shaped FNB Stadium, and the road infrastructure linking the stadium to the CBD. Upgrades have taken place in and around Vilakazi Street, famous for being home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners - Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Other Soweto projects include the Kliptown Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, the Bara Taxi and Bus Facility, the Soweto Empowerment Zone, and the R1-billion Orlando Ekhaya project. Alexandra The township of Alexandra has benefited from the on-going Alexandra Renewal Programme, which seeks to upgrade living conditions and human potential in the area. Infrastructure upgrades have included a new water reservoir in Linbro Park; pavements, roads and bridges have been improved, including the widening of Vincent Tshabalala Road; more than 11 000 housing units have been built; the electrical infrastructure has been upgraded; and 37 hectares of land have been turned into parks. The Alexandra Plaza and Pan Africa Retail Centre alone have yielded R417-million in private sector investment, with the Pan Africa Development Project allowing the Alexandra Renewal Programme to provide a formal taxi rank. Randburg The Randburg CBD is a City Improvement District managed by Kagiso Urban Management, which also manages similar districts like Sandton Central and Rosebank. Plans are underway to upgrade the district and so help to enco Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence was relieved from his post following the publication of a list of people tagged as NPA members and killed by the military. "I am relieving MGen Alex Luna from his post as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2, effective today (28 Jan 2021)," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement. Lorenzana said the publication of the list, which he called "erroneous," was unforgivable. "The publication of an erroneous list, originating from his office OJ2, of alleged NPA killed by the military is an unforgivable lapse. His negligence only shows a lackadaisical attitude towards his job resulting to confusion and damage to reputation. We do not take these offenses lightly and I want to hold the people involved accountable," Lorenzana added. Luna has yet to issue a statement on the matter. In a message to CNN Philippines, Lorenzana said the language used in his message regarding Luna's relief was needed to make sure the organization took their jobs seriously. "There is an investigation going on but I based my decision under the principle of command responsibility: a commander is responsible for whatever his unit does or fails to do. Alam nila lahat ito [They all know this]," he said. Lorenzana said Luna will be placed under the office of the AFP Chief of Staff. The AFP Information Exchange recently posted on its page a list of University of the Philippines students allegedly captured and killed after joining the communist group. The post went viral not just on Facebook, but also in other social media platforms. However, it was taken down following a backlash. The AFP apologized to UP Alumni who were included in a list of alleged New People's Army recruits. The apology came after Lorenzana acknowledged the mistake committed by the military, describing it as an "unpardonable gaffe." The Defense chief asked UP to help the government put an end to the alleged communist recruitment activities on its campuses, a claim that the university maintained lacks factual evidence. RELATED: UP accord terminated to protect Filipinos vs 'enemies of the state' Lorenzana Lorenzana said his decision to unilaterally terminate the DND's deal with UP is a "fulfillment of a patriotic duty," repeating his earlier statement that the move is meant to protect the youth from what he called enemies of the state. In a letter made public last week, he informed UP President Danilo Concepcion that the UP-DND accord, which bars the unauthorized entry of state forces in UP campuses, was abrogated as of Jan. 15. 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). 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. For Trimeka Rollinss daughter, who is 24 and transgender, New Jerseys only womens prison was supposed to be a haven. She had been shuffled from one mens prison to another, facing abuse at both, her mother said, before finally being transferred in November to the states only lockup for women, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. We thought it would be a little different, Ms. Rollins said. It was worse. In a Jan. 11 incident that is now at the center of a wide-ranging criminal investigation, her daughter was handcuffed and beaten so badly by four guards that ligaments ripped in her knee, Ms. Rollins said, forcing her to rely on a wheelchair to move around. It is the latest episode in what has emerged as a yearslong pattern of abuse of inmates by guards at the troubled western New Jersey prison. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Senator Tom Cotton expressed dismay over troops' extended stay because the D.C. Guardsmen should be deployed back. But the DEMS are insistent on keeping them around until they try ex-president Trump. Since the National Guard's deployment in the U.S. capital, many events have transpired, but their primary mission of securing the inauguration is complete. However, their extended stay has drawn critique from those disagreeing with it. Democrats claim that violence will happen One of the Republicans, Sen. Cotton, stated that the troops were unneeded. The incident used by the DEMS to keep the guard around are only for potential threats, reported the Epoch Times. Many see the militarization of the capital as muscle-flexing by the DEMS. Governor Ron Desantis of Florida recalled 600 troops and said that the guards are not "Pelosi's public servants." There were reports of specific conditions that the guards weren't treated well. The senator added that those soldiers have done their duty and shrugged off the elements in doing what they were sent to do. Troops carried out their mission admirably in the best traditions of their national service. Their presence and the action on the events of January 6, stopped more hostilities from happening again. The inauguration was peaceful with no dissenters; that is the pretext of keeping troops in Washington till the 20th. For Fox News on Wednesday, Senator Tom Cotton stressed the inauguration is done with threats, not in view. Guards should be sent back promptly, soon. Also read: National Guard Denies Guardsmen Guilty Turning Backs on Presidential Motorcade in Washington DC Last Monday, officials in the DEMS led government said the troops would not leave Washington D.C. until the mid of March. They want to try Citizen Trump for inciting insurrection. Start of the planned impeachment will begin on February 8. Cotton says the threat is not defined Like many on Capitol Hill, keeping the thousands of troops has no clearly defined reason for their continued presence in Washington. Many view the militarization as a first for an extended period, and it doesn't help that the threats are all conspirational and unverified. He contradicted that keeping an army is the immediate solution to the capital's security. Instead, they should maintain the security bolstered to counteract the real threats that are existing. Cotton's opinions on the Capitol incident According to Cotton, during the January 6 inciden, the DEMS and some GOP members charged the president for inciting the chaos in a speech, allegedly even if Trump said otherwise. They and big tech used a narrative that suited them. In a video, Trump condemned the violence but the DEMS still claim he had a part of it. Sen. Cotton stated that the whole incident happened when officials concerned with security failed to ask for initial backup after riots have occurred in other cities. Social media was rife with warnings of hostile actions on that day. Senator Tom Cotton added that District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser made the grave error of leaving the small number of guardsmen without weapons in his op-ed. According to him, Bowser chose to side with anti-police groups that made it worse. Related article: Three National Guard Members Die in Accidental Helicopter Crash in New York Farm @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Exactly one year ago today, the first Covid-19 case in was officially confirmed. Since then, more than 2.16 million Covid-19 cases have been registered in the country, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Wednesday. "A year ago today, not everyone realized that we would be living in a pandemic," Chancellor Angela Merkel said during her speech on Tuesday during the virtual annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), adding that "our lives over the next few years would be shaped by the deep traces of the pandemic in our economy and society." Back in late January last year, Bavarian health authorities confirmed the first Covid-19 case in Germany, an employee of the automotive supplier Webasto near Munich who was infected during a company event, the Xinhua news agency reported. "When Webasto became the first company in to be confronted with the novel virus exactly twelve months ago, I could never have imagined the extent to which the virus would spread globally," said Holger Engelmann, chairman of the management board at Webasto SE, in a statement. Although the Covid-19 outbreak at Webasto was quickly brought under control with the help of contact tracing, the virus continued its spread for example during a carnival event, when a large number of people got infected. An unprecedented lockdown followed in spring, with contact restrictions and a shutdown of the economy. During summer, Covid-19 infection rates in had calmed down, but the situation worsened during the fall. The past few months have brought new record numbers, particularly in new cases and deaths. The peak of 1,244 deaths related to Covid-19 within one day was reached two weeks ago, according to the RKI, the federal government agency for disease control and prevention. Germany's official death toll was 53,972 as of Wednesday, according to RKI. Germany entered a second lockdown at the beginning of November. The lockdown, failing to reverse the trend in infections, was tightened and only recently extended until mid-February. Bars and restaurants as well as non-essential shops in Germany are closed and strict contact restrictions apply. Minister of Health Jens Spahn said during a press conference last week that Covid-19 case numbers were "encouraging in recent days" as the numbers were finally heading in the right direction. However, infections and death rates were still "too high." Spahn said the ongoing vaccination campaign in Germany gave reason for hope. "We are at the height of the pandemic, but at the same time we have started the journey out of the pandemic." Nearly 1.7 million people in Germany have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines since the campaign was launched at the end of December. More than 318,000 have already received the required second dose, according to RKI data published on Wednesday. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized vaccines. Meanwhile, 236 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 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 January 26. --IANS int/rs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Florida law firm, Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. announces the celebration of its 50th anniversary this year. The law firm serves clients throughout Collier County with two offices, Naples and Marco Island. Woodward, Pires & Lombardo is known as being one of the oldest law firms in Collier County. As part of the celebration, the firm will hold events throughout the year and is expanding its office space to two floors in Naples to include a state-of-the-art conference center with enhanced virtual and audio-visual capabilities to better serve its clients. Mark J. Woodward, Managing Partner of Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. Managing Partner, Mark Woodward speaks about this landmark and what the future holds for the firm: "Having the honor of being a part of this community for the past 50 years has impacted virtually every facet of our firm. We're not just working with clients, we're working with friends, residents, business owners and organizations. We're not just providing a service; we're impacting the lives of our community members. To have this kind of opportunity is not just an honor, it is truly a privilege and we thank you, Southwest Florida, for entrusting your legal representation to our skilled legal professionals. We're looking toward a bright future for our firm, our clients and our community." Since 1971, when founding attorney Arthur V. Woodward first opened the doors of Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., the firm has been making it a priority to serve clients to the highest degree of excellence. In the past five decades, not only did the law firm continue to expand its offices and services, but the attorneys also sought out on a mission to both represent its clients and to enhance the community dynamic as well. The attorneys are involved and serve on various charitable boards and organizations in leadership roles and strive to contribute to the spirit and continued growth of Southwest Florida. About Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P. A. assists individuals and businesses with a variety of legal matters, including Litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Business Law, Family Law, Community Association Law and Local Government Law. The law firm has two offices in Southwest Florida, Naples and Marco Island, and has been serving clients since 1971 when Arthur V. Woodward founded one of the first law firms on Marco Island. Visit www.wpl-legal.com. Contact: Mary Beth Link [email protected] | (239) 649-6555 SOURCE Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. A 16-year-old Protestant is now under arrest. The would-be terrorist was inspired by the attacks in Christchurch two years ago. Catholics call for action to protect religious harmony. Christian and Islamic leaders urge a crackdown on online indoctrination. Singapore (AsiaNews) Christian and Muslim leaders have condemned the plan of a young Singaporean man to carry out an attack on two city mosques. Last night, Singapore authorities reported that a 16-year-old Protestant man, an ethnic Indian, was taken into custody in December under the Internal Security Act. According to the police, he planned to attack Muslims with machetes in two mosques in the Woodlands area. The attack was set for 15 March, exactly two years after a right-wing extremist, Brenton Tarrant, shot and killed 51 Muslims in a mosque and an Islamic centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. For investigators, the aspiring Singapore terrorist has radicalised himself on the web, inspired by Tarrant. In a statement released this morning, the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore said it was concerned about the news, and expressed solidarity with its Muslim brothers and sisters, noting that Islam is a religion of peace. The Church believes in religious harmony and the peaceful co-existence of all religions, reads a statement issued by the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore. The latter goes on to stress that the proliferation of violent content on the web, especially about religion, requires an educational effort to guide young people on the right path. Rev Keith Lai, president of the Council of Christian Churches in Singapore, and the Mufti of Singapore Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir share this view. The two religious leaders met today with government officials to discuss the problem of religious radicalism. They call on the authorities and families to work together to contain the harmful influence of online indoctrination. Religious coexistence is one of Singapores singular traits. The government allows full freedom of worship as long as it does not interfere with the affairs of the state. Vodafone Group was reportedly mulling the sale of its Ghana unit to subsidiary Vodacom with the British company pushing on with restructuring plans to cut debt. Bloomberg noted management of the Ghana business was instructed to report to Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub from April last year, perhaps an initial step to prepare for consolidation. Vodafone Ghana saw subscriber numbers fall recently and is partly owned (30%) by the government, which makes a sale to subsidiary Vodacom most likely, said a Bloomberg analyst. Since being promoted to group CEO, Nick Read embarked on a strategy where the operator focused on key European and African markets to drive growth, it recently sold units in New Zealand and Malta. The sale of the unit could be linked to group plans to go public later this year, a move the operator said in October is still going ahead. Vodafone Ghana began in 2008 when the group acquired 70% of Ghana Telecom form the government for $900 million. ADVERTISEMENT In a bid to fast track screening for the coronavirus ahead of the Lunar holidays next month, Chinese authorities are using samples taken from the anus to detect potential COVID-19 infections from citizens considered to be at high risk of contracting the virus. While theres no nationwide policy on use of the technique, residents of Beijing and some parts of the northern region of the country were localized outbreaks emerged in recent weeks have been subjected to the swabs. The method involves the insertion of a saline-soaked cotton swab about two-to-three centimetres into the anus, with the sample then tested for active traces of the virus. Officials took anal swabs from residents of neighbourhoods with confirmed COVID-19 cases in Beijing last week, according to the state broadcaster CCTV, The Guardian UK reported. The anal swabs method can increase the detection rate of infected people as traces of the virus linger longer in the anus than in the respiratory tract, Li Tongzeng, a senior doctor from Beijings Youan hospital, told CCTV, according to the report. He argued that anal swabs could be more accurate than throat and nose tests, especially in detecting asymptomatic cases, adding they were only being used on at-risk groups, including at quarantine sites. China managed to halt the spread of its original outbreak that started in Wuhan last year through its relentless pandemic strategy mass testing, total lockdowns, compulsory safety measures and fumigation of entire cities. Even though COVID-19, the potentially dangerous pneumonia-like disease caused by the coronavirus, is said to have emanated from a local Wuhan market to spread to almost 200 countries, claiming over two million lives and sickening more than 100 million in about a year, Chinese authorities have led the fight against the contagion. But pockets of outbreaks in the countrys major cities in recent weeks are already testing the containment measures. On Wednesday, the National Health Commission reported a total of 115 new confirmed cases on China mainland, the highest daily increase since July 30. Hebei, the province that surrounds Beijing, accounted for 90 of the cases, while northeastern Heilongjiang province reported 16 new cases. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 87,706, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634. Meanwhile, health experts believe more research is needed to determine how effective anal swabs are since theres no evidence that virus transmission is any more common among patients who test positive in the anus area. Anal swabbing has not been conducted in other places that have successfully achieved near-elimination of the pathogen, like New Zealand, Bloomberg reported. 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. SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accion Opportunity Fund, the nation's leading nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to small businesses, is working swiftly with its partners at Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce and San Francisco African-American Chamber of Commerce to support Bay Area Black-owned businesses with advising, grants, and funding support, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans available now from the federal government. This comes as the nonprofit lender works to fulfill its $1 Billion commitment to investing in marginalized businesses nationwide by 2023.1 During the first round of PPP lending, Accion Opportunity Fund originated $1.5 million in loans for 115 Black-owned small businesses, partnering with the Chambers to provide counseling and expert advice on the PPP loan application process to their members. By partnering with local Black Chambers, we can build a more inclusive financial landscape with PPP loans and beyond. Tweet this "Black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at twice the rate of White Americans and Black-owned businesses are closing at the highest rates during this pandemic. We will not accept this," said Luz Urrutia, CEO of Accion Opportunity Fund. "By partnering with local Black and African-American chambers, we can build a more inclusive financial landscape. We want to ensure Black entrepreneurs get through this pandemic, while also working to eradicate bias and integrate greater equity and inclusion for entrepreneurs of color." Bias and inequities have persisted in our financial system for far too long. Prior to the pandemic, Black-owned businesses were five times more likely to be turned down for a bank loan than White-owned businesses. It's not surprising that in the first round of PPP lending, White-owned firms received a greater portion of federal support. In the first round of PPP lending, Accion Opportunity Fund moved quickly to become an SBA-approved lender and worked swiftly to originate $15 million in loans for over 1,000 small businesses, many of which are micro-businesses and sole-proprietorships. Its average PPP loan size was $15,000, one-fifth the size of the average size PPP loan in the second half of the first round of PPP lending. In June and July, Accion Opportunity Fund partnered with the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Chambers to provide three weekly webinars walking members through the PPP process, earning trust and helping the chambers' members complete applications. Its approval percentage for PPP loans submitted to the Small Business Administration is significantly higher than the national average, and 12% of PPP small business loans funded through the nonprofit lender went to Black-owned businesses. "Our members turn to us for expert advice, resources, and a network of connections. Accion Opportunity Fund is a trusted partner that has proven invaluable to Silicon Valley's Black entrepreneurs during this crisis," said Carl Davis Jr., President of the Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce. "Trust is at the core of this partnership. And from this trust springs forth collaboration and a can-do spirit to get the job done no small task during a global pandemic that's disproportionately hurting and killing the Black community and our Black-owned businesses," said Dr. Matthew Ajiake, President of the San Francisco African-American Chamber of Commerce. Providing working capital loans from $2,600 to $100,000 to underserved businesses including flexible underwriting criteria, less onerous documentation requirements than other lenders, multilingual customer service representatives available to answer questions 7 days a week/12 hours per day in a quick and customer centric manner is Accion Opportunity Fund's primary focus. Local chambers of commerce and community partners are key to that effort. Ethnic chambers and other organizations serving minority small businesses interested in partnering with Accion Opportunity Fund to provide affordable loans to their members and customers can contact: Adriana Eiriz, VP of Sales and Partnerships, [email protected] . About Accion Opportunity Fund In March, 2020, Opportunity Fund and Accion, The US Network, joined forces to establish Accion Opportunity Fund , the first organization focused on a national microlending strategy to meet the credit needs of small businesses developing new products, establishing new partnerships, promoting research and financial education, and leveraging digital technologies to support mission-driven lending. About Opportunity Fund Opportunity Fund, the nation's leading nonprofit small business lender, believes small dollar loans help hard-working entrepreneurs make lasting change in their own lives and build stronger communities by growing businesses and creating jobs. Opportunity Fund's community of donors and investors is creating an inclusive financial system that empowers women, immigrants, and minority small business owners. Our strategy combines microloans for small business owners and New Markets Tax Credit investments in high-impact community infrastructure projects. Since 1994, Opportunity Fund has deployed more than $900 million and helped thousands of entrepreneurs invest in their families' futures. The organization has committed to lending an additional $1.2 billion to small business owners across the country and investing $174 million in community real estate projects by 2023. Opportunity Fund has earned the highest 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for trust and transparency. www.opportunityfund.org 1All loans issued by Opportunity Fund Community Development, CA Finance Lender license #6050609. SOURCE Accion Opportunity Fund Related Links http://www.opportunityfund.org New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Supreme Court while hearing a Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind petition against fake and motivated news during the Nizammuddin Markaz incident, cited the Internet ban as a preventive measure to contain violence, taken by the authorities during farmers protest in Delhi on January 26. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde emphasized that at some point in time the government has to control news and cited the shutting down of Internet in various parts of the capital following violence on streets on Republic Day. The Chief Justice said the government shut down the Internet over mobile because of the farmers visit to Delhi and so "couldn't it do the same when it finds certain news channel indulging in bad reporting, which may lead to violence or targeting a certain community". "I'm using the non controversial term... You have shut down internet mobile...These are problems that can arise anywhere...," said the Chief Justice. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, objected to the word 'visit' used by the Chief Justice. To which, Chief Justice replied that he "deliberately was using a non-controversial word". After making this reference to the January 26 incident, when farmers rampaged through the national capital, the top court got back to the hearing on the matter in hand in which various petitioners had objected to the motivated reporting by various media houses against the Muslim community post the Markaz incident that was regarded as a superspreader of Covid in March 2020. The Chief Justice emphasized that "fair and truthful reporting is normally not a problem, but the problem begins when it is used to agitate others and target a particular community". The Chief Justice stressed that "controlling the flow of information, which may cause damage is extremely important and it should be done through preventive measures". "It's as important as providing lathis to policemen...and deploying barricades. It's an important preventive part of the law and order situation," said the Chief Justice, drawing an analogy. The top court said that the government is not doing its bit to control new channels showing programs which instigate a community. "There are programs which instigated or impacted a community. But as a government, you do nothing," the Chief Justice told Mehta. The Chief Justice also told Mehta: "Control over some news is as important as some preventive measure and check law and order situation. I don't know why you are blind to this. I don't mean anything offensive but you are doing nothing about it." The court has posted the matter for further hearing after three weeks. Jamiat and others have moved the top court citing bad reporting by various media houses, which demonized the Muslim community in the backdrop of the Nizamuddin Markaz incident. The information contained in this release was correct as at 31 December 2020 . Information on the Company's up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange Website at https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html. BLACKROCK SMALLER COMPANIES TRUST PLC (LEI:549300MS535KC2WH4082) All information is at 31 December 2020 and unaudited. Performance at month end is calculated on a capital only basis One month % Three months % One year % Three years % Five years % Net asset value* 10.6 24.5 2.9 15.5 65.2 Share price* 17.3 42.6 1.6 33.3 74.9 Numis ex Inv Companies + AIM Index 8.3 21.2 3.4 0.6 30.5 *performance calculations based on a capital only NAV with debt at par, without income reinvested. Share price performance calculations exclude income reinvestment. Sources: BlackRock and Datastream At month end Net asset value Capital only (debt at par value): 1,734.27p Net asset value Capital only (debt at fair value): 1,714.87p Net asset value incl. Income (debt at par value)1: 1,738.06p Net asset value incl. Income (debt at fair value)1: 1,718.66p Share price: 1,740.00p Premium to Cum Income NAV (debt at par value): 0.1% Premium to Cum Income NAV (debt at fair value): 1.2% Net yield2: 1.9% Gross assets3: 928.3m Gearing range as a % of net assets: 0-15% Net gearing including income (debt at par): 6.2% Ongoing charges ratio (actual)4: 0.7% Ordinary shares in issue5: 48,829,792 Includes net revenue of 3.79p Yield calculations are based on dividends announced in the last 12 months as at the date of release of this announcement, and comprise the second interim dividend of 19.7 pence per share (announced on 3 June 2020, ex-dividend on 11 June 2020) and the first interim dividend of 12.8 pence per share (announced on 5 November 2020, ex-dividend on 12 November 2020, paid on 26 November 2020). Includes current year revenue. As reported in the Annual Financial Report for the year ended 29 February 2020 the Ongoing Charges Ratio (OCR) was 0.7%. The OCR is calculated as a percentage of net assets and using operating expenses, excluding performance fees, finance costs and taxation. Excludes 1,163,731 ordinary shares held in treasury. Sector Weightings % of portfolio Industrials 26.8 Financials 18.4 Consumer Services 16.1 Consumer Goods 12.9 Technology 9.9 Health Care 6.4 Basic Materials 5.7 Oil & Gas 1.7 Telecommunications 1.1 Materials 1.0 ----- Total 100.0 ===== Country Weightings % of portfolio United Kingdom 97.3 United States 1.4 Singapore 0.6 Guernsey 0.4 France 0.3 ----- Total 100.0 ===== Ten Largest Equity Investments Company % of portfolio YouGov 2.4 Watches of Switzerland 2.4 Ergomed 1.9 Treatt 1.9 Grafton Group 1.9 Stock Spirits Group 1.8 Impax Asset Management 1.8 IntegraFin 1.8 IG Design Group 1.8 Calisen Plc 1.7 Commenting on the markets, Roland Arnold, representing the Investment Manager noted: During November the Company's NAV per share rose by 10.6%1 to 1,734.27p, outperforming our benchmark index which returned 8.3%1; for comparison the FTSE 100 Index rose by 3.1%1 (all calculations are on a capital only basis). Equity markets rose in December as COVID-19 vaccine deployment began globally. Despite positive news around vaccine programmes, virus cases continued to rise and renewed restrictions on activity in Europe (Germany, UK and Netherlands) and the US (California) to slow the spread were implemented. Further travel restrictions in Europe arose on the discovery of a new, more contagious mutation of the virus. Small & mid-cap stocks outperformed during the month as December finally delivered positive progress on Brexit, with an agreement on trade terms for goods. The marked increase in takeover activity, notably from private equity and overseas bidders continued with a number of smaller companies receiving bids, indicating a willingness of strategic buyers to look through the period of current uncertainty and focus on what we see as the undervaluation of UK equities versus their global peers. The two largest contributors to performance in the month were IMIMobile and Calisen, both of which were recipients of the previously mentioned mergers and acquisitions trend. While beneficial to performance when our holdings are bid for, our preference would always be to own these companies for the strong long-term prospects which have attracted us to the holdings in the first place, something that has clearly attracted the interest of strategic buyers in recent weeks. Shares in IMIMobile, the cloud communications software specialist soared after the company agreed to a takeover approach from US listed IT giant Cisco Systems. Shares in smart meter installation and asset owner, Calisen, rallied after the business agreed to a bid from a consortium of private equity funds. Learning technologies announced the acquisition of privately-owned eThink Education. The earnings enhancing deal follows the recent acquisition of eCreators and shows the speed with which the company is utilising the proceeds of their recent fund raise. Shares in Avon Rubber fell on the disappointing news that one of their products needs to be re-certified, resulting in a delay to some revenues. While the delay is disappointing, we continue believe in the long-term attractions of the business and recent steps taken to increase its focus on the protection markets. Many of the other detractors to performance during the month were simply companies that we do not own which benefited from the value rally which continued during the month. Despite further mandated restrictions in many countries across Europe (including the UK) and the US, stock markets are now focused on how quickly the world can return to something approximating to normality. Whilst this is clearly positive news for markets and global economies, we remain mindful that any programme of mass vaccination will take many months to implement, and therefore we may see further volatility from new waves and variants of the virus and further lockdowns. Meanwhile the trade deal agreed between the UK and the EU finally provides the UK market with some long-awaited clarity and removes the risk premium associated with a no-deal Brexit for UK assets. We therefore believe that resolution and clarification over Brexit will now have potential to drive flows into UK equities as global asset allocators reassess their underweight positions. Whilst there will undoubtedly be some teething problems as companies and industries adjust to new ways of working in a post Brexit world, and this will certainly not be the last we hear of Brexit, we continue to believe that smaller companies in particular will be best placed to react and adapt fastest to the future rules of engagement. The Company's investment strategy is focussed on quality growth investments in smaller companies, a style that has demonstrably worked for the long-term, and historically periods of heightened volatility, such as this, have proven to be excellent investment opportunities. We therefore remain optimistic about the opportunity ahead for this Company. 1Source: BlackRock as at 31 December 2020 28 January 2021 ENDS Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then partly cloudy late. High 79F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Attorney Mathias Mattern was known as Mickey to some, Mike to others and The Pope to yet another group. The Leo High School graduate died May 2 at age 87. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is riding sky high on her success for a long time now. Everything she touches turns into gold and she has aced the art of conquering and succeeding with her immense talent. Recently her Netflix release The White Tiger received rave reviews, she was paired opposite Rajkummar Rao in the film. She is currently busy with the promotions of her upcoming book Unfinished. Throwback to a time when Priyanka Chopra had a fun date night with her husband Nick Jonas as they cooked some pasta together. Both of them are always up for new things. During their stay in Italy, Priyanka shared a video where she is seen making the pasta sauce while Nick is busy making the spaghetti pasta block. Looking at the sweet camaraderie between the adorable couple, we sure wish our cooking date nights looked as fun as theirs. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. We couldnt find anything at this address. Please check the URL or go to the homepage Iran has threatened to block some nuclear inspections next month, and further increased production of fuel that could be enriched for use in bombs. It has seized an American allys cargo ship. And it has incarcerated yet another American citizen on spying charges. These are just some of the steps Iran has taken in recent weeks in what is seen as part of an increasingly impatient strategy to pressure President Biden, who has said he wants to reverse many actions taken by his predecessor, Donald J. Trump. Those reversals include returning to the 2015 Iranian nuclear accord, abandoned by Mr. Trump, which had severely constrained Irans nuclear program. Irans adversaries have long seen that program as a path toward the country building nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists that it has always been intended only for peaceful purposes. Mr. Trump slapped many tough economic sanctions on Iran in what he called a maximum pressure strategy to force the Iranians to renegotiate the accord. But Iran refused to renegotiate and instead ramped up its nuclear activity after the U.S. withdrawal from the deal, while also pursuing its missile program and regional policies opposed by the United States. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will partially suspend its commercial flight operations from 30 January to 5 February for rehearsals and the main show of Aero India 2021 , the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BAIL) has said in a statement. "In order to ensure safety and pave the way for the success of the event, Bengaluru Airport will partially close commercial flight operations and also standby as the diversionary airport for flying display during the days of practice and the main show," BIAL said. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal The Aero India, which provides a platform for aerospace companies to showcase their products and services is scheduled to be held from 3 to 5 February at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. Commercial flight operations will be halted at KIA during the aerial display times for both rehearsals and the actual airshow. KIA will also be a standby as the diversionary airport for flying displays during the days of practice and the main show. BIAL in a statement said that it is working with airlines and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to ensure minimal disruption to the existing schedule during the reduced operating hours. "BIAL is working with airlines and IAF to ensure minimal disruption to the existing schedule during the reduced operating hours," BIAL said. "To avoid passenger inconvenience, the respective airlines will share timely communication on the change in airport operations and the revised flight timings during the Aero India show," it added. It further said that ancillary support such as airport taxis and bus services will be aligned to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger traffic. Information on airport operations will be made available on the BIAL website (www.bengaluruairport.com). It also advised passengers to check with the respective airlines on the status of their flights. The Aero India 2021 edition will be the first global air show organised in the Covid era. This year, Asia's largest aerospace exhibition would be a hybrid show, which means delegates would be present either physically or virtually. As per the organisers, the 2021 edition will be held on an indigenously developed virtual exhibition platform on a hybrid model. A negative coronavirus (RT-PCR) test has been made mandatory for those attending the 13th biennial Aero India-2021 show at the Indian Air Force Station at Yelahanka in Bengaluru. "Whoever wishes to attend the event has to have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report without which there will be no entry," Air Commodore Shailender Sood, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Yelahanka, said while speaking to reporters. The test report has to be taken 72 hours prior to the show, organisers said. With agency inputs Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The boss of banking giant HSBC insisted Tuesday he was legally obliged to close the accounts of a prominent Hong Kong democracy campaigner, as he faced a hostile grilling from UK lawmakers. Chief executive Noel Quinn was accused by Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell of "double-standards, hypocrisy and appeasement" in acceding to China's sweeping security crackdown in the former British colony. Also Read | The Indian-Americans driving Bidens agenda "I have to comply with the law," Quinn told the House of Commons foreign affairs committee when asked about the accounts of Ted Hui, insisting he could not make a "moral or political judgement on these matters". Hui, a former lawmaker who has fled Hong Kong, accuses HSBC of flouting his rights in complying with a police order to close accounts belonging to him and members of his family. He has been caught up in the crackdown imposed under a Chinese-mandated National Security Law in Hong Kong which controversially received support from HSBC among other businesses. Members of the British parliamentary committee lined up to savage HSBC for supporting the law and for alleged hypocrisy in espousing ethical values elsewhere in the world. One compared the bank to Barclays, which suffered a consumer boycott in the 1980s for financing the apartheid regime of South Africa. But Quinn said he had to act in the best interests of the London-based bank -- which derives most of its income from Asia -- and the economy of Hong Kong. "We've been in Hong Kong 155 years. Today is a particularly challenging time," he said. "As challenging as the geopolitics are... I want to help Hong Kong to continue to develop. Am I willing to walk away from Hong Kong? The answer is no." - 180th anniversary - The CEO also denied that HSBC has any business activity in the region of Xinjiang, where the outgoing US administration and rights groups accuse China of waging "genocide" against the Uighur ethnic community. And he said the banking group had no plans to separate its Greater China operations from the rest of the world, as a means of resolving some of the political challenges it faces in straddling competing political demands. "I do not see a point where we have to split the institution. I do not think that would be to the benefit of Hong Kong and I do not think that would be to the benefit of the UK," Quinn said. The parliamentary grilling coincided with the anniversary of Royal Navy officers planting the British flag on Hong Kong Island in 1841. "On the 180th anniversary of modern Hong Kong, I want to send all of you who struggle to secure freedom and democracy a message of support not just from myself, but from the whole of the free world," former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith tweeted. Unlike many MPs and the former US administration, the UK government has stopped short of fiery denunciations of Beijing's treatment of Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 supposedly with its freedoms intact for 50 years. But on Sunday, Britain opens a new visa scheme for holders of British National (Overseas) passports, a legacy of its rule over Hong Kong which will allow more residents of the territory and their dependents to come to the UK. jit/phz/wai HSBC BARCLAYS This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. US Vice President Kamala Harris (2-L) and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (L) watch as US President Joe Biden signs executive orders after speaking on tackling climate change, creating jobs, and restoring scientific integrity in the State Dining Room of the White House on Jan. 27, 2021. ((MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) 6 State Attorneys General Warn Biden Over Potential Presidential Overreach A coalition of state attorneys general on Jan. 27 sent a letter to President Joe Biden reminding him that any potentially unconstitutional executive actions or federal overreach will not go unchallenged. The letter, signed by six attorneys general, puts the Biden administration on notice that any actions that might exceed their statutory authority, are inconsistent with constitutional tenets, or place civil liberties at risk could trigger legal action by the states. We stand ready to meet with your administration to discuss more how the issues below affect our States; litigation is never first option, and we would like to help your team in its important job on behalf of all Americans, consistent with the Constitution and the rule of law, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is leading the group, wrote in the letter addressed to the White House (pdf). Yet if you sign unconstitutional laws passed by Congress, it will be our responsibility and duty to challenge those laws in court. If cabinet officials, executive officers, and agencies go beyond the bounds of their statutory authority, fail to follow legally required procedures, or fall short of the bedrock Administrative Procedure Act obligation of reasoned decision making, it will likewise be our responsibility to take action. The Administrative Procedure Act is a federal law that governs the process for agency rulemaking and has been frequently invoked to challenge executive branch rules and regulations. Morrisey is joined by attorneys general from Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Texas. It comes as Biden issued a series of executive orders in his first week since taking office. Some of the orders have overturned Trump-era policies, while others have established or expanded policies relating to climate change, racial equity, and the CCP virus pandemic. Some of the orders have already drawn widespread scrutiny, such as the decision to rejoin the Paris climate agreement, as well as the decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, which is expected to put thousands of jobs at risk and undermine the U.S. relationship with Canada. The Biden administration has also met with backlash for embracing a quasi-Marxist critical race theory in its policies seeking to prioritize certain racial groups that have historically met with disadvantage. Related Coverage Ideological Alignment Pushing America Toward Totalitarianism, Experts Warn Similarly, Bidens order addressing discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation is expected to threaten the constitutional freedom to exercise ones religious beliefs for individuals and organizations who affirm the traditional understanding of people as created biologically male and female. The President cannot cut constitutional corners or shirk statutory strictures without inevitably doing more harm to our country than good, the attorneys general wrote. The foundations of our republic and American life are embedded within our Constitutions carefully crafted design. Accordingly, today by this letter we respectfully urge you when pursuing your policy priorities to honor the core constitutional tenets which should be appreciated and respected by every person entrusted with the honor and burdens of the presidency. The letter notes the freedom of religion and religious expression, and the right to bear arms as two areas of concern. The attorneys general stated that while there is always pressure for U.S. presidents and Congress to exceed their power lest they be judged to be ignoring important issues or failing to address critical problems, its a presidents duty to uphold the U.S. Constitutions separation of powers as well as respect the sovereignty of the states. They added that limits on federal power arent a flaw of the Constitution and that when certain issues that are excluded from the federal sphere need to be addressed, the states are ready and able to do the job. The Biden administration has already faced several legal challenges over its executive actions. A federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked Bidens executive order to halt the deportation of certain immigrants for 100 days. The order is seen as a setback for the administration, which had campaigned on implementing far-reaching immigration changes, including a plan that would legalize about 11 million illegal immigrants. Earlier on Jan. 27, Western Energy Alliance, a group representing fossil fuel producers on federal lands, challenged Bidens executive order aimed at halting oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. Legal challenges to presidential orders arent uncommon. During former President Donald Trumps four years in office, Democrat attorneys general frequently sued his administration on a range of executive actions and regulations in areas including health, climate, and immigration. According to a website run by Dr. Paul Nolette, associate professor of political science at Marquette University, who tracked the lawsuits against the former president, the Trump administration was sued 157 times in cases in which states were initial plaintiffs, successful intervenors, or in single state lawsuits. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... HOUSTON A Houston-area deputy was recovering at a hospital on Wednesday after being shot while responding to a call about a suspicious person. Two deputies had approached the individual Tuesday evening when the man pulled out a gun and started firing at them, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. One deputy was hit four times, with his most serious injuries to his hands, Gonzalez said. The sheriffs office said in a tweet Wednesday that the deputy was expected to have surgery on his hand and could be released from the hospital in the next few days. The man accused of shooting the deputy fled the scene but was arrested after a manhunt that lasted several hours. The suspect, 37-year-old Moises Martinez, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and one count of a felon in possession of a weapon. Court records did not list an attorney for Martinez. In recent months, Martinez had been arrested for robbery and damaging two cars with rocks and had been identified as possibly being intellectually disabled, according to court records. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Although loggerhead sea turtles return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their eggs, a new study by a USF professor finds individual females lay numerous clutches of eggs in locations miles apart from each other to increase the chance that some of their offspring will survive. A study published in the journal "Scientific Reports" found that some females lay as many as six clutches as far as six miles apart during the same breeding season. "Nesting females don't lay all their eggs in one basket. Their reproductive strategy is like investing in a mutual fund. Females divide their resources among many stocks rather than investing everything in a single stock," said Deby Cassill, biology professor at USF's St. Petersburg campus and author of the study. During their 50-year lifetime, a single female loggerhead will produce around 4,200 eggs and scatter them at 40 different sites on the barrier island. This strategy helps reduce the risk of complete reproductive failure by hurricanes and thunderstorms that could wash out or flood all clutches. "Because females diversify reproduction in unpredictable patterns over time and space, nearly two-thirds of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings made it into the Gulf of Mexico," said Cassill. For the study, Cassill analyzed 17 years of data provided by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on loggerhead females nesting on Keewaydin Island off the southwestern Gulf coast of Florida. For years, conservancy staff and community volunteers tagged turtles and patrolled the island to monitor and record detailed information on the nesting population. Though the study shows most sea turtle hatchlings reach the Gulf of Mexico, future impacts due to human encroachment and climate change could affect the population. Increased frequency of extreme storms due to warmer waters and sea-level rise may flood or wash away larger portions of clutches, leading to population declines of the threatened species. "It's important to follow individuals over time to really get a glimpse of how they mate, find food and ensure that some of their young survive to maturity. Without knowledge of the sea turtle's survival and reproductive biology, we cannot develop and implement effective conservation policies," said Cassill. The study is one in a series of upcoming articles by Cassill pertaining to her "maternal risk management model," which looks at how natural selection pressures, such as predators, storms and resource scarcity, influence how mothers invest in offspring quantity and quality. She argues turtles and fish invest in large numbers of offspring when the likelihood their offspring will be killed by predators is high. Mammal mothers like whales and elephants provide extensive care to one offspring at a time when the likelihood their young will starve during seasonal droughts is high. The model, based on the number and size of offspring produced by a mother, extends Darwin's theory of natural selection by explaining the fusion of parents and offspring into family units and societies. ### QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on Facebook that she believed California's deadliest wildfire was potentially caused by space lasers that were connected to the Rothschilds and former Gov. Jerry Brown to clear the way for a high-speed rail system. The left-leaning Media Matters for America found a since-deleted Facebook post Greene wrote in November 2018 that details her views on how the devastating Camp Fire got started, which killed 85 people, saying, 'there are too many coincidences to ignore.' Greene, a Republican from Georgia, tried to connect the Pacific Gas and Electric Company - whose faulty equipment did start the blaze - through one of its board members to Rothschild Inc., in an anti-Semitic dog whistle. The cause of the fire isn't a mystery as PG&E pleaded guilty of being responsible and will pay out more than $25 billion in damages. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed in Novemer 2018 that the deadly California Camp Fire may have been caused by lasers from space and could have been intentionally set to clear way for a high speed rail project supported by then California Gov. Jerry Brown The Camp Fire in California in November 2018 killed 85 people and was caused by faulty Pacific Gas and Electric Company equipment. Greene connected PG&E to a company she claimed made space lasers and also to the former Democratic governor of California Media Matters for America first reported the since-deleted Facebook post in which Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene lays out her theory on how the Camp Fire got started She laid out connections between Brown and PG&E, suggesting financial contributions the energy company made to the Democratic governor ensured its protection. In reality, Brown was handing back donations from PG&E officials since 2014, years before the deadly Camp Fire. In a bit of tit-for-tat, Greene also alleged that the fire may have been purposely set to clear the way for a railroad project Brown supported. 'It also must just be a coincidence that the fires are burning in the same projected areas that the $77 billion Dollar High Speed Rail Project is to be built, which also happens to be Gov Brown's pet project,' Greene wrote. Greene brought in the name of another prominent California Democrat, that of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, suggesting she may also be involved as her husband, Richard Blum, had invested in the rail project. In 2013, Feinstein denied that her husband had any ties to the project, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. 'Geez with that much money, we could build 3 US southern border walls,' Greene commented. From there, Greene's post only gets wilder. The freshman congresswoman noted that some eyewitnesses of the Camp Fire 'saw what looked like lasers or blue beams of light causing the fires.' She pointed to a partnership between PG&E and the start-up Solaren to purchase solar energy collected from satellites and sent to the ground, which she referred to as 'space solar generators.' 'If they are beaming the sun's energy back to Earth, I'm sure they wouldn't ever miss a transmitter right??!!' the future congresswoman wrote. 'I mean mistakes are never made when anything new is invented. What would that look like anyway? A laser beam or light beam coming down to Earth I guess. Could that cause a fire? Hmmm, I dont know. I hope not!' she continued. 'That wouldnt look so good for PG&E, Rothschild Inc, Solaren or Jerry Brown who sure does seem fond of PG&E,' Greene added. Greene finished the post, 'But what do I know? I just like to read a lot.' A spokesperson for Solaren told DailyMail.com, 'Since we dont have any solar generators in space the story has no basis in fact.' Greene's Camp Fire post fits in the broader context of Greene's support for conspiracy theories including QAnon, which centers on former President Donald Trump making moves against a Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic, child sex trafficking ring filled with Democratic politicians and prominent liberals. Greene's social media has been scrutinized this week after CNN reported that she had indicated support for executing Democrats on Facebook in 2018 and 2019. Greene had liked a post that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In an April 2018 post of Greene's on the Iran nuclear deal, Greene responded to a commenter who asked her, 'Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???,' the individual asked, referring to former President Barack Obama and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 'Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off,' Greene replied. The CNN story - and a viral video of Greene harassing Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg on Capitol Hill - has caused outrage among a number of Democratic members. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lambasted GOP leadership for putting Greene on the House's Education committee since she's also expressed she doesn't believe school shootings like Sandy Hook and Parkland actually happened. Republicans, except for impeachment supporter Rep. Adam Kinzinger, have mostly remained silent on Greene. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the GOP leader would 'have a conversation' about Greene's 'deeply disturbing' comments, referring to CNN's report on her Facebook posts. McCarthy traveled to Florida this week and was meeting with Trump Thursday. DailyMail.com's call to Greene's D.C. Congressional office to ask for comment went to voicemail. Lili Reinhart has learned that roller skating may not be her forte. The 24-year-old Riverdale actress was seen wiping out in her trailer after trying her hand at the craft on Wednesday. Sharing the video to Instagram while hanging out with co-star Madelaine Petsch, she could be heard saying 'You gotta grab life by the b***s,' before falling backwards. Roller-whoops!: Lili Reinhart, 24, shares a video of herself falling on roller skates while hanging out with co-star Madelaine Petsch behind the scenes of their show Riverdale Seeming to get her bearings at first, she launched herself from one end of the trailer to the other with a determined look on her face. In the video she looked to be taking a break from filming as she sported jeans and a purple turtleneck with fresh blonde waves. The shiny silver blades with blue laces attached to her feet, the fun looking sport inspired Petsch - despite the fall - as she wrote, 'Now I need roller skates,' while tagging Lili and asking, 'are u ok.' Reinhart was seen laughing off the fall and did not appear to be injured, though her ego may have been. Behind the scenes shenanigans: The ladies looked to be taking a break from filming as they hung out in the trailer All downhill: A little too confident she was seen saying 'you gotta grab life by the b***s' before falling Laugh it off: Reinhart was seen laughing off the fall and did not appear to be injured, though her ego may have been As the hit CW show enters its fifth season, Lili seemed to be nostalgic for the early days as she took a trip down memory lane and shared snaps from the pilot five years ago. The group has been filming in Vancouver for a few months now with plenty of late nights and early mornings of filming. Despite being amongst friends that have become like family, shooting in a different country has provided challenges as Lili said she was not able to go home for Christmas this year. Home at last: As part of COVID-19 protocol while the show films in Canada, no cast members were allowed to leave the country until the holidays; pictured January 15 In order to adhere to COVID-19 precautions, no cast members were allowed to leave Canada until the holidays, as Lili cited an 'unfortunate series of events' for preventing her trip back to her family home in Ohio. Recently she spoke out after various publications - including Seventeen and The Daily Express - published interviews with someone that claimed to be her. An impersonator pretending to be both Reinhart and her publicist, she was forced to address it as she wrote: 'For some bizarre reason, someone impersonated me in an interview with @seventeen. Nothing inappropriate was said, but those were not my words and I wanted to address it.' Both publications apologized for not fact-checking more and removed the statements alleged from Lili, though there has been no public word on who was behind the impersonation. Michael M. Santiago/Getty The financial trading app Robinhood has been hit with a federal class-action lawsuit after it restricted trades to stocks popular on the Reddit forum r/WallStreetBets, sending Redditors and app users into a meltdown. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York on Thursday, alleges that the app purposefully, willfully, and knowingly removing the stock GME from its trading platform in the midst of an unprecedented stock rise, thereby deprived [sic] retail investors of the ability to invest in the open-market and manipulating the open-market. Robinhood, which describes itself as democratizing finance for all, allows users to buy and sell stock without a commission fee. A Robinhood spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit on Thursday, instead pointing to a Thursday blog post on its website. We continuously monitor the markets and make changes where necessary. In light of recent volatility, the statement read, we are restricting transactions for certain securities to position closing only. Alexander G. Cabeceiras, the attorney who filed the suit, tweeted shortly after: Robinhoods mission is to democratize finance for all. This is simply not true. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The lawsuit is seeking reinstatement of $GME trading to the platform, as well as a class action fee for plaintiffs, attorneys' fees, and punitive damages. In a subsequent statement on Thursday, after the lawsuit was filed, Robinhood said it would allow limited buys of restricted securities, beginning Friday. The statement didnt specify what those restrictions would be. In an interview with CNBC on Thursday night, Robinhood cofounder Vlad Tenev said the company did not act at the behest of any other firms in deciding to halt trading of the stocks. I know how Clorox and Windex felt at the pandemic, when they were running out of hand sanitizer and supplies, Tenev said. We just havent seen this level of concentrated interest, marketwide, in a small number of names before. Story continues Another law firm, ChapmanAlbin, said in a statement Thursday that it was investigating claims on behalf of Robinhood users that were affected and suffered losses as a result of investing in Gamestop or AMC. Robinhood appears to be up to the same old tricks, recruiting social media influencers to encourage individuals to sign up and fund a Robinhood account and beginning purchasing shares of securities such as Gamestop and AMC, with no consideration as to the suitability of the purchases, ChapmanAlbin attorney Philip Vujanov said in the statement. The firm didnt immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment. However, with Robinhood's user agreement, a class action lawsuit is unlikely to be successful, said Remington Gregg, counsel for civil justice and consumer rights at the advocacy group Public Citizen. He Joined the GameStop Uprising to Screw the Big Guysand Save His Dogs Life Under the user agreement, Robinhood investors waive their right to sue the company. Instead, claims must be litigated via arbitrationindividuallyin the state of California. Arbitration is a privatized system of justice, meaning that the person, the consumer investor, generally doesnt have the choice of either the arbitrator or the arbitration system, Gregg told The Daily Beast. In the context of FINRA, the arbitrators are the people who know the industry, and theyre generally the people who want to protect corporate dealers. In 2019, FINRA fined Robinhood over $1 million for execution violations related to its customers equity orders and related supervisory failures. Earlier this month, Robinhood hired two FINRA officials, according to Bloomberg News. Users of r/WallStreetBets had helped pump up the stock prices of struggling companies, most famously GameStop, as a counter to short-selling investment strategies. Through the subreddits campaign, which users have framed as a David and Goliath battle, GameStops stock ($GME) went from under $4 a share in early 2020 to well over $400 earlier on Thursday. However, on Thursday morning, Robinhood restricted further trading of $GMEalong with other stocks popular in the Reddit forum, such as BlackBerry, Nokia, and AMConly allowing users to close out of their positions. Redditors responded with rage. Users of r/WallStreetBets created a separate forum, r/ClassActionRobinHood, to coordinate a possible lawsuit against the app. The subreddit had racked up over 30,000 subscribers as of Thursday night. It is unclear whether this lawsuit is linked to the subreddit. The creator of the forum did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment. Phillip DeFranco, a YouTuber with over 6 million subscribers, said hed be dropping his partnership with the company. Robinhood is never getting a fucking spot on my show again regardless of the offer. Fucking ridiculous, DeFranco wrote. Im transferring all my stocks/money off RH ASAP. Ive used them for years and am furious. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said she would support a hearing if necessary into Robinhoods actions. We now need to know more about @RobinhoodApps decision to block retail investors from purchasing stock while hedge funds are freely able to trade the stock as they see fit, she wrote on Twitter. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded, Fully agree. And Letitia James, the Democratic attorney general of New York, said her office was actively reviewing concerns about activity on Robinhood, including GameStop stock trading. We are reviewing this matter, a statement from her office read. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Nathan, a 35-year-old welder, was one of the Reddit users locked out of further GameStop stock trades on Thursday. But he said he didnt join in on the craze just to make money. Ive never owned stocks in my life. I dont really care about it too much, he told The Daily Beast. Back in 2008, when the big financial crash happened, my family lost everything. Literally, a police officer escorted a moving company into our house, he said. I kind of had a chip on my shoulder about it. And it just felt like a way that I could get back at them. 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. Historical Surface Samples up to 232 g/t Au Historical Trenching Assay of 26.8 g/t Au over 8m Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Cross River Ventures Corp. (CSE: CRVC) (FWB: C6R) (the "Company") is pleased to announce ongoing data compilation at the Dent-Jackson project, located in the Birch-Uchi greenstone belt, northwestern Ontario, has revealed previously overlooked zones of high grade gold mineralization that remain untested by prior operators. The property's gold endowment attracted attention as far back as 1927, when the Jackson-Manion Consolidated Mines discovered gold along the eastern margin of the claim block which they mined from 1934 to 1940. The mine produced approximately 27,146 ounces of gold and 18,300 ounces of silver at an average grade of 0.258 ounce/ton Au during several years of operation (Parker & Atkinson, 1992). The focus of the mine was gold in quartz veins associated with mafic volcanic rocks. In the 80 years since, the project was explored sporadically, and mineral title changed hands several times. Most of the later work focused on the area around the historic Jackson-Manion mine. However, there are three other gold occurrences on the Dent-Jackson property that remain underexplored. The Cross River Ventures technical team has identified historic data which documents high-grade trench samples from the Cariboo Vein in the western part of the property, and the East of Little Woman Lake Zone in the central part of the property. Historic diamond drill programs on the property (incl. Ontario Woman Lake Gold Mines Ltd, 1929; South Bay Mines, 1970; Condor Precious Metals, 2012) did not adequately test these target areas. Figure 1: Cross River projects, Birch-Uchi Belt, NW Ontario, Canada To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7276/73070_5c4dec675448a9c3_002full.jpg "The Cross River technical team's detailed data compilation and review is a critical step in the systematic exploration approach we're pursuing in Ontario," said CEO, Alex Klenman. "These findings highlight important facts about the geology and potential gold endowments within the claim blocks and provide essential guidance for targeting in the months ahead. The exploration strategy is to advance all of the company projects to drill-ready status, using a data driven approach that results in optimal target generation. When we drill, we want to be sure we're putting those holes down in the best possible places for meaningful discovery," continued Mr. Klenman. Cariboo Vein In 2002, Fronteer Development Group sampled historic trenches along the northwest striking Cariboo quartz vein, that yielded values ranging from nil up to 232.9 grams-per-tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au"), and in excess of 33 g/t silver ("Ag"). The sampling consisted of channel samples spaced at 1-meter intervals along the length of the exposed vein. An 8-meter long section of trench 2 averaged 26.8 g/t Au over an average width of 53.6 centimeters. (Fronteer, 2002: AFRI 52N02NW2001). Significant results are detailed in Table 1, below: Table 1: Cariboo Vein Significant Rock Sample Results Sample ID Gold g/t Silver g/t 347860 232.9 33.5 347861 5.8 1.1 347889 8.7 3.5 347890 12.4 1.9 23702 7.9 3.3 23703 9.9 2.9 23704 2.2 3.1 23705 4.0 1.6 23706 3.8 1.5 23707 6.3 0.8 23708 205.1 9.3 23711 26.9 1.6 Fronteer Development Group, 2002: AFRI 52N02NW2001 The Cariboo Vein is a historical outcrop of 10 cm - 80 cm wide quartz vein at surface with chalcopyrite, pyrite, and visible gold. Historically, it was exposed in three trenches over 140 meters (Fronteer, 2002: AFRI 52N02NW2001). The vein is open along strike as it trends under cover to the west and runs into a lake towards the east. Historical drilling targeted electromagnetic (EM) anomalies and did not accurately evaluate the veining. Cross River field crews will assess this target in Q2/Q3 2021 and determine how to best evaluate and trace this vein system. East of Little Woman Lake Zone Historic exploration at this location is said to date back 80 years and consisted of trenching, pitting and shaft sinking (Guilin, 2013), however little historic data exists. Most recently, Guilin Kingsland Mining Co sampled material at this location in 2013 resulting in numerous high-grade surface samples up to 68.0 g/t Au (Table 2) across a 570m east-west strike length. No follow-up work is documented on this high-grade target area, and no historic drilling is known in the vicinity. Table 2: Significant Sample Results (East of Little Woman Lake Zone) Sample ID Au g/t 29534A 3.1 29539 13.6 29540 9.4 29541 15.9 29547 1.03 29549 6.8 29550 23.9 29652 3.1 29655 9.3 29656 7.9 29667 44.6 29671 68.0 29672 11.9 29673 10.9 29675 19.9 29677 22.4 29678 1.1 29681 1.0 29682 10.0 29684 1.0 29686 2.5 Guilin, 2013 The samples were collected at an intrusive volcanic contact and historic reporting suggests that the mineralization has skarn-like affinities. Follow-up work is being planned to locate additional high-grade quartz stockwork and veins using mapping, geochemistry, and geophysics. Conclusions The initial data review of publicly available assessment reports for Dent-Jackson revealed the presence several high-grade shear hosted gold occurrences with limited testing and exploration work performed by previous operators. Ongoing geological interpretations of the claim block will focus on interpreting the regional structural framework which will allow for a predictive model of shear zone geometry in plan and 3D. Acquisition of LIDAR data in Q2 will aid in the structural reconstruction and provide a baseline tool for field crews to use during the Summer 2021 ground assessment of the claim block. The Company is hoping to generate quality drill targets for testing later in 2021. The Cross River technical team is currently completing data reviews on all of its projects in NW Ontario and expects to complete the reviews prior to Q2 2021. Figure 2: Cariboo Vein, Dent-Jackson Project, Birch-Uchi Belt, NW Ontario, Canada To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7276/73070_5c4dec675448a9c3_003full.jpg The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Rob Carpenter, P.Geo., Ph.D., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Historical assay results contained in this press release were not verified by the Company, however, the historical reports referenced were authored by experienced geoscientists and copies of laboratory assay sheets were commonly inserted in the reports. About the Company Cross River is a gold exploration company that is focused on the development of top tier exploration properties in premier mining districts. The Company controls a multiple project portfolio in NW Ontario, Canada, with highly prospective ground in and among prolific, gold bearing greenstone belts. The Company also owns an option to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Tahsis Property, an early-stage gold exploration property located on Vancouver Island, in the Nanaimo Mining Division, British Columbia. Cross River's common shares trade under the symbol "CRVC" on the CSE. On behalf of the Board of Directors of CROSS RIVER VENTURES CORP. Alex Klenman CEO 604-227-6610 aklenman@crossriverventures.com www.crossriverventures.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. References Parker, J.R. and Atkinson, B.T. 1992. Gold occurrences, prospects and past-producing mines of the Birch- Confederation Lakes area; Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 5835, 332p. Fronteer Development Group Inc. 2002. Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical Report; Balmer Property, Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt. Assessment Files of the Resident Geologists Office, Red Lake, Ontario. AFRI: 52N02NW2001 Guilin Kingsland Mining Co., Ltd. 2013. 2013 Geological Exploration Work Report on the Treasure Property. Assessment Files of the Resident Geologists Office, Red Lake, Ontario. AFRI: 20000009165 Condor Precious Metals Inc. 2012. 2012 Assessment Report on the Treasure Property. Assessment Files of the Resident Geologists Office, Red Lake, Ontario. AFRI: 20000007405 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73070 Chevron Corp. and Reliance Industries Ltd. are meeting with U.S. State Department officials to request a rollback of some of the previous administrations restrictions against Venezuelas oil industry. Representatives from the two companies are holding virtual discussions with officials this week, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public. High on the agenda: reinstating transactions known as oil swaps that would allow companies to receive Venezuelan crude in exchange for supplying diesel, one person said. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal The U.S. imposed sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela SA in early 2019, in an effort to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro from power by depriving his government of oil revenue. While some companies were still allowed to engage in limited dealings with the South American country, the swaps were nixed last October, said one of the people. Indian refiner Reliance is seeking to revive those swaps. Meanwhile, Chevron, for now, wants to build goodwill and remind officials of its commitment to remain in Venezuela, another person said. The oil giant currently has until June to wind down operations. The U.S. cant ban international companies from buying Venezuelan oil. It can, however, financially squeeze them by prohibiting them from doing business with American companies if they ignore sanctions. Reliance and Chevron requested meetings with the State Department even though some of the key decisionmakers, including assistant secretaries to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ray Fohr, a spokesperson for Chevron, said the company is in regular conversations with multiple agencies within the U.S. government to make sure laws are understood. Reliance and the State Department did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Venezuela is barely able to produce its own refined products because of widespread mechanical failures at refineries. Reliance is basing its request to resume oil swaps on the argument that the operations do not provide cash to the Venezuelan government but rather help lessen the humanitarian crisis there, one person said. Diesel is used in power generation, public transportation, agriculture and to deliver food and medicine. The resumption of oil swaps could allow Venezuela to boost oil production, said Scott Modell, managing director at Rapidan Energy Advisors LLC. Output, which is currently at between 400,000 and 500,000 barrels a day, could hit 750,000 barrels day if the Biden administration eases some of the sanctions, he said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Health workers walk out from a blocked off area after spraying disinfectant in Huangpu district, Shanghai, China, on Jan. 27, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Eastern Chinese City Relocates Hundreds After Family Is Diagnosed With COVID-19 A young Chinese woman who was studying in Ireland recently became the target of online bullying after she and her father tested positive for the CCP virus. After the daughter was diagnosed on Jan. 22 in her home town of Zhenjiang city in eastern Jiangsu Province, the local government locked down more and more residential compounds in the area where they lived. Residents are not allowed to leave their compound, while hundreds of people who live near the father and daughter were being forcibly sent to quarantine centers. The Zhenjiang government claimed that the daughter and father were infected overseas and considered them imported cases. However, the father did not leave China in the past year, while the daughter arrived in China on Jan. 4. An infectious disease doctor analyzed the familys travel record and told The Epoch Times that the daughter likely contracted the virus in China. But after over three million local residents had to isolate at home and waited in long queues for COVID-19 testing, public sentiment turned against the father-daughter duo. Many left malicious comments online. On Jan. 24, the daughters social media accounts were disabled, leading people to suspect that she made the decision after the online bullying. Zhenjiang government staff move residents from Guoxin Yihe resident compound to quarantine centers in Zhenjiang, eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province on Jan. 24, 2021. (screenshot/video supplied by Zhenjiang netizen) Infection Daughter Liu Yuxin studied in Ireland and did not return to China in 2020 due to the escalating pandemic, according to Lius posts on the popular social media platform WeChat. On Dec. 30, Liu took a nucleic acid test and an antibody test for COVID-19 in Ireland, which came back negative. On Jan. 2, Liu took a flight to Helsinki, Finland for her connecting flight. On Jan. 3, Liu took another nucleic acid and antibody test in Helsinki, which again came back negative. She was allowed to get on her next flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival in China, Liu was placed into quarantine at a hotel in Shanghai for three days. Then, she was transported to Kunshan in Suzhou city temporarily. Afterward, she was sent to Danyang in Zhenjiang city, where she was quarantined in a hotel for 11 days, according to a Zhenjiang government announcement. On Jan. 18, Lius parents picked her up from the quarantine center and brought her to their home in Runzhou district, where Lius parents and her maternal grandmother live with their two dogs. Though Chinese authorities require self-quarantine at home for travelers from overseas, Liu went outside frequently. She went shopping, had meals at restaurants, visited her paternal grandmother, and bought a pair of glasses while accompanied by her parents. Her parents also did not self-quarantine. On the afternoon of Jan. 21, Liu had a fever and visited Zhenjiang No. 1 Peoples Hospital with her parents. On Jan. 22, Liu was diagnosed with COVID-19. She was then transferred to the Zhenjiang Infectious Disease Hospital (No. 3 Hospital) for treatment. Lius father was diagnosed on Jan. 24. People line up to be tested for COVID-19 at Daxing district in Beijing, China, on Jan. 26, 2021. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images) Doctors Opinion Cheng Yuan-yu, attending physician at Shangwen Clinic in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and a former infectious disease doctor at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, told The Epoch Times that he thought it was more likely that Liu contracted the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus while in China. If Liu contracted the virus on Jan. 2 or Jan. 3 [during her trip from Ireland to China], the likelihood that she did not experience symptoms until Jan. 21 is very small. Its more likely that she contracted the virus in China, such as by not wearing her mask properly, Cheng said. He hoped people in China would stop resenting Liu and urged Zhenjiang authorities to be more transparent when disclosing information about the local outbreak. Yichang city in central Chinas Hubei Province orders to quarantine visitors from Runzhou district in Zhenjiang city who arrived after Jan. 18, 2020. (Provided to The Epoch Times by insider) Situation in Zhenjiang An employee of the Zhenjiang Spring Spa Hotel told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that the facility had been turned into a quarantine center recently. Some of the quarantined people are residents from the Guoxin Yihe resident compound [where Liu lives], the source said. The staffer added that many hotels in the city had been converted into quarantine centers because people from residential compounds were being transferred there. Three businesspersons who operate restaurants close to the Guoxin Yihe residential compound told the Chinese-language Epoch Times in phone interviews that they and their neighbors were self-quarantining at home because of the outbreak. After someone tests positive, all residents who live in the same building will be quarantined at hotels, a businessman said. We were forced to close our business and self-quarantine because we live close to the diagnosed patients. The Zhenjiang residents whom The Epoch Times contacted all said they were locked down at home. Zhenjiang authorities did not publicly announce a lockdown mandate, and only confirmed that they moved Lius neighbors to a quarantine center. But the interviewees said they knew people from other residential buildings who were also moved to quarantine centers. The officers found that the 30-year-old man had a gunshot wound to the right arm, and he was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said. The woman was not injured. The Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis (APCO) has today launched the first pan-Asia Pacific clinical practice standards for the screening, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis, targeting a broad range of high-risk groups. Published in Osteoporosis International today, 'The APCO Framework' comprises 16 minimum clinical standards set to serve as a benchmark for the provision of optimal osteoporosis care in the region. Developed by APCO members representing key osteoporosis stakeholders, and multiple medical and surgical specialities, this set of clear, concise, relevant and pragmatic clinical standards aims to support national societies, guidelines development authorities, and health care policy makers with the development of new guidelines, and to encourage the revision of existing guidelines. According to the Framework lead author, APCO Chairperson, and Director of the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit at Singapore General Hospital, Dr Manju Chandran, Singapore, APCO employed a 5IQ analysis and the well-established Delphi Consensus process to analyse the 18 clinical practice guidelines currently available in the Asia Pacific region, to inform the development of The APCO Framework. "Utilising a comprehensive, four-round Delphi consensus method enabled our APCO members who work in vastly different health care systems, to reach a remarkable level of consensus on a benchmark set of clinical standards for the provision of quality osteoporosis care for the Asia Pacific region." The APCO Framework offers clinicians structured, well-articulated, and readily accessible clinical practice guidelines that define: Individuals to be identified for assessment; Investigations required; Relevant indications for treatment; Appropriate selection of interventions to be made; The guidance and information patients need for self-care; Integration of healthcare systems for optimal provision of care; and The need, and methods for monitoring and improving the quality of osteoporosis care. "Implementation of The APCO Framework, or a similar set of standards of care informed by the Framework, is expected to significantly reduce the burden of osteoporosis not only in the Asia Pacific region, but also worldwide. We hope that the Framework can serve as a stimulus for harmonisation of guidelines in other regions that have similar socio-economic diversity and heterogeneity of health care resources," Dr Chandran said. Globally, the population aged 65 years or over increased from six per cent in 1990, to nine per cent in 2019. This proportion is projected to rise to 16 per cent by 2050,1 meaning one in six people worldwide will be aged 65 years or over by 2050. The number of people aged 60 years and over in the Asia-Pacific region - home to more than a third of the world's population aged 65 years and over, and to more elderly people than any other region - is predicted to triple between 2010 and 2050, reaching a staggering 1.3 billion people. Osteoporotic fractures among Asia-Pacific populations are expected to increase exponentially, not only because of the region's rapidly aging population, but also due to mounting urbanisation, and the subsequent increase in sedentary lifestyles. Despite the presence of generally safe and effective treatments for osteoporosis, as many as five in six patients presenting to their primary care physician (PCP), or to a hospital with a fragility fracture, will not be assessed for osteoporosis, nor appropriately managed to prevent further fracture. According to Medical Director of Osteoporosis Australia, and APCO Executive Committee member, Professor Peter Ebeling AO, Australia, as many as half of those who have sustained a hip fracture, have already experienced a previous fracture at other skeletal sites. In fact, a prior fracture at any site is associated with a doubling of future fracture and mortality risk. The unfortunate ramifications of the gross under-diagnosis and under-treatment of osteoporosis is that a large number of people sustain further debilitating secondary fractures, which places a substantial, but importantly, preventable burden on already strained healthcare systems." Peter Ebeling, Professor and APCO Executive Committee Member, International Osteoporosis Foundation A fragility fracture, which occurs every three seconds worldwide, compromises quality of life and loss of independence. Concerningly, one-in-four patients who sustain a hip fracture die within a year, and less than half of those who survive, regain their previous level of function. In 2010, an estimated 158 million people aged 50 years and above were at high risk for osteoporotic fracture - a figure which is set to double by 2040. According to International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) CEO and APCO Executive Committee member, Dr Philippe Halbout, Switzerland, these alarming statistics, coupled with the anticipated, exponential rise in osteoporotic fractures among Asia-Pacific populations, warrant a standardised set of minimum clinical standards for the region. "Anecdotal evidence to date reveals significant inconsistencies in osteoporosis clinical practice guidelines in the Asia Pacific region, which vary widely in scope and recommendations. This was confirmed when we analysed the 18 guidelines." "Implementation of the minimum clinical standards proposed by The APCO Framework, and reform of existing guidelines, will support clinical improvement initiatives, while also paving the way for a more holistic approach to osteoporosis care, and ultimately, greater consistency across all national and regional clinical practice guidelines in the region," Dr Halbout said. 26 January 2021 Type Event Proceeding The Teagasc Sheep Conference 2021 took place virtually, across two evenings at 8pm on Tuesday, 26th January and Thursday 28th January. Download Publication (PDF) This is the 9th Annual Teagasc Sheep Conference which forms an integral part of Teagascs knowledge transfer programme to stakeholders involved in sheep production. There are four papers, each of which have important take home messages. Tuesday, 26 January This session hosted by Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc, delivered a strong New Zealand influence as Teagasc Walsh Scholar Nicola Fetherstone gave an update on the INZAC trial in Athenry which compares one-star and five-star Irish ewes with elite New Zealand ewes. Hear how New Zealand ewes surpassed the performance of both Irish groups for litter size, ewe survival, lambing dystocia and lamb vigour. The conference also heard from Prof. Paul Kenyon PhD, Professor of Sheep Husbandry at Massey University, New Zealand, and the head of the School of Agriculture and Environment. Paul works collaboratively with farmers, industry and veterinarians throughout New Zealand and is a regular presenter at industry and farmer events. Paul presented a paper on New Zealand feeding guidelines for growing lambs to target live weights on herbage. Professor Kenyon also outlined lamb production from pasture in New Zealand, including grazing management, inclusion of white clover and mixed herb species. INZAC: An Irish versus New Zealand animal comparison - Q&As (PDF) Teagasc Walsh Scholar Nicola Fetherstone & Noirin McHugh, Teagasc Watch Part One of the Teagasc Virtual Sheep Conference below: Thursday, 28 January Lambing accounts for over 25% of the annual labour requirement on a sheep farm, so any steps that can be taken to reduce labour is really important. On part two of the Teagasc Virtual Sheep Conference hosted by Damian Costello, Sheep Knowledge Transfer Specialist in Teagasc, attendees heard from Aine OBrien, Post-doctoral Researcher on Sheep Genetics and Genomics with Teagasc, who outlined how you can reduce labour at lambing by improving lamb vigour and ewe mothering ability through breeding. The conference also heard from UK Vet Ben Shrugnal who presented on Texel throat or laryngeal chondritis, an obstructive disease of the upper respiratory tract in sheep, and outlined how more genetic work is required in order to select sheep at lower risk of developing the condition. Watch Part Two of the Teagasc Virtual Sheep Conference below: The state and the city of Chicago are partnering with building owners to make vaccination clinics available to workers in major commercial buildings in downtown Chicago and other cities across Illinois Republican senators sent a powerful message to Democrats who voted to impeach former President Donald J. Trump, as 45 out of 55 senators voted on Tuesday to declare the impeachment trial to be unconstitutional. This means that there won't be enough votes to impeach Donald Trump when the trial begins on the week of Feb. 8 according to CBN News. Seventeen Republicans would have to join the Senate Democrats to reach the two-thirds supermajority required to impeach Trump -- the Tuesday votes clearly indicated that there aren't enough Republican Senators who are willing to partake in it. House Democrats were quick to vote, without holding any hearings, to impeach Trump before he could even leave the office and accuse him of "incitement of insurrection" after the Jan. 6 riot that happened on the U.S. Capitol building. Trump, however, never called for any insurrection or violence, experts said. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul asked his fellow senators to join him and go on the record to try and challenge Senate Democrats who are planning to hold Trump on trial even though he is no longer in the White House by having the trial tossed out of the Senate as unconstitutional. "Forty-five votes means the impeachment trial is dead on arrival," Senator Paul said according to The Wall Street Journal. The Senate just voted on my constitutional point of order. 45 Senators agreed that this sham of a trial is unconstitutional. That is more than will be needed to acquit and to eventually end this partisan impeachment process. This trial is dead on arrival in the Senate. Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 26, 2021 Paul also mentioned that Trump's impeachment trial brings no good and is nothing more than a partisan exercise designed to "further divide the country" "Democrats claim to want to unify the country but impeaching of former president [Donald Trump], a private citizen, is the antithesis of unity" he added. "Instead of doing the nation's work, with their new majorities in the house, the senate, and the executive branch, Democrats are wasting the nation's time on a partisan vendetta against a man no longer in office," he continued, asking Democrats to do their job instead of wasting time on nonsense. GOP lawmakers argued that Trump's trial is not in accordance with the constitution since Trump is no longer the president. "The automatic consequence of impeachment and trial, if you're convicted, the automatic consequence of it is you're removed from office," says Senator Marco Rubio in a conference with Fox News. "That's the automatic consequence of this process." How can you put someone through a process where the automatic consequence of it is impossible? You can't remove Donald Trump from office, he's not in office." he added. Senator James Lankford also gave his opinion on the trial saying, "This is not a trial; this is political theater. You cannot remove someone from office who is already out of office. In this trial, there is no current President, no Chief Justice, and no possibility someone could be removed from office because they are not in any office. In a moment when our nation needs to unite, this trial will only create even deeper divisions." Although, Democrat Senators insist that the constitution does not exempt Donald Trump from impeachment even if he is no longer in office. "The theory that the Senate can't try former officials would amount to a constitutional 'get out of jail' free card for any presidents who commit an impeachable offense," claimed Senator Chuck Schumer, despite the move's utter unconstitutionality. Interestingly, former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee indicated that if Trump could be impeached for inciting violence, which he never did, then Kamala Harris could also be impeached for giving her support to rioters and looters who destroyed properties last year. Harris even raised funds to provide bail for the rioters and looter who were already in prison. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept himself aloof from the issue apart from giving general, vague rhetorical responses The Republic Day tractor parade mayhem at two points in Delhi on Tuesday is an episode in the two-month-long standoff between the Narendra Modi government and the Punjab farmers that is neither too big nor too serious. There are always moments in long-drawn agitations when unruly elements indulge in unseemly acts. An agitator placing some flags of a Sikh gurdwara and of the farmers union was indulging in a mindless prank, or the man driving the tractor into a police cordon was a man who had no sense. But this foolish episode has been blown out proportion by young television news channel reporters and anchors. Their innocence and ignorance were both amusing and touching to watch. The significance of the fracas on Tuesday has more to do with the position of the farmers, who could proudly claim till then that theirs was a peaceful protest and they could sit on a high moral perch. Their inflexible stance carried a quixotic nobility about it. All that vanished by the afternoon of Republic Day as some of the agitations senior leaders even apologised as they blamed the people who had turned into hooligans and they tried to say that the troublemakers were not from their fold. Of course, that defence is weak and unconvincing. And it will be hard for them to live down the avoidable clash with the police. But the farmers and their leaders have lost strategic ground as well. They cannot any longer speak with the courage and confidence they had before Tuesday. They may not be to blame for the trouble and violence that erupted on the streets, but they cannot escape the moral responsibility. The more curious part in this showdown is that of the Delhi police and that of the Union home ministry, with home minister Amit Shah at the helm. The unintended consequences of Tuesdays clash with the agitators allows the government to corner the farmers and their leaders, and it also gives them the room to prosecute the suspected Maoists and Khalistanis who ran amok on the streets. There is an uncanny resemblance to what the police did in February 2020 during the communal riots in northeast Delhi. The Delhi police literally adopted the guerrilla tactic of allowing the protesters to unleash violence, and they used the violence to turn the tables on the agitators. In last years riots, the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act stir was used to shut down the months-long peaceful protest at Shaheen Bagh. It remains to be seen whether Mr Shah will try to use Tuesdays violence to push the farmers back now that they are on the backfoot. But that is unlikely to happen as the principal leaders of Punjabs farmers arent going to allow themselves to be distracted by Tuesdays developments; their eyes are focused on the repeal of the farm laws. Mr Shah may not have an easy time though he has ordered the deployment of paramiliytary forces in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. It is, however, clear that Mr Shah will have more of a say in dealing with the agitation now. Behind this political grandstanding by the government following Tuesdays events, there is the troubling fact that the Delhi police has lost the ability to tackle agitations and protests. It has been argued by well-meaning neutral observers, including those who have a sneaking sympathy for the Narendra Modi government and a corresponding antipathy for Punjabs pampered farmers, that the Delhi police could not have deployed sufficient forces at all points of the tractor parades route due to the constraints of numbers. That the police officers could not but trust the farmer unions leaders, and the police was caught off-guard by the overwhelming numbers of angry protesters with their speeding tractors, swords, rods, etc. This lament of betrayal by police officials is as naive as that of the farm leaders blaming so-called saboteurs. It is quite evident that the Delhi police has not been exposed to agitations like before, and that its personnel havent been trained sufficiently to tackle such situations. The police officers as well as Union home ministry officials should have realised that there was a need for a larger force to monitor the movement of tractors and the protesting farmers. The decision to deploy paramilitary units on Tuesday should have been taken on Monday the moment it was decided to allow the tractor parade. These miscalculations are indeed part of the fallibility of those in command. It is however to be seen whether they will learn any lessons for the future. The confrontation between the agitating farmers and the government will turn more hostile than before, and this may not help to find a face-saving exit for either of the two sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept himself aloof from the issue apart from giving general, vague rhetorical responses. The people on the ground are agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, railway and commerce minister Piyush Goyal and of course home minister Amit Shah. Mr Shah was earlier active in dealing with the agitation but then moved back and let Mr Tomar hold the fort. It was clear Mr Shah was not the man to take conciliatory positions of any kind, while Mr Tomar played the role of conciliator quite deftly. After Tuesdays minor explosion, it is likely that Mr Shah will again be in the forefront and will show the mailed fist of the government. This may not help to end the agitation and the deadlock. The force deployment becomes inevitable all around. The government might relish the moment as it would create the momentary satisfaction that is in control of the situation. The Prime Minister, with his unassailable parliamentary majority in the last seven years, has not shown any signs of flexibility on any issue. The deployment of forces will maintain law and order, but the decisions that gave rise to the agitation still need to be reviewed. Somewhere down the line, the Modi government is losing its political capital. But ruling parties, cocooned behind the turrets and moats of power, do not care much for the changes in the sentiments of the people. There is clear trouble ahead of the political kind, even as the Prime Minister and his colleagues exhibit self-righteousness. A Spanish young woman made a successful career as a model despite her "special condition" and difficulties landing a job in the industry. Marian Avila, who has Down syndrome, is capturing media attention as she brings awareness to the chromosomal disorder and encourages people to chase their dreams no matter what. Marian Avila always dreamed of becoming a model since she was a child. But apart from the Down Syndrome condition, she also stands at only 5 feet and 3 inches, which would normally have made it even harder for her to achieve her dreams of becoming a model, according to a The Epoch Times report. Related story: Meet The First Candidate for Public Office in Peru with Down Syndrome Marian Avila's Break as a Model Marian Avila continued to persevere and completed a professional course in a modeling school in 2016. She then started her debut as a model at Lina Lavin's charity show in Madrid the same year. Her biggest dream was to appear on the catwalk at one of the world-famous Fashion Weeks, and she fulfilled it in 2018 when she was able to show off several outfits on the runway during the New York Fashion Week, according to an MBNC News report. Her family also attended the event and cheered for her from the sidelines. "I got a letter saying that designer Talisha White wanted me to walk as her 'celebrity model' at New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2018," Avila shared on her website. Avila further noted that she could not stop crying from the emotion, realizing that it is finally her dream. "I am going to parade in New York, I have no words, I am going to fulfill my dream," the Spanish model said in the report. Meanwhile, White said that Avila had been a busy supermodel, and she was happy for her. The designer added that the Spanish model has been meeting with different modeling agencies and visiting different showrooms. White was known to show all forms of diversity on the runway by including one model in a wheelchair, who is Tae McKenzie from North Carolina, and another girl with down syndrome. "People like Marian Avila and Tae McKenzie, who are breaking boundaries in the fashion industry," White said in a report. After her modeling stint in the New York Fashion Week in 2018, her career started to escalate. She has appeared in publications like The New York Times, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. The 23-year-old Spanish model is now the official face of a new campaign by the famous jean brand, Levi. She currently lives in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain, and has garnered a social media following of more than 39,500. Marian Avila uses her social media platform to raise awareness about Down Syndrome and inspire others with her story. Aside from achieving her dreams in modeling, she also won a Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award in November 2020. The award recognizes her efforts to champion those who are differently-abled, according to a People report. Read more: Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Latinos Disproportionately Affected Sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer, the women who allege they were abused as children by Ms Leifer, were among the 30 people watching Thursdays hearing via video link. Ms Leifer has long maintained she is innocent. She fled to Israel in 2008 when the allegations were first aired, but was extradited this week following the decision of the Supreme Court of Israel, which dismissed her final appearance and ordered she return to Australia to face prosecution. Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer. Credit:The Age The legal fight to have her return to Australia lasted six years and included more than 70 court hearings in Israel. Ms Leifer is to remain in custody until her next court appearance on April 9, which is also expected to be held via a video link. She did not apply for bail on Thursday but could do so in the coming weeks. Prosecutor Phillip Raimondo said Ms Leifer was charged in 2012. Extradition proceedings began in 2014. Mr Hargreaves told magistrate Johanna Metcalf that a prison would have better facilities to treat Ms Leifer than those available in the police cells. Malka Leifer landed at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday night after being extradited from Israel. Credit:Darrian Traynor/Getty Images Mr Hargreaves also said Ms Leifer observed strict religious beliefs and asked that arrangements be made for those to be adhered to in prison. It is not yet known when the accused will be transferred to a womens prison. All new prisoners in Victorian jails must spend 14 days in quarantine to safeguard against the coronavirus infiltrating the states prison system. The flight Ms Leifer boarded in Israel was one of the last to leave the country before airports closed due to coronavirus restrictions. Ms Erlich, Ms Sapper and Ms Meyer were heavily involved in the push to have Ms Leifer returned to Melbourne but have not commented on her extradition, other than short statements made by Ms Erlich on Twitter, which said Ms Leifer was on her way back to Australia and had then arrived in Melbourne. Asked about the case on Thursday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews who raised the matter with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Israel in 2017 said his thoughts were with the alleged victims. This is a matter that will very soon be before the Victorian courts and I dont want to say or do anything that might compromise justice being done, he said during a press conference. My thoughts are with Dassi Erlich and her sisters. They have shown a dignity and courage that is quite amazing. I sent them a message of best wishes this morning and my thoughts are with them today. Loading We all need to be very careful not to say anything that might call into question that process that is now very much on foot. Asked about any custody management issues due to Ms Leifers extradition from Israel, Mr Andrews said: Id have confidence [Corrections Victoria] would put in a very good system to make sure that any person who was being extradited here was not a risk to public health. He said he would not comment on a report in The Age that a government-funded chaplaincy organisation would offer religious services to Ms Leifer in custody. The coronavirus pandemic in Spain is continuing to spiral out of control. Almost every day new grisly records are broken for the number of cases recorded or for the incidence rate within the population. On Thursday, Spain saw its highest ever number of cases reported in a single day: 44,357. This beat the previous record, set only the day before, of 41,576. Another 42,885 cases were reported on Friday, the second highest figure of the whole pandemic. This brings the grim infection total to 2,499,560, with cases having risen by half a million in only two weeks. This is approximately one percent of the population becoming infected every fortnight. More than 55,000 people have now died from the virus, according to official statistics, over 2,000 of whom lost their lives in the last week alonemore than 400 on each of the five weekdays when figures are released. Excess death statistics indicate that the real death toll is around 85,000. The 14-day incidence rate across the country is exploding. Every day since January 15 has marked a new record high. On Friday, this figure shot up to 828.57 per 100,000 people, while six regions (Valencia, Murcia, Extremadura, La Rioja, Castilla y Leon and Castilla-La Mancha) are reporting staggeringly high incidence rates of between 1,000 and 1,500 cases per 100,000 people. A funeral at Seville's Cathedral, Spain, Thursday, Jun. 4, 2020 (AP Photo/Miguel Morenatti) While infection rates soar, the rollout of the vaccine has proceeded at a glacial pace. As of Friday, only 1.17 million doses of the vaccine had been administered, about 2.5 percent of the total population. While the government has announced its aim to vaccinate 70 percent of the population by summer, at the current rate it will be well into next year before this is achieved, leaving the majority of Spains inhabitants vulnerable to the virus for many months more. The Madrid region announced last week that it will stop inoculating frontline health care workers as it has run out of vaccines. Jesus Aguirre, health minister in the region of Andalucia, also announced that no vaccines would be administered over the weekend due to shortages. This came as it was made public that top officials in the central Health Ministry and in the army had skipped the vaccination queue, ultimately leading to the resignation of Chief of Staff General Miguel Angel Villarroya on Saturday. The blame for this explosion of cases and deaths lies squarely on the shoulders of the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government, which has refused point-blank to take any serious measures to control the pandemic. The government has repeatedly insisted in recent weeks that no new lockdown measures will be implemented, with Health Minister Salvador Illa declaring in an interview last Monday, With the strategy that already worked in October, we can break this wave. This refers to the governments refusal to impose confinement measures during the peak of the pandemic in the autumn, instead merely implementing curfew measures and closing some shops. The previous week, he had proclaimed, At the moment, we do not contemplate any home confinement. We controlled the second wave without home confinement. We will defeat this third wave through co-governance and the current state of alarm, which works. So adamant is the nominally left government that no measures will be taken to curb the contagion that it refused requests from regional authorities to bring forward curfew measures to 8:00 p.m. Currently the state of alarm, which was enacted by the PSOE-Podemos administration last October, allows regional governments to enforce curfews from 10:00 p.m. at the earliest. After the region of Castilla y Leon brought forward its curfew to 8:00 p.m., the central government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that it was illegal and in breach of its state of alarm decree. Requests from eight other regions to extend their curfews have also been denied. Although these curfew extensions in and of themselves would have little effect and are largely symbolic, the PSOE-Podemos administration intends to send a clear signal: No additional measures which would impinge on the profit interests of Spanish businesses will be tolerated. Meanwhile, Fernando Simon, director of the Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, sought to blame the population for the surge in infections and deaths. In a press conference last Monday, he dishonestly claimed that the main source of transmission was in the hospitality sector, and therefore that closing bars, while keeping workers at work and children in schools, is the most effective way to control the virus. The measure which has had the biggest impact, he stated, has been the closure of the inside of bars. Cases in schools and universities are also rapidly rising, as the PSOE-Podemos government insisted education facilities reopen after the Christmas break on January 11, despite the explosion of coronavirus cases. While comprehensive data for the whole country is not available, 65,122 pupils and educators were in confinement in the region of Catalonia alone due to COVID-19, with 10 schools having to close. In Murcia, a region with a far smaller population, around 5,600 students or education staff have either contracted the virus or are in isolation due to suspected contact with an infected person. In the region of Aragon, 34 classrooms in 29 different education centres had to be closed due to the virus, a significant increase over the previous weeks. In Extremadura, one of the regions worst affected by the current surge in cases, high school students began a strike Monday against the return to in-person education, pointing to the unsafe conditions in schools and the overwhelming of hospitals. The students are demanding that the return to classrooms be delayed by at least a week and that the required resources are allotted to ensure quality online teaching. Parents of school children in the city of La Linea de la Concepcion, bordering the British enclave of Gibraltar, have also begun boycotting schools in opposition to the maintenance of in-person education even as the new, more infectious British strain of the virus runs rampant. Incidence rates in this city have risen to a staggering 2,460 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, likely due to the increased prevalence of the new strain. With classrooms in the city remaining largely empty due to the parents boycott, the local branch of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) felt compelled to call an indefinite strike beginning Monday across the municipality of Campo de Gibraltar. The CGT has called on all workers in non-university education centres in the municipalitywith a population of around 270,000 peopleto stop work until further notice. The CGTs strike call, however, is merely rearguard action designed to keep the growing anger of parents and teachers under their control and will not affect any schools outside of this small municipality. These actions are being joined by public sector workers across the Canary Islands, with around 3,000-4,000 workers on temporary contractsdespite many of them having worked for the regional government for over 20 yearsgoing out on strike to demand permanent contracts and better conditions. Good morning. (This article is part of the California Today newsletter. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox.) This morning, were starting with a dispatch from Thomas Fuller that has nothing to do with the pandemic: The debate over whether to change school names in San Francisco lives on. On Wednesday, less than 12 hours after the San Francisco Board of Education voted decisively to delete the names of 44 schools in the city, Mayor London Breed issued a pointed critique that questioned the priorities of the board. Lets bring the same urgency and focus on getting our kids back in the classroom, and then we can have that longer conversation about the future of school names, Ms. Breed said. In a 6-1 vote the board had agreed to remove the names of those who engaged in the subjugation and enslavement of human beings; or who oppressed women, inhibiting societal progress; or whose actions led to genocide; or who otherwise significantly diminished the opportunities of those amongst us to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Tony Blair has said it was very foolish for the EU to move to override the Brexit Deal on Northern Ireland as part of its vaccine export controls. The former UK prime minister said the move - which has now been scrapped - jeopardised the peace process. The EU backtracked on a decision to use a Brexit deal clause to restrict exports of Covid-19 vaccines from crossing the Irish border into the rest of the UK late on Friday, following backlash from London, Dublin and Belfast. The Nothern Ireland Protocol is designed to allow the free movement of goods from the EU into the territory, preventing the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland. The EU initially triggered Article 16 of the protocol, which would have temporarily placed export controls on the movement of vaccines, in a bid to protect its own supplies amid its row with AstraZeneca over its supply contract. Follow the latest news live as UK offers to help EU in Covid vaccine supply row Asked if the move was irresponsible, Mr Blair told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: Yes, it was a very foolish thing to do and fortunately they withdrew it very quickly. The former PM said: "I was somebody who negotiated the Good Friday Agreement, it's brought peace to the island of Ireland and it is absolutely vital that we protect it. "That's why what the European Commission did was unacceptable but, as you say, fortunately they withdrew it very quickly." Michael Gove has also welcomed the EU having "stepped back" from triggering the article, which Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster described as an "incredible act of hostility". Despite criticism from the World Health Organisation, the EU is pushing ahead with placing export controls on vaccines made in the bloc - including supplies of the Pfizer/Biontech jab which is produced in Belgium. It comes amid a bitter row over the delivery of the Oxford-Astrazeneca jab into the continent. Additional reporting by Press Association Its not dogs who break laws, but rather negligent owners. Because of that, police are floating the idea of assigning color codes to registered dogs to indicate the level of compliance with pet regulations. Shanghai police in 2019 fielded more than 3,800 reports about dogs being walked without leashes or muzzles and nearly 10,000 calls about illegal barking. Under the proposal, a green code would indicate a dog that is being reared legally. Other codes would indicate that a pet owner is remiss and faces fines or obligatory education on pet care. Park and greenbelt authorities would have the right to deny entry to pet owners who have refused to register their pets, who have flouted pet regulations or who have allowed their animals to behave badly. The idea of a pet code brings a long-running debate between the dog lovers and non-dog lovers to the fore again. Last September, a 6-year-old girl was skipping rope outdoors, with her mother nearby, when an unleashed Rottweiler threatened her in the Sheshan community in suburban Shanghais Songjiang District. The mother ran to protect her daughter and was bitten by the dog on her leg, causing a 7-centimeter-long wound. The owner and the womans husband finally pulled the dog from her. The dog was subsequently handed over to police. The dog owner promised to pay all the medical expenses. About half a month earlier, a court in Anhui Province ruled in the case of a 10-year-old boy whose face had been bitten by a Chow Chow dog he was playing with while his parents were at a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. The dog was tied up at the time. The boys parents argued during the trial that the dog wasnt licensed, but the court said the parents bore prime responsibility for the incident. Stories about people being hurt by dogs continue to raise public concerns about the risks of stray dogs and undisciplined pets. City legislator Yu Guoqiang, who has been following the issue for several years, told Shanghai Daily that the local regulations pertaining to dogs need to be upgraded. Last year, he made proposals to the Shanghai People's Congress and received a response. In a document he showed Shanghai Daily, police, agricultural and rural affairs commissions, urban management authorities and the market watchdog pledged to crack down on unlicensed dogs and on owners who allowed their dogs to contaminate the environment with their poop. Authorities pledged that dogs who attack people will be sequestered and any injuries they inflict will received immediate medical attention. Negligent dog owners After soliciting public feedback, authorities also proposed that stiffer penalties be imposed on negligent dog owners, and if that doesnt work, the dogs will be seized. In this year's Two Sessions, which ended yesterday, several local political advisers and legislators have proposed new rules on dogs and pet raising. Members of the Shanghai Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, one of the nations eight non-Communist parties, filed a proposal on enhancing dog management to the Partys Shanghai committee. The proposal notes that regulations on dogs over the years havent been entirely successful, with many pet owners refusing to register animals or curtail their anti-social behavior. The association cited several reasons, including complicated dog-registration procedures, too few registration offices and inadequate controls over breeds deemed unsuitable for keeping. Another possible impediment is the overlapping nature of agencies involved in dog control. The police issue and renew dog licenses and respond to calls about dog attacks or excessive barking. The livestock authority is in charge of immunizations. The market watchdog is responsible for the pet market, and the urban management authority regulates issues like dogs defecating on streets and owners walking dogs without a leash. The proposal now on the table calls for setting up a unified online system covering all aspects of pet ownership as well as a clear set of penalties for those who violate the rules. Among the new considerations are special garbage bins for pet poop, facilities to chain dogs in public areas, easier access for special dogs like guide dogs and volunteer work to support dog-keeping. The Shanghai Peoples Congress has also received proposals from individuals. Gao Xiangdong, a political adviser who is Party secretary of East China Normal University's College of Economics and Management, said in his proposal that the pet fever trend has both benefits and drawbacks. Many families in Shanghai keep dogs at home, Gao told Shanghai Daily. Raising dogs can bring joy to owners and their families, but these dogs should be managed better. Sometimes they threaten the elderly or children neighbors, and their poop creates a public health risk. His proposal cites incidents of dogs hurting people, a high death rate from rabies, dogs running at random and the mess of dog poop in public places. It notes that some pets are improperly raised in areas like garages and that incessant barking disturbs people. Gao said he thinks communities and neighborhood committees should take some responsibility for pet management. Special restrooms for pets should be established, making it easier for sanitation workers to collect the excretions and do disinfection. Another political adviser Chen Xiangfeng, chairman of Shanghai Boxun Information Development Co, is proposing that more be done to address the problem of stray dogs. He said dog owners, especially those refusing to get licenses, often abandon their pets. His solution: Artificial intelligence should be introduced into dog registration and management so that dogs can be identified by nose prints. He also recommends that dog owners take training classes as part of the registration process and that pet-adoption organizations be further regulated. Heavier penalties and higher fines should be meted out to dog owners who violate regulations, he said. We want the whole society to pay more attention to this issue, Chen told Shanghai Daily. We feel that current government policies are not detailed and strong enough. The Standing Committee of the 13th National Peoples Congress, Chinas top legislature, started its 25th session last week to review multiple draft laws and law revisions. The agenda included reviewing draft revisions to the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention and the Administrative Penalty Law. The revisions make it clear that dogs being walked should be leashed and display their license tags. In November last year, police in Hongkou District introduced a smart system to catch people whose dogs are violating regulations, taking photos as evidence. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 09:39:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks is investigating the new death of five elephants in the Okavango Delta region, officials announced Wednesday. According to Regional Wildlife Officer Dimakatso Ntshebe, five more adult elephants were found dead at the wildlife protected area of Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta as of Tuesday. The details of the matter are still sketchy, but the authorities dispatched a team of experts to the area on Tuesday to investigate the cause of the deaths. Ntshebe ruled out poaching as the cause of the deaths as all the elephants were found with their tusks intact. Last year, over 300 elephants died in a period of three months from May to July. Months of investigations revealed that the deaths were caused by toxins produced by cyanobacteria in the water streams in the delta area. Botswana is home to 130,000 African elephants, more than any other country on the continent. The country has been over the years described as a safe haven for the jumbos. A rise in incidents of poaching in recent years has been a major cause of concern for the safety of the elephants, which were killed largely for their ivory. Enditem Read an excerpt from The Burning Blue by Kevin Cook, who takes us into the cockpit on Jan. 28, 1986: They were all on edge. They'd spent the day before the same way, strapped to their seats in launch position for five hours, lying on their backs looking up at their knees. After that the third scrub in three days a friend asked Christa McAuliffe how it felt to be cooped up for so long. "Put on a motorcycle helmet, she said. Lie on the floor with your legs up on a bed. You can't read, you can't watch television. You're strapped down with oxygen lines and wires coming out of your suit. Lie there for five hours and you'll know how it feels." Today's delay was an hour and counting. Overnight, record-setting cold had frosted crops in the orange groves and strawberry fields near Cape Canaveral. Now, on the coldest morning in twenty years, the crew of the space shuttle Challenger waited while NASA workers used broomsticks to knock icicles off the shuttle. It was chilly on the flight deck Challenger's cockpit. Mission specialist Ellison Onizuka said his nose was frozen. Mission specialist Judith Resnik claimed she had it worse: My butt is dead. Below them, on the windowless middeck, payload specialist McAuliffe dozed through the latest delay. Then the radio crackled. This is NASA tower. We are planning to come out of this hold on time the best possible news. Commander Dick Scobee radioed back: Roger. That's great." Six flight-deck windows gave Scobee a panoramic view of cold blue sky. Well, y'all on the middeck, he said, sounding like an airline pilot, it's clear blue out today. Mike Smith, sitting in the pilot's seat to Scobee's right, flicked switches that activated the ship's auxiliary power units. APUs coming on, he said. Scobee checked his instrument panel. Pressure on all three APUs. Next he confirmed that each crew member was sealing his or her flight helmet. Visors coming down. At T minus two minutes he thumbed the intercom to Smith, Resnik, Onizuka, McAuliffe, mission specialist Ron McNair, and payload specialist Greg Jarvis. Welcome to space, guys, he said. At T minus 1:47, a robot arm pulled back the hood of the rust-colored fuel tank that dwarfed the shuttle clamped to its back. There goes the beanie cap, Scobee said. "Doesn't it go the other way? Onizuka asked. He was joking. "God, I hope not thirty seconds." At T minus sixteen seconds, water cannons sprayed three hundred thousand gallons of water into the trench below the stack the 184-foot-tall contraption made up of the shuttle, its giant fuel tank, and a pair of rocket boosters. The water would muffle the thunder of launch, keeping sound waves coming off the engines from pounding upward through the stack's fiery exhaust and damaging the shuttle. At T minus ten, loudspeakers at the launchpad and the bleachers at Kennedy Space Center, three miles away, carried the countdown. Nine, eight At T minus six, the crew felt the cabin shake as the first of the shuttle's three onboard engines came to life, followed by two more booms from the second and third. The engines thrust made the towering stack sway sideways by almost two feet the so-called twang effect a queasy rider like McAuliffe could feel in her stomach. Scobee said, Three at a hundred. All three engines were at full power. In the next instant, guided by the shuttle's computers, the stack returned to vertical and the solid rocket boosters fired. The silo-shaped SRBs, each weighing 1.3 million pounds, would provide 80 percent of the force required to thrust the shuttle, crew, and cargo into orbit. They were the most powerful rockets ever built. Astronauts had a saying: Once those SRBs get lit, the stack's going somewhere. You just hope it's the right direction." Eight massive bolts held the stack to the launchpad. Each bolt was wired to an explosive charge. At the instant the SRBs ignited 11:38:00:01 a.m. Eastern time on January 28, 1986 the bolts detonated, and the stack began to rise. Clearing the launch platform in clouds of fire and white exhaust, it took eight seconds to reach a hundred miles per hour. Within a minute it was moving fifteen times as fast, the speed of a rifle bullet. The crew held on while the two-billion-dollar shuttle shook and groaned like a rustbucket freighter in a typhoon. No astronaut-training simulator came close to matching the bone-rattling racket of an actual launch. The windows shook. Shockwaves sent shivers through the cabin walls, through the astronauts steel seats and the fillings in their teeth, pressing them earthward at three Gs, enough to make a 128-pound social studies teacher feel like she weighed 384. But this was the moment she'd been dreaming of for the past year. Astronauts had told her it would be loud, and it was loud and scary but now they were less than two minutes from orbit. Commander Scobee and pilot Smith talked to Mission Control. Mission specialists Resnik, Onizuka, and McNair had duties of their own. McAuliffe, America's Teacher in Space, had nothing to do but hold on. * * * She had spent four months training for this moment. A history teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, Christa McAuliffe had beaten out more than 11,000 hopefuls to be named the Teacher in Space in the summer of 1985. After that she and her backup in the program, Idaho schoolteacher Barbara Morgan, jogged on treadmills for technicians who checked their heart rates and oxygen uptake. They spent hours on the space center's computer-aided instructional trainer (CAIT) and crew software trainer (CST), familiarizing themselves with the shuttle's workings. They studied the mission's four-thousand-page flight data file. While career astronauts occupied the Astronaut Office on the top floor of Building 4 at JSC, the schoolteachers occupied temporary quarters in another building. Their office was bare except for two props the agency had chosen for them, a map of the world and a blackboard. Someone had written a greeting on the blackboard: HAVING FUN YET? Christa personalized her desk with framed photos of her husband, Steve, and their kids. Looking around at the office decor, which one visitor described as early Holiday Inn, she joked that she knew why the agency had picked the two of them: NASA was paying their teacher salaries for the year, and their home states, New Hampshire and Idaho, were at the bottom of the list in that department. They're saving money on us! She and Morgan spent office hours studying, comparing notes about their training sessions, and memorizing some of NASA's many abbreviations: A/L for air lock, C/L for checklist, D&C for display and controls. A spacewalk was an EVA, short for extravehicular activity. When nature called in orbit, shuttle crews floated to a $1.2 vacuum-powered WCS, or waste collection system, or toilet. When Morgan discovered that the agency's official list of more than 120 acronyms carried a footnote directing readers to a more complete list in NASA Reference Publication 1059, she coined a new name for NASA: the National Agency for the Suggestion of Acronyms. Sometimes after work she joined the career astronauts and NASA workers at the Outpost Tavern, a barn behind a gravel parking lot where the walls were covered with photos of shuttle launches and shuttle crews. A bulky flight suit hung from one wall as if its wearer had jumped out and joined the crowd at the bar, where Robert Lee Hoot Gibson could often be found entertaining fellow astronauts, their spouses, lovers, and friends as well as the bartender, who served up Gibson's favorite drink, a flaming hooker. Gibson was a blond Navy flyer with a bristly mustache. He had served as Challenger's second in command a year earlier and was scheduled to command the next flight of the shuttle Columbia in December 1985. One of the more colorful members of the Thirty-Five New Guys chosen by NASA in 1978, he carried on the macho tradition of spacemen dating back to Alan Shepard, the Mercury Seven's original horndog. When Gibson passed a good-looking woman he would make a noise like a pig and say, Golly, I'd like to snort her flanks. Marrying fellow astronaut Rhea Seddon in 1981 had calmed him down some, but Hoot was still the Outpost's leading fire-eater. His favored flaming hooker was a brandy snifter filled to the brim with high-octane liquor and served on fire. A rum like Bacardi 151 was more than 70 percent alcoholless flammable than rocket fuel but not so far short of gasoline. The idea was to finish the drink before it burned part or all of the drinker's face. Those who failed got razzed for the Band-Aids and singed mustaches they sported the next day. "Needless to say, another astronaut recalled, it helped to be at a bulletproof level of intoxication before attempting this trick." Christa and Morgan stuck to beers and margaritas. As they got to know Greg Jarvis, another non-astronaut assigned to the Challenger crew, they invited him along on trips to the Outpost and the supermarket. Like Christa, the Hughes Aircraft engineer was not a full-fledged astronaut but a payload specialist, a title created for the civilians NASA had added to shuttle crews starting in 1983. Jarvis's ride on Challenger would be a perk for Hughes Aircraft in return for its vast investment in the space program. Like Christa and Morgan, he knew how it felt to be an outsider among the career astronauts. Some nights he joined them for a game of Trivial Pursuit. On one of Christa's press junkets, a reporter asked if she was no more than a trivia answer herself. Are you a publicity stunt? She thought about that. You know, she said, I think this is the best public relations gift to the schools that NASA could ever make. It's a bargain when you think of the students and teachers we'll reach. As for teachers salaries, I make a little over twenty thousand dollars. I think that after twelve years of teaching I should be making more. Are teachers salaries competitive? No. A friend of hers had recently been named New Hampshire Teacher of the Year, and she makes twenty-three thousand dollars after forty years on the job. A school district right here in Houston was hiring housewives and out-of-work businessmen to fill in because there weren't enough young people going into teaching. I'm representing my profession, she said. I hope what I'm doing gets people to take a look at the tremendous contribution teachers make to our country. In addition to poring over the training manuals and checklists NASA prepared for her and editing a study guide the agency would send to tens of thousands of teachers, Christa spent hours writing recommendations for Concord High students college applications. And she never missed her nightly phone call to Steve and the kids. Each evening, after talking with Steve about everything from grocery lists to their guest list for the shuttle launch in January to the parent-teacher meetings he now attended, she spoke to both children. Her son, Scott, hoped she could take his favorite plush toy, a frog named Fleegle, on the space shuttle. I'll find out, she promised. She thought the agency probably had a policy, if not an acronym, for amphibians in orbit. One night Scott's little sister, Caroline, took the phone to ask, Mommy, are you in space yet?" "Not yet, honey. I still have some homework to do." Excerpted from THE BURNING BLUE: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster by Kevin Cook. To be published June 8 by Henry Holt and Company. Copyright 2021 by Kevin Cook. All rights reserved. Source: Reuters Oil slid in Asia morning trade on Thursday despite a huge drop in U.S. crude stock, as the strength in the U.S. dollar and fresh fuel demand worries due to travel curbs and delays with coronavirus vaccines weighed on prices. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 33 cents, or 0.62%, to $52.52 a barrel at 0452 GMT, erasing Wednesday's gain. Brent crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.65%, to $55.45 a barrel, after losing 10 cents on Wednesday. The U.S. dollar gained broadly, with its index up at 90.753 from a January low of 89.206, subsequently pressuring dollar-priced commodities. The oil market had been supported earlier this week by a surprisingly large decline in U.S. crude stockpiles in the week to Jan. 22, which analysts said was due to a pick up in U.S. crude exports and a drop in imports. But attention is now turning back to demand concerns amid a rise in COVID-19 infections with contagious new variants, a slower rollout of vaccines in Europe, and travel curbs in countries such as China. "We are moving from just a Q1 demand write off to now pricing in more demand pain in Q2 due to the slow vaccine rollout," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi. "Particularly from Europe where the slow vaccine roll-out and the extended lockdowns point to a double-dip recession." The European Union failed to make a breakthrough in crisis talks with AstraZeneca on Wednesday, and is making more comprehensive checks on vaccines before approval, which means a slower rollout of shots than former EU member Britain and growing public frustration. The issue has been exacerbated by Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca and Pfizer of the United States both announcing delivery hold-ups in recent weeks. Adding to the demand worries, China, the world's second-largest oil consumer, is now facing a surge in coronavirus cases and seeking to limit travel as it heads into what is normally the busiest travel season of the year, the Lunar New Year holiday. "China - they were the ones supporting the market. If you have issues forming in China, that really puts a brake on the demand story for now," said Commonwealth Bank Commodities Analyst Vivek Dhar. The Chinese Ministry of Transport has forecast the number of trips that will be taken will be up 15% from last year, when the virus was raging, but down 40% from 2019. Britain, in lockdown since Jan. 4, on Wednesday clamped down on travel, requiring people arriving from high-risk COVID-19 countries to quarantine for 10 days and barring outbound trips for all but exceptional reasons. Australia on Thursday extended its suspension of quarantine-free travel with New Zealand, as the Pacific Island nation investigated two new positive cases of the South African COVID-19 variant. "The economic backdrop remains uncertain as governments struggle to fight off the spread of COVID-19," ANZ Research said in a note. A clinician cares for a patient in a CCP virus isolation area at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, California, on Jan. 27, 2021. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Daily CCP Virus Deaths Surge to Over 4,000 in US as Case Count Declines Biden administration projects thousands more deaths in coming weeks The daily count of CCP virus cases has been declining gradually in the United States, but deaths linked to the virus reached a high in recent days, with the Biden administration projecting thousands more deaths in the coming weeks. New deaths nationwide were at about 4,087 on Tuesdayamong the several highest one-day death tolls since the start of the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Only three other days have seen more cases of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus than Tuesday. New CCP virus cases were about 146,640 nationwide on Tuesday, which is a decline of a few thousand from the previous day. Read More WHO Modifies CCP Virus Test Guidelines, Warns Against Overreliance on PCR Results The United States reported a total of more than 25.59 million cases and 429,195 deaths by days end on Wednesday, since the first case of the CCP virus was reported in the country on Jan. 22, 2020. The Biden administration at its new health briefings on Wednesday said it is projecting about 90,000 more deaths in the next four weeks. I know this is not news we all want to hear, but this is something we must say so we are all aware, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If we are united in action we can turn things around. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a White House briefing on the Biden administrations response to the CCP virus pandemic, in Washington on Jan. 27, 2021. (White House via AP) The CDCs latest forecast means the country will have a cumulative 479,000 and 514,000 deaths by Feb. 20, Walensky said. Concerns remain that new variants of the virus from such places as Brazil and the United Kingdom might further spread infection. Two vaccines have been authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2020 and more than 24.6 million doses have been administered across the country, the CDC reported on its website. More than 47.2 million doses have been distributed. President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that there should be enough vaccines for the 300 million Americans by the end of the summer. He warned, however, Its going to take months for us to turn things around. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on climate change and green jobs, in the State Dining Room of the White House, in Washington on Jan. 27, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Some U.S. states have recently slightly eased some public health restrictions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday lifted a stay-at-home order for much of the state, allowing certain businesses such as hair salons to reopen with modifications, and restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining. But some restrictions such as a ban on indoor worship services remain. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the holiday surge is over and lifted certain business restrictions across the state, adding that New York City restaurants would be on the path to reopen soon. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Its been 10 very long months since we stopped in-person school for most of our students and we find ourselves at an inflection point, del Valle said. The board sincerely wants to come to an agreement with CTU on in-person instruction. A strike would be devastating for our students, our parents, our communities, who have already endured so much over the last 10 months. We believe our teachers truly want to continue to deliver high quality instruction to our students and that they know how debilitating a strike would be for students whose progress and well-being has already been impacted by COVID. A new non-invasive treatment for prostate cancer is the 'single biggest change in 20 years' and can prevent side-effects related to surgery, a new study found. Researchers from Imperial College London studied the results of over 500 patient given the treatment - named focal therapy - to track its effectiveness. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the UK, with around 48,500 new cases every year and traditional treatments come with life changing side effects including sexual dysfunction and incontinence. Focal therapy uses ultrasound or cryotherapy to specifically target cancer cells in the prostate gland without damaging surrounding tissue. The team say hospitals also stand to benefit, as the treatment can be delivered in a self-contained area and most patients can recover at home. However, the treatment comes at a hefty price, with specialised machines costing around 500,000. Researchers from Imperial College London studied the results of over 500 patient given the treatment - named focal therapy - to track its effectiveness. Picture: Stock FOCAL THERAPY: TARGETED TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER Focal therapy specifically targets cancer cells in the prostate gland without damaging surrounding tissue. This results in fewer side-effects, the ability to recover at home and so allows for those treated to live a normal life. There are a number of different types of focal therapy but they all have the same basic principle - a high dose of targeted energy to kill cancer cells. Cryotherapy This was the first type of focal therapy and involves rapidly cooling the cancerous tissue to -40F and trigger hypothermia in the cancer cells. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound This technique uses high temperatures of over 140F generated by high energy sound waves to burn cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy Instead of sound, heat to kill cancer cells comes from light - laser beams activate a light-sensitive drug that kills prostate cancer cells. Advertisement While focal therapy has been available privately and on the NHS for several years, only 0.5 per cent of prostate cancer patients use it. This is because few public hospitals are equipped to administer the novel treatment and doctors have remained sceptical due to the lack of long-term data. Imperial College researchers gathered enough evidence to support what has been described as the 'single biggest change' in treating prostate cancer in 20 years. Senior author Dr Matt Winkler said: 'As a prostate cancer surgeon I know far too well the devastating impact of erectile dysfunction or urine incontinence on the lives of many men after prostate cancer surgery. 'We are proud to provide colleagues and affected men with information that may make it easier to avoid radical prostate removal or radiotherapy.' There are two kinds of focal therapy depending on the size and location of the tumour in the prostate - a small gland which sits below the bladder. One uses a high intensity ultrasound (HFIU) to heat up cancer tissue with millimetre precision, while the other uses cryotherapy to cool it down. 420 patients who were treated with HIFU and 81 with cryotherapy and in both cases the risk of sexual dysfunction and incontinence was much lower than with traditional treatments. Professor Hashim Ahmed, a leading prostate cancer expert from Imperial, said focal therapy carries up to ten-fold reductions in urine leak and sexual problems. 'Importantly, for the first time we have shown that it has similar cancer control at radical prostatectomy, at five to eight years after treatment,' he added. Focal therapy specifically targets cancer cells in the prostate gland without damaging surrounding tissue, allowing those treated to live a normal life. Stock image 'While focal therapy is not suitable for all patients, there are thousands every year who are suitable and they should be fully informed about it.' Equipping the NHS to provide focal therapy for every man who chooses this option is the next hurdle, the researchers say. Looking to overcome this challenge, the charity Prost8 UK has launched a campaign to fund six new focal therapy suites at hospitals around the country. Each suite costs 500,000, which is much less than the millions needed for surgical and radiotherapy equipment. Prost8 UK's founder Paul Sayer chose focal therapy when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 at the age of 62 and said 'i am all but unchanged from my pre-cancer self'. 'As a result, I am now driven to make sure as many men as possible know about focal therapy and, more importantly, can access it when needed.' The findings could improve quality of life for the 12,000 men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer early every year and 10,000 who return for treatment after radiotherapy. Promoting focal therapy when possible would also free up hospital beds, which have been in short supply during the pandemic, the researchers say. Dr Winkler said: 'After diligently collecting data over the last 10-years, we can now for the first time provide comparative evidence of equivalent cancer control rates for up to five to eight years. 'While our method does not provide the highest level of evidence, a randomised controlled trial, it is as good as it gets at this point in time.' The findings were published in the journal Nature. China in Focus (Jan. 27): Bidens UN Nominee Comments on China Draw Ire A heated debate erupted over President Joe Bidens choice of UN ambassador. The disagreement stems from a speech the nominee gave at a Chinese Communist Party-backed Confucius Institute. Americas power grid could be at risk, after Biden suspended an order that aimed to protect it. The Biden administration denounces using terms like China virus and Wuhan virus to describe the pandemic. Both have been used by former President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. And Canadian tech company BlackBerry has sold 90 patents related to key smartphone technology to Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday gave it response over mentioning of the term 'Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir' in the notification of the US State Department. The US state department had used the reference while putting Syed Salahuddin as a designated global terrorist in their document. The main opposition party Congress had attacked the government on the very issue on Wednesday. The MEA spokesperson said, "The use of the term 'Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir' merely affirms our position that Syed Salahuddin has been involved in cross-border terrorism against India. Similar term has been used in the State Department's country reports on terrorism brought out every year, including in the period 2010 - 2013, in the context of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India. India's consistent position that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India is well known. He further added that India has welcomed the designation of Syed Salahuddin as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Administration. This long-awaited step had been under discussion. Also Read: Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin wanted in more than 50 terror cases in India The Congress had criticised the government for not objecting to the US reference to "Indian- administered Jammu and Kashmir" in designating Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist. Shocking that US government order on Syed Salahuddin refers to 'Indian Administered J&K'. No protest from Modi government. Complicit sell-out?" AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted. In a series of tweets on the issue, he said, "Modiji and BJP drumbeat and preach 'Pseudo Nationalism' everyday. India asks - why have you accepted US phrase of 'Indian-administered J&K'?" Also Read: US designates head of Kashmiri militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin as global terrorist For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A plan to allow the names of applicants for top New Mexico public school, law enforcement and other taxpayer-funded positions to be kept secret cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday, despite opposition from a government transparency group. Backers of the measure, Senate Bill 39, say some would-be candidates currently do not apply for high-profile jobs out of concern their names might be publicly disclosed. Our boards have struggled to get the highest-quality candidates from time to time because of the law were trying to change, said Joe Guillen, the executive director of the New Mexico School Boards Association. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ But critics of the measure there is no proof that an open hiring process affects the ability of school districts and government agencies to make top-notch hires. Secrecy is not necessary to get qualified candidates, said Melanie Majors, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. During their Wednesday meeting, members of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee acknowledged mixed feelings about the bill. Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, a member of the local school board, said theres already a lack of superintendent candidates across New Mexico, and some up-and-coming education professionals might feel uneasy about having their interest in a job post disclosed. But he still voted against the bill, saying, I dont know that Im willing to lose the transparency and open government just to fill a position. Ultimately, the bill passed the committee 5-2, with all Democrats on the panel voting in favor and Sen. Gregg Schmedes, R-Tijeras, joining Gallegos in opposition. Under the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Bill Tallman, D-Albuquerque, all appointive executive positions would be subject to a new exemption under New Mexicos Inspection of Public Records Act, although the names and resumes of at least three finalists would have to be disclosed. That definition would include nonelected chief executive officers of state agencies, institutions and political subdivisions, but would not apply to political appointees like state Cabinet secretaries. Debate on the bill comes as searches are underway for several high-profile Albuquerque jobs. The Albuquerque Public Schools board is aiming to pick its next superintendent in March, after previously putting its search on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kellers administration launched a national search for the next Albuquerque Police Department chief and recently narrowed the field to three final candidates. Dozens of illegal Jewish Orthodox weddings with up to 300 guests have taken place in London during England's third national lockdown, whistleblowers claimed today. More than 50 ceremonies have allegedly taken place in the capital during lockdown with lookouts used to raise the alarm and money put aside for potential fines. Sources told Jewish News the weddings were 'happening all over' with the bride at one in Stamford Hill, North London, said to have been positive for Covid-19. It comes after a school being used as a Covid testing centre was revealed to have hosted a secret wedding for 150 guests which had to be broken up by police. Yesodey Hatorah Girls' Senior School in Stamford Hill was raided by officers following a tip-off that around 150 guests had gathered last Thursday night. The Yesodey Hatorah Secondary Girls School in Stamford Hill, North London, where officers broke up a wedding attended by around 150 people on Thursday evening last week Speaking anonymously, one source involved in the Orthodox weddings industry told Jewish News: 'These illegal weddings have been going on for 10 months. 'We're not talking about one or two. We are talking multiple weddings every day. All have 150 to 200 guests. At one wedding the bride was Covid-positive.' There are allegedly four London venues used for the weddings along with Yesodey Hatorah, whose principal Rabbi Avroham Pinter died from Covid-19 last spring. Another venue in Hackney is said to host up to four weddings a week underground, with security guards confiscating phones as guests arrive so photos do not emerge. A venue in Elstree in Hertfordshire allegedly hosted two illegal large weddings last year, while there were also plans to use a warehouse in Canvey Island, Essex. A file picture of a legal Orthodox wedding in Stamford Hill before the coronavirus pandemic A bride circles her groom at an Orthodox wedding in Stamford Hill before the pandemic Jewish News claimed there are small number of caterers, florists, photographers, musicians, videographers, security teams and organisers involved in the weddings. Rules on UK weddings during third lockdown The UK Government has said people in England should only consider booking a wedding or civil partnership, or continuing with one already booked, in 'exceptional circumstances'. This may be if someone or a partner is seriously ill and not expected to recover, or is to undergo debilitating treatment or life-changing surgery. Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies must only take place with up to six people. Anyone working at the event is not included in the total. People are urged to stay local and avoid travelling outside of their local area, but they are able to travel in England to attend a wedding if they 'absolutely need to' and it is being held in accordance with the legislation. People can also leave England and travel to other parts of the UK or abroad, to attend a marriage. This is again when it is taking place as set out in the legislation, subject to any travel restrictions in that country. Advertisement Sources added that some organisers are now asking for a 10,000 payment upfront from the wedding party to pay the fine if police raid the ceremony. On one occasion, officers were allegedly called to reports of a wedding at a venue, and when they got there were shown small study halls upstairs without going downstairs - where it was taking place. England's lockdown rules state weddings can only take place in exceptional circumstances with up to six people. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Jewish News: 'In terms of Stamford Hill that is not acceptable. There is no excuse for not complying with the rules. 'Everybody who knowingly breaks the rules is putting themselves and everyone else at risk, especially in a week like this, when we reach the awful milestone of 100,000 deaths. It is inexcusable.' After reports emerged of the 7,000 wedding at Yesodey Hatorah last week, Jewish leaders reacted with fury. The organiser was fined 10,000 and five other people, thought to include the bride and groom, were handed 200 fines for breaching Covid regulations. The school is regularly hired out for cut-price weddings at a cost of around 7,495 including hall hire, caterers, flowers, band and photographer. School leaders last week said they had no knowledge of the event arranged by an outside organisation. Documents released under freedom of information in 2014 show that the school had a lettings hire contract with a subsidised wedding scheme called Simchas Nissuin, a Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC) project. The UOHC denied any knowledge of the wedding. It is not known whether the agreement was still in place at the time of Thursday's wedding or who organised it. The school said last week it was investigating, adding: 'We are absolutely horrified about the event and condemn it in the strongest possible terms.' Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2021 -- HTF MI Analyst have added a new research study on Title Global Pulp and Paper Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026 (Based on 2020 COVID-19 Worldwide Spread) with detailed information of Product Types [, Converted Paper Products, Paper, Pulp & Wood], Applications [Packaging, Consumer Products, Chemicals & Building and Construction] & Key Players Such as Cascades, Procter and Gamble, Sappi, Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Limited, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), Mondi, UPM, Weyerhaeuser Corporation, Sveza Group, Nippon Paper Industry, Stora Enso, Oji Paper, Smurfit-Stone Container, Temple-Inland, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), International Paper, NewPage, Georgia-Pacific Corp., Abitibi Bowater, Smurfit Kappa Group, Clark Corp. & Domtar etc. The Study provides in-depth comprehensive analysis for regional segments that covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World with Global Outlook and includes Clear Market definitions, classifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, development policies and plans. The facts and data are well presented in the report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations with respect to its Current Trends, Dynamics, and Business Scope & Key Statistics. If you are a Pulp and Paper manufacturer and deals in exports imports then this article will help you understand the Sales Volume with Impacting Trends. Click To get SAMPLE PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures)@ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2981828-global-pulp-and-paper-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Covid-19 Impact Update Global Pulp and Paper Market Research Analysts at HTF MI constantly monitor the industry impacts of current events in real-time here is an update of how this industry is likely to be impacted as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic: Demand from top notch companies and government agencies is expected to rise as they seek more information on COVID-19. Check Demand Determinants section for more information. Key Highlights from Pulp and Paper Market Study. Revenue and Sales Estimation Historical Revenue and sales volume is presented and further data is triangulated with top-down and bottom-up approaches to forecast complete market size and to estimate forecast numbers for key regions covered in the report along with classified and well recognized Types and end-use industry. Additionally macroeconomic factor and regulatory policies are ascertained in Pulp and Paper industry evolution and predictive analysis. Manufacturing Analysis the report is currently analyzed concerning various product type and application. The Pulp and Paper market provides a chapter highlighting manufacturing process analysis validated via primary information collected through Industry experts and Key officials of profiled companies. FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS: In order to better understand Market condition five forces analysis is conducted that includes Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, Threat of rivalry. Competition Leading players have been studied depending on their company profile, product portfolio, capacity, product/service price, sales, and cost/profit. Demand & Supply and Effectiveness Pulp and Paper report additionally provides distribution, Production, Consumption & EXIM** (Export & Import). ** If applicable Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2981828-global-pulp-and-paper-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated: - APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) - North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) - South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) - MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa) The Latest Trends, Product Portfolio, Demographics, Geographical segmentation, and Regulatory Framework of the Pulp and Paper Market have also been included in the study. Market Growth by Applications: Packaging, Consumer Products, Chemicals & Building and Construction Heat map Analysis, 3-Year Financial and Detailed Company Profiles of Key & Emerging Players: Cascades, Procter and Gamble, Sappi, Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Limited, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), Mondi, UPM, Weyerhaeuser Corporation, Sveza Group, Nippon Paper Industry, Stora Enso, Oji Paper, Smurfit-Stone Container, Temple-Inland, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), International Paper, NewPage, Georgia-Pacific Corp., Abitibi Bowater, Smurfit Kappa Group, Clark Corp. & Domtar Market Growth by Types: , Converted Paper Products, Paper, Pulp & Wood Book Latest Edition of Study Global Pulp and Paper Market With COVID-19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2981828 Introduction about Global Pulp and Paper Global Pulp and Paper Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) [, Converted Paper Products, Paper, Pulp & Wood] in 2018 Pulp and Paper Market by Application/End Users [Packaging, Consumer Products, Chemicals & Building and Construction] Global Pulp and Paper Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications Global Global Pulp and Paper Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2025) Pulp and Paper Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application Pulp and Paper (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined. Global Pulp and Paper Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data Key Raw Materials Analysis & Price Trends Supply Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain Analysis ........and view more in complete table of Contents Check Complete Report Details @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2981828-global-pulp-and-paper-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Thanks for reading this article; HTF also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia Key people Lungile Dhlamini Managing Director Tel: 011 688 1427 Email: lungile.dhlamini@jwater.co.za Hilgard Matthews Executive Manager: Marketing and Stakeholder Relations Tel: 011 688 1547 Email: hilgard.matthews@jwater.co.za Ntshavheni Mukwevho Chief Operating Officer Tel: 011 688 1509 Email: ntshavheni.mukwevho@jwater.co.za Reginah Modika Executive Manager: HR, Corporate Affairs and Services Tel: 011 688 1446 Email: reginah.modika@jwater.co.za David Sibiya Acting Manager: Communications and Marketing Tel: 011 688 1577 Cell: 082 419 0458 Email: david.sibiya@jwater.co.za Busisiwe Shongwe Financial Director Tel: 011 688 1693 Email: busisiwe.shongwe@jwater.co.za Contact Switchboard: 011 688 1400 Call Centre: 0860 562 874 Fax: 011 688 1528 Revenue call centre: 0860 562 874 Website: www.johannesburgwater.co.za Email: customerservice@jwater.co.za 17 Harrison Street Marshalltown Johannesburg PO Box 61542 Marshalltown 2107 JOBURG'S tap water rates among the cleanest, safest and healthiest in the world and it is the task of Johannesburg Water to provide top quality water and a world class sanitation service to the citys three million residents. The company is an independent company, with the City of Johannesburg its only shareholder. Annual turnover is more than R1,6-billion, the company is run on best business practices and aims to provide customer satisfaction. There are 10 957.88 kilometres of distribution pipes providing water across the city, and ensuring that the water provided remains world class, the companys electro-mechanical maintenance department ensures that Johannesburg Waters 33 water towers, 87 reservoirs and pump stations are functional 24-hours a day. Johannesburg Waters testing laboratories are accredited with the South African National System (Sanas). Three laboratories test over 500 samples each month, ensuring that what comes out of the taps meets the high quality requirements of the SANS 241, Class 1 Drinking Water. The company also operates six wastewater treatment works, with a combined process capacity of 960 mega litres a day, 38 sewer pumping stations and 10 058.03 kilometres of sewer pipelines, stretching from Midrand to Ennerdale. Johannesburg Water continues to do extensive and ongoing upgrades to its water and sewage networks. It has its own website, Johannesburg Water. Vision, mission and key objectives Vision Johannesburg Water's vision is to become the leading water utility in South Africa. Mission To provide all of Joburg's people with access to a quality water and sanitation services. To achieve this Johannesburg Water will: Deliver a sustainable, affordable and cost effective service; Upgrade services in low income areas; Create a customer-focused culture; Build capacity through the development of our employees with emphasis on those who were previously disadvantaged; and Improve protection of the environment Objectives Johannesburg Water's key objectives are: To deal with water and sanitation backlogs in informal settlements; To update the Water Services Development Plan; and To review the metering policy and unaccounted-for water and energy. (Photo : Screenshot from YouTube/Shmee150) SSC Tuatara Coupe is now the world's fastest production car. Shelby SuperCars (SSC) revealed on Wednesday that their supercar now tops the world speed record at 282.9 mph. Its unmatchable speed comes with a whopping price of $1.9 million. SSC Tuatara now leaps at the top SSC's Tuatara coupe conducted a couple of test runs in Florida last week. On January 17, SSC made two opposite runs for an hour to test the effect of the wind on the car on the runway. CBS News reported that the Tuatara has increased its base price from more than $1.6 million to more than $1.9 million after undergoing several upgrades. The results came to fruition when the recorded maximum speed tipped at 279.7 mph in the first run and 286.1 mph in the second attempt. To verify Tuatara's milestone, Racelogic USA certified the company's accomplishment. It was found out that it suited with asset tracking devices. The speed not only put them on the zenith of 'godly speed,' but also it surpassed the 277.87 mph record of Koenigsegg Agera RS in 2017. Previously, the same supercar company produced an ultimate car that reached the speed of 331 mph last year. However, the verdict about its reaching speed was questioned by many car experts. They said that the data during the trial was inconsistent especially the camera angles, the helicopter's speed, and the passing landmarks at various intervals. Read Also: Resident Evil Village Boss Fight Leak [Spoiler Alert!] In a report by Daily Mail, the SSC Tuatara owner Dr. Larry Caplin, took 2.3 miles of the trial to land the best record. Compared to 2004 Karting champion Oliver Webb who raced for seven miles, Caplin's speed met a more spectacular finish. "Good satellite signal did all the things they said they did, and the data matches up. It's as legit as it can be," AR Motorsports founder Eddie Nakato said. Meanwhile, Jerod Shelby, the CEO of SSC, spoke that there could be a much better way to boost the car speed in the following months. He added that the car reached unbelievable speed because Caplin made use of the 'drag race' acceleration. In the said acceleration, the car is tweaked to full throttle to achieve a 40-to-50-second boost. In October 2020, the split speed was recorded at 301.07 mph and 331.15 mph after traversing Pahrump in Nevada within seven miles. Months later, SSC's dream of producing the fastest car now rested in its palm. Shelby's proposed re-runs took a long time before being launched, but their efforts paid off. Shelby was in doubt that it could be difficult to break, as what he told to the Robb Report. The First Person who Bought Tuatara The 1,750-horse-powered Tuatara was sold to its first customer who is Dr. Chaplin in February 2020. The creation of the hypercar is not an overnight duty. It took SSC 10 years to develop a formidable car that underwent extreme trials, conditioning, and mechanical improvements. The Washington-based SSC was more than proud to hand its state-of-the-art product. Shelby said that it was quite a journey for the whole team. The 52-year-old owner added that it was in September 2019, when the SSC North America finished its first car intended for a customer. Shelby narrated that it was a really exciting moment after seeing the whole details of their hard work, the Yaktri News reported. Related Article: Tesla Model S Two-Door Convertible: Is the Image of an Alleged New Tesla Convertible Circulating Online Real? This article is owned by Tech Times. Written by Joen Coronel 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Manx Engineering & Manufacturing businesses thanked for response to COVID-19 Manx Engineering and Manufacturing businesses have been thanked for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Manx Government says susinesses within the sector have continued to turn their expertise to designing and producing essential medical equipment to help combat the spread of the virus, including playing a significant part in the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccination. Examples of the ways Manx companies are helping the cause include Astrea Bioseparations. The company is playing a crucial role manufacturing purification products used in the production of biopharmaceuticals- therapeutic products derived from biological source material, including the COVID-19 vaccine. Lawrie Hooper MHK, Political Member for Business Isle of Man commented: Theres no doubt that the Isle of Man has a fantastic reputation for innovative engineering and manufacturing and Im delighted to see so many Manx businesses contributing on a global scale to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector has continued to work extremely well during this circuit breaker lockdown, doing what they can to ensure they do this with all social distancing and other hygiene measures in place. On behalf of the Isle of Man Government and the Manx people, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to these organisations, and many others, who are making such important contributions both on-island and beyond. Construction of commercial drug manufacturing facility in Germany Four clinical studies in neurological indications in 2021 Development of oral biosensor and contract development & manufacturing Psychedelic transdermal and sublingual drug formulation development VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY)(OTCQB:XPHYF)(FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its drug formulation and delivery business strategy and milestones for 2021. As a bioscience accelerator at the leading-edge of the life science industry, XPhyto targets growth through commercialization of its product pipeline and focused investment in impact driven innovation with the potential for meaningful value creation. Further to XPhyto's press release dated January 18, 2021, the Company's core milestones for this year include the commercialization of infectious disease diagnostics, the clinical validation of transdermal and sublingual drug formulations and continued investment in psychedelic medicine. Regarding XPhyto's drug formulation business, the Company is pleased to set out the strategy and milestones for 2021 of its wholly owned German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH ("Vektor"). Vektor will position itself for commercial manufacturing, pipeline development and drug formulations for critical mental health conditions. "2021 is expected to be a transformative year for Vektor. We will be building on significant momentum from 2020 as we advance our drug formulation, contract development, and psychedelic business," said Prof. Dr. Thomas Beckert, managing director of Vektor Pharma TF GmbH. "The addition of scalable in-house manufacturing capability creates the potential for significant growth across virtually all of our development and commercialization programs." Vektor is a German narcotics manufacturer, developer, and researcher located in the district of Biberach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. For over a decade, the company and its team have been leaders in the design, testing and manufacture of thin film drug formulations, particularly transdermal patches and sub-lingual (oral) strips for the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients ("API") for the treatment of pain and neurological conditions. Commercial Manufacturing Facility In anticipation of Vektor's drug product commercialization schedule, and due to significant interest in contract manufacturing, Vektor is planning to build a new commercial drug manufacturing facility in Germany in 2021. Vektor has secured a property in the district of Biberach, near its current laboratory, and is currently in the due diligence process to ensure suitability of the land for construction and use as a commercial drug manufacturing and laboratory site. The estimated maximum capacity of laboratory and manufacturing space that could be constructed on the property is 3,000 m2 (32,000 ft2). The Company is reviewing scalable construction options to synchronize manufacturing capacity and demand with the Company's projected growth and timelines. As a vertically integrated drug formulation research, development and commercial production company, Vektor is well positioned to maximize the value of its physical and intellectual assets by way of: 1) development, manufacture and distribution of XPhyto products; and 2) contract development and/or manufacture of products for third-parties. The addition of in-house, scalable commercial drug manufacturing capability is expected to add significant value and optionality to XPhyto's drug formulation business. Clinical Studies XPhyto's drug formulation business is focused on neurological indications with strong market demand and the potential for improved patient outcomes. In 2020, XPhyto reported significant advancements in four drug formulation development programs. In 2021, the Company is planning to complete one clinical pilot study in each quarter as follows: Q1) Rotigotine - transdermal patch in Parkinson's disease; Q2) CBD - oral/sublingual strip in treatment resistant Epilepsy; Q3) THC - oral/sublingual strip in anorexia/nausea; and Q4) CBD:THC (1:1) - oral/sublingual strip in Multiple Sclerosis associated spasticity. Each study is planned to be carried out over an approximately two-week period as an open label, randomized, crossover, two-period, two-sequence, single dose pilot study to assess the relative bioavailability of each product. Pending positive results, the Company plans to advance the products toward a final pivotal study and application for regulatory approval. The Company is currently in discussions with multiple potential commercial partners, licensors and distributors and will be reviewing monetization opportunities on a continued basis. In-house commercial manufacturing is expected to provide additional value to potential purchasers, partners and licensors, and ultimately to XPhyto. Development of Oral Biosensors and Contract Development & Manufacturing XPhyto's diagnostic portfolio includes several novel peptide-based oral screening tests, under licence from 3a-diagnostics GmbH, for the detection of infectious diseases including influenza A, and oral health indications, such as peri-implantitis. In 2020, XPhyto confirmed successful activation of its peptide-based biosensor program when delivered using Vektor's sublingual drug delivery platform. In 2021, XPhyto plans to continue development and validation of its biosensor products and plans to bring at least one biosensor product to market in Europe by yearend. In-house commercial manufacturing capacity, as set out above, is expected to maximize profitability of the biosensor commercialization. Since its inception, Vektor has worked for major and emerging drug companies to develop new and generic dosage formulations based on its sublingual and transdermal drug delivery platforms. Vektor has produced generic drug formulations of Fentanyl, Rivastigmine, and Clonidine, as well as novel formulations of drugs in Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, incontinence, local pain and abuse-resistant pain medications. Further, Vektor is currently engaged in the development of a sublingual drug formulation for a major European generic drug company. Vektor provides its clients with a versatile and rapidly adjustable sublingual and transdermal dosage platform to create new delivery options for generic and novel APIs. With the addition of in-house commercial manufacturing capacity, Vektor is building a vertically integrated thin film company to significantly grow its contract development and manufacturing business. Psychedelic Transdermal and Sublingual Drug Formulations Psychedelic compounds are a promising new class of API with potential for the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and trauma-related stress disorder. Psychedelics could provide a major improvement over currently available therapeutics for a global market with unmet medical need. Vektor will begin planning and development work for the incorporation of various psychedelic compounds into its drug formulations. This is facilitated by Vektor's drug delivery platforms in combination with, XPhyto's agreements for the development of industrial scale biotechnology processes for the production of psilocybin in Germany, and for the research and development of a broad range of psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, MDMA, DMT, in Canada. XPhyto believes that the development of standardized drug formulations with precise, predictable and efficient API delivery for clinical study and therapeutic use, is critical to advancing the field of psychedelic medicine. The Company will provide further information and updates for each of the business initiatives set out above in due course. About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic, and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications, including psychedelic compounds and cannabinoids. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp.: Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Investor Inquiries: Mr. Knox Henderson T: 604-551-2360 E: info@xphyto.com Media Inquiries: MC Services AG Julia Hofmann, Andreas Jungfer T: +49 89 210 228 0 E: xphyto@mc-services.eu Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building a successful diagnostic, drug delivery, and medical cannabis company. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing a commercial product; that the sale of products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; product regulatory risk; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; currency risks; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. 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 news release. SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626448/XPhyto-Announces-Drug-Formulation-Strategy-and-2021-Milestones-Innovation-to-Impact MEXICO CITY, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Aeromexico" or the "Company") (BMV: AEROMEX) announces that it has reached satisfactory agreements with the Asociacion Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores de Mexico ("ASPA") and the Asociacion Sindical de Sobrecargos de Aviacion de Mexico ("ASSA"), during the restructure of their Collective Bargaining Agreements. The agreements, approved yesterday by personal and direct vote of the Company's pilots and flight attendants, are essential to face the adverse effects caused globally to the airline industry by the COVID-19 pandemic and shall be formalized in the following days. The results achieved during the negotiations were necessary for the Company to meet certain commitments and objectives required by the DIP lenders under the Senior Debtor in Possession Credit Facility ("DIP Financing"), obtained within the Company's voluntary financial restructuring process. The Company recognizes the important effort that the flight attendants of ASSA and pilots of ASPA have made to face the negative effects of the pandemic and will continue to work in a coordinated manner with the unions' representatives to formalize the agreements reached. Aeromexico also recognizes the support of its unionized employees of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Aeronautica, Comunicaciones Similares y Conexos de la Republica Mexicana (STIA) and the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores al Servicio de las Lineas Aereas, Transportes, Servicios, Similares y Conexos (Independencia), with whom the Company reached satisfactory agreements last December, which was communicated previously. Likewise, the Company highlights the efforts of non-unionized employees, as well as the Mexican Government for accompanying the airline throughout this process. The Company will continue working in the following days on the process to comply with the conditions and obligations established in the Credit Agreement, in order to request the next disbursement under Tranche 2 of the DIP Financing. Aeromexico will continue pursuing, in an orderly manner, the voluntary process of its financial restructuring under the Chapter 11 process, while continuing to operate and offer services to its customers and contracting from its suppliers the goods and services required for operations. The Company will continue to strengthen its financial position and liquidity, protecting and preserving the operation and assets, and implementing the necessary adjustments to face the impact derived from COVID-19. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of the Company and its management with respect to its performance, business and future events. We use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect,", "intend," "target," "estimate," "project," "predict," "forecast," "guideline," "should" and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, but they are not the only way we identify such statements. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in this release. The Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Grupo Aeromexico Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in commercial aviation in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, has its main operations center in Terminal 2 of the Mexico City International Airport. Its destination network has reach in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Asia and Europe. The Group's current operating fleet includes Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, as well as the latest generation Embraer 190. Aeromexico is a founding partner of SkyTeam, an alliance that celebrates 20 years and offers connectivity in more than 170 countries, through the 19 partner airlines. Aeromexico created and implemented a Health and Hygiene Management System (SGSH) to protect its clients and collaborators at all stages of its operation. www.aeromexico.com www.skyteam.com SOURCE Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. A land-lord farmer protest and how SJF used it to disrupt national unity India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: The original intention was to hoist a Khalistan flag at the Red Fort on January 26. The SJF had planned on instigating the farmers to turn violent and a high-level meeting in the first week of January had discussed the same. It was easier to instigate them as there are land-lord farmers at the protest site. Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia that the proscribed organisation SJF had been looking to infiltrate the farmers' protests for long and over USD 1 lakh dollars had been collected in the name of the farmer protests. Family of Red Fort flag hoister flees village An ANI report said that a meeting was held in which 8 top Delhi Police officials and 12 officers from the IB apart from officials of the R&AW, SPG and Haryana Police had attended the meeting ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. The Intelligence suggested that the SJF was also planning widespread violence and also wanted to compromise the Red Fort building. It wanted the entire process to begin with the hoisting of the Khalistan Flag, an IB source told OneIndia. The SJF has been arranging protests in front of Indian nations abroad. The NIA however took over the probe into the funding after the foreign nations such as Canada did not act against the protests. The NIA after a recent amendment has foreign jurisdiction and hence was handed over the probe. Investigations have found that funds have been coming in from Canada, US and UK. The official cited above said that this money is being collected by the SJF in the name of the protests. However not all is going towards the protests. A good part of it is being diverted towards subversive and propaganda activities of the SJF. The violent scenes witnessed in Delhi on January 26 came in the way of Intelligence reports stating that the Pakistan based Khalistan groups are being pushed by their handlers to exploit the agitation in a bid to revive militancy in Punjab. A day before the tractor parade, the Intelligence Bureau had declared a high state of alert in Delhi. The Intelligence Bureau had warned that pro-Khalistan elements backed by Pakistan's ISI would look to hijack the protests and disrupt peace in Delhi. On Monday, the Delhi Police said that over 300 Twitter handles had been traced to Pakistan that were created to sabotage the rally. The proscribed outfit, Sikhs for Justice has been threatening strikes and has even tried to influence the farmers' protest on several occasions. The Khalistan infiltration: What we are witnessing in Delhi is exactly what SJF planned Both the IB as well as the Delhi Police had warned that the pro-Khalistan groups will look to disrupt peace. A close watch is being kept especially on the social media, where attempts would be made to spread false news and instigate the people. "Over 300 Twitter handles have been generated from Pakistan during January 13 to 18 to disrupt the tractor rally by farmers only by misleading people. There are inputs about the same from different agencies too. It will be a challenging task for us, but the rally will be conducted amid tight security after the Republic Day parade is over," Deependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence), said. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News WASHINGTON The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the potential for lingering violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Joe Biden's election. The department did not cite a specific threat, but pointed to "a heightened threat environment across the United States" that it believes "will persist" in the weeks since Biden took office. DHS said it consulted with law enforcement and intelligence agencies before issuing the alert about the potential for homegrown violent extremism. "Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence,'' the bulletin said. With the warning, the Biden administration is effectively stepping into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology, suggesting that it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism. The alert comes at a tense time after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump who were seeking to overturn the presidential election. Some domestic violent extremists "may be emboldened" by that siege, according to the bulletin. DHS also notes violent riots in "recent days," an apparent reference to events in Portland, Oregon, linked to anarchist groups. The alert was issued by acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske. Biden's nominee for the Cabinet post, Alejandro Mayorkas, has not been confirmed by the Senate. 00:01 | Lima, Jan. 28. In this sense, the high-ranking official explained that as soon as the vaccines arrive from China the ministry will verify if they are in good conditions. If confirmed, the distribution system will be activated immediately, which on the occasion will place half a million vaccines at health facilities. "Whether we are in lockdown or not, that will not prevent the arrival of vaccines or their distribution to vaccination sites, or the vaccination within health facilities," she stressed at a press conference. The Cabinet member recalled that only last year during the national vaccination campaign Minsa distributed six million vaccines for three immunization days. The vaccines to arrive soon from China will be administered to health personnel, in accordance with the standards. "During the lockdown, we can vaccinate citizens, and the vaccination of health personnel will be carried out at health establishments," Dr. Mazzetti said. "If we had to vaccinate the population during a full lockdown, there would be no problems; on the contrary, it would be better because there is a vaccination technique called sweeping which is what allows people to be vaccinated at home," she added. Many people are purchasing pets to cope with the loneliness of the pandemic and online scammers are taking advantage of that. The Better Business Bureau reports that in the last month, buyers from California, Florida, New Hampshire and Texas "sent thousands of dollars to several kennels they believed were located in or near Omaha." "Since COVID-19 began, puppy scams have increased dramatically as pets have helped combat the loneliness during the pandemic. Puppy scams have increased five times since 2017, with losses reported in 2020 at $3 million," wrote the bureau. Almost every weekend when the Albrechts hear a knock on their door, they know they're about to deliver some heartbreaking news. "They get here all excited about picking up a puppy and go home without one," said Linda Albrecht. Online scammers use Albrecht's home address on fake kennel websites selling non-existent puppies. She doesn't know how her address got selected or involved. Since November, she said families from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri arrive on her doorstep expecting a brand new puppy and leave with no dog, no refund, just disappointment. "I mean, you feel terrible," she said. "When you tell them, you see their face drop." According to the Better Business Bureau, a person from Texas purchased an Akita from one of the fake Nebraska kennels, "then reported losing over $6,000 after a fictitious shipping company charged a 'refundable deposit' of $5,200 to safely deliver the puppy." The BBB also discovered a website hometownbulldogworld.com that they report is a fake site "using an address in the Northern Hills neighborhood of Omaha." The bureau said they visited the listed Omaha address and said "none of the 11 puppies the website claims reside there were nowhere to be found." Madiyyah Chase fell in love with a toy poodle puppy named "Scott." She lives in Los Angeles and purchased "Scott" for $850 from a kennel she believed was located in Nebraska. Her seller told her "Scott" would arrive Christmas Eve, but he never came. The man began ignoring her calls. "It made me really sad," said Chase. "I was actually really disappointed, but I was more disappointed in myself that I didn't take the time to really research." Chase paid the scammer through a payment app called Zelle. The BBB reports "many scammers ask for payment using non-traditional methods, such as gift cards or payment apps such as Zelle and Cash App, which allow users to send money via emails or mobile phone numbers." Chase was unable to get her money back. The Better Business Bureau shared some recommendations for those choosing to purchase pets online: "See the pet in person before paying any money. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, consider a video call with the seller so you can see the seller and the actual pet for sale. Since scammers are not likely to comply with the request, this may help avoid a scam." "Do a reverse image search of the pets photo and search for a distinctive phrase in the description. If you discover the same images or phrases on multiple sites thats a tip-off to a rip-off." "Do research to get a sense of a fair price for the breed you are considering. Think twice if someone advertises a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price; that sometimes signals a fraudulent offer. Deals that sound too good to be true often are." "Check out a local animal shelter online for pets you can meet prior to adoption." Pam Wiese at the Nebraska Humane Society advises shoppers to look at sites and shelters that are credible and legitimate. "I think adopting is a wonderful way for people to get a great companion animal and for us to help a problem in our community, which is the fact that we have a lot of homeless animals," said Wiese. "So if we can fill your void and also fill the void for the animal, well gosh, that's a win-win." The Better Business Bureau says if you're a victim of a pet scam to contact the BBB's Scam Tracker, Petscams.com, the Federal Trade Commission and your credit card issuer. Last Sunday afternoon a large Vietnamese pot-bellied pig appeared on Ross Street in Heflin. Police were dispatched to the scene in front of the China Panda restaurant, but no one knew where the pig had come from, according to Heflin police Chief Ross McGlaughn. We were actually headed to another call and we got a call that there was a pig in the road up there in front of China Panda. We went up there and two people were out with the pig and I got out with it. It was friendly. Its obviously somebodys pet, McGlaughn said. McGlaughn said he thought he knew who the owner was. Does anyone know where this guy belongs? He's super friendly, but he can't live on Ross Street where we found him. He... Posted by City of Heflin Police Department on Sunday, January 24, 2021 Theres a local guy that is kinda known for having a pet pig. I told somebody, Look, I will sit with the pig and make sure it stays out of the road if you will go check with him, McGlaughn said. While McGlaughn waited, he went into the Chinese restaurant and got the pig a handful of fortune cookies. The animal went hog wild over the treats, he reported. Unfortunately, the person of interest who might have been the pigs owner has not owned a pig for over a year, McGlaughn reported. Then a woman stepped up to help. McGlaughn said she did not want the pig for herself but could hold it until the rightful owner steps forward. McGlaughn posted the plight of the pig on the police departments social media page, hoping to find its owner. The post read: He has a place to stay for the night, but he cant stay there forever, hes wild about fortune cookies from China Panda. If nobody claims him I may make him our new drug sniffing pig. The post received hundreds of comments and went viral, according to McGlaughn. Oddly enough, nobody has stepped forward to claim the pig yet, he said. On Wednesday, the woman who had been holding the pig was planning to bring it back to the city because the pig is good at escaping. She said, I cant keep it. Im having to keep it up in my barn. I thought I would be able to put it out in the pasture but its an escape artist. Everything I put it in, it roots out of it, it gets out, McGlaughn said. But then she changed her mind and decided to hold onto the pig a bit longer, fearing that it might get cold in the citys dog kennels, according to McGlaughn. Anyone with information on the pig can contact the Heflin police department at 256-463-2292. Staff writer Bill Wilson: 256-235-3562. On Twitter @bwilson_star. ___ (c)2021 The Anniston Star (Anniston, Ala.) Visit The Anniston Star (Anniston, Ala.) at www.annistonstar.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa yesterday participated in the 4th edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Minister took part in the international conference alongside panellists Mohammed Al Jadaan, Minister of Finance for Saudi Arabia, Jason Greenblatt, former White House Special Envoy to the Middle East, and Thomas Barrack of Colony Capital. Outlining the Kingdom of Bahrains economic diversification success since the launch of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Minister Shaikh Salman noted the strong growth witnessed in Bahrains non-oil economy, which is now representing around 90% of Bahrains GDP, up from 55% in 2000. The Minister highlighted the important role economic diversification plays in supporting and meeting the aspirations of the regions youth, noting their desire to benefit from opportunities, not hand-outs. Looking to the future as well as Bahrains existing Fiscal Balance Program, the Minister outlined the need for a recalibration of the relationship between economic growth and government revenues. He called for efforts to create a positive correlation between economic growth and government revenues leading to greater economic stability, innovation, and increased opportunities for all. Travel bans won't keep mutant strains of coronavirus out of the UK but only 'buy time' to roll out the vaccine, a leading scientist and Sage adviser has warned. Sir Jeremy Farrar cautioned today ministers had not gone far enough with their current restrictions - which order quarantine for arrivals from 30 'red list' countries - but warned even with tighter measures variants would still make it to Britain's shores. 'We need to learn the lessons from 2020,' he urged. 'If we'd imposed restrictions in January and February last year we would probably have imposed them on high risk countries - China maybe. But actually almost all of the viruses arriving in the UK (at this time) came from Europe. 'So travel restrictions have to be comprehensive, they have to be in place for a time and in the end they buy you time but they won't prevent new variants arriving.' There is mounting concern Covid-19 variants could emerge that can avoid immunity triggered by the vaccines, which could spark outbreaks after the rollout. Studies have suggested mutations on the spike protein of the South African strain, which it uses to invade cells, make it more resistant to jab-induced antibodies - potentially making them less potent. But scientists have said this is not the 'full picture', and they are confident other parts of the immune system will still be primed by the shots to fight off the variant. There was also concern over the Kent strain of the virus, but scientists now say they are confident it is susceptible to vaccine-induced immunity. Scientists are also keeping an eye on the Brazilian variant, although they also think this is not able to dodge the Covid-19 vaccine. The current jabs are based on the original strain of Covid-19 identified in Wuhan, China, last year - but it has accumulated many mutations since then. The Government yesterday ordered mandatory hotel-quarantines for arrivals from 30 'red list' countries - including Portugal and South Africa. The Home Secretary Priti Patel also warned Britons they will not be able to travel unless it is 'essential' because of lockdown measures. These are the daily average of cases per million people in the countries that could be on the UK quarantine list published later today Sir Jeremy Farrar, left, director of the Wellcome Trust, has warned travel restrictions will not stop new variants of coronavirus reaching the UK. The Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday unveiled restrictions to force arrivals from 30 'red list' countries to quarantine What variants are causing panic around the world? Kent variant Real name: B.1.1.7 When was it discovered? The variant was first found in the South East of England and can be traced back to September 2020. What mutations does it have? It has 23 mutations, some of which change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main mutation is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. Why is it causing worry? UK studies have shown it is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the regular strain, which has made it harder to control. Preliminary studies also show it is about 30 per cent more deadly than previous versions. How many people have caught it in the UK? It is the dominant strain in Britain and accounts for the majority of new cases. Brazil variant Real name: P.1 When was it discovered? In Tokyo, Japan, in four travellers arriving from Manaus, Brazil, on January 2. What mutations does it have? P.1 has 17 mutations, three of which are particularly concerning to scientists. Like the Kent variant, it also has the N501Y mutation which suggests it's more infectious and possibly more lethal. It also has a spike alteration named E484K, which scientists believe may be associated with an ability to evade parts of the immune system called antibodies. Researchers suspect this is the case because strains with this mutation have been shown to reinfect people who caught and beat older versions of Covid. Another key mutation in the variant, named K417T, has the potential to 'possibly escape some antibodies', according to British experts. This mutation is less well-studied and the ramifications of this are still being researched. Why is it causing worry? There have been a number of proven cases of people catching this variant after beating older versions of the virus. It strongly suggests the variant can evade natural immunity and possibly even vaccines. How many people have caught it in the UK? It's not. Public health officials and scientists randomly sample around 1 in 10 coronavirus cases in the UK and they have not yet reported any cases of the variant, but this doesn't rule it out completely. South African variant Real name: B.1.351 When was it discovered? Nelson Mandela Bay, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, in mid-December. What mutations does it have? The South African variant carries 21 mutations, including E484K and N501Y. Why is it causing worry? Those two mutations suggest it is more infectious than the older version of Covid and raise the possibility of antibody resistance. However, Sir Patrick Vallance has said there is no reason the South African or Brazilian strains would become dominant in the UK, because they don't have any evolutionary edge over the Kent strain currently plaguing the country, which is just as transmissible. How many people have caught it in the UK? At least 77 Brits have been infected with this variant, though the number is likely to be far higher because PHE is only testing random positive samples. Advertisement Mr Farrar, who also directs the Wellcome Trust, warned today the measures needed to be comprehensive but added it must be appreciated that they only 'buy you time but they won't prevent eventually variants arriving'. 'And it has to be very, very smart and very comprehensive and go on for a long time,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. 'Look at what New Zealand and Australia are going through at the moment with travel restrictions.' But he added a warning that when countries 'bind' themselves down with restrictions like lockdowns and border controls they 'are not changing the fundamentals'. '(The measures) buy you time but they need to use that time to change the fundamentals through the rollout of vaccines,' he said. Asked whether he thought the current travel ban would be in place until the end of this year, he said that was 'not going to be necessary'. 'The way to avoid that is to get vaccines to the world and reduce the amount of transmission around the world,' he said. 'That's the moral and that's the ethical thing to do. It also happens to be the financial and economic best way to get out of the pandemic.' Public Health England has identified 90 cases of the South African variant - called B.1.351 - in the UK so far, after analysing thousands of different genetic samples. But it is likely to be far more widespread because officials only analyse 10 per cent of all positive samples from the Government's national testing programme. Their report, published yesterday, also revealed about 28,000 cases of the more infectious Kent variant - named B.1.1.7 - have been picked up, although this total is considered to be far smaller than the actual number. After first being identified in its namesake county, the strain quickly swept across the UK to become the dominant type of the virus because of mutations boosting its ability to pass between humans. There have been no cases of the Brazilian variant - called P.1 - identified in the UK to date. It has some of the same mutations as the South African variant which open the door to antibody resistance which could make it harder for the immune system to destroy it. Experts say just because the strain has not been picked up yet, does not mean it is not already here. It comes after Ms Patel read the riot act to would-be travellers yesterday warning that people on fake work jaunts and influencers heading for sunny destinations will be turned away from airports. The Home Secretary heralded a huge squeeze on 'non-essential' journeys as she revealed that even during lockdown individuals have been flouting the rules - including by turning up to go abroad carrying skis. In a statement to MPs, she said such people now face being sent home again, and will have to fill out a legal declaration saying that they are going for essential purposes. 'Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel,' she swiped. Lockdown rules already ban people from international travel unless it is for work. Leaving home is only permitted for a small number of reasons. However, it is not clear whether airlines and other travel operators will have the unilateral ability to decide whether someone has given a genuine reason for a trip, or whether it will end up being referred to police. Angry airline industry sources meanwhile said such legal declarations could pose 'challenges' for them, amid fears check-in staff will be told to take judgements on what constitutes a legitimate journey. The Home Office has yet to produce an example of the declaration form, and it is not known when the system will kick off. It is not thought any further law will be needed to implement the move. Ms Patel also declared that Britons returning from around 30 'red list' Covid countries will be forced to quarantine in hotels for 10 days at their own expense. MailOnline understands that hundreds of arrivals each day are expected to be escorted directly from airports to rooms, where they will have to stay for the duration of their isolation and pay a bill estimated at 1,500 - although ministers hope the numbers will 'fall through the floor' as people avoid coming to the UK. It will only affect British travellers, as foreign citizens who have been in the countries are already banned from entering altogether. Ms Patel herself is believed to have been pushing for a much tougher regime alongside Matt Hancock and Michael Gove, but was overruled after resistance from Rishi Sunak, Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps, and warnings it would 'kill' the aviation industry. Making the case for the Government in a Commons statement, Ms Patel said: 'It is clear that there are still too many people coming in and out of our country each day. 'And today I am announcing further action to strengthen the health measures we already have at the border, but to reduce passenger flow so that only a small number of people for whom it is absolutely essential to travel are doing so and therefore reducing the risk to our world-leading vaccine programme.' (Natural News) A Simple Search of Google Trends for Black Lives Matter suggests fairly definitively that Black Lives Matter is just a tool used by the media, Big Tech, corporations, and politicians to violently extort America and The West of all its resourcesincluding human capitoland freedoms. (Article by Ulysses S. Tennyson republished from 100PercentFedUp.com) The graph, below, shows how often the term Black Lives Matter was searched from January 1, 2014 through present day. The data is normalized, meaning that numbers represent search interest relative to the highest point on the chart for the given region and time. A value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term. A value of 50 means that the term is half as popular. A score of 0 means there was not enough data for this term. The most obvious implication of this data is that Black Lives Matter only becomes popular around election periods. This strongly suggests that Black Lives Matter is merely a tool used by Big Tech, Media, and Political overlords to manipulate elections through violence. Then, it magically goes away. Dictionaries define terrorism as: the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. Banana Republic Biden has illegitimately seized the presidency in America using, in part, nearly a year of violence by Black Lives Matter (and rhetoric by its intellectual apologists) that began with accelerationist riots during the inauguration of President Trump. Will the sociopathic overlords in Big Tech, Big Business, and Politics now discard them again for another two to four years when another election cycle is upon us? When these ruthless sociopathic overlords cease to need these brainwashed anti-American rioters, will BLM & Antifa realize that they have been used? Will they care? Can their ravenous anti-American appetites for change and control be pacified for yet another another 4 years? How do you think they will react when enough of them realize they are just being used to take all the risks by people high above all of us as they shift pieces on the chess board of humanity? The goal is not equality and prosperity for everyone, which is what America used to be. It is a Great Reset that benefits none of us except the overlords that treat all humans as resources to be corralled however they see fit. Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com and BlackLiesMatter.news. Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca paid a working visit on Thursday to the NATO's Headquarters Multinational Corps South East (HQ MNC-SE), which is temporarily deployed in Bucharest. Corps Commander Catalin Tomescu presented the latest developments achieving the objectives to be for declaring the initial operational capability and the activation of this corps by NATO, according to the Defence Ministry (MApN). Part of the meeting, Ciuca was introduced to the outlines of efforts in the development plan of the corps that will operate in Sibiu, with emphasis on the main objectives that will be gradually achieved until the headquarters becomes fully operational in 2024.Ciuca mentioned MApN's full readiness for the development of this multinational structure that is important to the entire eastern flank of NATO, adding that the MNC-SE will play an important role in preparing contingencies in exercising command and control of other NATO components on Romanian soil - NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU), Multinational Brigade South-East and the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East - to secure a link between tactical and strategic levels."The four NATO components in our country represent Romania's contribution to consolidating a credible deterrence and credible defence posture of the North Atlantic Alliance on the eastern flank and in the Black Sea region," according to Ciuca. Police launch CCTV appeal Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to. Officers say the male posted a substantial amount of money from Laxey in October last year. No further details have been given. They are asking anyone who can identify the male to contact Police Headquarters. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close MIDDLETOWN With temps over the next few days forecast to be in the single digits considering the wind chill, the city is offering two locations for people to warm up but there are fewer options during the pandemic, the mayor said. Temperatures are expected to be frigid at least through Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. COVID-19 has reduced the number of locations where people can seek shelter, such as the public library, which is closed and only providing curbside pickup of items, Mayor Ben Florsheim said. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, patrons could stay there for a few hours to read a book or peruse the shelves. State funding allowed the city to contract with the Wesley Inn & Suites at 988 Washington St., which is providing rooms for short- and long-term stays for people experiencing homelessness through the spring. Items are delivered there by the St. Vincent dePaul Middletown Amazing Grace food pantry and soup kitchen. Our best and first line of defense is overnight at the (hotel), which we do in partnership with Columbus House, Florsheim said. Im sure it will be full for the next couple days as it often is, but it is the best option for people who are going to be at risk of exposure. Its a night-by-night thing, he said. The organizations goal is to assist people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless by providing shelter and housing, according the shelter. In past years, warming centers have been hosted by Main Street churches, such as Church of the Holy Trinity, South Congregational Church and First Baptist Church. The foyer at the Middletown Police Department, 222 Main St., is open 24 hours a day for shelter from the cold, Middletown fire chief and Emergency Management Director Robert Kronenberger said. People cannot sleep in the lobby overnight, but it provides a place for people to get out of the elements, the mayor said. City personnel also are directing people to call 211 for immediate help in finding shelter. Staff there have access to statewide resources, which include various area shelters, Florsheim said. COVID has been a challenge all year in terms of finding public spaces for people to visit, even in the nice weather, the mayor said. Were not going to reach everybody out there, but were trying to make sure we cover the bases as best as we can in partnership with other providers, Florsheim said. Being sure about ballast water compliance Shipping companies have a degree of responsibility over whether they actually manage to remove organisms from ballast water before discharging. How can this be best done? We spoke to Chelsea Technologies. Just buying and installing a type approved ballast water system may not be enough to guarantee regulatory compliance, says Matt Kenney, Head of Sales and Marketing with Chelsea Technologies, a UK specialist in sensor design and manufacture. Shipping companies have a degree of responsibility over whether the ballast water they discharge contains organisms above the allowed limit. In most maritime state legislatures, ship operators are deemed accountable for knowing that they discharged pollutants into territorial waters. In the US, ship operators can be prosecuted for non-compliant ballast water discharge even if they do have a type approved system, Mr Kenney says. A May 2020 study by certification company SGS, Commissioning Testing of Ballast Water Management Systems, (available for free download), found that of 95 systems the company was asked to test between October 2019 and April 2020, 21 per cent failed to meet the D-2 treatment standard enforced by the IMO. This may be because they had been installed incorrectly. In that case, the shipping companies have spent millions of dollars for equipment which doesnt work. Before this study was produced, there was not much data available about how effective ballast water systems actually were, Mr Kenney says. Now testing ballast water systems is growing as an issue in IMO. Some states, including Singapore and Panama, have required commissioning testing since 2018 so all systems are tested after they are installed. Commissioning testing is likely to be required globally by 2021, if it is ratified in the MEPC 75 meeting (previously scheduled for March 30, 2020, currently postponed due to Covid). The commissioning testing may not involve actually testing the ballast water after being treated. It may be just testing that the equipment appears to be functioning correctly, on the basis that the equipment itself has already been tested in its type approval process. But it may also include an indicative test of the discharge water, for example using a device like FastBallast. A failure of the indicative test will mean that the installation itself fails, Mr Kenney says. Deterioration over lifetime Another unaddressed question is what processes should be used to monitor effectiveness of a system during the lifetime. Reasons for ballast water system performance to deteriorate can include blocked filters, fouling on a UV element, or the vessel handling a different kind of ballast water, such as from tropical waters, or with higher sediment levels, which means it is harder for UV light to penetrate. Or a different crew, or even a different vessel owner, may operate the system in a different way, or not know how to use it, or understand its limitations. Mr Kenney envisages that ballast water testing may one day be like the testing for oil content in bilge water before it is discharged where regulations require the water is continuously tested, and discharge is automatically shut off if oil concentration rises above the maximum allowed 15 ppm. This would be a logical regulation for authorities who really want to make sure no invasive organisms are able to enter their waters, although very difficult to achieve technically. FastBallast Chelsea Technologies has developed a small unit, FastBallast, which tanker companies can use onboard to analyse a sample of ballast water, get an indication of what the organism level is, and determine whether it is probably compliant before discharge. The unit costs under 10,000 ($13k) which is expensive for a discretionary cost, but low compared to the $1.5m cost of a ballast water treatment system, or of course any penalties. The device is the same size, just slightly thicker, than a laptop. So it is feasible for shipping companies to employ staff to visit vessels in port to test their ballast water, carrying the device with them. It is a self-contained unit with a small sample chamber, where you add a sample of discharge water and then press go. Complexities of compliance The Ballast Water Convention states that inspectors can conduct a sampling of ships ballast water in accordance with guidelines to be developed by the organisation but there is no standard methodology for how to sample a ships ballast water. The IMO ballast water standard, D2, has multiple layers. The water you discharge must have under 10 organisms per m3 which are over 50 micrometres, fewer than 10 organisms per millilitre which are between 10 and 50 micrometres, plus some other limits of specific indicator microbes. Knowing for sure if ballast water is compliant would require analysing very large volumes of ballast water, which would be impractical. For example, you would need a minimum of approximately 3m3 of ballast water to make a reasonable check for the 10 organisms per m3 rule. This would likely involve a water tanker driving up to the vessel to collect ballast water and take it to a laboratory. But the FastBallast analysis can give a reasonable indication of compliance by looking for phytoplankton in the 10-50 micrometre range in a small sample of water because these are often the toughest organisms to treat, Mr Kenney says. Phytoplankton typically have a high resilience to ballast water treatments compared to indicator microbes or some zooplankton in the >50 m category. In other words, if youve killed the phytoplankton, youve probably killed everything else too, he says. The technical challenge is finding a way to measure living organisms in ballast water post treatment but not dead ones. Dead or non-viable organisms are not a concern in ballast water because they cannot reproduce when they are discharged. FastBallast uses a method known as active fluorometry to analyse the number of living phytoplankton cells in the sample. Phytoplankton display inherent fluorescence from chlorophyll; if the phytoplankton are living, the intensity of this fluorescence increases as they are exposed to a pulse of high-intensity light. In FastBallast, a 20ml sample is stirred continuously, within which 0.5ml is probed with a 400s pulse of light. Large phytoplankton typically contain more chlorophyll, so they produce a stronger fluorescence signal than small phytoplankton as they pass through the 0.5ml analysis region. By analysing the intensity and variation of the fluorescence signal, FastBallast can accurately calculate the number of phytoplankton within the sample. FastBallast can detect down to 1 cell per ml, well below the IMO D-2 standard of 10 cells per ml. The reading takes only 2-10 minutes. It can be used for over 2 years between services, and needs minimum consumables, no laboratory testing or costly reagents. Normally it works with 20 ml sample volumes, so a little smaller than a standard whisky shot (25 35 ml). It can also be set up to provide continuous measurement, but this is not usually necessary for most operators. DIC Corporation (TOKYO: 4631) has for some time been exploring the possibility of an alliance with Indias Jindal Poly Films Limited, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, with the aim of helping to foster a market for functional cast polypropylene (CPP) film in India. Today, DIC announced that the two companies have reached a consensus to collaborate in this area. India, like other countries, is experiencing a greater need for products with performance features that respond better to environmental concerns and sanitation issues. In the food packaging field, demand is increasing for films with performance features that meet such needs. Of particular note, demand for functional CPP film, which contributes to the realization of reducing plastics, mono-material packaging, is expected to expand in the future. Anticipating growth in the Indian market for CPP film, Jindal Poly Films entered this business in 2018, at which time it also approached DIC to propose collaboration. Having determined that working with Jindal Poly Films would be an important first step in nurturing demand in the promising Indian market, DIC explored the proposal in detail. Collaborative initiatives in the following three spheres are under consideration by the two companies, with concrete activities expected to commence within fiscal year 2021 at the earliest: Entering into a technology licensing agreement whereby DIC would extend packaging technologies to Jindal Poly Films; Developing and mass-producing functional CPP film using DIC technologies at Jindal Poly Films plant in India; and Conducting joint sales of functional CPP film manufactured by Jindal Poly Films in India with a view to establishing a joint venture. Through this business, DIC has sought to provide value to society through the improvement of environmental performance, i.e., by making films thinner to reduce plastic use, and enhancing performance features such as easy peel, which makes packaging easier to open. Amid growing sustainability-related needs, DIC aims to expand its films business by capitalizing on this collaboration with Jindal Poly Films to introduce advanced technologies cultivated in Japan to the Indian market, which is expected to see significant growth going forward. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127006039/en/ WELLESLEY, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- F.L.Putnam Investment Management Company today announced that William O'Brien and Corey Pomerleau, CFP have joined the firm as an Investment Advisor and Private Client Advisor, respectively. Both will be based in the firm's Wellesley, MA office. "We are very excited to welcome Bill and Corey, two talented professionals who further expand our investment advisory and financial planning team, meeting the strong and growing demand for F.L.Putnam's services," said Tom Manning, CEO at F.L.Putnam. "Since I joined F.L.Putnam five years ago, we have more than doubled the size of our team, while adding new services and lowering overall costs for our client base. Our platform promotes teamwork and enables our advisors to provide an exceptional level of service and expertise to our clients. We have become a great destination for advisors who want to focus their time and energy on meeting client goals and objectives." Mr. O'Brien has over thirty-five years of investment and wealth management experience. He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Bank of America Private Bank, and its predecessor Fleet Investment Advisors, for nearly three decades. During his tenure at Bank of America, Mr. O'Brien managed over $400 million in assets for high-net-worth individuals and families. Earlier in his career, he held sales and account officer roles at Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company and U.S. Trust. Mr. Pomerleau joins F.L.Putnam from Boston Private Wealth where he served as a Senior Client Associate. He previously held operational roles at Northern Bank & Trust and Pentucket Bank. Mr. Pomerleau holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional designation and is a member of the Financial Planning Association. About F.L.Putnam Investment Management Company F.L.Putnam Investment Management Company, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, provides investment management, financial planning and consulting services to high-net-worth clients, endowments and foundations. For over 35 years, we have delivered a comprehensive set of solutions that help clients build, preserve, and manage their wealth. We serve clients from offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. More information is available at www.flputnam.com. Contact KWM Communications Kellie Walsh 914-315-6072 [email protected] SOURCE F.L.Putnam Investment Management Company Related Links https://www.flputnam.com Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (881) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (897) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (851) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (852) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (942) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (732) Those arriving in Beijing around the Spring Festival will be subject to tighter COVID-19 precautions, including requirements of more nucleic acid tests, the municipal government said Wednesday. Between Jan. 28 and March 15, travelers from domestic low-risk areas must provide negative nucleic acid results within seven days before arrival, and they must receive nucleic acid tests one week and two weeks after settling in Beijing, said Xu Hejian, the city government spokesperson. The Chinese capital is declining entry to those from domestic medium and high-risk areas, while those entering the Chinese mainland via other cities must wait for 21 days before visiting Beijing, Xu said at a press conference. The tightened entry rules come as increased travels around the Spring Festival, the most important homecoming occasion in China, added complications to Beijing's anti-virus efforts, the official added. The municipal government on Wednesday also renewed calls for residents to avoid outbound travels during the festival to minimize infection risks and promised to offer shopping coupons and free data packages to those who choose to stay put. Beijing reported four new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic infection on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said. It added that all of the confirmed cases occurred in a residential community in Daxing District, where cluster cases had emerged lately. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 12 this year. A Massachusetts man accused of sexually assaulting two children before fleeing to New Hampshire years ago was arrested earlier this week, authorities said. Daniel Napier was arraigned Wednesday in Concord District Court on 10 charges in connection with the alleged past sexual assaults, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office. The 58-year-old Acton man knew the minors he is accused of sexually assaulting, the district attorneys office noted in its statement. The sexual assault claims came to light in November 2019 after the victims told a family member Napier touched them inappropriately on several occasions at his apartment in Acton. The allegations were then reported to police in the town, according to the statement from Ryans office. Upon confronting Napier, he is accused of fleeing to New Hampshire before ultimately returning to his home, the statement said. After an investigation into the allegations, an arrest warrant was obtained for Napier on the charges of aggravated rape of a child, enticing a child under 16 years old and eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to the district attorneys office. Napier was arrested on Tuesday without incident at his apartment, Ryans office said. Concord District Court Judge Lynn Brendemuel set Napiers bail at $10,000. The suspect was ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the victims and their families, submit to GPS monitoring and 24/7 lockdown, have no unsupervised contact with children under 16 and not to work or volunteer with children under 16, the prosecutors office said. His next court date in the case is scheduled for March 1. By Ko Dong-hwan South Korean genome research company Eone Diagnomics Genome Center (EDGC) said it will start providing early cancer detection services to Europe working with a Ukraine-based clinic that is participating in its research. Working with PB MEDICOM-IN, based in Dnipro, the Ukraine, EDGC will for the first time in Europe provide two types of liquid biopsy services for cancer diagnosis, according to EDGC, Jan. 26. The two companies have conducted clinical trials for the services for about a year. Under the services, EDGC will provide PB with blood sampling tubes specialized for liquid biopsies. Blood samples collected from European countries will be shipped to EDGC's headquarters in Songdo, Incheon, where the samples' bioinformatics will be analyzed and, within three weeks, the results will be shared online with local medical experts in the countries where the samples came from. EDGC's healthcare business team leader Cho Sung-min said the company, with central support from the Ukraine, will target the ten Commonwealth of Independent States including Russia, where cancer rates are particularly high. EDGC had already started providing the liquid biopsy-based service for cancer diagnosis to Asian countries via Union Medical Healthcare in Hong Kong in 2019. During that process, the Korean firm was able to confirm the service's high market value. Its partnership with PB began at the Kyiv International Economic Forum 2019 in Kyiv, where EDGC's co-CEO, Lee Min-seob, was invited as a keynote speaker. There, he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky along with representatives from European investment banks and China's Alibaba Group. PB is a prominent, "4P precision" (preventive, predictive, personalized, participatory) medical facility with the Ukraine's best medical personnel and the results of more than 40 research studies published in international medical journal portals, according to EDGC. EDGC's liquid biopsy techniques were introduced in the international medical journal, Oral Diseases, in 2020. The techniques have proven effective for cancers of the lung, breast, large intestine, stomach and most recently, the head and neck. For 20-year-old Rosy Behera, education had promised to alleviate the poverty and misery that had so long dogged her and her family. But things seemed to have barely changed for the resident of Odisha's Puri district, who despite being a civil engineering student in Puri, was forced to work as a daily wage worker for a local road project under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to pay the remaining fees of her private engineering college. Rosy has been working on the project since the past three weeks or so now, digging fields, collecting and carrying soil on her head for making a road in her village, all to earn a meagre sum of Rs 207 per day. Rosy, who has five sisters, comes out daily in the morning to the construction site to shovel sand and carry them to the site for road building. One of her sister, who is also pursuing a B.Tech in engineering has been helping Rosy with the MNREGS work so that she can arrange for the due amount soon and get her degree. "After completing my diploma in Civil Engineering in 2019, I am not able to arrange funds for my Bachelor's degree. I also have to pay an outstanding amount of Rs 24,500 to the diploma school," Behera told news agency ANI. Odisha: An engineering student in Puri works as a daily wager to pay her college fees."Rosy couldn't pay her college fees because of financial situation. She hasn't received diploma certificate. We'll look into the matter," says Welfare Extension Officer, Delang block (27.01) pic.twitter.com/lSggLVnTIy ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 After her diploma finished in 2019, Rosy had sought her options where she learnt from a private engineering college that she can pursue a B.Tech program on a government scholarship. She was told that since she hailed from a Scheduled Caste (Harijan), her tuition fees would be taken care of by the government but not the hostel and college bus fee. She told ANI, "I was denied my diploma certificate by the college authority, despite my repeated request to college authorities and local MLA. I could not find other options to clear my hostel dues and bus fees. As I am a Harijan girl, the government was paying my entire college fees. But hostel and Bus fees were not included in it. Even our house is constructed on government land. As I passed matric with a good number, I got a scholarship from the government and joined Barunei Institute of engineering and technology (BIET) Khordha." The Block Development Officer, Delang Block Sheshdev Rout assured help to Rosy and promised to help her with her dire situation. "Rosy couldn't pay her college fees because of the financial situation. She hasn't received a diploma certificate. We will report it to the administration to help her" he said. (With inputs from ANI) Entertainment Kennedy Morgan Medium Presents Dinner & Spirits Mystic Circle Cafe proudly announces its first private event, scheduled for Sunday, January 31, 'Kennedy Morgan Medium presents Dinner & Spirits.' Enjoy a three-course meal catered by PV favorite No Way JosA! Puerto Vallarta, MAxico - Amid the anxiety and uncertainty the world continues to experience in these unprecedented times, our human condition strives to make sense of it all. Mystic Circle Cafe opens in the Zona Romantica of Puerto Vallarta to provide tools, resources and an environment to explore spiritual perspectives to help us in that quest. Proprietor Kennedy Morgan has created more than just a coffee shop. Offering Mexican gourmet coffee from Chiapas, at Mystic Circle Cafe you can browse through a collection of books, surround yourself with soothing energy, and feel an oasis of calm that will inspire your mental, emotional and spiritual health. "I share the same experience with many who came to Vallarta for a visit and may well end up here for a lifetime... or who knows how long!" laughs Kennedy. "What I do know is we are living through a time of transformation. We all have stories of the energy that pulled us to Vallarta. I opened Mystic Circle Cafe as a response to that energy. While I expand my Kennedy Morgan Medium practice, Mystic Circle Cafe will serve as a home base for my practice and will have facilities available for other lightworkers looking for space to meet the needs of their clients. I hope everyone who enters the cafe will feel the love that inspired its creation. It's really pretty cool!" Located in the heart of the Zona Romantica (officially Colonia Emiliano Zapata), on Calle Lazaro Cardenas, Mystic Circle Cafe operates from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Saturday exclusively offering Mexican coffee from Chiapas through their partnership with Bonito Kitchen & Bar. "We are excited to partner with Bonito Kitchen. Now you can have the same excellent lattes and cappuccinos on the east side of Insurgentes," shared Kennedy. Mystic Circle Cafe proudly announces its first private event. Scheduled for Sunday, January 31, Kennedy Morgan Medium presents Dinner & Spirits will feature a three-course meal catered by You will experience and witness Spirit Medium, Kennedy Morgan, as he shares his ability to connect with departed souls to bring messages of healing, comfort, guidance, hope and inspiration. This is a private event with maximum attendance for 8 guests observing all health and safety regulations mandated by local and state authorities. For more information and to make your reservation for this special event, From scheduling a session to access cosmic, spiritual and therapeutic resources with a practitioner to exploring the library of mystical, spiritual and self-help books, to development workshops that will help you tap into the potential of the human consciousness, and even the perfect space for your next meeting or workshop, the Mystic Circle Cafe opens its doors and invites you to take the first step into a journey of exploration for your mind, heart and soul. The Mystic Circle Cafe welcomes you at Lazaro Cardenas 421 between Calles Aguacate & Jacarandas, just a half-block from the Iglesia de La Santa Cruz. Open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, closed Sunday, except for private events. For more information call +52 322-286-7540 or visit mysticcirclemx.com. - Amid the anxiety and uncertainty the world continues to experience in these unprecedented times, our human condition strives to make sense of it all. Mystic Circle Cafe opens in the Zona Romantica of Puerto Vallarta to provide tools, resources and an environment to explore spiritual perspectives to help us in that quest.Proprietor Kennedy Morgan has created more than just a coffee shop. Offering Mexican gourmet coffee from Chiapas, at Mystic Circle Cafe you can browse through a collection of books, surround yourself with soothing energy, and feel an oasis of calm that will inspire your mental, emotional and spiritual health."I share the same experience with many who came to Vallarta for a visit and may well end up here for a lifetime... or who knows how long!" laughs Kennedy. "What I do know is we are living through a time of transformation. We all have stories of the energy that pulled us to Vallarta. I opened Mystic Circle Cafe as a response to that energy. While I expand my Kennedy Morgan Medium practice, Mystic Circle Cafe will serve as a home base for my practice and will have facilities available for other lightworkers looking for space to meet the needs of their clients. I hope everyone who enters the cafe will feel the love that inspired its creation. It's really pretty cool!"Located in the heart of the Zona Romantica (officially Colonia Emiliano Zapata), on Calle Lazaro Cardenas, Mystic Circle Cafe operates from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Saturday exclusively offering Mexican coffee from Chiapas through their partnership with Bonito Kitchen & Bar. "We are excited to partner with Bonito Kitchen. Now you can have the same excellent lattes and cappuccinos on the east side of Insurgentes," shared Kennedy.Mystic Circle Cafe proudly announces its first private event. Scheduled for Sunday, January 31,will feature a three-course meal catered by No Way JosA! Restaurant/Bar with complimentary wine, followed by a demonstration of afterlife communication.You will experience and witness Spirit Medium, Kennedy Morgan, as he shares his ability to connect with departed souls to bring messages of healing, comfort, guidance, hope and inspiration. This is a private event with maximum attendance for 8 guests observing all health and safety regulations mandated by local and state authorities. For more information and to make your reservation for this special event, click HERE. From scheduling a session to access cosmic, spiritual and therapeutic resources with a practitioner to exploring the library of mystical, spiritual and self-help books, to development workshops that will help you tap into the potential of the human consciousness, and even the perfect space for your next meeting or workshop, the Mystic Circle Cafe opens its doors and invites you to take the first step into a journey of exploration for your mind, heart and soul. Site Map Print this Page Email Us Top The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. UPPSALA, Sweden, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Q4 2020 highlights Total net revenues of SEK 159.2 m (238.1 last year, 196.2 m excl. Abstral EU and US) Net earnings of SEK -49.6 m (38.9) EBITDA of SEK 1.0 m (85.8) US Pharma segment (ZUBSOLV US) net revenues of SEK 143.1 m (190.5), EBIT of SEK 94.4 m (95.5) Cash flow from operating activities of SEK -11.2 m (60.2), cash balance of SEK 505.3 m (816.8) Secured a preferred position for ZUBSOLV as the only branded product on national commercial and Medicare Part D formularies of the largest PBM in the commercial segment in the US, Express Script, from January 1, 2021 Finalized the technical development of modia, a digital therapy for opioid use disorder, for which Orexo owns the exclusive global rights Entered an exclusive license and supply agreement with Accord Healthcare for ZUBSOLV covering 29 European countries A new patent for ZUBSOLV, with protection until 2032, was issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Financial outlook provided for 2021, see page 14 Important events after the period A new patent for OX124, overdose rescue medication, was issued by the USPTO protecting the technology until 2039 SEK m, unless otherwise stated 2020 Oct-Dec 2019 Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Dec 2019 Jan-Dec 2019-2020 Oct-Dec ? Net revenues 159.2 238.1 663.6 844.8 -33% Cost of goods sold -11.3 -23.0 -65.6 -105.6 -51% Operating expenses -158.9 -143.5 -617.9 -508.0 11% EBIT -11.0 71.5 -19.9 231.2 -115% EBIT margin, % -6.9 30.0 -3.0 27.4 -36.9 ppt EBITDA 1.0 85.8 19.0 272.1 -99% Earnings per share, before dilution, SEK -1.45 1.12 -2.45 6.33 -230% Earnings per share, after dilution, SEK -1.45 1.10 -2.45 6.20 -232% Cash flow from operating activities -11.2 60.2 16.8 287.0 -119% Cash and cash equivalents 505.3 816.8 505.3 816.8 -38% Progress while adjusting to new market dynamics From a management perspective, the most important factor for success is to be an agile company, ready to accelerate development and to capture opportunities when they arise, but also be prepared to shift priorities when the market requires it. The quarter has seen progress on many fronts, with US Pharma showing net revenue growth in local currency comparing to last quarter and improved EBIT margin, Digital Therapeutics (DTx) testing new reimbursement routes and launching new commercialization concepts. Our lead pipeline project, a rescue medication for opioid overdose, OX124, received positive feedback from the FDA on the IND application enabling a request for Fast Track Designation of the product and we also reported an exclusive license and supply agreement for ZUBSOLV in Europe. Strong financial base to enable investments in DTx and launch of OX124 Our full year OPEX was SEK 617 million, which is significantly less than the guidance of SEK 750-800 million communicated in our Q2 report. The guidance in Q2 was based on the significant interest in DTx in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and our expectation that payers and healthcare providers would follow the FDA's decision to include digital therapies under the Public Health Emergency Policy and find pragmatic routes for reimbursement. While the interest in Orexo's digital therapies remains high, building a new market requires patience. We start to see concrete and promising development with regards to DTx reimbursement, which is a cornerstone to accelerate growth. Looking ahead, we expect to increase the investment in DTx as we see a progression in sales and a clearer picture emerges regarding the multiple routes to reimbursement. 2021 will also require significant investments in OX124, as we enter the pivotal trial starting in the summer this year. To ensure we have financial headroom to invest in opportunities when they arise, both internally in our products and our pipeline and through business development, we intend to refinance our existing corporate bond during Q1 2021 with a new corporate bond issue. Expanding the commercialization model in DTx The expectations of our DTx portfolio in 2020 were boosted by the FDA's decision to implement a Public Health Emergency Policy allowing commercialization of digital therapies within the CNS space without the ordinary approval process. We anticipated that the payers would adopt similar pragmatism to the reimbursement processes as a response to the Public Health Emergency Policy, but the reimbursement process is following the pattern we anticipated before Covid-19, i.e. a new disruptive treatment will take time to review and implement. As a result, we are testing several new concepts for reimbursement of our digital therapies in parallel, while making the DTx available through direct purchase for patients. The lead concept is a treatment program where we, in collaboration with selected healthcare providers, offer patients treatment under the supervision of a physician. Provided the physicians and the patients follow certain guidelines, this treatment program is currently available for reimbursement for a large portion of the US population. The program is being tested in Pennsylvania to a limited number of patients to ensure the reimbursement will follow the expected path before we launch nationwide. The same program will also be available for individual physicians to treat patients under a direct contract with Orexo. In addition to this program, we are finalizing a program for employers, working with patient to patient communication, and continue our work with payers to drive reimbursement. ZUBSOLV decline diminishing while impact of Covid-19 continues With bipartisan support for the ongoing opioid crisis in the US, I am pleased to see politicians returning their attention to the opioid crisis. The former US administration recently paved the way for all US physicians to prescribe medical-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence, and we are confident that in the event of changes under the new administration, addressing the opioid crisis will remain a key priority. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic having significantly worsened this crisis, there is a pressing need increase access to treatment. Such a change will likely drive a sustained strong market growth, which will benefit Orexo and ZUBSOLV. This quarter we had a small net sales increase compared to Q3 and a strong EBIT margin of 66 percent. Apart from some one-time adjustments, this result is explained by minimal decline from former exclusive contracts and stable development in the open segment. When Covid-19 is behind us, we expect a stabilization of the business and growth. ZUBSOLV is the only promoted daily treatment in opioid dependence in the US, and Covid-19 restrictions have had a severe impact on our ability to promote the product. In combination with our core market segment, the commercial segment, being stagnant due to the unemployment caused by Covid-19, it is a challenging market place during the pandemic. However, the Covid-19 challenges also provides learning of how to be more efficient in the sales process, which will benefit us long term. We expect ZUBSOLV will continue to be an important EBIT contributor in the years to come and with the broad launch of modia, our digital therapy for opioid use disorder, in the second half of 2021 we will see increased commercial synergies between our digital therapies and ZUBSOLV, both from a cost and revenue perspective. OX124 development progressing to plan As the US death tolls associated with overdose of fentanyl continue, we are confident OX124 is urgently needed, with the promise of being the most powerful nasal delivery of naloxone in the market. I am very pleased with the progress we have made during the quarter. With continued progress according to plan, in Q1 2021 we will receive a decision on the Fast Track application, continue to establish a commercial supply chain, improve the IP protection and register the brand name for OX124. In Q2 2021 we will manufacture the batches required for regulatory stability data and we will start the pivotal clinical trial. If the Fast Track application is approved we will be ready to submit an application for approval in Q1 2022. Without Fast Track the process will be delayed as we expect the FDA will require additional stability data to support proposed shelf life of the commercial product. Summary and Outlook In the last quarterly report I highlighted the pressing need for Orexo's products as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic has unfortunately escalated, and the need for our products is even greater than before. The delays to get the DTx products reimbursement is certainly frustrating, especially given the clear demand for such products in the current climate. However, I also have to respect that Covid-19 has had a severe impact on many organizations and their ability to operate as normal. This aside, we are encouraged by the positive feedback we receive from customers and the steady progression we see in the number of patients testing and buying our DTx products in January. I remain confident that 2021 will show the commercial potential of these products, while we continue to enjoy strong and stable EBIT contribution from ZUBSOLV and prepare the new drug application for OX124.Uppsala, Sweden, January 28, 2021 Nikolaj Srensen President and CEO For further information, please contact Nikolaj Srensen, President and CEO, Joseph DeFeo, EVP and CFO, or Lena Wange, IR & Communications Director Tel: +46 18 780 88 00, +1 855 982 7658, Email: ir@orexo.com Presentation At 2.00 pm CET, the same day as the announcement of the report, Orexo invites analysts, investors and media to attend an audiocast with a web presentation where Nikolaj Srensen, CEO, and Joseph DeFeo, CFO, will present the report. After the presentation a Q&A will be held. Questions can also be sent in advance to ir@orexo.com, no later than 11.00 am CET. Please view the instructions below on how to participate.Internet: https://tv.streamfabriken.com/orexo-q4-2020Telephone: SE +46 8 50 558 358 UK +44 333 300 9267 US +1 833 249 8403 The presentation material will be available on Orexo's website prior to the audiocast, view Investors/Reports, presentations and audicastsThis information is information that Orexo AB (publ.) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 8.00 am CET on January 28, 2021. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/orexo/r/orexo-q4-2020--incl--full-year-report,c3275295 The following files are available for download: NORFOLK - From the end of the 107th Nebraska Legislative Session to Ewing's celebration, here are some of the stories we covered for the week ending Saturday May 29, 2021. The W.H.O. recommended that pregnant women not receive the vaccine, unless they were at high risk for Covid because of work exposures or chronic conditions. It issued guidance on the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday, stirring uncertainty among women and doctors on social media. (Earlier this month, it published similar guidance on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.) Several experts expressed dismay at the W.H.O.s stance, saying the risks to pregnant women from Covid were far greater than any theoretical harm from the vaccines. There are no documented risks to the fetus, theres no theoretical risks, theres no risk in animal studies, from the vaccines, said Dr. Anne Lyerly, a bioethicist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The more that I think about it, the more disappointed and sad I feel about it. The difference of opinion between the C.D.C. and the W.H.O. is not rooted in scientific evidence, but the lack of it: Pregnant women have been barred from participating in clinical trials of the vaccines, a decision in line with a long tradition of excluding pregnant women from biomedical research, but one that is now being challenged. While the rationale is ostensibly to protect women and their unborn children, barring pregnant women from studies pushes the risk out of the carefully controlled environment of a clinical trial and into the real world. The practice has forced patients and providers to weigh sensitive, worrisome issues with little hard data about safety or effectiveness. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilot has claimed that he spotted a very shiny, unidentified flying object (UFO) in the sky during a domestic flight last week, Geo News reported. Citing sources, the report said that the pilot saw the UFO near Rahim Yar Khan while operating a regular flight (Airbus A-320) to Lahore from Karachi. He captured a video of the UFO. 'The UFO was extremely bright' "The UFO was extremely bright despite the presence of sunlight," the pilot said, according to sources, adding that spotting such a bright object at daytime is very rare. According to the pilot, the thing he spotted in the sky was not a planet but could be a "space station" or an "artificial planet" near the Earth. Another report quoted the pilot saying that the object was surrounded with a metal ring and released brilliant light from its center. Aside from the pilot, many residents of Rahim Yar Khan also spotted the shiny UFO and made videos of it. A PIA spokesperson said that the UFO was spotted on January 23 by the pilot during a Lahore-bound flight from Karachi. It was seen at around 4 pm near Rahim Yar Khan. It cannot be said for certain whether it was a UFO or something else, the spokesperson said, adding that the captain of the flight had immediately reported the sighting back to the control room. "It is too early to say what that object was. In fact, we might not be able to tell what the object was at all," said the spokesperson. "However, something was spotted and it was reported in accordance with the required protocol," he added. According to Pakistan daily The Express Tribune, it is not the first sighting of UFOs in Pakistan. A similar incident was also reported in January 2019 by PIA pilots in Karachi. A UFO was spotted by the flight crew flying 105 feet above the aircraft, while the plane was flying at an altitude of 2,500feet. The flight captain suspected it could be a drone. The incident was immediately reported to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Karachi. READ | 'Violence uncalled for': BKU (Bhanu) Prez on withdrawing protest post Delhi tractor rally READ | Arnab Goswami's open letter announcing Nationalist Collective to fight anti-India forces Netizens react on UFO sighting As the UFO sighting started trending on social media, netizens came up with different explanations and a few funny ones as well. PIA pilots claimed spotting a UFO in karachi skies .. FOOTAGE:pilot pic.twitter.com/6yoDBGWFIo Hidayat Ur Rehman (@Hrehman22) January 26, 2021 PIA pilots spoted and recorded UFO above their plane in Karachi...Jadu Agia Pakistan pic.twitter.com/LTSfYv0pFN Sharyar Dhawla (@SakhtLonda000) January 27, 2021 Kya pata Imran khan ne aliens se bhi loan le rakha ho aur woh paise wapas maagne aaye ho Aparna (@AppeFizzz) January 27, 2021 Aasman se ye aaya hain Pakistan walo pic.twitter.com/5l1w48Iu1l News Jockey (@junkie_for_news) January 27, 2021 It was moon photographed by a Chinese camera enjoylife (@enjoylife33m) January 27, 2021 Ehhhh Could be collection agents trying to confiscate the plane. Champak Chaudhry (@2_ggo) January 27, 2021 READ | Farmer unions call off march to Parliament scheduled for Feb 1 post R-Day rally violence READ | 'Congress has repeatedly tried to instigate farmers': Javadekar on R-day violence in Delhi ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Christopher Edwards, chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners, welcomed two new resident members at the board's Jan. 27 meeting, following their appointment by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and swearing-in by the Atlanta City Council. "It is with great pleasure that the Board of Commissioners welcomes Rosalind Elliott and Sheila Harris to the AH Board of Commissioners," said Dr. Edwards. "As longtime residents of Atlanta Housing, they will bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the Board of Commissioners. Rosalind Elliott has been a resident at Peachtree Road Highrise since 2014. She currently serves as resident association president and Jurisdiction Wide Council president. She attended Booker T. Washington High School and is a graduate of Spelman College. Ms. Elliott is a former employee of Atlanta Housing, as was her mother before her. Ms. Elliott has served on various boards throughout the city and has a wealth of knowledge regarding the City of Atlanta. Sheila Harris has been a resident at Cheshire Bridge Highrise since 2005, and has long been active in civic affairs in the greater Atlanta area. Ms. Harris has been an officer of the resident association for more than 10 years, and currently serves as president. She was a past president of the Jurisdiction Wide Council and has spoken at the public meeting for Atlanta Housing's Annual Plan. Ms. Harris has strong leadership skills and enjoys a positive relationship with management staff members. Ms. Harris was a professional seamstress whose clients included Coretta Scott King and songstress Marilyn McCoo. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, in appointing to the two new resident board members, said she is confident they "will serve the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners with integrity and dedication." About Atlanta Housing Led by President and CEO Eugene Jones, Jr., the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AH), is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AH provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for approximately 25,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 50,000 people. These affordable housing resources include AH-owned residential communities, AH-sponsored mixed-income, mixed-finance residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, project based rental assistance, supportive housing arrangements and homeownership opportunities. AH's programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"). Visit Atlanta Housing at atlantahousing.org or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at @housingatlanta. SOURCE Atlanta Housing The Indian Railway Banaras Locomotive Work (BLW) has recently released an official notification online inviting applications for the posts of Apprentice. Applicants can apply for the Banaras Locomotive Works Varanasi Apprentice recruitment 2021 by 15 February 2021 through the official website. There are opening for filling a total of 374 posts for ITI and Non-ITI seats as Apprentice. The eligible and willing candidates should start applying by visiting the website blw.indianrailways.gov.in. BLW Apprentice Recruitment 2021: Vacancy Details The details of ITI Seats are as under: S. No. Trades No. of Seats 1 Fitter 107 2 Carpenter 03 3 Painter (Gen.) 07 4 Machinist 67 5 Welder (G&E) 45 6 Electrician 71 Total 300 The details of Non ITI Seats are as under: S. No. Trades No. of Seats 1 Fitter 30 2 Carpenter - 3 Painter (Gen.) - 4 Machinist 15 5 Welder (G&E) 11 6 Electrician 18 Total 74 BLW Apprentice Recruitment 2021: Eligibility Criteria Educational Qualification: Both ITI and Non ITI candidates must qualify with a minimum 50% of marks and must be class 10th pass from any recognised institute. Age Limit: For Non ITI: Candidate's age should be between 15 years to 22 years. For ITI: The candidate should be between 15 years to 24 years of age. Application Fees: The exam fees should be paid through online mode. For General/OBC: Rs. 100 For SC/ST/PWD: Rs. 0 CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Railway BLW Apprentice 2021 Organisation Indian Railways Educational Qualification 10th pass with minimum 50% marks Experience null Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Varanasi Salary Scale null Industry Government Jobs Application Start Date January 1, 1970 Application End Date January 1, 1970 Also Read: CAG 2021: Massive Recruitment For 10811 Auditor And Accountant Posts BLW Apprentice Recruitment 2021: How To Apply 1. Go to the official website blw.indianrailways.gov.in 2. Click on the News & Announcements option from the navigation bar. 3. Select the "Notification for 44th Batch Act Apprentice 2020-2021(ITI/Non ITI)" option. 4. Fill in all the basic details. 5. Upload the required documents and apply. Candidates are requested to download the official PDF notification and go through the complete details. Its the trucks. The owner of one of the sand mines mentioned trucks in the Monday Post and Courier article as the culprit behind potholes on rural Dorchester County roads that connect to the operations. Thats true. There was mention of regulation and study on safe and more environmentally conscious mine operation. Yet, the trucks operate outside the direct control of the mines. They are typically owner operated. As such, do the mines control their operation? Likely, not much. For those living on Ridge and Wire roads, sand trucks are a daily fact of life. They are: 1. Getting larger and heavier. 2. May be over the road weight capacity. 3. They almost fill one lane on roads that have no shoulders. The trucks are so wide that two cannot pass without at least one moving almost off the road. 4. Noisy. 5. Begin operation in the very early morning hours to get to job sites. Yes, look at the sand mines, but also look at the truck operations as well. A safety inspection should be considered as well as operational fees to cover road repair and road upgrades to bring them up to standards. It cant be just keep on trucking. TOM WALKER Ridge Road Ridgeville Public school woes Much comment has been made over the years about the deplorable condition of South Carolinas public school system. This is no mistake, in my opinion, this can be traced back to South Carolinas attitude before the Civil War and after Reconstruction. South Carolina has never had a serious focus on public education. Historically, it has been a very poor state. After Reconstruction, South Carolina, as well as other Southern states, imposed black codes and other laws that forced black citizens into inferior economic and social positions. Then separate but equal laws were enacted. These never meant people were equal, but they most definitely meant separate. When the Supreme Court issued the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, the leaders in South Carolina put their heads in the sand. It was not until federal courts mandated busing that public schools were integrated. Sign up for our opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! Few students were happy about this because both black and white students had to leave long-term friendships and relationships, and be forced to attend a different school. South Carolina, also being a right to work state, has assured that wages for white citizens would remain low and would be even lower for its black citizens. The public education system in South Carolina will never be able to provide even a minimally adequate public school system due to the attitude of the leaders. NICOLAS LEMPESIS East Ashley Avenue Folly Beach Thanks to library staff I offer praise to the Charleston County Public Library staff who work to keep our pandemic minds distracted with their books. They are tireless and jovial as they reach out to keep us connected to the library. Thank you. LIZ VARY Black River Drive Mount Pleasant Vaccination protocols The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is made up of doctors and scientists, designed a plan of prioritization regarding who will receive the vaccinations first, second and so on. If we follow the lead of science and all do our part in the meantime, we can unify to defeat the virus. The idea that Amazon employees need to be vaccinated before those at risk, as well as sewage attendants, dog groomers and postal workers because the state will suffer if they lose workers to the virus is nothing short of greed. If meat workers are vaccinated so we dont have shortages, and the elderly and those the CDC say are truly a priority are pushed further back in the line because of it, who will be healthy enough to buy and happily eat a steak? Businesses provide goods and jobs, both are important, but healthy people of sound body and mind in the general population are just as, or more, important in order to support those businesses. Big business has always had the best seats at games, memberships at the best places, priority seating at restaurants as well as the ear and support of government, particularly with Henry McMaster as South Carolina governor. Now, big business wants to use their monetary pull to push thousands of people who desperately wait to see their family and friends, an important social and psychological need, aside for their own greedy purposes and our governor concedes to the money that will reelect him. It is disheartening, depressing and disgusting to think that is a better plan than science prescribes. Shame on them all. MARK PALASEK Stamby Place Mount Pleasant The Madhya Pradesh on Thursday refused bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui who is accused of passing "indecent" remarks about Hindu deities during a show, and noted that "promote harmony" is one of the constitutional duties. Liberty of a person has to be "balanced" with his duties towards other citizens, Justice Rohit Arya of the Indore bench of the said, citing a Supreme Court ruling. The court also turned down the bail plea of Nalin Yadav, another accused in the case. Faruqui and four others were arrested on January 1 following a complaint by a BJP MLA's son that objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were passed during a comedy show at a cafe in Indore on New Year's day. One more person was arrested subsequently. Faruqui and Yadav are in judicial remand and lodged in Indore Central Jail. A magistrate's court and a sessions court rejected their bail pleas, following which they moved the In its order, the high court said it would not comment on merits of the case, but based on the material seized, the witnesses' statements and considering the fact that probe was going on, no case is made out for grant of bail. "The evidence/material collected so far suggests that in an organized public show under the garb of at a public place on commercial lines, prima facie, scurrilous, disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India with deliberate intent, were made by the applicant," it said. "Liberty of an individual has to be balanced with his duties and obligations towards his fellow citizens," the order said, citing a past Supreme Court judgment. The court noted defence lawyers' argument that Faruqui had come to Indore on an invitation by organizers, and did not say anything that has been alleged. However, in the light of the statements of the complainant and witnesses and video footage of the show, "at this stage it is difficult to countenance to the submissions of the learned counsel for the applicant as complacency of the applicant cannot be ruled out", it said. "It is not a case of no evidence. More so, the investigation is in progress," the court added. There was a possibility that "more incriminating material" would be collected, and further, a similar case has been registered against Faruqui in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, the high court noted. "That apart, there is also specific assertion by the counsel for the complainant that the applicant, along with other co-accused persons, (were) allegedly making outraging filthy jokes in social media deliberately against Hindu Gods, Lord Shriram and Goddess Seeta, hurting religious sentiments of Hindus for the last 18 months, despite protest on various social media platforms. There is nothing on record to the contrary," it said. "Our country is a beautiful country and sets an example of coexistence amid diversities, be it religion, language, culture, geographical locations etc, to the world at large," the high court said. "It is the constitutional duty of every citizen of the country and also of the states to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India irrespective of religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities and to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture (Article 15A (e) and (f) of the Constitution of India)," it said. The government must ensure that "ecosystem and sustenance of coexistence is not polluted by negative forces", it said. The high court did not comment on the part of the FIR where it is alleged that indecent jokes were also cracked about Union minister Shah. As per the First Information Report, the comedy show was held at a cafe in 56 Dukan area of Indore on January 1. Eklavya Singh Gaud, son of local BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaud, had filed a complaint against Faruqui and others. Gaud said he and his associates had gone to watch the show where indecent jokes were made about Hindu gods and goddesses and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He forced the organizers to stop the show, he said. Faruqui and others were arrested under IPC section 295-A (outraging religious feelings). They were also accused of holding the show amid COVID-19 pandemic without permission and booked under section 269 (unlawful or negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and other relevant provisions. Faruqui's lawyer Anshuman Shrivastava said they will move the Supreme Court against the high court's order. The show was stopped by complainant Eklavya Singh Gaud when Faruqui had not even started his performance, and the FIR was based on controversies surrounding his earlier shows, the lawyer claimed. But Indore's Inspector General Harinarayan Chari Mishra asserted that the police case was based on the January 1 program. (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.) Manchester United on Thursday called for stronger measures to be taken against mindless idiots who post racial abuse after Anthony Martial... Manchester United on Thursday called for stronger measures to be taken against mindless idiots who post racial abuse after Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were targeted. Ole Gunnar Solskjaers men fell to a shock 2-1 loss to the Premier Leagues bottom side Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday. That defeat sparked a torrent of online invective aimed at Uniteds players, including racist abuse aimed at defender Tuanzebe, who inadvertently turned home Oliver Burkes winner, and forward Martial. Racist terms and monkey emojis were put on Instagram comments of the pairs most recent posts. Everyone at Manchester United is disgusted by the racial abuse received by players via social media after last nights game, the club said in a statement on Thursday. We utterly condemn it and it is encouraging to see other fans condemn this on social media also. United said they had zero tolerance of any form of racism or discrimination. Identifying these anonymous mindless idiots remains problematic, the club said. We urge social media platforms and regulatory authorities to strengthen measures to prevent this kind of behaviour. Tuanzebe and Martial also received support from their team-mates. Midfielder Scott McTominay posted a photo of Tuanzebe with a crown on his head alongside a heart emoji as well as black and white fists. My brother, he said on an Instagram Story post. Disgusted with what I have read this morning. United captain Harry Maguire wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of the players taking a knee: UNITED against racism. We will not tolerate it. Sanjay Bhandari, chairman of anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out, said he hoped those responsible for the abuse would be removed by social media platforms. We know that discriminatory abuse can have significant real world impact on the welfare of the victims, he added. New Delhi: The Centre is going to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1, 2017. The successive governments took 17 years to bring unified tax system in the country. The GST has a history dating back to February 1986, when the then finance minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh came out with a proposal for a major overhaul of the excise taxation structure in the budget. He said the goal of his proposal was to reduce the cascading effect of multipoint taxes. Later, In 2000, when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had introduced the concept during a meeting with former RBI governors Bimal Jalan and C Rangrajan. Vajpayee had set up a committee under the supervision of the then West Bengal finance minister Ashim Das Gupta where former RBI governors -IG Patel, Bimal Jalan and C Rangrajan were the other members. Later, the Vajpayee government had formed a tasked committee under Vijay Kelkar in 2003 and asked to recommend tax reforms. When UPA-1 took over the reign at Centre, the then finance minister P Chidambaram had expedited the implementation of GST. Here is the sequence of events which has made this single tax system possible- 2006-Chidambaram pitched GST in budget speech 2008-Empowered committee of state finance ministers was constituted 2009-Empowered committee releases first 2011-Former finance minister prana mukherjee introduced GST bill in Lok Sabha 2013 August-Parliamentary standing committee submitted report 2014-Another revised bill drafted incorporating discussions December-2014-FM Arun Jaitley introduces Constitution Amendment Bill for GST 2015 May-Lok Sabha passes Constitution Amendment Bill for GST 2015 August-Congress remained firm on capping GST rate at 18% 2016 July-Centre , state be of the same opinion against capping GST rate 2016 August-Parliament clears 122 Constitution amendment bill 2016 November 03-GST Council agreed on four slab structure-5, 12, 18 and 28 percent-along with a tax on luxury goods 2016 November 04-GST Council meeting failed to draw consensus as Centre, state disagreed on GST administrative issue on dual control 2016 November 12-GST council failed to agree on CGST and SGST laws 2016 December-An accord established on both laws 2017 Jan 03-States demanded corpus compensation to be raised from 55000 cr to 90,000 cr to dilute the loss of note ban 2017 Jan 16- Centre, state agreed on two contentious issue-dual control and taxing rights of goods through high seas 2017-February 18-GST council finalised draft of compensation bill 2017 March 4- GST Council approved CGST and IGST bills 2017, March 20-Cabinet approved CGST, IGST and UT GST and Compensation bills 2017 March 27-Finance minister Jaitley tabled CGST, IGST, UT GST and Compensation bills For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Germany is banning most travellers from countries hardest hit by coronavirus variants, the interior minister said on Thursday, to stop the strains from reversing recent progress on lowering infections. "At the moment within the government, we are coordinating towards the aim of refusing inbound travel from mutation areas," said Horst Seehofer. "We are concentrating these travel restrictions on mutation areas, that are at the moment Britain, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil." The emergence of new virus variants in Britain, Brazil and South Africa, deemed more infectious than the original strain, has fuelled concern at a time when many nations are struggling to rein in the pandemic. Portugal, which has strong air links with Brazil, has also recently reported high infection numbers after coming through the first wave of the virus relatively unscathed. Seehofer said talks were ongoing to decide which category of travellers might be granted exemptions. These would likely include returning Germans as well as those who work in freight, as cargo flights should not be disrupted. Further, with fast-moving infection developments, officials are also looking at how to define what would qualify as a "mutation area". This definition would be a "professional decision" based on epidemiological data and made by German disease control agency RKI, Seehofer said. The interior minister said Germany would present the details on the inbound travel ban on Friday, and could not wait for the EU to take a common decision on such a pressing health issue for the population. "Therefore we are preparing nationally now." Seehofer had earlier this week mooted slashing air traffic in Germany to "almost zero". Ylva Johansson, European commissioner for home affairs, acknowledged that such a move might be necessary to prevent new infections but urged Berlin not to take overly strong measures. "I think we should not put too drastic measures that could also hamper economic recovery and the importance of a well-functioning health care system," she said. Germany coped relatively well with the first coronavirus wave last spring but has been hit hard by a second wave in recent months. Europe's biggest economy renewed restrictions in November, shutting down bars, restaurants, culture and leisure facilities. Measures were tightened further in December, with schools and non-essential shops also ordered to close. The current shutdowns are set to last at least until mid-February. On Thursday, Germany reported a welcome drop in its incidence rate to just under 100 per 100,000 peoplethe first time the key number has dipped below the threshold in three months. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP On the occasion of Holocaust Day of Remembrance, Holocaust survivors in Austria and Slovakia received the Coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a memorial day on January 27 every year that commemorates the six million victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews by Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1945. According to local media, this day was chosen for the vaccinations to commemorate the lives lost during Auschwitz concentration camp's liberation 76 years ago. READ | Virus Forces Yad Vashem To Mark Holocaust Online Holocaust survivors vaccinated According to the Jewish Community of Vienna which helped organise the vaccination program in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of Health, about 400 people aged 85 and older, who were Holocaust survivors were vaccinated in Vienna on Wednesday. Executive Director of the Jewish Community Erika Jakubovits informed that as many as 12 doctors had administered COVID-19 vaccinations. READ | EU Calls For Keeping The Memory Of Holocaust Alive A similar such initiative occurred in Slovakia as well where the many Holocaust survivors were vaccinated on Wednesday. Erika Kajubovits while speaking on phone from a vaccination centre said, "I think we owe it to our parents and grandparents to take care of these Holocaust survivors." She said, "People are very happy. I think these are our most vulnerable members of society, and we have to treat them accordingly and try to do everything for them." Earlier this week, President of the European Jewish Congress Moshe Cantor called on European leaders to ensure that Holocaust survivors were given timely access to the vaccine. According to the Jewish Community, approximately 20,000 Holocaust survivors are still living in Europe. READ | Kate, Prince Charles Pay Tribute To Holocaust Survivors Dr Cantor while speaking during an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event that was held online this week said, "Throughout their lives, they have shown mighty strength of spirit, but in the current crisis, many have sadly died alone and in pain, or are now fighting for their lives, and many others are suffering from extreme isolation." EAM S Jaishankar wishes on Holocaust Remembrance Day On #HolocaustRemembranceDay the lessons of history must never be forgotten. The Jewish community in India has always enjoyed freedom & respect. Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar stands out as a symbol of this Indian tradition at that difficult time. Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 27, 2021 Stating that on the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the lessons of history must never be forgotten, the Union External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on January 27extended his wishes and said that the Jewish community in India has always enjoyed freedom and respect. He said, "Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar stands out as a symbol of this Indian tradition at that difficult time." READ | Punjab Reports 10 More COVID-19 Deaths, 193 New Cases (With ANI inputs) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Nathalie Beermans ninth-graders took a trip to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights last week but despite attending school more than 400 kilometres northwest of the tourist attraction, no school bus shuttle was necessary. Nathalie Beermans ninth-graders took a trip to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights last week but despite attending school more than 400 kilometres northwest of the tourist attraction, no school bus shuttle was necessary. The students at Goose Lake High in Roblin didnt even have to leave their desks to tour exhibitions about human rights atrocities and observe thought-provoking pieces of artwork in the Manitoba capital. A growing number of teachers is taking advantage of virtual field trips this year, as COVID-19 protocols ban educational outings to galleries, museums, and science centres. Since September, upwards of 2,300 students from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and the United States have participated in guided tours and real-time lessons hosted by the museum. Goose Lake High doesnt typically send Grade 9 students to the museum because its a 10-hour round-trip, taking into account bathroom breaks, and overnight excursions are often organized for older students, so Beerman said a virtual visit made perfect sense. "Teachings been very hard (during the pandemic). I know its been very, very hard on the kids, too, so this was a nice opportunity to do something different and be connected to... a community outside of Roblin," she said. Last weeks live 45-minute video tour of the museum complemented what Beermans students have been learning in social studies about the Holocaust, residential schools and the legacy of civil rights activist Viola Desmond, whose portrait accompanies the museum on the $10 note. Beerman said the tour prompted discussion among students especially after they learned about recent events, including the 2013 activism of a Black student in the United States who spoke out against her schools segregated prom. "These short trips are really big conversation starters," said Graham Lowes, a former Winnipeg teacher who developed the museums virtual field trips and now works there as a digital education specialist. "Its not just to see the museum, but its to start thinking about what are human rights and what do they mean to me." The virtual programs originally launched in fall 2019, but the pandemic has resulted in an uptick of interest, Lowes said, with four to five field trips taking place daily. The museum restarted tours this month; public health orders shuttered operations in late October. Run by guides who use an iPhone, camera stabilizer and videoconferencing platform to take students on a tour of artifacts, the virtual field trips focus on everything from museum highlights to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The 30- to 60-minute-long sessions are free for Canadian students. Grade 9 student Francheska Pechay and her classmates at Maples Collegiate took a virtual trip during the post-winter break remote period. Pechay, 14, called the lesson a "refresher" on basic human rights. She said she has since put visiting the museum in person on her bucket list. While the social aspect of field trips, as well as the ability to explore Winnipeg, was missing from the online outing, Maples Collegiate teacher Jason Allard said it allowed for a break in the repetitive remote learning schedule. "Youre not going to replace the excitement of going on a field trip with a virtual meeting," said Allard, who typically plans a social studies trip to the museum and The Forks walking tour every semester. "That being said, I dont think it has to be one or the other. Its an interesting lesson. Its interesting to have an outside voice walk you through a lesson, someone whos even seen as an authority. There is value in that." maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie Analysis of Visitation Trends at Leading Ski Destinations across America Roves collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association and UberMedia provides aggregated data to understand consumers frequenting Americas ski destinations as the pandemic continues and new government measure are anticipated. A special analysis of visitor movement data in Americas leading ski destinations throughout America reveals a 50% change year-over-year to ski more local since the start of the 2021 ski season. As the pandemic continues to challenge the tourism industry, its paramount for ski destinations to understand the changing visitation trends. Rove Inc., in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association and UberMedia, a leading technological innovator that aggregates data from tens of thousands of anonymous mobile devices, is monitoring the impact of the pandemic on visitation trends at ski destinations across America. The aggregate data compiled helps assess the characteristics of Americans choosing to ski, how far they are travelling to ski, what are the lead markets by ski resort, and what percentage are visitors versus locals. James Sauter, Partner and Co-founder of Rove Inc. says in a time of unprecedented headwinds, it is vital that visitation trends across ski destinations are understood and monitored: Roves collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association and UberMedia provides aggregated data to understand consumers frequenting Americas ski destinations as the pandemic continues and new government measure are anticipated. The latest data from the middle of January shows the trend of skiers choosing more local in-state destinations. This has been observed in California, New York, Vermont, and Utah. In Utah, aggregated mobile data from Alta, Brighton, Deer Valley, Park City, and Snowbird suggests 31% of skiers were from Salt Lake City in 2019-20. In 2020-21, that number jumped to 44%. More people are choosing to ski local. During the 2019-20 season, mobility data aggregated across major ski destinations in America suggested 17% of skiers were locals vs tourists. This is expected as it is rare to ski where you reside. During this pandemic ridden 2020-2021 season, that number has climbed to 25%, an increase of almost 50%, indicating the trend to ski more local. More New York State skiers ski local. Mobility data suggests more New Yorkers are opting to ski local this season. Holiday Valley Resort would normally see 50% of its visitors come from distances less than 100 miles. This year, that number is 65%. Major ski destinations in Colorado see lots of visitors from New York City visit their resorts, with NYC ranking among the top domestic markets. This year, except for Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, visitation from that market is significantly lower. Mobility data suggest that in 2019, NYC was the second largest market for Vail Mountain. This year, New York City does not appear among its top five markets. No change in the demographics. One could hypothesize the pandemic would have an impact on the profile of audiences at ski destinations. Mobility data aggregated across America suggests the demographics are similar across income, age, and education with over 50% being College/Bachelor graduates, over 50% having income greater than $75,000, and 43% being less than 34 years of age. View the Ski Destination Dashboard here. About Rove Inc. Rove is a leading travel & tourism data and analytics company. Roves data products help organization better understand visitor satisfaction and in-destination behavior patterns. The companys leading Destination Intelligence Platform delivers rapid value helping organizations aggregate, visualize, and analyze industry datasets. About UberMedia UberMedias products process billions of social, demographic, and location mobile signals daily across industries to better understand consumers movement. Waywayseecappo First Nation members will go to the polls Feb. 23, with 37 of those members vying for a seat on council and one member challenging current Chief Murray Clearsky. Advertisement Advertise With Us Waywayseecappo First Nation members will go to the polls Feb. 23, with 37 of those members vying for a seat on council and one member challenging current Chief Murray Clearsky. In 2019, Waywayseecappo had a registered population of 2,818 people, with 1,604 living on reserve. Jeremy Shingoose, Clearskys challenger, is running on a platform of transparency, accountability and putting community members first, according to a post on a community Facebook page. "Everywhere life takes me, I always tell people I am an Anishinaabe from Waywayseecappo and that it is the greatest place on Earth. This is not an exaggeration. I believe in a community that is an innovator, a pioneer, and a nation that others look up to in every aspect of life," Shingoose wrote. "I am well versed and educated in many aspects of Indigenous life because of this I will be able to represent our community on a national level, a corporate level, and a community level. Im fuelled by passion, with lots of great ideas and practical experience, it would be an honour to serve the people of Waywayseecappo the greatest place on Earth." Clearsky, who has been Waywayseecappos leader for 32 years, said his record speaks for itself. "From what Ive done for the community, if they want to continue succeeding, I guess Im the guy," said Clearsky. "Everything that we do have ever since I became chief, its been established." Until four years ago, elections at the reserve were held every two years, as per the Indian Act. The reserve now follows the First Nations Election Act, which mandates four-year terms. Clearsky, who has never been acclaimed, has seen challengers in each election and recalls one close call quite a few years go. Normally, debates are held, but Clearsky said that wont happen at this election because of the pandemic. Current councillors are Mel Wabash, Anthony Longclaws, Tim Cloud, Travis Cloud, Joe Gambler and Chantel Wilson all of whom are running for re-election. The remaining 31 members running for council are as follows: Ashley Brandon, Brad Brandon, Dean Brandon, Laura Brandon, Caroline Clearsky, Chrystella (Stella) Clearsky, Eileen Clearsky, Mark Clearsky, Bernalda (Peanut) Cloud, Christopher AJ Cook, James Cote, Hugh Hill, Brennan Huntinghawk, Kenneth Huntinghawk, Brenna Ironstand, Tyrene Jandrew, Roderik Keewatincappo, Carla Ledoux-Huntinghawk, Sidney Longclaws, Lisa Makwebak, Eric Mentuck Jr., Grace Mentuck, Quentin Mentuck, Paul Mentuck Jr., Graham Procure, Huston S. Shingoose, Merle Shingoose, Myles Shingoose, Richard Shingoose, Norbert Tanner and Nathan Twovoice. Clearsky said 37 people running for six council seats is not unusual he recalls 34 at the last election. Sometimes that number has dipped down into the 20s. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. Breakout box FIRST NATIONS ELECTIONS Prior to the introduction of the Indian Act in 1876, communities were self-governing and leadership was designated according to each communitys tradition. Under the Indian Act, elections became cumbersome, people could be nominated without consent, getting ballots to off-reserve members is an inaccurate process, contact lists are often not up to date, there is no provision for a recount if the tally is close, and no advance polling. One of the greatest frustrations with Indian Act elections is that they must be held every two years, which is not a very big window for First Nation governments to accomplish anything long term. In comparison, federal, provincial and municipal terms are four years. Indian Act and Indian Band Election Regulations Roughly 200 First Nations continue to hold elections, according to the Indian Act rules All elections are subject to the same rules Electoral officer is appointed and approved by Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to oversee election Voting can be done in-person on reserve or by mail-in ballot The election term is two years. Election appeals are dealt with by Crown-Indigenous Relations which can be a slow process Elections under Community or Custom Election Codes More than 300 First Nations hold elections according to community or custom election codes Community or custom election codes provide the election rules for Nations who are not under the Indian Act election rules This section includes communities that have leaders chosen through hereditary or family lines Election codes or rules are specific to each community Crown-Indigenous Relations is never involved in the process Election appeals are dealt with within that communitys election code or by the courts Elections for Self-Governing First Nations Roughly three dozen First Nations hold elections under self-government First Nations with self-government develop their own laws and policies Election processes and procedures vary according to each First Nation Crown-Indigenous Relations is never involved Elections under the First Nations Elections Act Came into force April 11, 2015 Has an opt-in legislated election system Four-year terms of office Election appeals are dealt with in the courts Sources: Indigenous Services Canada and Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. Google, the American multinational technology company, said it believed that North Korea hackers backed by Pyongyang have been posing as security bloggers or even using fake social media accounts in an attempt to steal information from field researchers. The tech giant did not specify what kind of information the North Korea hackers were looking for or how successful they were. According to the Associated Press, some experts mentioned that the series of attacks reflects Pyongyang's efforts in improving its cyber skills. They also added that it is also a way of breaching widely used computer products, such as Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system and the Chrome internet browser of Google. North Korea Denies Hacking Allegations Despite North Korea's denial, the Hermit state has been tagged in major cyberattacks, including the 2013 campaign wherein the servers of a financial institute in South Korea were paralyzed, the Sony Pictures hacking in 2014, and the 2017 WannaCry malware attack. The Security Council of the United Nations in 2019 estimated that Pyongyang earned as much as $2 billion throughout the years with its illicit cyber operations. It was reported that they target cryptocurrency exchanges and other transactions in the financial world, which generates income that is harder to trace and offsets capital lost to the United States-led economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, ABC News reported. Adam Weidemann, a member of the research division of Google, known as the Threat Analysis Group, has shared in an online report published late Monday that the North Korea hackers backed by Pyongyang created a fake research blog. They have also registered numerous Twitter accounts to build credibility and establish interactions with security researchers that they have targeted. Once the North Korea hackers get connected with the researchers, they would ask their targets if they are up for a collaboration in cyber-vulnerability research. They will also be sharing a tool that contains a code designed for malicious software installed on the computers of their targets. It would then allow them to control the device where the malicious software has been installed and steal information from it. Weidemann also shared that several targets of the North Korea hackers have already been compromised after they followed a link on Twitter that redirected them to a blog set up by the hackers, Hindustan Times reported. The researcher from Google's Threat Analysis Group also mentioned that the systems of the victims were running fully patched at the time of the said visits. Their Windows 10 was also up-to-date and using Chrome browser versions. However, they were not able to pinpoint the mechanism of compromise. They welcome any information that others might have regarding the said attack. The tech giant Google also published a list of social media accounts and websites that were suspiciously controlled by the hackers, including ten profiles on Twitter and five LinkedIn profiles. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of the OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced the 2021 OTCQX Best 50, a ranking of the top-performing OTCQX companies in the prior calendar year. Companies that trade on the OTCQX Market are distinguished by the excellence of their operations and share a commitment to providing their investors with a premium trading experience. The OTCQX Best 50 is an annual ranking of the top 50 U.S. and international companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market, based on an equal weighting of one-year total return and average daily dollar volume growth. Companies in the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 were ranked based on their performance during the 2020 calendar year. "We congratulate and applaud the efforts of our 2021 OTCQX Best 50 companies on this achievement," said Jason Paltrowitz, OTC Markets Group EVP of Corporate Services. "This year's list of companies represents the breadth of established industries ranging from resources and technology, to emerging and trending sectors such as gaming, cryptocurrency and cannabis. The OTCQX Market continues to provide companies both in the United States and across the globe with a cost-effective public market alternative designed to increase transparency and maximize investor visibility." 2021 OTCQX Best 50 Results and Highlights 2021 OTCQX Best 50 companies traded an aggregate $30.7 billion in dollar volume in 2020. The companies delivered to investors an average total return of 235%. This year's top performing company, AcuityAds Hldgs Inc., (OTCQX: ACUIF), is a Canadian technology company that is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, earning it the designation of the top performing international company on the 2021 OTCQX Best 50. This year, two community banks were included among the OTCQX Best 50 list: PB Financial Corporation (OTCQX: PBNC) Peoples Financial Corp. (OTCQX: PFBX) Six companies from last year's ranking made their second appearance on the OTCQX Best 50 list in 2020. K92 Mining Inc and Teranga Gold Corporation's, inclusion in this year's list marks their third consecutive appearance on the OTCQX Best 50. Chesapeake Gold Corp. (OTCQX: CHPGF) Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC)(OTCQX: GBTC) H2O Innovation Inc. (OTCQX: HEOFF) K92 Mining Inc (OTCQX: KNTNF) Skeena Resources Limited (OTCQX: SKREF) Teranga Gold Corporation (OTCQX: TGCDF) Underscoring our global reach and the ability of OTCQX to help companies achieve better visibility and a fair valuation in the U.S., this year's ranking includes global issuers cross-trading on five qualified foreign exchanges: Australian Stock Exchange Frankfurt Stock Exchange Canadian Securities Exchange TSX Venture Exchange Toronto Stock Exchange The 2021 OTCQX Best 50 Companies: Rank Company Symbol 1 AcuityAds Hldgs Inc. (OTCQX: ACUIF) 2 Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (OTCQX: NMGRF) 3 Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund LLC (OTCQX: GDLC) 4 HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (OTCQX: HVBTF) 5 PointsBet Holdings Limited (OTCQX: PBTHF) 6 Converge Technology Solutions Corporation (OTCQX:CTSDF) 7 Skeena Resources Limited (OTCQX: SKREF) 8 Bragg Gaming Group Inc. (OTCQX: BRGGF) 9 Nanoxplore Inc. (OTCQX: NNXPF) 10 VIQ Solutions Inc. (OTCQX: VQSLF) 11 Hut 8 Mining Corp (OTCQX: HUTMF) 12 Amex Exploration Inc. (OTCQX: AMXEF) 13 Calibre Mining Corp. (OTCQX: CXBMF) 14 Columbia Care Inc. (OTCQX: CCHWF) 15 IsoEnergy Ltd. (OTCQX: ISENF) 16 Lumina Gold Corp (OTCQX: LMGDF) 17 RIO2 Limited (OTCQX: RIOFF) 18 Neo Lithium Corp. (OTCQX: NTTHF) 19 Standard Lithium Ltd. (OTCQX: STLHF) 20 PB Financial Corporation (OTCQX: PBNC) 21 Mace Security International, Inc. (OTCQX: MACE) 22 Planet 13 Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: PLNHF) 23 TerrAscend Corp. (OTCQX: TRSSF) 24 Global Atomic Corp. (OTCQX: GLATF) 25 H2O Innovation Inc. (OTCQX: HEOFF) 26 Discovery Metals Corp (OTCQX: DSVMF) 27 K92 Mining Inc (OTCQX: KNTNF) 28 Xebec Adsorption Inc. (OTCQX: XEBEF) 29 Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC) (OTCQX: GBTC) 30 Midas Gold Corp (OTCQX: MDRPF) 31 GoGold Resources, Inc. (OTCQX: GLGDF) 32 Anaconda Mining Inc. (OTCQX: ANXGF) 33 Ascot Resources Ltd. (OTCQX: AOTVF) 34 Almonty Industries Inc. (OTCQX: ALMTF) 35 Peoples Financial Corp. (OTCQX:PFBX) 36 Software AG (OTCQX: STWRY) 37 First Cobalt Corp (OTCQX: FTSSF) 38 Teranga Gold Corporation (OTCQX: TGCDF) 39 Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (OTCQX: CRECF) 40 SILVER ELEPHANT MNG CORP. (OTCQX: SILEF) 41 Next Green Wave (OTCQX: NXGWF) 42 POET Technologies Inc. (OTCQX: POETF) 43 Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (OTCQX: SGSVF) 44 Chesapeake Gold Corp. (OTCQX: CHPGF) 45 Adventus Mng Corp. (OTCQX: ADVZF) 46 Quarterhill Inc. (OTCQX: QTRHF) 47 Deep Yellow Ltd. (OTCQX: DYLLF) 48 Green Thumb Industries Inc. (OTCQX: GTBIF) 49 Drone Delivery CDA Corp (OTCQX: TAKOF) 50 Williams Industrial Services Group Inc. (OTCQX: WLMS) OTC Markets Group applied the following criteria to the 462 companies traded on OTCQX on December 31, 2020 to determine which companies would qualify for the 2021 OTCQX Best 50: traded on OTCQX on December 31, 2019 closing share price of $0.25 or greater on December 31, 2020 or greater on closing share price on December 31, 2020 , greater than on December 31, 2019 , greater than on traded equal to or greater than $500,000 in dollar volume in 2020 in dollar volume in 2020 not a "penny stock" on December 31, 2020 , as defined under SEC Rule 3a51-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , as defined under SEC Rule 3a51-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 member of the OTCQX Composite Index as of December 31, 2020 View the complete 2021 OTCQX Best 50 ranking. OTC Markets Group reserves discretion to omit companies from the ranking that no longer demonstrate the OTCQX market standards of transparency and wide distribution of news and financial disclosure. The OTCQX Best 50 is for informational purposes only. Neither OTC Markets Group Inc. nor its affiliates make any recommendation to buy or sell any security or any representation about the financial condition of any company. Investors should undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before investing. About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected] SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc. Related Links http://www.otcmarkets.com President Moon Jae-in and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev shake hands after signing the Joint Declaration on Special Strategic Partnership during Moon's state visit to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent in this April 2019 photo. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan By Yi Whan-woo Relations between Uzbekistan and Korea "have stood the test of time" after their establishment on Dec. 30, 1992, and are especially evident through a special strategic partnership formed in April 2019, Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Vitaliy Fen said. The envoy pointed out that Uzbekistan was the first country to send a delegation to Korea after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, which is a testament to the partnership signed between the administrations of Presidents Moon Jae-in and Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Vitaliy Fen delivers a congratulatory speech during the opening ceremony of the first Korean-Uzbek business center in Incheon, Nov. 8, 2018. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan "Regular dialogue between the leaders of the two countries plays a key role in the consistent promotion and deepening of bilateral cooperation," Fen said in an interview with Dunyo, a news agency operated by the Uzbek foreign ministry, on the occasion of the Moon-Mirziyoyev online summit held on Jan. 28. The ambassador called Moon's state visit to Uzbekistan from April 18 to 21, 2019, "historical and unprecedented in spirit," noting it was when the special strategic partnership was formed. Regarding the visit of the Uzbek delegation to Korea from July 6 to 8, 2020, the ambassador said it "once again confirms the special level of strategic partnership relations and the desire of the two countries to further strengthen it." The Uzbek delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov, met government officials and executives of major companies here at the time. Fen said the two sides have continued cooperation despite the pandemic, and bilateral trade volume in 2020 amounted to $2.1 billion, while 7,000 Koreans traveled to Uzbekistan, according to the statistics department of Uzbekistan. "Uzbekistan and Korea are reliable partners that have stood the test of time," Fen said. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev joins the Second International Forum for Northern Economic Cooperation, an online meeting organized by a presidential committee here, on Oct. 30, 2020. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan In November 2020, the two countries agreed to start negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). In October of the same year, Uzbek President Mirziyoyev participated in the Second International Forum for Northern Economic Cooperation, an online conference organized by a presidential committee here to realize President Moon's New Northern Policy aimed at bolstering ties with countries situated further north than the Korean Peninsula. During the forum, Mirziyoyev and Moon shared thoughts on digital and green technologies, as well as developing cooperation in the transport and logistics sectors. President Moon Jae-in and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attend the opening of House of Korean Culture and Art during Moon's state visit to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent in April 2019. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan Fen noted 180,000 ethnic Koreans live in Uzbekistan, and 70,000 Uzbeks live in Korea, and this makes the role of public diplomacy more important. "In this regard, I would like to note the active dialogue between the legislative bodies of our countries, the mutual visits of the speakers, as well as the systematic work of the parliamentary friendship association," he said. Regarding cultural and personnel exchanges, the envoy viewed the two counties share similarities in culture and mentality and that the exchanges are developing very actively. He also viewed there is "a huge potential for expanding cooperation in this area, in connection with which our countries demonstrate mutual interest in this process." Parliamentary, energy, artificial intelligence and research-development cooperation were the topics of Thursday's dialogue between the President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, and the Israeli Ambassador in Bucharest, David Saranga. According to a Senate release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, Anca Dragu received David Saranga in a presentation visit, during which it was agreed, among other things, to intensify the cooperation relations between the Romanian Senate and the Knesset. At the same time, the invitation for the President of the Senate to visit Israel, following the parliamentary elections in this country, was renewed."The sides stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation in the field of energy, with emphasis on the use of green energy and the need to digitize the energy sector. The importance of bilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence and research-development was also appreciated and identifying the means through which it can be intensified," the release said.Anca Dragu stressed the importance of raising awareness of the phenomena triggered by anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism, "in order to fight this scourge with a common voice.""The Romanian dignitary wanted to congratulate the Israeli authorities on how they combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the success of the Israeli vaccination campaign. The ambassador also appreciated the progress of the Romanian authorities in the vaccination campaign, despite existing deficiencies in the medical system," the release also mentions. America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American ?? En vivo | Entrevista a la presidenta del Consejo de Ministros, @VBermudezV, en el programa Cara a Cara de @noticias_tvperu. pic.twitter.com/Y6bG4QIBEs [January 27, 2021] Palma Ceia SemiDesign Announces PCS1100 Wi-Fi 6E 4x4:4 Transceiver SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a fabless semiconductor company specializing in wireless connectivity solutions, today announced the PCS1100, a Wi-Fi 6E 4x4 transceiver. The PCS1100 is the first chip announced as part of Palma Ceia's family of Wi-Fi 6 products which support the growing deployment of Wi-Fi 6 networks, and it will provide essential platform technology for a series of upcoming Wi-Fi 6E chipsets. The PCS1100 supports up to four spatial streams and can operate in the newly allocated 6 GHz spectrum (5.9257.125 GHz) for Wi-Fi devices, in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The transceiver supports dual-concurrent operation, allowing simultaneous operation on two frequency bands. The PC1100 operates as the RF radio part of a wireless system enabling the operation of a Wi-Fi 6 AP-Access Point or STA-Station. It can interface with a host system-level ASSP or ASIC supporting Wi-Fi 6 MAC and baseband digital operation. It is also the ideal companion chip to premium-tier access point architectures. Designers who integrate the AP or STA Wi-Fi 6 digital modem functionality on their system-level ASIC or ASSP chip can use the PCS1100 as the RF companion chip supporting the radio operation of Wi-Fi 6. This reduces the risk of RF integration and allows use of advanced process nodes with the highest logic gate density. "As system-level chips grow in functionality to support advanced AI applications that require Wi-Fi connectivity, they must use advanced process nodes to minimize the chip area, and so using an external RF chip reduces the risk of low yield resulting from failure of an integrated RF radio," said Chief Technology Officer Robert Young of Palma Ceia. "The PCS1100 benefits from the experience and expertise of our RF team, and I expect o see those skills reflected in our subsequent products." Designers who integrate STA modem functionality can use 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 operational configurations, with each additional incremental configuration providing more data throughput. In each configuration, the radio can operate at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or 6 GHz, or simultaneously on two frequency bands subject to a maximum of four spatial streams. Customers who integrate the AP Wi-Fi 6 modem functionality on their system-level ASSP or ASIC can use multiple PCS1100 chips to support as many as 12 spatial streams, eight in 5 GHz or 6 GHz, and four in 2.4 GHz (using three PCS1100s) in both the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) directions. The PCS1100 Wi-Fi 6E 4x4:4 transceiver features a robust RF architecture offering key features and performance indicators including: Support for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz (5.9257.125 GHz) frequency bands Up to four spatial streams Support for dual-concurrent operation, allowing simultaneous operation on two frequency bands Excellent receiver sensitivity for reliable connections at longer range Support for 1024-QAM modulation that delivers increased throughput Excellent phase noise and linearity performance to ensure Tx and Rx EVM (Error Vector Magnitude) requirements are met with significant margin Integrated data converters for channel bandwidths up to 80 MHz, with a high-speed SerDes digital interface to the system-level chip; support for 160MHz channels through an analog I/Q interface Integrated digital functionality for calibration, production test and signal path compensation, including an embedded RISC-V processor core "We are extremely excited about the launch of the PCS1100, the first chip in our family of Wi-Fi-6-based products," said Roy E. Jewell, chief executive officer at Palma Ceia. "The workplace in 2021 can be anywhere we are, and users are increasingly dependent on wireless connectivity. We anticipate a growing demand for the PCS1100 as an RF companion chip as Wi-Fi 6E and use of the 6G spectrum continue to expand." Availability The PCS1100 is scheduled to tape out in early Q2 of 2021, with customer samples available in Q3. Contact Palma Ceia SemiDesign via email at info@pcsemi.com for details. About Palma Ceia SemiDesign Palma Ceia SemiDesign (PCS) is a fabless semiconductor company and leading provider of communication semiconductors and IP for next-generation Wi-Fi and cellular applications. With a focus on emerging Wi-Fi and LTE standards, particularly for IoT (Internet of Things), PCS targets the design of ICs for broadband, wireless, medical and automotive applications. Palma Ceia SemiDesign solutions are differentiated by low power, high performance and ease of integration. Headquartered in the Cayman Islands, the company has design and sales support centers in Cambridge (United Kingdom), mainland China, China Hong Kong, and McKinney, Texas (United States). PCS is soon expanding to provide direct support for Israel, Japan, Korea and China Taiwan. Visit Palma Ceia SemiDesign on the web at pcsemi.com. Palma Ceia SemiDesign and the Palma Ceia SemiDesign logo are trademarks of Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a Cayman Islands corporation, and are protected by trademark laws of the United States and other jurisdictions. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Palma Ceia SemiDesign Media Contact Milan G. Lazich press@pcsemi.com +1 650-464-1132 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/738312/Palma_Ceia_SemiDesign_Logo.jpg SOURCE Palma Ceia SemiDesign [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Delhi Traffic Police issued an alert on late Thursday saying that the Gazipur border has been closed. The notification stated that traffic has been diverted from NH 24, NH 9, Road no 56, 57 A, Kondli, Paper market, Telco T point, EDM Mall, Akshardham and Nizamudin Khatta. As per the alert issued by Delhi Traffic Police, traffic is heavy in the Ghazipur border area and Vikas marg. It has requested commuters to take alternate routes. Delhi Traffic Police issued the alert on Twitter. Traffic Alert Gazipur border closed.Traffic diverted from NH 24, NH 9,Road no 56, 57 A,Kondli,Paper market,Telco T point,EDM Mall,Akshardham & Nizammudin Khatta.Traffic is very heavy in the area & Vikas marg, Pl take alternate route. - Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 28, 2021 Earlier, scores of police personnel had reached the site at Ghazipur border where farmers are protesting against the centre's new farm laws. Ghaziabad district administration on UP government's directive has ordered framers to clear out the site. It has served farmers a notice under section 133 of CrPC (conditional order for removal of a nuisance). The order was issued two days after the Republic Day tractor parade organised by farmers turned violent, with clashes taking place between the police and farmers on January 26. Several protesters had stormed the Red Fort in New Delhi and hoisted flags. However, the framers have refused to clear out their protest site on Ghazipur border despite the police requesting them to do so. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has said that the farmers will remain firm in their protest against the Centre's farm laws and will not vacate the site until further discussions with the Central Government. Tikait has claimed that the water and electricity supply to the farmers' protest site has been shut off by the Ghaziabad district administration. He added that this will not stop farmers and they will get water from villages. Tikait has indicated that he will not bow down to any pressure exerted by the government. He even said that he will end his own life but won't abandon the protests against the farm laws. Tikait has urged farmers at Ghazipur border to save their tents which have been in place since November 26, 2020. Also Read: Farmers cancel Budget day march to Parliament; to hold hunger strike on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary Page Content Stock Exchange JOHANNESBURG is where the deals are made. It's the most powerful commercial centre on the African continent. There's hardly a major international company doing serious business in sub-Saharan Africa that has not looked to Johannesburg as the gateway. A brief history For all the facts and figures of the city, click here to view a slideshow Johannesburg is the economic powerhouse of South Africa, and southern Africa. Founded in 1886 with the discovery of gold on the Reef, Johannesburg has grown into a world-class city: the provincial capital of Gauteng and the financial centre of the country. It is home to JSE Limited, the largest stock exchange on the continent and the 16th biggest in the world. Johannesburg generates 16.5 percent of the country's wealth and employs 12 percent of the national workforce. More than 70 percent of South African companies have their headquarters here. The current metropolitan area of Johannesburg - formed in 2000 by the merger of five previously independent municipal areas - covers a total of 1 644km, with an average density of 1 962 persons per km. Johannesburg, with a population of 3,2 million spread across 1 006 930 households, is characterised by its youthful residents, with 42 percent of the population under the age of 24 and 49 percent under the age of 34. The city's population is also growing, largely as a result of migration from other parts of the country, and the number of households is increasing, placing huge demands on the City's economic and social infrastructure. It has a financial, municipal, roads and telecommunications infrastructure that matches that of leading world cities, with the City Deep freight terminal - classified as one of the larger inland ports in the world - handling 30 percent of South Africa's exports. There are 7 519km of roads in Johannesburg, of which 6 614km are tarred. The city also has two active power stations. GROTON, Conn., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ThayerMahan, Inc., a world leader in autonomous maritime security solutions, announced today that it was selected to join the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community. The Community is an invitation-only group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. For more information on ThayerMahan's innovative approach: https://www.thayermahan.com/a-new-paradigm ThayerMahan will support the Forum's Shaping the Future of Global Public Goods Platform. This platform enables worldwide leaders to form exceptional, cross-cutting communities of action that collaborate at speed and scale. Their goal is to accelerate actions on climate change and environmental sustainability, food systems, the circular economy and value chains, and the future of international development, and to trigger systems change. ThayerMahan will participate in a Forum developing the Ocean Action Agenda, an initiative that seeks to improve ocean management by exploring cross-cutting opportunities and leveraging new technologies to scale to ensure the long-term sustainable use of the Ocean. Michael Connor, ThayerMahan's President and CEO stated, "We are honored to be the newest member of the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community. We look forward to providing a voice for cutting-edge maritime technology as a sustainable Ocean Action Agenda is set. This partnership will be mutually beneficial in helping shape global, regional and industry agendas." ThayerMahan's team has over 350+ years of maritime operational experience and 125+ years of sonar operational experience in the most challenging seaborne environments. Founded by retired Navy Admiral Mike Connor in 2016, the company specializes in unmanned autonomous sensing and reporting systems for the US Offshore Wind Industry, the US Office of Naval Research, and other government, academic and commercial customers. About World Economic Forum Established in 1971, the World Economic Forum is an International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. Responsible for shaping global, regional, and industry agendas, the Forum is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. About ThayerMahan ThayerMahan, Inc. is a maritime technology company dedicated to providing its clients with turn-key autonomous marine solutions, including deployment, operations, data gathering and analysis services, using state-of-the-art acoustic and electronic sensors integrated on a variety of host platforms tailored to specific mission criteria. The company is headquartered in Groton, CT with additional locations in Lexington, MA, Boston and Washington DC. Media Contact: Richard J. Hine (COO) [email protected] 860-937-6622 (Office) SOURCE ThayerMahan, Inc. Related Links https://www.thayermahan.com/ A man got into a woman's house and sexually assaulted her while she was asleep in bed after a get-to-know-your-neighbour party. Anthony Ferguson appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal, where he was charged with sexual assault, burglary and threats to damage property. Ferguson, a 26-year-old supermarket manager, pleaded guilty. The court was told that Ferguson, with an address at Britannia Point, Colliers Wood, London, was an "outsider" who had arrived at the party on July 21, 2018. Rowdy The event, which was organised by locals, involved storytelling and other activities for children. It also featured a 'baravan', which the court was told is similar to a mobile bar. That evening, the victim was serving drinks at the baravan when Ferguson became rowdy and was asked to leave as the bar was closing. The victim and her husband went back to their home nearby with some neighbours and had some more drinks with friends. However, Ferguson gained entry to the house, was again rowdy and was asked to leave. The woman and her husband went to sleep at around 2am, but the victim was awoken by a man in the bed who was touching her between her legs. The man, Ferguson, said to her: "I have you now." She jumped up, screaming at her husband to get the man out of the house. Her husband scuffled with him before throwing him out. Ferguson began shouting to be allowed back in as he had left his phone and jacket inside. Garda Maria Doherty said they had received a call that a man was banging on doors and that a woman had been sexually assaulted. Ferguson's barrister, Colm Smyth, said his client was extremely drunk on the night. The court was told Ferguson has an issue with drugs and alcohol and has undergone two rehabilitation stints in addiction clinics. Ferguson apologised to his victim, saying he was deeply sorry and ashamed for what he had done. He added that he was shocked when gardai said he had sexually assaulted a woman, saying he did not think he was capable of such a thing but could not remember anything from about 9pm that evening. In a victim impact statement, the woman said she could not work for weeks after the attack and was going around her house locking doors all the time. Her husband, who works abroad, could not travel as she was afraid to be left alone and they lost a major part of their earnings. She said Ferguson should accept his wrongdoing and never again put anyone in a position like he had put her in. Compensation Mr Smyth said his client's father owned a number of supermarkets and could offer some compensation. An offer of 20,000 was made, but Mr Smyth stressed that Ferguson would repay all the money back to his father. Judge John Aylmer said it was appalling what the woman was subjected to on the night. He noted that Ferguson had no previous convictions. He said he will review all these circumstances and ad- journed the case until April for a final sentence. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell last week nationally, but in New York they headed up, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Labor. Nationally, initial claims fell by 67,000 to 847,000 for the week ending Jan. 23. But the previous week's figure of 914,000 was revised upward by 14,000. In New York, meanwhile, claims rose by 2,608 to 64,793 in the week ending Jan. 23 from 62,185 the week before. The number of new pandemic unemployment assistance claims in New York for the week ending Jan. 23 was 45,125, an increase of 8,296 from the week before. That program covers gig workers, independent contractors and others not covered by traditional unemployment benefits. And the number of workers receiving pandemic emergency unemployment benefits rose by 13,499 to 668,401 in the week ending Jan. 9. The program provides an extra 24 weeks of benefits to those who have exhausted their initial benefits but remain unemployed. The Covid 19 pandemic has resulted in historically high levels of job loss, hitting restaurants, hotels, retailers, airlines and other leisure and travel-related businesses particularly hard. The state Labor Department reported that 733,200 New York residents were unemployed in December, more than double the 351,900 who were out of work a year earlier. Statewide, 592,788 initial claims for benefits were filed by unemployed workers in the accommodation and food services sector from the beginning of the pandemic lockdown in mid-March of last year through the week ending Jan. 23, according to the state Labor Department. That compares with 72,810 workers in that sector who filed during the same period a year earlier. Other hard-hit sectors include health care and social assistance, with 483,146 filings, up from 56,800 a year earlier; and retail trade, 452,172 filings, up from 48,357 a year earlier. In the eight-county Capital Region, 3,328 initial claims were filed in the week ending Jan. 23, up from 3,186 the previous week. A year ago, just 770 claims were filed. Concern is growing over the Brazilian variant of Covid. And after yesterday's announcement by Portugal about the suspension of all air connections with Brazil at least until February 14, the same measure was announced in Colombia. The Colombian Health Minister Fernando Ruiz has made it known, according to CNN. "This measure will remain in effect for a preliminary period of 30 days," Ruiz said, explaining that the decision was made to try to contain the spread of the so-called Brazilian variant of the coronavirus in the country. (Unioneonline / vl) Gun-toting Q-Anon House of Representative, Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is being called out on social media and by major news networks and many of her fellow congressional members. This comes after a genuinely horrid video surfaced showing her harassing a survivor of the Parkland, Floridas 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) The mass murder shooting, which left 17 people dead and injured 17 more and shocked our country, led to mass protests and cries for more restrictions on high-powered weapons and large magazines of bullets. The protests and calls for more controls on weapons of war being bought by ordinary everyday citizens incensed Marjorie Taylor Greene, the now Republican lawmaker from Georgia, to the point that she began to stalk survivor David Hogg. She went so far as to post a video of her peppering him with questions as he walked on the streets of Washington, D.C. The offensive video posted to YouTube (see below) was given the following caption Marjorie Greene went to Washington DC to fight against dangerous Red Flag Gun Confiscation. She confronted David Hogg for his push to lobby lawmakers to trample on our Second Amendment Rights. The disclosure about the videos existence, including from David Hogg, was quick and furious. His reaction was mirrored by stunned viewers who are objecting to the GOP lawmakers to this and other video postings that express her liking violent threats against Democratic lawmakers. Many of those objecting to the Congresswomans approval of putting a bullet in Nancy Pelosis head asks why the FBI hasnt designated her as a potential domestic terrorist that would put her on national no-fly lists. This is the same Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who repeatedly indicated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress, a CNN KFile review of hundreds of posts and comments from Greenes Facebook page shows. Greene indicated support for executing Democrats - CNN Her statements violent nature should also limit her access to guns in the nations capital. Many Democrat lawmakers in Washington are worried the Congresswoman is unhinged and could execute a mass shooting of her own in Washington D.C. Marjorie Greene Confronts David Hogg YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Apostolic Church is making all possible efforts for returning the prisoners of war from Azerbaijan, His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, told reporters during the visit to the Yerablur Military Pantheon on the occasion of the Armenian Army Day. We are making all efforts to be able to contribute to the return of our captured sons, he said. Asked whether it is possible that the Armenian Apostolic Church applies to Pope Francis over the issue of POWs, His Holiness Garegin II said they are discussing this issue and are taking proper actions. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. My kids go to school in an enormous school districtmore than 150,000 students are in it. The teachers have an extremely powerful union. Students have been remote all year so far, and based on what Im hearing, while theres a chance they will go back to school this year on a hybrid schedule, its more than likely they may not go back at all this school year. Heres what I dont understand: In my state, teachers are slated to have priority for the vaccinebehind front-line health workers and the elderly. But parents who know more about the school board/union/community issues than I do are telling me that even if teachers are vaccinated, parents cant, and shouldnt, expect students to return to school full time even by September 2021. I dont understand this. How does a union have the right to vaccinate the teachers, but not return them to work? If the unions gripe is that teachers arent protected, but then they get the vaccine, doesnt that make their argument moot? I want my teachers and my kids to be kept safe. But I also feel like the union is digging in their heels and refusing to relentI just dont understand what the issue is if teachers (and other school staff) get vaccinated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Am I Missing? Dear What Am I Missing, Honestly, I am envious of your kids teachers. Here in Austin, Texas, weve been in stage 5the highest coronavirus restrictionssince Christmas. Our hospitals are running out of beds and warn us that the worst is yet to come. Even though the Austin health authority recommended that the school district start the semester with virtual learning, the superintendent opened schools anyway. More than a thousand teachers in my district should have received accommodations to work from home this fall due to preexisting conditions, but the district revoked all but 93 of them. Since the start of school, our superintendent has had to about-face multiple times as she struggles to abide by health recommendations but also keep our school funding intact. Its a mess. Advertisement I realize all of this strays away from your question, but the situation Texas educators find ourselves in is an excellent example of what happens when teachers dont have strong unions. I wish our union had the muscle to protect us. But to address your question, the truth is I dont know; I can only speculate. A district with 150,000 students also has tens of thousands of staff. How long will it take to vaccinate all of them? Some states seem to be doing a good job of rolling out vaccines, while others are struggling mightily (my own state of Texas is a shitshowIm not optimistic that I will get a vaccine before the semester ends). Perhaps the union leaders anticipate that it will take the rest of the school year just to administer the shots? Or perhaps they doubt that promises to vaccinate all teachers will be fulfilledmy district received 900 vaccines but has 5,700 teachers. Your letter also says that schools may not reopen full time next fallare they discussing reopening in hybrid in order to keep class sizes smaller? If so, my best guess is that that may be to help mitigate the spread of the virus among students, most of whom cannot receive the vaccine but can certainly spread the virus to their peers and families. I sincerely hope that next fall will look different from the last one, but what if it doesnt? I promise you this: Teachers are not simply looking out for themselves; we care deeply about our students and consider their best interests too. Advertisement Advertisement That said, I do understand your frustrationI am also a parent who struggled to balance the demands of my job and my childs virtual learning. I also worry about learning loss and social isolation. Personally, if my district could vaccinate all teachers and staff while maintaining safety protocols, Id feel much better about reopening schools than I do right now. Im sorry that I dont have answers for you. I wish that as a society we could make decisions based on the best available science and muster the collective will to provide schools with necessary resources. Until then, there will be states like mine who march straight into disaster and states like yours that may be overly cautious. Advertisement Good luck, and heres hoping there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Ms. Holbrook (high school teacher, Texas) Slate needs your support right now. Sign up for Slate Plus to keep reading the advice you crave every week. I just got my first education job after graduating college, working at an after-school program for grades K8, and am due to start soon. It is also my first job working with kids in person during the pandemic. One thing Im nervous about is making sure kids follow the new COVID rules, since this is their first time back at an after-school program since last March. Ive heard horror stories from first-year teachers about difficult behavior in a normal year, so I am a bit concerned for what might happen in this crazy new normal! Any advice about behavior management from teachers whove taught in person during the pandemic? Advertisement Advertisement New and Nervous Dear New and Nervous, My first instinct was to say, Good news! Students take mask-wearing very seriously! And its true. Even during our regular outdoor mask breaks, many of my students remain masked and have become more accustomed to wearing the mask than I have. This has been the case in my school, and its been the case in my wifes school, too (she teaches kindergarten). Many of my colleagues in other districts report the same. Students have also been so grateful to be back in class and are so anxious about the state of the world that this has been one of the easiest years in terms of discipline in my 23 years. Its like kids understand that we are all pulling on the same rope. Advertisement Then again, we are teaching in Connecticut, where mask adherence is near a national high, and masks have not been politicized at the levels experienced in other parts of the country. The truth is that your experience may be very different from mine depending on where you are teaching. Your experience is also very likely to be grade-level-dependent. While my fifth graders practice outstanding mask adherence, its much harder for kindergartners to keep their masks on, with their little noses and lack of overall awareness, and its much harder to maintain social distancing when you need to zip up the coat or tie the shoes of a little one. Advertisement The truth is that even with excellent mask protocols, the virus can spread. My wife currently has COVID-19, contracted at school, despite consistent, rigorous procedures in place. But at least in my school district, transmission in the schools has been exceptionally low, and there are some steps you can take to ensure mask adherence. Advertisement 1. Teach the science behind wearing a mask. There are some excellent videos online that demonstrate the effectiveness of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the virus. When kids understand the rationale behind a policy, they are far more likely to buy into that policy. 2. Make sure that your students understand that wearing a mask is an act of kindness. One of the most insidious aspects of COVID-19 is that you can have the disease and never know it. Explaining that we wear the mask to protect others also helps them understand the rationale behind the policy. I often thank my students for wearing their masks so consistently and well. 3. Partner closely with parents and guardians when it comes to masks. Their support will make your job much easier. My wife, for example, has had to talk to parents about mask size and fit given her kindergartners tiny faces. Open communication will be essential as you navigate this terrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. Model excellent mask protocols at all times. You must be wearing your mask consistently and correctly if you expect your students to do the same. 5. You must maintain a zero tolerance policy when it comes to masks. A teachers first responsibility is to keep students safe, so every mask must be worn correctly at all times. There is no wiggle room. If a student refuses to wear a mask or will not comply to proper fit, there should be protocols in place to send that student home until they agree to be compliant. Be sure to know these protocols, and make sure that your students know them too. As one of my now-retired colleagues used to say in the first month of school as routines and expectations are established, now is not the time to be lenient. Advertisement Best of luck. Teaching during a pandemic is nothing like anything I have done before, but even with a wife currently fighting COVID-19 and isolated from me, it is possible and relatively safe if done well. Mr. Dicks (fifth grade teacher, Connecticut) Im an autistic 18-year-old and a senior in high school. I mask well enough to get by most of the time. I do well in school and have a number of academic interests, and Ive been lucky enough to find a group of friends interested in the same things I am. However, I still struggle with a few social skills. I cant seem to start or end conversations well! On the phone, in person, and via text, I cant figure out how to participate in the same way as my friends. I always end up being the friend who never texts first, or staying out with them longer than I intended. While this would otherwise not be the end of the world, socializing really drains me, and I am wiped out by a few hours of masking my behavior. Worse, I often end up stuck places because my friends who give me a ride dont notice Im exhausted or dont care! If Im not careful, I end up staying up all night trying to finish homework because I have to decompress when I get home for a few more hours than expected. I want to spend safe time with the people I care about, but I also have homework to worry about and cant be up all night. Advertisement Advertisement Can I Walk Home? Dear Can I Walk, This is a tricky issue! I remember being 18 and not wanting to be seen as a buzzkill, but also not wanting to be out all that late because I ran out of social energy. Heck, I still have that issue as an adult. Truthfully, I think its impressive that you recognize that you need to set that boundary for yourself, and I would recommend you think of it as such. Boundary-setting is important in life, and friends who dont respect or dont care about your boundaries arent good friends. I know teenagers never want to hear what adults think makes for good friendships, but its true. People who dont respect your boundaries arent being good friends. Advertisement I have a few tips to help you with the friends who dont notice or respect your limits. Im hoping that within your group of friends, you might have one person youre closest to with whom you can use a buddy system. What do I mean by this? Well, to use myself as an example: Im an introvert, and I have a very small group of friends who know my limits. I use a sort of code with themlike Ill say, Id like to go for a walk, and they know that means, Im done with this party and would like to head home or I need a break from this large group. Advertisement Advertisement If you dont have a person youre comfortable designating as your buddy, you can set a curfew. Its OK to tell your friends youre tired (high schoolers have a full day of school and so much homework!) and just leave, and you can set a reminder on your phone that by 8 p.m. you need to be done. It may feel lame in the moment, but you will be grateful to yourself the following morning that you exercised self-care in that way. Finally, Im not autistic, and it might benefit you to seek out advice from other (older) autistic people, who may have experience with this situation and have a solution that works better for you. The tag #ActuallyAutistic on Twitter is one I see a lot from autistic friends and peers of mine when they are seeking to speak within the community, and you may be able to ask for help there in a way that I cant necessarily provide. Advertisement It demonstrates excellent self-awareness for any 18-year-old to say, This is crossing a limit for me, and I need to make a changethats hard for many adults to do. The fact that you recognized that you dont want to be in this situation anymore, to me, is a huge step. Finding a socially graceful way to avoid it will (hopefully) be an easy step. Ms. Sarnell (early childhood special education teacher, New York) My 8-year-old third grade daughter speaks with a lisp on S sounds. It never seemed to bother her. I had never thought about addressing it in any way because Ive always found it adorable, and because her older brother had the same lisp as a younger child but doesnt anymore. Her dad also lisps very slightly on S sounds but its not as pronounced. Advertisement However, my daughter doesnt seem to be growing out of it. The other day she was singing a song from The Lorax that goes, Everybody needs a Thneed, and she kept giggling because it sounded like she was saying sneed. She thought it was funny, yet I could see her becoming frustrated. It was the first time I realized that her lisp may be something she becomes more and more aware of as she gets older. I know years ago this might have been considered a speech problem, and I have older friends who were basically punished out of lisping (but who still lisp slightly). Anyway, is this something I should be addressing? I dont want to make her self-conscious, but I worry that what is cute now may affect her negatively as she gets older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeking Some Support Dear Seeking Some Support, When I first started teaching elementary school, I noticed very quickly that lots of kids up to age 8 or 9 still talk with a range of speech differences. Speech differences are common, natural, and dont always need fixing. Kids develop and learn how to pronounce and enunciate words at various paces, and thats OK. In my experience, most students who have speech differences but dont receive speech services grow out of their differences naturally by the fifth or sixth grade. That said, many of my families elect to receive speech services through the district and have seen great results. If developing stronger speech skills is a priority for your child and you, speech services at local public schools are often some of the best. I have two or three students a year who receive speech services from various district speech pathologists, and all the reviews have been stellar. Your results may vary depending on your district and school, but most families Ive worked with have had really good experiences with in-school speech services. Advertisement Ultimately, I think you should let your daughter choose. Have a talk with her and see if its something she would be interested in or not. If she is, Id ask her teacher or school administration to have her evaluated and go from there. Mr. Hersey (second grade teacher, Washington) More Advice From Slate Due to COVID, my childs public school in Hawaii is all online. However, during distance learning my child has to use a program called Acellus to learn on their own. A teacher comes on for 30 minutes at the beginning of class to take attendance, then leaves for the rest of the day. This does not seem right, does it? The police in Ekiti State on Thursday said the constable who became pregnant six months after graduating from the police college violated Section 127 of the Police Regulation. Babatunde Mobayo, the state police commissioner, told journalists in Ado-Ekiti that violating the regulation carries serious punitive measures. Olajide Omolola, who was attached to the Iye Ekiti Police Station in Ilejemeje area of Ekiti State, was dismissed from the force last year for getting pregnant barely a year after graduating from the police academy. The police said her pregnancy was in flagrant violation of the Police Rules and Regulation. Mr Mobayo told journalists that the rule and regulation were unambiguous that female officers must undergo post training experience on the field for at least two years before marriage and three years before child-bearing. In police organisation, we have rules and regulations, which are being carried out within the ambit of the constitution, the police chief said. The Police officers are not even allowed to keep their children that are above 18 years of age in the barracks. Some of these laws were taught in the police colleges before we graduated. These laws have been there. Some stipulated the number of years you must spend before you get married. If you are in police College, you are not supposed to get pregnant. The decision to dismiss Ms Omolola from the force raised concerns among rights groups who argue that such laws weigh heavily against women. But Mr Mobayo maintained that such laws are necessary to avoid the officers being distracted during trainings. When you passed out, you still need basic trainings and for your attention not to be distracted, you must spend certain minimum of period before you get married for you to perform efficiently, he said. The lady in question passed out May 2020, which is eight months ago and now she is with six months pregnancy. The Police Act 2020, which is undergoing amendment in the Senate has not repealed that. She had contravened Section 127 of the police regulation. Section 126 of the regulation stated that a married woman police who is pregnant may be granted maternity leave, while Section 127 said an unmarried woman police who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force and shall not be enlisted except with the approval of the IGP. What some people talked about that her fundamental human rights had been trampled upon and that women should not be discriminated against while also saying the law has been repealed were not true. The regulation is still in place. Mr Mobayo further maintained that the Police Amendment Bill 2019, which was brought and sponsored by a Senator, Uzenwa Onyebuchi, at the Senate had not been passed , saying it had only got to the second reading. READ ALSO: Police debunk rumour of withdrawal from Ekiti State The amendment being sought has not been done neither had the bill got presidential assent, he said. It has just been referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs for further scrutiny. Aside the foregoing, the amended Police Act is different from police regulation. According to him, he had been a Commandant in one of the Police Colleges before becoming a CP, and had handled several cases similar to the current case. ADVERTISEMENT He said the issue affecting the female police officer could not be an exemption. I felt for that lady, though I never saw her before. We saw the medical report and we did due diligence on her case, the commissioner said. We cant shy away from the oath of office we took, but the IGP can still reverse whatever we do on the field. About 300 policewomen were graduated here last year. How would the public feel if they see all of them pregnant in less than a year? It will look ridiculous. We are not the drafters of the rules, we met them there. All these disciplinary actions are what made us to be able to control our men. No Police Constable is underaged and they should be able to know what to do not to get pregnant within the time prohibited by regulation. The police reaction is coming after it received bashing from rights groups over the dismissal. Were sorry. Truly, we are. Well miss you. Its just the sky is so blue and the sun on the water looks so beautiful and ... we got distracted. We do that a lot in Sydney: look at the water, become distracted. The Freshwater-class ferries have braved some large swells in their time. Credit:Nick Moir That stab of pleasure every time we see you glide into the Quay or dart past the heads, well miss that too. And the thrill of holding our breath, whether we be on shore or on deck, as you duck, weave and conquer the worst of the harbours wildness that will now have to become a commuting tale for the grandchildren. You should have seen the waves crashing over the side. It was a roller coaster ride. It really was. But of course, the story will get a little bit weaker with each telling. You have to have been there, you see. That colour palette the yellow and green, under and above clear blue that says Sydney Harbour more succinctly than any logo could. These ferries are as pretty as a picture, yet somehow they often trigger melancholy. Perhaps its those hypnotic swells they forge through, the endless journeying back and forth like the citys metronome, marking time in a busy city. And then there are the precious cargoes of commuters, sightseers and others who choose to navigate this stretch of water to clear their heads, to plan, to take stock, to grieve across the water. Sometimes you see them, the passengers who go back and forth, back and forth. What is their story? Because it seems just about everyone whos ridden a Manly ferry has at least one story. (Natural News) A woman in the state of Louisiana suffered uncontrollable spasms after she received Pfizers Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. The womans son posted a video on Facebook showing her entire body convulsing uncontrollably. She was admitted to the hospital following her vaccination. Brant Griner of Lake Charles, Louisiana posted the video of his mother experiencing uncontrollable convulsions. He captioned: This is what the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has done to my mom. She was admitted to the hospital. Griner warned against getting the Wuhan coronavirus jab, telling people to be cautious about taking the vaccine. He added: Im sure it is good for some people, but you need to think about [it]: Is this vaccine worth taking? The spasms experienced by Griners mother mirrored that of another case, this time caused by Modernas Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. Oakland City, Indiana resident Shawn Skelton claimed she suffered uncontrollable shaking and tongue spasms after receiving the Moderna vaccine. The nursing home employee believes that the convulsions could be a reaction to the jab. Skeltons fiance Rich Vidiella said the uncontrollable shakes began occurring three days after she received the Moderna jab. Nobody wants to point it toward the vaccine, he added. Medical professional Dr. Craig Everett Haseman said the seizures may have been triggered by something that affected the nervous system. To cause uncontrollable shaking youd have to have something that affects your brain or your nervous system. It would have to cause some kind of neurological abnormality in the spinal cord or the brain itself, he explained. In response to Skeltons claims, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remarked that the effects she experienced tend to be mild to moderate and go away quickly. In an emailed statement to Courier & Press, the CDC said some individuals experience symptoms like fever and chills. These side effects are signs that the immune system is working and building up protection against the disease, the statement continued. Serious side effects following vaccination, if any, were rare. The convulsions show the risks of rushed vaccine development BioNTech co-founder Dr. Ugur Sahin said last year that he designed the BNT162b2 vaccine for Pfizer in just a few hours. Meanwhile, Modernas vaccine took two days to design. The Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed fast-tracked the development of both jabs, until such time that both received emergency use approval. These were subsequently used to vaccinate health care workers and nursing home residents. However, the rushed development of the vaccines came at the price of safety. (Related: Trump questions more stringent FDA guidelines for Operation Warp Speed coronavirus vaccines.) The Food and Drug Administration revealed in a report that four volunteers who got the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine developed Bells palsy. The condition causes one side of the face to be paralyzed: However, it usually goes away on its own. While the American regulator did not say the jab directly caused Bells palsy in the volunteers, it nevertheless warned doctors to watch out for the adverse reaction. Two health workers injected with the Pfizer/BioNTech Wuhan coronavirus jab in mass vaccination programs died sometime after immunization. Miami obstetrician Dr. Gregory Michael died 16 days after being vaccinated. Michaels wife Heidi Neckelmann said his death was 100 percent linked to the vaccine. The 56-year-old doctor died of a hemorrhagic stroke after developing a rare autoimmune disease that prevented his blood from clotting. Earlier, Portuguese health worker Sonia Acevedo died a mere two days after getting the Pfizer jab. The 48-year-old mother of one did not report any major symptoms aside from the normal discomfort in the injection site, her daughter said. Sonias father Abilio Acevedo received a call that his daughter was found dead the morning of Jan. 1. Meanwhile, the Moderna jab almost took the life of Boston Medical Centers Dr. Hossein Sadrzadeh. The physician experienced a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine just minutes after getting it. Sadrzadeh needed medical intervention at the soonest despite using an auto-injector pen as his blood pressure dropped dramatically. He was admitted to the emergency room on Dec. 24, with doctors administering anti-allergy medication and steroids to him. Sadrzadeh eventually felt normal the next day, saying what he experienced after the Wuhan coronavirus vaccination was the worst allergic reaction he had since he was 11 years old. Learn more about the dangers of vaccines against the Wuhan coronavirus by visiting VaccineInjuryNews.com. Sources include: GreatGameIndia.com 1 GreatGameIndia.com 2 CourierPress.com DailyMail.co.uk 1 DailyMail.co.uk 2 DailyMail.co.uk 3 RT.com Rada refuses to appoint Vitrenko as First Dpty PM, Energy Minister The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine again did not support the appointment of Acting Energy Minister Yuriy Vitrenko as First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister. Some 204 MPs voted for his candidacy with the required 226 votes at the parliamentary meeting on Thursday. 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. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Cities are engines of growth, contributing some 80% to global GDP, but they also account for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Even in a post-Covid-19 future, urbanisation is expected to grow. Cities, suburbs and the global infrastructure system have a great impact on nature, yet their role in protecting biodiversity loss and mitigating climate change has been underestimated, until now. To help transform cities into engines of economic growth compatible with planetary and human well-being, the World Economic Forum is collaborating with the government of Colombia and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Research on Biological Resources on a new global initiative, BiodiverCities by 2030. This initiative will help cities around the world unlock opportunities for urban growth while protecting the environment. In order to shape a nature-positive future, the initiative is curating a high-level commission of 25 world-renowned experts and practitioners from government, the private sector, academia and civil society. The Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030 will build a shared, framework and forward-looking perspective on the BiodiverCities concept. The publicly accessible framework will outline how cities can shift from the current untenable relationship with rural areas and natural resource assets towards a more nature-positive model, which, research indicates, can add jobs to the economy. On the back of this knowledge framework, the initiative will also build on the Forums Strategic Intelligence platform and on a community of innovators and entrepreneurs in close partnership with the World Economic Forums UpLink platform. As President Duque stated: Colombia is the worlds most biodiverse country by square kilometer, and we have the challenge and the responsibility to protect nature in cities while improving peoples wellbeing. We are excited to partner with the World Economic Forum and key international actors to help shape a much-needed global agenda on BiodiverCities. Building on our produce while conserving and conserve while producing policy, we are eager to both share Colombian cities efforts and experiences, and to learn from valuable international knowledge and best practices. Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, said: Covid-19s impact is a stark reminder of our imbalance with the natural world. As cities face the enormous task of recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, BiodiverCities by 2030 aims to show how nature-positive cities can offer transformative opportunities for the benefit of people, planet, health and livelihoods. We greatly look forward to working with the President of Colombia and other partners on this important global initiative and connecting with a community of experts, mayors and policy-makers. Research shows that nature-positive solutions, or those that add value back into nature, can create healthier and more resilient cities while generating $3 trillion in business opportunities and creating 117 million jobs. Cities can be cooler in the summer, have cleaner air and be better protected against flooding if we can put nature at the heart of its development model, said Akanksha Khatri, Head of the Nature Action Agenda, World Economic Forum. At the World Economic Forums Sustainable Development Impact Summit 2020, and during the United Nations General Assembly meeting, President Duque called for a broader effort to advance cities and sustainable development through a BiodiverCities approach. A network of nine Colombian cities, including Barranquilla as one of the initial pilots, aims to include biodiversity in their urban development models and to promote the interaction of citizens with nature. The Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia is leading efforts to pilot this initiative with support by the World Resources Institute and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Research on Biological Resources. BiodiverCities by 2030 comes at a vital moment. The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged assumptions about work, transportation and city living; and, nature-positive cities can offer transformative opportunities for the benefit of people, planet, health and livelihoods.This new global initiative and partnership between the World Economic Forum and Colombia will promote cities potential to drive pro-biodiversity urban growth. -- Tradearabia News Service AKRON, Ohio Police have released the identity of a man they believe is responsible for the armed robbery of a store, attempting to steal a vehicle at gunpoint, then stealing another car before crashing it. Aaron Gaines, 39, is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, with short black hair. Police warn that Gaines should be considered armed and dangerous. Police believe Gaines is responsible for a series of crimes that occurred Monday night. Officers first were called at about 6:20 p.m. to the Family Food & Deli on the 1200 block of South Arlington Street in the Firestone Park neighborhood. A clerk told officers that a male entered the store and pointed a gun at him, demanding money. The suspect ran from the store with cash. At about 6:40 p.m., police were called to the 500 block of Hazel Place near the University of Akron. A victim tells police a man armed with a gun approached and demanded the keys to a parked vehicle. A struggle broke out over the keys and the suspect fired at least one shot before running from the area. No one was wounded. Moments later, police received a report of another carjacking, just a few blocks away on the 500 block of East Buchtel Avenue. A vehicle was stopped at a traffic light at Carroll and Fountain streets when an armed male approached and demanded the car, a silver Mercedes-Benz. The suspect took the Mercedes and drove off at high speeds, but ended up crashing minutes later into the gas pumps at Sparks HVAC on the 700 block of East Market Street, police say. The suspect ran from the area before police arrived. Anyone with information can call detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Individuals also can send tips by texting TIPSCO to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous. Read more crime stories on cleveland.com: Brook Park man charged in hit-and-run of 70-year-old North Olmsted man, records say Ohio Supreme Court to decide limits of Marsys Law in kidnapping, rape trial Euclid man faces aggravated murder charge after man hes accused of shooting in Cleveland Heights dies FedEx driver charged with running over elderly Berea woman, court records say Cleveland police failed to arrest a woman or investigate a man who assaulted her six hours before she returned with a group that killed a man, records say As temperatures plunge, indoor public spaces, like bus depots, libraries and senior centers, usually become de facto warming centers. And temperatures are plunging as low as 11 degrees Friday, forecasts predict. But in the age of COVID-19, many of those places are either closed, reduced in capacity or being used in efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus. The city is not opening any warming centers due to COVID concerns, said William Hoey, vice president of mission integration at St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport. People will be referred to 211. The approach is similar throughout the region, said Michael Downes, chief of staff to Mayor Laura Hoydick of Stratford, where the Birdseye Municipal Complex opened as a warming center last February now serves as a vaccination site. At this point we do not have a plan to open warming centers, Downes said. COVID-19 has made opening such warming centers safely an enormous challenge. We have discussed with other towns as well as our own community and senior services, and in the event of anyone determined to be of need we will make arrangements for individuals who need assistance. Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday during his afternoon press conference that it will be extraordinarily and unseasonably cold over the next few days. I want to make sure that everyones safe and get them so they know where they can go and be safe. The governor activated the states cold weather protocol Thursday. That mechanism allows the state to provide support to municipalities to open up cold weather shelters and so they are reimbursed for doing so, said Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief of staff. It also notifies those at various state agencies in the event any requests come through the states emergency operations center. As the governor mentioned, we like to put that out in due time, much sooner than cold weather hits the state so everyone is prepared and ready, Mounds said. Kim Fawcett, chief revenue officer at Bridgeport Rescue Mission, said the shelters facilities shifted to taking in long-term residents in the summer. Residents must have tested negative for COVID-19 and agree to adhere to the facilitys COVID-19 rules in order to stay there. As a result, the organization has not opened its two warming centers one for women, one for men to take in people off the street as it normally would. Were absolutely beside ourselves in worry and we just dont have a solution that can keep the people who are living with us safe, said Fawcett, who also referred people in need to 211. Trumbull Chief of Staff Kathy Champion said the town would also try to help any residents in need. Traditionally we would turn to the senior center and the library to open as warming centers if needed, she said. Because they are both closed due to COVID and the inability to service our residents in a socially distance manner, we would recommend anyone to first reach out to friends and family, and if need be, we suggest anyone to go to the mall to warm up. If we encounter a power outage in town where residents do not have access to heat, then the situation will be reevaluated and addressed. Greater Bridgeport Transit CEO Doug Holcomb said the capacity of the companys Water Street bus stations lobby which might normally see 30, 40, 50 (riders) in there at any given time has been reduced to 15 and cannot accommodate anyone other than bus passengers. Normally we have a warming and cooling center and are happy to help out, Holcomb said Thursday. The pandemic changed that. Connecticuts death toll attributed to COVID-19 surpassed 7,000 this week, just two months since the state eclipsed 5,000 deaths. While Connecticuts hospitalizations and the percentage of daily positive tests have remained relatively stable in recent weeks, a new variant of the coronavirus emerged Thursday in the United States. We just dont want crowds. Seating is blocked off, Holcomb said. Staff writers Amanda Cuda, Donald Eng, Peter Yankowski and Brian Lockhart contributed to this story. Maura Niemisto, a research associate at Bigelow Laboratory in East Boothbay Maine, prepares a lobster sample in the lab. Niemisto is lead author on a recent paper showing the effects of ocean warming and ocean acidification on postlarval lobsters. Credit: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences The American lobster, which supports the most valuable fishery in North America, may be more susceptible to the effects of climate change than previously thought, according to a new study published in Ecology and Evolution. This finding could help fishery managers anticipate the long-term effects of climate change for one the nation's most precious natural resources. The American lobster's range extends from Atlantic Canada to the mid-Atlantic waters of the United States, but increased carbon dioxide emissions by humans are warming and acidifying their ocean habitat. To date, studies of the early life stages of lobsters have concluded that ocean acidification, compared to warming, had relatively limited impact on growth and metabolism. However, according to the new publication, their genes tell a different story. "Our study indicated that acidification is affecting these lobsters on a molecular scale," said Maura Niemisto, lead author and research associate at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. "Because of environmental changes, they have genes firing at an even higher rate." Niemisto published the research with Bigelow Laboratory Senior Research Scientist David Fields and University of Maine Research Professor Richard Wahle, who is based at the Darling Marine Center. Co-authors Spencer Greenwood of the University of Prince Edward Island, and Fraser Clark of Dalhousie University contributed expertise in genomics. The work built on previous experiments by co-author Jesica Waller of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Through their genes, all living organisms have the capacity to regulate a wide range of biological processes. Changes in their environment can influence this. For example, many organisms have a heat shock protein gene. When they get overheated, the environmental stress triggers cells to produce a protein that helps the organism adapt. This study focused on the postlarval stage of lobsters because they live in the upper water column, where ocean acidification and temperature are changing quickly. In addition, they are planktonic, which means they have limited control of their movement to avoid unfavorable environments. The scientists conducted laboratory experiments to expose postlarval lobsters to the temperature and acidity levels projected for the end of the century. Under these conditions, they found lobsters' cells adjusted gene regulation to support shell structure and immune functions. A photo of a postlarval lobster taken under a microscope. A new paper led by Bigelow Laboratory and UMaine researchers reveals previously unobserved effects of ocean warming and acidification at a genetic level. Credit: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences This response was stronger in relation to increased acidity than increased temperature. The study also revealed that, when their environment was both warm and acidic, the lobsters showed significantly more genetic response than when exposed to either stressor alone. "Stressors on an organism have the ability to compound into something that makes it really hard to grow through all the developmental stages to get to a full-grown lobster," said Niemisto, who conducted the research as part of her master's thesis in marine biology at UMaine. The implications of these responses remain unclear for lobsters in the Gulf of Maine, which is acidifying and warming faster than the majority of the world's oceans. While the results suggest that lobsters have the genetic capacity to adapt to their changing environment, it may come at a cost. The genetic processes take a significant amount of energy, which comes from a limited budget. "So, if they're spending a lot of energy on building proteins to respond to stressors, something else has to give," Niemisto said. Researchers are now looking to see exactly where that extra energy is coming from and what is being given up. For example, if lobsters have to expend energy on maintaining their shells, they may not be able to invest in their immune system. The authors say the next step is to better understand these genetic responses in relation to larger-scale changes. Pairing this study's findings with further research on the ecology and biology of lobsters can help reveal their likely response as a population. "This study has cracked open the door to our understanding of the basic biology of lobster larvae and their response to the changing environment," said co-author Fields. "However, there is still a lot to learn. As the use of these genetic tools grows, so will our understanding of the larval lobster biology and the impact of climate change on this iconic fishery." Explore further Rising ocean temperatures threaten baby lobsters More information: Maura Niemisto et al, American lobster postlarvae alter gene regulation in response to ocean warming and acidification, Ecology and Evolution (2020). Journal information: Ecology and Evolution Maura Niemisto et al, American lobster postlarvae alter gene regulation in response to ocean warming and acidification,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7083 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. In a lawsuit filed in federal court, Subway customers claim that tests on tuna sandwiches sold at multiple shops in California did not contain tuna at all. The plaintiffs are asking a judge to certify the lawsuit for class-action status that would allow others to seek redress, citing no target amount they are seeking except to say it will be in excess of $5 million. Subway, based in Milford, is the worlds largest restaurant chain with more than 41,000 locations it franchises to independent owners. Late founder Fred DeLuca made it perhaps Connecticuts most-recognizable home-grown brand globally. As of Thursday morning, Subway had yet to file an answering response to the complaint, which was filed a week ago in the U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of California. Katia Noll, Subways senior director for food safey and quality, told The Washington Post its sandwiches contain pure tuna with the company stating the claims in the lawsuit are without merit. In a statement forwarded by Subways head of public relations Maggie Truax, the company called the lawsuit frivolous and said it plans to contest it. The taste and quality of our tuna make it one of Subways most popular products and these baseless accusations threaten to damage our franchisees, small business owners who work tirelessly to uphold the high standards that Subway sets for all of its products, including its tuna, the Subway statement read. Given the facts, the lawsuit constitutes a reckless and improper attack on Subways brand and goodwill, and on the livelihood of its California franchisees. This lawsuit is part of a trend in which the ... plaintiffs attorneys have been targeting the food industry in an effort to make a name for themselves in that space, the statement continued. Subway will vigorously defend itself against these and any other baseless efforts to mischaracterize and tarnish the high-quality products that Subway and its franchisees provide to their customers, in California and around the world, and intends to fight these claims through all available avenues if they are not immediately dismissed. An attorney representing plaintiffs did not respond to a Washington Post query on what ingredients were revealed in the tests ordered by plaintiffs. The plaintiffs assert that the Subway tuna sandwiches and wraps they had tested have no scintilla of tuna at all, in the lawsuits words. Levying accusations of unjust enrichment among other claims of misleading customers, Plaintiffs want Subway to pay back any profits on tuna sandwiches sold. The plaintiffs lead attorney brought on a law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Houston and New York City that the state of Texas hired in December to lead a high-profile lawsuit against Google that includes attorneys general from 38 states including Connecticut AG William Tong. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman - The lab will facilitate Safety Integration Level testing for Train Control and Management System HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QuEST Global, a global product engineering and lifecycle services company, announced today that it has launched a Train Control and Management System (TCMS) lab at its Hyderabad facility. The 5800-sq.ft. lab will facilitate the verification and validation of safety-critical TCMS software for multiple functionalities. This next-generation lab will host test racks for various product families of Bombardier Transportation. The lab was inaugurated virtually by Stephane Navarra, Head of Engineering Technology Office (ETO) Systems, Bombardier Transportation, and Ajit Prabhu, Chairman & CEO, QuEST Global. The lab is part of the strategic partnership signed by both companies in 2019 to strengthen their cooperation and further develop engineering capabilities for the rail industry. QuEST's TCMS lab has the capacity to house more than 100 racks and simulations for performing TCMS software testing and hardware-software integration checks. It is qualified to support validation checks submitted as evidence for assessing rail products; and will enable Bombardier Transportation to deliver safer transportation solutions to their customers globally. With the launch of this lab, QuEST also plans to hire over 200 engineers in Hyderabad with expertise across all phases of the software development lifecycle, test automation, and ethernet & internet protocol technology. Commenting on the new lab, John Saabas, Head of Engineering Technology Office (ETO), Bombardier Transportation, said, "We are pleased about the launch of TCMS lab at QuEST premises in Hyderabad. Bombardier Transportation has always endeavored to deliver excellence and help our customers enable faster and smarter commute through continuous innovation. QuEST is a strategic partner in providing world-class engineering solutions to the rail industry, and I am sure this lab will further enhance our valued collaboration in this area." Lauding the capabilities of QuEST, Stephane Navarra said, "The TCMS lab provides the QuEST team with the infrastructure to manage their deliverables end to end. Bombardier will be developing and housing test racks at this lab for our projects in India and globally." Elaborating further on the significance and value the lab will provide, Ajit Prabhu, said, "As a trusted thinking partner to Bombardier Transportation, we are excited to launch the world-class TCMS testing lab in our Hyderabad Centre. We are confident that this will enable us to help Bombardier Transportation serve and create value for its customers. This lab is part of our long-standing strategic engagement with Bombardier Transportation and is a testament to our expertise in providing transformational services and solutions to our customers. We look forward to helping Bombardier Transportation to enhance their competitiveness in the rail domain." About QuEST Global For more than 20 years, QuEST Global has aimed to be a trusted global product engineering and lifecycle services partner to many of the world's most recognized companies in the Aero Engines, Hi-Tech, Aerospace & Defense, Transportation (Auto and Rail), Power and Industrial, Oil & Gas and Medical Devices industries. With a presence in 13 countries, 56 global delivery centers and 11,250+ personnel, QuEST Global believes that it is at the forefront of the convergence of the mechanical, electronics, software and digital engineering innovations to engineer solutions for a safer, cleaner world. QuEST Global's deep domain knowledge and digital expertise aim to help its clients accelerate product development and innovation cycles, create alternate revenue streams, enhance consumer experience and make manufacturing processes and operations more efficient. A former Jersey City Department of Recreation payroll clerk pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing $80,000 by inflating work hours for relatives and friends, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced Under the plea deal, Angela Rivera, 41, must pay full restitution to the city and will be permanently barred from public employment. The state plans to recommend Rivera be sentenced to three years in state prison when she is sentenced April 9, officials said. Four people who were involved the scheme Riveras daughter Ashley Cuevas, 24, of Jersey City; Alfred Coriano, 41; Gabriel Villanueva, 42; and Carlos Huertas, 34 were admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention program. Each was accused of depositing paychecks into accounts they controlled that they knew reflected work hours that had been fraudulently inflated by Rivera. If they successfully complete PTI, the charges against them will be dismissed. Rivera admitted that between Dec. 31, 2016 through Feb. 23, 2018, she stole $80,553 by inflating payroll hours for certain former part-time and seasonal employees who are her relatives or personal associates. Rivera forged employees signatures on some of the paychecks so she could deposit the money into her personal account. Others were deposited into accounts controlled by the employees named on the checks. The alleged fraud appears similar to the scandal that rocked the Jersey City Police Department and cost more than a dozen officers, including the police chief, their jobs. The police officers were prosecuted between 2015 and 2018. Rivera was charged in an investigation by attorneys and detectives in the Office of Public Integrity and Accountabilitys Corruption Bureau, which began with a referral from the Jersey City Department of Recreation, officials said. The city of Jersey City initiated this investigation by providing the Attorney Generals office the initial information, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. We have had zero tolerance for corruption, and we are thankful for the work that the AGs office did here. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has a toll-free tipline (844-OPIA-TIPS) for the public to report corruption. The AGs Office has an Anti-Corruption Reward Program that offers a reward of up to $25,000 for tips leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. The article said the Congress is an important transition step, creating the prerequisite for following tenures to successfully implement the national development strategy to 2030, with a view to 2045. After 35 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and 30 years of implementing the Platform on National Construction in the period of transition to socialism, the theory on Doi Moi, socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam has gradually been perfected translated into reality, the article continued. It spoke highly of economic accomplishments of Vietnam from 2016 to 2019, noting that the countrys economy still expanded 2.91 percent in 2020 while COVID-19 was put under control. At the same time, Vietnams foreign relations and international integration continue to achieve significant results. In particular, Vietnam has excellently fulfilled its role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020 and is working actively as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-21 term. The newspaper voiced its belief that under the wise, correct and innovative leadership of the CPV, the 13th National Party Congress will be a success, and the CPV will continue to lead the entire Vietnamese army and people to achieve all goals set to build a prosperous, strong Vietnam with fair and civilised society for the well-being of the people. The article concluded by stressing that after many decades full of challenges, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and the CPV have been well preserved and are continuing to develop in a practical and effective manner in all areas, bringing real benefits to the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (right), President Joe Biden signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 25 in Washington, DC. More than 1.3 million Indian Americans have been stuck in an employment-based green card backlog, which has left them in limbo for several decades. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) Staff wait to check peoples entering permit, screen their body temperature, and scan their health codes at the entrance of a residential compound in Jilin city, China, on May 25, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Millions in Chinas Tonghua City Stuck Indoors as Food Supplies Run Out After the sudden lockdown of Tonghua city in Chinas northeastern Jilin Province, food supplies have become a major problem for its 2.3 million residents. Due to the local governments extreme COVID-19 lockdown measures, many residents confined to their homes are running out of food. Currently, all the food supplies are distributed and delivered to households by community volunteers. The Epoch Times spoke with some of these volunteers who revealed what the situation was like inside the locked-down city. Tonghua has already tested all residents for COVID-19 three times so far, but many are still required to stay inside their homes, state-run media Xinhua reported on Jan. 27. One resident told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that local authorities in Dongchang district in Tonghua began to seal off her community on Jan. 15, nearly a week before the official citywide announcement. A college student surnamed Gao (alias) told this publication that after returning home to Tonghua for the Chinese New Year holiday, he has been doing volunteer work for almost a week. Gao revealed that after the third round of COVID-19 mass testing, residents are still stuck at home, and some with their doors sealed shut. When he and other volunteers dropped off food supplies, they first needed to remove the seals from the doors so that the residents could open their doors to take the food in. Then the volunteers would re-seal the doors before leaving the premises. A volunteer surnamed Lin (alias), who sorts vegetables for delivery, said in an interview that people are not allowed to go downstairs or go out of their building, and their food is delivered by the community or neighborhood volunteers. The Epoch Times obtained a video showing Tonghua city under complete lockdown. Lin said that the volunteers movements are also restricted, as they are not allowed to walk from neighborhood to neighborhood. They are generally arranged to do deliveries around the communities they live in. For the volunteers who are doing logistic support and vegetable sorting like me, they have a special pass and can go out. Some volunteers dont have a pass, so they are not allowed to leave their neighborhood and they can only work inside the community. He also said that the volunteers are using their own private cars [for food delivery] because the government cannot provide any transportation. The food supply in the city is inconsistent, and some volunteers complained that they did not receive their meals (provided at their work stations) after working for an entire day. On Jan. 26, a volunteer in Tonghua posted a comment on Chinese social media, saying that after completing his morning and afternoon shift, the food supplies were not enough, and they did not have anything to eat. Our team leader led us on a strike and Im starving, he wrote. The Epoch Times also obtained a video showing the food distribution in Tonghuas residential buildings and the inadequate rations that households received. After being locked down for several days, many locals complained that they barely have enough food because they stopped getting deliveries, or the amount of food they got was not enough. Regarding the food shortage problem, Lin said, There is no shortage in food resources. Instead, the management is chaotic. He believes that those who really dont have food are young migrant workers, low income groups, the unemployed, the handicapped, and the elderly whose children are not around to help them. Gao described what it was like to work as a food delivery volunteer. He said that when residents place an order, the supermarket gives the volunteers the order. The volunteers go to the supermarket to pick up the vegetables, fruits, and other essential supplies, and then deliver them to the residents. The customers pay for their items online. We usually work with supermarket chains. We start as early as 7 a.m., put on protective clothing, and start the delivery. We usually finish the delivery at 8 or 9 p.m. Gao continued, When I get home and after disinfecting myself, I go to bed and fall asleep within half a minute. Despite the risks and long work hours, he said the volunteers dont receive any subsidies. Gu Xiaohua and Zhang Dun contributed to this report. Dustin Chase is a film critic and associate editor with Texas Art & Film, which is based in Galveston. Visit texasartfilm.com. Tobey King speaks to her crochet Bernie Sanders doll as the bidding continues on eBay on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 in Corpus Christi, Texas. The doll sold for $20,300, and all of the proceeds are being donated to Meals on Wheels. (AP) Washington: Bernie Sanders went from becoming a hit meme to a nearly $20,000-crochet doll in less than a week. After the Vermont senator went viral on social media for his simple Inauguration Day fashion choices of quirky brown mittens and over-sized olive green coat, Tobey King in Texas got to crocheting. She turned the sensational meme that trended for days into a crochet doll. It sold for $20,300. Yes, you read that right. "It's mind-blowing because I knew Bernie was trending because of that picture, and I already had a Bernie pattern and a Bernie doll. So, I just went and got that and I modified that super quick," King said. But recreating Sanders' exact look that captured people's eyes, and laughs, took King about seven hours of non-stop crocheting, in addition to the time she had invested in the design a year ago. And her attention to detail is obvious, even the iconic mittens that stole the show on Inauguration Day. The mittens are not that hard it's just some color changing, a special stitch, said King. King, 46, initially posted photos of the 9-inch doll on her Instagram account, and they garnered thousands of likes and comments. By Saturday, she posted the doll on eBay and auctioned it for $20,300, which said she will donate to Meals on Wheels America. Her donation was inspired by Sanders, whose campaign created sweatshirts with the meme on them and donated 100% of the proceeds to Meals on Wheel in Vermont. "This could be my purpose; this is my new path," King said, "This is a new way of helping people in a way that I've never been able to do before." King, who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, said more than 30,000 people bought her Sanders doll crochet pattern available on her Etsy store. She said she hopes Sanders approves of her efforts. "I really hope that he thinks this is something cool and that I'm doing something good," King said. The Nepal Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to appear before it within the next seven days with a written response to the cases of contempt of court filed against him. Two separate cases of contempt of court were filed against Oli at the Apex court on Tuesday, for his alleged remarks on 95-year-old senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari, calling him "a grandpa lawyer". Hearing the writ petitions filed against Oli on Thursday, the single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma asked the prime minister to be present in person to explain in written "why should he not face action under contempt of court". Advocates Kumar Sharma Acharya and Kanchan Krishna Neupane had filed the two contempt of court cases. Prime Minister Oli, 68, had dissolved the Nepal Parliament on December 20, amidst a political tussle with Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. Also read: Nepal's caretaker PM ejected from ruling party, stays in office Last week, Oli was expelled from the general membership of the NCP led by Prachanda. A petition was filed at the Supreme Court on Sunday last to verify the authenticity of the gazette dissolving the House of Representatives. Nonagenarian lawyer Bhandari was set to participate in the hearing. At a public event on Friday last, Oli had allegedly described the hearing at the apex court as "a drama". On Bhandari's participation in it, Oli had allegedly derided him as "a grandpa lawyer". Advocates Acharya and Neupane have condemned Oli's remarks and filed for contempt of court proceedings. Bhandari, participating at the Supreme Court hearing on Sunday, had termed Oli's move to dissolve the House of Representatives as coup against the Constitution". He had said the prime minister does not have the right to dissolve the House in the present circumstances. Meanwhile, the apex court has also ordered four former chief justices and one former speaker of Parliament to be present in court on separate cases of contempt of court. The former chief justices facing the contempt charges are Anup Raj Sharma, Meen Bahadur Rayamajhi, Sushila Karki and Kalyan Shrestha. Former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana faces the same charge. The future is female, at least in Estonia. A new two-party coalition government was sworn in Tuesday in Estonia, led by the first woman prime minister since the Baltic nation regained independence in 1991. The 15-member Cabinet of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas took office after lawmakers in Estonias parliament approved the government appointed by President Kersti Kaljulaid. Kallas, 43, is a lawyer and former European Parliament member. The center-right Reform Party that she chairs and and the left-leaning Center Party, which are Estonias two biggest political parties, reached a deal on Sunday to form a government. The previous Cabinet, with Center leader Juri Ratas as prime minister, collapsed this month due to a corruption scandal. The two parties each have seven ministers in the Cabinet in addition to Kallas serving as prime minister. The government controls a comfortable majority in the 101-seat Riigikogu. Kallas stressed gender balance in forming the new Cabinet, placing several women in key positions, including naming the Reform Partys Keit Pentus-Rosimannus as finance minister and Eva-Maria Liimets, Estonias ambassador to the Czech Republic, as the foreign minister. Kallas Cabinet has a little over two years to leave its mark in this European Union and NATO member before the next general election set for March 2023. One of the governments immediate priorities is to tackle Estonias worsening coronavirus situation and the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. The Reform Party, a pro-business party espousing liberal economic policies, emerged as the winner of Estonias 2019 general election under Kallas lead. However, she was outmaneuvered by Ratas Center Party, which formed a three-party coalition with the populist right-wing EKRE party and the conservative Fatherland party. But Ratas government, which took office in April 2019, was shaky from the start due to strong rhetoric from the nationalist EKRE, the nations third-largest party which runs on an anti-immigration and anti-EU agenda. The EKRE leaders, Mart Helme and his son Martin, brought the government to the brink of collapse at least twice. However, Ratas government was eventually brought down on Jan. 13 by a corruption scandal involving an official suspected of accepting a private donation for the Center Party in exchange for a political favor on a real estate development at the harbor district of the capital, Tallinn. Estonia, a nation of 1.3 million, is now one of the few countries where both the head of state and the head of government are women. However, that may not necessarily last long as Estonian lawmakers will convene by September to elect a new president. Kaljulaid, who assumed her post in October 2016, hasnt announced whether she will seek reelection to another five year term. Kallas, a former lawyer and MEP, is the daughter of Sim Kallas, who founded the Reform Party and was prime minister in 2002-2003. She said gender balance was an important factor in the new cabinet, with numerous women appointed to key positions, including the finance and foreign ministers, reports The Guardian. The other three countries with a female head of state and head of government are New Zealand, Denmark, and Barbados, all with a queen and a female prime minister, according to Invest in Estonia. (With inputs from AP) Urgent questions are being asked as to how a self-described 'group of college kids' with little medical experience were put in charge of administering 6,750 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Philadelphia. Since January 8 the group, Philly Fighting COVID, has run a mass vaccination site at the Pennsylvania Convention Center - a deal that was abruptly ended on Monday, amid questions over its financial structure. Philadelphia is famed for its medical research centers and excellent hospitals, and yet the vaccination program is carried out by volunteer organizations, due to a lack of funds. Their founder is a 22-year-old student, Andrei Doroshin, currently in the fifth year of a combined undergraduate/master's psychology program at Drexel University. Andrei Doroshin, pictured, founded Philly Fighting COVID at the start of the pandemic The group from January 8 held mass vaccination clinics at Pennsylvania Conference Center He initially begun making PPE with classmates, and then started offering COVID testing before transitioning to vaccinations - apparently without anyone vetting him or his team. In October, WHYY reported, he practiced his pitch to his team, with a PowerPoint presentation detailing scheduling, staffing and safety protocols. The marketing plan hinged on inoculating local celebrities like Meek Mill to attract their fan base, the site reported. He said his Philly Fighting COVID team had plans for the $2.7 million construction of five high-capacity sites that could take 10,000 patients a day. 'This is the juicy slide,' Doroshin reportedly said, showing the financing plan. 'How are we gonna get paid?' He told staff the plan was to get the vaccines for free from the federal government and bill insurance companies $24 a dose. 'I just told you how many vaccines we want to do you can do the math in your head,' he said. The student told his friends: 'This is a wholly Elon Musk, shooting-for-the-heavens type of thing. 'We're gonna have a preemptive strike on vaccines and basically beat everybody in Philadelphia to it.' One volunteer at PFC told WHYY: 'They said they were gonna be millionaires.' On November 19, when Doroshin made his pitch to a meeting of City Council's committee on public health and human services, no one asked about his medical qualifications, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Wednesday night. 'Why we have to rely on an organization that is less than nine months old, started by students primarily to produce PPE, and not by organizations that have a vetted track record around helping people address COVID-19, is beyond me,' said Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson. She told NBC 10: 'I'm flabbergasted, I'm dismayed and I'll never understand how this happened.' Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson said she was 'flabbergasted' at the news Councilmember Cindy Bass is demanding a hearing into Philly Fighting COVID's actions Josh Shapiro, the attorney general of Pennsylvania, tweeted on Wednesday night: 'Any consumers who believe they have been misled by Philly Fighting COVID should file a complaint with my office.' Councilmember Cindy Bass, chair of the Council committee that held the November hearing, said her office on Tuesday drafted a resolution for a public hearing. 'It is just very disturbing, very troubling, and we need answers,' she said. She wants her committee 'to hold hearings to investigate the City's vaccine contracting process, including an examination of Philly Fighting COVID's contract with the City.' Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said that, 'in retrospect', it had been a mistake to partner with the organization. When asked why the city did not initially partner with Penn, Temple, or another respected medical facility for the vaccine rollout, Farley told The Philadelphia Inquirer he was not sure whether the organizations would have agreed to help, when they were already tasked with vaccinating their own staff. Yet Penn offered to ramp up community vaccination efforts as far back as November, well before the city started its non-contractual agreement with Philly Fighting COVID, WHYY confirmed. Tony Reed, chief medical officer at Temple University Hospital, told WHYY that in recent weeks Temple was happy to help. 'We all said, 'Tom, I think we're at a point now that we have capacity to do more and more,' Reed recalled saying at one of the weekly meetings health system chiefs have with the commissioner. 'I was running about 300 [vaccines] per day, I can do about 600-1,000 per day.' Farley said the Public Health Department will 'see what sort of additional things we might do to check up on any organization who works with us.' 'In retrospect, this organization wasn't good for us to have a partnership with that organization,' Farley said. People are pictured waiting inside a vaccination clinic in Philadelphia on Saturday City officials admitted on Tuesday that there are no contracts with organizations administering the vaccine on behalf of the city. 'There is no contract with any provider that is giving out vaccines,' said James Garrow, Public Health spokesman. He said the city only required that organizations fill out a form. 'Every organization that's giving out vaccine in Philadelphia registered with the Health Department with a form that seeks to ensure that they can meet the minimum requirements for distributing vaccine,' Garrow said. 'There is no fiscal contract between the City and any COVID vaccine provider because the City hasn't received any money at all from the federal government to distribute vaccine.' The city has declined to make public the registration form that Philly Fighting COVID filled out to begin receiving doses. Documents obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer show that the city awarded more than $190,000 to Philly Fighting COVID, for COVID testing - not for vaccinations. The city has not awarded the group any funding for vaccinations. 'There was no money exchanged for them to run this clinic,' said Farley. 'This was done on a voluntary basis.' A health department spokesperson confirmed it ultimately authorized more than $111,000 in invoiced charges for testing services by Philly Fighting COVID. No one on the group's all-white 'executive team', in a city 44 per cent black, has an advanced degree in public health or is an MD, Philly Magazine reported, although there are a few nurses and one doctor on the 'operations team.' Many staffers appear to be in their 20s. The biographies have since been deleted. Doroshin claims, according to the magazine, to run three different businesses: a real estate firm, a biotech company, and the COVID organization, which he formed at the start of the pandemic with other students to produce PPE. His biography on the Philly Fighting COVID webpage stated that he began his career as a director of photography for AND Productions in Los Angeles - ran by his father - then formed and taught at the Rancho Mirage Film Department, as part of his studies. He then resigned to start a nonprofit focused on air pollution, which produced a meme-heavy Twitter feed. Questions have now also been raised over the team's management of the vaccination rollout. Medical professionals volunteered to assist with Philly Fighting COVID's efforts. Katrina Lipinsky, a nurse, pictured receiving her vaccine, volunteered to help with the group On Saturday a mass vaccination was planned for seniors, but the group, according to WHYY, had bungled a sign-up page that allowed dozens of people to make appointments online. On arrival, many learned the clinic was overbooked. 'There were literally 85-year-old, 90-year-old people standing there in tears, with printed appointment confirmations, saying, 'I don't understand why I can't get vaccinated, I'm 85,' said Jillian Horn, a Callowhill resident who tried to get inoculated this weekend. A witness claimed to WHYY that at the end of the night there were still vaccines left over, despite staff having turned people away. Katrina Lipinsky, a 29-year-old registered nurse who was on site that day, said she saw Doroshin pack a bundle of unused vaccines into his bag shortly after 7pm. 'They ended the day with a significant number of unused vaccines,' Lipinsky said. 'Andrei walked pretty openly from the vaccine area over to his belongings and packed maybe 10 to 15 in his bag with CDC record cards.' A photograph of Doroshin reportedly circulated to dozens of Snapchat users sometime after 8pm on Saturday, WHYY reported. It appeared to show him getting ready to administer an unspecified syringe off-site, according to three sources who saw the image and described it to WHYY. Lipinsky tweeted on Monday: 'I feel terrible for the role I played in contributing to this operation. 'While I vaccinated folks I'd ask them what they did for work. I vaccinated many, many people who did not fall into 1a or 1b categories. That's when I started to realize it was a disaster of an operation. PFC gave it's own volunteers BS answers when questioned on these problems.' The City then announced it was ending the partnership with Doroshin's organization, amid the allegations of misuse of vaccines and the group's switch from a non-profit to a for-profit business. The city also said the group's privacy policy outlined ways personal information residents entered into the preregistration portal could be sold. Doroshin denied misusing vaccines, and said in a statement on Tuesday that the switch to a for-profit company was so they could 'expand our operations team and accelerate vaccine distribution'. He has promised to hold a press conference on Friday to answer questions. Some in the city praised Philly Fighting COVID's work. Councilmember Bobby Henon, who also attended the opening of the vaccination site, said he has been impressed with the group's work. 'I believe that Philly Fighting COVID did a good job for the Health Department vaccinating Philadelphians,' Henon told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday. 'It's kind of odd that they are in this position when they were doing such a good job, and I hope it gets worked out.' Dorothy Novick, a doctor who volunteered at the site on Saturday, tweeted: 'Thank you @PhillyFightingCovid for the most inspiring day ever. 'Almost 2,000 vaccine doses delivered at the Philly convention center, and it ran like a well-oiled machine. 'These guys are amazing.' Doroshin earlier this week said he was proud of their work. 'We've done the job,' Doroshin told Philadelphia Magazine. 'We've delivered. That's the crazy part. When somebody does the job and completes the contract, you don't fire them; you say thank you.' Premier Brian Pallister said he is "disappointed" that the chairman of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority travelled to Arizona in the midst of a global pandemic, but he suggested that Wayne McWhirter ought to be cut some slack because of his largely "volunteer" role. Premier Brian Pallister said he is "disappointed" that the chairman of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority travelled to Arizona in the midst of a global pandemic, but he suggested that Wayne McWhirter ought to be cut some slack because of his largely "volunteer" role. At a news conference Thursday, Pallister gave no sign that the government would punish McWhirter for disregarding a strong recommendation from health officials and the premier himself that Manitobans avoid unnecessary travel. A day earlier, Health Minister Heather Stefanson said the Progressive Conservatives had no plans to remove him from the post. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Brian Pallister responded Thursday to questions about McWhirters travel posed by the Free Press, and decried your papers tendency to focus rather harshly on the negativity, and to be critical of the government. "Ive said it repeatedly and Ill say it again. Dont travel now. This is not the time to do it," the premier said when asked about McWhirter. "Ill also remind people, too this is a volunteer youre talking about. This isnt a political staffer.... This isnt a person in our bureaucracy. So I would make that distinction." Apart from earning a per diem, the premier said, McWhirter "is one of the over 1,000 people that have volunteered to serve on a board in our province." WRHA Wayne McWhirter McWhirter travelled to Arizona earlier this month but has refused to explain why. The WRHA insisted he has continued in his role with the board by working remotely. The WRHA, with an annual budget of $1.9 billion, is the largest health authority in the province. It operates or funds more than 200 health service facilities and programs. Its board chair is paid a lump sum of $5,000 annually, plus $80 for a half day or evening or $150 for a full day of meetings, to a maximum of $4,000 a year. While McWhirter may earn only a per diem, he and his fellow board members are given considerable supervisory responsibility, opposition critics say. The NDP and Liberal leaders have called for Pallister to remove the PC government appointee from his post. "Trying to define this person as a volunteer is just word play. At the end of the day, this person... is in a leadership position of a significant part of our health-care system," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said Thursday. Premier lashes out The Free Press, like other media outlets, was allowed to ask only two questions of Premier Brian Pallister at his news conference on Thursday. Here is a transcript of the questions and the premier's response. First question: Premier, are you concerned about the optics of the chairman of the board of a major health authority deciding to travel to Arizona at this time against the entreaties of yourself, (chief public health officer) Dr. (Brent) Roussin and federal officials? What do you say to the average Manitoban who is outraged by this? Pallister: Well, Id say Im disappointed. Ive said it repeatedly and Ill say it again. Dont travel now. This is not the time to do it. Ill also remind people, too this is a volunteer youre talking about. This isnt a political staffer as youve well-referenced in the past. This isnt a person in our bureaucracy. So I would make that distinction. This is a person who, apart from a per diem, is one of the over 1,000 people that have volunteered to serve on a board in our province. And, so, Im not making excuses. Im just saying that the person involved is not a paid staffer of the government like 1,000 other people. They serve as a volunteer. click to read more The Free Press, like other media outlets, was allowed to ask only two questions of Premier Brian Pallister at his news conference on Thursday. Here is a transcript of the questions and the premier's response. First question: Premier, are you concerned about the optics of the chairman of the board of a major health authority deciding to travel to Arizona at this time against the entreaties of yourself, (chief public health officer) Dr. (Brent) Roussin and federal officials? What do you say to the average Manitoban who is outraged by this? Pallister: Well, Id say Im disappointed. Ive said it repeatedly and Ill say it again. Dont travel now. This is not the time to do it. Ill also remind people, too this is a volunteer youre talking about. This isnt a political staffer as youve well-referenced in the past. This isnt a person in our bureaucracy. So I would make that distinction. This is a person who, apart from a per diem, is one of the over 1,000 people that have volunteered to serve on a board in our province. And, so, Im not making excuses. Im just saying that the person involved is not a paid staffer of the government like 1,000 other people. They serve as a volunteer. Second question: But he holds a pretty important position. As the chair of the board of the WRHA hes responsible for overseeing the operations of the executive and of the WRHA. So your health minister said yesterday that the government would not remove Mr. McWhirter from his position. Is that the governments position still? Will he not face any sanctions? And is this a question of folks in high places being allowed to travel with impunity if they have the right connections in government? Pallister: Hardly. But the question, the way it was posed, Larry, demonstrates yet again your papers tendency, whether its editorially dictated to its reporters or not, but to focus rather harshly on negativity and to be critical of the government. You published the fifth story on my work in Ottawa last year this week. You referenced it in a way that created the impression that Im somehow disrespectful of taxpayers. And I resent that, Larry, because its false. Ive never flown on the taxpayer on a business-class ticket or a first-class ticket. I cover most of my costs myself, and when I see a report like today in a Toronto paper outlining the Trudeau familys vacation in 19 costing taxpayers over $200,000, but I dont see reference of it anywhere in the Free Press. Yet I see you 50 times reporting on my family going to the same place, Costa Rica, without costing the taxpayer a nickel. I have to ask myself is that professional journalism, Larry. I have to ask myself that question. And I think the answer to that question, honestly, is no it is not. Thank you. Close "We were very clear yesterday in saying that this individual should resign or be fired. Ive heard from many Manitobans over the past couple of days who feel the same way, and Mr. Pallister should act. And his failure to act shows a failure of judgment on his part." Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Manitoba, said the absence of the board chair during the pandemic when health-care employees are working long hours at personal risk is more than "disappointing" and "bad optics." "It will have real tangible consequences. It will lead to resentment, poor morale and damage motivation among employees even though they will continue to do what is required of them," he said. Thomas said to describe McWhirter as a "volunteer" who is paid only a per diem is "rather disingenuous." Many board appointees are political friends of the governing party, he said, and for appointments to major boards such as the WRHA's, the premier's approval is needed. "The position of board chair has significant influence, not real power," Thomas said. "The influence derives from his role as providing two-way communication between the board and the minister and the government. It is part of his job to communicate government priorities and concerns to the board and to ensure that the boards perspectives and agenda are known by government so there are no unwanted surprises." In a pandemic, it becomes a crisis of confidence, because people are saying, 'Why should I be following these rules when the people at the top dont?' Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Pallister may be hesitant to punish McWhirter after he allowed the province's chief bureaucrat and his former campaign manager, David McLaughlin, to work from his Ottawa home for two weeks in December. The premier also barely gave a slap on the wrist to a caucus member who travelled to Western Canada over Christmas, he said. "He (Pallister) is unable to actually discipline anybody because if he does he actually has to do it for everyone," Lamont said. But failing to hold people accountable for their actions will have repercussions, he said. "In a pandemic, it becomes a crisis of confidence, because people are saying, 'Why should I be following these rules when the people at the top dont?'" larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Goldman Sachs CEO Solomon Pays Price of 1MDB Scandal NEW YORKGoldman Sachs Chief Executive David Solomons annual pay fell by $10 million, or 36 percent, in 2020, according to regulatory disclosures filed Tuesday, reflecting the banks role in Malaysias 1MDB scandal. Solomon will receive $17.5 million for his work during the year, compared with $27.5 million the year before, the bank said. Goldman previously announced it would reduce Solomons pay, along with that of Chief Financial Officer Stephen Scherr and Chief Operating Officer John Waldron, in light of the findings of investigations into the banks role in the affair. The scandal dates to the government of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, which set up the 1MDB fund in 2009. Between 2009 and 2014, Goldman bankers paid more than $1.6 billion in bribes to foreign officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi to win 1MDB business, including underwriting $6.5 billion in bond sales, for which it earned $600 million in fees, the bank has said. A view of the Goldman Sachs stall on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, N.Y., on July 16, 2013. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Waldron will receive $18.5 million for his work last year, down 24 percent, or $6 million, from 2019. Scherr will be paid $15.5 million, down 31 percent, or $7 million, from the previous year. Were it not for the 1MDB scandal, Solomon and Scherrs pay would have been unchanged from the previous year, the bank said, and Waldrons pay would have risen by $1 million. Rival Morgan Stanleys Chief Executive James Gorman saw his annual pay rise by $6 million, or 22 percent, last year, according to a regulatory filing released on Friday. Goldman said in October it is clawing back $174 million from a dozen current and former executives, including Solomon and his predecessor, Lloyd Blankfein. The bank agreed to pay $2.9 billion to settle probes into its role in the 1MDB corruption scandal. By Matt Scuffham New data reveals the impacts of COVID-19 on supplier businesses in 2020. A complex picture of many risks and challenges emerges, highlighting how suppliers are adapting to cope and the importance of continued support from buyers. Key insights: The Garment Manufacturing industry is most severely affected, with 86% of businesses in the sector experiencing a downturn. Not all suppliers have been as badly affected as they expected to be. Suppliers are adapting their product mixes and sales models to maintain business. Financial support for workers is of mixed availability and uptake, and certain groups, including women and migrants, are more vulnerable to severe drops in income. LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from responsible business membership organisation Sedex reveals the impact on supplier businesses over the past year. In a follow-up to Sedex's COVID-19: Impacts on Business report from May 2020, this latest analysis uses data from over 1,000 businesses[i], employing nearly 600,000 supply chain workers, to understand how the ongoing challenges of the pandemic are affecting suppliers. The new report explores how the impacts differ from the initial concerns reported by suppliers in April 2020, and how they are adapting in response. The Garment Manufacturing industry is most severely affected. Sedex's research shows that the Garment Manufacturing sector continues to be the industry most severely impacted, with 86% of businesses experiencing decreased orders. This sector also saw almost a quarter of businesses experiencing negative, unsupportive customer actions (one of the highest proportions by sector), such as payment terms adjusted in the customer's favour. This correlates with numerous media reports on the garment industry highlighting unpaid wages, cancelled orders[ii], and millions of workers sent home without severance or furlough pay.[iii] Not all suppliers have been as badly affected as they expected to be. Sedex data indicates a varied picture across industries, from order increases and decreases to concerns around workforce shortage and surplus. Fewer?companies?than?expected experienced?decreased?orders, and some in?Food and Drink Manufacturing and Agriculture sectors have seen increases.?However, both situations come with risks - decreased demand may mean businesses have to reduce staff numbers or shifts, while increased demand can lead to overtime and excessive hours. "Businesses further down supply chains and their workers, particularly casual, migrant and female workers, are often more vulnerable to - and hardest hit by - both the financial and health impacts of COVID-19. It is important that companies understand how their suppliers and workers are affected, so they can mitigate negative impacts where possible and help to enable recovery. "Sedex is helping members gather information on suppliers to assist them in this. COVID-19 has highlighted the significant impact business decisions can have on people across the world. We strongly encourage companies to work in partnership with their suppliers and to prioritise human rights at this time." Alexia Ward, Head of Improvement, Sedex Suppliers are adapting their product mixes and sales models. By mid-2020, some companies reported adapting their operations to maintain their business. Diversifying their product offering. For example, switching from manufacturing garments to producing personal protective equipment (PPE) was reported by 20% of businesses. Other businesses diversified their sales channels, such as launching their business online - reported by 23%. This agility in a time of crisis helps to maintain business income and ensures more work and income is available to employees. Financial support for workers is of mixed availability and uptake, and certain groups are more vulnerable to severe drops in income. The proportion of businesses using government support to aid workers increases from 29% in April 2020 to 45% in the latest data. Around half of businesses are providing wages or salaries to workers themselves. However, not all suppliers can offer full wages, and not all workers can access support from the state or their employer. Click here to read the full report, including Sedex's recommendations for businesses to support their suppliers. Notes to editors About Sedex Sedex is a global membership organisation that empowers companies to implement responsible business practices and policies in their business and supply chain to build responsible supply chains. Sedex provides businesses with practical tools and resources to operate ethically, source responsibly and work with their suppliers to create fair working conditions for the people who make their products and services. Over 60,000 businesses use Sedex to manage business risk, meet compliance and drive positive impacts for people and the environment. Visit our website for more information. [i]Analysis is based on Sedex's COVID-19 Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) data, responses from over 1,000 supplier businesses received across May-October 2020. These suppliers are primarily from four sectors - Agriculture, Food and Drink Manufacturing, Garment Manufacturing, and Packaging. [ii] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/08/worlds-garment-workers-face-ruin-as-fashion-brands-refuse-to-pay-16bn [iii] https://www.workersrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Unpaid-Billions_October-6-2020.pdf A 12-year-old who started scrubbing headstones eight years ago to overcome her fear of ghosts says it's her dream job and wants to clean graves 'forever and ever'. Tj Kleeman and her family moved to a home that backed onto a cemetery with more than 3,500 graves in Tweed Heads, in north-east New South Wales, in 2012. The then four-year-old and her little brother Dash were terrified of phantoms lurking in the shadows, so their mother Tabetha took them on walks through the graveyard to help put their minds at ease. When the mother-of-two suggested they give a few dirty headstones a good scrub, Tj knew she had found her life's passion. Pictured: Tj Kleeman before cleaning a grave from 1962. She has cleaned this grave eight times so far 'When we first moved here I was like "oh my gosh", I was so scared, but then mum suggested we start cleaning the graves and I felt better,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I like cleaning graves because there's this feeling - it's not even a word - it's a great feeling that I get, and I want to do it forever and ever.' Mrs Kleeman said her daughter heads to the cemetery two or three times a week, when she doesn't have homework, while her parents walk Scooby-Doo - the family dog. 'We don't leave her alone in there or anything, we're always nearby while she spends about an hour cleaning. It makes her heart feel good,' she said, Pictured: 12-year-old TJ with her mother Tabetha Kleeman, age 44. She supports her daughter's interests The Kleeman family, pictured left to right: Tabetha, Dash, age 11, Tj and Justin Kleeman Tj also plays netball, surfs and skateboards on the weekends (pictured right with the family dog, Scooby-Doo The Year 8 student clears any dead flowers from the site, sweeps the leaves away and scours the dirt and grime from the concrete and tiles with a brush and soapy water. She pays particular attention to the sites that don't get visited because she feels as as though she's helping people in need. By the time she's finished scrubbing the thousands of graves in the cemetery, which takes about a year, it's time to go back to the beginning and start all over again. But instead of feeling downtrodden, knowing the wind and the rain will always mess up her hard labour, Tj is happy to keep going. Pictured: Tj walking along the sand near her home in Tweed Heads. She hasn't told her friends she likes cleaning graves Tj hopes to get a generator so she can pressure hose particularly dirty grave stones Pictured: Tj on a motorbike with her brother Dash. Her brother started cleaning graves but has not continued on with it 'She knows it's an endless task that will always need doing, but she's fine with that,' Mrs Kleeman said. 'We've talked about it and I've explained that some people don't have families or people who visit them, so it makes her feel good to know she's helping.' Tj has a number of goals for the future, including starting a community volunteer day where everyone gathers to clean the whole cemetery. She also wants to get a generator to pressure hose headstones that are stained with moss and dirt, and is thinking about starting a business tending to the burial sites of people whose families are unable to visit. Pictured: Tj after being presented with Tweed Shire's 2020 Young Achiever in Community Service on Australia Day She hopes to inspire people to find a form of community service they love Despite her unusual ambition, Tj hasn't mentioned it to any of her friends because 'graveyards don't come up in conversation'. Because she doesn't talk about it, Tj was surprised to receive the Tweed Shire's 2020 Young Achiever in Community Service on Australia Day. She hopes to inspire people to find a form of community service they love. 'You can do this too,' she said. 'It doesn't need to be at a cemetery, just to help people put and help others. I want everyone to feel how great it is.' The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. EMT Travis Carr helps administer COVID-19 tests at Balboa Sports Center in Encino, California. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images South Carolina officials announced Thursday they had detected two coronavirus cases involving the more infectious variant first found in South Africa. It's the first time this variant has been found in the US. Some evidence suggests existing vaccines may be less effective against the variant. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The US has reported its first cases of a more infectious coronavirus variant first found in South Africa. South Carolina health officials announced Thursday that they had detected two cases involving the variant, named B.1.351, this week. Both people infected with the variant are adults, one from the Lowcountry and one from the Pee Dee region of the state, according to a press release from the state department of health and environmental control (DHEC). B.1.351 was discovered in October in South Africa and has since spread to 31 countries. There's no evidence that suggests the variant is deadlier than other versions of the coronavirus, however it can "spread more easily and quickly," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant has mutations in its spike protein - the part the virus uses to invade cells - which contribute to its increased infectiousness. Preliminary research published last week suggested the variant can partially evade the defenses current vaccines build in our bodies' immune systems. Pfizer and Moderna, however, both say their vaccines will work again B.1.351. The US isn't testing enough samples to spot variants quickly Neither South Carolinian infected with the variant had recently traveled, and there was "no connection between these two cases," state health officials said. This suggests, in all likelihood, the variant entered the US long before these infections were detected and has been spreading silently for weeks. "It's probably more widespread" in the state, Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician at the Medical University of South Carolina, told the AP. Story continues A volunteer receives an injection for a potential vaccine against COVID-19 at the Baragwanath Hospital on June 28, 2020 in Soweto, South Africa. The vaccine, developed by Oxford University's Jenner Institute, will inoculate 2,000 South Africans. Felix Dlangamandla/Beeld/Gallo Images via Getty Images Countless versions of the coronavirus are circulating worldwide, each separated by a handful of tiny changes in its genome. To keep tabs on these variants, researchers must genetically sequence samples of the virus. According to the DHEC, South Carolina researchers have been testing random samples "in order to identify any instances of the variant viruses" since June. But the US is painfully far behind in its sequencing efforts. The country genetically sequences less than .01% of its coronavirus cases: only 3 out of every 1,000. That's likely the reason the US missed the new strain's introduction. "Believe it or not, we are 43rd in the world at genomic sequencing," Jeff Zients, coordinator of the president's COVID-19 task force, said during a White House briefing on Wednesday, calling the situation "totally unacceptable." Increasing sequencing efforts is critical to the US's efforts to monitor the introduction of new strains like B.1.351, Zients said, because that "will allow us to spot variants early, which is the best way to deal with any potential variants." Researchers in Minnesota spotted the first US case of the P.1 variant, first detected in Brazil, on Wednesday. At least 315 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK have been reported in 28 states since December 29. Both those variants have similar mutations in their spike proteins which make them more infectious too. Hilary Brueck contributed reporting to this story. Read the original article on Business Insider New Delhi: Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has released Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) phase three admit cards. The candidates can visit the official website so as to get their admit card. It is to note that the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) exam will take place from Sunday (January 31) to Friday (February 12). A total of 28 lakh students are expected to take the RRB NTPC phase three exam. According to the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), students will receive the necessary information regarding the third phase on their registered email address and phone number on the online application. Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) is conducting the NTPC exam for the vacancies of 35,208. The posts include Senior Time Keeper, Commercial Apprentice, Station Master, Traffic Assistant, Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Goods Guard, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Time Keeper, Trains Clerk, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, among others. Get your RRB NTPC admit card 1. Candidates need to visit the official website of RRB (region-wise) 2. Find 'RRB NTPC admit card 2021' on the homepage and click on the link 3. Enter your login credentials with registration number and Date of Birth. 4. The admit card will be displayed, download it and take a print out of the same. Live TV LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- Beginning Friday, counties in Oregon that fall under the extreme risk level can have limited indoor activities. This was announced by Gov. Brown on Tuesday. RELATED: GOV. BROWN CHANGING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS FOR EXTREME RISK COUNTIES The new rules allow for indoor recreational centers like gyms, movie theaters and museums to have up to six customers in a facility at once if the space is larger than 500 square feet. For spaces smaller than 500 square feet, one employee and one customer are allowed inside at a time. While this loosens up some of the strict regulations currently in place, business owners expressed their frustration with the metrics. Catherine and Coty Richardson are co-owners of Fitness 1440. Like many gym owners, they have made all types of changes throughout the pandemic. RELATED: RESTAURANTS, GYMS ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES AS 2-WEEK FREEZE APPROACHES Its been difficult, Catherine said. It's been hard. It's mentally and emotionally draining waiting every two weeks to hear whether it's good news, bad news or no news. It was surprising because we have a 7,500-square-foot facility, Coty said. A six-person maximum seems a little ridiculous to be honest. We are happy to hear we can reopen but a little frustrated with the metrics. Now, theyre forced to make some tough decisions. It's really ridiculous to have all these blanket guidelines for an industry that is so large and so varying. Logically, you'd think if six people is acceptable at 500 square feet, then the more square feet you get, the safer they'd be in, Catherine said. Ritual FitCraft owner Mike Welch agrees. He had to move his business online during the pandemic but wants to train clients in-person again if the opportunity arises. I find that thats a really ridiculous number as well, Welch said. Its not really taking science into account when theyre limiting it to six people. And thats not really a number thats going to help gyms stay afloat. Restaurants must remain closed for indoor dining. But Brown is allowing enclosed outdoor dining pods. For us, personally, it's not really worth it, Ciao Pizza Trattoria chef and owner David Lucht said. We just dont really have the outdoor real estate to put up pods. We only have about 7 feet of sidewalk. Its not going to work for us. Some experts say dining pods could create a high-risk environment for the virus to spread. Lucht agrees. I question if that's really safer than having people dine inside with medical grade air filters but that's above my pay grade, Lucht said. Browns new mandates are effective Friday, Jan. 29th. More updates can be found HERE. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With initial funding from Knight Foundation and administrative support from ArtsNow, an idea sparked as part of the Akron cultural planning process is coming to life on Feb. 3, 2021. During a community forum in the summer of 2019, local artists Dara Harper and Diane Johnson suggested the concept of a Black Artist Guild as a networking association and support system for Akron's Black creative talent. Local artists Dara Harper and Diane Johnson suggested the concept of a Black Artist Guild. "As a Black artist, it's easy to feel isolated from others and unconnected to opportunities in our region," explains Harper, who is now one of the lead community activators for the Guild. "We want the Black Artist Guild to be a solution to the data we see and the experiences we know." In early 2020, Akron Cultural Plan that released that 97% of Akron residents who engaged in the process indicated that equity must be a priority for the arts and culture sector in the next fifteen years. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, Black artists serving, working, or living in Akron are invited to join a virtual public meeting to officially launch the Black Artist Guild and provide insight that will guide the next steps. The group is set to discuss their founding principles and plans to impact the community. "Though we hope to build the Guild as a home base and a place to connect and commune with fellow Black artists in Akron, the details on how we do that are ours to co-create," shares Dominic Moore-Dunson, dancer, choreographer, and also one of the lead community activators for the Black Artist Guild. "At our first public meeting, we're not presenting a concept to the communitywe're building an idea together." As for the initial vision of the Guild, Harper and Moore-Dunson agree that the group will encourage broad collaboration and connection, but most importantly, the Guild aims to be a beacon for the next generation to see themselves as artists and patrons of the arts. The group is also seeking input and data. Black artists in greater Akron are encouraged to submit responses to a short survey that will be used to inform plans for networking, advocacy, education, and collaboration for the Guild. For more information, to take the survey, or to RSVP to the Feb. 3 virtual event, please visit ABAGuild.org. ArtsNow Morgan Lasher, on behalf of ArtsNow and Black Artist Guild 330-714-4833 [email protected] Related Images dara-harper.jpg Dara Harper Local artists Dara Harper and Diane Johnson suggested the concept of a Black Artist Guild. SOURCE ArtsNow Hong Kong: North Point restricted area set The Government made a restriction-testing declaration at 7pm to require people at Blocks A, B, C and D of Tung Fat Building in North Point to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing for COVID-19 in accordance with its arrangement. It exercised the power under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap 599J). The restricted area refers to Blocks A, B, C and D of Tung Fat Building, Kam Ping Street. Eight confirmed cases and five preliminary positive cases of COVID-19 recently occurred at Block C of Tung Fat Building, involving different units and floors. After conducting a risk assessment, the Government decided that it is necessary to issue a restriction-testing declaration for the restricted area to break the transmission chain in the district and dispel the residents worries. It will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the restricted area and request people subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 2am tomorrow. They must also stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid the risk of cross-infection. The Government will arrange door-to-door specimen collection for seniors and people with impaired mobility, or make arrangements for them to self-collect and submit the deep throat saliva specimen. It strives to complete testing of all identified people subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, as well as finish the exercise at around 7am tomorrow to allow residents to start getting to work. Those who had undergone previous testing from January 26 to 28 and are able to provide the SMS notification or related certification containing the results are not required to be tested again. However, they are required to stay in their premises until all people identified in the area have undergone testing and the results are mostly ascertained. All people who had been at Blocks A, B, C and D of Tung Fat Building for more than two hours during the specified period, even if they were not in the restricted area at the time the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing by the same time as mentioned above. The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline 2835 1473 for enquiries. The Social Welfare Department is also providing assistance to those affected. This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. That escalated quickly. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen found himself in a Twitter war with Barstools Dave Portnoy over selling short GameStop stock. And then suddenly, it was over. Lets see if we can break this down in simple terms (because I am not a stock broker). Selling short is the concept of buying a stock, betting that the share price will go down. Thats what Cohen was doing through his hedge fund, Point72 Asset Management. But instead of the share price going down, it went up. Way up. Per Business Insider: In the case of GameStop, Melvin Capital and Citron Research were among the list of short sellers, and theyve lost their bet, by a lot. Members of the subReddit group, which has more than 2 million users, have been bidding up GameStop shares in the past weeks, causing the stock to skyrocket more than 1,200% since mid-January. And short sellers have lost billions. Point72 invested heavily in Melvin Capital, which invested in GameStop. Therein lies Cohens exposure. Now, its important to note that Cohen was worth more than $14 billion before this began. So Mets fans need not worry about a meltdown like the one experienced by the Wilpons in the Bernie Madoff scandal. Enter Portnoy, who turned to Twitter Thursday to express his outrage over the market manipulation of GameStops stock: PRISON TIME. Dems and Republicans havent agreed on 1 issue till this. Thats how blatant, illegal, unfathomable todays events are. It also shows how untouchable @RobinhoodApp @StevenACohen2C Citadel Point72 all think they are. Fines arent enough. Prison or bust. To which Cohen responded: Hey Dave , Whats your beef with me. Im just trying to make a living just like you. Happy to take this offline. Portnoy: I dont do offline. Thats where shady s--t happens. You bailed out Melvin cause hes youre boy along with Citadel. I think you had strong hand in todays criminal events to save hedge funds at the cost of ordinary people. Do you unequivocally deny that? Cohen: What are you talking about? I unequivocally deny that accusation. I had zero to do with what happened today Btw, If I want to make an additional investment with somebody that is my right if its in the best interest of my investors. Chill out. Portnoy: Then in your professional option why was trading halted on $amc $gme $nok $sndl $nakd ? Id be very curious? Cohen: Good question. Those questions should be directed at Robin Hood etc. Im a trader just like your like you are. When you find out give me a holler. Portnoy: Either @RobinhoodApp allows free trading or its the end of Robinhood. Period. Cohen: I do think the brokers should make a statement. Seems reasonable. Portnoy: At least you are speaking and trying to answer. That is appreciated. Cohen: Legitimate questions that deserve answers. My guess is they were protecting their own hide if stocks burst and people couldnt put up margin. It happens in commodity markets all the time. They dont have to lend money if they dont want to. And just like that, the beef is over. Even if GameStops financial mess isnt. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Reserve Bank of India has told the Supreme Court that the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) allowed WhatsApp to "go live" on UPI only after ensuring it was fully compliant with its circular. The central bank also stressed the onus is on the NPCI to respond on the status of compliance of WhatsApp, Google and Amazon with the system rules/procedural guidelines governing the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). In an affidavit, the RBI said: "NPCI is the system provider of UPI and, therefore, comes under the regulatory radar of the RBI. Since it was NPCI that allowed Amazon, Google and WhatsApp to operate under UPI, the responsibility to ensure that these entities comply with all the rules/regulations/guidelines governing UPI lies with the NPCI." The RBI added that the NPCI was advised not to permit full scale operations of WhatsApp till the time they are fully compliant with the requirements of the RBI directions. "NPCI subsequently allowed 'go live' of WhatsApp on UPI only after ensuring that WhatsApp was fully compliant with the circular," it said in the affidavit. The RBI issued directions through a circular on April 6, 2018 on storage of payment system data and not data sharing or privacy. It said it has not issued any instructions on data sharing by Third-Party App Providers (TPAPs) or the participants of UPI, and matters related to data privacy and data sharing come under the domain of the Centre. "It may also be noted that Amazon was permitted by NPCI to operate as an UPI TPAP only after compliance with the RBI circular dated April 6, 2018. Whereas the other two TPAPs, i.e. WhatsApp (Beta Mode with a cap of one million users) and Google, were already functioning as UPI TPAPs at the time of issuance of the RBI circular," the affidavit said. The central bank emphasised that it has not issued any instructions on data sharing by TPAPs or the participants of UPI. "Accordingly, as WhatsApp and Google were already functioning as TPAPs and providing customer services at the time of issuance of the circular, no disruptive action against them was contemplated in the interest of the general public," it said. The RBI denied the allegations that it has turned a blind eye and compromised with the interest of the Indian users. "It is also denied that the RBI has responsibility to conduct audit of the members of UPI ecosystem," it said in the affidavit. The central bank added that the NPCI had, vide letter dated June 5, 2020, informed that they had reviewed the Post Change Review Report-III from the CERT-In empaneled auditor (Deloitte) of WhatsApp certifying the compliance with the remaining three items and found the same to be in order. The NPCI had stated that as WhatsApp has fully complied with the requirements of the RBI circular dated April 6, 2018, they are giving ICICI Bank (being the sponsor bank for WhatsApp) the approval to go live of WhatsApp on UPI. "Subsequently, the NPCI had, vide letter dated November 20, 2020, informed that they had approved WhatsApp to go live on UPI for a maximum registered base of only twenty million to start with," the RBI added. The response from the RBI has come on a plea by Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam, through advocate Sriram Parakkat, seeking protection of data of transactions made over UPI. The plea contended that the RBI and the NPCI instead of fulfilling their statutory obligations are compromising the interest of Indian users by allowing the non-compliant foreign entities to operate its payment services in India. The plea seeks response from the RBI and the NPCI to ensure that the data of Indian citizens collected on UPI platforms was not misused by WhatsApp, Google and Amazon. On Thursday, the top court adjourned the matter for further hearing on February 1. (Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in) The Delhi Police has registered a sedition case in connection with the violence at Red Fort during a tractor parade by farmers on Republic Day, officials said on Thursday. According to a senior police officer, a case under section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered and the incident is being investigated. Earlier, the Delhi Police had named actor Deep Sidhu and gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in an FIR lodged in connection with the Red Fort incident. Thousands of protesting farmers, who reached ITO from the Ghazipur border, clashed with the police. Many of them, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. They hoisted flags on the domes and placed the flagstaff at the ramparts of the national monument, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day. The Red Fort will remain closed for visitors from January 27 to January 31, according to an order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). While the order does not mention the reason behind the closure, it refers to earlier orders of January 6 and January 18, whereby the iconic monument was closed from January 19 to January 22 due to a bird-flu alert. New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor has sought to ease tensions with his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan after he suggested Australia should speak with a little more diplomacy and respect towards China. Senior Australian government officials are infuriated at Mr OConnors comments, which they see as a continuing pattern of New Zealand not joining other allies in standing up to Chinas growing assertiveness in recent months. NZ Trade Minister Damien OConnor and Chinas Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, sign an upgraded free-trade deal via video-link on Tuesday. Mr OConnor called Mr Tehan on Thursday to reiterate that he did not intend to speak for Australia when making the comments. Appearing on American business channel CNBC on Wednesday, Mr OConnor said New Zealand had a mature relationship with China and weve always been able to raise issues of concern. IT has been well established that the countrys most effective mobilisation system is the election machinery based on political affiliation. With this in mind, the current crisis in the country regarding the frightening spread of the coronavirus calls for a different kind of intervention. It is past time for the declaration of a political truce. We call on the countrys two major political machines, PNM and UNC, and all other existing political parties and groups, to come together in the national interest. Vietnamese food is famous the world over. Dont take our word for it, heres what those in the know said. American novelist, editor, and travel writer Hanya Yanagihara once said: I love how Vietnamese cuisine always tastes like flowers, and how they had the ingenious idea of pairing that floral flavour with seafood: such a combination shouldn't work as well as it does. TV chef Gordon Ramsey added: In the UK, we also have dishes made from rice, but in Viet Nam, you successfully bring it up to the new level. And the late Anthony Bourdain, a regular visitor to Viet Nam before his passing and a lover of Vietnamese cuisine, once said: Vietnam. It grabs you and doesnt let you go. Once you love it, you love it forever. All the senses are engaged here. So with all this acclaim, it will come as a surprise to discover one of Vietnams most popular dishes is as simple as it sounds cheese on a stick. CRISPY: Cheese sticks fresh out of the frying pan. VNS Photos Bao Hoa Now, this may well be a snack far more common in the western world, but theres something about this particular delicacy that keeps the Vietnamese coming back for more, and more, and more! Vu Tu Anh the owner of Banh Ga Hua store has been frying up these cheesy treats for two years. She thinks the key to a good cheese snack is to do the frying step well. I normally sell about 150 cheese sticks a day. I dont know why, but children love it, she said. First, it was a block of mozzarella, then I divided it into small pieces, each weighing 12 grams. "I rolled them in batter and again in breadcrumbs, then I fry them. Sounds simple? Well maybe not because when it comes to cooking up this snack, nothing but perfection with suffice. Deep frying is the most difficult step because the cheese can easily melt and ooze out of the coating, Tu Anh added. The temperature needs to be very high for one minute of frying. So if you are thinking about giving her recipe a try at home, make sure you keep a close eye on the cooking process at all times. And youll know exactly when the dish is ready to devour. When the cheese starts leaking out, its done. DIVISION: A block of mozzarella is split into equal parts to make the sticks. Elsewhere in the world, this is a very popular dish for children. But here in Vietnam its also enjoyed by young adults, particularly students sneaking a snack before class. Pham Thi Quyen the owner of Quan Tit Bach Khoa brought this dish the attention of students by opening up shop a stones throw from Hanoi University of Science and Technology. International students that stay at this dormitory eat cheese sticks a lot, she said. They either have it here or takeaway. Vietnamese students also love it. Because its a popular snack, and students love to find out about things that have gotten popular. Could this be exactly what Anthony Bourdain meant when he said All the senses are engaged here? Highly unlikely really as he was probably talking about something a little more complex than cheese on a stick! SNACK OFF: Fried cheese sticks are a popular street food for young people in Hanoi. Student Pham Minh Hang, 21, said: I love the cheese filling because I love pulling it out of the coating. Fellow student Le Thi Linh Chi, 21, added: I love fried foods, so fried cheese sticks are definitely not to be missed out from my snack list. We have cheese sticks at snack shops in my hometown, but I think depending on the ingredients each shop uses that they might taste different. I think they taste better here because I can pull the melted cheese out, and the taste is also richer. And how about you, have you tried these fried cheese sticks? It is a great opportunity to enjoy this specialty with your homie, dont miss it! VNS Linh Chi Nguyen, Bao Hoa & Paul Kennedy WorldKings recognise five Vietnamese culinary world records The World Records Union (WorldKings) has announced its approval of five Vietnamese culinary world records based on applications of Vietnamese cuisine being nominated by the Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings). Moscow, Jan 28 : The Russian parliament on Wednesday ratified President Vladimir Putin's bill on a five-year extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). At a plenary session on Wednesday, the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, approved the bill submitted by Putin on Tuesday on the extension of the significant arms control pact between Russia and the US, the Xinhua news agency reported. The New START reached by the world's two largest nuclear powers cannot be "overestimated" and it is of great significance for the whole world, said State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. Shortly after that, the Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, also greenlighted the bill. "The New START is being extended for five years without any additional conditions. This is our stance and this is our success!" said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council. Russia and the US have started expert-level work on the extension of the New START, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Monday. Also on Monday, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a phone conversation to discuss the extension of the New START and Russian-US cooperation in the field of security. In 2010, Washington and Moscow signed the New START, which stipulates limits to the numbers of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems by both. The key pact, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, will expire on February 5. Health officials in South Carolina said on Thursday that they had detected two cases of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus that emerged in South Africa. It was the first report of that variant being detected in the United States. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said it had identified one case on Wednesday, and was notified of a second case the same day by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant, known as B.1.351, was originally identified in South Africa and has since been found in about 30 countries. The United States is conducting little of the genomic sequencing necessary to track the spread of new variants that have caused concern. They include B.1.1.7, first found in Britain and since seen in more than 46 countries and 24 U.S. states, and the P.1 variant, first found in Brazil, which officials in the United States reported detecting this week in Minnesota. While the two coronavirus vaccines now in use in the United States, developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, appear to be protective against the new variants, they may be somewhat less effective against the one found in South Africa. Moderna has begun developing a new form of its vaccine that could be used as a booster shot against the variant in South Africa. The new variants are also believed to spread more readily than other versions of the virus, and the one found in Britain may lead to more severe disease. Former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard has spoken in alarm during an interview with Tucker Carlson last Tuesday at how President Joseph Biden, Jr.'s team are "moving in laser-like fashion" to undermine American's rights and freedoms stated in the Constitution. Breitbart reported that Gabbard claimed Democrats led by California Representative Adam Schiff and former CIA Director John Brennan are trying to turn America into a police state in so far as their proposal to "deal with perceived threats to public safety" is concerned. "The very first thing that any President does after they've gotten elected, any member of Congress and every one of us who has served in the military is we take an oath, and we swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," Gabbard stated. "The reason that this is the first thing that we do is because our Constitution is the foundation of this country and who we are. It is what guarantees us our civil liberties, our freedoms that are endowed to us, not by any man or person in government, but are endowed to us by our Creator, and so this is something that we must all unite around." "This is something that we recognize that those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 trying to stop Congress from fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities, they were acting as domestic terrorists undermining our Constitution. As you pointed out in my video, those like John Brennan, Adam Schiff, and others are also acting as domestic terrorists because they are also undermining our Constitution by trying to take away our civil liberties and rights that are guaranteed to us," she added. Quoting Brennan, Gabbard said, "'Members of the Biden team who have been nominated or appointed are now moving in laser-like fashion to try to uncover as much as they can about what looks very similar to insurgency movements they've seen overseas where they germinate in different parts of the country and gain strength and bring together an unholy alliance, frequently of religious extremists, authoritarians, fascist bigots, racist, nativist, and even libertarians." Gabbard said that this is "the extent that they are going to try to undermine the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to every one of us, and it is incredibly dangerous." In her Twitter account, Gabbard had been repeatedly calling out to Biden to safeguard the Constitution. "President Biden, I call upon you & all of Congress from both parties to denounce efforts by Brennan & others to take away our civil liberties endowed to us by our Creator & guaranteed in our Constitution. If you don't stand up to them now, then our country will be in great peril," she said Tuesday. Then adding in a succeeding post, "@joebiden Your leadership is needed now to denounce those like John Brennan & Rep Schiff who are advocating for targeting half the country as potential domestic terrorists. Truly unite the American people around our Constitution & the rights that are endowed to us by our Creator." Previously, she warned that the Domestic Terrorism Bill could target pro-life Christians and almos half of the country. "The mob who stormed the capitol to try to stop Congress from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities were behaving like domestic enemies of our country. But let us be clear, the John Brennan's, Adam Schiffs and the oligarchs in Big Tech who are trying to undermine our constitutionally-protected rights and turn our country into a police state with KGB-style 'surveillance' are also domestic enemies-and much more powerful, and therefore dangerous, than the mob which stormed the capitol," she stressed in Twitter with a video of herself giving emphasis on her point. Gabbard called on everyone for unity and to protect the Constitution, "We must unite to protect our Constitution & stand up to the likes of Brennan, Schiff & Big Tech who are trying to take away our civil liberties & undermine our Constitution. If our leaders fail to denounce & stop them now, then the country we love & cherish will no longer exist." 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. National Guard troops carry riot shields as they assume positions in the vicinity of the US Capitol as the Inauguration of Joe Biden in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images) Capitol Police Chief: Capitol Building Needs Permanent Wall Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said the U.S. Capitol needs a permanent wall to protect Congress members in the wake of the riots on Jan. 6. As I noted earlier this week, even before September 11, 2001, security experts argued that more needed to be done to protect the U.S. Capitol, Pittman said in a statement. In fact, a 2006 security assessment specifically recommended the installation of a permanent perimeter fence around the Capitol. In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol, Pittman continued. Since around Jan. 6, fencing with barbed wire has been present around the Capitol for several weeks. It was left there due to Inauguration Day. Thousands of National Guard troops were also deployed, and, according to officials this week, they will remain there until mid-March. National Guard troops are shown near the U.S. Capitol following the inauguration of President Joe Biden in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) But D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday pushed back against the idea of keeping a permanent fence around the Capitol. Based on conversations with federal partners, there are some potentially volatile events upcoming that will require extra security. Fencing and the presence of troops will be a part of that. But we will not accept extra troops or permanent fencing as a long-term fixture in DC, Bowser said on Thursday afternoon. The Democrat mayor said that the fencing will indeed come down when the time is right. The fencing around the White House and U.S. Capitol, just like the plywood weve seen on our businesses for too long, will be taken down, Bowser asserted. Some Republican lawmakers have suggested that the National Guard members should be sent home, or at the very least, a briefing is required. The Guard has endured unprecedented stress on the force in the past year given COVID-19, social unrest, natural disasters and ongoing overseas requirements. The National Guard should be used as an option of absolute last resort, a group of 11 GOP lawmakers wrote to the U.S. Army acting Army Secretary John Whitley. We are seeking clarification and justification on behalf of the National Guard men and women that have kept us safe over the past month and year. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a U.S. Army veteran, argued this week they should be sent home. A staff member in protective gear moves luggage before members of the World Health Organization team tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19 pandemic leave their quarantine hotel in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, Jan. 28, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) Officials: South Africa CCP Virus Variant Reported in US for the First Time The first cases of a more contagious CCP virus variant that was discovered in South Africa have been found in South Carolina, health officials confirmed Jan. 28. The South African variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, is known as B.1.351. Health experts in various countries said the South African strain is concerning because it has been shown to be more contagious, and some studies have shown that it may be vaccine-resistant. South Carolina public health officials said they were notified late Jan. 27 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a sample that was tested and later determined to be the B.1.351 variant. On Jan. 25, a separate case of the same variant was discovered by health officials. These are the first two known cases of this South African variant in the United States, officials said. The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over, said Dr. Brannon Traxler, public health director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, in a statement. While more COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together. Health officials said that both cases are adults, including one person in the Lowcountry region and another near the Pee Dee area. We know that viruses mutate to live and live to mutate, Traxler said. Thats why its critical that we all continue to do our part by taking small actions that make a big difference. These include wearing our masks, staying at least six feet apart from others, avoiding large crowds, washing our hands, getting tested often, and when we can, getting vaccinated. These are the best tools for preventing the spread of the virus, no matter the strain. Late last year, officials also discovered a more contagious variant in the UK. President Joe Biden earlier this week issued an order to reintroduce a travel ban across most of Europe and Brazil, and he added South Africa to the list due to the two new variants. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told news outlets earlier this week that the South African variety is a greater concern and really could be problematic. Its unclear, however, whether the strain is associated with a higher mortality rate. LAS VEGAS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Exterminator announced a transition to the Rentokil brand in the Las Vegas market. "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 Nevada's unique climate," said John Myers, President and CEO of Rentokil. "Western Exterminator has been part of the Rentokil family since 2012, and we are excited to bring the resources and knowledge of the world's largest pest control provider, Rentokil, to our customers in the Las Vegas community. It is our goal to take care of pest issues so that our customers can live and work pest-free." Rentokil, the global leader in pest control for nearly a century, provides a wide range of services to residential and commercial customers, such as general pest control, termite protection, mosquito control, rodent exclusion, bed bug inspections and service, bird management and more. For additional information on Rentokil and the pest control services in Las Vegas, please visit: lasvegas.rentokil.com . ABOUT RENTOKIL For nearly a century, customers have trusted Rentokil to protect their families, homes and businesses from pests and the health threats and damages they can cause. Rentokil is part of Rentokil North America, which provides commercial and residential pest control to customers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The comprehensive pest management solutions include general pest control, mosquito, termite and bed bug inspections and service, vegetation management, and bird management. In addition, Rentokil North America operates business services companies including Ambius, specializing in hand, air and surface hygiene solutions with Hygiene360 as well as interior landscaping and scenting; Steritech, offering food safety and operational assessments; SOLitude Lake Management, providing lake and pond solutions; and Vector Disease Control International, which serves governments and municipalities with mosquito control services. For more information on Rentokil, visit lasvegas.rentokil.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Erin Kelly [email protected] SOURCE Rentokil Related Links https://rentokil.com/us RTHK: Vietnam reports first local Covid cases in 55 days Vietnam's health ministry on Thursday confirmed its first two locally transmitted Covid-19 cases in nearly two months, just weeks before the Lunar New Year holiday period, when big gatherings indoors are expected. Though a tiny number compared with new coronavirus infections in many countries, the two cases are a jolt for Vietnam. Thanks to strict quarantine, testing and tracing measures, it has reported only 1,551 cases and 35 Covid-19 deaths before Thursday, earning it a top three spot in a survey of how well countries have handled the pandemic. On Thursday, Vietnam's health ministry ordered provinces and state agencies to tighten screening and controls. Contact tracing efforts were launched in two northern provinces Hai Duong and Quang Ninh, where the two new infections were detected - one of which was linked to the new UK variant of the virus - and a village in Hai Duong was locked down, according to state media. The UK variant has been determined to be much more easily transmissible. "We have to make all efforts to locate the infected areas within 10 days to put down the outbreak," Vu Duc Dam, head of the national Covid-19 task force said in a health ministry statement. In awkward timing for the country's government, the two new cases also came as the ruling Communist Party gathers in Hanoi for its five-yearly congress to pick new leadership, with 1,600 delegates from across Vietnam in attendance. On Thursday, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc convened a meeting on the sidelines of the congress with the national Covid-19 taskforce to discuss the new outbreak. The wearing of face masks was also made compulsory at the congress venue for the first time since it kicked off on Monday. The latest patients include a support staff worker at Van Don international airport who was responsible for taking infected passengers arriving from abroad to Covid-19 quarantine facilities. The other case is a factory worker who came into contact with a Vietnamese national who later travelled to Japan and tested positive there for the new UK variant of the virus, which has been determined to be much more easily transmissible. "The airport staff worker has been to several public places, including hospital," the health ministry said in its statement. "For the factory worker case, considering its involvement with the UK variant, contact tracing has to be done as fast as possible but in a very cautious and careful manner." Vietnam's stringent anti-coronavirus steps helped quickly contain its early coronavirus outbreaks, allowing it to resume its economic activities earlier than much of Asia. A first wave of infections was crushed in April, and the country went nearly 100 days without local transmission until the reappearance of the virus in the central city of Danang in July. Further cases were detected in business hub Ho Chi Minh City in early December. It has effectively closed its borders to combat the coronavirus and has suspended inbound flights from countries with new Covid-19 variants, initially Britain and South Africa. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A TV viewer has issued a complaint alleging that an RTE comedy sketch which depicted God as a rapist is blasphemous under the laws in Northern Ireland. The person this week made the complaint to Crimestoppers in the UK, asking for the matter to be referred to the PSNI to investigate as the programme aired in Northern Ireland and was available to watch on the RTE Player there. Blasphemy is no longer an offence in the Republic, but it remains an offence under common law in Northern Ireland. However, a PSNI source said they likely have no jurisdiction to investigate the matter. The national broadcaster has received nearly 7,000 complaints to date about the sketch by satirical website Waterford Whispers in the New Year's Eve Countdown Show on RTE One. The show featured former RTE News anchor Aengus Mac Grianna - who later apologised - reading a satirical news bulletin about God being arrested for sexual harassment. The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, denounced the broadcast as "deeply offensive and blasphemous". The Republic voted to remove blasphemy from the Constitution in a 2018 referendum. It followed calls to reform Irish blasphemy laws after gardai had to launch an investigation into English actor Stephen Fry in 2017 over comments he made on RTE show The Meaning of Life, hosted by the late Gay Byrne. A member of the public reported the blasphemy allegation to Ennis garda station. Gardai decided not to proceed further with the investigation against Mr Fry after they failed to find a large group of people outraged by his comments . Police hope CCTV footage of a Jeep captured near the scene of a fatal gangland shooting in Sydneys west earlier this month will lead them to the victims killers. Amar Kettule, a well-known member of the True Kings gang, was gunned down in William Street, Fairfield, in the early hours of Sunday, January 10. Amar Kettule was shot dead in Fairfield in the early hours of January 10, 2021. Credit:Facebook Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters on Friday that police believe Mr Kettule, 34, was caught unaware in what was obviously a well-planned murder. While police are still trying to establish what happened, he said the victim was taken by surprise and virtually assassinated in his vehicle. On Thursday, Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez announced the Bethlehem Health Bureau and Wind Creek Event Center would be partnering to establish a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the latters venue. Due to a recent expansion of Phase 1A of Pennsylvanias vaccination plan, individuals 65 years of age and older as well as 18 to 64-year-olds with co-morbidities are now eligible for the two-part vaccination. The health bureau was in need of a large enough space to accommodate the increase in vaccination appointments, and the SouthSide Bethlehem casino and event center was a perfect match. Today DOH released the latest revised #COVID19 vaccination plan that includes people who are 65 and older + those 16-64 with certain underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the disease. This expands vaccination eligibility to ~3.5 million Pennsylvanians. pic.twitter.com/amS6vO41UW PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) January 19, 2021 Starting Feb. 1, all vaccination clinics will be held at Wind Creek. Anyone with an appointment scheduled in February will receive an email detailing the change in location. Previously, the health bureau held clinics at Moravian College and the Bethlehem Area School District. There are as many as 4 million Pennsylvanians who qualify for the vaccine in Phase 1A, which would require 8 million doses of the vaccine. Earlier this week, Gov. Tom Wolf said that the state had thus far received only 1.5 million doses. When more vaccines become available, the Bethlehem Health Bureau will post a pre-registration form on the COVID-19 portal of their website. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. The mother of a little girl killed in a crash has appealed for the laws to change so no other family has to go through the same trauma. Amy Dutil-Wall was speaking after the Court of Appeal ruling on the sentence of truck driver Senan OFlaherty (64), whose careless driving caused the death of her daughter Estlin (3). We feel vindicated, she said. We never expected to have the feeling of justice being done because there is nothing that could be done to bring Estlin back or any punishment remotely comparable to what she lost that day. But we didnt expect to feel like an injustice had been done, and thats what it felt like after the trial in April. Read More In April last year OFlaherty, of Cooraclare, Co Clare, was fined 1,500 and banned from driving for four years after pleading guilty to charges of careless driving causing death and careless driving causing serious bodily harm. This week the Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence originally handed down to the truck driver was too lenient. On Tuesday, the three-court judge imposed a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years. It found that the original judgment which placed OFlahertys culpability at the lower end of the scale had been wrong. She said the entire prosecution team had been shocked by the leniency of the penalty issued by Judge Gerald Keys last year with a four-year ban, the shortest possible ban allowed under the statute. The first question asked to us by the barrister was would we be okay with appealing it, said Amy. We feel a huge relief that its been acknowledged that the trial judge was wrong. To have to go through it all again has been horrific. The crash that claimed her daughters life happened on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Amys husband, Vincent Wall, was driving Estlin to creche from their home in Ennistymon, Co Clare, when a truck driven by OFlaherty travelling in the opposite direction moved to pull out from behind a bus. The manoeuvre prompted a chain of events, resulting in a horrific collision that left Vincent with a permanent brain injury. Estlin died just nine days shy of her fourth birthday. Amy feels strongly that the events of that day should not be referred to as an accident. My daughter was killed in a car crash, she says. During the trial it was looked at as an accident, and why should someone go to prison because they made a bad decision and someone happened to die. Obviously there was no intent to kill anyone. But it wasnt an accident. Someone did this. Both she and Vinnie feel passionately that legal change must be made to instil a greater deterrent to careless drivers. These laws need to be looked at, said Amy, who has also been working with Parc Road Safety Group. I think in these cases, whether its careless or dangerous driving, if you did something out of impatience or without thinking clearly or for whatever reason and that causes the death of someone, then the consequences of your actions are so great that you deserve more than just a slap on the wrist. Its not just about a punishment for the offender and its not just about justice for the victim, it should also be a deterrent for society at large. It should be there in the mind of the person who might be driving one day and get stuck behind a bus that they remember the story of the truck driver who killed the little girl and who is now in prison, maybe then theyll decide to take their time and wait. This week at the appeal court Shane Costelloe SC said the sentencing judge had erred by accepting a statement by OFlaherty that he crossed the median line only because he saw the bus crossing it and thought there might be a pedestrian or cyclist on the left side of the road. Ms Isobel Justice Kennedy said that in the lead-up to the tragic accident, witnesses saw unusual features in OFlahertys driving. She said that none of the witnesses saw anything on the left side of the road that would have caused OFlaherty to pull out and all were of the opinion that he pulled out to see if it would be possible to overtake. The judge also said it was surprising that OFlaherty, who knew the road well, would have attempted to overtake a bus at that point in the road. She said the court was persuaded that the trial judge was in error in placing the truck drivers responsibility at the lowest end of the scale and said the penalty imposed was a substantial departure from the appropriate sentence. The court found that the trial judge was wrong to place OFlahertys culpability at the lower end of the scale, with Ms Justice Kennedy saying he was at the upper end and that his blameworthiness was more significant than that identified by the judge. Amy and her husband who are also parents to Mannix (4) and eight-month-old Lucie would absolutely have wanted to see OFlaherty serve a custodial sentence. But now the family want to remove him from their thoughts and remember Estlin, who should have been with them today, challenging them with the task of home-schooling, playing with Mannix, laughing in the snow and cuddling her baby sister. Theres nothing more in terms of the criminal court that can be done and, at this point, I think were both very relieved to be shutting the door on this part, said Amy. Its been going on for four years and were about to reach the point in time where weve lost Estlin longer than we had her. I dont want to be thinking about this kind of stuff any more, I want to try and find a way to forget about that man and remove him from our narrative. I want people to remember Estlin and maybe thinking of her might stop someone from driving dangerously. I wish we could have got more in the way of justice for her, and all that was taken from her. But now we have to be able to focus on Estlin, our grieving process for her, our other two children who mean everything to us, and what the future holds for us now as a broken family of four. Key findings from the report include: Between the countries analysed, over $15bn of equity is released per year for homeowners, but by 2031, the global equity release market is expected to exceed $50bn in annual releases. of equity is released per year for homeowners, but by 2031, the global equity release market is expected to exceed in annual releases. The most common sources of financing for equity release mortgages are banks and insurance companies, as well as securitisations. The most common type of equity release is the lifetime mortgage, which is available in the majority of countries covered by the survey, followed by home reversion schemes. Equity release products are typically available to customers from the age of 55 or 60 years old, with a mix of fixed and variable rates. A lack of customer awareness is cited as the main barrier to growth, followed by insufficient funding, notably in European markets. Commenting on the survey findings, Steve Kyle, Secretary General of EPPARG, said: "The survey report confirms that equity release providers across the globe are facing similar challenges and opportunities. As a global industry, we must now foster awareness of the considerable social and economic benefits that home equity release products can bring, particularly in the light of the global economic downturn triggered by the pandemic." "We also advocate a strong focus on standards, such as the EPPARG 10 standards which we have launched in Europe, to build confidence in this innovative product among both investors and consumers. It will be vital to grow the global market safely, working in close collaboration with regulators and governments, to demonstrate that equity release is a safe financial option for elderly homeowners seeking to supplement their income." Ben Grainger, UK Investment Advisory Co-Lead at EY, said: "Equity release is an important element to a retiree's financial affairs, and growth in the market will bring welcome competition and innovation. There is an element of chicken and egg to growth amid the various obstacles, but as investors increasingly recognise the potential of this market and growth does emerge, many of the current challenges will subside. Alongside market transformation and growth, it will be key that the advice providers fully align and move at the same pace to ensure that individual, tailored advice is given to users of equity release." Steve Irwin, President of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) of the USA said: "Financial retirement risks for older homeowners are a global issue. As the survey indicates, the international market participants face similar challenges to product development and acceptance. It is also clear that there is a common understanding that the responsible use of home equity is a critically important option to help mitigate these potential retirement risks and help older homeowners stay financially secure." David Burrowes, Chairman of the UK Equity Release Council and EPPARG Board Member, said: "This survey resonates with the Council's 30 years' experience and focus on supporting customer awareness and confidence by setting and evolving standards. It is timely that as the most mature market globally we are closely collaborating with our European friends to encourage the growth of the global equity release market alongside good consumer outcomes." Kevin Conlon, CEO of the Equity Release Industry Council (ERIC) of Australia said: "The challenge of funding a dignified retirement is a global issue and the solution offered through equity release is often not well understood by those who would benefit most from accessing their housing wealth in this way. We congratulate EPPARG on the leadership role they have taken in ensuring a better-informed market through the release of the 2020 Global Equity Release Roundtable survey report." The survey report is available at: http://epparg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-Global-Equity-Release-Roundtable-Survey.pdf The report is based on data collected from equity release market players in the following 13 countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. Media Contacts: EPPARG EPPARG Secretariat M: _+44 7933 881 299 E: [email protected] National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association Steve Irwin, President T: 202-939-1760 E: [email protected] EY Sarah Graham T: +44 7931 604 220 E: [email protected] Notes to Editors About the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) is the national voice for the industry and represents the lenders, loan servicers, and housing counseling agencies responsible for more than 90 percent of reverse mortgage transactions in the United States. All NRMLA member companies commit themselves to a Code of Ethics & Professional Responsibility. Learn more at www.nrmlaonline.org. About EPPARG The European Pensions and Property Asset Release Group (EPPARG) is the principal trade body representing the interests of home equity release providers in Europe. Countries with EPPARG representatives or associates make up over 75% of all the countries in Europe with a home equity release market. EPPARG's membership includes Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and the UK. EPPARG seeks to foster dialogue between industry, EU institutions and governments on innovative pensions and property asset release solutions. The high level aims of EPPARG are the following: To encourage appropriate levels of consumer protection and standards across Europe to allow freedom of movement to allow freedom of movement To encourage the safe development of equity release as a solution to the 'pensions gap' To work with investors, funders and regulators to promote the development of an enabling funding framework for equity release To share best practices across Europe to encourage growth and innovation to encourage growth and innovation To work towards a recognised quality label or kitemark across Europe . More information about EPPARG is available at: www.epparg.org About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. About the Global Equity Release Roundtable The Global Equity Release Roundtable (GERR) is jointly sponsored by EPPARG, the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) of the US, in collaboration with the UK Equity Release Council, and country representatives cover an estimated 80% of the global equity release market. After a successful meeting of the GERR in 2020, further events are planned for 2021 and it is expected that a GERR survey report will be produced on an annual basis. SOURCE National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association Food insecurity threatens 16 million inhabitants. It is the worst figure in Asia after Yemen and Afghanistan, two war zones. Economy devastated by international sanctions, pandemics and natural disasters. Kim Jong-un is betting on productive self-sufficiency to overcome the crisis. Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - 63% of the North Korean population risks hunger. The data was revealed yesterday by the US Department of Agriculture and is the worst in Asia after that in Yemen (92%) and Afghanistan (67.3%), two war zones: before the coronavirus crisis it was 59.2%. According to US government calculations, more than 16 million North Koreans faced food insecurity in 2020, consuming less than 2,100 kilocalories per day. North Korea is isolated from the international community (except from China and partly from Russia), which placed it under restrictions for years because of its nuclear and missile program. Despite the three summits and the apparent good relations with former US President Donald Trump, nuclear negotiations with Washington have been stalled for some time. The country is in serious trouble: the pandemic emergency and a series of summer typhoons have weakened an economy already devastated by sanctions. During the recent Workers Party Congress, in power since the end of the Second World War, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admitted that the latest five-year economic plan has proved a failure. As highlighted by the 38 North website, the regime has estimated growth in state revenues of 0.9% this year - the lowest rate since the great famine of the mid-1990s. In an attempt to emerge from this state of crisis, the strongman of Pyongyang is focusing on self-sufficiency. He wants to limit the effects of the health crisis and US sponsored international sanctions. The goal of the new five-year plan is to innovate sectors such as construction, transport and communications, with particular attention on mobile communications. Kim is also betting on the development of a national nuclear energy industry. With the coming of the coronavirus pandemic, protesters who once thronged Algeria's city centers in the hundreds of thousands have vanished. In their absence, state power is reasserting itself. Through 2019 and the early months of 2020, Algeria's mass protest movement, called the Hirak, made stunning gains when it took to the streets in opposition to the stifling bureaucracy and endemic corruption of the opaque cadre or pouvoir of military leaders, trade unionists and business elites surrounding the office of the president. Over the space of months, pressure from the street brought around a president's resignation, dramatic arrests among the country's senior political hierarchy and the promise of dramatic, far-reaching reform. Under the cover of a global pandemic today, many of those reforms remain stillborn, while observers point to the use of the courts and curbs on freedom of speech to reverse engineer the Hirak's gains. In recent weeks, activists such as 25-year-old Walid Kechida have found themselves arrested; Kechida was sentenced to three years imprisonment in early January for social media posts insulting both the president and Islam. In September, Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni was sentenced to two years on appeal for inciting an unarmed gathering and endangering national unity as part of his coverage of the protests. Algerian authorities have arrested 21 journalists for their coverage of the Hirak since early 2019. Three of the country's online newspapers Interlignes, Casbah Tribune and TSA have also been blocked and are now only accessible through a virtual private network. In December, the government announced a clampdown on electronic media, passing a law requiring all web-based Algerian media to be based within the country, as well as requiring publishers to inform authorities of any illegal content, a move slammed as "absurd" by many media professionals. Concurrent to the online clampdown, other moves appear to be underway, In the first days of the year, the former president's younger brother, Said Bouteflika long seen as the real power behind the throne along with Gens. Mohamed Mediene and Athmane Tartag, were acquitted on conspiracy charges, returning the two controversial generals to public circulation. Nevertheless, Bouteflika remains in custody awaiting trial on corruption charges. All the while, with police now a presence throughout public life and the economic realities of both the economic downturn from the fall in oil prices combined with the continued worst of the pandemic, the mood on the street is uncertain. Algiers-based journalist Akram Kharief outlined the public reaction to Kechida's jailing, sketching out the anger over the heretical nature of his posts combined with genuine concern over the state's continued encroachment on the internet. Nevertheless, he cautioned, despite the pandemic, social and economic anger is growing. Despite the human toll, health protocols are proving advantages to the regime. With public gatherings banned, Kharief described near dystopian scenes where " people are literally fighting to feed their kids." He added, "The police [are] everywhere in the public space and in cyberspace, and it is hard to federate views and opinions publicly." "The regime is denying any basic expression to anyone not agreeing with the president's roadmap," Kharief continued. "We have seen that more than 100 people were arrested during this sanitary crisis because of politics," he told Al-Monitor. But concerns over any overarching strategy being deployed to use the courts to silence the opposition were likely overstated, some observers cautioned. Rather, circumstances suggested the regime was targeting individuals, such as Drareni, and then searching for whatever tools may be available to silence them, said Ahmed Benchemsi, HRW's Communications Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, Benchemsi explained, the recent absence of public protest should not be interpreted as acquiescence. Instead, a better indication of the public mood could be drawn from the historically low turnout for November's much-vaunted constitutional reforms. In the build-up to the referendum in early November, Algeria's political hierarchy made great play of the amendments increasing parliamentary power and limiting presidential terms as an answer to the demands of the street. In the end, turnout was at a historic low, with less than a quarter of the electorate showing up to vote. "Turnout was really low," Benchemsi said. "This, despite the massive encouragement to vote, speaks volumes." And while the regime may have no need for prominent individuals, the same is equally true for the opposition. From the outset, the Hirak eschewed the need for any identifiable leadership, meaning the current round of unrests are unlikely to do much to temper any outpouring of popular anger if it comes. "The street is unhappy. The anger that fueled the protests hasn't really dispersed," Benchemsi said. Referring to the example of neighboring Tunisia where a police beating over a straying sheep in mid-January kickstarted a wave of protests, he continued, "You never really know where it's going to come [from], who it might be or where it may lead." Updated: On Friday, Jan. 29, New York opened hundreds of appointments at several sites, including the New York State Fairgrounds. Syracuse, N.Y. The Covid-19 vaccination situation can be confusing and frustrating, with far fewer appointments available than the tens of thousands who qualify for the shot. That means appointments are a rare commodity -- and hard to book as they become available online. As of late January, there are three main ways for eligible members of the public (seniors, teachers, grocery clerks, transit and government workers) to get the vaccine -- through the state, through your county or at one of 75 Kinney Drugs stores. This list includes the websites where appointments are made available. It also explains which site might be best for you. For example, any New Yorker can go to any state-run site, like at the New York State Fairgrounds or SUNY Potsdam. Each county-run site is generally for the residents of that county. Only people 65 and older can book at Kinney Drugs. Well update this list as often as we can. Got some appointment-making tips? Email Teri Weaver or call 315-470-2274. In the meantime, keep checking. More appointments will open as the state gets more vaccine -- a situation that can change week by week. When you do get an appointment, youll need to fill out a state Covid-19 consent form. Some other places may ask for additional information. The shots are free. You do not need insurance to get a shot. Some sign-up websites require insurance information if you are insured. Heres a look at the appointment situation for Central New Yorkers, as of Jan. 28: NY vaccine sites New York state has opened 13 large-scale vaccination sites, from New York Citys Javits Center to the University at Buffalo. In Central New York, the sites are at the New York State Fairgrounds, SUNY Cortland and SUNY Polytechnic Institute. So far, the state is booking appointments at these places through April 16. As of late January, the state had open appointments in several places, including the New York State Fairgrounds. Some people were also having luck using the states phone number (below). Any New Yorker currently eligible for the vaccine can go to any of these sites, no matter where you live. Website: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ Phone number: 833-697-4829 Cayuga County Cayuga County encourages county residents to check its website for upcoming appointments. It also has an alert system about the vaccine. Website: https://www.cayugacounty.us/1610/COVID-19-Immunization-Clinics Phone number: 315-253-1560 Cortland County Cortland County says its contacting employers of eligible people as the vaccine rolls in. But the county also said to routinely check its website for additional information. The county is asking people not to reach out to SUNY Cortland directly, but to use the states website (above) for those appointments. Website: https://www.cortland-co.org/1009/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information Phone number: 607-756-3415 Madison County The county is booking appointments as the vaccine becomes available. The county does not have a wait list. But it does have a number to help seniors book appointments or get transportation to a vaccine site. That number is below. Website: https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/2675/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information Phone number: 315-606-5080 for seniors only Oneida County The county is booking appointments as the vaccine becomes available. Website: https://www.ocgov.net/ Onondaga County Onondaga County was getting about 1,000 vaccines as week by late January. The county announces each week when the appointments are available. County Executive Ryan McMahon holds Covid-19 briefings most Mondays and Thursday. You can watch on the countys Facebook page. Onondaga County also has a wait list for seniors called ONList. As many as 10,000 seniors can register. Website: https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/1st-dose-screening-form/ Phone number: 315-464-3979 Oswego County Oswego County advises its residents to check this website often. The county is setting up appointments as they become available. Website: https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/covid-19_vaccine.php Phone number: 315-349-3545 Kinney Drugs Kinney Drugs has 75 stores participating in the vaccine program. These appointments are specifically for people 65 and older. Generally, each store is getting about 100 vaccines a week. Those appointments open up in a staggered way throughout the week to avoid overwhelming the system, a spokeswoman said. You can keep checking the site -- but its best to sign up for alerts. That way, Kinney will contact you when appointments become available in your area. Or you can text COVID to 51094 for the alerts. Website: https://secure.kinneydrugs.com/ Phone number: Kinney Drugs asks that people do not call individual stores with questions. Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share with a Syracuse-area reporter? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. Following two successful editions, C3 is launching the 2021 edition of the C3 Social Impact Accelerator Programme Powered by HSBC. The programme supports entrepreneurs with innovative concepts that maximise their impact on society and the environment whilst boosting their business growth and financial performance. A total of 20 finalists from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria and Turkey will be selected to participate in the programmes signature learning journey. Selected entrepreneurs will have the unique opportunity to attend group workshops on foundational topics, simulate board meetings with impact investors and connect with experts from across the world. Winners of the pitch competition will benefit from equity-free cash prizes and the expertise of global senior corporates. The deadline for submission to participate is February 28. Sabrin Rahman, Regional Head of Sustainability for Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, HSBC, said: This programme continues to show the importance of social enterprises in the region. We are proud of the further enhancements we are bringing to this edition and we look forward to supporting the growth of the social impact these companies will bring to their communities. For the 2021 edition, C3 has partnered with best-in-class learning experience designers (Italy-based BPI - Business Performance Institute), data analytics experts (UK-based Yonder Data Solutions) and learning technology providers (Finland-based Claned) to bring to life a very interactive online programme inspired by the most successful blended-learning methodologies. The pandemic has accelerated our plans to create a unique learning experience for entrepreneurs willing to create a positive change in the world. We are excited to join forces with renowned learning design, data and technology experts, who share the same vision as ours. We are now able to empower change-makers in a more interactive and engaging way, making sure that our proven blueprints and frameworks are absorbed and implemented throughout the programme in simulated environments, C3 co-founder, Medea Nocentini says. The 2020 cohort received more than 600 applications from 8 Menat countries and shortlisted 23 finalists. 3 winners of the Social Impact Accelerator Programme were chosen: Latifa al Khalifa, co-founder and CEO of Clever Play, Abdulla al Nuaimi CEO of Yalla Give and Duygu Vatan co-founder of Joun. The C3 Social Impact Accelerator Programme armed us with the tools to be able to correctly measure our social impact and to integrate environmental, social and governance metrics into our business model, the experience has been very enriching, says last years winner Latifa al Khalifa. In 2020, C3 became the Social Enterprise Marks official and exclusive partner to expand social enterprise accreditation in the Menat region. As such, participating entrepreneurs in C3s programme now have the opportunity to receive the only internationally available accreditation specifically designed to support social enterprises. Laudy Lahdo, C3 CEO, concludes: Covid-19 has amplified the urgent need for entrepreneurs, both globally and regionally, to embed social impact frameworks into their business models. We are proud to lead these initiatives in the Menat region and to support entrepreneurs business missions, which ultimately solve major social challenges at scale. -- Tratearabia News Service Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, strongly condemns the desecration of the Armenian churches in the territories of Artsakh occupied by Azerbaijan. Of course, we strongly condemn such cases and make efforts so that the international community will also condemn such incidents, His Holiness Garegin II told reporters in the Yerablur Military Pantheon where he visited to pay tribute to the memory of fallen heroes on the Army Day. He thanked the Russian leadership, as well as the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill for the support which made possible the continuation of the operation of the Dadivank Monastery in Artsakh. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan P2P lenders may be more attractive in areas with fewer banks, but can charge extraordinary lending rates, Photo: Dung Minh The Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) has issued a notification relating to increasing the legal framework to control this model. In November, the PBOC decided to close more than 10,000 P2P lending platforms, which began operating in China as much as 14 years ago. These platforms had attracted the attention of millions of private investors. In addition, PBOC asked leaders of Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba, to deal with financial violations in credit, insurance, asset management, and business. PBOC also required the group to ensure private information security during the process of customers receiving a credit rating. The South China Morning Post reported back in 2017 that China was beginning to see risks in this model, and thus committed to removing it altogether from its financial system. Tighter regulations saw the number of P2P services plunge to 343 in 2019 compared to 2,680 in 2016, with more than half of the platforms now based in Beijing only. Gansu, Hebei, Hunan, Chongqing, and Sichuan were among the provinces that ordered a complete shutdown of P2P lending in 2019. The abrupt expansion of Chinas online lending and its subsequent collapse has showcased the high risks that go hand-in-hand with the Chinese market where the mood in Beijing can change overnight to create or kill an industry. In addition, the collapse of the model there has raised concerns about a wave of businesses shifting activity to Vietnam, with the country already reporting in increase in presence of dozens of P2P lenders in recent years. Chinese P2P companies in Vietnam have created unfair competition and caused confusion among customers, with some companies reported to have scammed customers by issuing loans with large lending rates of around 60-70 per cent per month. Experts warned that Chinese platforms in particular may contribute to distorting the domestic P2P lending market and take it closer to a collapse similar to that in China. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), through the Central Institute for Economic Management, organised a workshop in Hanoi in last December to collect comments from relevant units on a draft report on impacts of some major sharing economy models before submitting it to the government. The draft report mentioned the P2P lending model, but the MPI has admitted that Vietnam has yet to have a specific legal framework for it. Although the model can create a positive impact on society and whip up a new capital supply channel in remote areas where the banking sector remains undeveloped, without strict management possible violations will continue to rise, contributing to increases of bad debt risks. According to the State Bank of Vietnam, the country currently hosts more than 100 P2P lending companies such as Tima, Trust Circle, Vay Muon, Lendmo, Wecash, and InterLoan, with some originating from China, Russia, Singapore, and Indonesia. In its draft report assessing the impact of the sharing economy on the Vietnamese market, the MPI emphasised the P2P lending models impressive growth in size, market share, and number of customers. This illustrates the potential of Vietnams consumer loan market and that it is a fetile land for P2P lending, the MPI noted. Notwithstanding, this model still has many shortcomings. In particular, the ministry highlighted that some P2P lending companies act as distribution channels for pawn shops. Some firms, on the other hand, have been known to take advantage of the markets lack of appropriate regulation for illegal purposes such as money laundering, usury loans, and multi-level marketing loans. Despite attractive advertisements and competitive rates, some of them have been known to charge otherworldly lending rates and threaten violence when borrowers fail to pay on time. In June last year, Cashwagon was investigated for charging 500-per-cent lending rates annually for a loan of VND2 million ($87). Customers had to pay a total of VND2.88 million ($125) after 30 days. If the customer fails to pay in time, the rate can even go up to 1,000 per cent. Last year, Cashwagons revenue and after-tax profit were reported at VND532 billion ($23.13 million) and VND163 billion ($7.08 million), equalling a gross margin of 31 per cent an ideal figure for most financial institutions in Vietnam. Somewhere near Jupiter, roughly 400 million miles away, a solar-powered spacecraft with strong San Antonio ties got an extended lease on life. Earlier this month, NASA announced that Juno, a spacecraft thats exploring the solar systems largest planet and its moons, will continue its travels into 2025 or until the helicopter-sized probe stops working. The mission was originally scheduled to conclude in July 2021. The $1.1 billion projects lead investigator, Scott Bolton, and several co-investigators work at Southwest Research Institute on the citys West Side, where some of the scientific instruments aboard the spacecraft were built. Juno named after the Greek goddess, Jupiters wife launched in 2011 aboard an Atlas V551 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The journey to Jupiter took five years. Since its first orbit in 2016, Juno has delivered one revelation after another about the inner workings of this massive gas giant, Bolton said. With the extended mission, we will answer fundamental questions that arose during Junos prime mission while reaching beyond the planet to explore Jupiters ring system and largest satellites. On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX to convert offshore oil platforms into spaceports The craft is holding up well, according to Frederic Allegrini, SwRI staff scientist. Its survival depends on fuel and radiation exposure. At some point, it won't be able to function anymore, he said. So we don't know which one is going to determine Juno's lifetime if its the radiation environments or if it's the fuel. If NASA hadnt extended the mission, the team likely wouldve crashed Juno into Jupiter sometime this summer. It would have been really sad for us, Allegrini said. The spinning spacecraft is studying Jupiters origin, interior structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Each of these topics kind of inform us on where Jupiter came from, how it was formed, and we understand a little more about the history and how it works, he said. Because this is the most massive planet in the solar system, it has actually a critical influence on the formation of the solar system, and knowing all these things about Jupiter informs us on the history of the solar system. Juno was in headlines recently because it picked up radio signals from Ganymede, one of Jupiters moons. But the emissions arent oldies, top 40 hits or even alien messages. Theyre the product of charged particles electrons or ions that move in Jupiters environment, according to Allegrini, the principal investigator on the Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment, or JADE, the instrument on Juno that measured the signals. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio tech grew in 20, poised for more expansion in 21 The emissions often accompany visible auroras, like those on Earth, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, said Allegrini. Scientists have known about Jupiters auroral radio emissions since the mid-1960s, but Juno was able to confirm how they are produced from Ganymede. In the case of the Ganymede tail crossing, Juno traveled very close to the source of the radio emissions, and it also measured the electrons that caused this emission, he said. It is a little like seeing the radio station that transmits and at the same time listening to that radio station. While scientists havent yet converted the Ganymede radio emissions into sound, other examples of Jupiter emissions that Juno collected are posted online. They sound like a mix between 1950s sci-fi space sounds and whale calls. With JADE, much of Allegrinis work centers on the low-energy particles, or plasma, in Jupiters environment that create the planets strong auroras. On ExpressNews.com: NASA contractors stake out San Antonios place in space Jupiters auroras are not quite the same colors as those above Earth, and they are a lot more energetic, he said. Everything about Jupiter is just much bigger than anything else in the solar system. It's just a monster. The missions extension is thrilling, he said, adding: We're very excited, obviously, because we can continue doing our great science, plus there is a lot of new things that we will be able to do. 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 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 presidency has accused Transparency International of releasing sensational and baseless rating on Nigeria and the fight against corruption. President Muhammadu Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said this Thursday in a statement in reaction to the latest Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI). PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigeria dropped three places and scored lower in number of points than in the previous years record. This is an indicator that corruption is perceived to have worsened in the country within the last one year. The fresh TI CPI says Nigeria scored 25/100 which is one point less than its 26 points in the previous year. It says Nigeria is now 149 out of 180 countries, a record that is three steps lower than its rank of 146 in 2019. In his statement, Mr Shehu said the Buhari administration is currently analyzing the sources of data used in preparing the report. Read Mr Shehus full statement below. PRESIDENT BUHARI DESERVES CREDIT FOR DIMINISHING CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC SERVICE The Buhari administration deserves credit for diminishing corruption in the public service and will continue to vigorously support prevention, enforcement, public education and enlightenment activities of anti-corruption agencies. We are currently analyzing the sources of data used in arriving at the latest Transparency International (TI) report on Corruption Perceptions Index in Nigeria since by their own admission, they dont gather their own data. This report is not an accurate portrayal of the facts on ground. In the coming days, the Governments Technical Unit on Governance Research (TUGAR) will be providing more detailed information on the sources of the TI data. While this is being awaited, the examination carried out on their 2019 report showed that 60 percent of their data was collected from businesses and other entities with issues bordering on transparency and the ease of doing business at the ports. Although this is a government ready to learn from mistakes and make corrections, the economy of this country, in its fullness, is bigger than the sea ports we have. We are also not unaware of the characters behind the TI in Nigeria whose opposition to the Buhari administration is not hidden. We have repeatedly challenged TI to provide indices and statistics of its own to justify its sensational and baseless rating on Nigeria and the fight against corruption. We expect them to come clean and desist from further rehashing of old tales. A Naira denominated review that excludes recoveries in Dollars, Pounds, Euro shows that a sum of N1.2tn was recovered by EFCC between 2009 2019. N939bn of that total was recovered between 2015 2019 with less than N300bn recovered in the first six years. ADVERTISEMENT Additionally, preventative instruments deployed by this administration such as Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) coverage expansion and the removal of 54,000 ghost workers from federal civil service saving us N200bn annually serve as evidence that perception is not reality. Reality is based on verifiable facts and data. And any evidence-based analysis would prove that whether it is by prevention or punitive measures in recoveries and prosecution, this administration would be rising fast up these rankings rather than standing still. Organizations should be factual in their analysis and be prepared to rely on inputs outside of sensational media reports and age-old narratives which have not been updated to reflect todays reality in Nigeria concerning its globally-respected war on corruption. In the existential fight against this multi-pronged malice and manifestations of corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari has avowed that he would take-no-prisoners, guided by respect for the rule of law. We invite Nigerians to stand with an administration that has done so much on asset recovery, prosecution, legislation, political will and leadership by example in the fight against corruption. Equally, we urge our friends in the media, development partners and the civil society organizations to continue to support efforts to strengthen accountability, transparency, ethical values and integrity in Nigerias public sector. President Buhari has put his hand to the plough and will not relent in working with those passionate about the welfare, stability and prosperity of future generations to come in Nigeria. Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) January 28, 2021 [January 28, 2021] Visa Inc. Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today announced its fiscal first quarter 2021 financial results through an earnings release that will be furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a Form 8-K and will be available on its Investor Relations website at http://investor.visa.com/sec-filings/default.aspx. Visa will host a live audio webcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss these financial results. The webcast and all related materials can also be accessed through Visa's Investor Relations website at http://investor.visa.com/financial-information/quarterly-earnings/default.aspx. About Visa Inc. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world's leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and @VisaNews. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006085/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The U.S. envoy who brokered a deal with the Taliban last year has been asked to stay in his position, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on January 27. U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has been asked to continue the vital work that he's performing, Blinken said, speaking at his first news conference since being sworn in on January 26. Khalilzad negotiated the agreement, signed in February 2020, calling for a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees from the militant group, including severing ties with Al-Qaeda. Under the agreement all foreign forces are to leave Afghanistan by May 2021. Blinken also reiterated that U.S. President Joe Bidens new administration is reviewing the agreement to determine if the militant group is meeting its commitments, including reaching a cease-fire and engaging in meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government. The Afghan government has welcomed the review. Blinken said the new administration has not seen parts of the accord that were not made public. "One of the things that we need to understand is exactly what is in the agreements that were reached between the United States and the Taliban, to make sure that we fully understand the commitments that the Taliban has made as well as any commitments that we've made," Blinken said. Khalilzad, a political scientist born in Afghanistan, is a veteran diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan under former President George W. Bush. Former President Donald Trump, eager to end America's longest war, tasked Khalilzad with negotiating with the Taliban. That effort culminated with the signing of the U.S.-Taliban deal in Qatar on February 29. The Taliban and the Kabul government began negotiations in Doha, Qatar, in September, but violence has continued in the country. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission's (AIHRC) said on January 27 that killings of civilians rose to nearly 3,000 last year, threatening the talks, which are aimed at ending decades of conflict. The AIHRC said in its annual report that 2,958 civilians were killed in 2020. That was an increase from 2,817 civilians killed the previous year. A string of killings targeting officials, government employees, and journalists has swept the country in recent months, with Afghan and U.S. officials blaming the Taliban. Afghan government negotiators this week complained that Taliban negotiators are stalling. Afghan government negotiator Nader Nadery on January 26 claimed the Taliban have not joined formal meetings in Doha for nine days and are not willing to engage in talks to end the conflict and save lives. The Taliban called the suggestion false and said the two sides are in touch with each other. With reporting by Reuters and AFP British life insurer Prudential said on Thursday it would split off its U.S. business Jackson through a demerger and may raise $2.5-3 billion in new equity, abandoning plans for a minority initial public offering. Britain's largest insurer, under pressure from activist investor Third Point to break in two, said last year it planned a minority IPO of Jackson. But on Thursday it said that a demerger would allow a quicker separation than a minority IPO and future sell-downs. Prudential split off its British life insurer M&G through a demerger in 2019. Peers Standard Life ... One of New York Citys most beloved Italian restaurants is taking a quick trip to the Jersey Shore. Patsys Italian Restaurant, a Theater District staple since 1944, will launch a pop-up at Asbury Parks historic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel starting Feb. 5, the restaurant announced on Facebook. Start Spreading the News! Patsys Italian Restaurant is coming to Asbury Park, NJ! The Scognamillo and Manzo families... Posted by Patsy's Italian Restaurant on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Reservations for the pop-up can be made on Resy.com or by calling (609) 435-3100. The pop-up will be open for three months and be staffed by employees from the original restaurant, according to APP.com, offering a la carte dining Fridays and Saturdays and family-style dining on Sundays. Patsys was founded by Pasquale Patsy Scognamillo in 1944. The restaurant at 236 West 56th St. became not only a Manhattan institution but the favorite restaurant of Hoboken-born Frank Sinatra according to the restaurants website, his family still eats there. Patsys has served countless other celebrities including New Jersey royalty like Jon Bon Jovi and the late James Gandolfini. Patsys is beloved for its classic Italian-American fare. Fried calamari, penne vodka, manicotti, fettuccine al fredo, chicken parmigiana and steak pizzaiola are all accounted for among other standbys. The pop-up comes as the winter and the COVID-19 pandemic continue to decimate the New Jersey dining scene, with indoor dining limited to 25% capacity. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. The Oti Regional Police Command has reacted to an allegation of fuel siphoning from an accident vehicle made against the Police at Likpe Bakwa by an Assemblymember. A statement dated January 26, 2021, signed and issued by the Oti Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr John Nchor said, the Assemblymember, Godfred Coffie, took the video [VIDEO ATTACHED BELOW] of the Police action and circulated it on social media to "malign the entire Police Service." According to the police, "fuel was leaking from a hole on the tank of the accident truck, ostensibly punched by unscrupulous persons." "Knowing that the leakage posed danger to the inhabitants living around the accident scene, Police took the necessary precautions to drain the fuel from the tank to prevent any adverse situation." "This was not done under the cover of darkness nor in seclusion, but in broad day light in the open with some inhabitants looking on." The police said Mr Godfred Coffie, the Assemblyman whose mother was being buried that day, appeared at the scene in the company of other mourners and took offence that Police did not inform him before draining the fuel. Thus, took a video of the Police action, taking to social media to malign the entire Police Service. It said the Regional Police Command has since invited Mr Godfred Coffie to explain why he took "that sinister action, having worked well with the Police in the past." Below is a video of the incident The attention of the Oti Regional Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on social media accusing the Police at Likpe Bakwa of siphoning fuel from an accident truck.The accusation is false, as the video and its commentator, Mr Godfred Coffie, Assemblyman for Likpe Bakwa purely misrepresented the facts, calculated to ridicule the Police and to cast a slur on the hard earned image of the Service.The facts are that, at about 8:00pm on 14th January, 2021, a KIA Rhino truck with registration no. GT 3169-20 loaded with sawn wood with four persons board including the driver, traveling from Likpe Bala to Accra rammed into a ditch at Likpe Bakwa.The incident became a matter of Police investigation.About a week later, on 23rd January 2021 it came to the attention of the Police that fuel was leaking from a hole on the tank of the accident truck, ostensibly punched by unscrupulous persons.Knowing that the leakage posed danger to the inhabitants living around the accident scene, Police took the necessary precautions to drain the fuel from the tank to prevent any adverse situation.This was not done under the cover of darkness nor in seclusion, but in broad day light in the open with some inhabitants looking on.Mr Godfred Coffie, the Assemblyman whose mother was being buried that day, appeared at the scene in the company of other mourners and took offence that Police did not inform him before draining the fuel. Thus, took a video of the Police action, taking to social media to malign the entire Police Service.The Regional Police Command has since invited Mr Godfred Coffie to explain why he took that sinister action, having worked well with the Police in the past. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Actions of Russian authorities to combat the coronavirus spread are in line with the level of threats and yield positive results, hence the pandemic is slowly subsiding in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a cabinet meeting Thursday, TASS reports. According to him, objective data shows that the actions taken in Russia to curb the COVID-19 spread "are in line with the level of threats which it poses for citizens." "Generally, [these actions] yield positive results," the leader stressed. "The pandemic is gradually receding." He explained that the number of cases is going down in Russia, while the number of recoveries "has been steadily above the infection numbers lately." "As of lethality, the situation is generally satisfactory if you can speak about it in such terms. Nevertheless, this is the case in comparison with other countries," Putin added. Imperial Valley News Center Governor Newsom Statement on Death of Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District Fire Captain Sacramento, California - Governor Gavin Newsom Tuesday issued the following statement regarding the COVID-19-related death of Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District Fire Captain W. Chris Mertz. Jennifer and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Fire Captain Mertz. Fire Captain Mertz devoted his life to protecting his fellow Californians and his tremendous bravery, dedication and sacrifice will not be forgotten. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. Fire Captain Mertz, 54, died January 20 from complications related to COVID-19. He was a 30-year veteran of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. He previously served with the U.S. Forest Service and Federal Fire Department in San Diego. Fire Captain Mertz is survived by his wife; son, a firefighter with CAL FIRE; two daughters; and parents. In honor of Fire Captain Mertz, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff. PHILIPSBURG:--- Divi Little Bay Beach Resort was recently awarded the Platinum SafeSeal emblem by The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), and Medwork in recognition of implementing best practices to protect guests and employees from COVID-19. The SafeSeal emblem verifies which St. Maarten businesses adhere to strict cleanliness and hygiene guidelines to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. For Divi, the recognition is a confirmation of the effectiveness of its in-house CLEAN CHECK Program. General Manager Anne-Marie Brooks says shes pleased the resort received this recognition and credits the swift approval to the resorts already established health and safety standards. We implemented our CLEAN CHECK program last year to give guests peace of mind with our top-notch health and hygiene protocols, said Brooks. St. Maartens hospitality industry has set the bar high for providing safe and pleasant holidays, and were grateful to be part of that effort. SafeSeals standards were developed by medical and occupational safety professionals, and those methods have been used to grant acknowledgment of best COVID-19 prevention practices to 1,700 companies in the Caribbean. For St. Maarten, the guidelines on stmaartengov.org check all of the boxes for the requirements per sector. At Divi, the resort has measures in place to protect both guests and staff members, including seals used to indicate a room is ready for occupancy, signage with helpful distancing and sanitation guidelines, and hand sanitation stations throughout the resort. Divi has also enhanced safety standards for all resort activities. All of our activities and events, including water aerobics, trivia, bingo, beach games, cocktail parties, and more have been adjusted to meet our highest safety standards, Brooks added. Were limiting capacity, spacing out activities to allow for proper social distancing, and sanitizing all equipment used by guests and staff. In addition, staff members are required to wear masks at all times, as are guests in high-traffic areas where social distancing is not possible. The resorts culinary offerings have also been adjusted to safely serve guests. Divis well-known seaside restaurant, Gizmos Bar & Grill, now offers room delivery. Plus, Divis on-site mini-market is available for those who would like to prepare dinner in their suite or outside at the resorts barbecue pavilion. To keep up with the ever-changing travel requirements, starting Thursday, January 28, the resort will be providing on-site testing on Thursdays with results available in 24 hours for those needing testing before returning to their home country. Another reason why General Manager Anne-Marie advises to continue planning that vacation to the island. Providing on-site testing is just one of the many ways were making it easy and convenient for travelers to visit the resort and the island of St. Maarten. Together, we are committed to providing the highest health and safety standards, said Brooks. Plus, now is a great time to visit. Our unique island offers fantastic hospitality, endless adventures, and plenty of activities for rest and relaxationexactly what many travelers want and need right now. By highlighting companies with the SafeSeal emblem, the supporting organizations wish to spread the word that St. Maarten is making its best effort to be a safe destination for all travelers. For more information on SafeSeal and current travel requirements, visit www.shta.com/safeseal or www.stmaartenentry.com. Update: Gov. Abbott tweeted Wednesday night that he spoke to Emilian Sosa. "With the help of Nim Kidd, the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management & Dr. Zerwas, the equipment his mother needs was located. She should be in good medical care," Abbott said. Original post below. A potentially life-saving treatment for his COVID-19-stricken mother is the only gift a South Texas teen is hoping to receive in time for his 15th birthday. Emilian Sosa, a 14-year-old from McAllen, told Gov. Greg Abbott in a letter that the only family he has left is his mom, and she's "hanging on for dear life" after spending the last month battling COVID-19. Erika Calderon, the teen's mom, is the Emilian's go-to for guidance, he wrote. Now, he's watching her health deteriorate via Zoom. With no other options, Sosa is asking Abbott to help his mom receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. RELATED: Popular UTSA-area bar cited twice in two days for violating COVID-19 orders Sosa's painful letter to Abbott was shared on Twitter by Naxi Lopez, a reporter for The Monitor in the Rio Grande Valley, on Tuesday. Since the RGV does not have a hospital equipped to perform ECMO, Sosa is asking for help to transport Calderon to a larger city, like San Antonio, Houston or Dallas for a better chance at survival. "Her lungs have not been able to recover because the virus damaged them too severely," the teen wrote. "At this very moment, she is on a ventilator, hanging on for dear life, at the DHR Health COVID Unit in Edinburg, Texas." He said the treatment is her "only hope." ECMO adds oxygen to a patient's blood in order to give damaged lungs time to rest. "My mother has worked diligently all her life to raise me," Sosa wrote. "She is a hard-working single mother, and she is the only family I have left." Sosa is relying on Zoom calls to help keep his mom motivated by playing hymns and violin, but he is watching her condition worsen, he wrote. READ MORE: S.A. COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: One shot COVID-19 vaccine gives Gov. Abbott hope Neither Sosa nor Abbott's press office were immediately available to comment, but Lopez tweeted that she was in communication with both Tuesday night. Twitter users keyed into the story asked how they could help Sosa. She pointed to a GoFundMe fundraising campaign which is just $500 shy of the $20,000 goal to airlift Calderon to a larger city. The funds were raised in less than 24 hours. Lopez updated Twitter again on Tuesday, saying she spoke to the governor's office and Sosa "might just get the help it needs." San Antonio, the closest option to Sosa and his mom, has seen a decline in hospitalization rates recently. Though the number of admitted patients are decreasing, more people are hospitalized now than they were during the summer surge. During these spikes, already highly limited resources like ECMO are stretched thin. Patients must qualify and an ECMO machine must be available. The high-risk therapy is typically reserved for patients who have the highest chance of survival, San Antonio Express-News reporter Lauren Caruba told mySA.com. Caruba pointed to a case of a 42-year-old woman who was unable to receive ECMO treatment because of unavailability during the summer surge. That patient died. Despite the hurdles, Sosa is giving his all to fight for his mom to survive. He pleaded with Abbott to make his request a reality by his birthday on Feb. 1. Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye Study suggests what makes prophesies, 'voice of God' unpredictable Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Before the 2020 presidential election, several evangelical self-styled prophets like Jeremiah Johnson predicted a win for former President Donald Trump after hearing what they thought was the voice of God. After the real estate moguls stunning defeat in November, Johnson apologized to believers for whom he might have caused to doubt the voice of God because of his failed prophesy while assuring them that God still speaks and is not a liar. I was wrong, I am deeply sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness, he wrote. I specifically want to apologize to any believer in whom I have now caused potential doubt concerning the voice of God and His ability to speak to His people. As a human being, I missed what God was saying; however, rest assured, God Himself is NOT a liar and His written Word should always be the foundation and source of our lives as Christians. Researchers, in a new international study of religious traditions published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have now identified porosity and absorption as attributes that make individuals more likely to report spiritual encounters like hearing the voice of God, or other gods and spirits, suggesting why what some believe to be prophesies can be so unpredictable. Hearing the voice of God, feeling the presence of the dead, being possessed by a demonic spiritsuch events are among the most remarkable human sensory experiences. They change lives and in turn shape history, researchers wrote in the study, titled, Sensing the presence of gods and spirits across cultures and faiths. We argue that experiences of spiritual presence are facilitated by cultural models that represent the mind as porous, or permeable to the world, and by an immersive orientation toward inner life that allows a person to become absorbed in experiences. Porosity, according to lead researcher Stanford University anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann and her team, refers to ideas about how a person might receive thoughts, emotions, or knowledge directly from outside sources such as through divine inspiration, divination, telepathy, or clairvoyance. It also pertains to ideas about how thoughts and feelings might have a direct causal impact on the world such as through witchcraft, healing energy, or shamanic powers. Luhrmann and her team examined more than 2,000 participants from many different religious traditions in the United States, Ghana, Thailand, China and Vanuatu through data from four separate studies. The term absorption in the study was used to refer to an individuals personal tendency to be engrossed in sensory or imagined events. People with a greater capacity for absorption tend to lose themselves in their sensory experiences and are capable of conjuring vivid imagined events. For example, they might get so caught up in music that they do not notice anything else, or they might feel that they experience the world the way they did as a child, the researchers explained. In the psychological literature, absorption is commonly considered to be a personality trait, although it may be sensitive to experience or training. Absorption, among U.S. adults, has been associated with an orientation toward fantasy and artistic pursuits, intense mystical experiences in response to psychedelics or placebo brain stimulation, and strong feelings of presence and transcendence when confronted with natural beauty, virtual reality, or music the researchers explained. Our work in an American charismatic Christian church found that congregants who reported more vivid experiences (e.g., that they experienced God in dialogue or heard Gods voice audibly) tended to score higher on measures of absorption, they said. These two attributes, researchers argued, played distinct roles in determining which people, in which cultural settings, were most likely to report vivid sensory experiences of what they took to be gods and spirits. And even among cultural groups, like charismatic evangelicals, for example, some people report experiencing such events while others do not because of the varying degrees of the attributes they share. Ethnographic work suggests that societies differ in the degree to which minds are represented as porous and that, within these societies, individuals differ in the degree to which they accept such models of mind, researchers wrote. Researchers found that participants in relatively more secular settings in the four studies combined, such as in the United States and urban China, reported fewer spiritual presence events, while participants in less secular settings like Ghana and Vanuatu, along with charismatic evangelical Christians in all countries reported more. Were now starting to think about ways that individuals could shift their mindsets and what ramifications that might have for their spiritual lives, postdoctoral fellow Kara Weisman, a co-first author on the paper said in a release from Stanford. Porosity is a social-cultural construct, and if you want to have a different cognitive model, you might join a community of people who have that. Absorption is more individual, so you might have individual practices, like meditation, that might create a shift, she added. Rome, Jan 28 : Juventus have moved into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Serie B side SPAL, with four different players on target. The Bianconeri will go on to face Inter Milan, who knocked out city rivals AC Milan 2-1 on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency. On Wednesday evening, the Old Lady rested talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and made sweeping changes to the starting line-up, as Gianluigi Buffon, who celebrates his 43rd birthday on Thursday, started in goal, while Matthijs de Ligt started for the first time since recovering from Covid-19. Alvaro Morata put Juve ahead in the 16th minute with a penalty, and Gianluca Frabotta doubled the lead with a volley from Dejan Kulusevski's assist in the 33rd minute. Juventus extended the lead with Kulusevski's daisy-cutter in the second-half, before Federico Chiesa sealed the win with a mazy run in stoppage time. In the day's earlier fixture, Aleksei Miranchuk's winner helped 10-man Atalanta edge past Lazio in a 3-2 thriller. The Dea will now face either Napoli or Spezia in the semi-finals. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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 high schoolers turned scientists published their findings this week, thanks to a research mentorship program at the Center for Astrophysics; Harvard and Smithsonian Cambridge, Massachusetts - They may be the youngest astronomers to make a discovery yet. This week, 16-year-old Kartik Pingle and 18-year-old Jasmine Wright have co-authored a peer-reviewed paper in The Astronomical Journal describing the discovery of four new exoplanets about 200-light-years away from Earth. The high schoolers participated in the research through the Student Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Directed by astrochemist Clara Sousa-Silva, the SRMP connects local high schoolers who are interested in research with real-world scientists at Harvard and MIT. The students then work with their mentors on a year-long research project. "It's a steep learning curve," says Sousa-Silva, but it's worth it. "By the end of the program, the students can say they've done active, state-of-the-art research in astrophysics." Pingle and Wright's particular achievement is rare. High schoolers seldom publish research, Sousa-Silva says. "Although that is one of the goals of the SRMP, it is highly unusual for high-schoolers to be co-authors on journal papers." With guidance from mentor Tansu Daylan, a postdoc at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, the students studied and analyzed data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). TESS is a space-based satellite that orbits around Earth and surveys nearby bright stars with the ultimate goal of discovering new planets. The team focused on TESS Object of Interest (TOI) 1233, a nearby, bright Sun-like star. To perceive if planets were orbiting around the star, they narrowed in on TOI-1233's light. "We were looking to see changes in light over time," Pingle explains. "The idea being that if the planet transits the star, or passes in front of it, it would [periodically] cover up the star and decrease its brightness." To the team's surprise, they discovered not one but four planets orbiting around TOI-1233. "I was very excited and very shocked," Wright says. "We knew this was the goal of Daylan's research, but to actually find a multiplanetary system, and be part of the discovering team, was really cool." Three of the planets are considered "sub-Neptunes," gaseous planets that are smaller than, but similar to our own solar system's Neptune. It takes between 6 and 19.5 days for each of them to orbit around TOI-1233. The fourth planet is labeled a "super-Earth" for its large size and rockiness; it orbits around the star in just under four days. Daylan hopes to study the planets even closer in the coming year. "Our species has long been contemplating planets beyond our solar system and with multi-planetary systems, you're kind of hitting the jackpot," he says. "The planets originated from the same disk of matter around the same star, but they ended up being different planets with different atmospheres and different climates due to their different orbits. So, we would like to understand the fundamental processes of planet formation and evolution using this planetary system." Daylan adds that it was a "win-win" to work with Pingle and Wright on the study. "As a researcher, I really enjoy interacting with young brains that are open to experimentation and learning and have minimal bias," he says. "I also think it is very beneficial to high school students, since they get exposure to cutting-edge research and this prepares them quickly for a research career." The SRMP was established in 2016 by Or Graur, a former postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Astrophysics |Harvard & Smithsonian. The program accepts about a dozen students per year with priority given to underrepresented minorities. Thanks to a partnership with the City of Cambridge, the students are paid four hours per week for the research they complete. "They are salaried scientists," Sousa-Silva says. "We want to encourage them that pursuing an academic career is enjoyable and rewarding--no matter what they end up pursuing in life." ### Pingle, a junior in high school, is considering studying applied mathematics or astrophysics after graduation. Wright has just been accepted into a five-year Master of Astrophysics program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between Harvard and the Smithsonian designed to ask--and ultimately answer--humanity's greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. The Center for Astrophysics is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with research facilities across the U.S. and around the world. A Cottondale man is facing multiple charges related to thefts reported from several auto dealerships along Skyland Boulevard earlier this month. Dylan Barger, 26, was arrested Tuesday on two charges of receiving stolen property resulting from an ongoing TPD investigation. He is facing additional charges related to cases initiated by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Office. Barger is suspected of stealing a Hyuandi Elantra from a gas station on Skyland Boulevard. He was captured on surveillance video driving that vehicle to different car lots on multiple occasions during the late night and early morning hours. While there, Barger unsuccessfully attempted to steal more vehicles by drilling out ignition switches and removing steering columns, said Tuscaloosa police spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor. He was also seen on video stealing tires off vehicles that belonged both to the businesses and customers who had left them for maintenance. The thefts were reported by three businesses between Jan.15 and Jan. 21. Barger was taken into custody about noon Tuesday after fleeing from sheriffs deputies and abandoning the Elantra. He was captured and questioned by investigators with TPDs Criminal Investigations Division before he was jailed on several felony charges. The investigation is ongoing, with several pending charges expected. The rules name lends itself to a number of bird-related puns commonly used to describe the stages of the reconciliation process. There is the Byrd bath, when the Senate parliamentarian scrubs and analyzes a bill for any provision that violates the rule if a senator raises a concern about a violation. Anything that does not survive the scrutiny is known as a Byrd dropping, and is removed from the legislation before it can advance. In the case of Mr. Bidens stimulus plan, among the thorniest questions is whether a provision to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 could survive the Byrd bath. Representative John Yarmuth, Democrat of Kentucky and the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said in an interview that such a provision is just a stretch. His Senate counterpart, Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, has signaled that he believes it is feasible. G. William Hoagland, a former senior Republican budget official in the Senate, said Democrats could have a difficult time using reconciliation for the wage increase or for funding the reopening of schools. But he suggested that Democrats could try to push the limits, for example, by arguing that increasing the minimum wage nationwide might lead to more income tax revenue. Vice President Kamala Harris could also overrule the parliamentarian, but that has not been done since 1975. The bottom line is theres a lot they can do, but theres a lot they cannot do, said Mr. Hoagland, the senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center. This is why I think President Biden would prefer not to go down this route and instead do an emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Time is of the essence, and reconciliation moves fast. A budget resolution could be introduced as early next week to start the reconciliation process, but it is unclear how quickly Democrats could move through the process given the legislative parameters and the time constraints of another impeachment trial. Bidens 2022 Budget A new year, a new budget: The 2022 fiscal year for the federal government begins on October 1, and President Biden has revealed what hed like to spend, starting then. But any spending requires approval from both chambers of Congress. Ambitious total spending: President Biden would like the federal government to spend $6 trillion in the 2022 fiscal year, and for total spending to rise to $8.2 trillion by 2031. That would take the United States to its highest sustained levels of federal spending since World War II, while running deficits above $1.3 trillion through the next decade. Infrastructure plan: The budget outlines the presidents desired first year of investment in his American Jobs Plan, which seeks to fund improvements to roads, bridges, public transit and more with a total of $2.3 billion over eight years. Families plan: The budget also addresses the other major spending proposal Biden has already rolled out, his American Families Plan, aimed at bolstering the United States social safety net by expanding access to education, reducing the cost of child care and supporting women in the work force. Mandatory programs: As usual, mandatory spending on programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare make up a significant portion of the proposed budget. They are growing as Americas population ages. Discretionary spending: Funding for the individual budgets of the agencies and programs under the executive branch would reach around $1.5 trillion in 2022, a 16 percent increase from the previous budget. How Biden would pay for it: The president would largely fund his agenda by raising taxes on corporations and high earners, which would begin to shrink budget deficits in the 2030s. Administration officials have said tax increases would fully offset the jobs and families plans over the course of 15 years, which the budget request backs up. In the meantime, the budget deficit would remain above $1.3 trillion each year. The timing is crucial as the pandemic continues to rage and existing relief programs run their course. Congress faces a deadline of March 14, when the current round of jobless benefits begins to expire. In order to give states time to put a new round of aid in place and prevent unemployed workers from losing access to their benefits, most analysts believe legislation must be passed before the end of February. Most Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted as cases have plunged, but Indians are still stashing away their rupees and building bank balances. New Delhi maid Sarita Ekka has the beginnings of an impressive trousseau stacked in a corner of her humble home: a new juicer, sandwich grill, pots, utensils, 15 saris and a full set of gold jewelry. Last year she stopped shopping and put off wedding plans to build her safety net as Covid-19 constricted opportunities and income. Marriage can wait. Im saving for Covid emergencies," she said. What if I lose my job? What if I have a medical emergency? Life is more important than these things." Consumers like Ms. Ekka are the main engine of growth in the worlds fifth-largest economy. Their willingness to spend will set the course of the recovery. Theres this huge mountain of money out there which people have been able to save" and could power growth, said Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC. Few countries have been harder hit by the pandemic. India has tallied more than 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases, second only to the U.S. The country once had the worlds fastest-growing economy, but Indias gross domestic product contracted more than 15% in the six months through September, making it one of the worst-performing major economies for that period. Indias household financial savings shot up to 21.4% of GDP in June from 7.9% a year earlier, Indias central bank said in a report in November. Deposits jumped from 0.2% of GDP to 5.6%, mutual-fund assets climbed to 2.0% from 1.4% and holdings of simple cash rocketed to 5.4% of GDP from 1.3%. Developed countries also saw personal savings rates climb early in 2020, but they quickly came down once restrictions were eased. The U.S. savings rate, for example, which has generally been around 7% for years, shot up to more than 30% in April. While it is still above normal rates, it has come down to less than 15% in recent months, illustrating that much of that savings was forced on consumers who couldnt spend as much as usual when they were ordered to stay home early in the outbreak. There are indications the savings rate in India remains stubbornly high, even as infections have dropped from almost 100,000 a day to fewer than 20,000. The amount of currency with the public in December was still up 23% from a year earlier, the Indian Banks Association said. Mobility data from Google shows people are still holding back on shopping. Activity around retail and recreational locations in India this week remained around 27% below the level seen before the coronavirus started to spread. That is on par with some countries that are struggling with surges, including the U.S., which is down 26%, according to the Google Mobility Report. If the savings are mostly forcedmeaning from people who cant spend it as freely as they would likethen the pent-up demand could lead to a spending spree once unleashed. If most of the savings are out of fear about jobs and health, it could become a longer-term drag on the economy. It is still uncertain what the net effect of these two types of savings will be in India, but the report from the Reserve Bank of India in November suggested the central bank would be watching to see whether Indias savings surge could last longer because it reflects deeper fears about the threat the pandemic poses to future income. The affluent, whose incomes have been largely insulated from the worst of the pandemic, are a tiny minority of the populace, but they make up a lions share of the consumption and saving. Their spending on goods has largely returned to normal, HSBCs Ms. Bhandari said, but they are holding back spending on travel and eating out. The poor, who make up a majority of the populace, have been harder hit and are more likely to be saving out of fear and less likely to start spending much soon. They have seen higher unemployment, lower income and lower revenue in their tiny businesses. The 85% of the labor force who work in the small and informal sector, they probably have seen a cut in their wages and salaries," Ms. Bhandari said. Theres an element of fearful savings there and insecurity about their jobs." There are indications many Indians are still struggling. Motorcycle and scooter salesconsidered a good gauge of middle class demandplunged more than 70% in the months around Indias nationwide lockdown in April and May. They rebounded on some pent-up demand in October but have since cooled to around the same level they were a year ago. The number of villagers who have applied for government work through Indias national rural employment program remains more than 60% higher than it was a year ago. Hundreds of millions of people in rural India are saying they need the extra money, a problem that has been exacerbated as millions of migrant workers from the cities have returned home without work. Until the global vaccination drive spreads to the backwaters of India, returning to normal will be difficult. Chanda Goel from Dehradun city in the northern state of Uttarakhand said she has cut back on her food budget to save more money for these uncertain times. She has been hoarding cash and now has more than $1,000 around the house to be ready for whatever comes next. She said she isnt going to stop saving until the pandemic recedes. The vaccine has come out now. But we will wait for a while to make sure its safe to move around freely and fearlessly," she said. Thats when we can start spending again." Vibhuti Agarwal contributed to this article. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The on Thursday became the sixth state to pass a resolution against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre, even as the opposition BJP staged a walkout from the assembly amid "Jai Shri Ram" slogans. State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee moved the resolution under rule 169 urging the centre that the three laws- the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act,2020; the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020- be repealed. assembly is the sixth to pass such a resolution after Punjab, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Delhi and Kerala. While the first three are ruled by the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in power io Delhi and the Left Front is ruling Kerala. While speaking on the resolution, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the centre should either take back the new laws or step down. The CPI(M) and the Congress supported the resolution, but demanded that the state government withdraw similar laws it had passed a few years back. Rule 169 of the assembly empowers the state government to pilot a resolution in the house. BJP MLAs led by its legislature party leader Manoj Tigga opposed the resolution and staged a walkout shouting "Jai Shri Ram" slogans. Speaking on the resolution amid vociferous protests by the BJP lawmakers, Banerjee demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi convene an all-party meeting to discuss the process of withdrawal of the new agri laws. The assembly witnessed unruly scenes after the resolution was moved, with BJP MLAs rushing to the well of the house, claiming the TMC government has launched a "misinformation" campaign against the farm legislations. "We oppose the anti-farmer laws.We demand there immediate withdrawal. Either the centre should withdraw the laws or step down," the chief minister said. Banerjee said the union government, which has in the past, waived corporate loans, should also extend the same benefit to farmers. She also claimed the Delhi police "mishandled" the tractor rally by farmers which resulted in the situation going out of hand on the Republic Day. "Delhi police is to be blamed for that. What was the Delhi police doing? It was a complete intelligence failure. We will not tolerate farmers being branded as traitors. They are the assets of this nation," she said. Banerjee said the BJP pushed the farm laws in Parliament using its "brute force" due to majority numbers and urged the centre to repeal the legislations. "BJP always maligns every agitation as terrorist activity. The laws are totally anti-farmer. They pushed it (in Parliament) using brute force," the Trinamool Congress supremo said. Banerjee appealed to the Congress and the Left Front to keep aside ideological differences and come together in support of the farmers. Senior Congress leader and MLA Sukhbilas Barma, although supported the resolution, said that the TMC government does not have any moral authority to bring a resolution against the centre's new farm laws as the state administration too had passed similar laws a few years back. "Unless the TMC government withdraws similar laws it had passed a few years back, there is no meaning in bringing a resolution against the centre's new farm laws. The resolution that we had submitted had those points but the state administration was not willing to accept it," he said. Echoing similar views, Sujan Chakarborty, whose party also supported the resolution, said the state government before pointing fingers at others should set its own house in order. He moved six amendments on the resolution, but only one was admitted. Later talking to reporters, Partha Chatterjee dismissed the Congress and the CPI(M) allegations against the TMC government for passing similar agri laws, saying "our legislations ensured MSP for farmers and protected their rights." Tigga accused the state government of misleading the people of on farm laws. "The farm laws have been supported by the farmers of the state. The TMC along with Left and Congress are opposing it to score brownie points ahead of the elections," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Page Content THE situation was grim for residents of Sandringham in 1995. Crime in this middle-class suburb was out of control. "We had two choices," says Lionel Stein, who has lived there all his life: "join up with the police or become vigilantes." As residents became more and more desperate, police offered a reservists' course. Stein and 150 other residents signed up for it. "I had intended to drop out," he says. "I had never even held a gun. But then came a lecture on community policing, and it changed my perceptions." Community policing is what makes a police service different from a police force. "As it is today," he says, "police work with the community - we would rather solve the problem than arrest the person." It is a partnership between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the community, two entities with a single aim: to rid the area of crime. "In terms of any partnership, both sides see that each is working honourably. That's the spirit of community policing forums." Stein is the board chair of the Johannesburg area CPF, working with the forums attached to 21 police stations, including Sandton and Alexandra but not Soweto, which is defined as a separate area with a separate board CPFs are statutory bodies, given strong powers in the 1993 interim constitution - including monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the SAPS, advising police on priorities in the neighbourhood and promoting the accountability of the SAPS to local communities. CPFs were left out of the final constitution in 1996 but the 1995 Police Service Act refers back to the interim constitution, noting that the role of a CPF "may" include the functions listed therein. A new set of regulations in terms of the Act, which deals with powers and responsibilities for all CPFs, is currently under review. Its preamble notes that the SAPS is accountable to the communities it serves; it adds that the Act provides for CPFs to promote communication and co-operation between the SAPS and communities and "to improve transparency and service delivery" in the SAPS. It also refers to "the partnership and joint problem-solving between communities and the SAPS". In theory, CPF jobs dovetail neatly with police work, as forum members see where the gaps are and try to make themselves useful. Not allowed to arrest, for example, or to write down statements, they can still take on a range of activities that will make policing more effective. CPFs can raise donations or solicit for equipment, like cars or cellphones - and many have done so. "Communication and co-operation between the SAPS and communities" could well refer to a crucial CPF task: notifying police of trouble spots, say dangerous corners where illegal drugs are regularly sold, or houses where stolen goods are believed to be stored, or teenage gang hideouts - so that police can move in and stop crimes before they're committed. At the same time, the forums should - under the original charter - make sure the police are also doing their job. The draft regulations, too, refer to their involvement in "improv[ing] transparency and service delivery in the SAPS". This role does not make CPFs popular with a number of old-fashioned, old-style police officers. In practice, the powers and effectiveness of each CPF depend upon the police. "At station level," says Stein, "you need a station commissioner who is favourable towards the partnership. If that doesn't work, but you've got an area commissioner who is favourable towards it, it will work. "It is also important that the provincial commissioner is supportive. Luckily in Gauteng both the Johannesburg area commissioner and the provincial police commissioner are pro-CPFs." Johannesburg Area Commissioner OD Reddy is indeed supportive of CPFs, which he characterises as "the voice of the people". They are, he says, "vital in crime prevention and crime reduction". Their roles include "monitoring of police actions to ensure transparency and accountability; mobilising community support in crime detection; improving relationship with the community; engaging in social crime prevention initiatives, eg adopt-a-cop" and preventive actions taken towards drugs and child abuse. The Gauteng MEC for Safety and Security has appointed extra staff to work with area CPFs; from an original seven, there are now 21 people working with CPFs and other community-based organisations, according to a spokesman, "assisting in the development and implementation of social crime prevention projects" - so there is political support. And the community weighs in. A typical CPF, says Stein, has 20 to 30 active members. Some CPFs have sub-forums: special committees involving and dealing with taxis, hawkers, schools. Some have legal forums, or drug forums, which bring together experts and interact with area schools. Sector policing - a national policy set by the SAPS - also comes into the picture. "The purpose is to involve the community in the role of policing," Stein says. "It's a combination of blockwatch and neighbourhood watch, but the police come into the equation. "Each sector must be managed by a policeman - ideally, a fulltime policeman, but in Sandringham reservists do that job, because this is a small station. "But the idea is that the station commissioner will appoint sector managers, and people must know to phone the guy in charge of their sector when they see something suspicious. What generally happens after a hijacking or a rape is that somebody will say 'I saw a car and it looked suspicious'. That information must pass up the line" - hopefully before an incident happens. "When sector policing works, it works very well. We have had some great successes in two sectors." A sector is a team: "A manager who has to be a police official - then up to the police officer to start it up as a team, as he sees fit. At Sandringham, it's a police officer and the CPF and reservists. At others it's also members of the community who are not involved in the CPF. In Yeoville and Alex, street committees are involved - [although] it is important to lock the street committees into sector policing so they don't get carried away and think they're vigilantes." Many police stations also include a Victim Empowerment or Victim Support component - a programme begun by Business Against Crime and in many places closely linked to the CPF as well as to the SAPS. With CPFs at nearly every police station in the country, the SAPS is studying 10 percent of them to find examples of best practice. The Sandringham CPF is among those under examination. Stein is happy with the CPFs, by and large, under his considerable umbrella - but he does have one problem: representivity. "It is the biggest problem in Joburg CPFs," he says - "the lack of proper representivity." Most members are white. "In certain areas this is not the case - in Alexandra, Yeoville, Brixton, Cleveland, Sophiatown. And in Sandringham there are black and white members." But these forums are the exception, not the rule. At area level, although the problem is not as extreme, still it persists. "I would like to hand over to a black chairperson," he says. "We haven't got there yet - but we will." The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. The excess of detail and the limitations of the genre notwithstanding, Lees biography does build up, layer by layer, in the manner of a Henry James novel, a substantial portrait of the artist one of the most significant of postwar playwrights writing in English. At the centre of him is his Englishness. Stoppard has said on a number of occasions that he felt immediately at home when he arrived in England and put on Englishness like putting on a new suit. And he always felt gratitude and love for the country that took him in. His Englishness, not unlike that of the Missouri-born T. S. Eliot, emerges as a kind of construction, a sort of arcadian vision and its no coincidence that one of his most moving plays is called Arcadia. Tom Stoppard (left) backstage, with director Gale Edwards and then NSW arts minister Peter Collins at the opening night of Arcadia in Sydney in June, 1994. Credit:Andrew Meares This, in turn, feeds into Stoppards much-discussed politics. It is well documented that he was a strong supporter of Margaret Thatcher during the 1980s and was always a strong critic of the far-left who railed against social inequalities in Britain while remaining relatively silent on Soviet oppression. The truth, says Lee, is that he has always been unpredictable politically and rather than becoming more conservative as he grows older hes become far less so he voted for Tony Blairs Labour in 1997, Green in 2005, Liberal Democrat in 2010, voted to remain on Brexit and is a strong supporter for Britain accepting refugees, which is not surprising. Hovering behind all of this is his Jewishness. Stoppard never felt particularly Czech or Jewish until the late 1990s when he started going back into his European past, both on visits to his birthplace, researching the extended family members who died during the Holocaust, and in his plays especially his latest, Leopoldstadt. He said how the death of his mother gave him permission to go back into his European past. The bench was dealing with a batch of six PILs and a writ petition in which the petitioners espoused the cause for protection and rehabilitation of minor children who went missing in recent years. DC Image Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday lamented that the state government has unreasonably delayed notifying the formation of the child welfare committees in all the 33 districts. By doing so, the government turned the committees into namesake and non-functional entities. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy observed: Why is the Telangana government exhibiting such laxity in implementing orders of the court? The government must be mindful that it is dealing with the causes of children who are the most susceptible section of society and who do not have a voice to raise against the ones forcing them into the prostitution rackets. The court gave the government two weeks to make all the 33 child welfare committees functional by appointing members and reporting compliance to the court within four weeks. The bench rejected a request from the government for more time to notify the formation of the committees and made it clear that this process should be completed within two weeks. The bench was dealing with a batch of six PILs and a writ petition in which the petitioners espoused the cause for protection and rehabilitation of minor children who went missing in recent years and ended up in prostitution and other rackets. While referring to the guidelines and series of directions issued in the case of Sadhan Haldar Vs. GNCT of Delhi by the Delhi High Court in detecting the missing children and reuniting them with their parents, Chief Justice Hima Kohli asked the state government to use the Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) to identify missing children. The Chief Justice observed that justice cannot reach the missing children unless the police at the highest level monitored such matters closely. Advocate-General B.S. Prasad said the state government was using the Darpan project for the identification process. It is necessary to enlist the Union government as a party in such issues of children, the CJ said and asked for impleading of the Union ministry of women and child welfare as a co-respondent. Notices were issued to the ministry as also to the Telangana state government. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent a cable of thanks to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. His Majesty the King expressed his appreciation for the presidents keenness and interest to continue strengthening bilateral relations to achieve the aspirations of the two friendly countries and peoples, stressing that the historical and close friendship between the two countries is witnessing a continuous growth at all levels. HM King Hamad bin Isa affirmed that the fruitful cooperation between the two friendly countries in particular with regard to confronting COVID-19 pandemic represents a new success in developing the existing cooperation. His Majesty valued in this regard the cooperation and coordination between the two countries, pointing out to Indias efforts to secure Bahrain's receipt of Covishield vaccine, which HM said is an evidence of the pioneering contributions of India in the field of pharmaceutical industries that it harnesses to support global efforts to confront this pandemic. HM the King wished President Kovind good health and happiness, and the people of India further progress and prosperity. Thunder Bay, ON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: AIR) (FRA: CKU) (OTCQB: CLRMF) announces the issuance of an aggregate of 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") to Fort William First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band and the Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (collectively, the "Participating First Nations"). The issuance of the Warrants was under the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Company and the Participating First nations effective as of January 8, 2021 (the "Memorandum of Agreement"). The Warrants are being issued as part of the consideration for the Participating First Nations working with the Company on the design, approval and development of the exploration project, the Thunder Bay North Project, and as part of the Company's accommodation of the Participating First Nations' interests and rights related to the exploration project. The Warrants were delivered on January 26, 2021 and are subject to a four-month holding period, expiring on May 27, 2021. The Company has issued 1,000,000 Warrants to each Participating First Nation. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") at an exercise price of $0.40 per Common Share until January 8, 2026. The exercise price of the Warrant is equal to the closing market price of the Company's listed shares on the date immediately preceding the date the Memorandum of Agreement was announced, being January 8, 2021. The Warrants and the Common Shares issuable under the Warrants are subject to a statutory hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws that expires four months and one day from the issue date of the Warrants. About Clean Air Metals Inc. Clean Air Metals' flagship asset is the 100% owned, high grade 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. 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 and CEO Abraham Drost lead an experienced team of explorers, researchers 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. 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. 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 projections. SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc. Related Links https://www.cleanairmetals.ca/ An early-stage development proposal was submitted to the city of Denver on Aug. 13 for a facility, with a 75-foot-tall vending machine, at 4700 E. Evans Ave., adjacent to Interstate 25. Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2021 5:02 pm After the Centralia City Council and the police department discussed purchasing riot gear at a workshop in November 2020, several citizens voiced their concerns about racial bias within the police department and called for diversity training and possibly body cameras to hold Centralia police officers accountable. At the Tuesday evening city council meeting, Angie Stritmatter, the citys human resource and risk manager, provided the council with a report on the diversity and implicit basis training that police officers and city staff are required to complete. City staff has been required to complete anti-harassment training in the past, but this is the first year city employees are participating in diversity-focused training, Stritmatter said. The police department is currently finalizing and finishing up their implicit bias training for all of their law enforcement officers sergeants and administration, Stritmatter said. The city is working with the workforce development division of the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services to provide mandatory, city-wide diversity training for full-time Centralia city staff. Stritmatter said that the training is currently being updated and it should be ready in March. We will have opportunities to learn and grow and understand, maybe, and recognize some bias that we have that we are not aware of, Stritmatter said. The two-hour, interactive diversity training will be led by an instructor virtually to groups of 24 people. Normally the training is held in person but the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the training online. Centralia Mayor Pro-tem Max Vogt also provided information about the potential cost of outfitting Centralia police officers with body cameras. Vogt met with the police department and Halo Technologies, a company that sells body cameras, to discuss the potential costs. It sounds like a great idea to have body cams, so I said OK, how much is that going to cost? Vogt said. The estimated cost, Vogt said, would be between $130,000 and $200,000 per year. The estimated cost includes the cameras, unlimited iCloud storage and the hiring of one, possibly two, employees to go through the footage and redact faces, license plates and other personal information for legal or security purposes if body cam footage is requested. In our state, we have open government laws, and any person, for pretty much any reason, can contact us through the Freedom of Information Act and request to see a particular video that was on a police body cam, Vogt said. The requested video could be a minute long or footage from over the course of a few days, weeks or even years. That footage must be reviewed by a staff person. Its an uncontrollable cost, and its unlimited, Vogt said. You never know how many people in the public are going to ask for footage and what they are going to ask for. Vogt said he plans to meet with other companies to get additional cost estimates and will provide more information in the future. Haiti - FLASH : Covid-19 screening site available at Toussaint Louverture Airport The Ministry of Public Health informs travelers and interested persons that a screening site for the Covid-19 coronavirus by antigenic tests, set up by a private institution and authorized by the Ministry, is available at the International Airport Toussaint louverture. This decision follows the obligation made by several countries asking all travelers leaving for abroad to present at the time of boarding a negative screening test for Covid-19 of less than 72 hours. The methods of this screening will be specified by the manager of this service. HL/ HaitiLibre A Uyghur family holds signs protesting China's treatment of Uyghurs outside of the Supreme Court building in British Columbia, Canada, May 8, 2019. A lawmaker from Canadas ruling party offered his support Wednesday for a call by opposition MPs for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to follow Washingtons lead and designate rights abuses in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) as genocide. On Jan. 19his last full day as top U.S. diplomatformer Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Chinese policies in the XUAR aim for the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group as he announced a designation that Uyghur exile groups have advocated since the revelation in 2017 of mass internment camps that have held as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. Pompeo said he had determined China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity in the XUAR against Uyghurs and other ethnic groups, and that Beijing and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must be held to account. The new Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Wednesday endorsed the designation, suggesting that President Joe Bidens administration will pursue a more forceful approach in holding China accountable for its abuses in the region. Emily Horne, the spokesperson for Bidens National Security Council, told the Washington Examiner over the weekend that President Biden has called the oppression of the Uyghurs a genocide, and he stands against it in the strongest possible terms. On Sunday, Michael Chong and Garnett Genuis, Canadas opposition Conservative Partys shadow Ministers for Foreign Affairs and International Development & Human Rights, issued a statement saying that their party is deeply concerned about the genocide of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in China. The ministers noted that Canadas Subcommittee on International Human Rights had joined the two U.S. administrations in concluding that Chinas government is committing acts of genocide and other crimes against humanity, including systematic population control, sexual violence, and mass detention. These reports demonstrate in exhaustive detail the magnitude of abuses perpetrated by the government of China against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, and are indicative of the government of Chinas escalating disregard for human rights and international law, the statement read. Conservatives believe in the importance of working multilaterally in response to gross human rights abuses. We, therefore, call on the Trudeau government to join the Biden administration in officially recognizing the Uyghur genocide. China hits back Chinese officials have said the camps are voluntary centers for vocational training that protect the region against religious extremism and terrorism, but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in cramped and unsanitary conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination. Reports suggest that amid 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. On Jan. 20, the first day of the Biden administration, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying slammed Pompeos venomous lies and called the determination nothing more than a piece of wastepaper. On Monday, the official Global Times newspaper ran an unsigned report quoting Chinese analysts as saying that countries should be cautious about following Pompeos lead as it would jeopardize bilateral ties, noting the statement by Canadian Conservatives on Sunday. On Wednesday, however, Sameer Zuberi, a lawmaker in the House of Commons of Canada with the ruling Liberal Party, told RFAs Uyghur Service that he agrees the situation in the XUAR amounts to genocide. I'd stand by what the [Subcommittee on International Human Rights] is set on, he said, acknowledging that the views of the subcommittee are not necessarily those of the full parliament. We came to the determination, across party lines, that what is in fact being carried out is genocide. I'll stand by that position. Zuberi said that China is reluctant to let information about what is happening in the XUAR out of the country and that is something that we have to change as a global community. We have to access the region. We need make sure that there is no place in this world where crimes against humanity are carried out, and certainly not genocide, he said. Farmers pick cotton in a field in Xinjiiang's Hami prefecture, in a file photo. AFP Reintroduction of Labor Act Renewing the U.S. focus on forced labor on Wednesday, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Jeff Merkley, and others reintroduced the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a bipartisan bill that aims to ensure that goods made with Uyghur forced labor in the XUAR do not enter the U.S. As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is committing egregious human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, including genocide and other crimes against humanity, there is no excuse to turn a blind eye. We must instead do everything in our power to stop them, said Rubio, who authored the bill and is cochair of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). This bill would ensure that the CCP is not profiting from its abuses by stopping products made with Uyghur forced labor from entering our supply chains. For years, the Chinese government has been committing genocide in Xinjiang, subjecting Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to torture, imprisonment, forced labor, and pressure to abandon their religious and cultural practices, said Merkley, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and serves on the CECC. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was introduced in March and passed by the House of Representatives, but was never brought to the floor by the Senate. Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) to detain all cotton products and tomatoes from the XUAR at the countrys ports of entry. The CBP said it had identified indicators of forced labor including debt bondage, restriction of movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive living and working conditions. President Donald Trumps administration in July leveled sanctions against several top Chinese officials deemed responsible for rights violations in the region, including regional party secretary Chen Quanguo, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Holocaust Memorial Day Wednesday also marked Holocaust Memorial Day, which commemorates the six million Jews, Roma and others who were slaughtered by Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany during World War II. In honoring the victimsas well as those of later genocides in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfurseveral Jewish leaders drew attention to the situation in the XUAR and warned the international community of similarities between what happened in Europe during the Holocaust and what is occurring in the northwestern Chinese region today. When it's come to the Uyghur persecution in more recent years, we've seen incredibly painful parallels with what happened to Jewish people in Nazi occupied Europe, said Helen Freeman, co-senior Rabbi of the West London Synagogue of British Jews, which held an event to mark the annual day of remembrance. Jewish people were lined up, forced into trains and taken to a place where they didn't want to be, forced to work in a way they didn't want to work and kept behind barbed wire with watchtowers, and exactly the same is happening now The parallels are too powerful to ignore and so we wantedthis particular Holocaust Memorial Dayto highlight the persecution. Freeman told RFA that as a religious Jew, you cant ignore whats happening in the XUAR. She called on citizens to lobby their lawmakers to push for a genocide determination and to factor that into any dealings their governments have with Beijing. Don't let the Uyghur people stand alonedon't let them be persecuted the way the Jewish people were persecuted in the 30s and 40s in Nazi-occupied Europe, she said. Freemans concerns were echoed by members of the Uyghur diaspora Wednesday, with Rahima Mahmut, U.K. project manager for the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) saying Jews she knows were nearly unable to speak about the situation in the XUAR because testimony from Uyghurs who have fled the region made them feel like they were watching and reliving the tragic situation of the 76 years ago. Today's commemoration is aimed at raising awareness of the Uyghur issue to the world and encouraging politicians to pursue anti-Chinese policies, she said. Dilnur Ryan, president of the European Uyghur Institute in Paris, told RFA that this years Holocaust Memorial Day will be for the Uyghurs. They are also being massacred because of their national and religious identities, so [the Jews] are worried that the Uyghurs will face the same fate and they have a duty to take action to prevent it, he said. Reported by Nuriman Abdurashid and Jilil Kashgary for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. ANN ARBOR, MI The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System has vaccinated 10,000 individuals as of Wednesday, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Thursday. The VA hospital in Ann Arbor began vaccinating frontline healthcare workers Dec. 16, and started vaccinated veterans under its care two weeks later. Were proud to be one of the leaders in the region distributing vaccinations, Ann Arbor VA director Dr. Ginny Creasman said. Our goal is to continue expanding our operations until every veteran eligible for VA health care has the opportunity to receive a vaccine because we know that vaccines are the key to curbing this pandemic and moving us forward to our normal way of life. Since beginning vaccinations in Ann Arbor, the VA has expanded vaccinations to its Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Flint, Jackson and Toledo, Ohio. The VA provides healthcare services to veterans at seven locations of care in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System is part of the initial group of 37 VA medical centers across the county that began receiving and administering the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in the middle of December. In December, the hospital in Ann Arbor became one of two VA medical centers in the nation to launch clinical trials for the investigational COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax. The healthcare system is now administering more than 500 vaccines to veterans per day. In Washtenaw County, the health department and health systems have administered 46,504 as of Jan. 26. Prioritization of vaccination distribution at the VA is based on availability of vaccine, and its Risk Stratification Plan, which was developed using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal partners, Brian Hayes, public affairs officer for the VA said. Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are eligible to receive the vaccine, Hayes said. As vaccine doses become available care teams are contacting eligible veterans directly by phone, email or mail, he said. COVID-19 vaccines are currently in the initial limited-supply phase, followed by a general implementation phase, when large supplies of the vaccine will be available. VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) provides state-of-the-art healthcare services to Veterans at seven locations of care in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor parents will rally to advocate for in-person school Ann Arbor VA accepts non-veteran patients to fight coronavirus Ann Arbor VA hospital to conduct Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trial 's ( ) Colin Bird talks to Proactive London about the new transaction revealed with Sandfire Resources in Botswana as part of an asset deal. Bird explains how the package of 9 licences in the Kalahari Copper Belt has been sold for US$3mln to Sandfire Resources Ltd ( ), which is building the T3 copper-silver mine nearby. To read this article and more, including our archive of drinks industry news, analysis & comment pieces from the last 20 years, try just-drinks for 30 days for just 1* First Name Last Name Job Title Email Take a trial *plus VAT if applicable Already a member? Log in here The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. The Armenian police Thursday have detained 26 activists who took part in a protest near the government building to demand that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resign, the national police said, TASS reports. "Currently, 26 citizens were detained," the press service noted. The protesters were detained after they attempted to storm the government headquarters. Currently, the rally has finished, organizers promised to announce their future plans later this evening. Blinken on Iran deal: Were not there yet" In his first press conference as US secretary of state, Antony Blinken said, "If Iran comes back into full compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA [the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], the United States would do the same thing and then we would use that as a platform to build, with our allies and partners, what we called a longer and stronger agreement and to deal with a number of other issues that are deeply problematic in the relationship with Iran." Blinkens remarks come in the context of some not unexpected back and forth over whether the United States or Iran goes first in a return to the deal. In the last 48 hours: An official in French President Emmanuel Macrons office backed an Iran-first approach, telling Reuters that Iran must first "refrain from further provocations and secondly respect what they no longer respect; thats to say, their obligations." Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded by tweet Jan. 26 that Iran will not go first. "It was the US that broke the dealfor no reason. It must remedy its wrong; then Iran will respond." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meeting with Zarif in Moscow, proclaimed Moscows position as "identical" to Iran's, saying a US return to the deal would be followed by Iran resuming its commitments. Zarifs pique that the United States would ask Iran to go first is no surprise, but its hardly a deal killer, or at least it shouldnt be. The United States indeed withdrew from the deal in May 2018. But Irans leaders likely understand the bottom line Blinken made clear again today: that the United States is ready to get back into the JCPOA, as soon as Iran takes the required steps, exactly as President Joe Biden said during the election campaign. Israel readies war room for US return to Iran deal While Biden and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a friendship going back decades, they differ on whether a US return to the JCPOA is the right move. Former US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu were in complete mind meld on the Iran nuclear deal; they both opposed it. Biden and Bibi, on the other hand, will need to work something out. Iran, in other words, will be "an issue" between close friends. Israeli Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, a confidant of Netanyahu, said last week that if the United States were to return to the JCPOA, "Israel will have no choice but to act military against Iran to prevent it from manufacturing a nuclear weapon. Amidrors remarks were no slip of the tongue, according to Ben Caspit; the retired general was likely channeling Bibi to put down a marker for some arduous talks to come. Netanyahu will do all he can to prevent Biden from a "return for return" deal, as described here by Mark Fitzpatrick, especially during an election season (Israelis vote again, for the fourth time in three years, in March), where a tough line on Iran plays to his constituency. But Netanyahu also wants to avoid an early scuffle with his friend Biden over Iran, as Barak Ravid reports for Axios. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, both former military chiefs, view a military option on Iran only as a last resort; another key worry is the potential fallout in US-Israel ties. Consultation is in The preferred approach, Caspit writes, is to "convene a team of professionals to work with the Americans, creating a sincere and in-depth dialogue and trying to bridge the gaps between Jerusalem and Washington." And dialogue is indeed the Biden plan, including with a "strong team of experts" on the US side, as Blinken said today. In his nomination hearing last week, Blinken said he will consult with US partners, including Israel, on Iran, as Elizabeth Hagedorn reported. That doesnt mean Israel will have veto power, but his testimony implied there will be consultations, and there wont be surprises. Mossad chief Yossi Cohen arrives in Washington in February to make the first direct high-level pitch from Israel on next steps with Iran. [See below for what Israel and the UAE want to see in a new Iran deal]. Elections matter In addition to the Israeli elections in March, which will decide Netanyahus fate, Iran has presidential elections in June. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose two terms are up, cant run for reelection. His window for diplomacy for a return to the JCPOA may therefore be constrained by the election campaign. The disposition of the next Iranian government on the JCPOA is unknown. Irans parliament, or Majles, is currently run by hard-liners, who have been dominant in Iran since the United States withdrew from the JCPOA. Next move is Irans Blinken conveyed a sense of priority and deliberateness in the new administrations approach to Iran. A return to the JCPOA can come sooner or later, or not at all; its up to Tehran. The Biden administration is on the record that US regional partners, this time around, will be part of the conversation on Iran and the broader issues of regional security. The JCPOA as a platform for regional security discussions is, in a sense, overdue as a follow up to the nuclear deal. In the absence of diplomacy, the default position in the region could and would again tilt toward conflict. In case you missed it: What Israel and the UAE want in an Iran deal What do new diplomatic partners Israel and the UAE want in a new Iran deal? For one, both are calling for an end to any domestic uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel reprocessing in Iran (known as the UAE "gold standard" for civil nuclear cooperation). Check out our podcasts with UAE Minister and Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba here, and former Israel Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer here. Dermer, one of Netanyahus closest advisers, told me that Israel wont rule out a nuclear deal with Iran, if the terms are right. Israel would support something that actually dismantles Irans nuclear capability, Dermer said, even though the price of doing that may be the removal of sanctions. Viral Fission is a platform that bridges the gap between India's energetic youth and the brands they love. The company aims at redefining brand salience metrics with/for the youth. They offer a community based youth network that co-creates unparalleled brand experiences. Owning to the 72nd republic day, Viral Fission has encouraged interns to talk about the constitutional rights they believe in embracing as Interns. From Right to recognition to right to a pet friendly office, Viral Fission's Interns re-define the constitutional rights of an intern in the most creative way. Identified Objectives: Enabling the youth of our country to voice their opinion and talk about the rights they deserve as interns Empower the community of interns and create awareness on their perspective and expectations of a the constitutional book of internships Generate conversations among leading workplace to establish a great work culture for interns as well Strategy/Execution The Idea: Internships among the youth have developed a stereotype of not being fair and democratic. From being overworked to not being recognized, interns stand their chance to voice their opinions and change the dynamics by creating the CONSTITUTIONAL BOOK OF INTERNSHIP. The plan: The post was live on the 72th Republic Day. Taking inspiration from the constitution of India, the interns put their own spin and translate their thoughts into defined rights that they deserve while interning. Viral Fission wanted to scout for the youth who are opinionated and express their ardent will of having an inclusive work culture. While enabling leading work places to understand the thought of the youth better, the post engages interns with the essence of relatable thinking. Process: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has landed a spot as a distinguished fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute providing him an office and policy platform should he decide to launch a run for the White House in 2024. The potential Republican field was thrown into disarray following the Jan. 6 MAGA riot in the Capitol with President Donald Trump not ruling out a return to power, even as the Senate prepares to try him on 'incitement of insurrection.' Pompeo served as Trump's CIA Director and Secretary of State after serving as a conservative House member from Kansas. He left on far better terms with Trump than other cabinet secretaries, some of whom were fired or pushed out. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has landed a role as a distinguished fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute as a he contemplates a potential run for president in 2024 His tenure at the State Department was controversial. After coming in calling for a return of 'swagger,' he left amid internal investigations of pushing out an inspector general, probes of a string of ornate parties at the State Department, and allegations an aide performed personal work like walking his dog. Should he decide to run in 2024, and if Trump stays out of the race, Pompeo can seek support from the vast majority of Republicans who still express support for the president. It will be hard for Pompeo to distance himself from Trump should the former president become a liability. Days before he left office, he had to scrap a trip to Europe. He had sought to meet the foreign minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, who was appalled by the riots and called Trump a 'criminal' and a 'political pyromaniac.' 'Secretary Pompeo's exemplary record of public service and his commitment to the values underpinning our mission makes this an exciting opportunity for collaboration,' said Sarah May Stern, chair of Hudson Institute's Board of Trustees. 'It's a great privilege to welcome him to Hudson.' On January 21, after Democrat Joe Biden was inaugurated, Pompeo tweeted: '1,384 days' signaling he was not letting go of politics. 'I am pleased to be joining Hudson Institute and look forward to contributing to its mission of promoting American leadership and global engagement,' Pompeo said in a statement. The 2024 field could be scrambled by the MAGA mob that ransacked the Capitol Pompeo served as CIA Director and Secretary of State under President Trump Secretary of State Tony Blinken was sworn in Wednesday as Pompeo's successor Also returning to the conservative think tank is former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who quit the cabinet in her final days in office after the MAGA riot. Her husband, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Trump had 'provoked' the Capitol riot. The Hudson Institute has also hosted Republican strategist Jon Lerner, who has advised former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, another potential 2024 contender with close Trump ties. Other fellows have included Doug Feith, considered a neoconservative backer of the Iraq War under the George W. Bush administration, Tim Morrison, a former Trump national security advisor who testified during impeachment, and former Trump national security advisor H.R. McMaster. Pompeo, despite repeated statements calling on foreign powers to accept opposition challenges, took about nine weeks to fully acknowledge Joe Biden's victory. On November 10, three days after Biden declared victory, he commented about 'a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.' Democrats have said Trump's own refusal to acknowledge the defeat gave false hope to his supporters and helped encourage the riots. Congressional Democrats are preparing to move within days on a budget resolution that will provide a way to force President Joe Biden's COVID relief bill through the divided Senate with warnings the window for bipartisan action is closing. Biden wants Congress to act immediately on his $1.9 trillion proposal to provide $1,400 tests, aid states and localities, and boost testing and vaccine efforts. But with an insufficient number of Senate Republicans at the table, Democratic leaders may opt to jam through the proposal on an expedited majority vote. 'Our preference is to make this important work bipartisanto include input, ideas, and revisions from our Republican colleagues, or bipartisan efforts to do the same,' said Majority Leader Charles Schumer Thursday. 'But if our Republican colleagues decide to oppose this urgent and necessary legislation, we will have to move forward without them,' he added on the Senate floor. 'If our Republican colleagues decide to oppose this urgent and necessary legislation, we will have to move forward without them,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Thursday 'The dangers of undershooting our response are far greater than overshooting it. We should have learned the lesson, from 2008 and 2009, when Congress was too timid and constrained in its response to the global financial crisis and it took yearsyearsfor the economy to get out of recession,' he continued. 'We must not repeat that same mistake today.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the House would act on a Budget resolution, which will include reconciliation instructions spelling out the size of a package that can move in a fashion that protects it from a Republican filibuster. 'We're going to bring a budget resolution to the floor next week,' she said. 'By the end of the week, we'll be finished with the budget resolution, which will be about reconciliation, if needed.' Sen. John Barrasso, the GOP Conference chair from Wyoming, blasted the proposal but wouldn't identify a different smaller proposal that Republicans would allow to come up for a vote without blocking it. 'Its not just the price. The issue is the policy and whats included in it,' he told CNN Thursday. 'And a $15 minimum wage shouldnt be included in this piece,' he said. Congressional Democrats have started their push to get a bill raising the minimum wage to $15 through a divided Congress, as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders threatened to try to use his powerful budget post to force it through if Republican opposition holds. Democrats have pushed for the wage hike for years, and finally have the opportunity to try to more than double the $7.25 federal minimum after watching years of action in the states. But the idea is already running into Republican opposition, as well as resistance from Democrats in swing states amid business arguments that a wage hike would harm businesses struggling during the pandemic. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is threatening to try to move a $15 federal minimum wage through an expedited procedure amid opposition and resistance 'In the richest country in the history of the world, if you work 40 hours a week, you should not be living in poverty,' said Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist who was defeated by Joe Biden in the primaries but maintains influence in the Senate, where he chairs the Budget Committee. He is even threatening to use his perch to write the wage hike into special budget 'reconciliation' procedures that could become the vehicle for President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan. The procedure, designed for legislation with a deficit impact, provides a way to move legislation with a simple majority vote rather than overcome a likely filibuster. 'If we cannot get enough Republicans to vote for this legislation under regular order, we cannot simply take no for an answer,' Sanders told reporters. Three Senate Democrats, newly elected Mark Kelly of Arizona, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, didn't sign onto the Senate wage hike bill, as Politico reported signaling the difficulty of getting 60 votes for it. In this July 18, 2019, file photo speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joins fellow Democrats and activists seeking better pay as the House approved legislation to raise the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade _ to $15 an hour, at the Capitol in Washington. As of Jan. 1, 2020, there are higher minimum wages in a quarter of the states, and new federal overtime rules. Democrats now have a better chance to push it with control of the House, Senate, and the White House Founder and President of Progressive Millionaires Erica Payne speaks in support of today's introduction of the Raise the Wage Act, which includes a $15 minimum wage for tipped workers and is also included in President Biden's American Rescue Plan at the National Mall on January 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden has vowed to work with Republicans and Democrats to get his ideas passed. But amid GOP opposition, congressional leaders may use special 'reconciliation' procedures to push through his COVID relief plan There may well be problems with trying to move the policy measure on reconciliation, and the Senate parliamentarian could rule it out of order in the 50-50 Senate. Talks over what to include in reconciliation and when continue to be a major feature of the new Congress, with Republicans already digging in against Biden cabinet nominees and a post-presidency impeachment of Donald Trump. Biden continues his outreach to Republican lawmakers, as the White House touted at Wednesday's press briefing, and appears keen to try to move at least part of his relief package through regular order on a bipartisan vote. But numerous Republicans have already balked at the size of his $1.9 trillion proposal. One idea being floated would have him bifurcate the package, having a more bipartisan package that could get 60 votes go through the Senate, then following up with reconciliation to jam through the remainder. White House aides are shooting down the idea. 'The needs of the American people aren't partial; we can't do this piecemeal,' tweeted White House economic adviser Brian Deese,on Twitter. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had also poured cold water on the idea. 'The needs of the American people are urgent from putting food on the table, to getting vaccines out the door to reopening schools. Those aren't partisan issues. We are engaging with a range of voicesthat's democracy in actionwe aren't looking to split a package in two,' she wrote. The reactions to the redesigned Anchor beer labels, unveiled on Monday, have been passionate. On Twitter, fans of the San Francisco brewery expressed their displeasure, comparing Anchor Steams new blue-and-yellow palette to the coloring of Ikea, Twisted Tea, Long John Silvers and a detergent box. (According to my colleague Peter Hartlaub, however, its still not the most unpopular S.F. logo change; that belongs to the 49ers in 1991.) But as much as I was interested in the reactions of local beer drinkers, there was one person whose opinion I felt I really needed to seek out. Thats Jim Stitt, the 93-year-old illustrator who hand-drew all of Anchor Brewings labels for 45 years before retiring in 2019. Stitt, who lives in San Rafael, had been aware that a redesign was in the works, but hadnt seen the final product until this week. When I asked for his reaction, he was very diplomatic. Of course I cant be critical of them, he said. I expected them to make some major modifications, and they did. I think its OK. Its not bad, its just different. What struck Stitt was that the labels seem designed to stand out in a store. I saw a very strong shelf impact, he said. I think what theyve done is probably correct for the current audience. Anchor, which has been owned by Japanese beer company Sapporo since 2017, tapped San Francisco design firm R/GA to work on the rebrand, with help from the firm Swig and artists Steve Noble and Nathan Yoder. Esther Mobley / The Chronicle By the time Anchors then-owner Fritz Maytag tapped him to illustrate the Anchor Porter label, in 1974, Stitt had already led a remarkable life. The Seattle native had served in the Navy in World War II (bootcamp was a living hell for a skinny little 17-year-old) and in the Marines during the Korean War. Hed worked as a technical illustrator for Boeing, then spent three decades with an advertising agency in Los Angeles before moving up to San Francisco and going freelance. In addition to Anchors beers, Stitt drew the labels for many of the Anchor Distilling products, including Old Potrero whiskey and Junipero gin. He was also a prolific designer of wine labels, working for wineries including Kendall-Jackson, Rodney Strong and Franzia, whose bag-in-box packaging he did in the 1980s. He recalled his first encounter with Maytag, who came to Stitts office on Stockton Street in order to vet him as a prospective label artist. I laid my book on the floor and Fritz looked at it and said, mm-hmm, Stitt said, and then I didnt hear from him for another four months. Yet that meeting would go on to determine the aesthetic that defined Anchor Brewing for its next four decades. The labels that Stitt designed beginning with the porter, then Liberty Ale and Old Foghorn in 1975 have a homespun, old-fashioned feeling to them. Many feature an anchor at the center of the oval-shaped label, often garnished by some combination of hops and barley. Although a version of the steam beers label was already in place when Stitt came on board, he modified it in small ways over the years. (In 2019, I compiled a timeline of all the beers Anchor had ever made along with their labels, which provides a nice view into Stitts style.) Mike Kepka / The Chronicle 2009 Most of the articles written about Stitt revolve around his work on Anchors Christmas Ale, introduced in 1975. Just as the beers recipe changes every year, the label changes too, featuring a different California tree each time. The process would usually begin with Maytag choosing a tree, discussing it with Stitt and longtime Anchor historian Dave Burkhart (often on the Sausalito yacht where Stitt lived for 35 years), and then sending Stitt out to Muir Woods, or Golden Gate Park, or Maytags Napa Valley ranch wherever he could find a living subject. He said Maytag always gave him total creative liberty. I grew up in the age of illustration, Stitt said. I was pre-computer. Of course, I didnt have a computer. Everything was hand-drawn. That included the labels borders and lettering, which Stitt always did by hand. When speaking about Stitt, Maytag liked to use the catchphrase handmade beers require handmade labels. Courtesy Anchor Brewing 2019 Stitts favorite Anchor label remains his first, Anchor Porter. He likes the blue shadowing on the word Anchor and the way Porter is amplified at the bottom. He still hasnt seen the newly redesigned Porter label. On Tuesday, Stitt went to the store to try to see the new bottles and cans up close. His local liquor shop hadnt yet switched over. He bought two six-packs, still with their original labels: one of Anchor Steam and one of Anchor Porter. Wine of the Week Esther Mobley / The Chronicle This week, Im drinking Cruse Wine Co.s delicious and bone-dry Muscat, from grapes grown at the Rorick Heritage Vineyard in the Sierra foothills. I love the wine, and I also loved the chance to think about the peculiar role that Muscat plays in the world of wine. Its one of the important progenitors in the wine-grape family tree and has been celebrated since antiquity yet in modern times its often been derided and dismissed for its cloying qualities. Muscat is also one of the few varieties whose grapes are at least as delicious to eat as the resulting wine is to drink. Read my review of the Cruse Muscat here. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. What else Im writing California got the green light to partially reopen this week, after Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted the stay-at-home orders that had gone into effect in December. Among the business allowed to resume in-person service: restaurants and wineries, though the outdoor-only requirement is proving tricky due to the atmospheric river in the forecast. I outlined what you should know if youre thinking of going wine tasting again. What Im reading Nick Gislason, winemaker at Napas Screaming Eagle which commands long wait lists for its $1,000+ bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon is now making beer on the side, reports Aaron Goldfarb in VinePair. And this isnt fancy, barrel-aged, fruit-infused ale. Gislason brews only lager, and a six-pack costs $90. California restaurant workers will be prioritized for coronavirus vaccines, The Chronicles Janelle Bitker writes, despite rumors to the contrary. A nonalcoholic bar has opened on the beach in San Francisco an appropriate arrival for dry January. In SFGate, Madeline Wells explores the backstory of the new Ocean Beach Cafe. Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob New Delhi, Jan 28 : Millennials are driving the growth in digital document use and e-signatures, while increases were seen across all generations as many people e-signed for the first time in 2020, a new report said on Thursday. India had the highest proportion of respondents (62 per cent) who said they e-signed for the first time in 2020, according to a survey by Adobe Digital Insights. The company surveyed 4,000 consumers, including over 1,000 from Asia Pacific (APAC) and showed that pandemic has turbo-charged e-signature adoption, especially among millennials. "The global pandemic changed what it means to be productive," Girish Balachandran, Director, Digital Media, Adobe India, said in a statement. "While the shift from paper to digital has been underway since PDF was introduced more than 30 years ago, 2020 was a tipping point. Digital documents have become the currency of business productivity -- the centerpiece for how businesses, governments and consumers communicate, collaborate and transact, thereby setting the agenda for the future economy," Balachandran added. Prior to 2020, e-signatures had started to gain some traction in APAC, but this grew exponentially last year. Over three quarters of APAC respondents (76 per cent) said they e-signed more documents in the last six months of 2020 compared to late 2019 and early 2020, with adoption highest among millennials (61 per cent). More than half of APAC respondents (53 per cent) said they signed for the first time last year, mostly because they had not been offered the option in the past. While business contracts were the most popular type of document to be e-signed in India (77 per cent), it was less common to e-sign them in Singapore (57 per cent). Insurance policies (43 per cent) and healthcare registration (38 per cent) were among the most common documents to be e-signed in APAC. In Australia, legal agreements had the highest instance of e-signing (76 per cent) whereas it was the least popular type of document to e-sign in India (49 per cent). File image: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal The violence on Republic Day was "unfortunate" but it would not end the farmers' movement against the three agri laws, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday. He also said that "strictest punishment" must be given to those responsible for the violence. Addressing the ninth National Council meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal said the farmers' protest against the farm laws is a battle of existence for them. "The violence on Republic Day was unfortunate and whoever is responsible for it must be given strictest punishment," he said. "But the violence will not lead to the end of the farmers movement against the agri laws, the issues still remain so the movement cannot end. We have to peacefully extend our support to the protesting farmers," the chief minister said. He said whoever is responsible for the violence on Tuesday should be acted against. "Whoever is responsible for the turn of events, and I am not referring to the ones against whom police have registered fake cases, deserve to be punished. Whoever is responsible, whichever party is responsible should be acted against," Kejriwal said. The AAP has strongly come out in favour of the farmers protesting against the agri laws. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. The Classic Centers Family Movie Series began in December, with a showing of Home Alone. The next films in the lineup are The Greatest Showman, on Jan. 29 and Big on Feb. 26, both showing at 6:30 p.m. in The Classic Center Theatre. The High Court has granted former FF TD Frank ORourke permission to add 'persons unknown' to defamations proceedings he has brought over social media posts made in the run up to last year's general election. Mr O'Rourke has obtained orders, known as a 'Norwich Pharmacal' orders, in separate actions against Twitter International Company and Facebook Ireland Ltd requiring so he can identify the posters so he can sue them for defamation. Declan Doyle SC for Mr O Rourke told Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Thursday that his client is still trying to identify the person who posted the alleged defamatory post on a Facebook page. Counsel said Mr O'Rourke needs to formally join the unknown individual or individuals involved before the statutory 12 month-limitation runs out early next month. Mr Doyle, with Jennifer Goode Bl, said despite best efforts, and information provided by Facebook, his client does not know if the poster of the material on a Facebook group is a man, woman or a group of persons. While it was an unusual application counsel said if a 'person unknown' was joined to the action his client has some chance of being able to sue them for defamation. However, with the deadline approaching if the court was not to allow him formally join the as of now person unknown' to the action would mean Mr O Rourke would not be able to sue them. Counsel added that the if and when the identity was obtained the title of the proceedings would be amended to include the alleged defamer's name. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds said that the justice of the matter favoured joining the person unknown to the proceedings. Ms Justice Reynolds also praised Ms Goode's "very concise" legal submission which the judge said aided the court in what was an unusual application, in arriving at its decision. Facebook, represented by Rossa Fanning SC said it had no objections to the application to join the person unknown. Mr O Rourke claims that wholly untrue statements posted about him on social media last February were designed "to cause maximum professional damage to me" in the 2020 General Election, at a time when he was going through "a difficult marriage breakdown." He claims that members of the public told him that they had seen "horrible stuff" about him on social media and that his political supporters received "negative feedback on the doorsteps of North Kildare" following the publication of the comments. He also alleges that untrue posts were made on Facebook pages on pages associated with the Celbridge area about his family life and his personal financial matters were designed to show that he was unfit to be a TD. He further claims that a tweet was put out shortly before the election which called on people not to vote for him, also contained untrue and defamatory statements about his personal life. Mr O'Rourke of Dublin Road, Celbridge, was elected as TD for North Kildare in 2016. In February's election he lost his seat after finishing fifth in the four-seater constituency. It's the hot and heavy Netflix period drama which has taken the world by storm since its release last month. But on Thursday, KIIS 101.1's 3pm Pick Up host Kate Langbroek made a bizarre observation about the hit show, which could change the way viewers watch the raunchy episodes for good. While the 55-year-old enjoyed the passionate drama, she couldn't get over the fact it was set in the 'olden days' - a period when, she points out, 'people really smelt'. Revolting! On Thursday, KIIS 101.1's 3pm Pick Up host Kate Langbroek made a somewhat revolting observation about Bridgerton, which could change the way viewers watch the raunchy episodes for good 'People absolutely stank. Blue cheese would have smelt like Chanel No. 5,' she laughed. 'They were rancid! People were literally rancid.' Kate's co-host Katie 'Monty' Dimond agreed, adding: 'All I could think about is there's no showers anywhere to be seen. They don't go and fill up a bucket and wash themselves. 'I'm not wearing a corset for a week and... can you imagine the pungent smell underneath?' Huge hit: The first series had a strong focus on the love story of Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, played by Rege-Jean Page, and Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor Kate then cheekily asked: 'Who would you be more repulsed by?' To which Monty responded: 'I think the female!' 'Also, your smell isn't designed to attract you - men go mad for that,' Kate crudely added. 'They just love it - it's like you've been eating mackerel!' Bridgerton itself has been watched by a whopping 82 million households worldwide in just a month, making it Netflix's biggest show ever. The eight-part series, which was launched on Christmas Day, is now the streaming giant's most watched show in 83 countries including the UK, France and US. 'People absolutely stank!' While Kate enjoyed the quirky period drama, she couldn't get over its 'olden days' setting and the associated personal hygiene standards Although recently released, Bridgerton has easily overtaken the previous top spot holder, The Witcher, which received 76 million streams in its first 28 days. The first series had a strong focus on the love story of Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, played by Rege-Jean Page, and Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor. It is believed that the second season will begin production in spring, but Netflix has yet to confirm which characters will be officially returning for series two. ROME, JAN 28 - Nationalist League leader and centre-right opposition chief Matteo Salvini said Thursday the centre right would ask President Mattarella to solve the current government crisis either with a centre-right government or a snap election. "We need seriousness, I won't go into government at all costs; the word must be given to the Italians, the only alternative is a centre-right government, or else we must go to the polls," he said. "We trust in Mattarella, who we hope won't tolerate much longer these theatrics, with the desperate hunt for passersby. Italy does not deserve it." Premier Giuseppe Conte is seeking to muster an alternative majority after the centrist Italia Viva (IV) party deserted his populist-leftwing coalition. Mattarella, the arbiter of Italian political crises, may give Conte a mandate to form another government, may give someone else that mandate, or may call a general election, the least likely scenario according to pundits. Currently the centre right do no have the numbers in parliament to form a government but they are heavily favoured to win an election according to opinion polls. (ANSA). If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online: Much current eruption news is provided by the 9 Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) distributed around the globe. The VAACs provide a vital service for aviation safety. Ethiopia is a very diverse and beautiful country. Thanks to our numerous expeditions to Erta Ale and Dallol and beyond, we have an extensive collection of images showing the volcano's lava lake, the desert, the colorful hot springs of Dallol, the vast salt lakes, camel caravans and more. We still have spots free on the expedition to Kamchata's volcanoes in Sep 2021! The expedition will be accompanied by a volcanologist from our team. A country full of colors and adventures is waiting for you! A total solar eclipse will occur on 14 Dec 2020 and pass over southern Chile and Argentina. Chile's most active volcano Villarrica is located exactly on the center line where the eclipse will be best to observe.We offer you the unique chance to combine the eclipse with a tour to one the world's most beautiful volcanic areas - the Lake District in Chile. Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Weather reports Tsunami alerts Design upgrades Faster responsiveness Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards Additional seismic data sources Improved content in English Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world. Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Synopsis Global Market for Yeast has been experiencing a high demand for the last few years and is projected to reach USD 5398.5 million by 2023 compared to USD 3,242.5 million in 2017. Growing working population has started preferring convenience foods which is boosting the growth of the yeast market. Moreover, increasing awareness about the natural food additives among the health-conscious population is propelling the growth of the yeast market among the food and beverage manufacturers. Additionally, increasing use of yeast in feed supplements is an opportunity for the yeast market. Yeast are single-celled fungi. They are found globally in soils and on plant surfaces and are especially abundant in sugary mediums such as flower nectar and fruits. There are wide varieties of yeast present across the globe and are used commercially based on their potential industrial applications. Ascomycete yeasts are the most common of all and are used in the production of bread, beer, wine, and others. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the major strains of yeast which has diverse application across various industries that are food, beverage, feed, and others. Based on the type, bakers yeast is dominating the market owing to its increasing application in bakery products as a leavening agent. Moreover, bakers yeast is witnessed to hold a major market share of 32.81% in Europe in the year 2017. On the basis of form, the instant form of yeast is expected to witness the highest growth rate of 9.32% on the global level. Additionally, yeast market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.40% in the application of feed segment over the forecast period. Major Key Players Some of the key players profiled in the Global Yeast Market are Associated British Foods PLC (U.K), Chr. Hansen A S (Denmark), Angel Yeast (China), Lallemand Inc. (Canada), Lesaffre (France), Leiber GmbH (Germany), Novozymes (Denmark), Koninklijke DSM N.V. (The Netherlands), Kerry Group PLC (Ireland), Synergy Flavors (U.S.), Kothari Fermentation and Biochem Ltd. (India), Omega Yeast Labs, LLC (U.S.), Pak Group (U.S.), Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd. (Japan), BSG CraftBrewing (U.S.) Segment: On the basis of the type, it is segmented into bakers yeast, brewers yeast, wine yeast, feed yeast, bioethanol yeast, and others. Among the types, the bakers yeast is estimated to account for the major market proportion of 44.24% in the year of 2017. However, bioethanol yeast is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period of 2017-2023. Based on the form, yeast market is segmented into dry, instant, fresh, and others. Among them, the dry segment is witnessed to be dominating with a major market share of 31.64% in the year 2017. However, the instant segment is anticipated to witness a healthy growth during the forecast period. On the basis of the application, it is segmented into foods, beverages, feed, and others. The food segment is dominating with the market share of 44.41% in the year 2017. However, the feed segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/yeast-market-5543 Regional Analysis: Yeast Market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and RoW. Among these, Europe is estimated to account for the highest market proportion of 33.02% in the year of 2017 and the trend is expected to continue throughout the forecast period. High consumption of bakery goods and fermented alcoholic beverages in Germany followed by France and Italy has supported the growth of yeast market in Europe. However, the North American region is projected to expand at a high growth of 9.52% during the forecast period of 2017-2023. Among the regions, Europe is dominating the yeast market with over 33.02% of the global market share and is projected to reach more than USD 5398.5 million by 2023. In Europe, Germany is expected to grow at the highest rate followed by France and the U.K over the forecast period. Moreover, North America is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period 2017-2023 in which the U.S. is dominating the market and is expected to grow at the highest growth rate. NOTE: Our Team of Researchers are Studying Covid19 and its Impact on Various Industry Verticals and wherever required we will be considering Covid19 Footprints for Better Analysis of Market and Industries. Cordially get in Touch for More Details. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro reveals promising camera features that allegedly could rival Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra's camera specs. This means that right now, Samsung could face a new rival device when it comes to mobile photography. #Xiaomi Time to clear the rumor, Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will come with quad rear camera....... Render under progress will post tomorrows with proof.#Mi11 #Mi11Pro #mi11series pic.twitter.com/U4bL3gq9UQ Nishant Pathak (@NishantBareilly) January 23, 2021 According to TechRadar, the latest Chinese smartphone Mi 11 is now official in China. On the other hand, many speculations claimed that the latest Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro could also be available in global markets in the coming months, together with Mi 11. However, the China-based tech giant manufacturer hasn't officially released its Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro and its specific camera capabilities. However, there are some sources that are leaking what seem to be the device's possible camera features. To give you an idea, here are the rumored camera specs of the Mi 11 Pro. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro's camera features The new Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is expected to have four cameras that have a 120x zoom feature. This means that the new smartphone might have hybrid zoom capabilities. When it comes to the device's design, it will have a large camera island placed horizontally across the top. If this is true, the 120x zoom feature would make Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro the smartphone with the highest zoom range today. Speculations explained that Xiaomi can achieve this by using the periscopic lens on the extreme right. Also Read: iPhone 13 Wifi 6E Support Could be Apple Phone's Strongest Selling Point, Barclays Experts Suggest The device is also expected to have a native magnification of 10x. On the other hand, rumors claimed that Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro could have a secondary shorter telephoto lens for the lower focal lengths. This camera featured is also available on the latest Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Mi 11 Pro's other two cameras will be a primary sensor and an ultra-wide shooter. Will Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra have trouble? Right now, it is hard to conclude that Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro would be better than Galaxy S21 Ultra since the device's camera features are just speculations and rumors. As of the moment, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 40-megapixel selfie camera, a 108-megapixel main camera, and a 10x optical zoom camera. PC Mag reported that it is a better mobile device compared to the previous Samsung Galaxy S20 flagships. Why? Because it has a better-integrated camera module. This device's maximum zoom is only 30x, which is really behind compared to Mi 11 Pro's alleged 120x zoom. For more news updates about Xiaomi, Samsung, and other giant smartphone manufacturers, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Sony Xperia Pro Comes with Powerful Specs to Justify Hefty Price Tag But with Major Turnoffs This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is an opinion column. What the heck are you doing, Tommy Tuberville? You havent been a U.S. Senator for a month, and already youve gotten yourself into some kind of mess. Maybe a really bad one. Heres what we know. On Jan. 5, a day before a violent attack by Donald Trump supporters on our nations Capitol, a man named Charles Herbster posted about an unusual get-together hed attended. Herbster, a Trump appointee who chaired the Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee, said on Facebook that hed been in a meeting with several members of Trumps inner circle, whom he listed by name. The first name he shared was that of our junior senator from Alabama. Some others included the then-presidents sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.; Adam Piper, the director of the Republian Attorneys General Association; Peter Navarro, assistant to the president; Michael Flynn, the confessed felon and former national security advisor Trump recently pardoned; and Corey Lewendowski, Trumps former campaign manager. Ive dedicated my life to promoting and preserving the American Dream. Tonight, as I look at our nations flag, Im reminded of the battles and blood spilled to protect our way of life, Herbster said in the post. Initially, Herbster placed the meeting at the White House but later edited his post to say it was at the private residence in the Trump International Hotel. Seth Abramson, a journalist, attorney and author of several books critical of the Trump administration, first reported Herbsters Facebook post in his newsletter. Next, the Alabama Political Reporters Eddie Burkhalter asked Tubervilles office whether it was true. Through a spokeswoman, Tuberville denied he was in the meeting. But thats not where this ends. And from here, it gets kind of weird. A Trump supporter from Georgia, who was staying at the Trump hotel, had posted pictures of herself posing with Tuberville in the hotel lobby on Jan. 5. She also posted pictures on her Instagram account of Flynn and Trump Jr. passing through the lobby. Also that same day, Daniel Beck, a CEO of an Idaho-based tech company, Txtwire, posted on Facebook that hed been in the Trump hotel meeting, too with Tuberville. And he shared a picture of himself standing outside the Trump hotel. The Trump hotel is Amazing!! Beck wrote on Facebook. Fifteen of us spent the evening with Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Tommy Tuberville, Michael J. Lindell, Peter Navarro, and Rudy Giuliani. We talked about the elections, illegal votes, court cases, the republics status, what to expect on the hill tomorrow. TRUMP WILL RETAIN THE PRESIDENCY!!! Beck also posted a video, from the hotel lobby, in which he talks about the meeting. In his substack newsletter, Abramson asks a lot of open-ended questions and says the meeting could hold the key to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Im not ready to go there yet. But there are other things that we know already that make this look messy for Tuberville. While the attack on the Capitol was underway, Trumps lawyer Rudolph Giuliani left a voicemail message for Tuberville, asking his help in delaying the Senate vote approving the electoral college results. In the sort of hapless gaffe that seems a habit for Giuliani, he left the voicemail on the wrong senators cell phone. That senator then shared the message with the Dispatch, which later published it. So what the heck is going on here? Was Tuberville involved in a plot to overturn a lawful election? Was he a benign Forrest Gump-like passer-by in something he didnt understand? Or was all this some sort of misunderstanding? A big nothing? Does he even know? He needs to say. He needs to speak. He needs to explain. Theres plenty of reason to be worried about Tubervilles gullibility. Before he was a senator, he had been taken in by two separate Ponzi schemes and had ties to a third. He has a history of being a sucker. And after arriving in Washington, he told Alabama Daily News Todd Stacy he planned to use his Senate office for fundraising a crime under federal law. Whatever Tuberville has done, hes in over his head. Whatever his involvement in whatever this is, he needs to explain himself, not through a spokesperson. He needs to tell where he was, who he was with and what they were doing. And whatever else, he sure as heck shouldnt participate in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Except, maybe, as a witness. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram. More columns by Kyle Whitmire Beware your new friends, Tommy Tuberville What Tommy Tuberville doesnt know Whats buried in Tommy Tubervilles pine box Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Queensland Border Reopening Welcome News: NSW Premier Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that Queensland will reopen its border to Sydney residents from Feb. 1, pleasantly surprising New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian who heard the news live on radio. Sydney has been locked out of the Sunshine State since Dec. 20 following an outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, in the northern beaches area of Sydney. Sydney residents from 35 local government areas will no longer face mandatory quarantine on arrival and road border checkpoints will be dismantled. Palaszczuk said the border closure had been a really long haul and it has been tough on everybody. So its a great time for families to be reunited, but also, too, for people to plan their holidays, she told Nines Today program on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, on Thursday morning 2GB radio host Ben Fordham broke the news to the NSW premier who had not yet been informed by Palaszczuk. What do you know that I dont? Berejiklian asked Fordham, laughing. Queensland is opening the border from February 1, he said. Fantastic. Good news. And I hope that means a lot of families who were hoping to get together over Christmas and New Years but werent able to, will be reunited, Berejiklian said. When asked why she was hearing the news from him and not the Queensland premier, Berejiklian said: The important thing is that right outcome is achieved. We havent had a hotspot for quite a while now in New South Wales. And even when we do I dont think the whole state doesnt need to suffer, she said. The NSW premier thinks state border closures should be a last resort as there are lots of other tools for health authorities manage outbreaks. But other state premiers have been closing borders as their first or second option, she said. She argued that people should be able to move freely within the country due to Australias national quarantine program and that local outbreaks can be managed without other states closing their borders to punish the whole state. The news will be welcome to many NSW families who have loved ones in Queensland. Palaszczuk said on Facebook: We understand how tough border measures have been, but its all about keeping Queenslanders safe. People have done a terrific job looking after each other through the pandemic and now Queensland is good to go. The Queensland premier indicated there would not be blanket border closures in future with a national hotspot regime adequately containing outbreaks in Sydney and Brisbane over the last two months. Coordinated by IIT, the project involves 12 partners in 8 countries and it has been funded by the EU with about 5.7 million euros for the next 4 years Genova/Lecce (Italy), 28th January 2021 - Understanding and treating brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, addiction, chronic pain, depression and schizophrenia, entails the comprehension of the alterations that may occur in the deep regions of the gray matter. Thanks to the European-funded project DEEPER, an international research consortium, coordinated by IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology), will develop new photonic technologies to access those regions and reveal the molecular and cellular dysfunctions underlying the origin of the disorder. The new technological tools are developed with the goal to directly treat the diseases in a minimally invasive and highly effective way. DEEPER will transfer the technological results from laboratory to market, with the ambition to have an impact to strengthen Europe's industrial position in the biophotonics market. The DEEPER project (Deep Brain Photonic Tools for Cell-Type Specific Targeting of Neural Diseases) has been funded by the European Union with about 5.7 million euros for the next 4 years, through one of the most technologically ambitious financing systems, the Research and Innovation Action (RIA) on "Disruptive photonics technologies" (ICT-36-2020). The project is a large-scale European initiative involving 12 partners in 8 countries. The project is coordinated by Massimo De Vittorio, Coordinator of the IIT's Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies in Lecce, with the support of two other IIT Principal Investigators, Tommaso Fellin, Coordinator of IIT Neuroscience Area and Head of the Optical Approaches to Brain function Lab in Genova, and Ferruccio Pisanello, Head of the IIT's Multifunctional Neural Interfaces with deep-brain regions Lab in Lecce. DEEPER puts together technologists, neuroscientists and clinical experts with hi-tech companies, sharing the long-term vision of enabling effective treatments for multiple neurological pathologies that have a dramatic impact on society. According to the World Health Organization estimation, hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide suffer from brain disorders (WHO, 2006). The burden of these pathologies on public health is significant, and it is expected to considerably grow. The DEEPER project will aim to augment the understanding of what causes these brain disorders, focusing at the anatomical and functional alterations occurring in hard-to-access deep regions of the brain. To do so, researchers will develop an entire new class of photonic devices and instruments exploiting light for imaging and manipulating the neuronal activity in deep brain regions with the highest resolution, penetration and specificity. The new tools will be molecular optical sensors, minimally invasive brain probes, next generation microscopes and endoscopes, that will use light both to acquire images of specific deep brain areas, and to control brain electrical activity on selected portions of the central nervous system in a very controlled fashion, in order to study dysfunctions at molecular and cellular level. Then, the international consortium will use the newly developed technologies in a number of clinically relevant experiments, which will contribute to reveal the alterations underlying the origin of the disorder. DEEPER technologists, neuroscientists, clinical and pre-clinical experts will transfer the technological results from laboratory to market, with the ambition of building a value chain with strong market impact in order to strengthen Europe's industrial position in the biophotonics market. The research consortium is coordinated by the IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italy) and involves the University of Zurich (Switzerland), the University of Geneve (Switzerland), the University of Strathclyde (UK), the University of Freiburg (Germany), the University of Hamburg (Germany), the Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Czech Republic), the Sorbonne University (France), the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), the IBEC-Institute for Bioengineering of Catalogna (Spain) and two companies, OptogeniX (Italy) and Atlas Neuroengineering (Belgium). ### Website: https:/ / deeperproject. eu/ ATHENS - Greek police said on Friday nearly 4,000 students defied a ban on gatherings and protested in Athens, for the third time in three weeks, against a bill that would establish police patrols at universities. The students chanted "No to police officers in universities" as well as calling for "opening universities", which have been closed for several months due to anti-Covid measures. The majority of the protesters were wearing face masks but social distancing was scarcely observed, while the protest itself was peaceful. Local police in Thessaloniki said 1,500 people also protested there. [January 27, 2021] Globalization Partners Experiences Record Growth in 2020 on Back of Remote Work Trend SINGAPORE, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Globalization Partners , which enables companies to hire anyone, anywhere, quickly and easily, via its AI-driven, automated, fully compliant global Employer of Record (EOR) platform, today announced significant momentum in 2020 with 70 percent year-over-year customer growth and a record number of net new sales. The unprecedented demand for its solution has Globalization Partners projecting it will reach $750 million dollars in annual recurring revenue in 2021. "Things have changed permanently; we have witnessed the progression of remote work leap forward 10 or 15 years in the past year," said Diane Albano, chief revenue officer, Globalization Partners. "Companies are thinking differently, and as more and more look to hire the best talent no matter where they are located, they are seizing the opportunity that comes with hiring global remote teams." This statement is confirmed by Charles Ferguson, general manager, APAC, Globalization Partners, who says, "This year we have signed many key partnerships with companies like Zegal, multiple SMBs and enterprise customers, and have grown both revenue and our employee base very significantly. The move towards remote working has had a major impact on the APAC region, and reports suggest that more than 70 percent of employees want to maintain at least some degree of remote work moving forward." To support demand for its solution, Globalization Partners doubled its internal global employee headcount in 2020 and is planning to double its workforce once again by the end of 2021 to approximately 600 employees. This year, the APAC team will hire business development employees in Australia and New Zealand and will be expanding sales and marketing teams in Singapore. With the hift in thinking about the possibilities and benefits of a remote global workforce, the company's Employer of Record platform has become decidedly relevant. Ashley Roller, director of human resources, Clumio, an innovator of authentic SaaS for enterprise backup says, "I can just call up Globalization Partners and explain that we are opening a new location in Australia which happened just recently and we need to bring on a new hire right away. Within hours, we are able to get that new person onboarded without setting up our own entity or registering our own Australian payroll. It's a huge benefit for our business to have that type of flexibility when hiring talent globally." Globalization Partners was named Global Employer Record (EOR) industry leader by independent analyst firm NelsonHall. As an EOR, Globalization Partners serves as the legal Employer of Record for its customers hiring internationally. The company's business model is to hire employees on behalf of its customers in countries where the customer isn't registered to do business. The platform frees up companies to manage and direct the daily work of their team members while not having to navigate complex legal issues thus enabling companies to move faster into new territories so they can be more competitive internationally. To find out more about open positions, please visit: Careers at Globalization Partners. About Globalization Partners Hire anyone, anywhere, quickly and easily. Use our AI-driven, automated, fully compliant global Employer of Record platform powered by our in-house worldwide HR experts. Leave the complexities of global employment to the named industry leader that consistently attains 97% customer satisfaction ratings. With Globalization Partners, you can succeed faster. Globalization Partners: Breaking Down Barriers for Everyone, Everywhere To learn more, please visit: globalization-partners.com or connect with us via Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , or check out our Blog . Contact: Karen Pantinas Kpantinas@globalization-partners.com 617-729-4466 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/723356/Globalization_Partners_Logo.jpg SOURCE Globalization Partners [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. A vegan activist has shocked Australia Day crowds by lecturing Bunnings Warehouse customers about eating meat at a barbecue raising money for firefighters. Perth animal rights activist Tash Peterson took to the hardware store holding a blood-splattered Australian flag and a sign that read: 'Australia, the blood is on your hands.' The Bunnings charity sausage sizzle was being run by firefighters on the two-year anniversary of the Black Summer of 2019 - a period of brutal fires across the nation that ripped through 18.6million hectares and killed 34 people. Footage of Ms Peterson's protest was shared to her 10,000 Instagram followers, as well as on YouTube, TikTok and Facebook. Vegan activist Tash Peterson was confronted for lecturing Bunnings customers about eating meat at a sausage sizzle raising money for hero firefighters 'They're firefighters, you should have a little bit of respect,' the woman said to Ms Peterson in a heated confrontation in the clip. 'I wish they sold bacon,' she joked before storming off to cheers from onlookers. Ms Peterson then addressed the firefighters at the grill to say that although they are raising money for 'a really good cause' she wanted them to understand that 'animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change.' Many of the firefighters ignored Ms Peterson as confused customers watched on. One firefighter asked the activist: 'Have you ever been on a fire field having flames come at you, where your risking your life to help people?' While some vegans praised the demonstration online, calling Ms Peterson a 'strong, unapologetic voice for animals', others were unsure. One person wrote: 'I am vegan myself but it's these kinds of vegans that I can't stand. It makes all of us look bad when most of us aren't like this.' One patriotic Aussie took offence to the protest, writing: 'Now this is personal. Vegan attacking a great Aussie tradition of Bunnings snags.' This stunt at Bunnings is the latest Ms Peterson has made over the course of her activism It's not the first time the vegan activist has attracted controversy. In December she protested outside a butcher wearing blood splattered clothes and holding a pig's head while she recited a speech about the way pigs are killed in abattoirs. In the same month a woman intervened when the activist stood topless wearing body paint and a cow onesie outside an Italian restaurant in Fremantle, and admonished Ms Peterson for protesting in front of her children. She has also been fined $1800 for trespassing at Perth's Optus Stadium after running onto the pitch during the first-ever AFL Women's Western Derby, holding a black flag that read 'right to rescue'. Ms Peterson has also dressed in bloodied aprons and protested in McDonald's and Coles, at times carrying a fake slaughtered pig head. Budget 2021: IMF favours extension of pandemic support India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 28: Ahead of India's annual budget presentation next week, IMF's Chief Economist Gita Gopinath has favoured the extension of the pandemic support measures, thrust on investment in infrastructure and expanding health sectors programmes like Ayushman Bharat, and a very credible divestment path for commercially viable companies. The Indian government has provided a lot of schemes for small and medium enterprises, most of which is in the form of liquidity support, Gopinath told PTI on Tuesday. IMF chief says new farm laws have potential to raise farm income "And you want to revisit it and see how effectively that is working and see whether additional support may need to be provided," she said while responding to a question on her recommendations to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of her presentation of the annual Union Budget on February 1. It would be a good time for banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to raise capital given the attractiveness of financing conditions at this point, she said. "We have to also keep in mind that as these pandemic measures are lifted, there would very likely be an increase in non-performing loans. Even the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has projected that," Gopinath said. But there might also be a need for the capital support to be provided by the government for public sector enterprises. That has been long on the table which is to improve governance of public sector banks, she said. Observing that there is a need for more public infrastructure spending, she said that the government has expressed an intention to do that. "There are needs to make more public investment. That would be another area that would require thrust," she said, adding that health is another sector which needs renewed focus. "In this pandemic, there has been spending but if you look at the health needs of the country, health capacity has to be increased. We can also see an argument for expanding Ayushman Bharat programme for instance and also increasing the number of medical personnel," Gopinath said. Gopinath said that there has to be progress made on the GST (Goods and Services Tax) collections. There seems to be a gap with compliance which is an important area to fix. India's finance ministry on Monday released the 13th instalment of Rs 6,000 crore to the states to meet GST compensation shortfall, taking the total amount of funds released to Rs 78,000 crore. The government had set up a special borrowing window in October 2020 to meet the estimated shortfall of Rs 1.10 lakh crore in revenue arising on account of the implementation of the GST. In addition to providing funds through the special borrowing window to meet the shortfall in revenue on account of GST implementation, the government has also granted additional borrowing permission equivalent to 0.50 per cent of Gross States Domestic Product (GSDP) to the states to help them in mobilising additional financial resources. Ashok Hotel expert chefs to serve food to MPs in Parliament from upcoming Budget Session Gopinath said that another area which has been long-standing is divestments. That has been in every one of the budgets, but in terms of the actual implementation it has not happened, he said. "To have some sort of a very credible divestment path for commercially viable companies is a very important part. Also, the insolvency procedures would require a lot of work," Gopinath said. On Tuesday, the IMF projected an impressive 11.5 per cent growth rate for India in 2021. While this is attributable to the stronger than expected recovery, Gopinath said India still has some distance to go. She said that due to COVID-19, India's informal sector, like many parts of the world, has been hit hard along with unemployment in small and medium enterprises, micro small and medium enterprises. Even if the economy is recovering, these distributional effects have also to be paid close attention to, she said. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News Responding to a question on coronavirus, the IMF chief economist said that India moved quickly to put down one of the strictest lockdowns seen anywhere in the world and it stayed that way for a long time. This had an impact on the economy, including a very large contraction in the first quarter of the fiscal year. "But, with the reopening that happened starting the second quarter of the fiscal year and going forward, we are seeing mobility return faster than we had expected and importantly, despite that increase in mobility, there hasn't been a next wave of infections which is quite different from what you see in several other parts of the world. "I am told by some experts that this is an outcome of what looks like a kind of natural herd immunity that has come around in many big cities in India. That could be one reason for it. In terms of overall policy support, India has also overall provided a significant amount. It has tended to use more below the line measures than above the line measures. We still think that there is space for it to do some more," Gopinath said. India, she asserted, has done a lot in terms of making sure there is liquidity in the system providing income in kind and in cash to poor households, helping small and medium-sized enterprises through liquidity channels. She favoured the extension of these pandemic support measures that provided to low-income households in terms of cash and kind, the expansion of MANREGA that was done last year. "Both of those expired in 2020 and we would see a case for extending those even to 2021 until there is a much stronger recovery than we have right now," Gopinath added. Insight into cancer cells' own first aid could help the development of a new type of treatment. Johanna Olweus and her team at the UiO (University of Oslo) and the OUS (Oslo University Hospital) are important contributors to this study, which has been published in Nature. Cancers such as malignant melanoma are notoriously difficult to treat. One of the reasons for this is the lack of good therapeutic targets, i.e. specific points for treatment to attack. Such points are ideally properties of the cancer cells that distinguish them from normal cells. The most important aim for cancer cells is to grow and multiply. In order to do this they require nutrients, including amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. If there is shortage of certain amino acids, this might cause a delayed cellular proliferation and growth of the tumor. A new study shows a mechanism whereby tumors can overcome the obstacles that arise when they lack access to certain amino acids. This study has been published in one of the world's highest-ranking scientific journals; "Nature". The results of the study could be used to develop new immunotherapy. The reason for this is that they reveal a completely new class of therapeutic targets." Johanna Olweus, Professor, University of Oslo "Starved" cancer cells create emergency proteins "When cancer cells do not have access to sufficient nutrients they can create defective "emergency proteins" that they use so that they can continue to grow. Such an emergency solution can promote the growth and aggressive behavior of cancer cells. The question posed by the researchers was whether or not cancer cells that create such "emergency proteins" could also be recognized as foreign by immune cells, so-called T cells. "If we could get the T cells to kill those cancer cells that have created defective proteins, we could use this to develop new immunotherapy." says Olweus The researchers wish to explore how their findings could be used for cancer immunotherapy "Our role in this exciting project was to demonstrate that the defective proteins created by the cancer cells could be targeted by T-cells. We did this by using technology developed by our team," says Professor Olweus. The researchers will now continue working together in order to explore the possibility of how these findings could be exploited in immunotherapy against cancer. Their method will involve identifying so-called T-cell receptors that recognize those cancer cells that create the defective proteins. Professor Olweus's research team has already identified one such T-cell receptor from the immune cells of healthy blood donors. T-cell receptors can be used in gene therapy by genetically modifying the patient's own killer cells so that they are able to find those cancer cells that need to be killed. "The T-cell receptors are comparable to heat-seeking missiles", concludes Professor Olweus. International cooperation She has led the work carried out at the Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo, along with postdoctoral fellow Maarja Laos. Two additional researchers from her research team, Weiwen Yang and Morten Milek Nielsen, are co-authors of the study. The initiative for conducting the study came from two research teams at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam and the Weizman Institute in Israel, respectively. These two teams made the discovery of the defective emergency proteins when they were conducting basic research. They then contacted Professor Olweus's research team to see if their findings could be used for the development of immunotherapy. Miles of unused pipe, prepared for the Keystone XL pipeline, sit in a lot outside Gascoyne, N.D., on Oct. 14, 2014. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Fired Keystone Pipeline Worker Says Bidens Move Going to Hurt A Lot of Families Following the decision by the Biden administration to cancel the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, many workers have already been laid off from their jobs, eliminating their steady source of income. An unidentified general manager working on the Keystone XL pipeline said during a briefing that hundreds of guys have already been laid off in Wisconsin as a result of President Joe Bidens executive order. Neal Crabtree, a 46-year-old welding foreman from Arkansas, whose last steady source of income was eliminated along with many of his colleagues, said the cancelation of the project is going to hurt a lot of Americans. To have a project of this magnitude canceled, its going to hurt a lot of people, a lot of families, a lot of communities, Crabtree told Fox News. This is not a time to be making political statements, he added. We need to be finding ways to put more Americans back to work, not the other way around. The cancelation of the permit was expected to swiftly eliminate an estimated 11,000 U.S. jobs the project would have sustained in 2021, which also includes 8,000 union jobs. Miles of unused pipe, prepared for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, sit in a lot outside Gascoyne, N.D., on Oct. 14, 2014. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Crabtree, a single father of three, has worked as a welder all his life, explaining his father and grandfather also worked in the field. He criticized the move of some Democratic politicians who said workers impacted by the administrations fossil fuel policy can find jobs in other growing industries. You spend a lifetime fine-tuning your skills and if you go start another job youre starting at the bottom, he told Fox News. I doubt that these politicians would like it if someone told them to go start over and find a different job. Theyre killing the jobs that are here and selling a fairy tale of jobs that arent, he added. Biden canceled the $8 billion project on his first day in office, fulfilling a campaign promise to rescind former President Donald Trumps permit for Keystone XL. The new administrations aggressive approach to fight climate change was applauded by the environmental movement and climate change activists who have rallied in opposition to the project. Many others, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have called the move a disappointment. Trudeau emphasized the importance of the bilateral relations between Canada and the United States and their mutual concerns over economic and energy security. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers his opening remarks during a news conference outside Rideau cottage in Ottawa on Jan. 8, 2021. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Elmira Aliakbari, associate director of natural resource studies at the Fraser Institute, says the cancellation will have considerable economic consequences while doing virtually nothing to reduce emissions. Ironically, this cancellation will do little or nothing for the environment because it doesnt lessen U.S. oil dependency. It is likely that U.S. refineries in the Gulf Coast will increase their reliance on other countries such as Venezuela and Russia for oil imports, she says. Bidens administration, however, said the repeal is one of its first steps to address the climate crisis, explaining the Keystone XL pipeline permit was not consistent with the administrations economic and climate imperatives. Crabtree said he understands if the government wants to develop more climate imperative infrastructures, but also criticized them at the same time for just getting rid of thousands of jobs, calling Bidens plan unrealistic. You cant just flip a switch and go from fossil fuels to renewable energy, he said. If they want to start developing that infrastructure, they can. But you cant just get rid of us at the same time. I cant understand how the pipeline industry has become the villains, he continued. The American public doesnt understand that by not building this pipeline, its not going to keep the oil from getting to the market. Its already coming. Shane Miller contributed to this report. From NTD News By Prossy Kisakye Cabinet has received the report on the fire that broke out at Makerere University Main Building in September last year and said it will consider the recommendations made. The report recommends that electrical installations in old university buildings be refurbished and that the annual maintenance budget of the Estates and Works Department be increased to facilitate preventive maintenance of structures. The report also proposes that two electricians with at least an Ordinary Diploma in Electrical Engineering and installations permits be recruited and that a registered Electrical Engineer be recruited for the Estates and Works Department, at management level. The university is also advised to ensure that all CCTV connections in the buildings are fully functional and monitored in a central surveillance room at all times. The police Fire Brigade is also asked to beef up its capacity to effectively and efficiently respond to fires and that a firefighting truck be permanently stationed at Makerere University. Speaking to the media at her office in Kampala, the minister for ICT and National Guidance Judith Nabakooba, said the government has also been advised to enhance the capacity of the National Building Review Board to monitor buildings across the country for timely detection of deterioration. Highlighting the importance of military-technical cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow, India's Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma during an interview with Russian news agency TASS on Wednesday said that India has an independent policy and makes every decision in the military sphere in accordance with the interests of its defence and national security. Indian envoy Bala Venkatesh Varma said, "India-Russia ties go back decades. This is one of the pillars of our strategic partnership. India also has a global strategic partnership with the US. New Delhi's relations with each country are independent. India has an independent policy, and we make every decision in the military sphere in accordance with the interests of our defence and national security." READ | Russia Hits Out At West For 'meddling' In Internal Matter; Downplays The Scale Of Protests 'India-Russia ties go back decades..' While replying to the question of possible US sanctions over the purchase of S-400s, the Indian envoy said, "All our partners are aware of India's defence policy and needs." Varma said that it should not be a surprise that India is making decisions on its defence policy independently, in accordance with its own needs in defence and security. Speaking on the Russian Sputnik V clinical trials taking place in India, he said that Sputnik V vaccine is already well known and it has completed its second stage of clinical trials and the third stage of trials have already begun. Revealing that he has received his first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine last week, Varma said that the vaccine approval process will take another couple of weeks. READ | Russia's Second COVID-19 Vaccine EpiVacCorona '100% Effective' In Early Trials: Report Indian ambassador to Russia said, "Many of my colleagues at the embassy have also been vaccinated, and many are going to do so. Over the annual Russian-Indian summit not being held last year. There is an agreement between the two countries that President Putin will visit India to participate in the bilateral summit, which could not be held in 2020 for the only reason -- the COVID-19 situation." READ | Russia: Over 800,000 People Vaccinated With Sputnik V Against COVID-19 Virus Asserting that as soon as the epidemic situation settles down, the Indian ambassador to Russia informed that both the nations will agree on a specific date for the visit. On the USD 1 billion credit line extended by India for the development of the Far East, envoy Varma said that this is an unprecedented case as India for the first time is providing preferential credit line to its business partners for cooperation with Russian colleagues in the Far East. he also mentioned that USD 1 billion credit line is highly important. Commenting upon chairing the BRICS summit, Varma said that India as chairman of the BRICS, as always, want to consolidate the association as a key international platform for cooperation in a multipolar world in order to change the situation in the economic and health after the pandemic. "India also wants to strengthen the synergy of contacts between people," he added. READ | Moscow Police Arrest Allies Of Opposition Leader Navalny (With ANI inputs) The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. BELLINGHAM, Wash., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Washington University 's Professional and Continuing Education has adopted four new certificate programs, focused on career preparation and skills development for the growing cannabis industry. Leafly's annual cannabis jobs report highlights the need for skilled employees, as the industry is now the fastest growing job-sector in the country and supporting double-digit job growth since 2016. "Western has a strong tradition in supporting innovative educational opportunities in cannabis science education," noted the Vice Provost for Outreach and Continuing Education, Robert Squires. "These excellent professional and continuing educations programs provide further opportunities for Washington citizens to benefit from an area of underserved career opportunity." WWU is collaborating with Green Flower , a market-leading cannabis education company, to offer four programs in Business, Agriculture & Horticulture, Healthcare & Medicine, and Law & Policy. The certificates are designed as both an on-ramp for professionals for work in the industry and for current cannabis industry employees looking to build on their current knowledge. The programs are designed for working professionals and offered 100% online. Each 24-week program costs $2,950, and includes three eight-week courses. Students can complete their courses on a flexible schedule through instructor-led weekly modules. The certificates also offer a portfolio project that allows students to demonstrate their sector-specific knowledge to employers. The certificate programs were designed and are taught by expert instructors with in-depth knowledge and experience in the cannabis industry. After completing a certificate, students will have access to Green Flower's Employer Networkproviding priority access to open positions, hiring contacts, and networking opportunities within multiple large national and regional cannabis companies. "We are very excited to have Western Washington University as our newest partner in offering quality, in-demand, and meaningful cannabis programs to people in Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest," said Daniel Kalef, EVP of University Partnerships at Green Flower. "For many years, Green Flower has developed curriculum meant to help people learn more about the legal cannabis industry and how to be a knowledgeable contributor to this rapidly growing market." Programs begin in March 2021, and enrollment is open now. For more information, visit wwu.cannabisstudiesonline.com. ABOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY'S OUTREACH AND CONTINUING EDUCATION For more than 100 years, Western's Outreach and Continuing Education has provided diverse professional and community learning opportunities through innovative partnerships and programming. OCE expands access to Western's outstanding educational opportunities across the Western region and beyond through a focus on creating community, serving learners and providing lifelong impact. For more information, visit oce.wwu.edu. ABOUT GREEN FLOWER Since 2014, Green Flower has been the global leader in cannabis education, helping millions of people learn about the professional benefits of cannabis. Utilizing their network of more than 700 experts in cannabis medicine, business, cultivation, retail, compliance, and more, Green Flower produces best-in-class online training and content designed to help people succeed in the cannabis industry. Green Flower also partners with colleges and universities to help job seekers, law and health care professionals and entrepreneurs succeed in the rapidly growing cannabis marketplace. Media Contact: Western Washington University Marlene Harlan [email protected] 360-650-7221 SOURCE Green Flower Media Related Links https://www.green-flower.com/ Kaspersky announces today the appointment of Chris Connell as Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Chris will spearhead the global cybersecurity companys APAC business expansion efforts in addition to continuing his role as the Deputy Vice President of Global Sales for the company. Originally from the United Kingdom, he is set to be based in Kasperskys regional office in Singapore. Chris Connell, Kasperskys new APAC MD and existing Deputy VP for Global Sales, will be based in Singapore Chris joined Kaspersky as the GM for UK & Ireland in February 2019. In February 2020, alongside his role as Deputy VP of Sales Network, he was promoted to Director of European Operations, and took on the task of boosting the performance of the companys European operations. Following this European reorganization Chris was responsible for one of Kasperskys burgeoning regions Northern and Eastern Europe. Overall, Chris has more than 23 years of professional experience in sales and commercial leadership in various companies and across many sectors, including solution selling, consumer, B2B and channel sales. Prior to joining Kaspersky, Chriss career was spent at companies such as Ingram Micro Europe and Australia, Tech Data and IBM. I am excited to take up this new leadership role in a region where cybersecurity trends are dynamic but also diverse in terms of needs and development, comments Connell. While we will continue to deliver tailor-made cybersecurity solutions for both businesses and consumers, it is equally important that we pivot away from the traditional and reactive seek-and-destroy approach to an all-encompassing concept of cyber-immunity building an ecosystem where everything connected is protected and secure by design. The expansion of Chris role at Kaspersky as the Managing Director for Asia-Pacific comes at a pivotal moment for the cybersecurity ecosystem in the region, where sector spending is projected to hit US$28.2 billion by 2022. Data breaches have become increasingly commonplace in the region, with incidents of patient records being stolen from group healthcare institutions, and privacy lapses suffered by tech giants such as online shopping and transportation companies, all occurring over the past year. True cybersecurity cannot be achieved in a silo, and the key to building a cybersecurity ecosystem that breaks free from the constraints of operating in different silos is one that is built on integrated and collaborative operations. I am confident that Chris wealth of expertise and thorough understanding of global cybersecurity trends will help to build a safer and more transparent environment for all in APAC, adds Evgeniya Naumova, Vice President of the Global Sales Network at Kaspersky. In his new post, Chris is expected to lend his expertise to shore up the cyber-resilience of APACs healthcare institutions. In addition, he will look to further develop and continue the growth in both commercial and enterprise cybersecurity, with a strong focus on threat intelligence for industry partners in the digital economy, as well as small and medium businesses (SMBs). Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Africa can expect to see at least 30 percent of its population immunised against coronavirus by the end of 2021, the World Health Organization said Thursday, as vaccines begin trickling into the continent. It is estimated Africa will need 1.5 billion vaccine doses to immunise 60 percent of its 1.3 billion inhabitants, the threshold for herd immunity against COVID-19. But the continent has fallen behind in the global vaccine scramble, as wealthier nations have been accused of bulk-buying excess doses directly from manufacturers. Most African countries are relying on the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) to shoulder at least part of their innoculation campaignsproviding vaccines and helping to finance their roll out. WHO Africa's immunisation coordinator Richard Mihigo said the WHO-backed Covax vaccine sharing facility and the AU's African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) would jointly deliver enough doses to vaccinate between 30 to 35 percent of the continent's population this year. "Given the latest developments within the Covax facility, there is a very good prospect that the objective to supply 600 million doses by the end of 2021 will definitely be reached," Mihigo told a virtual press briefing. The Covax vaccines will cover at least 20 percent of the population, with the rest "complemented" by AVATT, he added. While the AU has so far secured 270 million doses through AVATT, Mihigo warned "some of those may not become available soon" and that the initiative could "realistically" only expect to reach between 10 and 15 percent of the continent in 2021. The bulk of Covax and AVATT provisions will be shots of Oxford/AstraZeneca's vaccine, followed by a few million Pfizer-BioNTech jabs. Mihigo said the WHO was exploring "additional candidates", with particularly high hopes for Johnson & Johnson's one-shot vaccine. So far only a small handful of African countries have started vaccinating their populations, including Guinea, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Morocco is expected to begin administering the shots this week, while South Africa announced on Wednesday that a first batch of 1.5 million AstraZeneca vaccines would arrive on February 1. Mihigo said the first Covax doses were likely to reach the continent by mid-February, and that "by March we will definitely see most of the countries start vaccinating". "It is a slow start but we are expecting that in the coming months things are going to ramp up." To date Africa has recorded close to 3.5 million coronavirus cases and 88,000 deaths, according to a tally compiled by AFP. A new virus variant first detected in South Africa that is thought to be more contagious has cropped up in at least six African countries and 24 worldwide, according to the WHO. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 83F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. A Wexford man who blindfolded his younger half-sister when they were both children and sexually assaulted her has been jailed for a year. Bernard Maguire (29), of Allenwood Drive, Gorey, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to two charges of orally raping his half-sister at their father's home on dates between September 2006 and September 2008. She was aged between six and seven at the time and he was aged between 15 and 16. His half-sister, Bethany Maguire, now aged 20, waived her right to anonymity so Maguire could be named. A local garda detective told the court that the man put his penis into her mouth during a game in which he persuaded her to wear a blindfold and put different objects in her mouth. On another occasion, he didn't blindfold her but told her to close her eyes, the court heard. The offences came to light when the woman went to gardai in 2018. After his arrest the man made full admissions to gardai, the court heard. Mr Justice Michael White said sentencing in an offence committed by a juvenile was not straight forward. He had earlier noted that as the man was a child at the time of the offence but is now being sentenced as an adult, certain case law and sentencing guidelines need to be considered. He said the aggravating factors included the serious nature of the offending, the breach of trust by an older brother and the age gap between the siblings. He noted in mitigation that Maguire made immediate admissions and pleaded guilty. He took into account Maguire's youth and immaturity at the time of the offending and his remorse. He said this did not minimise the seriousness of the offending or the impact on his half sister. Mr Justice White imposed a two-year sentence with the final year suspended on conditions including that Maguire attend for assessment for the Better Lives program in prison. Mr Gerard Clarke SC, prosecuting, today told Mr Justice White that Ms Maguire wished to waive her right to anonymity. He told the court, as both parties were children at the time of the offending, he was required to make an application under section 252 of the Children Act to allow anonymity be waived. Mr Justice White said he was of the view that it was in the interests of justice that the court would not interfere with Ms Maguire's wish to waive her right to anonymity and made the orders pursuant to the act allowing the parties names to be published. In a victim impact statement which she read out in court at the previous sentence hearing, Ms Maguire said: When I remember what my brother did to me I feel worthless. "The thought that my own blood could abuse me as a child, makes me think...surely I'm better off dead and buried. She said she has struggled throughout her life with not wanting to leave her home, go to town in the fear she might see her half-brother, or go to school with teenage boys who were the same age as her abuser. I frequently have nightmares about him and what he did, she said. He is never far away from my mind. The accused told gardai that he knew what he was doing was wrong, the court heard. He said he had watched a video and been excited by it. He said his little sister didn't tell him to stop, but he knew she didn't like it. Paul Murray SC, defending, said his client has pleaded guilty to the offence but still maintains he was younger than the charges reflect. He is convinced that he was 11 or 12 years old at the time, but challenging that would have meant that he would have had to cross-examine her (the victim) and he was insistent that this would not happen, Mr Murray said. He asked the court to take into account various reports before the court which demonstrates Maguire's remorse, the fact that he has addiction issues and the possibility that he has cognitive functioning issues. Mr Murray said Maguire has written a letter of apology to his half-sister and she has received it, but she doesnt accept it. If it wasnt for a visit to a recruiting office back in the day, Claire Bibby might have ended up writing an article like this. Starting out as a journalist covering rural life, she soon changed course and devoted 36 years to Police and the community before retiring this month. Looking at her personal file, Claire says her focus on the standing of Police in the community was prominent in her being recommended as a recruit. Reflecting on my career, it's fair to say there is a strong commitment and dedication to bringing Police and community closer together. Claire signed up for Police at the age of 20 and joined 36 colleagues in Wing 95 at the Police College in 1985 before being posted to Gisborne. On the beat in Gisborne circa 1986. I was fortunate having the good influence of senior police officers in the formative part of my career, that shaped my policing approach. Their guidance set me on a path that has resulted in some wonderful successes for Police and for the people we provide a service to. Early in her career, Claire was rostered to work in Ruatoria during troubling times with the Rastafarians. There were multiple arsons, a beheading, and a police officer was kidnapped. I was rostered to work there for five weeks, including night shift on my own over Christmas. "Detective Rex Harrison took me around the local marae and told the community there was to be no trouble and no fires because I was working, and everyone needed a rest and some peace with their families. The locals organised a roster and worked alongside me until 1am and there was no trouble. Thats when I learned how police and community could work together to keep the peace. Another positive influencer was Senior Constable Aporo Joyce of Cannons Creek. I moved to Porirua in 1987. Kapiti-Mana was selected as the pilot for community policing and I was invited to work alongside Aporo. He was nearing the end of his career and wanted to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of Police. Aporo taught me how to engage with the community in a way that they did the work for you. He wanted the leaders in the community to take ownership of their community and to turn young peoples lives around for the better. With the crew of TV's What Now at the Police College in 2006. Promotion to sergeant in 1994 saw Claire travel up country and a supervisory job at Palmerston North, taking in the city centre beat constables, and community policing staff at Massey University and Linton. It was an era of violence in the city centre. I put the learning into practice, working in partnership with my Police colleagues and the mayor to reduce robberies and assaults in The Square. The Council redesigned the area, improving lighting, moving paths, redesigning the carpark and rest-rooms. In the first year, robberies dropped from 3410, and there were big reductions in all types of assaults. On promotion to senior sergeant at the Police College, Claire continued to work with the community, incorporating its voice into national training. After consulting with the Maori doctors and an inter-agency advisory group, I included tikanga and te reo Maori in our Custodial Management Suicide Awareness (CMSA) training packages. This was the beginning of normalising the use of te reo Maori beyond recruit training. The training resulted in a significant drop in suicides and attempted suicides, as we were teaching our police how best to care for people from the moment they were first detained. Another task involved the Commissioner wanting Police to better understand the Muslim culture after the Bali bombings. Claire and colleagues doing public order training in the Solomons in 2012. "We developed an ethnic strategy, which saw the introduction of ethnic liaison officers, the Language Line, and training in religious and ethnic diversity. "I worked closely with Kefeng Chu, the police strategic advisor for ethnic people. I developed the training needs analysis and he developed the first Ethnic Strategy for New Zealand Police. Together we went on to design the first ethnic and religious diversity training for police recruits and a continuing education programme for Police in religious and ethnic diversity. This work achieved international recognition as it was considered a world first, and Claire was invited to present on it to conferences. This was the beginning of my realisation that our work in New Zealand Police has international influence, and the role of Police internationally supporting us to achieve our goals. Claire says her deployment to the Solomon Islands in 2011 was the beginning of a new phase in her policing career, encouraging Police and Defence to communicate with women to prevent conflict and maintain a peaceful and secure country. Claire off duty in the Solomons. She later contributed to the development of a National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security, which was taken to the United Nations Security Council in 2015. In 2018, Claire achieved the Australasian Council of Women and Policing Award for Excellence in her research on giving women a voice in leadership for peace and security, and in 2019 she was a finalist in the Women of Influence. One of her last frontline roles was as a district shift supervisor in Counties Manukau, and on 20 January she left her job as a Continuous Improvement Advisor with the Emergency Communication Centres. With Counties colleague Emiel Logan, in 2013. Of her last role, she says it "has given me the best opportunities to influence better engagement between the security sector and civil sector. In particular, the report on the lessons identified in Whakaari/White Island, which were assessed against the recommendations from Operation Deans." For Claire, the fundamentals of policing are bound to where it all began in the mid-80s. What I learned from Ruatoria and Porirua is the importance of working in partnership with the community. We only know a fraction of what goes on in the community. They know whats happening. We police with their consent. "We must continue to develop and build relationships with our communities to keep our communities and country safe and secure." Claire in Bangkok in 2016. -Ten One Magazine. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... CHANDLER, Ariz. A man has been arrested and accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and a child in Chandler and firing shots at Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers, authorities said. Chandler police said 33-year-old Christopher West was booked into jail Monday on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and burglary. It was unclear Tuesday if West has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf. Police said West is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriends apartment around 11 p.m. Monday. West allegedly shot the woman and the child and fled before officers arrived. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Police said the woman and child were taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. West crashed his car on a freeway before police spotted him in Tempe. As DPS troopers chased West, he allegedly fired at least four rounds at them but no injuries were reported. West was later arrested and DPS officials said a semi-automatic handgun was found in his possession. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. [January 28, 2021] C Spire invests $1 billion to speed deployment of fiber broadband and network enhancements in Alabama, Mississippi BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- C Spire is ramping up an unprecedented growth project with a $1 billion investment over the next three years the largest capital spend in company history - to accelerate the deployment of all-fiber Gigabit broadband internet in key parts of its service area in the southeastern U.S. The project also will provide ultra-fast, all-fiber broadband services to over 200,000 homes and business by 2025 in Mississippi and Alabama, where the diversified telecommunications and technology services firm recently expanded its broadband internet availability, and result in faster delivery of 5G wireless technology in Mississippi markets. When completed, the project is expected to expand next-generation, ultra-fast broadband services across Alabama and Mississippi. In Alabama, C Spire has plans to deliver all-fiber gigabit service in over two dozen Alabama markets. In Mississippi, fiber infrastructure will be expanded to within 1,000 feet of half of the state's residential premises and deliver game-changing 5G service - the next generation of mobility - to nearly 600 sites covering over 60 percent of the state. "We have a strong reputation of providing world-class products and services to consumers and businesses and this investment signals that we intend to deliver these benefits faster than ever before," said C Spire CEO Hu Meena, noting that the firm will make the initial investment in three years with another $500 million in capital spending over a five-year period. Meena said the investment s expected to generate at least 250 new direct jobs in Alabama and result in millions of dollars in secondary economic benefits for both states through contracts and agreements with firms who will help C Spire with the massive infrastructure deployment and construction efforts. Meena noted that C Spire has already launched Gigabit broadband for consumers in Jasper, will offer service in Trussville next month and has plans to build robust fiber hoods in more than two dozen markets across Alabama as part of its Fiber Fast initiative. "This is a game-changer, helping grow the economy and improving the quality of life for everyone," he said. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the C Spire investment in broadband infrastructure will help strengthen the state's economy, education system, health care options and infrastructure investment efforts. "C Spire's investment and commitment to the expansion of all-fiber broadband services will help us make a difference in bridging the digital divide, which is a real challenge in our state, especially in rural areas," she added. Business executives also expressed support for the C Spire investment initiative, including the 2,662-member Business Council of Alabama, whose President and CEO Katie Boyd Britt noted that up to 5,000 new businesses would benefit from the broadband infrastructure improvements. "This decision by C Spire will help the BCA achieve our goals of growing the state's $228 billion economy, creating jobs, and encouraging investment in Alabama," Britt said, noting that the C Spire investment will help the organization further its "mission to create an environment where all businesses can grow and flourish." Meena said C Spire plans to move quickly and aggressively in 2021 to bring the cutting-edge technology benefits to consumers and businesses in both states, leveraging several recent acquisitions, including Teklinks and Harbor Communications, to accelerate its growth and expansion efforts. To learn more about C Spire fiber broadband internet in Alabama, go to C Spire Fiber Fast. For more information about C Spire products and services, visit www.cspire.com. About C Spire C Spire is a privately-owned telecommunications and technology company driven to deliver the best experiences in wireless, fiber internet, and business IT solutions such as internet, VoIP, cloud and managed services. Read more news releases and announcements at cspire.com/news. For more information, visit cspire.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/c-spire-invests-1-billion-to-speed-deployment-of-fiber-broadband-and-network-enhancements-in-alabama-mississippi-301217552.html SOURCE C Spire [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New York, Jan 28 : With a 60 minute briefing on Wednesday, the Joe Biden administration marked the return of the country's finest medical professionals to top of the heap in taking on the challenge of Covid-19's deadly rampage in the US which is likely to claim 90,000 lives in the next four weeks alone. The US leads the world in coronavirus cases and deaths. More than 25 million have been infected, more than 427,000 people have perished. The Biden White House Covid-19 team today delivered data on a variety of interlinked issues headlined by the overall theme of increasing vaccine supply and closing the door on the virus. It's now more than a year after Covid-19 arrived on America's shores but it's almost the first time that Americans got spin-free communication from the White House on the pandemic response. Jeff Zients, the Biden administration's coordinator for pandemic response; his deputy, Andy Slavitt; Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert; Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, the chair of Biden's Covid-19 equality task force, and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drove Wednesday's briefing. IANS was on the call and from there, we bring you 20 core data highlights which capture both the scale of the challenge and the catastrophe that has already wrecked America in its deadliest 12 months so far. 4,383: Highest daily number of deaths, current peak on January 20, 2021. 3,787: Highest seven-day moving average of deaths, January 13, 2021. 78,000: Number of patients hospitalized with Covid-19, as of January 24 3113: Current seven day average, from January 19-25, 2021. That's a 4.9 per cent decrease from the earlier seven day average. 2.1: Number of anaphylaxis cases per 1 million administered doses of the two-shot Moderna vaccine. 6.2: Number of anaphylaxis cases per 1 million administered doses of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine. 3: Number of vaccines that will begin Phase 3 trials between February and March - Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax. Johnson and Johnson trial could deliver "important" news as early as a week from now, according to Fauci. J and J is using the an adenovirus vector based technology to develop its Covid-19 vaccine just like it did with its Ebola, Zika, RSV, and HIV vaccine candidates. 293: Number of cases reported in the US of the B.1.1.7 strain of the coronavirus. The UK and 46 other countries are reporting cases of this new strain. 73: Number of deaths among Asians per 1,00,000 people in the US. 7.83 million: Number of people vaccinated in the first seven days of the Biden administration. 533 million: Number of doses required to vaccinate everyone over 16 years of age. There's no talk yet of kids under 16, although trials are ongoing. 10 million: Number of doses promised across all states each week, and states will have three weeks of visibility into supply. 6%: Percentage of the US population that has received one or more doses. 200 million: Total number of doses available in the first quarter of 2021, mostly concentrated towards the end of March. 100: Number of community vaccination clinics to be set up by the end of February. 40%: Nursing-home residents account for 4 in 10 Covid-19 deaths in America. In the country's vaccination challenge, this is the most vulnerable flank. 202 million: Number of doses required to vaccinate those who are currently eligible across 5 categories: Long term care facilities, frontline essential workers, healthcare personnel, those aged 65-74 years and those aged above 75 years. 75-80%: The percentage of Americans who need to be vaccinated by summer for the country to return to some "semblance" of normalcy by Fall, according to Dr. Fauci. 479,000-514,000: Total number of deaths expected to be recorded by February 20, 2021, according to the CDC's most recent national forecast. 120 million: Number of doses that Pfizer thinks it can deliver this quarter to the US. The best chance for a dramatic supply increase may come from Johnson & Johnson, which is likely to drop some big news in a week. (Nikhila Natarajan can be reached at nikhilanatarajan@gmail.com) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Small businesses have faced adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but may be poised for a year of growth. Half of small businesses in the U.S. (51%) are likely to hire new employees in 2021, according to a new survey from The Manifest , the leading resource for B2B buying decisions. Whether a small business is hiring, however, depends on their revenue projections for 2021. New data from The Manifest shows that 51% of small businesses are likely to hire new employees in 2021. 58% of small businesses will use social media to hire new employees, according to The Manifest. The survey of 500 small businesses in the U.S. found about two-thirds of small businesses (63%) that predict revenue growth in 2021 plan to hire new employees, versus just 39% of small businesses predicting a decrease in revenue. Small businesses aren't betting on positive indicators of recovery when making hiring projections, but instead are relying on their own revenue, growth, and business needs. Small Businesses Plan to Hire IT, Marketing, Customer Service, and Operations Professionals Small businesses likely to hire in 2021 are looking for IT, marketing, customer service, and operations support. One-third of small businesses (35%) hiring in 2021 intend to hire IT staff after a tumultuous business year that required more digital and remote communication and security than previous years. Small businesses also seek to strengthen their marketing, sales, and customer service operations to set themselves apart as the economy recovers: 31% of small businesses plan to hire marketing and sales professionals, and 29% plan to hire customer service specialists. About one-quarter of these small businesses (23%) also plan to hire operations professionals to assist in hiring and training employees. "I want to offer my employees benefits that are competitive and leading in today's workforce," said Avner Brodsky, founder and CEO of SuperWatches.com who plans to expand his company's operations team in 2021. "The pandemic has really shown the importance of prioritizing employees' wellbeing, and I wish to be at the forefront." Small Businesses Rely on Social Media to Hire Employees Most small businesses (58%) will turn to social media platforms such as LinkedIn to source and vet candidates. With more job seekers on the market than ever before, social media recruiter tools can help small businesses narrow their search for the right hire. With 27% of small businesses planning to hire 20 or more employees, small businesses need to leverage every recruiting resource available, including staffing companies, HR software, and in-house teams. Read the full report here: themanifest.com/staffing/small-business-recruiting For questions about the survey, comments on the findings, or an introduction to the sources featured in the report, contact Kelsey McKeon at [email protected] . About The Manifest The Manifest is a business news and how-to website that compiles and analyzes practical business wisdom for innovators, entrepreneurs, and small and mid-market businesses. Use The Manifest as an approachable tour guide through every stage of the buyer journey. With three main offeringsdata-driven benchmarks, step-by-step guides, and agency shortlistsThe Manifest strives to make your business goals a reality. Contact Kelsey McKeon [email protected] (202) 350-4344 SOURCE The Manifest Related Links https://themanifest.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 23:26:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Bolivia on COVID-19 vaccines, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday in a phone conversation with his Bolivian counterpart, Luis Arce. In the past 36 years since China and Bolivia established diplomatic relations, they have made steady progress in bilateral ties, Xi said. Especially during the Morales administration, the two sides have seen close high-level exchanges, rapid expansion of economic and trade cooperation and sound coordination in multilateral affairs, Xi added. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has provided Bolivia with material and technical assistance to fight the epidemic through various channels, he said. China will continue supporting Bolivia in the anti-epidemic fight within its capacity, Xi said. Xi stressed that China has always treated Bolivia as a good friend and a good partner, and attached great importance to the China-Bolivia strategic partnership. China supports Bolivia in exploring a development path that fits its national conditions, and in continuously raising the "better life" index of the Bolivian people, Xi said. China is willing to enhance policy communication and coordination, share governance experience and learn from each other, deepen political mutual trust and support each other, Xi said. He called on the two sides to review their practical cooperation to make better plans, and jointly promote construction of the Belt and Road cooperation. China is glad to see Bolivia making full use of such platforms as China International Import Expo to promote its quality products with characteristics, Xi said. China supports businesses of the two sides in expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure construction, telecommunication and other fields, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation in accordance to the epidemic situation, Xi said. The two sides should conduct close cooperation within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and work to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. Xi said he believes that with joint efforts, the China-Bolivia strategic partnership will continue to achieve new results. Enditem According to the CCTV footage obtained from the lobby of Bhagwati Heights, 22-year-old Shree Jogdhankar rushed out of the building at around 2 am on the night of January 1, 2021. The footage shows Jogdhankar's hands and clothes covered in blood, his shirt torn. At the time, the Khar highrise was already a site of a murder. The body of Jhanvi Kukreja (19) lay in a pool of blood on the ground floor. The police were yet to arrive. Several hours later, Jogdhankar and another friend of Kukreja, Diya Padalkar (19), were arrested by the Khar police for murder. Media reports claimed that both Jogdhankar and Padalkar were close friends of the victim, and the trio had gone to Bhagwati Heights to attend a New Years Party organised by a friend. However, during the event, a scuffle broke out between the three, and eventually, Kukreja was found dead on the ground floor by a resident of the building who had stepped out to walk her dog in the wee hours. Kukreja's mother, Nidhi, claims that the CCTV footage is important evidence of Jogdhankar's involvement in her daughter's death. In an interview with News18 she said, "I have been informed that in the lobby's CCTV footage Shree was seen walking out at 2:15 am from the staircase (where Jhanvi was found murdered), and not from the lift." "The footage shows blood on his hands and shirt, which was torn. After leaving the building, the footage from the road camera suggests that he walked up to 1 km and hailed a cab," she added. However, lawyer Mahesh Vaswani, who is representing Jogdhankar, said that the same footage, in fact, can be the key to prove the discrepancies in the case against his client. "Sometime around 2 am my client left the party. He was spotted in the CCTV footage with an 8-inch-long injury on the rear side of his head. After leaving the building, he went to Sion Hospital to get his wounds treated. While he was still at the hospital, he received a call from another friend who said that Jhanvi was badly hurt and the matter has gone to the police. So, he went down to the Khar police station at around 5 am. He was arrested later that day," said Vaswani. "Before going to the quarantine centre, Jogdhankar was admitted to Cooper Hospital for injuries, including fractures on ribs and a dislocated spinal cord. All these injuries do not appear to be self-inflicted at all. So, apparently, something has happened to him," Vaswani added, pointing out that his client is physically big, and it is unlikely that Kukreja had inflicted those injuries during their fight. "So, maybe something else happened that is yet to be found out? I'm sure the police are going to dig out the details during their investigation," the advocate added. The case is currently under investigation due to which senior police inspector, Gajanan Kabdule refused to comment on it. So far, the police have recreated the crime scene with dummies, collected fingerprints, nail clippings, and hair and swab tests of the accused. Both Jogdhankar and Padalkar are currently in judicial custody. Until now, there have been no reports of any confession from either party. However, during a remand hearing, a senior IO told the court that Padalkar has begun cooperating with them. On the surface, it seems like a difficult case to crack with many missing links, discrepancies in witness statements, and absence of eyewitnesses. However, for the police, the key concern is to ascertain the motive behind such a gruesome crime. Why was Kukreja killed? Padalkar and Kukreja had been best friends and neighbours for fourteen years. Both girls were often in and out of each other's homes. Padalkar's parents went to sleep around 10 to 10:30 pm every night, and Padalkar would regularly stay with us, Nidhi said. "Jhanvi would make her sit and study. She would give tuitions to her younger brother. During the lockdown, the colleges were shut, so Jhanvi and Diya started a baking business. She used to put her energy into positive things," she added. Nidhi has been having a hard time trying to understand why her kind and loving daughter was so brutally killed. Initially, media reports claimed a love angle. Several accounts said that Jogdhankar was in a relationship with Kukreja and was seen getting close to Padalkar during the party, which infuriated Kukreja. She confronted Jogdhankar, and a fight broke out between the three. However, Nidhi has denied the claims and said Jogdhankar was just another friend. "I request everyone to give her respect in death. Why put romance and love in her death? It is a case of friendship gone wrong," she pleaded. Padalkar's lawyer, Ashok Mishra, also says his client was not in a relationship with Jogdhankar. "She met Jogdhankar for the first time in September 2020. So, there is no scope they knew each other for long. And her mobile records and chats have already been taken by the police. But nothing is there, not even a single discussion on that angle," he said. "Jhanvi's parents claim that Shree and Jhanvi were not in a relationship. If so, then it only goes on to prove that neither of the two had any motive to hurt her," he added. Currently, the Kukrejas are waiting for the police to interrogate the two accused and find out more details regarding the death of their daughter. The Blind Spot While the motive is yet to be ascertained, another crucial link missing from the case is the exact whereabouts of two accused during the murder. Jogdhankar's lawyers claim he has no memory of how he got hurt and what he was doing during the period in which Jhanvi was murdered. "He said that he doesn't remember what happened, because he was out of senses. He doesn't remember anything about the fight, too," said Vaswani. "The last thing he remembers is being in a fight. After that, when he regained consciousness, he found himself bleeding and badly hurt, so he called a friend and went to Sion hospital," he added. Padalkar, too, has a similar blind spot. According to her lawyer, Ashok Mishra, Padalkar had only tried to help. " She told me that there were no lights on in the staircase. Jogdhankar and Kukreja were arguing, and she went to intervene because Kukreja was a good friend. During the intervention, she suddenly felt someone hit her on the face hard. She lost her balance, fell and hit the railing, and started bleeding profusely." "She went down to the second floor to her friend's house who had organised the party. As soon as she reached there, she fainted... there was blood on the bed on which she fell unconscious. Someone must have called the other friends from the terrace. They came downstairs and helped her clean her wound. But the bleeding didn't stop. So, they called her dad and told him that they are taking her to Hinduja hospital. She was accompanied by her friends that is what the CCTV footage shows," added Mishra. A Silent Building It isn't just Padalkar and Jogdhankar though, no one in the whole building, where a New Years' party was taking place on the top floor, apparently heard anything. There are no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Kukreja's friends from the party either claim they don't remember anything or did not witness or hear anything. Nidhi said that the post-mortem report shows her daughter had sustained 48 injuries, the main one being a skull injury. "There were tufts of her hair everywhere. It seems she was dragged down with a lot of force. And every floor had blood, and her skull was literally in two pieces. What I dont understand is what was the rage about that lead to such a brutal crime? And, how come no one saw or heard anything?" she asked. "Among those present at the party, five girls are from our complex. They have all grown up together with Jhanvi. Nobody came to help her. I don't understand, there were so many others at the party, why did they not help?" asked Kukreja. The Kukrejas have been asked not to contact those present at the party during the investigation. An eyewitness's absence may work in Jogdhankar's favour, but his history of short temperedness doesn't. According to Ganesh Gupta, a lawyer from Vaswani's team defending Jogdhankar, "The police have also discovered a few old incidents against him, and therefore, their line of argument is that he is very hot-headed so he might have assaulted the deceased." However, Gupta added that it was a futile attempt to paint his client in poor light. Punishment and hope for justice Gupta told News18.com that Jogdhankar is currently lodged at Taloja jail, where he was sent for judicial custody on January 14. "We had filed an application that allowed him to read books in jail because his exams are coming up. And we asked that he be given appropriate medical treatment," added Gupta. "There is nothing in the remand application to connect him to the crime. Therefore, hypothetically, if it can be proved that Shree is guilty, then at the most it would be under 304 of the IPC (because there was no intention to murder, only knowledge)," he said. So far, there had been widespread reports that all the party attendees were heavily intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. However, a media report by India Today has contradicted this in a report which says no drug or alcohol traces were found on the accused. Kukrejas' lawyer Advocate Trivankumar Karnani told News18 that whether drugs and alcohol were consumed at the party is subject to the investigation by the police and will come to light once they prepare their charge sheet against the accused. But, so far, it has been revealed that Jogdhankar has a criminal history. " It has also come to light in the remand applications that a drug dealer has been arrested (for supplying drugs to one of the attendees of the party) in a separate case filed by the police under the NDPS act," said Karnani. For the Kukrejas, the only thing that matters right now is getting justice for their daughter. Currently, nothing is right in their household. The light of their lives has suddenly been snatched away, and for the parents, it feels like they have lost a lifeline. "My husband and I are taking this seriously because we do not want any parent to go through this. We know what it feels like to experience this. She had just started her life; she did everything right. Today's girls know how to take care of themselves. It's the boys who have to be taught," she said. Jogdhankar's lawyers are currently gearing up to apply for his bail at the session's court, which Karnani said they will vehemently oppose. According to Karnani, both Jogdhankar and Padalkar are facing charges under Section 302 R/W 34 (murder committed in furtherance to a common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The earlier version of the article has been updated. For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ayear to the day since Australias first coronavirus case was diagnosed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a vaccine against the virus had been approved for local use. After more than 29,000 cases and 909 deaths, the federal government has promised the Australian adult population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 at hospitals, specialist hubs, GP clinics and chemists by the end of October. In an undertaking described by Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy as the most complex logistical exercise that perhaps weve done in public health in this country, the federal government is leading state and territory health departments in a mammoth inoculation operation. What does Australias vaccination timeline look like? And where will you get yours? Here is what we know so far. Credit: Who is being vaccinated first? Australians aged 16 and over are being vaccinated against COVID-19 in at least four and possibly five phases. Thats more than 24 million people able to receive their jabs, in total, over eight months. Advertisement The first innoculation was of 84-year-old Jane Malysiak on February 21, which started Phase 1a of the rollout. This phase was made up of people either at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or at a higher risk of becoming very sick if they do: so, quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers, and staff and residents at aged care and disability facilities. There are about 678,000 people in Phase 1a across Australia. By March 14, there had been 164,437 vaccinations. Already underway is Phase 1b: all other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55 and other Australians over 70 who are not in aged care, younger people with an underlying medical condition and emergency and some critical workers. That adds up to about another 6.1 million people. Australia is aiming to have 4 million people all of Phase 1a and more than half of Phase 1b vaccinated by the end of April. Most Australians will have their vaccine in either Phase 2a (the remaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, other Australians over 50 and other critical and high-risk workers) or Phase 2b (everyone else aged 16 and over) using the AstraZeneca vaccine. If the Therapeutic Goods Administration approves a vaccine for use in children (more on that later), Phase 3 of the rollout will see children under 16 vaccinated. Proof of vaccination will be recorded on the existing Australian Immunisation Register which can be accessed via MyGov or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. Advertisement Which vaccine will you get? At this stage, Australias rollout plan is hinged on two vaccines: one by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and biotechnology company BioNTech, the first doses of which arrived on February 15, and the other by researchers at the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which first arrived on Australian soil on February 28. We have two vaccines, which are effective and safe enough, and that is a long way from where we thought we would be six months ago, says Professor Julie Leask, an immunisation uptake researcher from the University of Sydney. Despite early reports that the Pfizer vaccine would be reserved for people in the earliest stage of the rollout, once AstraZeneca doses were made available they were put to use, meaning people in phase 1a and 1b have been receiving either vaccine from early March. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in people aged 16 years and over. It comes in two doses, to be given 21 days apart. Australia has bought 20 million doses, including an extra 10 million secured in early February, which are being manufactured in Belgium. Clinical trials indicated it would prevent symptomatic COVID-19 in 95 per cent of recipients. The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, which means it works by giving the body the material that encodes the protein of the virus, rather than the protein itself. Essentially, it shows the body what the virus looks like without actually infecting it, so it can design its immune response. Doses of the Pfizer vaccine need to be imported from Europe and stored in a cold chain facility at minus 70 degrees, which is part of why they do not form the bulk of Australias vaccine strategy. Advertisement The TGA identified some side-effects with the Pfizer vaccine: more than 60 per cent of people will experience fatigue, more than half will get a headache, more than 30 per cent will suffer muscle pain or chills and more than 20 per cent will experience joint pain. But most Australians should expect to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, which federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has called the ace in the hole of Australias rollout. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a non-replicating viral vector vaccine: scientists have taken a virus that usually gives chimpanzees a cold but is harmless to humans and genetically engineered it to look like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to trigger an immune response. It will need to be stored at 2 to 8 degrees, like most vaccines. This vaccine was approved by the TGA for adults aged 18 and over and will require two doses 12 weeks apart. Phase three trials indicate it has an overall 70 per cent efficacy at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, which is about on par with the average efficacy of the annual influenza vaccine. Australia will have 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine: 3.8 million imported from overseas and 50 million manufactured by Melbourne-based biotechnology company CSL under an agreement, beginning at 1 million doses a week. Professor Leask says that although the AstraZeneca vaccine has slightly lower efficacy rates than Pfizers, its worth is in how much easier it will be to transport and store. Its not just about whether the vaccine is quite effective or very effective, its also about whether you can reasonably deliver the vaccine to a country with a huge land base, she says. It should also be noted that no one who took part in clinical trials of the AstraZeneca vaccine developed severe coronavirus or died, leading health authorities to conclude it has 100 per cent efficacy against severe cases of the virus. Advertisement While Australia has based its strategy on the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations, we also have two other vaccine agreements: one for 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, being made in several locations across Europe, and another 25.5 million doses of a mix of vaccines under the international COVAX distribution program, which aims to provide fair global access to vaccines once they are made available. Phase-three trials of the Novavax vaccine showed 89 per cent efficacy in preventing COVID-19 after early data indicated it may offer even greater protection against coronavirus by having an effect on transmission as well as symptomatic infection. If all of these agreements come through, Australia could have access to about 150 million vaccine doses. There are also some vaccines going through approvals processes overseas that Australia does not have any agreements for notably the Moderna vaccine, which is being rolled out in the UK. Loading Where will you be vaccinated, and by whom? The Pfizer vaccines have been administered at up to 50 hospital hubs with ultra-cold freezers in metropolitan and regional areas across Australia. NSW Health had its initial Pfizer vaccination hubs at RPA, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals, but is now vaccinating with the Pfizer and AstraZeneca at Hornsby, St George, Nepean, Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga hospitals. In Victoria, Austin Health, Barwon Health, Monash Health and Western Health host vaccination hubs. Advertisement We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Oil steadied on Thursday after early declines fuelled by delays to vaccine rollouts and fresh travel curbs to prevent new coronavirus outbreaks. Brent crude futures were up 8 cents, or 0.1%, at $55.89 a barrel by 1331 GMT, having hit a session low of $55.31. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 8 cents, or 0.2%, at $52.77 after dropping as low as $52.22. Oil prices were supported by data on Wednesday showing a huge 10 million barrel decline in US crude inventories last week, which analysts said was because of a pick-up in US crude exports and a ... Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Being stretchy and squeezable may be the key to finding space for the brain in mammals, including humans. An international study, co-led by Flinders University's Vera Weisbecker, has revealed that marsupial mammals like possums, kangaroos, and wombats appear to have a lot of flexibility when it comes to accommodating their brains into their skulls. "The brain is one of the heaviest parts of the head, particularly in smaller mammals. But it needs to be placed in a way that doesn't interfere with the many vital functions of the head, such as seeing, hearing, smelling and of course feeding," says Dr. Weisbecker. "Stowing" a large brain into the head is a general challenge for mammals, which have much larger brains relative to their body size compared to their reptile-like ancestors. It is also a particularly intriguing issue in humans and their primate relatives, which tend to have extremely large relative brain sizes compared to other mammals." "We wanted to use a diverse group of mammals to assess if there is general pattern of brain shape variation to explain the ability of mammals to fit their brains into the great diversity of head shapes without interfering with head function. Marsupial mammals fit the bill perfectly because they are a well-understood group of mammals with diverse head sizes and functions." The team used CT scanning and 3-D visualization to extract the shape of the brain cavity in the diverse group of Australian marsupial mammals. "These so-called "endocasts" give us a good idea of what the brain itself looks like," says Dr. Weisbecker. "I then placed landmarkswhich work a bit like a coordinate system for shapeall over the endocasts of just under 60 marsupial species, including some really cool fossils like the marsupial lion." When co-author Dr. Emma Sherratt from The University of Adelaide analyzed the data, the team were in for a surprise: "The biggest difference between the brains is basically whether they are more cylindrical or more globular. We were struck by how extreme this stretch-compress pattern waswe saw brains that look like marbles, and others that nearly look like tubes!" says Dr. Sherratt. "Intriguingly, this matches the characteristically rounded shape of the human brain, which is sometimes thought to arise from the need to "stack" all the brain tissue into the skull efficiently," says Dr. Weisbecker. "It is therefore possible that human brain shape arises from an ancient general tendency of the brain to assume a range of shapes from rounded to elongate." Another interesting find was the many unusual brain shapes the team saw. "Within the general pattern of spherical versus stretched-out, we saw some outlandish endocast shapes. For example, some species had totally flat brains, while others seemed to have parts of the brain "squished aside" by the bone around the middle ear." The researchers say that the Tasmanian tiger has enormous olfactory bulbs, which are responsible for smell, and some unusually compact and rounded cerebral hemispheres. "We believe that a round-to-cylindrical brain shapes are probably the most easily achieved evolutionary pathway of fitting the brain into the skull. However, within this overall pattern, the brain seems incredibly flexible, nearly as if it was toothpaste than can be squeezed into any mold," says Dr. Weisbecker. "This might also explain why we saw substantially different brain shapes in individuals of the same species." The teams find matches well with evidence that the brain of some mammals can change size and shape during an animals' lifetime. "We suspect that a flexible brain is the key to success in other animals as well. For example, some crocodiles and ancient coelacanth fishes have extremely long brains; and birds have their eyes imprinted on their brain shape. It appears that the brain is capable of functioning regardless of where it goes in the skull." The research shows brain function might not be easy to determine from brain shape. "We found no correspondence of brain shape with movement patterns, for example if animals a species climbs trees, glides, hops, or walks on all fours." "We suspect that the overall shape of the mammalian brain is strongly determined by the requirements of the skull. Understanding specific adaptations of the brain probably require investigation of finer detail than overall brain shape." Explore further Musicians have more connected brains than non-musicians More information: Vera Weisbecker et al. Global elongation and high shape flexibility as an evolutionary hypothesis of accommodating mammalian brains into skulls, Evolution (2021). Journal information: Evolution Vera Weisbecker et al. Global elongation and high shape flexibility as an evolutionary hypothesis of accommodating mammalian brains into skulls,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/evo.14163 Facebook took down Trumps account after he encouraged his supporters to not accept the election result and they stormed the U.S. Capitol in a deadly assault on Jan. 6. But the company referred the matter to the oversight board for what it called an independent judgment on upholding the decision. Talk about a rough day at work. Googles Australian managing director Melanie Silva got handed the hard basket on Friday when she fronted a Senate committee hearing and threatened to close down its local search function if a proposed code that will force the tech giant to pay for using news services becomes law. Googles Melanie Silva was heavily pregnant when she faced a Senate hearing last week. Credit:John Shakespeare But the sensational display of brinkmanship and a threat to walk away from some $4 billion in Australian ad revenues was far from the biggest event in Silvas world that week. After wrapping up the hearing on Friday, the heavily pregnant Silva went into labour. On Saturday morning, she gave birth to a baby boy. CBD is told mum and bub are both doing well. Congratulations. Senate observers were surprised the usually unflappable tech executive looked uncomfortable at some points during the hearing. After all, handing the federal government a threat at the behest of sneaker-wearing Silicon Valley bosses is hard. But wed say facing a televised Senate committee while on the brink of labour is significantly harder. MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Amex Exploration Inc. ("Amex or the Company") (TSXV:AMX)(FRA:MX0)(OTCQX:AMXEF) is pleased to announce it has been named to the 2021 OTCQX Best 50, a ranking of top performing companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market last year. Amex ranked number 12 out of 50 companies in various business sectors. The OTCQX Best 50 is an annual ranking of the top 50 U.S. and international companies traded on the OTCQX market. The ranking is calculated based on an equal weighting of one-year total return and average daily dollar volume growth in the previous calendar year. Companies in the 2021 OTCQX Best 50 were ranked based on their performance in 2020. Victor Cantore President and CEO of Amex Exploration commented, "We are pleased to be included in the OTCQX Best 50. Our US shareholders are an important group and having an active listing is an important part of our market awareness strategy. With an ongoing program of 300,000 metres of drilling, Amex has one of the largest active drill programs of any junior mining company and we look forward to providing our shareholders with a steady flow of updates and drill results as we receive and interpret them." For the complete 2021 OTCQX Best 50 ranking, visit: https://www.otcmarkets.com/files/2021_OTCQX_Best_50.pdf The OTCQX Best Market offers transparent and efficient trading of established, investor-focused U.S. and global companies. To qualify for the OTCQX market, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. About Amex Amex Exploration Inc. is a junior mining exploration company, the primary objective of which is to acquire, explore, and develop viable gold projects in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Quebec. Amex is focused on its 100% owned Perron gold project located 110 kilometres north of Rouyn Noranda, Quebec, consisting of 116 contiguous claims covering 4,518 hectares. A number of significant gold discoveries have been made at Perron, including the Eastern Gold Zone, the Gratien Gold Zone, the Grey Cat Zone, and the Central Polymetallic Zone. High-grade gold has been identified in each of the zones. A significant portion of the project remains underexplored. In addition to the Perron project, the company holds a portfolio of three other properties focused on gold and base metals in the Abitibi region of Quebec and elsewhere in the province. For further information please contact: Victor Cantore President and Chief Executive Officer Amex Exploration: +1-514-866-8209 Forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, the planned exploration program on the HGZ and Denise Zone, the expected positive exploration results, the extension of the mineralized zones, the timing of the exploration results, the ability of the Company to continue with the exploration program, the availability of the required funds to continue with the exploration and the potential mineralization or potential mineral resources are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned exploration expenditures, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, general business and economic conditions, changes in world gold markets, sufficient labour and equipment being available, changes in laws and permitting requirements, unanticipated weather changes, title disputes and claims, environmental risks as well as those risks identified in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law. SOURCE: Amex Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626401/Amex-Exploration-Named-to-2021-OTCQX-Best-50 Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has approved AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, making it the second product to be granted authorization in the country. FDA Director General Eric Domingo on Thursday said there were no safety concerns linked to the AstraZeneca vaccines after their stringent review. He said the two doses of the UK-manufactured vaccine, administered four to 12 weeks apart, can only be received by people aged 18 and above excluding pregnant women. "It is decided that all conditions for an EUA are present. The benefit of using the vaccine outweighs the known and potential risks... Ang nakitang adverse events are all very mild, similar to getting any flu injection. Karamihan ay pananakit sa lugar ng injection, konting sinat, sakit ng ulo all easily managed," he said in a media briefing. [Translation: All adverse event monitored were all mild, similar to reactions to other flu shots. They only complained of pain on the injected area, slight fever, and headache. They are all manageable.] The vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, showed an average efficacy of 70% after receiving two required doses, AstraZeneca said in November. However, the FDA chief said the efficacy rate for the first dose of AstraZeneca is at 70%, but it improves after the second dose is administered. AstraZenecas vaccine is seen to be easier to transport and distribute as it does not need to be stored at freezing temperatures. The World Health Organization had pointed out the product can be stored and is stable in temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. It has received approval from other regulators including in the United Kingdom, where it is already being rolled out. RELATED: AstraZeneca vaccine comes with advantage of easier storage, WHO chief scientist says The Philippines has procured 17 million doses of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine through tripartite agreements with the private sector and local government units. Over 300 companies and 39 LGUs from across the country pitched in to buy the vaccine doses. Domingo said the national government and all other parties involved in tripartite deals can now deploy the vaccines for emergency use. He, however, stressed that AstraZeneca vaccines cannot be commercially distributed in pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals without a marketing authorization and certificate of product registration. "Dahil may EUA na siya, pwede na siya gamitin ng pamahalaan. Marami ding local government units na nakikipag-tripartite agreement with the gov't and AstraZeneca for them to be able to access this drug," he said. [Translation: With the EUA, it can now be used by the government. Several local government units entered into a tripartite agreement with the government and AstraZeneca so they can access the drug.] Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine was the first to be issued an EUA in the Philippines. Russian company Gamaleya Research Institute, Chinese drugmaker Sinovac Biotech, and the distributor of India's COVAXIN also have pending EUA applications before the FDA. One million doses of COVID-19 vaccines intended for healthcare workers, vaccinators, and other frontliners are set to arrive in February, according to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said vaccines from Pfizer or AstraZeneca could arrive in the country that same month through the global COVAX facility. Testing czar Vince Dizon said immunization may start by end of February or March. Attorney-General KK Venugopal, in February last year, had told a bench that high courts have not recommended the names for appointment of judges for 199 out of 396 vacancies New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday took strong note of the delay on the part of the Central government in acting on the collegium's recommendations clearing names for appointment of judges in higher judiciary, saying it is a matter of great concern. The apex court said that as on date 189 proposals on appointment of judges are pending and sought an update on the latest position from the government. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde asked Attorney General KK Venugopal to apprise it as to how much time would be needed for the Ministry of Law in responding to the collegium's recommendations for appointment of judges in high courts. If you do not give comments for five months on collegium recommendations, it is a matter of great concern, said the bench, which also comprised justices SK Kaul and Surya Kant. We need the update on pending names as on 29 January and suppose you have reservation and you send back names and then we can reiterate. But if you do not give comments for five months on collegium recommendations then it is matter of great concern, the bench remarked. It said in some cases, the Centre has taken more than a year in responding to the recommendations and usually refer to their pendency with the intelligence bureau or with state governments. We need to put the house in order, the bench said and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks. The observations came on a transfer plea of PLR Projects Pvt Ltd originating in 2019 from Odisha, where lawyers were then observing strike in several districts demanding circuit benches of high court in other parts of the state. Earlier, the Centre had told the bench that on an average the government takes 127 days for clearing the recommendations sent to it during the process of appointment judges in higher judiciary, whereas the apex court Collegium takes 119 days to deal with it Venugopal, on 17 February last year, had told a bench that high courts across the country have not even recommended the names for appointment of judges for 199 out of 396 vacancies. The apex court had then asked the registrars general of all high courts to explain the current vacancy position and also the vacancies which would arise in the future. Prior to this, the bench had said that appointments must be made within six months of a person's name being cleared by the Collegium and the government. LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global enterprise applications company, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2020. 2020 saw widespread market disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has heightened the need for companies to build resilience into their business and adopt digital business models. With this backdrop IFS has stood firm in its commitment to deliver measurable benefits to its customers and has doubled down on ensuring a faster time to value. This has been instrumental in delivering sustained growth in revenue and led to a 105-percent increase in Service Management revenue. Some of the key milestones for IFS in 2020 included: The acquisition of Clevest that has increased the depth of IFS's service management proposition The launch of IFS Remote Assistance, that won Business Innovation of the Year at the Technology Excellence Awards Growth in IFS's ecosystem, now with over 8,000 customers and partners having participated in paid-for and free training The IFS Community growing to over 5,000 active contributors The launch of the IFS Voice of the Customer program that has helped IFS achieve the highest customer satisfaction scores compared to industry peers (according to Gartner Peer Insights). Throughout the year, IFS has continued to nurture its customer-first culture, strengthen its partner ecosystem and from a sustainability perspective, support the IFS Foundation, which is building a Technology Lab for Welasiya College in Puttalam District of Sri Lanka, a nation that is home to over 1,500 IFS employees. IFS CEO Darren Roos commented: "I think that every CEO will have been affected one way or another by 2020. Like many, we had to adapt as individuals and as a business, but the passion this team has for customers continued to shine. I am hugely proud of that." Roos continued, "I am also really proud to see that a sinificant part of our license revenue has come from new logos, customers who have moved away from their legacy vendor; this combined with our performance in recurring revenue points the performance of a very strong business. 2021 will be a hugely important year for IFS as we launch IFS Cloud on March 10th." IFS Chief Financial Officer, Constance Minc, added, "This is the third consecutive year that IFS has delivered double digit growth, and over this period we have grown recurring revenue by 250%. This consistency, together with the improved revenue mix, reveals a strong business that continues to deliver with all the right ingredients to capitalize on our investment cycle. We have real strength in our service proposition, demonstarted by license revenue growing at 105 percent in 2020, as well as an industry focus in sectors like aerospace and defense that will ensure that we continue to deliver value to our customers." Financial and Operational Highlights for FY 2020, growth YoY: FY2020 software revenue was MSEK 5,092, an increase of 26 percent versus 2019 FY2020 recurring revenue was MSEK 4,081, an increase of 43 percent versus 2019 FY2020 cloud revenue increased 60 percent versus 2019 FY2020 net revenue was MSEK 7,211, an increase of 14 percent versus 2019 In addition, service business license revenue grew 105 percent versus 2019 while aerospace and defense license revenue grew 37 percent. Additional highlights: *Note: all figures based in Swedish Krona and reported in constant currency. Learn more at www.ifs.com/corp/company/financial-results/. CONTACT: Natalie Sutton IFS Head of External Communications Phone: +44 (0)1784 278222 [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/ifs/r/ifs-growth-outperforms-market-in-2020-with-26--increase-in-software-revenue,c3274297 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/ifs/i/ifsfy20financialhighlights,c2871097 IFS FY20 financial highlights SOURCE IFS Advertisement All but five local authorities in England saw coronavirus infections fall last week, official data shows in the clearest sign yet that cases are trending downwards across the country during lockdown. Public Health England figures published today reveal 144 out of 149 areas (97 per cent) recorded a drop in weekly positive tests in the seven days up to January 24, confirming that cases are now falling in all regions of England. Infection rates plunged by more than a third in 40 local authorities and fell sharply by more than a quarter in another 48 areas. Cases are down in every age group, in another positive sign in Britain's Covid fight. The PHE report shows that, on the whole, cases are plummeting fastest in the South East and London, which became the UK's Covid epicentres after an outbreak of the highly infectious Kent strain in autumn. Infections in these regions fell sooner and faster during the national shutdown because they were put under tough Tier 4 curbs in December while the rest of the country enjoyed more freedoms, which gave them a head-start, and their infection rates are falling from higher peaks. But the figures now show that areas in the North of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands have started to catch up, with places such as York (-38 per cent), Liverpool (-35 per cent) and Manchester (-26 per cent) seeing significant weekly drops. Scientists had been warning for weeks that the national shutdown was having an effect on some but not all parts of England. But the latest promising data suggests the draconian measures are having their desired impact everywhere now. The biggest drop in infection rates last week was recorded in Thurrock, Essex, where the weekly case rate was slashed from 757 per 100,000 people to 406, a fall of more than 46 per cent. Eight London boroughs saw similar week-on-week falls, with Tower Hamlets and Lambeth each recording a 42 per cent decrease. Case rates there are now 393 per 100,000 and 397.5, respectively. Havering and Islington both saw rates tumble by 41 per cent, in Newham it fell by 40 per cent and in Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, there was a 39 per cent decrease. Rounding out the top 10 was the Isle of Wight, where cases went from 612.96 per 100,000 to 366.79, the equivalent of a 40 per cent fall. Only five local authorities mostly in Yorkshire saw positive Covid tests continue to rise in the past week, but the increases were relatively small. Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, suffered the biggest increase at 9 per cent, with the rate climbing from 229 per 100,000 to 250. In Bradford, also in West Yorkshire, the rate went from 274 to 292.34, a rise of 6 per cent. In Barnsley, South Yorkshire, there was a 5 per cent week-on-week increase. The infection rate there rose from 246 per 100,000 to 259. The metropolitan borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire suffered a 3 per cent rise, while North Tyneside, in the North East, went up by just 1 per cent. MailOnline has developed an interactive tool to show you how the infection rate in your area has changed in the most recent week. All but five local authorities in England saw coronavirus infections fall last week, official data shows in the clearest sign yet that cases are trending downwards across the country during lockdown PHE report also showed case rates in England are falling among all age groups, in another positive sign in the UK's Covid fight The figures confirm Covid-19 case rates are now falling in all regions of England. Londons rate of new cases stood at 435.0 per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 24, down from 658.7 in the previous week Londons rate of new cases stood at 435.0 per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 24, down from 658.7 in the previous week. London continues to have the highest rate of any region. The West Midlands recorded the second highest rate: 415.8, down from 565.6. Yorkshire & the Humber continues to have the lowest rate: 230.2, down from 256.4. Meanwhile, the PHE report also showed case rates in England are falling among all age groups, in another positive sign in the UK's Covid fight. The highest rate is among 30 to 39-year-olds, which stood at 488.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 24, down week-on-week from 647.9. Among 20 to 29-year-olds the rate dropped from 669.9 to 466.3, and for 40 to 49-year-olds it fell from 590.8 to 432.9. For people 80 and over, who are most at risk of dying from Covid, the rate fell from 540.3 to 398.4. While the PHE data signals that the UK is heading in the right direction, hospital figures released today highlight how the country still has an arduous journey ahead. NHS England figures revealed 18 out of 140 major trusts had 100 per cent occupancy in their ICUs on every day in the week ending January 24, up slightly on the 15 that were full to the brim the previous week. These included University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest trusts in England, along with Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, which are also in the West Midlands. But the problem was not confined to the Midlands, as major trusts in the North and in Yorkshire including St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital also reported having no spare critical care capacity. Even hospitals in the South West, which had managed to avoid the worst of the pandemic throughout 2020, were seeing their ICUs pushed to the brink, with Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust recording 100 per cent occupancy. WHERE DID INFECTION RATES FALL THE MOST? Area name % change Rate of positive cases per 100,000 people (January 24) Thurrock Lambeth Tower Hamlets Havering Islington Newham Isle of Wight Enfield Southwark Hammersmith -46% -42% -42% -41% -41% -40% -40% -39% -39% -39% 406.67 397.5 393.54 389.9 303.96 529.54 366.79 427.21 379.51 339.2 Advertisement There are still more than 3,600 critically-ill coronavirus patients in English hospitals as a result of the devastating second wave that took off in December thanks to the emergence of the super-infectious Kent variant. Last year, when the country was dealing with the older Covid strain, there were huge regional disparities across the country. But the new variant, which is also thought to be 30 per cent more deadly, has stretched NHS intensive care capacity in every region to its limit, with hospitals having to open emergency ICU beds and scrap thousands of operations to free up space for incoming Covid sufferers. Today's figures also show that ICUs are more than 70 per cent busier than they have been at any time over the past five years with 5,446 critical care beds occupied on January 24, the most recent day statistics are available for. For comparison, there were 3,034 critically-ill patients at the same time last winter, and the average over the last four years stood at 3,183. Even though the number of people in intensive care in England has risen by about 5 per cent in the last seven days, there is reason to believe the numbers will start to fall in the coming weeks. Hospital admissions of people with Covid-19 have plummeted by a third in the last week and the number of patients in hospital with the virus is starting to fall in all regions of England. Separate promising data shows the number of patients waiting more than an hour to be handed over from ambulance teams to A&E staff has dropped to its lowest level since the start of the year. The figures suggest tighter restrictions on peoples movements and activities introduced across England after Christmas, culminating in the nationwide lockdown from January 5, are starting to have an impact. A total of 2,648 hospital admissions of people with Covid-19 in England were reported for January 25, according to figures from NHS England. This is down 29 per cent on the equivalent figure for a week earlier, and is the lowest since December 31. All regions are now recording week-on-week decreases in daily admissions, including a drop of 35 per cent in the Midlands and 32 per cent in London. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has also fallen week-on-week in all regions. London has seen the biggest drop, with 6,272 patients at 8am on January 27, down 17 pe cent on the previous week. South-east and south-west England have both seen an 11 per cent week-on-week fall, to 4,811 and 2,094 patients respectively. The Midlands and eastern England are both down 6 per cent, with 5,940 and 3,811 respectively. In north-east England/Yorkshire the number is down 4 per cent to 3,654, and in north-west England it is down 1% to 4,264. For England as a whole, the number of Covid-19 patients stood at 30,846 on January 27, down 9 per cent on the previous week and the lowest number since January 10. Operation Inspire will expand virtual one-on-one sessions to support students who are struggling with COVID-19 induced distance learning. I strongly believe that we all need to make investments into the children of the Virgin Islands who will be the next leaders of our territory and the businesses within it. Cane Bay Cares announced Tuesday that it would expand its free virtual tutoring for Virgin Islands students through its afterschool program Operation Inspire (OI). The virtual program will expand to include new workshops and more individual tutoring to support students who are struggling with virtual learning during the pandemic. The updated curriculum will include sign language workshops and presentations on environmental conservation, health and wellness, Crucian culture, and other selected topics. OI presently boasts 53 students from various schools and is still accepting new students from any school in the U.S. Virgin Islands. How to Sign Up Parents and guardians can register their children and find schedules for the virtual classes on the Cane Bay Cares website. There are openings for individual sessions and for small group sessions from grades two through 12. Operation Inspire 2020 Achievements The development of OIs virtual program in 2021 is an extension of the groundwork laid in 2020. Major accomplishments in 2020 include the launch of a virtual Summer Reading Club where 29 elementary school students actively participated. The reading program incorporated Gov. Albert Bryans Summer Reading Challenge and focused on reading fluency and comprehension skills. Kirk Chewning, co-founder and partner at Cane Bay Partners, described OI as an important commitment in facilitating opportunities for young Virgin Islanders to develop skills that are relevant to the workplace. Cane Bay as well as many other local employers leverage real life and project-based learnings in our analytical work for our clients. OI provides entry experiences into the same, Chewning said. It is our job to provide meaningful opportunities to assist with the education process and provide opportunities for residents. Cane Bay Partners Co-founder and Partner David Johnson said OI is an investment in the Virgin Islands community. I strongly believe that we all need to make investments into the children of the Virgin Islands who will be the next leaders of our territory and the businesses within it, Johnson said. Operation Inspire is an important part of the equation, and we are glad to do our part through this program. About Operation Inspire OI is funded through Cane Bay Cares, the charitable giving arm of Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP, in partnership with the St. Croix Foundation. The initial motive behind the program was to supplement shortened schedules in VI public schools after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. But even after schedules went back to normal, OI continued to support the work of the VI Department of Education by developing homework assistance and enrichment programs for public school students. The initiative evolved into a completely virtual program to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Going virtual made it possible for students from private and parochial schools to participate. Learning Approaches and Strengths One of the afterschool programs strengths is the level of guidance students receive through one-on-one instruction and small group sessions, which are capped at 15 students per class. OI is also focused on developing 21st century skills through project-based learning. The approach prioritizes skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, technology literacy, media literacy, innovation, creativity, and productivity. The project-based classes are student-led with the goal of empowering students to be future leaders. For example, 7th and 8th graders are now designing a new school based on the cultural needs of the Virgin Islands. Our students are the ones asking questions, leading discussions, tracking data, reading, and researching! OI Coordinator Raydiance Watts-Clarke said. One parent, Lisa Harris, described the project-based learning style as amazing. I sat and watched many times my sons interaction with his teachers at Operation Inspire, and it is amazing how they are able to catch his attention, Harris said. My son has never complained to join his tutor sessions. The instructors who facilitate the process are teachers and paraeducators from the Arthur A. Richards, Pearl B. Larsen, Ricardo Richards elementary schools, and St. Croix Educational Complex high school, along with junior instructors who are University of the Virgin Islands students. Small group sessions are typically two-hours long and are divided by grade level. The first hour is dedicated to homework or enrichment assignments, and the second hour is reserved for project-based learning. Project themes by grade level include the following: K-1 Reading and Literacy 2-3 Agriculture and Personal Development 4-6 Culture and History 7-8 Community Development and Planning 9-12 Applied Math and Science Classes start at 3 p.m. on selected weekdays. Becoming a Sponsor In collaboration with VIDE and the St. Croix Foundation, Cane Bay Cares welcomes additional sponsorship in support of OI programs. A donation of between $200 and $10,000 could sponsor a student or a whole school for a semester of learning. Sponsors can donate to the program via the St. Croix Foundation. President Moon Jae-in listens to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul during their virtual summit, Thursday. Yonhap The leaders of South Korea and Uzbekistan proclaimed the launch of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement, as they had a virtual summit Thursday, according to Cheong Wa Dae. If forged, it would be South Korea's first pact on trade in goods with a partner of its New Northern Policy. The key diplomatic initiative of President Moon Jae-in aims to boost economic and political ties with more than a dozen countries located north of the Korean Peninsula. The pact is formally named the "Agreement for Sustainable Trade and Economic Partnership (STEP)." Moon chose Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his first formal one-on-one summit talks of 2021. "In the COVID-19 situation, the two nations' friendship has deepened further," Moon said at the start of the summit, which pool reporters were allowed to cover. The two have allowed trips by businesspeople and essential figures by operating temporary flights and established a consultation channel between health authorities, he pointed out. "Today's summit will serve as a new milestone for win-win cooperation and co-prosperity in the post-coronavirus era," Moon added. Mirziyoyev expressed his gratitude to South Korea for assistance related to the pandemic response. South Korea helped Uzbekistan when it was suffering the most difficult period in the coronavirus crisis and is continuing to do so, he said via an interpreter. "It's a thing that only a true friend can do. Our people all know that a friend in need is a friend indeed," he said. "It's not a coincidence to hold my first bilateral summit of this year with you. It's because South Korea is a special and trusted strategic partner for Uzbekistan." In the summit, they also noted that the two sides have constantly developed their relationship since it was upgraded to a "special strategic partnership" during Moon's visit to Tashkent in April 2019, Cheong Wa Dae said in a press statement. Moon voiced hope that the two nations will cooperate closely with each other for the co-prosperity of Eurasia, and Mirziyoyev expressed support for Seoul's New Northern Policy. Moon pledged to continue efforts for the complete denuclearization of Korea and permanent peace, and the Uzbek leader reaffirmed unswerving support for the Moon administration's peace drive. South Korea and Uzbekistan have completed a joint study on the envisioned STEP and relevant domestic procedures, with a plan to begin talks in the first quarter of this year. The two sides, meanwhile, signed a memorandum of understanding on expanding cooperation in the digital and green sectors, which are a core element of the Korean-version New Deal project. Trade between the two countries came to $1.72 billion in 2020, down 27 percent from the previous year. Uzbekistan was the 36th-largest export destination for South Korea, with outbound shipments reaching $1.7 billion. South Korea mostly shipped auto parts and cars to the Central Asian nation, while major imports included pulp, a raw material for paper, and fruits. Temple Israel invites you to an engaging equity speaker series inspired by the quote, Who is wise? One who learns from everyone. (Pirkei Avot 4:1). The series takes place at 7 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 8, March 8, May 10, and June 14 and is open to the St. Louis community. On Feb. 8, join Colin Gordon, University of Iowa professor of history and author of, Citizen Brown: Race, Democracy, and Inequality in the St. Louis Suburbs, as he explains how the events in Ferguson exposed not only the deep racism of the local police department but also the ways in which decades of public policy effectively segregated people and curtailed citizenship not just in Ferguson but across the St. Louis suburbs. On March 8, State Sen. Brian Williams of University City, the only black member of the Missouri Senate, shares information about his plans for reshaping our systems of public safety to be more equitable and more effective. On May 10, join Howard Fields III, assistant superintendent of human resources in the Kirkwood School District and co-founder of the organization Black Males in Education St. Louis (BMESTL) as he discusses the inequities of educational funding. On June 14, Tony J. Westbrook Jr., assistant director of Hillel at Washington University, will explore the ways racism and anti-Semitism in America are linked, the complex relationship between the Black and Jewish communities in America, and how to begin addressing racism and anti-Semitism by finding allies and getting to work together. ADVERTISEMENT The events are free to attend, but an RSVP is required. A Zoom link to attend the meeting will be sent to the email address provided in your registration closer to the event. Register for one speaker or all at: www.ti-stl.org/SpeakerSeries. Nearly 30 French police officers are facing disciplinary action for holding a party inside a police station where they were filmed dancing the Macarena, in a clear violation of multiple coronavirus protection rules. A video from the event posted by online media Loopsider shows several people dancing closely together without masks in a crowded room. The footage appears to show officers singing in close proximity together while enjoying drinks at the leaving party for a colleague in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers. It prompted criticism at a time when French police are out every night enforcing a 6pm - 6am virus curfew, and are under scrutiny for abuses during violent protests and identity checks. En plein couvre-feu, ce commissariat a tenu un pot de depart, sans masque, sans distanciation sociale, alors que ces rassemblements sont interdits. Bienvenue au commissariat d'Aubervilliers en Seine-Saint-Denis. pic.twitter.com/ToApjj2on9 Loopsider (@Loopsidernews) January 27, 2021 Nearly 30 French police officers are facing disciplinary action for holding a party inside a police station where they were filmed dancing the Macarena, in a clear violation of multiple coronavirus protection rules. The footage appears to show officers singing in close proximity together while enjoying drinks at the leaving party for a colleague in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers Those involved in the party - at least two dozen police officials - were ordered to file reports on their actions and that 'sanctions are planned', a police spokesperson said. He would not detail the planned punishments. Parties and other 'convivial gatherings' are banned in all police facilities, while masks and social distancing are required and the number of people allowed in any room is limited to keep the virus at bay. Loopsider said the leaving party had taken place on January 22; the video had blurred the faces of those involved but it showed the group were singing and dancing without masks. Parties and other 'convivial gatherings' are banned in all police facilities, while masks and social distancing are required and the number of people allowed in any room is limited to keep the virus at bay. Pictured: Drinks and snacks laid out at a table in the police station 'A departure drink was organized at the Aubervilliers police station while a curfew is in force and without any respect for social distancing measures,' a statement from the Prefecture de Police said. 'An administrative investigation is being carried out and administrative sanctions will be taken against the participants. The mayor of Aubervilliers, Karine Franclet, told France Bleu radio she was angered at the news. 'From a health point of view its irresponsible, she said. Were battling to have a vaccination centre, to give children school meals, while respecting all the health rules so they can continue despite the virus, while things like this happen. How is that possible?' The party prompted criticism at a time when French police are out every night enforcing a 6pm - 6am virus curfew, and are under scrutiny for abuses during violent protests and identity checks. Pictured: Police checkpoint at the Champs Elysees in the centre of Paris on January 16 France announced a 6pm coronavirus curfew in 15 regions at the beginning of this month amid growing fears of a resurgence of coronavirus in the country. Those caught on the streets after 9pm and before 6am will be subject to fines equivalent to 122 (135), rising to 1353 (1500) for repeat offenders. The measure had been urged by mayors increasingly concerned that their local health systems are being overburdened by an influx of new cases. Coronavirus has killed more than 74,000 people across France, which has the seventh highest death toll globally, and ministers fear more fatalities at the hands of the highly transmissible variant detected in Britain. Yesterday, the country reported its biggest one-day jump in cases since mid-November, with nearly 27,000 infections being recorded. Amy Dowden has revealed she was hospitalised last week following a 'nasty flare-up' amid her battle with Crohn's disease. In a new interview, the Strictly Come Dancing professional, 30, admitted her health has worsened as she hasn't been 'as active' during the coronavirus pandemic, insisting: 'My Crohn's doesn't like lockdown.' The ballroom expert said: 'I struggle with my health as well, with lockdown, my Crohn's doesn't like lockdown and unfortunately, I was admitted into hospital last Friday with a nasty flare-up.' 'My Crohn's doesn't like lockdown': Amy Dowden has revealed she was hospitalised last week following a 'nasty flare-up' amid her battle with Crohn's disease (pictured last month) TV star Amy described her experience in isolation as 'really tough' as she explained: 'I think there are ups and downs, aren't there? 'I think my body is so used to being on the go and energetic, moving from one place to another place, to dancing all day, to teaching, to then being stuck at home, I'm not physically as active. 'Even though I'm trying to keep busy, I'm not burning my energy levels half as much as I used to.' The media personality credited dance for helping her cope with the global crisis as she added on Getting Personal with Daphne Bugler and Isabella Hobbs podcast: 'I just try and stay as positive and as motivated as possible. 'I struggle': In a new interview, the Strictly star, 30, admitted her health has worsened as she hasn't been 'as active' during the pandemic (pictured with JJ Chalmers in November 2020) 'This is a different world': The Welsh beauty was previously hospitalised during the first lockdown, which took place months before Strictly (pictured last Spring following a flare-up) ''The last lockdown I was lucky to be busy with Strictly, in our world it didn't feel like lockdown wasn't happening. 'I'm so used to being such a busy bee at my dance academy and on tour. I'm a social bee as well. I write lots of things in my diary that I try to tick off.' The Welsh beauty was previously hospitalised at the height of the first COVID-19 lockdown, which took place months before the latest Strictly series started. Amy, who competed on the show with Invictus Games' JJ Chalmers, went into detail about living with the long-term condition, which causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. 'I think there are ups and downs, aren't there?' TV star Amy described her experience in isolation as 'really tough' (pictured last year) In BBC film Strictly Amy: Crohn's And Me, the Latin American dancer said: 'To the public watching me with all our make-up, fake tan, glitz, glamour and spotlights, it's a different world. I don't think they could ever imagine this could be me the next day. 'I knew things weren't right but your body goes: "Right you've got to get through this, you don't want to let anyone down, you can do this." And you can just push yourself through anything.' She first experienced symptoms at 11, eight years before she was diagnosed at the age of 19. For support with the disease contact Crohn's and Colitis UK charity on 0300 222 5700 or visit www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk The United States reaffirms its firm commitment to Israel's security and will continue to work closely with it to advance peace in the region, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Blinken, in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, applauded recent progress made with the "Abraham Accords" and affirmed US interest in building further on that progress, the US State Department said in a statement. "Foreign Minister Ashkenazi and Secretary Blinken acknowledged the steadfast partnership between the United States and Israel, and that the two countries would work closely together on challenges ahead," it said. The so-called Abraham Accords is a US-brokered agreement to normalize diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. In the past few months, Israel reached deals with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the accords. While US President Joe Biden is expected to move US foreign policy away from Trump's "America First" posture, the Democrat has indicated he would continue with the pursuit of the Abraham Accords. Short link: live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Rs 413-crore maiden public issue of Stove Kraft has been subscribed 18.03 times on January 28, the final day of bidding. Investors have put in total bids for 10.62 crore equity shares against the IPO size of 58.94 lakh equity shares (excluding anchor book), the subscription data available on exchanges showed. The portion set aside for qualified institutional buyers has seen a subscription of 8 times, while the reserved portion of non-institutional investors has been subscribed 32.72 times, and that of retail investors 26.03 times. Stove Kraft, one of the leading brands for kitchen appliances in India, launched its initial public offering on January 25. The issue consisted of a fresh issue of Rs 95 crore and an offer for sale of 82.50 lakh shares by promoters and investors. The company raised Rs 185 crore from anchor investors last Friday. The price band for the public issue has been fixed at Rs 384-385 per share. "The company has priced its issue at 34.5x PE on a trailing basis. Its peers TTK Prestige and Hawkins Cookers are currently trading at 61.0x and 47.5x respectively. On FY20 basis, the company priced its issue at 301.5x PE," said Angel Broking which recommended neutral rating to the Stove Kraft IPO issue. Stove Kraft IPO: Here are 10 key things you must know about the issue "Due to cost-cutting measures, the company's margins improved in the first half of FY21 which is not sustainable. Cost such as travelling, advertisement reduced in the first half of FY21 due to COVID-19 are going to come back once business comes back to normalcy," the brokerage added. "The company's brand value, margins and return on capital are lower than its peers so it won't get such premium valuation like its peers." Stove Kraft IPO: Should you subscribe? Mehta Equities also questioned sustainable business growth amid cutthroat competition in all the segments of Kitchen appliance despite the company reporting good numbers in the first six months. "Another point an investor has to consider is that the IPO reservation for retail is only 10 percent versus 35 percent in the majority of the IPO books due to net worth being negative in the last 3 financial years because Stove Kraft has suffered one time losses (around Rs 110 crore) in 2016 from Tamil Nadu government contact," said the brokerage. Considering the risk in current volatile equity markets, a moderate to low risk investors can give a miss to the offer while high-risk investors can subscribe for listing gains, Mehta Equities advised. Stove Kraft is one of the dominant players for pressure cookers and amongst the market leaders in the sale of free-standing hobs and cooktops. "We believe the growth in kitchen appliances in India is huge and expected to grow by CAGR 12% largely driven by the high growth in the large kitchen appliances segment where products of Stove Kraft like freestanding hobs and cooktops are well-positioned with leading market share," said Mehta Equities. Home First Finance Company IPO allotment: How to check application status The company manufactures and sells kitchen solutions under the brand name of 'Pigeon' and 'Gilma' brands and planning to manufacture value, premium, and semi-premium kitchen supplies under the "Black + Decker" brand. Iran on January 28 rejected the US call for Tehran to comply with the nuclear accord first that Washington abandoned in 2018 under the administration of former US President Donald Trump. Recently, US President Joe Bidens administration expressed its willingness to join the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCOOA) but US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that Washington would only rejoin the Iran Deal once Tehran resumes its commitments. Reiterating to Blinkens remarks, Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday took to Twitter to give the US a reality check and questioning about who shall take the first step. Mentioning Trumps failure, Zarif said that apart from unilateral withdrawal from the Nuclear Deal 2015, United States had even imposed sanctions that halted food as well as medicines for Iranians and punished adherence to a United Nations (UN) resolution. The Iranian Foreign Minister also stressed that Iran had abided by the deal and that it took foreseen remedial measures since US withdrawal. Donald Trump had withdrawn from the JCPOA and imposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018 in a bid to practice maximum pressure policy against the Islamic Republic. Reality check for @SecBlinken: The US -violated JCPOA -blocked food/medicine to Iranians -punished adherence to UNSCR 2231 Throughout that sordid mess, Iran -abided by JCPOA -only took foreseen remedial measures Now, who should take 1st step? Never forget Trump's maximum failure. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 28, 2021 Read - Iran Says Production Of Enriched Uranium Exceeds Goals Read - US Secretary Of State Says It Would Take Some Time Before America Joins Iran Nuke Deal US on rejoining Nuclear Deal 2015 On January 27, Blinken said that the United States would return to the Iran Nuclear deal only after Tehran meets its commitments, warning of a long road until verification. While the newly-appointed diplomat reiterated Bidens willingness to return to the deal, he said that Iran was still out of compliance on many fronts and it would take some time before fraught talks end. Speaking at a news conference, Blinken also rejected Iranian pressure for the United States to act first. "Iran is out of compliance on a number of fronts. And it would take some time, should it make the decision to do so, for it to come back into compliance and time for us then to assess whether it was meeting its obligations. We're not there yet, to say the least." Blinken told a news conference. Read - US Will Join Nuclear Deal If Iran Complies With Provisions: Blinken Read - US B-52 Bomber Again Flies Over Mideast Amid Iran Tensions Just over a dozen Irish peacekeeping troops have contracted Covid-19, it has been confirmed. The UN Security Council announced last night there have so far been 2,486 cases of Covid-19 among all UN personnel and 24 deaths. The Defence Forces has now confirmed that among the 580 or so Irish troops serving overseas at any one time in up to up to 13 countries, a total of 13 soldiers have contracted the virus. No fatalities have resulted from these infections and our operational effectiveness has not been impacted, a spokesperson said, adding that all pre-deployment training has included Covid-19 awareness briefs ever since the UN first issued Covid-19 guidance last February. Defence Forces cases Recently, the Irish Examiner reported that as many as 11 members of the Air Corps tested positive for Covid-19 over the New Year period. It was also revealed earlier this year that two Naval Service ships had to be pulled out of operation temporarily due to crews testing positive for the virus. One of the first known cases in the Defence Forces was last March when a single member of the Air Corps tested positive. His positive test followed a return from Italy of a number of other Air Corps staff earlier in the month. Last October, members of the Air Corps had to self-isolate after one of their colleagues tested positive for Covid-19 after a spell of emergency training abroad. They belonged to a pod in the 101 Squadron, the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron. Most operational units within the Defence Forces are currently operating in pods as a measure to avoid the virus spreading throughout the army, navy or Air Force. As a result, many personnel are restricted from seeing their families for prolonged periods of time. The UN Security Council, on which Ireland has a seat, released the latest Covid-19 figures for UN personnel in a Security Council video conference on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on international peace and security. Senior officials warned: "The sweeping and devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are continuing to grow. So too are the risks of instability and tension amidst glaring inequalities in the global recovery." JLL secures $30M for SKB industrial project As the DJC first reported last month, Portland investor ScanlanKemperBard paid $24 million for the old 7-acre Northwestern Industries glass manufacturing plant in Interbay. SKB's plan is to renovate the three buildings and repurpose them as a multitenant industrial campus. Now JLL Capital Markets has announced that it secured $30.35 million for the acquisition and, apparently, some of the renovation work. The firm's Tom Wilson and Zach Kersten sourced the floating-rate bridge loan what JLL calls a national debt fund. (Public records indicate Bridge Investment Group of Salt Lake City, Utah.) Kersten said in a statement, We look forward to watching SKB transform this project into a best-in-class facility in a very attractive submarket for tenants. China hardened its language towards Taiwan on Thursday, saying independence means war. The warning came after recent stepped up military activities on the island nation. China has long claimed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan began military exercises on Tuesday after several Chinese warplanes entered its air defense space over the weekend. The action led the United States to urge China to stop pressuring Taiwan and reaffirm its support for the independent territory. At a monthly news briefing Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian defended its military activities in the Taiwan Strait. He called it a necessary answer to external forces and Taiwans independence forces. Wu said a handful of people in Taiwan were seeking the islands independence. We warn those Taiwan independence forces: those who play with fire will burn themselves, and Taiwan independence means war, he added. While China has never promised to avoid the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, it is unusual for a government official to make such a threat. Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council replied that China should think carefully and not underestimate the islands determination to defend itself. Taiwans Defense Ministry reported that China sent 13 military aircraft, including four J-10 fighter jets and eight H-6K bombers, into its airspace over the weekend. They were near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top end of the South China Sea. And Taiwanese air force jets took to the skies in a show of battle readiness. The Chinese action came as a U.S. carrier battle group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt entered the South China Sea Saturday. The U.S. military said its purpose there is to demonstrate support for freedom of the seas. The move came just days after new U.S. President Joe Biden took office. Under the administration of former President Donald Trump, the U.S. increased arms sales to the territory and permitted senior American officials to visit the island. Linda Thomas-Greenfield is President Bidens nominee to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. During her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, she called China a strategic adversary and added the U.S. needs to support Taiwan as a democracy. China believes that the Taiwan government of President Tsai Ing-wen is moving the island towards a declaration of formal independence. But Tsai has repeatedly said it is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English with reporting from Reuters and the Associated Press. Susan Shand was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story strategic - adj. of or relating to a long term plan to achieve a goal adversary - n. opponent Oscar winner Jared Leto revealed Tuesday that he nearly signed teen sensation Billie Eilish and her 23-year-old brother and collaborator Finneas O'Connell years ago. 'I met them through [film producer] Emma Ludbrook and [agent] Tom Windish, I believe. They weren't signed, and I thought that maybe I would try and sign them,' the evergreen 49-year-old said on The Late Late Show with James Corden. 'They were so incredibly talented and just special people. The music is one thing, but I think they're just incredibly intelligent, really empathetic, just really good people, and I quite like them a lot.' 'They weren't signed': Oscar winner Jared Leto (R) revealed Tuesday that he nearly signed teen sensation Billie Eilish (M) and her 23-year-old brother and collaborator Finneas O'Connell (L) years ago (pictured in 2019) The evergreen 49-year-old said on The Late Late Show with James Corden: 'I thought that maybe I would try and sign them. They were so incredibly talented and just special people' Back in 2018, the 19-year-old whispery songstress joined the Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman onstage Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta for a duet. Jared later invited the talented twosome to perform a couple songs during an intimate dinner party for 12 at his $5M military base-turned-compound in the Hollywood Hills. 'They showed up with a Guitar Center PA [speaker] and played the most heartbreakingly beautiful music with, like, you know, it shouldn't have sounded that good, it was impossible that it sounded that good,' Leto recalled. 'I remember Leo DiCaprio was there and a couple of other people and they were just, like, "How did you find these people and, like, who are they?" Everyone was just jaws on the floor, 12 people max at my place in the Hills. Yeah, just great people. I'm huge fans, too.' Jared continued: 'The music is one thing, but I think they're just incredibly intelligent, really empathetic, just really good people, and I quite like them a lot' Twinning! Back in 2018, the 19-year-old whispery songstress joined the Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman onstage Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta for a duet Circle of trust: Leto later invited the talented twosome to perform a couple songs during an intimate dinner party for 12 at his $5M military base-turned-compound in the Hollywood Hills The Outsider actor said: 'They showed up with a Guitar Center PA [speaker] and played the most heartbreakingly beautiful music' (pictured in 2018) Jared recalled: 'I remember Leo DiCaprio was there and a couple of other people and they were just, like, "How did you find these people and, like, who are they?"' The Outsider actor also revealed his Academy Award for best supporting actor in Dallas Buyer's Club has been 'missing for three years' and he hopes someone is 'caring for it.' Jared was on The Late Late Show to promote his prosthetics-assisted role as murder suspect Albert Sparma in John Lee Hancock's The Little Things. The serial killer flick - hitting US theaters/HBO Max on January 29 and UK theaters February 12 - also stars fellow Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Rami Malek Leto has spent the past week in Nevada rock climbing, and he shared a snap Monday captioned: 'Anyone else in the mood for some time outdoors?' Hidden beneath prosthetics: Leto was on The Late Late Show to promote his role as murder suspect Albert Sparma in John Lee Hancock's The Little Things Big guns: The serial killer flick - hitting US theaters/HBO Max on January 29 and UK theaters February 12 - also stars fellow Oscar winners Rami Malek (L) and Denzel Washington (R) The My So-Called Life heartthrob has penned 'over 100 songs' for 30STM's sixth studio album with his drummer half-brother Shannon. Their lead guitarist Tomo Milicevic quit the band in 2018. Fans can pay between $1,649-$7,149 to attend their all-inclusive three-day festival Mars Island, which happens August 20-23 on an island in Croatia. The My So-Called Life heartthrob has spent the past week in Nevada rock climbing, and he shared a snap Monday captioned: 'Anyone else in the mood for some time outdoors?' The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, has called on the federal government to clear existing myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines expected in the country early February. Mr Abubakar while speaking at a Sensitisation Programme on COVID-19 vaccine for Muslim Scholars and Imams in Nigeria, on Wednesday, said this will help traditional and religious leaders convince their people about the efficacy of the vaccine. The programme was facilitated by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), as part of efforts to ensure people accept the vaccines when it finally arrives in the country. The traditional ruler said there are many conspiracy theories that the vaccine is meant to kill Africans. People talk of conspiracy theories that the vaccines are meant to kill us but will anyone wait to use the vaccines before they can kill us? So many drugs and products are imported into the country so if anybody wants to kill us there are one million ways to kill us, Mr Abubakar said. The vaccines are free but the decision to take the vaccine is a personal choice so you should know every information about the vaccine. He said the vaccines are not yet in Nigeria, but it is an opportunity to bring up questions and fears about the vaccines so that authorities can offer answers. We cannot force people to take the vaccine, as the decision to take or not should be a personal choice, he said. He said Muslims know that knowledge is very important, and that Islam was founded on knowledge. Vaccines hesitancy With the second wave of coronavirus pandemic spreading fast, countries across the globe are already securing and administering vaccines for their citizens. Sensitisation is also ongoing amidst fears that many may not accept the vaccine due to doubts of safety, religious beliefs, amongst other factors. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported plans by the government to get President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries to take the vaccines on live television when it finally gets to the country. The Nigerian government said it will receive at least 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech approved COVID-19 vaccines by February through COVAX, an initiative run by the vaccine alliance, GAVI, to ensure equitable access to vaccine. It also said the country is expecting free 42 million doses of vaccines in the second phase through the COVAX facility. These vaccines will, however, cover only about 20 per cent of Nigerias over 200 million estimated population. Nigerias health minister Osagie Ehanire recently said efforts are ongoing to secure 10 million doses of the viral vector vaccines to cover an additional 50 per cent of the countrys population. Collaboration In his remarks, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said Nigeria will rather not have vaccines than to import bad COVID-19 vaccines. He said all vaccines imported into the country are certified safe for human use. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Shuaib explained that the eradication of polio in the country would have been impossible without the sultan and other leaders; hence the need to reach out to them again to seek their buy-in and ensure they understand the issues surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination to enhance better communication with their subjects. We cannot make the same mistake twice. We are sensitising our religious leaders so that they will be able to communicate with their followers, he said. Religious leaders are very respected in their communities and it is whatever they say that the believers and the followers take home to their families and their loved ones and so the collaboration between the NPHCDA and the Supreme Council is very crucial. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had an eventful day on Wednesday after cornering a man alleged to have killed his ex-girlfriend Nairobis Njiru area on Friday last week. The suspect, 37-year-old Charles Olweny Agana, had been on the run following the gruesome murder where he is said to have tied his ex-lover to a bed and set her on fire. Detectives finally caught up with him in Kayole, Nairobi, prompting the suspect to lock himself inside a house on the fifth floor of an apartment. In an update on Wednesday morning, the DCI said Mr Agana was at a balcony threatening to commit suicide. Our officers are at the scene pleading with him not to take his life on account of his actions, since all is not lost, DCI said. Read: Nairobi Woman Tied To Bed, Body Set On Fire After Inviting Ex-boyfriend To Settle Differences After an hours-long standoff, detectives said they managed to convince the suspect not to take his life. They then arrested the suspect as an irate crowd milled around the scene baying for his blood. Detectives are currently trying to evacuate him from the scene, but hundreds of wananchi have blocked the way baying for his blood. We are calling upon the irate crowd to give way to our officers assisted by the County Fire department, for the suspect to be evacuated & get charged for his heinous crimes, DCI said in the afternoon. A clip has since emerged showing the mammoth crowd that was baying for the suspects blood. A second clip captured the moment police officers were pleading with Olweny not to jump. The clip also shows the suspect holding and sharpening two knives, which according to DCI, he used to stab himself several times. Watch the clips below. With the Huron County health department looking to get school staff members vaccinated, some districts are relieved that they've made the cut while others are frustrated it took this long. In the states prioritization schedule for who gets COVID-19 vaccines, school and child care staff are in Phase 1B, along with essential frontline workers, corrections staff, and those 75 years and older not covered by Phase 1A of the schedule. Bad Axe Superintendent Greg Newland said that he was informed by the health department that any school staff wishing to be vaccinated, whether they be teachers, bus drivers, or custodians, would have to register through the health departments website, similar to what groups who already received the vaccine did. As vaccine doses become available, those who registered will be contacted to set up an appointment. This was the process explained to me as of yesterday, Newland said on Thursday, mentioning there was discussion of if health department staff would come out to schools or if districts could partner to have one central location for vaccinations. Neither of those were confirmed to happen. Newland said he knows of one individual who works in the school district who already got a vaccine, but that was because they are a volunteer emergency responder in their community. He did add that staff could sign up for private entities giving vaccinations like Meijer or Walgreens if they are able to. I have not heard of a high number of staff who already received it, Newland said. The Bad Axe High School did host a mass vaccination put on by the health department in the middle of January where 975 people received their vaccines. Newland said the health department reached out to the district as it was seeking a venue that could hold a large number of people for the clinic. Newland added that he had received many thank yous for hosting that mass clinic as he hopes the community can get past this pandemic. George Rierson, superintendent for the Unionville-Sebewaing Area school district, is eager for the districts workers to get their vaccines and frustrated that those involved with in-person learning have not been able to. Our food service people are doing everything they can to mitigate the spread of this virus, Rierson said. Theyve been taking meals to people in the community all the way through the summer. Rierson is not pointing his finger at the county health department for this, since he said it is doing all it can. He understands this is a supply and demand issue and those in rural areas have been left wondering when they would receive access. If I were making the decision, I would think those involved with in-person learning would have priority over those who are not, Rierson said. Tuscola County has about 52,000 residents, nine school districts, and its health department gets about 200 doses a week. Rierson knows it will take a long time for all the school workers there to get vaccines. Rierson knows that hospitals have received their own doses of vaccine too and they may have the opportunity to make doses available to other population segments, though that would be their decision. There is not a bad guy here, the health department or hospitals are not to blame, Rierson said. The frustrating part is Im not sure where to go to improve this situation. AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today published its updated Strategic Plan and announced that it is continuing its progress toward building a more diverse and inclusive workplace by pursuing a 30% increase in racially and ethnically underrepresented employees, both overall and at the supervisor-and-above leadership level, by 2025. "Setting this goal will accelerate FirstEnergy's transformation into a more innovative, diverse and sustainable company," said Steven E. Strah, FirstEnergy's president and acting chief executive officer. "As we work to strengthen FirstEnergy and rebuild our reputation with key stakeholders, we continue to be guided by our mission, core values and behaviors, and our commitment to being a forward-thinking electric utility that always puts customers at the center of everything we do. Our Strategic Plan identifies bold goals for key areas of our business. I'm confident that with continued enhancements to our processes, we will achieve and exceed our objectives." Assembling a Diverse and Inclusive Team FirstEnergy is working to build a diverse, high-performing and innovative workforce that better reflects the diversity of the customers it serves; create an inclusive environment of respect, appreciation and belonging for everyone; and help employees grow, develop and excel in executing the company's strategy. To accelerate workforce diversity, FirstEnergy has set a goal to increase the number of employees from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups by 30% by 2025. This represents an increase from 10% to 13% in the overall employee population, and 7.5% to 9.7% at the leadership level compared to the 2019 baseline. "Diversity and inclusion are key to building a more sustainable company, achieving our goals and bringing the FirstEnergy mission to life," Strah said. "Our employees move our strategy, culture and company forward. We know that as a more diverse and inclusive company, we will improve our ability to attract top talent, increase employee engagement and better reflect the communities we serve, which in turn will improve decision-making, enhance our safety culture and fuel innovation for a more sustainable future." In support of its goal to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of its workforce, the company is enhancing its recruiting strategy and hiring processes. Key changes include launching a FirstEnergy Ambassador network to build relationships with colleges, universities and educational organizations; increasing investments and involvement with historically Black colleges and universities; and providing leadership and management training around its hiring philosophy. Powered by Core Values and Behaviors FirstEnergy's Strategic Plan also articulates numerous other goals that support the company's objectives. The goals include the previously announced pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as well as specific targets related to: Enhancing a culture of compliance through transparency and accountability Enabling a smarter, more resilient electric system Embracing innovation across the organization Meeting the challenges of climate change Developing a diverse and inclusive workforce Building collaborative relationships, marked by trust and respect, with all our stakeholders Strengthening the company's safety-first culture Delivering strong and predictable financial results FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements include declarations regarding management's intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "forecast," "target," "will," "intend," "believe," "project," "estimate," "plan" and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, which may include the following: the results of our ongoing internal investigation and evaluation of our controls framework, the extent and duration of COVID-19 and the impacts to our business, operations and financial condition resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, disruption of businesses in our territories, volatile capital and credit markets, legislative and regulatory actions, the effectiveness of our pandemic and business continuity plans, the precautionary measures we are taking on behalf of our customers, contractors and employees, our customers' ability to make their utility payment and the potential for supply-chain disruptions; the risks and uncertainties associated with government investigations regarding Ohio House Bill 6 and related matters including potential adverse impacts on federal or state regulatory matters including, but not limited to, matters relating to rates; the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, mediation and similar proceedings; legislative and regulatory developments, including, but not limited to, matters related to rates, compliance and enforcement activity; mitigating exposure for remedial activities associated with retired and formerly owned electric generation assets; the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from strategic and financial goals, including, but not limited to, executing our transmission and distribution investment plans, controlling costs, improving our credit metrics, strengthening our balance sheet and growing earnings and maintaining financial flexibility; economic and weather conditions affecting future operating results, such as a recession, significant weather events and other natural disasters, and associated regulatory events or actions in response to such conditions; changes in assumptions regarding economic conditions within our territories, the reliability of our transmission and distribution system, or the availability of capital or other resources supporting identified transmission and distribution investment opportunities; changes in customers' demand for power, including, but not limited to, the impact of climate change or energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes in national and regional economic conditions affecting us and/or our major industrial and commercial customers or others with which we do business; the risks associated with cyber-attacks and other disruptions to our information technology system, which may compromise our operations, and data security breaches of sensitive data, intellectual property and proprietary or personally identifiable information; the ability to comply with applicable reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes to environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those related to climate change; changing market conditions affecting the measurement of certain liabilities and the value of assets held in our pension trusts and other trust funds, or causing us to make contributions sooner, or in amounts that are larger, than currently anticipated; labor disruptions by our unionized workforce; changes to significant accounting policies; any changes in tax laws or regulations, or adverse tax audit results or rulings; the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with our financial plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting us, including the increasing number of financial institutions evaluating the impact of climate change on their investment decisions; actions that may be taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect either our access to or terms of financing or our financial condition and liquidity; and the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in our SEC filings. Dividends declared from time to time on FirstEnergy Corp.'s common stock during any period may in the aggregate vary from prior periods due to circumstances considered by FirstEnergy Corp.'s Board of Directors at the time of the actual declarations. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy or hold securities and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risks that are included in our filings with the SEC, including but not limited to the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The foregoing review of factors also should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on FirstEnergy Corp.'s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. FirstEnergy expressly disclaims any current intention to update or revise, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Related Links http://www.firstenergycorp.com Srinagar, Jan 28 (UNI) The last surviving member of the constituent Assembly which framed the constitution of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Krishan Dev Sethi passed away at Jammu on Thursday morning. The former chief minister and president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti expressed her condolence on the demise of Sethi. He was 93 and is survived by son Achal Sethi, law secretary and a daughter. Sethi breathed his last at his Jammu residence this morning. Sethi was born on January 1, 1928 at Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). A supporter of an independent J&K, Sethi was equally popular in PoK. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Ms Mehbooba said, Deeply saddened to know of Sethi sahabs demise. I was hoping to see him in Jammu. He treated me like a daughter & will always be an integral part of my childhood. Will miss his wisdom & guidance. UNI BAS SB 1214 Struggling Pennsylvania restaurant owners Wednesday stressed a dire need for relief or thousands of restaurants could be in jeopardy of closing. Representatives of the industry made their concerns clear during a state House Commerce Committee hearing. Amid stories of laid-off employees, financial losses and constant constraints, they asked lawmakers for reforms and financial help. Unless you know what its like to lose everything you built, to lose your livelihood and have to turn your employees away and not provide for your family, I dont think you can really understand, said Chris Sirianni, owner of the Brewerie at Union Station in Erie. The hearing comes at a time when restaurants and bars in the state are operating under restrictions imposed by Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants are operating at 50% indoor capacity, no bar seating, an 11 p.m. booze sales cutoff and required sale of food with alcoholic beverage purchases. Across the nation, other states such as Ohio and New York are operating under measures including 10 p.m. curfews. Many cities such as Chicago have recently lifted dining bans as the number of COVID cases decreases. READ MORE: John Longstreet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, emphasized the industry has been the hardest hit in the nation. He said Pennsylvania restaurants face some of the most draconian mitigation efforts. In a recent survey of Pennsylvanias restaurants, Longstreet noted about 45% of owners indicated it is unlikely they will still be in business in 60 days if there is no relief in sight. Longstreet noted with 26,000 establishments in operation in the state, nearly 12,000 might not come back. We have to do our part, weve got to get involved. Weve got to take ownership and weve got to take responsibility, said Rep. John Galloway, Democratic committee chair from Bucks County. Galloway recognized restaurant owners have been hurt and are facing an extremely difficult time dealing with regulations and changes in order to remain open. Since the start of the pandemic, restaurants have made dozens of pleas for help and hosted rallies. Early on, many restaurants took advantage of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans but that money is no longer available. However, as Sirianni pointed out no state or federal funds have been made available since then. A year and not a dime from the folks in Harrisburg who have kept us shutdown. That is incredibly frustrating, he said. In December, Wolf announced the transfer of $145 million from a Workers Compensation Security Fund at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to be set aside by the legislature for grants for businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. Earlier this month, Wolf urged lawmakers to use that money and begin distributing it to restaurants. The governor has also taken other actions such as waiving liquor license fees for restaurants. More relief could be on the way. Earlier this week, state Sen. Pat Stefano, a Republican from Fayette County, proposed establishing a $145 million Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to assist restaurants and taverns. In the meantime, a handful of lawmakers have rolled out proposals, ranging from sales tax relief to grants, that would inject a lifeline to restaurants, bars, catering halls and banquet halls crippled by the pandemic. During Wednesdays hearing, restaurant owners touched on a lack of financial assistance and grants, insurance issues, difficulties in hiring and recruiting new employees and dissatisfaction with capacity limits. Jen Fertenbaugh, co-owner of Cafe Fresco Center City and Level 2 in Harrisburg, expressed frustration over last-minute shutdown announcements by Wolf that have cost her restaurant thousands of dollars in food and alcohol losses. In December, Wolf announced on Dec. 10 a temporary indoor dining ban would take effect two days later on Dec. 12. Fertenbaugh said they threw away nearly $12,000 in food ahead of the ban and also could not return more than $30,000 in alcohol purchases to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board made ahead of the holiday season. She hinted at the idea of reform, saying: If I had been able to sell them at state store liquor prices I could have turned that back into cash I could have used to pay the employees. So much product, Sirianni said, is tied up in food and alcohol and it is devastating. We need notice, we need ample notice, he said. In addition, Sirianni noted that his brewerys proximity to the New York and Ohio state lines, puts him at a disadvantage as residents cross the border to Ohio, where they have similar restrictions minus capacity limits based on fire codes. Fifty percent is an arbitrary number when you have different layouts, different footprints for your restaurants. A fire code doesnt adequately mean safe seating or a lack of safe seating, he said. The day after President Joe Bidens inauguration, a group known as Mayors for a Guaranteed Income took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post with the headline One More Check Is Not Enough. The groups pitch is that the federal government should make monthly payments to Americans for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. One-time $600 checks wont cut it, the mayors argue. Nearly half of all households cannot put food on the table, pay utility bills, or afford their rent or mortgage, they said in the advertisement. They called for recurring checks through the end of the pandemic. Mayors Ron Nirenberg and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the only signers from Texas, joined more than 30 others from across the country in publicizing the proposal. The cynics among you may point out that its cost-free for mayors to take out an ad in the Washington Post clearly targeting the 1-day-old Biden administration to ask for help for their cities. But I am not a cynic. I think this type of aggressive poverty reduction, especially during an emergency, makes sense. If you cant work because your industry was crushed by COVID-19, I think you and your kids shouldnt go hungry or face eviction as a result. Reviewing the group, the list of mayors represents a preponderance of well-known college towns, such as Madison, Wis.; Middletown, Conn.; Ithaca, N.Y.; Durham, N.C.; Gainesville, Fla.; and Cambridge, Mass. I imagine endorsing a progressive agenda is politically easier in those towns than it is in more politically mixed cities and states. San Antonios Nirenberg said signing on in favor of guaranteed income during the pandemic was not a difficult call to make, politically. I ask myself three questions: Is it fiscally responsible? Is it fair and ethical? Have I done my homework? Nirenberg said. If its something that helps the community, the answer is pretty clear. I dont really dwell on the politics. Another way to measure the difficulty of adopting a monthly guaranteed income would be to ask to what extent and in what ways it would interact with other poverty-reduction measures. Does it replace them or supplement them? Does it do a better job of food and housing outcomes, for example, than other programs? We already have housing programs, food programs, unemployment programs, job-retraining programs, income for elderly, means-tested health care programs and disability income programs. We already subsidize home loans, student loans and small business loans. The federal government offers emergency loans to small and midsize businesses, and massive bailouts for banks and airlines. Interestingly, these financial safety nets are all relatively noncontroversial. Or, better stated, even if they are controversial to some, they are politically impossible to do without. Mayors for a Guaranteed Income makes the case that the key advantage of its idea is that its unconditional money. Guaranteed income not earmarked for food or shelter is the best kind of poverty alleviation because, as the groups website states, no two American households are identical in their needs. And most families need something different every month. That is my favorite part of their plan the unconditionality of it. Guaranteed income, rather than food or housing assistance or job-loss or disability income, says two things about the givers view of the recipient. First, we (the giver) trust you (the recipient) to make your own decisions about how best to survive. Second, you deserve to survive. Going hungry isnt OK, no matter your circumstances. These are powerful ideas. They sound more like what I learned in Sunday school rather than what I learned in government class. In a majority Christian country, I am surprised at how controversial this remains. Andrew Yang, former Democratic candidate for president and now candidate for mayor of New York City, helped put the idea of a guaranteed income into the political mainstream. The emergency $1,200 payments sent from President Donald Trumps Treasury Department last spring seemed to have been a popular and incremental step toward unconditional cash transfers. The Mayors for a Guaranteed Income advertisement marks another move toward mainstreaming this idea. The city of Stockton, Calif., has a guaranteed income pilot program underway, as do other cities. Stocktons Mayor Michael D. Tubbs is, in fact, the founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. Nirenberg said the need for a guaranteed income beyond the pandemic is less clear and warrants further study. But for now, he said, whats clear to me is that there has been a reckoning during this pandemic that far too many families lived on the economic brink before this pandemic, and that is a condition we cannot return to. Although guaranteed income has a long way to go before its broadly accepted, what the Biden administration announced in the first week, addressing an issue similar to that of the mayors, was not nothing. The administration asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to raise food stamp benefits by 15 percent in dollar terms. Biden also asked states to expand their access to supplemental nutrition programs by up to 12 million people. That same week saw 900,000 new unemployment claims, underscoring the precarious job market for many households. 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 Prosecutors have handled just 19 legacy case files, more than half involving the military, since a new police unit was set up six years ago, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Only five cases out of an overall total of 953 involving 1,184 deaths are currently being probed by the PSNI's Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB), while nine are "under review". Nine people have been charged since January 2015 - six former members of the Army, two republicans and a single loyalist, currently on trial. There have been no convictions since the cases were transferred to the unit from the Historical Enquiries Team. "We recognise that the existing system does not satisfy everyone and we would welcome any attempts to better meet the needs of those who lost loved ones," the LIB's head, Detective Chief Superintendent Rowan Moore, said last night. "What any new 'legacy architecture' or approach should look like is of course a matter for our politicians." The Public Prosecution Service is considering charges against 15 individuals, while the office has recommended no further action against 20, including 15 members of the Parachute Regiment involved in Bloody Sunday. Of the 19 files sent to the PPS, seven involve republican killings, two are linked to loyalists and 10 the military. Of the 33 cases under investigation, being reviewed or linked to files sent to the PPS, 13 involve republicans, seven loyalists and 13 military. Of the five cases being actively investigated, one involves republicans, two are linked to loyalists and two to the Army, figures released by the PSNI under the Freedom of Information Act reveal. "The impact of investigating 'legacy' cases has been, and continues to be, significant for PSNI; however we remain absolutely committed to providing the best possible service that we can to all victims and their families," DCS Moore said. "It stands to reason however that for any 'architecture' to be effective in meeting the needs of those who lost loved ones and move us forward as a society it needs to be capable of commanding the support and confidence of the entire community." Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has proposed cases be "swiftly" reviewed but for no full investigation to be done unless there is "new compelling evidence and a realistic prospect of a prosecution". This runs counter to the rights of victims under the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Stormont House Agreement, according to victims' advocates and others. The Government has already lost this argument in court, and this will continue to happen, it is contended. Under Article 2 of the ECHR, police must carry out a full investigation into suspicious deaths, including any involving the state. Mark Thompson, of Relatives for Justice, said the LIB is already Article 2 non-compliant, and is not working. Families of some victims are pursuing cases through the civil process, with around 900 filed against the Ministry of Defence and other state agencies, Mr Thompson said. Kenny Donaldson, of the Innocent Victims United advocacy group, said relatives understand the vast majority of cases will not end in prosecution, but many are opposed "to anything that looks like, or smells like, an amnesty". While those Mr Donaldson represents have had some contact with the LIB from a "humanitarian" aspect, there has been little movement, or discussion, on prosecutions. "There is a realisation punitive justice will be limited," Mr Donaldson said. "But that does not remove their right to demand people are pursued... something that would close off their fundamental rights." The Secretary of State appears to want to just "pack" the files away, he said, adding that victims want to know what the alternative is to prosecution. "It is about acknowledging... many are in a position that the last time they saw a policeman at their door was just after their loved one was killed," Mr Donaldson said. But Mr Donaldson also raised an issue facing relatives of Army personnel killed in Northern Ireland, some of whom had no idea the HET existed until contacted by his organisation. East Belfast DUP MP Gavin Robinson, a member of the House of Commons Defence Committee, said there is also a "disproportionate focus on cases involving the state". "The cases being assessed by LIB include nearly 70% attributed to paramilitaries and less than 30% attributed to the security forces, but a majority of files sent to the PPS come from those 30% of cases," Mr Robinson said in a statement. "Victims deserve a proper, full investigation into the death of their loved ones, but unless there is a comprehensive legacy process then we will continue to see such unfairness perpetuated." The former soldiers charged are Dennis Hutchings, accused of unlawfully killing John Pat Cunningham in Benburb, Co Tyrone, in 1972; David Holden prosecutors say was involved in the killing of Aidan McAnespie near Augnacloy in 1988; two unnamed soldiers are charged in connection with the shooting death of Joe McCann in the Belfast Markets in 1972; and 'Soldier F' is the only one charged in connection with Bloody Sunday. Others charged following LIB investigations are James Seamus Fox in connection with the death of post office worker Frank Kerr in Newry in 1994; John Downey, charged with a car bombing that killed two UDR members, and Winston 'Winkie' Rea, an alleged loyalist currently on trial. Agartala, Jan 28 : The ruling BJP in Tripura on Thursday claimed that the state teachers' "politically motivated stirs" are backed by the Opposition CPI-M and the protest is similar to farmers' agitations in Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party's chief spokesman Subrata Chakraborty and spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjje in a joint press conference claimed that the protesting farmers in Delhi carrying CPI-M's red flag while the agitating teachers in Tripura giving political slogans against the BJP led government and the ruling party at the behest of the Left partis. At least 87 teachers and 17 police personnel were injured in a pitched battle on Wednesday with the security forces knocking down the tents in which thousands of Tripura government school teachers, who had lost their jobs following the court's verdict, have been holding a sit-in protest for the past 52 days demanding restoration of their jobs. Chakraborty said that during Wednesday's incident, the agitating teachers tried to snatch the rifles of the security forces and attacked them. Accusing former Chief Minister Mani Sarkar for the teachers' plight, he said that the teachers have lost their jobs following High Court and Supreme Court verdicts as the previous Left Front government had done "irrigularities" in providing the jobs hence nothing to do with the present BJP government. "We urge the state government to take stern actions against the trouble making teachers in the name of the agitations," Bhattacharjee said addng the BJP government has been making alternative arrangements for them. West Tripura District Magistrate and Collector Shailesh Kumar Yadav after promulgating prohibitory orders 144 Cr Pc in the entire Agartala Municipal Corporation areas banning assembly of five or more people said that in all 87 teachers and 17 police personnel were injured in Wednesday's incidents (police lathicharge, use of water cannon and burst of tear gas shells). "The agitating teachers also damaged four police cars. Considering the situation, the prohibitory orders were extended until Friday," Yadav told the media.The injured teachers, including many women, were admitted in various hospitals including the Agartala Medical College and Hospital.Dalia Das, joint convener of the Joint Movement Committee (JMC) on Thursday said that ten seriously wounded teachers including four women still undergoing treatments in the hospitals.Opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist, Congress and other political parties condemning Wednesday's incident said that "indiscriminate police action and lathicharge were barbaric". Referring to Wednesday's police action, CPI-M state secretary Gautam Das said that Tripura never witnessed such police barbarism. "An unprecedented number of security personnel were deployed to deal with the hapless teachers. Police used lathi, water cannon and burst tear gas shells to disperse the teachers' gatherings."Ten policemen collectively seen used their batons on a teacher. Women teachers were also not spared by the man policemen," Das, also the party's central committee member, told the media. The leaders of the JMC, which is spearheading the stir since last year, said that of the 10,323 retrenched government teachers, 84 persons died due to various reasons, including three persons who committed suicide.JMC's joint convener Dalia Das said that many out of the 10,323 teachers after losing their jobs fell sick due to depression and economic paucity and 84 of them died. The family members of all the retrenched teachers are in great distress, especially of those who have died.Both Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and Education and Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath have on a number of occasions requested the agitating teachers to compete for around 9,000 vacant posts in various departments, including the Education Department, for which the state government issued recruitment notifications.Nath accused the previous Left Front government for the teachers' plight and told the media that the government cannot provide jobs to any one without following the stipulated formalities, including conducting interviews. After visiting the hospital, where the injured teachers are being treated, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is now the opposition leader, told the media that after the Tripura High Court and the Supreme Court had terminated the jobs of 10,323 government teachers in 2011, 2014 and 2017, the then Left Front government had created 13,000 posts to accommodate these teachers alternatively. He said the BJP leaders before the 2018 Assembly polls had promised to regularise their jobs if they came to power, but nothing has been done by them for these teachers.On the government's offer of jobs, JMC leader Das said the teachers have already completed their government service for seven to 10 years and several of them crossed their stipulated age limit and the state government's offer is "unreasonable" and against the interest of the teachers.She said the protesters had suspended their agitation earlier after the Chief Minister on October 3 last year assured to take steps to resolve their problems permanently within two months. "After waiting for more than two months, we resumed our sit-in stir on December 7 but the state government is yet to take any step. We would soon intensify our agitation," Das said on Thursday. The state government had earlier given a lump-sum financial aid of Rs 35,000 each to 8,882 government school teachers, who lost their jobs on March 31 last year, as the courts in their verdicts had cited "discrepancies in recruitments". Of the 10,323 former government teachers, 1,357 people got alternative jobs and availed different income avenues while 84 teachers died with three of them committing suicide. DUBLIN, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Last Mile Delivery Market Analysis 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Last Mile Delivery market is expected to reach $7.84 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 18.7% during 2019 to 2026. The movement of goods from a distribution centre to the end-user which is usually the last delivery destination is known as last mile delivery. The focus of last mile delivery companies is mainly on delivery of good to the end-user as fast as possible. Factors such as continuous growth in the demand on-time delivery by the consumers and integration of automated technologies are driving the market growth. However, inadequate structure of transportation and parcel deliveries are restraining the market growth. Based on technology, the drones segment is going to have a lucrative growth. As the scope of parcel delivery is widening, the use of drones is rising as they overcome the challenges caused due to cars. The drones are capable of fulfilling ample of needs as the drones are designed in such a way that evade delays and surface congestion while enabling customized delivery at affordable prices. The key vendors mentioned are CEVA Logistics AG, DB Schenker (Deutsche Bahn AG), DHL (Deutsche Post AG), DSV A/S, FedEex Corporation, GEODIS, KUEHNE + NAGEL International AG, Nippon Express Co Ltd, United Parcel Service Inc and XPO Logistics Inc. Key Questions Answered in this Report: How this market evolved since the year 2018 Market size estimations, forecasts and CAGR for all the segments presented in the scope Key Market Developments and financials of the key players Opportunity Analysis for the new entrants SWOT Analysis of the key players Fastest growing markets analysed during the forecast period Key Topics Covered: 1 Market Synopsis 2 Research Outline 2.1 Research Snapshot 2.2 Research Methodology 2.3 Research Sources 2.3.1 Primary Research Sources 2.3.2 Secondary Research Sources 3 Market Dynamics 3.1 Drivers 3.2 Restraints 4 Market Environment 4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers 4.3 Threat of substitutes 4.4 Threat of new entrants 4.5 Competitive rivalry 5 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Delivery Time 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Same-Day Delivery 5.3 Regular Delivery 6 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Customer-To-Customer [C2C] 6.3 Business-To-Consumer [B2C] 6.4 Business-To-Business [B2B] 7 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Topography 7.1 Introduction 7.2 High-Density Cities 7.3 Low Density Cities 7.4 Medium-Density Cities 7.5 Rural 8 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Vehicle Type 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Autonomous Vehicle 8.3 Heavy Commercial Vehicle 8.4 Light Commercial Vehicle and Vans 8.5 Motorcycle 8.6 Robots and Drones 8.7 Two & Three Wheelers 9 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Technology 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Autonomous Ground Vehicles 9.3 Droids 9.4 Drones 9.5 Semi-Autonomous Vehicles 10 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Application 10.1 Introduction 10.2 3C Products 10.3 Consumer Product Delivery 10.4 Fresh Products 11 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by End User 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Chemicals Industry 11.3 Commercial Use 11.4 Food & Beverage Industry 11.5 Government Use 11.6 Groceries 11.7 Hi-Tech Product Industry 11.8 Mails 11.9 Packages 11.10 Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Industry 11.11 Residential Use 11.12 Retail 12 Global Last Mile Delivery Market, by Geography 12.1 Introduction 12.2 North America 12.3 Europe 12.4 Asia Pacific 12.5 South America 12.6 Middle East & Africa 13 Strategic Benchmarking 14 Vendors Landscape 14.1 CEVA Logistics AG 14.2 DB Schenker (Deutsche Bahn AG) 14.3 DHL (Deutsche Post AG) 14.4 DSV A/S 14.5 FedEex Corporation 14.6 GEODIS 14.7 KUEHNE + NAGEL International AG 14.8 Nippon Express Co Ltd 14.9 United Parcel Service Inc 14.10 XPO Logistics Inc For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s5yd5a Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Gurgaon: The Gurgaon district administration has launched a special drive to check pre-natal sex determination and female infanticide, to improve its skewed child sex ratio. It has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for individuals and organisations providing information on female infanticide. The child sex ratio in Gurgaon has shown some improvement in the past few years with the number of girls per 1,000 boys crossing 900-mark, but the district is lagging far behind other districts in Haryana. Read more: Punjab, Haryana to welcome monsoon by June 30 "Many cases of baby girls being dumped in garbage and deserted parts were reported recently. We have started the drive to curb such immoral practice. The health department also raided some maternity clinics to check pre-natal sex determination", an official said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The man who was pepper-sprayed by Ted Wheeler after confronting the Portland mayor about COVID-19 dining rules on Sunday, is a lawyer and heir to a dairy fortune whose sale to a business rival resulted in a bitter lawsuit that divided the family. Cary Randall Cadonau was identified by Portland police as the man who accosted Wheeler while he was dining with former Mayor Sam Adams outside McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House on Sunday night at around 8pm. Cadonau is a partner at a mid-size downtown Portland law firm. According to his bio posted online, he specializes in estate, business litigation, family law, personal injury, and criminal defense. He made news in the fall of 2019 when his family was in the midst of a bitter dispute over the sale of Alpenrose Dairy, the more-than-a-century old 55-acre dairy farm in Southwest Portland that was founded by his great-grandfather, Henry Cadenau. Cadonau and his two siblings sued their aunts and cousins after they removed his father from the company board for opposing the sale of the business to a rival farm in Kent, Washington - Smith Brothers Farms. Cadonau is married with two young daughters, according to his spokesperson, Mara Woloshin. Cary Randall Cadonau (above) was identified by Portland police as the man who was pepper-sprayed by Mayor Ted Wheeler while he was dining with former Mayor Sam Adams outside McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House on Sunday night at around 8pm Cary Cadonau is pictured with his wife, Ashley Cadonau. They have two young daughters Wheeler (above) used pepper spray on Cadonau after he says Cadonau got within a foot of him while not wearing a mask Wheeler was with former Portland mayor Sam Adams when the man confronted the pair of them outside McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House (pictured) on Sunday night Cadonau released a statement through Woloshin saying he was remorseful for confronting Wheeler and was sorry that he felt the need to use pepper spray. I cherish Portland and our local community and recognize that Mayor Wheeler has a very difficult job, Cadonau said in his statement. I have contacted Mayor Wheelers office to request an opportunity to amicably resolve this matter. Cadonau also apologized to his law firm, Brownstein Rask LLP. Wheeler filed a report with the Portland Police Bureau about the incident Wheeler told police that Cadonau also tried to obtain surveillance footage of the mayor in a restaurant and get a copy of his meal receipt Initially, Cadonau indicated that he was inclined to release the cell phone video of the incident to the public, but Woloshin told DailyMail.com that she believes its not in the best interest of either gentlemen. Its a deep desire to move on, she said. Wheeler told The Oregonian/Oregon Live on Thursday that he appreciated Cadonaus apology and that he 'considered the matter closed.' 'I'm hopeful that this will be a catalyst for all of us to return to healthy, respectful civic dialogue,' the mayor said. Wheeler and Adams had been inside the pub's tent before Cadonau, who was not wearing a mask, approached them about being unmasked while dining. According to a statement the mayor gave to police, Wheeler told the man of current COVID-19 regulations, which allows people to take their mask off to eat or drink. 'He then accused me of other things to which I indicated he did not understand the rules and should probably have a better understanding if he was going to confront people about them,' Wheeler said in his statement. Wheeler said that the man stood within one or two feet of him and Wheeler became concerned for his safety and contracting COVID-19. Wheeler told the man to 'back off' and that he was carrying pepper spray, which he would use if necessary. When the man did not listen, the mayor said he sprayed him in the eyes. 'He seemed surprised and backed off,' Wheeler told police. Cadonau is the great-grandson of Henry Cadonau, the founder of Alpenrose Dairy Alpenrose Dairy is seen above in Portland, Oregon. The company was bought by a Seattle-area rival, Smith Brothers Farms, in 2019 'He made a comment like, "I cant believe you just pepper sprayed me".' Cadonau is alleged to have also tried to obtain surveillance footage of the mayor in the restaurant and get a copy of his meal receipt. Adams, whose statement to police was consistent with the mayors, suggested to Wheeler he should leave for his safety. Before doing so, Wheeler said he threw a bottle of water towards the man so that he could wash his eyes, he told police. Cadonau told police when contacted Monday that he didn't want to discuss the matter because he was an attorney. He said the mayor should be held 'accountable' but declined to elaborate, according to the police report. Cadonau was asked why he attempted to get surveillance footage from the restaurant in Portland's Hillsdale neighborhood as well as his food and drink receipt from the pub, according to the report. 'Mr. Cadonau said he wanted the receipt because it would show how much alcohol the mayor consumed that evening. I asked him multiple times if he wanted to talk about the incident, share his video footage, or provide his side of the story but he respectfully declined to say anything more,' Officer Matt Miller wrote. In early 2019, Cary Cadonau's father, Carl Cadonau Jr (left), was ousted as co-president of Alpenrose Dairy by members of the board which included his two sisters - Barbara Deeming and Anita Cadonau Huseby (right) - and two cousins - Rob and Wendell Birkland Carl Cadonau Jr objected to the sale of the family business to Smith Brothers Farms. Instead, he wanted the company to be sold to his three children - Cary Cadonau (pictured above with his wife, Ashley), Carl Cadonau III, and Tracey Cadonau McKinnon Cary Cadonau and his two siblings - Tracey Cadonau McKinnon (left) and Carl Cadonau III (right) - sued their aunts and cousins in an attempt to block the sale of Alpenrose Dairy to Smith Brothers Farms. But a judge refused to grant their request for an injunction No charges have been filed in the incident. An audio recording captured by Adams during the confrontation, which was submitted to police as evidence, shows the moment Wheeler tells the man: 'Apparently you don't know the rules.' A rustling sound is heard party way through the audio recording, before the man who approached Wheeler and Adams is heard saying: 'You just pepper sprayed me.' In a statement given to the police, Wheeler then told the man that wearing a face covering while eating is not required. In the incident report, Wheeler also said: 'I became imminently concerned for my personal safety. Adams, whose statement to police was consistent with the mayor's, suggested to Wheeler he should leave for his safety. Before doing so, Wheeler said he threw a bottle of water towards the man so that he could wash his eyes. In a statement, Wheeler's spokesperson Tim Becker said: 'The mayor is cooperating with the police investigation and encourages others involved to do the same.' In early 2019, Cadonau's father, Carl Cadonau Jr, was ousted as co-president of Alpenrose Dairy by members of the board which included his two sisters - Barbara Deeming and Anita Cadonau Huseby - and two cousins - Rob and Wendell Birkland. Cadonau Jr. was the only board member to oppose the sale of the dairy to a Seattle-area rival, Smith Brothers Farms. He instead wanted his three grown children - Cary Cadonau, Carl Cadonau III, and Tracey Cadonau McKinnon - to purchase the company, according to The Oregonian/Oregon Live. Alpenrose Dairy was bought by Smith Brothers Farms based in Kent, Washington The three siblings filed a lawsuit against their aunts and cousins seeking to block the sale to Smith Brothers Farms. In the lawsuit, the siblings accused their relatives of breaching their duty as board members by rejecting their $7million stock offer, which they claimed was superior to that of Smith Brothers Farms. A judge, however, declined to issue an injunction blocking the sale. He also ordered the family to enter mediation. The sale was completed and the company is in the hands of Smith Brothers Farms, but the three siblings issued an amended complaint. The case remains tied up in the courts. This is not the first time Wheeler has been approached by a member of the public while dining out. On January 6 he was punched in the face while dining at Cafe Nell's. Wheeler was dining outdoors with a companion when the protesters walked up to him and began shouting obscenities at the Democratic mayor. Portland made national news when riots hit the city for more than 100 nights in a row last summer as Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with police in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. What began with calls to defund the police and reinvest in communities spiraled into anti-government demonstrations, including calls for Wheeler's resignation. The video shows Wheeler dining at Cafe Nell's in Northwest Portland when he is approached by a group of protesters. A person off-camera can then be heard yelling at the mayor who remains calm throughout the video addressing him by his middle name Tevis. A group of people confronted Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler while he was dining in Northwest Portland on the night of January 6 Wheeler and a companion were seated outdoors when a group started shouting obscenities at him Tracy Molina, a prominent Portland activist, confronted Wheeler and allegedly punched him Portland endured more than 100 nights of rioting during last summer's protest over racial inequality and police brutality the ramifications of which are still raw Wheeler asks the person yelling at him how old he is before telling him he needs to grow up. 'You are going to be made to feel like the scum you are,' the protester says in the video. 'F*** you! F*** you! Shame on you!' 'I think you need to do your job as a f***ing mayor. I think you're a disgrace,' he replies after Wheeler says that he thinks the group should leave. 'How dare you do sweeps when people are still on the streets.' 'You think that we're going to forget about you? We're never going to forget you, Tevis. Ever. Ever. I hope you enjoyed your little wine... you're f*****, Tevis.' After the incident, Wheeler was asked about the hostility he has encountered in public. 'Thats not OK,' Wheeler told KGW-TV. 'And the reason it's not OK is because ultimately I think it's an act of intimidation. 'And when I talk to my friends and they see these things, they're like, "This is why I would never run for public office." 'Ive heard from some of my friends in the media that people don't like to write letters to the editor, with their names on them anymore. 'That's really having a dampening impact on democracy.' China has tightened control over media workers with a new rule that bans journalists from self-publishing news via social media accounts. The Chinese cyberspace watchdog also amended its internet regulations to crack down on what it sees as fake news or harmful activities by public social media accounts. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses grave concern over Beijings increasing grip on the press and stresses that a vibrant society in which citizens can express opinions freely is key to development and progress. On January 19, Chinas National Press and Publication Administration announced that the annual review of journalists accreditation would be conducted from January 20 to March 19. In particular, the authorities will look into whether journalists operate we-media on public social media accounts and publish information they acquire in the course of their work. Those who do not abide by the rules will risk being punished or even having their credential suspended. The vaguely defined new rule comes at a time when self-media has gained huge popularity in China and journalists have beg u n using such platforms to publish work which was axed by their organisations. The campaign to curb online speech also targets public social media accounts, which can be created by businesses, celebrities or individuals, as well as by news organisations. On January 22, the Cyberspace Administration of China published amended rules to ban fabricating information, tagging false sources, misleading the public, and committing plagiarism, among other actions. The cyberspace watchdog noted that during the COVID-19 outbreak, a small number of we-media accounts had fabricated and disseminated online rumours, as well as arbitrarily disclosing other peoples privacy. The CAC said the behaviours had seriously undermined social harmony and stability and left the interests of others marred. The revised rules, which take effect from February 22, will hold public accounts and social media companies accountable for problematic online activities. They are intended to maintain a good communications order and preserve a healthy cyberspace, the agency said. The IFJ said: The IFJ expresses grave concern over Beijings increasing grip on the press and stresses that a vibrant society in which citizens can express opinions freely is key to development and progress. Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Karnataka on Thursday announced the tentative dates for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Board (Class 10) examinations for the academic year 2020-21. According to the dates announced by the Education Ministry, the exams for SSLC students this year will begin on June 14 and will end on June 25. Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar asked the students to submit their objections to the tentative timetable, if any. Kumar told reporters that the students who wish to submit objections to the tentative timetable can send them to the Director of Examinations of the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board till February 26. He added that the classes for students of VIth Std to 1st Pre-University Course (PUC) or Class 11 will commence from February 1. The classes for students of 10th to PUC II (Class 12) will begin on full day basis from February 1. And the classes for students of 6-8 Std under the Vidyagama programme will continue as before, the minister said. "Vidyagama classes for sixth to eighth standards on alternative days will be continued as it is. A decision regarding opening other classes will be taken after reviewing the situation during the second week of February and holding discussions with experts," he explained. Earlier in the day, Kumar held a meeting with Health Minister K. Sudhakar and technical committee experts. A total of 75 per cent students of PUC and 70 per cent of SSLC are attending classes. For Vidyagama classes from 6th to 9th Standard around 45 per cent of students are attending classes. The minister maintained that there was no major outbreak of the pandemic after classes commenced for PUC and SSLC students, so one need not worry. Kumar said that schools and colleges remained closed due to the lockdown since March. "SSLC classes have resumed from January 1. Though students' attendance was less initially, it has increased now," he claimed. The technical experts committee will meet again in the second week of February to take a decision on conducting regular classes for 6th to 8th Std students. A detailed SoP will be published on conducting classes from February 1 considering the interest of students. The notification added that the online and offline format of the classes will continue and physical attendance will not be mandatory for students. New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party leaders on Thursday attacked Opposition parties for their decision to boycott GST launch event in Central Hall of Parliament on June 30. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that they hope every political party will reconsider and revisit its decisions and be party to launch of massive reform to which they have been themselves privy to. "I can't recall any discussion which has been more or greater than the one in the case of GST. Those who have party to this consultation and decision making process must also accept this is not a decision of the Central govt, it's equally a decision which 31 state govts and UTs have been a party to and these are representing various political complexions," said FM Arun Jaitley. Jaitley said that they must display broad shoulder and own up this decision and symbolic boycotts are not evidence of any kind of disassociation from these decisions. "Did GST come suddenly? Is it being rolled out without discussion? No. I can't understand the reason. GST is Indian Economy's Tryst with Destiny. It is the biggest reform after independence," said Venkaiah Naidu on Congress' decision to boycott GST session. Also Read: Ghulam Nabi Azad: Congress to boycott GST launch programme to be held in Central Hall of Parliament on June 30 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. BJP leader shot dead in Bihar India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Munger, Jan 28: A BJP leader in Bihar was on Wednesday shot at by unidentified assailants here, triggering a spat between the ruling party and the opposition over alleged deterioration in the law and order situation. Azfar Shamsi, a spokesman of the state BJP who also taught at the Jamalpur College in the district, was shot at by motorcycle-borne attackers while his car was entering the premises of the institute, Superintendent of Police, Munger, Manavjeet Singh Dhillon, said. The assailants sped away after firing several rounds and Shamsi was left profusely bleeding, with bullet injuries in a leg and close to one of his ears, the SP said. BJP planted stooge Deep Sidhu to create chaos in tractor rally: AAP In his statement, Shamsi alleged that he suspected the involvement of one of his colleagues at the college, who has been arrested, the SP said, adding that the academician-cum- politician was later referred to a Patna hospital for further treatment. Meanwhile, RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari reacted with alarm and remarked "we wonder who is safe in Bihar under the Nitish Kumar regime when even a leader of the BJP, the senior partner in the ruling alliance, is attacked in broad daylight". BJP national spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain, however, dismissed the opposition charge and asserted that "the police have acted swiftly. I have spoken to the SP concerned and the man whom Shamsi had suspected has been arrested. The opposition has this habit of making noise over every development". Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News When asked whether he still believed that "sushasan" (good governance) prevailed in Bihar, Hussain, who got elected to the state legislative council last week, retorted "why not?". China aims to reach peak carbon emissions before 2030, and to become carbon neutral before 2060. This goal will lead to profound changes in the country's social and economic development. Meaningful goals When it comes to addressing climate change, China has a decisive influence on achieving global goals. With a large population and a large economy, it is also a big greenhouse gas emitter. How far China's bold pledge goes will determine how much the global climate change goals could be achieved. The United States officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement after the latter entered its fifth year in force. The COVID-19 pandemic has also made many people confused about whether the agreement can continue. At this moment, China's pledge indicates strong support for the agreement. It will not only redefine China's leading role in mitigating climate change, but also has a significant impact on geopolitics, global governance, and the world order in general. Domestically, the carbon neutrality target will determine the direction of China's future economic development. At present, China is formulating its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). As the COVID-19 epidemic has been effectively contained at home, China is seeing a recovering economy. The announcement of carbon emission reduction targets at this particular moment could hopefully change the entire structure of the economy in the future. We can expect a radical shift in China's coal-based energy landscape as the renewable energy industry will embrace more development opportunities, while coal mining and coal burning for power generation will be gradually phased out. Well prepared The proposed carbon targets are based on China's decades-long efforts to reduce carbon emissions. As early as 2015, the Chinese government submitted to the United Nations Enhanced Actions on Climate Change its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions goals. Through multiple efforts, China has made great progress in carbon emission reduction. At the end of 2019, the carbon intensity was 18.2 percent lower than that of 2015, fulfilling the binding targets set in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) ahead of schedule. In terms of technology, China has made major breakthroughs in a number of fields. In the past decade, for example, the cost of renewable energy production fell sharply, with the cost of photovoltaic power falling by 90 percent to below that of coal. Green electricity generated by renewable resources can already compete with that of coal. Industrial energy efficiency has also improved significantly. China's digital and information technology have risen to prominence and been widely used, accelerating the adjustment of the energy structure. China's commitment to green development and efforts to promote environmental progress embody its mission to cut carbon emission. In terms of economic policies, more emphasis is placed on the transformation of economic growth patterns. There has also been very good synergy between economic and environmental policies. It is fair to say that China has made dramatic changes in carbon emission reduction over the past five years, giving itself more confidence of meeting its future targets. Transformation and development To achieve the carbon neutrality goal, China will need to make profound changes in all areas. In the energy sector, the share of coal in energy consumption will fall to 10 or even less than five percent. For now, Qinghai province in northwest China offers a perfect example. Qinghai has a unique energy mix, rich in wind, solar energy, and water resources; its clean energy accounts for 87 percent of the total. Each year, there are 100 days when power is generated solely by clean energy. The development potential of renewable energy has reached three billion kilowatts, and its direct exploitation potential now reaches one billion kilowatts. In September 2020, the first ultrahigh-voltage direct current transmission channel to deliver clean energy from Qinghai to other regions was connected to Henan province in central China. In the future, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and other western provinces and regions will become bases for clean energy generation, thus changing China's energy supply map. Another concern is how provinces and regions with rich natural energies will transform. Today, Inner Mongolia, on the one hand, is vigorously developing its wind power industry to increase the proportion of green electricity. On the other hand, great efforts have also been made to build big data centers to explore new growth momentums. These efforts will help hedge against the impact of coal reduction on the economy and society. The transformation of the energy mix is a long process that may take five, 10 or more years. It involves a large number of workers being moved away from high-carbon industrial chains such as coal mining. For workers in traditional industries, training opportunities should be provided to help them transfer to other posts smoothly. For older workers who have difficulty in transferring posts, the social security system should be improved to minimize the adverse effects brought about by laying them off. In the renovation of old cities and the construction of new urban areas, we should follow a low-carbon principle and improve the transportation infrastructure, especially making public transportation more convenient. Now in Shenzhen, taxis and buses are fully electric; other big cities should also use more electric vehicles. We should continue to promote the use of trains instead of trucks, and the combined use of railways and ports for long-distance deliveries. Presently there are also many key technologies being developed in industries. For example, as stocks of scrap steel increase, replacing iron ore with short-process steel made from scrap steel could save a lot of energy. Besides, when the reducing agent in steel making is changed from coal and coke to hydrogen, there will not be any carbon emissions produced. R&D of low-carbon and even zero-carbon cement is also under way. In addition, the manner in which the coal-based chemical industry becomes hydrogen-based is also undergoing much research at present. The transformation of the construction sector should be closely combined with China's urbanization process. In the future, hundreds of millions of Chinese farmers will migrate to cities. Ruicheng city in Shanxi province, Shenzhen and other cities are piloting zero-carbon and flexible buildings. Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof and facade of buildings, direct current distribution networks are installed, and energy storage batteries are equipped to realize self power supply, refrigeration, and heating of the building. In the future, it will be trendy to build more residential communities and industrial parks with zero-carbon emissions. In the agricultural field, the development potential of photovoltaic agriculture is huge. For example, installing photovoltaic panels in the deserts of Qinghai province could not only generate electricity, but also reduce the evaporation of desert water. By washing those photovoltaic panels, wasteland irrigation can be increased, and grassland area coverage can be increased. The locals put sheep under the panels to graze, and a comprehensive ecological cycle of water, grass, photovoltaic power, and livestock is established. Qingdao in east China's Shandong province is also exploring the development of photovoltaic agriculture, with local farmers planting mushrooms under solar panels, dramatically increasing farmers' income. At present, China still has a large low-income population in rural areas. Therefore, exploring new energy-related industries is also a way to help them generate more income. Zou Ji is CEO and president of Energy Foundation China. 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. EDUCATIONAL researchers endorsed a series of small evaluations in K-12 classrooms rather than few high-stakes tests both amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future during a panel about fair assessment this week. EDUCATIONAL researchers endorsed a series of small evaluations in K-12 classrooms rather than few high-stakes tests both amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future during a panel about fair assessment this week. On Tuesday night, the University of Manitobas education faculty hosted a virtual event that featured Canadian educators with expertise in fair, ethical and effective evaluation practices. Topics ranged from culturally-responsive evaluations to assessment methods that empower students rather than simply attach their value to a percentage grade. Evaluations can both support and enhance learning, but they can also contribute to inequities, said Martha Koch, an assistant education professor at U of M, in her opening moderator remarks. With that in mind, the Canadian Assessment for Learning Network, which Koch is involved with, released considerations for how to grade students during the pandemic. The suggestions, which were published in the spring, recommend ensuring all students have equitable learning opportunities, clear communication, and for early- and middle-years teachers, report cards only with written comments and no grades. Educational researcher Robin Tierney, one of the forum panelists, said she feels there should be no traditional report cards this year. The pandemic, she said, could even be an opportunity to radically reconsider how education systems work to better serve all students. "The (pandemic learning) process is extremely dependent on the time and resources parents have available so the inequities that have become apparent are going to require a whole lot of flexibility when it comes to assessing learning, not just during the pandemic, but for some time to come," said Tierney, a part-time professor of education at the University of Ottawa. For Tierney, fair assessment means clear instructions, giving students multiple and varied types of evaluations, observing patterns over time instead of one-shot tests, frequent feedback, and giving students choice in what they want to learn. Panellist Theresa Papp, who teaches Indigenous studies at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, echoed many of the same sentiments, adding students succeed when teachers show authentic caring for them and involve them. Drawing on first-hand experience with grading high schoolers in an online classroom this year, teacher panelist Katie White added shes found self-assessment to be a successful tool. Pandemic or not, partnering with families and giving students lots of feedback, with time to correct their errors, is also key in helping students succeed, said White, an executive member of the Canadian Assessment for Learning Network. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 06:43:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ATHENS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Greek twins, Marianna and Sofia Erotokritou, were formally appointed "Ambassadors of Greek Tourism in China" in acknowledgement of their efforts to promote Greece in China, the Greek Tourism Ministry said on Thursday. The twins, who have been living and studying in China since 2013, have taken many initiatives to boost Sino-Greek friendship. They have produced several tourist videos in Chinese about Greece's destinations, culture and way of life, attracting in some cases over one million views on Chinese social media. They also teach the Greek language online to 2,000 students, according to an e-mailed statement from the ministry. Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis made the decision as part of efforts to strengthen Greece's image abroad, also on the occasion of the Greece-China Year of Culture and Tourism 2021, which aims to deepen Sino-Greek cooperation, read the statement. The honorary title of "Greek Tourism Ambassadors" is awarded to the two young women for a period of two years with the possibility of renewal. Under their new role, the twins will help promote thematic forms of tourism, like gastronomic tourism, through social media and other digital media, and will be participating in events related to the Chinese tourism market. Last year, Marianna and Sofia Erotokritou donated to Greek authorities about 10,000 protective face masks they purchased with the help of their Chinese followers on social media who wanted to assist Greece in the battle against COVID-19. Enditem A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Maricopa County Officials Approve Forensic Audit of Election Systems Maricopa County in Arizona will carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of its voting systems to allay concerns raised by some constituents about the integrity of the November 2020 election. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at a Jan. 27 meeting to hire two independent companies to conduct an audit that will review whether voting machines counted votes correctly, and whether they were tampered with or hacked in any way. The Republican-dominated board defended the accuracy of the countys election results, while expressing hope that a comprehensive equipment and software audit would dispel concerns that the results were inaccurate. Maricopa County elections were administered with integrity throughout 2020. Thats a fact. Multiple audits to date have proved as much, and multiple court rulings have concurred, Chairman Jack Sellers said in a statement. Its also true that a significant number of voters want the additional assurance that a full forensic audit of tabulation equipment might bring, especially given all the misinformation that spread following the November 3 election. According to information from the meeting, the multi-layered forensic audit will include a software, hardware, and financial review of voting systems. A vulnerability analysis will be performed, along with a check for malware and a test to verify that tabulators didnt send or receive information over the internet. Additionally, a logic and accuracy test of the countys tabulation equipment will be conducted to verify whether ballots were counted accurately and to confirm that no votes were switched. Regardless of how we got where we are today, there are a number of people now that have serious doubts about our election process, Sellers said at the meeting. I really want to alleviate their concerns and their issues with whatever it is we are doing and convince them that this was in fact truly an honest election with good integrity. The audit is unlikely to satisfy the demands of the Arizona Senate, however, which issued subpoenas to the supervisors in December 2020 demanding they turn over a range of election material, including images of all mail-in ballots and machines used to count votes, so the Senate could carry out its own audit. Arizona state Sen. Warren Peterson, a Republican who chairs the Judiciary Committee, told Fox 10 that the countys audit wont alleviate the need for a Senate audit. A county audit will not prevent the Senate from doing their own audit, Peterson told the outlet. My concern with the county audit is that the scope of the audit is an inch deep. With the limited scope they have asked to be audited, they are guaranteed to find nothing. The county board has resisted the Senates requests, arguing that they were too broad, while trying to negotiate a settlement. Seeking to shore up confidence in the November 2020 election, the Maricopa County government on Jan. 27 published a list of steps taken to ensure election integrity, including an October 2020 logic and accuracy test on tabulation equipment and a November hand-count audit of election results that found a 100 percent match to the vote tabulation machines. Harry Dunn's mother says she hopes the new US President Joe Biden will empathise with her situation because he too tragically lost a child. Mr Dunn, 19, died after his motorcycle crashed into a car outside the US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019. The suspect, 43-year-old Anne Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US government and she was able to return to America, sparking an ongoing campaign by Mr Dunn's family to have Sacoolas face justice in Britain. Charlotte Charles, Mr Dunn's mother, appeared on ITV's Lorraine today where she reissued her plea to Mr Biden, asking for Sacoolas to be sent to England. Ms Charles told the programme's host Lorraine Kelly: 'My plea to President Biden needs to really reach over to him and we sincerely believe that he has received my plea. Mr Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019 'We are very hopeful, Radd [Seiger], our spokesperson, bless him, has been continuing to have talks with senior officials both in London and in Washington, those talks are picking up momentum and we do hold out a lot of hope, we are feeling quite positive.' Lorraine said that President Biden was probably one of the few people who knows what Ms Charles was going through, having lost a child himself. Mr Biden's first wife and youngest child were killed in a car accident after a tractor-trailer carrying corn broadsided the family's Chevrolet station wagon. Neilia, 30, and 13-month-old daughter Naomi, had been out shopping shortly before Christmas in 1972. 'He knows that pain, and I'm sure he will absolutely empathise with you,' Lorraine said. Ms Charles said: 'Yeah we certainly hope so, we've done a lot of homework on him, we've been studying him prior to the fact that he got into the presidency, we were desperately hoping that he would. 'Absolutely we hope he is a president with a lot more heart and clearly can sympathise... we just hope to goodness he sticks to his word. 'He believes in the rule of law, upholding the rule of law, he believes that nobody is above the law no matter who you are or what you do. Lorraine said that President Biden was probably one of the few people who knows what Ms Charles was going through, having lost a child himself Charlotte Charles, Mr Dunn's mother, appeared on ITV's Lorraine today where she reissued her plea to Mr Biden, asking for Anne Sacoolas to be sent to England The suspect, 43-year-old Anne Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US government following the crash and she was able to return to her home country 'I'm pleading with him to stick to those words and to do the right thing and make sure Anne Sacoolas faces the UK justice system.' Paying tribute to her son, she added: 'Harry was just larger than life, he loved life, he was just coming into his own, he treated every day as a new adventure, I owe it to him to do the same.' Chief Crown Prosecutor for the East Midlands, Janine Smith, had written to Mr Dunn's family just before the anniversary of the CPS's decision to charge Ms Sacoolas, saying she was 'satisfied that there remains sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.' Sacoolas was able to return to her home country after the US Government asserted diplomatic immunity on her behalf, sparking an international controversy. Despite the charging decision by the CPS, and an extradition request submitted by the Home Office, the US State Department refused to return her to the UK - describing the decision as 'final'. In a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions in September, the family was told the CPS had concluded Sacoolas did not have immunity at the time of the collision. The family had contested the diplomatic immunity asserted on behalf of the suspect, but High Court judges accepted the Foreign Office's position that Sacoolas 'enjoyed immunity from UK criminal jurisdiction'. Mr Dunn's parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, were granted permission to appeal against the judgment. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 29th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28. The formation of the Armenian Armed Forces coincides with 1992-1994, when the newly independent Republic of Armenia, along with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, being in undeclared but de facto war with Azerbaijan, simultaneously embarked on the creation of a national army. The Declaration of Independence of 1990, however, played a decisive role in the creation of the Armenian Army. On January 28, 1992, the Government adopted the historic decision titled On the Defense Ministry of Armenia, heralding the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces. In May of 1992, the Defense Ministry carried out the first drafting. The establishment of the Armenian Armed Forces passed through several stages. The first stage lasted from February 1988 to May 1992. In this period, ensuring the safety and security of the populations of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh was more than pressing, as the Karabakh Movement became active and the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations escalated. The second stage, June 1992 May 1994, when the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh were in the crosshairs of the Azerbaijani aggression. The third stage began since June 1994 and continues to present day. During this period, significant works were carried out in the direction of improving the combat readiness of the troops, strengthening discipline, training of officers, Army-public relations etc. In September of 1990, the special regiment of Yerevan was formed, while five companies were established in Ararat, Goris, Vardenis, Ijevan and Meghri. In 1991, the Government approved the formation of the State Committee of Defense. Men aged 18-27 are subject to compulsory military service in Armenia for a two year period. Drafting is carried out twice a year in winters and summers. In 2017 the Defense Ministry introduced I am, I have honor and Outlook service options. Since its establishment, the Armenian Armed Forces have cooperated and continue cooperating with international organizations. On May 15, 1992, Armenia became a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Military cooperation with Russia has a great role in the international cooperation field of the Armenian Armed Forces. Russia is Armenias strategic partner and the defense cooperation between the states is on a high level. Cooperation with NATO is also expanding year by year. The Armenian Armed Forces greatly focus on training and educating highly skilled personnel. With this purpose, the Military aviation college was formed, which later transformed into the Military-Aviation institute, the Defense Ministrys Command College was established currently the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute, and the military-medical faculty of the Yerevan State Medical University. Graduates of the abovementioned institutions have continued trainings in foreign educational facilities. Namely, more than 1500 officers and cadets have trained and continue training in Russia and Greece. Armenian peacekeepers have a significant role in the history of the Armenian Armed Forces. Due to the peacekeepers, various countries around the world saw and appreciated the highly skilled and professional Armenian soldiers. On February 12, 2004, Armenia deployed a platoon-sized unit (three squads) to Kosovo to join the NATO peacekeeping mission as part of the Greek peacekeeping contingent. In 2005, Armenia deployed peacekeeping forces consisting of sappers, engineers and doctors to Iraq. The mission was on duty until 2009. Armenian servicemen are carrying out peacekeeping missions also in Afghanistan since 2010. Since November 26, 2014, Armenian peacekeepers are deployed in Lebanon, within the UNIFIL. In 2015, one peacekeeper was dispatched to Mali on a monitoring-peacekeeping mission. The Armenian Army has been and will remain the guarantor of security and borders of Armenia. Protesters angry at the coronavirus-related lockdown in Lebanon have been clashing with police this week. Dozens of people were injured on Wednesday in the northern city of Tripoli as protesters hurled Molotov cocktails, fireworks and rocks, and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, the Lebanese outlet Naharnet reported. The protests have continued for three days now against the round-the-clock lockdown that is the strictest ever since the virus first appeared, according to The Associated Press. Demonstrators are angry at the bleak living conditions during the lockdown and minimal government assistance. A total of more than 220 people have been injured since the unrest began. A 30-year-old was also killed on Wednesday and buried today, The AP reported. Lebanon is in the middle of a deep financial crisis that began in 2019. The Lebanese pound has decreased by 80% and unemployment is around 40%. In December, the World Bank predicted that the Lebanese economy would shrink by 20% in 2020. The government is also massively in debt. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the economic situation worse. The government has instituted lockdowns, business closures and other movement restrictions to combat the spread of the coronavirus. COVID-19 began spreading quickly in Lebanon following the August Beirut port explosion. The country is now registering historic highs of several thousand cases a day, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Last week, the Lebanese government extended the lockdown until Feb. 8, meaning the unrest may continue. Protests against the economic situation amid the lockdowns occurred throughout 2020. Royal enthusiasts have gone wild over Prince William's uncanny resemblance to Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel. The Aston Martin racing team shared a first glimpse at the World Champion in their car, but it was the German driver's new hair do which stole the limelight. Many took to Twitter and were quick to point out that the driver's balding appearance drew comparisons to The Duke of Cambridge. 'Is Prince William about to make his debut in F1?' wrote one, while a second joked: 'Wonders why Prince William is trending...realises the photo of Sebastian Vettel I saw was not photoshopped.' Royal enthusiasts have gone wild over Prince William's uncanny resemblance to Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel. Pictured, the Aston Martin racing team shared a first glimpse at the World Champion in their car Prince William has long battled against baldness, and began losing his hair in his twenties. Pictured, speaking to staff and patients to mark the construction of the groundbreaking Oak cancer centre at Royal Marsden Hospital on October 21, 2020 in Sutton Taking to the comments section, one person joked: 'Is Prince William about to make his debut in F1?' (pictured) Prince William has long battled against baldness, and began losing his hair in his twenties. The royal famously shaved his head in January last year in order to hide the worst impact of the hair loss. Prince Harry always loved mocking his brother for his hair loss, once quipping: 'I think he definitely is brainier than I am, but we established that at school, along with his baldness.' And it seems The Duke of Sussex isn't the only one to comment on the royal's balding hair. The Duke of Cambridge visiting the Scottish Ambulance Service at Newbridge near Edinburgh on 7 December 2020 Another took to Twitter and penned: 'Not sure if that's Prince William or Sebastian Vettel' (pictured) 'Is this Seb Vettel or is it Prince William? Holy c**p, I am so confused,' commented one after the recent Aston Martin snaps were released, while a second penned: 'Hello Prince William, eh I mean Sebastian Vettel.' A third added: 'Sebastian Vettel with that Prince William cut,' while a fourth wrote: 'I saw that Vettel was trending, clicked on it to have a look. 'This was *not* at all what I was expecting to see!!! The best tweet I've seen in response to this, was someone saying Seb has been "Prince William'd." A further joked: 'I literally said to my husband, "why the f*** does Vettle suddenly look like Prince William?' For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ayear to the day since Australias first coronavirus case was diagnosed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a vaccine against the virus had been approved for local use. After more than 29,000 cases and 909 deaths, the federal government has promised the Australian adult population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 at hospitals, specialist hubs, GP clinics and chemists by the end of October. In an undertaking described by Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy as the most complex logistical exercise that perhaps weve done in public health in this country, the federal government is leading state and territory health departments in a mammoth inoculation operation. What does Australias vaccination timeline look like? And where will you get yours? Here is what we know so far. Credit: Who is being vaccinated first? Australians aged 16 and over are being vaccinated against COVID-19 in at least four and possibly five phases. Thats more than 24 million people able to receive their jabs, in total, over eight months. Advertisement The first innoculation was of 84-year-old Jane Malysiak on February 21, which started Phase 1a of the rollout. This phase was made up of people either at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or at a higher risk of becoming very sick if they do: so, quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers, and staff and residents at aged care and disability facilities. There are about 678,000 people in Phase 1a across Australia. By March 14, there had been 164,437 vaccinations. Already underway is Phase 1b: all other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55 and other Australians over 70 who are not in aged care, younger people with an underlying medical condition and emergency and some critical workers. That adds up to about another 6.1 million people. Australia is aiming to have 4 million people all of Phase 1a and more than half of Phase 1b vaccinated by the end of April. Most Australians will have their vaccine in either Phase 2a (the remaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, other Australians over 50 and other critical and high-risk workers) or Phase 2b (everyone else aged 16 and over) using the AstraZeneca vaccine. If the Therapeutic Goods Administration approves a vaccine for use in children (more on that later), Phase 3 of the rollout will see children under 16 vaccinated. Proof of vaccination will be recorded on the existing Australian Immunisation Register which can be accessed via MyGov or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. Advertisement Which vaccine will you get? At this stage, Australias rollout plan is hinged on two vaccines: one by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and biotechnology company BioNTech, the first doses of which arrived on February 15, and the other by researchers at the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which first arrived on Australian soil on February 28. We have two vaccines, which are effective and safe enough, and that is a long way from where we thought we would be six months ago, says Professor Julie Leask, an immunisation uptake researcher from the University of Sydney. Despite early reports that the Pfizer vaccine would be reserved for people in the earliest stage of the rollout, once AstraZeneca doses were made available they were put to use, meaning people in phase 1a and 1b have been receiving either vaccine from early March. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in people aged 16 years and over. It comes in two doses, to be given 21 days apart. Australia has bought 20 million doses, including an extra 10 million secured in early February, which are being manufactured in Belgium. Clinical trials indicated it would prevent symptomatic COVID-19 in 95 per cent of recipients. The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, which means it works by giving the body the material that encodes the protein of the virus, rather than the protein itself. Essentially, it shows the body what the virus looks like without actually infecting it, so it can design its immune response. Doses of the Pfizer vaccine need to be imported from Europe and stored in a cold chain facility at minus 70 degrees, which is part of why they do not form the bulk of Australias vaccine strategy. Advertisement The TGA identified some side-effects with the Pfizer vaccine: more than 60 per cent of people will experience fatigue, more than half will get a headache, more than 30 per cent will suffer muscle pain or chills and more than 20 per cent will experience joint pain. But most Australians should expect to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, which federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has called the ace in the hole of Australias rollout. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a non-replicating viral vector vaccine: scientists have taken a virus that usually gives chimpanzees a cold but is harmless to humans and genetically engineered it to look like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to trigger an immune response. It will need to be stored at 2 to 8 degrees, like most vaccines. This vaccine was approved by the TGA for adults aged 18 and over and will require two doses 12 weeks apart. Phase three trials indicate it has an overall 70 per cent efficacy at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, which is about on par with the average efficacy of the annual influenza vaccine. Australia will have 53.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine: 3.8 million imported from overseas and 50 million manufactured by Melbourne-based biotechnology company CSL under an agreement, beginning at 1 million doses a week. Professor Leask says that although the AstraZeneca vaccine has slightly lower efficacy rates than Pfizers, its worth is in how much easier it will be to transport and store. Its not just about whether the vaccine is quite effective or very effective, its also about whether you can reasonably deliver the vaccine to a country with a huge land base, she says. It should also be noted that no one who took part in clinical trials of the AstraZeneca vaccine developed severe coronavirus or died, leading health authorities to conclude it has 100 per cent efficacy against severe cases of the virus. Advertisement While Australia has based its strategy on the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations, we also have two other vaccine agreements: one for 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, being made in several locations across Europe, and another 25.5 million doses of a mix of vaccines under the international COVAX distribution program, which aims to provide fair global access to vaccines once they are made available. Phase-three trials of the Novavax vaccine showed 89 per cent efficacy in preventing COVID-19 after early data indicated it may offer even greater protection against coronavirus by having an effect on transmission as well as symptomatic infection. If all of these agreements come through, Australia could have access to about 150 million vaccine doses. There are also some vaccines going through approvals processes overseas that Australia does not have any agreements for notably the Moderna vaccine, which is being rolled out in the UK. Loading Where will you be vaccinated, and by whom? The Pfizer vaccines have been administered at up to 50 hospital hubs with ultra-cold freezers in metropolitan and regional areas across Australia. NSW Health had its initial Pfizer vaccination hubs at RPA, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals, but is now vaccinating with the Pfizer and AstraZeneca at Hornsby, St George, Nepean, Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga hospitals. In Victoria, Austin Health, Barwon Health, Monash Health and Western Health host vaccination hubs. Advertisement Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-29 06:50:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOUSTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday signed an executive order to pursue legal strategy against the federal government's recent energy policies. According to the governor's office, the executive order directed every state agency to "use all lawful powers and tools to challenge any federal action that threatens the continued strength, vitality, and independence of the energy industry." "Each state agency should work to identify potential litigation, notice-and-comment opportunities, and any other means of preventing federal overreach within the law," read the executive order. In his early days in office, President Joe Biden took a series of actions to implement his climate change agenda by recommitting the United States to the Paris climate agreement, canceling the construction permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline and issuing a 60-day freeze on new oil drilling on federal lands. "Regulators can act sensibly to ensure safe and efficient operation by the energy sector in Texas and elsewhere; and regulatory overreach in the energy sector, by contrast, can damage the stability of the Texas economy and the livelihoods of countless Texans," said the executive order. Abbott on Thursday visited the Permian Basin area in west Texas, the largest source of shale oil production growth in the United States. The area has become an engine of supply growth outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in the past years. "Texas is going to protect the oil and gas industry from any type of hostile attack from Washington, D.C.," local media The Texas Tribune quoted Abbott as saying during his visit. Enditem Legendary gold and silversmith Des Byrne passes on a few tricks of the trade to Roisin McCabe, final year student at the Jewellery and Goldsmithing Skills & Design Course run by Design & Crafts Council Ireland at the Castle Yard, Kilkenny. Photos - Dylan Vaughan An exhibition showcasing the evolution of the crafts and design sector in Ireland over the past 50 years is set to take place later this year. Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) will be celebrating its special anniversary with The 50 Makers: 50 Years, exhibition, as both the President and Tanaiste pay tribute to Irelands talented makers. President Michael D Higgins had many kind words to say about Irish craftspeople, who he said continued a proud tradition that is firmly rooted in Irelands rich cultural history. In Ireland we are very proud of our reputation for creativity, a reputation which is greatly enhanced by our many talented craftspeople and designers, he said. Their creative and beautiful works, which receive wide acclaim on both the national and international stage, remind us of how much of our culture and heritage is embedded in crafted artefacts such as the Book of Kells and the Tara Brooch. As part of the exhibition, industry stakeholders across the country will nominate makers whose work has significant legacy, heralded new approaches or changed the way we look at the world, according to DCCI. The deadline for the nominations is January 31. Then from next month, an expert committee will have to narrow the selection to 50 makers, representing 50 years of outstanding craft and design innovation in Ireland. DCCI Chief Executive Rosemary Steen says the exhibition will celebrate the huge role Irish makers have played in the countrys cultural evolution. This period has overseen the greatest societal changes the country has known and we have seen massive changes in the crafts and design sector, which has evolved to become a major player on the global design stage, enhancing Irelands reputation as a creative society and economy, she said. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar congratulated DCCI on their fiftieth anniversary, which he described as an impressive milestone. The skill and craftsmanship of Irish designers and creators is renowned the world over, he said. The coming months give us an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the contribution our craftspeople make to Irelands economy and society as a whole. Malcolm Noonan, TD for Carlow/Kilkenny also welcomed the exhibition, saying: It is only fitting that DCCI celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its founding still based in the home of Kilkenny Design Workshops; continuing a tradition of craft and innovation that is firmly rooted here but distinctly international. Reliance and Chevron seek to loosen U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan oil - Chevron, Reliance meet with U.S. officials to discuss Venezuela - Topic of oil swaps that exchange crude for diesel is on agenda By Lucia Kassai/Bloomberg HOUSTON Petroleumworld 01 28 2021 Chevron Corp. and Reliance Industries Ltd. are meeting with U.S. State Department officials to request a rollback of some of the previo us administration's restrictions against Venezuela's oil industry. Representatives from the two companies are holding virtual discussions with officials this week, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isn't public. High on the agenda: reinstating transactions known as oil swaps that would allow companies to receive Venezuelan crude in exchange for supplying diesel, one person said. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela SA in early 2019, in an effort to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro from power by depriving his government of oil revenue. While some companies were still allowed to engage in limited dealings with the South American country, the swaps were nixed last October, said one of the people. Indian refiner Reliance is seeking to revive those swaps. Meanwhile, Chevron, for now, wants to build goodwill and remind officials of its commitment to remain in Venezuela, another person said. The oil giant currently has until June to wind down operations. The U.S. can't ban international companies from buying Venezuelan oil. It can, however, financially squeeze them by prohibiting them from doing business with American companies if they ignore sanctions. Reliance and Chevron requested meetings with the State Department even though some of the key decisionmakers, including assistant secretaries to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ray Fohr, a spokesperson for Chevron, said the company is in regular conversations with multiple agencies within the U.S. government to make sure laws are understood. Reliance and the State Department did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Venezuela is barely able to produce its own refined products because of widespread mechanical failures at refineries. Reliance is basing its request to resume oil swaps on the argument that the operations do not provide cash to the Venezuelan government but rather help lessen the humanitarian crisis there, one person said. Diesel is used in power generation, public transportation, agriculture and to deliver food and medicine. The resumption of oil swaps could allow Venezuela to boost oil production, said Scott Modell, managing director at Rapidan Energy Advisors LLC. Output, which is currently at between 400,000 and 500,000 barrels a day, could hit 750,000 barrels day if the Biden administration eases some of the sanctions, he said. ______________ By Lucia Kassai/Bloomberg bloomberg.com 01 27 2021 Copyright 1999-2021 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. Petroleumworld.com Copyright 2021 Petroleumworld. Envie esta nota a un amigo Sus comentarios son importantes para nosotros! Invitamos a todos los lectores a enviarnos sus comentarios y opiniones sobre este articulo. Escriba a editor@petroleumworld.com Twitter:@petroleumworld1 The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. A man who murdered his own daughter and her husband in a suspected honour killing will plead guilty to the shocking crime after dumping his bid to escape justice on mental impairment grounds. Lindita Musai had been trying to start a new life away from her father when she was cut down in a hail of bullets alongside her new husband Veton on New Year's Eve in 2019. Osman Shaptafaj, 55, was charged with two counts of murder by homicide squad detectives in Melbourne after making a miraculous recovery from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Osman Shaptafaj in a post from Facebook. He was said to have been estranged from his family when he gunned down his own daughter The Albanian Australian Islamic Society mosque in Carlton North on Saturday. Thousands lined the street to pay their respects to the deceased couple The couple married about a year before they were murdered but had been dating for at least five years Ms Musais father lived just 5km from the couple but was estranged from her and her mother amid accusations of turmoil within the family. He was found soon after the attack a block away with gunshot wounds to his head. On Friday, his barrister, James Fitzgerald, told the Supreme Court of Victoria his client would plead guilty to charges of murder. The backflip followed word from prosecutors that they would hotly contest an attempt by Shaptafaj to escape justice with a mental impairment bid. Psychiatrists acting for the Crown had dismissed claims the killer was unfit to plead to the crimes due to mental illness. Instead, the cold blooded killer will now face court again in May where he will plead guilty to murdering his daughter and her husband. Daily Mail Australia had been told all was not well in the Shaptafaj household. A devastated family member, who wished to remain anonymous, said at the time of the killing that Mrs Musai had endured a 'difficult' upbringing. The relative spoke out amid speculation the couple had become victims of some sort of honour killing. Osman Shaptafaj has been accused killing his daughter and her husband before turning the gun on himself Veton Musai, 29, succumbed to his injuries a day after his wife Lindita Osman Shaptafaj in another Facebook rant. He claimed Ms Masai's mother had separated from Shaptafaj about eight years ago after spending time in hospital. 'I'll just say it was nothing to do with his backgound or his beliefs, as he has no beliefs,' the man said of the attack. He claimed the killer struck in a last ditch effort to regain control over his daughter after she bravely turned him away to begin a peaceful life. 'It's really making me sick ... to be honest with you. Lindita and Veton were perfect, absolutely perfect,' he said. The relative said Lindita's mother had done her best to live in the unhappy household, but found the courage to leave after a stint in hospital. 'She was trying to keep the peace, to the point of leaving him, the house, the car and money not to put (him) on edge,' he said. The pair were attacked in their home in Yarraville, western Melbourne about 10.30am as 2019 came to a close. Osman Shaptafaj turned a gun on himself after killing his own daughter and her husband The couple were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the couple at the Albanian Australian Islamic Society mosque in Carlton North. They packed the mosque to pray and to listen to short eulogies given during the hour-long service. About three thousand more stood outside the mosque on the street to pay their respects. Ms Musai became the 266th Australian to be killed in 2019 - the last in Victoria - and the 72nd woman lost to violence last year. Mr Musai's brother Drilon paid tribute to the couple on Facebook at the time, expressing anger at their tragic deaths. 'Finally, hate killed beauty, a devil killed love! The Angels were shot smiling, That the monster didn't sleep!' he wrote. 'Veton, I am broken without you, The family is broken without you, but the memories we have of you will hold us together forever and help soothe these wounds. 'To everyone out there. Please remember Veton and Lindita for who they were, their love, their passion and their otherworldly presence, because to remember them for what happened is an injustice to love itself.' The couple reportedly had other guests at their home when the incident took place. They were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. A gun was found at the end of the street on public land. The couple had wed earlier this year and were allegedly shot on the front porch of their house Lindita Musai, 25, (pictured) was shot dead and her husband Veto Musai, 29, critically injured in a hail of bullets at their western Melbourne home A witness told Channel 7 in Melbourne he had seen a man come out of a bush and shoot himself in the head, fall to the ground, then get up again and shoot himself again. Mr Musai's cousin shared his grief on Facebook after the 29-year-old died in hospital 30 hours after he was shot. 'I don't know how to put the words together.. Allah knows best why things happen the way they do,' he started, before adding he 'can't even begin to explain' how he's feeling. 'The only thing keeping us strong is belief in God. 'May Allah bring the two gorgeous souls together again in Jannah.' The young couple had only been married a year, but had been a couple for at least five. Friends described their wedding as one of the 'best they'd ever been to'. 'Such a lovely couple, such a lovely family... One of the best weddings I've been to in Australia,' a friend of the family wrote on Facebook. Ms Musai was employed as a receptionist for real estate firm Colliers International in Melbourne's CBD while her husband worked at a nearby bank. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 When Precedents Are Lacking, Leadership Requires Universal Principles Jan. 27 , 2021 (EIRNS)There are no direct parallels in history for the present, said Russian President Vladimir Putin in his speech at Davos. However, some experts ... compare the current situation to the 1930s.... As you are aware, the inability and unwillingness to find substantive solutions to problems like this in the 20th century led to the World War II catastrophe. Will the growing tensions in the world reach a similar, and this time, final conclusion? Over the past few decades, living standards have, on the whole, improved, particularly when measured in terms of eradicating poverty, a process in which China has led the way. But the natural human tendency towards discovery, growth and development has been countered by a paradigm that seeks to send the human race backwards, to an economic platform capable of supporting only a billion people, using remarkably unproductive forms of powera paradigm that uses finance, coupled increasingly with spying, blackmail, and big tech as a means of supranational control. This paradigm has increasingly concentrated financial profits in the hands of the 1% (or the 0.1%), while the trans-Atlantic physical economy has declined dramatically compared to the growth rates of which it was capable. To this paradigm, there is no greater international threat than the meteoric growth of China, and that nations policy of exporting its infrastructural and manufacturing capabilities. Although efforts to contain Chinas growth (and efforts to curtail Russias independence) are doomed to fail, such efforts are still being made! Where could this lead us? Putin: There is a chance that we will face a formidable breakdown in global development, which will be fraught with a war of all against all and attempts to deal with contradictions through the appointment of internal and external enemies and the destruction of not only traditional values ... but fundamental freedoms. We have a shared responsibility to prevent this scenario. This means overcoming efforts to create enemies where they do not exist. In the United States, the leader of a supposedly pro-Trump group has been revealed to have been a prolific informant for law enforcement. How does this factor into investigations of the motivators of the Capitol break-in of Jan. 6? Legislation has been introduced into the House of Representatives to deny security clearances to anyone involved with conspiracy theories. (Who will define the term?) The tech giants continue to refine their censorship of opinions that run counter to those of the ruling elites, shutting down Twitter accounts, YouTube live streams, and social-media income for people who dare to buck the narrative of the legacy news media. Thousands of troops are to remain in Washington, D.C., at least through March. How would provocations similar to Jan. 6, but which might take place anywhere in the country, be used to advance an agenda of crushing free expression under the guise of defeating domestic terrorism? Internationally, the creation of enemies takes the form, most notably, in British-orchestrated attacks on Russia and China, to prevent those nations from cooperating with the United States. China has been accused of laying debt traps, of military expansionism, of deliberately spreading Covid-19, of genocide and assaults on democracy. The latest claims against Russia center around the preposterous botched poisoning of Alexey Navalny with a top-secret Russian poison that has a track record of being decidedly non-lethal. The attempt to use Navalnys arrest on re-entering Russia to shut down the Russia-Europe Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is meeting an icy response from the countries most involved. German firms and the German government are not pleased about unilateral sanctions from the U.S. against a project that is over 90% complete, was agreed to years ago, and has involved private investment and contracting work from dozens of companies and countries in Europe. The other live wire is Israel, which is loudly announcing its preparation of war plans against Iran, in the event that sanctions are removed under a return to the JCPOA. The greatest enemy image of all is that of a simple molecule, carbon dioxide. The most defamatory propaganda is being created to slander this friend of photosynthesis, and goals for decarbonizing the worlds economies are held up as the most saintly of aspirations. An executive order signed by President Biden on Jan. 27 expresses plans to put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050. While the emissions referred to here are of the CO2 variety, it is equally true that under such a regime, factories would not emit products, farms would not emit food with anything near the current level of productivity, and space rockets would be grounded, unable to emit their propellant. The contradictions between the urgent need for development and the barriers that CO2-reduction goals erect to achieving that development will become more and more apparent. The task lies to the LaRouche movement to unmask the deadly effects of the Great Reset, defeat the false enemy images created to confuse and perplex, and lay out the agenda for the Earths next fifty years. TEL AVIV - Fibres of fabrics coloured with royal purple from 3,000 years ago, dating to the time of King David and Solomon, were found in a wool production factory in the Timna Valley in Israel. Leading Israeli archaeologists hailed the discovery as important. It was made during recent excavations in the ancient bronze district in the Timna Valley, in the Negev not far from Eilat, the extreme point of the country. Timna is an exceptional archaeological complex of great natural beauty. The rare colour, a symbol of royal sacredness and obtained from a mollusk in the Mediterranean, was found in some fibres and in a tassel that date, according to radiocarbon analysis, to approximately 1,000 years before Christ, corresponding to the reigns of David and Solomon. Royal purple, the colour found in the fibres and tassel, is often mentioned in the Bible and in Jewish and Christian contexts, and this is the first time it has been found in Israel and the Southern Levant. "This is an important discovery," said Naama Sukenik of the Israel Antiquities Authority. "It is the first piece of purple-coloured fabric ever found from the times of David and Solomon. In antiquity, purple was associated with nobility, priests, and naturally kings. The stupendous tone of the purple colour, the fact that it doesn't fade, and the difficulty in producing it, giving the minimum quantities present in the organism of mollusks, made it often more costly than gold," Sukenik said. "Now for the first time, we have direct evidence of fabrics of this colour that have been preserved for 3,000 years". An interactive swine flu map has been developed for farmers to know if influenza is occurring in their region. The online tool, updated on a quarterly basis, shows the strains of swine flu detected on pig units by country and even by region. The free service is available in the United Kingdom and a number of different European countries. Since 2009, pandemic strains have been detected in pig herds, changing the dynamics on farms across the continent. Dr Kathrin Lillie-Jaschniski, a specialist veterinarian with Ceva, which developed the map, said it was an 'important' tool for the pig sector. She said the map would enable farmers and vets 'to make the correct diagnosis and decide upon the appropriate prevention and vaccination programme'. "It is important for veterinarians and farmers to know if influenza is occurring in their region and also the different strains, said Dr Lillie-Jaschniski added. To detect the virus, a variety of samples such as nasal swabs are taken in herds with acute clinical signs of flu, or those with persistent respiratory or reproductive symptoms, and are then analysed in laboratories. Evidence that classical and pandemic strains of flu are occurring in a particular region gives a strong signal that vaccination should be considered. "Pandemic strains can also spill over from pigs to humans and vice versa, so there is a public health aspect, too, said Dr Lillie-Jaschniski. Apart from the health aspect, swine flu can have serious economic consequences for a pig herd, especially if other respiratory infections are present." One French survey showed the cost of an outbreak in gilts was as much as 16 euros loss per gilt, while another study from Sweden calculated a loss of 77 euros per sow. Farmers and vets can use the interactive swine flu map on Ceva's website. Burma Ethnic Groups Demand Input in Myanmar Land Reforms A banana plantation in Waimaw Township, Kachin State, where land disputes with Chinese investors are common. / Nan Lwin / The Irrawaddy YANGON Development organizations and farming groups from ethnic minority areas have called on the government to postpone land reforms, saying they will crush indigenous peoples rights. After parliament resumes on Feb. 1, it is due to discuss a land law which has been planned since 2019 as a major reform for the new administration. Myanmars second investment policy review urged the government to enact land rights reforms to boost responsible foreign and domestic investment. Ethnic minority farmers and Kachin, Karen, Rakhine, Mon, Chin and Karenni development organizations have demanded that the new government postpone the reforms, saying the legislation was drafted by the central government and neglects traditional land use methods. Before the November general election, the National League for Democracy (NLD) launched a working plan to draft a national land law by mid-2021, calling on civil society organizations to help reform the National Land Use Council. Federal Ethnic Farmer Network spokesman U Aung Latt told The Irrawaddy that the groups helping to draft the law do not represent grassroots ethnic minorities. U Aung Latt is also a leader of Mungchying Rawt Jat, an organization which represents farmers affected by government development projects in Kachin State. A centralized land law will neglect peoples rights and disregard demands for federal reforms among ethnic minorities, U Aung Latt said. Customary tenure is widely used across the country, mostly in ethnic minority areas, where shared ownership of freehold land, community forest reserves and rotational farming are common. A lack of legal recognition of customary land use has left communities vulnerable to land grabs by the authorities and businesses. Ethnic minorities have long demanded recognition of customary land use as part of moves towards federalism. U Aung Latt called for a bottom-up governance approach with state governments drafting land laws, reflecting community practices. Amended in 2018 by the NLD government, the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law was strongly opposed by the ethnic groups for not recognizing customary rights. The government set a deadline for communities to register under the land law. Anyone found living on undesignated land without a permit after the deadline could face up to two years in prison. However, around 95 percent of people living on supposedly vacant land did not know about the law and most farmers missed the deadline, according to the Mekong Region Land Governance Project. The Transnational Institute reported that more than 19 million hectares have been designated as unused under the law, of which around 75 percent is in ethnic-minority areas, waiting to be handed over to business interests. Ethnic people are already suffering because of the law. We are worried the government will enact new land laws without listening to our voices again, U Aung Latt said. The government has formed working groups to collect public opinions as a part of efforts to draft the bill. Last week, Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo, who chairs the committee drafting the National Land Law, held a third meeting in Naypyitaw on the legislation. U Tun Tun Oo said working groups were unable to carry out field visits due to COVID-19. The Office of the Union Attorney-General has also received 172 suggestions from the public after inviting opinions through newspapers. U Tun Tun Oo said it is necessary to consider suggestions from the public and that the land rights of ethnic minorities must be recognized. An investment policy review also said reforms on complicated and conflicting land-governance issues would be one of the new governments major challenges. If unresolved, it said land issues would continue to have significant economic and political implications, including on the peace process. Nai Sawor Mon, coordinator of the Mon Region Land Policy Committee, said the government should build trust with ethnic communities by halting investment on customary land, adding that it should reduce centralization if the NLD genuinely supports federalism. You may also like these stories: In Pacified Eastern Myanmar, the Military Is Free to Pursue Its Agenda In Eastern Myanmar , the Karen Watch Over a Revolutionary Forest * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! (Natural News) An article penned by Joe Biden in 1992 reveals how long hes pledged allegiance to the New World Order system. (Article by Jamie White republished from Infowars.com) The Wall Street Journal op-ed, titled How I Learned to Love the New World Order, Biden, then a Delaware senator, explained his plans to cede Americas sovereignty to the United Nations and establish a one world government by breathing life into the U.N. Charter. Most Americans, myself included, reject 1930s-style isolationism. They expect to see the strong hand of American leadership in world affairs, and they know that economic retreat would yield nothing other than a lower standard of living, Biden wrote. They understand further that many security threats the spread of high-tech weapons, environmental degradation, overpopulation, narcotics trafficking, migration require global solutions. Watch this video compilation of Joe Bidens speeches discussing the New World Order and analyze his 1992 opinion editorial in the Wall Street Journal entitled, How I Learned to Love the New World Order. Biden explained that the New World Order is not as prosaic as empires past, preferring to assert its dominance through economic leverage rather than brute force. What about America as globocop? First, our 21st-century strategy has to be a shade more clever than Maos axiom that power comes from the barrel of a gun, Biden wrote. Power also emanates from a solid bank balance, the ability to dominate and penetrate markets, and the economic leverage to wield diplomatic clout. Bidens plan for America has been out in the open for decades: launch endless wars, surrender U.S. sovereignty to the U.N., and economically crush any nation that resists the globalist takeover. The Biden administration openly confirms former CIA John Brennans claim that Christians and Libertarians are being targeted by government agencies. Read more at: Infowars.com [January 28, 2021] Inszone Insurance Services Acquires Janette Ramsey Insurance Agency Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly growing national provider of personal and commercial lines insurance, announced today the acquisition of Janette Ramsey Insurance Agency. Janette Ramsey Insurance Agency founded by Janette Ramsey in 1997, becomes the latest in a string of acquisitions by Inszone Insurance in the state of California, helping to solidify Inszone's presence in the state. Following the transition, employees will continue operating under the Inszone Insurance brand, including former owner Janette Ramsey. "California is an important state for us, it's our home state, where everything begun, we want to ensure we are bringing agencies on board that will add to our company and help us grow and improve our offerings to California customers," said Norm Hudson, CEO of Inszone Insurance. "This is exactly what Janett Ramsey Insurance Agency will do for our agency, I am excited for the acquisition and excited to have Janette Ramsey stay on board and help us with the transition." With aggressive growth goals for 2021, Inszone Insurance is looking to start the year with a number of important acquisitions, which will be announced in the upcoming months. About Inszone: Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty and employee benefits solutions. With a strong and experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically as well as through acquisition. With fourteen locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, the company is looking to further expand regionally within the western United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005904/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lipsic and his security clearance raise eyebrows as special prosecutor vote nears The Labour Ministry helped Lipsic, the only non-prosecutor among candidates for special prosecutor. Font size: A - | A + After the general prosecutor was elected, the MPs will soon vote to fill another important post at the prosecution service. In order to fulfill the legal requirements to run, known lawyer and a favourite for the Special Prosecutor post, Daniel Lipsic, obtained the necessary security clearance with the help of his former political ally. Prosecutors Jan Santa, Peter Kysel, Vasil Spirko and lawyer Daniel Lipsic, the only non-prosecutor among the four, vie for the post. The election of the Special Prosecutor will follow after the public hearing of four candidates, expected to take place over the first two days of February. The path to the post opened for Lipsic after the lawmakers changed the legislation in 2020 to allow non-prosecutors to run for the post. But as a non-prosecutor, Lipsic faced an additional problem. Candidates for the top Special Prosecutor's Office job are required to have top-secret security clearance to apply. While the prosecutors who are running for the post can rely on the General Prosecutors Office to submit the application for the clearance for them, Lipsic had no such option. The law does not allow him to do it for himself, the Sme daily reported. Lipsic, who previously served as justice, interior minister and as a lawyer representing the Kuciak family in the murder of journalist case, obtained the clearance anyway. Labour Minister Milan Krajniak helped. The circumstances of how lawyer Daniel Lipsic gained his clearance have raised doubts about the interest of the candidate to act transparently under every circumstance, Katarina Batkova, director of the non-governmental transparency and judiciary fairness watchdog Via Iuris said, as quoted by TASR. Lipsic would have done better to point out the discriminatory conditions for candidates publicly, and seek a remedy to the problem, according to Via Iuris. The organisation also claimed that it is very non-transparent when the public learns about problems with candidacy and security clearances from media reports. No time for clearance 28. Jan 2021 at 14:50 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova - MedLumics is developing a unique real-time, optically-guided ablation catheter to improve treatment of Atrial Fibrillation by RadioFrequency Ablation and Pulsed Field Ablation - Presentation on Direct Lesion Assessment using Photonics during AF Ablation MADRID, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MedLumics, a privately held medical technology company developing AblaView, an optically-guided RadioFrequency (RF) catheter ablation system for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), announced today the first public communication on its technology using photonics during AF ablation at the upcoming 26th Annual International AF Symposium 2021, being held virtually from 29-31 January 2021. Renowned cardiologist Dr Atul Verma, FHRS, FRCPC, Director of Arrhythmia Services at Southlake Regional Health Care Centre in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada will present during Spotlight Session XXI: EARLY STAGE and EMERGING NEW TECHNOLOGIES and DRUGS in CARDIAC EP III on Sunday, 31 January at 2:40-3:40PM EST. The presentation, entitled 'Direct Lesion Assessment using Photonics during AF ablation', will cover the first preclinical use of MedLumics' biophotonic technology with RadioFrequency Ablation (RFA) and Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA). Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting an estimated 33 million people worldwide. AF recurrence remains high with more than 20% of patients undergoing repeat ablation within one year of initial treatment. Addressing an unmet clinical need, AblaView is the first imaging system to directly assess lesion creation, allowing the operator to confidently ascertain the stability of the contact and the positioning of the catheter on the atrial wall. Recent preclinical studies have been successful in demonstrating reliable monitoring of the continuity and transmurality of the cardiac tissue ablation in real-time. James Greene, CEO of MedLumics added: "MedLumics is tremendously honoured to have Dr Atul Verma presenting for the first time the application of Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Reflectometry (PS-OCR) to both RFA and PFA. Medlumics' optically guided technology, AblaView, enables the electrophysiologist to confirm device contact, stability and lesion assessment in real time. We are confident that our system shows great potential to support the electrophysiologist by providing critical information to make safe and efficient acute decisions that are necessary to improve the clinical outcomes of cardiac ablation. "We are working towards advancing this technology through first in human trials to develop a new standard of care for the treatment of cardiac arrythmias using radiofrequency and other energy sources." Dr Atul Verma commented: "In order to optimize our ablations for atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, we need to understand in real time how our lesions are forming. The key questions are whether the lesions are deep enough and whether we have had good contact with the tissue. "PS-OCR allows us to assess what is happening in the tissue in real time enabling us to titrate and optimize our deliveries to the right size and depth." Dr Verma is the head of the Heart Rhythm Program at Southlake Regional Health Center, Ontario, Canada and is an Associate Professor with the University of Toronto. He is also an Associate Scientist with the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at the university. His main interests are in the treatment of complex arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed publications including in the New England Journal of Medicine. The three-day virtual AF Symposium 2021 brings together the world's leading medical scientists to share, in a highly interactive environment, the most recent advances in the field of atrial fibrillation. This year, the AF Symposium will be streamed live and can be attended free of charge. To register for the event, please use this link. About MedLumics MedLumics SL, founded in Madrid in 2009, is a medical device company focused on the design and development of an optically guided radiofrequency ablation system for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). Its flagship product, AblaView, allows the operator to directly assess both the positioning of the ablation catheter on the myocardium and the continuity and transmurality of the ablation. Medlumics Ireland Ltd. is a subsidiary and IDA company developing automated optical sensor and packaging processes for high volume manufacture. www.medlumics.com Joe Evans Jr., the general manager of Beaumont Occupational Services, is the latest candidate to file for a seat on the Beaumont Independent School District board of trustees. Evans filed for the District 1 seat, which will be decided in the May election. Darrell Antwine, who currently holds the seat, announced at the end of 2020 that he would not seek reelection, citing the focus on politics by the board and community. Related: BISD cant send stadium name issue to voters Evans second newcomer to file in three of the four open positions, with only Tillie Hickman, a long-time educator who serves District 5, filing for re-election. Beaumont barber Stacey Lewis Jr. was the first to file, seeking the District 2 seat currently held by Zenobia Bush. Related: Beaumont barber announces BISD bid Bush recently said she would not seek re-election. Evans, who has three kids that attend Beaumont schools, has served numerous roles in the community, including as the chair of Beaumont Habitat for Humanity, an appointee on the Texas Council on Alzheimer's and a mentor in various capacities. I am passionate about education, Evans told The Enterprise. And I understand the oversight and fiduciary responsibility associated with being a board member, and Ive been blessed to build good community relationships. Evans hopes to build on the relationships he has formed through his various affiliations to speak to portions of the electorate and the community as a conduit for the superintendents vision. The Florida-native has lived in Beaumont for the last 16 years. He graduated from Florida A&M University in 2001 with a B.S. in History Education, and will graduate this spring with a masters in public health from Lamar University. This summer, he intends to start a masters program in education at Lamar. Priorities for Evans include increasing collaboration with the Beaumont City Council, elevating academic scores and making the path to trade school more efficient. I want to see more middle schoolers getting ready to go into trades and vocational studies, he told The Enterprise. And I also want to build the bridge between our city council and our board. I think we can foster good relationships and I know we will ultimately see success among our students. No candidate has filed yet to run for District 3, which is currently represented by Thomas Sigee. He did not respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Evans said that, if elected, he is excited for the opportunity to serve. I'm excited about working with other board members to collaborate on something innovative, to get our students at the academic level that they need to be and where I know they can be, he said. And I believe we're close to it. We just got to get the flag all the way up. And once we get it up, we got to keep it up. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW/ - Ensuring that young people and Canadian employers have the supports they need to succeed and stay strong is key to driving our communities forward as we begin economic recovery. Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced that the employer application period for the 2021 Canada Summer Jobs program is being extended until February 3, 2021, to allow more employers to apply for funding to hire young people. Not-for-profit organizations and private and public sector employers who have not already applied for funding are encouraged to do so today. The 2021 Canada Summer Jobs program has an important role to play in supporting employers and young people during these difficult times. The program strives to give young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 paid work opportunities so that they can grow professionally and improve their skills in the not-for-profit, small business and public sectors. It also supports the delivery of key community services to Canadians. For more information on how to apply for funding, please visit Canada.ca/Canada-summer-jobs. Applicants who are approved for funding will be able to hire youth as early as April 2021. Quote "Creating opportunities for young people to earn money, grow professionally and succeed in the workforce is more important now than ever. Young Canadians today face unparalleled challenges finding good-quality jobs that they are passionate about. The Canada Summer Jobs program presents tremendous opportunities for young people, and for employers who are looking to hire new workers. I invite all employers who have not yet done so to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for funding today." Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough Quick Facts Canada Summer Jobs 2021 will support the creation of up to 120,000 job opportunities for young Canadians. This represents a 50% increase from the 80,000 Canada Summer Job opportunities approved in 2020. 2021 will support the creation of up to 120,000 job opportunities for young Canadians. This represents a 50% increase from the 80,000 Canada Summer Job opportunities approved in 2020. According to recent data from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey of December 2020 , the youth unemployment rate was 17.7% higher than other age demographics. There were 247,000 fewer youth employed in December 2020 than 12 months earlier, including 153,000 young women and 94,000 young men. , the youth unemployment rate was 17.7% higher than other age demographics. There were 247,000 fewer youth employed in than 12 months earlier, including 153,000 young women and 94,000 young men. Similar temporary flexibilities to those introduced for Canada Summer Jobs 2020 have been applied this year to help employers operate. These include: an increased wage subsidy for private and public sector employers; an extension to the end date for employment to February 26, 2022 ; and ; and allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis. Private-sector small businesses with 50 or fewer employees and all public sector employers can receive funding for up to 75% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Not-for-profit employers will continue to receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage and mandatory employment-related costs. Employers interested in applying are invited to submit applications that complement this year's national priorities: organizations that provide services to or intend to hire youth who self-identify as being part of under-represented groups or as having additional barriers to entering or staying in the labour market; opportunities offered by organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities or intend to hire youth with disabilities; opportunities for youth in rural areas, remote communities or official language minority communities; opportunities offered by organizations that focus on protecting and conserving the environment; and opportunities offered by employers impacted by COVID-19, in particular small businesses, in recognition of their contribution to the creation of jobs. Related Products Associated Links Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Marielle Hossack, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected] Related Links www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 83F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 STAMFORD Point72, the Stamford hedge fund founded by billionaire investor Steven Cohen, is investing $750 million in a hedge fund run by a former colleague that has been rocked by the recent volatility of video game retailer GameStops stock. The Point72 investment in Manhattan-based Melvin Capital Management complements a $2 billion investment by Chicago-headquartered hedge fund Citadel, which also has offices in Greenwich. Both firms are taking a non-controlling revenue share in Melvin, according to an announcement released this week by the firms. Melvin founder and CEO Gabriel Plotkin served as one of the top portfolio managers at Point72s predecessor firm, SAC Capital Advisors, before he left to start Melvin. I've known Gabe Plotkin since 2006, and he is an exceptional investor and leader, Cohen said in a statement. We are pleased to have the opportunity to invest additional capital and take a non-controlling revenue share in Melvin Capital. Melvin has been acutely affected by some of its short investments, which had anticipated declining prices in the likes of GameStop. Undermining the short sellers strategy, GameStop shares have surged in recent days. Its shares closed Wednesday at about $348, rocketing 135 percent from Tuesday. Melvin closed out its short position in GameStop on Tuesday after sustaining a large loss, Plotkin told CNBC host and New York Times writer Andrew Ross Sorkin. Recent frenzy around the stock has been driven in large part by a Reddit message board, WallStreetBets, whose participants have rushed to invest in the company. Incidentally, GameStop has been implementing a plan to close hundreds of stores, with the shutdowns including its establishment at Stamford Town Center mall. The announcement of the Point72 and Citadel investments did not mention GameStop or any other companies in which Melvin has invested. I am incredibly proud to partner with (Citadel CEO and founder) Ken Griffin and Steve Cohen, Plotkin said in a statement. The team at Melvin is eager to get to work and reward the confidence of these two great investment icons. Until the recent fluctuations, Melvin had ranked among the top-performing funds on Wall Street. Gabe Plotkin and team have delivered exceptional results over the history of Melvin, Griffin said in a statement. We have great confidence in Gabe and his team. Point72 is widely believed to have been an early investor in Melvin, although Point72 has not confirmed the size of the previous investment. As of Oct. 1, 2020, Point72 operated with nearly $19 billion in assets under management. In addition to the their time working together at SAC Capital, Greenwich resident Cohen and Plotkin also share an interest in sports. Last year, Cohen acquired the New York Mets. In 2019, Plotkin agreed to purchase a stake in the NBAs Charlotte Hornets, which are majority-owned by Michael Jordan. Point72 is headquartered at 72 Cummings Point Road in Stamfords Waterside section. In the third quarter of 2020, it employed about 550 locally, ranking as the citys 14th-largest employer, according to Stamfords Office of Economic Development. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott Cabinet clears policy on PSU privatisation ahead of Union Budget The Union Cabinet has paved the way for the much-awaited policy on the privatisation of public sector undertakings (PSUs), and its details are expected to be announced in the Union Budget. The policy, which will lay out a road map for the presence of government-owned entities in strategic and non-strategic sectors, was taken up at the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday and was approved, said two government officials in the know. Read more IPOs off to best start in 12 yrs as Budget uncertainty spurs rush of ... Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said he was surprised upon hearing that his city logged one of the largest spikes in coronavirus cases in the past day, arguing their data showed less infections than the reported 121 count. "Nagulat nga kami, bakit umabot ng 121? Eh 20, 18 cases lang kami," Magalong told CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday. "Ang initial na report is 20 and then vina-validate 'yan, tapos bumaba ng 18. "I was really surprised. We're very transparent, we have the figures to show na talagang nasa 18 lang na cases kami kahapon," he stressed. [Translation: We were surprised how it reached 121. We were just at 20, 18 cases. The initial report is 20, and then it was validated, it decreased to 18. I was really surprised. We're very transparent, we have the figures to show that were were only at 18 cases yesterday.] The Health Department's COVID-19 case tally on Wednesday showed the cities of Baguio and Cebu recorded the biggest increase in infections with 121 each. New cases nationwide reached 2,245, which was also the highest single-day rise since November 8. Magalong said he has asked Baguio's local health officials about the matter, but the authorities were also clueless regarding the released data. The DOH, for its part, clarified that the number of cases reflected in its daily bulletin are data submitted to the agency two days prior not on the day itself. This means that the number of cases in the Jan. 27 case bulletin are from reports submitted last Jan. 25, the agency said in a statement. It added that the numbers cited by Baguio health authorities would have to be validated and will be reflected in the Jan. 29 tally. The agency stressed that all data submitted undergo rigorous validation to ensure data accuracy prior to publication. Meanwhile, Magalong said the city will be implementing tight measures, including stricter border control, amid the presence of the UK variant in the northern region. A health worker carries out a COVID-19 testing at the Merrylands drive-through clinic on Jan. 7, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) Australia Ranks Eighth Globally for COVID-19 Response Management Australia has been ranked eighth place globally for its effective handling of the CCP virus with New Zealand claiming the top spot. The COVID performance index, released today by Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute, compared and ranked the handling of COVID-19 by 98 countries based on publicly available data. Australia was surpassed by New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Cyprus, Rwanda and Iceland. Majority of the top-ranking countries were those with smaller populations, except Vietnam, which has a population of 96 million people and Thailand with a population of almost 70 million. Authors of the research project, Alyssa Leng and Herve Lemahieu, found that population size revealed the most significant differences in countries experiences when combatting the CCP virus. India, the worlds second most populated country was ranked 86th, one place after Indonesia, the worlds fourth most populous country. The worlds most populous country, China, where the virus originated from, was not measured due to lack of publicly available data. The report ranked the United States 94th, as data showed around one-fifth of global COVID-19 document deaths are from America. This puts the country as the lowest-ranked developed nation. Coming in last was Brazil, where a new virus variant was recently discovered. Smaller countries (with populations of fewer than 10 million people) proved more agile than the majority of their larger counterparts in handling the health emergency for most of 2020, wrote Leng and Lemahieu. While Australia has a population much larger than 10 million, being an island country was an advantage when facing the virus. Lemahieu told ABC radio that Australia was unique because the way states handled their response made it appear as if there were six or seven independent countries. With strict state border closures, populations were geographically divided, which is a luxury that [other countries] cant afford Lemahieu continued. Rankings were based on the 14-day rolling averages of six health indicators over 36 weeks till Jan. 9. These indicators are: Confirmed cases Confirmed deaths Confirmed cases per million people Confirmed deaths per million people Confirmed cases as a proportion of tests Tests per thousand people. Economic performance was not measured. However, Gigi Foster, a professor at the University of New South Wales School of Economics, believes the use of deaths per million people as an indicator is flawed due to differing definitions of COVID death across countries. Foster also noted that the authors approached this with the assumption that government actions have directly impacted containing the virus. In fact what seems to be the case if you look at the data is that regardless of what governments have done, the virus has followed a path that was basically unrelated to decisions about lockdowns and other blanket restrictions of liberties, Foster told The Epoch Times. Its far more related to things like geography, underlying population health levels, demography, and seasonality. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson put England on notice that the national lockdown will continue for at least another six weeks, with schools staying closed and new border quarantine rules coming into force. A day after the British death toll passed 100,000, Mr Johnson said his government will review the impact of pandemic measures and the effectiveness of the vaccine programme in mid-February. But the soonest restrictions could begin to be eased and schools fully reopened is March 8, he said, and some rules will be tightened. In an attempt to stop dangerous mutant strains of the virus entering the UK, new 10-day hotel quarantine measures will be imposed on all passengers arriving from Covid hot spots such as South America, South Africa and Portugal. Expand Close It wasnt bad luck: Labour leader Keir Starmer. Photo: House of Commons/PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp It wasnt bad luck: Labour leader Keir Starmer. Photo: House of Commons/PA Everyone yearns to know how much longer we must endure these restrictions, with all their consequences for jobs, livelihoods and most tragically of all, the life chances of our children, Mr Johnson told Parliament. We will not persist for a day longer than is necessary, but nor can we relax too soon. We have one of the highest death rates in the world, said Labour Party and opposition leader Keir Starmer. The truth is this was not inevitable, it wasnt just bad luck. Its the result of a huge number of mistakes by the prime minister during the course of this pandemic. Read More Mr Johnson rejected a call from Tory colleague Steve Brine to consider opening some schools before March 8. This is about as fast as we think we can prudently go, the prime minister said. While the lockdown appears to have curbed the spread of infections, we do not yet have enough data to know exactly how soon it will be safe to reopen our society and economy, he said. The UK is three weeks into its third national lockdown, with tens of millions of workers ordered to stay home. Since then, the government has committed almost 300bn (340bn) to emergency support for the economy. Britain has suffered the fifth-highest death toll in the world and the heaviest economic hit of any G7 nation. In recent weeks, Mr Johnsons administration has focused on a mass vaccination programme that aims to provide shots to the 15 million most vulnerable people and carers by February 15. Once that goal has been achieved, ministers will consider if and how restrictions can safely begin to be eased. We remain in a perilous situation, Mr Johnson said. The spread of a more contagious and potentially more deadly new strain had set back the governments ambitions for reopening the economy in the spring, he said. Ministers have been debating border measures including quarantining all arrivals in hotels. In the end, the prime minister announced a more limited policy aimed at arrivals from specific countries thought to be most at risk of carrying a new variant of the disease. Extra police will be stationed at ports and airports to stop Britons leaving the UK to go on holiday or for any other non-essential reason, Home Secretary Priti Patel said. Anyone who does not have a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home. Rights of 300,000 Canadians At Risk as Hong Kong Cracks Down on Dual Citizenship Canada is growing more concerned about the rights and safety of 300,000 Canadians citizens living in Hong Kong, following reports of the territorys crackdown on dual citizenship. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) does not recognize dual citizenship under its Nationality Law, and it is now looking at enforcing the regulation in Hong Kong. Chinese nationals who hold Canadian passports are considered only as Chinese citizens, and are not entitled to Canadian consular protection unless they declare a change of nationality. But once making the change, they risk losing the rights to live and work in the territory. After Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule, the former British colony enjoyed relative autonomy under the constitutional principal One country, two systems. But Beijing has been tightening its grip on the territory, particularly with the draconian national security law took effect on June 30, 2020. This is another important development potentially because it looks as if China is now applying its citizenship law to Hong Kong and forcing people to declare who they are, Guy Saint-Jacques, the former Canadian ambassador to China, told the National Post, which first reported the Hong Kong governments plan to remove dual citizenship. This is another important development potentially because it looks as if China is now applying its citizenship law to Hong Kong and forcing people to declare who they are, said Guy Saint-Jacques. It is something that will have to be watched. The potential impacts of this regulation can be drawn from the case of Sun Qian, a Chinese-Canadian who was sentenced to eight years in prison for her practice of Falun Gong, a Buddhist cultivation. The Epoch Times reported that Sun has renounced her Canadian citizenship under suspected torture. The Canadian government should still see her as a Canadian citizen, should call for her immediate release, and for the Chinese authorities to cease and desist from all forms of torture and abuse, former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler said in an earlier interview. On Nov. 12, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced measures to support Hong Kong residents to come to Canada. However, these new measures offer limited pathways for Hong Kong youth to apply for study or work permits, and later for permanent residence. The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration heard suggestions to broaden the pathway to allow more Hong Kong residents to come to Canada during a Jan. 27 committee meeting. MP Raquel Dancho said pathways offered by the Canadian government is mostly limited to people who will make Canada the most money when they come here, and yet ignoring all these blue-collar workers. They are saying that you [Hong Kong residents] can come here as students, and thats true, but then when you come here as students, they expect you to pay the international student tuition fees, which I am sure a lot of these individuals, including some who were 12 or 13 year-old when they were arrested last year [by Chinese authorities], may not have money to do so, Avvy Yao-Yao Go, director of Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, said at the committee hearing. That option is just not open to them. Its important that we recognize that if these are activiststhe reason why they leave Hong Kong is because of their political beliefsthen we should just treat them as people who are almost like asylum seekers, she said. Dancho said the major developments that jeopardize the rights of Hong Kong residents calls for an amendment to the report by the sub-committee, but the Liberal MPs voted to delay the debate until Feb. 1. If suckler farming is to survive in Ireland, surely one of the things that must happen is that it starts making the kind of production gains seen in other sectors. In sheep, for example, if a flock of ewes were scanned at an average of 1.5 lambs, that would have been considered very respectable. But now, its not unusual for flocks to scan close to two lambs or even better. That equates to an extra 40-50 lambs in a 100-ewe flock. These gains are down to improved management and improved breeding selection. Sheep farmers realised a long time ago that ewe lambs that were themselves twins were more prolific as flock replacements than ewe lambs who were singles. Dairying has made staggering gains in milk yield per cow. When we joined the EU, average cow yields were less than 3,000 litres per annum. Now multiples of that are not unknown. Over the same time frame, the pig and poultry industries have also made staggering production gains, especially in food conversion efficiency and the reduction in age of slaughter. Management and schemes In suckling, there have been some production gains but, to my mind, this is primarily driven by improved management practices. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure. Setting up of paddock systems and roadways and strategically placed water troughs, the norm on dairy farms for many years, are now becoming commonplace on many beef farms. Feeding and nutrition have also improved, with the focus on good pasture management and the making of quality silage the bedrock of a lot of beef farms. Schemes like the BEEP and the BDGP are a step in the right direction as they are focused on the efficiency of the suckler cow. But we have been slow to the party in terms of improvements on the breeding side and I have often wondered why. Support payments Support payments have been a part of beef production since the early days of the EU. They have, without doubt, kept farms afloat. But, looking at where we are now, is it possible that when premia were linked to the animals (pre-decoupling) that the industry became stagnated. What I mean by that is the premium status of the animal became more important than the attributes of the animal itself. In that environment, breeding gains werent a national priority. Here on this farm, we were no different to anyone else, when premiums were coupled, we claimed every premium we were eligible for. Things began to change after de-coupling was introduced. Like a lot of people, we started to focus more on the characteristics of the suckler cows that we had rather than their number. At that stage, this meant the breed type of cow was basically all over the place. There was no specific breed, they were a mixum-gatherum sourced in the marts, pedigree unknown. A percentage turned out to be excellent cows, a percentage turned out to be average and a percentage was poor. After trial and no small amount of error, we eventually evolved into a herd of mostly Limousin cows. Autumn calving We felt they were best suited to our system, which was primarily spring-calving at the time. A major turning point came when we realised that increasing numbers of these cows were calving late April/early May. We were ending up with young calves that were barely fit to be weaned by the winter. They were falling a year behind their companions that were a couple of months older. We selected a batch out of what we thought were the best late-calving cows and only let the bull to them in October, so they calved the following August. That was our first step into autumn-calving and, over a period of a few years, we moved entirely over to this system. We have found that autumn calving really suits us and this farm. One of the big things we realised is that losses at calving and the first month of life were significantly lower with this system. When we were calving indoors in January-March a lot of calves were four to six weeks old when they were going to the field and we were running into respiratory and scour issues. Live calf survival rate At an industry level, I believe that the survival rate of live calves at 28 days has massive room for improvement. But we need more. Currently, at national level, we are struggling to produce nine calves from every 10 suckler cows We need to become more ambitious - why should it not be possible that 10pc twins would become the norm for a suckler herd? Just imagine that: for every 10 cows, you could have 11 calves. I dont know how this can be achieved. I dont even know if it can be achieved. But we will certainly never achieve it without the ambition. Robin Talbot farms in Ballacolla, Co. Laois, in partnership with his mother Pam and wife, Ann. ALBANY State lawmakers and others reacted swiftly and harshly to a scathing attorney general's report issued Thursday faulting New York for underreporting deaths of nursing home residents and finding widespread safety breakdowns that could have increased the risk of residents and staff contracting the coronavirus. The release of the 76-page report came as a surprise to many lawmakers, who have for months been seeking detailed data from the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo regarding deaths of nursing home residents. That push in recent days has included urging from state legislators to invoke their subpoena power to compel Cuomo's administration to provide that information. Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt called for the resignation of health Commissioner Howard Zucker in the wake of the attorney general's report. "For months, Gov. Cuomo and his administration have refused to be transparent or take any responsibility for actions they have taken during this public health crisis including the deadly March 25, 2020 order to send COVID-positive patients into nursing homes," he said in an emailed statement. "By underreporting COVID deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent, the Department of Health has betrayed the public's trust." Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she is reviewing the report from Attorney General Letitia James' office. "The tragic situation in our nursing homes remains a heartbreaking reminder of the toll this pandemic took on this state," Stewart-Cousins said. "Nothing will bring back our loved ones that we lost but it is crucial that information guides our responses so this will not happen again." Glenville Republican Sen. Jim Tedisco said the attorney general's report "lifts the veil"over the early handling of COVID-19 infections in nursing homes, but he also expressed concern that the report may not compel state officials to provide the information lawmakers are still seeking. "We've got to get the real numbers and the metrics of when these deaths happened," Tedisco said. "If we can't do that, we have to have the ability to subpoena. Sen. (James) Skoufis coming out with a veiled threat of using subpoena power if he doesn't, that's a cover-up for the commissioner and (the Department of Health)." Tedisco was critical of Skoufis not having exercised the subpoena power already, noting that he first called on his colleagues to do so in September. Skoufis, a Hudson Valley Democrat, has not been shy about using his committee's subpoena power; it was most recently used to compel testimony of real estate agents and brokers on Long Island who were accused of discriminatory housing practices. He has said he would consider subpoenas on state officials should questions not be answered, but noted that it would require support from the majority conferences and leadership. Skoufis said the findings, "while disturbing, are unsurprising," and validate what many already suspected was going on. He said the report underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the health department. "As I commented earlier this week, the (Department of Health) commissioner's unresponsiveness to the Legislature's many questions and concerns is insulting and unacceptable," he said. "While his next appearance before the Legislature was delayed until late February, it is my full expectation that he provides answers by the time of his testimony, otherwise he can anticipate an unpleasant and uncomfortable hearing. Without answers by then, I will support a move to compel the information from DOH. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who ran for governor on the Republican line in 2018, applauded the attorney general for acting independently to expose the truth about the nursing home policy but emphasized that an independent investigation still is needed. "'Incompetent government kills people' and we now finally know just how many in our nursing homes," Molinaro said, referring to a recent statement Cuomo made blaming the administration of President Donald J. Trump for New York's COVID-19 deaths. "This is an important start, but we need the whole truth and an independent investigation into the policy and coverup must be pursued." U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, also weighed in on the attorney general's report, alleging that it shows there has been a "massive corruption and coverup scandal." "Every New Yorker deserves transparency, accountability and answers regarding the orchestration of this illegal coverup," she said in an emailed statement. "I am calling on the New York attorney general and the U.S. Department of Justice to issue subpoenas immediately of Gov. Cuomo and his entire staff on all documentation and internal and external communications, including with any and all associations and lobbyists who have direct ties to the governor's senior team related to this corrupt and illegal coverup." Democratic federal lawmakers representing New Yorkers also called the report disturbing and called for a "full investigation." U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is hoping to be seated on the Senate Aging Committee and she plans to call for the committee to hold hearings and a full investigation on nursing home deaths in New York and across the country and keeping the elderly safer. I dont think New York was isolated. I think this disease went like wildfire through assisted living communities across the country, across the globe," she said. "I would like to have hearings on how we can improve the care older Americans are getting, especially during the pandemic. So I want to do a full investigation in the Aging Committee about whats happened across the country and what we can do to keep our older Americans safer. U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, characterized the report as disturbing and he underscored the need to get a real handle on how that could happen. He said there is a need for accurate information to assess what happened in New York and what may have unfolded in other states too. It is incumbent upon us to do the work of unpacking the truth and getting to the bottom of how this magnitude of inaccuracy and miscalculation can occur particularly when it is a matter of life or death," Delgado said. Bill Ferris, AARP New York's legislative director, said in an interview: "If this is not a wake up call for elected officials in New York, AARP doesnt know what is." Ferris, whose 38-million-member national organization advocates on behalf of people over 50 years old, called the state's significant undercounting of nursing home fatalities "extremely troubling." He also pointed to portions of James' report stating that nursing homes lacked sufficient infection control protocols; describing insufficient testing and personal protective equipment; communication breakdowns between facilities and the families of residents; inadequate staffing; and the governor and Legislature's shielding of nursing homes from lawsuits that could otherwise be filed by grieving families. "What has occurred in nursing homes during this pandemic cannot happen again, and AARP is very grateful that the attorney general has really brought this issue front and center, especially at a time when something can be done," Ferris said. "All these problems can be addressed in the New York state budget and they should be." Chris Bragg contributed reporting for this story. 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. We have a full toolkit and a team necessary for political struggle, he said in a televised interview publicized late on Wednesday. Kocharian indicated that he continues to believe that such elections must take place after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians resignation and a certain time lag. But if the authorities manage to force the elections sooner -- and they seem to have enough votes in the parliament -- I dont think that not participating [in them] will be right. I think that participating will be right. Or else, we will enable these people [in power] to reestablish their rule, he told three media outlets. Pashinian expressed readiness late last month to hold fresh parliamentary elections after weeks of street protests staged by a coalition of 17 opposition parties blaming him for Armenias defeat in the autumn war with Azerbaijan. They want him to resign and hand over power to an interim government that would organize the polls within a year. The opposition alliance called the Homeland Salvation Front has rejected Pashinians offer until now, saying that the country is not prepared for the vote now and that the authorities would rig it. Some of its leaders have already called for an election boycott. Kocharian, who has backed the anti-government protests, said he shares the opposition concerns. But if these people [in power] do not understand that holding elections in these conditions would be dangerous for the country and take that step after all, I dont think leaving them alone with the public in the elections will be right. That is why we will participate [in the elections] and win. The 66-year-old ex-president, who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, shed no light on the likely composition of his electoral team. Nor did he say if he will top its list of election candidates and aspire to the post of prime minister. Kocharian has been at loggerheads with Pashinians government ever since it took office following the Velvet Revolution of April-May 2018. He was arrested in July 2018 on coup charges rejected by him as politically motivated. Kocharian was released on bail in June 2020 pending the outcome of his ongoing trial. The trial resumed on January 19 nearly four months after being effectively interrupted by the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hrachya Hakobian, a pro-government lawmaker and Pashinians brother-in-law, scoffed at Kocharians political ambitions on Thursday, saying that the ex-president stands no chance of winning the elections. Our people have already seen ten years of Kocharians rule, the political and other murders committed during Kocharians rule, he told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Hakobian said Pashinians My Step bloc can win the polls despite the outcome of the war. Whatever government was in power, this war would have taken place and we would have lost it, he claimed, laying the blame on the countrys former rulers. In his latest interview, Kocharian again harshly criticized Pashinians handling of the six-week hostilities that left at least 3,500 Armenian soldiers dead. He also accused Pashinian of severely jeopardizing Armenias national security and effectively turning the country into a Russian protectorate. Vendor Support Ease of IT Administration Breadth and Quality of Features Ease of Implementation Learning and development "Peer reviews have become the go-to resource for buyers wanting to make informed decisions based on real-world experiences of customers like them," said James Norwood, chief marketing and strategy officer at isolved. "Our top scores prove that customers not only trust our technology to provide a compelling, cohesive and compliant employee experience, but also our services to help them reduce risk and accomplish their goals. It's really good to see isolved's support rated higher than 14 other major vendors in this space." With 56 percent of full-time employees indicating that "employee experience" will be more important to them in 2021 than any previous year according to a recent isolved survey, it's increasingly important for human resources to invest in an HCM platform with a breadth of features that will help manage that employee experience from hire to retire. Equally important, however, is the support that teams receive as they implement, integrate and ideate. "isolved's HCM platform, People Cloud, is particularly attractive for small to medium-sized businesses that are seeking to customize their HCM solutions and place a high value on customer service," said Rebecca Factor, senior research analyst at Info~Tech. "According to SoftwareReviews data, 99 percent of isolved users plan to renew, stating service experience sentiments that were overwhelmingly positive. Finding a vendor that centers around customer support is integral to the success of your HCM platform." Download the "2021 SoftwareReviews Human Capital Management Data Quadrant" report to learn more about isolved's Gold medal award and Leader position. About isolved isolved is an employee experience leader, providing intuitive, people-first HCM technology. Our solutions are delivered directly or through our partner network to more than five million employees and 145,000 employers who use them every day to boost performance, increase productivity, and accelerate results while reducing risk. Our HCM platform, isolved People Cloud, seamlessly connects and manages the employee journey across talent management, HR & payroll, workforce management and engagement management functions. No matter the industry, we help high-growth organizations employ, enable and empower their workforce by transforming employee experience for a better today and a better tomorrow. For more information, visit www.isolvedhcm.com. Media Contact Amberly Dressler Director of Brand and Content [email protected] 704.313.1735 SOURCE isolved Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The battle between small-time traders and hedge funds that has shaken U.S. and European stock markets moved into Asia on Thursday, with surges in several Australian companies squeezing another batch of financial institutions that have bet on the stocks falling. In Europe, where the trend has already shown up in a jump in the value of Finnish technology company Nokia Oyj, shares in the video game chain at the centre of the U.S. action, GameStop, dipped 16%. That move, roughly in line with an overnight fall in New York and derivatives market changes, suggested at least a pause in a ... (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia today demanded an international inquiry into the violence in Delhi on Republic Day. "Only an international inquiry can expose the anti-social elements that had already been named by the independent media. Central agencies cannot do this probe as they are apparently involved in sabotaging the Kisan Andolan and ensuring that farmers and 'khet mazdoor' do not get their just dues," said Majithia, former minister, while interacting with the media. He said that the intentions of people involved in vandalism became clear the moment they took over the stage at the Singhu border and incited people to resort to violence. "It is surprising that law enforcement agencies did not deign it fit to act against them immediately. It is even more bizarre that the same persons were given a free run to enter the Red Fort which is otherwise impossible to even approach due to heavy security deployment. The fact that the government did not even react to the developments yesterday had made it clear that the acts of violence were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy," Majithia said. He asserted that the SAD stands with farmers and will continue to fight for the cause of the farming community which includes ensuring the repeal of three contentious agricultural laws and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report. "We will ensure the sacrifice of eighty martyrs who laid down their lives in the cause of the Kisan Sangharsh does not go in vain," he added. The SAD leader also condemned the violence in Delhi on January 26 and said that it should not be used as an excuse to scuttle the farmers' genuine demands. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan said on Thursday it will procure a majority of 120 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine from domestic makers, as production problems overseas have raised concerns over timely distribution. AstraZeneca has scaled back supplies it had promised to the European Union and Australia. Thailand also confirmed this week reduced supply from AstraZeneca. The British-Swedish company confirmed to Japan's health ministry that more than 90 million doses will be produced within the country, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on Thursday. "We believe it is very important to be able to produce the vaccines domestically," Kato told reporters. Japan has arranged to buy 120 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, with Daiichi Sankyo Co, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co and other local partners agreeing to make and distribute the shots. While AstraZeneca began Japanese trials of the vaccine last summer, earlier than Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine, it has not yet filed for Japanese approval of its formula, leaving the rival shot the only one currently under review in the country. AstraZeneca did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters for comment. Japan plans to begin its inoculation push in late February, with the Pfizer vaccine for front-line medical workers. The country trails most major economies in starting inoculations due its dependence on overseas makers and a requirement that the vaccines go through domestic trials. Japan faces major logistical hurdles that some experts say will make it difficult for it to vaccinate a large portion of its population ahead of the planned start of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo from July. (Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Raju Gopalakrishnan) During yesterday's Financial Conference Call, Apple's CEO Tim Cook stated that "Tomorrow is International Privacy Day, and we continue to set new standards to protect users right to privacy, not just for our own products, but to be the ripple in the pond that moves the whole industry forward. Yesterday Facebook's CEO lashed out at Apple during their Quarterly Earnings call by accusing Apple of squashing competition under the guise of privacy protection. Zuckerberg ranted on about Apple becoming one of Facebook's "biggest competitors" and more. Back in October 2020 Patently Apple posted a report titled "A Coalition of Trade Groups in online Advertising including Le Monde, Google & Facebook have filed an Antitrust Complaint against Apple." Why Mr. Zuckerberg believes that secretly tracking consumers every move to assist advertisers is okay is mind boggling. All he thinks about is losing advertising revenue with no regard to protecting consumer privacy. With that said, Apple posted a press release this morning stating that "Data Protection Day is a time to raise awareness about the importance of protecting peoples personal information online. Apple is commemorating Data Privacy Day by sharing "A Day in the Life of Your Data," an easy-to-understand report illustrating how companies track user data across websites and apps. The report also shares how privacy features across Apples products give users more transparency and control, empowering people with the tools and knowledge to protect their personal information. Statement by Craig Federighi, Apples senior vice president of Software Engineering: "Privacy means peace of mind, it means security, and it means you are in the drivers seat when it comes to your own data. Our goal is to create technology that keeps peoples information safe and protected. We believe privacy is a fundamental human right, and our teams work every day to embed it in everything we make." "A Day in the Life of Your Data" helps users better understand how third-party companies track their information across apps and websites, while describing the tools Apple provides to make tracking more transparent and give users more control. The explainer sheds light on how widespread some of these practices have become. On average, apps include six trackers from other companies, which have the sole purpose of collecting and tracking people and their personal information. Data collected by these trackers is pieced together, shared, aggregated, and monetized, fueling an industry valued at $227 billion per year. (Click on image to Enlarge) Last year, as part of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple launched a number of important privacy features intended to help users make more informed decisions about their data. Two in particular have the potential to make a big difference in helping users protect their privacy: With the new privacy information section on App Store product pages, a feature called the privacy nutrition label, Apple is requiring every app including its own to give users an easy-to-view summary of the developers privacy practices. Every product page on the App Store includes standardized, easy-to-read information based on the developers self-reported data practices. The privacy nutrition labels give users key information about how an app uses their data including whether the data is used to track them, linked to them, or not linked to them. And starting soon, with Apples next beta update, App Tracking Transparency will require apps to get the users permission before tracking their data across apps or websites owned by other companies. Under Settings, users will be able to see which apps have requested permission to track, and make changes as they see fit. This requirement will roll out broadly in early spring with an upcoming release of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and tvOS 14, and has already garnered support from privacy advocates around the world. (Click on image to Enlarge) Privacy organizations praise Apples leadership: Gus Hosein, Privacy International: "PIs investigations into data brokers and ad tech companies reveal a complex, fast-growing industry that is opaque to the average user. Where there is a lack of transparency, exploitation thrives. Invisible and gratuitous data collection leaves users unable to exercise their rights and protect their privacy. Apples nutrition labels require industry to be clear and upfront with consumers, and tools like App Tracking Transparency will help people to assert control over the invisible leakage of their data. With these commendable innovations, industry will finally feel pressure to change. Consumer awareness and technical solutions are important parts of the solution, but in order to prevent a cat-and-mouse game between industry actors, we need substantive, enforceable regulation to stop this exploitation of our data." Jeff Chester, Center for Digital Democracy: "Apples new data privacy tools ensure that people have greater control over their personal information. Data brokers and online advertisers will now have to act more responsibly when dealing with consumers who use third party applications on Apple devices." Michelle Richardson, Center for Democracy and Technology: "Too often, consumers are unknowing participants in a web of data tracking and targeting. These changes will help rebalance the ecosystem so that data collection and sharing is more transparent and tracking is no longer the default. Systemic change of this breadth is a huge leap forward for consumers." Tristan Harris, Center for Humane Technology: "Todays Apple announcement moves the ecosystem further away from the malicious effects of secretive profiling and microtargeting that enable many of the problems outlined in The Social Dilemma." Awareness of industry practices like data tracking is only the first step toward a better privacy experience. Users also need the features and controls to decide how their data is used, and by whom. Apple has led the industry by building privacy protections into every one of its products and services. For years, Apple has introduced dozens of technologies that safeguard user privacy and help keep users data safe. For example, Safari was the first browser to block third-party cookies by default as far back as 2005. In iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, Safari added Intelligent Tracking Prevention to further limit tracking while still enabling websites to function normally. In 2018, Apple introduced protections to prevent companies from fingerprinting Mac a practice in which third parties try to identify users devices based on data like fonts and plug-ins. These technologies represent only a small selection of the many privacy features and controls Apple has introduced across its products. For more information, visit Apples privacy website. Later today Apple's CEO is to speak at the EU data protection conference CPDP 2021. (Click on image to Enlarge) Half of all passengers who arrived into Ireland on Tuesday were Irish people returning from holidays, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. Speaking at a private meeting of his parliamentary party, Mr Martin said that of 800 people who came into the country by air, 542 were Irish and 397 were on holidays. He said that on foot of RTE Primetimes report on Tuesday which showed planeloads of holidaymakers returning from holiday destinations, a greater Garda presence will be deployed to combat such behaviour. Mr Martin reportedly told his TDs and Senators that people travelling for holidays will face tough sanctions. Northern Ireland alignment Speaking at the meeting, Mr Martin said the Government decided to extend level 5 restrictions until March 5 to ensure theres alignment with Northern Ireland. He said the Government strategy is to get prolonged suppression of the virus and that the Covid numbers are declining steeply. We need to keep the pressure on the virus and do what it takes to keep the virus down. The vaccine rollout will pick up in quarter 2, he said. We need to take the pressure off frontline workers, our hospitals and our nursing homes, he added. In terms of enforcement, he said the Government is tightening list of exemptions on essential workers for travel. He said Garda presence is increasing checkpoints at ports and airports. He also said legislation on travel is being drafted and regulations are being progressed this week. Mr Martin said half of health workers have received the vaccine and the rest are being prioritised along with the next cohort incorporating the over 70s as per the sequencing. The country will reopen in time but it is key to suppress the virus and get a critical mass of the population vaccinated. Ireland is in regular contact with companies to make sure we have a timely supply of the vaccine, he said. Leaving Cert On the Leaving Cert, Mr Martin said: We need to give a minister Foley space to work with partners in education. The meeting also heard from 13 aspirant candidates who are seeking to contest upcoming byelections for two Seanad vacancies caused by the resignations of Fine Gaels Michael DArcy and Sinn Feins Elishia McCallion. Those addressing the party were: Uruemu Adejinmi, Kate Feeney, Trevor Gilligan, ex sen Gerry Horkan, Bernard McGrath, Rita McInerney, Shane Moynihan, Michael Naughton, Ed OBrien, Kevin OKeefe & Margaret Murphy OMahony, and Michael Sheehan and Joe Sheridan. In her address, Longford County Councillor Ms Adejinmi said: Adejinmi is not a common Irish name but nor were de Valera, Lemass nor Marckievicz. Sheridan Peterson, long considered a suspect in the D.B. Cooper skyjacking case, died Jan. 8 in northern California, according to memorials website Legacy.com. He was 94. The California native served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and later worked as a technical editor at Boeing, the aerospace manufacturer based in Seattle. He also was an experienced smokejumper. He loved skydiving and taking physical risks, even reportedly experimenting with homemade bat wings. These were keys reasons his name has flitted for years around internet message boards devoted to the D.B. Cooper case, the only unsolved skyjacking in U.S. history. A man using the name Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305 out of Portland on Nov. 24, 1971. He parachuted out of the plane with $200,000 in ransom -- and disappeared. This led to the skyjacker becoming a folk hero. The case has inspired books and documentaries and even a feature film starring Treat Williams. Phoenix entrepreneur Eric Ulis spent years trying to figure out if Peterson was the famous criminal, ultimately becoming 98% convinced he was. Whether Sheridan Peterson was D.B. Cooper or not, he said Thursday in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive, may I suggest that he more than atoned for his lifes failings? Ulis said that, through his investigation, he had learned to appreciate how deeply [Peterson] cared for those less fortunate. Sheridan helped establish freedom schools in the Deep South in 1965 during the Civil Rights battles. He then spent years in Vietnam during the Vietnam War assisting refugees. Later he would witness and speak out against the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. And it didnt stop there. Sheridan was very vocal about public policy until the very end. Ulis believes Petersons experiences in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War radicalized him, prompting him to undertake the skyjacking. FBI agents working the case showed an interest in Peterson soon after the 1971 crime. In the years that followed, Peterson often would be coy about whether he was in fact D.B. Cooper. Actually, the FBI had good reason to suspect me, he wrote in a 2007 issue of Smokejumper, a magazine published by the National Smokejumper Association. Friends and associates agreed that I was without a doubt D.B. Cooper. There were too many circumstances involved for it to be a coincidence. Those circumstances, Peterson wrote, included: At the time of the heist, I was 44 years old. That was the approximate age Cooper was assumed to have been, and I closely resembled sketches of the hijacker. But what was even more incriminating was the photo of me simulating a skydiving maneuver for Boeings news sheet. I was wearing a suit and tie -- the same sort of garb Cooper had worn, right down to the Oxford loafers. It was noted that skydivers dont ordinarily dress so formally. A paid obituary for Peterson, published in the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press-Democrat on Sunday, stated that Petersons son Sheridan Jr. and daughter Ginger were born in Nepal under very astir conditions. Peterson, when pressed by FBI agents, insisted he was in Nepal at the time of the skyjacking. The FBI never detained or arrested Peterson in connection to the case. The federal law-enforcement agency didnt even interview him until 2004. He was a charming guy, former FBI agent Mary Jean Fryar told The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2019. Fryar and another agent questioned Peterson and took a DNA swab from him. (The FBI has never said anything about Petersons sample, even though it publicly ruled out other Cooper case suspects via DNA. The bureau has stated it believes the skyjacker, whoever he was, most likely died on the night of the heist.) Peterson was interviewed last year for an episode of History Channels Historys Greatest Mysteries that was devoted to the D.B. Cooper case. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (C) listens while inspecting military troops in Tainan, Taiwan, on Jan. 15, 2021. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) The Taiwan Domino Effect Biden administration sends mixed messages to Beijing and Taipei, but fails to see whats really at stake Commentary In the first week of the Biden presidency, the Chinese regime violated Taiwanese air space a record number of times, with record numbers of bombers and fighter jets. The clear intent is to intimidate Taiwan and show them that they stand alone against China. The fall of Hong Kong to the communist Chinese regime less than a year ago provides the unmistakable context behind Beijings current intimidation tactics. Will the US Respond? If the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is fearful of U.S. President Joe Biden continuing the Trump administrations policy against Chinese expansion in general, and against Beijings intimidation of Taiwan specifically, they have an odd way of showing it. On the flip side, if the Biden administration had any plans to press China to maintain the status quo with regard to Taiwan, this would be the time to do so. Yes, the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its battle group are operating in the South China Sea for a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP). But the desired impact of U.S. naval power in the area isnt a foregone conclusion. The U.S. Navy is present in multiple oceans. Ultimately, its policy and the will to carry it out that dictates a military powers influence, not firepower alone. And yes, the United States may continue to arm Taiwan, but not enough to alter the balance of power between China and Taiwan. Arming them is an annoyance, but not a strategic game-changer. But of critical importance, as of this writing, there has been no official U.S. repudiation of the Chinese regimes behavior. That, in itself, sends the wrong message to China and other U.S. adversaries. Its at least as likely as not that the Biden administration is wishing and hoping that China goes slow in exercising its designs against the small island nation to avoid a politically inconvenient challenge to U.S. power in the region, and to the new president. Weakness Accelerates Instability But just the opposite is likely to occur. Bidens silence and weakness practically invite it. China has already protested the United States being in the area, saying that the U.S. naval presence is destabilizing the region. That, of course, is a false claim. American military and trade dominance have kept the region largely stable since the end of World War II. American hegemony has ensured the status quo of the region. Destabilizing the region is exactly what the CCP wants, especially with regard to Taiwan. Sure, Beijing would prefer a clean and bloodless victory over the rogue province that has bedeviled it since the Revolution. But if not, even with U.S. planes, tanks, missiles, and more, Taiwan would be unable to prevent the inevitable defeat in a committed effort by the Chinese regime to invade and conquer it without U.S. support. Strategic Realignment in AsiaPacific? From a strategic perspective, the CCP seeks to fundamentally change the status quo by undermining U.S. power and influence in the region and around the world. Subsequently, there would emerge a strategic realignment away from Washington and toward Beijing. From that point of view, it seems probable that Beijing is preparing the political and strategic ground for the next phase in their plans to establish a new era in the Asian Pacific region. That era began with the militarization of the South China Sea during the Obama administration, and progressed in 2020 with the destruction of the Hong Kong democracy under the cover of a global pandemic. There is little doubt that Taiwan is next on the agenda. That isnt just speculation, either. Securing both Hong Kong and Taiwan are part of the official CCP near-term security plans. There is absolutely no reason to believe that Beijing will slow its plans now that Donald Trump is out of power. In fact, with so much to gain, they may accelerate their plans. The Taiwan Domino Effect The conquering of Taiwan would have a much greater impact on the region than the CCPs takeover of Hong Kong. Not only would Taiwans sovereignty, freedom, and advanced microchip technology be lost to China, but U.S. defense credibility would suffer throughout the region, if not the world. How would the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea, for example, view American defense commitments if China was allowed to devour Taiwan? The answer is that U.S. influence in the region would be correctly regarded as being at best, unreliable. Japan and perhaps South Korea may be inclined to develop a nuclear deterrent of their own to counter Chinas expansion. The Philippines, on the other hand, may well decide to decouple from the United States and try to cut a deal with the Chinese regime. Would Australia and New Zealand think about downgrading their relationships with the United States? Or would they too try to make their own separate peace with China? All of these scenarios are certainly possibilities. Beijings regional and strategic footprint could expand quite rapidly, with quantum leap in its global influence at the direct expense of the United States. A Global Domino Effect? But the shockwaves could even be felt well beyond the AsiaPacific region. In Europe, for example, NATO allies could rightly view the U.S. defense commitment to protect them against Russian aggression as impotent. Without a credible U.S. defense guarantee, NATOs ability to act cohesively would be severely damaged. A new European alliance structure could potentially replace it. In the Middle East, particularly regarding Russia, Iran, and Syria, would any of those regimes fear reprisals from a Biden administration for attacks against Israel or U.S. interest in the region? Why should they? Biden was part of the vacillating Obama administration that guided Russia into Syria and funded Iranian state terrorism. And would the recent peace treaties between Israel and Islamic nations remain in place? That, too, is uncertain. Under a weak and China-friendly Biden administration, the U.S. posture toward Taiwan is amorphous, at best, and threatens U.S. global hegemony. Does the Biden administration have a clue of how important the Taiwan policy is? The Chinese regime will certainly test us on it. Perhaps they already are. James R. Gorrie is the author of The China Crisis (Wiley, 2013) and writes on his blog, TheBananaRepublican.com. He is based in Southern California. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. McCabe Aware of Exculpatory Evidence Before Opening Obstruction Probe Into Trump, Documents Show Then-Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe was aware of crucial exculpatory evidence regarding the firing of FBI Director James Comey when he opened an obstruction of justice investigation into then-President Donald Trump in mid-May of 2017 over Comeys removal, according to documents declassified by Trump during his last days in office. Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017, roughly three weeks after Comey told Congress that the FBI was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as alleged links between Moscow and the Trump campaign. McCabe opened an obstruction of justice investigation into Trump a week later, on May 16, 2017, citing Trumps public comments about the firing as well as Comeys memos, which stated, among other things, that the president had asked the FBI director for loyalty. But McCabe was aware, from a conversation with then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein four days earlier, on May 12, 2017, that the Justice Department had been planning to fire Comey since January that year, according to a memo by McCabe obtained by Just The News. The DAG stated that based on conversations he had with the AG as early as January 2017, he knew Director Comey was going to get fired, McCabe wrote in the memo. One day after McCabe approved the opening of the investigation into Trump, Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Mueller completed the investigation nearly two years later, finding no evidence to establish that anyone in the campaign colluded with Russia. In addition, then-Attorney General William Barr concluded that the evidence Mueller collected was insufficient to establish that Trump had obstructed justice. Among the newly declassified memos is a set of typed notes, in which McCabe described the May 16, 2017, meeting during which he revealed the existence of the Trump probe to Rosenstein. A more redacted version of the memo was previously obtained by Judicial Watch in 2019. The notes had shown that Rosenstein offered to wear a wire to record Trump; Rosenstein has since said he made the offer in jest. The newly declassified portion of the memo shows that Rosenstein had made the decision to appoint a special counsel a week prior to May 16, 2017, and that the execution of the appointment was thrown off by Comeys firing. In another declassified portion, McCabe wrote that Rosenstein had looked into removing Trump via the 25th Amendment and had assumed he might have had the support of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Trump had considered hiring Kelly for the FBI director position, another newly declassified portion of the memo shows. McCabe wrote: The President had requested that they interview Sec. Kelly. The DAG informed the AG that he did not believe Sec. Kelly would be a good candidate for many reasons and stated that making him FBI Director would be a strategy of disruption. The DAG told me that if Sec. Kelly were placed in the job, the DAG would request Sec. Kellys resignation. An internal review by the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General determined that McCabe authorized a self-serving leak to the press and then lied about the matter to cover it up. The Kyiv District Administrative Court has heard the case on the merits with a claim of Maksym Nefyodov seeking to be reinstated as head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine and refused him. "So, by a court decision dated January 28, 2021, the plaintiff, Nefyodov, was denied the satisfaction of the claims. The basis for such a decision was the fact that the court established that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine's complied with the procedure for dismissing the plaintiff from office," the court said on its website on Thursday. The court recalled that the plaintiff asked to declare illegal and cancel the order of the Cabinet of Ministers dated April 24, 2020 on the dismissal of Nefyodov from the post of chairman of the State Customs Service of Ukraine and asked to reinstate him in this position. In addition, the plaintiff asked the court to recover in his favor the amount of average earnings during the forced absence from work, based on the amount of his average daily (hourly) wage. - 60% increase in Cloud revenue and 43% increase in recurring revenue YoY, despite macroeconomic backdrop - Recurring revenue share now 80% of software revenue - Service management license revenues increase by 105% YoY LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global enterprise applications company, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2020. 2020 saw widespread market disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has heightened the need for companies to build resilience into their business and adopt digital business models. With this backdrop IFS has stood firm in its commitment to deliver measurable benefits to its customers and has doubled down on ensuring a faster time to value. This has been instrumental in delivering sustained growth in revenue and led to a 105-percent increase in Service Management revenue. Some of the key milestones for IFS in 2020 included: The acquisition of Clevest that has increased the depth of IFS's service management proposition The launch of IFS Remote Assistance, that won Business Innovation of the Year at the Technology Excellence Awards Growth in IFS's ecosystem, now with over 8,000 customers and partners having participated in paid-for and free training The IFS Community growing to over 5,000 active contributors The launch of the IFS Voice of the Customer program that has helped IFS achieve the highest customer satisfaction scores compared to industry peers (according to Gartner Peer Insights). Throughout the year, IFS has continued to nurture its customer-first culture, strengthen its partner ecosystem and from a sustainability perspective, support the IFS Foundation, which is building a Technology Lab for Welasiya College in Puttalam District of Sri Lanka, a nation that is home to over 1,500 IFS employees. IFS CEO Darren Roos commented: "I think that every CEO will have been affected one way or another by 2020. Like many, we had to adapt as individuals and as a business, but the passion this team has for customers continued to shine. I am hugely proud of that." Roos continued, "I am also really proud to see that a sinificant part of our license revenue has come from new logos, customers who have moved away from their legacy vendor; this combined with our performance in recurring revenue points the performance of a very strong business. 2021 will be a hugely important year for IFS as we launch IFS Cloud on March 10th." IFS Chief Financial Officer, Constance Minc, added, "This is the third consecutive year that IFS has delivered double digit growth, and over this period we have grown recurring revenue by 250%. This consistency, together with the improved revenue mix, reveals a strong business that continues to deliver with all the right ingredients to capitalize on our investment cycle. We have real strength in our service proposition, demonstarted by license revenue growing at 105 percent in 2020, as well as an industry focus in sectors like aerospace and defense that will ensure that we continue to deliver value to our customers." Financial and Operational Highlights for FY 2020, growth YoY: FY2020 software revenue was MSEK 5,092, an increase of 26 percent versus 2019 FY2020 recurring revenue was MSEK 4,081, an increase of 43 percent versus 2019 FY2020 cloud revenue increased 60 percent versus 2019 FY2020 net revenue was MSEK 7,211, an increase of 14 percent versus 2019 In addition, service business license revenue grew 105 percent versus 2019 while aerospace and defense license revenue grew 37 percent. Additional highlights: IFS added close to 200 new logos across its core industries, including Carlsberg, Panasonic, BRITA, LKAB, Savoye, Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group, MRO Logistics, Groupe Beneteau, Lely, De Havilland Aircraft Canada, Mitutoyo and Seche Environnement. The partner Ecosystem grew 28 percent versus 2019 and participated in over 30 percent of implementations. IFS held its leader status in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Field Service Management, maintaining this position every year since 2014. Also in 2020 IFS was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for SaaS and Cloud- Enabled Large Enterprise ERP Applications, a Gartner Peer Insights Customer Choice Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises, a Gartner Peer Insights Customer Choice for EAM Applications and a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for SaaS and Cloud-Enabled EAM Applications. *Note: all figures based in Swedish Krona and reported in constant currency. Learn more at www.ifs.com/corp/company/financial-results/. CONTACT: Natalie Sutton IFS Head of External Communications Phone: +44 (0)1784 278222 press@ifs.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/ifs/r/ifs-growth-outperforms-market-in-2020-with-26--increase-in-software-revenue,c3274297 The following files are available for download: YEREVAN. The country has never been in such a difficult situation, we have not had such a loss of the homeland, the country has never faced such dangers; Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II said this Thursday to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon in Armenias capital Yerevan. "In this situation, the [Armenian] church, naturally, would be in its mission and would say its word; its word of awakening, bringing a message," the Catholicos added. Asked whether he continues to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Karekin II said: "There is no change in our convictions, positions." To a reporters inquiry as to whether the Armenian church is taking divisive steps, supporting the position of any political force, the Catholicos said: "The Church is guided by national and state interests. (). The church is an apolitical institution. Referring to the issue of whether the Armenian church was taking on the role of political leadership, Karekin II said: "We have an Armenian statehood. The Church will put all its efforts in the cherished cause of the empowerment, security, and strengthening of that statehood. Asked why the Armenian church did not criticize the Armenian authorities before, the Catholicos said: "The Church itself decides in what circumstances it will raise its voice." To the question whether there is a part of the Armenian church's guilt in the current situation, Karekin II responded: "Those accusations must be substantiated, confirmed." Touching upon the issue of exchange of Armenian POWs, the Catholicos said that they make every effort in that regard. Asked whether it is possible to address this issue to the Pope, Karekin II said: "We are discussing this issue ourselves and are taking appropriate steps." Also, the Catholicos condemned the desecration of Armenian churches by Azerbaijan. "We are making efforts so that the international community also expresses its condemnation of these phenomena," he added. And to the question whether we are in danger of losing the Armenian statehood, Karekin II said: "God forbid, there are always risks. We believe that such The best definition of education I ever heard was provided by a University of Missouri-St. Louis colleague: getting students to learn to cope with ambiguity. This applies to anyone trying to understand some happening. The point here is that, although some reality may be clearly black or white, most reality is gray and complicated. Given the current polarization of the country, we have lost our capacity for nuance and for examining all sides of an argument. Lets apply this observation to the so-called insurrection of Jan. 6, when then-President Donald Trump was accused of inciting a riot at the Capitol building in Washington, aimed at disrupting the Electoral College vote count by Congress that was about to formalize Joe Bidens 2020 election. I am among the at least 90% of Americans who saw the violent storming of the Capital as horrific and inexcusable one of the worst acts of anti-democratic behavior in the nations history and punishable by the most severe penalties available. In other words, when it comes to condemning the perpetrators, it is pretty black and white in terms of clarity. ADVERTISEMENT Or so it seemed. If one relied on CNN, The New York Times and almost all mainstream (liberal) media, one came away believing that only half the country was appalled by the incident, with not only an estimated 50,000 protestors on the Washington Mall but, indeed, the 74 million voters who supported Donald Trump lumped in with the thugs who committed the violence. This is the narrative that has dominated the reporting. In the interest of learning to cope with ambiguity, let me offer a counter-narrative. First, following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis in May, there were almost daily Black Lives Matter protests across America in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Portland, St. Louis and dozens of other cities where major violence was committed that included arson, looting, and attacks on police and civilians. Just as there was no evidence that the majority of the BLM protestors participated in this violence, likewise there is no evidence that most of the demonstrators assembled on the Washington Mall on Jan. 6 were involved in the violence. What the liberal media called during the summer mostly peaceful protestors applied also to Jan. 6, even if the same media refused to concede the point. If you wish to get a first-hand, eyewitness view of the events as experienced by one of the Jan. 6 protestors a view you will not get from our liberal media see What I Saw at the Save America Rally in Wash, D.C. by Jenni White in The Federalist. Second, if Donald Trump can be accused of inciting violence on Jan. 6, the same can be said for Nancy Pelosi, Jerry Nadler and other Democratic leaders, who generally dismissed the summer violence rather than clearly and consistently condemning it. For example, asked about the destruction of a Columbus statue in Baltimore and whether its removal should be decided by a mob in the middle of the night, Pelosi cavalierly said, People will do what they do. Nadler, asked about antifa violence in Portland and elsewhere, said thats a myth. Granted, the breach of the Capitol was an especially egregious act of political violence. Readers should not accuse me of equating it with Kenosha. Still, recall how there was little Democratic condemnation when left-wing extremists vandalized Lafayette Park across from the White House, injured over 150 police officers and threatened the White House seriously enough for the Secret Service to feel it necessary to escort the president to his basement bunker. In other words, liberals generally blew off the summer street violence. In the process, they arguably helped internalize political violence as an acceptable norm in pushing for change and thus contributed to the violence of Jan. 6. Why was it OK for BLM protestors, including left-wing extremists, to assemble in mass protests and commit mayhem, but not right-wing groups? There should not be a double standard in calling for the arrest of thugs and anarchists, whether on the right or the left. Liberal critics have contended that, had the Jan. 6 protestors been BLM protestors and mostly black, they would have been treated more harshly by Capitol police. True, there was a colossal security failure and lax response to the Capitol assault, but anyone watching the looting and burning of American cities during the summer also was left wondering why the police mostly stood idly by and allowed the criminal activity to occur with few arrests. Third, although Donald Trump can be rightly criticized for reckless behavior in continuing to challenge his electoral defeat even after courts reaffirmed Bidens election, and in stoking the anger of protestors when he appeared on the Mall Jan. 6 to address his supporters, did his behavior really rise to the level of treason and an impeachable offense? Recall Hillary Clinton also claimed the election was stolen from her in 2016. Moreover, much of the Democratic Party immediately called for resistance against Trump in 2016 and spent the next four years questioning the legitimacy of a duly elected president, including the Russian collusion hoax and other efforts to oust him. We should be more careful throwing the words coup attempt around. In his speech on the Mall, Trump uttered words not widely reported in the media. He said, I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. True, he also said his supporters should fight like hell. I am guessing there is not a single elected representative at any level of government who has not said at some point in his career that he will fight for his constituents, or urged his constituents to fight for what they believe in. Trump went on to say, We have to have peace, we have to have law and order. . . . We dont want people hurt. So, yes, Trump is a villain in this affair. Good riddance. But lets also rid ourselves of simplistic, one-sided analysis. It is not ambiguous that we have a severely divided, terribly torn country. That is a clear fact. However, the best way to heal the divide is for thoughtful people on both sides to concede that the 80 million Biden voters have legitimate concerns along with the 74 million Trump voters who deserve to be treated with respect rather than labeled as deplorables or worse, and that we need to move on in the post-Trump era. J. Martin Rochester, Curators Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is the author of 10 books on international and American politics. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is negotiating with EU countries on the possibility of purchasing COVID-19 vaccines or receiving them as humanitarian aid. The Foreign Ministry instructed ambassadors in all European capitals to discuss support options for surplus vaccines (either on a paid basis or as part of humanitarian aid) so that we can start vaccinating health workers and people at riskWe have already received certain positive signals from some EU countries that they can transfer or sell surpluses to us, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar said in an interview with Ukrinform. The diplomat noted that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky raised the issue of vaccines in a phone conversation with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The fight against the pandemic was also discussed during political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs of Ukraine and Germany in Berlin last Monday. The Health Ministry plays a key role in this matter, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides assistance in establishing contacts, Bodnar added. The deputy minister assured that the Foreign Ministry is working very actively to ensure that the vaccine appears in Ukraine as soon as possible to start mass vaccination. ol The White House hit back Thursday against critics of President Joe Biden's spate of executive orders saying they were not doing a run around the normal legislative process, but were resetting Donald Trump's actions. 'We are not taking executive action in lieu of legislation: we are taking executive action to fix what Trump broke in the executive branch, and to keep the President's commitments to use his power -- within appropriate limits -- to make progress on four crises,' wrote chief of staff Ron Klain on Twitter. Klain retweeted a columnist who went after the New York Times editorial board, which published an editorial Wednesday urging Biden to 'ease up' on the orders. It called them a 'flawed substitute for legislation' although many of them were in fact undoing previous executive actions. White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield also blasted the critics, on a day Biden was to ink more orders, this time dealing with Obamacare. Joe Biden's first executive orders Rejoin Paris climate accord End 'Muslim-ban' Stop new border wall construction Nix Keystone pipeline permit Preserve DACA after Trump order undoing it Mask-wearing in federal buildings Masks in interstate travel Stop federal private prison contracts End Trump ban on transgender military service Pause oil and gas leases on federal lands Make federal vehicle fleet electric Boost renewable energy on federal lands Reverse Trump ban on racial sensitivity training Rescind Trump '1776 Commission' whose report was mocked by historians Boost anti-discrimination housing policies Combat racism and discrimination against Asians and Pacific Islanders Ordering agency guidance on safely reopening schools Expanded pandemic food aid End restrictions on foreign aid going to abortion counseling Special enrollment for Obamacare to expand coverage Advertisement 'As the NYT ed board criticizes President Biden this am for taking swift executive action to reverse the most egregious actions of the Trump Admin, I cant help but recall that during the primary they encouraged voters to consider what a president could accomplish through exec ... Action,' she wrote. 'So my question is which actions that the President took to reverse Donald Trumps executive orders would they have liked to see him not pursue? Of course we are also pursuing our agenda through legislation. Its why we are working so hard to get the American Rescue Plan passed, for starters!' The blasts at the liberal editorial page came as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has spent years bottling up Democratic legislation and judicial nominees, slammed Biden for inking so many orders so fast. 'As recently as October, now President Biden said you can't legislate by executive action unless you're a dictator,' he said. 'In one week he signed more than 30 unilateral actions and working Americans are getting short shrift,' fumed McConnell. Biden on Thursday will take steps to reverse Donald Trump's healthcare policies and rebuild Obamacare starting with reopening the HealthCare.gov insurance exchange for an emergency three-month sign-up period. The president will sign two executive orders Thursday afternoon in an effort to get more Americans healthcare coverage and will remove Trump-era restrictions barring foreign aid from being used for abortion counseling. 'After four years of attempts to strip health care from millions of Americans, President Biden will sign two executive actions that will begin to restore and strengthen Americans' access to quality, affordable health care,' a Thursday statement from the White House previewing the executive orders stated. The three-month 'special enrollment period' is expected to kick off February 15 and run through May 15, according to a White House official. Biden's order will direct Health and Human Services to review existing regulation to open a federal enrollment period, and the department will announce later Thursday more specifics related to the three-month period on HealthCare.gov starting next month. In order to permanently reopen enrollment, Biden would need congressional cooperation. 'We're very excited about that,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the health initiative. White House chief of staff Ron Klain defended the executive orders as an effort to 'fix what Trump broke' A New York Times editorial Wednesday urged Biden to 'ease up' White House communications director Kate Bedingfield joined in the effort President Joe Biden will sign more executive orders Thursday related to healthcare, which will create an emergency three-month enrollment period for HealthCare.gov the healthcare exchange website that was the brainchild of Obamacare The White House previewed Biden signing a slew of new executive actions on Thursday A few of Biden's directives will be related to abortion, and rolling back restrictions put in place during the Trump administration on the controversial productive rights issue Many Americans lost their healthcare coverage when they lost their jobs as a result of the economic fallout from the coroanvirus pandemic. Here people wait in line in California to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Trump tried several times during his presidency to repeal and replaceObamacare. His administration attempted to find different ways to limit the program or unravel it entirely. A Supreme Court decision on the former president's final legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act is expected this year. HealthCare.gov is a marketplace created from the Affordable Care Act during Barack Obama's presidency and offers widespread healthcare coverage partially paid for by taxpayer money. The goal was to create a place for Americans to be able to obtain healthcare coverage on the free market if they may not have otherwise been able to find a provider due to their medical history or preexisting conditions. As insurance coverage has shrunk during the coronavirus pandemic, partially due to the massive amount of lay-offs, the Biden administration hopes to expand options for Americans especially those who have had COVID-19 or are more susceptible to contracting the virus. One of the orders signed Thursday will immediately reverse a federal policy that bars taxpayer money from being used for international health care nonprofits that abortion counseling or referrals. The Mexico City Policy can easily get switched on and off with the stroke of a pen depending on whether Democrats or Republicans control the White House. He will also instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to consider rescinding Trump's regulations barring federally funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions. The healthcare initiatives from Biden come as millions of Americans have either lost or been limited in their coverage options in the fallout from the coroanvirus pandemic The ban on referrals led to Planned Parenthood clinics leaving the program. The last action, and several other health and healthcare-related directives Biden plans to issue Thursday, could take months to carry out. He will order HHS to reexamine a Trump administration policy that allows states to impose work requirements as a condition for low-income people to get Medicaid health insurance. Work requirements have been blocked by federal judges, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the issue. Biden also wants the department to review policies that could undermine protections for people with health problems, including a Trump administration rule that facilitated the sale of short-term health insurance plans that aren't required to cover preexisting medical conditions. The abortion-related actions will bring Biden immediate praise from women's rights groups, as well as condemnation from social and religious conservatives. Under Trump's administration, pro-life advocates were able to work with the White House to try and rewrite federal policy related to the controversial issue. The political pendulum is swinging back now that a Democrat sits in the Oval Office. Biden also campaigned on repealing longstanding federal prohibitions against taxpayer funding for abortion, but a change of that magnitude to a group of laws known as the Hyde Amendment would require congressional approval. The regulatory changes Biden is asking federal health officials to undertake aren't likely to happen overnight because hastily written rules are more easily overturned in court, as the Trump administration found out. Time and again, federal judges ruled that Trump officials ran roughshod over legal requirements for regulators, such as demonstrating they've considered all sides of an issue. The idea of reopening Obamacare's health insurance markets has broad support, including from consumer groups, professional medical associations, insurers and business organizations. Although the number of uninsured Americans has grown because of job losses in the coronavirus economy, the Trump administration resisted calls to reopen HealthCare.gov. Failure to repeal and replace Obamacare as he repeatedly vowed to do was one of the former president's most bitter disappointments. His administration continued trying to find ways to limit the program or unravel it entirely. A Supreme Court decision on Trump's final legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act is expected this year. Since taking office one week ago, Biden has signed dozens of executive orders many related to the COVID-19 crisis The Obama-era health care law covers more than 23 million people through a mix of subsidized private insurance sold in all states, and expanded Medicaid adopted by 38 states, with Southern states being the major exception. Coverage is available to people who don't have job-based health insurance, with the Medicaid expansion geared to those with low incomes. Of some 28 million uninsured Americans before the pandemic, the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated that more than 16 million were eligible for some form of subsidized coverage through the health law. Experts agree that the number of uninsured people has risen because of layoffs in the coronavirus economy, perhaps by 5 million to 10 million, but authoritative estimates await government studies due later this year. The special sign-up opportunity is only a down payment on health insurance for Biden, who has promised to build on Obama's health law to push the U.S. toward coverage for all. For that, the president would need congressional approval, and opposition to the Affordable Care Act still runs deep among Republicans. Frustrating footage has emerged of an Australia Post worker's shabby effort to deliver a package, failing to make any effort to contact the resident who was at home at the time. The home security camera footage showed the courier walk to the front gate, pause, and then walk away. The footage struck a chord online, as it appeared to confirm many people's experiences of finding a failed-delivery slip in their letter-box even though they were at home at the time and no contact was made. Reddit users shared their own horror stories of 'attempted deliveries'. Some described catching couriers who arrived with pre-filled 'missed delivery cards' from couriers who had no intention of trying to hand over a package. 'This happened to me while I was working at home a few months ago. I looked out and saw the guy jump out of the van with a card and walk to the letterbox so I yelled out 'G'DAY MATE'. Dude looked visibly deflated as he went back to the van to get the package', one user shared. The frustrating footage shows the courier walk up to the front gate, pause and then walk away, while the resident complains the postie did nothing to gain his attention Another commented in defense of the courier, 'So your solution is for posties to wait around at every gate just in case there is an invisible automatic door bell?' The owner of the video replied, 'My solution is for him to make an attempt at trying to gain my attention. He has a voice. Every single other courier manages. But no you are correct. It's completely my fault that he couldn't be bothered doing his job properly'. An Australia Post spokesperson offered an explanation for such failed deliveries. 'Our people have been working harder than ever to deliver record volumes of parcels and our posties and drivers are instructed to knock at the door three times and call out before leaving a card or safe-dropping a parcel', they told Daily Mail Australia. 'Sometimes our people will leave a card without knocking because of access or safety issues such as an off-leash dog and this could happen even when a customer is home'. The video of the posties 'attempted delivery' has caught the attention of nearly 10,000 viewers and amassed hundreds of comments from users sharing their own delivery horror stories The infuriating footage comes only a few days after an Australia Post worker uploaded a video to TikTok, where he performed motorbike stunts and cracked open a can of VB while on the job. An Australia Post spokeswoman slammed the TikTok postman's behaviour and said the man no longer works for them. 'Australia Post takes safety very seriously, and these actions are not in line with our policies and procedures, and do not reflect the service we expect our people to deliver to the community,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'We can confirm the individual has not worked for Australia Post for some time'. raffic cops said group parked and 'promptly went inside to do their shopping' Emergency vehicle carrying a family when it arrived at supermarket, said police He was handed the 32-week sentence today at Manchester Magistrates' Court Blessing Mukaukirwa, 32, was jailed after the incident in Harpurhey last night A disqualified motorist has been jailed for 32 weeks after he was caught taking his family on a 'shopping trip' to Asda in a second-hand ambulance - with the emergency lights flashing. The emergency vehicle was carrying a family when it rolled up to the supermarket in Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, last night, according to police. Traffic cops said the group parked up and 'promptly went inside to do their shopping' before the driver was apprehended and found to be disqualified. Blessing Mukaukirwa, 32, appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court today and was handed a 32-week prison sentence for driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without a third party insurance. The emergency vehicle (pictured above) was carrying a family when it rolled up to the supermarket in Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, last night, according to police Officers have seized the ambulance. Greater Manchester Police said in a statement earlier today: 'A man has been charged after an ambulance carrying a family was found in Harpurhey. 'Blessing Mukaukirwa, of no fixed abode, has been charged with single counts of driving whilst disqualified, driving without a license, driving without insurance, using a vehicle with unauthorised blue lights, and failing to appear in court. 'He has been remanded in custody and is to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court today. 'Police were called on the evening of Wednesday 27 January to a report of a family in an ambulance near Asda in Harpurhey.' A spokesman for Manchester Magistrates' Court has since confirmed to MailOnline that Mukaukirwa was jailed for 32 weeks after being convicted of two offences. The Asda store in Harpurhey, Greater Manchester. Traffic cops say the group parked up and 'promptly went inside to do their shopping' before the driver was apprehended In a tweet, GMP Traffic earlier said: 'This ambulance was reportedly carrying a family when it arrived at #Asda Harpurhey with blue lights flashing. 'Occupants promptly went inside to do their shopping. Our divisional colleagues tracked them down & the driver was found to be disqualified & also wanted by the court. 'The driver has been arrested and is now en-route to custody.' The force said it believes the ambulance was purchased second hand, which is legal in the UK. Over the past year I've taken you along the streets, through the parks, and down the alleys of some of Bakersfield's most historic and unique A MAN convicted of what a judge said was an 'outrageous assault' walked free from court on Wednesday after lodging an appeal against a 10-month sentence. Tullamore District Court heard Michael Lynch, Bells Well, Daingean, knocked out two of his victim's teeth and fractured his face in an early morning attack fuelled by alcohol and cocaine. Mr Lynch, a 33-year-old father of three, pleaded guilty to assaulting Leon Delaney, causing him harm, at Bells Well on November 24, 2019. Sergeant James O'Sullivan said when gardai came on the scene at 4.30am they saw that Leon Delaney was being attended to by paramedics and was missing two teeth. Judge Catherine Staines was told the assault occurred when Mr Delaney, his wife, and another woman were walking home after a night out. They met Mr Lynch who was shouting abuse in his girlfriend's face and when Mr Delaney told him to calm down, the defendant punched the victim a couple of times in the face and head and kicked him in the face when he fell to the ground. In an interview with the gardai, Mr Lynch said he had punched Mr Delaney from behind and when the victim turned around they both fell to the ground. Mr Delaney sustained multiple fractures to the side of his face and in a victim impact statement, he said his teeth had to be wired, he had developed a lisp, and he had to get dentures and eat pureed food for weeks. He also had to cancel a family holiday planned for Christmas and the hardest thing he had to do was to try to explain to his children what had happened to his face while not being able to protect them from seeing his face. Sergeant O'Sullivan said Mr Lynch had 33 previous convictions, most of which were for public order offences but he did have one conviction for assault dating from 2011. He had received a six-month suspended sentence for that offence. The defendant's solicitor, Donal Farrelly, said his client accepted it was an horrific assault on Mr Delaney and Mr Lynch himself was devastated by what he had done. He had been using drink and cocaine at the time and that extremely toxic mixture led to him committing the assault when he was exchanging words with his partner and when Mr Delaney had interfered. He had brought 1,000 to court which he had saved despite being on the Covid payment after losing his secure employment as a maintenance operator. Mr Farrelly said Mr Lynch had also written a genuine letter of apology, was extremely saddened and ashamed, and would pay more money if given time. Judge Staines said it had been with extreme reluctance that she accepted jurisdiction in the case but she knew the injured party was anxious that the matter be concluded. From reading the victim impact statement she said the assault had occurred when Mr Delaney was minding his own business and then asked Mr Lynch to calm down when he was shouting and threatening to kill his girlfriend. It was lucky for Mr Delaney that he was still alive, added the judge, saying that drink and cocaine were not an excuse. Imposing the 10-month sentence, she noted his previous convictions and said she was giving the defendant credit for his guilty plea and his payment of compensation. She directed the payment of a further 1,000 from the court poor box to Mr Delaney. Judge Staines fixed recognisances for an appeal and those were taken up by Mr Lynch shortly after he was sentenced. In view of the tensed situation at the Singhu border, the protesters camping at the site have been cornered to a designated area near the central stage, while the key routes connecting Delhi and Haryana around the border were blocked on Thursday. Several routes connecting both Delhi and Haryana to the Singhu border were also closed by the Delhi police and para military forces. Besides, barricades have also been put up to disperse the protesters. "We have stepped up arrangements to prevent any untoward incident at the Singhu border. The shops adjoining the border were also forced to shut," said a senior Delhi police officer. Two days after the violence broke out in the national capital, local residents around the Singhu border on Thursday demanded that farmers should vacate the protest site. Some locals from Bakhtawar Pur and Hamidpur villages were seen agitating against the farmers at the border. Singhu appeared a little subdued, a lot emptier as the deployment of the additional police force made the situation more tensed and charged up. Apprehensions were raised about a possible action by cops on the protesters as the news from Ghazipur border too reached Singhu about the mounting pressure by the Uttar Pradesh police. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over two month now against the Centre's three farm laws. One in six children are suffering difficulties with mental health as a result of the lockdowns and school closures, a report said yesterday. It said teenagers and children are losing their way in the pandemic as parents attempt to help with online learning while doing their own jobs. The report from Childrens Commissioner Anne Longfield urged the Government to set out a roadmap to help schools reopen. One in six children are suffering difficulties with mental health as a result of the lockdowns and school closures, a report said yesterday. Pictured: A boy is assisted with his online schoolwork by his mother as homeschooling continues due to school closures, January 27 It said: A staggering one in six children now have a probable mental health condition... it is highly likely that the level of underlying mental health problems will remain significantly higher as a result of the pandemic. The Childrens Commissioner said there had already been a spike in referrals to NHS services in the autumn and called for a rapid re-opening of schools. The analysis came amid wrangling between the Government and opposition parties over the lack of any timetable for children to return to their classrooms. The report continued: The major disruption to two years of education, alongside the limited opportunities to see friends and wider families, to play and enjoy activities and the worry about the impact of Covid on their families, will have taken a heavy toll on some children. Even before this crisis, childrens mental health services were far from meeting the existing level of need. In the year before the pandemic, referrals to childrens mental health services increased by 35 per cent while the number of children accessing treatment increased by just four per cent. The reports projections were based on an NHS study carried out last summer, following the spring lockdown, which found that clinically notable mental health conditions amongst children had risen by half on levels recorded in 2017. Miss Longfield called for the NHS to place a mental health adviser in every school to cope with the flood of troubled children likely after they re-open. She also said there should be online mental health support and advice available to children who are currently using their laptops and mobiles to try to keep up with classroom learning. She said current levels of NHS help for children with mental health difficulties extend to only one in 25 children, far below numbers who need it, and in many cases children have to wait weeks to be seen by specialists. Miss Longfield said: Even before the pandemic, we faced an epidemic of childrens mental health problems in England and a childrens mental health service that, though improving significantly, was still unable to provide the help hundreds of thousands of children required. Lockdown, she added, will be causing even more damage to many childrens mental wellbeing and putting even greater strains on mental health services, potentially for years to come. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) said schools would be the first establishments allowed to reopen, but not before March 8 at the earliest, once the government has completed vaccinating the most vulnerable people by mid-February That is why in the short term it is so important the Government sets out a roadmap that helps schools to reopen over the coming weeks. As an absolute minimum, all schools should be provided with an NHS-funded counsellor, either in school or online. It is so important the Government sets out a roadmap that helps schools to reopen over the coming weeks, Miss Longfield said. Vicky Nevin of the NSPCC childrens charity said: It is vital the Government puts forward a concrete plan to ensure every child has access to early mental health support in schools and their local community to help prevent problems escalating. Bridging the digital divide so children are connected during lockdown is also vital. This is not just important for pupils education but also so they can access support and services that we know make a difference to their safety and well-being, including their mental health. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre remain 'arrogant, adamant and undemocratic' in their response, a joint statement by the parties noted Owing to the "forcible passage" of the contentious farm Bills in Parliament, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that 16 Opposition parties will boycott President Ram Nath Kovinds address to a joint sitting of the Parliament at the start of the Budget Session on Friday. We are issuing a statement from 16 political parties that we are boycotting Presidents Address that will be delivered at Parliament tomorrow. The major reason behind this decision is that the Bills (Farm Laws) were passed forcibly in House, without Opposition, said Azad. The decision comes after the Republic Day farmers' rally in Delhi turned violent, leading to the death of one protestor and detention of 200 others. In the statement, the parties have said that agricultural Bills were passed without any consultation and their Constitutional validity remains in question, according to The Indian Express. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre remain "arrogant, adamant and undemocratic" in their response, the statement further noted. Besides Congress, the NCP, Shiv Sena, TMC, DMK, JKNC, SP, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, IUML, RSP, PDP, MDMK, Kerala Congress and AIUDF will boycott Kovinds address. The signatories including Deputy Leader Anand Sharma, Trinamool Congress' Derek O Brien, NCP's Supriya Sule and DMK's T Shiva. 16 opposition parties to boycott President's Address to Parliament Friday. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/LCEqAqKu44 Manoj C G (@manojcg4u) January 28, 2021 The joint statement by Opposition leaders have also asserted that an impartial investigation will reveal the role of the central agencies in "orchestrating" the events of 26 January in Delhi, The Hindu reported. The Congress on Wednesday had held Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the violence on 26 January and said he should be sacked immediately. The Congress had also accused the Modi government of being part of a concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers' agitation by allowing some miscreants to enter the Red Fort complex and hoist a religious flag, in their bid to ensure that the farmers bury their demand for the repeal of the farm laws. The Union Budget 2021 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February at 11 am, while the Economic Survey will be tabled on 29 January. Continuing the attack on the Centre over the three farm laws, Congress Rahul Gandhi said most farmers dont understand the details of the Bills. If they did, there would be an agitation all across the country. The country would be on fire, he said while addressing crowds in Keralas Kalpetta. The long-anticipated relaxation of the South African Exchange Control Rules relating to "loop" structures and investments (By Chido Pamela Mafongoya) New Jersey appears to be coming out of the coronavirus second wave, and it cannot come soon enough for officers at Mercer Countys jail, who are overworked and understaffed, the union that represents them says. The virus still lurks inside the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township, with 14 inmates and 19 corrections officers sicked by COVID-19, and three quarantined with possible exposure to the virus as of Wednesday, the county administration says. The corrections officers union has slightly different numbers. As of Tuesday, they said 22 officers had the coronavirus and five are in quarantine. Either way, the virus just adds a layer to a difficult work situation thats been getting worse for several years now, since Mercer County started down a road to effectively close most of the correction center and pay Hudson County to jail pre-trial inmates. Due to that process - which predates the pandemic and which the union has been fighting about with the Public Defenders Office the county has basically let the jail go, the union and their lawyer charged this week. They havent hired new officers since 2016, and the dwindling staff has been working merciless overtime. This administration has done zero to add staff, and corrections officers are routinely working double shifts to keep the jail running at a bare minimum, union lawyer David Beckett said. They are basically riding down the staff. They still have an obligation to run the jail, Beckett said. Were running the jail on fumes, corrections union president Donald Ryland said. Last spring, during the coronavirus first wave, an outbreak at the jail sickened dozens of corrections officers and nearly 90 inmates at one point. The jail had over 200 officers, and about 300 inmates, Ryland and news reports said. Now, the jails daily population has been about 350, the county says. And of 155 rank-and-file correctional police officers, only 118 are currently available due to sickness or leave. This only leaves 118 available officers to maintain a facility that minimally needs 211 officers to run properly and efficiently, Ryland wrote in an email to county officials. The understaffing means essential post closures, officers unable to take contractual breaks and mandated 16-hour double shifts all of which increases the officers exposure to COVID. This is equivalent to a six-cylinder car running on two cylinders. The car can go but its not recommended or safe and will eventually fail, Ryland said. Since the pandemic began, officials say miraculously no officers or inmates have died from COVID-19. Moreover, inmates are given face masks, but not required to wear them at all times, Ryland and a county spokesperson confirmed. Inmates cannot leave the housing unit without wearing a mask. There is not 100 percent mask-wearing compliance by inmates while they are in their living quarters, county spokeswoman Julie Willmot said. Officers do wear masks, Ryland said. They should be mandatory for the detainee population, and it should be enforced by the administration, Ryland said. Unmasked inmates, he said, simply make officers work more dangerous. Willmot said the jails warden, Charles Ellis, said that of the employees who have tested positive, not all are traced to cases at the jail. About 13 employees who are currently on leave have an estimated return-to-work date this week. The remainder on the list are set to return sometime around Feb. 1. The county, for the past several months, has been offering regular COVID-19 testing to county employees. This has helped us identify people who are asymptomatic but who tested positive, she said. The next testing session is Thursday. And the county has begun vaccinating the custody staff at the jail, Willmot said. Furthermore, on staffing, since New Jersey enacted bail reform on Jan. 1, 2017, lower jail populations have led Mercer to close three jail units, which translates to 20 fewer officers, she said. The pandemic has tested everyones resilience, especially our health-care workers and everyone else working in congregate settings, Willmot said. Unfortunately, the virus is not going to magically disappear, and we all need to work together to keep rates low. Officers instruct inmates in a variety of ways and mask enforcement is a component of leadership and a proven way to stop the spread. The administration is working hard to get officers vaccinated as quickly as possible, and their desire to be vaccinated will be met, she said. As for the plan to house inmates in Hudson County, a few months before the pandemic in December 2019, the union won a court injunction to halt the plan until March 2020. Beckett and the county say court proceedings in that matter were pushed all last year due to the pandemic, and are currently not due to be heard in court until the end of 2021. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The McBride Sisters Collection, the largest Black-owned wine business in the United States, today announces the first round of winners of its #SHECANThrive2020 initiative, the second "vintage" of the brand's SHECAN Professional Development Fund. The SHECAN Fund was first founded in 2019 to promote the professional advancement of women in the wine and spirits industry. In 2020, company founders Robin McBride and Andrea McBride John were moved to action by the extreme challenges that Black-owned businesses faced due to COVID-19 and focused the #SHECANThrive2020 investments specifically in the areas that Black women find to be most challenging to fund, including access to capital and technical support, alongside the entrepreneurial resources required to run and market a growing company. A record number of female entrepreneurs applied (1,500+) across a range of industries, from lifestyle to health & wellness to food & wine. Boosted by new corporate sponsors and individual donors, the Fund will award a total of $300,000 in grants this year, an increase of 600% over last year. According to CitiGroup, over the past 20 years the U.S. has lost $16 trillion in revenue because of the inequities in education, housing, wages, and business investment between Black and White Americans. At the beginning of February 2020, there were more than 1 million Black-owned businesses in the U.S. By mid-April 2020, 440,000, or 41%, of those businesses, had shuttered permanently. In contrast, 17% of white-owned businesses closed during the same period. And only 4% of Black-owned businesses received support from the government as part of the Payroll Protection Plan last year. The SHECAN Professional Development Fund would not be possible without the generous support of its 2020 and 2021 corporate partners, which include Morgan Stanley and Silicon Valley Bank. Facebook is also participating in the program as a Programmatic Partner. These contributions build upon the significant investment made by the McBride Sisters themselves to the fund. "Black women-owned businesses have been hit harder than most by the pandemic," says William Stevens, Head of the Wine Division for Silicon Valley Bank. "We are grateful for the McBride Sisters' leadership to offer much needed access to capital to these small business owners at this time. Helping small businesses thrive, from the wine industry to the innovation economy, is what Silicon Valley Bank is all about, and we share the McBride Sisters' desire to lift up and invest in Black women-owned businesses in particular. We're appreciative of the opportunity to be a supporting partner in the SHECANThrive grant program." "Morgan Stanley is honored to sponsor The McBride Sisters Collection SHECAN Professional Development Fund," said Caroline Gundeck, Managing Director and Head of Private Wealth Management Client and Field Engagement for Morgan Stanley. "A part of our mission is to help individuals, families, and institutions manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals. As we continue our efforts to promote financial literacy and women's empowerment, we're committed to supporting brands that align and bring life to our mission and goals. Through partnerships like this, we will continue our endless pursuit to bridging the wealth gap in Black and Brown communities for future generations." #SHECANThrive2020 provides participants access to Facebook Elevate , a program designed to accelerate the economic success of minority-owned businesses through educational resources on how to leverage Facebook's ad platforms and grow a brand. The fund also offers grantees access to Facebook's Business Leaders Network , a diverse community of founders and entrepreneurs, providing the tools to help foster personal and professional growth through collaboration opportunities, technical support and learning and development. As proud members of the Black female entrepreneur community since founding their company in 1999, the McBride Sisters are uniquely placed to understand the challenges that these businesses face and to open doors that they themselves found closed when they launched their own business. They remain focused on social impact initiatives that support women and on magnifying their efforts through the SHECAN Professional Development Fund each year. "As a Black woman in business, in an industry not known for its diversity, I know how hard so many have to work to get their foot in the door and we hope to pass on opportunities for those striving to become successful in their own ventures," states Andrea. Robin adds, "Study after study has shown where economic stimulus should be injected into the economy and where it will thrive and we are proud that we can empower women entrepreneurs." The #SHECANThrive2020 class of grant winners include: A further round of grantees will be announced in February 2021. The third vintage of the SHECAN Fund #YesSHECAN2021 will be open to ALL Professional Women and opens on March 8th in honor of International Women's Day. For more information, please visit https://www.mcbridesisters.com/Our-Story/SHE-CAN . About McBride Sisters Collections, Inc.: Established in 2005 by founders Andrea McBride John and Robin McBride, McBride Sisters Collections, Inc. is the world's largest Black-owned wine company. Its mission is to transform the wine industry, lead by example and cultivate community, one delicious glass of wine at a time. These values show up not only in the wines, but in all facets of the company. The signature McBride Sisters Collection wines are direct reflections of the terroirs of Robin and Andrea's youth, with flavors designed for all palates. The fun, fab and eco-friendly SHE CAN collection is inspired by the endless pursuit of all women who are making their dreams a reality and are breaking barriers daily. The Black Girl Magic collection, a personal ode to Robin and Andrea's culture and story, is inspired by the magic and resilience of Black women, to be enjoyed by all. SOURCE McBride Sisters Collection Related Links https://www.mcbridesisters.com/ He burst onto the scene like a meteor, but a meteor that did not burst into flames and disintegrate like all meteors do. On the contrary, it remained potent until the very end of its life, leaving strong footprints in the sands of time. The turbulent occurrences of the 1970s in Ghana the overthrow of the 2nd Republic and the Progress Party Government by the military coup of 13th January 1972; the takeover of power by the Col. I.K. Acheampong-led National Redemption Council and, subsequently, the Supreme Military Council; the proscription of multiparty democracy; the professionals strike of 1976; the March 1978 Referendum on the proposal to entrench military rule through the Union Government concept; the formation of the Peoples Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) to mobilise the No Vote in the Referendum; the consequences of the vote, and the conspiracy to abduct the Electoral Commissioner; the palace coup that removed Gen. Kutu Acheampong from office and ushered in Gen. Fred Akuffo in his stead culminated in the emergence of Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings in the political space of our country. Charismatic, energetic, fearless leader. Such were the attributes ascribed by many Ghanaians to the man, Jerry John Rawlings, the young air force officer, who announced his presence in Ghanas politics by the abortive coup of May 15, 1979, and was sentenced to death for his part in the failed effort. He gave, at his trial, an important insight into his character, when he stood up, before the military tribunal, to accept sole responsibility for the attempt, and to request the NCOs, who were being tried with him, to be absolved and freed by the tribunal. The great events that were to define his career followed quickly after his trial, conviction and sentence. Three (3) weeks later, whilst awaiting execution of his sentence, he was dramatically freed from prison by the insurgents of what has come to be known as the June 4th Uprising, when junior officers and other ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces banded together to throw out the Supreme Military Council, and install the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), headed by Flt. Lt Jerry John Rawlings, thereafter J.J to all and sundry in Ghana. It is no wonder that he came to regard June 4th as that divine day. He re-emerged as Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), when he led the successful coup that brought the short-lived 3rd Republic to an end on 31st December 1981. The tumultuous, and at times lawless, incidents of the AFRCs three (3) month tenure of office, and of the early years of PNDC rule, are matters of record, winning him passionate admirers, vociferous critics, and determined lifelong enemies, all at the same time. He was the longest serving ruler in our history eleven (11) years as a military leader, and eight (8) years as a twice elected civilian President, making nineteen (19) years in all. He was fortified in his work by his union with his celebrated consort, the equally dynamic Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who proved to be a sturdy pillar and invaluable companion to the very end, and who bore him four (4) children, the eldest of whom, Zanetor, is continuing his tradition of public service. It was no secret that the relationship that existed between the two of us, right from the heady days of 1979, through to my brief period in exile, his assumption of office as the 1st President of the 4th Republic, the historic Kume Preko demonstrations, my period as Attorney General and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Kufuor administration, to my being elected 2008 NPP presidential candidate, was one of open animosity. We did not see eye to eye!! However, with time, things changed. We came to see value in each other, and understood, to a very large degree, our respective perspectives. One thing we had in common was our mutual commitment to public service. My visit to his Ridge residence in 2012 signified the easing of tensions between us, leading to a friendship that lasted for the better part of some eight (8) years. Indeed, when the Ghanaian people, in 2016, reposed, for the first time, their confidence in me in the elections of that year, one of the first persons on whom I paid a courtesy call was His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings. From my entry into office, right up to the day he was called by his Maker, he remained a good friend and a repository of sound advice. I knew that, in moments of difficulty in my presidency, I could count on his considerable wealth of experience and knowledge. On those occasions, he came through for me. There was a symbolic gesture he advanced to me at the funeral of his late mother, Madam Victoria Agbotui, held at the Forecourt of the State House on 24th October 2020. It was to be our last time together. He was called up by the clergy to receive special prayers as the only surviving son. He told the men of God to wait and called for me to walk up to join him to receive the special prayers. He whispered to my ears as I stood beside him: I reminded them that they should pray for you also because you had also lost your mother. I was touched by this. It is for good reason that his well-known, oft-cited ideals of probity and accountability, in which he invested a great deal of his political capital, have been enshrined in the Constitution of the 4th Republic, and, together with Freedom and Justice, the words of our nations motto, constitute the foundational principles on which social order is to be developed in Ghana. There are many who acknowledge him as the Founder of the 4th Republic, a Republic which has proved to be the most enduring and stable in our history, and which has witnessed eight (8) successive elections, three peaceful changes of government from one party to another, and five Presidents. For all his revolutionary antecedents, he set, in 2001, the enviable precedent, which has, since, guided our country, of respecting the two-term limit of the Presidency and superintending the orderly transfer of power to his democratically-elected successor. Whilst he was with us, he, respectfully, declined an offer I made to him, in 2017, to have the University of Development Studies, Tamale, (UDS), which he, personally, helped establish, named after him. His reason was that, in adhering to a long-standing principle, he did not want to have any national monument or facility named after him. Two days after his passing, at the 21st Congregation of UDS, I expressed my strongest convictions, in spite of his reservations, that such an honour should be accorded him. I am glad that this has found favour with his family, and the necessary formalities will be carried out to achieve this, i.e. The Jerry John Rawlings University of Development Studies, Tamale. Such is the measure of the man that the days associated with his political interventions in Ghana, i.e. 15th May, 4th June, 31st December, and 7th January, are now significant days in the calendar of the nation. But, the most significant of them all must be 7th January 1993, the day that ushered in the 4th Republic. It is in recognition of this that I decided to commemorate 7th January as Constitution Day on the national calendar. It is, perhaps, the greatest tribute a grateful nation can offer to the men and women whose efforts led to the establishment of the 4th Republic. It is my hope and prayer that he remains, forever, the longest serving Head of State in our nations history, for that would mean that the 4th Republican Constitution and its enshrined term limits have endured. His actions were not limited to Ghana only. The African nationalist that he was, he held unwavering positions on all matters concerning the wider continent of Africa, especially when they involved foreign interference and control of Africas destiny, and was quick to voice his views on them. His chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government set the example, whereby virtually all his successors, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Dramani Mahama, and I, the 2nd, 4th and 5th Presidents, respectively, of the 4th Republic, have been honoured by their peers with the occupancy of that high office, reinforcing the pan-African vocation which has been an essential element of Ghanaian public policy since independence. I called him Comandante, because of his admiration for the famous Latin American revolutionaries, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and Daniel Ortega, a nickname which seemed to please him. I believe that history, on balance, will be kind to him, and will render a positive verdict on his contribution to the evolution of our nation, and the entrenchment of its democratic institutions and culture. It is entirely appropriate and fitting that he should receive a State Funeral with full honours to express the gratitude of the nation for that contribution. My wife Rebecca and our children join me in expressing our sincere, heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife, Nana Konadu, his children, Ezanetor, Yaa Asantewa, Amina, and Kimathi, and his entire family, for their great loss of one of the outstanding figures of modern Ghanaian history, a man whose sense of humour was truly infectious. Comandante, rest and abide in perfect peace in the bosom of the Almighty, until we all meet again on the last day of the Resurrection. Farewell, God bless, and thank you for all your help. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video With real-time documentation, DASH 's digital workflow is the key to efficiently managing a restoration business; Matterport creates comprehensive 3D scans that quickly and accurately establish the scope of a loss. The integration between the two products offers an improved workflow that provides both insurers and policyholders with a fuller picture of damage that restorers can readily reference as work proceeds. Restorers who rely on Matterport technology will continue to scan a property in their usual way, using either a consumer smartphone or a dedicated Matterport camera, and the resulting images and models can be seamlessly accessed within DASH. Tim Rainey, the IT Solutions Manager at Woodard Cleaning and Restoration, said that product integrations such as this are one of the reasons he relies on Next Gear digital tools. The integration "has allowed us to easily implement Matterport in our organization," he said. "We maintain a high-quality job file without adding inefficient steps into our processes." Next Gear Solutions is the preferred partner of managed repair networks, franchisors, contractors, and insurance carriers looking to run a consistently smarter business. Its range of mobile job management, damage documentation, and estimate auditing tools are used by 8,700-plus restoration companies across North America and a majority of the nation's 25 largest insurance carriers. Matterport is the standard for 3D space capture and collaboration, making it easy and fast to create immersive digital twins ideal for back-to-work planning, listing or appraising properties, documenting makeover projects, and more. Contact Jenn Barber Marketing & PR [email protected] 760-331-7914 SOURCE Next Gear Solutions Related Links https://www.nextgearsolutions.com The NSW Department of Education has blown $35,000 on 'culturally safe yarning circles' funded by taxpayers despite the urgent need for funds to be spent on schools. The department's Parramatta offices had a costly refurb aimed at providing a 'culturally safe work space' with guidance from its 'Aboriginal education team'. The meeting room features indigenous art on stools, didgeridoos, and $5,000 worth of window glazing with Aboriginal designs. The Department's Parramatta offices have undergone the costly refurb, aimed at providing a 'culturally safe work space,' with guidance from the Aboriginal Education Team The meeting room features indigenous art on stools, didgeridoos and $5000 worth of window glazing with Aboriginal designs One Nation NSW leader Mark Latham said the cash splash was 'self-indulgent' of the department, The Daily Telegraph reports. 'It is ridiculous and unnecessary to create a culturally safe yarning circle,' he said. 'How many people in the Department of Education Parramatta offices would feel unsafe with an indigenous background? You would think it would be the most accommodating of workplace environments.' Mr Latham said the department should be focusing on education policy and addressing a decline in school results. However, NSW Education Secretary Mark Scott denied the room was a waste of money, and said 'conference rooms require furniture'. 'It's not unusual for organisations to have themed work spaces,' he said. Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the total cost of the furniture for the 'large-scale, multipurpose conference room' was $29,226.40 plus GST, and the window glazing came to $4641.98 plus GST. Social media users also slammed the revamp as a waste of taxpayer dollars, saying the new room looked like it was designed for Kath and Kim. When Groundhog Day hit theaters in 1993, it marked a turning point not only for star Bill Murray, but also for the cultural significance of the eponymous holiday. It also popularized if not outright invented the time loop comedy, which has become an especially evocative theme during a global pandemic, when many of us are starting to feel like were trapped in our own time loops. In fact, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said as much in its PSA about staying home, which starred Bill Murray and referenced "Groundhog Day" directly. Groundhog Day, directed by Harold Ramis and starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, is available to stream on Amazon for $2.99 Everyone has either seen this movie or is familiar with the plot through cultural osmosis, but its considered customary to explain the plot in these kinds of articles and I am nothing if not a slave to convention. Groundhog Day tells the story of sarcastic weatherman Phil Connors (Murray) who travels to Punxatawney, Pa., to cover the Groundhog Day celebration, which he openly considers inane. For reasons that are never made clear, Phil becomes trapped in Punxatawney a town he hates in a magical time loop, where he remains until he learns to stop being such a jerk and starts dating his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell). As far as high-concept premises go, thats an all-time great. Reliving the same day with no consequences (but also without the ability to escape) is that special kind of premise where you cant help but immediately start thinking about what youd do: Would you devote the time to learning new skills, like Connors does, or indulge in perfidious seductions to achieve amoral sexual satisfaction, like Connors also does? You can answer, no one is judging you, and also I cant hear you because Im just words inside your computer. The next time mainstream Hollywood revisited this premise was 21 years later in Edge of Tomorrow, which adds an action element while keeping the inherent comedy. Later re-titled Live.Die.Repeat after a failed theatrical run, Edge of Tomorrow stars Tom Cruise as a guy with robot armor who fights aliens, and Emily Blunt as a woman with a huge sword who fights aliens. Edge of Tomorrow, directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, is available to stream on Amazon for $3.99 Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow - amazon.com 14.99 Shop Now With the working title of "maybe if we kill Tom Cruise on screen enough, and make him smile, people will like him again," this action movie replaces groundhogs with an apocalyptic alien invasion. After getting sprayed with alien blood during a losing battle, cowardly soldier Major William Cage (Cruise) resets his day every time he dies providing an explanation and clear rules that Groundhog Day eschewed. Cage also meets Sergeant Vrataski (Blunt), who previously had the same powers as him, but lost them before she was able to end the war with aliens. Can Tom Cruise learn to stop being such a jerk and stop the aliens? Of course, but you didnt hear it from me. Then, in 2017, Hollywood decided to adapt the premise into the slasher genre with Christopher Landons Happy Death Day. Happy Death Day, directed by Christopher Landon and starring Jessica Rothe, is available to stream on Amazon for $3.99 Happy Death Day - amazon.com 13.99 Shop Now Where once there were groundhogs and again there were aliens, now there is a masked slasher wearing a baby-face mask for reasons that are never explained and dont matter. Like Groundhog Day, the magic behind the time loop is never explained, and like Edge of Tomorrow, the protagonist has to die to reset the loop. Again, the hero must improve herself as a person in order to escape the loop, and again she dies, hilariously, over and over again. Aside from being pretty dang good, Happy Death Day stands out from the other time loop movies for two reasons: One, it acknowledges the influence of Groundhog Day directly with a few gags, and two, it spawned a completely insane sequel that I did not understand and will not try to explain. Most recently, we have the Hulu original Palm Springs, which struck a resonant chord during the pandemic and returns time loops to the genre from whence they originally sprang: The world of wacky-romantic comedy. Palm Springs directed by Max Barbakow and starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Miloti is available to stream on Hulu Start watching Palm Springs - hulu.com 5.99 Shop Now The smartest thing Palm Springs does is start off in medias res with Nyles (Samberg) already in the nihilistic decadent phase of his journey through time-loop madness. When he accidentally brings Sarah (Milioti) into the waking nightmare with him, the movie is able to explore their romance without having to deal with the ethical concern of one of them having access to a lot more information/magical powers than the other. Throw in a really fun performance by JK Simmons, who gets an amusing side-character role, and youve got something thats worth starting a Hulu subscription or, at very least, logging back in to your exs account. Look, weve only scratched the surface here. Theres also Russian Doll, the Netflix series that stars Natasha Lyonne as a woman who keeps reliving the same party in New York City, but I cant talk about that one because I havent seen it (as a Brooklynite, being trapped in a New York City Party that wont ever end feels a bit too real for me these days). I also didnt mention The Last Day of Summer, because its a Nickelodeon movie that came out when I was in college. But Im confident Ive listed all the important ones. And if Im wrong then... uh, sorry. I'll try again tomorrow. It also received confirmation for the proposed IGO work program for the first half of 2021, which includes geophysics and diamond drilling focussing on prospect extensions into BOAs Symons Hill licence. During the quarter, BOA completed geochemical exploration on the two Fraser Range exploration licences managed by BOA Ltd ( ) will continue to focus on its activities within the Fraser Range and Paterson Province regions of Western Australia in 2021, along with plans to add new high-quality, low acquisition cost exploration tenements to the portfolio. The company also received confirmation for the proposed IGO work program for the first half of 2021, which includes geophysics and diamond drilling focussing on prospect extensions into BOAs Symons Hill licence. During the December quarter of 2020, the company signed an agreement with IGO Ltd ( ) (OTCMKTS:IPGDF) (FRA:IDZ) that provides IGO with exclusive exploration access rights to nine of BOAs tenements in the Fraser Range and formed part of the sale deal. Activities during the quarter During the quarter, BOA completed geochemical exploration on the two Fraser Range exploration licences managed by BOA, with some low-grade anomalism evident. Review of the historic geophysics for Koongulla in the Paterson Province of Western Australia indicated a series of regional-scale structures and trends, followed by detailed airborne geophysical survey. The results of the survey will be available in January 2021. New tenements application During the quarter, the company made applications for new tenements, including extension to the Koongulla project with Koongulla North in the Paterson Province, and after careful consideration of Queensland-based opportunities, the South West Ravenswood application was also completed. BOA/ Fraser Range exploration The Fraser Range remains the hottest region for new nickel projects and the company has strategically positioned itself proximal to all three significant nickel discoveries in the Fraser Range, represented by the tenements, subject to the IGO deal. The companys position in the region has grown substantially, with a total holding of about 740 square kilometres. BOA retains an extensive exploration tenement holding within the Fraser Range gravity high region of Western Australia. IGO new search exploration activities From September 4, 2020, IGO gained exclusive exploration access to the Symons Hill tenement, and eight others. For Symons Hill, IGO has developed an exploration program focussed on testing for potential extensions to the Orion, Hercules, and Elara prospects that are interpreted to extend into BOAs Symons Hill licence. The Orion and Hercules prospects are on the boundary of the Nova and Symons Hill Licence and provide high priority targets and a possible extension to these targets within the BOA licence form the basis of the proposed exploration program. Through the project assessment process, IGO has identified more than 600 potential Fraser Range targets, of which there are 22 that are ready to be drill tested. Application of program of work and access clearing The company submitted a program of work application for planned exploration on the Symons Hill tenement, including diamond drilling and clearing for Moving Loop Electromagnetic (MLEM) surveys. Subject to the regulatory approvals and equipment availability, track clearing is scheduled to start in January - February 2021. Geophysical surveys The company is planning for a MLEM geophysical surveying, utilising a low temperature SQUID sensor to cover 499 stations within the Symons Hill licence to test for extensions of high priority IGO targets. The highest priority IGO target - Orion - will be tested for extensions to known intrusions, followed by surveying potential extensions of the Hercules and Elara prospects. The Orion extension geophysical surveys are estimated to commence in the first quarter of 2021 and scheduled to take three to four weeks to complete. Geophysical surveys targeting potential extension to the Hercules and Elara Prospects, are estimated to take a further three to four weeks to complete. Diamond drilling The company is planning to start a follow-up diamond drill program in the first or second quarter of 2021. This drilling program is dependent on the successful completion of the required preparatory activities described above. Shares issued The company has issued a total of 6,250,000 shares to IGO on October 23, 2020, as part of the sale agreement in relation to the nine Fraser Range Tenements. A total of 300,000 shares were issued on December 22, 2020, to the three Boadicea Board members. South Africa: Working together towards global recovery President Cyril Ramaphosa says the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on African economies, on public health and on the AU system itself. It is therefore more critical than ever that we step up our collaboration on all fronts as we drive the global recovery effort, President Ramaphosa said. In his welcome address delivered virtually at the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) 20th Symposium on Thursday, President Ramaphosa said the African Union will continue to work through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility known as COVAX to ensure equal access to the vaccine, and that the needs of poor countries are taken into account. President Ramaphosa said they will pursue efforts through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team to complement the COVAX arrangements and to secure enough vaccine doses for the continent. As we battle to contain and eradicate COVID-19, we at the same time have to renew our focus on meeting our developmental aspirations as a continent. Strengthening the work of AUDA-NEPAD Strengthening the work of the African Union Development Agency or AUDA-NEPAD is more important than ever, President Ramaphosa said. With regard to the African Union Development Agency or AUDA-NEPAD, President Ramaphosa commended Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki for his excellent leadership of the Agency and for the service he has rendered towards the socio-economic upliftment of the continent. He also paid tribute to Presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Thabo Mbeki, Hosni Mubarak, Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdoulaye Wade. In 2001, they created this pan African institution as a flagship to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa into the world economy and accelerate the empowerment of women. Together with their fellow African leaders, they developed NEPAD as a new vision and programme of action for sustainable socio-economic development. This aimed to enhance the capacity of African States and regional institutions to fulfil the collective vision of an integrated, peaceful, united and prosperous Africa, President Ramaphosa said. President Ramaphosa said over its 20 years, NEPAD has promoted programmes in areas such as agriculture, health, education and training, the environment, information and communication technology and infrastructure development. It has inspired the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative and prioritised the development of regional infrastructure in sectors such transport, energy, ICT and transboundary water. Significant progress has also been made in the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, which has the potential to facilitate continental integration in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area, he said. President Ramaphosa said an impressive accomplishment of NEPAD has been the strengthening of partnerships with the rest of the world. NEPAD agenda He said the transformation of NEPAD into the African Union Development Agency is an opportune time to reflect on the implementation of the NEPAD agenda. Established in 2001 as the flagship socio-economic programme of the African Union, NEPADs primary objectives were to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa into the world economy and accelerate the empowerment of women. The NEPAD 20th Symposium brings together current and former African Union Heads of State and Government, representatives of all spheres of the African and International development community to reflect on the successes, achievements and challenges of the past two decades and the future of the transformed African Union Development Agency-NEPAD under the theme: A Decade of Action to Achieve the Africa we Want. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. S Jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday outlined eight broad principles for repairing ties between India and China that included strict adherence to all agreements on management of the Line of Actual Control, mutual respect and sensitivity, and recognising each other's aspirations as rising Asian powers. In an address at an online conference on India-China ties, Jaishankar said the events in eastern Ladakh last year have profoundly disturbed the relationship and asserted that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the LAC is "completely unacceptable". The external affairs minister said any expectation that the situation at the border "can be brushed aside and life can carry on undisturbed" is simply not realistic. Jaishankar said the India-China relationship is truly at the crossroads today and choices that are made will have profound repercussions not just for the two nations but for the entire world. He said the Chinese actions in eastern Ladakh not only signalled a disregard for commitments about minimising troops level but also showed a willingness to breach peace and tranquillity. "Significantly, to date, we have yet to receive a credible explanation for the change in China's stance and massing of troops in border areas," he said at the All India Conference on China Studies. Elaborating on eight points for moving forward in bilateral ties, the external affairs minister said agreements already reached on management of the LAC must be adhered to in their entirety and in letter and spirit. "Whether handling of the border areas is concerned, the Line of Actual Control must be strictly observed and respected. Any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is completely unacceptable," he said. While both nations are committed to a multi-polar world, Jaishankar said, there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential consequences. "Obviously each state will have its interests, concerns and priorities, but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided. At the end of the day relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature," he said. Jaishankar said as rising powers, each nation will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit to it cannot be ignored. He said peace and tranquillity in border areas is the basis for development of ties with China in other domains and if it is disturbed, "so inevitably is rest of the relationship". The external affairs minister said far from mitigating already existing differences, events of 2020 have actually put the relationship under "exceptional stress" Any expectation that the situation at border can be brushed aside and life can carry on undisturbed is simply not realistic, he said. He said if ties are to progress, policies must take into account the learnings of the last three decades. Polytechnique Montreal, Neptune Cyber and Davie join forces in the fast-growing area of maritime cyber security The R&D partnership aims to develop and create and commercialise innovative cyber security systems and products for critical maritime infrastructures This multi-year investment is being made under Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Polytechnique Montreal, Neptune Cyber and Davie Shipbuilding, have today announced the start of a 5-year R&D partnership focussing on cyber security for maritime critical infrastructure. The partnership, which will create Canada's Maritime Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, aims to develop and commercialize cyber security solutions for the maritime industry. As in all spheres of life, the acceleration of digitization, automation and hyperconnectivity in the maritime domain has created new challenges for transport, cargo and naval ships as well port installations. All have become new targets for cyber criminals. Remotely taking control of a navigation system, deficient geolocalization of a ship, hacking of communications systems, computer viruses and ransomware are just some of the attacks that could affect electronic and computer systems used in the management of maritime and port operations. As of January 1, 2021, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires shipowners and operators to integrate the management of cyber risks in their security practices at the next annual validation of their IMO certification. It is the first-ever regulatory framework on cyber security in the maritime industry. Leveraging Polytechnique Montreal's Cyber Security Team At the heart of this unique partnership are two highly experienced researchers from Polytechnique Montreal, Professors Nora Cuppens and Jose M. Fernandez. Renowned for their research in the cyber security of critical infrastructure, cyber resilience and cyber defense, the Professors are enthusiastic about this step forward in maritime cyber security research a first in Quebec. In the past six years, Prof. Cuppens has focused her research on critical infrastructure protection. Recently arrived from France, where she was an active member of two relevant research chairs: one on critical infrastructure cyber security and the other on cyber defense of naval systems. She joined Polytechnique Montreal to conduct research on the cyber resilience of essential systems and the definition of cyber security metrics to support better decision making. Prof. Fernandez has for the past 12 years, conducted research on the cyber security of critical infrastructure in several domains including electrical networks, urban traffic control networks and aviation. Prof. Fernandez's and Polytechnique's overall expertise in risk evaluation and protection for cyber-physical systems in other types of critical infrastructure will be critical to the successful delivery of this project for the maritime industry. Neptune Cyber Neptune Cyber, a fast-growing Quebec cyber security start-up, is the only Canadian company to date offering a full range of services exclusively conceived for the maritime domain. It assists the most important companies in the naval and maritime sectors in Canada and globally to face cyber threats. Its expertise in maritime cyber security will allow the project team to identify the most dangerous cyber attacks, which will be simulated in the experimental "co-emulation" platform that will be developed within this partnership. The use of the co-emulation approach developed at Polytechnique will allow the project team to measure with precision the impact of cyber attacks, develop and test the efficacy of defensive counter-measures, and the security of on-board maritime information systems. This multi-year contribution is being made through Davie's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitments to Canada. The Government of Canada's ITB Policy requires that successful bidders on defence contracts reinvest 100 percent of the value of their contracts back into Canada's economy. For the project, Neptune Cyber and Davie will contribute $1.7 million, of which $500,000 will be in cash and $1.2 million in support and equipment for the duration of this innovative project. For the partners, the development of a community of interest in the world of maritime cyber security is essential to address future threats. The collaboration is set to grow with other partners in the maritime domain and in cyber security, researchers from university and collegial centres of technology transfer (CCTT), in addition to training centres for maritime personnel in Quebec and worldwide. Thanks to this project, around 10 graduate students at master's and Ph.D. level will be trained to become the first wave of specialized experts in this emerging field. Through them, maritime cyber security best practices will be shared worldwide. They will also focus on areas that require standards and official certifications, as well as the provision of cyber security services and solutions to ensure the security of maritime operations globally. Quotes Jose M. Fernandez, Eng. Ph.D., Full Professor, Polytechnique Montreal "Getting such a partnership going, with the possibility of creating an innovation zone encompassing this hub of excellence on maritime cyber security along with with sectorial partners, constitutes a key step towards ensuring the national security and economic stability of Canada and of Quebec; it is key to protect our critical infrastructures and increase their resilience, in addition to training the next generation of highly qualified experts in a critical domain." Nora Cuppens, Doct. Full Professor, Polytechnique Montreal "We are privileged to be able to gain access through this partnership to Neptune's expertise on maritime cyber security, and also to the installations and marine expertise at Davie, which will allow us to develop solutions that truly address market needs in addition to training a new generation of experts in domain-specific cyber security, a rare asset for industry." Gwilym Lewis, Chief Executive Officer Neptune Cyber "Cyber Security in the Maritime industry has not kept pace with the technology sector. Therefore, with the rapid advances in integrated and connected systems onboard ships, and the resulting risk of attack, there is an urgent need for a better way to be able to understand, model, and plan for the risks that the industry is facing now and into the future. This project is a great step in that direction and a demonstration of our long-term commitment to creating positive change." James Davies, President and Chief Executive Officer Davie Shipbuilding "This is a unique development opportunity for Davie and our valued partners as well as a potential international leadership position for Quebec and Canada in the vital emerging cyber security space. Our significant investment in this R&D partnership is also indicative of Davie's strong commitment to taking maritime industry innovation to the next level." NOTE TO EDITORS: ABOUT POLYTECHNIQUE MONTREAL Founded in 1873, Polytechnique Montreal is a technological university, and one of Canada's largest engineering teaching and research institutions. It ranks first in Quebec in terms of the scope of its research activities. Polytechnique Montreal is located on the Universite de Montreal Campus, the largest Francophone university campus in the America. With more than 50,000 graduates, Polytechnique has trained 22% of all practicing members of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec. It offers over 120 training programmes. Polytechnique has 280 professors and more than 9,000 students. Its annual budget reaches $260 million dollars, including a research budget of $100 million dollars. ABOUT NEPTUNE CYBER Neptune Cyber is a Canadian cyber security company based in Quebec with international reach that works exclusively in the marine sector. The team combines experts in shipbuilding, maintenance, operations and cyber security testing and design. Neptune's services cover the maritime lifecycle from advising on how build and foster a culture of security within crew and shore-based teams to reviewing, testing and advising on the security of on-board systems and vessel IT design, to providing rapid response and advice in the event of a security breach or incident. ABOUT DAVIE SHIPBUILDING Based in Levis, Quebec, Davie is the first naval shipyard in Canada and a global leader in the delivery of essential and specialized ships to government and commercial clients. Founded in 1825, Davie is the oldest, most important and most efficient naval shipyard in Canada. Our world-class labour force builds and maintains complex ships that allow our clients to protect national and economic security or to respond to critical commercial needs. To know more visit the web site www.davie.ca. SOURCE Polytechnique Montreal For further information: Martin Primeau, Polytechnique Montreal, Media Relations Advisor, Tel: +1-514-340-4711 ext.3669, [email protected]; Jeremy Citone, Neptune Cyber, Chief of Technological Development, Cell: +1 418 455-6803, [email protected]; Frederik Boisvert, Chantier Davie, Vice President, Public Affairs, Cell: +1 418 455-2759, [email protected] Related Links www.polymtl.ca The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. The petitioner in the 2020 presidential election petition, former President John Dramani Mahama, yesterday filed his witness statements at the Supreme Court. Mr Mahama, who was the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 elections, also filed an opposition to the preliminary legal objections filed by both respondents. That was after the Supreme Court had given him the last opportunity to file his witness statements in the petition by the close of yesterday, January 27, 2021. The witnesses are a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Micheal Kpessa-Whyte, and the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia. While Dr Kpessa-Whyte, who described himself in the statement as a representative of former President Mahamas strong room, said he noticed many material irregularities during the entire process of the December 7 presidential election, while Mr Asiedu Nketia, in his statement, alleged that certain officials of the Electoral Commission (first respondent) padded the votes of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Kpessa-Whyte In his statement, Dr Kpessa-Whyte said he and his colleague representative in the strong room, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, drew the attention of former President Mahama and the NDC to the material irregularities he had noticed in the strong room. He said, subsequently, the NDC immediately caused a letter to be written to the EC, which detailed some of former President Mahama and the NDCs concerns. He again said based on the discovery, he, together with his colleague representative, did not certify the summary sheets of the results from some of the regions. We immediately brought same to the attention of the Chairperson of the EC and Returning Officer for the presidential election, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, he added. Dr Kpessa-Whyte said Mrs Mensa told them to "go and consult with former President Mahama and return. Assurance The witness indicated that Mrs Mensa assured them that she was holding on with any declaration of the results until their concerns and all other concerns with the collation of the votes had been addressed. She added that she would send a dispatch rider to accompany us back to the strong room to relay the feedback from petitioner before she declared the results, he said. Dr Kpessa-Whyte said based on the assurances, they left the strong room, adding: Immediately we left the strong room, and as heard by us on the radio as we arrived at former President Mahamas home and on television as we entered his home, Mrs Mensa, hurriedly and on our blind side, declared President Akufo-Addo President-elect in the presidential election held on 7th December, 2020. Again, he said, the declaration by Mrs Mensa was manifestly wrong, as the results declared were based on a wrong collation of votes arising from some of the self-same errors that they had discovered in the strong room. Corrections Dr Kpessa-Whyte said after declaring the results, Mrs Mensa and the EC purported to have made many corrections, notably on December 10, 2020, to what she had originally declared, All these subsequent corrections were manifestly wrong, as same were based on the very wrong collation of votes we, as representatives of the petitioner, had brought to her attention, he said The witness said although Mrs Mensa had earlier promised to provide feedback for them, they never received any feedback from her on the concerns they had raised with her earlier, adding: I am aware that neither the petitioner nor the NDC has received any feedback from Mrs Mensa on the issues raised in the NDC's letter to her. As one of two representatives of the petitioner in the strong room, I am still waiting for Mrs Mensa to acknowledge her unconstitutional conduct on December 9, 2020 and embark on a course to correct that conduct by engaging in the necessary and standard consultations with all the representatives of the presidential candidates for that election, including those of the petitioner, to ensure she does the right thing to reflect the true will of the Ghanaian people, he added. Asiedu Nketia For his part, Mr Asiedu Nketia said he had been informed by lawyers for Mr Mahama that the EC had not responded to a request to admit facts, as such the response or lack of it was likely to require a further witness statement from him. Again, he said, because the court had dismissed the application for interrogatories and an application for review of the said decision was pending, the questions, if allowed by the court and subsequently answered by the EC, might also be relevant evidence which might require a further witness statement from him. He said on December 9, 2020, Mrs Mensa held a conference at which she purported to declare President Akufo-Addo President-elect. The declaration, he said, was broadcast live on radio, television and other electronic media. Mr Asiedu Nketia said Mrs Mensa, in purporting to declare the results, declared that the total valid votes cast was 13,434,574, representing 79 per cent of the total registered voters. He said Mrs Mensa again declared that President Akufo-Addo had obtained 6,730,413 votes, which represented 51.595 per cent of the total valid votes cast. Per Mr Asiedu Nketias calculations, the claim that President Akufo-Addo had obtained 6,730,413 was a manifest error, as votes cast for President Akufo-Addo would rather amount to 50.098 per cent and not the 51.595 per cent Mrs Mensa had declared. Techiman South Constituency Mr Asiedu Nketia said the Techiman South Constituency had a total registered voter population of 128,018, and if added to the total valid votes of 13,434,574, as announced by Mrs Mensa, the resultant figure would be 13,562,592. Consequently, he said, if all the votes of Techiman South Constituency were added to the petitioner's votes, President Akufo-Addo votes would remain the same at 6,730,413, now yielding 49.625 per cent, while the votes of former President Mahama would increase to 6,342,907, now yielding 46.768 per cent. When the percentages of valid votes cast and standing to the names of each of the presidential candidates and as purportedly declared by Mrs Mensa on 9th December, 2020 are summed up, they would yield a total of one hundred point three per cent, a mathematical and statistical impossibility, he added. These mathematical anomalies, he said, were in violation of Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution. Again, Mr Asiedu Nketia said, in the declaration of the corrections made by Mrs Mensa regarding the votes, no officer of the EC engaged in any consultative process involving former President Mahama or his accredited agents, nor did Mrs Mensa. That, he said, was clearly contrary to the responsibilities of the Chairperson of the EC. Mr Asiedu Nketia, in his statement, further urged the court to set aside the error-ridden and unconstitutional declaration made on 9th December, 2020 by the EC Chairperson. Objection The (EC) and President Akufo-Addo, in their preliminary legal objection to the petition, had urged the court to dismiss the petition filed by former President Mahama. While the EC, in its legal argument, said the former Presidents legal action was based on extreme speculations which amounted to a waste of the courts time, President Akufo-Addo, on his part, described the petition as incompetent and disclosed no reasonable cause of action in terms of Article 64(1) and ought to be dismissed. However, Mr Mahama, in his response to the preliminary legal objections filed by the respondents, urged the court to dismiss the preliminary legal objections and proceed to order the respondents to open their defence and be subjected to the accountability requirements and standards of public office. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A hospital in Washington State is under fire from Gov. Jay Inslee after 110 major donors allegedly were moved to the front of the line for a COVID-19 vaccine. Overlake Medical Center & Clinics shut down invite-only online access to schedule appointments with its vaccine clinic after receiving a call from Inslee's staff, The Seattle Times reported. Molly Stearns, chief development officer at the hospital, reportedly sent an email last Friday which was addressed: 'Dear Overlake major donors.' 'We're pleased to share that we have 500 new open appointments in the Overlake COVID-19 vaccine clinic, beginning this afternoon and tomorrow and next week,' the email reads, according to the outlet. Overlake Medical Center, pictured, has come under fire for allegedly giving preferential treatment for vaccines to rich donors The Overlake Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the country to treat COVID-19 after its emergence Inslee said at news conference on Tuesday that it would be unacceptable for the hospital to give preference to 'some VIP list.' 'If in fact they were giving preference to some VIP list, that's not the way to do it. That is not acceptable for us. We need to give everybody a fair shot at the vaccine,' he said. 'We've got to maintain public credibility in the system. I'm told that whatever they were doing has stopped, and that's good news.' J. Michael Marsh, the president and CEO of the hospital, denied that big givers received preferential treatment in a Wednesday statement and said that email was not exclusively sent to donors. Gov. Inslee, pictured, ripped the hospital and said everybody should get 'a fair shot at the vaccine' Overlake's Chief Medical Officer David Knoepfler, center, listens to speakers after the death of the first coronavirus patient in the U.S. on February 29, 2020 'Recently, in an effort to notify people of additional, immediate-term vaccine appointments that had become available, we sent emails to approximately 4,000 members of the Overlake community, including volunteers, retired nurses and physicians, all employees and about 100 donors from our Foundation database,' Marsh said. 'All communications made clear that people must show proof of eligibility under current Washington State requirements to ultimately be vaccinated, no matter who they are or how they are affiliated with us.' However, Marsh did acknowledge the hospital 'made a mistake by including a subset of our donors and by not adopting a broader outreach strategy to fill these appointments, and we apologize.' Kemper Freeman Jr., a former State Senator, is a wealthy donor to the hospital Inslee recently opened vaccine eligibility to anyone ages 65 and over and anyone over 50 who lives in a multi-generational household, causing the medical systems' scheduling software to crash from the flood of seniors trying to get the vaccine. Tom DeBord, the hospital's COO, said the email invite was a sent after the system failed but admitted in hindsight that it 'wasn't the best way' to fix the problem. 'We're under pressure to vaccinate people who are eligible and increase capacity,' DeBord said. DeBord told the outlet that the email was 'never intended to be a donor event' but he understood why it was being perceived as granting special access to big donors. 'We thought that was the most efficient way to add slots,' DeBord said. The Seattle Times enumerated several problems residents in the state are facing after new swaths of people could schedule appointments for the vaccine. Jim Ladd, a trustee for the medical center, and Patty Bedient, who has served as its board chair, are both wealthy donors Some vaccine sites offer a wait list while others do not, and scheduling tools differ among sites, according to the outlet. Some seniors and their caretaker are booking multiple appointments to where they can get one first, jamming the line. Though it remains unclear which 110 donors received the email, large donors who have previously given more than $100,000 to the hospital include Betty and Kemper Freeman Jr., Ron and Patty Bedient, and Jim and Sherry Ladd. Kemper Freeman Jr. and his wife have given more than $1.5million and have naming rights for an operating room. He is the active chairman of Kemper Development Company and is a former Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives from the 48th district. Businesswoman Patty Bedient, who has served as the board chair of Overlake Medical Center, has previously served as the chief financial officer of Weyerhaeuser Co. on the board for Alaska Air Group, according to BizJournals.com. She and her husband have donated more than $1million to the hospital, records show. Sherry Ladd and her husband Jim, a trustee for the hospital, have donated more than $500,000 and have the naming rights for a neonatal intensive care unit. A donor reached by The Seattle Times said her husband received the email and the two set up an appointment. She told the outlet she assumed the general public also received the notice. Another who received the link from a donor told the outlet they were able to sign up and receive a vaccination and then then signed up dozens of others within days, mostly seniors of color who were unable to get appointments elsewhere. According to the hospital, it has administered more than 11,000 vaccines 'and will soon administer vaccines for over 40,000 community members who have upcoming appointments scheduled through our online system.' Overlake was one of the first hospitals to treat the novel coronavirus in February 2020 following the nation's first outbreak in Seattle. Update: The Madison County Sheriffs Office says the shooting happened at the Papa Johns Pizza at 12793 Highway 231 in Hazel Green. It says two employees got into an altercation when one of them was shot. That person died. The department says its investigators and CSI are at the scene. It says the investigation is early and ongoing at this time. Original story: The Madison County Sheriffs Office is investigating a deadly shooting Wednesday night at a vape shop in Hazel Green. A spokesperson for Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, Don Webster, says the 911 call came in at 8:49 p.m. about a male with a gunshot wound at Elk River Vape Shop on Highway 231/431 North. He says the victim died at the scene. We have a reporter on the way to the scene and will provide updates on air and online. Recruitment rules: The (CAG) has released a notification inviting comments on the proposed recruitment rules to the posts of auditor and accountant on its official website at gov.in. Stakeholders have been advised to share their comments through the prescribed format by February 19, 2021. The notification includes a state-wise break up of posts tentatively to be filled in 2021. According to the notification, around 10,811 vacancies would be filled up out of which, 4,402 vacancies are for Accountants and 6,409 for Auditor Posts. The candidates can check the proposed eligibility criteria below including age limit, selection criteria and other details. How to share comments on CAG recruitment proposed recruitment notice? Candidates can submit applications through the offline mode. The applications will be submitted at Shri V S Venkatanathan, Asstt. C&AG (N), O/o the C&AG of India, 9, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi- 110124. CAG Recruitment 2021: Educational qualification (as per the CAG notification on draft recruitment rules) Candidates need to have a graduation degree from any recognised University/Board/Institute or equivalent. The age limit is between 18 years and 27 years. Age relaxation is applicable to candidates falling under specified reserved categories. CAG Recruitment 2021: Pay Scale The pay matrix fixed for CAG Auditor and Accountant posts is Level- 5 (Rs 29,200- 92,300). About CAG The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is the Constitutional Authority in the country established under Article 148 of the Constitution of India. CAG is empowered to audit all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the State Governments, including those of autonomous bodies and corporations substantially financed by the Government. The CAG is ranked ninth and has the same status as a sitting judge of Supreme Court of India in order of precedence. Argentinas national state oil company YPF just cannot function in a stable and foreseeable manner, an apprehension that was rekindled by Guillermo Nielsen stepping down from his post of company president merely a year after taking its helm. Seemingly, the decision was taken amicably as Nielsen claimed his decision originated in a new challenge offered to him, namely that of becoming Argentinas ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The circumstances of Nielsens departure, however, point to more structural forces compelling the erstwhile Finance secretary to quit YPF forces that could potentially jeopardize the accomplishments of 2020; a year that was exorbitantly difficult for both the state and oil producers, yet managed to kickstart a couple of genuinely positive policy shifts. Bloomberg has reported that the main reason behind Nielsens ouster is his marginalization from high-level decision making within the company, alluding to Vice President Kirchner expanding her influence again. In many ways, Argentina has long needed to return to normalcy and Alberto Fernandez winning the December 2019 presidential elections seemed to be auguring a new era of technocrats where ideological penchants and political proclivities mattered less than competence. This was exemplified by Argentinas troubled policy making in COVID times when the Fernandez administration managed to breach the ideological gap between the Justicialistas and the Macristas, involving both the Buenos Aires mayor Horacio Larreta and Buenos Aires governor Axel Kicillof into a drastic nationwide effort to halt the spread of coronavirus. The nomination of Pablo Gonzalez, a former deputy governer of Santa Cruz and the son of Nestor Kirchners closest confidantes, presents a return to the traditional nature Argentinian politics, biased and clannish. The move to swap a widely recognized economist for a politician seems counterintuitive under current circumstances for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, YPF is right in the midst of a debt restructuring that would have seen $6.2 billion dedicated for a bonds for debt swap. The Nielsen ouster has predictably sent YPF down the drain, leaving the question of what exactly would happen to the debt restructuring mechanism. Secondly, the switch seems rather odd considering odd Nielsen was Argentinas Finance Secretary throughout the 2005 debt restructuring negotiations. Related: The 5 Best Utility Stocks In 2021 Graph 1. YPF Stock in 2015-2021 (in Argentinian pesos). Source: Thomson Reuters. Seeing its stock plummet YPF shares dropped from 720 ARS on January 07 to 520 ARS on January 21 the Argentinian national oil company was forced to alter its initial debt restructuring proposal. Initially it wanted to pay no interest on the bonds in their first 2 years (2021/2022), now YPF is already offering limited interest payments (4% for bonds maturing in 2026, 2.5% for 2029 maturity and 1.5% for 2033 maturity). Initially YPF was offering 8.5% interest for 2026 and 2029 maturity bonds, now it has raised the coupon rate to 9%. Interestingly, at the time of this writing (January 28), i.e. a whole week after Nielsens announcement that he would step down Gonzalez was still not named as his successor, despite the entire Argentinian political spectrum treating it as an immutable fact. There is not much available in terms of Gonzalezs future policy at the helm of Argentinas national oil company, the little that we have indicates that the new boss would favor a decentralization of the company, perhaps implying a boost to all the mature conventional basins that have been running low in the 2010s. This would dovetail with YPFs long-mooted plan to introduce secondary and tertiary recovery techniques in its non-shale assets which happen to be located in the south of the country. The Argentine public might be entertained for a certain period of time with stories of YPF selling its headquarters in Buenos Aires (built by Repsol in 2005-2008, then elegantly renamed to Repsol-YPF Tower after the 2012 renationalization), the true story, however, revolves around Vaca Muerta. Related: The Surprising Rise And Fall Of A Shale Superstar The inopportune timing of YPF sliding back into the left-leaning wing of the Justicialist Party might undercut most of President Fernandezs efforts to render Argentina more attractive to foreign investors. Confronted with COVID shutdowns and a subsequent decline in both oil and gas production, the Fernandez administration has temporarily scrapped the 8% tax on oil exports (having already decreased from the Macri-era level of 12% in 2019), heralded in a new gas incentive scheme and introduced a currency repatriation regime, longtime a no-go zone for Argentinian energy policy, for companies willing to provide gas to the national electricity providers (to a total of 70 MCm per day, split between various regions). Graph 2. Argentinas Crude Exports in 2017-2021 (000 barrels per day). Source: Thomson Reuters. Last year has witnessed a precipitous drop in Argentinian crude exports, just as they were ramping up to 150-160kbpd in April/May 2020. The decline was closely correlated with the currency repatriation availabilities of Argentinas legal system and domestic demand crude that usually hovers around 0.5mbpd in essence, by cutting capital expenses and squeezing drilling strategies to their lowest possible extent. Now, however, when crude prices have bounced above the assumed breakeven level of Vaca Muerta production (around 45 USD per barrel) and the state guarantees the 3.7 per MMbtu gas pricing level, most of market conditions required for a quick rebound are in place. Nevertheless, something is missing still. Meagre domestic demand for both oil and gas certainly does weigh on heavily on Argentinas appeal, caused first by the May-to-November shutdown and now the ongoing one, too, yet a sense of long-term insecurity has also added to the concerns of potential investors. Price controls, not to speak of capital controls, remain in vigor despite all the mooted liberalization. Assuming the CEO swap is a fait accompli, Argentina now needs to ensure maximum continuity within the policy charted by the previous YPF top management any hint of increased political interference would increase the cost of saving the NOCs long-term upstream prospects. It would be more than regrettable if Argentina were to slip back into irrelevance just as it was ramping up its crude exports and started up its LNG export terminal in Bahia Blanca. By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Telstra boss Andy Penn has welcomed in the new year with a message to the business community - dont hold your breath waiting for the pre-COVID conditions to return. The uncertainty of 2020 is the new normal - the world has changed and the old one has disappeared. Telstra boss Andy Penn spoke to businesspeople from his home office in Melbourne on Thursday. There seems to be a strong desire for things to return to normal, but this is the wrong thinking as it will never return to normal, Penn said on Thursday. How we work, how we travel and how we live generally will not look and feel the same as it did 12 months ago. It is therefore better to spend our energy in accepting the changes that need to come and embrace a new way of living and working. Sorry! This content is not available in your region HOLYOKE A lengthy Soldiers Home in Holyoke meeting Wednesday concluded with a fiery dialogue between trustees pushing for a larger new facility, while state officials warned that any delays in their plans for a smaller one could sink the entire project. Gov. Charlie Baker recently authorized a rapid plan to build a new Soldiers Home after 76 veterans died during a COVID-19 outbreak last spring. The administration has pushed a plan for a $300 million state-of-the-art site to replace the current long-term care home for veterans, including an adult day health center, primarily private rooms and other enhancements at the 70-year-old facility on the hill. On Wednesday night, trustees unanimously accepted the states current plan for a new building, with the caveat that the proposal be amended to reflect a plan for an eight-floor facility with a greater number of beds. The states current plan provides for a seven-floor facility with a maximum of 192 beds. Trustees argued the plan should include a census closer to 235 beds -- the homes pre-pandemic census. State officials did not immediately commit to the trustees counterproposal during what became a contentious meeting. On the telephonic board meeting were all seven trustees, project managers, a state attorney, members of a grassroots coalition formed to advocate for the Soldiers Home, state Secretary of Veterans Services Cheryl Poppe and Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance Alda Rego. Poppe and Rego warned that trustees pushback over the size of the home could imperil the entire project, which faces an April 15 deadline to apply for federal funding. The project also will hinge on Baker signing a $300 million bond bill by Aug. 1. The governor stands ready to sign that bond bill. Any delay ... might trip us up, Rego said. Trustees Isaac Mass and Kevin Jourdain shot back that they believed the state was advancing a substandard plan. You want us to accept this as: Have a nice day because you wont meet the deadline? No, Mass said. Jourdain argued the state should have taken input from the board about the number of beds to include in its proposal. The number one decision-maker is at the table now, said Jourdain, referring to the board of trustees. Jourdain was removed as chairman earlier this month in favor of Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. That demotion occurred after Jourdain challenged the Baker administration in court over hiring and firing authority related to top Soldiers Home officials. Superintendent Bennett Walsh and medical director Dr. David Clinton resigned in the wake of the outbreak and face criminal neglect charges over their response to it. Trustees in December appointed National Guard Col. Michael Lazo as acting superintendent, rejecting the administrations choice for the position. Jourdain on Wednesday suggested the group pump the brakes on a smaller facility and wait another year to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Id rather be goofed for a year than another 75 years, Jourdain said. Delaying is a very dangerous game, after this team has worked so hard, Rego countered. And (the administration) has the authority under the constitution to file the application for this funding not this board. The players agree to bring the prospect of more beds to Bakers administration, and take up the matter once again at the trustees next meeting in early February. This is why the people of Western Massachusetts have a board of trustees from Western Massachusetts, to protect their veterans, Jourdain said following the meeting. Related Content: In a few days the nation will mark the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of immigrants from India on May 30, 1845. They would come every year up to 1917, except for a short break between 1848 and 1851, transforming the local society. Equatorial Guinea Blogger pushes to fulfill work obligations under Project King with Jose Villajero (NJ Ayuk) Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot We call on all educators, parents and students in Chicago and across the country to join the national network of educators rank-and-file safety committees and to attend our next meeting on Saturday, January 30, at 1 p.m. EST (12 p.m. CST). Chicago Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) ordered 5,800 teachers to return for in-person instruction at the beginning of January. Teachers who refused to return to in-person learning as the deadly COVID-19 virus raged through Chicago were labeled by the district as absent without leave. Their pay was docked, and their computer access locked. The World Socialist Web Site recently interviewed Jake, one of nearly 150 locked-out educators. Jake was a physical education (PE) teacher at a CPS elementary school for five and a half years until recently. He quit the profession after being locked out. In a demonstration of its complicity with the Democratic city administration, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has done nothing to mobilize 23,000 educators to defend the locked-out teachers or to reject the dangerous push to in-person learning by Lightfoot and the Biden administration. Jake, a locked out Chicago Public Schools teacher Jake was one of over 915 educators who defied the districts order to return to school buildings on January 4. While doing the first week remote, Jake began receiving threatening emails from the district. The CTU was kind of like, Well, we dont want you to go in, but you go ahead if you want to. There was no communication of what reopening was going to look like, Jake said. CPS attempted to resume in-person learning three times since the start of the school year. Everything was last minute. A week before we were supposed to go back, we got some more new information. Everything was okay [with remote learning] and then all of a sudden, within the last few months, they just rushed us all back. The reopening plan proposed by CPS divided teachers into three reopening groups, a process the CTU allowed. That creates a lot of division right there between teachers, Jake said. If they made everybody start on January 4, everyone at one time would have said No. But you choose those two groups to send first, the preschool teachers and special ed teachers. I feel like both CPS and the CTU just preyed on that though. Kindergarten through eighth grade teachers were to return on January 25 and no date was set for high school teachers. With the pandemic spreading, Jake said, We were just the test animals [for CPS]. It was like, Lets see if they dont get sick. Lets see if its clean. But I dont want to be the experiment. In a school district that is massively underfunded, many buildings are also dirty, dilapidated and poorly ventilated. The boys bathroom outside the gym didnt even have soap for most of the year, Jake said. I dont know how they can deep clean every school like they say they are going to when they cant even keep soap, paper towels, or working hand dryers in the school? The principal of his school initially offered to let people who didnt teach preschool work remotely for the second week. I didnt have preschoolers that week. So, I wouldnt have had to report, Jake said. Despite being told he didnt need to return Jake was locked out along with other teachers who refused to return that week. They did a one swoop lockout Monday night about 6:30 p.m. It was shocking. The school sent an email to all the students, about the PE teacher, about the enrichment teachers that are gone, saying, Your teacher is unavailable, and you are to work on your own. Teachers were locked out based upon following what the union was saying to do. And the CTU just left us hanging. I think theyre wrong for letting us go into the buildings and just waiting for the official strike thing, he said. The CTU did not take a strike authorization vote until January 20, 16 days after teachers were originally slated to return. CTU is talking about doing stuff now. But weve been locked out since January 10. Theyve abandoned us and CPS has pushed them to do that. I feel like the day I was locked out is the day the strike started. But it wasnt a full union thing. The school gymnasium currently remains closed due to the pandemic. CPS repurposed it as a storage area. The school expected Jake to teach five classes a day in-person and move between classrooms. By having over 400 students in a week, a PE teacher could easily become a super-spreader of the deadly disease. Other districts such as in New York and Los Angeles, with the complicity of the unions, have closed and reopened as COVID-19 infection rates rise and fall, putting educators and the population at risk. Jake sees this as a reason to continue remote learning. I think it creates too much turmoil for the kids when they go back and then shut down again. At his school, only 24 percent of parents elected to send their children back for in-person learning. There have already been two cases reported this month despite the small number of students and teachers who have returned. Jake doesnt consider himself a Republican or Democrat, but he denounced both parties equally. Im a union guy, but I feel like its all just politics now. The CTU, CPS are all corrupt. Politicians in general are corrupt. Those people up at the top are doing it for their own good and their own gain. And theyre not caring about us down here. In early December, Jake contracted COVID-19. While he is only 31 and otherwise healthy, he noted, I couldnt leave the bed for ten days. I had trouble breathing. It sucked. There are probably only ten teachers under the age of 37 out of 80 staff members. Theres so many that are at risk. The kids. The adults. No one should get sick. The only way to contain this, is not to go back right now. This is going to be a long battle, Jake added. Teaching isnt going to look normal for quite a while. Being locked out, it just really made all my inklings of wanting to leave just so much clearer. Locked out with no resolution in sight, Jake submitted his resignation. After I handed in my formal resignation, CPS sent me a letter and they didnt even spell my name correctly. That was a slap in the face. They dont even care who theyre letting retire or resign, he said. If I could say one thing to other teachers: Dont listen to the outside noise. We go there every day and fight for the kids. The people higher up are just playing with us. And theyve caused division between us teachers. Were doing whats right. Whether were in the school district where we have to be back in person, or whether we are locked out at CPS, were in it together. Chicago teachers and educators need their own strategy and organization, wholly independent of both big business parties and the CTU to oppose the deadly school reopening plan until the population is vaccinated and the pandemic is contained. We urge all Chicago-area educators to get involved with the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee and unite workers in the fight for the closure of schools and non-essential workplaces with full income protection for workers and small businesses until the infection is under control. BISHKEK -- Sadyr Japarov, in jail on hostage-taking charge just three months ago, has been sworn in as Kyrgyzstan's president after his landslide election victory earlier this month. In a decidedly low-key inauguration ceremony due to coronavirus concerns, the 52-year-old Japarov was sworn in on January 28 at the National Philharmonic Hall in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan has been in crisis since parliamentary elections in October led to protests that triggered the toppling of the government and the resignation of then-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov -- the third time since 2005 that a Kyrgyz president and his government had been ousted by protests. Japarov was among several prominent politicians freed from prison by protesters during the unrest. He had been serving a 10-year prison sentence for hostage taking during a protest against a mining operation in northeast Kyrgyzstan in October 2013. He has steadfastly denied the charge. After taking the oath of office, Japarov, who won more than 79 percent of the vote in the January 10 election, called on all political groups including his opponents, ethnic groups, and nongovernmental and religious organizations to unite and work together for the Central Asian nation's better future. Japarov emphasized that he will stick to a "multipronged" foreign policy, stressing that Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan will be major partners under his leadership. "I, like all patriots of the country, dream that Kyrgyzstan will become economically developed, dynamic, strong, and free," Japarov said. "A country where human rights are observed, where there is a dictatorship of law, and youth look to the future with optimism," he added, echoing a catchprase used by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was among the first leaders to congratulate Japarov on his election victory. International observers said the election "generally respected" fundamental freedoms even though the vote was not "fully fair." A joint ODIHR/OSCE Parliamentary Assembly preliminary report concluded that candidates "could mostly campaign freely" but the campaign was "dominated by one candidate who benefited from disproportionate financial means and misuse of administrative resources, resulting in an uneven playing field." Authored by Raj Thevar, Team Lead SEO, BC Web Wise With 500 million users using Instagram Stories everyday, it is of no surprise that other social media platforms have joined the bandwagon. This includes Google as well! Stories have become more and more popular and have shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Google Stories or web stories are a web-based version of the popular Stories format that is a mix of video, audio, images, animation and text. This makes for a dynamic consumption experience. These stories can appear anywhere across Search, Google Discover, and Google Imagines. The benefit of Google Stories is that it lets the user explore content at their own pace by tapping through, swiping from one piece to the next. Other advantages include boosting search engine optimisation, improved user experience, and enhanced server performance. What are AMP Stories? Along similar lines to Google Stories, AMP Stories were launched which are a mobile focused format that delivers news and information as visually rich, tap-through stories. In short, AMP Stories are a new, creative and visually rich way of storytelling. While this seems to follow the footsteps of Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, the advantage AMP Stories enjoys is being backed by the worlds go-to search engine. How AMP Stories and SEO boost your traffic from mobile More than 60 percent of Google organic search traffic is coming from mobile devices. More people are searching from their mobile than from their desktop Google SERP (Search Engine Results Pages) features AMP Stories During the last AMPConf in Tokyo, Google announced that the stories would have a prominent place on Google Search for Mobile under a section called Visual Stories. AMP Stories (and any AMP websites) are also promoted in Google Search Image You can find more AMP Stories in Google Discover How to rank first on Google with AMP Stories Develop evergreen content for AMP Stories: Stories which will be relevant even after a considerable amount of time has passed will be best for AMP Stories Link performing web pages and stories: Backlinking and interlinking web pages and stories with high ranks also helps in ensuring that your content is shown on Googles AMP Stories An excellent user experience is key: And finally, if your content proves to be of high recall to the user, chances are they will come back for it. Google will also push the content that people are most interested in. If your business requires you to dabble in content marketing, and you are looking for a way to make headlines then indulging in AMP Stories of your own is the best way to go! Seattle The Securities and Exchange Commission SEC SEC SEC SEC New York State Common Retirement Fund Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol The Nathan Cummings Foundation SEC AFL-CIO NFL's Rooney Rule AFL-CIO Brandon Rees SEC AFL-CIO's AFL-CIO Roz Brewer Seattle Walgreens Boots Alliance Feb. 16 Indra Nooyi Oxfam SEC Oxfam's Oxfam's Oxfam's Washington state Washington state Alabama U.S. New York State Common Retirement Fund Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (TNS) Amazon has asked federal regulators to block a number of shareholder proposals that strike at the heart of many recent criticisms of the-based commerce behemoth, including its stances on curbing hate speech and offensive content, diversity in hiring, workplace conditions for hourly warehouse employees and its surveillance technologies.If granted, Amazon's requests would mean shareholders would not have an opportunity to vote on those proposals at the company's shareholder meeting this year, where they would likely be rejected regardless. Last year, none of a dozen shareholder proposals was approved.) declined to comment Wednesday on whether it intended to allow Amazon to drop the proposals from the shareholder meeting docket.Companies often ask thefor permission to drop shareholder proposals they see as needless meddling into day-to-day business, and Amazon is no exception. Last year, it sought to exclude nine shareholder proposals before the annual meeting. Thesustained Amazon's request in seven of those instances.According to letters filed Tuesday with the, Amazon is now requesting the regulator block shareholder proposals asking the company to report on its efforts to check hate speech across its many platforms, consider qualified women and nonwhite candidates for open positions in all roles, add an hourly associate to its board of directors and assess whether its products with surveillance capabilities violate human rights.Amazon is also attempting to suppress a proposal from thethat would require the company to conduct an audit on race and diversity, Bloomberg reported last week.Even if Amazon is successful in preventing the proposals from surfacing at its shareholder meeting, the company likely will face continued scrutiny of the subjects of the petitions.In the aftermath of theriot at the, media outlets reported that white-supremacist and far-right militants had found havens on Amazon's online marketplace and cloud-computing infrastructure. Conservative-dominated social network Parler, which Amazon booted from its cloud-computing service due to what it deemed was a proliferation of posts advocating violence, recently argued in court that even as one Amazon division was flagging abusive content for review, another was attempting to upsell Parler on enhanced cloud-computing technologies., a Jewish nonprofit focused on social justice, introduced a shareholder proposal last month asking for a comprehensive report on Amazon's "efforts to address hate speech and the sale or promotion of offensive products throughout its businesses."At the time of the foundation's proposal, Amazon's policies on offensive products did not apply to books, music, video and DVDs, meaning that "with respect to these products, Amazon's algorithm for product searches proactively directs customers who search for white supremacist content to additional extremist content," the foundation wrote.Amazon said in a Monday letter to thethat a report on its efforts to repress hate speech is unnecessary because it had published a 559-word blog post the previous day outlining its policies and efforts to remove offensive product listings. And by Tuesday, Amazon had quietly updated its guidelines for books and similar materials to add a ban on "offensive content" that includes prohibitions on hate speech, according to archived versions of Amazon's Content Guidelines for Books.Amazon has also been dogged by critiques that its highest-paid employees are overwhelmingly white men, prompting a shareholder resolution from theasking Amazon to adopt something akin to the," requiring that recruiters consider a diverse pool of new hire candidates. The union's proposal indicated Amazon could decide precisely what diversity standard to implement."If you don't have a diverse pipeline of talent, it could be hard to fulfill the roles of ensuring equity throughout the organization," saiddeputy directorin an interview Wednesday. The union's proposal, he said, "is not a silver bullet to ensuring equity, but we think it's an important and useful tool."In a letter to theasking for permission to nix theproposal, Amazon argued that it did not need to set goals for candidate diversity because it has already "substantially implemented" similar measures by partnering with diverse colleges and institutions and hosting career fairs "to help people regardless of their level of experience, professional field, or background find new opportunities." Last year, Amazon doubled the number of Black directors and vice presidents at the company, and "is committed to doubling representation again in 2021," according to the letter.Amazon said in its letter that while it is "fully aligned with the objective of the Proposal," ensuring that new employees are hired from a diverse pool of candidates may be infeasible in the context of its massive push to staff new fulfillment centers. Amazon hired more than 400,000 new workers worldwide last year as it expanded its warehouse footprint by 50% to meet pandemic-induced demand for online shopping.Theacknowledged in its petition that Amazon has made substantial efforts to increase the number of women and people of color working at the company. Still, 72% of Amazon managers were white and 59% were men at the end of 2019, the last year for which Amazon has reported data, and men are overrepresented in Amazon's overall workforce.Amazon's board of directors will soon lose its only Black member, former Starbucks chief operating officer. The-based coffee chain announced Tuesday that Brewer is leaving Starbucks to helm, which competes with Amazon's recent forays into the mail-order pharmacy business.Brewer will depart Amazon's board effective, according to a Wednesday federal securities filing. The only other person of color on the board is PepsiCo executiveAn Amazon spokesperson declined to respond on the record to questions about the company's plans to replace Brewer, but said in a statement that Brewer has "been hugely valuable because of her customer-obsessed mindset, passion for innovation, and focus on operational excellence. We're thrilled to see Roz's talent recognized by Walgreens and wish her success in her new role."Amazon is also pushing back on an-sponsored proposal encouraging the company to appoint an employee representative to the board of directors, introduced in response to complaints over how Amazon treats the hundreds of thousands of hourly associates staffing its warehouses.Amazon told thethatproposal is too similar to another shareholder initiative the company plans to consider at its annual shareholder meeting. That petition asks Amazon to place a "nonexecutive employee" on the board.resolution specifies the employee should be an hourly wage-earner.proposal pointed to reports of high injury rates and low wages for Amazon warehouse workers. In, for instance, Amazon fulfillment centers file so many compensation claims for injured workers that the state's labor bureau decided to charge Amazon higher insurance premiums than other warehouses. In, Amazon has the fourth-largest number of employees using federal food stamps.In, workers at an Amazon fulfillment center will soon vote on whether to form a union, a first for the company'sworkers. The unionization drive has largely focused on workplace safety and wage issues.Amazon also hopes to exclude four proposals focused on how the company interacts with law-enforcement agencies because they are too similar to another petition, from theAll five proposals requested Amazon conduct an audit of the company's impact on civil rights. Some proposals specified the report should consider the implications of its cloud-computing contracts with police and national security agencies, as well as the use of its facial recognition software Rekognition and Ring home-security products. Only one of the five proposals will be presented to shareholders.Many of the resolutions Amazon hopes will not be raised at the shareholder meeting were organized by the. Amazon has not issued objections to five other shareholder resolutions submitted in partnership with the religious group, including requests for reports on the company's facial-recognition technology, efforts to reduce the use of plastic packaging and lobbying expenditures. A desperate search has been launched to find a young woman who disappeared from her home in Melbourne. Emma Whitehead, 25, was last seen in Kew in the city's eastern suburbs on Australia Day. Victoria Police shared two photos, one taken more recently, of the young woman on Thursday night in the hopes someone from the public will recognise her. Police released photos of the missing woman (pictured) on Thursday night as a desperate search is launched to find her Emma Whitehead, 25, was last seen in Kew in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on Australia Day Ms Whitehead is of Caucasian appearance and has long brown hair. Anybody who has seen the 25-year-old or has information on her whereabouts has been urged to contact Boroondara Police Station on (03) 8851 1111. The Osceola County Sheriffs Office said it is investigating a video that appears to show a school resource officer slamming a high school student to the ground. Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez said he has asked to Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an independent criminal investigation in the interest of transparency. Officials said they were sent video of an incident on Tuesday at Liberty High School in Kissimmee near Orlando. In the video, you can see the white deputy, whos been identified as Ethan Fournier, slamming the Black female student into the ground, before putting her hands behind her back. According to sheriffs officials, Fournier was trying to break up an incident between the girl and another student before he took further action. It was a disruption of a school function the student was not complying with lawful commands. She went after another student and from there excelled, and thats where the continued investigation is going from there, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said. They say Fournier has been with the agency for about 10 years and has no history of any misconduct. He is now on paid administrative leave. Sheriffs officials said the girls parents are aware of the situation. They said she was medically attended at the scene and is doing OK. They also say there is more to the video. Other students and another resource officer may be involved. (Natural News) Parler cried foul over the House Oversight Committees letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requesting an investigation, claiming that its CEO, John Matze, and his wife have been smeared in the process. The committees chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), last week asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to begin a robust investigation into whether Parler played a role in the Capitol attack. Over the past few weeks, Parler has been repeatedly mischaracterized and treated unjustly. But the recent personal attacks on our CEO John, his wife Alina, and their family are reprehensible, the company posted on its website Thursday, Jan. 21. Alina, whose working-class family lived in the former Soviet Union, came to America to start her own multi-racial, interfaith family with John, it added. To subject them to baseless accusations that their marriage is part of some twisted espionage scheme all because she is an immigrant is precisely the sort of racism, nativism, fear, [and] demonization President Joe Biden urged us to reject in his inaugural address. Parler was referring to Maloneys call to investigate whether the social media website is a potential conduit for foreign governments after the company retained the services of Russian company DDoS-Guard for traffic rerouting. Maloney claimed that Parler was founded by Matze shortly after he traveled to Russia with his wife, who is a Russian national and whose family reportedly has ties with the Russian government. The entire Parler Team stands behind John and Alina, the company stated in its post. Our new President called for unity: 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. The smears against John and Alina are exactly the sort of tactics he is imploring us all to abandon. Lets all commit to working together toward unity and healing. Parler was de-platformed by Big Tech companies in recent weeks, citing the apps inability to moderate violent contents before and after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. A Washington State court refused Parlers request to have it order Amazon Web Services (AWS) to reinstate its service after AWS suspended its hosting service two weeks ago. (Related: Parler sues Amazon for terminating hosting services in a discriminatory, monopolistic fashion.) Republican solons criticize Maloney for singling our Parler Not everyone on the House Oversight Committee was in favor of Maloney. Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Greg Steube (R-FL) jointly wrote a letter to Maloney Monday, Jan. 25, criticizing her call to investigate Parler while sparing other social media platforms. Casting blame on a single social media company known for its conservative user base while simply ignoring other social media companies known for sympathizing with liberal causes is blatantly and overtly partisan, they stated in the letter. Comer and Steube said Maloneys accusations directed to Parler completely omit the fact that other social media platforms were also facilitators of the Jan. 6 riot. A cursory search of other social media platforms yields identical, disturbing posts, from across the political spectrum, advocating for a wide swathe of positions, demonizing an equally diverse group of people, they wrote, referring to posts found on Facebook and Twitter. The two Republicans also claimed that casting Parler as a potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the U.S. without one iota of evidence is reckless. Your call for an investigation into Parler is a transparently political ploy taking advantage of the tragedy that occurred on Jan. 6 to shut down speech Democrats dislike, they wrote. The lawmakers also called for any potential FBI probe to include Facebook and Twitter and the roles those companies played to contribute to the Jan. 6 riot. Meanwhile, Parler COO Jeffrey Wernick told Fox News that the company welcomes a robust examination of our policies and actions. Like other social media platforms, we have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement efforts to identify and prosecute those individuals responsible for organizing and carrying out the shameless Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, he said. Follow TechGiants.news for more news and information related to Big Tech censorship. Sources include: NonPerele.com TheEpochTimes.com If you cannot find details on where a site is based, consider buying from an alternative website ONLINE shoppers have been warned not to assume that a website is based in the European Union just because it has a .ie domain name. Buying from sites outside the EU can mean taxes and charges will be added to the sales prices, while inferior consumer rights may apply, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said. Here are some ways to avoid an online bargain turning into a Brexit bum deal. Q: If I buy from a site that has a .ie or a .eu domain name surely that is a seller based in the EU? A: Even if the site has a .ie or .eu domain this is no guarantee the business is registered or based in the European Union, the CCPC warns. If you cannot find details on where the site is based then consider buying from an alternative website. If the registered address is outside of the EU, which now includes the UK, then your consumer rights may be different. Read More Q: What charges apply if I buy from my favourite website in Britain? A: All online shopping orders received from the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) are now subject to Irish Vat and customs charges. You can avoid import charges by keeping the value (including cost, transport, insurance and handling charges) of any item ordered from the UK below 22. If the customs value is more than 22, you must usually pay Irish Vat even if you have been charged UK Vat on your purchase. You need to seek a refund of the UK Vat from the supplier if you have been charged for it. Where the value of the item alone (excluding transport, insurance and handling charges) is more than 150, you may have to pay both Vat and customs duty. Q: What are the consumer protections if I buy from a UK site? A: If you are buying from a non-EU website, including a UK website, you may not automatically have the right to return a purchase, or the timeframes for returns may have changed. So, before you buy always check terms and conditions to find out what it says about returns, the CCPC says. This includes the right to return an item if you change your mind, the right to cancel an order before it is sent to you, and find out who pays for the cost of returning it you, or the business? Q: What are my rights if I buy from a European site, including those in Ireland? A: If you buy from an EU-based business you have strong consumer protections, which ensures that you have enough, clear information and are not mislead before you make a purchase. You also have the right to a refund if something goes wrong. Buying from a non-EU website means that these rights do not automatically apply. Q: I have been waiting weeks for a delivery. Who is responsible for this? A: If you buy from an EU website your purchases should be delivered within 30 days. If the business does not deliver it to you within the timeframe agreed they should agree a different date, or cancel the contract and get a refund. The CCPC says a business is responsible for a purchase until it is delivered to you. Washington: According to a new federal report released on Thursday, majority of hate crimes experienced by residents of US over a period of 12 years were not reported to police. The report stoked advocates' concerns ongoing tensions between law enforcement and black and Latino communities. More than half of the 250,000 hate crimes that took place each year between 2004 and 2015 went unreported to law enforcement for a variety of reasons, according to a special report on hate crimes from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Hate crimes were most often not reported because they were handled some other way, the report said. But people also did not come forward because they didn't feel it was important or that police would help. The report, based on a survey of households, is one of several studies that aim to quantify hate crimes. Its release comes as the Justice Department convenes a meeting on Thursday with local law enforcement officials and experts to discuss hate crimes, including a lack of solid data on the problem nationwide. Attorney General Jeff Session is scheduled to speak. The new survey shows the limits of hate crime reporting, said Brian Levin, the director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University. "Many victims don't report hate crimes because of personal and institutional reasons," Levin said. For example, some Latino immigrants may be reluctant to call police after an apparent hate crime for fear of deportation, he said. Advocates fear that problem is worsening as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement. The report says Hispanics were victimized at the highest rate, followed by blacks. "I think this report shows the kind of fear that is going on in our communities," said Patricia Montes, executive director of the Boston-based immigrant advocacy group Centro Presente. She worries Latinos will even be more reluctant to report hate crimes in the future. The new report said there was no significant increase in the number of hate crimes between 2004 and 2015. It cites racial bias as the top motivation, representing more than 48 per cent of the cases between 2011 and 2015. Hate crimes motivated by ethnicity accounted for about 35 per cent of those cases, and sexual orientation represented about 22 per cent. Almost all of those surveyed said they felt they were experiencing a hate crime because of something the perpetrator said. Law enforcement officials have long grappled with how to catalog hate crimes. While some victims' distrust of police keeps them from coming forward, Levin said, some LGBT victims may opt not to report a hate crime for fear of losing a job or being outed to family. Levin said many large cities are claiming they had no hate crimes calling into question the reliability of federal hate crimes data that are based on voluntary submissions from police departments. "We have Columbus, Ohio, reporting more hate crimes thanthe state of Florida," he said. Eric Treene, the Justice Department's special counsel for religious discrimination, lamented the lack of solid data on hate crimes during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in May, saying incomplete numbers stymie officials' ability to fully understand the problem. But he said the department is committed to prosecuting hate crimes, even as critics have blamed the Trump administration's tough rhetoric and policies for a spike in such offenses. Civil rights groups said investigating and prosecuting hate crimes alone would be insufficient. "It's past time for the Trump administration and the Sessions Justice Department to demonstrate, through action and its megaphone, its full and unflagging commitment to preventing hate-based violence and harassment that hurts our communities and destroys the fabric of our nation," said Vanita Gupta, the top civil rights official in the Obama Justice Department and president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Uranium Royalty Corp. (TSXV: URC) ("URC" or the "Company") invites investors and shareholders to attend the Company's presentation at the TD Securities Mining Conference today at 3:40pm EST. President and CEO, Scott Melbye, will provide an update on the Company and answer investors' questions during his live webcast. Interested investors can register to attend URC's presentation on January 28, 2021 via the TD Mining Conference registration link: https://bit.ly/3t5HhFS The presentation will be recorded and made available on the Company's website after the conference. About Uranium Royalty Corp. Uranium Royalty Corp. is a pure-play uranium royalty company focused on gaining exposure to uranium prices by making strategic investments in uranium interests, including royalties, streams, debt and equity investments in uranium companies, as well as through holdings of physical uranium. The Company's strategy recognizes the inherent cyclicality of valuations based on uranium prices, including the impact of such cyclicality on the availability of capital within the uranium sector and the current historically low uranium pricing environment. The Company intends to execute on its strategy by leveraging the deep industry knowledge and expertise of its management team and its board to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in the uranium industry. The Company's management and board include individuals with over 130 years of combined experience in the uranium and nuclear energy sectors, including specific expertise in mine finance, project identification and evaluation, mine development and uranium sales and trading. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements", including statements regarding the Company's strategy and business plans. Forward-looking statements are statements that address or discuss activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations and beliefs of the Company's management. Because forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and its industry may be materially different from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant uncertainties, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation those set forth in the Company's final long form prospectus dated November 22, 2019 and other disclosure documents, available at www.sedar.com. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying upon forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Uranium Royalty Corp. [January 28, 2021] Gesa Credit Union choses Scienaptic's AI-powered credit decisioning platform for sharper credit underwriting NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scienaptic AI, the world's leading AI-powered credit decisioning platform provider, announced the deployment of its platform at GESA Credit Union. This deployment will enable Gesa Credit Union to use AI for making sharper credit decisions and enhance credit access to members - especially the financially stressed ones during economic recovery & beyond. Gesa Credit Union is the second-largest credit union in Washington state, serving over 250,000 members around the world. Gesa has a rich history of providing financial services to Washington state and reflects the early-day Credit Union motto, "people helping people". Gesa continues to add services and products that are convenient, economical, and desirable for members. Through Scienaptic's AI-powered creditdecisioning platform, member experience and credit access will be further enhanced. "The early days of the pandemic saw a sharp drop in loans. We formulated multiple partnerships to reverse this trend and help members outlast the crisis. While traditional lenders have tightened their belts, we are tightening our credit strategies and investing in new, long-term initiatives to grow member relationships. The use of Scienaptic's AI-powered credit decisioning platform will help us maintain this strong commitment to member centricity and growth. We expect the platform to add significant value to our underwriting strategies and help thousands of members impacted by the crisis," added Kevin Willborn, VP of Consumer Lending at Gesa Credit Union. Pankaj Jain, President of Scienaptic AI, says, "We are very excited to help Gesa Credit Union increase credit availability for members in line with its motto of people helping people. Our platform's unique adaptive AI will optimize credit strategies, resulting in more approvals faster, better pricing, and superior member experience." About Gesa Credit Union From modest beginnings in 1953, Gesa Credit Union has grown from a part-time office operating out of a shoebox to the second-largest credit union in Washington State, serving more than 255,000 members around the world. Gesa Credit Union is headquartered in Richland, Washington, and has 18 branch locations and 500+ employees. Gesa has a rich history of providing its membership convenient access to an array of consumer, mortgage, and business products and services. Gesa as a community-chartered credit union continues to experience explosive growth. About Scienaptic AI: Scienaptic AI is on a mission to increase credit availability by transforming technology used in credit decisioning. Over 150 years of credit experience is embedded in Scienaptic's AI native credit decision platform. Our clients across banks, credit unions, fintech, and other lenders use the platform to improve the quality of underwriting decisions continually. This enables them to say 'yes' to borrowers more often and faster. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gesa-credit-union-choses-scienaptics-ai-powered-credit-decisioning-platform-for-sharper-credit-underwriting-301217081.html SOURCE Scienaptic AI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Melanie said strangers have 'demanded' to know if they are all in a relationship It outlines days when Melanie can have alone time with Cliff, 69, and Charity, 45 Melanie, 56, has an agreement with the couple setting out their sex schedules A woman has revealed how she navigates her a polyamorous relationship with a couple, by agreeing on their sex schedule and date nights in advance. Melanie Moseley, from Portland, Oregon, started dating couple Cliff Rees, 69, and Charity Joy, 45, back in January 2019, after first meeting them both individually. The performance instructor, 56, who said she used to be a 'serial cheater', has an agreement with the couple which outlines their date nights and sex schedules. The schedule sets out specific days when Melanie can have 'alone time' with either Cliff or Charity, as well as days that they can spend time together as a throuple. Melanie Moseley (right), 56, from Portland, Oregon, has told of how she is in a polyamorous relationship with a couple - Cliff Rees (center), 69, and Charity Joy (left), 45 Melanie said that although she didn't expect a relationship to work with three people involved, she has found a 'deep connection' with Cliff and Charity. Their polyamorous relationship is not exclusive, and Melanie explained that she also has the 'freedom to date other people' as well as the couple. She continued: 'In the past I was a serial cheater, but now I've found a deep connection. 'I didn't expect a relationship to work with two people. 'But we're great communicators and we make sure that we schedule quality time with each other. 'I also have the freedom to date other people. Our relationship is really special.' Performance instructor Melanie (above), who said she was a 'serial cheater' in the past, has a verbal agreement with the couple which sets out their date night and sex schedules The agreement outlines days each week when Melanie can have 'alone time' with Cliff and Charity (all pictured), as well as days that they can spend time together as a throuple Melanie first met Cliff, a retired telecommunication executive, back in March 2018 while they were both at a salsa dancing class. Melanie, who is twice-divorced, said that 'sparks flew' between them, but she didn't see him again so she continued online dating and became a 'swinger' because it made her feel 'less trapped'. She explained: 'We danced together and sparks flew. But after that, I didn't see him again, so I carried on online dating. 'I am twice-divorced, so, in time, I became a swinger because it made me feel less trapped. 'But I still longed for a genuine connection with a man or woman.' And just seven months later, Melanie got chatting to Charity, who works as a psychologist, when they both performed at a dance show together. Melanie (left) said although she didn't expect a relationship to work with three people involved, she she has found a 'deep connection' with Cliff and Charity (right) Melanie described Charity as 'extremely sex-positive' and said that she 'fancied her', but unfortunately didn't get her number. But surprisingly, Melanie bumped into both Charity and Cliff in January 2019, who were on a date at a bar and had been seeing each other for around a month. Melanie said: 'I recognized them both immediately. They explained they were on a date and had been seeing each other for a month. 'I joined them and we all gelled so easily. Out of the blue, they invited me on a date. I was so excited.' One week later, she joined Charity and Cliff at their house and they had a threesome, before the couple said they were polyamorous and looking for a long-term partner. Melanie explained that she was excited to try a 'new way of dating' with the couple, and the trio quickly fell in love. Their polyamorous relationship is not exclusive and Melanie explained that she also has the 'freedom to date other people', as long as she practices 'safe sex' She continued: 'I was excited to try a new way of dating. I loved how kind Cliff was and Charity's playful side. Soon, we fell in love.' In March 2019, Melanie moved into Cliff and Charity's home but still wanted her freedom, so they became an open polyamorous triad. Melanie explained that the couple already had a list of rules for their relationship, something that appealed to her because she liked the idea of having 'clear expectations'. Their verbal agreement gives Melanie her own bedroom and she has a sex schedule with the couple - giving her 'alone time' with Charity on Fridays and with Cliff on 'set weekdays'. The trio also allocate one day a week where they go out for romantic dates as a trio, and they are 'allowed' to sleep with other people as long as they 'practice safe sex'. Melanie explained: 'We became an open polyamorous triad. But I still wanted my freedom. Melanie explained how her parents reacted to the throuple (pictured: Charity, Cliff and Melanie), saying her mother, who is in her 70s, told her she didn't want to her about her sex life Charity and Cliff (above) started dating in December 2018, before asking Melanie out on a date the following month, explaining they were polyamorous and looking for another partner 'Cliff and Charity explained they already had a written list of rules for their relationship. 'I loved the idea of having clear expectations, so I suggested we had a verbal agreement concerning all three of us. So, we decided I'd have my own bedroom downstairs. 'We all agreed we could still sleep with other people, as long as we practiced safe sex. We also allocated date nights. 'From then on, I had sex with Cliff whenever we felt like it on set weekdays, while Charity and I had alone time on Fridays. 'On Sundays, we go out for romantic dinners as a trio and have threesomes together in Charity and Cliff's bedroom.' Melanie explained how her parents reacted to the news that she was in a throuple, saying her mother, who is in her 70s, told her she didn't want to her about her sex life. Melanie said her parents have since given their blessing and spent Christmas with the trio, who moved in together in March 2019, though Melanie has her own bedroom She said she explained to her mother that the relationship was not just about sex, while her father was 'confused' and asked her lots of questions about polyamory. But as time passed, Melanie said her parents gave her their blessing and even spent Christmas with the trio. She continued: 'When I told her I'd moved in with a couple, she told me she didn't want to hear about my sex life. 'I was disappointed and explained it wasn't just about sex. My dad was also confused and asked lots of questions about polyamory. 'With time, they gave their blessing and my parents celebrated Christmas with Charity and Cliff. 'My friends were also quick to accept our relationship, because many of them enjoyed open relationships.' Melanie admitted she sometimes feels 'frustrated' at comments from strangers about their polyamorous throuple (all pictured), but said that she 'couldn't be happier' Melanie, who has been with Charity and Cliff for nearly two years, told of when they went on holiday to Las Vegas and strangers 'demanded' to know if they were all in a relationship. She admitted that she did feel 'frustrated' at the comments, which also saw people ask her and Charity if they were 'hookers', but said that she 'couldn't be happier' in her polyamorous throuple. Melanie said: 'When we walked into a bar, people asked if Charity and I were hookers. 'Every time we went out as a three, strangers demanded to know if we were all in a relationship. 'I explained we were in a 'throuple', but it only made them more confused. 'They wanted to know how it worked. I felt frustrated but we tried not to let the comments bother us. 'Now, we've been together for nearly two years. Although we sleep with other people, we mean the world to each other. I couldn't be happier.' On Wednesday, it was reported that a second police officer took his own life in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot, bringing to three the number of officers who have died in the aftermath of the event. An additional 134 Capitol and D.C. officers are known to have been injured, some quite seriously. The injured police, and the families of those who have died, have civil recourse through lawsuits against a host of people who rioted or who directly incited the deadly attack on the Capitola list that potentially includes Donald Trump, members of his family, elected representatives, and Rudy Giuliani. Advertisement Of course, the easiest cases are claims against the miscreants who actually administered the violence. Although police officers assume certain risks as a condition of their employment, they are nonetheless able to recover damages against anyone who intentionally attacks them. As one dramatic example, whoever is determined to have struck Officer Brian Sicknick in the head with a fire extinguisher, an act that led to his death, can and should suffer civil liability in addition to criminal charges. And those who suffered serious injuries will likely find it worthwhile to sue any rioter who can be identified as having assaulted them (assuming they can pay any judgment levied against them). These victims can recover punitive damages as well because tort law allows this remedy for intentional harms. Cases brought by family members of the two officers who killed themselves could also succeed, but they are trickier. Courts have mostly discarded an older rule that saw suicide as breaking the chain of causation between defendants actions and victims death, but it can still be hard to show that the attacks themselves were a substantial factor in bringing about the tragic event. Still, its possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Assuming the assailants can be matched to the victims, most of these cases should fall out in favor of the injured officers. A bigger (but perhaps harder-to-hit) target, however, is those who instigated, incited, and potentially organized the attack. For those seeking accountability for these institutional actors and political gangs, tort claims may be a key answer. The injured have a possible case against the Proud Boys leadership; a recent review by the Wall Street Journal found that the right-wing hate group, prompted by chairman Enrique Tarrio, helped lead the attack. (A high-enough punitive damage award could cripple the group or even cancel it.) The same may be true of those who organized the Stop the Steal effort. Advertisement But of far greater political significance is a slew of possible claims against otherssome of whom hold, or until recently held, elective office. The plaintiffs in such suits would need to show that these potential defendants had a hand in inciting the Jan. 6 riot. Just as with criminal law, those who actively egg others on to violence can be held liable in a civil action for ensuing injuries or death. The First Amendments guarantee of freedom of speech blocks some lawsuits from succeeding, but not all. As Ive argued previously in a piece for Slate, Trump has danced on the line between permissible, fiery speech and illegal incitement to violence beforeas far back as his campaign rallies, in fact. The evidence presented in the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate should provide grist for the argument that Trumps rhetoricwhich repeatedly invoked the idea that the election was stolen by fraud and that the crowd must show strength by marching down to the Capitolcrossed that line. Reading the full transcript of the hourlong ramble leaves a distinct sense that the ensuing mayhem was exactly what Trump wanted, and accounts of his enthusiastic reaction to the riot while it was going on buttress that conclusion. If its not enough for incitement, its close. (Even former attorney general and Trump enabler William Barr flatly accused his former boss of orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress.) Advertisement Advertisement But it should not even be necessary for an injured party to establish that Trump crossed the line from permissible speech to unlawful incitement. Its clear enough that his actions did lead to the violence and were unreasonable, if not in conscious disregard of the known risk. In either case, black-letter tort law leads to viable claims against him. Courts are clear and consistent in holding that anyone who places someone else in dangereven if innocentlyincurs a duty to then take reasonable steps to help that person. Instead, Trump did nothing until the riot was over, even though a simple command to his frothy followers might well have quelled the violence. And then theres his delay in bringing in the National Guard, which could have stopped the riot much sooner. (Joseph Kennedy, who teaches criminal law at the University of North Carolina, recently made a similar argument for Slate in maintaining that Trumps failure to act after the riot started could result in criminal prosecution.) Advertisement Nor is Trump the only nonrioter potentially on the hot tort seat. His personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who also spoke at the Jan. 6 rally that led to the riot, called for trial by combat to settle the election dispute. This refers to a medieval practice whereby two combatants would fight to the death in a judicially sanctioned battle. While its doubtful many in the audience knew the history of the term, its incendiary enough on its own. Giuliani should face disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, and civil liability. Not to be outdone, Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks proclaimed at the same event that today is the day to start taking down names and kicking ass. With a huge crowd already whipped into a fevered frenzy, Brooks statement defending his comments is not persuasive. Advertisement Advertisement The list of potential defendants goes on. Although the details are murky, it appears there was a meeting among higher-up Trump supporters the night before the Jan. 6 riots that allegedly included Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Michael Lindell (yes, the My Pillow guy), Peter Navarro, newly elected Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, and Giuliani. What was said at this meeting is a mystery, but theres some evidence linking the event to the Stop the Steal organization. Ali Alexander, one of the coordinators of the event, claims to have spoken to Kimberly Guilfoyle on Jan. 5the day of the alleged meeting. As of now, this falls well short of what would be needed for a civil claim against any of the supposed principals, but further investigation and civil discovery would certainly be warranted. Its unusual for police to sue those who harm them, either directly or indirectly. But in a case like this, they should do it. All of them were endangered, some were seriously injured, and three are gone. Civil law provides a mechanism for holding the rioters, and very likely others, to account. The lawyers should cast a wide net because big fish may land on the ships deck. London: A bitter row which threatens to disrupt vaccine shipments to Australia has morphed into a post-Brexit stand-off, with European Union officials demanding immediate delivery of tens of millions of doses manufactured in Britain. The salvo was a new escalation in a dispute between the EU and vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca triggered by revelations the pharmaceutical giants were unable to supply the bloc with as many vials as first agreed. Under growing pressure to explain the sluggish vaccine rollout in the EUs 27 member countries, officials insisted on Wednesday they were contractually entitled to vials produced at factories in Britain to make up for a shortfall on the Continent. EU officials also brushed aside arguments from AstraZeneca that the United Kingdom was only getting a reliable supply because it signed deals three months earlier than the EU. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 A 50-year-old Andalusia man has been sentenced to 25 consecutive life sentences for possessing child porn. Tracy Owen Purdin was convicted of 25 counts of possession of child pornography after a three-day trial in Covington County in October 2020. Circuit Court Judge Charles Lex Short has now sentenced Purdin to a term of life for each count. District Attorney Walt Merrell, and his chief assistant, Grace Jeter, prosecuted the cases again Purdin, who was initially arrested on the charges in 2018. Court documents show that Purdin, a convicted sex offender, was found to be in possession of 4,813 images and videos, all of which were alleged to have contained children in sexually explicit poses or performing sexual actions. Under Alabama law, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18. Many of these images involve elementary and middle school aged children, said Jeter. At sentencing, Merrell presented the court with certified copies of Purdins four prior felony convictions. The district attorney said that Purdin had previously been convicted of two counts of third-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree sex abuse and one count of using a child in a sexually explicit display. Those convictions were in Oregon. Unfortunately, in those cases, it appears Purdin was let out of prison early on some sort of parole, Merrell said. He said Purdin then started amassing a significant amount of child pornography. Merrell told the judge, Mrs. Jeter and I conferred and we both agree that in our 20 or so years of prosecution, weve never seen a child molester parole from prison and then get re-arrested for child pornography. We also both agreed that neither of us have ever dealt with a case that involved this volume of child pornography. During the sentencing hearing, Merrell said, Purdins defense attorney insisted Purdin was innocent and that he was not the only person who had access to the hard drives on which the pornographic images were stored. He is the vilest predator I have ever prosecuted,' Merrell said. Purdins victims in Oregon were both females, ages 3 and 13. And here we are again, with him amassing a huge collection of pornographic images of children that are to his preference. Merrell said. He requested the 25 consecutive life sentences, and the judge agreed. Purdin has been remanded into the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections. He is appealing. This man is a predator and never needs to be out of prison ever again. He shouldnt have been let out the first time,' Merrell said. The Judge absolutely did what was appropriate under these circumstances. The Roche Venture Fund joins international investor syndicate, including co-lead investors Sofinnova Partners and AbbVie Ventures Funds to be used to advance restorative therapy for type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease Largest international VC-backed Series A financing round for a biotech in Italy to date and first ever venture investment in an Italian company by both AbbVie Ventures and Roche Venture Fund Proceeds to be used for clinical proof-of-concept for lead product Ent001 (IGFBP3/TMEM219 inhibitor) for type 1 diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases and progress pipeline assets Enthera Pharmaceuticals ("Enthera"), a biotech company developing disease-modifying biologics to transform the therapeutic paradigm of specific autoimmune conditions by re-establishing stem cell capabilities in a non-traditional way, today announces the final closing of its Series A financing, with a total financing of 35m. The Roche Venture Fund joins a renowned international investment syndicate following the fundraising's first close of 28m which was announced in July 2020, co-led by seed investor Sofinnova Partners, a leading European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London, and Milan, and incoming investor AbbVie Ventures. Rounding out the syndicate was the JDRF T1D Fund (the venture philanthropy fund of the JDRF) and several Italian investors including a group coordinated by Banor SIM, a group coordinated by Banca Profilo through Arepo Fiduciaria and Indaco Venture Partners SGR. The 35 million raised is the largest VC-backed Series A funding round for an Italian biotechnology company to date. The Series A marks both the Roche Venture Fund's and AbbVie's first venture investment into an Italian biotech company. Enthera was also the first European investment of the JDRF T1D fund, which previously invested in the Company during its 4 million seed extension funding round in 2018. As part of the Series A round, Carole Nuechterlein, Head Roche Venture Fund, joins the Enthera Board of Directors. The proceeds from the Series A financing will be used to obtain clinical proof-of-concept through a first-in-human study of Ent001, Enthera's lead candidate. Ent001 is the only drug in development with the potential to restore the pancreatic beta cell compartment in type 1 diabetes as well as the original intestine structure in inflammatory bowel disease, in order to re-establish organ function. The funds will also be used to further develop Enthera's pipeline. Commenting on the successful Series A financing, Giovanni Amabile, CEO of Enthera, said: "Having the Roche Venture Fund close out our Series A fundraising boosts our international investor syndicate and provides further validation of the work being done at Enthera. The considerable amount raised highlights both the strides that the Company is taking, and the advances that Italy has made within the industry. "These funds raised will enable us to accelerate our lead program Ent001 to clinical proof-of-concept. Through this and our wider pipeline, we hope to develop safe, effective treatments to patients affected by intractable diseases such as type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease." Silvano Spinelli, Chairman of Enthera, added: "We are delighted to close our Series A with the Roche Venture Fund now on board, along with Sofinnova Partners and AbbVie Ventures. Enthera's ability to attract high-quality investors and to raise significant Series A financing during a difficult year speaks to the quality of the Company, and the strength of its pioneering scientific approach for autoimmune diseases with significant medical need. I am confident that Giovanni and the team will use the additional funds and support to make a real difference to patients with these conditions." Enthera was formed in 2016 on the basis of research by scientific founders Prof. Paolo Fiorina and Dr. Francesca D'Addio. The Company is the first spin-off of the Italian biotech accelerator BiovelocITA, founded by Sofinnova Partners, Silvano Spinelli and Gabriella Camboni, which provided the initial seed fund. A seed extension was financed in 2018 by Sofinnova Partners, JDRF T1D fund and the other existing investors. ENDS Notes to Editors About Enthera Enthera Srl is a biotech company developing first-in-class biologics to transform the treatment paradigm of specific autoimmune conditions by re-establishing stem cell capabilities in a non-traditional way. The Company's primary target indications are type 1 diabetes (T1D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Enthera's pioneering approach capitalizes on the key discovery of the IGFBP3/TMEM219 pathway, which is involved in beta cell and stem cell apoptosis in pancreas and gut, respectively. The Company is building a pipeline of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fusion proteins targeting the pathway via multiple angles. Its lead program Ent001 is the only drug in development with the potential to restore the endogenous pancreatic stem cell compartment in T1D as well as the original intestine structure in IBD, in order to re-establish organ function. Enthera is a private company headquartered in Milan, Italy and founded in 2016 by Prof Paolo Fiorina and Dr Francesca D'Addio at BiovelocITA, an Italian biotech accelerator. The Company is backed by Sofinnova Partners AbbVie Ventures, Roche Venture Fund, and JDRF T1D fund. Enthera's discovery engine and assets are protected by a broad portfolio of patents. For more information, visit https://www.entherapharmaceuticals.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn. About the Roche Venture Fund The Roche Venture Fund invests in early stage biotech and diagnostics companies to develop commercially successful innovative life science companies. Based in Basel, Switzerland with an office in South San Francisco, the Roche Venture Fund invests globally with a portfolio of over 40 companies. For more information, please visit Roche Venture Fund. About Sofinnova Partners Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm specialized in Life Sciences. Based in Paris, London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of over 40 professionals from all over Europe, the U.S. and Asia.The firm focuses on paradigm-shifting technologies alongside visionary entrepreneurs. Sofinnova Partners invests across the Life Sciences value chain as a lead or cornerstone investor, from very early-stage opportunities to late-stage/public companies. It has backed 500 companies over more than 48 years, creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over 2 billion under management. For more information, please visit: www.sofinnovapartners.com About AbbVie Ventures AbbVie Ventures is the corporate venture capital group of AbbVie. We are a strategic investor, investing exclusively in novel, potentially transformational science aligned with AbbVie's core R&D interests. We measure success primarily by the extent to which our investments foster innovation with potential to transform the lives of patients that AbbVie serves. AbbVie Ventures enables its portfolio companies with both funding as well as access to AbbVie's internal network of experts across all phases of drug development, from drug discovery through commercialization. For more information, please visit www.abbvie.com/ventures For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. About the JDRF T1D Fund The JDRF T1D Fund is a venture philanthropy fund accelerating life-changing solutions to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) through catalytic equity investments. Through its investments in partnership with private capital, including venture capital, corporations and foundations, the T1D Fund seeks to attract the private investment necessary to advance therapeutics, devices, diagnostics and vaccines into the hands of those living with T1D. The T1D Fund invests in areas strategically aligned with JDRF, the leading global organization funding T1D research, with an exclusive focus on supporting the best commercial opportunities. The T1D Fund reinvests any realized gains into new investments to further its mission. www.t1dfund.org BiovelocITA BiovelocITA S.r.l. is the first Italian accelerator dedicated to biotech. It was founded by Silvano Spinelli, Gabriella Camboni and Sofinnova Partners. Thanks to BiovelocITA, entrepreneurs, scientists and investors can work together to accelerate biotech projects with an international scope and reach the "proof of concept" that precedes the clinical phase. Set up to offer innovative solutions to the medical community and to patients, BiovelocITA supports the creation and development of innovative biotech companies in all therapeutic areas. For more information, see: http://www.biovelocita.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005065/en/ Contacts: Enthera Srl Giovanni Amabile, CEO T: +39 (0)2 3456778 E: info@entherapharmaceuticals.com Instinctif Partners (media enquiries) Dr Christelle Kerouedan Siobhan Sanford Kiki Zaccagnini Tel: +44 20 7457 2020 E: enthera@instinctif.com by Mathias Hariyadi Ganjar Pranowo, a Muslim, praised the role of Catholic media and their commitment in the COVID-19 emergency at award ceremony. The role of Catholic journalist is "crucial" to fight fake news about vaccines. Semarang (AsiaNews) Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo received an appreciation award from the Indonesian Catholic Journalists Association (PWKI) at a ceremony followed by more than 200 journalists via the web. In his acceptance speech, Pranowo, a Muslim, thanked the country's Catholic journalists for the way in which they carry out their work, especially during the current health emergency. The governor also watched a live Mass from Rome by three Indonesian priests; one of them collaborates with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. For Pranowo, a noble duty every catholic journalist should always abide to is to secure good things from people in the society so that they can reach their best practice, including strong mutual empathy and compassion. Referring to some positive news about the health emergency in his province, one of the worst affected areas, he noted that residents learnt good lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and practise them every day, like volunteering to hand out food and drink to people affected by the quarantine and the partial lockdown. My position as Central Java governor is just to facilitate that best practices are still followed by locals, Pranowo explained. The Indonesian Minister of Communication, Johnny G Plate, a Catholic, also spoke at the meeting, highlighting the strategic role Catholic journalists play in promoting the national anti-COVID vaccination campaign, and fighting fake news about the vaccines on social media. In addition to Pranowo, the Association of Catholic journalists also gave an award to General Doni Monardo, head of the coronavirus task force, General Firli Bahuri, head of the anti-corruption Commission, and stylist Anne Avantie. Royani Lim contributed to this article) As a part of its continued efforts to fight COVID-19 pandemic in the city, PepsiCo India today partnered with the Gurugram Police to amplify awareness on mask usage and compliance. PepsiCo India handed over 20,000 reusable masksto the Gurugram police, that will be given to citizenswho are found not wearing masks in public places. PepsiCo India had also recently launched a special initiative for the sanitation workers in Gurugram, which also included distribution of hygiene kits to Gurugram Police to reach out to over2000 sanitation workers in the city. The initiative was flagged in the presence of Mr. K.K. Rao, IPS Commissioner of Police, Gurugram and Mr. Viraj Chouhan, Chief Government Affairs and Communications Officer, PepsiCo India. Also, present at the occasion were Himanshu Priyadarshi, Director, Public Policy and Government Affairs, PepsiCo India. Commenting on the initiative,K.K. Rao, IPS Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, said Masks and social distancing are critical elements that must be followed by everyone in our fight against COVID-19. Its important for everyone to wear masks for their and others safety. We are happy with our partnership with PepsiCo India and feel that this initiativeof handing over reusable masks to those who are not wearing it will further aid our attempt to raise awareness and mask compliancein the city. Speaking about the initiative, Mr Viraj Chouhan, Chief Government Affairs and Communications Officer, PepsiCo India said, As the country continues to fight Covid-19, PepsiCo India remains deeply committed in extending its full support to the nation.As a part of the same endeavor, we are happy to lend our support to the Gurugram Police in their efforts to combat the pandemic. By distributing reusable masks, we are offering a safe and eco-friendly way for people to protect themselves and their community from the transmission of the virus. Along with two reusable masks, information education and communication (IEC) will be handed over to people that talks about thebest hygiene practices to be followed to prevent the spread of the virus; including handwashing procedures, wearing masks properly, and practicing preventive measures like social distancing. The NPP youth wing in the Effiduase/Asokore Constituency of the Ashanti Region have accused the Sekyere East District Chief Executive (DCE) of corruption and called for her removal. At a press conference on Wednesday, January 27, addressed by its Constituency Youth Organizer, Prince Agyapong appealed to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Mary Boatemaah Marfo from office. Citing several reported cases of corruption allegations including misappropriation of school feeding funds, the group said Boatemaah Marfo is not fit for the job. This according to them, is because her conducts do not represent the promise of the President to fight corruption and protect the public purse. Hon Mary Boatemaa Marfos criminal act in the Ghana School Feeding Program malfeasances, duplication of schools, enrolment figures inflated and names of non-existing caterers presented for payment which she was asked to refund an amount of 251,585.50,as a result If fictitious data, the youth wing alleged. The group also maintains that her actions and inactions have dragged the partys name into the mud adding that she played a pivotal role to reduce the votes of President Akufo-Addo and the NPP Parliamentary Candidate during 2020 polls. The youth wing have thus vowed to resist her renomination by any appointing authority. The group is latest to mount pressure on the Akufo-Addo administration to remove the DCE. We, the NPP Youth Wing in the Effiduase-Asokore Constituency would like to use this platform to inform the Presidency, National Executive Council and Regional Executives that Hon Mary Boatemaa Marfo is not the right person to be nominated as the District Chief Executive. We want her to be relieved of office with immediate effect to prevent her re-nomination, they posited. In September last year, the government appointee was sacked by the President Akufo Addo after leaked audio emerged of her reportedly threatening to reduce the votes of the NPP and the MP for the area, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie. There has been some acrimony between the MP and the DCE, a situation that came to a head during the partys parliamentary primaries. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development however did not give a reason for her dismissal. Speaking to Accra-based Citi News, Constituency Secretary for Effiduase, Kwame Ampretwum, said the decision to fire the DCE was in the best interests of the governing party. The woman was a problem for our goals. She doesnt think about the party. She doesnt work with the party and always she is creating problems for the party by inciting people against the MP and the executives so that is what caused her removal, he explained. Kwame Ampretwum also said the NPP was wary about some dissenting supporters in the constituency. We know that we have some supporters who we have to be careful about. We have to bring all of them so that we move the party forward, he said. Kwame Adom-Appiah, a lawyer, was nominated as the new District Chief Executive for Sekyere East after the removal of Mary Boatemaa Marfo. She was later reinstated by the President. Source: DialyMailGH 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 New Delhi, Jan 28 : Two days after the violent clashes with the agitating farmers during the 'Kisan Gantantra Parade' in which several police personnel were injured, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit two hospitals in the national capital here to meet them. According to the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs officials, Shah will be visiting the Sushruta Trauma Centre and Tirath Ram Hospital, both in the Civil Line area, to meet the injured policemen. According to official figures, 394 police personnel were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised while some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 accused have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained. On Wednesday, Shah had chaired a high-level meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava, Intelligence Bureau Director and CRPF Director General. On Tuesday also, after the violent clashes in several parts of the national capital, the Home Minister held an emergency meeting with the top officials at his residence. According to sources, the Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau and senior officers of the Delhi Police were present at the meeting. Delhi Police has so far registered 25 cases against 37 farmer leaders in connection with the violence on the occasion of Republic Day. These leaders include Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni. The police has also registered a case against Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and the gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana in the Red Fort violence case. On Wednesday, while addressing a press conference the Delhi Police Commissioner said that police has taken a serious note of the Red Fort violence and everyone found involved would be taken to task. He also said that face recognition system would be used to identify those found involved in the violence. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text MBABANE - Get ready to be blown away. After dropping a single titled COVID-19 a few weeks back, Mnation will be dropping another track featuring well-known South African, DJ TPZ. He said the title of the song was Ngitjele Straight The song is about a female who is ignoring her partner and always giving him unrealistic excuses, he said. He went on to share his excitement as it would be his first international collaboration with the best commercial house DJ. experience Working on a single would DJ TPZ has been a great experience for me as I believe in his work. I have always wanted to work with him and this has been a great opportunity for me, he said. Mnation said the song would also inspire males to never give up on love. People should learn to leave the table when love is no longer served. They should not try to fix a relationship that is not worth saving, they should also learn to speak up and not waste time, he added. The song will be released early August with full details. People will be blown away and the song will be dropped on my birthday month. It will also be available on all digital stores, he said. More information will soon be shared on this publication. A defiant Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, following a critical independent report, on Thursday forcefully defended how she led her department during protests and civil unrest last year, saying she has the support of Mayor Jim Kenney and other community leaders and will not resign. Outlaw has repeatedly acknowledged there were some failings in the police response, particularly on May 30, the first day of mass protests in the city, saying the force was woefully understaffed. But she said that the department soon bolstered resources and that there was simply not a blueprint available for the mass unrest cities across the nation faced last spring after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Outlaw said she made decisions on tactics such as using tear gas out of concern for community and officer safety. Am I enough? Absolutely, and some, she said when asked about her leadership during a news conference. Do I deserve to be here? Absolutely, and some. Did I lead this department in the last year? Absolutely, and some. No police commissioner, chief, superintendent has ever had to deal with what weve dealt with in the past year. Kenney did not attend the news conference, but tweeted shortly after that Outlaw has his full support, saying, I appointed Commissioner Outlaw because of her commitment to true and lasting reform, and she deserves the citys support to make that a reality. The report on the departments handling of the protests, released Wednesday, was commissioned by the city controller and conducted by two independent firms, Ballard Spahr LLP and AT-RISK International Inc. It revealed new details about Outlaws actions during three days of unrest, including her role in authorizing the use of tear gas, as well as her presence on the scene in West Philadelphia and near I-676, when she either observed a hostile situation without taking command or left as it escalated. But questions remained Thursday over exactly where Outlaw was when tear gas was deployed in both places. READ MORE: Philly police commissioner sought to use tear gas against protesters as Kenney hesitated, investigation says The controllers report said she told investigators that on May 31, as crowds gathered in West Philadelphia and clashed with police, she tried to reach 52nd and Market Streets but could not advance past 50th and Market Streets, where the air was thick with gas. Cpl. Jasmine Reilly, a department spokesperson, said Thursday that contrary to the controllers report, the commissioner was at 52nd and Market but arrived after tear gas had already been deployed. She doesnt have specific times, Reilly said. She recalls she got there and it wasnt chaotic. Everything was pretty much over. But law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the matter said Outlaw was at 52nd and Market while bricks were being thrown at officers and police cars were smoldering after being set ablaze. They said she spoke directly to commanders, then left the scene while SWAT trucks deployed tear gas. One high-ranking source with knowledge of the Internal Affairs investigation into the response confirmed that Outlaw had huddled with on-scene commanders as SWAT teams readied to deploy the gas. Reilly said Outlaw went to the scene after monitoring the violence from a Center City command center and giving the order over the phone for gas to be deployed. The commissioner told Ballard Spahr investigators her authorization was limited to a one-block area around 52nd and Market. But SWAT officers fired canisters of gas and rubber bullets over a half-mile stretch, not only at agitators, but at bystanders and down residential streets, according to the report. A spokesperson for the controller said the office and Ballard Spahr stand by the accuracy of the report. According to the controllers report, Outlaw met with top brass earlier on May 31 around 12:30 p.m. hours before crowds gathered in West Philadelphia and discussed using tear gas to quell civil unrest. At Thursdays news conference, Outlaw said that the decision to use gas was not predetermined and that her decision was not made lightly. I specifically requested the use of tear gas when my officers, my incident commander out in West Philly, said, Were surrounded, she said. I saw the cars being pushed into the officer. I saw the things being caught on fire. Im hearing them [officers] taking rocks and bricks. Im hearing about officer injuries. And the phone call was made to me to request to use gas and I said yes. The use of tear gas, she said, was authorized to help get those officers to safety and to try to disperse the crowd. The controllers report also offered new information about Outlaws role on June 1 when protesters took over I-676. The commissioner told investigators she and then-Deputy Commissioner Dennis Wilson had discussed by phone whether to use tear gas to disperse the crowd, but said she told him to call her before he gave final approval. That didnt happen, according to Outlaw. Officers then used tear gas and rubber bullets as protesters were trapped in the ravine and had to scale a 10-foot fence to get away. According to the report, Outlaw told investigators she was sitting in a parked SUV on an overpass as the crowd made its way onto the highway. READ MORE: Legal observers sue Philly police, alleging brutality at Walter Wallace Jr. protests But Outlaw said Thursday that she was around the perimeter when she heard over police radio that tear gas had been deployed. She said she parked on an overpass and could not see what was going on, but was close enough to have some form of situational awareness. She said she called the incident commander to ask him what was going on and did not take over command of the situation. Wilson was demoted weeks later the same day Outlaw and Kenney apologized for using tear gas on the highway. Outlaw took the departments top job in February of last year, just weeks before the pandemic took hold and four months before Floyds death. Before coming to Philadelphia, she worked for 20 years in law enforcement in Oakland, Calif., then was head of the 900-member Portland Police Bureau, where she oversaw some progressive reforms related to police interactions with people in crisis. But she also drew national scrutiny for how officers responded to clashes between political activists. In 2018, after Portland police used chemical irritants and other munitions against protesters, Outlaw suspended the use of flash-bang devices, but defended police tactics as successful in keeping confrontational actors apart. Last year, when Outlaw made history by becoming the first Black woman to lead Philadelphias 6,500-member force, some in the citys law enforcement community raised concerns about her lack of experience leading a big-city department. After the release of the controllers report, some of those detractors said her documented failure to take command and provide direction at critical moments during the unrest added to the chaos. John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5, on Wednesday said the failed planning and response to the unrest was the result of an absence of leadership from the Managing Directors Office down to the Police Department. The bottom line is it didnt make the police look good, he said of the report. It didnt make the city look good. Efforts to reach McNesby on Thursday were unsuccessful. Outlaw said Thursday she was very present, both in the field and in the citys command center, where officials monitored the response through media livestreams. She did so without an inspector of homeland security, a high-level deputy whose work traditionally includes planning for large protests, and a position she had left vacant since March. The controllers report was not the first to fault Outlaw and her department for the handling of last springs protests. An independent report released last month by the Kenney administration also cited short staffing and a lack of planning. That review concluded that police and city leaders were simply not prepared for the large-scale protests, leading to a cascading effect that left dozens of police and protesters injured and scores of businesses burglarized. In response to the probe, the department committed to implement a number of recommendations, including developing a citywide civil unrest plan. Both the controllers report and the review commissioned by the administration called the amount of force used in some cases last spring excessive. Outlaw said Thursday that dozens of internal reviews are still in progress over police use-of-force, and she pledged to make the findings of those investigations public when they conclude. She said the situations officers faced during the unrest were unprecedented. It can be very difficult to discern between peaceful and non-peaceful, she said, and we have to make split-second decisions. 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. Brian Urquhart, left, former undersecretary general of the United Nations, and former President Jimmy Carter confer during the opening session of a Middle East conference held at the Carter Center in Atlanta in 1987. Urquhart, who played a central role in developing the U.N. practice of peacekeeping, died Saturday at his home in Tyringham. St Brigid's Festival 2020 News St Brigid's Day 2020 We are excited to announce the details of the St Brigid's Festival 2020 which will take place from the 30th January to the 4th February. The St Brigids Day Festival London began in 2018, developed in association with consultant producer Alison McKenna, when we decided that it was time for St Patrick to share the limelight! Brigids Day seemed like the ideal occasion to celebrate the enormous creativity and talent of women and we are delighted that the day is now celebrated at Irish Embassies and Consulates worldwide. The Festival will launch at the Embassy on 30th January with a St Brigids Day celebration of the creativity and talent of women from Ireland and beyond. We are collaborating again this year with our friends and partners in the London Irish Centre, Irish Cultural Centre, and Irish Film London who will host a series of events across St Brigid's weekend, with the Festival concluding at the British Library on the 4th February. You can find out more about all the events taking place in our St Brigid's Festival Brochure The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith will host a Celtic music extravaganza of Ireland and the UKs finest female musicians, including The London Lasses, The Friel Sisters, plus Speical Guests Mairead Ni Mohoanaigh & Nia Byrne on Saturday 1st February. The London Irish Centre are celebrating female Irish talent with a night of musical and spoken word performances on Saturday 1st February. Irish Film London will be bringing some of Irelands finest female filmmakers, both behind and in front of the camera, to the Regent Street Cinema on Sunday 2nd February, including the London Premiere of A Girl From Mogadishu. We're looking forward to hearing the experiences and witnessing the talent of the outstanding women who will be performing and speaking at all our events. We will be making a number of tickets available on Eventbrite for our event at the Embassy so keep an eye on our social media channels (@IrelandEmbGB) and on our partners accounts (@LDNIrishCentre , @MyICCLondon , @irishfilmLondon) for more information on how to get involved. St. Brigid is one of Ireland's three patron saints, alongside St. Columba and the world famous St. Patrick. The origins of her Feast Day on 1st February are thought to originally be a pagan festival called Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring. La Fheile Bride, celebrates the arrival of longer, warmer days, so please come and say goodbye to winter and celebrate the creativity of women with us and our brilliant partners this year. La Fheile Bride Shona Daoibh! Previous Item | Next Item Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. General Motors announced today that it plans to be carbon-neutral by 2040, and signaled that it likely plans to have an all-EV lineup by 2035. The announcement from GMthe largest automaker in the U.S.follows similar pledges from other automakers, though GMs timeline is more aggressive than most. Volkswagen and Nissan have said theyll be carbon neutral by 2050, Volvo says it will sell only EVs and hybrids by 2025, and the luxury automaker Bentley has pledged to be all-EV by 2030. Tesla is already there, with a full fleet of battery-powered vehicles. The same will be true for startup brands such as Rivian and Lucid Air. This announcement from GM shows that momentum continues to build for an electric revolution that will benefit consumers and the environment, says Chris Harto, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports. There is growing consumer interest in electric vehicles, and strong consumer benefits from owning one. Other automakers have pledged to build a specific number of EVsfor example, Stellantis (the new parent company of Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, and Ram) says it will have 39 electric and hybrid models by the end of this year. Audi has promised its core models will only be offered as EVs in the future. But while most other automakers are relying on hybrids and plug-in hybrids, GMs announcement represents a significant bet on full vehicle electrification in addition to other efforts, such as powering factories by renewable energy. Officially, GM has said it's planning to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035. Based on current technology, that likely means a fleet of all-electric vehicles. But theres one major caveat: The automaker used the word aspiration when defining its plans, which is different from a promise. Strong aspirations are important and inspirational, but firm production plans and strong policies are what move the market and the climate, says David Friedman, vice president of advocacy at CR. This is a welcome announcement, but if GM is truly committed to this path, then it will also support strong federal standards that will hold it accountable to its goals. Story continues The company promised that by the end of 2025, 40 percent of models sold in the U.S. would be EVs, including the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq and Celestiq. However, GM currently sells only a single electric vehicle modelthe Chevy Boltand, according to Friedman, has consistently fought vehicle greenhouse gas standards and policies to expand the zero emission vehicle marketplace. In addition, GM is one of just a handful of automakers whose greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles have actually increased over the past five years, along with Mazda and Ford, a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency shows. EVs Make Financial Sense Following through on full electrification would also make good business sense, because new regulatory requirements worldwide will limit sales of new vehicles powered by combustion engines. California and Massachusetts will require that all new passenger vehicles sold by 2035 meet zero emissions standards. They join 15 countriesincluding multiple European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Israel, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Taiwanwith similar coming phaseouts. This is very much adding PR to stuff that is already or will about to be required, says Chelsea Sexton, an independent industry advocate and consultant who was involved with the launch of GMs first EV, the EV-1, 25 years ago. Thats not inherently a bad thing, as long as were all realistic about it. An EV lineup also would position GM to meet market trends that CR has identified. A recent CR survey found that a majority of U.S. drivers are open to owning an electric vehicle at some point in the future. And CR recently found that lifetime ownership costs for the most popular electric vehicles on the market today under $50,000 are typically $6,000 to $10,000 less than the best gas-powered vehicles in their class. Friedman says that GM should show consumers and the market that it's serious about saving them money on fuel, improving air quality, and solving climate change by supporting strong fleetwide greenhouse gas emissions standards that would cut new-vehicle emissions by at least 60 percent by 2030. Along with other automakers, GM had supported the Trump administration in its fight against Californias ability to set its own stricter fuel-economy and emissions standards, although the automaker reversed course after the election. CR recently asked the Biden administration to work quickly to undo recent rollbacks that weakened emissions and gas mileage requirements. The automotive industry also needs to focus on the near-term if its serious about climate change, Sexton says. Putting everything off for another 15 years or so isnt helpful in where we need to be going, she says. I think announcements are good, and its long past time to start adding deadlines to the stuff that people have been talking about as inevitable. It's About Factories, Too GM says it worked with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an environmental advocacy group, to develop its plans. "EDF and GM have had some important differences in the past, but this is a new day in America, EDF's president, Fred Krupp, said in a press release. One where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward. In addition to vehicle electrification, which the company says should account for three-quarters of its efforts to go carbon neutral, GM also announced it will accelerate its plans to fully power all of its plants worldwide by renewable energy by five yearsby 2035and will reduce emissions in its supply chain as well. The automaker will use carbon offsets sparingly. The automaker also says it plans to build out charging infrastructure powered by renewable energy, and do better work promoting EVs to consumersan effort thats been lacking in the pastas well as maintaining high-quality jobs. That last one could be a sticking point, considering that EVs are simpler to build and easier to maintain than their gas-powered counterparts. EVs are only one part of a broader strategy necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which also must get people out of their private vehicles in the first place with better public transit and safer opportunities for walking and biking, Sexton says. Electrifying everything is great, but we also need to focus on pedestrian safety and reducing vehicle miles traveled, especially in urban areas, she says. None of this happens in a vacuum. Image by Bookings.com Five easy steps to opening a Bed & Breakfast in Johannesburg Step 1: Check your Title Deed to ascertain whether or not your property qualifies for the relevant business rights. To determine the current zoning of your property take a copy of the Title Deed to the GIS Information Counter on the 8th Floor of Block A at the Metro Centre, situated at 158 Loveday Street, Braamfontein. No information is given over the phone so you must visit in person. Step 2: Once you have determined the zoning of your property you must visit the Town Planner responsible for your area. Planners are available at the Metro Centre from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 13:00. Step 3: The Town Planner will let you know whether you need to apply for Consent Use or the Re-zoning of your property. Collect the relevant application form (either for Consent Use or Re-zoning) from the Registration counter on the 8th Floor of the Metro Centre A Block. The application form will state what additional documentation you need to include. At this point you should employ a registered Town Planning Consultant to help you with the application process. Step 4: After approximately 60 days the Land Use Management Department will let you know the outcome of your application. Your property is likely to be inspected at this stage and you are required to advertise to state your intention of establishing a B&B on your property. Assuming that there are no objections, your application will be finalised within 6 to 12 months. However, should you face objections from any party you will be required to attend a hearing with the City of Johannesburg. You should abstain from any building renovations until your application has been approved. Step 5: As well as gaining approval from the City of Johannesburg to establish a B&B you must get the following: Conference Facilities: Many B&B owners wish to offer conference facilities, however, B&B's and conference facilities fall under different legislation and require different zoning. If you wish to offer conference facilities you must apply to have your property re-zoned. Costs Application Costs R443 for Consent Use and R2500 for Re-zoning Fire Clearance R149 Certificate of Acceptability Free Business License R385 Health Permit R630 * costs may change without prior notice. Bed and breakfast (B&B) Noun. Accomodation in a privately-owned home where the owner/manager lives on the property; where breakfast is served and the guest shares the public areas with other guests and/or the host family. It is strongly recommended that you develop a business plan for your B&B before following the steps outlined in this brochure. There are many organisations that can help you to develop a business plan. Two such organisations are: The Business Place Tel: (011) 836 9000 e-mail: hola@me.co.za The Tourism Enterprise Programme [TEP] Tel: (011) 804 5750 www.tep.co.za Useful Contacts Requirement Required By Obtained By Fire Clearance Certificate All B&B's Local Fire Department Public Health Permit All B&B's Environmental Health Department Certificate of Acceptability B&B's that will be preparing meals Environmental Health Department Business Licence B&B's that will be preparing meals Environmental Health Department Building Approval B&B's that plan to do any building alterations or additions Development Management Department Liqour Licence B&B's that will be serving alcohol Gauteng Liquor Board Johannesburg Tourism Company 195 Jan Smuts Avenue,Parktown North Tel: (011) 214 0700 www.joburgtourism.co.za Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, the Indiana State Department of Health and other state leaders will host their media briefing to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana. Posted: Jan 28, 2021 9:30 AM Posted By: Staff Reporters Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. PM Modi, Harsh Vardhan thank nursing staff for their contribution against COVID-19 HD Deve Gowda asks PM Modi to look into crashing prices of horticulture produce PM Modi all set to address World Economic Forum's Davos Dialogue today India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Jan 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday address the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Davos Dialogue via video conferencing at 5:30 pm IST, during which he will be speaking on a wide range of subjects, including India's reform trajectory and increased usage of technology. According to reports, the prime minister will also be interacting with CEOs during the event. As Biden admin dials New Delhi, India-US pledge to boost defence ties On Wednesday, in a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Will be addressing the @wef's Davos Agenda at 5:30 PM tomorrow, 28th January. Looking forward to speaking on a wide range (of) subjects relating to India's reform trajectory, increased usage of technology and other issues." The Davos Dialogues agenda marks the launch of the World Economic Forum's great reset initiative in the post-COVID-19 world. The WEF annual meeting in Davos engages the world's top leaders to shape global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of the year. Ashok Hotel expert chefs to serve food to MPs in Parliament from upcoming Budget Session It can be seen that more than 400 top industry leaders from across the globe will attend the session, wherein the Prime Minister will be speaking on the Fourth Industrial Revolution - using technology for the good of humanity. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News The ongoing online summit has been addressed so far by Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, among other global leaders. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 9:05 [IST] In yet another ignorant and estranging ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court observed that the act of opening the zip of pants does not come under the ambit of "sexual assault" under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. The single-judge bench ruling, pronounced by Justice Pushpa Ganediwala, noted that "the act of holding a girl's hands and opening the zip of pants will not come under the definition of sexual assault. The act would instead amount to "sexual harassment" under Section 354-A (1) (i) of the Indian Penal Code. PTI The ruling was pronounced in a criminal appeal against the conviction and sentence awarded to a 50-year-old man for molesting a five-year-old girl. The Session Court had convicted the man and ruled it to be "aggravated sexual assault" punishable under Section 10 of POCSO. He was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 with a default imprisonment of six months. Later, Justice Ganediwala set aside his conviction under Sections 8, 10 and 12 of POCSO Act. He was then held guilty under Section 354A (1) (i) IPC, which carries a maximum imprisonment of three years. Representational Image/Reuters The Nagpur bench observed that the case comes under the gambit of sexual harassment and not sexual assault. The offence of sexual harassment under Section 354A (1) (i), which deals with physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, is attracted in the case, it said. Groping Minor Without Skin-To-Skin Contact Isn't Sexual Assault The same bench had earlier ruled that groping a minor's breast without "skin to skin contact" cannot be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Court had observed. Reuters Justice Pushpa Ganediwala of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, in a judgement passed on January 19, held that there must be "skin to skin contact with sexual intent" for an act to be considered sexual assault. She said in her verdict that mere groping will not fall under the definition of sexual assault. Shape strategic responses through the phases of industry recovery American Elements, Avon Metals Ltd. and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will emerge as major rhenium market participants during 2021-2025 The rhenium market is expected to grow by USD 49.12 million during 2021-2025, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rhenium market in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005536/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Rhenium Market 2021-2025 (Graphic: Business Wire) Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 The rhenium market will witness a negative impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase as compared to 2019. With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renew phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis and towards the next normal. This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to: Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in. to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations. Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure. Click here Key Considerations for Market Forecast: Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports by using Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Report on Materials Industries: Global Rare Earth Metals Market- The rare earth metal market is segmented by application (permanent magnets, metal alloys, catalysts, polishing powder, and others), element type (light rare earth metals, heavy earth metals, and other element types), and region (APAC, Americas, and EMEA). Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Strontium Market- The strontium market is segmented by end-user (ferrite ceramic magnets, pyrotechnics, and others), geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA), and key vendors. Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Major Three Rhenium Market Participants: American Elements American Elements operates the business through various segments such as Additive manufacturing and 3D printing materials, Alloys and alloy forms, Battery and supercapacitor materials, Catalysts, Ceramics, and Others Products. The company offers rhenium in various forms such as salt, powder, bars, among others. Avon Metals Ltd. Avon Metals Ltd. operates the business through the Unified segment. The company offers rhenium in various forms such as pallets, powder, ammonium perrhenate, and perrhenic acid. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. operates the business through various segments such as North America Copper Mines, South America Mining, Indonesia mining, and Molybdenum mines. The company offers rhenium for the defense and aerospace industry. If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/rhenium-market-industry-analysis Rhenium Market 2021-2025: Segmentation The rhenium market is segmented as below: Application Superalloys Catalysts Others Geography Americas EMEA APAC The rhenium market is driven by rising demand in aerospace engines. In addition, other factors such as growing usage of rhenium-188 in the healthcare industry are expected to trigger the rhenium market toward witnessing a CAGR of almost 11% during the forecast period. Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of rhenium market, Request Free Sample https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR46596 Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005536/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Cut to M.B.S. on a stage in his floor-length white gown. He delivers a brief TED-style talk, while behind him we see a topographic model of what looks like blackened lunar crust. A thin stream of glowing green fire cuts through it, and for a moment I almost expected Godzilla to appear and do battle with the prince. The Japanese film monster, born of post-World War II fear and excitement about the power of technology, would be oddly appropriate here. But no: That green beam is meant to represent the Line. As M.B.S. conjures this brave new world no journey will take more than 20 minutes! zero carbon emissions! you get the sense that his chutzpah is nothing short of metaphysical. He appears to believe that nature itself is at his command. This shouldnt be entirely surprising, because M.B.S. has been promoting equally outlandish ideas since 2017, when he first introduced Neom, the broader futurist development of which the Line forms a part. (The name is a portmanteau of Greek and Arabic words for new and future.) The Neom prospectus described a new way of life from birth to death reaching genetic mutations to increase human strength and I.Q., according to a 2019 article in The Wall Street Journal. Cloud-seeding would bring rain to the desert. The project includes serious, realistic planning on desalination, alternative energy and desert agriculture, I was told by Ali Shihabi, a member of the Neom advisory board. But those ideas were overshadowed by wild-eyed talk of super-high-speed trains, robotic maids and beaches with glowing sand. The hubris underlying these proposals, nourished by generations of yes men (including well-paid Western consultants), will be familiar to anyone who has spent time in Saudi Arabia. Still, you might have expected a bit more circumspection from M.B.S., at least right now. This is the man who stands accused of ordering the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist who was lured to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018, then strangled and dismembered with a bone saw by a team sent from Riyadh. Khashoggi dared to write mildly critical columns in The Washington Post. The details of his brutal killing shocked the world and made M.B.S. a pariah. He has condemned the murder and denies any role in it. (The C.I.A. begs to differ.) Humility is not in M.B.S.s genes, for better and worse. He continues to harass and jail his critics as if the Khashoggi murder never came to light. But his brashness has allowed him to hem in Saudi Arabias religious establishment, putting an end to the kingdoms longtime promotion of poisonous Islamist doctrine. He is relaxing the rigid constraints on cultural life, and that has made him immensely popular, especially among the young. LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (NYSE: GBX) ("Greenbrier"), a leading international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets, today announced several senior management promotions. Active succession planning continues as a core company objective. Greenbrier benefits from developing and advancing a pipeline of talented and dedicated future leaders. Today's announcements include leadership changes in the following business units: Commercial & Leasing; Greenbrier Manufacturing Organization (GMO); Greenbrier Rail Services (GRS); Greenbrier Management Services (GMS), and in Human Resources. Commercial & LeasingNorth and South America Organizational changes in the Commercial & Leasing group anticipate the planned retirement of Mark Rittenbaum. Brian Comstock has been appointed to Chief Commercial & Leasing Officer by Greenbrier's Board of Directors, effective immediately. After more than 35 years of service to Greenbrier, Rittenbaum will retire in August 2022. Remaining an Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor to the Chairman, he will aid the Commercial & Leasing group in its transition to new leadership. He will continue to advance the Commercial & Leasing group's work to strengthen Greenbrier's Leasing model, with the aim of broader customer reach and enhanced shareholder value. Rittenbaum continues to report to William A. Furman, Chairman and CEO, and will take on special projects and other duties as assigned. In his new position, Comstock executes Greenbrier's go-to-market strategy in North America and South America. He also continues to direct all Greenbrier Commercial & Leasing strategies in the Americas. Comstock began his career in the railroad industry in 1980. Prior to joining Greenbrier in 1998, he served in commercial and operational roles at PLM Leasing, Transco Railway Products, Inc. and Trinity Industries. At Greenbrier, Comstock steadily advanced from a Commercial Team member, to Vice President, Sales, to Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In April 2018, Comstock was appointed Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, North and South America. He serves on the boards of Greenbrier's manufacturing joint ventures in Mexico and Brazil and interacts closely, on an advisory basis, with Greenbrier teams in Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Furman said, "Greenbrier President and COO Lorie Tekorius and I have worked with Mark and Brian over many years in our Commercial & Leasing business. With Brian now performing his important new role and Mark's help with a strong transition, Greenbrier is well-positioned to continue to grow and strengthen its commercial and leasing platforms for the future. For decades, both Mark and Brian have contributed to Greenbrier's financial success and market competitiveness. They have driven the expansion of our product portfolios through successful interface with our manufacturing and engineering teams under the leadership of GMO President Alejandro Centurion. Together with other team members they developed multiple long-term railcar purchase agreements and strong customer relationships. Through their leadership, Greenbrier has grown its lease investor and customer base, contributing to sustained cash flow and shareholder value. Mark and Brian were both critical to executing the successful 2019 ARI acquisition, and in facilitating market expansions around the world." Greenbrier Manufacturing Organization With Alejandro Centurion's leadership, the GMO business unit continues to advance its talent pipeline. William Krueger, Senior Vice President GMO, has assumed responsibility for Greenbrier facilities in Arkansas and Missouri acquired in the ARI acquisition. He also now manages all Greenbrier manufacturing automation and process development, reporting to Owen Whitehall, GMO Executive Vice President, North American Operations. Krueger brings decades of advanced manufacturing experience to his new assignment from senior management positions at major automotive manufacturers including Toyota, Nissan and General Motors. Greenbrier Rail Services & Greenbrier Management Services GRS, comprised of Greenbrier's wheels, parts and repair facilities, is now led by Rick Galvan. He joined Greenbrier in October 2019 as Senior Vice President, Operations for GRS. Galvan succeeds Rick Turner, who led GRS since 2013 and retired on December 31, 2020. Galvan has 30 years in the railroad industry at three Class I railroads. He most recently worked with Canadian National as its Chief Mechanical Officer, where he led a cross-functional team focused on U.S. and Canadian railcar and locomotive operations. Dan Weiler, head of Greenbrier Management Services, now reports to Tekorius, along with Galvan. Weiler and Galvan will drive synergies between the GRS and GMS railcar aftermarket businesses. Human Resources In Human Resources, Laurie Dornan has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. Dornan works with business units to help drive talent development and succession planning efforts at Greenbrier. In addition, she manages compensation and benefits strategy along with human resources programs and initiatives. Dornan joined Greenbrier in 2014 and has more than 20 years of professional experience in human resources. "These executive leadership advancements support Greenbrier's policy to effectively develop future generations of talent while maintaining continuity in our current strategies and operations," Furman said. "I am confident these organizational changes and a continued keen focus on leadership development will help Greenbrier grow now and into the future." About Greenbrier Greenbrier, headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets. Greenbrier designs, builds and markets freight railcars and marine barges in North America. Greenbrier Europe is an end-to-end freight railcar manufacturing, engineering and repair business with operations in Poland, Romania and Turkey that serves customers across Europe and in the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Greenbrier builds freight railcars and rail castings in Brazil through two separate strategic partnerships. We are a leading provider of freight railcar wheel services, parts, repair, refurbishment and retrofitting services in North America through our wheels, repair & parts business unit. Greenbrier offers railcar management, regulatory compliance services and leasing services to railroads and related transportation industries in North America. Through unconsolidated joint ventures, we produce industrial and rail castings, and other components. Greenbrier owns a lease fleet of 8,400 railcars and performs management services for 407,000 railcars. Learn more about Greenbrier at www.gbrx.com. "SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including any statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about succession management as well as other information regarding continuity, future performance and strategies. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Information on risks and other potential factors that could cause our results to differ from our forward-looking statements is included in the Company's filings with the SEC, including in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Q filing. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date hereof. SOURCE The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. Related Links https://www.gbrx.com Foreign students in UAE can sponsor families Facilitation of visas to increase enrolment in country (ANSA) - ROMA, 28 GEN - Foreign students who go to university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be able to "sponsor" their families and bring them to the UAE with a visa for the duration of their studies, said Abu Dhabi daily The National. It said the decision by the UAE government aims to encourage more students to enrol in the country's universities. "We approved changes in residency and nationality procedures, allowing foreign students to bring their families here if they have the economic means," said UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. The government's goal is to become an education destination in the Middle East region with its 77 universities, which are able to attract thousands of students each year. (ANSA). The demand for chitlins remains strong throughout the Lone Star State, apparently. H-E-B still has purchasing limits on the product. All Texas customers are only allowed to buy two 5- or 10-pound packages of frozen chitlins per shopping trip. The limit applied to all stores since it took effect in November just before Thanksgiving as Madalyn Mendoza reported on MySA.com. RELATED: Report: Residents are at high risk of getting COVID-19 For the uneducated, chitlins (which is just a less fancy word for chitterlings according to Cory Williams at yahoo.com) are cooked pig intestines and yes, as the internet often asks on google, they do contain pig feces which is why they have to be properly cooked. And the demand/supply chitlins inequity isnt a problem isolated to Texas. In December, a food blogger made a video about how he couldnt find chitlins anywhere in Alabama and encouraged other people to go out and find them so they could prepare them for the New Years holiday. He called it "Chitlins shortage! Help!" RELATED: 'Celebrate cuisine, culture and community': San Antonio Black Restaurant Week returns Multiple meat processing plants have shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smithfield announced a permanent closure in April according to Reuters and the article said shutdowns at meat packing plants were happening in other states as well. Smithfield is one of the producers of chitterlings sold at H-E-B, according to its website. A representative from H-E-B said their chitlin limit is related to issues within the pork industry. "H-E-B has a good supply of frozen chitterlings and has taken this precautionary measure to meet our customer needs," Julie Bedingfield, a public affairs manager, wrote in an email response to questions. Luckily for Texans, H-E-B's only other food purchasing limit is on brisket which has also been limited to 2 per customer. The company is also limiting the following non-food items at all stores: Rubbing (Isopropyl) Alcohol/swabs 2 items First Aid and Cleaning Gloves 2 items Trial & Travel Size Disinfectant Wipes/Sprays Limit 2 Aerosol disinfectant sprays 2 items An earlier version of this story had incorrect information about when the limit took effect. The limit on chitlins has been in place for the entire state since November. Former Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Chad Wheeler was formally charged with first-degree domestic violence assault, domestic violence unlawful imprisonment and resisting arrest on Wednesday, according to reports. The charges come just days after Wheeler was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence during the weekend. Wheeler is accused of choking the woman, leaving her unconscious. According to court documents filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorneys office, Wheeler, who is physically conditioned and trained to compete at the highest level of professional sports, strangled, suffocated and beat the victim into unconsciousness -- twice -- both times leaving her for dead as blood poured from her nose and mouth, and into her stomach and lungs. The charging documents also detail injuries suffered by the woman, including a broken bone in her arm and the whites of her eyes having turned almost completely red, which is consistent with signs of strangulation. She also reported a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and eating, headache and neck pain, which suggests possible internal injuries to the structures within the neck. According to the police report, the victim alleged that Wheeler choked her with both hands and at one point, used one of his hands and crushed it against her nose and mouth to stop her from breathing. She began to fight back but she lost consciousness, the report said. When she woke up, Wheeler allegedly asked her, Wow, youre alive? She ran into the bathroom and called 9-1-1, according to the report. The Seahawks issued a statement Wednesday saying that Wheeler, 27, is no longer with the team. Wheeler is due back in court Feb. 9 for an arraignment hearing where hes expected to enter a plea. -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold Botswana plans to vaccinate every citizen in the nation against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic once available, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has said. "The country's real and long term solution in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is to vaccinate the whole population (of Botswana) against the deadly disease," said Masisi in a video sent out to journalists on Wednesday soon after a closed door meeting with officials from the World Bank Africa. Masisi said vaccinating the whole population is the quickest possible time to deal with this global pandemic, because vaccinating only 20 percent of the population will not hit the number needed to treat to neither provide protection nor get immunity out of it. "We want to procure the most effective vaccine given our circumstances and the potential for success," said Masisi, adding that Botswana will mobilize citizens from all corners of this southern African country with an estimated population of 2.3 million people. Botswana has got a rich history of immunization, according to Masisi, adding that immunizing people against COVID-19 will not be a huge problem. Botswana has recorded 20, 658 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 124 deaths since the outbreak of the disease in March last year. Source: Xinhua/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 Fresh Coat Painters We are honored to once again be part of the Franchise 500, said Tara Riley, Fresh Coat President. The painting industry is growing fast, and we are eager to keep up the pace we set in 2020 with an even more successful 2021. Fresh Coat, a nationally recognized painting and home services company, recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazines Franchise 500, the worlds first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Placement in the Franchise 500 is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry making it one of the companys most competitive rankings ever. Fresh Coat is listed at 397 after a successful 2020 which included adding 36 new locations throughout the country. We are honored to once again be part of the Franchise 500, said Tara Riley, Fresh Coat President. The painting industry is growing fast, and we are eager to keep up the pace we set in 2020 with an even more successful 2021. The pandemic is leading to a home improvement boom as many homeowners look to upgrade their living conditions during a time when they are spending more time at home than ever. Fresh Coat was able to take advantage of this trend with four straight months of record-breaking revenue in 2020. 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it was also a year of unusual opportunity, says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, well see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future. In Entrepreneurs continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the companys 42-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order. Over its 42 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Fresh Coats position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity. To view Fresh Coat in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2021 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 26th. About Fresh Coat Founded in 2004, Fresh Coat is a nationally recognized painting and home services company. In more than 170 cities from coast to coast, Fresh Coat team members provide top-rated residential and commercial painting and home services for home and business owners. Since 2015, Fresh Coat has been included in Bonds Top 100 and named to Entrepreneur magazines Franchise 500 list. Fresh Coat is also part of the International Franchise Association, the Small Business Associations Franchise Registry, VetFran and Minority Fran. About Entrepreneur Magazine Entrepreneur Magazine is a national business publication based in Irvine, California. For nearly 40 years, Entrepreneur has been the definitive guide to all the diverse challenges of business ownership. Published 12 times a year, the magazine is available by subscription and on newsstands in the United States and Canada, both in print and now a mobile app. Shares of Indian Railways Finance Corporation (IRFC) will list tomorrow (January 29) on BSE and NSE. Amid a sustained selloff in the broader market indices, the GMP (grey market premium) for IRFC has fallen to Rs 0.20-0.25 from Rs 1.5 today. The IPO of the fifth railway's company to hit the stock market since 2017- comprises an issue size of Rs 4,600 crore, out of which the fresh issuance will comprise Rs 3,100 crore and OFS Rs 1,500 crore. During the three-day subscription process between January 18-20, 2021, the IPO was subscribed nearly 3.5 times. It received bids for 432 crore shares against the issue size of 124.75 crore. Ahead of the IPO, IRFC had raised about Rs 1,400 crore from anchor investors. The first-ever IPO by a non-banking financial company (NBFC) in the public sector is being done by a dedicated market borrowing arm of the Indian Railways. IRFC IPO's objective is to augment the company's equity capital base to meet business future growth requirements. The company will not receive any proceeds from the offer for sale and the same will be received by the Government of India. The government plans to reduce its stakeholding in IRFC to 86% from 100% from the IPO. The issue includes a reservation of Rs 50 lakh worth of shares for eligible employees. IRFC share allotment was finalised on 25th January. Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst, Samco Securities said," IRFC is the first IPO to hit Dalal Street in the calendar year 2021 which is a direct play on the growth of Indian railways. The Company's leases and loans are backed by MOR and that's why it has reported nil NPAs for the quarter ended September 2020. IRFC's AUM has also grown at a 20% CAGR from 2018 to 2020." She added," However, despite being the primary lender to the Indian Railways the company comes with its own set of risks. Firstly, it is highly dependent on the MOR for its margins and any adverse determination of the margin will also impact its profitability. Additionally, there is a possibility that its cost of funds may rise in the future. Keeping these inherent risks in mind, we feel investors should assess their own risk appetite and then decide to go for the IPO." LKP Securities said in its note, "The company's primary business is financing the acquisition of Rolling Stock Assets and Project Assets of the Indian Railways and lending to other entities under the MoR. Over the last three decades, the company has played a significant role in supporting the capacity enhancement of the Indian Railways by financing a proportion of its annual plan outlay. The promoter of the company is the President of India, acting through the MoR. As of September 30, 2020, the company's total AUM consisted of 55.34% of lease receivables primarily in relation to Rolling Stock Assets, 2.25% of loans to central public sector enterprises entities under the administrative control of MoR ("Other PSU Entities"), and 42.41% of advances against leasing of Project Assets." Geojit in its IPO Note said today," IRFC follows a low-risk business model with a margin determined by the MoR at the end of each fiscal year. For FY18-20, revenue grew at a CAGR of 21% while PAT grew by 26% CAGR. In FY20, IRFC reported PAT of Rs.3,192cr on revenue of Rs.13, 421cr. In FY17, 18, 19 and 20, IRFC financed 72%, 93%, 84% and 76%, respectively, of the rolling stock purchased by it and leased to the MoR. From April 1, 2017, to September 30, 2020, IRFC financed Rs. 1.79 trillion to the Indian Railways. At the upper price band of Rs.26, IRFC is available at a P/E of 9x and P/B of 1.1x on an annualized basis, which appears attractive. Considering the extensive expansion plans of the Indian Railways, monopoly in the business, a low-risk business model and stable RoE, we assign a Subscribe rating for the issue." "IRFC's gross NPAs are nil as it has entire exposure to Railways or its controlled entities for which the RBI has exempted IRFC from asset classification norms. IRFC has a significant dependence on Railways for its revenues. Change in Capex plans or policies like Railways having ability to raise its own funds, detrimental changes to the term of the agreement, lack of support in terms of ability to raise funds at lower rate or availability of funds are some of the key risk factors impacting the business and result of the operation," IIFL said in a note. Share Market News Live: Sensex drops over 500 points, Nifty at 13,800; Bajaj Finserv, ONGC, NTPC top losers Stocks in news: Axis Bank, HUL, NTPC, Hero MotoCorp, Bank of India, PNB Housing, SBI The real Wolf of Wall Street has described GameStop's stock surge as a 'modified pump and dump', arguing it's the amateur investors who come late to the party who will eventually lose out the most. Jordan Belfort told CNN: 'It's truly a modified pump and dump because, at the end of the day, it will most certainly go back down because it's not trading on any rational, fundamental value.' GameStop stock has rocketed from below $20 earlier this month to close around $350 Wednesday as a volunteer army of investors on social media challenged big institutions who had placed market bets that the stock would fall. The action was even wilder Thursday: The stock swung between $112 and $483 before closing down 43.2% at $197.44. Asked about who might end up losing from the scheme, Belfort said: 'Right now it's not widows and orphans [that are getting hurt]. 'But who do you think are the last people that jump on the bandwagon are going to be? It's going to be the widows and the orphans, or the unprofessionals that keep hearing about it and hearing about it. 'They are going to be the ones that end up getting in at the end of the party...there are going to be some massive victims in this, most certainly.' Jordan Belfort has described GameStop's stock surge as a 'modified pump and dump', arguing it's the amateur investors who come late to the party who will eventually lose out the most WHAT IS A PUMP AND DUMP SCHEME? The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) describes 'pump and dump' schemes as where 'fraudsters typically spread false or misleading information to create a buying frenzy that will pump up the price of a stock and then dump shares of the stock by selling their own shares at the inflated price. 'Once the fraudsters dump their shares and stop hyping the stock, the stock price typically falls and investors lose money.' Source: investor.gov Advertisement Belfort spent 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering in 1999, and has since rebuilt his life as a motivational speaker. His crimes were detailed in his first memoir, The Wolf of Wall Street, which was later turned into the 2013 blockbuster of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film directed by Martin Scorsese - chronicles the boyish, fast-talking Belfort's antics as chairman of Stratton Oakmont Inc., the firm he started with a few desks and phones set up in a former Long Island auto shop. Stratton Oakmont was what is now called a 'boiler room' that marketed penny stocks - those of minimal value - and defrauded investors with the 'pump and dump' type of stock sales, taking large commissions on the trades, often at the expense of their investors. Stratton Oakmont made a fortune by using deceptive, high-pressure tactics to peddle penny stocks at inflated prices. After artificially pumping the value up, Belfort and others would dump their own shares before prices crashed. He added: 'Just remember, every time the market goes up, GameStop goes up, it's going to be harder and harder to make that next move up because the market cap is just not sustainable. 'So, at a certain point, someone has to be crossing out the people who are selling and moving on to the next one. 'There is some sort of loose crime going on, but it's going to be a very tough one to prove, I think.' Members of Reddit's WallStreetBets have spearheaded a campaign to drive up GameStop shares in a battle against hedge fund short-sellers. The three million strong group of amateur investors on the forum exchange tips and boast about beating 'the system'. Some analysts have described the situation as a 'nerds vs Wall Street' battle. But Belfort said Wednesday: 'If you could prove that they are actually colluding together, then that would be illegal. 'The problem is it is sort of this loose collision where one person says "Let's stick together and stay strong." And theoretically, that's illegal. 'But I doubt that the SEC [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission] would try to make a case out of something like that. 'I think what you have to realize is that for the average person there is money to be made in this and money to be lost. You need to be really careful.' GameStop stock has rocketed from below $20 earlier this month to close around $350 Wednesday as a volunteer army of investors on social media challenged big institutions who had placed market bets that the stock would fall. The action was even wilder Thursday: The stock swung between $112 and $483 before closing down 43.2% at $197.44 How does 'shorting' a stock actually work? Stocks typically benefit investors if the price goes up - they buy stock, the price increases if the company does well, then they sell it for a profit. But there is a way to reverse that process. Known as 'shorting', it involves placing a bet against a company that means a trader makes money when the value goes down. To do this, a trader borrows stock off a broker, usually for a fee, which they immediately sell - but with a clause saying that they have to buy back that stock by a certain date and return it to the broker. If the value of the stock goes down, then the trader buys it back for less than the sale price, returning the stock to the broker along with the fee and keeping the rest of the money for themselves. But, if the stock price rises, they will be forced to buy for more than the sale price, making a loss in the process. While this sometimes happens by accident, other traders can deliberately boost the price in a process known as a 'short squeeze' - which is what Reddit did. This benefits the 'squeezers' because they know that at some point, the short-sellers will be legally obliged to buy back their borrowed stocks, driving the price up further. It also inflicts heavy losses on the short-sellers, since the amount they lose is tied to the amount the stock rises - they are effectively 'punished' for betting against the company, which is what some Redditors appear to be interested in. Advertisement Investors have been on a GameStop buying spree, which not only pushes up the shares but puts pressure on short sellers to make purchases to 'cover' their bets to avoid steeper losses. This is known on Wall Street as a 'short squeeze' and can result in a dizzying rally by forcing short sellers into becoming buyers. As a result, GameStop surged 18 percent on Monday, another 115 percent Tuesday and had leapt 135 percent Wednesday. That followed a stunning 50 percent jump on Friday. The extreme volatility has raised concerns about manipulation, which could lead to an investigation by stock market regulators, and has even drawn attention from the White House. Late Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission said it was monitoring the activity. GameStop shares plunged on Thursday after trading app Robinhood restricted purchases. By noon, a federal class action lawsuit had been filed against the trading app in the Southern District of New York. Robinhood also halted buying for shares of theater chain AMC, BlackBerry, retailers Express and Bed Bath & Beyond, headphone maker Koss, swimwear line Naked Brand Group, and Nokia. All were down by double digits in midday trading. GOP Senator Ted Cruz and Democrat Squad member Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez have both called for investigations and criticized Robinhood for shutting down trades while hedge funds are still free to buy and sell stocks as they please. The war began last week when famed hedge fund short seller Andrew Left of Citron Capital bet against GameStop and was met with a barrage of retail traders betting the other way. He said on Wednesday he had abandoned the bet. The Redditers have taken advantage of a process called 'short selling', which effectively reverses the way the stock market traditionally works. Instead of buying a stock in the hope company does well and the price goes up, then selling for a profit, shorting involves betting against a stock in the hope the value goes down, and then pocketing a share of the difference. The catch is that, if the investors are wrong and the price actually goes up, they will end up losing potentially huge sums of money, depending on how far the price rises. Belfort pleaded guilty in 1999 and agreed to become a government witness in a case against an accountant and other stock fraud defendants accused of cooking the firm's books and funneling money into a bogus holding company and overseas bank accounts. Belfort spent 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering in 1999, and has since rebuilt his life as a motivational speaker. His crimes were detailed in his first memoir, The Wolf of Wall Street, which was later turned into the 2013 blockbuster of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, pictured In 2003, after a broken marriage and a bout with drug addiction, Belfort was sentenced to 3 years in prison and ordered to chip away at the $110 million restitution by giving 50 percent of his future earnings to the government. Stratton Oakmont at one point employed over 1,000 stock brokers and was involved in stock issues totaling more than $1 billion, including being behind the initial public offering for footwear company Steve Madden Ltd. Belfort served 22 months at the Taft Correctional Center in Taft, California, in exchange for a plea deal with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the pump-and-dump scams he ran that led investors to lose approximately $200 million and he was ordered to pay back $110.4 million that he swindled from stock buyers. Belfort shared a cell with Tommy Chong while serving his sentence, and Chong encouraged Belfort to write about his experiences as a stockbroker. He now makes his money as a writer and motivational speaker. Were in danger of stating the obvious here, but the global pandemic is still wreaking havoc on countries including the US and the UK, where even though case numbers are slowly declining, theyre still astronomical compared to others such as Australia and New Zealand. That means face masks are still just as imperative as ever, proving to be an effective barrier against the infectious disease. This new daily essential has seen myriad companies release their own versions, and for those who want to add a little luxury to their lives, Tom Fords one could be unbeatable. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TOM FORD (@tomford) The American fashion brand is renowned for its pieces of elegance and quality, and their face mask is no different. As youd expect, its made in Italy from a smooth and super soft jersey knit fabric. It cant be classified as medical-grade however, but when youre looking, to quote the brands fragrance, F**king Fabulous, and are still protected to a degree, it doesnt matter. Available in an extensive range of colours to pair with various outfits. At $95, we agree its pricier than other face masks, but you cant put a price on protection and Tom Fords face mask really is the little piece of luxury that we could all benefit from right now. Shop The Tom Ford Face Mask Read Next No opening of schools and day-care centres before the pandemic is under control!this is the call by the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education in a resolution unanimously adopted on Monday evening. In introducing the resolution at an online meeting, Gregor Link of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) described the war-like conditions of the coronavirus pandemic in several European countries, where the B.1.1.7 strain of the virus is rapidly spreading. He cited the horrendous number of coronavirus deaths in Germany, stressing that 20,000 COVID patients have already died since the beginning of 2021 alone. These people have not simply fallen victim to a medical phenomenon; a policy that puts profits before human lives killed them. Federal and regional politicians of all stripes were reducing schools and day-care centres to child-minding institutions to keep businesses open. Mere appeals to these politicians are futile, he concluded. The demand for a comprehensive lockdown could only be enforced if students, teachers, educators and parents take their safety into their own hands. The action committees would have to align their resistance with that of workers in the factories threatened by mass layoffs and wage cuts in the pandemic. What was needed was a frontal attack on the capitalist system which the pandemic had exposed in the eyes of billions of people. The international character of this struggle was underscored by the contribution of Genevieve Leigh, IYSSE Chair in the USA. Speaking on behalf of the US Socialist Equality Party, Leigh stressed that students, teachers, educators, parents, and workers in the US faced the same issues. In the struggle to preserve human life, colleges, universities and secondary schools are becoming central battlegrounds. In contrast, she said, university administrators, unions and Republicans and Democrats alike were on the other side. The new US President Joe Biden was also a representative of the ruling oligarchy, Leigh pointed out. She said his administration was committed to opening educational institutions by the spring. The Democrats are continuing Trumps murderous, pro-business policies in the pandemic. Leigh explained the connection of the January 6 fascist coup attempt to the coronavirus pandemic and rapidly growing social inequality. She said it was a political fact that the fascists most important demand was for the removal of all restrictions on economic life. Joe Biden was calling for unity with the same Republicans and right-wing Trump supporters responsible for the coup attempt. The framework of official policy is not moving to the left, but further to the right. It was only in this context that Facebooks current attacks on the accounts of socialists, left-wing oppositionists and anti-war activists could be understood, she said. Leigh reported that Facebook had censored and closed at least six accounts of leading members of the Socialist Equality Party and the IYSSE last week without any justification. They were only restored on Monday after immense public pressure. The immediate censorship has been lifted, but the fundamental threat remains, Leigh said. She described the work of the network of independent action committees in the US, where committees have already been established in New York, Michigan, California, Texas, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Tennessee; they are also planned in Utah, Colorado and Washington. The pandemic had produced the deepest crisis since the American Civil War, she said. A year ago, the first patient in the US tested positive for COVID-19, and now more than 425,000 people have died and 25 million have been infected. Also, she said, many had seen their livelihoods destroyed, millions of workers have been forced into unemployment and tens of thousands of small businesses have closed. At the same time, the fortunes of the rich grew to stratospheric heights. This important contribution was followed by a lively discussion. Meret (18), a high school graduate from Bremen, who together with fellow students had enforced distance learning at her school, reported that in her part-time job in the care sector, she had already witnessed the deaths of five people. The next step, she said, must be to coordinate the school boycott for consistent school closures nationwide. However, establishment politicians were using the pressure of exams to force graduating classes into schools. This was also confirmed by Jaimy, a high school student from Saxony. He reported that his graduating class has been forced back into schools since 18 January. Florian from Baden-Wurttemberg listed several examples of new strikes and initiatives at schools, where resistance is forming in Saarland, Saxony, Brandenburg and elsewhere. He stressed the importance of working together to fight the pandemic globally in the face of the new strains. The virus is spreading across national borders, and in the same way, you can only stop it with measures that are not limited to the national sphere. Joshua, a student from Bavaria, spoke about the pathetic role played by the so-called left parties and trade unions in the pandemic, confirming that the GEW education union had demanded the reopening of schools in the summer and called the compulsory wearing of masks pedagogically nonsensical. He stressed, The struggle must be independent of and against these tendencies. Tamino, a student from Karlsruhe, then spoke about the massive problems in distributing the vaccine and warned against equating the start of vaccination with a return to normality. The global demand for the vaccine has increased tensions between countries. Instead of decisions on distribution being shared internationally, quantities are negotiated through nationalist struggles between countries. Clemens, who is currently volunteering in a day-care centre, spoke about the social situation of many workers under conditions of rising unemployment, where mini-jobbers, temporary workers and solo self-employed workers would be pushed into poverty by the pandemic and were being downright blackmailed. The official reports gloss over the real figures, he said. The unions have been suppressing industrial action all last year and they support ending the lockdown. That is why, he said, it was crucial to unite internationally in the new strikes that are breaking out, independently of the unions. Students and educators at the meeting also described their particular situations. Christopher, a student from Leipzig, reported that he had contracted COVID-19 at his part-time job as a bicycle courier for a fast-food chain and had been fired for informing his colleagues about it. He gave a vivid picture of this hard work under intense time pressure and poor pay. He illustrated how profit-hungry businesses were systematically covering up the coronavirus outbreaks. Martin, an educator from Leipzig, described the great anger that was spreading among educators as they worked with large groups of children without protection and were being burned out by politicians in the pandemic. The resolution For a European-wide school strike against the opening of schools! was adopted unanimously. Christoph Vandreier, Vice-Chair of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party), then summarised the main lessons. He said that the scale of the pandemic had made all the issues we have been explaining for a long time now come to life in a very concrete way. Leigh had made this clear in her contribution on the connection between Trumps fascist coup attempt and the ruling elites murderous pandemic policies. The ruling class is betting on the politics of death; its entire social system is bankrupt, Vandreier stated. Workers and students were being put under massive pressure to return to the factories and schools under conditions of the ongoing pandemic, so that profits continue to flow. Vandreier stressed the importance of responding offensively to these attacks. There is huge opposition. We must provide a strong, international, and comprehensive response to this. For this, we need a very broad movement that includes the entire working class. Only a general strike can force the closure of all non-essential workplaces. For this, we need a socialist perspective. Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe. Starting in February 2021, the partners will expand access to care for youth with diabetes from approximately 23,000 in 2020 to approximately 150,000 in 65 countries over the next 10 years. The program also strives to improve outcomes in all countries that receive support. Type 1 diabetes management support includes access to mealtime and basal insulins, reusable pens, blood glucose monitoring, A1C testing and diabetes education. "Insulin has improved dramatically since it was first discovered a century ago, but there is still much work to be done to ensure equitable access to quality diabetes care, medicines, and support programs across the globe," said Mike Mason, president, Lilly Diabetes. "Lilly and Life for a Child have been collaborating for years to develop solutions, and we are excited to strengthen this critical work with Beyond Type 1." Since 2009, Lilly has donated 2.4 million vials of insulin to LFAC, which provides access to care, education, and lifesaving medicines and supplies to children and young people with type 1 diabetes in developing countries. As part of the partnership, Lilly will provide mealtime and basal insulins and reusable pens as well as covering the costs associated with arranging, packing, and shipping to countries in conjunction with Direct Relief. The expanded partnership will enable Life for a Child to reach children and young people in more than 60 countries, including India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Bolivia. "Insulin is essential for survival in type 1 diabetes, but it is not enough blood glucose monitoring, medical care, and diabetes education are just as important. Lilly's very generous and extensive support of this expansion will enable Life for a Child to greatly increase provision of all these components of care, in many countries across the globe," said Dr. Graham Ogle, General Manager of Life for a Child. "Together, we aim to build a healthier world, where children with diabetes thrive no matter what country or situation they are born into." Global diabetes nonprofit Beyond Type 1 will further support the expansion of Life for a Child's programming by providing educational resource development alongside strategic communications support to amplify their critically important work. "Over the next ten years, with this new support, Life for a Child's footprint will expand to serve 150,000 children with life-sustaining diabetes care around the globe. Beyond Type 1 is thrilled to be joining the LFAC Steering Committee and working to magnify and support this work through community building, communication efforts and resource development," said Beyond Type 1 CEO Thom Scher. The expansion of the Life for a Child program is part of Lilly's social impact efforts and supports Lilly 30x30, the company's goal to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people living in settings with limited resources, each year, by 2030. The expansion builds on decades of Lilly's global health work to improve equitable access to diabetes care and medicines, including in Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, and the U.S. About Diabetes An estimated 463 million adults worldwide have diabetes and more than 1.8 million children and young people below 25 years old have type 1 diabetes. Approximately 3 in 4 people with diabetes, or 79 percent, live in low- and middle-income countries1. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin. About Life for a Child Life for a Child is a program of Diabetes NSW, based in Sydney, Australia. It aims to provide the best possible care, given local circumstances, for all young people with diabetes, and work towards sustainable provision of care in each country. In every country supported, care is provided through national diabetes associations and leading hospitals. To learn more about Life for a Child, please visit us at lifeforachild.org . About Beyond Type 1 Beyond Type 1 is a nonprofit organization changing what it means to live with diabetes. By leveraging the power of social media and technology, Beyond Type 1 empowers people to both live well today and support a better tomorrow. Through peer support programs, global campaigns, and digital platforms, Beyond Type 1 is uniting the global diabetes community across both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, helping to change what it means to live with chronic illness. To learn more about Beyond Type 1, please visit us at BeyondType1.org. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global health care leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom . CR-LLY 1/2021 Lilly USA, LLC 2021. All rights reserved. References 1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2019. Available at: http://diabetesatlas.org . Refer to: Brad Jacklin; [email protected] ; 317-409-4830 (Eli Lilly and Company) Harry Cramer; [email protected]; +612 9552 9849 (Life for a Child) Kim Pace; [email protected] (Beyond Type 1) SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Film Critic Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski). YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the Army Day, on behalf of the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, tribute was paid to the memory of the heroes who died for the defense of Homeland, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. A wreath was laid on behalf of President Sarkissian at the Yerablur Military Pantheon on the wall commemorating the heroism of those who died for the freedom and independence of the Motherland. I am disillusioned and sad because I was already in my house with my children, but unfortunately because of the racism in some peoples hearts I had to come back here, Lino said Wednesday in Spanish. My kids deserve their mom in the house. Im not a criminal. I didnt do anything wrong. I just want to find a better life for my family. As they rush to vaccinate millions of Americans, health officials are struggling to collect critically important information such as race, ethnicity and occupation of every person they jab. The data being collected is so scattered that there's little insight into which health care workers, or first responders, have been among the people getting the initial vaccines, as intended or how many doses instead have gone to people who should be much further down the list. The gaps which experts say reflect decades of underfunding of public health programs could mean that well-connected people and health personnel who have no contact with patients are getting vaccines before front-line workers, who are at much higher risk for illness. Federal and state officials prioritized health workers plus residents and staffs of nursing homes for the first wave of shots. Although officials leading President Joe Biden's covid response have pledged to tackle racial inequities as they seek to control the pandemic, lapses in reporting race or ethnicity could hinder efforts to identify and track whether minorities hit especially hard by the pandemic are getting shots at a high-enough rate to achieve hoped-for levels of herd immunity. So far, limited data in multiple states shows Black residents are getting vaccinated at lower rates than whites. "Every state knows where they've sent vaccine, and every provider has to report inventory. But as far as who is being vaccinated, that one is a little more tricky," said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers. Data that eventually makes its way to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal systems is "only going to be as good as whatever you can get out of the vaccine registries" that vary by state, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. "They're all different and, going into this, they were all at different stages of how robust they were." There are 64 immunization registries in the United States that gather information for states, territories and a handful of large cities and they aren't connected. Meanwhile, real-time data in the U.S. public health system is virtually nonexistent, Plescia said. Reporters at KHN examined the data being gathered versus what the CDC says is supposed to be collected for every person vaccinated, which includes: name, address, sex, date of birth, race and ethnicity, the date and location where they were vaccinated, and the shot they received (currently only two products are available, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna). Not on its list: occupation, even though initial vaccine distribution largely hinges on place of work, prioritizing health care personnel, long-term care facilities and then other essential workers such as teachers, grocery store workers and firefighters. Dr. Katherine Poehling, a pediatrician at the Wake Forest School of Medicine who's on the CDC advisory committee that issued vaccine priority recommendations, declined to comment on whether occupation should have been a required element for reporting to the CDC. "I think you can always wish for more data, but really what we're going for is vaccinating everybody that wants to be vaccinated," she said. "The fact that there was something available on day one was really remarkable," she said, referring to a database that could track vaccine shipments and allocations by state. Still, gaps are evident, including holes in CDC rules for reporting race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity information are missing from at least hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses that have already been administered and reported to state public health authorities. Texas' vaccine data on Wednesday showed that race or ethnicity was unknown for more than 700,000 people. Virginia's dashboard shows that data was missing for nearly 300,000 vaccinations, or 52% of vaccine doses, as of Tuesday. The same was true for tens of thousands of vaccinations in Colorado and Maryland. In Minnesota, state law prohibits the sharing of data on race and ethnicity. "It is important how many shots are administered, but it is critical that we get good race and ethnicity information about who is receiving it so we can identify disparities and other problems," said Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The CDC declined to say how many of the vaccine records it had received were missing the information. In response to questions, CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said the agency plans to publish race, ethnicity and other demographic data next week. The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, chair of the Biden administration's covid-19 health equity task force, on Wednesday conceded that the racial and ethnicity data is "incomplete" but said it wasn't the only way to gauge progress of the vaccine rollout on the ground. "We can think about things like neighborhoods and communities as metrics and ways to track as well," she said. "We're building our equity dashboard right now, and we'll rely on government sources as well as sources of data external to government." The ongoing struggle for complete data shows how little has changed for the CDC since the virus appeared in the U.S. one year ago and its early efforts to collect data identifying covid-infected people were widely panned. So far, the CDC has publicly stated how many vaccines have been distributed nationwide and how many doses administered. Its dashboard includes a breakdown of how many shots have been given by state and in long-term care facilities. Walgreens and CVS together have given more than 2.5 million doses in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, though neither company has released data on race or whether the shots were given to patients or staffers. State and federal health officials know where vaccines go as officials must track inventory by facility. Several states have released breakdowns of doses administered by the type of institution, providing a window into how many shots are being used in hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, primary care practices, public health departments and tribal health sites. And when signing up for an appointment, individuals may be asked to provide their occupation to attest they qualify for a shot under a state's rules at a given time. Maryland and Ohio require providers to submit data on the occupations of vaccine recipients, in a break with CDC practice. But several states contacted by KHN said they do not collect that information, such as Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Virginia. Electronic health records manufacturers that provide software to hospitals and other facilities said they are scrambling to modify the software to accommodate data reporting requirements that vary by state. Occupation is one example. Another: Texas law requires the state to collect information on all medications given "in response to a declared disaster or public health emergency," said State Health Services spokesperson Chris Van Deusen. Leigh Burchell, vice president of policy and government affairs at the EHR firm Allscripts, said these variations are "obstacles none of us has tackled before," though she thinks that, overall, "successes outweigh failures" as companies have had to adjust quickly during the pandemic. EHR systems can connect to state registries, which ultimately send vaccine tracking data to the CDC. A lack of "a coordinated, national public health infrastructure" continues to be a problem that "forces everyone to work less efficiently than would be optimal," Burchell said. Health IT consultant Reed Gelzer said the situation reflects the 30-year-plus failure of the public health system to modernize data collection. He said officials need look no further than chronic problems tracking childhood immunizations, handled in some states at the county level, and in others at the state level, often poorly. A national system to track immunizations has never existed, which he argues should have been discussed before the vaccine rollout. "As far as I know, even in the earliest days of the pandemic, nobody did stress-testing of the information system," Gelzer said. Cerner, a major electronic health records company, says that some hospitals are using an existing workplace health system to track employees who have been vaccinated while others create a patient record for vaccinated employees as well as for patients. The systems can capture demographic details, but the data fields to do that have to be turned on and it's unclear whether its client hospitals have done so. The CDC and other federal agencies rely on a complicated web of systems to get data about who's been vaccinated. State and local vaccine registries, known as immunization information systems, are the most comprehensive source of records and the "source of truth," Hannan said. Those registries have long-standing connections to providers' electronic health records, said Rebecca Coyle, executive director of the American Immunization Registry Association. But they aren't meant to capture certain information, such as a patient's medical history and occupation. Those state and local registries transmit data to an HHS-owned clearinghouse, where personal details are redacted. The clearinghouse gets data from other sources, too. These include a new CDC vaccination clinic mobile app called VAMS, as well as pharmacies, prisons and federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. A limited slice of the data then moves to another CDC repository known as the "Data Lake," where it can be analyzed and reported to the CDC and Tiberius, a separate software platform developed by federal contractor Palantir for former President Donald Trump's Operation Warp Speed effort. The Data Lake also receives information on shipment and vaccine orders from the CDC's VTrckS system. On top of that dizzying array of tools, many states use another, third-party software system, PrepMod, to manage vaccine inventory, appointments and reporting. When asked whether not having data on occupations could hinder tracking whether priority groups have received their shots, Nordlund of the CDC said it's unnecessary to vaccinate all individuals in one phase before initiating the next. "This means ideally hitting a sweet spot that maximizes getting vaccine into arms while also being mindful of the priority groups," Nordlund said, "especially because these are people who are higher risk for complications from covid-19 or are more likely to be exposed to the virus because of their jobs." Lawmakers recently attempted to address the nation's antiquated public health data infrastructure, partly by appropriating $500 million under the CARES Act to the CDC. In an August letter to Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), former CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield said the agency would use the funds to update how state and health departments report data to federal officials, improve the CDC's own data infrastructure, and develop new standards for public health reporting. Additionally, tucked into the massive year-end spending bill Congress passed in late December was a requirement that HHS expand and improve public health data systems used by the CDC and award grants to state and local health departments to upgrade their infrastructure. The Biden administration has made promises to strengthen the federal government's approach to data collection on vaccination efforts. KHN data reporter Hannah Recht and KHN correspondent Lauren Weber contributed to this report. [January 28, 2021] AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to The Gray Indemnity Company; Affirms Credit Ratings of The Gray Insurance Company and Affiliate AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "a-" to The Gray Indemnity Company (GID). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (rating) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of "a-" of The Gray Insurance Company (GIC) and Gray Surplus Lines Insurance Company (GSLIC). The outlook of these ratings is stable. These companies collectively are known as Gray Insurance Group (the group). In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a-" of The Gray Casualty & Surety Company (GCSC), a wholly owned subsidiary of GIC. The outlook of these ratings is stable. All companies are headquartered in Metairie, LA. The ratings reflect the group's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). GID is a wholly owned subsidiary of GIC, and plans to write loss sensitive workers' compensation, commercial-automobile liability, commercial-general liability and excess liability coverages. The ratings assigned to GID reflect the existence of a 100% intercompany quota share reinsurance agreement with GIC, effective Dec. 1, 2020. The ratings of the group are reflective of its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), historically profitable operating results, and focused loss control services for its heavy construction risks and energy-related operations in its established niche market. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the group's moderate annual stockholder dividend payments, whichhave somewhat constrained capital appreciation and the operating loss in 2019 associated with loss reserve strengthening on prior accident years primarily in the commercial auto line. The ratings of GCSC reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings of GCSC further reflect its strongest BCAR scores and low underwriting leverage metrics. Operating performance at GCSC has improved generally over the recent five-year period, driven by sound underwriting and loss reserving practices. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. 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 Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005830/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Agencies | Washington The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Fighting extremism and promoting peaceful coexistence are integral components of a dedicated Bahraini approach led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of the government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Bahrain's Ambassador to the US has said. Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa also expressed pride in following the footsteps of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King's Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, who has stressed the Kingdom's commitment to peaceful co-existence. The ambassador recalled how HH Shaikh Nasser while attending the launch of the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration in September 2017 emphasized HM the King's initiative to promote peace between nations and coexistence among peoples of diverse backgrounds and beliefs and Bahrain's focus on promoting this vision by creating an environment conducive to peace. Shaikh Abdullah was speaking following the signing of an agreement between Bahrain and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) to develop the "Ma'an" (Together) program to combat violence and addiction and to update the curricula. Shaikh Abdullah, upon assignment from Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, and D.A.R.E. America President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Pegueros signed the agreement related to the new curriculum that includes information and skills on peaceful coexistence and combating extremism and currently carried out through the "Ma'an" program in schools across the Kingdom. Bahrain has been long devoted to reinforcing such principles to promote peace and prosperity through tolerance and coexistence, in line with HM King Hamad's pledge, We will always work to promote the values of moderation, tolerance and coexistence, in word and deed, in the face of extremism and fanaticism," Shaikh Abdullah said. The direct confrontation with extremism and intolerance and the commitment to eliminating them are the main goal of the national program "Ma'an" launched by Shaikh Rashid in 2011, based on the awareness and education approach to combat violence and addiction and as an indication of the role of the police in strengthening community partnership and service, Shaikh Abdullah added. The ambassador hailed the numerous successes achieved by the program as it marks its tenth year. The program contributes to strengthening the relationship between the police and the community and reflects the Interior Minister's keenness that the police be an integral component of society, and not isolated from it, he said. Shaikh Abdullah said he was particularly proud that over the ten years since its inception, the "Ma'an" program, the relationship between youth and law enforcement agencies has strengthened and instilled the values of national identity that focus on resorting to tolerance in resolving issues instead of violence. Successes should not lead to complacency and the program should be regularly reviewed, assessed and improved through analyzing and evaluating its significance and effects in order to fine-tune the curricula and carry out best practices, he said. Shaikh Abdullah pointed out that Bahrain has a solid relationship with D.A.R.E. based on mutual respect and that the Kingdom assumes its international role regarding the program with diligence and seriousness, which consolidates its leadership in combating extremism. The signing of the agreement is not a mere formal or ceremonial action, but rather a milestone on the way forward to strengthening minds and promoting peace and another confirmation of the strong relations between Bahrain and the US, he added. The "Ma'an" experts have prepared new lessons aimed at promoting the concepts of social peace, coexistence and mutual acceptance and at strengthening ways to prevent extremism of all kinds and empowering young people with the skills and aptitudes that protect people from extremism and its negative consequences in the social, security and economic areas. Specialists at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) have been contacted regarding developing the curriculum and ways to measure the impact of new lessons on students as well as their effectiveness on adolescents. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Toxys, Leiden University and Leiden University Medical Center have agreed immediately to commercialize and also develop further the ToxProfiler technology invented at the two institutions. ToxProfiler allows for rapid toxicity hazard identification of novel and existing drugs, chemicals, and other substances. Furthermore, ToxProfiler has the unique ability to provide detailed and quantitative information about the mode-of-action of such toxic substances. Furthermore, the technique is also free of animal-testing. Expanding the portfolio This new technology thereby enormously enlarges the portfolio of toxicity testing that Toxys can make available to the world, complementing the existing genotoxicity and repro-toxicity testing platforms of Toxys. "Toxys is continuously looking for opportunities to expand its portfolio of unique animal-free assays for chemical safety testing," says Giel Hendrik, CEO of Toxys. "The ToxProfiler technology aligns perfectly with our already robust portfolio of toxicology services. We are very excited to bring ToxProfiler to our clients and further support the non-animal safety testing of novel medicines, chemicals and other products." Safety testing The technology on which the ToxProfiler platform is based, was developed by the Leiden Academic Centre of Drug Research (LACDR). The ToxProfiler platform consists of a large collection of fluorescent reporter cell lines in combination with automated live-cell imaging and data analysis pipelines. ToxProfiler is particularly applicable for early chemical safety testing as well as read-across, adverse outcome pathway and weight-of-evidence approaches. Bob van de Water, professor of Drug Safety Sciences at LACDR is extremely pleased to see that the is now ready to be commercialized by industry. "The technology was initially developed at LACDR and further validated within the Horizon2020 EUToxRisk program. It contributes to the paradigm shift in mechanism-based human safety evaluation and supports the development of safer and more effective medicines and other products. We are very much looking forward to working with Toxys." "We are proud to work with Toxys to bring our technology to the market' agrees Hubertus Irth, scientific director of the LACDR. "With the scientific expertise and proven experience with bringing innovative cell assays to the market, we believe that Toxys is the ideal partner to further develop and commercialize our ToxProfiler technology. Valorisation and contributing to solving important societal problems like reducing animal testing is a key priority for our university." Human health hazards The ToxProfiler platform is a unique New Approach Method, that can be applied to accurately quantify the chemical-induced cellular stress response pathways to reveal the toxicological mode-of-action of novel medicines, (agro)chemicals, cosmetics and food ingredients. Differentiation of the ToxProfiler reporter cells in 3-D spheroids can be applied to study liver metabolisation or bioaccumulation and long-term exposure effects by repeated dosing of compounds. Understanding these often complex mechanisms underlying toxicity is essential for extrapolation of in vitro test results to human health hazards. Explore further Avoiding animal experimentation with improved chemical risk assessment methods More information: For more information, see For more information, see toxys.com/toxprofiler MUNICH When it comes to recorded theater, great acting translates to video much better than elaborate productions with complex concepts or intricate sets. So when the Thalia Theater, in Hamburg, Germany, asked 10 European playhouses to send their best shows for an online edition of the Lessingtage, an international festival held every January, by and large the theaters privileged accomplished performances over virtuosic stagecraft. The result, Lessingtage 2021 Digital: Stories from Europe, is a wide-ranging survey of contemporary European theater that casts a spotlight on some of the continents finest stage actors. At a time when few people are allowed to travel and even fewer theaters to open the chance to discover new and recent stage works from the Iberian Peninsula to Russia feels particularly vital. While a few of the Lessingtage Digital productions debuted during the pandemic, the majority of the work on offer is already several seasons old, giving online viewers the opportunity to discover productions whose live runs may have already ended. One of the newest, and best, of the bunch is Anne Lenks stylish and focused staging of Mary Stuart, which premiered at the Deutsches Theater Berlin in October. Throughout the evening, the eight cast members perform from isolated pink cubes in Judith Oswalds corona-friendly set. Yet there is nothing stilted or fussily formal about Lenks interpretation of Schillers historical tragedy. A Strong Performance in 2020 Confirms the Group's Strategic Evolution "I am proud of the dynamism and responsiveness demonstrated by our employees in a challenging period. Their hard work, commitment and entrepreneurialism in supporting our customers have resulted in a strong operational performance for SGS in 2020, reinforcing our leadership position in the TIC industry. We have taken significant strategic steps forward in 2020, both through the acquisition of SYNLAB Analytics & Services (A&S) and by launching the next phase of our planning. The strong operational performance combined with this important move confirms our strategic evolution which further aligns SGS to the key TIC 'megatrends'", said Frankie Ng, Chief Executive Officer of SGS. A Strong Financial Performance Total Revenue reached CHF 5.6 billion, down by 15.1% (a decline of 8.8% at constant currency*), notably driven by the disposal of the Petroleum Service Corporation (PSC) in 2019. Organic Revenue* declined by 6.5% impacted by the pandemic. A gradual improvement throughout H2 2020 was experienced with a return to growth in December. Operating Income decreased from CHF 1 082 million in prior year to CHF 795 million in 2020, mainly driven by the exceptional gain of CHF 268 million on the disposal of the PSC business in 2019 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Adjusted Operating Income* decreased from CHF 1 063 million in prior year to CHF 900 million in 2020, a decline of 15.3% (a decline of 8% at constant currency*). Adjusted Operating Income Margin* of 16.1% remained stable in 2020 at historical rate but increased by 20 basis points at constant currency*. This improvement was driven by the structural cost optimization program implemented in H2 2019, strong cash collection (resulting in a lower allowance for expected credit losses) and additional measures taken in 2020 due to the pandemic. Profit Attributable to Equity Holders decreased from CHF 660 million in 2019 to CHF 480 million in 2020, a decrease of 27.3% over prior year. Basic Earnings per Share decreased from CHF 87.45 in prior year to CHF 64.05, a decrease of 26.7%. Free Cash Flow (FCF)* increased significantly by 12.6% from CHF 673 million in prior year to CHF 758 million in 2020 driven by strong working capital management. The Board of Directors is pleased to propose a Dividend to remain stable at CHF 80 per share. Significant Strategic Milestones Achieved In 2020 We have implemented the next stage of our strategic evolution with the purpose of enabling a better, safer and more interconnected world for employees, customers, shareholders and society. Our operational structure has been simplified into six new focus areas, composed of four divisions: Connectivity & Products, Health & Nutrition, Industries & Environment and Natural Resources and two cross-divisional strategic units: Knowledge and Digital & Innovation. This will improve our market approach and increase cooperation and agility in our global network. The acquisition of SYNLAB Analytics & Services (A&S) further aligns SGS to the Health, Nutrition and Environment TIC megatrends and enhances our market position in Europe. It also adds a range of complex services and accelerates the adoption of our hub and spoke model, offering greater scope for automation and digitalization and generating strong operating synergies. Throughout 2020, SGS has successfully developed our Next Normal solutions and leveraged our remote service delivery solutions to better serve our customers and society with higher value-added services. To provide improved supply chain visibility, we leveraged our market-leading technical capabilities and adapted our delivery models using our digital tools and sensor-based technology. Remote inspection, audit, consulting and other digital delivery solutions all gained customer traction and acceptance in 2020. Additional innovation of our service portfolio included our global Life Sciences network delivering Covid-19 vaccine testing and new innovative therapeutics for several global clients. We continue to be TIC market leader in PPE testing and inspection. In addition, we have seen strong progress on contract signings across our TIC services on disinfection and business recovery. We have defined our 2030 sustainability ambition which encompasses a holistic and global approach to sustainability both in terms of how we behave as a company and the value we provide to our customers through our services. We will launch our 2030 sustainability plan in Q2 2021. Financial Discipline and Continued Investment in Strategic Priority Areas We have continued to invest in high growth potential markets, reinforced our pricing initiatives, cost control and working capital management and successfully refinanced part of our debt in a challenging year. We successfully issued two bonds with a total value of CHF 500 million. We achieved over CHF 90 million of structural cost savings, coupled with strong cost management and EVA-driven performance management. Supported by our focused capital allocation strategy, we have continued to invest heavily in our strategic priority areas including wireless, 5G, semiconductors, food testing and investment into IT systems to continue to drive productivity increases. Download the full report (PDF) > Download the Alternative Performance Measures supplement (PDF) > Join the webcast at 14:00 CET > Learn more > * Alternative Performance Measures (APM) - refer to the 2020 Full Year APM document For further information, please contact: Investors: Toby Reeks SVP Corporate Communication, Sustainability & Investor Relations t: +41 79 641 83 02 Media: Daniel Rufenacht Group VP Corporate Communications t: +41 78 656 94 59 www.sgs.com ABOUT SGS SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world. [January 28, 2021] Adoption of Open Standards Critical to the Future of the Connected Home, According to New Survey More than three out of every four (76%) broadband service providers have either started to implement the Broadband Forum's User Services Platform (USP) or plan to do so in the next year, according to a new report out today. Respondents to a major new study into the future of the connected home commissioned by the Broadband Forum (News - Alert) also predicted that a big increase in the number of smart home devices installed in homes would be a key driver for the continued growth of the connected device market over the next five years. The number of installed connected devices is expected to rise by a further 70% by 2025. The report highlighted fragmentation in both customer premises equipment (CPE) and middleware as being the biggest barriers to the growth of the connected home. As smaller, innovative firms create technological improvements, such as Wi-Fi mesh, they need to ensure their products can easily integrate with others, and service providers need to avoid being locked in to single vendor solutions. Broadband Forum's Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Business Development Craig Thomas said: "As the demand for connected home services continues to proliferate, service providers are playing less of a central role in the consumers' smart homes and have instead decided to partner or concentrate on enabling third parties to play their role within a managed service offering. This has led to the fragmentation which industry wide standards play a pivotal role in combating." "The survey report highlights the importance of USP in ensuring service and application providers can effectively manage devices and the Wi-Fi experience to seamlessly navigate the connected home environment. With the results of this global survey, we are delighted that so many service providers across the industry recognize the benefits in utilizing or planning to deploy USP in the near future," Mr Thomas continued. This free to download report is a follow up to the 'Efficient and Automated Smart Home Rollout' report produced in association with the Broadband Forum in 2015. As then, Omdia conducted a quantitative service provider survey of over 100 representatives across 19 countries, however, for this report Omdia also added in-depth qualitative interviews with key executives from 11 service providers in Latin America, North America, Europe and China. As well as information and data from this survey and interviews, Omdia has included data from its extensive research sets across the broadband, connected and smart home industries. The report also revealed that 75% of all broadband subscriptions on a global basis will be on tariffs with speeds of more than 100Mbps by 2025. 16% will be on speeds of 1Gbps or more and the average global download speed of over 350Mbps by 2025 as more service providers actively invest in the home network and shift their attention to addressing consumer dissatisfaction surrounding home Wi-Fi related issues. 64% of respondents advised that slow broadband speed is the most common cause of user support calls, followed by Wi-Fi device configuration/setup (40%) and broadband latency/jitter (38%). The report highlighted that the leading problems encountered with customer's Wi-Fi was low coverage/range, latency/jitter and slow speed and service providers' first instinct was to provide i-Fi extenders to solve the problem. However, not all Wi-Fi issues can be resolved by taking this action and it can be a wasted investment for those suffering from congestion or device connectivity issues. Smart Wi-Fi is on the rise and 63% of respondents to Omdia's Service Provider Connected Home survey expect smart Wi-Fi's penetration in their networks to be 25% or above within three years. At Broadband World Forum last year, Broadband Forum's Cloud CO virtual demonstration highlighted how its specifications are enabling closed loop automation of Wi-Fi in multi-vendor environments. "The connected home has become an essential part of the broadband network and with the continued growth of connected devices and variety of applications being run, it is essential that broadband service providers have access to a high-quality and reliable network," said Omdia's Research Director, Service Provider Consumer Michael Philpott. "Industry standards such as Broadband Forum's USP and open frameworks are vital to this success in order to fully equip broadband service providers to dynamically compete with global tech and consumer electronics companies." The evolution of the popular TR-069 (CWMP) system, USP is the standardized, interoperable platform that uses the best of open source and standards and enables faster, more efficient, and reliable monitoring, controlling, and management of the multitude of connected devices and subscriber Wi-Fi in real-time. The report also highlighted that broadband service providers seek to see continued standards work maintain customer trust, eradicate fragmentation and facilitate the development of open platforms to fully drive third party developer scale. To read the survey report in full, visit: https://www.broadband-forum.org/the-future-telco-connected-home-download-now. The Future Telco Connected Home Survey Results Webinar will be taking place at 10am EST (4pm CET) on Wednesday 3 February. Register now for free: https://www.broadband-forum.org/meetings-and-events/the-future-telco-connected-home-survey-results-webinar. About the Broadband Forum Broadband Forum is the communications industry's leading open standards development organization focused on accelerating broadband innovation, standards, and ecosystem development. Our members' passion - delivering on the promise of broadband by enabling smarter and faster broadband networks and a thriving broadband ecosystem. Broadband Forum is an open, non-profit industry organization composed of the industry's leading broadband operators, vendors, thought leaders who are shaping the future of broadband, and observers who closely track our progress. Its work to date has been the foundation for broadband's global proliferation and innovation. For example, the Forum's flagship TR-069 CPE WAN Management Protocol has nearly 1 billion installations worldwide. Broadband Forum's projects span across 5G, Connected Home, Cloud, and Access. Its working groups collaborate to define best practices for global networks, enable new revenue-generating service and content delivery, establish technology migration strategies, and engineer critical device, service & development management tools in the home and business IP networking infrastructure. We develop multi-service broadband packet networking specifications addressing architecture, device and service management, software data models, interoperability and certification in the broadband market. Our free technical reports and white papers can be found at https://www.broadband-forum.org/. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Broadband_Forum and LinkedIn. For more information about the Broadband Forum, please go to https://www.broadband-forum.org or follow @Broadband_Forum on Twitter. For further information please contact Brian Dolby on +44 (0) 7899 914168 or brian.dolby@proactive-pr.com or Josh Wright on +44 (0)7795 615466 or josh.wright@proactive-pr.com. About Omdia Omdia is a global technology research powerhouse, established following the merger of the research division of Informa Tech and the acquired IHS (News - Alert) Markit technology research portfolio, Ovum, Heavy Reading, and Tractica. We combine the expertise of more than 400 analysts across the entire technology spectrum covering 150 markets and publish over 3,000 research reports annually, reaching over 14,000 subscribers, and covering thousands of technology, media, and telecommunications companies. Our exhaustive intelligence and deep technology expertise allow us to uncover actionable insights that help our customers connect the dots in today's constantly evolving technology environment and empower them to improve their businesses - today and tomorrow. Learn more about Omdia Omdia is a registered trademark of Informa (News - Alert) PLC and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Informa PLC registered in England & Wales with number 8860726, registered office and head office 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG, UK. Copyright 2021 Omdia. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005502/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Local Volunteers Sought For 'Not In My City' Event The Hill County Boys & Girls Club will host the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition's "Not In My City" event Saturday, January 30. January is Human Trafficking Awareness month, and volunteers are invited to participate during the local event. The effort will also qualify as community service hours. Volunteers will meet at First United Methodist Church, located at 315 East Elm Street in Hillsboro, at 1 p.m. After a brief training, they will pair up in small groups and visit businesses to distribute posters. All volunteers need to register so materials can be organized. To register, call Lynne at 254-205-2046 or 325-456-7270. Tehran, Jan 28 : Israel's "threats against Iran" are "psychological warfare" and the Iranian armed forces are fully prepared to protect the country, a top official said here. Israel has neither a plan nor the capability to take action against Iran, Xinhua news agency quoted Mahmoud Vaezi, chief of staff of the Iranian President's office, as saying on Wednesday. "We have no intention of launching an offense and no intention of war, but we are serious in defending the country," he said. The official added that the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) are prepared to defend the country in the face of threats. On Tuesday, Aviv Kochavi, an Israeli general, said that his country's military "is refreshing its operational plans against Iran". He also urged the US to refrain from any plan to return to the 2015 nuclear accord. Armenian third president Serzh Sargsyan has issued a statement on the occasion on the Army Day. The statement runs as follows: Armenian army, our beloved offspring, your birthday is one of our peoples most cherished holidays, which we have always celebrated with joy. Today, however, the mood is different: we are all saddened, grieving for the loss of a part of our Homeland, for our martyrs, concerned for the future of our state and nation. However, a parent should never deny his child under any circumstances, especially in time of hardship. Our people have raised their children at the cost of deprivation, subjected to unspeakable ordeals, and raised a patriotic child. Therefore, today I say without hesitation, happy birthday, Armenian Army. On behalf of my comrades-in-arms standing at the roots of the formation and development of the Armenian Army, I tell you, you have not lost the war, I know you well. You have been betrayed, struck from behind, severely injured, while before that in recent years everything was done to discredit or weaken you, but you did your duty selflessly. Today thousands of parents tell episodes of your exploits without even imagining who or where misled and trapped you. The enemy, who has always been afraid of you, knows very well what insidious means he used to achieve his goal. You are as much powerful, and let no one boast that they have defeated you. You will still show the strength of your arm, remind the enemy of his not-so-distant shameful past. You have been the axis of our independent statehood, the guarantor of the security of our people, our sisters and brothers in Artsakh. Learning from the past, straighten your back, squeeze the pain under your teeth, look ahead. No matter how difficult and mined is our path, inside or outside, we will cross it together, relying on each other, defying challenges. Our big family, our Homeland, the land and the water soaked in the blood of our heroes, needs your protection today more than ever. Eternal glory to you, glory to all our heroes, alive or martyred, who shaped your glorious path! New Delhi: The Nagpur bench of the Mumbai High Court ruled that holding a minor girl's hand and opening of pant zip is not a sexual assault under POCSO. The ruling clairified that the sexual harassment offense would be filed under Section 354 of the IPC. The single bench of Justice Pushpa Ganediwala passed the order in a case pertaining to a sexual act involving a 5-year-old girl committed by a 50-year-old man. The trial court had sentenced the accused to 5 years rigorous imprisonment and had fined him Rs 25,000 for the sexual assault under Section 10 of the POCSO. The complaint had been filed by the girl's mother, she told the court that the accused had been caught with his pant zipper undone while he held the hand of the minor girl in his hand. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court explained the term "physical contact" in its definition of sexual assault, stating that it means "direct physical contact - or skin-to-skin-contact without sexual penetration." Further, the court repealed the five-year jail sentence under Section 8, 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act and ruled that since the crime falls under Section 354A (1) (i) of the IPC the accused will be jailed for a period of 3 years. Notably, Justice Pushpa Ganediwala in a judgement passed on January 19 had held that there must be 'skin to skin contact with sexual intent' for an act to be considered sexual assault. She said in her verdict that mere groping will not fall under the definition of sexual assault. Later, the order was stayed by the Supreme Court presided by Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. Attorney General K K Venugopal had taken cognisance of the matter. The top court also issued notice to Maharashtra government and permitted the AG to file an appeal against the January 19 verdict of Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. Live TV The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Dr. Simba Mavaza of the ruling Zanu PF party says the government and citizens are to blame for the current surge in COVID-19 cases. Some ministers have succumbed to the diease. (VOA) Dr Anthony Fauci warned Wednesday that getting the COVID-19 vaccination doesn't give people a 'free pass to travel' as health officials announced the full vaccination of just 3.8 million Americans and hundreds were seen lining up to receive the jab at Dodger Stadium in hard-hit California. The nation's top infectious disease expert appeared on a CNN Global Town Hall hosted by Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta when he answered a viewer's question about when immunity begins after receiving the vaccine. Retired nurse, Carole Gardner, explained to Fauci that she and her husband haven't been able to travel to see their grandchildren. She explained that she and her husband will receive the second dose of the Moderna vaccine on February 19. 'When will we have immunity and when will we be able to travel?' Gardner asks. In response, Fauci said: 'The maximum immunity begins about 10 days to two weeks and beyond following the second dose... That would give you about a 94-95 per cent efficacy and a good safety profile.' However, Fauci warned that it's 'not a good idea to travel, period'. Dr Anthony Fauci warned Wednesday that getting the COVID-19 vaccination doesn't give people a 'free pass to travel' On Wednesday evening, motorists were still lined up for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles 'We don't want people to think because they got vaccinated that other public health recommendations just don't apply,' he continued. 'So getting vaccinated does not say now I have a free pass to travel, nor does it say that I have a free pass to put aside all of the public health measures that we talk about all the time,' Fauci said. Meanwhile, hundreds of motorists were seen lining up on Wednesday evening to get vaccinated at the Dodger Stadium in hard-hit Los Angeles. More than 1 million cases have been reported in Los Angeles County and at least 15,897 people have died. His remarks came just a day after Johnson and Johnson announced that it will likely publish results from phase three trials of its one-shot coronavirus vaccine next week. Its vaccine is cheaper and easier to store and transport which, along with the fact that it requires just one dose, could help speed the painstakingly slow US vaccine rollout. The 100 million doses Johnson & Johnson has pledged to the US would increase the US supply by about 25 per cent. President Joe Biden's own COVID-19 response team admitted however that it will be months before everyone who wants a vaccine can get one, and that 'we will run into unanticipated issues,' in the rollout, said Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Andy Slavitt. Earlier on Wednesday, drivers were seen waiting in line at the mega COVID-19 vaccination site that was set up in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium Vaccinations began five weeks ago, but just 6.2 per cent of the US population have gotten their first doses of either Pfizer's or Moderna's two-dose vaccines. That comes to about 20.7 million having received at least one dose of the vaccine. About 3.8 million people have been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It comes as the US death toll rose to 428,654, including 3,990 new deaths. More than 25 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Encouragingly, cases, deaths and hospitalizations were all down last week compared to previous weeks, but remains high with an average of 3,287 people dying a day. Dozens of precious doses of the two vaccines have been wasted because no one could be found to take them before they spoiled, or due to careless errors like freezers getting unplugged. Johnson & Johnson's simpler single-dose shot could be a massive help to solve some of these issues. It has a contract with the US for at least one million doses, and has pledged to distribute a billion doses globally this year. About 20.7 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine. About 3.8 million people have been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Fauci said that Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is being tested on the highly infectious 'super-covid' variants from South Africa and Brazil. But even if its results are positive, the FDA is not expected to clear the vaccine for emergency use until March, raising questions over why there must be an agonizing month-long delay. Meanwhile, Biden has raided the stakes of his COVID-19 vaccination goal, announcing Monday that he thinks the US could give more than 1.5 million vaccinations a day, up from one million. Currently, the US is vaccinating 1.27 million people a day on average. Supply could be the biggest hurdle to reaching and maintaining Biden's goal of vaccinating 1.5 million people a day. Collectively, Moderna and Pfizer have promised to supply 200 million doses by the end of March. More than 25.5 million infections have been reported in the US since the start of the pandemic Pfizer thinks that it can offer an extra 20 million doses by then, and the US is in talks with Moderna and Pfizer to purchase yet another 200 million doses (100 million from each), to be available this summer. But there is no stockpile. The federal government is holding enough back supply to cover two to three days worth of doses in case of manufacturing disruptions. Otherwise, it is counting on the manufacturers to maintain a constant flow of new doses to the state, Slavitt said. He said the government is 'confident' in these manufacturers, but even he admitted that there will likely be disruptions to production, and the government is planning only slim cushion amid a rollout that has thus far been chaotic and left many states on the verge of running out of doses. Calabasas, Calif.-based Topa Insurance Co. has promoted Jamie Kim to controller and vice president of accounting. Kim will be responsible for representing the company and the finance department on strategic projects, reinsurance reporting, and leading the accounts payable, accounting and treasury departments. She will also continue to lead the companys statutory and GAAP reporting. Kim joined the company in 2017 as assistant vice president and controller. Topa is the largest of the wholly owned subsidiaries of Topa Insurance Group, an insurance holding company based in Calabasas. Topa provides insurance products through the wholesale markets. Topics California 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. WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Congressman Mark Pocan (WI) and Congressman Morgan Griffith, in exercising their oversight responsibilities over the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), discovered that on August 16, 2018 HHS had rescinded the request for the kratom to be classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In the HHS letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) HHS recommended that "mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine not be controlled at this time, either temporarily or permanently, until scientific research can sufficiently support such an action." The FDA had made a recommendation for scheduling of kratom on August 31, 2016 that was subsequently withdrawn by the DEA on October 13, 2016 for insufficiency of evidence to support the scheduling under the CSA, and FDA submitted its second recommendation on October 17, 2017 that has been withdrawn by HHS because the scientific research did not justify the scheduling. HHS concluded that "there is a significant risk of immediate adverse public health consequences to potentially millions of users if kratom or its components are included in Schedule I." The HHS letter outlined 5 specific criteria for "further analysis and public input regarding kratom" before any scheduling should be undertaken. Since the issuance of the recission letter, additional compelling research has further undermined the FDA's claims on the safety and abuse potential for kratom. "Despite this formal action by HHS, the FDA has failed to make this action public and continued to allow the public; policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels; and the media to believe its recommendation for schedule kratom was actively being considered by DEA despite the fact the science did not support that action," stated Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Assocation (AKA). "The FDA abandoned its mandate to protect the public health and instead stood silent for more than 2 years while the opioid overdose crisis deepened, particulary in the midst of the spike in overdose deaths related on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all while HHS had concluded kratom could have helped those using highly lethal opioids." To view the referenced letter and other supporting documents, click on the following link: https://americankratom.org/pr-documents ABOUT AKA The American Kratom Association (AKA), a consumer-based non-profit organization, focuses on setting the record straight about kratom and gives a voice to those who are suffering by protecting their rights to possess and consume safe and natural kratom. AKA represents millions of Americans, each of whom has a unique story to tell about the virtues of kratom and its positive effects on their lives. www.americankratom.org SOURCE American Kratom Association Related Links americankratom.org Police investigating a suspicious package sent to a Covid-19 production site have made an arrest. Emergency services were called yesterday when staff raised the alarm at the Wockhardt UK plant on the Wrexham Industrial Estate in Wrexham, north Wales. Production of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab ground to a halt as the Armys bomb disposal unit worked on the package before taking it away for further analysis. Police and the Army were called to Wockhardt UK plant on the Wrexham Industrial Estate in Wrexham, north Wales when a suspicious package was reported And today police in Kent have arrested a 53-year-old man on suspicion of sending the package and he remains in custody as the investigation continues. A spokesman for Kent Police said: Kent Police have detained a man after a suspicious package was sent to a Covid-19 vaccine production plant in North Wales. The suspicious package is reported to have been received at the facility, in Wrexham, on the morning of Wednesday 27 January 2021. As part of ongoing enquiries, which are being carried out by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, pre-planned warrants took place at addresses in Luton Road and Chatham Hill, Chatham, on the morning of Thursday 28 January. A 53-year-old man from Chatham has been arrested on suspicion of sending the packages and remains in custody as enquiries continue. There is no evidence to suggest there is an ongoing threat. Bomb disposal teams were seen at the property yesterday to deal with the unknown package delivered to the business which provides the final stage of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine The arrest came after police earlier raided two properties in Chatham, Kent. The global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company in north Wales provides fill-and-finish services for the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine - the final stage of putting the vaccine into vials. Yesterday a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said an explosive ordnance disposal team based in Chester was called out just after 11.30am and was assisting the authorities in Wrexham. The leader of Wrexham County Borough said authorities worked 'through the night' to ensure that the site was not overwhelmed by flood water. Police put up a cordon around the north Wales business on Wednesday as police and the Army worked to make the area safe Mark Pritchard said on Thursday morning resources such as gullies had been put in place to protect the vaccine storage facility on the industrial estate. 'I'm sure you are aware that the Oxford vaccine is manufactured there and we had to work with the company logistically with their storage facility, that was under possibility of flooding,' he told Sky News. 'So we worked through the night with that and that was a success. This could have had an impact not just in Wrexham, Wales, but across the whole country with the vaccination supplies.' Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, speaks at an urgent meeting between the committee with permanent Government members. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Vietnam recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh on January 28 morning after two locally-infected cases were confirmed late January 27. Among the new cases, 72 were detected in Hai Duong, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, at an urgent meeting between the committee with permanent Government members. According to him, the infections in Hai Duong are related to the female worker who tested positive for the new and more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 after arriving in Osaka, Japan. Therefore, he asked leaders of the two provinces, the Health Ministry and relevant forces to take stronger prevention and control measures, and ensure the absolute safety for those involved in the work. Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that the ministry had sent experts to Chi Linh city of Hai Duong to help the province contain the spread of the virus. The remaining 10 cases were recorded in Quang Ninh. Earlier, two locally-infected cases of COVID-19 were confirmed late January 27 in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh province, and the Health Ministry has immediately taken drastic actions to quickly stop the spread of the virus. Of those two cases, the female patient found in Hai Duong is related to the woman patient found positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Osaka, Japan. The other is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city, northern Quang Ninh province, who is a staff member of Van Don airport. Mia Millette, Skyline Technology Solutions' new chief executive officer "Skyline remains committed to our community and ensuring we deliver sustainable value for our customers. I am honored and firmly embrace the charge as CEO to advance Skylines global leadership position in delivering innovative, connected solutions." - Mia Millette Skyline Technology Solutions is proud to announce the appointment of its first female CEO, Mia Millette. Prior to her appointment on January 1, 2021, Millette served as COO of the Maryland-based information technology company since 2018. She succeeds company founder, Brian Holsonbake, who will transition from CEO to chairman and now focus on advancing Skylines long-term strategic initiatives. A Maryland transplant from the small Pennsylvania manufacturing town of Perryopolis, Millette knew from a young age she was destined for a career in technology. Her passion for the industry was ignited in second grade when she successfully coded a sequence that made a figure dance across the screen of her schools early model Texas Instruments computer. She is very passionate about sharing her love of technology and inspiring others to pursue STEM as a career and loves that she was introduced to computers by a female, Carol McFarland, her second grade teacher. I very much look forward to leveraging more than two decades of technology and business experience to advance Skylines mission of enriching the lives of those we serve. I remain passionate about creating unique solutions to complex problems, says Millette. During my leadership, we will not change who we are as a company nor our culture. Skyline remains committed to our community and ensuring we deliver sustainable value for our customers. I am honored and firmly embrace the charge as CEO to advance Skylines global leadership position in delivering innovative, connected solutions. Prior to leading Skyline, Millette held a wide variety of roles in information technology, including those in executive management for the past decade. Previous employers include GANTECH, where she held roles including director of strategic operations, vice president of strategic operations and vice president of managed services. During the first 9 years of her career, Millette started out at System Automation Corporation (SA), where she held positions as software developer, business analyst, project manager and manager of application delivery. She highly regards her years at SA due to the people she worked with, the experience of the national customer-base served and the technical acumen gained which all formed a solid foundation for her to excel in the later years of her career. Millette earned her Bachelor of Science in computer science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, as well as her Master of Science in computer systems management from the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly known as the University of Maryland University College). Her work ethic, focus, energy and passion resulted in attaining Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials and ITIL Expert certification. Additionally, she earned a Smart CXO award in 2012 from Washington, DCs SmartCEO Magazine for her creative management vision, leadership philosophies and innovative strategies. We are thrilled to advance Mias position to CEO within Skyline and we are confident she is the best person for the job, says Holsonbake. Her extensive experience and dedication to delivering innovative, connected solutions grounded in trust, respect, and grace is unmatched. I look forward to seeing the company grow, under her leadership, in the strategic markets that we are focused on serving (Newser) A Connecticut man with a history of mental illness has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a series of threatsincluding one to kill former President Trump. Gary Joseph Gravelle, 53, has been incarcerated since 2018, when he sent a threatening letter to the then-president with a white powder he claimed was anthrax, the New York Times. According to the Justice Department, the New Haven resident also threatened "various mental health providers and facilities in New Haven, US Probation Officers, a US District Court Judge, an international airport in Vermont, a federal prison in Washington, occupants of a building in Old Saybrook, a credit union in Bristol, and organizations and religious centers in Connecticut." story continues below Gravelle, who pleaded guilty to seven charges last year, could have faced more than 60 years in prison. His sentence includes two years for violating the terms of his release after a previous sentence for sending threatening messages. Lawyer J. Patten Brown said his client is a "sick man" whose threats were a "misguided cry for help." "Its a sad case," he told the Times earlier this month. "Honestly, its another example that we use jails for mental institutions." Prosecutors, however, said the threats "disrupted the daily lives of many and no doubt seriously frightened their recipients." (Read more President Trump stories.) ROME, JAN 28 - Premier Giuseppe Conte on Thursday told a court hearing on alleged abduction of migrants aboard the Gregoretti coast guard ship by League leader Matteo Salvini in 2019 that the former interior minister called the shots, those present at the hearing said. Salvini refused a landing berth to the 131 migrants aboard the Gregoretti ship from July 27 to 31, 2019, when authorisation to land at Augusta near Siracusa came from a judge. The case is one of several stemming from Salvini's former closed ports policy against migrant-rescue ships during his 14-month stint as interior minister. "Premier Conte clarified that the decision on the place of safety was taken by then interior minister Matteo Salvini," the lawyers representing the civil plaintiffs in the case said after Conte gave evidence at the premier's office to a preliminary hearing on a request by prosecutors for Salvini to stand trial. Catania Preliminary Hearing Judge (GUP) Nunzio Sarpietro said after the hearing that "the individual events were handled by the individual ministers - Minister Salvini first and then Minister (Luciana) Lamorgese after. "Conte was very cooperative, with highly in-depth answers". But Salvini's defence team said the premier's testimony had shown that Salvini acted on the basis of the policy of the government of the day. "The premier talked about team work and so Salvini's decision wasn't the reckless choice of an individual minister but part of a line that Conte agreed with," said Salvini's lawyer, Giulia Bongiorno. Like Salvini, Bongiorno was a minister in the first Conte government, which ran from June 2018 until Salvini pulled the plug on it in August 2019. (ANSA). I am pleased to announce that one of the City of Johannesburg opportunity centres, the Thusanang Opportunity Centre in Klipfontein View, is already a hive of activity less than a mere two months since opening its doors to the public. This was discovered after a recent oversight visit conducted at the Centre and by interacting with staff and community members in a bid to gather feedback on their experiences. The Centre Manager, Harold Mbowana, revealed that small businesses across the Region are already taking full advantage of the services offered at the Centre. One success story involves small business owner, Prichard Mkwebu, who recently hired three young people from Klipfontein View who were sourced from the Job seekers database in the Centre. They will start work at the beginning of next month, after completing training. In addition, Mkwebu is using free meeting rooms at the Centre to conduct his training sessions. He said, It is a central place, most young people could not afford transport costs to commute to our offices for training. It is encouraging that small businesses are using these facilities. This is exactly why we opened these Centres. This is evident of governments responsibility to provide a conducive environment for small businesses to thrive and to ultimately create jobs. We congratulate Prichard Mkwebu for contributing positively to the economy of Johannesburg. The goal of a five percent economic growth is attainable if we work in collaboration with small businesses. Mentoring workshops for entrepreneurs are also on offer across the eight centres to help up and coming entrepreneurs. Various professionals are on hand to offer valuable information to entrepreneurs including linking businesses to opportunities. Young people have come forward, saying the services offered at the Centre changed their lives. Deborah Malambe, a marketing student who frequents the Centre to use free internet to conduct research for her assignments, says the internet connection is excellent and that this is making it far easier for her to complete her studies. Records have shown that community members are visiting the Centre to enquire about a range of services. These include requests to use meeting rooms by local entrepreneurs, internet usage by young people looking to conduct research, and for searching employment opportunities. The City has opened six other centres across Joburg, specifically in the Inner-city, Alexandra, Roodepoort, Soweto, Montclare and Diepsloot. The City also has a business centre in Orange Farm in partnership with Discovery. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Christian groups say 15K cap on refugee resettlement for 2021 is 'unconscionable' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Evangelical Christian leaders are expressing concerns over the Trump administrations plan to reduce the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States to 15,000 next year, saying, God calls us to love the foreigner and the stranger. The administration sent a notice to Congress this week saying it plans to admit no more than 15,000 refugees in fiscal year 2021 down from the ceiling of 18,000 for fiscal year 2020, according to The Associated Press, which said it was the lowest cap ever put on record. As evangelicals, we believe in the God-given dignity of every person in every nation, reads a press statement by evangelical Christian leaders, including Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, under the banner of the Evangelical Immigration Table. We also believe God calls us to love the foreigner and the stranger. Today, that means loving the refugee in our country who has fled violence and persecution in their own country, the statement adds. This year, 10,800 refugees were admitted into the country as the administration froze the refugee program in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AP reported. The temporary suspension of resettlement travel programs globally will impact the arrival of refugees in the United States and other countries with refugee resettlement programs, a State Department official told the Daily Caller. Refugees are subject to the same COVID-19 travel restrictions as other travelers to the United States. The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens. The evangelical leaders said the U.S. has resettled over 3 million refugees under the 1980 Refugee Act. In recent years, however, the United States has not lived up to its ideals, as the number of refugees welcomed into our country has plummeted due to policies that diminished the resettlement process. The decision, they argue, will leave families separated and many refugees in precarious situations across the world. The statement says that many refugees seeking to resettle in the U.S. are victims of Christian persecution. Refugees flee their homes due to well-founded fears of persecution based on race, religion, or nationality. Resettlement is the last resort for refugees seeking safety. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbates what was already a historically significant refugee crisis, the leaders say. This drastic drop in refugee numbers should embarrass and dismay us, given the stakes, says Moore. Our nation has a great tradition as a beacon of liberty to those fleeing for their lives from terror and tyranny. Persecuted Christians, and others, will be harmed by this closed door. Obviously, we cannot take in unlimited numbers of refugees, but the dwindling number of those we do take is far below the level where America could and should be in leading the world in compassion for those in peril. The statement also quotes Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, as saying: The White House has made explicit promises to protect persecuted Christians abroad. Sadly, we have not seen these promises honored through a robust U.S. refugee resettlement program that has been a lifeline of protection for persecuted Christians. Instead, weve seen the resettlement of refugees from countries known for persecution drop about 90% in some cases over the last four years. This is unconscionable. World Relief and eight other organizations authorized to resettle refugees in the U.S. have long spoken out against the Trump administration's cuts to refugee resettlement in the U.S. They want the U.S. to admit 95,000 refugees annually, which is 10,000 more than the highest number of refugees ever admitted in a fiscal year during the Obama administration. However, the 95,000 lower than some of the presidential determinations during Obama's time, such as the determination for the fiscal year 2017 set by Obama in the fall of 2016 at 110,000. According to World Relief, the U.S. resettled over 28,000 refugees in 2019, and 22,491 in 2018. President Joe Biden speaks about climate change issues in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker-Pool/Getty Images) Biden Announces Sweeping Policy Changes to Combat Climate Crisis President Joe Biden on Wednesday revealed details of a set of broad environmental executive actions aimed at further tackling what he called the existential threat of climate change. The new whole of government Biden administration policies seek to put climate change at the center of our domestic, national security and foreign policy, and is drawing criticism for its high cost and potential job losses as the United States is already facing huge pandemic related job losses. Biden and his climate team said the package of policy changes seek to create jobs in the clean energy industry, but opponents to the radical changes say it will have the immediate impact of destroying millions of jobs in the fossil fuel industry and energy independence. Biden did not address the direct impact of job loss from the forced move toward renewable energy sources but emphasized the creation of jobs in the renewable energy industry. This executive order, its about jobs, good-paying union jobs. Its about workers building our economy back better than before. Its a whole-of-government approach to put climate change at the center of our domestic, national security, and foreign policy, Biden said at a press conference on Wednesday. We can put millions of Americans in the work modernizing our water systems, transportation, our energy infrastructure to withstand the impacts of extreme climate. President Joe Biden holds his mask as he speaks on the CCP virus in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 26, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) John Kerry, Bidens special climate envoy and former secretary of state under former President Barack Obama, and Gina McCarthy, Bidens national climate adviser, gave some background on the new executive orders. So, this executive order establishes a White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, and it directs everyone who works for the president to use every tool available at our disposal to solve the climate crisis because were going to take a whole of government approach. Were going to power our economy with clean energy, McCarthy said. McCarthy emphasized Bidens effort to create jobs, including current workers who will feel the impact of Bidens policy changes. She also said the EO will create an advisory council to address environmental justice and direct various federal departments to work on climate change and health equity. It commits 40 [percent] of our investment in clean energy towards disadvantaged communities so they can benefit from the new jobs that are available and see that better future, McCarthy said. She reiterated Bidens pause and review on new oil and gas leases on federal public lands and waters, and his commitment to meeting the goal of doubling offshore wind production by 2030. Meanwhile, Kerry said rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement is to combat the crisis, so the president wants to take a drastic measure. We could go to zero tomorrow and the problem isnt solved. So thats why today, one week into the job, President Biden will sign this additional executive set of orders to help move us down the road, ensuring that ambitious climate action is global in scope and scale, as well as national here at home, he said at a press briefing on Wednesday. US Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks at a NYC Climate Week opening event, at the Morgan Library in New York, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Biden faces skepticism about the new regulations and theyre ruining millions of jobs, including from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), a top-ranking House Republican, also criticized the orders. Pie-in-the-sky government mandates and directives that restrict our mining, oil, and gas industries adversely impact our energy security and independence, she said. At a time when millions are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing Americans need is big government destroying jobs, while costing the economy billions of dollars. Patrick Morrisey, West Virginias attorney general, called the actions radical and said Wednesday that Bidens policies will destroy jobs at a time when the economy is already weakened. Well, I think theyre really destructive to the American economy. And I think its important for everyone watching to have a little bit of context here. Yes, there was a very robust discussion during the last presidential campaign, Morrisey told Fox News. But what were seeing in the first week of the Biden administration is that the President is really taking a wrecking ball to many of the states that have oil, gas, coal, manufacturing jobs, thats going to have a real detrimental impact, especially as the American economy is coming out of COVID-19, a pandemic. The Biden/Harris pre-White House plan for the environment had outlined making a sweeping $2 trillion investment in the first term, which would set the United States on an irreversible course to meet the ambitious climate progress that science demands, the campaign website states. Biden believes the Green New Deal is a crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face. It powerfully captures two basic truths, which are at the core of his plan: (1) The United States urgently needs to embrace greater ambition on an epic scale to meet the scope of this challenge, and (2) our environment and our economy are completely and totally connected, it states. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report French horn player Michael Dixon is one of the New Zealanders living in Australia who have missed the funerals of their parents and other family events because of travel restrictions between the countries. French horn player Michael Dixon at the City Recital Hall in Sydney. Credit:Milen Boubbov Dr Dixon was disappointed he could not attend his fathers funeral on January 2 and his mothers funeral on January 13. New Zealand makes all travellers, including those from Australia, undertake two weeks mandatory quarantine. Special travel arrangements allowing people from New Zealand to travel to Australia without quarantine have been suspended for three more days from Thursday after three cases of a highly contagious strain of COVID-19 were detected in Auckland. Australian health authorities are now trying to track down nine people who travelled from New Zealand to Australia and may be at risk of having the new strain. Highway safety advocates are urging Nebraska lawmakers to tighten state seat belt requirements that are among the loosest in the nation. Nebraska is one of nine states that only require seat belts for front-seat passengers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Violations are also considered a secondary offense, meaning police cant cite someone for not wearing a seat belt unless theyve stopped the vehicle for some other reason. Sen. Robert Hilkemann, of Omaha, presented a legislative committee with a bill that would require all vehicle passengers to wear seat belts. Hilkemann said state officials are sending a mixed message with public information campaigns urging seat belt usage while allowing back-seat passengers to ride without one. The science of seat belts is definitive, Hilkemann said in testimony to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. Youre safer in a seat belt when riding in a motor vehicle. It can be a matter of life and death. Nebraska logged 248 traffic deaths in 2019, and 63% of those who died were in crashes without seat belts, said Eric Koeppe, president of the National Safety Councils Nebraska chapter. Koeppe said his group estimated than 79.7% of Nebraska vehicle passengers wore seat belts in 2019, compared to 90% nationally. Seat belt use by the back seat passenger is extremely important and combats the misperception that riding in the backseat is safer than riding up front, Koeppe said. Lawmakers also considered a proposal from Hilkemann that would bar drivers from using cell phones, except for hands-free devices. Hilkemann said he sees little difference in texting while driving, which is illegal in Nebraska, and dialing a number while driving. He said blue tooth headsets and voice-command phones have largely eliminated the need for looking at a phone screen when behind the wheel. Hilkemann said 23 states and the District of Columbia have already passed laws to require hands-free sets when driving. If the Nebraska bill passes, violating the law would remain a secondary offense. Its a simple and significant message, he said. Dont hold your phone in your hands when youre behind the wheel. Robert Bell, executive director of the Nebraska Insurance Federation, said the insurers he represents have noticed a recent increase in distracted-driving crashes in Nebraska, resulting in more injuries and property damage. Lawmakers also considered a measure by Sen. Steve Halloran, of Hastings, that would require motorists to turn on their headlights anytime their windshield wipers are running continuously. Committee members took no immediate action on the bills. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Nebraska Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Nina Thomas, 24, is a single mom who lived in Kankakee, Illinois, before COVID-19 upended her life. Her routine, for nearly four years, included working her night shift job at a Joliet warehouse, and picking up and dropping off her toddler son, Jayden, at the babysitter's during the week. "I love being a mom. It's the greatest thing ever," she said. "Then when COVID-19 hit, it was like everything got turned upside downmy partner left, the job left, the car almost left. It was hard." Thomas was also going through her second pregnancy during it all, and at 22 weeks, she was having some serious issues with housing stability. A former resident of Dolton, she remembered the Family Christian Health Center (FCHC) on the campus of UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey. "When I came to the office and talked to my doctor, I just started crying," Thomas said. "The doctor asked what was wrong, and I was like, 'I'm so stressed out.' I got this baby with me, and he's 3, and I don't want to let him down." She said she asked for help because she was "scared" and had no support from family members. "If there was a facility more focused on single moms ... going through this journey, a place where people make you feel safe that it is OK to ask for help, I'd go," Thomas said she thought at the time. On Feb. 1, such a place will open on the Ingalls hospital campus in Harveythe Maternal Child Health and Wellness facility (15620 S. Wood St.). And as its name indicates, the space will center on maternal health in an attempt to reduce the alarming rate of maternal mortality in Black women in Illinois. Health records show that of the 46 million hospitalizations of pregnant or postpartum women between 2007 and 2017, Black women were 45% more likely to die in the hospital, women of color reported more pain postpartum, and yet they receive less opioid medication in the hospital and at discharge, and Black women in Illinois were six times as likely to die of a pregnancy-related condition than white women. In December, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan to improve maternal health that includes getting blood pressure under control for 80% of reproductive-age women. Dr. Lisa Green, CEO and co-founder of the Maternal Child Health and Wellness site, hopes the new site will turn the tide. She has worked to improve health care services for Black moms throughout her career and conducted a symposium on the topic in 2020. Services available at the new center will include preventive care, child and high-risk pregnancy care from OB-GYNs and pediatricians, case managers to help patients navigate the health care system, behavioral health professionals, and "centering," which brings women into groups for care education and support. Green wants the Maternal Child Health and Wellness facility to be a one-stop shop for women throughout their lives with family care services such as parenting classes, as well as "wraparound" services to help with housing, food, insurance and financial issues. "Black women still die more than white women from lack of getting a mammogram," Green said. "If I'm a high-risk mom and I still have all these other barriers to get care, that risk is even higher. Our goal is to take barriers out." Zuri Thompson, a Bronzeville doula who has been providing meals for Black mothers during the pandemic under the hashtag #takeitoffmyplate in partnership with the Chicago Birthworks Collective, said the postpartum period after her daughter was born in 2017 was when she struggled the most. She welcomes social services not being a hindrance to a postpartum mom. "You survive pregnancy. And then you're dropped in this completely new paradigm, even if you have support," Thompson said. "If you're someone that has to access social services after you have your child, can we not have them stand in line with a newborn baby because they have to go to the Department of Human Services office and fill out paperwork?" With the assistance of Green and FCHC staff, Thomas is now in a two-bedroom Matteson apartment with her children. (Thomas delivered her daughter, Jhene, safely Aug. 4 at UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey despite high blood pressure throughout the pregnancy.) "I was so stressed out about everything going on, my blood pressure stayed up," Thomas said. "They had given me medication for my blood pressure to go down, and they really kept a check on it because they were concerned about her safety as well." When the new Maternal Child center opens, Thomas said, she's "definitely going." Dr. Jamie Horn, department chair of OB-GYN at UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital will be one of five practitioners in the Maternal Child Health space. According to Horn, who's been with FCHC for 16 years, the new maternal site will meet women where they arebe it the hospital, FCHC or the wellness facilityfor continuity of care. FCHC, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in April, serves nearly 20,000 patients from 59 ZIP codes annually, according to Green. She hopes to increase the number of patients by 25% with the Maternal Child center. Green said the new facility, which has all African American doctors on staff, will offer maternal-fetal medicine for high-risk cases shortly before, during and after birth, making it unnecessary to send those patients to other hospitals in the city and reducing travel time for health care. The newly designed space goes beyond the standard open-floor community clinic look, Horn said. "We are bringing a facility to the area that's going to be full service for women," Horn said. "We want people who come to feel welcomed, be listened to, be heard." "What we're trying to do is to make sure that there is a complete ecosystem that is sustainable enough that allows Black mothers to make sure that they get the care that they need," Green said. "I believe strong heartedly that we can be a model that makes a difference for our communities, because if we don't, then who will?" Explore further Pregnant or postpartum Black women are 45% more likely to die in the hospital and are at higher risk for heart problems 2021 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Mail Force had a triple boost yesterday with 500,000 from a leading entrepreneur, laptops from Sainsburys and a deluge of donations from readers. The charitys campaign to get laptops to lockdown pupils has now raised an astonishing 2.6million in just five days. Sir Tom Hunter, who made his fortune in sporting goods, handed over his magnificent donation along with his favourite quotation: A man who dies rich, dies disgraced. Sir Tom Hunter, who made his fortune in sporting goods, handed over his magnificent 500,000 donation along with his favourite quotation: A man who dies rich, dies disgraced He was the wealthiest man in Scotland until he started giving away his money. Yesterday the first bulging postbag arrived stuffed with cheques from generous Mail readers more than 3,000 envelopes garnering around 250,000. Many were from retired teachers and contained stirring messages of support. In another stunning milestone, the amount raised by readers sending cash online last night smashed through the 500,000 barrier. Another huge boost arrived in the form of 2,000 second-hand laptops from Sainsburys worth a whopping 440,000 along with a cool 30,000 cheque from the supermarket giant to pay for hundreds of other computers to be refurbished too. Mail Forces Computers for Kids campaign takes used laptops donated by firms and for around 15 each refurbishes them for classroom use. The charity will also supply new devices and aims to help childrens online learning in other ways. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsburys, said: Throughout the pandemic we have being doing everything we can to support the most vulnerable people in society and we are proud to support Mail Forces Computers for Kids campaign. So far the Mail's campaign has raised 2.6 million to provide laptops for disadvantaged children Single mother Harriet Way, pictured with her children has found it difficult to adequately home school her family as she has access to two machines with three children who require access Access to education is crucial and we want to ensure kids in the communities we serve have the tools they need to join classes online and continue their learning during lockdown. The Mail Force campaign is designed to complement an already-mammoth programme from the Department for Education to deliver 1.3million devices to schoolchildren one of the biggest laptop procurement projects in the world. It has already delivered an impressive 875,000 computers. Sir Tom said he was motivated to dig deep by hearing stories of parents struggling to get their children online. The 59-year-old entrepreneur, who was knighted for his philanthropy, added: Education is a human right, and Covid has turned that on its head. The things stopping kids are not having devices or access to the internet, and we just need to fix it. My wife and I decided we didnt want to be the richest people in the graveyard and wanted to do something worthwhile while we are still here. Almost 9,000 Mail readers have now sent money online. Among those to contribute was four-year-old Archer, who gave 15 to help another child. A message with his donation said: I am one of the lucky children so I would like to help a little boy or girl who is not so fortunate. Peter Marriott, 89, gave 100 to help our children get the education they all deserve, adding: Give now to save their future. Moving messages in letters bringing gifts for children BY ARTHUR MARTIN, HELENA KELLY and INDERDEEP BAINS They came by sackloads, thousands of letters from all across the UK, each containing cheques, our magnificent readers sparing what they could to help those most in need, the nations schoolchildren. It was an astonishing sight. Hundreds upon hundreds of the envelopes contained messages to tug at the heartstrings. Grandparents spoke of their fears about the impact lockdown was having on the less fortunate. Retired teachers, all too aware of the importance of education, fretted for pupils futures. Daily Mail journalist Helena Kelly, pictured, is photographed with some of the thousands of donations from readers to the Computers for Kids campaign And then, in support of the Mail Force Computers for Kids initiative, there was one note from a four-year-old lad called Archer. He gave 15 of his precious pocket money. The attached message read: I am one of the lucky children so I would like to help a little boy or girl who is not so fortunate. The cheques pouring in ranged from just 5 to 4,000. Our team began counting at midday and were burning the midnight oil as they sought to complete the counting task. Of course, we shouldnt have been surprised. Your help in alleviating the PPE crisis was staggering. And after the call went out to support Mail Forces new laptop campaign, our loyal readers have once again stepped up to the plate. Moved by the plight of schoolchildren trying to learn in lockdown, almost 13,000 readers have donated 775,000 in just five days. That includes around 250,000 that arrived in the post yesterday when the charity received the first sackfuls of letters containing 3,700 cheques. It is expected that the 250,000 figure will rise once Gift Aid is added. It can add 25 per cent to donations from readers who are taxpayers. Last night more than 9,000 readers had also donated 416,000 via the charitys online platform. With Gift Aid, this figure reached more than 500,000. Our generous readers have also donated 16,000 via text. HOW TO DONATE TO COMPUTERS FOR KIDS CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO YOU, THE READER: How to send us donations The Daily Mail has launched a brand new campaign, Computers For Kids, to raise money for Mail Force a charity which aims to provide much needed school equipment and resources for pupils across the UK learning from home. With schools closed, we are left with the dilemma of hundreds of thousands of pupils in the UK having no access to a computer in their home. As part of this campaign, companies are donating their old laptops which, for around 15, can be wiped, professionally refurbished and made safe and fit for home schooling. They can then be delivered to a child or young person who needs one. In addition, the campaign is looking to support childrens needs in other ways such as funding brand new laptops and tablets, and assisting with data access and connectivity for online learning. Any surplus funds will be used to support of the work of UK schools via other means. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Visit mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate and follow the steps to complete your donation. Please don't send us your old device. TO MAKE A DONATION VIA YOUR PHONE To donate 10 - text KIDS10 to 70115 To donate 20 - text KIDS20 to 70115 TO COMPANIES: Could you give your old laptops? Upgrading office computers is something all companies do from time to time and there has never been a better time to donate old laptops. If you are a company with 50 laptops or more that you could give, please visit www.computacenter.com/daily-mail to check they are suitable and register your donation. We will arrange for collection by our specialist partners Computacenter. Please note: we cannot accept donated laptops from individuals. COMPANIES SHOULD GO TO: computacenter.com/daily-mail TO SCHOOLS: Where to apply for the computers Schools must apply to the Department for Education, which is managing the demand and prioritising the schools most in need. The Mail Force initiative means more laptops will become available more quickly. SCHOOLS CAN APPLY HERE: https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk Advertisement More than 200 envelopes contained cheques written out for 100 or more. Of these, almost 40 were for more than 500 and 11 were for more than 1,000. On several occasions two cheques were found in an envelope. Many also contained colourful greetings cards, postcards and beautifully handwritten notes each extolling the importance of education. Smiley faces were attached to a handful of donations. Alongside his donation, Alan Bowdler, of Birmingham, wrote: As a retired teacher, I know the difference it makes to a childs education if they miss a few days off school, never mind several terms. Computers are essential tools in 2021. Thank you once again for seeing a need and acting on it. A voice to be heard! Mary Gibson, of Durham, said: As a retired teacher in the state secondary sector for 38 years, I am more than happy to support your appeal. I am very disappointed that schools have been closed for so long. Joan Harris, from Wigan, wrote: Well done to the Daily Mail for another brilliant campaign. Our grandson is in his A-level year and is lucky enough to have a laptop. So many children havent and its vital for their education in this difficult time. Janet Etches, of New Romney in Kent, wrote: The fab Daily Mail has come up with another brilliant idea. Such sentiments were echoed by Sheila Brown, from south London, who donated a four-figure sum. She wrote: I am sorry I cannot give more. I have been a reader of the Mail for just over 40 years. You do a wonderful job. Beverley Payne, from Cheshire, added: Well done Daily Mail for your initiative. I have a six-year-old twin grandsons fighting over their laptop, so it must be even worse with several children in the house. Others said it was their fond memories of their school days which prompted them to donate. Peter Kennett and Doreen Denton wrote: In our days at school, now a memory, it was ink pens and ink wells. Delighted to help children of today. Mrs Y Bates added: As a retired school secretary and the mother of two children who are both teachers, I know how important these are for children. Another note from a woman called Jean said that she and her husband have grandchildren who are either at university or school. She wrote: They are all working on their computers. It is so sad so many children cannot do this. I hope this helps. Thank you for all you are doing. Alongside another donation, a great grandmother of eight wrote: Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing for our school children. I wish this could be more. Reader Jinny Owen said: A brighter future for all the children in the country. Many pledged part of their pension allowance which they would have spent in restaurants or at the hairdressers. Two pensioners wrote: We cannot have lunch out so hope this donation helps. We are both in our 80s and know how important education is. Meanwhile, there online donations big and small from more than 9,000 supporters. Pensioner Peter Marriott gave 100 to help our children get the education they all deserve. He added: I am 89 very close to 90. My education was during the Blitz and very basic. This is not what they need nowadays or it will be a struggle in their future. Give now and save their future. A grandmother called Bernadette who also contributed said: I am a pensioner with grandchildren in this position. A kind soul helped them, I would like to help some other children who are also struggling. God bless and thank you. A former teacher generously donated 100, saying: I am a retired primary school teacher and wish to support children in need of laptops to continue their education in these difficult times. Grandfather Mike McAdam donated on behalf of his grandchildren aged eight and 12. He said: In making a donation, Im conscious my grandchildren are fortunate to have their independent means. Top marks! Boris and Keir back campaign By JOHN STEVENS Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer yesterday gave heavyweight political backing to the Mail Force Computers for Kids campaign. The Prime Minister hailed the fantastic drive to get laptops to lockdown pupils so they can follow lessons from home. With children now forced to spend at least six more weeks at home after the reopening of schools was put back until March 8 at the earliest, provision of the devices is a race against time. The Prime Minister hailed the fantastic drive to get laptops to lockdown pupils so they can follow lessons from home As the total raised reached 2.6million, Mr Johnson thanked Daily Mail readers for their generosity. Education remains our top priority and we are doing everything we can to support children and young people to learn from home while their classrooms are closed, he said. Making sure they have the right technology to get online is vital, which is why weve provided over a million laptops and devices to schools across the country so far, with more to come. At this challenging time everyone can do their bit to help and Id like to thank the Mail and its readers for stepping up to support our efforts with another fantastic campaign. It won further backing from the Labour leader. Sir Keir said: I welcome this campaign and I applaud the Daily Mail, its readers and all the businesses who are stepping up to support our childrens education. After months of promises from ministers, too many kids are still being priced out of home learning. Labour will continue pressing for access to a laptop or device for every child who needs one. The Department for Education is embarked upon a drive to supply 1.3million laptops to the schoolchildren most in need during lockdown and has already delivered 875,000. The Mail Force initiative is to complement the Governments approach with new sources of supply, including recycled laptops which are reconditioned by our expert partner. At Prime Ministers Questions yesterday, the two leaders clashed over the problem of not enough children having the laptops they need to learn at home. Sir Keir asked Mr Johnson about a Daily Mail poll earlier this week that revealed one third of families are struggling with home schooling because they do not have enough computers for their children. In a lively exchange, the Labour leader accused ministers of not acting soon enough. He said: The Government has got a duty to ensure that every single child can learn from home. Without access to a laptop, computer or the internet that cant happen. The Government was challenged on this last summer, it was challenged on it last autumn, and here we are nearly at the end of January the best part of a year into this pandemic and a third of families say they do not have enough laptops or home computers and over 400,000 children still cannot get online at home. Does the Prime Minister realise how angry many families are that he still hasnt gotten to grips with this? Mr Johnson insisted the Government was working to resolve the shortages. I do fully understand the frustration and impatience of families who are educating their kids at home, he said. I know how frustrated teachers are with remote learning as well. That is why we provided 1.3million laptops. But Sir Keir dismissed the Prime Ministers answer as simply not good enough. He continued: One in three families say they dont have the wherewithal to do home teaching and those children are going without home schooling. TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuition Education Platform ( TuitionEP.com ), allows schools to collect tuition and fees from parents with an app for iOS and Android . The app, which can be branded for individual schools, has collected over $3.3 million in tuition and fees for educational institutions since it was created in 2018, saving schools over six figures on tuition management along the way. energyhill (energyhill.com), a Tampa-based creative marketing agency, designed, developed, and branded TuitionEP (TuitionEP.com) to make tuition management easy for schools everywhere. Creative marketing and design agency energyhill , based in Tampa, Florida, led the marketing, design , and development of TuitionEP (TEP) in order to help schools and administrators collect payments and ease traditionally clunky processes for parents. Tuition payments made simple TuitionEP is a user-friendly app that offers a simple payment solution for parents. Collect payments conveniently and securely for your school, club or organization. "As a parent of four, the frustration we had led to the creation of TEP," Dr. Ryan Lowe, founder of TuitionEP.com said. "We haven't written checks for years, and schools need something easy and app driven to improve the payment experience. Our solution is an app that allows freedom for parents to pay or autopay any time not just when banks are open. TuitionEP solves this simple need and saves schools and organizations money in the process." With secure payment collection and ease in tracking tuition using TuitionEP, Renton Prep Christian School saved over $80,000 in processing and overhead fees in 2020. Stress-free transactions With TuitionEP, parents link their preferred payment method and make payments with just a few swipes. In addition to tuition payments, schools use the app to collect fees for field trips, school lunches, sports, and other activity fees. Other features include: Multi-user payment options Swipe N'Pay Check payment history Financial summary report Evergreen enrollment Secure payment options TEP uses the Stripe payment platform to guarantee safe and secure payments. All transactions are audited by a PCI Quality Security Assessor (QSA). Payment options include: checking and savings accounts, debit or credit cards, and even international payments. Brandable tuition platform Schools can customize the app and create a branded experience. Add school logo, colors, school information, and make the platform perfect for students' parents. "Schools and organizations should want to keep all of their tools looking and aligning with their brand," Dr. Lowe said. "Administrators can upload their logo and colors and the app will align with their brand, keeping everything consistent." Future of TuitionEP The roadmap for TuitionEP includes a growth plan for self-serve export of payments (completed in 2020), dashboards, bulk edit, field trips, an even better user design and experience, integrations with bookkeeping and accounting software, and much more. "The next large update for TEP 2.0 is going to be a game changer for the industry." Dr. Lowe said. "2020 was a wake up call for education. We want to help schools and organizations be ready for what's coming." About energyhill energyhill was founded in 2013 in Tampa, Florida , by Dr. Ryan and Gloria Lowe, to deliver excellence in creative marketing. After decades of experience working in marketing including high-profile clients such as Walmart, eBay, and Best Buy, they created energyhill to be a marketing agency that's different one that prioritizes great design and the client's needs. Learn more about what they do and their award-winning work at energyhill.com. Contact: Dr. Ryan Lowe Company: energyhill Phone: (800) 959-1910 Email: [email protected] SOURCE energyhill Highlights HMD Global may be working on a second flip phone. The first flip phone that HMD Global launched was Nokia 2720 Flip. The FCC documents have suggested there will be a hinge on this phone. One thing that sets Nokia apart from the rest of the phone brands is its constant push into the feature phone segment. HMD Global has done an excellent job in managing both smartphones and feature phone portfolios. It has revived several Nokia feature phones ever since it took up the responsibility of Nokia's phone business. It launched the Nokia 2720 Flip back in 2019 and now it is maybe time for another flip phone. HMD Global has got a new Nokia device certified by the US FCC that has the flip form factor. The Nokia TA-1295 has passed the FCC certification along with some diagrams that show what sort of a phone it may turn out to be. The shape of the device is identical to that of the Nokia 2720 Flip with the hinge on top. The label shown in the diagram suggests the battery will be removable and there will be a slot for a Nano-sized SIM card. Much like some of its feature phones, this device will also feature LTE connectivity, along with support for Wi-Fi. The documents show this Nokia device will have a 1500mAh battery and come with a 5W bundled charger. Further, this Nokia device is listed with software version 0.2047.11.01, which hints at the KaiOS, which powers a good deal of feature phones and brings support for apps such as WhatsApp, Google, Facebook, and YouTube among others. However, it is possible this device will not come preloaded with OTT services, Google Duo, and the other suite of Google apps, going by the software version. And this, interestingly, also means this phone is headed to the Chinese market where Google apps are banned. However, the details of this phone are not available through this FCC listing yet. For now, it is unclear what device this may be. Nokia already brought the Nokia 2720 Flip back to life two years back and this one may be the second one. In other news, HMD Global may launch the Nokia 1.4 smartphone as early as February while the Nokia 6.4 and Nokia 7.4 may be launched towards the end of the first half or the beginning of the second half of 2021. But the one to sell the most is going to be Nokia 1.4 that will be a budget phone. Reports have suggested the Nokia 1.4 will cost EUR 94, which is in line with the price of Nokia 1.3 that is EUR 95. And the specifications of the Nokia 1.4 suggest the same. According to leaks, the Nokia 1.4 will have 1GB of RAM and run Android 10 (Go edition) inside. There will be 16GB internal storage, which seems so less for a 2021 phone but HMD is giving microSD card support for up to 128GB storage. There will be 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth 4.2 on the phone for wireless connectivity. And the Nokia 1.4 will come with a 4000mAh battery. In the camera department, the Nokia 1.4 is expected to have a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of an 8MP main sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor. These sensors will be assisted by an LED flash module. For selfies, there will be a 5MP camera on the front. The Nokia 1.4 will have a 3.5mm headphone jack and a MicroUSB 2.0 port but their location is not confirmed. Further, there will be a fingerprint sensor on the Nokia 1.4, the report said. The Nokia 1.4 will also have a proximity sensor, an accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor. The Nokia 1.4 is said to measure 166.2x76.2x 8.70mm. From Vaccines to Vaccinations: Officials Urge Black Community to Take COVID Shot COVID-19 hospitalizations are starting to decrease in California, but that decline does not mean the pandemic is over, state health officials warn. The number of cases in California dropped by 31% over 14 days leading up to Jan. 22, according to the New York Times California Coronavirus Map and Case Count. The most recent peak in California was Jan. 12 with almost 46,000 cases reported that day. On Jan. 22, California reported about 25,000 new cases, almost half the number of cases reported Jan. 12. Health professionals representing Vaccinate All 58, a statewide vaccine safety and equity campaign Gov. Gavin Newsom launched, joined a Zoom press briefing with California Black Media organized in partnership with the Center at Sierra Health Foundation. The event was held to discuss the next steps for distribution of the vaccine. The news conference also addressed changes that must be made and misconceptions that must be disproved to encourage a large cross section of reluctant African Americans to feel comfortable enough to take the vaccine. ADVERTISEMENT We have stepped up our support to hospitals, and we are saving lives, California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris said at the briefing. And we are optimistic that this curve is flattening and that the pace of vaccination is accelerating. We will get through this together. Part of getting through the pandemic together is for everyone to get vaccinated, Burke Harris explained. Our big goal is to turn vaccines into vaccinations, she said. So as our state continues to ramp up the rollout of our vaccines, we are continually committed to a fair and equitable allocation and distribution process. Equity has been central to Californias vaccine strategy. Equitable distribution has proven to be difficult. In a study The Undefeated and the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) conducted last year, half of Black U.S. adults surveyed said they are not planning to take the vaccine. Several other independent surveys have echoed that reports findings. This prompted the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to turn to community partnerships to build trust of the vaccine in Californias African American communities. We are partnering with 160 or so community-based organizations, CDPH spokesperson Darrel Ng said. Were not quite ready to announce them yet, but they will be all over the state. Speakers participating in the briefing said outreach will be conducted through local organizations, including nonprofits and churches. Shantay R. Davies-Balch, President and CEO of the BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center, described one recent effort. She said a survey was held in the Fresno community to obtain data on how to move forward with programming that will be effective in raising awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine. ADVERTISEMENT Burke Harris said the state is laser-focusing its efforts to reach communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, particularly Blacks and Latinos. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti, County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and two city councilmen representing South Los Angeles held a conference at St. Johns Well Child & Family Center to encourage those distrustful of the vaccine to get vaccinated, especially since coronavirus infections disproportionately affect the South L.A. community, made up predominantly of Black and Latino residents. Currently, in the state of California, vaccines have been distributed to healthcare providers and are now available to adults 65 and older. Soon, the state will launch a website where people can register with a new system that will notify them when they are eligible to receive the vaccine. Regarding the vaccines safety, Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of Martin Luther King Jr Community Hospital in Los Angeles County, explained that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines went through various trials and have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration. She also explained that the vaccine trials incorporated a diverse pool of people, including communities of color and older adults. She noted that an African American woman, Dr. Kissmekia Corbett, was one of the leading researchers on the Moderna vaccine. I know that that many people in our community are hesitant and worried about safety, so I want to stress that these vaccines have been held to the same safety standards as all vaccines, she said. The vaccines both require two doses. The doses of the Moderna vaccine must be given 28 days apart and the Pfizer vaccine must be given 21 days apart. When the vaccine is available to the broader public, people will be able to receive the vaccine from their primary care provider. If someone does not have a primary care provider, the County Department of Public Health will direct them to the nearest testing center that administers the vaccine. Davies-Balch noted that Vaccinate all 58 is working to ensure that the vaccination clinics are accessible to everyone. But the date on which the vaccine will be available to everyone is still not known. In the meantime, Burke Harris urged people to continue to follow the four ws: wear a mask, wash hands, watch your distance and wait to see your friends and loved ones. Even those who get vaccinated must follow physical distancing protocols because of the uncertainty around transmission, the experts say. Although the vaccine prevents those infected from getting ill, there are still studies being conducted to see if it prevents transmission. This means that someone who has been vaccinated could possibly carry the virus to someone who hasnt been, exposing them to COVID-19. Although Batchlor believes the vaccination prevents transmission, she explained that data still needs to be supplied to support that theory. For now, the goal is to swiftly administer as many vaccinations as possible, she said. Once we reach community immunity, we will be ready to throw all of our masks in the trash and go back to our normal activities and interactions, Batchlor added. The upcoming sequel Spider-Man 3 has cast a bevy of villains from previous entries including Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina. But Dane DeHaan revealed on Tuesday that he won't be among the cast during an interview with RadioTimes. 'Theres no truth to those rumors,' said the 34-year-old actor. Not happening: Dane DeHaan, 34, revealed he won't be returning to the Spider-Man series for the upcoming third entry starring Tom Holland in an interview Tuesday with RadioTimes; seen in 2019 'I dont even know how that would be pulled off,' he added. The upcoming film, which will star Tom Holland as the masked webslinger, appears to be playing on the suggestion of alternate universes that was teased in the previous entry, 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home. So far, Foxx and Molina have been confirmed to return for the still untitled Spider-Man 3 sequel, even though their characters previously dueled with two different Spider-Man incarnations played by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Maguire has also been rumored to returning to the new movie in some capacity, though his presence hasn't been confirmed. Nothing to see here: 'Theres no truth to those rumors,' said DeHaan, adding, ''I dont even know how that would be pulled off.' He played Harry Osborn/Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (pictured) Moving on: 'Will someone please tell my mom so she can stop asking about this,' he joked while quote tweeting an article about Spider-Man 3 on Tuesday 'I would certainly love to make some kind of movie like that again. I like making superhero movies or in that kind of world and Im sure Ill find myself in that world again,' DeHaan continued. 'And I have no idea what theyre doing with the Spider-Man movies now, but I dont really understand a world in which that would be possible.' On Tuesday, The Chronicle actor joked about all the attention he's been receiving lately over a movie he won't even appear in. 'Will someone please tell my mom so she can stop asking about this,' he joked while quote tweeting an article about Spider-Man 3. Multiverse: The upcoming Spider-Man film has cast Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina, who fought two different versions of Spider-Man; still from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 DeHaan was featured in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Harry Osborn, the son of the then-deceased Norman Osborn. Confusingly, Willem Dafoe had played his father Norman in the 2002 Spider-Man with Maguire, while James Franco played Harry, who later took on the mantle of the Green Goblin in Spider-Man 3 (2007). In the Andrew Garfield series, DeHaan's character, a childhood friend of Peter Parks, is suffering from a terminal disease. However, his radical attempt to cure it only accelerates his condition and warps him into the villain Green Goblin, who menaces Spider-Man. In December, Dafoe was rumored to be returning to play Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin in the new Spider-Man film, which may have made DeHaan less likely to be included. Insider Daniel Richtman who has a track record of getting superhero casting news right tweeted: 'Welp we finally have our Norman Osborn in the MCU and it's Dafoe again!' In this file photo dated December 10 1995, showing Dutch Professor Paul J. Crutzen, left, receiving the Nobel prize for chemistry from Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. According to a statement from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany, Dutch scientist Paul J. Crutzen, who won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work understanding the ozone hole, died Thursday Jan. 28, 2021, at the age of 87. (AP photo/Eric Roxfelt, FILE) Paul J. Crutzen, a Dutch scientist who won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work understanding the ozone hole and is credited with coining the term Anthropocene to describe the geological era shaped by mankind, has died. The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany, where Crutzen was the director of atmospheric chemistry from 1980 until his retirement in 2000, confirmed that he died Thursday at the age of 87. "Paul Crutzen was a pioneer in many ways," Martin Stratmann, the president of the Max Planck Society, said in a statement. "He was the first to show how human activities damage the ozone layer." Stratmann said that Crutzen's work helped lay the basis for the worldwide ban on ozone-depleting substances, a rare example of fundamental scientific research leading to a global political decision within just a few years. Thanks to concerted international efforts, the ozone hole over Antarctica has been shrinking steadily. "Paul Crutzen was a giant among scientists, and his work proves that it is possible to do science at the very highest level, while also attending to the moral, political, and cultural ramifications of your work," said Harvard science historian Naomi Oreskes. "His name and legacy will live on, but his presence will be sorely missed." Crutzen was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1995 together with American chemist F. Sherwood Rowland and Mexican chemist Mario J. Molina. "Along with Sherry Rowland, whom we sadly lost some years ago, and Mario Molina whom we lost just months ago, Crutzen alerted the world to the danger of ozone depletion caused by the pollutants known as chlorofluorocarbons from spray cans," said Penn State climate scientist Michael Mann. In this file photo dated Thursday December 7 1995, American Nobel Prize for chemistry laureate, Professor Mario J. Molina, center, of MIT, Cambridge, Mass., gestures during a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, sharing the 1995 Nobel chemistry prize with American Professor F. Sherwood Rowland, left, of the University of California at Irvine, Cal., and Dutch Professor Paul J. Crutzen, right, of the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany. According to a statement from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany, Dutch scientist Paul J. Crutzen, who won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his work understanding the ozone hole, died Thursday Jan. 28, 2021, at the age of 87. (AP photo/Martina Huber, FILE) Mann said Crutzen's coining of the term 'Anthropocene'based on the ancient Greek word for humanin an article for Nature in 2002 "so elegantly but simply captured the sobering notion that human impacts on our planet can, in just decades, rival the geological forces that led to mass extinctions over the eons." Crutzen had argued that, because the effects of humans on the environment had escalated so greatly in the past three centuries that global climate could be significantly altered, a specific term should be used to describe the period from the late 18th century to the present. The term has since gained widespread use in scientific and environmental discourse as a way of reflecting the impact that humans have had on the planet and the daunting challenge posed by man-made climate change. Crutzen argued that managing these effects "will require appropriate human behavior at all scales, and may well involve internationally accepted, large-scale geo-engineering projects, for instance to 'optimize' climate." Born in Amsterdam in 1933, Crutzen first trained as an engineer before moving to Sweden in the late 1950s. According to the Nobel Institute, Crutzen got a job as a programmer at Stockholm University's Department for Meteorology despite having no programming experience. While working at the university he began studying meteorology on the side, acquiring a PhD in the field in 1968. Crutzen subsequently taught and conducted research at the University of Oxford, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, the University of Chicago and the University of California. Crutzen is survived by his wife Terttu, his daughters Ilona and Sylvia, and three grandchildren. 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. (Natural News) The Democratic Party of Oregon has released a statement about the violent attack that occurred at its headquarters in Portland on Inauguration Day, blaming Republicans for what was clearly another Antifa riot. Chair Carla KC Hanson wrote that the day of joy and celebration ended with frustration and disappointment when nine windows and the front door of the Democrat headquarters were busted out. The damage is extensive and discouraging, she added, but Im incredibly thankful that none of our staff were in the building at the time, and grateful for their quick response. KC further explained that this is hardly the first time that the facility has been vandalized throughout the past year, but that none of these prior incidents have deterred their important work to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. The statement went on and on about how incredibly supportive the Democratic community in Portland has been throughout the process. It also asked people to chip in to help defray some of the costs of repairing the damage from this incident. At no point in her statement did KC identify the culprits as Antifa or Black Lives Matter (BLM), even though video footage shows many of the usual left-wing culprits running wild. Instead, she blamed the incident on Republicans. Years of relentless Republican attacks on our Democratic values and the very foundations of our democracy have not stopped our work, and neither will this senseless vandalism, the statement goes on to explain. We are undeterred. More related news about Antifa and BLM terrorism can be found at Terrorism.news. Republicans do not try to destroy ICE facilities Back in August, the same types of folks who were seen destroying the Democrat Party headquarters in Portland stood around chopping off the heads of stuffed animals in guillotines while burning American flags. That same month, protesters of the leftist variety pointed lasers in the eyes of law enforcement officers to try to blind them. In the latest incident, far-left rioters spray painted things like F*** BIDEN on the walls of the building. Many of them were carrying weapons along with umbrellas, which they used to block cameras from filming and identifying them. Check out the following video footage from Andy Ngo: Portland: Watch shocking footage of #antifa smashing up the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters. They bring weapons while their comrades use umbrellas to block surveillance video. Video by @Julio_Rosas11. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/KdNNRgIEV0 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) January 20, 2021 Do these people look like Republicans to you? Hardly. Not a single one of them would ever be seen sporting a Make America Great Again hat, let alone showing up to a Trump rally. The fact that this violent riot and act of mass vandalism occurred just minutes after Biden was inaugurated says a lot about what far-leftists think of this president. Immediately before the inauguration, a group holding a We dont want Biden we want revenge! banner was spotted marching through Portland (see below): One of the banners the Antifa group had while marching. Taken before the Democratic Party building in Portland was attacked. pic.twitter.com/lsVYgkwFwp Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 21, 2021 The ironic thing about these far-leftists is that they now share the same perspective as conservatives who reject the Biden presidency. The difference is that the anti-fascists are out for blood, and they want the world to know it. Antifa was also seen at the Portland area Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Police had no choice but to use tear gas and flashbangs to disperse them to prevent a similar situation like what happened at the Democrat headquarters from occurring. Federal officers came out of the ICE facility in Portland to disperse the crowd that had assembled outside. After declaring it to be an unlawful assembly, police used tear gas and flashbangs. pic.twitter.com/YntMIB5U6n Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 21, 2021 Once again, do these people look like Republicans to you? Are Republicans against ICE or do they support upholding our nations immigration laws? And conservatives will continue to be blamed as the lefts propaganda machine, MSM, backs them up, wrote one Summit.news commenter. The folks that are unable to look at both sides are going to believe anything. If you live in Oregon, *call their bluff* and demand that those awful Republicans who are rioting and smashing things be arrested ASAP, wrote another. Sources for this article include: Summit.news NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there were lots of "teething problems" with the country's adjustment to life outside the European Union's single market but the hard-hit fishing industry would gain over the medium to longer term. "Of course there are there are teething problems in lots of areas and that's inevitable because this is a big change," Johnson said during a visit to Scotland on Thursday. "But be in no doubt, over the medium term and much more over the long term, the changes are very, very beneficial for Scottish fishing," he said, adding that eventually Britain would be able to fish all the stocks in its territorial waters. Scotland's fishing industry has been hit hard by delays in getting their shellfish and other fresh produce to markets in the EU since the introduction of post-Brexit checks. Britain's government has promised an extra 23 million pounds ($31.6 million) of funding to compensate the sector. But other industries have also felt the impact of longer delivery times and tax changes. The government said on Thursday that businesses overall had adapted well to the new trading relationship that began on Jan. 1 with border traffic increasing daily and no longer any disruption at British ports. On Tuesday, real-time truck movement data from Sixfold showed freight volumes moving between the United Kingdom and the European Union were down 38% in the third week of January compared with the same week a year ago. Nevertheless, the government said the level of compliance was very high with vehicles turned back at the border - for failing to meet customs requirements or lack of a negative COVID test - accounting for less than 5% of total traffic. Michael Gove, a senior minister in Johnson's cabinet, said the government would "work hand in hand" with businesses to tackle any outstanding issues. He issued the statement shortly before meeting business leaders to discuss the impact of Brexit. Short link: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon-supporting Republican who is known for pushing conspiracy theories and making racists comments, previously tried to force Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to retake their congressional oaths on the Bible. Video footage surfaced on Wednesday of Ms Greene walking through the halls of Congress prior to being elected as a Georgia representative. In the footage, she was claiming that Ms Omar and Ms Tlaib were illegitimate Democratic representatives because they took their oaths of office on the Quran instead of the Bible. Were going to explain about how you cant swear in on the Quran, Ms Greene said in the footage. Were going to have the Bible and ask them if they would swear in on the Bible I think thats important. Someone off-camera then told Ms Greene that she was infringing on the two representatives religion by asking them to take their oaths of office with the Bible instead of the Quran. It wasnt a law yet at the time they swore in. I think at the time they swore in it wasnt passed, because it wouldnt pass in a Republican-controlled ... Ms Greene said. So theyre not really official, I dont think. What she was insinuating in that video was that there was some law that required all members of Congress to be sworn in on the Bible. At the time of Ms Omar and Ms Tlaibs ceremonies, Ms Greene claimed, there was no law allowing them to use a Quran over the Bible. This position has been repeated in recent years by other fringe members of the Republican party, and its inaccurate. There has never been a law in United States history that requires an elected official of the country to take the oath of office with a Bible or any other religious text. The United States Constitution actually states "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Why does the Constitution specifically say this? The Framers of the Constitution valued the separation of church versus state. Four presidents and several members of Congress have been sworn in without the use of a Bible. The resurfaced video comes after a CNN KFile report revealed that Ms Greene has filled her social media feed with several extremist viewpoints in recent years before she was elected to office in November. In a January 2019 Facebook post, Ms Greene liked a comment advocating a bullet to the head for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to a screenshot shared by CNN. Another post from April 2018 involved a commenter asking, Now do we get to hang them ?? when speaking about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Ms Greene responded: Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off. She did not denounce the suggestion of executing the two political figures. On Twitter, Mrs Clinton shared the report of the representatives past social media activity and said: This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress. Ms Greene took to Twitter to defend herself after the CNN report was published. Over the years, Ive had teams of people manage my pages. Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views, she wrote. She added that Facebook posts from random users were being used to try and cancel me and silence my voice. But these werent the only instances where Ms Greene exhibited extremist behaviour or promoted conspiracy theories. Previously, Ms Greene has claimed the Parkland shooting was staged and that there are Democratic lawmakers in Congress who participate in child abuse. The representative was also vocally supportive of former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that he won the 2020 presidential election. Ms Greenes statements on Twitter have caused her to be temporarily banned from the social media site and lawmakers are now calling for her removal from office. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy has revealed he would be speaking to Ms Greene following the recent reports of her social media activity. These comments are deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them, Mark Bednar, a spokesperson for Mr McCarthy, told Axios. The health crisis and the celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Philippine Church were at the centre of the 121st plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) held its 121st plenary session (pictured) online. The ongoing health crisis and the celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Philippine Church were at the centre of the address by CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao. In his speech, the prelate said that the best way to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines during the ongoing pandemic is to make our faith shine in acts of charity and mercy because faith shines in the works of charity and mercy. More than 80 bishops participated in the two-day event, which ended on Wednesday, focussing on the ongoing health crisis and the Church's response. The Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Charles John Brown, delivered a message from Pope Francis. In it, the Holy Father calls on the bishops of the Philippines to continue to bear witness to evangelical charity amid the pandemic. He also invited them to come up with more creative expressions of charity in their pastoral work. These efforts, said Pope Francis, would help the Philippine Church to be recognised as a home with open doors, offering hope and strength to the suffering and to all who seek a more humane and dignified life. Archbishop Valles urged Filipinos to share the gift of faith with others. Anyone of us can take up this challenge to serve the least and lowest of our brothers and sisters, he said. The Archbishop admitted that 500th anniversary celebration plans have been thrown off course due to the pandemic, but said the faithful cannot take this precious gift [of faith] for granted. We might wake up one day, he warned, like other people have: no longer able to share this gift with others, for our hearts and souls have been hijacked by other beliefs, ephemeral if not empty. Quincentenary celebrations were set to wrap up in April 2021. But due to the difficulty in organising proper celebrations, the Bishops have extended the Great Jubilee for an extra year, to April 2022. The first Mass in the Philippines was celebrated on 31 March 1521, on Limasawa Island. On 14 April, the Church celebrates the 500th anniversary of the first local Baptism, which took place in what is now the Archdiocese of Cebu. During their plenary assembly, the Bishops also elevated the status of a popular pilgrimage site in Obando, a town in the Diocese of Malolos. The San Pascual Baylon Parish-Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Salambao will soon be known as a National Shrine. The parish church was founded by Franciscan missionaries from Spain on 29 April 1754, as a small chapel dedicated to St Clare of Assisi. A few years later, local fishermen discovered an image of the Immaculate Conception, which came to be known as Our Lady of Salambao. In raising the church to the status of a national shrine, the Bishops have recognised the faith and devotion of the many pilgrims who visit the parish each year. Farmers issue is not a Sikh issue and one must not attempt to make it one. Questioning the farm laws and protesting against the farm laws is not against India. What we must do and ought to do is focus on finding solutions for farmers issue and doubling farmers income. What transpired at the Red Fort and Delhi-NCR on the occasion of Republic Day has left everyone in shock. The presence of Khalsa symbols at protest site diverted the focus from farmers issue to Sikh identity. However, amid the chaos, one must be cautious to not make the farmers issue a religious issue. Farmers issue is not a Sikh issue and one must not attempt to make it one. Questioning the farm laws and protesting against the farm laws is not against India. We as a news channel have done hours of programming glorifying Sikh heroes, saluting their contribution to the country and warned against making the issue of farm laws a religious issue. Our focus and the countrys focus at the moment should remain on finding solutions for farmers issue and doubling farmers income. Hence, attack on journalists covering the farmers agitation on ground is uncalled for and highly condemnable. Five NewsX and India News journalists, namely Aishwarya Jain, Ajit Shrivastava, Priya Singh, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Aditya Nair have been threatened and assaulted by unidentified anti-social elements while covering the protests. They have been threatened, assaulted and stopped from simply doing their duty. As multiple forces bid to spreading disharmony among our own people, it is our responsibility to stand with the Sikh Pride and steer clear of malign agendas. It is our responsibility to come up with solutions that help our farmers secure a stable income. (TNS) The businesses appeared closed, but there were telltale signs of life: light seeping out from behind boarded-up windows, customers coming and going through employee entrances, Instagram posts alluding to in-home appointments.The COVID-19 shutdown orders imposed in March and again during the holidays crippled large swaths of the California economy. But even before an easing of restrictions announced this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom, some business owners continued to carry on covertly. In Los Angeles and other counties with forced closures, you could still get your nails done and your hair trimmed, practice Pilates inside a studio and eat a restaurant meal with a group of friends no takeout containers involved.By continuing to serve customers, the businesses violated the spirit and in some cases the letter of public health orders and complicated efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus, health officials said.But those who have been operating for months under the radar say their decision isn't a repudiation of face masks, social distancing or government overreach, or about enabling parties during a pandemic. It's simply to make ends meet, and in the absence of sufficient financial assistance and clear guidance, they have been relying on themselves and discreet customers they can trust to do it."I have a son to feed and to support, and rent to pay, and it was just getting too hard to not work at all," said hairstylist Joanna Ho, 40. "Even when the government was giving us stimulus and unemployment, it wasn't enough."Despite the lifting of statewide stay-at-home orders Monday, business owners remain uneasy. In Los Angeles County, personal care services were allowed to open immediately and outdoor dining can resume Friday. But with still-high infection rates, low hospital bed availability and new, more dangerous coronavirus variants, many are skeptical about how long this reopening will last."Maybe it's best to not open right away and gauge the scene," said Kevin Meehan, chef-owner of Melrose Avenue restaurant Kali. "Laying off staff for the fourth time would be brutal."Many business owners said they could not afford to be sidelined.A year ago, Ho tended to dozens of clients a week at a beauty salon in Pasadena. When the shop closed last summer, she moved into a downtown Los Angeles loft and set up a station at home, borrowing a professional salon chair, buying air filters and only accepting current clients or referrals, masks required.Bookings fell by about 75 percent "I'm getting by with credit cards and whatever I saved up" and Ho grappled with whether she should even be working at all."I keep going back and forth: Should I, or should I not?" she said. "It's a gray area for sure. How do you tell? You just try to do the best you can."A nail salon in Saratoga continued to serve customers during the most recent stay-at-home order but kept the blinds drawn, the door locked and a "Closed" sign on the window to maintain a low profile."I need to work. I need to eat. I need to fight for rent," said the owner, a single mom from San Jose who declined to give her name and asked that the shop not be identified. "If I don't work, me and my daughter won't have a home."When customers called for appointments, she'd group them on the same day to avoid having to go into the salon too often. She permanently closed her second studio in Los Gatos and became a one-person operation all of her nail technicians left weeks ago for other jobs, unable to wait around any longer for restrictions to lift buffing and polishing nails behind a plexiglass divider.Business compliance during the pandemic "is essential" to slowing the spread of COVID-19, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in an update this month. The department declined requests for an interview, instead referring to a media briefing and a news release that said teams of enforcement officials "continue to visit businesses across the county every day" to ensure rules were being followed.From Jan. 3 through Jan. 11, 83 citations were issued to restaurants, gyms, personal care salons, places of worship and other businesses in the county; more than 600 have been handed out since the end of August.For those that remain out of compliance, citations can be as high as $1,000 per occurrence. The county has been going after repeat offenders in other ways as well, such as shutting off the gas at a Long Beach restaurant on Saturday after the owner continued to offer outdoor patio dining.Those are serious penalties, but many small-business owners believe the risk is worth it. They point to ever-changing and arbitrary rules about what's allowed to be open and under what conditions, and say they have been disproportionately affected while big businesses such as supermarkets, mall operators and major retail chains are open with few limitations. If it's legal to spend all afternoon browsing for shoes and jewelry at Macy's surrounded by other shoppers, they wondered, why couldn't they let their customers sit on the terrace or come inside for a quick wax?The banning of outdoor dining has been among the most controversial of the myriad COVID-19 safety regulations, and restaurants around the state including in Orange County, Pasadena and Long Beach made no secret of defying the orders.SideTrack Bar + Grill in Pleasanton continued offering outdoor dining for a few days in January, posting about its decision on Facebook. The city "looked the other way, and I appreciated that," owner Todd Utikal said. After reopening at 11 a.m. Monday, the restaurant had a line out the door and its patios were full."There is no proof, over and over again, that outdoor dining is the cause of this," he said. "Granted, we had some angry people who felt we were breaking the rules. But we had logic behind it and it was not greed."Some owners came up with workarounds to supplement takeout revenue.Beverly Hills ramen shop Kazan has been hosting private dining experiences inside or on its patio for small parties. Meehan of Kali said on Instagram in December that he was available to cook "a small dinner party in the safety of your home" at $300 per person.Public and private gatherings with non-household individuals have been prohibited in Los Angeles County since November (except for faith-based services and protests), and Meehan's Instagram post upset a few followers who accused him of being irresponsible. But he said taking his restaurant to customers' homes has kept his business afloat during a tumultuous time for the industry: "I think I'm doing the right thing.""I'm legally allowed to cater in people's homes, and people are entertaining," he said. "I don't feel like I'm doing something where I'm exposing myself: I come in and I wear a mask; I bring a cooler full of food; and I'm in some beautiful home in Malibu cooking dinner for four people."During the shutdown, downtown L.A. restaurant Rossoblu hosted several multi-course virtual dinners: Participants received food to eat in their own homes while interacting with chef-owner Steve Samson and other diners on Zoom. That netted enough revenue to help the Italian restaurant get through the holiday season. But co-owner Dina Samson drew the line when customers inquired about having Rossoblu participate in in-home gatherings."There was one lady she was basically having big dinner parties at her house and paying chefs to come cook," she said. "She told me a bunch of restaurants that were doing that, and I told her, 'I'm sorry, we can't.' It's really crazy there is that whole underground economy for sure."Even though the customer was willing to pay "a lot of money," Samson said turning the offer down was an easy decision."We're really rule followers, and our team, the people who work for us, are rule followers too, so there was no way they'd let us get away with that," she said. "We want to be an example, right?"Health officials have identified indoor dining and gyms as vectors for COVID-19 infection both settings put customers in proximity for prolonged periods of time, often with masks off and have served closure notices and cease-and-desist orders to fitness facilities for violating orders during the pandemic.Gyms remain limited to outdoor operations only. In some cases, fitness studios have faced scrutiny for holding workouts in spaces with a loose interpretation of the word "outside.""Nice space in the valet of the parking garage, but so walled in that you feel like you're inside," one attendee wrote in an online review after a recent Barry's boot-camp class at the Beverly Center, where the company has temporarily set up classes.Other studios found ways to sidestep outdoor-only rules.Pilates studio owners said a light pivot meant they were allowed to offer private sessions inside. Many teamed up with healthcare professionals and began referring to their businesses as "satellite clinics" offering "wellness classes" instead of fitness studios offering workout classes."Wellness Reformer Classes are being run and operated under medical supervision and require a physician's prescription," DR Pilates in Larchmont Village said in an Instagram post last month. "Strict adherence to all current CDC guidelines are being held in the studio."Another studio, Balance Reform, partnered with a licensed chiropractor, which allowed its clients to "return to your favorite physical exercise worry-free," according to an email last year.Michelle Marshall, the chiropractor, said she reached out to the Melrose Avenue studio owner to help the business survive the lockdown. Balance Reform clients had to undergo an initial consultation with Marshall, and, if she found them to be suffering from neck or back issues, she'd recommend one-on-one Pilates sessions. Balance Reform even touted a "bonus": "If visits are deemed medically necessary, your health insurance may cover the cost of your visit."But the partnership was short-lived."It was a little too complicated," Marshall said. "We couldn't figure out a model that worked during the pandemic."In December, Balance Reform announced that it was shutting its doors for good."COVID-19 has brought an unprecedented toll on our new small business and through many sleepless nights, we have been forced with the decision to close," the studio said. "We hope that you understand and respect the difficult choices we've had to make throughout this process." Omagh bomb suspect Mickey McKevitt almost single-handedly ran the Provisional IRA for 20 years, we can reveal today. Bobby Sands brother-in-law who died a few weeks ago was both Quartermaster and Intelligence Officer from the late seventies up until 1996. He stood down at a meeting of the Army Council when his wife Bernadette disagreed with Gerry Adams peace strategy and the abandonment of the armed struggle. After the ceasefire was called in 1997, the year before the Good Friday Agreement, McKevitt set up the Real IRA and brought a number of dissident republican hardliners with him. A senior republican source confirmed: He and Bernadette did not like Adams. They didnt get on and this is what led to the bust-up. Their could have been all-out civil war between the Provos and the Real IRA but Mickey McKevitt, in fairness to him, made sure this did not happen. Both sides went their separate ways without any violence and he controlled his people and made sure it stayed that way. He may have disagreed with the IRA-Sinn Fein but he wasnt going to go to war with former comrades. Some of the people he inherited were not very good, it was a classic case of quantity over quality. The source told the Sunday World how McKevitt defied MI5 and created an international arms network to bring vast amounts of weapons into Ireland. He revealed: He had a number of trusted Irish-Americans who would travel around gun shows all across the United States and buy handguns here and there without being noticed, and well below the radar of the FBI. They would then be all posted back to Ireland hidden in pop socks and sent to a specific area where the local post office was manned by nationalist sympathisers and wouldnt ask any questions. One fella sent home 96 weapons in three weeks only a month before one of the ceasefires. An Post also didnt have the technology like they have now to detect weapons, so it was much easier to do. He also secured Czech-made AK-47s from contacts in South Africa, again each gun was sent back with 100 rounds of ammunition. These shipments were smuggled in through England and then brought back hidden in the compartment of cars he had bought at auctions across the UK. British intelligence hadnt a clue what we were at. Mickey McKevitt kept his cards close to his chest, he basically ran the IRA day to day single-handedly. You could spend two or three days travelling around Ireland with him and he would tell you nothing. It is understood that the biggest problems during McKevitts reign were informers and indeed he was finally brought down by one, American David Rupert who had been working as a double agent. Our source said: He took a view that for every IRA volunteer there were three or four informers out there. MI5 were brilliant at blackmailing republicans for cheating on their wives. More fellas were turned for having affairs with other women and MI5 used it to their advantage. The Omagh bomb which the Real IRA claimed responsibility for was the start of McKevitts downfall. A shocking 29 people and unborn twins were killed and 220 injured after a car bomb exploded 300 yards from the towns courthouse on August 15, 1998, four months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. No one was ever convicted for the atrocity although the victims families took a civil action against four alleged suspects including McKevitt and were awarded 1.6 million in damages. McKevitt became public enemy number one with the security services on both sides of the border and eventually he was convicted in the Republic for directing terrorism and being a member of an illegal organisation the Real IRA. He was convicted on the evidence of an FBI informant David Rupert. He was sentenced to 20 years jail in January 2003 and was released a few years ago. McKevitt was 71 years old when he died on January 2. SAY WHAT ABOUT JUSTINE AND CALEB?! omg. what the fuck. how awful. she didnt deserve that. i am SHOCKED connor and mackenzie are still together. Reply Thread Link I read a whole expose on it. His whole family knew about it and fucking gamed justine. The theory is Caleb took advantage of the BLM and George Floyd timing to capitalize on the Black love storyline. He was gonna go for Sher but heard how popular justine was and went for her. He aint shit. Reply Parent Thread Link oh my god. what a fucking scammer. i cannot believe. that is so fucked up. Reply Parent Thread Link love arielle - hate the us version of love island. it's a no for me babes! Reply Thread Link season two was sooooo much better than one though! they were just getting their footing! Reply Parent Thread Link Speaking of love and hot messes....please tell me someone else is following this love...not even triangle, octagon with the police chief with all these women exposing him, including three women who are all currently married to him. Reply Thread Link WHOA. Didn't know that about Justine & Caleb. Reply Thread Link Season 3 of temptation island starts soon too! I cant wait for that trash bag mess! Reply Thread Link hosted by former Vine star the celebrityness is too much for me Reply Thread Link Calebs fraudulent ass.... Im also sure that Mackenzie and Conner are probably miserable, but hes a doormat so they wont break up. Reply Thread Link i was kinda surprised justine and caleb got so messy but not really. word is that they broke up back in november but have been pretending to be together since then to keep getting promo deals and money. yikes. s2 was soooo much better than s1, but i'm more interested in if there's gonna be a new season of love island uk this year or not. they really got lucky doing that winter version early so they didn't miss out on a year Reply Thread Link Or any of these dating shows every gonna have a gay couple? Reply Thread Link The way this show is set up it would have to be all gay contestants. Or better yet, all bisexual. That 12 Dates of Christmas Show on HBO actually had gays in the mix, but it worked because the main contestants werent sharing potential partners. Reply Parent Thread Link Your closest bet is Are You The One? on MTV which had a season of all genders/sexualities! Reply Parent Thread Link Not surprised about Justine and Caleb. Caleb always knew the right thing to say but I didn't feel like he was being genuine with Justine. Reply Thread Link where is the love island UK updates?? I can't go another summer without one Reply Thread Link as someone from hawaii... no thank you. were still in the middle of a pandemic. Reply Thread Link It was not a great week for Zak Kirkup and the Liberal Party. Announcing an uncosted project to sink the City West rail line on a cost-neutral basis that was smashed by the government and having a sitting MP in a marginal seat caught speeding were not ideal. WA Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup at an election campaign announcement with party powerbroker Nick Goiran looking on. Credit:WA Liberal Party The failure of the party to properly vet a COVID-19 conspiracy-peddling candidate in a pandemic-driven election is close to catastrophic. Despite former Baldivis candidate Andrea Tokaji having an easy-to-find article sitting online since April last year linking the rollout of 5G towers and COVID-19 spread, and a series of personal social media posts supporting conspiracy theories, the Liberal Party was none the wiser until Wednesday afternoon. Budget smartphones have the potential to attract more buyers and therefore, Samsung is leaving no stone unturned to make its mark in this segment. Now, Samsung is set to launch Galaxy M02 on February 2 which will be priced under Rs 7,000, according to the Amazon website. Galaxy M02 is likely to have a large 6.5-inch infinity-V display and a dual-camera setup at the back and house a 5,000mAh battery. The phone is expected to be an updated version of Galaxy A02s that was launched in Europe in November in 3GB + 32GB and 6GB + 128GB variants. In terms of specifications, Samsung Galaxy M02 is expected to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The phone is supposed to have dual rear cameras with a 13 MP primary sensor and a 5 MP selfie camera sensor and a USB Type-C port. After Galaxy M02s, this would be Samsung`s second smartphone launched below Rs 10,000 this year. Galaxy M02s is priced at Rs 8,999 for the 3GB+32GB variant and Rs 9,999 for the 4GB+64GB variant. The upcoming smartphone is expected to have similar specifications as Galaxy M02s also comes with a 6.5-inch Infinity-V display for immersive viewing, content streaming, video calls, and attending online courses. The device comes with a 5000mAh battery along with 15W fast charging support. Samsung`s Galaxy M portfolio proved to be their lucky charm as it helped them achieve good numbers in the third quarter last year. Designed for young millennial and Gen Z consumers, the `M` series was launched in Q1 2019, and instantly became a hit in the country. Samsung sold 15 million `M` series smartphones in India in 2020, with a gross merchandise value (GMV) of $2.5 billion. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on health care in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 28, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Biden Reopens Online Health Insurance Marketplaces Through Executive Order President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an executive order reopening online health insurance marketplaces, allowing people to sign up in several weeks. HealthCare.gov will open for a special enrollment period from Feb. 15 through May 15, giving Americans who dont have insurance a chance to obtain some. The open enrollment period for 2021 has already elapsed. People in states with marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform will be able to enroll in health coverage, the Department of Health and Human Services clarified in a statement. Enrollment can be done through the website, the Marketplace call center, or through direct enrollment channels. The administration will spend $50 million on outreach and education about enrolling. The months of access is one way to undo the damage that former President Donald Trump has done, Biden told reporters in the White Houses Oval Office. There is nothing new that we are doing here other than restoring the Affordable Care Act and restoring the Medicaid to the way it was before Trump became president, which by fiat he changed and made it more inaccessible and more expensive and more difficult for people to qualify for either of those two items, he added. Empty vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are seen at a vaccination center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 22, 2021. (John Locher/AP Photo) The COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more imperative to let Americans have more access to healthcare, Biden said. Over 30 million Americans remain uninsured, according to federal health data. The executive order also directs federal agencies to reconsider rules and policies that the administration alleges limit that access, including policies that undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including complications related to COVID-19. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Biden signed another order withdrawing a policy that banned U.S. funding for pro-abortion international nonprofits. Bidens support for abortion has drawn criticism from some fellow Catholics; he was denied communion at a church in South Carolina in 2019. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the actions a lifeline for millions of American families and a clear sign that our nation now has the leadership in the White House to turn these crises around. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said that Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, led to higher premiums, fewer options for consumers and caused millions of Americans to lose the health insurance they preferred. We eliminated Obamacares individual mandate giving patients better control of their health insurance. Todays steps to expand Obamacare are steps reversing our progress. They do not move us forward, only backward, he said in a statement. Biden, amid strong pushback to his flurry of orders in the days since he was sworn into office, defended the two new ones. Im not initiating any new law, any new aspect of the law. This is going back to what the situation was prior to the Presidents executive orders, he said. Peter Ben Embarek and Marion Koopmans, members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, sit on a bus as they leave their quarantine hotel in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Reuters/Thomas Peter) WHO Team in Wuhan Probing COVID-19 Origins Moves out of Quarantine WUHAN, ChinaA World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic left its quarantine hotel in Wuhan on Thursday to begin field work, two weeks after arriving in the Chinese city where the virus emerged in late 2019. The mission has been plagued by delays, concern over access, and bickering between China and the United States, which has accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak and criticized the terms of the visit, under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research. Thanks, Chinese Health Minister Ma Xiaowei, for a frank discussion on the #COVID19 virus origins mission, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter. I asked that the international scientists get the support, access & data needed, and the chance to engage fully with their Chinese counterparts. The WHO has not provided details of the missions itinerary, although team leader Peter Ben Embarek said in November that the group would likely go to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where the first known cluster of cases was traced. The team, made up of independent experts, is due to remain for two more weeks in China, which has used stringent measures, including drastically curtailing international arrivals, to curb the spread of the coronavirus. China has been battling a series of local outbreaks over the past month. A staff member in protective gear moves luggage before members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic leave their quarantine hotel in Wuhan, Hubei province, China Jan. 28, 2021. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter) During the second 14 days, the team will be able to go out under strict medical supervision, continuous testing and the restrictive measures, Hans Kluge, the WHOs European regional director, told a news conference from Copenhagen on Thursday. He said the first two weeks had been productive. The team members have been prepared by counterparts in China in different fields, there have been, every day, many, many hours of presentations and exchange of data, he said. After leaving their quarantine hotel shortly after 3 p.m. (0700 GMT) without speaking to journalists, team members boarded a bus to a lakeside hotel, where a portion of the building and grounds were cordoned off. Several team members described long work days during their quarantine, and relief at being able to leave their rooms. Slightly sad to say goodbye to my gym & my office where Ive been holed up for last 2 wks!!, team member Peter Daszak said on Twitter, along with photos of exercise equipment and a desk in his hotel room. The team members luggage, loaded onto the bus by workers in protective suits, included yoga mats and what appeared to be a guitar case. Science and Politics The WHO has sought to manage expectations for the investigation. There are no guarantees of answers, WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan told reporters this month. It is a difficult task to fully establish the origins and sometimes it can take two or three or four attempts to be able to do that in different settings. Chinas foreign ministry said the team would participate in seminars, visits, and field trips. All these activities must be in accordance with the principle of tracking the origin scientifically and with the ultimate goal of preventing future risks and protecting the safety and health of the people, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing on Thursday. The origin of COVID-19 has been highly politicized. The investigating team had been set to arrive in Wuhan earlier in January, and Chinas delay of their visit drew rare public criticism from the head of the WHO, which former U.S. President Donald Trump accused of being China-centric early in the outbreak. China has been pushing a narrative that the virus existed abroad before it was discovered in Wuhan, with state media citing the presence of the virus on imported frozen food packaging and scientific papers saying it had been circulating in Europe in 2019. Chinas foreign ministry has also hinted on several occasions that the sudden closure of a U.S. army laboratory at Fort Detrick in Maryland in July 2019 was linked to the pandemic. By Gabriel Crossley GRANITE CITY The GCS Credit Union kicked off its 2021 Growing Community Schools jeans program by donating $1,245 to Triad National Honor Society. The Growing Community Schools program is funded by GCS employees who make monthly monetary donations to a local school organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, GCS employees can jeans on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. Triad NHS was the designated organization for GCS Credit Unions Growing Community Schools jeans program for the month of January. The service organization sponsors a number of events to support the school, community charities and larger charity organizations. Students are invited to join their junior year based on a 3.5 GPA. Candidates are evaluated by faculty on the basis of leadership, character and service. Due to COVID, most of the activities NHS usually does to raise money are not possible. For more about GCS Credit Union, visit myGCScu.com. by Austin Bay January 27, 2021 On cue, White House press secretary Jen Psaki has signaled that President Joe Biden's administration is not prepared to seriously confront the complex and immediate threat communist China poses to American security and world peace. Earlier this month, incoming secretary of state Antony Blinken acknowledged communist China presents a formidable problem and added former President Donald Trump's administration "was right in taking a tougher approach to China." The tough approach was "helpful" to U.S. foreign policy. For a Blinken moment, it looked as if the Biden administration might get China right, too. But in her Jan. 25 press briefing, Psaki soft-pedaled. The new administration, she said, starts "from an approach of patience as it relates to our relationship with China." She then unloaded a dictionary's worth of Beltway jargon, promising consultations galore and an "interagency process" review "in order to take a multilateral approach to engaging with China." Psaki's telltale word is "patience." Strategic patience -- the diplomatic term -- quickly becomes strategic negligence and potentially submissive appeasement. At best, strategic patience is a reactive response. Patience plays into Beijing's hands. China's territorial aggression in the South China Sea is a fact. Beijing exploited 25 years of American patience to expand. China's pervasive and interconnected covert campaign of military and industrial espionage, intellectual property theft, unfair trade practices and political infiltration (often lubricated with economic bribes) is an immediate threat that exploits patience. China's American spy operation has no historical precedent. For almost two decades, Sen. Dianne Feinstein employed a Chinese intelligence source in her San Francisco-area office. For several years, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., had very close ties to alleged Chinese operative Christine Fang. Both Feinstein and Swalwell serve on congressional intelligence committees. In 2015, Chinese cyber-spies penetrated the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and acquired personal information on 20 million government workers, to include military personnel. American military personnel later received letters confirming hackers had acquired their detailed personnel files, to include background investigations for security clearances. StrategyPage.com observed, "Since the CIA recruits many ... field agents from former ... Special Operations Command personnel, many key CIA people were now much less secret." China's OPM "identify theft" attack harmed American intelligence operations, perhaps for a decade. The administration of then-President Obama reacted to the attack with strategic patience. Patience fails to confront the Chinese Communist Party's primary diplomatic and gray-area warfare doctrine: a triad of intimidation, retaliation and retribution directed at nations, organizations and individuals with the courage to confront CCP aggression and malign activities. At the moment, Beijing's most overt acts of intimidation are its military probes of Taiwan. On Jan. 23, at least 12 Chinese aircraft (a mix of fighters and bombers) entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone. On Jan. 24, 15 Chinese air force planes intruded. China conducted military shows of force -- demonstrations to test Taiwan's defenses but also gauge U.S. military and diplomatic reactions. China's target: the Biden administration. Japan confronts routine Chinese air and sea space incursions. China claims Japan's Senkakus Islands, which are located in the East China Sea. In a phone call with Japan's defense minister, Biden's new secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to help Japan defend its islands, to include the Senkakus. That's good. Now President Biden should make the same public commitment -- on global television. He should also affirm America's commitment to defend critical Asian allies and mention Japan, South Korea, Australia and Singapore. Words, however, must be backed by deeds. Biden must demonstrate proactive impatience, like opening U.S. courts to U.S. corporations and individuals who have suffered economic loss from illegal activities by Chinese government and corporate entities. Another proactive deed: Continue the Trump administration's "Clean Network" initiative, implemented to secure America's communication and energy grids by banning suspect Chinese equipment, like that manufactured by Huawei. The most proactive deed: Recognize Taiwan as the free and independent nation it is. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. AWD There are countless examples, from the classic "there's a pool of motor oil under every French car" to "Toyota makes the most reliable cars" and everything in between. Almost every model or brand has gained some sort of reputation over the years, and now that's the first thing people think of when hearing a certain name.For instance, what pops into your mind when you hear " Alfa Romeo ?" It's probably sexy designs and bad reliability. How about " Hilux ?" Indestructible. "EVs?" Range anxiety. "SUVs?" Not as good off-road as they would want you to think. What do you think about "red convertibles?" Middle life crisis. And the list can go on.When it comes to Subaru, the Japanese brand is mostly defined by two things: one is its stubbornness to use boxer engines, and the other is its S-system, where the "S" stands for "Symmetrical" - you see, the "S" isn't always about "Sport."Since Subaru has a knack for installing its S-AWD system into all of its models - including the diminutive Justy - people tend to think it's better than it actually is. After all, why would they bother otherwise, right? Well, you can rely on hearsay, or you can watch this impartial test of the Subaru's AWD system using a brand-new 2021 Crosstrek Sport finished in Plasma Yellow.The guys at TFL have been using the slip test to check the performance of AWD systems in various vehicles, from sedans to EVs and even proper off roaders. The results have sometimes been surprising, with some models that make a big deal out of their off-roading legacy performing much more poorly than expected, and others quietly getting the job done.Subaru, then, comes with pretty great expectations. The consensus seems to be that Subaru 's cars can handle themselves in hairy traction situations thanks to the S-AWD, yet nobody can actually back that up with any concrete proof. Well, this slip test uses the most scientifically accurate method you can expect from something performed in a car park and offers a good representation of how the system can handle itself. It's time to bust or confirm one of the industry's myths. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya on Thursday thanked India for its generosity after he received 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine donated by the country under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. India last week announced that it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to and seven other countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, Afghanistan and Mauritius. Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have already received India's COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy. President was at the Colombo airport to receive the consignment of free Indian COVID-19 vaccines which arrived on a special Air India flight. "Received 500,000 #COVID?19 vaccines provided by #peopleofindia ...Thank you! PM Shri @narendramodi & #peopleofindia for the generosity shown towards #PeopleofSriLanka at this time in need," tweeted. The consignment was packed in 42 boxes. Rajapaksa was joined at the airport by the Indian envoy in Colombo Gopal Baglay. "The arrival of 500,000 doses of COVISHIELD vaccines happens on blessed Poya Day, which marks the 1st visit of The Buddha to Lanka. High Commissioner offered prayers at the sacred Gangaramaya Temple for the health and well being of the people of Lanka on auspicious Duruthu Poya Day," the Indian High Commission here tweeted. The consignment came after the country approved emergency use of Oxford AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine. The vaccination programme is to be launched in the country on Friday at six hospitals around the capital Colombo, health officials said. A total of 250,000 people, mostly health frontline workers, members of the security forces and police and the vulnerable aged, will get the vaccine on a priority basis. The government said the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation would be this week ordering 3 million doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine from India's Serum Institute. has recorded more than 60,000 coronavirus cases so far with 288 deaths. India is one of the world's biggest drug-makers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines. The gift from India is in line with India's continued support to in fighting the COVID pandemic. Four consignments of medical supplies weighing around 25 tonnes were donated by India, which also organised online experience-sharing programmes for Sri Lankan medical professionals. The two nations have also put up a joint front in the COVID-19 battle with India and Sri Lanka being the largest contributors to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for SAARC. Prime Minister Modi had complimented Sri Lanka's leadership on containing the pandemic. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Prices of dwellings in housing companies 2021, April Published: 28 January 2021 Price development of Helsinki, Tampere and Turku continued to differentiate from other large towns at the end of year According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, prices of old dwellings in housing companies rose by 4.7 per cent in Greater Helsinki in December 2020 compared with the previous year and remained unchanged in the rest of the country. Old dwellings in housing companies sold well in December and over one third more dwellings were sold through real estate agents than one year ago. Development of prices of old dwellings in housing companies by month, index 2015=100 Prices of old dwellings in housing companies fell most in Kouvola, Mikkeli and Lahti last year According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, prices of old dwellings in housing companies rose among large towns in Tampere, Helsinki, Espoo and Turku in the last quarter of 2020 compared to the previous year. Prices fell slightly in Vantaa and Oulu. Compared with 2015, prices have risen among large towns clearly more in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere than in other towns. Towards the end of 2020, the differentiation of prices continued. However, there are large differences in price development within towns and by type of dwelling: for example, in the centre of Helsinki prices have gone up by as much as 26 per cent in five years, while further away from the centre prices have risen by around ninet per cent. The average price per square metre of a one-bedroom dwelling in an old block of flats was EUR 7,783 in the centre of Helsinki, EUR 3,689 in the centre of Tampere and EUR 3,589 in the centre of Turku in the last quarter. Development of prices of old dwellings in housing companies quarterly in big cities, index 2015=100 According to preliminary data, prices of old dwellings in housing companies went up by 1.4 per cent in the whole of last year in comparison to 2019. Prices went up by 3.5 per cent in Greater Helsinki and fell by 0.7 per cent in the rest of Finland. Compared to 2019, prices rose most in Porvoo, Tampere and Helsinki last year. Prices fell most in Kouvola, Mikkeli and Lahti. Examined by region, prices rose in Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Southwest Finland, Ostrobothnia and North Savo compared to the year before. Prices fell most in South Savo, Paijat-Hame and North Karelia. Development of prices of old dwellings in housing companies by regions, quarterly, index 2015=100 Last year, the number of old dwellings in housing companies sold through real estate agents was unchanged from 2019. In Helsinki, the sales volume of old dwellings in housing companies was on level with 2019. Approximately two per cent more dwellings were sold in Tampere and over 7 per cent fewer in Turku than in the previous year. According to the National Land Survey's real estate purchase price register, by 5 per cent more old single-family houses were sold than 2019. Prices of old dwellings in housing companies, whole year 2020 1) Area Price, EUR/m Index 2015=100 Yearly change, % Whole country 2,104 104.6 1.4 Greater Helsinki 3,864 113.7 3.5 Rest of the country (whole country- Greater Helsinki) 1,598 96.5 -0.7 Helsinki 4,493 118.9 4.6 Helsinki 1 7,682 125.8 5.2 Helsinki 2 5,944 124.0 6.0 Helsinki 3 3,863 113.4 3.7 Helsinki 4 2,964 108.8 2.4 Espoo-Kauniainen 3,558 106.5 2.1 Vantaa 2,743 103.3 0.1 Satellite municipalities 2) 2,090 96.4 0.1 Tampere 2,592 112.1 3.7 Tampere 1 3,598 122.0 5.5 Tampere 2 2,562 106.3 3.0 Tampere 3 2,044 105.0 2.1 Turku 2,219 115.6 2,5 Turku 1 3,283 122.0 1.4 Turku 2 2,445 113.8 5.6 Turku 3 1,628 109.0 2.8 Lahti 1,579 90.8 -4.9 Kuopio 1,795 91.6 2.3 Jyvaskyla 1,744 92.9 -3.4 Oulu 1,793 100.6 -0.3 Mikkelii 1,575 86.9 -5.4 Kouvola 1,036 84.5 -6.4 Prices of new dwellings in housing companies rose in the last quarter 1) Preliminary data2) Satellite municipalities = Hyvinkaa, Jarvenpaa, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Nurmijarvi, Riihimaki, Sipoo, Tuusula and Vihti Compared to the corresponding period of the year before, prices of new dwellings in housing companies rose by 4.4 per cent in Greater Helsinki and by 3.9 per cent in the rest of Finland. Compared with the previous year, prices of new dwellings increased most in Vantaa and Tampere. Throughout last year, prices of new dwellings rose by an average of 3.6 per cent from 2019. Compared to 2015, prices of new dwellings have risen by 15 per cent, on average. Development of prices of new dwellings in housing companies quarterly, index 2015=100 The statistics on the prices of old dwellings in housing companies are based on the Tax Administration's data on dwellings (data on ownership of dwellings in housing companies). The numbers published from data on dwellings should not be used to assess the activeness of transactions in the latest periods. The numbers of old dwellings in housing companies sold through real estate agents are based on the data from the price monitoring service of the Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies. The data on new dwellings in housing companies are based on information on the transaction prices reported by the largest building contractors and real estate agents. When the monthly statistics on prices of dwellings in housing companies are published, they cover approximately 70 per cent of all transactions made in the latest statistical month. The monthly data become revised during the following months so that the final data for the year are published in the release concerning the first quarter of the following year. Further information about data revisions can be found in separate tables Data on prices of dwellings in housing companies in different areas and by house type are available at stat.fi/til/ashi/tau_en.html. The tables also contain data on the prices per square metre at the municipal and postal code levels and on the numbers of transactions. If only a few transactions are known in the area, a couple of deviating cases may significantly affect the average price for an area and the price index. Source: Prices of dwellings in housing companies, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Petri Kettunen 029 551 3558, Elina Vuorio 029 551 3385, asuminen.hinnat@stat.fi Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala Publication in pdf-format (476.7 kB) Updated 28.1.2021 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Prices of dwellings in housing companies [e-publication]. ISSN=2323-8801. December 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.5.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ashi/2020/12/ashi_2020_12_2021-01-28_tie_001_en.html New Delhi: India continues to provide COVID-19 vaccines to its neighbouring countries and other nations that have reached out for assistance in these trying times. Presently, India dispatched COVID-19 vaccines to Bahrain and Sri Lanka. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's Vaccine Maitri initiative, Sri Lanka will be provided with a consignment of 50,400 doses of vaccines while Bahrain will receive 10,800 doses. Bahrain had approved Covishield to support its efforts to vaccinate at risk members from developing COVID-19 complications. The Covishield vaccine consignment was loaded at Mumbai airport which departed at 7:55 for Manama while another consignment left for Colombo at 9 am. Earlier, India has sent the vaccines to several countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. The vaccine, Oxford-Astrazenecas Covishield, has been manufactured by Serum Institute of India and was approved for use by the government's drug regulatory board recently. Amid the pandemic, India has been supplying medicines to many countries in the region including Sri Lanka. In May 2020, India had sent 12.5 tons of medical supplies to the country to deal with the pandemic. Under mission sagar 1, supplies were sent onboard Indian navy ships to 5 Indian ocean countries including Sri Lanka. Live TV [January 28, 2021] Mindmarker Announces Oversubscribed Funding Round and Expanded Executive Team NEWTON, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mindmarker, the leading provider of corporate training retention technology, today announced that it has closed an oversubscribed multi-million dollar round of funding from existing investors while adding four new executives to its leadership team: Charlie Driggs as Head of Customer Success, Rob Swint as Head of Marketing, Shaun Crimmins as Head of Sales, and Jon Pysz as Head of Finance and Operations. In addition, Gary Trainor will be joining the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. The new funding follows a 2020 fiscal year where Mindmarker acquired 6 new Fortune 500 enterprise clients and grew headcount by over 40%, with a focus on customer service and engineering resources. In a year marked by uncertainty and shifting priorities in the corporate training and development market, Mindmarker continued to add significant new customers and hit record highs in the number of active users on its learning retention platform. This most recent investment will help fund new product innovation and expand the Mindmarker platforms capabilities for making corporate training more effective. With the shift to remote work and virtual learning, we are seeing even stronger need for technology that helps employees retain and apply corporate training. Companies want to see a tangible business impact from their training programs, and Mindmarker delivers that, said David Froelich, CEO at Mindmarker. This round of funding coupled with the addition of Gary Trainor and our new leadership team gives us a strong foundation for our next stage of growth. Gary Trainor joins Mindmarkers Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. Trainor brings over 40 years experience operating successful companies in the human capital management sector, including senior executive and CEO positions at ADP, First Data Corp., Infinisource Holdings, and Viventium. Charlie Driggs will be responsible for service delivery, customer satisfaction, and customer retention within Mindmarkers customer base. Driggs brings over 10 years experience in managing customer success teams at high growth SaaS technology companies, including leadership roles at Buildium and Toast. will be responsible for service delivery, customer satisfaction, and customer retention within Mindmarkers customer base. Driggs brings over 10 years experience in managing customer success teams at high growth SaaS technology companies, including leadership roles at Buildium and Toast. Rob Swint will lead the companys go-to-market strategy, focusing on large enterprise organizations and training delivery partners. Swint brings 20 years experience in technology sales and marketing, most recently as the owner of a consulting practice advising Boston-area technology firms. Prior to consulting, he led product marketing at Endeca Technologies, a search technology which was acquired by Oracle in 2011. will lead the companys go-to-market strategy, focusing on large enterprise organizations and training delivery partners. Swint brings 20 years experience in technology sales and marketing, most recently as the owner of a consulting practice advising Boston-area technology firms. Prior to consulting, he led product marketing at Endeca Technologies, a search technology which was acquired by Oracle in 2011. Shaun Crimmins will lead all new revenue generation efforts derived from customers, partners, and new logos. Crimmins brings a long tenure in SaaS/technology sales, with a history of building teams and exceeding revenue goals at high growth start-up companies such as Apptopia, Midaxo, and Hubspot. will lead all new revenue generation efforts derived from customers, partners, and new logos. Crimmins brings a long tenure in SaaS/technology sales, with a history of building teams and exceeding revenue goals at high growth start-up companies such as Apptopia, Midaxo, and Hubspot. Jonathan Pysz takes over responsibility for all financial and business operations, including HR, IT, legal, facilities, and other operational duties in support of the company. Pysz brings over 15 years experience in finance and operations, most recently in leadership roles for SaaS businesses in cybersecurity, telecommunications, e-commerce and the automotive industries. He takes over this position from Paul Geary, who will continue to consult with the company on a limited basis. About Mindmarker Mindmarker delivers technology that helps corporate training teams increase learning retention and employee behavior change. Mindmarkers innovative cloud technology makes corporate training more effective by engaging employees with short activities throughout their learning journey via web browser and mobile devices. These activities prepare learners for training, reinforce what they learned, and measure behavior change. Companies that use Mindmarker see 4x higher learning retention and application of new skills, frequently resulting in higher sales, productivity, and employee satisfaction. Thats why more than 30 of the Fortune 500 use Mindmarker to make their corporate training programs stick. For more information, visit www.mindmarker.com Mindmarker 275 Grove St., Suite 2-400 Newton, MA 02466 Email: marketing@mindmarker.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PORT WASHINGTON, NY Some Port Washington residents are looking to mix a little love with a happy new year next month in a dual celebration of St. Valentines Day and Lunar New Year that is designed to provide a little light to the lives of the needy. I cant fathom not being able to feed my child. But many families dont know where their next meal is coming from, said Give Port Washington Light and Love organizer Diane Venezia Livingston, noting that Port Washington has a diverse community. Thats what people forget, she added. Funds collected for Give Port Washington Light and Love in a drive managed by the Port Washington Community Chest will be used to purchase gift cards that will be distributed to food pantries for needy families to use at local restaurants. Livingston came up with the idea of collecting money for gift cards to give to local families after learning some restaurants made similar donations to Our Lady of Fatimas food pantry. It was a treat for those families who dont really get a chance to eat at restaurants, Livingston said. As an added touch, festive red lanterns will be strung along with solar-powered lights from lamp posts on the waterfront at Sunset Park throughout the month of February in support of Port Washingtons cultural diversity and its Asian community. I thought it would lift the spirits and light up the streets to make [Port Washington] more beautiful, said Jill Carvajal, who came up with the idea for hanging lanterns along the waterfront after seeing a display in Chinatown in New York City that supported restaurants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. From there, Carvajal sprang her idea on Venezia and another organizer, Bin Hu Laurence, who worked on a campaign with the Chinese American Association to collect PPE gear for the Port Washington Fire Department. As part of the celebration, over 100 lanterns will be installed some time in the first week of February weather-permitting. Story continues Livingston said herself, Carvajal, and Laurence are still hashing plans to include either a wishing tree or wishing well where visitors can write their wishes, possibly on paper or ribbon, and leave them in a tribute to Chinese custom. Its an event that the organizers hope will become annual and attract visitors looking for something to brighten up the dark nights of winter while seeking out some Instagrammable moments. The goal of the fundraiser is to collect roughly $40,000 for about 400 families in need to receive a $100 gift certificate to eat at a local restaurant, but the organizers hope they will surpass that number. Some restaurants have already begun reaching out with plans to donate gift cards to the fundraiser themselves, Venezia said. So far, $13,000 has been raised, according to Julie Meer Harnick, community chest executive director. Donations are tax deductible and can be made on GoFundMe, sent by check to the Community Chest with for For Light & Love" in the subject line and mailed to 382 Main St., Port Washington, NY 11050, or through the Chests Facebook fundraiser. This article originally appeared on the Port Washington Patch HCL joins University of California, Berkeley on advanced Health Technology Collaborative Laboratory Mumbai, Jan 28 (UNI) IT major, HCL Technologies (HCL) on Thursday said that it has collaborated with University of California, Berkeley to create a Health Technology Collaborative Laboratory (CoLab) housed in the Blum Center for Developing Economies on the universitys campus in Berkeley, California. The CoLab is being launched over the backdrop of the COVID-19 global pandemic created an urgent need for timely access to therapeutics and diagnostics with telemedicine and telesurgery are more important than ever. As a founding member of the CoLab, HCL is contributing USD750,000 over the course of three years. The CoLabs multidisciplinary teams will work on health technology innovations to meet the challenges in a new age of healthcare. These activities will include rapid problem-solving, prototyping and testing of breakthrough healthcare technologies. This unique environment will bring together stakeholders in healthcare (patients, clinicians, regulators and insurers), the business community and investors to create and commercialize solutions from initial concept through the stages of prototyping, systems architecture and scalable distribution. Uniting global experts, technology and new approaches have proven key to addressing treatment and containment during the current pandemic and will be an important model for addressing future health challenges. As a responsible global technology leader, we are proud to contribute and support the creation of macro-scale solutions to healthcare issues for a better future for all, said GH Rao, President, Engineering and R&D Services, HCL Technologies. Were honored to support UC Berkeley in this initiative, especially as the healthcare industry is undergoing tremendous transformation. As a founding member, HCL will have the opportunity to contribute to promising solutions and projects underway and looks forward to engaging the CoLab Ecosystem to develop new and unique health technology solutions for the future. HCLs commitment, combined with its vision for technology innovation and its global reach, will allow us to realize the goals of the CoLab quickly, said Daniel Fletcher, Associate Director for Research of the Blum Center, Purnendu Chatterjee Chair of Bioengineering, and Director of the CoLab. UNI JS SB 1141 ADVERTISEMENT The police in Imo State said some of their officers have been arrested for allegedly assaulting five people, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported. The assault, captured in a video posted on Twitter and Facebook, showed the officers flogging the victims, at least two of them women, at a road junction in Orlu, the second largest city after Owerri, in Imo. Orlu made headlines recently because of a deadly military operation in the city caused by a clash between Nigerian soldiers and some youth believed to be members of the Eastern Security Network, an indigenous security outfit in South-east Nigeria. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the arrest of the officers in a statement on Thursday. The statement, however, did not mention how many officers were arrested, their identity or ranks. Mr Ikeokwu, a superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nasiru Mohammed, described the action of the officers as inhuman, unprofessional and unacceptable. The command, while condemning the action, wishes to inform the general public that the officers have been identified, arrested and disciplinary action commenced (against them), the statement said. The statement, which urged residents to report police abuses in the state, said the police were yet to find out the identity of the victims of the assault. Nigeria has a poor human rights record under President Muhammadu Buharis administration, as several of the countrys citizens are frequently brutalised by security officers without any hope of getting justice. PREMIUM TIMES reported, in November, how an unidentified soldier assaulted a commercial driver and threatened to kill him for overtaking his car on the Abuja-Kaduna road, North-central Nigeria. Some soldiers in Ibadan, Nigerias South-west, were caught on camera in November flogging one woman in public whom they accused of indecent dressing. Still in Delta State, soldiers in October reportedly forced a medical doctor to swim in the mud for violating curfew. (NAN) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) - The Bureau of Customs will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against an illegal and unauthorized Chinese dredger-type vessel spotted at the vicinity of Orion Point, Bataan on Wednesday morning. According to an incident report, joint operatives of the BOC and the Philippine Coast Guard's Task Force Aduana discovered that the ship's automatic identification system was turned off and its two Cambodian crew members failed to present proper documents. The vessel was granted departure clearance by a local BOC office in Aparri, Cagayan more than a year ago. "Hence, its presence at said vicinity is illegal and unauthorized. The BOC is set to issue corresponding warrant of seizure and detention against subject vessel," read the incident report. Customs and the PCG have joined forces since last year on border control and against smuggling. Taiwan was recently reported to have expelled around 4,000 Chinese vessels illegally dredging sands from its waters last year. But an intelligence official involved in drafting Wednesdays bulletin said the decision to issue the report was driven by the departments conclusion that Mr. Bidens peaceful inauguration last week could create a false sense of security because the intent to engage in violence has not gone away among extremists angered by the outcome of the presidential election. The warning contained in a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin was a notable departure for a Department of Homeland Security accused of being reluctant during the Trump administration to publish intelligence reports or public warnings about the dangers posed by domestic extremists and white supremacist groups for fear of angering Mr. Trump, according to current and former homeland security officials. Starting with the deadly extremist protest in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, when Mr. Trump said there were very fine people on both sides, he played down any danger posed by extremist groups. And when racial justice protests erupted nationwide last year, his consistent message was that it was the so-called radical left that was to blame for the violence and destruction that had punctuated the demonstrations. Even after the Department of Homeland Security in September 2019 singled out white supremacists as a leading domestic terrorism threat, analysts and intelligence officials said their warnings were watered down, delayed or both. Former officials in the Trump administration have even said that White House officials sought to suppress the phrase domestic terrorism. As recently as last September, a former top intelligence official with the department, Brian Murphy, filed a whistle-blower complaint accusing department leaders, including the acting secretary, Chad F. Wolf, and his deputy, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, of ordering him to modify intelligence assessments to make the threat of white supremacy appear less severe and include information on left-wing groups to align with Mr. Trumps messaging. Queenslands Wet Tropics Skyrail is one way to see wilderness areas but at a cost to wilderness quality. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Palaszczuk Wants Queenslanders to Spend $12 Billion Exploring the State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged Queenslanders to spend around $12 billion exploring their state to support Queenslands hurting tourism industry. Queenslanders typically spend this amount on going to overseas destinations every year, and the premier is urging people to spend that money on domestic travel in their home state instead. I want Queenslanders to get out and about and explore Queensland, she told reporters in Cairns on Thursday. If your family has not been up to the Great Barrier Reef, this year is the perfect opportunity. There is so much to do here from the Atherton Tablelands to the Daintree and all the town in between. Youll be met with friendly faces and friendly smiles, she said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia on June 16, 2020. (Jono Searle/Getty Images) The Wurrmbu Creek is seen flowing through the world heritage listed Daintree rainforest on Nov. 15, 2012 in Mossman Gorge, Australia. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Palaszczuk said she and ministerial colleagues had met with local tourism operators in Cairns to discuss the impact of the CCP virus restrictions on their industry. The premier called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the federal government to extend the JobKeeper program for the tourism industry beyond its March 28 end date. I honestly think there is a case to be made to the federal government, she said. Palaszczuk said the tourism industry in regions that relied heavily on international travel was hurting while noting that some other industries are doing better. Maybe JobKeeper does need to be extended for those industries, she said. JobKeeper is a federal wage subsidy program implemented to cushion the impact of the economic downturn caused by pandemic lockdowns and to prevent widespread layoffs. It was originally slated to end in September 2020 but was extended until March 2021. The premier also welcomed New South Wales residents to visit Far North Queensland now that the border restriction to the Greater Sydney area will be lifted from Feb. 1. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 19:31:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently over his infection with COVID-19. In the message, Xi said that upon learning that President Lopez Obrador has been infected with the virus, he would like to extend his sympathy and wish Lopez Obrador a speedy recovery. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Mexico have helped and supported each other, and joined hands in fighting the pandemic, Xi said. The Chinese government and people firmly support the anti-pandemic efforts of the Mexican government and people, Xi said, noting he believes that under the leadership of President Lopez Obrador and the Mexican government, Mexico will surely achieve an early victory over the pandemic. Enditem Murray Five-Vehicle Collision Injures Two By West Kentucky Star Staff MURRAY - A five-vehicle collision resulted in two injuries on North 12th Street in Murray.Calloway County deputies said 72-year-old Clydie Massey of Puryear, Tennessee told them she struck the back of a vehicle that was stopped in front of her. There were four vehicles in total stopped, and the collision caused each vehicle to strike the one in front of it.The other vehicles involved were driven by 54-year-old Jeffery Sedberry of Paducah, 64-year-old Meleia Burton of Murray, 42-year-old Veronica Riddle of Hazel, and 49-year-old Shane Smith of Mayfield.Sedberry and Riddle were both taken to the emergency room for treatment of possible injuries. India's aspiration to become self-reliant will reinvigorate globalism, stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his special address at the viral Davos Agenda Summit by the World Economic Forum (WEF). He exuded confidence that India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative will receive support from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. "The Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign we are running today is fully committed to global good and global supply chain. India has the capacity and the capability, as well as reliability to strengthen global supply chain. India has a very large consumer base and the more it expands, the more it will benefit global economy," PM Modi said. Wooing corporate leaders attending the special address, PM Modi emphasised that India has implemented several reforms that have created conducive environment for business and investments. "Even in this time of coronavirus, India has accelerated the pace of structural reforms in almost every sector. These reforms are being supported by production linked incentives. Now there is a predictable and friendly environment in India, from tax regime to FDI norms," the Prime Minister said. "India is making efforts to improve ease of doing business. On top of that, India is also matching pace of achieving the goals of climate change with its growth." Responding to Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser during the interactive session, the Prime Minister stated that making India a manufacturing and export hub is a big part of the government's vision. "Government has continuously implemented several major measures to boost manufacturing in India. To this end, corporate tax has been cut to 15 per cent for new manufacturing units. GST rates have been reduced. Tax structure has been simplified through GST and faceless assessment. Labour laws have been reformed," Modi said. In response to ABB CEO Bjorn Rosengren, Modi listed out the ongoing infrastructure projects in the country. He further informed that projects worth $1.5 trillion will be implemented in the country in the next five years under the National Infrastructure Pipeline. To Mastercard's Ajay Banga, Modi explained the massive financial inclusion that has taken place in the country in recent times and how digital economy can MSME sector. In a reply to an observation from Arvind Krishna of IBM, the prime minister emphasised the depth of digital India. Modi said that the country's digital profile has been completely transformed. The government's vision is to transform the country through access, inclusion and empowerment while ensuring the privacy of the user. To Nobuhiro Endo, Chairman of the Board, NEC Corporation, Modi explained India's approach towards the opportunities created by urbanisation. "India is focussing on sustainable urbanisation with focus on ease of living, ease of doing business and climate-sensitive development. This commitment has led to $150 billion investment... in urban India from 2014 to 2020,"Modi said. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ: WEF Davos Agenda: India will supply many more COVID-19 vaccines to world, says PM Modi ALSO READ: WEF 2021: 'In everyone's interest to grow businesses in sustainable manner,' says Anand Mahindra ALSO READ: WEF 2021: Jinping calls for global cooperation, says strong should not bully the weak The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. There were no casualties in the past day. The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported 10 violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Wednesday, January 27. "In the past day, January 27, as many as 10 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 28, 2021. In particular, the Russian Federation's armed formations fired 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems, a heavy machine gun, and rifles near the village of Pavlopil, as well as an anti-tank grenade launcher, a heavy machine gun, and automatic and sniper rifles near the village of Bohdanivka. Read alsoInvaders hindering OSCE SMM access Ukraine monitorsAlso, the enemy used small arms near the towns of Maryinka and Avdiyivka, as well as an under-barrel grenade launcher near the village of Vodiane. What is more, the Russian occupation troops fired an automatic grenade launcher near the village of Zaitseve, as well as an anti-tank grenade launcher near the village of Luhanske. The Joint Forces fired back, reads the report. 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. 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 New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Delhi police has listed 30 vehicles including tractors in an FIR against those who violated the route permission and said a manhunt to arrest their owners had begun. According to police the vehicles violated the route permission and their occupants started rioting and made murderous attacks on police personnel deployed on official duty on January 26. The police said that the protesters snatched pistols, ammunition and even gas guns from the police personnel on duty. The Delhi police departments like Crime Branch and Special Cell have started collecting evidence against the violent protesters and those named in the FIR through video and CCTV footage captured on January 26 when violence broke out as the tractor rally of the farmers broke through into the national capital. The police have now started collecting video recordings made by the police staff on the day of the protest as well as other mobile cameras and footage that was aired on TV to get visual evidence against the violent protesters. The Delhi Police have named 37 farmer leaders, including Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, social activist Medha Patkar and Bharatiya Kisan Union's Haryana unit President Gurnam Singh Chanduni, in the FIR filed in connection with the violence during the Republic Day tractor rally. Avik Saha, Jai Kisan Aandolan and Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait along with Darshan Pal Singh, Satnam Singh Pannu, Boota Singh Burjgil and Joginder Singh Ugraha have also been named in the FIR. The case against them was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 147, 148 (related to rioting), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder). A 'Look Out Circular' has also been issued against the farmer leaders. According to official figures, 394 policemen were injured in the violence. Most of them are hospitalised while some are in the ICU. More than 25 criminal cases have been registered, 19 people have been arrested and as many as 50 protesters detained. (Zafar Abbas can be reached at zafar.a@ians.in ) 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. Tourism industry heavyweights are pushing for federal and state leaders to agree on how to manage future COVID-19 outbreaks, as Queensland continues to shift the goalposts on border decisions. A surge of southern visitors was expected to boost ailing tourism operators around Queensland in the lead-up to Easter, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Thursday border restrictions would ease next week. Vehicles arriving from New South Wales queuing to cross the Queensland border at Coolangatta in December. Credit:Dan Peled Queensland has changed its border policy a number of times throughout the pandemic, including time frames for unlinked cases. Queensland Health has not detailed the reasoning behind its latest decision to revoke hotspot status for greater Sydney. (Natural News) During the 4:00 p.m. Eastern hour on Inauguration Day, MSNBC devolved into one of venom and a wish-list for punishing conservative media, elected Republicans, and right-leaning Americans nationwide, all under the guise of the January 6 terror attack by Trump supporters on the Capitol. (Article by Curtis Houck republished from NewsBusters.org) Host Nicolle Wallace partnered with former Obama officials John Brennan and Ben Rhodes and former Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to declare it will take years for a detox of lies and hate from the right and libertarians with the resources of federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. And at one point, Wallace insisted the right will have to prove theyll assert the truth before being allowed to share any other views. Brennan and Wallace then went onto propose that charges and other forms of penalty for the Capitol attack be extended to an unidentified number of elected officials, media outlets, and social media platforms: WALLACE: [A]nd unfortunately I think there has been this momentum that has been generated as a result of, unfortunately, the demagogue of rhetoric of people that just departed government, but also those who continue in the halls of Congress. And so, I really do think that the law enforcement, homeland security, intelligence, and even the defense officials are doing everything possible to root out what seems to be a very, very serious and insidious threat to our democracy in our republic. (.) WALLACE: What do you think is the task for President Biden to separate those who have been radicalized and pursue them through the justice system and those that could be brought into the fold. BRENNAN: Well, as I think as President Biden said, we need to get back to honesty, to truth, to ensure the American people understand the lack of reality that has been propagated over the last four years. I do think a lot of these individuals who joined that protest two weeks ago were really misled and misguided, because they were listening to those networks or those social media platforms that were spewing a lot of falsehoods. And so I think what Joe Biden wants to do and Kamala Harris is to try to be as open and honest and transparent about the people about the challenges we face, whether it be about COVID, whether it be about the economic or whether it be about the need to bring us together as a country. Joe Biden is an exceptionally good and decent man. He loves this country deeply. He loves his fellow citizens. He wants us to be brought together and thats why he kept referencing unity. Unity. Now, its probably going to take a long time. Its probably going to take many, many years, far beyond the Biden administration to try to repair some of the damage thats been done by Donald Trump, but I know that Joe Biden is determined to do it, and to win back the trust and confidence or at least allow individuals who are supportive of Donald Trump, to at least give Joe Biden a chance to demonstrate he is really going to try to improve the life of all Americans, not just those that supported him at the polls. McCaskill came next and lamented the Biden administration will have a major challenge when it comes to deprogramming people who disagree with them as well as Republicans that served in the building we watched all day went along with the lies regarding Trumps unsubstantiated claims on the election. Wallace took it one step further, insisting that any Republican who didnt immediately congratulate Biden on November 7 was culpable in Americas troubled state and wondered how could anyone want to work with any of those people. But Rhodes and Wallace made the worst pairing. Rhodes complained: [I]ts going to take many years to detox the disinformation, the lies, the hate that has been spread. A whole segment of the American population has been radicalized over whats happened the last four years, and by the fact that Donald Trump is no longer there, they can no longer see Donald Trump representing their grievances in the highest offices, and so those grievances will go back underground. And I think theres a lot of work to be done to to deal with the broader societal issues that go beyond even what national security/homeland security officials can do. Despite insisting there cant be a county when huge swaths of the population are are led to believe things that are just not true and hate one another instead of helping one another, Rhodes demanded social media companies slow the spread of this poisonous disinformation (read: any non-Bulwark or Lincoln Project voice on the right) or force the Biden administration to do it for them. Rhodes then invoked Mitt Romney in wondering whether more Republicans would emulate him or be thrown by the wayside. In response, Wallace insisted that, if she had her way, any Republican would be banned from having a voice unless they first assert the truth: RHODES: [C]an the Republican Party finally stand up and and tell the people the truth? And this is what Mitt Romney said so powerfully the night of January 6th, which is leadership is telling people the truth. And we get enough Republicans who are willing to do that, I think the combination of what Joe Biden can do, what can be done through policy, what can be done with tech companies, and hopefully at least a somewhat more responsible Republican party can do can begin to drain the toxicity out of the democracy. WALLACE: When when two West Wing staffers talk, we always walk in lists, so you gave me three things. Let me start with your last point. It would be my policy that a Republican must assert the truth before theyre allowed to share any other views. And Lindsey Graham, I understand, appeared somewhere today and refused to go far enough in beating down the lie. I want to read you something from Tom Friedman wrote about social media companies. He wrote this: Mark Zuckerberg and Sharyl Sandberg have to surprise us by, once and for all, stopping the elevation for profit of news that divides and enrages over more authoritative evenhanded news sources. That does not seem out of reach. If we can protect against counterfeit dollar bills, we should be able to protect against fake news we now know has the potential to kill people as it did two weeks ago. Rhodes had even more to say about how social media companies have ruined America, having been allowed to profit from the spread of disinformation and allow the darker currents of society to spread unchecked with people allowed to go beyond government officials and legacy media for their news. To Wallaces approval, he said that such outlets have to embody Biden and his administrations tone because, if we dont, well end up like January 6th where we saw how close we came to losing this precious democracy. Hanging with baited breath, Wallace decreed Americans must demand higher quality information to which Rhodes concluded with more censorship pleas : [W]eve had fights over the last couple decades about terrorism, over the size of government or health care, but if you cant accept the idea that there is an objective reality, such a thing as truth, you cannot have those debates because how do you debate people who live in a different universe of facts, right? And Joe Biden, what I think is so persuasive about it, he clearly believes it when he says, were better than this. He said today folks, we are better than this. I think he has the innate belief. The question for them is, through their own actions, through the example they set, of them going out of their way on something like COVID to show that the experts are in charge here, that this is a fact-based and a science-based administration, thats part of the task. Part of the task again is what policy changes are necessary to to deal with white supremacist violence or to deal with disinformation online, and then also how can they find a dialogue at least with some responsible Republicans, to indicate that this is not a partisan issue. This is an issue of what is black and white, what is right and wrong, what is true, what is not true. Read more at: NewsBusters.org and MSNBC.news. WASHINGTON - Bracing for the prospect of a likely acquittal, Senate Democrats are eyeing a rapid-fire impeachment trial for former president Donald Trump - as short as one week - while also contemplating alternatives such as censure that could attract more support from Republicans. The rethinking of the plan to try Trump on the charge that he incited the violent Jan. 6 Capitol riot reflects a growing desire among most Democrats to move forward with President Joe Biden's governing agenda in light of a test vote Tuesday that saw all but five Republican senators back Trump in a constitutional challenge to proceeding with the trial. After the 55-to-45 tally fell short of the 67 votes needed to convict Trump and possibly bar him from holding office in the future, several Democratic senators said Wednesday that they were eager to move on to coronavirus pandemic relief, climate legislation, Cabinet confirmations and other items on the party's to-do list. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said he was likely to file a censure resolution that would serve as an alternative to convicting Trump on the impeachment charge. "We have to hold President Trump accountable, and then we also have to balance that with the public's number one demand, which is covid relief," he said in an interview. He said if Democratic leaders move forward with a trial, which appears all but certain, it would be possible to complete it in as little as a week. Momentum built toward a speedy trial as the debate over how to handle Trump ricocheted through the Democratic caucus on Wednesday. In the two weeks since the House impeached Trump for "incitement of insurrection," Democrats have signaled that they are likely to rely on an extensive video record of the events of Jan. 6 but not call witnesses or present revelatory new evidence, which would probably extend the proceedings for weeks. "Make no mistake, there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former president will be presented in living color for the nation and every one of us to see once again," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday. "We will all watch what happened. We will listen to what happened, and then we will vote. We will pass judgment as our solemn duty under the Constitution demands. And in turn, we will all be judged on how we respond." Some Democrats complained that an abbreviated trial would be shortsighted, ignoring the historical mandate to document what happened before, during and after the riot. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said he wanted the trial to document how much Trump personally knew about what the rioters planned and what actions he took to quell the violence. "We have an obligation to get the facts, it seems to me," said King, who caucuses with Democrats. But others think the case is clear-cut and that Tuesday's vote indicated no chance of conviction, meaning that senators should base their votes on what they saw with their own eyes. "A lot of us were witnesses to what took place," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., told reporters. "There's been enormous press coverage. If you don't know what happened that day, you really haven't been paying attention. So I think there is the prospect, at least, of quite a rapid trial." Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with the Democrats, also called for a quick proceeding: "I would hope that we deal with that as quickly as possible to start addressing the needs of working families." The trial is set to begin Feb. 9 after House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team trade written briefs laying out their arguments. The structure of the trial itself is subject to negotiations between Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who voted with Trump on Tuesday's test vote. Trump's first impeachment trial, which ended in February 2020 with his acquittal on two articles, lasted 21 days. Kaine said Wednesday that it was already obvious some parts of the last trial could be jettisoned this time around - such as the two days of senator questions that were presented to the managers and the defense team. "If you just used the template from last year, you could see some pieces of the trial from last year that might get foreshortened," he said. "We might decide we don't have a lot of questions. You know, we were here and we saw it. We know what happened." Kaine is pitching his censure resolution to Republicans as a potentially more politically palatable alternative to convicting Trump and barring him from future office. But he is also making the case to Democrats that his resolution would have much the same effect as a conviction, by condemning the former president and laying the foundation to keep him from returning to the presidency under the terms of the 14th Amendment. Section 3 of the amendment holds that no government official can hold office "who, having previously taken an oath . . . to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." The provision, ratified in 1868, was written to keep avowed Confederates out of government office. It has been unevenly and infrequently applied since, and there is scant precedent or case law to determine who has the authority to disqualify a president or any other non-Congressional official. Kaine said his resolution would echo the amendment's language, calling the Capitol attack "an insurrection against the Constitution of the United States" and finding that Trump "gave aid and comfort" to it. "It's more than just a censure, saying, 'Hey, you did wrong,' " he said. "It makes a factual finding under the precise language of the 14th Amendment that would likely put an obstacle in Donald Trump's path if he were to run for office again." Laurence Tribe, a Harvard Law professor, said invoking the 14th Amendment provision is "much more complex than some people assume" and said simply passing a resolution as Kaine is proposing would not be sufficient to bar Trump from office. "I worry about the cop-out of a condemnatory censure, which Senators shouldn't be led to think gets them off the hook of having to convict the former president under the Article of Impeachment," he wrote in an email. Kaine acknowledged the legal ambiguities but argued that they are no more daunting than the legal issues Trump would raise were he to be convicted and barred from future office. "Just as the question of impeachment after you've left office is not ironclad one way or the other, this one is not ironclad," Kaine said. "It leaves the door open for folks to make arguments down the road." It remains unclear whether the censure measure can attract more than the five Republican senators who joined Democrats in Tuesday's test vote. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has worked on the proposal with Kaine, said she viewed the censure debate as something that would take place "in lieu of the trial" - not in addition to it. She told reporters on Wednesday that it was "obvious" in light of the Tuesday vote that Trump would be acquitted. "It seems to me there is benefit in looking at an alternative that might be able to garner bipartisan support," she said. "I don't know whether it would or not." Other Republicans suggested the level of GOP support for censure, however, might not grow much beyond that for impeachment and conviction. Censure of a president has previously been a matter of questionable constitutionality, dating back to an abortive bipartisan effort to censure President Bill Clinton during impeachment proceedings in 1999. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 GOP leader, called a censure push "hypothetical" and said it was clear that Democrats would go forward with impeachment. "That's the vote that matters to them," he said. "I've heard some rumblings [on censure] but not serious discussion that had support from enough Democrats or Republicans for that matter to make this a realistic option." Among the GOP lawmakers flatly ruling it out Wednesday was Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who said he would have the same concerns with censuring a former official as he does with impeaching one: that it would set a bad precedent for Congress to retroactively punish ex-officeholders. "I think we ought to encourage people to move on rather than live in the past," he said. Biden has been hands-off concerning an impeachment trial, but aides have signaled that he wants the Senate to get going on his legislative agenda. "His focus will be on covid relief," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. "As to what steps they take to hold the former president accountable, he'll leave it to them." Among the reasons Democrats are likely to move forward with the trial is a desire among lawmakers - most of whom were at the Capitol complex on Jan. 6 - to ensure some formal accountability for Trump, who urged his supporters to gather in Washington as Congress tallied electoral votes certifying the Biden victory, then told many of them at a rally near the White House that they should "fight like hell." "It's hard to get over it if you lived it, and many of us in this chamber did," Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the majority whip, said Wednesday. "We certainly shouldn't be party to rewriting history. We need to make a record - a record of fact, not just for our current deliberations, but for history." Durbin, however, told reporters that if, after a trial, Trump is not convicted, "perhaps we'll consider some alternatives." Also supporting a trial is Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a centrist Democrat who typically tries to find common ground with Republicans. "This is much, much more serious than anything we've ever seen in our lifetime and it's really the purpose of having articles of impeachment in the Constitution," Manchin said Wednesday. "We want to make sure that no one ever does this again, never thinks about doing this again - sedition and insurrection." - - - The Washington Post's Karoun Demirjian, Seung Min Kim and Ann Marimow contributed to this report. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! SPRINGFIELD He seemed like a catch, a mature choice for a young professional seeking a life partner: a handsome attorney with an affable sense of humor, Southern manners and an eye on raising a family. But James J. Martin ultimately convicted, in the same courthouse where he practiced law for years, of sexually assaulting clients proved to be anything but, according to ex-wife Courtney Hall Martin. I thought at some point, I need to do what the smart girls do and pick someone whos career-oriented and will be a good father, she said in an interview. He was funny and friendly. He was dorky; he read comic books. Being from Georgia, he was an Atlanta Braves fan. He was a Southern gentleman with a Northern disposition, she and her friends liked to joke in the early days of their courtship. The couple met when she was in law school and he was as established attorney. They wed in 2011. Courtney Martin was married to the man for more than five years, bore two of his children and now is vehemently opposing his potential parole after serving less than half of a four-year sentence. A Massachusetts Parole Board hearing has been delayed several times and is currently scheduled for Feb. 3, according to Courtney Martin. The parole hearing comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, when judges are more generous releasing inmates as COVID-19 numbers continue an alarming climb inside the walls of prisons and jails across the country. The criminal case against James Martin was somewhat choppy in that he was initially convicted of sexually assaulting one of his clients, then acquitted of rape by another judge. James Martin in 2019 pleaded guilty to lesser charges in connection with sexually assault a third client, a Chicopee mother of four, in his office in 2016. Other women accused him of sending sexually explicit text messages and groping them. Courtney Martin, who still practices family law in Greater Springfield, said she has gone over and over in her mind what she may have missed while they were dating and early in their marriage. I literally dont know who I married. ... I have spent years wondering where I went wrong and what signs I may have missed, she said. James Martin no longer has a criminal defense attorney, according to court records. Alan J. Black represented Martin early in the case, became at odds with him mid-stream, but then was unable to bow out of the case when a judge would not allow it. Courtney Martin said her ex-husband whom she refers to as ex, ex, ex ... if could make him more ex I would has challenged many aspects of their divorce decree, including access to their daughters. She said, and court records support, that she was in active labor with her younger daughter when state police served a search warrant on James Martin four years ago. Her objection to James Martins early release is as much for their two daughters, 4 and 6, as it is for all the women James Martin may encounter in the future, he said. Many more women came forward to law enforcement, and still more reached out to her personally after having met James Martin on dating sites, she said. Hes serial. Its not going to stop, Courtney Martin said. I am not a scorned woman. I dont care about anyone he dates or sleeps with, as long as its consensual, for the rest of his life. I just would hope and expect the commonwealth would be interested in protecting other women. Ha Tien Cement sees 29% decline in net profit 28 January 2021 Vietnams Ha Tien Cement has reported a 28.6 per cent YoY fall in net profit to VND153.97bn (US$6.64m) in the final quarter of 2020. Net revenue also declined 3.2 per cent to VND2.21trn. The company saw a consolidated net profit of VND615.49bn on a net revenue of VND7.96trn in 2020, down 16.9 per cent and 9.9 per cent YoY, respectively. Published under Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) - You don't have to change your number anymore even if you switch to another mobile service provider beginning Sept. 30. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said telco companies committed to fully implement by then the Republic Act No. 11202 or the Mobile Number Portability Act. NTC Deputy Director Engr. Edgardo Cabarios told in a Senate hearing Wednesday that the measure's commercial launch was supposed to be within the first three months of 2021. The coronavirus pandemic, however, delayed all their plans. Telco giants Smart, Globe, and new player DITO earlier agreed to implement the porting platform. The firms formed a consortium called Telecommunications Connectivity, which will conduct an interoperability testing by June. Under the act, you only have to send a so-called porting application if you want to switch to another provider. This means you can still retain your number for free. The measure also applies if you're switching from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa. Telcos also can't lock-in mobile devices to their own network. Jeffrey Johnson, a state appeals court justice who was found by a disciplinary agency to have sexually harassed attorneys, staff and a court colleague, lost his state Supreme Court appeal Wednesday and will become the highest-ranking California judge ever removed from office for misconduct. With no recorded dissents, the justices denied review of a 9-0 decision by the state Commission on Judicial Performance last June ordering Johnsons removal from the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, where he had served since 2009. Justice Johnsons misconduct has severely tarnished the esteem of the judiciary in the eyes of the public, the commission said. Given his lack of candor during this proceeding, we do not have confidence that he has the fundamental qualities of honesty and integrity required of a judge. The commission, established in 1960, has removed 12 trial judges from the bench but had never previously ordered an appellate justice to step down. The state Supreme Court has final authority over the disciplinary orders. Johnson, 60, was appointed to the court by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after 10 years as a federal prosecutor and 10 years as a federal magistrate in Los Angeles. Another justice on the court, Victoria Chaney, testified that Johnson first told her that he wanted to have an affair with her in 2010, then approached her after a difficult hearing a few months later and told her he wanted to kiss and squeeze her breasts to make her feel better. He then hugged her and touched one of her breasts, she said. Johnson gave her similar full-body hugs over the years and sometimes patted her on the buttocks while they were walking to the courtroom, Chaney told the commission. She said she did not invite the contact but never told Johnson to stop because she was and am afraid of him. The commission said Chaneys outwardly friendly treatment of Johnson seemed odd and hard to explain, but her allegations were credible and supported by complaints from 10 other women. One woman, Chaneys judicial assistant, said Johnson made sexually suggestive remarks to her for five years. Another, an attorney, said Johnson reached under a table at a dinner and put his hand under her dress. Another lawyer said the justice suggested at dinner that she put her mouth or hand on his penis. In appealing the commissions order of removal, Johnson and his lawyers said he had never committed any willful misconduct and was a highly regarded justice with no previous record of discipline. This decision deprives the public of a diverse jurist who is universally acknowledged to be a brilliant and exceptionally fair judicial officer, Paul S. Meyer, an attorney for Johnson, said Wednesday. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) proudly announces that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. This is the second consecutive year the Company has earned a perfect CEI score. "While 2020 presented several unprecedented challenges with the pandemic and a focus on racial injustice, particularly in the U.S., FMC has continued to drive progress in creating a workplace that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for employees," said Mark Douglas, president and chief executive officer at FMC. "Our CEI score reflects how we prioritize and embrace the benefits of diversity in our workforce so employees can grow and contribute to their fullest potential." FMC supports LGBTQ employees through SPECTRUM, an FMC employee resource group (ERG) for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees and their allies. It focuses on increasing the visibility of LGBTQ issues within the Company through education and awareness initiatives. The group holds events throughout the year to reinforce Company commitments to fairness and equality, and advocates for new or modified policies where necessary to establish best practices for LGBTQ inclusion. SPECTRUM is one of six employee resource groups at FMC, which also include The Bridge, a multicultural ERG; Women's Initiative Network (WIN); i-Gen, an intergenerational ERG; Valuing Individuals with Visible and Invisible Disabilities (VIVID); and Honor, a veterans group open to all employees to promote, raise awareness and support veterans within FMC and our local communities. "Despite remote work arrangements at most FMC sites in 2020, our Diversity and Inclusion team and more than 20 employee resources group chapters were not deterred in supporting employees around the world," said Subarna Malakar, director of Global Diversity and Inclusion at FMC. "They orchestrated more than 50 trainings, discussion sessions, networking events and unique programs focused on life and work challenges during the pandemic." For more information on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index, or to view the full report, visit www.hrc.org/cei. About HRC The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. About FMC FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, provides innovative solutions to growers around the world with a robust product portfolio fueled by a market-driven discovery and development pipeline in crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management. This powerful combination of advanced technologies includes leading insect control products based on Rynaxypyr and Cyazypyr active ingredients; Authority, Boral, Centium, Command and Gamit branded herbicides; Talstar and Hero branded insecticides; and flutriafol-based fungicides. The FMC portfolio also includes biologicals such as Quartzo and Presence bionematicides. FMC Corporation employs approximately 6,400 employees around the globe. To learn more, please visit www.fmc.com. FMC, the FMC logo, Rynaxypyr, Cyazypyr, Authority, Boral, Centium, Command, Gamit, Talstar, Hero, Quartzo and Presence are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. Always read and follow all label directions, restrictions and precautions for use. Products listed here may not be registered for sale or use in all states, countries or jurisdictions. Hero insecticide is a restricted use pesticide in the United States. The Company's investor relations website, located at https://investors.fmc.com, should be considered as a recognized channel of distribution, and the Company may periodically post important information to the web site for investors, including information that the Company may wish to disclose publicly for purposes of complying with the federal securities laws. After April 27, 2021, this type of information will no longer be regularly provided by press release but will continue to be posted on the investor relations website. Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements included within FMC's 2019 Form 10-K filed with the SEC as well as other SEC filings and public communications. FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law. SOURCE FMC Corporation Related Links http://www.fmc.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. I have called on my supporters to actively participate in the political process; I know that they participate. The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with three media outlets on Wednesday, when asked how they will participate in the current and future processes. "Why am I not more actively involved? We must be honest here. The reason is the following: For the [parliament majority] My Step faction, I am a person whom they have kept in prison for two years, and in their thinking, in case of giving me power, I will draw the sword and take revenge on them left and right. In the future processes, if there are elections, depending on the format, we have all the mechanism necessary for the political struggle; there is also a [political] team. () snap [parliamentary] elections [in Armenia] are dangerous today, in this atmosphere, in the absence of answers to these contradictions, uncertainties, very sensitive questions. I will definitely run in the elections. But, nonetheless, if the government manages to force elections faster (), then even in that case I do not think it is right not to run. Otherwise, we will give these people an opportunity to re-establish their power. () but if these people do not understand that the elections are dangerous for the country in these conditions, and take that step, I do not think it is right to leave them alone with the public in the elections; that is why, yes, we will run, we will fight, and we will win [the elections]," Kocharyan added. CLOVERDALE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / Cann American Corp. (OTC PINK:CNNA), the Company, is pleased to announce the Company has secured a 24-month lease in Laredo, Texas. Under the terms of the lease the Company has access to 3 acres and its existing structures consisting of a hangar style building and large barn. The Company intends to outfit the structures to accommodate the development of a hemp processing facility to service an adjacent hemp farming operation and additional regional hemp operations for large scale trimming and drying services. The property also borders the nation of Mexico, which is on track to become the world's largest cannabis market. If the new US administration federally legalizes cannabis in the US, as expected, the Company believes the Laredo operation will be well positioned to engage in US/Mexico international trade on cannabis cultivation and processing, if feasible. The Company remains in talks to invest in an Oklahoma based operation as well as exploring hemp cultivation opportunities in Arkansas and New York. Stated CEO, Jason Black: "I'm pleased that this lease agreement has closed and we can move forward with our hemp processing initiatives. Processing remains a vastly under served aspect of the hemp and cannabis industries. The Texas lease allows us to avoid the time and cost of building out infrastructure which will allow us to become operational much faster." Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "could," "target," "potential," "is likely," "will," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Some or all of the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not be achieved. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Contact: Jason Black contact@cannamericancorp.com SOURCE: Cann American Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626402/Cann-American-Corp-Secures-Texas-Leasehold Vietnam is among top countries and territories that proved the most successful at containing the pandemic, announced a report unveiled on January 27 of the Lowy Institute, an independent think-tank in Australia. Testing for COVID-19 in Vietnam Researchers at the think-tank collected data from various countries and territories to create an interactive to gauge the relative performance at different points in the pandemic. Figures were calculated for the following indicators of confirmed cases, rates of death and test. New Zealand topped the rankings, followed by Vietnam, Taiwan (China) and Thailand. On the other hand, developed nations like the US, the UK and France and countries with a larger population were classified as worst-performing. The UK came at the 94th place among almost 100 surveyed countries and territories while Indonesia and India ranked 85th and 86th, respectively. The report pointed out that smaller countries (with populations of fewer than 10 million people) proved more agile than the majority of their larger counterparts in handling the health emergency for most of 2020. Cyrus, Rwanda, Iceland and Latvia were all in the top 10. In general, countries with smaller populations, cohesive societies, and capable institutions have a comparative advantage in dealing with a global crisis such as a pandemic, according to the report. The relatively low-tech nature of the health measures used to mitigate the spread of the virus to date, including large-scale lockdowns, may have created a more level playing field between developed and developing countries in the management of COVID-19. Despite this, the uneven deployment of the first vaccines against COVID-19 could give richer countries a decisive upper hand in crisis recovery efforts, and leave poorer countries fighting against the pandemic for longer, it warned./.VNA Shoes, a ball and a hat caught on a three layered barbed-wire fence at the Fylakio reception and identification centre near the Greek-Turkish border. UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis Alarmed at the increasing frequency of expulsions and pushbacks of refugees and asylum-seekers at Europes land and sea borders, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for states to investigate and halt these practices. UNHCR has received a continuous stream of reports of some European states restricting access to asylum, returning people after they have reached territory or territorial waters, and using violence against them at borders, said UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs. The pushbacks are carried out in a violent and apparently systematic way. Boats carrying refugees are being towed back. People are being rounded-up after they land and then pushed back to sea. Many have reported violence and abuse by state forces. People arriving by land are also being informally detained and forcibly returned to neighboring countries without any consideration of their international protection needs. The 1951 Refugee Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights and EU law require states to protect the right of people to seek asylum and protection from refoulement, even if they enter irregularly. Authorities cannot automatically deny entry to or return people without undertaking an individual assessment of those in need of protection. Respecting human lives and refugee rights is not a choice, its a legal and moral obligation. While countries have the legitimate right to manage their borders in accordance with international law, they must also respect human rights. Pushbacks are simply illegal. said Triggs. The right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right. The COVID-19 pandemic provides no exception; it is possible to protect against the pandemic and to ensure access to fair and speedy asylum processes. UNHCR has made its concerns clear to European states. The refugee agency calls for urgent inquiries into alleged violations and mistreatment based on credible testimonies that are corroborated by non-governmental organizations, media and open-source reporting. We advocate for national independent monitoring mechanisms to be set up to ensure access to asylum, to prevent rights violations at borders, and to ensure accountability. Independent monitoring is also proposed by the EU Pact and we urge EU Member States to support this, said Triggs. Numbers of arrivals to the EU continue to decrease each year. The numbers of those arriving by sea and land in 2020 (95,000) decreased by 23 per cent when compared with 2019 (123,700 individuals) and by 33 per cent when compared with 2018 (141,500). With so few arrivals to Europe, this should be a manageable situation. It is regrettable that the issue of asylum remains politicized and divisive despite such declining numbers. UNHCR recognizes that some states carry a disproportionate responsibility in hosting new arrivals. UNHCR calls on other European States and the EU to demonstrate solidarity by supporting them. UNHCR also calls on European countries to uphold their existing commitments to refugee protection by admitting asylum-seekers at their borders, rescuing them at sea and allowing disembarkation and registering and supporting new asylum seekers. UNHCR stands ready to assist states in meeting these international asylum obligations. For more information on this topic, please contact: The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. [January 28, 2021] Antares Grows Portfolio While Closing More Than 220 Transactions and Issuing $14 Billion in Financing Commitments in 2020 Antares today announced that it closed more than 220 transactions in 2020, issuing nearly $14 billion in financing commitments to middle market private equity-backed companies. In a record Q4, the firm closed 120 transactions with commitments of $9.3 billion, supporting the refinancing, leveraged buyout and add-on acquisition activity of both new and existing borrowers. "In a year of unforeseen challenges, we're very pleased with how our borrowers and PE sponsors delivered," said David Brackett, CEO of Antares. "The quality and strength of our portfolio was tested and it performed very well. Weighted average EBITDA is up approximately 6 percent across the portfolio and defaults were less than 0.5 percent for the year, illustrating the resilience of the private debt space and the power behind solid credit discipline and PE sponsor support." The reliability and breadth of Antares' execution and product capabilities along with its tenured relationships with private equity sponsors enabled the firm to grow its portfolio to over 485 borrowers in 2020, a 5 percent increase over 2019. The firm maintains one of the largest portfolios of middle market PE-backed companies in the industry. "Over 70 percent of our financings in 2020 were in support of our portfolio companies," continued Brackett. "When new market opportunities slowed significantly, we maintained a steady flow of activity as we continued to execute on behalf of our existing borrowers." Also during 2020, Antares grew its capital under management and administration to approximately $30.8 billion* and continued to diversify its funding sources. Highlights from 2020 include launching and closing an inaugural Senior Loan Fund two times over its initial target, closing Antares' seventh and eighth CLOs, bringing the company's total CLO assets under management to approximately $7.6 billion, as well as bringing on a sizable and strategic separately managed account. "The private debt asset class has performed well to date during an unprecedented stress test," said Vivek Mathew, head of asset management and funding for Antares. "Antares is highly slective and committed to rigorous underwriting and portfolio diversity, which investors value. We made significant progress in diversifying our investor base during a challenging market environment and anticipate continued growth of our asset management platform in 2021." The continued success of Antares' asset management platform coupled with the growth of its balance sheet has allowed the firm to manage even larger positions per transaction. Sizes vary by deal but range from approximately $50 million to in excess of $400 million. Additionally, through its market leading Capital Markets platform, Antares continues to serve sponsor needs to access the institutional loan market. Select 2020 transactions in which Antares served as administrative agent and lead-left arranger include: $1.67 billion 1 st lien credit facility to ProAmpac (Pritzker Private Capital) lien credit facility to ProAmpac (Pritzker Private Capital) $1.43 billion 1 st lien credit facility to Galway Insurance (Harvest Partners, Oak Hill Capital Partners, The Carlyle Group) lien credit facility to Galway Insurance (Harvest Partners, Oak Hill Capital Partners, The Carlyle Group) $300 million unitranche credit facility to St. Croix Hospice (H.I.G. Capital) $275 million senior credit facility to Tinuiti (New Mountain Capital) (New Mountain Capital) $177 million 1 st lien credit facility to Integrated Power Services (Odyssey Investment Partners) lien credit facility to Integrated Power Services (Odyssey Investment Partners) 1 st lien credit facility to 365 Retail ( Providence Equity Partners (News - Alert) ) lien credit facility to 365 Retail ( Providence Equity Partners (News - Alert) ) 1 st lien credit facility to AWP (Kohlberg & Company) lien credit facility to AWP (Kohlberg & Company) Unitranche facility to Kele (The Stephens Group) 1 st lien credit facility to Solaris Health (Lee Equity Partners) lien credit facility to Solaris Health (Lee Equity Partners) 1st lien credit facility to Vessco (Gryphon Investors) About Antares With approximately than $30.8 billion* of capital under management and administration as of December 31, 2020, Antares is a private debt credit manager and leading provider of financing solutions for middle-market private equity-backed transactions. In 2020, Antares issued approximately $14 billion in financing commitments to borrowers through its robust suite of products including first lien revolvers, term loans and delayed draw term loans, 2nd lien term loans, unitranche facilities and equity investments. Antares' world-class capital markets experts hold relationships with more than 400 banks and institutional investors allowing the firm to structure, distribute and trade syndicated loans on behalf of its customers. Since its founding in 1996, Antares has been recognized by industry organizations as a leading provider of middle market private debt. The company maintains offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. Visit Antares at www.antares.com or follow the company on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at http://www.linkedin.com/company/antares-capital-lp. Antares Capital is a subsidiary of Antares Holdings LP, (collectively, "Antares"). *As of December 31, 2020, all figures are estimates and subject to change upon finalization. Approximate invested and available capital (including on balance sheet, through joint ventures, contract investor programs and advised clients). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005889/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Subways tuna isnt actually tuna, in fact, it might not even be fish, two people claim in a federal lawsuit filed recently. We found that the ingredients were not tuna and not fish, one of the attorneys representing the two plaintiffs in the lawsuit said in an email to The Washington Post. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming that the company intentionally made false and misleading representations about tuna being used as an ingredient. As independent testing has repeatedly affirmed, the Products are made from anything but tuna, the lawsuit states. On the contrary, the Products are made from a mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by Defendants to imitate the appearance of tuna. Subways website currently lists a tuna sandwich as flaked tuna blended with creamy mayo then topped with your choice of crisp, fresh veggies. A representative of Subway told the Washington Post that the claims are without merit. Youll love every bite of our classic tuna sandwich, the website states. The lawsuit also claims that buyers are often willing to pay more for tuna ... because they associate the ingredient as having higher nutritional value, including greater protein levels. In New England, a tuna footlong sandwich is $8.99, while the black forest ham footlong is $7.19. The lawsuit does not state what it believes the tuna is actually made out of. Subway has been part of other strange lawsuits, including one claiming the footlong was not actually a foot long. A U.S. appeals court threw out the class-action settlement in 2017 calling the settlement utterly worthless, Reuters reported. In 2020, the Irish Supreme Court ruled that the chains bread doesnt meet the legal definition of bread because of its high sugar content. Related Content: LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Viola , a premium quality cannabis brand rooted in purpose, today announced its expansion into the flourishing market of Oklahoma as well as the release of its new vape products in Colorado. Both the move into a new market and expansion of Viola's product line mark growth milestones for the brand after an unprecedented year of cannabis decriminalization and legalization. Viola's well-known for its social justice initiatives tackling representation and reform, recently having brought on Grammy-award winning artist T.I. as their Social Justice and Reform Ambassador. Across the United States, Oklahoma is now the biggest medical marijuana market in the country on a per capita basis. With expansive land, no limits on the number of business licenses and affordable licensing fees, the state is creating a breadth of opportunities in the cannabis industry. "We couldn't be more excited to be part of forging the new frontier of cannabis in Oklahoma," said Viola Founder and CEO, Al Harrington. "With the launch of Viola's new vape pens in Colorado, we're able to deliver as close to the flower smoking experience as you can get, but in the form of a high-performing vape." Viola's new cartridges and battery attachment deliver an activated, broad-spectrum oil with the highest THC level possible. The new vape pen features a unique 360 rotation mouthpiece and optimal heat conduction, creating a best-in-class performance and easy to use experience for users. Viola's vape cartridges and the 510 vape battery have been crafted to provide mobility while meeting Viola's commitment to upholding standards around pesticides, hardware and oil testing. Additionally, the cultivation process extracts fresh and frozen flowers, preserving the terpenes and integrity of the harvest. These state-of-art, disposable cartridges are designed specifically to handle 100% Viola Live Rosin and deliver bold flavors with a smooth, clean taste. Viola products are now available in select Oklahoma dispensaries, and vape cartridges and pens are now available in select Colorado dispensaries. For more information on Viola, please visit: https://violabrands.com/ . About Viola Brands Viola is the leading producer and licensed wholesaler of premium cannabis products rooted in purpose. Founded in 2011, NBA veteran Al Harrington was inspired to launch the brand by his grandmother, Viola, who suffered from glaucoma and diabetes and found solace in cannabis remedies. The brand integrates the latest cutting-edge technology with its own proprietary processes designed for every stage of cultivation, extraction and production. Viola is known for its wide variety of product offerings, from high-quality flower to premier butane extracts. From regulation to representation and reform, Viola's mission is to create opportunities for communities of color in the cannabis industry. SOURCE Viola Nursing home workers hold a vigil outside of the Downtown Brooklyn Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in New York on May 21, 2020. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) NY Underreported COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths by Up to 50 Percent: AG Report New York state health officials underreported COVID-19-related nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent in some places, according to a report released by Attorney General Letitia James. The 76-page report (pdf) released Jan. 28 follows an investigation by Jamess office into claims of neglect of patients and other conduct that allegedly led to the deaths of nursing home residents and employees. As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate, James said in a statement. While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents. The COVID-related nursing home deaths have been a flashpoint for criticism against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, who has repeatedly pushed back against assertions that his policy played any role in the deaths. The report is sure to trigger more debate on Cuomos CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus policies and how he handled nursing homes during the pandemic. James, a Democrat, said that Cuomos decision to order recovering nursing home patients to be returned to the facilities to free up hospital bed space may have led to more deaths. Cuomowho has touted his administrations response to the pandemichas often rejected the notion that this specific policy led to an increase in deaths. Last year, the Cuomo administration flatly denied the allegations: Admission policies to nursing homes were not a significant factor in nursing home fatalities. And data suggests that nursing home quality is not a factor in mortality from COVID. Regarding the policy, a Cuomo spokeswoman said last year that it was a recognition at that point that the nursing home population was very vulnerable. There were more beds. So we said, out of an abundance of caution, you must test negative before you are released. Officials in Cuomos administration didnt immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Jamess report. New York State Attorney General Letitia James takes a question at a news conference in New York City, on Aug. 6, 2020. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo) Government guidance requiring the admission of COVID-19 patients into nursing homes may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and may have obscured the data available to assess that risk, Jamess report stated. In one example, in an unidentified facility, 11 confirmed and presumed deaths were reported to the states Health Department as having occurred at the facility. However, the attorney generals survey of the facility found that 40 deaths occurredincluding 13 in hospitals and 27 in the nursing home. Preliminary data obtained by [Jamess office] suggests that many [nursing home] residents died from COVID-19 in hospitals after being transferred from their nursing homes, the report states. In early March 2020, her office began receiving complaints of CCP-virus-related neglect, the report states. In April, she set up a hotline to take complaints about alleged abuse and neglect in the homes, noting that about 770 complaints were filed before early August 2020 and another 179 complaints were lodged through Nov. 16. Cuomos office earlier this month received criticism for not releasing data on the total number of nursing home residents who died from the virus for another two months. The state is stonewallingplain and simple, the Empire Center for Public Policys Bill Hammond said in a statement. According to state data as of this week, approximately 70 percent of New York states roughly 35,000 deaths from the CCP virus were among people aged 70 or older. Separately, on Jan. 27, Cuomo wrote on Twitter that residents at ALL nursing homes participating in the program have been offered the vaccine, adding that 72 percent of nursing home residents have been vaccinated by date. 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. A North Carolina woman has pleaded guilty to murdering her sister's boyfriend in a sick Valentine's Day 'game' that was set up by the sister and their father so the pair could get married. In February 2019, Anna Marie Choudhary, 33, and her sister Amanda McClure, 31, were with Amanda's then-boyfriend John McGuire, 38, and their father, 55-year-old Larry McClure, at Larry's home in Skygusty, West Virginia. Amanda and Larry - who were both addicted to methamphetamine - set up what Anna Marie described as a 'game' where they tied John up. They then smashed a wine bottle over his head and threatened to kill him, claiming he was working for the government as an informant. Then, they allegedly ordered Anna Marie to kill him and told her that if she didn't, they would harm her children. First, Anna Marie injected him with a 'bad batch' of meth. Then, she strangled him and wrapped his body in a trash bag. Anna Marie Choudhary,33, is awaiting sentencing for her role in the murder of her sister's boyfriend in February 2019 Larry McClure, 55, was having an incestuous affair with his daughter Amanda McClure, 31. After murdering Amanda's boyfriend, they got married. Both are now in prison Victim John McGuire was tied up, tortured, injected with drugs then strangled They buried him but two weeks later, concerned that he was somehow still alive, Amanda ordered her sister to dig him back up. She did then they dismembered him and buried his body parts in two different places. Two weeks later, Amanda and Larry got married. The entire plot was uncovered after Larry was arrested. It's unclear what led to his arrest but he confessed immediately. Amanda also pleaded guilty and is in prison. Anna Marie is the last to be sentenced. She now faces 40 years behind bars. On Wednesday, at her sentencing hearing, she gave a harrowing, blow-by-blow description of the night when the killing took place. Amanda and John were living in Minnesota at the time but they were driving to Indiana when their car broke down. Larry and Anne Marie went to collect them and took them back to Skygusty. On Valentine's Day, John had bought steaks, potatoes and a bottle of wine for him and Amanda to have a romantic meal. Instead, the then couple were joined by Anne Marie and Larry at Larry's home. They'd been having fun until Amanda suggested a game where she said she would prove she could untie herself from 'anything'. But Amanda tied up John. That is when, Anna Marie told the judge, 'things started to get strange'. They'd taken homemade meth which Anna Marie says did not crystallize properly. Once John was tied up, she said their father's demeanor changed. 'He sat down and I dont know, it was a grin that Ill never be able to describe. 'But as John sat up and bent over to untie his feet, and it all happened so quick, but Amanda stood up and grabbed that bottle and bashed him over the back of the head with it. Amanda McClure and her father were both addicted to methamphetamine Amanda and John were engaged and had been living in Minnesota. It's not clear how long she'd been having an affair with her father 'And the next thing I know John had reared up and was leaning back against the wall holding his head. 'And thats when Larry looked at me and told me if I knew what was best for my children and wanted them to live, I would follow all instructions that were given to me from that moment on,' she told the judge on Wednesday. Until the 6am the next day, Anna Marie says the pair tortured John by beating him and standing on him. They were high on the home-cooked meth and were convinced he was a federal informant and kept demanding to know 'who he was'. John pleaded with them that he was who he said he was. Anna Marie says he even recited his social security number to them repeatedly. At 6am on February 15, Anna Marie says her sister told her to inject John with a syringe of what she thought was truth serum but was in fact the meth. She did but rather than kill him, the drugs 'made him stronger'. 'They stood over me and told me I needed to finish it and needed to strangle him, so thats what I did,' Anna Marie said. After his arrest in 2019, Larry McClure penned this confession note. He will stay in jail without parole for the rest of his life Larry then stood on his back while Anna Marie strangled him with a rope. Once he was dead, she says the pair told her to wrap his body in a trash bag so they could throw him down a mine shaft. 'Its not something Ill ever forget because at that point in time, the body had become fully rigor mortis and in order to...Im sorry. Thats not a sound I ever want to hear again,' she said. They then buried the body and Larry and Amanda started their relationship. They got married two weeks after the killing with Anna Marie as their witness. '[They] went on like nothing happened and started having a relationship as soon as he was buried,' Anna Marie told the judge. Amanda then became paranoid that John was not actually dead. She ordered Anna Marie to help her dig up his body and said that there 'were still hairs growing on his head'. To prove he was dead, Larry drove 'bed nails' through his body with a sledgehammer. They then dug him up again and dismembered him to bury him in two places. By then, Larry and Amanda had decided to move to Kentucky but they wanted to get rid of the body so no one would find it if they moved into Larry's Skygusty home after they'd left. It was after that Larry and Amanda were arrested. Larry penned a confession note where he described everyone's role in the murder. He waived his trial and pleaded guilty immediately. On Wednesday, Anna Marie pleaded guilty to second-degree murder but she said she felt she 'didn't have a choice'. 'Look at my other options. I didnt feel that I had a choice,' she said. She will be sentenced in February and faces up to 40 years behind bars. Amanda is serving a 40-year sentence for second degree murder. Larry is serving life without parole. To read this article and more, including our archive of drinks industry news, analysis & comment pieces from the last 20 years, try just-drinks for 30 days for just 1* First Name Last Name Job Title Email Take a trial *plus VAT if applicable Already a member? Log in here Health workers in protective suits are seen in the Huangpu district in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Hu Chengwei/Getty Images) Press Freedom Group Voices Concern About Chinas New Social Media Restrictions A trade union organization that seeks to defend press freedom on Jan. 28 expressed concern about two rules recently issued by the Chinese regime about social media content. The IFJ expresses grave concern over Beijings increasing grip on the press and stresses that a vibrant society in which citizens can express opinions freely is key to development and progress, the Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement. Chinas National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) announced on Jan. 19 new regulations on how regional authorities should conduct the annual review of journalists accreditation, which is taking place through March 19. In particular, authorities will look into whether journalists have engaged in self-media on Chinese social media such as Weibo and WeChat, or have distributed work-related information, without authorization. Its unclear which entity would grant such authorization. Journalists found in violation of these rules will be at risk of being punished or having their credentials suspended. The NPPA said that the new regulations were needed to build a team of journalists who are politically strong and capable of winning battles. On Jan. 22, Chinas cyberspace watchdog, Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), updated its existing regulations for public social media accounts. The new regulations ban fabricating information, tagging false sources, and distorting the truth and misleading the public. The updated regulations will come into effect on Feb. 22. Users found in violation will have their accounts limited, terminated, or placed on a blacklist. Social media companies are also obligated to alert authorities about activities in violation of the rules. An unnamed CAC official told Chinese state-run media Xinhua that one of the reasons for updating the regulations was that some self-media had fabricated and disseminated online rumors during the COVID-19 outbreak. During the pandemic, citizen journalists and ordinary people have been punished by local police for disseminating information about Chinas outbreaks on the internet. Meanwhile, journalists in China criticized the NPPA regulations as another form of censorship. Many reporters cant write what they want in the mainstream media, so they post it to Weibo and WeChat instead, Beijing-based journalist Wang Liang recently told Radio Free Asia (RFA). Wang added: Journalists belong to a profession that has a little more of a voice than ordinary people do in China, so they are placing tight controls not just on journalists work, but on their private speech as well. Wang Aizhong, a rights activist based in southern Chinas Guangzhou city, told RFA the NPPA regulations gave the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) more control over what information would be able to reach the public. The new rules come amid a new wave of COVID-19 infections across China, caused by the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Outbreaks have occurred in multiple provinces and cities, including Hebei Province, Beijing, and Shanghai. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese regime will use the new rules against journalists who report on COVID-19 in China. In December 2020, the Chinese regime sentenced Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer who became a citizen journalist, to four years in prison after being convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble over her reporting in Wuhan, the epicenter of Chinas outbreak last year. Zhang used her WeChat, Twitter, and YouTube accounts to post about the Wuhan outbreak. Vietnams Ministry of Health documented 91 coronavirus infections on Thursday, including a hefty 84 local cases in two northern provinces. Seven of the new patients were imported cases who had been quarantined upon arrival by plane from abroad, the health ministry said in a report. The remainder were domestic infections registered in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh Province, both located in the northern region. Eleven of the locally-transmitted cases were logged in Quang Ninh while the remaining 73 were documented in Hai Duong. Thursday saw the largest daily COVID-19 case hike since the virus first struck Vietnam on January 23, 2020, according to the ministrys data. Health officials have pushed for fast contact tracing to suppress the new wave while warning of far worse scenarios. But they are still not sure about the primary source of the new local infections even though 82 of the locally-infected patients were already linked to two cases patients No. 1,552 and 1,553. Patient No. 1,552 is a 34-year-old Vietnamese woman working for Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Hai Duong. She had come into contact with a woman who left Vietnam for Japan on January 17. That woman had tested negative for the virus on January 14 and 15 prior to her departure from Vietnam. The woman retested positive in Japan on Tuesday for the new variant, 70 percent more transmissible, that has raged in the UK recently. Patient 1,552 was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday evening. Patient No. 1,553 is a 31-year-old Vietnamese security guard at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh. He had a fever, dry cough, and sore throat so he went to the hospital for a check-up. The man was tested for the novel coronavirus and the result returned positive at the Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control on Wednesday evening. Vietnam has documented 1,642 coronavirus patients as of Thursday evening, with 1,430 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country had spent nearly two months detecting no local transmission before the new clusters were uncovered in the said provinces. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! NASA's Perseverance Rover, the final fleat in the Mars exploration is set to land the red planet in 22 days. It will be stationed at the Jezero Crater to search for any possible signs of life that may have existed in the planet during the ancient times. It is expected that once the spacecraft touches Mars' surface, a seven-minute duration of utter uncertainty happens. Scientists call it "The Seven minutes of terror." As Space.com reports, the Perserverance Rover has been the most advanced rover and the largest that NASA has ever built. It will land on Mars as a robot that collects samples of rocks and dirts for analysis of any signs of life. It is set to return back to the Earth by 2030. NASA Perseverance Rover: The Final Step in Mars Exploration According to John McNamee the project manager for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission through a statement with CNN, "Don't let anybody tell you different -- landing on Mars is hard to do," said John McNamee, project manager for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission at JPL. "But the women and men on this team are the best in the world at what they do. When our spacecraft hits the top of the Mars atmosphere at about three-and-a-half miles per second, we'll be ready.", he adds. Scientists also preserve the "purity" of Perseverance so that it does not contaminate the collected Martian rocks and dirts from any Microbes that come from Earth which risks of providing an inaccurate reading. In February 18, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be launching a live coverage for public viewing. Perseverance is the final step for the Mars exploration. The mission has been built from numerous experiences from previous missions in the past. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate says "NASA has been exploring Mars since Mariner 4 performed a flyby in July of 1965, with two more flybys, seven successful orbiters, and eight landers since then." "Perseverance, which was built from the collective knowledge gleaned from such trailblazers, has the opportunity to not only expand our knowledge of the Red Planet, but to investigate one of the most important and exciting questions of humanity about the origin of life both on Earth and also on other planets.", he adds. Read more: Space Probe Finds Mars has a Chandler Wobble similar to Earth The Seven Minutes of Terror According to NASA Perseverance only has about 25.6 million miles available for its 292.5 million-mile journey from Earth to Mars. Once it arrives at the red planet, the seven minutes of terror begins. Cameras and microphones will be capturing this daunting experience from the spacecraft. The duration of light time it takes to travel from Earth back to Mars lasts about 10.5 minutes. Thus, the seven-minute landing time would mean Earth could not reach signals from Mars yet. Consequently, Perseverance will not receive any help or communication from NASA in any way. As Allen Chen, landing lead at JPL notes, "It is no exaggeration to say that this is the most critical and dangerous part of the mission." Moreover Zurbuchen admits that "It is not guaranteed that we will be successful." However, NASA is doing everything they can to prepare the mission to its best ability. As of now, NASA is persistent that the heaviest rove NASA has ever attempted will be pursuing the journey in 22 days. No matter how huge the risk is, it definitely is a calculated one- fueled by determination ' to complete the Mars exploration journey. Nonetheless, NASA is ready to defy all odds in the name of Science and humanity. This article is owned by Techtimes Written by Nikki D Related Article: Elon Musk's SpaceX Says No Earth-Based Law Will be Used in Mars, a 'Free Planet' 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Actress Disha Patani took to Instagram to celebrate the fourth anniversary of her film Kung Fu Yoga, by sharing an adorable picture with Jackie Chan. In the picture, Disha and the Hollywood are all smiles as they gear up in winter clothing. Disha wrote, "Happy 4 years of kung fu yoga. love you taguuu." View this post on Instagram A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) On April last year, Disha had taken to social media to share a heartwarming post for Chan. She wrote, "Happiest bday taguuu this was the first time i met you, I remember being so nervous but it turned out to be the best day of my life, getting an opportunity to work with my superhero is the best thing that has ever happened to me. You teach people to be giving, loving and hardworking. thank you for blessing the world with your unreal performances and the most unforgettable life risking action sequences. Nobody can ever be jackie chan love you the most." View this post on Instagram A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) The 2017 film directed by Stanley Tong starred Chan, Disha, Sonu Sood and Amayra Dastur among others. The film is a story of an archeology professor who teams up an Indian professor to find India's lost treasures. On the work front, Disha will be next seen in Prabhu Deva's Radhe: The Most Wanted Bhai, opposite Salman Khan. The film also stars Randeep Hooda, Jackie Shroff and Zarina Wahab among others. She will also be seen in Ashima Chibber's KTina, which will be produced by Ekta Kapoor. YEREVAN, 28 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 28 January, USD exchange rate stood at 518.16 drams. EUR exchange rate stood at 628.06 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 6.89 drams. GBP exchange rate stood at 711.59 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price stood at 30929.52 drams. Silver price stood at 423.14 drams. Platinum price stood at 18408.45 drams. Chief Medical Officer says vaccine coverage is improving markedly This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 28th, 2021 Over 312,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have now been administered across Wales. Figures released by Public Health Wales yesterday show that 11,798 out of 16,941 (69.6%) care home residents and 25,383 out of 33,359 (76.1%) care home staff have received their first dose of either the Oxford AstraZeneca or Pfizer BioNtech vaccines. 101,905 healthcare staff across Wales have also been vaccinated. On Tuesday First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed that the Welsh Government had missed its aim of vaccinating 70% over 80s by the weekend, citing the bad weather as a cause. At the time of writing 104,567 out of 183,235 (51.7%) over 80s have been vaccinated. Across North Wales the numbers of vaccines administered is 61,000, with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board expecting to carry out around 33,000 more throughout this week. Speaking yesterday Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, said that Wales was on track to reach its first milestone of offering all four of the top priority groups a vaccine by mid-February. The grouping order, which was decided by the UKs independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), is detailed below: Dr Atherton said: We currently have vaccinated, given a first dose of vaccine, to just over 312,000 people here in Wales, thats a shade under 10% of our total population. And thats been done in a few short weeks. Its real progress and we are seeing day on day increases in the numbers vaccinated as well as week on week progress as well, so coverage is improving markedly. Were still focusing very much on those priority groups that were outlined by the JCVI and were working our way through those to make sure that everybody, particularly those people living in care homes, the most vulnerable and care home workers, frontline healthcare staff are vaccinated as a priority. Were on course to meet the first milestone of offering vaccines to our first priority groups by the middle of February. That was the commitment we made in our vaccination Coronavirus vaccination strategy published just at the start of this month. He added that it was too soon to know whether the vaccine stops transmission and urged people to continue to stay at home and follow the lockdown restrictions to keep themselves safe even a person who has received the vaccine. The rolling seven day average across Wales is now at 200 per 100,000 the lowest it has been since early December. However Dr Atherton reiterated previous messages from the first minister and health minister about any changes to the current lockdown restrictions. He stated that caution would be taken after cases rose quickly when the initial March lockdown and November firebreak were eased. Dr Atherton said: As we do get some more headroom for releasing these measures what we need to do is to release things very cautiously. Ministers has been very clear that getting schools back to face to face learning is a very high priority. So that will be one of the things that we aim to do first, We need to look at three things really we need to look at the community transmission rates, we need to look at the capacity within the NHS and the to make sure that we dont get into a position where the NHS is overloaded; and we now need to look, of course, at the percentage of people who are vaccinated who have vaccination cover. The first minister will provide an update tomorrow afternoon about any changes to the current lockdown measures after the most recent three week review cabinet meeting. Power-plays of faith and gender trace acrid paths across Beginning, but neither is the central subject of the film. Theres little psychological or sociocultural detail in the movies fastidious compositions, which fix Yana in shadow-flecked rooms and landscapes as stifling as they are gorgeous. Instead, if Kulumbegashvilis film is about anything, its the act of seeing of witnessing. Such is the effect of the violence that ensues when Yana encounters the detective near her home in the dead of the night. Kulumbegashvili holds the bone-chilling scene for what feels like an eternity, keeping us at a distance that only amplifies its horror. If this test of viewer endurance is a bit sadistic, its also remarkable in how cleanly it strips the scene of any sensationalism. Rarely has a film made me so painfully, viscerally aware of the impotence of spectatorship of the dubious remove from which we watch suffering. As the films cloistered frame closes in on Yana, Beginning plunges us further into despair until its mystifying coda opens the movie into a whole other world. Kulumbegashvili leaves us with an ethereal reprieve from her films corporeal terrors. Beginning Not rated. In Georgian, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes. Watch on Mubi. The will issue look out circulars against farmer leaders who have been named in FIRs registered in connection with the violence that broke out during farmers' tractor parade in the city on Republic Day, officials said on Thursday. The farmer leaders who have been named in the FIRs will also be asked to surrender their passports, they said. The decisions were taken following a series of meetings chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah since Tuesday when the large scale violence took place in the capital during the farmers tractor rally, an official from the Home Ministry said. Shah has been continuously monitoring the situation in Delhi and held meetings even late in the night on Wednesday and again early on Thursday, the official said. Directives have been given to the to take immediate actions against the accused farmer leaders, he said. A look out circular is issued against an accused from preventing for travelling abroad. The has registered 25 FIRs, including against over 30 of the 40 farm union leaders who were involved in talks with the central government. Thirty-seven farm union leaders, including six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have been named in an FIR registered at the Samaypur Badli police station, in Outer Delhi. The six SKM spokespersons who have been named are Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president, BKU (Sidhupur); Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, BKU (Rajewal); Darshan Pal, president, Krantikari Kisan Union; Rakesh Tikait, president, BKU; Kulwant Singh Sandhu, general secretary, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha; Yogendra Yadav, president, Swaraj Party India. Others who have been named in the FIR are Boota Singh Burjgill, president, BKU Dakaunda; Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, president, Kirti Kisan Union; Ruldu Singh Mansa, president, Punjab Kisan Union; Inderjit Singh, president, Kisan Sangharsh Committee among others. One of the FIRs, on the Red Fort incident, names Punjabi film actor Deep Sidhu and Lakhbir Singh Sidhana alias Lakha Sidhana, gangster-turned-politician and president of the Malwa Youth Federation. The Delhi Police on Wednesday had alleged that farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence during the tractor parade by agitating farmers that left 394 of its personnel injured, as it warned that no culprit will be spared. Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said farmer unions did not follow conditions set for the rally that was supposed to be held from 12 PM to 5 PM with 5,000 tractors and accused them of betrayal. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the capital on Tuesday, their tractor parade to highlight their demands dissolving into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Jan 28 : While India has already given Covid-19 vaccine doses to over 20 lakh people as the first phase of the drive continues, a new study has said that the vaccination programme against the pandemic will stretch to late 2022. Similar will be the scenario for most middle-income countries, including China, said the report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the research division of the Economist Group. While vaccination programme currently underway have raised hope of beating the pandemic, unequal distribution of vaccines, along with production issues, has become a major pain point. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday reiterated his call for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines as the global caseload has surpassed the 100 million mark, another grim milestone as the pandemic rages on. "Most developing countries will not have widespread access to the shots before 2023 at the earliest," Agathe Demarais, Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit, said in its study on Wednesday. "Some of these countries - particularly poorer ones with a young demographic profile - may well lose the motivation to distribute vaccines, especially if the disease has spread widely or if the associated costs prove too high." The study showed that more than 85 poor countries will not have widespread access to Covid-19 vaccines before 2023. The research noted that Russia and China are trying to bolster their global status through vaccine diplomacy. While the UK, the US and most countries in the European Union are likely to achieve the goal of vaccinating their priority groups by end of March, other rich countries are expected to achieve the same by end of June. Therefore, the global economic recovery is expected to gain more momentum from the middle of this year. However, vaccination programme for most of the population will continue until mid-2022, said the study. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 10:40:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The issue of how to save the planet from global warming and efforts to mobilize action against climate change came under the spotlight at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos Agenda on Wednesday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of weakening international institutions and the threats of conflicts. ONE EARTH, ONE SHARED FUTURE In the "Mobilizing Action on Climate Change" session, Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu urged a united front in tackling the climate crisis. "There is only one Earth and one shared future for humanity. We need to work together because we are one community to face climate change. This is the most powerful tool," Huang said. Meanwhile, during the "Financing the 'Net-Zero' Transition" panel, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said that "the world appears to be close to a new alignment to start flowing a mix of private and public investment funds" to enable the "net-zero" transformation of industries to zero carbon emissions. Swiss Re CEO Christian Mumenthaler stressed that even if companies may not know how to achieve "net-zero" by 2050, they should take "a leap of faith" and set the target that "I really feel we are at a tipping point in terms of action." Earlier on Tuesday, the WEF, the Energy Transitions Commission think tank, NGO Rocky Mountain Institute, and the We Mean Business coalition launched the Mission Possible Partnership in a bid to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industry and transport. The partnership, which brings together over 400 companies, builds on the work launched at the United Nations Secretary General's Climate Action Summit in 2019 to help seven heavy industry sectors cut their carbon emissions, the WEF announced during the Davos Agenda meeting. PUTIN SPEECH During his special address on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the preexisting problems and imbalances. "We have every reason to believe that the tensions might aggravate further," he said. "International institutions are weakening, regional conflicts are multiplying, the global security system is degrading." Referring to the 20th century and the "catastrophic World War II", Putin said that "nowadays, such a heated conflict is not possible. I hope that it is not possible in principle, because it will mean the end of our civilization." "But I'd like to reiterate that the situation might develop unpredictably and uncontrollably if we sit on our hands doing nothing to avoid it. There's a possibility that we might experience an actual collapse of global development that might result in a fight of all against all." Putin also called for more multilateralism, international dialogue and cooperation to tackle the current challenges. COVID-19 THREAT On Tuesday, Johns Hopkins University data showed that global COVID-19 cases surpassed 100 million. In his special address, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on the world to "further reinforce solidarity and collaboration" in the fight against the virus. "The economy is recovering, but the polarizations and inequities brought by the pandemic are growing even bigger. As COVID-19 is becoming more prolonged, inequality is widening a gap that we are witnessing both within countries and between countries," he said. According to its latest World Economic Outlook on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund now forecasts the global economy to grow 5.5 percent this year and expand by 4.2 percent in 2022, but warned that COVID-19 variants pose risks to the post-pandemic recovery. A special address planned for Wednesday by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the WEF was cancelled following his resignation the day before. The virtual WEF Davos Agenda meeting, which usually takes place in the Swiss mountain town of Davos, lasts until Friday. Enditem The proposal to give health workers in Northern Ireland a special recognition payment of 500 each for their work in combating Covid-19 is well deserved. As Health Minister Robin Swann said, society can never repay those who put their lives on the line to save others. They not only went the extra mile, they went many extra miles. All they had received to date was the public clap for NHS workers. That may have shown the doctors, nurses and all other staff that their work was appreciated but it had no material value. As ever, the devil will be in the detail. First of all the Department of Finance at Stormont has to approve the payment and then there will need to be detailed discussions with Treasury and the tax authorities to ensure that the payment does not leave low paid workers worse off by affecting any benefits they may be receiving already or that it will be taxed. Mr Swann deserves credit for coming up with the idea - although it has already been proposed in Scotland - and there is no doubt that he has great admiration for NHS staff and the work that they do. But he needs to be careful that this act of generosity is not seen as some sort of pay rise. He was quick to settle the nurses strike when he took office a year ago, but nurses complained in October past that they still had not been repaid the money they were docked while on strike. And the Royal College of Nursing is seeking a 12.5% pay rise across all bands as part of the UK-wide Fair Pay for Nursing campaign. It should be remembered that health authorities in Northern Ireland spend a staggering 115m annually on temporary staff to cover vacancies in the profession. What is required is a proper pay structure for NHS staff and also the introduction of reforms to ensure there are adequate staffing levels and resources. The coronavirus pandemic has shown that the NHS was teetering on the edge of collapse during the various surges in hospital admissions. It was only the herculean efforts of staff, at risk to themselves physically and mentally, which ensured care was delivered to those in most need. There should be no problem in giving NHS staff the money promised by Mr Swann. There is around 430m in the coffers at Stormont which has been unspent and which the Department of Finance may be forced to return to the Treasury if it is not spent by the end of the financial year. NHS staff are surely the most deserving recipients of at least some of that money. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 Verizon FIOS has been reported by its users to have connectivity issues and internet outages, and the company acknowledged the problems of its connections and said that they are working on fixing the service for everyone. The company has been having problems with its connections lately, with the East Coast of the country sharing the same sentiments. The country's second-largest telecommunications company, Verizon, has been facing internet outages with its FIOS service since Tuesday, and continues its reign of terror until now, with users complaining over the issue. Down Detector. com has received several complaints from Verizon FIOS users, with over 46 percent of the complaints pointing out to Landline internet, which is the wired connection offered by the company. On the other hand, around 31 percent of the reports were pointing to mobile internet or data connections, and 22 percent point to cellular network connections or mobile phones. Read Also: GameStop Stock Projected to Hit $15B Soon All Thanks to Elon Musk's 'Gamestonk' Tweet! Verizon FIOS Internet Outage: Connected with East Coast Connectivity Issues? According to CNN, the main issues and point of impact of the Verizon FIOS internet outage are centered on the country's East Coast, with significant effects on New York, Boston, Washington, and other cities and states. The company claimed that it had restored several services in the areas affected by the outage, but reports were streaming on Down Detector's website until 3 PM, Pacific Time. The only issue mentioned by Verizon is the disconnection of a fiber line in Brooklyn, New York, that has been cut down. There were no further explanations from Verizon, and how it affected the services in other cities, counties, and states. The Federal Communications Commission's acting Chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, also mentioned that the FCC would join in the investigation and restoring the connection in a tweet she shared. The agency also acknowledges that the internet outage was widespread in the country, particularly on the East Coast. We have seen reports of internet-related outages on the East Coast, making it difficult for people to work remotely and go to school online. The @FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is working to get to the bottom of what is going on. Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) January 26, 2021 Verizon: Here's What To Do If You Are Experiencing Internet Problems According to Verizon's website, users need to access the Verizon Troubleshooter, if users are continuing to experience this problem with their internet connection that uses the FIOS systems from the company. The steps would determine if there is an outage in the area and look for the issues that might be present in the current location of the user that has filed the report. It would also review one's account for any anomalies that may interrupt service, with a self-testing feature. Related Article: 'SMITE' Servers Down Status Update-Season 8 Launches New Maps and MORE! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Page Content The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Geoff Makhubo, joined Police Minister Bheki Cele, Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, and MMC for Public Safety Councillor Mally Mokoena as well as the police's top brass in an anti-crime blitz in Diepsloot, Region A, on Friday, 20 December 2019. The minister was in town to inspire officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) who will be deployed across various crime hotspots ahead of the festive season. In a show of force, the multi-agency force led by Minister Cele combed through the Mashamplani Informal Settlement in Diepsloot looking to root out criminal elements and inspect of service delivery shortfalls. People live in harsh conditions and their safety and livelihoods are compromised. We as law enforcement need to ensure that there's constant enforcement in these areas," said JMPD Chief of Police David Tembe. Tembe added that although policing dynamics in informal settlements were totally different from the norm, law enforcement would have to do its best to maintain law and order. Mayor Makhubo urged residents to stay safe and respect the rule of law. We call on all road users and pedestrians to obey the rules of the road, don't drink and drive, and please arrive alive. Let us work together with our law enforcement agencies to ensure we are all safe during this festive season," he said. New Delhi: The Prasar Bharati Board on Wednesday discussed issues related to the functioning of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan at a meeting in New Delhi. It was the Boards first meeting after Shashi S Vempati assumed charge as the chief executive officer of the public service broadcaster. 43-year-old Vempati is the first non-Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer to head the organisation. Under the chairmanship of A Surya Prakash, the meeting was also attended by Board Member (Finance) Rajeev Singh, Additional Secretary in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Jayashree Mukherjee, and part-time member Ashok Tandon, among others. However, part-time member and actress Kajol did not attend the meeting, amid reports that she may lose her membership on the account of repeated absence from the meetings. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Turkey expects Greece to take a positive stance in recently restarted exploratory talks meant to resolve several bilateral issues, a ruling party official said on Jan. 26. Nothing can be achieved in the talks by taking a stance against Turkey with other countries, Omer Celik, spokesman for the ruling AKP, told reporters in the capital Ankara during a meeting of the party's Central Executive Board, Hurriyet Daily News reports in its article Turkey expects positive stance from Greece in talks. His remarks came after a fresh round of exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece was held in Istanbul on Monday after a nearly five-year hiatus. Turkey "as a diplomatic state" joined the talks in a positive matter, Celik said, stressing that Turkish diplomats work to "support peace and avert conflicts." He also said Ankara aims to turn a new page in relations with Athens, adding: "We expect them to be careful about the language they use against Turkey." In the talks in Istanbul, top Turkish and Greek officials evaluated the issues from previous rounds which ended in 2016 as well as the current situation, recent developments, and possible steps to be taken, said diplomatic sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking the media. The parties also agreed that the Greek capital Athens would host the next meeting. Exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece, meant to find fair and equitable settlements to issues in the Aegean, began in 2002. After the 60th round of talks in March 2016, Athens suspended the meetings. Bilateral talks continued in the form of political consultations but did not return to the exploratory framework. On Joe Bidens swearing-in as the new U.S. president last week, Celik said Turkey welcomes the "uneventful inauguration." "We need to establish a will [with the Biden administration] to overcome racism, extremism, and Islamophobia all over the world," he said. Turkey has many important duties to fulfill with the US, he said, and added: "There is no issue that we cannot solve with an alliance based on mutual respect." Pennsylvania church gives away $13K in gift cards for store employees, customer bills Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A congregation in Pennsylvania recently gave out gift cards worth $50 each to all the employees of a local grocery store, while also helping to pay the bills of 200 customers. Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, a predominantly African American congregation founded in 1903, held what it called a grocery store takeover on Saturday at a local Giant Eagle. In addition to the $50 gift cards given to the Giant Eagle employees, the church also paid upwards of $50 of each grocery store bill for patrons of the store. We wanted to recognize these frontline workers and show them that we appreciate all they do in this season, said the church in a statement posted to Facebook on Saturday. We're able to be a blessing in our communities because of faithful givers like YOU! Thanks to all staff & volunteers as well as the management at Southside Giant Eagle for making this an excellent initiative. Pastor Brian James Edmonds, senior pastor of Macedonia Church, told The Christian Post that his congregation decided to do this event because our world is hurting right now. We are battling multiple pandemics, people are grieving lost loved ones, and frontline workers are putting their lives on the line. We thought this would be a powerful way to give people hope and demonstrate the love of Christ during uncertain times, said Edmonds. The total cost for the event was around $13,000, with Edmonds telling CP that it was rooted in our understanding that the church should also tithe into the communities that it serves. This is what it means to be a good neighbor. As a part of this particular outreach, we also gave $40,000 to local nonprofits who are doing transformative work, he continued. For the past couple years, we have taken an entire weekend offering and devoted it to local nonprofits. We call it Give100, since we are giving away 100% of what comes in. Ultimately, Edmonds told CP that he hoped the church taught people that they are not alone, that they are appreciated, and that the love of God just might surprise you at the grocery store. Our prayer is that someones faith is birthed, strengthened, or restored, as we are faithful to our calling to be the church, he added. As the United States continues to reel from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn, many churches are ramping up their charitable efforts to help the needy. Last year, One Church, a multisite congregation based in Ohio, held a fundraiser aimed at providing gift cards to every foster teenager in the state, or approximately 5,300 individuals. One Church Lead Pastor Greg Ford told CP in an interview last month that the idea for the gift card charity drive stemmed from a meeting with Franklin County Children Services last year. They shared with us that typically during the holidays, many donors want to provide toys and gifts for little kids but the teens are usually left out since they're typically not interested in toys at that stage, Ford said. They said if we could provide gift cards for local fast food restaurants or retail stores, that gives the teens a sense of independence. When they're out with their friends, they can have a meal and enjoy themselves. CLEVELAND - Cleveland Clinic researchers have described for the first time how Zika virus (ZIKV) causes one of the most common birth defects associated with prenatal infection, called brain calcification, according to new study findings published in Nature Microbiology. The findings may reveal novel strategies to prevent prenatal ZIKV brain calcification and offer important insights into how calcifications form in other congenital infections. "Brain calcification has been linked to several developmental defects in infants, including motor disorders, cognitive disability, eye abnormalities, hearing deficits and seizures, so it's important to better understand the mechanisms of how they develop," said Jae Jung, PhD, director of Cleveland Clinic's Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health and lead author on the study. Dr. Jung, who is also chair of the Department of Cancer Biology, joined Cleveland Clinic from the University of Southern California in July. Utilizing ZIKV-positive fetal brain specimens and preclinical disease models, the research team identified the protein BMP2 (bone morphogenetic protein 2) and the protease NS3 (nonstructural protein 3) as central players in ZIKV brain calcification. Scans of ZIKV-positive brains collected and donated from Brazil during the 2015-2016 Zika outbreak revealed that cells called pericytes, which wrap around blood capillaries in the brain, collect around calcified lesions and have high concentrations of viral genetic material, suggesting a key role in infection-induced calcification. "Several cell types have been explored for their involvement in ZIKV infection and pathology, but to our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the role of pericytes," said Weiqiang Chen, PhD, a research associate in Dr. Jung's lab and the first author on the study. The researchers infected fetal-derived pericytes with ZIKV and found that the BMP2 gene, which encodes the BMP2 protein, and several downstream osteogenic genes (related to bone formation) were expressed at higher levels and resulted in calcification. "We discovered that during ZIKV infection, some of the BMP family of genes and associated proteins function differently than during normal development," commented Dr. Chen. Normally, BMPs activate specific proteins (the SMAD protein family) to modulate expression of osteogenic genes. Dr. Jung and his team showed in the study, however, that during ZIKV infection, a viral enzyme called NS3 transforms the BMP2 protein into a mature and biologically active form that enhances osteogenic gene expression. Effectively, NS3 activates BMP2 signaling pathways to trigger calcification and faulty brain development. More research will be critical, but the study findings suggest that perhaps targeting NS3, either by preventing its expression or its binding with BMP2, may help to prevent ZIKV brain calcification in utero. Dr. Chen is supported by a Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. ### Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 posted its highest one-day total of newly confirmed cases Wednesday, with 27,944 infections, and a near-record 1,623 confirmed deaths. That brings the country's total so far to just over 1.8 million cases and 153,639 deaths. However, has an extremely low rate of testing, and estimates of excess deaths suggest the real toll is over 195,000. A group of over a dozen of the country's top universities and medical institutes also recommended Wednesday that the use of face masks be made mandatory in Mexico, a move that President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador and his advisers have long opposed. The president himself seldom wears a mask, and over the weekend tested positive for COVID-19. The president's top pandemic adviser, Hugo Lpez-Gatell, said the 67-year-old president was doing well and was active, and had almost no symptoms apart from an occasional low-grade fever. When you ask him repeatedly, he'll finally break down and say 'Well, I have a little headache, now that you insist on it,' Lpez-Gatell said. Early in the pandemic, Lpez-Gatell said that face masks provided little protection for the wearer and that he opposed rules requiring their use. However, the experts' report said masks should be mandatory to stop the spread of Hospitals are so full in some parts of that many families have to treat their relatives at home, and they need oxygen cylinders to do so. But federal authorities reported Wednesday that there have there have been 14 robberies of oxygen tanks at hospitals, delivery trucks or other locations across the country. There have also been examples of fraud, in which people offer tanks or oxygen concentrators for sale, accept deposits and then keep the money without delivering them. The federal public safety department said eight people have been arrested for theft or fraud. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 10:06:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's new Davos speech has demonstrated China's commitment to sharing development opportunities with the world in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladeshi business leaders have said, lauding China's efforts in upholding multilateralism. Only a multilateral system could pave the way for all countries and regions to overcome pandemic-induced challenges, they said. Addressing the World Economic Forum Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda on Monday, Xi called on the world to abandon ideological prejudices and jointly follow a path of peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. "Difference in itself is no cause for alarm. What does ring the alarm is arrogance, prejudice and hatred," Xi said. No global problem can be solved by any one country alone, and there must be global action, global response and global cooperation, Xi said. Mohammad Shahjahan Siddiqui, a legal economist and former president of the Bangladesh Indenting Agents' Association, said the COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the biggest threats to the global economy and financial markets. The pandemic has a serious impact on the world, disrupting global supply chains and causing weaker demand for imported goods and services, as well as drops in global tourism and business travel, said Siddiqui. "Output contractions are being felt around the world, reflecting the key and rising role China has in global supply chains, travel and commodity markets. The coronavirus outbreak has already brought considerable human suffering and major economic disruption in all parts of the world," he said. Noting that the pandemic is a global problem that respects no borders, Siddiqui said the world cannot face COVID-19 without combined efforts and the framework of multilateralism as championed by Xi. Al Mamun Mridha, joint secretary general of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Xi's speech conveyed the message that multilateralism is important. In this era of globalization and modern communication, the world should act united as one for peace and development, Mridha said, voicing his hope that "Bangladesh and China will remain very good friends for a long time by walking side by side." Lion Moshiur Ahmmed, managing director of Penguin Ice & Fish Processing, also commended Xi's role in supporting multilateralism. China has already opened its door wider for trade and investment amid rising protectionism, Ahmmed said, noting China's recent announcement to provide tariff exemptions for 97 percent of exports from Bangladesh. "We hope Bangladeshi businesses will get more opportunities in the Chinese market in the near future," he said, adding that they are sending more products to China. "We do believe (that) in the future China will emerge as a big market for all countries and regions of the world," he said. 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. INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) said that it has reached a license agreement with Asahi Kasei Pharma for chronic pain drug candidate. Lilly will acquire the exclusive rights for AK1780 from Asahi Kasei Pharma. AK1780 is an orally bioavailable P2X7 receptor antagonist that recently completed Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose and clinical pharmacology studies. P2X7 receptors have been consistently implicated in neuroinflammation, a driving force in chronic pain conditions. As per the terms of the deal, Lilly will be responsible for future global development and regulatory activities for AK1780. Lilly will pay Asahi Kasei Pharma an upfront payment of $20 million and Asahi Kasei Pharma may be eligible for up to $210 million in potential development and regulatory milestones. Asahi Kasei Pharma will retain the right to promote AK1780 in Japan and China (including Hong Kong and Macau). If AK1780 is successfully commercialized, Asahi Kasei Pharma would be eligible for up to $180 million in potential sales milestones, as well as tiered royalties ranging from the mid-single to low-double digits. 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. No injuries in first house fire in Richmond in several years By Adam Goodman Washington has become the octagon, where trophies for political one-upmanship are handed out like candy, and scandals (real or imagined) are packaged as the top news of the day. Yet in a nation yearning for character, and with a new president committing to unity , theres a real opening for Washingtons elected officials to do something wholly unexpected but desperately needed: compromise. While that word sounds like an expletive to many in the political trenches who habitually counsel against vacillation and temerity, these hyper-partisan political warriors are mistaken. History teaches us that compromise is often the only way to break political gridlock. Right now, it is the only way America can dream big and go big. The only way to overcome a pandemic that refuses to relent and save small businesses that refuse to quit; to re-imagine a future where protecting a warming planet doesnt leave American workers out in the cold; to stop the growing incivility that fuels hatred instead of harnessing hope. The good news: Weve done this before. In a nation forged by diversity and common interest, compromise yielded some of Americas biggest breakthroughs and boldest statements of humanity. In 1787 Roger Sherman , a Connecticut farmer, shoemaker and justice, helped craft the Great Compromise . With the nations Founders worried the will of the people would not prevail over the landed and powerful ([people] want information and are constantly liable to be misled ), Sherman fashioned a remedy: equal representation of states in the Senate but proportional representation in the House. Nearly a century later, Abraham Lincoln recruited a team of rivals ( William Seward , Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates ) to put aside their differences, their animosities, their personal ambitions, to save a nation tearing itself apart from within. As historian Doris Kearns Goodwin observed, [Lincolns] philosophy was not to waste precious energies on recriminations about the past. Its a philosophy that presidents and lawmakers on Capitol Hill have employed many times since, at crucial pivot points in Americas long evolution, in search of a more perfect union. Consider: In the 1940s, the Marshall Plan and NATO were all made possible when influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican and a onetime isolationist, took it upon himself to forge bipartisan support for the Truman Doctrine. Partisan politics, Vandenberg said at the beginning of the 80th Congress, should stop at the waters edge. In the 1960s, major civil rights legislation became law in this country because a venerable Republican Senate leader (Everett Dirksen) and dedicated young Democratic reformer (Sen. Hubert Humphrey) hammered out a meticulous compromise with the shared aim of breaking a filibuster by Southern Democrats. Stronger than all the armies, Dirksen said on the Senate floor, quoting Victor Hugo, is an idea whose time has come. Needing 67 votes, Dirksen and Humphrey got 71. The result was The Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the 1990s, after sweeping Clinton administration health care legislation floundered on Capitol Hill, Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy and Utah Republican Orrin Hatch decided to solve a huge and growing national humanitarian crisis: the children of the working poor whose parents couldnt afford medical insurance but made too much to qualify for Medicaid. Their solution was the federal Childrens Health Insurance Program. Senator Kennedy and I designed our bill to fill this gap and meet those needs, Hatch said three years ago when CHIP was reauthorized for six more years. Today, its hard to find anyone who opposes it. Thats what the best political compromises do: They help form a new consensus. Compromise-turned-consensus also created Medicare, funded Americans journey to the moon, saved Social Security from insolvency, and more recently saved lives by streamlining the approval process for getting life-saving drugs to market. We need such greatness now from those weve chosen to lead the way. It begins by recognizing no party has a monopoly on virtue or a claim to omniscience, that there are different ways to blaze a common path without setting each other on rhetorical fire. It begins by tabling the rancor of now (an impeachment trial, calls for de-programming non-believers, venom from outside groups profiting from COVID-fueled distress) in favor of addressing the crises of now. It also means embracing the publics message from last November. More than 155 million Americans voted for a virtually split House and Senate voters whose ideological bent is neither left nor right but forward. To succeed, we again need the kind of unity only compromise can encourage and sustain. That means listening, adapting, considering, and melding, while vowing to move not as combatants but as patriots. All eyes in Washington are on the Senate these days, to see if a group of relatively moderate members (Joe Manchin , Michael Bennet , Mark Warner and Jon Tester among the Democrats; Susan Collins , Lisa Murkowski , Mitt Romney and Richard Shelby among the Republicans) can prove compromise is not a dirty word but rather a path to national salvation. Pull for them, because greatness is not achieved through righteousness but secured by selflessness. Adam Goodman is a national Republican media strategist and columnist. He is a partner at Ballard Partners in Washington, D.C., and the first Edward R. Murrow Senior Fellow at Tufts Universitys Fletcher School. Follow him on Twitter @adamgoodman3. GREENWICH While the town is looking into reports New Yorkers might be coming to Greenwich to try to get a vaccine, officials said the news coming out of the newly opened COVID-19 clinics is overwhelmingly positive. The clinics are going extremely well, Greenwich Hospital CEO Diane Kelly said. People are being so grateful and so calm, I can say. People are waiting their turn. Were maintaining social distancing. Everything is going smoothly. On Monday, Greenwich Hospital opened a vaccination clinic in the gym of Brunswick Schools King Street campus and Family Centers Inc. began one in the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. Then on Tuesday the town opened one in Town Hall. All clinics are operating by appointment, only providing vaccinations to seniors age 75 and over. READ MORE: They asked for 300 vaccine doses; they got 200. On Wednesday, Family Centers Senior Vice President William Brucker said everything was so far so good and First Selectman Fred Camillo said he has not heard any negative reports about the towns newly opened clinic. Camillo said he usually hears complaints before compliments about town operations and Kelly added, No news is often good news. Camillo did say they were looking into some reports they have heard about people coming across the New York border to get appointments in Greenwich. People are always going to try and skirt the rules, Camillo said. I know we have Connecticut residents who are trying to do that in New Jersey and Florida. It doesnt surprise me that residents of other states are trying it here. Were keeping an eye on it as best we can. Overall there has been another increase in the amount of coronavirus cases in town. Camillo reported on Wednesday that there have been a total of 3,223 cases in Greenwich since the pandemic began last March. That is an increase of 166 cases since last Wednesday and the number of active cases in town has gone up by 26 in the last week to 189. Camillo said there have been no new deaths of people who were diagnosed with COVID-19, which he called one silver lining. Kelly said as of Wednesday there were 39 people hospitalized at Greenwich Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus. That remains in the range of what they have been seeing throughout the second wave this winter, which she said continues to show signs of plateauing. Greenwich Hospital is continuing to see we are staying at this plateau for in-patient patients, Kelly said. We have about seven to eight patients planned for discharge and that seems to be our trend. As many as we are discharging, we seem to be getting in terms of new patients (being hospitalized after testing positive). Thats something were continuing to watch and I have to say its really essential that people continue to wear their mask, practice good hand hygiene and practice social distancing. I know people are tired at this point in time but we have still not vaccinated enough people in our population that we should be letting up in any way, shape or form. On Thursday night at 6 p.m. Greenwich Hospital will hold a virtual town hall meeting at facebook.com/GreenwichHospital along with 100 Black Men of Stamford, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and The Links, Inc. The meeting will be called COVID-19 Vaccine: The Facts vs. Fiction. Clinic and appointment information Vaccines are currently being given by appointment Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the town-run clinic at Town Hall; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Family Center-run clinic at the Civic Center; and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. seven days a week at the Greenwich Hospital-run clinic at Brunswick School, 1252 King St. Schedules can change as circumstances (and vaccine) demand. Under the state's Phase 1b, seniors 75 and older are eligible to be vaccinated, a process that takes two shots. Appointments are being made through the federal government's Vaccine Administration Management System, which is being overseen in the state by the Department of Public Health at dphsubmissions.ct.gov/onlinevaccine for the town's clinic at Town Hall or Family Centers at the civic center. For appointments for Greenwich Hospital, use the hospital's website at ynhhs.org/covidvaccine. Town Director of Health Caroline Baisley said her department is providing help to seniors without internet access. Call 203-622-7703, 203-622-7842, 203-622-7836, 203-622-7865 or 203-622-7614 or call the town's Commission on Aging at 203-862-6710. See More Collapse kborsuk@greenwichtime.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 22:42:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- To mitigate the economic damage caused by the second COVID-19 lockdown, Germany's state aid program would be expanded and aid disbursement would be made faster, Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier said on Thursday. One year after the start of the pandemic, the German economy was in a "robust shape," said Altmaier told the Bundestag, the lower house of the country's parliament. According to Altmaier, the German government would ramp up bridging aid to companies for the period between November 2020 and June this year by up to 50 billion euros (60.5 billion U.S. dollars). Responding to criticisms that aid disbursement was too slow and stuck in bureaucracy, Altmaier promised that all those who were waiting for aid money would receive support "as quickly as possible." So far, 80 billion euros have been allocated in COVID-19 aid for German companies, on top of 23 billion euros to finance short-time working benefits and a 130-billion-euro economic stimulus package. After a 5.0-percent slump in 2020, the government expects Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 3.0 percent this year, according to the annual economic report presented on Wednesday. The government has lowered its forecast partly because of the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, which the country entered in November 2020 and has since extended and strengthened. Pre-crisis economic output is not expected to be reached again until mid-2022. (1 euro = 1.21 U.S. dollars) Enditem Police ask drivers and pedestrians to show valid reasons for being out during curfew - IAN LANGSDON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Around 30 French police officers are facing disciplinary action for staging a party inside a police station where they were filmed dancing the Macarena and in flagrant breach of virus rules. A video of the event posted by online media Loopsider showed a group of people dancing close together without masks in a crowded room. It prompted criticism at a time when French police are out every night enforcing a 6pm-6am virus curfew, and the force faces allegations of brutality during violent protests and discriminatory identity checks. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Those involved in the party, a leaving do for a colleague in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers, were ordered to file reports on their actions and that "sanctions are planned, said a police spokesperson. The type of potential punishment was not specified. Parties and other "convivial gatherings" are banned in all police establishments. Masks and social distancing are compulsory and the number of people allowed in any room is limited to keep the virus at bay, the spokesperson said. The recommended maximum is six people. The mayor of Aubervilliers, Karine Franclet, told France Bleu radio she was appalled. From a health point of view its irresponsible. Were battling to have a vaccination centre, to give children school meals, while respecting all the health rules so they can continue despite the virus, while things like this happen. How is that possible? But Benjamin Camboulives, head of Alternative Police CFDT union for the Paris said they should not handed disproportionate sanctions as it was a silly mistake that needed to be put into context and not overblown. France imposed a 12-hour night curfew two weeks ago. Employees can still travel to and from work but people outside their home after 6pm must carry a sworn declaration that they have a permitted reason go out, and a letter from their employee if the reason is work-related. The fine is 135 (120) for the first offence, rising to a maximum of 3,750 and a six-month jail term for three offences within 30 days. French police have cracked down hard on illegal parties and raves during the curfew. Participants have been fined 135 each while organisers have been fined several thousand euros. Some face trial. The have come under intense criticism in recent weeks for brutality and a sense of impunity amid calls for an overhaul of the forces internal investigative unit. With more than 3,000 bill draft requests filed, just a few over 300 have been introduced in the 2021 Montana Legislature so far. This means much of our time now is spent analyzing, researching, and talking to sponsors and agencies here in Helena to better understand the intent and ramifications of potential bills before theyre heard in committee. We work proactively to suggest improvements, ask for changes, and help ensure that when and if a bill is introduced, it will be positive for Montanas agriculture industry. We continue to get to know our states new administration. This week, we met with a number of Governor Greg Gianfortes key staff members, including policy advisors Glenn Oppel and Michael Freeman and attorney Rachel Meredith. We appreciate that Gianfortes team reached out to us for this meeting, seeking input from Montanas agriculture organizations on the issues that matter most to our states No. 1 industry. Our conversation covered an array of important topics that impact our states farmers and ranchers, including exempt wells, wild bison, meat processing capacity and the states new veterinary diagnostic lab. These executive staff members were helpful and informative. They made it clear that this administration will support private property rights, the growth of value-added agriculture in our state, and the proposal put forward by the Department of Livestock to build a new Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. This is good news for farmers, ranchers, and the population at large. The Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory provides disease diagnostic support to veterinarians, livestock producers, companion animal owners, and the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, as well as many other state and federal agencies. The laboratory supports the Department of Livestocks Animal Health Division and Milk & Egg Bureau, includes the State Central Milk Laboratory and helps protect public health by testing for zoonotic diseases. Its clear we need a new lab to provide the services that livestock producers and the public in general needs to ensure a safe, wholesome food supply and healthy human and animal populations. The Department of Livestock has worked hard to develop a funding proposal that is equal parts privately funded by rancher and farmer per capita fees and publicly funded with General Funds appropriations. Funding for the new Diagnostic Lab is included in House Bill 14, which is currently working its way through the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning. HB 14 also includes funding for a new wool lab and our states agriculture experiment stations, which Montana Farm Bureau members also support. Well share more updates throughout the session as this appropriations bill makes it way to the final budget. While there is a bevy of bills on our radar, we have testified on 14 that Montana Farm Bureau members have specific policy directive on. Here are two of the many we testified on this week: Senate Bill 55: Revise the Process for Water Right Ownership Updates, sponsored by Sen. Jill Cohenour (D), SD 42, hearing in Senate Natural Resources Committee. The Water Policy Interim Committee was busy in the time leading up to this legislative session, and this bill is the result of that work. First, some background: This is a joint, bi-partisan committee that studies water quality and quantity issues between sessions and provides suggested legislation to the committees. Its often referred to by its acronym, WPIC, which sounds a lot like Whippic when pronounced to those not as familiar with legislative lingo. Senate Bill 55 amends the process for water right ownership updates and creates a certification process to resolve ownership disputes. If passed, this legislation would more precisely require the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to update its records of water right ownership within 30 days of receiving notification regarding a change in water right holdings. It is the personal responsibility of a property buyer and seller to file the proper paperwork concerning a transfer of water rights, and this legislation requires the DNRC to keep those records up to date and accurate, which is an obvious necessity. House Bill 142: Generally Revise Hemp Laws, sponsored by Rep. Joshua Kassmier (R), HD 27, hearing in House Agriculture Committee. Montana is one of the nations largest hemp producing states. Hemp growers in Montana currently operate under the guidance of a pilot program launched in the state in 2014. Hemp is a highly regulated product in a quickly evolving market. Its a crop that many farmers in Montana have been excited to add to their cropping rotations. This bill generally revises current Montana hemp laws to comply with federal hemp laws, and it allows the Montana Department of Agriculture the rule making authority it needs to adhere to ever-evolving federal laws or regulations. This bill allows our Department of Agriculture to keep our states hemp program current so that our farmers can be assured they are complying with a consistent set of state and federal guidelines, ensuring the long-term success of the program. Learn more at www.mfbf.org or follow our Live with Your Lobbyist broadcast each Friday at noon on our Montana Farm Bureau Facebook Page. Nicole Rolf is the Senior Director of Governmental Affairs and a rancher from Miles City, Montana. Nicole works closely with our Congressional delegation on national issues affecting Montana agriculture. Additionally, this is her seventh Montana Legislative Session, lobbying in Helena on behalf of MFBF members. She also works as the Eastern Montana Regional Manager. Nicole can be contacted at nicoler@mfbf.org. Rachel Cone is the Director of State Affairs for Montana Farm Bureau Federation. This is Rachels first session lobbying on behalf of Montana Farm Bureau. Rachel is involved throughout the interim session to track how bills will come to the session. She also coordinates the MFBF Water Committee, the Resource Management, Environment and Technology Committee and the Livestock Committee in addition to being the Treasurer for the Farm Bureau PAC. Rachel can be contacted at rachelc@mfbf.org. The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is a non-partisan, non-profit, grassroots organization that represents more than 20,000 member families in Montana. A TV viewer has issued a complaint alleging that an RTE comedy sketch which depicted God as a rapist is blasphemous under the laws in Northern Ireland. The person this week made the complaint to Crimestoppers in the UK, asking for the matter to be referred to the PSNI to investigate as the programme aired in Northern Ireland and was available to watch on the RTE Player there. Blasphemy is no longer an offence in the Republic, but it remains an offence under common law in Northern Ireland. However, a PSNI source said they likely have no jurisdiction to investigate the matter. The national broadcaster has received nearly 7,000 complaints to date about the sketch by satirical website Waterford Whispers in the New Year's Eve Countdown Show on RTE One. The show featured former RTE News anchor Aengus Mac Grianna - who later apologised - reading a satirical news bulletin about God being arrested for sexual harassment. The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, denounced the broadcast as "deeply offensive and blasphemous". The Republic voted to remove blasphemy from the Constitution in a 2018 referendum. It followed calls to reform Irish blasphemy laws after gardai had to launch an investigation into English actor Stephen Fry in 2017 over comments he made on RTE show The Meaning of Life, hosted by the late Gay Byrne. A member of the public reported the blasphemy allegation to Ennis garda station. Gardai decided not to proceed further with the investigation against Mr Fry after they failed to find a large group of people outraged by his comments . [January 28, 2021] Launch of Finalcad One - The new project management collaborative platform that optimises team work PARIS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Finalcad, a Next40-listed company, specialising in the digitalisation of the construction and public works sector, is launching Finalcad One. This new application, in freemium mode, brings together all the advantages of a corporate social network and a collaborative platform. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of collaborative work tools has taken off in a spectacular way around the globe. The construction and public works sector, requiring considerable coordination and collaboration of teams, has not escaped this trend. While satisfying the requirements of market players and of peripheral industries, Finalcad One aims to allow teams to optimise their collaboration. This is of special importance in a sector where lack of communication is cited as the major reason for the late delivery of a project*. > Origin of Finalcad One: an application designed from the collaborative angle Launched 10 years ago, Finalcad is a company that has developed around digital solutions to mainly meet the requirements of the construction industry and support companies in their digital transformation. The aim is to facilitate collaboration and coordination on a site between the different stakeholders. Over the years, these solutions have been enriched by using technology that has itself evolved. To satisfy the needs of its customers, Finalcad has decided to launch a brand new collaborative solution based on the latest technological innovations which also benefit from the experience of Finalcad solutions that have supported more than 24,000 projects worldwide. With its innovative ergonomics, Finalcad One targets all trades and all phases of a project: from its initialisation, including the construction phase and through to maintenance. Over and above the trade solutions provided, this totally customisable application has been designed from the collaborative angle. > A unique user experience in collaborative mode Each project is unique and involves several stakeholders: contractors and teams that do not always know each other, but who work together on different sites and sometimes in several languages. Human and collaborative aspects are therefore crucial to all projects and determine performance and productivity. An international srvey shows that 62% of professionals questioned* identify lack of communication as the first cause of a project's late delivery. This collaboration is especially essential in view of social distancing measures imposed by the current health situation, which are accompanied by new restrictions and constraints. It was therefore essential for Finalcad to be as close as possible to its customers' needs and propose the most user-friendly collaborative tool possible: a BtoB solution meeting B2C standards to create work groups based on instant messaging systems with the added possibility of interacting with people linked to a project, regardless of their job profile and at all phases of the project. Whether sharing information, using input forms or working as a team on observations made on site, Finalcad takes its inspiration from best practices in terms of user experience to maximise adoption of the solution by customers' teams. Finalcad one, an all-in-one application for: - all the stages of a project's life cycle - all project stakeholders(people working on-site and in offices, on mobile phones or PC, operational and management staff) - all sectors working on property or production assets (construction and public works but also insurance, distribution, retail, tourism, etc.) - all cases of use - all conditions, in all terrains (on- and off-line): wind turbines, tunnels, etc. > Freemium for access to the platform by the largest number Finalcad One gives access, in freemium mode, unlimited in time, to all its features. If the user wants to take full advantage of digitalisation to manage their projects, upgraded offers will be proposed allowing them to considerably increase the level of use of the platform. By removing the financial barrier, Finalcad wants to make everyday life easier for teams and allow everyone (contractors, architect, site manager, etc.) regardless of the size of their business, to work together on a project for its whole duration. The ambition is to create a large community of users. > An application that adapts to all sectors Finalcad One is aimed at all sectors revolving around a construction project (Finalcad's historic sector), like for example insurance, distribution, real estate, tourism, etc. But also new emerging peripheral sectors to support challenges in the construction industry, like low-carbon construction. "Today, each smartphone user has a multitude of applications for their specific needs. With Finalcad One, we strive to propose a unique application to break down barriers between the professional and the private sphere. The objective is to bring real comfort of work through an easy-to-use and all-in-one application, satisfying everyone's needs. "We also wanted to market this application in freemium mode to overcome financial constraints and allow access to the largest number," as is enthusiastically explained by Franck Le Tendre, Finalcad's CEO. * International market survey conducted by Finalcad and Coleman Parkes in February 2020 among 400 construction professionals. About Finalcad Finalcad is a collaboration platform designed to optimise the on-site experience of employees in the construction sector - building, infrastructure and energy in particular - and allow them to "build their dreams". It helps construction firms deal with difficulties linked to low margins and limited profitability by reducing operating costs, contributing to continuous improvement and reinforcing employees' efficiency. Finalcad allows companies to roll out their existing processes more efficiently and safely by digitising their work flows: it compiles data from the whole site, the centre or asset by supplying all stakeholders (workers, subcontractors, project manager and customer) with the information they need to make the right decisions. Founded ten years ago by a team of experts with in-depth knowledge of the industry, Finalcad has raised $63 million to date and is listed on the "Next40", an index established by the French government comprising 40 start-ups and offering the best prospects of becoming global technological leaders. Based in France, Finalcad employs more than 120 people internationally. Its customers worldwide have entrusted it with 24,000 projects in 35 countries. For further information on Finalcad, go to www.finalcad.com. Press contact: suPR agency Veronique Wasa finalcad@becoming-group.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428204/Finalcad_Logo.jpg SOURCE Finalcad PR [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 28, 2021] OneDigital Acquires Fulcrum Partners OneDigital Investment Advisors, an SEC (News - Alert) -registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of OneDigital, the nation's leading strategic advisory firm focused on driving business growth for employers of all sizes, today announced it has acquired the assets of Fulcrum (News - Alert) Partners-marking the firm's expansion into the nonqualified deferred compensation plan (NQDC) market. Following another exceptional year of growth, OneDigital continues its efforts to streamline benefits solutions for employers of all sizes. The firm's alignment with Fulcrum Partners furthers its position as a premier employee benefits advisory firm, advancing into the nonqualified deferred compensation plan (NQDC) market and creating a new window of opportunity to deliver uniquely tailored executive benefit solutions. As part of the agreement, OneDigital Investment Advisors will assume responsibility for advising approximately $7 billion in additional, nonqualified plan assets. This includes plans sponsored by publicly and privately held companies, many of which have been clients of Fulcrum Partners for decades. Twelve advisors and 17 employees total have joined OneDigital from Fulcrum to broaden the scope of financial counseling to range from entry-level to C-Suite programs. "The data shows American workers at all income levels are not saving enough for retirement," said President of OneDigital Retirement + Wealth Vince Morris. "This includes owners and executives of companies that sponsor traditional retirement plans because highly-compensated employees are capped at what they can contribute to a 401(k) account. Therefore, we are excited to expand our holistic benefits offerings to include executive compensation strategies. Our firm is focused upon helping employees of all ages and income levels financially prepare for retirement and then assisting them in retirement." "The addition of executive benefits, including nonqualified deferred compensation plans, will provide employers with another tool for addressing their business goals while simultaneously providing their employees with a tool to work toward their own retirement goals. Through personalized investment strategies with retirement planning options for key employees, employers will be better positioned to attract and retain key management talent in an employee-centric market," Morris added. "After significant due diligence, we determined that OneDigital is an organization whose culture, character, and people emulate our values at Fulcrum Partners," said Mike Powers, Chief AdministrativeOfficer, Fulcrum Partners. "It is an organization filled with people focused on integrity and service to others. Aligning our two organizations creates opportunities to secure our existing business while adding breadth and depth to our go-to-market strategies. All of this could be achieved without losing the hands-on approach our clients and partners expect from Fulcrum Partners. We are proud to be joining the OneDigital family." OneDigital's comprehensive advisory services and market-leading solutions are now offered in more than 100 offices and an additional 45 retirement + wealth offices throughout the country, serving around 60,000 clients, 5,000 retirement plans and approximately 900,000 participants. Strategic partnerships have led to significant growth for the firm, fueling its investments in technology solutions and other resources that deliver efficiencies for broker partners and the customers they serve. About OneDigital OneDigital is the leading strategic advisory firm in the U.S. and has consistently led from the front as a workplace ally for 20 years. OneDigital's unique ability to converge health, wealth and human resources into a hub of services and business guidance has empowered companies to create workplaces that attract and retain talent while fueling innovation and company growth. As employee healthcare, wellness and workplace benefits continue to shift, companies of all sizes have relied on OneDigital's exceptional advisory teams for counsel and its adjacent services, including employee benefits, holistic HR services, employee wellbeing and pharmacy consulting, as well as the retirement and wealth management services provided through OneDigital Investment Advisors. Headquartered in Atlanta, OneDigital's more than 100 offices and 2,400+ business strategists serve the needs of over 60,000 employers across the nation. OneDigital has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of America's fastest-growing companies every year since 2007, one of only 11 companies to do so. Currently listed as 18th on Business Insurance's list of 100 Largest U.S. Brokers, OneDigital's deep analytic abilities and experienced advisors deliver insights that reduce business risk and improve plan design and performance. For more information, visit www.onedigital.com. (Investment advice offered through OneDigital Investment Advisors, an SEC-registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of OneDigital.) About Fulcrum Partners LLC Fulcrum Partners LLC (www.fulcrumpartnersllc.com) is one of the nation's leading and largest executive benefits consultancies. With a team of experienced industry professionals who serve with diverse skill sets, targeted experience and in-depth expertise in executive compensation and benefits consulting, the consultants at Fulcrum Partners focus on an integrated approach to the design, financing and plan administration of executive benefits programs. Fulcrum Partners LLC is a wholly independent, member-owned firm dedicated to helping organizations enhance their Total Rewards Strategy. Founded in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (2007), today the company has offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Charleston, South Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Honolulu, Hawaii; Salt Lake City, Utah; Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California; Orlando, Ponte Vedra Beach and Delray Beach, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Washington D.C. Securities offered through Lion Street Financial, LLC (LSF) and Valmark Securities, Inc. (VSI), each a member of FINRA and SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through CapAcuity, LLC; Lion Street Advisors, LLC (LSF) and Valmark Advisers, Inc. ( VAI (News - Alert) ), each an SEC registered investment advisor. VAI/VSI, LSF and BDO Alliance USA are non-affiliated entities and separate entities from Fulcrum Partners and CapAcuity, LLC. OneDigital is a separate entity from CapAcuity, LLC, Lion Street Financial, LLC (LSF) ValMark Securities, Inc. and ValMark Advisers, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005145/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine is only slightly less effective against the super-infectious South African variant, according to a lab study by the jab makers. Even with the slight reduction in efficacy, the research strongly suggests the vaccine will still be able to kill off the new strain before it can cause serious illness. Researchers took blood samples from vaccinated patients and exposed them to an engineered virus with the worrying mutations found on the South African variant. They found there was about a noticeable reduction in the production of antibodies, which are virus-fighting proteins made in the blood after vaccination or natural infection. In a boost to the world's immunsation efforts, the team said the number of antibodies produced was still high enough to kill the mutant strain. This is possible because the immune system generally makes so many antibodies that it creates enough to hit the threshold needed to neutralise or kill the virus, and then many more on top, which are expendable. For comparison, a similar study by Moderna found its own jab was still effective enough to kill the South African strain despite a six-fold reduction in antibodies. While the Pfizer results are promising, they are limited because the study did not look at the full set of mutations found in the new South African variant. The company said earlier this week that it had started work on a booster jab to make sure it could cope with new variants in case a mutation seriously affected its vaccine. AstraZeneca, which makes one of the other major vaccines, has not published studies testing its own jab against different variants but says it is confident it will still work and is monitoring the effectiveness. Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine is only slightly less effective against the super-infectious South African variant, according to a lab study by the jab makers Pfizer looked at the three most concerning alterations, all of which are found on the virus' spike protein, which it uses to bind to human cells. A mutation named N501Y, which is also found in the Kent variant, is thought to make strains more infectious and possibly more deadly. Another mutation '69/70 deletion' is also thought to play a role in incraeasing transmissibility. But most alarming of all is the E484K mutation, which is believed to be able to 'hide' from antibody responses, both through vaccination and natural immunity. Pfizer's results are promising but it is still possible that other lesser-known mutations, or how they influence each other in combination, could also hamper the effectiveness of results. Pfizer and BioNTech said their scientists were currently engineering a virus with the full set of mutations and expect to have results from that in a fortnight Today's results were revealed in a pre-print, which means the study has not yet been reviewed by independent scientists. These are the daily average of cases per million people in the countries that could be on the UK quarantine list published later today It comes after Moderna - the other American firm behind the other approved Covid vaccine - found its jab could still neutralise the South African variant. They found the blood of vaccinated people produced six times fewer antibodies, but it wasn't enough to stop the jabs from killing off the strain. Moderna said it is now developing a booster jab, to be taken after the original two-dose vaccine, to provide extra protection in case future variants become better than the South African variant at ducking the immune response. PFIZER DEVELOPING BOOSTER JAB TO TACKLE FUTURE VARIANTS Pfizer announced it is developing a booster to help its vaccine protect against new highly-infectious variants just hours after the first case of Brazil's 'super-COVID' was reported in the US. 'Every time a new variant comes up we should be able to test whether or not [our vaccine] is effective,' Pfizer chief Albert Bourla said during a Bloomberg event. 'Once we discover something that it is not as effective, we will very, very quickly be able to produce a booster dose that will be a small variation to the current vaccine.' He did not specify which variant or variants the booster shots the firm is currently developing will target. It came after Moderna announced that it was advancing its own variant booster shot, made to combat the South African variant, to clinical trials. Lab tests done by both firms suggest each of their vaccines will be work well enough against coronavirus variants from the UK and South Africa to be 'protective.' But Moderna's tests suggested the South African variant might make their shot less effective, or cut the amount of time that the vaccine works for. Advertisement So far nearly 100 cases of the South African coronavirus variant have been spotted in Britain, Public Health England revealed on Wednesday. PHE said that, as of January 27, the B.1.351 strain had been picked up 90 times through genomic sequencing analysing the genetics of different samples of the virus since December. It is likely to be far more widespread because UK officials only analyse 10 per cent of random positive samples from the Government's national testing programme. The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is currently being tested on the South African strain at Porton Down and inside the country where the variant originated. Results are expected in the next few weeks, but scientists say it is likely the jab will also offer protection against this variant. The Pfizer research comes after the company earlier this week said it is developing a booster to help its vaccine protect against new highly-infectious variants just hours after the first case of Brazil's 'super-COVID' was reported in the US. 'Every time a new variant comes up we should be able to test whether or not [our vaccine] is effective,' Pfizer chief Albert Bourla said during a Bloomberg event. 'Once we discover something that it is not as effective, we will very, very quickly be able to produce a booster dose that will be a small variation to the current vaccine.' He did not specify which variant or variants the booster shots the firm is currently developing will target. Bourla said 'there is a high probability' that coronavirus will become an annual, seasonal virus, and vaccines may have to be augmented yearly too, to combat its evolving forms. Pfizer announced last week that its vaccine was effective against the B.1.1.7 variant that has become dominant in the UK and spread all over the world. Its lab studies showed that antibodies triggered by the vaccine successfully bind to the mutated spike protein that makes B117 about 70 percent more infectious. The firm noted that the lab study did not test the vaccine against the whole, live virus, but sid the findings make it 'likely that COVID-19 caused by the U.K. virus variant will also be prevented by immunization with' its shot. It also noted that the South African variant shares the mutation seen in B117's spike. However, the South African variant has additional mutations, including some to its spike protein that are also present in the Brazilian variant. It's these mutations that have scientists worried. DRDO develops critical near isothermal forging technology for aero-engines 28 May 2021 | 6:36 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday said that it has established the near isothermal forging technology to produce all the five stages of high-pressure compressors (HPC) discs out of difficult-to-deform titanium alloy using its unique 2000 MT isothermal forge press for aero-engines. see more.. Jaishankar discusses Covid relief, trade and economy ahead of talks with Austin and Blinken Friday 28 May 2021 | 5:11 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed India-US healthcare partnership to address the Covid challenge, and two-way trade, technolgy and business collaboration ahead of his talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Llyod Austin on Friday. see more.. Indian Navy conducts skill development training for maintenance of Oxygen plants 28 May 2021 | 4:15 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) With an aim to run the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen plants efficiently, the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard, under the Eastern Naval Command commenced a Skill Development Training Program on Maintenance of PSA Oxygen Plants based on discussions between the Indian Navy and Niti Ayog. see more.. Construction work, reopening of factories will be allowed from May 31: Kejriwal 28 May 2021 | 4:07 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the ongoing COVID-19-induced lockdown will be relaxed for construction work and operation of factories from May 31 onwards keeping the livelihood of daily wagers in the mind as the situation in the National Capital is coming under control. see more.. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close After eight years leading the Washington Postthe capstone on a nearly half-century career in journalismMarty Baron announced this week that he will soon be retiring. He is a legend in the industry, and his reputation is well deserved. But many in the Posts newsroom also believe that his departure is well timed, because, ultimately, he is a man rooted in a different era. Baron ran the Miami Herald and Boston Globe prior to coming to the Post. He was the editor depicted in the movie Spotlight, heroically taking down the Catholic Churchs child predators using only the mighty tools of journalism. Shortly after being hired to lead the Post, in 2013, he got the greatest gift a newspaper editor could hope for: the worlds richest owner. The deep pockets of Jeff Bezos allowed Baron to nearly double the size of the newsroom in less than a decade and to transform the Post into a premier national news brand for the digital age, fluent in everything from Pulitzer-winning investigations to internet chum. The Post has advantages that few other papers enjoy, but Baron used them skillfully and to great effect. The downside of Barons old-school credibility, however, was its very old-schoolness. Nothing proved this more than two internal conflicts that gripped the Post in 2020: first, the papers decision to suspend its reporter Felicia Sonmez after she tweeted to point out Kobe Bryants rape case shortly after his death; and second, managements clashes with star reporter Wesley Lowery over the fact he was being, well, too honest about his feelings on Twitter on touchy issues of racism and politics. Both incidents, and the tortured fallout they produced both inside and outside the company, pointed to the fact that Baron and his top deputies seemed unable to fully adapt to the world they both covered and lived in. Nobody doubts the journalistic bona fides of (as one Post reporter called him, with respect) Marty fucking Baron. Even Lowery, who now works for 60 Minutes, told me that even as weve had our disagreements in public and private, theres no question that the Post is likely doing the best pound-for-pound, day-in-and-day-out journalism in the organizations history and has found a way to not only survive but thrive economically at a time of extreme peril for journalismfor which Marty deserves a ton of credit. He added, though, that some of the major challenges facing whoever succeeds him are the very things Marty failed to do during his tenure: assembling a newsroom and leadership structure that actually reflects the diversity of the nationand worldit covers, figuring out how to nurture people with voices and experiences that differ from a white DC media establishment status quo, and figuring out a path forward in a social media world that manages to protect the reputation of the Post but does not rely on selectively punishing people based on incomprehensible and unequally enforced policies and the unpredictable moods of the executive editor. This combination of respect for Barons accomplishments and disappointment in his failures was echoed by many members of the newsroom. He was described by those who worked for him as smart, principled, diligent in understanding the challenges of the internet, and in general an editor of stature. Many reporters feel gratitude toward him for building a robust and financially strong news outlet at a time when huge chunks of the media industry have been crumbling into dust all around them. Sign up for CJR 's daily email But the events of the past year created a level of meaningful bitterness. One Post employee said that Barons departure felt like a barrier to progress being removed, giving them a sense of relief. Another said that last summer really diminished his reputation in some peoples eyes[and] left a lot of people thinking that while he has been a great editor with an amazing track record, hes no longer the man for the moment. Others said that the past year had been deflating, disappointing, and bad for morale, and that because of all that, Baron was not particularly beloved, though he was respected. It remains to be seen whether the Post as an institution will take all of this into account when selecting Barons replacement. The Post Guild, the papers labor union, said in a statement, We expect the Post to seek a leader who is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive company that can fairly and comprehensively cover our local region, our nation and our world. Post Guild members are eager to participate in this process and we hope the staff will have a seat at the table. Fredrick Kunkle, a staff writer on the local desk and the former chair of the Posts union (speaking only for himself), complimented Barons editing skill and investment in the newsroom, and added, As for his successor, I think many of us are hoping the Post hires a journalist with a proven record of leadership and accomplishment while also going beyond the companys previous efforts to consider candidates who reflect the diversity of our nation and this city. Virtually every Post employee I spoke to cited the same priorities. Baron has earned the right to be proud of all the great journalism he helped to produce. His failures are the failures of an entire industry, and of an entire society. The fact that we see those failures so clearly now should give the newsroom hope. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Hamilton Nolan is CJR's public editor for the Washington Post. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - A UN rights committee said on Wednesday that Italy failed in its international obligations to protect the right to life of more than 200 migrants on board a vessel that sank in the Mediterranean Sea in 2013 Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Shiv Sena says BJP's focus is UP polls instead of tackling COVID-19 Centre provoked farmers to discredit anti-farm law protest: Shiv Sena India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Jan 28: After the violence in Delhi on Republic Day, Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece Saamna has blamed Centre for instigating protesting farmers to discredit their anti-agri law movement. "For 60 days, the farmers' movement has been going on peacefully...The government has done what it wanted. Its victims are farmers, policemen and young men who shed their blood," Shiv Sena added. Sena also said, "No one will support what happend in the national capital on Republic Day." " title="Tractor rally violence: Farmers call-off protest at Chilla border, BKU (Lok Shakti) continues stir " />Tractor rally violence: Farmers call-off protest at Chilla border, BKU (Lok Shakti) continues stir Meanwhile, farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav and Darshan Pal and social activist Medha Patkar were among the 37 people named by the Delhi police in an FIR on the violence during the tractor parade that includes attempt to murder charge even as two farmer unions on Wednesday said they are withdrawing from the protests against the farm laws. The leaders of the main farmer unions alleged there was a conspiracy behind the violence and demanded a probe as they continued to allege that "anti-social" elements had perpetrated the violence to "torpedo" their peaceful agitation. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News They said their agitation against the farm laws will continue and public meetings and hunger strikes will be held across the country on January 30. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 10:14 [IST] By Juliet Nalwooga The Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has dismissed as baseless claims that polling stations whose results were not included in the final tally were opposition NUP party strongholds. The concern has been raised during a press briefing at the Commission head office in Kampala where Justice Byabakama revealed that 83 polling stations were affected due to incidents like ballot stuffing, and un-harmonized figures. Districts where some results were not included in the final tally include Mukono, Wakiso, Isingiro, Kole, Kotido, Rakai, Ssembabule, Lamwo and Gomba. Byabakama says only a total of 54,357 voters were affected and that as such this could not in any way significantly affect the final result. On Saturday 16th January 2021, results from 50 polling stations in Kampala had not been counted by the time Byabakama declared NRMs Yoweri Museveni, the President-elect after he fetched 58.6 per cent of the nearly 10 million valid votes cast nationwide in the poll. Last year, BP called on Texas regulators to take bold action to stamp out the routine flaring of natural gas, a harmful environmental practice thats drawn increasing scrutiny from investors. Yet on Tuesday, it was BPs turn to get pushback from the Texas Railroad Commission when 121 of its flaring requests were up for consideration. The agency postponed a decision until its next meeting, and its newest member slammed the burning of excess gas as a waste of our precious resources. I am amenable to allowing fair time for flaring to occur in certain circumstances, but limits must be set, Jim Wright, a Republican who joined the three-member commission this month, said in a statement. Wrights comments didnt explicitly name BP, but the London-based company made up the bulk of the permit applications being considered by the agency. The commission had sought to head off criticism that its too lenient over flaring guidelines when it adopted new rules in November that require more detailed disclosures when oil companies seek a permit. Yet that didnt go far enough to temper criticism over the agencys traditional hands-off approach. Oil producers are allowed to flare natural gas in the first 10 days a well is drilled, but anything beyond that requires a permit from the Railroad Commission. The 121 permits BP is seeking for its shale assets would be good through April 2022 if granted. The regulator routinely receives requests for flaring, which they almost always approve. But BPs ask is notable for just how many sites it includes, and for how long the company wants permission to flare, said Kelly Mitchell, an oil and gas analyst at Documented, a transparency advocacy group. This two-year flaring exception is a real world test of its promises to tackle carbon emissions, she said. If BP isnt serious about reducing routine flaring then the Railroad Commission needs to deny this request. Just a few months ago, BP teamed up with Royal Dutch Shell to call on the commission to pursue a policy that would ban routine flaring. The company has pledged to achieve that goal on its own assets by 2030. BP says the request for flaring permits isnt inconsistent with those plans. Its already lowered the rate of flaring on assets the company acquired through its purchase of BHP Billitons shale business. The company said its committed to zero routine flaring and will continue to work with the commission on this critical issue. In an earlier statement, BP said it has several projects underway to advance its goal of zero routine flaring but that, in the meantime, exception permits are necessary for our operations as we continue to pursue our ambition. Just before the Railroad Commission met on Tuesday, Rystad Energy released an analysis on flaring on the Texas side of the Permian. The report, commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund, found that 40% of the flaring expected in 2025 is avoidable at no cost to operators. The shale boom over the past few years created a massive excess of natural gas, often a by-product of oil in some basins such as the Permian. Although last year saw a sharp drop in flaring as oil drillers shut in output in response to the virus, its expected to pick up in future years as production resumes. NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, regarding today's action by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to rescind the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, also known as the Mexico City Policy: "President Biden's decision to rescind the Mexico City Policy ignores the opinion of most Americans. The Mexico City Policy acknowledges the decades-long tradition in the United States of not using taxpayer dollars to perform or promote abortion. Our 2021 Knights of Columbus/Marist poll, released earlier this week, found that more than three-quarters of Americans agree that public funds should not be used to fund abortion abroad. This supermajority of Americans includes 55% of Democrats, 85% of independents, and 64% of pro-choice respondents. This result, found consistently over several years, demonstrates that this executive action does not unite Americans but instead is contrary to an area of bipartisan consensus in an otherwise divisive issue." SOURCE Knights of Columbus Related Links www.kofc.org Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MNJ Technologies, a midmarket-focused IT solutions and services provider, logged its fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2020 as it continued to realize the benefits of pivoting to solution selling and strategically expanding its product and services portfolio. The company's performance again outpaced the channel and prompted an expansion of the MNJ executive team as well as a series of new initiatives to scale the business as the firm enters its 20th year. MNJ's 2020 growth was fueled in part by a 22% increase in connectivity-related services revenue, leveraging the company's unique ability to combine Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) and SD-WAN services to provide a consolidated bill as well as one-stop monitoring, configuration management, and break/fix services for all telephony and hardware-defined WAN connections. Other growth drivers included an expansion of cloud services, new strategic alliances with Tier 1 technology companies, and a variety of engagements associated with transitioning many of MNJ's 2,000 active customers to the work-from-home environment necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company responded to these growth successes with a 40x bandwidth increase in its own data center, formation of a new digital transformation unit focused on helping mid-sized companies utilize technology to achieve competitive advantage, a major expansion of the account management team, and new executive appointments including: Ben Niernberg , Chief Operating Officer Niernberg joined MNJ in 2017 as Senior Vice President after a decade in multiple management and executive roles at Canon Solutions America. He was promoted to MNJ Executive Vice President in 2019 and has spearheaded a series of business changes resulting in a 35% overall revenue increase and a 14% increase in revenue per employee during his three years with MNJ. He has now moved into the COO role. Niernberg joined MNJ in 2017 as Senior Vice President after a decade in multiple management and executive roles at Canon Solutions America. He was promoted to MNJ Executive Vice President in 2019 and has spearheaded a series of business changes resulting in a 35% overall revenue increase and a 14% increase in revenue per employee during his three years with MNJ. He has now moved into the COO role. Rick Sbrocca , SVP Alliances & Marketing Sbrocca has dedicated the last 14 years to helping technology companies drive $500 million in new revenue via business and culture development as CEO and founder of growth consultancy Spiritus Solutions. He previously served as Ingram Micro's VP & GM, Global SMB. His SVP role at MNJ is a new position created to help execute strategic initiatives. Sbrocca has dedicated the last 14 years to helping technology companies drive in new revenue via business and culture development as CEO and founder of growth consultancy Spiritus Solutions. He previously served as Ingram Micro's VP & GM, Global SMB. His SVP role at MNJ is a new position created to help execute strategic initiatives. Jeremy Netzel , Chief Financial Officer Netzel has a 15-year background as a financial executive, most recently serving as CFO of national real estate brokerage firm @properties. In nine years at that company, he built and supervised a 25-member finance and accounting staff spanning five business units to manage a quintupling of the firm's revenues. He was hired as MNJ's first CFO to support the company's rapid growth. As part of the C-suite reorganization, MNJ co-founders Sue and Paul Kozak have also assumed new roles. Sue Kozak has moved from president to CEO with primary responsibility for driving MNJ's vision, resource allocation and corporate accountability. Paul Kozak has transitioned from COO to president, focusing on strategic initiatives as well as customer and partner relationship development. "We have spent the last three years successfully redefining our business to address shifts in the technology market. Our 2021 roadmap takes our efforts to the next level, particularly with the consultative services provided by our new digital transformation team," said Sue Kozak. "All of the pieces are in place for MNJ to continue breaking our own growth records as we provide our midmarket customers with the technology tools and services they need to both support and advance their businesses." About MNJ Technologies MNJ Technologies is a technology and managed services provider that focuses on helping midmarket companies increase productivity, simplify IT systems and reduce costs through best-in-class vendor-agnostic solutions and services. The company's certified solution consultants and engineers help clients optimize operations through the use of SD-WAN, unified communications, networking, security, cloud and other technologies. MNJ was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in suburban Chicago. For more information, visit www.mnjtech.com SOURCE MNJ Technologies Related Links http://www.mnjtech.com Washington: Speaker Nancy Pelosi intensified pressure on Thursday on House Republican leaders for their handling of a controversial GOP freshman, denouncing them for placing a lawmaker who Pelosi says has mocked the killing of little children on the chambers education committee. Pelosis comments focused on Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, whose views were in the spotlight even before she joined the House this month. Greene supported Facebook posts that advocated violence against Democrats and the FBI. One suggested shooting Pelosi in the head. In response to a post raising the prospect of hanging former President Barack Obama, Greene responded that the stage is being set. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California - discussing the threat. Credit:AP On Thursday, Pelosi referred to social media posts reported by Media Matters for America, a liberal watchdog group, in which Greene pushed conspiracy theories or liked posts that challenged the veracity of mass shootings at schools in Newtown, Connecticut, and Parkland, Florida. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Country's largest airline IndiGo has made a smart recovery from a COVID-19 pandemic that has probably hit the aviation sector the most. The airline narrowed its net losses in the third quarter to Rs 620 crore, from Rs 1,194 crore in the previous three months. But the recovery has been slowed down by a 'volatile revenue market' that has swayed up and down depending on the news flow on the pandemic and vaccine rollout, Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta told analysts on January 28, after the airline announced financial results for the December quarter. And though the industry veteran has underlined that capacity utilisation may reach 100 percent as soon as the government allows it - the present cap is 80 percent - the volatility has held him back from giving a guideline on revenue. "It is a volatile revenue market. We are unable to give revenue outlook for the near term due to the volatility," Dutta said. "We had a period of six weeks that were strong. And then we had four weeks that were weak from December 15. The last 10 days in January have again picked up," Dutta said, indicating that news of a new COVID-19 variant in the UK had impacted bookings. While the airline's load factor (a metric used for measuring the percentage of available seating capacity) for the quarter fell 15.6 percentage points to 72 percent against 87.6 percent YoY, it was an improvement from the 65.1 percent in the second quarter. Capacity utilisation by the end of December increased to 70 percent in the domestic market, and at present hovers around 80 percent of last year's, the airline said. In the international market though, capacity was still at a low of 28 percent, compared to a year-ago period. While the airline wants to reach 100 percent of its capacity at the earliest in the domestic market, internationally, it expects to reach half of its capacity by the middle of the 2021 calendar year, and 100 percent by the end of the year. The airline had added a net of five aircraft to its fleet in the quarter, taking the total to 287 planes. It reduced the count of owned planes and A320ceos, in favour of the new generation A320neo that have more capacity, and burn less fuel. The net aircraft count may reduce further as the airline retires more of the older planes. But the seat capacity may increase because of the bigger A320neo aircraft. IndiGo also added an ATR aircraft, aimed at smaller routes. It had recently launched seven new stations. IndiGo's daily cash burn, which stood at Rs 30 crore in the June quarter and reduced to Rs 25 crore in the September quarter, was down to Rs 15 crore in the period ending December 31. But because of the volatility, added Dutta, the airline is unable to commit on a further improvement on the cash burn in the January-March period. Banking on tier-2 and tier-3 cities Dutta said the airline hopes to start the new financial year, which in April also coincides with the peak summer season for travel, with full capacity. But is it not in the traditional metro-to-metro routes that he is focusing on, but the metro to tier-2 and 3 cities. As Sanjay Kumar, IndiGo's Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer pointed out, corporate travel - which used to make up for a large chunk of the metro routes - has been slow to recover. "We are beginning to get a positive response from our corporate clients, especially in the SMEs sector. Travel by executives in some sectors such as pharmaceuticals, auto and infrastructure, has gone up to 25-30 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels. By the first quarter of the next financial year, we hope this will overall improve to 70-80 percent," Kumar said during the analyst call. Instead, it's the traffic in the smaller cities that IndiGo is more bullish on. Dutta said markets such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh and eastern Uttar Pradesh have developed. "Many of the tier-2 and tier-3 cities are now seeing numbers higher than pre-COVID-19 levels," the CEO said. Read more on this trend: Indian aviation veers towards non-metros in December, 13 cities see traffic better than pre-COVID levels Dutta added that even if the fares, which on an average hover around Rs 3,000 at present, increase to Rs 4,000, these are competitive compared to train tickets, especially for longer routes. "Transition from train to air is happening," he said, adding that this will continue even if the fares increase. Crucial in the coming months, the CEO added, will be the ability to increase capacity as this will reduce costs. VIENNA, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) marks its 45th anniversary today. Since inception, the multilateral development finance institution has approved more than US$25 billion in essential financing for 135 partner countries. Established in 1976 with a distinct mandate to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people, the OPEC Fund's member countries are:Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. While the organization works directly with partner countries, it also collaborates with other development finance institutions, regional development banks and the specialized agencies of the United Nations to maximize its development impact. The 45th anniversary coincides with a demonstration of steadfast support from the organization's member countries. The OPEC Fund's Governing Board recently endorsed a second tranche of US$400 million to be contributed by member countries over the next four years. The Ministerial Council approved a US$1 billion Fourth Replenishment of the OPEC Fund's resources in 2001, of which this second tranche is a part. The first tranche of US$600 million was contributed over the past eight years. Abdulwahab A Al-Bader, Chairman of the OPEC Fund's Governing Board, said: "The organization's development operations are self-sustaining, due to prudent management and a long history of positive operational income. This second tranche of contributions signifies member country determination to strengthen the OPEC Fund's ability to meet development challenges that have become even more urgent as a result of COVID-19." OPEC Fund Ministerial Council Member and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan outlined the unique role the organization plays in international development: "The OPEC Fund has been playing a distinguished role in promoting global development, and it is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries only. All developing countries, with the exception of its own members, are eligible for assistance." The OPEC Fund's Ministerial Council member and Indonesia's Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said: "A new strategy introduced in 2019 and backed by member countries means that the organization has become more agile and can respond without delay to the changing needs of partner countries. We can now move quickly and effectively to ensure finance reaches those who need it most, as low-income communities around the world attempt to recover from the pandemic." OPEC Fund Director-General Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "Thanks to the foresight and dedication of our member countries, the OPEC Fund continues to demonstrate solidarity and play its part in reducing global inequality. During the year ahead, we will focus on delivering in line with our clear and ambitious Strategic Framework to further expand our development impact and secure our future for many years to come." To date, the OPEC Fund's public sector operations have supported the development of 15 GW of electricity generation capacity; contributed to the construction and development of 11,360 km of roads and railways; and provided 11.5 million households with access to water and sanitation. Since launching in 1998 and 2006, the organization's private sector and trade finance operations have directly supported over 350,000 MSMEs; helped generate 15 million tonnes of annual handling capacity in ports; and contributed to the development of 750 MW of renewable capacity generation. For further information on the OPEC Fund's achievements since 1976, please see the special edition of the OPEC Fund Quarterly. About the OPEC Fund The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The organization was established by the member countries of OPEC in 1976 with a distinct mandate: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. The OPEC Fund's work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu1h2FavDZg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428261/45th_Anniversary.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1428246/OPEC_Fund_Logo.jpg In contrast to these recent decisions, it was startling to see how completely dismissive the Trump v. Hawaii majority opinion was of the argument that the Muslim ban amounted to unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of religion. The text says nothing about religion, Chief Justice Roberts observed. The proclamation is expressly premised on legitimate purposes: preventing entry of nationals who cannot be adequately vetted and inducing other nations to improve their practices. When I pick up a Supreme Court decision for the first time, I usually start by reading the dissenting opinions, often a reliable guide to the paths not taken by the majority and the arguments that the majority discarded along the way. In Trump v. Hawaii, Justice Sotomayors dissent, which Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined, is a Times Square-size billboard of what was missing in the majority opinion. The majoritys highly abridged account does not tell even half of the story, Justice Sotomayor began. What was left out was an inventory, which she provided, of oral and written statements by Donald Trump, as both candidate and president, attesting to his desire to keep Muslims out of the country directly if possible, or by politically correct means if required by the courts. The full record paints a far more harrowing picture, Justice Sotomayor went on, from which a reasonable observer would readily conclude that the proclamation was motivated by hostility and animus toward the Muslim faith. She added, Given the overwhelming record evidence of anti-Muslim animus, it simply cannot be said that the proclamation has a legitimate basis. To the contrary, she concluded, It runs afoul of the Establishment Clauses guarantee of religious neutrality. I wonder what the justices who joined the majority in Trump v. Hawaii would think of it if they reread the opinion today. I also wonder what Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, not yet on the court when the case was decided, think of it, if they have had occasion to read it. Justice Kennedys very short concurring opinion is one of the saddest judicial opinions I have ever read. It was his final published opinion as a member of the Supreme Court. On initial reading, I wasnt sure what he was saying. I dismissed it as the work of a weary man who no longer had the energy to think the problem through, who took a path of least resistance but nevertheless understood that he was ending his career on the wrong side of history. I took this passage, which he labeled this further observation, as an apology for voting with the majority: There are numerous instances in which the statement and actions of government officials are not subject to judicial scrutiny or intervention. That does not mean those officials are free to disregard the Constitution and the rights it proclaims and protects. The oath that all officials take to adhere to the Constitution is not confined to those spheres in which the judiciary can correct or even comment upon what those officials say or do. Indeed, the very fact that an official may have broad discretion, discretion free from judicial scrutiny, makes it all the more imperative for him or her to adhere to the Constitution and to its meaning and its promise. Rereading his opinion this week, Im inclined to a more generous or, in the spirit of the moment, a more empathetic view. Justice Kennedy, appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan, was departing after 31 years, during the term of a president of the same party as the one who had brought him to the court as justices often do when they depart. But he was also leaving a cautionary word to the justice who would succeed him and to justices after that. An anxious world must know, he wrote in conclusion, that our government remains committed always to the liberties the Constitution seeks to preserve and protect, so that freedom extends outward, and lasts. Words of warning, certainly. A note of desperate hope? Perhaps. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. WASHINGTON Republicans have a Marjorie Taylor Greene problem. Again. Before she joined the House this month, Greene supported Facebook posts that advocated violence against Democrats and the FBI. One suggested shooting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the head. In response to a post raising the prospect of hanging former President Barack Obama, Greene responded that the stage is being set. While some Republicans condemned the activity, it was hardly a surprise. The Georgia Republican has expressed support for QAnon conspiracy theories, which focus on the debunked belief that top Democrats are involved in child sex trafficking, Satan worship and cannibalism. Facebook videos surfaced last year showing shed expressed racist, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim views. Top Republicans denounced her at the time, hoping to block her from capturing the GOP nomination for her reliably red congressional district in northwest Georgia. The opposition faded, however, when Greene won the primary and was essentially guaranteed a seat in Congress. By the time she was sworn into office, Greene had ridden with President Donald Trump on Air Force One during his final days in office. Republican leaders are now confronting a conundrum of their own making. The party largely embraced Greene after she won the primary, making it harder for them to distance themselves from her, especially when many of her views were already well known. The dynamic raises questions about the GOPs ability or interest in moving past Trump-style politics after the former president spent years advancing conspiracy theories of his own. Trump didnt hijack the party, the party became Donald Trump, said Stuart Stevens, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a conservative group that staunchly opposes Trump. Theyre radicals. CNN reported on Greenes Facebook posts, which have since been deleted. She tweeted responses before the story was posted that didnt dispute their authenticity or disavow them, saying instead: Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views. Still, theres greater pressure on political leaders to address extremism after a pro-Trump mob staged a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez announced Wednesday night that he was readying a resolution to expel Greene from Congress because of her past social media activity. In a statement to Axios, a spokesman for House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy called the posts deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them. Its unclear when that conversation may happen. McCarthy plans to fly to Florida today to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called the posts disgusting, adding that they have no place in our party and should be looked into. But McDaniel also spoke to a QAnon issue that goes beyond Greene. I think its really important, after whats just happened in our country, that we have some self reflection on the violence thats continuing to erupt, McDaniel said in an interview. I think QAnon is beyond fringe. I think its dangerous. We should be looking at that and making sure we dont mince words and when we say that we cant support groups that are initiating violence. The FBI has called QAnon a domestic terrorism threat and the Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the potential for lingering violence from extremists enraged by President Joe Bidens election and emboldened by the attack on the Capitol. Greenes situation is somewhat reminiscent of former Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who was stripped of all his committee assignments by his own partys House leadership after expressing support for white supremacists in 2019. National GOP groups shunned King in the partys Iowa primary and he was defeated, but he steadfastly maintained that he was adhering to his constituents beliefs more than most of the rest of his party. Ive always told you the truth, King said in an online message to his districts voters the day of the primary. Whatever they might say about Steve King, I have never let you down. Greene was named this week to the House Education and Labor Committee. There was no immediate word on whether she will face a similar sanction as King. Greenes online agitation, meanwhile, goes beyond past Facebook posts including making a video that falsely suggested the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting that killed 58 people was staged to advance gun control legislation. On Wednesday, video surface of Greene harassing Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg in March 2019. Since winning her congressional seat, Greene has sought to capitalize on her growing national notoriety with conservatives, spending more than $206,000 to lure in new donors through Parler, a social media site favored by Trump supporters and right-wing extremists. The site was effectively booted from the internet following the mayhem at the Capitol after Amazon, which hosted the site, decided Parler wasnt doing enough to police users who incited violence. Before its removal, Greenes spending super-charged her presence on Parler, with some of her posts reaching millions of users, according to an analysis of data by The Associated Press. She frequently attacked Democrats and railed against coronavirus pandemic safety measures, like mask-wearing. Greene also called on Congress to overturn the results of Bidens election. Im tired of seeing weak-kneed Republicans play defense. I will go on the attack, Greene said in a Nov. 18 post. Its our 1776 moment! she posted the day before the mob overran the Capitol. You have members of Congress who do not feel safe at work right now because of the violent attempted coup, said Melissa Ryan, CEO of consultancy group Card Strategies, which researches online disinformation and right-wing extremism. And then you have politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene who are not just stoking the fear, but using it as a fundraising tool. Greene is now texting supporters, seeking to raise money for her attempt to impeach Biden. The fine print of her solicitations, however, shows that any funds she takes in will instead be routed to her campaign account. I would not consider that meeting "trilateral;" there were two and a half sides, or maybe two and one-quarter. The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with several media outlets on Wednesday, when asked about the results of the January 11 trilateral meeting in Moscow between the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan. "If they had put a picture of our prime minister [Nikol Pashinyan], maybe there would have been a bigger result; at least there would have been some impression of mystery. (). Now Azerbaijan has resolved the issue of territories by force (). We [Armenia], in fact, have nothing in exchange for which it [Azerbaijan] has to discuss the issue of status [of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)]. This means one thing: Azerbaijan considers the issue resolved, and we have entered the final stage of the settlement of the issue. (). They try to present the importance of that road. First, of course, it is good that the road opens. But look, I was president in Armenia in 1998-2008, our economy has grown by an average of 10.5% per year, the last 7 years it has been 12 5%, () but the road was closed [at the time], Turkey was blocking us as well. Now, let them not tell us tales that once the road will be opened, we will start living well, and so on and so forth. Now, what are the possible consequences of opening the road? First, it is a big question whether it will be opened or not. The Meghri section will be controlled by the Russians, we will not have any influence on the remaining 850 km, of which 47 km is the Meghri section. Azerbaijan can pursue such a tariff policy that it becomes meaningless for us to use it. () At that time, the blockade even helped us to develop our agriculture and processing industry. What can be achieved as a result of the work of the railway? Our agriculture and processing industry compete with Azerbaijan, which has cheap fuel, and Turkey subsidizes agriculture on a huge scale. And in the short and medium term, this will hit our agriculture and processor; we must realize this. Drastic steps will be needed to protect our market. This government is not capable of such steps. () It is not that the opening of roads is bad, but clear steps are needed. Otherwise, many [Armenian] farms will lose their meaning," Robert Kocharyan said. The second president of Armenia added that during the Key West talks, it was proposed that Artsakh be connected to Armenia through a corridor, moreover, this corridor would have the same status as Artsakh, and Azerbaijan were to receive only a sovereign road to its exclave of Nakhchivan. The province unveiled its overall vaccination plan Wednesday, laying out the order in which all Manitobans over the age of 18 will receive protection from COVID-19. Advertisement Advertise With Us The province unveiled its overall vaccination plan Wednesday, laying out the order in which all Manitobans over the age of 18 will receive protection from COVID-19. Vaccines for children have not yet been approved. Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson appeared at her first COVID-19 daily update since being assigned the role, joined by Dr. Joss Reimer, medical officer of health with Stefansons department and medical lead on the vaccine implementation task force. "This team has put together the most wide-ranging plan possible, recognizing that some elements such as vaccine supply are out of our control. I also want to reinforce that we are trying to provide as much information as possible, as soon as we receive it," said Stefanson. "As all of you can appreciate, this is the largest rollout of a vaccine in the history of not just Manitoba, but the entire world. And we are all trying to plan for every conceivable scenario and adjust accordingly." Stefanson acknowledged that the government may have been "a little too cautious in giving out information." She said thats because situations are changing day by day and, in the case of vaccine supply, sometimes hour by hour. "We wanted to make sure we had all the questions answered before releasing the information. I realize now that we cant wait for perfection, so we will provide as much information as possible as soon as we can, recognizing, of course, that things will change," she said. Reimer laid out the plan in detail at a technical briefing for press in the morning, then again in the early afternoon at the daily COVID-19 update. The first bit of information Reimer shared is that Manitoba ranks third in full two-dose vaccinations at 369 per 100,000 of the population, second only to Ontario at 565 and Prince Edward Island at 1,185. The plan depends on supply and Reimer presented two scenarios one for a low supply and one for a high supply. There are four stages to the vaccine rollout in both plans. The low-supply plan takes the province into December and estimates 70 per cent vaccine uptake among qualified Manitobans. That plan does not include any vaccines that have not yet been approved. The high-supply plan takes the province to August for the 70 per cent vaccine uptake among qualified Manitobans. "Looking forward, we know that there are more types of vaccines on the horizon. In fact, Canada has agreements on seven different vaccines, not just the two that were using now. Weve been hearing about AstraZeneca, as that one appears to be the closest to being ready," said Reimer. If approved, that vaccine would open up another avenue of delivery that cannot be implemented with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, both of which are mRNA vaccines that require freezers with specific low temperatures. "The newer vaccines can be safely stored in doctors offices and in pharmacies in the fridge. We are already working with these partners to plan for what this will look like and what else we need to have in place to make it successful," said Reimer. More information about this part of the plan will be released in coming days. "But this could be the way that we deliver hundreds of thousands of doses, and that is significant," she said. Stage one, which is where we are now, includes groups such as the health-care workforce, Indigenous communities, congregate living settings and adults 70 years or older. Stage two includes health-care staff not included in stage one, residents and staff of all other congregate settings such as migrant workers, correctional facilities and essential workers, assisted living facilities, shelters and supportive housing. Stage two is also when the general population is added to the specialized rollout in the above-mentioned setting. That program begins with adults over the age of 95, and expanding the rollout by one-year increments. Stage three, along with a list of more health-care workers, includes Manitobans over the age of 60, beginning with anyone over the age of 75, then in one-year increments. Stage four includes all remaining health-care workers and Manitobans over the age of 18, beginning with people over the age of 55 also proceeding by one-year increments. Reimer repeated the timelines depend on vaccine supplies reaching the province. The provinces COVID-19 vaccination plan, if vaccine supplies are low and with an uptake of 70 per cent, will continue to December. (Submitted) The plans also identify how and where vaccines will be delivered. The full vaccine presentation can be found at bit.ly/3qYYIX2 mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. WEDNESDAYS COVID-19 UPDATE The COVID-19 update from the province on Wednesday saw four additional deaths listed, but none in PMH. The province reported 95 new cases, but one case was removed due to data corrections, bringing the new case total to 94. The new cases are as follows: two cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region; 43 cases in the Northern health region; three cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region; three cases in the Southern HealthSante Sud health region; and 44 cases in the Winnipeg health region. The five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate was 9.6 per cent in the province, and 6.1 per cent in Winnipeg. Lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba total 28,996, with 813 deaths or 2.8 per cent. The province reports 3,456 active cases, though there remains a data backlog reducing that number. Individuals who have recovered total a reported 24,727. The province also reported 127 people are in hospital with active COVID-19, as well as 154 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 281 hospitalizations. Twenty-four people are in intensive care units with active COVID-19, as well as 12 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 36 ICU patients. In the Prairie Mountain Health region, there are a reported 294 active cases, with 1,673 recovered. There are seven active cases hospitalized, and seven people hospitalized who are no longer infectious. There are no patients in ICU. The region has seen 51 deaths. Brandons active case count is 51, with 864 recovered and 21 deaths. On Tuesday, 1,576 tests were completed, for a total of 469,361 since February 2020. Source: Province of Manitoba Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 5, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters) Bipartisan Senate Coalition Calls for Banning Imports Made With Uyghur Slave Labor A proposal with bipartisan backing is before the U.S. Senate to make it illegal to import into the U.S. products made in China using the slave labor of members of the Uyghur Muslim minority in that country. The proposalknown as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Actis co-sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with 27 other senators, including 15 Republicans and 12 Democrats. As the Chinese Communist Party is committing egregious human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, including genocide and crimes against humanity, there is no excuse to turn a blind eye, Rubio said in a Jan. 27 statement. We must instead do everything in our power to stop them. This bill is an important step in that direction. My bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act would ensure that the CCP is not profiting from its abuses by stopping products made with Uyghur forced labor from entering our supply chains. Rubio is vice-chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the second-ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is also co-chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). Merkley, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and serves with Rubio on the CECC, said in the same statement: For years, the Chinese government has been committing genocide in Xinjiang, subjecting Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to torture, imprisonment, forced labor, and pressure to abandon their religious and cultural practices. The fact that some of the products theyve been forced to produce are ending up on American shelves is disturbing and unacceptable. We must ban the importation of these goods to ensure that we are not complicit in the genocide, and fully commit ourselves to holding the perpetrators accountable for these atrocities. The RubioMerkley measure goes beyond an executive order issued in September 2020 by then-President Donald Trump that banned the importation of specified goods, including toys, hair products, clothing, computer parts, and electronics. The proposal now before the Senate provides a blanket ban on the importation of all Chinese goods produced in any way using slave labor of the Muslim minority that lives primarily in the Xinjiang Region of western China. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos last official act before the end of his tenure was a Jan. 19 U.S. determination of atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region. 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, Pompeo said in the determination. 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. Pompeo ended the determination by stating that 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, he said. 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. President Joe Biden and newly confirmed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken are now conducting a systematic review of what they described as Trumps aggressive foreign policy, including the former chief executives approach to China. Blinken also told the Senate foreign relations panel during his confirmation hearing that he believed Trump was right to take a tough approach toward China, but he had reservations about how it was done. Let me just say that I also believe that President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China, Blinken told the committee. I disagree very much with the way that he went about it in a number of areas, but the basic principle was the right one, and I think thats actually helpful to our foreign policy. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc 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. DETROIT, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Medical Composites Market by Fiber Type (Carbon Fiber Composites, Glass Fiber Composites, and Other Composites), by Application Type (Operating & Diagnostic Tables, Bone Implants, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Surgical Seals, and Others), By Process Type (Wet Lamination, Prepreg, and Others), By End-User Type (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2021-2026. This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's medical composites 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 aramid fibers 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 the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies. Medical Composites Market: Highlights from the Report Over the years, composite materials have gained significant acceptance in a wide array of industries including aerospace & defense, automotive, consumer goods, wind energy, oil & gas, etc. Excellent performance has led to the adoption of these innovative materials in the medical and healthcare industry as well. Properties of composite materials, such as radiolucency, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and corrosion resistance, make these materials a suitable choice for medical applications by replacing their metal counterparts. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the global economy affecting every industry in some or another way. The medical composites market is no exception to it and is expected to suffer from a decline in 2020 due to production halts, reduced demand, layoffs, and supply chain disruption across the globe. However, the market is expected to rebound from 2021 onwards, overall creating healthy opportunities in years to come. As per Stratview Research, the global medical composites market is estimated to grow at a lucrative rate over the next five years to reach an estimated value of US$ 771 million in 2026. The growing use of advanced composite materials in diagnostic imaging, prosthetics, and body implants are the major factors, likely to boost the growth of the medical composites market in the long run. Further, regulatory approval for medical devices from agencies, such as FDA, may augment the market growth. Click Here and Run Through the TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/1381/medical-composites-market.html Based on the fiber type, carbon fiber is likely to remain the most dominant fiber type in the market during the forecast period due to rising adoption in radiolucent operating tables, lower limb prosthetics, bone implants, and orthotics. Glass fiber is expected to be the second-largest segment owing to growing utility in prosthetics, orthotics, and tissue engineering. The market is further segmented based on application type as operating & diagnostic tables, bone implants, prosthetics & orthotics, surgical seals, and others. The Operating & diagnostic tables segment is expected to remain the most dominant application type in the coming five years, owing to the growing adoption of such tables in hybrid ORs (operating rooms) as they offer 360-degree radiolucency coupled with increasing adoption of carbon composite tabletops. Prosthetics & orthotics segment is expected to remain the second-largest application type over the same period, driven by composites' excellent strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Based on end-user type, hospitals held the largest share of the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its position during the forecast period as well. High budget of such establishments, as well as larger patient footfall, attributed to the largest share. A surge in patient preference towards ambulatory surgical centers in the North American and European markets will boost the segment's growth over the foreseeable future. Enquire Here for a Free Sample of the Detailed Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/1381/medical-composites-market.html In terms of region, North America accounted for the largest share of the global medical composites market in 2020. The region is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period as well, owing to higher adoption of advanced technology, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, and huge healthcare expenditure. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market, owing to the rapid improvement in healthcare infrastructure in key economies such as India and China along with rising healthcare expenditure in the region. The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, medical composite component manufacturers, distributors, OEMs, and end-users. Key medical composite component manufacturers include Ossur, Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA, Fillauer LLC, Getinge Group, Steris Corporation, HillRom, Stryker Corporation, Composite Horizons, Stille AB, Skytron LLC, and Mizuho Medical Co. Ltd. The market's attractiveness has led to series of product launches by key players in order to better align with the demand: In 2020, Hillrom launched PST 500 and PST 300 precision surgical table that offers a 360-degree radiolucency coupled with the capability of handling general surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. In 2019, Genting launched its Maquet Yuno II surgical table that is a versatile option to support advanced orthopedic techniques as well as trauma and neurosurgeries. In 2017, Hillrom launched the Allen advance table lateral system to compliment the Allen advanced table. The radiolucent flat table offers superior intra-operative imaging capabilities. Key Strategic Alliances in the Market: In 2020, Steeper Group completed the acquisition of the Espire Elbow prostheses range from College Park Industries, enhancing its product portfolio. In 2019, Fillauer acquired Therapeutic Recreational Systems to strengthen its product portfolio and customer base. In 2017, Ottobock acquired the BeBionic prosthetic products and related business from the British med-tech company, Steeper. The acquisition strengthened its position as a market leader by expanding the product portfolio. In 2016, Ossur acquired Medi Prosthetics from the Medi Group, a global provider of mechanical lower limb prosthetic components. In 2015, Ossur acquired Touch Bionics to enter the upper limb prosthetic market and further enhance its offerings. 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 medical composites market and has segmented the market in five ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the five ways in which the market is segmented: Medical Composites Market, By Fiber Type: Carbon Fiber (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Glass Fiber (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Medical Composites Market, By Application Type: Operating Tables (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Bone Implants (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Prosthetic & Orthotics (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Surgical Seals (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Medical Composites Market, By Process Type: Wet Lamination (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Medical Composites Market, By End-User Type: Hospitals (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Ambulatory Surgical Centers (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) , , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Medical Composites Market, By Region: North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico ) (Country Analysis: The , , and ) Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , The UK, France , Italy , Russia , Spain , and Rest of Europe ) (Country Analysis: , The UK, , , , , and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , India , and Rest of the Asia-pacific ) (Country Analysis: , , , and Rest of the ) Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , the UAE, 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. Stratview Research has launched 'Composights', an online portal which offers free thought leadership reports, whitepapers, market report synopsis and much more for Composites and allied industries, worth US$ 20,000 every year. Click here to sign up (No costs involved): https://www.stratviewresearch.com/composights/sign-in For enquiries, please contact: Stratview Research E-mail: [email protected] Direct: +1-313-307-4176 SOURCE Stratview Research It was a blustery day throughout the southern San Joaquin Valley on Wednesday. The weather was part of a winter storm that touched various par With police officers among those prioritized for a COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama, a poll went out among the Mobile Police Department to gauge who would be willing to take it. The results were not initially encouraging. Of the 322 sworn officers polled, 178 or 55% said they were not willing to get a shot, while 144 or 45% said they were willing. Since the poll, taken earlier this month, a growing number of officers have come forward to commit to getting the vaccine. There was the expectation that some officers would be unwilling, said Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste. A few officers have expressed concern of not getting the vaccine because of uncertainty as to how it would affect them if pregnant or trying to conceive. From my perspective as a parent, I can understand their apprehension. Alabama health officials say pregnant women or those trying to conceive or who are lactating, have no reason to be concerned. Despite initial worries over a lack of studies on the effects of the COVID-19 vaccines on pregnancy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests that vaccines be offered to women who are pregnant or are considering pregnancy. Still, doctors fear that young women are continuing to skip out on getting a shot due to worries about fertility and nursing a baby. Health officials say that fear has more to do with the lack of early clinical trials of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Modernas COVID-19 vaccines failed to include pregnant and lactating women, so data was inconclusive. Further fueling concerns: The World Health Organization, on Wednesday, advised pregnant women against taking the Moderna vaccine unless they are a healthcare worker or have pre-existing health conditions. Dr. Warner Huh, chairman of UABs Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said the bottom line is that professional medical societies are recommending that pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccines, and that the risks are minimal compared to getting the deadly virus and risk hospitalization. There are multiple groups, including the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, who all recommend the COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to pregnant women, those who are lactating and breastfeeding and those who are thinking about pregnancy, Huh said during a Zoom call with reporters. Hospitalization risk The CDC, last year, said that pregnant patients who contract COVID-19 are at a high risk of hospitalization and intensive care if they contract the deadly virus. He added, The risks of being hospitalized and on a ventilator and dying will be higher than their non-pregnant counterparts. Its why a lot of providers are recommending that pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Public health agencies in Alabama, including the Department of Public Health, support the recommendations made by the CDC and the ACOG. But health officials, Huh included, believe pregnant women and those considering pregnancy, need to consult with their physician before receiving a shot. If you have a complicated pregnancy, or any other health conditions please consult with a health care provider about being vaccinated, said L. Scott Chavers, an epidemiologist with the Mobile County Public Health Department. Pregnant women are not mentioned as a top priority in Alabamas COVID-19 vaccination plan. Currently, the only people who are eligible to receive a vaccine in Alabama are those over age 75, police officers and firefighters, and healthcare workers. The CDC is recommending people age 65 and up be eligible for the vaccine. But Alabama has not moved beyond the 75 and up age group as its distribution rate continues to lag among the worst in the nation. With limited vaccine supplies, its unclear when the categories might be expanded. Its a question that has come up quite a bit on whether its appropriate to exclude that population and where they should slot in, said Huh. We are in a fairly nascent stage in vaccinating the general public. It would not surprise me in the coming weeks, months perhaps, the prioritization of vaccinations and where pregnant women fit in, gets revisited by the CDC and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Huh noted that if a pregnant woman has pre-existing conditions like hypertension or obesity, they will fall into a category 1c, which includes people with high-risk medical conditions. However, due to a limited supply of vaccine and confusion over vaccination plans, its unclear how long it might take before vaccinating people in that category occurs. But where pregnant women fit in is a great question, said Huh. Again, we are in the earliest phases of rolling out the vaccination of the general public. Its not surprising at all that this gets revisited in the next few weeks or months. Related content: Why police officers and firefighters are getting COVID-19 shots before Alabama teachers Huh said that women who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant should be discussing the vaccine with their health provider. The most important thing is if this isnt a topic that comes up in prenatal care or conversations with your provider, if needs to come up, he said. Its about weighing the risk benefits and pros and cons. I know that an unknown makes people nervous. This is a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. The deaths are astronomical. Weve come to the phase where we have a vaccine which is the ultimate prevention mechanism in getting COVID-19. Battiste, the Mobile police chief, said while his department understands the hesitancy, his agency is recommending the shots. My command staff and I will continue to encourage officers to get the vaccine, he said. We believe that is vitally important to their health and necessary for them to set an example for the community by getting it. 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. A man from New York has been charged over his alleged role in riots at the Capitol three weeks ago - but insists he is not a Trump supporter and was only in Washington to 'understand' MAGA fans. The FBI was tipped off that Christopher Ortiz, 27, from Huntington, Long Island, had been at the riot with several people coming forward with the information. Ortiz also posted to his Instagram story that appeared to show him entering the Capitol building alongside other protesters on January 6th. But outside court on Wednesday he insisted: 'I'm not somebody who walks around wearing a MAGA hat, I'm not that kind of person. I wanted to understand what's going on with the people I don't really align with.' Hundreds of supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building to disrupt the final, largely ceremonial act by the House and Senate to count electoral votes and declare Joe Biden the winner of the election. Five people died, including an officer for the Capitol Police. 27-year-old Christopher Ortiz is accused of participating in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6th Christopher Ortiz, 27, speaks with the media after leaving Federal Court, in Central Islip, New York. He was arrested on Wednesday afternoon for allegedly storming the Capitol Ortiz was arrested early Wednesday in Huntington at his parents home on Long Island At least two people came forward to tell authorities that Ortiz could be heard on video yelling: 'Onward, Onward!' and 'Yeah! We're at the door!' Charging documents also show screenshots of messages that Ortiz is alleged to have exchanged with one of the FBI's witnesses. The informant asked Ortiz in a direct message what he was doing there when they saw the video, according to the documents. 'Participating in government,' he wrote back. 'Lol they can come and get me; I didn't break or vandalize or steal; I walked through and out,' he wrote. 'I'd storm the Capitol for you any day,' Ortiz added. Witnesses told authorities that Ortiz had videos from the January 6 riot on his Instagram account, according to court papers Text messages with an FBI witness were including in the charging documents in which Ortiz is alleged to have said: 'I'd storm the Capitol for you any day' Christopher Ortiz appears in this courtroom sketch during a virtual hearing before Magistrate Judge Anne shields in a New York court on charges related to the January 6th storming of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Ortiz was arrested by the Joint Terrorism Task Force at his home where he lives with his parents, on Wednesday morning. But upon leaving the court and being photographed by DailyMail.com, Ortiz claimed he did not support former President Donald Trump and was not someone who caused damage at the riot. 'I think the sensationalism around the violence at the riot isn't right. I don't think it was violent, I didn't vandalize, I didn't steal, I didn't break anything, I didn't burn anything. There on D.C. that day, I saw a group that represents about half of our entire country. And I feel like the division across this nation is reaching a high,' Ortiz said to News 12. Ortiz is alleged to have posted video of himself as he walked through the Capitol building Christopher Ortiz, 27, was tracked down in Huntington, Long Island Ortiz is seen in a courtroom sketch as he appearing before the the judge by video link 'And the reason I put myself there ... I'm not somebody who walks around wearing a MAGA hat, I'm not that kind of person, understand? I wanted to understand what's going on with the people I don't really align with. I wanted to see what's happening. They marched towards the Capitol, I got caught up in that, it became a crazy thing,' Ortiz explained. Ortiz was arraigned in federal court in Central Islip on Wednesday on two charges, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted buildings or ground without lawful authority. He was released on $60,000 bond and has been told that he is not allowed to head to Washington D.C. except to appear in court, which he is scheduled to do so on Monday. Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they try to storm the Capitol Police detain a person during the attack by supporters of US President Donald Trump on the US Capitol The FBI is continuing with its efforts to build a conspiracy case in the wake of the Capitol riots. Authorities have arrested more than 150 people for their alleged role in the siege according law enforcement. But the investigation is about to shift gears and the next steps will see federal officials attempt to prosecute those who allegedly took part, as more information is gathered on the suspects and investigators attempt to determine whether a larger conspiracy case might be able to be pursued. Steven D'Antuono, FBI Assistant Director in Charge had revealed the FBI has received more than 200,000 digital media tips from the public. Though a combination of tips and research, 400 suspects allegedly involved with the riots have been identified and about 150 arrested. Authorities have arrested more than 150 people for their alleged role in the siege according law enforcement but there are still more to come Pennsylvania State Police are looking for a driver they say crashed into a person, pinning the victim between vehicles, before fleeing. Troopers were called at 3:26 a.m. Thursday for the crash at the Turkey Hill gas station on Morgan Hill Road, near Interstate 78, in Williams Township. The victim was at the gas pumps, when a driver pulled in and crashed into the victim, pinning them between the two vehicles, Trooper Nathan Branosky said. The driver fled and troopers are still looking for them. State police did not provide a description of the car or driver, but said troopers are following up on leads in the investigation. The victim suffered leg injuries, Branosky said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Burma Political, Religious Figures Urge Myanmar Govt, Military Leaders to Talk as Tensions Rise Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw in 2016. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy Prominent political and religious figures in Myanmar have urged government and military leaders to engage in a dialogue in order to calm a sudden escalation in tensions over statements from the military that have been interpreted as a threat to stage a coup if its claims of electoral fraud go unaddressed. The latest round of tensions between the armed forces and the government dates back to the run-up to Novembers general election, when the military complained about the government-appointed electoral body, the Union Election Commission (UEC), accusing it of poor management of the preparation for the polls and casting doubt over whether the voting would be free and fair. After the NLD won a landslide electoral victory, the military launched a probe into the voting process after its proxy, the main opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), blamed its heavy electoral defeat on voter fraud. The military and the USDP complained that their calls for an investigation into the election and the UEC had fallen on deaf ears. Since then the military has published a series of findings that it says provide evidence to back up its fraud claims, but the accusations have been rejected by the election commissioners as exaggerated and absurd. The military said that as of early this week it had found nearly 8.6 million voter-list irregularities. The government and the UEC have been tight-lipped on the complaints. The tensions escalated alarmingly at a military press conference on Tuesday when the armed forces spokesperson, Major General Zaw Min Tun, refused to rule out the possibility of a military coup if the Tatmadaws demand for an investigation into alleged electoral fraud was not met. The spokespersons denial raised concerns over whether the armed forces were gearing up for another coupMyanmar has experienced three military takeovers in the pastwhich could run the risk of throwing Myanmar into social, economic and political disarray for years to come, and once again isolate the country internationally. Daw Htoot May, Rakhine ethnic affairs minister-elect for Yangon Region, said the militarys refusal to rule out a coup was the outcome of the UECs silence on the issue. To my understanding, the military is applying pressure because the UEC has been silent despite the parties complaints over the election results, she said. The militarys spokesperson even said on Tuesday that the governments deafening silence on the fraud complaints created problems for the military. We dont want to be regarded as the villains in the history, therefore the Tatmadaw shares our findings, he said. Some believe an official meeting between the countrys top civilian and military leadersDaw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaingon the issue could provide a way to resolve the tension. Al Haj U Aye Lwin, the chief convener of the Islamic Centre of Myanmar, said flexibility could help things moving forward. If Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meets with the senior general and says she takes his concerns seriously and lets him know how the government has been thoroughly following the issue, things would improve, he said. Some political parties, including the USDP, currently have electoral complaints pending before the UEC. Under the law, an electoral tribunal will hold hearings on them. U Aye Lwin suggested the military should wait for the UECs final decision on the complaints. Only when they find out if there are irregularities and fraud, should they challenge it, he added. Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson, the president of the Kachin Baptist Convention, recalled that Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing repeatedly complained of electoral fraud during their meeting in December last year. Now it seems that he has laid out his plan, he said, referring to the perceived threat of a military takeover. He urged the military not to think about a coup, as it would take Myanmar backward. The military spokespersons comments made the reverend wonder if the leadership of Myanmar really wanted peace. If they want it, they all have to negotiate. All we can do is wait nervously for the result, he said. You may also like these stories: A Military Coup in Myanmar Is Unlikely, But. Myanmar Military Refuses to Rule Out Coup as It Presses Claim of Fraud in Nov. Election Updated Timeline: Tracing Militarys Interference in Myanmar Election Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Karen villagers protest against the presence of government military forces in their area in southeastern Myanmar's Kayin state, Jan. 27, 2021. Thousands of civilians staged protests in 11 villages in southeastern Myanmars Kayin and Mon states Wednesday, demanding that the countrys military withdraw from their area and abide by a nationwide cease-fire agreement reached in 2015. The protests follow a flare-up since early December in fighting between Myanmar forces and the Karen National Union (KNU), with recent armed clashes causing more than 5,000 residents to flee their homes for refugee camps. The KNU, Myanmars oldest ethnic rebel army, is one of 10 ethnic armies that have signed the Nationwide Cease-Fire Agreement (NCA) with the Myanmar military. The fragile October 2015 pact is intended to end decades of conflict that have hindered Myanmars political and economic development. Protesters from 11 villages in the conflict zone called for the Myanmar military to withdraw and adhere to NCA rules and the agreed-upon code of conduct as tensions between the two sides remain high. We dont want the militarys troops here, said Naw Ohn Kyin, who participated in the protest. We dont have KNU troops stationed here, though this is KNU territory. The government forces have been stationed in the villages of Kyathaung Seik, Lay Kay, and Win Tar Pan in territory controlled by the KNU on the border between Kayin states Hpa-an township and Mon states Belin township. We want all of them to leave the area, Naw Ohn Kyin said. The local people are living in fear because of their presence. We are always worried about when they will start shooting and firing guns. The protesters said that some villagers had left their homes following armed engagements in Kayin states Hpapun township. Nay Alkaphaw from Pyinmapin Seik village said that local residents perceive the presence of government troops as a threat. We have no security when they are here, he said. We do our daily activities in fear as long as they are here. Especially for women, there is always the risk of getting raped by soldiers. Thats why we believe our lives will be safe only if the military troops withdraw from the area. Nay Alkaphaw said clashes in the KNUs No. 5 Divisions territory in the Mae Wine area were sparked by the Myanmar militarys presence there. If they had not been stationed here, then the battles would not have occurred, he said. This is our evidence The Myanmar military has denied accusations by the KNU that troop reinforcements in its controlled area caused the fighting. Myanmar defense forces spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told reporters Tuesday that the military had withdrawn dozens of units from KNU territory in Kayin state and Bago region since 1990 and had not sent in recent reinforcements as the KNU asserts. All in all, we have withdrawn a total of 61 military units stationed in KNU territory, he said at a press conference in Naypyidaw. This is our evidence. I dont know why officials from the KNUs No. 5 Division are accusing us of sending reinforcements to the area. KNU secretary Pado Saw Hla Tun rejected the militarys statement, arguing that 125 Myanmar units are stationed in the area. We are appealing to them to withdraw troops stationed in civilian areas and in religious buildings in Division No. 7s territory, he said. Its not true that they have withdrawn 61 units from the area, he said. They also need to pinpoint the accurate location of the units they claim to have withdrawn so we can record them. Fighting between Myanmar soldiers and the KNU in the rebel armys No. 5 Division in Hpapun district have prompted more than 4,100 civilians from 17 villages to flee their homes, according to the Karen fighters. Armed clashes in nearby Kyaukkyi township, Bago region, also forced residents to flee to safety, said Saw Kyaw Lin Oo from the Karen Youth Network, a community organization helping displaced civilians from Hpapun and Kyaukkyi. So far, the KNUs No. 5 Divisions records show over 4,100 IDPs in Hpapun and 1,000 in the Nyaung Lay Pin district of Bago region, he said. They need food supplies and medicine. During the winter months, they will need warm clothes and blankets They also need materials like tarpaulins for building makeshift tents. Local civil society leaders have suggested urgent face-to-face meetings between KNU and Myanmar military leaders to reduce the tensions. Over 170 social and civil society groups on Jan. 20 sent letters to Myanmars President Win Myint and the countrys state counselor and de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi appealing for help to end the armed conflict in Kayin state. Reported by Min Khine Soe Linn and Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. On This Day The Day Gen. Aung San Met Ex-Colonial Administrator and Author Maurice Collis Gen. Aung San in Burmese dress during his visit to London (left). Maurice Collis (right) YANGONOn this day in 1947 General Aung San, the architect of Myanmars independence, hosted a dinner for renowned British writer Maurice Collis, who had served as an administrator in colonial Myanmar (then Burma), at the Dorchester Hotel in London where he was lodging. Gen. Aung San, nearly 32 at the time, had signed an agreement the day before with British Prime Minister Clement Attlee that granted independence for Myanmar in one year. The general said he had read all of the books written by Collis on Myanmar and expressed his admiration. Collis, a former Yangon (then Rangoon) administrator, talked at the dinner about his attachment to Myanmar and the Burmese people, his keen interest in Myanmars culture and customs, and how he came to write She Was a Queena book about Queen Pwa Saw of the Bagan Dynasty. Gen. Aung San and his delegation were all ears despite the winter chill inside the hotel. Gen. Aung San asked Collis to write a book after Myanmar achieved its independence. Collis asked whether Myanmar planned to remain in the Commonwealth. Gen. Aung San replied that he knew Myanmar would gain advantages from joining the Commonwealth, but the people could decide to secede. Unlike other parts of the Commonwealth, the people of Myanmar did not view Britain as the motherland. Myanmar had been invaded and occupied by Japan though it was part of the British Empire. He said he thought the damage to the country could have been reduced if Myanmar had been an independent nation like Thailand. He said Parliament would ultimately make the decision on whether to remain in the Commonwealth. Gen. Aung San returned to Myanmar three days after the meeting. Six months later, he was assassinated along with his colleagues at the Secretariat Building in Yangon. He never had a chance to read Last and First in Burma, in which Collis discussed his independence efforts and the talks that night at the Dorchester Hotel. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: The Day Britain Moved Its Dead from Shwedagon Pagoda The Day Myanmars Independence Hero Studied Britains War Machine The Day the Burma Road Between Myanmar and China Opened Ex-soldier Phillip Dutton, 52, has been handed a 14-year prison sentence in France for his role in the 2016 kidnapping for hotel magnate Jacqueline Veyrac, 80, in Nice An ex-soldier has been handed a 14-year jail sentence for his role in the kidnapping of a French hotel magnate. Phillip Dutton, 52, was one of 13 people on trial over the plot to kidnap 80-year-old Jacqueline Veyrac, who owns the five-star Grand Hotel in Cannes and the La Reserve restaurant in Nice. Dutton, who had been living on the streets of Nice when he was approached to join the operation in exchange for 450,000 of the kidnapping ransom, was handed his jail sentence by a court in Alpes-Maritimes, south-eastern France. Having been caught out by police who found his DNA underneath Veyrac's fingernails, Dutton admitted taking part in the 2016 kidnapping at the start of the investigation and also admitted to having been part of a failed operation in 2013. Dutton's Italian accomplice Giuseppe Serena, 67, a former manager of Veyrac's La reserve, also received an 18-year sentence for being the brains behind the kidnapping. Serena's contract of employment was not renewed by Veyrac in 2009, leading to him coming up with the plan to kidnap her and demand a 4.5million ransom - which would have been used to set up his own restaurant. Serena, who has been in custody for four years, had denied the charges but appeared to admit his involvement toward the end of the four-week trial. 'Never in my life did I think of treating Mrs Veyrac like a postal package!' he told the court. After a first, failed attempt in 2013, Veyrac (pictured on January 8, 2021) was kidnapped in the centre of Nice on October 24, 2016. She was found west of the city two days later having spent 48 hours in the back of a white van 'It wasn't about hate... and it wasn't about the money. Probably it was my frustrated ego,' he said. Serena rejected claims by his co-defendants that he wanted to kidnap Veyrac's son or even her grandson as part of the scheme. His lawyer, Corentin Delobel, said his client was likely to appeal a 'disproportionate' ruling that he called 'the equivalent of a death sentence.' Jacqueline Veyrac did not appear in court for the verdict, with her lawyer Luc Febbraro telling France 3 Cote d'Azur: 'She deemed that it was not her place. This is not her personal vengeance.' After a first, failed attempt in 2013, the businesswoman was kidnapped in the centre of Nice on October 24, 2016. Jacqueline Veyrac is the owner of the five-star Grand Hotel in Cannes (pictured) and the La Reserve restaurant in Nice. Giuseppe Serena, 67, the mastermind behind the kidnapping had been a former manager of the La Reserve restaurant before his employment contract was discontinued She was found west of the city two days later having spent 48 hours in the back of a white van. Veyrac had been threatened with death and had been forced to drink a sedative. She was freed by a passer-by after she started kicking the door of the van while the kidnappers were away to raise the alarm. Six other people were also given prison sentences, while an additional five people were acquitted. Three of those handed sentences were youths from the neighbourhood of Les Moulins on the outskirts of Nice who were handed sentences between 14 and 15 years in prison. One of the 13 defendants, private detective Luc Goursolas (pictured left), nicknamed 'Tintin', was also jailed for two years, one year suspended, for failing to report the kidnapping. He had fitted a tracking device to Veyrac's car but claims he did not know it was part of a plot to abduct her The man that recruited the youths was also jailed for four years. Another defendant, private detective Luc Goursolas, nicknamed 'Tintin', has also been jailed for two years, one year suspended, for failing to denounce the crimes. He had fitted a tracking device to Veyrac's car but claims he did not know it was part of a plot to abduct her. A 17-month sentence was also passed on one defendant for having participated in the kidnap's planning. A 14th defendant was unable to appear in court due to ill health and will be judged at a later date. NFPs focus on driving sustainable growth and providing clients with specialized expertise, while supporting a great culture, aligns well with our values, said Andrew Martin. NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides property and casualty (P&C), corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions, today announced the acquisition of the P&C brokerage client accounts of A.D. Martin Commercial Insurance Services (A.D. Martin). The transaction closed on December 31, 2020. A.D. Martin, founded in 1990 and located in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, is a commercial P&C insurance broker with complementary personal lines P&C capabilities. The acquisition represents an opportunity for growth in the Northeast region while enhancing NFPs connections to the New Jersey market. Firm principal Andrew Martin will join NFP as a vice president and report to Scott Stegall, senior vice president. Were thrilled to welcome an experienced producer like Andy to the NFP family, said Mike Walsh, Northeast managing director in NFPs P&C division. Andys deep knowledge of the New Jersey market and relationships across the region will be a great addition to our team as we expand our presence and deliver more value to clients. NFPs focus on driving sustainable growth and providing clients with specialized expertise, while supporting a great culture, aligns well with our values, said Martin. Im excited to join the team and introduce my clients to the breadth of solutions and resources NFP has to offer. About NFP NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 5,800 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 5th best place to work in insurance and 6th largest US-based privately owned broker (Business Insurance); 9th commercial lines agency by P&C commercial lines revenue and 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 12th largest global insurance broker (Bests Review). Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals. EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a two-day business and networking conference March 9-10, featuring some of the states most prominent industry leaders. Early-bird registration is open. Tickets are limited. After nearly three weeks of negotiations on legal marijuana and little to no movement forward, Gov. Phil Murphy faces a looming deadline to take action on two bills that would overhaul New Jerseys weed laws. He has said he will not sign either a bill to legalize weed (S21) or legislation to decriminalize it (S2535) as is, citing issues with penalties for underage marijuana use. That leaves him with the option of issuing a conditional veto to request specific changes unless he can get lawmakers to make the changes themselves. Seeking a compromise bill with lawmakers hasnt worked so far. But its not clear the Legislature would concur with the governors proposed changes if he took the veto route. Under the legislative calendar, Murphy has until Feb. 8 to sign or veto the bills. The Senate has a voting session scheduled for Thursday but the Assembly is not expected to fully convene until after the deadline. Both chambers would have to schedule voting sessions for next week or on Feb. 8 to pass a cleanup bill Murphy wants that would make changes to the legislation before he has to take action. The current bills simultaneously establish criminal penalties for youth possession of marijuana and do away with repercussions entirely, a paradox Murphy has said he will not make law. He wants to see civil penalties, like small fines, established instead. The last thing any of us want is our kids getting tied up in the criminal justice system, especially kids of color, Murphy said Wednesday when asked about the delays during his briefing on the coronavirus in Trenton. And secondly, the voters voted to legalize adult use marijuana. It said it right in the referendum, 21 and up, thats always been the case. Murphy has spent the past month negotiating with lawmakers to no avail. And while they came to a deal earlier this month, it quickly fell apart. Getting both of those principles respected is not an easy process, Murphy said Wednesday. And thats what were trying to do. And I thank the legislators who are working really hard with us to get that. Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who sponsored the legalization bill and abandoned efforts on a cleanup bill earlier this month, said getting lawmakers to agree with the conditions of a Murphy veto could prove challenging, but that negotiations were not dead. Talks are ongoing. Im hopeful, he said Wednesday. I think the bills should be signed as is. I think its going to be a real problem, Scutari said of a potential conditional veto, noting he would have to see the proposal before knowing if it could pass. I dont know if well have the votes for concurrence. Negotiations are ongoing between the Governor, Senate and Assembly, Kevin McArdle, a spokesman for the Assembly Democrats, said in a statement. He declined to comment further on the Assemblys schedule. Lawmakers have two choices if a governor vetoes: Agree to the conditions in the veto, or override it, which would require support from two-thirds in both the Senate and Assembly and make the bill law. If lawmakers dont take any action on a Murphy veto, the bills would not become law. Murphy tried for weeks to avoid issuing such a veto, and took first the unconventional path of sending informal suggestions back to the Legislature for them to draft a cleanup bill. As of Wednesday, he had not announced the he would issue conditional veto or sign the bills, but expressed again his commitment to making a deal with the Legislature. I remain an optimist, as a general matter, that were going to get to a better place, and I hope, sooner than later, Murphy said. Black Legislative Caucus members have vocally opposed the cleanup bill for fear that it would lead to uneven enforcement on Black and brown youth. But the current legalization bill would allow police to continue to arrest those 20 and younger caught with marijuana, levying higher fines against them and creating criminal records. Some argue that the decriminalization provision, which legalizes possession of up to six ounces, would override that piece. Either way, technical issues in the language between marijuana and cannabis would have remained. The Legislature has decided that cannabis refers to regulated, legal marijuana, which does not currently exist in the state for adult use, and marijuana refers to illegally sold substance. The disorderly persons offense applied to those caught with cannabis, the legal product. But the decriminalization bill did away with penalties for marijuana bought on the illegal market. On Wednesday, a majority of Democratic senators signed a letter calling on Murphy to sign at least the decriminalization bill while negotiations continue on the legalization bill. The bills on your desk do not need to be signed together and they do not conflict with each other, the letter obtained by NJ Advance Media said. The goal of the decriminalization bill is to protect individuals operating in the underground market primarily persons of color from being punished for possession and distribution of small amounts of marijuana. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. A stunning bikini-clad woman showing off her incredible strength by doing pull-ups at Bondi Beach was joined by a police officer who put her expertise to the test. The woman known only as Caroline shared a TikTok video showing her completing the bicep-enhancing exercise at the popular tourist beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Tuesday. The cheery blonde was joined by an obliging officer at the outdoor gym in North Bondi as they performed pull-ups together. The woman known as Caroline shared a TikTok video showing her doing push-ups at the popular tourist beach in Sydney's east on Tuesday (pictured) Each of them did three push-ups before the officer stepped down and high-fived Caroline. An incredible 80,000 people liked the video as social media users commended the officer for joining in. 'That's easily an extra eight kilos that officer is holding,' someone commented. 'Australian police officers are so nice,' someone else wrote. 'Great to see the coppers interacting with the public like that,' another wrote. Each of them did three push-ups before the officer stepped down and high-fived Caroline The footage emerged months after a super-fit bodybuilding grandfather completed the same challenge at Bondi. Gojkovich Dragan, 73, was born two years after the end of the Second World War in 1947 and now spends much of his time working out at the outdoor gym. The gym is mainly frequented by social media influencers and Instagram bodybuilders but judging by his videos Mr Dragan is there to teach them a lesson in humility. Gojkovich Dragan (left), 73, praises a woman's (right) beauty during a chin-up contest at the outdoor gym at Bondi Beach in August 2020 In one of his Instagram videos from 2020, Mr Dragan does a slow chin-up next to a 24-year-old man who is less than a third of his age. Once the pair reached the top of the bar, they held their position for an extended period. 'Yeah, 25 seconds. You can go down now,' the man filming said, prompting the younger man to immediately drop down and say "oh, f**k" in relief. But Mr Dragan held on and only let go after his younger counterpart, chuckling and smiling after winning the endurance contest. One of the perks of Mr Dragan's active lifestyle is he gets to interact with the many women who frequent the Bondi Beach outdoor gym, which is publicly accessible. In one video, he does five chins with a woman in activewear before they hold themselves at the top of the bar. In one of his recent videos, Mr Dragan (left) does a slow chin-up next to a 24-year-old man (right) who is less than a third of his age. The younger man let go first, meaning Mr Dragan won the endurance contest 'You see how beautiful this girl is? Beautiful to watch,' Mr Dragan said during the chin-ups, prompting the woman to say: 'You're very fit!' Eventually, she gave up before him and admitted defeat: 'He wins!' In another video, he challenges a blonde woman to do a series of chin-ups. She wasn't able to lift herself up once - but Mr Dragan 'made it look easy' as he pumped the exercises out. 'It doesn't work for me,' the woman said, prompting Mr Dragan to cheekily say: 'Okay, maybe next time!' In another video, Mr Dragan did chin ups while a female body builder was standing on his toes - lifting their combined body weight in an incredible feat of strength In another video, he did chin-ups while a female bodybuilder was standing on his toes - lifting their combined body weight in an incredible feat of strength. 'This dude (Mr Dragan) is 73 years YOUNG. Most 30 year old's can't do what this dude does on a daily basis,' the female bodybuilder wrote on Instagram. 'Whatever your "excuse" is, just know this... IT IS BULLS***.' Mr Dragan does a variety of exercises at the Bondi gym including push-ups, chin-ups, planks, ab workouts and yoga moves. He often uses added weight for increased intensity. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. A new study suggests that the myth about the Moon influencing menstrual cycles and sleeping patterns may be true after all. According to a study conducted by scientists from the University of Washington, National University of Quilmes, and Yale University, it has been found that moon phases affect our duration of sleep and menstruation patterns in the female reproductive system. The paper, published in Science Advances on January 27 suggests that sleep cycles in people fluctuates during the 29.5-day lunar cycle. In the days leading up to a full moon, people go to sleep later in the evening and sleep for shorter periods of time, says the study. The research team consisted of seven scientists: Horacio O. de la Iglesia, Leandro Casiraghi, Ignacio Spiousas, Gideon P. Dunster, Kaitlyn McGlothlen, Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, and Claudia Valeggia. To draw their results, the research team observed two sets of populations: Toba-Qom Indigenous communities in the northern Argentina region of Formosa, and college students in Seattle, a city in the US of more than 750,000. One rural community from Argentina had no access to electricity, a second rural community had only limited access to electricity, and a third community was in an urban setting and had full access to electricity. The researchers collected sleep data for one to two whole lunar cycles for nearly three-quarters of the Toba-Qom participants. Lead author of the study and UW professor of biology Horacio de la Iglesia said in a statement that the team observed a clear lunar modulation of sleep, with sleep decreasing and later onset of sleep in the days preceding a full moon. He said that although the effect is more visible in communities without access to electricity, it is also observed in communities with electricity, including undergraduates at the University of Washington. The total amount of sleep varied across the lunar cycle by an average of 46 to 58 minutes, found the study and bedtimes oscillated by around 30 minutes. For all three communities, the research found that on average, people had the latest bedtimes and the shortest amount of sleep in three to five nights leading up to a full moon. The team of researchers also mentioned that the moon in Argentinas Toba culture is represented as a man who has carnal relations with women and it also symbolises the first menstruation and regulates the timing of the following menstruations. The folk tales told by the elder Toba/Qom community shows moonlit nights as nights of higher sexual activity. These beliefs held by the indigenous community of Argentina also suggested the possibility that ancestrally moonlight encounters could have synchronized reproductive activity of womens fertility. Watch here how the moon affects your sleep. In 1898, a midterm election year, white North Carolinians plotted an overthrow. In March, Josephus Daniels, the editor and publisher of the News & Observer, the states most powerful daily newspaper, traveled from Raleigh, the capital, to New Bern, a port city on the Neuse and Trent Rivers in an area he called the Negroized East. There, he took a meeting with Furnifold Simmons, a white supremacist who was the state chairman of the Democratic Party, to discuss the Negro Problem. The News & Observer was a reliable mouthpiece for Democrats. A story line of particular interest was how Black people had gained footing during Reconstruction; Black male suffrage had given way to a Black-majority vote in North Carolinas eastern counties, which left the Democratic Party (until 1876 called the Conservative Party) feeling insecure. Its elite members, mostly bankers and railroad men, had lost support from poor white people as they suffered through a deep recession: when the poor whites asked for reforms, and none came, theyd broken off to form a new political organizationthe Populist, or Peoples, Partyaligning themselves with Republicans, the party of Lincoln, which included Black voters. The result was what David Zucchino, in his recent book Wilmingtons Lie, calls an uneasy political and racial alliance known as Fusionthe most successful multiracial political experiment in the post-Reconstruction South. By 1894, theyd taken the state. White Fusionists still held the majority of elected positions, having ceded only a fraction of their power to Black collaborators. But in Wilmington, North Carolinas largest city at the time, a multiracial government emerged. Black people served as magistrates, mail clerks, even police officers with jurisdiction over whites. And as the years went by, Wilmington, which was 56 percent Black, became home to a budding Black middle class; in some neighborhoods, Black and white people lived next door to each other. That made the city, in the minds of Daniels and Simmons, North Carolinas worst violator of the racist social order to which they were committed. In New Bern, Daniels and Simmons devised a coup. They would need men who could ridearmed white vigilantesas well as men who could write. Daniels got to work. The News & Observer waged an anti-Black propaganda campaign that catered to the racist core of the white people who had abandoned the Democratic Party: There were sensationalist articles and fabricated headlines; a story claimed that Black men with big feet were standing in front of white people on trains. Daniels hired a cartoonist named Norman Jennett to draw racist caricatures of Black people that ran on the front page; one featured a large boot, labeled The Negro, stepping on a white man. Other newspapers joined in the vitriol; a frequent subject was Black crime, especially against white women. For the News & Observer, Jennett drew a large bat with the face of a Black man, a white woman beneath his claws; on the wings were the words Negro Rule. Alexander Manly, the editor of a Black newspaper called the Daily Record, weighed in on the Black-men-are-brutes trope, which had been used repeatedly as a pretext for lynchings: You set yourselves down as a lot of carping hypocrites in that you cry aloud for the virtue of your women while you seek to destroy the morality of ours. The News & Observers tactics, combined with Democrats intimidation efforts, were highly effective. All through the summer, white people in Wilmington stockpiled weapons, some of them military grade. Rich Democrats supplied mobs with food and alcohol; they shot into Black homes as a warning to Black voters. Fearful Republican candidates withdrew from the race. Governor Daniel Russell, a Republican, pulled his partys ticket from New Hanover County, which includes Wilmington. During his trip home to vote, white militias working on behalf of his political opponents stopped his train twice in attempts to lynch him. Russell avoided death by hiding in a mail car. On Election Day, November 8, white supremacists succeeded in suppressing the Black vote. In Wilmingtons heavily Black Fourth Precinct, more than three hundred Republicans were registered, but just ninety-seven votes were tallied. And in case the threats of violence hadnt been enough to keep people from the polls, Democrats stuffed ballot boxes, too. In the Fifth Precinct, there were only thirty registered Democrats, yet the party received four hundred fifty-six votes. Overall, Democrats won by six thousand votes in Wilmingtona dramatic shift from two years earlier, when Fusionists had won by a margin of five thousand. The next day, a coalition of white lawyers, doctors, and businessmen drafted a White Declaration of Independence, a document with which they hoped to amend the United States Constitution. Dozens of Black men were summoned to Wilmingtons courthouse, where white supremacists listed their demandsincluding that Manlys newspaper stop printing. Black people were given twelve hours to comply. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project On November 10, violence erupted. White vigilantes opened fire, first at random and then in coordinated military formation. Black people were hauled from their homes and run out of town; one man was chased by a mob and shot forty times. The death toll was recorded inconsistently, but Black families, relying on oral history, believe the number to have been in the hundreds. Manlys newspaper offices were burned to the ground; afterward, white men in top hats posed for a photo in front of the charred buildings remains. Before the end of the workday, Wilmingtons Fusionist government had been replaced with white supremacist appointees. The coup was complete. Two weeks later, the new mayor wrote in Colliers magazine, There was no intimidation used in the establishment of the present city government. For more than a century, the News & Observer continued about its business. Americans have short memories; we dont like to be reminded of our many sins, so instead we prop up lofty narratives of progress and unity that obscure the violence enacted along the way. There was no reckoning with the papers role in the Wilmington coup until 2006, when Timothy B. Tyson, a historian at Duke University, authored a sixteen-page special section detailing the events. The editorial board also issued an apology. Without the cooperation of the newspapers, though, especially the News and Observer, Tyson wrote, the white supremacy campaign could not have succeeded. That had always been obvious to the local Black community, but coming from the newspaper, it was a striking acknowledgment. (The Charlotte Observer, another North Carolina paper central to the white supremacy campaign, also apologized.) Recently, Tyson told me that expressing regret was a means of recognizing the medias political power. Without the News & Observers storiesand especially the cartoonsa hostile takeover would not have been possible. You cant underestimate the heat involved in these political cartoons, he said. They were the cable news of their day. You didnt even have to be literate to understand them. The most important voice was the News & Observer. An apology is appropriate. I spoke to Tyson in the fall, as America was winding down months of all-consuming attention to police brutality, white supremacy, and how the press has abetted those harms. As Black Lives Matter led protests against the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer, journalists, too, confronted their bossesat the Los Angeles Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the New York Times, and elsewheredemanding an end to racist practices. In October, a collective of media workers and organizers launched Media 2070, an ambitious project to radically transform who has the capital to tell their own stories in the next fifty years. Many newsrooms responded to calls for racial justice as the News & Observer did, with apologies. But now, to chart a new path forward, we will need much more than regret. The history of American journalism is inextricably linked to white supremacy. The News & Observers role in the Wilmington coup was hardly the first or final example of a weaponized press. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson established the Kerner Commission to examine the underlying causes of civil unrest in Detroit, Chicago, and other cities where racial inequity meant, essentially, the existence of two societies: One black, one whiteseparate and unequal. The report excoriated the press corps for failing to cover the story of race in America and directed news outlets to diversify. The journalistic profession has been shockingly backward in seeking out, hiring and promoting Negroes, the commission found. Along with the country as a whole, the press has too long basked in a white world looking out of it, if at all, with white mens eyes and white perspective. In 1978, the organization now known as the American Society of News Editors (asne) set a goal of building a journalism workforce that reflected the racial makeup of the US population by the year 2000. That deadline came and went. Black and other journalists of color agitated for meaningful change in newsroom culture. Yet the press remained overwhelmingly white and continued to make egregious mistakes: in the eighties, with slanderous tabloid reporting on the Central Park Five; in the nineties, with alarmist coverage of the outrage over police abuse of Rodney King; and in the 2010s, when the New York Times called Michael Brown, a Black teenager fatally shot by a white police officer, no angel. Consider the industrys hand-wringing over objectivity and, in the case of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the barring of a Black reporter from covering Black Lives Matter protests. In 2000, asne pushed its target date for diversity back five years, and newspapers began to issue apologies for past wrongdoing. In 2004the fortieth anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964the Jackson Sun, in Tennessee, acknowledged that it had ignored or downplayed local civil rights efforts in its pages. Next up was Kentuckys Lexington Herald-Leader, which likewise apologized for failing to cover the struggle for equality in its home city. Mississippis Hattiesburg American apologized for ignoring the 1964 Freedom Summer protests; in Alabama, the Birmingham News ran a series of photographs depicting the fight for civil rightsimages its editors had previously suppressed. A similar apology ran in the Waco Tribune-Herald, in Texas, for coverage of the gruesome 1916 lynching of a seventeen-year-old named Jesse Washington. Several apologies appeared in 2018. National Geographic hired John Edwin Mason, a historian at the University of Virginia, to review its archives for an issue dedicated to race. He found that, until at least the seventies, the magazine depicted people of color in exoticized ways, often nude and as happy hunters, noble savagesevery type of cliche, Susan Goldberg, the editor in chief, wrote . (In 1916, a photo of two Aboriginal people from Australia was captioned South Australian Blackfellows: These savages rank lowest in intelligence of all human beings.) National Geographics attempt wasnt entirely effective, however: the issues cover story fell into the common fallacy of using skin color as a proxy for raceit focused on biracial twins, describing one as white, the other Blackand lent credence to the notion that certain images of mixed-race people represent the future of a blissfully color-blind world. The framing inspires the kind of coarse racial quantifying from which the issue is ostensibly trying to escape, Doreen St. Felix wrote, in The New Yorker. As Mason is quoted in the accompanying editorial, Its possible to say that a magazine can open peoples eyes at the same time it closes them. In the meantime, the New York Times started Overlookeda project dedicated to publishing obituaries of prominent figures who, upon their death, were not deemed worthy of mentionand produced a book of photos of Black people, famous and anonymous, from its vast archives. In a review, the critic Tobi Haslett observed that, through this non-apology kind of acknowledgment, The newspaper graciously provides us with the very images it had so imperiously overlooked, as the whole endeavor calmly reasserts the grip of the media on the public imagination. Following these was an acknowledgment by the Orlando Sentinel of problems with its reporting on the Groveland Fourthree Black men and a Black teenage boy who, in 1949, were falsely accused of raping a white teenage girl. The editorial board wrote in its apology: Were sorry for the Orlando Sentinels role in this injustice. Were sorry that the newspaper at the time did between little and nothing to seek the truth. Were sorry that our coverage of the event and its aftermath lent credibility to the cover-up and the official, racist narrative. The piece expressed remorse, but it also insistedfar too optimisticallythat similar coverage would not happen today. As the regret flowed, Bryan Stevensons Equal Justice Initiative established a National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to the thousands of Black Americans who were made victims of lynching. To commemorate the opening, the Montgomery Advertiser published a series of stories examining its complicity in lynchings and other acts of white mob violence. (In 1892, for instance, when a man named Riley Webb was lynched, an Advertiser story opened gleefully with the line He has been caught!) We need to explore the narratives of the victims and our role as a news entity because it has existed since 1829, Bro Krift, who was then the papers executive editor, told me at the time. One of our big responsibilities as journalists is to cover our humanity. We hold public officials accountable, but we are also documenting who we are. The Advertiser ran pieces about the lives of people who had been lynchedtreating them as human beings, as it never had before. The editorial board published a formal apology that began: We were wrong. The Advertisers atonement package was praised by readers. When I asked Krift about the response, he chafed slightly, not wanting to give himself too much credit. After all, the newspaper had made a statement about the past, not the present. All were doing is admitting that we were wrong, he said. That admitting you were wrong is boldits actually sad, as a society. I think there is a strength for a community when people are willing to step up and say I made a mistake. During the Wilmington coup, the press had flaunted its bigotry. The press of today has a different relationship with white supremacy, but the modern manifestationsof language, of omission, of framingare the offspring of Danielss tactics, only softened, normalized, and couched in industry norms. We defer to police officers even though they are incentivized to lie about behavior that results in the loss of Black life. We use passive language to describe police brutality. And in the past year, we have obscured the ways systemic racism has made the effects of the pandemic most acute for Black, Native, and other marginalized people; some articles have minimized or ignored how intersecting crises pose the greatest risk to those groupsthe same people who continue to be underrepresented on mastheads. Over the summer, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, I spoke with Trevell Anderson, the president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. They described an industry that, being stuck on oversimplified notions of diversity, continues to miss the point. Even newsrooms trying to grapple with race issues still have conversations about objectivity and whether or not we can say Donald Trump is racist, they said. We as Black people know what racism looks like, feels like, tastes like. But we have people in power who benefit from telling us that what we know to be true somehow disqualifies us from having a hand in documenting history. Anderson pointed to the distribution of power across the American media landscapelargely male and whitewhich has held firm despite repeated commitments to diversity. The hard work of equity ultimately requires financial investment, they argued. Anyone who has worked in journalism during this era of gutted ad revenue knows how hard that can be, especially at local outlets, but there would be money found, Anderson said, if only people in positions of power were willing to make personal sacrificessomething to which the industry doesnt yet seem committed. Weve got to think about moving the resources around, Anderson told me. In recent months, Black journalists in newsrooms all over have registered similar complaints, and nowhere has the dissent been as coordinated and public as at Andersons former employer, the Los Angeles Times. In early June, while demonstrations filled the streets, Black staffers at the Times began exchanging messages about their papers reporting: in multiple stories, they observed, the emphasis was placed not on the history of Black American struggle, but on looting. The coverage, they complained, oversimplified a rich history. We cant constantly pander to our primarily white audience with stories like this that affirm their biases, Sonaiya Kelley, a film reporter, wrote on Slack. One of the responsibilities of the job is to state the facts and tell it true. Theres so much implicit bias. She expressed disappointmentfor herself, as a Times writer, and for the audiences she hoped to serve. Within days, the messages were leaked. Norman Pearlstine, then the executive editor of the Times, promised to conduct a formal review of protest-related coverage. (The results of the audit have yet to be released in full.) Against that backdrop, journalists at the paper discussed their experiences as employees, identifying patterns of racism that may have been invisible to readers but defined the reality of those inside the newsroom. Since 2017, the staff of the Times has been unionized through the NewsGuild, and, emboldened by the events of 2020, a Black Caucus formed to take collective action. Under the hashtag #BlackatLAT, they published testimonials on social media from current and former employees, who shared stories of mistreatment ranging from microaggressions (e.g., being repeatedly mistaken for another Black staffer) to persistent pay discrepancies. The Black Caucus also sent a letter of demands to Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Times. The group sought enough Black hires that the staff would match, at least, the proportion of Black residents in Los Angeles County; a correction of pay disparities; a formal pipeline for Black employees to advance their careers at the paper; greater investment in Metpro, the companys recruitment program for journalists from marginalized backgrounds; a reshaping of how the Times covers people of color; and a public apology to Black staffers and the broader Black community of Southern California for tone-deaf coverage that has often inflamed racial tensions. Inspired by this effort, in July, Latino staffers formed a Latino Caucus and launched a campaign under the hashtag #SomosLAT. They, too, submitted a letter to management: The Times had covered the Latino community in dehumanizing ways, painting us as criminals or victims or simply ignoring us, the group wrote. The Times slurred Mexicans as greasers and wetbacks and immigrants without legal status as border jumpers and illegal aliens. The Latino Caucus also cited pay disparities and a dearth of Latino employees relative to the areas populationLos Angeles County is nearly 50 percent Latino, but just 13 percent of employees at the paper identify as such. The groups list of demands echoed that of the Black Caucus: correct pay disparities, hire more Latino journalists, increase funding for the papers Spanish-language imprint, end the practice of relying on Spanish-speakers as fixers without providing a byline, and issue an apology for fomenting episodes of anti-Latino hysteria in California and the United States. In September, the requests for an apology were granted: the Times editorial board published a multipronged atonement package, detailing the papers history of racism. While the paper has done groundbreaking and important work highlighting the issues faced by communities of color, the editorial board wrote, it has also often displayed at best a blind spot, at worst an outright hostility, for the citys nonwhite population, one both rooted and reflected in a shortage of Indigenous, Black, Latino, Asian and other people of color in its newsroom. Under the banner Our reckoning with racism, the Times enumerated some of its most egregious editorial decisions, including endorsing the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II; victim-blaming Mexican Americans who were attacked by Navy sailors in 1943; and producing a 1965 series on Black residents of Watts that, the editorial board wrote, heavily implied police brutality was a problem of the past. The Times also highlighted the numerous Black, Asian, and Latino journalists who had, over the years, agitated from within to address institutional racismeven as they pursued groundbreaking investigations, including a 1984 Pulitzer Prizewinning series on how Latinos were transforming Southern California. There was a video, which relayed that Black Times reporters covering the Rodney King protests considered themselves cannon fodder, and a letter, from Soon-Shiong. The same month, Angel Jennings, a cofounder of the Black Caucus, was announced as the new assistant managing editor for culture and talent. An alumna of Metpro, Jennings was charged with overseeing the program, on top of numerous other responsibilities, including recruitment and promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jenningswho until recently was the only Black Times reporter working on local news, the papers largest sectionhad been a vocal member of the #BlackatLAT campaign and, for months, had pleaded with her bosses for a raise. (The last few years have been so painful, she told colleagues. Some days, I would cry and ask the editors: Why am I being treated this way? It felt like what was happening to me was personal, but it was just institutional.) She had also recently been one of six journalists to file a class action suit against the Times and Tribune Publishing, alleging significant pay gaps among the L.A. Times workforce that gave preference to white men. Jennings had called the environment for Black journalists in her newsroom shameful; now, with a case pending, she was tasked with tackling the problem. Jennings spent her first few months conducting one-on-ones with Metpro staffers and doing aggressive outreach at the California State University campuses, which she calls the states working-class university system. She rewrote the application for the Times summer internship (which received more than a thousand responses, up from about a hundred the previous year) and helped recruit and hire her replacement on the metro desk. The less tangible parts of her job, though, lay in the business of ushering along shifts in culture. Jennings described her role to me as just being an ear as people express problems and ideas, looking over coverage, and raising the alarm when something doesnt meet our new anti-racism lens, in which were trying to tell stories as we should have always been telling stories. There is only so much a new hire can do, however, when an organizations white leadership feels inadequate. Throughout the year, editors at major publicationsfrom the New York Times to Bon Appetitwere forced to resign; by October, Pearlstine announced that he would do the same. (Hed also come under fire for mishandling cases of sexual harassment and ethical breaches.) I believe my work is done, Pearlstine wrote in a note to staff. His departure was in line with something important to Anderson: You cant tell me that the people who got us to this moment will be the people who get us out of this momentI dont believe it, they had told me. If you are really committed to the cause, youll step down. If you are really committed to the cause, you will move out of the way of progress and justice. At last, in November, the Times and Tribune Publishing announced a settlement in the class action suit: three million dollars, to be paid out to some two hundred and forty journalists who had worked at the Times between February 2015 and October 2020. In legal terms, the company admitted no wrongdoing. Apologies are crucial to the ongoing work of accountability. It can be heartening to see news outlets engage in acts of penance. But they are not the same as reparationsthe subject of which has become more mainstream in recent years, thanks in large part to Ta-Nehisi Coates, one of the most prominent Black journalists in the business. In his Case for Reparations, Coates argued, Liberals today mostly view racism not as an active, distinct evil but as a relative of white poverty and inequality. They ignore the long tradition of this country actively punishing black success. He added that, in a complete sense, Reparations would mean a revolution of the American consciousness. As I dug into the recent history of newspaper regret, I wondered what counted as being sorry enough. What do apologies mean in the context of our existing media institutions and, more broadly, the governmental and social systems that continue to oppress the same communities, including some members of the press? Just five days after settling the pay discrimination lawsuit, the Los Angeles Times ran into trouble again: Patricia Escarcega, the companys first ever Latinx restaurant critic, said that she was being paid less than her white male counterpartand that her bosses did not intend to correct the disparity. In a thread posted to Twitter, Escarcega said that, for six months, shed been asking for a raise that would make her salary equal to that of Bill Addison, the other restaurant critic for the Times. Through the NewsGuild, shed filed a pay discrimination complaint (separately from the class action suit), and, over the summer, the Times had indicated that her pay would be corrected. But in mid-November, management sent her a memo with their final decision: Escarcega was a junior critic, they claimed; therefore she deserved less money than her colleague. Escarcega and Addison were confusedthe Times advertised them as co-critics, and neither was aware of an internal hierarchical distinction. Addison wrote a letter to management in support of Escarcega. In a statement, the Times defended its pay scale based in part on Addisons having won a James Beard awarditself a problematic proxy of expertise, especially considering that the awards were canceled last year as the James Beard Foundation reckoned with its own lack of diversity. No apology has yet been offered to Escarcega. Reading about her situation, I thought of the Kerner report, its directives, and how a half century of possibility had passed us by, with much more still owed. And I thought of the News & Observer, which had ultimately issued its apology only after a state commission recommended that newspapers involved in the Wilmington coup acknowledge their role. In its statement of regret, the paper had detailed loss of life, of suffrage, of interracial political alliance. But in Wilmington and beyond, its harder to find acknowledgment of the loss of opportunity for an entire class of people, or a reckoning with the pervasive problems of the present. William J. Barber II, the minister and former president of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, is part of the News & Observer readership. Known for Moral Mondays and as a cochair of the Poor Peoples Campaign, Barber follows the press closely. I asked what he thought of apologies like the one that ran in his local paper. Let me start by saying, I dont know if the language of media apology is even sufficient, he replied. I think thats part of the problem. We see damage done in this country that had great impact on the lives of people. Negative impact. And then we come up with this notion of apology. Ive heard people talk about apologies for slavery or for the Trail of Tears, to Native people. Something seems extraordinarily weak about using that language, particularly for me, as a person of faith. I asked Barber to describe the scope of the harm done to Wilmington. What could have been? he wondered. Wilmington was the largest city in North Carolina at that time; the wealthiest Black people were in the city at that time. What if Wilmington had become Atlanta? In the years after the massacre, the number of registered Black voters plummetedand their story was not covered by local reporters. That omission has had a grave and lasting impact: The story of the Wilmington riot was so suppressed and wrongfully told that when the United States Congress started considering the formula by which it would cover states under the Voting Rights Act, many of the counties down near Wilmington, even New Hanover County itself, were not covered, Barber said. Forty counties in North Carolina were not covered under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, because they said there was not enough evidence of past discrimination. The problems persist today, he continued, in light of Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court ruling that dismantled protections against voter discrimination. That case was decided on June 25, 2013. Now, ever since June 25, 2013, Barber said, the Congress could have fixed the Voting Rights Act. Weve had seven years now, over two thousand six hundred days, I think, and weve not seen an article that has said Thom Tillisa senator representing North Carolinaand the Republicans refusing to put fixing the Voting Rights Act on the floor of Congress is, in fact, a form of racism. He went on: Theres not been one story to look at every legislator in our state and raise with them: Why is it that you have refused to act on the duty that the Supreme Court put in your court for over two thousand days? What is your legitimate reason for blocking the restoration of the Voting Rights Act? Its the depth of the coverage, the probing of the issues, thats still too often not engaged. Robyn Tomlin, who has been the executive editor of the News & Observer since 2018, wasnt around for the apology project, though she told me, Its long past time for news organizations to shine a light on their own role in overtly or covertly supporting white supremacy. When I asked about the implications for her papers current coverage, she replied, We continue working to make amends through our focus on reflecting the fullness of our community and refusing to shy away from uncomfortable truths by using our journalism to show the ways inequality and injustice continue to affect our community, state, and nation. For Barber, any media apology must come with repentancetrue corrections, not merely gestural improvements. As we spoke, he recalled a conversation he once had with John Hope Franklin, the scholar of African-American history, about the countrys failure to correct the vast wrongs of slavery. He put it like this: If you can keep a people in slavery for two hundred and fifty years and build your entire economy off of their free labor, their labor actually allows you to economically jump way ahead of countries much older than you, Barber said. And then you are, on top of that, able to invoke a hundred years of legalized segregation and lynchings and abuse. And then at the end of that, the country gets to say, Sorry. We were wrong. And thats the extent of it. He added, It says to me, who wouldnt take that deal? That is actually a great diminishing of all of the damage that was done. Regret without restitution is maintaining the status quo. Seeking resolve, I turned to the hundred-page essay released in the fall by Media 2070, which invites journalists and other members of the public to imagine what media reparations might look like for the journalism industry. The essay details a history of the damage done to Black people by the American press, but the project is ultimately forward-looking. Alicia Bell, one of the Media 2070 organizers, told me that they began to consider what restitution would look like, with media reparations defined as a way of holding the reconciliation, the restoration, the repair that needs to happen within the media, but also at a policy level, that transforms the media landscape. The effort is a call for ideas as much as it is a call to action. Media 2070 grew from the work of Black staffers at Free Press, a journalism advocacy nonprofit. We were having community conversations often and visioning sessions, doing media ecosystem mapping with different communities, Bell said. One question wed open up with is, What is your relationship with local news? By and large, Black folks and people of color said, I cant really assess the relationship, because there isnt a relationship. Its really a place of deficit and harm. It can be hard to see the potential for radical transformation in the world of corporate news mediachange that would reconceptualize who and what journalism is for, how its produced, and who makes decisionsbut I was intrigued by Bells connection between ideas of harm reduction and liberation. Reparations are both a destination and a pathway, they told me. Reparations are not the only goalposts. The revolution that Media 2070 has in mind involves nurturing nontraditional independent media and changes to policy and practice. Money is key, too: recently, Bell and a colleague, Simon Galperin, called upon the Knight Foundation to redistribute a billion dollars of its wealth to media justice initiatives. (As of 2019, Knight was worth $2.4 billion.) In a piece for Nieman Lab, Bell and Galperin described Knight as the successor to the Georgia Telegraph, a newspaper that made its fortune in part by selling ads for escaped slaves. It continues to make journalism the beneficiary of historic and ongoing injustice, they wrote. The American press today is certainly different, if not always better, than it has been in the past. Journalists, led by Black and other people from marginalized backgrounds, have fought admirably to change the way we report on inequity, to shed the baggage of both-sides-ism. But attempts to address structural inequities can feel maddeningly cyclical: there are periods of pressure we call reckonings, then institutions relapse into their old ways. The shifts can be jarring. Recently, the Kansas City Star published an apology to Black readers detailing how Decade after early decade it robbed an entire community of opportunity, dignity, justice and recognition. And then I checked Twitter, where I continue to scroll through posts detailing newsroom failuresabout editors questioning the role of white supremacy in explaining the past five years of American political life, say, or the Los Angeles Times (still) refusing to call George Floyds death cruel. Too often, conversations aiming to assess a newsrooms performance come with an urge to self-congratulate, so as to soften the embarrassment of too-slow progress. We are eager to talk about our gains, yet still too skittish in confronting our failures. After decades of attempting reform, we need to wonder how sincere weve been, if we have been truly reckoning with anything at all. I put the question to Bell. Black folks are used to being called into conversations without seeing material or structural change, they replied. So I think theres a rightful hesitancy to say this reckoning isnt going to do anything. Then they continued, What it reminds me of is this quote by this farmer up in Virginia. Hes a Black and Indigenous farmer. Folks were asking him about land acknowledgments and people who make a stand not to celebrate Thanksgiving. He said that any gesture regarding dispossession or redistribution that results in white people feeling good, but leaves Indigenous people in the exact same position we were in before, is an affirmation of white supremacy. I felt a sense of kinship with that man. Apologies are nice, of course, but something else is required. And, certainly, something else is possible. Were ready when you are. Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Krifts name. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Alexandria Neason is CJR's Staff Writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow. Previously, she was a reporter at the Village Voice and covered education for the Teacher Project, a partnership between Columbia Journalism School and Slate. A team she worked on won the 2016 Education Writers Association award for news features. Follow her on Twitter @alexandrianeas. As the demand for more advanced payment devices grows, European fintech provider myPOS (www.mypos.com) introduces yet another payment innovation the new myPOS Carbon, which combines the intelligent Android OS with shock, dust and water resistance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005525/en/ The new myPOS Carbon combines the intelligence of Android 9.0 with dust, water and shock resistance at an unbeatable price. (Photo: Business Wire) Traditional POS terminals with keys are gradually being replaced by Android-run card payment devices. While the latter provide a better payment experience for businesses and customers, at the same time they have a higher cost and are too vulnerable to dust, liquids and shocks. At a restaurant, cafe, car rental company or even a petrol station, minor accidents with a POS are likely to occur and the cost of replacing a POS terminal with a printer is not negligible. Christo Georgiev, myPOS Group CEO comments: "We are committed to delivering new smart solutions, which answer the needs of different business verticals and empower businesses to deliver an excellent experience to their customers" Listening to the needs of the market, myPOS brings myPOS Carbon, the first wireless Android POS terminal with IP54 and ATEX certifications that make it resistant to vibration, water, dust and suitable for use even in hazardous workplaces such as petrol stations, the chemical or petrochemical industry, etc. Powered by Android 9.0, a quad-core processor with a speed of 1.4 GHz, a 5" colour touchscreen and a high-speed thermal printer, the device is made to offer an enhanced payment experience and endurance at a very competitive price. The terminal accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Union Pay, American Express and Bancontact cards with magnetic stripe, chip or contactless (NFC). It also enables merchants to accept MO/TO and pre-authorisation payments, send Payment Requests, top-up prepaid SIM cards or subscription services as well as myPOS GiftCards. Buying the device entitles the business owner to a free merchant account with a business card as well as immediate deposit of all accepted card payments. For detailed information visit shop.mypos.com About myPOS myPOS is a fintech company serving SMEs across the EEA and Switzerland. The myPOS e-money accounts and payment services are provided by myPOS Europe Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, in partnership with an EU-licensed E-Money Institution who is a direct member of Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, UPI and other card schemes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005525/en/ Contacts: Irina Stefanova, PR manager Email: pr@myPOS.com Phone: +44 20 3129 3086 New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds ESE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds ESE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Russian President said the world risks sliding into an all against all conflict amid tensions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and growing economic inequality. Addressing the World Economic Forum on Wednesday for the first time in 12 years, Putin drew parallels with the 1930s when he said a failure to resolve problems sparked World War II. Today, such a global hot conflict is, I hope, in principle impossible, Putin said in his online speech to The Agenda. But, I repeat, the situation can develop unpredictably and uncontrollably. (Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now: Europe's vaccine row escalates Europe's fight to secure COVID-19 vaccine supplies sharpened on Thursday when Britain demanded that it receive all the shots it had paid for after the European Union asked AstraZeneca to divert supplies from the UK. The EU, whose member states are far behind Israel, Britain, and the United States in rolling out vaccines, is scrambling to get supplies just as the West's biggest drug makers slow deliveries to the bloc due to production problems. As vaccination centres in parts of Germany, France and Spain cancelled or delayed appointments, the EU publicly rebuked Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca for failing to deliver, even though the vaccine has not yet been approved by the bloc. India says it has contained spread India said on Thursday it had curbed an increase in infections, with a fifth of its districts reporting no new cases for a week. The country of 1.35 billion has recorded the highest number of cases in the world after the United States, though the rate of infection has come down significantly since a mid-September peak. Some studies have suggested pockets of India have attained herd immunity through natural infection. "India has successfully contained the pandemic," Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said, noting that fewer than 12,000 cases had been reported in the previous 24 hours. WHO team in Wuhan leaves quarantine A World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of the pandemic left its quarantine hotel in Wuhan on Thursday to begin field work, two weeks after arriving in the Chinese city where the virus emerged in late 2019. The mission has been plagued by delays, concern over access and bickering between China and the United States, which has accused China of hiding the extent of the initial outbreak and criticised the terms of the visit, under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research. Story continues China has been promoting a narrative that the virus existed abroad before it was discovered in Wuhan. New Zealand and Vietnam most successful against COVID New Zealand, Vietnam and Taiwan rank as the top three in a COVID Performance Index of almost 100 countries for their successful handling of the pandemic, with Britain and the United States near the bottom of the pile. The Lowy Institute said its index, published on Thursday, excludes China due to a lack of publicly available data. The other countries in the top 10 are Thailand, Cyprus, Rwanda, Iceland, Australia, Latvia and Sri Lanka. Portugal in 'terrible' phase Portugal is in a terrible phase of the pandemic, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said, warning that it would be some weeks before things might start to improve and that only limited help could be expected from abroad. With a total of 668,951 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11,305 deaths, including a record 293 dead on Wednesday, Portugal has the world's highest seven-day per capita average of new daily cases and deaths. Costa told the broadcaster TVI the situation was not bad but "terrible". (Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Kevin Liffey) U.S. 24 is much more than a slab of asphalt stretching 1,500 miles from Michigan to Colorado. Its final 150-mile segment, from Colorado Springs to Vail, bristles with the history of mining, railroads and mountain training of skiing soldiers. Iran denied the United Nations' investigation report on the country's "systematic persecution of Christians." According to the International Christian Concern, the investigation group of the U.N., which included special rapporteur on freedom of religion of belief, Ahmed Shaheed and special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, released a report that outlines Iran's persecution of Christians. The report was only made public after the country failed to respond within the given 60-day deadline. In a letter dated Nov. 11, the U.N. report highlighted Iran Government's "reported persecution of members of the Christian minority in Iran, including converts from Islam, as well as the detention of dozens of Christians, most of whom have been convicted for exercising their right to freely observe and worship their religion." "We remain concerned at reports of the continued systematic persecution of the members of this religious minority, particularly numerous reports received of discriminatory practices and violations of their human rights," the organization added. The U.N. experts pointed out the 24 Christians in Iran who are either facing charges or imprisoned stating that they "wish to express our serious concern at the reported widespread repression against and persecution of persons belonging to the Christian minority in Iran, and in particular those who have converted from Islam." The organization's investigation showed that Iran failed to provide fair legal proceedings which include legal harassment, lack of due process and formulated charges. The U.N. also called out the charges against Christians on propaganda against the state and threats against national security. The letter further said that if the allegations are confirmed, "they would constitute severe violations of international human rights law" which include the rights to security and liberty, to freedom of conscience, thought, religion or belief, freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly, privacy, physical and psychological integrity, principle of non-discrimination and the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Iran submitted its response after two days of its Jan. 10 deadline denying the allegations. The country said that the 24 Christians highlighted in the U.N. report are "under cover of promoting Christianity, were in fact communicating with evangelical Zionism with a view to enmity and confrontation with the Islamic Establishment and subversive act against it through organized cults and holding illegal and secret meetings to deceive citizens and exploit the deceived persons, particularly children," Article18 News reported. The country further claimed that the offenses committed by the individuals mentioned by the U.N. are being dealt in accordance with the legal regulations "on the grounds that they had committed offenses set out in the Islamic Penal Code, and not for conversion to Christianity." The country's governmental national human rights institution, High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, denied the accusations of mistreatment, torture, unjust punishment, raiding of religious gatherings and arbitrary detainment of Christians. Further, about the issue of property confiscation, the country said that they only seized items related to the crimes but were often returned. But Christian literature and Bibles are often classified as crime evidences and thus are hardly returned. According to Open Doors USA, the government of Iran persecutes Christians, especially those who are of Muslim backgrounds, believing that Muslims' conversion to Christianity is Western countries' attempt to undermine the country's Islamic rule. Iran is currently the eighth most dangerous country for Christians. Designated ports could pave way for sustainable fishing in Chinese waters by Zhang Chun January 28,2021 | Source: China Dialogue Ocean When his vessel is still far out to sea, the captain uses a mobile phone app to notify the port of his arrival. He specifies what time hell get in, and submits catch data that the port managers will later check. This is how it works off Taizhou, on Chinas eastern coast, where trials of a system designating the ports at which domestic fishing vessels can land their catches have been running since 2018. A traceability trial has also been running in parallel: each crate of fish is barcoded so it can be tracked from when it was caught to the port and then on to market. By scanning the code with a mobile phone, anyone along the supply chain can see this information as well as where the fish were caught and by which boat. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced a first batch of 66 designated ports last year. The plan is to have enough ports approved by the end of 2021 to accommodate all fishing vessels of 12 metres or more in length. At which point, the MOA may ban the landing of catches elsewhere. Although China has more than twice as many vessels shorter than 12 metres, the longer group has almost seven times the total horsepower and accounts for the bulk of Chinese coastal fishing capacity. The designated port scheme is part of overall reforms to the management of ports and fishing vessels in China. While previous oversight focused on vessels at sea, the new reforms aim to allow sustainable fisheries management, with better reporting of when vessels enter and leave, and various checks, including of landed catches, catch quantity, legal compliance and vessel safety management. These will all be handled at the port, where fishing sector workers, vessels and catches come together. The designated ports are a very important starting point for our reforms, and will solve issues with checking data on catches landed, Tang Yi, a professor at Shanghai Ocean University, told China Dialogue Ocean. Currently, Chinas catch statistics are reported upwards through various levels of fisheries authorities, and discrepancies can be quite large. But as the ports are a bottleneck through which all fish must pass as they move from sea to table, the designation system should allow landed weight information to be reported accurately and properly checked. This data matters for sustainable fisheries management. The fishing quota system included in the version of Chinas Fisheries Law that was revised in 2000 has never been implemented due to problems with data, oversight of the fish trade and technology. Without monitoring catches on their arrival in port and transfer to market, fish are landed and sold freely. That has allowed over-fishing, reducing the effect of both controls on fishing capacity and stricter closed seasons. Limits on vessel numbers and horsepower date back to the late 1980s and have featured in a number of Chinas five-year plans for economic development. But data from 2003 to 2014 show that while vessel numbers fell, overall horsepower rose. Experts put that failure down to a lack of enforcement. There was, for example, nothing to stop a large vessel registering as a smaller one. The first closed seasons started in 1995 and they were lengthened in 2017, but while these protected fish during spawning, they did nothing to curb over-fishing at other times. Since 1995, Chinas annual coastal fishing catch has always been over 10 million tonnes. In 2016, it reached 13.28 million, far above the level recommended by experts. The fish caught are becoming younger and smaller as a result of this overfishing. China Dialogue Trust Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Pakistan says India should avail its offer for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav International oi-Madhuri Adnal Islamabad, Jan 28: Pakistan said on Thursday that India should avail its offer for consular access to death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav and "cooperate" to implement the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) about effective review of his case. Fifty-year-old retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017. Weeks later, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence handed to him. The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay. "We call upon India to come forward, avail the third consular access and let the case in Islamabad High court proceed further," Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday. He said Pakistan has already provided consular access to India twice. "Our position is consistent that the Indian Government should come forward and cooperate with the courts in Pakistan so that full effect could be given to the ICJ Judgment," he added. India has slammed Pakistan for adopting a "farcical" approach in denying available legal remedies to Jadhav against his death sentence in contravention of the ICJ order. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected India''s demand that an Indian lawyer or a Queen''s counsel should be appointed for Jadhav to ensure a free and fair trial in the review of his death sentence in this country. Pak claims it didnt try linking Kulbhushan Jadhav case with another Indian prisoner In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that Pakistan has failed to create an environment under which the allegations against him can be "seriously and effectively challenged". "They need to implement the ICJ judgement in its letter and spirit and this include provision of all relevant documents to the case as well as providing unconditional, unhindered and unimpeded consular access to Jadhav," he said on Thursday. India has been pressing for appointment of an Indian lawyer to represent Jadhav in the case besides seeking unhindered consular access to him as ordered by the ICJ. Queen''s Counsel is a barrister or advocate, appointed Counsel to the UK Crown on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. In September, Pakistan''s Parliament extended for four months an ordinance that allowed Jadhav to file an appeal against his conviction in a high court as required by the ICJ. Meanwhile, Chaudhri in response to a question also commented on the recent protests by farmers in New Delhi, saying the Indian government "finds it convenient to blame India's neighbours for all its internal failings." India has called the remarks by foreign leaders and politicians on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 23:37 [IST] New Delhi, Jan 28 : A satire on the workings of the Indian civil service, Achala Moulik's "Rogues Among the Ruins" (Niyogi Books) employs irony, humour and sarcasm to unveil the reality of powerful men and women who think they rule the country but in effect are caught between their ideals and the thirst for success. The novel adopts the style of great masters like Gogol and Cervantes who, in their search for truth, evoke laughter through tears. The first part of the novel is a gripping fictionalised account of the workings of the Archaeological Survey of India and the painful predicaments of a dedicated but naive scholar faced with temptations. The scholar's son, a morally indifferent bureaucrat, chronicles a later era in the second part. Through tawdry dramas, administrative acrobatics of sycophants and hypocrites, he encounters the sordid reality of powerful men and women who think they rule the country. With sardonic humour, sympathy and reluctant respect, the narrator takes the reader on a journey through Glory Road where principles are discarded by the ambitious, where the proud encounter humiliations, where idealists are scorned, and sometimes those with stubborn strength overcome ordeals. Born in Kolkata in a family of scholars and diplomats, Achala Moulik went to schools in Washington, New York and London where her father Moni Moulik was posted on diplomatic assignments. She graduated in Economics, Political Science, International History and Law from London University. Thereafter, she studied Italian Renaissance in Rome. Her civil servant and writer husband Mohandas Moses encouraged her literary endeavours. After graduation Moulik joined the Indian Administrative Service. She has served in various capacities, among them as Education Secretary when the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan national education programme was formulated and as Director General, Archaeological Survey of India. She has published books on international relations, political and cultural history, along with biographies on Rabindranath Tagore and Leo Tolstoy, four acclaimed novels and a collection of poetry. Her play "Pushkin's Last Poem" was staged to a standing ovation in Moscow, where it was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and St. Petersburg. For her contribution to Russian history and literature Mouli received the Sergei Yesenin Prize and the prestigious Pushkin Medal. PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of TEATT Ludmila de Weever, and a delegation including the Ministry of VSA, attended a cooperation meeting held by Prefet Delegue for St. Martin and St. Barths Serge Gouteyron together with Secretary-General Julien Marie and Regional Health Agency (ARS) Territorial Director Paul Guibert to discuss measures each are taking to safeguard public health as it relates to COVID-19. Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and the ARS have been meeting weekly to update and discuss response measures to the pandemic such as the synchronization of communication in preparation for the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine. Both delegations discussed the status of COVID-19 on both sides of the island and areas where the synchronization could improve. Health protocols, testing, travel restrictions as a result of the variants of COVID-19 and business closing hours, as well as the discouraging of events attracting large gatherings were also subjects discussed. During the meeting, Prime Minister Jacobs and Minister De Weever were able to relay the decision of the Council of Ministers to cancel Carnival and Heineken Regatta for 2021 in the interest of the general health of all residents and visitors after consultations with the various relevant stakeholders. Prime Minister Jacobs informed the delegation about the massive testing efforts headed by CPS in regard to the free drive through testing that began on January 11th, for all members of the community. Prefet Gouteyron expressed that the ARS reported a similar average of positive cases per day on French Saint-Martin. Minister De Weever also reassured that increased controls and enforcement are taking place in an effort to ensure compliance and safety for all. Prefet Gouteyron and his delegation were also updated on governments preparations for the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines which are expected to arrive from the Netherlands by mid-February. The plans which are being spearheaded by the Ministry of VSA COVID-19 Taskforce will ensure St. Maarten is well prepared once the vaccines arrive including a public awareness campaign. Prefet Gouteyron also highlighted their vaccination plan and challenges experienced with low interest in taking the vaccine. Both parties agreed that continued and improved cooperation and collaboration are key to safeguard the entire population and keep infections manageable, and pledged to continue to meet each halfway to realize such. Prime Minister Jacobs stated, The cooperation meeting held was a fruitful one in which much agreement was made moving forward with the established health protocols being implemented by both sides of the island in combating the COVID-19 virus. We have already synchronized our travel restrictions to both sides of the island in order to avoid importing the more contagious new variants of the virus to the island. The percentage of imported cases of COVID-19 remain below 1%, therefore, our efforts also remain in decreasing the local spread of the virus. As such, we can now say that we are much further in combating the virus together compared to when we began synchronizing our health measures. It remains paramount that we continue to collaborate and synchronize our efforts in order to ensure the safety and health of the general public. As Prefet Gouteyron mentioned more than once, (main dans la main) hand in hand we will be able to do so. 9:15pm: The teams have announced the deal. 8:35pm: The Blue Jays and Mets are closing in on a swap that would send lefty Steven Matz to Toronto, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Robert Murray of Fansided tweeted that a trade between the clubs was coming; Michael Mayer of Metsmerized had tweeted that a Matz move was in the works. Three right-handed pitchers will head back to New York in the arrangement: Josh Winckowski, Sean Reid-Foley, and Yennsy Diaz. (Via Murray, on Twitter, and Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca, also via Twitter.) Matz, 29, is due $5.2MM after agreeing to avoid arbitration. He will qualify for free agency after the 2021 campaign. The Mets obviously determined they could better allocate that salary for other needs. Whether itll be part of a big payout to lure Trevor Bauer remains to be seen; theres still no reason to believe anything is imminent on that front. While he has at times featured as a high-quality big-league starter, Matz has had his share of difficulties of late. The Long Island native wraps up a six-year run with the Mets having thrown 579 2/3 innings of 4.35 ERA ball. While Matz made thirty starts apiece in 2018 and 2019, arm issues were a recurring problem. He spent time on the injured list in 2020 and ended the campaign with a brutal 9.68 ERA in just 30 2/3 frames of action. That unfortunate short-season effort came with a few bright spots. Though Matz surrendered a ton of hard contact, he also managed a career-best 25.4% strikeout percentage while delivering his sinker at an average of 94.5 mph. Clearly, the Jays believe Matz still possesses the necessary physical tools to deliver a good number of useful innings. Hell likely have a chance to battle for a rotation spot in camp, though the team could also plan to use him in a swingman or even pure relief capacity. The Mets will get some reward for deciding to tender Matz a contract. None of the three arms acquired come with high-grade prospect billing, but each will have a chance to contribute in the near term. Both Reid-Foley and Diaz have debuted in the majors, meaning they also occupy 40-man roster spots (albeit with options remaining). The former threw 71 2/3 innings of 4.40 ERA ball over three seasons with the Jays, carrying a suboptimal 76:48 cumulative K/BB ratio. Diaz has just one appearance to his name, but turned in a solid showing at the Double-A level in 2019. As for Winckowski, hes still due for further seasoning. The 22-year-old reached the High-A level in 2019. Over 127 1/3 total frames that year, he turned in a sturdy 2.69 ERA. Winckowski will (again) be eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the 2021 campaign. Agartala, Jan 28 : In the wake of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) preventing the Indian authorities to carry out the border fencing works in some patches along southern Tripura, the Border Security Force (BSF) has now taken up the matter with the higher authorities of BGB, officials said on Thursday. The officials said that the BGB personnel earlier this week had prevented the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Tripura government to erect the border fencing in the southern state's Sabroom along the India-Bangladesh border. A Commandant level meeting between the BSF and BGB was held on Wednesday, that remained inconclusive. "In view of the BGB's objections, tensions prevailed along the bordering areas after the Sub-Divisional authority asked the people to remain alert while movement along the borders," a senior police official said. A senior official of BSF's Tripura frontier headquarters at Shalbagan, near Agartala, said that they have asked the senior BGB officials to allow the Indian authorities to undertake the border fencing works in Sabroom. South Tripura District Magistrate Debapriya Bardhan told IANS that the BSF was looking after the matter to sort out the problem. Except some portions, most parts of Tripura's 856 km border with Bangladesh already being fenced 150 yards from the zero lines of the international border but in some cases the barbed wire fencing was done less than the 150 yards as the markets, government installations, and habitations fell just along the frontiers. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had earlier appealed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to complete the border fencing work along the India-Bangladesh frontiers to curb smuggling of drugs and other contraband, illegal cross border movement and crimes.' The Indian side of the international border passes through 4,096-km India-Bangladesh borders with West Bengal (2,216 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km). India started construction of the fence and flood lights along the India-Bangladesh border around 25 years ago to curb cross-border movement of terrorists, stop infiltration and check various border crimes, including smuggling and illegal trade. Animal rights activist group PETA is the target of a barrage of jokes on social media after it claimed that calling people names such as chicken, pig and sloth is insulting to animals. PETA, otherwise known as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, argued in a tweet Tuesday that using animal names as an insult promotes the myth that humans are superior and normalizes violence against other animals. The group also argued that the anti-animal slurs are inaccurate and suggested other non-animal-based insults that could be used. The tweet sparked a wave of backlash for the advocacy group, known for their provocative statements and campaigns, with social media users arguing that animals have no concept of words and accusing it of using language meant for human rights. Some vegans claimed the tweet was making them all look ridiculous while Texas Senator Ted Cruz simply called the idea Bull****, in direct provocation to the groups original tweet. On Tuesday, animal rights activist group PETA posted a tweet in which they claimed that people need to stop calling someone an animal as an insult as it will 'perpetuate oppression' The advocay group also shared this chart of the insults that could be used instead It sparked a wave of jokes including this edited chart reading: Instead of PETA, say trash' Other vegans called on the group to 'stop making us look ridiculous' Others joked that 'coward nuggets and fries' would sound like an odd order PETA had shared the original tweet on Tuesday alongside a graph in which it suggested potential insults to use instead of an animal name. It included coward instead of chick, jerk instead of snake, repulsive instead of pig and lazy rather than sloth. Words can create a more inclusive world or perpetuate oppression, PETA wrote. Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals & justified in violating them. Stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language. Anti-animal slurs degrade animals by applying negative human traits to certain species. Perpetuating the idea that animals are sly, dirty, or heartless desensitizes the public and normalizes violence against other animals. The group also argued that the anti-animal slurs are inaccurate and suggested other non-animal-based insults that could be used if an insult has to be used at all Speciesist language isnt just harmful, but it is also inaccurate, the group argued. Pigs, for instance, are intelligent, lead complex social lives, and show empathy for other pigs in distress. Snakes are clever, have family relationships, and prefer to associate with their relatives. PETA urges everyone who believes in equality and justice to take a look at their personal beliefs and the language they use and break free of this outdated mindset that denigrates other animals. Always be kind and consider not using insults at all. It immediately sparked a flurry of jokes about the group as well as some criticism on their previous campaigns. You must be forgetting the time you compared fat women to whales, hit back author Michelle Elman, sharing an image of an old PETA billboard in which they urged people to save the whales, lose the blubber, go vegetarian. The words featured alongside a woman on the beach. Texas Senator Ted Cruz simply called the idea Bull****, in direct provocation to the tweet It also sparked some criticism on their previous campaigns, as pictured above PETA has seen two days of jokes on Twitter since Tuesday's tweeet PETA is a parody of an animal rights group. They must be, wrote author Mark Dice. Your name is offensive to pets because it reinforces the myth that all pets are ludicrously woke imbeciles, answered Piers Morgan. In line with Senator Cruz comment, Ben Shapiro called PETA Dodo birds. Some animal rights activists claimed that PETA is working against the movement by focusing on the wrong issues in their tweet. 6 years vegan, please stop making us look ridiculous, wrote Twitter user Jessica Keogh. Sometimes I reckon you lot do stuff like this to actively help the anti-vegans, wrote an account named Lauren Dudley. I reckon PETA has a mole. A funny one, she joked. Some animal rights activists out there do important work. Not PETA though. PETA complains about "anti-animal" slurs online, added journalist Lauren Chen. I cant tell if this is real or you guys are making fun of yourselves, asked one user while another offered an edited version on PETAs graph back to them reading, Instead of saying Peta, say trash. Some social media users argued that PETA is working agasint themselves Yet others accused PETA of oppression themselves by taking language from the human rights movement. Appropriating the language of human rights movements and applying it to animals is repulsive Did I do that right? wrote Liz Bernstein. And others argued about the accuracy of PETAs statement. I think the drive thru people will be confused if I try to order coward nuggets and fries, mocked one person. Animals aren't oppressed by those words because they don't understand our language. And have no concept of words and their meaning, argued a user named Roxie. If you believe in equality and justice, it isnt hard to see how calling someone an animal as an insult can further animal suffering, PETA answered as they doubled down on the tweet. All the horror inflicted upon animals is rooted in the false idea that they are less than us and not deserving of respect. Come back to me about being less superior than animals when an anteater builds a house, another user had said in response. The group was also criticized for being inaccurate and using language meant for human rights PETA also answered this tweet arguing: Building houses is a skill humans excel at, yet there are plenty of skills and talents other animals have humans can only dream of - birds can soar through the sky at ease, ants can organize their labor towards a collective goal, and salmon can swim upstream to find their home! One user, however, pointed out that PETA euthanizes some of the animals in its shelters due to overcrowding, which they claimed was not in keeping with the groups mission. Instead of saying Peta, we should say Animal slaughters, they wrote. PETA euthanizes animals that end up homeless and unwanted thanks to societys casual acquisition and breeding of dogs and cats, PETA answered. The solution is prevention. PETA spends millions every year on spaying and neutering and promoting adoption. Stop trolling and do your part! PETA is not backing down, however, and in a follow-up tweet on Wednesday began to ask dictionaries to remove the definitions under animal names that described humans. PETA is asking @MerriamWebster, @Dictionarycom, & others to help combat speciesism & reduce animal abuse by removing derogatory definitions of pigs, snakes, & dogs, they wrote. It included the definition of dogs as a despicable man or youth and a pig as a dirty, gluttonous or repulsive person. Chantel Jeffries recently enjoyed a tropical getaway with boyfriend Drew Taggart. And the YouTube personality has since returned to her busy grind, which includes some cute clothes. She put her taut bod on display Tuesday in some flirty videos on her Instagram Story, as she modeled some sexy SKIMS undies, while going about her daily routine. Daily routine: Chantel Jeffries put her taut bod on display Tuesday in some flirty videos on her Instagram Story, as she modeled some sexy SKIMS undies, while going about her daily routine The 28-year-old showed off her toned tummy in the Cotton Rib Tank in Deep Sea, paired with the matching Cotton Jersey Cheeky Tanga, while brushing her teeth. She changed into the Pointelle Logo T-shirt in Soot, with a matching Cotton Jersey Dipped Thong, as she enjoyed her morning coffee. Jeffries opted for the Cotton Jersey Mock Neck Tank in Pacific, with matching Cotton Jersey Cheeky Tanga, to wash dishes. She took to Instagram with some sexy photos in other looks from the shoot, writing: 'Good afternoon.' Beautiful day: She took to Instagram with some sexy photos in other looks from the shoot, writing: 'Good afternoon' Dental hygiene: The 28-year-old showed off her toned tummy in the Cotton Rib Tank in Deep Sea, paired with the matching Cotton Jersey Cheeky Tanga, while brushing her teeth Caffiene fix: She changed into the Pointelle Logo T-shirt in Soot, with a matching Cotton Jersey Dipped Thong, as she enjoyed her morning coffee Cleaning up: Jeffries opted for the Cotton Jersey Mock Neck Tank in Pacific, with matching Cotton Jersey Cheeky Tanga, to wash dishes Birthday boy: She returned from vacation earlier this month with boyfriend Drew Taggart, after celebrating his 31st birthday in Tulum, Mexico The California-born DJ sported the Cheeky Tanga in Deep Sea with the matching Cotton Jersey Underwire Bra, before sporting the Cotton Plunge Bralette in Pacific with the matching Cotton Rib Boxer. She returned from vacation earlier this month with boyfriend Drew Taggart, after celebrating his 31st birthday in Tulum, Mexico. Jeffries wrote a sweet tribute on Instagram: 'You make this planet feel like home. Happy birthday I love you as much as pie and I'll love you as long as pi continues. 'Wish I was saying this out loud so it would be punnier anyways can't wait to do everything on earth with you.' The couple confirmed their relationship back in July with a kissy photo on Instagram, after they were first romantically linked back in February, during a Super Bowl party in Miami. NEW CANAAN, CT New Canaan is receiving significantly less coronavirus vaccine from the state than other nearby communities of roughly the same size, and town officials are trying to ramp up the pressure on the state for more supply. The town received 100 doses of the vaccine this week when it asked for 300 doses, and next week officials learned it will again only receive 100 doses though it asked for 1,000, according to New Canaan First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and Health Director Jenn Eielson. By comparison, Darien, which has nearly the same number of residents, is receiving 400 doses this week and 200 more next week, according to Eielson, or 600 doses during the period to New Canaan's 200. The discrepancy prompted Moynihan to reach out to the state legislators who represent New Canaan for answers. In an email chain with legislators he shared with Patch, Moynihan and Eielson expressed their frustration and disappointment in New Canaan not receiving enough vaccine. The town has more than 1,500 residents over the age of 75, but at only 100 doses per week, it would take months just to address that population. "It appears that the State is not being equitable in allocating vaccines to towns based on what we've learned," Moynihan wrote. Connecticut has grappled with short supply of the vaccine for a few weeks, prompting Gov. Ned Lamont to change the rollout to address vulnerable populations as quickly as possible. In the email chain, state Sen. Will Haskell (D-26th District) said Connecticut health officials do not know how much vaccine the state will receive from the federal supply. But officials will look more closely at community populations; a town's ability to vaccinate its residents; and administering it to vulnerable populations as quickly as possible. This article originally appeared on the New Canaan Patch LONDON, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc. ("Avon") announced today that it has extended the expiration date of its previously announced solicitation (the "2043 Notes Consent Solicitation") of consents from holders (the "2043 Notes Holders") of Avon's outstanding 6.950% Notes due 2043 (the "2043 Notes") from 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on January 27, 2021, to 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on February 3, 2021 (as amended hereby, the "2043 Notes Expiration Date"). 2043 Notes Holders who have previously delivered consents in connection with the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation do not need to redeliver such consents or take any other action in response to this announcement in order to consent to the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation. The 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation is being undertaken pursuant to the terms of the Consent Solicitation Statement, dated January 12, 2021 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, including by the press release dated January 20, 2021 and by this press release, the "Consent Solicitation Statement"). Except as set forth herein with respect to the 2043 Notes Expiration Date, the terms and conditions of the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation, as well as the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the 2043 Notes (the "2043 Notes Proposed Amendments"), remain the same as set forth and described in the Consent Solicitation Statement. In particular the Revocation Deadline (as defined in the Consent Solicitation Statement) with respect to the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation has passed and is not being extended. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citi") is acting as the Solicitation Agent for the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation. D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the Information and Tabulation Agent for the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation. Questions or requests for assistance related to the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation or for additional copies of the Consent Solicitation Statement may be directed to Citi at +1 (212) 723-6106 (banks and brokers) and +1 (800) 558-3745 (all others, toll free), or to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at +1 (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers), +1 (866) 356-7813 (all others, toll free) or by email at [email protected]. The Consent Solicitation Statement is available at: www.dfking.com/avon. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation. About Avon For 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women's empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over U.S.$1 billion to women's causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. Avon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Natura &Co Holding S.A. ("Natura &Co Holding"). To learn more, please visit Natura &Co Holding's website at https://naturaeco.com/en/brands/avon/. Forward-Looking Statements Disclosures in this press release contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that management expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include statements regarding the consummation of the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation, including the timing thereof, the 2043 Notes Proposed Amendments and the execution of the supplemental indenture to effect the 2043 Notes Proposed Amendments. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by Avon based on its management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Avon, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks set forth in reports filed by Natura &Co Holding with the Brazilian Securities Commission (Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and by Avon with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement applies only as of the date on which such statement is made and Avon does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Natura &Co Holding S.A. Investor Relations: Viviane Behar de Castro, Investor Relations Officer, Natura &Co Holding [email protected] SOURCE Avon Products, Inc. A Malaysian man has been sentenced to 1,050 years in prison and ordered to be given 24 strokes of the cane for raping his 12-year-old stepdaughter 105 times over a period of two years. I hope you will repent while in prison. You should not have committed a violent act and although the punishment is minimum, the court feels this is sufficient by taking into account the number of charges against you, said sessions court judge, Datin M Kunasundary, who awarded the accused 10 years in jail and two strokes of the cane for each rape charge. According to local news reports, the man, who has not been named and is said to be unemployed, was accused of raping his stepdaughter at a house in Sungai Way in Selangor state in the west coast between the period of 5 January, 2018, and 24 February, 2020. The court said, while handing down the sentence: As her stepfather, he should have been responsible for protecting the victim but instead, he destroyed her self-worth. His action will cause life-long trauma to the victim. Channel News Asia (CNA) reported that the crime came to light when the girls mother brought her and her younger sister to their aunts house. The victims biological parents divorced in 2015 and her mother remarried in November, 2016. The man is said to have also threatened and assaulted his stepdaughter. Recently, Malaysian police said they have witnessed a rise in cases of sexual abuse of children through incest during movement controls put in place by the federal government to control the coronavirus pandemic. 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. Ethiopia will soon launch a mask-wearing campaign in schools nationwide amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ethiopia Ministry of Education said on Wednesday. The campaign, dubbed "No Mask No Service in Schools," is aimed at boosting awareness of wearing masks to fight the virus in schools across the country, the ministry said in a statement. According to Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia's Minister of Education, the upcoming nationwide initiative, which will be held early next week, also seeks to recruit teachers and students as "Mask Bearer Ambassadors" to promote mask wearing in their communities. Last October, the Ethiopian government distributed about 50 million face masks to about 46,000 schools across the country as classes resumed after months of closure. As Africa's second most populous nation, Ethiopia is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. Short link: Heres one thing the pandemic couldnt ruin. Salt City Market finally opens on Friday, Jan. 29, to much anticipation and fanfare from downtown dwellers, workers and food lovers across Central New York. It fills a long-empty corner lot with a modern, mixed-use structure that houses apartments, offices and a gleaming new food hall featuring cake, coffee, pies, fresh juices, flowers and food from around the world: Burma, Jamaica, Thailand, Iraq, Vietnam and the American South. But its not just a shiny new building. Its one thing to say diversity matters. It is far more impactful and compelling to invest in diversity, to elevate and celebrate it. Thats exactly what the Allyn Foundation and Adam Sudmann did here. They put Syracuses multicultural community and talents on display, quite literally, in a glass-walled building at the Southwest gateway to downtown. Its the first thing many visitors at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown will see when they step outside the hotel lobby or look out their hotel windows. What an impression to leave on those coming through town. 25 Salt City Market opens in Syracuse Salt City Markets first class of food entrepreneurs competed for a coveted spot in the market, in a process that fostered creative brainstorming and mutual respect. The result is a tight-knit group of gifted vendors whose cultural offerings complement each other in one space. Dreamer Glen, owner of Miss Prissys inside the market, said it best: Food is the ultimate unifier When you have so many cultures and nationalities under one roof, it will bring about a change. People will become curious and more apt to understand each other and get along just a little bit better. The market is a natural culmination of Sudmanns work. His creative projects (My Lucky Tummy, With Love Restaurant) have celebrated the cuisine of talented chefs from across the globe. Those projects succeeded, but in limited capacities. With Love could only serve a couple dozen people at a time and the Lucky Tummy pop-up dinners operated out of small community centers or churches, often with lines out the door. Now, thanks to the Allyn Family Foundation, Sudmanns vision has funding and space to breathe -- 24,000 square feet of it. The food stalls serve as local business incubators: lower-risk options for vendors who may not want (or be able to afford) a brick-and-mortar restaurant right now. Vendors can rotate in and out, giving chances to other entrepreneurs down the road. Its not done, either. Westcott Nations Syracuse Cooperative Market will open its second branch in the space. (Downtown groceries!) There will be a community gathering room for future events. And parents will appreciate the outside playground and plentiful food options for picky eaters. Someday, imagine families lined up at those windows to watch the tail-end of the St. Patricks Parade. After a difficult year of business closures and disruptive construction on South Salina Street, downtown Syracuse can enjoy this much-needed victory. For this project to finish in the middle of a pandemic? That deserves a round of applause. About Syracuse.com editorials Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte, Katrina Tulloch and Marie Morelli. To respond to this editorial: Submit a comment through the Google form above, or submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines. If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion leader, at mmorelli@syracuse.com Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. As the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened, families and inexperienced hikers have fled large metropolitan areas they would usually spend their free time in and have literally ran for the hills. As state park visitation skyrocketed at some Texas parks over 2020, rescues of hikers also increased. At Big Bend State Park, the largest park in the state, staff reported 23 rescues last year, more than double the 11 recorded in 2019 before the pandemic, as reported by Texas Monthly Magazine. Their story opens with the rescue of a 45-year-old San Antonio man, whose rescue called for four hours from 13 crew members and lots of equipment. [January 28, 2021] DFIN to Announce Fourth-Quarter Results and Host Investor Conference Call on February 25, 2021 Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE: DFIN) will hold a conference call and webcast on February 25, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its fourth-quarter fiscal year 2020 financial results, provide a general business update and respond to analyst questions. A live webcast of the call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website. Please visit investor.dfinsolutions.com at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the event to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to participate live, a replay of the webcast will be available following the conference call on the Company's investor relations website, along with the earnings press release, and related financial tables. DFIN's financial report for the fourth-quarter will be released before the market opens o Thursday, February 25, 2021 via a filing with the SEC (News - Alert) on Form 8-K, and will also be posted on the Company's investor relations website. About Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) DFIN is a leading global risk and compliance solutions company. We provide domain expertise, enterprise software and data analytics for every stage of our clients' business and investment lifecycles. Markets fluctuate, regulations evolve, technology advances, and through it all, DFIN delivers confidence with the right solutions in moments that matter. Learn about DFIN's end-to-end risk and compliance solutions online at DFINsolutions.com or you can also follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @DFINSolutions or on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005023/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Madelaine Petsch showed off more of her graceful figure in new images from her Flaunt Magazine cover story shared this week. The 26-year-old Riverdale star flaunted her dancer's body while rocking an edgy all-black look featuring an eye-catching black leather fringed skirt from Michael Kors Collection. She was seen playfully dancing on a beige sofa while wearing little more than the skirt and a black mesh Dior bra that highlighted her toned midriff. Showstopper: Madelaine Petsch, 26, showed off more of her graceful figure in new images from her Flaunt Magazine cover story shared this week Petsch rounded out the ensemble with Dior underwear and silver hoop earrings from Pandora Jewelry. The actress contrasted the minimal color scheme with her striking red hair, which she tied into a bun. She looked more relaxed in another photo of herself lounging at a piano and cradling her head on her arm. Petsch was attired in a textured cream-colored Chanel jacket with thick black and white seems and a chainlink necklace. Contrasts: Petsch wore a black Dior mesh bra and a Michael Kors Collection leather fringed skirt in one photo and relaxed by the piano in a cream-and-black Chanel jacket and Pandora earrings in another Back in black: She wore a sheer black Dior dress covered in daisies, a perfect match for Riverdale character Cheryl Blossom The actress, who plays Cheryl Blossom on Riverdale, wore a Dior dress perfectly fitted to her character's name. The sheer black sleeveless dress was decorated with daisies. She elevated her 5ft6in stature with a pair of black Stuart Weitzman platform heels as she leaned against a high-rise window and popped a leg out seductively. The actress, 26, showed off her creamy skin and flawless complexion in other photos taken by photographer Justin Wu and shared earlier this week. Showstopper: Petsch looked stunning while wearing an open cream top which fell from her shoulders in photos from Justin Wu The image saw the Polaroid star wearing an open cream top which fell from her shoulders. Underneath, Madelaine slipped into a sheer mesh black bra from Dior. Her off-white shirt as well as matching pants featured small silver stud detailing. Petsch wore layered silver necklaces and a smattering of rings, along with small silver hoop earrings. Seen on Instagram: Petsch plays Cheryl Blossom on the moody and mysterious Archie Comics adaptation Riverdale She had one long black manicured hand up on the wall while her auburn hair was pulled back from her gorgeous face. The actress is currently finishing up production on season five of the CW hit series Riverdale in Vancouver, Canada. Last week, she shared a 'photo dump' from onset, showing various production stills from the shoot. Cheryl Blossom at your service: The actress is currently finishing up production on season five of the CW hit series in Vancouver Riverdale has so far aired its fifth season premiere, with the second episode set to be unveiled on Wednesday. Also this week, Madelaine paid a virtual visit to Comedy Centrals Stir Crazy with Josh Horowitz. During the cute segment, the famous redhead admitted that like others, she couldnt tell the difference between her costar Cole Sprouse, who plays Jughead on Riverdale, and his real life twin brother Dylan Sprouse. Last week: Madelaine shared a 'photo dump' from onset, showing various production stills from the shoot Early 1960s when the consolidation of the three Snyder County public schools was first proposed, there was a lot of local opposition, especially at the eastern (Selinsgrove) end of the county. As a result, the Middleburg and West Snyder School districts merged together to form the Mid-West School District, and Selinsgrove remained alone. That was almost 60 years ago, and now its time to move forward so that students and taxpayers can be better served. Duplication of too many services does not make sense, and taxpayers are being burdened unnecessarily. Its time to move on and put hard feelings aside. Mistakes of the past cant be relived, but corrections now can make for a better future. Eliminating unfair taxes is a good example. Per capita taxes on working class persons and families, as well as real estate transfer taxes, are good examples. Flat taxes, in general, are unfair taxes. Unfortunately, a graduated income tax is not legal in Pennsylvania presently. However, unpopular real estate property taxes are the next best tax in fairness, and they are legal. Yes, its time to move forward with administrative school district mergers in many Pennsylvania counties and with fair taxes for all taxpayers. David L. Faust, Selinsgrove, Pa. What just happened? The Doomsday clock, a symbol of how close humanity is to a global catastrophe, has not moved any closer to midnight. That's the good news. The bad news is that it remains 100 seconds away from the dreaded time, the closest it's ever been since the clock's inception in 1947. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which was co-founded by Albert Einstein and University of Chicago scientists in 1945, yesterday announced that the Doomsday clock's hands would not change from last year's setting. The pandemic was a big factor in why the clock did not move backward. "The lethal and fear-inspiring COVID-19 pandemic serves as a historic 'wake-up call,' a vivid illustration that national governments and international organizations are unprepared to manage the truly civilization-ending threats of nuclear weapons and climate change," said Bulletin president and CEO Rachel Bronson. The Bulletin said disinformation and conspiracy theories had worsened the threat of nuclear and environmental disaster, adding that online disinformation led to the US Capitol riots. "In 2020, online lying literally killed," scientists wrote. The changing likelihood of nuclear annihilation has long dictated the clock's time. The Bulletin said "legitimate concerns about national leaders who have sole control of the use of nuclear weapons" have been renewed. Developments in Northeast Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia further add to nuclear risks, with North Korea being a particular concern. There was also a warning over the environmental impact of post-pandemic stimulus plans. "In aggregate, the G20 countries had committed approximately $240bn to stimulus spending that supports fossil fuel energy by the end of 2020, versus $160bn for clean energy. At present, national plans for fossil fuel development and production are anything but encouraging." There are some reasons to be optimistic that the clock will move away from midnight next time, including the US rejoining the Paris climate accord and signing a five-year extension to an arms control treaty with Russia that limits the countries' deployed nuclear warheads. The Doomsday clock's original setting in 1947 was seven minutes to midnight. The furthest away humanity has been from disaster was seventeen minutes to midnight in 1991 when the United States and Soviet Union signed the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and the Soviet Union dissolved. The Doomsday clock has been slowly inching toward midnight over the last 20 years, reaching its closest, current reading in 2020. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... APELDOORN, Netherlands Jos Bieleveldt had a spring in his step when the 91-year-old Dutchman got a coronavirus vaccine this week. But many think that was way too long in coming. Almost two months before, Britains Margaret Keenan, who is also 91 now, received her shot to kick off the U.K.s vaccination campaign that has, so far, outstripped the efforts in many nations in the European Union. We are dependent on what the European Commission says we can, and cannot, do. As a result, we are at the bottom of the list, it takes far too long, Bieleveldt said of the executive arm of the EU, which, perhaps unfairly, has taken the brunt of criticism for a slow rollout in many of its member states. Onerous regulations and paperwork in some countries and poor planning in others have also contributed to the delay, as did a more deliberate authorization process for the shots. Overall, the 27-nation EU, a collection of many of the richest countries in the world most with a universal health care system to boot is not faring well in comparison to countries like Israel and the United Kingdom. Even the United States, whose response to the pandemic has otherwise been widely criticized and where tens of thousands of appointments for shots have been canceled because of vaccine shortages, appears to be moving faster. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ While Israel has given at least one shot of a two-dose vaccine to over 40% of its population and that figure in Britain is 10%, the EU total stands at just over 2%. And it is not just EU citizens who are laying the blame at the blocs door. Criticism is also coming from many nations that had hoped to see some live-saving liquid from the EU trickle through their borders. Amid concerns that the richer nations had snapped up far more doses than they needed and poorer nations would be left to do without, the EU was expected to share vaccines around. The rocky rollout is also testing the blocs long commitment to so-called soft power policies that advance its cause not through the barrel of a gun but through peaceful means, like through the needle of a syringe. Today its harder to get the vaccines than nuclear weapons, said Serb President Aleksandar Vucic, who had been counting on a lot more help from the EU. Serbia sits at the heart of the Balkan region where the EU, Russia and even China are seeking a stronger foothold. Helping the Balkan countries with their vaccine rollout seemed an area where Europe, with its medical prowess and a willingness to prioritize such cooperation, would have an edge. Not so far. Vucic said weeks ago when he welcomed 1 million doses of Chinese vaccines that Serbia had not received a single dose from the global COVAX system aimed at get affordable shots to poor and middle-income countries that the EU has championed and funded. Instead, Vucic said Serbia secured vaccines through deals with individual countries or producers. Rubbing salt in the wound, Vucic went for the EUs social conscience when he said this week that the world today is like Titanic. The rich tried to get the lifeboats only for themselves and leave the rest. Other nations on the EUs southeastern rim have also been critical. It is a big turnaround from only a month ago when the EUs future looked pretty bright. It had just inked a last-minute trade deal with the United Kingdom, clinched a massive 1.8 trillion-euro pandemic recovery and overall budget deal and started rolling out its first COVID-19 vaccines. This is a very good way to end this difficult year, and to finally start turning the page on COVID-19, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the time. By this past weekend, though, her attitude soured as it became clear that the bloc would be getting vaccines at a slower rate than agreed upon for its 450 million people. AstraZeneca has told the EU that of its initial batch of 80 million, only 31 million would immediately materialize once its vaccine got approved, likely on Friday. That came on the heels of a smaller glitch in the deliveries of Pfizer-BioNTech shots. Both companies say they are facing operational issues at plants that are temporarily delaying the rollout. Italy is threatening to take legal action against both over the delay. Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte had been boasting that the countrys rollout was a huge success, especially when the millionth dose was given on Jan. 15. But after Pfizer announced the temporary supply reduction, Italy slowed from administering about 80,000 doses a day to fewer than 30,000. Bulgaria has also criticized the drug companies, and some there have called for the government to turn to Russia and China for vaccines. Hungary is already doing so. If vaccines arent coming from Brussels, we must obtain them from elsewhere. One cannot allow Hungarians to die simply because Brussels is too slow in procuring vaccines, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. It doesnt matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice. But supply isnt the only thing holding up the EUs campaign. The problem is partially that the EU Commission bet on the wrong horse and didnt get enough doses of the early success vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech. The commission notes there was no way of knowing which vaccines would succeed and which would be first and so it had to spread its orders out over several companies. The EU rollout was also slowed because the European Medicines Agency took more time than the U.S. or U.K. regulators to authorize its first vaccine. That was by design as it made sure that the member nations could not be held liable in case of problems and in order to give people more confidence that the shot was safe. But individual countries also share in the blame. Germany, Europes cliche of an organized and orderly nation, was found sorely wanting, with its rollout marred by chaotic bureaucracy and technological failures, such as those seen Monday when thousands of people over 80 in the countrys biggest state were told they would have to wait until Feb. 8 to get their first shots, even as vast vaccine centers set up before Christmas languished empty. The speed of our action leaves a lot to be desired, Chancellor Angela Merkel said. Processes have often become very bureaucratic and take a long time, so we have to work on that. It is no different in France, where there is a Kafkaesque maze of rules to get consent for vaccinating the elderly. In the Netherlands, which banked on the easy-to-handle AstraZeneca vaccine being the first available, authorities had to scramble to make new plans for the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, whose ultracold storage requirements make it more complicated. We were proven to be insufficiently flexible to make the change, said Health Minister Hugo de Jonge. The Dutch have been particularly criticized since they were the last in the EU to begin vaccinations, more than a week after the first shots were given in the bloc, and they have been especially slow to roll doses out to elderly people living at home, like Bieleveldt, a retiree. Im already playing in injury time in terms of my age, he said. But I still want to play for a few more years. ___ Casert reported from Brussels. AP journalists across the European Union contributed. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine. Space To Cloud Analytics supports maritime search and rescue and safety of life operations, improving visibility in dangerous waters SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spire Global, one of the world's largest space-powered data and analytics companies, announced today that it will be working with Pole Star to provide all global data, for satellite, terrestrial, and Dynamic AIS to one of the six branches of the United States Armed Forces. This collaborative effort originated with Spire providing solely satellite-based AIS data for 70 degrees North and above (the Arctic region) to now providing all global data, for satellite, terrestrial, and Dynamic AIS to Pole Star to assist in providing critical maritime data services to government agencies. "Spire Global is becoming an industry-standard in the maritime industry. This effort is a big step towards cementing that," said Ben Minichino, President of Pole Star USA. "Both Pole Star and Spire have complementary technologies, and together we can provide cutting-edge services and systems in the maritime space." Spire will directly support Pole Star in search and rescue and safety of life operations, assisting the company in improving global maritime operations for one of the six branches of the U.S. military. Spire will provide deeper insights into areas that are difficult to cover with traditional terrestrial AIS, such as Alaska and the Arctic region, as well as open ocean and coastal zones, which only space based AIS can cover. Spire's unique Dynamic AIS will also provide coverage in notoriously difficult High Traffic Zones (HTZs) near busy ports and waterways around the world. "Major Government agencies and Pole Star extensively evaluated our data and found that our latency met or exceeded their newly implemented standards. This is a great example and real-world validation of how Spire is adding value with new types of data and new ways to apply it to increase efficiencies, and rapid, organic growth," said Keith E. Johnson, Vice President and GM Federal, Spire Global. About Spire Global Inc. Spire is a space-powered data and analytics platform that offers unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth from the ultimate vantage point so organizations can make decisions with confidence, accuracy, and speed. Spire uses the largest multi-purpose satellite constellation to source and enrich data with the most accurate predictive solutions so organizations can rapidly course-correct, deploy resources, mitigate risk, and save lives. Spire gives commercial and government organizations an unprecedented competitive advantage to innovate and solve the world's toughest problems from space. Spire has offices in San Francisco, Boulder, Washington DC, Glasgow, Luxembourg, Singapore. To learn more, visit spire.com About Pole Star Space Applications (USA) Inc. Pole Star (USA) is a St. Petersburg, FL based, privately held, London headquartered technology company. Since opening in 1998, Pole Star has pushed the limits of innovation, mitigating growing threats to ships, supply chains, cargo, territorial waters and, most importantly, lives within the maritime infrastructure and beyond. Pole Star designs, builds, and supports National Data Centers on behalf of over 60 governments and flag administrations: monitoring more than 40,000 ships, for over 1000 clients. Pole Star continues to develop new ways of turning complex geospatial data into accessible insight across critical government maritime safety, surveillance, regulatory conformance, sanctions screening, trade compliance, tracking, and security. Contact: press@spire.com Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021. Do you believe that it is possible to make good things happen for yourself simply by thinking about them? Have you ever tried? If so, you are among the many members of Gen Z who practice manifesting, or achieving material and psychic rewards through sheer force of mind. Do you think that this method of positive thinking is a helpful tool for coping with uncertainty, especially during the coronavirus pandemic? Or do you agree with some critics of the practice, who argue that it is an unrealistic fad embraced by misguided or entitled practitioners? In Manifesting, for the Rest of Us, Ruth La Ferla writes about the manifesting trend among young people: 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. Part magical thinking, part struggle for agency at a time when it is in short supply, the practice he described, an eons-old variant of positive thinking or at least the term that describes it has re-entered the mainstream. Manifesting sits alongside a smattering of belief systems astrology, tarot, paganism and their metaphysical cousins being resurrected by a youthful generation in the name of wellness. For Gen Z in particular, it can be a form of self-soothing, said Lucie Greene, a writer and trend forecaster in New York. Its a way to make sense of things in a moment where nothing makes sense. The article continues: This born-again phenomenon is dismissed in some quarters as little more than a quarantine fad, like bread baking, tie-dyeing or learning TikTok dances, as Rebecca Jennings put it in a recent post on Vox. Shut up Im manifesting, she said, has become one of the defining memes of 2020. Its practitioners, in contrast, view it as a coping mechanism, a legitimate alternative that organized religion or psychotherapy may not always provide. The law of attraction, a belief that your experiences have a direct correlation to your thoughts, is one aspect of Princess Asata Loudens spiritual practice. Others include journaling and meditation, which Ms. Louden, a 24-year-old dancer and graduate student at U.C.L.A., likes to perform by candlelight or near an open window. I also communicate with my ancestors and spirit guides, Ms. Louden said, rituals that make her feel divinely protected and guided. Manifesting has gotten me through all of this pandemic stuff, said Ms. Louden, who goes by the stage name Sygga. She is not religious but takes on faith that we have this power to manipulate energy. Many of her contemporaries preach a similar gospel of self-realization on YouTube, TikTok and other social platforms. These days the internet teems with their slogans and self-affirmations: Receiving blessings from the universe like, or Theres no competition when youre manifesting in your own lane. The article also explores critiques of manifesting, particularly that its mainstream adoption is grounded in white privilege: The law of attraction is tainted as well by an undercurrent of racism, one obvious enough to have spawned its own meme, Maybe you manifested. Maybe its white privilege. Manifesting feels entitled and dirty, Ruth Anne Stearns posted on Medium, going on to assert that its promise of wealth and abundance is grounded in the real advantage that you live in this white body, in this time and place that you have tremendous resources which most of the world does not have. Manifesting carries an implicit rebuke to members of impoverished or disenfranchised communities, said Denise Fournier, a psychotherapist in Miami. Subtle or not, the message is insidious. Its Why arent you manifesting a trip to Tulum? Why arent we seeing you on Instagram. You must not be a good manifester. Thats problematic, she said. Students, read or listen to the entire article, then tell us: Do you believe in manifesting? Have you ever manifested an outcome for yourself, or tried to? Did it work? The author notes that manifesting has entered the mainstream alongside practices like astrology and tarot as part of a wellness trend driven by social media. Which of these practices have you encountered, and how do you feel about them? Why do you think these practices are gaining popularity among teenagers online? Why do you think they are making a resurgence now? Is manifesting realistic? Do you think that manifesting discourages people from doing the hard work necessary to accomplish most goals? Might the process of identifying and reflecting upon your goals be valuable, even if doing so does not guarantee that they will come true? Do you agree with the author that manifesting is tainted by an undercurrent of racism? Do you think that manifesting is a reflection of the white privilege of some of its practitioners? If so, do you think manifesting should be altered, or even abandoned? If manifesting is not for you, are there other methods of self-reflection and self-care that you enjoy? Do you exercise, journal or engage in meditation or therapy? Religion or spirituality? What role do these practices play in your life? About Student Opinion Find all of our Student Opinion questions in this column. Have an idea for a Student Opinion question? Tell us about it. Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning. Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public. Hyper Automation Market Forecast to Reach $200million By 2025 The Hyper Automation Market is forecast to reach $200million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 14% in the period 2019-2025. Hyper automation is the advancement of traditional automation capabilities by using technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and other with robotic process automation(RPA) to automate processes. Banking financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector are going to play a major role in the growth of hyper-automation and this technology is estimated to have the highest adoption in banking financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector as most of the BFSI sector is using RPA which is estimated to be replaced by hyper-automation. In the manufacturing sector, the automobile industry is increasingly adopting hyper-automation to verify the components that will need a warranty or replacement. Key Takeaways Robotic process automation is the main tool of the hyper-automation market which is going to be advanced by the use of artificial intelligence, analytics and others. This technology development is driving the hyper-automation market Hyper automation is estimated to have huge growth in Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector as the ability to perform many tasks such as data analyzing, data processing and others without any human intervention is driving the adoption. Hyper automation is increasingly introduced as technological advancements have triggered businesses to overcome new challenges aimed to cope with changing consumer demand and requirements. North America region dominated the hyper-automation market due to their demand in high precision applications and applications in Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) Tool Segment Analysis The tools required for hyper-automation are robotic automatic process (RPA), artificial intelligence, intelligent business management, analytics and other advanced tools, among the above robotic automatic process (RPA) is the core and expands automation capability with artificial intelligence (AI), process mining, analytics, and other advanced tools. The growth of the hyper-automation market is mainly driven by the ease in business processes with the installation of robotic process automation with artificial intelligence (AI), with the addition of many new features such intelligent business process management software (iBPM), natural language processing (NLP), analytics and other. Application Segment Analysis Hyper automation is estimated to have great success in the banking, insurance and financial services sectors as hyper-automation can provide centralized updated data instantly. Hyper-automation improves accuracy and enables chief financial officers (CFO) to have live-data reporting, to reporting risk and enable fast decision using most current data. In the manufacturing sector, the automobile industry can use hyper-automation to verify the components that may need a warranty or replacement. This growing set of applications is set to drive the hyper-automation market demand led by the BFSI segment which is estimated to grow at 19% CAGR through 2025. Geography Segment Analysis The hyper-automation market for North America held the largest market size in 2019 at 39% and is expected to dominate the market during the forecasted period. U.S. is the largest market for Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and most of the tasks such as customer service, accounts payable, mortgage processing and others are operated using robotic process automation (RPA). Now with the introduction of many advance tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), process mining, analytics, and others with robotic process automation (RPA), hyper-automation or advanced robotic automation process can perform many tasks such as data analyzing, data processing and others without any human intervention. Thus, many regions such as Canada, Mexico and others which have large BFSI sectors using robotic process automation (RPA) are going to be a huge market for hyper-automation. Drivers ? Hyper Automation Market Increasing penetration of automation Technological advancements have triggered businesses to overcome new challenges aimed to cope with changing consumer demand and requirements. In recent years, the adoption of automation has captured the attention of many small, medium and large-sized enterprises as automation has many benefits such as an increase in employee capacity, greater productivity and accurate insights and others which are leading to increasing in penetration of automation. Hyper-automation has many benefits such as a reduction in errors, reduction in work time for humans and improvement in the quality of work. Thus this market is set to witness a significant rise in market penetration Surge in demand for precision and accuracy in various industry verticals- Accuracy plays a major part in the data extraction process, and human beings have issues in providing accurate data. Thus, as hyper-automation provides accurate data through the use of data mining, machine learning and other processes, this technology is set to witness increased adoption. Data extraction and data accuracy play a major role in analytics; hyper-automation uses extracted data for analyzing and automating the whole process by using robotic process automation. With the use of advanced tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and others, hyper-automation can not only reduce the risk of human error but also human effort and thus will witness a significant rise in adoption. Challenges ? Hyper Automation Market Lack of training among employees As technology is getting updated day-by-day, it is not possible for the many industries to provide proper training to the employees, which is leading to delay in the implementation of new technology in various industries. Without being aware of where automation is required in business and following the trend blindly, implementing it would be a disaster. Training plays a major role in implementing advance tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and other. However, the lack of training among employees provides a major hindrance in the adoption of hyper-automation. Market Landscape The key players in the field of the hyper-automation market are Google, Amazon, Uipath, Blueprism, automation anywhere, AutomationEdge and others Partnerships/Product Launches/Acquisition In February 2020, Automation Anywhere announced the world?s first integrated artificial intelligence (AI)-driven process discovery solution that discovers business processes to be operated by bots In March 2020, CogniBot a Hyper automation platform with next-generation AI capabilities is launched AutomationEdge which is going to help the business user to record their actions and development using tools like drag and drop Warsaw: A contentious near-total ban on abortion in Poland has come into effect, despite rampant opposition from hundreds of thousands of Poles who began protesting last year in the largest demonstrations in the country since the 1989 collapse of communism. Thousands of outraged women, teenagers and allies returned to the streets on Wednesday night, Warsaw time, bundled up against the cold after word that a ruling that halts the termination of abortions for fetal abnormalities virtually the only kind of abortion performed in Poland would come into force. People protest new anti-abortion laws, near the ruling Law and Justice party headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. Credit:AP The decision had been made in October by the Constitutional Tribunal, but its implementation was delayed after it prompted a month of protests. On Wednesday, the government abruptly announced the ruling was being published in the governments journal, meaning it would come into effect. The protesters chanted slogans like I think, I feel, I decide! and Freedom of choice instead of terror! In Warsaw, they marched to the headquarters of the governing Law and Justice Party to songs including I Will Survive. To read this article and more, including our archive of drinks industry news, analysis & comment pieces from the last 20 years, try just-drinks for 30 days for just 1* First Name Last Name Job Title Email Take a trial *plus VAT if applicable Already a member? Log in here .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal As the deadly COVID-19 virus invaded the New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences last November, a certified nursing assistant came to work reporting she didnt feel well and had a fever. A rapid test showed she had the coronavirus. Instead of being sent home, she was instructed to continue her shift, passing out food trays and helping transfer both COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-free residents from unit to unit, according to a new inspection report released by the state Department of Health, which oversees the home. An infection prevention specialist at the site told inspectors the assistant should have been sent home because she had tested positive and presented with symptoms but, due to staffing challenges, stayed working at the facility, the report stated. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ By the time the nursing assistant finished her work that day, Nov. 27, she had developed a sore throat, headache and cough. Another nursing assistant who worked with her that day tested positive for the virus 48 hours later. In the weeks that followed, the states only home for military veterans and their spouses touted in the late spring for its excellent record on keeping the virus at bay became one of the worst hot spots for it. The DOH said Wednesday that 36 residents had died of COVID-19, more than 110 positive cases among residents have been reported and there were at least 78 cases among staff members. To try and stem the virus transmission, at least a dozen residents were transferred out of the home in early December to an assisted-living home in Las Cruces. Acting on a complaint, state surveyors conducted an unannounced visit on Dec. 7 and, within days, put the home on notice that its infection control deficiencies put residents and staff in Immediate Jeopardy of risking health and safety. The designation was lifted days later after a thorough cleaning and with a corrective plan of prevention in place, according to the 12-page report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The home was expected to be in substantial compliance by this week. The administrator of the home, which provides skilled nursing services and assisted-living housing, remains on administrative leave. The virus has hit long-term care facilities especially hard in New Mexico over the past 11 months, with more than 100 nursing homes or assisted-living facilities reporting at least one positive case in the past 28 days. But the veterans home had been virus-free until Oct. 23, when its first positive case was reported, the inspection report stated. The report faulted the facility for: n Allowing a COVID-19-positive staff member with symptoms to continue providing care to COVID-19-positive and non-positive residents. Such facilities are supposed to take precautions to prevent the spread of infection, including prohibiting employees with a communicable disease from direct contact with residents or their food if that would transmit the disease. n Failing to clearly communicate residents COVID-19 status to nursing staff. n Failing to provide a barrier between green zones (for non-COVID) patients and red zones for COVID-19-positive areas and staff were observed passing between zones. n Staff failing to change such personal protective equipment as gowns, masks and gloves between red, yellow and green zones that separate COVID-19-positive residents from those who may have been exposed to the virus and needed to be isolated, and those who dont have COVID-19. n Failing to thoroughly clean a red zone for COVID-19-positive residents before converting it to a green zone for non-COVID residents. This deficient practice likely resulted in the spread of potentially deadly infectious diseases to other residents and staff, the report stated. Back in April, the veterans home created contingency staffing strategies to allow asymptomatic staff who had been exposed to the coronavirus to continue working when they had a normal temperature and lack of symptoms every day before reporting to work. They were required to wear a face mask at work for 14 days after the exposure event. They also had to stop any resident care activities, report to their supervisor and leave the facility if even mild symptoms develop. The report said that, on Nov. 23, the home obtained a two-week approval it doesnt say from whom of a crisis staffing plan that allowed asymptomatic COVID-19 staff to work only with COVID-19-positive residents. They were barred from entering any other units in the facility. Among the interviews with staff, the report cited one person, who asked to remain anonymous, who had complained that residents were moved from unit to unit too quickly before their rooms could be adequately cleaned, the report stated. The inspectors also faulted the home for failing to inform residents and their families in a timely fashion when someone tested positive for the virus or when three or more staff or residents showed respiratory symptoms within 72 hours of each other. Failure to notify residents of this status is likely to result in residents relying on rumor and fear when interpreting the isolation and need for precautions around other residents and staff in the facility, the report said. The administrator told inspectors on Dec. 9 that she sent letters to the residents and their representatives every week to two weeks, updating them about COVID-19 in the facility. She also said she wasnt aware of any guidance that required her to notify residents or resident representatives any time there was a positive case in the building and she confirmed there had been no such notification within 24 hours of the facility receiving a positive test result. Who will be the next CBI chief? PM Modi-led panel shortlists these three names; Congress protests 16 Opposition parties to boycott President's address to Parliament India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Jan 28: A total of 16 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the president's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament in solidarity with the farmers protesting the new farm laws, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Thursday. The 16 Opposition parties also demand a probe into the Centre's role in violence on Republic Day in Delhi, said the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha while speaking to the media with Congress' chief whip in Lok Sabha, K Suresh, by his side. Karnataka Governor lauds State government for its 'achievements' amid COVID-19, Congress stages protest The Congress on Wednesday had held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the violence that shook the national capital on Republic Day and said he should be sacked immediately. The Congress had also accused the Modi government of being part of a concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers' agitation by allowing some miscreants to enter the Red Fort complex and hoist a religious flag, in their bid to ensure that the farmers bury their demand for the repeal of the three new agri laws. Munawar Faruqui bail denied | Amit Shah visits injured cops | Oneindia News President Ram Nath Kovind would address the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on January 29. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 15:00 [IST] New Delhi, Jan 28 : Telecom major Reliance Jio is the fifth strongest brand in the world, shows the 'Brand Finance Global 500 2021' report. The annual report on the most valuable and strongest brands in the world noted that despite being the latest entrant in the India's telecom scenario, Jio has quickly become the largest mobile network operator in India and the third largest mobile network operator in the world, with almost 400 million subscribers. "Entering the ranking for the first time this year and claiming the title of the world's 5th strongest brand, is Indian telecoms giant, Jio, with a BSI score of 91.7 out of 100 and the elite AAA+ brand strength rating," it said. It added that known for its incredibly affordable plans, Jio took India by storm through offering 4G to millions of users for free, simultaneously transforming how Indians consume the internet. The dominance of the brand across the nation is evident from the results from Brand Finance's original market research, said the report. "Jio scores highest in all metrics -- consideration conversion, reputation, recommendation, word of mouth, innovation, customer service and value for money -- compared to its telecom competitors in India," it said. The brand has no major weaknesses within the sector, and unlike other telecoms brands globally, Jio has shown that it has broken the mould, and enjoys genuine affection from consumers, the Brand Finance report added. Further, it said Jio is the fastest-growing brand in the ranking in the telecoms sector in terms of brand value, bucking the negative trend across the industry, with a 50 per cent increase to $4.8 billion. The world's most valuable telecoms brand, Verizon (up 8 per cent to $68.9 billion), has also recorded a healthy brand value growth, re-entering the top 10 for brand value following its absence in 2020. The strongest brand adjudged by the Brand Finance survey is WeChat with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.4 out of 100. The Chinese mobile app is one of merely 11 brands in the ranking to have been awarded the elite AAA+ brand strength rating, it said. Auto giant Ferrari took second spot, followed by bank in Russian brand, Sber and beverage major Coca-Cola as the third and fourth strongest brands in the world. 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. A Message From The Editor just-style gives you the widest apparel and textile market coverage. Paid just-style members have unlimited access to all our exclusive content - including 21 years of archives. I am so confident you will love complete access to our content that today I can offer you 30 days access for 1*. Its our best ever membership offer just for you. Leonie Barrie, editor of just-style Leonie's offer to you * plus VAT if applicable Consumer appliances brand Panasonic has launched air conditioners with nanoe X technology that it claims inhibit bacteria and virus including COVID-19. The company said in a statement that the technology can also remove PM2.5 particles, helping improve indoor air quality. The nanoe X technology is now available in Panasonics nanoe X Air Conditioners which have been tested for the inhibitory effect on the novel coronavirus at the Texcell Laboratory, France. The nanoe X technology releases hydroxyl radicals contained in water. Hydroxyl radicals are also known as 'natures detergent' that are capable of inhibiting bacteria and viruses, including 99.99 percent of the adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), as per the company. The new line-up of the five-star inverter nanoe X ACs will be available in 1-ton and 1.5-ton. Here, the inverter ACs will be priced at Rs 66,000. Compared to an entry-level Panasonic AC, there will be a 10 percent higher price on an average in this new range of air conditioners. Also Read: Here are some COVID-19 killing devices you can use Manish Sharma, President and CEO, Panasonic India and South Asia, said that the new range of ACs will help shift focus on indoor air quality and not just on cooling. He explained that these ACs are being manufactured in Jhajjar in Haryana and that the emphasis on 'Make in India' is intact at Panasonic. "When it comes to the PLI scheme, we will wait for detailed guidelines on this matter," he added. The size of the Indian AC market is 7.5 million room air-conditioners with a CAGR growth of 15-20 percent. However, the AC penetration is only about 6 percent in India. ACs are taxed at the highest rate of 18 percent under the goods and services tax. The Union Cabinet approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for 10 sectors on November 11. These are pharmaceuticals, automobiles and auto components, telecom and networking products, advanced chemistry cell battery, textile, food products, solar modules, white goods, and specialty steel. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices A TV viewer has issued a complaint alleging that an RTE comedy sketch which depicted God as a rapist is blasphemous under the laws in Northern Ireland. The person this week made the complaint to Crimestoppers in the UK, asking for the matter to be referred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to investigate as the programme aired in the North and was available to watch on the RTE Player there. Blasphemy is no longer an offence in the Republic of Ireland, but it remains an offence under common law in Northern Ireland. However, a PSNI source said they likely have no jurisdiction to investigate the matter. Read More The national broadcaster has received nearly 7,000 complaints to date about the sketch by satirical website Waterford Whispers in the New Years Eve Countdown Show on RTE One. The show featured former RTE News anchor Aengus Mac Grianna who later apologised reading a satirical news bulletin about God being arrested for sexual harassment. The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, denounced the broadcast as deeply offensive and blasphemous. Ireland voted to remove blasphemy from the Constitution in a 2018 referendum. It followed calls to reform blasphemy laws after gardai had to launch an investigation into English actor Stephen Fry in 2017 over comments he made on RTE show The Meaning of Life, hosted by the late Gay Byrne. The Irish Independent revealed at the time how a member of the public reported the blasphemy allegation to Ennis garda station. Previously, under the Defamation Act 2009, a person who published or uttered blasphemous material could have been liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding 25,000. Gardai decided not to proceed further with the investigation against Mr Fry after they failed to find a large group of people outraged by the comments he made on the RTE show. He was asked what might he say to God at the pearly gates in the show. Mr Fry replied, saying: How dare you create a world in which there is such misery? Its not our fault. Its not right. Its utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid god who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain? The RTE Editorial Standards Board found the Waterford Whispers sketch which aired on New Years Eve breached both its own and the Broadcasting Authority of Irelands standards. It said a further review will be carried out into how the sketch made it to air and has since removed it from the RTE Player. An RTE spokesperson said yesterday it has received approximately 5,380 emails and 1,555 calls complaining about the sketch. RTE did not wish to comment on the blasphemy complaint. The re-circulation of chilled air in plants has been identified as key risk factor. ONE person who caught Covid-19 and spread it in a meat processing plant led to more than 220 people being infected by the virus, it has emerged. Dr Lorraine Doherty, National Clinical Director of Health Protection in the HSE, has pleaded with the public that every action an individual takes matters before explaining how one infection led to the scores of new cases. It happened in the west of the country, where the infected person was working in the meat processing plant. He passed the virus on to 83 people in the workplace. Read More One of these cases then infected a household contact, who in turn worked in a different meat processing plant and there was an outbreak of 76 further cases in that workplace. From the first meat plant outbreak, there were 19 additional cases in private houses and seven additional cases among school students. From the second meat plant outbreak, there were 35 additional cases in private houses and two additional community cases. This evening at the #NPHET press briefing in the Department, Dr Lorraine Doherty from the @hpscireland showed a series of slides demonstrating how one #COVID19 case can trigger an outbreak, which can lead to several more outbreaks. Every contact counts. #StayHome 3/4 pic.twitter.com/W038BFvxg7 Department of Health (@roinnslainte) January 28, 2021 The Department of Health confirmed a further 47 Covid-19 related deaths and 1,466 more cases today. Some 46 of these deaths occurred in January. The median age of those who died is 85 years and the age range is 55-99 years. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 192,645 and the total number of coronavirus related fatalities to 3,167. Of the cases notified today: 697 are men / 764 are women 55pc are under 45 years of age The median age is 41 years old 472 in Dublin, 106 in Galway, 103 in Cork, 77 in Waterford, 70 in Limerick and the remaining 638 cases are spread across all other counties** Professor Philip Nolan said the population has worked incredibly hard with slowing the transmission of Covid-19 and the R number is now estimated to be at 0.4-0.7. He added: We are maintaining an extraordinary effort but still we have a long way to go. "We must maintain full suppression for several weeks if we are to achieve strategic options for the future. If we keep this up, we would be down to 200-400 cases per day by the end of February. However, he said the current daily death rate is incredibly sad and that in this wave there is a much greater death-toll in the community, as in the wave of April of last year two-thirds of covid related fatalities were in long-term residential settings. CMO Dr Tony Holohan said the incidence is falling but remains high. He added: It is positive to see numbers of people hospitalised reducing and a stabilisation of numbers in ICU. However, we are continuing to experience high mortality with 878 deaths so far in January. I am concerned about the high incidence we are seeing in long-term care settings and vulnerable groups." Read More GTL team members appreciate the culture of collaboration and recognition, knowing that their work has a meaningful impact on everyone affected by incarceration FALLS CHURCH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2021 / GTL, a trusted partner that connects those affected by incarceration with the resources and support necessary to achieve success, today announced that it has earned the 2021 Top Workplaces USA Award from Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. This is the inaugural year for Top Workplaces USA, built on the Energage's 14-year history surveying more than 20 million employees across 54 markets for the regional Top Workplaces awards. Over 1,100 organizations across the country participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey, and winners were chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey issued by Energage. "Our goal is to provide solutions that bring families together, that prepare individuals to reenter society, and that support the officers in our customer facilities," said Deb Alderson, GTL President & CEO. "The services that we provide make a difference to correctional facilities, incarcerated individuals, and family and friends, and these accomplishments are due to the commitment and dedication of our amazing team members. Receiving this Top Workplaces USA award further solidifies the focus GTL has placed on cultivating a strong workforce, and since this survey is based on employee feedback, we are thrilled that we have developed a strong culture of change and collaboration with team members who really understand and believe in our mission." Several thousand organizations from across the country were invited, and more than 1,100 participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. "GTL strives to create an inclusive environment in which all employees find success," said Jessica Artz, GTL Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Administration. "Every program we implement is done with our employees front of mind-without engaged employees, we cannot fulfill our mission. It is truly an honor to be recognized with a Top Workplaces USA award." "During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business." About Us For over 30 years, GTL has worked side-by-side with correctional facilities and government agencies to provide imperative technology solutions to the populations they serve. These solutions facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, enable successful reentry, and strengthen operational efficiency. GTL is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America and provides solutions in support of 1.6 million inmates across the globe. To learn more about GTL, please visit www.gtl.net, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Contact Randy Brown Work: 703-215-5383 media@gtl.net SOURCE: GTL View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/626531/GTL-Named-a-2021-Top-Workplaces-USA-Award-Winner-by-Energage EAST LONGMEADOW The highest honor in animation will be bestowed posthumously on acclaimed Disney artist Sue Nichols Maciorowski in Los Angeles this spring. Closer to home, St. Michaels Parish in East Longmeadow, where she designed theatrical productions and helped at summer Bible camp in recent years, will soon dedicate its community center stage in her honor. Its a tough call as to which tribute would have meant more to the onetime East Longmeadow schoolgirl, who won sidewalk chalk coloring contests before achieving fame at the peak of the Disney Renaissance with such films as The Lion King, Aladdin and Hercules. She returned to East Longmeadow in 2002, married, raised a family and volunteered in her community. In September she lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 55. Maciorowski will become only the seventh woman ever to receive the Winsor McCay Award from the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood, on April 16. Past recipients include Walt Disney, Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, Tex Avery, Ray Harryhausen and Ralph Bakshi. She made it to the top of her field among a group of men, her father, Brian Nichols, proudly boasted in an interview. She used to have an office down the hall from Roy Disney, co-founder of the Walt Disney Co. and older brother of its namesake. Her mother, Julie Nichols, recalled how Maciorowski had lofty goals since she could first hold a crayon. When she was in third grade, she wanted to be a Disney artist, Julie Nichols said. In grade school, she won a sidewalk coloring contest. In high school, she did the art for the town report. After graduating from East Longmeadow High School in 1983, Maciorowski studied visual animation at the California Institute of the Arts, where she later lectured. She won an Emmy Award as part of the Jim Henson / Marvel Productions team that animated televisions Muppet Babies. Sue Nichols Maciorowski of East Longmeadow served as production stylist on Walt Disney Studio's 1997 animated film "Hercules." Disney Animation soon hired her to work on big screen blockbusters including Beauty and the Beast. On Hercules, she created a style guide that defined Greek design, and supervised the look of the film across layout, animation, effects, color styling and more, Disney Animation said in a statement after her death. The title Production Stylist was created for her, as no one had done a similar role before at Disney Animation. Disney Animation called Maciorowski an influential visual development and story artist who helped define the design and narratives of the films of the Disney Renaissance and beyond. By 2002, Maciorowski tired of Los Angeles and returned to East Longmeadow, though she continued to work with Disney, most notably by helping to storyboard and design a sequence for The Princess and the Frog in 2009 and working on early designs of the Maui character in Moana five years ago. She met and later married Chet J.R. Maciorowski, an occupational therapist and former U.S. Army medic, in 2005. They raised two children. She even found time to pen a book, Occupational Therapy for Artists. Sue Nichols Maciorowski and her husband, Chet "J.R." Maciorowski, attend the annual Forest Park Party with the Animals on Sept. 10, 2005. Sue was the most positive and outgoing person you could ever meet, Chet Maciorowski said of his late wife. She had a smile that lit up a room and a sparkle in her eye. She was active in her church, designing sets for the St. Michael Players and working on the summer Bible camp, he said. Sue was the type of person who could be very helpful and liked to help people, Chet Maciorowski said. At St. Michaels Parish, Sue Maciorowski would labor tirelessly on projects for the summer religious education program and theatrical productions, said Rose Stella, director of religious education at the church and founder of the St. Michael Players. A Disney animator for free gave of herself for the betterment of her church and the theater, Stella said. She worked, worked and worked. I would leave and she would still be here. She was so generous using her craft. Sue Nichols Maciorowski of East Longmeadow at the St. Michael Players' 2016 production of "Beauty and the Beast." (Photo courtesy of St. Michael's Parish) Once the coronavirus pandemic ends, parishioners at St. Michaels will gather and name the stage at its Somers Road community center after Maciorowski. Sue was an integral piece to the programs we run at St. Michaels, Stella said. We have been saying, How will we put together Bible camp without Sue? Maciorowskis battle with cancer began in late 2014, and by mid 2016 she was writing in an online diary at mothernichols.com about being cancer free for months. Unfortunately, a bone density scan and an MRI revealed in early 2019 that she had metastatic breast cancer. She wrote of the support her husband and parents had given, which allowed her to remain positive. In her last online entry she wrote, Its a battle every day! And I do mean a battle! I really do need to work hard both physically and mentally to keep moving forward. But as long as forward is how were going, then Im good. 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. Amid the ongoing border conflict with China, India is now looking to 'counter Beijing's propoganda' through Tibetology. According a report in the Times of India, the Army is making a proposal for officers to study Tibetan history, on both sides of the LAC and international boundary. This will be to "counter propoganda and spread of influence" by China, sources told TOI. ALSO READ | As Tensions With China Simmer, Jaishankar Outlines Eight Principles to Repair Ties With Neighbour The proposal was first initiated in the Army commanders' conference in October. The Shimla-based Army Training Command (ARTRAC) is now further analysing the proposal on General MM Naravane's directions. Seven institutes which offer postgraduate courses in Tibetology have been identified by the ARTRAC. Army officers can complete their course here by going on study leave, and can also be sent for smaller courses here. The Department of Buddhist Studies in Delhi University; Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi; Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in Bihar; Visva Bharati in West Bengal; Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education in Bengaluru; Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok; and the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies in Arunchal Pradesh, are the institutes identified for the purpose. The source told TOI that the Army needed to build its expertise on both China and Tibet in terms of "linguistic, cultural and behaviour patterns", and that this would require language and sector specialisations with some officers posted at the LAC for a longer tenure instead of the western front with Pakistan. He added that "just a two-year course on Mandarin" would not make an officer a China expert. After the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and PLA forces last year, subsequent talks have failed to end the stalemate on the border. The latest corps commander level talks between India and China had not led to any agreement for disengagement from the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, but officials had told News18 that both sides have agreed in principle to withdraw troops after a nine-month standoff. However, there is the lack of consensus on the withdrawal mechanism. While India is insisting on simultaneous withdrawal, the Chinese want India to first disengage from southern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake in eastern Ladakh. [January 28, 2021] Palantir Technologies and Rio Tinto Sign Multi-Year Enterprise Partnership Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) announced today it has signed a multi-year enterprise agreement for its Foundry Platform with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO), one of the world's leading mining and metals corporations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005373/en/ Description: Saguenay/IOC, Reclaimer, the port in Sept-Iles, Quebec, Canada Source (News - Alert) : Rio Tinto Brand Bank Copyright 2021 Rio Tinto Palantir's software will integrate raw data from a multitude of disparate sources into a representation of critical mining operations. Rio Tinto will be able to make decisions and take actions using a single source of truth that combines operational and transactional data. This data resource will be available, with the necessary security and privacy controls, to its frontline and office-based workers. "This partnership is an important step in our digital transformation; enabling fast-paced, forward-looking decision making across our operations leading to improved results in safety, cost and production," says Fay Cranmer, Rio Tinto's CIO. "We are excited to work with Palantir in the collaborative delivery of digitl products, with best-in-class data technology." The new multi-year partnership with Rio Tinto builds on a number of successful data integration projects explored last year across various business units including: transforming Borates to a digital business across the value chain; connecting people with data in Rio Tinto's underground operations; and assisting the company with the safety and well-being of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is a significant industry partnership for us", says Shyam (News - Alert) Sankar, COO of Palantir. "Our Foundry Platform has been used extensively to accelerate delivery and optimise value chains across a number of market sectors where safety matters." About Palantir Palantir Technologies Inc. is a software company that builds enterprise data platforms for use by organizations with complex and sensitive data environments. From building safer cars and planes, to discovering new drugs and combating terrorism, Palantir helps customers across the public, private, and non-profit sectors transform the way they use their data. Additional information is available at www.palantir.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 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. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantir's expectations regarding the amount and the terms of the contract and the expected benefits of our software platforms. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to meet the unique needs of our customer; the failure of our platforms to satisfy our customer or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; our platforms' reliability; and our customer's ability to modify or terminate the contract. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005373/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In this Aug. 9, 2019 satellite image made available by NASA, Typhoon Lekima, left, skirts north of Taiwan and towards eastern China. Typhoon Krosa is at right. A study released on Thursday, Jan, 28, 2021, finds that tropical cyclones around the globe are getting closer to land than they used to, except for Atlantic hurricanes. (NASA/NOAA via AP) Tropical cyclones across the globe, except Atlantic hurricanes, are moving closer to land in recent decades, a new study found. Also called typhoons, tropical cyclones generally have been moving westward by about 18 miles per decade (30 kilometers) since 1982, putting them closer to land and making them more dangerous, a study in Thursday's journal Science said. Each decade since the 1980s, an additional two cyclones have come within 124 miles (200 kilometers) of land, the study said Researchers don't quite know why this is happening, but it adds to other ominous trends in cyclone activity. Past studies have found that the most intense storms are getting stronger and storms in general are getting wetter, shifting poleward, moving slower and are keeping their power longer after hitting land. But while the new study found storms are getting closer to land, researchers still haven't seen a significant increase in landfalls, which "is still a puzzle," said study lead author Shuai Wang, a cyclone scientist at Imperial College in London. "It's not only the landfall that causes damage. When the cyclone is close enough to land it can also cause damage like Hurricane Sandy and Dorian a few years ago," Wang said, who also mentioned 2019's Typhoon Lekima, one of the costliest in Chinese history. "If you look at the track before the final landfall, those cyclones skirted along the U.S. coast for a long time and that certainly caused damage. That's one reason why we look at coastal activity." It's mysterious that, unlike other areas, the Atlantic hurricane basin didn't show any significant westward shift, but that could be because the Atlantic hurricane zone is more closely surrounded by continents, Wang said. The busiest tropical cyclone basin is in the western Pacific, where there are the most landfalls and the shift westward is twice as big as the global average. Wang and his colleagues are still trying to figure out why this westward shift is happening. Storms generally move east to west because of trade winds in the tropics, so a greater westward shift usually puts them closer to where the land is, Wang said. Storms that form just west of land, such as in the Pacific off the California and Mexican coasts, are usually moving away from land already, so this shift doesn't spare more land. Changes in atmospheric currents that steer storms tend to be pushing cyclones farther west, but why is still an open question, Wang said. He said it could be only partly explained by some natural long-term climate cycles. Other shifts in atmospheric patterns have been connected to human-caused climate change and that's a possible factor in the shift but not something researchers can prove yet, he said. Massachusetts Institute of Technology hurricane expert Kerry Emanuel said the study is plausible, especially since scientists have already seen a shift of storms more toward the north and south poles, but it raises questions that require follow up, especially why no corresponding increase in landfalls has been found. All these strange shifts are taking cyclones out of their preferred environment of warm tropical waters away from land, University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said. Explore further Tropical cyclones moving faster in recent decades: study More information: S. Wang el al., "Recent migration of tropical cyclones toward coasts," Science (2020). S. Wang el al., "Recent migration of tropical cyclones toward coasts,"(2020). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.abb9038 S.J. Camargo at Columbia University in Palisades, NY el al., "Increased tropical cyclone risk to coasts," Science (2020). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.abg3651 Journal information: Science 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The year 2020 saw a rapid transition to digital, with even smaller, traditional businesses thinking digital. Industry experts expect the Union Budget 2021-22 to give further growth impetus to digital in the year ahead, along with creating more employment opportunities as well as a greater push for a truly Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Nikhil Rungta, Country Manager, India, Verizon Media, is looking forward to a progressive Budget, with structural reforms that drive consumption and growth. He added, In particular, I see an opportunity for a WIN formula focused on Women, Infrastructure and Norms. Job market trends show a disproportionate increase in womens unemployment during the pandemic. This Budget must empower more women to take their place in the workforce, to drive inclusive economic growth. Rungta further said, Secondly, we are now seeing even smaller, traditional businesses think digital the time is ripe to expedite investments in infrastructure, specifically digital infrastructure to increase digital inclusion for Indians across our towns and villages. Lastly, we would like the Government to relax the norms around ease of doing business to encourage enterprises and start-ups to create a truly Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This is the second of a two-part analysis of the Biden climate plan. The first part examined Bidens domestic climate agenda. This part details the international geopolitical implications of his climate plan. As Biden has assembled his new administration, he devoted Wednesday, January 27, to unveiling his plans to fight climate change, with former Secretary of State John Kerry as his climate envoy and former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy as the top White House adviser on climate change. The record of these two leaders of the Biden climate policy demonstrates both the insincerity of the new administrations appeal to widespread popular concerns over global warming and the alignment of its policies with the worldwide interests of American imperialism. McCarthy was head of the EPA during the worst pollution event in recent history, the systematic poisoning of the population of Flint, Michigan in the lead-in-water scandal that came to light in 2015. The federal EPA shared responsibility with state and local officials for covering up the profit-driven decisions that produced this catastrophe, leading to the deaths of dozens of people and the poisoning of tens of thousands, including many children who may suffer lifelong consequences. Scorched homes and vehicles fill Spanish Flat Mobile Villa following the LNU Lightning Complex fires in unincorporated Napa County, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) That such an official is chosen for a top White House position, rather than publicly denounced and prosecuted, only demonstrates for the thousandth time that there is one law for the capitalists and their top servants, and another law for everyone else. As for Kerry, the former senator, presidential candidate and secretary of state, he has so many crimes in the service of American imperialism on his dossier that it would take another article of this length just to list them all. Suffice it to say that he has supported all the American wars in the Middle East, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the US attack on Libya in 2011, and the ongoing interventions in Syria and Yemen, as well as the war in Afghanistan, now more than 20 years old. His selection as climate envoy is a declaration by Biden that US efforts in relation to environmental issues will be driven, first and foremost, by the geopolitical needs of American imperialism, and particularly its predatory aims for the subjugation of China and Russia, which Washington regards as its two biggest military and security rivals. Bidens choice of Kerry has been widely hailed by liberal and pseudoleft commentators, who drummed up 2020 votes for the Democrats as a sign that the new President is serious about climate change. Kerry co-chaired the Biden-Sanders unity task force on climate together with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) faction of the Democratic Party. One result of this task force was the Biden climate plan, a highly watered-down version of the Green New Deal popularized by Ocasio-Cortez. In response to the announcement in late November, Bill McKibben, the prominent environmentalist and founder of 350.org, I think @Johnkerry will do a fine job, not least because he understands that theres huge new expertise available from younger generations. Varshini Prakash, cofounder and executive director of the Sunrise Movement youth climate activism organization, said of the appointment, one thing is clear: he really does care about stopping climate change. Thats something we can work with. Kerry and the American Security Project Kerry has indeed devoted considerable attention to climate change throughout his career. However, this interest is not unrelated to his decades of political service to the needs of US imperialism. In 2005, he co-founded the non-partisan American Security Project (ASP), which describes itself as a leading organization detailing the threats posed by climate change from a national security perspective. ASP hailed Kerrys appointment, highlighting, Three urgent and important issues that the National Security Council should take up immediately after the new Biden Administration takes office to begin to reduce the threats that climate change poses to security are: (1) military base resilience, (2) reorienting foreign aid and military assistance to support climate security, and (3) preparing for the security challenge of a melting Arctic. In other words, the focus is less on reducing the impacts of climate change and more on ensuring that the US war machine responds effectively as the world warms. Each of these points figures prominently in Bidens climate plan, illustrating that the ASPs hopes are well-founded that Kerry would help the administration pursue these priorities. The Biden climate plan includes the following passages, apparently paraphrasing the ASP report. Biden will (1) [i]nvest in the climate resilience of our military bases and critical security infrastructure across the U.S. and around the world, to deal with the risk of climate change effects. Both documents use almost identical language, noting roughly $10 billion in damages to US bases from extreme weather in 2019. (2) rally a united front of nations to hold China accountable to high environmental standards in its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects, and (3) use the Arctic Council to put a spotlight on Russias activities in the Arctic, standing firm with council partners to hold Russia accountable for any efforts to further militarize the region. The ASP argues that China is using climate and energy as a tool to gain influence in regions such as South America, the Pacific, and West Africa, and that the US should do the same, using the soft power tool of climate aid. Speaking of China showering cash to build seawalls, ports, and clean energy on its soon-to-be submerged island neighbors, ASP claims that Chinese influence, lubricated by climate aid, could extend the current challenges of the South China Sea well into the Pacific. They express similar concerns over Chinas Belt and Road initiative to build infrastructure corridors through the Eurasian landmass, calling for action to Stop China from subsidizing coal exports and outsourcing carbon pollution, going on to denounce Chinas initiative for financing fossil fuel infrastructure across Eurasia. Raising such concerns with Biden is entirely hypocritical. During his eight years as vice president, the Obama administration exerted enormous diplomatic pressure on countries across the world to build liquefied natural gas import terminals to facilitate the export of US natural gas from fracking. The ASP report concludes, The U.S. should use the new tools of the Development Finance Corporation to direct climate and energy aid to countries that are both threatened by climate change and strategically important. Bidens climate plan includes similar language on both the South China Sea and the Belt and Road initiative. In other words, climate aid and US international climate policy more generally are viewed as another tool in its ongoing attempts to geopolitically, economically, and militarily subjugate China, not as a humanitarian measure to ensure the worlds impoverished masses can transition to clean energy and weather the storms that inevitably arise. Along these lines, the ASPs primary takeaway on the rapidly melting Arctic is that the US should not allow Russia to gain naval influence in the newly navigable polar waters. Supposedly, The ultimate goal would be to build confidence between NATO and Russia so that the Arctic does not slide into a zone of conflict as the ice melts. Bidens climate plan calls for mobilizing the US-dominated Arctic Council to put a spotlight on Russias activities in the Arctic, standing firm with council partners to hold Russia accountable for any efforts to further militarize the region. In explaining what this would mean in practice, the ASP states, the U.S. military should actively participate in Arctic joint exercises, and publicize US military deployments to the region, with particular focus on the Russian border. In other words, a Biden administration will bring the reckless methods of militarized freedom of navigation exercises from the South China Sea to Russias Arctic coast. Democrats accept global warming The ASP document concludes with a subtle admission of the true attitude toward climate change within the sections of the US ruling class for which Biden and Kerry speak, arguing, Ultimately, there are no security solutions in a world that sees unchecked global warming. They go on to explain that A world of 4 degrees of warming [presumably 4 degrees Celsius] is a world of drastically changed food supplies, sea levels, and water availability. Such a world would be beyond the capability of global military forces to secure. The authors are correct that the warming of 4 degrees Celsius would cause a global catastrophe, but the implication of this statement is that the warming of 3 degrees Celsius might be acceptable to US imperialism. The last time global temperatures reached this level, the sea was 20 meters higher than today. Nearly the entire nation of Bangladesh, with a population of 165 million, is less than 10 meters above sea level. This is the true face of US climate policy and the logical outcome of the domestic and international policy initiatives put forward by the Biden administration. The Democratic Party is fully aware that its policies will not succeed in limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, let alone 1.5 degrees Celsius. Those numbers are solely to feed popular illusions. All US capitalism can muster in the face of this well understood global crisis, of which it has been aware since the 1970s, is enough palliative measures to maintain US military dominance even in a world destabilized by global warming. Highlighting the militarist and essentially right-wing role of Kerrys approach to climate change, in 2019 he co-founded an organization called World War Zero, dedicated to uniting scientists and entrepreneurs, four-star generals and youth activists, popular artists and global leaders, Democrats and Republicans to fight climate change. Prominent members of this organization include former Republican governors Arnold Schwarzenegger (California) and the John Kasich (Ohio), as well as actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Aside from a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 and calls for people who support climate action to stop fighting each other, the organization has essentially nothing concrete to say. The praise for Kerry by the likes of the 350.org and the Sunrise Movement demonstrates that World War Zero has accomplished its purposepresenting the Democratic Party as sympathetic to the millions of mostly young people concerned about whether they will have a future as the global environment collapses. The DSA-affiliated Jacobin magazine has postured as a critic of Kerrys close ties with the fossil fuel industry, but simply goes on to argue that Beltway Liberals Arent Fighting Bidens Pro-Corporate Admin Picks Hard Enough. In other words, they calculate that an outright endorsement of Kerry would be too blatant a prostration before the Democratic establishment. Instead, they assert that the Democratic Party can be pressured to take meaningful action on climate change to keep workers and young people tied to capitalist politics. In truth, there can be no serious talk of addressing climate change while the worlds imperialist powers prepare for global war, led by the anti-Russia and anti-China hawks of the Biden administration. The only way a capitalist Earth can limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is through a nuclear winter. Bidens proposed militarized climate policy only raises the odds of such an outcome. China currently leads the world in carbon emissions, with 30 percent of the total compared to 15 percent for the United States. This is an inevitable outcome the development of world capitalism, not a specifically Chinese affair. As a central element of the globalization of production, China has emerged as the manufacturing hub of the world. Targeting China and forcing it to reduce its emissions would, under global capitalism, only lead to corporations shifting production to other countries, while destroying jobs in China and driving down wages and living standards for workers all over the world. In contrast, the international Trotskyist movement calls on workers in the US and around the world to unite with our Chinese brothers and sisters to build a global economy that meets our collective needs. Humanity has the technological tools needed to do this while limiting global warming to levels compatible with protecting the lives and livelihood of the worlds population. However, as they have demonstrated so tragically over the past year in the response to COVID-19, capitalism and the outmoded nation-state system are the main obstacles to any coordinated global response to an environmental and public health threat. The fight against climate change is the fight against capitalism and the fight for socialism. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2021) The 61st round of exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey on Monday was held in a positive atmosphere, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday. The two neighboring countries held 60 rounds of talks between 2002 to 2016 to resolve bilateral issues, including disagreements over energy rights and maritime claims. The talks were halted in March 2016 in line with Ankara's initiative and resumed on Monday. "The meeting with Greece was extremely positive. We discussed the same issues as in the previous 60 consultations. In the near future, Greece will set a date and we will meet next time in Athens. There are issues on which we have long been unable to agree. But now we are trying to reduce tensions, we proposed our issues for discussion," Cavusoglu told reporters. The Turkish top diplomat also called on Greece to refrain from provocative actions and "take positive steps together" instead. Tensions rose in the Mediterranean region last year as Turkish vessels conducted seismic exploration surveys in waters that Greece and Cyprus claim to be part of their respective exclusive economic zones. JACKSON, MI Michael Thompson was greeted by his daughters and granddaughter, who he has never met, as he stepped out of prison after serving more than 20 years for a crime that is no longer illegal. Thompson, 69, was released from Charles Egeler Reception And Guidance Center in Jackson at 4 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 under the veil of darkness on a bitterly cold winter morning. He hugged his eldest daughter Rashawnda Littles first, then his attorney Kimberly Corral and finally his second daughter Princess Thompson and his granddaughter Armani Jacobs. Soon after, a roar of celebration from a documentary crew, members of Redemption Foundation, a non-profit that helps support individuals and families disproportionately affected by the war on cannabis, and others in support of Thompsons release broke the silence of the intimate moment. I feel good, Thompson said as he was overcome with emotion. Twenty-five years is a long time. Thompson was sent to prison to serve a 42- to 62-year sentence after he was convicted in 1996 of selling three pounds of marijuana to an undercover informant in December 1994. Related: Man who served 20 years in marijuana case has sentenced commuted by governor The Flint natives sentence was compounded by prior felony convictions, including another drug crime in 1983 and for bringing contraband into a prison in 1986 and the discovery of a gun during the investigation. He wasnt going to be eligible for parole until he was 87. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer granted Thompson and three others clemency on Dec. 22. All of the prisoners who had their sentences commuted were being released from the prison by 8 a.m. Thursday, according to Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. A commutation reduces an individuals sentence to a specified term, but it does not nullify the underlying conviction. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel began looking into the case after a prior closed-door meeting with members of the Cannabis Caucus, an advocacy group comprised of marijuana entrepreneurs, patients, growers and lobbyists. This fall, she sent a letter to Whitmer asking her to exercise her executive power and commute Thompsons sentence. As a former prosecutor, Whitmer has said she recognizes how critical it is to take steps toward a smarter and more equitable justice system. Thompson said he plans to help others who are still incarcerated for charges related to marijuana. I just hope somebody who can hear thats dealing with prison reform can hear me and let them know that a lot of things need to be done because -- those guys are human beings and the way theyre treating them is not good, and hopefully prison reform will help them, he added. Littles, 48, said while her father was in prison he mentored other inmates and plans to continue that work as he gets reacclimated to his new life. Related: I feel like a million bucks: Daughter of Michigan prisoner granted clemency rejoices Im happy that Im free, but theres so much work to be done with prison reform, Thompson said. Kimberly Corral, Thompsons attorney, said the release of Thompson is such a relief, but she added it shouldnt have taken decades to get him out. While were celebrating a step in justice for Michael, it shouldnt take what it took to get him out, Corral said. His sentence is egregious by any measure and when you look at the volume of manpower that its taken to get this release, it reveals fundamental flaws in the criminal justice systems ability to correct itself. Corral pointed out it took state leaders such as Whitmer and Nessel and 20,000 letters from Michigan residents for Thompsons sentence to be commuted. While in prison, Thompson contracted COVID-19 months after advocates filed a clemency petition on his behalf, arguing that his punishment outweighed his crime, especially after Michigan legalized the substance that he was convicted of dealing. Thompson recounted some tough times when he was incarcerated. For the last two months, I have been washing my clothes in the toilet stool, Thompson said, adding at least he had clean clothes. Ryan Basore, founder and CEO of Redemption Cannabis and the Redemption Foundation, said the foundation helps to raise money for people coming out of prison and affected by the war on cannabis. This is really awesome seeing Michael get out, Basore said. I cant imagine being there for 25 years and not knowing whether youre going to get or not. Basore said $10,000 was raised specifically for Thompson to help him with housing, food, job assistance or whatever he might need for his new journey in life. The system is so stacked against people getting out -- people need a lot of the time a little break, Basore said. The upcoming plans for Thompson include meeting family members, building relationships, continuing to advocate for others still behind bars and indulging in one of his favorite meals: a fish dinner with cucumbers and tomatoes. Littles had butterflies as she prepared to see her father, who went to prison when she was just 19 years old and her sister Princess Thompson was just three years old. The sisters were emotional moments before their father walked out of the prison doors. Princesss daughter Armani, 9, met her grandfather for the first time on Thursday. She stayed up until 2 a.m. making a Welcome Home sign to greet him. I cant believe this day has come, Littles said. Im grateful and Im blessed. Because the Lord saw fit, he saw that my dad deserves a second chance. Read more on MLive: Michigan prisoner seeks clemency in marijuana case after serving more than 20 years in prison Michigan prisoner seeks clemency in marijuana case after serving more than 20 years in prison Michigan AG horrified by Michael Thompsons 42-to-62 year sentence for 1994 marijuana case Sick with COVID-19, inmate cant get out of prison even with AG, prosecutor backing him Muskegon inmate with coronavirus receives meeting with parole board after AG support Thompson contacts COVID-19 Thompson receive meeting with Parole Board Food pop-ups have become increasingly popular in the Bay Area, but what happens when a high-demand, limited-run food is difficult to get? Apparently, a secondary market is created where people falsely claim to sell versions of the regions hottest pop-up foods. Charles Chen knew his Japanese-style Basque cheesecake pop-up, Basuku, was skyrocketing in popularity last year, but it wasnt until he heard about a person buying a fake container of his frozen cheesecake batter that he knew the extent. It was a brief yet confounding incident, he said. The food industry consultant, whose cheesecakes often sell out within minutes after he posts about them on his Instagram, said he posted an Instagram story about four months ago that mentioned he would possibly start selling frozen containers of his cheesecake mix. Before he had a chance to launch the venture, a woman messaged him online asking for directions on how to use the batter he had yet to start selling. She said a friend of hers had gotten it from someone else, who claimed it was Basuku batter, Chen said with a laugh, noting that the original seller had somehow advertised it on social media. I told her it wasnt mine. But I had to ask if she baked it, and what it ended up being. The woman told him that fortunately it was a cheesecake, although it didnt look like or taste like the ones he posted on Instagram. Chen said he never found out how much the woman paid for the cheesecake, which he sells for $35. It could have been anything. It could have been pancake batter that was put into a quart container, you never know, Chen said. Thats when I kind of started realizing there was this secondary market out there. Another hit pop-up, Horn Barbecue, also found its wares on a secondary market, right around the time it was peaking in popularity a little more than a year ago before it opened its permanent restaurant in Oakland, where the lines are just as long as they were when Horn was a pop-up. According to owner Matt Horn, someone once tried to sell a to-go container of his brisket and ribs on Craigslist. A friend notified him of the posting, which appeared online the same day he hosted a local pop-up event. He never found out whether anyone bought it or what the price of the order was. Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle Of course, people trying to pay more to get their hands on hot-ticket items isnt new. Sites like eBay, Ticketmaster and StubHub were all places where Bay Area folks could find tickets for Hamilton while the musical was in San Francisco last year. And in 2019, during the days of the Popeyes chicken sandwich craze, Facebook was where people tried to re-sell chicken sandwiches for higher prices. A man in Maryland, around that time, offered to sell a chicken sandwich from the restaurant for $100, plus an additional $38.52 for delivery. A similar thing is happening among Bay Area cheesecake lovers. Chen said he often hears from people who post his cheesecake on their Instagram stories, and are quickly inundated with messages from followers asking if they can buy the cheesecake from them. Some have fielded offers for as much as $100 for one cheesecake, he said. Others just approach Chen online, hoping hell prioritize their orders. I definitely get people offering things like money so they can get ahead in lines. Its just not how I operate, he said. Sometimes theyll say theyll buy 10 cheesecakes from me if I move them ahead. I just dont do it. Horn said he, too, has been approached by individuals offering to buy more barbecue if it means getting ahead in his lines, be it online or outside his restaurant. And before Chen and Horn, there was Oakland pop-up legend Chef Smelly, who had to decline similar arrangements when his Creole food pop-up in the East Bay was arguably the most popular in the region, from 2017 to 2018. But some in the world of popular pop-ups say the wait times and the challenges of getting the food are part of the experience. Horn Barbecue lines have resembled concert lines both during its pop-up days and now at the full-service restaurant. People sometimes bring snacks and lawn chairs as they wait hours for Horns brisket and ribs. While some potential customers groan over the wait, Horn has said theres nothing to be done about that, especially since his barbecue is cooked slowly over hours, and he checks all of the meats before they can reach a customer. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The lines are just part of it, Horn said recently, a sentiment that was echoed by Chen. Both chefs have said they want to be fair to all customers, which means making sure the ordering experience is the same for everyone even people who have more money to drop. Ramping up production could be a solution for the chefs, but it is not a simple one. Chen said making more cheesecakes would require spending more money on ingredients and possibly hiring help, which is difficult on his shoestring budget. The same could be said for Horn during the early days of his pop-up when he cooked every piece of barbecue, and the only help he had, or could afford, came from his wife. As for the fake Basuku cheesecake, Chen said he has yet to discover where the mix came from, and has yet to see it being sold since. I just dont like the idea of some older person getting scammed out of money for buying something that they think is one thing but turns out to be something else, he said. If I saw the fake batter thing was really prevalent, and someone was really trying to copycat the brand, then I would look more into it. Right now, its just a funny story. Still, the secondary market for pop-ups, however small and infrequent it may be, is a compliment, he said. The good thing is that this whole situation shows how in-demand the cheesecakes are, he said. It lets me know people like them, that Im doing something right. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips NEW HAVEN Project Longevitys Achilles Archie Generoso says the antiviolence groups message is consistent. We want you to stay alive; we want you to prosper, said Generoso, a former New Haven assistant police chief who helped launch Project Longevity and recently returned as statewide director of the organization. Project Longevity this week held its first call-in in more than a year, as officials and residents met with representatives of gangs and groups in New Haven to offer a warning and olive branch amid a rise in shootings, according to the organization, Generoso said 17 of the 19 people invited to the call-in attended. He said the organization usually tries to bring in 30 to 40 people, reaching out to representatives of groups associated with violence in New Haven, but pandemic restrictions meant a smaller gathering. The organization works to bring together law enforcement, service agencies and community residents in an equal partnership, he said. Representatives of service providers spoke over Zoom, he said. The meeting, Generoso said, was a necessary first step in restoring a sense of normalcy. Generoso said the groups message is twofold: An offer of assistance, including job opportunities and links to service organizations, for choosing peace; on the other, a warning that those who did not would draw the intense focus of law enforcement. Generoso said, the message is consistent right through. We care about you. But we are not going to tolerate (the gun violence), he said about what was shared during the call-in. In 2020, there were 20 homicides in New Haven, the most in the city since 2013, and 121 non-fatal shootings, an increase from 11 deaths and 78 nonfatal shootings in 2019. There were 274 incidents of shots being fired last year, up from 151 in 2019. As of Jan. 17, there had been nine shootings in New Haven in 2021, in increase from two at the same point in 2020, according to city police. There have been four homicides to date this year; there had been none at this point last year. There were 73 shootings considered gang- or group-related in 2020, according to Police Department data, up from 41 in 2019 and 32 in 2018. Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson, speaking earlier this month about crime in the city in 2020, said: This type of crime is the retaliatory stuff I shoot at one person, you shoot back at me because hes their friend its group- and gang-related. We have to get back to the Project Longevity model do the messaging, bring everybody in, talk to them. When a group or gang drops a body after a call-in, go after (them). Two additional shootings were reported over the weekend; a 29-year-old man was wounded Monday. Police did not comment on possible motives for the three most recent shootings. Speakers at the call-in included Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Otoniel Reyes, Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson and resident Sean Reeves, who lost his son to gun violence in 2011, among others, Generoso said. Elicker, Reyes and New Haven Project Manager Stacy Spell on Wednesday released a statement noting the importance of the call-in. In New Haven, like many urban centers amid the pandemic, we have seen an increase in violent crime. It is a tragedy when we lose community members prematurely, Elicker said in the statement. Our Police Department, Youth Department, and other city staff are working hard to address the violence and provide the support to those who are affiliated with violent street groups. Call-ins are only one tool we are using to engage community members who are at-risk for involvement in violence, Elicker said. When I spoke with the young men last night, I made clear both that the violence must stop and that our team and I will do everything in our power to support and help them choose a different path. Reyes described the meeting as an important step. He said the department had seized seven guns in the last week and made other violence-related arrests. However, the greatest impact we can have on public safety is the prevention of crime, to engage in proactive and preventative measures that will stop the next shooting or homicide. Call-ins are not a panacea - no strategy is. It is a tool designed to pinpoint those individuals that are driving the violence, said Reyes. Spell said the New Haven chapter of Project Longevity was the second gun violence intervention group following such a model to hold a call-in this year. The goal is to address the escalating gun violence, he said. Generoso credited the pandemic for driving some of the recent violence in New Haven, which has seen an uptick like other cities in the country during the period, and said the organization had not been able to bring people together for a call-in in more than a year. Another call-in will be held in three to four months, Generoso said. The groups chapters in Bridgeport and Hartford likely will hold meetings in March, he said. This is a first step for Project Longevity redoubling its efforts, said Generoso. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com A sign outside St. George's Anglican Church in downtown Westbank. Similar to the experience elsewhere, attendance for Zoom services streamed from the church have declined slightly compared to the number of people who attended in-person Sunday gatherings. Logan County Fugitive Arrested in Calloway By West Kentucky Star Staff CALLOWAY COUNTY - A tip led to the arrest of a fugitive in Calloway County on Thursday.On Tuesday, the Calloway County Sheriff's Office learned that 31-year-old James R. Boatright, a fugitive in Logan County, had been seen in the area.Deputies immediately began searching for Boatright at several locations in the county.Thursday afternoon, deputies received additional information regarding his whereabouts. Boatright was located a short time later and arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.He was lodged in the Calloway County Jail. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandoz, a global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, today announced the US launch of generic Icatibant injection pre-filled syringe to treat acute attacks of rare disease hereditary angioedema (HAE) in adults 18 years and older.1 It is available immediately for US patients. Sandoz has signed a US commercialization deal with Slayback Pharma, a company focused on producing complex generic and specialty pharmaceutical products, for this medicine, which is a generic equivalent to Takeda's Firazyr* (icatibant injection). "We are eager to see the positive effects of making generic Icatibant available immediately to people living with this painful and disabling rare disease," said Keren Haruvi, President, Sandoz Inc. "This collaboration aligns with our goal to build our injectables portfolio and provide US patients access to affordable generic medicines that work the same as brand-name products." Hereditary angioedema is a rare disease characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling of the skin and mucous membranes. Swelling of the airways and throat can be extremely dangerous and potentially lead to death. Patients can also suffer nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.2 "With our strong developmental capabilities and Sandoz's industry-leading commercialization of its extensive portfolio of generic medicines, we couldn't be more excited to collaborate with Sandoz and help people living with hereditary angioedema," said Ted Smolenski, Vice President of Business Development at Slayback Pharma. Slayback Pharma is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of complex generic and specialty pharmaceutical products, with a team of 90 employees and operations in the US and India. Slayback has a proven track record of numerous sole first-to-file ANDAs, 505(b)(2)s and complex generic filings, approvals and commercial launches. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATIONS None. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Laryngeal attacks: Following treatment of laryngeal attacks with icatibant injection, advise patients to seek immediate medical attention. ADVERSE REACTIONS The most commonly reported adverse reactions were injection site reactions, which occurred in almost all patients (97%) in clinical trials. Other common adverse reactions occurring in greater than 1% of patients included pyrexia, transaminase increase, dizziness, and rash. DRUG INTERACTIONS Icatibant injection is a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist and thereby has the potential to have a pharmacodynamic interaction with ACE inhibitors where icatibant injection may attenuate the antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitors. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Elderly patients demonstrate increased systemic exposure to icatibant. Differences in efficacy and safety between elderly and younger patients have not been identified. Please see full Prescribing Information for additional safety information. INDICATION Icatibant injection is a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in adults 18 years of age and older. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that, if approved, such generic or biosimilar products will be approved for all indications included in the reference product's label. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; competition in general, including potential approval of additional generic or biosimilar versions of such products; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; litigation outcomes, including intellectual property disputes or other legal efforts to prevent or limit Sandoz from selling its products; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Sandoz Sandoz, a Novartis division, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. Our purpose is to pioneer access for patients by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical need. Our ambition is to be the world's leading and most valued generics company. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2019 sales of USD 9.7 billion. Sandoz on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandoz/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandoz_global Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandozglobal/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandozglobal CEO Richard Saynor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-saynor/ * Firazyr is a registered trademark of Shire Orphan Therapies GmbH, a Takeda Company. References Icatibant Injection. Prescribing Information. Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e6b8fc16-10be-47a5-aa6e-23cef687a421&audience=consumer. Accessed November 18, 2020 . National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Hereditary Angioedema. Available at: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5979/hereditary-angioedema . Accessed October 29, 2020 . National Organization for Rare Diseases. Hereditary Angioedema. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hereditary-angioedema/ . Accessed October 29, 2020 . SOURCE Sandoz Related Links http://www.sandoz.com YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Army has been and remains the axis of Armenias independent statehood, the guarantor of the security of the Artsakh people, Third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in a message addressed on the Army Day. The message reads: Armenian army, our beloved offspring, your birthday is one of our peoples most cherished holidays, which we have always celebrated with joy. Today, however, the mood is different: we are all saddened, grieving for the loss of a part of our Homeland, for our martyrs, concerned for the future of our state and nation. However, a parent should never deny his child under any circumstances, especially in time of hardship. Our people have raised their children at the cost of deprivation, subjected to unspeakable ordeals, and raised a patriotic child. Therefore, today I say without hesitation, happy birthday, Armenian Army. On behalf of my comrades-in-arms standing at the roots of the formation and development of the Armenian Army, I tell you, you have not lost the war, I know you well. You have been betrayed, struck from behind, severely injured, while before that in recent years everything was done to discredit or weaken you, but you did your duty selflessly. Today thousands of parents tell episodes of your exploits without even imagining who or where misled and trapped you. The enemy, who has always been afraid of you, knows very well what insidious means he used to achieve his goal. You are as much powerful, and let no one boast that they have defeated you. You will still show the strength of your arm, remind the enemy of his not-so-distant shameful past. You have been the axis of our independent statehood, the guarantor of the security of our people, our sisters and brothers in Artsakh. Learning from the past, straighten your back, squeeze the pain under your teeth, look ahead. No matter how difficult and mined is our path, inside or outside, we will cross it together, relying on each other, defying challenges. Our big family, our Homeland, the land and the water soaked in the blood of our heroes, needs your protection today more than ever. Eternal glory to you, glory to all our heroes, alive or martyred, who shaped your glorious path! Vietnam recorded its first coronavirus outbreak in almost two months on Thursday, with more than 80 new cases reported as authorities began testing tens of thousands of people to contain the spread. The infections were detected in northern Vietnam, where one cluster has been linked to a case of the more contagious coronavirus variant first spotted in Britain. The figure was a new daily record for the communist nation of 96 million people, which has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic -- recording just over 1,500 cases before the new cluster and only 35 deaths. The latest outbreak in the provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh is "more complicated and serious" than anything Vietnam has dealt with before, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said. "We aim to isolate and fight the outbreak to prevent its spread as quickly as possible." In Hai Duong province, the cases are thought to be linked to a factory worker who tested positive for the virus when she landed in the Japanese city of Osaka. She was found to have the British variant. The city where the factory is located has been closed off and 220,000 people are in lockdown, while medical workers are rushing to test tens of thousands of people in the area. In Quang Ninh, on the border with China, one of those infected is a security official at Van Don airport, where international passengers have been arriving before being sent into mandatory quarantine. The airport has been shut while passenger vehicles are banned from leaving or entering the province. The outbreak comes at a sensitive time for Vietnam, with its twice-in-a-decade Communist Party congress beginning on Tuesday to select new leadership. A long Lunar New Year break will follow in February, when millions of people are expected to travel to see their families. Vietnam last recorded a community transmission case of the virus in December, and had kept infections low thanks to mass quarantines, extensive contact-tracing and strict controls on movement. Most inbound commercial flights have been suspended since March but Vietnamese citizens stuck abroad and some foreigners have been allowed to enter. tmh-lqb/aph/pdw/oho Customers of Duke Energy in the Carolinas could end up paying more than $4.8 billion for planned natural gas-fired capacity that could become stranded as part of the companys pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a report published by the Energy Transition Institute has found. The report, authored by Tyler Fitch, regulatory manager for the Southeast at advocacy organization Vote Solar, examined Duke Energys 2020 Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) in North and South Carolina. These were the first plans the utility has filed with regulators since it pledged in September 2019 to reach net-zero carbon emissions from electric generation by the middle of the century. The IRPs entail the addition of 9.6 gigawatts (GW) of new gas-fired generation capacity in their baseline scenarios, which, the reports author Fitch says, is one of the largest proposed expansions of fossil fuel generation capacity of any utility in the United States. However, in order to meet its net-zero goal, Duke Energy may have to remove a substantial portion of its power plant fleet by 2050, shortening the lifetime of what would be newly-built gas-fired power plants, according to the report. Without regulatory intervention, ratepayers will continue to pay off these plants for decades, even while they remain neither used nor useful, Fitch wrote in the report. Related: Why Gazprom Cut Gas Supply To Europe Amid Rising Prices According to the authors analysis, the so-called carbon stranding costs from existing and proposed investments in the IRPs will be $4.8 billion. This means $900 for every residential customer of Duke Energy in North and South Carolina. While our IRPs involved significant stakeholder participation and stand up to intense scrutiny through a transparent regulatory review, theres virtually no way to validate the assumptions and conclusions in this report, Erin Culbert, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy, told John Downey of the Charlotte Business Journal, commenting on the report. The scenario of building no new natural gas sounds simple, but its the most expensive option for our customers and actually requires coal units to operate longer, Culbert told the CBJ. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg told city officials not to call federal immigration authorities when police found a dozen people in a tractor-trailer who were suspected of being in the country illegally three years ago, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges. Nirenberg played a sizable role in a decision to free the 12 undocumented immigrants in 2017 without turning them over to federal agents, Paxton claims in an October court filing. Its part of an ongoing legal battle spurred by Paxton over whether city leaders, including Police Chief William McManus, violated the states controversial sanctuary cities ban and obstructed federal authorities from enforcing immigration law. Despite Senate Bill 4 or federal law, however, McManus and city leaders, including Mayor Nirenberg, deliberately ensured that federal authorities were prevented from taking custody of anyone at the incident, Paxton wrote. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio sues feds for testimony in sanctuary city lawsuit defense Police officers found the undocumented immigrants in a tractor-trailer near the water park Splashtown on the citys East Side on Dec. 23, 2017. Then-City Manager Sheryl Sculley called and texted McManus while he was at the scene to let him know Nirenberg does not want ICE called about the incident, the attorney generals office alleges in the court filing, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Paxton accused Nirenberg and McManus of making several calls to a group that provides legal counsel to immigrants to urge them to get to the scene before Department of Homeland Security officals. According to the court filing, Nirenberg wrote in a text message, Just spoke to Sheryl. I reaffirmed that our commitment was to work with the legal advocates first before ICE. Nirenberg eventually spoke with McManus and told staffers that the chiefs explicit instruction is that no one should be remanded to DHS, the attorney general alleges. Sometime later, Nirenberg and his staffers congratulated each other on the outcome, according to the attorney general. You (have) given 20 families a Christmas gift that can never be replaced, Nirenberg told one staffer, according to the lawsuit. The mayor declined to comment through a spokesman. In a statement, City Attorney Andy Segovia said the attorney generals filing contains allegations without any factual basis and statements taken out of context. What is undisputed is that the city did contact the federal authorities on that date, a federal agent was on scene and at public safety headquarters and the federal authorities chose not to take anyone into custody, Segovia said. On ExpressNews.com: Judge dismisses parts of AGs sanctuary city lawsuit against San Antonio; driver faced charges in May Three parts of Paxtons suit were dismissed in 2019, leaving only the issue of whether San Antonio has a general policy against cooperating with federal authorities regarding immigration laws. The immigrants were interviewed by detectives and then released, according to a police report. City officials have maintained they did nothing wrong and were operating in line with Senate Bill 4, the so-called sanctuary cities ban. The law, passed in 2017, requires local law enforcement to adhere to requests from federal immigration officials to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally. It also prohibits law enforcement agencies from forbidding officers from asking people about their immigration status during routine stops. The San Antonio Police Department later released the dozen immigrants because they didnt have the authority to hold them, the city attorney said. Sen. Ted Cruz has burned bridges in Congress, according to a Twitter exchange between him and a congresswoman. While not totally rare for the junior senator to side with his progressive colleagues, Cruz tweeted that he agreed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez when she criticized Robinhood, a stock trading app, for blocking certain people from purchasing stock in GameStop and other companies. UP TO SPEED: Real-life gamer Joe Biden knows what's happening with GameStop The move by Robinhood comes after Reddit users from r/WallStreetBets swooped in and purchased GameStop stock this week, causing the price to soar. That hurt Wall Street's suits, some of whom were hoping that GameStop's stock would plummet so they could profit. Ocasio-Cortez called for the House Financial Services Committee to investigate the Robinhood's decision, which disenfranchised many who used the app while Wall Street brokers were still able to make purchases. Cruz said he agreed with looking into the company. Ocasio-Cortez responded within minutes, agreeing to work with Republicans on holding Robinhood accountable just not with Cruz. Instead, she pinned the blame of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection on Cruz and those who sowed doubt in the validity of the 2020 presidential election results. Cruz thought Washington would be back to business as usual after now six people died as a result of the violence, but that appears to not be the case. She continued, urging that Cruz be replaced. It's the first of likely many roadblocks Cruz will face moving forward in his term, as Democrats control both houses of Congress until at least 2023. The violence of Jan. 6 marked a change in the congress members' relationship. The representative previously said she was "extraordinarily excited" to work with Cruz in areas where the two agree, Matthew Choi reported for Politico in 2019. The change is not a hardened approach toward Republicans from Ocasio-Cortez, as she insisted she would still work with members of the GOP on the Robinhood measure and other pieces of legislation. This is the senator's second Twitter beef in as many weeks. He and Seth Rogen had a heated discussion in a widely publicized exchange, according to Chron's Abigail Rosenthal. You are here: Business Southwest China's Yunnan Province plans to build itself into a national clean-energy base, local authorities said Wednesday. By 2025, the province's installed electricity capacity is expected to reach 130 million kilowatts, with green power accounting for more than 86 percent of the total, Zhou Minxin, deputy director of the provincial development and reform commission, told a press briefing. Yunnan will push forward the construction of mega hydropower projects like Wudongde, Baihetan, and Tuoba on the Jinsha and Lancang rivers, Zhou said. The province will also speed up construction of a wind power project providing 8 million kilowatts of energy and a photovoltaic power project providing 3 million kilowatts of energy, Zhou noted. CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Crate and Barrel Holdings Inc. announced it is taking the 15 Percent Pledge to ensure 15% of its products and collaborations are represented by Black businesses, artists and designers by 2024. In addition to the Pledge, the retailer is contributing $225,000 over a three year period to assist in programming, research and development for the 15 Percent Pledge to further their mission of creating more equitable market share for Black-owned businesses. In taking the Pledge, Crate and Barrel Holdings Inc. has committed to the following benchmarks to support their goal of building a more diverse and equitable workforce across Crate and Barrel, CB2 and Crate and Kids and to elevate Black voices in design: Increase the representation of Black associates within their corporate office and each store location at least 40% by 2024 Celebrate diverse perspectives by increasing their BIPOC influencer base at least 33% by 2022, achieving 50% representation Increase media investments in Black-owned brands, designers and partners by at least $500,000 by 2022 "At Crate and Barrel, we curate products and designs from around the world that inspire modern living and celebrate personal style in the home," said Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings Inc. "It is incredibly important to us that our designers, collaborators and collections reflect a diversity that helps everyone see themselves in the homes we inspire to furnish." "The 15 Percent Pledge was launched to increase the much needed representation of Black-owned businesses and create an opportunity for retailers to give their valued community what they are asking for variation of product and economic equality," said Aurora James, founder, 15 Percent Pledge. "We are thrilled that Crate and Barrel has joined the Pledge and is committing to financially support a community of Black-owned businesses, artists, designers and makers. We commend Crate and Barrel for recognizing its position of leadership in the design space and for its commitment to promoting inclusivity across its products, team and collaborations. We look forward to working with them to hit their benchmarks across their brands." To support the 15 Percent Pledge, please sign the petition at www.15percentpledge.org to show retailers that you Stand With Us. Individuals can also text "PLEDGE" to 917.540.8418 for updates and information on Black-owned businesses. For more information on Crate and Barrel's 15 Percent Pledge commitment, visit CrateandBarrel.com/15-percent-pledge. About Crate and Barrel Holdings Global specialty retailer Crate and Barrel Holdings curates inspiration for the modern home, connecting the creative work of artisans and designers to people and places around the world. Known for high-quality products, exclusive designs and timeless style since 1962, Crate and Barrel Holdings includes lifestyle brands Crate and Barrel, CB2, Crate and Kids and Hudson Grace. Today, the company is a member of the Otto Group and operates over 100 Crate and Barrel and CB2 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, with franchise locations in 9 countries. More than 200 million customers visit the Crate and Barrel Holdings stores and websites each year. To learn more, visit crateandbarrel.com and CB2.com . About 15 Percent Pledge The 15 Percent is a 501c3 non-profit advocacy organization urging major retailers to commit 15% of their shelf-space to Black-owned businesses. It offers large corporations accountability support and consulting services with the goal of advocating for and supporting Black-owned businesses. The 15 Percent Pledge seeks economic equality and prosperity for Black future founders, Black students, and Black people in the workforce. Launched in 2020 by Aurora James, the initiative was born from seeing multiple acts of injustice and police brutality in the United States with a lack of accountability for the systemic issues at play. Businesses including Macy's, Bloomingdales, Sephora, Rent the Runway, West Elm and now Crate and Barrel Holdings, have all committed to the 15 Percent Pledge. For more information, visit www.15percentpledge.org SOURCE Crate and Barrel Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://www.crateandbarrel.com Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the party will contest elections in six states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. He made the announcement at the ninth National Council meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party. "Other parties have no vision and that is why they are talking about the past. AAP is the only party talking about the future and has the vision of 21st and 22nd century, Kejriwal said. In next two years, AAP will be contesting elections in six states UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the AAP national convenor said. Also read: AAPs Debate Blitz in States Nearing Elections May be Aimed at Getting National Party Status Before 2024 Poll Kejriwal urged AAP members to strengthen the party at grassroots level. I urge party members to strengthen grassroots-level hold of the party across the country. The organisation has to be strengthened on a very large scale. The country is important for us and AAP is the vehicle and we need to work towards the development of the party, he added. Kejriwal also expressed his concern over the farmers' parade violence on Republic Day. "The violence of January 26 is unfortunate and strict action should be taken against anyone who is actually responsible for it. Whatever happened on that day cannot stop this movement. We all should support farmers but in a peaceful manner," he said. AAP also declared that it would contest all the 117 seats in agriculture-centric Punjab - where it is the second-largest party with 19 seats after Congress. More recently, it said it would also fight the local civic body polls scheduled in the state in February. The party has attacked BJP for being "anti-farmer" besides locking horns with Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh. Also read: Why Can't UP Have Amenities Like Delhi, Asks Kejriwal, Announces AAP Will Contest State Elections in 2022 Earlier, in December while announcing the decision to contest polls in Uttar Pradash, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Many brothers and sisters of Uttar Pradesh live in Delhi. When AAP formed government third time in Delhi, then many people belonging to UP gave us suggestions that we should contest polls in the state. They said that they were unhappy with the present parties in the state." UP will head to assembly polls in 2022. As party leaders of AAP have been traveling across states from UP to Uttarakhand, Punjab to Gujarat, expert suggests that it could be a move to locate the party beyond the boundaries of Delhi and getting a national party status before the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. STORY LINK Pound to Euro Forecast: GBP/EUR Exchange Rate Dips as UK Lockdown Extended Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Struggle as Lockdown Extended Until at Least March The Pound found itself on the back footthis morning as the currency struggled against continuing coronavirus woes for the UK. Despite coronavirus infections declining across the country, the announcement of a further three weeks in lockdown proved negative for Sterling. Leading a press conference yesterday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that March 8th is the earliest children could return to school and hereafter other sectors could begin to make their way out of lockdown. But many investors are jittery over the start of March return to schooling, with Easter just three weeks after the proposed date will the government extend the lockdown for a further three weeks? Euro (EUR) Exchange Rates Move Higher Despite Vaccine Row The Euro moved higher this morning despite an ongoing row over the coronavirus vaccine and a delayed rollout. Hungary says it has turned to Russia for Covid-19 vaccines because the EU was too slow in delivering them. Budapest has just signed a deal for two million doses of Moscow's Sputnik V jab. Hungarys Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, said Expectations were hyped very high and now we see that the deliveries [from the EU scheme] are much slower and they contain much less vaccine than they were supposed to do. And still, some European institutions and bureaucrats continue to attack countries which are looking for different or alternative sources in this regard. It's a matter of life of the people which we have to save. And if we see that the common purchase or common procurement managed by Brussels is too slow, then we have to secure additional supply to the Hungarian people. Coronavirus Developments to Push Down GBP/EUR Exchange Rate? Pound investors will continue to keep an eye on any coronavirus developments, with hopes that the vaccine rollout will allow the economy to reopen at the beginning of March. Furthermore if cases and deaths continue to decline we could see a more positive outlook to Sterling. Euro investors will be focused on their own coronavirus developments with any further delay in vaccine rollouts proving negative for the single currency. In EUR data releases, tomorrow will see the release of Germanys Unemployment Rate for December which is expected to stay at 6.1% which could cause investors to sell out the currency. Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to Euro exchange rate fell this morning as the weight of an extension of the UK national lockdown bore down on Sterling.At the time of writing the pair is currently trading around 1.2570. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Forecasts The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Trump Team Touts Good and Cordial Meeting With Rep. McCarthy Former President Donald Trump held a meeting with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Thursday in Florida, said Trumps team in a statement, while including a photo of him and the GOP leader. The two had a good and cordial meeting at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, said Trumps Save America PAC. The pair discussed several topics, but the No. 1 priority was taking back the House for Republicans in the 2022 midterms, Trumps team said. They did not elaborate on a strategy or what candidates to promote. Trumps popularity has never been stronger than it is today, said the statement, and his endorsement means more than perhaps any endorsement at any time. Trump now will work with McCarthy on boosting the GOP in the House races. McCarthy and Trump worked very well together in the last election and picked up at least 15 seats when most predicted it would be the opposite, Trumps team wrote. They will do so again, and the work has already started. In response, McCarthy touted a united conservative movement with Trump to stop the radical Democrat agenda. Over their political relationship, Trump and McCarthy rarely butted heads, and McCarthy did not support the second House impeachment effort against Trump. Ten Republicans, including Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.)a member of the Republican leadershipvoted to impeach the former president. Several Republicans in the Senate have also suggested they would vote to convict him. On Tuesday, 45 Republicans voted against going ahead with the impeachment trial, slated to start in early February, meaning that its unlikely the former president would be convicted. Any Republican who impeaches or convicts Trump would likely suffer significant political blowback. Various polls have shown that Trump is by far the most popular Republican figure among the partys voter base. On Thursday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), an ally of Trump, is scheduled to hold a rally in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in a bid to oust Cheney from her leadership role. Republicans in the House are slated next week to vote on whether to strip Cheney of her House leadership position. It was something that I did with a heavy heart, but I did with a real understanding of the seriousness and the gravity of the moment, Cheney said the day of the vote to impeach Trump. My oath to the Constitution is one I cant walk away from, is one I cant violate. But Republican state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, a gun-rights activist, said he would challenge Cheney. Some Trump allies and family members, including Eric Trump, have said they would move to challenge the Republicans who impeached the former president. The swamp was after me, Bouchard said, reported The Associated Press. I just dont think that works any more in Wyoming. I think the people have figured it out. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi interacted with representatives of various non-political, socio-cultural-religious and farmers' organisations in Kalpetta, at his Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, on Thursday. In his address, he said that India is being run by the PM in the interest of 2-3 big businessmen. 'Every single industry today has a monopoly controlled by 3-4 people. Telecoms, Power, Infrastructure, Airports every single thing in India is controlled by limited people,' he said. You know the situation in the country today, it is clear for everybody to see what is going on. India is being run by the PM in the interest of 2-3 big businessmen. Every single industry today has a monopoly controlled by 3-4 people: Rahul Gandhi, in Kalpetta (Wayanad), Kerala pic.twitter.com/r0E1v7nIdZ ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021 READ | Rahul Gandhi Kickstarts Election Campaign In Kerala With 2-day Visit To Wayanad Rahul Gandhi spoke about how he formulated the new Land Acquisition Bill after he noticed the farmers being attacked and their land being taken in Bhatta Parsaul. He accused PM Modi of trying to kill this bill as he came to power. "Some years ago I noticed there was an attempt to attack India's farmers. It started in Bhatta Parsaul when their land was just being taken away. I realised it was a problem & I started a conversation inside Congress party. Result of that was a new Land Acquisition Bill. We threw out the old British Bill & brought out a brand new Bill that guaranteed compensation & protection to our farmers. After this, I was attacked mercilessly. The first thing Narendra Modi Ji did when he became PM was trying to kill this Bill. We fought him in Parliament & stopped him from killing it." READ | Rahul Gandhi Tongue-ties His Translator In Tamil Nadu Roadshow With Convoluted Attack Rahul Gandhi said that most of the farmers do not understand the details of the new Farm bill because if they did, there would be an agitation all across the country. "The truth is that most farmers do not understand the details of the Bill (the three Farm Laws), because if they did, there would be an agitation all across the country. The country would be on fire". Gandhi further elaborated farmers the three farm bills: "The first bill is basically the idea to destroy the mandi." "The second bill allows a handful of businesses to store as much agricultural products as they want, so they will be able to control the price of the commodities and force the farmers to buy their goods" "The third bill basically says that the farmers can't go to court to protect themselves." "The basic idea of the government is to handover the agricultural system of this country to 3-4 businessmen." READ | Rahul Gandhi Won't Relent As Violent Riots Rock Delhi; Insists 'take Back Farm Laws' Rahul Gandhi's 2-day Kerala visit Tormer Congress president Raul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections in the state scheduled for April-May. Several other programmes are lined up for him, including the inauguration of 12 houses built by INCAS Qatar at Panamaram, Koolivayal. On Thursday, he interacted with the representatives of various non-political, socio-cultural-religious and farmers' organisations at a government guesthouse in Kalpetta town of the district. READ | In Run-up To Assembly Polls In Several States; Rahul Gandhi To Spearhead Cong Campaigns (With ANI Inputs) Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae speaks during a meeting with other ministers at Government Complex Sejong, Wednesday. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji Foreign students coming to Korea for the new semester will be required to undergo three COVID-19 tests before and after entry, the Ministry of Education said, Wednesday. Only one test was required previously. According to the new regulations, all foreign students need to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours prior to their departure from their homelands, and submit a negative test result during the screening procedure at the airport in Korea. Those without a negative PCR test result will not be able to enter the country. They must then undergo a second coronavirus test within one day after their arrival in Korea. The final test will be conducted before the students are released from 14 days of self-quarantine. "Based on last year's experience protecting and managing international students from the highly contagious virus, we will secure the safety of students and local communities where the university campuses are located," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said in a meeting with other ministers. The education ministry said international students were being encouraged to stay in their home countries and take online classes. Each university will have to share its plans of quarantine measures for international students with local governments. Schools will be allowed to have students enter the country after securing places for their 14-day self-quarantine, such as a single dormitory room, and these should be separate from other students. Universities will need to check their health twice a day during that period. Students from the United Kingdom and South Africa, where cases of variant coronavirus strains have been reported, will not be allowed to enter Korea for the time being until the health authorities here lift the entry ban. Among 56,000 international students who entered the country from March to December last year, 165 tested positive. Of them, 124 were confirmed during their 14 days of self-quarantine and 41 during screening at airports. "There have been no transmissions from a foreign student to the local community so far," a ministry official said. Native english speaker looking for part/ full time employment in Rome Hello! Thank you for looking at this ad. I am a Native English speaker from the UK, but currently living in Rome. I actually teach English, but my hours are drying up (It's normal... Of 5,544 students the district still expected in person the week of Jan. 11, average attendance was 59%, according to CPS. Among Black students, average in-person attendance for students who said they were coming back was less than 50%; it was 62% for Latino students, 66% for Asian students, 73% for white students and 75% for multiracial students. The rate was 56% for students considered economically disadvantaged, 59% for students with special education plans and 61.5% for students learning English. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced bought deal short form prospectus offering, including the exercise in full of the underwriter's over-allotment option (the "Offering"). In connection with the Offering, the Company issued 38,334,100 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.255 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $9,775,195. The Offering was conducted by Eight Capital (the "Underwriter"). "To have Red Light Holland - The People's Company, being supported by 'The Suits' alongside our new and existing shareholders truly strengthens our Psychedelic Movement and our growth. We are so grateful for all of our loyal supporters and we now have over $20 million[1] of capital available which is incredible! This funding will enable us to fully execute on our business plan and the Red Light Holland team will continue working hard towards our goal of developing a leading brand in this emerging industry. Our mission continues - providing legal and responsible adult access now," said Todd Shapiro, CEO and Director of Red Light Holland. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.38, for a period of 42 months following the closing of the Offering. In the event that the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares exceeds $0.89 for 10 consecutive trading days, the Company may, upon providing written notice to the holders of the Warrants, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date of such written notice. The Warrants will be listed for trading on the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbol TRIP.WRT3. The Company has received approval from the CSE to list the Warrants and the Warrants are expected to commence trading on the date hereof. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering as disclosed in the final prospectus in relation to the Offering, which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile accessible at www.sedar.com. In consideration for their services in connection with the Offering, the Company paid to the Underwriter a cash fee equal to $677,934 and issued to the Underwriter 2,661,762 compensation options (the "Compensation Options"). Each Compensation Option may be exercised to acquire one Unit at $0.255 for a period of 42 months following the closing of the Offering. Each Unit underlying the Compensation Options have the same terms as those issued under the Offering. Garfinkle Biderman LLP acted as legal advisors to the Company. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, and applicable state securities laws. The Units may be offered in the United States to Qualified Institutional Buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the 1933 Act) pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements under rule 144A of the 1933 Act. This news release will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Red Light Holland Corp. The Company is an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in accordance with the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable laws. [ 1] Unaudited For additional information on the Company: Todd Shapiro Chief Executive Officer & Director Tel: 647-204-7129 Email: todd@redlighttruffles.com Website: https://redlighttruffles.com/ Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions and are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the management of the Company and are subject to risks and uncertainties. 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 statements. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the anticipated timing of the listing of the Warrants on the CSE, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the Company's intended future business plans and operations, and the timing of such events. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including risks regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, market conditions, economic factors, management's ability to manage and to operate the business and the equity markets generally. 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73060 "This new data center relationship will continue to support the increasing number of enterprise businesses that move into Dallas," says Michael Lamacchia, Regional Vice President of Sales at Unite Private Networks. "As we continue to expand our footprint in the metro, business customers will now have more options available for unique, low-latency routes, as well as access to our state-of-the-art fiber-optic network. We are looking forward to expanding our already extensive presence in the metro and are ready to help business customers meet their ever-growing bandwidth requirements." "At Stream, we believe that delivering data center services should be a great experience for our customers, so we proactively invest in great people and great facilities to create environments that work perfectly for their needs. Unite Private Networks' fiber complements that promise with its ability to remain highly adaptive for technology platform advances from dark fiber layer offerings to cloud enablement. This is what ensures their robust support for schools, governments, medical organizations, enterprises and carriers alike," comments Chad Rodriguez, Vice President of Network & Cloud for Stream Data Centers. "We're excited for UPN to call Stream Data Centers' DFW VII home as they look to serve the region more comprehensively, and we're thrilled to offer customers even greater freedom to leverage the carrier-neutral connectivity that their digital initiatives thrive on." To learn more about Unite Private Networks, visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com . To learn more about Stream Data Centers, visit www.streamdatacenters.com . About Unite Private Networks: UPN provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services to schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise business customers across a 21-state service area. Service offerings include dark and lit fiber, private line, metro-optical Ethernet, Internet access, data center services, and other customized solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, UPN has been providing customer focused communications solutions since 1998. For more information on UPN, please visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com, or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn . About Stream Data Centers: Stream Data Centers has provided premium data center services since 1999, with 90% of inventory leased to Fortune 500 customers. To date, the company has acquired and developed 24 data center facilities nationally while leadership has remained consistent for all 21 years. Stream speculatively develops turnkey data centers for Hyperscale and Enterprise users. Additionally, Stream develops Build to Suit Data Centers and operates an Energy Services team with a focus on low cost, renewable energy solutions. All of Stream's facilities feature carrier-neutral, low latency connectivity to network and public cloud providers. Above all, Stream is dedicated to improving the data center experience through exceptional people and service. Stream Data Centers is a subsidiary of Stream Realty Partners, a full service commercial real estate investment, development and services company. Stream Realty Partner's portfolio of 300+ million square feet of commercial properties and 900+ real estate professionals, gives Stream Data Centers outstanding market insight and reach. SOURCE Stream Data Centers This New Yorker is helping fishermen adapt to climate change and an economic crisis by becoming kelp farmers by Brianna Baker January 28,2021 | Source: Grist Sean Barrett grew up fishing on the rocky shores of Montauk, a village on the eastern edge of Long Island, New York. Hed regularly eat winter flounder and tautog he pulled from the sea that day. To him, grocery-store filets will never compare to the flavor of a fresh catch. He launched Dock to Dish nine years ago to give people around the country the same experience.* Home cooks and restaurateurs who subscribe to Dock to Dish receive regular deliveries of their local fisherys catch of the day. Barretts mission is threefold: connect consumers to the people who provide their food; support small, sustainable fisheries; and cut the emissions created by shipping fish around the globe. (A lot of the fish at your local market traveled 5,000 miles to get there. Dock to Dish limits deliveries to a 150-mile radius around Montauk.) Now the 2016 Grist 50 Fixer is rethinking the fish part of that mission or rather, expanding on it. In October, Dock to Dish launched the Eat More Kelp campaign. The company joined ocean-farming nonprofit GreenWave in selling merch, making videos, and enlisting ambassadors (including Fixer and marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson) to tout the merits of cooking with the nutrient-packed, carbon-capturing superfood. But thats just phase one. Barrett and Bren Smith, the brain behind GreenWave, are leading an effort to train and equip fishermen interested in growing kelp. Seventeen farms are set to open off the coast of New York this winter, and people can start signing up for the worlds first community-supported kelp crop project that, much like Dock to Dish, funnels money into the new businesses and delivers kelp to adventurous eaters doorsteps. We talked to Barrett about why sustainable fishing and restorative ocean farming are the power couple of climate solutions and how encouraging fisheries to diversify their products can help them adapt to global warming and survive the pandemic-induced economic fallout. His comments have been edited for length and clarity. For years now, climate change has been pushing small fisheries to adapt. I often tell people, You can see climate change in the oceans much more clearly than on land. The Long Island lobster, for example, has migrated out of the area because the water has warmed. Black sea bass, historically indigenous to North Carolina, has relocated to the mid-Atlantic, overrunning our area and wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. These shifting migration patterns are like standing at the Eiffel Tower and watching a herd of zebras and wildebeests run by. But watermen are used to adapting working in the wild will teach you that youre not the boss, nature is. Last year, Dock to Dish saw the pandemic as an opportunity to put all our muscle into restorative ocean farming and kelp farming, which wed been working on behind the scenes for awhile. Despite their resilience, small fisheries are still on life support because restaurant closures are wiping out a huge source of revenue. Theyll need even more help as climate change worsens. For a lot of fishers or oyster growers, their season winds down in the fall. But the kelp season starts between December and March. Ocean farming can provide a counterbalance, making for a year-round operation. Thats a huge help to a lot of coastal watermen and commercial fisheries. Maine has had a pretty robust kelp industry for years because a lot of lobster fishermen have shifted to being kelp farmers, too. Were targeting oyster farmers to help them do the same. There are hundreds of boutique oyster growers from Maryland to Rhode Island who harvest just one species, making them vulnerable to climate change. Weve started retrofitting these farms to include kelp. Its been fun to see these watermen innovating new gear and methods. The campaign is also supporting a key part of Dock to Dishs original goal, which is to get people excited about experimenting with new kinds of seafood. Four species dominate the American fish market: salmon, tuna, shrimp, and cod. Weve always tried to break through the norms and introduce folks to whats abundant in their area like the great northern tilefish or the Atlantic chub mackerel. Now we hope to do the same with kelp and make it the new kale. 1999-2021 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved Theme(s): Others. The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 in many ways compelled organisations to implement work from home policy for their employees during the lockdown period and post thereto With the Union Budget 2021-22 on the anvil, akin to past years, a common man hinges his hopes of having more money at his disposal to spend/save as he desires. Especially, considering the present hardships and challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic on taxpayers livelihood and overall economy, the government may evaluate how they can enhance the common mans purchasing power. The wish list on the personal tax front are as under: Separate deduction for COVID-19 treatment Currently, few deductions have been prescribed under Chapter VI-A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) for medical treatment for self or dependent suffering from disability/severe disability (Section 80DD, 80U of the Act), medical treatment of prescribed diseases and ailments (Section 80DDB of the Act). However, for those not covered under any health insurance, no particular deduction has been prescribed under the Act covering the treatment cost for COVID-19 . Donation made to PM CARES fund designed specifically for providing COVID-19 relief is eligible for 100 percent deduction u/s 80G of the Act, but no corresponding deduction has been notified for expenses incurred on treatment of the disease itself. In order to provide much-needed relief to the taxpayers, especially the ones not covered under a health insurance policy, a separate deduction capped up to Rs 1,00,000 or actual treatment cost incurred by the taxpayer for self or family, whichever is lower may be introduced under the Act given the substantial cost involved in COVID-19 treatment in government or private hospitals. Provision for furniture by employer The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 in many ways compelled organisations to implement work from home (WFH) policy for their employees during the lockdown period and post thereto. During such WFH situation, several companies endeavoured to put in place necessary enabling infrastructure through provision of furniture (like tables, ergonomic chairs, etc.), high-speed internet, printers, desktops, stationery, etc. for ease of working at their employees residences to ensure conducive work environment. Some companies decided to grant a fixed allowance to employees to meet the expenditure on such furniture/other items, while others decided to provide reimbursement. While both the allowances and reimbursements are necessitated by the business requirement, these benefits have the potential of being taxed in the hands of the employees as a prerequisite. As this situation has not been expressly dealt with in the Act or the Rules made thereunder coupled with a fact that WFH on a large scale appears to be a long-term norm now, some tax relief specific to work from home scenario may be provided to individual taxpayers and their employers. Realignment of income slabs/tax rates The exemption limit for individual taxpayers below 60 years of age amounting to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum has remained constant from Financial Year (FY) 2014-15. Some relief was provided to taxpayers by Union Budget 2020-21 wherein alternative optional new tax regime was introduced which allowed the taxpayers to choose between the existing tax regime and new tax regime whichever is more beneficial given their tax situation. By opting for such new tax regime, a host of exemptions/deductions were to be foregone by the taxpayer. While the new tax regime had lower tax rates, the ultimate benefit to the taxpayer was the basis of the deductions/ exemptions otherwise he/she was eligible to. Hence, with the objective of simplifying this further and enhancing the net disposable income, it may be considered whether the basic exemption limit under the existing tax regime can be enhanced to Rs 5 lakh itself. This would also need to be assessed basis the potential number of taxpayers who may fall out of mandatory tax return filing requirement. Subsequently, the other slab rates both under the existing and new regime can be adjusted basis the revised limits in line with the progressive tax rate system India has always adopted. Housing tax breaks To reignite the momentum in the real estate sector, the government may assess enhancing the standard deduction of 30 percent of Net Annual Value to 50 percent and/or enhancing the current limit of deduction for interest payable on housing loan on self-occupied properties to Rs 4 lakh per annum. Increase in deduction u/s 80C The limit of Rs 1.5 lakh in respect of deduction under Section 80C of the Act for various common tax-saving investments/expenditure (such as employee provident fund, public provident fund, principal repayment of housing loan, children tuition fee, national savings certificate, etc.) has remained constant for almost half a decade now. Given the current economic scenario, the government would like to provide impetus to demand and consumption. With this in mind, if individuals are encouraged to spend on expenses like school fees, housing etc. the government may hence consider increasing this to Rs 3 lakh per annum. Alternatively, a separate deduction may be introduced (in addition to the proposed enhanced limit) for certain high-value transactions such as childrens tuition fee (keeping in mind the spiralling education cost over last few years), expenditure on specific items made in India, etc. Though expectations of a common man on personal taxes can be widespread, maintaining fiscal discipline while providing impetus to higher economic growth will be an unenviable task for the finance minister to perform especially in these unprecedented times. Thus, it would be interesting to see what personal tax reforms are introduced in the Budget 2021 on this front. The writer is Partner and Head, Global Mobility Services-Tax, KPMG in India Two Tennessee Fugitives Arrested at Calloway Home By West Kentucky Star Staff NEW CONCORD - Authorities arrested two Tennessee fugitives Thursday morning at a Calloway County home.The Calloway County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded at around 9 a.m. to a report of a stolen vehicle at a home on Saddle Lane in the New Concord community.Deputies located the vehicle when they got to the home, as well as 27-year-old Holly Crosno of Madison, TN, who was hiding under the home. Crosno was a fugitive with multiple warrants in Kentucky and Tennessee.Deputies also found 35-year-old April Hartle of Paris, TN inside the home. Hartle was also a fugitive with a warrant in Kentucky.The vehicle, which was not actually reported stolen, was turned over to its owner.Crosno is charged with three counts of being a fugitive from another state, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence. She was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in a Calloway County Circuit Court felony case.Hartle was charged on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a Calloway county misdemeanor case. ROCHESTER, Minn. - The governor's plan for Minnesota's next two-year budget could have a significant impact on student's access to state colleges and universities. Governor Walz wants to create an admission process for Minnesota public high school students that would see them automatically accepted to state colleges and universities if they meet certain academic benchmarks. It is not yet clear what those benchmarks may be. The governor says bypassing the traditional admissions process will show more students college is for them. He also says it could reduce equity gaps, access gaps, and simplify the college application process. Austin Public Schools Superintendent David Krinz believes the program could have a tremendous impact. "It is a good thing," Krinz told KIMT. "Any time that we create opportunities that tear down roadblocks or possible hurdles for our students to advance themselves is very positive." Krinz adds streamlined admissions could boost outcomes for students struggling to navigate the college application process. "To have that opportunity to know that 'I achieved something at a certain level on my MCAs,' or 'I show proficiency in math, or language arts, or whatever the area may be, allows me to automatically have access to higher-ed' is critical," Krinz said. State lawmakers will continue negotiating Minnesota's next budget in the coming months. They will need to reach an agreement by June 30th in order to avoid a possible shutdown. The attorney and Alpenrose Dairy heir who Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler blasted with pepper spray after the man aggressively confronted him apologized for his behavior and made clear he wanted to patch things up with the mayor as well as the partners at his downtown law firm. I am remorseful for my decision to confront Mayor Wheeler on Sunday, Jan. 24, and I am sorry he felt the need to use pepper spray, Cary Cadonau, a partner at Brownstein Rask, said in a brief statement Wednesday night. His remarks came nearly 72 hours after he accosted Wheeler and former Mayor Sam Adams outside a Southwest Portland pub and filmed them with his phone. I cherish Portland and our local community, Cadonau continued. I recognize that Mayor Wheeler has a very difficult job. I have contacted Mayor Wheelers office to request an opportunity to amicably resolve this matter. I would also like to apologize to my law partners for my conduct. Cadonaus conciliatory tone was an abrupt departure from his stance only days prior when he told police he wanted to hold the mayor accountable and hinted hed publicly release the video he shot. Mara Woloshin, a representative for Cadonau, said Wednesday night that her client now had little desire to publish the footage. I dont think hell ever release the video now, Woloshin told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Its just not in his interest to engage in this ongoing tussle. Wheeler in a statement Thursday said he appreciated Cadonaus apology, adding that he considered the matter closed. Im hopeful that this will be a catalyst for all of us to return to healthy, respectful civic dialogue, the mayor said. The dustup began when Cadonau, who was unmasked and filming with his phone, confronted the mayor and Adams as they left the McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House about 8 p.m., a police report of the incident said. Cadonau accused Wheeler of dining without a mask and said hed photographed Wheeler while he ate, the mayor told police. Apparently you dont know the rules, Wheeler told Cadonau, according to an audio recording of the encounter captured by Adams. The mayor said he and Adams had been in a tented area outside the pub, which does not require face coverings under current coronavirus restrictions, the police report said. Cadonau then followed Wheeler closely as he walked to his car and refused to back off when asked, the mayor told police. Thats when the mayor unleashed a burst of the burning agent into the mans eyes. You just pepper-sprayed me for no reason at all, Cadonau said, according to the audio recording. Adams interjected: Actually, I was here and you were like a foot from him. He asked you to back away and you didnt. After unleashing the noxious spray, the mayor provided the man with a bottle of water to rinse his face, Wheeler said. Police said they identified Cadonau after he returned to the pub Monday and asked a manager for security video footage and a copy of Wheelers restaurant tab. The manager declined to provide those but Cadonau gave his full name and contact information, according to the police report. A police officer interviewed Cadonau on Monday afternoon. He told the officer he was an attorney and was hesitant to discuss the matter involving the mayor, the report said. Cary Cadonau, 48, is a partner at Brownstein Rask LLP, a prominent midsize law firm in downtown Portland. His practice includes real estate law, personal injury and criminal defense, according to the firms website. (Brownstein Rask LLP) Cadonau told the officer he believed Wheeler should be held accountable for the episode, but when the officer asked why, Cadonau declined to say. I asked him multiple times if he wanted to talk about the incident, share his video footage or provide his side of the story, but he respectfully declined to say anymore, wrote Officer Matt Miller in the report. The encounter marks the latest incident where individuals targeted the mayor in public. Groups of left-wing activists raucously accosted Wheeler twice in the last two months while he was dining at a Northwest Portland cafe. During the most recent altercation, one of the activists swatted at Wheeler and made physical contact with him, according to the mayors office. Brownstein Rask is a prominent midsize law firm in downtown Portland. Cadonaus practice there includes real estate law, personal injury and criminal defense, according to the firms website. Cary enjoys working to achieve creative resolutions to disputes, his company bio reads. Cadonau is also a great-great-grandchild of the founder of Alpenrose Dairy in Southwest Portland. An intrafamily dispute over the dairy led to its sale to another company in 2019. Terms of how much Cadonau family members received from the sale were not disclosed. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. U.S. Rep. John Katko has reintroduced a bill, his first of the 117th Congress, to address a problem affecting some individuals who were incorrectly removed from trusted traveler programs. Katko, R-Camillus, authored the legislation after a central New Yorker contacted his office after having their trusted traveler status revoked. According to Katko's office, it was a case of misidentification. But this constituent isn't the only person who has dealt with the same error. For some participants in trusted traveler programs, such as the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program, they may lose their status if they share a name with a known or suspected terrorist. What's worse is that even if their status is restored, they can't recoup lost time in the programs. Katko, who is the ranking Republican member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said his bill would offer relief to those who are affected by these errors. "It also takes steps to prevent future inaccuracies by examining Homeland Security's efforts to effectively manage enrollment lists," he said. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to partner with the air transport industry to devise plans to safely re-link people, business and economies when the Covid-19 epidemiological situation permits. A priority for this critical cooperation is acceleration of the establishment of global standards for vaccination and testing certification. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel as vaccination programs roll out. Turning this vision into a safe and orderly re-start will require careful planning and coordination by governments and industry. This will be challenging as the priority for the weeks and months ahead will be containing the spread of new variants. But even as the crisis deepens, it is important to prepare the way for a resumption of flights when the epidemiological situation permits. Understanding government policy benchmarks and agreeing the global standards needed to support a return to normality in travel will ensure that air transport is well-prepared and does not become a meaningful vector for reimportation. Airlines are ready to support governments in this task, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO. Principles: When governments do turn their attention to re-establishing global air connectivity, IATA is ready to partner with them to facilitate a globally consistent, efficient and effective approach. Already we can see some governments evolving principles in their testing/vaccination programs that could form the foundation for global harmonization. These include: Vaccinations: Most governments are pursuing a vaccination strategy that seeks to protect their health care workers and most vulnerable populations first. IATA supports re-opening borders to travel when this has been achieved, as the greatest risks will have been mitigated. Vaccinated individuals: The Greek government last week proposed that vaccinated individuals should be immediately exempted from travel restrictions, including quarantine. IATA supports moves by governments, including Poland, Latvia, Lebanon and the Seychelles, to implement this exemption. Testing: Many governments are implementing testing regimes to facilitate travel, which IATA supports. Germany and the US, for example, are taking advantage of the rapid improvement in testing technologies to accept PCR and antigen testing to safely manage the risks of travel. While rapid antigen tests are preferred for their speed and cost advantages, it is clear that PCR testing will play a role as many governments are requiring tests within a 48- to 72-hour window prior to travel. Crew: The ICAO-CART guidance recommends that crew be exempted from testing processes and restrictions that are designed for passengers. IATA supports crew health management protocols which include, for example, regular testing and health checks at home bases, along with strict guidelines limiting interaction with the local community during crew layovers. This enables airlines to manage the risks of Covid-19 while maintaining operational viability. Multi-layered bio-safety measures: The ICAO recommendations for multi-layered bio-safety measures (including mask-wearing) are being globally implemented. IATA supports such measures remaining fully in place for all travelers until such time as the epidemiological situation allows for relaxation. There are plenty of moving parts in the equation. The number of people vaccinated, and the availability of testing are key among them. Airlines have adapted their operations in order to maintain cargo operations and some passenger services, while complying with the numerous and uncoordinated restrictions imposed. Building on this experience they can help governments with their preparations for eventually safely re-establishing global connectivity for their people, businesses and economies, said de Juniac. Practicalities: Global Standards are Essential Underlying all scenarios for the re-establishment of air connectivity is the development of global standards so that the requirements of one country can be followed by travelers originating in other jurisdictions. Key global standards that are being developed include: Vaccination certificates: The WHO is leading efforts to build the standards needed to digitally record vaccination information that will be critical to re-establishing international travel. The Smart Vaccination Certificate will be the digital successor to the long-established yellow book used to manage vaccinations such as yellow fever. Global framework for testing: The OECD is laying the foundation for a global framework to help governments trust testing data based on mutual recognition of testing results. The urgency of such a framework was demonstrated by the recent suspension of flights between the UAE and Denmark over concerns about the UAEs testing regime. A trusted framework will ensure that travellers are not caught in the middle when governments do not recognize each others testing regimes. Standardizing the appropriate testing certificates is also essential. Digital Travel Credential (DTC): ICAO has published standards to create a DTC from ePassports. Along with enabling contactless travel as recommended by ICAO-CART guidelines, the credentials are an essential component in digitally matching travelers to their vaccination and testing certificates. The standard exists and the challenge now is implementation. As we have seen, unilateral government decisions are very effective in shutting down global mobility. Re-establishing the freedom to travel, however, can only be done with cooperation. Governments are already seeing how challenging that will be without global standards for vaccines or tests. This puts a spotlight on the urgency of the essential work being done by WHO, OECD and ICAO. IATA is participating in these initiatives and stands ready to help governments with implementation, said de Juniac. Building the Future with IATA Travel Pass IATA is building the information infrastructure to safely re-start travel with the IATA Travel Pass. The IATA Travel Pass is an industry solution that will help governments, airlines and individual travellers manage vaccine or testing requirements with accurate information, secure identification and verified data. As an industry-supported solution, it will be cost effective, protect privacy and respect global standards. The first pilot program to test the app in a real travel situation commenced with Singapore Airlines in December 2020. A growing list of airlines are confirming their intention to use IATA Travel Pass, including IAG, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. Based on our deep experience of driving transformational change in global air transport, we believe that IATA Travel Pass will offer the best support to governments in managing vaccination and testing data to safely facilitate travel. But the success of any of the solutions being developed will depend on governments working with and trusting each other. Air transport built its reputation on safety by cooperating with governments to ensure universal implementation of transparent global standards. Thats a compelling model for how industry and governments can work together to re-connect the world using opportunities created testing and vaccination progress, said de Juniac. - TradeArabia News Service A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A neo-Nazi has been sentenced to life in prison after killing a pro-migration German MP in what is believed to be the country's first political assassination since World War II. Stephan Ernst, 47, was found guilty of shooting dead Walter Luebcke, 65, a member of Angela Merkel's CDU party, on June 1, 2019. An autopsy found that the conservative politician was shot in the head at close range after having been found lifeless on the terrace of his home in Kassel. Speaking in December, the prosecution said Ernst had been motivated by 'racism and xenophobia'. Neo-Nazi Stephan Ernst, 47, (pictured) has been sentenced to life in prison after killing a pro-migration German MP in what is believed to be the country's first political assassination since World War II A co-defendant, Markus Hartmann, who had been accused of being an accessory in the killing and allegedly helping Ernst in weapons training, was cleared of the complicity charge but found guilty on weapons possession charges and received a suspended sentence of 1.5 years. Luebcke supported the decision in 2015 to open Germany's borders to refugees and spoke in favour of hosting asylum seekers in local towns. Prosecutors believe Ernst and Hartmann attended a speech by Luebcke in October 2015 when the politician defended helping refugees, adding that anyone who did not agree with those values was 'free to leave the country'. The comment was shared widely on social media and turned Luebcke into a hate figure for the far-right. After the speech, Ernst 'increasingly projected his hatred of foreigners' on to Luebcke, prosecutors said at the opening of the trial in June. Speaking in December, the prosecution said Ernst had been motivated by 'racism and xenophobia'. Pictured: Stephan Ernst (right) stands next to his lawyer Mastafa Kaplan in the courtroom earlier today Following mass sexual assaults by migrants against women in Cologne on New Year's Eve 2015 and a 2016 Islamist attack in the French city of Nice, Ernst allegedly began tracking Luebcke's movements. Between 2016 and 2018, prosecutors say he worked with Hartmann to improve his skill with firearms, and the two attended right-wing demonstrations together. In the course of their investigations, prosecutors separately charged Ernst with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing an Iraqi asylum seeker in the back in 2016. They also uncovered weapons and ammunition belonging to Ernst, including revolvers, pistols and a submachine gun. Although Ernst initially admitted killing Luebcke, he later retracted his confession and said Hartmann had pulled the trigger. But he then sacked his defence lawyer and reverted to his original confession, claiming he had been pushed into blaming Hartmann. Prosecutors considered Ernst's first confession to be the most credible, deeming the rest to be trial tactics. Ernst was known to police as a neo-Nazi sympathiser and was convicted of an attempted bomb attack on an asylum home in 1993. German media say he took part in neo-Nazi clashes targeting a union demonstration in 2009. But Ernst then slipped off the security services' radar, fuelling criticism that the authorities were not taking the far-right threat seriously enough. German police came under fire years earlier for overlooking racist crimes after it emerged that a neo-Nazi terror cell, the National Socialist Underground, had killed 10 people, mainly immigrants, between 2000 in 2007. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has declared far-right extremism the 'biggest security threat facing Germany'. He has promised tougher security measures, including a crackdown on online hate speech. Pictured: State prosecutors arrive in the courtroom prior to the verdict, earlier today In October 2019, just months after Luebcke's death, Germany was rocked by a shooting at a synagogue in the eastern city of Halle that left two people dead. Neo-Nazi Stephan Balliet, 28, was sentenced to life in prison in December for that attack, described as the country's worst anti-Semitic atrocity since World War II. Last February, another gunman shot dead nine people of migrant origin in the central town of Hanau. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has declared far-right extremism the 'biggest security threat facing Germany'. He has promised tougher security measures, including a crackdown on online hate speech. 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. 23 2021 : . : . 2018 /2019 . 2019/ 2020 . The Union Cabinet late on Wednesday green-flagged the much-awaited policy on the privatisation of public sector undertakings (PSUs), the details for which will be announced in the Union Budget on February 1. The policy was part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package announced by Sitharaman in May 2020 as a coherent policy where all sectors would be opened for private sector participation. The government had then announced its intention to limit the presence of PSUs to one to four in strategic sectors, and to privatise, merge or bring the remaining companies under a holding company. Companies in non-strategic sectors would see the government exiting completely. In the last Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the highest-ever divestment target of Rs 2.1 lakh crore, Rs 1.1 lakh crore more than the highest achieved divestment receipt of Rs 1 lakh crore in 2017-18. Sitharaman had announced the planned initial public offering (IPO) of public sector behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India. The cabinet had also cleared the privatisation of Bharat Petroleum, Container Corp and Shipping Corp in November 2019. These, along with Air India, were expected to be completed in the current financial year. According to the initial draft of the policy floated by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, around 18 sectors were classified as strategic sectors, including power, fertilisers, telecom, defence, banking, and insurance. These have been categorised mining and exploration, manufacturing and processing, and services. The companys 15,000 metre resource definition drilling program is ongoing after strong results from the Seko deposit with mineralisation similar to other large gold systems in the region. Assays are pending for a further 143 drill holes. Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) continued to advance its flagship Dandoko Project in Mali, West Africa, with resource definition drilling at the Seko deposit commencing during the December quarter. Seko comprises five coherent auger gold trends (SK1-5) with a combined strike length of about 7 kilometres within the Dandoko Project. The initial 15,000-metre drilling program is predominantly targeting the 3-kilometre long SK1 North to Koko trend at Seko, which remains open at depth and along strike. Assay results from the first 6 diamond drilling (DD) holes spaced over a 350-metre strike length at SK1 North successfully confirmed the extension of the Seko gold system into fresh rock to a vertical depth of at least 325 metres. The company expects the results will inform the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Seko regional relevance The results from SK1 North also showed gold mineralisation associated with wide zones of hydrothermal alteration hosting individual grades of up to 8.16 g/t gold. This alteration shows strong similarities to other large gold systems in the region, including B2Gold Corps (TSE:BTO) (FRA:5BG) (NYSE:BTG) 7.1 million ounce Fekola Project, around 30 kilometres to the west and Barrick Gold Corps (NYSE:GOLD) (TSE:ABX) (FRA:ABR) (ETR:ABR) 12.5 million ounce Loulo complex around 50 kilometres to the northwest. Best results from intersections in first RC pre-collar at SK1 South (600 metres to the south) include: 10 metres at 2.42 g/t from 47 metres, including 2 metres at 6.69 g/t; and 11 metres at 1.14 g/t from 74 metres. Assays are pending for a further 143 holes and ongoing drilling will test the potential for high-grade plunging shoots at depth as seen at the nearby Fekola and Yalea gold deposits. Comparison of alteration styles from the SK1 North (top) and Yalea/Gounkoto (bottom) gold deposits Divesting South Mali Projects During the quarter, a shareholders agreement was executed with Marvel Gold Ltd (ASX:MVL) (FRA:GR2) (OTCMKTS:GRXMF) to divest an 80% interest in its non-core projects located in south Mali through a newly incorporated exploration joint venture company. The companys south Mali projects include the Yanfolila, Yanfolila Est, Kolondieba, Kolondieba Nord, Sirakourou, Solabougouda and Solabougouda Sud (under application) licences. The transaction allows Oklo to focus on advancing its west Mali gold projects, including the flagship Dandoko Project, while maintaining exposure to any future exploration success in the south Mali projects by retaining a 20% free carried interest to a decision to mine and a shareholding in Marvel. Completion occurred after the quarter end on 4 January 2021 with Oklo receiving a total cash consideration of A$200,000. Under the agreement, the company will also receive 20,000,000 Marvel shares (upon confirmation of renewal of licences), with up to an additional 20,000,000 Marvel shares to be issued subject to Marvel achieving certain milestones. Oklo and Marvel have agreed on an initial work program for the South Mali Gold Projects, with multielement soil geochemistry and high-resolution ground magnetics underway. Environmental baseline studies During the quarter Digby Wells Environmental were appointed to initiate and undertake a series of baseline studies that will form the basis of ongoing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and environmental licencing requirements related to the application and granting of a mining licence at Dandoko. Studies on flora & fauna, aquatic ecology, soils, wetlands and water monitoring, socio-economic and health, demographic and land use studies have commenced, with further studies to be initiated in the coming quarter. Location of Oklos Yanfolila, Yanfolila Est, Kolondieba, Kolondieba Nord, Sirakourou, Solabougouda and Solabougouda Sud (application) licences in south Mali. March quarter work program Oklo remains well-funded (with cash reserves of $17.3 million as at 31 December 2020) to advance its aggressive evaluation program during the March 2021 quarter. The planned work program includes: Continuing drilling based on results from the 15,000 metre resource definition drilling program at Seko and other targets in close proximity, including extensions to Koko with assays pending from 143 holes; Further drilling over the Dandoko gold corridor; Advancement of environmental baseline studies as inputs to a future ESIA; and Further metallurgical test work on SK1 North oxide mineralisation. The company expects to deliver its mineral resource estimate (MRE) during Q1 2021. De Lima urges qualified Filipinos to register as voters Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has encouraged all qualified Filipino citizens who are not yet registered voters to participate in the ongoing voter registration being led by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). De Lima, a former election lawyer before she entered public service in 2008, made the statement following reports that the Comelec is way behind its target of registering 4 million new voters for the May 9, 2022, general elections. "With the additional hurdles posed by the COVID-19, we understand that it is extra challenging to register for the 2022 elections, but I hope that qualified Filipinos would not miss their chance to effect change and elect worthy leaders in 2022 by registering to vote," she said. "Ang pagboto ay karapatan ng bawat Pilipino. Paraan ito upang mapakinggan at mabigyan ng kakayahang makiambag sa pagpapatibay ng ating demokrasya ang taumbayan, anuman ang kanyang kasarian, paniniwala o estado sa buhay. Tungkulin din ito ng mamamayan para sa tamang pagpili ng mga pinuno na titimon sa ating bayan, lalo na sa panahon na maraming pagsubok sa ating bayan," she added. Recently, Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon took to Twitter to announce that the Comelec is "behind our target of 4 [million] new registrants," adding, "I will propose overtime for our personnel so we can extend registration hours." Guanzon said the Comelec has recorded 1,117,528 voter applicants as of January 14. The poll body resumed its voter registration on January 4. Comelec offices are open Mondays to Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accept applications while Friday is the "designated disinfection day" unless prescribed otherwise by the local government. The Comelec has scheduled the voter registration for next year's elections from Jan. 20, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021 before the pandemic. The Sept. 30 deadline has not been extended. The lady Senator from Bicol stressed: "I believe in the weight or power of every vote as a hallmark of our democracy. The loudest voice a person has for or against the government is his/her vote." WASHINGTON - The question of whether former president Donald Trump can be convicted at an impeachment trial now that he has left office is likely to be settled by political muscle rather than the Constitution, which is murky on the matter and provides support for those on both sides of the issue, experts said Wednesday. Although many legal scholars take the view that a president can be tried by the Senate even when he is no longer president, they acknowledge that there is enough ambiguity in the Constitution for Republicans to embrace as reason not to convict Trump at his trial set to begin Feb. 9. Most who have studied the question say post-presidential impeachment, conviction and disqualification from holding future office is permitted, said Brian Kalt, a leading scholar on the subject. But it is far from unanimous because of ambiguous language in the Constitution. "It's a tough call because there is so much uncertainty," said Kalt, a Michigan State University law professor. In a 2001 law review article, Kalt concluded that there is a "solid basis" because of the history, text and past practice in Congress. "The removal requirement was a way of protecting the office from bad presidents, not a way of protecting bad presidents from impeachment for things they do right at the end of their term," said Kalt, who helped craft a recent letter signed by 150 constitutional scholars, including a founder of the conservative Federalist Society. Republicans overwhelmingly signaled their support this week for the opposite argument, advanced by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. - and backed by former federal judge Michael Luttig - that there is no constitutional basis for putting a former president on trial. All but five Republican senators backed Paul's objections. They also point to Chief Justice John Roberts's absence as the presiding officer at the trial as supporting evidence that the impeachment is inappropriate. Roberts oversaw Trump's first impeachment, but he has declined to comment on why he is not presiding over the coming trial. Democrats and others say that has nothing to do with the bigger question of whether Trump must be held accountable for fomenting the violent Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol that resulted in the deaths of one police officer and four rioters. The relevant section of the Constitution states that the "President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Separately, it says, "Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States." Although it makes clear that the Senate's punishment cannot go beyond removal or disqualification, the Constitution does not say anything about the timing of a trial. Among those leading the arguments on both sides are legal heavyweights Laurence Tribe, a Harvard University law scholar, and Luttig, the former judge. The two frequently exchange emails on constitutional issues, most recently about this subject, and express great admiration for each other even when they disagree. The Senate does not lose its power to hold an impeachment trial just because the official is no longer in office, Tribe said, in part because it has the authority to disqualify the person from holding future office. Although a powerful argument could be made that Congress cannot impeach a private citizen, he said, Trump was impeached by the House while still in office. If an official could only be disqualified while still an office, that person could avoid accountability by resigning just before a final conviction vote in the Senate, he said. Democrats have pointed to examples of the Senate holding impeachment trials for former officials, but those did not result in convictions. In 1876, Secretary of War William Belknap resigned shortly before the House voted to impeach him. The Senate affirmed its authority to hold a trial for the former executive branch official, but it did not get the two-thirds vote needed to convict him. In response, Republicans have largely espoused Luttig's view, first outlined in an opinion piece in The Washington Post before the House impeachment vote. Luttig says the Senate's power to convict extends only to a sitting president. The purpose of the power, he wrote, is to remove a president before "he could further harm the nation from the office he then occupies." "The historical fact that the Congress has impeached former officers after they were no longer incumbent in their offices is evidence only that at times the Congress has assumed that it had the constitutional power to impeach former officers," Luttig added in an interview Wednesday. Only the Supreme Court, he said, can decide the legal question of whether Congress does in fact have that authority. Two former solicitors general from Democratic and Republican administrations said courts probably would not settle the question of whether the impeachment trial is permissible. The Supreme Court in a 1993 case involving the impeachment of a federal judge named Walter Nixon said the question of whether the Senate proceedings against Nixon were proper was a "political question," meaning it was to be resolved by the Senate, not the judiciary. Because of that precedent, "it's pretty clear that the Supreme Court will not get involved in these issues," said Paul Clement, solicitor general under President George W. Bush. "My strong sense is that the courts - starting with the first district court that addresses it up to the Supreme Court - will say, 'No thank you - political question.' " The two also agreed that Roberts's absence from the second trial does not signal the chief justice's opinion about the legality of the proceedings. Under the Constitution, the chief justice presides over a trial of "the president," not necessarily a former president. "I don't think the chief is foreshadowing a view of that separate question" of the legitimacy of a post-presidency trial, Clement said. "And if he thought he were, he'd have done something different, maybe explain it in writing." He added: "I think the chief has just made it clear he reads that clause to mean the current president of the United States." At a seminar at Georgetown University's law center, Clement and Neal Katyal, solicitor general in the Obama administration, agreed. Katyal said that Roberts would have presided if the trial began before Jan. 20, and that the question then would have been whether to continue. "I 100% think the chief is right in not presiding over this impeachment the way it was structured," Katyal said. In November, while the nation waited for the presidential election to be called, Laurence Cheatham, 34, an artist in the New York City area, picked up his coloring pencils and began to work. He started by drawing an image of John Lewis and Elijah Cummings in the clouds, looking down at Earth. As the days went on, Mr. Cheatham added Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the sky. And, when Arizona was officially called for the Democratic candidates, he added John McCain, a former Senator of that state. The four hovered above an image of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden in an embrace. People needed hope, said Mr. Cheatham. The final product is an example of a visual tradition in Black culture that usually circulates during two specific occasions: When a Black person ascends in society or dies. In this case, the moment came when Ms. Harris, was sworn in as the first woman and the first Black and South Asian person to ascend to the position of Vice President. The tradition, which often uses heaven as a symbol of good conquering evil, are often crude, cut-and-paste montages of historical figures by unsigned artists. Once made for T-shirts and posters, now these images are shared online. A Russian delegation inspected the two major Egyptian international airports of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada on Thursday to ensure they are adhering to safety and security standards and precautionary measures against the coronavirus. Sources at the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN) told Al-Ahram that the delegations visit is in preparation for the resumption of regular and charter Russian flights to the Red Sea touristic destinations. The delegation will meet with officials at the Ministry of Civil Aviation before submitting their final report to civil aviation authorities in Russia, in preparation for issuing a final report on the resumption of air traffic between the two countries, the sources said. The delegation, whose visit started on Wednesday, is scheduled to continue its inspection work for one week. According to EHCAAN sources, the delegation is composed of 16 members. The first part of the delegation arrived at Hurghada International Airport and comprises seven airport security experts, and the second group, which arrived at Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport, comprises nine aviation security experts. During their inspection tour, the experts checked passengers baggage, inspected meals from the moment they were cooked until they were placed on board planes, checked the surveillance systems, inspected airstrip security systems, and reviewed work at the customs departments and the readiness of baggage carousels. Egypts tourism sector has been hit hard by Russias suspension of charter flights after the crash of a Russian plane, which killed more than 200 holidaymakers, in 2015. Russian tourists are one of the main groups that visit Egypt the most for its touristic attractions. Egypt has allowed multiple inspection visits from Russia to certify its commitment to safety measures and security arrangements. In 2014, 3 million Russians visited the country, and in 2015, 2.4 million Russians visited Egypt before Moscow suspended all commercial passenger flights to the country over the 2015 incident. Egypt has worked on upgrading and boosting safety systems at all airports countrywide. In April 2018, Moscow ended its flight suspension to Cairo. In March 2020, Russia stopped flights to Egypt over the coronavirus pandemic spread, but they were resumed in September. Short link: New Delhi: Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced that it has become the countrys first telco to successfully demonstrate & orchestrate LIVE 5G service over a commercial network in Hyderabad city. "Airtel did this over its existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band through the NSA (Non Stand Alone) network technology. Using a first of its kind, dynamic spectrum sharing, Airtel seamlessly operated 5G and 4G concurrently within the same spectrum block. This demonstration has emphatically validated the 5G readiness of Airtels network across all domains - Radio, Core and Transport," Airtel said. Airtel 5G is capable of delivering 10x speeds, 10x latency and 100x concurrency when compared to existing technologies. Specifically, in Hyderabad, users were able to download a full length movie in a matter of seconds on a 5G phone. This demonstration has underlined the companys technology capabilities. The full impact of the 5G experience, however, will be available to our customers, when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals received. Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel said: I am very proud of our engineers who have worked tirelessly to showcase this incredible capability in Tech City, Hyderabad today. Every one of our investments is future proofed as this game changing test in Hyderabad proves. With Airtel being the first operator to demonstrate this capability, we have shown again that we have always been the first in India to pioneer new technologies in our quest for empowering Indians everywhere. We believe India has the potential to become a global hub for 5G innovation. To make that happen we need the eco system to come together applications, devices and network innovation. We are more than ready to do our bit. added Gopal Vittal. Administrators and teachers at an Essex County school district have reached an agreement to hold hybrid classes, a day after the teachers union announced its members would stay home over concerns about COVID-19 precautions, the district said Wednesday night. The teachers union at the roughly 7,200 student South Orange-Maplewood school district earlier this week submitted a five-page list of health concerns about working from school buildings, including ventilation in classrooms, a lack of social distancing in hallways and crowded buses. The two sides reached an agreement after the district went fully remote for school Wednesday. Hybrid teaching - with some teaching in-person and remote - was set to resume Feb 1., according to a district statement. The District will resume hybrid instruction on Mon., Feb 1. Tomorrow, Thurs., Jan. 28, will continue as District-wide virtual instruction and we will continue into our regularly scheduled all-virtual Fridays. Click here to read the full announcement: https://t.co/UBIh36wCXS pic.twitter.com/uHHcQUmNcm South Orange & Maplewood School District (SOMSD) (@SOMSDK12) January 27, 2021 The Board and Association met for several hours yesterday regarding the readiness of the facilities for in-person learning, a joint statement from the school board and South Orange Maplewood Education Association said. Employees in rooms where concerns persist will be relocated or classes will be moved to virtual learning temporarily while further room maintenance, repairs, and installations, in addition to the preparation work already undertaken, are performed, the statement said. These criteria will be the standard going forward as additional grades and classes resume in-person instruction. Assessment of classrooms were set to continue Thursday before teachers would return Monday, according to the statement. If a class is identified for temporary virtual learning, notice will be provided, the BOE and union announcement added. A school spokesperson told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that talks were ongoing between teachers and administrators, and the district would alert families of any changes. The teachers union did not immediately return messages. We will continue to educate passionately but will do so from our homes until such time as temperatures are moderate enough to avoid bone-chilling working conditions in violation of minimum temperature standards and vaccines are made available to educators, Rocio Lopez, president of the teachers union, said in a letter to the school board sent Monday. We are nearing February and already vaccines are available to high-risk individuals, so a return to school is on the horizon. But to do so as numbers climb, variant strains are spreading, and under conditions which render actual instruction less effective, is not just fatuous but reckless. We will continue to do what we do best provide passionate instruction from the safety of our homes, the letter said. A study released Tuesday by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the classroom could be made safe from the coronavirus, with proper precautions. Meanwhile, New Jersey officials reported at least 10 new in-school outbreaks of the virus, bringing the total to 131 outbreaks and 629 cases linked among students, teachers and school staff. Officials have publicly named the schools that experienced outbreaks. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 18:22:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three Egyptian aircraft arrived on Thursday in Lebanon carrying medical supplies offered by the Egyptian government, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. In a joint news conference with Egypt's Minister of Health Hala Zayed, Lebanese Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that Lebanon is facing difficult challenges but he is sure that Arabs' unity and support will enable his country to overcome this tough period. Lebanon has been fighting against COVID-19 since Feb. 21, 2020. Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections has reached 289,660 while the death toll from the virus stands at 2,553. 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. A University of Otago study explored factors which influence Americans' levels of concern over climate change, providing discussion on how those factors could impact mitigation efforts. A key thread of the research examined the ability of people to visualize the future. Results showed that while 74 per cent of respondents were concerned about climate change, only 29 per cent discussed lower carbon options when asked to describe travel in the year 2050. "This suggests actively envisioning a sustainable future was less prevalent than climate change concern. So while the majority were concerned, there was a disconnect with expectations of what the future might hold," says lead author Jean Fletcher, who completed the study as part of her PhD in Otago's Centre for Science Communication. The study discusses how mitigation efforts such as greater adoption of low carbon systems could be more widely accepted and happen sooner if expectations of a low carbon future were more prevalent. "For example, if people expect vehicles will, rather than might, switch from petrol to electric, the uptake of electric car purchasing would likely increase sooner," Miss Fletcher says. The study also describes how the abstract nature of 'the future' may inspire procrastination as people wait for more information before making a decision. "This has important implications for climate change. The cumulative nature of carbon emissions means the longer we wait to reduce emissions, the more drastic the emission reduction needs to be," Miss Fletcher adds. Study supervisor, Professor Nancy Longnecker of Otago's Centre for Science Communication, says that the study's finding of a link between technological optimism and climate change concern suggests that individuals are hoping for technological fixes rather than making personal lifestyle changes. She notes that individual action, collective action and policy are all necessary components in global response to climate change. "For policy makers, knowing drivers behind people's thinking can help communicate measures to mitigate climate change in ways that lead to action, instead of people either seeing the problem too far away to worry about, too difficult to fix, or being someone else's responsibility," Professor Longnecker says. ### The study, Climate change risk perception in the USA and alignment with sustainable travel behaviours, has been published today in the scientific journal PLOS One. For more information contact: Professor Nancy Longnecker Centre for Science Communication University of Otago Tel +64 3 479 7885 Mob +64 22 438 0708 Email Nancy.longnecker@otago.ac.nz Liane Topham-Kindley Manager, Media Engagement Tel +64 3 479 9065 Mob +64 21 279 9065 Email liane.topham-kindley@otago.ac.nz Driven by vaccine hesitancy among workers, more than half the staff and residents in Michigans skilled nursing homes have declined to be vaccinated against COVID-19 so far, according to data collected by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Last week, Walgreens and CVS finished their first round of vaccination clinics held at 414 Michigan nursing homes. About 38,500 were immunized -- 43% of the 90,000 individuals eligible for vaccinations. Such a low immunization rate likely delays the ability of nursing homes to lift coronavirus-related restrictions that have been in place since last March. It also means many nursing homes remain vulnerable to coronavirus outbreaks that have ravaged facilities and killed thousands of their residents to date. These numbers were seeing are not surprising. But they are troubling, and we need to do with what it takes to address it, said Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, former head of the Detroit Health Department who is working with the Service Employees International Union in Michigan on the issue of vaccine hesitancy. Given the fact that (long-term care facilities) have been the epicenter of the pandemic, it is critical that people get vaccinated, he said. Neither MDHHS nor the Health Care Association of Michigan, the organization that represents nursing-home operators, have a breakdown of vaccination rates of employees compared to residents. But anecdotal reports indicate nursing-home residents have been much more open to vaccination than workers, said Melissa Samuel, who heads the HCAM. I dont have specific numbers, but residents are taking it at a much higher rate, Samuel said. That makes sense, she said: Residents of skilled-nursing facilities are at especially high risk of dying from COVID-19 because of their age and health status. They want the vaccine, and the same is true of residents in other long-term care facilities, such assisted-living sites, Samuel said. To date, 3,961 Michigan residents and 38 workers at skilled nursing homes have died of COVID-19. That doesnt include another 1,413 deaths linked to other long-term care facilities, such as assisted-living sites for senior citizens. In all, deaths linked to long-term care facilities account for 37% of the states COVID-19 deaths. By comparison, nursing-home workers tend to be younger and have much milder cases of COVID-19. Many also are skeptical of the vaccine, El-Sayed said. You have to appreciate the circumstances in which many of these workers have been living for the past year, said El-Sayed, who recently spoke at an SEIU forum to talk with union members about the science around the vaccine and answer questions. A lot of these folks have been surrounded by COVID for the last year -- theyve worked in the epicenter of the pandemic; 40% of all pandemic deaths have been residents of long-term care facilities. So if theyve had it already, theyll say, Why should I get vaccinated now? Which, of course they should, but you can understand the logic there, he said. The second thing they say is, If I havent gotten it yet, Im probably not going to get it, which is also failed logic, but you can appreciate where that feeling might come from. Their skepticism of the vaccine indicates we have not done a good job of engaging with folks generally about how this vaccine works, why we were able to create it so fast and why its important to take it, El-Sayed said. Then you add in the Trump show and the absurd of politicization of science throughout this pandemic, and then add in the history of of exploitation of Black Americans in regards medicine and science, and you come to appreciate why theres so much hesitancy, he said. And the other part of it is that theres like just a profound space for disinformation all over the Internet. Yet another factor for the low vaccination rates is the fact that nursing home staff were among the first groups to be eligible for the vaccine, said Samuel and El-Sayed. While that prioritization made lots of sense considering the disproportion number of COVID-19 deaths linked to nursing homes, it also meant many nursing-home workers were unwilling to be on the front end of what they felt like was a mass experiment. It was the right decision to make long-term care facilities a priority and put us in the 1A category for vaccinations, Samuel said. That absolutely had to happen. But in doing so, we didnt have all the advocacy in place and at the federal level, there were several weeks that there was really no information about COVID, let alone the vaccine, the need to take the vaccine and vaccine safety. Frontline hospital workers also were in the first group to be vaccinated. About 60% to 65% of eligible employees in that group -- which included doctors and nurses as well as support staff such as aides, security and housecleaning -- agreed to be immunized, according to a survey by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association. That reflects the difference between nursing-home workers and a hospital staff in which many employees have strong backgrounds in science, El-Sayed said. If youre a physician, your understanding of how the vaccine was created and why its necessary may be different than if youre working in a long-term care facility and maybe havent had the same training. Nursing-home operators and union leaders are now working to provide workers with opportunities to get their questions answered about the vaccine, Samuel and El-Sayed said, and theres hope that staffers will get more comfortable with the vaccination program as they see nursing-home residents and co-workers participate. We had an election in November and you saw all the efforts undertaken across the board to get out the vote, Samuel said. Thats truly the kind of effort we should be putting out as far as taking the vaccine. People want more information, she said. They want to be confident that the vaccine is safe, and at this point its all about education. Compared to the bulk of coronavirus vaccinations in Michigan, the program for staff and residents of long-term care facilities is being administered through a contract between the federal Centers for Disease Control and CVS and Walgreens. The two pharmacies have each been assigned long-term care facilities, and are holding on-site vaccination clinics there. Phase I of the program, which targeted skilled nursing homes, began Dec. 28. Phase II, which includes all other long-term care facilities such as assisted living centers and adult foster homes, began Jan. 4. MDHHS has made the LTC program a top priority, allotting it 29% of the vaccine doses distributed to Michigan so far. Lynn Sutfin, spokeswoman for MDHHS, noted that CVS and Walgreens will hold a total of three vaccination clinics at each facility, each spaced a month apart, to administer second doses and give staff and residents multiple opportunities for a first dose. Samuel said its her fervent hope that employees will take advantage of that. The 43% vaccination was for the first round of clinics, but theres absolutely the opportunity at the second clinic and even the third clinic to participate in the vaccination program, Samuel said. As people learn more and feel more confident, I think that will happen. I think its happening now. El-Sayed agreed to that vaccination rates are likely to go up. I do think were going start seeing more people taking the vaccine in subsequent rounds, he said. I certainly appreciate the hesitation and fear that folks had. But I also think as the vaccine has been around longer and more people are taking it and feeling fine, some of that hesitation will go away. Also, its likely given where we are with this pandemic, he said. Weve got these variants that are coming around, whether its the U.K. or the South African or the Brazilian variants. That pushes information out there about vaccine, the imminent need to do it fast, particularly among people who are at highest risk of being infected - and especially people who are living in long-term care or working in care facilities. Thats going to change some of the calculations that folks make, and so I think that youre going to start to see more uptake on the second and third rounds. And he hopes thats the case, considering the importance of having high vaccination rates in long-term care facilities. The higher the number of people getting vaccinated inside long term care facilities, the lower the risk of an outbreak, El-Sayed said. The point that I make to workers is, that its like the pandemic is World War II and you all are the frontline in the trenches. You need something to protect you, and the vaccine is like putting on your armor. And its absolutely critical that if anybody is to put on armor, you need to put it on first. Read more on MLive: 10-year-old faces long road after amputation due to severe case of COVID-19 linked syndrome As pandemic rages on, water shutoffs loom with few options for Michiganders Michigan mobilizing additional National Guard troops for COVID-19 vaccinations, testing efforts Michigan vaccinations progress as wait lists grow and counties wait for shipments Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here On Tuesday, 45 of the 50 Republicans in the US Senate voted to quash the impeachment trial of Donald Trump. The motion was introduced by Rand Paul of Kentucky, a far-right libertarian, who made the legally false argument that the Senate trial, scheduled to begin February 9, is unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. Paul said the trial would drag our great country down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol, the likes of which has never been seen in our nations history. He called it deranged. Newly elected Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville in the lobby of Trump International Hotel in Washington DC with other plotters on January 5, the day before the coup (Source: Instagram) Marco Rubio, the anti-communist zealot from Florida, told Fox News that the trial was stupid. He said his vote in defense of Trump was motivated by a desire to unite the country, citing Gerald Fords pardon of Richard Nixon as a positive example of allowing the country to move forward. Mitch McConnell, who recently acknowledged that Trump had provoked the insurrectionists who forced their way into the US Capitol on January 6, and was singled out for praise by President Joe Biden, voted for Pauls motion without offering any explanation. This overwhelming vote by the Republicansonly five GOP senators joined with the 50 Democrats to oppose Pauls motioncame less than three weeks after thousands of armed fascists, with the encouragement and open support of Trump, broke into the Capitol with the aim of taking lawmakers and possibly Vice President Mike Pence hostage, carrying out executions, and using the siege to halt the official certification of the election victory of Joe Biden, which was taking place at the time of the attack. As Trump and his family approvingly watched news video of the insurgents overwhelming the handful of police deployed to guard the Capitol and occupying the Senate chamber and lawmakers offices, members of Congress and their staff went scurrying for safety, fearing for their lives. It was a fascist coup detat, an event without precedent in American history, and it came within seconds of succeeding. Its enablers included not only Trump and his co-conspirators within the police and the military, but the vast majority of the Republican Party, including then-Senate Majority Leader McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who had provided the political framework for the coup by promoting Trumps lying claims that the election had been stolen. Just hours after the insurrectionists were removed from the Capitol, 138 Republicans in the House and seven in the Senate voted against the certification of Joe Bidens election victory. Had the fascists succeeded in taking hostages, they would have demanded a halt to the certification and the nullification of the vote in key swing states contested by Trump. Negotiations would have ensued, and the vast majority of Republicans, in the name of averting further bloodshed and uniting the country, would have supported the demands of the fascists. There is little doubt that the Democrats would, in the end, have agreed to some filthy deal that allowed Republican-controlled state legislatures to overturn the popular vote in their states and return the presidency to Trump. In any politically healthy system, the Republican Party would have been irreparably discredited and disgraced. Yet less than three weeks later, it arrogantly and defiantly reasserts its defense of Trump and his fascist supporters. How is this to be explained? It is the product of the utter fecklessness of the Democratic Party. With his endless appeals for unity, Biden has reassured Trump and the Republican Party, their Wall Street sponsors and their co-conspirators within the military, the police and the intelligence agencies that they will face no consequences for attempting to overthrow the Constitution and establish a police state. Biden and the Democrats are far more frightened of the events of January 6 igniting the social tinderbox that is America, where the death toll caused by the ruling class herd immunity policy is climbing rapidly toward 500,000, than they are of an overturn of what remains of democratic processes. Hence Bidens defense of a strong Republican Party and his opposition to any measures to hold Trump and the Republicans accountable. He has made it clear he has no stomach for impeachment, and Democratic leaders in Congress have promised a brief, merely token Senate trial, perhaps foregoing even the calling of witnesses. Meanwhile, new information emerges daily about the far-reaching scale of the conspiracy that culminated in the attack on Congress, and the direct involvement of Trump, his family, his aides and Republican lawmakers in the preparation and organization of the fascist insurrection. Independent journalist Seth Abramson on Tuesday posted an article, including social media photographs, documenting the fact that 15 members of Trumps inner circle met in his private residence at Trump International Hotel in Washington DC on the evening of January 5 to discuss the next days events. Those in attendance included Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Michael Flynn (who had publicly called for Trump to declare martial law and force a revote in six critical swing states), Peter Navarro (who had declared that Vice President Mike Pence had the unilateral power to overturn the election results), Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, former campaign aides Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, Adam Piper (executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association), Txtwire CEO Daniel Beck and MyPillow CEO Michael Lindell. Also present were organizers of the January 6 rally and march on the Capitol. Beck posted a statement on Facebook saying: Fifteen of us spent the evening with Donald Trump, Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Tommy Tuberville, Michael J, Lindell, Peter Navarro and Rudy Giuliani TRUMP WILL RETAIN THE PRESIDENCY!! The Washington Post on Tuesday published an interview with DC National Guard Commander Gen. William J. Walker, in which Walker revealed that in the days preceding the January 6 attack on Congress, the Pentagon stripped him of his authority to dispatch troops to secure the Capitol. Walker told the Post that he had to wait for approval from Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy as well as recently appointed acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, preventing him from dispatching forces to counter the storming of the Capitol for hours. The Republican Party has become the incubator of fascistic forces and their integration into the political establishment. It is a party that welcomes neo-Nazis, white supremacists and anti-Semites and promotes them to positions of power. Newly elected North Carolina Representative Madison Cawthorn posted photos on his Instagram page showing his 2017 visit to Adolf Hitlers vacation house in Germany known as the Eagle's Nest. The caption refers to Hitler as the Fuhrer and says that a visit to the site had been on Cawthorns bucket list for awhile and did not disappoint. House members Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado are open supporters of the fascist QAnon conspiracy and make a practice of trying to sneak guns onto the House floor. Biden and the Democrats argue that they have to unite with the Republicans to get their agenda passed. That poses the question: What kind of agenda requires the support of fascists and their allies? The Democrats abject cowardice and complicity serve to dull the consciousness of the masses of people, burnish the image of Trump and the Republicans and spread the fatal illusion that all is well. All of those who seek to minimize the fascist assault on the Capitol, incited and supported by the US commander in chief, are guilty of politically disarming the working class and strengthening the neo-fascist right. These developments underscore the urgency of the demand for a full, public investigation into the events of January 6 and the conspiracy of which they were a partand which continues today. The working class must intervene into the political crisis as an independent force. No confidence can be placed in the Democratic Party to oppose the danger of fascism. The Socialist Equality Party calls on workers to demand a full and open investigation into the January 6 coup, including nationally televised and livestreamed congressional hearings, in which names are named, communications are revealed and the political motives of those who directed the conspiracy are brought to light. Those involved, beginning with Trump and his facilitators in the Republican Party, must be removed from office, criminally prosecuted and jailed. ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquarius Engines (TASE: AQUA) has successfully completed phase one of their partnership agreement with Nokia. The Finnish communications giant now plans to expand field tests of the Aquarius generator from three to five pilots. The initial phase was to test and verify the Aquarius Engines patented remote energy management software, which is designed to allow clients to closely monitor the efficiency of remotely placed generators from miles away. In the long term Nokia hopes to roll-out Aquarius micro generators to isolated communications towers, as well as providing power to areas far beyond the electric grid. The Aquarius Engine (Credit: David Katz) In addition Nokia has expressed its desire to expand global field tests of the Aquarius generator from three to five pilots. The initial plan was to evaluate the Aquarius Generator at far-flung locations in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Due to the success of phase one tests, they have now asked to increase field tests into Europe to include Germany and Poland. The newly invented Aquarius Generators are so small and light that they can easily be transported, while requiring minimal maintenance. This would mean bringing power to places situated hours away from the nearest power outlet. The output and efficiency of the machines can be monitored in real-time by-proxy using the patented Aquarius Engines operating system. "We are proud to have greatly surpassed Nokia's expectations. Now we will not only move to phase two of our strategic partnership agreement with Nokia, but also increase our global field tests to include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Germany and Poland. This is another monumental move towards realizing our vision to supply total energy solutions to some of the most isolated and remote locations on earth." Said Gal Fridman, Chairman of Aquarius Engines. Aquarius Engines is also partnered with the Japanese auto-parts manufacturer Honda-affiliate Musashi Seimitsu. Aquarius Engines is the developer and manufacturer of micro engines that generate electricity through groundbreaking technology with around 20 patents registered worldwide. Aquarius Engines currently has R&D centers in Israel, Germany and Poland. The company's chairman is Gal Fridman and CEO is Ariel Gorfung. Aquarius Engines is a publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: AQUA). www.aquariusengines.com For more information or to arrange an interview contact: [email protected] SOURCE AQUARIUS ENGINES BISHKEK -- A court in Bishkek says it has rejected a request to transfer jailed former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev to house arrest. The 64-year-old Atambaev was sentenced to 11 years and two months in prison in June 2020 over his involvement in the release of a notorious crime boss. In November, the Supreme Court sent the case back to a Bishkek district court for retrial. The reason for the decision was not immediately given. Atambaev has denied any wrongdoing. In early October, he was released from custody as the country was rocked by mass protests against the official results of parliamentary elections. He was rearrested four days later and charged with organizing an illegal demonstration. Atambaev was initially arrested in August 2019 after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters that led to the death of a top security officer and more than 170 injured. The former president and 13 other people were charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting representatives of the authorities, hostage taking, and the forcible seizure of power. A trial on those charges is yet to be held. Supplier News 28 January 2021 Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of communications solutions for the world's top hotel brands and management companies, today announced that they've expanded their long-standing relationship with the Shaner Hotel Group by providing HSIA and PBX solutions for six newly built Marriott-branded properties: Courtyard Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL (Opening Q1 2021) Fairfield Inn & Suites Mechanicsburg, PA (Now Open) Springhill Suites Dublin, OH (Opening Q1 2021) TownePlace Suites Columbus North-OSU, OH (Now Open) Fairfield Inn & Suites, Lebanon, PA (Opening Q2 2021) Fairfield Inn & Suites, Lewisburg, PA (Opening Q2 2021) Shaner Hotels is one of the foremost award-winning hospitality owner-operators and management companies in the hospitality industry. Their current portfolio consists of 62 full-service, select-service, extended-stay and resort properties with more than 6,000 rooms in 15 states and four countries. The company has a rich tradition of dedicated, high-quality hotel management service that dates back three generations. Steve Shala, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Shaner Hotel Group, commented, "Shaner Hotel Group strives to deliver extraordinary experiences for all of our guests. Cloud5 provides our guests leading-edge technology for the fast, powerful internet experience they demand, and we insist on; and their reliable PBX solutions keep our guests effortlessly connected to our staff. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Cloud5 as our portfolio expands." With over 500 rooms combined in the six properties, Cloud5 provides the High Speed Internet Access and PBX equipment and services for each property to meet Marriott's industry-leading GPNS standards. Cloud5 is a Marriott GPNS Full Certified provider, one of only four companies to earn such a distinction in the US and serves the full range of Marriott properties from limited service to large conference resorts. "Cloud5 has had the privilege of a long and fruitful relationship with the Shaner Hotel Group, and we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service as their portfolio grows," said Mark Holzberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cloud5 Communications. "The extensive knowledge and expertise that earned us Marriott's highest GPNS provider status, will continue to assure Shaner the fast, reliable, future-ready networks & PBX systems their properties need to continue to provide superb guest service." About Cloud5 Communications Cloud5 is hospitality's leading communications technology & services provider. Its two world-class business units serve the unique needs of thousands of hotels from global brands and independents to management companies. Cloud5 Technology Services designs, builds and supports high-performance Internet and Voice solutions for hotels committed to offering the best guest connectivity experience. The Cloud5 Contact Center is an award-winning voice reservations and guest services provider dedicated to hospitality and serving the full range of operations from economy hotels to the world's top luxury hotel brand. For more information, visit cloud5.com, or call 877.241.2516. [January 28, 2021] REEF Technology and TIBA Parking Systems Partner to Create a Powerful Data-Driven Platform for Parking Operators and Landlords REEF Technology, the ecosystem that connects the world to your block, announced today a partnership with TIBA Parking Systems, a leader in parking technology. This collaboration will revolutionize the way landlords and operators will monetize their parking real estate. Through the partnership, REEF and TIBA will provide parking operators and landlords with a best-in-class PARCS system (Parking Access and Revenue Control System) paired with built-in access to REEF's ecosystem of applications and additional revenue sources. This allows for traditional parking lots to create new revenue streams by transforming isolated parking facilities to connected and dynamic mobility hubs that offer diverse solutions to serve the needs of the ever-evolving urban population. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006059/en/ Data-driven platform for parking operators and landlords created by REEF Technology and TIBA Parking Systems partnership (Photo: Business Wire) As new parking facilities join REEF's network, they will enjoy access to REEF's parking and mobility solutions including facility management, traffic control, and a consumer-facing mobile parking application. Existing parking lots within REEF's network will transition to TIBA's flexible, industry-leading solutions and operators will be able to seamlessly manage parking sites, collect revenue and access sophisticated data usage in real time. By contracting with REEF, landlords will benefit from having direct access to a connected PARCS system and revenue-generating applications, both of which are dynamically powered by REEF. "ur joint solution offering creates an unprecedented opportunity for landlords to maximize their asset value at a time when building and property usage is changing rapidly because of the pandemic," said Matt Lindenberger, Chief Technology Officer at REEF. "With TIBA, we will help asset ownership materially increase real estate value while making a seamless and first-class parking experience for consumers." REEF's partnership with TIBA will enable more businesses and landlords to expand into additional sectors and applications with REEF's product ecosystem that is tailored to meet the diverse needs of surrounding neighborhoods. REEF delivers the power of proximity through both a technological and physical platform, a foundation built on top of the traditional parking infrastructure allowing partners such as TIBA to move essential products and services closer to the customer than ever before. With extensive global experience as part of the FAAC family of companies, TIBA's robust, scalable cloud architecture enables parking operators to keep pace with the latest trends in centralized operations, automated smart facilities, ticketless and frictionless parking, web reservations, valet and mobile payments. "We're thrilled to join forces with REEF, a company that is paving the way for our industry in terms of innovation, profitability, data optimization and empowering communities," said Moshe David, Chief Executive Officer at TIBA. "Our commitment to deliver an engaging parking experience will fuel this partnership and provide a comprehensive platform, enabling a smoother process for supporting our partners, VARs, and customers." Existing and interested parking landlords can learn more about REEF Parking Management ecosystem and solutions here. About REEF REEF's mission is to connect the world to your block. We transform underutilized urban spaces into neighborhood hubs that connect people to locally curated goods, services, and experiences. With an ecosystem of 4,500 locations and a team of 15,000 people, REEF is the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs, and neighborhood kitchens in the United States. Together we are leveraging the power of proximity to keep our communities moving forward in a sustainable and thoughtful way. Visit reeftechnology.com for more information. About TIBA Parking Systems TIBA Parking Systems, a FAAC Group company, is the leader of solutions for the parking and mobility industry. With the most advanced and flexible systems, TIBA products are scalable, reliable and user-friendly. TIBA is wholly committed to an "Engaged Parking Experience" through a focus on superior products, providing the industry's most configurable solutions, and delivering a first-rate customer success partnership. TIBA's flexible cloud architecture enables parking operators to leverage technology and market trends and unlock new revenue opportunity. TIBA serves parking operators and owners both directly and through an extensive network of value-added resellers. Visit www.tibaparking.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006059/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Prime Minister paid tribute to freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary on Thursday saying that his contribution to the freedom struggle is indelible and inspires people across generations. In a tweet, Prime Minister said, "Remembering the great Lala Lajpat Rai Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to India's freedom struggle is indelible and inspires people across generations." Born on January 28, 1865, Lala Lajpat Rai played a pivotal role in the Indian Independence movement. He was one of the three in the Lal Bal Pal trio namely Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal - social reformers and who helped India gain independence from the British rule. (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.) DENVER, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 150 community organizations and health care providers in the Denver metropolitan area received supplemental funding in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $10 million was reinvested back into the community by Colorado Access, a nonprofit community-based health plan striving to improve the health and lives of the underserved. "The additional support helped us expand our patient reach by continuing to see patients with COVID-like symptoms in a separate COVID-19 and respiratory clinic," said Ugo Obinnah, VP business operations at Green Valley Ranch Medical Clinic & Urgent Care. "The financial support was integral to being able to open this separate clinic to serve the needs of our community during this pandemic." In December alone, more than $4 million was disbursed to providers and community organizations, with more than 50 different entities receiving funds. Funding focused on supporting those organizations that have the most extensive reach in areas such as health care services, food security and housing. "We're thankful for the generosity of Colorado Access. Their gift will be used to provide technological resources for the guests of Safe Outdoor Space. These resources will enable the guests to access doctors and case workers, in addition to other needs. We hope that with this access guests will take steps towards health, healing, and eventually more permanent housing solutions," said Reverend Brian Rossbert, development director & interim executive director at Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. Payments were dispersed in areas related to COVID-19, innovation, and other urgent community needs. Organizations supported ranged in size from large hospital systems to medium-sized community organizations to small provider offices. "To maximize the reach of our investments, we had to consider those providers and organizations that are highly engaged with our membership. All of our providers and community partners do great work, so we looked to provide additional, needed support in critical, high impact areas," said Rob Bremer, vice president of network strategy at Colorado Access. About Colorado Access Colorado Access is a local, nonprofit health plan that serves members throughout Colorado. The company's members receive health care as part of Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program). The company also provides care coordination services and administers behavioral and physical health benefits for two geographic regions as part of the Accountable Care Collaborative Program through Health First Colorado. To learn more about Colorado Access, visit coaccess.com. SOURCE Colorado Access Related Links www.coaccess.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 21:06:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Spring Festival shopping, a time-honored tradition for the Chinese New Year, has taken a virtual twist, as more Chinese people, having chosen to stay put during the upcoming holiday due to COVID-19 concerns, are going online to buy gifts for their family and friends. In an effort to contain the latest resurgence of COVID-19, many places across China have encouraged residents and migrant workers to stay where they are to celebrate the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year. In response to the call, many people have cancelled their travel plans for the Spring Festival, the most important festival in China and one traditionally marked by mass migration and family reunions. However, while family reunions seem out of the question for these people, they are making efforts to ensure their gifts, together with their best wishes, are delivered to the doorsteps of their loved ones. Li Jie, an employee of a Beijing-based company, has decided to spend the holiday in the national capital instead of returning to his hometown in the southwestern Sichuan Province. He has bought food and other gifts online for his parents, who will celebrate the festival more than 1,500 km away. "It's the first time that I'm spending the festival away from my family. I want to express my best wishes through the gifts," Li, 27, said. A novice in the kitchen, he has also bought himself half-cooked foods from online platforms in preparation for dinner on Spring Festival Eve. China's leading e-commerce platforms, including Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo, have launched a series of promotional events in the run-up to the Spring Festival, kick-starting an online shopping spree. JD.com has reported booming sales in beverages, vegetables and fruits since Jan. 1, more than double the number in the same period last year, according to data from the JD Big Data Research Institute. JD.com has also seen a surging number of orders placed in one city but sent to another city. In particular, the number of such orders placed by the people in the northeastern city of Dalian has soared by 219 percent year on year. Chinese Internet search giant Baidu said in a recent report that the most searched buzzwords in the days leading up to the festival were "Spring Festival shopping gala" and "what to buy for parents ahead of Spring Festival." "Now that I can't go back home and visit my family and friends in person, the choice of Spring Festival gifts becomes very important," said Fang Xue, who has decided to stay in Beijing, cancelling plans to return to her hometown in the northwestern Shaanxi Province. Fang, 26, bought a cleaning robot online for her parents. "Spring Festival is an occasion when you buy things that your parents would normally think are too expensive," she said. "My parents used to say they can do just fine without the robot. Now they are crazy about the little gadget that saves them time and effort." According to the JD Big Data Research Institute, home appliances, mobile phones, computers, foods, beverages and health-and-wellness products are among the most popular goods on JD.com in recent days. Specialty products from across China, such as Sichuan's hotpot seasoning, pu'er tea from Yunnan Province, and porcelain from Jiangxi Province, have also seen booming sales on the platform. Young people are getting creative with selecting Spring Festival gifts for their parents. For the post-1990's generation, smart speakers, cleaning robots, massage chairs, and foot massagers have joined mobile phones and skincare products among the most popular choices for parents, according to the Baidu report. China's e-commerce platforms have ramped up efforts to ensure supplies and meet the rising demand. Zeng Chen, vice-president of JD.com, said the platform will keep its logistics service in regular operation in nearly 300 cities in 30 provincial-level regions across the country during the Spring Festival holiday. The company has tripled its stock of fresh foods compared to the same period last year, said Zeng. Fresh-food chain Freshippo has been selling specialty foods from across China in its online and offline stores since early January, including Sichuan-style marinated steak and eight-treasure glutinous rice from Jiangsu Province. "Our customers can enjoy the flavors of their hometowns without going back home," said Chen Meijun, from Freshippo's Beijing branch. Enditem Rohingya Muslims sit on the ground during a police raid on two houses where they were staying while en route to Malaysia, in Shwepyitha township, Myanmar's Yangon region, Jan. 6, 2021. Rohingya Muslims continue to defy strict COVID-19 restrictions on movement to flee western Myanmars Rakhine state, many for destinations in Southeast Asia, to flee discrimination and to find jobs, police and other officials said Wednesday. More than 830,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh during brutal military-led crackdowns on their communities in 2016 and 2017 in response to deadly attacks by a Rohingya militant group on police outposts. The refugees still live in vast, cramped displacement camps on the Bangladeshi side of the border. While Myanmar has pressed Bangladesh to send the Rohingya home, the refugees themselves have resisted repatriation without citizenship and safety guarantees, and the more than 600,000 who remain in Myanmar are in a precarious state, with an estimated 125,000 confined to open-air camps in Rakhine state since 2012. Considered illegal immigrants, the Rohingya face systematic discrimination and are denied access to basic services and jobs. Authorities detained more than 160 Rohingya in Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions in January alone as they sought to make their way out of the country with the help of traffickers. Rohingya from Rakhine who do not have proper IDs or travel permits are still attempting to leave their homes amid the COVID-19 crisis, with many falling victim to traffickers after being tricked into believing that they would transport them to Thailand to Malaysia. The Ayeyarwady region police force said authorities had arrested 307 Rohingya illegally traveling from Rakhine state between 2018 and 2020. In 2018, more than 100 Rohingya from Rakhine state without proper documentation were arrested in the Yangon region. Similarly, police arrested more than 150 Rohingya in the Andaman Sea near in the Tanintharyi region in December 2019. Authorities verified that 130 of them were Myanmar residents and sent them back to their homes in Rakhine state. On Wednesday, authorities arrested 13 more Rohingya traveling in a vehicle that was stopped at a security checkpoint in Ayeyarwady region. Local police commander Tin Hlaing said authorities have quarantined the detained Rohingya inside Pathein University and have been interrogating them, their driver, and his assistant. We learned from the interrogations that they were leaving for Malaysia, Police Lieutenant Colonel Tun Shwe of Ayeyarwady region told RFA. We have charged the man who transported them under Section 367 of Myanmars Penal Code, he added. We are currently searching for more of them. Section 367 pertains to kidnapping people with intent to subject them to grievous injury or slavery, and carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a fine. Sending them back On Jan. 19, police arrested 34 Rohingya in the Razudaing River in Ayeyarwady region, but the man who transported them fled. Similarly, seven Rohingya from Rakhines capital Sittwe recently were arrested while traveling on a boat in the Andaman Sea near Chaung Thar beach resort in Ayeyarwady region. Authorities returned them to Sittwe, while the five men who were transporting them were charged with kidnapping under Section 367 of the Penal Code. Nearly 100 Rohingya from Rakhines Mrauk-U township were arrested on Jan. 6 in Yangon region, for traveling with official documents while en route to Malaysia. Police arrested the four men who had transported the Rohingya and charged them with kidnapping and buying or disposing of any person as a slave. Police Colonel Zaw Min Oo from the Yangon region police force said authorities have been sending back the Rohingya to their places of origin after arresting them. We are arranging the transportation with immigration authorities to send them back as soon as they have completed their quarantine, he said, referring to mandatory seclusion periods to ensure they have not contracted the COVID-19 virus. On Jan. 12, police arrested six Muslims from Rakhines Kyauktaw township for traveling without identification documents in Yangon, though they have yet to find the traffickers. A Rohingya man from Mrauk-U township who requested anonymity for safety reasons told RFA that Muslims are leaving their homes because of a lack of employment opportunities. People are leaving to make money because there are no job opportunities here, he said. We have to pay the brokers as much as 5.5 million kyats (U.S. $4,075) to take us to Malaysia. Some brokers ask for 2 million more on the way. Then they leave us stranded. The Rohingya man said he was arrested in Magwe region in 2008 as he tried to travel to Malaysia after paying a broker 1.4 million kyats. He was charged for not having proper documentation and sentenced to two years in prison. Kyaw Hla Aung, a resident of the Thetkal Pyin Rohingya camp in Sittwe said those who live in the displacement camps are now leaving them permanently amid the pandemic because they dont have proper IDs and they are not allowed to travel for work. He suggested that the government take action against traffickers while allowing the Rohingya to travel legally. The government has pledged to fight human trafficking and drug trafficking, he said. They should investigate the victims to learn about the traffickers. They should follow the chain of brokers, traffickers, and transporters and prosecute all of them. These actions will reduce the trafficking activities. Charging the traffickers Myint Kyaing, deputy minister of labor, immigration and population, said Rohingya from Rakhine state must apply for travel permits at local immigration offices to travel within the state but need to go through a number of state and regional offices to legally travel to other places outside Rakhine. Authorities used to charge Rohingya caught traveling without permits or proof of citizenship prior to April 2020, but since then, they have only been charging the brokers and traffickers who transport them, while sending the Rohingya back to their places of origin, he said. We are now sending back the victims who dont know how the travel permit works, Myint Kyaing said. They need to be educated and supervised. We have also stationed authorities along the highway to stop the vehicles and check their passengers. If we find illegal travelers, we ask them to return to their homes and get proper permits for travel. Some Rohingya avoid traveling by road and try to leave the country on fishing boats, he added. RFA asked the U.N.s refugee agency (UNHCR) via email why Rohingya in the Rakhine displacement camps are leaving in droves though they are receiving U.N. aid, but the agency had not responded as of Wednesday evening. Aung Myo Min, a rights activist and director of Equality Myanmar in Yangon, said tricking and exploiting people financially are crimes under international law as well as violations of Myanmars Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law. The government needs to take long-term and short-term actions, he said. In the short term, the authorities need to aggressively take down the gangs who engage in trafficking the Rohingya. If they dont, the trafficking activities will continue. In the long term, the government need to address the root causes of why these people have become stateless and why they want to leave the state by any means available to them, he said. Only then, we can prevent them from being trafficked. RFA contacted Police Colonel Myo Thu Soe of Myanmars Anti-Human Trafficking Police Force for comment, but was referred to Myanmar police force spokesman Colonel Kyaw Thiha, who had not responded by publication time. Reported by Nay Myo Htun and Soe Thein for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Page Content Gallagher Estate If you want to get away from the hurly-burly and meet in the country, Gallagher Estate in Midrand is the place. The venue, halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, is perfect for hosting delegates from both cities. It can be reached from a number of different roads and major highways, and is accessible to airports. The estate, a wonderfully peaceful place, has 19 multi-purpose venues and secure parking for 5 000 vehicles. You have a wide choice of hotels nearby. Gallagher Estate can host up to 8 000 convention delegates. Among the major venues is the auditorium, which provides raked seating for up to 414 people, and the ballroom, which can accommodate 500 people for a dinner/dance or 1 500 people for a seated convention. An on-site Halaal kitchen facility, approved by the National Independent Halaal Trust, provides full Halaal catering for entire functions and any number of guests. There are five large exhibition halls - for exhibitions, concerts and trade shows - as well as other smaller areas. Address: 19 Richards Drive, Midrand Tel: 011 266 3000 Email: info@gallagher.co.za Website: www.gallagher.co.za Priti Patel has defended the decision to leave London for a photo opportunity with police patrols in Essex despite the global pandemic. The Home Secretary said it was her 'statutory duty' despite banning holidays and telling the country to stay at home to 'protect the NHS' and 'save lives'. Ms Patel said it was wrong to compare her journey to Hertfordshire and the Prime Minister's trip to Scotland with foreign travel made by so-called influencers. She has repeatedly criticised those who appeared to be using their fame on social media as an excuse to go on holiday. She spent just over an hour in Bishop's Stortford on Thursday afternoon, where she met six new recruits, a chief constable, neighbourhood beat officers and local Tory MP Julie Marson. The Home Secretary said it was her 'statutory duty' despite banning holidays and telling the country to stay at home to 'protect the NHS' and 'save lives'. Pictured, with new police recruits on a foot patrol in Hertfordshire Meanwhile, police forces have hired more than 6,000 officers in the first year of the Government's recruitment drive to sign up 20,000 by 2023 Ms Patel even remarked, during a brief walk through the town centre with more than two dozen police, aides, close protection officers and media: 'It's quite busy round here, or is it just us?' Asked whether she was heeding Government advice to act like she had the virus, Ms Patel said: 'We are here in a Covid-compliant setting of course a national requirement is to stay at home. 'I'm obviously out here working, our police officers are out here working day in day out, as I am as well as part of that national coronavirus effort.' Earlier, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Johnson's visit to Scotland was 'not essential' during the current lockdown, arguing that politicians have a 'duty to lead by example' as the public live under strict restrictions. Ms Patel said it was wrong to compare her journey to Hertfordshire and the Prime Minister's trip to Scotland with foreign travel made by so-called influencers She spent just over an hour in Bishop's Stortford on Thursday afternoon, where she met six new recruits, a chief constable, neighbourhood beat officers and local Tory MP Julie Marson Ms Patel said there was a clear distinction between the work of politicians, and that of influencers. She said: 'First and foremost, in our capacity with statutory duties and responsibilities we have, we are clearly working. 'But clearly when it comes to influencers travelling to Dubai there is no guarantee. 'As I said in Parliament yesterday, people should not be using excuses such as to travel overseas to also go on holiday.' She has repeatedly criticised those who appeared to be using their fame on social media as an excuse to go on holiday Ms Patel even remarked, during a brief walk through the town centre with more than two dozen police, aides, close protection officers and media: 'It's quite busy round here, or is it just us?' Asked whether she was heeding Government advice to act like she had the virus, Ms Patel said: 'We are here in a Covid-compliant setting of course a national requirement is to stay at home' She added: 'It seems too many influencers and others when you see them on social media they might be posing, beaches, etc, but that cannot be deemed essential at a time of global pandemic.' Ms Patel said she 'fundamentally disagreed' with the suggestion there was no real difference between travelling away from their constituencies as she and the Prime Minister had done, and an influencer travelling abroad for their work. She said: 'The Prime Minister and I have statutory duties and responsibilities in terms of our work with Government as ministers of the crown and as public servants. 'That's why you see the Prime Minister every single day working as hard as he does, and why you see me out today with our new police recruits.' The overall provisional headcount of officers in England and Wales is now 135,248, according to Home Office figures to the end of December. Pictured, Herts Chief Constable Charlie Hall Ms Patel said there was a clear distinction between the work of politicians, and that of influencers. Pictured, outside the police station Meanwhile, police forces have hired more than 6,000 officers in the first year of the Government's recruitment drive to sign up 20,000 by 2023. The overall provisional headcount of officers in England and Wales is now 135,248, according to Home Office figures to the end of December. This includes 6,620 hired as part of the 20,000 pledge, a quarterly report on the progress of the scheme said, suggesting the recruitment campaign has exceeded its first-year target of 6,000 by March 2021. Some 121,016 applications to become a police officer have been received since the campaign was launched in October 2019. Data gathered since April indicates 40 per cent of new recruits are women and around 10 per cent - of those who stated their ethnicity - were from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds. Online assessment centres were set up amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a bid to keep the recruitment drive on track when face-to-face meetings had to stop as buildings shut. The new recruits are in addition to those filling existing vacancies or joining police forces as a result of other job adverts - taking the total number of new officers who joined the 43 forces in England and Wales between November 2019 and December last year to 14,585. During a visit from Ms Patel, Hertfordshire Police Chief Constable Charlie Hall said the force had seen headcount rise by 111 in the last 12 months. He said: 'We in the last 12 months have put on 111 officers, which is making a real difference here, a bit above our target to achieve. 'Those officers are hugely well received in the constabulary, the wider teams welcome them with open arms, but more importantly they are now out there in the communities across Hertfordshire.' Ms Patel added: 'We have delivered on our police uplift programme, we will deliver on the 20,000. 'We have 6,620 new police officers, that is great for the British public.' Boris Johnson vowed to swell the police service to more than 140,000 officers by mid-2022 as part of his bid to become Prime Minister. Officer numbers in England and Wales fell by more than 20,000 between 2009 and 2018. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has paid tribute to Former President Jerry John Rawlings who was laid to rest today after four days of final funeral rites. In her tribute, the Queen said she was saddened when she heard of the death of the JJ Rawlings. I was saddened to hear the death of H.E. Jerry John Rawlings, the former President of Ghana. I recall fondly my visit to Ghana in 1999 and our many discussions at Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings. He made an invaluable contribution to the creation of the current constitution and returning Ghana to democracy in 1992. I was to convey, my condolences his family and the people of Ghana. The former President passed away on November 12, 2020 at the age of 73. Source: peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. Straight from city council A personal view, by Councillor Steve Morris The Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta has decided to replace those you elected with Commissioners. Local government by the people, for the people, has been suspended. What does this mean for Tauranga? Some Ive spoken with are hopeful that well-publicised failures by the Council organisation will be put to bed with a new broom. However, in reality, Council staff will continue to manage the city; albeit without the impediment of councillors, elected by the community, representing those who pay the bills. Commissioners are accountable to the Minister alone, not the ratepayer. The justification she and her advisors are using is chilling for our fixed-income residents. According to her advice, released under the OIA, the Minister expects Commissioners to set a "robust" budget as councillors, chosen by you, won't "set rates at a realistic level." The DIA has advised her that a "realistic" level is "a rate rise of 18-20% year-on-year" over the next ten years. This is despite Tauranga already having some of the highest residential rates of any city in New Zealand. That's on top of a 6.5 per cent increase for rubbish disposal that commissioners will implement later this year. Taking a conservative view of compounding rates, the ministers instruction to her commissioners will see an 80 per cent increase in TCC rates over the next three years. For a couple in Gate Pa, rates will increase from $2,045 to $3,681 in 2023. A brick-and-tile home in Papamoa will go from $2,650 to $4,770. A house in Oceanview Rd, Mt Maunganui, goes from $6,410 to $11,540. Hope is not lost, there are encouraging moves in the community about a ratepayers alliance which will take up the cause. Former U.S. Navy commander speaking in virtual program Mike Hayes, a former Commander of U.S. Navy Seals Team TWO, will share his thoughts on leadership and discuss his book, Never Enough, with former Westport Library Trustee Maggie Mudd, in a free virtual program on the librarys website at 4 p.m. on Feb. 4. Register online at the librarys website. Information about purchasing a copy of the book is on the registration page. All proceeds from the sale of the book support the Gold Star organizations families, and paying off mortgages for families of the fallen. Library hosting conversation with Pfizer executives about vaccine The Westport Library is hosting a free, and virtual, conversation with Pfizer executives about the COVID-19 vaccine at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11. The executives are also all Connecticut residents, and specialists in their respective areas, and will provide an in-depth look at the Pfizer vaccine, from its first days of research to its manufacturing, and distribution. Register online through the librarys website. Westport Library launches Sessions at Verso Studios The Westport Library has launched its Sessions programming at its Verso Studios, which was previously named Media Studios. The library plans to engage many artists in the region from all genres to produce and release a monthly Session. The first session is a music video, featuring Ports of Spain, a band from New Haven, performing All You Can Carry. It also provides a behind-the-scenes look at what a professional recording session is like. It is available on YouTube. Verso has also started offering training programs, and virtual drop-in clinics on podcasting and video production. Contact dbibbey@westportlibrary.org and tbell@westportlibrary.org for more information. Westport Library reopening Feb. 8 The Westport Library will resume operations on Feb. 8, bringing them back to the same level they were prior to scaling back in mid-December. Appointments will no longer be required for patrons wishing to browse the adult collection, speak with a librarian, or use an Express computer. Patrons who would like to visit the Childrens Library, Makerspace, Media Studios and store must still make an appointment. The library building will be open Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and on Saturday between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library will remain closed on Sundays. Appointments to visit the Childrens Library can be made on the library's website. Cart-side pick-up service will continue Monday through Saturday during operating hours. Patrons and staff will be required to wear a mask in the library. There will continue to be a single entry point on the main level in the upper parking lot of the library, and a single exit through the librarys cafe. Materials will still need to be dropped off in the white trailer on the previously mentioned upper level so proper quarantining can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic. Conference and meeting rooms will remain closed. Late fees will continue to be waived. The library will also continue to offer virtual programs and digital resources. UPPSALA, Sweden, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Q4 2020 highlights Total net revenues of SEK 159.2 m (238.1 last year, 196.2 m excl. Abstral EU and US) Net earnings of SEK -49.6 m (38.9) EBITDA of SEK 1.0 m (85.8) US Pharma segment (ZUBSOLV US) net revenues of SEK 143.1 m (190.5), EBIT of SEK 94.4 m (95.5) Cash flow from operating activities of SEK -11.2 m (60.2), cash balance of SEK 505.3 m (816.8) Secured a preferred position for ZUBSOLV as the only branded product on national commercial and Medicare Part D formularies of the largest PBM in the commercial segment in the US, Express Script, from January 1, 2021 Finalized the technical development of modia, a digital therapy for opioid use disorder, for which Orexo owns the exclusive global rights Entered an exclusive license and supply agreement with Accord Healthcare for ZUBSOLV covering 29 European countries A new patent for ZUBSOLV, with protection until 2032, was issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Financial outlook provided for 2021, see page 14 Important events after the period A new patent for OX124, overdose rescue medication, was issued by the USPTO protecting the technology until 2039 SEK m, unless otherwise stated 2020 Oct-Dec 2019 Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Dec 2019 Jan-Dec 2019-2020 Oct-Dec Net revenues 159.2 238.1 663.6 844.8 -33% Cost of goods sold -11.3 -23.0 -65.6 -105.6 -51% Operating expenses -158.9 -143.5 -617.9 -508.0 11% EBIT -11.0 71.5 -19.9 231.2 -115% EBIT margin, % -6.9 30.0 -3.0 27.4 -36.9 ppt EBITDA 1.0 85.8 19.0 272.1 -99% Earnings per share, before dilution, SEK -1.45 1.12 -2.45 6.33 -230% Earnings per share, after dilution, SEK -1.45 1.10 -2.45 6.20 -232% Cash flow from operating activities -11.2 60.2 16.8 287.0 -119% Cash and cash equivalents 505.3 816.8 505.3 816.8 -38% Progress while adjusting to new market dynamics From a management perspective, the most important factor for success is to be an agile company, ready to accelerate development and to capture opportunities when they arise, but also be prepared to shift priorities when the market requires it. The quarter has seen progress on many fronts, with US Pharma showing net revenue growth in local currency comparing to last quarter and improved EBIT margin, Digital Therapeutics (DTx) testing new reimbursement routes and launching new commercialization concepts. Our lead pipeline project, a rescue medication for opioid overdose, OX124, received positive feedback from the FDA on the IND application enabling a request for Fast Track Designation of the product and we also reported an exclusive license and supply agreement for ZUBSOLV in Europe. Strong financial base to enable investments in DTx and launch of OX124 Our full year OPEX was SEK 617 million, which is significantly less than the guidance of SEK 750-800 million communicated in our Q2 report. The guidance in Q2 was based on the significant interest in DTx in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and our expectation that payers and healthcare providers would follow the FDA's decision to include digital therapies under the Public Health Emergency Policy and find pragmatic routes for reimbursement. While the interest in Orexo's digital therapies remains high, building a new market requires patience. We start to see concrete and promising development with regards to DTx reimbursement, which is a cornerstone to accelerate growth. Looking ahead, we expect to increase the investment in DTx as we see a progression in sales and a clearer picture emerges regarding the multiple routes to reimbursement. 2021 will also require significant investments in OX124, as we enter the pivotal trial starting in the summer this year. To ensure we have financial headroom to invest in opportunities when they arise, both internally in our products and our pipeline and through business development, we intend to refinance our existing corporate bond during Q1 2021 with a new corporate bond issue. Expanding the commercialization model in DTx The expectations of our DTx portfolio in 2020 were boosted by the FDA's decision to implement a Public Health Emergency Policy allowing commercialization of digital therapies within the CNS space without the ordinary approval process. We anticipated that the payers would adopt similar pragmatism to the reimbursement processes as a response to the Public Health Emergency Policy, but the reimbursement process is following the pattern we anticipated before Covid-19, i.e. a new disruptive treatment will take time to review and implement. As a result, we are testing several new concepts for reimbursement of our digital therapies in parallel, while making the DTx available through direct purchase for patients. The lead concept is a treatment program where we, in collaboration with selected healthcare providers, offer patients treatment under the supervision of a physician. Provided the physicians and the patients follow certain guidelines, this treatment program is currently available for reimbursement for a large portion of the US population. The program is being tested in Pennsylvania to a limited number of patients to ensure the reimbursement will follow the expected path before we launch nationwide. The same program will also be available for individual physicians to treat patients under a direct contract with Orexo. In addition to this program, we are finalizing a program for employers, working with patient to patient communication, and continue our work with payers to drive reimbursement. ZUBSOLV decline diminishing while impact of Covid-19 continues With bipartisan support for the ongoing opioid crisis in the US, I am pleased to see politicians returning their attention to the opioid crisis. The former US administration recently paved the way for all US physicians to prescribe medical-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence, and we are confident that in the event of changes under the new administration, addressing the opioid crisis will remain a key priority. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic having significantly worsened this crisis, there is a pressing need increase access to treatment. Such a change will likely drive a sustained strong market growth, which will benefit Orexo and ZUBSOLV. This quarter we had a small net sales increase compared to Q3 and a strong EBIT margin of 66 percent. Apart from some one-time adjustments, this result is explained by minimal decline from former exclusive contracts and stable development in the open segment. When Covid-19 is behind us, we expect a stabilization of the business and growth. ZUBSOLV is the only promoted daily treatment in opioid dependence in the US, and Covid-19 restrictions have had a severe impact on our ability to promote the product. In combination with our core market segment, the commercial segment, being stagnant due to the unemployment caused by Covid-19, it is a challenging market place during the pandemic. However, the Covid-19 challenges also provides learning of how to be more efficient in the sales process, which will benefit us long term. We expect ZUBSOLV will continue to be an important EBIT contributor in the years to come and with the broad launch of modia, our digital therapy for opioid use disorder, in the second half of 2021 we will see increased commercial synergies between our digital therapies and ZUBSOLV, both from a cost and revenue perspective. OX124 development progressing to plan As the US death tolls associated with overdose of fentanyl continue, we are confident OX124 is urgently needed, with the promise of being the most powerful nasal delivery of naloxone in the market. I am very pleased with the progress we have made during the quarter. With continued progress according to plan, in Q1 2021 we will receive a decision on the Fast Track application, continue to establish a commercial supply chain, improve the IP protection and register the brand name for OX124. In Q2 2021 we will manufacture the batches required for regulatory stability data and we will start the pivotal clinical trial. If the Fast Track application is approved we will be ready to submit an application for approval in Q1 2022. Without Fast Track the process will be delayed as we expect the FDA will require additional stability data to support proposed shelf life of the commercial product. Summary and Outlook In the last quarterly report I highlighted the pressing need for Orexo's products as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic has unfortunately escalated, and the need for our products is even greater than before. The delays to get the DTx products reimbursement is certainly frustrating, especially given the clear demand for such products in the current climate. However, I also have to respect that Covid-19 has had a severe impact on many organizations and their ability to operate as normal. This aside, we are encouraged by the positive feedback we receive from customers and the steady progression we see in the number of patients testing and buying our DTx products in January. I remain confident that 2021 will show the commercial potential of these products, while we continue to enjoy strong and stable EBIT contribution from ZUBSOLV and prepare the new drug application for OX124.Uppsala, Sweden, January 28, 2021 Nikolaj Srensen President and CEO For further information, please contact Nikolaj Srensen, President and CEO, Joseph DeFeo, EVP and CFO, or Lena Wange, IR & Communications Director Tel: +46 18 780 88 00, +1 855 982 7658, Email: [email protected] Presentation At 2.00 pm CET, the same day as the announcement of the report, Orexo invites analysts, investors and media to attend an audiocast with a web presentation where Nikolaj Srensen, CEO, and Joseph DeFeo, CFO, will present the report. After the presentation a Q&A will be held. Questions can also be sent in advance to [email protected], no later than 11.00 am CET. Please view the instructions below on how to participate.Internet: https://tv.streamfabriken.com/orexo-q4-2020Telephone: SE +46 8 50 558 358 UK +44 333 300 9267 US +1 833 249 8403 The presentation material will be available on Orexo's website prior to the audiocast, view Investors/Reports, presentations and audicastsThis information is information that Orexo AB (publ.) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 8.00 am CET on January 28, 2021. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/orexo/r/orexo-q4-2020--incl--full-year-report,c3275295 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/694/3275295/1364555.pdf Q4 2020, incl. Full Year Report SOURCE Orexo A Fair Oaks Ranch businessman faces up to 20 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that cost investors more than $7.4 million. Victor Lee Farias, owner of Boerne-based Integrity Aviation & Leasing LLC, entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud during a hearing conducted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer via Zoom. Farias, 47, is scheduled to be sentenced April 14 by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Farias also faces up to three years of supervised release and a penalty of up to $250,000. He has agreed to pay his victims restitution. According to a related civil lawsuit filed last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Farias defrauded retired San Antonio police officers and other investors out of more than $14 million. The litigation has been on hold pending the outcome of Farias criminal case. On ExpressNews.com: Retired S.A. police officers scammed in $14M fraud scheme, SEC alleges George B. Dombart, Farias criminal defense lawyer, said after the hearing that his client is accepting responsibility for his actions. He made some bad business decisions that were also outside the scope of the (investment) prospectus, Dombart said. Its his goal to try to make full restitution before sentencing. Dombart doesnt represent Farias in the SECs lawsuit but he said the intent is to resolve both cases with the plea agreement. From 2013 to 2019, Farias persuaded investors to invest in Integrity Aviation by making false promises, including that they would receive regular interest payments from the companys purported leasing of aircraft engines to airlines, documents in the criminal case indicate. Farias also told investors he would not pay himself a salary or pay commissions to his sales force. The charging papers say Integrity Aviation purchased just one aircraft engine and later sold it for little or no profit for the companys investors. Moreover, Farias not only paid himself a salary, and paid a commission to himself and his sales force, (he) diverted investor money to other purposes, including paying his own personal expenses, the document said. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox Farais also used investor money to finance the construction of the Fair Oaks Country Store, a convenience store unrelated to the Integrity Aviation investment. Some of the money also went to pay prior company investors, an indication that Farias was operating a Ponzi scheme, which requires new investors to continue on, prosecutors charged. In the civil case, the SEC said that many of the 88 investors, including retired police officers and other emergency services personnel, withdrew funds from their retirement accounts and deposited them in newly created, self-directed individual retirement accounts so they could invest with Farias. The investors lived in at least five states. A retired San Antonio police officer and his wife invested $531,000 from their IRAs. The SECs complaint seeks an injunction preventing Farias from violating securities laws and purchasing and selling securities. The SEC also wants him to turn over ill-gotten gains, plus pay interest and civil penalties. pdanner@express-news.net Brown's term as chair extends through the ELC annual meeting in December 2022. He succeeds Tonie Leatherberry, principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP (retired), who served as ELC board chair through the last annual meeting on December 18, 2020. "I am honored to serve as chair of The ELC at this pivotal time when the organization's purpose and mission have never been more relevant," Brown says. "For more than three decades, The ELC has advocated for executive leadership opportunities for its members and served as a singular resource to CEOs, corporate boards, investors, and policymakers." Brown currently leads Citigroup's CRA Regulatory Group. As Corporate CRA officer, he works with business heads across the firm to establish CRA lending, investment, and service goals, which exceed $10 billion annually. He joined Citigroup in 2009 as its CRA executive and is the longest serving corporate CRA officer in the firm's history. Brown has partnered with three successive Citibank, N.A. chief executive officers to co-lead the CRA & Fair Lending Management Committee. "On behalf of Citi, I extend my congratulations and full support to Lloyd Brown as chair of The ELC," says Citi CEO Michael Corbat. "Citi proudly supports The ELC's vital work and Lloyd is ideally suited to advance its enduring mission. We know he will represent The ELC just as well as he has represented our firm." Brown's current board service also includes CALIBR Global Leadership Network (Governance Committee) and the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (co-chair, Racial Equity Task Force). He also serves as vice chair of the Consumer Bankers Association's Community Reinvestment Committee, where he will become committee chair in November 2021. He is past board president of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, chairman emeritus for the New York City Mission Society, and board chair emeritus for the Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City. He is a long-standing member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY. He is a graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and Rutgers University School of Law with a Juris Doctor. Brown is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and before the United States Supreme Court. Brown heads the executive committee of The ELC Board of Directors, which includes Ed Dandridge, senior vice president of Boeing as vice chair; Valerie I. Rainford, CEO of Elloree Talent Strategies as secretary; and Sena Kwawu, senior vice president of Frontdoor as treasurer. Effective February 1, 2021, The ELC Board of Directors includes Nancy Armand, Gena Ashe, Kimberly A. Blackwell, Gerald T. Charles Jr., Shaundra Clay, William P. Gipson, Thomas R. Harvey, Marc A. Howze, Janice Innis-Thompson, Gale V. King, Kenneth B. Robinson, Roy Weathers, and Jeffrey G. Webster. Two ex-officio directors are Tonie Leatherberry and The ELC's Interim CEO Crystal E. Ashby. About The Executive Leadership Council The Executive Leadership Council, an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1986, is the preeminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global Black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards, and in global enterprises. Comprising 800 current and former Black CEOs, senior executives, and board directors at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies, and entrepreneurs at top-tier firms, its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global Black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.elcinfo.com. About CITI Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. SOURCE The Executive Leadership Council Related Links http://www.elcinfo.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ATLANTA Georgia health officials are refusing to say where in the state they have detected a mutant coronavirus strain from the United Kingdom. The Department of Public Health refuses to say which cities or counties have had people infected by the new variant, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. That makes it impossible for Georgians to know whether it is spreading in their community. Georgia has now identified at least six cases of a COVID-19 variant in the state, raising the urgency to get people vaccinated, the newspaper reported. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced late Tuesday the state will get more coronavirus vaccines each week from the federal government. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Georgias weekly allotment will rise by nearly 26,000 doses to 145,900 doses, Kemp said. Thats a 16% jump from the current number of 120,000 doses. The announcement came hours after state officials said they may not see a boost in their weekly vaccine allocation until April. Although we still expect demand to far exceed supply for the foreseeable future, this is no doubt welcome news, and we will work around the clock to get these vaccines distributed and safely administered as quickly as possible, Kemp said in a statement. On the variant, the states health department contends that revealing where its been found could lead to discovery of the names of patients, violating their privacy. Several other states, however, are identifying counties or cities where variant cases have been detected. It is more than likely that this variant and others are circulating in Georgia just as they are across the country, public health department spokeswoman Nancy Nydam told the newspaper in an email. Government transparency advocates say the agency is misusing privacy laws to withhold vital health information. It would be impossible to identify a specific COVID-19 patient based on a city or county alone, they say. Basically, I think they are trying to cover their (backsides), to put it bluntly, said Joe Larsen, a lawyer with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. I think that they are wary of too much public scrutiny on how well they are responding, he said. The Texas foundation faced a similar argument when a state commission refused to release the names of nursing home facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases. The state attorney general ultimately ruled that the information should be released. Mutations of the virus are emerging quickly, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said a new version first identified in the United Kingdom may become dominant in the U.S. by March. Although it does not cause more severe illness, it spreads much more easily and will therefore lead to more hospitalizations and deaths, according to the CDC. The current vaccines seem to provide protection against new variants, but health experts warn that the potential for a variant that eludes current vaccines increases the longer it takes to vaccinate people. Georgias vaccine rollout has gotten off to a slow start, but Kemp has said providers are getting better at administering the vaccines. The state has administered just over 746,000 doses as of Tuesday about 56% of the vaccine its received. The best-performing states have used more than 85% of their vaccine doses. ___ Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. The Telegraph The daughter of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader serving life for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, has claimed her father is living in unhealthy and uncivilised conditions in a British prison. Karadzic, 75, who was convicted in 2016, was transferred from a detention unit in Holland to a UK jail earlier this month following an agreement struck between the UN and the Home Office. But his daughter, Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, has complained about the conditions at her fathers new prison after speaking to him on the phone. "As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable, she told SRNA, a news agency based in the Republika Srpska, the Serb enclave of Bosnia. If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in. Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic also claimed that moving her father to the UK was a deliberate act of spite against his family. "My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council, she said. It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him," she continued. She added that he had been deprived of his books and his computer, and will be completely removed from his language and his culture. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: "UK prisons meet health and safety standards." Ms Karadzic-Jovicevic, who has a political career in Bosnia, has fought to defend her fathers name despite his brutal role in the wars as the Yugoslavian federation separated in the 1990s. Known as the Butcher of Bosnia, Karadzic went down in infamy, in particular for ordering the Srebrenica Massacre in July 1995. Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were rounded up by the Bosnian Serb army in and around the town of Srebrenica and then killed in the worst single massacre in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Karadzics lawyers had objected to his clients transfer to the UK, arguing that his life would be in danger owing to Muslim inmates in British prisons. They also argued that owing to possible threats to Karadzics life he would be kept in conditions resembling solitary confinement, but the UN court dismissed the objections. Given his role in the slaughter of Muslims, the experience of another Serb convicted of war crimes may also weigh upon the Karadzic family. In 2010 Radislav Krstic, a former Bosnian-Serb general, was stabbed by three Muslim prisoners while serving a sentence in Wakefield prison, in apparent retaliation for Srebrenica. Amid a sea of red on global markets, there were some odd flurries of excitement. In the US, a bizarre battle has kicked off between Wall Street hedge funds and individual day traders using social media site Reddit. Shares in a little-known company, Gamestop, more than doubled to $319 as Reddit users encouraged each other to buy the stock. It has now rocketed more than 1300 per cent in a month. Shares in a little-known company, Gamestop, more than doubled to $319 as Reddit users encouraged each other to buy. It has now rocketed more than 1300 per cent in a month The Redditers' motivation, it seems, has been to cause a problem for the faceless hedge funds who were shorting Gamestop. Shorting, or short-selling, is a trading technique by which a person benefits if the price of a stock falls. But if the price rises, they can suffer heavy losses. Neil Wilson, analyst at Markets, explained: 'What is so unusual is the peculiar vigilante morality of the traders pumping the stock on Reddit. 'They seem hell-bent on taking on Wall Street, they seem to hate hedge funds, and threads are peppered with insults about 'boomer' money. Stock Watch - Scapa Group Shares in the adhesive company Scapa Group popped after it hammered out a takeover deal with US cigarette paper firm Schweitzer-Mauduit International. Scapa, which makes the glue on items ranging from medical plasters to electronic equipment, said Schweitzer-Mauduit had tabled an offer to buy the company for 210p per share, valuing it at 402.9million. Shares rose 24.9 per cent, or 44p, to 221p, indicating that some shareholders are holding out for a rival bid. 'It's a generational fight, redistributive and all about robbing the rich to give to the millennial 'poor'.' The fever appeared to be spreading to the UK, where education publisher Pearson rose 14 per cent, or 106.4p, to 867.8p. It has long been a target for short-sellers, due to years of lacklustre performance. And shares in shopping centre firm Hammerson, which has been weighed down by shop closures, climbed 12.4 per cent, or 2.52p, to 22.8p. Cineworld, which had to close its locations in October, saw its shares inexplicably rise by 9.9 per cent, or 7.26p, to 80.4p. David Madden, an analyst at CMC Markets, said: 'It might be the case that funds are flowing into Pearson to shake out some short-sellers.' The trading frenzy came as global stock markets sank as countries around the world extended their lockdown measures and traders took a step back. Britain's FTSE 100 slipped 1.3 per cent, or 86.64 points, to 6567.37 as Boris Johnson announced schools would not be reopening after the February half-term break. Hargreaves Lansdown was on the front foot, up 6.3 per cent, or 106p, to 1788p. It released no corporate news, but unveils half-year results next week. After the success at rivals such as AJ Bell, as savers have piled into the stock market during the pandemic, investors are hoping that Hargreaves' results could blow the doors off. But a major drag on the Footsie was Fresnillo, which has not fared so well. The precious metals miner said silver production was down 2.9 per cent over 2020, while gold was down 12.1 per cent. It also lowered its 2021 gold production guidance due to a landslip. Shares tumbled 13 per cent, or 138.5p, to 924p. The rest of the mining sector, battered by Covid restrictions and lower demand for metals in manufacturing, was also on the back foot. Glencore fell 6.8 per cent, or 17.2p, to 237.8p, Anglo American was down 6.2 per cent, or 156p, to 2354.5p, and Evraz slipped 4.9 per cent, or 25.1p, to 491.1p. The FTSE 250 fell 0.8 per cent, or 170.01 points, to 20,278.35 amid uncertainty about the UK's recovery from the pandemic. And investors in the former Woodford Patient Capital Trust, now called the Schroder UK Public Private Trust following Neil Woodford's spectacular downfall, were unimpressed with a deal to sell a chunk of the fund's assets. The trust is selling its stakes in seven biopharma firms to UK investment firm Rosetta Capital, for 49million. But this price was a 22 per cent discount to the value given in its report on December 3. Trust stock slid by 2.5 per cent, or 0.9p, to 34p. Sofa company ScS rose 4.3 per cent, or 9p, to 219p, however, as it continued to benefit from the home improvement trend. Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News Bexar County officials are warning residents of a scam that attempts to intimidate people into paying fines for missing jury duty. In-person jury trials were suspended last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the county has sent out jury summonses only for virtual grand juries and for grand jury service. A man has been charged with manslaughter more than a year after a woman was shot in the stomach at a Gold Coast home and later died in hospital. One hour before she was shot, the 27-year-old victim, Ivona Jovanovic, had been playing with her dog and watching the sunlight fade over the ocean at Burleigh Beach. Ivona Jovanovic died in hospital on Sunday after being shot at a Gold Coast home. Credit:Instagram She also uploaded a photo and videos of her and her dog to her Instagram page at the time. Emergency services were called to the residence on Renfrew Drive at Highland Park about 8.30pm on Sunday, September 9, 2019, in response to reports of a woman with a gunshot wound. Highlights Airtel on Thursday announced that it has become the countrys first telco to successfully demonstrate and orchestrate live 5G service. Airtel claims that 5G will be capable of delivering 10x speeds, 10x latency and 100x concurrency when compared to existing technologies. 5G experience will be available to Airtel's customers, when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals are received. Airtel on Thursday announced that it has become the country's first telco to successfully demonstrate and orchestrate live 5G service over a commercial network in Hyderabad city. Airtel noted that it did this over its existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band through the NSA (Non Stand Alone) network technology. The telco further noted that it used a "first of its kind, dynamic spectrum sharing to operate 5G and 4G concurrently within the same spectrum block." This demonstration has emphatically validated the 5G readiness of Airtel's network across all domains - Radio, Core and Transport. Airtel claims that 5G will be capable of delivering 10x speeds, 10x latency and 100x concurrency when compared to existing technologies. It noted that in Hyderabad, users were able to download a full length movie in a matter of seconds on a 5G phone, a demonstration which has underlined the company's technology capabilities. The full impact of the 5G experience, however, will be available to Airtel's customers, when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals are received. users will not be required to switch SIM cards when the network is available for them. Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel in a statement said, "I am very proud of our engineers who have worked tirelessly to showcase this incredible capability in Tech City, Hyderabad today. Every one of our investments is future proofed as this game changing test in Hyderabad proves. With Airtel being the first operator to demonstrate this capability, we have shown again that we have always been the first in India to pioneer new technologies in our quest for empowering Indians everywhere." "We believe India has the potential to become a global hub for 5G innovation. To make that happen we need the eco system to come together applications, devices and network innovation. We are more than ready to do our bit," he added. When asked about Jio and Vi, Vittal said he will not comment om the competition and that he will speak for Airtel which is fully 5G ready after the testing was done on a commercial basis. When asked if space technoligies like Starlink were a competition, Vittal said that space is a use case altogether and aimed at working where there is negligible network available. Las year, Reliance CEO, Mukesh Ambani had announced that Jio's 5G network will be available in India in the second half of 2021. noted that a demo is available in Madhapur in Hyderabad where they can expeience the 5G network. MINNETONKA, Minn., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vital, a Canon Group company, has been awarded a contract by Radboud University Medical Center of Nijmegen, Netherlands. This announcement was preceded by an extensive, production-ready proof of concept, in which Vital proved to be a reliable partner as it successfully integrated its Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA) solution with Radboud's existing architecture and workflow. With Vital's VNA connecting Radboud's data silos, Radboud was able to promote efficiency at all levels of care. Radboud now has the ability to free key information from proprietary software, having data readily available at faster rates. This helps support Radboud's goal of ensuring every patient always receives the best care, now and in the future. "We needed a scalable vendor-agnostic solution that could consistently connect data within our systems." says Laurens de Grootwe, a Lead Product Owner in Information Management at Radboud UMC. "We found that solution within Vital. It was important that Vital's solution could connect with a third-party enterprise viewer. We needed more than just archiving, we wanted data orchestration. The successful completion of the proof of concept gave us the confidence in Vital that we were looking for." Vital is currently supporting a number of leading hospital and medical centers in the country. This proven customer base was a consideration for Radboud through the decision process. Vital looks forward to a collaborative partnership with Radboud focused on innovation and shaping the health care of the future. About Vital Vital, a Canon Group company, has a legacy of leadership in healthcare imaging using smart algorithms and techniques of innovation spanning over 30 years. As a premier provider of an Enterprise Imaging, or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Twitteror Facebook. For more information contact: Zach Stenger +1952-487-9534 zstenger@vitalimages.com www.vitalimages.com Georgia Harrison brushed aside the drama surrounding her ex Stephen Bear's revenge porn arrest as she shared a playful clip to Instagram during her Dubai trip on Thursday. The Love Island star, 26, turned up the heat as she danced in a bikini alongside her BFF Ka Moon for a social media challenge. Earlier this month, police apprehended Stephen, 31, after he returned from United Arab Emirates for allegedly using his CCTV system to film himself having sex with the influencer without her knowledge and sharing the explicit content online. Having fun: Georgia Harrison brushed aside the drama surrounding her ex Stephen Bear's revenge porn arrest as she shared a playful clip to Instagram during her Dubai trip on Thursday Highlighting her sensational figure, the influencer sent temperatures soaring in her two-piece, which featured a patterned brown bralet and pink briefs. The reality star styled her tresses in loose waves, while her complexion was accentuated with dewy make-up. In the video, the media personality and her close pal said: 'She's my best friend you mess with her you mess with me', before they switched into glamorous dresses for a night out. Working it: The Love Island star, 26, turned up the heat as she danced in a bikini alongside her BFF Ka Moon for a social media challenge Wow-factor! Highlighting her sensational figure, the influencer sent temperatures soaring in her two-piece, which featured a patterned brown bralet and pink briefs In their element: In the video, the media personality and her pal said: 'She's my best friend you mess with her you mess with me', before they switched into glamorous dresses for a night out Essex police have since announced a formal charge is yet to be made while the investigation surrounding her former beau Stephen continues, with the TV personality remaining on bail until February 10. In statement to MailOnline, 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.' The blonde believes her former boyfriend showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp. Georgia also alleges he shared screenshots of the video to followers on his OnlyFans account, but the social media star has denied it was her in the video. In custody: Earlier this month, police apprehended the TV star, 31, at Heathrow for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia without her knowledge The former TOWIE star has since thanked her fans and 'everyone that has reached out' following his 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.' 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 he 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. Distress: The blonde believes her former beau showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being shared on WhatsApp (pictured during their romance) Stephen was accompanied by on-off lover Tia McAlister, 18, who is 13-years his junior, as he left his Essex home for refreshments. The Walthamstow native defended his actions in a video, saying: 'I'm sure you are allowed to go out for an hour a day or to get some food. 'What am I meant to do? Starve? If I stayed in and starved, people would call me thick and say why didn't he go out and get some food.' Guidelines state people in the UK can get food if there is no one else who can get it for them. On Tuesday, the former CBB contestant fled his home after finding a death threat posted through the front door. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Stephen ran to his car and vowed to contact the police after finding a message that said 'die you c**t' had been stuck through the letterbox. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong announces COVID-19 vaccination plans at the KDCA headquarters in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Thursday. / Yonhap COVID-19 vaccinations to begin next month, medical personnel to be prioritized By Jun Ji-hye The government will start the first COVID-19 vaccinations next month, beginning with medical personnel at hospitals designated for treating patients infected with the coronavirus, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Thursday, noting that the country is aiming to achieve herd immunity by November. Inoculations will be expanded in stages to inpatients and workers at geriatric hospitals and nursing homes, and then to those at the frontlines in the fight against the pandemic, including ambulance workers and quarantine officials. KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said that the order of vaccinations has been finalized through consultations with health experts and a review of overseas cases, with the aim of minimizing fatalities and preventing virus spreads in local communities. She noted that authorities took into consideration high fatality rates for the elderly, citing that those over 80 years old have shown a fatality rate of 20.24 percent as of Sunday, while the rate stood at 0.3 percent for those in their 50s. "COVID-19 vaccinations will begin in stages in accordance with a government plan. We ask all people to participate in the inoculations in order to get our lives to return to normal," Jeong said during a media briefing. "Even after the inoculations begin, people are asked to continue to comply with existing antivirus measures, such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, until herd immunity is reached." Medical personnel working at COVID-19 hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, which includes Incheon and Gyeonggi Provinces, will be the first to get vaccinated at a central vaccination center to be set up at National Medical Center. Inoculations will then be expanded to other vaccination centers and hospitals for virus patients across the country. Inpatients and workers at geriatric hospitals and nursing homes will be the next to receive the vaccine, followed by medical staff at general hospitals, ambulance workers, quarantine official and epidemiological investigators. In the second quarter, residents over 65 years old and those living and working in facilities vulnerable to virus infections, such as institutes for the disabled, will get vaccinated. "Inoculations will be expanded to all residents in the latter half of the year," Jeong said, noting that the government is aiming to have almost all of the population vaccinated by September. The government has secured vaccines for 56 million people from four global pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen, AstraZeneca and Moderna and via the COVAX facility, the WHO-led global vaccine distribution project. The number is enough to cover Korea's entire population. The government is also working additionally to secure Novavax vaccines for 20 million people in order to brace for any uncertainties in vaccine deliveries. The KDCA said that the AstraZeneca vaccine is scheduled to be shipped within the first quarter, followed by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen and Moderna in the second quarter, and Pfizer in the third quarter. Citizens won't be given the choice to select the vaccine of a specific company, it said. With regards to mounting concerns over the safety of vaccines, the KDCA said that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will thoroughly examine the vaccines in accordance with domestic standards, as well as consult with outside experts, before approving them for use. According to the KDCA, the country added 497 more COVID-19 cases, including 479 local infections, for Wednesday, raising the total accumulated number of cases to 76,926 until now. The nation's daily count of new cases stayed at around 500 for the second straight day due mainly to infection clusters traced to religious facilities. The government will decide whether to extend or lower the current social distancing level this Saturday. The African Union (AU) has secured another 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a regional health leader said on Thursday, in a push to immunize 60% of the continent's population over three years. As richer nations race ahead with mass immunisation campaigns, Africa is scrambling to obtain supplies for its 1.3 billion people. Only a handful of African nations have begun giving doses. John Nkengasong, director of the AU's disease control and prevention body, told an online briefing that in addition to 270 million doses previously secured, the bloc would get 400 million shots from the Serum Institute of India (SII) - all AstraZeneca/Oxford University shots. A spokesman for the SII declined comment. The AstraZeneca vaccine is the cheapest option and one of the best-suited to African health systems as it does not require storage at ultra-low temperatures like the vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech. Separately from the AU's efforts, Africa is to receive about 600 million vaccine doses this year via the COVAX facility co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO). Health authorities hope to vaccinate about 30-35% of Africans this year, rising to 60% in two to three years. The AU has said vaccines secured by its vaccine task team will be allocated according to population. Though COVID-19 has not hit Africa as badly as some experts had feared it would, wealth disparities, logistical difficulties and "vaccine nationalism" by developed nations may put the world's poorest continent at a disadvantage. Africa has reported 3.5 million infections and 88,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally. That is fewer fatalities than individual nations the United States, Brazil, India, Mexico and Britain. OUTLIER TANZANIA In an implicit rebuke to Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who has discouraged mask-wearing and social distancing, discontinued data publication and called vaccines a malign foreign plot, WHO Africa director Matshidiso Moeti urged Tanzania to implement such measures, prepare vaccinations and share data. "Africa is at a crossroads and all Africans must double down on preventive measures," she told an online news conference on Thursday, saying WHO officials were in touch with Tanzanian officials. "Science shows that vaccines work." Magufuli's government has published no coronavirus data since May 8, when the country had 509 cases and 21 deaths. On Wednesday, he said, without evidence, that vaccines were a foreign plot to spread illness and steal Africa's wealth. He urged Tanzanians instead to trust God and use alternative remedies such as steam inhalation. "We in Tanzania managed to stay for a year without corona. Even here, no one has put on a mask. Our God is beyond Satan and Satan will always fail using different diseases," he said in a speech in his western home area. Nkengasong said the Africa CDC was exploring obtaining more vaccines from China, Russia and Cuba, and would work with any partner whose vaccine was safe and effective. Short link: In this Sept. 28, 2020 file photo, a view of the TikTok app logo, in Tokyo. Popular short-video Chinese app TikTok is cutting its workforce in India after with hundreds of millions of its users dropped it to comply with a government ban on dozens of Chinese apps amid a military standoff between the two countries.(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Popular short-video Chinese app TikTok is cutting its workforce in India after hundreds of millions of its users dropped it to comply with a government ban on dozens of Chinese apps amid a military standoff between the two countries. "Given the lack of feedback from the government about how to resolve this issue in the subsequent seven months, it is with deep sadness that we have decided to reduce our workforce in India," a TikTok statement said Wednesday. The statement didn't give details, but media reports say the company has more than 2,000 employees in India. It expressed the hope it will get a chance to relaunch TikTok in India to support hundreds of millions of users, artists, storytellers, educators and performers. The Indian government announced a ban on 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, which is operated by Chinese internet firm Bytedance, in June as its relations with China deteriorated. It said the apps were prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India. China says New Delhi has been using national security as an excuse to prohibit Chinese mobile apps. China's government on Thursday criticized Indian moves to ban Baidu, TikTok and other popular Chinese apps and appealed to New Delhi to get economic ties "back on track." "China opposes any discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese companies," said a Commerce Ministry spokesman, Gao Feng. Gao didn't address Indian complaints that Chinese apps might be a security threat but said Beijing requires its companies to abide by local laws abroad. "The hard-won development of China-India economic and trade cooperation is in the common interests of the two peoples," Gao said. Beijing hopes New Delhi can "provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment" for Chinese companies "so that China-India bilateral economic and trade cooperation can be back on track as soon as possible," Gao said. Chinese-owned apps have found a fast-growing market in India, with some companies creating India-specific apps that have exploded in popularity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has used the country's 500 million internet userssecond only to Chinaas a lure to get tech giants including Twitter to localize Indians' data. Explore further TikTok launches new ad platform as scrutiny increases 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LOUISVILLE, Colo., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Casey Industrial, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ), is proud to announce the award of the PowerSouth Lowman Energy Center Units 1 & 2 Mechanical Construction project in Leroy, Alabama by PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. The new plant will replace the Charles R. Lowman coalfired power plant that began operation in 1969. It will be among the world's most fuel-efficient natural gas power plants and have among the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of any combined-cycle plant. Casey Industrial will install all mechanical equipment, materials, and structural steel from the anchor bolts up, for the new, stateoftheart, combined cycle facility. The 640 MW power island will comprise a Mitsubishi Power M501JAC Advanced Class Gas Turbine, a steam turbine, and a Vogt three pressure reheat heat recovery steam generator in a 1 x 1 multi-shaft configuration. The JAC gas turbine will deliver industry-leading reliability and world class efficiency that will reduce carbon emissions by 65 percent versus legacy coal-fired plants. Casey will be working with Black & Veatch and other major contractors on site, through startup, commissioning, and performance testing, to achieve substantial completion in December of 2022. Taking advantage of the remaining useful life of existing utilities and infrastructure at Lowman, PowerSouth will utilize the site to maintain the decadeslong legacy of Lowman supplying highly efficient, costeffective power generation to its customers for future generations. The project is being constructed under PowerSouth and Black & Veatch management with multiple discipline construction packages. About PowerSouth Energy Cooperative PowerSouth is a generation and transmission cooperative that serves the wholesale energy needs of 16 electric cooperatives and four municipal electric systems in Alabama and northwest Florida. Collectively, the members provide electric service to homes, businesses and industries in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties. About Casey Industrial Casey Industrial, a wholly owned subsidiary of MasTec, Inc., a publicly traded, minoritycontrolled corporation, was founded in 1947 now serves a variety of markets including power generation, industrial process, building products and environmental. As a merit shop, multicraft industrial contractor, Casey's ability to selfperform all major craft trades ensures greater safety, quality, flexibility, and economy in delivering the work required to complete each project. Casey also provides project development, preconstruction planning, project management, outage support, and fabrication. About Black & Veatch Black & Veatch is an employeeowned engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries by addressing the resilience and reliability of our world's most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2019 were US$3.7 billion. Follow us on https://www.bv.com/ and on social media. About Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. Mitsubishi Power, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is a world leader in power generation and energy storage solutions. It provides power generation solutions that include cleaner natural gas and green hydrogen; renewable energy; long- and short-term energy storage; environmental controls; services; and digital solutions for plant operation and maintenance. For more information, visit the Mitsubishi Power Americas website and follow us on LinkedIn. SOURCE MasTec, Inc. 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. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The 2021-22 Union Budget will be unprecedented in many ways. For the first time there has been no lockdown in the finance ministry before the Budget presentation as the exercise this year would go completely paperless avoiding the need for secrecy associated with printed documents. This will also be the first Budget that will come up immediately after a pandemic-induced nationwide lockdown that brought economic activity in the country to a grinding halt forcing the GDP to contract for the very first time in many, many years. Also, a first would be acute recession that the country stares at and severe levels of unemployment that turned from bad to worse post the pandemic. Though not for the first time, but the Budget 2021-22 also faces severe challenge to do a tough balancing to revive growth in the economy amidst shrinking revenue streams and need to balance expenditure and come back on path of fiscal consolidation. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman herself has put that her third Budget would be "unprecedented" as the country looks to rebuild after a pandemic-hit year. The challenges thrown at the government will get some reflection in the Budget that will be framed by a team which is a mix of experience and first-timers. Here are the people shaping the February 1 Budget: Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Finance and Revenue Secretary He is perhaps the most experienced in the team, having past experiencing of preparing the Budget in the current government. A 1984-batch Maharashtra cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Pandey is the current finance secretary being the senior most officer in the finance ministry team, apart from heading the revenue department. He has to do one of the toughest balancing acts - to deal with expectations of taxpayers who are looking for a cut in taxes as incomes fell due to the pandemic against the need to raise revenue to mobilise resources required for additional spending on health care and infrastructure. His actions would also determine what new revenue measures are taken and steps to bring back the economy on track. K. Subramanian, Chief Economic Advisor One of the important pointers to the Budget is given by the Economic Survey. The survey this year will be brought out by Subramanian who being an eternal optimist had earlier predicted a V-shaped recovery for India post the lockdown as economic activity resumed. The survey will also bring out the policy prescriptions required to achieve this recovery. Tarun Bajaj, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs This will be his first stint as secretary in the finance ministry ahead of the Budget presentation. A 1988 Haryana cadre IAS officer, Bajaj came to the finance ministry during the time of lockdown last year. His earlier service was in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). One of the prime jobs for Bajaj would be to see how it designs its borrowing plan to stay on course for meeting additional expenditure needs while at the same time keep debt under manageable limits. His imprint would also be seen in the design of various measures that may be announced in the Budget. T.V. Somanathan, Secretary, Department of Expenditure He also has a tough task in hand as the need for stepping up government expenditure would be weighed against exactly how the Centre could stretch considering the tight revenue position. In this regard, keeping the subsidies under check while at the same time providing enough monetary support to various social sectors would be needed. Somanathan is a 1987-batch IAS officer from Tamil Nadu cadre who has also worked in the PMO earlier. Debashish Panda, Secretary, Department of Financial Services The 1987-batch IAS officer is a first-timer in the Budget-making exercise. But the task cut out for him to perform and oversee biggest ever listing exercise involving Life Insurance Corporation and strategic sale and privatisation of public sector banks and insurers. His role in the Budget could be seen if government announces a bad bank or another development financial institution (DFI) to finance the country's infrastructure. It would be seen whether Panda is able to push through a plan on a credit enhancement corporation easing funding line for infra companies. Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management After missing out on meeting disinvestment target set for FY21, Pandey would be watched in this Budget on the kind of disinvestment target set for FY22 and a roadmap on how government revenues would be augmented from disinvestment of public sector enterprises. The challenge before Pandey is to see how the strategic sale process initiated for Air India and BPCL reaches a stage of finality and how the government's privatisation plan involving sale of non-strategic PSEs and consolidation and sale of some strategic sector enterprises is carried out. Pandey is a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre. CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - The European Union and Britain have cleared Boeing's 737 Max for return to service in their respective regions after being grounded for nearly two years. The EU's air safety watchdog European Union Aviation Safety Agency or EASA in a statement said the agency has approved the return to service of a modified version of the Boeing 737 MAX following extensive analysis. The aircraft is mandated to have a package of software upgrades, electrical wiring rework, maintenance checks, operations manual updates and crew training. The UK Civil Aviation Authority or CAA also lifted the ban on Boeing 737 Max, and allowed UK airlines to operate passenger flights with the aircraft, subject to close oversight. CAA said its action follows similar decisions by the EASA, US Federal Aviation Administration or FAA and Transport Canada. UK's removal of the airspace ban will allow foreign operators to fly the Boeing 737 MAX in UK airspace. The UK regulator also said it is in close contact with TUI, currently the only UK operator of the aircraft, as it returns its aircraft to service. EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said, 'This assessment was carried out in full independence of Boeing or the Federal Aviation Administration and without any economic or political pressure.... We carried out our own flight tests and simulator sessions and did not rely on others to do this for us.' The Boeing 737 MAX, which was the world's biggest-selling aircraft, was grounded worldwide in March 2019 following two accidents within just six months, which together claimed 346 lives. The root cause of the accidents was traced to software known as the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System), intended to make the plane easier to handle. EASA noted that the agency, and regulators in Canada and Brazil, worked closely with the FAA and Boeing throughout the last 20 months to return the plane safely to operations. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX BOEING-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Jaipur, Jan 28 : Most-wanted gangster Vikram Gurjar alias Papla -- who was on the run ever since his daring filmy-style escape from police custody around 17 months ago -- could not escape the long arm of law as he was arrested on Thursday by Rajasthan police along with his 'girlfriend' from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. The manner in which his capture was planned and executed was equally pulsating as was his dramatic escape from Behror police station lockup in September 2019 in true Bollywood style when his gang fired indiscriminately with modern weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, to free him and whisk him away. Carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, Gurjar tried his level best to escape the police dragnet by jumping off a building, but was not lucky this time. He sustained injuries in his hands and legs in the process. Director General of Police ML Lathar said: "A special 26-member team of Jaipur Range officials, including commandos, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Siddhant Sharma was formed on the directions of IGP Hawa Singh Ghumaria. Another backup team led by ASP Rajendra Singh Sisodia was stationed in Pune in Maharashtra." Sharma's team stayed in Kolhapur for a week and managed to trace the plush house in the city in which the criminal was holed up along with his girlfriend Jiyaussahar Sigligar of Satara after intensive investigation, which included contacts with migrant Rajasthan natives living in the Maharashtra city as well as gymnasiums. Finally, ASP Sharma zeroed in on Gurjar's lair through videos and photographs of adjoining houses on January 26 and shared the information with IGP Ghumaria and informed him of the ground situation. Accordingly, a strategy was planned for safe operation on ground zero to arrest the absconding criminal. On the January 27-28 night, as per the plan, police officers and commandos led by ASP Sharma surrounded the building. Gurjar tried to escape by jumping off the building, but vigilant commandos caught hold of him. The DGP said that the police team led by ASPs Sharma and Sisodia will reach Jaipur along with Vikram Gurjar and his girlfriend who had sheltered him. Further action would be taken as per the rules, he added. Interstate criminal Gurjar was arrested while he was travelling on a SUV on September 5, 2019 during patrolling by a team of Bahrod police and Rs 32 lakh seized from him. Around 7.30 am on September 6, 2019, 8-10 armed miscreants from his gang reached Bahrod police station and freed him from the lockup and fled. Around 30 members of his gang have been arrested ever since. All carried awards of Rs 50,000 on their heads. Meridian Energy today confirmed its CEO of Meridian Energy Australia and Powershop Australia, Jason Stein will step down from his role. Due to the ongoing impacts of Covid on travel and personal arrangements, Mr Stein has been unable to relocate with his family from New Zealand to Australia, and so will step down from his position. Meridians Chief Executive Neal Barclay said Jason Steins achievements have been notable during his tenure. Jason has managed our Australian business remotely during a turbulent time and we thank him for successfully supporting the Melbourne team during some extensive lockdown periods. Under Jasons leadership Powershop Australia has significantly increased Australia customer numbers and has refreshed its Australian renewables strategy. This work has set a solid foundation for future growth in Australia, adds Barclay. Management will now seek to commence a recruitment process. Jason will continue until mid-2021 to allow an orderly transition of accountabilities for Meridians Australian business. Please see the link below for more details: CEO of MEA and Powershop Australia to step down Source: Meridian Energy Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) Better Positioned for Future Growth Green Cross Health Limited (NZX: GXH) Full Year Results to 31 March 2021 28th May 2021 Morning Report Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces First FY Results as a Listed Company NZ Automotive Investments Limited (NZX: NZA) Delivers Net Profit Above Guidance for FY21 Smartpay Holdings Limited (NZX: SPY) Preliminary Full Year Result Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK) FY2021 Results Announcement Gentrack Group Limited (NZX: GTK) Half-Year Results Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) Financial Results for the 12 Months to 31 March 2021 Asset Plus Limited (NZX: APL) Financial Result for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited on January 28 the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of soldiers fallen for the defense of the Homeland, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress. His Holiness Garegin II was accompanied by a group of clergymen. January 28 marks the 29th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The Chinese recently made public their use of anal swabs to screen patients for COVID-19. This new method of testing arrives as China is now seeing a surge in new coronavirus cases ahead of their annual Lunar New Year celebrations. The Hill reports that Chinese health care professionals only perform the COVID-19 anal swab tests on patients who are considered high-risk. However, Forbes notes that some individual have been required to take a surprise anal test, including airline passengers who recently arrived in Beijing as well as over 1,000 children and teachers at a local school who were reportedly exposed to to the virus. WebMD explains that the test involves inserting a saline-covered swab about one to two inches into a persons rectum in order gain a proper sample. The Deputy Director of the Respiratory and Infectious Diseases Department at Beijing Youan Hospital, Li Tonzeng, explains that the results of these anal swab tests appear to be more accurate than those conducted nasally. This may be due to the fact that the coronavirus lives longer in excrement or the anal tract than it would in the respiratory tract. Some studies have also found that while some patients tested negative for the coronavirus after getting their throats swabbed, they tested positive after receiving the anal swabs. However, Bloomberg further reports that theres no clear evidence that the disease transmission is any more common in those who test positive in their anuses. Anal swabbing has also not been implemented in places such as New Zealand that have nearly eradicated the presence of the coronavirus. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Thursday issued lookout notices against farmer leaders and announced a probe into the "conspiracy" behind the violence, even as the Ghaziabad administration gave an ultimatum to the protesters at UP Gate to vacate the site by midnight. Bharatiya Kisan Union(BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, however, told reporters at the UP gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi that he would rather commit suicide than leave and end the protest against the farm laws, setting the stage for a confrontation with security personnel. Thousands of farmers from the BKU are camping at the protest site since November 28. Heavy security force presence was visible near the camp site, which faces a midnight deadline to vacate, even as it faced frequent power cuts in the evening. "I will commit suicide but won't end protest until the farm bills are repealed," said Rakesh Tikait, who is the spokesperson of the BKU. He also claimed a threat to his life, alleging that armed goons were sent to the protest site. However, the BKU appeared to be divided on the future course of action with Naresh Tikait, brother of Rakesh, saying the protest will get over. "Don't be disappointed. Today the protest at Ghazipur will also get over. It's better to vacate than getting beaten up police," he told a gathering in Muzaffarnagar earlier in the day. Condemning the Uttar Pradesh government and police for the ultimatum, Rakesh Tikait said, "No violence has taken place at the Ghazipur border but still the UP government is resorting to policy of suppression. This is the face of the UP government." The "verbal" communication from the Ghaziabad administration to BKU came after three farmers union withdrew their protest against the three central farm laws over the violence in Delhi on January 26 that left 394 security personnel injured and one protestor dead. "Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protesters camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them," a district official told PTI. Meanwhile, widening its probe in connection with the violent turn of events during which protesters also stormed the iconic Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh religious flag, said the role and conduct of organisations and individuals based in India as well as those out of the country will be investigated, a move that comes after police chief S N Srivastava warned no culprit will be spared. It further said a criminal case has been registered and is being investigated under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of IPC dealing with sedition. The claimed that there was a "pre-conceived" and "well coordinated" plan to break the agreement arrived at with farmer leaders to bring international embarrassment for the government on The Crime Branch will probe the cases of violence at the Red Fort, ITO, Nangloi Crossing, and six other places during the farmers' tractor parade on Republic Day, an official said. An ACP-rank officer will head each team that will investigate nine cases and there will be multiple officers assisting him or her, he said. The official said the police have so far registered 33 FIRs in connection with the violence, adding that lookout notices have been issued against 44 people, which include most of the farmer leaders. "The Delhi Police has issued lookout notices against farmer leaders named in an FIR in connection with the violence during the tractor parade," Police Commissioner Srivastava told PTI. The police asked the 37 farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Balbeer Singh Rajewal whose names have been named in an FIR in connection with the violence, to submit their response within three days, explaining why legal action should not be taken against them as they did not follow the conditions set for the parade. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha said it will not be intimidated by the notices sent to its leaders by the Delhi Police and alleged that the government is trying to put an end to the farmers' movement against agri laws by blaming it for the violence during the January 26 tractor rally. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting against the Centre's three farm laws at various border points of Delhi. Facing widespread condemnation, farmer union leaders during the day took out a "Sadbhavna rally" from the Singhu border to reinforce a sense of unity among the protestors. Several of their leaders, including Rajewal, Daljeet Singh Dallewal, Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni, who led the rally said the march was organised "to counter the forces trying to divide the protesting farmers along religious lines and as per states" and to show that they respect the tricolour. Several tractors and two-wheelers with the flag took part in the 16-km-long rally which started from the stage at the Singhu protest site and went up to the beginning of the Kundli-Manesar Palwal highway. Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor rally called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre's three farm laws. Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day. "A preliminary assessment suggests there was a pre-conceived and well coordinated plan to break the agreement reached between Delhi Police and the leaders of farmers organisations, to indulge in violent confrontation with the security forces, to breach the sanctity of iconic and historical structures and monuments and to create an international embarrassment for the government on the occasion of the Republic Day," the police said in a statement. According to an FIR registered in connection with violence the Red Fort incident, two magazines with 20 live cartridges were snatched from two constables by protestors who also damaged vehicles and robbed anti-riot gears. The FIR has been filed at the Kotwali police station in north Delhi. It said 141 security personnel were injured during the violence at Red Fort. The FIR stated that the protestors tried to snatch the guns but both the constables saved their weapons. They, however, could not save the magazines. "The mob tried to snatch the MP-5 gun of constable Bhawani Singh. However, he managed to save the gun but could not save the magazine which had 20 live rounds. Similarly, the mob also snatched the magazine with 20 live rounds of constable Naresh's SLR gun," the FIR stated. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at all the protest sites -- Singhu and Tikri -- with senior police officials saying that such arrangements have been made as part of measures in view of the January 26 violence. After the violence, the crowd at the Singhu and Tikri borders has visibly thinned amid heavy police deployment, even as farmer unions said it is because of protestors, who headed to Delhi for the January 26 march, returning home. The Singhu border, one of the major protest sites that has been home to thousands of farmers for over two months now, was on Thursday noticeably less populated than its pre version, or even before that. The number of tractors have reduced, so have the protestors, and the streets that were chock a block until last week, can now be walked through in no time. Farmers said it was because the protestors who had arrived specifically to participate in the tractor parade on January 26 had returned home. (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.) On Wednesday, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak took part in a meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Four states (Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia), held in the videoconference format. "During the meeting, the sides discussed steps that could intensify the process of establishing peace in Donbas," the presidential press service of Ukraine said on Wednesday. The sides agreed to continue consultations at the regular meetings at the level of advisers. [January 28, 2021] Centurion Health Earns URAC Telemedicine Accreditation VIENNA, Va., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Centurion Health announced today that its telehealth program has earned accreditation from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC), an independent organization that promotes healthcare quality through accreditation, certification and measurement. "Centurion is pleased to have earned URAC accreditation," said Steve Wheeler, CEO of Centurion Health. "Our commitment to leverage innovative technology that enhances patient care aligns well with the high standards set by URAC, and drives us to continuously improve our programs as we deliver high-quality healthcare to the patients we serve." Centurion's telehealth program spans eleven states with an average of 15,000 telehealth appointments per month. Telehealth programs provides numerous advantages to Centurion's patients and clients, including enhanced access to healthcare providers and specialty care services for patients, as well as reducing the number of resident transports from correctional facilities in support of public safety. Centurion Health is only the second correctional healthcare organization in the United States to achieve this distinction for its telehealth services. By achieving this accreditation status, Centurion has demonstrated a comprehensive commitment to quality care, impoved processes, and better patient outcomes. Telehealth is particularly advantageous for treating patients during the pandemic, and these services have allowed treatment to continue while many staff and patients follow social distancing and quarantine precautions. "By earning Telehealth Accreditation from URAC, Centurion Health is operating on the cutting edge of healthcare delivery," said URAC President and CEO Shawn Griffin, M.D. "Independent accreditation demonstrates Centurion can provide value-based care to more people, while meeting performance standards conceived by a broad array of telehealth stakeholders. As technology becomes more critical in achieving population health goals, Centurion blazes a trail that others will follow." About Centurion Health Centurion is a leading national provider of healthcare and behavioral health services to incarcerated populations and judicially-involved individuals. Centurion is committed to improving the health of its patients and communities through compassionate care and innovative health solutions. For more information on Centurion, please visit www.CenturionManagedCare.com. About URAC Founded in 1990, URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation. URAC is a nonprofit organization using evidence-based measures and developing standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare. Our portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the healthcare industry, addressing healthcare management, healthcare operations, health plans, pharmacies, telehealth providers, physician practices, and more. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/centurion-health-earns-urac-telemedicine-accreditation-301217053.html SOURCE Centurion Health [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Jennifer Byrne is stepping down as the host of Mastermind Australia. The 65-year-old will return for the conclusion of the second season on weeknights from February 15, after filming was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She will then pass the 'baton' on to Marc Fennell, who is best known for his work on SBS's The Feed and ABC's Download This Show. Time for a change: Jennifer Byrne is stepping down as the host of Mastermind Australia. The 65-year-old will return for the conclusion of the second season on weeknights from February 15, after filming was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic The Walkley award-winning journalist, 35, will front the third season of the series from February 22. He previously appeared on the show as a fill-in host in 2019 and starred as a celebrity contender, so knows 'first-hand how intimidating it can be.' 'While I may be the one holding the questions, I truly marvel at the gumption of the contenders. It's going to be intense,' Marc told SBS on Wednesday. 'The best part of being the quizmaster is seeing the wild diversity of obsessions and topics that the contenders bring with them. New blood: She will then pass the 'baton' on to Marc Fennell, who is best known for his work on SBS's The Feed and ABC's Download This Show 'I've been both a fill-in host and celebrity contender on Mastermind Australia, I know first-hand how intimidating it can be.' SBS Commissioning Editor Josh Martin commended Jennifer who has quizzed contenders since Mastermind was re-launched to Australian audiences in 2019. 'She leant the show her considerable intellect, warmth, and authority and we thank her for the instrumental role she has played in the show's success,' he said, Media Week reported. 'We're excited that the quizmaster baton will be passed on to SBS's own Marc Fennell, no stranger himself to the Mastermind hosting role, who will bring his own unique style and energy to this one-of-a-kind quiz show.' Specialty subjects for the finals week will include Monty Python's Life Of Brian, the Great Wall of China, Casablanca, Ozzy Osborne, the Spike Milligan War Memoirs, Kokoda Track Campaign and Joan of Arc. Mastermind Australia's second two semi-finals will return weeknights from February 15 at 6pm on SBS. It will be followed by an hour-long grand finale on February 19 at 7.30pm - and season three the following Monday at 7.30pm. Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 54F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then partly cloudy late. High 79F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Search to find new Lieutenant Governor The search is on to find a new Lieutenant Governor for the Isle of Man. Sir Richard Gozney is expected to stand down from the position later this year. The role of the lieutenant governor is traditionally held by a previously non-Island resident, to fulfil the criteria that the position is a completely objective one. The job description reads: "As Her Majesty The Queens personal representative and impartial adviser, the Lieutenant Governor is required to live in the Island and play a full and active part in Manx life, with particular emphasis on community and charitable affairs. "The role involves working closely with the Isle of Man Government to promote the Islands interests at public and social events, representing Her Majesty The Queen on ceremonial occasions and hosting Royal and VIP visits at the official residence, Government House. "The Lieutenant Governor is also required to perform a range of executive functions and to exercise delegated authority to give Royal Assent to primary legislation brought forward by the Islands parliament, Tynwald. "The successful candidate will be diplomatic and tactful in the discharge of official duties, and act as a discreet and lucid communicator to the Isle of Man and United Kingdom Governments, paying close attention to local political and societal sensitivities and protocols. "The role demands the ability to play a leading role in community life in the Island, and to be comfortable in doing so. Applicants must be a British citizen, an Irish citizen, a citizen of a Commonwealth country, or hold dual nationality, one of which falls in one of the previously stated categories, and must have a distinguished record of Crown, Public or other relevant service at the highest level." The Syrian Army has said that it has eliminated the terrorists who recently attacked civilian and military buses in Deir ez-Zor writes SANA. Syrian Arab Army units operating in Deir ez-Zor have killed eight terrorists that attacked public transport a few days ago in Kabajib area in Deir ez-Zors countryside and destroyed two of their vehicles, which are equipped with heavy machine guns. A military source, in a statement to SANA, said, After wide and precise combing and tracking operations, units of our brave armed forces were able to eliminate a terrorist group, which has recently attacked buses used by civilians and army personnel on the Deir ez-Zor- Palmyra highway, in the area of al-Shula and Kabajib, and two pickup vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns were destroyed and eight terrorists were killed. The source added, our armed forces continue to hunt the remnants of the terrorist group in the area after securing the Deir ez-Zor Palmyra international highway for the buses and citizens. On Tuesday evening, army units eliminated one of the terrorist groups, which in recent days attacked several vehicles used by civilians and army personnel on the Deir ez-Zor- Palmyra highway, martyring and injurying of a number of them. Those attacks came in synchronization with identical media reports that talked about the transporting hundreds of Islamic State terrorists by the US occupation forces from Iraq to the al-Tanf area to launch attacks against Syrian army personnel and citizens in the Syrian al-Badia. 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. I think vaping has become so commonplace, Higgins said. Now, weve been so focused on political agendas and politics, that its kind of gotten even though its an epidemic itself between COVID, the pandemic, and then the politics that have been going on and the election and all that, vaping has been one of those things that got lost in the shuffle. I think its really scary that we have an epidemic going on thats going to affect so many youth and their long-term health, and were not paying attention, were not focusing on it and protecting our kids. We need to protect our kids. Crude oil prices will trade in a range between $45 a barrel and $80 a barrel in the period until 2035, under a set of scenarios developed by the Russian energy ministry in a draft general plan for the gas industry. "Scenario conditions [imply] the range of oil prices from the lower to the upper limit - from $45 to $80 per barrel. This is a very significant range that allows us to see the boundary conditions in order to determine the measures, our actions in a particular scenario," said the director of the Oil Refining and Gas Processing Department at the Ministry of Energy, Anton Rubtsov, as quoted by TASS. Oil prices are important for gas development plans of this sort because long-term gas supply deals are calculated based on international oil prices. Yet long-term oil price forecasts are notoriously unreliable because of the sheer number of unforeseen events that can occur during that time. Right now, oil is once again on the rise, as the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a substantial crude oil inventory draw for last week and as new Covid-19 case numbers in the United States finally begin to decline. A move by President Joe Biden to temporarily ban oil and gas drilling on federal land contributed to the bullish sentiment. Yet the rally has been tempered by worry about the resurgence of the coronavirus in China, highlighting yet again the central importance of China for international oil markets. Banks, meanwhile, are also getting optimistic about the oil industry: lenders expect further price improvement as the pandemic subsides this year, which would, in turn, boost oil and gas revenues and reduce the number of loans in distress, Natural Gas Intel reported earlier this week. Of course, any further price recovery hinges on OPEC+ keeping the lid on production growth at least over the short term as much as it hinges on the hoped-for improvement in fuel demand after the pandemic. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Kneese: I would like to see change at the GME level with improvement in training for family physicians pertinent to their integration in the public health sector, whether through partnerships with Area Health Education Centers or better regulatory incentives to take on community health programming. I think that starts with capacity-building at the resident level. Smith: I think sometimes we struggle with other specialties not understanding family medicine or not being supportive of student choice in family medicine. Thats one thing Id like to see change. Yu: My school doesnt have a family medicine program, so we have amazing community doctors come in and talk to us regularly. One family doctors anecdote really resonated with me. Were in a major urban center where a lot of people dont understand the value of family medicine. We have specialists literally around the corner for every conceivable illness or issue. This doctor went to medical school knowing she wanted to do family medicine. After acing her board exam, she had a mentor ask why she was doing family medicine with that board score. She said because family doctors should be the smartest people in the room, given all the knowledge were supposed to have. Thats so true and has been my mantra as I battled my way through pre-clinical and prepare for my own board exam. Although a lot of doctors do know how important and how vital family medicine is, I would like to see a broader industry-level recognition that family medicine and primary care are the foundation of our health care system. We have a real sense of pride in our specialty, but as Corey said, I think its time that our health care system acts on its rhetoric on the importance of primary care. I hope we can take steps toward actuating this in the next five years. Smith: It makes it a better experience when you go into a rotation, and theyre instantly accepting with what you want to do. I remember being on my burn rotation and transplant rotations. They were like, Heck, yeah do family medicine and come learn about burn and transplant. It allowed me to be a more effective part of the team. Thats how were going to help each other in the future. AAFP News: You recently went through orientation training for the national FMIG Network. What did you learn, or what deepened your understanding or appreciation about family medicine? Boggs: I cant say it changed my excitement or motivation because that was already there. Orientation for me just affirmed my choice. Ive known through my work with the AAFP that there are thousands of students and physicians who are passionate about family medicine. To be surrounded with so much passion and all these great ideas made me happy. Yu: Talking about, What do you love about family medicine instead of, Why do you love it, was an awesome conversation to have. And it was incredible to see all the different ways people want to practice family medicine. In terms of the organization itself, I didnt realize the scope of resources the AAFP has just for medical students . Im excited to be a piece in that puzzle. Kneese: I loved how relationships permeate every aspect of the organization. Everybody knows somebody that someone else knows in family medicine. The AAFP as an organization is so welcoming, and the specialty reflects this relationally-dependent dynamic. Thats something to admire about us. Smith: I went through orientation last year, and this year I was kind of leading it. What made me appreciate family medicine this year was just how truly diverse family doctors are. We all came to the same conclusion on the topics we wanted to address. We all love the same specialty and are here to support it, but the conversations look so different. The backgrounds everyone has really influence how they want to change, impact and improve medicine for students. It made me appreciate the differences we see in each family doctor and each student. AAFP News: In that orientation meeting, AAFP EVP and CEO Shawn Martin mentioned the recent fee schedule updates and the largest increases in primary care payment in decades. What does that mean for students considering their specialty choices? Boggs: I dont know if the increase is substantial enough that theres going to be a wave of students who want to be family physicians, but I think it shows promise. If we can continue that momentum, I think well see a change commensurate with the number of people choosing family medicine. As one of our colleagues said, if family physicians were paid as much as orthopedic surgeons, we wouldnt be having this conversation. Smith: Its not going to create a big influx of people, but I do think it allows people to feel more confident in their choice. A lot of times the conversation is, My student loans are so high. It could be until my kids are in college before I pay them off. This means we have one more burden relieved with student load being able to be paid off, with the larger focus on payment reform. Kneese: For undecided folks going forward, this signals momentum in the right direction. I dont think theres ever going to be a hungry doc, but I do think theres some catching up to do for primary care. If you want to answer the call of your community, go into primary care. Yu: Its more about recognizing our own worth and the value of services we provide. What youre paying for in family medicine isnt procedures although family physicians can do procedures its the relationships that happen over a lifetime. Unfortunately, relationships are difficult to bill. I hope it eases the psychological and financial burden that many medical students and doctors bear, but I think we still have a ways to go before it seriously impacts specialty decision-making. AAFP News: What motivated you to take on a national leadership role to help build the workforce for family medicine? Boggs: I had leadership roles in SNMA, which focuses on the needs of minority medical students. Its not specific when it comes to medical specialties. It was an opportunity to engage with two organizations I love the AAFP and SNMA. Kneese: I got my first real taste when I applied for the Pisacano scholars program last year. Meeting family medicine leaders through the process revealed how small the world of family medicine can be, even at the national level. During my interviews, I learned so much about the relationships held between mentors of mine Id thought were disjointed. The interconnectivity was palpable, and I loved that feeling. Thus, when the call for national leadership came, and I said yes knowing I was joining a family of practitioners. Yu: As an undergraduate, I was a geology major. I loved learning about the planet and still do but the real draw was the incredible camaraderie and support between faculty, staff and students. Coming to medical school, that sense of community was something that I really looked for. I found it with my schools FMIG and I wanted to make sure that feeling was scalable. When our MS4 leader told me about her experience as a regional FMIG coordinator, it seemed exactly like the type of opportunity I was looking for. Smith: I had pleasure of meeting (AAFP Manager of Workforce Development and Student Initiatives) Ashley Bentley and (AAFP Board Chair) Gary LeRoy when they came to my medical school. They were so inspiring and cared so much about what was going on with students. I knew taking on a leadership role wouldnt be something that overwhelmed me or added to the stress of medical school but would be something that filled my cup. The long strides that the state has made on the path of sustainable development indicate that the political leadership is genuinely persuaded, based on real faith, that Egypt will not clash with international human rights principles and values. This bodes well for the countrys being able to build a strong state that can stand up against its enemies and be genuinely engaged in a contemporary international relations system that has never had much room for anyone except the strong. There is no doubt that many of the criticisms levelled at the Egyptian state in the field of human rights are politically motivated. Egypt cannot accept these criticisms as lessons in morality that should be embraced without inspecting the foreign agendas lying behind them, with these representing other interests besides Egypts national interest. Nevertheless, the Egyptian state has been making ceaseless efforts in order to reform the human rights situation in the country, and it is to be hoped that these will continue in order to promote the correct image of Egypt abroad. Some international human rights organisations have fallen into the trap of political polarisation. They have begun to promote an agenda unrelated to a correct understanding of human rights work, with this being a tool in the hands of some of the worlds major powers and one used to promote their interests. This has led to some of these powers, especially those that fund international human rights organisations, to see contemporary international relations solely in relation to their interests while overlooking the interests of the worlds various peoples. Egypt, with its unique contributions to human civilisation, should never be among those countries that are obliged to accept foreign agendas. International relations, properly understood, is a solid base for common interests and mutual respect. Respect for the centrality of human rights in the world order has also long been cherished. However, those same rights, when incorrectly understood, can be used to enforce political conditionalities, in other words interference in the comprehensive power that the state possesses military, economic, political and technological, and including soft power in order to dictate agendas that are not in its interests or in those of its people. What sanctions did the US, the only superpower in the world today, suffer as a result of the existence of the obnoxious Guantanamo Bay detention camp? Did not Washington receive secret assistance from regimes that have not ceased to advocate for human rights? Have any real human rights criticisms been levelled against China, the worlds second largest economy and predicted to be the largest in the world by 2030 at the expense of the US? Russias carving up of the Crimea was this stopped in its tracks as a result of international criticisms? Or has it, on the contrary, been successful in enhancing its economy? Russia has expanded its influence in the international arena, driven by its ambitious efforts to jump from 11th to fifth position in the world economy. There are also many other examples of success going hand in hand for states that possess a steely determination that does not weaken in the face of criticisms from contemporary international relations. Human rights will remain an important tool of contemporary international relations, but one that many times has masqueraded as singing the virtues of democracy. All of us have watched the violations of the values and principles of democracy that took place in the US recently, despite Washingtons insistence that these values and principles are basically American and its having used them as a cover to promote its interests in the international arena. The US insistence on staying at the top of the world order is undeniable, and its reliance on the concept of human rights to do so will not fade away as long as it succeeds in using these to drive other countries to submit in areas where its interests lie. The real conviction of the need to respect human rights should emanate from our own values and principles and be consistent with our desire to be compatible with universal human values. The world knows that Egypt faces huge challenges and dangers on the path towards its ambition to found a real democracy on which a modern civil state can be established. The international financial institutions have acknowledged Egypts success in implementing its economic reform programme, to the extent that it became one of the very few countries in the world, and the only one in the Arab region, that has achieved positive economic growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, showing that Egypt now has one of the worlds strongest economies. The matter then boils down to our capacity to overcome such challenges. The more successful we are in building a strong country, the more we can impose our national will on decisions taken in both the regional and international arenas without paying too much attention to the slanted criticisms coming from elsewhere. The writer is president of the Egyptian Organisation of Human Rights. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Catholic Reporter (NCR), an independent Catholic news source, published an editorial Thursday urging the Vatican to investigate the leadership of the more than 400 Catholic bishops in the United States. NCR said such action is warranted because of the bishops' failure to mount sufficient challenges to former President Donald Trump's policies in such areas as immigration, the death penalty and police violence against people of color. NCR also criticized a statement the bishops issued following President Biden's inauguration that was focused on abortion and various issues of gender and sexuality. "It's time for Pope Francis to order an apostolic visitation to investigate what has gone wrong with an organization that began during World War I as a model of cooperation and national audacity and is now a symbol of division and national embarrassment," the editorial maintained. NCR referenced a 2009 "apostolic visitation" by the Vatican aimed at Catholic sisters in the U.S., an inquiry the news organization characterized as misguided and never fully explained. The newspaper maintained that problems with the bishops' leadership should be of far more concern to the Vatican. The editorial listed a series of actions by the president of the bishops' conference, Archbishop Jose Gomez, including his failure to condemn white supremacy and his reluctance to single out former President Donald Trump by name. "The four years of the Trump administration revealed much about many people," NCR's editors wrote. "About the U.S. bishops' conference, they revealed a group unable to represent the full range of Catholic teaching and unfit to act in the name of American Catholics." The editorial concluded: "If the (bishops') conference leadership finds itself struggling with how best to welcome the visitation, perhaps they can ask a few sisters for advice." Throughout January, NCR is publishing a series of commentary articles challenging the Biden administration to pursue policies in concert with Catholic Social Teaching. The topics include abortion, the death penalty, gun control, LGBQT issues, health care, COVID-19, foreign policy, and the environment. Guest contributors include Sr. Simone Campbell, Sen. Tim Kaine, Tia Noelle Pratt, Rep. Linda Sanchez, Richard Trumka, and others. The articles are available at https://www.ncronline.org/feature-series/building-a-common-future/stories. The editorial calling for a Vatican investigation of the bishops' conference is posted here: http://ncronline.org/VaticanEditorial. About the National Catholic Reporter: The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) is an independent Catholic news organization founded in 1964. NCR publishes 26 issues a year in print and online daily at ncronline.org. CONTACTS: For information or interviews about Wednesday's editorial, contact NCR Executive Editor Heidi Schlumpf at [email protected] or International News Editor Joshua J. McElwee at [email protected]. SOURCE The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Related Links https://www.ncronline.org The government has decided to postpone the Environment Bill in a move criticised as creating 'significant uncertainty' for farmers and the wider rural sector. The long-awaited bill, first announced back in 2018 and now delayed for a third time, would be the biggest shake-up of UK environmental regulation in decades. The post-Brexit legislation seeks to put into law long-term binding targets for improving the environment and the natural world. But Ministers said postposing the bill was necessary because the Covid-19 pandemic left too little parliamentary time for scrutiny. Rebecca Pow, minister at Defra said: We remain fully committed to the environment bill as a key part of delivering the governments manifesto commitment to create the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth. "Carrying over the bill to the next session [of parliament] does not diminish our ambition for our environment in any way. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said the bill's delay would be 'hugely unhelpful' for farmers, landowners and the rural economy. The body said there was 'significant uncertainty' over how and when governments flagship environmental plans can be delivered with land managers now 'left in limbo'. "Farmers want to deliver positive environmental benefits on the land they manage, helping to reverse biodiversity decline and combat climate change," said CLA President Mark Bridgeman. "But many are relying on a move to the payments for public goods system, which is linked to key parts of the Environment Bill including local nature recovery networks. I am a lifelong Republican. Over the decades, I have given or raised more than $1 million for the GOP and its candidates including President George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain and Gov. Greg Abbott. I support the oil and gas industries. I own guns and love hunting. I stand with Israel. I am committed to free enterprise and owe my living to the small businesses and entrepreneurs who are my law firms clients. The guiding star behind my political activism has always been comprehensive immigration reform. As an immigration attorney in Houston, I can tell you that repairing our broken immigration system is critical to our local economy and to industries that depend heavily on immigrant labor, like agriculture, home health and hospitality. As a descendant of Mexican immigrants, I have too often felt the sting of ignorant, nativist words about Latinos from my fellow Republicans, but I always believed that somehow, ultimately, my party would see the benefits of codifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), implementing efficient guest worker programs, vetting the 11 million undocumented immigrants and regularizing their status. Thats what motivated me to meet with Donald Trump and his high command in the summer of 2016. His words that day were promising. He acknowledged that Latino immigrants fulfill a critical need by doing the work that others refuse to do. He agreed with me that doing nothing amounted to de facto amnesty since nobody had vetted the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here. He promised action. I bought it hook, line and sinker. I agreed to serve on Trumps Hispanic Advisory Council and went on Spanish language television to urge Latinos to give him a second look. After a few days, Trump went before an audience in Phoenix with a combative, red meat nativist stemwinder that left no doubt where he stood. This election is our last chance to secure the border, stop illegal immigration and reform our laws to make your life better, Trump shouted. He vowed no amnesty for undocumented migrants and promised to build a beautiful and impenetrable wall. Describing a nation besieged by illegal alien crime, he vowed a deportation task force that would identify and quickly remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens in America. I had been lied to and manipulated. I resigned from Trumps Hispanic Advisory Council immediately. I remained active with the Republican Party, though. I still believed that the commonsense, pro-business conservatives I knew in the GOP would eventually see Trumps angry carnival barking for what it is. As a Republican, watching thousands of Trump supporters invade the Capitol literally brought tears to my eyes. As the descendant of immigrants, I revere the United States Capitol and all it stands for. To see it desecrated at the urging of a Republican President broke my heart. To my dismay, once the insurrectionists were cleared from the building, the vast majority of the Texas Republican Congressional delegation Sen. Ted Cruz and 16 of Texas 22 House Republicans proceeded to do what the rioters demanded. They voted to ignore the election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania so they could turn the presidency over to Donald Trump. They might as well have joined the insurrectionists in smashing the windows and rampaging through the Capitol. These 17 Texas Republicans subverted our democracy to humor the delusions of a president who clearly lost by a landslide. If my fellow Republicans are so blind they can defy reality and ignore the legal votes of millions of American citizens, there is no way I can convince them of the rightness of comprehensive immigration reform. There is simply no room for me in the GOP any longer. So I will continue my efforts toward comprehensive immigration reform as a Democrat. I do so with my eyes open. I have plenty of differences with some extremists in my new political party, just as I did with the old one. For instance, I believe that the Green New Dealis a bad deal that would put radical politics ahead of our economic survival. While I do not agree with every word of some Democrats agenda, I am excited by President Bidens introduction of a sweeping immigration reform bill just hours after he was sworn in, and I am determined to help him pass it. Both political parties have always had their fringe elements, but without any guiding principle beyond mindless adherence to Trump, the GOP has surrendered itself to them. QAnon conspiracies have become mainstream in a party that has now unquestioningly adopted Trumps fantasies about the 2020 election. I will work with the vast majority of Democrats and the minority of Republicans to help President Biden pass a pro-business, comprehensive immigration plan that will reflect the nations center and our best instincts as a people. As for the Republicans? Enough. Im out. Monty is a Houston-based immigration lawyer and has been a longtime Republican activist. INDIANAPOLIS and TOKYO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation today announced a license agreement whereby Lilly will acquire the exclusive rights for AK1780 from Asahi Kasei Pharma. AK1780 is an orally bioavailable P2X7 receptor antagonist that recently completed Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose and clinical pharmacology studies. P2X7 receptors have been consistently implicated in neuroinflammation, a driving force in chronic pain conditions. Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will be responsible for future global development and regulatory activities for AK1780. Lilly will pay Asahi Kasei Pharma an upfront payment of $20 million and Asahi Kasei Pharma may be eligible for up to $210 million in potential development and regulatory milestones. Asahi Kasei Pharma will retain the right to promote AK1780 in Japan and China (including Hong Kong and Macau). If AK1780 is successfully commercialized, Asahi Kasei Pharma would be eligible for up to $180 million in potential sales milestones, as well as tiered royalties ranging from the mid-single to low-double digits. "Lilly is committed to developing novel medicines that may provide relief for patients suffering with various pain conditions," said Mark Mintun, M.D., vice president of pain and neurodegeneration research at Lilly. "We are pleased to license this molecule from Asahi Kasei Pharma, and look forward to developing it further as a potential treatment for neuroinflammatory pain conditions." "Asahi Kasei Pharma believes that nobody should have to give up what they would like to do because of illness," said Osamu Matsuzaki, senior executive officer and head of R&D and Business Development at Asahi Kasei Pharma. "AK1780 may contribute to a better life and living for people who suffer from chronic pain. Our agreement with Lilly will hopefully accelerate the development of this promising medicine." This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction will be reflected in Lilly's reported results and financial guidance according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). There will be no change to Lilly's 2021 non-GAAP earnings per share guidance as a result of this transaction. About Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation In accordance with the Asahi Kasei Group Mission of "Contributing to life and living for people around the world," Asahi Kasei Pharma operates pharmaceutical and diagnostic businesses in the Health Care Business Unit of the Asahi Kasei Group. Asahi Kasei Pharma has developed numerous innovative drugs in the field of orthopedics, acute care, neurology (including pain), and immunology, contributing to society by providing such products to patients who suffer from diseases. For more information, please visit https://www.asahikasei-pharma.co.jp/en/ About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com. C-LLY Lilly Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about the benefits of a license agreement between Lilly and Asahi Kasei Pharma and potential payments to Asahi Kasei Pharma in connection with the agreement, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any such undertaking, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that Lilly will realize the expected benefits of the agreement, or that the agreement will yield commercially successful products. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, please see Lilly's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links http://www.lilly.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. I am going to try to make this simple enough that all the campaign workers for Democrats, posing as journalists, politicians, entertainers, scientists, and professors, along with people like Bill Gates, AOC, Mark Zuckerberg, Al Gore, Pelosi, and even Joe and Kamala, can understand. One important fact to know is that a little ice age on Earth ended around 1850. It would be absolutely normal for temperatures to rise a little after an ice age ended. According to the people claiming that humans and oil consumption cause temperatures to rise, the temperature has risen one to two degrees between 1880, when scientists started measuring global temperatures, and today, which would be a minor rise after an ice age. Another significant fact is that during this 140-year period, there have been significant periods of warming and cooling. In other words, the temperature fluctuated close to the average. There was a cooling period so significant between the early 1940s and the mid-1970s that "experts" issued dire warnings on the first Earth Day in 1970 that billions would die soon from massive cooling. Shouldn't reporters question how accurate an average global temperature could be when there are so many factors involved? It is also an important fact to know that over the last 140 years, significant numbers of temperature-measuring stations have been moved from rural to urban areas. It should be obvious to everyone that urban areas with more buildings and cement will be warmer than rural areas with grass and trees. Therefore, the results are extremely skewed toward the warmer side, and all we have is a one- to two-degree rise. Another fact is that crude oil use was just beginning in the late 1800s, so consumption was near zero in 1880 and is near 100 million barrels today. Oil consumption has risen exponentially in an almost straight line up, while temperatures have fluctuated around a flat line. Therefore, there is absolutely zero correlation between oil consumption and temperatures, let alone a causation. It is also absolutely irrelevant to see the reports of ice caps melting or increasing. The Earth has had many long warming and cooling periods. Implying that the ice caps are melting because of humans and oil consumption without showing the correlation and causation is meant to indoctrinate, not inform. It is not factual science. The media, including the social media oligopolists, say they are blocking anyone who lies on their platforms. So why aren't they blocking all the people who claim that the science is settled? Why aren't they blocking all the liars who call people like me deniers? Not one of us denies that the climate is changing cyclically and naturally. These liars want to cut off debate because the facts would show they are 100% wrong. Biden talked recently about social equity for Indian tribes while simultaneously destroying them by blocking oil drilling on federal lands, which gives them huge amounts of money to feed themselves. Biden should change his slogan from "Build Back Better" to "Let's Make China, Russia, and Iran stronger". The media are cheering for all the executive orders. Where are all the journalists complaining about a president acting like a dictator? They continually demonized Trump as a dictator while he was trying to give the power, purse, and freedom back to the people as fast as possible, while they support Obama and Biden as they try to transfer as much power and money to the government as fast as possible. They intentionally mislead the public as they campaign for Democrats. In other words, they lie. When will supposed journalists do their jobs to research, question, and report instead of lobbying for specific agendas? The media are the existential threat to our survival, our freedom, our prosperity, and our democracy, not climate change. It is a true shame that we are watching a president who is trying to remake and destroy America as fast as he can while the loving journalists talk about his favorite ice cream and his pets. Everyone should stop calling radical leftist policies progressive to mislead the public that they are forward-looking. Policies that seek to destroy America are backward-looking and would truthfully be described as regressive, oppressive, and depressive. Image: max_gloin via Pixabay, Pixabay License. The White House said it was "outraged" Thursday after Pakistan's top court upheld the acquittal and ordered the release of the militant convicted of masterminding the 2002 beheading of US journalist Daniel Pearl. Joe Biden's administration is "outraged by the Pakistani Supreme Court's decision," his chief spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, underscoring the uneasy alliance between Washington and Islamabad, which has fractured many times over Islamist militancy. She called the ruling "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere" and demanded the Pakistani government "review its legal options." The White House statement came after Pakistan's Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who had been convicted of masterminding the brutal murder of Pearl, the South Asia bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, by jihadists. Pearl's killing -- which was filmed -- caused international shock and outrage. "The court has come out to say that there is no offense that he (Sheikh) has committed in this case," Mahmood Sheikh, who represented the accused, told AFP. A court order said that Sheikh along with three accomplices connected to the case should "be released forthwith," though it was not clear when that would happen. Pearl was researching a story about Islamist militants when he was abducted in the southern port megacity of Karachi in Sindh province in January 2002. Nearly a month later, after a string of ransom demands, a graphic video showing his decapitation was given to officials. Sheikh, a British-born jihadist who once studied at the London School of Economics and had been involved in previous kidnappings of foreigners, was arrested days after Pearl's abduction. He was later sentenced to death by hanging after telling a Karachi court that Pearl had already been killed days before the gruesome video of the journalist's beheading had been released. Story continues Pearl's family on Thursday called the decision to free him "a travesty of justice" and pleaded for US intervention in the case. "The release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan. We urge the US government to take all necessary actions under the law to correct this injustice," the family said in a statement. - 'Impunity' - Reporters Without Borders also slammed the ruling, saying that it "will remain as a symbol of the absolute impunity surrounding crimes of violence against journalists in this country." The ruling follows an outcry last year when a lower court acquitted the 47-year-old Sheikh of murder and reduced his conviction to a lesser charge of kidnapping -- overturning his death sentence and ordering him freed after almost two decades in prison. That sparked a series of petitions, including from Pearl's family, but the Supreme Court rejected them in the split decision Thursday, upholding the acquittal. For years Sheikh had denied personally killing Pearl, but the top court heard earlier this week that he had admitted in a handwritten letter from 2019 that was sent to a provincial court to having had a "minor role" . Lawyers for Pearl's family have argued that Sheikh played a crucial role in organizing the abduction and detention of the journalist, before ordering his captors to kill him. Defense lawyers, however, say he was a scapegoat and sentenced on insufficient evidence. Sheikh and the three other men have been held under emergency orders by the Sindh provincial government, which says they are a danger to the public. Late Thursday the Sindh government said it would file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict. It was not clear how long that might take, but Pakistan's attorney general said in a statement that the federal government "is extending full support" to the provincial government in the matter. - US 'ready to take custody' - Last month the then-US acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said Washington "stands ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial here." Psaki on Thursday said the United States recognizes "past Pakistani actions to try to hold Mr Pearl's murderers accountable and we do note that as of right now Omar Sheikh remains in detention." "We call on the Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options, including allowing the United States to prosecute Sheikh for the brutal murder of an American citizen and journalist." In January 2011, following an investigation into the killing, a report released by the Pearl Project at Georgetown University made chilling revelations, claiming that the wrong men were convicted for Pearl's murder. The investigation claimed the reporter was murdered by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The report also provided granular details about Sheikh's alleged role in orchestrating the kidnapping of Pearl. burs-sms-st/caw Bengaluru, Jan 28 : In a U-turn, Senior JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti on Thursday said that his party will back the anti-cow slaughter bill in the Karnataka Legislative Council, where it will be tabled. Horatti, who is tipped to be the next Chairman of the Legislative Council, said that both the BJP and the JD(S) have a majority in the Upper House and so the question to oppose the bill does not arise. "Will lend 100 per cent support to the anti-cow slaughter bill", he asserted. Horatti's statement comes in the wake of the BJP and JD(S) joining hands to oust the Congress from the Council Chairman's post. In December 2020, former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda announced that his party will "completely oppose" the bill, saying that it would "create unrest in the society" and "turn people's lives upside down". However, the party has now decided to join hands with the BJP to contest the Chairman's post. On Wednesday, the JD(S) and the BJP decided to support each other in the 75-member Legislative Council. With the BJP fielding its nominee M. K. Pranesh from Chikamagaluru for the Deputy Chairman's post, the BJP has clearly indicated that it will be supporting Horatti's candidature for the Chairman's post. The controversial Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly on December 9, last year, but it is yet to be tabled in the Legislative Council. This law imposes a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows in the state. The only slaughter allowed is of cattle suffering from contagious diseases or operated upon for experimental or research purposes and terminally-ill cattle. Besides, buffaloes above 13 years of age can be slaughtered only with certification from a competent authority. Beijing has signaled it will step up direct political control over Hong Kong, as ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping said the city must be ruled by "patriots." Xi told Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam that the "patriots ruling Hong Kong" was a fundamental part of Beijing's policy towards the city, adding that it affected national sovereignty and security. "The central governments comprehensive jurisdiction over the Special Administrative Region can only be achieved if patriots rule Hong Kong," state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as telling Lam during a duty trip to Beijing. He said this would resolve "deep-seated problems" in Hong Kong, in an apparent reference to the political opposition. Since China imposed draconian national security legislation on the city from July 1, 2020, authorities in Hong Kong have been cracking down on peaceful dissent, expelling pro-democracy lawmakers who protested in the Legislative Council (LegCo) and arresting people for subversion, secession, sedition and collusion with foreign powers over social media posts. Xi's comments came as the city's government confirmed that members of the District Council, which saw a landslide victory for pro-democracy parties in November 2019, will be required to swear oaths of allegiance. Claims that oaths of allegiance weren't honored have been used to strip several elected LegCo members of their seats, eventually prompting the mass resignation of the entire opposition camp in December 2020 in protest. District councilors have told RFA that the administration has been doing everything in its power to undermine the councils since the last election, to the extent of denying funding and setting up 'shadow' councils staffed with Beijing's supporters. 'A political struggle' Southern District Council chairman Lo Kin-hei, who also leads the Democratic Party, said the authorities have succeeded in neutralizing LegCo, and have now turned their attention to the District Council, as a last bastion of political opposition in the city. "This is a political struggle," Lo told RFA. "LegCo can no longer fight, so the fight has moved to the District Council." "The trouble is that the district councils weren't designed for political struggle, but to reflect the opinions of local communities and to take care of people's livelihoods," he said. Hong Kong political commentator To Yiu-ming said the CCP will have total control over who is considered a "patriot." "This means they can remove democrats or dissidents from LegCo or the District Council just by labeling them unpatriotic," To told RFA. "There will be more disqualifications." 'Social work' department Meanwhile, a report on the HK01 news website said Beijing's Central Liaison Office in Hong Kong would step up its direct involvement in the daily life of the city with the establishment of a "social work" department. "This has been happening since the beginning of this year, via personnel changes, since Luo Huining took over [as head of the office]," To said. "It has now become much clearer what the agenda is." "They will be taking a much larger role in decision-making in Hong Kong in future, and specifically intervene in community business, like a party committee directing the work of the Hong Kong government," he said. "They're not even pretending that this is one country, two systems any more." Meanwhile, a court in West Kowloon sentenced activist Koo Sze-yiu to four months in prison on Thursday for "desecrating the national flag." Koo, 74, was accused of displaying a tainted national flag when he showed up outside court in July last year in support of pro-democracy activists, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai and 14 others charged with protest-related offenses, government broadcaster RTHK reported. The court found that the flag had been marked words including "white terror" and "fascist terror," and that Koo, who has stage four colorectal cancer, had held it upside down. Reported by Gigi Lee for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan (File photo) Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday that more COVID-19 vaccines are on their way to be introduced in India after the country launched the world's biggest vaccination drive with two made-in-India shots earlier this month. Addressing the 4th edition of the Future Investment Initiative Forum being hosted in Riyadh through video conference, Vardhan informed that Serum Institute will supply COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to Saudi Arabia. He said it is evident that the current crisis will reshape the world as one knew. "Mankind will only remember one thing from the year 2020 that is the deadly virus that created devastation across the world. But at the same time, it will also be remembered how science and healthcare sectors came to the rescue in a record time," he said. The health minister said the pandemic has also resulted in heightened nationalism, but it has also shown us how important global cooperation is for everyone. 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, never before innovation and technology were so relevant to our lives, he said. Vardhan said the pandemic also forced everyone to come out of denial regarding damages to the environment. "The lesson to humankind is very clear that health is more important than anything else. We never earlier realised how global cooperation is important for all of us. So, we must realise that the rewards must be distributed everywhere, regardless of when it is developed," he added. Another impact of the pandemic has been a rapid expansion of telemedicine facilities and this crisis has given rise to a large number of health start-ups, he said. At the same time, it also calls for a greater security net against medical expenses, he said. The minister said India launched the world's largest vaccination drive on January 16 with two vaccines made in India and more are in progress to be introduced soon. He also informed everyone present that Serum Institute will supply Covishield to Saudi Arabia. He also assured the investors that the pace of progress in India will continue on an upward trajectory. On India's indigenous innovations and contributions in digital health tools to monitor COVID-19 management,Vardhan noted, "The aarogya setu app is being used by over more than 160 million Indians through their smart phones. Bluetooth tracing technology is used to analyse and find COVID hotspots and alert the local administration in advance under the ITIHAS+AS patch of Aarogya Setu App." Explaining this achievement in terms of the broader vision of integrating innovation in healthcare, he continued, We have also tried at many levels to strengthen this culture through start-up challenges or Hackathons for the youth, where they experience innovation themselves. Today, a comprehensive eco-system from research and development to tech-entrepreneurship is being prepared in India." Summing up India's efforts in strengthening of infrastructure for global growth, the Union Health Minister stated that India has rolled out a special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 2 million crore which is equivalent to 10 per cent of India's GDP under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and in the health sector, the fund is targeted towards increased investments in public health and health reforms to prepare India for future obstacles. Expanding on the scope of this economic package on public health, he said, "Duly monitoring the evolving situation, India will roll out a sustained and planned investment in public healthcare delivery system to develop and strengthen health systems across a continuum of care to meet challenges of current and future pandemics." A woman needed 15 stitches after being blasted in the head with a water cannon during Dutch anti-lockdown protests. Footage filmed on a street in Eindhoven showed the moment that Denisa Stastna took the full force of a jet of water that was fired from a police truck on Sunday. The Czech national was left with a fractured skull, more than 15 stitches in her head and an injured lip after the blast of water flung her against the side of a building. She and her boyfriend claim they had merely been filming and were not taking part in the protests - but authorities say they should have left the area under an emergency order to disperse the crowds. Czech national Denisa Stastna is seen bloodied after being blasted with a water cannon when she was filming protests in the Dutch city of Eindhoven Stastna claims she and her boyfriend were filming protests in Eindhoven when she was blasted by the water cannon. The impact broke her skull and she needed 15 stitches Denisa's boyfriend Michael Piksel insisted that the pair 'were never out for violence', according to radio station Omroep Brabant. 'It hurts that we are dismissed as troublemakers, hooligans or Pegida supporters,' he said, referring to the anti-Islam group which was involved in the protests. Denisa herself said: 'We just stood there filming and walked away. They had no right to use the water cannon on us.' Asked what they were protesting about, she said: 'Against nothing'. The couple is now planning to take action against the police after footage of her injury was broadcast in Dutch media. Denisa can be seen being blasted in the head with a jet from the water cannon as protesters gathered in the Dutch city of Eindhoven The Czech national's head bounced off a concrete wall behind her, which fractured her skull and left her needing 15 stitches Denisa collapsed on the floor after being hit. She said she is taking action against the Dutch police for her injuries But a spokesman for Dutch prosecutors said there were 'several announcements' telling people to leave under emergency rules during the protests. Hundreds of people have now been arrested after rioters - using rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails - besieged Dutch cities for four days to protest a tough lockdown which has been in place since mid-December. The rioting, which started with the torching of a coronavirus testing centre in a fishing village on Saturday night, is the worst to hit the Netherlands in years. Though the unrest was initially triggered by the restrictive lockdown, calls for rioting on social media spread among young people increasingly fuelled the rampage. Schools have been closed in the country since the Christmas holidays. The violence stretched the police and led at times to the deployment of military police. Politicians from Suwedia have called for negotiations between all the parties in Syria and said that it is not too late for reconciliation writes North Press. Politicians and dignitaries from the city of Suweida, southern Syria, believe that the only solution to the ongoing war in Syria is to promote dialogue with all parties and move away from the exclusionary policy pursued by the Syrian government. According to these politicians, the opportunity still exists for the Damascus government to extend the bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and dialogue with the parties to the conflict in Syria. Exclusion policy Ismail Khater, a notable of the city of Suweida, told North Press that meeting and networking with all Syrians, despite their differences, is the only way to reduce the political and military rivalries among the parties. He believed that solidarity and understanding cannot be achieved as long as there are those who continue to pursue the ideology of tyranny and control over others and impose a vision that does not fit the demographics of Syria. On Sunday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, said, the political process, so far, is not yet delivering real changes in Syrians lives, nor a real vision for the future. As I emphasized many times, it is now clear that no one actor or group of actors can impose their will on Syria or settle the conflict alone, they must work together. Omar al-Hassoun, a political analyst based in Istanbul, told North Press in a previous interview, All Pedersen did was force opposition leaders to compromise, provoke them, and perhaps pressure them to accept what suits the Syrian regime. Meanwhile, officials of Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said that the Syrian government still hold on to the idea of returning to pre-2011, without considering the displacement of half of the countrys population and the destruction of most of the infrastructure in Syria as a result of the war. Khater believes that the Syrian government, despite the crisis and the tension between it and other Syrian parties, cannot continue the policy of exclusion pursued by it, which does not produce a civilized Syrian homeland. Monopoly of power Fahd Ridwan, a politician from the city of Suweida, said that the dialogue would break the state of political and economic monopoly in the country. It also misses the opportunity for international and regional players to drag the country into geopolitical and military areas of influence and make it sustainable for them, he added. He believes that the international actors, such as Russia and the US, and regional actors such as Iran, Turkey, and Israel are not seeking to promote a modern democratic state but rather aim to extend their influence, control the countrys resources and wealth, and achieve their political interests. Ridwan does not expect that consensuses and understandings will emerge between the parties to the conflict in the short term, as long as the Syrian government deals with the stifling and complicated political and economic crisis, which falls on the Syrian governments deaf ears, referring to its lack of acceptance of reading the facts on the ground. Abdi Shams (a pseudonym), a political activist residing in the countryside of Suweida, accused the ruling Baath Party of preparing for the countrys current situation for decades. He pointed out that the ruling party made uniquely lax and immature economic decisions and plans, in addition to the inherent corruption within its leadership, which made the population poorer at the expense of its survival in power. The political activist recalled the 1962 census conducted by the Syrian government which stripped tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds in the al-Jazira region of their Syrian citizenship, only because they are of a different nationality that does not correspond to the culture of the Baath Party. He added that the Syrian government does not represent the Syrian people, but rather a family that sought to devote power to itself and not others. 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. The Peoples National Movement (PNM) was plunged into mourning yesterday with the death of party stalwart Joycelyn Bodden from Covid-19. Bodden was described as a committed and selfless soldier who was the PNMs longest-serving welfare officer. Bodden, a pillar in the PNM who was in her 70s, passed away at the Couva Hospital at 2 a.m. yesterday. So often with public officials, its what they dont say that proves more important than what is said. Its the absence of conviction, the lack of a firm commitment or stance that is the real tell, not some general acknowledgment of the obvious. Consider Gov. Greg Abbotts recent rhetoric about criminal justice reform. He drew attention during a news conference when he acknowledged that people languish in jail pretrial for low-level, nonviolent crimes simply because they have no money for bail. But he has offered little in the way of reform for this problem except the observation that it will again be the subject of debate this legislative session. In other words, no outward endorsement of bail reform such as we have seen in Harris County and which is desperately needed here in Bexar County. What Abbott has endorsed is a revival of the Damon Allen Act to better ensure people accused of violent crimes who pose a risk to the public do not secure pretrial release. The fact is Texas has a broken bail system that allows dangerous criminals to go free, Abbott said. Allen, a state trooper, was killed on Thanksgiving 2017 during a routine traffic stop in Freestone County. The suspect had been released at that time on a $15,500 bond for allegedly assaulting a county deputy. To be clear, we dont want defendants who are potentially dangerous to the public to be released pretrial, either. We share Abbotts goal and frustration on that front, just as we share his anguish about Allens killing. But the governors focus on violent crime is woefully incomplete. Those accused of dangerous crimes who secure bail and those accused of nonviolent crimes who languish in jail because they are poor represent two sides of the same cash bail coin. Its a system that measures wealth, not risk. To underscore this point, once again we return to the stunning prose of Judge Edith Brown Clement of the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who in 2018 described two defendants charged with the same crime, one wealthy and the other poor. As a result, the wealthy arrestee is less likely to plead guilty, more likely to receive a shorter sentence or be acquitted, and less likely to bear the social costs of incarceration, she wrote. The poor arrestee, by contrast, must bear the brunt of all of these, simply because he has less money than his wealthy counterpart. This is the case for bail reform. Its an inherently unequal form of justice. Why should Abbott speak with equal force about about both sides of bail reform? Because his words matter. As we witnessed last session, the Trooper Damon Allen Act went nowhere partly because it lacked any language to address bail reform for those accused of nonviolent offenses. This would include underscoring the presumption of innocence and requiring bail conditions be as least restrictive as possible. While violent crime is horrifying and grabs our attention, the reality is our criminal justice system is swamped with people accused of nonviolent offenses. Research has demonstrated that people who languish in jail pretrial become disconnected from their jobs and families, and are more likely to end up in jail again. As a 2016 Harvard Law School primer on money bail makes clear: Unnecessary jailing also undermines community safety. Statistical studies have shown that similarly situated, low-risk individuals are actually more likely to commit new crimes following release. In other words, reforming the bail system for nonviolent crimes is also a way to prevent future crimes. Acknowledging bail reform is not enough, governor. Infinium Spirits signs exclusive distribution deal with WEBB Banks California-based Infinium Spirits has announced an agreement with premium spirits distributor WEBB Banks. The deal will see WEBB Banks take on exclusive distribution of the Infinium Spirits portfolio in the Americas, the Caribbean basin, select Central American markets, and cruise lines. It represents a major milestone for Infinium Spirits as its global portfolio - which includes Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Templeton Rye American Whiskey, Zaya Rum and Tears of Llorona Tequila - continues to expand. Shane Fitzharris, senior vice president-general manager of Infinium Spirits, said: "We are very excited to start working exclusively with WEBB Banks through their international route to market. This marks an important step for Infinium Spirits as we continue to expand the global footprint of our portfolio. "Our strategic partnership with WEBB Banks will allow our award-winning spirits portfolio to further build brand equity and global growth through their existing channels with a specific focus on the travelling consumer." WEBB Banks CEO Andy Consuegra added: "We are very proud and honoured to add Templeton Rye, Skrewball, Zaya Rum and Tears of Llorona to the WEBB Banks portfolio, and we welcome Infinium Spirits as a valued partner... our goal will be to drive growth for Infinium Spirits products in the Caribbean and Central American domestic market, and the travel retail channel through our extensive distribution network." 28 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark A Chinese government spokesperson Wednesday urged the U.S. government to prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a query about a recent statement relating to Taiwan issued by the U.S. State Department. The Taiwan question concerns China's core interests and the Chinese people's national sentiments, and is the most important and sensitive core issue in China-U.S. relations, said Zhu, urging the U.S. side to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority in Taiwan has been colluding with external forces and making provocative moves to seek "Taiwan independence" over the past years, Zhu said. "That is the root cause of the current complex and severe cross-Strait relations." The DPP authority should adhere to the 1992 Consensus and stop such provocations, which is the only way to improve the cross-Strait relations and achieve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Zhu added. Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is one of the most awaited smartphones this year and a new leak has revealed its design and cameras. The Mi 11 was launched as the first phone powered by the Snapdragon 888 processor back in December 2020 but the Mi 11 Pro was a no-show. There are also rumours about a purported Mi 11 Lite that could make its debut in Thailand, followed by India soon. As per a post that was shared on Weibo, the Mi 11 Pro is shown in four colours with a large camera module on the back. Interestingly, the picture indicates that the Mi 11 Pro is slated to have a periscope lens in addition to three other cameras. Meanwhile, the text on the camera module hints at 120x digital zoom. Mi 11 Pro could launch in February Previous reports suggest that the Mi 11 Pro could also offer 10x optical zoom while the display is expected to be the same as the Mi 11. Additionally, there are speculations that Xiaomi could be planning to bring 80W wireless charging support to the Mi 11 Pro. The company has already unveiled it's 80W wireless fast charging solution back in October 2020, so it is likely to debut on an upcoming flagship phone. The Mi 11 Pro has been rumoured to launch sometime in February, however, there is no official word from Xiaomi yet. The company is preparing for a global launch of the Mi 11 after which it should arrive in other markets outside of China. The Mi 11 Pro is expected to be a slightly upgraded version of the Mi 11 with improved cameras and fast wireless charging support. The Mi 11 was launched on December 28 as the worlds first phone to be powered by the next-generation Snapdragon 888 processor. The Mi 11 features a 6.81-inch QHD+ (3200x1400 pixels) resolution display that uses an AMOLED panel with support for 120Hz refresh rate. The screen is also topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus for added protection. Xiaomi Mi 11 is equipped with triple cameras on the back that includes a primary 108MP camera with an f/1.85 aperture, a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 123-degree field-of-view and a 5MP macro camera. On the front, there is a 20MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout. The Mi 11 has a 4,600mAh battery to boot and supports 55W fast charging along with 50W fast wireless charging. You can read more about Mi 11 here. A man called out for help in a crowded market in central Baghdad last Thursday, and, when people had gathered around him to offer help, he set off explosives he was wearing around him, attached to belts. The incident, described as twin attacks in the international media, has raised fears of a new sectarian conflict in Iraq between Shia government forces and the Sunni Islamic State (IS) militant group. IS has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was meant to target apostate Shias. This was the first terrorist attack in the countrys capital in three years, though they are still routine events in northern areas of Iraq and in the countrys Western Desert, mainly targeting the security forces. Andrew Mumford, a professor of war studies at the University of Nottingham in the UK, said the bombings represent a reminder that the threat from the group has never actually gone away. Although [former US president] Donald Trump kept referring to the group as defeated, it still retained large financial resources and thousands of loyal fighters, as well as a sense of unfinished business. The attacks are a stark warning to new American President Joe Biden that he cannot forget about the latent threat Islamic State poses. After the fall of its self-proclaimed caliphate, the group is degraded but not destroyed, Mumford, an expert on Iraq, said. A similar view was shared by Nate Rosenblatt, a researcher at Nuffield College of Oxford University in the UK who previously lived in Iraq. He told Al-Ahram Weekly that most IS activity centred around the governorates of Diyala, Salaheddin and Kirkuk, with the IS ambush of the security services in Diyala on 23 January being a typical example of the threat they pose. Rosenblatt said that if attacks in Baghdad became more than one-off incidents, then the Iraqi government and counter-terrorism services (CTS) could face pressure to take more urgent action against IS. If the CTS is not prepared to do so, it may set the grounds for IS forces to entrench themselves in territory they de facto control north of the capital, he warned. However, Kevin Jones, a history scholar at the University of Georgia in the US, does not necessarily see these bombings as foreshadowing a major shift in the conflict in Iraq. Like many terror attacks, this operation seems to have been designed to provoke an overreaction on the part of the government. If the state responds by executing large numbers of IS prisoners or arresting large numbers of Sunni civilians in retaliation, the group will once again attempt to present themselves as the defenders of Iraqi Sunnis against the sectarian assault of state forces and Shia militias, Jones said. For now, he noted, the attacks seem like a bit of dead cat bounce from a diminished and faltering terrorist group. Backed by the United States and the Iraqi Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the Iraqi government said in December 2017 that its territory has been completely liberated from IS control after the latter had managed to occupy large parts of Iraq and Syria three years earlier. The government said that its forces had secured the Western Desert and the border with Syria. The announcement was welcomed by Washington, with US special envoy to the US-led Coalition fighting IS in Iraq, Brett McGurk, congratulating then Iraqi prime minister Haider Al-Abadi and the Iraqi people on this significant achievement, which many thought impossible. After the war, which led to the displacement of 3.2 million people, many IS militants reportedly fled to rural areas of Syria. Others, according to some reports, went to Turkey. But the end of the IS chapter in Iraq was followed by diminishing security support by the Americans to Baghdad. One year later, former US president Donald Trump expressed eternal gratitude for the military work conducted by US troops in Iraq, but stressed that were no longer the suckers. Trump said that America shouldnt be doing the fighting for every nation on earth, signalling his intention to withdraw US troops from Iraq. In November 2020, in a move that caused concerns about an IS comeback, the Trump administration said it would withdraw thousands of US troops from both Iraq and Afghanistan by January this year. By May, it is president Trumps hope that they will all come home safely and in their entirety, then US national security adviser Robert OBrien stated. I want to reiterate that this policy is not new. This has been the presidents policy since he took office, OBrien said. The decision was not only followed by the conclusion of the fighting against IS in Iraq, but also with peace talks with the Taliban group in Afghanistan. Trump should not be held solely responsible for the smaller US military role in the region, for the withdrawal of the US troops was initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama following the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in 2011. At the time, there were more than 100,000 US troops in the region, and a process of gradual withdrawal began to take place after the Bin Laden operation. It is not yet known what new US President Joe Biden, Obamas former vice-president, will do in Iraq. He has appointed Lloyd Austin as US defence secretary, a man who served as the commander of the US troops in Iraq in 2010, when the Americans had 50,000 troops in the country. According to the New York Times, Austin believed that more than 5,000 US troops had to stay in Iraq to back the Iraqi military, something which Obama rejected in his decision to evacuate them in 2011. Rosenblatt believes that Biden is well aware of the risk of an IS resurgence in Iraq given increases in the groups activities in Syria and Iraq during the latter half of 2020. I do not think it changes the Biden administrations overall approach towards Iraq, but it may perhaps increase its urgency, he said. Jones agreed that Thursdays human tragedy will not change the policy calculus of the Biden administration in any significant way. It seems safe to predict that the Biden administration wants to improve relations with Iran somewhat, to improve security coordination with the Iraqi government and to avoid at all costs any deeper entanglement of US troops in Iraq. Any real resurgence of the Islamic State group would only increase the administrations incentives to work more closely with both Iran and Iraq, he said. As pressure for and against rejoining the JCPOA [the nuclear deal with Iran] continues to mount, a coordinated campaign against the Islamic State group would strengthen the bargaining position of Iran and weaken the Israeli demand that Iran cease all aid to Shia militias in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon as a precondition for restoring the JCPOA status quo ante, he concluded. *A version of this article appears in print in the 28 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: It was previously thought that collisions between galaxies would necessarily add to the activity of the massive black holes at their centers. However, researchers have performed the most accurate simulations of a range of collision scenarios and have found that some collisions can reduce the activity of their central black holes. The reason is that certain head-on collisions may in fact clear the galactic nuclei of the matter which would otherwise fuel the black holes contained within. When you think about gargantuan phenomena such as the collision of galaxies, it might be tempting to imagine it as some sort of cosmic cataclysm, with stars crashing and exploding, and destruction on an epic scale. But actually it is closer to a pair of clouds combining, usually a larger one absorbing a smaller one. It's unlikely any stars within them would collide themselves. But that said, when galaxies collide, the consequences can be enormous. Galaxies collide in different ways. Sometimes a small galaxy will collide with the outer part of a larger one and either pass through or merge, in either case exchanging a lot of stars along the way. But galaxies can also collide head-on, where the smaller of the two will be torn apart by overpowering tidal forces of the larger one. It's in this scenario that something very interesting can happen within the galactic nucleus. "At the heart of most galaxies lies a massive black hole, or MBH," said Research Associate Yohei Miki from the University of Tokyo. "For as long as astronomers have explored galactic collisions, it has been assumed that a collision would always provide fuel for an MBH in the form of matter within the nucleus. And that this fuel would feed the MBH, significantly increasing its activity, which we would see as ultraviolet and X-ray light amongst other things. However, we now have good reason to believe that this sequence of events is not inevitable and that in fact the exact opposite might sometimes be true." It seems logical that a galactic collision would only increase the activity of an MBH, but Miki and his team were curious to test this notion. They constructed highly detailed models of galactic collision scenarios and ran them on supercomputers. The team was pleased to see that in some circumstances, an incoming small galaxy might actually strip away the matter surrounding the MBH of the larger one. This would reduce instead of increase its activity. "We computed the dynamic evolution of the gaseous matter which surrounds the MBH in a torus, or donut, shape," said Miki. "If the incoming galaxy accelerated this torus above a certain threshold determined by properties of the MBH, then the matter would be ejected and the MBH would be starved. These events can last in the region of a million years, though we are still unsure about how long the suppression of MBH activity may last." This research could help us understand the evolution of our own Milky Way. Astronomers are confident our galaxy has collided with many smaller ones before. ### Journal article Yohei Miki, Masao Mori and Toshihiro Kawaguchi. Destruction of the central black hole gas reservoir through head-on galaxy collisions. Nature Astronomy. DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-01286-9 - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-01286-9 Funding details This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) (16002003), by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) ((S) 20224002; (A) 21244013; (C) JP17K05389), JSPS KAKENHI grant nos. JP20K14517 and JP20K04022, and by NAOJ Research Coordination Committee (20DS-0502). Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Page Content The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo will tomorrow, 18 July 2020, handover a Temporary Relocation Unit (TRU) to Gogo Nofezile Maqokolo (72) in Ivory Park as part of celebrating International Nelson Mandela Day. Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated annually to honour the legacy of the anti-apartheid icon. This day also seek to encourage society to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them. Gogo Nofezile met Mayor Makhubo at the beginning of the year during an Imbizo and expressed her concerns with her current poor living condition. Upon assessing Gogos living condition, the City of Johannesburg intervened and will be donating a unit to ensure a dignified living condition for Gogo Nofezile and family. Members of the Media are invited to attend as follows: Date: 18 July 2020 Venue: 59 Lokologa Road, Ivory Park ext.9 Time: 11:30 For more information and confirmation of attendance please contact: Mildred (Milly) Matlou Media Specialist: Mayoral Communications Cell: 063 257 0030 Or Neo Goba Deputy Director: Communications and Stakeholder Manager Housing Department Cell: 073 246 8008 Regulatory News: Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) will host a live audio webcast at www.pmi.com/2020Q4earnings on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. ET to discuss its 2020 Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year results, which will be issued at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET the same day. During the webcast, Emmanuel Babeau, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the company's results, the outlook for 2021 and along with Andre Calantzopoulos, Chief Executive Officer and Jacek Olczak, Chief Operating Officer, will answer questions from the investment community and news media. The webcast will be in a listen-only mode. An archived copy of the webcast will be available until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 5, 2021, at www.pmi.com/2020Q4earnings. Slides and script will also be available at www.pmi.com/2020Q4earnings. Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships a version of its IQOS Platform 1 device and its consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized their marketing as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of September 30, 2020, PMI estimates that approximately 11.7 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMI's heat-not-burn product, available for sale in 61 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005808/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations: New York: +1 (917) 663 2233 Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4666 Media: Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4500 Email: Iro.Antoniadou@pmi.com In another shocking ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has held that the act of holding a girl's hands and opening the zip of pants will not come under the definition of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. Yes, you read that right. Holding girl's hand, unzipping pants doesn't fall under purview of 'sexual assault' or 'aggravated sexual assault' of POCSO Act; at the most, it falls under 'outraging modesty', 'sexual harassment': Bombay HC Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2021 Instead, the act comes under the ambit of sexual harassment under Section 354-A (1) (i) of the Indian Penal Code, observed the bench. Heres what happened The ruling was pronounced by a single bench of Justice Pushpa Ganediwala in a criminal appeal against the conviction and sentence awarded to a 50-year-old man for molesting a five-year-old girl. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that holding the hands of a minor girl and opening the zip of her pants does not fall under the purview of 'sexual assault' or 'aggravated sexual assault' of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The observation was made by a single bench of Justice Pushpa Ganediwala on January 15 while passing an order on an appeal filed by a 50-year-old man challenging a sessions court's order convicting him for sexually assaulting and molesting a five-year-old girl. The convict, Libnus Kujur, was in October 2020 convicted under sections 354-A (1)(i) (outraging modesty) and 448 (house-trespass) of the IPC and sections 8 (sexual assault), 10 (aggravated sexual assault) and 12 (sexual harassment) of the POCSO Act. He was sentenced to five years in jail. In her judgement, Justice Ganediwala noted that while the prosecution has established that the accused entered the house of the girl with an intention to outrage her modesty or sexually harass her, it has not been able to prove the charge of 'sexual assault' or 'aggravated sexual assault'. The high court noted that the definition of "sexual assault" under the POCSO Act says that there has to be "physical contact with sexual intent without penetration". "The acts of 'holding the hands of the prosecutrix (victim)', or 'opened zip of the pant' as has been allegedly witnessed by the prosecution witness (mother of the girl), in the opinion of this court, does not fit in the definition of 'sexual assault'," Justice Ganediwala said. The high court further said that the facts of the present case are not sufficient to fix the criminal liability on the accused (Kujur) for the alleged offence of aggravated sexual assault. "At the most, the minor offence punishable under section 354-A(1)(i) of the IPC read with section 12 of the POCSO Act is proved against the appellant (Kujur)," the court said. Heres how people reacted to this on Twitter: Just want to the image of this judge !!!! suchetan roy (@suchetanroy1) January 28, 2021 Looks like he is from Sanghi Parivar suchetan roy (@suchetanroy1) January 28, 2021 Who is the judge? Rajagopalan T (@RajagopalanT1) January 28, 2021 Seems like Bombay Court is High on Something else... Too Much Democracy (@L0ST_IN_CINEMA) January 28, 2021 With due apology, this decision - order will disturb law & order situation in society and will promote such more violence. Plus I feel it's a indirect insult to ladies. Some womens wing should appeal against this judgement. Sorry if words did hurt anyone. #WomensRights #women Manish Dewan (@manishdewan) January 28, 2021 Excuse me? Anything against a person's consent should be considered an assault. And is that gonna be given a free pass? 'Cause honestly rape victims aren't getting justice, even god won't know when these minor cases will be handled . Geetanjali (@_Geetanjali__) January 28, 2021 Pata nhiji konsa nasha karte hai... shivangi vats (@shivangivats13) January 28, 2021 The prosecution's case is that Kujur had on February 12, 2018 entered the house of the victim when her mother had gone to work. When the mother returned from work, she found the accused holding the hand of her daughter with the zip of his pants open. The mother, while recording her evidence in the lower court, had said that her daughter had informed her that the accused person had removed his private part from the pant and asked the victim to come to bed for sleeping. The high court ended Kujur's conviction under sections 8 and 10 of POCSO Act, but upheld his conviction under the other sections. Another judgment passed by Justice Ganediwala this month acquitting a 39-year-old man for groping a minor girl, noting that there was no "skin-to-skin contact with sexual intent" has faced severe flak. The Supreme Court had, on Wednesday, stayed operation of this order after Attorney General KK Venugopal mentioned the matter submitting that it was a very disturbing conclusion by the Bombay High Court. What are your thoughts on this? Dont forget to tell us in the comments below. Newly sworn-in President of the United States, Joe Biden showcased his diplomatic skills in a recent press conference where he smoothly deflected a question asked to him by a reporter. On Tuesday, the Democrat leader was asked about what he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a recent call between the leaders. The query was posed by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. The 78-year-old leader was leaving at the time the question was asked and answered, "You". The response prompted laughter from the reporters. Biden further said, "He sends his best," as he walked away from the press. A president with a sense of humor. Love it. Peter Doocy from Fox News asks Biden what he spoke to Putin about.Bidens response: pic.twitter.com/4steGy7gcR Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) January 26, 2021 The video clip was shared on Twitter on Wednesday by Rex Chapman. The post has been viewed 962.9k times by the users and has been liked by over 28.7k people. It has received mixed reactions as some praise Bidens sense of humor while others question why he dodged the query. One of the critics wrote that it is funny how people hold Biden to a higher standard than the last president. He further wrote that the video shows a reporter trying to hold Biden answerable as an elected leader with an inopportune question, but no bait was taken. Funny thing how people hold Biden to a higher standard than the last president, I wonder why? A reporter tried to get a "gatcha!" moment with an inopurtune question, and no bait was taken. Leandro Gonzalez (@LeGoXaero) January 27, 2021 Meanwhile, another user tweeted in support of Biden and called out the Fox News reporter. Twitter user Brittany wrote that it is important for viewers to know what led up to this encounter. She said that Doocy had been antagonizing and deserved the kind of response that was given to him by Biden. What led up to this encounter is important. Doocy has been antagonizing and deserved it. Thats my President! Brittany (@britt4jade) January 27, 2021 Fox News channel was endorsed by former US president Donald Trump as it appealed to his image and supporters. Hence, many Biden supporters believe that the current presidents witty response was a sort of snub to the channel. Putin "sends his best to FauxNews"@FoxNews Mmm... Elmagozurdo (@elmagozurdo) January 27, 2021 According to a press release by The White House, Biden spoke with Putin on Tuesday and picked on a number of issues that have been making news. Biden also expressed US full support for Ukraines sovereignty and mentioned some serious bilateral matters like the SolarWinds hack, reports of Russia placing bounties on United States soldiers in Afghanistan, interference in the 2020 United States election, and the poisoning of Alexie Navalny. Taking a stricter stance, unlike his predecessor Trump, Biden made it clear that the US will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm them or their allies. The Russian President is facing nationwide protests after opposition leader Alexie Navalny was arrested earlier this month. Alexie had returned to Russia after he recovered from a life-threatening poisoning that was allegedly ordered by the Russian leadership in August 2020. A former Princeton University student has been found guilty of raping two women after attacking one victim as he walked her home after night out with his rugby team. Paulo Kretteis, 22, was out drinking with members of his team the Ealing Trailfinders when he spotted his first victim outside The Chatsworth Bar in Acton, London, in the early hours of October 13, 2019. He befriended her and after walking the woman back to her home in Hammersmith he asked if she would go with him to a nearby bus stop. As they approached a secluded footbridge Kretteis grabbed hold of his victims throat and began squeezing it, threatening to kill her. Former Princeton University student Paulo Kretteis, 22, has been found guilty of raping two women after attacking one victim as he walked her home after night out with his rugby team in Acton, London The Brazilian then started pulling at her trousers and hitting her face. At one point the victim asked if she still had all of her teeth. Kretteis told her to smile so he could check. He then struck her to the face again, before orally raping her. Kretteis studied Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University The 25-year-old victim managed to escape and a taxi driver pulled over before calling police. The distressed victim had suffered visible injuries to her face and was bleeding. In the early hours of December 15, 2019, Kretteis raped his second victim at an apartment in Ealing. The victim, 20, was left with bruising on her face and throat as well as bite marks. Clumps of her hair were also found at the address. In February 2020 results from a forensic investigation linked Kretteis to DNA found on the jacket that the first victim had left behind in the struggle, which was found dumped in a nearby council bin. Kretteis, of Petts Hill, Ealing, was convicted of two counts of rape and making a threat to kill following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the two separate incidents. Kretteis studied Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the top US university. Kretteis, of Petts Hill, Ealing, was convicted of two counts of rape and making a threat to kill following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court Kate Shilton, from the CPS, said: Paulo Kretteis charmed his victims and lulled them into a false sense of security, before carrying out violent sexual attacks. The prosecution case included DNA evidence, strong witness testimony and CCTV footage which clearly showed Kretteis at the scene. During police interviews Kretteis claimed the person pictured in the footage was not him, adding that he had never styled his hair in a man bun. But his Instagram posts showed otherwise. The Princeton University top worn by Kretteis on the night of the attack was also found at his home address. Kretteis will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court at a later date Losing an election doesnt always have to turn out bad. Just ask former House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody who on Thursday was named the newest member to the states Gaming Control Board. Dermody, who lost his bid for a 16th term in the state House in November in what was the biggest upset of all the legislative races, was appointed by House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia to serve on the seven-member gaming control board for the next two years. These coveted spots on this board are selected by the governor, who gets three appointments, and caucus legislative leaders, each of whom gets one. The board is charged with ensuring the integrity of legalized gaming in Pennsylvania. Being a member comes with a handsome $145,000 salary. As House Democratic leader, Dermody was earning close to $131,000. Frank Dermody has been a respected leader in Pennsylvania for many years and Im pleased that he agreed to continue his public service at the Gaming Control Board, McClinton said in a statement announcing the appointment. He participated in setting the legislative foundation for our gaming industry, which has grown in just over a decade to become a national leader. Franks legal background and legislative experience are outstanding assets for his work as a gaming regulator. Dermody, a resident of Oakmont in Allegheny County, served the last 10 years of his three decade long service in the House as the leader of the chambers Democratic caucus. He served in the House of Representatives for 30 years with the last 10 years as the House Democratic leader. He was defeated in November by Republican Carrie DelRosso, a borough councilwoman who runs a public affairs and marketing company. Observers partially credited her victory to DelRossos picking up some union support, which political insiders said was a payback for some of Dermodys votes that were seen as not so union-friendly. Additionally, the historically predominantly Democratic 33rd House District that DelRosso represents is seeing an increase in the number of registered Republican voters. Before his legislative service, Dermody was an assistant district attorney and magisterial district judge. He also served on the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing for 19 years, including 12 years as the commissions chairman. In 1994, Dermody was asked by House leaders to guide the impeachment of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice and he prosecuted the case in a trial before the state Senate. He grew up in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, and is a graduate of Columbia University and the Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. 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. Kerry Group, the Ireland-based food and ingredients firm, reportedly may officially put its consumer-facing division on the market within weeks. According to The Irish Independent newspaper, the division, home to brands including Richmond sausages and Pure dairy-free spreads, is likely to be divided up for sale rather than a wholesale disposal. The newspaper wrote this morning (28 January) Kerry is expected to initiate a formal sales process for its consumer-facing division to flush out buyers by the end of the current quarter and possibly as early as its annual results on 16 February. A number of interested bidders appear to be in the running. The newspaper said several sources suggested London-based private-equity firm CapVest Partners, which already owns a number of food businesses including Irelands Valeo Foods and Eight Fifty Food Group, is a strong candidate to bid for the Irish part of the business, which houses chilled brands such as Galtee cheese. just-food has approached Kerry for comment on the proceedings. Get the best in data analysis & reporting - Alchemer. Please take my survey now CapVest said it had no comment to make when approached by just-food. The newspaper claims Kerry's ready-meals business in the UK maybe more problematic in terms of finding a buyer, although its sources suggest private-label manufacturers Greencore and Bakkavor, along with the Ginsters pasty brand owner Samworth Brothers, could be interested. Thematic Reports Are you worried about the pace of innovation in your industry? GlobalData's TMT Themes 2021 Report tells you everything you need to know about disruptive tech themes and which companies are best placed to help you digitally transform your business. Find out more Goodbody, a Dublin-based financial services firm, estimates the value of the consumer-facing division at EUR650m (US$786.6m), according to today's report in The Irish Independent, and has suggested the Irish and UK operations will be split up for sale. There has been much speculation over the future of Kerry's businesses in recent weeks. Nine days ago the same publication reported, citing sources, Kerry Co-operative Creameries is set to buy a 60% stake in Kerry Group's primary dairy operations, and said the co-op's board had agreed to go ahead with the purchase. Cameras captured the emotional moment a 13-year-old autistic boy missing for nearly 24 hours was reunited with his petrified mother. Mum Leonie Morris thanked the local community after they spent the night searching for Leif, while his carer Lisa said he was perilously close to losing his life. Search volunteers hugged one another as someone shouted the teenager, who is mostly non-verbal had been found at around 4.40pm on Thursday. Mum Leonie Morris (pictured, left) thanked the local community after they spent the night searching for Leif (right Leonie Morris (pictured left) thanked the local community for their support in finding her son (centre), who was supported by his carer (right) Leif (pictured, centre) was found on a houseboat 50 metres offshore after swimming their overnight 'People have not slept all night, and they've walked the entire night and day. People coordinating, people making food, and people praying. Just thank you to everybody,' Ms Morris said. She told Channel Ten Leif seemed relieved to be back with his family. 'I think [he is] a little bit spun out but relieved to be back. I hear he was crying on the boat so I think he's relieved,' said Ms Morris. Leif's carer Lisa said the teenager could easily have lost his life. 'The mud here sucks you in, if he was in that mud, I don't think he would have survived that,' she said. 'And he loves boats, being a Mooney guy.' 'You really wanted to experience the boating world and you did,' Lisa said to Leif. Lisa said Leif had slid down a palm tree truck and made it to the ground from the second storey of his home. Brett Hogbin (pictured) was part of the search party and found the teenager after someone else spotted him on a houseboat in Mooney Mooney, New South Wales The missing teen was found on a houseboat on the Mooney Mooney river, 50 metres offshore near a public wharf after swimming out. A member of the public reportedly contacted the police after seeing the boy, and police said he has been reunited with his family. Brett Hogbin helped find the teenager with a mate, and said he was 'really happy' when he saw the searchers. 'He was happy to see us, and he dived straight onto the boat as soon as he seen us,' Brett Hogbin told Channel 9. The large-scale search resumed for missing teen Leif Courtney on Thursday morning as SES volunteers (pictured) joined the desperate search effort Around 150 volunteers took part in the large-scale search in dense bushland for the missing teen on Thursday The news comes after Leif's father Allen penned a heartbreaking letter, which asked searchers to try and 'tempt' his son with apple and 'look up high' because he likes to climb. 'He is mostly non-verbal, but often makes squealing noises or repeats things he's heard. If he's about, he's often noisy, so listen out,' the letter said. 'Don't be worried about approaching him ... Apples are one of his favourite foods, so that might tempt him. He also loves climbing, so look up high.' 'He's not normally worried about a crowd or noise, so don't let that bother you,' Mr Courtney said. The search for Leif was suspended late Wednesday and resumed on Thursday morning His frantic family raised the alarm shortly after he was last seen at around 7.30pm on Wednesday. They spent the night looking for 'Leify' with the help of police, local residents, teachers and school friends. He was only wearing a grey singlet, shorts and sneakers with fluorescent green laces when he vanished from his home, which backs onto dense bushland near the Pacific Highway. The search was suspended late Wednesday night and resumed on Thursday morning as NSW Rural Fire Service and SES volunteers joined the frantic search operation. Train services were suspended between Gosford and Cowan in both directions for the search. Leif's disappearance rocked the tight-knit community which rallied behind the teen's distraught family, who were reported to be 'beside themselves'. 'Everyone is concerned about this child. There were people out all night. I did hear people were out 20 minutes after he went missing,' Mooney Mooney resident Steve Pearson told the Daily Telegraph. 'I did a search through the mangroves because I have a boat out the back.' 'I don't think it's a good thing to be out in this weather all night in your pyjamas.' Locals were told Leif likes likes apples and chickens, his favourite song is the Owl City hit Fireflies. 'His mum said to say to him 'It's sleepy time head on your pillow clean your teeth',' a local community group said. DAD'S DESPERATE PLEA Hi all, Thank you for all your efforts so far. A few quick notes on Leif. He is mostly non-verbal, but often makes squealing noises or repeats things he's heard. If he's about, he's often noisy, so listen out. He responds to his name - Leif or Leify (pronounced Layf or Layfie, but he's also used to Leaf or Leafie). He's not normally worried about a crowd or noise, so don't let that bother you. Don't be worried about approaching him. You may need to grab an arm or hand to have him follow. Apples are one of his favourite foods, so that might tempt him. He also loves climbing, so look up high. He's in grey jammies (singlet top and shorts) and grey joggers. Also a nappy. He might have taken both nappy and shorts off. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your help right now. Allen (dad) Advertisement Police held grave concerns for his welfare due to his age and his non-verbal autism. Pictured: A worried member of the community involved in the search Trail biker riders (pictured) and the NSW Police Dog Squad scoured dense bushland in Mooney Mooney Leif was missing from Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon. Pictured is an SES volunteer involved in the desperate search effort Local residents (pictured right with SES volunteers) joined the search for Leif, and volunteers embraced when they heard he had been found Police launched an aerial search (pictured) for autistic teen Leif Courtney after he vanished from his home on Wednesday night The community joined the frantic search for autistic teen Leif Courtney. Pictured are some of the 150 volunteers involved Demand far outweighs supply right now. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized only Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna to make vaccines that prevent COVID-19. National experts say supply chain issues and a lack of federal coordination has slowed down distribution efforts across the country. States decide how to use their respective weekly allocation from the federal government. The rollout in Texas has been faster than most other states, but has also been marred by weeks of confusion amid miscommunication and technical issues. Why cant I get through on the phone or online for an appointment? There are just too many people trying to get in at the same time. Most providers who are offering the vaccine are fully staffed with people to take calls when the word goes out that appointments are available, but because theres so many people who are eligible and want to get the vaccine and there simply arent enough doses to go around that the lines are constantly flooded with calls. EXPRESS-NEWS APP: Breaking news, Spurs scores, COVID updates and more at your fingertips. Within its first three weeks, a whopping 8 million calls came in for appointments at WellMeds vaccine sites at the Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Activity Center, 517 SW Military Drive, and the Alicia Trevino Lopez Senior One-Stop Center, 8353 Culebra Road. Those sites are meant to provide vaccinations for residents living on the South and West sides of San Antonio who dont have access to the internet or transportation. Appointments are available only by telephone; theres no online option. The city did not get enough of the vaccine to give out during the week of Jan. 25, but started accepting reservations for 9,000 doses from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday to register people for appointments that start on Feb. 1. The hotline is 833-968-1745. Previously, 9,000 time slots were taken up within six minutes when the city opened its phone lines. How many people are eligible right now? At this time, people in both groups 1A and 1B are eligible. That includes health care workers, first responders, anyone 65 or older and those who are 16 and older with chronic health conditions, including diabetes and obesity. In Bexar County, thats more than 1 million people. Lisa Krantz /Staff file photo Why did Texas open up eligibility for 1B people if there wasnt enough vaccine? Thats not clear. Initially, the COVID-19 vaccines were reserved for people who work in health care settings and those who live in long-term care facilities but on Dec. 24, state officials announced that vaccines werent going out fast enough. So the state health agency decided to open up eligibility to anyone age 65 and older, and those 16 and older with chronic health conditions, which goes against what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. The CDC instead recommends a more phased approach that would make the vaccine available to frontline essential workers and those 75 years and older because they are at higher risk of hospitalization, illness and death from infection. On ExpressNews.com: Scarcity of COVID-19 vaccine and fair distribution worry San Antonio hospital administrators Why isnt there a wait list? Metro Health says a wait list would not be feasible, in part because providers are only told week to week how many doses theyre getting. University Health started a waiting list last week with spaces for 24,240 people in the coming weeks despite not knowing exactly how many doses are coming. All the slots were booked in less than 4 hours. How much vaccine has been allocated for San Antonio residents? Since Dec. 14, Bexar County has been allocated 235,400 doses or only enough to fully vaccinate 12 percent of its residents currently eligible for the vaccine health care workers, long-term care patients, anyone 65 and older, and anyone 16 and older with a chronic medical condition. Why cant more vaccine be sent? Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use a novel genetic technology known as mRNA, which gives the body instructions on how to create a protein that fights SARS-CoV-2. These kind of vaccines take time for manufacturers to produce and require a cold chain distribution process to ensure its quality. Lisa Krantz /Staff file photo Where does the supply come from? The Pfizer vaccines come from a manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, while the Moderna vaccines are produced in Massachusetts facilities. Both companies have distribution centers and send the vaccine doses directly via air and ground to health care providers approved by their respective states to receive the vaccine. How does the supply come in? Pfizer developed special temperature-controlled shippers that utilize dry ice to keep the vials frozen. Roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, these shippers can also serve as temporary storage for up to 30 days. Moderna doesnt have the same kind of cold chain hurdles because it doesnt need to be kept as cold as Pfizers vaccine, although it still must be in a freezer. It goes to distribution centers managed by McKesson, a company based in Irving, a suburb of Dallas. Both vaccine-makers use FedEx and UPS to deliver the vaccine to administration sites. Who decides who gets doses, how many and when? On Tuesdays, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services notifies the Texas Department of State Health Services how many doses the state will get for that following week. The federal government allocates vaccines and the supplies necessary to administer them to jurisdictions based on adult population. How does the state decide who gets doses? In Texas, an Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel comprised of state lawmakers, public health and academic leaders prioritize where the doses should go. DSHS allocates vaccine to a mix of designated hubs and smaller providers based on the priorities set by the allocation panel. The agencys commissioner, Dr. John Hellerstedt, approves the allocations based on the panels recommendations and on Wednesdays the amount allocated to each provider is loaded into the vaccine inventory and ordering system where providers can see it. Thats when all vaccine providers are notified of their allocations for the following week. Providers then have the opportunity to accept, reject or reduce the amount of vaccine allocated to them for the following week. Because of limited supply, state officials say its not possible to send vaccine to smaller providers each week. The bulk of the vaccines go to hubs so that doses can be administered to large numbers of eligible people quickly. Who puts in the vaccine orders? The states health department orders the vaccines and then Pfizer or Moderna ships the doses to the providers. How often does it come? Shipments arrive within one to two days on a weekly basis. In San Antonio, its usually on Monday or Tuesday. Why isnt there more? Moderna and Pfizer officials say theyre cranking out as many doses as possible likely enough to vaccinate the majority of U.S. adults by the summer. Many more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed right now, including one by Johnson & Johnson that could get emergency-use authorization in early March. This vaccine doesnt need to be kept in a freezer and could provide protection with one shot, instead of two. Why arent Gov. Abbott and Commissioner Hellerstedt having regular news conferences to update the public? Good question. Gov. Abbott has had three press conferences on vaccines since the Dec. 12 rollout, but has been criticized for releasing important developments on Twitter and not responding to media inquiries. A live State of the State address will be televised at 7 p.m. Monday. Its expected to include updates on the COVID-19 response. SOURCES: Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, internal medicine physician and professor of health policy/management at the City University of New York ; John Erwin, CEO of Carenet Health; WellMed; University Health; UT Health San Antonio, Texas Department of State Health Services, CDC, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. A North Carolina cop allegedly declared: 'I don't have time for this s**t,' before he opened fire on an 18-year-old with schizophrenia during a mental health crisis, the teen's mother claims. Keith Vidal was gunned down by Southport Police Detective Bryon Vassey in his home in Boiling Spring Lakes on January 5, 2014. Vidal's mother, Mary Wilsey, spoke out this week, describing how the shooting turned her life upside down and haunts her seven years later in an article for Insider. Wilsey, now 56 and living in Long Island, New York, still remembers the day of the shooting vividly. She had tried to have Vidal committed to a hospital a week earlier after finding a suicide note, but when the nurse refused to take him, the mother had no choice but to monitor him herself, leaving his side only for bathroom breaks. On the morning of the shooting, when Wilsey returned home from the grocery store and Vidal didn't recognize her, the mother turned to police in hopes that they would help her get him the care he needed. 'We were more concerned that Keith was going to hurt himself,' Wilsey explained to Insider. 'We were never concerned for our safety, because he was never a threat to anybody but himself.' But in his own split second decision, Officer Vassey determined that Vidal did pose a threat and shot him dead at point-blank range. Keith Vidal, 18, was gunned down by Southport Police Detective Bryon Vassey in his home in Boiling Springs Lakes, North Carolina, on January 5, 2014 during a mental health call. Vidal's mother, Mary Wilsey (pictured with him), described how the shooting still haunts her seven years later in an article for Insider this week Wilsey recalled Detective Vassey (pictured) saying: 'I don't have time for this s**t' moments before he shot and killed Vidal, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia Wilsey said the responding officers should have been fully aware that this was a mental health call, not a situation that warranted use of force. 'We explained to 911 dispatch that we have a child who has schizophrenia and that we wanted to do an involuntary [commitment],' she said. Two officers arrived first - John Thomas with the Boiling Spring Lakes Police Department and Samantha Lewis-Chavis with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office. Wilsey said the officers were patient with her son and tried to de-escalate the situation as he experienced severe paranoia and clung to a small screwdriver. Vidal stood in the hallway of the home and demanded that the officers leave, before Vassey pulled up about five minutes later. Wilsey said Vassey, then 44, was wearing plain clothes and didn't identify himself as law enforcement when he entered the home. 'I didn't even know who he was. I didn't even know he was a cop,' she said. 'He took approximately eight steps to reach Samantha Chavis and said: "I don't have time for this s**t."' Vidal fled into a bathroom and when he came back out Lewis-Chavis fired her taser at him, on an order from Vassey. The teen fell to the ground and Thomas and Lewis-Chavis climbed on top of him to take him into custody, Wilsey said. 'So you have Keith on the floor, two cops on top of him, another cop to my left, and me and my husband all in the hallway,' she said. 'My husband takes the screwdriver out of his hands, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Bryon Vassey take his gun out and do a kill shot.' 'My son is laying on the floor in the hallway, bleeding, dead,' Wilsey said. 'I watched his eyes roll back in his head. I watched my son die.' The bullet struck Vidal in his armpit and pierced both of his lungs, killing him almost instantly. Vidal (left and right) was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when he was 16, Wilsey said. The teen had been experiencing a mental health crisis for a week before his mother called 911 for help getting him involuntarily committed to a hospital Testifying in court two years later, Lewis-Chavis said Vassey opened fire just 14 seconds after she stunned Vidal. The officer also recalled Vassey saying something along the lines of 'I don't have time for this s**t' minutes earlier. 'He blew Samantha Chavis' eardrum out. He could have shot the other officer in the head. All this is taking place in a 3-foot hallway,' Wilsey said of Vassey. 'He put those officers in danger, and he hurt one of those officers, all because he didn't "have time for this s**t".' The mother said Vassey was only in the house for about 70 seconds before he shot her son. Vassey (above in a mugshot) was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter in 2016 'He never assessed the situation,' she said. 'He never saw the person he murdered until he took the gun out and killed him.' Vassey was later charged with voluntary manslaughter and was acquitted in 2016. He initially told investigators that he fired in self-defense but changed his tune at the trial, saying he was protecting the other officers. Thomas testified in court in that Vidal did not pose a threat, noting that the teen could not get up and both of his hands were restrained. 'My recollection of that is he never came close to hurting me,' Thomas said. Asked whether Vassey made the right call when he told Lewis-Chavis to stun Vidal, Thomas said: 'No. He was not long enough there to assess the situation.' It was also revealed in court that Vassey had a mix of drugs in his system at the time of the shooting, including the painkiller hydrocodone, anxiety drug Klonopin, antidepressant Cymbalta, acid reflux medication and two blood-pressure medications. Vassey testified that the drugs were all prescribed by doctors for various medical conditions. It was revealed in court that Vassey (pictured) had a mix of drugs in his system at the time of the shooting, including the painkiller hydrocodone, anxiety drug Klonopin, antidepressant Cymbalta, acid reflux medication and two blood-pressure medications While Vassey went unpunished for the fatal shooting, Wilsey lives with the consequences every day. 'My son is an only child. Bryon Vassey destroyed my family,' she said. 'My whole family had mental-health issues after. When you watch your child be murdered by someone who was supposed to help them, yeah, that kind of messes you up a little.' Wilsey and her husband divorced after the shooting, and she moved to Long Island to be closer to her sister. She sued the city of Boiling Spring Lakes in 2016 and took home a $1million settlement. The tragedy shook Wilsey's faith in police to its core. She said she doesn't believe all police officers are problematic, but she will think first before calling 911 in the future. 'For a medical issue, I'd call immediately, because I'm not trained to handle a heart attack,' Wilsey said. 'Would I call for a mental-health crisis? Absolutely not.' Wilsey is now calling for all officers to receive mandatory de-escalation training to avoid other mentally-ill people falling victim to what Vidal did. 'I'd like these cops to be trained, and I'd like them to stop killing our mentally ill and our disabled people,' she said. Her plea comes at a time when police-reform advocates around the country are calling for the same measures in response to a string of highly-publicized officer-involved shootings over the last year. Mental health crises account for about 10 percent of all police calls, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, and about one-fifth of people shot by police are experiencing such a crisis. Several cities around the country, including San Francisco and New York City, have formed special teams of unarmed professionals to respond to mental health calls rather than sending in police. WASHINGTON - U.S. Army officials say "credible" threats to military assets on the Southwest Waterfront warrant new restrictions on water use along Fort McNair near Washington's bustling Wharf district. The proposed zone that would take up to one-third of the Washington Channel along the base would enhance the military installation's security, Maj. Gen. Omar Jones, commander of the Military District of Washington, told city residents and elected leaders during a virtual meeting Wednesday night. The request for the restriction, Jones said, follows recent "credible and specific" threats against military leaders who live on the base and recent security breaches, including one involving a potentially "lost" swimmer who ended up at the Fort McNair shore. Jones offered no other specific threats but noted a desire to protect the installation from potential electronic surveillance. "The side of the base along the Washington Channel is where we're most vulnerable," Jones said while addressing opponents of the Army's proposal. Jones's request comes as the Washington region is on high alert after rioters stormed the Capitol earlier this month. Acting Capitol Police chief Yogananda Pittman on Thursday called for "permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol," while the National Guard is also maintaining a presence in the city. Discussions about the Fort McNair proposal began about two years ago, long before recent heightened security measures were taken in the nation's capital. The proposed changes on the Washington Channel would not restrict watercraft traffic from moving in the zone along the base and would not give additional authority to the federal government to restrict traffic in the channel. According to the proposal's printed notice in the Federal Register, "all persons, vessels, or other craft are prohibited from anchoring, mooring or loitering within" the proposed restricted area without the permission of the commander of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort McNair or designated representatives. The notice highlights security needs for Marine Helicopter Squadron missions and "protection of VIP quarters." Officers' living quarters can be seen from the water. The proposed restrictions in the channel, where boat traffic has grown significantly since the 2017 opening of the Wharf entertainment district, has put residents and some of the city's elected leaders in the Southwest Waterfront district at odds with the federal government. Opponents say the restrictions would be an unnecessary overreach. At the Wednesday meeting, hosted by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Jones repeatedly said the rule would broaden the Army's ability to turn to the D.C. police Harbor Patrol to check on potential threats and suspicious activity off Fort McNair's shore. He acknowledged that Fort McNair, "like any other resident of Ward 6," can call upon the Harbor Patrol at any time to respond to suspicious activity near its shoreline, but he said the rule would strengthen the relationship between the base and the D.C. police unit. D.C. police have declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal but said in a statement Thursday that the Harbor Patrol "responds to any calls for service from Fort McNair without any impediments that could impact response." Jones's explanation failed to appease those who use the Washington Channel. "This is an outrageous federal overreach," said Dean Naujoks, of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, in asking city leaders to seek the District of Columbia attorney general's response on the legal ramifications of the Army plan. "This is a public resource. It doesn't belong to the Army. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network will not stand for this. We will not tolerate this and allow this to happen." Guy Shields, a retired Army infantry colonel and member of the Capital Yacht Club, said the proposed restricted zone "is basically a string of floating signs" that probably will keep boaters away while not deterring people seeking to do harm. At the request of Fort McNair, the Army Corps of Engineers - responsible for maintaining the nation's navigable waterways - would put up buoys at several locations to mark an area extending about 75 to 150 meters into the channel. The channel varies in width from about 275 to 330 meters in that location, according to the Corps of Engineers. Boaters say the marked zone would create unsafe conditions by pushing kayakers and motorboaters into the same confined space as water taxis and river cruise ships. Officials at the Wharf say a restricted zone would disrupt travel and water activities, including popular events such as an annual holiday parade at the Wharf - a neighborhood that attracts 10 million visitors annually. "Those buoys aren't going to do anything to enhance security. It will increase congestion in an already congested area," Shields said. "And I'll say, signs do not stop people with bad intentions." The Washington Navy Yard and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, which also have access to D.C. waters, do not have restricted zones on their shorelines. Asked by residents what security measures the base has taken on land to address concerns, Jones said the Army has increased patrols, put up more signs indicating the base is a restricted area and enhanced the use of technology, such as cameras. A security buffer between activity in the water and military operations was preferred over erecting a fence facing the water, Jones said, adding that a fence would not address threats of someone anchoring on the shoreline with electronic surveillance. "It could be cameras, recording devices, those kind of things that people with bad intent could use from the Washington Channel as they are anchored up the channel," he said. Asked by D.C. Council member Charles Allen, D-Ward 6, whether a similar, 100-foot buffer should be put in place on the land side, where the only barrier is a wall or fence, Jones said that would not be necessary, because if the Army detects a threat or suspicious activity on land, it can call D.C. police. "Respectfully, General, you can make that call to MPD today," said Allen, whose district includes the Southwest Waterfront and Fort McNair. "These restrictions aren't needed to have MPD be able to respond to suspicious activity [in the water]. I feel very confident law enforcement has a great relationship with you and would take any concerns you have very seriously." Jones offered one specific recent security threat: A swimmer who ended up on the base and was arrested by base security. "When it comes to swimmers, I'm sure that must be rare," Norton told Jones. "Did he know where he was? Maybe he was just swimming and found his way to your shore?" Jones responded, "He may very well have been lost. But either way, he came in and did breach our security and our folks were able to apprehend him." Jones later acknowledged the swimmer example is "not a great example there, but our most recent example" of a breach. The channel, which parallels the Potomac River, is home to three marinas, and water traffic must pass by Fort McNair to connect to the river. It is used by water taxis, river cruise ships and other private boaters. The channel is also increasingly used for recreation such as kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and river events that yield tax revenue. If approved, the restriction would be in place around-the-clock. During events such as the State of the Union address, state funerals, presidential inaugurations and Marine Helicopter Squadron missions, boating in the area would be prohibited. Residents had until Thursday to submit comments on the proposal before a decision is finalized. The responses have been overwhelmingly against establishing the zone. Army Corps of Engineers officials in Baltimore and Washington would need to approve the plan. Sarah Lazo, a spokeswoman for the Corps of Engineers, said a final recommendation could be issued by the end of March, with the marked zone in place by June. During Wednesday's meeting, Allen urged the Army to seek a different approach, saying he is concerned that "the interests of security are starting to creep too much into our public space" and that the water restriction could derail progress in getting more District residents to access the water. "These are our neighbors that use our water, our river, our public space," Allen said. "So I want to be clear that I do not support this taking of the water." As many as 30 new projects will receive European funds for investment in irrigation infrastructure worth 30 million euros in all, with the eligible beneficiaries being Romanian Irrigation Water Users' Organizations (OUAI), the Rural Investment Funding Agency (AFIR) announced on Thursday. A new report for the selection of the remaining projects is said to be at an advanced procedural phase. Since the release of the National Rural Development Plan 2020 (PNDR 2020), 632 compliant funding applications have been submitted for upgrading and adjustment of Romania's irrigation infrastructure for over 624 million euros. Following the evaluation and selection of funding applications submitted to AFIR, 462 contracts worth 398.6 million euros have been concluded, and AFIR has already paid the beneficiaries of irrigation system rehabilitation projects worth over 222 million euros. (This story has been updated to correct the spelling of a name.) FLINT, MI -- Flints former Department of Public Works director says the judge assigned to hear his criminal water crisis case should be disqualified because the judge himself is an alleged victim of the crimes hes charged with. Attorneys for Howard Croft filed a motion to disqualify Genesee District Court Judge William H. Crawford on Thursday, Jan. 28, saying the judge is currently and was a resident of Flint during the citys water crisis, making him a potential claimant in civil lawsuits in which Croft is a settling defendant and potentially a member of a class action against Mr. Croft, if a class or classes are certified. If Mr. Croft was alleged to have robbed Judge Crawford ... of his wallet, he would certainly be disqualified from hearing the case. The same applies in this matter because the indictment sets forth that Mr. Crofts alleged willful neglect caused harm to the residents of the city of Flint and Judge Crawford ... is one of those residents, the disqualification motion says. Croft, 55, is charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty for failing to ensure the safety and quality of Flints water supply while he served as the department head responsible for water and sewer services under various emergency managers appointed by former Gov. Rick Snyder. Hes also accused of neglecting to pursue or communicate concerns about the corrosivity of city water while the Flint River was used as the citys water source. Croft, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, was also charged in late 2016 with false pretenses and conspiracy to commit false pretenses in connection to the citys water emergency. A charge of involuntary manslaughter was later added before all charges against him and seven other former city and state officials were dismissed and the water crisis investigation restarted in 2019 after the election of Attorney General Dana Nessel. During those initial prosecutions, Crawford was the judge who bound over one Flint water crisis defendant -- former Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Eden Wells -- on charges including involuntary manslaughter. He was appointed as a District Court judge by former Gov. John Engler in 1997. As director of the Flint DPW, Croft had supervisory responsibility not only for the citys water and sewer systems but also parks and recreation, street maintenance, garbage collection, planning, fleet management, and economic development. During the criminal trials initiated by former Attorney General Bill Schuette and later dismissed, witnesses testified that under Crofts leadership, the citys water department was ill prepared to treat river water in parts of 2014 and 2015, lacking basic equipment and essential workers to do the job. Just eight days before the city started using the Flint River as its water source, a water treatment plant supervisor warned state regulators of a potential disaster on the horizon if the plant went into full-time operation, but the city pushed ahead with the plan to switch water sources, triggering the water crisis. Croft was a chief defender of the quality and safety of city water -- even as testing showed it had elevated levels of lead, bacteria and chlorination byproducts. At a public meeting, he drank Flint water from a plastic bottle that had been brought to City Hall by a resident who complained about its smell and taste. Jamie White, an attorney for Croft, has said that when the citys water source was switched to the Flint River, Croft and his family continued to drink it, including his pregnant daughter. White has said Croft took cues from others who advised him about the water quality. Read more: Former Flint DPW director charged with two counts of neglect of duty in water crisis probe Attorney for Snyder says grand jury evidence against former governor may be tainted Flint water supervisor warned state of problems before switch to river Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Islamabad, Jan 28 : Pakistan's Defence Ministry has taken a stand against a request, put in by former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General General Retd. Asad Durrani, to remove his name from the countrys Exit Control List (ECL). The Ministry contended that Durrani had been in direct and constant contact with the Indian Intelligence agency, the Research And Analysis Wing (RAW), since 2008, adding that he may be still in contact for future publications, which would be against the interest of Pakistan. Durrani came under the radar after he co-authored a book titled "The Spy chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace" with Amarjit Singh, the former head of India's RAW, in 2018. After the book's publication, Pakistan's Military Intelligence (MI) wrote to the Interior Ministry to put Durrani's name on the ECL, which was later done in May 2018. Durrani challenged the decision at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in 2019. The Defence Ministry, in its response to Durrani's petition in the IHC, maintained that the "former ISI Chief's name was put on the no-fly list for his involvement in anti-state activities". "A perusal of the book The Spy Chronicles revealed that it contained certain contents concerning the national security of Pakistan, being in contravention of the provision of the Official Secrets Acts, 1923. "It is further highlighted that there are number of such publications on the way, supported by hostile elements which contain content to create misperception, confusions, question marks against the top leadership circles at country level and to target the common people," the Ministry added in its response. It was also claimed that Durrani had been affiliated and interacting with hostile elements especially India's RAW since 2008, highlighting that although he had submitted an affidavit committing to refrain from such activities to the government. "Rule 2 (c) of the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules, 2010, authorised the federal government to prohibit a person from exiting Pakistan for a foreign destination if the said person is involved in acts of terrorism or its conspiracy, heinous crimes and threatening national security," the Ministry highlighted. It maintained that they could not remove Durrani's name from the ECL at the moment as inquiries on the matter are still in process and being finalised. "The former ISI chief wanted to travel abroad with the intention of participating in international conferences, forums and talks, which will have serious national security implications as evident from the recently published book Honour Amond Spies, which was also authored by Durrani and published through Indian publisher /RAW supported elements." In February 2019, Pakistan Army spokesperson had announced that Durrani was found guilty of violating the military's code of conduct. A court of inquiry was ordered against Durrani for writing the book. Later, the military court took away his pension and other post-retirement benefits. The parents of the terminally ill killer doctor who murdered a pediatrician mother-of-three on Tuesday then took his own life have apologized to her family and say they do not know why he did it. Dr. Bhurat Narumanchi, 43, killed Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson, also 43, on Tuesday night at Children's Medical Group in Austin, Texas. They had never met before but Narumanchi - who had been given weeks to live- had applied for a volunteering position at the practice a week earlier and was turned down. On Tuesday, he held Dodson and four others hostage then shot her and killed himself. The others escaped or were let go. In a statement on Thursday, his parents offered their condolences to her husband and their three children, and said they had no explanation for his actions. 'We, the parents of Dr. Bharat Kumar Narumanchi, wish to extend our most sincere condolences and most fervent prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Lindley Dodson. 'We share your grief for a life so senselessly cut short. Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson, pictured with her husband Drew and their three young children, was murdered at her office on Tuesday night 'We dont understand our sons motives or actions but feel this time is best spent remembering Dr. Dodson and her contributions to this world. We are cooperating with the investigators as they seek to make sense of this tragedy. 'The consequences of this action will live with us forever and we can only hope that faith, spiritual healing and Gods light will guide us through the darkness of this moment,' they told CBS Austin. Dr. Narumanchi had a daughter of his own but is not thought to have been married. On Tuesday, Narumanchi showed up at the clinic with a pistol, a shotgun and two duffel bags at 4.30pm and took Dodson hostage along with four other employees. Bhurat Narumanchi had terminal cancer and had been given weeks to live. He killed Dodson - who he'd never met before - then shot himself The four others either escaped or were let go by Narumanchi, but he kept Dodson behind. A hostage negotiator pleaded with Narumanchi to answer his phone and communicate with them. 'I want to help you work through this. You have saved a lot of lives,' the negotiator said. 'I cannot guarantee your safety unless you comply. I am letting you know, doctor, there is a way to resolve this. 'I need your help to fix the situation. That starts with you answering the phone.' At around 10pm, police sent in a SWAT robot which detected the two bodies. In a press conference on Wednesday, Austin police Lt Jeff Greenwalt said authorities did not know why he targeted the medical center. 'We feel like his terminal cancer probably played a large part in whatever occurred in his life and what was happening yesterday,' Greenwalt said. Narumanchi completed his pediatric residency training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Austin American Statesman reported. He had attended St George's University School of Medicine in Grenada. Staff at the Children's Medical Group gathered to comfort each other on Wednesday Dodson's colleagues and patients paid tribute to her on Wednesday Police are trying to work out whether Dodson was targeted: she did not seem to know her killer In 2012, Narumanchi was charged with domestic abuse in Hawaii, during a contentious divorce battle, but the case was later dismissed, court records show. It was unclear why he was in Texas, although the paper said he appeared to have relatives in the area. On Wednesday a vigil was held at her clinic, and staff could be seen in tears, comforting each other. Her patients and family paid tribute to a warm and loving doctor. Her family said in a statement on Wednesday that they 'are beyond devastated at the tragic, sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Lindley.' They added: 'As a dedicated mom, wife, daughter, friend and pediatrician, she radiated light, love and joy in everything she did and with everyone she touched. She developed immediate rapport with her patients and had the unique ability to make you feel like the only person in the room. Dodson was described by friends as a talented doctor and loving mother-of-three 'We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and concern but due to the ongoing nature of this investigation and our request for privacy during this awful time, we will have no further comment.' Dodson's patients remembered her as kind, caring and thoughtful. Daniel Abernathy, a web developer, shared a photo of his son being treated by Dodson. 'Last night our boys' pediatrician was killed by a gunman in her office,' he said. 'We love Dr. Dodson and how well she took care of the boys. This thread is a great tribute to how loving and dedicated she was to her patients. Please pray for her family and all the staff at CMG.' Leslie Chunta, who lives in Austin and had two children under Dodson's care, told Fox News how she followed up with the children, months after their appointment. 'On New Year's Eve day, she gave me a call and mentioned that she had done some additional training and thought of my son, and she went out of her way to call me and ask me how my son is doing, and ask me how I was doing,' she said. 'We were really struggling so it was kind of a breath of fresh air to hear from her. It started us on a path to help get my son some resources to help make his life better, make our lives better as a family. 'Without her outreach, without her support, my son wouldn't have had an advocate.' Chunta said Dodson always radiated 'positivity and love and happiness.' 'My son loves to go see her. Some of the things that he's been working on, he was really excited to go tell her,' Chunta said. 'I don't know how I'm going to tell my son that we're not going to be able to see her.' Laura Whittaker, whose son had been visiting her for a year, said that from the beginning she was encouraging and positive. 'Not only did she make us feel like everything was going to be ok, but she was the kind of doctor who made you feel like she was really in it with you,' she said. 'It's been interesting to see how he reacts and develops with different people over time. 'We saw her two weeks ago for his 12-month checkup, and I had the sense that he remembered her even just from seeing her every few months as an infant.' Karen Vladeck, whose two children were seen by the pediatrician, tweeted that Dodson 'made you feel like your child's illness was the only one that mattered in that moment, even though you knew there was a line of other kids and parents waiting anxiously to see her.' She added: 'She lived just around the corner from us and I would often see her running around taking her 3 children to various activities or the park. 'Even though she had 100s of patients, she would always ask 'How is Syd's ear? How is Maddie feeling after that vaccine?'' She is survived by her three children and her husband. Dodson received her BA in chemistry from Washington & Lee University in 1999, then received her Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2003, according to her LinkedIn. After graduating, she worked as a pediatric resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as a medical school instructor at Harvard Medical School, and as an urgent care physician at Boston Children's Hospital. She worked as a pediatric hospitalist for a decade at Seton Health Care Family, in Texas, which is part of Dell Children's Medical Center. 'Yesterday evening we received the tragic news that one of our former Dell Children's hospitalists, Dr. Lindley Dodson, was killed last night,' a spokesman said. 'We are shocked and saddened by this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Dodson's family, friends and colleagues. 'Dr. Dodson was a hard-working and compassionate provider who will be greatly missed.' 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. On January 27, the management board of Saigon High-Tech Park (SHTP) awarded the adjustment certificate to Samsung HCMC CE Complex Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEHC) to transform from researching and developing natural science and technology, into an export processing enterprise. Specifically, Samsung will conduct research and develop high-tech electronic products and equipment, as well as advanced software for export. To transform into an export processing enterprise, SEHC will operate under the form of an enterprise specialising in manufacturing products for export and operating in a high-tech zone. However, in order to be eligible for this transformation, Samsung will have to keep export value above 90 per cent of its revenue. Samsung HCMC CE Complex at SHTP. Photo: Le Toan According to the SHTP Management Board, this transformation was based on the government's Resolution No.149/NQ-CP dated October 10, 2020. Resolution 149s Article 7 stipulated that, "The government agrees to allow SEHC to be converted into an export processing enterprise based on the submission of the local People's Committee to facilitate the companys expansion in Vietnam and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam-based enterprises in the global market." Previously in September 2020, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee submitted to the prime minister to approve Samsungs request to be transferred to an export processing enterprise as its export value has reached more than 90 per cent. The committee cited that this transformation will continue to support SEHCs investment in Vietnam and export products with higher efficiency. This transformation will also create favourable conditions for supporting enterprises in its supply chain to have more focused investment and gain better results. SEHC operates at SHTP in the newly-established Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City with the functions of manufacturing and assembling household electronic products including smart TVs, LED TVs, and high-resolution screens. Here, SEHC also established a research and development centre of advanced technical products supplied for electronic factories of Samsung Group. Samsung also set up a testing laboratory operated in the electronics and telecommunications sectors to test TV indicators, according to the provisions of Vietnamese law. Samsung's electronics manufacturing complex at SHTP currently has about 6,000 employees. A week after U.S. President Joe Bidens administration said it would review Washingtons peace deal with the Afghan Taliban, the fate of the nearly year-old agreement is in the balance. The Pentagon announced on January 28 that the Taliban is not complying with the commitments the militant group reached according to the deal, including committing to reducing violence and renouncing ties to Al-Qaeda. The announcement came in response to a U.S. Treasury Department memo that said Al-Qaeda was gaining strength in Afghanistan because it operates under the Talibans protection -- a claim the Taliban has rejected. The Afghan government, which is not party to the agreement but is greatly affected by it, is eager to exploit the growing fractures between the Taliban and Washington and is pushing to at the very least disrupt the agreement. All this adds to the uncertainty over the future of the deal that outlined a complete U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for Taliban counterterrorism guarantees and peace talks with Kabul. We are in new territory. The review will be a first reality check in a process that at times seem to stray a long way away from reality, says Michael Semple, a former European Union and United Nations adviser in Afghanistan. It will be a real challenge for this new administration to pressurize the Taliban toward a compliance with what the U.S. saw as the spirit of the deal while not precipitating a complete breakdown of the deal. Semple spent years negotiating with the Afghan insurgents as a diplomat and scholar. He says the Taliban and Washington had different perceptions upon signing the agreement in the Qatari capital, Doha, last February. The Taliban had told their supporters that the deal represented a U.S. acknowledgement of defeat and the Taliban were doing them a favor by helping them extricate themselves from Afghanistan, Semple said. Whereas the U.S. has always said they want to see peace in Afghanistan and thats the way for them to withdraw their troops. Al-Qaeda And The Taliban The memo, sent by the Treasury Department to the Pentagons lead inspector general on January 4, outlines terrorist financing and the current progress against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State militants. It has subsequently spurred a debate over the Talibans compliance with the agreement. As of 2020, al-Qaeda is gaining strength in Afghanistan while continuing to operate with the Taliban under the Talibans protection, the memo noted. Al-Qaeda capitalizes on its relationship with the Taliban through its network of mentors and advisers who are embedded with the Taliban, providing advice, guidance, and financial support. Senior Haqqani Network figures have discussed forming a new joint unit of armed fighters in cooperation with and funded by al-Qaeda, the report said, referring to the Talibans military arm. In October, a senior UN counterterrorism official said Al-Qaeda is still heavily embedded within Taliban. But the Taliban is now venting over criticism for its alleged ties with Al-Qaeda, which the movement had promised to sever as part of the deal. The group released a vitriolic statement on January 27, calling the claims propaganda that is corrupting minds and creating unwarranted fears. Some circles are seeking the extension of this imposed war on the Afghan nation in pursuit of their interests and malicious objectives, the statement said. [They] are sourcing information from warmongering individuals and parties before forwarding it to other departments. In Kabul, officials are eager to see the Taliban blamed and held accountable for mounting violence. They maintain that the Doha agreement failed to garner any major concession from the Taliban, which is still firmly opposed to a cease-fire, and yet has fulfilled most of the Talibans demands, including the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners and a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Sensing an opportunity to advance their interests, Afghan officials are now pushing to keep a U.S. counterterrorism force beyond the May deadline for complete withdrawal. Biden has long advocated keeping a counterterrorism force in Afghanistan as a deterrent against possible terrorist threats. Afghanistan is now more of a base than a battlefield for Americans, and their presence is mutually beneficial, Roya Rahmani, Afghanistans ambassador in Washington, argued in an op-ed for the Washington Post on January 27. Similar to U.S. presence in South Korea, Germany and Kuwait, American troops in Afghanistan serve as a stabilizing force, she added, while calling on the new administration to hold the Taliban accountable for its egregious violations of the agreement and fully commit to the U.S.-Afghan partnership. Mawlawi Rahmatullah, a spokesman for Afghanistans national security council, said a visit by the Talibans top political leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, to Iran this week was an effort to prevent the fallout from the Biden administrations review of the deal. The Taliban appear to be afraid of the review, he said in a video statement. Instead of talking to [a] delegation of Afghanistans Islamic Republic in Qatar, they are busy [with] foreign trips, which means that they are not committed to peace and do not care about prolonging the fighting that sheds Afghan blood. Hameed Hakimi, a research associate at Londons Chatham House think tank, however, argues that the Afghan governments relief about a possible review will be short-lived. For all its problems and shortcomings, the deal spearheaded by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is the closest any U.S. administration has come to seeking a political solution for its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan since 2001, he told Gandhara, referring to the U.S. peace envoy who is considered the key architect of the deal. It is difficult to envisage that the Biden administration will be able to make a successful case for a continued, unending commitment to a military presence in Afghanistan. Hakimi says the most important element under review will be the secret annexes to which only senior U.S. officials and Taliban representatives are privy. For the Americans, any Taliban compliance with the agreement will be based on those annexes, as opposed to what the other non-Taliban Afghan sides -- including the government -- consider a violation or lack of implementation of the deal, he noted. Sadly, increasing violence impacting Afghans on a daily basis may not be the most important deciding factor of the Talibans compliance with the deal. Hakimi says the Doha agreement is politically relevant for Washington as it eyes an eventual exit from Afghanistan. It is also highly unlikely that President Biden will be on a phone call with the Taliban leadership -- unlike the warmth shown to them by President Trump, he said. Finding A Way Out The Biden administration wants to avoid getting locked into an interminable war in Afghanistan, says Semple. I think they will find some way to keep the deal alive but to lengthen the timelines as a reflection that it does take longer to reach peace, he noted. In an indication of some continuity of policy, the new U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on January 27 that the administration has asked Khalilzad to remain in his position. But he also said Bidens administration had not seen certain parts of the accord that were not made public. "One of the things that we need to understand is exactly what is in the agreements that were reached between the United States and the Taliban, to make sure that we fully understand the commitments that the Taliban has made as well as any commitments that we've made," he told journalists. In a January 28 call with President Ashraf Ghani, Blinken reiterated his desire for all Afghan leaders to support this historic opportunity for peace while preserving the progress made over the last 20 years with regard to human rights, civil liberties, and the role of women in Afghan society, according to a readout of the call by department spokesman Ned Price. John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, however, went further and said the Taliban is not complying with its commitments in the Doha agreement. "The Taliban are not meeting their commitments to reduce violence, and to renounce their ties to Al-Qaeda," he told journalists on January 28. "Without them meeting their commitments to renounce terrorism and to stop the violent attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces ... it's very hard to see a specific way forward for the negotiated settlement, but we're still committed to that. For now, the Taliban is adamant that it is in full compliance with the agreement. We consider the full implementation of the Doha agreement a logical solution to the ongoing problem, and also in the interest of both the American and Afghan people, the Taliban statement said, adding that the group shall remain committed to all clauses of the Doha agreement, not allow anyone to pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies from the soil of Afghanistan or build bases here. Washington might be mulling significant changes in its approach to the current stalemate in talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government and the peace process as a whole. Semple says this could involve a broader peace process which maintains the negotiations that have been started but does not depend on the negotiations in quite the same way that the Khalilzad approach did. Washingtons complicated struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, war weariness, and an imminent withdrawal date might, however, prevent it from redefining the Afghan war or adopting a different approach to ending it. Editor's Note: This article was updated to include the Pentagon's comments on January 28. More than 300 SEPTA workers got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine last Friday at Main Line Health, as part of an effort organized by the transit authority, but not every worker who signed up got one that day. Allison Cooper, who drives the Route 77 bus, was one of the workers who didnt get an appointment that day. She thinks she signed up too late, and there werent enough doses for everyone. Cooper, 54, said she was initially leery of the vaccine because of how quickly it was developed, but she and her family members had decided to get it because they all care for her 91-year-old mother. Its important we all get it to protect her, she said of her mother, who lives with her. Now, shes waiting to hear from SEPTA about the next time she can get one. As Philadelphia widened vaccine distribution last week to some types of front-line workers, some said they were eager to get the vaccine, even if they were a little wary. But like other people who are currently eligible, many workers in Philadelphias group 1B were confused. Many said they hadnt heard yet from their employers about it. Some werent sure where to sign up or which online registration forms to trust. And others wondered whether theyd lose out on pay if they had to miss work to get the vaccine. READ MORE: No phone hotlines, multiple websites, long lines: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is confusing in Pa. and N.J. First responders, public transit workers, and service providers working with high-risk populations are currently eligible for the vaccine, the city of Philadelphia said last week. Next up will be teachers, child-care workers, and food service workers, but theyll have to wait until the first group is vaccinated, which Health Department Commissioner Thomas Farley said could take several weeks. But workers interviewed for this article said it was hard to find information about who exactly was eligible and when. Many were relying on trusted organizations, such as their union, to figure out how to get the vaccine. Bob Paczewski, a dairy manager at the Acme on Cottman Avenue, said he told the pharmacist at his job that he wanted to be the first to get the vaccine to set an example for his coworkers who are more hesitant. But Paczewski, a member of union UFCW Local 1776, said he was a little discouraged that he and his coworkers were still waiting. When are we gonna get it? the 54-year-old said. Nobody seems to know. Claudia Garcia, a house cleaner who also cares for seniors in their homes, also felt in the dark. It was the Pennsylvania Domestic Workers Alliance, an organization that shes a part of, that told her she was eligible and helped her sign up for a spot. Shes waiting to hear back. But Garcia, 37, said she wished the government put out more information about the vaccine, including in her native language, Spanish. We need the government to consider us much more, she said through a translator. Barista Emilio Flores signed up for a vaccine because he read on the Instagram account @phreedomjawn that food service workers were eligible. He got an appointment through the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, except he found out just two days before and had to call out of work and lose a days pay. Still, Flores, 26, who has asthma, was relieved to get it because the coffee shop where he works has been considering reopening for indoor dining. And he was glad he was able to make an appointment for his second and final shot, so that he could plan ahead. Flores said it was concerning that it wasnt easy to plan to get the vaccine, especially because many restaurants and coffee shops are already running on a skeleton staff during the pandemic and might be less flexible. Its a potential hurdle to getting fast-food and retail workers vaccinated, because they tend to have unpredictable schedules, and some fear losing hours or getting disciplined if they call out unexpectedly. (A Philadelphia law called Fair Workweek that went into effect last year aimed to tackle the hardship of unpredictable schedules by mandating that chains provide schedules two weeks in advance.) READ MORE: A Philly private school got COVID-19 vaccines for its teachers. Then its clinic was canceled. Some employers are paying workers to get vaccinated, such as JBS, which runs a Montgomery County meatpacking plant that has lost workers to COVID-19, and specialty food retailer Di Bruno Bros. JBS, which has been criticized for not protecting workers during the pandemic, is paying employees $100 to get vaccinated. Di Bruno Bros. is paying workers $25, according to an email to workers shared with The Inquirer. UFCW 1776, a union whose members are largely in group 1B, assembled a $250,000 pot of money to create a raffle for members who have gotten vaccinated, said president Wendell Young IV. Its also working with the more than 100 businesses that employ his members to make sure they dont lose pay if they get vaccinated while theyre on the clock, though Young declined to identify employers who agreed to this. The union, which plans to open a vaccination site at its Plymouth Meeting headquarters for members, was also hosting educational sessions to combat misinformation about the vaccine, Young said. Garcia, the house cleaner, said she had heard stories that scared her about the vaccine, including that it was designed to control overpopulation. There is no scientific evidence for such a claim. But, she said, her desire to protect her health and that of her three kids outweighed her fears. 32BJ SEIU, a union whose members are in group 1B, said it was hosting similar informational sessions because some members have been apprehensive about the vaccine. It was holding off on sharing registration information, though, until February. We need to feel really sure that the information we share results in members successfully getting the vaccine on the first try because we may only have one chance at earning their trust in this process, said Gabe Morgan, 32BJs Pennsylvania and Delaware state director. I am a lifelong Republican. Over the decades, I have given or raised more than $1 million for the GOP and its candidates including President George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain and Gov. Greg Abbott. I support the oil and gas industries. I own guns and love hunting. I stand with Israel. I am committed to free enterprise and owe my living to the small businesses and entrepreneurs who are my law firms clients. The guiding star behind my political activism has always been comprehensive immigration reform. As an immigration attorney in Houston, I can tell you that repairing our broken immigration system is critical to our local economy and to industries that depend heavily on immigrant labor, like agriculture, home health and hospitality. As a descendant of Mexican immigrants, I have too often felt the sting of ignorant, nativist words about Latinos from my fellow Republicans, but I always believed that somehow, ultimately, my party would see the benefits of codifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), implementing efficient guest worker programs, vetting the 11 million undocumented immigrants and regularizing their status. Thats what motivated me to meet with Donald Trump and his high command in the summer of 2016. His words that day were promising. He acknowledged that Latino immigrants fulfill a critical need by doing the work that others refuse to do. He agreed with me that doing nothing amounted to de facto amnesty since nobody had vetted the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here. He promised action. I bought it hook, line and sinker. I agreed to serve on Trumps Hispanic Advisory Council and went on Spanish language television to urge Latinos to give him a second look. After a few days, Trump went before an audience in Phoenix with a combative, red meat nativist stemwinder that left no doubt where he stood. This election is our last chance to secure the border, stop illegal immigration and reform our laws to make your life better, Trump shouted. He vowed no amnesty for undocumented migrants and promised to build a beautiful and impenetrable wall. Describing a nation besieged by illegal alien crime, he vowed a deportation task force that would identify and quickly remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens in America. I had been lied to and manipulated. I resigned from Trumps Hispanic Advisory Council immediately. I remained active with the Republican Party, though. I still believed that the commonsense, pro-business conservatives I knew in the GOP would eventually see Trumps angry carnival barking for what it is. As a Republican, watching thousands of Trump supporters invade the Capitol literally brought tears to my eyes. As the descendant of immigrants, I revere the United States Capitol and all it stands for. To see it desecrated at the urging of a Republican President broke my heart. To my dismay, once the insurrectionists were cleared from the building, the vast majority of the Texas Republican Congressional delegation Sen. Ted Cruz and 16 of Texas 22 House Republicans proceeded to do what the rioters demanded. They voted to ignore the election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania so they could turn the presidency over to Donald Trump. They might as well have joined the insurrectionists in smashing the windows and rampaging through the Capitol. These 17 Texas Republicans subverted our democracy to humor the delusions of a president who clearly lost by a landslide. If my fellow Republicans are so blind they can defy reality and ignore the legal votes of millions of American citizens, there is no way I can convince them of the rightness of comprehensive immigration reform. There is simply no room for me in the GOP any longer. So I will continue my efforts toward comprehensive immigration reform as a Democrat. I do so with my eyes open. I have plenty of differences with some extremists in my new political party, just as I did with the old one. For instance, I believe that the Green New Dealis a bad deal that would put radical politics ahead of our economic survival. While I do not agree with every word of some Democrats agenda, I am excited by President Bidens introduction of a sweeping immigration reform bill just hours after he was sworn in, and I am determined to help him pass it. Both political parties have always had their fringe elements, but without any guiding principle beyond mindless adherence to Trump, the GOP has surrendered itself to them. QAnon conspiracies have become mainstream in a party that has now unquestioningly adopted Trumps fantasies about the 2020 election. I will work with the vast majority of Democrats and the minority of Republicans to help President Biden pass a pro-business, comprehensive immigration plan that will reflect the nations center and our best instincts as a people. As for the Republicans? Enough. Im out. Monty is a Houston-based immigration lawyer and has been a longtime Republican activist. COVID-19 has brought new challenges for parents with school closed, kids at home and limited ways for restless teens to do what they do best, hang with friends. Even parents with means have faced the stress of making sure their children get homework done, avoid trouble on social media and dont bring the coronavirus home when they do venture out. Imagine a single mother in Harrisburg taking the bus -- when its working -- leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. She doesnt have the luxury of working from home, hiring a tutor or making sure her teens are monitored each and every hour. Thats the reality for many parents in our region, and especially in the City of Harrisburg, where one out of every three families is officially classified as poor, even if they do have a job or two. If you think suburban moms are stressed to the limit, imagine what good mothers a few miles away in Harrisburg are feeling. Save Our Children: Parenting Experts are discussing the challenges of parenting and the increased youth violence in the City of Harrisburg in the second Save Our Children: A Harrisburg Community Forum Zoom webinar. Posted by PennLive.com on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Experts who spoke Tuesday during the second of PennLives Save Our Children: A Community Town Hall webinars offered this grim picture to provide context for the surge of youth violence in the city. Last year, amid the pandemic and its economic shutdown, Harrisburg recorded the highest number of homicides in 30 years, much of it attributed to teenagers on the streets with guns. Relatives and friends of Anthony L. Brown, 29, also known as Juice Man, gather to light candles and remember Brown, two days after someone kicked in his bedroom door and fatally shot him. The homicide remains unsolved. March 19, 2020. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com Daniel Jurman says poverty is a huge factor in Harrisburgs homicide rate. Hes the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Advocacy and Reform in the PA Governors Office, a new agency that says its working to reform government services to create positive outcomes for people whose circumstances have made them vulnerable. That translates into helping single mothers in Harrisburg and elsewhere who are not earning a decent wage, cant stay home to supervise their children and cant waste hours trying to beg government bureaucracies for help. You cant reach a human being on the phone at many of them. Jurman was one of several speakers at the webinar that looked at parenting issues in Harrisburg to examine the causes of the citys escalating homicide rate. He joined Judge Jeannine Turgeon, who spent 28 years with the Court of Common Pleas; Marisa McClellan, administrator for Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth; Pat Gadsden, who provides parental counseling services; and Lavet Henderson, a Harrisburg parent advocate. They all agreed poverty is the killer. And they all agreed poverty in cities like Harrisburg is fueled by low wages, too few jobs close to homes, and poor schools that trap youth in a cycle of hopelessness. Its sad but true: any kid who has trouble reading, writing and counting in todays world has few choices outside of crime and prison. Tone Cook has a board honoring his brother Michael, killed in 1997 by gun violence, during a kick off event at a new Memorial Wall to homicide/COVID victims in Harrisburg, Pa., July 25, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com Gadsden doesnt see single parenting, per se, as the problem. We all know many single mothers and fathers are doing a fine job of raising their kids. But single parents who dont earn enough to support their families and who have no help in raising their children and getting them a solid education thats the problem. So whats the solution? Judge Turgeon argued its too hard for poor parents to get help. Shes asking that the county create an ombudsman office a one-stop shop for parents to know where to turn, whether it be for mentors or tutors for their children, counseling or job hunting. Its a smart idea and could make an immediate difference in the lives of thousands of families. But if these experts are right, the real solution to the homicide pandemic in Harrisburg lies in raising wages for the working poor, ensuring children have good schools and committed teachers; and in getting illegal guns off the streets. Theres one more thing the experts agreed must be done. More people should step up to mentor youth and to help struggling parents. We cant leave it all to the government. The Harrisburg YMCA offers youth mentoring opportunities. The Nativity School of Harrisburg welcomes mentors and Dauphin County has opportunities for people who want to volunteer. Dont let COVID stop you. There are even people who mentor kids via Zoom. PennLive will continue its Save Our Children webinar series next month to engage our community in exploring solutions to the problems in Harrisburg. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. A 22-year-old man who defiled and impregnated a minor has been charged with defilement at Kibera law courts. The suspect, who works as a security guard, is said to have lured the 15-year-old minor to his cousins house in Kawangware, Nairobi where he allegedly defiled her during the day before going home to be with his wife. The victim is said to have been his wifes friend and a regular visitor at their house before the suspect started making advances at her. The minor eventually agreed to be his lover after he promised to make her his wife and take her to his rural home. He, however, sent her away after he realised her parents were looking for her. Several weeks later it was discovered that she was pregnant. Appearing before senior principal magistrate Esther Bhoke, the suspect denied the charges and demanded that his wifes interest in the case be investigated. The court freed the suspect on a bond of Sh300,000, with a surety of a similar amount. The case will be mentioned on February 9. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rockridge Resources Ltd.ROCK) (Frankfurt: RR0) ("Rockridge") (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a 2,965 metre diamond drilling program at its 100% owned Raney Gold Project located southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada (the "Raney Gold Project" or "Property"). A total of 11 drill holes were completed to evaluate the down plunge and strike extent of the Raney Gold Zone. Assays have been received for 9 of the 11 holes with gold mineralization intersected in all but two holes. Drill hole RN 20-13 returned 2.5 g/t Au over 13.0m from 133.0m to 146.0m including 3.41 g/t Au over 9.0m from 135.0m to 144.0m and including 9.6 g/t Au over 2.0m from 135.0m to 137.0m. Furthermore, exploratory drill hole RN 20-18 was a significant step out hole along strike 250m to the west of the main zone and returned 1.36 g/t Au over 9.0m from 141.0m to 150.0m including 2.1 g/t Au over 4.0m from 141.0m to 145.0m. Raney Gold Project Location Map: http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/maps/location_map_may2020a.jpg The drill program was designed to evaluate a number of exploration ideas/concepts including: testing the down plunge and depth continuity of high-grade gold mineralization intersected in previously drilled holes; testing the eastward and westward continuity of the Raney Gold Zone as suggested by a well-defined magnetic low signature along strike as identified from a drone survey; testing a relatively underexplored feldspar porphyry unit; and testing a newly identified magnetic signature along strike to the Raney Gold Zone that exhibited a distinct fold geometry. Rockridge's CEO, Grant Ewing, commented: "The main zone of the Raney Gold Project has returned significant high-grade gold results from previous drilling campaigns, and the current program was designed to test the depth and strike extent of the mineralization outside of this zone. A very encouraging aspect of the program is the potential extension of the Raney Gold Zone to the west where hole RN 20-18 intersected gold in a strongly altered section with quartz veins 250 metres west of the main zone." Jordan Trimble, Rockridge's President, commented: "We are very pleased to have gold mineralization in almost every hole reported thus far from the recent drill program with assays pending for two additional holes. These initial results from the Raney Gold Project further illustrate the high grade, robust geological potential at the project as we continue to expand the main zone of gold mineralization while discovering other zones both along strike and at depth." A summary of assay results for nine holes are reported below: Hole RN 20-10 returned 1.37 g/t Au over 3.5m from 157m to 160.5m Hole RN 20-11 returned 2.18 g/t Au over 5.7m from 153.8m to 159.5m; and 2.68 g/t Au over 0.8m from 250.7m to 251.5m Hole RN 20-12 returned 1.38 g/t Au over 6.5m from 144.5m to 151.0m; and 1.27 g/t Au over 4.0m from 211.5m to 215.5m Hole RN 20-13 returned 2.5 g/t Au over 13.0m from 133.0m to 146.0m; including 3.41 g/t Au over 9.0m from 135.0m to 144.0m and including 9.6 g/t over 2.0m from 135.0m to 137.0m Hole RN 20-14 returned 1.97 g/t Au over 2.0m from 248.5m to 250.5m Hole RN 20-15 and hole RN 20-17 - no significant values Hole RN 20-16 returned 2.21 g/t Au over 1.0m from 387.0m to 388.0m Hole RN 20-18 returned 1.36 g/t Au over 9.0m from 141.0m to 150.0m; including 1.67 g/t Au over 7.0m from 141.0m to 148.0m and including 2.1 g/t Au over 4.0m from 141.0m to 145.0m Diamond Drill Hole Summaries: Drill holes RN-20-10,11, and 12 were drilled from the same setup to test the down plunge continuity of the high-grade intersection of previously reported hole RN-20-06 which returned 27.9 g/t Au over 6.0m. Narrow low-grade intervals with weak veining were encountered. Visible gold was identified in RN-20-11 in a parallel structure approximately 50 metres south of the Raney Gold Zone, which returned 2.2 g/t Au over 5.7m. The proper Raney Gold Zone in RN-20-11 also had an occurrence of visible gold, with less alteration and returned 2.68 g/t Au over 0.8m. Drill holes RN-20-13 and 14 were drilled to test the down plunge continuity of high-grade mineralization in previously reported hole RAN-08-04 which returned 3.9 g/t Au over 17.4m. Hole RN-20-13 intersected 2.5 g/t Au over 13.0m from 133.0m to 146.0m in the south zone including 3.41 g/t Au over 9.0m from 135.0m to 144.0m and including 9.6 g/t over 2.0m from 135.0m to 137.0m. Hole RN-20-14 returned 1.97 g/t Au over 2 metres from 248.5m to 250.5m. Drill hole RN-20-15 was drilled to test a magnetic feature suggesting the eastward continuity of the Raney Zone. A number of sericite schist units were intersected as well as sections with weak quartz vein density suggesting possible continuity. The mag low feature continues east and represents a possible future exploration target. Drill hole RN-20-16 was drilled to test the feldspar porphyry and at the same time provide a deeper intersection on the Raney Gold Zone. The feldspar porphyry appears to be spatially intimate with a large shear zone, both of which are dipping to the north. The shear zone is wide and shows considerable strain and contains narrow quartz carbonate veins. The porphyry was not intensely sheared or altered at depth, in contrast to the sheared nature on surface. Some small veins were encountered. The deeper intersection on the Raney zone did not provide indication that the zone has continuity at depth on this section. Hole RN-20-17 was drilled to test the feldspar porphyry and a high-grade surface gold showing and intersected anomalous gold grades. Hole RN-20-18 is the first hole ever drilled to test a drone magnetic feature along strike and to the west of the Raney Gold Zone. The hole intersected a strongly altered section with quartz veins that is very similar in appearance to the main Raney Gold Zone and returned 1.36 g/t Au over 9.0m from 141.0m to 150.0m including 2.1 g/t Au over 4.0m from 141.0m to 145.0m. This is a significant hole as it indicates potential continuity of the zone 250 metres to the west. The strong alteration, which was logged over a width of 7.0m also indicates the potential for higher grades in untested areas at depth and along strike. Mag Survey Plan Map Showing Exploration Hole Collars: http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/images/Raney-Gold-Project-Summer-2020-Drill-Targets.jpg Assay labs have been slow to turn around assay results and as such assays are still pending for drill holes RN-20-19 and RN-20-20. These holes were drilled to test a recently identified magnetic signature possibly along strike to the Raney Gold Zone that exhibits a distinct fold geometry. Drill Hole Details: Drill UTM UTM Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth Purpose/Target Hole East North (m) (m) RN-20-10 365644 5303587 397 25 -45 210 Test down plunge Raney Zone RN-20-11 365633 5303579 397 25 -60 273 Test down plunge Raney Zone RN-20-12 365633 5303579 397 25 -52 240 Test down plunge Raney Zone RN-20-13 365691 5303550 387 25 -47 225 Test down plunge Raney Zone RN-20-14 365691 5303550 387 25 -67 336 Test down plunge Raney Zone RN-20-15 365858 5303482 387 25 -60 330 Test Drone mag east of Raney Zone RN-20-16 365850 5303500 387 30 -60 481 Test QFP and Raney Zone at depth RN-20-17 365568 5303589 387 180 -45 102 Test QFP and high-grade trench RN-20-18 365400 5303675 387 0 -45 252 Test Drone mag west of Raney Zone RN-20-19 364844 5303882 387 55 -45 276 Test mag low fold structure far west RN-20-20 364844 5303882 387 245 -45 240 Test mag low fold structure far west Raney Gold Project Location: The Raney Gold Project, southwest of Timmins, is strategically located within the highly prospective west extension of the Abitibi Greenstone belt, proximal to several regional deposits. Newmont's operating Borden Gold Mine (reserves of 4.17 MT @ 6.38 g/t Au for ~860k oz. Au reported in 2015) is located 35 km west of Raney. IAMGOLD and JV partner Sumitomo Metals Mining recently decided to proceed with construction of their Cote gold project located 75 km southeast of Raney. The Cote project, estimated to contain gold reserves of ~7 million ounces (~236MT @ 0.96 g/t Au), is noted as a "world-class" deposit by IAMGOLD. GFG Resources is a close neighbour that has acquired a large land package in the area including its Pen and Dore Gold Projects. Raney Gold Project Geology and History: Earlier in 2020, Rockridge completed its initial drill program totalling 2,070 metres in nine diamond drill holes at the Raney Gold Project. The drill program focused on the main zone over a strike extent of approximately 225 metres that produced the best historic intercept of 6.5 g/t gold over 8.0 metres in 2010. Silicification and minor carbonate alteration were recognized, however gold mineralization appears to be closely related to intervals of high quartz vein density. The quartz veins are hosted in a steeply dipping alteration zone dominated by intermediate volcanic rocks consisting of lapilli tuffs and bedded argillites, with lamprophyre dikes. The quartz veins crosscut and run parallel to a weak fabric, and range in thickness from 0.5 cm to 20 cm in width. Significant Historical High-Grade Gold Intercepts from Raney Gold Zone: BHID From m To m Width m Au g/t RAN-08-04 108.0 125.2 17.2 2.8 RAN-09-06 119.5 127.0 7.5 1.7 RAN-09-08 121.0 128.0 7.0 6.9 RAN-20-06 125.0 131.0 6.0 27.9 A zone of increased vein density has been noted where the historic visible gold intercepts occur. The recently drilled high-grade intercept of 27.9 g/t over 6.0 metres from the 2020 winter/spring program was the fourth drill hole on the Property to intercept visible gold, and all these occurrences were in the main zone near the 100-metre depth level. The broad structural corridor that hosts the mineralization is up to 125 metres wide and extends well beyond the area tested by drilling. Prior to the 2020 programs, no drilling had been conducted along this corridor except for the ~225-metre-long main zone. Historical drilling at the Raney Gold Project focused on identifying near-surface gold mineralization. Previous exploration on the Property from 1972 to 1991 consisted of prospecting, mapping, sampling, trenching, winkie drilling, ground geophysics, stripping, and some limited diamond drilling. This was followed by exploration work during the 2009 to 2010 period. The property is underlain by mafic volcanics to the north, and felsic to intermediate volcaniclastics to the south. The felsic volcaniclastics are host to the gold zones. Quartz feldspar porphyry dykes and sills and minor mafic intrusives occur throughout the Property. The porphyries are generally massive but may be sheared and hydrothermally altered and veined in places. A 100 metre-wide intensely sheared and altered quartz-feldspar porphyry body is located just to the south of the main Raney gold showing. Gold mineralization exposed on the surface and intersected in drill holes on the property is typical of the lode gold class of gold deposit which is the dominant gold deposit type in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Gold mineralization on the property is associated with the intensely sheared and altered zones within the felsic tuffs, and higher grades tend to occur where quartz veining is present. The Property is in the Archean Swayze Greenstone Belt, considered to be the southeast extension of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, which hosts the world-class Timmins and Kirkland Lake gold districts. Numerous gold occurrences occur throughout the district and several world-class mines have been developed. These deposits are responsible for a significant portion of the world's cumulative gold production and are often characterized by gold enriched quartz vein systems associated with supracrustal belts in low to medium grade metamorphic terranes. Gold mineralization at the Property is typical of the mesothermal lode gold deposit model. Rockridge owns a 100% interest in the Raney Gold Project. Qualified Person: Todd Keast, P.Geo., a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and the Raney Gold Project Manager for Rockridge Resources Ltd., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. About Rockridge Resources Ltd. Rockridge Resources is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada and other mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company's Raney Gold Project is a high-grade gold exploration project located in the same greenstone belt that hosts the world-class Timmins and Kirkland Lake lode gold mining camps. The Company's Knife Lake Project is in Saskatchewan, which is ranked as one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world by the Fraser Institute. The project hosts the Knife Lake deposit, which is a VMS, near-surface copper-cobalt-gold-silver-zinc deposit open along strike and at depth. Rockridge's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. Additional information about Rockridge Resources and its project portfolio can be found on the Company's website at www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com. Rockridge currently has 51.1 million shares issued and outstanding. Rockridge Resources Ltd. "Grant Ewing" __________________ Grant Ewing CEO For further information contact myself or: Jordan Trimble, President or Spencer Coulter, Corporate Communications Rockridge Resources Ltd. Telephone: 604-687-3376 Toll Free: 800-567-8181 Facsimile: 604-687-3119 Email: info@rockridgeresourcesltd.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Forward Looking Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.comfor further information. A 29-year-old Limerick man stabbed a stranger in the head, leaving him with a significant brain injury and a lifelong disability, just hours after Limericks victory in the 2018 All-Ireland hurling final, a court has heard. The court also heard during Thomas Power's sentence hearing today that the knife penetrated victim Eoin Casey's skull, leaving the tip of the weapon inside. In a letter of apology to the victim, Power said he did not expect his apology to be accepted by Mr Casey but said what he had done was "utterly inexcusable". Power, formerly of Alderwood Avenue, Caherdavin pleaded guilty last November to assaulting Mr Casey (25), causing him serious harm in the early hours of August 20, 2018 at Woodbine Avenue in Caherdavin. He has also pleaded guilty to assaulting Aaron Grant, causing him harm, on the same occasion. At the Central Criminal Court this Thursday, two victim impact statements were read to the court by prosecuting counsel Conor Devally SC. In an emotional victim impact statement, the brother of Mr Casey, Martin Casey, said it has been two-and-a-half years since Eoin was stabbed in the head and everyday he wakes up wishing it was a "terrible nightmare". He said his brother was given a 50/50 chance of staying alive at the time and all they could do as a family was hold each other and cry. "I will never be able to erase the image of Eoin. I never knew a human's head could swell so much and be so disfigured. We know a part of him died that night and it would never be like it used to be. He will never tie his own laces again or text a girl, never be able to remember his mobile number, simple everyday things we think nothing of. Eoin needs help with simple, everyday things now," he said. Martin Casey said there have been "more bad days than good with Eoin" and when he has a good day then the family has a good day. "Caring for someone with a brain injury is a full time job. I wish I could see bright things ahead," he said. He said his brother was stabbed 500 metres from their home and that whilst Power had not taken Eoin's life, he had taken his brother's livelihood. "He has taken his ability to work and his purpose in life. He has given our family a life sentence of fear and taken away all of our freedom," he said. Mr Devally read a second victim impact statement from Mr Grant who was also stabbed twice on the night in the back and shoulder. Mr Grant said: "What should have been an enjoyable night turned into a nightmare. I have never seen so much blood. I kept telling Eoin that he would be ok but I could hardly get the words out. I felt helpless and vulnerable and what I saw that night will live with me forever. Since that night my life has changed drastically. I've become very uncomfortable with groups of people. The trauma of that night will live with me forever." During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Mark McAuley told Mr Devally that the events occurred in the early hours of September 20, 2018, just hours after Limericks historic victory in the All-Ireland hurling final at Croke Park. Outlining the events that led up to the stabbing, Det Gda McAuley said CCTV footage indicated that two groups of men, who had each been out celebrating separately that day, encountered each other through a "chance meeting" in the Caherdavin area of the city as they made their way home for the night. The court heard that Power and one of Casey's friends had a mutual friend and this was what "sparked up the conversation" between them which had led to the altercation. "There was no history between them," said the detective. The witness said Power received a blow from Mr Casey, which was not of a significant nature but caused him to stumble. Power then hurried back to a house where his girlfriend, who was expecting their first child at the time, was living and which was less than 200 metres away. He retrieved a knife and moments later returned to Woodbine Avenue, where Mr Casey and Mr Grant were. Mr Grant told gardai that Power assaulted them both and within moments of the attack, he saw his friend Mr Casey "bleeding to an alarming degree" on the ground. The court heard that Power then returned to his girlfriend's house and deposited the knife in a bin outside. Mr Grant tried to raise the alarm and two passersby called the emergency services. Mr Casey was brought to University Hospital Limerick and treated for his significant internal head injury, which had caused a swelling to his brain. Det Garda McAuley said the knife had entered Mr Casey's left temple region and penetrated the skull. The knife, which was never recovered, was described as being blue and "blue particles or fragments" were later removed from Mr Casey's wound. Mr Casey had to be taken to Cork University Hospital for further treatment, where he was put on a life support machine as the knife had penetrated the left temple lobe across the brain. A CT scan showed several areas of traumatic haemorrhage located in the left region of the brain and a metallic fragment was embedded in the right side of the skull, which appeared to be consistent with the tip of the knife. The ongoing swelling of the brain meant that it was necessary to remove a portion of Mr Casey's skull as he would have lost his life had this had not been conducted, said Mr Devally, adding that it is predicted that the victim will have a lifelong disability and his rehabilitation will be a slow process. The court heard Mr Casey spent five months in a rehabilitation centre in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin and has "ongoing" medical treatment. Responsibility for his care is shared between his parents and brother. "He has certain deficits in relation to his word processing and memories and there has been a great diminishment in his abilities. Communication for him is something that is rendered very problematic and he has been left with dyspraxia of speech," said Mr Devally, adding that there is concern if independent living is possible for him due to his "significantly acquired brain injury". Mr Casey's reading and writing skills have all been impacted by the event but he has achieved some goals of a "modest nature". The court also heard that his "abilities weigh heavily on him" and he suffers mood swings and some depressive events. Power was arrested on August 22, 2018 and told gardai in his initial interview that he had been "unfairly hit" and then went to bed in his girlfriend's house. When asked about the knife, Power indicated that he was not aware of one and denied knowledge of the more serious incident. However, Power told gardai in his third interview that he "had this vision in his head that I must have done it" and said he left his girlfriend's house that night with a weapon before discarding it in a wheelie bin. When it was revealed to Power by gardai that another man had overheard him tell Mr Casey, "I'm going to kill you", the defendant said he did not mean this as an "explicit intention" that he was going to do it. The detective testified that Power also acknowledged stabbing Mr Grant to a more superficial degree. Mr Grant suffered two superficial injuries to his right shoulder, which did not cause lasting damage and was unaware of their existence until he was later treated in the ambulance. The court heard Power has six previous convictions, which are mainly public order matters and he has one minor conviction for possession of cannabis. Under cross-examination, Det Garda McAuley agreed with defence counsel Sean Gillane SC that his client found it difficult to accept that he could have done this in his initial interview but "opened up" in his third interview, saying that he must have stabbed Mr Casey. The detective further agreed that Power said in his interviews that it was "a disgusting thing to do" and he was "truly sorry". Mr Gillane said Power and Mr Casey were "utterly unknown" to each other and their paths had crossed with "tremendous consequences" for Mr Casey and "ripple consequences" for their individual families. The lawyer said his client was reared by his mother and her partner in Clonmel in Tipperary, left school at 17 years and thereafter "things began to drift". He began to drink very heavily and abuse cannabis and ecstasy. As his relationship with his girlfriend became closer, he moved to Limerick to live with her. In a letter of apology to Mr Casey, Power said he did not expect his apology to be accepted by him and said he felt ashamed for what he had done and it was "utterly inexcusable". Mr Gillane said that mitigating factors were his clients lack of any history of violence, his remorse, his guilty plea and the positive and stable family relationship he had built with his partner. In his submissions, the barrister asked the court to take into consideration that this was a "chance encounter" rather than some "animus or pre-meditation". He asked the court to place some "small measure" on the fact that his client had not gone out armed in the "hope or expectation of trouble" and highlighted that this did not minimise Power's "disastrous decision making process" of going back to his girlfriend's house only to re-emerge with a knife. "I ask the court to structure a sentence in a way so as not to close out the future for Mr Power, who is still relatively young and appears to be someone who can contribute to society, all in the very dark shadow of what has been done to Mr Casey," he concluded. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded the defendant in custody until Monday, when he will be sentenced. EACH AND EVERY DAY, my colleagues and I hear about how New Hampshires high property taxes are an unsustainable burden on hardworking Granite Staters. According to a recent report from US News and WalletHub, New Hampshire has the third-highest property tax rates in the country. For young wor Indu Bhushan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Health Authority, responsible for implementing the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana', is likely to step down as his three-year term comes to an end. He is likely to be replaced by RS Sharma, former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Earlier, Sharma was made the chairperson of an empowered committee for CoWIN, the vaccine delivery technology platform for COVID-19. He was also inducted to the high-level panel for administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Bhushan is an ex-Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Rajasthan cadre. He is a bureaucrat-turned-economist who worked as a Senior Economist with the World Bank Group before moving to the Asian Development Bank. He took charge of the flagship health scheme in 2018. Also read: PM Modi launches Ayushman Bharat scheme in J&K; 229 govt, 35 private hospitals to offer services Also read: Cashless treatments worth Rs 17,500 crore provided under Ayushman Bharat: Centre U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) asks questions during testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, on Nov. 13, 2019. (Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images) House Lawmakers Urge Biden to Confront Chinas Threat to Emerging Technologies More than 20 Republican House lawmakers have sent a joint letter to the White House, calling on President Joe Biden to prioritize cooperation with U.S. allies on emerging technologies in order to confront threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These technologies include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductor chips, and 5G communications. Beijing has sought to dominate these fields, especially by compelling Chinese private companies and universities to support its military development under a strategy called military-civilian fusion. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that the strategy also included theft of intellectual property. The CCPs model of state-backed capitalism and civil-military fusion allows China to make significant investments and advancements in these critical technologies, said Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) in a Jan. 27 press release. it is critical that the United States cooperates with our allies to scale the development and deployment of these emerging technologies in order to challenge Chinas goal of total global technology leadership and tech authoritarianism. During the Trump administration, the Pentagon identified 44 Chinese companies as having links to the Chinese military, including telecom giant Huawei and semiconductor chipmaker SMIC. In November last year, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning U.S. investment in these companies. In the joint letter, the lawmakers asked the Joe Biden administration to take action to protect U.S. economic and national security interests, such as by prioritizing issues regarding Chinese technologies at summits of the Group of Seven (G7), as well as within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The next G-7 summit will be held in June in England, which holds the groups rotating presidency this year. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also invited Australia, India, and South Korea as guest countries to the summit. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan house the biggest semiconductor chipmakers outside of the United States. The letter called for the administration to promote the development of an allied network to encourage cooperation among tech companies in allied states to scale emerging technology advancements. The lawmakers also called on the Biden administration to coordinate with allies and like-minded states to advance fair and ethical technology standards at international standards-setting bodies. The Chinese regime has heavily invested in its standard-setting efforts, seeking to promote its own technology standards at international standards bodies such as the ISO. In December last year, the Chinese Standardization Administration and the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, Chinas highest military body, issued a guideline on how to better implement military-civil fusion through setting up common tech standards. Other House lawmakers that signed the letter included Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), and Micahel McCaul (R-Texas). I strongly encourage the Biden Administration to take charge by prioritizing critical technologies, like semiconductor manufacturing, in its infrastructure plan, McCaul said. This includes investing in domestic manufacturing of next-generation semiconductor chips as outlined by my CHIPs for America Act. In June last year, McCaul introduced a bill (H.R.7178), the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, proposing to create federal programs and provide tax benefits that support companies building semiconductor plants in the United States. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced the Senate version (S.3933) in the same month. We must work with our allies to ensure that our supply chain is secure and the future of technology is safely out of the hands of the CCP, McCaul concluded. International police have disrupted the "world's most dangerous" cybercrime service used to break into computer systems, law agencies announced on Wednesday The Hague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2021 ):International police have disrupted the "world's most dangerous" cybercrime service used to break into computer systems, law agencies announced on Wednesday. The illicit service called EMOTET was operated as a so-called botnet, software that infects a network of computers and allows them to be remotely controlled, Europol and its judicial sister agency Eurojust said. Police based in Britain, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Ukraine and the United States teamed together to infiltrate EMOTET's infrastructure. Describing it as the "world's most dangerous malware", Europol said in a statement that "law enforcement and judicial authorities worldwide have this week disrupted one of the most significant botnets of the past decade: EMOTET." The network involved several hundred servers around the world that were used to "manage the computers of the infected victims, to spread to new ones, to serve other criminal groups," Europol said. "Investigators have now taken control of its infrastructure in an international coordinated action," it said. What made EMOTET especially dangerous was the fact that it was offered for hire to other "top level" criminals, who then used this "door opener" to install other types of malware, Europol said. This included infamous banking "Trojans" which steal bank details and credentials, and ransomware that locks files and systems and holds them for ransom for large sums of money. Criminals used email attachments to trick unsuspecting victims into opening the mails, making them look like invoices, shipping notices and information about Covid-19. All these emails contained malicious Word documents, either attached to the email or downloadable by clicking on a link within the mail. Once a user opened one of these documents, they were prompted to "enable macros" so that the malicious code hidden in the Word file could run and install EMOTET malware on a victim's computer. "EMOTET was one of the biggest vectors of corporate infection in ransomware and data theft attacks," Gerome Billois, Paris-based cybersecurity expert for the consultancy Wavestone, told AFP. The police action "shows that it is possible to stop cyber-criminals", Billois added. Boeing has received a licence from the US government to offer its F-15EX fighter jet to the Indian air force, a senior executive said on Thursday. Boeing will compete with Sweden's Gripen and France's Rafale among others for the Indian air force's plan to buy 114 multi-role aircraft to replace its Soviet-era fleet. Ankur Kanaglekar, director, India Fighters Lead, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, told reporters discussions on the F-15EX had taken place earlier between the two governments. "Now that we have the marketing licence it allows us to talk to the Indian Air Force directly about the capability of the fighter. We have started doing that in a small way," he said, adding conversations were expected to gather pace during the Aero India show next week. India and the United States have built close defence ties, with the Indian military buying over $20 billion worth of weapons in the last 15 years. Lockheed Martin is also pitching its F-21 fighter to the Indian air force, offering to build the plane in the country to win the deal estimated to be worth more than $18 billion. Boeing is bullish on India for both its defence and commercial aviation businesses, even as the Covid-19 pandemic has hit demand for air travel, forcing airlines to first get their finances in order before ordering new planes. Boeing expects domestic passenger traffic to return to 2019 levels by the end of this year, Salil Gupte, the company's India head said, adding international traffic would return to pre-Covid levels only by 2023. One of the planemaker's biggest customers is Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet Ltd, which has a large order for its narrowbody 737 MAX planes. Boeing on Wednesday got the green light from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to return its 737 MAX planes to service after a 22-month ban and Gupte said it was working to get approvals from the Indian regulator. Also read: Aditya Birla Fashion buys 51% stake in Sabyasachi for Rs 398 crore Also read: Budget 2021: Agency to examine consumer complaints against banks, insurers on anvil Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images According to a new UCSF study, food and agricultural workers are at the highest risk of death from COVID-19 among working age Californians. The study, which analyzed deaths of essential workers between ages 18 to 65, found line cooks to be at the highest risk of all, more so than packaging machine operators, construction laborers and even nurses. When Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that the state would be shifting its vaccine rollout to an age-based system, some worried that this meant restaurant workers would no longer be prioritized. However, as a California Department of Public Health spokesperson confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle, this is not true restaurant workers will be categorized under food and agricultural workers, an essential group that should be next in line for the vaccine. Texas AG: Court Ruling on Bidens 100-Day Deportation Freeze Shows No Ones Above the Law Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday celebrated the stay on President Joe Bidens freeze of most deportations while encouraging other attorneys general to review Bidens orders. Paxton, a Republican, sued Biden over the deportation freeze. A federal judge on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the administration from implementing the mandate. It sends a signal that these courts, these judges are open to hearing about the law and whats actually going on, Paxton said on Fox News Primetime. And so I would encourage my fellow attorneys general across the country to look at whats going on, and whether these are executive orders or just edicts, no ones above the law, including the president, he added. Paxton said he hoped that a lot of attorneys general across this country will say, No, we cannot allow this to happen in our state.' Biden set a new record for the number of executive orders during a presidents first days in office, issuing 28. Executive orders are typically a tool to go around Congress. Most presidents use the tool sparingly, and only after trying to get bills passed by Congress first. A coalition of attorneys general sent a letter to the president on Wednesday telling him that any potentially unconstitutional executive actions or federal overreach will not go unchallenged. If you sign unconstitutional laws passed by Congress, it will be our responsibility and duty to challenge those laws in court, the coalition, led by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, wrote. The White House didnt respond to a request for comment. Neither Biden nor administration officials have appeared to comment on the temporary restraining order against stopping most deportations. China's Accelerated Economic Recovery Key to Global Growth Unlike other major economies, China has rebounded and its recovery is accelerating. It could fuel a third of global economic growth in 2021. With the Spring Festival holidays just weeks away, recent resurgences of COVID-19 infections in Jilin province and Shijiazhuang, Hebei province have renewed concerns about sporadic outbreaks. Chinas public-health authorities believe a major outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the Chinese mainland is unlikely. The authorities have taken strong containment measures to rapidly identify, isolate and control potential outbreaks. Nonetheless, despite the holidays, Chinese people have been urged to avoid travels, to keep the infection rate under control. Downside risks permit no complacency in the foreseeable future. In the light of the lockdowns in major economies and the number of global cumulative cases at 100 million, current Chinese figures are marginal. International risks associated with the pandemic and external demand are a different story. Already variants of the virus, identified in the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States have shown to be more transmissible. New adverse mutations loom in the horizon. As the World Health Organization recently cautioned, the first half of 2021 may be tougher than 2020, at least in the United States, Western Europe and even Japan. The question is, will Chinas recovery prevail amid the dire global landscape? Key indexes signal broad recovery In 2020, China was the only major economy to avoid negative economic growth. Amid the pandemic and perhaps the severest contraction in modern history, Chinas real GDP growth of 2.3 percent exceeded expectations. The performance relied on fiscal and monetary support, but as recovery is accelerating, monetary easing no longer seems warranted. In the mid-December Central Economic Work Conference, the top authorities took note of the economic success, while stressing the need to further foster the foundations of recovery. Although consumption is still constrained, recovery is accelerating. And investment is likely to be buoyed by government-financed infrastructure projects and solid performance in the property market. In November, the indexes for manufacturing, service, trade and consumption were encouraging. Growth in the 4th quarter of last year rose to 6.5 percent year-on-year as consumers returned to malls, restaurants and cinemas. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, both production and demand indicate the economy is recovering steadily. That signals across-the-board recovery. As a result, the yuan has surged in strength against the US dollar and other major currencies, which could foster Chinese companies mergers and acquisitions. This year Chinas economic growth is widely expected to rise further to or above 8 percent. Rapid recovery has brought Chinese economy closer to the US economic output, which it could surpass by the late 2020s. Structural reforms prevail, financial integration accelerating China has taken vital policy steps, including the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law, to further open up its economy. Despite the Sino-US tensions, foreign companies continue to pour money into China. In real terms, inbound foreign direct investment in China hit a record high of $144 billion in 2020. In November, China signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement with the 10 ASEAN member states, plus Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. That will facilitate regional trade and boost economic recovery in the participating countries and the region. Despite the Trump tariff wars, the impressive increase in Chinas exports pushed the trade surplus to a record high in December, with soaring demand for medical and other products needed to fight the pandemic, especially medical equipment and work-from-home technology. Due to the effective containment of the epidemic in the 2nd quarter, Chinese factories could respond to the global demand for such products, while other countries struggled with quarantines and lockdowns. The Trump administrations measures to delist Chinese companies from the US stock exchanges and prohibit US investment in Chinese companies failed to halt, let alone reverse, deeper financial integration between the Chinese and US economies. In effect, the integration of the Chinese financial market with the global financial markets has accelerated. Chinas regulatory reforms have opened its financial markets to many foreign financial institutions, including those in the US. Consequently, foreign ownership of onshore Chinese stocks and bonds is likely to increase in 2021. China fueling over a third of global growth prospects Despite rising protectionism, geopolitics, the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe global economic recession, China has persisted in its quest for opening-up. That has had positive spillover effects on global economic recovery. Focused on strengthening the social safety nets and advancing key reforms, China will continue to foster its recovery and try to ensure balanced, high-quality growth. That, in turn, will benefit both China and the world. In the coming weeks, the Biden administration must decide whether it will continue the Trump trade wars or opt for a more balanced stance. The former would harm global recovery, especially in Asia and vice versa. In December, advanced economies Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecast that global GDP will reach the pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021. In the OECD view, China will account for over a third of world economic expansion. That contribution is critical, due to the devastating global economic contraction and lingering damage in lost lives and economic suffering. Dr. Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served at the India, China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see http://www.differencegroup.net/ 2021 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Dan Steinbock Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The Florence Police Department is asking the public to help it find two murder suspects. Police are looking for Clifton Bernard Rowell, 39, and Jahleal Doshea Jarmon, 32, on murder and burglary indictments from the Lauderdale County Grand Jury. Police said they should be considered armed and dangerous. They both could still be in the Shoals. Both men are wanted in connection to the Feb. 26, 2020, death of Reginald Jackie Watkins II. Watkins, 45, was found dead at Carver Court in Carver Heights Public Housing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Florence Police Department at 256-760-6610, Shoals Area Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685 or FPD Text-A-Tip to 274637 using keyword FPDTIP plus your message. Whitney ISD Mourns Loss Of Bus Driver To COVID-19 Students, administrators and staff at Whitney Independent School District are sharing memories of a well-liked bus driver and groundskeeper at the school after he lost his life to COVID-19 on January 15. John Suiters was known as "Mr. John" to the special needs students who rode on his bus, and he was described by coworkers as a caring individual with a friendly personality. He had been employed by the district for the past 10 years and lived in Whitney with his wife of over 36 years, Penny. The couple have two children, Amanda and Cody. Suiters was 58 years old, and his sister, Judy Billard, said that he was in good health and had no underlying conditions but still lost his life to the virus. "He was such a silly, good-natured guy," she said. "I have the text messages from every day beginning with the day of diagnosis on December 18 when he was optimistic that he would likely only be sick for four or five days. My last text from him was on January 3 because he could no longer text since his condition had deteriorated so much that he had to be intubated and put in an induced coma." His sister said that Suiters was proud of his accomplishment when he earned his Associate's degree in Computer Networking from Hill College. "He had aspirations of a career in that field, but unfortunately it was a very competitive field and it didn't happen for him," she said. However, his family said that he loved his job driving the special needs students at Whitney ISD. "He really cared about the kids and spoke with pride about them," Billard said. Whitney ISD Superintendent John McCullough said Suiters was loved by everyone at the school and will be greatly missed. "We were devastated to hear about John," McCullough said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Penny, and their children. John made a positive impact at Whitney ISD, especially with the special needs students on his bus route." Both Suiters and his wife were diagnosed with COVID-19 in December, but she recovered in about a week. Suiters' symptoms progressed and became more severe, and by Christmas Eve, he was hospitalized and placed on a waitlist to be admitted to a larger hospital with a COVID-19 intensive care unit. He was transported to Waco on January 6, but his condition continued to worsen until he passed away on January 15. "He was so sick and so tired beginning just four days into the virus, but he still tried to text a few words once or twice a day because he couldn't talk. He did send me one heartbreaking short video after he was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve as he tried to say a few words that were unintelligible. But he did text several times 'love you sis.' I will hold onto that memory." A GoFundMe page has been started to assist the family with medical bills and funeral expenses. To donate, visit https://gofund.me/6c6eb9e3. MEXICO CITY They had survived for months in a dusty encampment near the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande, relying on donated food and tents, exposed to the elements and the constant threat of crime. The American border, always in sight, stood as both a beacon and a taunt. The migrants had requested refuge there, but had been sent back by the administration of former President Donald J. Trump and told to wait in Mexico. So, with President Biden now in the White House, migrants who had wept with joy and relief at his election hoped he would transform immigration policy and improve their chances of getting into the United States. But only days into Mr. Bidens term, many of those same migrants have already grown impatient, their optimism souring to disappointment. Al Mohler warns of impending 'normalization' of transgenderism under Biden administration Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A prominent theologian has described the "normalization" of transgenderism as "a major advance for the sexual and moral revolutionaries" in the country, warning that those who subscribe to traditional beliefs about gender and sexuality will soon find themselves subject to "coercion." During the Jan. 21 episode of his podcast, The Briefing, Albert Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Summary, weighed in on President Joe Biden's nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as his assistant secretary of health. Biden nominated Levine to the post on Jan. 19, one day before he was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States. In the podcast, which aired the day after the inauguration, Mohler spoke about the mainstream media's coverage of Biden's selection of Levine, who would become the first trans-identified individual confirmed to a cabinet position by the U.S. Senate. Mohler contended that Biden's selection of Levine, who was born male and continues to be a man, had less to do with the qualifications of his nominee and more to do with the fact that "identity politics has been the key to appointments made by then President-elect Biden and now President Biden." Specifically, Mohler argued that Levine's nomination resulted from the fact that "there wasn't anyone who was transgender yet" in the cabinet. He insinuated that based on the way the Biden administration touted Levine's nomination, it was as if they were saying "the transgender issue is not really that important, but did we mention this person will be the first openly transgender Senate confirmed high individual of office in the federal government?" Throughout his remarks, Mohler stressed that "it is entirely possible to like someone whose lifestyle or gender identity we cannot accept." However, he maintained that, according to the press coverage, "this appointment is to be celebrated as a massive advance in a necessary moral progress toward full inclusion for LGBTQ persons." He also warned that Levine's appointment will "bring the power of coercion" and "bring about the process of further normalization." "Normalization means that something that had been considered sometimes unthinkable but abnormal becomes normalized in this society," Mohler continued. Citing same-sex marriage as a previous example of something that has become normalized, he contended that "when it comes to transgender[ism], the same effort is now very much underway, and it comes with coercion." According to Mohler, the coercion surrounding the normalization of transgenderism involves "the language that is mandated, whether it's pronouns or even a name in this case." After mentioning that a radio personality was accused of "misgendering" Levine by referring to the current Pennsylvania secretary of health as "sir," Mohler suggested that "the only way to avoid being charged with misgendering is to accept in totality the idea that an individual can claim and indeed become a gender other than the gender of their genetics." Another aspect of coercion, Mohler asserted, involves the content of Biden's executive order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. He predicted that "the great grave sin, according to the moral revolutionaries of misgendering, is now going to become a preeminent moral concern of the federal government." After mentioning that the executive order contains "direct coercion to all who are employees of the federal government those who are writing policy in the federal government to avoid the sin of misgendering," Mohler said that "every moral regime comes with an understanding of what is right, what is wrong, what is right, what is sinful." "Misgendering pretty much tells the story of the new morality of the sexual revolution," he added. Mohler was an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump during the 2020 presidential election, stating at the time that a vote for Biden was "beyond" his "moral imagination." When elaborating on his characterization of Biden, Mohler cited his positions on abortion, religious liberty, and LGBT issues. Mohler criticized the former president after a fringe group of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, however, but maintained his support for Trump, emphasizing that he "could not" support Biden because of his policy positions. New Delhi: In a big boost to Indian Air Force (IAF), the third batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed in India on Wednesday evening after flying non-stop from France. The jets flew over 7000km with in-flight refuelling. With the arrival of the new batch, the number of Rafale aircraft has increased to 11. "The third batch of three Rafale aircraft landed at an IAF base a short while ago. They flew over 7000Km with in-flight refuelling. The aircraft got airborne earlier in the day from #IstresAirBase in France. IAF deeply appreciates the tanker support provided by UAE Air Force," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet. The third batch of three Rafale aircraft landed at an IAF base a short while ago. They flew over 7000Km with in-flight refuelling. The aircraft got airborne earlier in the day from #IstresAirBase in France. IAF deeply appreciates the tanker support provided by UAE Air Force. pic.twitter.com/tykLthzVlx Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 27, 2021 "Three more #Rafale jets take off from France for a non stop flight to India with mid air refueling by UAE MRTT; Adding more strength to India's air power. Wishing our amazing pilots smooth flight&safe landing with superb fighter jets," the Indian embassy in France tweeted earlier. Three more #Rafale jets take off from for a non stop flight to with mid air refueling by UAE MRTT; Adding more strength to 's air power. Wishing our amazing pilots smooth flight&safe landing with superb fighter jets.@MEAIndia @JawedAshraf5 @IAF_MCC @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/nq6vtWdWM4 India in France (@Indian_Embassy) January 27, 2021 This batch is the third set of deliveries of the Rafale aircraft to the IAF. The air force had ordered a total of 36 warplanes at a cost of 59,000 crores from France in September 2016. This delivery will take the number of Rafales in the IAFs inventory to 11. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on 29 July 2020. The second batch of three Rafale jets arrived in India on November 3. The Rafale jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The new fleet of Rafale jets has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Photo: Contributed Documents tabled in the House of Commons from Global Affairs Canada Jan. 25 revealed some troubling information. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced at a press conference on May 16, 2020 that his government had made a deal with China based CanSino Biologics related to developing a COVID vaccine. The documents produced this week reveal that just three days later, on May 19, the Trudeau Liberal government was advised by Global Affairs Canada that: a shipment of Ad5-nCoV vaccine candidate seeds destined for Canada was being held by the General Administration of Customs of China at Beijing Capital International Airport. In other words, the Chinese government was refusing to issue the required approval allowing the export of this vaccine to Canada, effectively blocking the shipment. While this information was known to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, it was hidden from Canadians and not publicly disclosed until July 6. 48 days later. Prime Minister Trudeau did almost daily new conferences throughout June from Rideau Cottage (while the House of Commons was not in session) and not once did the Prime Minister disclose this important information to Canadians. Why not? Despite knowing the China based CanSino vaccine virus was blocked on May 19, it would not be until the beginning of August that Procurement Minister Anita Anand finally announced a deal with Pfizer for vaccine supply. By this point countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan had already made agreements with Pfizer for the COVID vaccine. Why does this matter? Because this week Canada wont receive any Pfizer vaccine and over the next four weeks, Canadas Pfizer vaccine deliveries will be cut in half with up to 400,000 doses delayed. Here in British Columbia, 85% of all received vaccine has now been administered. As a result of the lack of supply, B.C. must now delay the required second dose to 42 days after the first dose. For the record, Pfizer indicates the required second dose is to be administered 21 days after the first dose. In short, B.C., much like the rest of Canada, is now falling behind other countries. At the time of this weeks report, in terms of total number of vaccination doses administered, Canada ranks 13th behind such countries as India, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Italy and others. For some added context, Washington State (population 7.6 million) has now administered 500,000 doses of vaccine and is stepping up vaccination rates. B.C. (population 5.07 million), at of the time of this report, has administered 122,359 doses. Unfortunately, with B.C. almost running out of current vaccine supply and with future supply shortages unique to Canada, this problem will only get worse. Other countries with agreements with Pfizer have not been anywhere near as adversely affected by this current supply shortage, as compared to Canada. The federal government continues to maintain that Canada has the most diverse portfolio of any country for vaccines and that delivery will be on schedule. My question this week: Are you satisfied with the performance of the Federal Government in procuring COVID vaccine? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a master development agreement (MDA) with Ishraq Hospitality, a division of the Dubai-based Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group, to develop eight hotels across IHGs midscale brand, Holiday Inn Express, in the MEA region. The multi-property portfolio license will see new hotel openings in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt in the near term. Ishraq Hospitality, which operates HIEX under the IHG franchise, currently owns four Holiday Inn Express hotels in the UAE in partnership with IHG. The agreement will mark the first Holiday Inn Express hotels in Oman, Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt where there is an expected build-up of demand for midscale, branded accommodation to cater to business and leisure tourists alike. The brand debuts will strengthen IHGs existing Holiday Inn brand family portfolio and solidify IHGs position as one of the leading hospitality players across the region. Ishraq Hospitality has an excellent track record in hospitality management and the agreement will see it expand its horizons to create a regional footprint. Speaking on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said: We are delighted to sign this agreement with Ishraq Hospitality, which will bring the Holiday Inn Express brand to the forefront in the Middle East and further strengthen our midscale offering in the MEA region. We are proud to continue our relationship with Ishraq Hospitality with whom we share a common vision for the travel and tourism industry in the region. The hospitality sector has faced great challenges in response to Covid-19, however, such signings reaffirm a positive future outlook for the industry. We are excited about this new venture and look forward to welcoming guests to these highly anticipated locations in the near future. Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group, the holding company of Ishraq Hospitality, said: We are proud to further strengthen our partnership with IHG, given our already strong, successful relationship with them. This agreement solidifies and endorses Ishraq Hospitality as a renowned hospitality management company under the IHG franchise. This signing presents us with more opportunities to reinforce and build on our Holiday Inn Express portfolio in MEA." There is ample evidence of the strength of the regions economy and the robust potential of its hospitality sector, and we are committed to accelerating this growth, along with IHG, our trusted partner." Given IHGs global expertise in hospitality, their signature flair and strong legacy in the region, I am confident that the opening of the hotels in enviably strategic locations will successfully cater to all the needs of modern business and leisure travellers, he said. IHG currently operates 95 hotels across seven brands in the Middle East, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, voco and Six Senses with a further 42 in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years. - TradeArabia News Service WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- If you thought it doesn't get any better than grass-fed chocolate protein, think again. The nutrition team at Z Natural Foods just took a healthy protein drink to a whole new level. Z Natural Foods Releases New Mocha Mushroom Whey Protein Mocha (Coffee) Mushroom Whey Protein Their new Mocha Mushroom Whey Protein will help grow biceps, fuel workouts, and repair sore muscles. But with two powerful ancient eastern mushrooms and a delicious mocha flavor packed with antioxidants, this could be the tastiest, healthiest protein available today. This mocha mushroom protein is a careful blend of grass-fed whey isolate, keto-friendly MCT oil, extra rich chocolate (100% cacao) and a Colombian dark roast. Featuring two immune-system boosting mushrooms, each drink delivers a tasty, creamy, mocha flavored protein drink to fuel, build and repair virtually every cell in the body. Mocha (Coffee) Mushroom Whey Protein Isolate The protein in this mocha drink comes from Z Natural Foods' grass-fed, hormone-free, non-GMO Whey Protein Isolate which delivers a high concentration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA's) to support cellular repair, growth, and the body's antioxidant production. Each serving contains 20 grams of protein combined with lion's mane mushroom extract and cordyceps mushroom extract. Extra rich cacao (100% cacao) gives the mocha a dark chocolate flavor, providing more antioxidants than red wine. "The whey protein alone provides a long list of extraordinary health benefits, but with the incredibly healthy Lion's Mane and Cordyceps mushrooms, no other coffee mushroom drink comes close to this powerful superfood for cellular growth, repair and antioxidant density, says Jon Parker, Director of Nutrition Science for Z Natural Foods. Since there is no mushroom aftertaste like other coffee mushroom drinks, the tasty result is a delicious mocha with health benefits that are hard to beat. "It's almost like drinking silk chocolate, says Parker. We added the MCT oil because it won't spike sugar levels and gives the mocha a creamy, smooth texture. And with no added gums, fillers and no so-called 'natural flavors' hiding bad ingredients, each drink is tasty and nutritious." Mocha Mushroom Whey Protein Isolate Powder is $19.99 per 1 lb. or $74.99 for 5 lbs. Special pricing may be available for large quantities. This product is packaged in airtight stand-up, resealable foil pouches to maintain freshness for customer convenience. This product should be kept in a cool, dark, dry place for best results. About Z Natural Foods Z Natural Foods is a leading provider of high quality, organic superfoods and concentrated fruit powders. With over 400 specialty products, many of which are very hard to find, Z Natural Foods provides a wide range of natural foods to the industry's biggest wholesalers and retailers. Offering a wide range of bulk purchasing, blending, packaging, wholesale delivery, and retail, Z Natural Foods provides a unique niche to the food industry. For more information about Z Natural Foods, visit www.ZNaturalFoods.com or call 888-963-6637. Media Contact: Sam Hirschberg (888) 963-6637 [email protected] SOURCE Z Natural Foods Related Links http://www.znaturalfoods.com Several High Court challenges have been initiated against the government's decision not to reopen schools for pupils with special education needs. Some five test judicial review actions against the Minister for Education, Ireland and the Attorney General's decision earlier this month not to reopen the schools were mentioned before Mr Justice Charles Meenan at the High Court on Wednesday. In their actions the applicants seek various orders injunction compelling the Minister and the State to reopen the schools to those with intellectual disabilities. The judge adjourned proceedings to Monday's sitting of the court after he directed that the applications leave to bring the challenges be made in the presence of lawyers for the State. Each of the actions have been brought on behalf of five school-going children, who are suing through their parents, with special needs who cannot be identified for legal reasons. The case arises after the Minister said on January 19th last that the schools would not re-open during the current covid-19 restrictions due to a lack of cooperation from key staff trade unions. The say that prior to the announcement, the respondents believed that it was appropriate that the schools should have re-opened as planed on January 21st last. The parents fear for their children's mental and physical well-being and say that the schools should be reopened by the government. The parents also claim that the National Public Health Emergency Team as well as the government deem schools safe to re-open. In their actions the children's parents claim in their actions that the respondents have failed in their duties towards the children, who have various conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorder. The court heard that some of the children involved have severely regressed in basic skills due to the school closures and the lack of supports they would normally get as part of their education. In their separate actions the applicants seek an order compelling the Minister and the State to provide the children with an adequate and appropriate education, on the basis that the respondents have an obligation under the 1988 Education Act, and Article 42 of the Constitution. They also seek a declaration that the respondents have failed in their duty to provide for an adequate education for the children under the 1998 Act and Article 42. They also seek injunctions aimed at compelling the state to the provide the children with appropriate and adequate education. Mr Justice Meenan, who noted that the injunctions sought are mandatory in nature, made the actions returnable to Monday's sitting of the Court. Scott Morrison, John Howard and Barnaby Joyce were among the political heavyweights to attend Doug Anthony's memorial service on Thursday where dozens paid tribute to the 'compassionate and courageous' politician. Australia's longest serving deputy prime minister died aged 90 in a care home in Murwillumbah, far north New South Wales on December 20. Mr Anthony was leader of the Country Party/National Party for 12 years and deputy prime minister for nearly 10, influencing coalition policies for much of the 1970s and 1980s. He served under six prime ministers, starting with Sir Robert Menzies. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) arrives with former Australian Prime Minister John Howard to a State Memorial for former deputy prime minister Doug Anthony Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard delivers the eulogy during the Memorial Service Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Doug Anthony (pictured in 1999 with wife Margot) died on Sunday, aged 90 During the service at Tweed Heads, Prime Minister Scott Morrison read St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians Chapter 13 before former PM John Howard paid tribute. He said: 'Doug Anthony exuded many qualities. The two that shone through to me were the qualities of strength and decency. 'He was a very strong man, he didn't bully people but the strength of his personality, the strength of his arguments, shone through.' Nationals Leader Michael McCormack gave the second reading before Mr Anthony's son Larry Douglas, federal president of the Nationals, said a few words. 'Dad was a man of purpose, courage and intent and also had a gentle, generous side,' he said. 'Doug did not seek public office, it sought him. He did not seek power, but power and responsibility came to him. 'Doug was patient, never judgemental.' Mr Howard (pictured speaking) said: ' Doug Anthony exuded many qualities. The two that shone through to me were the qualities of strength and decency.' Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce arrives to a State Memorial for former deputy prime minister Doug Anthony Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack (centre) is seen on arrival with Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud (left) On the day his death was announced, Mr Morrison hailed Mr Anthony as a man 'with no pretences who was passionate about regional Australia'. 'As trade and resources minister, Doug worked to modernise and expand our trade agreement with New Zealand, opened up the uranium industry in Australia, and sought to expand trade with Japan, China and the Middle East,' Mr Morrison said in a statement. Mr McCormack said 'rural and regional Australia has lost one of our greatest'. 'The outcomes Doug Anthony secured for regional and rural Australia have stood the test of time,' the Nationals leader said. 'He was dedicated to ensuring country Australians had a strong voice in government and that they were not just listened to, but that they were front of mind for government decision-makers.' He was a man of 'decency, integrity, purpose and resolve', Mr McCormack added. 'Tales of him in the capacity of Acting Prime Minister and leading the country from his caravan on the New South Wales North Coast make up the political fabric of our party and our nation.' Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud said Mr Anthony epitomised the finest qualities of leadership and service, leaving a significant legacy for future generations of National Party representatives to uphold. Scott Morison paid tribute to Doug Anthony (pictured in 2001) as man 'with no pretences who was passionate about regional Australia' Doug Anthony (left) was leader of the Country Party/National Party for 12 years and deputy prime minister for nearly 10. He's pictured sharing a laugh with then Prime Minister John Howard (right) in 2000 Among others to pay tribute, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull described Mr Anthony as 'a great Australian'. 'An eloquent and committed advocate for an Australian republic often sharing a platform with his Liberal partner Malcolm Fraser and their old Labor rivals Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke,' Mr Turnbull tweeted. Mr Anthony is survived by his wife of 63 years Margot, his three children and nine grandchildren. The family statement said they were tremendously proud of his legacy. 'While always very humble, he made a lasting contribution to the nation, and particularly to people in country Australia.' Online Loan Company Marlette Funding Implements Comcast Business VoIP Delaware-based Marlette Funding is an online lending company that operates a personal loan platform called Best Egg. Since launching in 2014, the company has become a top five leader in online lending services providing an easy-to-use application and a fast funding process. The company has facilitated more than $7 billion in loans to more than 350,000 people who use the loans to finance large purchases or consolidate and pay off debt. Marlette Funding recently took steps to improve its network by deploying Comcast Business Ethernet fiber connectivity at three sites to support business-critical data applications, as well as Comcast Business VoiceEdge to provide employees with an effective internet-based voice solution. Marlette noted that it chose Comcast Business Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) for a new connectivity solution for its two Wilmington locations, including load-balancing features for redundancy and diversity, and Comcast's fiber optic internet for its Fremont office. The fiber solution will provide dual connectivity to two different buildings, while providing diversity across the network. Marlette has also chosen Comcast Business' voice over internet protocol (VoIP) solution as a way to build reliability into its telephony. Previously, the company's connectivity solution did not offer the reliability and redundancy it needed to support its data analytics platforms. Marlette also was lacking the service it sought in a business partner from its previous VoIP provider. Comcast Business has been able to address these needs, according to Marlette. "Comcast Business not only met our dynamic, business-critical connectivity requirements, but they also solved our VoIP challenges, allowing us to gain more control over plans and usage and give our employees a voice solution that helps them stay productive," said Mike Urban, head of product at Marlette, in a statement. "While our primary goal was to find a more proactive VoIP partner, we also gained a benefit we weren't expecting: Our VoiceEdge VoIP is more cost-effective than our previous solution." Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Maurice Nagle Feature Article National laboratories' magnet designers look to the future of light sources with new prototype DOE/Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory With a powerful enough light, you can see things that people once thought would be impossible. Large-scale light source facilities generate that powerful light, and scientists use it to create more durable materials, build more efficient batteries and computers, and learn more about the natural world. When it comes to building these massive facilities, space is money. If you can get higher-energy beams of light out of smaller devices, you can save millions on construction costs. Add to that the chance to significantly improve the capabilities of existing light sources, and you have the motivation behind a project that has brought scientists at three U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories together. This team has just achieved an important milestone that has been in the works for more than 15 years: They have designed, built and fully tested a new state-of-the-art half-meter-long prototype magnet that meets the requirements for use in existing and future light source facilities. The next step, according to Efim Gluskin, a distinguished fellow at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory, is to scale this prototype up, build one that is more than a meter long, and install it at the Advanced Photon Source, a DOE Office of Science User Facility at Argonne. But while these magnets will be compatible with light sources like the APS, the real investment here, he said, is in the next generation of facilities that have not yet been built. "The real scale of this technology is for future free-electron laser facilities," Gluskin said. "If you reduce the size of the device, you reduce the size of the tunnel, and if you can do that you can save tens of millions of dollars. That makes a huge difference." That long-term goal brought Gluskin and his Argonne colleagues into collaboration with scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, both DOE labs. Each lab has been pursuing superconducting technology for decades and has in recent years focused research and development efforts on an alloy that combines niobium with tin. This material remains in a superconducting state -- meaning it offers no resistance to the current running through it -- even as it generates high magnetic fields, which makes it perfect for building what are called undulator magnets. Light sources like the APS generate beams of photons (particles of light) by siphoning off the energy given off by electrons as they circulate inside a storage ring. The undulator magnets are the devices that convert that energy to light, and the higher a magnetic field you can generate with them, the more photons you can create from the same size device. There are a few superconducting undulator magnets installed at the APS now, but they are made of a niobium-titanium alloy, which for decades has been the standard. According to Soren Prestemon, senior scientist at Berkeley Lab, niobium-titanium superconductors are good for lower magnetic fields -- they stop being superconducting at around 10 teslas. (That's about 8,000 times stronger than your typical refrigerator magnet.) "Niobium-3 tin is more complicated material," Prestemon said, "but it is capable of transporting current at a higher field. It is superconductive up to 23 tesla, and at lower fields it can carry three times the current as niobium-titanium. These magnets are kept cold at 4.2 Kelvin, which is about minus 450 degrees Fahrenheit, to keep them superconducting." Prestemon has been at the forefront of Berkeley's niobium-3 tin research program, which began back in the 1980s. The new design, developed at Argonne, built on the previous work of Prestemon and his colleagues. "This is the first niobium-3 tin undulator that has both met the design current specifications and been fully tested in terms of magnetic field quality for beam transport," he said. Fermilab started working with this material in the 1990s, according to Sasha Zlobin, who initiated and led the niobium-3 tin magnet program there. Fermilab's niobium-3 tin program has centered on superconducting magnets for particle accelerators, like the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland and the upcoming PIP-II linear accelerator, to be built on the Fermilab site. "We've demonstrated success with our high-field niobium-3 tin magnets," Zlobin said. "We can apply that knowledge to superconducting undulators based on this superconductor." Part of the process, according to the team, has been learning how to avoid premature quenches in the magnets as they approach the desired level of magnetic field. When the magnets lose their ability to conduct current without resistance, the resulting backlash is called a quench, and it eliminates the magnetic field and can damage the magnet itself. The team reported in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity that their new device accommodates nearly twice the amount of current with a higher magnetic field than the niobium-titanium superconducting undulators currently in place at the APS. The project drew on Argonne's experience building and operating superconducting undulators and Berkeley and Fermilab's knowledge of niobium-3 tin. Fermilab helped to guide the process, advising on the selection of superconducting wire and sharing recent developments in their technology. Berkeley designed a state-of-the-art system that uses advanced computing techniques to detect quenches and protect the magnet. At Argonne, the prototype was designed, fabricated, assembled and tested by a group of engineers and technicians under the guidance of Project Manager Ibrahim Kesgin, with contributions in the design, construction and testing by members of the APS superconducting undulator team led by Yury Ivanyushenkov. Co-authors on the paper include Matt Kasa, Steve MacDonald and Quentin Hasse from Argonne; Emanuela Barzi and Daniele Turrioni from Fermilab; and Diego Arbelaez from Berkeley Lab. The research team plans to install their full-sized prototype, which should be finished next year, at Sector 1 of the APS, which makes use of higher-energy photon beams to peer through thicker samples of material. This will be a proving ground for the device, showing that it can operate at design specifications in a working light source. But the eye, Gluskin says, is on transferring both technologies, niobium titanium and niobium-3 tin, to industrial partners and manufacturing these devices for future high-energy light source facilities. "The key has been steady and persistent work, supported by the labs and DOE research and development funds," Gluskin said. "It has been incremental progress, step by step, to get to this point." ### Fermilab is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. Legal action could be pursued unless the government can 'prove it acted lawfully' in granting an emergency authorisation of a product containing a banned neonicotinoid. Earlier this month, the government issued an emergency authorisation for use of Syngenta's Cruiser SB on sugar beet seed in the UK. Defra said it was in recognition of the potential danger posed to this year's crop from virus yellows. The department issued a statement on 8 January on the decision to issue 'with strict conditions' the product's emergency authorisation. The NFU had warned that the disease was having an 'unprecedented harmful impact' on the UK's sugar beet crop. Some growers had reported yield losses of up to 80 percent, according to the union. However, the Wildlife Trusts, which has sent a legal letter to Defra Secretary George Eustice, said the emergency authorisation was 'flawed'. The neonicotinoid is banned for use outdoors in the European Union because of the risk it poses to bees and wild pollinators. Use of the pesticide in the UK is also banned for widespread use under EU law retained by the EU Withdrawal Act 2018. Although Defra's emergency authorisation proposes to control and strictly limit its use, Wildlife Trusts believes it will still cause harm to the environment. Represented by Leigh Day solicitors, the charity has written to Defra with their challenge, questioning whether Mr Eustice's move was 'legally sustainable'. Craig Bennett, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts said: We are preparing to take legal action unless the government can prove it acted lawfully. "The government refused a request for emergency authorisation in 2018 and we want to know whats changed. Wheres the new evidence that its ok to use this extremely harmful pesticide? Using neonicotinoids not only threatens bees but is also extremely harmful to aquatic wildlife because the majority of the pesticide leaches into soil and then into waterways." He added: "Worse still, farmers are being recommended to use weedkiller to kill wildflowers in and around sugar beet crops in a misguided attempt to prevent harm to bees in the surrounding area. Leigh Day solicitor Tom Short added that there was a possibility of the matter being pursued in the courts if Mr Eustice's response 'falls short'. Our client is deeply concerned that the Secretary of State has granted this authorisation despite the serious risks that use of neonicotinoids outdoors presents to the natural world. "The Secretary of States announcement provides no new evidence of a genuine need to resort to the use neonicotinoids justifying an emergency authorisation or that the risks of such use can be adequately controlled." Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The San Francisco Board of Education voted 6-1 this week to remove the names of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other iconic Americans from the citys public schools. The nearly three-year process that led to the decision has been controversial and heavily debated in the liberal city. But it has gone largely unnoticed outside northern California as a national debate swirled about whether statues of Civil War rebels should be torn down and military bases that honor them renamed. The San Francisco committee tasked with renaming schools has taken a broad definition of what board president Gabriela Lopez calls racist symbols and white supremacy culture we see in our country. The list of 44 schools to be rebranded include those named after Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson, American Revolution hero Paul Revere, conservationist and Sierra Club founder John Muir, Star Spangled Banner composer Francis Scott Key and California real-estate baron and philanthropist James Lick. Famed conservationist John Muir's name will be removed from a San Francisco elementary school. (Library of Congress) Another name to be scrubbed from a building is current U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat who has an elementary school named after her in the city. The board reportedly cited her 1984 decision as mayor to replace a vandalized Confederate flag that was part of a long-standing flag display in front of City Hall. In the wake of the deadly 2017 white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the San Francisco Board of Education committed to changing names of schools named for historical figures who engaged in the subjugation and enslavement of human beings; or who oppressed women, inhibiting societal progress; or whose actions led to genocide; or who otherwise significantly diminished the opportunities of those amongst us to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The goal was generally embraced by the community, but now some believe it has gone too far. This is a bit of a joke, one parent of school-age children told The Associated Press. Its almost like a parody of leftist activism. Critics of the renaming process say it has been poorly handled, largely steering clear of expert opinions. Lincoln, widely considered by historians to be the U.S. greatest president and whose Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the rebellious states, reportedly is having his name removed from a west-side San Francisco high school because of his treatment of First Nation peoples -- Native Americans. The boards School Names Advisory Committee has created an online form for people to submit suggestions for new names. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 03:23:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The widely criticized policy led to the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents, with no method for reuniting the children with their parents, some of whom were deported, U.S. media reported. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday rescinded former President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" border policy, which had lead to the separations of thousands of undocumented migrant families. According to a memo issued Tuesday by Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson, federal prosecutors were directed to return to the previous policy of deciding whether to pursue individual cases. "Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualized assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding -- effective immediately -- the policy directive," Wilkinson wrote. He said that decisions to prosecute should be based on whether a person violated federal law and what evidence was available to prove a violation. "Today's action restores to prosecutors their traditional discretion to make charging decisions based on a careful review of the particular facts and circumstances of individual immigration cases," a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement. Under the zero tolerance policy, effective from April 2018 to June 2018, all adults who illegally entered the United States, including those with children, were referred for prosecution. Any children who had entered with those adults were separated from them and put into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. The widely criticized policy led to the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents, with no method for reuniting the children with their parents, some of whom were deported, according to a The Hill report. Credit: Wikipedia When a new mutation within the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) emerges that a particular antibody can no longer neutralyze, it is often called an escape variant. With the rapid identification of these new variants within the infected population, and also in lab-generated versions of the spike protein, an exhaustive escape variant matrix has begun to take shape. The good news is that as long as the actual antibody responses of vaccinated individuals are tested and verified, the individual's response to different variants can, at least in theory, be predicted. The full response of our innate and adaptive immune systems to a fragment of a key viral entry protein will never be exactly the same as the response to natural infection with whole live virus, but in terms of generating similar antibodies that target key epitopes, it is often good enough. The bad news is that efforts to thwart infection can, in some cases, inadvertently contribute to selection of more infectious variants. At least that is what researchers have concluded from their recent studies of new escape variants. To find out if antibody-imposed selection pressure could also drive the emergence of more infectious mutants, the researchers used an in vitro recombinant pseudotyped virus assembled from parts of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and also SARS-CoV-2. This avoids the hazards of working with full blown SARS-CoV-2, but retains the essential spike configuration. They found that every antibody they looked at selected for mutations in the RBD. Many of them selected for escape mutations identical to those now being seen in different locales, namely the E484, N501 and K417N variants. Individuals with suboptimal or waning immunity would therefore likely erode the effectiveness of natural and vaccine-elicited immunity. While this may be a little disconcerting, the researchers suggest that antibody therapies should ideally be composed of combinations of antibodies that target non-overlapping epitopes. This may be challenging because the most potent and abundant human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies generated against SARS-CoV-2 (Class I and II antibodies) all seem to target residues near K417, E484 and N501. Half of the most potent antibodies found carried a heavy chain encoded by just one particular gene, IgHV3-53. The majority of these were more than 10 times less effective against pseudotyped viruses carrying the E484K mutation. The researchers found that mRNA from vaccines encoding the spike RBD is translated to build spike fragments that generate antibodies very similar to those made by the real virus. Consistent with fully assembled spike protein trimers, the translated spike fragments spike showed proper adoption of the two expected states: the "up" state representing a receptor-accessible conformer and "down," representing a receptor-inaccessible conformer. In a further show of confidence, different individuals immunized with either the Moderna (mRNA-1273) or Pfizer199 BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccines produced nearly identical antibodies. In another recent paper, researchers generated a comprehensive map of nearly all (3804 of 3819) possible RBD amino acid variants for the early isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 version of the virus. They then tested them against recombinant antibody therapies including Regeneron's REGN-COV2 cocktail and Eli Lilly's LY-CoV016. They identified mutations that are selected in a persistently infected patient treated with REGN-COV2, as well as during in vitro viral escape selections, and one mutation, (E406W) that seemed to escape everything. Some of the identified escape mutations are already found in currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains. None of these revelations have gone unnoticed by the big manufacturers. In fact, it gives them an opportunity to throw shade on their competitors, something that many are already doing now. REGN10933 (blue) and REGN10987 (orange) bound to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (pink). From PDB: 6VSB, 6XDG. Credit: Wikipedia The New York Times reported Monday that officials in the Phillippines have now balked at the safety and efficacy of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine because of lack of any real data. In response, Chinese state media has started a campaign against the American vaccines, questioning the safety of the Pfizer and Moderna shots and distributed online videos. Over in the EU, the vaccine race has also turned ugly with the German government now publicly questioning the efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. In a highly disputed release, they called the vaccine "85% effective on older people." The EU has also threatened to block exports of the Pfizer vaccine to Britain. Many of the criticisms being levied have centered on the question of whether or not the vaccines may be the cause when people, particularly older people, die a short time after they are vaccinated. No reasonable person is saying that vaccines can never sicken or even kill susceptible people, and no reasonable person is saying that all vaccinated people who die did so because of the vaccine they just had. The patent animosity between two very different vaccine ideologies, i.e., "vaccines can do no harm" vs. "all vaccines are evil," is unproductive for everyone. If SARS vaccines are safe and effective, then we all need to know that, because presently, a game-changing fraction of the population is simply not going to accept rapidly deployed vaccines. On the other hand, if these new vaccines are a danger to a minor portion of people who are immunologically susceptible to their effects, then we need to find out who is at risk ahead of time. The first step forward is for both sides of the argument simply to recognize that on the one hand, control of the immune system through vaccines is perhaps our greatest and most coveted technological capability, and on the other, that in the current state of advancement, incompletely understood vaccines are fallible for a non-negligible, yet still incompletely known, portion of the populace. In many present cases, informed, yet conflicting opinions are all we have. For example, when someone everybody knows dies, like home-run champion Hank Aaron, and he also happened to have a vaccine 15 days earlier, some people are going to ask questions. Questions are neither bad, nor wrong; they are questions. If the cause of death is unknown, and no one can point to obvious preconditions or apparent symptoms consistent with possible vaccine injury, then the only facts available are the times of death and time of the vaccine. Therefore, no worthwhile truths or conclusions can be immediately drawn. On the other hand, when someone dies 16 days after a vaccine, like Miami obstetrician Gregory Michael, and a cause of death is later determined to be something that is known to cause problems with other vaccines like MMR, and furthermore, is also considered a significant complication associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, then more questions do need to be asked. In this particular case, the patient showed clear signs of immune or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) three days after the shot, as he suddenly became riddled with numerous petechiae (dots) all over his body that indicated internal bleeding. Ultimately he died after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, presumably due to the inability to muster sufficient platelets. When you live a half-century without petechiae, but get them when you inject a potential petechiae-causing agent into your blood, statistically speaking, you likely have more than correlation. The problem is that when the manufacturer of the vaccine is put in charge of the investigation, and doctors from prestigious medical institutions across the country dismiss the case as a fluke, then people that have read the details of what happened to this man are going to push back and make it even harder for new vaccines to be accepted. If the narrative that establishment vaccine manufacturers are trying to convey is that Dr. Michael had a preexisting precondition to ITP, then people with the same condition need to be diagnosed before subjecting themselves to vaccines. For those few, vaccination is simply not worth the risk. For vaccines to defeat a shapeshifting virus that evolves to the very vaccine itself, and not injure susceptible folks in the process, escape variant matrices need to be populated and genetic tests for known risk polymorphisms need to be done. We need to know what kinds of antibodies people make in response to the spike protein, whether they can block escape variant spike proteins, and whether they have pre-existing genetic disposition to vaccine injury like ITP. A tall, but necessary order if we are to banish this virus. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Zijun Wang et al. mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and circulating variants, biorxiv (2021). Zijun Wang et al. mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and circulating variants,(2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.15.426911 2021 Science X Network COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the weeks following the November election, an Ohioan who is part of a right-wing militia group talked about committing violence if Joe Biden took office, vowing to fight, kill and die for our rights, according to federal court records. Jessica Watkins, one of two Ohio militia members charged in the Jan. 6 violent riot at the U.S. Capitol, and a Virginia man, Thomas Caldwell, both talked about using violence, with Caldwell writing in a Nov. 23 text message to Watkins that I believe we will have to get violent to stop this, the records show. I dont underestimate the resolve of the Deep State, Watkins wrote in one Nov. 17 text message to a possible recruit. Biden may still yet be our president. If he is, our way of life as we know it is over. Our Republic would be over. Then it is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights. I dont know what will happen but like you I am very worried about the future of our country, Caldwell wrote in the Nov. 23 text message to Watkins. Once lawyers get involved all of us normal people get screwed. I believe we will have to get violent to stop this, especially the antifa maggots who are sure to come out en masse even if we get the Prez for 4 more years. Watkins and Donovan Crowl, both of Champaign County, Ohio, began plans for military-style training in November in Ohio with an eye on Bidens inauguration, weeks before they participated in the U.S. Capitol riot, according to details contained in the federal court records. Watkins, 38, Caldwell, 65, and Crowl, 50, are accused of being part of the group that stormed the Capitol while Congress attempted to confirm the results of the election. They have been charged with conspiracy, obstructing an official proceeding, destruction of government property and unlawful entry on restricted building or grounds. In text messages on Nov. 9, the week Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election, Watkins invited others interested in joining her self-styled Ohio militia group to come to a week-long Basic Training class coming up in the beginning of January, telling one recruit, I need you fighting fit by innaugeration [sic], according to an indictment filed in federal court late Wednesday. Its a military style basic, here in Ohio, with a Marine Drill sergeant running it. An hour north of columbus ohio, Watkins, of Champaign County, wrote in a text message, according to the indictment, which offers no additional details about the training camp, including its specific location. Prosecutors said all three are military veterans affiliated with Oath Keepers, a right-wing, loosely organized anti-government group that recruits law enforcement and military members to join, although Caldwells attorney told the Washington Post he is not a member. They were arrested and charged earlier this month, but the indictment filed Wednesday contains additional details in the governments case, including the training and other preparations. The indictment says Crowl also attended a training camp in North Carolina in late December, according to prosecutors. Court records didnt list an attorney for Watkins. Jim Fleisher, listed in media reports as Crowls attorney, didnt immediately return a message seeking comment. But during a federal court hearing in Dayton earlier this month, Fleisher described Crowl as a law-abiding citizen who helped rescue injured people during the riot, according to the Dayton Daily News. The trio was arrested earlier this month and charged along with dozens of others, accused of being part of a pro-Donald Trump mob that stormed the Capitol while Congress attempted to certify the election, leading to the deaths of five people, including one Capitol Police officer. In a statement, defense attorney Thomas Plofchan called Caldwell a highly decorated veteran and said his client expects to have the charges dismissed or to be acquitted at trial, the Washington Post reported. Plofchan also called the indictment a deliberate attempt to find a scapegoat for activities on January 6. Prosecutors previously have said the trio used a walkie-talkie app to communicate with each other, and include transcripts of the recorded communications. Caldwell at one point discussed trying to also storm the Ohio Statehouse, prosecutors said. We have a good group. We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan, Watkins said in one recorded walkie-talkie message, according to charging documents. You are executing citizens arrest. Arrest this assembly, we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud, another man said on the walkie-talkie channel, according to charging documents. The documents also include Facebook messages the FBI said Caldwell received while in the Capitol, including All members are in the tunnels under capital seal them in. Turn on gas and Tom all legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down. Asked by a federal magistrate earlier this month if she understood the charges against her, Watkins said: I understand them but I dont understand how I got them, according to the Dayton Daily News. Court records dont list attorneys for either her or Cowell. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, was asked about the case on Thursday. I think Ive talked before about the fact that we have domestic terrorists in Ohio and Im very concerned about it, he said. ... We have known for some time that we have some extremists in Ohio. We have some dangerous people in Ohio. The recent arrests that were made certainly confirm that. Read the indictment in full: A carer working with vulnerable young adults who began a relationship with a toyboy gang member, was jailed today for trafficking missing teenagers and using them for county lines drugs dealing. Itman Ismail, now 28, was employed as a deputy manager with a care group in London which supported vulnerable young adults between 2017 and 2020. She preferred working with boys and she was assigned as a key worker to Omorie Nixon, now 20, who was recruited into the gang culture and rose through the ranks. Exeter Crown Court heard that they later began an intimate relationship. The pair admitted four counts of human trafficking between December 2019 and last March. Itman Ismail, (left) now 28, was assigned as a key worker to Omorie Nixon (right), now 20, who was recruited into the gang culture and rose through the ranks Nixon was also convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs - heroin and crack cocaine. Ismail was jailed for four years, while Nixon was detained for seven years and nine months in a Young Offenders Institution. Judge David Evans said: 'You two formed a relationship and you each entered into a criminal activity with open eyes and full understanding of its scope. 'Ismail you were well aware having been the key worker to Nixon that he had been the subject of assistance from the very charity for which you worked. 'There was no naivety from either of you in this case. You both knew full well the harm caused by drug use and drug dealing in a whole community. It was a mutual thing - a true criminal partnership.' He said Ismail, who had no previous convictions, went from her charity work to the 'cold hearted criminal exploitation' of vulnerable and marginalised youngsters 'seduced by the glamour of it'. Prosecutor Joss Ticehurst said: 'The two defendants were involved in a county lines drug supply operation that used young people to transport drugs from London to Devon and supply to drug users in the Devon area.' Mr Ticehurst said Ismail was key worker to Nixon before they began 'an intimate relationship'. The 11-month Devon and Cornwall police investigation is the first county lines linked human trafficking case which has led to a conviction in the force area. The court heard vulnerable youths - three of the four were missing from home - and aged 15 and 16 were used the drugs inside their bodies. Police said a forensic toxicologist said if the packages had split, the boys could have died from drug toxicity. Ismail and Nixon began an intimate relationship, and are pictured together at a car hire firm Ismail arrived from Somalia with no English at all and her first intimate relationship was with Nixon, said defence lawyer Daniel Murray. The court heard the 2:1 graduate has lost her career and good name as the architect of her own downfall. He said she was 'naive in affairs of the heart' and she admitted 'turning a blind eye' to the drugs trade. Ismail and Nixon first came to notice when police stopped their car carrying them and two youths on the A38 near Plymouth, Devon, around midnight in January 2020. The next day the same car was stopped in Torquay, Devon, and the pair were found with youths aged 15 and 16 in the back - and drugs were found concealed in the teen's bodies. Police said the pair used at least seven hire cars and their phones revealed searches for 'drug towns' and 'Torquay drug problem'. In two months until March 2019 more than 25,000 was paid into her accounts. Omorie Nixon was convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs - heroin and crack cocaine Her phone showed e mail evidence suggesting she was applying for care home management jobs in Devon and Cornwall while on trips trafficking the youth victims to the region, said investigator Detective Constable Ben Paul. Defence barrister Nick Lewin said Nixon's background was shocking and he grew up on a North London estate where murder and misery were part of life and surrounded him from an early age with 'only one way forward'. The force's Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer - the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking - said: 'The exploitation and trafficking of children and young people for drug related purposes and other criminal enterprises can often fall under the auspices of modern slavery. 'This sounds shocking to all of us in the UK and can occur to children born here as well as those trafficked into the UK and exploited here. 'While the term 'county lines' has fallen into everyday use, it is important that we do not use this term to airbrush out the abhorrence of criminal exploitation of children and young people, which is often what the term means.' Kidder Mathews McDowell Levine Kidder Mathews recently announced two new hires. Veteran Craig Levine will join the Bellevue office as an executive vice president, to specialize in office tenant advisory and sales. He makes the move from Washington Partners, also in Bellevue. KM COO Brian Hatcher said in a statement, I have worked with Craig over the years, as have other brokers in our Bellevue office. We are glad to have him as part of our team. Second, Richard McDowell joins the firm as senior vice president; his portfolio will be building engineering and sustainability. He makes the move from CBRE. The head of KM's property management services, Keith Kaiser, said, Rich's deep technical expertise and business experience further enhance Kidder Mathews' ability to serve our clients across multiple markets. MELBOURNE : India could emerge as the next big trade market for Australian exporters , the country's trade minister has said, after China imposed heavy tariffs and sanctions on several Australian export commodities amidst a strain in relations with Beijing. Australia's trade relations with its major trading partner China deteriorated last year when Australia supported a call for an international inquiry into Chinas handling of Covid-19, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. China took several measures that restricted Australian imports, ranging from levying new tariffs to imposing bans. China imposed sanctions and tariffs on several Australian commodities including barley, timber, coal, cotton, wine and lobster. Australia, for its part, asked the World Trade Organisation to mediate in their dispute over stiff duties on Australian barley in the Chinese market. Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan on Wednesday flagged India as its top priority while looking at new trade opportunities across the globe. We havent had a formal trade ministers meeting with China for over three years, this is something we have been seeking to constructively engage with China for over three years," he said. Looking to really boost the relationship with India, theres enormous opportunities there. We have to be patient but we have to be very proactive with India,'' he said. He said that Japan, Vietnam, the new Joe Biden administration in the US, all present many opportunities for Australia and thats what he will be focussing on, as well as seeking to constructively engage with the Chinese. Tehan said, ''The India relationship which is incredibly important to us, and I'd really like to prioritise that is something we're going to have to be patient about.'' China is Australias largest trading partner accounting for over a third of all Australian exports, worth more than 150 billion Aus dollars a year while trade with India stands at over 30 billion Aus dollars. On Wednesday, Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg lashed out at China's recent actions on imposing sanctions and tariffs and said Well, we agree with that sentiment that big nations should not bully small ones but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between the words and the actions." The reality is, Australia has been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh actions when it comes to our trade." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. TORRINGTON The future of one of downtowns most historic structures soon may be in the hands of a nonprofit development group instead of its owners. Yankee Pedlar Inn, purchased by Jayson Hospitality in 2014, was gutted several years ago and since has sat vacant and vulnerable to fire, vandalism and trespassing, according to city officials, who recently met to discuss a proposal from Mayor Elinor Carbone to use a state statute regarding abandoned and blighted properties to protect the building. Public Act 19-92, CGA 8-169AA, allows a municipality to petition for receivership to rehabilitate a building and prepare it for sale or to return it to the owner. The citys expenses to do the work would be reimbursed either by the sale of the property or by the owner, Carbone said. Carbone recommended using the nonprofit group Torrington Development Corp., of which she is a member along with City Counsel Vic Muschell, attorney Peter Herbst and a group of business owners, bankers, engineers, developers and others. According to its mssion statement on torringtonct.org, the Torrington Development Corporation will plan, lead, direct and coordinate comprehensive efforts to improve the Citys economic base. The council voted unanimously to apply using the statute. Jayson Hospitalitys principal owners are listed as Ashok Patel of Lexington, Mass., and Jayant Patel of Portsmouth, N.H. Attorney Michael G. Milazzo of New Haven also is listed, according to the Connecticut business registry. Neither Patels phone number was in service. When reached, Milazzo said he had no comment on the citys efforts to establish a receiver. Carbone said Torrington has worked with the owners for the last six years, providing grant and other funding information, energy efficiency programs and other resources to offset the costs of renovation. By mid-2016 after the building was gutted, it became increasingly clear that the owner was struggling to keep up with the project, the mayor said. By 2017, all tenants at the inn were gone, and the building was vacant. We ramped up our efforts and helped find partners, lending institutions and even possible purchasers for the inn, the mayor said. We enforced safety regulations. ... The building has deteriorated, with frozen pipes, unsheltered residents seeking shelter, and code compliance (failure). We have spent weeks finding the most effective way to protect the inn and adjoining properties. Carbone said vandalism has occurred at the site. Public Act 19-92 is designed as a mechanism to help municipalities in the rehabilitation of abandoned properties. The inn, the mayor said, qualifies for the citys action. There are five qualifications: no occupation of the building, no marketing of the property, no good faith efforts to sell it, not subject to foreclosure, and the owner (failing) to show any effort, Carbone said. The inn qualifies under all those conditions. Attorney Kevin Nelligan assisted the city by researching the new statute and options for the Yankee Pedlar. Its a very new statute, he said. It works when the owner is unable to do what the law requires, and allows someone else to step in. Economic Development Director Rista Malanca said its important to use the legislation now because of the citys efforts to improve its downtown. Having the historic building stand empty on Main Street is hurting everyone and is a public nuisance, she said. Since the buildings been vacant, there have been more than 90 police calls, Malanca said. There are fire code issues; we hear these horrible stories about downtown buildings burning down, and taking other buildings with them ... so we need to get the fire code violations remedied. And we need to improve the appearance of the building. Its blighted, and its impacting the whole area, property values, sales of properties, she said. When its renovated and open it will create jobs downtown. Malanca also said the inns value has dropped significantly. We went back through our revaluation years, and in 2013 the inns assessed value was just over $1 million, she said. That decreased to $400,000 in 2016 and .... $278,000 in 2018. Torrington filed the paperwork Jan. 14, asking the state to hold a hearing on its request to name Torrington Development Corp. receiver. Now we just wait, Malanca said. Weve filed whats needed and we will wait to see if we can get a hearing. The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh cabinet is set to be expanded in the first week of February and six new faces are likely to be inducted. Sources claim that former Gujarat cadre IAS officer AK Sharma, who quit bureaucracy and joined the BJP in UP, can be included in Adityanaths cabinet as a Minister. Sharma is considered to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had earlier worked with him during his chief ministerial tenure. The reshuffle in the BJP-led UP cabinet will see a blend of ethnic and caste equation, ahead of the panchayat elections in the state. BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh will soon meet the partys central leadership regarding the matter in Delhi on Friday. During this meeting, the names of the new faces joining the cabinet are expected to be confirmed. While new faces will be introduced, few minsters are expected to be removed from their posts and given organisational responsibilities. The development comes after BJP national president JP Naddas visit to Lucknow Adityanath will soon have a whirlwind of campaigns for the upcoming elections in five states - Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry and Kerala. Narendra Modi said that Lala Lajpat Rai's contribution to the freedom struggle is 'indelible' and inspires people across generations Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary. He spoke about the stalwart's "indelible" contribution to the freedom struggle of India. "Remembering the great Lala Lajpat Rai Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to Indias freedom struggle is indelible and inspires people across generations," he tweeted. - - Remembering the great Lala Lajpat Rai Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to Indias freedom struggle is indelible and inspires people across generations. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2021 Born on 28 January, 1865, Lala Lajpat Rai was a noted freedom fighter from Punjab and later came to be known as Punjab Kesari. One-third of the Lal Bal Pal triumvirate, his ideology also earned him the title 'Lion of Punjab'. Apart from the prime minister, several other politicians remembered Rai on his birth anniversary. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu paid his tributes to the legendary freedom fighter, who, "through his remarkable oratory and stimulating writings inspired many Indians to join the freedom struggle." I pay my humble tributes to the legendary freedom fighter and true nationalist, 'Punjab Kesari' Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary today. #LalaLajpatRai through his remarkable oratory and stimulating writings inspired many Indians to join the freedom struggle. pic.twitter.com/nhwHn6kKY1 Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 28, 2021 Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted that the freedom fighter's "unrestrained struggle" still inspires patriotism and inspiration among countrymen. - pic.twitter.com/wZb308bBBL Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 28, 2021 "Homage to 'Punjab Kesari' Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary. His deep love for the motherland, and the great spirit of patriotism, is an inspiration for generations to come," tweeted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Homage to Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary. His deep love for the motherland, and the great spirit of patriotism, is an inspiration for generations to come Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 28, 2021 Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik also remembered the freedom fighter, with the latter writing, "He was a nationalist and a great exponent of Swadeshi movement. His deep love for the country and sacrifice continue to inspire." Humble tributes to one of the prominent leaders of our freedom movement, Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai ji on his birth anniversary. His role during the independence movement, his courage and sacrifices will continue to inspire generations to come. Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) January 28, 2021 Humble tributes to great freedom fighter and patriot, Punjab Kesari #LalaLajpatRai on his birth anniversary. He was a nationalist and a great exponent of Swadeshi movement. His deep love for the country and sacrifice continue to inspire. pic.twitter.com/QnOgIlYRdX Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 28, 2021 Here's how others paid tribute to Lala Lajpat Rai on his birth anniversary: Honest differences, controversial discussions and criticism of public men by public men, are absolutely necessary for the healthy growth and progress of nationalism. Lala Lajpat Rai pic.twitter.com/iXTACzmLRX Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 28, 2021 In the days leading up to Sadyr Japarovs inauguration as Kyrgyzstans newly elected president, three former high-ranking officials were detained -- including two who competed against Japarov in the January 10 election. Former Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev was arrested on January 27 on corruption charges. He was not a candidate in the presidential election. One of Japarovs rival candidates, former Deputy Interior Minister Kursan Asanov, was arrested on January 26 on the dubious charge of seizing a state building during unrest in Bishkek after results were announced from the clearly unfair October 4 parliamentary elections. Japarov was freed from prison during that unrest. Another rival presidential candidate, former chairman of the State Committee for National Security Abdil Segizbaev (UKMK), was detained on January 25 and officially arrested on January 27. Segizbaev faces two charges: abuse of office under Article 320 of the Criminal Code and being involved in the illegal transfer of land. The cases of both former presidential candidates raise questions, but Segizbaevs case particularly so. The Land Deal The charge of abuse of office was filed against Segizbaev by three members of the Ata-Meken party: leader Omurbek Tekebaev, Almambet Shykmamatov, and Aida Salyanova. It involves Segizbaevs role in the so-called Belizegate scandal of 2016, when Segizbaev was UKMK chief. Segizbaev had said he had a set of documents from Belize proving Shykmamatov, Tekebaev, and Salyanova were involved in the illegal sale of more than 50 percent of the shares in Kyrgyzstans Alfa Telecom company. But the documents were fake. Shykmamatov filed the complaint in 2018. But the Prosecutor-Generals Office said there no corpus delicti in Segizbaevs actions and rejected the case. On January 14, 2021, four days after the presidential election, the Prosecutor-Generals Office overturned that decision and decided to go ahead with investigating the complaint from the three Ata-Meken members. Segizbaev only received 1.46 percent of the vote in the presidential election. During the campaign, Japarov was criticized by all 16 other candidates. They also questioned the sources of his support. In fact, during a series of televised debates that started on December 28, the one thing all of Japarovs rivals could agree on was to criticize Japarov. Japarov was the only candidate ballot who did not participate in the debates. Segizbaev was the head of the UKMK when Japarov was taken into custody in 2017 after Japarov returned to Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. Japarov had fled to Kazakhstan in late 2012 rather than face charges of hostage-taking for his alleged involvement in unrest in the northeastern town of Karakol during protests against a foreign-owned gold mining venture in the mountains nearby. It was those charges that landed Japarov in prison in 2017. His original 11 1/2-year sentence was later reduced to 10 years. Early on in the campaign, Segizbaev said he had information about Japarov that included the identity of who had ordered Japarov to return to Kyrgyzstan. On December 30, during the third and last round of the first set of televised debates, with six of the then-18 candidates appearing each night, Segizbaev chided Japarov for not taking part in the debate the previous evening. Segizbaev also criticized Japarov for making vague counterclaims that Segizbaev was a criminal. What is my crime? Segizbaev said. Come and debate with me and tell. I can list your crimes. Segizbaev then read out a list of questions for Japarov to answer: 1) Was Japarov involved in the raider seizure of the investment bank Issyk-Kul? 2) Was Japarov involved in laundering money for Maksim Bakiev through that bank? 3) Was Japarov involved in the transfer of the Jirlagan mine to China? 4) Was Japarov involved in the transfer of the Jetim-Too deposit? 5) Did Japarov buy a building on Kiev Streeet from crooks? 6) Did Japarov initiate the matter of selling Kumtor in 2009? 7) Why did Japarov remain quiet in 2005-10 when he was next to the Bakievs and there were 60 political murders carried out? 8) Why was Japarov silent when Maksim Bakiev took $3 billion out of the country? 9) From whom did Japarov receive the millions for his election campaign? Answer these questions, Segizbaev said. If you are a man, lets talk face-to-face in the debates. Dont run away. The OTRK television station that hosted the debates put recordings of each program on YouTube. But by the morning after it had posted the third debate with Segizbaev on YouTube, it disappeared -- even though recordings of the first two debates remained available for viewing. The television station said the recording had somehow been lost. Japarov never answered any of the questions that Segizbaev put to him on television. Perhaps not surprisingly, Shykmamatov said he did not see any political motivations behind Segizbaevs arrest. In this case it is understood: a crime was committed. Segizbaev took advantage of his official position, and this case should be a lesson, he said. Some others agreed but conceded there could be an element of revenge behind Segizbaevs arrest. As for Kursan Asanov, the building he is accused of seizing is the police headquarters in Bishkek. Asanov did take command of police in Bishkek on October 7, after then-Interior Minister Kashgar Junashaliev abandoned the post. He worked from the Interior Ministry building. Asanovs lawyer, Ikramidin Aytkulov, called his clients detention politically motivated. He noted that Asanov had been asked by then-Security Council Deputy Secretary Omurbek Suvanaliev to fill in as police chief and put an end to the disorder in Bishkek. Asanov was asked to leave the Interior Ministry building on October 9 and he did so. Japarov pledged to be tough on corruption. Perhaps the three high-profile arrests before his inauguration are Japarov making good on his promises. It is interesting that Segizbaev and Asanov were not only rival candidates of Japarov in the presidential election. Both also have backgrounds in law enforcement and would have been more familiar than most people with the details of investigations of Japarov. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. The immediate Brexit issue has been resolved with the UK/EU trade deal, but there will still be important political ramifications, especially on the issue of Scottish independence. CIBC has looked at the UK constitutional issues post Brexit and the potential impact on exchange rates. Overall, the bank does not consider that the political risks and constitutional will undermine international demand for UK assets which should limit the overall Sterling impact. Nevertheless, securing overseas support for the huge UK debt issuance will be a challenge, especially if BoE reduces asset purchases. Northern Ireland an anomaly within the UK As part of the Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland remained in the EU Single Market and checks on goods flowing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are therefore needed in order to avoid checks on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border. This arrangement will inevitably create uncertainties over the political future for Northern Ireland. The bank points out that the new arrangements are likely to lead to a tightening bond with the Republic of Ireland and may amplify debate about a unification vote, although the bank points out that there is no majority support for a united Ireland. CIBC also notes that some aspects of the protocol only remain in force for as long as the Northern Ireland Assembly gives its consent. The first Assembly vote on the protocol comes as soon as 2024. The vote underlines that the relationship of the protocol signatories is set to remain live. Pressure for second Scottish referendum increases The situation in Scotland is likely to have a greater short-term impact as the Independence argument gains fresh traction ahead of Scottish elections. These elections are due in May, although they could be delayed given the coronavirus situation. UK Prime Minister Johnson is due to undertake a controversial visit to Scotland on Thursday with Scottish First Minister Sturgeon stating that she was not ecstatic about the visit and questioned whether is constituted essential travel. CIBC notes momentum for another referendum; Should the SNP be returned, with another solid mandate, expect them to renew their push for a second referendum, following that of September 2014. The bank, however, notes that the position is similar to that for Catalonia which has demanded independence from Spain, but attempts to call another referendum were blocked by the Madrid government. The bank notes; Much like Catalonia in 2017, Scotland does not have the right to unilaterally call a vote and therefore cannot unilaterally secede from the union. Nevertheless, political pressure could prove irresistible as momentum gathers pace. Is there a threat to Pound Sterling? If overseas investors sell UK bonds (gilts), the Pound Sterling would be potentially more vulnerable. The UK currency dipped ahead of the 2014 referendum before recovering after independence was rejected. CIBC notes that Northern Ireland and Scotland account for less than 15% of UK GDP and receive a larger share of public spending. Any separation would, therefore, have only a limited direct economic impact. The nature of the UK public expenditure support and limited contributions to overall GDP underline that should either contributor be absent from the UK, the impact on growth, government finances and UK asset prices would not prove material. In this context, CIBC expects that international investors would not rush to sell UK assets in the event of a second Scottish referendum. Despite the prospect of ongoing debate, we would not look for Scottish independence discussions to materially undermine demand for UK assets. The bank, however, also notes that the huge UK gilt issuance will increase reliance on overseas funding. The Eisenhower Global Scholars Program provides an exciting opportunity for young American leaders to experience other nations and extends the extraordinary legacy of one of our greatest presidents and military leaders, Dwight Eisenhower, to new generations of Americans." Dr. Robert M. Gates Eisenhower Fellowships is accepting applications for its dynamic one-year postgraduate study program abroad leading to a Master degree in public policy or international relations at two prestigious European universities. Eisenhower Global Scholars will receive an all-expenses-paid year of intense academic study and cultural immersion at the University of Oxford or at IE University in Madrid, Spain. Students at both universities will have their experience enriched by structured engagement with the influential leaders of Eisenhower Fellowships global network of Fellows. Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) is one of the worlds premier international leadership exchange organizations, an independent, non-governmental, nonpartisan nonprofit based in Philadelphia that brings exceptional midcareer leaders ages 32-45 from all fields and across the world to the United States for individualized fellowships, and sends ascendant American leaders on parallel fellowships abroad. Founded in 1953 as a birthday present to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from Philadelphia business leader friends, the organization has served to connect and empower young leaders around the globe for nearly seven decades to advance its mission of enhancing international understanding to build a world more peaceful, prosperous and just. Dr. Robert Gates, chairman of Eisenhower Fellowships and former U.S. secretary of defense, hailed the Global Scholars Program as a dynamic new dimension of EFs longstanding USA Program that sends midcareer American leaders abroad. The Eisenhower Global Scholars Program provides an exciting opportunity for young American leaders to experience other nations and extends the extraordinary legacy of one of our greatest presidents and military leaders, Dwight Eisenhower, to new generations of Americans, Dr. Gates said. This program introduces these American students to our influential network of exceptional leaders around the world, opening new professional doors and personal vistas that will help them build bridges of trust across borders and cultures. Now in its second year, the Eisenhower Global Scholars Program provides scholarships for four outstanding recent American university graduates for an academic year of postgraduate study overseas leading to a Master of Public Policy degree from the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford for internationally-minded students focused on public service and effective governance or a Master in International Relations degree at the School of Global and Public Affairs at IE University in Madrid for students focused on the global economy, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Eisenhower Global Scholars Program will select academically high-performing recent college graduates admitted to Oxford and IE who have demonstrated a commitment to public service or fostering entrepreneurship. Applicants will be drawn from recent graduates of universities in and around EFs USA hubs and mini-hubs in Philadelphia, Boston, North Carolina, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas. During and after their academic year of study, the Global Scholars will engage with Eisenhower Fellows in Europe and back in the United States. After their year of study abroad is completed, the Global Scholars will be offered an optional three-month professional internship in their chosen field. Applicants can find further information on the EF website: http://www.efworld.org The Eisenhower Global Scholars are an important new dimension to our world-class leadership exchange programs, immersing a new generation of American leaders in the study of enlightened international relations and ethical and effective business practices, said Eisenhower Fellowships President George de Lama. Now in its 68th year and named for Americas 34th president, Eisenhower Fellowships brings together innovative leaders from all fields from around the globe who tackle big challenges to better the world around them. Since 1953, more than 2,400 mid-career leaders from 115 countries have benefited from the unique, customized experience of an Eisenhower Fellowship. Eisenhower Fellowships identifies, empowers and connects innovative leaders through a transformative fellowship experience and lifelong engagement in a global network of dynamic change agents committed to creating a world more peaceful, prosperous and just. During the December quarter, the companys primary focus was on the exploration drilling activities along with the acquisition of the Nepean Nickel Project with the focus now remaining on completing reverse circulation, down-hole electromagnetic and surface moving-loop MLEM surveys. The Nepean Nickel Project contains the second largest producing nickel mine in Australia. Auroch Minerals Limited ( ) plans to move ahead with aggressive exploration activities in 2021 building over the number of initiatives taken by the company in the December quarter that includes drilling activities and acquisition of three high-grade nickel sulphide projects in Western Australia. During the quarter, the companys primary focus was on the exploration drilling activities at its Saints Nickel Project and Leinster Nickel Project and the acquisition of the Nepean Nickel Project, three high-grade nickel sulphide projects in Western Australia. Going forward, the company will be mainly focusing on completing reverse circulation (RC), down-hole electromagnetic and surface moving-loop MLEM surveys at Nepean Nickel Project. Activities planned for March quarter The company plans to complete 3,500 metres of RC drilling program, which is already underway at Nepean to test near near-mine extensions to the high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation, as well as previously untested high-priority targets along the 10 kilometres of underexplored strike. Down-hole (DHEM) and surface MLEM surveys at Nepean, as well as air-core and other geochemical surface sampling programs, will be carried out to define and refine drill targets for the next round of RC drilling to start late in March. Auroch also plans to complete a 3,000-metre RC drill program at Leinster to test exciting high-potential targets along strike from the Horn, as well as other greenfield prospects such as Firefly and North Sinclair. The company also plans to complete a 1,500-metre RC drill program at Saints to test for feeder channel massive nickel sulphide mineralisation at the T4, T5 and T6 prospects. Activities during the December quarter During the December quarter, Auroch entered into a binding agreement to acquire 80% of the shares in Eastern Coolgardie Goldfields Pty Ltd (ECG), the company which will hold the Nepean Nickel Project, comprising of a package of 13 tenements. Following the completion of the acquisition on December 17, 2020, Auroch and Goldfellas will operate the Nepean Nickel Project as a joint venture with Auroch holding an 80% participating interest and Goldfellas the remaining 20%. The Nepean Nickel Project contains the historical high-grade Nepean nickel sulphide mine, which was the second producing nickel mine in Australia, producing 1,108,457 tonnes of ore between 1970 and 1987 for 32,202 tonnes of nickel metal at an average recovered grade of 2.99% nickel. The company is undertaking an initial eight drill holes of the 3,500 metres program and will also test shallow near-mine mineralisation about 200 metres south of the historical mining operation. These holes will look to define the extents of the mineralisation identified by historical high-grade intercepts which include: 3 metres at 11.78% nickel from 37 metres; 3 metres at 9.93% from 49 metres; 4 metres at 6.63% from 46 metres; and 6 metres at 2.82% from 53 metres. Saints Nickel Project During the quarter Auroch completed an air-core drill program at its Saint Nickel project. The program was focussed on the T4, T5 and T6 prospect areas, which are some of the channels identified by the company at Saints that have the potential to host significant feeder channel massive nickel sulphide mineralisation. The program was completed to better define the geometry of the identified channels, as well as to assess the characteristics of the basal ultramafic unit. Results are still outstanding, and when received will be used to update the geological model at Saints and provide potential drill targets for follow-up RC drilling scheduled for later in the March quarter. Leinster Nickel Project During the quarter Auroch received assay results of massive nickel sulphide zones from the maiden diamond drill program at the Horn prospect of its Leinster Nickel Project. Assays for diamond drill-hole HNDD002 have confirmed the massive sulphide mineralisation, with a best-logged interval of 7.3 metres at 2.20% nickel, 0.53% copper and 0.64 g/t palladium from a down-hole depth of 143 metres. Another strong intercept was returned from hole HNDD003 - 1.5 metres at 1.48% nickel, 0.39% copper and 0.29 g/t palladium from a down-hole depth of 134.9 metres, which included a 0.8-metre zone of massive sulphides which reported 2.41% nickel, 0.47% copper and 0.46 g/t palladium from 134.9 metres. Drill hole HNDD003 was drilled to test a historic DHEM conductor outside of the known mineralisation and it highlighted the effectiveness of the down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys in this system. DHEM surveys have been completed for all holes at the Horn and the geophysical data is currently being processed and modelled. The results of the DHEM and the detailed geological logging will be used to plan the next stages of exploration at the Horn and surrounding prospects. Arden Project During the quarter, the company started a surface sampling program along with the prospective copper trends of its Arden Project (Arden) in South Australia. The program comprised of both surface rock chip sampling and soil sampling across a regional trend identified by aeromagnetics. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Sun Life also received recognition in the Top Workplaces categories of Top Leaders, Clued-In Leaders, and Communication. Sun Life has been named a Top Place to Work in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe for three consecutive years, breaking into the top ten of the largest employers in 2020. The company was also named a 2020 Best-in-State employer in Massachusetts by Forbes, and has received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for the past 13 years. Sun Life has a range of programs to attract and retain employees. In 2019, the company announced a new paid family and medical leave program, offering generous, paid, gender-neutral family and caregiver leave, and paid medical leave for all employees. The company offers several wellness programs and a sabbatical program where employees can take time away to focus on personal or professional development. Sun Life has also had an agile work approach for a few years, which made it easy to transition to full-time work from home during the pandemic, and implemented many efforts to support employees with the unique challenges of 2020. "This past year was like no other, and our employees came together to help one another while maintaining the high levels of client service we are proud of," said Dan Fishbein, M.D., president of Sun Life U.S. "We are honored and pleased to get this exciting recognition because it confirms that our employees feel valued and supported, especially during this difficult time." In March of 2020, Sun Life was able to pivot overnight to nearly all employees working from home, which continues today. The company enhanced mental health supports, increased the frequency of communications to provide transparent updates, and shifted to an even more flexible work approach to help employees manage remote schooling and other at-home demands during the pandemic. Other recent employee programs included a free virtual summer camp experience created in partnership with the Boston Children's Museum, and internal campaigns like #SunnySummer and #InItTogether to keep employees engaged and help them maintain a positive outlook. Sun Life broadened its diversity and inclusion efforts in the past year by expanding its focus to addressing racial inequity issues throughout the country. Internally, Sun Life created Allies Acting for Change (AAC), a team of employees that acts as an extension of senior leadership to thoroughly examine the hiring, retention, and career development practices of the company. Through allyship, action, and accountability, Sun Life is implementing the action steps recommended by AAC to improve diversity and equity throughout the company, and foster more engaged career development for Black and other employees of color. "Our new approach to how we foster talent goes beyond non-discrimination to create more equitable opportunities for new and current employees," said Tammi Wortham, vice president of Human Resources at Sun Life U.S. "We are fully engaged in this effort, working with our team of allies and our active inclusion networks, and prioritizing the perspectives of our Black colleagues to create real, sustainable change." Along with the inception of AAC, Sun Life established partnerships with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History & Culture to support and promote voting and educational initiatives. Sun Life's Inclusion networks include Black Excellence Alliance (BEA); Asian American Heritage Association (AAHA); BrightWomen; DiverseAbility; Sun Life Pride; and Hispanic Organization for Leaders and Achievers (HOLA). These networks support cultural and educational events and exchanges for all employees who wish to participate. Top Workplaces USA offers national recognition for large organizations and those that may operate in multiple markets. Winners are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an engagement survey issued by Energage. For more information on careers and benefits at Sun Life, visit http://sunlife.com/uscareers. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2020, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of C$1,186 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. In the United States, Sun Life is one of the largest group benefits providers, serving more than 60,000 employers in small, medium and large workplaces across the country. Sun Life's broad portfolio of insurance products and services in the U.S. includes disability, absence management, life, dental, vision, voluntary, supplemental health and medical stop-loss. Sun Life employs approximately 5,500 people in its U.S insurance and asset management businesses. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except New York, where policies are issued by, Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com/us. Media contact: Devon Portney Fernald Sun Life Financial 781-800-3609 [email protected] SOURCE Sun Life U.S. Related Links http://www.sunlife.com The joint venture of Dilip Buildcon and Altis-Holding Corporation has executed an EPC agreement on 27 January 2021 with the National Highways Authority of India for an EPC project in the State Of Rajasthan. The Rs 1000.08 crore project entails the construction of eight lane access-controlled expressway starting near junction with NH-12 near village Ummedpura to Major bridge over Takli river near Nayagoan Jageer village section of Delhi-Vadodara Green Field Alignment (NH-148N) under Bharatmala Pariyojana. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Digital PCR for COVID-19 wastewater testing overcomes limitations of traditional PCR Wastewater surveillance testing can quantify COVID-19 in populations and track mutations Custom QIAcuity One-Step Viral RT-PCR Kit supports wastewater testing applications QIAGEN today announced the addition of kits for wastewater testing to its growing portfolio of COVID-19 products. The use of dPCR in the worldwide surveillance of COVID-19 is an additional step towards making digital PCR (dPCR) an affordable and standard instrument for a host of applications in molecular-testing laboratories worldwide. The new kits are designed for use on the uniquely fast and easy-to-use series of QIAcuity instruments based on digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technology. QIAcuity precisely quantifies even minimal quantities of DNA and RNA in research tests for viruses, bacteria or genetic disorders, including the rarest of cancer mutations. The precision of QIAcuity provides a valuable tool for use in testing wastewater for SARS-CoV-2. The application offers a cost-effective way to survey transmission dynamics of entire communities, avoiding the biases of other epidemiological indicators like deaths as a proportion of known cases or of the total population. "In a trial run with the new high-throughput QIAcuity Eight, we were able to successfully detect new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples," said Dr. Franz Durandet, President of I.A.G.E. in Montpellier, France. "Our tests have proven that this fast and scalable technology from QIAGEN can provide a valuable addition to our environmental biological testing services, which we will offer to our clients in the near future." COVID-19 surveillance through wastewater testing allows public authorities to collect data from broad sweeps of the population, including people who do not feature in public-health statistics because they lack access to healthcare. Potentially, surveillance testing can reveal infection and mutation dynamics earlier than diagnostic testing, providing public-health officials with near-real-time information on disease prevalence. Please find the full press release here View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006080/en/ Contacts: QIAGEN Investor Relations John Gilardi +49 2103 29 11711 Phoebe Loh +49 2103 29 11457 e-mail: ir@QIAGEN.com Public Relations Thomas Theuringer +49 2103 29 11826 Robert Reitze +49 2103 29 11676 e-mail: pr@QIAGEN.com Sorry! This content is not available in your region Huntington, WV (25701) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Patchy drizzle possible. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Investigators ruled the cause of a Scranton apartment building fire Tuesday that displaced 19 people as accidental. The Scranton Fire Department arrived at 609-611 E. Gibson St. around 5:18 p.m. to find smoke coming from multiple parts of the building, Fire Chief John Judge said in a press release. Someone inside the building called 911 to report smoke coming from a heater on the second floor. A second 911 caller on the third floor said smoke was coming from his apartment's outlets. Investigators said the fire started in the first floor rear bedroom of 609 E. Gibson St. Firefighters had the fire under control just before 10 p.m., and crews stayed at the scene until a little after 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents of the building. [January 28, 2021] STEMscopes Math Texas Meets 100 Percent of TEKS for Grades K-5 in Independent Analysis by Texas Resource Review Accelerate Learning announced today that the Texas Resource Review (TRR) has published its review of STEMscopes Math Texas and reported that it meets 100% of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). Of all the K-5 math programs reviewed by TRR, STEMscopes Math Texas received the highest ratings, with 100% scores for TEKS alignment, concept development, process skills, progress monitoring, and implementation. STEMscopes Math Texas is a core mathematics program for grades K-5 that is built from the TEKS. It combines digital and print components to provide teachers with eerything they need to create meaningful math learning experiences for students. The curriculum is available in English and Spanish, and it can be used in the classroom, distance learning, and hybrid learning settings. The TRR evaluation of STEMscopes Math Texas is the result of extensive evidence gathering and analysis. Each review cycle begins with TEKS aligned rubrics and a rigorously vetted review team of highly trained educators from across the state. The product reviews are featured on the TRR website, which is freely accessible and provides school districts with comprehensive product information. "We are honored to have been reviewed by the Texas Resource Review committee and to be given outstanding ratings in all areas," said Dr. Vernon Johnson, president and CEO of Accelerate Learning. "The digital nature of STEMscopes Math allows us to enhance our program as needs arise or change, which is especially important this school year. We look forward to continuing to provide Texas educators with the standards-based resources they need to create effective math classrooms that empower students with the skills to succeed in future STEM careers." STEMscopes Math Texas is part of the award-winning suite of STEMscopes solutions. STEMscopes Texas is the most widely used, 100% TEKS aligned science curriculum in Texas. For more information about STEMscopes Math Texas, visit https://www.stemscopes.com/math/tx/. About STEMscopes STEMscopes, created by Accelerate Learning Inc., is an award-winning, research-based national leader in PreK-12 STEM curriculum. Used by over 6 million students and 250,000 teachers across all 50 states, STEMscopes provides comprehensive digital resources, supplemental print materials, and hands-on exploration kits that drive engagement and academic growth. For information, visit stemscopes.com or call toll-free 800-531-0864. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005029/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday disclosed 731 new coronavirus cases and 20 more deaths as state officials announced they would stop providing detailed death summaries. State officials throughout the pandemic divulged basic biographical information for each COVID-19 fatality, including a persons age, county, location of death, date of a positive coronavirus test, date of death and general presence of underlying health conditions. But without warning the agency announced that would end, effective Wednesday, because it had become too onerous for state epidemiologists who have been providing that information on a daily basis for 10 months. The abrupt change comes as Gov. Kate Brown faces criticism for her decision to prioritize vaccinating teachers before seniors, who account for the vast majority of deaths in Oregon. Ending detailed death descriptions will make it difficult to know with precision how many elderly Oregonians test positive for coronavirus and subsequently die during the period when Brown allowed teachers to receive vaccines ahead of seniors. The state on Wednesday instead unveiled a new data dashboard that includes summary details about the underlying health conditions of those who have died with COVID-19. Thats something the agency previously declined to disclose when requested five months ago by The Oregonian/OregonLive, saying the data wasnt useful and created confusion when it had been previously released. Robb Cowie, a spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority, said the decision to stop reporting detailed death information is a capacity issue for state officials and insisted the newly created data page, with a composite picture, is ultimately more telling. On its last day of detailed reporting, Oregon disclosed the death of a 27-year-old woman from Hood River County with no underlying health conditions who died Jan. 23 at Oregon Health & Science University. That level of detail will be whitewashed going forward. The death would be listed online as someone age 20 to 29, with no way to know the persons county, gender, date of a positive coronavirus test, date of death, if the person died at home or in a hospital, or if the person had underlying health conditions. Oregon will disclose deaths only in aggregate by age range, by county and by gender. Every death from COVID-19 represents a loss, especially for those who knew them best families, friends and loved ones, Patrick Allen, the Oregon Health Authority director, said in a statement. That is why we have listed each case. Now the state will disclose aggregate fatality data plus a snapshot of underlying health conditions and symptoms among those who died, including the number of people who died in and outside of congregate care settings by date. This dashboard offers the public a clearer picture of the collective toll the virus has taken, Allen said. But it will never detract from the importance of each Oregonian who is no longer with us. Its unclear how many states, if any, have provided detailed summaries about each death throughout the pandemic. Cowie said sharing that level of detail on a daily basis is time consuming and essentially required dedicating a full-time position to dig through an online database collecting the information for publication. Amid record deaths in December and into January, state officials faced challenges providing timely information. They sometimes delayed releasing full summaries of the deaths until late at night as daily fatality counts reached the dozens. Officials had been considering a change for months, when deaths were still in the hundreds, but opted to announce it in advance of the 2,000-fatality milestone. State officials began providing detailed information with the first death March 14. Facing concerns about inadequate transparency on other coronavirus data, Gov. Kate Brown later that month said she instructed the health authority to share all COVID-19 information with the public that does not compromise patient privacy. Asked for comment Wednesday about the health authoritys decision to stop sharing detailed death summaries, Browns office did not respond. Where the new cases are by county: Baker (4), Benton (8), Clackamas (67), Clatsop (4), Columbia (8), Coos (9), Crook (7), Deschutes (24), Douglas (9), Harney (1), Hood River (5), Jackson (35), Jefferson (7), Josephine (16), Klamath (13), Lake (2), Lane (52), Lincoln (3), Linn (21), Malheur (17), Marion (115), Morrow (5), Multnomah (118), Polk (21), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (30), Union (3), Wasco (2), Washington (106) and Yamhill (18). The prevalence of infections: The state reported 806 new positive tests out of 17,604 tests performed, equaling a 4.6% positivity rate. Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (36); 10-19 (82); 20-29 (153); 30-39 (101); 40-49 (125); 50-59 (90); 60-69 (61); 70-79 (37); 80 and older (24). Whos in the hospital: The state reported 302 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections in the hospital Wednesday, six fewer than Tuesday. Of those, 74 coronavirus patients were in intensive care units, four more than Tuesday. Vaccines: Oregon reported 340,369 doses of vaccine have been administered, or about 57% of the doses received. Oregon reported 14,896 newly administered doses, which includes 10,943 on Tuesday and the remainder from previous days. Since it began: Oregon has reported 140,063 confirmed or presumed infections and 1,924 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 3,122,704 lab reports from tests. -- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt CACI CEO talks strategic priorities for today's market If there is anything that doesnt change in the market, it is that CACI International is going to make a deal. CACI is always on the lookout for an acquisition that can bring new capabilities, new customers or new contracts. So I surprised myself that it was nearly 25 minutes into my conversation with CEO John Mengucci before I asked him about CACIs M&A strategy. One big reason for that is that Mengucci had so many other things to say. One of CACIs strengths isnt just that they make acquisitions, it is what those buys do for the company. For Mengucci, acquisitions are just one tool driving the companys strategy. A top priority is growing the companys addressable market. We want to expand our customer capability set and become more immune to government shutdowns and price shoot outs, he said as the keynote speaker at our Jan. 22 WT Power Breakfast. Mengucci spoke just two days after the companys long time leader and executive chairman Jack London died at age 83. Deals are a part of the companys strategy, but another big factor are the contracts the company pursues as well as the kind of workplace it is, he said. As CEO, Mengucci said hes focused on being a place where people want to come to work. I wanted a renewed focus on who we hire... and I wanted a world class internship program," The company is moving more toward the technology side of the business and so it is investing in relationships with universities and their research and development efforts as well as getting involved in STEM programs with K-12 schools. Employees vote everyday on who they want to work for and it is no secret, I want our employees to stay with us, he said. Another strategy for the company has been the decisions it makes about what work to pursue. We want to win longer term, higher dollar value awards, he said. When we do that, were less susceptible to the constant recompetes. Adjusting the companys aperture to pursue larger programs -- such as its $1.8 billion BEAGLE contract to modernize the back office systems for Customs and Border Protection -- also expands the companys addressable market. That allows CACI to combine its products and its professional services, he said. A key to this kind of success isnt just knowing the customers needs but getting ahead of those needs. It is important to get the customer talking about outcomes. That drives us to be a more innovative company, Mengucci said. We are investing in technology that comes from talking to customers about their toughest problems. CACI has been training program leads and solution architects to talk to customers and draw out insights. We are trying to make certain we are investing at a pace that when the customer needs something in the field that that is not when we start talking about what it is they need, he said. Companies need to be willing to invest even before they see a program out there. For defense customers, the threat landscape changes so quickly. You have to have had those discussions already, Mengucci said. Customers want companies out there investing ahead of time and that can see life through their eyes and see threats through their eyes. For CACI, this approach is reflected in the people they hire and growing relationships with colleges and universities. Despite the challenges of life in a pandemic, CACI still field over 250 interns last year, he said. Another part of that strategy are CACIs acquisitions. Mengucci said that the $750 million LGS Innovations acquisition in 2019 brought a new research-and-development engine to the company. Each year it files about 20 patents and holds 300 total. These arent patents that go up on a wall. They have to have some technology that our customers need, he said. Work is going on involving 5G, signals collection, cloud-based apps, DevSecOps tools and photonics. M&A is part of CACIs DNA, Mengucci said, but they arent making deals for the sake of making deals. It all has to fit a strategy. For Mengucci that means looking at customer needs and looking at CACI capabilities and past performance to address that need. That examination helps the company identify gaps. If I dont fill that gap then I cant go after that part of the market, he said. It starts with where the customer is going, what the budgets are and what the threat is. Those factors guide CACIs M&A decisions and not what other companies may be buying, he said. Timing also is a factor. If I see something thats going to be a five-year trend, I probably have time to invest in it and generate my intellectual property. Then well be ready to go when the budgets and threats come, he said. But when the threat is moving quickly, the company has to act. Right now, CACI is more likely to buy on the technology side rather than expertise. But companies that combine both are very attractive. Im a firm believer that expertise informs technology, Mengucci said. You dont get a better look than working side by side with a customer providing expertise. From there you can learn what technology can solve their challenges, such as applying artificial intelligence or machine learning. At the end of the day, technology should deliver more value to our customers, Mengucci said. If you are a WT Insider, click here to listen to the entire interview. Panasonic AI-driven cameras empower an expanding vision of new uses Imagine a world where video cameras are not just watching and reporting for security, but have an even wider positive impact on our lives. Imagine that cameras control street and building lights, as people come and go, that traffic jams are predicted and vehicles are automatically rerouted, and more tills are opened, just before a queue starts to form. Cameras with AI capabilities Cameras in stores can show us how we might look in the latest outfit as we browse. Thats the vision from Panasonic about current and future uses for their cameras that provide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at the edge. Panasonic feels that these types of intelligent camera applications are also the basis for automation and introduction of Industry 4.0, in which processes are automated, monitored and controlled by AI-driven systems. 4K network security cameras The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications Panasonics 4K network security cameras have built-in AI capabilities suitable for this next generation of intelligent applications in business and society. The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications. The AI engine is directly embedded into the camera, thus reducing costs and Panasonics image quality ensures the accuracy of the analytics outcome. FacePRO facial recognition technology Panasonic began advancing AI technology on the server side with FacePRO, the in-house facial recognition application, which uses AI deep learning capabilities. Moving ahead, they transitioned their knowledge of AI from the server side to the edge, introducing i-PRO security cameras with built-in AI capabilities last summer, alongside their own in-house analytics. Moreover, in line with the Panasonic approach to focus more on collaboration with specialist AI software developers, a partnership with Italian software company, A.I. Tech followed in September, with a range of intelligent applications, partially based on deep learning. Additional collaborations are already in place with more than 10 other developers, across the European Union, working on more future applications. i-PRO AI-capable security cameras Open systems are an important part of Panasonics current approach. The companys i-PRO AI-capable cameras are an open platform and designed for third-party application development, therefore, applications can be built or tailored to the needs of an individual customer. Panasonic use to be a company that developed everything in-house, including all the analytics and applications. However, now we have turned around our strategy by making our i-PRO security cameras open to integrate applications and analytics from third-party companies, says Gerard Figols, Head of Security Solutions at Panasonic Business Europe. Flexible and adapting to specific customer needs This new approach allows the company to be more flexible and adaptable to customers needs. At the same time, we can be quicker and much more tailored to the market trend, said Gerard Figols. He adds, For example, in the retail space, enabling retailers to enhance the customer experience, in smart cities for traffic monitoring and smart parking, and by event organisers and transport hubs to monitor and ensure safety. Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems Edge-based analytics Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems. On one hand, there are monetary benefits - a cost reduction results from the decreased amount of more powerful hardware required on the server side to process the data, on top of reduction in the infrastructure costs, as not all the full video stream needs to be sent for analysis, we can work solely with the metadata. On the other hand, there are also advantages of flexibility, as well as reliability. Each camera can have its own individual analytic setup and in case of any issue on the communication or server side, the camera can keep running the analysis at the edge, thereby making sure the CCTV system is still fully operational. Most importantly, systems can keep the same high level of accuracy. Explosion of AI camera applications We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications" We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications, said Gerard Figols, adding However, it doesnt mean the hardware is not important anymore, as I believe its more important than ever. Working with poor picture quality or if the hardware is not reliable, and works 24/7, software cannot run or deliver the outcome it has been designed for. As hardware specialists, Figols believes that Panasonic seeks to focus on what they do best - Building long-lasting, open network cameras, which are capable of capturing the highest quality images that are required for the latest AI applications, while software developers can concentrate on bringing specialist applications to the market. Same as for smartphones, AI applications will proliferate based on market demand and succeed or fail, based on the value that they deliver. Facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line technologies Panasonic has been in the forefront in developing essential AI applications for CCTV, such as facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line. However, with the market developing so rapidly and the potential applications of AI-driven camera systems being so varied and widespread, Panasonic quickly realised that the future of their network cameras was going to be in open systems, which allow specialist developers and their customers to use their sector expertise to develop their own applications for specific vertical market applications, while using i-PRO hardware. Metadata for detection and recognition Regarding privacy, consider that the use of AI in cameras is about generating metadata for the detection and recognition of patterns, rather than identifying individual identities. However, there are legitimate privacy concerns, but I firmly believe that attitudes will change quickly when people see the incredible benefits that this technology can deliver, said Gerard Figols, adding I hope that we will be able to redefine our view of cameras and AI, not just as insurance, but as life advancing and enhancing. i-PRO AI Privacy Guard One of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard Seeking to understand and appreciate privacy concerns, one of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard that generates data without capturing individual identities, following European privacy regulations that are among the strictest in the world. Gerard Fogils said, The combination of artificial intelligence and the latest generation open camera technology will change the worlds perceptions from Big Brother to Big Benefits. New applications will emerge as the existing generation of cameras is updated to the new open and intelligent next generation devices, and the existing role of the security camera will also continue. Future scope of AI and cameras He adds, Not just relying on the security cameras for evidence when things have gone wrong, end users will increasingly be able to use AI and the cameras with much higher accuracy to prevent false alarms and in a proactive way to prevent incidents." Gerard Figols concludes, That could be monitoring and alerting when health and safety guidelines are being breached or spotting and flagging patterns of suspicious behaviour before incidents occur. Haiti - Politic : The Government launches Phase II of the reform of the State Tuesday at the Kinam II hotel (Petion-ville), the Government via the Office of Management and Human Resources (OMRH) launched the Phase II of the Institutional Support program for the Strengthening of the Haitian State and the establishment of sectoral monitoring committees for the State Modernization Program (PME-2018-2023). Several personalities took part in this event, in addition to Prime Minister Joeseph Jouthe, the General Coordinator of OMRH, Jean Roudy Aly, the Minister of the Economy and Finance, Patrick Boisvert, the Ambassador of the European Union Ms. Sylvie Tabesse and representatives of other ministries and civil society. This program funded by the European Union (EU), through the "State Building Contract (SBC-II)" aims at an in-depth reform of the Haitian public administration which must necessarily go through the renovation of the administrative system, the strengthening of coordination of government action and territorial governance. Prime Minister Jouthe thanked the European Union for its support in the continuity of the program and renewed the commitment of the OMRH to work towards achieving the expected results. In his intervention, Jouthe said he wanted to lead a relentless fight against the corruption that poisons the social fabric in Haiti and encouraged his collaborators to do everything possible for the total success of the program "Widespread corruption represents a threat to the country. Everything must be in place to encourage the success of the PME-2023 program. There is no good governance without good administration. Let's break with the old habit of corruption." HL/ HaitiLibre Scraps of dyed thread unearthed in Israel that date back 3,000 years match the descriptions of the purple garments worn by royalty like King Solomon in the Bible. Researchers from Israel found remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and fibres of wool dyed in so-called 'royal purple' from a dig site in the Timna Valley. The region in the country's south is rich in copper ore and has been mined since the 5th millennium BC. It belonged to the biblical Kingdom of Edom. The find represents the first time that purple fabric has been discovered from around 1,000 BC and represents a glimpse at the wardrobes of the Biblical Kings. Purple dye was coveted for its vibrant colour and longevity but its origins, being sourced in minute amounts from shellfish made it expensive to use. Scraps of dyed thread (pictured) unearthed in Israel that date back 3,000 years match the descriptions of the purple garments worn by royalty like King Solomon in the Bible The find represents the first time that purple fabric has been discovered from around 1,000 BC and represents a glimpse at the wardrobes of the Biblical Kings like Solomon (pictured) 'This is a very exciting and important discovery,' said the Israel Antiquities Authority's curator of organic finds, Naama Sukenik. 'This is the first piece of textile ever found from the time of David and Solomon that is dyed with the prestigious purple dye.' 'In antiquity, purple attire was associated with the nobility, with priests, and of course with royalty.' Direct radiocarbon dating has confirmed that the finds date from around 1,000 BC, matching the times of the biblical monarchies of David and Solomon in Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, the colour is mentioned in the 'Song of Songs', chapter 3, verses 910. 'King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon,' the scripture reads. 'Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love.' Royal purple dye made from molluscs found in the Mediterranean, over 186 miles (300 km) north of Timna is described in various Jewish and Christian texts. However, this is the first time that purple-dyed Iron Age textiles have actually been found in Israel or, indeed, anywhere throughout the Southern Levant. 'The gorgeous shade of the purple, the fact that it does not fade, and the difficulty in producing the dye which is found in minute quantities in the body of molluscs all made it the most highly valued of the dyes,' explained Dr Sukenik. The dye, he continued, often cost more than the equivalent amount of gold. 'Until the current discovery, we had only encountered mollusc-shell waste and potsherds with patches of dye, which provided evidence of the purple industry in the Iron Age.' 'Now, for the first time, we have direct evidence of the dyed fabrics themselves, preserved for some 3000 years.' Other organic materials including Iron Age textiles, cords and leather were also preserved at the Timna site thanks to the region's extremely dry climate. These artefacts which also date back to the time of David and Solomon offer a unique glimpse into life during biblical times, the researchers said. Researchers from Israel found remnants of woven fabric (pictured), a tassel and fibres of wool dyed in so-called 'royal purple' from a dig site in the Timna Valley 'Our archaeological expedition has been excavating continuously at Timna since 2013,' said Erez Ben-Yosef of Israel's Tel Aviv University. 'If we excavated for another hundred years in Jerusalem, we would not discover textiles from 3,000 years ago.' 'The state of preservation at Timna is exceptional and it is paralleled only by that at much later sites such as Masada and the Judean Desert Caves.' In recent years, the archaeologists have been excavating a relatively new site in the region, which is referred to as 'Slaves' Hill'. 'The name may be misleading since, far from being slaves, the labourers were highly skilled metalworkers,' added Professor Ben-Yosef. 'Timna was a production centre for copper, the Iron Age equivalent of modern-day oil,' the archaeologist continued. 'Copper smelting required advanced metallurgical understanding that was a guarded secret and those who held this knowledge were the "hi-tech" experts of the time,' he said. In recent years, the archaeologists have been excavating a relatively new site in the region, which is referred to as 'Slaves' Hill' (pictured). 'The name may be misleading since, far from being slaves, the labourers were highly skilled metalworkers,' added Professor Ben-Yosef. 'Timna was a production centre for copper, the Iron Age equivalent of modern-day oil' 'Slaves Hill is the largest copper-smelting site in the valley and it is filled with piles of industrial waste such as slag from the smelting furnaces,' said Professor Ben-Yosef. 'One of these heaps yielded three scraps of coloured cloth. The colour immediately attracted our attention, but we found it hard to believe that we had found true purple from such an ancient period'. According to the researchers, the purple dye thought to have been called argaman in Hebrew was produced from three species of mollusc that are indigenous to the Mediterranean Sea. These species included the Banded Dye-Murex, the Spiny Dye-Murex and the Red-Mouthed Rock-Shell. The dye was made from a gland inside the body of the mollusc via a complex chemical process that lasted several days. Argaman (purple) and tekhelet (azure) colours are often mentioned together in ancient texts and still have symbolic value and religious significance to this day. Temple priests, the Kings David and Solomon (pictured) and also Jesus of Nazareth are described as having worn purple Today, most experts agree that two different precious dyes the purple argaman and the light blue, or azure, tekhelet were both produced from the purple dye molluscs, but using different levels of exposure to light. These two colours are often mentioned together in ancient texts and still have symbolic value and religious significance to this day. Temple priests, the Kings David and Solomon and also Jesus of Nazareth are described as having worn purple-coloured clothing. To reconstruct the mollusc dyeing process, Professor Amar travelled to Italy where he cracked open thousands of molluscs to extract raw material from their innards. This was then used in hundreds of attempts to reconstruct the ancient dye. The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE. University of New South Wales vice-chancellor Ian Jacobs has resigned and will finish up early next year, becoming the states second top university chief to step down in the past 12 months. The leadership jobs at NSWs two most prestigious tertiary institutions are now up for grabs, as the sector faces its biggest challenge in decades after COVID-19 disrupted the crucial international student market. Former Sydney University chief Michael Spence left in December for University College London. Heading back to Britain: Professor Ian Jacobs, outgoing vice-chancellor of UNSW. Credit:James Brickwood Professor Jacobs said he was optimistic about Australias international student market bouncing back perhaps even this year but said the university sector would need more balanced income streams, including business partnerships and philanthropy. Philanthropy at top universities had grown significantly since he arrived at UNSW seven years ago. Terrified shoppers were forced to dive out of harm's way after a driver tore through Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall while trying to escape police. The green Toyota Corolla was last spotted about 4.55pm on Thursday after mounting a kerb on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Street. The driver remains on the run but the car he used was found abandoned in Alberts Park about 6.40pm on Thursday. Police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward to help piece together the movements of the car in the hours since it was last seen. 'The vehicle was followed by the Victoria Police Air Wing and last sighted in the St Kilda area,' a Victoria Police spokesman said. Pedestrians were forced to dive out of harms way after a driver tore through Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall while trying to escape police (people walk along a busy Bourke Street Mall in November) The driver remains on the run, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward (pictured, police at the scene on Thursday afternoon) Shattered glass was seen on the floor after the car slammed into bollards on Bourke Street Mall (pictured) 'Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and the vehicle remains outstanding.' Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came 'tearing down' the street. Police do not believe the driver was intending to harm any pedestrians, instead alleging he was swerving to escape authorities. A musician who was performing in the street claimed he watched as a man clambered out of the car after it collided with a bollard. 'I saw screeching tyres and then slam... it was nuts.' Another witness said 'folks were running in every direction, into the shops,' as the car sped through the streets. He said the officers were 'stymied' in trying to effectively stop the car in its tracks by a tram which cut them off, appearing to 'miss the sound of the sirens'. Shane Lowe, who saw the incident as it unfolded, told The Herald Sun the driver appeared alone and the front section of the car appeared damaged. 'He was really flooring it, everyone was running up against the walls and into shops,' Mr Lowe said. Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came 'tearing down' the street Police are seen on Bourke Street Mall on Thursday afternoon a car was seen tearing down the busy shopping street A police helicopter was spotted hovering above the area. Police reportedly initially attempted to pull the driver over after running the number plates and realising they were stolen. They now hope to trace the number plates to see if they can determine the identity of the driver. The incident was reminiscent of the devastating Bourke Street rampage of 2017, when James Gargasoulas ran down and killed six people in the busy CBD - including a baby boy and a young girl. Gargasoulas injured dozens of others, knocking them to the ground and into walls while driving in a drug-induced psychosis. Initial investigations suggest nobody has been injured in the incident, but witnesses say pedestrians were forced to dive out of the path of the car as it came 'tearing down' the street. Pictured: People are seen at Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne wearing face masks He was sentenced to life in jail at Victoria's Supreme Court on February 22, 2019 with a non-parole period 46 years making him eligible for parole in 2063. The non-parole period of 46 years is understood to be the longest handed down in Australia. In 2018, Somali-born terrorist Mohamed Khalif stabbed three people, killing one, during a rampage down the same famous street. He was shot dead by police after his Holden Rodeo loaded with gas cylinders hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb and exploded near Swanston Street. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The incident was reminiscent of the devastating Bourke Street rampage of 2017, when James Gargasoulas ran down and killed six people in the busy CBD - including a baby boy and a young girl Gargasoulas used a stolen car to mow down pedestrians on the busy Bourke Street mall in Melbourne 's CBD on January 20, 2017, claiming the life of six people (pictured) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Democratic Sen. from Virginia Mark Warner (R) and Republican Sen. Richard Burr from North Carolina (L) attend the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images) Sen. Warner to Quarantine After Close Contact to CCP Virus Case Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) will self-quarantine after being exposed to a person who tested positive for the CCP virus, according to Warners spokesperson. Senator Warner learned today that a close contact has tested positive for COVID-19. While Senator Warner has tested negative, out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with guidance provided by the Office of the Attending Physician, he will be working remotely during his quarantine period, the spokesperson, Rachel Cohen, said in a statement, according to The Hill. Warner, the vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is one of many lawmakers who have had to quarantine due to exposure to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Dozens of other lawmakers have tested positive for the virus. Representative-elect Luke Letlow, 41, passed away in December 2020 from a heart attack likely caused by COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. His wife, Julia Letlow, is now running for his seat in a special election. More than 423,000 people succumbed to the CCP virus in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 25 million cases have been recorded since the outbreak spread to the United States from Wuhan, China, last year. More than 24 million people have taken one of the two FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines developed in record time under the administration of President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden took early action to ban travel from South Africa, where a virus mutation that is believed to be more dangerous, has been detected. The president has also added a requirement for international travelers to provide proof of a negative CCP virus test before boarding flights bound for the United States. Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) was one of several lawmakers who tested positive for the virus after the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Correa, 62, tested positive on Jan. 15, a month after he received Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine. He didnt shelter in place with colleagues on Jan. 6 when protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol; his office said he stayed outside to help the U.S. Capitol Police. Burma Myanmar Military Chief Warns Constitution Should Be Revoked If Laws Not Followed Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. / The Irrawaddy The head of Myanmars armed forces said the military-drafted 2008 Constitution should be revoked if its laws are not being followed, during a video address to senior officer trainees at the National Defense College on Wednesday. Commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the Tatmadaw, Myanmars armed forces, needs to abide by the Constitution, which is the mother of the law. He said they would respect all existing laws which are not beyond the 2008 Constitution. If one does not follow the law, such a law must be revoked. I mean if it is the Constitution, it is necessary to revoke the Constitution. If one does not follow the law, the Constitution must be revoked, he told the officers. His address followed military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tuns refusal, during a press conference on Tuesday, to rule out the possibility of a coup. The spokesmans comments drew criticism from a number of public figures, who pointed out that if the military staged a coup, it would violate its self-drafted charter. The senior general maintained that, The 2008 Constitution is effective. Id like to note that it is a very important basic factor in politics. No one should be negligent [of this]. So, you all have knowledge about legal affairs, as well as an outlook about legal affairs. He warned that each section of the law has a purpose and a meaning, adding that it is important not to interpret them as one pleases. Applying the law based on ones own ideas may cause harm rather than being effective. He cited the invalidation of Myanmars previous two constitutions under military juntas following coups detats. Historically, he said, the 1947 Constitution was canceled under the Revolutionary Council, and the 1974 Constitution was revoked by the previous military leadership under its State Law and Order Restoration Council. This is the first time the army chief has referred to revoking the charter. He did not elaborate further. Kachin Baptist Convention president Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson, who met the senior general in early December, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday, We are concerned [about the militarys comments], as the senior general earlier said he would dare to do anything. Dr. Hkalam Samson was referring to the commander-in-chiefs pledge to the militarys proxy political parties ahead of last years general election that there is nothing I wont dare to do, after the parties leaders expressed fears that the vote might not be fair. The military chief also told them he was monitoring all political developments for anything that could have a negative impact on the country, the people or the future of the military. Dr. Hkalam Samson said that in light of those earlier remarks, the militarys comments this week were alarming for the majority of the Myanmar public. He asked whether Myanmars leaders really cared about achieving peace in the country. If everyone wants to achieve peace, we can all negotiate and cooperate. We are anxiously waiting for the answer, he said. You may also like these stories: A Military Coup in Myanmar Is Unlikely, But. Myanmar Military Refuses to Rule Out Coup as It Presses Claim of Fraud in Nov. Election Updated Timeline: Tracing Militarys Interference in Myanmar Election Myanmar Religious, Political Figures Respond to Perceived Threat of Military Coup ECX Tenjin Office By merging its expertise in e-commerce marketing and website operations that transcosmos has developed with "Shopify" technology, transcosmos will contribute to clients in driving their DX and growing business. transcosmos inc. hereby announces that the company has opened "ECX Tenjin Office," a new service base specifically designed for its e-commerce support services. The office launched its services in January, 2021. transcosmos has been offering one-stop shop e-commerce support services that range from the development and operations of e-commerce websites to logistics, and the business has continued to grow year by year. Since the beginning of this fiscal year, transcosmos has been strengthening its services built on "Shopify," a multichannel commerce platform. Given the increase in "Shopify" projects, transcosmos has opened the "ECX Tenjin Office" in Fukuoka city, a hub of mail-order e-commerce businesses. From the new office, transcosmos offers various services for "Shopify" including implementation support, apps development, operations, helpdesk, and more. By merging its expertise in e-commerce marketing and website operations that transcosmos has developed with "Shopify" technology, transcosmos will contribute to clients in driving their DX (digital transformation) and growing business. As a flagship for its e-commerce support services business, "ECX Tenjin Office" will begin by offering website and marketing operations services, and then gradually merge and consolidate all e-commerce operations services that transcosmos offers. What's more, the company will expand the range of services to include Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) and Online-Merge-Offline (OMO) tools such as "HERO," a virtual shopping tool from the U.S. and "DASH HUDSON," an AI-powered Instagram visual analytics tool from Canada. Ultimately, the company aims to become the No.1 DX partner based on "Shopify," and to grow the team to 500 members in two years. The "ECX Tenjin Office" has an always-on connection to Slack and Meet, enabling members to communicate with members in centers in Tokyo and other locations regardless of their working arrangements. With the goal of making employees feel safe and comfortable at work, transcosmos will also focus on offering employees a variety of working styles including an option to choose remote work or work at the office, creating a working environment that meets the goal, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. Comment received from Yasuaki Tokumitsu, Head of Partnerships, Shopify Japan The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the move to Digital transformation (DX) in a diverse range of industries, and yet, we continue to face a shortage of digital talent, particularly in rural areas. Given such circumstances, we have great expectations for transcosmos to make the new e-commerce service center serve as a solution to challenges that many businesses have. About Shopify Inc. Founded in 2006, Shopify Inc. is a leading global commerce company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Shopify Inc. makes commerce better for everyone with "Shopify," the multi-channel commerce platform that offers a wide variety of features including design customization, multi-sales channels that are linked to social network services, and back-office functions such as marketing, inventory management, accounting, customer support and more. Shopify powers over one million businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by many brands. *Visit Shopify here: https://www.shopify.com/ ECX Tenjin Office Overview [Location] Fukuoka Diamond building 5F, 1-12-7, Chuo-ku Tenjin, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka prefecture 810-0001 [Department] EC Services Department, ECX Division, Retail Commerce Sector, Digital MarketingE-CommerceContact Center Headquarters About transcosmos e-commerce support services Recognizing the e-commerce market expansion, transcosmos offers a variety of service menus to assist clients in expanding e-commerce sales, and launching and rebuilding their e-commerce business, taking into consideration the size and the positioning of the business within their company. With its end-to-end services from providing consultation, to developing e-commerce systems, to defining operations to outsource, to developing marketing strategies, to customer support, to delivery, transcosmos help clients succeed in their e-commerce business. About EC-X transcosmos "EC-X Series," a set of e-commerce solutions, offers best solutions that address specific challenges each client face. Visit here for EC-X special website (Japanese only): https://transcosmos-ecx.jp/ *transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries. *Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies. About transcosmos inc. transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 169 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/ Pfizer and AstraZeneca warn global supply chain issues and the European Unions plan to add control measures on exports throw uncertainty onto the timing of vaccine deliveries to Australia. Health Department secretary Professor Brendan Murphy told a Senate select COVID-19 committee hearing on Thursday the initial target of 4 million vaccinations by the end of March was extended into April due to those supply chain concerns. Pfizer Australia and NZ medical director of developed Asia Dr Krishan Thiru and market access director Louise Graham appear via videoconference as Senator Katy Gallagher listens, during a Senate hearing on COVID-19 on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen We havent got absolute confirmation of that international supply, he said. What we are sure about is the vast majority of our supply, which is locally produced and coming online hopefully in March. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 AgriWebb, the start-up that has built a worldwide livestock management platform, is now valued at over 55 million following a 17m investment round. The platform launched in the UK last year and is now used by farmers, who use it to digitise record keeping with an aim to increase productivity and traceability. AgriWebb, an Australia-based firm, is backed by high profile UK investors including the Duke of Westminsters agri-tech investment fund, the Wheatsheaf Group, and private investors such as Jim Dobson, co-founder of Dunbia. The new round of investment was led by corporate multinational and NYSE-listed telecommunications leader TELUS, which recently launched TELUS Agriculture, a division to address food security by leveraging its technology expertise. It has also recently invested and acquired major players in the UK agricultural sector including remote sensing start-up Hummingbird Technologies, and Muddy Boots, a specialist in farm-to-food traceability and supply chain management. The capital from this round will help AgriWebb which has UK offices in London and Belfast to amplify efforts on existing products and accelerate growth in the UK and the Americas. AgriWebb also intends to invest in product features, including an individual animal management platform, alongside tools to manage the carbon footprint of livestock production. The platform, ground-tested by 100 early adopter British beef and sheep farmers prior to UK launch, has been developed to meet the requirements of the UK industry. For example, AgriWebb integrates with all government databases across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Data entered into the app automatically syncs with the users government account, removing the need to regularly log in, and simplifying potentially stressful audits. Jim Dobson said: I was exposed to AgriWebb as a corporate client at Dunbia where they are helping supply chain predictability in the integrated beef scheme. "I then became a customer on my home farming operation where we can gain greater clarity on the efficiency of our own cattle. Measuring our carbon footprint is something every UK farmer will be required to do in the near future and AgriWebb will be the tool that will make this easy for both the farmer and the regulator. "From those viewpoints it was natural to see the global potential for this technology to innovate the industry. I work regularly with the strong leadership team to access and progress key initiatives in the UK and Irish market. Following its inception six years ago by co-founders Justin Webb, Kevin Baum and John Fargher, AgriWebb now manages over 14 million head of livestock across 100 million acres around the globe, including Australia and the UK. Mr Webb said: The validation of high profile UK agricultural investors, and multinational and government-backed institutional partners who are aligned with our vision is tremendously exciting for AgriWebb. "We now look forward to executing on-going product development and expanding our existing operations in both Europe and the Americas. ROME, JAN 28 - President Sergio Mattarella's formal consultations on Italy's government crisis get going in earnest on Thursday when he begins talks with the political parties represented in parliament. Giuseppe Conte quit as premier on Tuesday, marking the collapse of his second government, as the executive no longer had an absolute majority in the Senate after ex-premier Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva (IV) party withdrew its support. IV, the centre-left Democratic Party and the leftwing LeU are among the groups the head of State will meet on Thursday. Mattarella will talk to the parties of the centre-right opposition and to the 5-Star Movement (M5S) on Friday. He started the consultations with talks with Senate Speaker Elisabetta Casellati and Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico on Wednesday. After the consultations, Mattarella will decide whether he wants to hand a mandate to someone to try and form a new government. The remaining parties in what was the ruling coalition, the M5S, the PD and the LeU, have said they are in favour of Mattarella giving Conte a mandate to form a new executive, which would be his third. Conte had been hoping to replace IV with so-called 'constructor' lawmakers and Casellati said Wednesday that a new group has been formed in the Upper House, the Pro-Europe MAIE Democratic Centre (MAIE-CD) group. However, while this new group has around 10 Senators, this is not enough to replace IV in the Upper House. The M5S and the PD had previously ruled out patching things up with Renzi, but this notion is no longer a taboo subject. Before Thursday's talks, IV said the focus should be on the programme of an eventual new government and not on who the premier will be. One of the many possible conclusions to the crisis is that the old coalition could be reformed but under a different premier. The centre-right opposition is calling for early elections. (ANSA). Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or contributing today. As the vaccines roll out, and governments and central banks provide stimulus, India will be among economies to rise above pre-pandemic levels, the billionaire said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Wednesday. His Aditya Birla Group has already unveiled plans to plow in about $2.4 billion across businesses in the past few weeks, months after putting on hold some of its expansion programs on account of the Covid-related lockdowns. Also Read | Battered infra dream awaits a new deal Economists were throwing many letters at us -- V, W, X -- all sorts of things to describe the possible economic recovery. For us, its pretty much been a V," said Birla, the chairman of the group. Its been a very sharp recovery, a very huge surprise for all of us." Birlas expectations for a rebound echo those of Indias central bank, as some of the nations key indicators, including manufacturing, demand for loans and consumer purchases, showed signs of strengthening. The $2.9 trillion economy is set to shrink 7.7% in the year through March, its first full-year contraction in more than four decades, according to government estimates. The International Monetary Fund forecast an almost 12% gain in gross domestic product for Asias third-largest economy in 2021, albeit on a low base owing to the pandemic. Barring a second wave, the worst is behind us" with India kicking off a vaccination drive against Covid-19, the Reserve Bank of India said in its January bulletin. Grasim Industries Ltd., Birlas flagship firm, said last week that it was entering the paints business and plans to invest Rs50 billion ($685 million) over three years. UltraTech Cement Ltd. said in December that it will spend Rs54.77 billion to increase capacity by 12.8 million tons annually while the groups metals unit, Hindalco Industries Ltd. will spend Rs70 billion to double its aluminum downstream capacity over the next few years. Just in June last year, Hindalco said it was slowing down its expansion plans, while Novelis Inc., Hindalcos U.S.-based aluminum unit, also delayed the ramp up of new finishing facilities in Guthrie, U.S. and Changzhou, China, until the second half of the fiscal year to align with demand. Fizz Is Back The group, with roots dating back to 1857, has seen strong growth in its financial services, fashion retail, cement and metals businesses, according to Birla. We are looking to grow very large in these companies," he said, adding that he was open to growing them organically or through acquisitions. For Aditya Birla Group, the fizz is back." The traction in other businesses is helping offset challenges in reviving Vodafone Idea Ltd. -- an indebted wireless carrier Birla jointly owns with U.K.s Vodafone Group Plc. The local operator has reported nine straight quarters of losses amid intense price competition and faces $8 billion in government dues and has been losing subscribers to rivals. The Aditya Birla Group employs more than 120,000 employees across 36 countries and earns over 50% of its revenues from overseas, according to its website. The recovery will be a little patchy," Birla said. China could race ahead to surpass European Union this year, while the U.S., Japan and some countries in Europe are unlikely to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels this year, he said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Philly Fighting COVID debacle, where a group of self-described college kids with little-to-no medical experience was given a city partnership to run a mass vaccination program, is more than a national embarrassment. It could very well worsen the Black communitys mistrust of the COVID-19 vaccine a mistrust our community cant afford. Having watched for months as Black people died from COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white people, there were already some in the Black community who saw the virus as a genocidal racist plot, and the vaccine as a tool meant to finish the job. That kind of mistrust is not based in some vague sense of racial paranoia. Its driven by atrocities like the Tuskegee study, where Black men with syphilis did not receive proper treatment for their illness so doctors could document their agonizing march toward death, or the cruel work of Dr. J. Marion Sims, who developed gynecological techniques while operating on enslaved Black women without anesthesia. I understand that history. But I also trust the Black doctors whove guided me through this pandemic and assured me that the vaccine is safe. My trust in them is why my wife and I took our first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Jan. 17 with Dr. Ala Stanford and the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, an organization that has been working to address COVID in the Black community for nearly a year. But for Black people who see the disproportionate number of Black COVID-19 deaths as an extension of the medical industrys racist past, the story of a company like Philly Fighting COVID will provide yet another reason to shy away from the vaccination process. READ MORE: We demand answers, Council members say as Philly Fighting COVID CEO admits taking vaccine doses The story reads like something from a comic book. It starts with Philadelphia officials signing off on vaccine distribution from a company run by a 22-year-old Drexel University undergraduate named Andrei Doroshin. Neither he nor any of those in his companys leadership have advanced medical degrees. The company, whose leadership is entirely white and which received no city money to administer vaccines, starts out as a nonprofit, but switches to a for-profit model without telling the city. Then the company institutes a privacy policy that allows it to sell the information of those who sign up to be vaccinated while insisting it never intended to sell the data. Along the way, the company allegedly botches vaccination appointments, and does not require volunteers to document their medical credentials. A volunteer alleged that the CEO took home extra vials of vaccine, which Doroshin admitted to doing in a TV segment aired Thursday.* Other reports emerged of volunteers taking pictures as they injected their friends with the vaccine in a free-for-all, WHYY reported. Now, with more than 200 vaccine doses missing, the city has severed ties with the company, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner are asking those who know of criminal activity or feel theyve been duped to call their offices. Meanwhile, City Council is preparing to hold a hearing to determine what went wrong. READ MORE: Be mad at Philly Fighting COVID. But also be mad at Kenney administration for letting this scandal happen. | Opinion In response to my request for comment, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Public Health Department sent a statement reading in part: The Philadelphia Department of Public Health will no longer work with Philly Fighting COVID to provide testing or vaccine, effective immediately. We have recently been made aware of a change in PFCs corporate status that took place without our knowledge, from nonprofit to for-profit. As part of this change, PFC updated its data privacy policy in a way that could allow the organization to sell data collected through PFCs pre-registration site. The City has not been notified of any of these data having been sold. But for PFC to have made these changes without discussion with the City is extremely troubling. As a result of these concerns, along with PFCs unexpected stoppage of testing operations, the Health Department has decided to stop providing vaccine to PFC. I think its more than that. I think the city, in a move that smacks of racial insensitivity, looked past the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium a Black-run organization already doing the work in the community most affected by COVID-19. Rather than building on existing relationships, the city maintained a partnership with a fly-by-night organization that nobody knew, an organization with no medical experience. Then the city wondered why things went awry. READ MORE: Penn must cut ties with Dr. Albert Kligman, who conducted unethical human research on Black men | Opinion If we are going to vaccinate the Philadelphians who need it most, the city must work with those who have already engaged with the affected communities. Giving vaccine to students with no medical experience and with no connection to the people is unjustifiable. Not only does it breed the kind of apparent incompetence we saw with Philly Fighting COVIDs handling of vaccine doses. It also bolsters skeptics who believe the vaccine is meant to destroy Black people. The city has taken a positive step to be in touch with those who are seeking to be vaccinated by directing them to the health departments online portal. However, getting those who dont trust the vaccine to look beyond their skepticism is not something that can happen online. Defeating this virus will require working with the organizations that have the communitys trust. Doing otherwise, as weve learned, is a recipe for disaster. *Editors note: This post has been updated with news developments around Doroshin taking home vaccine doses. Member of Parliament(MP) for Effiduase-Asokore constituency, Nana Ayew Afriyie has paid tribute to the late former President Jerry John Rawlings. The late Flt. Lt. Rawlings was given a State burial on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. His mortal remains was buried at the new Military cemetery at Burma camp. Hon. Ayew Afriyie has asked Ghanaians to draw good lessons from the late Statesman stressing although he (Rawlings) had created enemies for himself due to his actions, he however had some good sides of him that need mentioning. Touching on the personality of Mr. Rawlings, the MP stated that the late former President was a maverick who expressed his mind on issues without fear or favor. He also touted him as having decency to apologize when he goes wrong. He further lauded Mr. Rawlings for his smooth transition of power to the Kufour government to cement Ghana's democratic era. He hoped those offended by the behavior and actions of Mr. Rawlings would have a heart to let go of their pains. "I'm not a fan of him that much. No, it's not me. I'm not like that but, however, today is not a good time to talk about what you didn't like about him (Rawlings)," he said on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''. He called on leaders of the nation and the entire citizenry to take cue from Mr. Rawlings' death, noting that death is inevitable, hence one should ensure he leaves a better legacy or builds better personal relationships. "Your best friend can be your worst enemy and your worst enemy can be your best friend . . . Maybe you can say or do anything at all because of the power you have today but you don't know who will save you, your children or relatives tomorrow. We must be very careful and watch our actions knowing very well tomorrow awaits us." Hon. Ayew Afriyie extended his heartfelt condolences to the deceased's family and prayed God to strenghten them. 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. Featured Video Mangaluru, Jan 29 : Veteran RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat kicked off a fresh controversy on Thursday by again comparing Ullal in Karnataka's Mangaluru to Pakistan. "The Ullal Assembly constituency has become a mini-Pakistan in Mangaluru. Unless Hindus in the region don't rise above the Muslims, they will continue to dominate majority of the Hindus," he said. The RSS leader also urged the voters of the Ullal Assembly constituency to elect a Hindu legislator instead of always electing a Muslim legislator. Post the delimitation exercise, the Ullal Assembly constituency was renamed as the Mangalore constituency which is represented by former Karnataka minister U.T. Khader, who has won on a Congress ticket four times in a row. The constituency was represented by his late father U.T. Farid, who won the seat for Congress four times since 1972. Of the 20 seats in Mangaluru and Udupi districts, Mangaluru (Ullal) is the only seat, which the Congress has succeeded in retaining. Speaking to the media, Bhat said that only in Pakistan such a thing happens where Muslims elect people of their community and even win in Hindu dominated seats. "Unfortunately in India this does not happen. Even where Hindus are dominant, leaders of other communities sweep to victory," he said. In November last year, Bhat had stoked a controversy by comparing Ullal to Pakistan. He had then urged the Hindus in the state to produce more children in order to protect the Hindu culture and not allow the creation of a small Pakistan anywhere in the state. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Hill, January 26, 2021 By Patric Karam While the peace talks in Afghanistan are stalled until the administration of Joe Biden takes new action, calls for more power sharing mechanisms to represent manifold groups in the political system are gaining momentum. This is a tempting idea, and Afghans have had a taste of power sharing in recent years, starting with the appointment of Hamid Karzai as president with the diverse ethnic cabinet, and then the deal between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah after an election dispute. But the dangers of this consociational idea outweigh the benefits. Look no further than the disaster that befell Lebanon. In 1975, the Lebanese state all but collapsed and the country spiraled into civil war, in many ways due to entrenchment of society divisions in politics. Belligerents such as state elites, proxy actors, and militia groups exploited these sectarian identities through violence, cleaving society along communal lines in the pursuit of strategic interests. The rounds of massacres, kidnappings, assassinations, revenge killings, ethnic cleansing, and sexual violence were conducted in the name of sectarian identities across Lebanon. Without a working state, Lebanese warlords carved out sectarian fiefdoms of communities they claimed to defend. Issues such as education, health care, postal service, electric power, and refuse collection became subject to the sectarian militias. By providing basic services, the militias extended coercive control of their communities. Instead of uniting the country, the 1989 Taif peace deal institutionalized the sectarian dynamics of the war by recalibrating the consociational system created at independence in order to accommodate the main Christian and Muslim sects in Lebanon. It also increased the number of seats in parliament, divided them between sects, turned the Maronite Christian president into a figurehead, and made the Sunni prime minister responsible to the legislature. It let sectarianism be the bedrock of state and society relations, leaving a door open to renewed conflicts. Peace was achieved with the apparatus that ensured none of the groups could dominate the state. The Lebanese system of government today is built around this model with the spoils of public office and state resources doled out to sectarian elites based on a dark system of patronage. Ministerial and government posts are divided among leaders who use these roles as the basis for political favors within their own constituencies and also their own gains. The Lebanese state has been unable to deliver satisfactory public services and social welfare. For instance, electricity provision is the fourth worst in the world. The system, abused by an elite that rebranded itself from militia to political party, permeates the public and private relations, and this elite has ensured continued access to power in the patronage networks. It has come under fire in national protests for corruption and mismanagement, as the country endures its worst economic recession and has to recover from the recent devastating blast at the port of Beirut. As Afghanistan considers its future, it should seek to avoid the perils of sectarianism. The talks between the Taliban and the government are the best chance for Afghans to end the violence, reach a durable settlement, concur on the system of government, then move forward. Lebanon and Afghanistan are pluralistic, but management of pluralism in Afghanistan, which still has a fighting chance, should allow for cultural security while establishing a national identity. Afghanistan can only be built on what its constituents have in common to achieve consensus. The Afghan government has never been able to rule widely at the local level, leaving power brokers to enjoy certain autonomy and administer economic activities, counting on informal consultative bodies, such as community councils, and tribal law and customs. While a strong central state is essential, greater administrative devolution of power tailored to the needs of the country will ensure its sovereignty. But while the future of Afghanistan should be sensitive to and inclusive of informal institutions and representative of the diversity of its own people, enshrining differences in power sharing structures will be harmful not just for efforts to build the government but for its survival. Patricia Karam is regional director of the Middle East and North Africa at the International Republican Institute that works to promote democracy. The entire world is facing deadly virus and mask is one of the key weapons to fight this deadly virus. Many countries have made mask mandatory to prevent the infection. Ethiopia is also to launch a mask-wearing campaign in schools nationwide amid the global pandemic. The Ethiopia Ministry of Education said on Wednesday announced the mask-wearing campaign. The campaign, dubbed "No Mask No Service in Schools," is aimed at raising the awareness of wearing masks to fight the virus in schools across the country. According to Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia's Minister of Education, the upcoming nationwide initiative, which will be held early next week, also seeks to recruit teachers and students as "Mask Bearer Ambassadors" to make people aware about mask-wearing. Last October, the Ethiopian government distributed about 50 million face masks to about 46,000 schools across the country as classes resumed after months of closure. As Africa's second-most populous nation, Ethiopia is one of the countries hardest hit by corona in Africa. The government has been urging the public to take precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Also Read: S Korea reports 497 fresh corona cases, 76,926 in total India dispatches Covishield vaccines to Bahrain, Sri Lanka Survivors get a vaccine on Holocaust Remembrance Day in Austria and Slovakia Apple posted a strong quarterly result this morning, with the company hitting $111.4 billion in quarterly revenue. Along with the quarterly results, Apple also shared that a record number of users are using an iPhone. In an interview with Reuters, Tim Cook shared that the company has hit an all-time of more than 1 billion active iPhones around the world. The CEO also claimed that there are now over 1.65 billion active Apple devices around the world, up from 1.4 billion in 2019. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook told Reuters in an interview that the company now has an active installed base of 1.65 billion devices, compared with 1.5 billion devices a year ago. Cook also said Apple now has an installed base of more than 1 billion iPhones, an increase over the 900 million the company most recently disclosed in 2019. Apple last disclosed its active install base way back in 2019. The company then revealed that there were 900 million iPhones in use at that time, with over 1.4 billion active Apple devices. Apple doesnt reveal how many iPhones are sold each quarter, but gives a figure of the revenue it generates from selling it. Despite the pandemic hindering Apples work, iPhone 12 series has crossed all expectations. iPhone 12 series was the best selling 5G smartphone in October of 2020, the month it was announced. And by the look of Apples quarterly results, iPhone 12, and iPhone in general, is going to dominate the premium smartphone market in 2021. In another interview with CNBC, Tim Cook said that the quarterly results couldve been better if the pandemic didnt hinder the companys sales. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the results couldve been even better if not for the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns that forced Apple to temporarily shutter some Apple stores around the world. Taking the stores out of the equation, particularly for iPhones and wearables, theres a drag on sales, Cook told CNBCs Josh Lipton. We Want to Hear From You Do you currently use an iPhone? Which iPhone do you use? Are you looking forward to upgrade to the iPhone 12 series, or wait for Apples much-awaited iPhone 12s series that is expected to be released later this year? Do let us know in the comment section below! [Via Reuters A terminally ill doctor carrying "numerous" guns held an Austin medical office hostage for hours on Tuesday before fatally shooting a local physician and himself, police said, shaking the Texas capital city and leaving investigators hunting for a possible motive. Following a standoff that lasted more than six hours, officers entered the Children's Medical Group building in central Austin Tuesday night and found the suspect, Bharat Narumanchi, a 43-year-old pediatrician from southern California, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. Nearby, officers said they found Katherine Dodson, also 43 and a pediatrician. She, too, had been fatally shot, police said. It's not clear what prompted Narumanchi to target the office, but investigators said his failing health may have been a factor. According to police, he had recently been diagnosed with cancer and was given just weeks to live. "We feel like his terminal cancer probably played a large part in whatever occurred in his life," Jeff Greenwalt, a police spokesman, told reporters Wednesday. Why he targeted Dodson was an even murkier question, according to police. Though she and Narumanchi worked in the same field, they may not have known each other. At some point last week, Narumanchi had visited the office and applied for a volunteer position, police said, but aside from that encounter, "there did not appear to be any relation or other contact between Dr. Dodson and Dr. Narumanchi." The apparent murder-suicide touched off a wave of mourning for Dodson, a mother of three who won honors and accolades for her pediatric work. "Last night, in a horrifying act of gun violence, one of our most skilled, compassionate pediatricians, Dr. Lindley Dodson, was held hostage and murdered at her Central Austin office," Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat who represents part of the Austin area, wrote on Twitter. "She provided care for our youngest 2 grandchildren & so many other children across the community." "At 43, her life has been cut terribly short," Doggett added. "She leaves behind her husband Drew and three children. What a tragic, tragic loss." The hostage incident began around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, when Austin police responded to a call reporting a disturbance at the Children's Medical Group building in the Oakmont Heights neighborhood. Shortly after arriving, officers learned someone was barricaded inside the building and requested a SWAT team. For hours, members of the SWAT team pleaded with the suspect to answer their calls or text messages. "You can come out of the front door with your hands up and empty and follow the instructions of the officer," the negotiator with a megaphone yelled, in video captured by reporters on the scene. "I know you've been dealt a very terrible card, but you've spent your entire life dedicated to other people." After several hours of silence, police sent a robot unit inside. According to police, members of the SWAT team decided to enter the building after losing contact with the suspect for several hours. Around 10:50 p.m., loud bangs erupted from inside the building. Moments later, images from the robot revealed at least one person was dead inside, police said Tuesday. When SWAT members stormed the building in a rescue attempt, they discovered the other body. Greenwalt, the police spokesman, told reporters Wednesday that Narumanchi had "numerous guns on him" but didn't offer specifics on the types of firearms. In a statement, police said Narumanchi was armed with a pistol and what appeared to be a shotgun, and was carrying two duffel bags. According to Greenwalt, Narumanchi took several hostages once he entered the building, ordering some of them to "tie themselves up." Over the course of the standoff, he said, Narumanchi let some go and others managed to escape. Investigators are now looking for friends and associates of Narumanchi who may be able to shed light on what motivated him. Police have already made contact with his family, who were cooperating with the investigation, Greenwalt said. It wasn't clear when he was diagnosed with cancer, according to Greenwalt, but the family was "entertaining hospice care." "The case - as far as who did this - is closed," Greewalt said. "But we really, really want to answer the question of why and provide as many facts and circumstances to the family and friends as we can, and provide as much close in this tragic sit as we can." Denton, TX (76205) Today Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 77F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Jakarta: The rising number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations in Indonesia have forced the provincial government in Jakarta to convert vacant and swamp land into cemeteries in anticipation of the need for thousands more burial sites. Officials are rushing to prepare up to 17,900 new plots on the outskirts of the metropolis of 10 million people. An employee walks among graves at the special section of Srengseng Sawah cemetery which was opened to accommodate the surge in deaths in Jakarta. Credit:AP Ivan Nurcahyo spokesman for Jakartas parks and cemetery agency said around 3500 new burial plots would be ready in South and North Jakarta areas by February, in addition to 800 extra plots already in use at the COVID-19 cemetery of Bambu Wulung in East Jakarta. The other thousands of new plots were still in the various stages of planning, he said. BenefitMall is proud to announce the company has earned the 2021 Top Workplaces USA Award. Tweet this This is the inaugural year for Top Workplaces USA, built on the program's 14-year history surveying more than 20 million employees across 54 markets for the regional Top Workplaces awards. Top Workplaces USA offers national recognition for large organizations, those with more than 150 employees, and those that may have operations in multiple markets. Several thousand organizations from across the country were invited, and more than 1,100 participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. "During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business." The leadership team at BenefitMall has created a culture around its five core values: collaborate to win, innovate to simplify, have the courage to grow, earn trust with every engagement and co-create a culture of inclusion. In January, the BenefitMall launched an employee inclusion ambassador program to facilitate the ongoing promotion of BenefitMall's core values and engagement strategies. About BenefitMall Headquartered in Dallas, BenefitMall partners with a network of 20,000 Brokers to deliver employee benefits to more than 140,000 small and medium-sized businesses. As the largest general agency, BenefitMall leverages innovative technology backed by human expertise to provide the fastest, easiest, and most trusted benefits selling experience for carriers, brokers, and their clients. Owned by Management and The Carlyle Group, BenefitMall also operates HealthCareExchange.com, the leading online community for health care reform and compliance. More information is available at www.benefitmall.com. About Energage Making the world a better place to work together. Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 22 million employees surveyed across more than 66,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com. SOURCE BenefitMall Related Links http://www.benefitmall.com Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS) Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor" 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 SACRAMENTO California will turn over its coronavirus vaccine distribution to the health insurance company Blue Shield in an effort to speed up what has been among the slowest vaccination rollouts in the country. A spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that the state would contract with the Oakland-based health plan provider to manage its vaccine delivery network and that the transition would take place over the next few weeks. The state did not say how it selected Blue Shield nor how much it would pay the company to oversee vaccine delivery, although officials said they it expect to make the terms public once they are finalized. Kaiser Permanente, the Oakland-based hospital and health insurance chain which counts nearly a quarter of Californians among its customers, will also assist with the new system, the state said. Kaiser said Thursday that it was eager to join in and help the states effort to improve the distribution of the vaccine in California. Blue Shield will be tasked with allocating vaccine doses to public health departments, pharmacies, hospitals, community health centers and other health care providers to improve the efficiency of the states vaccination program and ensure that low-income neighborhoods and communities of color have equitable access to the vaccine. California has administered about 2.7 million of the 4.7 million vaccine doses that is has received, or about 57%, according to the Department of Public Health. While that rate is improving, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the state still ranks near the bottom nationwide for vaccinations. Local health officials say the main problem in improving vaccination numbers has been an inconsistent supply from the state and federal government. Counties and private providers say they now have the infrastructure to vaccinate more people a day but need the doses to do it. The contract with Blue Shield will not increase the number of vaccine doses that California receives from the federal government, but state officials hope it will get available supply to people more quickly. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff A 22-year-old Slidell man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to trying to break into an ATM in New Orleans last February using sledgehammers, crowbars, chains and a truck, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser's office. According to court records, Justin Pierce and others covered their faces to shield them from surveillance cameras when they pulled up to an ATM at the drive-through of a Capital One bank on Bullard Avenue on Feb. 5, 2020. They got out of the truck and began hitting the machine with their tools in an effort to steal about $175,000. They then attached a chain to the machine and pulled on it repeatedly with a truck in an effort to tear it apart, according to court documents. Police officers arrived and arrested them. Just before they hit the Capital One ATM, the same group in the same truck were seen trying to break into an ATM at the Hancock Whitney Bank on Pontchartrain drive in Slidell, using the same sledgehammers, crowbars and chains and wearing the same clothing and disguises, according to the court record. That ATM contained about $49,000. Pierce pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced April 27 before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan. Actress and socialite, Efia Odo in an interview with Sammy Kay, on the Go online show has disclosed that she has now come of age and that going forward, any media outlet that wants to interview her would have to pay her some amount of money before she grants them the interview. Efia Odo argued that seeking information comes with a cost hence the need for radio stations, TV stations and bloggers to realise that. She added that her interview will be a form of content to these media outlets therefore money will have to be paid to her before she gives out information. She categorically stated that henceforth she will charge before she will grant any interview. Watch video below: 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 After the Exit of Confucius Institutes, Taiwan Can Help Commentary The U.S. State Department announced last August that Confucius Institutes established by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the United States after 2004 would be required to register as foreign missions. Then in October, Mike Pompeo, secretary of state at the time, said he was hopeful that all Confucius Institutes on U.S. campuses would be closed by the end of 2020. On Jan. 16 of this year, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, W. Brent Christensen, attended a Teaching Chinese as a Second Language conference in Taiwan and encouraged Taiwanese Chinese teachers to step forward and help fill this gap left by closed Confucius Institutes. We have all read news stories about the closing of many of the PRCs Confucius Centers in the U.S. Now is the time for Taiwan to step forward and help fill this gapnot only to teach Mandarin and learn English, but to more fully tell Taiwans story to their American students, Christensen said, referring to those in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program who will go to the United States to teach Chinese to Americans. The Confucius Institute traces its genesis to1993 when Chinese scholar Wang Huning introduced the concept of soft power to China, a term coined in 1990 by the well-known professor of international relations at Harvard University, Joseph Nye. At that time, Wang published the article Culture as a National Power: Soft Power, emphasizing that the wide spread of a countrys culture would bring great power to that country. In 2007, then-CCP leader Hu Jintao officially put forward the strategic layout of improving the countrys cultural soft power during the Partys 17th National Congress. Subsequently, Confucius Institutes sprang up all over the world, shouldering the task of enhancing the Chinese communist regime. At their peak, there were over 500 Confucius Institutes and 1,000 Confucius Classrooms in more than 160 countries. But Confucius wasnt always so popular with the CCP. In its early days, the Party severely criticized the revered philosopher and sage, contrary to long-standing tradition, and praised Chinas cruel first emperor Qin Shi Huang. In May 1958, Mao Zedong said in a sarcastic tone at the second plenary session of the CCPs Eighth Central Committee: Qin Shi Huang only buried alive 460 Confucian scholars, while we buried 46,000. During the Cultural Revolution, there was a three-year campaign focused on criticizing Confucius and Confucianism. The Party line was later changed to one of respecting Confucius, and investments were made to widely establish Confucius Institutes in various countries. However, due to the CCP mindset of power comes out of the barrel of a gun, whether criticizing Confucianism or respecting Confucianism, it has nothing to do with ConfucianismConfucianism only serves as a tool and means to rule and control the people. Therefore, when Chinese students fought for freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and democracy in Tiananmen Square in 1989, the second and third generations of CCP leaders could simply ignore the Confucian precept of virtue, as well as international public opinion and government concerns. Thousands of Chinese students and civilians were killed by the army in full view of the world. The CCPs reason behind establishing the Confucius Institute was merely to use Confuciuss name and his advocacy of moral and ethics norms to make itself look good, all the while suppressing freedom of ideas, consolidating political power internally, and controlling speech externally. This behaviour is further intensified by fifth-generation leader Xi Jinping, who came to power in 2012. The Beijing regime has become increasingly authoritarian, including increasing levels of ideological indoctrination and control. The original soft power intent of spreading language and culture through Confucius Institutes was transformed into what the National Endowment for Democracy called sharp power at the end of 2017. Thus, instead of using Chinas language and culture to win hearts and minds of other countries through attraction and persuasion, the CCP spies on specific countries and engages in unlawful subversive activities. Not only does it openly infringe on the academic freedom of other countries higher education through cultural meanstriggering the closure of many Confucius Institutes in the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, and other countriesbut it also blatantly uses inducement, financial aid, pressure, intimidation, and other such methods to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries with the purpose of suppressing speech and manipulating ideology abroad, especially that of Chinese expatriates. The exit of Confucius Institutes on American campuses signifies the beginning of the gradual recovery of teachers teaching authentic Chinese all over the world to participate in and support the learning of traditional Chinese with practical actions. Taiwan possesses three distinct advantages in this regard: the preservation of traditional Chinese culture, the use of Chinese as the official language, and a free and democratic system. In the United States alone, there are 365 weekend traditional Chinese schools and 7,155 Chinese teachers, who can instruct more than 400,000 students in a timely manner. The Taiwanese teachers in overseas Chinese schools in various countries can also share teaching skills and learning experiences. In addition, Taiwan offers quite a wealth of digital learning platforms, high-quality Chinese textbooks, various long- and short-term Chinese classes, as well as international exchanges and competitions, which can satisfy Chinese language and culture lovers of different learning levels and needs. Countries around the world have the right to promote their culture, values, political ideals, and foreign policies so long as they do so through internationally accepted means of open engagement and persuasion, what is often referred to as soft power or public diplomacy. As early as 1883, France created the Alliance Francaise, and later there was the British Council, Germanys Goethe-Institut, and so on.; Taiwan also set up the Taiwan Academy in 2011. Recently, members of Congress have even proposed a Formosa Academy or Formosa Center, whose main purpose would be to encourage Chinese schools in the United States and around the world to teach traditional Chinese characters and authentic Chinese culture. At a time when the CCPs Confucius Institutes are gradually leaving the scene in various countries, it opens the door for the transition of Chinese schools to become community Chinese-language learning centres, encourage teachers of overseas Chinese schools to earn credit and teach in primary and secondary schools of the host countries, and promote industrial co-operation between overseas Chinese schools and Taiwan Chinese-language teaching institutions. All these will demonstrate the spirit and practical action of Taiwan can help in Chinese learning! Michael Sun is the director of the Cultural Centre affiliated with the Overseas Community Affairs Council in Toronto. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The US Department of Homeland Security declared a nationwide terrorism alert Wednesday, citing the potential threat from domestic anti-government extremists after Joe Biden was sworn in as president Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2021 ) :The US Department of Homeland Security declared a nationwide terrorism alert Wednesday, citing the potential threat from domestic anti-government extremists after Joe Biden was sworn in as president. "Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence," the department said. Amnesty International on Thursday accused the Nigerian government of attempting to cover up the killing of a dozen citizens during peaceful protests in Lagos last October. Youth-led demonstrations in Nigeria began against police abuse, quickly spiralling in broader calls for reform. But they ended weeks later when security forces shot at demonstrators in Lagos -- killing at least 12 people, according to Amnesty International. At a judicial panel the army denied using live rounds but the government vowed to disband the much-hated police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which had been the main target of protests over brutality. "Nigerian authorities have failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have brazenly attempted to cover up the violence," Amnesty said. "Since the assault by security forces, which killed at least 12 people, Nigerian authorities have targeted supporters of the protests against police brutality by the disbanded SARS," Amnesty's country director Osai Ojigho said in the statement, released to mark 100 days since the shootings. She said some of the movement's supporters have had their bank accounts frozen. Amnesty challenged the Nigerian government to suspend accused officials, pending investigations, and to ensure victims access to justice. In November, the Lagos State government set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the bloodshed and wider allegations of abuses by SARS featuring testimony by the army that presented videos to back its claims. The government has promised a string of reforms in response to the protests, and disbanded SARS, replacing it with another security forces called SWAT. Nigeria, where the median age is 18, is a tinderbox of deep economic and social grievances, and the demonstrations snowballed from anger over police violence to broader demands. eam/pma/ri/ New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a report on Covid-19 in nursing homes, concluding among other things that the state health department underreports nursing home fatalities by 50%. The attorney generals findings were similar to those of a Syracuse.com investigation published independently earlier this morning. After a review of nursing home and hospital data for Onondaga County, Syracuse.com estimated that total deaths of nursing home residents were 50% higher than reported by the state. The attorney generals office obtained fatality data from 62 nursing homes around the state. Those records showed 1,914 residents had died of Covid-19, nearly 56% more than the 1,229 reported by the state health department. The states publicized data vastly undercounted these deaths,' the AGs report concludes. Ensuring standardized public reporting will alleviate these discrepancies and provide needed transparency. The attorney generals report also looked at the state health departments controversial March 25 order directing nursing homes to accept Covid-positive patients discharged from hospitals and prohibiting the homes from requiring the patients to be tested. The order was reversed in early May. The March 25 directive may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and may have obscured the data available to assess that risk, the report concludes. The AG report notes that the order was consistent with guidance from the federal Centers of Disease Control and may have alleviated overcrowding at hospitals that were inundated with patients at the time. But the report goes on to say that these admissions may have contributed to increased risk of nursing home resident infection, and subsequent fatalities. That contradicts the assessment of a July report issued by the state health department, which said the March 25 order played no significant role in the high number of nursing home deaths. Rather, nursing home workers brought the virus into facilities unknowingly, the health department concluded. In any case, the states guidance discouraging nursing homes from testing for Covid-19 made it difficult to assess the risk from the March 25 order because it obscured the data,' the AG report said. Todays 76-page report from the attorney general also found a lack of compliance with infection protocols at some nursing homes, which put residents at risk of harm. Other findings included: Nursing homes that entered the pandemic with low ratings for the number of staff (as reported to the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services) had higher Covid-19 fatality rates. Insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for nursing home staff put residents at increased risk of harm. Insufficient Covid-19 testing for residents and staff in the early stages of the pandemic put residents at increased risk of harm. The current state reimbursement model for nursing homes gives a financial incentive to owners of for-profit nursing homes to transfer funds to related parties (ultimately increasing their own profit) instead of investing in higher levels of staffing and PPE. Lack of nursing home compliance with an executive order requiring communication with family members caused avoidable pain and distress. 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 FULTONDALE, Ala. (AP) Gov. Kay Ivey is promising help to families and businesses impacted by the tornado that tore up some of Birmingham's suburbs. She said the people of Alabama are praying for them and will help them rebuild. The terrifying tornado trapped entire families in the wreckage of their homes Monday night, killing a teenager and injuring 30 people. Some survived in bathtubs and basements. The weather service says the twister was an EF- 3 with 150 mph winds. The governor says "homes and businesses can be rebuilt, but losing a young soul to a heart like this is beyond heartbreaking." We have been choosing a model since about 1996, the formula of which was the following: two states, one army. The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with several media outlets on Wednesday, when asked how the combat-readiness of the Armenian can be restored now. "In fact, the Karabakh [(Artsakh)] Defense Army was fully integrated into the Armenian army since then, it was a part of the Armenian army. (). This gave us that strength. () and since 1994, that joint army was considered the most combat-ready army in the region," said the second president, adding that now the situation has changed dramatically, and this model must be changed. According to Robert Kocharyan, the people of Karabakh must become part of the army. "We must work hard to form a new security system in Karabakh," he said. The second president noted that if only the Russian peacekeepers ensure the security of the statehood of Karabakh, then we cannot talk about statehood. "Russian peacekeepers must ensure the peacekeeping mission, they must not allow clashes between the armed forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Today, not only do they fulfill that function, but, in fact, today they are the guarantor of the security of the Karabakh Republic. "We do not have what is meant by 'statehood'" he added. Touching upon the concealment of the losses of the Armenian army as a result of the recent Artsakh war, Robert Kocharyan said that Azerbaijan and Turkey know about the Armenian military losses the best. "() because all the hit [Armenian military] equipment remained in the areas that they control today; what was hit deeper has been filmed. Now, [keeping] secret from whom? The secret should not be what we lost, but what we have; that really should be a state secret," he added. The second president said that in this war the Armenian side suffered at least $3 billion in material losses. "Now we need a new concept of what kind of army we should have. We must make up for what we lost," he added. According to Kocharyan, Armenians had the most combat-ready army in the region, that is why they were Russia's military and political ally, but now Armenia is Russia's protectorate. "Now we have become so weak that any neighboring country can occupy us. We cannot, or do not, want to protect the borders. (). Today, in fact, we are Russias protectorate in the South Caucasus because our security is provided by Russia. That government has turned us from the status of a military-political ally of a powerful country into a protectorate of that country. (). We must do everything to return to Russia's military-political ally," Robert Kocharyan added. ADVERTISEMENT Nigerian authorities have failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have brazenly attempted to cover up the violence, said Amnesty International Nigeria today, 100 days on from the attacks. Since the assault by security forces, which killed at least 12 people, Nigerian authorities have targeted supporters of the protests against police brutality by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Some of the movements supporters have had their bank accounts frozen. The bloody events of 20 October 2020, when Nigerian security forces killed at least 12 people during the violent dispersal of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki and Alausa, have cast a shadow over Nigerian society that lingers to this day, said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. Instead of bringing suspected perpetrators to justice and prioritizing genuine police reforms, Nigerian authorities have been abusing their powers by subjecting those who supported the protests to intimidation, harassment and smear campaigns. Reports from across Nigeria indicate that police violence is still widespread despite government promises of change. Amnesty International is concerned that the Nigerian authorities will continue their current ban on protests and reminds the government of its obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international human rights treaties to which the country is a state party to allow those who gather peacefully to express their views without fear of arrest or intimidation. International human rights law also requires the Nigerian authorities to carry out prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and effective investigations into violations of human rights of the protesters including the right to life, such as those committed at Lekki and Alausa, as well as in other parts of the country, and to identify and bring suspected perpetrators to justice in fair trials. Those suspected to be responsible for the killings should be brought to justice in accordance with international fair trial standards, said Osai Ojigho. Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian government to suspend accused officials, pending investigations, and to ensure that victims access justice and effective remedies. Background The Nigerian government has set up a panel of inquiry in Lagos State to investigate complaints against SARS and the incidents at Lekki and Alausa on 20 October 2020. However, government officials and the military continue to deny that anybody was killed during the protests while restating their resolve to punish leaders of the #EndSARS movement against police violence. Investigations by Amnesty International indicate that since the #EndSARS protests were violently dispersed several of the movements leaders have been arrested, tortured and their bank accounts frozen. Many others have fled into exile. Mumbai: Actress Urvashi Rautela recently visited the much-revered Tirupati Temple at Tirumala hills and offered her prayers to Lord Venkateswara. She prayed at the Tirupati Balaji Temple with her entire family on Republic Day. The actress flew back to Mumbai on the same day itself and was greeted by the paparazzi upon her arrival. Urvashi Rautela, who is known for her fashion-forward looks, was seen dressed in a beautiful saree, looking absolutely exquisite. The saree was a golden zari-woven Kanchipuram silk saree that costs about 3, 01,900. She also made a sweet gesture by offering Prashad to the paps, wishing them a Happy Republic Day. On the work front, Urvashi Rautela was recently seen in a music video titled Woh Chaand Kaha Se Laogi opposite television actor, Mohsin Khan. Apart from that, she also has another music video in the pipeline, titled Teri Load Ve. She will soon be seen opposite Randeep Hooda in the upcoming web series Inspector Avinash, which is based on the real-life story of the super cop Avinash Mishra. Disgraced former politician Salim Mehajer has embarrassed himself in court while making a last ditch bail application. The 34-year-old one-time deputy mayor of Auburn in Sydney's west has been held in custody after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice. He spent Christmas and New Year in jail after his bail was revoked in November, and is still awaiting sentencing. On Thursday, Mehajer represented himself in the New South Wales Supreme Court as he made a final plea to be granted bail. The court heard Mehajer had prepared a 35-page handwritten submission which he was relying upon as evidence. The 34-year-old one-time deputy mayor or Auburn in Sydney's west has been held in custody on charges of perverting the course of justice. Pictured: Salim Mehajer arrives at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney, Thursday, August 13, 2020 Mehajer is also fighting charges of assault against his ex-girlfriend of three years, Missy Tysoe Mehajer and Ms Tysoe were together on-and-off for three years prior to her pressing charges But the judge was unable to comment on the matter because he claimed Mehajer had not sent over his submissions, The Daily Telegraph reported. Mehajer insisted he'd faxed them to the court and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Justice Mark Ierace said the court had not received the paperwork. Eventually, Mehajer admitted that he had only sent it an hour before proceedings were set to begin, giving the prosecution little time or notice to go over his submissions. Prosecutor Kate Kenny then revealed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions did not have a fax number, therefore claiming Mehajer could not have sent the documents through to her office. The 34-year-old pleaded not guilty to four counts of common assault, one of stalking and intimidation, and one of choking with recklessness in relation to his former partner (pictured together) On Thursday, Mehajer represented himself in the New South Wales Supreme Court as he made a final plea to be granted bail. Pictured: Salim Mehajer arriving at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney, Monday, July 6, 2020 The matter was adjourned to give Mehajer more time to get the required documents both to the prosecution and the court. 'Mr Mehajer, I'm told that the bail registry no longer works on a fax system, but we'll make some inquiries,' Justice Ierace said. Mehajer then changed his tune, insisting that the corrective services officer which supposedly sent the fax had 'made a mistake and typed the wrong number'. 'I can see here, that's why. The registrar's assistant said he can fax it. He's typed the number wrong, that's why it's failed,' he said. The former politician was found guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice and one of making a false statement under oath in a judge-alone trial. He is representing himself for the matter after his application for Legal Aid was rejected. He is expected to be sentenced next week. The matter was adjourned to give Mehajer more time to get the required documents both to the prosecution and the court. Pictured: Salim Mehajer faces Burwood Court in October 2020 He has since been accused of five additional counts of breaching the AVO from his prison cell (pictured, his former partner Ms Tysoe, who is the complainant) Meanwhile, Mehajer is also accused of stalking, choking, and bashing his model ex girlfriend over almost their entire three-year relationship. The disgraced property developer was charged two weeks ago after Melissa 'Missy' Tysoe made domestic violence claims against him. The pair met at a New Year's Eve party in Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in 2017 - sparking a relationship that lasted almost three years. After years of alleged violence, she claimed the final attack happened on November 4 last year, when Mehajer is accused of choking her. The 34-year-old pleaded not guilty to four counts of common assault, one of stalking and intimidation, and one of choking a person with recklessness. The 31-year-old finance graduate first reported her allegations to police on December 21 and an interim restraining order was granted on her behalf while her claims were investigated. Mehajer was then hit with five additional counts of breaching the restraining order from his prison cell. After years of alleged violence, she claimed the final attack happened on November 4 last year, when he is accused of choking her (pictured together) Data privacy is an essential feature of justice and equity Lets talk about data privacy. Before you turn the page or click on a different story, let us tell you why two pastors would take the time to write about a topic that, on its surface, might seem unrelated to ministry. This Thursday, January 28, is Data Privacy Day. While its probably not marked on your calendars, weve been paying attention to data privacy issues for some time now, so this event presents a perfect occasion to highlight the importance of protecting your personal information and how it relates to our work in the community. Data plays a significant role in our daily lives. Information that was once stored in desk drawers now lives on servers, from bank statements and medical records to family photos and more. This change in how we store precious personal items has made life easier, but its also created a number of emerging threats to civil liberties. As faith leaders, we feel a tremendous obligation to protect our communities by raising awareness of the risks this technological evolution has created. Its closely interwoven with our work to uplift our brothers and sisters, seek justice and promote equity. At this particular moment, our focus is on the increasingly blurred lines between safe data collection practices and intrusive government programs that collect our private data without consent. The past year was filled with disturbing reports of abuse. Authorities used internet trails to arrest undocumented immigrants. Police surveilled protestors marching for racial justice. Even the U.S. military was caught purchasing private location data from a Muslim prayer app. Stories like these compel us to act in defense of the most vulnerable among us. Its what convicts our hearts to educate our communities on how data is collected, where it can be misused, and what actions we can take to ensure oversight and accountability. Unfortunately, there is a groundswell of intrusive surveillance practices occurring in city governments across the country, including some right under our noses. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is spearheading a program called Mobility Data Specification (MDS), which tracks the locations of individual vehicles in real-time. MDS makes it possible to identify riders based on where theyve been their homes, businesses, churches, you name it. This capability creates a laundry list of privacy and safety risks, particularly for minority and low-income communities, which I wrote about last summer in these very pages. City officials will tell you its not surveillance, but the tech speaks for itself. ADVERTISEMENT Alarmingly, MDS isnt the only threat to data privacy in Los Angeles. The City is keen on implementing other smart city technologies that are growing in popularity. You should be incredibly wary of these programs. Take for example the Citys deployment of smart streetlights that come equipped with cameras and sensors. It seems that our public officials havent been paying attention to our neighbor to the south. In San Diego, local police were found to have used streetlight cameras to surveil people with zero public oversight. Thanks to public outcry and tireless efforts by privacy and civil rights advocates, San Diego turned the streetlights off. We could go on about the LAPD using a technology called Palantir to monitor our streets, a preferred surveillance tool of the CIA, or the Citys approval of controversial facial recognition technology, but we suspect youve already begun the grasp the gravity of this issue. These technologies could end up harming our communities in countless ways. Regulating our streets through impersonal and potentially discriminatory data collection doesnt just threaten our privacy, it will make our communities less safe. On this National Data Privacy Day, we urge you to consider the consequences of letting these harmful programs continue unencumbered. Your data is so much more than bytes of impersonal information. The sum of its parts creates a detailed image of who you are, what youre doing, where youre going, and how you get there. If we let city governments run roughshod over our right to keep this information private, then we will no longer be able to live our lives freely. We ask that you think about how you can adapt your daily routines to safely secure your personal data. Beyond that, seek out opportunities to gather more information on the ways local governments are tracking and using your data. Then, speak up and speak out. Call your local officials, ask them what they are doing to protect Angelenos private data, demand public oversight and accountability that will ensure the blurred lines of data collection are made clear and unbending. Its not an easy task, but it is vital to be proactive, as individuals and as a community, in securing data privacy for ourselves and for future generations. Pastor Smart is President and CEO at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California. Pastor Tullos is President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California. The mother of a Portland, Ore., teen who died by suicide shortly after medical staff allegedly evaluated and released him from the Unity Center for Behavioral Health has filed a $13 million lawsuit. Leila Meschs lawsuit lists Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University as defendants, alleging that as two of the organizations that operate the center, they are negligent for the death of 18-year-old Jacob Mesch. Legacy Health spokesman Brian Terrett declined comment because of the pending litigation, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. OHSU spokeswoman Tamara Hargens-Bradley also declined comment, citing patient privacy laws. We are a community of healers and the passing of a patient is distressing to us all, she wrote in an email. According to the lawsuit, Leila Mesch discovered her son was planning to jump from the Fremont Bridge on Sept. 2, 2019, and convinced him to let her drive him to the Unity Center. A doctor determined he was an imminent risk to himself, the suit said. Jacob Mesch told staff he had been thinking about suicide and experiencing increasing depression, and that hed recently broken up with a girlfriend, according to the suit. The suit says after another doctor evaluated Mesch and the teen agreed to out-patient therapy, Unity discharged him about 10 hours after hed been admitted. He killed himself two days later. The suit was filed last week in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Oregon Dominic Jennings, pictured, struggled with addiction problems and mental health issue following his divorce from Angela Richards after 15 years of marriage Keith Richards' heartbroken ex son-in-law took his own life in July after social media campaign against him an inquest was told. Despite a police investigation finding nothing, Dominic Jennings, the former husband of Angela Richards, told family there was no coming back from false online allegations made against him. Twin sister Kirsty told the inquest her brother had made mistakes but he was tortured by the social media posts. He walked out in front of a train after phoning his father to say his life was over. Photographs of the 45-year-old, who married Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards' daughter Angela in a lavish 250,000 wedding in 1998, were then shared on social media and went viral. The pair were married for 15 years, with Mr Jennings suffering from addiction and mental health problems after the break up. In one now deleted Facebook post, a Bognor Regis local claimed Mr Jennings - who once toured with the legendary band - was 'trying to look up little girls' skirts' and 'coax them away from their parents'. Sussex coroner Alicia Keen said the online allegations were generally unsubstantiated and police decided to take no further action. The online posts started to appear on July 21 last year and members of the public detained Mr Jennings the following day before calling police. They arrested him for his own safety, the inquest heard. When news of the Facebook allegations reached his landlady, she took all Mr Jennings belongings to a police station and said he was no longer welcome at her B&B. The coroner concluded it was impossible for police to prevent the social media posts from going viral. 'I understand the effect of that was when he spoke to his brother and father and said 'There's no coming back from that',' the coroner said. He told family the posts were the tipping point. Angela, pictured here with her father Keith Richards, left, married Mr Jennings in a lavish 250,000 ceremony in 1998 British Transport Police investigator Kristina Butler told the inquest Mr Jennings had been staying in a B&B in Bognor after returning from living in France for many years and he had struggled with alcohol and mental health issues since his break up from Angela. She said Mr Jennings phoned his father Cyril hours before his death. 'He was very upset about allegations made against him on social media,' she said. 'He said there was no way forward and was phoning to say goodbye. 'Both his father and sister said it had been deeply distressing for him and this was the tipping point.' He had been arrested and released following allegations he tried to steal a dog and then exposed himself on Bognor beach. Kirsty Jenning's tribute to her twin brother In a tearful statement, twin sister Kirsty Jennings said her brother was loyal, loving, generous and fun, easily led and popular. 'He was the underdog and always looked out for those in need. 'As a son and brother he was hard working, loving kind and caring. 'As an uncle he was a positive influence on his nieces and nephews. 'As my twin, he was compassionate and thoughtful. 'He took risks and never took life seriously. 'He made me laugh and cry and really cared about me. 'He always looked out for me and my four children. 'He became lost and turned to alcohol. 'He didn't want to die, he just didn't want to live that life. 'He was tortured by the social media. 'It has destroyed our family and friends for ever. 'He had half of my heart and he has taken it with him.' Advertisement Members of the public recognised him from the Facebook posts and detained him. He was released soon after with a No Further Action notice from police. Two Police Community Support Officers drove him to an address in Chichester where he said he could stay with a friend after emergency accommodation could not be found. His friend also told him he could not stay. He found the NFA letter with a note saying Tell everyone I'm innocent the next day. A massive police search on the ground and with a helicopter followed a phone call to his brother in the early hours of July 22 when Mr Jennings said he was planning to take his own life. A roofer on his way to work saw a man climb the fence near a railway bridge between Chichester and Bognor and phoned police just before 7am. Minutes later, Mr Jennings stepped out of the tunnel in front of a train. Coroner Alicia Keen said there were only seconds between him walking onto the track and being hit by the train. The Coroner said: 'Members of the public had detained him purely on the basis of social media posts which hadn't been investigated at the time. 'They were generally unsubstantiated. 'He had a conversation with a couple of young people but there was very little else and police felt they were unable to charge him.' 'At that time he was trying very hard to take control of his life and he had not had a drink for three or four weeks.' Mr Jennings was found to have three times the drink drive limit of alcohol. 'When he rang his father to say goodbye, it was clear he had become more and more distressed and more intoxicated as he chose to make that decision,' the coroner said. The social media posts which have now been removed accused Mr Jennings of trying to look up young girls skirts. His friend of 25 years Robin Clapton said he believed it would have been a 'misunderstanding' and his friend had been 'goaded' into an argument. He said: 'People are vile, on some self appointed moral crusade. 'He hadn't had a haircut for a long time because of lockdown and was starting to look a bit dishevelled.' Mr Clapton added: 'He never, ever, ever displayed any inclination towards young children. 'If he had a problem, he would speak to one of us about it. He didn't have those kinds of problems. 'Dom was a very popular guy. He had had a great life hanging out and touring with the Stones.' Angela Richards said her ex struggled with drink and drug problems after their divorce. Ms Richards wrote: 'I wasn't going to comment but unfortunately he has been on a downward slope for the last 15 years. 'I know his family have desperately tried to help but he hasn't accepted it. 'It's a shame it has come to this all over social media but he is not the man you all once knew.' The inquest at the coroner's court in Crawley recorded a conclusion of suicide. The document extended the deployment period for the Russian fleet, which directly participated in the occupation of Ukraine's Crimea. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have issued a notice of suspicion to ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych who is charged with high treason. According to the State Bureau of Investigation, he in 2010 assisted Russia in conducting subversive activities against Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on January 28. Read alsoProsecutors seek to initiate Yanukovych's extradition from Russia The charges concern the so-called Kharkiv accords signed between Yanukovych and the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The document extended the period for the Russian Navy's deployment in Ukraine's Crimea for another 25 years under the pretext of receiving a discount on natural gas. The investigators concluded that the document did not provide any discount, as before it was signed, the price for Ukraine had been doubled. "As of the end of 2008, the price of gas per 1,000 cubic meters for Ukraine was US$179.5, while at the end of 2010 it was US$352.33. In addition, it was the [alleged] reduction [in the gas price] that was stipulated as Ukraine's obligations on the state debt owed to the Russian Federation, which were to be met," the PGO says. According to the investigation, Russia at first artificially created and accumulated Ukraine's debt for the supply of gas, and then, as its repayment, in particular through allegedly providing the discount, kept its fleet deployed in Crimea for free. "As a result of the so-called Kharkiv agreements signed by the ex-president, the troops and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces deployed in Ukrainian territory were expanded instead of the launch of preparations for their reduction and withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine," it said. The PGO recalled that it was the military from the Russian Navy who were directly involved in the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. Kharkiv accords The Yanukovych-Medvedev agreement was signed on April 21, 2010. According to the document, the period for the Russian Black Sea Fleet's deployment in Sevastopol was extended from 2017 to 2042 with an automatic extension by another five years if either party did not object. The document fixed a rate for the use of land and the sea. As indicated in the agreement itself, the period of the Navy's deployment was prolonged in exchange for a reduction in the price of Russian natural gas for Ukraine by applying a discount in the form of the cancellation of customs duties. It was ratified by the Council of the State Duma on April 27, 2010. In Ukraine, the agreement caused outrage among the opposition, environmentalists, local councils and society at large. Most analysts regarded it as contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution. Reporting by UNIAN The noise in the current debate around new anti-Covid-19 actions means it's often hard to hear the message. So just what do the opposition want? And how practical are their demands? Leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused the Government of opting for half measures with inadequate moves on quarantine and international travel curbs. She argues the only way now is mandatory quarantine in a hotel for everybody travelling into Ireland. Ms McDonald said leaving them to self-isolate at home was just crazy. The reality was those people could well be mixing at close quarters with other people visiting shops, going to work, mixing in the community, and in effect at risk of spreading Covid-19. She said people needed a more assured action from the Government. The mandatory quarantine should be communicated internationally to inform people thinking about travelling to Ireland. It should apply to Ireland north and south with proper controls at all airports and ports. What are the Social Democrats demands? Party co-leader Catherine Murphy has repeatedly said there was still a lamentably high instance of foreign travel to and from places like the Canaries which is hard to see as necessary. She has again said levels of co-operation with locator forms were very low and there was little evidence of effective enforcement. She argues that as long as these problems persist we will remain open to the spread of new and more dangerous virus variants. For those reasons she has backed mandatory universal quarantine. What are Labours Covid demands? Leader Alan Kelly argues the Government has spent too much time locking up Irish people and neglected clamping down on unnecessary travel and introducing mandatory quarantine. He says dangerous Covid-19 variants are more likely to spread via London and/or Lanzarote rather than directly from Brazil of South Africa. He frankly concedes the Government was wrong to ease restrictions before Christmas, which he agrees happened with effective opposition support. Mr Kelly has criticised the latest measures as half-hearted and insists tougher measures are inevitable and better done sooner rather than later. The Labour leader also wants to see a regular Garda presence within 5km of the Border on all major routes and random checks on other roads. We have to do this to reduce the amount of cross-border traffic, he said. Would mass mandatory quarantine work? It would be expensive in both cash and personnel to staff such an undertaking. It would take time and effort including special legislation to set up. But the Government is already partly going that route for people arriving without proof of a negative Covid-19 test and/or travelling in from South Africa and Brazil where new feared strains of the virus have occurred. Noticeably, the Taoiseach has not ruled it out, and some ministers are already favourable. It may have to come to that. What about an all-island approach? It is rich of Sinn Fein to criticise the Dublin Government on this. Sinn Feins presence in a power-sharing government in Belfast has shown no evidence of advancing this. Indeed the party has a long history, in tandem with the Democratic Unionist Party, of failing to deliver effective cooperation on the issues which matter to people. Labours call for more policing on the Border may well have the effect of reducing traffic there which would be a big help. Attempts to close the Border, in the centenary year of the Norths foundation, are excessive and impractical. What is the general view? Until recently, calls for actions driven by force of law and obligation were deemed the wrong approach. But the focus in Ireland, and elsewhere, is moving from urging public cooperation to applying sanctions upon those who are not compliant. The recent supply difficulties with both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines have compounded peoples concerns. The Covid-19 vaccination promises the most likely exit from our current travails but a realisation is dawning this may not be too easy to achieve within the promised timescale. Stock Market Symbols GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE) cgi.com/newsroom MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB) held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. via live audio webcast. All 16 directors proposed for election at the meeting were elected by shareholders on a vote by electronic ballot. The ballots cast and proxies received by CGI for the election of directors were as follows: Votes for Votes withheld % % Alain Bouchard 95.08% 4.92% George A. Cope 99.30% 0.70% Paule Dore 94.53% 5.47% Julie Godin 97.85% 2.15% Serge Godin 97.90% 2.10% Timothy J. Hearn 97.03% 2.97% Andre Imbeau 98.27% 1.73% Gilles Labbe 99.46% 0.54% Michael B. Pedersen 99.62% 0.38% Stephen S. Poloz 99.69% 0.31% Mary Powell 99.63% 0.37% Alison C. Reed 99.62% 0.38% Michael E. Roach 98.47% 1.53% George D. Schindler 99.54% 0.46% Kathy N. Waller 99.54% 0.46% Joakim Westh 98.65% 1.35% About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 76,000 consultants and other professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. With Fiscal 2020 reported revenue of C$12.16 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. SOURCE CGI Inc. Related Links www.cgi.com The theatres in Kerala are finally open and now all eyes are on the forthcoming releases. This includes some eagerly awaited projects that were postponed following the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. After the lockdown that brought a standstill from March last year, the industry has been pretty active for the past few months, which means that the number of movies waiting for release have gone further up from the times when the theatres were closed. Here is a list of some of the high profile movies that are gearing up to hit the theatres during the coming weeks. Most of the movies in the list have their release dates announced by now. Take a look. Text & Images: MOVIEBUZZ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... LAFAYETTE, La. A group opposed to experiments on animals says a Louisiana university should be fined $30,000 because heat stroke apparently killed three research monkeys in different outdoor cages on the same day last summer. The Ohio-based group Stop Animal Exploitation Now issued a news release about the deaths at the University of Louisiana at Lafayettes New Iberia Research Center. I am appalled that ULL negligence allowed three monkeys to die unnecessarily, Michael A. Budkie, the groups co-founder said in the release. The university said in a statement that the school and its staff are diligent in the care of primates at the New Iberia Research Center and follow federal rules. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The school took timely and appropriate action following the deaths Aug. 5, which were promptly reported by phone a day afterward and in a letter Aug. 26, wrote Brent C. Morse, compliance oversight director for the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare in the National Institutes of Health. Budkies request for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is based on the Aug. 26 report by research center director Francois Villinger, which it received under a Freedom of Information Act request. Villinger wrote that the centers staff was providing sprinklers or misters and frozen juice in the afternoons to help the rhesus monkeys stay cool. The animals had lived outdoors in Alice, Texas, which has a climate similar to New Iberias, and other animals from the same place had settled in without problems during similar weather, so the staff could not have anticipated the deaths, he wrote. The animals were brought outside between 8 and 9:10 a.m., watched for 1 to 2 1/2 hours, and checked again at 12:30 p.m., when the three dead monkeys were found, he wrote. He said necropsy results strongly suggested heat stroke. The ambient temperatures were comfortable for that time of year, with a humidity of 60% and 80-83 degrees Fahrenheit 26.7 to 28.3 degrees Celsius) Villinger wrote. However, Budkie said, the thermometer had hit 93 Fahrenheit (33.9 Celsius) by noon. It is absurd that ULL staff failed to take precautions when acclimating new animals on a day where the temperature reached 93 degrees Fahrenheit, he said. His statement did not mention specific precautions. Villinger wrote in August that the center has also taken additional measures that include setting out wading pools and sprinklers in outdoor cages in the summer, as well as arranging cages from which monkeys being introduced to each other can move from an outdoor area to air-conditioned indoor space. Previous USDA investigations have resulted in the university paying $158,571 since 2007, including $100,000 in 2017, Budke noted. The 2017 payment settled several complaints, and the university did not admit any wrongdoing at the research center. [January 28, 2021] Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) opens call for participation for 2021 conference DENVER, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- From speakers to student research posters, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is calling for participation in its conference Sept. 8-10, 2021, Aurora, Colorado. WiCyS aims to impact diversity in the cybersecurity workforce through recruiting, retaining and advancing women. WiCyS aims to impact diversity in the cybersecurity workforce through recruiting, retaining and advancing women. The annual conference provides opportunities for attendees to share their knowledge and experience through technical presentations, workshops, a student research poster competition, panel discussions, Birds-Of-A-Feather and lightning talks. "The WiCyS conference is the biggest stage for leaders and practitioners in the cybersecurity industry, where the majority happen to be women," said Dr. Ambareen Siraj, WiCyS founder and conference program chair. "It's really a community gathering to listen to diverse voices on issues that matter, to share knowledge and experiences, to provide opportunity and resources, and most importantly to form relationships to collaborate and network." Through technical presentations, participants can share their experience with others and highlight innovations, research and development projects, service learning and outreach projects o other encounters related to cybersecurity. Hands-on workshops offer learning opportunities on the latest trends and technology. Student attendees can present their cybersecurity research to an audience through a poster session. Winners in the undergraduate and graduate categories will receive travel support for future security conferences. Panels allow participants to discuss current relevant topics in cybersecurity in 45-minute sessions. Birds-Of-A-Feather is an informal community discussion on nearly any topic related to cybersecurity that elicits group interests. These sessions can help share ideas and introduce current issues or trends. Workshops are hands-on meetings (technical/professional development) on any topic related to cybersecurity. Lightning talks are five-minute presentations to jump-start discussions and collaborations while soliciting feedback from the community. The submission deadline is March 1. Make submissions at https://www.wicys.org/events/call-for-participation/. Email questions to conference@wicys.org . About WiCyS: Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to bringing together women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj from Tennessee Tech University through a National Science Foundation grant in 2013, WiCyS offers opportunities and resources for its members and collaboration benefits for its sponsors and partners. Strategic partners include Amazon Web Services, Bloomberg, Cisco, Facebook, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Flatiron, Fortinet, Google, HERE Technologies, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Nike, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Optum, Palo Alto Networks, SANS Institute, SAP, SentinelOne, SpearTip, Starbucks, Target, University of California San Diego, Verizon, and Workday. To partner, visit https://www.wicys.org/support/strategic-partnerships/. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/women-in-cybersecurity-wicys-opens-call-for-participation-for-2021-conference-301217681.html SOURCE Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In the field of science, hes well known, but at the same time, I think a lot of people are still trying to figure out why hes not more well-known, Smith said. I think that most people dont know about his activism, dont know the story about him carrying a shotgun in front of his home waiting for these white marauders to come back. ... His story is fascinating, not just because its so dramatic, but because it takes him out of the laboratory, and you start to wonder: Who is this guy? Hes not just a brilliant chemist. The wife of Hannibal Gaddafi has killed a women with her car and threatened to run over witnesses to the crime reports The Levant News. Student Rouba Ammar, from the city of Zabadani in rural Damascus, and who studied at the College of Pharmacy, died two days ago from injuries sustained when she was run over by a car in Damascus, driven by Lebanese national Aline Skaf, wife of Hannibal Gaddafi. Local media reported that the young Syrian died after being hit by a car two days ago, driven by Skaf, Hannibal Gaddafis wife, who was granted political asylum by the Syrian regime. Skaf ran over two civilians and members of the regime police and collided with motorcycles in the Mezzeh neighborhood, in the capital. No one was able to arrest her. The incident caused a great deal of anger among Syrians on social media platforms, who demanded an explanation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior. They called for the judiciary to hold her, and whoever intervened to release her, accountable. Eyewitnesses said that after she was pulled over, Skaf threatened to run over everyone if they did not clear the way for her. A high-ranking official forced the crowds to clear the way under the pretext that Skaf was under his protection. 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. Yves here. Please welcome Steven Hill, a Silicon-Valley based journalist and former program director for the Center for Humane Technology. Hill weighs in on the debate over revoking Section 230 and concludes it would be a positive move, since Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shield the so-called platform companies from liability that media companies bear. Why should this humble blog be liable for the comments we publish when Twitter and Faceborg arent, despite the fact that they are not neutral but remove content and even ban user accounts? Hill explains that revoking Section 230 would accomplish than its fans and foes commonly claim. He argues that the major technology platforms should be regulated like utilities, be barred from selling user data unless users opt in, and be pressed to implement a monthly subscription model. This approach could also allow for other protections, like a clear stipulation that if a user or platform closes their account, the user can retrieve their data for a certain period of time. Matt Stoller long ago said that if a service is free, that means you are the product. Paying to participate solve that problem. By Steven Hill, the former policy director for the Center for Humane Technology, a former program director and senior fellow at New America in Washington DC, a past fellow at the Berlin Social Science Center and American Academy in Berlin, and a cofounder of FairVote in Washington DC. He is the author of seven books of political economy (including Raw Deal: How the Uber Economy and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers and The Startup Illusion: How the Internet Economy Threatens Our Welfare. His op-eds, articles and media interviews have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Wired, Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, Guardian, The Nation, Le Monde, Die Zeit, CNN, BBC and many others The beautiful dream of an open and free internet, serving as a global agora of unlimited free speech to provide for more democratic participation, has crashed and burned one more time. The mob attack on the US Capitol was incited and planned over Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other digital media platforms, with a tragic nudge from the president of the United States. The gripping images of a ransacking mob, gunshots and Congress members cowering on the floor of the House of Representatives is a warning to us all. How did we arrive here? Since the birth of the Big Tech media platforms 15 years ago lets drop the friendly-sounding misnomer of social media democracies around the world have been subjected to a grand experiment: can a nations news and information infrastructure, the lifeblood of any democracy, be dependent on digital technologies that allow a global free speech zone of unlimited audience size, combined with algorithmic (non-human) curation of massive volumes of mis/disinformation, that can be spread with unprecedented ease and reach? The evidence has become frighteningly clear that this experiment has veered off course, like a Frankenstein monster marauding across the landscape. Facebook is no longer simply a social networking website it is the largest media giant in the history of the world, a combination publisher and broadcaster with approximately 2.6 billion regular users, plus billions more on the Facebook-owned WhatsApp and Instagram. A mere 100 pieces of COVID-19 misinformation on Facebook were shared 1.7 million times and had 117 million views far more daily viewers than the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, ABC and CNN combined. The FacebookGoogleTwitter media giants have been mis-used frequently by bad political operatives for disinformation campaigns in over 70 countries to undermine elections, even helping elect a quasi-dictator in the Philippines; and to widely livestream child abusers, pornographers and the Christchurch mass murderer of Muslims in New Zealand. How can we unite to take action on climate change when a majority of YouTube climate change videos denies the science, and 70% of what YouTubes two billion users watch comes from its sensation-saturated recommendation algorithms? Traditional media are subject to certain laws and regulations, including a degree of liability over what they push into the world. While there is much to criticize about mainstream media and corporate broadcasters, at least they use humans to curate the news, and pick and choose whats in and out of the newstream. That results in a degree of accountability, including potentially libel lawsuits and other forms of Madisonian-like checks and balances. But with Big Tech media, its more like the wild wild West, with no sheriff. FacebookGoogleTwitter use robot algorithm curators that are on automatic pilot, much like killer drones for which no human bears responsibility or liability. Thats dangerous in a democracy. So non-human curation, when combined with unlimited audience size and frictionless amplification, has completely failed as a foundation for a democracys media infrastructure. Its time to hit reset in a major way, not only to save our democracy, but also to provide the best chance to redesign these digital media technologies so that we retain the promise and decrease the dangers. To Section 230 or To Not Secton 230, That Is the Question After a lot of soul-searching, and sifting through arguments pro and con by leaders and organizations such as the libertarian Electronic Frontier Foundation (con) and long time Biden ally Bruce Reed (pro), I have concluded that President Joe Biden should make good on one of his campaign promises by asking Congress to revoke Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Thats the law from 1996 that grants Big Tech media blanket immunity from the mass content it publishes. While revoking Section 230 is not a perfect solution, it would make the companies more responsible, deliberative and potentially liable for the worst of the toxic content, including illegal content, that is algorithmically-promoted by their platforms. Just like traditional media are already liable. But lets be clear: some of the most reckless content would likely not be impacted by 230s revocation. For example, Donald Trumps posts on Twitter and Facebook claiming the presidential election was stolen, and his inflammatory speech that YouTube broadcast the morning of the Capitol attack to millions, were false and provocative but it would be difficult to legally prove that any individuals or institutions were harmed or incited directly by the presidents many outrageous statements. After all, any number of traditional media outlets also have published untrue nonsense without the protections of Section 230, yet they were never held liable. Much content and speech even undesirable speech is already protected by the First Amendment. But FacebookGoogleTwitters engagement algorithms recommend and amplify sensationalized crazytown user content for one reason to maximize profits by increasing users screen time and exposure to more ads. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook executives scaled back a successful effort to make the site less divisive when they found that it was decreasing their audience share. So this is more like commercial speech, which is entitled to less protection. All their fake pretensions aside about an open and free internet, their primary business strategy has resulted in the dividing, distracting and outraging of people to the point where society is now plagued by a fractured basis for shared truth, sensemaking and political consensus. And yet they still refuse to de-weaponize their platforms. Ejecting Donald Trump from their services did nothing to change their destructive business model, it just hid the most visible evidence of it. It was a self-serving act that should fool no one. A Better Business Model Investor-Owned Utilities So revoking Section 230 will likely not be as impactful as its proponents wish, or as its critics fear. What else needs to be done? To answer this, we have to recognize that these businesses are creating the new public infrastructure of the digital age, including search engines, global portals for news and networking, web-based movies, music and live streaming, GPS-based navigation apps, online commercial marketplaces, digital labor market platforms. They tell us that they are providing all of this for free, that all we have to do is give them access to our private data. But that has turned out to be a very high price indeed, as the Capitol riots showed. So the federal government should advance the regulatory incentives for a whole new business model: treating many of these companies more like investor-owned utilities. Historically, that has been the approach used by the government in other industries, such as telephone, railroad and power generation. Ironically, even Mark Zuckerberg himself has suggested such an approach. As utilities, they would be guided by a digital license just like traditional brick-and-mortar companies must apply for various permits that defines the rules and regulations of the new business model. This license should require platforms to obtain users permission before collecting anyones personal datai.e., opt-in rather than opt-out. These companies never asked for permission to start sucking up our private data or to track our physical locations, or to mass collect every like, share and follow into psychographic profiles that are used by advertisers and political operatives to target users. The platforms started these data grabs secretly, forging their destructive brand of surveillance capitalism. Today, these giant platforms know what you like, think, watch, where you go, which church, restaurants and clubs you frequent they know you better than your spouse or therapist. Should society continue to allow this data grabbing? It seems clear that the dangers of this spying outweigh any alleged benefits, such as hyper-targeted advertising that supposedly caters to our individual desires. The utility business model also should encourage competition by limiting the mega-scale audience size of these digital media machines; nearly 250 million Americans, about 80 percent of the population, have a profile on one of these platforms. A number of organizations have called for an anti-monopoly break up of these companies, like AT&T once was split into the Baby Bells. That intervention has merits, but lets be clear: if Facebook is forced to spin off WhatsApp and its two billion users, and nothing else about the business model changes, that will just result in another Big Tech media behemoth. More competition is good, but less so if they are competing according to the same market rules that the companies themselves have decided. So another way to reduce the user pools would be through incentives to shift to a revenue model based more on monthly paying subscribers, like how Netflix and cable TV work, rather than on hyper-targeted advertising. That also would likely result in a decline in users. A utility model also should incorporate other relevant frameworks, such as a fiduciary duty of care obligation, a kind of moral and legal Hippocratic oath to first, do no harm. British authorities have been trying to erect the foundations of this approach, and the US could partner with them. Another relevant framework is a product liability model. Imagine the danger if a manufacturer of a pandemic vaccination, or a medical device, could start injecting people, or open up patients chests and insert their latest artificial organ, without having their products tested and certified before widespread use. Nuclear power plants, voting equipment vendors and many other systemically-important businesses follow such a protocol. The application of these frameworks implies restraints on the platforms use of specific engagement techniques that both research and live experience have shown to be contributing to social isolation, teen depression and suicide, as well as damaging our democracy. These techniques include hyper-targeting of content and advertisements, automated recommendations and addictive behavioral nudges (like pop-up screens, autoplay and infinite scroll) that facilitate manipulation. The US also should update existing laws to ensure they are applied to the online world. Googles YouTube/YouTubeKids has been violating the Childrens Television Actwhich restricts violence and advertising on TVfor many years, resulting in online lawlessness that the Federal Communications Commission should halt. Similarly, the Federal Elections Commission should rein in the quasi-lawless world of online political ads and donor reporting, which has far fewer rules and less transparency than ads in TV and radio broadcasting. Big Tech medias frequent outrages against our humanity are supposedly the price we must pay for being able to post our summer vacation and new puppy pics to our friends, or for political dissidents and whistleblowers to alert the world to their just causes. Those are all important uses, but the price being paid is very high. We can do better. The challenge is to establish sensible guardrails for this 21st century digital infrastructure, so that we can harness the positives and greatly mitigate the dangers. America has done this in the past with new technologies and infrastructure, so we should proceed with confidence that we can get this right. Democrat Beto ORourke has left no doubt that hes weighing a run for governor next year. You know what, its something Im going to think about, ORourke said in an exclusive interview on an El Paso radio station earlier this week. And in case anyone missed the interview, supporters of a political action committee ORourke started called Powered By People is circulating it on social media. The former congressman from El Paso, who lost a close race for U.S. Senate in 2018, told KLAQ host Buzz Adams that Texas has suffered perhaps more than any other state during the pandemic and criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for a complete indifference to helping local leaders try to save lives. I want to make sure we have someone in the highest office in our state whos going to make sure that all of us are OK, the 48-year-old ORourke said. And especially those communities that so often dont get the resources or attention or the help, like El Paso. Abbotts spokesman would not comment Wednesday on ORourkes potential bid. We dont take anything for granted, Abbotts political strategist, Dave Carney, told The Dallas Morning News in an interview two weeks ago. Therell be a general election opponent, and (Democrats) will put a lot of effort in and theyll raise a lot of money. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox While it feels like the 2020 elections just ended, Texas early 2022 primary schedule puts potential statewide candidates on a fast track if they have hopes of seriously competing for offices like governor or lieutenant governor. The Texas political primaries are on March 1 giving candidates just over a year to raise money in one of the most expensive states in the nation for campaigning. The filing period to get on the ballot starts Nov. 14. Abbott, who has already said hes seeking re-election for a third four-year term, has already been flexing his financial muscle. Abbott has almost $38 million sitting in his campaign account to fend off would-be challengers. But if 2018 showed anything, its that ORourke can easily raise that kind of money with a national fundraising base that helped him raise $79 million against Sen. Ted Cruz. Still Cruz was able to win by 2.6 percent of the vote the closest a Democrat has come to winning a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since the 1980s. ORourkes continued that fundraising through Powered by People. Through the PAC, he raised about $3 million in 2020 that was spent on voter registration programs and trying to help flip the Texas House to Democratic control. But Abbott, 63, might have more to worry about than just the general election as he runs for his third term. Abbott has been under siege for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic from some in the Republican Party of Texas, including party chairman Allen West, a former Florida congressman who now lives in Garland. West has opposed Abbotts mask requirement, called for a special session to curb Abbotts executive powers during the pandemic and was part of a lawsuit seeking to overturn Abbotts expansion of early voting last November. Some county GOP executive committees have even gone so far as to publicly censure Abbott for his handling of the pandemic. There are other potential primary challengers, including state Sen. Don Huffines of Dallas. During a rally near the steps of the Capitol in early January, Huffines tore into Abbott, calling him King Greg and saying he hasnt done anything on big GOP priorities like election security. What is clear is that Abbott wont be facing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a primary. The Republican from Montgomery County has already made clear he intends to run for re-election and not challenge Abbott. I remain honored to serve as Lt. Governor and look forward to running for re-election, Patrick, 70, told supporters two weeks ago in a statement. On the Democratic side, 2018 lieutenant governor candidate Mike Collier has been sounding like hes ready for a rematch. Earlier this week he said in a tweet that Texans want Patrick out of the office and my phone is ringing off the hook. Also up for re-election in 2022 will be Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Land Commissioner George P. Bush. All are Republicans. Texas will not have a U.S. Senate race in 2022. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, won re-election last year, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is next up for re-election in 2024. Advisers to Bush have made it clear that he is looking to serve in a higher role but also have said he is not prepping to challenge Abbott or Patrick. While he wouldnt challenge current Governor (Greg) Abbott or Lieutenant Governor Patrick, if an opening presents itself he would absolutely consider serving Texans in a higher role. When that moment arises, hes ready, Bush adviser J.R. Hernandez is quoted by The National Review in a 2019 article. TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Battle North Gold Corporation (TSX: BNAU) (OTCQX: BNAUF) ("Battle North" or the "Company") has filed an updated technical report "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report Bateman Gold Project: F2 Gold Deposit Feasibility Study and McFinley Zone Mineral Resource Estimate", incorporating information regarding the McFinley Zone Mineral Resource estimate, in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report, effective January 27, 2021, was prepared by T. Maunula & Associates Consulting Inc. ("TMAC") and Nordmin Engineering Ltd. ("Nordmin"), both are independent of Battle North. The Company issued a news release on December 14, 2020 announcing the McFinley Zone Mineral Resource estimate, which are reflected in the Technical Report. A copy of the December 14, 2020 news release and the Technical Report can be viewed online under Battle North's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.battlenorthgold.com. Second Half 2020 Accomplishments Battle North President and Chief Executive Officer George Ogilvie, commented, "We achieved several significant milestones in the second half of 2020, setting the stage for a very exciting 2021 for the Company. We announced the results of the Feasibility Study for the Project's F2 Gold Deposit, with robust economics of 50% after-tax IRR and C$305 million after-tax net present value at 5% discount rate using a base case gold price assumption of US$1,525/oz. We signed a commitment letter for a US$40 million credit facility with Macquarie Bank Limited ("US$40 Million Credit Facility") on attractive terms which, in concert with our strong cash balance, is expected to fully fund the Bateman Gold Project to Commercial Production. We received preliminary Board approval to commence construction on a couple of critical path items, including the portal construction and ramp development from surface, construction of the ammonia treatment plant, and upgrades to the tailings management facility and the +200 person camp. We announced a Mineral Resource estimate at the McFinley Zone, an area that can potentially provide future incremental mill feed to the Bateman Gold Project. We also hired a Director of Regional Exploration with extensive experience in the Red Lake Gold camp. We are currently finalizing our Project development and Red Lake regional exploration plans for 2021 and we intend to update the markets in mid-February when we anticipate the approval of these plans." For further details: January 27, 2021 Bateman Gold Project Technical Report: link Bateman Gold Project Technical Report: link December 22, 2020 US$40 Million Credit Facility news release: link Credit Facility news release: link December 14, 2020 McFinley Zone Mineral Resource estimate news release: link McFinley Zone Mineral Resource estimate news release: link November 16, 2020 addition of Corporate Director of Regional Exploration news release: link addition of Corporate Director of Regional Exploration news release: link October 21, 2020 Bateman Gold Project Feasibility Study (F2 Gold Deposit) news release: link Battle North 2021 Red Lake Community Information Session (Virtual) The Company would like to invite you to our Annual Red Lake Community Information Session scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 6:00 pm Central Time (7:00 pm Eastern Time): Webcast: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1419301&tp_key=42ebc1472e Conference call: North American Participants (toll-free number) +1 (888) 390-0605, International +1 (416) 764-8609; Confirmation #258-540-66 The presentation material for the Information Session will be uploaded on the Battle North website at www.battlenorthgold.com in the "Presentations" section, just prior to session. About Battle North Gold Corporation Battle North is a Canadian gold mine developer led by an accomplished management team with successful underground gold mine operations, finance, and capital markets experience. Battle North owns the significantly de-risked and shovel-ready Bateman Gold Project, located in the renowned Red Lake gold district in Ontario, Canada and controls the strategic and second largest exploration ground in the district. Battle North also owns a large gold exploration land package on the Long Canyon gold trend near the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Battle North's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BNAU) and the OTCQX markets (BNAUF). For more information, please visit our website at www.battlenorthgold.com. BATTLE NORTH GOLD CORPORATION George Ogilvie, P.Eng. President, CEO, and Director Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "assumption", "contingencies", "de-risked", "development", "estimate", "expectations", "exploration", "factors", "feasibility", "forward", "future", "intend", "may", "milestones", "path", "plan", "potentially", "preliminary", "project", "prospect", "risk", "scheduled", "setting the stage", "shovel-ready", "strategic", "study", "subject to", "trend", "uncertainties" and "will", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, may, could, should, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide or result in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the McFinley Zone Mineral Resource estimate (including its potential provide future incremental mill feed to the Bateman Gold Project), the Feasibility Study for the Bateman Gold Project's F2 Gold Deposit (including the economics such as IRR and net present value), the US$40 Million Credit Facility (including the terms and expectation of full funding for the Bateman Gold Project to Commercial Production), and Project development (or construction) and Red Lake regional exploration plans (including any future updates thereon). Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release which may prove to be incorrect include those set forth in the Company's October 21, November 16, December 14 and December 22, 2020 news releases referenced herein (collectively, the "Referenced News Releases") and the Technical Report, all available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.battlenorthgold.com. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Battle North to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 27, 2020 ("2020 AIF"), as well as the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the Referenced News Releases, the Technical Report and the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three-quarters ended in 2020 (collectively, the "2020 MD&A") and accompanying financial statements, all of which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.battlenorthgold.com. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2020 AIF and the other aforementioned documents. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained herein are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the 2020 AIF, the Referenced News Releases, the Technical Report and the 2020 MD&A (and accompanying financial statements). Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and Battle North disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this news release related to the Bateman Gold Project Feasibility Study for the F2 Gold Deposit and the McFinley Zone Mineral Resource estimate has been read, verified and approved by Tim Maunula, P.Geo. of TMAC and Glen Kuntz, P.Geo. of Nordmin, respectively, each of whom is independent from the Company and a Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. SOURCE Battle North Gold Corporation Related Links http://www.battlenorthgold.com/ Environmental groups are revving up opposition to the first company to take advantage of Western Australia lifting its fracking ban, despite traditional owners supporting the venture. Bennett Resources, owned by Texan company Black Mountain, wants its Valhalla gas prospect in the Kimberley to eventually supply the export market, or the energy-hungry east coast market, potentially via the $5 billion east-west pipeline long-mooted yet still unsupported by governments. Environs Kimberley says it has organised more than 3000 public submissions opposing the project in the 7-day comments period that closed on Wednesday. Credit:Environs Kimberley WA lifted its fracking ban in 2018 following an inquiry, promising an industry code of practice and legislation to allow traditional owners and landowner veto rights, but neither is complete. Bennett Resources was the first to lodge a fracking proposal thereafter, last July lodging a six-well application for Noonkanbah cattle station, south-east of Derby and Broome, and 16 kilometres from the Fitzroy River. SAO PAULO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao S.A. (" OEC " or the "Company") today announced that it will host a webcast for investors on February 2, 2021 at 11:00am EST / 13:00pm Brasilia Time to discuss the Company's financial and operating outlook. To participate, a link to the webcast will be posted to www.oec-eng.com/eng on February 2, approximately ten minutes before the webcast begins. As previously announced on January 20, OEC has successfully completed the previously announced restructuring of its obligations in respect of the (i) 7.00% Senior Notes due 2020, (ii) 5.125% Notes due 2022, (iii) 6.00% Notes due 2023, (iv) 4.375% Notes due 2025, (v) 5.250% Notes due 2029, (vi) 7.125% Notes due 2042, and (vii) 7.500% Perpetual Notes (collectively, the "Old Notes") (the "Restructuring"). The Restructuring was implemented through a Brazilian extrajudicial reorganization plan (the "Extrajudicial Reorganization Plan") confirmed by the Sao Paulo Bankruptcy and Reorganization Court and recognition in the United States under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code has been obtained. The Restructuring is binding on all holders of Old Notes. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adriana Meirelles [email protected]. SOURCE Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao S.A. Related Links https://www.oec-eng.com/eng The new guidance says Children who aren't fully vaccinated should still wear masks outside when they're in crowds or in sustained close contact with others - and when they are inside. The new guidance also recommends that even in camps where everyone is fully vaccinated, campers should be assigned to groups that remain together the entire session Siyasizana is a City of Johannesburg programme to help indigent households, a lso called the Expanded Social Package, Siyasizana is a basket of benefits allocated to residents based on their level of poverty. It provides free basic services and poverty alleviation assistance. Questions and Answers 1. What is Siyasizana (also known as the Expanded Social Package)? The Siyasizana social package is a basket of benefits which the City allocates to citizens based on their level of poverty. It assists poor individuals and the households in which they live. 2. How is this different from the old municipal subsidy system? The Expanded Social Package is different in many ways (as these frequently asked questions explain), but probably the most important change is that you do not need to be an account holder to apply for subsidies. You just have to live somewhere that has an account with the City for water and/or electricity. You can also apply as a homeless person or as having no formal address (see question 15 below). 3. Who should register for Siyasizana? Any person earning less than R3 366,00 a month residing - as owner, tenant or lodger - on a property falling within the boundaries of Johannesburg, should register. People with different levels of need qualify for different levels of subsidy. This is done according to the City's measure of poverty - the poverty index ( see question 22 below). 4. What benefits does Siyasizana give me? Each individual who qualifies is eligible for specific benefits - these include subsidies on water, electricity, transport and rental and, for property owners, subsidies on rates, sanitation and refuse removal charges. Residents qualify for one of three different levels of benefits, depending on how high they score on the City's poverty index (see question 5 below). The subsidies for water, electricity, rates, sanitation and refuse removal that a person qualifies for will be applied through the City's billing system based on the person's declared home at the time of registration. Customers with prepaid meters will use a voucher system (see question 9 below). The amount of subsidies a household gets will be based on the number of people that have declared the household's account as their address when they register and their individual level of poverty (see question 5 on the three-band system). The subsidies for everyone who qualifies in the household are added together and the total is taken off the household's bill, up to a capped amount. The maximum amount of subsidy is higher for households whose members have very high scores on the City's poverty index (see question 5 below). Rental and transport subsidies will go directly to the individual (not through the City account). Sorry! This content is not available in your region Advertisement Coronavirus cases are continuing to decline drastically across the United States even as deaths hold steady near peak levels. On Thursday, a total of 152,478 new infections were reported, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, a dramatic drop from the 232,943 cases recorded just two weeks ago. What's more, the seven-day rolling average of new cases currently sits at 171,679, a 31 percent decline from the average two weeks earlier, a DailyMail.com analysis shows. Forty-seven states are seeing a decline in cases, Johns Hopkins data reveals, with just Connecticut, Kansas and Rhode Island trending upward. In addition, the number of people hospitalized, a key indicator of the disease's pace, spread and severity, has trended lower, falling 18.8 percent from a peak on January 6 to 107,444, the lowest since December 11, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project. 'We're starting to see the light at the end of the horizon,' New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy told CNN on Wednesday. 'I think this is now going in the right direction. It's slow, admittedly.' However, a total of 3,943 deaths were recorded on Thursday, the sixth-highest number of fatalities recorded in a single day. Experts say that deaths, which rose in 17 of the 50 states last week, are lagging indicator, meaning they can rise weeks after cases and hospitalizations fall. On Thursday, a total of 152,478 new infections were reported, which is a dramatic drop from the 232,943 new cases recorded just two weeks ago The seven-day rolling average of new cases has declined 31% since three weeks ago and hospitalizations have fallen 18.8% from a peak on January 6 Forty-seven states are seeing a decline in cases, Johns Hopkins states, with just Connecticut, Kansas and Rhode Island trending upward A total of 3,943 deaths were recorded, the sixth-highest number ever, but deaths are a lagging indicator and can rise for several weeks after cases fall Concerns remain that new variants of the virus from such places as Brazil and the United Kingdom might further spread infection, with at least 313 cases of the UK variant, called B 1.1.7., and one of the Brazil variant, called P.1, so far reported in the U.S. What's more, New Jersey has reported the first B 1.1.7. death in the U.S. on Tuesday. Models from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest the UK variant could sweep the country and become the dominant strain as soon as March. Cases surged due to holiday gatherings starting with Thanksgiving in November, overwhelming hospitals and medical systems nationwide. But with the cases and hospitalizations on the decline, some U.S. states have slightly eased some of the tightest public health restrictions. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom this week lifted a stay-at-home order that had affected much of the most populous U.S. state. California Governor Gavin Newsom lifted a stay-at-home order this week as test positivity rate has fallen steadily from 20% to 8% and hospitalizations continue to decline as well Southern California still has an ICU capacity of zero percent, but Newsom said, as cases fall ICU capacity is projected to rise to 33 percent, according to state models. Pictured: A clinician cares for a patient in a COVID-19 isolation area at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, in Southern California, January 27 'We're seeing a flattening of the curve - everything that should be up is up, everything that should be down is down case rates, positivity rates, hospitalizations, ICUs,' Newsom said at a virtual news conference. The order allows hair salons to open with modifications and permits restaurants to reopen for patio dining. However many restrictions remain, including a ban on indoor worship services that affects most of the state. Newsom crafted the stay-at-home order in December as coronavirus cases worsened and in anticipation of surges from holiday gatherings. He divided the state into five regions and ultimately four of them had the order imposed because their ICU capacity fellow the stat mandated 15 percent. Only rural far Northern California stayed above the threshold. The turnaround puts California in a starkly different place than it was last month, when some Southern California hospitals overwhelmed by virus patients were crafting emergency plans for rationing care. With cases leveling somewhat in Los Angeles County, the state's most densely populated, elementary schools might reach the state's legal threshold for re-opening within two to three weeks, the Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday, citing a briefing to the city council by county Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer. Southern California, which accounts for more than half the state population of nearly 40 million, still has an ICU capacity of zero percent, according to state data. But Newsom said based on state modeling for the next four weeks, as cases fall ICU capacity is projected to rise to 33 percent, the highest of any of the state's regions. California's latest and worst surge of the pandemic started in mid-October. In a little more than two months the state recorded more than two million cases and hospitalizations grew nearly 10=fold to almost 22,000. As the sickest patients die, the death toll has exploded. The state is averaging 504 deaths a day and its total now tops 37,000 second only to New York. About 23,000 people are now testing positive for the virus per day, down more than 7,000 from a week ago, with a test positivity rate that has fallen steadily to eight percent from a high of nearly 20 percent at the height of the surge. New York Gov Andrew Cuomo announced ke was lifting restriction on the state's 26 micro clusters' due to declines in case and hospitalization rates, and a transmission rate falling below one Meanwhile, in New York, Gov Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday he was lifting restriction on the state's 26 so-called 'micro clusters' due to declines in case and hospitalization rates. This means several businesses in these areas, such as schools, shops, restaurants and houses of worship, will able to operate at a larger capacity. New York State's rate of transmission, or Rt, meaning how many people a contagious person will spread the virus to, had dropped below one. 'We're talking about livelihoods and the economy and billions of dollars,' Cuomo told reporters at a news conference. 'We make decisions based on the facts today...The holiday surge came. The holiday surge is over. We're not back to where we were but nobody's back to where we were.' However, Cuomo said he is not ready to lift New York City's ban on indoor dining, which went into effect in mid-December, despite the fact that that the COVID positivity rate in the city is now below six percent. 'I fully understand how difficult it is that they're closed, not just for the restaurants but all the people who are employed there. On the flip side is how fast this virus can take off,' Cuomo said. 'But we'll have a plan by the end of the week.' Cuomo may soon be facing the wrath of the state's Attorney General Letitia James, whose office released a report on Wednesday, finding that the New York State Department of Health may have undercounted nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent. The investigation also revealed that the lack of compliance in nursing homes for infection control protocols put residents at increased risk of harm Hospitalizations are on the downward in Connecticut, but the state has struggled to lower case rates with 2,440 new infections reported on Wednesday In Rhode Island, 613 new cases were reported on Wednesday, marking a 4.8% increase over the last seven days, even as hospitalizations decline However, not all states are on the downward. In Connecticut, hospitalizations are on the decline but cases and deaths have been increasing. There are currently 1,016 patients hospitalized with the virus, and the state appears to be on track to be below coronavirus hospitalizations for the first time since November 24. Meanwhile, there were 2,440 new cases reported on Wednesday, marking a more than 618 percent increase over the last seven days. This ma be skewed by the fact that cases are not reported over the weekend. What's more, the state is now reporting eight total individuals in the state with the UK variant, one of the highest totals across the country. 'This new strain, which is considered to be more easily transmitted, is spreading quickly throughout the world, and it's highly likely that these are not the only eight cases in Connecticut,' Gov Ned Lamont stated. 'That is why it is so important that everyone continues taking precautions to prevent transmission of this disease.' 'The health of Connecticut residents remains our top priority, and our public health officials will continue to closely monitor these cases and any other developments with this contagious virus.' In Rhode Island, another state trending upward, 613 new cases were reported on Wednesday, marking a 4.8 percent increase over the last seven days. The state is currently trying to lower its daily infection rate, which sits around 98.6 per 100,000. according to Covid Act Now, a consortium of scientists and researchers from Harvard, Stanford and Georgetown Universities. That's one of the highest in the U.S. Deaths are also around the highest they've been since early December, However, like Connecticut, coronavirus-related hospitalizations are decreasing, dropping below 350 for the first time since late November. A Jefferson County man has been charged federally after authorities say he aimed a laser at a helicopter last year. The grand jury issued the indictment against 26-year-old Gabriel Lopez Mathews, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. The incident happened on April 11, 2020, but details of the incident werent made available. Authorities contend Mathews aimed the laser at the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Star 1 helicopter, which was believed to be on a night call at the time. The case was investigated by the FBI and the indictment against Mathews issued Tuesday. It is the second time in recent months that an Alabama resident has been charged with such a crime. In October 2020, a Dale County man has been arrested after authorities say he was shining a laser and high-powered spotlight at military aircraft near a south Alabama airfield. Jacob Moseley was charged with obstructing governmental operations. Pilots say that a laser aimed at an aircraft at night is particularly dangerous, especially when they are wearing night-vision goggles. The beam is blinding and can disorient a pilot. The FAA reported 5,663 laser incidents in 2018, down from 6,754 in 2017 and 7,398 in 2016. Last year, in 2020, the agency investigated 3,169 incidents including several in Alabama. The maximum penalty for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is five years in prison. (Newser) Four men who've spent 18 years in prison for orchestrating the 2002 kidnapping and beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl were acquitted by Pakistan's highest court on Thursday, and are now set to go free. That includes British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was sentenced to death for the crime. Testimony from the 2002 trial suggested he lured Pearl, then the Journal's South Asia bureau chief, to a meeting in Karachi, where the journalist was seized. Acting on an appeal last April, a lower court cleared Sheikh of murder and terrorism convictions, and decided he'd served more than enough time for kidnapping. The same court cleared the co-accusedFahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil, and Salman Saqib, who were serving life sentencesof all charges. It said the four had "suffered irreparable harm and extreme prejudice," per CNN. story continues below The men remained in custody while Pearl's family appealed. The Supreme Court was shown a 2019 letter in which Sheikh admitted a minor role in Pearl's death, per Deutsche Welle. Pearl's family said Thursday's 2-1 decision from a three-judge panel was a "complete travesty of justice" and the men's release would put journalists and the people of Pakistan at risk. The family also urged the US government "to take all necessary actions under the law to correct this injustice" if Pakistani authorities won't. A lawyer for Pakistan's government says the disappointing verdict will be challenged, per the Journal. US authorities have previously suggested Sheikh might also be tried stateside. In 2007 while at Guantanamo Bay, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, admitted to killing Pearl. (Read more Daniel Pearl stories.) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal President Joe Biden charged into a direct confrontation with the oil and gas industry Wednesday with an executive order to indefinitely pause all new leasing activity on federal lands. The lease ban is just one element in a broad range of actions contained in Bidens order, which outlines aggressive federal efforts to tackle climate change. But industry leaders pounced on the leasing issue as a potentially devastating blow to domestic oil and gas production that could constitute the opening salvo in a string of new restrictive regulations to come. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ While this move suspends new leasing, this decision appears to be a first step toward an end goal of stopping natural gas and oil development on federal lands and waters, American Petroleum Institute president and CEO Mike Sommers told reporters in a national press call Wednesday morning. Leaders from four states participated in the call, including New Mexico Oil and Gas Association Executive Director Ryan Flynn, who said New Mexico will be hit harder than any other state because of the high level of production on federal lands here. New Mexico accounts for 57% of all federal onshore oil production and 31% of all onshore natural gas production in the country, Flynn said. Nearly one-third of our states budget comes directly from oil and gas revenue, and of that one-third, approximately $1 billion, comes from revenue generated on federal public lands. Environmental groups, however, praised Bidens order as a critical first step to begin reeling in greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas operations while simultaneously designing new policies to protect public lands, potentially reorienting their use toward environmentally friendly economic development such as outdoor recreation and renewable electric generation. They also questioned the real impact on industry activities, at least in the short term, because many oil and gas companies have already stockpiled a huge inventory of federal land leases and permits to drill in New Mexico and elsewhere. A temporary pause on leasing will have no short-term effect on the oil industry, Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Colorado-based conservation group Center for Western Priorities, told the Journal. Theyre sitting on tens of thousands of leases now, plus some 10,000 already-approved permits to drill. Systemic review Bidens order directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to use the pause to launch a rigorous review of all existing leasing and permitting practices. It doesnt affect new permitting for leases already approved by the Bureau of Land Management the Interior agency that manages federal lands through field offices around the country nor any existing oil and gas activity on federal lands. But its unclear whether the leasing pause will end or under what new regulatory framework leasing would resume in the future, which creates widespread uncertainty in the industry. And Wednesdays presidential order comes on top of a separate order last week by acting Interior Secretary Scott de la Vega to suspend authorization of all new drilling permits by BLM field offices for 60 days, until Biden-nominated leaders get Senate confirmation to take their posts. That includes Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., whom Biden appointed to head the Interior Department. Industry impact In recent years, industry has stockpiled a huge number of federal land leases and drilling permits that can keep current operator activity going for years to come, with or without new BLM approval of leases or permits, according to global industry consultant Rystad Energy. Thats particularly true in the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico, where many companies rushed to secure drilling permits last year on already-leased federal lands. Now, operators there have accumulated enough BLM authorizations to maintain existing activity levels for at least three years, according to Rystad. But even with leases and permits in hand, drilling-related operations will be hindered by the Interior Departments 60-day permitting suspension, Flynn said. Thats because operators frequently request minor permit modifications once they begin work on a new well, as well as right-of-way authorization to transport oil, gas and water for operations. Under the 60-day moratorium, BLM field offices cant now process those requests. Those are routine BLM authorizations from field offices that are now frozen for 60 days, Flynn said. And although the Interior permitting suspension is temporary, the pause on new leasing is indefinite. Industry is now highly concerned about forthcoming regulations that could emerge from Interiors leasing and permitting review ordered by Biden. The government could decide not to reopen new leasing on federal land. If so, it would likely have little effect on onshore drilling, said Raoul LeBlanc, IHS Markits vice president for nonconventional oil and gas. Thats because about 97.5% of federal lands available for oil and gas operations is already leased out. In contrast, if the government opts to ban new permits for drilling, it would significantly affect production and revenue, although most current and planned activity in New Mexico would still continue over the next decade under land leases and permits already approved by BLM, LeBlanc said. However, if the government were to ban new drilling on federal lands, that could be devastating for local industry. In that case, production would fall substantially almost immediately, LeBlanc said. After five years, it would be down 80% or more. Environmental view Still, environmentalists say a thorough review of federal policies on leasing and permitting is long overdue, especially after four years of accelerated oil and gas development under former President Donald Trump. The Center for Western Priorities called for more stringent environmental regulations to protect public lands in a new report released this week. The report supports more public input on BLM leasing decisions, higher lease-bidding and rental fees, an increase in royalty rates paid by leaseholders, and more bonding requirements on companies to clean up abandoned wells. Its important that both Congress and the Biden administration use this leasing pause to completely overhaul a broken and rigged system that has benefited the industry for many years, Weiss told the Journal. New policies must take into account the carbon costs and environmental degradation from oil and gas produced on federal lands. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she supports Bidens efforts to review federal policies. But shell push for a balanced approach that includes working with industry to implement new regulations. It is essential that climate change be prioritized, Lujan Grisham said in a statement. In the interest of developing new, more sustainable federal-and-state climate policy that is so urgently needed to protect our planet, a review of all climate-related policies, including energy policies, will ensure we do the right thing across the country and here in New Mexico. NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights Jan. 28, 2021 NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on President Biden's executive orders handed down today: On November 12, Pope Francis called President-elect Joe Biden to congratulate him on his electoral victory. He surely thought that the incoming president would make Catholics proud to have one of their own in the White House. One wonders what the Holy Father now thinks of Biden. On January 28, the White House announced that Biden will issue an executive order that rescinds the Mexico City Policy, the rule that bars U.S. foreign aid to international non-profit organizations that provide for abortion or abortion counseling. This policy was first implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and has been revoked or reinstated by Democratic and Republican administrations, respectively, since that time. Biden will also ask the Department of Health and Human Services to begin the process of rescinding the Trump administration's Title X family planning rule; among other things, it denies funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion mills. This is not the first time that Biden has departed from Church teachings on life. On January 22, the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to legalize abortion, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris heralded the ruling, saying they were "committed to codifying Roe v. Wade." In response, Kansas City Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee (USCCB) on Pro-Life Activities, said, "It is deeply disturbing and tragic that any President would praise and commit to codifying a Supreme Court ruling that denies unborn children their most basic human and civil right, the right to life, under the euphemistic disguise of health services." Biden has a real problem with the most basic moral teachings of his professed religion. On January 20th, his first day in office, Biden issued an executive order allowing males who claim to be female the right to compete with females in high school and college sports; they can also use the same shower facilities. The chairman of five bishops' committees, led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Religious Liberty, responded by saying this decision "threatens to infringe the rights of people who recognize the truth of sexual differences or who uphold the institution of lifelong marriage between one man and one woman." A few days later, Biden issued an executive order repealing President Trump's ban on transgender persons from serving in the military. He provided no evidence that women who claim to be male will have no effect on real men in their living arrangements and daily operations. According to Pope Francis, Biden's policies on transgender persons are not simply in violation of Church teachingsthey are the work of Satan. "Gender ideology is demonic!" The pope made that remark to emphasize that gender theory fails to recognize "the order of creation." Indeed, he even went so far as to say that "gender ideology" was reminiscent of "the educational policies of Hitler." Biden's choice of January 28 to announce his pro-abortion executive orders makes him look like a rogue Catholic. This day marks the National Prayer Vigil for Life. This USCCB event will take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. On Biden's first day in office, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked by a reporter for EWTN about the president's plans to overturn the pro-life policies of his predecessor. "I will take the opportunity to remind all of you that he is a devout Catholic." Looks like this "devout Catholic" has no problem stiffing the pope. Environmental groups are revving up opposition to the first company to take advantage of Western Australia lifting its fracking ban, despite traditional owners supporting the venture. Bennett Resources, owned by Texan company Black Mountain, wants its Valhalla gas prospect in the Kimberley to eventually supply the export market, or the energy-hungry east coast market, potentially via the $5 billion east-west pipeline long-mooted yet still unsupported by governments. Environs Kimberley says it has organised more than 3000 public submissions opposing the project in the 7-day comments period that closed on Wednesday. Credit:Environs Kimberley WA lifted its fracking ban in 2018 following an inquiry, promising an industry code of practice and legislation to allow traditional owners and landowner veto rights, but neither is complete. Bennett Resources was the first to lodge a fracking proposal thereafter, last July lodging a six-well application for Noonkanbah cattle station, south-east of Derby and Broome, and 16 kilometres from the Fitzroy River. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Photo for illustration (Source: NDO) The top-quality fragrant rice was imported by the Long Dan Limited Company in the UK from the Vietnam National Seed Group (Vinaseed), and the rice is now sold at 15.5 GBP (21.28 USD) per kilogramme at the firm's supermarket chain. Since Vietnamese high-quality rice enjoys zero tariff in the UK market under the trade pact, which took effect on December 31, 2021, it will gain competitive edge over rivals, including those from Thailand. According to the Vietnamese trade counsellor in the UK Nguyen Canh Cuong, rice shipments to the European country this year will sharply rise against 2020. He said more UK firms will purchase Vietnamese rice under the UKVFTA, relishing an exciting prospect that Vietnamese rice will expand its market share in the UK this year. In 2019, the UK, the worlds 9th largest rice importer, splashed out 531 million USD buying 671,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice. However, Vietnamese rice only accounted for 0.24 percent of the UKs total rice import. Top rice exporters to the UK included India (22 percent of market share), Pakistan (18 percent), Spain (11 percent), Italy (10.9 percent), and Thailand (9.2 percent). Russia lifts entry restrictions for Vietnamese citizens Russia will lift the entry restrictions on people from Vietnam and some other countries such as Finland, India and Qatar, with flights to these countries set to resume from January 27, the VOV reported the announcement of the Russian Government. Passengers wearing masks at an airport in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) "For citizens of four more countriesFinland, Vietnam, India and Qatarthe restrictions on entering Russia, which were introduced following the COVID-19 spread, will be lifted," the Russian News Agency TASS cited a statement from the Russian cabinets press service as reporting. The respective decree was signed by Chairman of the Government Mikhail Mishustin, the cabinet said. The citizens of Vietnam, Finland, India and Qatar and those who have a residence permit in these countries will be allowed to fly to Russia. The Russian anti-coronavirus crisis center announced a decision on January 16 to resume international flights with these countries on a mutual basis. Flights will be operated to Vietnam, India and Finland twice a week and to Qatar three times a week. Russia imposed travel restrictions in March 2020 to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam is widely acknowledged as having one of the worlds most successful responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has moved rapidly with containment, targeted testing, tracking and quarantine and public communication. Vietnamese researchers in US invent COVID-19 vaccine patches, reusable facemasks A group of Vietnamese researchers at the University of Connecticut in the US have invented COVID-19 high-tech biological facemasks and patches to deliver vaccines into the human body easily, the Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper said. A member of the research team wears the prototype of disposable face masks (Photo: vietnamnet.vn) Nguyen Duc Thanh, 37, and his research team, Nguyen Lab, used autolytic piezoelectric polymer sheets, which has been studied by themselves and applied in organ transplantation since 2018, to make a type of special facemask. The invention was launched to meet the urgent need in the US last year. According to Dr. Thanh, most medical masks are made of synthetic polymers similar to plastic bags which are unable to self dispose and pose a major hazard to the environment. Medical masks are unable to prevent bacteria, viruses and fine dust like KN95 or N95 masks. Meanwhile, N95 masks are very expensive and can be used only one time. Thanhs team came up with the idea of using the autolytic piezoelectric polymer sheets that can filter the dust as effectively as N95 but can be reused after sterilising by autoclave or ultrasound. It is disposable after several years. Although the sheet has been applied in many medical products, this was the first time it has been used filtering dust, viruses and bacteria. Thanh said what made his masks different from others was the piezoelectric effect of the nano film. The film can create a small voltage layer when there is air flow (from breathing, sneezing or coughing). The voltage creates an invisible protection layer, preventing the penetration of charged droplets of water bringing viruses and bacteria. The polymer nano films filtering capacity is almost as much as N95 and higher than normal medical face masks, he said. The team is doing further research and packaging the product and plans to launch a start-up to bring the face masks to the market. It is expected that the face masks will be used widely in one to two years time, Thanh told vietnamnet.vn. After sterilisation or disinfection using high temperatures and pressure or ultrasonic vibrations, the piezoelectricity wont be lost. "This feature allows the masks to be reused for many times," he added. Thanhs research team is also studying a vaccine patch that can be applied to skin that helps deliver COVID-19 vaccines into the human body without infections from medical workers. The patch, like urgo patches, is expected to distribute the vaccine to the community so quickly that people no longer have to visit medical facilities during the lockdown. The research has been published in the medical journal Nature Biomedical Engineering and attracted the attention of international scientists./. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - The Very Good Food Company Inc. (CSE: VERY) (OTCQB: VRYYF) (FSE: 0SI) ("VERY" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce a new flagship butcher shop and restaurant in Victoria, Canada, and update on the commissioning of the Rupert Facility. New Flagship Butcher Shop VERY is pleased to announce the launch of a new flagship butcher shop located in downtown Victoria, Canada. The new butcher shop will feature a quick service restaurant and retail outlet. The flagship restaurant will have an outdoor patio and a larger footprint than VERY's current butcher shop located in the Victoria Public Market, and will accommodate a higher volume of customers while maintaining COVID-19 pandemic social distancing protocols. This flagship butcher shop will be a template for the opening of additional flagship butcher shops/restaurants across strategic cities in North America. Improvements are underway and the new butcher shop is scheduled for an official opening in May 2021, at which time the Douglas Street location will close. CEO Mitchell Scott commented: "We are very excited to be moving to this new larger space. We chose this location for its foot traffic, the outdoor patio and the ability to offer an extended beverage menu including beer and wine; as well as longer opening hours. We will be opening a second flagship butcher shop in the Mount Pleasant area in the latter half of the year." Rupert Facility Commissioning Progress The Rupert Facility is rapidly undergoing its transformation to be ready for its first production run expected to commence on schedule in March. The work currently being undertaken consists of minor alterations such as electrical hookups and floor resurfacing to accommodate the automated production lines to be installed. The adjacent Vancouver warehouse has been set up and is fully operational with key direct ingredients arriving in preparation for March. A supply chain warehouse team has been deployed and virtual job fairs are being held for production and facility employees. Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Engagements VERY also announced that it has renewed its engagement with Edge Growth Holdings Corp. ("Edge") who have provided strategic investor relations and corporate communications services to VERY since June 2020 with the goal of transparent and continuous dialogue with the Company's investors. Edge is a team of capital markets communications professionals that focus on engaging the millennial and Gen Z investor demographic on new age platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Discord and WhatsApp. Under the terms of the six-month agreement, the Company will pay Edge a monthly fee of $6,000 and grant to Kevan Matheson, the principal of Edge, 100,000 incentive stock options. Other than the options to be granted, 25,000 previously issued options, 1,150 warrants and 1,930 shares, neither Edge, Kevan Matheson nor any employees of Edge have any direct or indirect interest in VERY or its securities. The Company has also engaged Apaton Finance GmbH ("Apaton"), a Hannover, Germany, based financial public relations and investor relations agency. Under the 6 month agreement with Apaton, the Company will pay a monthly fee of 4,167 EUR per month. Apaton does not have any direct or indirect interest in VERY or its securities and no incentive stock options have been granted to Apaton. About The Very Good Food Company The Very Good Food Company Inc. is an emerging plant-based food technology company. Our mission is to use progressive food technology to create plant-based meat and other food products that are delicious while maintaining a wholesome nutritional profile. To date we have developed a core product line under The Very Good Butchers brand. For further information, please contact: Mitchell Scott Chief Executive Officer and Director Kevan Matheson Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Email: invest@verygoodbutchers.com Phone: +1 855-472-9841 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "proposed", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information contained or referred to in this news release includes, but is not limited to: the attributes of, and the benefits to be derived from, the new location for the Victoria butcher shop and its anticipated opening date; the expected timing for the opening of the Mount Pleasant butcher shop; and the timing for commencement of the first production run at the Rupert Facility. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Certain assumptions in respect of continued strong demand for our products; that added production capacity will enable us to increase our sales volume, that we do not experience material interruptions or supply chain failures as a result of COVID-19, our ability to retain key personnel, the availability of labour, and changes and trends in our industry or the global economy are material assumptions made in preparing forward-looking statements or information and management's expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: negative cash flow and future financing requirements to sustain operations; dilution; limited history of operations and revenues and no history of earnings or dividends; competition; economic changes; and the impact of and risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including the risk of disruption at the Company's facilities or in its supply and distribution channels. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73048 (Photo : Harold Cunningham/Getty Images) Virtual Reality Therapy now helps the patients with mental health problems. Virtual Reality (VR) is utilized to bring life to many applications through real-world simulations. Now, VR stretches its extent to virtual reality therapy, which was recommended by physicians for those people who suffer from mental health problems. VR Therapy Helps Patients with Mental Health Problems While mental health conditions are recorded at a high level globally, several cases among patients suffering mental health problems are still left untreated. Doctors discovered that the application of virtual reality therapy can help depressed patients cope up with their situations. According to the South China Morning Post, participants who are dealing with social anxiety are reportedly experiencing less anxiety after undergoing virtual reality therapy in Hongkong. The trial also exposed that virtual reality therapy is one step ahead when it comes to accessibility and affordability - a big help to minimize shyness when facing a therapist in person. Furthermore, a clinical psychology professor from Oxford University, Daniel Freeman told that virtual treatment goes a long way for people to conquer their mental health struggles. Freeman, who also spearheaded the assessment and treatment of paranoia through virtual reality, added that the procedure lightens what people feel in their daily lives. In the United Kingdom, Dr. Emma Jayne Kilford and Prof. John King tested VR to bridge gaps between physical therapy and depression. At the University College London, the two health experts expect that virtual therapy can boost self-compassion among depressed people, as per Science Focus. Also Read: Google Discovers North Korean APT Hackers Threaten Security Researchers via Social Media Malware! To start the virtual reality therapy, the patient is instructed to stay in a virtual room where he/she will meet two virtual persons representing an adult and a child. However, before engaging inside the room, the patients are taught to get used first to a script that will improve their mood. The script is divided into three partitions mainly the experience validation, attention redirection, and positive memory activation. The patient will first act as the adult with the task of comforting the child through the script. Next, the role will be reversed, for the patient to feel 'both' compassion at two different outlets of emotion. On the other hand, the pandemic lockdown saw a spike in the case of mental health illnesses. With the application of virtual reality, rehabilitation of the patients is made easier in an immersive environment where their fears, traumas, and anxieties are alleviated. VR Therapy Recreates Patient's Memories One of the groups that are most affected by the sudden pandemic lockdown is the adult group. Since the lockdown only allows the people to stay at their homes, loneliness is commonly experienced by everyone. The Global News reported that some seniors were given treatment through virtual reality therapy. Express Service Society, a non-profit streetwear brand founded by doctors and researchers, organized the special therapy for the seniors to relive their memories at the comfort of their homes. Dr. Ginah Kim, the co-founder of the organization said that it has shown improvement in the psychological and physical aspects of the elders. She added that the VR therapy is more of a personal reminiscent. The patients got used to looking back at their accomplishments while replaying the best moments in life like weddings and other memorable meetings. Related Article: Virtual Reality May Help Fight Obesity Epidemic This article is owned by Tech Times. Written by Joen Coronel. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. We've entered a bit of an active weather pattern after one big winter storm moved through Iowa on Monday, we're already tracking another storm for the upcoming weekend. Computer models are in agreement with another storm system moving into the Midwest, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, which will dictate how much snow parts of the region may see. This storm system is over the West Coast of the United States, and still has to move through the Rocky Mountains, so it's still pretty far away, which leaves a lot of time for this system to change. If you have plans for the upcoming weekend, keep an eye on the forecast each day, as we continue to analyze new data, and update the forecast to reflect any changes in the storm track. Also, you can stay updated to the latest changes with the KIMT Weather app. Just search for KIMT Weather in your phone's app store to download. Best part... it's FREE! San Francisco school board decided on Tuesday to remove the names of famous American leaders, having decided that these leaders were unworthy of the honor. San Francisco schools remove names of leaders On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, the San Francisco school board concluded on a 6-1 vote on renaming public schools, which includes George Washington and Abraham Lincoln High Schools after considering them and other known figures together with Sen. Dianne Feinstein as unworthy of the honor, according to CBS News. This decision of the San Francisco Board of Education has affected one-third of the district's 125 schools, which came almost three years after the board deemed the idea. The reason behind this objectionable names, is the unravelling of the dark past that the country once had, and the mentioned names were names of prominent figures who were subjected to have ties with slavery, oppression, or racism. Moreover, Feinstein was added to the list because she replaced a vandalized confederate flag as the city's mayor. The decision of the San Francisco school board was unanimous, wherein there was no opposition that happened. Read also: Republican Lawmakers Blast Biden's Decision To Cancel Keystone XL Pipeline Permit Decision of board criticized Meanwhile, critics perceived the decision as rushed and flaws were seen during the decision, specifically the lack of information basis for each recommendation and there was no sign of citation from a historian, according to Cleveland report. Furthermore, the focus on renaming the school amidst this health crisis (the pandemic), the San Francisco Mayor London Breed stated that it is offensive for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), he called the decision as ill-timed. Considering the fact that there would be a compromised effect on the students, San Francisco parents and some people who were affected criticized the board's decision for being more aware of symbolism rather than the current struggles that the students are facing, such as academic, social and emotional struggles. On Wednesday, Breed said that this is an important conversation and as a citizen they should be involved in their communities, families, and our students. He cannot ponder why the School Board has an advance plan on renaming the school by April, but has no plan on getting the students back to school. Read also: Biden Sends Immigration Bill To Congress, Here's What You Should Know San Francisco school board defends their decision However, the School Board argued that the district could do all priorities at the same, and the renaming of school is relevant and significant considering the country's racial reckoning. The school board added, that it is not just symbolic but also a moral message. The new name for the school must adhere to a set of guidelines, making sure that there will be no names that has connection to slavery, racism, or any immoral acts that could violate human rights. Darjeeling: A day after violence returned to the Darjeeling hills, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters set ablaze an office of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA) on day 14 of the indefinite shutdown on Wednesday. The office of the GTA's engineering division was torched on Tuesday night. Protesters also ransacked a panchayat office in Bijanbari area, 25 km from here. The police and security forces were patrolling thestreets and keeping a tight vigil on all entry and exitroutes. Barring pharmacies, all shops, schools, colleges were closed and Internet services remained suspended. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has plans to take out rallies and burn copies of the GTA accord on Wednesday. The GTA agreement was signed by the Centre, the state government and the GJM in 2011 following a prolonged unrest inthe hills. The GJM asserted that its 45 members had resigned from the GTA last week and the administrative body had ceased to exist. Hundreds of GJM activists held a demonstration in Darjeeling on Tuesday and burnt copies of the GTA accord. Some shirtless GJM workers during the demonstration smashed tubelights on their back leading to injuries. Activists of the Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of theGJM, had threatened to commit self-immolation and launch a fast unto death if the Centre did not pay heed to their demand for a separate state. GJM activists and pro-Gorkhaland supporters had also setfire to the house of the chairman of a development board in Kalimpong district on Monday night. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Natural News) Throughout history, the real purpose of most governments was to control the masses and reap benefits for the few. Using the military has always been messy and expensive, though. (Article by Sgt. A. Merica republished from LawEnforcementToday.com) However, in modern times, they have learned that people will buy into a different system without much resistance, as long as the right messaging is in place. For example, with the communists, the message was equality for all. Of course, we all know how that turned out for the Soviet Union and the people of China. In America, our intended system was straightforward government for the people, by the people. The plan was great for the people, but not so good for the few. To some extent, the few were able to turn that around by creating the two-party system, which allowed real power to become obscured. Even so, more control was needed. Therefore, the international billionaires had legislation passed that allowed PACs to funnel virtually unlimited campaign contributions to key office-holders. Nobody could tell how much and to whom. Along with buying political power, they also bought up the media to control future messaging. As long as you have politicians elected on how much billionaires back them, you will never elect a man/woman of the people and for the people. Timewalk Project (@Timewalkproject) January 15, 2021 The few were worried that as jobs decreased with AI and automation, the unemployed would become disenfranchised and, at some point, take away their hard-earned fortunes. The answer fell into their laps during the Clinton Administration. Instead of trying to control a bunch of Republican individualists, they decided to take over the peoples party and pretend they were on the side of ordinary people, especially minorities. Now, almost all of the billionaires who matter are Democrats! Historically, the international billionaires were opposed to communism and any form of government control. That began to change with Chinas rise, where they had invested so much of their wealth. It became clear, any harm to China was harm to themselves. Besides, Chinas system had great control of the masses. The answer was not to make China more like us, but to make us more like China. To get there, they harnessed the socialist movements already underway in the U.S. educational systems. These movements gained footholds after the Vietnam war era. Thats when many of the draft-dodgers became professors and movie producers so they could rewrite history and make themselves into national heroes. Y'all really ready to let all ur rights get shit on by career politicians who are billionaires that have no interest in your well being. We're being divided on purpose! Can't you see this! The government was made to serve the people. Its time for the people to take the power back JTM (@tmcclintock83) January 14, 2021 Yet, to get to the point where people would volunteer their rights, they needed two things: 1) A good message, in this case something for nothing, and 2) General dissatisfaction with the current system. The socialist message was perfect for the first, and Covid-19 an ideal process for the second. Covid provided benefits on many levels. First, they were able to study how people behaved under lockdown. Next, they harnessed the pent-up frustrations of minorities, who were also the hardest hit by the disease. They exaggerated the injustices to their groups and called upon them to revolt. Now that Trump has left office, things will move quickly. If things go as expected, society will begin fighting on many levels. As those dangers become widespread, people will give up many freedoms to make the violence stop. One immediate goal is to create federal oversight of all police functions within the states. Ideally, protesting in the streets would become illegal altogether. Instead, people will stay home, receive their monthly stipends, smoke lots of marijuana, and watch TV. The so-called resisters who expected equality for all will undergo social structure modifications using psychedelic experiences provided during legal sponsored forums. Later, those that cant adapt to the government restrictions can be taken out and shot because that is what communist governments do. Democrats have normalized violence and proved it to be an effective tool to advance an agenda. They now have the control theyve been pursuing and their first act is a social media purge. Republicans have to end this attack on free speech. pic.twitter.com/nDh1XpNNXO Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 9, 2021 What to do? First, educate the populace of the efforts underway to change our system of government. Next, return the power of one person one vote by eliminating secret campaign funding. This may require a Constitutional amendment. We also need to clean up the party system or, if necessary, do away with it altogether. That will ensure each representative stands on their own merits and ideas. Read more at: LawEnforcementToday.com and BigGovernment.news. ADVERTISEMENT The police in Ogun State, on Wednesday, paraded 25 suspected members of the dreaded Buccaneer cult group, who they arrested during an alleged initiation ceremony in Abeokuta. Parading the suspects at the Commands Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, said the suspects were arrested along with three herbalists, who conducted the initiation. The commissioner said the cultists were arrested, following intelligence reports, that some cultists were planning to unleash mayhem on members of the public, after conducting an initiation rite for new members in Ita-Oshin area of Abeokuta. He said the police recovered battle axes, cutlasses, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, and costumes of their group. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects were among 59 others paraded for rape, kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, fraud, among others. The police boss also paraded three murder suspects for allegedly beating a 23-year-old man, Samuel Ajibade, to death over alleged theft of two mobile phones belonging to one of them. A taxi driver, Tunde Bello, who allegedly abducted and raped a 29-year-old lady (name withheld), while on her way to work last September, and collected N140,000 before she was released, was similarly paraded, alongside a suspected fraudster, Daudu James. READ ALSO: Police parade 11 suspected cultists for allegedly killing 25 Ogun residents The commissioner said Mr James specialised in swapping ATM cards of unsuspecting victims and siphoning money from their accounts and that at the time of his arrest, he had 17 different ATM cards on his person. The suspect had succeeded in swapping ATM cards of two persons and siphoned the sum of N40,000 and N55,000 from the victims. He, however, ran out of luck when one of his victims sighted him in another bank trying to swap another persons ATM card. The victim raised alarm and he was promptly arrested, Mr Ajogun said. Speaking to NAN, Mr James confessed to committing the crime, calling on the government to have mercy on him. (NAN) 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. Post from MilitaryByOwner Military homeowners regularly contend with challenges, such as an unexpected permanent change of station move, that extend beyond the normal range of homeownership issues. This selling season is no different, thanks to the enduring COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, military home sellers will not only have to assess the most practical tried and true returns on investment (or ROI, such as a kitchen makeover) to increase their home value, they'll have to address the desires of homebuyers who are searching for features that were painfully lacking during the pandemic. Updates and upgrades that have traditionally driven a worthwhile ROI now need to be paired with both comfort and practical factors that buyers found they needed during the months of staying at home in 2020. Although luck is on the homeowner's side as a seller's market continues to dominate, preparing your home to sell for the best price includes evaluating how to increase its value while on a do-it-yourself, or DIY, budget. 1. Invest in your kitchen. Pre-coronavirus, updated kitchens were in demand and remain so as the virus continues. The pandemic has solidified the kitchen as the heart of the home and added the need for multi-tasking elements, such as a corner for online school or Zoom calls. A large table to accommodate dining, working and playing is also in high demand, if space allows. A kitchen remodel can be expensive, but Remodeling Magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report emphasizes the practicality and ROI of a minor to mid-range kitchen remodel. To attract the largest pool of buyers, a complete renovation isn't necessary because homebuyers will likely want to add personal customizations post-sale. In 2020, this size renovation averaged about $23,400. It's reasonable to expect about $18,200 of the resale value in return (close to 78% of the initial investment) if you decide to sell. As for a seller's bottom line, DIY work fits nicely into the cost savings structure. The best projects to start with include: Reface or replace cabinets. A two-color cabinet design remains popular. Choose coordinating colors such as navy and white for upper and lower cabinets. If you choose new cabinets, invest in built-in organization, or add storage features. A two-color cabinet design remains popular. Choose coordinating colors such as navy and white for upper and lower cabinets. If you choose new cabinets, invest in built-in organization, or add storage features. Upgrade countertops . No need for expensive marble patterns. Alternative natural stones such as quartz look expensive and hold up well. . No need for expensive marble patterns. Alternative natural stones such as quartz look expensive and hold up well. Update fixtures. Hands-off and voice-activated faucets continue to trend and certainly have found their place with homeowners trying to keep up with disinfection. Don't forget to check your lighting fixtures in the kitchen; they may make the space look outdated. 2. Expand outdoor living space. There's a reason that building supplies and appointments with contractors and outdoor design professionals have been hard to come by for months. Many homeowners are considering a variety of ideas to improve their backyards and outdoor spaces. Fortunately, this project is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of DIY skills and budgets. Small, colorful decor items such as rugs, tables and plants evoke a hospitable vibe. Large-scale additions of decking or porch enclosures provide the extra square footage a family needs during the extended time spent together. A new deck may add to the property's assessed value because it is considered additional living space. The average price for a new wood deck is near $15,000 and typically recovers about 72%, or approximately $10,400 at the time of sale. Composite decking is more expensive, but is maintenance-free and preferred by buyers. It's also an excellent investment if you choose to become a military landlord and return to the property at a later time. Miscellaneous items also improve outdoor living. If your skills include the ability to add French or accordion-style doors that open to the deck or patio, you'll be meeting a coveted indoor/outdoor living trend. Buyers gravitate to the idea of a wall of windows to expand sight lines and improve the feeling of expansiveness. Outdoor heaters, smart lighting and audio systems also elevate the comfort of the space. 3. Create space for a home office and/or home gym. Rooms with doors have been sorely missed during the pandemic. The constant company of family leaves little time for privacy and less opportunity for quiet. Homebuyers coming off months of togetherness are merely looking for more dedicated space to get away from the busyness of everyday life. Work-from-home trends are viable alternatives for the foreseeable future, and previous gym goers continue to be uneasy about stepping back into community workout spaces. To maximize buyer demands and ROI, owners will need to tackle home office and gym transformations with easy and affordable updates, such as: Durable, high-quality laminate flooring. This flooring type accommodates either an office (add a room-size rug to cozy up the space) or a home gym after rubber flooring or mats have been added. This flooring type accommodates either an office (add a room-size rug to cozy up the space) or a home gym after rubber flooring or mats have been added. Refresh paint colors. Depending on the ultimate use, the room will be enhanced substantially by the perfect shade of paint. Deep, moody colors are trending for 2021 and are perfect for an office, while one of Pantone's colors of the year -- "Illuminating," a bright yellow -- is invigorating for a workout room. Most military homeowners should have little problem selling a well-priced home with the preferred upgrades buyers are searching for this year. For the quickest sale, add carefully planned DIY projects that add value through reliable updates and combine them with the features buyers prefer to have after living through pandemic conditions. Find a Veteran-Friendly Agent Whether you're buying or selling, get an edge with local expertise. Find a VA-specialized agent for veterans and military families. Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. 18+ FOR.kg search news service (news aggregator, media aggregator) Read first Agreement on the use of the FOR.kg search site When using materials from the FOR.kg - reference to the source is required For all questions please contact customer support Moments after laying out his vision for the country with his own broad, bold brushstrokes, newly inaugurated President Joe Biden set his sights on another hopeful vision of America. At the inaugural gift-giving ceremony in the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., presented Biden and first lady Jill Biden with "Landscape with Rainbow" an 1859 painting by Robert S. Duncanson, a Black landscape artist in Civil War-era Ohio. The first lady, who helped select the painting from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, pointed to the rainbow, an uncommon feature in antebellum landscape paintings, as a good omen. "I like the rainbow," she said. "Good things to follow." Working in a nation on the brink, Duncanson looked to the landscape: marred by the displacement of Native Americans, cultivated on the backs of enslaved people, soon to be the site of a bloody war. In it, he found a rare, radical hope - it came as a gray-toned rainbow, an elm tree symbolizing freedom and an Edenic valley scene. A century and a half later, hope arrived again in the small miracle of having his work - the first inaugural painting by a Black artist - displayed in a space that, just two weeks earlier, had been desecrated by a Confederate flag-carrying mob. Duncanson painted "Landscape with Rainbow" while living on the edge of another America: in Cincinnati, across the river from the slave state of Kentucky. Not unlike talk of healing from a leader who has experienced extraordinary personal loss or words about democracy prevailing, spoken on the very steps of a recent insurrection, Duncanson's restrained rainbow feels solid, unshakable. We trust those who have seen the worst when they believe in the better. Their sentiments, painted thick with experience, have weight. The Duncanson landscape marks an obvious thematic departure from President Donald Trump's controversial inaugural painting, "The Verdict of the People." A crammed, cartoonish scene, the 1855 painting by George Caleb Bingham depicts a White electorate reacting to a political victory for the Democratic Party, which defended slavery at the time. In the foreground, a Black man pushes a wheelbarrow. But Duncanson's work also is a more subtle ideological shift from landscape paintings chosen in the past. Presented to President Ronald Reagan in 1985, the first inaugural painting - Jasper Francis Cropsey's "Autumn - On the Hudson River" (1860) - captured "the raw power and grand scale of the landscape and the strength of human enterprise," the congressional inaugural committee wrote at the time. Duncanson embraced the landscape genre to achieve a more complicated end. With tiny figures and enveloping valleys, his landscapes do not make a grandiose claim to the land, justified by the heavens. Instead, they ask humbly and humanly for a place in it. "There's that whole tradition of bombastic landscapes where it's a Wagnerian aria going on in the sky and mountains and storms and all of the rest of that," says Eleanor Harvey, the Smithsonian American Art Museum curator who helped Jill Biden select "Landscape with Rainbow." But not so with Duncanson, Harvey says: "He's looking for peace." In "Landscape with Rainbow," diagonals in the foreground weave you into the image. Crisscrossing grass and gravel creates an uneven sightline, evoking the sensation of finding your footing in the woods. The undulating landscape - its homeward-bound cows, a couple traversing a dirt road, the man pointing toward the end of the rainbow - all draw your gaze ever so slightly rightward. Lacking a decisive, climactic focal point, this is not a painting with an obvious conclusion. Among the trickling, small waterfalls; languorous path; the reassuring, unostentatious rainbow, it asks you to stay awhile. Pointing to such Duncanson landscapes as "Loch Long" and "On the St. Anne's, East Canada," Harvey praises their "therapeutic quality." "These landscapes make you want to stop and just look, maybe eat lunch, sit down and just stare at them," she says. Such tranquility was in stark contrast to Duncanson's reality. Born free to an African American mother and a Canadian father in Seneca County, N.Y., in 1821 - the year after the Missouri Compromise would slice the country into competing halves - his life spanned an era of instability and violent division. He was trained as a house painter, where he probably encountered fine art on his customers' walls, and he eventually taught himself by copying portraits and landscapes. At 19, Duncanson moved to Cincinnati, a growing arts and abolitionism hub, where he would see works by Hudson River School painters such as Thomas Cole's "The Voyage of Life" series, which came to the city for a sale through the Western Art Union. He got his start painting fruit and portraits, and he eventually earned a major commission creating murals for the home of wealthy banker Nicholas Longworth (now the Taft Museum). From an unlikely base, away from the New York art world and on the border of what would soon become the Confederacy, Duncanson became the most well-known African American artist in the United States. His artistic aspirations intertwined with antislavery causes, with many abolitionists as patrons. Hailed in the media - always with a mention of his race - Duncanson's artistic skills were used to strengthen their cause against slavery. Julie Aronson, a curator at the Cincinnati Art Museum, notes that landscape painters often embedded moral attitudes in their work. "This may be related to politics, to spirituality, man's relationship with nature," she says. Images such as Duncanson's "Pompeii," which depicts a decaying ancient city, "can be a reference to the decline of civilization and moral lesson as to what could happen if we continue down this path," she says. Some scholars argue that Duncanson intentionally placed abolitionist symbolism into his work by changing the content of source material. When he painted "Cincinnati From Covington, Kentucky," which was based on an image from a magazine, he added enslaved figures on the Kentucky side of the river. In another work, a copy of Frederic Church's "Heart of the Andes," he inserted a skirmish between Native Americans - another marginalized group - and American soldiers into an otherwise serene landscape. But others aren't convinced. Valerie Mercer, a curator at the Detroit Institute of Arts, notes that when Duncanson engaged themes of race most directly - in the DIA's "Uncle Tom and Little Eva" - he did so reluctantly, for a commission. In a letter to his son, the artist wrote, "Mark what I say here in black and white: I have no color on the brain, all I have on the brain is paint." Perhaps more overt references in his work to race or politics would have felt redundant. A place of both refuge and violence, freedom and capture, the landscape itself was political. By leaning into the calm of the landscape, Duncanson quietly defied his difficult circumstances. Like many of his works, the composition of "Landscape with Rainbow," with its sweeping, concave valley and raised edges, enfolds you into it. "It's like you're in an embrace," Harvey says. "It's not a landscape you're battling against. You're not trying to climb the Rocky Mountains. You're not going down the Niagara River hoping not to go flying over the falls. This is not a landscape that's threatening." At a time when so many have felt scorned by those in power, the choice to highlight Duncanson's work in the People's House resonates with the start of a new era. "If there's anything that speaks to Duncanson's life," Harvey says, "it is the idea of a landscape that is welcoming you home." 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. AIM and Media Release 28 January 2021 BASE RESOURCES LIMITED Quarterly Activities Report - December 2020 Key Points Kwale Operations has maintained operational consistency through the quarter with health and safety protocols in place to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to personnel and surrounding communities. Ongoing firm demand from customers in the quarter supported further ilmenite price increases, while zircon and rutile prices have stabilised. Kwale North Dune PFS progressed and is scheduled for release early in the June quarter. Exploration drilling re-commenced in the North Vanga region near Kwale Operations. Discussions with the Government of Madagascar on Toliara Project fiscal terms continue to progress. on Toliara Project fiscal terms continue to progress. Activities to support vulnerable local communities affected by COVID-19 in Kenya and Madagascar continued. African mineral sands producer, Base Resources Limited (ASX & AIM: BSE) (Base Resources or the Company) is pleased to provide a quarterly operational, development and corporate update. COVID-19 UPDATE Base Resources continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the Company's business, people and wider stakeholders. The Company's Kwale Operations in Kenya continues to operate under a suite of mitigations aimed at protecting the health and safety of our employees and neighbouring communities, including modified workplace practices and a focus on hygiene and social distancing. The Company is also assisting governments and communities in both Kenya and Madagascar with several initiatives, primarily involving the construction of hygiene facilities, distribution of food and provision of medical supplies and equipment. KWALE OPERATIONS Production & Sales Dec 2019 Quarter Mar 2020 Quarter June 2020 Quarter Sept 2020 Quarter Dec 2020 Quarter Production (tonnes) Ilmenite 91,406 105,035 84,843 65,863 78,500 Rutile 19,812 23,683 19,035 15,513 18,171 Zircon 7,923 9,163 7,590 6,000 6,677 Zircon low grade1 546 780 578 426 516 Sales (tonnes) Ilmenite 106,544 87,819 102,364 75,502 53,798 Rutile 13,078 25,280 27,268 11,651 12,017 Zircon 7,090 7,377 9,086 7,336 6,399 Zircon low grade1 616 - 1,516 505 - [Note (1): Reported as tonnes of zircon concentrate, it typically realises between 30% to 50% of the value of the equivalent volume of standard grade zircon, due to rutile credits.] Mining operations continued according to plan on the South Dune orebody with mined tonnage increasing to 4.6Mt (last quarter: 3.9Mt) due to higher mining faces reducing the downtime associated with relocating mining units. The heavy mineral (HM) grade of ore mined was also higher at 3.68% (last quarter: 3.16%). This was driven by the mine path as well as better grade than predicted by the resource model in some areas mined. Mining & WCP Performance Dec 2019 Quarter Mar 2020 Quarter June 2020 Quarter Sept 2020 Quarter Dec 2020 Quarter Ore mined (tonnes) 4,579,386 4,295,645 4,271,811 3,938,494 4,600,172 HM % 4.22 3.86 3.87 3.16 3.68 VHM % 3.29 2.98 2.95 2.32 2.81 HMC produced (tonnes) 189,952 153,754 148,699 103,730 142,309 Wet concentrator plant (WCP) production of heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) was higher at 142kt (last quarter: 104kt) due to a combination of higher mined tonnes and HM grades. HMC stocks increased to 14kt at quarter end (last quarter: 5kt). Sand tails continued to be deposited into the mined-out Central Dune area and significant progress was made with rehabilitation of the mined-out areas of the South Dune, with 49 hectares provisionally rehabilitated in the quarter. MSP Performance Dec 2019 Quarter Mar 2020 Quarter June 2020 Quarter Sept 2020 Quarter Dec 2020 Quarter MSP Feed (tonnes of HMC) 155,217 186,197 145,550 114,873 134,019 MSP feed rate (tph) 86 90 78 61 64 MSP recovery % Ilmenite 100 99 99 100 102 Rutile 102 99 100 102 102 Zircon 88 87 85 86 86 Total mineral separation plant (MSP) feed tonnage was higher than the prior quarter, due to improved HMC availability, while recoveries were generally steady. Consequently, production of all final products increased compared to the prior quarter. Bulk loading operations at the Company's Likoni Port facility continued to run smoothly, dispatching a combined 64kt of bulk ilmenite and rutile during the quarter (last quarter: 85kt). Containerised shipments of rutile and zircon through the Mombasa Port proceeded according to plan. Summary of unit costs & Revenue per tonne (US$) Dec 2019 Quarter Mar 2020 Quarter June 2020 Quarter Sept 2020 Quarter Dec 2020 Quarter Unit operating costs per tonne produced $140 $128 $153 $189 $161 Unit cost of goods sold per tonne sold $141 $175 $189 $192 $207 Unit revenue per tonne of product sold $355 $476 $479 $413 $464 Revenue: Cost of goods sold ratio 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.1 2.2 Total operating costs of US$16.8 million were marginally higher (last quarter: US$16.6 million) due to higher volumes mined and processed. Increased production levels resulted in lower unit operating costs of US$161 per tonne produced (rutile, ilmenite, zircon and low-grade zircon) (last quarter: US$189 per tonne). Unit cost of goods sold is influenced by both the underlying operating costs and product sales mix. Operating costs are allocated to each product based on revenue contribution, which sees the higher value rutile and zircon products attracting a higher cost per tonne than the lower value ilmenite. Therefore, the greater the sales volume of rutile and zircon relative to ilmenite in a quarter, the higher both unit revenue per tonne and unit cost of goods sold will be. Ilmenite, and most of the rutile, is sold in bulk, with typical shipment sizes of 50-54kt for ilmenite and 10-12kt for rutile, which means any given quarter will usually contain either one or two bulk rutile and ilmenite sales. Zircon is sold in smaller parcels and sales generally align with production volume. Product sales mix will therefore vary depending on the number of bulk shipments of ilmenite and rutile in each quarter. Cost of goods sold of US$207 per tonne sold (operating costs, adjusted for stockpile movements, and royalties) increased due to the higher proportion of rutile and zircon in the sales mix in the quarter (last quarter: US$192 per tonne). Average unit revenue increased to US$464 per tonne (prior quarter: US$413 per tonne) due to sales mix and increased ilmenite prices. From the combination of these factors, the revenue to cost of goods sold ratio for the quarter increased to 2.2 (last quarter: 2.1). FY21 PRODUCTION GUIDANCE Base Resources' production guidance for financial year ended 30 June 2021 (FY21) remains unchanged, albeit with ilmenite currently forecast to be towards the upper end of the guidance range. However, due to the ongoing inherent uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a halt to, or curtailment of, operations at some point in the future remains possible. In such an event, the Company may update or withdraw its FY21 production guidance, as appropriate in the circumstances. Kwale Operations FY21 production guidance remains at: Rutile - 70,000 to 80,000 tonnes. Ilmenite - 270,000 to 300,000 tonnes. Zircon - 23,000 to 27,000 tonnes. The above FY21 production guidance is based on the following assumptions: Mining of 17.2Mt at an average HM grade of 3.44%, with all remaining FY21 volume coming from Ore Reserves 2 . . Average MSP feed rate of 67tph. Average MSP product recoveries of 100.5% for rutile, 100% for ilmenite and 84% for zircon. [Note (2): The Ore Reserves estimate underpinning the above production guidance was prepared by Competent Persons in accordance with the JORC Code (2012 edition). For further information regarding the Ore Reserves estimate refer to Base Resources' announcement on 27 July 2020 "Updated Kwale South Dune Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves estimate" available at https://baseresources.com.au/investors/announcements/. The above production guidance is the result of detailed studies based on the actual performance of the Kwale mine and processing plant. These studies include the assessment of mining, metallurgical, ore processing, environmental and economic factors.] MARKETING Global pigment producers have indicated that the strong recovery in demand seen in the prior quarter continued through the December quarter and it is now estimated that global pigment production and titanium feedstock demand in 2020 exceeded that of 2019. In response to the improved demand, western pigment producers have been ramping up production rates from late in the prior quarter and through this quarter. Chinese pigment producers have continued to operate at high output rates as the domestic market improves and high volumes of pigment exports are sustained. Globally, pigment prices have been trending up through the quarter. Demand for ilmenite as a feedstock for Chinese pigment producers exceeded supply through the quarter resulting in further price gains for ilmenite. Ongoing strong demand and constrained supply will maintain a tight ilmenite market through the March quarter and is likely to result in further price increases. Rutile prices softened in the quarter due to a build-up of high-grade feedstock inventory during the early part of 2020 when western pigment producers were operating at low rates. The ramp up of western pigment production through the quarter has released pressure on feedstock inventory levels. Pigment customers are indicating that pigment demand has recovered faster than expected. This is expected to increase rutile demand and, as a minimum, stabilise rutile prices in the coming quarter and improves the outlook past this. In addition, an uplift in demand for rutile in the welding sectors throughout Asia, and the Chinese titanium metal sector, is expected to further support stabilisation of rutile market conditions and prices in early 2021. Demand for zircon improved through the quarter mainly due to an increase in zircon consumption in the European ceramics sector as economies emerged from lockdowns. Major tile producers and zircon millers in Europe, who had been holding minimal raw material inventories during lockdown, have sought to expedite new orders to enable a ramp up of production to capacity levels. The Chinese zircon market is gradually improving and there is optimism building for 2021. The management of zircon supply by some major producers to suit market conditions has been maintained and is enabling the zircon market to stabilise and recover. Sales contracts are in place for all Kwale Operations zircon production in the March quarter with prices flat compared to the December quarter. SAFETY There were no lost time injuries during the quarter or in the past year, at Kwale Operations' or the Toliara Project, resulting in a lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) for the group of zero. Compared to the Western Australian All Mines 2018/2019 LTIFR of 2.2, this is an exceptional performance reflective of the ongoing focus and importance placed on safety by management. Base Resources group employees and contractors have now worked 22.9 million hours lost time injury (LTI) free, with the last LTI recorded in early 2014. No medical treatment injuries were recorded during the quarter. With one medical treatment injury recorded in the last 12 months, the Base Resources group's total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) is 0.25 per million hours worked. COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT Kwale Operations Base Resources has continued to assist the Kwale community through the COVID-19 pandemic, including collaborating with county and national health authorities to provide awareness through community health workers on COVID-19 programs and providing additional community-based handwashing equipment to help improve sanitation. Food support programs were extended to cater for the economic impact on tourism and unemployment in the Kwale region. A school support program was implemented to assist with social distancing requirements with 2,900 school desks distributed to 25 schools across Kwale County and Likoni. Agricultural livelihood programs at Kwale saw good harvests for cotton, maize, sorghum and green grams. A temporary storage facility was built at the PAVI Business Park ahead of the completion of development of Business Park facilities with support from the national government. This will allow farmers to store cotton lint and other products in a secure and convenient location. Construction of social infrastructure continued with Mwalewa Girls Secondary School in Lunga Lunga nearing completion in time for commencement of the new academic year in January 2021. The Mwaembe water supply project, providing clean water to communities in Msambweni, also commenced with completion anticipated in the March quarter. Rehabilitation activities on the mined-out areas of the South Dune increased significantly in the quarter with community groups supplying indigenous legumes, grass seed and manure, and youth groups from local villages employed to assist with slope stabilisation, planting and road clearing. Toliara Project All community training programs and social infrastructure construction remained on hold with the Government of Madagascar's suspension of the Toliara Project's on-the-ground activities. The 24 Malagasy apprentices training in Kenya at Kwale Operations have remained on site and continue to progress through their two-year apprenticeship programs. Base Resources continued to work with local authorities to assist in the response to the pandemic in the Toliara region by supporting face mask production in conjunction with a leading local women's group, with over 80,000 re-usable masks now produced and donated to the community. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Toliara Project development - Madagascar In November 2019, the Government of Madagascar required the Company to temporarily suspend on-the-ground activity on the Toliara Project while discussions on fiscal terms applying to the project were progressed3. Activity remains suspended as Base Resources continues to engage the Government in relation to the country's Large Mining Investment Law (LGIM) regime, fiscal terms applicable to the Toliara Project and the lifting of the on-the-ground suspension. As noted in the Company's FY20 Full Year Results announcement4, with the suspension of activity, international travel restrictions and broader COVID-19 measures and impacts both in Madagascar and globally, the final investment decision (FID) to proceed with development of the Toliara Project has been delayed. Once fiscal terms are agreed and the suspension is lifted, there will be approximately 11 months' work to complete prior to FID. This work includes finalising financing, completing the land acquisition process and concluding major construction contracts. The resumption of international travel will also be required to complete a significant portion of this work. Key activities during the quarter included: Lenders' community and environmental due diligence progressing. Commencement of the construction insurance risk survey. Undertaking design works for the dedicated haul road bridge over the Fiherenana River. Continued negotiations with the preferred tenderers for the marine, piling and power contract packages. Ground water modelling work to allow drilling and borehole testing to commence shortly after lifting of the suspension of activities. Key activities planned for the coming quarter include: Further engagement with the Government, focused on agreeing fiscal terms and resumption of on-the-ground activities. Selecting the preferred piling contractor and commencing piling design at the export storage shed. Selecting the preferred power supply contractor, allowing power purchase agreement negotiations to commence. Progressing design of the haul road bridge over the Fiherenana River. Ongoing engagement with prospective lenders and joint venture partners. Total expenditure on the Toliara Project for the quarter was US$4.0 million (last quarter: US$3.5 million). [Note: (3)Refer to Base Resources' market announcement "Toliara Project - Government of Madagascar statement"released on 7 November 2019, which is available at https://baseresources.com.au/investors/announcements/. (4)Refer to Base Resources' market announcement "Base delivers strong financial results and maiden dividend"released on 24 August 2020, which is available at https://baseresources.com.au/investors/announcements/.] Extensional exploration - Kenya Mining tenure arrangements continued to progress with the Kenyan Ministry of Petroleum and Mining as a precursor to an anticipated updated Ore Reserves estimate to incorporate additional Mineral Resources defined within the Kwale Prospecting Licence (PL 2018/0119), but outside the current footprint of mining lease SML23. The pre-feasibility study for mining the North Dune Mineral Resources is scheduled for completion early in the June quarter. Following resolution of community access issues, auger drilling of a section of the northern Vanga Prospecting License (PL/2015/0042) commenced and will continue during the March quarter. Completion of the remaining drilling program (4,200 metres) in the North-East Sector (Kwale East) of PL 2018/0119 remains on hold pending community access being secured. Prospecting licence applications lodged for an area south of Lamu (applications 2019 0263, 0265, 0266), together with an area in the Kuranze region of Kwale county, about 70 km west of Kwale Operations (applications 2019 0260, 2510 and 2512), remain in progress through the granting process. A Government moratorium on the issuance of Prospecting Licenses in November 2019 has affected the progress of all licence applications. However, assessment of applications has recently recommenced which is seen as a precursor to the lifting of the moratorium. Expenditure on exploration activities in Kenya during the quarter was US$0.1 million (last quarter: US$0.2 million). CORPORATE Kenyan VAT receivable As previously announced, Base Resources has refund claims for VAT paid in Kenya, relating to both construction of the Kwale Project and the period since operations commenced, which totalled approximately US$16.6 million at 31 December 2020. Refunds totalling US$2.0 million were received during the quarter (last quarter: US$1.8 million). Base Resources is continuing to actively engage with the Kenyan National Treasury and the Kenya Revenue Authority in relation to the outstanding VAT refund claims and is also taking steps under the investment agreement to secure its position with respect to the VAT paid during construction of the Kwale Project. Maiden dividend payment Following the Company's strong FY20 financial performance and reflecting our determination to deliver concrete returns to shareholders, the Board determined a maiden dividend of AUD 3.5 cent per share, unfranked, in August 2020. The maiden dividend was paid to shareholders on 7 October 2020, resulting in a cash payment of US$29.8 million (in aggregate) in the quarter. FY21 interim financial results The Company is targeting release of its FY21 interim consolidated financial statements in the week commencing 22 February 2021. Confirmation of timing and shareholder and investor call details will be advised closer to the planned release. In summary, as at 31 December 2020: Net cash of US$74.6 million , consisting of: Cash and cash equivalents of US$99.6 million . Revolving Credit Facility debt of US$25.0 million . , consisting of: 1,178,011,850 fully paid ordinary shares on issue. 74,997,738 performance rights on issue pursuant to the terms of the Base Resources Long Term Incentive Plan, comprising: 4,009,286 vested performance rights, which remain subject to exercise 5 . 70,988,452 unvested performance rights subject to performance testing in accordance with their terms of issue. [Note (5): Vested performance rights have a nil cash exercise price. Unless exercised beforehand, these rights expire five years after vesting.] Forward looking statements Certain statements in or in connection with this announcement contain or comprise forward looking statements. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with regard to capital cost, capacity, future production and grades, sales projections and financial performance and may be (but are not necessarily) identified by the use of phrases such as "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe" and "envisage". By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and may be outside Base Resources' control. Accordingly, results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in economic and market conditions, success of business and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, fluctuations in product prices and exchange rates and business and operational risk management. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or relevant stock exchange listing rules, Base Resources undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after today's date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. ENDS. For further information contact: James Fuller, Manager Communications and Investor Relations UK Media Relations Base Resources Tavistock Communications Tel: +61 (8) 9413 7426 Jos Simson and Barnaby Hayward Mobile: +61 (0) 488 093 763 Tel: +44 (0) 207 920 3150 Email: jfuller@baseresources.com.au This release has been authorised by the Board of Base Resources. About Base Resources Base Resources is an Australian based, African focused, mineral sands producer and developer with a track record of project delivery and operational performance. The Company operates the established Kwale Operations in Kenya and is developing the Toliara Project in Madagascar. Base Resources is an ASX and AIM listed company. Further details about Base Resources are available at www.baseresources.com.au PRINCIPAL & REGISTERED OFFICE Level 1, 50 Kings Park Road West Perth, Western Australia, 6005 Email: info@baseresources.com.au Phone: +61 (0)8 9413 7400 Fax: +61 (0)8 9322 8912 NOMINATED ADVISOR RFC Ambrian Limited Stephen Allen Phone: +61 (0)8 9480 2500 BROKER Berenberg Matthew Armitt / Detlir Elezi Phone: +44 20 3207 7800 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 23:48:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Bolivia on COVID-19 vaccines, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday in a phone conversation with his Bolivian counterpart, Luis Arce. In the past 36 years since China and Bolivia established diplomatic relations, they have made steady progress in bilateral ties, Xi said. Especially during the Morales administration, the two sides have seen close high-level exchanges, rapid expansion of economic and trade cooperation and sound coordination in multilateral affairs, Xi added. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has provided Bolivia with material and technical assistance to fight the epidemic through various channels, he said. China will continue supporting Bolivia in the anti-epidemic fight within its capacity, Xi said. Xi stressed that China has always treated Bolivia as a good friend and a good partner, and attached great importance to the China-Bolivia strategic partnership. China supports Bolivia in exploring a development path that fits its national conditions, and in continuously raising the "better life" index of the Bolivian people, Xi said. China is willing to enhance policy communication and coordination, share governance experience and learn from each other, deepen political mutual trust and support each other, Xi said. He called on the two sides to review their practical cooperation to make better plans, and jointly promote construction of the Belt and Road cooperation. China is glad to see Bolivia making full use of such platforms as China International Import Expo to promote its quality products with characteristics, Xi said. China supports businesses of the two sides in expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure construction, telecommunication and other fields, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation in accordance to the epidemic situation, Xi said. The two sides should conduct close cooperation within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and work to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. Xi said he believes that with joint efforts, the China-Bolivia strategic partnership will continue to achieve new results. For his part, Arce said that Bolivia and China have forged an unbreakable traditional friendship. Bolivia cherishes the brotherly friendship with China and sincerely hopes to consolidate and build closer bilateral relations, he said. Arce expressed gratitude for China's invaluable support for Bolivia in the fight against COVID-19 and expectation for more assistance from China. Bolivia is ready to better synergize its development strategies with China, deepen cooperation in various fields and elevate their strategic partnership to a new level, he said. Bolivia is willing to work with China to actively build the Belt and Road and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Arce said. Enditem Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "Global Sushi Restaurants Market" with 100+ pages of analysis on business Strategy taken up by key and emerging industry players and delivers know how of the current market development, landscape, technologies, drivers, opportunities, market viewpoint and status. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth. Some of the Major Companies covered in this Research are GENKI SUSHI (Japan), HAMAZUSHI (Japan), Kura Corporation (Japan), Peace Dining Corporation (USA) & Sushiro Global Holdings (Japan) etc. Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1495134-global-sushi-restaurants-market-1 Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "Sushi Restaurants Market by Application (????????????), by Product Type (, Product Type Segmentation, RDSR & CBSR), Business scope, Manufacturing and Outlook Estimate to 2025". The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have significantly affecting the Infrastructure in overall market in 2020. The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought effects on many aspects, like flight cancellations; travel bans and quarantines; restaurants closed; all indoor events restricted; over forty countries state of emergency declared; massive slowing of the supply chain; stock market volatility; falling business confidence, growing panic among the population, and uncertainty about future. Know more with latest edition of Global Sushi Restaurants Market Study; Early buyers will receive 20% customization free on report for more information or any query mail at sales@htfmarketreport.com At last, all parts of the Global Sushi Restaurants Market are quantitatively also subjectively valued to think about the Global just as regional market equally. This market study presents basic data and true figures about the market giving a deep analysis of this market based on market trends, market drivers, constraints and its future prospects. The report supplies the worldwide monetary challenge with the help of Porter's Five Forces Analysis and SWOT Analysis. If you have any Enquiry please click here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1495134-global-sushi-restaurants-market-1 Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per your needs for added data up to 3 businesses or countries or 40 analyst hours. On the basis of report- titled segments and sub-segment of the market are highlighted below: Global Sushi Restaurants Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2019 to 2025) : Reserving seats, Ordering food Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2019 to 2025) : RDSR & CBSR Global Sushi Restaurants Market by Key Players: GENKI SUSHI (Japan), HAMAZUSHI (Japan), Kura Corporation (Japan), Peace Dining Corporation (USA) & Sushiro Global Holdings (Japan) Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Sushi Restaurants in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering China, USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia & South America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2019 to 2025. Informational Takeaways from the Market Study: The report Sushi Restaurants matches the completely examined and evaluated data of the noticeable companies and their situation in the market considering impact of Coronavirus. The measured tools including SWOT analysis, Porter's five powers analysis, and assumption return debt were utilized while separating the improvement of the key players performing in the market. Key Development's in the Market: This segment of the Sushi Restaurants report fuses the major developments of the market that contains confirmations, composed endeavors, R&D, new thing dispatch, joint endeavours, and relationship of driving members working in the market. To get this report buy full copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1495134 Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the Global Sushi Restaurants Market : Q 1. Which Region offers the most rewarding open doors for the market Ahead of 2020? Q 2. What are the business threats and Impact of COVID scenario Over the market Growth and Estimation? Q 3. What are probably the most encouraging, high-development scenarios for Sushi Restaurants movement showcase by applications, types and regions? Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in Sushi Restaurants Market in 2019 and beyond? Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in Sushi Restaurants Market? For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1495134-global-sushi-restaurants-market-1 Key poles of the TOC: Chapter 1 Global Sushi Restaurants Market Business Overview Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [RDSR & CBSR] Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume) Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown .. Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type .. Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis) Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 20:11:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iran was able to export 28 billion U.S. dollars worth of non-oil commodities in the past 10 months, despite the U.S. sanctions, official news agency IRNA reported. "Despite all the hardships, we had about 30 billion U.S. dollars in imports and more than 28 billion dollars in non-oil exports in the first 10 months of this (Iranian) year (starting from March 20, 2020)," Rouhani said at an online inauguration ceremony of irrigation projects in several provinces. The COVID-19 epidemic, he noted, "nearly shut down" Iranian exports for three months between February and May, 2020. Commenting on Tehran's agricultural policies, Rouhani stressed the importance of food self-sufficiency for Iran, especially during the coronavirus epidemic. Rouhani stressed his two administration's achievements saying that more than 521,000 hectares of land were rehabilitated, equipped, canalized, drained, pumped and piped in the past seven years in Iran. He said Iranian farmers' yields quadrupled during the same period. Enditem On Jan. 18, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a late-night phone call to the home of 93-year-old Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky in Bnei Brak. What Netanyahu wanted was for Kanievsky to make sure all ultra-Orthodox schools shut down and remain closed even if the nationwide closure is prolonged. It was his second call to the rabbis home in less than 10 days. Kanievsky is considered one of the top leaders of the ultra-Orthodox public, but until recently, he had been a relatively anonymous figure to the general, secular Israeli public. Only in the past year did Kanievsky become familiar to all Israelis, and not in a positive way. This rabbi is the one who instructed Heredi boys schools to open religious primary schools during the lockdowns despite government orders to the contrary. To many Israelis, the defiance of the Lithuanian leader in the ultra-Orthodox stream expressed the great power wielded by the ultra-Orthodox over the prime minister of Israel. Netanyahus political alliance with the ultra-Orthodox over the years protected him from electoral defeat. But as the prime ministers legal issues get riskier by the day, he has become more vulnerable. In fact, it seems that Netanyahus phone call to Kanievsky did him more harm than good. Israels morbidity rates continued to run rampant despite the successful vaccination campaign. Thus, at midnight on Jan. 8, the country went into closure, which is expected to last at least until Jan. 31. All commerce is closed and the educational system is shut down. Still, as aforementioned and contrary to government instructions, quite a few ultra-Orthodox schools continue to operate. This explains why the infection rates are much higher among the ultra-Orthodox versus the rest of the population. Evidently, much anger is being accumulated in the public over ultra-Orthodox disobedience, with some of the anger directed at Netanyahu. Back to Netanyahus phone call. Rabbi Kanievsky suffers from fragile health, so his phone calls are mostly taken by his 30-year-old grandson Yanky. That was the case with the one placed by the prime minister. Talking to the grandson, Netanyahu showed evidence of the grim reality: Dozens of people are dying every day, and the COVID-19 wards in the hospitals are terribly overcrowded. Still, Netanyahu did not receive an immediate answer from the rabbi. In fact, despite the prime ministers request, Rabbi Kanievsky did not send a clear directive that night to his people to stop the studies. Simultaneously, the media began to release reports and photos of ultra-Orthodox institutions that are open, on the background of horrific pictures of hospital wards that are collapsing due to the multitude of very sick coronavirus patients. At this point, Netanyahu understood that his alliance with the ultra-Orthodox bloc is causing him much political damage and immediately started to enforce law and order in the ultra-Orthodox cities. Suddenly, policemen raided Bnei Brak, Israels largest and most crowded ultra-Orthodox city, where they dispensed fines and faced down youths. These are steps that had never been adopted before so relentlessly. Then the ultra-Orthodox claimed they were being harassed. In short, all hell broke loose, a veritable war erupted at the beginning of the week in which a bus in the heart of Bnei Brak was set on fire; the police, for their part, responded with stun grenades and arrests. All this served to intensify the overall negative sentiments against the ultra-Orthodox sector, even on the parts of Likud voters. Netanyahu discovered in the polls the direct, negative repercussions of the events of recent days. According to the most recent poll taken by Channel 12, the prime minister lost two Knesset seats. The one who gained is Yair Lapid, who currently holds the posts of opposition chairman and Yesh Atid chairman. For years, Lapid has been fighting against ultra-Orthodox coercion and now leads the second-largest party in the country. These developments carry critical political significance for Netanyahu just two months before the March 23 elections. At the beginning of the week, it still seemed that he was on a roll due to the proven success of the vaccination campaign he led as well as of his electoral blitz with the Arab society. He thought victory was close, and then along came the aggressively contagious British mutation that turned everything upside down. Only minor containment has occurred since then. The result? Not only will schools and businesses remain closed, but now Netanyahu demands an extension of the closure. The fact that Israel is holding an election in two more months turns the COVID-19/ultra-Orthodox issue into a very explosive one. Yisrael Beitenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman, who has championed efforts to topple Netanyahu for two years already, said today the following: Most of the Israeli public abides by government decisions, behaves responsibly, but has become hostage to Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties. Instead of imposing a differential lockdown on towns where infection rates are between 20 and 30%, sometimes even more, they (the government) impose collective punishment on all of us. Until COVID-19 reared its head, it was difficult to inflict electoral damage on Netanyahu because of his contacts with the ultra-Orthodox. The reason was that other politicians, such as Defense Minister Benny Gantz, also courted the same group. But now things are toxic. Gantz is leading the struggle in the Knesset and the government to raise the fines on law-breakers of lockdown instructions a battle clearly waged against the ultra-Orthodox leadership and public. The person who summed up the situation most aptly was in fact ultra-Orthodox senior Knesset member Moshe Gafni. In an angry speech he made to the Knesset on Jan. 27, Gafni said, We, the ultra-Orthodox, have two problems: The first is that we look alike [all dressed in black and white], so if you see someone on a rampage and hes violent so then it must be me; he looks like me. And the second thing is that we are allied with Netanyahu; thats the situation. Now, all the anyone but Netanyahu runoff is being sent in our direction. If we had gone with Gantz, whom I feel is not suitable to be a prime minister nor even a Knesset member we wouldnt be under attack now. I have not heard one word in this discussion about how the Tel Aviv beaches are full. I havent heard about those underground nightclubs that operate during the lockdown; I havent heard anyone ganging up against them. Its disgraceful. It is difficult to assess the extent to which Netanyahu will suffer electorally due to his alliance with the ultra-Orthodox. But it is clear that he will, indeed, suffer. New COVID-19 cases and test positivity in the Winnipeg region dipped to levels not seen since October, as Manitoba reported 133 infections and eight more pandemic deaths. New COVID-19 cases and test positivity in the Winnipeg region dipped to levels not seen since October, as Manitoba reported 133 infections and eight more pandemic deaths. On Thursday, public health officials said 29 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in the Winnipeg health region, while the five-day positivity rate for the city sat at 5.4 per cent. Based on the provinces pandemic response system dashboard, the last time the city reported fewer than 29 cases in a single day was Oct. 17, when the provincewide test positivity rate was 4.7 per cent. Manitoba only began regularly reporting Winnipeg's test positivity rate prior to declaring code red in the capital Nov. 2. The most recent stretch of declining positivity rates in the region is the lowest in the public record. "Our case counts are coming down, right across the board," acting deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said Thursday. "Even in the North, it seems like things are stabilizing and coming down." However, Atwal said, more time needs to pass before officials will know if the recent easing of restrictions will alter the downward trajectory. "These orders are in effect for three weeks, and were going to be looking at blocks of between and two and four weeks going forward there afterwards," he said. "Well have a better idea in relation to the landscape at that time, in relation to the cases, all those other indicators we look at before we look at where these restrictions go (next)." Of the eight Manitobans to most recently die of COVID-19, six were residents in long-term care. Thursday's list included: a Winnipeg woman in her 60s; a woman in her 70s connected to an outbreak at Southeast care home (Winnipeg); a woman in her 80s connected to an outbreak at Heritage Life care home (Niverville); a woman in her 80s linked to an outbreak at Beausejour Hospital; a woman in her 90s linked to an outbreak at St. Norbert care home (Winnipeg); two women in their 90s connected to an outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre (Winnipeg); and a woman in her 90s at Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. The provinces COVID-19 death toll was at 821. New cases were reported in all regions: 61 in Northern Health, 19 in Prairie Mountain, 17 in Interlake-Eastern, and seven in Southern Health. The five-day test positivity rate for Manitoba was 8.7 per cent, the lowest since Nov. 3. On Wednesday, provincial labs performed 2,263 tests. Of the new cases in the North, Atwal said 41 were from First Nations communities, a number were identified in Thompson, a couple in The Pas, with others were scattered throughout. On Thursday, Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said 37 patients were receiving intensive care treatment related to COVID-19. In total, 277 were in hospital due to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. "The numbers are coming down. Its looking positive," Siragusa said. "It feels like its not happening as fast the number of active cases are decreasing, but they will catch up over time. So we need to get a couple of weeks, probably, before the numbers reflect the active cases that were seeing." Siragusa also provided an update on the asymptomatic surveillance testing pilot program at three Manitoba long-term care homes. She said the program continues to offer swabs to employees of Deer Lodge, Country Meadows (Neepawa) and Donwood Manor on a weekly basis. As of last Thursday, 1,422 tests had been performed since mid-December. Three positive results were returned. "Not all of them had direct patient care, but still it doesnt matter, its such a contagious virus that I think that the fact that we caught three is good," Siragusa said. "And the fact that it didnt spread to the residents... its a good news story." Siragusa said an announcement is expected as early as next week regarding further expansion of the program. Public health officials have been in conversation with long-term care operators about the resource demands and the benefits of such programs. "As you know, its been really busy in the PCHs, and we dont want to take away from patient care, but we do also want to make sure that we provide that extra layer of safety for them," Siragusa said. An outbreak was declared at St. Pauls Personal Care Home in The Pas. An outbreak at Samaritan House Ministries in Brandon has ended. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day. [January 28, 2021] General Mills Marks Inclusion Milestone For the 15th year, General Mills has earned a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. "At General Mills, we know we bring together remarkable people who are bonded over a love of food, and a love of people. We're proud of our track record for excellence on the Corporate Equality Index, because all truly are welcome at our table," said Jacqueline Williams-Roll, chief human resources officer, General Mills. "We put rigor, intentionality and accountability around fostering a culture of inclusivity, because we know it takes more than one program or one conversation." This designation was earned, in part, by the efforts of Betty's Family, General Mills' employee network for LGBTQ+ employees and allies. Betty's Family works tirelessly to promote an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves. In a year that upended how and where work got done, the network advanced key programming and created space, support and connection for the General Mills community. Highlights from the year include: Growing global support in Canada, Latin America and India; Celebrating Pride monh with the Pride Ride Car Parade; Hosting a virtual National Coming Out Day panel attended by over 900 employees; Creating community with virtual connections that celebrated life milestones, encouraged civic engagement and supported allyship. The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling in four central pillars: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and, corporate social responsibility. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. About General Mills General Mills is a leading global food company whose purpose is to make food the world loves. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki, BLUE and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2020 net sales of U.S. $17.6 billion. In addition, General Mills' share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005327/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told members of his caucus to 'cut that c**p out' as pro-Trump Republicans are feuding with those who backed the president's impeachment. McCarthy gave the warning on a Wednesday call, CNN first reported, when he also told caucus members 'no more attacks to one another,' including on Twitter. The leader's remarks came after Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who voted in favor of impeaching Trump, went after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green in a tweet after CNN revealed that she had indicated her support for executing prominent Democrats in Facebook posts in 2018 and 2019. 'She is not a Republican. There are many who claim the title of Republican and have nothing in common with our core values, Kinzinger tweeted, sharing the CNN piece. 'They are RINOS. She is a RINO.' Greene, CNN reported, was on the call with McCarthy Wednedsay. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told his GOP House caucus to 'cut that c**p out' as members were publicly feuding Among those were Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (left), who's in hot water over Facebook activity that indicated she was for executing top Democrats, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (right), one of the 10 Republicans to vote in favor of former President Donald Trump's impeachment Rep. Adam Kinziger said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had 'nothing in common with our core values' responding to CNN's reporting that the Georgia lawmaker had expressed support for executing prominent Democrats Greene, a Georgia Republican, has pushed the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory in the past and denied that Trump supporters were responsible for the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill, which was the reason Trump was impeached for a second time. CNN had reported Tuesday that on Facebook Greene had liked a post that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In an April 2018 post of Greene's on the Iran nuclear deal, Greene responded to a commenter who asked her, 'Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???,' the individual asked, referring to former President Barack Obama and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 'Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off,' Greene replied. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted and used Facebook to push back on CNN's reporting, suggesting the journalists were trying to 'cancel' her Greene's explanation of the controversial posts was that she hasn't always been in charge of her Facebook page. 'Over the years, I've had teams of people manage my pages. Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views. Especially the ones that CNN is about to spread across the internet,' Greene wrote on Facebook in anticipation of the story coming out. 'They are taking old Facebook posts from random users to try to cancel me and silence my voice,' Greene wrote. In a tweet, Greene, parroting Trump, called the CNN reporters who exposed her posts 'the enemy of the American people.' Clinton responded to CNN's reporting by recommending that Greene should be on a terror 'watch list.' Hillary Clinton reacted to the reporting by tweeting, 'This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene clapped back by saying that Hillary Clinton 'should be in jail' 'This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress,' Clinton tweeted Wednesday. Greene then clapped back, 'Actually @HillaryClinton, you should be in jail. #LockHerUp.' In the past, Greene, who has tried to distance herself from QAnon conspiracy theorists, has made online comments that suggest she believes in one of the most disturbing QAnon narratives, referred to as 'frazzledrip.' Vice News reported Wednesday that Greene had commented that she was familiar with a conspiracy theory involving Anthony Weiner's laptop that was seized by the FBI in 2016 after DailyMail.com reported that he was sexting with a minor. QAnon believers think the laptop contained a folder that said 'life insurance' with a video entitled 'frazzledrip.' Theorists believe the video - which doesn't exist - shows Clinton and her aide Huma Abedin, the ex-wife of Weiner, raping and bleeding out a young girl as part of a Satanic ritual. 'Frazzledrip' parallels the earlier 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory, which involved Clinton and other Democrats running a child sex trafficking ring out of a D.C. pizza parlor's basement, but is more gruesome. 'Frazzledrip' theorists also believe Clinton had New York Police Department officers who had seen the video murdered, using the explanation of suicide to cover up their deaths. On Tuesday, a reporter for the left-leaning Media Matters for America found posts from 2018 that showed Greene commenting that she was familiar with this particular QAnon conspiracy. Greene had written 'Yes Familia' under a post from a commenter who said, 'This is the mother of a NYPD officer who watched a horrific video seized on anthony weiners laptop of huma and hillary filleting a childs face. This was another hillary hit.' 'I post things sometimes to see who knows things. Most the time people dont. Im glad to see your comment. I've decided it's time to start doing a lot more videos and engage further in the fight. Most people honestly dont know so much. The [mainstream media] disinformation warfare has won for too long!' Greene wrote in an additional comment. After CNN's initial report came out, McCarthy said he would speak to Greene. 'These comments are deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congressman about them,' Mark Bednar, a spokesman for McCarthy, told Axios. McCarthy does have the ability to punish Greene should he decide her comments were serious enough to do so. In 2019, McCarthy stripped former Rep. Steve King of his committee assignments for sharing white supremacist views. King predicted in an interview with The Dispatch last year that McCarthy would use the threat of similar punishments to keep lawmakers like Greene in line. 'Hell hang the sin that he committed against me out in front of her like the sword of Damocles,' King said then. Gun control activist David Hogg recommended that punishment. 'Take her Committee assignments away,' he tweeted Wednesday. Hogg, who survived the Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting, also retweeted a video that had been going viral of Greene running after him on Capitol Hill asking him why he supported 'red flag laws that attack our Second Amendment.' During the 2-minute long video, Greene charges Hogg with 'using kids as a barrier' and taking money from George Soros. 'If school zones were protected with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings, did you know that?' she tells Hogg. Greene had previously labeled the Parkland shooting a 'false flag' operation. At Wednesday's White House press briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki chose not to wade into the controversy. 'We don't,' she answered when asked for reaction. 'And I'm not going to speak further about her, I think, in this briefing room,' Psaki added. A handful of House Democrats have spoken out and said Greene should resign. 'Words have consequences. @RepMTG should resign. If she doesn't, Congress needs to expel her. If you don't understand that calling for the murder of political rivals is a threat to democracy, you shouldn't be allowed to represent one,' tweeted Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democratic member in the same freshman class as Greene. The 20-day unpaid suspension of New Orleans' homeland security director, Collin Arnold, has been extended an additional 40 days after his drunk-driving arrest, a spokesman for Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Wednesday. He may return to his position after serving the suspension, but his driving privileges are to be revoked. Arnold was booked Jan. 7 with driving while intoxicated and careless driving after he was found passed out in a city-owned vehicle that had crashed into a parked car in the 2800 block of Canal Street. Mayor Cantrell has completed her review of the incident. Collin Arnold has been placed on unpaid suspension for 60 days, including the 20 days already elapsed, administration spokesman Michael Beau" Tidwell said. After that time, he is expected to resume his role as director of NOHSEP. In addition, his driving privileges for city vehicles have been revoked. We will have no further comment at this time." A police report says officers found Arnold unconscious behind the wheel of his city-issued Ford Expedition just after midnight and had to be awakened by an officer shaking his chest. Arnold, 46, smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared to be severely intoxicated, says the report by officer Jisang Kim. The drivers speed was slurred, spoke in incomplete sentences, and had droopy eyes as if he was about to fall asleep again, the report states. In a summary of Arnolds condition, Kim wrote, Impairment: Extreme; Odor of Alcoholic Beverage: Strong; Balance: Swaying; Speech: Incoherent. 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 Arnold was handcuffed then fell and struck his head on the pavement as he was being escorted to a police vehicle. Arnold received stitches at a nearby hospital before being taken to jail. He refused a breath test after his arrest, the report states, which by law forced him to surrender his drivers license. As director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Arnold has been a key member of Cantrells administration since she took office in 2018. He was one of the few political appointees she kept from the previous administration of Mayor Mitch Landrieu. After Arnolds arrest, Cantrell expressed her disappointment. She said she had communicated with Arnold about two hours before the crash. I am disappointed by the incident that occurred hours later, and deeply relieved that no one was hurt, Cantrell said. Collin Arnold has done a phenomenal job helping to keep this city and our people safe during an extraordinary and unprecedented series of challenges. We have a strong team at NOHSEP, and I am confident they will not let this hinder the great work they continue to do. Arnold has been at the forefront of City Hall's response to several major events over the past few years, including all of the hurricanes and tropical storms from 2020, the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel and the coronavirus pandemic. Pipeline 28 January 2021 After a particularly challenging year for the travel industry, The Hoxton eagerly awaits brighter days ahead and will open its doors in Rome in the spring. Coming as the 10th hotel for the brand, The Hoxton Rome will boast 192 bedrooms, a large coffee bar and takeaway counter, a light-flooded restaurant, and a beautiful outdoor terrace perfect for lapping up that Italian sunshine. Located in the tip of the Parioli neighbourhood, The Hoxton, Rome has some of the city's most beautiful parks and best neighbourhoods on its doorstep. Leafy Villa Borghese is in easy walking distance for guests to explore, as is the Coppede district, a charming area peppered with Art Nouveau buildings. Parioli itself is an upmarket neighbourhood, full of local trattorias and artsy boutiques, and the MACRO (Museum of Contemporary Art) and MAXXI (National Museum of 21st Century Art) for art buffs to make a beeline for. Ennismore Design Studio have impressively transformed the '70s building into a Hoxton, collaborating with Fettle Design for the public spaces, taking cues from the building's original details and the rich architecture of the Eternal City. As with all Hoxton hotels, the ground floor will be a destination for locals and travellers alike. Coming as something new for Rome as a place where guests are encouraged to sit and stay a while, this will comprise a large open lobby laden with statement vintage seating and set around a central fireplace; a sleek all-day diner with a farm-to-table ethos; sweeping coffee bar and shaded outdoor terrace. The hotel's 192 bedrooms draw references from the nostalgic interiors of classic Italian cinema, for which Rome is celebrated. These will feature rustic parquet floors, lacquered timbers and local stones, whilst the brightly coloured bathrooms nod to mid-century Italian design. Each room will feature rich timber wall panelling, a bespoke statement headboard and an eclectic mix of furniture. Some of the larger feature striking Murano glass chandeliers reclaimed from the building. L'Appartamento, set in the lower ground floor, is a dedicated meeting and events space with five rooms of varying size. Centred around a communal pantry kitchen, each room features timber floors, bold statement rugs, and vintage Italian accents. This unique and multi-functional space is one that's at the core of every Hoxton, perfect for intimate dining, events and parties when socialising returns once more! Tata Starbucks Private Limited has launched a heart-warming film, A feeling called Starbucks across its social media platforms, celebrating human connections and depicting touching emotional moments. Grounded in the brands mission to `Inspire and nurture the human spirit`, the film highlights feelings of joy, familiarity, a culture of warmth and belongingness as the key elements which help create the unparalleled, immersive Starbucks experience. To navigate through these unprecedented times, Starbucks has continued to provide its audience with innovative offerings and soul stirring campaigns. Our message through this film is to celebrate the warmth of human connections that form the very core of our brand`s values and helps build long-lasting emotional connections with our customers, partners and the communities we serve. said Navin Gurnaney, ceo, Tata Starbucks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Starbucks India (@starbucksindia) Considering the current times we are going through, it is more important for brands to be a beacon of hope and joy. Iconic brands make a place in peoples hearts by making them feel special. This film celebrates everything that makes Starbucks special for our customers. Be it the love for good coffee, warm smiles and the fact that we always go the extra mile. It recognises that the greatest joy is in people being seen and heard as they truly are, said Deepa Krishnan, Marketing Director, Tata Starbucks. Conceptualised and executed by Wavemaker India and directed by Pratap Dhulap, the film celebrates the ubiquitous Starbucks experience. Talking about the film, Karthik Nagarajan, Chief Content Officer, Wavemaker India said, "Starbucks is an iconic brand that stands for more than just coffee. To millions of consumers, it's a warm feeling of familiarity, comfort, inclusiveness and acceptance. Through the film, which is crafted and developed by our team, we want our consumers to experience this feeling. We're glad to partner in Starbucks' efforts to continue to bring people together with great coffee and a smile." *Come experience the Starbucks Feeling with this teaser With a focus on its mission of sustainability for its residents, the City of Porterville, California is putting 12 electric micro-transit vans into service. The 12 vehicles, all Class 3 Lightning Electric Transit Vans, were developed by Lightning eMotors. The vans are built on Ford Transit 350 HD chassis and are upfitted by NorCal Vans/Driverge of Chico, California to meet ADA requirements with support for wheelchair lifts and other customizations. The citys new all-electric passenger vans will be used for transporting residents around the community, such as from home to work and for shopping and other services. The electric vans will replace transit buses on routes with low ridership, allowing residents to use an app to get on-demand, curb-to-curb service. We look forward to serving our residents with quiet, zero-emission passenger vans. Air quality is top of mind in Porterville and throughout California. Our choice of battery-electric vehicles aligns with our mission of improving air quality and reducing our carbon footprint, while lowering costs at the same time. City of Porterville Transit Administrator Richard Tree Porterville configured their zero-emission Lightning Electric Transit Van with seats for seven passengers and a wheelchair securement area. They have 86 kWh of battery capacity with a range of 120 miles. The vans can be charged in just over an hour by a 50kW DC fast charger. Fully owned by the City of Porterville, the new vans were partially funded with special funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). The voucher program reduces the upfront cost of advanced zero-emission fleet vehicles and requires manufacturers to have CARB and HVIP certification to participate. The City of Porterville offers its on-demand curb-to-curb, ride-hailing service for only $3 to its residents. The new electric vans will be a part of that service beginning in May. Our Lightning Electric Transit 350HD passenger van is ideally suited to the emerging micro-transit model. Our vehicles are produced in a modular configuration to support features such as wheelchair lifts, aftermarket HVAC systems, and third-party seating configurations. The combination of performance and range, as well as the quiet and smooth passenger experience that comes from riding in a battery-electric vehicle, all contribute to making it a great choice for door-to-door transit. Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotor Unlike scheduled transit buses, on-demand routes are not consistent. This makes it critical to know each vehicles location and state of battery charge at all times. With that in mind, the City of Portervilles new electric vans have telematics software that provide drivers real-time range, diagnostics, and efficiency data. We integrated the telematics software that the city is using from ViriCiti with Lightning Analytics, our cloud-based analytics system that provides predictive maintenance, route scoring, range analysis, driver behavior, and geofencing for maximum range and efficiency. Tim Reeser The sophisticated data capture and analysis provided by the telematics software is key, Tree said. Page Content On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of TEATT Ludmila de Weever, and a delegation including the Ministry of VSA, attended a cooperation meeting held by Prefet Delegue for St. Martin and St. Barths Serge Gouteyron together with Secretary-General Julien Marie and Regional Health Agency (ARS) Territorial Director Paul Guibert to discuss measures each are taking to safeguard public health as it relates to COVID-19. Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and the ARS have been meeting weekly to update and discuss response measures to the pandemic such as the synchronization of communication in preparation for the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine. Both delegations discussed the status of COVID-19 on both sides of the island and areas where the synchronization could improve. Health protocols, testing, travel restrictions as a result of the variants of COVID-19 and business closing hours, as well as the discouraging of events attracting large gatherings were also subjects discussed. During the meeting, Prime Minister Jacobs and Minister De Weever were able to relay the decision of the Council of Ministers to cancel Carnival and Heineken Regatta for 2021 in the interest of the general health of all residents and visitors after consultations with the various relevant stakeholders. Prime Minister Jacobs informed the delegation about the massive testing efforts headed by CPS in regard to the free drive through testing that began on January 11th, for all members of the community. Prefet Gouteyron expressed that the ARS reported a similar average of positive cases per day on French Saint-Martin. Minister De Weever also reassured that increased controls and enforcement are taking place in an effort to ensure compliance and safety for all. Prefet Gouteyron and his delegation were also updated on governments preparations for the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines which are expected to arrive from the Netherlands by mid-February. The plans which are being spearheaded by the Ministry of VSA COVID-19 Taskforce will ensure St. Maarten is well prepared once the vaccines arrive including a public awareness campaign. Prefet Gouteyron also highlighted their vaccination plan and challenges experienced with low interest in taking the vaccine. Both parties agreed that continued and improved cooperation and collaboration are key to safeguard the entire population and keep infections manageable, and pledged to continue to meet each halfway to realize such. Prime Minister Jacobs stated, The cooperation meeting held was a fruitful one in which much agreement was made moving forward with the established health protocols being implemented by both sides of the island in combating the COVID-19 virus. We have already synchronized our travel restrictions to both sides of the island in order to avoid importing the more contagious new variants of the virus to the island. The percentage of imported cases of COVID-19 remain below 1%, therefore, our efforts also remain in decreasing the local spread of the virus. As such, we can now say that we are much further in combating the virus together compared to when we began synchronizing our health measures. It remains paramount that we continue to collaborate and synchronize our efforts in order to ensure the safety and health of the general public. As Prefet Gouteyron mentioned more than once, (main dans la main) hand in hand we will be able to do so. SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG.com) has announced it has earned the 2021 Top Workplaces USA award, issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. This is the inaugural year for Top Workplaces USA, built on the program's 14-year history surveying more than 20 million employees across 54 markets for the regional Top Workplaces awards. "Every year we strive to continue to get better at DGDG and winning this award helps continue to tell the story about our culture and the happiness of our team," said DGDG CEO, Shaun Del Grande. "Because this ranking is earned by employee feedback, it solidifies what we are doing every day to provide all 850 DGDG team members with purpose-driven work and opportunities to grow." Top Workplaces USA offers national recognition for large organizations, those with more than 150 employees, and those that may have operations in multiple markets. Several thousand organizations from across the country were invited, and more than 1,100 participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. "During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business." ABOUT DGDG The Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) is the Bay Area's largest family-owned automotive group. The dealer group comprises 14 brands and 12 dealerships in the Bay Area. DGDG's team of over 800 employees is committed to making Happy Car Buyers with a Best-In-Class dealership experience and their No Brainer Pricing. For more information, visit DGDG.com. A key factor to our success is our unique culture and our never-ending desire to get better. Our culture is based on the DGDG Core Values of Integrity, Caring, Performance and Efficiency. Whether it's through our exclusive No Brainer Pricing or No Brainer Deals, making guests happy is our top priority. Project 100 is our commitment to providing an exceptional experience for our guests. We focus on providing 100% customer satisfaction to 100% of our customers 100% of the time. ABOUT ENERGAGE Making the world a better place to work together. Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 22 million employees surveyed across more than 66,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com. SOURCE Del Grande Dealer Group Related Links https://www.dgdg.com/ Through the move the company expands its coverage to Manitoba Starseeds medical marketplace is built around a Canadian virtual pharmacy system that takes online orders and has the ability to intuitively complete the claims management process seamlessly with insurance carriers ( ) ( ) (FRA:4WE), a licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis, said on Thursday that its subsidiary Starseed Medicinal Inc has added eligible members of Manitoba-headquartered Labourers International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 1258, to its full-service medical cannabis program. The Toronto-based company said that eligible members and their dependents can now access Starseed products through their benefits provider. LiUNA is the largest construction union in Canada which provides benefit coverage to over 300,000 people, including members and their dependents. With the addition of LiUNA Local 1258, it becomes the sixth local to be onboarded onto Starseeds ground-breaking medical cannabis program, joining Ontario chapters with locals in Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor and London currently enrolled in the program, said the company. We congratulate LiUNA and its newest eligible members from Local 1258 in Manitoba for continuing to make history in Canada and around the world as a leader in actively providing important medical cannabis coverage as an alternate therapy and way to combat the opioid crisis, said George Scorsis, the executive chairman and interim CEO of WeedMD. Starseed has been providing cannabis education and a full-service medical platform rooted in medical-grade cannabis products to LiUNA members since 2018, and we welcome Local 1258 to our unique program. Meanwhile, Victor DaSilva, who is the business manager of LiUNA Local 1258 noted that for generations, the LiUNA 1258 multi-employer health and welfare benefit trust plan has been providing affordable quality coverage to its members including retirees and their dependents and it is pleased to be expanding that offering to include medical cannabis. With Starseed Medicinal, our eligible members now have access to some of the most trusted products in Canada to suit their individual healthcare needs as we look to foster access to medical cannabis education and ease of access, added DaSilva. Starseeds medical program is built around a system that brings together clinical practitioners who specialize in chronic pain, opioid cessation, and diabetes. Its medical marketplace is built around a Canadian virtual pharmacy system that takes online orders and has the ability to intuitively complete the claims management process seamlessly with insurance carriers. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive Studying the creation and evolution of sulfur-containing compounds in outer space is essential for understanding interstellar chemistry. CS2 is believed to be the most important molecule in comet nuclei, interstellar dust, or ice cores. CS and S2 are the photodissociation fragments of CS2. Forty years ago, the emission spectra of only CS and S2 species, and not those of CS2 species, were observed from several comets by the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite. The photodissociation mechanism of CS2 molecules remains unclear, and S2 fragments have not been experimentally observed before. Recently, a team led by Prof. YUAN Kaijun from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in cooperation with Prof. WANG Xing'an's group from the University of Science and Technology of China, observed the C+S2 product channel from CS2 photodissociation for the first time using a home-made Time-Sliced Velocity Map Ion Imaging (TS-VMI) experimental setup, based on the Dalian Coherent Light Source (DCLS). This study, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters on January 11 2021, provided direct experimental evidence for the origin of the interstellar medium S2 fragments observed previously. The researchers investigated the two-photon ultraviolet (UV) and one-photon vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation dynamics of CS2 molecules via the VUV free-electron laser (FEL) at DCLS. They directly observed the C+S2 product channel from CS2 photodissociation and obtained images of the electronically ground/excited states of S2 products with vibrational excitation. Moreover, the researchers analyzed the product scattering anisotropy parameter value. The electronically-excited states of the central atom of the CS2 molecule played an important role in the isomerization and photodissociation processes. This research demonstrated that interstellar medium S2 fragments could be directly generated from CS2 photodissociation. "Given the similarity of OCS studied in our previous works and CS2 in this work, we believe that the central-atom elimination channel is more general than expected in the photodissociation of triatomic molecules," stated Prof YUAN. ### This work was supported by the Chemical Dynamics Research Center, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Key Technology Team of CAS. In August 1896, Keish (Skookum Jim Mason), his nephew Kaa Goox (Dawson Charlie), Shaaw Tlaa (Kate Carmack), and her husband, George Carmack, discovered gold nuggets in Rabbit (Bonanza) Creek, in Canada's Yukon Territory. This amazing find sparked a three-year stampede of prospectors seeking riches in the far northern wilderness. The mining boom it produced put Canada on the map as a leading gold producer and spurred Yukon's entry into Confederation. It even accelerated the creation of the Royal Canadian Mint's Ottawa facility and its world-class gold refinery. The gold rush also had devastating consequences on the local environment and for the communities of original Indigenous inhabitants of the Klondike region. They were displaced and their traditional way of life undermined a legacy Canada is still grappling with today. The reverse of this coin features the artwork of accomplished coin designer Steve Hepburn. His illustration of a miner's hands holding a gold pan is one of the most enduring symbols of the Gold Rush. The gravel inside the pan and the water shimmering within it as the material is rinsed to reveal precious gold flecks are engraved in exquisite details. Water pouring out of the pan over the coin's security mark also brings the scene to life. The coin bears the signature radial lines of all Mint bullion coins, as well as a micro-engraved maple leaf mark showing the number 21 to correspond to its year of issue. It is presented in credit card-style packaging that includes a certificate of purity signed by the Mint's Chief Assayer. The 2021 $250 Pure Gold Pysanka Coin There are more than three million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage and the time-honoured folk tradition of pysanka, derived from the verb pysaty (to write), still flourishes in Western Canada, and part of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. It is a spring time ritual where eggs are decorated with intricate designs and patterns using a written-wax batik method. While there are thousands of possible motifs, designs frequently feature geometric and plant themes. This egg-shaped coin, crafted from nearly two troy ounces of 99.99% pure gold, features a pysanka design by Canadian artist Dave Melnychuk. The central motif of a rooster is a well-known symbol of fertility and reawakening. Its tail feathers are adorned with beautiful sunflowers and each flower has eight petals, a number that is symbolic of eternity and equilibrium. The rooster is surrounded by an Eternal Band ("bezkonechnyk"), with radiating sunbursts that represent good fortune and growth. Each element of this intricate pysanka is engraved in minute detail. The obverse of the coin features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. Images of these new coins are available here. About the Royal Canadian Mint The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins and provides fully-integrated precious metals services. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint For further information: Alex Reeves, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Tel: (613) 884-6370, [email protected] Related Links https://www.mint.ca/ Facebook to Reduce Political Content on Platform Facebook is working toward reducing the amount of political content on the platform following feedback from its users, the company CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday. One of the top pieces of feedback were hearing from our community right now is that people dont want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our services, Zuckerberg wrote in a post. Were currently considering steps we could take to reduce the amount of political content in News Feed as well. Were still working through exactly the best ways to do this. He said that the platform would still allow people to join political groups such as grassroots movements and join discussions, for example, to speak out against injustice. But the platform will cease recommending civic and political groups for the long terma policy they expect to expand globally. Facebook was one of the Silicon Valley companies that began engaging in more targeted moderation of users content following criticism that it allowed its users to spread misinformation. In the past few months, it has deployed a number of policies aimed at stopping misinformation and preventing violence from its users. In the lead up to and around the election, Facebook began increasing its policing of posts from former President Donald Trump that raised concerns about election integrity and alleged voter fraud. Following the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach, the company ramped up its policy enforcement, removing groups and speech that it claimed could incite violence and hate. It followed Twitter in locking Trump from his account. In the lead up to Inauguration Day, the company said that it was removing all content that contained the phrase stop the steal. The phrase was used by supporters of Trump who were calling on Congress and state legislators to investigate the integrity of the 2020 general election. Multiple rallies under the Stop the Steal slogan were seen across the country following the Nov. 3 election. Facebook has also banned ads for weapons, ammunition, and firearm enhancements such as silencers, and later announced that it was temporarily banning ads that promote firearm accessories and protective gear in the United States. The company said the moves were necessary to prevent users from using its platform to engage in violence. The companys enforcement of its policy has been repeatedly criticized for alleged unbalanced moderation, with critics saying that much of the policing targets conservatives and people deemed supporters of Trump. An undercover investigation by Project Veritas released in June 2020 revealed that at least one of Facebooks algorithms seemed designed to flag predominantly right-leaning content, according to a former moderator. The investigation also recorded a Facebook moderator saying that the company applies different standards between left-leaning and right-leaning content. Facebook did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment on Project Veritass report. Shortly afterwards in August, Facebook announced that it would be taking enforcement action against QAnon supporters, Antifa extremists, and U.S.-based militia organizations. In October, after Trump was diagnosed with CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, Facebook said it would remove posts that hoped for Trumps death. Perceived unbalanced moderation of users content by social media companies has raised concerns over First Amendment rights and a lack of checks and balances for decisions made by these Big Tech companies. Efforts to limit or eliminate liability protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act for companies that have engaged in censoring or political conduct have been heavily discussed in the past year. Hong Kong: Michael Wong visits construction site Secretary for Development Michael Wong today visited a construction site at Muk Yuen Street in Kai Tak to learn about the testing arrangement for construction workers under the Construction Industry COVID-19 Testing Service Scheme. He also inspected the preventive measures against the virus used at the site. Mr Wong thanked the construction industry for its relentless effort in fighting the epidemic by taking the initiative to launch the industry-led testing scheme. He said: "As the industry is familiar with the surroundings and operations at sites, the implementation of the scheme has taken full account of the actual operational needs at the sites. "When a worker preliminarily tests positive for the virus, the main contractor can quickly arrange site disinfection and follow-up work. This helps prevent an outbreak." The Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) jointly launched the scheme on December 22 last year with the support of the Development Bureau to arrange for a professional testing service provider to visit public and private construction sites and provide voluntary COVID-19 testing for construction workers and site personnel. With a subsidy provided by the CIC and the HKCA, developers and main contractors only need to pay part of the testing fee. The scheme has so far provided testing services to more than 22,000 workers at 93 sites, and 99.98% of their test results were negative. Four confirmed COVID-19 cases have been identified and were handled by the Centre for Health Protection. The contractors concerned were also notified promptly and arranged follow-up work. The HKCA also established inspection teams to review preventive measures adopted at various construction sites, such as management of site entrances, provision of ventilation facilities and resting area arrangement, and offer recommendations for improvement. Main contractors interested in participating in the scheme are required to submit completed application forms by January 31. Meanwhile, the Government has provided a one-off free COVID-19 voluntary testing service to all registered construction workers at community testing centres until January 31. This story has been published on: 2021-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at House GOP leadership for putting QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on the Education committee, pointing to past comments of Greene's in which the Georgia Republican said school shootings were 'staged.' 'What could they be thinking? Or is thinking too generous a word for what they might be doing. It's absolutely appalling and I think that the focus has to be on the Republican leadership of this House of Representatives for the disregard they have for the death of those children,' Pelosi said Thursday at her weekly press conference. Pelosi said top Republicans were willing to 'overlook' Greene's comments 'when she has mocked the killing of little children,' pointing specifically to the massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after House GOP leadership for assigning QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the Education committee after she's previously suggested mass shootings like Parkland and Sandy Hook were 'staged' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is under fire for social media posts, including one where she indicates support for executing Pelosi, and for a video that shows her harassing Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg On Wednesday, a video went viral that showed now Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (back left and right) following Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg (left) around Capitol Hill's campus, chiding him for his support of gun control measures Children are escorted out of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14 2012 after a mass casualty shooting at the school Greene, who was sworn-in earlier this month, was placed on the House Education & Labor Committee over the objection of the Democratic chair of the panel. Pelosi had been asked about Greene's social media postings - and what Pelosi would like to see happen to the Georgia lawmaker. Since a Tuesday CNN report on Greene's Facebook posts, California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez introduced a resolution to expel Greene from Congress, while other House Democrats have called for her resignation. David Hogg, who survived the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, recommended that Greene be stripped of her committee assignments, a step House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took in 2019 to punish then Rep. Steve King for making racist statements. A video went viral Wednesday of Greene following Hogg around Capitol Hill before she was a member of Congress. During the 2-minute long video, Greene charges Hogg with 'using kids as a barrier' and taking money from George Soros. Greene asks Hogg why he supported 'red flag laws that attack our Second Amendment.' Greene talked about being armed. 'If school zones were protected with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings, did you know that?' she tells Hogg. The video was making the rounds on the heels of a CNN report that said Greene had indicated support on Facebook in 2018 and 2019 for executing top Democrats, including Pelosi. Greene had liked a post that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' to remove Pelosi from office. In an April 2018 post of Greene's on the Iran nuclear deal, Greene responded to a commenter who asked her, 'Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???,' the individual asked, referring to former President Barack Obama and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 'Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off,' Greene replied. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's office initially said in a statement that the House GOP leader would 'have a conversation' with Greene about her 'deeply disturbing' comments, referring to CNN's report on her Facebook posts. Greene has previously shown support for the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, which centers on the ex-president making moves against a Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic, child sex trafficking ring filled with Democratic politicians and prominent liberals. An obscure Reddit forum, a failing games shop, and a saga that could end up costing Wall Street billions - welcome to the bizarre trading scheme that is shaking up stock markets across the world. Gangs of armchair investors, using a page called Wallstreetbets to organise, have been roving the internet in recent days - buying up failing stocks in order to hurt predatory investors, with only half a thought to making money in the process. But how? It involves taking advantage of a process called 'short selling', which effectively reverses the way the stock market traditionally works. Instead of buying a stock in the hope company does well and the price goes up, then selling for a profit, shorting involves betting against a stock in the hope the value goes down, and then pocketing a share of the difference. The catch is that, if the investors are wrong and the price actually goes up, they will end up losing potentially huge sums of money, depending on how far the price rises. Enter Reddit. Amateur investors organising around a Reddit page called Wallstreetbets have sent failing shares in companies around the world soaring after pulling off a similar stunt with GameStop Shares include theatre owners AMC (seen above) which is swinging wildly today as amateur investors went in search of unloved shares to buy, and hedge funds to hurt Blackberry was also among the companies targeted Phone-maker Nokia was also among companies whose stocks were caught up in the furore American homewares store Bed, Bath & Beyond has also seen its stocks hit The current trend began when one eagle-eyed Redditor noticed that investors had placed very hefty bets against games retailer GameStop. Using cheap trading platforms such as Robinhood, Redditors then began buying up the stock, driving the price up while knowing that in order to cash-out their bet, investors would have to bump up the price further. That would mean the initial Reddit investors made a profit, while simultaneously inflicting losses on the investors. How does 'shorting' a stock actually work? Stocks typically benefit investors if the price goes up - they buy stock, the price increases if the company does well, then they sell it for a profit. But there is a way to reverse that process. Known as 'shorting', it involves placing a bet against a company that means a trader makes money when the value goes down. To do this, a trader borrows stock off a broker, usually for a fee, which they immediately sell - but with a clause saying that they have to buy back that stock by a certain date and return it to the broker. If the value of the stock goes down, then the trader buys it back for less than the sale price, returning the stock to the broker along with the fee and keeping the rest of the money for themselves. But, if the stock price rises, they will be forced to buy for more than the sale price, making a loss in the process. While this sometimes happens by accident, other traders can deliberately boost the price in a process known as a 'short squeeze' - which is what Reddit did. This benefits the 'squeezers' because they know that at some point, the short-sellers will be legally obliged to buy back their borrowed stocks, driving the price up further. It also inflicts heavy losses on the short-sellers, since the amount they lose is tied to the amount the stock rises - they are effectively 'punished' for betting against the company, which is what some Redditors appear to be interested in. Advertisement As the hedge fund's losses began piling up, vindictive investors then began pouring even more cash into GameStop, seemingly with no other intention other than to hurt Wall Street and one fund in particular, named Melvin Capital. At one point Elon Musk - himself no fan of short-selling investors - doubled the price of the stock with a one-word tweet that read simply: 'Gamestonk'. Since then, stocks in other companies with hefty bets placed against them have also begun trading upwards - from the likes of cinema chain Cineworld, to phone-makers Nokia and Blackberry, and US homewares store Bed, Bath & Beyond as Reddit hunts for new victims and investors try to second-guess their next moves. Many of the companies have links to Melvin Capital, the fund which was the initial target - including the likes of Polish games maker CD Projekt Red, and German firms Evotec, a drug-maker, and Varta, a battery manufacturer. Mining company GME Resources Ltd also saw a brief rally in an apparent case of mistaken identity: It trades under the initials GME on the Australian Stock Exchange which are the same initials used by GameStop when it trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Day traders as far afield as India and China are also joining in the race, attempting to guess where the money is heading next, according to Yahoo Finance. GameStop itself has seen shares rise more than 1,500% in value so-far this year, currently sitting north of $300 per share. While that has meant huge paydays for some of the early shareholders - its three largest have made some $2billion since it all began - a crash is inevitable. The loss-making retailer has been struggling badly in an increasingly online world, with the pandemic accelerating the decline. Since nothing has changed about the business to cause share to soar, they will fall back in with market expectations sooner or later. Ironically, that should make it a perfect target for the next bunch of short-sellers, one European investor told FT. In the meantime, hedge funds that bet against GameStop originally have lost at least $5billion, according to Business Insider, thought the true amount is thought to be far higher than that. At least $3billion had been pumped into Melvin Capital to keep it afloat before it was able to withdraw its bet against GameStop, bringing with it 'huge losses', the manager of the fund told CNBC. The extreme volatility has also raised concerns about manipulation which could lead to an investigation by stock market regulators, and has even drawn attention from the White House. UK cinema chain Cineworld The company surged 50 per cent in extended trade Tuesday after Musk tweeted 'Gamestonk!!' 'Stonks' is a tongue-in-cheek term for stocks widely used on social media The White House and Securities and Exchange Commission said they are monitoring the situation as a growing number of state regulators called it 'dangerous'. Wall Street investors are now thought to be sitting on estimated year-to-date losses of $70.87 billion on bets against U.S. companies that have surged in recent weeks. The gains have forced short-sellers to buy back stock to cover potential losses in what is dubbed a short-squeeze. Moves were exacerbated by more retail investors piling into the stock. Ortex data showed that as of Wednesday, there were loss-making short positions on more than 5,000 U.S. firms. A GameStop storefront is shown before opening Thursday morning in Dallas Shorting GameStop may have cost $1.03 billion year-to-date, Ortex estimates, while those shorting Bed, Bath & Beyond were looking at a $600 million loss. The trend of retail traders duelling with hedge funds has rippled out into Europe and Asia. Heavily shorted Australian shares Webjet and Tassal Group rose more than 5% on Thursday, bucking falls in the broader index. Retail traders have targeted the most shorted European names including Pearson and Cineworld, although losses are much smaller than in the United States. 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. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Caustic Soda Industry Outlook in Saudi Arabia to 2025 - Market Size, Company Share, Price Trends, Capacity Forecasts of All Active and Planned Plants under Chemical category. The Caustic Soda Industry 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. Caustic Soda Industry Outlook in Saudi Arabia to 2025 - Market Size, Company Share, Price Trends, Capacity Forecasts of All Active and Planned Plants, provides up to date in-depth information on Saudi Arabias Caustic Soda Industry. The report presents major market trends. The report covers Saudi Arabias Caustic Soda plants and presents installed capacity by process and technology. The report offers historical and forecast market size, demand and production forecasts, end-use demand details, price trends, trade balance data, and company shares of the countrys leading Caustic Soda producers. *Note: This is an on-demand report and will be delivered in 3 working days (excluding weekends) from the date of the purchase. However, delivery timeline might vary for some of the reports and the same will be confirmed by us upon order confirmation. Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Caustic Soda Industry Report @ http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2252134 Scope The report provides comprehensive coverage of all parameters of the Caustic Soda industry. - Comprehensive information of all active Caustic Soda plants in Saudi Arabia - Comprehensive information of all planned Caustic Soda projects in Saudi Arabia - Capacity forecasts to 2025 with details like process, technology, operator and equity - Caustic Soda industry supply scenario in Saudi Arabia from 2011 to 2025 - Plant capacity growth and installed plant capacity by production process and technology - Caustic Soda industry market dynamics in Saudi Arabia from 2011 to 2025 - Market size, demand and production outlook, demand by end-use sector, and average prices - Trade balance data from 2011 to 2025 - Import and export data and net exports and imports as a percentage of demand - Company details, including company overview, business description and information on current and upcoming Caustic Soda plants - Company capacity shares for key Caustic Soda producers in Saudi Arabia. Reasons to Buy Caustic Soda Industry Outlook in Saudi Arabia to 2025 report provides you with - - Latest information on Saudi Arabias Caustic Soda industry - Macro and microeconomic trends affecting Saudi Arabias Caustic Soda industry - Market positioning of the countrys Caustic Soda producers - Opportunities in the Caustic Soda industry - Market-entry and market-expansion strategies - Enables you to benchmark your operations and strategies against those of major companies Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/caustic-soda-industry-outlook-in-saudi-arabia-to-2025-market-size-company-share-price-trends-capacity-forecasts-of-/2252134 About Us Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 2000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms. Contact us at: Market Reports On Saudi Arabia Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: info@marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Website: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. 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. New Delhi: "I was inside the Red Fort when hundreds of protesters brandishing weapons stormed the premises shouting 'police ko maro'," says Sandeep, operator of Deputy Commissioner of Police North, recalling the moments before he was attacked by some of the farmers who reached the monument after deviating from the designated route for their tractor parade on Tuesday. "Five to 10 protesters charged at me. They thrashed me with lathis. I ran with some other personnel and hid near a washroom but they found us and thrashed us again. We were scared as all of us were injured," he said on Wednesday at Tirth Ram Hospital here, where he was taken after he managed to call DCP North Anto Alphonse. Sandeep sustained injuries on his back, hands and abdomen. Several other police personnel deployed at the Red Fort on Republic Day were injured as the mob attacked them with sticks, batons and stones. Head Constable Punjab Singh, who is also undergoing treatment at Tirath Ram Shah Hospital, sustained injuries on his wrist and head. Singh told reporters that instructions were given to police personnel to clear protesters from the area. "As we moved to try and convince the protesters to stop, we were gheraoed by them. They started attacking us with lathis. We tried to run away but were trapped. I was attacked with lathis and sustained injuries on my wrist and head. "I was not even in a position to stand and fell to the ground," he said. Tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on Tuesday as part of their tractor parade to press their demand for the repeal of the Centre's contentious farm laws. Unprecedented scenes of anarchy were witnessed across Delhi as the protesters fought with police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for India's tricolour. Woman Constable Rekha suffered internal injuries, according to her husband Naresh, who works with a private firm. "My wife has sustained internal injuries as per doctors. She just underwent a CT scan and the report is awaited. She is not able to speak much and needs rest," said Naresh. Station House Officer, Wazirabad, P C Yadav sustained injuries on his face, head and back and fractured his hand. He said he had to undergo surgery and received around 10-12 stitches on his head. In a video shared online, Yadav told reporters that he was on duty at the Red Fort when a large number of protesters entered the premises. While some of them proceeded towards the ramparts, others attacked his colleagues on the ground. "We tried to clear the protesters from there but they turned aggressive and attacked us with swords and lathis. They attacked our colleagues too. "I noticed one of them sustained a severe injury on his head... I also fell unconscious," he said. "We exercised restrain since they were farmers. If we had used force, the number of casualties would have been higher," he said. While there were no exact estimates of how many farmers were hurt in Tuesday's violence, the Delhi Police has said 394 of its personnel were injured. Thirty police vehicles and 428 barricades were damaged in the violence, the police said. Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava said at a press conference here that 25 criminal cases have been registered and 19 people arrested so far. No culprit will be spared, he said. Donald Trumps administration overpromised on coronavirus vaccines. In November, his secretary of health and human services said there would be 40 million doses available by the end of the 2020; he was off by about a month. Trump himself promised 100 million doses in that same period. Everything he and his team said was a sales pitch, designed to foster the false impression that the pandemic they let burn out of control was on the cusp of ending. Theres a growing consensus that Joe Bidens administration has done the exact opposite. Bidens early approach to virus: Underpromise, overdeliver, says an Associated Press headline. In December, when Biden pledged 100 million vaccine shots in 100 days, some experts thought it was a reach. But now that the United States is already vaccinating a bit more than 1 million people a day, that figure is far too modest. Biden seemed to acknowledge that Monday, telling reporters that the United States could get to 150 million shots in 100 days. Even that, however, is not enough. The pandemic has put members of the privileged pundit class in an unaccustomed position. Im used to thinking about politics in terms of what the government should be doing for other people. Now, like millions and millions of others, I watch the administration with a frantic eye to my own familys survival. (I used to think of myself as a moderately savvy person, but Ive yet to figure out how to get vaccine appointments for my parents.) And so I track bits of data on things that previously meant nothing to me like the production of low dead space syringes with the terrified desperation of someone Googling symptoms while awaiting biopsy results. In my voracious consumption of vaccine news, Id been baffled as to why the United States was aiming so low. Pfizer and Moderna, makers of the two vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use, have promised 200 million doses, enough for 100 million people, by the end of March. Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told me hes in touch with people at both companies, and theyve said theyll be able to deliver. Were probably on track for about 2 million doses a day, in terms of production, he said, and we should, in turn, absolutely be able to get 2 million doses a day into peoples arms. If thats true, anything less would be deeply disappointing. Its understandable that, roughly a week in, the new administration doesnt want to set outsize expectations, especially when the Trump administration left so much confusion in its wake. I cant tell you how much vaccine we have, and if I cant tell it to you then I cant tell it to the governors and I cant tell it to the state health officials, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told Fox News on Sunday. Before the administration can fix all the bottlenecks in the system, it needs time to figure out where they are. But it still needs more ambitious goals. Because the original 100 million figure included people getting their second shots, the Biden administrations promise meant that only about 67 million people would be fully vaccinated by the end of April. Especially with more infectious new variants spreading, thats a figure to inspire despair, not hope. We need the administration to do better than that, Jha said. Underpromising, like overpromising, can breed cynicism, making people feel deceived. Conservatives are likely to be critical of the Biden administrations rollout no matter what. (Bidens dishonest coronavirus expectation-setting, said a Washington Examiner headline.) But even if you badly want this administration to succeed, its frustrating to have to read between the lines of public statements to get some idea of when American life might once again become minimally tolerable. My guess is that now that theyre in office and now that theyre getting their arms around these questions of how much supply do we have, where are the real backlogs in distribution, my guess is theyre going to come out with better projections on what theyre going to be able to do, Jha said just before Biden came out with his new estimate. No one who cares about public health wants a return to an administration that relies on the power of positive thinking. But we do need the administration to show that its being as bold as this terrifying, miserable moment demands. Its critical for just keeping peoples spirits up, Jha said. Otherwise I think theres going to be a lot of despondency about when life will start to get even a little bit better. The administration might not be able to tell us when, exactly, it can get to 2 million vaccinations a day. But it should display as much furious urgency in striving toward that goal as people like me feel waiting for it. PORTLAND, Maine, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stroudwater Associates, a leading source of strategic, operational, and financial advisory services for rural, community, and county/district-owned hospitals, launches a new service offering to help primary care clinics and provider practices understand and implement the Six Building Blocks opioid management program. Improving management of long-term prescribed opioids is an increasingly urgent imperative for physicians, hospitals, Accountable Care Organizations, and health plans, as the opioid epidemic has worsened significantly during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary data shows an estimated 21% increase in US overdose deaths for the 12-month period ending June 2020 compared to the prior 12 months, with more than 83,000 overdose deaths, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over two million people have an opioid use disorder but only 20% receive treatment. The Six Building Blocks program helps primary care clinics and practices implement consistent, effective, guideline-driven care for their chronic pain patients on long-term opioid therapy. "The opioid epidemic plagues communities across the country and rural communities, in particular, are increasingly impacted," said Stroudwater Associates Managing Director Jeff Sommer. "Now, with the Six Building Blocks program, we will work alongside primary care clinics and provider practices to customize and integrate this program into their daily practices, supporting better patient care and helping to reduce the risk of opioid overdoses and death." The clinician-led Stroudwater team assisting healthcare organizations to understand and implement the Six Building Blocks program is comprised of lead Louise Bryde, MHA, BSN, RN; Carla Wilber, DNP, RN, NE-BC; and Lindsay Corcoran, MHA. The Six Building Blocks program was developed by a physician-led team from the University of Washington Department of Family Medicine and the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. "The Six Building Blocks program clinical data has shown both quantitative and qualitative benefits of this program, including a reduction in the number of patients using chronic opioid therapy, a decrease in the percentage of patients on high dose opioids, and positive patient and provider feedback," said Sommer. "We are pleased to help primary care providers implement this beneficial program and continue our mission of partnering with healthcare leaders to improve community health." To learn more about how Stroudwater can help implement the Six Building Blocks program, click here. About Stroudwater Associates Founded in 1985, Stroudwater Associates is a leading national healthcare consulting firm with offices in Nashville, Atlanta, and Portland, Maine. Stroudwater focuses on strategic, operational, and financial areas where their perspective offers the highest value for rural hospitals, community hospitals, healthcare systems, and large physician groups. Stroudwater is made up of clinicians, directors, corporate officers, investment bankers, financial analysts, and content specialists with deep domain expertise. Media Contact: Ashley LaFleur [email protected] 773-799-8200 SOURCE Stroudwater Associates Related Links https://www.stroudwater.com Contributed Photo A man who was last living in New Haven has been sentenced to spend another nine years and two months in federal prison for making hoax threats, including a threat to kill then-President Donald Trump, according to federal prosecutors. Gary Joseph Gravelle, also known as Roland Prejean, 53, with a last known address in New Haven, was sentenced by Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to serve a 110-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Cuba frees Christian pastor, confiscates nearly $2K in tools needed for his business Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A bi-vocational pastor was released from jail in Cuba last Friday after authorities accused him under false pretenses of hoarding tools for his bicycle repair shop. Authorities held Pastor Karel Parra Rosabal in prison for 10 days before his release from the police unit in Jobabo, Las Tunas, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a nonprofit that serves persecuted believers in over 20 countries. The prosecutors office dropped the charges and allowed the pastor of the Fuego y Dinamica Apostolic Church in Jobabo to present proof-of-purchase documents for his work tools. The government didnt return the tools he needed to make a livelihood, however. The economic situation in Cuba is really bad right now, CSW Head of Advocacy Anna Stangl told The Christian Post. For someone like [Rosabal,] this business would have been his only or main source of income. This puts him at serious risk of not being able to feed his own family. Cubans do receive rations from the government but its not enough to survive on. Cuba likely let Rosabal free while still intending to destroy his ministry, Stangl contends. First, the government released the pastor so that the world could believe the fight for his freedom was over, she added. Once people stop paying attention, it will likely keep the tools Rosabal needs to make a living. He will either give up pastoring for a job, or his family will go hungry, warned Stangl. Most Cuban pastors persecuted by the government in similar ways continue to preach the Gospel. In the words he used, he was kicked out of his cell and told to go home, she recalled. Once the harassment starts, it will continue. It looks good on paper. Hes out of jail. But he cant support his own family. Cuba forbids the ownership of tools without proof of purchase. Rosabal had proof of purchase. The government took the equivalent of nearly $1,900 worth of tools from his house anyway, CSW reports. The advocate explained that communist leaders would likely take months to return the tools if they do so at all. A press statement from CSW states the government likely targeted Rosabal because he was part of the Pentecostal Apostolic Movement. Cubas government does not allow churches in the Apostolic Movement to register with the government legally. Rosabals imprisonment and release is a visible instance of a common secret, said Stangl, adding that many Cuban pastors are held prisoner by the government without the worlds knowledge. When a case like Rosabals gains publicity, Cuba often lets the pastor go. Rosabals case gained publicity last week as reports emerged that he was kept incommunicado for the first two days of detention and had gone on a hunger strike. Compared to other communist countries, Cuba caves to public pressure for religious freedom relatively easily, she said. The nation depends on tourism to drive its economy, so its government wants people to imagine Cuba as a socialist paradise. However, Persecution continues nonetheless. Cuba is listed in the U.S. State Departments special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe religious freedom violations, joining Comoros, Nicaragua, and Russia. Like other pastors that have drawn the government's ire, Rosabal will almost certainly suffer the indignity of government surveillance, pressure and economic hindrance for the rest of his life, Stangl added. Ive been working on Cuba for about 20 years now. Persecution has remained steady. It takes different forms over the years, she said. Rather than trying to eliminate religion, they try to control it. And theyre always changing their methods. According to Voice of the Martyrs, Cuba hires gangs to smash church buildings, imprisons Christians for short periods, and places them under de-facto house arrest. Voice of the Martyrs warns that no Christians are currently known to be in prison currently in Cuba. The governments most recent strategy has been to spread lies on social media about pastors to discredit them. Short term jail sentences to intimidate pastors have also become more common, said Stangl. The U.S. The Commission on International Religious Freedom, the bipartisan body tasked with advising the federal government and Congress, has spoken out about religious freedom violations in Cuba many times. Last March, USCIRF released an update report on conditions in Cuba, voicing concerns about the status of freedom for human rights activists and journalists. The report details how authorities manipulate the legal system to wage persistent harassment against religious leaders and control religious activity. In 2019, Cuba barred four evangelical leaders from traveling to the United States to participate in the State Department's Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Text-to-Speech Market with COVID-19 Impact by Offering (Software, Services), Vertical (Enterprise, Consumer Electronics, Education, Retail), Deployment, Language, Organization Size, Voice Type, and Geography-Forecast 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Text-to-Speech Market was valued at USD 2.0 billion in 2020 and is estimated to reach USD 5.0 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=2434298 The major factors driving the growth of the text-to-speech market are rising demand for handheld devices, increased government spending on education for differently-abled, the dependence of the growing elderly population on technology, and the rising number of people with different learning disabilities or learning styles are factors driving the growth of the text-to-speech market. However, the lack of prosody and pronunciation of naturally occurring speech may restrain the growth of the market during the review period. Services are projected to witness the highest CAGR for the forecast period Services are expected to hold a major share during the forecast period. Services play a vital role in the functionality of text-to-speech software. They are an integral step in deploying tools and are taken care of by solution, platform, and service providers. The major companies in various industries are adopting text-to-speech to deal with the rapidly increasing audio/video-based content. This is helping companies find new ways to tap the wealth of data to develop new products, services, and processes, thus gaining a competitive advantage. Neural and Custom voice type to account for largest share of text-to-speech market during forecast period The neural and custom voice type is expected to account for a larger market size during the forecast period owing to its ability to generate speech with humanlike intonation, engagement, and personalized user experience, which is expected to drive the adoption of neural and custom voice systems and software during the forecast period. Cloud based deployment mode will have highest growth in coming years The cloud segment, on the contrary, benefits organizations with increased scalability, speed, 24/7 service, and enhanced IT security. The growing adoption of SaaS applications by enterprises is generating huge growth prospects for cloud-based text-to-speech software. The cloud-based deployment mode is expected to account for larger market size and its market is growing at a higher CAGR. The COVID-19 crisis has also driven the growth of the market for cloud-based deployment mode due to its scalability, security, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Large Enterprises are leading adopters of text-to-speech software and services in 2020 Large enterprises are the leading adopters of text-to-speech software and services with the increasing need for speech recognition, virtual assistants, and chatbots. Hence, large enterprises accounted for significant share in 2020. SMEs have been gradually recognizing the importance of text-to-speech solutions and have started deploying them to enhance customer experience and gain a leading edge in the market. Owing to the availability of cost-effective cloud solutions, text-to-speech software and services are expected to witness a prominent growth rate among SMEs during the forecast period. Browse in-depth TOC on "Text-to-Speech Market" 103 - Tables 49 - Figures 197 - Pages Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=2434298 English and Mandarin Chinese, by language in text-to-speech market hold the highest and second highest share in coming years The demand for English and Mandarin Chinese languages in text-to-speech software tends to increase as roughly 1.1 billion or 15% of the global population can speak English followed by Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish. The English language holds a major share of the text-to-speech market in 2020 while the market for Spanish is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period of 2021-2026. APAC is attributed to grow at the highest CAGR in the text-to-speech market during ther forecast period (2021-2026) APAC is witnessing increased traction for speech recognition solutions integrated with text-to-speech due to the growing penetration of AI, analytics, and IoT devices in the region. This is creating a favorable market environment, and the region is witnessing rising adoption of voice-activated technology in the Asian markets, such as India, China, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, and Singapore. In Japan and China, text-to-speech systems have been deployed at airports and ATMs. Other countries, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia, are looking forward to integrating new technologies into their businesses. The Text-to-Speech market was dominated by Nuance Communication (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), IBM Corporation (US), Google, Inc. (US) and Amazon.com (US) Related Reports: Speech and Voice Recognition Market by Technology (Speech and Voice Recognition), Vertical (Automotive, Consumer, Government, Enterprise, Healthcare, BFSI), Deployment (On Cloud & On-Premises/Embedded), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2024 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets' flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/text-to-speech-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/text-to-speech.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg Secretary-General said on Tuesday that more must be done to thwart neo-Nazis and white supremacists who are using the Covid-19 pandemic to target minorities, increase their ranks and re-write history. The UN chief made the impassioned appeal in a video message for the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, observed annually on January 27, which honours the 6 million Jews and millions of others murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War, the Xinhua news agency reported. As this year's anniversary is taking place under the shadow of the pandemic, Guterres noted that the crisis has exposed longstanding injustices and contributed to a renewed rise in antisemitism and xenophobia. "Today, white supremacists and neo-Nazis are resurgent, organising and recruiting across borders, intensifying their efforts to deny, distort and rewrite history including the Holocaust," said the secretary-general. "The Covid-19 pandemic has given them new opportunities to target minorities, based on religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, disability and immigration status. We must make urgent joint efforts to stop them." As countries focus on recovery after the pandemic, the top UN official called for action to address the fragilities and gaps it has revealed. "This year must be a year of healing. Healing from the pandemic, and healing our broken societies in which hatred has all too easily taken root," the UN chief said. "As we remember those who died in the Holocaust and honor the survivors, our best tribute is the creation of a world of equality, justice and dignity for all." --IANS int/rs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (F) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping greet leaders at the BRICS summit in Goa, India, on Oct. 16, 2016. (Manish Swarup/File/AP Photo) Chinese Media Intensify Attacks on India State-run media criticize India's relations with US, accuse it of responsibility for pandemic, question its vaccines NEW DELHIThe China regimes media war on India has gained pace and spice since last years bloody clash in the Galwan Valley, with Chinese media offering counter-narratives and reports on topics that include the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition for selling vaccines, and IndiaU.S. relations. An opinion article published by the Chinese state-run outlet Global Times on Jan. 19 blamed India for using the deterioration of U.S.China relations to advance its political and economic interests through tighter ties with the United States. Aparna Pande, director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times that India doesnt play a role in U.S.China relations. If the U.S.China relation is problematic, its China which is to be blamed for it. Theres a U.S.China peer competition, theres a U.S.China strategic rivalry, but it dates back to Chinas desire to be a global superpower and to challenge American primacy, to challenge the liberal international order that the United States and its allies have created over the years, Pande said. The Global Times article also blamed India for spending too much on strategic layouts and aggressive foreign policies, while warning that could leave India to face enemies on multiple fronts and slip into a quagmire of strategic overdose. Professor Madhav Nalpat, the vice chair of the Manipal Advanced Research Group and the editorial director of ITV Media, questioned the intent of the Chinese opinion writer. About multiple fronts, they are admitting that China will fight on the side of Pakistan. What do they want? Surrender? Not an option, Nalapat told The Epoch Times. Once the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] fully supported Pakistan in Kashmir and in multiple other ways since CPEC [China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project] was decided upon, it was clear that the next war would be on two fronts. That was the cause of changing many minds about a security partnership with the U.S. rather than relying on Russian assurances that the PRC would not join in conflict with India. Chinese state media is a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party and is merely indulging in the Chinese states propaganda, Harsh V. Pant, a professor at Kings College in London and head of strategic studies at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, told The Epoch Times. As the relations between ChinaIndia have deteriorated, certainly the media narratives also reflect that deterioration, Pant said. He noted that unlike Chinese media, Indian outlets are diversified and consist of many voices, ranging from those who favor repairing the Sino-India relationship to those who want the Indian government to take a more aggressive stance. Members of the City Youth Organization hold posters with the logos of Chinese apps in support of the Indian government for banning the wildly popular video-sharing TikTok app, in Hyderabad, India, on June 30, 2020. This month India permanently banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok. (Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images) Aggressor Calling the Victim Aggressor While praising Prime Minister Narendra Modis government for its remarkable achievements during its first term from 2014 t0 2019, the Jan. 19 opinion accused the Modi administration of arrogance since then. But the overconfidence of Indian leaders has greatly increased especially since Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bhartiya Janata Party managed overwhelming victories in the 2019 elections. They have unfortunately become arrogant, and acted rashly, said the opinion writer, Qian Feng, the director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University. Modis reelection in 2019 was the start of rapid infrastructure building along the border in Ladakh. When the bloody Galwan incident happened, India had just finished building a 65-yard-long bridge on the Galwan River, and Indias impetus to improve its infrastructure on the border was the primary reason behind the Chinese aggression. The bridge was meant to consolidate Indias footprint in the region and threatened Beijings agenda, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a senior research fellow with the New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, previously told The Epoch Times in an interview. India instigated the bloody Galwan Valley clash, said Feng, who also asserted that India bears responsibility for the subsequent decline in relations between the two countries. Nalpat said the Global Times is living in an alternate reality universe. About arrogance on Galwan, the Modi government will not anymore ignore the PLAs [Chinas Peoples Liberation Army] salami-slicing on the border but will block further encroachment. Global Times writes as though the entire Himalayan massif belongs to China. This is the kind of delusion that leads to war and not with just a single country, said Nalapat, who was appointed Indias first professor of geopolitics in 1999. Pande said that starting from the mid-1950s and 1960s, its been China that has slowly taken over many miles of the Indian territory along the massive border. So its the aggressor actually calling the victim as the aggressor. Its quite rich. Its China that is the aggressor. It is China that has taken over the territory which doesnt belong to China. If you come to Galwan, over the decades, China has built infrastructuremilitary infrastructure, civilian infrastructurealong the border, said Pande, the author of the recently released book Making India Great: The Promise of a Reluctant Global Power. It is China that has actually provoked India repeatedly and India which has, by and large, remained non-aggressive. India has not reacted and all India is doing is building infrastructure on its side. Indian Congress Party supporters leave Chinese goods on a flag displaying the country of China, along with an inscription reading Boycott Made in China, during an anti-China demonstration in Kolkata, India, on June 18, 2020. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images) Blame Game on Trade A day after Indias Republic Day celebrations on Jan. 26, the Global Times published a report citing the Chinese embassy in India urging the Indian government to engage in cooperation with China. The report came after the Indian government permanently banned 59 Chinese mobile applications. The Chinese media quoted Ji Rong, the Chinese embassy spokesperson, as saying that India-China trade is mutually beneficial, and claiming that while India banned the apps on the pretext of threat of national security, the move violates WTO rules and market principles. The Indian governments practices have hindered the improvement of the Indian business environment and the innovative development of related industries, the Global Times reported. Feng was cited in a Global Times report as saying the permanent ban of the Chinese apps is proof of allegiance by India to the United States, and referred to it as an irrational revenge. In the Jan. 19 opinion piece, Feng said India cracked down on trade with China and people-to-people exchanges to vent dissatisfaction and cater to Indias nationalists and interests groups. Pant said the Indian government, as a democracy, has to respond to the public opinion and pressures inside its society. Theres a sense among Indians that for them itll be difficult to trust China anytime soon, and also the fact that China continues to target India, said Pant. Nalapat said that India has the second-biggest trade deficit with China after the United States. At the same time, Indian IT and pharmacy besides other items are, in effect, blocked from the Chinese market, that has prior to Galwan been wide open to PRC goods often at the cost of domestic manufacturers, he said. India contributes $70 billion of surplus, if HK [Hong Kong] and the switch trade are taken into account. This is an intolerable situation especially when China is empowering the Pakistan military in its asymmetric war on India. Chinas blame of India for being irresponsible on matters of trade is very interesting, because China believes that despite its border aggression and its incursions on Indian territory, India should not allow that to affect trade, Pande said. Theres no way that you take one countrys territory and that country continues to have amicable relations with you, continues trade with you, continues bilateral cultural ties. China doesnt do the same. If a country were to reopen or to recognize Taiwan, China would immediately threaten that country, said Pande. Smoke rises from a fire at the Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University coronavirus vaccine, in Pune, India, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo) On Pandemic and the Vaccine India has also been also the target of Chinas pandemic blame game. The 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, citing a Chinese study that wasnt 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. And more recently, the Global Times published another opinion piece on Jan. 26 that said India is promoting its vaccine campaign while smearing Chinas. A vaccine is supposed to be the last fortress against the raging novel coronavirus pandemic. In the eyes of India, however, it has become a lever in its tool kit to compete with China, opinion writer Ai Jun said, adding that the Times of India has run a campaign thats been critical of Chinese efforts. The opinion piece also quoted an insider who said ChinaBangladesh cooperation over the vaccine was disturbed due to interference by India. It blamed the Times of India report for cockiness and said that India believes that vaccine procurement is a geopolitical choice. Nalpat said China is selling its vaccines even to poor nations, even as India is giving them for free. The world will decide which vaccine is best. India produces most of the worlds vaccines, he said. Pande said China is on a very weak footing when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccines because India has the largest generic pharmaceutical industry in the world. Indian companies and Indian pharmaceutical sector are respected all across the developing world. The Serum Institute of India based in Pune actually manufactures 60 percent of the worlds generic vaccines, for WHO and sends to many countries, HIV, malaria, cancer, Pande said. Chinas problem is that the Chinese vaccine is not trusted as much as Oxford Universitys AstraZeneca vaccine, which India is producing generically. She said that some of that trust has been lost because personal protective equipment that China provided to many countries was founded to be faulty. After a fire broke out at Indias Serum Institute on Jan. 21, the Global Times published a report questioning Indias capacity to produce high-quality vaccine after the fire. Pant said the CCP is on a war footing when it comes to the vaccine because India is certainly taking a diplomatic lead. The CCP is jittery that its aggression has been rebuffed by India, and New Delhis global cachet seems to higher on account of vaccine diplomacy, Pant said. So this is a desperate attempt to portray India as a reckless actor. Frank Fang contributed to this report. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A federal class action lawsuit was filed against Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health this week, claiming the nonprofit was negligent and did not protect at least six children from being abused by staffers. According to the lawsuit, the six children, who ranged in age from 8 to 17 at the time, allegedly were abused between 2003 and 2019 at a Devereux campus three in Chester County, two in Florida, and one in California. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, does not name individual staffers alleged to be responsible for physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. Devereux, headquartered in Villanova, specializes in treating children with intellectual disabilities, mental disorders, and trauma at 15 residential campuses in nine states. Devereux has come under increasing public scrutiny on the heels of two Inquirer investigations, one in August and another Wednesday, that detail allegations of sexual and physical abuse of children by Devereux staff. READ MORE: In Chester County alone, 20 Devereux staffers charged in child abuse cases Devereux did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit sent by email and by phone Wednesday. Devereux leaders previously said that since late 2019 they have taken strong measures to prevent sexual abuse as part of a reorganization under chief executive officer Carl Clark II, who took the helm in January 2018. They said they have reduced opportunities for staff to be alone with children, trained employees to detect grooming and potential abuse, added video technology to better monitor employees, increased pay to attract more-qualified staffers, and will use a new psychological test to screen job applicants. These incidents are heartbreaking and unacceptable, the company said in a recent statement. Every provider in the field must deal with the issue of employees who, despite thorough training, support, and supervision, do the wrong thing in complicated situations. The lawsuit details multiple alleged incidents of sexual and physical assault, failures to report child abuse, negligent hiring of unsuitable personnel, and woeful supervision: Among the claims: * Katherine Jines, the only named plaintiff, was 13 years old in 2013 when she was abused at Devereuxs residential treatment center in Santa Barbara, Cal. Devereux staff allowed the girls roommate to physically assault her. Katherine told staffers, but they did nothing. A male staffer sat on a couch and watched her and other children as they walked naked in and out of the showers. READ MORE: At the nations leading behavioral health nonprofit for youth, Devereux staff abused children in their care for years while red flags were dismissed * Beginning in 2003, Jane Doe 1, at age 14, was physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at the Mapleton campus in Malvern. When the girls roommate sought a physical relationship with her and she refused, her roommate sexually assaulted her by making unwanted sexual advances. When Jane Doe 1 reported the abuse to a Devereux staffer, she was punished for complaining and placed in solitary confinement, according to the lawsuit. While there, a Devereux staffer allegedly raped her and then she was placed back in the room with the abusive roommate. On several occasions, Devereux staffers withheld meals from her because she cried too much, according to the court papers. * In 2019, at age 11, John Doe 2, who was suffering from aggression and suicidality, told his mom that staffers at Devereuxs campus in Glenmoore pinned him against a wall, holding their arms across his throat and pressing their knees into his chest. During a visit, his mom noticed that his wrist was so swollen that she considered taking him to the hospital. He appeared to suffer a panic attack when he told his mom what happened. The boys mom and therapist reported the alleged abuse to ChildLine, the states hotline for reporting suspected child abuse cases. An investigator, however, could not substantiate the allegations in part because there was no available security video or audio. * An 8-year-old boy from Abington, Pa., lived at the Mapleton campus in Malvern for two weeks in 2018 before his parents were allowed to speak with him. When his mother did talk with him on the phone, he was distraught, she said in an interview Wednesday. He was crying, begging to come home, she said. When she saw her son, who has autism, ADHD, and bipolar disorder, she said he was disheveled, extremely agitated, and really scared, upset, and afraid. Then he told her that a staffer had put him in a choke hold, and threw him on his bed where he hit his head on its hard frame, she said. The mother, who requested anonymity, said she spoke to a supervisor at the time, who told her that the staffer had been moved to another building. She said the supervisor told her Devereux did report the incident to the state Department of Human Services, but the mom said she called and the state told her it hadnt received such a report. It was not a place of healing for him, she said in an interview. It was place of trauma and pain. Her son, now 10, lives at home. His Devereux stay lasted three weeks. The lawsuit alleges that children often complained to a Devereux staffer or social worker, but their cries for help were often ignored and, in some cases, the abuse continued. A class action is a type of lawsuit that permits one or more plaintiffs to file and prosecute a case on behalf of a larger group, or class. Given not just the breadth and severity of the allegations against Devereux, but also the sheer number of children still residing under Devereuxs control and supervision, we are committed to moving this case forward and getting protection and justice for our clients and the larger class as quickly as possible, said Joseph Sauder, one of the plaintiffs lawyers. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages. The suit also asks the court to require Devereux to implement and enforce policies and practices to prevent future incidents of abuse. In addition to Devereux, the lawsuit names as a defendant QualityHealth Staffing, a Devereux subsidiary formed in 2018 to recruit staffers to work with special needs children. Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin is calling for a 30-day suspension of GameStop stock trading after investors from the social media platform Reddit catapulted the companys share price this week. Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Galvin called the trading, led by the group of amateur investors seeking to upend the efforts of wealthy investors, who are betting on the decline of the video game retailers stock price, dangerous to the investors, and to the market. I think weve all recognized the current pandemic has created a unique situation where many have gotten into day-trading and really have no idea exactly what theyre doing, Galvin, the states top securities official, said on CNBC. These types of entities, such as GameStop, have created a really difficult situation for these people. Based in Grapevine, Texas, GameStop has lost $1.6 billion over the last 12 quarters, and its stock fell for six consecutive years before rising in 2020. In light of the companys poor stock performance, investment firms have been shorting the stock, meaning borrowing shares and selling them with the hope of buying them back at a cheaper price. The companys market value to increase to over $24 billion from $2 billion within days of the social media-based effort, according to the New York Times. Its shares have skyrocketed 1,700 percent since December. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the market value rose over $10 billion. Material from the Associated Press was included in this report. Related Content: .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Albuquerque Police Department officers are investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian on East Central Wednesday evening. Officer Daren DeAguero, an APD spokesman, said the crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian occurred at Charleston and Central, east of Louisiana. The pedestrian has succumbed to their injuries on scene, DeAguero said. He said the intersection will be closed while officers investigate. DeAguero did not immediately provide any details on how the crash occurred. Investigators could be seen examining a red pickup truck at the scene. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Im excited to take part in the organizations continued success in delivering comprehensive care that provides easy access and serves the needs of the community. Clever Care Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage insurance provider focused on delivering Eastern Medicine and comprehensive supplemental benefits to Southern California Medicare-beneficiaries, proudly welcomes Health Schiesser to its Board of Directors effective immediately. Heaths extensive leadership experience in risk-based managed care will contribute valued perspectives for the future growth of Clever Care. Having completed a successful market launch during a global health crisis in 2020, we look forward to further enhancing our capabilities and continuing to deliver innovative Medicare Advantage solutions to our members, said Dave Firdaus, Chief Executive Officer of Clever Care. Mr. Schiesser has tremendous industry expertise, and his insights will help position Clever Care as a future market leader. I am honored to join the Clever Care family, said Schiesser. Im excited to take part in the organizations continued success in delivering comprehensive care that provides easy access and serves the needs of the community. About Heath Schiesser Heath Schiesser, a healthcare executive with over three decades of expertise, is currently a founding partner at Pilot Wall Group, a healthcare focused investment firm. He also served as President of the Integrated Care Group for Fresenius North America, the nations largest dialysis provider, where the team established Fresenius risk-based division. He joined Fresenius in connection with its MedSpring acquisition, the multi-state urgent care company Schiesser co-founded. Prior to Fresenius, Heath joined the leadership team at WellCare, a national Medicare and Medicaid insurance company, where he eventually became the CEO. Prior to becoming CEO, he ran sales and marketing for the company and led the launch of WellCares Part D business. During his time with the firm, WellCare grew over 700%. Heath also serves on the Board of Directors of Providence St. Josephs health plan subsidiary and of New Light Healthcare. Mr. Schiesser earned his bachelors degree at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and his MBA from Harvard Business School. About Clever Care Health Plan Clever Care Health Plan, Inc. is a Medicare Advantage insurance company based in Southern California that offers a combination of advanced Western medicine and traditional Eastern medicine. This holistic approach to care is made possible through an extensive network of PCPs, specialists, and Eastern wellness providers who are committed to delivering exemplary care. Detailed information can be found at http://www.CleverCareHealthPlan.com. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Amazon has asked federal regulators to block a number of shareholder proposals that strike to the heart of many recent criticisms of the Seattle-based commerce behemoth, including its stances on curbing hate speech and offensive content, diversity in hiring, workplace conditions for hourly warehouse employees and its surveillance technologies. If granted, Amazon's requests would mean shareholders would not have an opportunity to vote on those proposals at the company's shareholder meeting this year, where they would likely be rejected regardless. Last year, none of a dozen shareholder proposals were approved. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declined to comment Wednesday on whether it intended to allow Amazon to drop the proposals from the shareholder meeting docket. Companies often ask the SEC for permission to drop shareholder proposals they see as needless meddling into day-to-day business, and Amazon is no exception. Last year, it sought to exclude nine shareholder proposals before the annual meeting. The SEC sustained Amazon's request in seven of those instances. According to letters filed Tuesday with the SEC, Amazon is now requesting the regulator block shareholder proposals asking the company to report on its efforts to check hate speech across its many platforms, consider qualified women and non-white candidates for open positions in all roles, add an hourly associate to its board of directors and assess whether its products with surveillance capabilities violate human rights. Amazon is also attempting to suppress a proposal from the New York State Common Retirement Fund that would require the company to conduct an audit on race and diversity, Bloomberg reported last week. Even if Amazon is successful in preventing the proposals from surfacing at its shareholder meeting, Amazon likely will face continued scrutiny on the subjects of the petitions. In the aftermath of the Jan. 6 uprising at the U.S. Capitol, media outlets reported that white-supremacist and far-right militants had found havens on Amazon's online marketplace and cloud-computing infrastructure. Conservative-dominated social network Parler, which Amazon booted from its cloud-computing service due to what it deemed was a proliferation of posts advocating violence, recently argued in court that even as one Amazon division was flagging abusive content for review, another was attempting to upsell Parler on enhanced cloud-computing technologies. The Nathan Cummings Foundation, a Jewish nonprofit focused on social justice, introduced a shareholder proposal last month asking for a comprehensive report on Amazon's "efforts to address hate speech and the sale or promotion of offensive products throughout its businesses." At the time of the foundation's proposal, Amazon's policies on offensive products did not apply to books, music, video and DVDs, meaning that "with respect to these products, Amazon's algorithm for product searches proactively directs customers who search for white supremacist content to additional extremist content," the foundation wrote. Amazon said in a Monday letter to the SEC that a report on its efforts to repress hate speech is unnecessary because it had published a 559-word blog post the previous day outlining its policies and efforts to remove offensive product listings. And by Tuesday, Amazon had quietly updated its guidelines for books and similar materials to add a ban on "offensive content" that includes prohibitions on hate speech, according to archived versions of Amazon's Content Guidelines for Books. Amazon has also been dogged by critiques that its highest-paid employees are overwhelmingly white men, prompting a shareholder resolution from the AFL-CIO asking Amazon to adopt something akin to the NFL's "Rooney Rule," requiring that recruiters consider a diverse pool of new hire candidates. The union's proposal indicated Amazon could decide precisely what diversity standard to implement. "If you don't have a diverse pipeline of talent, it could be hard to fulfill the roles of ensuring equity throughout the organization," said AFL-CIO deputy director Brandon Rees in an interview Wednesday. The union's proposal, he said, "is not a silver bullet to ensuring equity, but we think it's an important and useful tool." In a letter to the SEC asking for permission to nix the AFL-CIO's proposal, Amazon argued that it did not need to set goals for candidate diversity because it has already "substantially implemented" similar measures by partnering with diverse colleges and institutions and hosting career fairs "to help peopleregardless of their level of experience, professional field, or backgroundfind new opportunities." Last year, Amazon doubled the number of Black directors and vice presidents at the company, and "is committed to doubling representation again in 2021," according to the letter. Amazon said in its letter that while it is "fully aligned with the objective of the Proposal," ensuring that new employees are hired from a diverse pool of candidates may be infeasible in the context of its massive push to staff new fulfillment centers. Amazon hired more than 400,000 new workers worldwide last year as it expanded its warehouse footprint by 50% to meet pandemic-induced demand for online shopping. The AFL-CIO acknowledged in its petition that Amazon has made substantial efforts to increase the number of women and people of color working at the company. Still, 72% of Amazon managers were white and 59% were men at the end of 2019, the last year for which Amazon has reported data, and men are overrepresented in Amazon's overall workforce. Amazon's board of directors will soon lose its only Black member, former Starbucks chief operating officer Roz Brewer. The Seattle-based coffee chain announced Tuesday that Brewer is leaving Starbucks to helm Walgreens Boots Alliance, which competes with Amazon's recent forays into the mail-order pharmacy business. Brewer will depart Amazon's board effective Feb. 16, according to a Wednesday federal securities filing. The only other person of color on the board is PepsiCo executive Indra Nooyi. An Amazon spokesperson declined to respond on the record to questions about the company's plans to replace Brewer, but said in a statement that Brewer has "been hugely valuable because of her customer-obsessed mindset, passion for innovation, and focus on operational excellence. We're thrilled to see Roz's talent recognized by Walgreens and wish her success in her new role." Amazon is also pushing back on an Oxfam-sponsored proposal encouraging the company to appoint an employee representative to the board of directors, introduced in response to complaints over how Amazon treats the hundreds of thousands of hourly associates staffing its warehouses. Amazon told the SEC that Oxfam's proposal is too similar to another shareholder initiative the company plans to consider at its annual shareholder meeting. That petition asks Amazon to place a "non-executive employee" on the board. Oxfam's resolution specifies the employee should be an hourly wage-earner. Oxfam's proposal pointed to reports of high injury rates and low wages for Amazon warehouse workers. In Washington state, for instance, Amazon fulfillment centers file so many compensation claims for injured workers that the state's labor bureau decided to charge Amazon higher insurance premiums than other warehouses. In Washington state, Amazon has the fourth-largest number of employees using federal food stamps. In Alabama, workers at an Amazon fulfillment center will soon vote on whether to form a union, a first for the company's U.S. workers. The unionization drive has largely focused on workplace safety and wage issues. Amazon also hopes to exclude four proposals focused on how the company interacts with law-enforcement agencies because they are too similar to another petition, from the New York State Common Retirement Fund. All five proposals requested Amazon conduct an audit of the company's impact on civil rights. Some proposals specified the report should consider the implications of its cloud-computing contracts with police and national security agencies, as well as the use of its facial recognition software Rekognition and Ring home-security products. Only one of the five proposals will be presented to shareholders. Many of the resolutions Amazon hopes will not be raised at the shareholder meeting were organized by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Amazon has not issued objections to five other shareholder resolutions submitted in partnership with the religious group, including requests for reports on the company's facial recognition technology, efforts to reduce the use of plastic packaging and lobbying expenditures. Explore further Amazon girds for challenge in warehouse union drive 2021 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A petition to rename Squaw Valley in Fresno County, California because it is a derogatory term for Native American women has been blasted by some residents for caving to political correctness. A controversial proposal to change the valley's name was put to the Orange Cove City Council Wednesday night after a man named Roman Rain Tree put forward the request in December. The proposal says 'squaw' is a derogatory term used for Native American women that has come to mean 'both a part of the female genitalia and a woman of ill repute'. As such, the current name Squaw Valley 'perpetuates a sexualized, exploitative, and humiliating narrative that continues to focus the desires and disgust of early Euro-Americans on the bodies of Native American women', it states. Advocates for the change are calling for it to be renamed Nim Valley which they say will 'properly honor' the area's Native American communities, in particular Native American women. But the proposal has sparked a backlash with the Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez vowing to refuse to back it and social media users blasting those calling for change as 'snowflakes'. A petition to rename Squaw Valley in Fresno County, California because it is a derogatory term for Native American women has been blasted by some residents for caving to political correctness. Pictured the Squaw Valley Post Office Orange Cove Council members shelved the renaming in a teleconference meeting Wednesday night saying they need more information before a decision can be reached. Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, who represents the Squaw Valley area, said Squaw Valley residents must be included in any discussion about a name change if it is put back on the table, reported YourCentralValley.com. Magsig said in a Facebook Live earlier Wednesday he was 'not interested in having any cities trying to tell communities outside of their city limits what the names should be of those communities.' He said residents had been contacting him concerned about the name change and insisted he did not support it unless the community itself wanted it changed. Other Orange Cove officials also said they would not support the renaming of Squaw Valley, according to GV Wire. Mayor Lopez told the outlet ahead of the council meeting he would not vote in favor of the name change and could 'guarantee' the other three council members wouldn't either. Social media users blasted the prospect of a name change as 'screwing up history' and caving to political correctnes 'Citizens bring in whatever they want to bring in and they put it on the agenda to be discussed,' he said. 'I will not vote in favor of it. I can tell you right now, I guarantee you I will not support that.' He added of his colleagues: 'I can guarantee you they won't - they will not support it.' The push to rename the valley has also sparked outrage on social media at a time when military bases are being renamed and statues toppled of racist and Confederate figures across America amid a nationwide reckoning for racial justice in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. Several people blasted the prospect of a name change as 'screwing up history' and 'caving to political correctness'. Local resident Joyce Berube messaged Fresno Assemblyman Jim Patterson Wednesday fuming that community members were not made aware of the discussion on the possible renaming 'I am getting so sick of all these name changes and statues taken down just because someone thinks the names are inappropriate because of race or tribe name!' one person tweeted. 'Come on people you are screwing up history!' Another agreed: 'The name squaw valley has been around forever, the people trying to change this name need some serious help, stop being a bunch of cry babies over everything.' Others fumed at the timing of the proposed renaming while much of the state is grappling with strict lockdowns and high coronavirus cases. 'You people in California are a special kind of stupid! S.F plans to change the name of 40 schools and now Squaw valley is changing it's name all because they are racist!!' one person wrote. The Change.org petition says 'squaw' is a derogatory term used for Native American women that has come to mean 'both a part of the female genitalia and a woman of ill repute' Others welcomed the possibility of removing the offensive term from the name 'Meanwhile kids can't even go to school?' Local resident Joyce Berube messaged Fresno Assemblyman Jim Patterson Wednesday fuming that community members had not been made aware of the discussion on the possible renaming. 'YOUR constituents Want You Involved. This is TONIGHT, and Does Not offer the Residents of 93675 Squaw Valley any opportunity to take part at such a Late Hour !!' she wrote. 'We were NOT notified by the Orange Cove City Council, Not representatives of the Actual Squaw Valley !! Nathan Magsig District 5 Should have the Community input and Involved as well. Very Unfortunate as we Are tax payers. - feeling concerned.' However others welcomed the possibility of removing the derogatory term from the valley's name. Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez said he refuses to back the name change 'Indigenous Peoples Day may have passed, but the fight for rights and recognition continues,' one person tweeted. 'This petition to support the #Washoe Tribe in California is their push to rename their valley, currently called Squaw Valley but squaw is a derogatory term for Indigenous women.' A Change.org petition named 'Rename Squaw Valley Fresno County' and started back in August had reached 339 signatures by Thursday morning. 'This name is offensive and should be named something culturally appropriate,' one signatory wrote on the page. 'When you know better, you do better. Now we know; time to do something about it,' added another. The petition points out that Squaw Valley and its proposed name change is separate to the Squaw Valley ski resort in Lake Tahoe which also announced in August it will change its name to remove the offensive term 'squaw'. The resort, which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, reached the decision after consulting with local Native American groups. The petition points out that Squaw Valley and its proposed name change is separate to the Squaw Valley ski resort in Lake Tahoe (above) which also announced in August it will change its name to remove the offensive term 'squaw' 'While we love our local history and the memories we all associate with this place as it has been named for so long, we are confronted with the overwhelming evidence that the term 'squaw' is offensive,' Ron Cohen, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced at the time. 'We have to accept that as much as we cherish the memories we associate with our resort name, that love does not justify continuing to use a term that is widely accepted to be a racist and sexist slur.' Regional tribes had called for the resort to be renamed for several years before the decision was made. Squaw Valley in Fresno County has a small population of just 3,162 of which 85 percent are white, according to the 2010 US Census. It is based 14.4 kilometres north-northeast of Orange Cove and 48 kilometres east of Fresno. According to United States Geological Survey records, it's name last changed in 1967 when it became Squaw Valley instead of Squawvalley. The area boasts some of the lowest land and home prices in the state of California. The annual Cannes film festival will now take place at the height of summer, following concerns over the Covid pandemic. The festival had been scheduled to take place from 11-22 May; now it will run from 6-17 July. "As announced last autumn, the Festival de Cannes reserved the right to change its dates depending on how the global health situation developed," explained a press release. Holding the event in July would mean that Cannes retains more than a months head start on the autumn festivals: Venice, Telluride and Toronto, which begin in late August. The Cannes Lions advertising festival is scheduled to take place as planned in the citys Palais des Festivals in June. Local hoteliers were reported to be positive about the change as their hopes of a normal tourist season this year rapidly diminished. The event usually attracts some 200,000 visitors to the Riviera hotspot, generating an estimated 200m euros worth of economic benefits for the area, The Guardian reported. After several weeks of dire reports about Sweetwater Countys COVID-19 infection rates, Sweetwater County Health Officer Dr. Jean Stachon had good news to share Monday. The countys infection rate is declining, recorded at a 7.6% positivity rate over the between Jan. 10-24, moving it in a yellow zone for infection risk. Other promising news coming out of the Monday COVID-19 update is the fact the county has distributed all of its vaccine doses allocated to it. Between the number of people who have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and those who were infected, Dr. Stach... Facebooks CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been very critical of the new privacy features introduced by Apple in iOS 14. At the companys fourth-quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg once again lashed out at Apple and called it one of their biggest competitors. He highlighted that Apples iMessage comes pre-installed on iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices which gives it an edge and has allowed it to become the most used messaging service in the United States. Facebook has two extremely popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Messenger, but none of them have been able to surpass the popularity of iMessage in the United States. Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do, he said. They say they are doing this to help people, but the moves clearly track their competitive interests. The Facebook CEO also said that despite Apple taking the high road when it comes to user privacy and offering end-to-end encryption for iMessage, it stores user messages on its servers, unlike WhatsApp. Additionally, he again criticized Apple for its upcoming changes to how ad tracking will work on iOS and how it will affect small businesses negatively. Facebook had run full-page ads over iOS 14s ad-tracking changes that led Apple to hit back and say that it is only standing up for our users. We Want To Hear From You Ironically, while Facebook is criticizing Apple for taking unfair advantage of its position to thwart competition, it is the former that is currently the subject of many antitrust issues. Do you think Facebook is right here? Do you think Apple is using its dominant position to push its own apps and services to iPhone and iPad users? [Via Washington Post (BPT) - Sponsored by Alkermes In the midst of a global pandemic, Ashley and Kim, a Texas-based mother-daughter duo working together to treat Kims schizophrenia, have seen one surprising emotion rise to the surface: pride. Shes had some down days, but honestly Im really proud of her. Shes handling the pandemic the best she can, said Ashley, a caregiver for her mother Kim, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 30 years old. While experts say that mental health challenges have become more widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic,1 Ashley has seen some positive changes in her mother who lives with schizophrenia. During this time, Ashley has seen her mom take positive steps to foster personal growth. With decreased outside pressures and commitments, her mother has taken time to focus on other aspects of her life, such as building and strengthening relationships and exploring her hobbies and interests. Spending more time at home has also allowed Kim the opportunity to fine-tune her daily routine, creating a calm, stable environment. While Kim has experienced some improvement in her schizophrenia symptoms, for Ashley, the experience of caregiving has, at times, been challenging. Over the years, my mom has changed healthcare providers several times and tried different treatment options to help treat her schizophrenia symptoms, said Ashley. Its challenging when youre helping care for someone, especially a parent, while also being a young mom with three kids. Weve really had to work together to treat her illness and we are trying to help her become more independent. For example, I've made certain that my mother has found a healthcare provider who was the right fit and who she could feel comfortable reaching out to whenever she needed. I've also encouraged her to be more social. About a year ago, Kim's doctor suggested she may be a candidate for a long acting injectable since she had been able to tolerate oral aripiprazole. Her doctor prescribed a long-acting treatment option called ARISTADA (aripiprazole lauroxil). ARISTADA is a prescription medicine given by injection by a healthcare professional and used to treat schizophrenia in adults. It is not known if ARISTADA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. It is important to know that elderly people with dementia-related psychosis are at increased risk of death when treated with antipsychotic medicines including ARISTADA. ARISTADA is not for the treatment of people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia).2 The most common side effect of ARISTADA includes restlessness or feeling like you need to move (akathisia). There are other side effects, some of them serious. Please see additional Important Safety Information below. Kim now receives ARISTADA 882 mg every 6 weeks and it has worked well for her. Since receiving ARISTADA, Kim has experienced an improvement in her schizophrenia symptoms. Its important to note that this is only Kims experience and the experiences and treatment responses of others may vary. Kim and Ashley live about an hour apart, and prior to the pandemic, Ashley was driving to see her mother a few times each week. With Kims progress over the last year, and with the need for social distancing during the pandemic, Ashley has extended the time between visits and now sees her mother in person every 2 to 3 weeks, although they continue to stay in close touch with daily phone calls. She says that frequent communication with a loved one can make all the difference. She also makes time for her kids to talk with their grandmother on the phone as often as possible. While the pandemic has been challenging because we maintain our distance in an effort to keep ourselves healthy, weve learned that physical distance does not have to mean emotional distance, Ashley said. My mom knows that Im always here for hereven if you cant physically be with your loved one, you can be there emotionally, and thats critical. Ashley and Kim have worked together to deal with new restrictions on in-person office visits. Heightened safety measures for in-person visits, home healthcare aides, a weekly therapist (via video conferencing) and telehealth services have enabled Kim to continue seeing her health care team and stay on track with treatment, despite navigating a global pandemic. As an adult, Ive realized that mental health care takes a village. You have to be willing to do your part as a family member, but also advocate for your loved one and be open to helpful resources, Ashley said. During these uncertain times, if you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, there are numerous resources that may be helpful. Consider joining peer or social support groups that can encourage empathy, productive discussions and a sense of community.3,4 Additionally, telepsychiatry platforms allow people to continue to engage in therapy/counseling while complying with social distancing guidelines.5,6 Educational guides and resources are available online from several organizations, including Mental Health America (MHA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).7 Caring for someone living with serious mental illness can be especially difficult during this time of social distancing. But it is important to remember that you are not alone and there can be a lot to learn from others experiences to help ourselves and our loved ones. This is intended as informational only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical and/or mental health condition. Please read the Important Safety Information for ARISTADA below. Discuss all benefits and risks with a healthcare provider. See Prescribing Information and Medication Guide . INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR ARISTADA INITIO AND ARISTADA8 INDICATION ARISTADA INITIO (aripiprazole lauroxil) is a prescription medicine given as a one-time injection and is used in combination with oral aripiprazole to start ARISTADA (aripiprazole lauroxil) treatment, or re-start ARISTADA treatment after a missed dose, when ARISTADA is used for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. ARISTADA is a prescription medicine given by injection by a healthcare professional and used to treat schizophrenia in adults. It is not known if ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA are safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Elderly people with dementia-related psychosis are at increased risk of death when treated with antipsychotic medicines including ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA. ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA are not for the treatment of people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). Contraindication: Do not receive ARISTADA INITIO or ARISTADA if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in ARISTADA. Allergic reactions to aripiprazole have ranged from rash, hives and itching to anaphylaxis, which may include difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, and swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA may cause serious side effects including: Cerebrovascular problems (including stroke) in elderly people with dementia- related psychosis that can lead to death. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a serious condition that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have some or all of the following signs and symptoms of NMS: high fever stiff muscles confusion sweating changes in pulse, heart rate, and blood pressure Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have some or all of the following signs and symptoms of NMS: Uncontrolled body movements (tardive dyskinesia). ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop receiving ARISTADA. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving ARISTADA. ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA may cause movements that you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop receiving ARISTADA. Tardive dyskinesia may also start after you stop receiving ARISTADA. Problems with your metabolism such as: High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who receive ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes (such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes), your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you receive ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA and during your treatment with ARISTADA. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar: feel very thirsty need to urinate more than usual feel very hungry feel weak or tired feel sick to your stomach feel confused, or your breath smells fruity Increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood Weight gain. You and your healthcare provider should check your weight regularly. Unusual and uncontrollable (compulsive) urges. Some people taking aripiprazole have had strong unusual urges such as gambling that cannot be controlled (compulsive gambling). Other compulsive urges include sexual urges, shopping, and eating or binge eating. If you or your family members notice that you are having unusual strong urges, talk to your healthcare provider. Some people taking aripiprazole have had strong unusual urges such as gambling that cannot be controlled (compulsive gambling). Other compulsive urges include sexual urges, shopping, and eating or binge eating. If you or your family members notice that you are having unusual strong urges, talk to your healthcare provider. Decreased blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). You may feel lightheaded or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position. You may feel lightheaded or faint when you rise too quickly from a sitting or lying position. Falls. ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA may make you sleepy or dizzy when standing which may make you at risk for falls and related injuries. ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA may make you sleepy or dizzy when standing which may make you at risk for falls and related injuries. Low white blood cell count Seizures (convulsions) Problems controlling your body temperature. Avoid becoming too hot or dehydrated. Do not exercise too much. In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Stay out of the sun. Do not wear too much clothing or heavy clothing. Drink plenty of water. Avoid becoming too hot or dehydrated. exercise too much. In hot weather, stay inside in a cool place if possible. Stay out of the sun. wear too much clothing or heavy clothing. Drink plenty of water. Difficulty swallowing The most common side effects of ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA include restlessness or feeling like you need to move (akathisia). These are not all the possible side effects of ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA. You should tell your healthcare provider about any side- effects you have. Do not drive, operate hazardous machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA affect you. ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA may affect your judgment, thinking or motor skills. Before receiving ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have not taken Abilify , Abilify Maintena , or any aripiprazole product before , Abilify Maintena , or any aripiprazole product before have or had heart problems or a stroke have diabetes or high blood sugar or a family history of diabetes or high blood sugar. Your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you receive ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA and during your treatment with ARISTADA have or had low or high blood pressure have or had seizures (convulsions) have or had a low white blood cell count have problems that may affect you receiving an injection in your buttocks or your arm are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics. You can register by calling 1-866-961-2388, or visit http://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and- research-programs/pregnancyregistry/ are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA can pass into your breast milk. It is not known if it may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive ARISTADA INITIO and/or ARISTADA. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA and other medicines may affect each other causing possible serious side effects. Do not start or stop any medicines after you receive ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA without talking to your healthcare provider first. If you have any questions about your health or medicines, talk to your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report all side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch , or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see full Prescribing Information for ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA , including Boxed Warning, and Medication Guides for ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA . References 1 Panchal, N., Kamal, R., K. O., C. C., Garfield, R., Hamel, L., . . . Chidambaram, P. The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/ Published August 21, 2020. Accessed October 16, 2020 2 Alkermes Inc. ARISTADA (Aripiprazole Lauroxil) [Prescribing Information]. Waltham, MA:2021. 3 Find Support Groups. Mental Health America. https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groups. Published 2020. Accessed October 16, 2020 4 Support & Education: NAMI Connection. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Support-Groups/NAMI-Connection. Published 2020. Accessed October 16, 2020 5 Serious mental illness and COVID-19: How to help your patients right now. American Psychological Association. https://www.apaservices.org/practice/legal/technology/serious-mental-illness-covid-19. Published May 1, 2020. Accessed October 16, 2020 6 Weigel G., Ramaswamy A., Sobel L., Salganicoff A., Cubanski J., & Freed M. Opportunities and Barriers for Telemedicine in the U.S. During the COVID-19 Emergency and Beyond. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/opportunities-andbarriersfor-telemedicine-in-the-u-s-during-the-covid-19-emergency-and-beyond/. Published May 11, 2020. Accessed September 22, 2020 7 About Mental Illness Treatments. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments. Published 2020. Accessed October 16, 2020 8 Alkermes Inc. ARISTADA INITIO (Aripiprazole Lauroxil) [Prescribing Information]. Waltham, MA:2021. ALKERMES is a registered trademark of Alkermes, Inc. ARISTADA is a registered trademark of Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited, used by Alkermes, Inc. under license. 2021 Alkermes, Inc. All rights reserved. ARI-004449 This sponsored article is presented by Brandpoint. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, left, attends an online meeting with Andreas Bauer, assistant director of the Asia and Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund, at Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Economy and Finance CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Numi Health Inc. (Numi or the Company), Canadas premier mobile medical services company, announces the launch of COVID testing at the Calgary and Edmonton International Airports. Numi is the exclusive provider of COVID antigen tests in Calgary and Edmonton Airports. These tests are currently needed to board KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flights as, in addition to a PCR test up to 72 hours before departure, the Netherlands is requiring an antigen COVID test for all passengers 4 hours prior to boarding. Numi offers both kinds of testing. The rapid antigen testing is available before each scheduled KLM flight on the day of departure. The test involves a nasal swab performed by a Numi Health professional. It is quick and painless. The entire process, from swab to result, takes less than 30 minutes. The test is Health Canada and FDA-approved. At the airport, passengers first proceed to the testing center and are met by KLM staff to ensure they qualify to travel and have the negative results to a 72-hour PCR test. Then Numi personnel proceed with the antigen testing. Each passenger receives a printed and electronic travel certificate that is date-stamped less than four hours from the scheduled departure time and can then proceed to their check-in with the airline. The Numi testing team is located on the international departures level at both airports, close to the check-in counters. No pre-booking of antigen tests is required at this time, but this will soon be available on the Numi Health website. For further information on Numis airport testing program, please visit www.numihealth.com/airporttesting. We are proud to assist KLM and their passengers with airport testing, says Peter Verburg, founder of Numi. Our friendly and experienced team of nurses and medics run an efficient system that ensures all passengers get tested before their flight. We are currently expanding our airport offering, with more announcements expected soon. In addition to rapid antigen testing, Numi provides travelers with PCR/LAMP tests for COVID before the day of departure, with a 12- to 24-hour turnaround. The service can be booked on the app, available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Numi has partnered with four of the leading clinical laboratories in North America to provide sample analysis. Calgary-based Numi is expanding quickly, with nurse and medic recruitment underway in cities across Canada. The company has already delivered services to individuals and corporate clients in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Other cities will be announced soon. Numi provides innovative app technology with a patient-centric service model that provides Canadians with medical care in the comfort and safety of their home or office, in addition to select airports. The mobile team of highly skilled nurses and medics gives people the opportunity to take control of their personal health, and safely order medical services, from COVID-19 rapid testing to lab requisitions, vaccinations and more. Numis software functions in a highly secure environment to protect patient privacy and offers backend functionality that makes its unique service scalable. ABOUT NUMI HEALTH Numi is Canadas premier mobile medical service, designed by a team of tech entrepreneurs and health professionals who are educated, passionate and committed to delivering improved access to medical services and more convenient care. The team includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, infectious disease specialists and microbiologists. Together they deliver a customized and efficient healthcare experience through cutting-edge technology and a customer-centered approach to service delivery. For more information: Tracy Logan, VP Sales & Marketing 844-GET-NUMI | tlogan@numihealth.com numihealth.com Flash Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said on Wednesday that it would be a "huge strategic misjudgment" for the United States to take China as "a strategic rival and imaginary enemy." Cui made the remarks in his speech at the "China-U.S. Engagement: Past Achievements & Future Adjustments" Online Dialogue, an event organized by the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament and U.S. nongovernmental organization the Carter Center on Wednesday evening. FACING CONSEQUENTIAL CHOICE "Tomorrow will be the 42nd anniversary of Mr. Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States ... At this historical juncture, we are facing a consequential choice again," Cui said. Forty-two years ago, Deng and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and the two countries "were able to break the ice of the Cold War and rise above ideological differences," he said. "Since then, our ever-deepening cooperation has delivered huge benefits to the two peoples, and contributed enormously to world peace, stability and prosperity. Facts have proved that we have made the right choice and stood on the right side of history," he said. However, in the past few years, some people in the United States tried to "deny these basic facts," said the ambassador. "By creating rumors, stoking hatred and fanning confrontation, they attempted to hijack America's China policy and push China-U.S. relations down the precipice of confrontation. This has seriously damaged the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is doomed to failure," Cui said. There have also been calls recently "for America to adjust its strategy and build an allied and partner coalition, so as to address China's challenge and restore balance and legitimacy in the Asia-Pacific," he noted. "Such an adjustment is just like putting old wine in a new bottle. It may cause the same mistakes made in the past and create new imbalances, which will further disrupt regional order," he said. "At this historical juncture, we are facing a consequential choice again. I agree with President Carter that China and the United States must remain closely connected, and restore trust, respect and normalcy between them," Cui said. "While China wishes America full success in building unity, in healing and in restoration, it is also hoped that integrity, candor, respect and vision will return to its China policy," he said. RISKING STRATEGIC MISJUDGMENT "Taking China as a strategic rival and imaginary enemy would be a huge strategic misjudgment. To develop any policy on the basis of that would only lead to grave strategic mistakes," Cui said. "It is our firm belief that China and the United States can benefit from the prosperity and development of the other side. We may have competition, but we don't have to be rivals," he said. "Instead, we should strive to be partners." Cui said that the United States would have to ask itself whether it can accept the development and prosperity of another nation, whose history, culture and political system are different, and live peacefully with it. Throughout its 100-year history, the Communist Party of China has always upheld its mission to pursue happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation, noted the ambassador. "Everything we do is to meet the people's aspiration for a better life, not to challenge or displace any country," said Cui, adding, "we always believe in harmony in diversity between countries and in a community with a shared future for mankind." INITIATING CANDID, EQUAL-FOOTED DIALOGUE "Our two countries have not a small number of differences and disagreements. The only way out of them is candid and equal-footed dialogue on the basis of mutual respect," said the ambassador. On specific issues, the two countries should explore solutions acceptable to both sides on the basis of goodwill for goodwill, and good faith for good faith, Cui said, adding, "claiming that dialogue is useless is no less than advocating confrontation." "At the same time, some issues have been raised in China-U.S. relations under the banner of 'values,' but in fact they all focus on China's territory, so much so that people cannot but question the real intention behind," he noted. "On issues that concern its sovereignty, reunification and territorial integrity, China will not back down, and it is hoped that the U.S. side will respect China's core interests and refrain from crossing the red line," he said. COOPERATING FOR BETTER WORLD China and the United States "urgently need" to enhance cooperation as the world faces the common enemy of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasing threat from climate change, said the ambassador. "Cooperation is the only right option for the two sides ... It has been proved time and again that when China and the United States cooperate, we can get things done, and that is good news for both countries and the whole world," Cui said. Over the past two decades, the two countries have carried out effective coordination and cooperation in a wide range of fields, from overcoming the global financial crisis to fighting terrorism, from helping African countries combat Ebola to addressing hotspots such as the Korean Peninsula issue and the Iranian nuclear issue, he said. "Right now, we face the common enemy of the pandemic and an increasing threat from climate change. China sincerely welcomes America's return to the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, and looks forward to stronger cooperation with it in these two fields," Cui said. "We also urgently need to enhance macroeconomic policy coordination to fend off international economic and financial risks and inject confidence into the world economy," he added. Meanwhile, the two countries "need exchanges, not estrangement," said Cui, adding that "there is no place for McCarthyism in the 21st century, and no one can push the two peoples back to the era of estrangement and isolation." The ambassador said that over the past year, he has been much busier than before taking part in various kinds of online meetings and talks, and was "often overwhelmed by the passion" of both countries for greater exchanges and mutual understanding. "Let's work together, with courage and hope, to find light, spread light, and illuminate the future for China-U.S. relations and mankind," he said, citing the poem recited by Amanda Gorman, the first national youth poet laureate in the United States, at U.S. President Joe Biden's inauguration. Kalsoom Amin is trying to muster up motivation to study for her Grade 12 math exam which is worth 20 per cent of her final grade, but she has other things on her mind. Kalsoom Amin is trying to muster up motivation to study for her Grade 12 math exam which is worth 20 per cent of her final grade, but she has other things on her mind. With four siblings who leave the house to go to school or work daily, Amin is well aware of how many close contacts her family has. "(This year) has been a little stressful. Its Grade 12, so everything is about marks, marks, marks, because you have to apply to everywhere you want to go," said Amin, a senior at Dakota Collegiate in the Louis Riel School Division. "COVID just adds on to the stress." JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kalsoom Amin, a grade twelve student at Dakota Collegiate, is dealing with the stress over her upcoming exams on top of the stresses concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Were the 17-year-old in another class, school or division, exam season might have been one less thing to worry about during the pandemic. While some school districts including Louis Riel, Seven Oaks and Pembina Trails have left final assessments up to teachers, as is the usual school-year practice, others have explicitly called off weighty tests. Winnipeg, River East Transcona, Seine River, St. James Assiniboia and the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine have cancelled high-stakes evaluations for 2020-21. The lack of uniformity feels unfair, Amin said, noting her friends who dont have exams will likely score higher averages and have a better chance at getting into their top choices. (This year) has been a little stressful. Its Grade 12, so everything is about marks, marks, marks, because you have to apply to everywhere you want to go. COVID just adds on to the stress. Kalsoom Amin, a senior at Dakota Collegiate "Because after an exam, you dont know if your average is going to go up or down," she said. Last week, Manitoba cancelled spring provincial exams for seniors, citing student and teacher mental well-being this year. Winter exams were called off in autumn. The latest announcement came weeks after St. James Assiniboia administration decided its teachers would not host any other 2020-21 school exams, which typically represent a portion of a students final grade, to provide consistency. "Leveraging the in-class time we have with students for the entire semester is important," a division spokesperson wrote in a statement to the Free Press, which also cited student mental health as a deciding factor. Following exam cancellations across the province, some parents have raised concerns their kids wont be prepared for post-secondary studies. Other critics fear the patchwork approach could disadvantage those who still have to take the tests, with program admission and scholarships on the line. Calls from both camps have prompted the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils to put the subject on this weekends meeting agenda. Until things get resolved with remote learning, with COVID and everything, this is the new thing: how do we deal with (grading)? Manitoba Association of Parent Councils Executive director Brenda Brazeau Executive director Brenda Brazeau said she doesnt envy teachers who are navigating end-of-term assessment right now. "Until things get resolved with remote learning, with COVID and everything, this is the new thing: how do we deal with (grading)?" Brazeau said. Grade 12 teacher Terri Willard said assessment practices were changing long before COVID-19, but pandemic disruptions appear to be accelerating the move away from standardized tests. "We talk a lot about work-life balance as adults, but for some reason, we downplay a school-life balance for younger people," said Willard, adding its no secret the pandemic has affected family livelihoods, which affects student mental health and academic success. Exams, particularly memorization-based tests, add stress on students, whose minds are focused on countless other things right now, she said. MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Terri Willard, a grade 12 teacher at the Seven Oaks Met School: Having the time to have real conversations with students about mental health and school work is more important than final exams at this point." At Seven Oaks Met School, where Willard is a teacher-adviser, there are no finals; marks instead reflect teachers ongoing observations and a students progress in working towards the goals they have set for themselves. Students prepare term-end presentations about their learning through inquiry projects and internships, and write self-reflections that accompany report cards. The setup has been a success both before and during the pandemic, Willard said, noting it also allows for consideration about how students are doing real-world learning at home (for example, building resilience and conflict-resolution skills) this year. Grade 12 student Brody McQueen said he was relieved after Manitoba cancelled provincial exams, but his excitement was tempered once his teachers at Maples Collegiate indicated there would still be tests. Citing the inability to be in-class daily, McQueen said his math marks have suffered this year, so he isnt looking forward to writing a test worth 15 per cent of his final grade. We talk a lot about work-life balance as adults, but for some reason, we downplay a school-life balance for younger people. Grade 12 teacher Terri Willard "Just because I can puke up some knowledge of what I've studied doesnt mean I have a full understanding of it," said McQueen, who prefers projects that allow for self-expression over timed tests. Seven Oaks Superintendent Brian OLeary said most teachers are doing in-class assessments and final projects this year, with instructional days leading up to the very last day of the semester. As far as OLeary is concerned, exams are less valuable in preparing students for post-secondary than in-person instruction time is. Senior administration at Louis Riel echoed those sentiments: "Pandemic or no pandemic, my belief is we really need to move away from these high-stakes summative assessments and exams that come at the end of the semester," said superintendent Christian Michalik. High-stakes timed exams held in gymnasiums are associated with rigour, but Michalik said there are much better ways to do authentic assessment. He added the division plans to provide more explicit communication surrounding finals at the end of the year. The academic year may be atypical, but Willard said students need to be assured a Class of 2021 diploma won't be of any less value than usual. No matter how students are assessed, they will have had to meet curricular outcomes to earn it, the Grade 12 teacher said. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Delilah Belle Hamlin showcased her taut midriff in a white tank top as she exited a meeting holding hands with her boyfriend Eyal Booker in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The rising supermodel, 22, and Love Island alum, 25, looked happy in love as they strutted down the sidewalk in coordinating distressed denim. For their outing, the globetrotting fashionista put on a very stylish display in a brown trench coat and super-shredded jeans with mismatched patches. Stylish couple: Delilah Belle Hamlin showcased her taut midriff in a white tank top as she exited a meeting holding hands with her boyfriend Eyal Booker in Los Angeles on Tuesday Eyal, who started dating Delilah after she slid into his DMs in May 2019, sported a black leather jacket and light-wash bottoms, which were also from Revice Denim. They both made sure to wear face masks amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, just days after Gavin Newsom lifted stay-at-home orders across the state 'in response to improving coronavirus conditions,' according to AP News. In addition to accessorizing with a black backpack and a small silver chain around her neck, the Los Angeles-based beauty wore her bright blonde hair in loose waves. Picture-perfect jeans: The rising supermodel, 22, and Love Island alum, 25, looked happy in love as they strutted down the sidewalk in coordinating distressed denim On their outing, the globetrotting fashionista put on a very stylish display in a brown trench coat and super-shredded jeans with mismatched patches On Instagram, she posted footage of herself posing in the chic ensemble without a mask, which allowed her more than 1.3 followers to see her glamorous makeup look. In addition to rocking a nude lip, presumably from her mother's brand Rinna Beauty, Delilah could be seen standing with with one hand in her pocket. Her jacket covered up her beautiful collection of tiny tattoos, which are frequently seen on her Instagram, which is full of bikini-clad snaps or her in lingerie. Glossy lips: On Instagram, she posted footage of her posing in the chic ensemble without a mask, which allowed her more than 1.3 followers to see her glamorous makeup look Modeling: In addition to rocking a nude lip, presumably from her mother's brand Rinna Beauty, Delilah could be seen standing with with one hand in her pocket Last week, she flaunted her sensational figure in a semi-sheer thong by United Kingdom-based lingerie brand, Boux Avenue. In the series of flirty shots, she certainly set pulses racing in her extremely high-cut underwear as she smoldered at the camera and reached toward her pillows. Both her $54 bra top and matching $26 bottoms, which had a lime green and cream striped band around the waist, were embroidered with daises. The adorable set also included buttercup yellow bows in the center of both items and a subtle polka dot pattern Im very angry: Row breaks out as senior Wrexham councillors backed 6.95% council tax increase This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 28th, 2021 A row has broken out between two political rivals as senior councillors in Wrexham backed a council tax rise of almost seven per cent. Members of Wrexham Councils ruling independent/Conservative executive board held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss the local authoritys budget for the upcoming financial year. For the second year in a row, it includes an increase of 6.95 per cent for ratepayers, which amounts to an extra 85 per year for an average band D property. Council leader Mark Pritchard said the changes were being proposed in light of it receiving the second lowest increase in funding from the Welsh Government out of the 22 authorities in Wales. He said he also wanted to invest in frontline services, with an extra 3.5m earmarked to go into social care following a critical inspection report on childrens services. However, an argument erupted after Labour leader Dana Davies voiced concerns over a significant amount of spending going ahead within the department potentially without proper approval. The leader of the largest opposition group said: The report stresses the councils current level of reserves are low and it also stresses an in-year overspend is a significant risk. Looking at this report purely from a financial governance and risk perspective and that overspend in childrens services, who signed off on that overspend? Who made the decision? She continued: Theres a question of what is lawful expenditure, because projected expenditure needs to be signed off. Im really concerned about the governance and because of the reserve levels being so low, about potentially not having the reserves to cover that projected expenditure. Cllr Davies questioned whether it could lead to the council having to issue a Section 114 notice effectively declaring itself bankrupt. Cllr Pritchard hit back by criticising the Labour-run Welsh Government for handing the authority a budget uplift of only 2.3 per cent for 2021/22. It compares to Newport Council, which received the highest increase of 5.6 per cent. He said: I hope theres no games being played here this morning, because weve covered this in the budget workshop, and I thought we were in a comfortable place and all elected members understood it. Well, obviously from the comments this morning, they dont. He added: The frankness of it is that weve been underfunded from the Welsh Government for a long time. Ive made it very clear; we have had the second lowest settlement in Wales. Weve had a very poor settlement, the crumbs from the table, when other authorities in south Wales are having high rises, and thats not fair. His comments led to a point of order being raised by Cllr Davies to clarify her remarks. She said the funding issue was caused by the formula used to calculate the budget allocation for each council, rather than by the Welsh Government. She said: Its not a political game its taking our duties seriously and Im also angry now. Were all lobbying Welsh Government, but there is a huge need here to review the funding formula, because its that which dictates what all local authorities get. Cllr Pritchard responded by expressing his frustration at the governments decision not to implement a funding floor to level out differences in increases for councils. He said: Dana, if you say that youre angry, Im very angry. For two years running, if the floor isnt replaced, it will be taken away from us and that costs us millions of pounds in Wrexham. As I said earlier on, whats the difference between Wrexham and an authority in south Wales which has a 5.6 per cent settlement and we have crumbs from the table? The budget proposals, including council tax levels, were unanimously backed by executive board members at the end of the debate. They will now need to be considered at a full council meeting before receiving final approval. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (Article updated to note Cllr Dana Davies voiced concerns over a significant amount of spending going ahead within the department potentially without proper approval rather than over plans for the council to dip into its reserves to cover some of the increased spending) A heartbreaking video captures the moment a Naval officer saluted and kissed his baby son goodbye before the infant died from horrific injuries sustained in a car crash. One-year-old Leopauld Sanchez suffered devastating damage to his spine and brain when he and his family, from Lemoore, California, were involved in a deadly head-on collision, which also claimed the lives of three other people. The toddler's skull was detached from his spine but despite undergoing risky surgery and spending nearly three months fighting for his life in hospital, he failed to regain the ability to breathe on his own and doctors told his parents Paul and Ayie Sanchez that he could not be saved. Devastating: A video captures the heartbreaking moment that a Naval officer said goodbye to his brain-dead son before donating his organs The final salute: Paul Sanchez, 43, saluted his son Leopauld as he was wheeled off by nurses Farewell: Leopauld's mother Ayie couldn't contain her emotion as she kissed her son goodbye Together, Navy officer Paul, 43, and his wife, 39, made the selfless decision to donate his organs to strangers - including two babies. In a moving video captured by the couple, Paul and Ayie are seen saying goodbye to their little hero before he was taken into the surgery to remove his organs, with Navyman Paul standing out of his wheelchair to give his son a salute. Leopauld's heart was given to a six-month-old boy in San Diego, his liver to a three-month-old girl from Stanford, and his kidneys were donated to an adult from San Francisco. Accident: The youngster sustained injuries to his brain and spine in a car wreck that also claimed the lives of three other people Paul said: 'Leopauld lived a short life, but in that short period he was able to lead a wonderful life full of sharing, love and miracles. 'When he was still in the hospital, we kept on praying about miracles for him but now we realize that the miracle was right in front of us, which is him, 'He himself is the miracle that gives hope for the three lives that can continue on and live, and it's wonderful. 'I will keep talking about him and share the wonderful miracle story, and to raise awareness of organ donations.' The family was travelling back to their home from seeing friends on November 15, 2020, and were only 20 miles away when they crashed. A driver travelling in the other direction swerved into their lane resulting in a head-on collision with their minivan, they said. Paul, Ayie and children Neopaulus, eight, and Shapriana, five, were left left disoriented and with minor injuries, but Leopauld was unresponsive. Other drivers pulled over to help, including a pediatric nurse who performed CPR until the emergency services arrived around ten minutes later. Leopauld and Neopaulus were airlifted to hospital, while his parents and sister followed in an ambulance. The toddler's skull was detached from his spine, his brain had been damaged, and he even flatlined on arrival at the hospital but doctors managed to revive him. Brave: Leopauld spent three months fighting for his life in hospital, before doctors told his devastated parents that he was brain dead and would never wake up Selfless: The little boy's parents made the brave decision to donate his organs so that other people's lives could be saved Tribute: 'Leopauld lived a short life, but in that short period he was able to lead a wonderful life full of sharing, love and miracles,' his father Paul said Honoring his legacy: Leopauld's family came together at the hospital to say goodbye to the little boy Paul said: 'We can't imagine his suffering and we couldn't even think of our own physical injuries at the time. 'It was all emotional pain - we kept praying for miracles for him.' The doctors warned Paul that his son would likely not survive, and needed intensive surgery to reattach his skull which most hospitals would not attempt. Paul said: 'While were still in the hospital after our surgeries they called a family meeting, and we had to be wheeled their in our hospital beds. 'The doctors told us that Leopauld's injuries were so severe that he might not survive and there was nothing we could do. 'They said he might not be able to breathe on his own or walk again. 'They kept asking us if we wanted to let him go in peace and pull the plug, but we said no, we weren't going to give up on our babies and we still believe in miracles.' The rest of the family were out of hospital after a month, but Leopauld was so fragile he could have died just by being moved. After weeks of agonizing waiting, Paul was told that the Valley Children's Hospital in Madera would perform the surgery. He was carefully transferred in late November and after his surgery, the little boy started to show signs of improvement. Paul said: 'My wife was always there with him, every day, and saw that he was able to open his eyes and move them and make facial expressions, like crying, but with no sound. 'A respiratory therapist said he was showing sings that he was breathing on his own, so they started to gradually take him off the ventilator. 'We were happy that this was the miracle we were praying for.' Siblings: The little boy was brother to a brother, Neopaulus, eight, and a sister, Shapriana, five Awful: The entire Sanchez family were injured in the November 2020 crash, which happened when a driver in another lane swerved and hit their minivan head-on Hero: Leopauld's heart was given to a six-month-old boy in San Diego, his liver to a three-month-old girl from Stanford, and his kidneys were donated to an adult from San Francisco Looking ahead: The Sanchez family hope to one day meet the people whose lives were saved by their son's organs However, Leopauld's health quickly declined, his heart rate and blood pressure were fluctuating rapidly and he was having problems digesting food. A brain scan showed there was fluid on Leopauld's brain, and the Sanchez family were called in to the hospital. The doctors said Leopauld was brain dead and could not recover, on January 15. The Sanchez family were given some time with their son in privacy, and a social worker approached the grieving parents to ask them if they were open to organ donation. Paul recalled: 'He said there was a possibility your son could save eight lives, and before he even asked me, without hesitation I told him I would be saying yes. 'He lived a short life but knowing a part of him would be living in someone else would be another miracle.' Hospital staff worked tirelessly to find suitable recipients for Leopauld's organs. Leopauld was taken into the operating room to have his vital organs removed on January 18, after a final weekend with his family by his side. Paul kissed his son's forehead and stood up out of his wheelchair to give him a salute as he went. He told him he was proud of him and that he was a hero. Medics flew from San Diego to collect the heart, and surgeons with Leopauld discussed the transplant with the waiting surgeons via video link. The Sanchez family are looking forward to meeting the recipients in person one day. Paul said that police are still investigating what caused the collision near Kettleman City, but that neither the driver or two passengers in the other car survived. You can donate towards the Sanchez family's medical and burial costs at their GoFundMe page. New Orleans police are investigating whether a botched drug deal in Algiers sparked the gunfire that killed one person and wounded two others, including an infant girl, on Wednesday, multiple law enforcement sources said. Carlos Brown, who was wounded, faces counts of murder and attempted murder, the sources said. Authorities havent released the slain mans name, but his son identified him as Anthony Davis during an interview with WWL-TV. Police are examining the possibility that Brown and Davis, 45, met to trade cash and pills in a parking lot in the 3400 block of Kabel Drive about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. Sources said they were apparently arguing over money when Brown allegedly pulled a handgun out and fatally shot Davis. Officers investigating a 911 call reporting the shooting found Davis dead inside a parked car, where he had been accompanied by an infant girl and a woman. The infant girl had been shot in the leg, and the woman later brought the child in another vehicle to a hospital for help, police said. Investigators said they do not believe the girls wound is life-threatening. Brown was not at the scene of the shooting when police arrived. First responders later found Brown at his home in the 1600 block of Southlawn Boulevard, which is more than two miles from where Davis was killed. He had been shot in the stomach and one law enforcement source said Brown claimed he had been the victim of an attack. As of Thursday, the sources said police were still trying to determine who shot Brown. But investigators ultimately linked him to Davis killing and obtained a warrant to jail him on counts of second-degree murder, attempted murder, and possessing a gun despite a prior felony conviction prohibiting from legally having one. 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 Paramedics brought Brown to the hospital so he could receive medical treatment. He was discharged hours later and police booked him. Brown would face mandatory life imprisonment if he is convicted of second-degree murder. Davis son, Anthony Milton, told WWL that he believes his dad died because he was in the wrong place (at the) wrong time. The son also told the station that bringing his fathers killer to justice would bring peace to their family, especially Miltons grandmother. Attempts to contact Milton on Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful. Davis was one of at least two people shot to death in New Orleans on Wednesday. According to unofficial statistics maintained by the New Orleans City Council, at the start of Wednesday, there had been at least 11 killings reported in New Orleans as the first month of the year draws to a close. On the same date last year, there had been at least 13 killings reported in the city, those stats show. 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. A station for health declaration to prevent Covid-19 spread that is set up in Chi Linh Town of Hai Duong Province in April, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Cuong. Vietnam has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in a single day as authorities found clusters of 82 patients related to the two diagnosed on Thursday with the disease. Of the 82 new patients, 72 work at Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co., Ltd. in Hai Duong Province and 10 at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province, both in northern Vietnam. They had come into close contact with patients 1552 and 1553 that were diagnosed on Thursday morning. The former is a 34-year-old woman working for Vietnam Poyun and the latter is a 31-year-old man who works at the airport. The woman, a resident of Hung Dao Commune in Hai Duong Province's Chi Linh Town, had come into close contact with a colleague who tested positive for the virus upon arriving in Japan last week. It is known who was infected first or by whom. Hai Duong health authorities have begun contact tracing. Van Don airport has been receiving repatriation flights with a number of people with coronavirus arriving on them. The infected went to a local hospital after developing fever, cough and sore throat, and tests showed later he had Covid-19. The airport has been locked down. Chairing an urgent government meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces to swiftly track down everyone who came into contact with the clusters and temporarily close their borders to prevent people from leaving. In two weeks Vietnamese will celebrate their biggest festival of the year, the Lunar New Year, an occasion for family reunions that will see millions travel home. You couldn't be more European than Astrazeneca. Pascal Soriot, the chief executive, is French, Leif Johansson, the chairman, is Swedish, Marc Dunoyer, the finance director, is also French while its management team and top scientists include people from Spain, Italy, Holland and Britain, to name just a few countries. Its corporate HQ and global research centre is in Cambridge but there are also research centres in Gothenburg and Warsaw. More than a third of its 70,000 workforce work across the continent. The pharma giant's shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange along with the US and Indian stock markets. The notion that AstraZeneca failed to honour its commitments to vaccine supplies because of British vaccine nationalism is not only ludicrous but out of order Its biggest shareholders include all the usual big US and UK fund managers and European funds from Norges Bank to Sweden's Investor AB. As well as being one of Europe's biggest companies, the Anglo-Swedish giant, valued at 100billion, is one of the world's top five pharma groups. Astra depends on global markets and global flows of capital for its main businesses and of course for its reputation. So the notion floating around Brussels and other continental capitals that it failed to honour its commitments to vaccine supplies because of British vaccine nationalism, or that it is treating the EU unfairly, is not only ludicrous but out of order. And its latest demand that Astra divert 75m doses from the UK to the EU is even more so. If this wasn't so serious, the EU's position would be laughable. This is not a time to gloat about any problems to do with vaccine supplies but the extraordinary row blowing up between Astra and the EU smacks of classic Brussels bullying. You might even suggest there is a whiff of protectionism emerging from the Berlaymont, which houses the headquarters of the European Commission, if not a predictable misunderstanding of how commercial agreements are struck. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, and her officials, under pressure from a restless public in the 27 member states, appear to be using Astra as a scapegoat for their own mistake in taking so long to secure vaccine orders. What easier bogeyman to pick on than big nasty pharma, out to rip everybody off? But Pascal Soriot is not playing their game. Unusually for a chief executive, Soriot has taken centre stage in trying to damp down the bust-up. In an explosive interview with Italian paper La Repubblica, Soriot explains his company cannot meet the figures in its contract with the EU because of problems in rapidly expanding production capacity. He points out that the EU is being 'emotional' about the shortfall, and claims Europe is being fairly treated, and 'getting 17 per cent of its global supply for a month, for 5 per cent of the world population'. He dismisses the idea as nonsense that Astra is taking vaccines away from Europeans to sell it somewhere else at a profit as it is manufacturing the vaccine at cost at zero profit. However, Soriot also claims that Astra is hoping to be up to scale within the next few months, so that it can honour the bulk of its orders to the EU. But the pharma giant can only use the UK's manufacturing plants for EU and other orders once it has fulfilled its agreement for a 100m doses to the UK. Now we cut to the chase. Astra's agreement with the EU was made last autumn, some three months after it signed a separate deal with the UK, which means the supplies coming out of the UK supply chain must go to the UK first. Soriot also explains in the interview that the contract with the EU very clearly sets out the commitment is 'our best effort'. The term 'best effort' is a well-known piece of legal language, which is used when writing up contracts in exceptional circumstances such as the pandemic. It's there precisely to cover emergency situations when products are still in development and allows for unforeseen problems with manufacturing or distribution to crop up. You can be sure Astra's lawyers will have anticipated such hiccups, and that similar clauses will be in all their vaccine contracts. Some EU officials are demanding that Soriot publishes the contract. If Astra does not, the EU could sue the company. Hopefully, it won't come to that I doubt Brussels would be so daft. But you never know. Yet how sad that heroic efforts to get this vaccine from lab to jab, in under a year, should fall prey to such petty politicking. The promises of US President Joseph Biden to reverse Trumps fascistic migration policies have quickly been exposed, as the Democratic Party administration doubles down on the war on immigrants and asylum seekers. Even as Biden was signing his migration plan minutes after the presidential inauguration, his transitional team was encouraging the crackdown on a caravan of 8,000 migrants and refugees escaping hurricane-devastated Honduras at the hands of Guatemalan and Mexican troops and police. Security forces block the way to Honduran migrants in Poptun, Guatemala. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Those in the region should not believe anyone peddling the lie that our border will be open to everyone next month, declared the Biden team to the media, letting the regional authorities know that they should follow the same policy imposed under Trump. Amid a devastating pandemic and after surviving hurricanes that destroyed their homes, schools, clinics and entire towns, many children escaping the worst humanitarian crisis in the countrys history were left injured or with psychological trauma from the attacks by the Guatemalan security forces, as reported by UNICEF officials. Describing the scenes of horror, a migrant with small children said to Deutche Welle, All the cops let loose running after the Hondurans. We ran and sheltered in a house. They helped us so that the children would not get beaten up. The repression marks a continuation of the agreement for rounding up and summarily deporting migrants and refugees reached after the Trump administration threatened to impose oppressive trade tariffs against the impoverished countries of Central America and Mexico. Ever since, the vast majority of detentions of US-bound migrants has occurred in Guatemala and Mexico. On Friday, after two days of beatings by the Guatemalan security forces had dissolved the caravan, and as smaller groups of refugees were being intercepted in Mexico, Biden held his first official call with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, focusing on migration. The readout of the call indicates that Biden discussed reversing the previous administrations draconian immigration policies, including addressing the root causes of migration, increasing resettlement capacity, and improving processing of asylum requests. The two leaders agreed to work closely to stem the flow of irregular migration to Mexico and the United States, it adds. That same day, the announcement of the actual details was left to the US ambassador in Guatemala, William Popp, who met with the Mexican ambassador in Guatemala, Romeo Ruiz and the Guatemalan foreign minister Pedro Bolo. In a joint press conference, Popp, a Trump-appointee, said that there is a renewed effort to keep the border safe during the COVID-19 emergency under Biden. Regarding any intention to form a caravan, our message is clear, he added, our border remains closed for those who try to enter illegally Any migrants who cross the US border irregularly will be returned immediately as a matter of national health security. In other words, the Biden administration will continue its predecessors brutal policies of deterrence and effective violation of the right to asylum enshrined in international law, which were in turn an escalation of the policies that led to a record 3 million deportations under the Obama-Biden administration before Trump. Facing a growing backlash in Mexico, President Lopez Obrador said Saturday that Biden had stressed his campaign promise of raising $4 billion for developing the Northern Triangle Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The fact is that trillions of dollars are needed to rebuild the regions social infrastructure and economy after more than a century of imperialist oppression and counter-insurrectionary civil wars at the hands of US-backed dictatorships. Just last year, economists estimate that the pandemic and hurricanes inflicted $12.5 billion in economic losses upon Honduras alone. Biden has said that his plan for Central America is based on the Alliance for Prosperity and Security developed in 2014 under his personal supervision. While compelling regional governments to provide most of the funding, the initiative focused on revamping the repressive security forces and starting infrastructure projects to enrich the local elites and improve access of transnational corporations to cheap labor at plantations, warehouses, factories and ports. Meanwhile, local governments continued their onslaught of austerity measures, privatizations and corporate tax cuts that was greatly escalated after the 2009 military coup in Honduras, which was backed by the Obama-Biden administration. Under capitalism, the prevailing uninsured, precarious and informal labor conditions, the generalized poverty used as a battering ram to keep wages low and the dictatorial regimes to enforce these conditions are seen as existential necessities by the oligarchies in Mexico and Central America. Meanwhile, by continuing to agitate against migrants, the Biden administration is taking a page from Trumps playbook to scapegoat foreign workers for the death toll and economic devastation wrought by the herd immunity policies promoted by Democrats and Republicans alike. Facing growing social unrest at home and in its backyard, the American ruling class sees anti-immigrant chauvinism as a crucial tool to divide the working class, deploy and build up the security forces, coerce regional authorities to oppose US geopolitical rivals, and to continue cultivating fascist militias that will ultimately be used as shock troops against the American working class. Regarding Bidens promises of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and taking in more refugees, the White House has made clear that, despite Democratic control of both houses of Congress, significant legislation will not proceed without the support of the Republican Party. Similar promises of immigration reform under the Bush and Obama administrations were stalled amid continuous appeals for consensus with the far-right, while Republicans in Congress, the courts and local and state governments could wreck any significant measures. On Tuesday, Bidens 100-day suspension of deportations was overturned by a federal judge in response to lawsuit brought by the Republican state attorney general of Texas, opening the door for renewed raids and removals to break up countless families and communities. Speaking to Politico, White House sources with knowledge of the discussions on migration said the new administration is planning on breaking its agenda into smaller pieces. Its not an all-or-nothing approach, one said. We arent saying you have to pass the Biden bill. But we are saying this is what we want to do and we are planning to move legalization forward. A lobbyist who is participating in the bipartisan discussions told CNN Tuesday that even getting all Democrats to support Bidens plan is wishful thinking and bluster. The network adds that it wont be easy to convince every Democrat that allowing millions of undocumented immigrants to legally enter the workforce is a defensible idea Under the cover of calls for unity and a strong Republican Party, Biden and the Democrats are working to enforce the imperatives of reaction and war of US imperialism. In order to facilitate this, Biden is politically accommodating the same fascistic and anti-immigrant forces that conspired with Trump in the January 6 coup attempt. While multiple sectors of the industrial economy and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) have done their bit in bringing India this far, the next exponential jump for taking India towards a $5 trillion economy depends on the start-up story. Start-ups and disruptive business models are poised to lead India towards economic growth, innovation, ease of living, livelihoods and a connected economy. While the societal thinking shift is happening from job seekers to job creators, the entrepreneurial thinking is from India to the world. The Prime Minister recently addressed Prarambh, the Start-up India International Summit, marking the fifth anniversary of the Start-up India initiative with members of BIMSTEC countries participating. While the highest levels of government acknowledge the importance and need for start-ups to grow and thrive, several fine print regulations of the past and present unfortunately ensure that this acceleration is complimented with power brakes applied. A significant number of compliances, costs and duplication issues for start-ups are around direct taxes and policies covered by the Budget and an equal number from GST, that lies outside the purview of the Budget with the GST Council. Reforms & Growth thrust With Budget 2021 likely to be the country's first National Paperless Budget, start-up founders and investors have varying expectations and clearly wish to hear big reforms and freedom from complicated and unnecessary compliances that have locked valuable working capital. Announcements made in earlier budgets need to be taken to their logical conclusion like ease in ESOP taxation, Single Investment clearance cells, Ease of Doing Business, FDI Clarifications, a TV channel or program for start-ups similar to the famous Shark Tank. The wealth creation potential of start-ups can be easily tapped if listing probabilities are unlocked in our stock markets. After having undergone multiple rounds of capital infusion and investor due diligence, it is ideal for listing norms to be eased around minimum promoter contribution and lock-ins to ensure an India listing for start-ups. While Differential Voting Rights and IGP relaxations are steps in this direction, yet the sector awaits this reform. Policy & Tax changes FDI policies and their applicability to start-ups in different sectors like B2B ecommerce, news aggregation need to be relaxed to enable them to compete against global players. While tax regulations like Section 194(O) have resulted in severe compliance costs for regulated sectors such as travel, airlines and insurance, they have also added to the huge administrative burden of start-ups as well as the tax department by taxing small MSMEs, traders, plumbers, electricians, salons etc., thereby increasing the volume of assessees but earning fractional revenue. Similarly, the salaried class pay taxes and are now subject to further tax deducted if they spend for overseas travel under Section 206(C) from Indian travel operators. This provision unfortunately encourages Indian customers to shift to online foreign based operators to save tax and creates an uneven level playing field for Indian operators. While past budget announcements were welcomed by all start-ups, the fine print of the regulations read differently from their intent and the benefits were available only to a limited few, based on a cut-off date and registration criteria. Since ESOPs help to attract critical talent for a start-up to take off, this taxation ideally should be levied at the time of exit or lapse of a specified timeframe and coverage criterion relaxed. Section 72 of the Income-Tax Act needs a review post Covid-19 pandemic and businesses should be permitted to carry forward losses for 10 years, from the current 8 years. Section 79 requires an ease around the restriction of carrying forward and setting-off of business losses, especially based on shareholding and voting percentage. Tax rates for the salaried classes, including increasing threshold limits for the super-rich, are a must to ensure disposable income is available for boosting consumer spending and investments in start-ups. Sec10(13A) and Rule 2A changes would benefit HRA allowance to consider rented furniture, white goods to qualify for tax deductions and unlock renting/leasing start-ups and an annual depreciation deduction section be explored for individuals buying electric vehicles. As an industry body representing start-ups, IndiaTech.org has been consistently advocating the benefit of the start-up ecosystem, and to be fair many of the demands have been looked into and partly addressed in various forms by the government, but now is the time to go for growth minus brakes. Chandigarh: The Centre has denied permission to a 251-member Sikh delegation to visit Pakistan on the occasion of death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the 19th-century Sikh empire, citing security reasons, the SGPC said Wednesday. The delegation, sponsored by the Shiromani GurdwaraParbandhak Committee (SGPC), was scheduled to visit Pakistan from June 21 to 29. "The Centre has declined permission to the delegation to visit Pakistan due to security reasons," SGPC secretary Harcharan Singh told PTI on Wednesday. The Centre had informed the SGPC that if anyone wanted to visit Pakistan, then it should give an undertaking that the person was going there at one's own risk to which the Sikh religious body did not agree, he said. On being asked whether the neighbouring country was contemplating sending a train for the delegation up to theAttari-Wagha border, he said, "Permission was not given by theCentre. Therefore, there was no question of anybody going to Pakistan." Also Read: First female Sikh, turbaned lawmakers take Indian-origin MPs tally in UK to 12 Singh said some people were sent by a Ferozepur-based NGOto the Attari border to protest against the Centre's decision. "But they were stopped by the police today ahead ofAttari. When the permission has been declined by the Centre, how can one go to Pakistan," he said. Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in Lahore on June 27, 1839. Another delegation, which was to visit Pakistan last month for the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, was denied visa allegedly due to want of clearance from the Centre. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Workforce Paid family and medical leave for feds in new House bill Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) chairs a hearing. (Photo courtesy: House Committee on Oversight and Reform.) House Democrats are looking to give federal employees 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave per year under a bill introduced Jan. 28. If passed and signed into law, the bill would represent the biggest expansion of the federal employee benefits package since feds won 12 weeks of paid parental leave as part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), the chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and a major force behind the push to get paid parental leave, is helping to lead the new effort, called the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act. "The truth is that many of us will have to deal with a family illness or will have to care for one our aging relatives or will need medical leave ourselves," Maloney said in a conference call with reporters. "This is not anything you can plan, but these are situations we should be able to take care of without fearing of losing a job or missing a paycheck." The bill gives feds 12 weeks of paid leave to care for themselves, a child, parent or spouses. Feds don't have to first exhaust their regular sick leave in order to access the benefit. The bill also covers feds who have to accommodate the military deployment of a child, spouse or parent. Supporters of the bill say it would help the federal government with recruitment and retention by reducing turnover and making federal employment a more attractive option to job seekers. Current policies often push employees out of the workforce when they have to take unpaid leave, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) said on the call. Moreover, that often impacts women and people of color disproportionately, said Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, also emphasized the potential impact of the policy change on federal hiring and retention issues. "The federal government is competing with the private sector for the recruitment and retention of the future workforce," he said. "If we're not providing the kinds of benefits that are available in counterpart private sector entities, we're going to have a lot of problems recruiting the federal workforce of the future in the federal government." "We all know that unpaid family and medical leave is not an option for many federal employees who can't afford to sacrifice personal income when a loved one falls ill, and this law provides a simple solution," said National Treasury Employees Union president Tony Reardon. Members of Congress are also pushing for emergency paid sick leave in the next COVID-19 relief package, Maloney said. Lawmakers will also continue to push for paid family and medical leave for all employees, she said. DeLauro said she plans on re-introducing the Family Act next week, a bill that would create a paid leave program for employees nationwide. "As the largest employer in the nation, the federal government must take charge and set the standard," Maloney said. "We need a permanent solution to a problem that has existed long before the coronavirus pandemic." Directed by Kumarsen Samarth and produced by the Maharashtra govt 50 years ago, the 35-minute black and white film titled, A Case For Justice, seeks to establish that Marathi was widely used in the disputed areas Mumbai: Amid sparring with Karnataka leaders over the Belgaum issue, the Maharashtra Government has re-released an old documentary that makes a case for the inclusion of Belgaum and some other border areas in the state. The 35-minute black and white film titled, A Case For Justice, produced by the Maharashtra government 50 years ago, has now been released on YouTube in digital format. "In view of the prevailing situation in the Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed that the film be made available for public," a release from his office said on Thursday. It is now available on the YouTube channel of the Directorate of Information and Publicity of the state government. Directed by Kumarsen Samarth, it seeks to establish that Marathi was widely used in the area. There is a scene showing a teacher in a Karwar schoolteaching in English, Marathi, and Konkani. Another scene shows a Marathi placard of an NCC battalion. Vichari, local Marathi newspaper, a 1912 report in Marathi of the Karwar Urban Co-operative Bank and the Marathi plaque on a bridge in Belgaum constructed in 1890 also feature in the film. While the issue of Maharashtra's claim on Belgaum and other border areas in Karnataka is before the Supreme Court afresh, a war of words has broken out between leaders from the two states. On Wednesday, Karnataka deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi demanded that Mumbai be made part of his state and the Centre should declare it a Union Territory until then. His remarks came after Maharashtra chief ministerUddhav Thackeray said that areas in north Karnataka which are dominated by Marathi-speakers be declared a Union Territory till the Supreme Court gives final verdict. The NCP, which is part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, asked state BJP leaders whose party rules in Karnataka to clarify their stand. The agreement allows the American biomedical company to sell and distribute genedrive's COVID-19 PCR test genedrive PLC ( ) has said its coronavirus (COVID-19) testing technology will be sold in the US and Europe by partner Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, taking the pairs previous collaboration agreement to the next stage. The company said its 96 SARS-CoV-2 kit is ideally suited for use on Beckmans high throughput robotic Biomek i7 instrument. The ready-to-go nature of the test removes many of the fluid dispensing steps required in competitor assays, increasing the overall throughput of the Biomek compared to using a liquid reagent-based test formulation, investors were told. The automated solution could process 1,000 PCR samples per workstation over a standard eight-hour day, requiring in the process the equivalent of just half a full-time technician. "We are very pleased to have the partnership of Beckman Coulter in accessing significant COVID testing opportunities throughout the United States and Europe, where the incidence of COVID continues to escalate and the need for high throughout testing solutions remains a priority, said genedrive chief executive David Budd in a statement. The combination of genedrive and Beckman Coulter products and expertise provides the company with a new, innovative, and competitive solution, and a new sales channel for the American market, which we did not have previously. "We are very pleased to now take our initial collaboration and development agreement to the commercial stage. Beckman Coulter is an important and significant company in these core geographies, well suited to promoting, selling, and supporting our products," Budd added. ADRIAN, MI Nine Roman Catholic nuns at an Adrian retirement home died from COVID-19 in January, officials said. The women lived on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 E. Siena Heights Dr., which didnt see a COVID-19 case among the nuns living there for nine months, the Associated Press reports. The COVID-19 outbreak was announced Jan. 14, and stringent protocols were being followed, AP reported. The women who died were between 79 and 97 years old. The nine nuns have died from COVID-19 since Jan. 9, while three other retired nuns died due to other causes, according to the report. The names of the deceased are listed on a Facebook page, but a spokeswoman for the Adrian Dominican Sisters declined to tell the AP who had died from the virus. More than 200 sisters who have retired from active ministry live at the headquarters of the global religious group. Of those sisters, 46 have tested positive for COVID-19. Twelve of those cases are active and 25 women are recovering, AP reported. The Adrian Dominican Sisters founded Siena Heights University in Adrian. The group ministers in 22 states and four countries, according to its website. Read more from MLive: 57% of Michigan nursing home staff, residents decline COVID-19 vaccine so far Letter from the Editor: In a week of sudden loss, we did what journalists do work through the pain Scammers use Amazon payment ploy in attempt to trick Ann Arbor residents [January 28, 2021] Utmost Corporate Solutions Selects Majesco's ClaimVantage Claim Management Enterprise Software for Digital Transformation Majesco, a global provider of cloud insurance platform software, today announced that ClaimVantage, recently acquired by Majesco, signed an agreement with Utmost Corporate Solutions, a leading provider of employee benefits including life, income protection and critical illness across Europe and worldwide. Utmost will implement ClaimVantage Claim Management software as a foundational part of their digital transformation project. Based in Ireland and Guernsey, Utmost Corporate Solutions enables their customers to protect their employees and promote wellbeing in the workplace through effective, personalized service and claims. Utmost will implement ClaimVantage Claim Management in the cloud, providing them with a cutting-edge solution to streamline their business and improve reporting while providing automated upgrades, which will allow them to maintain their position as a market leader. Implementation will provide Utmost clients with a competitive edge through enhanced claims experience and improved timely data and insights. "As we transform our business and position for growth, we recognized the need for a next-gen cloud-native claims management solution that will empower a new digital business model," commented Kevin Nolan, Head of Claims and Underwriting at Utmost Corporate Solutions. "Majesco's ClaimVantage solution provides a platform that enables Utmost to remain at the leading edge and power our growth, while enhancing our customer experience. We look forward to our strategic partnership with Majesco." The Mjesco ClaimVantage Claims Management enterprise solution will complete the full income protection claims life cycle for Utmost Corporate Solutions, from claim intake through payment calculation. "We're thrilled that Utmost has selected Majesco ClaimVantage Claims Management solution to power their digital transformation while future-proofing and optimizing their claims operation through our market-leading technology," said Stacy Varney, VP Sales at Majesco. "Implementation will elevate Utmost's claims management operation and result in improved claims decisions and efficiencies across the claims management function. Implementation of the cloud-native solution will enable Utmost to respond to future market dynamics and opportunities at speed and scale. We welcome Utmost to the Majesco customer community." ClaimVantage was acquired by Majesco on January 7, 2021. About Majesco Majesco, provides technology, expertise, and leadership that helps insurers modernize, innovate and connect to build the future of their business - and the future of insurance - at speed and scale. Our platforms connect people and businesses to insurance in ways that are innovative, hyper-relevant, compelling and personal. Over 200 insurance companies worldwide in P&C, L&A and Group Benefits are transforming their businesses by modernizing, optimizing or creating new business models with Majesco. Our market-leading solutions include CloudInsurer P&C Core Suite (Policy, Billing, Claims); CloudInsurer LifePlus Solutions (AdminPlus, AdvicePlus, IllustratePlus, DistributionPlus); CloudInsurer L&A and Group Core Suite (Policy, Billing, Claims); Digital1st Insurance with Digital1st Engagement, Digital1st EcoExchange and Digital1st Platform - a cloud-native, microservices and open API platform; Distribution Management, Data and Analytics and an Enterprise Data Warehouse. For more details on Majesco, please visit www.majesco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128005046/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Microsoft co-founder, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that the world must prepare for the next pandemic as it would for war, including the investment of tens of billions of dollars each year, in a letter released Wednesday. "We can't afford to be caught flat-footed again," wrote the Microsoft co-founder and his wife Melinda in an annual missive. "The threat of the next pandemic will always be hanging over our heads - unless the world takes steps to prevent it." To avoid future destruction on the scale of that caused by Covid-19, "pandemic preparedness must be taken as seriously as we take the threat of war," AFP cited Gates as saying. "Stopping the next pandemic will require spending tens of billions of dollars per year - a big investment, but remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to cost the world $28 trillion," he added. "The world needs to spend billions to save trillions (and prevent millions of deaths)." The American, ranked the third-wealthiest person in the world by Forbes, urged rich countries to provide the bulk of the investment, pointing out that their governments stand to benefit most. Investments in future diagnostic and vaccination technologies should be supplemented by "a global alert system, which we don't have at large scale today," allowing epidemics to be detected and responded to early, the letter said. US tech giant Apple is set to release its new anti-tracking feature in April or May, which aims to crack down on apps that track iPhone users. The feature, called App Tracking Transparency, will come into force in the spring with an upcoming release of iOS 14. App Tracking Transparency will require all apps to get the user's permission before tracking their data across apps or websites owned by other companies. It will let users go to their Settings and see which apps have requested permission to track them, and make any changes as they see fit. The update, which was delayed last year, is a blow to Facebook and other digital services with apps that depend on such data surveillance to help sell ads. Apple announced the feature last June but said in September that it would delay the change to give digital advertisers more time to adjust. App Tracking Transparency across iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS will require apps to get the user's permission before tracking their data across apps or websites owned by other companies WHY DO APPS TRACK USERS? On average, apps include six 'trackers' from other companies, which have the sole purpose of collecting and tracking people and their personal information. Data collected by these trackers is pieced together, shared, aggregated, and monetised, fuelling an industry valued at $227 billion per year, according to Apple. Advertisement Apple has been calling for more transparency around the gathering of personal information. The update follows the introduction of so-called privacy nutrition labels that the company introduced for all apps in its App Store. 'Privacy means peace of mind, it means security, and it means you are in the driver's seat when it comes to your own data,' said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, in a blog post. 'Our goal is to create technology that keeps people's information safe and protected. 'We believe privacy is a fundamental human right, and our teams work every day to embed it in everything we make.' App Tracking Transparency will effectively prevent iPhone apps from secretly shadowing people. It will allow iPhone and iPad users to make 'more informed choices' about the apps they use and the permissions they grant to those apps. The new feature is called App Tracking Transparency. Apple has been holding off to give Facebook and other app makers more time to adjust to the feature, which will require iPhone users to give their explicit consent to being tracked 'With App Tracking Transparency, users can now choose whether to allow apps to track them,' Apple says. On average, apps include six 'trackers' from other companies, which have the sole purpose of collecting and tracking people and their personal information. Data collected by these trackers is pieced together, shared, aggregated, and monetised, fuelling an industry valued at $227 billion per year, according to Apple. Currently, iPhone users are frequently tracked by apps they install unless they take the extra step of going into iPhone settings and opting-out. However, App Tracking Transparency changes this to an opt-in model, on a per-app basis. When the changes come into force in the spring, app developers will have to ask a user's permission before their app tracks user activities across other companies' apps and websites. Pop-up notifications will appear with the message: 'Allow Facebook to track your activity across other companies' apps and websites?' Users will be given two options: 'Ask App not to Track' and 'Allow'. If users select 'Ask App not to Track', the app developer will not be able to access Apple ID for Advertisers (IDFA). IDFA, Apple's alternative to HTTP cookies on iOS, is a unique random device identifier which Apple generates and assigns to every device and is used to track users. Any app that doesn't comply with the user's wishes will be kicked off the App Store, Apple warns. 'If we learn that a developer is tracking users who ask not to be tracked, we will require that they update their practices to respect your choice, or their app may be rejected from the App Store,' the firm says. Apple stressed that app developers won't be able to require users to permit tracking in order to use their app's full capabilities. Facebook has slammed Apple over upcoming iPhone privacy changes that the social media giant argues will hurt small businesses that rely on targeted ads Apple has published a new online guide called 'A Day in the life of Your Data', which uses a fictional story of a father and daughter visiting a park to help the public better understand how different third-party companies track their information. The document features a helpful FAQ page for App Tracking Transparency. After delaying the introduction of App Tracking Transparency amid a Facebook-led outcry, Apple had previously said it would come out early this year. Apple has been holding off to give Facebook and other app makers more time to adjust to the feature. Analysts expect a significant number of users to deny that permission once it requires their assent, however. Facebook took out a series of full-page newspaper advertisements attacking Apple in December in what the social media giant said was a show of support for small businesses Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has suggested that some free digital services will be hampered if they can't compile personal information to customise ads. In December, Facebook took out a series of full-page newspaper advertisements in in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and others, attacking Apple in what the social media giant said was a show of support for small businesses. This week, Zuckerberg has now questioned Apple's motives regarding App Tracking Transparency, saying the iPhone maker 'has every incentive' to use its own mobile platform to interfere with how Facebook apps and other apps work. 'Apple may say that they are doing this to help people, but the moves clearly track their competitive interests,' Zuckerberg said. Later on Thursday, Apple chief executive Tim Cook will deliver a speech as part of the Computers, Privacy & Data Protection Conference, which is taking place virtually, where he is expected to discuss user choice and trust around data privacy. Apple has long positioned itself as the company of data privacy, building software and firmware into its devices to protect personal data. The new privacy nutrition label requirement went into effect December 8. Developers need to be transparent about the practices of third-party partners whose code they use in their app The company's stance has previously been praised by a number of privacy organisations. Starting December 8 last year, Apple requires app developers to include privacy 'nutritional labels' if they want to be featured in the App Store. The labels are intended to help users understand developers' privacy practices before they download an app. Product pages show information regarding what data is collected, including whether that data is linked to users or is used to track their activities. Developers need to disclose if they gather users' name, email and physical address, financial information, browsing history, purchase history, usage data and geographical location, among other data. Sudrania Fund Services (Sudrania) is pleased to announce the addition of three notable alternative investment industry veterans. Chris Meader, Harsha Patwardhan, and Shalin Madan, will contribute their deep industry experience to help support Sudranias geographic expansion and new service offerings for fund managers. Sudrania is experiencing robust global growth and has hired over 175 experienced professionals in the last six months to support future expansion. This brings the firms global headcount to over 325 individuals servicing 350 clients. Chris, Harsha and Shalin are a natural fit for our entrepreneurial company, as they all saw needs in the market and developed organizations to serve those needs, says Nilesh Sudrania, Founder & CEO of Sudrania. The company is thrilled to have their perspectives and insights as we navigate our next level of growth. Sudranias Newest Senior Leadership Team Members and Their Specialties: Chris Meader, Senior Vice President of Client Success: 20+ years of experience in fund administration having worked in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the US. Chris experience spans accounting, investor services and risk/compliance operations as well as senior product and strategy roles with both large bank owned administrators and smaller boutique administrator servicing all fund types Harsha Patwardhan, Senior Vice President: 20+ years of experience in portfolio management, sales & trading and investment banking. Most recently Harsha traded a quantitative hedge fund and has experience in trading a broad range of financial instruments including equities, bonds, futures and options. Harsha has worked in leading financial institutions. Shalin Madan, Strategic Advisor and Founder of Bodhi Tree Asset Management: 20+ years of experience in the financial services industry having worked as a multi-asset allocator for prominent institutional asset managers, subsequently launching his own quantitatively-driven hedge fund. It is gratifying and exciting to be able to leverage my experience to contribute to an organization that is elevating the fund administration experience and doing it in compliance with industry standards, added Mr. Meader. I am excited to join Sudrania and bring my institutional front office experience to the organization. We deliver a comprehensive partnership to investment managers. Both established and emerging managers will benefit from an administrator with deep product expertise, market knowledge and administration expertise, added Mr. Patwardhan. Mr. Madan furthered, Seeing how many funds with my own being one of the first - have converted from other legacy-based providers is a testament to the industries appetite for a more efficient, cost effective, and secure platform. I am proud to have first been an early investor in Sudrania, now providing strategic vision to an organization that is shaping the next-generation of fund admin. Sudrania is one of the world's fastest growing alternative investment fund administrators and has been nominated/shortlisted in many industry awards for its services and technology. Earlier in the summer of 2020, Sudrania had announced the joining of Amit Arora, Skyler Steinke, and Ravikant Modi. About Sudrania Sudrania Fund Services is a global fund administrator based in Chicago, Illinois that leverages its proprietary Seamless platform, an award-winning, full-scale cloud-based, fund administration application which integrates portfolio, fund accounting and investor reporting, in order to provide best-in-class and cost-efficient solutions to both the traditional and alternative investment fund management community. Seamless Solutions can process high-frequency trading volumes to deliver daily NAV for hedge funds, cryptocurrency funds, SPVs, mutual funds, private equity funds, impact funds, commodity pools and mortgage funds. Sudranias operations and technology are SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 audited, and it currently has over 325 staff across its seven offices globally. January 28, 2021 Rainbow by Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) Enterprise Honored for Offering Exceptional Solutions Colombes, France January 28, 2021 Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of communications, networking and cloud solutions tailored to customers industries, today announced that TMC, a global, integrated media company, has named Rainbow as a 2021 Remote Work Pioneer winner presented by TMCnet. The award honors companies whose software and other solutions support the massive increase in remote working brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic. Rainbow by Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is a cloud-based communication platform that empowers organizations and individuals to connect and collaborate efficiently with colleagues, business contacts, and customers anywhere and anytime. As remote working dramatically increased due to the pandemic, our customers found cloud services enabled them to adapt to the "new normal" immediately, keeping their business and employees safe. Rainbow is a Platform as a Service solution that delivers high-quality collaboration services, versatile meeting tools and telephony integration in a cloud or hybrid architecture. Rainbows innovative workflow integration is a game-changer for a limitless variety of business applications. It also creates a unique and enjoyable experience that gives customers more confidence in the digital transformation path they are taking says Moussa Zaghdoud, Executive Vice President of Cloud business at ALE. Rainbow services include video collaboration and conferences, group messaging, screen sharing, file sharing, telephony and webinar mode. As a fully flexible communication and collaboration platform, Rainbow adapts to customer needs in different industries like healthcare, government, education, finance, and security/defence. It also offers the highest level of security through end-to-end encryption, full GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification. Recognizing leaders in the advancement of remote working software, TMC (News - Alert) is proud to announce Rainbow as a recipient of the 1st Annual Remote Work Pioneer Award, said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is being honored for their achievement in bringing innovation and excellence to the market, while leveraging the latest technology trends. The 2021 TMCnet Remote work Pioneer Award will be highlighted on the TMCnet news portal. About Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise delivers the customized technology experiences enterprises need to make everything connect. ALE provides digital-age networking, communications and cloud solutions tailored to ensure customers success, with flexible business models in the cloud, on premises, and hybrid. All solutions have built-in security and limited environmental impact. Over 100 years of innovation have made Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise a trusted advisor to more than 830,000 customers in 100 countries around the world. The privately-owned company with headquarters in France has over 2900 direct business partners worldwide, achieving an effective global reach with a local focus. For more information: www.al-enterprise.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. ALE contact: Carine Bowen, ALE Global Press press@al-entreprise.com About TMC Through education, industry news, live events and social influence, global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. As a result, leading technology vendors turn to TMC for unparalleled branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities. Our in-person and online events deliver unmatched visibility and sales prospects for all percipients. Through our custom lead generation programs, we provide clients with an ongoing stream of leads that turn into sales opportunities and build databases. Additionally, we bolster brand reputations with the millions of impressions from display advertising on our news sites and newsletters. Making TMC a 360 degree marketing solution, we offer comprehensive event and road show management services and custom content creation with expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, @tmcnet TMC Contact: Michelle Connolly Marketing Manager 203-852-6800, ext. 170 mconnolly@tmcnet.com Edited by Maurice Nagle Kvien meets with MPs from Servant of People on sanctions against Dubinsky, but they want to figure it out Yermak U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Ukraine Kristina Kvien has held a meeting with MPs of the Servant of the People faction on the introduction of U.S. sanctions against member of this faction Oleksandr Dubinsky, the website of the President's Office of Ukraine reported with reference to its head Andriy Yermak. "I know that U.S. Charge d'Affaires Kristina Kvien met with the leaders of the faction. I am glad that the political maturity of the majority of deputies is growing. They do not make hasty decisions, they want to sort it out. I know that there was a detailed conversation," Yermak said in an interview with the NV project, commenting on the faction's consideration of the issue of imposing U.S. sanctions against Dubinsky. As reported, on January 11, Washington included 11 individuals and organizations in the sanctions list on Ukraine. Seven citizens of Ukraine fell under the sanctions, in particular, Dubinsky, and four organizations based, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, in Ukraine. These measures were introduced against them because Washington believes that they interfered in the U.S. electoral process. After The Second Karabakh War ended Armenia and Azerbaijan can hope for unblocking of all transport and economic communications routes, Dr. Esmira Jafarova, a Board Member of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), Baku, Azerbaijan, writes in the article Building Peace And Stability In South Caucasus Should Be A Two-Way Street OpEd for Eurasiareview. The signing of a new trilateral Moscow declaration on January 11, 2021, officialized the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region and tasked the relevant governmental bodies of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia with moving ahead with concrete proposals on the establishment of the Nakhchivan (or Mehri) corridor. Observation of the events since the November 10 declaration enables one to argue that Azerbaijan is genuinely invested in making things work. This becomes clear in the maximally cooperative behavior endorsed by Azerbaijan. For instance, given the climate conditions due to the winter, Azerbaijan responded positively to a request placed by Armenia through the Russian Federation to give a ten-day extension (from November 15 to November 25, 2020) of the deadline for the Armenian Armed Forces and the Armenian population that had settled in Kalbajar during the occupation to leave the region. Unfortunately, this cooperative move by Azerbaijan was not reciprocated. Quite the contrary; the Armenian population engaged in full-scale looting in Kalbajardestroying and burning houses, cutting down trees, cutting electricity transmission lines, and damaging infrastructure and religious and cultural monuments. The most sadly conspicuous example of such looting activity was the removal of 800-year-old frescoes from the walls of the Khudaveng (Dadivang) monastery in Kalbajar. Another example of a goodwill gesture by Azerbaijan was that, in line with the November 10 trilateral declarations Article 8 on the exchange of POWs and bodies, Azerbaijan returned far more corpses to the Armenian side than vice versa. Azerbaijan has returned about 1200 corpses of Armenian military personnel to the Armenian side since the signing of the November 10 declaration. The number is much smaller on the opposing side. Additionally, by the end of December 2020, 58 Armenian nationals detained in Azerbaijan had been returned to Armenia, while only 14 Azerbaijani citizens had been released from Armenian detention. Moreover, amidst the throes of war, when the exchange of POWs and bodies was not yet systemized through the November 10 declaration, Azerbaijan declared many times that it was ready to return the corpses of Armenian servicemen unilaterally through the Tovuz corridor. Furthermore, it should also not be overlooked that Azerbaijan allowed Armenian citizens to continue using the parts of the GorusKafan highway that pass through the newly liberated Azerbaijani territories. Lamentably, instead of appreciating this constructive move by Azerbaijan, Armenian radicals daubed derogative graffiti on a highway sign portraying the Azerbaijani map placed on the Azerbaijani part of the road. Videos of Armenians criticizing their own government as well as Azerbaijan for placing this sign alongside the GorusKafan highway went viral over the internet. Such actions obviously increase animosity and diminish the chances of reconciliation of the two statesin particular as Azerbaijan has been rather consistent in its efforts to demonstrate a maximally cooperative stance, especially when it comes to addressing the needs of ordinary people. To further substantiate this, Azerbaijan allowed humanitarian work by Russian peacekeepers to alleviate the conditions faced by the local Armenian population residing in the areas under those peacekeepers control and facilitated the transfer of goods through its main territory; those goods are transported via rail as far as Barda city, then taken by road to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan allowed such an assistance to take place in consideration of the advent of winter; however, the country was not obliged to do so, as President Ilham Aliyev recently noted. Unfortunately, some irredentist forces in Armenia are still demonstrating their interest in upsetting this fragile state of affairs. Azerbaijan recently conducted an anti-terror operation against Armenian militias in the forest area around the liberated Hadrut settlement in the Khojavand district of Azerbaijan and detained dozens of Armenian citizens who, by passing through the Lachin corridor after the declaration of November 10, arrived to carry out acts of sabotage against Azerbaijan. It goes without saying that such incidents undermine the chances of achieving lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus. Good deeds and intentions and bona fide actions should not be one-sided; they deliver the best results when reciprocated. Avoiding the error of bias, it remains clear that Azerbaijans efforts towards breaking the back of animosity and fostering confidence-building with Armenia are not yet mutual. Nevertheless, the implementation of the important agreements reached to end the war will only be possible through mutual compromise and genuine efforts. This holds true not only in relation to the implementation of the November 10, 2020, declaration, but also in regard to the January 11, 2021, Moscow trilateral declaration that vowed to take relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to a new level via the opening of all economic and transport communications in the region through instrumentalizing the Nakhchivan (Mehri) corridor. Both countries should try to turn the dark pages of their shared history; both should take steps towards one another in order to give a real chance to cooperation and stability in the South Caucasus. Unilateral efforts will not deliver solid results and might eventually fall by the wayside. It is important that both sides engage in cooperative behaviors towards each other for the benefit of building a Pax Caucasia: a united and stable South Caucasus. This directory includes laws, regulations and industry guidelines with significant security and privacy impact and requirements. Each entry includes a link to the full text of the law or regulation as well as information about what and who is covered. CSO updates this directory, originally published on January 28, 2021, frequently as new laws and regulations are put in place. Click on a link to skip to information and resources on that law: Broadly applicable laws and regulations Industry-specific guidelines and requirements US state laws International laws Broadly applicable laws and regulations Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sarbox, SOX) Purpose: Enacted in 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is designed to protect investors and the public by increasing the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures. It was enacted after the high-profile Enron and WorldCom financial scandals of the early 2000s. It is administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which publishes SOX rules and requirements defining audit requirements and the records businesses should store and for how long. To whom it applies: US public company boards, management and public accounting firms. Key points for CISOs: SOX places requirements around maintaining integrity and availability of financial data, and controls for who has access to that data. Specific rules need to be in place for: Access: Who has either physical access to your offices and paper files and electronic access to your data? The law mandates a least permissive access model, under which employees only have access to whats needed to do their jobs. Who has either physical access to your offices and paper files and electronic access to your data? The law mandates a least permissive access model, under which employees only have access to whats needed to do their jobs. Data backup: Financial records must be backed up offsite in ways spelled out by the law. Financial records must be backed up offsite in ways spelled out by the law. Security: You must demonstrate that you have protected your data against breaches, though the implementation is left up to your discretion within reasonable bounds. You must demonstrate that you have protected your data against breaches, though the implementation is left up to your discretion within reasonable bounds. Change management: You'll need to define procedures for adding or changing the databases and software that manage your corporate finances, as well as adding new users to your systems. More about Sarbanes-Oxley: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act explained: Definition, purpose and provisions Return to top Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Purpose: PCI DSS, which is administered by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, establishes cybersecurity controls and business practices that any company that accepts credit card payments must implement. To whom it applies: Any entity that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data--any organization that accepts credit card payments. Key points for CISOs: PCI DSS has 12 security requirements for merchants: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters. Protect stored cardholder data. Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks. Use and regularly update anti-virus software. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications. Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know. Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access. Restrict physical access to cardholder data. Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data. Regularly test security systems and processes. Maintain a policy that addresses information security. More about PCI DSS PCI DSS explained: Requirements, fines and steps to compliance Return to top Payment Service Directive, revised (PSD2) Purpose: The European Unions PSD2 went into effect in September 2019 and sets security and authentication requirements for online transactions. To whom it applies: Any Europe-based organization that processes credit card transactions and European banks and financial institutions. Key points for CISOs: PSD2 requires multi-factor authentication for European payment card transactions. It also requires banks and other financial institutions to give third-party payment service providers access to consumer bank accounts if account holders give consent. More about PSD2 What is PSD2? And how it will impact the payments processing industry The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA) Purpose: Also known as the Financial Modernization Act of 1999, the GLB Act includes provisions to protect consumers' personal financial information held by financial institutions. Its three principal parts to the privacy requirements are: the Financial Privacy Rule, the Safeguards Rule and pretexting provisions. To whom it applies: Financial institutions (banks, securities firms, insurance companies) and companies providing financial products and services to consumers (including lending, brokering or servicing any type of consumer loan; transferring or safeguarding money; preparing individual tax returns; providing financial advice or credit counseling; providing residential real estate settlement services; collecting consumer debts). Key points for CISOs: The privacy requirements of GLB include three principal parts: The Financial Privacy Rule: Requires financial institutions to give customers privacy notices that explain its information collection and sharing practices. In turn, customers have the right to limit some sharing of their information. Financial institutions and other companies that receive personal financial information from a financial institution may be limited in their ability to use that information. The Safeguards Rule: Requires all financial institutions to design, implement and maintain safeguards to protect the confidentiality and integrity of personal consumer information. Pretexting provisions: Protect consumers from individuals and companies that obtain their personal financial information under false pretenses, including fraudulent statements and impersonation. More on GLBA: GLBA explained: What the Graham-Leach-Bailey Act means for privacy and IT security Return to top Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Purpose: C-TPAT is a worldwide supply chain security initiative established in 2004. It is a voluntary initiative run by US Customs and Border Protection, with the goals of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the US. It is designed to build cooperative government-business relationships that strengthen and improve the overall international supply chain and US border security. Businesses are asked to ensure the integrity of their security practices and communicate and verify the security guidelines of their business partners within the supply chain. Benefits for participating in C-TPAT include a reduced number of CBP inspections, priority processing for CBP inspections, assignment of a C-TPAT supply chain security specialist to validate security throughout the company's supply chain and more. To whom it applies: Trade-related businesses, such as importers, carriers, consolidators, logistics providers, licensed customs brokers and manufacturers. Key points for CISOs: C-TPAT relies on a multi-layered approach consisting of the following five goals: Ensure that C-TPAT partners improve the security of their supply chains pursuant to C-TPAT security criteria. Provide incentives and benefits to include expedited processing of C-TPAT shipments to C-TPAT partners. Internationalize the core principals of C-TPAT. Support other CBP initiatives, such as Free and Secure Trade, Secure Freight Initiative, Container Security Initiative. Improve administration of the C-TPAT program. C-TPAT security criteria encompass: Business partners Conveyance security Physical access control Personnel security Procedural security Physical security Security training/threat awareness Information technology security Return to top Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST) Purpose: FAST is a voluntary commercial clearance program run by US Customs and Border Protection for pre-approved, low-risk goods entering the US from Canada and Mexico. Initiated after 9/11, the program allows for expedited processing for commercial carriers who have completed background checks and fulfill certain eligibility requirements. Participation in FAST requires that every link in the supply chain from manufacturer to carrier to driver to importer is certified under the C-TPAT program (see above). To whom it applies: Importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers and manufacturers. Key points for CISOs: Highway carriers authorized to use the FAST/C-TPAT program need to meet the following security-related requirements: A demonstrated history of complying with all relevant legislative and regulatory requirements. Have made a commitment to security-enhancing business practices, as required by the C-TPAT and Canada's PIP program. Return to top Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Purpose: COPPA, which took effect in 2000, applies to the online collection of personal information from children under 13. Monitored by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the rules limit how companies may collect and disclose children's personal information. They codify what a website operator must include in a privacy policy, when and how to seek verifiable consent from a parent and what responsibilities an operator must protect children's privacy and safety online. To whom it applies: Operators of commercial websites and online services directed to children under 13 that collect personal information from children, as well as general audience websites with knowledge they are collecting personal information from children. Key points for CISOs: COPPA requires: Privacy notice with specifics on placement and content A direct notice to parents with specifics on content Verifiable parental consent, for internal use, public disclosure and third-party disclosure of information Verification that a parent requesting access to child's information is the parent Ability for parents to revoke consent and delete information The ability for industry groups and others to create self-regulatory programs to govern compliance with COPPA More on COPPA: COPPA explained: How this law protects children's privacy Return to top Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) Purpose: Passed in December 2003, FACTA is an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act that is intended to help consumers avoid identity theft. Accuracy, privacy, limits on information sharing, and new consumer rights to disclosure are included in the legislation. The Act also says businesses in possession of consumer information or information derived from consumer reports must properly dispose of the information. The Red Flags Rule establishes new provisions within FACTA requiring financial institutions, creditors, etc. to develop and implement an identity theft prevention program. To whom it applies: Credit bureaus, credit reporting agencies, financial institutions, any business that uses a consumer report and creditors. As defined by FACTA, a creditor is anyone who provides products or services and bill for payment. Key points for CISOs: FACTA includes the following key provisions: Fraud alerts and active duty alerts. Individuals can place alerts on their credit histories if identity theft is suspected or if deploying overseas in the military, thereby making fraudulent applications for credit more difficult. Individuals can place alerts on their credit histories if identity theft is suspected or if deploying overseas in the military, thereby making fraudulent applications for credit more difficult. Information available to victims. A business that provides credit or products and services to someone who fraudulently uses your identity must give you copies of the documents, such as credit applications. A business that provides credit or products and services to someone who fraudulently uses your identity must give you copies of the documents, such as credit applications. Collection agencies: If a victim of identity theft is contacted by a collection agency about a debt that resulted from the theft, the collector must inform the creditor of that. When creditors are notified that the debt is the work of an identity thief, they cannot sell the debt or place it for collection. If a victim of identity theft is contacted by a collection agency about a debt that resulted from the theft, the collector must inform the creditor of that. When creditors are notified that the debt is the work of an identity thief, they cannot sell the debt or place it for collection. Red Flags Rule: Several provisions within FACTA require financial institutions, creditors, etc. to develop and implement an identity theft prevention program, aimed at early detection and mitigation of fraud. The program must include provisions to identity relevant "red flags," detect these early warning signs, respond appropriately and periodically update the program. Additional provisions include guidelines and requirements to assess the validity of a change of address request and procedures to reconcile different consumer addresses. Several provisions within FACTA require financial institutions, creditors, etc. to develop and implement an identity theft prevention program, aimed at early detection and mitigation of fraud. The program must include provisions to identity relevant "red flags," detect these early warning signs, respond appropriately and periodically update the program. Additional provisions include guidelines and requirements to assess the validity of a change of address request and procedures to reconcile different consumer addresses. Proper disposal of consumer reports. Consumer reporting agencies and any business that uses a consumer report must adopt procedures for proper document disposal to avoid "dumpster diving" by identity thieves. This includes lenders, insurers, employers, landlords, government agencies, mortgage brokers, automobile dealers, attorneys and private investigators, debt collectors, individuals who obtain a credit report on prospective nannies, contractors or tenants. Consumer reporting agencies and any business that uses a consumer report must adopt procedures for proper document disposal to avoid "dumpster diving" by identity thieves. This includes lenders, insurers, employers, landlords, government agencies, mortgage brokers, automobile dealers, attorneys and private investigators, debt collectors, individuals who obtain a credit report on prospective nannies, contractors or tenants. Disputing inaccurate information. Consumers can dispute data included in reports directly with the company that furnished it. Return to top Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) Purpose: In place since 1938, the FRCP discovery rules govern court procedures for civil lawsuits. The first major revisions, made in 2006, make clear that electronically stored information is discoverable, and they detail what, how and when electronic data must be produced. As a result, companies must know what data they are storing and where it is. They need policies in place to manage electronic data, and they need to be able to prove compliance with these policies to avoid unfavorable rulings resulting from failing to produce data that is relevant to a case. Security professionals may be involved in proving to a court's satisfaction that stored data has not been tampered with. To whom it applies: Any company that is or could be involved in a civil lawsuit within the federal courts. Because states have adopted FRCP-like rules, companies involved in litigation within a state court system are also affected. Key points for CISOs: Security professionals may be involved in proving to a court's satisfaction that stored data has not been tampered with. There are 13 sections to the FCRP. Chapter 5, Rules 26-37 require a detailed understanding of electronic data retention policies and procedures, what data exists and where, as well as the ability to search for and produce this data within the timeframes stipulated. These rules: Make clear that electronically stored information is discoverable and that companies must be able to produce relevant data. Clarify limits on discoverable data; for instance, companies are not required to produce data that would prove to be excessively expensive or burdensome, such as from sources that aren't reasonably accessible, like backup tapes used for disaster recovery and obsolete media. Stipulate that the parties involved need to discuss issues relating to the disclosure or discovery of electronic data before discovery begins. Establish that a reasonable opportunity is provided to examine and audit the data provided. Establish that electronic data is as important as paper documents, and that it must be produced in a reasonably usable format. Provide "safe harbor" when electronic data is lost or unrecoverable, as long as it can be proved that good-faith business operations were routinely followed. Return to top Industry-specific regulations and guidelines Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Purpose: Enacted in 2002, FISMA requires federal agencies to implement a program to provide security for their information and information systems, including those provided or managed by another agency or contractor. It is Title III of the E-Government Act of 2002. To whom it applies: Federal agencies. Key points for CISOs: FISMA recommends that an effective security program include: Periodic risk assessments Policies and procedures based on these assessments that cost-effectively reduce information security risk and ensure security is addressed throughout the life cycle of each information system Subordinate plans for information security for networks, facilities, etc. Security awareness training for personnel Periodic testing and evaluation of the effectiveness of information security policies, procedures, practices and controls, at least on an annual basis A process to address deficiencies in information security policies Procedures for detecting, reporting and responding to security incidents Procedures and plans to ensure continuity of operations for information systems that support the organization's operations and assets Return to top North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) standards Purpose: The NERC standards were developed to establish and enforce reliability standards for the bulk electric systems (BES) of North America, as well as protect the industry's critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats. These overall standards became mandatory and enforceable in the US on June 18, 2007. Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) elements of the reliability standard have been subsequently updated, most recently in 2009. CIP standards include identification and protection of both physical assets and digital systems. To whom it applies: North American electric utilities. Key points for CISOs: NERC standards fall into 14 categories, but CIP is the most relevant to security. CIP has 12 sections: Cyber System Categorization Security Management Controls Personnel and Training Electronic Security Perimeters Physical Security of BES Cyber Systems System Security Management Incident Reporting and Response Planning Recovery Plans for BES Cyber Systems Configuration Change Management and Vulnerability Assessments Information Protection Supply Chain Risk Management Physical Security More about the NERC standards US bulk energy providers must now report attempted breaches Return to top Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR Part 11) Electronic Records Purpose: Part 11, as it is commonly called, was issued in 1997 and is monitored by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It imposes guidelines on electronic records and electronic signatures to uphold their reliability and trustworthiness. To whom it applies: All FDA-regulated industries that use computers for regulated activities, both in the US and outside the country. Key points for CISOs: Part 11 has 19 requirements, the most important of which include: Use of validated existing and new computerized systems Secure retention of electronic records and instant retrieval User-independent, computer-generated, time-stamped audit trails System and data security, data integrity and confidentiality through limited authorized access to systems and records Use of secure electronic signatures for closed and open systems Use of digital signatures for open systems Use of operational checks Use of device checks Determination that the people who develop, maintain or use electronic systems have the education, training and experience to perform their assigned task Return to top Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Purpose: Enacted in 1996, HIPAA is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system. As such, it requires the adoption of national standards for electronic health care transactions and code sets, as well as unique health identifiers for providers, health insurance plans and employers. (HIPAA's requirements are significantly updated by the HITECH Act see next entry). The complete suite of rules is known as the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Regulations. It is administered by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Office for Civil Rights. To whom it applies: Healthcare providers, health plans, health clearinghouses and "business associates," including people and organizations that perform claims processing, data analysis, quality assurance, billing, benefits management, etc. Key points for CISOs: Recognizing that electronic technology could erode the privacy of health information, the law also incorporates provisions for guarding the security and privacy of personal health information. It does this by enforcing national standards to protect: Individually identifiable health information, known as the Privacy Rule The confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information, known as the Security Rule More about HIPAA HIPAA compliance report card HIPAA explained: definition, compliance, and violations Return to top The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) Purpose: Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the HITECH Act adds to HIPAA new requirements concerning privacy and security for patient health information. It widens the scope of privacy and security protections available under HIPAA, increases the potential legal liability for non-compliance and provides for more enforcement. To whom it applies: Healthcare providers, health plans, health clearinghouses and "business associates," including people and organizations that perform claims processing, data analysis, quality assurance, billing, benefits management, etc. Key points for CISOs: The HITECH Act: Expands HIPAA security standards to "business associates," including people and organizations (typically subcontractors) that perform activities involving the use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information, such as claims processing, data analysis, quality assurance, billing, and benefit management, as well as those who provide legal, accounting, or administrative functions. Increases civil penalties for "willful neglect." Adds data breach notification requirements for unauthorized uses and disclosures of "unsecured PHI." These notification requirements are similar to many state data breach laws related to personally identifiable financial information data. Provides stronger individual rights to access electronic medical records and restrict the disclosure of certain information. Places new limitations on the sale of protected health information, marketing and fundraising communications. Return to top Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA, Patient Safety Rule) Purpose: Enacted on January 19, 2009, PSQIA establishes a voluntary reporting system to enhance the data available to assess and resolve patient safety and healthcare quality issues. To encourage the reporting and analysis of medical errors, PSQIA provides federal privilege and confidentiality protections for patient safety information, which includes information collected and created during the reporting and analysis of patient safety events. These confidentiality provisions are intended to improve patient safety outcomes by creating an environment where providers may report and examine patient safety events without fear of increased liability risk. The Office of Civil Rights administers and enforces the confidentiality protections provided to PSWP. The Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality administers the provisions dealing with PSOs. To whom it applies: Healthcare providers, patients and individuals/entities that report medical errors or other patient safety events. Key points for CISOs: Subpart C describes the privilege and confidentiality protections that attach to patient safety work product and the exceptions to the protections. Subpart D establishes a framework to enable HHS to monitor and ensure compliance with the confidentiality provisions, a process for imposing a civil money penalty for breach of the confidentiality provisions, and hearing procedures. Return to top H.R. 2868: The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Regulation (CFATS) Purpose: The CFATS regulation went into effect in 2007 and was developed as part of the US Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. It imposes federal security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities, requiring covered chemical facilities to prepare security vulnerability assessments and to develop and implement site security plans that include measures to satisfy the identified risk-based performance standards. To whom it applies: Chemical facilities, including manufacturing; storage and distribution; energy and utilities; agriculture and food; paints and coatings; explosives; mining; electronics; plastics; and healthcare. Key requirements/provisions: CFATS uses risk-based performance standards rather than prescriptive standards. Security measures vary depending on each facility's determined level of risk. DHS created a tiered system and assigned chemical facilities into one of four "risk" tiers, ranging from high (Tier 1) to low (Tier 4) risk. Tier assignment is based on an assessment of the potential consequences of a successful attack on assets associated with chemicals of interest. Once assigned a tier, facilities must comply with 18 categories of risk-based performance standards. Return to top Key state regulations California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Purpose: The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a law that allows any California consumer to demand to see all the information a company has saved on them, as well as a full list of all the third parties that data is shared with. The CCPA also allows consumers to sue companies if the privacy guidelines are violated, even if there is no breach. To whom it applies: All companies that serve California residents and have at least $25 million in annual revenue must comply with the law. In addition, companies of any size that have personal data on at least 50,000 people or that collect more than half of their revenues from the sale of personal data also fall under the law. Companies don't have to be based in California or have a physical presence there to fall under the law. They don't even have to be based in the United States. A later amendment exempts insurance institutions, agents, and support organizations as they are already subject to similar regulations under Californias Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act (IIPPA). Key points for CISOs: The CCPA defines personal data as: Identifiers such as a real name, alias, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier IP address, email address, account name, Social Security number, drivers license number, passport number, or other similar identifiers Characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law Commercial information including records of personal property, products or services purchased, obtained or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies Biometric information Internet or other electronic network activity information including, but not limited to, browsing history, search history and information regarding a consumers interaction with a website, application or advertisement Geolocation data Audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory or similar information Professional or employment-related information Education information, defined as information that is not publicly available personally identifiable information (PII) as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. section 1232g, 34 C.F.R. Part 99) Inferences drawn from any of the information identified in this subdivision to create a profile about a consumer reflecting the consumers preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, preferences, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities and aptitudes Businesses are not required to report breaches under AB 375, and consumers must file complaints before fines are possible. The best course of action for security, then, is to know what data AB 375 defines as private data and take steps to secure it. More about the CCPA California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): What you need to know to be compliant Return to top California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Purpose: The CPRA, which will go into effect on January 1, 2023, revises the CCPA and creates a new consumer privacy agency. The act toughens some aspects of the CCPA while removing some smaller companies from its requirements. To whom it applies: All companies that serve California residents and have at least $25 million in annual revenue must comply with the law. In addition, companies of any size that have personal data on at least 100,000 residents or households or that collect more than half of their revenues from the sale of personal data also fall under the law. Key points for CISOs: The CPRA: Raises the size limit on companies to those that have data on 100,000 California residents or households, removing the CCPAs inclusion of device data. Requires any third party a business uses to be CPRA compliant. Removes responsibility for CPRA violations committed by third parties if certain agreements are in place and the business partner is in compliance with CPRA. Creates new data minimization rules that prohibit business from retaining consumer information longer than absolutely necessary. Gives consumers more opt-out rights. Increases liability for breaches in some casesfor example, if the breach involves data on minors. More about the CPRA CPRA explained: New California privacy law ramps up restrictions on data use Return to top Maine Act to Protect the Privacy of Online Consumer Information Purpose: The Maine law, which went into effect on July 1, 2020, bars broadband internet access providers from using, disclosing, selling or permitting access to customer personal information unless the customer expressly consents to that use, disclosure, sale or access, with some exceptions. The bill further requires providers to take reasonable measures to protect customer personal information from unauthorized use, disclosure, sale or access. To whom it applies: Broadband internet access providers Key points for CISOs: The law defines personal information is defined as personally identifiable customer information about the customer and information derived from the customers use of broadband internet access services such as web browsing history, geolocation data, device identifiers and a number of other technical data points that can be used to identify individuals. Return to top Maryland Personal Information Protection Act Security Breach Notification Requirements Modifications (House Bill 1154) Purpose: Approved by Governor Larry Hogan on April 30, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019, the law extends the states existing data breach requirements to personal information maintained by a business in addition to personal information owned or licensed by a business. To whom it applies: Any business that own licenses or maintain personal information on Maryland residents. Key points for CISOs: Businesses are also now required to conduct in good faith a reasonable and prompt investigation to determine the likelihood that personal information of the individual has been or will be misused as a result of the breach. Businesses that simply maintain personal data may not charge the owner or licensee a fee for providing the information needed to notify Maryland residents. The law also places certain limitations on information relative to the breach. Return to top Massachusetts 201 CMR 17 (aka Mass Data Protection Law) What it covers: This Massachusetts law, which went into effect March 2010, works to protect the state's residents against fraud and identity theft. It requires that any business that stores or uses personally identifiable information about a Massachusetts resident develop a written, regularly audited plan to protect this information. It takes a risk-based approach rather than a prescriptive one. It directs businesses to establish a security program that takes into account the business size, scope, resources, nature and quantity of data collected or stored and the need for security rather than requiring the adoption of every component of a stated program. To whom it applies: Businesses that collect and retain personal information of Massachusetts residents in connection with the provision of goods and services or for the purpose of employment. Key points for CISOs: Key requirements include: A documented information security program, detailing technical, physical and administrative measures taken to safeguard personal information Encryption of personally identifiable information a combination of a name, Social Security number, bank account number or credit card number when stored on portable devices, such as laptops, PDAs and flash drives, or transmitted wirelessly or on public networks Selection of third-party service providers that can properly safeguard personal information Designated employees charged with overseeing and managing security procedures in the workplace, as well as continuously monitoring and addressing security hazards Limits on the collection of data to the minimum required for the intended purpose Computer system security requirements, including secure user authentication protocols, access control measures, system monitoring, firewall protection, updated security patches and security agent software and employee education and training Return to top Massachusetts Bill H.4806 An Act relative to consumer protection from security breaches Purpose: Effective April 11, 2019, Bill H.4806 places new requirements around breach notifications To whom it applies: Any company that does business in Massachusetts Key points for CISOs: The law: Amends the content requirements for breach notifications to state residents by requiring disclosure of the parent company of the entity breached. Places new content requirements for breach notifications, including the disclosure of the person responsible for the breach in breach notifications, the contact information of the entity that experienced the breach and the person who reported the breach, the type of personal information compromised, whether the breached entity maintains a written information security program, and a sample copy of the notice sent to state residents. Stipulates that breach notification may not be delayed on grounds that the total number of residents affected is not yet ascertained. Return to top Nevada Personal Information Data Privacy Encryption Law NRS 603A Purpose: Nevada enacted NRS 603A in January 2010, making it the first state with a data security law that mandates encryption for customers' stored and transported personal information. To whom it applies: Businesses that collect and retain personal information of Nevada residents. Key points for CISOs: The law contains these requirements: Data collectors that accept payment cards must comply with PCI DSS (see above). Businesses must encrypt any personal information that is electronically transmitted outside the business's secure system. Business must encrypt any personal information stored on a device (computer, phone, magnetic tape, flash drive, etc.) moved beyond the logical or physical controls of the data collector or data storage contractor. Businesses are not liable for damages of a security breach if they comply with the law and the breach was not caused by gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Return to top New Jersey An ACT concerning disclosure of breaches of security and amending P.L.2005, c.226 (S. 51) Purpose: Effective as of September 1, 2019, the bill treats credentials for any online account, including a personal account, as personal information subject to state breach notification laws. To whom it applies: Any company that does business in New Jersey. Key points for CISOs: The bill considers the following personal information: Social Security number Driver's license number or state identification card number Account number or credit or debit card number, in combination with any required security code, access code, or password that would permit access to an individual's financial account Username, email address, or any other account holder identifying information, in combination with any password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account Dissociated data that, if linked, would constitute personal information if the means to link the dissociated data were accessed in connection with access to the dissociated data The law also clarifies that any relevant entity may not provide data breach notifications through email accounts that have been affected by a security breach and must find some other notification method. Return to top New York State Department of Financial Services, Cybersecurity Requirements for Financial Services Companies (23 NYCRR 500) Purpose: The new rules in 23 NYCRR 500, adopted on February 16, 2017, place minimum cybersecurity requirements on covered financial institutions. Each company must assess its risk profile and design a program that addresses its risks. To whom it applies: Any DFS-regulated entity doing business in New York that has more than 10 employees, more than $5 million a year in revenue, and year-end assets exceeding $10 million Key points for CISOs: Companies that fall under the regulation must establish an internal cybersecurity program to protect information assets under their control. Smaller entities must meet other obligations, including limiting access to information, assessing their risk, implementing policies related to third-party data control, and their own data disposition. All regulated entities must report data breaches, regardless of size, designate a CISO and maintain audit trails. More on 23 NYCRR 500 What is the New York Cybersecurity Regulation? What you need to do to comply Return to top New York Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act Purpose: The Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act (Senate Bill S5575B), signed into law on July 25, 2019, expands the states current data breach law and imposes cybersecurity obligations on covered entities. To whom it applies: Any person or entity with private information of a New York resident, not just to those that conduct business in New York State Key points for CISOs: The bill: Expands the scope of information subject to the current data breach notification law to include biometric information and email addresses and their corresponding passwords or security questions and answers. Broadens the definition of a data breach to include unauthorized access to private information. Updates the notification procedures companies and state entities must follow when there has been a breach of private information. Creates data security requirements tailored to the size of a business. Return to top Oregon Consumer Information Protection Act (OCIPA) SB 684 Purpose: Effective as of October 1, 2019, the legislation amends state law by expanding the definition of personal information under the statute to include online account credentials. To whom it applies: Any company that does business in Oregon Key points for CISOs: The bill creates, with some exceptions, additional notification obligations for "vendors" that maintain or process personal information on behalf of other businesses, who will also be required to notify the Oregon attorney general if the personal information of more than 250 residents (or an indeterminate number of residents) is involved. All vendors must notify the relevant business, and a sub-vendor must notify the relevant vendor, within 10 days of discovering or having reason to believe a security breach occurred. Texas An Act relating to the privacy of personal identifying information and the creation of the Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council Purpose: Effective as of January 1, 2020, the legislation amends state law to change the time period for breach notification. To whom it applies: Any business that owns or process personal information on Texas residents. Key points for CISOs: The breach notification timeframe changes from as quickly as possible to without unreasonable delay and in each case not later than the 60th day after the date on which the person determines that the breach occurred. If the breach affects more than 250 residents of the state, a person who is required to disclose or provide notification of a breach of system security under this section shall notify the attorney general of that breach not later than the 60th day after the date on which the person determines that the breach occurred. The notification must also contain a detailed description of the breach, the number of affected Texas residents, the measures taken by the breached entity in response to the incident and whether law enforcement has been engaged. Return to top Virginia -- Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) Purpose: Effective January 1, 2023, the CDPA presents a framework for how companies that do business in Virginia control or process personal data. To whom it applies: The bill's provisions apply only to businesses that control or process personal information of at least 100,000 consumers, defined as Virginia residents, or companies that control or process the data of at least 25,000 Virginia residents that also derive 50% or more of their gross revenue from the sale of personal data. Key points for CISOs: The CDPA gives Virginia consumers the right to access, correct, delete, and obtain a copy of the personal information that covered businesses hold about them. Businesses, referred to as controllers, must perform impact assessments to ensure they are not infringing on consumers' rights when processing their data. Controllers must implement appropriate technical and security controls and have appropriate agreements in place with vendors, referred to as processors. The bill also places conditions on controllers that make de-identification of data more difficult. Return to top Washington An Act Relating to breach of security systems protecting personal information (SHB 1071) Purpose: Effective as of March 1, 2020, the law expands the scope of Washingtons existing data breach law by revising the statutory definition of personal information. To whom it applies: Any company that does business in Washington State. Key points for CISOs: The definition of personal information now includes an individual's first name or initial and last name in combination with other data elements such as full date of birth, student ID number, passport number, health insurance policy or identification number, private key that is unique to an individual and that is used to authenticate or sign an electronic record, medical information and biometric information. Businesses now only have 30 days, rather than 45 days, to deliver the required notifications. Notifications must include a timeframe of exposure, if known, including the date of the breach and the date of the discovery of the breach, the types of personal information affected, a summary of steps taken to contain the breach, and a sample copy of the breach notification sent to Washington residents. A business must update the attorney general if all this information is unknown at the time of the breach. Return to top International security and privacy laws Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPED Act, or PIPEDA) Canada Purpose: PIPEDA governs how public and private organizations collect, use and disclose personal information in the course of business. It went into effect in January 2001 for federally regulated organizations and in January 2004 for all others. In May 2010, Bill C-29 introduced amendments to PIPEDA, involving exceptions for the use and disclosure of personal information without consent and further requirements for business transactions. To whom it applies: All private-sector companies doing business in Canada. Key points for CISOs: PIPEDA establishes ten principles to govern the collection, use and disclosure of personal information: Accountability Identifying purposes Consent Limiting collection Limiting use, disclosure and retention Accuracy Safeguards Openness Individual access Challenging compliance Return to top Law on the Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties Mexico Purpose: Published in July 2010, this Mexican law requires organizations to have a lawful basis such as consent or legal obligation for collecting, processing, using and disclosing personally identifiable information. While there is no requirement to notify processing activities to a government body, as in many European countries, companies handling personal data must furnish notice to the affected persons. Individuals must also be notified in the event of a security breach. To whom it applies: Mexican businesses, as well as any company that operates or advertises in Mexico or uses Spanish-language call centers and other support services located in Mexico. Key points for CISOs: In addition to addressing data retention, the law also incorporates eight general principles that data controllers must follow in handling personal data: Legality Consent Notice Quality Purpose limitation Fidelity Proportionality Accountability Return to top General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Purpose: The European Parliament adopted the GDPR in April 2016, replacing an outdated data protection directive from 1995. Its provisions require businesses to protect the personal data and privacy of EU citizens for transactions that occur within EU member states. The GDPR also regulates the exportation of personal data outside the EU. The provisions are consistent across all EU member states, so companies have just one standard to meet within the EU. However, that standard is high and requires most companies to make a large investment to meet and administer. To whom it applies: Any company that stores or processes personal information about EU citizens within EU states, even if they do not have a business presence within the EU. Criteria for companies required to comply are: A presence in an EU country. No presence in the EU, but it processes personal data of European residents. More than 250 employees. Fewer than 250 employees but its data-processing impacts the rights and freedoms of data subjects, is not occasional, or includes certain types of sensitive personal data. That effectively means almost all companies. Key points for CISOs: The GDPR requires the protection of the following personal data: Basic identity information such as name, address and ID numbers Web data such as location, IP address, cookie data and RFID tags Health and genetic data Biometric data Racial or ethnic data Political opinions Sexual orientation The GDPR places equal liability on organizations that own the data and third-party data processors. That means both are subject to fines in case of a breach or complaint. Organizations are responsible to ensure that their third-party data processors are GDPR compliant. More on the GDPR General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): What you need to know to stay compliant Return to top The search continues for three men who disappeared during a fishing trip on Australia Day in far north Queensland. The men, aged 18, 27 and 37, set out on a 4.8-metre vessel with a blue bimini canopy on Tuesday morning. They were due back in Yarrabah, near Cairns, that afternoon. Queensland water police are searching for three missing fishermen in Cape Tribulation. Credit:Queensland Police Service The trio on the vessel, which had the registration VO317Q, were last seen about 8.30am at a reef off Green Island, where they appeared to be having engine trouble. On Thursday, water police scoured seas and the coastline from Yorkeys Knob to Cape Tribulation - an estimated 130 kilometres of coastline. President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged South Sudan leaders to hasten the implementation of the remaining aspects of the peace pact signed in Khartoum, Sudan in 2018. The President singled out the establishment of the legislative assembly and reforms in the security sector as some of the pending areas that require attention as the country returns to stability after years of conflict. The Head of State spoke Tuesday evening at State House, Nairobi when he hosted US Special Envoy for South Sudan Amb Stuart Symington and his UK counterpart Bob Fairweather who paid him a courtesy call. The two envoys briefed the President on the South Sudan peace process and thanked Kenya for its leading role in the long search for peace and stability in the young African nation and the region. Amb Symington, a former US Ambassador to Djibouti, Rwanda and Nigeria, said Kenyas longstanding support has contributed to the progress made in the journey of returning South Sudan to the road of peace and stability. He urged the President to continue giving the peace process positive influence by rallying South Sudan leaders to implement the remaining aspects of the Khartoum accord. On his part, UK Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Bob Fairweather praised parties to the South Sudan peace pact for taking bold steps to end conflicts and forge a stable, peaceful and progressive nation. The British diplomat assured the President that the Troika nations of Norway, the US and the UK will continue working closely with Kenya and the region in search of sustainable peace and stability in South Sudan. President Kenyatta assured the two diplomats of Kenyas continued support for the peace process saying the country will leverage on its UN Security Council membership to assist her young neighbour and the region achieve stability. The President was joined in the meeting by Foreign Affairs CS Amb Raychelle Omamo and the Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua while the special envoys were accompanied by British High Commissioner to Kenya Amb Jane Marriott and Mr Eric Kneedler, the Charge d Affaires at the US Embassy in Nairobi. Separately at State House, Nairobi, President Kenyatta met former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn who delivered a special message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The former Prime Minister briefed the President on a number of subjects top among them Ethiopias internal conflict involving the Federal Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), the simmering border conflict with Sudan and the progress made in resolving the regional stand-off over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on River Nile involving Sudan and Egypt. President Kenyatta expressed concerns about the stability of the region citing several emerging conflicts and assured the visiting Ethiopian leader that Kenya will continue supporting regional efforts to resolve the challenges. The former Premier was accompanied by Ethiopias State Minister for Foreign Affairs Amb Redwan Hussein and the countrys Ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem Tekea in the meeting also attended by Kenyas Foreign Affairs CS Amb Raychelle Omamo. On the Tigray conflict, President Kenyatta welcomed the measures being taken by the Ethiopian Federal Government in addressing the humanitarian situation in the region. Saudi Aramco has retained its position as Middle Easts most valuable brand, despite recording a 20% brand value loss to $37.5 billion, while globally Apple reclaimed the position of worlds most valuable brand from Amazon. ADNOC is second most valuable brand in region with a brand value of $10.8 billion, according to Brand Finance Global 500 2021 ranking. Fastest network in world, Etisalat, is regions strongest brand with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 87.4 out of 100 and only brand in region with AAA brand strength rating. stc is the regions fastest growing brand with its brand value up 14%. Five years since it last held top spot, Apple has been named worlds most valuable brand by the ranking as diversification strategy finally paid off (brand value of $263.4 billion). Accounting for 14% of total brand value in the 2021 ranking, tech remains most valuable sector in the Brand Finance Global 500. E-commerce brands have thrived in the new normal, with Alibaba.com doubling in brand value, but chain retailers are cash in on home delivery too Walmart climbs up to 6th rank. WeChat overtook Ferrari to become worlds strongest brand with a top score of 95.4 out of 100 and AAA+ brand strength rating. David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, commented: As the UAE approaches its 50th anniversary in December, the nation continues to flourish and showcase its accomplishments in undertaking an impressive growth trajectory, under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The nations world-class brands are helping spearhead global transformation across their respective industries from Adnocs innovation in sustainability, Etisalats accomplishment becoming the fastest network globally, DP Worlds position as a leader in logistics to Emirates flying the flag quite literally the world over. "Recent events have truly demonstrated the nations position on the global stage, from its efforts in the face of the pandemic, including international aid to vaccine development, to the historic peace deal with Israel - the UAE is demonstrating that it is a force to be reckoned with. We have seen the transformation from desert to Mars what will the next 50 years hold? Oil & gas brands lead the way Saudi Aramco retains its position as the regions most valuable brand in the Brand Finance Global 500 2021 report, despite recording a 20% brand value loss to US$37.5 billion. Owing to the sheer size and scale of the business, as well as its low costs of production, Saudi Aramco has been in a stronger position to negotiate the fallout from the pandemic than many of its counterparts, but still suffered a significant hit to profits. While brand value has fallen, Aramcos brand strength has remained stable. Other intangibles such as relationships, particularly with the Saudi Arabian government, play a greater role in performance. Haigh commented: Aramco is the hidden giant of the oil industry whose brand has finally emerged into the light of public attention. It has always been known as a b2b brand but has aspirations to become a well-known consumer brand. At present its scale is huge but its brand equity is at an early stage of development. We believe that over the next decade the brand will grow from strength to strength as it enters the world stage. - TradeArabia News Service Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigerian authorities have failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have brazenly attempted to cover up the violence, Amnesty International Nigeria said on Thursday, 100 days on from the attacks Type address separated by commas Your Email: Editor: What happened in our nations Capitol on Jan. 6 was more than a tragedy; it was an open act of treason. A police officer was murdered. A government building, perhaps the most sacred building in our country, was violated, vandalized and defaced. Property in that building was damaged and destroyed and the duly elected lawmakers of this county were forced to hide in fear of their lives. There is no explanation for these acts, no rationalization that makes it OK. The perpetrators all should be found, tried and imprisoned. But those were the actions a few misguided, unstable and violent individuals. Thats not who we, the people, are. At least I hope this is true, which is why all Trump signs should be taken down. The election is over; democracy has been served, and if this hadnt happened then it would be acceptable for those who supported President Trump to continue to show their loyalty. But it happened and if they continue to display signs for the architect of this malicious act then they publicly approve of these actions. As for the rest of us our course is plain. We move forward. We fix the damage and we rebuild the country. But it also is incumbent upon us, in solidarity, to condemn this behavior. We must boycott any business displaying these signs and we ostracize any person who does the same. We move forward, but we dont forget and we dont accept this. PETER A. ANANIA SCRANTON Editor: After living through Kent State, the Vietnam War, the Newark riots, Watergate and other world events, I am disgusted, appalled and saddened at the recent scene at our nations Capitol. It showed a total disrespect for our country, democracy and everything that America stands for. Why did this happen? Because the person who sat in the White House is an anarchist who incites chaos and hate. He never fulfilled his inaugural oath. I never felt he protected the American people. At a time when our country is in the greatest health crisis of a century, thousands of unmasked individuals not patriots stormed the Capitol, causing destruction and spreading the virus. I question why this got as far as it did. Looking back at the Black Lives Matter movement and other marches, law enforcement was out in full force, anticipating unrest that never came to pass. President Trump convinced his followers to march to the Capitol and it was clear it would not be a peaceful protest. He delayed calling in the National Guard. Members of law enforcement should have lined the steps of the Capitol before massive crowds appeared. That did not happen. It raises serious questions. Peaceful protesters at Lafayette Square were tear-gassed in June to clear the way for a Trump photo shoot. Rioters at the capitol were allowed to cause destruction and turmoil. Joe Biden has become president but Trump will not go away and we will never have peace in our country. He does anything to draw attention to himself. Trump has caused irreparable harm to our country. He ignored the coronavirus and made it a political issue and made the mask a political symbol. The vaccine rollout has been a disaster. LINDA KIEFER SCRANTON Editor: A recent article in The Times-Tribune (Is the world running out of bugs? Jan. 13) ended with a quote by entomologist Doug Tallamy: This is a global problem with a grassroots solution. Tallamy offers a solution in which everyone can participate and everyone can benefit. In his book, Natures Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard, Tallamy says everyone can plant native flora and be a part of the solution of waning bird, bee, butterfly and insect populations, all of which are crucial for a healthy, balanced ecosystem to sustain life. Anyone can plant native trees, shrubs and flowers. Pennsylvania has committed to planting 10 million free trees between 2020 and 2025 via the Keystone Ten Million Tree Partnership. Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light partnered with this organization to facilitate distribution of native trees throughout Pennsylvania. As part of our commitment to caring for the Earth and in recognition of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of IHM, the sisters and members of the EarthCARE Committee have planted 175 native trees and shrubs on the IHM Center property in Dunmore during this pandemic. They collaborate with other organizations in ordering and distributing 5,000 additional native trees, which will be planted in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Also, the IHM sisters plan to invite Tallamy to Scranton to inspire the broader community with his solution to the waning bird, bee, butterfly, and bug populations so that together we may work toward a healthy environment for all of Gods creatures, even the bugs. We encourage and invite all to be a part of this simple, critically important solution. Plant a native tree, shrub, or flower; save the birds, bees, and butterflies because without native flora we are running out of bugs. SISTER DONNA KORBA, I.H.M. OFFICE OF JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION SCRANTON Editor: Many people are shocked to learn that wildlife-killing contests a bloodsport akin to dogfighting occur right here in our state. In these nefarious contests, participants compete to kill the most, the largest, or even the smallest animals for cash or prizes. Cruel and unsporting, these contests target historically stigmatized species including bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and crows because there are almost no laws protecting them. Participants also perpetuate baseless myths about the targeted animals, including often misunderstood and stigmatized coyotes, to justify the bloodshed. Wildlife killing contests are out of step with science and are counterproductive to sound wildlife management. Randomly killing species such as coyotes will not prevent conflicts with farm animals or pets and may even increase them. It also wont reduce coyote numbers or result in more deer or turkeys for hunters. Whats more, wildlife killing contests damage the reputation of the hunting community. It makes a game of killing animals, which is unacceptable to most people in our state. Pennsylvania should join other states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington, that have banned these events. Please encourage the Pennsylvania Game Commission to pass a rule outlawing horrific wildlife killing contests. LINDA PICCOTTI-GIGLIO OLD FORGE Significant and diversified annual market opportunity set 100 billion Robust balance sheet and liquidity position High return on invested capital potential; long-term dividend policy target 2021 guidance provided under adjusted IFRS framework Regulatory News: TechnipFMC (NYSE:FTI) (Paris:FTI) (ISIN:GB00BDSFG982): ADVERTISEMENT. This announcement is an advertisement relating to the intention of the Company (as defined below) to proceed with the listing and admission of shares in Technip Energies (the "Shares") on Euronext Paris (the "Listing"). This announcement does not constitute a prospectus. If and when the Listing is launched, further details about the Listing will be included in a prospectus to be published by the Company in relation to the Listing (the "Prospectus"). Once the Prospectus has been approved by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiele Markten) (the "AFM") and passported to the Autorite des marches financiers, the Prospectus will be published and made available at no cost through the corporate website of the Company (www.technipenergies.com). Any potential investor should make their investment solely on the basis of information that will be contained in the Prospectus. Potential investors should read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the Shares. The approval of the Prospectus by the AFM should not be understood as an endorsement of the quality of the Shares and the Company (as defined below). Technip Energies (the "Company") will today host its virtual Capital Markets Day in connection with TechnipFMC's previously announced plan to separate into two industry-leading independent, publicly traded companies: TechnipFMC and Technip Energies. The transaction is expected to be structured as a spin-off of a majority stake in TechnipFMC's Technip Energies segment. The separation is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. The virtual Capital Markets Day will be held today at 14:00 CET. A live webcast and an accompanying presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section of TechnipFMC's website at www.technipfmc.com. Arnaud Pieton, Chief Executive Officer of Technip Energies, stated, "?Technip Energies is a leading engineering and technology company for the energy transition. We have world leading market positions in LNG, ethylene and hydrogen, and we are central to powerful energy transition themes from decarbonization to carbon-free solutions to meet today's and tomorrow's energy challenges. We have growing positions on break-through technologies in green hydrogen, sustainable chemistry and CO2 management. Today, our extensive backlog and a breadth of commercial opportunities provide strong revenue visibility and medium-term margin expansion potential. Our asset light business and strong balance sheet provide a solid platform to support our growth ambitions and high return-on-invested capital through the cycle. Ultimately, we aim to be the reference investment platform for the Energy Transition." Technip Energies is one of the world's largest Engineering and Technology (E&T) companies. With its broad offering of project capabilities, technologies, products and services, the Company is ideally positioned to accelerate the Energy Transition. The Company has over 15,000 employees globally across 34 countries and can point to over 60 years of successful operations. Technip Energies, which is incorporated in the Netherlands, will be headquartered in Paris. The Company will have its shares listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange under the ticker "TE" with American depositary receipts ("ADRs"). Based on the 12 months to June 20, 2020, Technip Energies is a 6 billion revenue company supported by a significant 13.2 billion backlog as of June 30, 2020. A compelling investment proposition Our value proposition is characterized by the following: Pioneering downstream and gas evolution. Technip Energies has a competitive and differentiated offering to address significant market opportunities in LNG and gas monetization, offshore and downstream. The Company is a partner of choice globally, with a 50-year track record and leading positions in the attractive markets of LNG and ethylene. The Company sees robust long-term demand for gas and downstream, with both LNG and downstream playing a critical role in the energy transition. The Company's innovations around decarbonization and efficiency are enabling sustainable solutions for greenfield and revamp projects. Accelerating the energy transition. Technip Energies, with its process engineering and process technology capabilities, is focused on accelerating the energy transition. The Company possesses an extensive and evolving proprietary technology portfolio and has significant expertise in technology integration and scale-up. It intends to leverage its pioneering mindset to remain at the forefront as the market evolves towards new energy chains. The structural market shift towards hydrogen, sustainable chemistry and low-carbon infrastructures is viewed by the Company as a significant opportunity. Leveraging capabilities to expand opportunity set. Technip Energies is expanding into new growth areas in services, energy transition and other selected industries. Technip Energies has expanded its advisory and high-value services through Genesis and its project management consultancy offering. Through applying its core skills and capabilities in energy molecule transformation, the Company is able to integrate offshore, hydrogen process and architecture design to unlock new energy possibilities. Further, it will selectively expand into other industries such as Life Sciences and Agritech, primarily with a services value proposition. Providing outstanding delivery. Technip Energies' global team of ~15,000 professionals consist of industry-leading engineering, technical and project management expertise. This highly talented workforce supports a value proposition underpinned by strong project execution, a leading process technology portfolio and robust risk management processes. The Company's track-record includes many of the world's largest and most iconic energy projects, clearly demonstrating its front-runner spirit. The Company is enhancing its project execution capabilities by integrating digital into its project processes and believes that a digital transformation of Technip Energies will drive internal efficiencies and enhance its services offering. Offering financial strength and stability. Technip Energies will illustrate its financial strengths and demonstrate a solid foundation for sustainable shareholder returns. Being largely a backlog-based business, the Company has strong top-line and margin visibility. Its contracting model supports an early cash conversion of earnings. These factors combined with an asset light business and strong balance sheet provide the platform for high returns on invested capital and support a long-term dividend policy target. ESG Our pledge for a better tomorrow. Technip Energies aims to be recognized as a reference ESG company through strong ESG principles, business alignment to the energy transition and integration of a sustainability strategy throughout its processes and business development. Technip Energies intends to propose its sustainability strategy within its first year as an independent company, and thereafter issue a yearly sustainability report with scorecard. As a best practice, the Company intends to support the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact as well as the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Market Overview Technip Energies has a substantial annual market opportunity set of over 100 billion with high-growth potential in identified growth and upside markets, supported by a significant base in traditional markets, which are also evolving towards lower carbon markets. Base Markets LNG, downstream and offshore. The Company has a highly competitive offering to address the significant market opportunity in LNG, offshore and downstream, where in aggregate it has identified an annual addressable market opportunity of over 70 billion, with growth led by GDP. Technip Energies is a market leader in LNG and has proprietary technologies for gas processing and NGL recovery units. It has the industry's most comprehensive reference list for floating LNG (FLNG), and a pioneering position in the market for gas FPSOs. In downstream, the Company has leading proprietary technology and equipment in petrochemicals and a leading market position in ethylene. Growth Markets Hydrogen, Sustainable Chemistry, CO2 Management. The Company has identified growth markets within the energy transition domain, notably in hydrogen, sustainable chemistry, and CO2 management. In these markets it sees an annual addressable market of over 15 billion, with medium-term growth potential of 5-15% per annum. Technip Energies is a world leader in hydrogen having delivered its proprietary steam reforming technology to over 270 plants, representing over 35 per cent of the global installed base. In sustainable chemistry, which includes biofuels, biochemistry and the circular economy, Technip Energies has an established business with multiple references, proprietary technologies and notable alliances. In CO2 management it has over 50 references for CO2 removal units and a strategic alliance with Shell CANSOLV for CO2 capture technology. Upside Markets Adjacent markets of carbon free portfolio expansion, services and other industries. Through leveraging its core competencies, Technip Energies intends to grow its services business lines, expand its energy transition addressable markets, and move into adjacent industries. Technip Energies has identified an annual addressable opportunity in these upside markets of than 15 billion, with medium-term growth potential of 5-15% per annum. In Services, the Company already has established business lines in Advisory Consulting, Digital Plant Performance and Project Management Consulting. The Company plans to build on its established offshore expertise to develop a greater presence in full-scale carbon-free marine projects. It also intends to leverage its expertise and experience to deliver new innovations to the emerging markets of offshore hydrogen and offshore floating wind. Additionally, Technip Energies will expand selectively into other industries such as Life Sciences and Agritech. Company Guidance1 2020e 2021e Medium-Term Outlook Revenue 5.9 6.1 billion2 6.5 7.0 billion Single-digit growth, constant currency; backlog execution substantial pipeline EBIT margin3 5.6% 5.8% 5.5% 6.0% (exc. one-off cost of 30m) Target 100bps+ increase for medium term Effective tax rate 30 35% 30 35% No material deviation from 2021e 1 Financial information is presented under adjusted IFRS framework, which records Technip Energies' proportionate share of equity affiliates and restates the share related to non-controlling interests. 2 2020 revenue guidance reflects foreign exchange movements in H2 2020 versus backlog calendarization calculated as of June 30, 2020. 3 Adjusted recurring EBIT: adjusted profit before net financial expense and income taxes adjusted for items considered as non-recurring. Depreciation and amortization expense for 2021 expected to be in line with 2019 with implied Adjusted Recurring EBITDA in a range from 6.9% to 7.4% of Adjusted Revenues. The historical financial information presented in this press release and during the Capital Markets Day consists of IFRS special-purpose financial statements carved out from the consolidated financial statements of TechnipFMC prepared for the purposes of the spin-off and present the historical financial information of Technip Energies in the format that it intends to report its financial results in the future beginning with the publication of Technip Energies' statutory consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2021. As Technip Energies did not operate as a stand-alone entity in the past, the historical financial information may not be indicative of Technip Energies' future performance and what its combined results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been, had Technip Energies operated as an entity separate from TechnipFMC for the periods presented. Capital Structure Technip Energies has secured a senior unsecured bridge term loan for 650 million (for one year with two six-month extension options) and a revolving credit facility (RCF) of 750 million. Expected outstanding commercial paper of 125 million as of spin-off date fully backstopped by the RCF. There are no financial covenants on the debt instruments. The Company has been provided by S&P Global a BBB negative outlook credit rating. Technip Energies' opening balance sheet is expected to have a gross debt of 750 million, and cash and cash equivalents of 3.1 billion. Agenda The virtual Capital Markets Day will comprise of comprehensive presentations from members of the Technip Energies Leadership Team. 14:00 14:30 CET Opening Remarks Philip Lindsay, Head of Investor Relations, Technip Energies Introduction Arnaud Pieton, CEO Technip Energies 14:30 15:45 CET Pioneer downstream and gas evolution Alain Poincheval, Fellow Executive Project Director, Technip Energies Accelerate the energy transition Stan Knez, SVP Process Technology, Technip Energies Leverage capabilities to expand opportunity set Charles Cessot, SVP Strategy, Technip Energies 15:45 16:15 CET Q&A 16:15 16:30 CET Break 16:30 17:45 CET Outstanding delivery Marco Villa, COO Technip Energies Magali Castano, SVP People Culture, Technip Energies Financial strength and delivery Bruno Vibert, CFO Technip Energies 17:45 18:30 CET Closing Remarks Arnaud Pieton, CEO Technip Energies Q&A Additional details on the virtual Capital Markets Day of Technip Energies The Capital Markets Day event will be held today, Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 14:00 CET. A live webcast and an accompanying presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section of TechnipFMC's website at www.technipfmc.com. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the same website for a duration of one year. Supplemental information containing selected financial information for Technip Energies for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and for the six months ended June 30, 2020, is also available in the Investor Relations section of TechnipFMC's website at www.technipfmc.com. Prospectus In advance of the spin-off, Technip Energies will publicly file a definitive version of the registration statement on Form F-1 (the "F-1") and will publish a European prospectus that has been approved by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiele Markten) and passported to the French Autorite des marches financiers. The F-1 and European prospectus will include carve-out financials for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and for the six months ended June 30, 2020 under IFRS as adopted by the European Union. The F-1 and the European prospectus will also contain a description of the risks that relate to the Company's industry and business, operations and financial conditions, including the following key risks: The Company operates in a highly competitive environment and unanticipated changes relating to competitive factors in its industry may impact its results of operations. Demand for the Company's products and services depends on oil and gas industry activity and expenditure levels, which are directly affected by trends in the demand for and price of crude oil and natural gas. COVID-19 has significantly temporarily reduced demand for the Company's products and services, and has had, and may continue to have, an adverse impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. The Company may lose money on fixed-price contracts. The Company's failure to timely deliver its backlog could affect future sales, profitability, and relationships with its customers. The Company faces risks relating to its reliance on subcontractors, suppliers, and its joint venture partners. The Company may not realize revenue on its current backlog due to customer order reductions, cancellations or acceptance delays, which may negatively impact its financial results. Currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company is subject to an ongoing investigation by the French Parquet National Financier related to historical projects in Equatorial Guinea and Ghana. Its operations require the Company to comply with numerous regulations, violations of which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Compliance with environmental and climate change related laws and regulations may adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations. The Company is subject to the tax laws of numerous jurisdictions; challenges to the interpretation of, or future changes to, such laws could adversely affect it. Historically, the Technip Energies Business was operated as a business segment of TechnipFMC and the Company's historical financial information is not necessarily representative of the results that the Technip Energies Business would have achieved as an independent public company and may not be a reliable indicator of its future results. The Company may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation and spin-off, and the separation and spin-off may adversely affect its business. The combined post-spin-off value of Technip Energies Shares and TechnipFMC Shares may not equal or exceed the aggregate pre-spin-off value of TechnipFMC Shares. Important Information for Investors and Security holders Forward-looking statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "expect," "plan," "intend," "would," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature, and include any statements with respect to the potential separation of the Company into TechnipFMC and Technip Energies, the expected financial and operational results of TechnipFMC and Technip Energies after the potential separation and expectations regarding TechnipFMC's and Technip Energies' respective capital structures, businesses or organizations after the potential separation. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from TechnipFMC's historical experience and TechnipFMC's present expectations or projections. For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see TechnipFMC's risk factors set forth in TechnipFMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which include TechnipFMC's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, TechnipFMC's filings with the Autorite des marches financiers or the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, as well as the following: risks associated with disease outbreaks and other public health issues, including the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19"), their impact on the global economy and the business of TechnipFMC's company, customers, suppliers and other partners, changes in, and the administration of, treaties, laws, and regulations, including in response to such issues and the potential for such issues to exacerbate other risks TechnipFMC faces, including those related to the factors listed or referenced below; risks associated with the impact or terms of the potential separation; risks associated with the benefits and costs of the potential separation, including the risk that the expected benefits of the potential separation will not be realized within the expected time frame, in full or at all; risks that the conditions to the potential separation, including regulatory approvals, will not be satisfied and/or that the potential separation will not be completed within the expected time frame, on the expected terms or at all; the expected tax treatment of the potential separation, including as to shareholders in the United States or other countries; risks associated with the sale by TechnipFMC of shares of Technip Energies to Bpifrance, including whether the conditions to closing will be satisfied; changes in the shareholder bases of the Company, TechnipFMC and Technip Energies, and volatility in the market prices of their respective shares, including the risk of fluctuations in the market price of Technip Energies' shares as a result of substantial sales by TechnipFMC of its interest in Technip Energies; risks associated with any financing transactions undertaken in connection with the potential separation; the impact of the potential separation on TechnipFMC's businesses and the risk that the potential separation may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, including the impact on TechnipFMC's resources, systems, procedures and controls, diversion of management's attention and the impact on relationships with customers, governmental authorities, suppliers, employees and other business counterparties; unanticipated changes relating to competitive factors in TechnipFMC's industry; TechnipFMC's ability to timely deliver TechnipFMC's backlog and its effect on TechnipFMC's future sales, profitability, and TechnipFMC's relationships with TechnipFMC's customers; TechnipFMC's ability to hire and retain key personnel; U.S. and international laws and regulations, including existing or future environmental or trade/tariff regulations, that may increase TechnipFMC's costs, limit the demand for TechnipFMC's products and services or restrict TechnipFMC's operations; disruptions in the political, regulatory, economic and social conditions of the countries in which TechnipFMC conducts business; and downgrade in the ratings of TechnipFMC's debt could restrict TechnipFMC's ability to access the debt capital markets. TechnipFMC cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. TechnipFMC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Disclaimers This press release is intended for informational purposes only for the shareholders of TechnipFMC, the majority of whom reside in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. This press release does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation"), and Technip Energies' shares will be distributed in circumstances that do not constitute "an offer to the public" within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation. This press release is not intended for distribution in jurisdictions that require prior regulatory review and authorization to distribute a press release of this nature. The joint equity capital markets advisors are acting exclusively for TechnipFMC and no one else in connection with the planned spin-off of the majority stake of TechnipFMC's Technip Energies business segment and will not regard any other person as their respective clients and will not be responsible to anyone other than TechnipFMC for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients in connection with any distribution of Technip Energies shares or otherwise, nor for providing any advice in relation to the distribution of Technip Energies shares, the content of this press release or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. Advisors Rothschild Co. is acting as financial advisor and Latham Watkins, LLP is acting as legal advisor, with Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. serving as additional legal advisors, to TechnipFMC. BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Societe Generale are acting as joint equity capital markets advisors in connection with the proposed distribution of Technip Energies shares to the holders of TechnipFMC shares upon completion of the separation. Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank is also acting as an advisor on the distribution of Technip Energies shares to the holders of TechnipFMC shares. About Technip Energies ("SpinCo") With approximately 15,000 employees, Technip Energies is one of the largest engineering and technology companies globally, with leadership positions in LNG, hydrogen and ethylene as well as growing market positions in sustainable chemistry and CO2 management. In addition, the new company will benefit from its robust project delivery model and extensive technology, products and services offering. The Company would comprise the Technip Energies segment, including Genesis a leader in advisory services and front-end engineering. About TechnipFMC ("RemainCo") With approximately 21,000 employees, TechnipFMC would be the largest diversified pure play in the industry. The Company's role will be to support clients in the delivery of unique, integrated production solutions. TechnipFMC will continue to transform the industry through its pioneering integrated delivery model iEPCI, technology leadership and digital innovation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127006066/en/ Contacts: Investor relations Matt Seinsheimer Vice President Investor Relations +1 281 260 3665 Matt Seinsheimer Phillip Lindsay Director Investor Relations (Europe) +44 (0) 20 3429 3929 Phillip Lindsay Media relations Christophe Belorgeot Senior Vice President Corporate Engagement +33 1 47 78 39 92 Christophe Belorgeot Brooke Robertson Public Relations Director +1 281 591 4108 Brooke Robertson This year is a key year for the reform of the state defense industry - the defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom. It is to be reorganized into two holdings with the working names "Defense Systems of Ukraine" and "Aerospace Systems of Ukraine", which will be engaged in research, development, production, and marketing. The first holding will unite all enterprises of the conglomerate that produce weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian army and will thus strengthen the country's defense capabilities, whereas the second holding will unite companies that explore and develop space and aviation. And it's not just about the physical division of human resources, property, technology, cooperation and distribution ties, but about a deeper reform of a key industry. Especially for a country that opposes Russian aggression. Director General of Ukroboronprom Yuriy Husiev, who was appointed to the new post in December 2020, disclosed the details of the defense industry reform in an interview with Ukrinform. ABOUT LAST YEAR'S WORK AND THIS YEAR'S DEFENSE ORDER Question: Mr. Husiev, the preparatory stage of the conglomerate's reform has coincided with a difficult period for Ukraine and for the whole world. Despite this, last year we managed to do a lot to rehabilitate many businesses so that after the reform they feel like important players in the market of military equipment and weapons, rather than a kind of "poor relatives"... Answer: I will give you just a few figures. Production volumes at our enterprises increased last year to 102.2% compared to 2019. And this means an increase of 665 million hryvnias. For example, production indicators for armored vehicles improved by 40%, for radar systems by 23%. This despite the fact that 2020 was a crisis year in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic: defense budgets were reduced, international arms exhibitions were canceled, negotiations were switched to an online format, and so on. Despite this, Ukroboronprom's enterprises fulfilled the state defense order in 2020 in full. All contracts were implemented. In the future, we expect an increase in the share of the conglomerate's member companies in the state defense order, which is formed by the Defense Ministry, the Armed Forces, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard, and other agencies. After all, last year this share, in my opinion, was quite "modest" - only 36%. Therefore, visiting the Iskra enterprise in Zaporizhia last December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need to consider increasing the share of Ukroboronprom's enterprises in the state defense order so as to provide Ukrainian defenders with our products. We have already held presentations of opportunities and promising developments of Ukroboronprom's enterprises for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the command of certain branches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of Ukraine. We have demonstrated, first of all, the latest developments, the latest models of military equipment and weapons. For example, the Dozor-B armored personnel carrier, the Neptune missile system and the modified RPV-16 rocket launcher were added to the arsenal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces last year. The 80K6KS1 radar for the BUK-M1 air defense system, the Vilkha-M missile system, the Bureviy multiple launch rocket system and the MiG-29MU2 fighter were tested in 2020. These are not all the achievements of the member companies of the defense conglomerate. We have many more ideas about what we can offer, first and foremost, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as our foreign partners. Now we are changing our approaches to scientific and technical activities in accordance with modern challenges. We restarted the Council on Scientific and Technical Development and Innovations at Ukroboronprom, inviting scientists from the National Academy of Sciences, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and experts from leading think tanks. This will facilitate the preparation of strategies and programs for scientific and technological development at the enterprises of the state defense sector. Question: Regarding the defense order... Does the current status quo in this area correspond to the tasks, functions and capabilities of the future renewed conglomerate? Answer: The main thing for our team is to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with modern military equipment and weapons. First of all, it concerns the quality and timely execution of the state defense order. Our task, together with the team of the National Security and Defense Council, the Defense Ministry, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ministry for Strategic Industries, is to form a strategic vision of how to increase the state's defense capabilities, how to ensure effective transformation of Ukroboronprom and the development of the conglomerate's enterprises. I have already suggested to the president, as chairman of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, to consider at a special meeting of the National Security and Defense Council the transformation of Ukroboronprom and the defense industry strategy. We expect such a meeting to take place in February. ABOUT CONCEPT OF DEFENSE INDUSTRY REFORM, FATE OF FLAGSHIP ENTERPRISES Question: Mr. Husiev, a month ago you signed an order to begin the corporatization of Ukrobronprom. Does this mean that progress has finally been made in solving the problem of inefficiency of this "monster," which we have been talking about for at least half a decade? Answer: Corporatization is part of a major transformation of Ukroboronprom by creating modern self-sufficient holdings with an effective corporate governance system. This will help implement joint projects with international partners, ensure a transparent transfer of technology, and produce high-quality weapons, primarily for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. There are also additional opportunities to attract financial resources, rehabilitate enterprises, preserve and strengthen labor collectives, and solve other problems that have accumulated over the past years and decades. The adoption of bill No. 3822, which will become the foundation for transformation, will help to successfully implement the reform, which already started last December. I asked the president of Ukraine to define this bill as urgent for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada. We have the full support of the head of state. By the way, I have already presented to him the concept of reform and a roadmap for its implementation. There is an understanding both at the level of the government and in the concerned committee of the Verkhovna Rada headed by MP Oleksandr Zavitnevych. During his visit to Zhytomyr Armored Plant, Oleksandr Mykhailovych [Zavitnevych] reaffirmed that the parliament could consider this document at first reading in early February. This means that we will wait for its final adoption in March-April. The task set by the president of Ukraine on the transformation of the state conglomerate will be fulfilled by the middle of the year. Question: The reform of Ukroboronprom envisages that 65 most promising enterprises will join a new state holding. And what will happen to the rest? After all, almost 120 business entities were part of the conglomerate before the beginning of the reform. Up to 30 enterprises completely stopped their operation, went bankrupt, or abandoned the production of defense products in favor of consumer goods. That is, the fate of two or two-and-a-half dozen remains uncertain Answer: Ukroboronprom includes 137 enterprises. Twenty-one of them are located in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia. Ukraine will definitely return them. But at the first stage of reform, we are counting on the capabilities of factories and design bureaus located in the territories controlled by Ukraine. Sixty-five companies will form a new holding company with the working name "Defense Systems of Ukraine," which in turn will be divided into six sub-holdings. We also plan to include special arms exporters that will help sell products. A separate aerospace holding, uniting three sub-holdings, will be formed. Ukraine has a powerful aerospace industry. At the end of last year, the president visited the Antonov State Enterprise, which for the first time since the country's independence received a state order for three An-178 aircraft for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As for the plants, which, so to speak, "did not find themselves" in the new conditions... At the end of 2020, the government decided to transfer 17 enterprises of the conglomerate to the State Property Fund for further privatization. These are enterprises that have not de facto fulfilled orders for the national security and defense sector of Ukraine for many years and have nothing to do with the defense industry. Their effective privatization should also be part of the future transformation. As a result, Ukroboronprom will cease to exist in the form in which it was formed in 2011. And, of course, the transformation involves the development of export potential and the presence of our country in the global arms market. It is necessary to strengthen the positions of domestic special arms exporters and enterprises of Ukroboronprom in foreign markets. After all, it means working capital for producers, additional funds for the state defense order, and support for the national currency. Of course, this means jobs, timely salaries for tens of thousands of Ukrainians, and in the future, this means opportunities for international cooperation after the corporatization of Ukroboronprom. I am convinced that Ukraine has a huge potential to expand its presence in international arms markets. The president set the task of significantly increasing exports of products of member companies of the state conglomerate this year. Question: Compared to the previous concept of Ukroboronprom's reform, the approach to the specialization of sub-holdings has changed somewhat. Probably, this was a reaction to criticism that outside the new structure (and, accordingly, outside the defense order) there could be such areas as artillery systems, high-precision weapons, ammunition, cybersecurity systems? Answer: Undoubtedly, all reasonable remarks have been taken into account. We are already working on the formation of the first industry associations. In particular, at a meeting of the conglomerate's board of directors we approved the concept of creating the sub-holding "Radar Systems" and even held a public discussion of what this structure should be like. Its flagship enterprise will be the already mentioned Zaporizhia-based Iskra. Radar Systems will obviously be the "first swallow" in the structure of "Defense Systems of Ukraine" with quality corporate governance. Question: Tell us about the possibilities of cooperation, joint activities - both on a permanent basis and as part of individual projects - between different sub-holdings, as well as with private businesses, possibly foreign businesses Answer: We have a great need to unite the efforts of private producers, our international partners and the capacities of state-owned enterprises, which will be reorganized into joint-stock companies in the process of transformation of the conglomerate. I am convinced that work on all mutually beneficial programs and projects launched today will be continued. This also applies to the establishment of the joint production of combat drones. We can talk about avionics, about many other promising things. These are new perspectives and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with international partners, as well as with domestic private manufacturers of weapons and military equipment. First of all, this applies to foreign partners who have the experience and components needed for Ukrainian aircraft, for our armored vehicles, for many other projects. I am convinced that the corporatization of the conglomerate will create a new window of opportunity for such cooperation. We have already created a project office inside Ukroboronprom. It is just working to implement projects for the production of combat drones and other equipment and weapons as part of international cooperation. ABOUT MONEY, FINANCIAL AUDIT AND FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION Question: Mr. Husiev, you mentioned in the press that an audit of the conglomerate's financial activities was completed at the end of December. A public presentation of its results will take place soon. Could you share some numbers and considerations with Ukrinform readers? Answer: We are currently preparing to publish the audit results. In addition, we are introducing a system of constant and regular audits at Ukroboronprom's enterprises and at the conglomerate as a whole. The process of property inventory continues. This is necessary, among other things, for further effective corporatization of the state conglomerate. First of all, we should acquaint the supervisory board of Ukroboronprom with the results of the audit. Question: What struck you most when you read this report? Answer: You will learn everything after the publication of the results. For now, I will say one thing: in order to ensure a tangible result for the whole country from Ukroboronprom's reform, much more still needs to be done. Question: By the way, about unpleasant things. Like every branch of the Ukrainian economy, and the entire system of government, Ukroboronprom inherited such a shameful phenomenon as corruption in enterprises. Before the New Year, for example, law enforcement officers reported fraud with Ukroboronprom's lands in Kharkiv... What are you planning to do so as not to take this "suitcase" with you to the future of the reformed holding? Answer: A few important things. About what we are doing now and what we are planning to do in the future. We are introducing a lie detector test for all managers of Ukroboronprom's enterprises. I also decided that all employees who join our team as a result of open competitions should take a lie detector test. The conglomerate also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. We are planning to deepen cooperation with other anti-corruption institutions in order to promptly respond to any corruption risks and possible abuses. A modern effective system of corporate governance will contribute to this. After all, the reform envisages the creation of supervisory boards, a system of personnel selection through transparent and clear procedures. My personal position is zero tolerance for corruption. No "collective guilt." We are ready to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies checking information about possible corruption risks at Ukroboronprom's enterprises. ABOUT WHO OR WHAT CAN HINDER REFORM Question: You have already mentioned some terms regarding the formation of the legal field, the creation of the first industry business units and more. Finally, could you summarize what should be each of the stages of this reform? What will happen to each of the sub-sectors of the domestic defense industry, and what will happen in the future to Ukroboronprom itself? Answer: I have already said that Ukroboronprom as a state conglomerate should cease to exist in 2021. This will happen after the approval of legislative initiatives, which we have already discussed with you. Modern holdings will be created. This will be preceded by a certain transition period, when the procedures for their formation are approved, the algorithm of corporatization is determined, etc. I am convinced that the result of this work will be an effective management system, deepening cooperation with international partners, obtaining and developing new technologies, creating high-quality models of weapons and military equipment. Question: What or who can hinder this process? Answer: The fact that the president believes in this reform so much and supports our desire to implement it shows that we can easily overcome any obstacles as one team. It does not matter whether this is a debate in parliament or, perhaps, government decisions. I think we have enough arguments to convince both the people's deputies and government officials of the expediency of implementing this reform, of the correctness of the chosen path. Question: What is the mood in labor collectives? Do people perceive the forthcoming reform? Which of their problems need to be solved beforehand so as to make them interested in the results of a future update? Answer: I have already visited more than 20 Ukroboronprom enterprises in Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and Rivne regions. He visited repair crews of military equipment in the area of the Joint Forces Operation - Kramatorsk, Toretsk, Kostiantynivka, Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk... We are pleasantly impressed by the developments, indicators and plans of some enterprises. Some others need extra attention. For example, Kharkiv Aircraft Plant needs state assistance for financial recovery. Regarding this enterprise, we have prepared a separate bill, which has already been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers. We are convinced that the approval of the document will give a "second breath" to the plant, which, unfortunately, has not produced such important high-tech products for the country for many years. And this is not an isolated case. We have a whole list of state-owned enterprises, part of the conglomerate, that need to recover and overcome crisis phenomena that have accumulated over the past few years. The corporatization of Ukroboronprom will provide new opportunities for this. I am convinced that the transformation of Ukroboronprom will become a driver of industrial and economic development of the state. Oksana Polishchuk/Vladyslav Obukh, Kyiv Thousands of tourism jobs are on chopping block with the looming end of JobKeeper in March prompting calls for the federal government to extend the wage subsidy scheme as a matter of urgency. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Prime Minister Scott Morrison needed to help the states tourism industry in its hour of need after she announced all interstate border restrictions would be removed on Monday. Some Great Barrier Reef tours are running at 5 per cent capacity. We know in other industries they have bounced back after COVID and some industries are doing a lot better than others, she said. We know the tourism industry is hurting, especially those regions which rely heavily on international travellers. You are here: Arts China's education ministry has launched an anti-bullying campaign for primary and middle schools across the country based on a recent guideline. The guideline urged thorough investigations to find evidence of bullying and called for necessary measures to defuse potential bullying behaviors in schools. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, students perpetrating bullying should be subjected to disciplinary actions, reprimanded, warned, or transferred to special schools, the guideline noted. It also called for offering psychological counseling to bullying victims. Schools are obliged to stop acts of bullying upon finding any such instances and contact the police in severe situations, the guideline added. Schools should also offer in-depth moral, legal and mental health education, as well as special training for students to prevent campus bullying, the guideline said, adding that families should play a larger role in curbing bullying. Agence France-Presse The "Doomsday Clock" illustrating the perils facing the planet and mankind will remain at 100 seconds to midnight this year amid the threats of the coronavirus pandemic, nuclear war and climate change. "The hands of the Doomsday Clock remain at 100 seconds to midnight, as close to midnight as ever," Rachel Bronson, president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said in a statement. "The lethal and fear-inspiring Covid-19 pandemic serves as a historic 'wake-up call,' a vivid illustration that national governments and international organizations are unprepared to manage the truly civilization-ending threats of nuclear weapons and climate change," Bronson said. The decision on setting the hands of the clock is taken by board members from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein and University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the world's first atomic weapons. The board members include 13 Nobel laureates. Created in 1947, the clock moved to 100 seconds to midnight in January of last year the closest to midnight it has been in its history. It was originally set at seven minutes to midnight. The furthest it has ever been from midnight is 17 minutes, following the end of the Cold War in 1991. Former California governor Jerry Brown, executive chair of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said it's "time to eliminate nuclear weapons, not build more of them. "Likewise, with climate change: the US, China and other big countries must get serious about cutting lethal carbon emissions now," Brown said. Susan Solomon, professor of environmental studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said "the pandemic-related economic slowdown temporarily reduced the carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. "But over the coming decade fossil fuel use needs to decline precipitously if the worst effects of climate change are to be avoided," Solomon said. Former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the Covid-19 pandemic "is a terrible warning against complacency in the face of global threats to all human life. "It is only through collective action and responsible leadership that we can secure a peaceful and habitable planet for future generations," she said. The Bulletin members recommended that the United States and Russia extend the New START nuclear treaty and that the US return to the nuclear deal with Iran. They also urged governments, technology giants and media organizations to cooperate on finding "practical and ethical ways to combat internet-enabled misinformation and disinformation." Live jazz music accompanied the launch of the 58th National Jazz Festival programme at the Mount Social Club Jazz Jam this week. The Tauranga Jazz Society has a monthly Wednesday evening jazz event providing local musicians with the opportunity to play together and develop their musicianship as well as grow the jazz community in Tauranga, so it provided the perfect setting to launch this years festival programme. Last year was a difficult year for us all and we are so pleased to be in the position to host the National Jazz Festival this Easter, says Tauranga Jazz Society General Manager Mandy Ryan. Taurangas 58th National Jazz Festival was one of a string of event cancellations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The State of National Emergency being declared on March 25 2020 meant all gatherings and public venues were closed due to COVID-19 Alert Levels. Following the announcement of its cancellation, the society also made the decision to cancel the 43rd National Youth Jazz Competition which was due to be held in April 2020 and was initially postponed and then cancelled. The school bands that had registered for the competition were able to enjoy a free virtual performance workshop with Dr Rodger Fox. This was the first year in the festivals 58 year history that the jazz festival has not been able to go ahead, but the organisers remained positively upbeat despite the drop in revenue and financial loss incurred. Tauranga Jazz Society President Jeff Baker says the support received from major funders Tauranga City Council and TECT ensured the loss was not significant and has enabled the society to continue to plan for future events. A role change within the festival team this year means that the festival can continue to grow effectively and deliver a wide range of performances effectively. Operations Manager Marc Anderson has stepped up into the Festival Manager role while Mandy Ryan continues as General Manager of the Tauranga Jazz Society. Marc spoke at the launch of the 2021 festival programme on Wednesday night and acknowledged the work involved in putting together the programme. Special thanks to Mandy Ryan, shes done a lot of work, says Marc. Sunset jazz cruise on the Kewpie is one of the festival highlights. Theres a lot of fantastic treats in store, starting with the 43rd National Youth Jazz Competition which is on the Wednesday 31 March and Thursday April 1. Weve got some great shows at Baycourt as well. The NZ Army Big Band Jazz Spectacular will be fantastic. And weve got Steve Carlin Sings Sinatra with The Rodger Fox Big Band. Marc also announced a special concert that will be a tribute to Phil Broadhurst. The Kiwi Jazz Legends and the Auckland Jazz Orchestra will celebrate the music of this well-known pianist, composer, educator and broadcaster. Phil was widely respected and much loved by Tauranga Jazz Festival audiences. Phils wife Julie Mason will lead the Kiwi Jazz Legends performing Phils favourite standards and this will be followed by The Auckland Jazz Orchestra performing a selection of Phils recorded works. Ben Wilcock and the Jelly Rolls, a festival favourite with a lot of boogie woogie mayhem also feature, as well as a Symphony of Jazz with the BOP Symphonia, a stunning new music theatre performance Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs Cole Porter, and funk from Kevin Fields Supergrooup. Good Friday will see the return of the TECT Jazz Village at Tauranga Historic Village and the two-day Downtown Carnival Jazz party with more stages than ever before. Also returning this year is the vintage car parade in downtown Tauranga and the sunset jazz cruises on the Kewpie. At Hotel Armitage there will be an elegant Jazz High Tea with Lady Larisa and Jazz & Dine with Sam & Loris Duo, and a swinging Big Band Tea Dance : Let the Band Play On! to end the weekend. Tickets for the festival went on sale on Monday January 25, and jazz enthusiasts are reminded to get in early and show their Tauranga Jazz Society membership car to reap the discounted tickets benefit. More information on the 58th National Jazz Festival can be found at www.jazz.org.nz Workers from Myanmar, who are detained at an immigration center in Ranong, a Thai province on the border with Myanmar, hold a placard that says, We want to go home, Jan. 25, 2021. Police in Thailand announced Wednesday that they had arrested 78 people this month mostly Thais who were suspected of smuggling in more than 260 migrant workers from Myanmar and other neighboring countries. The crackdown on suspected traffickers of migrant workers came on orders from Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha last month, amid a wave of coronavirus infections, Police Gen. Suwat Changyodsuk, the national police chief, said at a news conference. Authorities had blamed the surge in COVID-19 cases on migrants who had entered the country illegally via the kingdoms shuttered borders. The operations are focused on trafficking rings brokers and their masterminds who smuggle illegal workers in or out. We are not focused on suppressing the illegal workers because the government has a clear policy on bringing some of them into the labor system and letting them work, Suwat said. The arrests were made from five trafficking rings, between Jan. 1 and Jan. 25, and consisted mostly of Thais and a handful of people from Myanmar, Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapat, Suwats deputy, said. Police used surveillance cameras equipped with license plate- and face-recognition technology to detect traffickers traveling on the border roads, Suwat said. The popular routes used by traffickers run from the border district of Mae Sot in Tak province, about 480 kilometers (298 miles) northwest of Bangkok, all the way to the Thai-Malaysian frontier in the insurgency-torn Deep South, he added. In recent months, 624 migrant workers were arrested along the border in the far south, said Lt. Gen. Kriangkrai Srirak, head of Internal Security Operations Command for Region 4. The ISOC-4 stepped up measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, Kriangkrai told reporters on a visit to the border line in Narathiwat last week. We teamed up with the marines to dispatch mobile teams to keep guard along the border routes. Meanwhile, the chief of Thailands immigration police, announced that Thai authorities had coordinated with officials in Myanmar to deport 166 Myanmar migrants who were being held at a detention center at the Ranong Immigration office in southern Thailand. The deportation was expected to take place on Thursday, Lt. Col. Sompong Chingduang, the immigration bureau commissioner, told reporters on Tuesday. Last month, Prayuth warned that his government would crack down on syndicates that smuggled migrants into the country in defiance of Thailands months-long ban on the re-entry of foreign workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PM blamed migrant workers for what was then the biggest surge in coronavirus cases since the first infection was detected in Thailand in January 2020. According to police statistics, arrests of illegal migrants fell in 2020 to 68,942, compared with 208,791 in 2019, due to the pandemic-related border shutdown. Still, as Thailand had successfully limited the spread of new infections and allowed businesses to reopen, those migrant laborers who had returned to their countries started to come back via illegal border crossings. Once here, many evaded a mandatory 14-day quarantine, health officials had said last month. Thailand had been among the least affected by the global pandemic but the COVID-19 caseload shot up after more than 400 new infections were confirmed on one day, Dec. 22, mostly among migrant workers from Myanmar, at the countrys largest seafood market-complex in Samut Sakhon, near Bangkok. This infection cluster spread to the rest of Thailand, which now has more than 14,000 COVID-19 cases and a total of 75 virus-related deaths. Work permit extension The government estimates that the number of illegal migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos is around 500,000. It directed the police immigration bureau to record these workers biometric information through online channels by April 16, so the labor ministry could then consider issuing them 2-year work permits. Toward the end of last year, the Thai cabinet approved a program to temporarily legalize undocumented workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, as a measure to stem the spread of the coronavirus. A Thai workers rights group, said that in addition to the leniency shown to the 500,000 illegal workers, the police should announce clearly that the migrants would not be prosecuted. If the government announces clearly that it waives punishment for those workers, all sides will feel comfortable and Thailand will see gains to its workforce, Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a coordinator with the Migrant Working Group, told BenarNews. Separately, nearly 2 million other migrant workers are in the process of applying to extend their work permits for two years, according to an official cabinet announcement this week. Applications will be processed by September 2021, by which time the workers who are jobless would need to have found employers. After that, the foreign laborers have until Nov. 12 to register with the interior ministry. California will broaden its warning labels for bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in plastic cups and other food and drink containers, after the state Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the chemical industry Wednesday. Since 2015, the state has required labels on products containing bisphenol A stating that it can cause reproductive harm in women. The court order upholds state health officials decision to require additional warnings of developmental toxicity, or harm to fetuses and newborn and young children whose mothers are exposed to the chemical during pregnancy. Proposition 65, a 1986 ballot measure, required warning labels on products sold in California that pose a danger of cancer or reproductive harm. Bisphenol A, originally developed as a synthetic estrogen in 1936, has come into widespread use in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are used in water and infant bottles, medical devices, and compact discs. Epoxy resins are used as a coating for food cans, bottle tops and water-supply pipes. California banned the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles and sippy cups in 2011. Two states, Connecticut and Vermont, have barred it for reusable food and beverage containers. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization have both classified it as safe in the amounts normally contained in current products. In the court case, the American Chemistry Council, an industry group, challenged a decision by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to add a warning of developmental harm to the product labels. The office relied on a 2008 report by the National Toxicology Program, a federal health agency, that said exposure to high doses of bisphenol A during pregnancy can reduce survival of newborns and affect their birth rate and early growth. It was largely based on studies of rats and mice, and concluded that such harm was possible in humans. The industry group said such findings were not enough to qualify for Prop. 65 warnings. But the states Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled in October that the animal tests were enough to support the state agencys findings that exposure to the chemical was a plausible cause of harm to human embryos, infants and children. Human testing is unethical, Justice William Murray observed in the 3-0 ruling, and scientists and regulatory officials are entitled to assume that chemicals that harm animals in properly monitored studies will also harm humans. On Wednesday, the states high court denied review of the appellate ruling and rejected another industry groups request to remove it as a binding precedent for all trial courts in California. The decision is a vindication of the agencys scientific expertise and actions, said Avinash Kar, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which supported the states listing. People and communities will be better protected from toxic chemicals because of it. The case is American Chemistry Council vs. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, S266181. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Bob Egelko In a study posted online Jan. 28 in the journal Science, University of Texas at Dallas researchers and their colleagues describe creating powerful, unipolar electrochemical yarn muscles that contract more when driven faster. This scanning electron microscope image shows a coiled unipolar muscle made from carbon nanotubes and coated with poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate). The outer coil diameter is approximately 140 microns, about twice that of a human hair. Credit: University of Texas at Dallas For more than 15 years, researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas and their collaborators in the U.S., Australia, South Korea and China have fabricated artificial muscles by twisting and coiling carbon nanotube or polymer yarns. When thermally powered, these muscles actuate by contracting their length when heated and returning to their initial length when cooled. Such thermally driven artificial muscles, however, have limitations. Electrochemically driven carbon nanotube (CNT) muscles provide an alternative approach to meet the growing need for fast, powerful, large-stroke artificial muscles for applications ranging from robotics and heart pumps to morphing clothing. "Electrochemically driven muscles are especially promising, since their energy conversion efficiencies are not restricted by the thermodynamic heat engine limit of thermal muscles, and they can maintain large contractile strokes while supporting heavy loads without consuming significant energy," said Dr. Ray Baughman, the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry and director of the Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute at UT Dallas. "In contrast, human muscles and thermally powered muscles need a large amount of input energy to support heavy loads even when not accomplishing mechanical work." In a study posted online Jan. 28 in the journal Science, the researchers describe creating powerful, unipolar electrochemical yarn muscles that contract more when driven faster, thereby solving important problems that have limited the applications for these muscles. Electrochemically powered CNT yarn muscles are actuated by applying a voltage between the muscle and a counter electrode, which drives ions from a surrounding electrolyte into the muscle. But there are limitations to electrochemical CNT muscles. First, the muscle actuation is bipolar, which means that muscle movementeither expansion or contractionswitches direction during a potential scan. The potential at which the stroke switches direction is the potential of zero charge, and the rate at which the potential changes over time is the potential scan rate. Another issue: A given electrolyte is stable only over a particular range of voltages. Outside this range, the electrolyte breaks down. "Previous yarn muscles cannot use the full stability range of the electrolyte," said Baughman, a corresponding author of the study. "Also, the muscle's capacitanceits ability to store the charge needed for actuationdecreases with increasing potential scan rate, causing the muscle's stroke to dramatically decrease with increasing actuation rate." To solve these problems, the researchers discovered that the interior surfaces of coiled carbon nanotube yarns could be coated with a suitable ionically conducting polymer that contains either positively or negatively charged chemical groups. "This polymer coating converts the normal bipolar actuation of carbon nanotube yarns to unipolar actuation, where the muscle actuates in one direction over the entire stability range of the electrolyte," Baughman said. "This long-sought behavior has surprising consequences that make electrochemical carbon nanotube muscles much faster and more powerful." Chemistry doctoral student Zhong Wang, a co-first author of the study, explained the underlying science: "The dipolar field of the polymer shifts the potential of zero chargewhich is where the electronic charge on the nanotubes changes signto outside the electrolyte's stability range. Hence, ions of only one sign are electrochemically injected to compensate this electronic charge, and the muscle's stroke changes in one direction over this entire useable potential scan range." Dr. Jiuke Mu, associate research professor in the UT Dallas NanoTech Institute and a co-first author, said the polymer coating helps solve the capacitance problem of electrochemical yarn muscles. "The number of solvent molecules pumped into the muscle by each ion increases with increasing potential scan rate for some unipolar muscles, which increases the effective ion size that drives actuation," Mu said. "Thus, muscle stroke can increase by a factor of 3.8 with increasing potential scan rate, while the stroke of carbon nanotube yarn muscles without the polymer coating decreases by a factor of 4.2 for the same changes in potential scan rate." The advances provide electrochemical unipolar muscles that contract to generate a maximum average output mechanical power per muscle weight of 2.9 watts/gram, which is about 10 times the typical capability of human muscle and about 2.2 times the weight-normalized power capability of a turbocharged V-8 diesel engine. The polymer coating used to produce these results was poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), which is approved for drug use and inexpensive enough for use in water softening. Incorporation of this polymer guest enabled practical operation of a carbon nanotube muscle from high temperatures to below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Wang said the team also discovered that unipolar behavior, without scan-rate enhanced strokes, could be obtained when graphene oxide nanoplatelets were incorporated within the yarn muscle using a biscrolling process that UT Dallas researchers created and patented. "Use of this guest to provide the dipolar fields needed for unipolar behavior increased the maximum average contractile mechanical power output from the muscle to a remarkable 8.2 watts/gram, which is 29 times the maximum capability of the same weight human muscle and about 6.2 times that of a turbocharged V-8 diesel engine," Wang said. "We also discovered that two different types of unipolar yarn muscles, each with scan-rate-enhanced strokes, can be combined to make a dual-electrode, all-solid-state yarn muscle, thereby eliminating the need for a liquid electrolyte bath," Wang said. "A solid-state electrolyte is used to laterally interconnect two coiled carbon nanotube yarns that contain different polymer guests, one having negatively charged substituents and the other having positively charged substituents. Both yarns contract during charging to additively contribute to actuation, because of the injection of positive and negative ions, respectively. These dual electrode unipolar muscles were woven to make actuating textiles that could be used for morphing clothing." Explore further Sheaths drive powerful new artificial muscles More information: "Unipolar stroke, electroosmotic pump carbon nanotube yarn muscles" Science (2021). Journal information: Science "Unipolar stroke, electroosmotic pump carbon nanotube yarn muscles"(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.abc4538 Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference at the provincial government office in Suwon, Thursday. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji Gyeonggi Provincial Government said Thursday that it will provide 100,000 won ($89.60) in disaster relief funds to all residents, including foreigners, next month as a measure to help them cope with the financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The move came after the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) advised the provincial government to revise its related policy to include all foreign residents with registered addresses in the area in the cash handout program twice, in May and November last year. The first payout of relief funds by Gyeonggi Province and Seoul City in March last year excluded foreign residents. While Seoul accepted the commission's recommendation and began to provide the relief subsidy to all registered foreigners, Gyeonggi refused, citing budget constraints and complicated procedures involving revisions to related ordinances. As the European Unions medicines regulator prepared to consider clearing AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine for use, a draft recommendation from a German expert committee called for offering it only to under-65s for now adding to the spotlight on the vaccine. And amid a heated dispute between the EU and the Anglo-Swedish company over its plans to deliver doses to the 27-nation bloc, the EUs executive commission asked Belgian authorities to inspect a factory in Belgium that is part of the vaccines European production chain. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is expected to clear the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the EU on Friday. It would be the third approved in the EU, after the BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. European authorities are under pressure after a sluggish start to the EUs vaccination campaign in its first month, and the AstraZeneca vaccine would add much-needed extra supplies. However, Brussels and the drugmaker are at loggerheads over expected delays in deliveries. Expand Close European Commissioner in charge of Health Stella Kyriakides (Olivier Hoslet/Pool Photo via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp European Commissioner in charge of Health Stella Kyriakides (Olivier Hoslet/Pool Photo via AP) AstraZeneca said last week that it planned to cut initial deliveries in the EU from the scheduled 80 million doses for the first quarter of the year to 31 million doses because of reduced yields from its manufacturing plants in Europe, but the EU suspects doses produced in Europe have been directed elsewhere. And the German draft recommendation adds a question mark over how widely it might be used though the countrys health minister stressed that a final decision will not be made until after Fridays EMA meeting. Germanys vaccination advisory committee, an independent panel advising the government, called for using AstraZenecas vaccine for the 18-64 age group on the basis of currently available information. It said that there currently is not sufficient data to assess the vaccination effectiveness from 65 years. AstraZeneca said after Thursdays release of the German draft that the latest analyses of clinical trial data for the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine support efficacy in the over 65 years age group. It added that it awaits EMAs decision. The company noted earlier this week that British regulators supported its use in the older age group despite lack of late-stage effectiveness data. It pointed to earlier-stage data published in the journal Lancet in November demonstrating that older adults showed strong immune responses to the vaccine, with 100% of older adults generating spike-specific antibodies after the second dose. But questions have remained about how well the vaccine protects older people. Only 12% of participants in the AstraZeneca research were over 55 and they were enrolled later, so there has not been enough time to see whether they get sick at a lower rate than those who did not get the vaccine. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said there had been a discussion about a lack of data on the subject since the autumn, but it was not yet clear how concretely that would ultimately affect authorities decisions. AstraZeneca said on Thursday that the latest analyses of clinical trial data support efficacy in the over 65 years age group and it awaits the EMAs decision. The EU, which has 450 million people, has signed deals for six different vaccines. In total, it has ordered up to 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and sealed deals with other companies for more than two billion shots. The European Commission asked the Belgian government to inspect manufacturer Novaseps factory in Seneffe, Belgium due to dissatisfaction with AstraZenecas explanations for its inability to deliver all the EUs expected doses on time. However, the Commission said it remains confident that the AstraZeneca delay will not affect its plans to ensure that at least 80% of EU citizens over age 80 are vaccinated by March. Constructive tone in our exchange with @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, in our Vaccine Steering Board, on deliveries of their vaccine following approval. The EU remains united & firm ai Contractual obligations must be met, vaccines must be delivered to EU citizens. Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) January 27, 2021 Health policy spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said that target is based on the availability of doses manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. It is an ambitious target, but we believe it is a realistic one, he said. A third round of talks on Wednesday between AstraZeneca and EU officials produced no immediate results but the Commission said it was hopeful of a resolution. More than 400,000 EU residents with Covid-19 have died since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the EU, the Belgian factory is one of four AstraZeneca sites included in the contract sealed by the Commission and the company to produce vaccines for the EU market. Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for health and food safety, said AstraZeneca should provide vaccines from its UK facilities if it is unable to meet commitments from factories in the EU. Company chief executive Pascal Soriot has argued in an interview with Die Welt newspaper this week that the UK government helped develop the vaccine and signed its contract three months before the EU reached its agreement. He said the contract with British authorities specifies that vaccines produced at UK sites must go to the UK first. Mr Soriot said that after we have reached a sufficient number of vaccinations in the UK the company will be able to use the British sites to supply Europe as well. Ms Kyriakides also made clear the EU would find out if some of the doses manufactured in the EU were diverted elsewhere. Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo is expected to step down from his post soon after a 12-year run. Artificial Intelligence is going to transform businesses as are going to change their dynamics from a cost and customer perspective in a big way, IT major President Mohit Joshi said on Thursday. Speaking at the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda Summit, he said business models are changing dramatically and are becoming almost completely digital. Looking at the impact of AI in the corporate realm, Joshi also said there are issues of privacy and data security and there are changing workforce dynamics. He said there are multiple technologies such as cloud, IoT and robotics and AI is just an umbrella and technologies are converging. "When you look at these factors, AI is really going to transform businesses. Enterprises are going to be changing their dynamics from a cost and customer perspective quite dramatically," he said during a panel discussion on 'Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution'. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, driven by AI, are seen as fundamentally changing the world. A recent global survey showed that 63 per cent of CEOs said they believe that AI will have a larger impact than the internet. Xiao Yaqing, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, said many commercial innovations stem from 4IR. "Against the background of economic recession, I believe it is important to seize on the opportunities of the 4IR. We hope that technology will boost the upgrade of traditional industries as well as a smart revolution," he said. Huawei Technologies' Deputy Chairman Ken Hu said the 4IR is a combination of innovation and technology. "In China during the pandemic, we started to work with different hospitals to develop platforms with AI tech. Now, AI has been deployed across China. AI helped doctors to diagnose for example and the time went from 12 minutes to 2 minutes and this saved lives," he said. Andreas Kunze, Founder and CEO of KONUX, said AI has many benefits in managing high-risk jobs, for example by applying IoT censors. "This helps to reduce the number of actions that have to be carried out in the field for example in the rail network, where the need for manual inspections is reduced." He, however, added, "We should protect privacy but we should also leverage data." Joshi said one issue is about bias. "We have to make sure that data sets defy a level of bias. Explainability is another factor. Also, control over algorithms is critical," he said. "We want to make sure that people have control over their own data and that algorithms are driven by a level of informed consent. Having a strategy on this is very important for as they embark on their AI initiatives," he added. Hu said it is the responsibility of governments to share data but at the same time, the business community needs to step up. (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.) An Aurizon coal train travels through the countryside in Muswellbrook, north of Sydney, Australia, on April 9, 2017. (Jason Reed/Reuters) China Trade War Against Australia Backfires LAUNCESTON, AustraliaChina is paying a heavy toll for its efforts to punish Australia by banning or restricting certain commodity imports, while conversely, Australia seems so far to have avoided any serious financial ramifications. Coal is the highest-profile Chinese target in the Australia row. Beijing effectively all but banned imports from Australia as part of its efforts to pressure Canberra on several issues, ranging from Australias call for an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic to the decision to block Huawei from Australias 5G network rollout. Chinas imports of Australian coal have collapsed, with Refinitiv vessel-tracking and port data showing just 687,000 tons were discharged in December, down from the 2020 peak of 9.46 million tons in June. But the data also show that Australias overall exports havent really suffered, with December shipments of 33.82 million tons being the best month in 2020. While the cold snap across north Asia boosted demand from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, it also appears Australia has managed to ship more coal to other regional consumers, such as India, Vietnam, and Thailand. Coal is more than just a volume story, with prices moving in favor of Australia and against China. Australias coal exports were worth A$3.7 billion ($2.87 billion) in December, the most since May last year, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The benchmark Australian thermal coal price, the Newcastle Weekly Index, as assessed by commodity price reporting agency Argus, ended at $87.52 a ton on Jan. 22. That was up 89 percent from its 2020 low of $46.37, reached in September, at a time when market concern over the impact of Chinas effective ban on imports was highest. The rise in seaborne coal prices has made it more expensive for China to buy imported coal. In turn, that has allowed domestic prices to remain elevated as they arent facing competition from overseas producers. The price of thermal coal at Qinhuangdao has retreated in recent days, ending at 873 yuan ($135.14) a ton on Jan. 26, down from the recent high of 1,038 yuan. But even with the recent drop, the Chinese benchmark is still some 87 percent higher than the 2020 low of 467 yuan a ton from Maywell above the 520-570 yuan range believed to be preferred by the authorities as it ensures mines remain profitable but fuel costs for utilities arent too high. Iron Ore, Copper Its not just coal where Australia seems to be more than holding its own in the trade dispute: exports of cereals rose to A$1.19 billion in December, the highest on record and almost three times the value of shipments in November. China imposed an 80.5 percent tariff on imports of Australian barley in May 2020, collapsing the trade between the two nations. But while Australian barley farmers were initially hit hard, they have successfully managed to switch to alternative markets or plant other crops. China also has an unofficial ban on imports of copper ores and concentrates from Australia, which had been its fifth-biggest supplier. However, a global shortage of mined copper ores means China is being forced to pay more for supplies. At the same time, its smelters are having to pay less for treatment and refining charges, as they struggle to source material. Again, what has happened is that China has cut itself off from a source of supply at a time of global shortage. It has imposed costs on itself and no penalty on Australian copper miners, who can sell easily to other buyers. China hasnt mandated any restrictions on the most important commodity it buys from Australia, namely iron ore. But it is having to pay handsomely for buying the steel-making ingredient given supply issues in Brazil, the second-largest exporter behind Australia. Australias exports of metal ores, which include iron ore and copper, rose to a record A$15.2 billion in December, up 22.6 percent in November, according to official statistics. Overall, Australias exports to China were A$13.34 billion in December, the highest since June, reflecting strong demand for iron ore, liquefied natural gas, and some agricultural commodities. Since China started its trade actions against Australia, the numbers seem to be tilting heavily in favor of Canberra. By Clyde Russell This allows market participants access to a consolidated view across their complete collateral inventory that they can utilize for both cleared and non-cleared derivatives transactions at any given time. "We are excited to announce Nagamasa Global's collaboration with CLT Margin Transaction. The cloud-based collateral management service will be of particular relevance for market participants who want to fulfill all of their operational and regulatory requirements efficiently," said Kenki Yuki, President, Nagamasa Global Clearing. "Our collaboration with CLT Margin Transaction will ensure that collateral management becomes even more accessible and robust." The tool handles complex collateral requirements with multiple counterparties. It also provides automated connectivity to global custodians, banks, clearing brokers and clearing houses in order to manage collateral across all asset types and instruments. "Our relationship with Nagamasa Global will immediately benefit all current and future members of the CLT Margin Transaction community," said the CEO of CLT Margin Transaction. "Where, through regulation, activity is migrating away from non-cleared transactions to central clearing, our expanded functionality in both areas ensures we remain able to support all our clients' end- to-end collateral management requirements in our fully automated, light touch cloud-based model." About Nagamasa Global Nagamasa Global provides insights in the commodities markets to all market participants to allow them to make better business decisions with confidence. The firm includes a team of experienced financial and market advisors offering a vast list of services for small-scale businesses, individuals, corporate and governmental entities. The company is emerging as a trusted commodity broker with customers from different sectors looking for expertise in pricing, news, and analytics. The company focuses on feasibility more than anything else, and this is the reason it provides a wide array of products and services to its clients that allow them to better sustain their investments. Disclaimer: The news site hosting this press release is not associated with Nagamasa Global, CLT Margin Transaction, or Kenki Yuki. It is merely publishing a paid press release announcement submitted by a company, without any stated or implied endorsement of the person, product, service or information above. Please consult a registered investment advisor before making any investment. This press release is not a solicitation. Press Contact: Haruto Subaru 0556-959395 http://nagamasa-global.com SOURCE Nagamasa Global Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. EdgeProp The bungalow at 8 Treasure Island has a 27m frontage and a driveway big enough for seven cars (Photo: PropNex)SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - When a bungalow at 8 Treasure Island in Sentosa Cove was offered for mortgagee sale at an auction in March this year, Eric Cheng, founder and CEO of Sevens Group, a niche land- ed property developer, was riveted. (See: First mortgagee sale of bungalow on Treasure Island priced from $12.9 mil)Cheng went down to view the property: It was a bungalow sitting on a 99-year leasehold site of 8,379 sq ft, with a built-up area of 9,362 sq ft. The 212-storey detached house comes with five en suite bedrooms, a basement and a 27m frontage with a driveway for seven cars. The house has a 22m frontage along the waterway and comes with a private jetty.Sevens Group has been shopping for a bungalow at Sentosa Cove since early last year, says Cheng. Prices of bungalows at Sentosa Cove had peaked at $3,214 psf in October 2012, when a sea-facing property sitting on a land area of 10,111 sq ft along Ocean Drive, changed hands for $32.5 million. We feel that prices at Sentosa Cove are at rock-bottom today and definitely worth a closer look, he adds.If Sevens Group wants to redevelop or undertake extensive additions and alterations to a bungalow at Sentosa Cove, including changing the facade, Chengs options are limited to the bungalows developed by individual owners on individual plots sold by Sentosa Development Corp. These can be found along Ocean Drive, Cove Way and Lakeshore View on the North Cove; as well as those on the South Cove such as Cove Drive, Cove Way and Cove Grove.Among the five islands at Sentosa Cove, four were purchased by property developers: Coral Island with 21 villas and the 29-villa Paradise Island were developed by Ho Bee Land; Sandy Island, with 18 villas, was developed by YTL Land; and Pearl Island, with 19 villas by Chinese developer Ximeng Land. The facade of the bungalows has to be retained in order to conform with the other bungalows on the same island, says Cheng. That means he cannot redevelop the property or undertake facade changes to the properties on these islands.This leaves just one island, namely Treasure Island, which was purchased by a group of tycoons back in 2007, and has been developed into 19 villas. Although the 19 villas have a similar facade as they were designed by CPG Corp and completed in 2009, the individual bungalows can be redeveloped and the facade can be changed, according to Cheng.He had considered several other bungalow plots including one at Cove Drive, with a view of Tanjong Golf Course. The deal fell through, how ever, due to a mismatch in price ex- pectations between buyer and seller.The bungalow on Treasure Island has a 22m frontage with a private berth along the waterway (Photo: PropNex)8 Treasure Island: Designing a trophy homeThe bungalow at 8 Treasure Island was attractive in Chengs eyes as it was a mortgagee sale, and marked the first mortgagee sale on the island. There have been several other mortgagee sales elsewhere, such as on Coral Island, Paradise Island and Sandy Island.The banks guide price for the property on Treasure Island was $12.88 million ($1,537 psf). Seeing that it was a distressed sale, Cheng initially offered $11 million, which was turned down by the bank. As the property was hotly contested, all the agents who were marketing the property had to submit offers from interested parties by mid- April.Cheng approached Bruce Lye, managing partner of SRI, to help him broker the deal. Chengs business partner and a director of Sevens Group submitted a bid of $12,900,128 ($1,540 psf) which was $20,128 above the guide price and the highest offer received. That led them to secure the property. While the option was recently exercised, the caveat has yet to be lodged.As the new owner, Cheng already has plans to invest another $2.5 million to $2.8 million in extensive addition and alteration works over the next 12 months. He plans to change the facade, reconfigure the interiors and turn the spacious basement into a karaoke lounge and entertainmentspace. He intends to select designer furnishings from luxury brands such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Armani. I want to design a stunning, trophy home, says Cheng.When the extensive refurbishments are completed, Cheng is targeting to launch it at a price above $2,500 psf, which would translate to upwards of $21 million.Sevens Group intends to invest $2.5 million to $2.8 million in extensive additions and alterations to turn the property into a "trophy home" (Photo: PropNex)Returning to peak prices?In the heydays of Sentosa Cove, between 2010 and 2013, apart from the bungalow at Ocean Drive that crossed $3,000 psf in 2012, three other bungalows had changed hands at prices in the high-$2,900 psf range: a sea-front property at Ocean Drive that fetched $28.2 million ($2,989 psf) in October 2010; another at Lake hore View fronting the Serapong Golf Course, the lake and the sea beyond, changed hands for $24.8 million ($2,952 psf) in May 2013; and this was followed by another property along Lakeshore View that went for $26 million ($2,922 psf). In September 2016, another seafront property along Ocean Drive fetched $28 million ($2,923 psf), based on caveats lodged.The two biggest bungalow deals in Sentosa Cove in terms of absolute prices were both transacted this year: The Copper House, which sits on one of the biggest plots of 18,053 sq ft (an amalgamation of two adjacent plots), fetched $43,666,000 ($2,419 psf), according to a caveat lodged in February; while another bungalow along Ocean Drive, which is also the result of two adjacent sites combined, with a land area of 19,551 sq ft, went for $39,333,999 ($2,012 psf) in April.More recently, a bungalow with an auspicious address at Coral Island changed hands for $10.3 million ($1,371 psf), according to a caveat lodged on May 5. The property was built in 2007, and sits on a 99-year leasehold site of 7,511 sq ft. The previous owner paid $5.488 million ($731 psf) for the property when Coral Island was first launched in December 2005.Cheng feels it is an opportune time for Sevens Group to build our presence in Sentosa Cove and to carve a niche in the prime districts of Singapore. Some Singaporeans are concerned about the 99- year lease at Sentosa Cove, says Cheng. But investing in property is not for those looking for a short- term gain. As a developer, we are looking at the mid- to long term, and we are focusing on the top 1% of the market.Foreigners can purchase bungalows at Sentosa Cove, unlike elsewhere on the mainland. However, they will still require approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit of Singapore Land Authority. There are only around 300 such bungalows in Sentosa Cove. Its very limited in number, adds Cheng.Check out the latest listings near Treasure Island, Sentosa Cove, Ocean Drive, Cove Way, Lakeshore View, Cove Drive, Cove GroveSee Also: Singapore Property for Sale & Rent, Latest Property News, Advanced Analytics Tools New Launch Condo & Landed Property in Singapore (COMPLETE list & updates) Copper House flipped for $43.67 mil after two years [UPDATE] Ho Bee launches 16 remaining units at Turquoise at prices from $1,290 psf First mortgagee sale of bungalow on Treasure Island priced from $12.9 mil En Bloc Calculator, Find Out If Your Condo Will Be The Next en-bloc HDB Resale Flats Up For Sale, Affordable Units Available [January 28, 2021] Virginia Telecommunication Initiative Awards $1.36 Million Grant to Lumos and Botetourt County to Expand Fiber in Botetourt County The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) has awarded a grant of $1,364,337 to Lumos and Botetourt County to assist with the expansion of fiber in Botetourt County. The grant will be used as part of a project to install fiber to provide high-speed internet to 548 new addresses, including 30 businesses. Approximately 52% of the cost of the project is being funded by the VATI grant, and the remainder will be contributed in partnership with Lumos, a premier provider of fiber broadband internet, and Botetourt County. "This expansion makes it possible for more people in Botetourt County to have fast, reliable fiber internet, which has become a necessity because so many of us are working and learning from home. We are very much looking forward to this new project and excited to bring fiber optic broadband to more households in Botetourt County," said Diego Anderson, Lumos Senior Vice President and General Manager. "Lumos is a technology leader in the industry because we install fiber all the way to the home and include symmetrical upload and download speed as a standard offering, which results in much more reliable service than other types of broadband access. This is particularly true for video conferencing, distance learning, telehealth, and working from home as many have experienced in recent months." The VATI grant provides financial support to develop high-speed broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. Projects are selected by VATI based on community needs as well as project cost considerations. Amounts awarded are based on how much infrastructure is needed in targeted areas. Botetourt County is one of 11 areas of Virginia that will gain access to high-speed internet from VATI grants totaling $29.6 million. The Botetourt County project will begin the installation of 59 miles of fiber-optic cable, including areas near Wheatland Road, Old Hollow Road, Lithia, and Exit 162 along Rt. 11. With this announcement, Botetourt County adds to the more than 1,400 residents and businesses who have already been included in announcements of broadband expansions in the past year. As a result, officials anticipate that approximately 85% of residents will soon have access to broadband internet. "This grant is fantatic for the residents and business of Botetourt County who have been in need of a broadband solution," said Dr. Mac Scothorn, Chairman of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors and Broadband Commission. "Getting fiber-to-the-home is a high priority for all of Botetourt County. We are grateful to be able to partner with Lumos and the state to bring this exceptional service to this area and continue to explore opportunities for other areas of the County." With funding in place, the Lumos technical teams will begin working on installation timelines. Preliminary goals indicate that many addresses will have access to the new fiber service later this year and the remainder by mid-year 2022. Lumos will send a notice to residents when construction begins in their area. Lumos is widely known as an industry leader for its customer satisfaction ratings in service and reliability. As part of Segra, Lumos offers fiber availability to well more than 100,000 homes and businesses in Virginia and North Carolina. The company has plans to continue its growth track of expanded service areas. Botetourt County residents and business owners who want to find out if service from Lumos is available in their neighborhood should visit lumosnetworks.com or call 855.GO.LUMOS. About Lumos Networks Lumos provides high-speed fiber internet, wall-to-wall Wi-Fi, voice, and streaming TV services to residential and business customers in VA as well as in NC, where we're known as NorthState. But we are more than your average internet company. Our customers enjoy the fastest fiber speeds available built on a network they can truly count on - all backed by local, expert customer care teams. We know that fast, reliable internet is what you need to stay connected to the things that matter. And your connection is our commitment. Lumos and NorthState are a part of Segra, one of the largest independent fiber bandwidth companies in the U.S., headquartered in Charlotte, NC. About Segra Segra is one of the largest independent fiber infrastructure bandwidth companies in the Eastern U.S. providing Ethernet, MPLS, dark fiber, advanced data center services, IP and managed services, voice, and cloud solutions, all backed by its industry-leading service and reliability. Customers include carriers, enterprises, governments, and healthcare organizations. In addition, Segra delivers high-speed, fiber-based integrated telecommunications services to residential and business customers in portions of Virginia under the Lumos Networks brand name and in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina under the NorthState brand name. For more information about Segra's technology and commitment to customer care, visit segra.com. About Botetourt County Botetourt County (Pop. 33,494) is a 542 sq. mile community in Southwestern Virginia. The rural community is located in the southwestern portion of the state in the scenic Roanoke Valley of Virginia. Strategically located on Interstate 81 and just 20 miles to Interstate 64, Botetourt County is accessible to the markets of the Mid-West and the East. Botetourt County has a five-member elected Board of Supervisors which oversees most of the county's government-related operations. In addition, Botetourt County has a complete administrative staff that works under the direction of a County Administrator who is hired by the Board of Supervisors to run day-to-day operations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210128006096/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. Japanese auto major Honda on Thursday said it has started exporting vehicles from India to left hand drive nations to strengthen its business here in the country. The company has begun export of 5th generation Honda City sedan with the dispatch of initial batch to the Middle East countries from the Pipavav port in Gujarat and Ennore port in Chennai, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said in a statement. HCIL has been exporting the right hand drive models of the City sedan to South Africa since August 2020 and to neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan from October 2020, it added. "Honda City has been the benchmark of sedans in India and addition of exports of its left hand drive model to completely new destinations is a great opportunity for us to strengthen our India business," HCIL President and CEO Gaku Nakanishi said. He further said,"We have invested in creating an expansive world-class manufacturing facility at Tapukara which can produce both right hand and left hand drive models that allows us to manage demand for domestic and international consumers." Last month, Honda had announced closure of manufacturing operations at its Greater Noida facility in Uttar Pradesh. The automaker had said the decision to cease production at the plant, which came up in 1997, was taken as part of realignment of manufacturing operations with the goal of improving business efficiency. With the closure of Greater Noida facility, HCIL has also discontinued in India the CR-V and Civic models which are produced at the plant. Nakanishi said the 5th generation City sedan has been very well appreciated in the Indian market and "we hope that we will be able to replicate this success and satisfy our global customers with its best quality and performance". He also said the move to export to left hand drive countries "is in line with our commitment towards 'Make in India' where HCIL has been manufacturing all its volume models with more than 90 percent localisation and has been integral in developing a strong ecosystem in the country". HCIL said it has been exporting models including Amaze, WR-V and City to Nepal, Bhutan, South Africa and SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries. The export of 5th generation Honda City (both right hand and left hand drive) is the newest addition to the export business from India. [January 28, 2021] Air Liquide inaugurates the world's largest low-carbon hydrogen membrane-based production unit in Canada PARIS, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Liquide has completed the construction of the world's largest PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzer. Supplied with renewable energy, this unit is now producing up to 8.2 tonnes per day of low-carbon hydrogen in Becancour, Quebec. With this large-scale investment, the Group confirms its long-term commitment to the hydrogen energy markets and its ambition to be a major player in the supply of low-carbon hydrogen. The new 20 MW PEM electrolyser, equipped with Cummins[1] technology, is the largest operating unit of its kind in the world and will help meet the growing demand for low-carbon hydrogen in North America. Becancour's proximity to the main industrial markets in Canada and the United States will help ensure their supply of low-carbon hydrogen for industrial use and mobility. The commissioning of this electrolysis unit increases by 50% the capacity of Air Liquide's Becancour hydrogen production complex. Compared to the traditional hydrogen production process, this new production unit will avoid the emission of around 27,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to the emissions of 10,000 cars per year. The choice of Becancour is based on two attributes of the site: the access to abundant renewable power from Hydro-Quebec and the proximity to the hydrogen mobility market in the northeast of the continent. Susan Ellerbusch, CEO, Air Liquide North America and Group Executive Committee Member: "The fight against climate change is at the heart of the Air Liquide Group's strategy. The inauguration of the Becancour site in Canada marks an important step in the implementation of this strategy. With this world's first, Air Liquide confirms its commitment to the production of low-carbon hydrogen on an industrial scale and its ability to effectively deploy the related technological solutions. Hydrogen will play a key role in the energy transition and the emergence of a low-carbon society." [1] After the acquisition of Hydrogenics by CUMMINS, Air Liquide (through its wholly owned subsidiary: The Hydrogen Company) has increased its ownership stake to 19%. SOURCE Air Liquide [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Important climate change mystery solved by scientists Scientists have resolved a key climate change mystery, showing that the annual global temperature today is the warmest of the past 10,000 years - contrary to recent research, according to a Rutgers-led study in the journal Nature. The long-standing mystery is called the "Holocene temperature conundrum," with some skeptics contending that climate model predictions of future warming must be wrong. The scientists say their findings will challenge long-held views on the temperature history in the Holocene era, which began about 12,000 years ago. "Our reconstruction shows that the first half of the Holocene was colder than in industrial times due to the cooling effects of remnant ice sheets from the previous glacial period - contrary to previous reconstructions of global temperatures," said lead author Samantha Bova, a postdoctoral researcher associate in the lab of co-author Yair Rosenthal, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "The late Holocene warming was indeed caused by the increase in greenhouse gases, as predicted by climate models, and that eliminates any doubts about the key role of carbon dioxide in global warming." Scientists used marine calcareous (calcium carbonate-containing) fossils from foraminifers - single-celled organisms that live at the ocean surface - to reconstruct the temperature histories of the two most recent warm intervals on Earth. They are the Last Interglacial period from 128,000 to 115,000 years ago and the Holocene. To get the fossils, the scientists collected a core of bottom sediments near the mouth of the Sepik River off northern Papua New Guinea during the Rutgers-led Expedition 363 of the International Ocean Discovery Program. The core features rapidly accumulating sediments that allowed the scientists to recreate the temperature history of the western Pacific warm pool, which closely tracks changes in global temperatures. How temperature evolved during the Last Interglacial and Holocene eras is controversial. Some data suggest that the average annual global temperature during modern times does not exceed the warmth in the Holocene's early warm period, called the "Holocene thermal maximum," which was followed by global cooling. Meanwhile, climate models strongly suggest that global temperatures have risen throughout the past 10,000 years. "The apparent discrepancy between climate models and data has cast doubts among skeptics about the role of greenhouse gases in climate change during the Holocene and possibly in the future," Rosenthal said. "We found that post-industrial warming has indeed accelerated the long and steady trend of warming throughout the past 10,000 years. Our study also underscores the importance of seasonal changes, specifically Northern Hemisphere summers, in driving many climate systems. Our method can, for the first time, use seasonal temperatures to come up with annual averages." ### Rutgers-affiliated co-authors include Shital P. Godad, a former Rutgers researcher now at National Taiwan University. Scientists at The Ohio State University and Nanjing Normal University contributed to the study. This story has been published on: 2021-01-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Pentagon will provide personnel to help with distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the country at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday. The Defense Department received a request late Wednesday from FEMA to assist with President Joe Biden's effort to bolster vaccinations across the country. Pentagon officials said midday Thursday they were "evaluating the request and what kinds of support [DoD] can provide." But Kirby said Thursday afternoon that the DoD is "obviously going to source" the request, and the military services are determining what type of support and how many people may be needed to help. Read Next: Man Who Sold N95 Masks to VA for $25 Each Charged With Price Gouging "Just like we would get through a combatant command request, it's going through the same processes. It's being analyzed for resourcing and risk by the services," he said. Kirby added that the response could involve a combination of personnel, including medical workers; it may draw from the active duty, reserve, National Guard -- or all three components. "This will very much be a joint effort. It's not going to fall to one service," he said. Biden said Monday he wants to see 1.5 million Americans vaccinated each day, an ambitious 50% increase from his original goal to inoculate 1 million per day during his first 100 days in office. To date across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has distributed 48,386,275 COVID-19 vaccine doses; of those, 26,193,682, or 54%, have been injected into patients. The Biden administration has been negotiating with vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna to purchase 200 million additional doses. "Help is on the way," Biden said, adding that the purchase would enable 300 million Americans to have access to a vaccine by the beginning of fall. Government health officials floated the idea last August that U.S. military medical personnel or National Guard troops could assist with vaccinations once doses became available, as reported first by Military.com. But in October, the DoD said that military personnel would not be administering shots and that the government effort, known as Operation Warp Speed, had decided to leave distribution planning to the states and federal entities that received allocations. Roughly 20,000 National Guard members are currently activated to support COVID-19 response, including testing and vaccine efforts, and 1,000 military medical personnel are on "prepare-to-deploy" orders, according to Max Rose, the senior COVID adviser to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In addition, 224 U.S. military medical personnel are supporting an intensive care unit in California; 80 are supporting three hospitals in Texas; and another 87 are deployed to three hospitals in Arizona. Forty Army Corps of Engineers personnel are supporting hospital infrastructure improvements in California and New Mexico, Rose added. In the past several weeks, COVID-19 distribution has faltered in many states. North Dakota, West Virginia and New Mexico, for example, have distributed more than 71% of their current supplies, while Alabama, Wisconsin and Kansas have dispensed less than 43% of theirs, according to data maintained by Becker's Hospital Review. In his first day in office, Austin said the pandemic was his top priority and pledged military resources to fight the disease. "You have already come to the aid of our nation's health care professionals. You can expect that mission to continue," he said. With just 4% of the world's population, the United States leads the globe in cases -- nearly 25.7 million as of Jan. 28, or 25% of all cases worldwide -- and deaths, 431,289, or nearly 20% of all deaths, according to data published by Johns Hopkins University. Austin told service members that the department must do its part to help defeat the coronavirus. As of Wednesday, the DoD had recorded 214,424 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, including 137,709 military personnel. More than 230 people affiliated with the DoD, including military members, civilian employees, dependents and contractors, have died. "We will also do everything we can to vaccinate and care for our workforce and to look for meaningful ways to alleviate the pressure this pandemic has exerted on you and your families," Austin said. According to the CDC, the DoD has received 794,200 vaccine doses to date and distributed 389,927, or less than 50%. These included 335,627 first doses and 46,561 second doses. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: For Now, U.S. Troops Wont Be Required to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine [January 28, 2021] Tractable announces partnership with The Hartford to accelerate claims processing with artificial intelligence NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hartford, a leading US property and casualty insurer, is using an AI solution to analyze auto damage within its auto insurance claims operations in the US, accelerating how quickly claims can be processed for its customers. The AI solution is created by technology company Tractable, whose mission is to accelerate accident and disaster recovery with artificial intelligence. Tractable uses computer vision to assess photos of car damage: the AI understands vehicle damage like an expert human appraiser and returns an appraisal as soon s the user submits photos. The technology opens the door to a simpler, quicker claim process. Using AI in this way can increase the speed of processing claims from days to minutes, removing inefficiencies from the process, helping insurers and repairers agree on repairs faster, and accelerating accident recovery for drivers. Alex Dalyac, co-founder and CEO, Tractable, said: "We are honored to announce this partnership. We see this as a testament to the quality of our technology, the maturity of our solution, and the trust in our people. Computer vision is accelerating accident recovery; the technology is here, it's on the ground and it's making a difference." Tractable was cofounded in 2015 and has since raised $55M in venture funding, processing over $1 billion in auto claims for the world's top insurers, including Tokio Marine, the largest P&C insurer in Japan; Covea, the largest auto insurer in France; and Admiral, a leading insurer in Europe. About Tractable: Tractable develops artificial intelligence systems for accident and disaster recovery. Its AI solutions have been deployed by leading insurers across Europe, North America and Asia to accelerate accident recovery for hundreds of thousands of households. Tractable is backed by $55m in venture capital and has offices in London, New York City and Tokyo. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tractable-announces-partnership-with-the-hartford-to-accelerate-claims-processing-with-artificial-intelligence-301217448.html SOURCE Tractable [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hopes that the World Health Organization (WHO) will certify Russias COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. "I know that there are contacts at the present moment between the Russian authorities and WHO, I hope that those contacts lead in the quickest possible way to the approval or recognition by the WHO," he said. Russias COVID-19 vaccine can be used by UN missions and it can play a very important role in the fight against the pandemic, Guterres said. "We believe that the Russian vaccine can play a very important role in that battle that I mentioned. We need to make sure that we have vaccines available and affordable to everybody everywhere," TASS cited him as saying. "It can be used in many of the UN operations in some vulnerable areas of the world where we will need vaccines for our staff and population which we support in our peacekeeping operations in fragile countries. So we hope that the Russian vaccine will play an important role in that regard," Guterres added. "The only condition the UN has in relation to vaccines is that we can only use vaccines that are approved by the WHO," he said. "I know that there are contacts at the present moment between the Russian authorities and WHO, I hope that those contacts lead in the quickest possible way to the approval or recognition by the WHO." In September 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his speech at the UN General Assembly that Russia is ready to supply its Sputnik V vaccine to the UN for free. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 13:00:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The pandemic has once again demonstrated that global problems need global solutions. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- With more than 100 million people infected and more than 2 million dead, the fight between humanity and the COVID-19 pandemic has just reached yet another grim milestone. To turn the tide, vaccines are vital. But more important is global vaccination coverage. Now rich countries are clearing out the shelves, while poor countries are stuck at the end of the waiting line. The scene is all too familiar in history, and it should not be allowed to repeat. According to the People's Vaccine Alliance, a global coalition of organizations and activists, rich countries representing just 14 percent of the world's population have bought up 53 percent of eight leading vaccine candidates. Take Canada for example. If all its pre-orders were delivered, it could inoculate its residents five times. In stark contrast, poor countries are vaccine-starved. Guinea, the first low-income country in Africa to deliver any shots, has so far received only 55 doses. Many others have got none. A medical worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a health service center in Jerusalem on Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) Meanwhile, some rich countries are mulling over "vaccine passports." It sounds pragmatic, but it is truly problematic. Without global equitable distribution, such "passports" will only become yet another stamp of privilege and stigma of inequity. Sadly, it is not the first time that the better-off part of the world has left others in the lurch. For decades, many developing countries have been trying to improve their people's well-being and catch up with their former colonizers. But they face all kinds of hurdles, many of which are imposed by developed countries, such as trade barriers, technology gaps, out-of-reach loans, and unreasonable climate change obligations. A vehicle runs across a wind power plant in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) On climate change, some developed countries are reluctant to take responsibility for their historical emissions, and trying to shift the burden to developing countries. By doing so, they are denying those developing nations equal access to future growth. Such inequity has led to unstable, unbalanced and unsustainable development across the world, and that is the root cause of today's increasing instability and uncertainty, including the growing threat of terrorism and the continuous waves of refugees. The pandemic has once again demonstrated that global problems need global solutions. If anyone is left behind, everyone is vulnerable. Associate features editor Margaret Button is the associate editor of Berkshires Week and writes a weekly food. She has been with The Eagle since 2014. Maggy can be reached at mbutton@berkshireeagle.com and on Twitter at @ButtonMaggy. Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot BlakeDavidTaylor/iStockBy CLAYTON SANDELL, ABC News (DENVER) -- Three male teenagers were arrested Wednesday in connection with a mysterious six-month-old arson in Colorado that killed five members of a Senegalese family, including a toddler and an infant. Two of the juveniles are 16 years old and one is 15, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said. "These are the individuals that we believe are responsible for this horrific crime," Pazen said at an afternoon news conference in Denver. On Aug. 5 at around 3:30 a.m., police say three suspects in eerie face masks approached a house not far from Denver International Airport in darkness, igniting a fire that trapped people inside and burned so intensely it damaged neighbor's homes on both sides. Djibril Diol, 29, his wife Adja Diol, 23, and their 2-year-old daughter Khadija were killed, along with Djibril's sister, Hassan, and her infant daughter, Hawa. Friends and family say Adja, Khadija, Hassan and Hawa had recently immigrated to the United States from Senegal. The suspects, who were not identified because of their ages, are facing a litany of charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault, burglary and arson. Police say they were taken into custody at their homes in nearby Jefferson County. They are not related, but police say the three knew each other. Pazen would not discuss the alleged suspects' motives, citing a desire to protect the integrity of the investigation and achieve a successful prosecution. However, Pazen said investigators concluded that race does not appear to be a factor in the crime. "The evidence that we have uncovered and the circumstances and facts that we have found do not indicate that this is a bias-motivated crime," Pazen said. The case put the Senegalese community on edge as it went unsolved for months, despite a reward that grew to $50,000 and appeals by friends and family for tips. Police said they assigned two detectives to work the case full time and had help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the U.S. Secret Service. "They have done an unbelievable job on this. There was very limited information that we had," Pazen said. "This was as complex an investigation as I'm aware of in my entire career. And they did an amazing job." Community members who had grown increasingly frustrated at the apparent lack of progress praised investigators after Wednesday's arrests. "We are grateful, but we are still in pain," said Papa Dia, founder of the African Leadership Group and a family representative. "Arrests have been made, but we know it's not going to bring these beautiful people back." Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The Ayodhya Mosque Trust on Thursday criticised AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his statement in Bidar, Karnataka, that the Ayodhya mosque being built on the 5-acre land was 'haraam' or un-Islamic. Secretary of the Ayodhya Mosque Trust, Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) Athar Husain said Owaisi was a politician from Hyderabad and his remarks were a part of his political agenda. He said no piece of land where prayer was offered to the Almighty Allah could be 'haraam'. Husain said Owaisi came from a region which had not borne the struggle, or felt the trauma of the first war of independence. "It's possible his ancestors never took part in the 1856 revolt against the British. We are from Awadh, which was the crucible of revolution and are dedicating the IICF centre in Ayodhya in the memory of one of our greatest freedom fighters, Ahmadullah Shah, who liberated Faizabad from the British for at least a year," he said, adding if commemorating his martyrdom by naming the centre after him was 'haraam' as well. Owaisi at the event in Bidar on Tuesday had said the Ayodhya mosque was against Islamic tenets, including offering prayers or donating for its construction. Husain later told the Times of India that he did not think their charity hospital, which would heal and serve hundreds of sick and infirm without any cost could be 'haraam'. "Feeding the hungry is part of our religion and our community kitchen which will feed 2,000 people every day cannot be un-Islamic," he said. At previous conferences, the IICF has outlined how a community kitchen (saarvjanik bhojnalaya) and a modern library will also be set up in the Ayodhya mosque complex. Meanwhile, the members say the design of the mosque has also been prepared using modern technology, which will be egg-shaped without any dome. The two-storeyed mosque will not have any minaret. Solar power will be installed in the mosque, and around 2,000 people will be able to offer 'namaaz' at the same time, the organisation had previously announced. LANSING In an effort to secure additional financial relief for customers of Consumers Energy Co., Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and several ratepayer advocacy groups are asking the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to reconsider its denial of support for expanding a program the utility company has which provides credits to low-income customers. Nessel and the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club filed a motion on Jan. 15 for rehearing before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) regarding the utility companys recent rate case. On Dec. 17, 2020, the MPSC approved a $90.2 million rate increase for electric customers of Consumers Energy. In addition to opposing the amount of the companys originally proposed $244 million rate increase, the Attorney General, MEC, NRDC and Sierra Club also raised concerns about the unaffordability of Consumers Energys electric bills for its lowest-income customers. In 2020, Consumers Energys bills were on average the highest in the state at $106 per month. During the rate case, the Attorney General and advocacy groups argued for both short-term and longer-term programs and policies to provide more targeted, impactful and sustainable assistance for low-income customers, including an expansion in the Consumers Energys low-income assistance (LIA) credit program. In October 2020, the administrative law judge (ALJ) who presided over the case recommended the MPSC approve a $12.5 million increase for low-income payment assistance as it relates to the LIA credit, which would allow additional customers to receive the companys $30 per-month credit. Despite the lack of objections to the ALJs proposal to expand the LIA credit program, the MPSC did not approve that relief. Instead, the MPSC approved the companys original pre-pandemic $6.1 million proposal for bill assistance. The majority ($4.6 million) of that money goes to an $8 per month Residential Income Assistance credit that the ALJ found to be nearly meaningless. The joint petition for rehearing asks the MPSC to reconsider its decision to deny the expansion in the availability of the $30 per-month credit for low-income customers as recommended by the ALJ and unopposed by any other party in the case. There is valid concern regarding bill unaffordability, particularly now due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and low-income ratepayers who are already struggling to keep food on the table should not be forced to choose between feeding their families and paying their utility bills, Nessel said. I hope the relief requested in this joint petition brings additional resources for the people who need it, and I am grateful for the support of the MEC, NRDC, and Sierra Club in this fight for the betterment of all ratepayers. We continue to see more Michigan families struggling because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, while at the same time gas and utility rates continue to increase, said Charlotte Jameson, program director legislative affairs, energy, and drinking water policy for the Michigan Environmental Council. Given that the Public Service Commission just approved an 8 percent increase in residential rates for Consumers customers, we would hope they would also increase assistance going to those who are struggling. We joined the petition for rehearing so low-income consumers can get the relief they desperately need on their monthly electric bills. At a time when Michiganders are facing record unemployment and lost wages, low-income customers need more assistance, said Derrell Slaughter, Michigan clean energy advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council. The commission should reverse its decision to increase that assistance, while expanding the program and providing an additional $12.5 million in funding for those customers. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Consumers Energys electric bills were highly unaffordable for the 450,000 low-income customers it serves, said Sophie Stoepker, West Michigan clean energy organizer for Sierra Club. The action of the Michigan Public Service Commission to reject this assistance will likely have detrimental consequences without remediation. If adopted, the proposal would result in a minimal cost increase of less than a quarter per month for all residential ratepayers. However, the expanded ratepayer access to the $30 per-month credit will make electric bills more affordable for more low-income customers and lead to more timely and complete payments thus reducing collection activities by Consumer Energy. Reduced collection costs will ultimately benefit all electric customers. Page Content Asian Engagement Minister Peter Tinley has joined Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia Pak Kristiarto Legowo to recognise the country's longstanding relationship with Western Australia In 2019-20, Western Australia accounted for 38 per cent of Australia's exports to Indonesia Strengthening ties between Western Australia and Indonesia is a focus of the State Government's Asian Engagement Strategy Asian Engagement Minister Peter Tinley has reaffirmed Western Australia's longstanding relationship with Indonesia at the Australia Indonesia Business Council WA Business Breakfast. Attended by Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia, Pak Kristiarto Legowo, the event was a welcomed opportunity to strengthen economic and cultural ties while Australia's borders remain closed. Following the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement coming into force in July 2020, opportunities have increased for Western Australian agrifood industries, such as beef and grain, to export to Indonesia. The agreement has also presented opportunities for other local sectors including mining and mining equipment, technology and services, education and training, agribusiness and food. With a population of 273 million, Indonesia is the largest economy in South East Asia and is forecast to be the world's fourth largest economy by 2050. Demand from Indonesia's rapidly growing middle class offers a significant opportunity for Western Australian exporters of high-quality produce and professional services. In 2019-20, Western Australia accounted for 38 per cent of Australia's exports to Indonesia, exporting $2.2 billion worth of goods, above the annual average of $1.8 billion over the past 10 years. A sister-state relationship between Western Australia and East Java was established in August 1990, and exchanges have taken place in areas including education and training, government administration, health and welfare, sport and culture, and agriculture. Strengthening ties with Indonesia is a key component of Western Australia's Asian Engagement Strategy 2019-2030: Our future with Asia. Comments attributed to Asian Engagement Minister Peter Tinley: "It is great to be able to welcome Ambassador Legowo to Western Australia and reaffirm our relationship with Indonesia and particularly our sister-state relationship with East Java. "WA trade supports thousands of WA jobs. There is immense potential for WA to increase our trade relationship with Indonesia in areas such as international education and training, energy, primary industries, mining, technology and advanced manufacturing, defence and in the future, tourism." Minister's office - 6552 5300 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - SkyChain Technologies Inc. (TSXV: SCT) announces a 1,315,800 common shares private placement financing offering at a price of $0.95 per share. The company plans to close a first tranche of 265,000 shares by February 10, 2021 for gross proceeds of $251,750. The remaining tranche of 1,050,800 shares for gross proceeds of $998,260, is expected to close on or before February 25, 2021. The funds will be used to upgrade the company's 20MW crypto hosting facility in Sherbrooke Quebec to 23MW and for general working capital, and the placement will serve to meet a requirement for $1 million in equity to qualify for additional debt funding to meet the closing conditions of the Quebec facility. SkyChain will also continue its R&D effort to develop industry-leading technology for crypto mining equipment. "Completion of the Sherbooke facility will represent a key step in our growth strategy," said SkyChain CEO Bill Zhang. The Sherbrooke site was selected primarily for its low power costs and accessibility which provides a lower overall operating expense. "I'm happy to report SkyChain has signed on clients for 18MW of crypto mining capacity at Sherbrooke as we build out and the site is expected to be running at full capacity within six months. At full capacity of 23MW Sherbrooke is expected to provide steady revenues and profits," said Zhang. As reported in its June 28, 2020 news release, SkyChain is constructing a second crypto hosting facility in Birtle, Manitoba. The Birtle site will provide additional capacity of 12MW. Construction is proceeding on schedule and we have had great support from both Manitoba Hydro and the community of Birtle. Manitoba is recognized worldwide as a prime location for crypto hosting and SkyChain is investigating the build out of additional facilities there in the future. Building out of new facilities that combine low power costs, cooler climates and other efficiencies will provide excellent free cash flow growth for the company. The company has noted interest in SkyChain coming from global investors and in order to meet investor access SkyChain has retained OTC Advisory Services to guide preparation of an application to list the company's shares for trading on the U.S. OTCQB market. About SkyChain Technologies INC SkyChain Technologies is a Vancouver based company providing Blockchain Infrastructure services and power solutions. Our vision is to become a leading player in the crypto/data mining hosting by growing to 100Mw of crypto hosting capacity. To learn more, visit www.skychaintechnologiesinc.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bill Zhang President and CEO ______________________________________________________________________ Contact: 604-456-0608 info@skychaintechnologiesinc.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE USA To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/73059 A new study has shown that, while there is limited evidence for overall increased mortality in patients with atopic eczema, those with severe atopic eczema may have a greater risk of dying from several health issues compared with those without eczema, according to a new study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The research team, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and funded by the Wellcome Trust, compared the risk of dying in over 500,000 adults with atopic eczema with more than 2.5 million without eczema. Patients with severe atopic eczema had a 62% higher risk of dying compared to individuals without atopic eczema, due to several causes - the strongest links of which were seen for infections, lung problems and kidney or bladder disorders. There was limited evidence of increased 'all-cause' mortality in patients with non-severe atopic eczema, and the absolute risk of death was modest, with low overall mortality rates (1435 per 100,000 people per year in those without atopic eczema, and 1496 per 100,000 people per year in those with atopic eczema). The researchers did not set out to find the reasons behind the increases in risk of death in severe or predominantly active atopic eczema. Previous studies have suggested that the elevated risk may be linked to reduced physical activity and reduced sleep quality, as well as immunological dysfunction due to the disease itself or the drug treatments the patients might be on. They urge for more research into the causes to help develop intervention strategies. The research was conducted in collaboration with Health Data Research UK, Aarhus University Hospital, Nottingham Support Group for Carers of Children with Eczema and the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. Atopic eczema affects up to 10% of adults and is becoming more common globally. The disease is characterised by itch, sleeplessness and adverse effects on quality of life. Around 30% of people with atopic eczema have moderate to severe disease. Sinead Langan, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM, said: "Recent evidence has led to a paradigm shift in how atopic eczema is perceived, from focusing on skin symptoms and associated allergic diseases, to understanding that the disease may be associated with a range of important medical outcomes. Recently, we found atopic eczema to be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, angina and heart failure. "However, few studies have assessed if atopic eczema increases the risk of death, a research question we aimed to address in this study." This new research used the healthcare records from UK general practices alongside hospitalisation records and mortality data from the Office for National Statistics spanning 1998 to 2016. More than 500,000 people with atopic eczema, of which nearly 35,000 were classified as having severe atopic eczema, were matched with up to five individuals without eczema, based on their age (within 15 years), sex and general practice. This resulted in more than three million individuals were successfully matched, with a median age of 41.8 years. The researchers found that patients with atopic eczema had 8% to 14% increased risk of death due to infectious, digestive and genitourinary causes. Crucially, they noted that increased mortality risk was mainly in those with the most severe or more active atopic eczema. Patients with severe atopic eczema had 62% higher overall risk of death. These findings are consistent with previous studies. Long-standing patient collaborator, Amanda Roberts, said: "Forewarned is fore-armed. Now we eczema patients can be more aware of potential harms and complications associated with lungs, kidneys or bladder. This research team is adding so much to our understanding of eczema." Professor Langan added: "Although the absolute risk of death from severe eczema is low, our findings suggest that those with severe or more active forms of the disease do face a higher risk of dying from associated health issues. We hope that this new information will help inform further research to better understand this pattern and the underlying mechanisms of these associations, and subsequently inform and improve treatment processes for those with severe eczema." The researchers acknowledge the limitations of this study, including a lack of standardised measures of disease severity. Severity had to be identified based on hospital referral or receiving of specific therapies, prevent the researchers from disentangling the effects of treatment and severity. ### For more information or interviews, please contact press@lshtm.ac.uk. A copy of the embargoed paper is available upon request. Notes to Editors Publication Richard J Silverwood, Kathryn E Mansfield, Amy Mulick, Angel YS Wong, Sigrun AJ Schmidt, Amanda Roberts, Liam Smeeth, Katrina Abuabara, Sinead M Langan. Atopic eczema in adulthood and mortality: UK population-based cohort 1 study, 1998-2016. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a world-leading centre for research, postgraduate studies and continuing education in public and global health. LSHTM has a strong international presence with over 3,000 staff and 4,000 students working in the UK and countries around the world, and an annual research income of 180 million. LSHTM is one of the highest-rated research institutions in the UK, is partnered with two MRC University Units in The Gambia and Uganda, and was named University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2016. Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. A Sydney model has quit Instagram after being trolled for supposedly not knowing the difference between the Australian and American flags. Jessica Sanders' account with 200,000 followers has been deleted or temporarily deactivated after her apparent gaffe went viral on Tuesday. She had faced backlash for wearing a U.S. flag bikini on Australia Day, with some fans accusing her of not recognising her own country's flag. Gaffe? Sydney model Jessica Sanders has quit Instagram after being trolled for supposedly not knowing the difference between the Australian and American flags. She had faced backlash for wearing a U.S. flag bikini on Australia Day (pictured), with some fans accusing her of not recognising her own country's flag A 404 Not Found message ('Sorry, this page isn't available') now comes up when users attempt to access her main profile @jessica_sanders. Her private account @jessicasanders.x with just 309 followers is still active, however. Before seemingly deleting her profile, Jessica blocked a slew of Instagram users she claimed were 'trolling' her over her choice of swimwear. She also blasted her critics in a rambling statement on Instagram Stories. Gone! Jessica Sanders' account with 200,000 followers has been deleted or temporarily deactivated after her apparent gaffe went viral on Tuesday. This message ('Sorry, this page isn't available') now comes up when users attempt to access her main profile @jessica_sanders Locked down: Her private account @jessicasanders.x with just 309 followers is still active See ya! Before seemingly deleting her profile, Jessica blocked a slew of Instagram users she claimed were 'trolling' her over her choice of swimwear. She also blasted her critics in a rambling statement on Instagram Stories in which she insisted: 'I am not stupid' 'Well that was fun lol. Had a good blocking sesh,' she wrote. 'And this is the whole reason why I made a private Instagram so fake people like this who claim that we should all support each other are either writing negative comments or liking them. 'I am not stupid. I bought an American bikini on purpose and wore it on Australia Day. What is wrong with that when I see everyone else wearing whatever they want on Australia Day? But because I am wearing an American bikini, this gives people the right to say negative things about me and claim I am stupid. OK, rant over.' The flag bikini saga began after Jessica celebrated her country's official national day on Tuesday by relaxing poolside with a female friend. Pride: Influencer Jessica (right) had shared several photos on Tuesday of herself in a patriotic red, white and blue bikini, which was based on the U.S. flag with its distinctive stars and stripes She shared several photos to Instagram of herself in a patriotic red, white and blue two-piece - but fans noticed something was not quite right about the design. Her bikini was inspired by the American flag with its distinctive stars and stripes, not the Australian flag. Many Aussie women celebrate Australia Day by wearing an Australian flag bikini featuring the Southern Cross constellation and the Union Jack. Several of Jessica's fans assumed she'd confused the two flags, and her 'gaffe' was soon picked up by Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck. Tradition: Many Aussie women celebrate Australia Day by wearing an Australian flag bikini featuring the Southern Cross constellation and the Union Jack. Pictured: a woman (not Jessica Sanders) celebrating the public holiday on the Gold Coast Celeb Spellcheck explained Celeb Spellcheck began a few years ago as an account making fun of Instagram models' poor spelling, but has since become a platform for holding influencers to account for their lies and irresponsible behaviour. The profile is also a hub for user-submitted gossip about influencers. Celeb Spellcheck has attracted criticism in recent months, with the likes of Skye Wheatley and Tayla Damir accusing the page of 'bullying'. Advertisement She was mercilessly trolled in the comments section, with stunned followers writing 'Wrong on so many levels', 'Surely not!' and 'You have to be kidding me'. One fan said it was a 'bit too early for the 4th of July', referring to U.S. Independence Day, and another joked: 'The last plane out of Texas' almost gone.' This was, of course, a reference to the song Khe Sanh by Australian rock band Cold Chisel, which includes the famous lyric: 'The last plane out of Sydney's almost gone.' 'You have to be kidding me': Several of Jessica's fans assumed she'd confused the two flags, and her 'gaffe' was soon picked up by Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck (pictured) After realising she'd been featured on Celeb Spellcheck, Jessica furiously hit back on Instagram and denied any suggestion she didn't know her own country's flag. Someone had commented below one of her photos: 'Please tell me you know that's the American flag.' She responded: 'I'm not stupid, of course I do. Do you write this on everyone's pic who isn't wearing the Aussie flag on Australia Day? Or just to be a b***h. Go away.' Popular: Jessica has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram Hitting back: After realising she'd been featured on Celeb Spellcheck, Jessica furiously hit back on Instagram and denied any suggestion she didn't know her own country's flag Meanwhile, the debate over Australia Day has intensified in recent years, with many Aussies saying the national day should not be celebrated on January 26 - the date when Britain's First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove. They argue that celebrating this day is disrespectful to Indigenous Australians, as the arrival of British settlers brought violence and disease which would decimate the native population. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday the date signified when Australia was changed forever through European colonisation. 'There is no escaping or cancelling this fact,' Mr Morrison said. 'For better and worse, it was the moment where the journey to our modern nation began.' The tech founder and CEO educates growing businesses about the value of a strategic partner for agile global growth; Herjavec joins PGA TOUR champ Billy Horschel as global brand ambassador Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2021) - Velocity Global , the leading provider of global expansion solutions, today announced a partnership with Robert Herjavec to serve as an international brand ambassador for the company. Herjavec is a leading investor on the Emmy Award-winning show, "Shark Tank," and founder and CEO of global cybersecurity firm, Herjavec Group. "As an entrepreneur and investor, I want other business leaders to know there are efficient and agile global expansion options for immediate, streamlined growth," said Herjavec. "My own business experience taught me firsthand about the challenges of growing on a global scale. Velocity Global simplifies global expansion. Fast-growing businesses gain the ability to test new markets without a long-term investment, bring on top talent anywhere around the globe, and protect valuable intellectual property. Its focus on the customer experience approach is what sets it apart and I'm excited to help businesses grow." Clients rely on Velocity Global's expertise and global infrastructure to hire internationally without the cost or complexity of foreign legal entity establishment. As a strategic partner, Velocity Global manages in-country compliance, payroll, and benefits for its clients' supported employees so that businesses can focus on growth. Robert Herjavec, Velocity Global Ambassador To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7234/73063_jcjzxxmG.jpg "A rise in demand for tech services is spurred by the pandemic, and growth happens now," said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global chief revenue officer. "Robert relates with other business leaders as a peer. He grew his cybersecurity company into a multinational firm and is passionate about helping others recognize the benefits of global business. He embodies the entrepreneurial journey as an immigrant with a paper route to the launch of his own successful global company from his basement. He shares our vision and our values, and we welcome him to the Velocity Global team." Herjavec contributes his insights on the outlook of global business in Velocity Global's 2021 State of Global Expansion report scheduled to be released in February. Sign up here to receive a copy of the report upon launch . Herjavec joins former FedExCup and five-time PGA TOUR champion, Billy Horschel, as a global brand ambassador for Velocity Global. Both exhibit the values of the company and reinforce Velocity Global's People First approach to global expansion. ABOUT ROBERT HERJAVEC Robert Herjavec is one of North America's most recognizable business leaders. A dynamic entrepreneur, Robert has built and sold several IT companies and is the Founder & CEO of Herjavec Group, a global cybersecurity operations leader specializing in managed security services, compliance, identity services and incident response for enterprise-level organizations. He shares his expertise with other entrepreneurs each week as a leading Shark on ABC's Emmy Award-winning hit show, Shark Tank. For more information visit www.robertherjavec.com . ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global helps companies grow globally. Founded in 2014, Velocity Global's clients rely on its expertise and global infrastructure in 185 countries to hire compliantly around the world, increase revenue, scale efficiently, and access global talent. Named a "Leader" in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients with comprehensive services led by its core offering of International PEO as well as Immigration, Entity Setup and Support, Global Talent Acquisition, and Consulting. Velocity Global is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam and Singapore, and local employees in 14 countries. Contact Details: Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/velocity-global-welcomes-tech-leader-and-shark-tank-investor-robert-herjavec-as-global-brand-ambassador-639111257 CLEVELAND, Ohio Mayor Frank Jackson said Thursday that his administration expects to raise water rates between now and 2026, but that the city likely would not raise rates each of the five years. Jackson raised the prospect of water rate hikes while unveiling his 2021 budget proposal, but his administration later said customers would see no rate increase this year. Speaking to the editorial board for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, the mayor said a water department surplus of $192 million would allow his administration to keep rate hikes from being too burdensome. He did not specify what the possible size of the rate increases, which would be subject to approval by City Council. Cleveland evaluates its water rates every five years. The evaluation is needed to ensure the water department, the nations ninth largest, has steady funding and that it can maintain a reserve to cover any emergencies. The reserve also allows the department to pay cash on some projects, rather than borrow the money and incur debt, Jackson said. As one of the budgets so-called freestanding enterprise funds, the water department raises the money for its operations from fees charged to its 1.5 million customers in more than 70 communities spread over five counties. Under the last five-year plan, no rate hikes were imposed in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Rates increased 4.5% in 2019 and 2020. Overall, Jacksons 2021 budget plan calls for nearly $1.8 billion in spending. Enterprise funds account for about two-thirds. Spending in the general fund, which covers most basic city services, is forecast at $659.3 million. Cleveland spent about $650 million for general fund services in 2020 after tightening its belt to address lost revenue to the pandemic. Spending in 2019 was about $686 million. City Council will begin budget hearings in February. The budget must be approved by the end of March. Here are some other highlights. Of the four largest enterprise funds water, Cleveland Public Power, the citys sewer operations and airport operations the airport is the one to watch closely because of the impact of the pandemic, Jackson said. As air travel declined, so did airport revenue from parking, concessions and landing fees. The airline industry has recovered some, but is still far from where it was before the pandemic. Meanwhile, the costs of running the airport remain. Last year the airport cut expenses by $19 million and also received $46 million in emergency federal aid. This is the first budget since 2016 that isnt structurally balanced. After voters approved raising Clevelands income tax beginning in 2017, budgets were structured to cover expenses with money raised that same year, allowing for a carryover as a reserve at years end. This years budget would tap $23 million from $43 million left from 2020 to balance the books. Four programs will each get $5 million from the general fund to help avoid borrowing. That will free up space in the citys borrowing cap if Cleveland needs money for discretionary projects. The money will go toward street paving, blighted housing demolition, aid to struggling small businesses and aid to individuals for rent and utility costs. Jackson said the budget is structured so that he doesnt expect to lay off workers or curtail services, unless something catastrophic happens. There are some unknowns. In 2020, Cleveland received $60 million in federal coronavirus aid. Theres no guarantee of similar aid this year. Perhaps the bigger question is what will happen with income tax collections. Last year, the state approved legislation allowing employers to continue withholding income taxes from their employees checks just as if they were driving into the city to work each day. Cleveland and other Ohio cities have continued to collect those taxes. About 85% of Clevelands income tax is withheld from paychecks of commuters who dont live in the city and have been working from home since March. And the Buckeye Institute has sued to try to overturn that provision in the law. Beyond that, the administration faces the prospect of losing tens of millions of dollars in income taxes if large numbers of workers continue to work from home after the pandemic. Companies may decide to continue with remote work, allowing them to reduce the costs for office space. Jackson said the city is aware of the potential. If it happens, it would have a significant impact, Jackson said. Then we would budget accordingly. At this point, Cleveland believes the law is on their side, Jackson said. Were not doing anything wrong. Were doing what the law allows us to do, Jackson said. And until something changes, the mayor is focused on the now. I try not to worry. I deal with reality, Jackson said. I cant worry the future into what I want it to be. More from Cleveland City Hall Mayor Frank Jackson acknowledges Cleveland might sue FirstEnergy for role in campaign against CPP Redrawing Clevelands ward map could be delayed years unless U.S. Census data becomes available quickly Ohio grants tax credits to Brecksville mortgage lender as headquarters moves to downtown Cleveland Widespread vaccinations for COVID-19 coronavirus in Cleveland a long way off because of short supplies Mayor Frank Jackson appoints Martin Keane as Clevelands new director of public utilities Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: More Cyber Crimes, Attributed To Russia, Are Shown To Have Come From Elsewhere By Moon Of Alabama January 27, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - Earlier today police in Europe took down the Emotet bot-network: First discovered as a fairly run-of-the-mill banking trojan back in 2014, Emotet evolved over the years into one of the most professional and resilient cyber crime services in the world, and became a go-to solution for cyber criminals. Its infrastructure acted as a mechanism to gain access to target systems, which was done via an automated spam email process that delivered Emotet malware to its victims via malicious attachments, often shipping notices, invoices and, since last spring, Covid-19 information or offers. If opened, victims would be promoted to enable macros that allowed malicious code to run and instal Emotet. This done, Emotets operators then sold access on to other cyber criminal groups as a means to infiltrate their victims, steal data, and drop malware and ransomware. The operators of TrickBot and Ryuk were among the many users of Emotet. Up to a quarter of all recent run of the mill cyber-crime was done through the Emotet network. Closing it down is a great success. Wikipedia falsely claimed that Emotet was based in Russia: Emotet is a malware strain and a cybercrime operation based in Russia.[1] The malware, also known as Geodo and Mealybug, was first detected in 2014[2] and remains active, deemed one of the most prevalent threats of 2019.[3] bigger However the Hindu report linked as source to the Russia claim under [1] only says: The malware is said to be operated from Russia, and its operator is nicknamed Ivan by cyber security researchers. "Is said to be operated from Russia" is quite a weak formulation and should not be used as source for attribution claims. It is also definitely false. The operating center of Emotet was found in the Ukraine. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Today the Ukrainian national police took control of it during a raid (video). The police found dozens of computers, some hundred hard drives, about 50 kilogram of gold bars (current price ~$60,000/kg) and large amounts of money in multiple currencies. bigger Since the 2016 publishing of internal emails of the DNC and the Clinton campaign attribution of computer intrusions to Russia has become a standard propaganda feature. But in no case was there shown evidence which proved that Russia was responsible for a hack. The recently discovered deep intrusion into U.S. companies and government networks used a manipulated version of the SolarWinds Orion network management software. The Washington borg immediately attributed the hack to Russia. Then President Trump attributed it to China. But none of those claims were backed up by facts or known evidence. The hack was extremely complex, well managed and resourced, and likely required insider knowledge. To this IT professional it 'felt' neither Russian nor Chinese. It is far more likely, as Whitney Webb finds, that Israel was behind it: The implanted code used to execute the hack was directly injected into the source code of SolarWinds Orion. Then, the modified and bugged version of the software was compiled, signed and delivered through the existing software patch release management system, per reports. This has led US investigators and observers to conclude that the perpetrators had direct access to SolarWinds code as they had a high degree of familiarity with the software. While the way the attackers gained access to Orions code base has yet to be determined, one possibility being pursued by investigators is that the attackers were working with employee(s) of a SolarWinds contractor or subsidiary. ... Though some contractors and subsidiaries of SolarWinds are now being investigated, one that has yet to be investigated, but should be, is Samanage. Samanage, acquired by SolarWinds in 2019, not only gained automatic access to Orion just as the malicious code was first inserted, but it has deep ties to Israeli intelligence and a web of venture-capital firms associated with numerous Israeli espionage scandals that have targeted the US government. ... Samanage offers what it describes as an IT Service Desk solution. It was acquired by SolarWinds so Samanages products could be added to SolarWinds IT Operations Management portfolio. Though US reporting and SolarWinds press releases state that Samanage is based in Cary, North Carolina, implying that it is an American company, Samanage is actually an Israeli firm. It was founded in 2007 by Doron Gordon, who previously worked for several years at MAMRAM, the Israeli militarys central computing unit. ... Several months after the acquisition was announced, in November 2019, Samanage, renamed SolarWinds Service Desk, became listed as a standard feature of SolarWinds Orion software, whereas the integration of Samanage and Orion had previously been optional since the acquisitions announcement in April of that year. This means that complete integration was likely made standard in either October or November. It has since been reported that the perpetrators of the recent hack gained access to the networks of US federal agencies and major corporations at around the same time. Samanages automatic integration into Orion was a major modification made to the now-compromised software during that period. The U.S. National Security Agency has ways and means to find out who was behind the SolarWinds hack. But if Israel is the real culprit no one will be allowed to say so publicly. Some high ranging U.-S. general or official will fly to Israel and read his counterpart the riot act. Israel will ignore it just as it has done every time when it was caught spying on the U.S. government. With more then half of Washington's politicians in its pockets it has no reason to fear any consequences. - " Source " - Post your comment below Registration is necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Lucknow, Jan 28 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to withdraw cases registered against traders and other persons for violation of lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brijesh Pathak has issued the necessary instructions to the officials in this regard. According to a government spokesman, details of the cases lodged during the lockdown will be prepared and the cases will be withdrawn accordingly. The decision will give reprieve to those who were booked for minor offences during the lockdown. A traders' organisation had recently met the law minister in this regard and sought withdrawal of cases. Uttar Pradesh will be the first state to withdraw cases registered during the lockdown. Republican lawmakers are tearing into Joe Biden's Thursday executive actions related to women's reproductive rights, claiming 'abortion is murder' as the president reverses Trump-era orders that restricted taxpayer money funneling to abortions. 'Let me be clear abortion is murder, and the federal government should not support it let alone PAY for it,' Representative Ronny Jackson, who once served as presidential physician to former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, wrote on Twitter Thursday. 'I will not support any bill that eliminates or weakens the Hyde Amendment. #SaveHyde' the freshman Texas congressman continued. The 1980 Hyde Amendment bars federal funds from being use to pay for elective abortions. It stipulates that taxpayer dollars can only be used for aborting an unborn baby in the case of incest, rape or to save the mother's life due to pregnancy complications. The White House made no recent announcements related to this provision, indicating Republicans are preemptively defending abortion-related actions they feel could arise in the future of Biden's administration. Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday directing Health and Human Services to allow federal funding to be sent as foreign aid for abortions abroad Another directive Biden signed on Thursday allows Title X Family Planning Clinics to use taxpayer funding to perform, promote, refer or support abortion as a method of family planning Republicans, including Representative Ronny Jackson, lashed out against Joe Biden's healthcare policies related to women's reproductive health especially any backing for taxpayer money funding abortions On Twitter, Jackson wrote: 'Let me be clear abortion is murder, and the federal government should not support it let alone PAY for it'. His comments were attached to a twee where GOP lawmakers promoted an initiative vowing to protect the Hyde Amendment Representative Dan Bishop also said Biden's orders Thursday do not help 'unify' the country by 'sending Americans' hard-earned tax dollars overseas to pay for abortion' The president did, however, sign an executive order Thursday afternoon directing the Department of Health and Human services to reinstate a program sending aid to foreign countries to help fund abortions and abortion counseling. 'Another day, another partisan Executive Order from the #unity president. What's unifying about sending Americans' hard-earned tax dollars overseas to pay for abortions @PressSec?' Republican Representative Dan Bishop of North Carolina questioned in a tweet. A separate initiative Thursday directs HHS to consider revoking regulations set forth by Trump in February 2019 that prohibits funds for the Title X Family Planning Clinics from being use to perform, promote, refer or support abortion as a method of family planning. The Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House, promoted Wednesday afternoon that their members are dedicated to 'saving' the Hyde provision to make sure Americans do not have to pay, via tax money, for women to obtain abortions. 'Taxpayers should never be forced to fund abortion,' a tweet from RSC reads along with a video of seven Republican congressmen and women who are pleading to defend the Hyde Amendment from future threats. These lawmakers include GOP Representatives Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, Kevin Brady and Ronny Jackson of Texas, and Byron Donald and Greg Steube of Florida. Nearly 200 Republicans signed a letter indicating they won't vote for any legislation that would amend or throw out Hyde. 'Joe Biden has historically been pro-life and supported the Hyde Amendment. But now that it is no longer politically popular with his party and the radical liberals that are dictating his every move, he has suddenly changed his stance and now supports taxpayer-funded abortions,' Jackson said in the clip from RSC on Twitter. Hartzler added: 'Polls show that whether you're pro-life or pro-choice, you don't want your tax dollars going to pay to end life. And so why would the Democrats prioritize it? It's sad, it's wrong and it must be stopped.' Of the 212 Republicans in the House, 125 are part of the Republican Study Committee. On Thursday afternoon, Biden took further steps to reverse Trump's healthcare policies and rebuild Obamacare starting with reopening the HealthCare.gov insurance exchange for an emergency three-month sign-up period. The executive orders were signed Thursday in an effort to get more Americans healthcare coverage especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden signed several executive orders Thursday related to healthcare, including creating an emergency three-month enrollment period for HealthCare.gov and reinstate federal foreign aid for abortions abroad and allow family planning to include abortions services The actions will also remove Trump-era restrictions barring foreign aid from being used for abortion counseling. The Mexico City policy, sometimes referred to by critics as the 'global gag rule,' blocks federal funding for non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling or referrals, advocate to decriminalize abortion, or expand abortion services. The provisions can be turned off and on with the stroke of a pen depending on which party controls the White House. A White House statement previewing the executive actions Thursday notes: 'Across the country and around the world, people particularly women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and those with low incomes have been denied access to reproductive health care.' 'President Biden is also issuing a Presidential Memorandum to protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care,' it continued of restoring funding to abortions in the U.S. and foreign countries that receive aid. In promoting healthcare access, the White House wrote: 'After four years of attempts to strip health care from millions of Americans, President Biden will sign two executive actions that will begin to restore and strengthen Americans' access to quality, affordable health care.' The three-month 'special enrollment period' is expected to kick off February 15 and run through May 15, according to a White House official. Biden's order will direct Health and Human Services to review existing regulation to open a federal enrollment period, and the department will announce later Thursday more specifics related to the three-month period on HealthCare.gov starting next month. In order to permanently reopen enrollment, Biden would need congressional cooperation. The White House previewed Biden signing a slew of new executive actions on Thursday A few of Biden's directives will be related to abortion, and rolling back restrictions put in place during the Trump administration on the controversial productive rights issue Many Americans lost their healthcare coverage when they lost their jobs as a result of the economic fallout from the coroanvirus pandemic. Here people wait in line in California to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Trump tried several times during his presidency to repeal and replaceObamacare. His administration attempted to find different ways to limit the program or unravel it entirely. A Supreme Court decision on the former president's final legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act is expected this year. HealthCare.gov is a marketplace created from the Affordable Care Act during Barack Obama's presidency and offers widespread healthcare coverage partially paid for by taxpayer money. The goal was to create a place for Americans to be able to obtain healthcare coverage on the free market if they may not have otherwise been able to find a provider due to their medical history or preexisting conditions. As insurance coverage has shrunk during the coronavirus pandemic, partially due to the massive amount of lay-offs, the Biden administration hopes to expand options for Americans especially those who have had COVID-19 or are more susceptible to contracting the virus. One of the orders signed Thursday will immediately reverse the federal policy Mexico City Policy which bars taxpayer money from being used for international health care nonprofits that abortion counseling or referrals. He will also instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to consider rescinding Trump's regulations barring federally funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions. The healthcare initiatives from Biden come as millions of Americans have either lost or been limited in their coverage options in the fallout from the coroanvirus pandemic The ban on referrals led to Planned Parenthood clinics leaving the program. The last action, and several other health and healthcare-related directives Biden plans to issue Thursday, could take months to carry out. He will order HHS to reexamine a Trump administration policy that allows states to impose work requirements as a condition for low-income people to get Medicaid health insurance. Work requirements have been blocked by federal judges, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the issue. Biden also wants the department to review policies that could undermine protections for people with health problems, including a Trump administration rule that facilitated the sale of short-term health insurance plans that aren't required to cover preexisting medical conditions. The abortion-related actions will bring Biden immediate praise from women's rights groups, as well as condemnation from social and religious conservatives. Under Trump's administration, pro-life advocates were able to work with the White House to try and rewrite federal policy related to the controversial issue. The political pendulum is swinging back now that a Democrat sits in the Oval Office. Biden also campaigned on repealing longstanding federal prohibitions against taxpayer funding for abortion, but a change of that magnitude to a group of laws known as the Hyde Amendment would require congressional approval. The regulatory changes Biden is asking federal health officials to undertake aren't likely to happen overnight because hastily written rules are more easily overturned in court, as the Trump administration found out. Time and again, federal judges ruled that Trump officials ran roughshod over legal requirements for regulators, such as demonstrating they've considered all sides of an issue. The idea of reopening Obamacare's health insurance markets has broad support, including from consumer groups, professional medical associations, insurers and business organizations. Although the number of uninsured Americans has grown because of job losses in the coronavirus economy, the Trump administration resisted calls to reopen HealthCare.gov. Failure to repeal and replace Obamacare as he repeatedly vowed to do was one of the former president's most bitter disappointments. His administration continued trying to find ways to limit the program or unravel it entirely. A Supreme Court decision on Trump's final legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act is expected this year. Since taking office one week ago, Biden has signed dozens of executive orders many related to the COVID-19 crisis The Obama-era health care law covers more than 23 million people through a mix of subsidized private insurance sold in all states, and expanded Medicaid adopted by 38 states, with Southern states being the major exception. Coverage is available to people who don't have job-based health insurance, with the Medicaid expansion geared to those with low incomes. Of some 28 million uninsured Americans before the pandemic, the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated that more than 16 million were eligible for some form of subsidized coverage through the health law. Experts agree that the number of uninsured people has risen because of layoffs in the coronavirus economy, perhaps by 5 million to 10 million, but authoritative estimates await government studies due later this year. The special sign-up opportunity is only a down payment on health insurance for Biden, who has promised to build on Obama's health law to push the U.S. toward coverage for all. For that, the president would need congressional approval, and opposition to the Affordable Care Act still runs deep among Republicans. A reporter was threatened with arrest Wednesday night after trying to ask QAnon Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene a question at her town hall meeting in Dalton, Georgia. Meredith Aldis of WRCB-TV, NBC's Chattanooga affiliate, was approached by a Whitfield County sheriff's deputy and threatened with 'criminal trespass' after yelling a question at Greene. Greene is under fire for previous Facebook posts, where she indicated support for executing prominent Democrats, and a viral video that shows her harassing Parkland school shooting survivor and gun control activist, David Hogg. A reporter was threatened with arrest Wednesday night for shouting a question at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was holding a town hall in Dalton, Georgia Law enforcement and a member of Greene's staff had a TV crew from WRCB-TV removed after reporter Meredith Aldis (left) shouted a question at the Georgia Republican Journalists were invited to the Dalton, Georgia town hall for Greene, but once they arrived were told not to talk to anyone nor ask questions 'I'm talking to my constituents, we're not having a press ...,' Greene said, immediately segueing back to the questions she was answering from notecards. Footage of the event shows a member of Greene's staff chiding the TV news crew and a law enforcement officer ushering them out. WRCB-TV reported that Greene's office had invited members of the media to attend the town hall, but once at the venue, reporters were told not to talk to anybody and questions wouldn't be allowed. Aldis had tried to ask Greene about her controversial social media posts, as well as a resolution introduced by California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez to expel the Georgia Republican from Congress. A member of Greene's team told the journalists they had 'caused a disturbance.' Greene has previously shown support for the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, which centers on the ex-president making moves against a Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic, child sex trafficking ring filled with Democratic politicians and prominent liberals. Then on Tuesday, CNN found that in Facebook posts from 2018 and 2019, prior to Greene's Congressional run, she had liked comments that expressed violence toward Democrats. Greene had liked a post that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In an April 2018 post of Greene's on the Iran nuclear deal, Greene responded to a commenter who asked her, 'Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???,' the individual asked, referring to former President Barack Obama and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 'Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off,' Greene replied. As this story was unfolding, a video of Greene following Hogg across the Capitol Hill campus started going viral. The video showed Greene asking Hogg why he supported 'red flag laws that attack our Second Amendment.' During the 2-minute long video, Greene charges Hogg with 'using kids as a barrier' and taking money from George Soros. 'If school zones were protected with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings, did you know that?' she tells Hogg. Greene had previously labeled the Parkland shooting a 'false flag' operation. On Wednesday, a video went viral that showed now Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (back left and right) following Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg (left) around Capitol Hill's campus, chiding him for his support of gun control measures House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after House GOP leadership for assigning Greene to the Education committee after she's previously suggested mass shootings like Parkland and Sandy Hook were 'staged' 'Take her Committee assignments away,' Hogg recommended, while some House Democrats called on her to resign. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after the House GOP's leadership during her Thursday press briefing for putting Greene on the House education committee after the Georgia Republican had sowed doubt about the Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings actually happening. 'What could they be thinking? Or is thinking too generous a word for what they might be doing. It's absolutely appalling and I think that the focus has to be on the Republican leadership of this House of Representatives for the disregard they have for the death of those children,' Pelosi said. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's office initially said in a statement that the House GOP leader would 'have a conversation' about Greene's 'deeply disturbing' comments, referring to CNN's report on her Facebook posts. In 2019, McCarthy stripped now ex-Rep. Steve King of his committee assignments for sharing white supremacist views. King predicted in an interview with The Dispatch last year that McCarthy would use the threat of similar punishments to keep lawmakers like Greene in line. 'Hell hang the sin that he committed against me out in front of her like the sword of Damocles,' King said then. Hillary Clinton, who was a target in one of Greene's Facebook comments, tweeted Wednesday, 'This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress.' HONG KONG, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global leaders and experts agree that China and the United States remains the world's most crucial relationship, and the two must work together to combat global challenges. During a three day virtual forum "US-China Relations: The Way Forward", hosted by the China-U.S. Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), speakers examined the new and existing global challenges facing U.S.-China relations and the key areas that the two countries will need to focus on including fighting COVID-19, climate change, and cybersecurity. 2020 was a year of unprecedented turmoil. The pandemic sent humanity a message: the world is fundamentally changing, and the U.S. and China are more successful combating these challenges together rather than apart. The high level forum gathered panelists including Carlos Gutierrez, Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Zeng Peiyan, Chairman of CCIEE, Yasuo Fukuda, Former Prime Minister of Japan, Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in Physics & Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee & Chairman of the China United States Exchange Foundation, amongst over 40 other senior business leaders, current and past government officials, and renowned scholars. The ongoing U.S.-China trade war along with the fiscal hardships exacerbated by the pandemic is expected to plunge the world into a recession unlike anything seen since World War II. The distinguished speakers asked to reconsider the rhetoric issued by leaders, noting COVID-19 is a virus not isolated by borders. Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Myron Brilliant stated that COVID-19 is not a U.S. pandemic, nor a Chinese pandemic, but rather a global emergency that will be eradicated only by collaboration and contribution from the world's two biggest and most innovative economies. Economic and trade experts attested for a dire need to salvage and redefine the complex U.S.-China relationship, predicting that collaboration could hasten economic recovery. Xu Bu, President of the China Institute of International Studies, acknowledged that the U.S. and Chinese economies are more complementary than competitive, and should act accordingly. Only through allowing transparency and partnership will scientists be able to continue to make significant progress in areas imperative to global health that include research and development, the COVID-19 vaccine, and prevention of future pandemics. Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Philip H. Knight Professor Emeritus of Management in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, analyzed how the Trump administration's efforts to isolate China involuntarily compelled China to begin transforming themselves, accelerating the shift of the global economy to Asia. "Whether it is short term or long term, this kind of pressure put on Chinese companies forced them to innovate themselves, and they became the true winners. Just like the U.S. wants to invest in China, Chinese companies want to invest in the United States," Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at CCIEE Zhang Xiaoqiang observed. While many admired the transformation, it is essential for both countries to be more inclusive and re-establish people to people exchanges, as partnerships could lead to beneficial advancements in areas of education, tourism, civil institutions, and think tanks. According to the President of the National Committee on United States-China Relations Stephen Orlins, "people to people relationships are the foundation of our political relationship. It's going to determine how and whether that relationship creates a more secure and prosperous world." To do this, he recommended both China and the U.S. open its borders to each other on every level. This includes reopening the consulates in Houston and Chengdu and restoring the U.S. Fulbright Program in China, which David Firestein, President and CEO of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations reaffirmed. Aside from the pandemic, we continue to face other world challenges such as terrorism, natural disasters, and climate change. Competition is healthy both in technology and science, but ultimately, these areas should be based on rules and directed towards positive results that benefit all. Technology lies at the heart of all these challenges and will play an integral part in finding the solutions. Among the speakers who asserted the importance of cooperation and honest exchange in the technology discussion, there were six business leaders of large corporations in China who participated. "Not just by words, but by deeds," proclaimed former U.S. Ambassador to China and former U.S. Senator from Montana, Max Baucus. In his opinion, it will be difficult for students and politicians to visit China until each country indicates to the other the fact that they want to work with each other by actions. Yet, hope is on the horizon. Though the future of the U.S.-China relationship remains uncertain, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs Wang Chao expressed his confidence in the foundation of U.S.-China relations "built through our joint efforts over generations." Mr. Wang added that goodwill shall remain unchanged and optimism will prevail regarding people to people exchanges. Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee & Chairman of the China United States Exchange Foundation, ended the forum on a positive note: "Indeed, our many speakers and panelists have pointed out what should be done. If I were to summarize their thoughts expressed in these three days...return to the dialogue table, restore respect and trust, allow competition and cooperation to coexist. Let's work together now. The road is not easy, but together we will find a way." Note to Editors: About the China - United States Exchange Foundation The China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental foundation committed to the belief that a positive and peaceful relationship between the strongest developed nation and the most populous, fast-developing nation is essential for global wellbeing. Founded in Hong Kong in 2008 and privately funded, CUSEF builds platforms to encourage constructive dialogue and diverse exchanges between the people of the U.S. and China. For more information please visit https://www.cusef.org.hk/ . About the China Center for International Economic Exchanges Founded on March 20th, 2009, China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), is a social organization and a new type of think tank, registered with and approved by the relevant authorities of the Chinese government. Guided by the philosophy of "Originality, Objectivity, Rationality and Compatibility", CCIEE aims to serve national development, improve people's welfare and promote exchanges and cooperation by conducting research on strategic and economic issues both at home and abroad, developing international exchanges and cooperation and providing consulting services and intellectual support to the government and business in decision making. For more information, visit www.cciee.org.cn . Media contact: CUSEF [email protected] SOURCE China-United States Exchange Foundation Related Links https://www.cusef.org.hk 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. Dubai Global Connect (DGC), a one-million-sq-m B2B wholesale market, has announced the official opening of the DGC Visitor Centre, the first building to open officially within the megaproject. DGC, a key initiative of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) finalised construction of its Visitor Centre in October last year as per schedule. Designed by Rome-based Studio Fuksas, the building is an architectural masterpiece located in Dubai South, between Al Maktoum Airport and Jebel Ali Port. The rest of the wholesale market is expected to be delivered in phases, with the first phase consisting of 400,000 sq m of dedicated trade facilities including on-site storage, boutique offices, an innovation hub and a smart service centre housing third party service providers. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by Mohammed Al Shaibani, Managing Director of the ICD in the presence of Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Majid Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber. Cindy Morris, CEO of the Dallas Market Centre, with whom DGC signed a strategic alliance in 2020, also flew to Dubai from Dallas to attend the ceremony. Other principals from DGC, the ICD and Dubai South also took part. Al Shaibani said: "Throughout history, Dubai's strategic location forged a rich legacy of commerce for the city, continued global ambition and a decisive role in international trade. DGC was initiated by ICD to build on this history of trade and we look forward to welcoming traders from around to the world to our Visitor Centre from today onwards." DGC is set to welcome visitors to the purpose-built, 4,000-sq-m Visitor Centre where it will showcase the DGC ecosystem of services and products as a catalyst of growth for their business. DGC has created small-scale markets as part of this unique Visitor Centre experience where an initial selection of traders in Furniture & Living, Food, and Fashion will display their product ranges, he stated. Douraid Zaghouani, COO of ICD and Chairman of DGC, said: "We have always planned for the DGC Visitor Centre to be operational throughout Expo2020, and we are proud to announce its completion as scheduled." "Our vision for this space goes beyond promoting DGC and extends to providing a platform for trade to thrive while we work towards completing the remainder of the DGC wholesale market and surrounding ecosystem," he added.-TradeArabia News Service This is a Tribute: We Remember Iris Marie Laurent Stanford Iris Stanford worked in the Classified section department for the Sentinel for over two decades and over that time, she became the heart of a community. She served as the Classifieds Specialist for the Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times Newspaper. Anyone who did business, whether it was a DBA, an ad, or renting a roomyou went to Iris. In many ways, she was the mother of the Sentinel office, checking you when needed, loving on you always and laughing with you all the time. Unfortunately, we lost Iris to complications from COVID-19 on January 3, leaving many heartbroken family members and friends. Iris has worked with many here at the Sentinel and everybody had love for her. Here are some words from her family and those who have worked with her over the years. Iris will always be cherished and considered a legend at the Sentinel. Her work ethic and commitment to community and family set the tone in the office for so many years. I am honored to have worked alongside her and experienced her beautiful spirit. Brandon I. Brooks, LA Sentinel Managing Editor ADVERTISEMENT Iris was such a ray of sunshinefull of life. She knew how to make the best of any situation. I admired how she loved her family and life in general. She will be greatly missed, especially her positive loving disposition. Rest in Peace Iris Laurent!!! Tracy Mitchell, President Mothers In Action Iris was a mother figure to me during my time at the Sentinel. She always gave the best advice about friends and no good men. We had many great moments talking in the early morning before my shift. I will never forget the impact she had on me as a young woman navigating my way through life.Kimberlee Buck-Hayes, L.A. Sentinel Staff Writer. Iris was a joy to be around, she would always bring an abundance of positivity into the Sentinel office day-after-day. I got to know her because she would talk to me during my lunch breaks. Iris was so fun-loving and ready to get involved in the Taste of Videos the staff would make and the cook-offs we did at Christmas time. She was so supportive and welcoming; Iris was ready to party. Amanda Scurlock, L.A. Sentinel Sports Writer There are so many good things to say about Iris! I have been knowing Iris for over 35 years, since the Sentinel was on 43rd and Central. We became family; she made sure her kids called me uncle. I made sure my daughter called her auntie. Once my wife met her, she loved Iris too. This is really a sad moment in our lives. God lent us an angel. Her memorial was meaningful and the turnout of people who came to honor her life was great to experience! Iris, you truly will be missed but never forgotten. We will see you again. Love Always. Thomas Dorsey, L.A. Sentinel Distribution & Facilities Manager The only thing that comes to mind about Iris is that she is a legend. Shes my she-ro. Alan Braxton, L.A. Sentinel Copy Editor Iris was always there to listen and give advice. She was a friend and I loved her. What can I say? Jennifer Bihm, L.A. Sentinel Staff Writer You wont get many chances to meet someone who is genuine, kind and loving, so take advantage of knowing someone like that. I did with Iris and it only added to my life. Im so blessed to have worked with her and called her friend. Until we meet again on that wonderful day, rest in peace Iris. Brian W. Carter, L.A. Sentinel Staff Writer ADVERTISEMENT There is so much to say about Iris. The life she possessed, the presence she provided and the energy that filled the room when she was in it, brought so much warmth and comfort. She felt like family away from home. There was always some type of wisdom that Iris provided over the 6 years we worked together. Id have some type of life happening going on, sometimes I wouldnt even speak out loud what I was thinking and Iris somehow still always had something calming to say. Iris was a fighter. When I first began working at the L.A. Sentinel, Id heard about her battle with breast cancer and I remember thinking how did this smiley and sweet woman go through so much and have such a lighthearted view of life? I think that was the point. Iris wasnt going to let any temporary situation or hardship bring her down. She had way too much life to enjoy; she truly was the life of the party. I remember a lot of our conversations, she would talk about her children and grandchildren, always pulling up a video of her grandkids dancing. It always warmed my heart to see how much she loved them all. Iris, thank you for all of the advice you gave me. You watched me grow up in my 20s at the office and you were always sweet to me, especially when I needed it the most. There were some really rough days and Iris sweet presence just made the day feel lighter. I will honor Iris by doing the same in my life keeping everything lighthearted. Rest in heavenly peace angel. Nicole Williams Assistant to the COO Iris had such a beautiful, positive spirit that always improved my day whenever I encountered her. She definitely left an indelible mark on all who knew her and a wonderful legacy we will always remember. Cora Jackson Fossett, LA Sentinel Staff Writer Iris we laughed together, talked about our personal live together, entertainment (she loved going to concerts) and was like a mother. Iris was an exceptional lady and fun to be around! Partied like a Rock Star! I will truly miss Mrs. IrisR.I.H. my Dear! Clifford Russell, L.A. Sentinel Sales Executive Iris, Kennedy and I will always remember your kind words. You were always excitement for him. That smile and your zest for life will stay with us forever. Rest well, Iris, and say hi to my mom for me. Tamela Mitchell, Executive Assistant to the Chairman / CEO Iris and I spoke every Sunday; I will miss those conversations. Iris, I love and miss you. Angela Howard, L.A. Sentinel Family Editor & Graphic Designer When I think of Iris, I recall her kindness, her smile and her wonderful personality. She was certainly one of the nicest persons I had ever met, and Im glad to have known her. My sincere condolences and prayers are with her family. Sam Richard Iris, I will always remember the fun times we had in the Sentinel office. I would bring my computer in your office just so we could sit there and talk about nothing. So many hysterical moments to mention, but watching you dance in the hallway and learning from your work ethic and memories I will forever cherish. I brought you two Iris plants because you loved them so. I will forever be grateful for taking photos of you. You always demanded I shoot your good side. Lol You never let life get you down. Your retirement party was epic. I will never forget your Hey, Bae! I love you, Iris. E. Mesiyah McGinnis Every time I came into the Sentinel, she always greeted me with respect and a smile on her face. We became lunch buddies. On my way to the Sentinel on Fridays, I would call her to ask what she wanted for lunch. Me, Clifford and her would order lunch, he would pay and I would go and pick it up, sometimes, I would just treat her just because. We worked the Taste of Soul; I was able to share somethings about my life. She always said God got you girl, dont worry. You are truly missed, my Iris, my friend, co-worker and lunch buddy. Karen Johnson Iris was the first person to greet me with a big smile after our family bought the Sentinel and I was sent to figure things out (smile). I will always remember Iris to be helpful, thoughtful, caring, and nurturing to me, everyone on staff, and to every customer who walked into our office. Iris was loved by her community. She has left an indelible impression on my heart. Thank you, Iris, for being who you were and will always be a loving person. Pamela Bakewell, Executive Vice President & COO, The Bakewell Company Iris Sanford was a proud mother, grandmother and a wonderful friend and colleague to so many. She will be dearly missed. Rest in Peace, Iris. 01/27/2021 The JSU monolith on the lawn of the newly named Angle Hall. In addition to the newly renamed Angle Hall, the JSU Board of Trustees passed resolutions on Jan. 26 honoring several alumni and faculty for their contributions to the university. JSU's newly renovated and rededicated Mason Hall home of the David L. Walters Department of Music features four newly named rooms. The Leslie and Faye Cotney Vocal Studio Late alumnus Maj. Gen. William Russell Cotney and his wife, Deborah, paid tribute to his parents' love of music by naming the Mason Hall vocal studio in their honor through a generous gift to the music department. Late alumnus Maj. Gen. William Russell Cotney and his wife, Deborah, paid tribute to his parents' love of music by naming the Mason Hall vocal studio in their honor through a generous gift to the music department. The Dr. Patricia Corbin Faculty Lounge The new faculty lounge in Mason Hall will bear the name of longtime music faculty member Dr. Patricia Corbin, who served nearly 20 years as director of choral activities until her death in 2018. Her sister, Dr. Pamela Corbin, bestowed a generous gift to the university in her honor. The new faculty lounge in Mason Hall will bear the name of longtime music faculty member Dr. Patricia Corbin, who served nearly 20 years as director of choral activities until her death in 2018. Her sister, Dr. Pamela Corbin, bestowed a generous gift to the university in her honor. The Dr. Susie Francis Dempsey Piano Studio The piano studio in Mason Hall will be named for retired faculty member Dr. Susie Francis Dempsey, who donated a 1924 Steinway Grand Piano to the Department of Music for use by music students and faculty. The piano studio in Mason Hall will be named for retired faculty member Dr. Susie Francis Dempsey, who donated a 1924 Steinway Grand Piano to the Department of Music for use by music students and faculty. The Jimmy Hixon Clarinet Studio The clarinet studio in Mason Hall will be named for JSU alumnus Jimmy Hixon, who played clarinet in the Marching Southerners and remains a loyal and committed supporter of the university. "We are excited to recognize valued faculty and alumni who continue to support our excellent music program and the students who choose to study music at JSU," said Dr. Staci Stone, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities. "In the past year, we have named about eight spaces in Mason Hall and at the Marching Southerners' practice field to honor our donors. The funds raised directly impact our students." The Board of Trustees also recognized alumnus Ken Howell and his wife Jenny for serving as co-chairs of the "Deeply Rooted, Future Driven" capital campaign recently completed. It brought in $56.6 million in donations to the university over the past seven years, vastly exceeding its initial goal of $35.1 million. The new auditorium in the School of Business and Industry building to be opened this fall will be named The Kenneth and Jenny Howell Auditorium in honor of their numerous contributions to the university. For more information on naming opportunities on campus, contact University Development at 256-782-5003. For each member company, DivInc provides over $100K value in entrepreneur education and support programming, hundreds of hours of executive mentorship, and life-time access to its community and network, all at no cost to founders. "DivInc is about broadening the startup ecosystem by making it more authentically diverse, equitable and inclusive of underrepresented entrepreneurs," says Preston James, CEO at DivInc . "When we, as a community, do this successfully, we optimize our opportunities for economic GDP growth, we can help reduce racial/gender wealth divide, and drive greater innovation." DivInc Houston's first accelerator program is also now accepting applications for its spring 2021 accelerator , focused on innovative solutions that can leverage 5G technology, like IoT, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, Ecommerce and much more. To make the expansion possible, DivInc's Platinum sponsor for the Houston market JPMorgan Chase & Co. granted DivInc $250K for this partnership, enabling DivInc to begin hiring with competitive salaries - paramount for nonprofit organizations to thrive, and the spring 2021 program title sponsor Verizon granted $175K to implement the program and provide non-dilutive seed funding to each participating company. This is the first time DivInc will be able to offer seed funding to participants directly. In addition, Verizon will provide technical expertise regarding next generation technology such as 5G and mentorship to participating companies. "We have supported and seen first-hand the impactful work of DivInc in Austin," said Carolyn Watson, head of philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Houston and Central Texas. "Theirs is a powerful model of support for entrepreneurs of color, helping them to accelerate growth and expand their business networks. We are convinced DivInc will make an important contribution to Houston's economic vitality." "As part of our larger Citizen Verizon responsible business plan, we're proud to partner with DivInc and other organizations that connect diverse technology entrepreneurs with crucial resources to develop innovative solutions and advance their businesses," said Carrie Hughes, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Verizon. Strategic partner, The Ion , is DivInc Houston's headquarters through 2023 and secured $605K over three years for DivInc to run their world-class programming at the new, nearly 280,000 square foot entrepreneurial space in midtown Houston. "Houston is sprinting to boost the city's tech and innovation ecosystem, and DivInc is an organization that will help us take another significant step toward building a global hub for excellence in innovation. Their expansion into Houston and specifically into The Ion aligns with my focus on opportunity, diversity, and inclusivity to move Houston forward. The success of DivInc means more people of color and more women will grow their own companies. That is something we all should celebrate," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. With the expansion into Houston, DivInc welcomes Ashley DeWalt as Managing Director of DivInc Houston and Joy M. Hutton, Program Director for DivInc Houston. With their Houston leadership team in place, DivInc is ready to open its virtual doors. About DivInc Founded in 2016, DivInc is a nonprofit organization focused on championing diversity, equity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem by fostering the growth and development of underrepresented founders. DivInc offers programs including a 12-week accelerator for early-stage startups and builds partnerships with local government and non-government entities to drive systemic change. The 12-week accelerator program helps founding teams ensure their companies are built for success. DivInc provides world class, comprehensive programming and connects founders with an extensive network of mentors and investors, and the critical resources they need to turn their idea into a high-growth, scalable company. DivInc is headquartered in Austin, TX. To learn more or to get involved, please visit: https://www.divinc.org/ . View its FY 2019-2020 Impact Report at https://www.divinc.org/s/DivInc-Impact-Report-FY-2019-2020.pdf Media Contact: Jennifer R. Gooding Narwhal Media Group [email protected] Cell: 310.927.1829 SOURCE DivInc - UK car manufacturing output falls -29.3% in 2020 to 920,928 units, the lowest total since 1984. - Production for UK and overseas markets declines -30.4% and -29.1% but more than eight in 10 cars still head abroad. - Latest independent outlook forecasts car output to reach one million units in 2021, but much depends on Covid recovery, market confidence and new cross-channel rules. LONDON, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UK car production declined -29.3% in 2020, to 920,928 units, according to the latest figures issued today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). December, output was down -2.3% to 71,403, with some firms affected by border closures and thus component supply issues. This rounded off a dreadful year, the worst since 1984 for UK car makers, with the pandemic chiefly responsible for the decline.[1] Manufacturing operations were severely disrupted throughout 2020, with lockdowns and social distancing measures restricting factory output, Brexit uncertainty continuing until Christmas Eve and depressed market demand in key export destinations. Production for overseas buyers fell -29.1% in the year, to 749,038 units, while output for the UK also fell in double-digits, down -30.4% to 171,890. Even amid the global pandemic, exports continued to drive UK car manufacturing, however, with more than eight in 10 of all cars made shipped overseas. Reinforcing the importance of avoiding 'no deal' tariffs with Europe, the EU remained the UK's biggest export destination, taking a 53.5% share, despite volumes falling -30.8% to 400,460 units. Elsewhere, trade with most of the UK's other key export partners declined in line with the tough market conditions resulting from the pandemic. Shipments to the US, Japan and Australia all fell, down -33.7%, -21.6% and -21.8% respectively. Exports to China, however, ended the year up 2.3%, and those to South Korea and Taiwan also rose 3.6% and 16.7% respectively as these nations travelled on different trajectories in dealing with Covid. Despite the gloom, the UK continued to rollout battery electric (BEV), plug-hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid vehicles (HEV) to buyers at home and around the world. Combined production of these models rose to 18.8% of all cars made in Britain, up from 14.8% a year before, with BEVs increasing to a 4.5% share, up from 3.4%. All told, the UK turned out 172,857 alternatively fuelled vehicles, with 79.6% of these exported, evidence of the country's existing capability in building the vehicles essential to a Net-Zero future. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, "These figures, the worst in a generation, reflect the devastating impact of the pandemic on UK automotive production, with Covid lockdowns depressing demand, shuttering plants and threatening lives and livelihoods. The industry faces 2021 with more optimism, however, with a vaccine being rolled out and clarity on how we trade with Europe, which remains by far our biggest market. "The immediate challenge is to adapt to the new conditions, to overcome the additional customs burdens and regain our global competitiveness while delivering zero emission transport. We will continue to work with Government to attract investment in battery production and supply chain transformation as we transition to smart and sustainable mobility, supporting jobs and driving economic growth nationwide." Meanwhile, the latest independent production outlook forecasts UK car production partly to recover in 2021 to one million units.[2] Much, however, will depend on the extent of Covid measures here and abroad and the speed with which showrooms can reopen. In addition, manufacturers are coming to terms with new trading arrangements between GB and the EU, arrangements that are much more complicated than previously, despite the avoidance of 'no deal'. With more onerous procedures to ensure customs compliance, the industry's ability to attract future investment - and increase volumes - depends on maintaining its competitiveness. 2020 saw 3.23 billion of automotive investment publicly announced for the UK, however over 80% of this amount was attributable to one company committing to a battery Gigafactory.[3] More commitments of this nature will be essential for the future of a sector that is the country's largest exporter of goods, turns over 78.9 billion annually and employs more than 180,000 people directly with many more across retail and other indirect sectors.[4] Notes to editors Output at lowest level since 1984 - 908,906 cars. Independent production outlook by AutoAnalysis January 2021 SMMT calculations based on new, publically announced investment decisions in 2020 covering genuine commitments to fresh spend on new product, tooling, equipment or facilities. SMMT Motor Industry Facts 2020 - https://www.smmt.co.uk/reports/smmt-motor-industry-facts-2020/ Hi-res charts available via Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/egywnc6brz9csjl/AAB4UgUFvQvH_gU_RXyphPtva?dl=0 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427216/UK_car_production_2020_table.jpg INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Department of Health today announced that 2,260 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 617,176 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous days dashboard. A total of 9,470 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 40 from the previous day. Another 375 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by the state and occurred over multiple days. Indiana COVID-19 Dashboard & Map To date, 2,920,127 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 2,912,183 on Tuesday. A total of 6,830,296 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020. To find testing sites around the state, click here. Hoosiers age 70 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and first responders, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 477,326 Hoosiers have received the first dose of vaccine, and 112,855 are fully vaccinated. To schedule, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211. The state and its partners are adding more locations for you to get vaccinated including select Meijer, Kroger, & Walmart pharmacies across the state. Vigo Countys three Kroger locations are included. All locations will show up on the state's vaccination website. It's important to note Meijer and Kroger will have their own appointment sign-up areas on their websites. MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park casinos are still not drawing big enough crowds to bump up against the states 25% capacity limit. But Bruce Band, assistant director and gaming agents division chief for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said Thursday he expects crowds to grow as the states three resort style casinos resume 24-hour-a-day operation. He said three hours between 9 p.m. and midnight are prime gambling hours. I think youll see the numbers up quite a bit, he said during the state Gaming Commission regular January meeting Thursday. Especially this weekend. In the last month, MGM Springfields highest occupancy was 18%, Encore 17% and Plainridge $18.5%, Band said. MGM Springfield returns to 24-hour operation on Friday. Encore and Plainridge both returned to 24-hour operation Wednesday. Gov. Charlie Baker imposed a 9:30 p.m. curfew on most businesses in December and lifted the restriction as of Monday. Band giving his regular monthly report said the casinos are recalling furloughed workers to staff up, citing Encores recall of 500 employees. He didnt give a number for MGM Springfield or Plainridge. Encore said it would furlough between 600 and 1,000 employees after the curfew was announced. MGM Springfield laid off an additional 250 employees in November. Encore will reopen restaurants and its spa, Band said. MGM will keep its South End Market food court operating but wont open additional restaurants until the reopening process moves further along, Band said. The 25% occupancy limit is in place until at least Feb. 8, Commissioners were told Thursday. The state also bans food on the gaming floor and wont let patrons move around with drinks. They must be seated at a gaming station to drink. MGM Springfield has instituted a seven-point safety plan, which includes employee health checks, mask requirements, social distancing, enhanced sanitation and air quality controls. Business at MGM Springfield and the other two resort casinos recovered in December, generating about $50 million in gross gaming revenue in December 2020. The three casinos reported about $45 million in gross gambling revenue for the month of November. Related content: The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Berkshire Community College will participate in a state pilot program to help unhoused students enroll in college and pursue degrees. Managing Editor Rebecca Huntington has worked for newspapers across the West. She hosts a rescue podcast, The Fine Line. Her family minivan doubles as her not-so-high-tech recording studio. Moscow court to proceed with graft case against ex-police colonel Zakharchenko in February RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 15:01 28/01/2021 MOSCOW, January 28 (RAPSI) Moscows Presnensky District Court has scheduled a preliminary hearing of the 1.4 billion-ruble ($19 million) bribery case against convicted ex-police colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko and his three alleged accomplices for February 2, RAPSI has learnt in the courts press service. Investigation into the case was completed earlier this month. Other defendants in the case are Valery Markelov, Vasily Kritinin and Victor Belevtsov. Depending on their alleged role in the crime they are charged with receiving a bribe, mediation in bribery and bribegiving. Three other personal allegedly involved are on the international wanted list. According to the investigation, between 2007 and 2016, Zakharchenko systematically received bribes from an organized group controlling several companies not involved in real business activities but managed funds deposited on their bank accounts by conducting illegal bank transactions for their purpose. In total, Zakharchenko received over 1.4 billion rubles in bribes, investigators claim. In June 2019, Zakharchenko was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison and a 117 million-ruble (about $1.7 million) fine after he had been found guilty of corruption charges and obstruction of justice. The former policeman still does not admit guilt. However, the court acquitted him of an $800,000 bribery count. The court held that these charges against the defendant were not proven. Investigators claimed that in 2014 Zakharchenko and his accomplice initiated audit of restaurant business. The check was completed when Zakharchenko received $800,000 from a businessman, they insisted. Ex-Russian anti-corruption official was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at his sisters apartment law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles ($123 million at the current exchange rate). He denied any relation to the seized funds. Biden tells Jesuit group he'll raise refugee ceiling to 125,000 annually Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Presumptive president-elect Joe Biden told a Jesuit charity group that when he's in office, he'll raise the refugee resettlement cap to 125,000 people, reversing a trend among the Trump administration. Biden spoke of his plans to raise the refugee resettlement ceiling to the highest numbers ever in a video message to the Jesuit Refugee Service on Wednesday in honor of the organization's 40th anniversary. During his remarks to the JRS, Biden said he believed every society is ultimately judged by how we treat those most in need. The United States has long stood as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and the oppressed, a leader in resettling refugees and our humanitarian response, said Biden. I promise, as president, I will reclaim that proud legacy for our country. The Biden-Harris administration will restore Americas historic role in protecting the vulnerable and defending the rights of refugees everywhere and raising our annual refugee admission target to 125,000. Biden went on to say that immigrants and refugees are working on the frontiers of this devastating pandemic, as doctors, nurses, researchers, farm workers. Were a safer, stronger, better country because of their contributions, continued Biden. Together we must all work toward a more resilient, inclusive, and hopeful future for our world. Giulia McPherson, director of Advocacy and Operations at JRS, said in a statement emailed to supporters on Thursday that she supported the decision. That he chose to make this announcement with us tonight is an indication that Biden is following his faith when it comes to American policy to protect and welcome refugees, stated McPherson. Not only is it exciting that the United States will once again welcome refugees at a historically high number, but it is also significant that we are hearing the president-elect speak in the language of social justice about the rights of refugees and our call as people of faith and as Americans to accompany them to safety. Under the Trump administration, the annual rate of resettlement has been lowered every year, with the cap being put at its lowest level last month for fiscal year 2021. In a memorandum for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released last month, Trump set the ceiling at 15,000 refugees, a record low for a program that has existed since 1980. The admission of up to 15,000 refugees to the United States during FY 2021 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest, stated the memorandum. This refugee admissions ceiling incorporates more than 6,000 unused places from the FY 2020 refugee admissions ceiling that might have been used if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Many humanitarian groups, including the Evangelical Immigration Table, have expressed concern to the annual lowering of the cap by Trump. In recent years, however, the United States has not lived up to its ideals as the number of refugees welcomed into our country has plummeted due to policies that diminished the resettlement process, they stated last month. The United States cannot ignore the needs of displaced people around the world. We urge the Administration to return the refugee resettlement limit to historical levels so America can continue to be the beacon of liberty for all. Health Minister Heather Stefanson said the province has no plans to rescind the appointment of the chairman of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority board of directors after he travelled to Arizona earlier this month. Health Minister Heather Stefanson said the province has no plans to rescind the appointment of the chairman of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority board of directors after he travelled to Arizona earlier this month. Stefanson neither directly criticized nor defended the actions of Wayne McWhirter at a press conference Wednesday. WRHA Board Chair Wayne McWhirter visited the southern U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic against the advice of federal and provincial leaders and health officials. (WRHA website) Instead, she said that chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, Premier Brian Pallister and others have "been very clear that now is not the time for non-essential travel" and that McWhirter would be expected to "properly isolate" on his return home. "At this time we are not looking to rescind his appointment, no," Stefanson said when asked by the Free Press. Manitoba's opposition parties took a harsher stance in response to news that McWhirter had visited the southern U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic against the advice of federal and provincial leaders and health officials. The NDP said the Pallister government appointee should resign, and if he doesn't, the government should remove him. "He should consider, at the very minimum, extending a heartfelt and sincere apology to Manitobans," NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said Wednesday. Winnipeg Regional Health Authority board chairman in Arizona Click to Expand Arizona (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times files) Posted: 7:00 PM Jan. 26, 2021 The chairman of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority board of directors is in sunny Arizona, at a time when the health system is in crisis and governments are pleading with the public to avoid international travel. Reached by phone on Tuesday, Wayne McWhirter, a provincial government appointee, would not say how long he has been south of the border or why. Read Full Story "What we need to see is accountability. What we need to see are some actual consequences," Asagwara said. Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said McWhirter, who was appointed chairman of the WRHA board in 2019, "should be removed." Lamont said that as a key figure in the health system, McWhirter showed a lack of judgment in travelling to Arizona during the height of the pandemic. When Stefanson was asked Wednesday what message it sends when the head of a health care board ignores government and public health advice, she expressed no personal disappointment in McWhirter's actions. She gave no hint that there would be any consequences for the WRHA board chairman, who has donated money to the Progressive Conservative party in the past. The Free Press was unable to press the minister about whether she was upset at learning about McWhirter's trip or whether she planned to speak to him about it because reporters were limited to only two questions at the news conference. McWhirter could not be reached Wednesday to respond to opposition demands that he be removed from his position. Health Minister Heather Stefanson said that chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, Premier Brian Pallister and others have "been very clear that now is not the time for non-essential travel" and that McWhirter would be expected to "properly isolate" on his return home. Stefanson neither directly criticized nor defended the actions of Wayne McWhirter at a press conference Wednesday. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press) On Tuesday, he confirmed that he was in Arizona but would not say why he had travelled there or when he had arrived. Progressive Conservative MLA James Teitsma also made headlines recently when it was learned he and his family had gone on a driving trip to British Columbia over the holidays. The province's chief bureaucrat, David McLaughlin, was allowed to work from his Ottawa home during the last two weeks of December, while a senior PC political staffer was permitted to travel to eastern Canada as well. Asagwara noted Wednesday that Teitsma has yet to apologize for his indiscretion. While he was not initially punished, a Pallister spokeswoman said this week the Radisson MLA had been removed from one of the committees he previously served on. Lamont lamented the fact that some of the very people who should be trumpeting the message that Manitobans should stay home during the pandemic are not following the government's advice. "It's a two-tier pandemic where there's one set of rules for Pallister and his buddies and another set of rules for everybody else," he said. "And that's the worst possible thing you can be doing in a (one-in-) 100-year crisis." larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Motorolas midrange Moto G lineup has always offered competitive specs, clean software and decent battery endurance at an attractive price. The latest member of the lineup to come in our hands is the Moto G9 Power and it brings several improvements over its predecessor but somewhat questionable display resolution and camera choices. The new phone includes a larger and befitting its Power naming 6,000 mAh battery (largest yet on a Motorola) with 20W charging, as well as a new 64MP main camera compared to the 16MP shooter found on the Moto G8 Power. Then we get to the screen, it grew from 6.4 to 6.8 but the resolution went in the opposite direction from FHD+ on the G8 Power to HD+ on the G9 Power. We'll have to check how easy it is to live with that downgrade. Jumping around the back and another question mark arises. The G8 Power had an 8MP telephoto module and 8MP ultrawide snapper which are replaced by a pair of 2MP macro cam and 2MP depth sensor on the G9 Power. Why was this change needed? Go figure. At least you get double the storage on the G9 Power with 128GB while RAM is still capped at 4GB backed by the Snapdragon 662 chipset. The software side is covered by good old Android 10 with Motorolas My UX on top. The Moto G9 Power is an odd device, but well have our review team decide its verdict so stay tuned for the full review. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-28 17:56:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's State Minister of Money, Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal has said that the Sri Lankan government hopes to attract over 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) this year, local media reported here Thursday. Cabraal also told reporters on Wednesday that the Sri Lankan government has no plans to issue more International Sovereign Bonds and will instead focus on adjusting the ratio of foreign debt to local debt. "We have empowered small and medium business owners through our efforts. Instead of sovereign bonds we will attract foreign currency through different means," Cabraal was quoted as saying. Cabraal said that currency swaps with India and China as well as an upcoming legal framework for Colombo Port City will help attract foreign investment, according to the media report. Enditem Proactive's Mining Analyst, Dr Ryan Long catches up with Pan Asia Metals executive chairman and managing director, Paul Lock to discuss the company's progress since its IPO late last year and what the future holds. Pan Asia Metals Limited's ( ) is now well into the swing of public company life, with its shares having been traded on the ASX for four months. Following the completion of the initial public offering (IPO), Pan Asia wasted no time in commencing drilling at its Khao Soon Tungsten Project, located in Thailand. The first phase of drilling was to test a number of induced polarisation (IP) targets associated with strong tungsten anomalies that were located in proximity to areas of defined tungsten mineralisation. Ten holes have been completed at the Than Pho West Prospect totalling 828.2 metres (m), all of which intersected breccia zones confirming the companys geological model for the area. Initial spot hand-held XRF analysis of the core has indicated the presence of tungsten mineralisation over significant intercepts but assay results are required before the success of the drill programme can be fully assessed. These assay results are likely to be received during the first quarter of this year. Following the completion of drilling at Khao Soon, the companys drill rig was transported to Pan Asias Bang I Tum Lithium Project, to target lithium-bearing pegmatites up to 25m wide and associated dykes below an old pit that was previously mined for tin. The rig then moved on to the companys other lithium project, Reung Kiet, where drilling will target lepidolite rich pegmatites that were identified by the company in previous trenching programmes. Assay results from both the lithium projects are likely to be returned before the end of the first half of 2021, so there will be plenty of news flow from the company during the first half of the year. Looking out to the second half of the year we can probably expect another follow-up drill programme at Khao Soon, consisting of infill and extension drilling along strike and at depth. With the potential for additional drilling at its lithium projects. Depending on the results of these drill programmes, the company is targeting to have maiden resource estimates at two projects and hopes to be commencing work on scoping studies for the projects late in the year. In addition to this extensive exploration programme, Pan Asia continues to assess a number of potential acquisitions located in the Southeast Asia Region to build on its portfolio. I would rather see it become incorporated into the forest preserve, Betenia said. My second choice, if it had to be developed, would be to have something like the Chicago Symphony venue. At the beginning of January, the way we trade with Europe changed, and new rules now govern the way companies import and export to the continent. The UK Government has spent the past year making extensive preparations for the end of the transition period to ensure things go smoothly. It is important businesses also prepare, as those that don't could face serious disruption. Here's what you need to know if you trade with Europe: You now need to make customs declarations when exporting goods to the EU. You must have an EORI number starting with 'GB', check the new rules for importing and exporting goods, and be confident your goods meet origin rules before claiming preference. If exporting, the EU business you're exporting to must also be ready. If you're due to travel to the EU for work, you may need a visa or work permit. If you want to hire from outside the UK, you must be a Home Office licensed sponsor under the UK's new points-based immigration system. The new system doesn't include Irish citizens or EU citizens already living in the UK. You may need your UK professional qualification officially recognised if you want to work in a regulated profession in the EEA or in Switzerland. PREPARED FOR CHANGE When the main ingredient of your luxury popcorn can't be grown in Britain because of the weather, it's vital your precious supplies aren't interrupted. 'We wouldn't be able to make our popcorn if we couldn't import corn,' says Joe & Seph's co-founder Adam Sopher. 'And about 25 per cent of our sales are exports it's a big part of our current business.' Well stocked: Joe & Seph's co-founder Adam Sopher with parents Joe and Jackie So when they realised trading with the EU was changing, the family-run company contacted the Department for International Trade for help. 'Their international trade adviser was a great source of information on policy, rules and regulations,' says London-based Adam. 'We read up as much as we could, and we also spoke to our hauliers, logistics companies and suppliers. 'We built a good stock of products we import ahead of time we wanted to make sure we had enough and didn't get caught out by unseen delays.' They redesigned their packaging to include the new information needed, and made sure they had an EORI number and commodity codes for their goods. 'I'd strongly recommend companies that don't export or import as frequently are aware of the additional paperwork and have everything they need ready,' advises Adam. DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND With two thirds of their sales heading to Europe, it was vital that natural remedies company Naissance prepared for the end of transition. One of the biggest decisions for the Welsh company was to take on a customs agent to help with the new paperwork. Founder Jem Skelding explains: 'We used to do all our customs documentation and paperwork ourselves. But while we can get it right most of the time, that's not really good enough, because if you get it wrong, it delays things.' Paperwork help: Jem Skelding, founder of Naissance, took on an agent to assist him He advises other firms to ensure they're ready for the new rules. 'Don't bury your head in the sand. If you're struggling with it or finding it difficult, you're not alone there is help and advice. The UK Government website does have lots of useful information, particularly in regard to the checklist. 'I would say whenever there is substantial change, there are inevitably opportunities so try to see the positive in this.' START BY FOCUSING ON THE SMALL THINGS Change can be intimidating, but Jill Henry, co-founder of sustainable clothing shop Meander Apparel in Edinburgh, began by doing the easiest tasks first. 'Focusing on the small things was a good place to start, such as making sure that we had our EORI number,' she says. 'It's a case of going onto the UK Government's website but you need it if you're shipping abroad or to Northern Ireland.' 'We started with the small things': Steve and Jill Henry, founders of Meander Apparel After that they made sure they had the correct documentation, invoice information and changed the shopping terms on their website, increasing shipping costs to absorb extra costs. 'It's a case of finding someone who can explain it all to you,' says Jill. 'Finding people who can maybe simplify things makes it easier because it can seem a little bit daunting. But once you know what you are looking for it, becomes much easier.' Go to gov.uk/transition for a personalised list of actions. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Leaders of Farmers Unions like Samyukta Kisan Morcha, Bhartiya Kisan Union and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan have condemned the violence in Delhi-NCR on Republic Day and distanced themselves from the protest. As Delhi Police issues summons to individuals behind Red Fort Siege and the violence that took place at ITO and various parts of Delhi-NCR, the leaders of farmer unions, especially Sikh elders, have disassociated themselves from what transpired. In the wake of the violence, farmer bodies like Samyukta Kisan Morcha have condemned those who indulged in violence and alleged that some anti-social elements had infiltrated a rather peaceful movement. Followed by which, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (RKMS) also announced their withdrawal from the protests with immediate effect, stating that the format of this protest is unacceptable to them. Speaking to the reporters, VM Singh said that they are discontinuing from the agitation but their fight for farmers right will continue. He further added that he has nothing to do with the protest led and represented by Rakesh Tikait. BKU President Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh, on the other hand, stated that he is deeply pained to see the violence in Delhi and he is too withdrawing from the protest. Post RDay Tractor Rally parade, Delhi Police registered about 25 FIRs, detained 50 and arrested about 50 people. The names of Rakesh Tiktait, Yogendra Yadav and Deep Sidhu have also been included in the FIR. In a press conference held in the National Capital on Thursday, Delhi Police Commissioner S.N Shrivastava said that they wanted the rally to conclude peacefully. The violence happened because the terms and conditions of the tractor rally were not followed. Mike Sonko has said he will honour the summons by the DCI as he is ready to tell the world the truth about his earlier remarks on poll violence. The former Nairobi governor said he finds it absurd that police consider his remarks against Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho an offence of undermining the authority of a public officer. How ridiculous! It is also absurd that they consider what I said as amounting to incitement to violence, he said on Wednesday. When did speaking the truth become an offence? And when did public officers become immune to accountability to the people? Kenya is not a police state as we live in a democratic country, and nobody in Kenya is above the law, regardless of the office they hold, he stated. Sonko is set to appear at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters next week Monday. This after Kibicho recorded his statement this week, accusing Sonko of character assassination. Kibicho told the DCI that Sonkos remarks amounted to an admission of his involvement in a serious crime. As anticipated, yesterday I received summons to appear before the DCI over the facts I hold against Interior PS Karanja Kibicho and the role he played in financing violence and disorder before, during and after the 2017 general elections, Sonko said. Enzi za kutishatisha watu zilipita kitambo, na kila mfanyi kazi wa Serikali ana jukumu la kuwajibika. Tukutane mahakamani! Wapi wale ma bloggers wa OP wenye fake pseudo FB accounts wakupiga kelele ya chura, he added. Jeremy Corbyn yesterday lost the first round of his High Court battle against Labour for suspending the whip from him and now faces paying the partys legal costs. The former Labour leader is considering suing after he was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party for claiming anti-Semitism allegations were dramatically overstated. He is currently sitting as an independent but wants to be reinstated. However, a judge yesterday refused Mr Corbyns bid for Labour Party documents relating to his suspension to be disclosed. Jeremy Corbyn yesterday lost the first round of his High Court battle against Labour for suspending the whip from him and now faces paying the partys legal costs It is understood he believes they could reveal that meddling by opponents was behind his suspension . Labour responded to yesterdays ruling by saying it was regrettable that the courts time and party members money was spent on the issue, adding that it will seek to recover its costs. Mr Corbyn was suspended in October for his comments on anti-Semitism in Labour which came less than an hour after the Equality and Human Rights Commission published a report on the problem. His lawyers have told the High Court that his suspension was unlawful. In November he issued a public statement of clarification, saying concerns about anti-Semitism were neither exaggerated nor overstated. Mr Corbyn was suspended from Labour in October for claiming that the scale of anti-Semitism in the party was 'dramatically overstated for political reasons', but was reinstated weeks later. However, his successor Sir Keir Starmer blocked him from sitting as a Labour MP After a meeting of the disputes panel of Labours National Executive Committee (NEC) the same day, Mr Corbyn was issued with a formal warning and his suspension was lifted. But the following day, he was told he could not sit as a Labour MP. Earlier this month, Mr Corbyns lawyer Christopher Jacobs told the High Court that his suspension was unlawful and in breach of contract. Mr Jacobs claimed that Labour went behind an agreement to reinstate Mr Corbyn to the party at all levels as a result of political interference. He added that the MP needed pre-action disclosure ahead of his anticipated claim against the party. His lawyers requested the minutes of a meeting at which Mr Corbyn claims the party agreed to reinstate him at all levels. They also asked for any communications between Mr Corbyns successor as Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and fellow Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge or Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. But Judge Lisa Sullivan yesterday afternoon dismissed the former Labour leaders application, saying: Mr Corbyn has sufficient material to make a decision on the merits of his case. A Labour spokesman said: We welcome the courts decision. The Labour Party has always acted in line with our rules and procedures. It is regrettable that the courts time and our members money was spent on this matter. We look forward to drawing a line under this matter and uniting our party ahead of a vital set of elections. The spokesman confirmed that Labour Party will be seeking to recover its costs from Jeremy Corbyn for the legal expenses that it has incurred as a result of this application. South Africas first vaccines will arrive in the country on Feb. 1, signaling the start of an inoculation program that has been criticized for its tardiness. The first million of 1.5 million doses of the shot developed by AstraZeneca Plc and the University of Oxford and produced by the Serum Institute of India Ltd. have been cleared by South African regulators for use, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said at a press conference Wednesday. They will be ready for distribution 10 to 14 days later, he said. The campaign will prioritize 1.25 million health workers. The announcement comes amid widespread criticism of the governments failure to sign bilateral agreements with drugmakers in 2020. The government clinched the deal with Serum this month and is pursuing other talks as the World Health Organization-backed Covax program will only supply enough vaccines for 10% of South Africas 60 million people this year. As a country, for us to expect our first consignment of vaccines less than a year after the first case of Covid-19 was recorded is a massive achievement of unprecedented proportions, Mkhize said. Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE have also applied for registration of their vaccines in South Africa, according to a presentation by the health products regulator at the same press conference. Johnson & Johnson has submitted data under a so-called rolling review to accelerate approval when its trials are complete. Health Ministry and government department officials gave details of how the vaccines will be distributed and paid for at the press conference. South Africa has the most confirmed cases on the continent and a new, more transmittable variant of the virus has caused a sharp rise in infections in recent weeks. At least 57 countries worldwide have started inoculation campaigns. The slow start of vaccinations will result in the deaths of thousands of people and delay an economic recovery, said Matthew Parks, parliamentary coordinator for the Congress of South African Trade Unions, a 1.8 million-member group and key ally of the ruling African National Congress. Its extremely insensitive to the 500 lives lost daily, Parks said. Every day lost comes at a devastating impact in lives and jobs lost. It will make our recovery prolonged as other countries further ahead vaccinating will impose trade and travel restrictions on our already battered economy. T he shortest month of the year looks like its going to be packed full to the brim with excellent new music. Here are the albums you need to know about. Foo Fighters Medicine at Midnight (February 5) The 10th studio release from Dave Grohl and the gang came about in slightly spooky circumstances. The album was recorded in a 1940s California mansion and, according to the band, something wasnt quite right: guitars would mysteriously detune themselves, studio settings would go inexplicably awry and, after setting up a camera to see if there was anyone there or anyone was coming to f*** with us, the band started to see things on the Nest cam that we couldnt explain. Thats all well ever hear of it the owner of the house was in the process of selling it, and therefore made the band sign a non-disclosure agreement. Black Country, New Road For the first time (February 5) This hotly tipped seven-piece havent even dropped a full-length release yet, but theyve already shown a deep hunger for reinvention and expansion, pushing their guitar-based sound in directions that range from post-punk to klezmer. This debut album will feature reworked versions of two previously released tracks, as well as the twitchy, anxiously excellent lead single, Science Fair. Femi Kuti and Made Kuti Legacy + (February 5) The echoes of Fela Kutis Afrobeat, the genre he pioneered in 1970s Nigeria, can still be heard throughout popular music today. What that deep cultural history means to his son Femi and grandson Made will be explored in this double-album release. The classic sound is honoured throughout, but with plenty of modern influences bringing it into 2021. Slowthai TYRON (February 12) Northamptons Slowthai is no stranger to provocation from brandishing a fake model of Boris Johnsons severed head at the Mercury Prize ceremony, to those notorious outbursts at the NME Awards but on his upcoming album, hell show theres more than one side to him. Split into two parts, the first half will harness his lairy, crackling energy, while the second will be more introspective. James Blake, Skepta and A$AP Rocky are among the features. Sia Music: Songs From And Inspired By The Motion Picture (February 12) Sias directorial debut, Music, has received mixed reviews so far, with some criticising the way in which it portrayals autism through its lead character. The film arrives in the UK on February 15, and three days before that, the accompanying album will drop. There are some big names on the writing credits she collaborated with Jack Antonoff on Together, while Dua Lipa helped pen Saved My Life. Pale Waves Who Am I? (February 12) This Manchester four-piece are signed to Dirty Hit, which makes them labelmates with The 1975, and they certainly share that taste for sonic revivalism that Matty Healy and co. have become known for. This is their second album, and lead single Shes My Religion is a huge Noughties pop-rock throwback, as is the follow-up track Easy its great fun. SG Lewis Times (February 19) Serial collaborator SG Lewis has written, produced and featured with the likes of Dua Lipa, Dave, Ray BLK and Clairo, and now hes delivering his long-awaited debut album. It leads on from the success of summer smash Chemicals, with plenty of disco escapism and sharply produced dance music grooves. Tash Sultana Terra Firma (February 19) This Australian artists bewildering live show is something to behold, a show of layered instruments and loops that creates a one-person orchestra. That bold musical craft is something that will be pushed to new limits on Terra Firma, their second album, an album recorded during a period of introspection, away from hectic touring schedules and instead with space to think in their house in rural Victoria. Julien Baker Little Oblivions (February 26) ALBANY New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday released a searing report that found the state Department of Health underreported the deaths of nursing home residents related to the coronavirus by as much as 50 percent. The 76-page report follows a months-long investigation by James' office into allegations of patient neglect and other conduct that jeopardized the health and safety of residents and employees, including allegations that nursing homes failed to properly isolate residents who tested positive for COVID-19 and demanded sick employees continue to work or face retaliation or termination. Beyond the health department's undercounting of deaths, the investigation also found nursing homes' lack of compliance with infection-control protocols put residents at risk, and facilities that had lower pre-pandemic staffing had higher COVID-19 fatality rates. James' office said it is continuing to investigate the allegations and is conducting a deeper examination of practices at more than 20 nursing homes where reported conduct "presented particular concern." In a statement, James said "it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate. While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents." In early March 2020, the office began receiving complaints of COVID-related neglect; on April 23, the attorney general set up a hotline to take complaints of abuse and neglect. According to James' office, the hotline received 770 complaints through Aug. 3 and another 179 complaints through Nov. 16. The deeper investigations into specific nursing homes stem from preliminary findings including: Insufficient personal protective equipment for nursing home staff; Insufficient COVID-19 testing for residents and staff during the early stages of the pandemic that put residents at increased risk of harm; A state reimbursement model that gives a financial incentive to owners of for-profit nursing homes to transfer funds to related parties instead of investing in higher levels of staffing and equipment, instead increasing their bottom lines; Lack of nursing home compliance with an executive order requiring communication with family members. The report also found that New York's guidance from March requiring admission of COVID-19 patients into nursing homes may have increased the risk of COVID-19 infections at the congregate facilities a notion that was largely dismissed in a report by the Department of Health that was released in July. Lawmakers and epidemiologists alike have been skeptical of that report, which absolved Cuomo's administration of blame for thousands of nursing home deaths attributed to COVID-19. In particular, the DOH report discounted the impact of a controversial memo issued by the health agency in late March that disallowed nursing homes from denying admission or readmission to residents based solely on a positive or suspected COVID-19 diagnosis. If a COVID-19-positive patient at a hospital was medically stable and needed nursing home care, many nursing homes believed the directive required them to accept that person. The DOH guidance was retracted in early May, but the agency's July report concluded the deaths occurred because staff at the homes had brought the disease into the facilities months earlier, before the spread of coronavirus in the state was known. James' office, however, found the March 25 memo "may have led to increased risk to residents in some facilities." But the report notes that the same DOH guidance makes it difficult to know for sure, since it also prohibited nursing homes from requiring COVID-19 testing as a criterion for admission. "However, using the (DOH) publicized data, 4,000 nursing home deaths occurred after the issuance of the March 25 guidance, including some in 323 facilities that apparently had no reported COVID-19 infections before receiving admissions or re-admissions of hospital residents who had been diagnosed with COVID-19," James' report states. "While additional data and analysis would be required to ascertain the effect of such admissions in individual facilities, these admissions may have contributed to increased risk of nursing home resident infection, and subsequent fatalities." Several hours after the release of the attorney general's report, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker released a lengthy statement picking apart the attorney general's report and characterizing the finding that DOH undercounted deaths as a misnomer. "The word 'undercount' implies there are more total fatalities than have been reported; this is factually wrong," Zucker said. "In fact, the OAG report itself repudiates the suggestion that there was any 'undercount' of the total death number. The OAG's report is only referring to the count of people who were in nursing homes but transferred to hospitals and later died." Zucker said DOH is currently auditing data from nursing homes to get an accurate count of how many people have died in nursing homes versus in hospitals. Jim Clyne, CEO of LeadingAge New York, a group representing nonprofit and government-operated nursing homes, said James' report failed to grasp what was going on in the early months and days of the pandemic. "Her portrayal of testing and acquisition of PPE, I don't think was really on the mark," Clyne said. "You had members trying to buy PPE at exorbitant prices and they simply couldn't get it. I think the report makes it seem like members weren't really trying to buy it, and that's really not what was going on." Clyne said getting information on where a nursing home resident died will be welcomed, but doesn't answer the questions that need to be tackled. "We've spent an awful lot of time debating that point, and not nearly enough on the lack of ability to test and get PPE and what the state could do better when staffing got tough." Calls for the complete death data have been bipartisan: Democratic state Sen. James Skoufis, chair of the chambers Investigations Committee, warned on Monday that he would support using subpoena power to get answers on nursing home COVID-19 deaths ahead of a planned Feb. 3 hearing. The next day, the hearing was rescheduled from Feb. 3 to Feb. 25, at the request of the governor's office. While James' office did not have data from all New York nursing homes, it did ask 62 facilities for information about on-site and in-hospital deaths, or about 10 percent of the statewide total. After receiving the information, the attorney general's office found discrepancies in the data publicly reported by DOH. For instance, one facility confirmed that as of May 2020 there had been 11 COVID-19 deaths at the facility, one suspected death, and four hospital deaths. But according to James' office, the health department published only one confirmed death until July 31 at that facility. At that point, the health department then upped the total to 11 which is still five less, when suspected deaths and hospital deaths are included in the total, than what the facility had reported to the agency. Spread over 62 facilities, when suspected and hospital deaths are included in the total, a "significantly higher number of resident COVID-19 deaths can be identified than is reflected in the deaths publicized by (DOH)," according to James' report, which pegged the apparent undercount at about 50 percent. The attorney general's office is "investigating those circumstances where discrepancies cannot reasonably be accounted for by error or difference in the question posed." The health department's July report said the conclusions were supported by survey responses submitted to the agency by nursing homes. Yet the agency has refused to provide the Times Union and others with the underlying nursing homes records that formed the basis of its report. DOH cited two exemptions in denying this newspaper's request, but refused to say how those exemptions applied to the specific records sought. In Zucker's response Thursday, he said the agency's preliminary review of the data from March 1 to Jan. 19 shows 9,786 confirmed fatalities are associated with skilled nursing facility residents. That figure includes 5,957 deaths within nursing homes and 3,829 in hospitals. He added that many of the findings in James' report aligned with what DOH found in its earlier analysis. "All of this confirms that many nursing home operators made grave mistakes and were not adequately prepared for this pandemic, and that reforms are needed," he said. The attorney general's report was also critical of a Cuomo executive order last year, as well as a law passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, that shields health care providers from certain COVID-19-related lawsuits. "To the extent that the executive order and/or (state law) were interpreted by any nursing homes as providing blanket immunity for harm to residents other than intentional harm, even if the harm was related to intentional resource and staffing allocations, Attorney General James disagrees with such an interpretation as illogical, contrary to public policy, and contrary to the laws intent," the attorney general's report states. "The intent was to support health care professionals making impossible health care decisions in good faith during this unprecedented crisis."